Wednesday, October 31, 2012

October in Review - Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween

It's hard to believe that there are only (2) months left in 2012, although the first half of 2012 was fantastic for us on a personal level: a first grandchild and first house for my son and his wife,  the frustrations continue with trying to sell my parents house.  We will not be able to close the deal because of title issues that still need to be resolved.....that means we need to winterize and have the first floor boarded up for the winter, and with a 100 year old house I'm don't get a good feeling about having to do this.  On a more positive note, we were spared damage as a result of Hurricane Sandy - heavy winds and rain but no power loss. We are so thankful.

I am still pretty pleased with my reading for 2012 as I set a goal of 125 books, and I won't have any trouble reaching that number.  For October, here's what I read:
  1. Winter of the World; Ken Follett - 4.5/5 audio and print
  2. Comet's Tale; Steven Wolf and Lynette Pawdwa  - (eGalley) - 4/5
  3. Peaches for Father Francis; Joanne Harris - 4/5 (no review yet)
  4. The Bartender's Tale; Ivan Doig - 5/5 (eGalley and audiobook)
  5. In the Tall Grass; Stephen King and Joe Hill (audio) - 3.5/5
  6. The Round House; Louise Erdrich - 4.5/5 - (eGalley)  (no review yet)
  7. Me, Who Dove into the Heart of the World; Sabina Berman - 4/5 (ARC)
  8. The Inn at Rose Harbor; Debbie Macomber (audio-in progress) (DNF) (was looking for something light, but just not my cup of tea)
  9. Beautiful Ruins ; Jess Walters - 3/5 (audio) no review yet
For the remaining (2) months of the year, there are several books I want to read. Here's a little list I put together so I don't get sidetracked.

November and December Plans
  1. The Cure for Grief; Nellie Hermann
  2. Live By Night; Dennis LeHane
  3. The Panther; Nelson DeMille
  4. The Secret Keeper; Kate Morton
  5. The Dog Stars; Peter Heller
  6. The Orchardist;  Amanda Choplin
  7. The Light Between Oceans; ML Stedman
  8. Cascade ; O'Hara
  9. Flight Behavior; Barbara Kingsolver
  10. Cold Light; Jen Ashworth
Do you have any year end reading plans?

[Please forgive me for not visiting your blog lately, I hope to remedy that this weekend.]

26 comments:

  1. Well you certainly have been busy! I have decided I am done with Macomber myself so don't feel bad. Too much fluff doesn't cut it for me.

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  2. That's a great list of books you've given us. Your year has been eventful with the birth of your grandchild and your son and his wife's first home. Good luck on your parents home too. Glad you got through the hurricane okay and my thoughts and prayers are with those good people who have to deal with its aftermath. I have a book on my shelf that I have wanted to read for a long time and aim to do so before the year is out. It is called The Last Lion - Winston Spencer Churchill - Visions of Glory 1874-1932 by William Manchester. I am trying to learn more history these days. I have a whole list of fiction books I have either read or intend to read but am putting all things aside as I am trying to catch up on housework for my possible company this evening. They may or not not come, it's up in the air yet but just in case I need to get off this computer, put my books aside and get down to the dusting. Happy Halloween Diane!

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  3. I think your goals were lofty and you managed to meet them. I set a goal of reading 50 books, and as I finish #50 today, feel pretty good about that. I have read lots of titles I may not have read in the past. Mostly that is due to blogs like yours, where I have seen a title that sounds interesting or read a review that made me want to read that particular one. I have joined a book club in our town, that too has presented titles that I would not have chosen, and I have not been disappointed. Two months left in 2012, I have books on my TBR list and I also have quilt projects that must be finished before Christmas. So I will be busy!. Thanks for your Tuesday Intros. They have been fun.

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  4. My goodness, that is impressive! Happy Halloween from all of us!!!

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  5. So glad you escaped serious damage. I have a few books that I plan to read before the years ends, but with new releases always arriving, I may get distracted!

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  6. I'm hoping to get caught up on review requests. I'm looking forward to it though, as most of them I requested myself. :)

    Happy Halloween!

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  7. Glad to hear you weathered the storm safely. Your reading list looks good. I see a few on there I'd like to read myself. Have a happy halloween!

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  8. I love the photo you included.

    Happy Halloween! So glad you guys came out of the storm okay.

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  9. I'm glad you came through the stomr okay. Hope you have a safe and fun Halloween.

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  10. Happy Halloween and happy November reading!

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  11. I am so glad you didn't suffer any damage from Sandy, Diane. That is too bad about your parents' house, however. Hopefully the title issues will get sorted out soon and you can finally sell.

    Have a happy Halloween!

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  12. Congrats on all of the books that you have read! The Dog Stars is on my list to read soon too.

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  13. Great that you made it safely through the storm. Not so great that you still have the stress of a house for sale.

    Nice line up of books. Any list I make I have trouble sticking with. I loved Dog Stars and Cascade was good too. I just could not get into The Orchardist. I tried but it was not for me, too depressing. Flight Behavior is on my 'really want to read this' list as is Secret Keeper.

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  14. We share some TBR titles, but I'm quickly losing faith I'll get to all of them in the next two months. Happy reading!

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  15. Glad you made it through Sandy OK. Though the whole state of NJ is celebrating Halloween on Monday per our governor!

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  16. I can't believe Winter of the World has come out already and I haven't even cracked open Fall of Giants yet! They seems like the kind of books I'd like to sequester myself away to read with no interruptions.

    Glad to hear you weathered Sandy okay.

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  17. I am so glad you were spared damage in the storm...and it looks like a good reading month both behind and ahead of you.

    I also had a DNF book this past month; I hate when it happens, and I usually hang on way too long.

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  18. So glad to hear you and your family are okay. I like this "count your blessings" post. Congratulations on your reading goal achievement. Your November reading list looks good. I have a couple of those books on my want-to-read list too, The Barbara Kingsolver book definitely interests me. I'm looking forward to your reviews.

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  19. I'm always amazed by how many books you read, with your full plate of living too. You must be a fast reader. I truly admire that. Thanks for sharing your lists.

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  20. I love that pumpkin patch...and your list!!!

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  21. You are a reader. That's a lot of books.I like the lighted pumpkins.

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  22. So happy to hear you didn't get too hard hit by Sandy! Here's to a wonderful year end!

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  23. So glad that Sandy wasn't a horrible impact for you!! I think October was a great month and I look forward to reading about the books you listed for December!

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  24. I'm glad you did well during the storm. Sounds like you are doing well with reading, too. That's great that you will make your reading goal. Have a great Sunday!

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  25. wonderful! The Secret Keeper and Flight Behavior are fantastic. here is my October wrap-up. and if you have a mn, would you mind helping me with some book recommendations?: http://wordsandpeace.com/2012/11/02/october-2012-wrap-up/

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