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Top Reads Of 2011
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The two that shoot right off the top of my head are: Cutting for Stone and One True Thing by Anna Quindlan. Loved them both.
Terri wrote: "Also: 
, 
, and [bookcover:Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the..."I so agree with you Terri on your choices of books. One Fine Thing stays with you forever. Happy Holidays all.
One True Thing is such an incredible story and yes I'm still thinking of it. Now I want to watch the movie with Meryl Streep.
Just started "On the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" and think it might belong on this list, but too soon for me to tell.My other top reads of the year are:
"The Day the World Came to Town, 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland
The Sparrow
Children of God
The Help
Unbroken
The Hummingbird's Daughter
Ahab's Wife
Sorry I don't know how to add the picture of the book cover, which is much classier than a boring list.
Cheryl: I have The Sparrow to read as well as Unbroken (on my to buy list) so good to know they are good.To add a book cover: When you go down to the comment box to leave a comment, straight across from the word "commment" is "add book/author", if you click on that and type in the book title the book cover will pop up and you can click add. There is a little box you have to check at the bottom to add the cover or the link so make sure and click that in before you type the title. Anyway, it's just a fancy schmancy thingie--not needed.
Merry Christmas!
Terri wrote: "Cheryl: I have The Sparrow to read as well as Unbroken (on my to buy list) so good to know they are good.To add a book cover: When you go down to the comment box to leave a comment, straight ac..."
In case you're interested "Children of God" is a continuation of the story in "The Sparrow". I think there is one more in the series as well, but I haven't been able to find it.
Now I've got several ideas on what to start reading in 2012!
Today I picked up
I'm bummed, I've tried clicking and not clicking the cover button before I enter the title and no matter what I do I don't get the cover to come up in my comment. Any suggestions?
Duh, I guess the cover doesn't come up until I post the message. As you can see I'm working on my word for 2012 (grow) which in one respect means learning something new and I just did!
Cheryl: Good to know about the follow-up to The Sparrow. If I love The Sparrow. I'll definitely check it out. Yep...you're growing already!
When I was looking over my list of what I had read in 2011 I was horrified to see 38 of my books for the year were re-reads. They're all old favorites, kind of like old friends, but honestly I need to expand my horizons!
I was trying to think of what my best books of 2011 were, and finally narrowed it down to fifteen. My top three were War, Arguably and Surviving the Extremes.It was a good year for me, 73 five-star books. Sadly it was a very bad year in business, my worst in over 20 years, which is why I had so much time to read and so many books no one bought.
So sorry Petra. I know about struggling financially. It is really scary, and hard to keep a brave face on. I wish I had an income- I would buy all sorts of books from you!
Petra: I'm hoping this new year will bring you LOTS of business! I'm sorry it's been so bad for you. Money worries can definitely get you down. I know in the past I often wondered if we would ever get out of "the hole" we were in. We're still digging our way out, but things are getting better, finally. I hope the same for both you and Miriam. It is very scary to wonder what's going to happen to you. I prayed so much about it I'm sure God wanted to shout "Alright already, I heard you!"
Thank you for the good wishes :-)With the growth of the Kindle and similar devices, I don't see an upswing in the book market to be likely. Also the wonderful (really) toys I brought in didn't go well. I have a feeling that there could be a big market crash in the next few days and that worries me too.
Petra X wrote: "I was trying to think of what my best books of 2011 were, and finally narrowed it down to fifteen. My top three were War, Arguably and [book:Surviving the Extremes|3..."Is the book you read entitle "War" by Sebastian Junger? I have been trying to find that one on PBS for a long time. I'm interested to see your high rating if it's the same book.
Petra X wrote: "I was trying to think of what my best books of 2011 were, and finally narrowed it down to fifteen. My top three were War, Arguably and [book:Surviving the Extremes|3..."My town is starting to look like a ghost town because of empty stores. We have a multitude of thrift and car part stores but many startups have failed. We still have a department store and an excellent shoe store but not much else. So sad. There's great shopping in a town only 18 miles away and it's killing our local businesses.
Petra X wrote: "Thank you for the good wishes :-)With the growth of the Kindle and similar devices, I don't see an upswing in the book market to be likely. Also the wonderful (really) toys I brought in didn't go..."
I'm so sorry for your struggles. I'm never going to buy an electronic device for reading.
Miriam wrote: "So sorry Petra. I know about struggling financially. It is really scary, and hard to keep a brave face on. I wish I had an income- I would buy all sorts of books from you!"All the years I was raising my kids I didn't have 2 cents to rub together and no safety net. I went to bed scared every night and it's not fun. I'm sending all good thoughts in your direction and hope things will look up for you in 2012.
Thank you so much.I don't dislike Kindles particularly, but I must think of another business, just not sure what. In general I change my occupation every five years or so, so I don't mind changing, but I do so love books and having a bookshop.
Petra X wrote: "Thank you so much.I don't dislike Kindles particularly, but I must think of another business, just not sure what. In general I change my occupation every five years or so, so I don't mind changin..."
You've been living my dream, surrounded by books and people who love them. Hearing of your struggles has made me even more determined to support my local book store.
Support isn't only buying books. Its going in to chat, looking at books, talking books. I don't know about other indie bookshops but I like customers who become friends from a mutual love of books (like Goodreads) and am always pleased to see them, whether or not they are buying anything that time.
Petra: Do you have a book club meeting at your store? Just curious. I've always wondered how in-store one works and if they really get enough people coming in. That's the thing about small stores, they do need people to support them monetarily, but I love it when you are familiar with the owner and they know your name or face by heart. My dry cleaners is like that and I would NEVER go anyplace else. I trust them totally and the wife and I often talk about Gardening and the Farmer's Market. So rare to find that kind of camaraderie in a business these days. Probably because there really aren't many small owner's left.
Cheryl: That's so sad to hear about all your store closings. I was afraid that would happen here when we got a Wal-Mart and some of the small shops have closed--but all the noes I frequent have remained in business. So far, that is. I told my husband It'll really be interesting to see how many businesses make it through these hard times. It's very sad to me. Even seeing the local Blockbuster going belly up made me sad--and I never LIKED going there.
A lot of businesses are going under here, too. And I have noticed that farmers are tearing down all their old sheds, old houses they used to rent out. Cutting their property tax is the reason. They cannot make in rent what the taxes are for houses on farmland. And they have to pay taxes on the old barns that aren't used for much. I knew a fellow who worked at a project to try to preserve the old barns as part of our heritage, and so am extra aware when ones go down. Sad.
My husband's uncle took lots of pictures (professional quality) of old barns because he knew they were becoming obsolete. His wife is going to put them in one of those self made books and I can't wait to buy a copy. They are beautiful. I want to enlarge one and have it hanging on my wall. It is sad to see so much ending...so I shall try and focus on the new beginnings.
Terri, there is an octagonal "barn" (actually a shed) here in town. The history is that the builder just really loved geometry and wanted the challenge of making all those angles. It is a great example of how the intellectually gifted can adapt their skills to a lifestyle that isn't intellectual!
Petra X wrote: "Support isn't only buying books. Its going in to chat, looking at books, talking books. I don't know about other indie bookshops but I like customers who become friends from a mutual love of books ..."You sound like the lady who runs the bookshop I've been going to. She's gotten to be a friend and sometimes I just stop in to say hi. I was in there today, but did make a purchase for our next memoir book club. Do you run any book clubs out of your store? She has 4 different ones going for adults and one for kids and they are all popular. There's general fiction, mystery, memoir and fantasy for the adults. She also sponsors two writers' group and has someone else lead those and she only leads the memoir group.
Terri wrote: "Cheryl: That's so sad to hear about all your store closings. I was afraid that would happen here when we got a Wal-Mart and some of the small shops have closed--but all the noes I frequent have r..."Here's the kicker---we are getting a Wal-Mart in about 2 yrs. They're breaking ground in the spring. I think it will be the end for a few other businesses around town. I like living here because of the small town atmosphere and I think it's slowly going away.
Terri wrote: "My husband's uncle took lots of pictures (professional quality) of old barns because he knew they were becoming obsolete. His wife is going to put them in one of those self made books and I can't ..."If this book gets published I would like to get a copy. I have a friend who loves old barns and will drive out of her way to go by one.
Miriam wrote: "Terri, there is an octagonal "barn" (actually a shed) here in town. The history is that the builder just really loved geometry and wanted the challenge of making all those angles. It is a great exa..."I recently saw a segment on TV about a town here in Minnsota where it has become a fad to have large quilt patterns painted on barns. I think this is an old custom that is being renewed. Someday I might just have to take a jaunt and view them for myself.
I won't buy an e-reader of any kind. I much prefer actual books, period!
Miriam: Interesting tidbit on the octagonal barn.Cheryl: I'll let you know when it's available. He died in May and then they held a memorial a few months later. It was unexpected so she's still very much in the grieving process. I'm hoping she is able to do it by the end of the year (2012). She's in her late 60's so I worry about her too. She does have three grown children, however, and I know they will be involved in choosing the pictures for it so at least I know it will get done eventually. Anyway, I'll let you know whenever it happens.
In Burbank, California (you know where they tape Jay Leno? It's the headquarters for NBC and Disney Studios as well as Warner Brothers) they finally caved and approved the building of a Wal-Mart in town. There's plenty of grumbling going on over that one, let me tell you. I really thought they'd NEVER let one in. They have lot's of small businesses as well as a small mall with a Penney's, Macy's and Sears. They also have a wonderful Barnes and Noble store. We'll see who survives.Wally World has become a four letter word in America.
Cheryl, in my county, Washington County, Iowa, there are many barns with quilts painted on them. There is an "official" map of all of the ones on main roads, but there are many others not on the map. I have not yet seem MY favorite ones - Sunbonnet Sue and Farmer Boy- so debated putting them on my shed. But then a friend gave me swinging sunbonnet sue and farmer boy (to hang from shepherd hooks) so I went with them.
There are sites online and even blogs dedicated to quilt barns! I haven't travelled any place where there are any but I do love seeing the barns in PA with the Pennsylvania Dutch hex signs on them!
Terri wrote: "Miriam: Interesting tidbit on the octagonal barn.Cheryl: I'll let you know when it's available. He died in May and then they held a memorial a few months later. It was unexpected so she's sti..."
thanks! I had lunch with the friend I would give it to today and it was hard not to blab about this book, but I managed.
Terri wrote: "In Burbank, California (you know where they tape Jay Leno? It's the headquarters for NBC and Disney Studios as well as Warner Brothers) they finally caved and approved the building of a Wal-Mart in..."I don't know why, but I've always loved Target and been not so enthused with WM. I used to have a Target fairly close, but they closed it and built a SuperTarget 10 miles farther away. It's still within easy striking distance, but was much more convenient before.
Miriam wrote: "Cheryl, in my county, Washington County, Iowa, there are many barns with quilts painted on them. There is an "official" map of all of the ones on main roads, but there are many others not on the ma..."I think this custom is quite popular in other ares of the country but this was the first time I had heard about it in Minnesota. I think the barns here are around Hermantown.
I'm not a big Wal-Mart shopper but I do shop at Target--a lot! Love Target.
Gardener's Group
Books mentioned in this topic
Arguably: Selected Essays (other topics)War (other topics)
Arguably: Selected Essays (other topics)
War (other topics)
Arguably: Selected Essays (other topics)
More...
So far mine were:
The Help
Where the Heart Is
The Rock Orchard: A Novel
Blackbird House
Miracle On I-40