Witchyrichy Reads in 2016

Charlas75 Books Challenge for 2016

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Witchyrichy Reads in 2016

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1witchyrichy
Editado: Ene 2, 2016, 11:25 am


I'm Karen, 53. I live in rural eastern Virginia on an 18 acre farm with my husband Bob the Farmer. We've dabbled in pigs although we don't have any right now, keep chickens for eggs, grow a variety of vegetables and keep two royal palm turkeys just for fun. I keep a blog at http://www.bottletreefarm.com.

I work in the field of educational technology...mostly creating professional development for K-12 educators around using technology effectively in the classroom. I'm passionate about my work and blessed to have found my niche in the world. Plus, I get to work from home ;-)

I am excited to be back in this group...last year, I READ and READ and READ, almost 100 books. The momentum was definitely due to getting involved in this and the ROOTS group in Library Thing. My shelves are a little clearer and I spent some wonderful hours with my nose in a book. Ready for more of the same this coming year. My main change will be to do some more professional reading as fodder for reviving my blogging practice.

2maggie1944
Ene 2, 2016, 11:19 am

I thank you for stopping by my thread and delivering that fine compliment - eclectic reader. That I am, for sure. I will drop a star here, too, and look forward to following your reading. Your preferences for books seem to be similar to mine. Great new good year to us both!

3witchyrichy
Ene 2, 2016, 11:26 am

>2 maggie1944: Thanks! I have also been described as eclectic by reading friends so I knew we would get along just fine.

4witchyrichy
Ene 2, 2016, 11:29 am

My five favorites from 2015 were

A Man Called Ove
As Always, Julia
American Gods
Two Years Before the Mast
A Confederacy of Dunces

Neverwhere is really tied with American Gods but I didn't want to repeat authors. I predict more Neil Gaiman in 2016.

I wrote brief reviews on my reading blog at http://simplykaren.org/wordpress/2016/01/01/five-favorite-books-from-2015/

5porch_reader
Ene 2, 2016, 11:31 am

Hi Karen! Glad to hear that 2015 was a good reading year for you! I'll be interested to hear about your professional reading this year. I teach college classes, but I'm always looking for ways to better use technology in the classroom. Happy New Year!

6scaifea
Ene 2, 2016, 12:22 pm

Hi, Karen! Yay for Gaiman! He's one of my all-time favorites.

7witchyrichy
Editado: Dic 31, 2016, 5:21 pm




January: 8
Library of Souls Review
Crossing to Safety Review
Bitter Seeds (audio) Review
A Spool of Blue Thread Review
Venetian Betrayal Review
The Accidental Tourist Review
Rebel Yell Review
Armada Review

February: 9
Elsewhere Review
BiblioTECH Revew
The Wright Brothers Review
This Book is Overdue: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All Review
The Sandman Overture Review
Library: An Unquiet History Review
The Book of Speculation Review
You Are Not a Gadget
The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking

March: 6
Think Like a Freak
The Armchair Birder Goes Coastal Review
Some Luck Review
The Man in the High Castle Review
Battle Lines: A Graphic History of the Civil War
Warriors of the Storm

April: 8
Spartina
Ender's Game
The Emperor's Tomb
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian
The Jefferson Key
The Rapture of the Nerds
The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu
From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

May: 8
Wild Strawberries
The Lincoln Myth (Audio)
The Last Bus to Wisdom
Louis Riel
The Patriot Threat
Wonder (Audio)
The Monuments Men
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

June:13
The 39 Clues Book One (audio)
The 39 Clues Book Two (audio)
The 39 Clues Book Three (audio)
The 14th Colony
Bird Cloud
The 39 Clues Book Four (audio)
The 39 Clues Book Five (audio)
The 39 Clues Book Six (audio)
The Landscape of Home
Book Scavenger
The Innovator's Mindset Review
The 39 Clues, Book Seven (audio)
Kitchens of the Great Midwest

Six Month Total: 52

July: 11
Uncommon Learning Review
Inkheart
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption Review
The Cracked Spine
The 39 Clues Book 8 (audio)
East of Eden
On Dupont Circle
The 39 Clues Book Nine (audio)
The 39 Clues Book Ten (audio)
Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City
Journal of a Novel: East of Eden Letters

August: 6
The Oregon Trail: A New American Journey
The Gathering of Zion: The Story of the Mormon Trail
The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution
Library Wars: Love & War
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Station Eleven

September: 5
Deep South
Avenue of Mysteries
The Third Secret
Off To Be The Wizard
Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd: A Flavia de Luce Novel

October: 5
Razor Girl
Summerland
Onward
Reading Up a Storm
The Wee Free Men

November: 4
Mrs. Grant and Madame Jule
Ink and Bone
Paper and Fire
Hillbilly Elegy

December: 8
The Last Bookaneer
The Queen's Gambit
The Lake District Murder
Paper Towns
Winter Street
Indeh
March
Little Women

8witchyrichy
Ene 2, 2016, 1:49 pm

Library of Souls is the third book in the Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children series. Ransom Riggs weaves a fascinating tale of a world beyond our world where human beings with "peculiar" characteristics live in time loops. Jacob Portman discovers these peculiars, their mentors and his own peculiarity in the first book of the series, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. There are evil forces at work and the children fight them in the second and third books. The books are illustrated with antique photographs that Riggs has borrowed or collected. Story and photos intertwine in interesting ways and I found myself wondering about the writing process. Did Riggs look for the next photo or write the next section and then look for a photo that added interest?

I was a little taken aback by the violence: evil is really evil here, chasing the peculiars to drain their souls, and there are scenes of torture. The good guys use one of the bad guys in a similar way and Jacob sees the fear in the creature's eyes. It lives but only just and Jacob understands that even this horrible beast who would eat him if it got the chance has a bit of its own spark of life and humanity. This is a young adult novel and I think this particular point would be an important one to explore if you are reading the books with young people.

9drneutron
Ene 2, 2016, 7:42 pm

Welcome back!

10Copperskye
Ene 3, 2016, 1:03 am

Happy New Year, Karen!

11lalbro
Ene 4, 2016, 11:01 pm

Hi Karen, I found you! And starred your thread. I really enjoyed the first Miss Peregrine's book, but I am not sure about Library of Souls given your description of the story!

12witchyrichy
Ene 5, 2016, 8:43 am

>11 lalbro: The books got increasingly dark as they progressed, somewhat it seems like the Harry Potter series. I did enjoy it in the end though so I'd say give it a go. But you definitely need to read the second book first if you haven't.

13witchyrichy
Editado: Oct 28, 2016, 7:10 pm

Joining in on two challenges: non fiction and American authors. I've got January and February planned for nonfiction with a few ideas for later books. I have all the American authors filled in.

Nonfiction:

January: Biography/Memoir/Autobiography: Rebel Yell ROOT
February: History: The Wright Brothers ROOT
March: Travel The Armchair Birder Goes Coastal ROOT
April: Religion & Spirituality (Easter/Passover) The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu
May: The Arts The Monuments Men
June: Natural History/Environment/Health The Landscape of Home
July: Current Affairs Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption
Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City
August: Science and Technology The Innovators
September: Philosophy/History of Ideas
October: Politics/Economics & Business/Commentary Onward
November: Essays
December: Quirky/Who Knew

American Authors:

January- Anne Tyler A Spool of Blue Thread; also read The Accidental Tourist
February- Richard Russo Elsewhere (from library)
March- Jane Smiley: Some Luck ROOT
April- Poetry Month Wendell Berry This Day: Collected and New Sabbath Poems
May- Ivan Doig Last Bus to Wisdom ROOT
June- Annie Proulx Bird Cloud: A Memoir
July- John Steinbeck The East of Eden Letters and East of Eden
August-Joyce Carol Oates Where I've Been and Where I'm Going ROOT
September- John Irving Avenue of Mysteries
October- Michael Chabon Summerland
November- Annie Dillard The Writing Life
December- Don DeLillo White Noise

A note about ROOTS: I'm counting anything on my shelf on January 1, 2016, as a ROOT. Some of these are older than others in terms of how long they've been hanging around.

14witchyrichy
Ene 7, 2016, 3:38 pm

Crossing to Safety is a story of friendship and marriage. Four people, two couples, who connect across their lifetimes as they find their passions, even as they encounter their own limitations. Larry Morgan, who with Sally makes up one couple, narrates the story, focusing his attention on a few seminal events that define the relationships among the four and often help illuminate the marriage of Sid and Charity, their larger than life friends who pull Larry and Sally into their orbit when they meet in Madison in the years before WW II. I found the narrative quietly compelling. The drama has a cerebral quality as Larry examines the relationships and his own trajectory as a writer. We see how money and family affect the group as well as their aspirations for their respective spouses. Stegner is a master of setting and allows it to play a large, sometimes active role, in the story.

15lalbro
Ene 7, 2016, 10:21 pm

Thanks for the encouragement to keep reading the Miss Peregrine books, Karen! I'll add them to my TBR. I am also trying to do the American Author and Nonfiction Challenges, and I was thrilled to see that we will both be reading A Spool of Blue Thread! I read about 1/2 of it for a book club last summer but didn't ever manage to finish it -life just got in the way....

Also - I love your picture - what a beautiful setting.

16witchyrichy
Ene 8, 2016, 1:28 pm

>15 lalbro: I think I'll end up buying A Spool of Blue Thread or maybe betting it from the library...what I thought was a free Kindle book was just a guide ;-( I've read a few of Tyler's books but not for a long time so am looking forward to trying to fit in both books. They will help offset the nonfiction tome I've adopted. Rebel Yell is 575 pages long!

17maggie1944
Ene 8, 2016, 1:55 pm

Hi, Karen. Have you found the Kindle Unlimited to be a worthwhile effort? It seemed to me it was something like unlimited access to all the books no one is reading. Is that likely true in your experience?

Happy weekend!

18witchyrichy
Ene 9, 2016, 11:37 am

>17 maggie1944: I haven't done much with Kindle Unlimited beyond accessing crochet pattern books. I did find Jeremy Poldark and Wonder Boys there.

19witchyrichy
Ene 9, 2016, 7:32 pm

I found Bitter Seeds in my Audible feed so downloaded it for a recent road trip. I'm honestly not sure when I bought it or what attracted me to it. I am familiar with the theory of alternate history but haven't read much and don't think I realized that was the genre. It was not what I was expecting at all: a dark fantasy set during World War II. I found it fascinating even if it was sometimes a bit too violent for my tastes. There was also a psychologically disturbing edge to the narrative: children raised in a purely evil environment, taught to fear failure, trained only to kill.

I'm not sure I'll read the next two books in the series or not. It reminds me a bit of Steig Larsson's books: an evil, cynical world that repels and yet attracts as the author weaves a compelling story amongst the evil. This isn't gratuitous violence but a narrative of good and evil where neither side really wins. I listened to all three of Larsson's books and was fascinated by them.

20drneutron
Ene 10, 2016, 2:58 pm

I read the trilogy a couple of years back, and while they're dark, I thought they were really good. I don't want to say too much about the rest of the books, but the trilogy didn't go the way I expected - and some time travel is involved.

21witchyrichy
Ene 11, 2016, 7:56 pm

>20 drneutron: Thanks for the encouragement. I've read the summaries of the next two books so have some idea how they work. As I said, these aren't my typical fare but maybe it's good to challenge myself with something new. I didn't NOT like the book, just had to adjust expectations.

22porch_reader
Ene 12, 2016, 9:07 pm

Karen - Your review of Crossing to Safety reminds me that I want to read more Stegner. I loved Angle of Repose. And I started A Spool of Blue Thread last night. I'm about 30 pages in, and so far, I like it, but it hasn't grabbed me. I'm hoping to get another chunk read tonight.

23witchyrichy
Ene 17, 2016, 9:34 am

A Spool of Blue Thread is a story of a house and the four generations of the Whitshank famly who live there. It's a house born of obsession with perfection that houses a sour marriage at the start and then later a large typical family with love and petty jealousies and memories. Each character brings a bit of a surprise and we can find something to like in each one so ultimately this is a story of redemption. It was an enjoyable if not riveting read and as I headed to the last page, I felt like I wanted more answers. But, it occurred to me that the answers simply weren't there: the characters didn't know then and so we couldn't either.

24witchyrichy
Ene 17, 2016, 9:43 am

I discovered Steve Berry last year when I found The Charlemagne Pursuit on my shelf. In the tradition of The DaVinci Code, Berry writes historical thrillers that play on ancient conspiracies brought into the modern world. Venetian Betrayal did not disappoint although I'm starting to grow weary of some recurring devices including supposedly dead people who turn up alive just when you need them. And this book seemed even more violent with the evil dictator seeming to just shoot everyone who angered her and finding other creative ways to kill those who oppose her. The bodies really piled up. Despite its length, I read it in a day, skimming through some of the sometimes complicated history related to the conspiracies.

On a personal note, I checked this out of the library: these kinds of quick reads don't need to be on my shelf OR my Kindle!

25witchyrichy
Ene 17, 2016, 9:46 am

>22 porch_reader: Just finished A Spool of Blue Thread and had a similar impression after the whole book: I liked it but I wasn't overwhelmed.

26abergsman
Ene 17, 2016, 9:51 am

>23 witchyrichy: I picked up a signed copy of A Spool of Blue Thread at Costco last year, but haven't read it yet. I find that Anne Tyler often leaves the reader wanting more. In fact, I would venture to say that ambiguity is Anne Tyler's signature trait!

27witchyrichy
Ene 17, 2016, 10:05 am

>26 abergsman: Interesting point...I'm going to read The Accidental Tourist next so will see if that holds true.

28porch_reader
Ene 17, 2016, 9:34 pm

>23 witchyrichy: - I just started the second part of A Spool of Blue Thread, but right now I agree that I want more answers. I'm getting some insights into how each character experiences the family, but I don't feel like I know the inner life of any character.

29witchyrichy
Ene 21, 2016, 2:21 pm

Anne Tyler tells human stories with characters that verge ever so slightly on the stereotype. The Leary siblings in The Accidental Tourist seem almost too quirky, tied as they are to the past and their own routines and needs. It makes personal relationships difficult and marriage almost impossible unless the spouse understands those needs and can make accommodations in the name of love. Macon Leary has gotten out, it seems, until an almost unspeakable tragedy leads to the end of his marriage and his return to the arms of his sister and brothers. It takes Edward, his dog, to help him reconnect to an unlikely "fixer" who helps him really see the world outside the cocoon he has built.

My second Tyler in two weeks and I found myself appreciating this book more than A Spool of Blue Thread. It seemed better plotted perhaps with clearer connections between the characters.

30witchyrichy
Ene 21, 2016, 2:28 pm

The storm of the century is bearing down upon us even as we enjoy a lovely sunny day. I'm on the east side of the snow swatch and could get 1 inch with lots of sleet or 8 inches with no sleet, depending on the source. I follow a local man on Facebook who does long range forecasting for a living and just happen to live up the road from me. On his first guess map, we're on the line between 4-8 and 8-12 with the possibility of sleet. We've brought in wood for the stove, we have the proverbial bread and milk and I'm ready to really settle into Rebel Yell now that I've finished Anne Tyler for the American Author challenge. Bring it on!

31maggie1944
Ene 22, 2016, 9:47 am

I love long snowed-in days when the power does not become interrupted; and reading is the top priority, right after coffee or tea.

I love the quiet a snow day brings, fewer cars on the roads, more people hanging out in their abodes, less commerce and hullabaloo!

32witchyrichy
Ene 22, 2016, 8:29 pm

>31 maggie1944: You just described my whole weekend! Beef stew in the crockpot, maybe some warm biscuits with jam and honey and waffles on Sunday morning. But mostly just reading!

33Copperskye
Ene 22, 2016, 9:11 pm

Stay safe out there! Your weekend plans sound great - I kind of wish I was getting snowed in this weekend. I'd better be careful what I wish for, though!

34drneutron
Ene 23, 2016, 9:57 am

That's what we're doing - staying warm, lots of reading, praying we don't lose power! :)

35witchyrichy
Ene 23, 2016, 7:01 pm

>34 drneutron: I think you NOVA folks have it much worse than we do, but we ended up with much more snow today than they predicted. Toasty warm by the wood burning stove.

36porch_reader
Ene 23, 2016, 10:05 pm

Stay warm, Karen! We haven't had much snow this winter. I like it best when it comes on the weekend and we can all stay inside!

37maggie1944
Editado: Ene 24, 2016, 6:59 am

When I lived on Vashon Island, just off Seattle in Puget Sound, we would "always" lose power during snow storms and everyone had wood burning stoves. I loved the couple of times I was house bound with a good stove, no electricity, and lots of snow. It was hard to read, but it was cozy and relaxing. I think everyone should have a few days like that every year. Warm. Good food and drink. Good books. Quiet. Pretty scenery out the windows. No reasons to go any where, do anything chore-like, and just RELAX.

Hopefully, the snow disaster does not do harm to you! I imagine you do have farm chores to do and I hope they are not too difficult and that all your creatures make it through the cold without harm.

38drneutron
Ene 24, 2016, 6:05 pm

>35 witchyrichy: I'm actually in western Howard County, Maryland. We're one of the "north and west suburbs" of DC that always gets more snow. :) Difts up to 3 ft on my driveway, and my deck is about 3.5 ft deep.

39witchyrichy
Ene 24, 2016, 7:26 pm

>37 maggie1944: I'm amazed at the number of my friends who felt the need to go out and shovel. We stayed in and relaxed; my biggest outside chore was feeding the wild birds. My husband has the tougher duties of tending to the fowl but they mostly hunker down in their houses.

>38 drneutron: My sister is in Annapolis and figures she got 30 inches or so.

I'm working on Rebel Yell. It is very good: an honest portrait of Stonewall Jackson, both the public and private man. I'm even finding the battle descriptions interesting. S.C. Gwynne seems to understand how to balance details with observations.

40witchyrichy
Ene 28, 2016, 10:21 am

Like many people, Ken Burns introduced me to the Civil War. I became fascinated with the war in all its aspects, convinced that it was a defining moment in our history. I've visited many of the battle fields here in my adopted state of Virginia and marveled at the stories of courage in the midst of horrific blood shed. Looking out over those fields, it is hard to believe that men were willing to march into these battles, having witnessed the carnage of the battles that had gone before. Several times in his biography of Stonewall Jackson, S.C. Gwynne comments that the men of the Stonewall Brigade seemed, despite the deprivations and horror, happy as they followed the man who made them victorious against all odds.

I am also a student of leadership and Rebel Yell could be a textbook for any class in leadership. Stonewall Jackson did not particularly set out to be a leader and was really quite unsuccessful in many ways. He was an odd, stiff man who often let his strong ethics get in the way of his relationships. His tenure in both the military and VMI was fraught with somewhat silly arguments with others. It was only when he found his place in the war that he began to shine as a strategist, warrior and, ultimately, a leader. After his death, even those in the north admired him for his tenacity and religious nature.

Gwynne helps us see the man behind the legends: a loving husband and father and a loyal friend to those who get past the prickly exterior. I was most interested in his extraordinary relationship with Jeb Stuart, his calvary commander. They were friends and colleagues; Stuart touched something in Jackson that others could not. The chapter that describes their time at Moss Neck during the winter of 1862/1863 gave depth to a Stonewall Jackson that time has erased in the creation of the mythical man. Even Burns, in his epic documentary, did not get so close.

As I mentioned above, the book provides an honest portrait of Stonewall Jackson, both public and private. Gwynne brings an unbiased strength to his historical writing and even makes battle descriptions, of which I am not usually very fond, interesting.

With the recent conversations about the Confederate flag and the removal of statues, it is clear that the Civil War is still very much being waged. I know there are some who might find the book offensive as it heralds a man who fought for the wrong side and owned at least one or two slaves. But, history provides us with lessons and trying to erase seems futile to me.

41witchyrichy
Editado: Ene 31, 2016, 12:57 pm

My one word for 2016 is intention. So, in being intentional about everything here's my February reading plan:

Elsewhere by Richard Russo for the American Author Challenge
The Wright Brothers by David McCullough for the Nonfiction Challenge
BiblioTECH by John Palfrey for a talk I'm doing in March on libraries in the 21st century
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

After that...it's all about what calls to me from the shelves but may include Station Eleven.

42Dianekeenoy
Ene 31, 2016, 4:12 pm

>41 witchyrichy: Hi Karen. I absolutely loved Ender's Game! I listened to it on audio, then bought the book and read it and then watched the movie! I had a wonderful time talking about it with my 10 year old grandson. Now, I'm collecting signed first editions of Orson Scott Card's books. Gosh, this makes me sound like a nut...oh well, I was just amazed by some of his books that were written so long ago and still hold up so well. Anyway, hope you're doing well.

43witchyrichy
Ene 31, 2016, 7:10 pm

>42 Dianekeenoy: Glad you enjoyed it! I just finished Armada by Ernest Cline and reading a few reviews, it seems as though he somewhat lifted the plot from the movie The Last Starfighter and Ender's Game. The bookseller also raved...I'm just not a big science fiction reader so I guess that's why I've never gotten to it. But this is the year of exploring!

44witchyrichy
Ene 31, 2016, 7:36 pm

I loved Ernest Cline's first book, Ready Player One. So did my 80-year-old father and my older sister. Despite essentially being a book about video gaming, its combination of a fascinating dystopian future and rousing action adventure tale made it a compelling story. And the references to the 1980s was also just fun!

So, I was excited to pick up a copy of Cline's second book, Armada. And, as often happens with a second book, I was disappointed. It as, indeed, full of 1980s references...so many that I found myself spending a lot of time on Wikipedia. I wasn't a science fiction movie fan so some of the more subtle quotes went right over my head, and I very much wanted in on the joke. But there the similarities with the first book seemed to end. There was action adventure but it was mostly just shoot 'em up. Very little problem solving beyond figuring out how to end the war. According to several reviews, Cline lifted much of the plot from The Last Starfighter and Ender's Game.

I'm not sorry I read it but I am glad it only took a few hours. It offered some fun in researching the cultural reference but that was about it.

45porch_reader
Ene 31, 2016, 9:45 pm

Hi Karen! Rebel Yell is going straight to my TBR list. I teach leadership classes and I'm always looking for interesting examples to use. I'm sorry to hear that Armada didn't work for you. I've bee delaying reading it because I loved Ready Player One so much.

Hope you have a good week!

46michigantrumpet
Feb 1, 2016, 7:57 am

Happy Monday, Karen! Great discussion re:Rebel Yell. I listened to the audiobook for Wright Brothers narrated by McCullough himself. Excellent. I studied quite a bit about the Wrights - I was an historic interpreter at Greenfield Village where the Wright's bicycle shop and family home are located. McCullough did an excellent job!

47witchyrichy
Feb 1, 2016, 8:30 am

>45 porch_reader: In my grad school leadership class, one of the assignments was to read and analyze a biography of a leader. I ended up reading about five or six--everyone from Jackson to Genghis Khan to Eleanor Roosevelt. I finally settled on the latter for the paper but it was a great assignment.

48witchyrichy
Feb 1, 2016, 8:31 am

>46 michigantrumpet: I am really looking forward to McCullough: I love reading history when it's written well and for me that means finding the balance between detail and story. McCullough seems to have figured that out!

49michigantrumpet
Editado: Feb 2, 2016, 2:19 pm

>48 witchyrichy: Very true about McCullough! He comes to my neck of the woods fairly frequently for readings, etc.

His son is a High school English teacher at a nearby high school. He made quite a stir a few years back with his commencement speech You are Not Special. (Linked to a video of it on youtube)

Took the blogosphere by storm if I recall.

50witchyrichy
Feb 6, 2016, 8:21 pm

>49 michigantrumpet: Thanks for the video! It was excellent and I don't remember seeing it before.

I'm enjoying The Wright Brothers. There are so many lessons about tinkering and making, an area of education that I have gotten very involved with over the last year or two. I can just imagine the two brothers in their coats and ties with their feet in the sand watching the gulls and gannets. I've stood on those same beaches!

51witchyrichy
Editado: Feb 9, 2016, 9:05 pm

I read Richard Russo's memoir Elsewhere as part of the American Author challenge for February. The book was the story of his relationship with his mother who suffered from mental health issues throughout her life, probably undiagnosed OCD. Despite all, he stuck by her and to his wife's credit, she stuck by him as he struggled to support his mother. They worked as a team, demonstrating their love for each other and for this difficult woman. The book was sometimes frustrating to read because of her behavior, and Russo was honest about the financial and emotional burdens, but ultimately it was a story of love and family.

52witchyrichy
Feb 13, 2016, 4:59 pm

Just finished The Wright Brothers by David McCullough. Terrific read about both the brothers, their family, and the world at the turn of the century. Anything seemed possible and World War I hadn't happened yet to dash those hopes and dreams.

My biggest takeaway, I think, was the sense of wonder: thousands came out to watch the wonder of flight, something I really take for granted. I can't imagine what new technology might garner the same kinds of crowds any more. Have we grown so used to technological innovation that we can no longer be surprised?

I've written two blog posts on my mostly books blog:

Tinkering and Making with the Wright Brothers about the mindset of innovators in general

The Important of Keeping Good Records about the controversy over who really did fly first...seems there is a gentleman from Connecticut who has gotten some press, both good and bad

53porch_reader
Feb 13, 2016, 8:58 pm

I love McCullough, and The Wright Brothers sounds like a good one. It is interesting to think about what kind of innovation might garner that much attention these days.

54drneutron
Feb 15, 2016, 8:47 am

Yeah, I really need to read this one. McCullough is a fave and I really like books about inventors and innovation.

55witchyrichy
Feb 15, 2016, 2:05 pm

>drneutron I think you would particularly like the descriptions of their process and attitudes towards inventing and tinkering.

56witchyrichy
Feb 15, 2016, 2:14 pm

I am reading books about libraries in preparation for a talk I'm giving to a regional group of K-12 librarians. The theme is Librarians on the Edge. Both BiblioTECH and This Book Is Overdue!: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All send the clear message that lots of libraries are dispelling the myth of library obsolescence. In fact, as many LTers know, libraries and librarians are innovating in all sorts of ways. LibraryThing gets a shout out in Marilyn Johnson's book.

I learned a lot from both books (there was some overlap) and added lots of librarian bloggers to my Feedly as well librarian tweeter to my Twitter list. I also created a mind map of some of the more noteworthy people and resources using a tool called Coogle. Here's the link: Librarians on the Edge Resources

57witchyrichy
Feb 23, 2016, 3:25 pm

I was on my way out of the library when the striking swirls of color on the cover of The Sandman Overture caught my eye. I couldn't resist. I've read The Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes but hadn't gotten any further in the series. This book is something of the prequel. Fantastic, mysterious narrative woven into compelling images, just amazing as story and art coming together. The deluxe edition includes behind-the-scenes interviews with the various members of the creative team. So much goes in to making a graphic novel into a unified experience. Lettering, coloring, backgrounds all support the reader's experience, making it easier to navigate dialog and story, but also expand the story by adding layers of meaning in their own right.

I found myself online looking for the other volumes in the series and even explored a Reddit thread about which version to buy. But, I had to head out so didn't make a purchase. As my husband and I pulled into the parking lot of the local shopping area to head to the bank, I looked up to see a comic book store! We headed in, of course, and he was able to furnish me with the individual volumes, with the exception of #6. I liked the more "comic book" feel of those volumes rather than something larger and bound. Well...I may reread Preludes and Nocturnes, which is a Kindle book that looks pretty good on the iPad, and then dive in.

Someone here on LT suggested Lumberjanes so I have all those on the ipad as well!

Am I taking my first steps into graphic novel nirvana? If so, I think I like it!

58witchyrichy
Editado: Feb 24, 2016, 8:29 pm

I found The Book of Speculation as I was browsing the shelves at my local library. A mysterious book, tarot cards, family secrets. Yet he book cover reached out and drew me in and I'm glad I yielded. The story was as intriguing as promised; multi generations of two families with ties to circuses and carnivals. The youngest generation responds to family history and curses in surprising but refreshing ways. (

59witchyrichy
Editado: Mar 1, 2016, 6:53 pm

I found The Book of Speculation as I was browsing the shelves at my local library. mysterious book, tarot cards, family secrets. Yet the book cover reached out and drew me in and I'm glad I yielded. The story was as intriguing as promised; multi generations of two families with ties to circuses and carnivals. The youngest generation responds to family history and curses in surprising but refreshing ways.

60witchyrichy
Feb 29, 2016, 2:03 pm

I learned a new word as I read Library: An Unquiet History: biblioclasm. It refers to the destruction of books, especially the Bible. Matthew Battles' book is a description of historical libraries and their often violent ends as winners either rewrote history or simply wiped out the historical record of the losers by burning or otherwise destroying books. He also describes how the role of libraries and librarians changed over time from custodians to caregivers, and I'm using that contrast as the basis for my talk next week. I'll be adding a middle ground called "curator" that tries to get at the increased need for librarians in our digital age. Google doesn't care about the searcher and spits out the most popular links. Librarians DO care and they work to help locate and organize resources for their patrons in ways that really get at their needs.

I've really been enjoying my library reading and am looking forward to spending the day with these librarians!

61Dianekeenoy
Feb 29, 2016, 8:21 pm

>59 witchyrichy: I loved this book! Sounds like you're reading some really books.

62witchyrichy
Mar 1, 2016, 6:54 pm

>61 Dianekeenoy: I am having a very good time reading this year! I love it when I find a book "accidentally" and especially this one since part of its theme is books finding people.

63witchyrichy
Mar 18, 2016, 11:06 am

I'm not completely sure I grasped all the nuances of The Man In the High Castle. The surreal landscape of a world where the Japanese and Germans were victors in WW II and now rule over the US was a struggle to navigate sometimes, perhaps because much of it was done from within the hearts and minds of the characters. The alternate history included an alternate history novel that foretold a different end to the war which was not quite like the true end to the war. And the use of the iChing added another level of reality all on its own. All in all, a challenging read that might warrant a reread. The somewhat abrupt ending may be explained by the fact that Philip Dick planned a sequel that he never wrote.

64PaulCranswick
Mar 25, 2016, 4:27 am

Have a wonderful Easter.



65witchyrichy
Editado: Abr 1, 2016, 6:08 pm

>64 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. We were able to be home together for the day and share the celebration with some old friends.

66witchyrichy
Abr 16, 2016, 11:51 am

It seems as though I hit a wall about this time of year. I keep reading but can't seem to find time to get logged in to LibraryThing. Traveling, working, but mostly gardening, I think, because when I'm home and the weather is good, I want to be outside!

67witchyrichy
Editado: mayo 19, 2016, 4:06 pm

I've been filling in the blanks on the Book Bingo card posted by The Story last month. One of the challenges is to read a childhood favorite. I just finished From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and have The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe on the night stand. Finally, I am looking forward to Harriet the Spy as I found myself mentioning it as the inspiration for my own lifetime of journaling.

68scaifea
Editado: mayo 2, 2016, 7:24 am

>67 witchyrichy: I loved *all* three of those! Excellent nostalgia reading!

69witchyrichy
mayo 19, 2016, 4:59 pm

I almost cried as I turned the last page of Ivan Doig's last novel, The Last Bus to Wisdom. Doig is one of my favorite writers: he tells wonderfully crafted stories that capture the richness of the American West, a time and place that might otherwise be lost to history. His use of vernacular makes the narrative even more authentic, and he creates characters full of life and wonder.

70PaulCranswick
mayo 22, 2016, 1:34 am

>69 witchyrichy: I guess I am just not picking up the right books by him. I have read Bucking the Sun and now The Sea Runners. I thought both were adequate but I certainly wasn't blown away. What is his best book do you think?

Have a lovely weekend.

71witchyrichy
mayo 22, 2016, 9:32 am

>70 PaulCranswick: I haven't read The Sea Runners and I agree about Bucking the Sun not being the best of his works. I think Doig is at his best when his narrator is a young person: the first book in the English Creek trilogy, English Creek, is narrated by 14-year-old Jick McCaskill and evokes the wonder and beauty of the West. The other two books fill in the rest of the story with the last novel being narrated by an older Jick traveling across Montana with his daughter but don't match the narrative of the first book.

Similarly, The Whistling Season is narrated by Paul, the oldest son of a widower who brings in a housekeeper along with her brother. There are two more books that revolve around these characters: Work Song and Sweet Thunder and they are, again, not as good as the first.

Doig also has two memoirs of his life in Montana as part of a sheepherding family: the first one is House of Sky and it is a touching portrait of his father and grandmother.

I started my Doig journey with House of Sky.

Hope that helps!

72witchyrichy
Jun 9, 2016, 7:23 pm

June is travel month, mostly by car, so I've been listening to audio books. I am finding The 39 Clues to be so much fun! I've worked through Book Three and will get through Book Four on my next trip and maybe during some weekend gardening. In fact, because of their focus on geography and history, they are something of a young adult version of Steve Berry's Cotton Malone books. I ripped through The 14th Colony and now I guess I have to wait for the next one...there will be a next one, right?

73scaifea
Jun 10, 2016, 7:01 am

>72 witchyrichy: Oh, I really enjoyed the 39 Clues books when I read them a couple of summers ago - such a neat idea for a storyline, and I love that each on is written by a different author!

74witchyrichy
Jun 10, 2016, 3:46 pm

>73 scaifea: Did you get to the website? I've been using the codes to gather cards and play some of the games! I guess I am a middle schooler at heart ;-)

75scaifea
Jun 11, 2016, 4:28 pm

>74 witchyrichy: No! I sort of assumed that it wasn't up-and-running anymore, since I came to the books late. Wow! And also, dang. I wish I'd have checked it out then, now. I'm glad you're having fun with it, though!

76witchyrichy
Jun 12, 2016, 2:43 pm

Annie Proulx's memoir of the building of Bird Cloud, her home in Wyoming, was fascinating in its mix of home building nightmare stories and rich descriptions of the natural world. There are stories of her family history along with stories of the history of the land. The ranch was recently sold and you can find photos online. It is beautiful with 640 acres along the North Platte river. The home is gorgeous and secluded, to the point where Proulx wasn't sure she could stay through the winter as the road got snowed in. The biggest irritation for me, perhaps, was her constant worries over money even as she was choosing expensive flooring and countertops and complaining about how long it took to get things done as materials had to be shipped from far flung places. Simpler might have been better but may not have made as interesting a memoir.

77witchyrichy
Jun 19, 2016, 9:17 am

Stalled out a bit on reading books: June is full of travel and training. But I would like to finish my books for the nonfiction challenge. I have two days in airports and on planes so that should help. I do have Book Five of The 39 Clues ready to go for my road trip this week.

78streamsong
Jun 19, 2016, 1:50 pm

I saw your interest in sustainability on the natural history thread and thought I'd stop by and say hi.

My father was a dedicated organic gardener. My daughter will be helping to shepherd a group of high schoolers around Thailand as they learn about food insecurity. Me, I'm just learning about the subject. :-)

I live on about ten acres in Montana.

Have a great trip and I'll look forward to seeing you around.

Bird Cloud sounds interesting. I've picked out Shipping News but am so far behind on all my challenges .... well .... sigh. I think you could probably complete that sentence.

79witchyrichy
Jun 25, 2016, 7:07 pm

>78 streamsong: Thanks for stopping by! I'll be hitting your thread next.

My husband and I are trying to find our way in the world of small farming. We just received a grant for a high tunnel, which is an unheated plastic greenhouse. The goal is to help small farmers extend the growing season.

We're doing lots of experimenting and learning ourselves: I've put some ginger in pots to harvest the fresh roots and also sell the starter hands to others.

Sustainability is a fascinating subject and you'll never be able to learn it all but it's great that you're getting started. Trying to make money is the biggest challenge! This recent article from The Washington Post gets at the complexity of the whole topic.

80Storeetllr
Jun 27, 2016, 11:37 pm

Hi, Karen ~ Had a great time at our meetup! So glad to have this chance to get to know you and learn a little about your work and farm lives. Hope the rest of your stay in Denver is good. Safe travels back home to Virginia!

81witchyrichy
Jun 28, 2016, 8:54 am

The Landscape of Home: A Rocky Mountain Land Series Reader is a collection of essays from western writer about life in the Rocky Mountains. It arose from a series of author forums held at the Tattered Covered Book Store in Denver along with an amazing collection of books called the Rocky Mountain Land Library. This private collection includes 32,000 volumes and was housed in the home of the collectors. But, in 2012, they learned the rental would be sold and they had to move. Thanks to lots of support and good fortune, the couple is now realizing the dream of not just a library but a place with studios and cottages. This article from The New York Times gives some background and the Land Library website updates the progress of the ranch.

82witchyrichy
Editado: Jul 1, 2016, 8:55 am

>80 Storeetllr: I had a wonderful time doing my first meetup! Thanks for making me feel so welcome!

I also had fun shopping at the Tattered Cover. When I'm practicing "bookstore tourism," I try to buy books with regional themes. I stuck with this mostly but a few other items made their way into the shipping box.

Book Scavenger Already finished this one and was thinking about leaving it at the hotel for someone to find
The Last Bookaneer
Valiant Ambition This is an autographed copy from Philbrick. Six years ago I bought an autographed copy of The Last Stand so this seemed like fate
Gathering of Zion: The Story of the Mormon Trail
Our Only World
The Long-Legged House
Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher
Tibetan Peach Pie

83witchyrichy
Jul 1, 2016, 8:55 am

Update about Book Scavenger. I tucked it into the second box I shipped home from Denver and discovered that there is a real book scavenger project going on with the book itself. I am going to join in and leave it for someone to find. Haven't quite decided where yet. Maybe just keep it in my bag until the right place presents itself.

Finished the 7th book in The 39 Clues, Book 7 series. It's a testament to the mileage I put on my car in June that I plowed through seven audio books! Not sure if I'll continue: I don't do a lot of audio when I'm not driving and I'm not sure these books would be as fun in text.

With all the audio books in June, I hit a high of 13 books in one month. Picked up Kitchens of the Great Midwest at The Tattered Cover storefront in the Denver airport. Read it on the flights and was fascinated with the way the various characters connected through family and food.

I also bought Inkheart and Avenue of Mysteries. The first is part of a trilogy so more reading to come. I haven't kept up with John Irving. I had planned on The Imaginary Girlfriend for the American Author Challenge but may exchange it for this one.

84scaifea
Jul 2, 2016, 11:00 am

>83 witchyrichy: Oh, I *loved* Inkheart! I need to get to the rest of the series soon...

85witchyrichy
Jul 3, 2016, 1:17 pm

I am doing a fair amount of professional reading around education, technology and leadership as I prepare for a workshop in August and my fall school technology course. The students in the course are practicing teachers in a Master's program for budding school administrators. The course has two overall objectives: an introduction to the use of digital technologies in the classroom and a focus on their role as school principals in facilitating change and innovation around educational technology.

The Innovator's Mindset takes on the challenge of innovating in education. George Couros plays with the currently popular contrast between "fixed" and "growth" mindsets by adding a the innovator's mindset as a third option. This mindset is defined as "the belief that abilities, intelligence, and talents are developed so that they lead to the creation of new and better ideas" (loc 526). So many books in this area focus on completely disrupting education. Couros takes a softer approach as he describes ways that teachers are innovating "inside of the box" by using innovative pedagogies supported by digital technologies to engage and students around the curriculum. But, he also focuses on empowering students by giving them space to explore their own passions and interests. I particularly like the questions for discussion at the end. I plan to use some with my workshop participants as well as with my grad students.

I am going to use Uncommon Learning as one of the texts for my grad course. Eric Sheninger provides glimpses of innovative approaches to education including makerspaces, small schools, and blending learning. He also makes the case for being connected as an educator. I require my students to join Twitter, and this semester, I am going to ask them to join at least one other social network for the 15 weeks of the course.

86witchyrichy
Jul 4, 2016, 5:26 pm

Loved, loved, loved Inkheart. A classic adventure with good and evil conflicting and a heroic young woman who, with support of family and friends, save the day. It is a trilogy but I've got a long list of other reading to do before I can dive into the second book.

87porch_reader
Jul 6, 2016, 9:30 pm

I read a very funny book by Cornelia Funke to my sons when they were younger. It was called When Santa Fell to Earth. I'll have to put Inkheart on my TBR list.

88streamsong
Jul 7, 2016, 12:54 pm

Inkheart is also one of my gonna-finish-but-never-have series. I still have the final one to go. Thanks for the reminder. :-)

89witchyrichy
Jul 7, 2016, 1:38 pm

>87 porch_reader: I'll look for the funny Funke ;-) Inkheart was not funny.

90witchyrichy
Editado: Jul 7, 2016, 2:48 pm

I needed a "real" book to read for my first day in the pool so picked up Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption. I almost finished it last night but had to wait until this morning to read the last word.

It was a hard book to read in many ways and yet I couldn't stop. The stories of innocent men on death row and early teens sentenced to life without parole in adult prison are devastating. For instance, Ian, a 13-year-old sentenced to life, spent 18 years in uninterrupted solitary confinement as a way to protect him from sexual assault in the adult prison.

Water McMillan's story forms the centerpiece of the book. He was not just falsely accused of a murder, but police and prosecutors actively worked to put him on death row despite knowing he was innocent. The main witness against him told a ridiculous story, which he recanted numerous times, but he was ignored as those in control needed a conviction. When he was finally released, McMillan attempted to return to a normal life, but that was impossible. I'll warn you: there may be justice, mercy and redemption but there are not a lot of happy endings.

The book goes more deeply than just the stories of a flawed justice system. Stevenson and his colleagues work primarily in Alabama where racism and segregation continue to influence all areas of life including jury selection and criminal investigations. But, it isn't just the south: states throughout the country ignore new laws related to juvenile sentencing and some do not even guarantee representation.

I made a donation to the Equal Justice Initiative and signed up for my own state's anti-death penalty group. But I think there is much more to be done starting with making sure all our young people have equal access to education.

91witchyrichy
Jul 9, 2016, 2:33 pm



My box from The Tattered Cover has arrived!

92porch_reader
Jul 10, 2016, 10:23 am

Ooh, good haul! Wendell Berry is someone who I've never read, but always meant to.

93drneutron
Jul 10, 2016, 5:08 pm

Looks good!

94witchyrichy
Jul 12, 2016, 4:28 pm

>92 porch_reader: He is a bit like Doig although not as "jaunty" a storyteller. I like his essays because he writes so much about his relationship to his farm and the land.

If you haven't checked out the Bill Moyers' interview with him a few years back, it's worth a watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ejYAfcjJmY (Or even if you DID watch it, his kindness within his activism is worth a rewatch!

95Copperskye
Jul 14, 2016, 12:25 am

>91 witchyrichy: Yay!

Nick Offerman has a chapter about Wendell Berry in his book, Gumption. And the author of All the Wild that Remains interviewed him about Stegner and Abbey for his book. I've never read him but I keep coming across him in other books. Both were good, btw.

I've been hearing good things about Just Mercy. Thanks for your review!

96AMQS
Jul 16, 2016, 1:09 am

Hi Karen! Yay for Tattered Cover books arriving! It was lovely to meet you, and I hope we can get together again soon. Any chance for a return visit to Denver?

97witchyrichy
Jul 18, 2016, 6:54 pm

>95 Copperskye: Thanks for pointing me toward the two different books the include Berry. I will look them up.

>96 AMQS: I'm hoping it's not another six years before I get back to Denver but that would be the next time for now! Would love to get farm sitters and come out with my husband!

98AMQS
Jul 18, 2016, 8:25 pm

Farm sitters -- yikes! It's hard enough getting care for our dog and cat. Hadn't thought about an entire farm.

99witchyrichy
Jul 20, 2016, 9:32 am

>98 AMQS: It mostly means someone to feed the fowl (turkeys, chickens, ducks) so it might be possible. And the two dogs, of course. When we had pigs, it was much harder as they are escape artists who love wandering through the neighborhood ;-)

100witchyrichy
Jul 24, 2016, 5:14 pm

I purchased On Dupont Circle: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt and the Progressives Who Shaped Our World at Kramerbooks on Dupont Circle. Having been in the neighborhood helped set the stage for this history of the early days of the progressives. James Srodes makes people like Franklin and Eleanor come alive along with their friends with famous names but not so famous lives including the Dulles siblings, Sumner Welles, and others. Brilliant people who led dysfunctional private lives and, as Srodes concludes, creates the world we know today.

101witchyrichy
Editado: Jul 24, 2016, 5:17 pm



A visit to Pennsylvania led to the Chester County Book Store, a favorite Indie store that, sadly, is closing. They moved from a larger building to a smaller storefront but just couldn't generate enough traffic. I bought the stack shown and am loving The Oregon Trail: A New American Journey. I also came away with four autographed book posters to decorate my library.

102thornton37814
Jul 24, 2016, 10:28 pm

>101 witchyrichy: That looks like a good haul. I was just thinking I needed to check out that Oregon Trail book.

103witchyrichy
Jul 26, 2016, 8:09 pm

The clue hunt is over! I finished listening to The 39 Clues Book Ten today. The book hints at the next series, but I may be done. I enjoyed the books, but my travels are mostly over so I won't be listening to as much audio. Plus, the book basket--an idea from a reading friend--is filled with lots of books from the shelf and from several Indie bookstores I visited in the past few months.

I did skip a visit to my favorite Richmond, Virginia, store today. I was just a couple blocks from The Fountain Bookstore. But, I was discouraged by the heat and wanted to get out of the city before rush hour. Maybe next time...

104michigantrumpet
Jul 28, 2016, 1:52 pm

A book basket seems an intriguing idea! Lovely haul up above in >101 witchyrichy:!

105witchyrichy
Jul 28, 2016, 9:41 pm

>104 michigantrumpet: I am hoping it helps limit my scope ;-)

106witchyrichy
Jul 30, 2016, 6:24 pm

Managed to finish Journal of a Novel: East of Eden Letters today. I am glad I read it after the novel so I was familiar with the characters and settings he referenced. The letters are full of daily details, observations about his writing process, and comments about the progress of the novel. Steinbeck describes the sensation of really living in two worlds: the quotidian world of his family life and the more esoteric world of the novel. He was a "maker" who enjoyed wood carving, using the process to think through his writing. Mostly, I found him charming in his humanity: "You know, Pat, there are times when our thoughts are large and good and full and then there are other times when our thoughts and feelings are small and mean and nervous. Or am I alone in this?"

107AMQS
Jul 31, 2016, 1:13 am

>101 witchyrichy: So sad when a wonderful indie bookstore closes, isn't it? If it gets too bleak, you can always visit your local XXX bookstore...

108witchyrichy
Ago 4, 2016, 5:10 pm

>107 AMQS: I just don't have the nerve to visit the store even though I am very curious.

Meanwhile, I am reading two books about trails in the West. I started The Oregon Trailby Rinker Buck and he led me to a book I bought at The Tattered Cover: The Gathering of Zion: The Story of the Mormon Trail by Wallace Stegner. Both are terrific reads and I am ready to head out on an adventure across the West.

109witchyrichy
Ago 13, 2016, 8:06 pm

I am ready to make a trip out west to follow the Oregon Trail. Rinker Buck's book was great: a blending of history and memoir. He isn't afraid to show his weaknesses or his passions.

Wallace Stegner's book about the Mormon trail was a bit more slow going: a prosey narrative that focuses on individuals as they travel and then on the larger issues around the beginnings of the Mormon church. He seems to alternate between sympathy for the grass roots Mormons and frustration with their leadership who sometimes seem more interested in the success of the church even if it means losing individuals. The book could lead to other books: Stegner tries to stay on topic but alludes to the Mountain Meadow Massacre and the Utah War. For those unfamiliar with Mormon history, some investigation may be warranted. At this end, I was full of respect for the emigrants, especially those who pushed handcarts to Salt Lake City.

110streamsong
Ago 14, 2016, 9:20 am

Our book club read Astoria this past year and really enjoyed it. It would fit right into your current reading theme, although it's an earlier time and the Oregon Trail didn't yet exist. I believe part of the trail they blazed became part of the Oregon.

I love it when one book leads to another and another, and then even to a real-life adventure.

111witchyrichy
Ago 21, 2016, 11:07 am

>110 streamsong: Thanks for the tip! I agree about books leading to books and then to adventures. We had a wonderful summer following Lewis & Clark with Undaunted Courage as our primary guide.

112karenmarie
Ago 27, 2016, 1:52 pm

Hi Karen - this is my first visit to your thread. I love your pics of good book hauls!

>111 witchyrichy: This is the second nudge about Undaunted Courage I've gotten this week - I have pulled it off my shelves and will see if I can get it into the rotation.

113witchyrichy
Ago 27, 2016, 5:05 pm

>112 karenmarie: Welcome! I'll have one more pile to picture as I'm heading to Corolla, NC, in a week or so and will visit Island Books in old Corolla village, a favorite Indie store. Then, I swear off all (well, most) book buying and read through the winter. I nodded knowingly with your description of your library.

Have you heard of book spine poetry? Another fun way to stack books! Here's my blog entry with two I wrote during National Poetry Month: Book Spine Poetry

I loved the way Stephen Ambrose balanced history and story in Undaunted Courage.

114witchyrichy
Ago 27, 2016, 5:15 pm

I am admitting up front that I am not going to finish the American Authors challenge for August. I took a seemingly long time to read The Innovators and now I face Joyce Carol Oates and her collection of essays Where I've Been And Where I'm Going. I read the first two and they are good, but I don't want to just read through the book to finish it. I think it's more of an occasional book with an essay or two read in each sitting.

Meanwhile, I finished two unplanned shorter reads: Library Wars: Love & War and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. checked out the paper version of the former and the digital version of the latter. I waited over a month for Harry Potter. There were 7 digital copies available and the librarian told me she couldn't keep the paper version in the library. It was a reminder of the love affair I had with Harry Potter. I didn't mind reading the play format but I didn't feel like I got to really know the characters the way I did in the novels. They relied on our memories of the older characters and made references to the fact that the kids were like their parents in certain ways.

So, what am I going to read? I've read three nonfiction books in a row (not counting manga and Harry Potter) so maybe it's time for some fiction. I think Last Bookaneer might be one choice, and I started Tom Robbins's memoir Tibetan Peach Pie the day I bought it and remember it being fun to read even if it's not fiction. Although considering the author, it may be semi-fiction.

115witchyrichy
Ago 28, 2016, 1:29 pm

I dug in the book basket and came up with Station Eleven. I am half way through! I'm not a dystopian fan and there is definitely a sense of creepy evil but it's also a good story with intriguing connections. Definitely some pool floating and reading this afternoon.

For now, I braved the hot kitchen and got two loaves of zucchini bread in the oven. I also want to make King Arthur Flour's baking challenge for August: Pane Bianco. It's a shaped loaf with sun dried tomatoes, basil and cheese. I have managed to assemble all the ingredients.

I also made my first batch of ice cream. The recipe I use comes from my dad and uses fat free half and half, which is hard to find in my world. But low and behold, there it was at the local IGA on Saturday. What I couldn't get was the light cream so I substituted whole milk and it is just fine: frozen and flavorful.

116karenmarie
Ago 29, 2016, 9:58 am

>115 witchyrichy: Hi Karen! I read Station Eleven for my RL book club last December and loved it. I'm totally charmed with a group of survivors being a Shakespearean troupe and orchestra! Of all the details I remember, one that really stuck with me is when a troupe member found an old bit of rosin for a violin and how ecstatic she/he was with the find.

My, my. Zucchini bread, Pane Bianco, and ice cream. Yum.

117streamsong
Editado: Sep 2, 2016, 10:37 am

I so love the book spine poetry. I think you should post this over on the 75'ers poetry thread. I've been working on one and I bet other people will want to try it, too!

Yum on the ice cream and the bread! I enjoy cooking, too.

What did you think of Library Wars? I thought it was OK, interesting but not knock my socks off. I liked the second one a bit better, but I'm not sure if I'll go on with the series.

Definitely want to read Harry Potter and the Cursed Child this month as I got it for my birthday in August.

118witchyrichy
Sep 11, 2016, 6:35 pm

Thanks for leaving messages! I am way behind on LT: my husband and I took the dogs out to the southwest Virginia mountains for Labor Day and had a wonderful time and now I'm at the Outer Banks of North Carolina with family.

>116 karenmarie: I think the fact that it's musicians and actors that survive moves Station Eleven above the usual.

>117 streamsong: I agree about Library Wars. I had a little trouble distinguishing the characters. I have the second one from the library and then I may give it up as well, partially because it seems like there are holds on all the rest of them.

I misread the directions for the bread and cut it wrong before baking but it still tasted good. Ditto for the ice cream which had milk instead of light cream. The weather is cooling off so baking is on the agenda when I get home.

119witchyrichy
Sep 11, 2016, 7:15 pm

Deep South seemed to take a long time to read, not only because of the page count. As one reviewer pointed out, it is a bit repetitive. I wonder if some of that is by design to give the feel of the South itself where life is slow and there is always time for another visit. As the title suggests, this is a book of back roads through mostly desolate towns where desperately poor people try to find a way to keep on. There are moments of hope as local community organizers use limited funds to rehab homes and find ways to create jobs but these seem to be few and far between.

One point Theroux makes again and again relates to funding and how even a small amount of the money spent in third world countries would make a huge difference to the citizens of these once thriving communities. Nowhere is this as poignant as Arkansas--Hope and Hot Springs--where he asks several of his acquaintances if the Clinton Foundation has helped at all. The answer is always a resounding no.

The whole book is overshadowed by the segregated past with little intermingling of blacks and whites even now. Theroux visits the store where Emmett Till whistled his fatal whistle and collects oral history from blacks who integrated the schools.

120karenmarie
Sep 12, 2016, 8:07 am

Hi Karen!

>119 witchyrichy: I live in semi-rural central North Carolina, not deep South, but in a place "overshadowed by the segregated south with little intermingling of blacks and whites even now." The biggest place of least intermingling is in the churches. Schools are integrated but kids congregate separately, and cultural events tend to white or black. We've also got the Hispanic mix.

My book club discussed Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee last night, and 8 of us liked it and 2 didn't. It brought up racism, and all the way from To Kill a Mockingbird's 1935 racial aspects through Go Set a Watchman's 1950s fear of Brown v The Board of Education through today's racial unrest and class divide, it hasn't changed at some deep, visceral level. It makes me very sad.

121witchyrichy
Sep 24, 2016, 8:56 pm

>120 karenmarie: Like you, I live in the south, rural Virginia just an hour from the North Carolina line. It's not the Deep South of Theroux but it is the section where, during desegregation, counties closed their public schools in what is known as massive resistance. My county has a white private school that still exists from that time and a mostly black high school.

And, it makes me sad, too.

122witchyrichy
Sep 24, 2016, 9:01 pm

I got stuck hard on Avenue of Mysteries by John Irving. I haven't read Irving for a long time but remembered a good story teller. However, like at least one reviewer I read, I found this novel to just be exhausting. The plot moves through past and present although sometimes they seem to be happening simultaneously. When, close to the end, he introduced a new character, I found myself sighing heavily as it also introduced an additional, seemingly superfluous plot line. There were some endearing characters, moments of wonder and times when I laughed out loud. I did best when I was able to read for longer periods of time and could move along more quickly.

123witchyrichy
Sep 30, 2016, 4:47 pm

A long driving work trip afforded the opportunity to listen to a book. Browsing in Audible, I found Off To Be The Wizard by Scott Meyer. It looked entertaining and was almost the exact length. I'm back at home and finished up the last 15 minutes.

I loved it! Laugh out loud funny with a quirky, sometimes ridiculous plot. Luke Daniels is a fabulous narrator who seems to get the characters just right.

124witchyrichy
Sep 30, 2016, 5:26 pm

That same road trip took me to Heartwood in Abingdon, Virginia. It's part visitor's center, craft shop. restaurant and Applachian music venue. I just happened to be in town on Thursday night when they stay open late and have a musical performance. The fourth Thursday is a jam session and about a dozen musicians with banjos, guitars, and mandolins sang their own and traditional songs. One stand up bass player kept the bass going. Lots of locals came for dinner--they feature bbq on Thursdays--and there was even a bit of mountain dancing. I opted for chicken and dumplings and stayed for a chorus of Look On The Sunny Side of Life. Also left with some Christmas gifts and two books: The Blueberry Years and Man of Constant Sorrow.

125Dianekeenoy
Sep 30, 2016, 7:55 pm

>124 witchyrichy: My parents lived in Abingdon, VA for some years. We loved spending time there!

126karenmarie
Sep 30, 2016, 11:01 pm

>124 witchyrichy: Hi Karen! Of course you ended up with some books. Glad you had a good time in Abingdon.

127witchyrichy
Editado: Oct 2, 2016, 6:19 pm

>125 Dianekeenoy: I had only been out once before to ride The Creeper Trail. We stayed in Damascus in a little trail side cottage. I'm already figuring out how to get back and considering a spring trip along what's called The Crooked Road Music Trail: it follows traditional and roots music from Roanoke all the way to the Carter Family Fold.

>126 karenmarie: Of course.

128witchyrichy
Oct 2, 2016, 6:25 pm

Quite a day: I had all sorts of non-computer stuff planned from baking to sewing to reading. But, when I pressed the power button on my MacBook Air, I only got half a chime and no amount of key pressing, including those suggested by tech support, would work. There was ONE appointment left at the Apple Store so I headed an hour to the big city. (I actually have a four-year-old Air that I was hoping would be a backup but it has all sorts of its own issues. The only thing I succeeded in doing successfully with it was erasing the hard drive. Haven't been able to install an OS since.)

The Apple Store was an amazing collection of human beings on a Sunday afternoon. The genus bar was crammed so after an initial consultation, I just enjoyed sitting, watching and listening. One big lesson: do backups, people. I am no saint but I backup pretty regularly and was able to grab one yesterday while the computer was still working, if a bit gimpy. I heard more than one sad voice lamenting the potential loss of photos when erasing the hard drive was the easiest solution. The attendants were kind and tried to do what they could even when you could tell they knew it couldn't be resuscitated.

My computer may have a short caused by a defective CD drive. I hadn't used it for awhile but had purchased a CD in Abingdon. He got it to start up but still felt like the logic board needed to be replaced. It meant no laptop for 3 to 5 days. I must have made an audible gasp. I assured him I could not live without it for a week, especially since the backup seemed problematic as well. So, I'm working on a brand new MacBook Pro that I can return if I want when mine comes back. Not sure what I'm going to do but for now, I won't put any stickers on the front.

129witchyrichy
Oct 8, 2016, 1:05 pm

Razor Girl by Carl Hiaassen is my 75th book! I love Hiaasen's wicked satire and laugh out loud funny scenes. The plot is woven carefully even as the characters seem out of control. I don't think this was the best Hiaasen I've read but it was entertaining if a little predictable.

130FAMeulstee
Oct 11, 2016, 4:18 am

Congrats on reaching 75!

131drneutron
Oct 11, 2016, 9:00 am

Congrats!

132karenmarie
Oct 11, 2016, 10:34 am

Congratulations on reaching 75 Karen!

133witchyrichy
Oct 14, 2016, 12:07 pm

Thanks, all, for the congratulations!

And...my 11th Twitterversary was yesterday. I was neck deep in online meetings and work but did escape upstairs early to read Summerland. I've done my purchasing over the past two months since there isn't a bookstore--well besides the adult one in my town--within easy access. I'll admit to buying more than 12 and am looking forward to a long winter break beside the wood stove.

Meanwhile, I am stuck in a vortex of work and travel that, thankfully, mostly ends next Wednesday. It's all good work and learning but for a homebody like me, it gets stressy when I don't have a string of days at home. At least for the conference early next week, I get to stay at a lovely resort hotel along the Potomac River. Looking at the bright side!

134porch_reader
Oct 15, 2016, 5:43 pm

Congrats on 75 and your book buying spree! I know just what you mean about work travel. Even when it's good, I'm always glad to get home.

135witchyrichy
Editado: Oct 18, 2016, 6:15 pm

>134 porch_reader: At least for this conference, I get to stay at National Harbor south of Washington, DC. Beautiful resort with a view of the Potomac River and the ferris wheel. My room has a little balcony that overlooks the atrium with its trees, flowers and lovely village of shops and restaurants. Too tired to go to the gala so I am eating an expensive but good room service pizza. Next, I am going to turn off the campaign coverage, make a cup of coffee and sit out and read Onward which is my nonfiction book for October. I am a Starbucks fan and finding Schultz's story of the company fascinating.

136witchyrichy
Oct 18, 2016, 6:14 pm

Finished Summerland last night and loved it! Lots of fantastical elements of a world just beyond ours where baseball is often the currency of negotiation. Our young heroes find their super powers and fight evil that threatens all the worlds. Chabon takes what might have been a cliche and gives it magic and mystery along with just a great storytelling style.

137karenmarie
Oct 27, 2016, 11:11 am

Hi Karen!

It's all good work and learning but for a homebody like me, it gets stressy when I don't have a string of days at home.

Stressy is a good word for it - and I'm with you 100%. I'm finally home after 16 days in CA helping get my mom settled in a board-and-care facility and working on her finances. I didn't get everything done I wanted to, but sister will help and I can do most of the rest from here. Mom may or may not come out of the board-and-care facility, but for now she's safe and being well cared for and starting to get feisty again!

138witchyrichy
Oct 28, 2016, 7:07 pm

>137 karenmarie: Safe and well-cared for is so important! My parents chose to move to a retirement community earlier than most of their friends and it provides a sense of well-being for me and my sister.

I'm home and happy: I knocked off early today and played in my library, dusting, reshelving books, doing some planning for the rest of the year reading.

139witchyrichy
Oct 28, 2016, 7:18 pm

My family spends two weeks at the Outer Banks each September and I visit Island Books, an independent bookseller, to pick up a copy of the next books in two series: Kathryn O'Sullivan's Colleen McCabe mysteries set in Corolla, NC, and
Eva Gates' Lighthouse Library Mysteries set in the Bodie Island Lighthouse. It seems, though, that both are coming to an end. There was no new O'Sullivan and Reading Up a Storm is the last of the lighthouse series as Penguin has declined to renew the series.

I'm halfway through Reading Up a Storm. It's not great literature, but I love imagining a library in a lighthouse, especially Bodie Light as I have visited it and walked the marsh boardwalk many times. Guess I better slow down and savor since this is the last of the series.

140witchyrichy
Oct 29, 2016, 11:31 am

So much for savoring: finished Reading Up a Storm this morning. The ending was not a big surprise as there were only a few folks who weren't a part of the regular cast.

Now, what next?

141karenmarie
Nov 4, 2016, 7:42 am

Hi Karen! I went over to your blog and thoroughly enjoyed your description of saving the weak hive. And the video of one of your male Royal Palm Turkeys was wonderful. He's gorgeous.

I hope you've found something good after Reading up a Storm.

142witchyrichy
Nov 5, 2016, 8:17 pm

>141 karenmarie: The turkeys are probably the most fun critters we have right now. They come running for sunflower seeds when I fill up the feeders.

I found two good reads...I thoroughly enjoyed The Wee Free Men and Mrs. Grant and Madame Jule. The first was very similar to Summerland but more obviously written for children. The latter was historical fiction and told the story of Ulysses Grant's wife and her slave. Julia Dent Grant's life is well documented but Chiaverini takes liberty with the life of her slave, imagining her becoming an entrepreneur with a knack for doing hair and selling her potions and creams to wealthy women.

143karenmarie
Nov 6, 2016, 9:07 am

On our summer travels of 2010 husband, daughter, and I saw the US Grant home in Galena IL and the cabin he built when he first married Julia Dent, 'Hardscrabble'.

It's always nice to hear that someone has found "two good reads".

144witchyrichy
Nov 11, 2016, 11:13 am

Just finished Ink and Bone. It is the first in The Great Library series. The second volume is waiting for me on the bedside table but I may just go ahead and knock off for the rest of the day, settle into the cozy sun warmed chair on the porch and read.

I picked up both books on one of my summer book buying binges. There they were side by side on the shelf. I didn't know anything about them except that they were about books and libraries, two of my book buying triggers. I wasn't sure what to expect so it took me a little while to get into the book and understand its reality. Caine creates the reality almost completely, even using different words for typical daily things like lights. Once I settled in, I found myself fascinated with the world and captured by the story. The narrative includes chapter breaks with notes from major characters that help fill in history and provide necessary knowledge in an innovative way.

145Storeetllr
Nov 24, 2016, 3:08 pm

Hi, Karen - Before I get caught up in the chaos that is our family's traditional Thanksgiving celebration, I wanted to be sure to stop by and wish you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving! Hope to stop by again soon to catch up on what you've been up to.

146witchyrichy
Editado: Dic 12, 2016, 6:33 pm

>145 Storeetllr: Thanks! And best to you, too!

I did get caught up in the craziness that is November: all the final details for the annual conference that I run that takes place next weekend plus hosting my family for the holiday plus an extra overnight trip to Harrisonburg, VA. My husband and I do a "fix it up" spring and I clean, clean, clean before the family arrives. We had a great time with them! Today was the day off: the refrigerator is filled with with food, the house is cleaned so I read and watched The Gilmore Girls reunion.

I managed to finish Paper and Fire. In between Gilmore Girls episodes, I finished Hillbilly Elegy today. The book was fascinating; Vance has been making the rounds of the news shows representing the voice of the Rust Belt and Appalachia. He paints a portrait of the effects of generational poverty, drugs and hopelessness, telling the loving and poignant story of his own family, seemingly trying to figure out why he "got out" and succeeded and others, like his own mother, lived chaotic and dysfunctional lives. I don't think it explains the "Trump" voter the way the news outlets might suggest, but the book does expose the stark economic disparities in our country and what it takes for someone to navigate the world beyond the walls created by poverty and family ties. The Marines made a huge difference for Vance. He wasn't ready for college but needed to get out of his impoverished community and the military was a positive alternative for him. I found myself wondering if military or national service might be a way to help other high schoolers transition into adulthood in a supported way.

147witchyrichy
Dic 12, 2016, 6:38 pm

Whew...back from my organization's annual conference. Over 1100 people and that's 300 more than we usually have. It was a crazy five days of setup and then actual conference. It's all about educational technology and we had breakout sessions but also lots of popup sessions with robots and other hands on activities. It took me most of the end of last week to get back on my feet. But it was, from all accounts, successful and fun!

Now...time to finish up Christmas gifts. An afghan for my sister and quilting a wall hanging for my mother. I'm hopeful it will all come together.

Also reading but planning on some of the British Classic mysteries set at Christmas. I need easy reading ;-)

148witchyrichy
Dic 19, 2016, 1:09 pm

I gave up on quilting. Evidently, not my craft. I'm a crocheter at heart. I was in touch with a friend in Amish country to see if she can find a quilter for me. I'll be visiting her in early January and can drop off the piece. Meanwhile, I need to make something else for my mother.

Just finished Paper Towns and enjoyed it. Leaves of Grass was a central theme; Whitman is perfect for high school seniors! I did find the ending a bit long. It seemed like Green wanted to make sure we got the point somehow and I felt like he was pushing a particular interpretation. By the end, I was much less interested in Margo, the object of the hunt, than I was in Quentin who learned so much about himself along the way. I may go back and reread the last chapter just to test my ideas.

We're on our way out to deliver some holiday cheer: I baked gingerbread cookies, the most delicious Vanilla Dreams from King Arthur Flour, and mini-panettones. The Vanilla Dreams use Baker's Ammonia and they get unbelievably crispy without being crunchy. Just a mouthful of vanilla deliciousness. I'm a King Arthur Flour fan: my bucket list includes going to Vermont for a baking weekend.

149PaulCranswick
Dic 23, 2016, 11:30 pm



Wouldn't it be nice if 2017 was a year of peace and goodwill.
A year where people set aside their religious and racial differences.
A year where intolerance is given short shrift.
A year where hatred is replaced by, at the very least, respect.
A year where those in need are not looked upon as a burden but as a blessing.
A year where the commonality of man and woman rises up against those who would seek to subvert and divide.
A year without bombs, or shootings, or beheadings, or rape, or abuse, or spite.

2017.

Festive Greetings and a few wishes from Malaysia!

150Storeetllr
Dic 24, 2016, 4:47 pm

151witchyrichy
Dic 26, 2016, 11:22 am

>149 PaulCranswick: >150 Storeetllr: Thanks for the lovely holiday wishes!

152karenmarie
Editado: Dic 27, 2016, 10:39 am

Hi Karen! A Belated Merry Christmas to you. I'm venturing out into the LT world again today, baby steps at first, and am going to draw another line in the sand and go forward on all the threads and friends I haven't had the heart to engage in and with lately. Appropriate oohs and aahs, and congratulations and so sorrys,..... but here's an Early Happy New Year to you and best wishes for all good things in 2017.

edited to add: I just went over to the King Arthur website and found the recipe for Vanilla Dreams. I'm now on a quest for Bakers Ammonia!

153PaulCranswick
Dic 31, 2016, 7:50 am



Looking forward to your continued company in 2017.
Happy New Year, Karen

154witchyrichy
Dic 31, 2016, 5:21 pm

>152 karenmarie: Thanks for the best wishes. Baby steps are good. King Arthur sells the Bakers Ammonia and that's where I got it but I live far away from any store that might have it.

>153 PaulCranswick: Same to you, Paul.

I'm here for my last post of 2016: I spent the past two or three days reading Little Women up to the end of Part 1 and March, Geraldine Brooks' story of the fathers experiences in the Civil War. Both were rereads although it had been a long time since I read Alcott's book. As my librarian said, "It's basically a new book for me." March was more recent: end of 2011 and I had a strong memory of it once I started reading.

Brooks interprets both March and his wife and Brooks plays on sections of Little Women where Marmee counsels Jo especially about controlling her temper. March worked to do so with his wife and I was a little annoyed at his signal of putting his finger to his lips to remind her. It was her passion that really pushed him to become more involved in the actual work of abolition.

Brooks uses her historical knowledge to carefully weave history and fiction into a seamless narrative. People like Henry David Thoreau and John Brown interact naturally with the family as they would have during that time, thus connecting the historical Bronson Alcott with the fictional March.

As for Little Women: I had forgotten how moralizing it was with each chapter ending with some lesson learned, often related to Pilgrim's Progress. With the focus on Jo, the other sisters are much flatter, each representing a certain type. I'm not sure I'm going to invest any time in Part 2 as I was mostly reading it to connect with March and that narrative ends with Part 1.

155Dianekeenoy
Dic 31, 2016, 11:03 pm

Happy New Year, Karen! I've enjoyed your reviews and look forward to keeping up with you in 2017!

156streamsong
Ene 1, 2017, 6:02 pm

Loved your review of March and Little Women. March is one of the books my book club will be reading this year, and I had thought of rereading Little Women first. I read it in the 5th grade and all I really remember is liking Jo's character a lot. :-)

157witchyrichy
Ene 8, 2017, 1:07 pm

>156 streamsong: It was useful to have reread Little Women first although evidently the bit about March shushing Marmee comes from Part II of the book and she asks him to do it to help her control her temper.

The book group all agreed we enjoyed March even if he wasn't a well-loved character.