Julie ~ "Lucky" 2013 ~ Booklist

[julie]

Hi Kidsmum and Devi

 

 My first copy was an old battered paperback . I don't keep my books after I read them ,so I have no clue where that one went. I had this one for my Kindle, so it's still available that way .

 Yes, Pinky liked both the Jeeter girls, but he chose the Bald Jeeter because he reckoned that she could wear her wig ( she had 2 different colored ones ), and she'd look better . His reasoning was that you can cover up the baldness easier than covering up the Fatness . I don't think his book would be politically correct by today's standards, but it was a boy telling about the people,so sometimes kids aren't always real tactful when it comes to what they say .

Edited October 24, 2013 by julie

[Athena]

That sounds like an interesting book, Julie !

[julie]

Thanks Athena

 -it really was a good book ,and very funny .

[julie]

I found another link on here for another book challenge , made by Amazon ,  I like the idea of it ,since you choose which book you'd like to read off their list .

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?docId=1001224561

 

 

I listed another a few posts back about one that is supposedly the 50 most "famous" books from our country. Of the 50, I've read 20 . I don't know who made the list, but I can think of many other books that would have been better than the ones chosen. I think each person would be able to make their own list of what books they would choose .

 

Anyhow, I don't like to be on an exact reading schedule where you have a required book, or a certain time frame to complete it . I think reading should be FUN ,so the more restricted the rules are ,the less fun it becomes .

 

I'd like to think of a better game plan for the upcoming year, in which I can make reading more fun for ME .

 

I've seen a few people put the names of all their books on slips of paper ,then they put them in a jar. They reach in, pull out a paper ,and read the book on that slip . It sounds fun, but would also restrict your reading if it was a book you weren't in the mood to read at the time .

 

I also like the Challenge ideas. There are so many neat sounding ones, but it also restricts your reading in a way .

 

So, I'm not sure what to do in the coming year. With this year winding down ,and only a couple months left, I'm pondering how to make reading more fun, choose books that I really enjoy ,and pick up a higher total for next year .This year was a bummer in many areas ,which bled over into my reading enjoyment .

 

From here on out, I need to find a new plan that will keep me focused more on my reading and less on the outside issues .

 

Still pondering , but I've got some ideas swirling around in there anyhow . 

[poppyshake]

Great review Julie. I love the sound of A Short History of a Small Place .. it's going on my wishlist

 

I don't think I could do the jar thing .. though perhaps the jar would do a better job of picking books for me  Good luck with your swirling ideas Julie .. let them ferment in there for a while before tipping them out   

[julie]

Pops

Yep, I think they need to ferment like old wine, or in my location, Moonshine .   Drink enough of that and it'll sandblast your innards til they are squeaky clean .

Your brain cells would probably also get blasted ,so maybe I should look into some comic books instead .

[pontalba]

Interesting link on Amazon Julie, thanks for posting. 

 

I have a difficult time picking a next read, usually.  I dither, and look, and sigh and generally muck about till something pokes me. heh

[Devi]

Interesting link on Amazon Julie, thanks for posting. 

 

I have a difficult time picking a next read, usually.  I dither, and look, and sigh and generally muck about till something pokes me. heh

This is me too. I am also thinking about doing a reading plan next year, but one that isn't too restrictive. If you come up with one, would you let me know?

[frankie]

Loads of interesting posts on here, Julie!

 

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

 

This book is going on my wishlist, thanks! Always happy to find a new great true crime title to look out for.

 

Next book on the list is The Rosie Project  by Graeme Simsion ( Love the spelling of his name ).Another Australian Author hits it big ! They have some great talent over that way . Getting great reviews and praise online, so I'll see if it lives up to the hoopla ..

 

I didn't know he was Australian

 

I like the first sentence :

 

I may have found a solution to the Wife Problem .

 

 

Immediately I'm wondering what the problem is ? Does he have one who is giving him trouble ? Is HE in trouble with the Wife ? 

 

We shall see .......  

 

A great first sentence for a book, I love it I'm sorry to hear, though, that you lost your mojo with it and put it down... Well, some other time then, aye?

 

 

For anyone interested in a new challenge :

 

http://www.businessinsider.com/most-famous-book-set-in-every-state-map-2013-10

 

Read your way across the USA. Supposedly the most famous book set in each state .

 

Thanks for the link, I'll take a closer look... I have too many challenges to go as it is, so that might be too much for me, but I might want to hold on to the link anyways... Just to get some ideas...

 

I found another link on here for another book challenge , made by Amazon ,  I like the idea of it ,since you choose which book you'd like to read off their list .

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?docId=1001224561

 

And thanks for this one, too, seems interesting! Going to have a closer look now...

 

[Athena]

I've seen people make a book jar on YouTube and while I think it'd be lots of fun to make one, it'd be difficult if I chose the book while not taking it out of the jar, then you'd have to open up all the pieces of paper to get it out (never mind the fact that I don't think a jar is big enough to hold all my unread books ). That's why, a while ago, I started to write a program that would randomly pick a book, based on a number of questions (ie. a specific genre / all, physical book / ebook / all, unread / read / all, etc.) Unfortunately I made it a bit complicated so I never got as far as to work, mainly because I got too tired from my university work so didn't have any energy left to work on the program (programming costs me quite a bit of energy). I was going to make it so you give the program a text file with the information it needs. I'm not sure how I'd feel about randomly picking a book, normally I pick what I feel like reading or sometimes based on a theme (ie. soon I plan to read 'Christmassy' books). I haven't yet thought about next year, so far I've been too stressed to deviate too much from the "read what I feel like" thing. But maybe next year I'm up for more, I don't know (we can hope). There are many books I want to read, there's just not enough energy and time to read them. I hope you can find a nice reading plan that works for you . Are there any particular books you hope to be reading in the next while?

[julie]

Interesting link on Amazon Julie, thanks for posting. 

 

I have a difficult time picking a next read, usually.  I dither, and look, and sigh and generally muck about till something pokes me. heh

Kate

Yea, that definitely sounds like me, between books . I might start several before I finally latch onto one that keeps my attention .Maybe everyone does the same . I know I've heard people say that if they find a book they really love, that it

s more difficult to find another one after that, because none seem to measure up to the one you just finished .

 

 

 

This is me too. I am also thinking about doing a reading plan next year, but one that isn't too restrictive. If you come up with one, would you let me know?

 

I'll do some thinking on it Devi . If I come up with an idea, I'll let you know . 

 

Loads of interesting posts on here, Julie!

 

 

This book is going on my wishlist, thanks! Always happy to find a new great true crime title to look out for.

 

 

I didn't know he was Australian

 

 

A great first sentence for a book, I love it I'm sorry to hear, though, that you lost your mojo with it and put it down... Well, some other time then, aye?

 

 

 

Thanks for the link, I'll take a closer look... I have too many challenges to go as it is, so that might be too much for me, but I might want to hold on to the link anyways... Just to get some ideas...

 

 

And thanks for this one, too, seems interesting! Going to have a closer look now...

 

 

Frankie

Glad you found some interesting things in here . I come in here and babble a lot .

 

The Burial Rites book was SO good. A novel based on a true crime . I thought the writer did an excellent job .The atmosphere I think, was the best part . It literally described the weather, the sky, the trees, the ground ... it made you feel like you had been to Iceland before ,she described it so well. You could actually FEEL the cold and the starkness of the place . Very interesting story, and one that leaves you questioning the guilt of the person, how much of a part she played , and what punishment did she deserve ? I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on it if you read it .

 

Also, I'll probably pick the Rosie book up again at some point, when the right mood hits .

 

I agree about the Challenges . Always tons of them to try . It sometimes gets overwhelming because they all sound like fun . I think it'd be fun to just keep a running tally of them for inspiration at a later date .

 

I've seen people make a book jar on YouTube and while I think it'd be lots of fun to make one, it'd be difficult if I chose the book while not taking it out of the jar, then you'd have to open up all the pieces of paper to get it out (never mind the fact that I don't think a jar is big enough to hold all my unread books ). That's why, a while ago, I started to write a program that would randomly pick a book, based on a number of questions (ie. a specific genre / all, physical book / ebook / all, unread / read / all, etc.) Unfortunately I made it a bit complicated so I never got as far as to work, mainly because I got too tired from my university work so didn't have any energy left to work on the program (programming costs me quite a bit of energy). I was going to make it so you give the program a text file with the information it needs. I'm not sure how I'd feel about randomly picking a book, normally I pick what I feel like reading or sometimes based on a theme (ie. soon I plan to read 'Christmassy' books). I haven't yet thought about next year, so far I've been too stressed to deviate too much from the "read what I feel like" thing. But maybe next year I'm up for more, I don't know (we can hope). There are many books I want to read, there's just not enough energy and time to read them. I hope you can find a nice reading plan that works for you . Are there any particular books you hope to be reading in the next while?

 

Athena

 Yes, I've seen the people do the jar method to figure out what book to read next. Your "random" type project you were working on sounded like a good idea. Maybe when you feel more like working on it again, you can come up with something that will be easier for you ,that won't be quite as taxing physically and mentally .

[poppyshake]

Pops

Yep, I think they need to ferment like old wine, or in my location, Moonshine .   Drink enough of that and it'll sandblast your innards til they are squeaky clean .

Would it work well on ovens do you think?

[julie]

I think it'd clean anything that needs cleaned . Ovens, car tires, mold & mildew , You name it, it would make anything clean as a whistle .

And probably make steam blow out your earholes after you take a slug of it .

[pontalba]

This is me too. I am also thinking about doing a reading plan next year, but one that isn't too restrictive. If you come up with one, would you let me know?

 

LOL  If I ever come up with a plan that I'd stick with, I'll let you know.   Not likely though.  I guess I'm too moody and dither too much.  I'm a bit like Julie....start many, finally stick to one.

Kate

Yea, that definitely sounds like me, between books . I might start several before I finally latch onto one that keeps my attention .Maybe everyone does the same . I know I've heard people say that if they find a book they really love, that it

s more difficult to find another one after that, because none seem to measure up to the one you just finished .

 

 

 

 

I'll do some thinking on it Devi . If I come up with an idea, I'll let you know . 

 

 

 

Frankie

Glad you found some interesting things in here . I come in here and babble a lot .

 

The Burial Rites book was SO good. A novel based on a true crime . I thought the writer did an excellent job .The atmosphere I think, was the best part . It literally described the weather, the sky, the trees, the ground ... it made you feel like you had been to Iceland before ,she described it so well. You could actually FEEL the cold and the starkness of the place . Very interesting story, and one that leaves you questioning the guilt of the person, how much of a part she played , and what punishment did she deserve ? I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on it if you read it .

 

Also, I'll probably pick the Rosie book up again at some point, when the right mood hits .

 

I agree about the Challenges . Always tons of them to try . It sometimes gets overwhelming because they all sound like fun . I think it'd be fun to just keep a running tally of them for inspiration at a later date .

 

 

Athena

 Yes, I've seen the people do the jar method to figure out what book to read next. Your "random" type project you were working on sounded like a good idea. Maybe when you feel more like working on it again, you can come up with something that will be easier for you ,that won't be quite as taxing physically and mentally .

 

I don't know if reading a really riveting book puts the kibosh on following reading.  Maybe, yes....maybe, no.  I think that whatever the book was, I want to read another in the same genre to follow it up, and extend the happiness. 

 

Would it work well on ovens do you think?

 

Maybe.  But Coca Cola will for sure. If it'll dissolve copper pennies, it'll clean an oven I'm sure! 

[julie]

LOL  If I ever come up with a plan that I'd stick with, I'll let you know.   Not likely though.  I guess I'm too moody and dither too much.  I'm a bit like Julie....start many, finally stick to one.

 

I don't know if reading a really riveting book puts the kibosh on following reading.  Maybe, yes....maybe, no.  I think that whatever the book was, I want to read another in the same genre to follow it up, and extend the happiness. 

 

 

Maybe.  But Coca Cola will for sure. If it'll dissolve copper pennies, it'll clean an oven I'm sure! 

 

 

That's all I drink ! Straight Coke .  

[julie]

I am so excited - I just found a used book for ONE dollar that is hardback and called First Daughters: Letters Between US Presidents and Their Daughters .

 

 

It has old photos of some of the first daughters, along with pics of the actual letters sent . I love old letters and photos and history, so this book is right up my alley .  

[poppyshake]

That sounds like a great book Julie and what a bargain! .. you'll enjoy it I'm sure

 

I don't think I'll drink Coke any more    

[julie]

Interested in any more reading challenges ? Have a look at this :

 

http://novelchallenges.blogspot.com/

 

Newest challenges in the center ,TONS of challenges on the left column .

[Athena]

That's pretty interesting !

[Little Pixie]

  So, I'm not sure what to do in the coming year. With this year winding down ,and only a couple months left, I'm pondering how to make reading more fun, choose books that I really enjoy ,and pick up a higher total for next year .This year was a bummer in many areas ,which bled over into my reading enjoyment .

 

Boo ; Fingers crossed for a better 2014 for you.

[julie]

Thanks Pixie -- 

 

I'm trying to train my brain to think about positive things ,which would be reading ,and books ,and people to talk to about them ... next year HAS to be better ..

 

 I'm trying to keep focused on other areas instead of the sad parts .

 

So, it's a never -ending challenge to come up with a reading plan or a list of books to read that are so good they keep my brain busy .

 

I could put together about 74 challenges and try to keep up with them all. That might do it .

[Athena]

I think it's good you're trying to think of positive things. I hope you can find a nice reading plan or challenge/s to help you.

[julie]

Thank you Athena

 

 It's nice to have backup people  

 

I've been running around today doing a combo of TWO holidays in one .

 

Tonight is Trick or Treat in our town ,so I went to get candy to pass out ,plus some special treats for my grandson . He's coming right after school to hang out with me a bit . 

I also picked up a few Christmas doo-dads  for the tree . I need to figure out which tree to use this year. I like the odd colored ones ,so I have a white one, a silver one and a black one. The black is my favorite since it's so different.

Last year I decorated with all blue and silver, so this year I'm going back to the regular green and red .  Do you guys do a tree and such or isn't that the  way your country celebrates ? When I was a kid, I had a book that told how every country celebrates holidays in different ways .

 

On the Book Front, I haven't had a lot of time this morning yet to get any plans in place, but Kylie figured up a chart for me as far as how many books per year I need to read to complete the 1001 list.  45 a year . I haven't figured up how many years I'd have to live to reach that goal, but I'm guessing I'll be wearing a BIB and PLASTIC UNDERPANTS by then . Hope I can still make sense of what I read by that age .  

[Athena]

Yes we have a tree! I might post a picture of it later this year, it'd be interesting to see what people's trees look like. We normally don't buy or decorate it until in December somewhere, usually after Sinterklaas (5 December) somewhere. Our family has always had real trees, either from our garden or from a shop. Some people here use a fake one, which I like less but I agree it gives less mess to clean up. We normally hang several kinds of ornaments in it, ie. Christmas balls (kerstballen, as we call them). We used to also put Christmas chocolate (kerstkransjes, they're lovely) in the tree, but then one of our dogs (back in the time) ate them so we stopped doing that (our other dog never batted an eyelid for them) (gladly she didn't become ill). At the top we usually put an ornament we call 'piek'. I could find an older picture of our tree but I'm not on my desktop computer atm. Have fun decorating your tree !

 

45 books per year, that's a lot! I hope you'll be able to make sense of what you're reading for a long time .

[pontalba]

That's all I drink ! Straight Coke .  

 

 

That sounds like a great book Julie and what a bargain! .. you'll enjoy it I'm sure

 

I don't think I'll drink Coke any more    

 

Uh oh!!     I had to give them up about 10 years ago.  IBS

 

I am so excited - I just found a used book for ONE dollar that is hardback and called First Daughters: Letters Between US Presidents and Their Daughters .

 

 

It has old photos of some of the first daughters, along with pics of the actual letters sent . I love old letters and photos and history, so this book is right up my alley .  

 

Looks neat!