lindapanzo's bottom of the 5th inning

Hope you'll join me in discussion of books or whatever.

My first inning was at: http://www.librarything.com/topic/104700
My second inning was at: http://www.librarything.com/topic/108039
My top of the third inning was at: http://www.librarything.com/topic/110272
My bottom of the third inning was at: http://www.librarything.com/topic/113368
My top of the fourth inning was at: http://www.librarything.com/topic/116818
My bottom of the fourth inning was at:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/120036
My top of the fifth inning was at: http://www.librarything.com/topic/122689




BOOKS READ IN DECEMBER
138. Bachelor Brothers' Bed & Breakfast by Bill Richardson
139. Take Time for Paradise by A. Bartlett Giamatti
140. A Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas
141. Stitch in Snow by Anne McCaffrey
142. Pack of Two: The Intricate Bond Between People and Dogs by Caroline Knapp
143. Drinking: A Love Affair by Caroline Knapp
144. The Battle for Christmas by Stephen Nissenbaum
145. Pearl Harbor Christmas: A World at War, December 1941 by Stanley Weintraub
146. Wishin' and Hopin' by Wally Lamb
147. The Final Deduction by Rex Stout
148. Threadbare by Monica Ferris
149. General Sherman's Christmas by Stanley Weintraub
150. Train Dreams by Denis Johnson
151. The Man Who Invented Christmas by Les Standiford
152. A Team for America: The Army-Navy Game that Rallied a Nation by Randy Roberts
153. A Burial at Sea by Charles Finch

BOOKS READ IN NOVEMBER
120. Rutland Place by Anne Perry
121. Confederates in the Attic: Dispatches from the Unfinished Civil War by Tony Horwitz
122. The Pumpkin Muffin Murder by Livia J. Washburn
123. Bluegate Fields by Anne Perry
124. A Christmas Homecoming by Anne Perry
125. New York to Dallas by J.D. Robb
126. Sprinkle with Murder by Jenn McKinlay
127. A Brush with Death by Elizabeth J. Duncan
128. A Killer's Christmas in Wales by Elizabeth J. Duncan
129. Let's Take the Long Way Home by Gail Caldwell
130. The Gingerbread Bump-Off by Livia J. Washburn
131. Twelve Drummers Drumming by C.C. Benison
132. Murder Trims the Tree by Deb Baker
133. Sentenced to Death by Lorna Barrett
134. 29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life by Cami Walker
135. Christmas Mourning by Margaret Maron
136. Latte Trouble by Cleo Coyle
137. The Last Icon: Tom Seaver and His Times by Steven Travers

I never knew that novelist, Mona Simpson, was the sister of Steve Jobs.

After I finish 11 in 11, hopefully soon, I'd like to read one of her novels (probably Off Keck Road and also read the new Walter Isaacson bio of Jobs.

Wish I was as close to the finish line as you are, great job!

#3 The thing about nerly finishing 11 in 11 is that now I'm starting to rethink 12 in 12. Up til now, I've been happy with what I came up with.

Hi Linda, delurking to say that I didn't realize she was Steve Jobs sister either until I caught the bit about her delivering the eulogy at his funeral.

#5 At the end, he looked past his family and said:

oh wow, oh wow, oh wow

I'm always interesting in hearing about famous last words. These are certainly unforgettable.

#6 Makes you wonder what he saw, doesn't it?

#7 Sandy, it's kind of reassuring to me. I got chills when I heard this.

Yes, reassuring. Chills, certainly.

I guess I never gave any thought to a person's last words.

Yay, I won an ER book this month. I got another sports book (what else?), this one about basketball star, Jerry West. West by West: My Charmed, Tormented Life.

Really pleased to get this one.

The only negative is that it means that I didn't get Five Chiefs, the John Paul Stevens Supreme Court memoir. I'll have to go reserve that one at the library.

Found your new thread, Linda!

Glad you got a book you wanted! I won nothing again this month! I did finish and review the one that was from a few months back, but maybe it wasn't soon enough to show up, and I haven't received the one I won in August. I think I read somewhere that they count at the end of the previous month.

I have one more ER book in hand, a mystery. I still haven't gotten the baseball book from last month and, obviously, not the new basketball book either.

I didn't request anything so of course I was a loser...no not really, I wanted to be able to concentrate on finishing my 1111 so I didn't request anything. I'm still waiting for the book I won 2 months ago, is it me or are they coming slower then they used to?

#13 Not sure if it's because it's a smaller publisher or what. My Clark Griffith: The Old Fox of Washington Baseball book is from McFarland.

I used to get my ER books always within a week or two but it's been at least a month so far on that one.

I got the one I asked for - Five Chiefs by John Paul Stevens. I almost hope it doesn't come for another month or so - that way I can clear out the backlog. I'm currently on my July ER book Turning the Tide which came in audio. I usually really enjoy this format, but I had to get the book from the library to keep next to me while I listen. Lots of numbers that are actually almost irrelevant (they are used to designate different convoys crossing the Atlantic) that really slow down the audio flow. Also the author insists on describing each ship by its tonnage....while that would be a glaze over in print, it can become a speed bump in the listening world.

Still it's a good one---the story of the Allied Forces defeating the U-Boats in the Atlantic during WW II.

Book #120
Rutland Place by Anne Perry

This is #5 in the Charlotte & Thomas Pitt series. It's been awhile since I read one of the Pitt books but enjoyed this one and won't be a stranger.

In this one, trinkets are missing from the social circle of Charlotte's mother, who, herself, was missing a locket with an incriminating picture (oooh) in it. Charlotte and, eventually, her sister get involved in trying to ferret out the truth, even after one of the neighbors is murdered.

The plot was okay but I do like these characters and intend to read on.

Book #121
Confederates in the Attic: Dispatches from the Unfinished Civil War by Tony Horwitz
(4 stars)

A very entertaining book about non-confederates, hard-core reenactors, and othes for whom the Civil War has not yet ended. Sort of a real life look at the Civil War. They don't teach history like this in school.

Some parts were wild, even unbelievable, such as the minie ball pregnancy. The author really did his homework and interviewed all sorts of people, which really made this book work.

I'm glad I read it, even though I thought that more than a few of the people he talked to were just plain weird.

Linda, I'd say "just plain weird" is a pretty good assessment of some of the folks Horwitz talked to in that book!

I was extremely lucky with the ER program this month. I won the new Carol O'Connell book from the Mallory series, The Chalk Girl. It's one of my favorite series -- and one of the few series where I've read all the others, and have no catching up to do before reading the latest!

Love the discussion of Steve Jobs' last words. My paternal grandmother wasn't able to talk (due to a stroke) in the months leading up to her death. But my aunt said one morning Grandmom suddenly got an extremely happy look on her face as though she was seeing something wonderful, "like a kid in a candy store," my aunt described it. The nurse came in just then and said, "my, aren't we bright-eyed this morning!" and my aunt said, "yes, but I think she's stopped breathing!" And she had.

Linda- I'm glad you liked Confederates in the Attic. I was a big fan too and am looking forward to his latest, which really looks good. I have the Steve Jobs book saved on audio. Sadly, I have still not read any of Isaacson's books.

If you own a Kindle and have an Amazon Prime membership (I have both), this might be for you. Amazon is lending out Kindle books.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=tsm_1_fb_s_amzn_lu3dtb?docId=100073981...

Hey local folks (Mark, Laura, Joe), I (and maybe a couple of co-workers) are thinking of going to this next week. It's in the south central part of Lake County.

I'd like to hear Michael Harvey and Robert Goldsborough speak. If it's the same one, Goldsborough has done a few of the Nero Wolfe books.

Love is Murder Mini-Con
Saturday, November 12th, 2011, 2 to 4 PM
Vernon Area Public Library, 300 Olde Half Day Rd., Lincolnshire
To register call (847) 634-3650 or visit VAPLD.info
Featured authors are Raymond Benson, Michael Harvey, Jeffrey Small, and Robert Goldborough

Note: The Vernon Area Library event will be preceded by an Agatha Christie presentation with actress Betsy Means at 1 PM.

Sounds tempting, Linda - thanks for the info!

I thought Steve Jobs' last words were very interesting too. Just before my Grandmother lost her ability to talk and lapsed into a kind of coma, she asked me "Do you see those lights?". She was looking above my head. I turned to look and didn't see anything, so I told her that I didn't. "They're beautiful! You don't see them? Such a beautiful blue!" She had so much wonder and awe on her face, like she almost couldn't believe it. That was one of the last things she said, and that's when I knew for sure that she was on her last "journey". Stuff like that does make you wonder what they're seeing, doesn't it?

The sad thing is that you can only borrow one a month on that Kindle program. I'm sure that I'll do it some, but I really do wish that they were more generous on their borrowing limit, but then . . . they wouldn't be selling as many books . . . at least in theory. I'm too cheap to pay the price for a Kindle book if my library has it or if I can get it cheaper at a used bookstore. They won't really be losing much on me because most of the books I would use it for are titles that I'd probably get via Interlibrary Loan.

#23 There was one lendable book that sounded absolutely terrific. Just to be on the safe side, I checked my books read on LT and, not surprisingly, I've already read it. 1969: The Year Everything Changed by Rob Kirkpatrick. Oh well.

Book #122
The Pumpkin Muffin Murder by Livia J. Washburn

I like cozy mysteries, as you all know, and this is about as cozy as they come. Retired teacher, Phyllis, solves the case while baking muffins for a fall festival and preparing Thanksgiving dinner. Always lots of food talk, which makes me hungry.

It's set in Texas and involves current and retired teachers. A somewhat skimpy plot but characters I've grown to love--I think this is the fifth book in the Fresh-Baked series.

Sounds like a good series for me to check out for my Home Ec class next year.

>25 lindapanzo: Linda, I read one of the books in that series a year or two ago. The mystery plot was just OK, but I really liked the characters. They seemed like people I'd enjoy spending time with. I keep intending to read more books from that series, but I haven't managed to get around to it yet.

I agree with everyone. The plots are weak, but the characters are interesting in the Livia Washburn series.

I have read a couple of his (Isaacson's) books and I like his style, really kept me hooked. I have been listening to the Steve Jobs for about a week now, every available moment.. only a couple hours left and I have been hooked on this one too. I have been involved in the IT world for 20-25 years but always PC/windows until the iPod came along. I have really enjoyed this book a lot!

Not too impressed with this month's Early Reviewers selections. There are two I'm considering but I doubt I'd get picked for them.

One about the Volkswagen Beetle. The other about William Howard Taft coming back and running during the 2012 election.

I wasn't too thrilled with the options either. I requested 3, but none of them really excite me this month. I'd say everything I requested this time is what I would consider a 3rd tier choice.

I didn't see much on this month's ER list, either. I requested 4 I wouldn't mind reading, including the book about the VW Beetle. I guess I'm most interested in that one. My dad's first car was a VW Beetle and I've heard lots of stories about it. I don't think I'll be a great match for any of the books I requested, though.

Book #123 Bluegate Fields by Anne Perry

This sixth book in the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series is much darker than the others. Rather than Charlotte spending her time with her well-off family trying to solve a mystery, this one focuses on Thomas Pitt. More of a police procedural than the others.

In this one, a young, upperclass boy (age 16) is drowned in a bathtub and his body tossed into a sewer. So begins a look at late 19th century prostitution.

Chilling. Probably my favorite book in the series, so far.

I also was totally underwhelmed with this month's ER list....in fact, I'm giving myself a break and not requesting any. Maybe that will give me time to catch up with others waiting in the queue.

Ugh!! I'm reading (and enjoying) the latest Christmas novella from Anne Perry.

However, it features Charlotte Pitt and provides a whole bunch of series spoilers for someone like me who is only part way through the series (I think my next one is #7 out of 27 or so Pitt books).

>35 lindapanzo: That's disappointing, Linda! I was under the impression that the Christmas novellas were stand alone. I picked up 4 of them (in 2 volumes) a few days ago when I went to the bookstore to choose a nursery rhyme book for my granddaughter's 1st birthday (decided on the Mary Engelbreit).

I've read only a few of the Pitt mysteries, but quite a few of the earlier William Monk books, which I preferred. Maybe next year I'll get them sorted out and pick up on either or both of those series...

The only ER book that really interested me was the one about the Native American legends. A couple of years ago, I read one of the earliest written collections, and would be interested in seeing how they compare.

Ivy, I remember Great Aunt Vespasia being mentioned in one of the Christmas books but, yes, they are standalones, usually.

The book doesn't involve Charlotte (actually, Caroline) that much but she is on the scene as a theater troupe rehearses a production of Dracula, to be performed on Boxing Day. There's a heavy snow storm and it's really piling up.

Unfortunately, Perry lets slip several key um, shall we say, developments that must have occurred in books along the way. I think it takes place, chronologically, about 16 years after the book I finished yesterday. I'm trying to skip over those spoiler parts. Except for one, they are not essential to this story.

ETA: Oops. My mistake. This book actually involves Caroline, Charlotte's mother.

Also, I started the first Monk this year, or maybe last year, and didn't care for it. In 2012, I intend to give it another shot. Also to get started in Perry's World War 1 series.

When I was checking on the Christmas books on fantasicfiction, I saw that new series, and another one -- Tudor?

I think I still have a book or 2 to read in the Maisie Dobbs series, am planning to start the Bess Crawford series soon, and have scheduled the Sebastion Faulks trilogy for next year. That may be enough WW I for me in the near future...

Do you have your Christmas reading lined up? I'm planning to read (last year's) Margaret Maron and Joanne Fluke, plus another of Dickens' Christmas novellas, and now the 4 Anne Perry.

After I finish 11 in 11, hopefully by Friday, I plan to try to catch up on ER/net galley books but my main focus is to read a bunch of holiday books, particularly holiday mysteries.
'
I do hope to get to that Margaret Maron holiday mystery. Maybe a few of the Kate Kingsbury ones, as well. I've got a couple of new holiday mysteries up my sleeve as well.

Book #124
A Christmas Homecoming by Anne Perry

I enjoyed Anne Perry's newest annual Christmas novella, more than the other recent entries in this series.

This one features Caroline, the mother of Charlotte Pitt, and involves a theater troupe that is rehearsing a production of Dracula in an English home, with a theater, during the days leading up to Christmas. Great atmosphere as the players work out the staging etc and the snow piles up outside.

What I did not like were all the spoilers as to developments in the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series. I won't discuss those here or even hint at them, in case you're not that far along in the series either.

Well shoot.............I've enjoyed Anne Perry's fluffy Christmas novellas - just because they were stand-alones, didn't take much brain energy, and could be depended on to provide some good light reading during the busy christmas season. But...........I really have never warmed up to her Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series (I've read several) although I do love her Monk and Hester series. So I guess I'll pass this year's Christmas by. Thanks for the warning.

And the Margaret Maron Christmas mystery is terrific!!! You'll really enjoy it.

41 Doesn't seem smart, putting spoilers for the series in the "holiday special."

#43 I didn't think so either. Some would not even notice but I'm not that far into the series and hearing what happened many books into the series was a turn off for me. I tried to skip over those parts but couldn't do it.

Book #125
New York to Dallas by J.D. Robb

This latest book from J.D. Robb is different and not just because the phrase "in Death" does not appear in the title.

In fact, the book is set almost entirely in Dallas and, except for Eve Dallas and Roarke, the other regular characters barely appear.

"The Collector" (who Eve Dallas put away way back when as a rookie cop) escapes from confinement and vows revenge, aiming to lure Eve Dallas in and rape/kill her. He does so by re-kidnapping one of his last victims.

Action-packed as usual. Also a "how we catch the culprit" as usual.

One of the better books in the series but I missed the recurring characters, such as Peabody.

Book #126
Sprinkle with Murder by Jenn McKinlay
* This book completes my 11 in 11 challenge for 2011.

I really enjoyed this first book in the Cupcake Bakery cozy mystery series. It features lifelong friends, Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura, who run a cupcake bakery in Scottsdale, AZ.

The plot was ok but I absolutely loved the characters, including the secondary characters. A real gem of a mystery. I'm eager to read the next couple books--I think there are 2 or 3 more, in all.

Congrats on completing the 11 in 11 challenge. And thanks for yet another hint at a series to help topple my TBR pile.

Thanks, Tina. I was reading your blog and also the Mystery Readers International blog yesterday and came upon another great new series idea (from MRI, probably).

By Sarah Shaber, a book called Louise's War, which is the first in a new historical series set during WW2.

CONGRATULATIONS!

I had Sprinkle with Murder down for a possible AZ read for my 50 state challenge, now I think I may have to make it a definite.

Book #127
A Brush with Death by Elizabeth J. Duncan

If you like cozy mysteries, you should run out asap and start this series featuring Penny Brannigan, a manicure shop owner in a small Welsh village. This is the second book in what is quickly becoming one of my favorite cozy series. (There's a third one just out, a Christmas cozy. Hopefully, many more to follow.)

I absolutely love mysteries where the crime happened long ago and the amateur sleuth investigates it now. In this instance, Penny inherits the cottage of her recently deceased dear friend and discovers that the friend's lover was killed in a hit and run accident in 1970 after leaving the cottage. Of course, Penny sets out to investigate.

This is a very satisfying mystery with a good plot and characters I like a lot. It was interesting to me how Penny went about obtaining information about the late 1960s/early 1970s. I also enjoyed the look at the Liverpool art scene of that time.

One minor quibble, a factual error. Penny's friend and her lover first meet on Saturday, April 14, 1967. My sister was born on that Sunday, which was the 16th.

Thanks for the warning about the Anne Perry Christmas book, Linda! I'm also just starting on her Pitt series, and I would hate a spoiler.

I really need to pull Confederates in the Attic off my shelf. I've wanted to read it for a long time, but it never comes up in my book lottery. Maybe it's time to screw the book lottery and just read it....

>50 lindapanzo: Sounds really good, Linda! What I don't need is another cozy series to investigate, but I've added this one to the list.

What a silly error -- so easy to check that out. I would have missed it -- no reason for that day/date to stick in my mind -- but I don't understand why it wasn't verified!

#51 I'll probably read a few more Pitt books but there's no way I'm reading all 25 or 30 anytime soon.

As for the main spoiler, it's sort of the premise of this book and I see no way around it for the author. For the lesser spoilers, I think she could've easily avoided mentioning anything about them.

#51 Ivy, if you're going to read Duncan, best to start with the first one. I read it last month and liked it. The Cold Light of Mourning. The Christmas one is called, I think, A Killer's Christmas in Wales.

Yes, the error was easy to doublecheck. If it had been April 14, 1966, I would not have thought twice but I do remember my sister being born on a Sunday.

Heh-heh, I was a preemie but Mom was in labor and at the hospital for forever. Dad did not have a thing to read. The second time, he came prepared but, for my sister, Mom said she was not sitting around the hospital again so she got there at the last minute. Laura was nearly born on the expressway. Dad always said he brought along The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich to keep himself busy that second time and he got only to page 2.

Isn't it amusing when you listen/relive those times?

I love to listen to my Mom talk about how she went to the hospital for my second sister (she says she wasn't in labor) but because she gave birth so easy, and a snow storm was predicted, the doctor told her to go. When she got there, she decided to try to catch up on her sleep, so she laid down around 10:15 and went to sleep. She woke up at 1:25 and my sister was born at 1:40. Guess she wouldn't have made it to the hospital. In five pregnancies she boasts of only 15 hours total labor.

Time to get back to reading. My sister's town's high school beat my town's high school in the state quarterfinals. Oops. Neither of us went there but still.

Congrats on finishing the 11 in 11 challenge!

Book #128
A Killer's Christmas in Wales by Elizabeth J. Duncan

This is the third, and newly released, book in the Penny Brannigan series set in Wales. The focus is on an American who talks from older, well-to-do women into giving money to him to invest. It starts slowly but then really picks up.

Lots of Christmas goings-on in Wales, too. Makes me want to read A Child's Christmas in Wales.

I like how characters evolve in this series. I wish Duncan would write more, asap.

I really need to get started on Duncan's series.

One oddity I forgot to mention. In this last Duncan Christmas mystery, a Dorothy Martin character makes a brief appearance, mentioning that "she's solved a few murders herself."

I have noticed an occasional character making an appearance in the same author's other series but don't recall a character appearing in another author's series, like this.

>59 lindapanzo: In this last Duncan Christmas mystery, a Dorothy Martin character makes a brief appearance, mentioning that "she's solved a few murders herself."

Now I know I need to get started on this series! The first one has been on my wish list for quite a while, but I haven't managed to get to it yet. I'll plan on reading the first two earlier in the year and save the 3rd one for next year's holiday reading.

Hi Linda!

Book #129
Let's Take the Long Way Home by Gail Caldwell

Tonight, I was watching Monday Night Football. While my team was winning handily, I was engrossed in reading a a memoir of friendship between two women, the author and her friend, Caroline, both writers, both dog lovers, both athletes, and both recovered alcoholics.

I enjoyed the story of their friendship but cried my eyes out over the story of Caroline's death from advanced stage lung cancer and then, years later, the death of the author's beloved dog, Clementine.

Beautifully written.

I've had a busy week, so far, and haven't had much time to read or to even look at LT. Hope everyone's doing ok.

I'm reading a net galley bio of baseball pitcher, Tom Seaver, called The Last Icon. It's only so-so, so far.

My mystery is The Gingerbread Bump-Off, which is the newest (and Christmas) installment in the fresh-baked series.

Book #130

The Gingerbread Bump-Off by Livia J. Washburn

This is the most recent book, and a Christmas one, to boot, in the fresh-baked series featuring a retired schoolteacher in Texas. Interestingly, this murder takes place, chronologically, about 3 weeks after the previous, Thanksgiving book (which I read a couple of weeks ago).

As usual, I liked all the characters but the plot was only so-so, I thought. The murder took place during the local Jingle Bell Tour of Homes and it took place right at Phyllis, the sleuth's, front door.

Not bad but not my favorite one in the series.

Hi, Linda! Sorry to hear that the Seaver bio is only so-so.

Linda - a lot of interesting reads here - like the look of the Duncan books and will try to hunt the first one down at least. Confederates in the Attic also looks very intruiging.

Book #131
Twelve Drummers Drumming by C.C. Benison

I thought this first in a new cozy series would be a Christmas mystery. It isn't. It features a vicar in a British village. The Christmas-sounding title is due to the fact that the vicar's name is Tom Christmas.

Anyway, it's not bad. It's got some interesting characters including Tom Christmas, a former professional magician, who moves to the village, along with his 9-year old daughter, after his wife was murdered.

Christmas tries to solve several village crimes at one time, making the plot somewhat interesting.

The book does go on, though. I think a good editing would've been helpful. Perhaps a quarter of the book could've been cut.

I think, but am not positive, that I liked it well enough to continue with this series.

Book #132
Murder Trims the Tree by Deb Baker

I had an almost two hour wait at the doctor's office this morning, which was morning than enough time to read this entertaining Christmas novella by Deb Baker. It features the lovable characters in her Yooper series, including Gertie Johnson.

In this one, Gertie, her mother in law, and her usual buddies were ordered by a court to do community service and they agree to do it at an assisted living facility. In an Upper Peninsula snowstorm. At Christmas.

One has an unofficial therapy dog. One is a not-very-good beautician. One has taken a legal course or two.

Very entertaining and fun. I love the Gertie Johnson series.

WOOT WOOT.....B&N has that Gertie Christmas one for $.99 - it's landing on my NOOK as we speak. Ain't technology great? And you Miss Linda are already a Santa in my book (pardon the pun) for finding all the wonderful reads you manage to snare throughout the year. My TBR list would be considerably smaller w/o you.

Tina, keep in mind that it is a novella but it's also a nice way to give Deb Baker a try. It was perfect and made my long wait go faster.

After I finished, my Kindle kept me entertained. I kept adding e-books to my Kindle wishlist. I did buy one while I waited, though.

Pearl Harbor Christmas by Stanley Weintraub is the one I bought. That guy did a book on a Civil War Christmas and also one on a WW1 Christmas.

I tend to play with the buttons on my Kindle a little too much. As soon as I see a book that's under say, $5.00, I just can't resist.

I have started Malice Aforethought, Linda, and I am really liking it. A little bit like Agatha Christie with a little of Dorothy Sayer's dark humor as well.

Happy Thanksgiving Linda!!!

>71 DeltaQueen50: Delta, I will price the Kindle version of my new book at $4,99 just for you!

Alan/TT

>73 TheTortoise: - SOLD!!

Hope you have a great Thanksgiving, Linda.

Happy Thanksgiving, all. Tammy and Joe, thanks for your good wishes. Enjoy your holidays.

I can't remember whether any of you are net galley users but I just discovered a new baseball book there from the University of Illinois Press. They have an automatic confirmation system (though it might be if you've reviewed a particular number of titles).

Anyway, it's called A People's History of Baseball.

Book #133
Sentenced to Death by Lorna Barrett

I love this series featuring small town New Hampshire mystery bookstore owner, Tricia Miles. It's set in Booktown, a small town with a whole bunch of bookstores.

While I like the series, this was, by far, my least favorite book in the series.

I continue to like the characters but, to me, the plot in this one was a mess. Murdering someone by crashing a plane into them while they're speaking at a large gathering of people? Really?

I intend to continue with this series but sure hope that future installments are better than this one?

I hope you have a happy Thanksgiving, Linda!


glitter-graphics.com

Happy Thanksgiving, Linda!

Best wishes for a great Thanksgiving, Linda.

Happy Thanksgiving, Linda!

Happy Thanksgiving, Linda! I hope you and your family have a great day!

Hoping that everyone had a terrific Thanksgiving.

I'm almost finished, but not quite done, with a book that is potentially life changing. 29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life by Cami Walker.

My other news, I FINALLY!!! tried a Tom & Jerry drink at Miller's Pub in downtown Chicago. Nearly knocked my socks off. Very strong (for me at least) but very tasty. Think hot egg nog with brandy and rum, basically.

Book #134
29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life by Cami Walker

This is not great literature but it's probably a life-altering book. The author, who suffers from multiple sclerosis and endures great weakness and overwhelming pain, embarks on a path of mindful giving, namely giving a gift each day for 29 days. The giving is mindful giving and needn't be financial, though it can be. Instead, it could just be something simple.

I jumped right in and checked out the 29 Gifts movement. Amazing, amazing book and concept.

Christmas Mourning by Margaret Maron

This book is well into the Judge Deborah Knott series set in North Carolina. A popular cheerleader is killed in a car accident shortly before Christmas. Not longer after, two young men, basically "from the wrong side of the tracks" type guys are found murdered. Deborah and her husband, Dwight, both work, in their own ways, to get to the bottom of these mysteries.

While I had a hard type keeping track of Deborah's large family, once I could do so, I really started to enjoy this book, particularly all their down-home family Christmas traditions. Baking cookies with her nieces and the like.

Now I want to go back to the beginning of his series and see what I've missed. Highly recommended!!

Linda - so glad you found Margaret Maron - she is one of my favorites and I know you'll enjoy the Deborah Knott series. I just got the review copy of her newest Three-Day Town - hope to get to it by the end of the year.

Now that you mention baking cookies tho, I guess I'd best get out an audio book and get cracking - they are my gift to family every year.

#86 Based on the end of the Deborah Knott Christmas book, I can figure what the next one is about. However, I'd rather go back to the beginning.

>85 lindapanzo: Glad you enjoyed the Deborah Knott book, Linda! It's one of my favorite series, too, and I'm planning to read Christmas Mourning in December. Margaret Maron's website has a basic family tree of Deborah and her brothers -- it does have a spoiler if you're starting at the beginning, but you'll already know it from having read this last one (I knew it early, too, and it didn't ruin my enjoyment of the first few books).

I'm definitely not going to get to Sup with the Devil this month, so I added it to Cheli's challenge for December.

Book #136
Latte Trouble by Cleo Coyle

I enjoyed this third book in the coffeehouse series, realizing that it's been way too long since I read one of these. In this one, the ex-boyfriend of the coffeeshop's barista is poisoned by a coffee drink served by the barista during a fashion show at the shop.

Lots of interesting tidbits about the fashion business, plus the usual likeable characters in this series.

Hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful, Linda.

I read the first several of the Deborah Knott books several years ago, but kind of forgot about them somewhere along the way. I don't remember now why - whether the library did not have all of them, or maybe it was just too hard to determine the proper order of the series, or maybe I just got distracted by something else. I've seen so many people enjoying them here that I'm tempted to go back and try them again.

There was an installment in the Deborah Knott series that I didn't like, and I kind of quit reading them. I can access them easily though. Maybe I should go back and try to pick up where I left off.

Lori, that's another possibility for why I quit, too. I don't know where I left off, though.

Book #137
The Last Icon: Tom Seaver and His Times by Steven Travers

(net galley book, my first one star book of the year)

I've long admired pitching star Tom Seaver, both for his ballplaying abilities and his intelligence. Thus, I was eager to read this biography of Seaver. To say I was tremendously disappointed would be an understatement.

This was probably the worst book I've read this year. If you like your biographies to be objective and/or balanced, this is not the book for you. However, if you like fawning, gushing, hero worship, essentially a hagiography, you might enjoy this one.

The writing was so flowery and, at times over the top, that it was tough to read this book, except with a horrified fascination.

Also, the author was just plain mean, in a weird, almost childish, way, towards many of Seaver's competitors and/or opponents. For example, of San Diego Padre pitcher Randy Jones, the author calls him a "figure barely recalled by history who also could not carry Seaver's dirty jockstrap." Others were said to not hold a candle to the great Seaver. You get the idea. Lots of opinions without facts to back them up.

When Seaver's record was substandard or he did not win an award that the author believes Seaver should've won, the author piles on excuses. Seaver's team never scored any runs for him, unlike pitchers on other teams, apparently. Others were just jealous of him and his greatness, or so it was claimed, again and again and again.

The personal information provided, at times, was interesting but the author included far too many generalizations. How can we really know that he was the last of the nonadulterous baseball player in the majors? How can we know that some of his teammates followed his lead in this regard? Was there a survey taken?

The author adds: "Curiously, the 'quintessential Seaver book' was never written ... until, finally, this one!" Somehow, I don't think so.

Maybe someday, the quintessential Seaver bio will be written. Unfortunately, this is not that book.

If you've got a Kindle, there is a HUGE book sale on Amazon today. I snagged a bunch of Anne Perry books and a couple of the Miss Silver books from Patricia Wentworth for just a dollar or two each.

Linda, I'm so sorry to hear that the Seaver biography was so awful. It would be nice to find a nice one about him -- he's quite possibly my husband's all-time favorite baseball player.

#95 I like him, too, Terri.

Sad news. A plane crashed a block or two from my office late last night. Several people died and several survived.

Just heard that I got an ER book this month, the one about the Volkswagen Beetle, which could be interesting. Thinking Small is the name.

Sorry to hear about the plane crash, Linda. I hope that the survivors recover OK.

I just learned I got an ER book, too -- The Whisperer by Donato Carrisi. According to the book information, the book was a sensation when released in Europe. It's a mystery/suspense/thriller type -- sounds like it's on the gory side. We'll see.

I just finished my most recent ER book, The Chalk Girl by Carol O'Connell, the latest in the Mallory series. I could hardly put it down. I found it to be a very unusual mystery. I'm still working on Catherine the Great, my book from the month before. It is very good, but contains a lot of information -- and I got seriously sidetracked for a few days by the O'Connell book.

Hi Linda, sorry to hear about the plane crash, did it crash into any buildings?

#97 - Terri, I'm getting The Whisperer as well, we'll have to compare notes!

Linda - shudder went down my spine at the mention of a plane crash! Do a lot of flying and am never more religious than just before and after take off and landing. Read the news online and it seems 3 out of 5 passengers on board a "medical plane" were killed including the patient picked up for treatment. A place called Riverwoods, Ill - that's your place then Linda? - looks cold I must say.

#99 That is very sad - a helicopter-ambulance crashed here in August while transporting a patient from a rural area into the city. They ran out of fuel less than 20 miles from the hospital - and only 1 mile from the airfield they were aiming for, for emergency re-fueling. I'd have thought checking fuel levels would be the most basic pre-flight check item.

Paul, compared to where you live, doesn't everyplace look cold? ;-)

#99 Yes, Riverwoods. It's an extremely affluent suburb--I think you can buy a little shack for a million dollars. (None of us can afford to live here.)

A local man, now living in Florida, was ill and wanted to come back here for treatment. The plane left Florida, refueled in Georgia, and appeared to have run out of fuel a few miles from the airport.

It crashed on someone's front lawn. The pilot, the sick man, and the guy's wife all died. The homeowner pulled the pilot-trainee out of the flaming plane and the flight nurse also survived.

Private planes are always flying overhead and we've thought we're probably too far to really worry about a crash here. Now, not so much.

NY Times 10 Best Books of 2011 list is out.

The Art of Fielding is at the top of my wishlist and I'm hoping to read 11/22/63 soon. The book about Britain and the Civil War looks good, too.

Heh-heh, probably would help if I included a link. Here it is...
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/11/books/10-best-books-of-2011.html?_r=1

November in Review: I finished my 11 in 11 challenge this month!!

I read 18 books this month, too, my highest total in a single month this year. It was a great reading month.

Congrats on finishing your challenge!
Are you joining the 12 in 12 for next year. I joined, but I feel it might be a tad ambitious for me

Hi Linda- Congrats on completing your Challenge! I read the article about that plane crash in the Trib this morning. Very sad.

I'm so impressed by those who completed the 11 in 11 Challenge. I'm going to end up reading that number of books, but just don't have the discipline to stick to categories. And I can't even begin to contemplate the 2012 challenge!

>102 lindapanzo: Thanks for the NY Times "best of" list, Linda. I read the book review all the time, and lived in NYC for a while, but this list confirms that I don't have a lot in common with their editors. :-)

Sigh. A day of hugely mixed emotions.

On the one hand, I led our dept's efforts for the holiday "adopt a family." A family who doesn't have much is going to get a lot of nice things, thanks to my co-workers. It was fun looking at all the things just now and packaging them together for delivery today.

On the other hand, 20 people, including a really good friend, were let go today. (Note, only 4 or 5 from our office as far as I can tell.)

I want to be cheery, yet feel like crying, at the same time.

Woah Linda what a couple of days of turmoil. As a boss my biggest pleasure is giving my staff bonuses and taking them for lunch and dinner (probably why I'm now spending too much money on a health programme and have too little in the way of profits to fund it!). On the rare occasions that I have felt it necessary to fire anyone I have always agonised over it terribly. I'm lucky that I have not yet (thank God) had to let go staff due to no funds or work for them but to be among colleagues some of whom have been made redundant is a "pleasure" I did face when I was working for other firms and it is traumatic. Hope morale at your place is OK.

Sandy is right Malaysia doesn't lose out to many in terms of warmth but we are having a fairly torrid monsoon season here presently and am thinking of getting amphibious vehicles especially for our project sites which resemble Swamplandia to be topical as well as tropical for a moment.

The Lutheran church in a neighboring town had "adopted" several families from our local food pantry clients, buying winter coats, clothing, and toys etc. but, on Monday, thieves took all the donated items.

Now, the pastor says "at this point, we have easily tripled what we lost, and we know more is coming in...it truly has restored my faith in humanity.” I'm so glad to hear this!!

As for reading, I'm reading The Battle for Christmas, basically a Christmas history involving the religious elements and the rowdy (misrule) elements. A little too academic for my tastes but interesting nonetheless.

Also reading the charming little novel, Bachelor Brothers Bed & Breakfast. What a great little book for the booklover.

Linda- Sorry to hear about your co-workers being let go! what a bummer! Sending you a hug!

I'm sorry to hear about your co-workers as well, Linda. No time is good for this kind of news, but December seems like a very hard time to be told you are no longer needed.

Book #138
Bachelor Brothers' Bed & Breakfast by Bill Richardson

This is a delightful little novel about two 50-something brothers, fraternal twins, who own and operate a B&B, on an island near Vancouver, that's a book lover's paradise. After reading this, I want to go somewhere like that, a haven for book lovers, and meet someone like Waffles the cat and Mrs Rochester, the parrot who drops F-Bombs.

I'd highly recommend this charming book to anyone who loves books. It's a great little book.

Glad you enjoyed the Bachelor Brothers as much as I did!

I'm another fan of that one, Linda. Glad you liked it.

Today was better though hectic. A co-worker had a mild heart attack last month and decided to retire. Well, he is a key co-worker so we're scrambling around to try to figure out what he does and how he does it. Fun times.

On a cheerier note, some friends and I are going out to dinner and then to see White Christmas at our friendly local professional theater. Saturday will have some Christmas shopping and the start of Christmas card writing.

Sunday looks relaxing. Maybe I can get some reading in then.

Linda, I had lost you, but now you are found. What a busy person/busy reader you are! I'm happy to read the Margaret Maron discussion back a bit in your thread. As a North Carolina woman, she is special to me. I heard her read once and corresponded with her a little bit just as she was getting the Deborah Knott series going. I actually preferred her earlier Sigrid Harald series, but it's been so long since I read them that I'm not sure how well they'd stand up now.
Enjoy your weekend!

Hope you have a great night out with your friends!
My best friend and I are doing the same thing next Friday! I love White Christmas (the movie) so I hope the theater lives up to it :)

#118 Hi Peggy, glad you found me again. I read so many mysteries and can't believe that I haven't more Maron books.

#119 I hope you enjoy yours, too. This is a local professional theater and it's always interesting to see how they stage it with a smallish cast and a "theater in the round."

They are best at the big dance numbers and tonight was no exception. Besides White Christmas, I love Snow, as well as Sisters.

My friend who was just downsized just happened to be joining our group for tonight's show and loved it. Said it really cheered her up and now she's thinking of joining us for next season. Next year, we have Legally Blonde, Pirates of Penzance, Dreamgirls, and two others I can't recall, offhand.

Sounds like a blast! I'm glad you had a good night after a fairly crappy week. Do you have something relaxing planned for Sunday?

Book #139
Take Time for Paradise by A. Bartlett Giamatti

I first read this slim volume, which is an ode to sports, particularly baseball, back in 1991, shortly after it was released. I recall it as a beautifully written, elegant little book by the late baseball commissioner. I recall it as being one of the best sports-related books I'd ever read.

Re-reading it 20 years later, I'm not nearly as enamoured with it as I'd been. I almost wish I hadn't re-read it. My 20 years-younger self loved Big Ideas and putting the commonplace into the Big Picture. These days, I'm less inclined to think like that and so, what I thought was an absolutely terrific book when I read it in 1991 is only so-so for me now.

Re-reading it 20 years later, I'm not nearly as enamoured with it as I'd been. I almost wish I hadn't re-read it.

Linda I tend to not do many re-reads because I fear precisely the same experience!

#123 Terri, I almost never re-read, just for that reason.

#121 Oh, Laura, I forgot to mention that not much planned for Sunday. I took a needy kid's name for Christmas-giftgiving at church and so I have to deliver the goods at Mass on Sunday. After breakfast out, most likely, I'll just stay home and watch the Bears game and then the Packers game.

Two Book Depository packages arrived today. Most likely, these are from my Mark's Christmas Swap swapper (aka Santa). The fact that these books have already sat there, unopened, for more than 6 hours is pretty amazing but I hope to hold out to Christmas Eve.

I ordered my swapee's books on Friday afternoon so I hope that person doesn't open theirs either.

Also picked out my Santa Thing santee's books today. It's nice to have all the gift books ordered now.

Linda, your weekend sounds very nice. We always get season theater tickets every year. We have so many theater companies in town that it's hard to decide which one to do. Right now we have dinner theater - the shows are pretty good, usually light comedies, plus they feed us!

I admire your restraint! Six hours and the box is still unopened!

Enjoy the rest of the weekend. I hope your teams win tomorrow.

Morning Linda - I'm sure your "swapee" will adhere to the rules. Most of the group, should be cooperative. Although, there will be some that will get in such a frenzy that they'll rip open the packages immediately!
Enjoy your Sunday!

Linda, I read Bachelor Brothers' Bed and Breakfast last month, and promptly made their Muffins Without Peer. They were awesome! And of course, many new books were added to my list as a result of it.

Heh-heh. My sister's 9-month old yellow lab loves to devour books, apparently. Literally. My 10-year old niece came home with 3 library books to read for her reading team and the puppy devoured two of the three books. One book, she ate everything up to page 83 as well as the last 5 pages.

Of course, the one that my niece was less than excited about was the book that the puppy ignored. Isn't that always the way?

Book #140

A Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas

I enjoyed this delightful poem which evokes Christmas and childhood.

Last month, I read the Elizabeth J. Duncan mystery called A Killer's Christmas in Wales and, in that book, the town comes out for a production of this poem.

I suspect that re-reading this charming poem each Christmas will become a holiday tradition for me.

I'm as pleased as punch at the news today that longtime Cubs great, Ron Santo, was named to the Hall of Fame. Sadly, he didn't live to see the day--he died just about one year ago, almost to the day. How thrilled he would've been at this long-awaited, much-coveted honor.

My 8-year old nephew and his soon-to-be 11 year old sister, along with their dog who devours books (see msg 129).

I am amazed that santa got the puppy to sit still for the picture.

Not so amazing--Look closely at the stranglehold Santa seems to have on the dog! Cute kids!

Book #141
Stitch in Snow by Anne McCaffrey

I've been in a mediocre book rut lately and this romance (with a bit of mystery) by science fiction and fantasy author, Anne McCaffrey, did nothing to improve my unhappy situation.

This story of a well-known children's book author living in Ireland who comes to the U.S. for a book tour but then gets stranded in the Denver airport and then in a nearby hotel was ok. She calls in love and later becomes the guy's alibi.

Okay book but nothing special here.

Sadly, another death in the family. Dad's older brother, my Uncle John, who was 78, passed away last night. He leaves behind one daughter.

There'll probably be a memorial mass after the holidays.

He was a huge sports fan (Cubs and Bulls, especially) and he always loved to hear what ballgames etc I'd gone to.

Linda, I'm sorry to hear of another death in your family. It seems like losses during the holiday season cut even more deeply since there is so much emphasis on family gatherings and traditions at this time of year.

Book #142
Pack of Two: The Intricate Bond Between People and Dogs by Caroline Knapp

Last month, I read the excellent book Let's Take the Long Way Home by Gail Caldwell, about that author's friendship with Caroline Knapp. In it, Caldwell mentioned that Knapp wrote two books, one about her addition to alcohol and one about her dog. This is the one about Knapp's dog.

It really is very good. I enjoyed reading about Knapp and her dog, Lucille, about Lucille's training and how unprepared Knapp felt and how overboard dog owners can go when it comes to reading about dogs and buying them stuff.

I like dogs. We owned a beagle and, at some time when I don't get out so much and would be home more, I'd love to get another.

That said, I think this author reads far, far too much into the human/dog relationship. Did I ever wonder what my dog was thinking? Sure I did. However, I never obsessed about it, at least not to the length that Knapp does.

Even so, it's well written and entertaining and I'm starting Knapp's other book, about her drinking addition (the drinking addiction came before her doggie addiction).

Sorry to hear about your uncle. Hope you are doing ok

Linda, sorry about your uncle. Go to a game just in his honor. (that would be such a hardship for you, I know :-) LOL)

Thanks Carrie, Chelle and Cheli. My cousin, Rhonda, who's just a couple of years older than me, is an only child and not particularly religious so we've been trying to help her out as much as possible today, such as in planning the service. It probably won't be til January.

She intends to plan around the surprise birthday luncheon I'm throwing for my mother's 75th birthday in early January. (At least that will be a fun occasion to get together.)

It's actually kind of funny but I've been humming possible hymns for the service over the phone. I've been getting odd looks. There are some old favorites that are must-haves, such as Be Not Afraid, On Eagle's Wings, and Here I Am, Lord.

Linda, so sorry to hear about your uncle. You've had such a difficult time, lately.

Condolences on the loss of your uncle, Linda.

I'm sorry to hear about your uncle, Linda.

Interesting your note on prospective hymns for your Uncle's service (condolences by the way). Remember when my dear Gran passed away in 1994 a few days short of making it to 87. She had made me promise for years that I would insist upon Jerusalem the Golden for her service. Fell a little flat however as I was the only person in a packed church who had the first inkling how to sing the thing!

So sorry about your uncle, Linda!

Linda, my condolences on the death of your uncle. So sorry!

Before my dad died, he was under hospice care and his hospital bed was next to his computer desk. We were planning his funeral, and he kept asking for a certain hymn (I think it was some version of "Sacred Heart of Jesus") that none of his catholic schooled daughters had ever heard of, and my Lutheran mom sure didn't have it at the top of her hit parade either. Daddy and I spent an entire afternoon trolling through Catholic hymn sites on the Internet and we found it and quickly bookmarked it. For those last three weeks, it played constantly on his computer, and at his funeral, his immediate family at least knew how to sing it....we actually had a good smile because we knew dad was singing along from a better place!

Book #143
Drinking: A Love Story by Caroline Knapp

I've read the author's two books and the friend's book about her, oddly, reading these books in reverse chronological order, starting with her strong friendship and her death. This is the earliest book, about her love affair, over the course of many years, with alcohol. She held down a job as a journalist but, for many years, spent her evenings and nights drinking.

I think of drinks in much of the same way as I do other beverages. Something to have once in awhile. In my lifetime, I think I've been hung over once so, to me, this book was eye-opening, both as to the why's but also as to the how's. How does she get rid of all those bottles? How does she cope with it all?

Beautifully written and fascinating.

Yay!! Just read that there'll be a new Dorothy Martin mystery out from Jeanne Dams in January. The Evil that Men Do. Not to mention a new Daisy Dalrymple out from Carola Dunn called Gone West.

http://www.cozy-mystery.com/blog/january-2012-mystery-book-new-releases.html

New Dorothy Martin books are always welcome. I'm behind on the Daisy Dalrymple series. I need to work on that one.

Book #144
The Battle for Christmas by Stephen Nissenbaum

This scholarly look at the development of Christmas, particularly in the 19th century, has its moments but, for me, this was not an especially readable book. Interesting moments, certainly, as the author talks about the rowdy vs the religious and how the holiday unfolded in the 1820s and 1830s. Of particular interest, the final chapter talked about Christmas among the slaves before the Civil War.

This could've been a home run but the author's dry writing style puts it at a single. Not bad but it could've been so much better.

#151 Too bad, it sounds like a fascinating topic. Would make a good History Channel program.

I started my first book for the 12 in 12 challenge today (I'm counting books finished on 12/12 or later). A book I consider relevant for December of 2011.

I probably won't get much reading in til Tuesday though. We're going to the Chicago Blackhawks game tonight and then, at lunchtime on Mon, we've got our lunch and cookie exchange. For dinner, a large group of friends and I are going out for pizza. Probably won't get home til 10 or so, so maybe some late night reading.

I used to love the cookie exchanges I'd have with my friends, and I was so sad when they stopped. Next best thing: the Ladies Club at our church has a "cookie sale" every year. We all take 3 dozen home-made cookies up, then the Ladies Club sells them back to you at $5 a pound. You can pick & choose how many you want of whatever kind you want. That's most of my cookie baking done!

Usually, my best LT recommendations come from people I know who have similar reading interests.

However, I just spotted a book on hot reviews where I've never heard of the LTer reading it and absolutely have never heard a thing about the book. Ten Days of Christmas by G.B. Stern sounds absolutely fabulous. I know it's out of print but I hope I can find a copy and read it soon.

I love potentially great finds like these.

Book #145
Pearl Harbor Christmas: A World at War, December 1941 by Stanley Weintraub
3.5 stars

To me, the topic of this book, the Christmas season right after Pearl Harbor sounded wonderful. While the book was somewhat interesting, it wasn't quite what I was expecting and so it was a bit disappointing.

I expected lots about the homefront and how people were rallying around after the Pearl Harbor attacks. Instead, the book was a day by day account, from December 21, 1941 (when Winston Churchill arrived in the U.S.) through the end of the year. Hmm, actually, through New Year's Day.

Because it was a chronological account, it seemed terribly disjointed. Lots of information about the talks between FDR and the prime minister and their respective staffs. Plenty of discussion of the war and those initial losses but, oddly enough, almost nothing about Pearl Harbor itself.

Unfortunately, outside of an occasional reference to how blackouts weren't really in effect on the East Coast yet, how rationing would begin, and about the lighting of the national Christmas tree, there was very little on the homefront, to my disappointment.

Adding to the feel of bouncing around so much, with every topic covered seemingly every day, there's also the issue of the international date line.

To sum up, interesting book that could've been a whole lot better.

Thanks Linda for the heads up. I too would have had your expectations had I picked this one up. I'll keep your comments in mind when I see it. Maybe a look through in the library, but probably not a spend good money on for me.

I hate it when the book I expect to read isn't the book I get. Even if the book is an ok read, I get very disappointed that it's not the read I wanted.

I would like to read the book that you were hoping for as well, Linda, as I am very interested in what the homefront was like, and what people were doing and feeling. There are many books that describe what England was like, but very few that describe how the U.S. or Canada kept the homefires burning.

Judy, I'd have to rummage through my Kindle but I know I've got a WW2 homefront book. I also read a WW2 homefront book a couple of years ago.

The battles and strategies etc are always interesting but, for me, the homefront angle is always my favorite.

Tina, I was sorry I spent good money, albeit reduced Kindle price, on it. I still want to read his Civil War book and also his WW1 book, but I hope the others are better than this one.

Uh-oh. We are nearing the midpoint of the month and I've read 8 books this month but, not a single mystery in the bunch.

In fact, I haven't finished a mystery since November 27th. I must be feverish.

I need to fix that asap.

So sorry about your uncle, Linda. Bad news at this time of year seems especially harsh.

I must read the Caroline Knapp books. I sure liked Gail Caldwell's book about her friend.

Did you ever get to read The Tender Land? If you did, I missed your comments on it. I thought it was a powerful book.

#161 Thanks, Donna. I started it but didn't get too far into it. I think I still want to read it.

I was browsing around and saw that there's a short (novella?) book out by Louise Penny, involving Gamache and Three Pines. Very exciting, I thought.

Alas, it's for a literacy project, written at the third grade level. It's called The Hangman.

Book #146
Wishin' and Hopin' by Wally Lamb

This is a fun novel set at a Connecticut parochial school in 1964, featuring Felix Funicello, a distant cousin of Annette. I started parochial school a few years after 1964 so I could definitely relate to the nuns, students, characters, and events in this enjoyable book. Loved the cultural references, too--Wishin' and Hopin' is the name of a Dusty Springfield song of that era.

Though it's subtitled "A Christmas Story" I think that's a bit of an exaggeration because, outside of a Christmas pageant, which was hilarious, by the way, there's not that much Christmas in this.

After reading this, I'm tempted to look for more by Wally Lamb.

I'll be around tonight but, after that, I'll be gone for a few days. Hockey and holiday shows. I love the Chicago Symphony Christmas concert every year but, this year, I'm also going to the Donny & Marie Christmas show.

I should have some quiet time to get some reading in too, I hope.

The Donny & Marie Christmas show sounds like fun. I loved the Osmonds when I was growing up. Hope you enjoy the show!

Sounds like you have a wonderful weekend planned, Linda. Hope you have a great time.

Happy Weekend from me too! I have to say that the Chicago Symphony Christmas sounds better to me than Donny & Marie, so it's a good thing I don't choose for you. Enjoy both!
I haven't read a mystery in a long time either and I feel my only unread Matthew Shardlake calling. The problem is that when that's read, I'll have to buy a copy of Heartstone, and only the one available in my price limit is a used hardback, and I prefer paper. Never mind. I ordered it anyway because it's cheap and in very good condition. *leaving hopelessly greedy but happy*

Thanks for the good wishes. I love Christmas shows/concerts, though I was never a big Donny & Marie fan, I think they'll put on a great show.

Book #147
The Final Deduction by Rex Stout

On the train, on my way into the city, I finished this Rex Stout mystery. It has an interesting premise: a millionaire is kidnapped and held for ransom but then, shortly after the ransom is paid, he's released, and gets home, he's murdered.

I love this series and am trying to track down and then read all the Nero Wolfe books I've missed. Unfortunately, this one is very slow to unfold and thus, is not among my favorites, though I did appreciate the fact that Wolfe and Archie had to leave the brownstone and take refuge at a neighbor's house, spending the night there.

The reason for the kidnapping and murder was quite interesting, too.

Threadbare by Monica Ferris

I love this long-running series featuring needlecraft shop owner, Betsy Devonshire, in small-town Minnesota. I think this is the 15th in the series.

In this one, however, very little of the action takes place at the needlecraft shop. Instead, Betsy investigates the deaths of two homeless women, an investigation she conducts with another homeless woman.

I always think the best mysteries are the ones with good plots but where I learn something. I learned plenty about homelessness (and how the homeless cope) in this mystery. Terrific!!

I'm pooped, pooped, I say. Besides Christmasy stuff, I'm also planning a 75th birthday bash for my mother in early January.

At least I'm nearly finished with shopping. Got a couple more things today and then went shopping for items of a personal nature (ahem), items of which I am desperately in need. Lots of trying on of said items was necessary and now I'm really tired.

Curled up with a good Blackhawks game right now but then will get back to my current read, a Civil War book.

I've been making more fudge today myself. I made the chocolate and peanut butter varieties today. I need to do the coated pretzels tomorrow.

Lori, you make me wish that you were my friend next door instead of in the WORLD WIDE WEB. Darn!

I still don't know what's in my Christmas Swap books from Mark's group and in my Santa Thing books.

However, I just got my first book-related Christmas gift, a Barnes & Noble gift card from my boss. I can hardly wait to spend it!!

Nothing says "Merry Christmas" better than a book gift certificate! (At least that's what I think :) )

Linda,

If you have any trouble using that gift card, I'm willing to help. :-)

176/177 Thanks. I should be fine in picking something out, even if it's B&N not Amazon.

I have a couple things in mind but will wait til all the bookish gifts come through first, not to mention the Mark's Christmas Swap books and the Santa Thing books.

Book #149
General Sherman's Christmas by Stanley Weintraub

Here's another on Weintraub's niche books, the interaction between war and Christmas. In this case, General Sherman's march to the sea in Nov/Dec of 1864.

Somewhat interesting and I think I liked it just a touch more than his Pearl Harbor Christmas-related book I read recently. Even so, he seems to have a very matter of fact writing style, one that seems to take a really interesting topic and make it sort of everyday, and not in a good way.

I still want to read his book, Silent Night, about the World War 1 Christmas truce but will probably save that for another year.

Things are starting to fall into place so maybe I can get back into reading.

I've finished all my Christmas shopping and, last night, wrapped all but 4 or 5 presents (I'll do the rest tonight).

Also, finalized plans for mom's 75th birthday luncheon on January 8th. Sent out the official invitations last night (I pretty much told everyone when it'd be in a "mark your calendar" sort of way earlier). Dealt with the Buca di Beppo sales rep, made my food choices etc. All I need to do is sign the contract.

I started The Man Who Invented Christmas last night after my Christmas present wrap-a-thon. Very good. Interesting to learn about the early days of bookselling.

I just have wrapping to finish tomorrow and some last minute baking to do on Saturday and I'm done!

Book #150
Train Dreams by Denis Johnson

This is a beautifully written short novel with no plot whatsoever. Robert Grainier recalls his life in the northwest during the early years of the 20th century working as a railroad builder, a hauler, and as a forestry worker.

A book than can be read in about an hour, such as this one, makes for a nice little interlude.

I've seen enormous praise for this one (it's a New York Times notable book for 2011, which is why I read it), but I don't understand it. Just okay for me.

After 150 books read this year, with potentially two more to go, here's my list of my 10 favorite books for 2011. Very heavy on nonfiction this year with 7 of the 10.

These are in approximate order.

1. Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin
2. Hellhound on His Trail by Hampton Sides
3. Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand
4. On Hallowed Ground: The Story of Arlington National Cemetery by Robert M. Poole
5. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
6. Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison by Piper Kerman
7. A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny
8. Bottom of the 33rd: Hope, Redemption, and Baseball's Longest Game by Dan Barry
9. Then Everything Changed by Jeff Greenfield
10. Drinking: A Love Story by Carolyn Knapp

Good list, Linda! I've read two of them -- On Hallowed Ground and the Penny, and I have library access to several others. I almost picked up Bottom of the 33rd when Borders was having its closing sale; I wish I had.

I'm spending way too much time on LT, logging on whenever I have spare moments, but getting farther behind as the various new challenges begin to form for next year. I'm really glad Jim hasn't started the new 75 group yet, or I'd be really sunk.

I'm reading a decent cozy mystery now, set in the present but with an historical angle, Here's the Church, Here's the Steeple, by Tempa Pagel.

Oh, Terri, that sounds just like my type of cozy! Onto the wish list it goes, and it may just get purchased with Christmas gift cards (if I can find a new copy)! It looks like I may have to settle for a used copy or ILL, but it sounds like one I'd want to keep.

185 It's not a super-great literary treasure or anything, Lori, but I'm enjoying it.

The thing that made me want it immediately is that it is recommended for me based on the Rett MacPherson series featuring Torie O'Shea. I love those genealogical mysteries, and it appears they are going to dig in the past on that one too!

Yes, Lori! The protagonist is officially working on a history of her congregation -- and, unofficially, trying to solve a mystery dating to 1811 -- and spends a lot of time in the town library's local history room! :)

Linda- Another pal on LT recommended Train Dreams too! I need to get my hands on that one. I recently listened to his crime/noir book nobody Move, which I really liked.
Great end of the year list. I forgot about Hellhound. I need to fit that one on my List.

BTW- Darryl, just started a '12 Thread for Narrative Non-Fiction. A book a month. Which should be a piece of cake for us. I'll add the link if you need it.

Hey, Linda!

Congratulations on completing a double 75-challenge!

It sounds like you've got all your Christmas chores all taken care of. I've gotten such a late start this year. No cards going out, and I only got started shopping yesterday. Went again today and hope to finish up tomorrow. Then we need to wrap. And get the house ready for company on Sunday. And get ready for dinner. *sigh* I'll get started earlier next year (yeah, right!)

Merry Christmas - looking forward to seeing your Christmas book haul!

Wow, yes, 150 books is AWESOME, Linda! (I missed seeing the number -- shame on me!)

Thanks for the 150th book good wishes. I've had a nice relaxing evening of reading and watching the X-Factor. My favorite, Melanie Amaro, won so I'm quite pleased. Just a brief LT break and then it's back to The Man Who Invented Christmas.

Mark, I will have to take a look at Darryl's thread. Sounds good. Which group? Where?

I'm off now Fri through Mon. Next week I'll be working only Tues and Wed and then off again from Thurs through Mon.

Holy cow! 150 books... and one of them was Team of Rivals. You are my book hero(ine), Linda. Enjoy your time off from work. It's good to have a boss who knows what you like for Christmas. ;-)

Have a wonderful Christmas, and then you can get busy on the big party plans for your mother. 75 is such an awesome number!!!

Merry Christmas, Linda!

150!!!!

Thanks, Donna and Peggy. Until I joined LT in early 2009, only once in my life did I ever reach the 150 book level for a year in my life and I was on disability leave much of that year. Since I joined LT, I've done it 3 straight years. My total will be down a bit this year but, Donna, as you say, one of them was Team of Rivals.

Off to lunch and perhaps to the Sherlock Holmes movie but, this evening, I expect to spend much time on LT and reading, once again. Yay!!

Book #151
The Man Who Invented Christmas by Les Standiford

Obviously, Charles Dickens didn't "invent" Christmas as this book's title would indicate. He is not the reason for the season, after all. However, he did reinvent the holiday and much of how we celebrate is due to his book, A Christmas Carol.

This outstanding book is split between an examination of his interesting life (note to self, read a longer bio of Dickens), particularly as to how his popularity was flagging and his finances were dismal before A Christmas Carol, and a fascinating look at 19th century book publishing/booksellling. For most of Dickens' books, books were produced in the usual way. However, A Christmas Carol was published by Dickens himself in what today would be called self-published or vanity publishing. A third focus of this wonderful book is a look at the book himself, along with how/why its popularity has soared over the years.

Highly recommended!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Linda. I will look forward to catching up with you when I'm back in early January.

glitter-graphics.com

Have a wonderful Christmas, Linda!

Linda - have a lovely festive season in the bosom of your family. Look forward to keeping up wth your enjoyable and illuminating thread in 2012.

Merry Christmas Linda!!

Thank, Chelle, and thanks for the terrific books you sent me for Mark's Christmas swap.

I jut opened both my Mark's Christmas Swap books and my Santa Thing books. Some great choices here and I'm really happy to get these.

Chelle sent the first book in the Rizzoli and Isles series (I've started watching these shows on Monday nights). The first is The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen. She also sent the first Kate Atkinson, Case Histories, along with Replay by Ken Grimwood.

My Santa Thing santa send some good books as well. From that santa, I received Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman, In the Woods by Tana French, which my sister has been trying to get me to read for forever, and a collection of Sherlock Holmes stories (inspired by the Holmes canon), A Study in Sherlock.

I've got Case Histories on some wishlist or other.

Merry Christmas, Linda!

mistletoe smooches!

You are very welcome Linda! Hope you enjoy them :)

Wishing you all the very best Linda!

Merry Christmas, Linda!

Merry Christmas, Linda! Hope you have a great weekend, and enjoy your Santa books!

Christmas Eve is the big extended family get together in the city. We have both floors of a two-flat and aunts, uncles, and cousins by the boatload all celebrate together. After a few glasses of wine, I'm feeling pretty sleepy.

In addition to a book about Cooperstown, my White Sox fan cousin gave me a bio about Willie Mays by James Hirsch, Willie Mays: The Life, The Legend. I'd been meaning to read this one so I was quite pleased to get a copy.

Christmas brunch with my mom and dad, my sister and her family, plus her in laws. My niece (soon to be 11) and nephew (age 8) always make this get-together especially fun.

Merry Christmas to all. Hoping your day is filled with peace, happiness, and the love of family and friends.

Morning Linda! I love my books! Yah! Thank you so much! I am going to try squeezing the Art of fielding in next month. Did you buy it for yourself too?
It looks like you received some terrific books too! Case Histories & In the Woods, both kick off an excellent series. Neverwhere may be out of your comfort zone but it was my 1st Gaiman and I loved it. Enjoy your day!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas.

Glad you liked your books, Mark. No The Art of Fielding for me yet but there's still my sister's get-together today. I dropped the broaddest hints to her.

In fact, last night, I said to her, still no The Art of Fielding for me yet and she said "tomorrow's another day."

My Christmas festivities are over (except for a get-together, soon I hope, with some friends). Whew. Tired but lots of fun.

Today included, among other things, The Art of Fielding from my sister, along with a pair of Amazon gift cards. I'll have to hang onto these for a bit and then make some good choices.

Hope everyone enjoyed the holiday!!

I've joined the 75 books challenge for 2012 and will likely start to spend more time over there, as 2012 approaches.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/129160

In the meantime, off to see the new Sherlock Holmes movie today, with lunch at my favorite Chinese restaurant, too.

Book #152
A Team for America: The Army-Navy Game that Rallied a Nation by Randy Roberts

I enjoyed this terrific look at Army (West Point) football during World War 2. Plenty of talk about the people, including legendary coach Earl (Red Blaik) and his team members, including Glenn Davis and Doc Blanchard, as well as the events, particularly the 1944 Army/Navy game.

Most interesting for me, however, was the look at wartime restrictions and other challenges. For many of these games, fans could not attend unless they lived within 10 miles of the stadium so, for instance, for an Army/Navy game, half of the academy's members would be ordered to cheer for the other team.

I'm about halfway through what may well end up being my favorite mystery of the year, Charles Finch's A Burial at Sea. Absolutely love it but now I've suddenly got the urge to read some naval fiction, such as the Patrick O'Brian series.

At any rate, after I finish the Finch mystery, I'll probably start my first 2012 book and call it a reading year at 153 books. This is just a slight decline from 2010 where my total was 156.

I have the first two in the Finch series and have been wondering if I should read them. I'd only heard "meh" comments about them (until now, of course) so I was thinking about just passing them on. No more! I'll read them for sure, hopefully in 2012.

We're at just about the same amount of books for the year. I've got 153 right now and would like to read another if I could, but don't know if I can swing it. In any case, this is probably the most I've read in one year in my adult life, so I'll take it!

Congrats on your great success, and I look forward to your review!

#217 Well, Laura, I like the Finch books but not everyone does. The love for these is not nearly as unanimous as for the Louise Penny mysteries, say.

I'm watching the Blackhawks hockey game and sort of wishing I could sneak peeks at my Kindle copy of the Finch book. Maybe at the intermissions.

Except for Thursday, I should be getting a lot of reading in the next few days as I'm off til Tuesday. Sunday's busy, too, as we celebrate my niece's 11th birthday, which is actually today.

Linda, it sounds like you had a pretty good Christmas, book-wise. Glad that you got Art of Fielding - I'm sure we'll be seeing your reactions to it pretty soon.

I've already found your new thread and have it starred, so I'm ready for the new year.

#219 Sandy, oh yes, it was a good Christmas for books. Besides the books I was given, I used my Amazon gift cards to buy a few books. I picked up Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard, Master and Commander, the naval novel, and Thinking, Fast and Slow.

I used the rest of my Amazon cards to buy a case for my new GPS.

I've been seeing Thinking Fast and Slow on the library lists lately. It sounds so much like Invisible Gorilla that I read a couple of months ago that I haven't been anxious to give it a try. I'll be looking forward to your reaction to it. Master and Commander is one of those books that I want to want to read, if that makes sense. Not sure I'm ready to actually take it on, though - it looks pretty daunting.

One of my 12 in 12 categories is 2011 NY Times notable books. One such book is Thinking Fast and Slow. There are probably 20 books in all that I want to read, out of the 100 books on the list. A lot of them are not "my usual" type.

Book #153
A Burial at Sea by Charles Finch

If, as expected, this fifth book in the Charles Lenox series is my last book read in 2011, I'm going out with a flourish as this was probably my favorite mystery of the year.

In it, Charles is off to Egypt on a navy ship, in order to accomplish some diplomatic objectives for England. With murders onboard, this is, in effect, a modified locked room mystery.

Loved it, but then again, I love this series, which is one of my favorites, probably a top 5 series for me. I missed seeing all the other regular characters but, overall, really enjoyed this one.

Linda, I've never heard of the Charles Lenox mysteries, but you've piqued my interest! I must see if our local library has them. Thanks for the tip.

Isn't it great when the last book of the year is a good one?