Avidmom's Colorful Reading 2017

DiscussionsClub Read 2017

Rejoignez LibraryThing pour poster.

Avidmom's Colorful Reading 2017

Ce sujet est actuellement indiqué comme "en sommeil"—le dernier message date de plus de 90 jours. Vous pouvez le réveiller en postant une réponse.

1avidmom
Modifié : Jan 3, 2017, 1:44 pm


I inherited Kenya last year. Her previous owner (my cousin) thought she would be safer here with me. There were coyotes on the prowl in her last home; there aren't any here. It took her a while to warm up to me (and gradually everybody else here), but we have bonded.

2avidmom
Modifié : Fév 27, 2017, 8:29 pm

2016 Reading Quilt


I didn't have any "bad reads" last year but there were a few stand-out reads for me:

Favorite Literary Reads 2016
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Far From The Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
Enchanted April by Elizabeth Arnim

I loved the BBC version of Jane Eyre starring Timothy Dalton. It's not a movie but rather a series of 1/2 hour episodes. Some of the acting is a bit over-the-top stage acting, but overall, a wonderful rendition of the book.

I both read and listened to Far From the Madding Crowd. Jamie Parker's narration was superb. The newest movie version was also very good and the scenery was beautiful!

Favorite "Fun" Reads
Enchanted April made me want to pack my bags and go to Italy!

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window And Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson
Smart and funny book. Watched the movie also. Both a little bit odd but a lot of fun.

A Night In With Audrey Hepburn by Lucy Holliday
Absolute fluff and nonsense. Loved it.

3avidmom
Jan 3, 2017, 2:40 pm

Reading Plans for 2017

Not many really. I would like to finish the Chronicles of Narnia series; read the Harry Potter books; and hopefully even read a little Shakespeare this year. We'll have to see. Last year I began my Adult Coloring book addiction, so now instead of just reading the books, I color them as well. LOL.

Right now I'm working two part-time jobs and trying to help my kids navigate through college and Real Life. Also, the laundry.

4AlisonY
Jan 3, 2017, 3:26 pm

Delighted to see that Far from the Madding Crowd was a favourite last year. I haven't got to that Hardy yet, so look forward to that reading pleasure still to come.

5NanaCC
Jan 3, 2017, 4:13 pm

Hi, Susie. I wondered if the cat was one of the visitors you had outside,( was it last year?) but now I see it's not. I re-read the whole Harry Potter series last year. They were just as enjoyable as they were when I first read them.

6avidmom
Modifié : Jan 3, 2017, 4:40 pm

>4 AlisonY: I really loved it.

>5 NanaCC: We still have, um, "visiting cats" outside. And I am very worried now because I am not available for the whole TNR program. I'm out the door 6 days a week now with two part time jobs (I got a job, at, guess where? the library!)

Kenya is definitely "my" kitty.

7NanaCC
Jan 3, 2017, 9:06 pm

A library job sounds perfect!

8brodiew2
Jan 3, 2017, 9:36 pm

Happy New Year, avidmom! I hope all is well with you. I look forward to following you again this year.

9avidmom
Jan 8, 2017, 4:58 pm

>7 NanaCC: It is a lot of fun (most days).

>8 brodiew2: Thanks!

11avidmom
Fév 14, 2017, 9:35 pm


Healing Ruby: Saving Grace by Jennifer Westeall

I really enjoyed reading the Healing Ruby series. Healing Ruby: Saving Grace is the #3 in the trilogy. Ruby (aka Grace now) and Matthew meet each other on the Philippine Islands during WWII. There's the war, Matt and Ruby's somewhat painful past memories, and some romantic wires get crossed. It is probably the grittier and darkest of the books and it ended on a bit of a cliff hanger. (I don't know if there is a book #4 yet.)

12avidmom
Fév 14, 2017, 9:45 pm


Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan

Wow. This story blew me away. At the age of 24, Susannah Cahalan had her own pretty normal adult life: a nice boyfriend, friends, a budding career as a journalist at the New York Post, and a studio apartment. Seemingly, out of nowhere, she began falling apart psychologically. It seemed like she might be having a nervous breakdown or manifesting symptoms of schizophrenia. And then the seizures started. Susannah ended up in the E.R. and then the hospital. After weeks of misdiagnoses, a doctor from outside the hospital diagnosed her with what is called non-NMDA receptor encephalitis.

The book itself is rather short, but the story is rather scary and compelling.

13avidmom
Fév 26, 2017, 2:07 pm

"I wonder what my life would be to-day, if Mrs. Van Hopper had not been a snob."


Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

Walking along the stacks at my library job, this book kept beckoning to me with its cream colored cover, embossed white "R" on the front (which unfortunately doesn't show up here), and the 'REBECCA" spelled out in a lovely shade of red across the top. I know that Hitchcok's "Rebecca" (a film I have yet to see) is based on this novel so my curiosity was doubly piqued.

Our unnamed protagonist is an assistant to the shallow, snobby Mrs. Van Hopper. Mrs. Van Hopper's only interest in life is to see and be seen by the right people. On their trip to Monte Carlo, Mrs. Van Hopper spots Max De Winter, the owner of the famous Manderley estate and manipulates a meeting with him. De Winter, recently widowed, is rumoured to not be able to get over his wife Rebecca's drowning death. When Mrs. Van Hopper takes ill and is confined to bed rest, Mr. De Winter and Van Hopper's young assistant, spend their time driving along the Monte Carlo coast and, to the young, naive, self-doubting assisitant's surprise, proposes marriage.

Once at Manderley, the new Mrs. De Winter struggles to acclimate to her new and sudden change in social status. Max, a man much her senior, seems to be growing colder and more distant by the day. Why? It seems that the whole entire estate of Manderley is overshadowed by the ghost of Rebecca. Doubting her new husband's love for her, intimidated by the stern and odd housekeeper Mrs. Danvers, and feeling overshadowed and intimidated by the ghost of the beautiful and adored Rebecca, our young protagonist spirals into a puddle of self-doubt. When an unforeseen event at the estate prompts an investigation, our heroine finds that things are not always what they seem.
*************************************************************

I love the first person narration of the unnamed protagonist and most (if not all) of the story takes place inside her head. Every encounter she has with everyone is filtered through her comparison of herself to Rebecca & what everyone on the estate thinks of her. Sometimes I found her a bit annoying; yet, I could identify with her "living in her head" .... a fault, I believe, of the very young (she is in her early 20s in the story and I believe I was much that way too way back then). I was not disappointed by the mystery aspect of this gothic novel nor by the bittersweet ending. Although it took me a while to "get into" this one 100%, once I managed to get through the first few chapters, I found this one to be a pretty "unputdownable" read.

Recommended.

Now, off to watch the movie!!! :)

14avidmom
Fév 27, 2017, 7:03 pm

Happy Birthday Mr. Steinbeck

15AlisonY
Mar 6, 2017, 10:05 am

>13 avidmom: I think just about everyone who reads Rebecca falls in love with it. I haven't read any other novels by du Maurier yet - I think I'm a bit scared none will quite live up to it.

16avidmom
Mar 6, 2017, 2:43 pm

>15 AlisonY: I too have the same feeling about other Du Maurier books.

17Simone2
Mar 10, 2017, 6:54 am

>15 AlisonY: >16 avidmom: I have read some of her other novels and they are certainly worth it. Try My Cousin Rachel for example!

18avidmom
Mar 11, 2017, 1:03 pm

>17 Simone2: It's on my list! :)

19avidmom
Mar 11, 2017, 1:22 pm

They might have been crazy, but I was stupid. Despite everything that had happened over the past weeks, I still didn't think I was leaving Scientology. Even while making a stink about subjects that most Scientologists wouldn't dare address; while confronting the church's leader, who was said to administer beatings; while personally declaring Tom Cruise, a pillar of the community, to be an SP; and while facing down Julian Swartz and the many reports of condemnation - I still naively hoped that someone would step up and prove me wrong. I prayed that this belief system I had submitted to for most of my and my family's life wasn't at best, a waste of time, and, at worst, evil.



Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology by Leah Remini

I caught a little less than 1/2 of the episodes of Remini's "Scientology and the Aftermath" on A&E. I really applaud her for her bravery. Her book is a behind the scenes look at how and when she became a Scientologist and the events that transpired that led to her total disillusionment with the church. I was surprised to find that there wasn't one gigantic lightning bolt moment that prompted her departure, but rather it seems that there was more of a slow removing of the wool from over her eyes. And even then she tried to stick it out and hope that someone in the church would "make it right". Of course, no one did. When Remini began to see clearly that the organization had taken advantage of her and myriads of other people, she began to fight back and speak up. Through the pages of the book she comes off as extremely raw (and self-admittedly flawed), real, passionate, and above all compassionate and incredibly courageous.

Recommended for those interested in Scientology, cults or anyone who has caught Remini's A&E show.

20avidmom
Modifié : Mar 21, 2017, 8:37 pm



Spring has certainly sprung here in So. Cal. The rains came down and blessed the desert and now we are experiencing what they call "Super Bloom"!

(These are golden poppies, the California State Flower.)

21lilisin
Mar 21, 2017, 11:58 pm

That's really pretty!

Reminds me of the fields of blue (Bluebonnets) and red (Indian Paintbrushes) in the Texas hill country. I really miss the view but the cherry blossoms have started and in a week Tokyo will be covered with pink petals so I'm looking forward to that.

22AlisonY
Mar 22, 2017, 6:44 am

Gorgeous! Spring had sprung here in N. Ireland a week ago, but it decided to clear off again and we're back to shivering again.

23avidmom
Mar 23, 2017, 8:25 pm

>21 lilisin: >22 AlisonY: I would love to see both those places! I absolutely love flowers.

It's been cold and rainy here for weeks; then we got a glorious break.

And now, bleh, cold & rainy again.

I guess we can shiver together! LOL

24avidmom
Mar 23, 2017, 11:55 pm


Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell

Gladwell puts successful people under a microscope and examines them. What do they have in common? Where do they come from? What makes them tick? What can we learn from them? According to Gladwell they are products of their families, culture, timing, flat out lucky breaks, tons of passion and pure hard work. The first half of the book focuses on individual people; the second half focuses on culture(s).

Many of Gladwell's findings are fascinating but there weren't any "wow" moments for me until the middle of the book (Chapter 7 to be exact) where Gladwell tackles the connection between a Korean airline's abysmal safety record and the Korean culture. The remedy for the situation turned out to be highly unusual but remarkably effective. Gladwell also tackles the old trope of Asians being better at math than their Western counterparts. Gladwell dives under the surface of the stereotype and gives an explanation as to why Asian countries consistently score way ahead of their Western counterparts on math tests.

Very interesting stuff.

I enjoyed this book and learned from it. I always love a book that looks at something in a different way. Gladwell does a very good job of laying out his research and supporting his case on how culture, background, timing and individual work all play a part in success. His major theme throughout is that success is not achieved in a vacuum; no one succeeds alone and there's no such thing (really) as an "overnight success."

Gladwell's book is by in no ways perfect. I don't think all successes -(which Gladwell doesn't really define but we can assume by the people he focuses on he means prestigious career and wealth) - fit into his parameters. There's also not much here on how people born without these "advantages" he refers to can overcome their lack of such advantages. (In all fairness, the subtitle is "The Story of Success" not "How to Be Successful).

For anyone interested in success or sociology, this is a great book to pick up.
I'll probably read it again.



25Oandthegang
Mar 27, 2017, 1:00 am

>20 avidmom: Really beautiful views. We are having spring in England, but as is often the case there has been much cloud, so the soft pinks and whites of the flowering trees, so lovely against a blue sky, are lost against the grey. I had been pleased to see a tulip out today. It would be overwhelming to see your Californian hills!

26avidmom
Mar 30, 2017, 1:02 pm

It's such a rare phenomenon here, a traffic alert had to be issued a few weeks ago. Sadly, I think it's going to be over soon. :(

27avidmom
Avr 5, 2017, 2:35 pm

"The unicorn lived in a lilac wood, and she lived all alone. She was very old, though she did not know it, and she was no longer the careless color of sea foam, but rather the color of snow falling on a moonlit night. But her eyes were still clear and unwearied, and she still moved like a shadow on the sea."


A Fine & Private Place & The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle*

I had never heard of this particular book/movie before - which is pretty surprising because as a kid I was fairly obsessed with unicorns. My video game-centric boys always watch a youtube series called "Game Grumps" and one of those "grumps" has a band .... a very inappropriately named and very R rated (and funny) band called "Ninja Sex Party." (I never said I approved of their youtube viewing habits, but you know, they're over 18.) However, the "kids" played this song for me and I loved it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uF1Q56YAo0Q. Then the book floated through the library one day and I just had to read it.

Well, I wanted to love this book about the "last" unicorn. And, honestly, I can't say I was jumping up and down about it. I did enjoy the story overall and enjoyed much of Beagle's humorous sentences along the way: "He was tall, and his face was as soft and pleasant as a marshmallow." It was very touching in spots, a bit humorous in others, and IMHO, the opening paragraph (quoted above) is beautiful. I don't think it will ever be on my list of "favorites" by any means, though.

Having said all that, I am glad to have read it and am looking forward to sitting down soon and watching the movie.

(*I have not read A Fine & Private Place. Not sure if I will since other books are calling....)

28avidmom
Avr 18, 2017, 1:25 pm


Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

My life as a Muggle (at least in the literary sense) has officially ended. This series began when my kids were very small and I was off reading everything but this one. I vividly remember all the far right Christians condemning all things Harry Potter due to its glorification of witchcraft and wizadry - blah blah blah. And while to a certain extent I can see their point, I also wonder why they missed some of the more blatant "in your face" Christian symbolism at the end of the book. (I absolutely loved the ending.) I can also see how C.S. Lewis's writing in Narnia influenced J.K. Rowling's writing.

I certainly understand now why Harry Potter is/was such a phenomenon.

29avidmom
Avr 19, 2017, 12:49 am