Mount TBR Reading Challenge 2012 discussion

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Level 2: Mt. Vancouver > GeeVee's 2012 Challenge

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message 1: by Geevee (last edited Dec 30, 2012 12:37PM) (new)

Geevee Here's my list and a good climb although I missed the target by a whisker - caused by having taken the wrong path many times reading books from libraries or ones published during 2012.

1. The Exploration of Mars: Searching for the Cosmic Origins of Life by Piers Bizony,
2. Streets Paved with Gold - the Story of the London City Mission by Irene Howat,
3. Joseph Goebbels Life and Death by Toby Thacker,
4. The Twilight Years (aka The Morbid Age) by Richard Overy,
5. The Black Death by Philip Ziegler,
6. The Popes: A History by John Julius Norwich,
7. Harold Larwood by Duncan Hamilton,
8. Mr Briggs' Hat: The True Story of a Victorian Railway Murder by Kate Colquhoun
9. Wildfire Loose: The Week Maine Burned by Joyce Butler
10. In the Shadow of Arnhem by Ken Tout
11. The Quiet Canadian - The Secret Service Story of Sir William Stephenson by H. Montgomery Hyde
12. Wavell: Portrait of a soldier by Bernard Fergusson
13. Broadmoor Revealed: Victorian Crime and the Lunatic Asylum by Mark Stevens
14. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
15. England's Dreaming: The "Sex Pistols" and Punk Rock
16: Spitfire - Portrait of a Legend by Leo McKinstry
17. All Hell Let Loose by Sir Max Hastings
18. An Onlooker in France 1917-19 by Sir William Orpen
19. Hattie: The Authorised bigography of Hattie Jacques
20. Edward II by Seymour Phillips
21. Red Moon Rising: Sputnik and the Rivalries That Ignited the Space Age by Matthew Brzezinski
22. To the Last Round by Andrew Salmon
23. 1938 Hitler's Gamble by Giles MacDonagh

Currently Reading


message 2: by Geevee (new)

Geevee Have been reading The Lost World by Conan Doyle since November and finished yesterday (it's my infrequent commute read) - I Haven't added it as I assume it would be outside the challenge as it was started last year, but would recommend if you have it on your TBR.

I think I may change a couple of titles on my list too as I have about 10 Antonia Fraser ones to read and think the Gunpowder Plot, Mary QoS or Charles II might come off the subs bench.


message 3: by [deleted user] (last edited Feb 17, 2012 02:18PM) (new)

I read that a while back and loved it. It was a "mass read" commemorating the 150th anniversary of the birth of Conan Doyle, and the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, no less! There was a neat website and links and I'll see if I can find the info.

Here's my review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

The Lost World: http://www.lostworldread.com/


message 4: by Geevee (new)

Geevee Hayes wrote: "I read that a while back and loved it. It was a "mass read" commemorating the 150th anniversary of the birth of Conan Doyle, and the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, no less! There..."

Thanks Hayes for the link which it looks really good. One for the kids too.


message 5: by Geevee (new)

Geevee I've gone back through (some) of my TBR mountain and thought I should add at least one fiction title, so after much deliberation it's the one Sharon Penman book I have, The Sunne in Splendour, that has been languishing on the old pile for years.

For those interested it has displaced Hero: Life and Legend of Lawrence of Arabia by Michael Korda, which is a newly published book from last year.


message 6: by Misfit (new)

Misfit | 198 comments Geevee, I'm impressed. I can barely get through one or two NF books in a year.


message 7: by Geevee (new)

Geevee Don't be it's merely that my TBR is fuelled through my adiction for buying new and second-hand books on stuff I find interesting. I do like fiction but don't have enough time to read it as I firefight the ever growing mountain of non-fiction.


message 8: by Misfit (new)

Misfit | 198 comments The most dangerous used book store ever, http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/10...


message 9: by [deleted user] (new)

and so close to where you live....


message 10: by Misfit (new)

Misfit | 198 comments You ladies should have seen it when Michele and I wandered in there for the first time. Multiple copies of the Angelique books just laying around. Roberta Gellis' Roselynde books. HTF Jean Plaidys. A whole shelf of plantation porn. Oh my.

Lots of really really old stuff too, like old Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys. Ancient Flashman books under the glass display.


message 11: by Geevee (new)

Geevee Misfit wrote: "The most dangerous used book store ever, http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/10..."

Wow what a place - I could happily live in there. I like the ordered and well kept shelves too but luckily there are a few thousand miles from me and that place, although next time we visit the US and we get up to WA I shall be going there :)


message 12: by Misfit (new)

Misfit | 198 comments It's a very cool place to go. Prices aren't dirt cheap, except for the rare finds like Angelique.


message 13: by Geevee (new)

Geevee Just finished The Black Death by Philip Ziegler by Philip Ziegler. Enjoyed it, review written and now on to the next...


message 14: by Karen· (new)

Karen· (kmoll) So is that five? You're getting there.


message 15: by Geevee (new)

Geevee Aye 5 down but I'll need to read some library books too so this will slow me down.


message 16: by Dawn (& Ron) (new)

Dawn (& Ron) (furryreaders) | 456 comments Geevee, quite an impressive list and start. And Sunne in Splendour as your fiction read is a great pick.

Misfit, isn't it hard enough for all of us that you have the best library system? Now we learn you have this fab UBS near you which had multiple copies of the Angelique books. How much more book envy can we endure?!


message 17: by Misfit (new)

Misfit | 198 comments Hah! That's about as high as it could get in the UBS department.


message 18: by Geevee (new)

Geevee I know many people are outside the UK but I thought these might interest you if ever you're passing (!):

The Independent newspaper's 50 top indie bookshops
http://www.independent.co.uk/extras/i...

Hatchards who've been around since 1797 and have a Royal Warrant meaning they supply HM The Queen http://www.hatchards.co.uk/

Hay on Wye, which is a little town with over 30 bookshops http://www.hay-on-wye.co.uk/bookshops...


message 19: by Dawn (& Ron) (new)

Dawn (& Ron) (furryreaders) | 456 comments Geevee, Hay on Wye is a place we said we would have to visit if we ever made it across the pond. I discovered an article on it over a decade ago, think about it 30 book stores in one quaint little town. Sounds like book bliss. Have you ever been there?


message 20: by Marialyce (new)

Marialyce Well, Geevee, I can honestly say that I have not heard of one book on your list! Good luck with your quest!


message 21: by Geevee (new)

Geevee Dawn (& Ron) wrote: "Geevee, Hay on Wye is a place we said we would have to visit if we ever made it across the pond. I discovered an article on it over a decade ago, think about it 30 book stores in one quaint little ..."

Hi Dawn and Ron - yes and its great in lovely countryside. Charing Cross Road in London was also a great place with lots of bookshops, but that's has changed a lot over the last 10-20 years or so as the independents have moved out and/or closed up (high rents and the rise of the internet I guess).


message 22: by Geevee (new)

Geevee Marialyce wrote: "Well, Geevee, I can honestly say that I have not heard of one book on your list! Good luck with your quest!"

Yeah most are non-fiction and whilst some are "popular" in the history/politics sections most people's reaction is probably similar to you - my mates all think I'm an anorak (British slang for very strong interest in niche subjects).


message 23: by [deleted user] (new)

I just read 84, Charing Cross Road in December. What a lovely idea, having a bookshop staff at your beck and call, finding you first editions of books, holding things back that might interest you. Those days are truly gone.


message 24: by Geevee (new)

Geevee Jeanette you have succeeded in increasing my TBR - I read your review of 84, Charing Cross Road too - thank you.

I'd always loved the idea of running a bookshop where there were tons of rare copies and first editions plus new books arrived every day, and customers were interspersed with long periods of quiet to allow me to read, read and read some more.


message 25: by [deleted user] (new)

After seeing your "like", I re-read all the comments under my review, and they made me smile. I think you'll enjoy the book. And, your idea of running a bookshop is perfect!


message 26: by Geevee (new)

Geevee Jeannette wrote: "After seeing your "like", I re-read all the comments under my review, and they made me smile. I think you'll enjoy the book. And, your idea of running a bookshop is perfect!"

Suspect it wouldn't pay the bills though!


message 27: by [deleted user] (new)

Well, you could add independently wealthy to your fantasy scenario. ;->

Wouldn't it be nice to have a wealthy old aunt somewhere who bequeaths you a fortune? I think I read too many novels....


message 28: by Hannah (last edited Feb 24, 2012 03:45PM) (new)

Hannah (hannahr) Jeannette wrote: "Wouldn't it be nice to have a wealthy old aunt somewhere who bequeaths you a fortune? I think I read too many novels...."

I'd settle for a bequeathment of an old English cottage with a sexy ghost...sigh

:D


message 29: by [deleted user] (new)

Any sexy ghost in particular?


message 30: by Misfit (new)

Misfit | 198 comments Can't speak for Hannah, but here's the ghost that I'd pick,




message 31: by [deleted user] (new)

Me, too!! *sigh*


message 32: by Hannah (new)

Hannah (hannahr) Ahhh, Rex Harrison. Yes, he'd do nicely. That's when male actors looked like men. Great movie. Book, not so much...


I wonder whatever happened to the prop. portrait of him for the movie? Would love to own it :D


message 33: by Hannah (new)

Hannah (hannahr) Jeannette wrote: "Any sexy ghost in particular?"

Not really, but Misfit pulled out a good one!


message 34: by [deleted user] (new)

I agree!


message 35: by Misfit (new)

Misfit | 198 comments Hannah wrote: "Ahhh, Rex Harrison. Yes, he'd do nicely. That's when male actors looked like men. Great movie. Book, not so much...


I wonder whatever happened to the prop. portrait of him for the movie? ..."


I couldn't make it past chapter one of the book, but oh that movie...


message 36: by Kim (new)

Kim (kimmr) When I was a kiddie I was a bit in love with the television incarnation of that particular ghost.

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message 37: by [deleted user] (new)

Oh, me too, Kim. Loved that show as a young thing!


message 38: by Geevee (new)

Geevee I'm all for the elderly aunt bequething me that fortune and I'm sure an ad in the local paper - nothing so modern as the internet please! - would see me able to find a suitable housekeeper/librarian in the image of Gene Tierney, Hedy Lamarr or Jane Russell :)


message 39: by [deleted user] (new)

There you go... think big!!


message 40: by [deleted user] (new)

Was that an unintentional pun, Hayes? :P


message 41: by [deleted user] (new)

ummm... I guess so... what pun would that be?


message 42: by Misfit (new)

Misfit | 198 comments Kim wrote: "When I was a kiddie I was a bit in love with the television incarnation of that particular ghost.

"


Me too, that was one of my favorite series.


message 43: by [deleted user] (new)

Hayes wrote: "ummm... I guess so... what pun would that be?"

Sorry, I was being naughty this morning, remembering Jane Russell. *blush*


message 44: by [deleted user] (new)

ahhhh... naughty indeed. My mind never has those thoughts! (when you stop laughing, lemme know ;-P)


message 45: by [deleted user] (new)

I'll be back in an hour or so....... (I'm just showing my age.)


message 46: by Dawn (& Ron) (new)

Dawn (& Ron) (furryreaders) | 456 comments Misfit wrote: "Can't speak for Hannah, but here's the ghost that I'd pick,

"


Tara finally watched this movie, she was hesitant due to the supernatural elements. I kept telling her ask on GR, trust me this is a good one. Well now you can ask her, she loved it.

Geevee, can't go wrong with your selections. I had a special fondness for Hedy since she lived nearby, plus her accomplishments as an inventor were impressive.

For handsome classic leading men I'd pick Cary Grant, Errol Flynn and Tyrone Powers for starters.


message 47: by Geevee (new)

Geevee Aside from her looks - the world's most beautiful woman - and acting talent it is fascinating to know her invention played a role in World War Two, the Cold War and modern military communications; plus it underpins technology that cellular/smart phones use.

I think its that mix of Hollywood glamour and brilliance that makes Howard Hughes interesting for me too.


message 48: by Geevee (new)

Geevee Another base camp made as I finished The Popes A History by John Julius Norwich by John Julius Norwich John Julius Norwich.

Review here if anyone would like to read my thoughts: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Well stock up on the food, pack the tent up and on up the mountain...


message 49: by [deleted user] (new)

Well done! I will read your review tomorrow. It's late and I am off to bed.


message 50: by Dawn (& Ron) (new)

Dawn (& Ron) (furryreaders) | 456 comments I find Hughes fascinating too.

I admit I'm a classic Hollywood junkie, I'd rather see a classic than a new film most of the time.

Your review and reading of The Popes reminds me that I saw Pope Joan recently. Anyone else see that?


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