DFed welcomes in 2013!!

Hello everyone - I'm so excited to begin another year of reading with this wonderful group! As usual, I'm going to try to read more of my own books than those I get from the library. And, I look forward to any comments on my thread!

Welcome back!

Glad that you're back!

Thanks for the welcome everyone!! I'm so excited that I already have my first read of the New Year under my belt:



#1 - The Art of Eating by M.F.K. Fisher, 784 pages (own). A compilation of Fisher's food writings and a delightful read!

#2 - The Little Bookstore of Big Stone Gap by Wendy Welch, 291 pages (library). This was a lovely book about the trials and tribulations of running an independent used bookstore. A must read for most of us on here!

Duly added to the wishlist :)

It felt so wrong to put The Little Bookstore on my amazon.com wishlist. Sorry, Little Bookstore(s).

alsvidur - LOL! :)

Well, I've been sick with a cold lately and that's left plenty of time for reading!



#3 - The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall, audiobook (library). Better Homes and Gardens mentioned this once as an alternative to Little Women. That piqued my interest and now I've found out that its a series.



#4 - True Blue by Jane Smiley, pages (library). A continuation of her young adult series.



#5 - The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver, 336 pages (loan). This was a loan from a friend that I didn't want to finish reading!



#6 - The Pigeon Pie Mystery by Julia Stuart, pages (library). Stuart is definitely one of my favorite authors.

#7 - Fit2Fat2Fit by Drew Manning, 233 pages (library). Manning is a personal trainer that just can't seem to connect with his overweight clients. So, he gains and then loses 75 pounds in a year to understand their struggles.



#8 - Eat This, Not That! 2012 by David Zinczenko, 368 pages (own). I bought an updated version of this book at my local library. These books have lots of great tips if you're not already familiar with them!



#9 - Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man by Steve Harvey, 240 pages (library). A very strange choice for a book club book....



#10 - Diddie, Dumps And Tot by Louise-Clarke Pyrnelle, 240 pages (own). This was a random find from my library's latest big book sale. The tale of three young sisters and their slaves growing up on a plantation in the south. It was very hard to read because the slaves' dialogue was written as if you were listening to them...

I've dropped off a star as it looks like you're reading some wonderful books in genres I enjoy! Books about bookstores, food and fitness, cozy mysteries, Barbara Kingsolver (I've got Bean Trees on Planet TBR) and Jane Smiley.

I didn't realize Smiley had a YA horse series--I'll have to check that out. I get disgusted because so many writers get the horse stuff all wrong.

streamsong - great to see you here! Smiley spoke once at my local bookstore when she wrote the first of the YA novels and she's definitely a horse person - and it reflects in the books!



#11 - Does This Church Make Me Look Fat? by Rhoda Janzen, 257 pages (library). This is by the author of Mennonite In A Little Black Dress. It's a humorous tale of love, religion and cancer. I really enjoyed it and, surprisingly, it made me scrutinize my own take on religion!



#12 - The Penderwicks On Gardam Street by Jeanne Birdsall, audibook (library). The second book in the Penderwicks series.

#13 - Comet's Tale by Seymour Simon, 257 pages (library). A heart-warming tale of an adopted greyhound that becomes the author's service dog.

#14 - The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick, 304 pages (library). My latest book club read, to read this is to step inside a mentally ill person's head. It was a very good book!

#15 - The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier, 305 pages (library). Honor Bright is an immigrant Quaker from England who ends up in Ohio, torn between her new husband and a slave catcher as a stop on the Underground Railroad.



#16 - Meet Caroline by Kathleen Ernst, 91 pages (library).



#17 - Brave Emily by Valerie Tripp, 85 pages (library).



#18 - Nellie's Promise by Valerie Tripp, 85 es (library).

Every so often, I go through an American Girls book kick....

#19 - Paris In Love by Eloisa James, audiobook (library). The audibook version of this is disconcerting - I didn't realize it was in diary form. But, I didn't want this glimpse into James' year in Paris to end!



#20 - The Year of Learning Dangerously by Quinn Cummings, 229 pages (library). One of my favorite authors, Jen Lancaster said that Quinn was a funny author. This was the only book of hers my library had. Its about homeschooling (and a great book for any homeschooling parents out there!) and was, in fact, funny.

#21 - Queen of the Road by Doreen Orion, 272 pages (own). The cover of this book pretty much says it all: Orion's husband, dog and two cats travel the US for a year in a converted bus.

#22 - Here I Go Again by Jen Lancaster, 308 pages (library). What would happen if the most popular girl in high school had to face up to her mistakes?



#23 - The Penderwicks At Point Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall, audiobook (library). The latest adventures of the Penderwick sisters.



#24-26 - Caroline's Secret Message, A Surprise For Caroline, Caroline Takes A Chance and Caroline's Battle by Kathleen Ernst, various pages (library). More American Girl books!

#27 - Make The Bread, Buy The Butter by Jennifer Reese, 295 pages (library). A surprisingly funny book about the differences between store bought items and those you've made yourself.



#28 - Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer, 278 pages (library). Thanks to norabelle414 for bringing this series to my attention! I've got the second one on hold at the library already...

#29 - In A Persian Kitchen by Maideh Mazda, 176 pages (own). I was drawn to this cookbook at my local Half Price bookstore. Can't wait to try some of the recipes!



#30 - At The Kitchen Table by Greg Atkinson, 256 pages (own). Some nice essays about different aspects of home cooking.

Let us know how the Persian dishes turn out.

thornton37814 - will do!



#31 - The Back In The Day Bakery Cookbook by Cheryl Day, 260 pages (library). A cookbook from a bakery in one of my favorite places, Savannah, GA!



#32 - Changes For Caroline by Kathleen Ernst, 84 pages (library). The last in the Caroline American Girl series.



#33 - French Twist by Catherine Crawford, 256 pages (own). My latest Early Reviewer book - review to come later.

#34 - Curse Of the Blue Tattoo by L.A. Meyer, audiobook (library). The second in the Bloody Jack series - I'm loving the character of Jacky Faber more and more!!



#35 - Close Call by Joanna Campbell, 192 pages (own).



#36 - Star's Chance by Joanna Campbell, 176 pages (own).



#37 - Cindy's Desert Adventure by Joanna Campbell, 176 pages (own).

I haven't been able to concentrate on many books lately, so I've been devouring the Thoroughbred series instead!

#38 - Perfect Challenge by Joanna Campbell, pages (own).



#39 - Cindy's Last Hope by Joanna Campbell, pages (own).



#40 - Hoofprints In The Snow by Joanna Campbell, 176 pages (own).

More Thoroughbred series books!



#41 - The Middlesteins by Jami Attenberg, 273 pages (library). Tales of a Jewish family whose matriarch can't stop eating and the ramifications of that on the family.

#42 - Life Below Stairs by Alison Maloney, 192 pages (library). The lives of Edwardian era servants. This just proves how spot-on Downtown Abbey is!



#43 - Under the Jolly Roger by L. A. Meyer, audiobook (library).



#44 - In the Belly of The Bloodhound by L. A. Meyer, 515 pages (library). LOVE this series!!

#45 - Faith In A Long Shot by Joanna Campbell, 176 pages (own). Finally - Derby day in this series!!



#46 - How To Be A Woman by Caitlin Moran, 305 pages (library). My book club's latest pick. I have to admit I didn't think I'd enjoy this as much as I did. Moran was very brave to write about some of the subjects in the book.



#47 - A Desirable Residence by Madeline Wickham, audiobook (library). In case you weren't aware, Madeline Wickham = Sophie Kinsella. I really enjoyed the everyday happenings and interactions between the characters in the book. The teenage daughter, Alice, was very well written.

#48 - The Heavy by Dara-Lynn Weiss, 240 pages (library). In the book, the author states that judging someone else's parenting skills is easy to do. Which is exactly what I proceeded to do! I feel like she was defending her parenting every step of the way, but understandably so as this is a very sensitive subject.

#49 - Eat To Lose, Eat To Win by Rachel Beller, pages (library). Despite my best intentions, I can't seem to resist picking up diet/nutrition books! :) This one had some pretty good tips in it (especially her autopsies on meals).



#50 - Taking The Reins by Joanna Campbell, pages (own). Another in the Thoroughbred series.



#51 - Prayers For Sale by Sandra Dallas, pages (library). A wonderful (as usual!) Dallas novel about a mining town in Colorado.

#52 - Servant's Hall by Margaret Powell, 184 pages (library). More tales from Powell's life "below stairs."



#53 - Great Expectations by Joanna Campbell, 176 pages (library). Another in the Thoroughbred series.



#54 - Gay Men Don't Get Fat by Simon Doonan, 254 pages (library). Doonan is pretty funny and I'll be reading more of his books in the future.



#55 - Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks, audiobook (library). The story of the first Indian graduate from Harvard.

#56 - Never Goin' Back by Al Roker, 275 pages (library). Roker mentioned his new book on The Today Show and it's the story of his weight loss.



#57 - Hotel Vendome by Danielle Steele, audiobook (library). Dear Danielle Steele, why must you constantly repeat yourself throughout your books?? (banging head against wall) Other then repetition, the story was good.



#58 - Women Of The Year by ?, 202 pages (own). Ten Thoroughbred fillies who acheived horse racing's highest honor, Horse of the Year.

#59 - The Potty Mouth At The Table by Laurie Notaro, 303 pages (library). Laurie Notaro makes me happy.



#60 - Changing Lives In Appalachia by Jane B. Stephenson, 166 pages (library). The history of the New Opportunity School for Women in Berea, KY. The author goes to our church and spoke about the school recently. I missed the lecture but did check out her book - it sounds like an amazing program!



#61 - Past & Present: 24 Favorite Moments in Decorative Arts History by Julia Rothman, 143 pages (library). From the editor of one of my favorite blogs, Design Sponge. Loved the illustrations, loved the history, HATED the projects associated with each design moment...

#62 - Pardonable Lies by Jacqueline Winspear, 342 pages (library). The 3rd Maisie Dobbs mystery.



#63 - Bebe Day By Day by Pamela Druckerman, 144 pages (library). This is short summary of French parenting methods from her first book Bringing Up Bebe. The illustrations are adorable!

#64 - If You Lived In Colonial Times by Ann McGovern, 79 pages (library). A children's book with some great facts about living in Colonial America. I almost wish I would've read this prior to Caleb's Crossing!



#65 - The Astor Orphan by Alexandra Aldrich, 259 pages (library). Aldrich is a direct descendant of the seriously messed up Astor family and tells about growing up in their familial house, Rokeby.

#66 - Boy by Roald Dahl, audiobook (library). The story of Dahl's childhood. I loved the voice of the narrator!



#67 - The Tao of Martha by Jen Lancaster, 335 pages (library). Lancaster's life was not going so great, so she turns to Martha Stewart for life's answers and forms the "Tao of Martha."



#68 - If You Lived 100 Years Ago by Ann McGovern, 80 pages (library).



#69 - If You Lived In the Days of the Knights by Ann McGovern, 79 pages (library).

What great children's books these are!

Children's books are often the best way to get a quick overview of a topic before reading something else that is set in it. I'm glad you are enjoying those "If You Lived In . . . " books.

#70 - Going Solo by Roald Dahl, 208 pages (library). The follow-up to Boy, Dahl tells of his more adult adventures including his stint in World War II in the RAF. He had some very surprising stories to tell about the British forces in Greece at the time!



#71 - Hattie Ever After by Kirby Larson, 230 pages (library). The follow-up to Hattie Big Sky, which I loved!



#72 - Don'ts For Wives by Blanche Ebbutt, 80 pages (own). This was originally published in 1913 and was a gift from my sister for my wedding anniversary. My husband got Don'ts For Husbands and though some entries are pretty hilarious, alot hold true!

I didn't know there was a follow-up to Hattie Big Sky! That's definitely going on my reading list!

#73 - Until Tuesday by Luis Carlos Montalvan, 252 pages (library). This was my book club's choice a few months ago and I finally got around to finishing it (oops)! This is not only a book about a man and his service dog but it enlightened me to the effects of PTSD.

#74 - Revenge Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger, 385 pages (library). The surprising follow-up to Devil Wears Prada.



#75 - The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty, 371 pages (library). Cora Carlisle accompanies a future movie star to New York City, a trip that opens her mind as well as uncovers family secrets.



#76 - The Year of Mrs. Agnes by Kirkpatrick Hill, 115 pages (library). Someone mentioned this on their thread and I enjoyed it.



#77 - If You Lived With the Sioux Indians by Ann McGovern, 80 pages (library). Apparently there are a bunch of "If You Lived With (insert Indian tribe name here)" books.

#78 - Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella, audiobook (library). A chick lit comedy of errors :)



#79 - A Pony In The Picture by Victoria Randall, 128 pages (own). This was mentioned on alsvidur's thread and I had the luck of finding it at a bookstore last night! A collection of very cute photos.

#80 - Relish by Lucy Knisley, 173 pages (library). Knisley is also the author of French Milk and this is a wonderful graphic novel about her life and her love of food.



#81 - Dad Is Fat by Jim Gaffigan, audiobook (library). I love Jim Gaffigan - my husband & I saw him once live and my mouth hurt for a week from laughing so hard! :)

#82 - Everything Is Perfect When You're A Liar by Kelly Oxford, 317 pages (library). Somebody, somewhere on LT mentioned this book and I loved the title too much not to read it! I'm so glad I did - I was laughing pretty much the entire time. Her book was very similar to Jenny Lawson's.

#83 - The FabYouList by Susan Campbell Cross, 250 pages (own). An Early Reviewer book - review to come later.

#84 - Prairie Girl's Guide To Life by Jennifer Worick, 200 pages (own). I was so excited to see this book at my local Half Price. However, it didn't quite meet my expectations. Some of the items explained in the book are probably better taught in person (ex. how to whittle) but I did enjoy the sidenotes of phrases and their definitions as well as the illustrations.



#85 - Someday, Someday Maybe by Lauren Graham, 344 pages (library). I was also excited to that Graham had written a book (LOVED her on Gilmore Girls!). I enjoyed Frannie Banks' character and her story of trying to "make it" as an actress in New York City - I think the story might have been loosely based on Graham's own life?

#86 - Hold Your Horses by Bonnie Timmons, 144 pages (own). This was a lucky find at my local library's bookstore! A hilarious account of life with horses with great illustrations!



#87 - The Convenient Marriage by Georgette Heyer, 307 pages (library). Heyer seems to have quite the following here on LT so I thought I'd give her a try. A cutesy Regency romance with goofy characters.

#88 - Finding Betty Crocker by Susan Marks, 274 pages (own). The history of Betty Crocker.



#89 - All Good Things by Sarah Turnbull, 336 pages (own). A highly-recommended Early Reviewer book. Review to follow.

#90 - Danny The Champion of the World by Roald Dahl, 205 pages (own). I'm really enjoying the more "realistic" of Dahl's works.



#91 - The Hundred Dresses by Erin McKean, 213 pages (library). Lovely illustrations of the author's categorization of the top 100 dress styles.

#92 - The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt by Caroline Preston, 228 pages (library). My library is currently running a "recommend this book" program to other patrons. I was lucky enough to spot this book on the recommended reads table!



#93 - If You Lived In Williamsburg In Colonial Days by Barbara Brenner, 79 pages (library).

#94 - Astor Place Vintage by Stephanie Lehmann, 396 pages (library). Aktakukac mentioned this on her thread and, like her, I enjoyed Olive's account more than Amanda's...



#95 - Foodist by Darya Pino Rose, 327 pages (library). Blogger/creator of Summer Tomato, Rose has created an excellent, common sense book for weight loss based on science, whole foods, changing your habits and exercise. I love books like these - every so often I need a refresher course on good eating habits and this book has definitely given me some ideas.



#96 - Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich, audibook (library). Logan Montgomery, personal trainer to the stars is smooshed into an airplane seat next to overweight Holly Brennan. He convinces her to start training with him and romance ensues, including some very steamy scenes!

#97 - The Road To Burgundy by Ray Walker, 320 pages (own). An Early Reviewer book - review to follow.



#98 - Laura Ingalls Wilder Country Cookbook by Williams T. Anderson - 152 pages (own). Another great find from my local Half Price Books! I look forward to trying some of Laura Ingalls Wilder's own recipes!

Wow - I haven't updated my books in forever! I've been so busy I'm truly surprised I've read this many....



#99 - Bride of New France by Suzanne Desrochers, audiobook (library). As an orphan Laure is ordered by the King to be taken on a ship to the colony of New France (Canada) to be married off to a soldier and populate the colony. I had nothing but sympathy for Laure's character as no major life decisions were her own...



#100 - 52 Loaves by William Alexander, 339 pages (own). This has been on my wishlist for some time and I luckily found it at my local Half Price! Alexander is in search of the perfect homemade loaf of bread...



#101 - Some Nerve by Patty Chang Anker, 368 pages (own). An Early Reviewer book, review to follow.



#102 - But Mama Always Put Vodka In Her Sangria by Julia Reed, 258 pages (library). I think I want to be Julia Reed :) She seems to have had a fabulous life and her essays on food were wonderful.



#103 - The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes, 80 pages (library). This children's book has been talked about alot lately so I thought I'd read it.



#104 - Summer Crossing by Truman Capote, audiobook (library). Apparently, this book was considered lost after Capote's death but eventually it turned up and wow, what an ending!



#105 - Queen of the Turtle Derby by Julia Reed, 180 pages (library). I enjoyed Reed's previous books and this is the only other one my library had.

I've had Bride of New France on my list for a while. Did it work well in audio?

#106 - The Wedding Girl by Madeleine Wickham, audiobook (library). For chick lit, Wickham/Kinsella's books are surprisingly deep...



#107 - If Wishes Were Horses by Jean Slaughter Doty, 125 pages (own). Stephany and her sister Cam struggle to hold on to their family's Thoroughbred farm after their parents' death.



#108 - The Historic Kentucky Kitchen by Deidre Scaggs, 163 pages (library). This one is definitely on my "to buy" list! Chock full of old Kentucky recipes found in the University of Kentucky archives.

#109 - Shopping, Seduction & Mr. Selfridge by Lindy Woodhead, 310 pages (library). This was a follow-up read to my recent re-viewing of the first season of Mr. Selfridge. He was a man ahead of his time and this book takes a good look at that.



#110 - The Gospel According to Coco Chanel by Karen Karbo, 229 pages (library). This book was a disappointment. I think the author added too much of her own thoughts to Chanel's life - though that could be due to lack of concrete fact about Chanel?



#111 - Ghost Stories of Clearwater & St. Petersburg by Kim Cool, 192 pages (own). I grew up in Largo, FL (in the Clearwater/ St. Pete area) and on my last trip home, my ghost story-loving husband picked this awful book up. The writing was quite bad, but it was my requisite Halloween read...

Hey - is The Historic Kentucky Kitchen a cookbook or a book about kitchens themselves?

thornton37814 - its a cookbook with lots of great-looking recipes!

aktakukac - Bride of New France in the audiobook format is great - the narrator's French accent is perfect. However, there were times when I would've appreciated seeing the French word in front of me in order to figure it out.

#112 - May I Be Happy by Cyndi Lee, audiobook (library). This was a very moving book for me. Lee (a yoga teacher & Buddhist) deals with her unhappiness with her body but in the process has lots of advice and personal anecdotes to give.



#113 - Penny The Story of a Free-Soul Basset Hound by Hal Borland, 190 pages (own). A Bassett Hound comes into the Borland's lives and causes all kinds of trouble.

#114 - I Remember Nothing by Nora Ephron, audiobook (library). Ephron's audiobooks (read by the author herself) were recommended to me by a friend. What a great (and funny!) way to spend a commute!



#115 & 116 - If Wishes Were Horses & Horses' Night Out by Sibley Miller, 78 & 77 pages (library). I love Breyers and these children's books are published by the company. I'm glad I read them, as they are great Christmas gift ideas for my niece!



#117 - Eggs In The Coffee, Sheep In The Corn by Marjorie Myers Douglas, 240 pages (library). Saw this one mentioned somewhere on LT. Douglas had quite the change in lifestyle when she moved with her husband to rural Minnesota to run his family's farm. I enjoyed her well-told stories of farm life.



#118 - The Reading Promise by Alice Ozma, 279 pages (library). I cannot recommend this book enough. The author and her dad reading to each other, every night, for over 2,000 nights!



#119 - Whistlin' Dixie In A Nor'easter by Lisa Patton, 312 pages (library). Saw this in my local bookstore and I've already got the second book out from the library.



#120 - Belles On Their Toes by Frank B. Gilbreth, 240 pages (own). This one is a re-read for me but I love reading about the Gilbreth family!

#121 - Yankee Doodle Dixie by Lisa Patton, 294 pages (library). This is the sequel to Whistlin' Dixie In A Nor'easter. I've already got the third book on hold from the library...



#122 - I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron, audiobook (library). Ephron is my hero. She tells you things about aging that every woman should know!

#123 - Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix, 240 pages (own). A quick re-read for me over the busy holiday weekend.

#124 - Oh Ye Jigs and Juleps! by Virginia Cary Hudson, 64 pages (own). A cute book of essays from the author as a child.

is Huckleberry Finn a racist?

#125 - Under One Roof by Barry Martin, 262 pages (library). This is the story of Martin and his relationship with Edith, a homeowner that refuses to sell her house when Martin's construction company builds a mall around her.



#126 - Southern As A Second Language by Lisa Patton, 297 pages (library). The latest in a series - I'll miss Leelee's character!

#127 - Hollywood In Heels by Charity Gaye Finnestad, 230 pages (library). Finnestad grows up in small-town Oregon surrounded by a small-town mindset and she wants out! So, she moves to Hollywood and this is her hilarious account of life in Tinsel Town.



#128 - Glitter And Glue by Kelly Corrigan, pages (own). A Early Reviewer book - review to follow.



#129 - Slow Love by Dominique Browning, 271 pages (library). Browning loses her job as editor of a national magazine and free-falls in her life as a result. This is her story of recovery from unemployment and her acceptance of a slower, more minimal lifestyle.

My 2014 thread can be found at: http://www.librarything.com/topic/163426#