Handshakes grows new ROOTs in 2024

Hi, everyone. Last year I failed my ROOTing challenge in all ways possible. It was a tough year with a lot of unplanned stops. This year I'm going to shoot for 32 books (one book more than my previous PR) with at least one title for every letter of the alphabet. I tried this last year, and it got me to read some titles I hadn't picked up in a long time and/or hadn't planned on reading soon. There are a couple U's, V's, W's (etc) on my shelf that have been sitting there for years and years, but this year I'll get to them!

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Proposed ROOTs:
Attack of Apollyon by Jerry B. Jenkins & Tim LaHaye
Being Ram Dass by Ram Dass
Congo by Michael Crichton / Chants of a Lifetime by Krishna Das
Dangerous Plan by Jerry B. Jenkins & Tim LaHaye / Doctor Sleep by Stephen King
Eruption by Michael Crichton / Every Man, God's Man by Stephen Arterburn & Kenny Lucky
Full Wolf Moon by Lincoln Child
Godplayer by Robin Cook
H
I
J
K
L
M
Neanderthal by John Darnton
Old Bones by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
Pearl by John Steinbeck
Q
Rogue Wave by Boyd Morrison / Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki / Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig
Secrets of New Babylon by Jerry B. Jenkins & Tim Lahaye
T
U
Venom Business by Michael Crichton
Widow's Son by Robert Anton Wilson (in progress)
X
Y
Z

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Bonus Reads (not ROOTs)
The Last Ronin by Kevin Eastman & Peter Laird
Ring of Truth by Brian K. Vaughan
Girl on Girl by Brian K. Vaughan

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Hi Handshakes, thank you for visiting my thread. Happy ROOTing this year and good luck with your reading plans

Trying to find a book for every letter in the alphabet is an interesting way to surface forgotten books. I look forward to seeing how it works out for you this year. And here's to a better reading year in 2024 for all of us!

>2 connie53: Thanks, Connie!

>3 rosalita: Thanks, Julia! It helped me last year (even though I didn't reach my goal.)

Happy ROOTing! That's an interesting concept for picking books off the shelf. I'll be curious to see how it works out.

Hope your reading works out well this year and you unearth some excellent books!

>5 MissWatson: Thank you. I'll be sure to update so you see how it works out.

>6 Jackie_K: Thanks!

Welcome back! Don't forget to join the group.

FMI - do you have to read in alphabetical order?

>8 cyderry: Thanks for the reminder. I don't read them in order, so long as I read them all... Of course, I've never succeeded in doing this before, so I don't know what works the best, lol.

The Last Ronin by Kevin Eastman & Peter Laird --- Not as good as I had hoped. Pretty bad, actually, lol. Bonus book, not a root.

Godplayer by Robin Cook

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Here's an E - Ella Minnow Pea - quick read and highly amusing.

>12 cyderry: Sounds very similar to Georges Perec! Interesting! Thanks for sharing.

Attack of Apollyon by Jerry B. Jenkins & Tim LaHaye

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Oh, gosh. How do you all keep from buying more books? I've started to give them away and I'm still accumulating more than I had at the beginning of the year!

>15 handshakes: Actually, I don't. Joining LT has sent my book-buying out of control. But it's way more fun now!

>15 handshakes: It's really difficult to keep from buying new ones, HS. I was downtown this morning and could only just keep my self out of the bookshop.

>17 connie53: Bookshops don't tempt me too much because of the prices. It's the thrift shops that do me in.

>18 handshakes: It's the online deals which mostly get me (I prefer reading ebooks these days). I'm with >16 MissWatson: in that not only am I buying more, but I'm getting more pleasure from both buying and reading.

I always say, if buying books is my worst vice then I'm not doing too badly. I'm far too old for pointless guilt.

>19 Jackie_K: Ah. I get a lot of pleasure from buying books, but I buy too many that it is a problem. I don't leave myself enough money for other things. I don't have the space for them either! My bedroom is only about 10x15.

Finished Congo by Michael Crichton. Loved the adventure and the science. Another classic from the master.

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Just finished Old Bones by Preston and Child. It had me staying up late on long reading binges just to disappoint me with that ending!

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Just finished The Pearl by John Steinbeck. I'm surprised this one is so revered. The prose was atrocious.

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Just finished Rogue Wave by Boyd Morrison and it was awesome!

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>23 handshakes: That's the only Steinbeck I'm sure I've read (we read it at school, when I was much less discerning about prose quality!). I remember very little about it though, other than that I read it!

>25 Jackie_K: We read it in middle school which was nearly thirty years ago so I remembered the story, but I had never read it myself. I wonder if Steinbecks other books are like it (or better? I like fancy prose!)

Finishing up Being Ram Dass by Ram Dass. Enjoyed the further foray into his life as I've been interested in it many years. The last little bit wasn't much of an autobiography though, just a bit of old-man blabbering.

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I'm not sure if I'll be updating this much more as most people are just ignoring my topic, but for now I'll add that I'm finishing up The Venom Business by Michael Crichton for V.

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>28 handshakes: Not ignoring - just reading quietly. Id like to hear about the Crichton book. I've read at least two of his. I read people's posts and sometimes I am inspired to add something to my list.

>20 handshakes: What Egbertina says is true. I visit lots of threads, but do not always answer or comment. So please, don't get discouraged.

Thanks, folks. I guess I do the same thing sometimes. The Venom Business was one of MC's earlier works before he started writing science fiction, so it's very pulpy and James Bond-ish. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it unless that is your thing.

>31 handshakes: that doesn't sound dreadful. I haven't read any Ian Fleming in decades, but it wasn't my worst memory

>32 EGBERTINA: it wasn't bad by any means, just a bit divergent from what people are used to when reading Crichton.

Hi, just leaving a post here so you can see, I did visit. ;-))

I did not read anything by Michael Crichton in al very long time. If I ever read one book at all, that is.

I really appreciate it, Connie. I find that I'm also snooping but not posting, so I guess I should start posting as well!

>35 handshakes: Thanks, I was here again!!

>36 connie53: I visited your post as well! You're doing great on your challenge. I'm jealous and proud. Sadly, I haven't had much to post here... but hopefully I'll have something soon.

>37 handshakes: Go get them, HS.

I just finished Full Wolf Moon by Lincoln Child. It was a very quick, wild ride and it kept me enthralled. I stayed up late several nights to finish it. I definitely felt like it was too short, and I wasn't ready for it to end. I generally don't read books this quickly. Definitely a page turner!

I've decided to start posting related images for fun. Here you go:

Finished Ring of Truth as a bonus root. It's a series that I've read before but many, many years ago. It's nice to revisit it.

Finished Girl on Girl as another bonus root. I'm finding out that I'm really enjoying this series the second time over as well.

I recently finished Chants of a Lifetime by Krishna Das. It was part memoir/part spiritual teaching. I felt like it had a few solid gems that were worthy of saving and referencing later, but that's about it. It was mostly just psycho-babble, unfortunately.

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Finishing up Eruption by Michael Crichton soon. It's OK. Definitely more Patterson than Crichton but I'm happy to have anything from him.

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Despite attempts to spice up my post and draw in more people to talk to about what I'm reading, it doesn't look like it's working. So I'm gonna call it quits. Thanks to those of you who did take a look. I'll see you next year.

>44 handshakes:
sorry to see you go. When I joined LT a few years ago, I came to the conclusion that as a website, this was not a highly "social" social website. It seems difficult to garner intellectual discussions on reading. Most read a book and post their comments and- maybe they get responses- but not always. I think if you are looking for discussions on your reading, you may try joining a group that specializes in just that. Or maybe start one and state that as your aim - and hope that you fare better. A year or so back, I came across a post that asked a question that seemed to invite others to respond; so, I did. nobody else did- and my response didn't get a response either. After a few un-successful attempts to garner conversations, I just moved on. I post my limited responses/ reviews where I can find them. If people do not ever find them, - oh well.

Be careful for that which you desire. I have mostly seen the social response when members are waxing vitriolic. I've been saddened, amazed, and petrified at the numerous times that I have seen this. I've even noted members that just plain absent themselves from further attempts to socialize in any way.

I often feel as though, I am taking my life in my hands when I feel compelled to respond to a post. I dont know how book discussions work - but, I've never been able to get one going. We, here, seem to just do our own thing; and sometimes we do it, collectively.

Perhaps make posts that ask the kind of questions that you would like to have discussed. ( but I cannot guarantee- the effectiveness of that attempt) I have not read so many of the books that you have mentioned - and, therefore, I have nothing intelligent to contribute.

Hope you find your LT niche.

>44 handshakes: I find it's difficult to comment on books that I have not read - I have been following your thread, but have read none of those titles and some cases don't even know the author.

For discussions, you may consider groups that offer monthly group reads: these tend to be a bit more like a book club where there's a shared read and an opportunity to express view points on a book, author or topic everyone has read.
Here are some suggestions: https://www.librarything.fr/ngroups/5825/Monthly-Author-Reads
https://www.librarything.fr/ngroups/24188/75-Books-Challenge-for-2024 offers a variety of group reads (e.g. American fiction, historical, children's books, etc.)

Good luck.

Thanks, guys. I'm not going anywhere; I just need a break. I've got a lot of stressful stuff going on and I haven't been updating this much in addition to folks not responding (which everyone has graciously explained and thus I feel kind of silly now). I appreciate all of the feedback and positive comments. I lost my job and I've just been in a defeatist way for a little while now; so, I apologize for my morose attitude.

>47 handshakes: Morose attitudes are welcome. We all have to get to the other side of disappointments in our own fashion. Only you can decide if it is time to move beyond morose. No social norm should pressure you to act counter to a mood you need to analyse, while you regroup. (murder and dictatorship excluded)

Losing a job for any reason is taxing upon the psyche. We all need them; sadly, society seems to dictate its own reasons for us to need them. It is not as easy to get back on some "horses" as people not in these situations seem to imagine. Assume that morose is helping you to cope and sort, for now.

>47 handshakes: I'm so sorry to hear that. That must be very stressful indeed and I can understand how it can feel frustrating if you're not getting the support you need in different areas of your life (including here at LT!). I hope you still have the bandwidth to read a few books to keep up morale and I wish you the very best in your next endeavours.

Thank you both for your very kind words. I look forward to seeing you both next year.

A Dangerous Plan by Jerry B. Jenkins & Tim LaHaye

Hi Handshakes. I'm so sorry to hear you have that much stress in your life. Losing your job is terrible. Of course you need and can take a break from LT.
I hope you get back next year and you're life is getting better soon.

I really appreciate everyone's support here. I've been doing a little bit better, and reading has helped me cope. I was able to find a new job that is proving to be pretty easy going so far.

Doctor Sleep by Stephen King

that's good news

Glad to hear you found a new job, and I hope it continues to be enjoyable!

Thank you all. I really appreciate the support. It means a lot to me. Truly.

Congrats on the new job! All the better if it gives you more time to read :)

Good to hear you found a new Job. Congrats on that and on the reading.

>53 handshakes: That cover looks very creepy.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me. I'm on the mend and still reading. Won't reach my goal this year either, unfortunately, but it gives me something to look forward to for next year!