Muggle Not - Books Read - 2015

[Athena]

My sister visited the Niagara Falls last year, and she will be visiting them again this year (but this time with her boyfriend). Last year she had a conference in Toronto, this year her boyfriend has a conference somewhere so they're making it a holiday together, before it starts. Then my sister will fly back home and her boyfriend will attend his conference. They're both doing their PhDs at the moment. My sister really liked the Niagara Falls.

[Chrissy]

The only leg pull was that I'd gone off you. Aside from that........s'all true.

 

XXX

[Anna Begins]

My sister visited the Niagara Falls last year, and she will be visiting them again this year (but this time with her boyfriend). Last year she had a conference in Toronto, this year her boyfriend has a conference somewhere so they're making it a holiday together, before it starts. Then my sister will fly back home and her boyfriend will attend his conference. They're both doing their PhDs at the moment. My sister really liked the Niagara Falls.

Do you know if they do the "Mist boat" where you go around the falls and everyone gets soaked?  If I thought I could've braved it, I totally would of.

 

Ahhh okay that makes more sense. I too was underwhelmed by the Falls. Worth popping out to see for sure, but meh. Wouldn't bother going back again to be honest.

The Canadian side seemed so different to us, with all its neon and casino's and such, ours was just like parks and open spaces with manicured grass  But oddly enough, we did see people on the rocks to the stream that went right off into the falls  One woman bathed her face in the water

 

I figured Muggle would have some cool PHOTO or story about the falls but... I guess not

[Nollaig]

Do you know if they do the "Mist boat" where you go around the falls and everyone gets soaked? If I thought I could've braved it, I totally would of.

 

The Canadian side seemed so different to us, with all its neon and casino's and such, ours was just like parks and open spaces with manicured grass  But oddly enough, we did see people on the rocks to the stream that went right off into the falls  One woman bathed her face in the water

 

I figured Muggle would have some cool PHOTO or story about the falls but... I guess not

 

Yeah, 'Maid Of The Mist'. I didn't do it, though I had originally planned to, as I did a thing where you go down into the cliff behind the falls and can go outside to, well, get splashed by it while you're standing on solid ground, see below It was insanely loud!

 

 

There were lots of fun stories on the walls about all the people who went over the falls in various modes of transportation (or in the case of a couple, with nothing). Many of them died, unsurprisingly

 

I don't blame people for standing on the rocks next to it, to be honest. When I go to anything cliff-like in Ireland, I go as close to the edge as possible. Did the same at the Grand Canyon. Silly, maybe, but the 'ooooh!' factor is fun I'd love to see the woman who bathed her face in it, in Ireland. She'd have a field day with ancient burial sites, fairy forts, ruined castles and other things that are literally thousands of years old, if she enjoys a bit of famous flowing water

 

Muggle, you're letting the team down

[Anna Begins]

Yeah, 'Maid Of The Mist'. I didn't do it, though I had originally planned to, as I did a thing where you go down into the cliff behind the falls and can go outside to, well, get splashed by it while you're standing on solid ground, see below It was insanely loud!

 

falls.jpg

 

There were lots of fun stories on the walls about all the people who went over the falls in various modes of transportation (or in the case of a couple, with nothing). Many of them died, unsurprisingly

 

I don't blame people for standing on the rocks next to it, to be honest. When I go to anything cliff-like in Ireland, I go as close to the edge as possible. Did the same at the Grand Canyon. Silly, maybe, but the 'ooooh!' factor is fun I'd love to see the woman who bathed her face in it, in Ireland. She'd have a field day with ancient burial sites, fairy forts, ruined castles and other things that are literally thousands of years old, if she enjoys a bit of famous flowing water

 

Muggle, you're letting the team down

 Ya where is he??

 

I've heard of that hike to get behind the falls, would've loved to have done that but I think it is only a Canadian side thing and I did have a 6 month old strapped to my front lol  I am ADDICTED to stories of people that go over those falls... it totally fascinates me. 

 

Speaking of going to the edge: did you hear about the guy who recently climbed UP the frozen part

 

[Nollaig]

People do the strangest things! I have never understood it - I mean, I guess I get the idea of taking on a difficult task and feeling the sense of achievement and pride when you manage it, but why would anyone choose climbing up a frozen waterfall as the task to do that?

[muggle not]

Sorry, I have no photos of Niagara Falls. We drove by the Falls once on our way to Toronto but we didn't stop. We were racing at Mosport  International Raceway (in  Bowmanville - town near Toronto) and only photos I have are of auto racing and of our female driver.

 

Talking of Canada though, once on vacation in Maine we drove up to Montreal with the intent of then driving South-West in Canada along the Saint Lawrence river and crossing back into the U.S.. This was before I had GPS and I had it all mapped out on paper. little did I know that all the road signs in Montreal were in French. We were in the middle of the city with all the overpasses, underpasses, and freeways and I was completely lost. It was a miracle that we got out of the city.

Edited April 12, 2015 by muggle not

[poppy]

Only just caught up with your photos Muggles, what an absolutely gorgeous veranda and house! Love the trees outside and the library! Thought the little alien dude was cute You do realise we're all on our way to visit you now, don't you?? Yeah, yeah, I know you've moved .... but don't worry, we'll find you

[muggle not]

Only just caught up with your photos Muggles, what an absolutely gorgeous veranda and house! Love the trees outside and the library! Thought the little alien dude was cute You do realise we're all on our way to visit you now, don't you?? Yeah, yeah, I know you've moved .... but don't worry, we'll find you

Yeah, yeah, I hear you.  No one volunteered though when all the leaves were on the ground in the fall and had to be raked. Not to mention when it snowed and the driveway had to be shoveled.

Edited April 15, 2015 by muggle not

[muggle not]

_{19. Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens - 10/10 - I enjoyed this book even more than Great Expectations. I don't think there is a better author in the use of descriptions than Charles Dickens. It was a great book and a great read by a great author.}

_{18. Unbroken - Laura Hillenbrand - 9/10 - A great read. Non-Fiction doesn't get much better than this.}

_{17. The Language of Hoofbeats - Catherine Ryan Hyde - 7.5/10 - A good read. A good read and as usual I shed a tear in the CRH book.}

_{16. The Humans - Matt Haig - 9/10 - What a wonderful book. One of the best I have read this year,}

_{15. The Last Dragonslayer - Jasper Fforde - 8/10 - Nice book. I really enjoyed it. The heroine, Jennifer Strange, was a delight.}

_{14. Gathering Blue - Lois Lowry - 8/10 - I loved the book and the surprises it sprung on me although I thought something was going on. I immediately put the Messenger on hold at the library.}

_{13. Shades of Grey - Jasper Fforde - 8/10...The deeper into the book I got the more I liked it. I can't wait until the next book in this series is written.}

_{12. Thursday Next: First Among Sequels - Jasper Fforde - 7/10.....first half of book was ok, second half was very good and I enjoyed it. I like Thursday Next.}

_{11. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd - Agatha Christie - 9/10}

_{10. The Bridge - Robert Knott (Robert B. Parker follow-up) - 7/10}

_{9. Breakfast of Champions - Kurt Vonnegut - sorry, no review / no rating....this just wasn't my type of book and it wouldn't be fair for me to rate it.}

_{8. Murder On The Orient Express - 9/10 - Excellent & enjoyable book}

_{7. The Universe Versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extence - 8/10 or probably 9/10 ...I really liked this book which is the first written by Gavin Extence.}

_{6. Criminal by Karin Slaughter - 7/10}

_{5. 1984 by George Orwell - 7/10 or maybe 8/10}

_{4. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie 9/10}

_{3. The Girl Who Saved The King of Sweden by Jonas Jonasson - 8/10....a delightful book and I enjoyed it tremendously. Thanks for the recommendation.}

_{2. Gray Mountain by John Grisham - 8/10}

_{1. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee - 10/10....I can't say enough about this book. Absolutely a great book. One of the best I have ever read.}

Edited April 15, 2015 by muggle not

[Athena]

I'm glad you enjoyed Oliver Twist. What will you read next?

[poppy]

Yeah, yeah, I hear you.  No one volunteered though when all the leaves were on the ground in the fall and had to be raked. Not to mention when it snowed and the driveway had to be shoveled.

 

You should have organised a BCF working bee But I can imagine the wrench it would have been for you two to leave such a beautiful place and surrounds.

[nursenblack]

Oh, I'm glad you liked Gray Mountain, it's on my wishlist.  I think I've only read one Grisham novel before, but this one is set close to the area I live, so pretty neat.

[muggle not]

I'm glad you enjoyed Oliver Twist. What will you read next?

I couldn't make up my mind so I started a book from my bookcase..... Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck. This will be my third reading of it.

[muggle not]

Oh, I'm glad you liked Gray Mountain, it's on my wishlist.  I think I've only read one Grisham novel before, but this one is set close to the area I live, so pretty neat.

The story is great. Whether or not you like it may depend on which side you are on as Grisham doesn't pull any punches in this book. I really enjoyed it and I hope you also do.

[Athena]

I couldn't make up my mind so I started a book from my bookcase..... Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck. This will be my third reading of it.

I hope you enjoy it ! I have it on my TBR.

[muggle not]

 

_{20. Tortilla Flat - John Steinbeck - 9/10 - This was my third reading of Tortilla Flat but my last read was about 10 years ago.}

_{19. Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens - 10/10 - I enjoyed this book even more than Great Expectations. I don't think there is a better author in the use of descriptions than Charles Dickens. It was a great book and a great read by a great author.}

_{18. Unbroken - Laura Hillenbrand - 9/10 - A great read. Non-Fiction doesn't get much better than this.}

_{17. The Language of Hoofbeats - Catherine Ryan Hyde - 7.5/10 - A good read. A good read and as usual I shed a tear in the CRH book.}

_{16. The Humans - Matt Haig - 9/10 - What a wonderful book. One of the best I have read this year,}

_{15. The Last Dragonslayer - Jasper Fforde - 8/10 - Nice book. I really enjoyed it. The heroine, Jennifer Strange, was a delight.}

_{14. Gathering Blue - Lois Lowry - 8/10 - I loved the book and the surprises it sprung on me although I thought something was going on. I immediately put the Messenger on hold at the library.}

_{13. Shades of Grey - Jasper Fforde - 8/10...The deeper into the book I got the more I liked it. I can't wait until the next book in this series is written.}

_{12. Thursday Next: First Among Sequels - Jasper Fforde - 7/10.....first half of book was ok, second half was very good and I enjoyed it. I like Thursday Next.}

_{11. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd - Agatha Christie - 9/10}

_{10. The Bridge - Robert Knott (Robert B. Parker follow-up) - 7/10}

_{9. Breakfast of Champions - Kurt Vonnegut - sorry, no review / no rating....this just wasn't my type of book and it wouldn't be fair for me to rate it.}

_{8. Murder On The Orient Express - 9/10 - Excellent & enjoyable book}

_{7. The Universe Versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extence - 8/10 or probably 9/10 ...I really liked this book which is the first written by Gavin Extence.}

_{6. Criminal by Karin Slaughter - 7/10}

_{5. 1984 by George Orwell - 7/10 or maybe 8/10}

_{4. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie 9/10}

_{3. The Girl Who Saved The King of Sweden by Jonas Jonasson - 8/10....a delightful book and I enjoyed it tremendously. Thanks for the recommendation.}

_{2. Gray Mountain by John Grisham - 8/10}

_{1. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee - 10/10....I can't say enough about this book. Absolutely a great book. One of the best I have ever read.}

Edited April 22, 2015 by muggle not

[Athena]

I'm glad you liked re-reading Tortilla Flat .

[muggle not]

_{21. Memory Man - David Baldacci - 8.5/10 - The Memory Man is #1 locally on the best seller list. I totally enjoyed this first in a new series by Baldacci. Very suspenseful.}

_{20. Tortilla Flat - John Steinbeck - 9/10 - This was my third reading of Tortilla Flat but my last read was about 10 years ago.}

_{19. Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens - 10/10 - I enjoyed this book even more than Great Expectations. I don't think there is a better author in the use of descriptions than Charles Dickens. It was a great book and a great read by a great author.}

_{18. Unbroken - Laura Hillenbrand - 9/10 - A great read. Non-Fiction doesn't get much better than this.}

_{17. The Language of Hoofbeats - Catherine Ryan Hyde - 7.5/10 - A good read. A good read and as usual I shed a tear in the CRH book.}

_{16. The Humans - Matt Haig - 9/10 - What a wonderful book. One of the best I have read this year,}

_{15. The Last Dragonslayer - Jasper Fforde - 8/10 - Nice book. I really enjoyed it. The heroine, Jennifer Strange, was a delight.}

Edited April 26, 2015 by muggle not

[muggle not]

_{22. The Song of the Quarkbeast - Jasper Fforde - 8/10 - Enjoyable reading. The first 20% of the book went slow but then got interesting. Jennifer Strange continues to be a delight. I will probably soon read the third book in the series.}

_{21. Memory Man - David Baldacci - 8.5/10 - The Memory Man is #1 locally on the best seller list. I totally enjoyed this first in a new series by Baldacci. Very suspenseful.}

_{20. Tortilla Flat - John Steinbeck - 9/10 - This was my third reading of Tortilla Flat but my last read was about 10 years ago.}

_{19. Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens - 10/10 - I enjoyed this book even more than Great Expectations. I don't think there is a better author in the use of descriptions than Charles Dickens. It was a great book and a great read by a great author.}

_{18. Unbroken - Laura Hillenbrand - 9/10 - A great read. Non-Fiction doesn't get much better than this.}

_{17. The Language of Hoofbeats - Catherine Ryan Hyde - 7.5/10 - A good read. A good read and as usual I shed a tear in the CRH book.}

_{16. The Humans - Matt Haig - 9/10 - What a wonderful book. One of the best I have read this year,}

_{15. The Last Dragonslayer - Jasper Fforde - 8/10 - Nice book. I really enjoyed it. The heroine, Jennifer Strange, was a delight.}

 

_{I downloaded David Copperfield by Charles Dickens from the library last night and will start reading it today/tonight..}

Edited May 1, 2015 by muggle not

[Peacefield]

Is this a new series for Jasper Fforde, Muggle?  The books featuring Jennifer Strange?  If so I think I need to get on board!  

[muggle not]

Is this a new series for Jasper Fforde, Muggle?  The books featuring Jennifer Strange?  If so I think I need to get on board!  

Yes, it is a fairly new series by Jasper Fforde. It features the delightful 16 year old Jennifer Strange but there are a number of characters that are interesting. I have recently read the first two books and undoubtedly will soon read the third. J

 

The Last Dragonslayer: The Chronicles of Kazam, Book 1

In the good old days, magic was indispensable—it could both save a kingdom and clear a clogged drain. But now magic is fading: drain cleaner is cheaper than a spell, and magic carpets are used for pizza delivery. Fifteen-year-old foundling Jennifer Strange runs Kazam, an employment agency for magicians—but it’s hard to stay in business when magic is drying up. And then the visions start, predicting the death of the world’s last dragon at the hands of an unnamed Dragonslayer. If the visions are true, everything will change for Kazam—and for Jennifer. Because something is coming. Something known as . . . Big Magic.

 

The Song of the Quarkbeast: The Chronicles of Kazam, Book 2

 

The Eye of Zoltar (The Chronicles of Kazam Book 3)

[muggle not]

I have lost my yearning for reading, surely it is a temporary thing. Probably due to other things going on in my life and a little stress.

[Nollaig]

 

Hope your mojo comes back soon, and the stress lessens.

[Athena]

I hope you'll feel better soon, Muggle Not .