DFED Begins Anew in 2011!

Hello all! I've participated in the 75 book challengs the last two years and I've really enjoyed it! So, this year I'll be participating again. And, once again, I'm assigning a side goal for myself of reading one book I own for every two books I read from the library - wish me luck!

Welcome!

I'm looking forward to seeing what you choose to read this year. Great job on last year's challenge and good luck this year!

Good luck with your goal for the year, Dawn! Glad to see you back.

Here's last year's thread for anyone who's interested:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/80550

#1: If the Buddha Came To Dinner by Hale Sofia Schatz, 320 pages (own). A spiritual look at nutrition. It was a bit new-agey but it did give me alot of ideas about how to look at eating and my diet.

Congratulations on getting #1 for the year under your belt!

Thanks alcottacre! It's been slow going as I've been sick lately...

#2 - Becoming Queen Victoria by Kate Williams, 448 pages (library). A very good book on the beginnings of Queen Victoria. But the best part was the look at Princess Charlotte - Victoria's predecessor.

#3 - Believe It, Be It by Ali Vincent, 176 pages (library). My interest has been piqued lately by the show The Biggest Loser and I randomly found this on the library's shelves. Vincent was the first female winner of The Biggest Loser and this is her story.

#8: The Williams book looks like one I would enjoy! Thansk for the recommendation, Dee.

#4 - Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace, 112 pages (library).

#5 - Betsy-Tacy And Tib by Maud Hart Lovelace, 128 pages (library).

If you enjoy cutesy children's books with valuable life lessons in them, boy are you in for a treat! These are too cute!

I think that If The Buddha Came for Dinner looks interesting. I'm adding it to the wishlist. Thanks!

#6 - Betsy And Tacy Go Over The Big Hill by Maud Hart Lovelace, 171 pages (library).

#7 - Confessions Of A French Baker by Peter Mayle, 91 pages (library). I've been contemplating making my own bread for some time now. What luck to find this book by my favorite "French" author!

Saw this on alcottacre's thread and found it interesting! www.biblioz.com

Fiction 1 NOBLE HOUSE James Clavell
Fiction 2 GORKY PARK Martin Cruz Smith
Fiction 3 GOD EMPEROR OF DUNE Frank Herbert
Fiction 4 GOODBYE JANETTE, Harold Robbins
Fiction 5 FREE FALL IN CRIMSON John D. MacDonald
Fiction 6 MASQUERADE Kit Williams
Fiction 7 THE WHITE HOTEL D.M. Thomas
Fiction 8 THE GLITTER DOME Joseph Wambaugh
Fiction 9 THE CARDINAL SINS Andrew M. Greeley
Fiction 10 XPD Len Deighton
Fiction 11 LICENSE RENEWED John Gardner
Fiction 12 THE COVENANT James A. Michener
Fiction 13 CREATION Gore Vidal
Fiction 14 TAR BABY Toni Morrison
Fiction 15 REFLEX Dick Francis
Non-Fiction 1 THE LORD GOD MADE THEM ALL James Herriot
Non-Fiction 2 NEVER-SAY-DIET BOOK Richard Simmons
Non-Fiction 3 THE BEVERLY HILLS DIET Judy Mazel
Non-Fiction 4 THE EAGLE'S GIFT Carlos Castaneda
Non-Fiction 5 COSMOS Carl Sagan
Non-Fiction 6 THE PRITIKIN PERMANENT WEIGHT-LOSS MANUAL Nathan Pritikin
Non-Fiction 7 MISS PIGGY'S GUIDE TO LIFE Miss Piggy as told to Henry Beard
Non-Fiction 8 MARIA CALLAS Arianna Stassinopoulos
Non-Fiction 9 YOU CAN NEGOTIATE ANYTHING Herb Cohen
Non-Fiction 10 DR. ATKINS' NUTRITION BREAKTHROUGH Robert C. Atkins, M.D.
Non-Fiction 11 THEORY Z William G. Ouchi
Non-Fiction 12 BETTY CROCKER'S INTERNATIONAL COOKBOOK. (Random House)
Non-Fiction 13 THE ALPHA STRATEGY John A. Pugsley
Non-Fiction 14 NICE GIRLS DO Irene Kassorla
Non-Fiction 15 WILLIAM E. DONOGHUE'S COMPLETE MONEY MARKET GUIDE, William E. Donoghue with Thomas Tilling

And, I've actually read the Dick Francis and James Herriott books!

#8 - The Vintage Caper by Peter Mayle, audiobook (Library). $3 million worth of wine gets stolen in LA and its up to Sam Levitt to find it!

#13: I really do need to read Miss Piggy's Guide to Life just to find out what it is :)

alcottacre - I agree! That one had me scratching my head a bit... :)

#9 - Betsy And Tacy Go Downtown by Maud Hart Lovelace, 223 pages (library).

#10 - Winona's Pony Cart by Maud Hart Lovelace, 107 pages (library). An offshoot of the Betsy-Tacy series.

#11 - Howard's End Is On The Landing by Susan Hill, 236 pages (library). Attention all book lovers - you MUST read this book! It's wonderful and will definitely make you add to your TBR list!

I already read the Susan Hill book, so I can dodge that BB. Whew!

#12 - Real Food Has Curves by Bruce Weinstein, 287 pages (library). A straightforward look about how eating "real" food has its benefits. And, I can attest that the recipes in this book are quite good!

January's not over and you already have 12 books. Good start!

#18: I wish my local library had that one!

#13 - Heaven To Betsy by Maud Hart Lovelace, 345 pages (library).

#14 - Betsy In Spite Of Herself by Maud Hart Lovelace, 331 pages (library).

Does Real Food Has Curves have lots of meat recipes in it? I'm steering clear of meat right now, but might look for it if it is a mix of meat and veggie recipes. I love the title and concept.

nancyewhite - the purpose of the book was to make people realize that real food is delicious in its own right and doesn't need extra sugars/preservatives/etc. That being said, they do have several meat recipes (one chapter was about how a real burger can compare to something from a fast food joint) but they also have lots of veggie recipes!

#15 - Anna And The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, 372 pages (library). This was a wonderful book that I couldn't put down!

15 books read in January is quite an accomplishment.

Thanks for the nudge regarding Howards End Is On The Landing. I'll see if my local library has this one.

Whisper1 - thanks! And, you won't be disappointed by Howards End Is On the Landing!

#16 - Betsy Was A Junior by Maud Hart Lovelace, 248 pages (library).

#17 - Betsy And Joe by Maud Hart Lovelace, 256 pages (library).

#18 - The Dirty Life by Kristin Kimball, 276 pages (library). Kimball falls in love with an offbeat farmer and learns what true love (and hard work) are really all about!

#19 - Betsy And The Great World by Maud Hart Lovelace, 362 pages (library).

#20 - Betsy's Wedding by Maud Hart Lovelace, 295 pages (library).

(Sigh) Now I've finished all of the Betsy-Tacy series (except for one knock-off book of the series which I have on hold at the library). These were really sweet books! (think Anne Of Green Gables)

I have never read any of the Betsy-Tacy books. Hmmm, I wonder if my local library has them. . .

#21 - Casino Royale by Ian Fleming, 218 pages (library). In Howard's End Is On The Landing, Susan Hill mentions that Ian Fleming never gets old which got me thinking that I've never read any James Bond. Well, that's changed now and I will be reading more.

So I guess that means the book was a good read? I've not read any Ian Fleming either..

KiwiNyx - It was okay but Casino Royale is about the "beginning" of James Bond so I'll definitely read the next books to see what happens!

#22 - The Night Bookmobile by Audrey Niffenegger, ? pages (online). Someone on this thread (I forget who) kindly pointed out that this graphic novel was online for free. It was a very sad story.

#23 - C'est La Vie by Suzy Gershman, 272 pages (own). The author make the tranisition from marriage to widowhood by fulfilling a lifelong dream of living in France.

#24 - Living Oprah by Robyn Okrant, 257 pages (library). The author decides to "live Oprah" for a year and blog about it.

I had to look that last book up as I had no idea what 'living Oprah' would mean. Interesting idea but I think following someone else's advice for a year would drive me barmy.

I did not know what 'living Oprah' would mean either. I think I will give the book a pass.

alcottacre/ KiwiNyx - She basically follows any advice given directly from Oprah for a year. And, yes, it drives her batty :)

#25 - The Colonel And Little Missie by Larry McMurtry, audiobook (library). Where do I start on this one?? I innocently assumed that this was a sort of biography of Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley - two figures from the old west that I was interested in learning more about. Based on past experiences of McMurtry's non-fiction works, I should've known better! Besides the narrator having an excedingly boring voice, the book naturally assumes that you already have a good grasp on the lives of both people, as well as a working history of the West, its Indian tribes and the various military escapades that took place there. The only reason I made it through the book was the few interesting tidbits scattered throughout at just enough intervals to keep me listening. This is only recommended to those who know their western history!

#: OK, skipping that one! I hope you enjoy your next read more, Dawn.

#26 - Clara And Mr. Tiffany by Susan Vreeland, 405 pages (library). The story of Clara Driscoll and the little-known women's department of Tiffany glass. At the time, Tiffany wouldn't hire married women so the women in his factory often had to choose between love and art. Here's a link I found with more information: http://www.antiquesandfineart.com/articles/article.cfm?request=769

#38: Someone else just read and recommended that book. I am going to have to bump it up!

>32 DFED:: The 'book' Bond is different from the 'film' Bond... but not necessarily in a bad way! I find the books are a little dated (since Fleming was all about name dropping of brands and such), but still plenty of fun and worth the read. I just purchased the Penguin anniversary collection of the books on discount... they came in a lovely box and everything... so I imagine I'll be reading more of the books soon too.

alcottacre - It's definitely worth a try!

dk_phoenix - The book was definitely dated, but I think that was part of the charm! The set you got sounds lovely!

#27 - Cherries In Winter by Suzan Colon, 202 pages (library). The author loses her job and starts panicking about money and her family's financial situation. However, she turns to her family's old recipes and finds in them comfort and a history of her family surviving "trying" times.

How did you like Cherries in Winter? It's been on my wish list for awhile, but I've put off acquiring it because I've seen some reviews favorable and some not so much.

thornton37814 - Cherries In Winter was just an all-around pleasant read. Funnily enough, the book made me want to squirrel away pennies or can some veggies when she was talking about making cutbacks in her life/finances and what her Depression-era grandparents went through financially!

#28 - The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan, 464 pages (own). I've been reading this from last year; partly because I didn't want it to end and partly because I would get so upset about our current food system, I would have to put it down for awhile. My conclusion? If you eat food, YOU SHOULD READ THIS BOOK!!

I may have to move that one to a little higher priority on my list! Sounds like it would be a good one to read to motivate me to try to grow a few things in my backyard!

#29 - Carney's House Party by Maud Hart Lovelace, 288 pages (library). Further adventures from Deep Valley.

#30 - Isaac Murphy: I Dedicate This Ride by Frank Walker, 88 pages (library). Yet another book I didn't want to end! And this is a book of poetry (I almost never read poetry)! It's poems from the life of the famous jockey Isaac Murphy.

#28, if you eat food, you should read this. Damn, can't escape that BB.

KiwiNyx - lol! Didn't mean to sound harsh but it is (to me anyways) a very important book.

#31 - The Royal Diaries: Isabel by Carolyn Meyer, 204 pages (library). I think it was Whisper1 who piqued my interest in these books. I had seen them around but never bothered to pick one up. Now I have a few more on order from the library!

#32 - Birds Of A Feather by Jacqueline Winspear, 336 pages (own). I read the first book in this mystery series, Maisie Dobbs a few years ago and was interested in continuing reading them. I'm glad I did.

#33 - A Long Way From Chicago by Richard Peck, audiobook (library). Porch_reader mentioned this on their thread and I really enjoyed it. I'll be sure to read A Year Down Yonder next.

#34 - Someday My Prince Will Come by Jerramy Fine, 320 pages (library). The author's story of a lifetime quest to marry a real prince.

#35 - All-Of-A-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor, 188 pages (library). I forget who mentioned this on their thread, but this is a very cute story of a Jewish family in NY in the early 1900's.

#36 - The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, 324 pages (library). I've finally joined a book club and this is my first read with them.

I read A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini and it was a great story. I have heard that The Kite Runner was even better so can't wait to read that one. Will be looking to see what you think of the book.

jolerie - I read A Thousand Splendid Suns last year and it was a very moving story. The Kite Runner was just as good!

#37 - A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck, audiobook (library). The follow-up book to A Long Way From Chicago.

#38 - The Shangri-La Diet by Seth Roberts, 224 pages (own). Roberts theorizes that a small dose of sugar water and/or extra light virgin olive oil will fool the body into weight loss. I'm not sure what to think about this one...

#39 - More All-Of-A-Kind Family by Sydney Taylore, 159 pages (library). This is the follow-up book to All-Of-A-Kind Family.

#40 - The Skinny: How To Fit Into Your Little Black Dress Forever by Melissa Clark, 256 pages (library). I don't know why I'm so drawn to weight loss books. Perhaps I'm looking for the latest secret/scientific breakthrough (ie. my questionable purchase of The Shangri-La Diet)? Well, maybe all of that should stop with this book! It's chock-full of good old common sense and solutions to everyday problems that any woman trying to lose weight faces.

#41 - Shakespeare: The World As Stage by Bill Bryson, 199 pages (library). I don't know much about Shakespeare except the reading that was forced on me in high school. However, I find it very amusing that the rest of the world doesn't know much about him either!

Guilty as charged. I could never get into Shakespeare. Maybe it was the language, but I never learned to appreciate his brilliance.

I quite enjoyed that Bryson Shakespeare book and was also surprised to find out that there are many gaps in his life where no-one knows what he got up to. The many rumours about him are quite interesting as well, especially who the muse was for his sonnets.

Glad you are enjoying the Royal Diairy series.

Congratulations on reading 41 books thus far!

jolerie - agreed! And I think it was the language for me too (and the fact that I hate someone telling me what I ought to read)

KiwiNyx - I'm afraid I'm not too familiar with the sonnets though the book did spark my interest in them (they seem like the more "readable" bits of Shakespeare)

Whisper1 - thanks for the congratulations!

#42 - All-Of-A-Kind Family Downtown by Sydney Taylor, 187 pages (library).

#43 - All-Of-A-Kind Family Uptown by Sydney Taylor, 160 pages (library).

The last of the All-Of-A-Kind Family books :(

#44 - The Diary Of Mattie Spenser by Sandra Dallas, 229 pages (library). Thanks to DeltaQueen50 for this recommendation - I loved it!

#45 - Object Of Beauty by Steve Martin, audiobook (library). A intriguing look at the New York art world. I love Steve Martin's books and I urge anyone who hasn't given him a chance yet to do so!

#46 - Emily Of Deep Valley by Maud Hart Lovelace, 290 pages (library). The very last book of the Betsy-Tacy series :(

#47 - A Season Of Gifts by Richard Peck, audiobook (library). The last of the Grandma Dowdel books :(

#48 - Charlie And The Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, 155 pages (library). A rather strange choice of a book for my book club. That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it though!

I've just requested the Steve Martin art book from the library as it looks really interesting. I never even knew he wrote.

KiwiNyx - I hope you enjoy his writing as much as I do!

#49 - Made For You And Me by Caitlin Shetterly, 256 pages (own). An ER book. Review to follow.

And now, it's time for my quarterly summation of how I've been doing on my personal challenge!

Library Books: 42

Owned Books: 6

Online Books: 1

Total Books: 49

Clearly, I need to read more of my own books in order to meet my own challenge! Luckily, I've promised myself that in April I will do just that.

#50 - Hometown Appetites by Kelly Alexander, 352 pages (own). Have you ever heard of Clementine Paddleford? Well, before Jane & Michael Stern, before Julia Child and before cooking was a national obsession/art form, Paddleford traveled the country interviewing and highlighting local cooks and local foods for the New York Tribune. This book is a look at her life and also includes some recipes!

#51 - Confessions Of A Key West Cabby by Michael Suib, 200 pages (own). Suib gives up his cold life in New York for the warmer climes of Key West, Florida and becomes a cab driver there. These are his interesting observations and stories about Key West. I never really thought about how much cab drivers see on a daily basis!

#52 - Animal Adventures by Laura Ingalls Wilder, 70 pages (library).

#53 - The Adventures Of Jack And Laura by Laura Ingalls Wilder, 71 pages (library).

Two Little House Chapter Books. These are for young readers and are basically taken out of the original Little House books.

I am not going to try and catch up with the 20+ posts I have missed while gone, Dawn. I will try and keep up with you the rest of the year though.

Hometown Appetites looks like a book I would enjoy. Thanks for the recommendation. I will see if I can find a copy.

alcottacre - Glad to see you back! I think you'd enjoy Hometown Appetites.

#54 - The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas, 196 pages (library). I enjoyed The Diary Of Mattie Spenser so much that I picked up this book about a quilting group in Kansas during the Depression.

#55 - Grayson by Lynne Cox, 176 pages (own). I started this awhile back and the writing was hard for me to get into. But, I really enjoyed her descriptions of sea life - something not alot of us get to enjoy the way the author does!

The Persian Pickle Club is the only Sandra Dallas I've read, but I liked it well enough that she's now on my list of authors to look for.

I have a copy of The Persian Pickle Club that I hope to get to soon, since I loved Mattie Spenser so much. Did you like it (The PPC, that is)?

cbl_tn/ aktakukac - I did enjoy The Persian Pickle Club and Dallas is quickly becoming a favorite author!

I have several Sandra Dallas books in my TBR pile. I need to try to get to at least one of them soon!

#56 - The Help by Kathryn Stockett, audiobook (library). Many, many thanks to whoever it was out there that suggested reading this via audiobook! I loved it and couldn't recommend it more! The voices for the characters were just perfect.

>71 DFED: I have about 100 pages to go in The Help. I'm really enjoying it, too...I bet it would be really great on audio!

We just bought that for our library. I've got it on my summer reading list.

aktakukac - it really was!

mamzel - definitely read (or listen to) it!

#57 - The Butcher And The Vegetarian by Tara Austen Weaver, 228 pages (library). Don't let the title or the cover illustration fool you. There's no cutesy romance in this book. However, the vegetarian author has alot to say. Faced with lifelong health issues, she is told by numerous doctors to start eating meat. What follows is her moral/ethical dilemmas about meat in her search for health.

#58 - The Frugalista Files by Natalie McNeal, 179 pages (library). If you can look beyond the many exclamations and slang in this book, you'll find an inspiring story of the author deciding to grow up and pay off her $20,000 credit card debt as well as start a successful blog and a new career.

#59 - Pioneer Girl by Andrea Warren, 96 pages (library). The true story of pioneer girl Grace McCance growing up in Nebraska.

#60 - Wait For Me! by Deborah Devonshire, 345 pages (Library). This is the memoirs of Deborah Mitford and very interesting ones at that! I loved the look into her past, her sisters, her various brushes with celebrity and the renovations to Chatsworth House. I would love to visit sometime!

#61 - Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan, 262 pages (library). A lovely book about a priveleged Mexican girl who loses her father and his estates and becomes an immigrant worker in the US.

320px; border: 1px solid gray; font: normal 12px sans-serif; background-color: white;"> What Kind of Reader Are You? Your Result: Dedicated Reader  

You are always trying to find the time to get back to your book. You are convinced that the world would be a much better place if only everyone read more.

Obsessive-Compulsive Bookworm   Literate Good Citizen   Book Snob   Fad Reader   Non-Reader   What Kind of Reader Are You?
Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

#62 - The Wilder Life by Wendy McClure, 336 pages (library). I was terribly disappointed to not receive this as an ER book. Luckily, my library had it! And can I tell you how glad I was to read about someone else who's imaginary childhood friend was Laura Ingalls Wilder?

#63 - In The Kitchen With A Good Appetite by Melissa Clark, 444 pages (library). A very readable cookbook and one that's going on my must own list!

I love it when you find a truly great cookbook, they are like precious jewels, mine have their very own little bookshelf in the kitchen.

KiwiNyx - you are absolutely right!

#64 - French Women For All Seasons by Mireille Guiliano, 368 pages (own). This is a re-read for me. I needed a refresher course on eating correctly! :)

#65 - A Little House Of Their Own by Celia Wilkins, 320 pages (library). The last book in the Caroline Years series.

#66 - The Girl On The High-Diving Horse by Linda Oatman High, 40 pages (library). A children's book about the Atlantic City high-diving horses. This book has gorgeous illustrations!

#67 - Eleanor, Crown Jewel Of Aquitaine by Kristiana Gregory, 187 pages (library). Another 'The Royal Diaries' book.

#77: I am currently reading Charlotte Mosley's excellent book The Mitfords. You might be interested in rading that one, Dawn. I am adding Wait for Me! to the BlackHole.

alcottacre - oh, that one looks good! Onto the wishlist it goes!

#68 - My Korean Deli by Ben Ryder Howe, 320 pages (own). Another of my ER books.

#85: I finished the book last night. It is terrific and really provides insight into the sisters and their relationships. I do hope you give it a try.

#69 - The Great Big Veg Challenge by Charlotte Hume, 320 pages (own). I picked this book up on clearance and I'm awfully glad I did! The author's son has decided the vegetables are not meant to be eaten and she decides to do something about. Thus begins the "Great Big Veg Challenge" where Hume's family attempts an alphabetical trial of all vegetables. There are definitely recipes in here that I'm going to try!

#87: What vegetable did they come up with for X?

That vegie one sounds fascinating, did it work in the end? Did her son relent and eat veges again?

I'm going to look around for the Atlantic City diving horses book!

alcottacre - unfortunately, they had to skip X...

KiwiNyx - amazingly, it worked like a dream! Her son was soon at least trying everything that was put in front of him. She said the key was offering many flavors/preparations for every veggie as well as including her kids in the choosing/eating/cooking process.

alsvidur - it's definitely worth checking out!

#70 - The Eat, This Not That! No-Diet Diet by David Zinczenko, 352 pages (own). Another common sense book from the Eat This, Not That! team, with a diet twist.

#71 - The Gluten Free Girl by Shauna James Ahern, 276 pages (library). My sister is gluten-free and on a recent visit I realized just how difficult it can be for her sometimes. So, I picked up this book to better understand. And boy, am I glad I did! Fantastic writing and the author truly embraces her new lifestyle. Definitely recommended for any gluten-free people (or their friends/family) out there!

#72 - Cecile: Gates Of Gold by Mary Casanova, 191 pages (library). I saw this on thomasandmary's thread and I don't need much encouragement to read more American Girl books! This was an enjoyable, quick read and I've already got more of this series on order from the library.

#91: I rather suspected that they might.

#73 - Stuff by Randy O. Frost, 290 pages (library). Back when I had cable, I was enthralled by the several hoarding shows that were on TV. Then, on LT I learned about this book. It was a great layman's book about the many different types of hoarding problems and the ever-evolving ways to treat them.

I've just recently started watching a show on TV called Hoarders which I find fascinating and depressing all at once. I am a closet hoarder (mostly books), nowhere near as extreme as the people on the show, but the need to look at everything myself before dealing with it is very strong and this fact was a bit scary to realise.

KiwiNyx - I've seen that show too and I definitely sympathize! Reading Stuff I kept seeing similiarities in myself and thinking, "Oh no! Will I wake up one day with boxes to the ceiling?" :)

#74 - Marie Antoinette: Princess Of Versailles by Kathryn Lasky, 236 pages (library). Another in the Royal Diaries series.

And....(drum roll, please)....

#75 - If You Were Here by Jen Lancaster, 306 pages (library). This is Lancaster's first work of fiction, though it's most definitely based off of her real life. And, it includes footnotes!

Congrats on finishing 75 books . . . already! Wow!

75!! Yeehaa. Congratulations!

Thanks for the congratulations everyone!

#76 - Savannah From Savannah by Denise Hildreth, 336 pages (own). I was looking forward to reading this coming of age story based in Savannah, one of my favorite cities. However, this book smacked of Christian fiction (oops - I just looked it up and it is just that!). And the heroine Savannah speaks and acts way older than her 24 years (which was super-annoying to me)!

Congrats!

drneutron - thanks!

#77 - Drink This, Not That by Matt Zinczenko, 336 pages (own). I think we Americans can officially contribute most of our obesity problems to what we are drinking!

#78 - The Royal Diaries: Victoria by Laurence Yep, 219 pages (library). Another in the Royal Diaries series.

#104: I did not realize that there was a book on drinks in that series. Thanks for pointing that out to me!

Congrats on reaching 75 and more!

thornton37814 - thanks!

Well, I've been on vacation lately, but I've had plenty of reading time while I was away!

#79 - The Reluctant Tuscan by Phil Doran, 320 pages (own). Doran's wife is concerned about the health of her Hollywood-bound husband, so she purchases a Tuscan villa for them to live in. This is filled with hilarious antecdotes about the red tape and culture of Tuscany, Italy.

#80 - Spoken In Whispers by Nicci Mackay, 327 pages (own). Mackay has always been able to speak to horses (as well as other animals!) and at a riding seminar, she is finally encouraged to let others know of her "horse whispering" skills. I found this endlessly interesting!

#81 - Chew On This by Eric Schlosser, 318 pages (own). This is a follow-up book by the author of Fast Food Nation aimed at school children. Still a good read about the truth behind fast food!

#82 - The President's House by Margaret Truman, 416 pages (own). The daughter of President Truman writes a fascinating book about the history of the White House.

Looks like you had a nice 'reading' vacation!

There are some very good looking books there, I especially like the sound of the Tuscany one.

#83 - A Week At The Airport by Alain De Botton, 107 pages (library). De Botton is invited by Heathrow airport to be the "writer in residence" for a week at it's new terminal. What follows are amazing observations on the nature of travel and airports along with some fantastic photos!

#84 - Chocolate Chocolate by Frances Park, 274 pages (library). Could there be a better title for a book? This is the story of two sisters who opened a chocolate shop in Washington DC.

#85 - Lyddie by Katherine Paterson, 182 pages (own). I was glad to find this book in our library bookstore. This book really impacted me as a child and it was great reading it again!

#86 - The Eighty-Dollar Champion by Elizabeth Letts, 352 pages (own). This is an ER book that I will review later but is very much recommended for any horse lovers out there!

#87 - Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton, audiobook (library). A tale of pirates and the high seas with some rather convenient plot twists. This seemed different from Crichton's typical fare.

#88 - Building A Home With My Husband by Rachel Simon, 259 pages (library). I finally finished this one! The author's writing was very "deep" and emotional at times which I find hard to read depending on my mood. However, it was a good overview of the emotions one can experience in marriage and while rennovationg a house.

I guess I'll go ahead and sum up my last three months' worth of reading right now as I don't imagine that I'll be finishing any more books today:

Library Books: 24

Owned Books: 15

Total Books for the Quarter: 39

Total Library Books: 66

Total Owned Books: 21

Total Online Books: 1

Grand Total Books: 88

#89 - The Amazing Adventures Of Dietgirl by Shauna Reid, 416 pages (own). A very amusing weight loss memoir.

#90 - Summer And The City by Candace Bushnell, 409 pages (library). A continuation of The Carrie Diaries where Carrie discovers New York City.

#91 - Epitaph For A Peach by David Masumoto, 256 pages (own). A lovely book about a third generation Japanese peach farmer.

#92 - The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin, 468 pages (library). Wow, Goodwin gave Edith Wharton a run for her money on this one. An enthralling story about a poor little rich girl made good and the effects those around her have on her life.

I'm waiting to hear what you thought of The Eight-Dollar Champion.

It looks like you've been doing well this quarter - TBR pile down and library books read!

#117: Epitaph for a Peach looks like one I would enjoy. I will have to see if I can locate a copy.

alsvidur - did you get an ER copy of The Eighty-Dollar Champion too? I loved it! It was nice to read a well thought out and researched horse story (I haven't in awhile - though I am about to pick up Secretariat by William Nack)

alcottacre - I think you'd enjoy it, he's a very good writer! It's providence that I picked this one up at a book sale - I forgot that I had his next book, Four Seasons In Five Senses, on my bookshelf!

#93 - Dreams Of Joy by Lisa See, 354 pages (library). The follow-up book to Shanghai Girls. Though fiction, I was intrigued by the look into Communist China.

I got an ER copy too. It was a refreshing change of pace from the usual horse books. I really liked it.

#94 - Spring Pearl by Laurence Yep, 204 pages (library). I seem to be on a China kick lately! Another "Girls Of Many Lands" book in the American Girls series.

Great reading recently. I also love books about China, it's a country with such a fascinating history.

#95 - The Winter Of Our Disconnect by Susan Maushart, 266 pages (library). The mother of three teenagers, Maushart decides to "pull the plug" on her family's electronics/media addiction for six months. This is her humorous story with lots of research!

#126: I do not think I could disconnect now - I am addicted - but would love to read the account of her trying. I will have to look for the book.

>126 DFED: Just before the end of our school year we received this book for our library. I loaned it to the head custodian who walks around with two cell phones and a walkie-talkie and was telling me about her daughters' cell phone use. I wonder what she thought of it!

mamzel - I'd be interested in hearing that too! It definitely made me more aware of the effect of media/technology on my daily life...

#96 - A Good Horse by Jane Smiley, 246 pages (library). The sequel to The Georges And The Jewels.

#97 - Unplugged Kitchen by Viana La Place, 320 pages (own). A lovely cookbook of (mostly) Italian dishes with emphasis on simple preparation.

#129: Unplugged Kitchen looks like a cookbook I would enjoy. Thanks for the recommendation, Dawn.

alcottacre - it's definitely worth finding - there's beautiful illustrations in it too!

#98 - A Parchment Of Leaves by Silas House, 288 pages (own). My next book club read and I'm glad I finally got around to reading this Kentucky author.

#99 - Charlie And The Great Glass Elevator by Roald Dahl, 159 pages (library). The follow-up book to Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, it was just plain silly!

#132: Yeah, the second book is not nearly as good as the first one.

I hope book 100 turns out to be a great one for you!

#100 - My Italian Garden by Viana La Place, 258 pages (library). A cookbook based on what La Place's San Francisco garden can produce (which is alot!)

#101 - Confessions Of A Prarie Bitch by Alison Arngrim, 320 pages (own). This is a surprisingly hilarious celebrity memoir! Though I'm not a huge fan of the Little House On the Prarie TV series (they strayed too much from the books for my taste), I really enjoyed hearing what Arngrim had to say about being on the show.

#102 - The Mischief Of The Mistletoe by Lauren Willig, 339 pages (library). A continuation of the Pink Carnation series.

#134: I will have to look for My Italian Garden. Thanks for that recommendation!

#103 - Writings To Young Women From Laura Ingalls Wilder Volume Two: On Life As A Pioneer Woman by Laura Ingalls Wilder, 128 pages (own). These are excerpts from Wilder's days as a columnlist for the Ruralist.

#104 - Chicken Justice by Steve Coffman, 256 pages (own). Coffman's story of his move to the rural life of northern New York.

#105 - The Vinegar of Spilamberto by Doris Muscatine, 224 pages (own). If you are remotely interested in Italy, especially it's cuisine, then this is a book for you!

>>134 DFED:. I really enjoyed Confessions of a Prairie Bitch too. I felt like she was insightful, funny and honest while remaining decent.

#106 - Dear America: Christmas After All by Kathryn Lasky, 185 pages (library). I thought I'd give the Dear America series a try! This one was about a girl growing up in the Depression. They're similar to the American Girl books by having a historical section in the back of each book.

#107 - Dear America: Across The Wide And Lonesome Prarie by Kristiana Gregory, 168 pages (library).

I may have to give the Dear America books a try too.

#108 - The Power Of Style by Annette Tapert, 224 pages (own). I feel like I've been working on this one forever! This is a book of profiles of fourteen of the most stylish women in recent history - some of whom are really not that well known. There's plenty of pictures and illustrations included and I definitely recommend this book for any lovers of fashion.

#109 - The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman, 304 pages (own). A book about the history of a newspaper in Rome and the people involved in it. It wasn't bad at all but I have a major pet peeve with this book! It was a gift from my best friend so I had no idea what it was about, mostly because there was nothing on the covers of the book to indicate its contents! There were just a lot of "rave" reviews on the covers. So, I trusted my friend that she wouldn't lead me wrong and wound up enjoying it, but you wouldn't know that from anything on the book itself!

#110 - Past Imperfect by Julian Fellowes, 410 pages (library). If a friend that you had a falling-out with contacted you years later and asked that you delve into his past (and yours), would you? That's the premise of this book. I really enjoy Fellowes' books and it seemed that this was his chance to also make alot of social commentary.

#111 - It Looked Different On the Model by Laurie Notaro, 218 pages (library). Notaro does it again!! She battles a medium-sized shirt, tests out a dog translator and attempts to teach her mother about the internet. Hilarious as always!!

#112 - Verdura by Viana La Place, 400 pages (own). Another lovely cookbook by La Place.

#142: I am glad you ended up liking The Imperfectionists. I enjoyed it too.

#113 - My Name Is Memory by Ann Brashares, 324 pages (library). Wow! This book blew my mind a little bit - though I am quite a fan of this type of book (think The Time Traveler's Wife meets Law Of Love). I very much enjoyed it!

#146: I will have to give that one a try! I have not read anything by Ann Brashares.

#114 - I'm Not The New Me by Wendy McClure, 308 pages (library). Thanks to LauraBrook for bringing this book to my attention! I recently read The Wilder Life and was happy to read her other book about weight loss and "embracing" any personal changes.

#115 - Little Britches: Father And I Were Ranchers by Ralph Moody, 260 pages (library). My husband was re-reading this childhood favorite so I picked it up too. Can't wait to read the rest of the series.

#116 - A Rather Lovely Inheritance by C.A. Belmond, 355 pages (library). Penny Nichols inherits more than just money upon the death of a great aunt. Apparently this is a series and I look forward to reading the next one.

#117 - Kathleen: The Celtic Knot by Siobhan Parkinson, 166 pages (library). Another of The Girls Of Many Lands series.

A Rather Lovely Inheritance looks right up my alley. I will see if I can locate a copy. Thanks for the recommendation!

alcottacre - This is definitely a fun series because I've just finished the second one...

#118 - A Rather Curious Engagement by C.A. Belmond, 363 pages (library). The further adventures of Penny Nichols.

Unfortunately my local library does not have any of the books in the series yet. Too bad.

#119 - Like Mother, Like Daughter by Catherine Clark, 154 pages (own). It's Gilmore Girls in book form!

#120 - Saba: Under The Hyena's Foot by Jane Kurtz, 207 pages (library). Another Girls Of Many Lands book. It was great learning some things about a country I knew almost nothing about - Ethiopia.

#121 - The Tenth Muse by Judith Jones, 304 pages (own). Judith Jones is a force in the food world and I really enjoyed her memoir.

#122 - The Gallery Of Regrettable Food by James Lileks, 192 pages (library). Picked this up on a whim and boy am I glad I did! Hilarious commentary on some truly awful recipes.

#123 - The Top 100 Recipes For A Healthy Lunchbox by Nicola Graimes, 144 pages (own). I'm looking to "spice up" my husband and I's lunchboxes :)

#124 - The Orchid Affair by Lauren Willig, audiobook (library). The latest in the Pink Carnation series. I enjoyed the new characters in this one very much as well as the return of several characters from the original book!

#125 - A Rather Charming Invitation by C.A. Belmond, 433 pages (library). Penny Nichols gets married - and also gets a family heirloom stolen from her!

#126 - Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild, 281 pages (library). I've seen the movie for this but only just realized it was a book.

#127 - Yoga Bitch by Suzanne Morrison, 339 pages (library). Morrison completes yoga teacher training in Bali in her mid-twenties. This book was surprisingly deep for such a title.

#128 - Brown Sunshine Of Sawdust Valley by Marguerite Henry, 112 pages (own). Amazingly, I've never read this book by my favorite childhood author.

#129 - The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, 374 pages (library). This is my book club's read for this month. What an fabulous book - I can't wait to read the next one!

I've been sick lately but that's just meant a lot more reading done with!

#130 - The Flanders Panel by Arturo Perez-Reverte, 304 pages (own). This is definitely a good mystery for any chess lovers out there.

#131 - Rebecca Of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin, 291 pages (library). Surprisingly, I've never read this children's classic! I'm glad I did but Rebecca just doesn't compare to Ann of Green Gables.

#132 - Japanese Women Don't Get Old Or Fat by Naomi Moriyama, 274 pages (library). This really doesn't hold a candle to French Women Don't Get Fat. However, it was a nice introduction to Japanese cooking.

#133 - Read My Hips by Kim Brittingham, 224 pages (library). Brittingham learns the hard way to love her own body.

#134 - Nothing Daunted by Dorothy Wickenden, 286 pages (library). Two well-to-do ladies from NY apply for a teaching job in rural Colorado in the early 1900's. This was a really enjoyable and interesting read!

#135 - Gabriel's Horses by Alison Hart, 162 pages (own). The first in a young adult trilogy about a slave/jockey in Kentucky.

I absolutely loved Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm as a child. I can still picture the beautiful cover that was on the copy I owned (and possibly still have in a box somewhere).

thornton37814 - I swear, nothing beats an old copy of a favorite book!

Well, since I don't believe that I'll be finishing any books today, I thought I'd summarize my latest reading quarter:

Library Books: 30

Owned Books: 17

Total Books for the Quarter: 47

Total Library Books: 96

Total Owned Books: 38

Total Online Books: 1

Grand Total Books: 135

#136 - The Good Stuff Cookbook by Spike Mendelsohn, 256 pages (own). This book has some delicious looking burger recipes in it!

#137 - Killer Stuff And Tons Of Money by Maureen Stanton, 326 pages (library). Stanton follows around an antique dealer for several years. This is a very fascinating insider's look into the antique industry.

#138 - My Boyfriend Wrote A Book About Me by Hilary Winston, 226 pages (library). Winston's boyfriend of five years breaks up with her and then writes a fictional book about their relationship. This is her rebuttal and her commentary on other relationships she's had.

#139 - Can You Get Hooked On Lip Balm? by Perry Romanowski, 194 pages (library). This is the offshoot of a website called thebeautybrains.com. The title pulled me in (I've often wondered that) and the content was okay. The gist of this book is buyer beware as the cosmetics industry is not very regulated!

#140 - Mommy Knows Worst by James Lileks, 176 pages (library). The author of The Gallery Of Regrettable Food, this book is about bad parenting advice and even worse products for children.

#141 - Gabriel's Triumph by Alison Hart, 160 pages (library). The second in the Racing To Freedom series about an slave/jockey.

#142 - Gabriel's Journey by Alison Hart, 169 pages (library). The last story in the Racing To Freedom trilogy.

#143 - Uncle Will Of Wildwood by Frances Jewell McVey, 99 pages (library). I'm in a KY reading mood lately! This is a hilarious story of an old Kentucky hardboot.

#144 - Thin Is The New Happy by Valerie Frankel, 256 pages (own). Frankel's poignant memoir about growing up with a dieting problem and taking one year to change her dieting habits.

#145 - The Hunt For Amazing Treasures by Sandra Farrell Bazrod, 276 pages (own). I got this cheap at a library book sale and I really don't recommend it. This is based off an old TV show (that I vaguely remember) about people find incredible treasures but the writing was pretty awful. Also, I think it must have been funded by Christie's as it mentioned them alot.

#146 - Isabel: Taking Wing by Annie Dalton, 178 pages (library). Another Girls Of Many Lands books.

#147 - Mama Made Minks by Sara Sandberg, 182 pages (own). Sandberg writes about growing up in a fur-making business in Harlem with her parents.

#148 - Bossypants by Tina Fey, 277 pages (library). The writing was a little scattered but there were plenty of laugh-out-loud moments!

#149 - As Always, Julia by Joan Reardon, 416 pages (library). A lovely collection of letters between Julia Child and her good friend, Avis DeVoto. DeVoto was partly responsible for helping Child get Mastering The Art of French Cooking published.

#150 - The Kitchen Counter Cooking School by Kathleen Flinn, 285 pages (library). This is by the author of The Sharper Your Knife The Less You Cry (which I haven't got around to reading yet). Flinn is unsure about what to do with her cooking degree when a chance encounter with a woman in a grocery store gives her a purpose - cooking lessons for nine women with various cooking "issue.s"

#151 - Slim by Slim Keith, 319 pages (library). I recently read The Power Of Style and in it was a profile of Slim Keith. She sounded like a fascinating woman and luckily, my library had her memoir.

#152 - Everything And A Kite by Ray Romano, 224 pages (own). This is certainly nothing to keep around on the bookshelf but there are plenty of laughs!

#153 - Models Don't Eat Chocolate Cookies by Erin Dionne, 256 pages (own). A YA book, overweight Celeste gets forced into a modeling contest for an plus-size clothing store. The contest changes her life.

#154 - The Gallant Gray Trotter by John T. Foster, pages (own). The story of the "old gray mare" Lady Suffolk. Was also illustrated by one of my favorites, Sam Savitt!

#155 - Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, 391 pages (library). Second in the trilogy. Am biting my nails for the next one!!

#156 - Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins, 391 pages (library). Well, I really lucked out on the wait list for this one and got it sooner than expected! What a great series!!

#157 - Running Away To Home by Jennifer Wilson, 336 pages (own). An ER book (that I really enjoyed!) - review to follow.

#158 - Nanny Returns by Emma McLaughlin, 305 pages (library). I never thought I'd read this follow-up to The Nanny Diaries. But, I just watched the movie and felt the urge to give it a shot. Though I enjoyed it, I always feel that their books are kind of frantic and left too open-ended.

#159 - Food And Friends by Simone Beck, 544 pages (own). Co-author of Mastering The Art Of French Cooking, Beck wrote this book about her life - complete with recipes!

#160 - Return To Paris by Colette Rossant, 227 pages (library). I love Rossant's foodie memoirs!

#161 - Amateur Gourmet by Adam Roberts, 224 pages (own). I was just not impressed by this book, though I enjoyed the last few chapters where the author described how cooking had changed his life.

#162 - Battlecry Forever by Joanna Campbell, 154 pages (own). Another Thoroughbred Series book.

#163 - A Nose For Trouble by Jim Kjelgaard, pages (own). I loved reading Kjelgaard's books about dogs when I was younger. Luckily, I found this (new to me) one at a used book sale.

#164 - Season To Taste by Molly Birnbaum, 304 pages (library). Birnbaum loses her senses of smell and taste on the cusp of entering cooking school. This is her amazing research about the nose and the loss of senses.

Wow, Season to Taste sounds really interesting. I can't imagine not being able to smell or taste!

Sandy K

sandykaypax - I couldn't either - I was pretty much horrified when I read about that!

#165 - The Teacher's Funeral by Richard Peck, 190 pages (library). I love Peck's books - this one was funny!

#166 - First Family by Joseph J. Ellis, audiobook (library). A book about the relationship between Abigail and John Adams.

#167 - Fed Up With Lunch by Sarah Wu, 207 pages (library). Written by blogger "Mrs. Q," Wu finally reveals herself as a teacher in a Chicago area public school that blogged her school lunch every day for a year.

#168 - My Year With Eleanor by Noelle Hancock, 295 pages (library). Hancock is feeling a little lost with her life when shes sees a quote by Eleanor Roosevelt in a coffee shop: "Do one thing every day that scares you" So, she does, along with a little research into Eleanor herself!

#169 - An Amish Christmas by Richard Ammon, 34 pages (library). A cute childrens picture book.

#170 - The Royal Diaries: Kristina by Carolyn Meyer, 170 pages (library). Another Royal Diaries book about a queen I've never heard of - Kristina of Sweden.

#171 - Here Lies The Librarian by Richard Peck, 145 pages (library). Another funny Richard Peck book!

#172 - Clay's Quilt by Silas House, 320 pages (own). I read this for a new book club I've joined. House really knows how to write about the backwoods of Kentucky.

#173 - The Royal Diaries: Anastasia by Carolyn Meyer, 128 pages (library). Another Royal Diaries book.

#174 - Missed Connections by Sophie Blackall, 128 pages (library). A graphic novel of sorts based on the missed connections section of Facebook. Blackall does lovely illustrations.

Ack! I'm so late to be doing my yearly wrap-up but I've had alot of things going on lately and limited Internet access!

So, for the last three months I've read:

Library Books: 26

Owned Books: 13

Total Books for the Quarter: 39

And my total books for the year are:

Library Books: 122

Owned Books: 51

Online Books: 1

Grand Total: 174 Books!!

And, for the most part, I kept to my goals of reading one book that I own for every two books I borrowed from the library!!

Here's my thread for 2012: http://www.librarything.com/topic/130547