Blair's Roots Challenge for 2024

Hello everyone. I'm Blair. This looks like a really good place to be. I have about 215 books either sitting on my shelf or residing on my Kindle that I have yet to read and some of the paperbacks are already starting to yellow!

I am recently retired and living in Connecticut with my greyhound, Miley.

I read just about anything, mostly non-fiction, with an emphasis on history, but have lately added more fiction. I do enjoy a good cozy mystery, as well as the classics (let's hear it for James Fenimore Cooper!).

I ran into LibraryThing a few years ago when I wanted to organize my non-fiction books and decided to shelve them by Dewey number (like, all the 900's together). Finding out that Dewey is now proprietary, I decided MDS was a good way to go. I have yet to add all my books to LT, but, I think, my shelves are pretty well set, except for the six feet of books I have yet to read (not counting ebooks, which, as I like the "Delphi Complete Works of... series, would add up to quite a few feet if in print form).

Looking forward to the challenge.

So right now, for me, a ROOT would be a book that I bought before I retired two years ago, so a pre-2022 purchase, that I have never read. That will reduce the number down a bit from 215, but probably not as much as I would like! Using those criteria, then, I have already read 4:
1. The Gardener's Atlas, by Dr John Grisham (P)
2. In the Footsteps of Jesus, by Daniel Cohen (P)
3. Founding Feuds: the rivalries, clashes, and conflicts that forged a nation, by Paul Aron (P)
4. Wyandotte, by James Fenimore Cooper (E+)

Designators:
(P) - print book
(E) - standalone eBook
(E+) - eBook within a compilation, e.g. included in "The Delphi Classics Complete Works of James Fenimore Cooper."

Welcome to the group and good luck with your goal!

Welcome!

Welcome to the ROOTers, Blair

I hope you have a great time here.

Welcome aboard and have fun!

Welcome, and good luck with your goals!

Welcome to the group! I read more non-fiction too.

5. Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: American Art from the Yale University Art Gallery - This is the catalogue of an exhibit presented by the Yale University Art Gallery a few years ago. More than just copies of the art, with captions, it tells the story of America, the USA, during the 18th and 19th centuries as reflected in the art, including furniture, holloware and flatware, produced at that time. (P)

6. The Chimes, by Charles Dickens. One of his "Christmas Books", which include "A Christmas Carol". A novella, not a novel. Delves deeply into the plight of the poor in 19th century London and the common viewpoint of the poor by the elites of the day. As such, it often mirrors contemporary America. (P)

7. The Cricket on the Hearth, by Charles Dickens. (P)

Hi Blair, just popping in to see what you have been reading.

8. Abundance: Creating a Culture of Generosity, Michael Ward, *** (E)
9. Boar Island, by Nevada Barr, ****, I never tire of Anna Pigeon mysteries. (P)

Back again and saying Hi, Blair. Two more books is a nice job.

10. Dead Silence, by Randy Wayne White, ***, (P)

11. Pledged, by Alexandra Robbins, ***, (P)

Hi Blair. I hope you are doing fine with reading and such.

12. The Battle of Life, by Charles Dickens, *** (P)
13. The Haunted Man, by Charles Dickens, *** (P)
14. An Historical Discourse on the occasion of the Centennial Celebration of the Battle of Lake George, 1755, by Cortland Van Rensselaer, ****, (P)
15. In the Beginning, God, by Marva J Dawn, *****, (P)

Hi again Blair. Nice job. four more ROOTs down.

16. Bone Deep, by Randy Wayne White, **** (P)
17. From Deborah to Esther : Sexual politics in the Hebrew Bible, by Lillian Klein, ****, (P)
18. A Battle Fought on Snow Shoes, by Mary Cochrane Rogers, ***, (E)
19. Lab Girl, by Hope Jahren, *****, (P)

20. Lessons from Unarmed America, by Mark Walters and Rob Pincus, ****, (P)
21. Deep Shadow, by Randy Wayne White, ****, (P)
22. Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson, ****, (E)
23. Holy Sh*t : A Brief History of Swearing, by Melissa Mohr, ***, (E)
24. Rousseau and Revolution, by Will and Ariel Durant, ***, (P). Volume X of their classic "The Story of Civilization". Only one more to go in this series!!!