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HomeInMyShoes 2013 Challenge - A Year in the Life
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HomeInMyShoes
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Feb 17, 2013 12:20PM
Book number 13, Escape from Camp 14, was yesterday. Today is book number 14. Steven Galloway's Finnie Walsh. Both very good.
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Book number 15. Raising Your Spirited Child: A Guide for Parents Whose Child is More Intense, Sensitive, Perceptive, Persistent, and Energetic by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka. A good read with lots of good advice for lots of situations.
Homeinmyshoes wrote: "Book number 15. Raising Your Spirited Child: A Guide for Parents Whose Child is More Intense, Sensitive, Perceptive, Persistent, and Energetic by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka. A good read with lots of good..."That sounds great! I might need to read that if I decide to have kids.
It was good. It really is helpful for negotiation and transition issues.
Say bye bye to 1978, Ismail Kadare's Broken April. Interesting story, but I've read two Kadare books now and I'm always left a little flat. I feel like I should be enjoying them more. The writing is good, but maybe stiff.Anyway sixteen books down, twenty-eight to go and we're off to Thomas Bernhard now and 1983.
Part of me just wants to finish reading Laundry Files, Discworld, and Young Wizards. Am I just a closet series reader?
Heh. I can relate, which is part of the reason I went without a specific challenge this year. I was never much of a series reader until I got sucked into urban fantasy and dystopian stuff. Now I can divide my reading into two types - my series books, and stuff I read in between my series books.
I think I've done an admirable job of avoiding series and becoming more well-rounded in my reading. My dogged persistence will probably see me through to the end of this list, but I had already decided future lists would be in the 20-24 book range to give more time for non-in-between stuff. :)
Anyone else think the bookclub is making a mockery of Travel and Adventure by allowing [i]Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea[/i] win?Ugh is all I can say to the bookclub. So many fine titles that wins? I swore off Jules Verne after I read Around the World in 80 Days.
Homeinmyshoes wrote: "Anyone else think the bookclub is making a mockery of Travel and Adventure by allowing [i]Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea[/i] win?Ugh is all I can say to the bookclub. So many fine titles t..."
What a let-down! There are six non-fiction books nominated that I'd happily read (and Bryson isn't one of them). I expect I'll be passing next month--too many books I really do want to read.
I rarely even look at the book club noms anymore. On the occasions when there is a book I'd be interested in, either the timing is off for me, or it's something I've already read.
Also, I think part of my aversion is that I tried to get into being a part of that back when there was a lot of disagreement going on. It seemed like every little thing had to be fought about. (There's a book club / Fight Club joke in there somewhere, I just know it.)
Also, I think part of my aversion is that I tried to get into being a part of that back when there was a lot of disagreement going on. It seemed like every little thing had to be fought about. (There's a book club / Fight Club joke in there somewhere, I just know it.)
So much stuff to reply to, but I'll deal with this one at a time. I finished Thomas Bernhard's The Loser last night for book number 17. Stream of conscience. I sat down and read the first quarter non-stop. It was like a freight train. I loved it. Then it got repetitive, it finally finished up, but I got it. The repetition makes sense, but I think I was expecting so much after the first hour of reading. 3 stars.
The first rule of the book club is we don't talk about the book club...I'm with you Nancy, I'm somewhat interested in all but the Bryson and the Verne. I was disappointed my other nomination didn't make it, but whatever. I haven't included the club selections in my reading goals as my list is my reading list is just too long. I think I could commit to reading at least one of the nominations each month, but not the winners. Heck, I'm even reading a biography this year.
Nice to see my nomination coming in last place as usual.
Yeah, Christa we did go through a rough time, but things smoothed out a little. Now its more a handful of "strong" personalities butting heads. I have thought of leaving on more than one occasion, but I'm really wanting a way to motivate myself to read books outside of my comfort zone.
As to 20,000 League: I helped to nominate it, but didn't vote for it, in the end. I don't know what I'll end up doing in March. It'll depend on my mood, I guess.
Both of our first choices are in last place, HiMS.
^That's where I expected my nomination to be. I'm usually happy to get a book into the voting round. Then they usually finished last or second last. I think I had one finish second once. I was pretty excited about that.It's just about finding new books. Whether we read a selection or not is irrelevant in my opinion. We participate to learn something about a category. I wish we could read The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester for Science Fiction, but it will never happen (no e-book.)
I didn't support Theroux because I've read it and a book has to exceptional these days for me to reread. So many books, etc. I agree with you; the nominations are the most valuable part of the process; the selection is secondary. Just the same, I wish the selections weren't, generally speaking, so run of the mill. There's too much typical book club fare. I'd prefer more esoteric choices.
^I figured you had read Theroux. I don't read much travel at all, but this year I put Theroux and Chatwin on my list to read. Chatwin because I spent a month in Argentina (and a bit of Chile) almost a decade ago and wanted to relive some of the sights.I will continue nominating and following the clubs, but I usually only get around to about three reads each year.
In other news, my nomintation is now in last place. :)
Dang. Last night I ran out of required reading list books and started A Wizard Alone (Young Wizards 6) by Diane Duane. I love these books, but I need to get back to the list. Hopefully I haven't started something bad. :)
I'm back on track. Closing in on halfway through Stross's Rule 34. I love Stross. One of two just-for-fun writers (the other is Diane Duane) I found through MobileRead. I found Stross in the Science Fiction nominations from 2011. Completely hooked after the first paragraphs of Halting State and Rule 34 is just as entertaining.
On a more series note, I'm still looking for a published in 2013 book for my challenge. There's a few interesting options coming up in the wikipedia category entry for 2013 Novels.Any recommendations for 2013? I'm leaning towards Tao Lin's Taipei and J. M. Coetzee's The Childhood of Jesus. I know it is early, but I like to be proactive on my reading list.
As you are apparently feeling left out...
I'm feeling gassy today. (TMI?)
Now, your sandbox has officially been shat in. :D
I'm feeling gassy today. (TMI?)
Now, your sandbox has officially been shat in. :D
Thanks. I was feeling left out.Number 18. Charles Stross's Rule 34. I'm not sure if it's the Tim Tam's I ate or the book, but I'm feeling a little queasy. I love his writing and it was a very enjoyable book, if a little disturbing in places. Definitely creepier than Halting State. 4 stars with a maybe not for the squeamish warning.
Rule 34 sounds interesting. Added to my wishlist. A few others on your list are already in my TBR, battling for position with so many others... I'm certain that the day will never come when I can say, "Yes, I do have enough books."
^Halting State is the first book, but it's not necessary to read it first. They stand alone very well. Rule 34 is well, look up the definition of Rule 34. :)
Good to know HomeInMyShoes, because I looked up Spies and it sounds very interesting
Homeinmyshoes wrote: "I'm really enjoying Michael Frayn's Spies so far."It looks interesting... but I refuse to put anything else on my TBR list right now! In fact, I want to try to make it to summer before adding any new books (other than current series).
Joyce wrote: "Good to know HomeInMyShoes, because I looked up Spies and it sounds very interesting"It's getting better and better. It's like a grown up Hardy Boys.
Again, I'm going to ask if anyone has a published in 2013 recommendation?
Homeinmyshoes wrote: "Again, I'm going to ask if anyone has a published in 2013 recommendation?"Maybe you'll find recommendations here: Books coming in March over on MR?
How about changing 2007 into "the brief wondrous life of oscar wao" by Junot Diaz and pick the new Khaled Hosseini for 2013?
^I could probably find another 2007 book and do the new Hosseini title. I will have to look at that.I've been going by original publish date as opposed to paperback or other edition publish date for the years. I was hoping it would give a more accurate picture of what the years were like. Somehow reading Lolita for a year in the 2000's would just seem wrong to me, but that's what I was trying to avoid.
Thanks Nyssa. I have been browsing that thread a bit. I'm sure it will be easier to pick something in August when the usual schlock of 'summer reading' lists come out.
True True! Good Luck, either way! I'll drop a line if I see anything interesting.
If someone has a 2007 option, that would be good. I don't appear to have any backups for 2007 other than Organizing Information: From the Shelf to the Web which is sounded too work related.
Homeinmyshoes wrote: "If someone has a 2007 option, that would be good. I don't appear to have any backups for 2007 other than Organizing Information: From the Shelf to the Web which is sounded too work related."I have a suggestion, but, its a book I have not read as yet. It is on my "wishlist", though: Tunnels by Roderick Gordon.
Yes. I first saw it in the library at my eldest's school.
I think it looks interesting. I've also been tempted by Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos which looked very cute. Is it weird to read Crash, We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families : Stories from Rwanda, and things like this?
Weird? No, I don't think so. I guess it all depends on intent.
This does look like a fun read!
I have Crash on my TBR.
On second thought, *I* am not really a shining example of where to draw the "weird" line so I'll just quietly go.
:D
On second thought, *I* am not really a shining example of where to draw the "weird" line so I'll just quietly go.
:D
Christa wrote: "I have Crash on my TBR. On second thought, *I* am not really a shining example of where to draw the "weird" line so I'll just quietly go.
:D"
LOL!
Christa wrote: "I have Crash on my TBR. On second thought, *I* am not really a shining example of where to draw the "weird" line so I'll just quietly go.
:D"
Lol. It would be good to get at least one more weirdo in the bookclub at MobileRead. :)
Let me know how the first twenty pages goes in Crash. A friend of mine asked if I was going to continue after reading the first couple of pages.
Ha! I'm actually lurking over there in the hopes that I'll be sucked into MRBC. I may be interested in May. July - Sept might be good. Right now the October category poll is tied between Science (good) and selections from the PCML (eh, not really interested) so curious to see how that turns out.
I think I'm going to jump into crash as soon as I finish my current book. I'll let you know how it goes.
I think I'm going to jump into crash as soon as I finish my current book. I'll let you know how it goes.
Maybe I'll nominate Edgar Rice Burroughs A Princess of Mars if the PCML is the winning category.
I'll probably nominate something by Doctorow if it wins.
I also voted for science, but I am seriously hoping for mythology. I have always loved mythology, even though I have not read much.While the MR library is sentimentally appealing, as a US resident it could cause me more grief than good.
I would think that, if PCML is the winner, the people nominating the specific books should be responsible for the math to determine if it fits under Life+70 or Life+50, or placed in PD / CC by the author's choice (as is the case with Doctorow).
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