Read 100+ Books in 2013 discussion
February challenge
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Hey Sheila! I'm glad your surgery was a success, and I hope you're feeling better now. I had a serious carpal tunnel problem last year, but I opted not have surgery and I sought other treatments. What REALLY helped me was reading a book titled "The Mindbody Prescription" by Dr. John Sarno. I know you've already solved your problem, but you might want to read the book anyway. It talks about what caused such problems in the first place, the reasons would surprise many, and I feel that you could still benefit from reading it.
I'm sorry to go off topic, but when you mentioned your surgery I felt compelled to share my experience.
Best of luck to you, cheers!
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I'll check it out. The doctors said they couldn't do any alternate treatments my hands were so bad. Within a year I would have lost the use of them. The next day I could feel my fingers. I still have a little numbness in the middle finger but it's getting better each day. I'm going to have the left one done in the spring.
If anyone is looking for a book that begins with B or an author that begins with B, may I suggest "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray. It is catagorized as a Young Adult novel, but it is hysterically funny and I think anyone looking for a lighthearted read would love it. The basic plot: A group of beauty pageant contestants gets stranded on a deserted island and they must rely on their skills and talents for survival.
Janice wrote: "If anyone is looking for a book that begins with B or an author that begins with B, may I suggest "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray. It is catagorized as a Young Adult novel, but it is hysterically fu..."Excellent! Sounds like a potential reality show on Bravo or Discovery!
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7/9, 23 books
1. Read a book whose title starts with B--Blackstone's Bride by Kate Moore--finished 2/16/13.
2. Read a book whose author begins with B--Dread on Arrival by Claudia Bishop--finished 2/9/13.
3. For Valentine's Day, read a book about hearts or flowers--Lily of the Nile by Stephanie Dray.
4. Read a book by an African-American author--The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman by Ernest J. Gaines.
5. Read a biography--Me, The Mob, and The Music by Tommy James--finished 3/1/13 .
6. Read a book about Scotland--The Flower Reader by Elizabeth Loupas--finished 2/12/13
7. Read a book about a city--Trigger City by Sean Chercover--finished 2/14/13.
8. Read a book about cake--Matrimony & Murder by Lois Lamanna--finished 2/23/13.
9. Your choice--Letters in Cardboard Boxes by Abby Slovin--finished 2/1/13
Bonus:
Lightning Strikes Twice by Shelley Munro--finished 2/1/13
Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin--finished 2/2/13
Kaydee and the Tramp by Titania Ladley--finished 2/3/13
Dirty Housewives by Rebecca Leigh--finished 2/4/13
A Little Burlesque by Giselle Renarde--finished 2/9/13
Salome's Garden by Ivan Latham--finised 2/9/13
Scandal in the Wind by KT Grant--finished 2/9/13
Wild Outlaws by Destiny Blaine--finished 2/17/13
The Lady Submits by Chloe Cox--finished 2/17/13
The Gift by Tiffany Reisz--finished 2/17/13
Timed Arrow by Y. L. Stray--finished 2/17/13
Take Me at the Ballgame by Cassandra Carr--finished 2/17/13
Loving Leonardo by Rose Anderson--finished 2/18/13
Uncaged Beauty by Vivain Murdoch--finished 2/25/13
The Food of Love by Marie-Elise Bassette--finished 2/26/13
Jungle Games by H.C. Brown & KevaD--finished 2/16/13
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I am looking for an African American Author. Any suggestions?"
A favorite of mine is Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. Fantastic!
Onto February - What happened to January?1. Read a book whose title starts with B.
"The Book of Air and Shadows" by Michael Gruber
2. Read a book whose author begins with B.
3. For Valentine's Day, read a book about hearts or flowers.
4. Read a book by an African-American author.
5. Read a biography.
6. Read a book about Scotland.
7. Read a book about a city.
8. Read a book about cake.
9. Your choice
Finished reading "City of Refuge" by Tom Piazza.Now reading "The Book of Air and Shadows" by Michael Gruber.
""A distinguished Shakespearean scholar found tortured to death . . .
A lost manuscript and its secrets buried for centuries . . .
An encrypted map that leads to incalculable wealth . . . "
The "Washington Post" called Michael Gruber's previous work "a miracle of intelligent fiction and among the essential novels of recent years." Now comes his most intellectually provocative and compulsively readable novel yet.
"Tap-tapping the keys and out come the words on this little screen, and who will read them I hardly know. I could be dead by the time anyone actually gets to read them, as dead as, say, Tolstoy. Or Shakespeare. Does it matter, when you read, if the person who wrote still lives?"
These are the words of Jake Mishkin, whose seemingly innocent job as an intellectual property lawyer has put him at the center of a deadly conspiracy and a chase to find a priceless treasure involving William Shakespeare. As he awaits a killer--or killers--unknown, Jake writes an account of the events that led to this deadly endgame, a frantic chase that began when a fire in an antiquarian bookstore revealed the hiding place of letters containing a shocking secret, concealed for four hundred years. In a frantic race from New York to England and Switzerland, Jake finds himself matching wits with a shadowy figure who seems to anticipate his every move. What at first seems like a thrilling puzzle waiting to be deciphered soon turns into a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse, where no one--not family, not friends, not lovers--is to be trusted."
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1. Read a book whose title starts with B.
"The Book of Air and Shadows" by Michael Gruber
2. Read a book whose author begins with B.
3. For Valentine's Da..."
It went fast! I had a lot of time for reading since I was off for 2 1/2 weeks for surgery. Now that I'm back to work I have no idea how February will go.
Last month I read mostly books I've needed to review, this month is going to be quite similar. 1/91. Read a book whose title starts with B.
2. Read a book whose author begins with B.
3. For Valentine's Day, read a book about hearts or flowers.
4. Read a book by an African-American author.
5. Read a biography.
6. Read a book about Scotland.
7. Read a book about a city.
8. Read a book about cake.
9. Your choice. Argo: How the CIA and Hollywood Pulled Off the Most Audacious Rescue in History finished 02.02.2013
Extra:
Światło Light by M. John Harrison finished 17.02.2013 Krasnoludki nie przyjdąThe Falafel King is Dead by Sara Shilo. Finished 10.02.2013
Sheila wrote: "Chuck wrote: "Onto February - What happened to January?1. Read a book whose title starts with B.
"The Book of Air and Shadows" by Michael Gruber
2. Read a book whose author begins with B.
3. For ..."
Hope you are well!
Mod
1. Read a book whose title starts with B.
"The Book of Air and Shadows" by Michael Gruber
2. Read a book whose author begins ..."
I am. The surgery was successful and I can feel my fingers again.
Subject to revision :).1. Read a book whose title starts with B.:
Birdsong, Sebastian Faulks 2/28/13
2. Read a book whose author begins with B.:
A Great and Terrible Beauty, Libby Bray 2/15/13
3. For Valentine's Day, read a book about hearts or flowers.:
Leaving Bailey Flanigan Series, Karen Kingsbury (actually talks about Valentine's day and hearts and is about relationships anyway)- finished 2/6/13
4. Read a book by an African-American author.:
Beloved, Toni Morrison 2/25/13
5. Read a biography.:
Look Me in the Eye, John Elder Robinson 2/20/13
6. Read a book about Scotland.:
The Gripping Beast, Margot Wadley 2/21/13
7. Read a book about a city.: N/A
8. Read a book about cake.:
Benny bakes a Cake, Eve Rice 2/25/13
9. Your choice. Learning- Karen Kingsbury 2/9/13; Longing-Karen Kingsbury 2/9/13; Loving- Karen Kingsbury 2/11/13; Coming Home- Karen Kingsbury 2/13/13; Miss Match-Erynn Mangum 2/17/2013
anyone have a recommendation for a book about a city?
Rachel wrote: "anyone have a recommendation for a book about a city?"Being born and raised in the Los Angeles area one of my favorite writers is Nina Revoyr. She has written several books but my favorite is "Southland."
"Southland" takes place both in present day L.A. and the Los Angeles during the infamous Watts Riots. Even though this certainly was a horrid time in L.A.'s history, there are many, many areas of the city I remember well and the writers description is perfect.
And the story was well done . . . Enjoy!
Here are my tentative choices for this month.1. Read a book whose title starts with B. Buttons and Bones by Monica Ferris
2. Read a book whose author begins with B. The Lost Continent by Bill Bryson
3. For Valentine's Day, read a book about hearts or flowers.
4. Read a book by an African-American author.
5. Read a biography. Jeannie Out of the Bottle by Barbara Eden
6. Read a book about Scotland.
7. Read a book about a city. Dust City by Robert Paul Weston.
8. Read a book about cake.
9. Your choice. Unholy Night -Seth Graham Smith
I am still looking for some of the other catagories. Some I have ideas for but haven't chosen the book yet. Like the African-American Author. I have read Zora Neal Hurston in the past and want to see what else she has written.
Sheila I'm so glad to hear that your surgery was a success! Glad you seem to have had a fairly easy recovery as well!Not sure just how much reading I'm going to be getting done here for the next little while. My husband and I are preparing to make an offer on our (hopefully) first home! It's all very exciting and it makes it damn near impossible to focus on just about anything else, but I am trying!
1. Read a book whose title starts with B.
The Blood Gospel by James Rollins
2. Read a book whose author begins with B.
3. For Valentine's Day, read a book about hearts or flowers.
4. Read a book by an African-American author.
5. Read a biography.
6. Read a book about Scotland.
7. Read a book about a city.
8. Read a book about cake.
9. Your choice.
Mod
Not sure just how much reading I'm going to be getting done here for the next ..."
Good luck on home ownership.
Just back from a short camping trip - Finished reading "The Book of Air and Shadows" by Michael Gruber.1. Read a book whose title starts with B.
"The Book of Air and Shadows" by Michael Gruber
2. Read a book whose author begins with B.
3. For Valentine's Day, read a book about hearts or flowers.
4. Read a book by an African-American author.
5. Read a biography.
6. Read a book about Scotland.
7. Read a book about a city.
"Fallen" by Karin Slaughter - Takes place in the Atlanta, GA area.
8. Read a book about cake.
9. Your choice
This was a new type of read for me. It's Steam Punk,which means that it's sci-fi/fantasy set in Victorian times. It was shelved as young adult,but I wouldn't recommend it for teenagers. The plot was interesting,and the characters were portrayed well,but due to the portrayal of the occult,I would only recommend it for adults despite the fact that the characters are around 16 or 17. It was written very well and was entertaining even though it was quite strange in many places.
1. Read a book whose title starts with B."The Book of Air and Shadows" by Michael Gruber
2. Read a book whose author begins with B.
3. For Valentine's Day, read a book about hearts or flowers.
4. Read a book by an African-American author.
5. Read a biography.
Can I use an autobiography instead? "My Beloved World" by Sonia Sotomayor.
6. Read a book about Scotland.
7. Read a book about a city.
"Fallen" by Karin Slaughter - Takes place in the Atlanta, GA area.
8. Read a book about cake.
9. Your choice
Mod
"The Book of Air and Shadows" by Michael Gruber
2. Read a book whose author begins with B.
3. For Valentine's Day, read a book about hearts or flowers.
4. ..."
Yes, autobiography works. Let me know how it is. I've seen them running the ad on Goodreads for it.
Sheila wrote: "Chuck wrote: "1. Read a book whose title starts with B."The Book of Air and Shadows" by Michael Gruber
2. Read a book whose author begins with B.
3. For Valentine's Day, read a book about hearts o..."
Enjoying this book tremendously - Incredible story so far. I'm truly impressed with this incredible person.
Has anyone won a book selection in the "Giveaways" section?
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It's been a while since I've won but I have won in the past. I think I've won 4 books. That's why I read THE GARGOYLE. I won it, read it, and reviewed it on Goodreads. It was a great book! I'd have never read it if I hadn't won it.
Sheila wrote: "Chuck wrote: "Has anyone won a book selection in the "Giveaways" section?"It's been a while since I've won but I have won in the past. I think I've won 4 books. That's why I read THE GARGOYLE. ..."
I actually one a book - It was delivered just a couple of weeks ago, "The History of Us" by Leah Stewart.
The History of Us by Leah Stewart."In The History of Us, the newest novel by the celebrated author of The Myth of You and Me, three grown siblings return to their childhood home and face a family secret that forces them to reexamine their relationships to each other—and to the aunt who took them in as children.
Eloise Hempel is on her way to teach a class at Harvard when she receives devastating news. Her sister and her husband have been killed in a tragic accident, and Eloise must return home to Cincinnati to take her sister’s three children, Theodora, Josh, and Claire, out of the hands of her own incapable mother. She moves back into her mother’s ancient house and, after her mother leaves, pours her own money into its upkeep.
Nearly two decades later, Eloise is still in that house, still thinking about what she left behind. With Claire leaving for New York City for a promising ballet career, Eloise has plans to finally embark on a life that’s hers alone. But when her mother makes a competition out of who inherits the house, and Claire reveals a life-changing secret, their makeshift family begins to fall apart."
I'll start this one after "My Beloved World."
Mod
It's been a while since I've won but I have won in the past. I think I've won 4 books. That's why I read..."
Congratulations!
I really loved this book. It's written well and is funny and insightful. There were a lot of places where I could totally relate to my own life and how I think,and it's nice to know it's not just me.
“And now I know it is perfectly natural for me not to look at someone when I talk. Those of us with Asperger's are just not comfortable doing it. In fact, I don't really understand why it's considered normal to stare at someone's eyeballs.”
― John Elder Robison
"As I got older, I found myself in trouble more and more for saying things that were true, but that people didn't want to hear. I did not understand tact."
― John Elder Robison
Oops! Change of plans - "The Dog Stars," a book I requested several months ago, just came in. "The History of Us" now takes a back seat!1. Read a book whose title starts with B.
"The Book of Air and Shadows" by Michael Gruber
2. Read a book whose author begins with B.
3. For Valentine's Day, read a book about hearts or flowers.
4. Read a book by an African-American author.
5. Read a biography.
Can I use an autobiography instead? "My Beloved World" by Sonia Sotomayor.
6. Read a book about Scotland.
7. Read a book about a city.
"Fallen" by Karin Slaughter - Takes place in the Atlanta, GA area.
8. Read a book about cake.
9. Your choice
"The Dog Stars" by Peter Heller.
Chuck wrote: "Oops! Change of plans - "The Dog Stars," a book I requested several months ago, just came in. "The History of Us" now takes a back seat!"Hig survived the flu that killed everyone he knows. His wife is gone, his friends are dead, he lives in the hangar of a small abandoned airport with his dog, his only neighbor a gun-toting misanthrope. In his 1956 Cessna, Hig flies the perimeter of the airfield or sneaks off to the mountains to fish and to pretend that things are the way they used to be. But when a random transmission somehow beams through his radio, the voice ignites a hope deep inside him that a better life—something like his old life—exists beyond the airport. Risking everything, he flies past his point of no return—not enough fuel to get him home—following the trail of the static-broken voice on the radio. But what he encounters and what he must face—in the people he meets, and in himself—is both better and worse than anything he could have hoped for."
"
This was a fun,well-written somewhat gothic/fantasy mystery that is also very descriptive of Digerness on the Orkney Islands in Scotland. I really enjoyed it,and the ending was totally unexpected.
1. Read a book whose title starts with B. - Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire2. Read a book whose author begins with B. - The Thing About the Truth by Lauren Barnholdt
3. For Valentine's Day, read a book about hearts or flowers - Change of Heart by Shari Maurer
4. Read a book by an African-American author. - A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines
5. Read a biography. - I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had by Tony Danza (Technically, a memoir)
6. Read a book about Scotland. - The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark
7. Read a book about a city - Fodor's Walt Disney World 2013. (Not really a city, but I would say it's pretty darn close)
8. Read a book about cake - Pastries: A Novel of Desserts and Discoveries by Bharti Kirchner
9. Your choice - The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
Chuck wrote: "Rachel wrote: "anyone have a recommendation for a book about a city?"Being born and raised in the Los Angeles area one of my favorite writers is Nina Revoyr. She has written several books but my ..."
The only books by her that are in our library system are "The Age of Dreaming," "Wingshooters," and "The Necessary Hunger." Are they good also? I probably won't finish many more books in February,but I might read one anyway if they're good. :)
I found the writing style confusing and hard to follow. I had trouble figuring out the characters,and they seemed a little flat and one-dimensional. The plot was strange and rambling from person to person and place to place.
I read this aloud to my son. I remembered it from my childhood. It's a cute little book.
Rachel wrote: "Chuck wrote: "Rachel wrote: "anyone have a recommendation for a book about a city?"Being born and raised in the Los Angeles area one of my favorite writers is Nina Revoyr. She has written several..."
I've read "Age of Dreaming" and "Wingshooters," both very good stories. "Age of Dreaming" takes place in the Los Angeles area while "Wingshooters" takes place in Wisconsin.
Haven't been able to locate "The Necessary Hunger" yet - I'll probably purchase through Amazon.
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Was not able to finish The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman. I found it dry and I could not get into the cadence of the language. Maybe some day.
I did finish this yesterday. :)Although it was a bit smutty (and adultery at that) in the first of the seven parts this book is divided into,it was written so well that I can easily forgive it for that. Mostly,it was a very interesting fictional account of this British guy fighting in the trenches of France in World War 1. As said,it's very well written,very interesting,and quite entertaining for a war book. Neither the violent deaths nor the sex were too graphic,but it was very descriptive of conditions,the culture,some of the geography,and of the thought lives of some of the main characters. It wasn't like a lot of books these days that consist almost solely of dialogue. I really liked it.
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I did finish this yesterday. :)Although it was a bit smutty (and adultery at that) in the first of the seven parts this book is divided into,it was written so well th..."
I recently read that also. I liked it. I know so little about the WWI era that I like to read books set during that time.
since I'm also in a not-so-active group reading the BBC's lists of 100 books to read before you die, I figured I'd kill two birds with one stone.. that book's on the lists from the two years I'm working on at the moment
Mod
Works for me!
Read 100+ Books in 2013
Books mentioned in this topic
Birdsong (other topics)Birdsong (other topics)
Benny Bakes a Cake (other topics)
Beloved (other topics)
The Gripping Beast (other topics)
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I was off half the month with carpal tunnel surgery. It was successful! I got a lot of reading done.
So now onto February.
1. Read a book whose title starts with B.
2. Read a book whose author begins with B.
3. For Valentine's Day, read a book about hearts or flowers.
4. Read a book by an African-American author.
5. Read a biography.
6. Read a book about Scotland.
7. Read a book about a city.
8. Read a book about cake.
9. Your choice.