January Reading

It started a couple of years ago as a New Year's Resolution to keep track of the books I read each month. Last year, I read 256 books, so here I am again in 2014 with a list of the books I read each month and hopefully I can do better. And as a twist, I am going to revisit an old favorite each month. Those books that I read over and over again as a teen. My paperback copies are dog-earred and falling apart, but I have not read them in years. I wonder if they are as wonderful as I remember....So each month, I will have a "classic" book that I read as a teen. My "Flashback" books.  The list includes:  The Thorn Birds, An American Tragedy, Scruples, Where the Red Fern Grows, Lace,  East of Eden, The Stand, Howard's End, Mutiny on the Bounty,Valley of the Dolls,  Cheaper by the Dozen and the Autobiography of Agatha Christie.  If you subscribe to my posts, they will come directly to your email inbox --just enter your email address into the box on the right hand side of the screen. And now for the books:

Here I am on a sailboat during college, (notice the UNC gym shorts, I wonder what ever happened to those) Of course, I would sit and read while everyone else worked. Got my "material girl" vibe going too, sunglasses and scarf tying back my hair


Far from the Tree by Andrew Solomon (library) very interesting about parents who have children who are different from them....deaf, gay, etc
Writing Life: L. M. Montgomery by Mary Rubio and Elizabeth Waterston  A biography of the author of Anne of Green Gables
American Eve by Paula Uruburu (library) The story of Evelyn Nesbit and the Murder of Stanford White. Nesbit was basically the first supermodel, the "It Girl" of 1902/1903. Her husband was convicted of murdering famous architect Stanford White. Very interesting story.
Schroder by Amity Gaige (library) about a father who abducts his daughter
Winkie by Clifford Chase (library) this has to be one of the craziest books I have read in a while. It is about a teddy bear who is arrested for terrorist activities. Seriously! That synopsis is why Ryan and I even checked it out from the library, we just had to see what the heck was going on. It's okay. Was expecting it to be funnier....
Among the Shadows by L. M. Montgomery creepy stories from the Anne of Green Gables author and you thought she was all sweetness and light
Tripwire by Lee Child another Jack Reacher novel
When You Were Here by Daisy Whitney (library)  a boy deals with the death of his mother
Sex and Violence by Carrie Mesrobian (library) quite enjoyed it, much better than When You Were Here and some of the same issues addressed...
The Dinner by Herman Koch (library) weird, but if you like weird, you'll like it. I did
This month's Flashback book is The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough Yeah, it holds up. My name and the date 1985 are inside the front cover. I just love a big sprawling saga
Never Go Back by Lee Child (library) the most recent....not the best, just okay
Poplorica by Martin J. Smith (library) Fun pop culture trivia
Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman reading it before seeing the tv show...enjoyed the book, I recommend it
Just One Evil Act by Elizabeth George (library via Nook) first really big book I have read all the way through on the Nook. I think it took me longer to read via Nook than it would have if I had the real book, but I was number 100+ in line to get the real book and the e-version came up within days
Wahoo Rhapsody by Shaun Morey (library) read on vacation in Los Cabos and it is set in Los Cabos...fun very much like Carl Hiassen's Florida books
Dark Light by Randy Wayne White,  Florida mystery
Oops: 20 Life Lessons from the Fiascoes That Shaped America by Martin  J. Smith (library) like Poplorica fun trivia
The Enemy by Lee Child, yet another Jack Reacher, I think I only have two more to read...
The Good Nurse by Charles Graeber (library) true story of a nurse who was a serial killer
El Dorado Blues by Shaun Morey (library) another Los Cabos comic thriller I enjoyed these


21 books read

Monday's Postcard 2014: I'm on vacation and you're not!

Yes, I want to hear about your glamorous life!! Let me live vicariously through you....I get lots of postcards from places that I have never been to...YET Buenos Aires and Greece are still two of the many places on my "to do" list.

Monday's Postcard 2014: Wish You Were Here!

Postcards are an easy way to tell folks that you are thinking of them. Great for folks who usually only send out a card at Christmas or a  Birthday. The postcard can be a great surprise to get on an otherwise dreary day. I wish I was in The Bahamas or Orange County, CA on a wintery January day!!

Monday's Postcard 2014: You've got mail!!

It is so much fun to get mail, real mail!! Not junk mail :-) And a postcard is so easy to just pop into the mail, you barely have to write anything on the back. Just a wish you were here :-) From Up all Night in Las Vegas or Relaxing in Nantucket!!

Monday's Postcard 2014 Thank You!!

I don't just collect old postcards from antique malls, I buy them to send and I receive them too. This year I am going to post a bunch of postcards that I have received from my friends and family from all over the world. Thanks to all of you, I have a very extensive postcard collection. I love getting mail. These cards are from letterboxing friends, one is from a gathering in Grass Valley, CA that I had to miss and another is from a friend who planted a box in Moosejaw, Canada!! How cool is that??!!

December Reading

  It started a couple of years ago as a New Year's Resolution to keep track of the books I read each month. So here I am again in 2013 with a list of the books I read each month. If you subscribe to my posts, they will come directly to your email inbox --just enter your email address into the box on the right hand side of the screen. And now for the books:


Books I read in December

Rainbow Valley by L. M. Montgomery Now, I have read Anne of Green Gables probably 20 times or more and the first 3 books in the series a dozen times at least, but Rainbow Valley is number 7 and concerns Anne and Gilbert's children, so I have only read it once before. But the stories are cute and sweet, it is an extremely enjoyable escape
Nothing to Lose by Lee Child Jack Reacher in the middle of nowwhere, kicking butt
61 Hours by Lee Child I quite enjoyed this one
Rilla of Ingleside by L. M. Montgomery Now I don't remember reading this one as a kid. It concerns WWI and the Canadian involvement in that war. Downton Abbey fans might enjoy this one. The Canadian point of view of WWI had me riveted.
A Tap on the Window by Linwood Barclay (library) great thriller
W is for Wasted by Sue Grafton (library) homeless folks feature in this one
The Wild Duck Chase by Martin J. Smith (library) enjoyed this very much
The Custom of the Army by Diana Gabaldon (library ebook) this is a novella, and the first "book" that I have read all the way thru on an ebook, it's a Lord John Story. Liked the story, hated the ebook experience, but several authors now have books and such that are ONLY available in the ebook format. I almost want to just download them and print them out!! LOL
The Bookman's Tale by Charles Lovett (library) fun read, it has romance and mystery and Shakespeare
Die Trying by Lee Child finally gave up waiting for a library copy when I found this at a thrift store!!
Storm Front by John Sanford (library) fun and fast read, Virgil Flowers story
The Man of My Dreams by Curtis Sittenfeld great coming of age story
Being Henry David by Cal Armistead (library) a kid wakes up and the only clue to his identity is a copy of Walden.
How to Lead a Life of Crime by Kirsten Miller (library) Another YA story, this one was a fun, fast read
Looking for Anne of Green Gables by Irene Gammel (library) another ebook and I got frustrated because there were sections that I would like to photocopy...how do you do that with an ebook? This was about the writing of Anne of Green Gables. Where Ms. Montgomery got her ideas and what was going on in her life while she was writing the book. very very interesting

Only 15 books read this month (should give you an idea of how busy I was this month!!)