Take It or Leave It Challenge - August 2012 - Page 2

>For those new to this challenge: More info and monthly index can be found in post #1 of this thread or this TIOLI FAQS wiki.

Simple directions for posting to the wiki can be found at the bottom of each month's wiki page.


...logo by cyderry

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Hi Gang,

Here's your newest challenge for the month of August. It's to read a book by a new-to-you author chosen from a list of author names generated at “Literature-Map”.

Here are the rules:
1. 1. Plug in the name of a favorite author into the search box on Literature-Map.
2. Press “continue” to see a “shower” of possible author names.
3. Choose a new-to-you author from this generated list of names. It would be good to choose an author whose name hovers closest to your favorite author’s name, but that is not mandatory.
4. Read a book by that author.
5. If you are unhappy with the generated author list, you may plug in the name of a different favorite author and try again.
6. You may do this as many times as you like, but only choose one new-to-you author per favorite author.

When you choose a book, list it as follows, so that the name in parentheses is the favorite author whose name you used for the plug-in:

The Fortress of Solitude – Jonathan Lethem (Jonathan Carroll) – SqueakyChu

You may match a book at any time.

Have fun!

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Other Fun Stuff (not part of the TIOLI challenge):

1. The August 2012 TIOLI Meter - Optional page on which you may track your TIOLI reading. FYI: This is not meant to be competitive - only fun!
2. Morphidae's List of Previous TIOLI Challenges - You may use this reference (Do a control-F scan) to avoid repeating a previous challenge. If your idea is similar to a previous challenge, just make it unique by adding a new "twist" to it. (Updated 08/03/12)

Wiki index:

Challenges #1-6
1. Read a book by a new-to-you author chosen from a list of author names generated at “Literature-Map" - msg #1
2. Read a book from the 2012 Booker Prize longlist - msg #3 - LT's Booker Prize group
3. Read a book a book about an alternate Earth - msg #6
4. Read a book where the Title either begins with the same letter as the one above or ends with the same letter, alternating - msg #4
5. Read a book that was recommended to you by one of your parents, or is a favourite of one of your parents - msg #7
6. Read a book with a summer scene on the cover - msg #8

Challenges #7-12
7. Read a book someone recommended to you in the last month - msg #11
8. Read a book published as a Virago Modern Classic - msg #26
9. Read a book that is set in a city that has hosted the Summer Olympics in the 21st century (London, Beijing, Athens, Sydney) - msg #24
10. Read a book with a title that includes an object that changes colors naturally - msg # 31
11. Read a book about a warrior, or that includes one of these words in the title or author's name: warrior, waste, ravage, sack, or destroy - msg #32
12. Read a "Scandicrime", a mystery or thriller written by an author from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland or Iceland - msg #34

Challenges #13-18
13. Read a book where the first letter of the title words can be rearranged to make a single word - msg #36 - thread
14. Read a book whose title includes one or more of the colors from your country's flag - msg #61
15. Read a book whose title includes the word "life" or the word "death" - msg #66
16. Read a book with a cover that is boring, uninteresting, uninspiring, or mostly brown - msg #67 - thread
17. Read a book with an embedded first name in either the title or author's name - msg #70
18. Read a book which contains a monetary unit in the author's name or in the title or subtitle - msg #78

Challenges #19-21
19. Read a short work such as a short story or an essay with a title which follows an alphabetical sequence - msg #108 - thread
20. Read a work by Maeve Binchy - msg #151
21. Read a middle-length work (between 150-288 pages total) - msg #190

New challenges can only be added when September's challenges go up.

Hey, Page 2. I think it's going to work this time.
I'm loving these challenges.

These are great, but I have a really good one for September!! :D

Always thinking, Madeline. I don't have anything myself yet, but I bet something will come to me.

I'm still working on September's ideas.

Challenge #2 are all shared reads now. Amazing!

And the short story/work challenge is on it's 5th time through the alphabet with 119 entries and 20 shared reads!

I'm going to keep listing on that one until I meet my goal of one a day through August. Both the Naguib Mahfouz and Dorothy M Johnson stories are superb.

My boring and brown cover got recalled at the library, so now I will be searching for something new that is boring and/or brown.

I felt almost guilty when I added my Maeve Binchy book to challenge 20 because it didn't match the others. However, I didn't know what others were reading when I went to the Goodwill Bookstore in Tupelo and picked that one out.

>7 SqueakyChu: Challenge #2 are all shared reads now. Amazing!

Excellent! Hopefully these shared reads will generate some good discussion about these books. Kerri and I are talking about Narcopolis on my thread this morning, and several others have made comments about Bring Up the Bodies, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and Skios, all of which are currently available in the US. I'm still waiting for the four Booker longlisted books I've ordered from the UK to arrive, as I'm very eager to get started on them.

Darryl, feel free to also start a separate thread (or even more than one separate thread) for all or any of your Booker books if you want to start a more directed discussion of those books. If you do separate threads, you can mark them with the "about" designation so others can find them later.

>12 SqueakyChu: You read my mind, Madeline. I was just about to post the link to the Booker Prize group, which includes threads for each of the longlisted books and one for general comments about the longlist:

http://www.librarything.com/groups/bookerprize2008

> 13

Nice idea! I added the link as a separate thread in the wiki index even though it goes to a different group. It'll be nice to get some of our TIOLI challengers involved in that group!

>14 SqueakyChu: Thanks, Madeline. It's arguably a bit of self promotion, since I'm the administrator of the group (along with Cait86). ;-)

>4 SqueakyChu: : Uh-oh!

:)

:8-0

> 15

It's arguably a bit of self promotion, since I'm the administrator of the group (along with Cait86)

Now why didn't I notice that?!

Anyway, that's all the more reason to promote it!

Good to see you joining us in Challenge 19, Madeline.

I've listed a couple of mini memoirs by writers there, available as Kindle singles or similar on this side of the Atlantic, by Ann Patchett and Hilary Mantel. I've already read The Getaway Car if anyone wants a short shared read, and Ink in the Blood may well be even shorter.

> 20

That is really a brilliant challenge, Luci. You wouldn't believe how many unfinished books of short stories I have here at home. I love books of well-written short stories, but it is too easy to get distracted away from finishing them. Your challenge certainly helps!

10: re: the Maeve Binchy challenge

I've got this urge to match all of the reads that show up on challenge 20. Whether I get to them all remains to be seen, but I'm enjoying the challenge. So, no problem that we have another Maeve Binchy book--she was kind of prolific!

Karen O.

Congrats Madeline on successfully continuing the thread, and with the correct title this time too!

I've just added It's Lonely in the Modern World: The Essential Guide to Form, Function, and Ennui by Molly Jane Quinn to challenge #21. Had been slowly making my way through it for a good long while and finished it today. It was originally a recommendation right here on TIOLI by keristars and I had fun with it, but her recommendation came too long ago now to list it under challenge #7.

Thanks, Ilana. Practice makes perfect, and I keep practicing!

Finished Man with a Blue Scarf: On Sitting for a Portrait by Lucian Freud by Martin Gayford. Fascinating for anyone who is interested in Lucian Freud's work, or in the artistic process in general. I've listed it under challenge #7.

I got a bunch of Barbara Pym books this week and felt sure they'd fit into the Virago Modern Classics challenge, but I guess not? Not that it really matters, because I hardly see where I'll find time this month to actually read them!

Books Added:

TIOLI #1 (Literature Map)
The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum

TIOLI #3 (alternate Earth)
Bone Magic by Yasmine Galenorn (non-humans and magic)
Night Play by Sherrilyn Kenyon (wereanimals)

TIOLI #4 (alternating letters)
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski

TIOLI #17 (imbedded name)
Beauty by Robin McKinley (Beau)
Graceling by Kristin Cashore (Grace)

***

Also, I removed a book, Desolation Road, from my challenge TIOLI #3. It was set on Mars not (alternate) Earth.

Hey morphidae, I actually added Beauty to the 21st challenge (read a middle length work)... I can switch it to challenge 17, or you can switch it to 21 to make it a shared read, I don't know if you have any preference?

I finished and REVIEWED Betty Smith's classic coming of age novel A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. That was for the Read a book with a title that includes an object that changes colors naturally challenge.

I am now reading Columbine by Dave Cullen for the challenge to Read a book with an embedded first name in either the title or author's name.

Ilana, 3 of your Pyms would fit into the VMC challenge if you have time to read them - Excellent Women, No Fond Return of Love and A Glass of Blessings have all been published in VMC editions. An Unsuitable Attachment hasn't.

I'll move Beauty to 21.

Wow, thanks Luci. I looked up the document that was originally linked to on the first thread, and no Pym's showed up there, hence my confusion. Thanks for clearing that up. I really would like to read at least one of them this month, but I don't know if you've seen my already VERY overcrowded list for the month... ALL books I badly want to read of course!

I just finished writing my review of East of Eden. Here's the link to it if anyone's interested: http://www.librarything.com/work/2499/reviews/68726767

It may be that it's not that up to date, as the Virago editions of Barbara Pym are relatively recent. And I understand exactly what you're saying. I was thinking of reading No Fond Return this month, but I can't promise not to get distracted, and I'm going away twice later this month, and I read less on holiday than at home.

Here's a longer list of Virago Modern Classics. http://www.librarything.com/publisherseries/Virago+Modern+Classics

Not being the wiki wizard that Madeline is, I don't know how to arrange it in a search able fashion, though the ones you own have check marks beside them, so that helps.
I finished a lovely little one by Alice Hoffman, Seventh Heaven, and one by Kaye Gibbons, A Virtuous Woman and am on to another one by her, Sights Unseen

I also finished Rabid and it was very interesting. Why did I not know that Louis Pasteur and his group were the ones who developed the vaccine? I guess I never saw the movie. Because of studying rabies his proteges laid the foundation for the study of immunology developing serums against diphtheria, snake bites, TB, bubonic plague, whooping cough, and typhus. Now scientists are utilizing a "hollowed out" rabies virus to deliver medication directly to the brain, crossing the blood-brain barrier. I liked the way the authors showed a full circle regarding this disease that takes the person out of the person before killing them to show how it might be used to treat another disease, Alzheimer's, that does the same thing.

>27 Morphidae: Now I'm confused, because I also put Desolation Road in the (alternate) Earth challenge. I know it takes place on Mars, but that's the point - they're creating an alternate Earth. Can I have a ruling on this? Just curious.

>35 ffortsa: I'm the one who created the challenge. It has to be set on Earth but an Earth that is not quite ours in some way - such as Kennedy wasn't shot or there is magic or werewolves, etc.

#32 Perhaps the spreadsheets been updated since you looked but there are about 6 Pym's included in the list - maybe none of the ones you own though.

Thanks Heather, but Luci got it right in message #30; 3 of the 4 I own are on the list. Now after all the kerfuffle I'll truly feel obligated to read at least one of those! If anyone's interested in a shared read, I'll choose which one accordingly, though I wouldn't mind starting with Excellent Women...

I've moved Desolation Road to challenge #17, after realizing that I knew someone named 'Ion'. Greek, I think? Or maybe he has a parent who is a chemistry nerd. Anyway, that takes it out of the 'alternate Earth' category, where it was misplaced.

> Judy,
I know someone named Etlylene. Her mother IS a biochemist.

For those of you doing the Coursera fantasy course: By now ALL the short stories of Hawthorne and Poe that we have to read next week are in the short story challenge (challenge #19); also, I have added this weeks reading, Frankenstein to challenge #17.

I've finished and reviewed Heir to the Shadows by Anne Bishop, which can go in either Challenge 10 (an object that changes colours naturally) or Challenge 17 (an embedded first name), depending on whether shadows can be considered as such objects (different shades of grey?) or if Ann can be considered a separate first name from Anne.

Any thoughts?

ETA : going with 'shadows'

Whoee! I finally finished the over 600 page Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (TIOLI #1). I have been reading that book since the beginning of the month. I'm looking forward to moving on to more variety and shorter books!

Just some housekeeping - challenge #19 no longer appears in the index on the wiki page. I'm not sure how to fix it so will leave it for someone else.

#44 - FIXED. Someone had added something in front of it which made it not show up.

Thanks.

I am going to add a name to challenge 17 that some of you may not think is a first name. I offer this snippet from the 1940 Monroe County, Mississippi that "Green" is a real name. (He married my 1st great grand aunt Myrtis Duke):

>47 thornton37814: Poor little boy must have had a difficult birth and come out covered in meconium.

>47 thornton37814: My great-great-grandfather's given name was Greenberry. By the time he was in his early 20s, he shows up in all records as Green B. I can't say I blame him.

Actually, it was a pretty common name in Monroe County. One of the doctors from the late 1800s/early 1900s was named "Green" and a lot of families named their children after him.

I finished and REVIEWED Dave Cullen's remarkable book about the school shooting, Columbine. What a page turner, which is shocking because I thought I knew what happened. Turns out I didn't. That was for Challenge to Read a book with an embedded first name in either the title or author's name.

You know what I love?

I love the feeling you get when you suddenly realise that a book you thought didn't fit any TIOLI, actually does.

I've started reading Five Quarters of the Orange. It's a "delicious" read so far. My mouth is watering while I'm reading her culinary creations in her quite poetic prose.

I finished the audiobook of Part of the Furniture by Mary Wesley in two days, and must say I'm now a HUGE fan of hers. This was for challenge #1 and her name came up when I typed in Muriel Spark. She writes beautifully and has a great sense of story. It did no harm that the narrator was Samuel West. I went ahead and immediately spent one of my Audible credits on The Camomile Lawn, read by the fabulous Carole Boyd. Not wholly unlikely I may listen to that very very soon.

I wonder now if, now I've read one book by her, whether I could enter The Camomile Lawn under the same challenge since had I planned ahead a little, I would have listed both those book anyway... waiting for Madeleine's last word on this... *eek*

By the way Madeline, no need to answer my previous query, I've added The Camomile Lawn to challenge #6 since it definitely has a summer scene on the cover.

> 55

Good thing you solved your own problem, Ilana, because I've been off line for a whole week when the hard drive went down on my laptop the first day I hit the beach for vacation. I'm back at home at my desktop now.

I'm glad no one freaked out by my not being around this time. Er, I guess that was because the end of the month is nowhere in sight yet. :D

You were missed. Just not in a panicky, freaked-out way. :)

LOL!

It's coming up to August 21st...which means it's Quickie Reads Day here at TIOLI. Let's hear your suggestions...

I just wanted to say that The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny is mentioned in two categories, in challenge 16 and in challenge 18...

>60 Britt84: Actually The Brutal Telling is listed in 3 places because I also have it in challenge #4. Unfortunately I don't think I can move it as it will mess up the order of the rolling challenge.

> 60 , 61
Everybody could move to #4 and get the points for the shared read!!

I have 2 quickie reads to suggest. The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West (Challenge 8) is very short and introduces you to her brand of psychological and sociological insights. It's a perfect little book full of nuanced ideas.
The second suggestion is Gone Girl (Challenge 17) which some people think is vehemently anti-male, some think is vehemently anti-female, but everyone can agree is a perfect example of manipulation by the author. The author is god of her characters, but in this case, she's also god of the reader. It's 400 pages, which sounds like a big read, but I, who am a very slow reader, did it in 2 days because I just couldn't stop. Read it so you can discuss it with your friends. Fisticuffs might ensue.

Ooh, The Return of the Soldier looks good. I've read Harriet Hume by the author, so, if I can get the Soldier one from my library in time, I'll add a matched read.

Karen O.

Well, for short reads I'd say everybody should join the short story challenge ;)

I've read Robin McKinley's Beauty (challenge 21), which is a nice, quick read, though if you dislike fairy tales it might not be your thing.
Other than that the Lewis Carroll works in challenge 17 are quick reads, as is The Island of Dr Moreau (also in challenge 17).

OK; I just can't get into the wiki, but I've finished The Loneliest Magician by Irene Radford. The only place it might fit, as far as I can see, is challenge 4, but I can't check at the moment.

Can anyone remind me how to get to my own wiki page? I've looked everywhere I can think of, and managed to get onto it in some convoluted way, which I cannot now remember.

humouress - I'm finding the wiki pages very very slow today. So I'm opening them using right click and waiting:(

To find your own page you can click on the WikiThing link at the bottom of the page and look at the left of the page under Navigation and there is a link to Your WikiThing Page.

ETA - challenge 4 is waiting for a book starting with W

humorous, I see both Elie and Ian in The Loneliest Magician so you could put it in #17.

> 67, 68 : Thank you both. Will now re-attempt wiki-ing.

ETA - nope; still no joy with wikis. They are just not loading tonight, but I see how to do it, thank you.

I'll say the wiki is slow. To the tune of about 15 minutes to mark a book as completed. Looks like it's almost done. Keeping my fingers crossed, anyway.

I just thought it was me and my stupid ol' computer. Thanks for letting me know before I threw it out the window.

TIOLI Stats for July, 2012

A little late folks, but here are the stats you've been waiting for...

For July, we only had 19 challenges, a rather low number. In fact, it was the lowest number since November, 2011.

In those challenges, a total of 588 books were COMPLETED with 99 of them, or 17%, as shared reads. That, everyone, is the lowest percentage of shared reads in the history of the TIOLI challenges! As a result, there were only 53 TIOLI points accumulated in July, the lowest number of TIOLI points per month since June, 2010.

We've only accumulated 528 year-to-date TIOLI points which makes us lagging by about one month the YTD total of last year.

The most popular book of the month, shared by 7 challengers, was Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens.

Thornton 37814's challenge, to read a book where the author's initials form a commonly used abbreviation or initialism or acronym had the highest number of books read (94) as well as the most TIOLI points (a mere 9 points).

Stay tuned for the July 2012 TIOLI awards...

Off Topic:

Free online Coursera course starting September 10, 2012

Modern & Contemporary American Poetry
...taught by Professor Al Filreis of the University of Pennsylvania

"This course is a fast-paced introduction to modern and contemporary U.S. poetry, from Dickinson and Whitman to the present. Participants (who need no prior experience with poetry) will learn how to read poems that are supposedly 'difficult.'"

Information and sign-up here. Enjoy!

What about incorporating what you read for this course into a September TIOLI challenge? :)

Hey, don't steal my ideas! I signed up for the course and was sort of planning to do a poetry challenge ;)

> 73, 74
Count me in. I signed up for the MoPo course a couple of months ago. I am really enjoying the Fantasy and Science Fiction course and I am a bit worried about workload since they overlap for three weeks!
You too Britt, it is going to be challenging!

> 74

I love the idea of Coursera. Although I don't have the time to fit it into my busy life, I love knowing that others will take advantage of this fantastic and fun learning opportunity. Looking forward to see what kind of unique poetry challenges will show up among our September TIOLI challenges. :)

I'd love to take this course, but the timing of it isn't good for me. Hopefully there will be another Coursera poetry course soon.

> 75 I might not be doing the assignments for the poetry course; I don't know how much time I'll have, so maybe I'll just follow along with the readings and lectures and skip the assignments and quizzes. I do hope to complete the fantasy course with all the assignments though. I'm currently still on holiday but will be starting work again as of September, so I'll just have to see if I'll be able to manage...

The "Maeve Binchy challenge" (#20) is proceeding along quite nicely. We've got five books listed, and every one is a matched read! (This might be a first in TIOLI history!) I've finished two of the books myself (Heart and Soul, The Copper Beech), and I'm quite impressed. They are involving, well-written books, but easy on the brain and somehow restorative to the heart. Is that enough of a sales pitch? I hope so!

Karen O.

Klobrien, you have Maeve Binchy in a nutshell: easy on the brain and somehow restorative to the heart. I just finished Minding Frankie, and that says it all. I also finished Sea of Poppies which is much harder on the brain and definitely heart wrenching, so she helped get me through that. Now I'm on to another Pat Barker, Blow Your House Down for the Virago challenge. Her books are pretty much the opposite of Binchy's, they twist both your brain and your heart, so I think of Binchy kind of like those little cups of water they give marathoners. Just enough refreshment to keep you going.

I finished and REVIEWED Anthony Trollope's delightful little novel The Warden. That was for Challenge 4.

And anyone who has never tried reading Trollope and is interested, Liz did this as a tutored read and was very, very helpful in getting me into the book's intricacies. I'm not sure I would have enjoyed it as much w/o that crutch. The thread is RIGHT HERE. Thanks Liz (and Madeline for giving me a nudge:)

I am disappointed in my literature map pick, Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes, which I picked as being one of the closest to Wally Lamb, who I love! I have a beautiful boxed set of the McCourt memoirs, which I picked up for $3 at a used book sale, and I really thought I would find them engrossing, based on the general reaction to them and based on the literature map. Instead, I just find the memoir so tragic. It's overly sad. Everyone's circumstances is incredibly sad and that explains some of their attitudes but it's getting to be too much for me to deal with, how the adults treat the children. I'm about two-thirds in and I think I will finish it for the sake of finishing it. I might give Teacher Man a try at some point but I doubt I will make my way to 'Tis.

As for the literature map, interestingly, there was nothing all that close to Wally Lamb. The closest was Jeffrey Eugenides, which I agree has a resemblance. I also really like Jeffrey Eugenides. Frank McCourt was not in the same direction on the map. I think, for future reference, if I used the map to get recommendations, I would pick something near to something else I already know I like.

Maybe I will try the Maeve Binchy challenge next...

> 82

Different strokes, I guess. I very much liked Angela's Ashes despite its tragic story. I though that McCourt's spirits held up amazingly well considering the dire circumstances of his youth. I read 'Tis and also Teacher Man. I liked both, although most others who have read these last two books said they were disappointed in them. I found them both very readable and interesting.

I read one book by Maeve Binchy a while back and will never try another! Dislike!!

The literature map's selections were really random selections and not related *at all* it seems to the favorite author we each selected. I just liked the way the names on that web site bounced around. Sorry you got a pick that you didn't enjoy!

Literature map lead me from Peter Lovesey to Micheal Dibdin. I did not like the Dibdin book I read. The main character seemed interesting at first. But his constant need to go lie down and pretend he is sailing, his seeming timidness in actually investigating, his . . bah. Right, so, I did not like Dibdin's Aurelio Zen in Ratking (oh. and the constant reference back to rats being tied by their tails and being forced to live as this giant ratking to survive was a reference annoying the first time. and the 27 other times it was referenced).

I found every suggestion from Literature Map to be either someone I'd read lots of already or those I'd never heard of were very hard to get hold of, and I wasn't going to gamble on books I couldn't borrow from a library or buy very cheaply. I did read a book for the challenge by an author who was genuinely new to me, and it was excellent, but probably wouldn't have been suggested on the basis of my existing favourite authors - Jo Walton's Among Others was a matched read as both Heather and I bought it in the Kindle sale this month.

> 85

I found every suggestion from Literature Map to be either someone I'd read lots of already or those I'd never heard of were very hard to get hold of, and I wasn't going to gamble on books I couldn't borrow from a library or buy very cheaply.

Confession time:
I gave up on my own challenge! My experience was similar to yours, Lucy!

I promise a much more fun challenge for September.

The TIOLI Awards for July 2012

Drum roll, please...

The To the Nth Degree Award goes to Anne DC for reading The Count of Monte Cristo for cyderry's challenge to read a book of *more than 300 pages* with *a multiple word title*. You'd think Anne would choose a book with 350 pages, but no! Her book had 1,116 pages!

The You Made Me Laugh Award goes to several challengers who participated in thornton37814's challenge to read a book where the author's initials form a commonly used abbreviation or initialism or acronym. They win for the simple reason that I thought their chosen acronyms were funny. Casvelyn, JeanneD and antqueen win for "toilet paper". Antqueen wins again along with streamsong, goddesspt2, and Morphidae for "bull****". Last, but not least, labsf39 wins for "irritable bowel syndrome". Speedy recovery, labsf39! Can we all exit the bathroom now?!

The Why is My Book Edge Crooked Award goes to goddesspt2 for her challenge to read a book with a deckle edge and being so kind as to explain what a deckle edge is!

Congrats to our July winners!

Be thinking of new challenges for September...coming upon us in little more than one week. :)

Little less than one week in some parts of the world!

But who's counting? :)

It seems I did better than many with my Literature Map challenge pick, which makes me feel doubly guilty, since I sort of cheated by picking an author I had shortlisted before the challenge: Molly Keane. I enjoyed her Mad Puppetstown, although I found it slightly insubstantial; and I am looking forward to some other of Keane's works which I gather have a bit more meat on the bone.

Little less than one week in some parts of the world!

LOL! Of course!!

I think what I ended up liking least about the literature map was that the presented authors were either too well known or not at all known to me. I'm a "biggy" on reading midlist or less well known authors. Authors names I've never heard of before scare me! :)

I don't mind authors I've never heard of before, if the books are easily available.

> 85, 86
I've pretty much given up also. Margaret Weis is no Anne McCaffrey! I may try again later

I just finished, and enjoyed, my book for Madeline's challenge. It probably helped that it was a book I wanted to read anyway and I was happy when the author's name showed up on the Literature-Map:)

I have to confess to nearly a complete FAIL with the literature map. I gave up on two books (both from the TBR pile) - The Dragon King's palace by Laura Joh Rowland from Louise Penny and The Eyre affair by Jasper Fforde from Laurie R King. I just couldn't get into either of them and I persevered until halfway on both before giving up. I wondered if this was one of those times when a book was doomed because I thought I should like it? That's always been a bit of a problem for me. The moment I feel any pressure to like a book, it's a gonner. :0)

Madeline - thanks for the idea - it should have worked, but my heart just didn't seem to be in it! At least I've cleared two tomes from the mountainous TBR pile.

P.S. Having more luck (so far, fingers and toes firmly crossed) with Covet by JR Ward from Anne Bishop.

it should have worked

If I would have thoroughly tested that *&%$ literature map first, I would have challenged all of you to read any book that was NOT suggested by the literature map! :)

Don't worry! You'll LOVE the challenge I have in mind for September. Guaranteed!!

>95 SqueakyChu: 'not suggested by the literature map' LOL - would definitely have been better!

>95 SqueakyChu:: Madeline, no regrets on my account!

Entering China Miéville led to Jeff Vandermeer, which led to City of Saints and Madmen, which for me was a wonderful discovery.

I don't know if I'll finish it this month, but my experience with the map was a positive one.

> 97

You stand alone or almost alone, Swynn!

Here's a fun poll. Do it now through the end of the month, and then I'll post the results.

Which THREE (or up to three) TIOLI challenges did you like the least since they've began in 2010?

*Private* message your answers to me.

:D

P.S. Please explain why you didn't like them so no one will be unnecessarily insulted as we are all doing this for fun. Thanks!

POLL cancelled. See message #110 below.

I just couldn't find a book for Challenge 1 myself, but I loved the book I read for the same challenge as a matched read.

I also enjoyed my challenge 1 read, I finally read my first book by Kazuo Ishiguro (typed in Michael Chabon), Never Let Me Go which had sat on Mt tbr for yonks.

Well, I did like my book for the first challenge, but I think that that is more an indication of my broad taste than a sign that it was a good recommendation. I entered George Eliot (realism, romance...) and got Mikhail Bulgakov, which is really surrealistic and so completely different from Eliot... So, I don't think the literature map really works, even if I did like Bulgakov's work :P

I confess that I was pretty sure that "Mindy Kaling" would pop up when I entered "Tina Fey" into the transmogrifier. And I was right. The two names were RIGHT next to each other, almost atop each other. And I was really happy with my challenge 1 read, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?: And Other Concerns by Mindy Kaling. So, there's one success story, but I was not flying blind.

Karen O.

>99 SqueakyChu: Are you talking ones we completed or didn't even do?

>84 MikeBriggs: You are right, SqueakyChu, McCourt's spirits are doing up amazingly well throughout his childhood memoir. Maybe that's part of my difficultly in reading it? In the sense that I can't relate, that it seem unfathomable to me that for all these kids, that's just the way things were and you went ahead and just lived your childhood. Actually, knowing that he does go on to tell his tale into adulthood and that he becomes a teacher does make me want to read his later memoirs. What I find so difficult about Angela's Ashes -- abject childhood poverty in a world of equally impoverished adults who seem unable or unwilling to make the lives of children better -- may be less prominent in the later books. I have a feeling he's not going to be unwilling or unable to make the lives of his students better...

As for the literature map, it wasn't a bad pick. I can see how this would appeal to the same types of readers who enjoy Wally Lamb. But when you're hoping someone near your favourite author on the map is going to have the same magical effect on you, it may be an exercise in likely disappointment.

> 104

Ones you did or didn't do. If you didn't like the challenges, you probably didn't read a book for it.

> 105

One of the things that I found so amazing about McCourt was that this man had such a tough life as a lad in Ireland, worked very hard as a teacher in the New York public school system throughout his adult life...and then went on to win the Pulitzer Prize for his autobiography. If that's not a rags to riches story, I don't know what is!

>105 Deesirings:
I found Angela's Ashes to be one of the most uplifting inspiring books I have ever read and yet it was about abject poverty, neglect and abuse. Frank McCourt and his siblings show the real triumph of the human spirit.

Madeline, I *rather* loved the author I "found" via Literature Map. I typed in Muriel Spark, a great favourite of mine and Mary Wesley came up as a suggestion. I loved the first book I read by her so much I picked up another, and now intend to read everything by her I can get my hands on. Complete success, yes? :-)

I know it's late in the month and I missed the "short reads" suggestions, but I figure there's still a week left in August, so here are three I completed this month and LOVED:

Disco for the Departed by Colin Cotterill (#16)
Part of the Furniture by Mary Wesley (#1)
The Camomile Lawn by Mary Wesley (#6)

I'll also shortly complete A Wreath of Roses by Elizabeth Taylor, which I also recommend (#8).

Hey! I'm cancelling my poll above.

I think it's probably not so nice to select out those less loved TIOLI challenges. We all know that we like some challenges better than others. Thinking about my challenge (which resulted from my gaffe with the literature box poll), I wondered which other ones weren't so successful. Well, the bottom line is...who cares? We do the ones we like the best, and there is always something for everyone. For me, the literature box was the worst ever TIOLI challenge! :D

I didn't cancel the poll because of any negative comment, but only because, after reflection, I thought it not in the spirit of good fun to say anything negative about any contributions made by our challengers. You're such a great group, and I wouldn't want to hurt anyone's feelings.

On a brighter note, we do have a contest coming up at the end of the month. Make sure you've completed your boring, brown books so that YOU may be eligible for a small prize after the vote will be taken at the beginning of September.

Angela's Ashes is one of my all-time favorite books. Like squeaky and cookie above, I was fascinated by how this amazing adult had endured and been shaped by such an unseemly childhood. Survival of the human spirit is a topic I never tire of reading about.

How about a listing of our favorite challenges, instead?

I've had the most fun with Challenge 19 this month --read a short work/story. I can't believe the way the list just keeps going and going and going. I have one more to add if I can catch the right place when the alphabet rolls around again; but that is one fast moving train and can be hard to catch. In the meantime, I did a matched read of a Sherlock story yesterday, I'll read a matched Hemingway today and Naguib Mafouz almost everyday.

I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed that the Kazakhstan book I'd planned to read for my Europe Endless challenge and was able to fit into the TIOLI for this month arrives on Monday. I leave early Tuesday morning for a conference, and I want to arrive at my destination before the area starts getting slammed with rain and wind ahead of Hurricane Isaac. I've heard they are predicting 50 m.p.h. winds in Birmingham (AL) on Wednesday after it comes ashore. I may have a nasty time getting from the hotel to the convention center, but at least it will be short compared to the drive to get there.

> 112

How about a listing of our favorite challenges, instead?

A much better idea. I've already decided that we'll do that at the end of the year with a poll (and a small prize) to the best challege of 2012 (excluding my own challenges).

Feel free to plug those you liked the best here at any time, but keep your vote ultimately secret. I'll announce the winner and award teh prize in January of 2013.

I can't believe the way the list just keeps going and going and going. I have one more to add if I can catch the right place when the alphabet rolls around again; but that is one fast moving train and can be hard to catch.

This list of shared short stories seems as if it could be a fabulous *new feature* for the 75-ers group as a whole. I think it would be the most fun keeping its rolling alphabet. What say ye, Lucy? Want to roll with it? Want someone else to take it over? (Not me!) Remember: if it's your feature, you make the rules. I have no claims on TIOLI (as another group already borrowed this concept - which at first annoyed me, but then later pleased me). There's no copyright on it. :)

I think it would work the best if the stories could be matched, but the book from which it came did not have to be matched.

Strike that idea. It already exists. The only thing it's missing, I think, is a wiki so that others know who's reading what and when. It's too hard to follow on a very long thread. Oh, well. That's not my baby. :)

Uh oh! Three strikes, and I'm out! ;)

I just added the Invisible Man by H. G. Wells to Challenge #17
Isi is a first name.
This book is only 148 pages so would be a 'quickie' read for the end of the month.

I just cleaned up an alphabetization mess in challenge 21 and in the process discovered a "shared read" that had been separated.

For Challenge 11 (warrior), I've finished The Gilded Chain : a Tale of the King's Blades.

Good luck with the Perseid meteor shower!

I had good luck with the literature challenge too, so there's at least two :) I'd heard a lot about Elizabeth Peters on LT already, so when she showed up I picked up my first one for the challenge.

Which reminds me... I should actually put it on the wiki...

I, too, am enjoying my Challenge #1 book. I'd put it C.S. Lewis as a favorite author, and while I'd read a lot of the authors listed and I wouldn't exactly have thought to compare him with Chaim Potok, I'm glad it's finally prompted me to pick up The Chosen. Besides, I hadn't realized 'til I put it on the wiki that I'd forgotten to add it to my library.... Oops!

Ah... The Chosen. That's a great book.

Yes, I read quite a bit yesterday and am enjoying it thoroughly so far. :) I'll be surprised if, when finished, it's less than a 4.5 star read for me... may even be one of only a few 5 star reads of the year.

You might enjoy the movie of "The Chosen" later as well. Rod Steiger was very good as Reb Saunders in this 1981 film.

My husband loved this book. It's one of only a few very old paperbacks that we have that he refuses to let me give away. :)

Hmm, checking to see if anyone has added another "G" story. I have an "H".....

I want to thank you, Darryl, for the Booker challenge. I haven't had a lot of luck with Bookers in the past, but The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry makes up for all others. What a perfect, quiet, meaningful little book.

123: You can add your H, skipping one letter at a time is permitted, so the story may be G or H.

I'm going away from tomorrow until 4 September, so will probably be limited, mostly, to stories on my Kindle (Elizabeth Taylor, Muriel Spark, Amy Bloom, Jennifer Egan, various crime anthologies, and Project Gutenberg and out of copyright stuff which is free or very cheap, eg Mrs Gaskell, Willa Cather) or books I find up there, and my mum isn't really a short story fan. I'm quite sorry about it - I've read over 50 stories but I still feel I'm only just getting started. One or two short story collections may sneak into my luggage, but I can't take all the things I wanted to sample.

>123 EBT1002: - Ellen, I just added a "G" story to the wiki...

Has anyone seen Madeline today? Is it time for the watch to start for September?

I haven't seen her. I can't be bothered to look for her, either. I'm too busy reading...and husking corn!

That Madeline is a sly one.

I'm sure Madeline realizes that many people in the US and Canada might be going out of town for the Labo(u)r Day long weekend and would like the chance to contribute challenges (hint, hint)

:-)

Katie, I like the way you think... hint, hint, HINT

Ugh... Almost the end of the month and I haven't finished all my books yet :( Months are too short :P

Honestly! You people who put TIOLI pressure on Madeline for your own convenience should be ashamed of yourselves!!

:)

Madeline hinted (message#4- 3 weeks ago!) that she had it all decided and that we'd like it better than August's challenge, so blame her, not us. We've been waiting patiently! :-D)

I hardly read any of my books for this month....next month I vow to finish the ones I started. Hopefully they will all fit into new challenges!

125 & 126> Thanks! I could have added my H but I appreciate the support, Katie, so I added it after your G.
I really wanted to participate in the longest challenge wiki ever!
:-)

I also had a very positive experience with Madeline's Challenge this month. The Literature Map lead me to Patrick Rothfuss and I really liked the book I read, Name of the Wind.

> 133

Honestly! You people who put TIOLI pressure on Madeline for your own convenience should be ashamed of yourselves!!

Tee hee!

> 137 : I read Name of the Wind a couple of years ago, and really liked it. Whom did you get to Patrick Rothfuss from, Judy?

Don't know if I'll finish it in time, but I've added The Book Thief to challenge #4. Next book needs to start with "B".

My challenge #4 choices are haunting me. I have managed to misplace two of the books and a third is a library book that I can't renew and had to return half-unread! Grrrr.

Work has been busy and my head has been banging off and on all month, so with all that and Jasper-the-cat's woes, I feel I haven't been reading nearly as much as usual.

You know what would make you feel better, Suz?

A new set of challenges to play with...

:-)

Hmm, Katie, do you think we could persuade Madeline that a prompt introduction of September's challenges would be in the best interests of my mental health?!?!

It would certainly improve this piece o' crap day I'm having!

*ponders this situation*

>141 Chatterbox: I too have a Jasper-the-cat!

#139 - I read a great book called Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie in July and I plugged his name in and up came Patrick Rothfuss. Worked out perfectly since I had The Name of the Game on my TBR shelves.

Here I am in a motel room in Northern Montana, and all I can think about right now is whether or not the September TIOLI Challenges have been posted!

It would obviously be a public service on Madeline's part, wouldn't it, Judy?? :-)

DeltaQueen: Western Montana? Are you in my back yard? How's the forest fire smoke where you are?? Blood red moon here.

Chatterbox; I have you beat! Not only did I misplace my book, but when I found it, it had gone through a cycle in the washing machine. EEEEEEKKKKKK!!!!! I'd had a freezer meltdown and had a huge pile of towels andIpleadthefifthafterthat.

Holy Toledo, streamsong, yes, you just knocked me right out of the ballpark...

Wish I were in Montana, too, I confess!

I say the new post should wait just a little bit... Like, ehmmm... 5 hours from now would be fine, because then I have finished the exam I have to take today, and will be completely at liberty to spend time thinking about new challenges... Actually, it would be awesome if it would be up then, that would be a real post-exam treat :)

@ 149: you washed your book? Oh dear... Well, at least it's clean now ;)

The pressure...the pressure...

> 141, 149 : Oh, no! You poor things!!

Aarrggg! I finally finished Maeve Binchy's Circle of Friends (it weighs in at about 600 pages, paperback). Not my favorite of the three of Binchy's books that I've read for challenge 20, but I finished it. I'm sorry to my compadres, but I don't think I could read another Binchy right now, even if you paid me. I had planned to read Nights of Rain and Stars and Minding Frankie but just...can't...do...it. Not right now, anyway.

Karen O.

Nights of Rain and Stars is definitely not one of her best. When you feel you can handle Binchy again I'd recommend The Lilac Bus or Evening Class or Silver Wedding.

Evening Class! Evening Class! If you get up to trying another Binchy, try this one.

I think you've been doing great on the Binchys, Karen! I am a bit ashamed now to say that I might not finish Circle of Friends... I'll try though, but it is a pretty long book...

155 and 156: lahochstetler and raidergirl3, thank you for the recommendations and for the encouragement to leave Nights of Rain and Stars alone. I also saw that Citizenjoyce rated Minding Frankie only a "3," which seems low when there are so many other great books to read.

Britt84, on one hand, I would love it if you would finish Circle of Friends (for the TIOLI point), but it is VERY long, and, I'm sorry to say, maybe not worth the effort (sorry, memory of Maeve Binchy!). I only gave it 3 stars, and that's really low for me.

Oh, well, I always wanted to read some Binchy, and now I have. And I have solid recommendations for Evening Class, so maybe I'll try to fit that into next month's TIOLI!

Karen O.

I have a great affection for Maeve Binchy's books, but I wouldn't try to read 3 or 5 in the same month and that's as someone who normally reads more than 20 books a month. I like more variety.

@158 Well, one of the reasons I haven't finished it yet is because I can't really get into it. I'm hoping it will get better, it feels like the story hasn't really started yet, so, who knows, I might finish it yet :)

I hoped to read one of the newer Binchys, or even a short story or two, but never even got there. I have a set of 10 on its way from the BookPeople (it was a bargain) so will fit them into future challenges.

I read 'em as the they came out, but with the exception of a few of her middle books (Evening Class, Scarlet Feather), I don't see myself re-reading them. Certainly not her last couple, which were rather lean and anaemic compared to some earlier novels.

I rated Minding Frankie 3 because I found it pleasant but no great shakes. I think her books are light feel-good reading, kind of a respite from other works which are darker and more troubling. You have to be in the mood for them. I definitely wouldn't suggest you push yourself to continue. If it's not making you feel good, klobrien2, it's hardly worth the effort. I did like the movie though. It was my first introduction to Alan Cumming (he was such a sleaze bag), Chris O'Donnell, Saffron
Burrows and Minnie Driver, so well worth it.

I haven't totally given up on finishing my last book of the month for the TIOLI, but it's looking less likely. I haven't had a great deal of time to read while here at the conference. I managed to read a bit last night, but if I'm not able to find a little more time for reading today and tomorrow, I'll be deleting Apples are from Kazakhstan from the TIOLI this time. I'll see how it goes today, but I suspect it will be coming off when I get back to the room tonight.

*sigh*

Madeline, are you trying to kill me????!!!!!
I've looked for the new thread four times a day for the last three days.
!!!!!!!!!

Just four? Wimp!!!

Today's the day. I feel it.

And now I'm back again.

A wee bit frustrating, as I have to winnow down the pile of August TIOLI books -- but without September categories, it's hard!

>165 Carmenere:-170 Feelin' the pain . . .

I had not planned on submitting a challenge for September but Madeline got me thinking about one and I'll be ready and waiting to post it should the moment arrive :0)

I have to be away from the computer - so I'm revealing my September Challenge now.

Magic 9 - Read a book with 9 words in the title OR a word in the title or author's name that is 9 letters or longer

Don't be mad, Madeline, I just can't wait any longer. I want to get started now.

Since I don't know what the September TIOLI challenges will be, except for Cheli's above, my only solution is to start on a book that I know will fit the challenge I'll propose.

August is winding down and time to move on. Not enough time to start another August TIOLI book.

Linda, in case it helps, I'll do my "reveal" too; I'm going to be busy this evening and away from the computer, and it may help people plan their challenges.

In the spirit of the series and sequels challenge, mine is to read a NON-SERIES book by an author best known for their series novels, OR a book in a series by an author who is known for writing stand-alone books. Donna Leon's upcoming new book would qualify, ditto JK Rowling's first book for adults. Jo Nesbo's Headhunters would qualify. Iain Pears is known for his series of art crime novels, but has a few stand-alone books. Peter Robinson has written a stand-alone mystery of late. On the flip side, Nicci French has written a lot of stand-alones, and is now writing a series. The only qualification is that the author must primarily be associated with one or the other and crossing that boundary. Authors like Colleen McCullough and Val McDermid have made their reputation across the board. Please note which category you're opting for when listing the books -- series book by non-series writer, or non-series book by a series writer.

#175 Thanks, Suz. That's close to mine but I think mine's different enough that I can continue with it.

Mine is: Read a series book by an author who has written more books in another series.

Under my challenge, if you're going to read Anne Perry, a Monk book would count, as would a Christmas book or a World War I book. However, she has written more Thomas and Charlotte Pitt mysteries than anything else so a reading a Pitt book would not count.

I see that I am not alone in being unable to wait for Madeline to post the September TIOLI. She would still be able to do it when she wants, but we would have enough time to get those books that fit into the challenges for the coming month. Everyone could be happy.

I'd love to see the new month up by a certain date, but I kind of think that part of the fun of Madeline's TIOLI is that you never know what she's going to do! I was particularly antsy for September since I'm leaving on vacation now without a clue (save the two posted above) about what reading may fit.

Oh, good one, Linda! (My alternate idea would have been to read a book in a trilogy, quartet or some kind of "limited series" -- if someone wants to steal that, feel free!)

I'd be happy if it were live even by the 27th or 28th. But it's hard to winnow out what to focus on when I don't know which books I can punt over to September...

I'd also have to say no to begging. It's Madeline's game and whatever she chooses to do is ok by me. Waiting is frustrating, daunting, bothersome but it is also thrilling and exillerating. Obviously I don't have enough exillerating things in my life :0}

#179 I'm thinking about one of the Shetland Quartet (soon to be Quintent, apparently) books by Ann Cleeves. She's written more books in other series.

#178 Well, there's three revealed. I'll not be online from Fri afternoon til late Sun for holiday weekend fun, most likely, so I'll probably just go with books for these three categories.

I was really trying to work something out to fit in the book I'm most excited about, the new Louise Penny, The Beautiful Mystery, but I note that beautiful has 9 letters in it so I think I'm set.

>181 Carmenere: agree . . . It is Madeline's game! I also am highly amused by our waiting, not so patiently, for the reveal . . .

I would like to have the next challenges up slightly earlier, just so you can have a look at the new challenges before the start of the month. But I'm guessing Madeline will occasionally be busy so I wouldn't really want to impose a hard deadline. And I agree that it is her thing, so I'd say she can make the rules. Plus, the waiting does sort of feel like part of the fun :)

#183 That's for sure, Brenda. We're pretty pathetic, aren't we?

You'd almost think we don't have a life outside of TIOLI ;)

Not pathetic, (well, maybe slightly) just obsessed!

I was just as pathetically obsessed, heh-heh, to await the 13 in 13 challenge.

There, I thought of it as "patiently chomping at the bit."

Impose, absolutely not.

But, if possible, not wait for the sake of waiting? My 0.02, again!

Today's the day. I feel it.

:)

What a tease she is!

> 177

Sorry, but I don't like that people revealing their challenges ahead of time, nor am I willing to reveal "ahead of time". You do remember that originally I was going to reveal on the last day of the month. Keep pushing me, folks, and see what I do! :)

By the way, people do need to realize that I can only set up the TIOLI challenges when my own time (and my computer access) allows...

whenever that is!

:D

Well, it is her toy! And at least she's going to keep letting us play with it, even though we've been naughty children!

>192 SqueakyChu: Keep pushing me, folks, and see what I do! :)

If I have to beg and plead for your sympathy, I don't mind, 'cuz (TIOLI) means that much to me
Ain't too proud to beg, sweet darling, please don't leave (us hanging) girl, don't you go
Ain't too proud to plead, baby baby, please don't leave (us hanging) girl, don't you go...

(with profuse apologies to The Temptations)

Oh, do sing more, Darryl! I LOVE the Temptations!

That could just do it! :)

Well, I was going to propose 3a.m. on the 28th of every month. That way, all you State-side folks will (should) be tucked nicely up in bed while I get a head start ;-)

ETA (before Madeline gets annoyed) : doesn't much matter to me, really. Last year, I made it my goal (and I think I managed) to read a book for Challenge 1 every month. This year, I think I've only managed it a couple of times :-(

It's not hard to do 3am, but only if I don't have to work the following day and can stay up the whole night! I'm not promising the 28th, though. :)

>>#196 & 197

YES, YES, YES!!!! :)

Liz, it figures you'd go for that! :)

Challengers, we have a contest coming up after the end of August. We're going to vote on the most boring and/or brown book cover. More on that contest on September 1st, but be sure that you have COMPLETED any book that you want to have entered in the contest.

It's also time to do some housekeeping here on the August wiki. Please delete those books/works that you are not going to be finished by midnight of Agust 31st (except for the alphabetical rolling challenge - which I'll clean up later).

Be sure that all the books you finished reading are marked COMPLETED by that time, or they will be removed from the wiki later.

After the end of the year, I'm planning to have a contest for the best challenge of the year. A very small prize will go to the winner. You have this month and three more months to think up that very special challenge that just might win the prize for the BEST TIOLI CHALLENGE of 2012. All of my own challenges will be excluded.

It's Uuup! Thanks, Madeline :0)

Thank Darryl for serenading me with a golden oldie. :)

Now I have said golden oldie in my head. There are worse things.

I would vote against begging, pleading, prodding, nudging, whining, etc.

I'm with Lynda et al -- it's Madeline's game and we don't pay her to let us join in.....

*goes to check on whether September has been posted*

Sorry I didn't get the Maeve Binchy Heart and Soul audiobook finished, either. 11 hours! Yikes--but I'll finish listening in September.

I still have three short stories to finish up--that should be do-able.

I will try to finish my Maeve Binchy.... But I'm making no promises... Right now I'm not really in a mood for reading, because I have a dentist appointment in... 3 hours, and I'm scared to death of dentists, so my brains aren't functioning.
However, I will have quite some hours of August left after that, so this evening I'll be trying to finish it, and I will also try to finish The High Crusade; I've almost finished that, so I'll probably just quickly finish that and then get as far as possible with Circle of Friends.

I finished my last book for the month (Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively) but will continue to read short stories until midnight.

Unfortunately, once again, I have had to remove some books from the wiki that were shared reads so we will lose points ... sorry!

Light in August
Agnes Grey
East of Eden
The Invisible Man

Still hoping to finish The Red Pony by later tonight.

> 208

No guilt!

Well, I've finished my last couple of books. I did finish Circle of Friends, but didn't get through East of Eden. I'm off to bed now :)

G'night! Sweet dreams, Britt.

I squeaked in my last read of the month, The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald. I'd actually planned on counting it in September, but it was so short and easy to read I just, well... finished it.

That brings my grand total to 14 books read this month, including all that I'd hoped to get to at the beginning of the month. Not bad!

I failed to finish Palace Walk in time so have added it to the September challenge#2. I read 18 TIOLI books in August., two more that I started but didn't finish were Helmet of Horror and Bring up the Bodies.

I finished my last book for my challenge, The Stone Angel. Madeline, I know you're interested in books about aging. You might want to try this excellent one even though I'm sure you won't like the main character any more than anyone else does. Her inner life is revealed so well, that Margaret Laurence is a wonder.
I also finished my last short story and will remove the few books I either didn't get to, didn't finish or, in the case of 2, abandoned.

I was able to complete my first Three Pines novel, Still Life, before the clock struck 12am. Special thanks to Heather (souloftherose) for advising that if I begin the series do it in order.

All done - apart from the ones I didn't get around to starting:(

Managed to finish a final shared read just before midnight!

> 214

I finished my last book for my challenge, The Stone Angel.

I added that book to my wishlist although I did so with trepidation, Joyce. I hope I don't dislike that main character as much as I did Olive Kitteridge. :)

ha, Olive is a peach compared to Hagar! I loved both books.

> 217
Madeline, I loved Stone Angel.
See my review here: http://www.librarything.com/work/32445/reviews

So long as that Stone Angel isn't weeping. DON'T BLINK!

> 219

I'll read your review after I read the book, Cathy. I'm always afraid to read reviews ahead of time. They tell me too much.

I like to come to read a book as a clean slate, just knowing what its topic is...and, later, seeing if I like reading its first few pages.

> 221
I get that!

220 I was thinking the same thing :) I can never look at stone angels normally again 8/

I just added a butt load of books but only one, The Fault in Our Stars, was a shared read in Challenge #13.

I really enjoyed the short story challenge in the August TIOLI!

I read 41 short stories including two books in their entirety --The Hanging Tree, a book of classic western fiction by Montana author Dorothy M Johnson and The Time and the Place by Egyptian Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz.

In addition, I read two of the original Sherlock short stories, as well as stories by Ernest Hemingway, Willa Cather, Mari Sandoz, O. Henry, Jack London, and some recently published by Montana authors. I think I counted 12 different authors in all.

I don't think of myself as a short story enthusiast, but I will try to get at least the book that contained my next highest number of stories read, Unbridled Spirits: Short Fiction About Women in the Old West by Judy Alter in September. Good thing that 'Unbridled' has 9 letters.

I have finally posted my reviews for:

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (4.0 stars)
http://www.librarything.com/work/8294/reviews/88242851

Dracula by Bram Stoker (4.0 stars)
http://www.librarything.com/work/883/reviews/89177239

Turtle Moon by Alice Hoffman(5.0 stars)
http://www.librarything.com/work/38566/reviews/88241106

More reviews:

The Island of Doctor Moreau by H. G. Wells
http://www.librarything.com/work/3968/reviews/88242883

The Red Pony by John Steinbeck http://www.librarything.com/work/34547/reviews/84899005

Would Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter work for Challenge #11: To mark the August appearance of the Perseid meteor shower, read a book about a warrior, or that includes one of these words in the title or author's name: "warrior", "waste", "ravage", "sack", or "destroy"?

This is the 2012 challenge, not the 2013 one.

This is the thread for 2012, not 2013.

oh poo, thanks for letting me know