Chaliepud's 2012 Reading Log

[chaliepud]

 

It's hard, isn't it. I really want to buy The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. I spotted it in Bath months and months ago and loved the sound of it and had been patiently waiting for the paperback... and now I can't acquire it!

 

I resolved to reduce my pile and the promptly added three new books (although one was for Book Club, which is an exception to my resolution - and another was a gift...). I finally feel strong enough to try to reduce my pile significantly but it is so difficult. Good luck.

 

*tootles off to look at your 'TR' pile...*

 

That's on my wish list too, don't remind me!!! . Good luck with your pile too!

 

I love the idea of being a comfort buyer, as that's true of me.

 

Almost makes it acceptable Michelle!

 

 

 

I Capture The Castle - Dodie Smith - I’m sorry to say I hated this. I am in a minority though – I don’t know anyone else who felt this way.

 

However, I have read and simply *loved* these titles…

 

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society - Mary Ann Shafer, Annie Barrows - I read this for Book Club a few years ago - very enjoyable

Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier - one of my favourite books *ever*

Mr Rosenblum's List - Natasha Solomons - this was awesome – I loved The Novel in the Viola by the same author too and I hope she writes more soon

The Thoughts and Happenings of Wilfred Price Purveyor of Superior Funerals - Wendy Jones – I’ve just finished this one – it was simply gorgeous!

 

And these are on my own ‘to read’ pile…

 

A Short History of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson - I really like Bryson but this is my stumbling block of his!

The House of the Spirits - Isabel Allende - a World Challenge book - I keep putting this one off too!

Emma - Jane Austen - we tried this for Book Club in 2007 but abandoned it. I've since read and loved Pride and Prejudice, so I'd determined to give it another go

A Monster Calls - Patrick Ness - I bought this when I met Michelle in the summer. It's a lovely illustrated version so I don't want to read it in case I damage it!

The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest - Stieg Larsson - I've enjoyed the other two very much

 

The following are on my ‘wish list’ too.

At The Sign of the Sugared Plum - Mary Hooper - this is on my ‘wish list’ – I have Fallen Grace by the same author that Michelle sent me – I think I might start that one soon.

The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid - Bill Bryson - I love the sound of this

My Sister Lives on the Mantlepiece - Annabel Pitcher - I'm pretty certain someone on here mentioned this - possibly Michelle

 

 

How I LIve Now - Meg Rosoff - I had this one – I’ve no idea what became of it though as I definitely don’t have it now. There is a chance I passed it on when I was having a clear out as my Mum wasn’t keen and we have similar tastes.

 

Thanks Janet, I need to have a plan I think, I was thinking of setting out an order in which to read the books but then realised that would make it a chore so I'll stick with my current method, I choose three books I'd like to read and then my daughter selects one of them for me to read, she takes her role so seriously I now have to do the same for her!

 

There's definitely quite a few books on my shelf which have had great reviews by the wonderful members on this forum so i'll try and start with them, there are a few non fiction ones there too which I find harder to read (even the doggy ones to some extent) so I need inter disperse those between the fiction books.

Edited September 26, 2012 by chaliepud

[chaliepud]

 

 

From your list, I highly recommend Into The Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes. I read it earlier this year and it just blew me away.

 

Thanks bobbly, that's definitely in my top ten! . (How's that puppy of yours doing these days?)

 

Hi Chaliepud I think we are all comfort book buyers to some extent...I am sure you will be able to catch up over autumn....a few rainy afternoons in the armchair with a good book .

 

Sadly I have little time to read during the day but I am going to try and grab half an hour a day, spending less time on the computer would help!

 

Hi again I just checked out your updated TBR. It's not excessively huge by some standards. I have only read 6 from it though. So I must be in the 29% of dissimilarity you have with Lauraloves as I have read quite a lot of hers I think.

 

That must be the SciFi/Fantasy part...

Edited September 26, 2012 by chaliepud

[bobblybear]

Thanks bobbly, that's definitely in my top ten! . (How's that puppy of yours doing these days?)

 

He's gorgeous! He's just over 8 months old now, so growing quickly. I love him to bits!

[chaliepud]

 

 

He's gorgeous! He's just over 8 months old now, so growing quickly. I love him to bits!

 

Do you have any recent pics? Would love to see them if so!

Edited September 27, 2012 by chaliepud

[bobblybear]

^I'll have a look tonight, and upload them to the pets thread.

[chaliepud]

Well, I gave myself the promised half hour reading and finished a book, Home Front by Kristin Hannah. She wrote Night Road, one of my favourite books of 2011 and she didn't disappoint with this offering, her stories are so real I can feel myself there!

 

So now I can start working on my TBR shelf, I've picked out three books for my daughter to choose from....

 

Hollow Pike

The Pain Merchants

How I Live Now

 

All YA books as fancy something easy to read after Home Front which was a wee bit emotional!!

[Michelle]

I'm going to say Hollow Pike every time!

[chaliepud]

I'm going to say Hollow Pike every time!

 

It's been in the group of 3 twice already, maybe it'll get it's turn today!

[poppyshake]

I'd be so interested to hear what you make of How I Live Now. I loved it but Kylie hated it .. and seeing as we almost never disagree on books (though she loved Madame Bovary and Frankenstein .. and I ended up microwaving both of them ) I don't trust my own opinion of it.

[chaliepud]

I'd be so interested to hear what you make of How I Live Now. I loved it but Kylie hated it .. and seeing as we almost never disagree on books (though she loved Madame Bovary and Frankenstein .. and I ended up microwaving both of them ) I don't trust my own opinion of it.

 

Well that is what Maddie chose but I'm sorry to say I practically threw it across the room after only 20 pages, does Ms Rosoff not believe in punctuation?! I was exhausted reading paragraph after paragraph with no commas or full stops, I felt myself asphyxiating!! I'm no punctuation/grammar tyrant but I just knew that book and I were not going to get along.. So it's onto Hollow Pike tomorrow!

[poppyshake]

Well that is what Maddie chose but I'm sorry to say I practically threw it across the room after only 20 pages, does Ms Rosoff not believe in punctuation?! I was exhausted reading paragraph after paragraph with no commas or full stops, I felt myself asphyxiating!! I'm no punctuation/grammar tyrant but I just knew that book and I were not going to get along.. So it's onto Hollow Pike tomorrow!

.. and now you've reminded me of one of the reasons I got on with it when so many didn't .. I never read it .. I listened to it being rather excellently read by Laurel Lefkow .. obviously the punctuation problems completely passed me by. Alan listened to it after me and loved it too but again it may have had a lot to do with the delivery .. you question the story less if it's being read well. I hope you get on much better with Hollow Pike

[vodkafan]

Well that is what Maddie chose but I'm sorry to say I practically threw it across the room after only 20 pages, does Ms Rosoff not believe in punctuation?! I was exhausted reading paragraph after paragraph with no commas or full stops, I felt myself asphyxiating!! I'm no punctuation/grammar tyrant but I just knew that book and I were not going to get along.. So it's onto Hollow Pike tomorrow!

 

Had to chuckle imagining you doing this Chaliepud. Think I will avoid that one then

[frankie]

Also finished Red Dog by Louis De Bernieres, oh my it's only 115 pages long but my heart was won on the first few pages, I loved it, loved it, loved it! If you like dogs at all you must read it! :)

 

I was reading through your reading log and spotted this post. I must ask: do you think you are going to see the movie? It's just recently appeared in the library and I borrowed it. I just hope my old desktop computer is able to play it properly!

 

OK, I'm officially useless!!!

 

Shush, you are NOT useless!

 

 

I have now updated by TBR list (on page 1 of this blog if you're interested, I'll understand if not!!) and I am going to make a concerted effort to not buy any more books until I have made a serious serious dent in the pile, I hate clutter and mess and my shelves aren't looking as neat as they could

 

You can clear your shelves and make them look nice, that way you won't feel so bad about the books you've bought This is a book loving, book buying community, we've all been there, it doesn't matter, at least if the books you've recently required are ones you really wanted and are going to read!

 

I only have one book on pre order so have no excuses for buying any more (other than that I am a comfort buyer, some people comfort eat, I comfort shop!! ) I have decided that if I have an shopping urge that cannot be ignored I will either buy a book for the children or a friend, or I will indulge in a cookery book or two..

 

I think it's all too familiar to us, the buying of books for comfort Fortunately I'm personally skint and can't afford books, but the worse is I've started to borrow books from the library for comfort!

 

Edit: I almost forgot! I've been meaning to ask you about your new avatar: what's the deal? You haven't gotten a new dog, have you?

 

Also: We had this TV show a few weeks back, which I thought you might either know or be interested in. It was a UK production (I don't know from which year, though), I can't recall the name of it but it was about six (or so) young teenagers who had different kinds of problems (one was overly shy, another was a lazy dope-smoking gangsta, etc.) and they were assigned on this programme in which they were to train a dog (from a doggie shelter) to show in the Crufts (which you and I've talked about!). It was pretty great. I think three or four out of the six kids ended up adopting their dog in training, it was so cool that so many of the dogs got a loving home Have you seen the show?

[chaliepud]

 

.. and now you've reminded me of one of the reasons I got on with it when so many didn't .. I never read it .. I listened to it being rather excellently read by Laurel Lefkow .. obviously the punctuation problems completely passed me by. Alan listened to it after me and loved it too but again it may have had a lot to do with the delivery .. you question the story less if it's being read well. I hope you get on much better with Hollow Pike

 

I bet Laurel used poetic licence and added a few pauses in her reading, she'd have had to or she wouldn't have lasted the duration of the book! . Only 20 pages into Hollow Pike as a) It's the weekend and kids are here and b) my mum has come for an impromptu visit (I'd like to think she wants to see us but I think she's actually trying to avoid my Dads constant Ryder Cup television ritual!

 

 

 

Had to chuckle imagining you doing this Chaliepud. Think I will avoid that one then

 

Or get the audio version.......

[chaliepud]

 

 

I was reading through your reading log and spotted this post. I must ask: do you think you are going to see the movie? It's just recently appeared in the library and I borrowed it. I just hope my old desktop computer is able to play it properly!

 

I'm sure I will when it comes onto Sky TV here, I don't recall it being on at the cinema... I generally avoid doggy movies as they never seem to end well, and with my oldies being soooo close to their final days I find it very hard watching the sad bits, but I WILL make an exception for this one!

 

 

Shush, you are NOT useless!

 

Thank you frankie,

 

 

You can clear your shelves and make them look nice, that way you won't feel so bad about the books you've bought This is a book loving, book buying community, we've all been there, it doesn't matter, at least if the books you've recently required are ones you really wanted and are going to read!

 

Oh I do, I just wish authors wouldn't keep writing such good books!!!

 

 

 

I think it's all too familiar to us, the buying of books for comfort Fortunately I'm personally skint and can't afford books, but the worse is I've started to borrow books from the library for comfort!

 

Edit: I almost forgot! I've been meaning to ask you about your new avatar: what's the deal? You haven't gotten a new dog, have you?

 

No, it's a wolf!! There are laws against having wolves as pets over here, although there are a few people with crossed I had a problem with my BCF account a short while back and chose a new username with a wolf theme so thought I would add a wolf avatar, I have always had a fondness for wolves, they're absolutely fascinating.. I'm hoping Steve has understood my many hints and is going to get me membership of our local Wolf Sanctuary so I can go on a wolf walk next year!

 

Also: We had this TV show a few weeks back, which I thought you might either know or be interested in. It was a UK production (I don't know from which year, though), I can't recall the name of it but it was about six (or so) young teenagers who had different kinds of problems (one was overly shy, another was a lazy dope-smoking gangsta, etc.) and they were assigned on this programme in which they were to train a dog (from a doggie shelter) to show in the Crufts (which you and I've talked about!). It was pretty great. I think three or four out of the six kids ended up adopting their dog in training, it was so cool that so many of the dogs got a loving home Have you seen the show?

 

No I've not seen that, I'll have to look out for it!

 

That quoting didn't work so well on the iPad but I'm too tired to sort it, I'm sure you can see whatever I've written there!!

[bobblybear]

Do you have any recent pics? Would love to see them if so!

 

Have just added some semi-recent (a month old) pics to the pets thread.

[Kylie]

I choose three books I'd like to read and then my daughter selects one of them for me to read, she takes her role so seriously I now have to do the same for her!

 

Aw, what a lovely method.

 

.. and now you've reminded me of one of the reasons I got on with it when so many didn't .. I never read it .. I listened to it being rather excellently read by Laurel Lefkow .. obviously the punctuation problems completely passed me by. Alan listened to it after me and loved it too but again it may have had a lot to do with the delivery .. you question the story less if it's being read well. I hope you get on much better with Hollow Pike

 

Aha! You must re-read it one day and see if you feel the same way.

[chaliepud]

Have just added some semi-recent (a month old) pics to the pets thread.

 

He is gooooooorrrrrgggeous!! :)

 

Aw, what a lovely method.

 

I'm not sure how it came about, but it's lovely that we can share in each others reading, although I've had to steer her gently away from my True Blood collection!

[poppyshake]

Aha! You must re-read it one day and see if you feel the same way.

I do actually own a copy but I'm far too scared to pick it up now

[Kylie]

I'm not sure how it came about, but it's lovely that we can share in each others reading, although I've had to steer her gently away from my True Blood collection!

 

Hehehe.

 

I do actually own a copy but I'm far too scared to pick it up now

 

Ha! I'm so going to nag you now.

[chaliepud]

 

I do actually own a copy but I'm far too scared to pick it up now

 

You'll only need to read a few pages to see what we mean poppy..

[chaliepud]

Very proud of myself today, WHSmith in Windsor had a book from my wish list for only £2.99 (only £2.99!!!!) if you bought the Daily Telegraph, it's a book I'm really looking forward to too (Jojo Moyes latest offering) and I didn't buy it!!!! On the upside my friend did and we always swap books, but I won't see her for a couple of months so it was sheer willpower on my part, yay! :smile: :smile:

[chaliepud]

Finished Paranormalcy for the October reading circle... Think I may read one of the dog books on my TBR shelf next..

[bobblybear]

Think I may read one of the dog books on my TBR shelf next..

 

You can never go wrong with a dog book.

[frankie]

chaliepud wrote: I'm sure I will when it comes onto Sky TV here, I don't recall it being on at the cinema... I generally avoid doggy movies as they never seem to end well, and with my oldies being soooo close to their final days I find it very hard watching the sad bits, but I WILL make an exception for this one!

 

I get what you mean, I'm not very keen on movies where the doggy dies or something else happens to them, but I can't help watching them anyways.

 

chaliepud wrote: Oh I do, I just wish authors wouldn't keep writing such good books!!!

 

You should write to each and everyone of them and tell them to postpone any great new novels by a few years! Let me know how it goes

 

chaliepud wrote: No, it's a wolf!! There are laws against having wolves as pets over here, although there are a few people with crossed I had a problem with my BCF account a short while back and chose a new username with a wolf theme so thought I would add a wolf avatar, I have always had a fondness for wolves, they're absolutely fascinating.. I'm hoping Steve has understood my many hints and is going to get me membership of our local Wolf Sanctuary so I can go on a wolf walk next year!

 

Oh it's a wolf! Should've realised Yeah I do remember you having problems with your user account, I'm sorry about that. Wolf Sanctuary? Sounds interesting (and kinda scary, I'm such a sissy!). What's a wolf walk like?

 

You can never go wrong with a dog book.

 

Agreed 100%