2008 Reads - January-July

July Reads-2008-15-Fic; 4-NF; 4-audios

113. NF - Leisureville: Adventures in America's Retirement Utopias; Blechman - 4/5
112. Fic - The Disorder of Longing; Bauman - 3.5/5
111. NF - The Sex Lives of Cannibals; Martin Troost - 4/5
110. Fic - The Condition - J. Haigh - 4.5/5
109. Fic - The Race; Richard Patterson-North - 4/5
108. NF - Why Men Die First; Legato - 4.5/5
107. Fic - Oxygen; Casella - 5/5
106. Fic - Some Assembly Required; Lynn Bonsaia - 4.5/5
105. Fic - When the Bough Breaks; Jonathan Kellerman - 4/5
104. Fic - Last Beach Bungalow; Jeanie Nash - 4/5
103. Mys - Black Seconds; Karin Fossum - 4.5/5
102. Fic - The Lace Reader; B. Barry - 4/5
101. Fic - Apologizing To Dogs; Joe Coomer - 4/5
100. Fic - December; Winthrop - 3.5/5
99. NF - Spend Till the End; Kotlikoff - 3/5
98. Fic - Hawke's Cove; Susan Wilson - 4.5/5
97. Fic - The Beach House; Jane Green - 4/5
96. Fic - Nice To Come Home To; Flowers - 4.5/5
95. Fic - Moloka'i; Alan Brennert - 5/5

June-2008-12-Fic; 3-NF; 6-audios

94. True Evil; Iles - 3/5

93. Two Truths and a Lie; Kittle - 4.5/5

92. The Art of Racing in the Rain; Stein - 5/5

91. Three Cups of Tea; Mortenson - 3.5/5

90. What Now?; Patchett - 4.5/5

89. The River of Heaven; Lee Martin - 4/5

88. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle; Wrobelwski - 5/5

87. The Sister; P. Adams - 4.5/5

86. Master of the Delta; T. Cook - 4/5

85. Sail; Patterson - 3.5/5

84. Happy Family; Wendy Lee - 4.5/5

83. Sugar Queen; S. Addison Allen - 4.5/5

82. Medical Myths That Can Kill You and the 101 Truths That Will Save, Extend or Improve Your Life; Snyderman MD - 5/5

81. Olive Kitteridge; Eliz Stout - 4.5/5

80. Finding Nouf; Zoe Ferrais - 4.5/5

May-2008-10-Fic; 6-NF; 1-audio

79. Skeletons at the Feast; C. Bohjalian - 5/5

78. Island Life; M. Sherer - 4/5

77. Against the Tide: How a Compliant Congress Empowered a Wreckless President; Senator Lincoln Chafee - 4.5/5

76. Belong To Me; Dos La Santos - 4/5

75. The Last Lecture; Pausch - 5/5

74. Predictibly Irrational; Dan Ariely - 4.5/5

73. South Beach Diet Super Charged; Agatston - 4/5

72. Three Little Words; A. Rhodes-Counter-4.5/5

71. The Magician's Assistant; Ann Patchett - 3.5/5

70. The Patron Saint of Liars; Ann Patchett - 4/5

69. Jane Austen in Boca; Cohen - 4/5

68. Almost; E. Benedict - 4/5

67. Hidden; Paul Jaskunas - 3.5/5

66. The Effects of Light; B. Whittenmore - 3/5

65. Sundays at Tiffany's; J. Patterson - 3.5/5

64. A Wolf at the Table; A. Burroughs - 4/5

April-2008-10 Fic; 5-NF; 4-audios

63. Gulity; Karen Robards - 4/5

62. The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted; E. Berg - 4/5

61. Santa Fe Dead; Stuart Woods - 4/5

60. Hold Tight; Coben - 4/5

59. Degrees of Separation; Sue Henry - 4/5

58. Martian Child; Gerrold - 4.5/5

57. Forward From Here: Leaving Middle-Age and other Unexpected Adventures; Lindberg-4.5/5

56. Unaccustomed Earth; J Lahari - 5/5

55. The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth; Bowden - 4.5/5

54. Bull's Island; D. Benton-Frank - 4/5

53. How Not To Look Old; Krupp - 4.5/5

52. Red Sox Rule; Michael Holley - 4/5

51. Where Are You Now?; Higgins Clark - 3.5/5

50. The Finder; C. Harrison - 4.5/5

49. The Church of 80% Sincerity; David Roche - 4.5/5

March-2008-12 Fic; 1-NF; 3-audios

48. Dreams of My Father; Obama - 4.5/5

47. Tipping the Velver; Sarah Waters - 4/5

46. The Night Following; M. Joss - 4/5

45. It's All Too Much; Peter Walsh - 4/5

44. The Commoner; Schwartz - 5/5

43. Fiction Class; Breen - 4/5

42. Fingersmith; Sarah Waters - 4.5/5

41. Charley's Web; Joy Fielding - 4/5

40. Chasing Windmills; C. Ryan Hyde - 4.5/5

39. Stalked; Brian Freeman - 4.5/5

38. Women and Money; Suze Orman - 5/5

37. Unknown Means; Becka - 4.5/5

36. Change of Heart; Jodi Picoult - 3.5/5

February-2008-7-Fic; 7NF; 3 audios

35. The Appeal; J. Grisham - 3.5/5

34. Green Chic; Mathesin - 4/5

33. The Dogs Who Found Me; K. Foster - 3/5

32. The Audacity of Hope; Obama - 4.5/5

31. Black Olives; Dudman - 5/5

30. Firefly Lane; K. Hannah - 3.5/5

29. Retirement Homes Are Murder; Beteler - 4.5/5

28. 7th Heaven; James Patterson - 4.5/5

27. Chosen By a Horse; Richards - 5/5

26. The Joy of Laziness: Why Life is Better Slower; Axt - 3/5

25. The Anatomy of Deception; Goldstone - 4.5/5

24. The Opposite of Love; Baxbaum - 4/5

23. Blue Heaven; CJ Box - 4.5/5

22. Crazy Aunt Pearl, Drunk, Divorced and Covered in Cat Fur; L. Perry - 4.5/5

21. Her Last Death; Sonnenberg - 4/5

20. The Secret Between Us; Barbara Delinsky - 3/5

19. Super Foods RX Diet; Pratt - 4.5/5

January-2008 - 11-Fic; 7-NF; 6-audios

18. Crazy School; Reid - 4/5

17. House Lust: America's Obsession With Our Homes; McGinn - 5/5

16. 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life; Grotto - 4.5/5

15. Kabul Beauty School; Rodriguez - 4/5

14. Third Degree; Greg Iles - 2.5/5

13. Every Last Cuckoo; Kate Maloy - 5/5

12. Dog Years; Mark Doty - 4.5/5

11. Keeper and Kid; Ed Hardy - 4.5/5

10. Still Summer; Mitchard - 3.5/5

9. Hachiko Waits; Newman - 4.5/5

8. Hachiko: True Story of a Loyal Dog; Turner - 4/5

7. Eat This Not That; Zinczenko - 4.5/5

6. A Good and Happy Child; J. Evans - 3.5/5

5. Bread Alone; Hendricks - 5/5

4. T is for Trespass; Sue Grafton - 4.5/5

3. Last Call; J. Grippando - 4.5/5

2. Aunt Dimity Digs In; Nancy Atherton - 4/4

1. An Absolute Gentleman; RM Kinder - 5/5

My Favorite Quotes About Books and Reading

I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves. ~Anna Quindlen

To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life. ~W. Somerset Maugham

The time to read is any time: no apparatus, no appointment of time and place, is necessary. It is the only art which can be practised at any hour of the day or night, whenever the time and inclination comes, that is your time for reading; in joy or sorrow, health or illness. ~Holbrook Jackson

A book is the only place in which you can examine a fragile thought without breaking it, or explore an explosive idea without fear it will go off in your face. It is one of the few havens remaining where a man's mind can get both provocation and privacy. ~Edward P. Morgan

40 Word meme

Found this on a lit blog -- amazing how revealing one word answers can be!

The rules are simple: one word answers to 40 questions.

1. Where is your cell phone? purse

2. Your significant other? giving

3, Your hair? shortish

4. Your mother? gone

5. Your father? gone

6. Your favorite time of day? morning

7. Your dream last night? unsure

8. Your favorite drink? coffee

9. Your dream goal? security

10. The room you’re in? den

11. Your ex? several

12. Your fear? illness

13. Where do you want to be in six years? here

14. What are you not? extroverted

15. Your favorite meal? pasta

16. One of your wish list items? condo

17. The last thing you did? ate

18. Where you grew up? city

19. What are you wearing? casuals

20. Your TV is? plasma

21. Your pets? cats

22. Your computer? required

23. Your life? happy

24. Your mood? content

25. Missing someone? no

26. Your car? Nissan

27. Something you’re not wearing? shoes

28. Favorite store? bookstore

29. Your summer? hot

30. Your favorite color? blues

31. When is the last time you laughed? today

32. When is the last time you cried? unsure

33. Your health? good

34. Your children? loved

35. Your future? bright

36. Your beliefs? liberal

37. Young or old? boomer

38. Your image? positive

39. Your appearance? neat

40. Would you live your life over again knowing what you know? No

OK, those are my 40 words, now its your turn!

7 Things About You As A Reader

A Fun little get to know your reading buddies questionnaire.

Here goes:

1. I didn't become obsessive about my reading until I stopped working full time in 2000. I always loved books since I was a child, but because of jobs, child rearing etc, I never read a lot until my children were grown and on their own.

2. I am totally addicted to the library and to reading the latest releases while some 500 perfectly wonderful books sit on my shelf unread. I have 40+ books reserved and 6 checked out at this time.

3. I'm very obsessive about only reading books in pristine condition. I only borrow the new library books or read my own new books. I've found some pretty disgusting things in books, so I am just a little freaked out by this.

4. I am also obsessed with copying audio books onto my IPOD. I have well over 60 audio books ready for me to listen to whenever I feel like it. BTW, I find it difficult listening to certain readers, especially those with a British accent, so I've become more selective with what I now copy.

5. I am constantly making and redoing lists of books that I want to read sooner, rather than later, or books I want to add to my collection at some point.

6. With so many books around me, I now give books the 25 page test (it use to be 50 pages). I pretty much know whether the book is for me or not by 25 pages.

7. I've really discovered some fine literature in the last few years, much of which has been recommended by many on line friends. I love books that have real substance and are thought provoking. I'm really fussy about what I read, and will not waste my time on romance or most chick lit. I also do not read sci-fi / fantasy, westerns or horror.

Survey Of the Day

SURVEY OF THE DAY

1. What was I doing ten years ago? Ten years ago I was living in a different state and working as a Regional Director of Human Resources for a nationwide health care company. I was traveling out of state approximately 3 days a week, and visiting different states that I probably would never have been to if it were not for this job.

2. What are five (non-work) things on my to-do list for today: Go to post office, for pedicure, hair appointment, stop for iced coffee and out to dinner with husband.

3. Snacks I enjoy: ice cream, fruit or pop corn.

4. Things I would do if I were a billionaire: First I would give each of my 2 children enough money so they could buy any home they wanted (mortgage free) . Then I would make sure that they never had to work again and were set for life. I would also build a new no-kill animal shelter in our town, donate to charity, and lastly probably do a lot of travel.

5. Places I have lived: I have only lived in New England, and really could not image living any where else.

6. Jobs I have had: Waitress, Medical Records Clerk, Patient Registration Assistant, Library Technical Assistant, and 20 years in various Human Resources roles.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle; David Wrobelwski

Good news and bad news (for me at least). I read this book in 3 days (finished it the end of June). I was totally enjoying this book and had about 75 pages to go. I left the book on my deck, when I came in to make dinner. Down came the rain in an unexpected, heavy down pour, and about 30 minutes later, I noticed this wonderful LIBRARY BOOK (ouch) sitting on my deck chair soaking wet!!

FIRST LIBRARY BOOK I EVER BOUGHT :(


I highly recommend this book.

Book Description

Born mute, speaking only in sign, Edgar Sawtelle leads an idyllic life with his parents on their farm in remote northern Wisconsin. For generations, the Sawtelles have raised and trained a fictional breed of dog whose thoughtful companionship is epitomized by Almondine, Edgar's lifelong friend and ally. But with the unexpected return of Claude, Edgar's paternal uncle, turmoil consumes the Sawtelles' once peaceful home. When Edgar's father dies suddenly, Claude insinuates himself into the life of the farm--and into Edgar's mother's affections.

Grief-stricken and bewildered, Edgar tries to prove Claude played a role in his father's death, but his plan backfires--spectacularly. Forced to flee into the vast wilderness lying beyond the farm, Edgar comes of age in the wild, fighting for his survival and that of the three yearling dogs who follow him. But his need to face his father's murderer and his devotion to the Sawtelle dogs turn Edgar ever homewards.

Amazon is tauting this book as the Best of the Summer, and I have to agree, I just loved it. Do not let its size 500++ pages discourage you; it is a page turner.