You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion
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Chit Chat About Books
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What are you Reading and Why
I finished Young Men and Fire, which was an excellent account of the Mann Gulch fire in Montana in 1949. Maclean's writing and dedication to the story was simply amazing. I still have to write a review, but I need to finish my Z book, Zuleika Dobson which is turning out to be quite funny - at least to me. :o)
Finished My Mother Was Nuts and will be at the library looking for another audio today. Now, I need to finish the Far Side of the Sky and that will probably be my last read for 2013. Hooray, January 1st, I'll be moving on to my challenge books and others.Wishing all happy days.
Nancy wrote: "Finished My Mother Was Nuts and will be at the library looking for another audio today. Now, I need to finish the Far Side of the Sky and that will probably be my last read for 2013. Hooray, Janu..."Your library is open on Boxing Day?!? Wow!
I found out the other day from an 'Merican friend they don't have Boxing Day!! How odd!!
Rusalka wrote: "I found out the other day from an 'Merican friend they don't have Boxing Day!! How odd!!"Oh! Really?! So is today just a normal working day then?!? You have Boxing Day in Australia though don't you?
Yep, today is just a normal day here in the states. A little bit of a let down after the big day. I have family coming over today though for apps and gifts so we are still celebrating. :)
What is boxing day. Every one puts on the gloves puts up their dukes and has it out or what. Sounds violent
Calendars use to all print boxing day Canada. Now some have the 26th blank and others say boxing day and Kwanzaa
Travis of NNY wrote: "What is boxing day. Every one puts on the gloves puts up their dukes and has it out or what. Sounds violent"OK so while "celebrating" Boxing Day, I'm not exactly sure why! It is a Bank holiday and the day after Christmas Day - that much I do know! And it normally means eating left overs from the previous day. Just checked Wikipedia and it would seem that it comes from the tradition of workers receiving gifts/bonuses from their employers (also called a Christmas Box).
Shucks I always envisioned it as a day for people to smack each other around a bit if they didn't get the gifts they wanted.
In the Netherlands we have Christmas Eve, First Christmas Day and Second Christmas Day. On the 25th everything is closed down, but the 26th is a national holiday but big furniture shops and ikea's and those kind of things are all open (and you're out of your mind if you go there today, soooooo busy!)
Travis of NNY wrote: "Shucks I always envisioned it as a day for people to smack each other around a bit if they didn't get the gifts they wanted."Haha! I'm sure that happens in some people's homes! I think as a kid I had a similar thought that it was because Boxing was on TV or something like that!
Sarah wrote: "OK so while "celebrating" Boxing Day, I'm not exactly sure why! ...Just checked Wikipedia and it would seem that it comes from the tradition of workers receiving gifts/bonuses from their employers (also called a Christmas Box). ..."I liked the speculation that, since servants had to work on Christmas Day, the following day they were allowed to celebrate with their own families, taking boxes of leftover food home.
Sooooo.....
The US doesn't celebrate because...we don't share our leftovers!!!☺☻☺
In the U.S., the day after Christmas is a shopping madhouse. Many stores mark down what they couldn't sell before Christmas. Some people look through the ads in the Christmas Day paper, and plan out which stores to hit first. I would not want to be a store employee today. Fortunately, I have a nice, quiet desk job.
Casceil wrote: "In the U.S., the day after Christmas is a shopping madhouse. Many stores mark down what they couldn't sell before Christmas. Some people look through the ads in the Christmas Day paper, and plan o..."Same happens here as we have Boxing Day Sales. When I was younger I worked in a Computer Game shop and worked on Boxing Day because it was the first day of the Sales and it was manic but generally quite good fun as there was a nice festive atmosphere. Not sure I'd want to do it now though!
Boxing day is one of those things that's been long lost in the mists of time. I *think* it originates when carol singers would have a box that they'd present for donations when they sang. on Boxing day, the boxes were opened and the contributions donated to the needy. If that's not it, it's something like that - but has nothing to do with the pugilistic arts.
In modern times it is the second bankholiday and is either the first day of the Xmas sales, or the day when you lie around doing sweet FA while you sleep of yesterday's excess. >:-)
In modern times it is the second bankholiday and is either the first day of the Xmas sales, or the day when you lie around doing sweet FA while you sleep of yesterday's excess. >:-)
Helen wrote: "... the day when you lie around doing sweet FA while you sleep off yesterday's excess. >:-) ..."We, in the US, have this day, we just never thought to name it.☻
I call it "avoid the shops at all cost" day.
Almeta wrote: "I liked the speculation that, since servants had to work on Christmas Day, the following day they were allowed to celebrate with their own families, taking boxes of leftover food home..."We're watching Kelly & Michael and she just read her notes that gave that as the history as how Boxing Day received its name usually January 1st.
As a kid, I used to think that it was the day we boxed up all our presents. I have no idea where I got that idea since presents sat opened under the tree until all the decorations were taken down and put away.
What a lovely idea to keep the presents under the tree until the decorations were put away...of course in my case that would have been YESTERDAY! I took a nap/ reading break and my kids (22/20) thought they would be helpful and take the tree down. Christmas is OVER at my house. I was a little mad but they really thought they were helping me out. Since they cleaned the kitchen too I just smiled and thanked them.
Tradition in our household is to take the tree and decorations down on New Year's Day. I tried to edit my message, but it didn't edit.I didn't put a tree up at my house this year. I've had a tough few months and didn't feel like it for one. For another, I'm not home. I'm at my parents' and enjoying their decorations.
Janice wrote: I didn't put a tree up at my house this year. I've had a to..."
I wish for you a stress free 2014. I will be happy for 2013 to be over. Cheers to health and happiness in the New Year!
Yes, I'm ready for 2013 to be over. Here's to a great 2014! :)
Here in Ireland we call today The Wren Day and the tradition is that children (known as wren boys) dress up and going around from house to house playing music and singing christmas and traditional songs. I have had about 5 sets of Wren Boys today and it is a lovely tradition which I goes back many many years here. I remember as a child going out on the wren with my friends and we had such fun. Its a country tradition.
Dem wrote: "Here in Ireland we call today The Wren Day and the tradition is that children (known as wren boys) dress up and going around from house to house playing music and singing christmas and traditional ..."That sounds like fun!
I believe Boxing Day is the day of the year that the churches used to open up the poor boxes in the church and distribute the money to the poor. Well, that's what I grew up being told. As a kid who grew up during the height of the Boxing Kangaroo flag in the 80s though, I always thought it was something to do with boxing and kangaroos. Until I got told the above.
Boxing Day sales though... urgh. Can't imagine anything worse. Don't think anyone got crushed to death here this year though.
I finished The Bookman's Tale and rated it 3-1/2 stars. There were things I really liked about it (like the art of repairing old books and forgery). And there were things that I found a bit annoying (like the too frequent switches between time periods). I prefer longer transitions. Now I'm in a quandary about what to start, and what I can finish before the end of the year and diving into the chunkster challenge. I think I'll crack open The Summoner.
After reading The Child Thief for the alphabet challenge I promised myself I would read Peter Pan by the end of the year. I am listening to it now - boy did Walt change it a lot!Then for some grown up fun Lover Eternal will bring me to 100 books this year.
I finished
, and got an email from the library that
was ready for pick up. I also found
on the shelves, so I got that too. My goal this year was to read 75 books, but I'm still 8 short with 4 days left in the year. But I still beat the number of books I read last year, so it's all good. Next year I'm going to have to set my goal lower, what with chunksters and all.
Finished Task Two in the YLTO! Read the Alphabet Challenge by reading Zone One!☺Starting the last book necessary for the Around the World in 52 Books Challenge, which is The Black Mountain.
Just finished House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III. I almost gave up this book twice, but I'm glad I didn't. Though it wasn't what I was expecting I enjoyed the Greek tragedy style. The character composition was just wonderful. Now starting Girl With a Pearl Earring.
I finished Zuleika Dobson and my alphabet so now I am reading A Killer First Date, which is a novella to the Drake Chronicles, which I have already read. Then I have to figure out my last book for the year and my 2013 challenge to finish it up. Unfortunately, I have to go to work tomorrow and half day on Tuesday. I am taking 2013 right up to the wire to finish up the challenges.
Finished starry night by debbie macomber and The Far Side of the Sky by Daniel Kalla. Now I will begin something although I'm not quite sure what right now.A good reading year with 154 titles read. 37 books over 400 pages and 60 something titles of my own, primarily on my Kindle.
I dislike that limbo between the end of a month (year) and the start of the new month (year), when the new challenge books are screaming at me to start them and I can't because there are two days left of the old month (year).I finished Gone With a Handsomer Man on audiobook. It was a nice light read. There were funny bits, food bits, and yummy man bits.
I bought The Gift of Change: Spiritual Guidance for Living Your Best Life on audiobook and it's 5 hours long, so will start that tonight after work. It should be the perfect book to read about change with a new year approaching. I just hope I don't start making new years resolutions.
I hear ya on the limbo thing. I am so excited and anxiously awaiting the new year. My family just doesn't get my excitement. ;)
Janice wrote: "I dislike that limbo between the end of a month (year) and the start of the new month (year), when the new challenge books are screaming at me to start them and I can't because there are two days l..."I know the feeling Janice. At the beginning of this month I had 5 books on the go at various stages and I thought it would be good to get them all out of the way so I have a clean start for the year - just one more book to go with To Kill a Mockingbird but my challenge/group read books for January are screaming at me to start them.
Tasha wrote: "I hear ya on the limbo thing. I am so excited and anxiously awaiting the new year. My family just doesn't get my excitement. ;)"Your family may not understand, but you have found the right place where others can commiserate.
It used to be that I would start to panic if I didn't have anything to read, or if I thought I didn't have anything to read. Thanks to Goodreads and this group, my TBR has grown exponentially and that is no longer a problem.
Now, I have the limbo to take its place.
Hahaha, yep. This is an awesome group. I'm glad to have joined. My chunky tbr list has def grown since being here!
I just listened to The Importance of Being Earnest while I cleaned out my closet. I found myself giggling through out.
I finished up my 100 books for the yearly challange with A Killer First Date and some other one that was an introduction to a new series - that was terrible. I am now reading The Last Sherlock Holmes Story., which from a lot of very mixed reviews is actually pretty good (Helen liked it :)). I am half way through and I am liking it.
Tasha wrote: "Hahaha, yep. This is an awesome group. I'm glad to have joined. My chunky tbr list has def grown since being here!"I'm happy to hear that you are enjoying the group!
I started The Gift of Change: Spiritual Guidance for Living Your Best Life and it's not exactly what I was expecting. I'm not sure I'll continue with it.
I have started The Elegance of the Hedgehog. So far, I am enjoying it immensely!
Hey Cherie - nice to have got you with another recommendation. I thought it a really inventive piece of spin-off fiction, but I can see how the Holmes purists and fanatics might not appreciate it. Glad you're enjoying it so far.
Finished
. I liked this one more than the previous one in the series. Sometimes I get the feeling Patterson gets bored with what he's writing at the moment, just wants to move on to the next project or maybe has a deadline to meet, so he rushes the ending. This one paced better.
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You'll love this one...!! A book club & more
Books mentioned in this topic
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Steven Pressfield (other topics)Rainbow Rowell (other topics)
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Travels with Charlie was great! I listened to Gary Sinise read it to me.