APRIL ROOT - Progress Thread

The theme and question this month is in regard to APPRECIATION.



So many times in the past few months I have said "Thank you" to doctors and nurses, orderlies and technicians, and their expressions seem to make me think that others don't express that appreciation for their efforts.

Do you think that society has changed in this regard? Because of technology (texting, social media, etc.) where we no longer speak directly to someone, do you think that we have forgotten how to show our gratitude to those that have done something for us even if it is their job?

For me, even though I haven't met y'all face to face, I want you to know that your kind thoughts and support these past few months have been greatly appreciated.

Here are our March totals. Remember, if you are not a member of the group, or have not set a goal, your name will not appear in the list.

Ann_R 10 / 20 ★★★★ 50.0%
atozgrl 7 / 40 17.5%
brakketh 5 / 46 10.9%
benitastarnd 28 / 72 ★★ 38.9%
bumblesby 7 / 20 ★★ 35.0%
ca_dmv 5 / 12 ★★★ 41.7%
Caramellunacy 14 / 25 ★★★★ 56.0%
Carmenere 3 / 25 12.0%
Cecilturtle 13 / 50 ★ 26.0%
clue 12 / 40 ★ 30.0%
Coach_of_Alva 12 / 15 ★★★★★ 80.0%
connie53 9 / 36 ★ 25.0%
crazy4reading 1 / 30 3.3%
curioussquared 32 / 60 ★★★★ 53.3%
cyderry 23 / 84 ★ 27.4%
detailmuse 10 / 40 ★ 25.0%
DisassemblyOfReason 58 / 100 ★★★★ 58.0%
enemyanniemae 15 / 65 23.1%
Familyhistorian 21 / 65 ★ 32.3%
floremolla 6 / 40 15.0%
fuzzi 9 / 100 9.0%
HelenBaker 7 / 48 14.6%
Henrik_Madsen 7 / 50 14.0%
Jackie_K 10 / 52 19.2%
justchris 1 / 50 2.0%
kac522 24 / 75 ★ 32.0%
karenmarie 1 / 10 10.0%
Kristelh 24 / 30 ★★★★★ 80.0%
KWharton 4 / 12 ★★ 33.3%
lilisin 11 / 100 11.0%
lindapanzo 26 / 84 ★ 31.0%
LoraShouse 4 / 15 ★ 26.7%
madhatter22 10 / 50 20.0%
majkia 32 / 65 ★★★ 49.2%
Miss_Moneypenny 24 / 75 ★ 32.0%
MissWatson 19 / 75 ★ 25.3%
Nickelini 9 / 35 ★ 25.7%
nikolahall 1 / 50 2.0%
QuestingA 17 / 50 ★★ 34.0%
rabbitprincess 16 / 50 ★ 32.0%
readergirliz 5 / 24 20.8%
readingtangent 25 / 50 ★★★★ 50.0%
rebeki 9 / 25 ★★ 36.0%
Robertgreaves 30 / 72 ★★★ 41.7%
rosalita 7 / 48 14.6%
sallylou61 10 / 40 ★ 25.0%
si 6 / 30 20.0%
torontoc 3 / 30 10.0%
vestafan 20 / 60 ★★ 33.3%
wandaly 5 / 24 20.8%


Our top star readers closest to reaching their goals, are:
Coach_of_Alva 80.0%
Kristelh 80.0%


The goal for month is 818, let's get reading!!

Thank you for setting up this month's thread and crunching the numbers!

Thanks, Chèli, for all that you do for this group.

Certainly, all for showing appreciation for people who give service in their jobs, especially those who don't get adequate recompense for what they do.

I don't know if technology has changed our appreciation for others or willingness to express appreciation. I've found so many wonderful people via LT and other book sites and appreciate them so much knowing them. Maybe I don't express it though. I suspect if people aren't expressing appreciation for others it might be something bigger, more a cultural or societal change.

I love the sparkling bunny! I don't notice a big difference among my friends/people I know. I do think that some groups, like people that work for the city, aren't thanked as they should be. My recycling can was being picked up yesterday when I was outside, and I yelled "Thanks!" and waved to the woman doing it. I was sad to see her face register shock, as if I had slapped her.

I probably should say thank-you more often than I do, so I will start by saying thank you for the reminder.

I do always try to say thank you to people who have served me or helped me in some way. I'm not sure if there's less of that than there used to be, although the rest of you have mentioned several instances where folks have been surprised by receiving thanks. It's possible that the distance created by people interacting online more may have affected that, though I hope not! Given the sad state of interpersonal relations in the country right now, I wouldn't be surprised if that does actually happen less often now.

Thanks to you, Chèli, for starting the new thread!

Thanks for setting us up, Chèli!
I'm not sure if people are being less generous with your thank yous, but my distinct impression is thatnthere are more of them who are just plain rude and aggressive. That's rather sad.

Thank you for setting up the thread, Chèli! Like others, I feel like I haven't changed how I interact and express thanks, but I had a recent interaction in an airport when I stepped up to the register of a restaurant and asked "Hello! How are you?" Before launching straight into my order. The cashier looked utterly shocked to have been asked and thanked me for asking. I think kindness and appreciation can totally make someone's day.

I always try to say thanks to people if it's warranted and I'll add my thanks to you for keeping us going.

Unfortunately, there is a problem with my ROOTs stats. I know that I updated my ticker before the turn of the month but it looks like it didn't take. I've since gone back and done it again and checked to make sure that the new number is showing up. I have read a total of 21 ROOTs of my goal of 65. Hopefully that will get me my star back. Sorry everything on my end wasn't ready to go when you set up the April thread, Cheli.

Like others, I try to show appreciation when I can, and I also try to pass on appreciation if someone tells me that someone else has done them a good turn (I work in health care, so sometimes a patient will rave about a particular nurse, for example). We are so used to hearing the complaints that I always make sure I pass on praise when I hear it.

>11 Familyhistorian: all fixed, no problem.

>12 Jackie_K: After 5 hospitalizations, and many of those days with the same nursing staff, I was sure to tell them how much I appreciated their care and efforts. I also sent a thank you card to the Emergency room staff, the fire department EMTs, and ICU just so they knew how grateful I am for all they do.

>13 cyderry: And I got my star back! Thank you Cheli.

Ever since I've started a gratitude journal, I definitely feel more appreciative, from small things like a warm bed to big things like my health. Often I think of the people who made my day a little better: the pleasant and efficient agent who helped me change my train ticket; the friend who is there for me no matter what; my daughter who is healthy, smart, generous and working as hard as she can; my colleague who apologized for being too loud and explained why...
All of these things have helped me be kinder, more tolerant and more appreciative - and be a better version of myself by saying a heart-felt thank-you more often, showing up at work determined to deliver great service and helping others when I can.

Thank-you, Chèli, for facilitating this group and for your thought-provoking questions.

I've added my first ROOT for April (#11 for the year) to my own ticker.

My first ROOT for April, Gideon’s River, by J.J. Marric, has been added to my personal ticker.

My first and second ROOTS for April are: The Cat Who Smelled a Rat by Lilian Jackson Braun and a short 1975 romantic suspense, Message From Absalom by Anne Armstrong Thompson.

Reporting ROOT # 10 for the year, # 1 for April

De laatste leerling by Naomi Novik

Own Tickers updated

Reporting ROOT # 11 for the year, # 2 for April

De escaperoom by Megan Goldin

Own tickers updated

I've added ROOT #2 for April (#12 for the year to date) to my own ticker.

Sorry, I had aready posted!

Second ROOT of April (Emily of New Moon, by L. M. Montgomery) added to my personal ticker.

After a month of library books, I have fallen way behind in my goals. I am making an effort to get back on track and have completed 2 roots, The Secrets of strangers by Charity Norman and Harvest by Jim Crace.

>18 clue: Yay for The Cat Who...

Our Buddhist group is reminding us more often now to be grateful. I find my husband saying 'Thank you' more often now, possibly because of that. I always try to be grateful, but not sure if I remember to say it enough.

The people in this group seem to be pretty grateful. That is something.

And Thank You Cheli for all you do in running this group!

ROOT #3 for April (#13 for the year to date) added to my own ticker.

My latest ROOT for April is The Franchise Affair, by Josephine Tey. Up to 19 ROOTs for the year. I've added it to my personal ticker.

I've not been kind to my ROOTs. The library keeps calling me back. I've still finished The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare by Lilian Jackson Braun, my first for April, 14 overall.

Group tickers updated.

I've added my 4th ROOT for April (#14 for the year) to my own ticker. This is my best month yet for ROOTing, after a slow start in the first quarter of the year.

4th ROOT of the year and first one for April- the brief review is on my thread and no tickers updated.

Reporting ROOT # 12 for the year, # 3 for April

Een Noorse winternacht by Karen Swan

My 3rd ROOT is The Last Garden in England by Julia Kelly. I'm struggling with a rating, either 3.5 or 4. Total of 15 for the year.

I have completed two more roots, The Reader on the 6.27 by Jean-Paul Didierlaurent and Silver by Chris Hammer. I am still behind in my challenge but have managed to stay away from the library for a couple of weeks, so back to my shelves.

I've just finished my fifth ROOT for April (#15 overall) and added it to my own ticker only.

I've finished my fourth ROOT for the month, The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave. This meets my goal for the month, but I hope to finish one more.

And another root for me, Breakwater by Kate Duignan, this brings me to 12/48 and working on another root by the end of the month.

Reporting ROOT # 13 for the year, # 4 for April

Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh

I have finished my fourth ROOT for April and updated my own ticker.

Only one ROOT this month. I'll have to get cracking!

>39 fuzzi:

I'm so behind in my posting, but not in my ROOTing! These are from March and April!

6) Priestdaddy by Patricia Lockwood
7) Fierce Kingdom by Gin Phillips
8) The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (reread)
9) Games and Rituals by Katherine Heiny
10) Musicophilia by Oliver Sacks

>40 cyderry: bwahaha!

Real Life has been very busy with lots of outdoor chores that need to be completed before the heat of summer hits.

>42 fuzzi: Same here. Between needing to get outdoor chores taken care of and reading a couple of Early Reviewers, I haven't managed to read any ROOTs so far this month. Here's hoping I'll get to one at least before the month is out.

>42 fuzzi: >43 atozgrl: EXCUSES! EXCUSES! LOL

I completely understand about things needing to get done. I was packing up my china today and thought to myself "you should be listening to that audiobook you started." but I didn't - boxes, boxes everywhere. If it's not being listened to, the book has to wait until bedtime and then I fall asleep too soon!

hey, everybody -

we are a few books short of the monthly goal, so let's take a few minutes and dig a ROOT!

>45 cyderry: I hadn't posted to the ticker this month so I just added 4. Hope to finish 1 more!

Reporting ROOT # 14 for the year, # 5 for April

De gouden enclaves by Naomi Novik

I sneaked in a short extra ROOT - that's #6 for April, #16 for the year to date. Added to my own ticker. I'd like to think I could get another one read by Sunday, but realistically I suspect this is going to be me for April.

I have read five ROOTs this month, my own ticker is updated.

Here is my report for April 2023:

UpROOTED books: 4
ROOTless books: 12
Added to the treebook TBR shelves: 8

The ROOTs were:

Extraordinary People by Peter May (DNF)
The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak
Eight Detectives by Alex Pavesi
The Astronomer and the Witch by Ulinka Rublack

ROOTs in YTD: 34

(Group tickers not touched)

My personal ticker is up to date with 19 ROOTs read so far this year :)

3 for April- 18 total

my ticker is up to date. I read two in April.

May thread is up!

https://www.librarything.com/topic/350575

I haven't been posting as much as normal because I have been at home where computer connections aren't as good, or as fast as they were at work. Also, I spent the first 6 weeks of my retirement taking care of my mother, and getting things together so that she could come home and stay at home.

I did some reading in April so here is my report. I had Nine (9) ROOTS for April. No tickers updated.

Nonfiction
Turn Right at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time by Mark Adams

Fiction
Painted Kiss by Elizabeth Hickey
Dark Flood by Deon Meyer
Night Rounds by Helene Tursten

Recorded Books
Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz
Word Is Murder by Anthony Horowitz
Hell and Back by Craig Johnson
Quiet American by Graham Greene