1LisaMorr
Joining the party here - thanks for the encouragement, Connie and RP!
I expect that the great majority of my reading this year will be from my ROOTS, which I will define as any book in my possession prior to 2024. Extra points for ones that have been around the longest.
I have been in a reading slump for a few years now and trying to be active on LT with challenges will help me to get out of it. I have a relatively modest goal of reading 50 books this year, and plan that 40 of those will be ROOTs.
I expect that the great majority of my reading this year will be from my ROOTS, which I will define as any book in my possession prior to 2024. Extra points for ones that have been around the longest.
I have been in a reading slump for a few years now and trying to be active on LT with challenges will help me to get out of it. I have a relatively modest goal of reading 50 books this year, and plan that 40 of those will be ROOTs.
2LisaMorr
January ROOTS
1. Possession by A. S. Byatt - a ROOT since 2017.
Books acquired:
Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow
The Unforgiveable: And Other Writings by Cristina Campo
1. Possession by A. S. Byatt - a ROOT since 2017.
Books acquired:
Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow
The Unforgiveable: And Other Writings by Cristina Campo
3LisaMorr
February ROOTS
2. Beyond These Walls: Escaping the Warsaw Ghetto - A Young Girl's Story by Janina Bauman - a ROOT since 2015
3. We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler - a ROOT since 2014.
4. The Devastating Boys by Elizabeth Taylor - a ROOT since 2011
5. When McKinsey Comes to Town: The Hidden Influence of the World's Most Powerful Consulting Firm by Walt Bogdanich and Michael Forsythe - a ROOT since 2023
6. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn - a ROOT since before 2008
7. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield - a ROOT since 2013
8. The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi - a ROOT since 2010
Books acquired:
Time's Convert by Deborah Harkness
The Skin of Dreams by Raymond Queneau
The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith
2. Beyond These Walls: Escaping the Warsaw Ghetto - A Young Girl's Story by Janina Bauman - a ROOT since 2015
3. We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler - a ROOT since 2014.
4. The Devastating Boys by Elizabeth Taylor - a ROOT since 2011
5. When McKinsey Comes to Town: The Hidden Influence of the World's Most Powerful Consulting Firm by Walt Bogdanich and Michael Forsythe - a ROOT since 2023
6. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn - a ROOT since before 2008
7. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield - a ROOT since 2013
8. The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi - a ROOT since 2010
Books acquired:
Time's Convert by Deborah Harkness
The Skin of Dreams by Raymond Queneau
The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith
4LisaMorr
March ROOTS
9. Barabbas by Par Lagerkvist - a ROOT since 2019
10. The Book Lovers' Miscellany by Claire Cock-Starkey - a ROOT since 2019
11. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot - a ROOT since 2015
12. Watership Down by Richard Adams - a ROOT since 1975
Books acquired:
A Chance Meeting by Rachel Cohen
Books lent to me:
Jewels of the Sun, Tears of the Moon, Heart of the Sea, Born in Fire, Born in Ice - all by Nora Roberts
The Lying Game, In a Dark, Dark Wood, One by One, The Death of Mrs. Westaway, The Turn of the Key - all by Ruth Ware
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
A Woman of No Importance by Sonia Purnell
9. Barabbas by Par Lagerkvist - a ROOT since 2019
10. The Book Lovers' Miscellany by Claire Cock-Starkey - a ROOT since 2019
11. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot - a ROOT since 2015
12. Watership Down by Richard Adams - a ROOT since 1975
Books acquired:
A Chance Meeting by Rachel Cohen
Books lent to me:
Jewels of the Sun, Tears of the Moon, Heart of the Sea, Born in Fire, Born in Ice - all by Nora Roberts
The Lying Game, In a Dark, Dark Wood, One by One, The Death of Mrs. Westaway, The Turn of the Key - all by Ruth Ware
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
A Woman of No Importance by Sonia Purnell
5LisaMorr
April ROOTS
13. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut - a ROOT since 2019
14. Magic in the Wind by Christine Feehan - a ROOT since 2008
15. The 1619 Project: A New Origin Project created by Nikole Hannah-Jones - a ROOT since 2021
16. Five for Sorrow, Ten for Joy by Rumer Godden - a ROOT since 1979
Books acquired:
A Strange and Sublime Address by Amit Chaudhuri
True Evil by Greg Iles
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
The Pact by Jodi Picoult
The Memory Librarian by Janelle Monae
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
13. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut - a ROOT since 2019
14. Magic in the Wind by Christine Feehan - a ROOT since 2008
15. The 1619 Project: A New Origin Project created by Nikole Hannah-Jones - a ROOT since 2021
16. Five for Sorrow, Ten for Joy by Rumer Godden - a ROOT since 1979
Books acquired:
A Strange and Sublime Address by Amit Chaudhuri
True Evil by Greg Iles
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
The Pact by Jodi Picoult
The Memory Librarian by Janelle Monae
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
6LisaMorr
May ROOTS
17. Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood - a ROOT since 2008 or earlier
18. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie - a ROOT since 2008 or earlier
Books acquired:
The Aethiopica by Heliodorus
The Celestina: A Fifteenth-Century Spanish Novel in Dialogue by Fernando de Rojas
Chaereas and Callirhoe by Chariton
The Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Guanzhong Luo
The Water Margin: Outlaws of the Marsh: The Epic Tale of Brotherhood, Bravery and Rebellion in Imperial China by Shi Nai'an
Tirant Lo Blanc by Joanot Martorell
White Noise by Don DeLillo
Kiss of the Spider Woman by Manuel Puig
Room by Emma Donoghue
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter and Other Fantastic Stories edited by David Lear
The Giver Quartet by Lois Lowry
Rosshalde by Herman Hesse
Amadis of Gaul Book I by Garci Rodriguez de Montalvo
Amadis of Gaul Book II
Amadis of Gaul Book III
Amadis of Gaul Book IV
17. Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood - a ROOT since 2008 or earlier
18. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie - a ROOT since 2008 or earlier
Books acquired:
The Aethiopica by Heliodorus
The Celestina: A Fifteenth-Century Spanish Novel in Dialogue by Fernando de Rojas
Chaereas and Callirhoe by Chariton
The Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Guanzhong Luo
The Water Margin: Outlaws of the Marsh: The Epic Tale of Brotherhood, Bravery and Rebellion in Imperial China by Shi Nai'an
Tirant Lo Blanc by Joanot Martorell
White Noise by Don DeLillo
Kiss of the Spider Woman by Manuel Puig
Room by Emma Donoghue
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter and Other Fantastic Stories edited by David Lear
The Giver Quartet by Lois Lowry
Rosshalde by Herman Hesse
Amadis of Gaul Book I by Garci Rodriguez de Montalvo
Amadis of Gaul Book II
Amadis of Gaul Book III
Amadis of Gaul Book IV
14rabbitprincess
Hurray, you're here! Off to a good start :)
16MissWatson
Welcome and happy ROOTing!
19LisaMorr
>14 rabbitprincess:, >15 connie53:, >16 MissWatson:, >17 cyderry:, >18 Jackie_K: Thanks very much! Glad to be here!
20LisaMorr
Finished another ROOT last night, The Devastating Boys, a short story collection by Elizabeth Taylor. Overall, I give it 4 stars - my favorites were Flesh, about two people at a seaside resort who decide to have a fling, and Sisters, about a widow who gets a visit from an author asking about her sister. I enjoyed my time with Elizabeth Taylor in this collection.
It's been on my shelves since 2011.
It's been on my shelves since 2011.
21LisaMorr
This one barely qualifies as a ROOT by my own definition - I received it as a 2023 Christmas gift - but barely still qualifies!
When McKinsey Comes to Town: The Hidden Influence of the World's Most Powerful Consulting Firm by Walt Bogdanich and Michael Forsythe was a powerful and disturbing read. My last work assignment had me working with this company. I had no idea what they were involved in - very interesting.
When McKinsey Comes to Town: The Hidden Influence of the World's Most Powerful Consulting Firm by Walt Bogdanich and Michael Forsythe was a powerful and disturbing read. My last work assignment had me working with this company. I had no idea what they were involved in - very interesting.
22LisaMorr
Read A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich - I came across it while I was doing some book organizing and thought in light of Navalny, this is a good time to finally read it. Considered autobiographical fiction, this 182-page book does exactly what it says on the tin - describes what it's like from when he wakes up to when he puts his head down after a long day of surviving in a Siberian hard-labor prison camp. I felt the cold, I felt the hunger, I felt the pleasure of a job well done after bricklaying, the pleasure of an extra serving of bread, the last smoke from the gift of a dying cigarette. An important book.
I've had this book since before I joined LT (2008).
I've had this book since before I joined LT (2008).
23LisaMorr
Finished The Thirteenth Tale yesterday - sooooo good! A lot going on in this book which is on the most basic level about a booklover, who works in her father's bookshop and pens a few short biographies, being contacted out of the blue by one of the most famous authors in the land to write the author's biography. The story gets quite layered when it turns out no one really knows who the author is - she's told many a story to interviewers over the years; also interesting that the biographer she contacts has never actually read any of her books. The biographer travels to meet the author and find out her story. I loved it.
This has been a ROOT since 2013.
This has been a ROOT since 2013.
24connie53
>23 LisaMorr: In a far away past I've read that one too. I just remember I liked it.
25Cecilturtle
>23 LisaMorr: I was quite smitten with it too!
26LisaMorr
One more ROOT for February - I finished The Windup Girl last night.
Set in a future Thailand where rising sea levels due to climate change and plagues caused by bioengineered crops and mutated pests ravage the world, Bangkok holds on with levees and water pumps to keep the city from succumbing to the sea and isolationism and the Environment Ministry to ward off plagues and control by the biotech companies and their sterile seeds. It tells the story of a biotech company employee trying to get his hands on Thailand's seed bank to exploit it along with the windup girl, the only one in Bangkok, and how their lives intersect. Really interesting book.
This has been a root since 2010.
Set in a future Thailand where rising sea levels due to climate change and plagues caused by bioengineered crops and mutated pests ravage the world, Bangkok holds on with levees and water pumps to keep the city from succumbing to the sea and isolationism and the Environment Ministry to ward off plagues and control by the biotech companies and their sterile seeds. It tells the story of a biotech company employee trying to get his hands on Thailand's seed bank to exploit it along with the windup girl, the only one in Bangkok, and how their lives intersect. Really interesting book.
This has been a root since 2010.
27LisaMorr
Jan-Feb Summary
ROOTs read - 8 (100% of 2024 books read this year are ROOTs):
prior to 2008: 1
2010: 1
2011: 1
2013: 1
2014: 1
2015: 1
2017: 1
2023: 1
Books acquired - 5
March ROOT plans
I have a lot of ROOTS planned in March:
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Excession by Iain M. Banks
Watership Down by Richard Adams
Unfinished Tales by J. R. R. Tolkien
Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
The 1619 Project by Nicole Hannah-Jones
Barabbas by Par Lagerkvist
An Artist of the Floating World by Kazuo Ishiguro
Sexing the Cherry by Jeanette Winterson
The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
I will also continue with The Arabian Nights Entertainments and start Gargantua and Pantagruel both of which are ROOTS and BFBs, so I won't likely finish them this month!
ROOTs read - 8 (100% of 2024 books read this year are ROOTs):
prior to 2008: 1
2010: 1
2011: 1
2013: 1
2014: 1
2015: 1
2017: 1
2023: 1
Books acquired - 5
March ROOT plans
I have a lot of ROOTS planned in March:
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Excession by Iain M. Banks
Watership Down by Richard Adams
Unfinished Tales by J. R. R. Tolkien
Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
The 1619 Project by Nicole Hannah-Jones
Barabbas by Par Lagerkvist
An Artist of the Floating World by Kazuo Ishiguro
Sexing the Cherry by Jeanette Winterson
The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
I will also continue with The Arabian Nights Entertainments and start Gargantua and Pantagruel both of which are ROOTS and BFBs, so I won't likely finish them this month!
28LisaMorr
First ROOT for March, #9 for the year:
I finished Barabbas, a book by Nobel prize winner Par Lagerkvist, about the man who was to be crucified and Jesus took his place. It's told mainly in the POV of Barabbas, from when he witnessed Jesus' crucifixion until his own crucifixion many years later. We also see the POV from a few other people that Barabbas encounters. Barabbas is very curious about the young rabbi, Jesus, and asks a lot of questions of Jesus' followers. He is not a believer, but he says he wants to believe. A short book that made me think.
I finished Barabbas, a book by Nobel prize winner Par Lagerkvist, about the man who was to be crucified and Jesus took his place. It's told mainly in the POV of Barabbas, from when he witnessed Jesus' crucifixion until his own crucifixion many years later. We also see the POV from a few other people that Barabbas encounters. Barabbas is very curious about the young rabbi, Jesus, and asks a lot of questions of Jesus' followers. He is not a believer, but he says he wants to believe. A short book that made me think.
29LisaMorr
Second ROOT for March, #10 for the year:
I was doing some book organizing and cataloguing and The Book Lovers Miscellany grabbed my attention. Filled with a lot of interesting book trivia, but I found it's organization (or lack thereof) a bit off-putting - it's not organized alphabetically or chronologically. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but when there is an entry in the front that talks about an aspect of book-making that refers to a section later on, I would've thought that the later section would have been included first, rather than referring to a future section.
There were a lot of interesting sections on subjects like pen names, the history of making books, world book capitals and book towns, the history of book copyright law, youngest and oldest famous debut authors, prolific writers, famous opening and closing lines, etc., etc.
A decent book of book trivia.
This has been a ROOT since 2019.
I was doing some book organizing and cataloguing and The Book Lovers Miscellany grabbed my attention. Filled with a lot of interesting book trivia, but I found it's organization (or lack thereof) a bit off-putting - it's not organized alphabetically or chronologically. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but when there is an entry in the front that talks about an aspect of book-making that refers to a section later on, I would've thought that the later section would have been included first, rather than referring to a future section.
There were a lot of interesting sections on subjects like pen names, the history of making books, world book capitals and book towns, the history of book copyright law, youngest and oldest famous debut authors, prolific writers, famous opening and closing lines, etc., etc.
A decent book of book trivia.
This has been a ROOT since 2019.
30Caramellunacy
>29 LisaMorr: That sounds fun, but I could certainly see how a lack of organization could be somewhat irksome.
31LisaMorr
>30 Caramellunacy: And it's only 128 pages!
32LisaMorr
Third ROOT for March, #11 for the year: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
I've had this one since 2015. I remember specifically when I first heard about this book - I was getting my annual mammogram, and I had a book with me while I was waiting, and the mammography technologist asked me about it and so we got to talking about books of course, and she asked me if I had heard of this book and told me a little bit about it.
Of course I've been meaning to read it all this time, but I always need a little extra push to jump into non-fiction. I'm sorry I waited so long! I really liked how the book was set up, alternating chapter by chapter, one about Henrietta Lacks and her family, and one about the medical/research and ethical side of how Henrietta's cells (the Hela cells) were collected and were the first human cells to be grown in the lab. The personal side of it was very well-researched and the author was a part of it in terms of how she engaged with the family in order to tell the whole story.
I've had this one since 2015. I remember specifically when I first heard about this book - I was getting my annual mammogram, and I had a book with me while I was waiting, and the mammography technologist asked me about it and so we got to talking about books of course, and she asked me if I had heard of this book and told me a little bit about it.
Of course I've been meaning to read it all this time, but I always need a little extra push to jump into non-fiction. I'm sorry I waited so long! I really liked how the book was set up, alternating chapter by chapter, one about Henrietta Lacks and her family, and one about the medical/research and ethical side of how Henrietta's cells (the Hela cells) were collected and were the first human cells to be grown in the lab. The personal side of it was very well-researched and the author was a part of it in terms of how she engaged with the family in order to tell the whole story.
33LisaMorr
Fourth ROOT for March, #12 for the year: Watership Down by Richard Adams
I joined LT in 2008 and I started tagging my books with the year I acquired them in 2009, so everything in my library before then I've had since 2008 or earlier. I could probably make some estimations on when I got certain books, but I've decided it's pretty much not worth the effort, lol. So, this book definitely falls in the category of 2008 or earlier - I'm going to make a good guess though based on my signature in the book that I've had this paperback since it was new, in 1975.
So, I've had it forever - and probably I had this book when my family raised rabbits in the backyard when I was a kid - I guess I always thought that a book about rabbits would be boring.
Well, it's not. What a book! I can't really say enough good things about it; if you haven't read it yet, you should! It's about a group of rabbits who decide to leave their warren based on a bad feeling one of them has - we then follow along with this group of rabbits, as they make their way through many perils, to find a new warren to call home.
I joined LT in 2008 and I started tagging my books with the year I acquired them in 2009, so everything in my library before then I've had since 2008 or earlier. I could probably make some estimations on when I got certain books, but I've decided it's pretty much not worth the effort, lol. So, this book definitely falls in the category of 2008 or earlier - I'm going to make a good guess though based on my signature in the book that I've had this paperback since it was new, in 1975.
So, I've had it forever - and probably I had this book when my family raised rabbits in the backyard when I was a kid - I guess I always thought that a book about rabbits would be boring.
Well, it's not. What a book! I can't really say enough good things about it; if you haven't read it yet, you should! It's about a group of rabbits who decide to leave their warren based on a bad feeling one of them has - we then follow along with this group of rabbits, as they make their way through many perils, to find a new warren to call home.
34LisaMorr
March Summary
ROOTs read - 4 (100% of 2024 books read this year so far are ROOTs!):
prior to 2009: 1
2015: 1
2019: 2
Books acquired - 1
Books lent to me: 12
April ROOT plans
I have a lot of ROOTS planned in April:
The 1619 Project by Nicole Hannah-Jones
Cockroaches by Jo Nesbo
Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Something by Rumer Godden - either Five for Sorrow, Ten for Joy or Breakfast with the Nikolides
Leftovers from March:
Excession by Iain M. Banks
Unfinished Tales by J. R. R. Tolkien
Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
An Artist of the Floating World by Kazuo Ishiguro
Sexing the Cherry by Jeanette Winterson
The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Still working on The Arabian Nights Entertainments and will eventually start Gargantua and Pantagruel both of which are ROOTS and BFBs, to be dipped into.
ROOTs read - 4 (100% of 2024 books read this year so far are ROOTs!):
prior to 2009: 1
2015: 1
2019: 2
Books acquired - 1
Books lent to me: 12
April ROOT plans
I have a lot of ROOTS planned in April:
The 1619 Project by Nicole Hannah-Jones
Cockroaches by Jo Nesbo
Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Something by Rumer Godden - either Five for Sorrow, Ten for Joy or Breakfast with the Nikolides
Leftovers from March:
Excession by Iain M. Banks
Unfinished Tales by J. R. R. Tolkien
Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
An Artist of the Floating World by Kazuo Ishiguro
Sexing the Cherry by Jeanette Winterson
The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Still working on The Arabian Nights Entertainments and will eventually start Gargantua and Pantagruel both of which are ROOTS and BFBs, to be dipped into.
35connie53
Hi Lisa, I was smiling reading posts >32 LisaMorr: and >33 LisaMorr:.
>32 LisaMorr: - A good reason to buy a book and then have it on your shelves for a long time. Sounds really interesting. I will ask my brother to find it for me as it's now a BB for me.
>33 LisaMorr: - I joined in 2009 in November and started tagging my books with the year I bought them since then. And I had lots of books to add that I owned before joining. Just the same as you did.
>32 LisaMorr: - A good reason to buy a book and then have it on your shelves for a long time. Sounds really interesting. I will ask my brother to find it for me as it's now a BB for me.
>33 LisaMorr: - I joined in 2009 in November and started tagging my books with the year I bought them since then. And I had lots of books to add that I owned before joining. Just the same as you did.
36LisaMorr
>35 connie53: Glad to make you smile, Connie! I hope you like reading about Henrietta Lacks when you get it!
I always find it interesting how LT has changed me, lol. All for the good of course!
I always find it interesting how LT has changed me, lol. All for the good of course!
37LisaMorr
Just making a little post here that I have read a book that does not count as a ROOT by me definition, lol! I finished The Talented Mr. Ripley, which was very good. I just picked it up in February to read it for the 2024 March Virago Reading Project where we were picking a VMC by Patricia Highsmith to read. I was surprised that I didn't have anything by her in my library, and since this book was also a 1001 book, I decided I should get it and read it. I'm glad I did!
38Jackie_K
>32 LisaMorr: This book was a 5* read for me, and I am always recommending it to colleagues (I work in medical research).
39LisaMorr
>38 Jackie_K: Definitely a great one to recommend to your colleagues; so well written and appeals to lay people as well.
40LisaMorr
Have read another book that doesn't count as a ROOT (oh no! ;) ) - Jewels of the Sun by Nora Roberts. I was at a dance event recently and was seated with some great folks who love to read, and they both lent me a bunch of their books - Lynne a bunch of Nora Roberts books and Denise and Rodney a bunch of Ruth Ware books. One of the Nora Roberts' books fit in with one of the April categories, and in the interest of reading something that was recently lent to me, decided to finish that one!
It was a light contemporary romance about an American woman who goes to Ireland to live in her great-Aunt's cottage, ostensibly to write a paper on the psychological underpinnings of Irish myths and legends, but really to clear her head after she was on the way to a nervous breakdown. She meets all the lovely people of the village, including the handsome owner of the local pub, and then we know what happens from there!
I'll be trying to read one of the Ruth Ware books this month, but have a couple of ROOTs in play at the moment!
It was a light contemporary romance about an American woman who goes to Ireland to live in her great-Aunt's cottage, ostensibly to write a paper on the psychological underpinnings of Irish myths and legends, but really to clear her head after she was on the way to a nervous breakdown. She meets all the lovely people of the village, including the handsome owner of the local pub, and then we know what happens from there!
I'll be trying to read one of the Ruth Ware books this month, but have a couple of ROOTs in play at the moment!
41LisaMorr
First ROOT for April, #13 for the year: Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, a ROOT since 2019.
A classic anti-war novel, I read this in April for its time travel aspects. This was one of those books that I thought I might've read way back when, but I didn't take credit for it until making sure. So, now I'm pretty sure I hadn't read this book before! I have to say it was a bit underwhelming; I thought it was a bit too precious to start with, but I did warm up to it by the end. After reading it, I read a bit more about Kurt Vonnegut and saw that there was at least some autobiographical material in the book (Vonnegut was taken prisoner in WWII, held captive in a slaughterhouse in Dresden, and survived the firebombing of Dresden in an underground meat locker), which was very interesting. Another 1001 book that I can check off!
A classic anti-war novel, I read this in April for its time travel aspects. This was one of those books that I thought I might've read way back when, but I didn't take credit for it until making sure. So, now I'm pretty sure I hadn't read this book before! I have to say it was a bit underwhelming; I thought it was a bit too precious to start with, but I did warm up to it by the end. After reading it, I read a bit more about Kurt Vonnegut and saw that there was at least some autobiographical material in the book (Vonnegut was taken prisoner in WWII, held captive in a slaughterhouse in Dresden, and survived the firebombing of Dresden in an underground meat locker), which was very interesting. Another 1001 book that I can check off!
42LisaMorr
June 30th will be my last day - happy retirement to me! Lots more reading and ROOTing for me!
43MissWatson
I'm sure you will enjoy your retirement!
44LisaMorr
>43 MissWatson: Yes! I'm looking forward to much more unfettered reading!
45LisaMorr
Second ROOT for April, #14 for the year: Magic in the Wind by Christine Feehan, a ROOT since 2008.
This is the first Christine Feehan book I've read, and for some reason I collected quite a few of her books... I'm hoping they get better, lol! This is the first book in the Drake Sisters series - there are seven Drake sisters and they all have different magical abilities. This book (really just a novella) focused on Sarah, the oldest sister, and Damon Wilder, a man who comes to town to retire (and to hide); I guess it could be described as a witch-romance. I found the romance to be unbelievable, and while the different abilities and interactions between the sisters was somewhat interesting, it just wasn't enough. Also, too much sex - I don't mind sex, but not with a romance that is not believable.
Since I have so many more Feehan novels (including 4 more of the Drake Sisters books!), I will try the next one in the series, before deep-sixing all of them.
This is the first Christine Feehan book I've read, and for some reason I collected quite a few of her books... I'm hoping they get better, lol! This is the first book in the Drake Sisters series - there are seven Drake sisters and they all have different magical abilities. This book (really just a novella) focused on Sarah, the oldest sister, and Damon Wilder, a man who comes to town to retire (and to hide); I guess it could be described as a witch-romance. I found the romance to be unbelievable, and while the different abilities and interactions between the sisters was somewhat interesting, it just wasn't enough. Also, too much sex - I don't mind sex, but not with a romance that is not believable.
Since I have so many more Feehan novels (including 4 more of the Drake Sisters books!), I will try the next one in the series, before deep-sixing all of them.
46LisaMorr
Third ROOT for April, #15 for the year: The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story created by Nikole Hannah-Jones, a ROOT since 2021.
I started this one in February with the intention of finishing it then for Black History Month; didn't make that deadline so then I thought I could finish it in March for International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and I still couldn't finish!
I finally finished it in April. It was good, and I learned a lot - however it was a bit uneven, which I think is to be expected with a project like this - different chapters written by different authors. The chapters were organized around different issues like citizenship, self-defense, inheritance. Prior to each chapter there was a short historical snippet and a poem or short fiction piece.
It took me a while to read because there is a lot of painful history here and honestly not a lot of hope for change. I'm glad I read it and I have a lot more reading to do in this area.
I started this one in February with the intention of finishing it then for Black History Month; didn't make that deadline so then I thought I could finish it in March for International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and I still couldn't finish!
I finally finished it in April. It was good, and I learned a lot - however it was a bit uneven, which I think is to be expected with a project like this - different chapters written by different authors. The chapters were organized around different issues like citizenship, self-defense, inheritance. Prior to each chapter there was a short historical snippet and a poem or short fiction piece.
It took me a while to read because there is a lot of painful history here and honestly not a lot of hope for change. I'm glad I read it and I have a lot more reading to do in this area.
47Cecilturtle
>42 LisaMorr: Congratulations on your retirement!
48LisaMorr
>47 Cecilturtle: Thanks so much!
49LisaMorr
Fourth ROOT for April, #16 for the year: Five for Sorrow, Ten for Joy by Rumer Godden, a ROOT since 1979.
This was a book club edition and I'm thinking I got it new in 1979. I have no idea why I would've gotten it - maybe it was one of those things were the book was sent to you automatically if you didn't turn it down beforehand - because I don't believe at that age I would've selected a 'religious' book.
I picked it to read in April because Rumer Godden was the Virago Reading Project author for May. I only had two books by Godden in my library and this one was rated slightly higher than the other one.
It was excellent and not what I expected at all; yes, it was a 'religious' book, about a woman who became a nun and all that that entailed (which was very interesting), but there was also the backstory about this woman's life before becoming a nun. I'm so glad I finally read it. And honestly, I felt uplifted after reading it.
This was a book club edition and I'm thinking I got it new in 1979. I have no idea why I would've gotten it - maybe it was one of those things were the book was sent to you automatically if you didn't turn it down beforehand - because I don't believe at that age I would've selected a 'religious' book.
I picked it to read in April because Rumer Godden was the Virago Reading Project author for May. I only had two books by Godden in my library and this one was rated slightly higher than the other one.
It was excellent and not what I expected at all; yes, it was a 'religious' book, about a woman who became a nun and all that that entailed (which was very interesting), but there was also the backstory about this woman's life before becoming a nun. I'm so glad I finally read it. And honestly, I felt uplifted after reading it.
50LisaMorr
April Summary
ROOTs read - 4 (89% of 2024 books read this year so far are ROOTs):
prior to 2009: 2
2019: 1
2021: 1
Books acquired - 8
May ROOT plans
Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood (started in April)
Labyrinth by Kate Mosse
The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
James K. Polk: A Biographical Companion by Mark E. Byrnes
The Sandman, Vol. 3: Dream Country by Neil Gaiman
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
No Wind of Blame by Georgette Heyer
Leftovers from April:
Cockroaches by Jo Nesbo
Still working on The Arabian Nights Entertainments and will eventually start Gargantua and Pantagruel both of which are ROOTS and BFBs, to be dipped into.
ROOTs read - 4 (89% of 2024 books read this year so far are ROOTs):
prior to 2009: 2
2019: 1
2021: 1
Books acquired - 8
May ROOT plans
Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood (started in April)
Labyrinth by Kate Mosse
The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
James K. Polk: A Biographical Companion by Mark E. Byrnes
The Sandman, Vol. 3: Dream Country by Neil Gaiman
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
No Wind of Blame by Georgette Heyer
Leftovers from April:
Cockroaches by Jo Nesbo
Still working on The Arabian Nights Entertainments and will eventually start Gargantua and Pantagruel both of which are ROOTS and BFBs, to be dipped into.
52LisaMorr
>51 connie53: Thanks so much Connie!
53LisaMorr
First ROOT for May, #17 for the year: Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood, a ROOT since 2008 or earlier.
A slow reading month so far - distracted by planning for retirement I think - but I finally finished this one.
Margaret Atwood does not disappoint - I did not expect the twist near the end, but I should've suspected it! Alias Grace is based on real-life double murders that occurred in the 1800's in Canada. Atwood did a great job going into the mind of Grace Marks, who was convicted of murder along with James McDermott. He was hanged, and her sentence was commuted to life in prison. The book focuses on a medical doctor's attempt to try to get Grace to remember everything that happened on the day of the murder. Very well done!
A slow reading month so far - distracted by planning for retirement I think - but I finally finished this one.
Margaret Atwood does not disappoint - I did not expect the twist near the end, but I should've suspected it! Alias Grace is based on real-life double murders that occurred in the 1800's in Canada. Atwood did a great job going into the mind of Grace Marks, who was convicted of murder along with James McDermott. He was hanged, and her sentence was commuted to life in prison. The book focuses on a medical doctor's attempt to try to get Grace to remember everything that happened on the day of the murder. Very well done!
54LisaMorr
Second ROOT for May, #18 for the year: And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, a ROOT since 2008 or earlier.
Managed to complete one more book for May - this book was a good choice, a real page turner. This was a tight little mystery with some very interesting characters. I think I've read that you can always figure out who did it in Christie's mysteries because she always leaves the clues out where you can find them, and I did see the clue but I kind of wrote it off! This book is about ten people who are sent to an island and find out when they get there that they've all been accused of murder.
Unfortunately, the book suffers from a couple of racist comments.
Managed to complete one more book for May - this book was a good choice, a real page turner. This was a tight little mystery with some very interesting characters. I think I've read that you can always figure out who did it in Christie's mysteries because she always leaves the clues out where you can find them, and I did see the clue but I kind of wrote it off! This book is about ten people who are sent to an island and find out when they get there that they've all been accused of murder.
Unfortunately, the book suffers from a couple of racist comments.
55Caramellunacy
>53 LisaMorr: I haven't managed to read Alias Grace yet, but I did enjoy the miniseries - have you seen it?
56LisaMorr
>55 Caramellunacy: I didn't know there was a mini-series! I should check it out - thanks for letting me know.
57rabbitprincess
>53 LisaMorr: >55 Caramellunacy: I read Alias Grace in university and really liked it, but I think I should read it again.
