cckelly's challenge for 75

Wish I'd noticed this sooner, I'll have to move my thread from the 50 book challenge thread, since I'm shooting for 75.

Can't do it now, LT is going down for an hour in under 5 minutes!

Thanks for giving those of us looking to stretch higher than last year a place.

Welcome to the group. Cut and paste is a wonderful thing! :) Come on over to The Kitchen and tell us a little about yourself.

cckelly, why don't you come to the kitchen and sing to us!

where's the kitchen??? Lead me to it ladies:)

Click the group title at the top of this page and you'll see the thread listed.

Thank you, found the kitchen:)

Been sick and in bed the last few days, so I've managed to finish a few of the books that I've been nibbling away at the last month. It's tough to push through when you're sneezing all over the pages so that they stick together, however, I go nuts with the forced and total inactivity a virulent little nasty bug requires so I'm using this time to finish the 12 or so books half read and languishing for a finish.

It feels good to "accomplish" something but strangely, it deters a bit from the joy of reading. But maybe that's because I'd rather be blissfully comatose than do anything right now, even read. Or maybe it's just when I'm this sick, everything is an irritant. Who knows, but darn it all, I will read!!! And while I have sufficient energy to kevetch, I don't have any for creative summaries/reviews, so I'll force myself to be content with just finishing and listing them. Well, that's what I'm telling myself.

1. Prodigal Summer: A Novel by Barbara Kingslover

2. Muses, Madmen and Prophets: rethinking the history, science, and meaning of auditory hallucination by Daniel B. Smith

Fascinating book. Some parts a bit heavy, others very readable. Important topic and on the leading edge of a revolution in mental health.

3. The Dreaded Broccoli Cookbook by Barbara Haspel and Tamel Haspel

More an anthology of food, nutrition and cooking columns that cookbook. Even the cover proclaims "100 recipes included". But funny, good info, and manages to cover a few foods (albeit very few) of which I don't already incorporate in my diet. Good read, though I will admit by halfway in I was only skimming the recipes, they're pretty basic and even the author's admit, only guidelines. You're expected to use the broad ideas to adapt it to your own healthful kitchen revolution.

4. Le Mot Juste

Very quick read, much better than actually paying complete attention to the idiot during the State of the Union Address. Most of these you'll know or have some awareness of if you've taken any language classes, not a lot of revelation. But still fun and the pronunciations are helpful, as they're "written phonetically for the layman" however, the book then forgives itself and the reader the inability to pronounce with perfection even with it's help with this caveat, "Complete accuracy is impossible because many foreign vowel sounds cannot be translated perfectly into English." However, even a modicum of familiarity with the language in question should suffice.

Best parts, the section on "Miscellaneous Languages" with everything from Egyptian to Japanese, albeit too brief. Also good are the appendixes on Greek and Latin Prefixes and Suffixes, for quick referral.

And the expected languages have their own chapters, French, German, Italian and Spanish.

5. Lessons in Becoming Myself by Ellen Burstyn

Finished yesterday. Good read but drags in the 300's. I really had to press myself for about 80 pages in there, but it picks back up and was swift, fascinating reading again through to the end of the 450+ pages. This was a deeply personal read for me and it was a gift given for just that reason.

Hmm, been forgetting to add my books here...I've been doing a lot of chapter skimming for learning, and not really certain I qualify that as having read a book. But if I don't, then I may not make it to my 75..oh the connundrum!

Let's see if I can recall the ones I have finished.

5. The Spy Went Dancing
This reads like fiction and was a great escapist book, with wonderful glimpses into the history of intelligence in Europe during WWII and the world of Europe's aristocracy along with some American 'royalty' as well. I actually really enjoyed this and gobbled it up in a few nights, even though I was so exhausted that week I had to struggle to stay awake to read more.

6. Celtic Folklore Cooking
Wonderful reference for traditional Celtic cookery, with interesting tales, songs and bits of legends and and pre-Christian folklore that goes with the foods. Also includes the festivals where the foods were/are served, why and just a fascinating mix of history and good food. One of the things I liked most were the very old recipes (1500-1700's) written in the style and language of the time, reprinted from cookbooks of the era. Some read more like little bits of prose than our more 'scientific' modern method of giving exact weights, measure and cooking info. Great for a peek at kitchen craft of old, but would be tough to decipher if I really needed it to learn a new recipe.

hey, cckelly, nice to see you back here and posting; you read some very interesting books! As far as skimming or partial book reading, I have been logging such when I feel the reading becomes equivalent to book-length in pages.

7. The Highly Sensitive Person In Love by Elaine Aron, Ph.D

Another helpful book in the series on HSP's. I came to find that her husband initiated some of the studies on bonding and dating that have become 'taken for granted' knowledge in our culture. For instance, the study of 2 bridges, one a romantic bridge over a stream in a park and the other a swinging rope bridge crossing a chasm...and then add men and an attractive woman, and men reported being more attracted to the woman met on the rope bridge. Meaning, the emotions of physiological response we have to our environment we often attribute to the people we were with, and we remember that emotional state attached to the memory of the person. She references a great deal of this type of wisdom, using scientific studies as well as information culled from thousands of HSP's she's worked with to build this series. All very well worth the read if you are, or have someone in your life that is forever "too sensitive" about everything.

The last few chapters, for me, were the most dense with new information, referencing Jungian psychology, dream work, ego self-axis and more in depth information to understanding yourself, or your loved HSP, to heal our relationship with our inner self (inner love), and possible attachments issues we have.

If you're an HSP, just like in the first book I read of the series, The HSP, you will just get this information. It will fit. I'm not saying you'll have every trait or that there won't be parts which might not be applicable to your life, but finally, you'll understand and honor your own self and stop feeling guilty when the less sensitive people in your life exclaim in frustration, "oh why can't you just toughen up and get a thicker skin? You're just too da*m sensitive" and look them in the eye and know that while your specially developed physiology may have some limitations, those are far outweighed by the benefits and, as my significant other now calls them, your "super powers" of sensitivity.

Her books help you find ways, and this one is no exception, to take care of yourself so that you reap more of the rewards of your HSP nature, and have less of the burnout and stress due to over stimulation. This one focuses on loving relationships and I thought was well worth the read.

I had never heard about HSP until last summer - I now have her first book and have dipped into the one above. I too am an HSP - after many years on this planet, it's nice to know! It does explain a lot of things. It's also helpful to know that if you're family members etc. are not HSP, why you always felt a bit "odd". And if some of them are HSP, it's helpful too.
Two HSPs together can be a challenge - but also wonderful. It's nice having someone that really does "get it".

Hello fellow HSP dihiba! Thanks for your note. I can't imagine being with another HSP, partly because I have the conjunction of being an HSS, too.

Having learned these two physiological characteristics exist explained soooo much to me, about myself. Using this information the past year has helped me make monumental strides in achieving balance, thus progress in my life. I agree though, having the information and ceasing the guilt of always being "the odd" one who gets overstimulated easily in prolonged, intense situations, has really helped me stand up to my family (most of whom are the antithesis of HSP) and finally get them to understand I can't just "get over being so darn sensitive and toughen up!"

And I've gone on a campaign to remind my friends how my extreme sensitivity helps them, by pointing out when I catch something no one else notices but is beneficial. Now they're all starting to appreciate what they call my "superpowers", and are being a lot more supportive.

Hope the books have been as helpful for you! Please let me know about how, if you'd like:)

okay, back to my regularly scheduled book list.

Just finished last night, in 2 nights of bedtime reading, Gundel's Hungarian Cookbook by Karoly Gundel
This is part of my never ending quest to be fluent in all the world cuisines. Hungarian food isn't one I've had much personal experience with, neither in cooking nor consumption, but as this is based on recipes from arguably the most noted Hungarian chef of the last century, I felt it a good introduction.

Many of these have been updated to reflect the modern ideals of cooking by his children, yet remain true to the traditions of the cuisine. I will admit, some of the directions for cooking are a bit dry, and this wasn't the most enjoyable cookbook "read" by any stretch. I also found it a bit disconcerting, as a neophyte to the cuisine and it's basics, that many recipes refer, by recipe number, to using other basic recipes within the book as part of the directions. I understand it allowed them for a smaller book with less production expense, but personally, I find it annoying when cooking to have to flip between chapters when making a dish.

From reading this I see that the most basic elements of Hungarian cuisine seem to be paprika (a given, LOL), sauteed onions, green peppers, tomatoes, hungarian lard--which they make quite clear in the forward is unlike any other lard and if you replace this with butter, oil or any other lard, you will not get the authentic Hungarian essence to your dish--and then, of course, the dumplings, either the larger Galushka or the smaller, pasta like Csipetke.

Closely following in importance for flavoring and ingredients would be dairy items, such as sour cream, eggs and differing types of cottage cheese, garlic, cabbage, smoked bacon, caraway or fennel seeds, vinegar and potatoes--note, these aren't listed in importance.

One of the most interesting features was recipe 39 for Porkolt, which is a mainstay dish (and often referred to within other recipes as a starting point) which includes a unique ingredient chart. Since this "typical product of the Hungarian kitchen" which is compared as similar to the French ragout, is one of the three mainstay stews, it can be created with just about any meat you have on hand. Though each meat requires differing spices, they all include the big 5: lard, onions, paprika, green peppers and tomatoes.

The amounts and preparation of the big 5 vary from one porkolt to another, but with the meat listed along the left in rows including: veal, lamb, beef, mutton, venison, pork, boar, chicken, goose, duck, goose liver or gizzards and trips (plus a few more exotic game meats) you can then go down the columns for each ingredient and create an authentic porkolt.

Note, since this is translated from the Hungarian, the basic measurements are in METRIC. But ounce and pound equivalents are given for American cooks. If you, like myself, are used to using cups, teaspoons, Tablespoons as such, you may want to determine those ahead, or simply use your accurate food scale.

I hope to give a few of these a try soon but I need to locate a supplier of authentic Hungarian lard. Anyone got ideas??? :)

Thanks

9. www.layout: effective design and layout for the world wide web by jerry glenwright

I almost feel like it's cheating to post this on my "read" list, since it's more like a picture book for web geeks than it is a book. Graphically, gave me some ideas and basic "don't do this" ideas for the website I'm building, but seriously, seems like 90% screenshot photos of what the author thinks make a good or bad website page. Good for visual stimuli, can't recommend for much else.

RE#8 Mother Linda's Lard No, it's NOT me....but there you go! Fascinating website this woman has. I'll be browsing it for a while.

LOL, in a quick read of your note, I thought the website was a suggestion to look at for web design, since you said you'd be browsing it awhile. It wasn't until I stumbled on her "I occasionally have organic lard available for sale" that I realized you meant for the Hungarian Cookbook. Thank you, btw, now I suppose I'll have to invite you if I ever get around to trying it for a Hungarian Dinner.

PS: of course now I WANT her Bulgarian cookbook. Mostly cause I don't have any Bulgarian cookbooks...heck, didn't even know there were. Sigh. I've got to stop buying cookbooks simply because I don't have them. It's gotten to the point that trying to track down a recipe in my collection takes longer than making the whole darn meal. Is that a sign??

10. How to Make Anyone Fall in Love With You by Leil Lowndes

Finished this 2 or 3 nights ago. Actually quite impressed with the information. Seems I've inadvertently stumbled into studying communication through non-verbal methods through "how-to" books on seduction.

For my own fascination, the most interesting idea I read here was in her chapters on wooing (or hunting as she jokingly refers to it) someone outside your "class" either in looks, money, culture, intelligence, etc. She mentions mirroring, where two people's body language synchronizes, and then suggests that you learn the way your quarry moves, and that each social group has it's way of moving.

Being such a mimic, partly from my theatrical training and also from having had the fortune to live abroad several times while in my youth, I thought consciously for the first time how I've unconsciously done this in little ways when in a new group I'm trying to develop rapport with. But beyond the stage, it'd never occurred to me to really study how someone of a particular culture or class "moves' in the everyday ways as a manner to 'become one of the gang' in social settings with groups I don't normally socialize with. Now I'm obsessed with finding DVD's of people of various backgrounds, or very talented actors portraying them, just to study the way they walk, hold an umbrella, get in or out of a vehicle or chair and that type of thing. I know, I'm strange...but in observing people the past few days, this is just fascinating.

Oh, one other point I also found deeply intriguing was her mentioning research--oh, I should have a source from her bibliography, darn-- anyway, she explains that it's been discovered couples are most content and have the longest, most successful relationships with a partner who is within 1 to 2 points of them on the desirability meter. This is called 'the equity principle' and there are six elements which are universally considered "assets" in the relationship market.

1. physical appearance
2. Possessions or money
3. status or prestige
4. information or knowledge
5. social graces or personality
6. inner nature

For instance, someone considered a 9 or 10 on the scale of looks probably isn't going to be happy in the long run with someone who's a 6,--actually, both will be miserable eventually in most cases-- unless that person has reciprocal core traits and attributes to 'even out' the imbalance.

Hmm, had to actually grab the book to give you the list and as I flipped the pages, remembered one more section that I found fascinating. It was the subject of compliments, how to compliment someone, when and then a deeper looks at the types of compliments, how and why they work or don't in a given situation. Again, something I do a lot without thinking and after reading this, realized I could be a lot more effective complimenting consciously.

This, for me, is about saying what I'd say naturally, but instead of just blurting it out anyway it comes to me, instead to think about the surroundings, the length of time I've know--or haven't known--the complimentee, how they'd like to be complimented and how I want to affect the person with my compliment. With that in mind, I can tailor how/when I say it for a more precise impact.
Sort of like putting a homing device on your bomb so it really blows the socks off your target. :)

And I'm thinking about the applications of this outside the 'hunt' for a romantic partner. Actually, most of what I've read here I'm considering and looking to implement outside of romantic interactions. Interesting info all jam packed into one place...it's a keeper.

11. The Blessing by Jude Deveraux

I'm almost embarassed to even list it but hey, it's been a rough few weeks and lately I've had the attention span of a hummingbird, so I needed some light, escapist, summer reading. And quick. Before I forgot I was reading the darn thing.

I'm not kidding, in this last week I've turned the sink on to do dishes, walked to the living room to get a glass to wash, forgot why I went to the living room, sat down turned on the tv and then heard the waterfall in the kitchen, thought "what the hell???" and then ran back to my flooded kitchen to realize I'd forgotten I'd started washing dishes.

Still, my IQ had not dropped sufficiently to appreciate the fabricated ending that frankly, I found insulting to artists. Making a 2 1/2 year old who's never so much as been seen by the reader to have picked up a crayon, suddenly take up paint brushes and eclipse his mother--the professional artist we know has talent-- by studying the pictures of Japanese art in library books and then creating a "masterpiece" mural on his first try...that just implies that all artistic endeavors are pure talent, they don't require any study, development of skill or technique or even full motor control--c'mon, how many 2 year olds have the fine motor control eat a whole bowl of soup without wearing some of it, much less paint an entire room of walls, floor and ceiling with a host of artist brushes?? Puh-lease...I can only suspend my disbelief sooo far before it snaps.

In trying to avoid a cliched ending where the woman suddenly is not only independent and self supporting but instantly famous after only 2 years of pursuing her artistic career, Judith Deveraux tried too hard and pretty much ruined for me what was an otherwise good literary bag of potato chips. I don't know why it bothered me so much, it's just a book, but I've accepted some pretty outlandish endings and this one was just too much.

sorry...yes, I'm getting off my soapbox now. Geesh, all I'd meant to do was post a little synopsis of my review I wrote earlier, didn't mean to hit you with a diatribe.

If anyone else out there read this and liked the ending, please share your thoughts with me. Maybe if I'd read something else by her I'd understand?

ciao

12 The Virgin's Lover by Philippa Gregory

Have a horrible flu or some virusy thing and can't read anything heavy. This book is the antithesis of heavy. Matter of fact, it repeats itself so much, you can doze off for 50 pages and not miss much.

Robert Dudley is manipulative, selfish and I think the author did her audience a disservice by trying to portray him as both the avaricious, power-hungry character as and the sympathetic lover who truly believes he loves both Amy and Elizabeth and somehow deludes himself that he does care for more than getting a Dudley, namely himself, on the throne of England. Quite frankly, I found myself repeatedly hoping Ms. Philippa was going to fictionalize this to the extreme and have someone give Dudley what he deserves, a knife in the testicles. I know she couldn't kill him off, but a little maiming would have given me great joy. And it would have been a neat plot twist to explain why Elizabeth gives him up:)

Amy Dudley didn't die soon enough. If she was really as pathetic, self-reproachful, and lovesick as she's portrayed then death was a blessing...though honestly, I think she wasn't so much faithful to God and the sanctity of marriage as she was determined to wield the one bit of power of Dudley she had, to refuse to divorce him and thus prevent him his throne. Still, wimpy, whiny woman. Blech.

And Elizabeth? I cannot fathom how she goes from the indecisive, terrified mouse who can't make a decision without a male voice and even then changes it multiple times after having made it to the impervious woman of power we know her to become. I just don't see how the Elizabeth in this book could ever grow up to become the great Queen. Here, she's little more than a spoilt child needing constant adoration, praise and reassurance who even the male characters moan is simply too malleable by everyone close to her. From this book I'd have to assume she was dragged along to greatness, and all the credit goes to her advisers for gentling her into major decisions of state and then enacting them too quickly for her to retract.

As far as fiction goes, it's an okay novel. I enjoyed parts of it and the descriptions of the time are well done and well drawn. If it were pure fiction, I'd probably have enjoyed it more. I do agree with others that this book manages to make most of the characters seem two dimensional at best.

Seems I'm behind in my posting here. My R2008 tag has 17 books so far.

In March I read
13. Songs in Ordinary Time an Oprah book club novel.

on the 11th of this month, in pretty much one day I read Jeffery Deaver's collection of short stories

14. Twisted which was a un-put-downable dynamite book of fun. Toward the last few stories, you came to expect the bizarre and unexpected plot twists Deaver begins by telling you he enjoys and employs in the short story form, and yet, he could still manage to make it a bit of surprise. Nice to see the nice guy finish last and sometimes have the bad guy win...feels more like real life.

In March I read an Early Reviewer's book

15. Seven Days to Sex Appeal which I seemed to appreciate A LOT more than many of the other reviewers. My review is listed with the book, at some point I'll repost it here, too.

Not sure what other's I'm missing at this point, I'll have to check and add them later.

Hi. I read your comments re. The Virgin's Lover by Phillippa Gregory. I've really tried to get into Gregory's books, but simply can't. I read them and then chastise myself for reading yet another boring tombe of lack luster characters. When I finished Earthly Joys that was it...no more Gregory books for me!

And I am seriously thinking of taking a vow never to buy one (or at least another one - not sure if one is lurking on my TBR shelves). I have read sooo many negative reviews of her stuff, both with regard to her history and actual characterization. There are so many really good historical fiction writers out there - I don't need to waste any time on the bad ones - especially not when I HAVE BEEN WARNED.

#22
If you are interested in historical fiction, you might want to check out the site www.historicalfiction.org. This was recommended to me by another library thing member (Amanda.) It really is a great resource. I warn you though, like LT, it is highly addictive.

16. Vector by Robin Cook

Heavily predictable but otherwise satisfying for a light, summer night's read. It was better than anything on television. But I don't have cable so read into that what you will.

The spookiest thing about this book was it's being written in 1998; only a few short years later we faced bioterrorism with Anthrax as a reality. The most satisfying bit is the comeuppance the two main villains get in the end.

Thanks for the info Whisper1 - or should I now call you my enabler? (I am so horribly addicted to historical fiction that it is an illness).

17. Marker by Robin Cook

Pretty good medical thrill read. A bit long on extraneous details, especially when you get to the last few chapters where everything is coming to a climax. At the point in the story where you wonder if one of your favorite characters is about to be murdered, I really don't want 3 paragraphs with sentences describing how someone's coat tie was whipping around and such...I'm chewing my nails, get to the point!!! LOL

Since Mr. Cook is an MD, the genetic info is all right on, at least it was as of the printing of this novel. Things are changing rapidly in this field but the underlying issues of ethics, patient care and medical costs give this novel a sense of actual possibility. Moreso than even the book I just finished, Vector. Somehow, this one was just a smidgen better, more thrilling, extra twists and unpredictability which is exactly what I want in a thrill read.

Oh, and if you're interested, it's the same set of protagonists about a decade later.

I haven't read a Robin Cook in years. Your description of Marker intrigued me - I've just mooched it. Thanks cckelly.

#25...Glad you are enjoying historicalfiction.org. It really is a great site! I've discovered many good historical fiction books this way!

18. Billy Straight by Johnathan Kellerman.

Another great read by Kellerman. I really cared for the young title character; I must admit I sometimes skimmed chapters of other characters in order to get back to the details of what was happening to him. I'm eager to find if Kellerman has since included Billy in any of his subsequent novels. I'd like to see him grown, healthy and find out what he does with his life, he's so full of potential and pathos you just want good things for him.

The 'surprise' ending was well done; not completely out of left field but Kellerman had managed to distract you without ever completely obfuscating the truth. Literary slight of hand sort of thing where you really aren't sure who the villain is until the last few pages. You think you know, you're pretty certain, you second guess yourself a few times but in the end, you don't really know till you know.

All in all, a good summer's read. Not too heavy or intricate, but well written and quick enough with enough twists and turns to keep you opening it again every night till it's done.

haven't had time to catch up with this list. I'm fitting reading in where I can these days, seems when I try to do it before bed, I'm asleep within pages.

19. Blinding Light by Paul Theroux

Good, strange and elaborate.
Diverting fiction, but ending was confounding. I still am not sure what happened. But the journey was fascinating.
Unlike anything I've ever read...but maybe I just don't read this kind of modern fiction, who knows?

Thanks for the post regarding Marker by Robin Cook I've read some of his books a long time ago. I'll re-visit his works and add Marker to my list.

20. Murder List by Julie Garwood

Seems the only books I finish these days are the quick fiction. Everything else I nibble at but there's so many that they don't ever get completed. oh well.

This was a good read, it kept me distracted for a few nights and kept me awake longer than I should have been for 2. I liked the characters and it wasn't quite what I expected, which turned out to be a good thing.

#32 cckelly: I do not know if you are aware of it or not, but Murder List is actually in a series by Garwood. If you liked it, you might want to check out the other books: Heartbreaker, Mercy, Killjoy, Slow Burn and Shadow Dance.

Hey, thanks alcottacre!!! I will check them out, I just liked the characters for some reason. They reminded me of people I know:)

21. Survival of the Fittest Jonathan Kellerman

I think it's official, I like everything I read by this guy. It's not so much the stories are amazing and unusual, though he always manages to surprise me and catch me unawares which isn't easy. It's his style, how he uses language and the fact that I always learn something NEW about some topic in his books. Yet he's never pedantic, it's how his characters observe the world and describe it in which I learn new facts and ideas. This time it was the history of Eugenics...just fascinating stuff:) He always leads me into new doors of research to explore...okay, I guess it's time to admit it. I'm a Kellerman FAN.

I read Billy Straight by Kellerman last year and greatly enjoyed it. I have read a lot of the books by his wife, the novelist Faye Kellerman, but not so many by him. I will have to start tracking down his books, too.

22. Entombed by Linda Fairstein Lots of dark twists and turns, and since I loved Poe as a child, all the references to his works and an updated story worthy of a nod to Poe was a fun read. Enjoyable, fun escape reading.

23. Sudden Fiction International edited by Robert Shapard & James Thomas
This is my first encounter with this short story form, it's the very, very short story. Most are 3-5 pages at the longest. Great concept and perfect for quick reading before bed, or whenever you want a very brief escape.

I don't know if it's a culture clash, these being from authors as diverse in ethnicity as Austrian to native New Zeland, or if it is the style of the genre but I must confess, most of these stories just left me scratching my head in confusion as to what I just read and what it meant.

Yes, they are all well written, and the details were often fascinating and beautiful, but after finishing the few pages, I still had no clue what it was about or the purpose or the message. They seem to just be a snapshot into a character's mind, in a moment of their lives, and most seem metaphorical. I imagine they are a reflection of a greater characteristic of the culture they are from, but being an outsider, I just didn't get it.

Good fodder for thought, would probably be a fascinating book to read and discuss in a group of international book lovers, but for bedtime reading I just found myself closing the book going, "huh" most times. Next time I'll try this form from authors in the United States, see if I can get a grasp of the structure and intent, and then reread these to see if I understand them more.

24. Down & Dirty Sex Secrets by Tristan Taormino

Okay, this is a reread of a book I originally read years ago. But well worth an occasional re-thumbing through. She is a good writer, both knowledgeable and accessible to the average person, on how to spice up your sex life, how to be safe in doing so, and how to discuss sensitive or potentially embarassing things with your partner. And her letters from real people and her answers make this feel like it's not just for perverts or sex-aholics. I like Tristan, I like how she writes and some day, I'll work up the nerve to go buy one or two of her 'how to' videos. This was originally a gift from a friend and it is a good, modern addition to any adult's bedroom bookshelf who wants a healthy, happy love life either with their monogamous spouse or a whole slew of consenting others. She's non-judgmental and makes the reader feel that as long as you're happy and keep yourself safe and communicate, there's very little that should be taboo between two (or more) consenting adults.

25. The Art of Mingling by Jeanne Martinet

This book couldn't have come into my life at a better time. My career in music requires me to attend a lot of social functions where I know almost no one but must meet and greet with almost everyone. Lots of great techniques to adapt to your own style for everything from joining groups, to keeping conversations rolling, to changing directions of less adept minglers who drag the conversation into inappropriate places to escaping the dreaded bore or drunk. Some of it is common sense, and some of it is a bit counterintuitive in that the author says that some normal of the etiquette that applies to conversation at work, or with friends differs from the etiquette of mingling conversational techniques. Now that I've been "given permission" to experiment, I've noticed a dramatic increase in both my comfort and enjoyment of 'working the room' at both casual and formal affairs. I won't use everything she suggests, but I've definitely coopted a good bit of it as my own. Hopefully you'll find similair stuff that will work for you.
But ssshhhh! Don't tell anyone. How you and I became the life of the party is our secret!

26. 101 Songwriting Wrongs and How To Right Them by Pat Luboff and Pete Luboff

Great for cherry picking when you need a creative kick in the pants. This is a library book I think I'll be adding to my permanent collection as soon as I find a used copy. Has really helped me move from wanting to write music to actually doing it. Haven't written that No. 1 Billboard hit yet, but definitely moving in the 'write' direction, with help from this team. Thanks!

Oh geesh, I've got soooo many books still to add to this list. I've been having problems loading Libarything pages lately, and adding and removing books that I've not really been coming here much. And life has been very, very busy. I"m squeezing in bits of time just to read, and finding that a challenge, much less keeping track of what I read. I must have a 100 books that I'm working my way through..as usual, but more extreme right now. Hopefully, before the New Year, I'll be able to fully update this list to see how close to my goal I got.

~cassandra

Cassandra, you might try www.abebooks.com for a copy of 101 Songwriting Wrongs and How to Right Them. ABE represents booksellers from around the world and has books for just about every budget, too.

message 36
I recently discovered that I bought this book and haven't read it. I'll move it up on the list

Thank you alcottacre, I'll check that out. It's a good reference book:)

Oh well, the second half of my year got really busy with work and outside things, and I never did make it to my goal of 75 books.

I probably started that many and have most of them still in progress. I also know there's several more I've read, but can't remember which ones, particularly the fiction which all tends to blur together in my memory about 2 months or so after I've read it. Shame on me:)

I'm still so busy that bedtime reading just isn't what it used to be. In the past, I could read for several hours before I got too sleepy to continue, now I"m lucky if I get in an hour, and many nights, not even half that before I find the book tipping out of my hands and jerking me back to being awake enough to realize I dont' remember the last few lines. I won't stop reading, but my to be read pile just isn't getting any smaller...so for now, I'm really pulling back on acquisitions of new books and not worrying about a goal for 2009.

>19 cckelly: That book was an insult to both ELizabeth I and most of its readers. I absolutely detested the portrayal of Amy Dudley and couldn't wait for her to fall down the stairs and break her whiney little neck.