DECEMBER READS

[rapa]

Mercy, tried to post at midnight but was told I was not a member! Had to rejoin!!!
Anyway, Yikes, it’s December already! So much to do and so little time to curl up with a book.

Today I picked up Kate Morton’s THE LAKE HOUSE, Robert Crais’s THE PROMISE and Allen Eskens’s THE LIFE WE BURY.

Still doctoring upper respiratory viruses here so may have to do some skimming. BTW, I thoroughly enjoyed David Baldacci’s THE GUILTY.

Anything good on your plate?

[Ioruach]

I read nearly all of Robert B. Parker's books and enjoyed them very much. I was saddened when he passed away. Then a writer named Ace Atkins began to write the Spencer novels. I believe I read one, but don't remember the name. I just tried to read another titled Kickback and just couldn't finish it. I can only say Ace Atkins is no Robert B. Parker.

On the other hand, I opened the first pages of Eventide by Kent Haruf, a sequel I suppose, to Plainsong, his beautiful story about the McPheron brothers and Victoria Roubideaux. So I am again experiencing the pleasure of having Haruf create for me his wonderful word pictures. 

And to refer briefly to the events of the day, the best way I know to free oneself from such distressing events is to enter into another world: a world populated by writers such as Haruf and many, many others that we have come to love.

[rapa]

Well said, Lorouch, well said!!!!!!

[Carolyn Tewell]

I belong to another chat forum called SPARKPEOPLE. Our focus is weight management and fitness. However, when dynamic events present themselves we are bound to include our concerns of the day. The policy on my Team is to avoid Politics and Religion just as demanded in most work-places.

By the same token we have members who are planning a mission trip or part of a rehab at their Church....of course we are going to discuss these actions and encourage the member to share their victories and "things they are working on!"

Geography is a huge component of our lives. I like to know where members are from so I can understand when they are handling blizzards, hurricanes and other trying times....also to figure out why they are missing! Lol (some sort of control factor)

I probably insert more of my personal life here than anyone else but that is just my writing style.

The Crossing by Michael Connelly is totally engrossing so far....I am about 1/2 way through.

[Eaglewoman]

Carol I always enjoy your post- they are very intereting and cover such a wide span.

We are reading Quiet  (lots of information.)in one of our book clubs for Jan. and Song of The Lark in the other.

In Dec we are reading The Painter (A Colo.- sort of story) and The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.

[Mandy Muffin]

Keeping with the theme of girls doing something, being from someplace or having an attribute, I am reading "The Good Girl" : http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IB5BSBG/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?... The book has been a best seller and a compulsive psychological read of a kidnapping gone bad.   

[Carolyn Tewell]

The Whole Enchilada by Diane Mott Davidson...took the Audiobook to bed...was sorta hungry and then the Author goes on and on describing making a whole Mexican dinner!!! Checked out the Wiki on her today and now I understand she likes to have recipes, focus on food, etc. Guess I will only listen while folding clothes! Or after dinner!

I also started All the Light We Cannot See. I'm on disc 4....interesting....good writing and hoping for more engagement as time goes forward.

Had read Unbroken last year....saw the movie last night. Looked authentic.

Still pecking away at Christmas action but the main pressure is off. Challenging when all family is in Florida and I'm in Ohio....isn't it supposed to be the other way round?

Save my seat.

[Mandy Muffin]

Orphan's for Christmas

From the day of Dickens, orphans have been popular in literature.  Accordingly, I am currently reading "Orphan # 8" by Kim van Alkemade. This a sad story of a poor immigrant child who is taken in to be used for medical experiments in the year 1919.  On the theme of orphans, here is a list compiled by Goodreads of popular book on the subject: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/16028.Best_Books_About_Orphans_

[rapa]

Delightful tradition!!!!

http://www.treehugger.com/culture/icelanders-give-books-christmas-e...

[Ioruach]

Here's wishing a Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to everyone out there in Bookoholics Land.

Since I last posted I finished Eventide, which I have to rank right up there with my very best reads of the year. I know, many or most of you Kent Haruf fans read it years ago and I am late to the game, but better late than never. More recently I picked up books by a couple new (for me) authors: Green-Eyed Lady by Chuck Greaves and American Blood by Ben Sanders. The Greaves novel was pretty good but I didn't care much for the Sanders offering. I'm going to take a walk over to the library in a couple hours to see what I can find.

Right now as I type this I am looking out the window of my senior apartment watching it rain. Yes rain! On December 23 in Minnesota! That is nuts! It is predicted to change to wet snow later this afternoon, but still. Lucky the library is only a couple minutes walk, so I shouldn't get too wet.

[rapa]

Hooe you find some good reads on your venture through the raindrops, Lorouch.

Last night I started a book that I think would interest you; THIS OLD MAN.....All in Pieces by Roger Angell.

http://www.npr.org/2015/11/14/455920045/this-old-man-looks-back-on-...

First I devoured his award winning "THIS OLD MAN." Then started skipping around his other writings and so far all have captured me! Angell is now age 95 and has much to share. I'm finding it perfect reading for this time of year with a fresh year on the horizon.

[grammyk]

Merry Christmas to my Bookaholic friends!

I have a couple books that I just picked up from the library to read over the holiday - "Nurturing, Healing, Love" and " Did You Ever Have a Family" - both look good.

Have not done the usual amount of reading lately - my younger sister had a stroke 2 weeks ago.  It's going to be a long road to recovery, I'm sure, but we have had a few positive signs in the last couple days.  

I have also been reading the posts about the San Bernardino shootings - the shooters lived in the same suburb where my aunts lived until recently.  Very scary!  And yet, I work with many Muslim physicians and I know that the extremists are a small, but frightening,minority.

Wishing you all a peaceful holiday, filled with lots of time to read!

[Carci]

Was cleaning off some book shelves when I found 3 new Christmas books which I bought a couple of years ago.  I think I intended to give them to my 3 grandkids and then decided they were too young for them at the time.  So I read all 3 and put them under the tree for them to choose what sounded interesting to them...  they are now aged 13-20.  

All 3 were small books (under 200 pages) and the one I liked the best was All Through The Night by Mary Higgins Clark.  I had read a couple of her books many years ago and liked them.  She develops her characters very well and makes you care about them. She now is 86 and still writing, many of her books with her daughter Carol Higgins Clark. I also noted a couple with Alafair Burke, daughter of James Lee Burke, on her fantastic fiction page.

Another of the 3 was The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans, an old fashioned story of the true meaning of Christmas.  It was pretty good in an old fashioned way... lol