DECEMBER AND FINAL ROOT - Progress Thread

The end is fast approaching and we have 1 more month to reach our goals (if we haven't already).
The holidays will be full of family and friends, parties and celebrations, but let's hope that we can squeeze a few books into our schedules and finish strong.
Let's see finish the year strong, confirmed in our desire to dig deep and weed out those UNREAD BOOKS!





These tickers show the progress toward the group goal.

Here are the totals for November. If anybody's number needs adjustment, please let me know.

amberfly 40 / 50 80.0%
Ameise1★ 14 / 10 140.0%
amobogio 9 / 50 18.0%
ananislaw 48 / 50 ★ 96.0%
Anoplophora 11 / 41 26.8%
arrianarose 13 / 25 52.0%
AuntieClio 47 / 50 ★ 94.0%
auntmarge64★ 39 / 30 130.0%
avanders★ 29 / 24 120.8%
Avery_dItkarya 3 / 20 15.0%
avidmom★ 16 / 15 106.7%
bayleaf 3 / 12 25.0%
benitastrnad★° 50 / 30 166.7%
billiejean°★ 19 / 15 126.7%
bohemima 28 / 36 77.8%
bookishmaters 2 / 75 2.7%
bragan 94 / 100 ★ 94.0%
brewergirl 20 / 35 57.1%
Caramellunacy★ 71 / 50 142.0%
christina_reads★ 41 / 21 195.2%
Claire.Powers 65 / 150 43.3%
clue 31 / 30 103.3%
Conachair 39 / 50 78.0%
connie53★ 26 / 24 108.3%
craso★ 8 / 8 100.0%
crazy4reading 37 / 35 105.7%
cyderry 76 / 84 90.5%
damarisT 3 / 14 21.4%
daughterofheaven★ 13 / 13 100.0%
deep220 52 / 50 104.0%
detailmuse★ 33 / 30 110.0%
dudes22★ 66 / 60 110.0%
edgewood 10 / 50 20.0%
eesti23 13 / 25 52.0%
emperatrix 3 / 30 10.0%
EricPatterson 1 / 25 4.0%
Familyhistorian★ 48 / 35 137.1%
fuzzi 39 / 40 ★ 97.5%
HelenBaker 40 / 35 114.3%
hemlokgang 15 / 25 60.0%
Henrik_Madsen 36 / 50 72.0%
Infoquest 77 / 75 102.7%
inge_87 17 / 36 47.2%
ipsoivan★ 44 / 30 146.7%
JackieKirkham★ 19 / 18 105.6%
JacobsBeloved 7 / 20 35.0%
janflora 5 / 50 10.0%
jen.e.moore★ 94 / 50 188.0%
jennyifer24 5 / 12 41.7%
jessibud2 13 / 20 65.0%
johanna414★ 23 / 20 115.0%
jonesli 75 / 75 100.0%
kac522 18 / 30 60.0%
karen_o 43 / 45 ★ 95.6%
karspeak★ 21 / 20 105.0%
Kaydeanne 15 / 50 30.0%
kaylaraeintheway 7 / 15 46.7%
kittym 13 / 12 108.3%
kkunker 35 / 36 ★ 97.2%
LadyBookworth★ 25 / 25 100.0%
lahochstetler 6 / 50 12.0%
laura_88 11 / 20 55.0%
laurabrook★ 51 / 50 102.0%
lauranav 16 / 30 53.3%
laytonwoman3rd 33 / 35 ★ 94.3%
leslie.98★ 46 / 45 102.2%
lilywren 4 / 25 16.0%
lindapanzo 39 / 36 108.3%
Little Taiko 46 / 50 ★ 92.0%
lizamichelle° 41 / 100 41.0%
lkernagh 24 / 25 ★ 96.0%
LongDogMom° 4 / 35 11.4%
LorLe 27 / 50 54.0%
lulaa 4 / 50 8.0%
Maaike15274 63 / 56 112.5%
mabith★ 27 / 24 112.5%
majkia★ 86 / 60 143.3%
mandymarie20° 44 / 100 44.0%
melonbrawl 12 / 50 24.0%
Merryann★ 89 / 84 106.0%
Michael.Rimmer 10 / 12 83.3%
MissWatson 32 / 36 88.9%
moonshineandrosefire 111 / 120 ★ 92.5%
Nickelini° 46 / 50 ★ 92.0%
paulstalder 21 / 50 42.0%
Pigletto★ 78 / 60 130.0%
PolymathicMonkey 48 / 50 ★ 96.0%
punky° 3 / 50 6.0%
Quaisior° 46 / 50 ★ 92.0%
rabbitprincess★ 59 / 50 118.0%
raidergirl3 17 / 25 68.0%
rainpebble★ 87 / 50 174.0%
ramblingivy° 2 / 8 25.0%
riverwillow 16 / 24 66.7%
RobertGreaves° 66 / 75 88.0%
rubyandthetwins★ 52 / 48 108.3%
sallylou61 18 / 20 90.0%
sarahbradshaw 13 / 30 43.3%
scenik1★ 46 / 45 102.2%
shearon° 16 / 25 64.0%
shinyone★ 25 / 25 100.0%
Shutzie 24 / 50 48.0%
skalnins1629 1 / 20 5.0%
skyrad43★ 21 / 20 105.0%
SqueakyChu★ 13 / 6 216.7%
streamsong 48 / 50 ★ 96.0%
SuziQoregon 7 / 18 38.9%
Tallulah_Rose 26 / 20 130.0%
Tanya-dogearedcopy 13 / 50 26.0%
tess_i_am48★ 39 / 16 243.8%
tloeffler★ 43 / 50 86.0%
torontoc° 30 / 30 100.0%
tymos 45 / 48 ★ 93.8%
vestafan° 37 / 50 74.0%
VivienneR★ 77 / 50 154.0%
westham89° 14 / 26

Our group goal for December is 4,623. Probably not doable but let's at least reach 4,000 which would beat last year.
36 members - Squeakychu, daughterofheaven, Ameise1, tess_i_am48, christina_reads, Caramellunacy, jen.e.moore majkia, VivienneR, benitastrnad, auntmarge64, avanders, Familyhistorian, ipsoivan, johanna414, leslie.98, Merryann, Pigletto, rainpebble, rubyandthetwins, scenik1, skyrad43, connie53, craso, rabbitprincess, shinyone, karspeak, avidmom, billiejean,detailmuse, dudes22, JackieKirkham, LadyBookworth, laurabrook, mabith, and tloeffler have already reached their goals and earned a star by their name! In November they were were joined by:

clue
Tallulah_Rose
lindapanzo
jonesli
crazy4reading
Infoquest
HelenBaker
deep220
Maaike15274
torontoc

39% of our participants have reached their goal!!




OUR LEADER THIS MONTH STRIVING TO REACH THEIR GOAL IS --- fuzzi at 97.5%
But we have several other readers who are nipping at her heels

kkunker 97.2%
streamsong 96.0%
PolymathicMonkey 96.0%
ikernagh 96.0%
ananislaw 96.0%
karen_o 95.6%

So, now, Ladies and Gentlemen, BOOK LOVERS, BIBLIOPHILES, BOOK HOARDERS - LET''S EVERYONE READ THOSE ROOTS AND REACH FOR OUR STARS!
Don't forget to get your lists ready for next year!

The end of November kept me from staying on track toward my goal - I have 8 books left to reach my goal and the last 8 books on my reading list are all ROOTs. I'm crossing my fingers!

Congratulations, cyderry! :) I know that I've already met my 2014 ROOT goal of 48, but for me, having finished up November reading only 54 ROOTs was slightly disappointing to me. I so wanted to do better than I seemed to have done in November. :/ Oh well, December is a new month - Good luck to everyone! :)

Congratulations to all successful Rooters!!
& Good luck, Chèli!

Thanks for all your work, Chèli! And just keep up the reading, you will get there I'm sure!

Hello there, Cheli! :) Congratulations to you for doing as well as you have and good luck for topping your goal for 2014. I'm on target myself - at least, I think so! ;) By the end of November, I had read a total of 114 ROOTs!

So far, I've already finished one ROOT in December, so I have high hopes that I'll be able to meet my ROOT goal by the end of 2014! :)

Had four more to go to start the month, but finished one during lunch today. Three more!

Huge congrats to all who reached goal in November. I will be trying to pick up some more numbers in December. I would love to double my goal and get 100 ROOTs in by the year's end.

Thank you to Cheli for all her hard work in the face of so many other commitments.

Nine books to go for me. It's going to be a nail-biting finish.

I'm still ten books short of my goal and I'm not sure I'm going to make it. This was my first time doing the challenge and I'd really love to succeed. Better get reading!

Go Amberfly, Go Robert! Go Little Taiko! Go Chèli!

And thanks so much, Chèli, for doing such a good job of running the challenge!

Still have books from the 2014 Reading Challenge to finish. Will try to keep pulling them from my bookshelves and keep working towards our goal.

Book 53 of 50
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

Another question for the group...

#45 Sentimental Education by Flaubert. This took me a little while to get into, but, oh, it was so worth it in the end!

Finally another ROOT for me, from 2013, The Spirit Lens. Updating all tickers.

I voted 'yes', but really Cheli, that's up to you and how much extra work it is for you.

>>16 Robertgreaves: It takes about 15 minutes after I gather the numbers off the ticker thread. The most time consuming part is getting the numbers for the participants that aren't on the ticker thread and haven't made a notation on the monthly thread or their own thread. But I look at it as my own little mystery and tracking down the evidence.

Our Own Miss Marple and the Elusive ROOTs.....

I quite liked the stars, so if it's not too much trouble, Chèli? Thanks again for all the time you put into this.
I have finished my first ROOT for December, yay. 707 pages of a 19th century Chinese novel Die schwarze Reiterin. Very foreign attitudes and habits, but nice to read.

A couple of library books I had on hold came in, so I looked over my planned reading for Dec and see I only have a couple of Roots planned for this month. I had lowered my Root goal this year to be able to fit in more library books, but I should end up pretty close to last year anyway.

>16 Robertgreaves: that's a very thoughtful post, and I agree.

I don't update the main ticker because I'm concerned that I will "mess it up". I hope that doesn't make a lot more work for you, Cheli.

>>21 fuzzi: no trouble - once I've pulled the numbers off the tickers and personal threads, I just adjust the group ticker with the total.

Finished #36 last night, which means I've met my yearly goal!!
I updated all the tickers. I will try to read one or two more to help out the group totals. Looking forward to doing a lot of rooting next year.

Whoo Hoo Congratulations!!

Congratulations to all! Just think, if we were to go out and purchase the number of books we've read overall, that would be almost 4000 books booksellers would sell.

>25 clue: If only I could keep my book purchases close to the number of ROOTs that I read - I think I keep the booksellers very happy.

>>23 kkunker: Congratulations!!

Well done kkunker

#46 I Knock at the Door, the first of 6 volumes of autobiography by Irish playwright, Sean O'Casey. One blurb on the back of the book says it is "one of the most uncomfortable and memorable works of the century". I'm not sure about the "of the century" part, but certainly it's uncomfortable and memorable. I'll be reading more when I recover from this one.

I didn't manage to finish any further ROOTs in November, but am getting through one now so should have at least one to add for December. My plan was to then reread a book which is the first part of a trilogy (the rest of which I haven't read) so the next ones would be my first ROOTs for January, but although I'll probably get to start it I'm not sure I'll finish it. I'll count it as my first January ROOT instead, as I've decided to change my 2015 rules to count rereads if it's more than 10 years since I last read it.

My current ROOT is good, but I'm not rushing to finish it - one thing I think this year has confirmed for me is that I'm really not that into fiction (I knew that anyway, and I love non-fiction, but I had hoped that I would rekindle some enthusiasm for fiction. I'll keep trying next year).

Thank you to cheli for continuing to collate the figures and cheer us on our way.

Hi Cheli, I've really missed documenting my Roots this year with your group and I look forward to ROOTing books off my shelves again in 2015. Not that I'm rushing things but when should I be on the look out for next years thread?

Cheli, I notice that the totals on the 2 tickers are different--one has 4604 and the other 4623. Not sure how that happened, but the ROOTs completed is the same.

I have completed my first root for the month, Away by Amy Bloom. off to update tickers.

I just finished my third ROOT for December - Preservation Hall by Scott Spencer - yesterday, Friday, December 5th. Now, I'm trying to decide what to read next! :)

Re: Message 17 - I update my ticker in the ticker only discussion thread. Is that what you mean or is there a group ticker to update as well?

To end off the year, I hope to finish off some of the ROOTs that I have on the go. I have been reading one of them for at least two years and I only have 25 pages left. (It is 800 pages long.) Once I write my one and only exam on Monday I should have some time to devote to reading.

>35 Anansilaw: Anansilaw: At the top of every monthly thread you'll find the group ticker, showing the total that we reached so far and the percentage ticker, showing how far we have gone. It is up to every member of this group to update these tickers as well but it is not obligatory.

I have started reading what I hope is my goal-reaching ROOT: The Island by Gary Paulsen. So far, I am enjoying it...a good sign that I will complete it!

#47 How It All Began by Penelope Lively. I needed a break from grim after I Knock at the Door. This was a wonderful change--bittersweet.

Sorry, Friday and Saturday I was hosting a Christmas party for two different bridge groups that I play in and so I didn't get here. I will verify and fix the group tickers.

I have one more party at my home next Sunday and then I will probably start on the setup for 2015.

I did it!!! I reached 40, my goal, YIPPEE!!!!!

And a thousand times YES, I plan to ROOT again next year...

Congrats Fuzzi!!

>>41 fuzzi: way to go! Congratulations on completing your challenge!

Well done, fuzzi.

>41 fuzzi: Well done, congrats!!!! :-)

way to go fuzzi!

I'm looking forward to ROOTing with all of you next year!

Oh goody - bridge Christmas parties. I hope you are enjoying them. I plan on ROOTing next year and think I will increase my goal.

Just finished my first ROOT for December, Affairs of Steak by Julie Hyzy. One more to go and I will reach my goal!

Thank you, all!

I think I'll just add 10% to my current, and go for 45 next year. There's nothing that will keep me from doing more, as time allows.

::looking at ROOT books still on the shelf::

Reply to Msg 37 - I don't know how to access the group ticker. When I clicked on it, it asked for a password which I don't know. I will continue to update my personal ticker.

>50 Anansilaw: Hi there, the password for the group ticker is ROOT.

finished #31- updated the numbers ticker. Review is on my thread

Finished another ROOT Burn Me Deadly from 2013. I have got to get the next book of that series. Such fun.

Updating all tickers.

#47 Arthur and George. Parts good, parts--awful? Not quite, but I had trouble figuring out why they had been included. All tickers updated.

In the past couple of days I have read two ROOTS, Tea Time for the Traditionally Built by Alexander McCall Smith and A Wreath of Snow by Liz Curtis Higgs. This finishes my ROOT challenge for this year -- my first year for this challenge. I plan to participate again next year. I have updated the ticker.

I know I'm not going to make it but at least I finally got 15 read this year which had been hanging around since 2008 or possibly even longer. Maybe next year will be better. In the mean time I'll continue slogging through the textbook I stupidly decided to include in my TBRs and most likely will carry it over into next year. What was I thinking?

Congrats SallyLou!!

And congrats Kaydeanne on reading some old ones'

Congratulations Sally Lou. Well done.

Good try, Kaydeanne.

Yeah! Just finished book 50 and reached my ROOT goal!!!

All tickers have been updated.

Woohoo!! Congratulations!!

Congratulations, anansilaw.

Congratulations to all who've finished since I was here last. I've finished my library books and am back to reading Roots so hopefully a few more will be finished before the end of the year.

Will there be a ROOT group for 2015?

Congrats to all that have met their goals...or at least lowered their ROOT book count. There are no losers here, only winners! :)

I've just hit my ROOT goal yesterday! 120 ROOTs read in 2014, although I'm going to keep going with my reading. :)

>>63 Samantha_kathy: Yes there will be a ROOT group for 2015.
I just finished 8 days where I hosted 3 Christmas parties so this week I'm hoping to get caught up on all things LT including the setup of the 2015 ROOT group.

I am happy to report that I have reached my goal of 36. My ticker is updated. Happy ROOTing all!

Yay! So many folks making their goals! Congrats everyone!

>65 moonshineandrosefire: and >67 MissWatson: Congratulations!!

I've read 56 ROOTs! I'm off to update my tickers and of course, will continue reading! :)

Congratulations to moonshineandrosefire and Miss Watson.

Well, I am looking forward to the 2015 ROOT thread! I've never done a reading challenge on LT (despite being a member of LT for years!) and I was going to do one of the other challenges but actually I have far too many unread books on my shelves, so I am going to tackle those first!

>66 cyderry: That's great! I'll see about joining you guys there next year :D

Congratulations to moonshineandrosefire and Miss Watson from me as well!

I've read another ROOT, Thornyhold by Mary Stewart, for my 32nd ROOT against my goal of 30. I think I'll get at least one more in this month.

I can add another 4 roots to the group total and another fortnight to go. Hope to be back soon.

Finally finished my first Root for this month - The Headhunter's Daughter by Tammar Myers. Only so-so.

>65 moonshineandrosefire: 120??????? ::faints::

>67 MissWatson: good job! :)

>70 rubyandthetwins: nice! >75 clue: you too!

>77 dudes22: congratulations, good start!

Many thanks to everyone who offered me congratulations! :)

::fans fuzzi and offers her smelling salts:: I just finished my 121st ROOT yesterday, fuzzi - oops! Steady on, there, you don't want to faint away again! :)

Hurray for our Group! I will certainly join next year!

>80 connie53: me too, connie! I've been doing a big sort of all my books, reading a few pages of each to sort out what still excites me, and I'm really eager to get reading!

I just finished my second ROOT of the month, and 47th of the year. I just need to finish the non-fiction book I'm reading now to reach my goal of 48!

Mission accomplished. 75/75 ROOTs for 2014.

The ROOTs were:

The Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta
Bel-Ami by Guy de Maupassant
Sociology: A Very Short Introduction by Steve Bruce
Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann
Thinking Straight by Robin Reardon
Psychology: A Very Short Introduction by Gillian Butler and Freda McManus
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell
Sorry Now? by Mark Richard Zubro
Tea Time for the Traditionally Built by Alexander McCall Smith

No tickers have been touched.

Done! 50 ROOTs for 2014. Really don't think I'll increase my goal for next year as I was cutting it pretty close this time.

CONGRATULATIONS Robert and Taiko!

2015 ROOT GROUP IS SETUP!!!

https://www.librarything.com/topic/184736

>83 Robertgreaves: and >84 LittleTaiko: congratulations!!!

>85 cyderry: thank you!! So exciting!

Adding two more ROOTs to the group total:

Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs (abandoned unfinished but off the shelf)
"Death in Roman Britain" (no touchstone), a virtual box set of novels by Jane Finnis

Congrats to everybody reaching their target. :-)

Finished my 89th ROOT for the year, A Conspiracy of Violence. Updating all tickers, and will head over to the new thread!

LOOKING FOR SOME HELP

Is there a way to find a book(s) tagged "Mystery" with a rating of 4* or more? I'm trying to find a book for my book club and I want a mystery. I trust the opinions of readers here so if it's rated 4* or more it should be good.

I finished my 20th ROOT of the year, Jonas Jonasson's "The 100 year old man who climbed out of the window and disappeared". I'm provisionally giving it 3.5/5, but might raise that to 4/5.

I've updated my own ticker but left the group one alone.

Hoping I'll get at least one more ROOT in this month, and will definitely join the thread for next year!

>>91 Jackie_K: I read that - I really laughed a lot.

>90 cyderry: Two mysteries that my group read were Jasper Fforde's The Eyre Affair and Graham Greene's Our Man in Havana. On LT, Fforde's book is rated 4+; Greene's is rated 3.87. Our group enjoyed both books; perhaps Greene's book a bit more, but we are a "Great Books" group, and mostly read the classics. And we don't have any regular mystery readers in our group, so we may not be typical.

>90 cyderry: let's see if I can describe this well enough to be helpful. In the upper right corner is a search box for you to search the site... Type in "mystery" (without the quotation marks) in that box. When the search results appear, it should be results of "works"... Verify by looking to the left on your screen and "works" should be bolded. Then on the right side of your screen near the top (not all the way at the top, but near it), the word "relevance" should be bolded. In that series of words, choose "ratings" instead... Then it should sort your search results by ratings. Hope that helps!

The Top 5 Books of 2014 list is up, now, so drop by and add your 5 faves. This is a great place to get some reading recs for next year, just what we all need, more book bullets;).

#49 Restoration by Rose Tremain. A reread from many years ago, and as wonderful as I remember.

ETA all tickers updated.

>95 karspeak::
Kar; I have read so many great books this year that I do not know where to begin. **heavy sigh**

So far this month I have read 6 ROOTs. (two 5 star books here alone) This leaves me 4 in order to double my goal numbers. I think I can do it.

88. The Victorian Chaise-Longue by Marghanita Laski; Persephone; {acquired 09/01/2009}; (4 1/2*)
89. Five Little Peppers and How They Grew by Margaret Sydney; {acquired in my childhood}; Y/A; (4*)
90. Flush: A Biography by Virginia Woolf; {acquired 10/29/2009}; Persephone; (5*)
91. The Boy Next Door by Irene Sabatini; {acquired 06/20/2011}; Orange Award for New Writers, (2009 or 2010); about Africa; (4*)
92. The Ordinary Princess by M.M. Kaye; {acquired prior to L/T}; (5*)
95. Cheerful Weather for the Wedding by Julia Strachey; {acquired 02/03/2010}; Persephone; (2*)

I've just finished An Unfinished Score by Elise Blackwell which will probably be my last Root for this year. I have an ER book which I'm going to start and as busy as this time of year is, I probably will not get time for more Roots. So I'll wish you all a happy holiday and a happy new year now.

I'm plugging away at ROOT #45 out of 50. Will probably finish it tomorrow. I think the only way I'll hit my goal is if I find a few really short books to make up the total. It's so frustrating to be this close and still doubt whether I'll meet the goal.

One more for me. Tickers updated.

#50 The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson. Bizarre and absorbing. I really liked this one. Tickers updated.

>>99 Amberfly: I understand, I have 2 more to get to my goal and I'm worried about finishing.

FINISHED! I just finished ROOT book #48 of 48. Yay!

I may add a couple more to the group total by the end of the year. I'm working on one now.

>103 tymfos: congrats!!

>104 avanders: Thanks!

Well done, Tymfos.

Physically, to me, there is a clear difference between a boxed set, in which each volume would count as a ROOT, and an omnibus edition, in which the whole thing would count as one ROOT. But how would people count something marketed as a "boxed set" of ebooks? It seems to me that for ebooks you can only tell what is a boxed set and what is an omnibus edition from the publisher's marketing.

cyderry - It sounds like your group doesn't normally read mysteries so books that fall into the Literary Mystery category are your best bet.

For a book group, I recommend A Land More Kind Than Home by Wiley Cash. There's a lot in this book to talk about.
Another one that my book group read and loved was Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin. Both books won awards for best mystery.

Finished one more ROOT, The Alto Wore Tweed, a liturgical mystery. Quite good despite me missing a lot of the religious and musical humor.

Updating all tickers.

>107 Robertgreaves: For me, I count it by personal aggravation: is the file still showing up somewhere to remind me I ought to be reading it? Then it's not done yet, and it doesn't count as a ROOT. (This does also mean I've counted as two things that, if I'd read them in print, would probably count as one - ebooks of old texts originally printed as two volumes, but modern printings always put them together as one, for example.)

To all (especially those whose pages I haven't been able to visit!):

#51 The Mill on the Floss. I'm quitting part-way through and moving on to something that is more engrossing.

I almost neglected to mention it here, but as of yesterday, I have met my ROOT goal. Yaaaaay! I also met my personal points goal, which involved a ridiculously complicated system whereby the longer a book had been sitting around on the TBR shelves, the more points it was worth. That one I was much less sure I'd be able to manage, so I feel quite accomplished!

>113 bragan: woooo hoooo! Congrats (again)!!

>>113 bragan: YEAH! good job!

Thank you!

Met my goal plus 1 -- finally -- and that will finish the ROOT project for me for 2014 with a total of 46.

A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for everyone!

>117 karen_o: congrats on meeting your goal!

#113 by bragan> Huzzah!

>113 bragan: >117 karen_o: Congrats! Both of you. Well done.

Congratulations to bragan and karen_o

I'm going to be doing a bit of traveling in the next few days but I wanted to wish you all

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all those celebrating the birth of Christ and a kewl Yule to those who aren't.

Great Christmas - I reached my goal this morning!

>126 cyderry: Congatulations on reaching your goal!!!

Congratulations to everyone who reached their goal since I was here last - I just finished my 125th ROOT on Wednesday, December 31st and I hope to squeeze in no more by the end of the year. Maybe or maybe not! :)

>126 cyderry: Congratulations!!

>126 cyderry: - Congratulations Cheli!

Well done, Cheli. Thank you for all your work and support for us through 2014.

Yay for us ROOTers, meeting our goals or not. It's hard work!

I met my goal of 25 for the year -- again this year, didn't complete as many Member Giveaways as I had hoped -- but I'll keep at it.

Thanks to cyderry for all the hard work and dedication in keeping this going for another year. You are the best.

Best holdiay wishes to all.

>133 shearon: congrats!!

Congrats, Chèli. Well done.

>126 cyderry: Congrats!

ROOT No. 78/75 for 2014 is A Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans

I broke 100 over Christmas! ROOT #100 was The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair (not recommended), and #101 was Puck of Pook's Hill (recommended).

Like Jen, I broke 100 ROOTs this month. I doubt I will read any more this year as I am dying to get into the books I received as Christmas gifts.

So.....I added 13 to bring my ROOT total of 2014 to an even 100. This month's take was:

DECEMBER ROOTS:
88. The Victorian Chaise-Longue by Marghanita Laski; Persephone; {acquired 09/01/2009}; (4 1/2*)
89. Five Little Peppers and How They Grew by Margaret Sydney; {acquired in my childhood}; Y/A; (4*)
90. Flush: A Biography by Virginia Woolf; {acquired 10/29/2009}; Persephone;
91. The Boy Next Door by Irene Sabatini; {acquired 06/20/2011}; Orange Award for New Writers, (2009 or 2010); about Africa; (4*)
92. The Ordinary Princess by M.M. Kaye; {acquired prior to L/T}; (5*)
93. Cheerful Weather for the Wedding by Julia Strachey; {acquired 02/03/2010}; Persephone; (2*)
94. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett; {acquired in my youth}; Y/A; (5*)
95. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery; {acquired in my youth}; Y/A; (4*)
96. A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett; {acquired in my childhood}; Y/A; (5*)
97. Briar Rose by Jane Yolen; {acquired 02/25/2010}; Y/A; (5*)
98. Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski; {acquired 10/12/2007}; (4*)
99. The Kitchen Madonna by Rumer Godden; {acquired 09/19/2011}; (5*)
100. An Episode of Sparrows by Rumer Godden; {acquired 11/25/2011}; (3 1/2*)

My personal ticker has been updated but I've not touched the group one.

I am so happy to have doubled my goal of 50. Yea, me!~!

Very well done, jen and rain pebble.

2 more off the group total and trying for one more before New Year.

Nine more for the group total from me and I updated it. Happy New Year to Everyone!

>138 jen.e.moore: and >139 rainpebble: congrats!
>139 rainpebble: I know ... My Christmas books are just *sitting* there mocking me!! ;)

>141 HelenBaker: and >142 Merryann: thanks and congrats on your add'l roots!

>142 Merryann: and happy new year!!

ROOT No. 79/75 for 2014 is The Bone Thief by V. M. Whitworth.

Congrats jen and rainpebble. Well done!!! :-)

Finished 1 more root this month... putting me at a total of 31/24 ROOTs.. It is highly unlikely I'll be able to finish another before year's end, so that's my final number for calculations! (personal ticker updated; never touched the group ticker all year :))

I finished one more ROOT too, making my final total 21. I won't be able to finish another one before the end of the year. The book was Frances Wood's "Hand-Grenade Practice in Peking: My part in the Cultural Revolution", about the author's year as an exchange student in China in the mid-70s. Fascinating, amusing, a bit uncomfortable (see my longer musings on my thread for why), but worth a read. 4/5.

I updated my ticker but like avanders I avoided the group ticker :)

I finished up the year with two Christmas ROOTs bringing my total to 56/35 ROOTs. Its been fun ROOTing with everybody this year and, with my book buying habits, I have plenty more ROOTs to read in 2015. See you there!

I managed another book, Jezebel by Irene Nemirovsky. A great short read. I will try for one more but it is doubtful as tomorrow is my granddaughter's 2nd birthday.
Happy New Year from down under.

I just did an update on my three and my ticker (including group ticker). I don't think I will finish anything else, so it looks like I'll miss my goal by 3 books. Considering I was behind in November when my little one was born, knocking my whole life out of balance, I think that's not to bad in the end.

>150 Conachair: not too bad at all!

I too have finished with my ROOTs for this year, ending up with a total of 43/21. My ticker is updated, but I haven't touched any group tickers. This group really inspired me to read more books off my shelves, so thank you all! :)

>150 Conachair: Congratulations on the new arrival!

We will continue here.

>154 cyderry: I gather the "continuation" thread was an error?

I just finished my 50th (and likely final) ROOT of 2014. That's 2 over my official goal (and it equals my original goal before I modified it to make it evenly divisible by 12 months). I updated only my own ticker

>150 Conachair: Congratulations and best wishes!

Here is my report for December 2014:

UpROOTED books: 14
ROOTless books: 3
Added to the TBR pile: 24

The ROOTS were:
The Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta
Bel-Ami by Guy de Maupassant
Sociology: A Very Short Introduction by Steve Bruce
Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann
Thinking Straight by Robin Reardon
Psychology: A Very Short Introduction by Gillian Butler and Freda McManus
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell
Sorry Now? by Mark Richard Zubro
Teatime for the Traditionally Built by Alexander McCall Smith
Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs (abandoned)
Death in Roman Britain by Jane Finnis
A Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans
The Bone Thief by V. M. Whitworth
Tau Zero by Poul Anderson

Total Roots for 2014: 80/75

No tickers were harmed during the compilation of this report.

Do I hear a flurry of reading to finish this year?

Here is my final tally for the year. Sorry I forgot how to use the tickers!

edgewood 37 / 50 74.0%

I read 4 books for December, which is pretty good for me this year. My year-end total was 23. Please add 4 to the ticker and I promise to relearn how to do that next year.

I read 7 ROOTS this month for a total of 66. My personal ticker has been updated; I have not touched the group ticker.

Happy New Year to everyone! Have fun reading & rooting in 2015.

Hello again, everyone! :) I know that I'm coming in right under the wire with my gathering of my December totals, but I managed to read three more ROOTs for this December than I did last December. I also met my goal of 120 ROOTs read, and exceeded it by five - so, by the end of this year, I've read a total of 125 ROOTs!

In keeping with the group theme, here are my December totals:

Ancient Oaks Pruned: stands for older books read from my TBR pile: 4
Young Saplings Pruned: stands for newer books read from my TBR pile: 7
Trees Replanted: stands for rereads from my TBR pile: 1
New Seeds Planted: stands for additions to my TBR pile: 41 (In my defense, Mareena and I went to the Library Book Sale on December 19th!)
Trees Transplanted: stands for books that were donated: 15

My personal tickers and thread are all up to date, here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/185140

Happy New Year. May we all have enough to eat and drink, clothes on our backs and roofs over our heads, somebody to love and books to read throughout 2015.

Happy New Year everyone!

I'll start gathering numbers in a little while.

>165 cyderry: ::hands over a large wicker basket for the gather::

OK, since I forgot my password to update my ticker, I'll just have to post the numbers here. I'll have to start fresh with a new ticker and write down the password!!!!! (Since there's no way to ask for it to be reset or sent to me.)

It looks like I didn't post November, so for both Nov and Dec, I added in six more, for a 2014 total of: 41.

I didn't really have a goal, though. I just try to get to the oldest on the tbr as much as they will fit into various groups and challenges.

>163 Robertgreaves::
Robertgreaves; I love your wishes for us for the New Year. That is most precious. Thank you.

169:
clue
Dec 30, 2014, 11:40am Top

I won't finish another ROOT this year, completed 32 against a goal of 30. Tickers updated. Looking forward to seeing what we pull from our shelves in 2015.

170:
johanna414
Dec 30, 2014, 8:04pm Top

I just updated my personal ticker to include my November and December ROOTS. I ended up with a total of 29 books, surpassing my goal of 20. I'm a little shocked I managed to read so many of my own books - usually I get distracted too easily by the new stuff!

171:
fuzzi
Dec 30, 2014, 8:51pm Top

>2 cyderry: johanna414: I have found that setting a goal, and then getting encouragement from fellow ROOTers has helped me move some unreads off the shelves. :)

172:
avanders
Dec 30, 2014, 11:35pm Top

>2 cyderry: johanna414: congrats!

Well, 2014 is over and the numbers have been crunched. As a group, we were able to clear 4,100 tomes from our shelves!!

Here are the totals for 2014. If anybody's number needs adjustment, please let me know.

amberfly 45 / 50 90.0%
Ameise1★ 14 / 10 140.0%
amobogio 9 / 50 18.0%
ananislaw 50 / 50 ★ 100.0%
Anoplophora 17 / 41 41.5%
arrianarose 13 / 25 52.0%
AuntieClio 52 / 50 ★ 104.0%
auntmarge64★ 39 / 30 130.0%
avanders★ 31 / 24 129.2%
Avery_dItkarya 3 / 20 15.0%
avidmom★ 16 / 15 106.7%
bayleaf 3 / 12 25.0%
benitastrnad★° 51 / 30 170.0%
billiejean°★ 23 / 15 153.3%
bohemima 28 / 36 77.8%
bragan 101 / 100 ★ 101.0%
brewergirl 20 / 35 57.1%
Caramellunacy★ 71 / 50 142.0%
christina_reads★ 43 / 21 204.8%
Claire.Powers 65 / 150 43.3%
clue★ 32 / 30 106.7%
Conachair 47 / 50 94.0%
connie53★ 26 / 24 108.3%
craso★ 8 / 8 100.0%
crazy4reading★ 42 / 35 120.0%
cyderry 86 / 84 ★ 102.4%
damarisT 3 / 14 21.4%
daughterofheaven★ 13 / 13 100.0%
deep220★ 57 / 50 114.0%
detailmuse★ 33 / 30 110.0%
dudes22★ 68 / 60 113.3%
edgewood 37 / 50 74.0%
eesti23 14 / 25 56.0%
emperatrix 3 / 30 10.0%
Familyhistorian★ 56 / 35 160.0%
fuzzi 40 / 40 ★ 100.0%
HelenBaker★ 47 / 35 134.3%
hemlokgang 15 / 25 60.0%
Henrik_Madsen 37 / 50 74.0%
Infoquest★ 82 / 75 109.3%
inge_87 17 / 36 47.2%
ipsoivan★ 51 / 30 170.0%
JackieKirkham★ 21 / 18 116.7%
JacobsBeloved 17 / 20 85.0%
janflora 5 / 50 10.0%
jen.e.moore★ 101 / 50 202.0%
jennyifer24 5 / 12 41.7%
jessibud2 13 / 20 65.0%
johanna414★ 29 / 20 145.0%
jonesli★ 82 / 75 109.3%
kac522 27 / 30 90.0%
karen_o 46 / 45 ★ 102.2%
karspeak★ 21 / 20 105.0%
Kaydeanne 15 / 50 30.0%
kaylaraeintheway 7 / 15 46.7%
kittym 13 / 12 108.3%
kkunker 36 / 36 ★ 100.0%
LadyBookworth★ 25 / 25 100.0%
lahochstetler 6 / 50 12.0%
laura_88 11 / 20 55.0%
laurabrook★ 51 / 50 102.0%
lauranav 33 / 30 ★ 110.0%
laytonwoman3rd 35 / 35 ★ 100.0%
leslie.98★ 48 / 45 106.7%
lilywren 4 / 25 16.0%
lindapanzo★ 41 / 36 113.9%
Little Taiko 50 / 50 ★ 100.0%
lizamichelle° 42 / 100 42.0%
lkernagh 26 / 25 ★ 104.0%
LongDogMom° 4 / 35 11.4%
LorLe 27 / 50 54.0%
Maaike15274★ 67 / 56 119.6%
mabith★ 31 / 24 129.2%
majkia★ 91 / 60 151.7%
mandymarie20° 76 / 100 76.0%
melonbrawl 12 / 50 24.0%
Merryann★ 98 / 84 116.7%
Michael.Rimmer 12 / 12 100.0%
MissWatson 41 / 36 ★ 113.9%
moonshineandrosefire 125 / 120 ★ 104.2%
Nickelini° 50 / 50 ★ 100.0%
paulstalder 21 / 50 42.0%
Pigletto★ 85 / 60 141.7%
PolymathicMonkey★ 48 / 50 96.0%
Quaisior° 54 / 50 ★ 108.0%
rabbitprincess★ 66 / 50 132.0%
raidergirl3 17 / 25 68.0%
rainpebble★ 87 / 50 174.0%
ramblingivy° 2 / 8 25.0%
riverwillow 16 / 24 66.7%
RobertGreaves° 79 / 75 ★ 105.3%
rubyandthetwins★ 57 / 48 118.8%
sallylou61 20 / 20 ★ 100.0%
sarahbradshaw 17 / 30 56.7%
scenik1★ 67 / 45 148.9%
shearon° 25 / 25 ★ 100.0%
shinyone★ 25 / 25 100.0%
Shutzie 24 / 50 48.0%
skyrad43★ 21 / 20 105.0%
SqueakyChu★ 15 / 6 250.0%
streamsong 50 / 50 ★ 100.0%
SuziQoregon 7 / 18 38.9%
Tallulah_Rose★ 26 / 20 130.0%
Tanya-dogearedcopy 13 / 50 26.0%
tess_i_am48★ 47 / 16 293.8%
tloeffler★ 46 / 50 92.0%
torontoc°★ 31 / 30 103.3%
tymos 51 / 48 ★ 106.3%
vestafan° 40 / 50 80.0%
VivienneR★ 77 / 50 154.0%
westham89° 14 / 26 53.8%

45 members - Squeakychu, daughterofheaven, Ameise1, tess_i_am48, christina_reads, Caramellunacy, jen.e.moore majkia, VivienneR, benitastrnad, auntmarge64, avanders, Familyhistorian, ipsoivan, johanna414, leslie.98, Merryann, Pigletto, rainpebble, rubyandthetwins, scenik1, skyrad43, connie53, craso, rabbitprincess, shinyone, karspeak, avidmom, billiejean,detailmuse, dudes22, JackieKirkham, LadyBookworth, laurabrook, mabith, clue, Tallulah_Rose, lindapanzo, jonesli, crazy4reading, infoquest, HelenBaker, deep220, Maaike15274, torontoc, and tloeffler have already reached their goals and earned a star by their name! In December they were were joined by:

ananislaw
AuntieClio
bragan
cyderry
fuzzi
karen_o
kkunker
lauranav
laytonwoman3rd
Little Taiko
lkernagh
MissWatson
moonshineandrosefire
Nickelini°
Quaisior°
RobertGreaves°
sallylou61
shearon°
streamsong
tymos

Altogether 65 of the 115 (57%) participants reached their goal.
Together we all did a great job! Pat yourselves on the back!


to everyone!

>173 cyderry: 4100???? Woo!

And thank YOU for setting up and maintaining this place. It is appreciated.

Wow!! That's amazing work! Well done, everyone!

Woohoo!!! Congrats rooters!!

Who would have thought we'd end up at an even number. And with 57% of us reaching our goal, we managed to reach 88% of the book total. So close....

Excellent Job - Yea Us!!!

Hi there, everyone! :) I know that I'm horribly late with my gathering of my December totals, but I noticed that I actually read two more ROOTs this December than last December :) I know that I've met, and exceeded my goal of 48 ROOTs read for 2014 - but I did manage to squeeze one final ROOT in on December 31st - giving me a grand total of 58 ROOTs read in 2014! Yippee!!! :)

In keeping with the group theme, here are my December totals:

Ancient Oaks Pruned: stands for older books read from my TBR pile: 1
Young Saplings Pruned: stands for newer books read from my TBR pile: 3
Trees Replanted: stands for rereads from my TBR pile: 0 (yes!)
New Seeds Planted: stands for additions to my TBR pile: 13 (not too bad!)
Trees Transplanted: stands for books that were donated: 4

My personal tickers and thread are all up to date, here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/185927