FEBRUARY ROOT - Progress thread

February's tribute is to all the ways Mother Nature's fluffy flakes and high altitudes can effect our READING AND SNOW
When the weather turns cold and snowy, where do you like to read?




Do you sit in front of a roaring fire with a blanket and a cup of hot cocoa?


or do you prefer to breathe the fresh crisp air after a snowfall?


Do you share your cozy corner with a furry friend?


When you are snowed in, do you reach for that chunkster that's been waiting to be read until you are "trapped" inside?


Do you like to sit by a window where you can see the Snowy peaks of the mountains or a snow covered lane?





Or is the rustic cabin in the snow, the perfect reading spot?


Or are you out in the snow playing with the kids?


Well, where do you go to read on a wintry day?

THE PASSWORD IS ROOTS. PLEASE REMEMBER TO CLICK ON NEW TICKER AFTER YOU HAVE UPDATED



Here are our first totals for 2022. Remember, if you are not a member of the group, or have not set a goal, your name will not appear in the list.

The percentages will be calculated and a star awarded for those on target to reach their goals. More stars for farther toward their goal.

benitastarnd 7 / 62 ★ 11.3%
bragan 8 / 75 ★ 10.7%
brakketh 10 / 50 ★★ 20.0%
ca_dmv 1 / 12 ★ 8.3%
Caramellunacy 3 / 25 ★ 12.0%
Cecilturtle 7 / 50 ★ 14.0%
clue 6 / 40 ★ 15.0%
Coach_of_Alva 0 / 25 0.0%
connie53 5 / 36 ★ 13.9%
Cora-R 5 / 100 5.0%
crazy4reading 2 / 20 ★ 10.0%
curioussquared 7 / 55 ★ 12.7%
cyderry 15 / 84 ★★ 17.9%
detailmuse 5 / 40 ★ 12.5%
DisassemblyOfReason 3 / 100 3.0%
enemyanniemae 4 / 70 5.7%
FAMeulstee 7 / 48 ★ 14.6%
Familyhistorian 8 / 65 ★ 12.3%
floremolla 2 / 40 5.0%
fuzzi 4 / 100 4.0%
HelenBaker 5 / 48 ★ 10.4%
Henrik_Madsen 3 / 50 6.0%
Jackie_K 7 / 60 ★ 11.7%
janoorani24 0 / 20 0.0%
justchris 8 / 50 ★ 16.0%
kac522 5 / 75 6.7%
karenmarie 1 / 30 3.3%
Kristelh 7 / 50 ★ 14.0%
Kwharton 1 / 12 ★ 8.3%
LadyBookworth 6 / 30 ★★ 20.0%
lilisin 10 / 80 ★ 12.5%
lindapanzo 12 / 84 ★ 14.3%
LoraShouse 2 / 15 ★ 13.3%
madhatter22 5 / 75 6.7%
majkia 14 / 65 ★★ 21.5%
martencat 1 / 25 4.0%
Miss_Moneypenny 0 / 80 0.0%
MissWatson 9 / 75 ★ 12.0%
Nickelini 6 / 40 ★ 15.0%
Quaisior 1 / 50 2.0%
QuestingA 6 / 35 ★★ 17.1%
rabbitprincess 6 / 50 ★ 12.0%
readergirliz 3 / 30 ★ 10.0%
readingtangent 0 / 40 0.0%
Rebeki 2 / 24 ★ 8.3%
ritacate 2 / 30 6.7%
Robertgreaves 5 / 90 5.6%
rocketjk 1 / 25 4.0%
rosalita 4 / 48 ★ 8.3%
sallylou61 2 / 24 ★ 8.3%
si 2 / 20 ★ 10.0%
Tara1Reads 3 / 52 5.8%
torontoc 2 / 30 6.7%
vestafan 8 / 60 ★ 13.3%
wandaly 2 / 18 ★ 11.1%

If anyone's number is incorrect, please let me know and I will make the necessary adjustments. So go out there and dig those ROOTs.

The goal for February is 501.

I think a cosy cabin where I can look at the snow but know I don't have to go out and walk in it sounds like a perfect reading spot!

I think we coincided with posting, so my 7th ROOT for January (finished on the 31st but only posted just now) didn't make your figures. Glad I've got a star though :)

>3 Jackie_K: I saw it, and made the change.

>4 cyderry: Thank you!

My ticker must not have been right, I replaced it. I read 7 roots in January.

Hurray, I have a star again! I spent a lot of last year without a star, haha. My number is correct, thanks, Chèli!

In the winter I'm usually wrapped in a bunch of blankets and have fuzzy slippers and fingerless gloves on to keep myself warm. If it's *really* cold I'll read an ebook so that only a couple of fingers are sticking out of the blankets. Being able to see the snow falling is nice, but not strictly necessary.

>1 cyderry: Very pretty. But I am so glad I live in the tropics.

>2 cyderry: Gong Xi Fa Cai

>8 Robertgreaves: 恭喜發財 Hope I found the right reply!

Thanks for the stats and the nice pictures, Chèli!
We don't get a lot of snow in my part of the world, but when we do I curl up in my armchair with a big pot of tea close by.

I love all the pictures with a view. Just warm and cosy inside and enjoying the show outside without getting cold feet and running noses.

My numbers are correct. Thanks Chèli.

I read in Florida in the sun. If home I would read in the sun coming in the window and watch the snow fall or (blow).

Lovely photos. Makes me so homesick for Connecticut.

In the winter, give me a book, a cup of tea, and a cozy blanket and I am happy as a clam! Most of the time this is done after 8 aka my son's bedtime!

Completed my first ROOT of February and 4th overall: The Stolen Marriage by Diane Chamberlain. I liked it the best out of all my ROOTs so far, though I don't know that the title is the best indication of what the book is about.

It's been snowing here for about 12 hours (Chicago), so all I have to do is look outside my windows. I'm staying inside and warm and finishing The Other Side of the Dale by Gervast Phinn

I'm really loving my read of East of Eden. It's really getting me to want to pick up a book and read which is exciting and I'm already past page 200 with just three days of reading. As this is also a book I purchased in 2011, it's a deep ROOT that feels great to pull!

I also started my February book club pick, an untranslated Japanese book called Unbalance. The first 25 pages were exciting as our main character showed no mercy towards her husband's mistress which was quite fun to read. This I purchased just this year but my goal is always to read new acquisitions first so they don't become like the above example. Especially important with Japanese language books that tend to stay on my bookshelf as they are more intimidating to read.

I am currently reading Emperor of Ocean Park by Stephen L. Carter. I am reading a chunkster and my favorite reading is done in two places. At work during my lunch hour. The bustle of my fellow lunchers doesn't bother me and only adds to the pleasantness of reading and my cup of coffee. My other favorite place is in my reading chair in my living room in the afternoon. My feet are up and I can see out the big window of my living room. Very cozy anytime of the year.

I have a shared read up next, The Black Tide by Hammond Innes. It's been on my shelves for a couple years.

>17 benitastrnad: I like reading in my lunch break too - it helps me completely switch off for that half hour (we only get a half hour break, or I'd get more books read!). I've got a book that I am just reading at work, and different ones on the go at home.

And ROOT #5 was a quick one: Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson. Woodson's use of language is just gorgeous. This is by far my favorite ROOT of the year so far!!

I started Time Cat last night, should be done later today. Then on to The Black Tide. Both are ROOTs.

Added my first ROOT of February to my personal ticker: McNally's Trial, by Lawrence Sanders.

Finished my first February ROOT: Pet by Akwaeke Emezi. Purchased kindle edition on August 2, 2021.

I have never experienced reading with snow on the ground outside. Sounds magical. We have been experiencing a summer drought and at last the rain has arrived. A welcome respite from the relentless heat. Better still, today is a public holiday, so time to read.
I failed to update my ticker on 31st, when I completed one more, Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout 6/48.
I can now report my first root for February, The Story of a New Name by Elena Ferrante

I have finished 5 ROOTs already. Very short ones, admittedly, but the weather is helping, too, Nothing but rain for days.

I'm trying to get some reading in but the Olympics are taking priority. I love the Olympics, especially winter!

>26 lilisin:
I am also indulging in my quadrennial love fest with obscure winter sports. I love them, except for the little girls figure skating. I am not a fan. I was very happy with the results of the Men's Downhill Ski Race. It would have been better with a Norwegian sweep, but I still thought it was great. And what about that finish in the Biathalon and the Men's Cross Country Ski Race. I would like to be able to see more of these sports as they are very exciting.

I completely ROOT #6- The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury. The only book I had previously read by Bradbury was Fahrenheit 451, but his writing and storytelling was just so good I had to delve into another. This one was much spookier than I had anticipated! I kept thinking that the stories would make great Twilight Zone episodes and I went down the Ray Bradbury versus Rod Serling rabbit hole.

>28 readergirliz: I don't know what I was expecting from The Martian Chronicles when I read it a few years ago, but I liked it much more than I thought I would. And now I'm thinking I need to try to fit some Bradbury into my reading this year. They would even been ROOTs, so no excuse except forgetfulness.

>28 readergirliz:, >29 rosalita: I loved Dandelion Wine (not SF), fictional memoir of his childhood in Waukegan. After I read it, I drove up there just to get a sense of place.

>27 benitastrnad:

I watched the men's ice skating short program and the women's "big air" jumps where they do ludicrous jumps called "1620 cork screw graps" off a sloping platform. It's impressive and something I wish I could do. Today I'm looking forward to the snowboard halfpipe (one of my favorite events).

I like women's ice skating so wonder what you dislike about it?

---

In book news I got an exciting new package today from Book Depository that made it in right before I headed out to work. Excited!

>31 lilisin:
I don't like the little girls competing in an event that is labeled Women's. (I have the same problem with little girls gymnastics.) If people are under 18 then they belong in juniors competitions - not women's. I don't care how good they are. That is reason one.

Reason two - in the past there was clearly a sexist element to these competitions. Judges favored prepubescent girls dressed in skimpy costumes over mature women. That has slowly changed over the last 10 years or so, but it was getting ridiculous - just as was the little girls gymnastics.

Reason three - Sexism. If the women's competitions are about the sport then have them dress the same way as the men. This is sort of the fight that several women's sports events are currently having with the powers that be. The women's field hockey teams in Europe for example. The women's gymnastics who asked to be able to compete in long pants, the same as the men. And I promise not to talk about the women's bikini beach volleyball at the Olympics accept to say that I would like to see the men compete in bikini's.

It has always interested me that women athletes in these "glamour" events are washed up when they hit 20 and men aren't. I think it is pure sexism since most of the judges for these events are men. For this reason I just don't want to support these attitudes by watching these events. I will watch curling or women's hockey before I watch those.

>31 lilisin: >32 benitastrnad: I agree with much of what you say in reasons 2+3.

Certain sports have age limits. Gymnasts must be 16 years old to compete at the Olympic Games, while boxers must have turned 18. There should be these restrictions for skating, IMO, as well. It seems strange to me that parents who are supposedly so supportive and protective of their children can push them to do moves that could be dangerous to the health of their child as they grow older.

For example, Tara Lipinski, the youngest gold medal winner in Ladies Figure Skating at age 15, retired after winning and at the age of 18, had hip surgery which she believed saved her career. Her injury, a torn labrum in her hip, had been misdiagnosed for four or five years, and that it had caused her a great deal of joint pain. Would she have won a gold if she had had to wait until she was 16? We'll never know. But would her injury have needed surgery if she wasn't pushing for the Olympics at 15?

Some countries were caught falsifying the ages of their gymnasts, girls who were too young to compete.

I've stopped watching the Olympics, there's just too much grift and grief, I won't support it.

Reporting ROOT # 6 for the year and # 1 for February.

De puzzelvrouwen van Berlijn by Anna Ellory

Own ticker update

I finished ROOT 8 for the year and the first for February with Home by Marilynne Robinson, a dense and heavy read.
Group tickers updated

>30 kac522: You know, shortly after posting, I realized I have read Dandelion Wine, but I read it on audio and forgot! I absolutely loved it.

>29 rosalita: I didn't know what I was expecting, either! I am a big wimp when it comes to anything horror, and while I wouldn't classify the book as horror exactly, there were certainly moments where I got goosebumps! I also had a few very weird dreams as well- I guess that one wasn't the best bedtime read. I would definitely read Fahrenheit 451 if you haven't yet!

I finished another work related book:

3. Why Kids Kill: Inside the Minds of School Shooters by Peter Langman -- finished 2/10/22. I've had this book since 2013. Good study of the minds of a small group of school shooters - up through the Virginia Tech shooter in 2007. I'm most interested in psychopathic shooters and how to recognize them before they become violent, and Langman includes two psychopathic shooters in this study. 3.5 stars

My second root for the month, Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay by Elena Ferrante*. what an excellent series this is proving to be. A fascinating look at life for women in Naples during the 1960's and 1970's with the rise of Women's Lib and the Trade Unionist movement. 8/48

I've finally got a ROOT to report for February - #1 for the month, #8 total for the year so far.

I finished my third ROOT for February (my 8th for the year). The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa.

Just added my second ROOT for February to my personal ticker: Oliver Twist, by Charles Dickens.

Added my third ROOT for the year and first for Feb. The review of the book is on my thread. No tickers updated.

Maybe I'm slow but I don't understand what ".... PLEASE REMEMBER TO CLICK ON NEW TICKER AFTER YOU HAVE UPDATED" means. Exactly what is it I need to be doing after I update? Thanks for any clarification.

>45 wandaly: When you have reached the page after updating the ticker and you have clicked SHARE, to the right is NEW TICKER. When you click new ticker, it clears the memory of te style so that there is no mixture.

Added my third ROOT of February to my personal ticker: The Moving Target, by Ross Macdonald.

>46 cyderry: I think I get it. Is it after I click SAVE though? I don't see a share. And then click NEXT? And then new ticker? I'll have to read another root so I can try it.

>48 wandaly: After SAVE you get to NEW TICKER when you click on NEXT in the upper right corner.

>49 FAMeulstee: Thank you

I've just finished ROOT #2 for February (#9 for the year) and added to my own ticker only. It was a good one - Bernardine Evaristo's Girl, Woman, Other.

Edited to add: and #3 too! That takes me to 10 ROOTs for the year to date. Another good one - A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman.

My 3rd Root for the month, The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles. I admit to being disappointed by this book. 9/48

Added my fourth ROOT of February to my personal ticker: The Quiller Memorandum, by Adam Hall.

I've added #4 for February (#11 for the year) to my personal ticker - group ticker left well alone! :)

The good news is that every book I've read in 2022 so far is a ROOT. The bad news is there have only been 6 of them. I've added two in February: A Gentleman in Moscow and The Alington Inheritance. The ticker on the ticker thread and my personal thread is updated.

On vacation this week and may not be able to get March thread up on time. Internet is spotty.

>56 rosalita: I can't say that every book I've read so far in 2022 is a ROOT, but I've also removed 6 from my shelves.

Keep at it! :)

>58 fuzzi: Thanks for the encouragement! I did add one more yesterday, The Mystery of the Vanishing Treasure, so that makes 7 ROOTs now. :-)

I finished my third ROOT for February, Busman's Honeymoon by Dorothy L. Sayers. I've had my edition since sometime in the 80's and mine doesn't have the annoying subtitle of the Touchstone version. This is my fourth ROOT of the year.

>57 cyderry: Enjoy your vacation! We'll keep rooting...no hurry!

I have been reading a bit this month, but haven't had much time or energy for posting. I finished Emperor of Ocean Park and also read Little Book of Hygge that I have had on my list for a long long time. Hope to finish a couple of books this weekend that have been hanging around for a long time as well.

I have just surprised myself by finishing my 8th ROOT of the month.

Finished a book of Agatha Christie's short stories today -- fourth ROOT for February and fifth ROOT for the year.

Poirot Investigates by Agatha Christie -- finished 2/23/22. I have had this book since around 2001, it was my grandmother's. I am normally a fan of Christie (especially Miss Marple), but these short stories just weren't that good. Maybe they were too short - no room for character development, and Poirot was so conceited. I give it a dismal 2.5 stars.

I finished two ROOTS this week! Both were mysteries and both were good reads! Frangipani Tree Mystery by Ovidia Yu and Children Return by Martin Walker. I read most of both of these over last weekend and they were a great way to spend a nice restful weekend. Frangipani Tree Mystery was a BB from Suzanne from a couple of years ago and I happened upon it at my local public library. Well worth the time to read this one. I have to work this weekend and hope to finish up another couple of books I have started before the last day of February rolls around.

I finished two more ROOTs, The Evil Wizard Smallbone by Delia Sherman and To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis. That makes 5 for February and 10 for the year.

Only one ROOT read in February, making a total of 8/48.
My own ticker is up to date.

Reporting ROOT # 7 for the year and # 2 for February.

De verdwijning van de horlogemaker by Natasha Pulley

Own ticker update

So for February, I read 4 books.
Have only updated personal ticker.
Happy reading everyone!
ps- Cyderry, I love the snow pictures!Can't wait to see what you have install for us in March.Also, enjoy your holiday!:+}

Here is my report for February 2022:

UpROOTED books: 10
ROOTless books: 4
Added to the treebook TBR shelves: 0

The ROOTs were:

The Patrician Tribune by W. Jeffrey Tatum
Before the Coffee Gets Cold and Tales from the Cafe, both by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
These Precious Days by Ann Patchett
Red, White & Blue by Casey McQuiston
Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
Dog Will Have His Day by Fred Vargas
On the Red Hill by Mike Parker
Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto
Sundowner Ubuntu by Anthony Bidulka

ROOTs in YTD: 15

(Group tickers not touched)

(PS. I had problems logging into the Ticker Factory and had to make a new ticker in the end. Is anybody else having problems?)

I completed FIVE ROOTs this month, yippee!

>70 Robertgreaves: Ticker Factory converted all my tickers into the same background and ticker. I might go back in and fix it.

6 for me this month. Updating personal ticker.

Four books completed for February: Another World by Pat Barker; Shadowplay by Joseph O’Connor; The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton; and The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann.

That’s 6/40 for 2022. Tickers updated.

I read 3 ROOTs in February. Too many library books! I've now read 11 towards my goal of 65.

My personal ticker is up to date with 11 ROOTs for the year so far. My last ROOT of February is I Love the Bones of You: My Father and the Making of Me, by Christopher Eccleston.

>75 rabbitprincess: We're twins, RP. 11 is a good number.

I managed to slip in one final root for the month. A Little Bird by Wendy James taking me to 10/48.

Managed one last ROOT yesterday, so the total tally for February is 11.

Sorry, everyone, I'm on vacation with hubbie hunting for our retirement location. Internet has been intermittent so I haven't finished prep for the March thread or gathered numbers. Hopefully, I'll get it done tonight or it will be Thursday. If you are going to adjust your ticker for a March ROOT, please note your February total here. Thanks!

>79 cyderry: I'm good, I can wait.

Enjoy the rest of your vacation.

>79 cyderry: Good luck with your house hunting

I had 4 ROOTS for February. No tickers updated.

Fit in one last ROOT for February, bring my February total to 6 and my year to date total to 11.

The Beautiful Ones - Silvia Moreno-Garcia, purchased paperback June 2021. I really enjoyed this historical-style romance. The magical elements are very light, so those who want a lot of magic may want to look elsewhere.

February wasn't a good month for me to get ROOT's off my shelves. I only had 4 books that were ROOT's.

There were three Fiction books.
Children Return by Martin Walker
Frangipani Tree Mystery by Ovidia Yu
Moonglow by Michael Chabon

I had 1 nonfiction book this month.
Divide: Global Inequality from Conquest to Free Markets by Jason Hickel

I read some other books, but they weren't ROOT's. Work is really kicking my butt right now and my house is a mess, so I spent some time cleaning and all of that cuts into reading time.

I didn't finish any more books in February, so my total was 4 for the month, and I'm also in the 11 ROOTs club for the year so far.

I stayed up too late last night and finished one last ROOT for February: Fer-de-Lance by Rex Stout. That makes 4 for February and 8 for the year.

March thread is up!

https://www.librarything.com/topic/339979

>87 cyderry: yippee!