Anna Begins

Thanks! I wanted to begin it Monday, so I think I will have to read it along with Nagasaki. I don't think I can finish it today

I did that play! I've only seen bits and pieces of the movie. Watched Monster with Charlize Theron about serial killer Aileen Wuornos, who was put to death in 2002. I've seen it before, but it was a first for my mom, who loves True Crime. So sad.

I'm so glad you enjoyed them! I know Wheel of Time is one of your favorites. Oh no! I was thinking about you during this read a thon! I hope the mojo comes back soon. That's still great! I hope you feel better soon Here's what I did yesterday, I though it was more, but I didn't read much at night. 8/8: 40 pages, What We Talk About When We Talk About Love 125 pages, Nagasaki: Life After Nuclear War Total: 165 pages So not too great, disappointing. We watched a movie last night instead, but I was anxious to get back to Nagasaki.

Thanks! I can't wait for number four, once the read a thon ends I'm in that enjoyment period in a series, just before you get that "I don't want it to end" feeling!

I would think you'd be a tad burned out, yes Did you enjoy the Wheel of Time graphic novels? Other than them being on the computer?

I started yesterday with the monthly read a thon. 30 pages- The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory (finished) 60 pages- Nagasaki: Life After Nuclear War by Susan Southard 116 pages- What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver Total= 206 pages

I finished The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory and will begin book 4 in the series, The Kingmaker's Daughter. I have also started Nagasaki: Life After Nuclear War by Susan Southard, ahead of the anniversary. Since it is also the read a thon, I will take on a Raymond Carver short story collection as well.

Title: The Lady of the Rivers (Cousins War Series Book 3) Author: Philippa Gregory Genre: Historical Fiction Pages: 513 Finished 8/7/15 Philippa Gregory gives us wonderful insight to Margaret Anjou, by portraying Jacquetta Rivers, Duchess of Bedford, who serves Anjou, in the heart of Henry VI’s royal court. Jacquetta is also the mother of the beautiful Elizabeth (Woodville) Grey, who will fall madly in love with Edward IV, becoming his Queen in The White Queen. While Jacquetta’s story is compelling and she is charismatic, it is a distinct pick up in the book when Margaret of Anjou is featured more and the more she is, the better the book becomes. It is as if Jacquetta becomes a vessel for the telling of Margaret of Anjou’s story, but Jacquetta has a solid tale to match the Queen’s. One thing I should have mentioned long ago, these books are written in first person, from the women’s perspectives. It was refreshing and caught me off guard right away in the first book. It continues to be a brilliant way of storytelling on Gregory’s part. It is also in this way, we feel like we are getting a first- hand account of these events and not fiction of history. It helps lend credence to the gaps Gregory has filled in. Book 3 was not as amazing as 1 or 2 but still a great part of the series. Anne Neville is the focus of book 4, of which I am looking forward to and have already purchased.

Sure! Melba toasts and cottage cheese were a popular diet food in the US (and still are to me!). They are a flat piece of hard bread, sort of like a cracker but shaped more like a small rice cake. They taste sort of like a bland crouton. Wiki tells me it was the Mayo brothers in the 1920's that started the Melba toast "diet". I like them, I think they are good. Have you read any more of Capote's work? I watched the trailer for Holes. I think it looks like a good interpretation of the book! Gotta see Breakfast at Tiffany's now too though

Title: Breakfast at Tiffany’s Author: Truman Copote Genre: Fiction Pages: 111 Oh my, I have been waiting to read Breakfast at Tiffany’s for a loooong time. I loved In Cold Blood and have always wanted to read more of Truman Capote’s work. I was especially intrigued by the differences in genre and scope of his work and Breakfast at Tiffany's was a gem. Holly Golightly is a wonderful character, tumbling around Manhattan in a little black dress and pearls, living on cottage cheese and Melba toasts. I was surprised at how short the story actually is and that it actually has little to do with Tiffany's. My edition came with 3 other short stories, I have yet to get to them (House of Flowers, Diamond Guitar and A Christmas Memory). I loved this little tale of Holly and the delight is at the end, when all of Holly’s secrets are revealed. Or are they? Mysterious and definitely memorable, I highly recommend an hour or two with the character that is Holly Golightly (Traveling).

Title: The Red Queen (Cousins War Series Book 2) Author: Philippa Gregory Genre: Historical Fiction Pages: 404 In The Red Queen, Philippa Gregory brings color to the life of Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII. It could be a stand alone, but why? This series is such a delight to read and enjoy that book 1, The White Queen, automatically leads to book 2. The Red Queen doesn’t disappoint, it might even be better than The White Queen. Pious and guided by the Lord, Margaret Beaufort spends the book promoting her son, Henry Tudor and belittling Elizabeth Woodville, Edward IV’s queen. When the two form a rocky alliance, will Tudor succeed in The Red Queen? The TV show says “Men go to Battle, Women wage War.” That is an apt slogan for this series, which focuses six powerful women during the War of the Roses. From Amazon: Margaret Beaufort never surrenders her belief that her Lancaster house is the true ruler of England, and that she has a great destiny before her. Married to a man twice her age, quickly widowed, and a mother at only fourteen, Margaret is determined to turn her lonely life into a triumph. She sets her heart on putting her son on the throne of England regardless of the cost to herself, to England, and even to the little boy. Disregarding rival heirs and the overwhelming power of the York dynasty, she names him Henry, like the king; sends him into exile; and pledges him in marriage to her enemy’s daughter. As the political tides constantly move and shift, Margaret masterminds one of the greatest rebellions of all time—all the while knowing that her son has grown to manhood, recruited an army, and awaits his opportunity to win the greatest prize in all of England. The Red Queen is a novel of conspiracy, passion, and coldhearted ambition, the story of a proud and determined woman who believes that she alone is destined, by her piety and lineage, to shape the course of history.

Ouch! A 6/10. Sorry it wasn't so great, but at least it pulled itself together in the end!

How was Minority Report? I love Phillip K Dick. He is so strange.

I will be reading Will You Be Quiet, Please by Raymond Carver What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver These are short story collections that will be re-reads Interspersed with those will be short stories by The Plagiarist by Hugh Howey The Box by Hugh Howey Total Recall- Phillip K Dick That's about 500 pages. If Total Recall doesn't work out or I have more time, I'd like to read the short stories from Breakfast at Tiffany's, the short story The Old Equations by Jake Kerr (this has been on the Kindle For-ever) or some from Selected Stories 1968- 1994 by Alice Munro.

That sounds like so much fun, I think you have the right idea Gaia, with the shorter books... it doesn't seem so daunting (Bonus, Divergent word ). I wish I could take part, but I can't spend that much time away from Lady of the Rivers. Which has blue on the cover. I'd probably read Clive Barker's The Thief of Always and knock off the blue and my last name at the same time, its a short, quick read. See! I wanna do it! Have fun, Frankie (and all who take part!)

Read Truman Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's yesterday and Gregory's Lady of the Rivers is picking up nicely.

I even saw it at the grocery store the other day

YUM! Well, good afternoon then

Wow- really?? It's 6 in the morning here! Although, a little gravy and I could probably go for one as well

I have two Hugh Howey short stories waiting for the read a thon (The Plagiarist and The Box), plus two collections by one of my very favorite authors (Raymond Carver) to read. I can't wait! I will probably not read as fast you all I am aiming for about 400 pages. The read a thon challenge sounds so hard!

No, I haven't, but I've heard it is good! I should definitely watch it! It was, Thank you!

I just had pizza.... steak with green onions, parmesan cheese, mushrooms and roasted garlic

Title: Holes Author: Louis Sachar Genre: YA Pages: 241 Teenager Stanley Yelnats IV (spelled the same backwards and forwards) is convicted of a crime he didn’t commit and is given a choice: Jail or Camp Green Lake. Impoverished, Stanley choses the camp, seeing it as the better of the two. When he arrives in a desert hell, where all the boys dig five feet holes in the broiling sun, he changes his mind real quick. A lot of these books have a Lord of the Flies feel. This one had an element of caring and vulnerability that sets it apart. Easy to read, I finished it in a day, you really do want to find out what happens to Stanley. His character could have had more depth and motivation for his actions, and the ending felt rushed. But on the whole, a good read for an otherwise uneventful day!

I enjoyed it, it was good! Those types of books always remind me of Lord of the Flies though. Now I am on to (thanks mom!) The Lady of the Rivers, Philippa Gregory's 3rd book in the Cousins War series

Woohoo! I am so glad to hear this! I can't wait to read Wool, I am a huge Howey fan and hope to read some of his short stories during the next read a thon. I settled on Holes by Louis Sachar, started it last night in bed. Already liking Stanley's no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather