Clue's 2012 BOMBS
Snak(BOMBS) Books Off My Book Shelves 2012 Challenge
Bliv bruger af LibraryThing, hvis du vil skrive et indlæg
Dette emne er markeret som "i hvile"—det seneste indlæg er mere end 90 dage gammel. Du kan vække emnet til live ved at poste et indlæg.
3rabbitprincess
Ooh, very pretty blue star! Best of luck with your challenge :)
5clue
January:
1. The Pursuit of Happiness by Douglas Kennedy. On the shelf since Jan,
2011. I wasn't sure about this one through the first few chapters but the more I read, the more I liked it. It begins in NY in 1945 and continues the story of Sara Smyth through 4 decades. Like other Kennedy novels the story causes the reader to think about moral decisions and the consequences of choices. 4 stars.
1. The Pursuit of Happiness by Douglas Kennedy. On the shelf since Jan,
2011. I wasn't sure about this one through the first few chapters but the more I read, the more I liked it. It begins in NY in 1945 and continues the story of Sara Smyth through 4 decades. Like other Kennedy novels the story causes the reader to think about moral decisions and the consequences of choices. 4 stars.
6ramblingivy
I loved The Pursuit of Happiness! I think Douglas Kennedy is a fine writer, and especially gifted at capturing a woman's mindset - quite unusual for a male writer.
8clue
January:
2. Death Comes to Pemberley by P. D. James
On Kindle since Dec 2011.
It wasn't perfect but I enjoyed it a lot. I'm giving it 4 stars.
2. Death Comes to Pemberley by P. D. James
On Kindle since Dec 2011.
It wasn't perfect but I enjoyed it a lot. I'm giving it 4 stars.
9riverwillow
I've got Death Comes to Pemberley on my Kindle too. I'm glad you enjoyed it as it seems to have had quite mixed reviews. I'm looking forward to reading this one, just need to read a few physical books that are cluttering up the place first.
10clue
February
3. Burial at Sea by Charles Finch
On Kindle since Nov 2011
This Victorian mystery series get better with each book. I admire the author for leaving London behind in this one and taking the main character to sea. 4 stars
3. Burial at Sea by Charles Finch
On Kindle since Nov 2011
This Victorian mystery series get better with each book. I admire the author for leaving London behind in this one and taking the main character to sea. 4 stars
11clue
4. Shotgun On My Chest: Memoirs of a Lewis and Clark Book Collector by Roger Wedlick
When I travel I like to buy a book by a regional or local author. I bought this one at Powell's in Portland, Oregon in 2010 when I visited a friend. The author is a native of Portland and was a book buyer like we are....very accomplished at it. But where we buy books meaning to read them (eventually) he bought them as collectables. He didn't actually read them, he just wanted them so that he would have the finest collection of Lewis and Clark books in existence. He wasn't a wealthy person, he earned his living in construction as a heavy equipment operator, and many of these books were very expensive. Since he couldn't keep himself from buying he maxed out 6 credit cards and a line of credit! The collection did become the best of Lewis and Clark collections and he sold it to a library and was able to use the proceeds to finance retirement. It's an interesting story but not always an interesting read since it's pretty much a record of buying one book after another. 3.5 stars.
When I travel I like to buy a book by a regional or local author. I bought this one at Powell's in Portland, Oregon in 2010 when I visited a friend. The author is a native of Portland and was a book buyer like we are....very accomplished at it. But where we buy books meaning to read them (eventually) he bought them as collectables. He didn't actually read them, he just wanted them so that he would have the finest collection of Lewis and Clark books in existence. He wasn't a wealthy person, he earned his living in construction as a heavy equipment operator, and many of these books were very expensive. Since he couldn't keep himself from buying he maxed out 6 credit cards and a line of credit! The collection did become the best of Lewis and Clark collections and he sold it to a library and was able to use the proceeds to finance retirement. It's an interesting story but not always an interesting read since it's pretty much a record of buying one book after another. 3.5 stars.
12clue
March
5. Silhouette In Scarlet by Elizabeth Peters
This has been on my shelf for several years. It will move out of the house, it wasn't bad, but not good enough to warrant keeping and I don't think I'll read another in the series.
My goal is 2 off the shelf a month and it wasn't until I posted this that I saw it was the 1st this month that I've listed. Now I can't remember if I have only read the one or if I've forgotten to post one. Guess I'd better pull another one off the shelf it I want to be certain to meet the March goal. Darn, got a bunch of new ones yelling at me!
5. Silhouette In Scarlet by Elizabeth Peters
This has been on my shelf for several years. It will move out of the house, it wasn't bad, but not good enough to warrant keeping and I don't think I'll read another in the series.
My goal is 2 off the shelf a month and it wasn't until I posted this that I saw it was the 1st this month that I've listed. Now I can't remember if I have only read the one or if I've forgotten to post one. Guess I'd better pull another one off the shelf it I want to be certain to meet the March goal. Darn, got a bunch of new ones yelling at me!
13clue
6. The Unquiet Bones by Melvin Starr
This was a Kindle read, I had downloaded it in Feb, 2011. I really enjoyed it, a light mystery but the characters were good and the history great. This is the first in a series, will definately read the 2nd. 4 stars.
This was a Kindle read, I had downloaded it in Feb, 2011. I really enjoyed it, a light mystery but the characters were good and the history great. This is the first in a series, will definately read the 2nd. 4 stars.
14clue
April:
7. Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's and the Dawn of the Modern Woman by Sam Wasson
The good news is the book is better than it's title and only slightly longer! A chatty history of the filming of Breakfast at Tiffany's. I thought it was interesting but I'm skeptical that the movie had the influence on society and "modernizing women" that the author claims. Although, by the time I would have seen it the first time prostitutes in movies would not have been all that uncommon so maybe the ripples were wider than I would think. 3.5 stars. On the Kindle since July 2010 which amazes me, I thought I was keeping up with Kindle purchases better than that!
7. Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's and the Dawn of the Modern Woman by Sam Wasson
The good news is the book is better than it's title and only slightly longer! A chatty history of the filming of Breakfast at Tiffany's. I thought it was interesting but I'm skeptical that the movie had the influence on society and "modernizing women" that the author claims. Although, by the time I would have seen it the first time prostitutes in movies would not have been all that uncommon so maybe the ripples were wider than I would think. 3.5 stars. On the Kindle since July 2010 which amazes me, I thought I was keeping up with Kindle purchases better than that!
15clue
8. Bookmarked for Death by Lorna Barrett
The second in the Booktown Mystery series. A book that includes books, bookstores (and their customers), cooking and murder makes for good cozy reading! On the shelf since May 2011.
The second in the Booktown Mystery series. A book that includes books, bookstores (and their customers), cooking and murder makes for good cozy reading! On the shelf since May 2011.
16clue
May:
9. A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny
I think this is the fourth in the Three Pines series. Her writing has improved since the first one although I've enjoyed them all. Including this one. Will definately continue the series. Not sure how long it's been on the shelf...about a year I think.
9. A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny
I think this is the fourth in the Three Pines series. Her writing has improved since the first one although I've enjoyed them all. Including this one. Will definately continue the series. Not sure how long it's been on the shelf...about a year I think.
17clue
10. The Inn and Us by Anne Edwards and Stephen Citron
This has been on the shelf forever. Someone gave it to me years ago and I just let it sit. Actually, I liked it better than I thought I would. Well known professional musician and teacher Stephen Citron decides in the early 1970s to leave the rat race and buys a ramshackle house built in 1847 with the idea of turning it into a classy inn and cabaret. Early on his wife decides to return to NYC and they divorce. He later meets and falls in love with author Anne Edwards who joins him in the never-ending misadventures of being the owner, operator, musical director and financier of Orpheus Ascending. It's very funny and includes snippets about the famous, near famous and used to be famous that visited and sometimes even performed in the cabaret.
This has been on the shelf forever. Someone gave it to me years ago and I just let it sit. Actually, I liked it better than I thought I would. Well known professional musician and teacher Stephen Citron decides in the early 1970s to leave the rat race and buys a ramshackle house built in 1847 with the idea of turning it into a classy inn and cabaret. Early on his wife decides to return to NYC and they divorce. He later meets and falls in love with author Anne Edwards who joins him in the never-ending misadventures of being the owner, operator, musical director and financier of Orpheus Ascending. It's very funny and includes snippets about the famous, near famous and used to be famous that visited and sometimes even performed in the cabaret.
18clue
June:
11. A Broken Vessel by Kate Ross
This is the second in a series of four (I think) Regency mysteries. It's been a couple of years since I read the first and I found this one on Bookmooch just after readng it. One of the better written of this genre in my opinion. Will read the remaining 2 in the series. Unfortunately the author died and will not be adding to the series beyond that.
11. A Broken Vessel by Kate Ross
This is the second in a series of four (I think) Regency mysteries. It's been a couple of years since I read the first and I found this one on Bookmooch just after readng it. One of the better written of this genre in my opinion. Will read the remaining 2 in the series. Unfortunately the author died and will not be adding to the series beyond that.
19clue
12. Nothing Daunted: The Unexpected Education of Two Society Girls in the West by Dorothy Woodruff
Dorothy Woodruff and Rosamond Underwood were wealthy and well educated young women who left Eastern society in 1915 to teach in Colorado. "The adventure of a lifetime" as their Colorado contact described his teaching offer was chronicled in Dorothy's letters home and became the basis of this book written by her granddaughter. The book has been very well reviewed and has received a lot of press and I expected some compelling writing. I didn't find it so but it was still a good story and I'm glad I read it. Anyone interested in the contributions of women to the settling of the West would enjoy it. It's been on the shelf AND the Kindle a year (anyone else do that? Like it's not enough I let ONE sit around, now with the Kindle I sometimes wind up with both ebook and hardcover on the shelf! There is little hope...).
Dorothy Woodruff and Rosamond Underwood were wealthy and well educated young women who left Eastern society in 1915 to teach in Colorado. "The adventure of a lifetime" as their Colorado contact described his teaching offer was chronicled in Dorothy's letters home and became the basis of this book written by her granddaughter. The book has been very well reviewed and has received a lot of press and I expected some compelling writing. I didn't find it so but it was still a good story and I'm glad I read it. Anyone interested in the contributions of women to the settling of the West would enjoy it. It's been on the shelf AND the Kindle a year (anyone else do that? Like it's not enough I let ONE sit around, now with the Kindle I sometimes wind up with both ebook and hardcover on the shelf! There is little hope...).
20clue
July:
13. Wait for Me! by Deborah Mitford Duchess of Devonshire
There has been much written about this book and I find the memoirs of the remarkable 90 year old told with the honesty, warmth and charm they have been touted for. I especially enjoyed her stories about the Kennedy clan who she first knew when Joe Kennedy was ambassador to England. Kick (Kathleen), John Kennedy's beloved sister, and "Debo" were the same age, were introducted at court together and married brothers. Debo has had a life well lived, filled with friends, family, frentic activity and animals she treasured. A person it would be easy to like, although I shuddered when she wrote that she was not a reader! Purchased in 2011.
13. Wait for Me! by Deborah Mitford Duchess of Devonshire
There has been much written about this book and I find the memoirs of the remarkable 90 year old told with the honesty, warmth and charm they have been touted for. I especially enjoyed her stories about the Kennedy clan who she first knew when Joe Kennedy was ambassador to England. Kick (Kathleen), John Kennedy's beloved sister, and "Debo" were the same age, were introducted at court together and married brothers. Debo has had a life well lived, filled with friends, family, frentic activity and animals she treasured. A person it would be easy to like, although I shuddered when she wrote that she was not a reader! Purchased in 2011.
21clue
14. Dartmoor Burial by Audrey Peterson
I've been really busy (and continue to read tooo many new ones) and needed something I could jump into when odd minutes of reading time were available. I grabbed this off the shelf and it did the trick. I had read the first book in this series last year and if my memory serves (no guarantee there) this one is better in that the mystery is a bit more involved. The main character is Claire, an American who teaches at a university in California and is in England doing research and visiting her ex mother-in-law. A local girl is murdered and Clarie gets involved in the mystery of her death as well as with the local police supervisor. Makes for an entertaining quick read.
I've been really busy (and continue to read tooo many new ones) and needed something I could jump into when odd minutes of reading time were available. I grabbed this off the shelf and it did the trick. I had read the first book in this series last year and if my memory serves (no guarantee there) this one is better in that the mystery is a bit more involved. The main character is Claire, an American who teaches at a university in California and is in England doing research and visiting her ex mother-in-law. A local girl is murdered and Clarie gets involved in the mystery of her death as well as with the local police supervisor. Makes for an entertaining quick read.
22clue
15. Death Too Soon by Audrey Peterson
Decided to continue on and finish the last in the Claire Camden series, there are only 3, the author died in 2008. In this one she is still in England doing researh for a book and getting involved in the murders of 2 people she knew.
I actually cleaned out some bookshelves this month and posted 12 on swap sites. Every one has been requested so that's a good amount of saved space. Saved for a day maybe before new ones took the territory. I'm not counting the 12 in my goal, they were books read at sometime in the past that I decided I wouldn't keep.
Decided to continue on and finish the last in the Claire Camden series, there are only 3, the author died in 2008. In this one she is still in England doing researh for a book and getting involved in the murders of 2 people she knew.
I actually cleaned out some bookshelves this month and posted 12 on swap sites. Every one has been requested so that's a good amount of saved space. Saved for a day maybe before new ones took the territory. I'm not counting the 12 in my goal, they were books read at sometime in the past that I decided I wouldn't keep.
23clue
16. Aprons: Icons Of The American Home by Joyce Cheney
This was a gift last year. I had looked through it several times enjoying the pictures of homemade aprons from about the 40s on. Now I have read all of the text which includes a history of aprons and social history with some literary references, etc. Makes me think of my mother and grandmother, their kitchens and the aprons they made and wore. I have a collection of 25 or so and they are a delight from a different time.
This was a gift last year. I had looked through it several times enjoying the pictures of homemade aprons from about the 40s on. Now I have read all of the text which includes a history of aprons and social history with some literary references, etc. Makes me think of my mother and grandmother, their kitchens and the aprons they made and wore. I have a collection of 25 or so and they are a delight from a different time.
25clue
18. Through a Glass Darkly by Donna Leon
I'll be out of town over the weekend and will finish this one up while I'm gone so I'll go ahead and report it since the month will end before I get back. It's been awhile since I've read a Brunetti and I'm glad to be back to the series.
I'll be out of town over the weekend and will finish this one up while I'm gone so I'll go ahead and report it since the month will end before I get back. It's been awhile since I've read a Brunetti and I'm glad to be back to the series.
26Kirconnell
I just discovered the Brunetti series and was very favorably impressed. Now I'm on a quest to collect them all. Woe is me and my TBR.
27clue
19. Roses by Leila Meacham
An old fashioned saga following the lives of three families in east Texas. Their lives were intertwined from the founding of a town in the piney woods in the early 1800s to being some of the most powerful business figures in Texas by the 1980s. Romance, revenge, subterfuge...it's all here. And I grew really weary of it by the end of it's 600 pages! It's been on the shelf a couple of years and on it goes to my friend's used bookstore!
An old fashioned saga following the lives of three families in east Texas. Their lives were intertwined from the founding of a town in the piney woods in the early 1800s to being some of the most powerful business figures in Texas by the 1980s. Romance, revenge, subterfuge...it's all here. And I grew really weary of it by the end of it's 600 pages! It's been on the shelf a couple of years and on it goes to my friend's used bookstore!
28clue
20. Eat Cake by Jeanne Ray
30clue
22. The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht
I'm sure I'm one of the last to read this...was not disappointed as I am sometimes when a book gets as much publicity as this has. I gave it 4.5 stars and will be watching for her next one!
I'm sure I'm one of the last to read this...was not disappointed as I am sometimes when a book gets as much publicity as this has. I gave it 4.5 stars and will be watching for her next one!
31clue
23. The House I Loved by Tatiana de Rosnay
I came close to putting this one down about halfway through but ended up sticking it out. It's been on the shelf about a year. 3 stars.
2 to go so I should make my goal.
I came close to putting this one down about halfway through but ended up sticking it out. It's been on the shelf about a year. 3 stars.
2 to go so I should make my goal.
34clue
24. If Ever I Return, Pretty Peggy-O by Sharyn McCrumb
This is the first mystery by McCrumb I've read, a member of my book club highly recommended her. It was easy to find one of her books, this one has been in my bookcase about a decade! In general I found the story about a stalking and murder dated, the book was published in 1990, with a sterotypical attitude toward Vietnam Vets who were drawn as troubled people living apart from society. I think most readers could easily identify the murderer shortly after the character was introduced. I may try one of her more recent books and see how it compares because this isn't a mystery I would recommend.
This makes 24 out of 25 for me. Should be at goal by the middle of next week with time to spare!
This is the first mystery by McCrumb I've read, a member of my book club highly recommended her. It was easy to find one of her books, this one has been in my bookcase about a decade! In general I found the story about a stalking and murder dated, the book was published in 1990, with a sterotypical attitude toward Vietnam Vets who were drawn as troubled people living apart from society. I think most readers could easily identify the murderer shortly after the character was introduced. I may try one of her more recent books and see how it compares because this isn't a mystery I would recommend.
This makes 24 out of 25 for me. Should be at goal by the middle of next week with time to spare!
36clue
25. Between Here and April by Deborah Copaken Kogan
Not the best book for this time, the story of a woman who remembers that while in the 1st grade her best firend disappeared. When she goes back to newspapers to learn what happened she finds the child's mother killed herself and her two children. A reporter and film producer, she begins an investigation into what lead up to the murder suicide and at the same time acknowledges her own unhappy marriage.
My 25 goal has been met!
Not the best book for this time, the story of a woman who remembers that while in the 1st grade her best firend disappeared. When she goes back to newspapers to learn what happened she finds the child's mother killed herself and her two children. A reporter and film producer, she begins an investigation into what lead up to the murder suicide and at the same time acknowledges her own unhappy marriage.
My 25 goal has been met!
