OCTOBER ROOT - Progress Thread

Below is the current list of members that have identified a ROOT goal for 2018 and how many books they read by the end of September.
Any members who have yet to record a ROOT, have been removed to a separate list until they start. The ticker totals have been adjusted accordingly.

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

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

4chin8 13 / 75 17.3%
Amberfly 44 / 65 67.7%
Ameise1★ 20 / 10 200.0%
avanders 21 / 24 ★★ 87.5%
avidmom 8 / 10 ★ 80.0%
Benita★ 59 / 50 118.0%
benuathanasia 145 / 200 72.5%
bragan 74 / 100 74.0%
brakketh 19 / 40 47.5%
brewergirl 27 / 30 ★★ 90.0%
Britt84 45 / 60 ★ 75.0%
Caramellunacy 4 / 12 33.3%
clue★ 31 / 30 103.3%
Coach_of_Alva 31 / 50 62.0%
connie53★ 43 / 36 119.4%
crazy4reading 6 / 30 20.0%
CurrerBell 57 / 75 ★ 76.0%
cyderry★ 82 / 72 113.9%
DeborahJade 6 / 50 12.0%
deep220 49 / 75 65.3%
deern 11 / 24 45.8%
detailmuse 34 / 40 ★★ 85.0%
DisassemblyOfReason 44 / 75 58.7%
eicuthbertson 17 / 25 68.0%
elliepotten 26 / 30 ★★ 86.7%
enemyanniemae★ 45 / 36 125.0%
Erratic_Charmer★ 32 / 30 106.7%
FAMeulstee★ 226 / 200 113.0%
Familyhistorian★ 60 / 55 109%
floremolla 41 / 60 68.3%
funky_george 2 / 30 6.7%
fuzzi 59 / 100 59.0%
HelenBaker 47 / 48 ★★★ 97.9%
Helenoel 1 / 25 4.0%
Henrik_Madsen 30 / 40 ★ 75.0%
h-mb 19 / 40 47.5%
Jackie_K★ 56 / 48 116.7%
janoorani24 8 / 25 32.0%
johanna414 23 / 25 ★★★ 92.0%
kac522 20 / 40 50.0%
karenmarie 29 / 42 69.0%
kkunker 13 / 40 32.5%
kootibkiteer 2 / 10 20.0%
Kristelh★ 48 / 35 137.1%
LadyBookworth 19 / 24 79.2%
LadyoftheLodge 72 / 75 ★★★ 96.0%
lahochstetler 1 / 50 2.0%
LauraBrook★ 125 / 100 125.0%
leslie98★ 105 / 100 105.0%
LibraryLover23 28 / 40 70.0%
lilisin 47 / 50 ★★★ 94.0%
lindapanzo 66 / 72 ★★★ 91.7%
lkernagh 56 / 60 ★★★ 93.3%
Lisa805 11 / 12 ★★★ 91.7%
LoraShouse 18 / 20 ★★ 90.0%
luvamystery65 12 / 40 30.0%
mabith 6 / 20 30.0%
madhatter22 21 / 60 35.0%
majkia★ 76 / 50 152.0%
mandymarie20 7 / 25 28.0%
martencat 24 / 30 ★ 80.0%
Miss_Moneypenny 20 / 60 33.3%
MissSos 17 / 20 ★★ 85.0%
MissWatson 69 / 75 ★★★ 92.0%
Montarville 7 / 12 58.3%
nancynova 18 / 75 24.0%
nebula21 33 / 35 ★★★ 94.3%
Nickelini 17 / 20 ★★ 85.0%
novawalsh 4 / 30 13.3%
Quaisior★ 55 / 50 110.0%
quigui 10 / 12 ★★ 83.3%
rabbitprincess★ 75 / 50 150.0%
rainpebble★ 52 / 24 216.7%
RavenHill 21 / 40 52.5%
readingtangent★ 50 / 46 108.7%
Rebeki★ 18 / 18 100.0%
Robertgreaves★ 78 / 78 100.0%
sallylou61 33 / 36 ★★★ 91.7%
si 19 / 24 ★ 79.2%
sibyx 14 / 24 58.3%
Tanya-dogearedcopy 40 / 50 ★ 80.0%
torontoc 26 / 30 ★★ 86.7%
vestafan 35 / 50 70.0%

The non-participating members have been moved to this separate section and our goal was reduced from 4,636 to 3,930.

anoplph0ra / 20
EEasyReaderII / 60
Heather19 / 50
JBarringer / 365
katayseb / 15
KWharton / 10
linda.newman / 25
okeres / 25
pageturner3 / 50
Quasifesto / 36
slategreyskies / 50
surtsey / 10




Ameise1, rainpebble, majkia, readiingtangent, enemyanniemae, Quaisior, rabbitprincess, Kristelh, Benita, connie53, Erratic_Charmer, FAMeulstee, Jackie_K, and LauraBrook were joined by cyderry, leslie98, clue, Reebeki, Familyhistorian and Robertgreaves having reached their goals!


Next in line to join them are:

HelenBaker 97.9%

LadyoftheLodge 96.0%



The goal for October is 3,253 We need only 178 books to stay on target.

Questions for you all to answer:ETA - I would remove the people to a separate list sol that they could be re added if they started up again.

I voted for them not to be counted, but they should be moved to the non participating list so that they have the option of being revived.

Hi Cheli, I met and surpassed my goal in September but forgot to update my ticker. I am at 60 out of 55. The ticker is now updated.

I voted undecided. I am new to ROOTS. Do people come back or is it that in the beginning people are excited to join but then fall by the way side never to grow into a tree? If the historical facts are they don't come back, then just dispose of them but keeping a list in case they return is good too.

I happened to see this today and tried to update. I fell off most LT tracking with heath issues in the winter, I’ve been reading, but not spending much time talking about it. I guess I would not have been upset if I had been moved, but am glad I got back in befor it happened. So I guess I vote no.

I prefer the idea of moving inactive participants to a separate list, with the option to re-activate them if they return to posting.

And heck yes I will be here again next year :)

Just added a ROOT that I didn't manage to add to the tickers in time for the end of September: An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, by David Hume, which I read off Project Gutenberg.

>3 cyderry: I would definitely like to have ROOTs again next year. Are you willing to administer it again? You do a wonderful job with it.

>2 cyderry: I agree with not counting them, but keeping them on a non-participating list in case any come back.

Thanks for conducting the vote.

>10 sallylou61: I am perfectly willing to take care of administering next year. I have one small problem. My husband and I are taking a 2 week trip to celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary and my 65th birthday. We will be leaving the end of May and returning the middle of June so I would either have to setup the June thread a few days early or a few weeks late or we could have a combined May/June thread.

>11 cyderry: I would prefer either a late thread or a combined thread - whatever works better for you

Hi cyderry, wow, big year next year!
I vote for the May/June combined thread.
ps thanks for that you do!!!

I would vote for a combined thread too. And ROOTing next year is not even a question, YES. And No to the continuing of dormant members, but a separate thread for them.

Combining May & June should work perfectly well.

Would you have a theme for the year based on a group of eleven?

Ocean's Eleven? Shakespeare's tragedies?

>11 cyderry: Would a combined May/June thread work better for you? I'm fine with whichever works better for you.

Congratulations well ahead of time on your two big events next year.

I can go with either too but like others it sounds like the combined might be easier for you.

I'm happy to go with whatever's easiest for you too. I have a slight preference for a combined thread, but I wouldn't be dead set on it.

Congratulations in advance for your year of big occasions!

Combining May and June would be the easiest for me - I wouldn't have to rush before I leave on my trip and I wouldn't feel guilty about being late when I get back.

As for theme, I haven't had a chance to think about it much, but we'll see what we can surprise you with.

So far this month,2 books have been read.
Personal ticker only updated.

>11 cyderry: I'm fine with whatever works best for you, Chèli.

Whatever makes it easier for you, Cheli. We appreciate all that you do.

I am not sure if you saw my post that I met my goal in September but forgot to update my ticker? As of the end of September I read 60 ROOTs and my goal was to read 55.

>11 cyderry: & >19 cyderry: Combining is fine with me - as others have said, whatever is easiest for you. And congratulations in advance on your 45th anniversary! Having a combined anniversary/birthday trip sounds wonderful.

And my thanks for all your work and time on this group!

I have added 2 more ROOTS. One I actually finished in September but hadn't gotten around to updating here (no need to change my stats though as I am already past my goal).

My thread and all tickers have been updated.

My first ROOT for October is Tales from Watership Down, by Richard Adams. All tickers updated.

I will ROOT again next year.

A combined thread for May/June works for me.

I'll be ROOTing again next year, and I'm happy with whatever works for you, Cheli.

Three for a Muriel Spark centenary read-a-thon: A Far Cry from Kensington, Symposium, and Reality and Dreams.

First 3 for this month, 60/75. Making good progress and on track for keeping my star.

I have been so busy with grandchildren over the school holidays, I forgot to post that I had reached my goal with The Sentimentalists by Johanna Skibsrud. 48/48 However the uprooting needs to continue as I have way more books than I started the year with. I will endeavour to remedy this over the rest of this year.

I've declared A Bridge Too Far, by Cornelius Ryan, my second ROOT of October. I haven't picked it up in months and am not feeling the urge to pick it up again. All tickers updated.

A quick comic-strip read: G.B. Trudeau, YUGE! 30 Years of Doonesbury on Trump

4th for October, 61/75

>28 HelenBaker: Congrats, Helen!

>28 HelenBaker: Well done on meeting your goal!

I've added my first ROOT for October (#57 for the year) to all tickers, and had the satisfaction of seeing the % shift from 78.9 to 79 - I love it when that happens!

Reporting ROOT # 44 for the year, # 1 for October

Het restaurant aan het eind van het heelal by Douglas Adams

Tickers updated.

I finished my first ROOT for October. Driving Over Lemons: An Optimist in Andalucia by Chris Stewart. This was a memoir of the first 5 years Stewart and his wife owned and operated a small sheep farm just south of Granada Spain. Stewart was one of the founding members of the rock band Genius. He left the band and became a certified sheep shearer and then found this small run down farm in Andalusia. He purchased it and spent the first summer starting on its rehabilitation. After the first 6 months his wife moved and they stayed, eventually starting a flock of sheep and a family. The reviews of this one were really good, but I found the book to be mostly average. However, I learned much about the rural life in this area of Spain where modernization has been slow to happen and people are leaving the small villages in droves to move to the cities where they can have a better standard of living. The simple life is good, but electricity and running water are really nice. I like reading this kind of travel memoir so all-in-all, it was a good way to end the evenings.

Just added a delightful audio ROOT to all tickers: Sputnik's Guide to Life on Earth, by Frank Cottrell Boyce, read by Peter Capaldi.

Just finished my 25th ROOT out of 25! I updated my personal ticker but left the group one alone. I've met my goal, but plan to keep reading ROOTs so I'll just be helping to boost the group number at this point.

Well done, Johanna. Congratulations.

I'm good with whatever works best for cyderry.

And I want to keep ROOTing! I picked a large goal this year, and hope that I will make it even though I'm behind at this time.

>36 johanna414: Congratulations!

I finished a book but now the one I'm reading is putting me over my Japanese reading level comfort level so I have to decide if I push through -- which will slow me down -- or abandon it until my reading level goes up. But I really like the concept of this book so for now I'm pushing but it's very slow going.

Reporting ROOT # 45 for the year, # 2 for October

Drakenzoon by Margaret Weis

Tickers updated.

Congrats, Johanna!!

Added two ROOTs to all tickers.

One I finished yesterday: 1599: A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare, by James Shapiro
One I am giving away unread: Ten Days in Summer, by Susan Calder

I finished my second ROOT for October. Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation by Michael Pollan. I listened to this one on my daily commute and for some reason my mind would wander while listening to it. This one was narrated by the author. He has a soft tone of voice and that may have been the reason why it was easy to tune it out. But I learned lots and my hardcopy at home had lots of sticky notes sticking out the side of the book when I finished.

Another root for the group total, Longbourn by Jo Baker. This was an enjoyable historical fiction novel based on the downstairs staff of Pride and Prejudice.

Just went over my target of 75 ROOTs! Yippee! Here is what I read:
Teacher, Teacher by Jack Sheffield
Tiny Tilda's Pumpkin Pie by Susan Kantor
Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown by Charles M. Schulz

As you see from my list, I decided to read some seasonal books. Great fun, Charlie Brown!
Ticker updated!

I've added another ROOT to all tickers: Jude the Obscure, by Thomas Hardy, which I read as a public-domain ebook.

Just two more til I reach my ROOTs goal for the year!!

Keeping my star with E.B. White's One Man's Meat, a collection of essays from the pre-war to early WW2 era originally published in Harper's (with a couple or three in The New Yorker). White is best known as the creator of Stuart Little and the co-author (with William Strunk) of The Elements of Style.

6th for October, 63/75

>44 HelenBaker: Longbourn was recommended to me here at LT, and I recall thoroughly enjoying it.

I also love Millions of Cats, bought a copy for my granddaughter.

Three more ROOTs so far in October, personal ticker updated.

Another one for the group total The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis.

#27 ROOT and first for Oct- no tickers updated and the review is on my thread.

Just finished Malice at the Palace:A Royal Spyness Mystery by Rhys Bowen, which has been on my TBR for awhile.

I had a little bit of a road trip over the weekend and so finished listening to another ROOT. Little French Bistro by Nina George was a great way to pass the miles. For a bonus, there was a great deal in it about Brittany and Breton culture. Especially about some folk tales. The narrator was good on this recorded version, so I would recommend it for people who need something to listen to while they drive.

Finished another ROOT yesterday: McNally's Chance, by Vincent Lardo instead of Lawrence Sanders (Lardo continued the series after Sanders died). All tickers updated.

I just realized that I missed my 10 year anniversary with LibraryThing! It happened last week - guess I was busy reading!

Happy Belated Thingaversary, Chèli! I hope it was a good book.

I completed my 50 books and manga read goal and should be reading more still this year so am hoping to boost our ROOT numbers. Although I hadn't realized I had already completed my goal I was already starting to reade more difficult books which is certainly slowing me down now. Do hope to fit in a few more Japanese language novels before the end of the year though especially as the English books on my TBR pile right now aren't calling to me at all.

The Golden Compass Graphic Novel

7th for October, 64/75

ROOT #2 for October (#58 for the year), Asterix in Britain, added to all tickers.

>59 Jackie_K: I love Asterix!

One to go, for me!!

You can do it, lindapanzo!

I've just added ROOT #3 (#59 for the year), When Breath Becomes Air to all tickers. A 5* read for me (but remember the tissues for the epilogue).

Katherine Applegate, The One and Only Ivan, a quick-read Newbery Medalist that I'd been meaning to get around to for ages but had misplaced. Just found it doing some boxing and cataloging.

8th for October, 65/75

I finished reading the last of the Guido Guerrieri books that have been translated into English. A Fine Line by Gianrico Carofiglio

I have finally finished my second ROOT of the month. My thread and all tickers updated.

So far, October has not been a good reading month for me :(

Back again with another root, The Very Thought of You by Rosie Alison. My new goal is to try and finish the year with less than I started to undo the impact of my buying sprees. I will have my work cut out for me. I will need to stay focused as I am 13 over. Back to the shelves.

>66 HelenBaker: I can sympathize - even though I've marked off 89 ROOTs so far, I've added 105 books - so I've added 16 additional ROOTs!! I'm hoping to get at least anther 18-20 finished before the end of the year.

It is an addiction!!

I've finished ROOT #72, my goal for the year. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!

Everything now, for the rest of the year, is gravy.

>68 lindapanzo: Well done!!

>68 lindapanzo: Well done, lindapanzo. Congratulations.

Updated all tickers with my latest ROOT: a public-domain edition of The Rose and the Ring, by William Makepeace Thackeray.

I have finished four ROOTs this month, which means only two more. Currently reading The Night Manager by John LeCarré, who was born under the sign of Libra. After that, if I pick a short one, I may manage to reach my goal this month.

War No More: Three Centuries of American Antiwar and Peace Writing (ed. Lawrence Rosenwald Library of America). Also, @868pp, brings me to 13/15 for the Big Fat Book Challenge

9th for October, 66/75

I finished another short book I Myself Have Seen It: The Myth of Hawai'i. It looks like this is going to be a good reading month for me.

Added a sizeable ROOT to all tickers: The Disorderly Knights, by Dorothy Dunnett. It was the biggest ROOT left in my "pool" of potential reads for 2018, so I am glad to have checked it off!

Martin Stannard, Muriel Spark: The Biography

10th for October, 67/75

I have reached my goal of 75 with The Night Manager by John LeCarré. My own ticker is up-to-date, haven't touched the group tickers. I hope to contribute a few more in the last two months. Gee, where has the year gone?

>77 MissWatson: Yeah! Congratulations!

I'm still behind, but working hard. I've read seven ROOTs this month, for a total of 70.

Now I just need to get 30 more done by the end of the year...

I am not likely to get more ROOTS done for October, so my total for the month is 7 ROOT's. (It was a good reading month.) I seem to be stuck on 7's as that is what I had in August and September as well.

I listened to 3 ROOT's this month. All of them were good, but Little French Bistro by Nina George was the best.

1. Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation by Michael Pollan - narrated by the author and he was OK but not the best reader. This was an important book for me as a cook and a person who tries to eat healthy and live a healthy lifestyle.
2. Little French Bistro by Nina George - this was a fun book to listen to. Great narrator. Lots in the book about Brittany and the culture of that region. Made me want to go there and visit.
3. Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman - this was a short anthology of Gaiman's selection from the old Norse myths. Not a comprehensive anthology, but enough to get people interested in these stories.

I read 4 ROOT's this month.

1. Driving Over Lemons: An Optimist in Andalucia by Chris Stewart - a variation on the "Under the Tuscan Sun" theme. Rich guy buys house in foreign land. Moves in. Fixes it up. Makes friends. I love these stories!
2. In the Land of Long Fingernails: A Gravedigger in the Age of Aquarius by Charles Wilkins - the cemetery equivalent of 4th grade scatological books. Don't bother.
3. A Fine Line by Gianrico Carofiglio - another introspective legal procedural in the series by this Italian author. I have grown to like Guido and will miss him. This is the last book in the series that has been translated so there will be no more for me.
4. I Myself Have Seen It: The Myth of Hawai'i by Susanna Moore - my 14th book in the National Geographic Directions series. Only 9 more to read to have completed this travel by essay journey.

There - that is my effort to get this thread to 150 and the easier turn around for our fearless organizer.

>83 benitastrnad: LOL

Posting to say that I will probably not finish another ROOT before the month is out. My personal ticker is up to date, and I've been updating the group ticker during the month.

I am done with October books, my sticker is up to date. 6 for October #54 for the year. I have not updated the group ticker.

My report for October:

UpROOTED books: 9
ROOTless books: 4
Added to the TBR shelves: 1

The ROOTs were:

On the Nature of the Universe by Lucretius
The Universe in a Nutshell by Stephen Hawking
Feast of Sorrow by Crystal King
The Shrine by Ben Kane
Fall Down 7 Times Get Up 8 by Naoki Higashida
Hawksmoor by Peter Ackroyd
The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar
Three Wrong Turns in the Desert by Neil Plakcy
On the Move by Oliver Sacks

ROOTs in YTD: 87

Tickers have been updated but hopefully not harmed in the making of this report

3 up-ROOT-ed in October for me. Big improvement over my September effort 0 but not enough to get me back on track. I'm going to have to rely on the over-ROOT-ers to help me out.

20 ROOTs for October, making a total of 245 ROOTs in ten months.
Updated all tickers.

I had a bad month in terms of reading...just too much going on in October with festivals, fundraisers and library book sales. I met goal last month and didn't read any this month so my ticker is still correct at 31. Will read more in Nov and Dec.

I'm not going to get any more done, so that's me for October. I've updated all tickers so my totals will be correct.

I only read 2 books in all of October. Thank goodness they were both ROOTs!

The Promise of Happiness (Best of Betty Neels) by Betty Neels; (4*); acquired prior to L/T and The Chain of Destiny by Betty Neels; also (4*) and acquired prior to L/T. Together they bring my ROOT total to 53 for the year. I will try to do better in November.
I have updated my personal ticker but have not touched the group one.
Thank you & HAPPY ROOTING through the year's end, everyone.

Finished 7 this month for a total of 58 this year. Updated personal ticker and will leave the group ticker to the professionals.

One more for the group after a late night read, A Handful of Dust by Evelyn Waugh.

I had 7 ROOTS for the month. No tickers updated.

November thread is up! Check it out!

https://www.librarything.com/topic/298235#