April 21st Toppler Reporting Thread

[Almeta]

On My Mark!

[Kat]

Well no snacking yet because I just had my lunch (at 3:30pm, I KNOW!).

I'll be starting with Four Freedoms in about, oh, 30 seconds :-D

[Sam]

I've got the kettle on ready for the first cuppa (first of many I'm sure) and I'm starting with For Whom The Bell Tolls.

I'm yet to start snacking as I had a rather large lunch of two cheeseburgers (homemade) and chips (I cheated and used frozen ones)!

[Kat]

Sam wrote: "I've got the kettle on ready for the first cuppa (first of many I'm sure) and I'm starting with For Whom The Bell Tolls.

I'm yet to start snacking as I had a rather large lunch of two cheeseburger..."

:-O ! I almost chose For Whom the Bell Tolls as my second book!

[Sam]

Kat wrote: "Sam wrote: "I've got the kettle on ready for the first cuppa (first of many I'm sure) and I'm starting with For Whom The Bell Tolls.

I'm yet to start snacking as I had a rather large lunch of two ..."

Wow, great minds almost thinking alike ;-) so what did you choose for your second book?

[Kat]

Almost! The reason I decided no was I think it's a teeny bit too long for this 'event'!

Instead my second book will be Of Mice and Men - I've never read a Steinbeck *hangs head in shame*

[Kat]

Judy wrote: "I'm starting off with The Postmistress in e-book format. I've never read an e-book before. I have carrot sticks, apple slices and lots of tea ready for snacks.

Sam and Kat, its good to hear your ..."

I picked up The Postmistress a few weeks ago, I'll be very interested to read your thoughts!

[Mikki]

Kat wrote: "Almost! The reason I decided no was I think it's a teeny bit too long for this 'event'!

Instead my second book will be Of Mice and Men - I've never read a Steinbeck *hangs head in shame*"

YAY! We may have a new Steinbeck fan on our hands, Judy!

[Sam]

Kat wrote: "Almost! The reason I decided no was I think it's a teeny bit too long for this 'event'!

Instead my second book will be Of Mice and Men - I've never read a Steinbeck *hangs head in shame*"

Yup I'm tea-ed up and ready for a 24 hour reading sess, despite how insane my friends think I am!

Just wait Kat, you'll love them. I only discussed Steinback the last year or so and am now trying to catch up, so don't worry your not alone :-)

[Mikki]

Just having my coffee and deciding which novella to start with--there are thirteen gathered on my bed! :)

[Sam]

I'm definitely a hardened black tea drinker I'm afraid, I'll have a green tea occasionally and I do have an orange and spice tea I'm fond of but for this it's got to be the full leaded black tea in an extremely large mug and as strong as I can make it!

What about you Judy?

[Mikki]

Yes, it is great and Agathe will be reading today too! She's finishing up When the Devil Holds the Candle and then will begin I am No One You Know! Hahaha, too fun?

[Sam]

Judy wrote: "(chuckle)I had you pegged as a high octane tea drinker, Sam. I'll drink about any tea, but lean towards the herbals especially those with licorice."

*sniggering* I don't know what you mean Judy ;-) I've tried a few different herbals but I think I've got a slight caffeine addiction so they're never as satisfying.

[Almeta]

Reading every Donald E. Westlake in my home library, so that I can donate them to someone else.

Of course I'll be lucky to knock off two during this Toppler. I'm not that speedy of a reader!

[Janice, Moderator]

Good morning! *yawning and stretching*. I'm just finishing up my tea and catching up on Goodreads. I'm still in my jammies and about to curl up on the couch with The Stonor Eagles.

I went shopping last night and must have been hungry! I bought all sorts of things - grapefruit in cups, tortilla chips (no microwave to melt cheese so may have to do them in the oven), to name a couple. I still have Easter eggs to munch on and left over popcorn from the movie the other night.

A bit later on, I'll head over to the library. (Oh, and Judy - no worries, I knew the Toppler was today, not yesterday.)

I'll be back with a progress report in a bit.

[Kat]

Four Freedoms is interesting so far - it started with some history of aviation (and pointed out the fact that most pioneers of aviation were brothers, which I would never have connected in my head!), and now how factories with their own communities were created during WWII.

[Sam]

My reading of For Whom The Bell Tolls is going well so far, although little has actually happened I'm getting rather engrossed in the story unfolding.

[Sue]

Well, I woke up a few minutes after 10 and now I'm going to have breakfast. I've decided to read for volume, I think. Always open to change. I found a book of Eudora Welty stories published in 1962 I must have bought some time in the early 1970s so that would be my oldest if I read it.

I'll probably start very soon. Cinnamon toast about to be consumed!

[Tajma]

Good luck guys!!! I'm absolutely green with envy as I depart for RI. I'll check on you all later...

[Mikki]

Sue wrote: "Well, I woke up a few minutes after 10 and now I'm going to have breakfast. I've decided to read for volume, I think. Always open to change. I found a book of Eudora Welty stories published in 1962..."

Which book, Sue? The Collected Stories?

[Cheryl]

Ok I've read the afterward and the last two stories in my short story collection The Bradbury Chronicles: stories in Honor of Ray Bradbury. The only thing I could come up with for Wild Goose was reading an anthology backwards - I've never done that before. I've had an energy bar but cinnamon toast sounds *so* good I might have a second breakfast... ;)

[Kat]

The Wild Goose has me stumped. I already read e-books and I've read in every room of the house, can't go outside because it's raining and will be dark soon, erm....

[Sam]

I've given up on the Wild Goose too since I read e-books as well as proper books and have read pretty much everywhere I've ever been. The only option I could come up with was to read hanging upsidedown from the ceiling and that's not really the practical idea!

[Kimberly]

Morning Folks, I just woke up (it's 12:15 pm here) so I'm going to make breakfast while my kindle charges. I'm going to start by reading A Dixie Christmas by Sandra Hill

[Kat]

Hey sleepyhead, good to see you ;)

Can I have a coffee please - white with two :-D

[Kimberly]

Judy - It's Saturday so a bagle with melted chedder cheese, as it's family tradition to eat bagles every saturday. Not sure why but it's never changed :)

Kat - Comin' right up :)

[jaxnsmom]

Just getting started. Checked in with other GR groups, did a little mental wake-up on sporcle.com and now I'm ready. I'm going to start The Mistress of Spices.

[Sue]

Mikki wrote: "Sue wrote: "Well, I woke up a few minutes after 10 and now I'm going to have breakfast. I've decided to read for volume, I think. Always open to change. I found a book of Eudora Welty stories publi..."

It's actually titled Selected Stories of Eudora Welty: A Curtain of Green And Other Stories / The Wide Net and Other Stories. The paper is incredibly thin and it's a Modern Library edition, so I think this was a budget edition back then. I have some Faulkner books put out by them too.

[Janice, Moderator]

Bagel Saturdays? That makes me want to head over to Tim Hortons for blueberry bagel, toasted, with butter. Yum!

I'm taking a wee break from the eagles and having some crushed pineapple and yoghurt.

There are things I like about The Stonor Eagles. Horwood writes very poetically. But so far, it's a bit of a snoozer. Hopefully, it will pick up as I get more into the story.

[Janice, Moderator]

Kat wrote: "Hey sleepyhead, good to see you ;)

Can I have a coffee please - white with two :-D"

Here, they call that a "double double".

[Sue]

I just finished my first book. Have to admit it was very short, only 41 pages, and alternate pages were in Spanish. Love: Ten Poems by Pablo Neruda. This has been on my TBR since the beginning.

[Kimberly]

Good Morning jaxnsmom :)

Yay for finishing your first book Sue :)

[Mikki]

Sue wrote: "I just finished my first book. Have to admit it was very short, only 41 pages, and alternate pages were in Spanish. Love: Ten Poems by Pablo Neruda. This has been on my TBR since the beginning."

Oh, poems from one of my favorite movies -- Il Postino! Sounds great.

Okay, I'm about to begin The Murderess. Talk to you in a bit. Cinnamon toasted bagel w/creame cheese and a bowl of sliced cantalope.

[Kat]

I'm nearly 1/3 of the way through Four Freedoms now. I feel like I'm reading more slowly than normal, but I think the print version of this book must be one of those teeny tiny font books!

Pondering a snack....

[Sam]

I'm still working through For Whom The Bell Tolls while watching Beetlejuice and have started snacking on my large bag of milkybar buttons left over from Easter and of course I' still drinking tea!

[Kat]

:O Milkybar buttons! Throw me a handful? ;)

[Sam]

Kat wrote: ":O Milkybar buttons! Throw me a handful? ;)"

Throwing them over now ;-)

[Kimberly]

Off to read my first book :) See you all in a bit.

[Kat]

Sam wrote: "Kat wrote: ":O Milkybar buttons! Throw me a handful? ;)"

Throwing them over now ;-)"

Yum, thanks!

Maybe I should have my dinner soon, might give me more sustenance (although far less enjoyment) than chocolate...hmmmm...

[Kat]

There must be some serious reading going on :) I'll be a bit slower for the next hour or so while I'm watching The Voice. It's the only TV I watch!

[jaxnsmom]

Judy wrote: "Mornin' jaxnsmom, your book sounds spicy. What did you have for breakfast/snack?"

Just finished a bagel with cream cheese for my breakfast. Now a banana.

Enjoying my book so far. I might have to go get some Indian food later :D Although her spices aren't used for seasoning food, more for helping with mental and physical healing, wishes and dreams, curatives for troubled souls.

I have a question. For any of the badges, can we read two, or more, books that total at least 300 pages? Or are any of them limited to one book of 300 pages?

[Sue]

I told you I was going for volume and things I've had for ages. I just read Griffin & Sabine Trilogy - Box Set, which has been on my book shelf for years. How did I let it wait for so long? The pages of the books aren't numbered so I can't say off hand how long this was, but it was so good.

[jaxnsmom]

Sam wrote: "I'm still working through For Whom The Bell Tolls while watching Beetlejuice and have started snacking on my large bag of milkybar buttons left over from Easter and of course I' still drinking tea!"

What are milkybar buttons?

[Kimberly]

The book I'm reading is really dull I'm only 21% pages in to it and it's only 140 pages long. I'm going to stick it out though.

[Mintymedley]

I just got home from the Multiple Sclerosis Charity Walk. We had perfect weather out there. It was raining just as I left but cleared up before the walk began. I pressed play on A Room with a View just as I walked over the starting line and walked with Lucy around Florence for an hour. Olive Garden catered lunch at the end of the 3-4 miles. I am home now and intent on cleaning out my closet. The story continues :D

[Sam]

jaxnsmom wrote: "Sam wrote: "I'm still working through For Whom The Bell Tolls while watching Beetlejuice and have started snacking on my large bag of milkybar buttons left over from Easter and of course I' still d..."

They are white chocolate buttons based on a childrens chocolate bar, rather nice to snack on while reading :-)

[Janice, Moderator]

I'm about 1/6th into The Stonor Eagles. The GR's write-up says 700 pages long, but the edition I have is 555 pages long. Mind you it's a hardcover with relatively small print. I've read 87 pages.

I'm starting to really enjoy this book. I was unsure during my last break.

I'm going to take a shower, make a couple phone calls, and then head to the library. I'll be back in a while.

[Pragya]

Kat wrote: "Almost! The reason I decided no was I think it's a teeny bit too long for this 'event'!

Instead my second book will be Of Mice and Men - I've never read a Steinbeck *hangs head in shame*"

That's a really good one and surprisingly short. I read it for the Classics Toppler. Glad to see you are picking it up.

[Pragya]

jaxnsmom wrote: "Just getting started. Checked in with other GR groups, did a little mental wake-up on sporcle.com and now I'm ready. I'm going to start The Mistress of Spices."

Ooh, I really liked the movie. Hope the book's as good.

[Pragya]

Hey everyone. I am late because I was finishing up a book for a scheduled review at my blog. I hate to get into this so late.

And I am already sleepy. :( It's 12:20 am here. I hope to get started with my reading soon. I know I thought of two books to read. But right now, I am not in the mood for both, so I will search some more and make myself some green tea. Be back soon.