alsvidur's 2013 list - thread 3

É uma continuação do tópico alsvidur's 2013 list - thread 2.

Discussão75 Books Challenge for 2013

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alsvidur's 2013 list - thread 3

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1alsvidur
Ago 31, 2013, 11:30 pm



(That really is a hideous ticker, isn't it?)

I'm Emilie, and I live in Michigan. I earn my keep working with animals of all sorts - veterinary hospitals, research, racehorse care, you name it - and spend my free time reading.

I think I read a lot of children's books, from picture books through YA, books on horses (fiction and non-), graphic novels, and general non-fiction.

If I actually look through my logs of the past 3 years, a different picture emerges. Only 30-50% of my reading is non-fiction. At the Library of Congress, I would be hanging out by children's literature (PZ), animal science (SF), general literature (PN), and American literature (PS), with some time spent by zoology (QL). According to Dewey, I read mostly American fiction (813), drawing (741), animal husbandry (636), English fiction (823), and equestrian sports (798), with some general sociology (300s) and zoology (590) thrown in as well.

I read more and more every year - last year I was so close to 365 reads. I would like to try for quality over quantity this year, but I say that every year and always end up reading (and enjoying) fluff. The cool thing about LT is that each year I've been inspired to try something new: more fiction, graphic novels, young adult, and of course, individual books too!

2alsvidur
Editado: Ago 31, 2013, 11:31 pm

In an effort to broaden my horizons a bit more, I'm going to try some category challenges.

"The Standard Book of Spells", where books are taken off lists of pre-college recommendations and Top 100/1001 lists, is the basic one.

I'm really excited for "Travels with Trolls" (aka Reading Globally). I tried this challenge for the library's summer reading program a few years ago and really liked it. Countries and states will get colored in on a map as I go.

"Magical Me", featuring stories of both people and famous horses, should be interesting.

Books in uncommon-to-me genres like mystery, sci-fi, or fantasy will be in "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them".

And for my usual DDC/LOC curiosity:

"Home Life and Social Habits of British Muggles": Sociology, H, 300
"Magical Theory": Book learnin', Q, 400/500
"Monster Book of Monsters": Animals, QL/S, 590/636
"The Healer's Helpmate": Medicine, R, 600
"Quidditch Through the Ages": Sports and rec, G, 700
"Sonnets of a Sorcerer": Literature, P, 800
"Hogwarts: A History": History and geography, D/E/F, 900

3alsvidur
Ago 31, 2013, 11:31 pm

Saving some space here for who knows what

4alsvidur
Set 2, 2013, 6:29 pm



Title: Crown Prince: Brookmeade Young Riders #1
Author: Linda Snow McLoon
Genre: Juvenile fiction
Publication date: 2012 (2012)
Catalog: 813.6 / PZ7
Acquisition: 3 months ago
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 3

Sarah really wants a horse but can't afford one. She catches the attention of her barn owners, who decide to give her a horse. The horse she chooses is an off-the-track thoroughbred who never raced because he was too crazy under saddle. Sarah has to convince everyone that Prince is safe for her to ride.

Crown Prince is very accurate - so accurate that I wonder if non-horsey people won't be confused. The author did include a glossary in the back though. The entire book can be summed up with "A girl gets a horse." There is no real plot other than that. Still a really nice book.

5alsvidur
Set 3, 2013, 12:12 pm



Title: Horse Crazy: Saddle Club #1
Author: Bonnie Bryant
Genre: Juvenile fiction
Publication date: 1988 (1988)
Catalog: 813.54 / PZ7
Acquisition: 1 year ago
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 5

Stevie and Carole have been friends since they met at Pine Hollow Stables years ago. When Lisa shows up for her first lesson and starts acting nice towards snobby Veronica, they aren't sure she'll fit in.

The Saddle Club is THE best horse series for kids. Non-obnoxious girls who focus on friendship first is certainly something that the newer series have forgotten about. Off course Lisa will fit in. And FYI, the girls were born in 1976. They would be 37-years-old today. Crazy!

6MickyFine
Set 3, 2013, 3:30 pm

Oh man, I read so many Saddle Club books as a kid.

7alsvidur
Set 3, 2013, 5:12 pm

Aren't they the greatest? I kept reading them even a bit into high school. A friend showed me the Pine Hollow young adult series right after I graduated high school. Read those too and wished they had come out with those earlier. There came a point (right around book #35) that I realized that they were ghostwritten and not exactly challenging reading material, but I kept at it anyways because I loved the girls and Pine Hollow so much. I was so hard core into the Saddle Club; I kept the fan club stickers - they were too precious to use!

I'm hoping to get the remaining 10 or so books to complete the series so I can read them start to finish next month.

8MickyFine
Set 4, 2013, 2:23 pm

Wow, that's quite the goal. Wish you much luck with that. I read the books during my obligatory childhood horse phase. And then I rode a real horse. And the phase ended. ;)

9alsvidur
Set 6, 2013, 12:00 pm



Title: Attachments
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Genre: Fiction
Publication date: 2011 (2011)
Catalog: 813.6 / PS3618
Acquisition: Library - ILL
Category: Sonnets, Travel (Nebraska)
Rating: 3

Lincoln is a computer security guy for a newspaper. It's his job to read through any emails that get caught by the filter and make sure no one is abusing company time by gambling, watching porn, or writing personal emails. Emails between Beth and Jennifer seem to get caught a lot. He ends up reading them because he gets involved like one would in a good book, but develops a crush on Beth. How can he date Beth after reading through her personal emails for the past year?

Rowell's other book, Eleanor and Park, was so good that I wanted to read every other book Rowell has written. Aside from one coming out in the next month or so, this is her only other one. Although not as polished as Eleanor and Park, it was still good enough to have me caring about the characters and look forward to reading while I was at work.

10alsvidur
Set 6, 2013, 12:04 pm

Since everyone likes seeing people read, especially celebrities, here is what I've been looking at lately, '25 Proper Ways to Read a Book':

http://www.buzzfeed.com/kmallikarjuna/proper-ways-to-read-a-book

And that has lead to the blog 'Awesome People Reading':

http://awesomepeoplereading.tumblr.com/

It's soothing to look at other people reading. It would be really cool if we could tell what books they were reading in all the photos. Someone should get on that.

11alsvidur
Set 6, 2013, 12:05 pm

Too bad about the horse, Micky. I wish you had a better time!

12alsvidur
Set 6, 2013, 4:58 pm

How did I miss the release date of Jessica Darling's It List?!?!? It's out already, and I've just requested in through ILL.

13alsvidur
Set 8, 2013, 5:39 pm



Title: Beany Malone
Author: Lenora Mattingly Weber
Genre: Juvenile fiction
Publication date: 1948 (1948)
Catalog: 813.54 / PZ7.W389
Acquisition: Library - ILL
Category: Sonnets, Travel (Colorado)
Rating: 3

Mr Malone needs to go away for a bit, and he leaves Beany in charge. Her sister Elizabeth is waiting for her husband to return from WWII service, an older gentleman with dementia stays with them, Johnny is busy writing, and Mary Jane is dealing with rushing at college. While practical Beany tries to keep everyone together and safe, she also wants Norbett to ask her out.

14alsvidur
Editado: Set 14, 2013, 4:47 pm



Title: Tickner's Light Horse
Author: John Tickner
Genre: Humor
Publication date: 1956 (1960)
Catalog: 798. / SF301
Acquisition: Library - ILL
Category: Monsters, Quidditch, Travel (UK)
Rating: 3

Tickner lampoons the British horse set.

An example is at the end of the chapter on foxhunting: "(In chapters about hunting, it is customary to include a glossary of 'Common Expressions in the Hunting Field' but you will not find one here because they are not to be encouraged.)"

15TinaV95
Set 11, 2013, 2:13 am

Happy new thread!!

16alsvidur
Editado: Set 14, 2013, 4:40 pm



Title: Shadow
Author: Suzy Lee
Genre: Children's picture
Publication date: 2010 (2010)
Catalog: E / PZ7
Acquisition: Library
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 5

A girl plays with shadows in her attic, and has adventures when they become real/she becomes a shadow.

Visually striking. Will buy this.

17alsvidur
Editado: Set 14, 2013, 4:41 pm



Title: Chu's Day
Author: Neil Gaiman
Genre: Children's picture
Publication date: 2013 (2013)
Catalog: E / PZ7
Acquisition: Library
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 3

Bad things happen when giant panda Chu sneezes.

Cute, but the illustrations make the story seem more generic/kid friendly than most of Gaiman's works. It could have been creepier. Now it's just cute.

18alsvidur
Editado: Set 14, 2013, 4:41 pm



Title: Tumford the Terrible
Author: Nancy Tillman
Genre: Children's picture
Publication date: 2011 (2011)
Catalog: E / PZ7
Acquisition: Library
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 3

Tumford the cat has a problem apologizing. It's too hard. He hides instead.

19alsvidur
Editado: Set 14, 2013, 4:42 pm



Title: Sammy in the Sky
Author: Barbara Walsh
Genre: Children's picture
Publication date: 2011 (2011)
Catalog: E / PZ7
Acquisition: Library
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 4

Hound dog Sammy loves his girl, and his girl loves him. When Sammy gets sick and passes away, his girl remembers all the fun things they used to do together.

Gorgeous paintings illustrate the text.

(Only tiny issue I have with a lot of these 'pet loss for kids' books: Why does the family always say the animal is old/sick and just let the animal die slowly and miserably at home? Sammy, in respiratory distress, is simply cuddled until he dies. Do veterinarians not offer euthanasia in picture book land? I'd really like more books covering this option.)

20alsvidur
Editado: Set 14, 2013, 4:43 pm



Title: Best in Show
Author: Karen LeFrak
Genre: Children's picture
Publication date: 2011 (2011)
Catalog: E / PZ7
Acquisition: Library
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 4

Abby helps train and groom a show dog. She's convinces that Gem will become a star. But Gem's handler gets hurt on the day of the big show. Will Abby and Gem still win?

Adorbs. Written by a lady who breeds and owns several really famous poodles, so the details and 'infurmation' section in the back are accurate.

21alsvidur
Editado: Set 14, 2013, 4:44 pm



Title: Noni the Pony
Author: Alison Lester
Genre: Children's picture
Publication date: 2010 (2012)
Catalog: E / PZ8.3
Acquisition: Library
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 2

Details about a pony told in rhyme.

Simply and boldly illustrated. Not too much to the story though - no plot mentioned.

22alsvidur
Editado: Set 14, 2013, 4:45 pm



Title: My Chincoteague Pony
Author: Susan Jeffers
Genre: Children's picture
Publication date: 2008 (2008)
Catalog: E / PZ7
Acquisition: Library
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 4.5

Julie works all year to raise money to buy a pony at Pony Penning Day. When she doesn't have enough money, the spectators all pitch in and help her buy one. When she gets home, she says she will work just as hard all this year to give the money to another girl who wants a pony.

A herd of wild ponies lives on an island off of Virginia. The locals round them up once a year and sell some so that the herd doesn't get too big. This big day is called Pony Penning Day, and people come from all over to buy foals. Julie's story was based off of several true stories of generosity at past Pony Penning Days. So sweet! And Susan Jeffers is one of the best equine illustrators of children's books.

23alsvidur
Editado: Set 14, 2013, 4:45 pm



Title: Race the Wild Wind: The Story of the Sable Island Horses
Author: Sandra Markle
Genre: Children's picture
Publication date: 2011 (2011)
Catalog: E / PZ10.3
Acquisition: Library
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 3

Markle imagines what life might have been like for some of the founding herd members of Sable Island.

Sable Island is another tiny island filled with wild ponies, this time in Canada.

24alsvidur
Editado: Set 14, 2013, 4:46 pm



Title: Inherit the Wind: Fables #17
Author: Bill Willingham
Genre: Graphic novel
Publication date: 2012 (2012)
Catalog: 741.59 / PN6727.W52F33
Acquisition: Library
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 3.5

Since the North Wind died fighting Mr Dark, the zephyrs start testing the Bigby's kids to see if one if the next King of the North. {Robb Stark, of course!} Rose Red also visits the other Hopes to see what her assignment will be.

I love the Fables series. Recommended, even (especially!) if you're not into comics or graphic novels. It's like fractured fairy tales set in modern life.

25alsvidur
Editado: Set 16, 2013, 9:57 am



Title: When Our Mothers Went to War: An Illustrated History of Women in World War II
Author: Margaret Regis
Genre: Non-fiction, history
Publication date: 2008 (2008)
Catalog: 940.53 / D810.W7
Acquisition: Library - ILL
Category: Hogwarts
Rating: 5

Chapters on women correspondents, entertainers, on the home front, in uniform, and in the resistance.

Lots of personal stories, famous women, captioned photos, and information. Easy to read and engaging. Lots of well done maps. Chronology at the end, as well as follow-ups on the major people mentioned. Recommended.

26alsvidur
Editado: Set 16, 2013, 9:57 am



Title: Cubs in Toyland: Fables #18
Author: Bill Willingam
Genre: Graphic novel
Publication date: 2013 (2013)
Catalog: 741.59 / PN6727.W52F33
Acquisition: Library
Category: Sonnets, Quidditch
Rating: 2

One of the Bigby and Snow White's kids gets taken to the land of discarded toys, where the toys make her their queen.

This is not one of the best story lines. It also gets a bit creepy.

27alsvidur
Set 16, 2013, 10:04 am



Title: Big Black Horse: A Storybook Version of The Black Stallion
Author: Walter Farley
Genre: Illustrated fiction
Publication date: 1953 (1953)
Catalog: / PZ10.3.F22
Acquisition: Library
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 3

The first few chapters of The Black Stallion have been simplified and illustrated with large pictures. Alec and the Black survive a shipwreck and a deserted island.

This is a good concept, but some of the illustrations were not as wonderful as I would have hoped. They're very stylized, 1950s-esque.

28alsvidur
Editado: Set 16, 2013, 10:09 am



Title: Eric Knight's Original 1938 Classic Lassie Come-Home
Author: Rosemary Wells
Genre: Illustrated fiction
Publication date: 1995 (1995)
Catalog: / PZ10.3
Acquisition: Library
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 4

Another adaptation of a classic children's book.

Susan Jeffers's wonderful illustrations accompany the story.

29alsvidur
Set 16, 2013, 11:54 pm

Books to think about reading next month for Halloween:

Frankenstein - Shelley
Hound of the Baskervilles - Doyle
Bedknob and Broomsticks - Norton
Graveyard Book - Gaiman
Jennifer Hecate, MacBeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth - Konigsburg
Blood Lite - various
Queen of the Slayers - Holder
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies - Grahame-Smith
The Witches - Dahl
Coraline - Gaiman
The Wee Free Men - Pratchett
The Man Who Was Poe - Avi
The Invisible Man - Wells
Interview with the Vampire - Rice
Insatiable/Overbite - Cabot
The Bunnicula series - Howe
Murder at the Spaniel Show - Hall
Stalking Horse - Shoemaker
The Sister Jane Foxhunting series - Brown
The Alibi Man - Hoag
Horse Magic: Saddle Club #47 - Bryant
Ghost Rider: Saddle Club #24 - Bryant
The Galloping Detective series - Birch

30alsvidur
Set 17, 2013, 11:39 pm

Accounting 9-17-13:
Gift from Kyle, library book sale, 39 books (+8 to donate)

31alsvidur
Set 17, 2013, 11:45 pm

Hmm... After counting up my books, it looks like I was overcharged $11.00 at the sale today. Kids books are 50 cents, adult paperbacks are 50 cents, and adult hardcovers are $1. It's really not too hard; there was no line and I had already put them into piles of kids books and adult books. I don't mind donating more to the library throughout the year. I didn't say anything when they charged me twice for Friends membership last year. I do mind getting overcharged at a time when I don't have much money. $11 could have bought lunch for the next few days. Grmp.

32alsvidur
Set 18, 2013, 12:52 am

Accounting 9-17-13:
Free Early Reviewer book

"Drama High: The Incredible True Story of a Brilliant Teacher, a Struggling Town, and the Magic of Theater" - Michael Sokolove

33alsvidur
Set 18, 2013, 11:53 am



Title: Century Farm: One Hundred Years on a Family Farm
Author: Cris Peterson
Genre: Children's picture
Publication date: 1999 (1999)
Catalog: 636.21 / S519
Acquisition: 1 day ago
Category: Monsters
Rating: 4

Narrated by the author's husband, Century Farm looks at a family farm through the ages.

34alsvidur
Set 18, 2013, 11:57 am



Title: Cattle Kids: A Year on the Western Range
Author: Cat Urbigkit
Genre: Children's picture
Publication date: 2007 (2007)
Catalog: 636.20 / SF197.5
Acquisition: 1 day ago
Category: Monsters
Rating: 3.5

Lots of photos show how beef cattle are raised out west and how kids help out with the work.

35alsvidur
Set 18, 2013, 12:02 pm



Title: Love a Llama
Author: Colleen Stanley Bare
Genre: Children's picture
Publication date: 1994 (1994)
Catalog: 636.29 / SF401.L6
Acquisition: 1 day ago
Category: Monsters
Rating: 4

This Easy-Reader book is about llamas. (Good thing I spelled that out for you, huh? :) )

Quality 90s fashions depicted throughout. Nice book.

36alsvidur
Editado: Set 18, 2013, 12:09 pm



Title: Life on a Pig Farm
Author: Judy Wolfman
Genre: Children's picture
Publication date: 1999 (1998)
Catalog: 636.4 / SF395.5
Acquisition: 1 day ago
Category: Monsters
Rating: 4.5

Life of pigs on a farm as told by 3 sisters that also raise pigs for 4H.

Lots of wonderful photos, lots of easy-to-understand info, very cute.

Edit: Looking for a in-book photo to include, found that the author did a series on "Life on a ... Farm". Awesome!

37alsvidur
Editado: Set 18, 2013, 12:18 pm



Title: How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You
Author: Matthew Inman
Genre: Humor
Publication date: 2012 (2012)
Catalog: 636.80 / PN6231.C23
Acquisition: 1 day ago
Category: Monsters
Rating: 3

Humorous comics and illustrations about cats and their plots.

I wish I had a sense of humor. Sure, it's funny, but I kept getting thrown out of it by teeny tiny little inaccuracies that no one else would even notice.

38alsvidur
Editado: Set 18, 2013, 12:45 pm



Title: Animals That Build Their Homes
Author: Robert McClung
Genre: Children's picture
Publication date: 1976 (1976)
Catalog: ? / QL756
Acquisition: 1 day ago
Category: Monsters
Rating: 4

The National Geographic Society has this neat (old) series for kids about animals. Each book has a different theme - some are species related, some are task specific, some are habitat grouped. In this one, photos show animals, insects, and birds builing homes and nests.

39alsvidur
Set 18, 2013, 12:44 pm



Title: The Wild Horses of Sweetbriar
Author: Natalie Kinsey-Warnock
Genre: Children's picture
Publication date: 1990 (1990)
Catalog: E / PZ7
Acquisition: 1 day ago
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 3

A girl lives on an isolated island in the early 1900s. She discovers a herd of wild horses. The family and the horses have to survive a very difficult winter.

40alsvidur
Set 18, 2013, 9:03 pm



Title: Hush, Little Horsie
Author: Jane Yolen
Genre: Children's picture
Publication date: 2010 (2010)
Catalog: E / PZ8.3
Acquisition: 1 day ago
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 5

Rhyming text reassures foals that their mothers are watching over them all the time.

Not Shakespeare, but very suitable for tiny kids before bedtime. The illustrations are not bad.

41alsvidur
Editado: Set 19, 2013, 12:13 pm



Title: Eggs
Author: Marilyn Singer
Genre: Children's picture
Publication date: 2003 (2003)
Catalog: 591.46 / QL956.5
Acquisition: 2 days ago
Category: Monsters
Rating: 5

If I could rate this book 5.5 stars, I would. This picture book is beautiful! Aside from the paintings, the text is wonderful too, describing different types of eggs and how they are protected. While the words describe things like "Duck eggs feel soapy," and "Tinamou eggs are as slick and shiny as china," and "Flamingo eggs are powdery," the paintings of the eggs actually look like the descriptions. It's amazing. I wish I could find a picture of a page to show everyone, but here are the 2 illustrations I found:


42alsvidur
Set 19, 2013, 12:17 pm

Accounting 9-18-13:
Birthday gift from Kyle, 1 book

"Fangirl" - Rowell

43alsvidur
Set 22, 2013, 10:25 pm

Accounting 9-22-13:
Birthday gifts from family, 5 books

44alsvidur
Editado: Set 25, 2013, 3:50 pm



Title: Tar Beach
Author: Faith Ringgold
Genre: Children's picture
Publication date: 1991 (1991)
Catalog: E / PZ7
Acquisition: library
Category: Sonnets, Travel (NYC)
Rating: 3.5

A girl in New York City flies above Harlem, claiming everything she sees.

Based on quilt artwork by the author. Caldecott Honor.

45alsvidur
Set 25, 2013, 3:55 pm



Title: The Rough-Face Girl
Author: Rafe Martin
Genre: Children's picture
Publication date: 1992 (1992)
Catalog: 398.20 / E99.A349M37
Acquisition: library
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 3

The Rough-Face Girl is the youngest sister, forced by her sisters to watch over the fire that burns her. The sisters want to marry the powerful Invisible Being, but the Being's sister asks them questions they cannot answer. When Rough-Face Girl comes, Rough-Face has interesting answers to the questions.

Algonquin version of Cinderella.

46alsvidur
Set 25, 2013, 4:01 pm



Title: The Sweetest Fig
Author: Chris Van Allsburg
Genre: Children's picture
Publication date: 1993 (1993)
Catalog: E / PZ7
Acquisition: library
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 4.5

Dentist Bibot is a cranky and fussy kind of guy. When a patient gives him 2 figs as payment, and tells him they are *magical* figs, he tosses her out. After eating one of the figs, he realizes that everything he dreamed the previous night came true. He tries not to waste his last fig, so he works and works to get his dreams right. His plans for wealth are upset by his poor little dog.

Wonderful!

47alsvidur
Set 25, 2013, 4:04 pm



Title: Stone Soup
Author: Marcia Brown
Genre: Children's picture
Publication date: 1947 (1947)
Catalog: E / PZ8.3
Acquisition: library
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 4

Three soldiers look for food and shelter while traveling, but the townspeople hide their food. How will the soldiers eat?

48alsvidur
Set 25, 2013, 4:15 pm



Title: Amazing Grace
Author: Mary Hoffman
Genre: Children's picture
Publication date: 1991 (1991)
Catalog: E / PZ7
Acquisition: library
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 5

Grace loves to imagine things and act. She'd love to be Peter Pan in the school play, but her classmates say a black girl can't be Peter Pan. She proves them all wrong.

Beautiful illustrations, wonderful message.

49alsvidur
Set 25, 2013, 4:20 pm



Title: The Paper Bag Princess
Author: Robert Munsch
Genre: Children's picture
Publication date: 1980 (1980)
Catalog: 813.54 / PZ7
Acquisition: library
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 5

Elizabeth was a wonderful princess who was going to marry a prince. A dragon came and burned down her castle, killed off the horses, burned up her clothes, and carried off her prince. Elizabeth goes to rescue her prince, but what happens when she finally defeats the dragon?

Cute. Will be purchasing.

50alsvidur
Set 25, 2013, 4:23 pm



Title: Mice and Rats
Author: June Loves
Genre: Children's picture
Publication date: 2004 (2004)
Catalog: 636.93 / SF459.M5
Acquisition: 4 days ago
Category: Monsters
Rating: 3

Basics of having mice or rats as pets for kids. Photos, easy text.

51alsvidur
Set 25, 2013, 4:26 pm



Title: Guess How Much I Love You
Author: Sam McBratney
Genre: Board book
Publication date: 1994 (1996)
Catalog: E / PZ7
Acquisition: 2 days ago
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 4

Little Nut Brown Hare tells Big Nut Brown Hare how much s/he loves him/her, but Big Hare loves Little Hare more.

52alsvidur
Set 25, 2013, 4:29 pm



Title: Horses: How They Came To Be
Author: Julian May
Genre: Juvenile non-fiction
Publication date: 1968 (1975)
Catalog: 599.7 / PZ10
Acquisition: 4 days ago
Category: Monsters
Rating: 3

Very dated look at how horses evolved from prehistoric times. Still kind of accurate and interesting.

53alsvidur
Set 25, 2013, 4:32 pm



Title: Rabbit (Animal Lives)
Author: Sally Tagholm
Genre: Juvenile non-fiction/picture book
Publication date: 2000 (2003)
Catalog: 599.32 / QL737.L32
Acquisition: 4 days ago
Category: Monsters
Rating: 2

How the European rabbit lives, illustrated with drawings. Eh.

54alsvidur
Set 25, 2013, 4:42 pm



Title: Fangirl
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Genre: Young adult, contemporary
Publication date: 2013 (2013)
Catalog: 813.6 / PS3618.O8755
Acquisition: 4 days ago
Category: Sonnets, Travels (US - Nebraska)
Rating: 4.5

Cather deals with the loss of her mother by writing fanfiction with her twin sister Wren about a story world similar to Harry Potter. Her freshman year of college upends her world - her twin doesn't want to room with her, she worries about her dad, her new roommate is surly and has a boyfriend who's always around, and her writing professor hates fanfic.

Rainbow Rowell can WRITE. I wasn't impressed with the world of Simon Snow or the insertion of so many stories, because the 'real world' of Cath was so much more interesting. I get why Rowell did that though. Lovely, lovely, lovely character development. I adore that Levi is representing agricultural colleges all over. Almost every guy in my department at MSU was like Levi. Not the reading part, but the good guy part. Sorry, I got distracted by Levi. The heroine Cather is pretty cool too. :)

55alsvidur
Set 25, 2013, 6:18 pm

Accounting 9-25-13:
$17.00, library sale, 27 books

including...
a good condition edition of Black Beauty that may be up to 120 years old

56MickyFine
Set 25, 2013, 9:23 pm

>54 alsvidur: I'm really looking forward to getting my hands onto a copy of that. :)

57PaulCranswick
Set 27, 2013, 1:41 pm

Emilie - congratulations are definitely in order for passing 300 books already.

58alsvidur
Set 28, 2013, 11:54 pm

Thanks, Paul. I can't wait until I reach my personal goal and can then slow down to read some meatier books.

Micky - I'm looking forward to hear what you have to say about Fangirl! Have you read The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater yet? I just got my copy today.

59alsvidur
Editado: Out 14, 2013, 12:20 am



Title: If Wishes Were Horses: The Education of a Veterinarian
Author: Loretta Gage and Nancy Gage
Genre: Autobiography
Publication date: 1992 (1992)
Catalog: 636.08 / SF613.G34A3
Acquisition: Library
Category: Magical me (Loretta Gage), Travels (US - Colorado)
Rating: 4

Loretta Gage describes her time in veterinary school at Colorado State back in the 1980s. She was a nontraditional student in her 30s, coming from a lifetime of mistakes. Gage is able to describe the pressures of veterinary school and balance them with short vignettes about particular animals that have influenced her career and life.

Very nicely done. Mentioned multiple times when a group of vets was asked to name their favorite veterinary fiction/memoir book, and I can see why.

Edit: Chapter 12 "The Sin-Eaters" is so wonderful that I wish I could copy the whole thing and keep it to re-read whenever I'd like, but I have to return the book to the library.

"We in veterinary medicine are not, on the whole, philosophers. We don't enjoy grappling with insolvable moral questions. And there is no end to them, in school or in practice. Reality dictates that most new vets work in someone else's practice; and as hired guns, they must do what they are paid to do, which is usually whatever the client wants done. Not only must they debark dogs and declaw cats but they are also asked to euthanize healthy animals that have developed bad habits or become inconvenient, as well as curable animals whose owners cannot afford, or choose not to afford, the treatment."

...

"Domino's owners were moving away; they'd said they couldn't take him. They left him there, alive, in my arms, did not see him die so trustingly. I wish I could talk to them today, ten years later, and tell them that I still see that room, the reflection of the bright lamp off the shiny table, the black-and-white dog. I would tell them that it hurt. I hope they still think of him, and I hope that they hurt, too, for that is as it should be.

We veterinarians are the sin-eaters. We are the butchers. We do the dirty work and keep quiet about it. We make it all too easy."

...

"You tell yourself that to pay for these sins, you will someday alleviate pain, save life, and heal. But you will also crop ears, cut tails, amputate kittens' knuckles, eliminate dogs' voices, and kill dozens, hundreds, whole litters at a time because a dog's or cat's owner just didn't get around to spaying the animal or because she wanted her kids to see the miracle of birth. At first, you'll be working for someone else, and perhaps you'll tell yourself that it will be different when you're the boss. But when you get your own practice, you'll have so many bills to pay, you'll have employees - a technician or two, a bookkeeper, a receptionist - and insurance, rent, utilities, your student loan, equipment to pay off, drugs and supplies to buy. And you will have grown accustomed to compromise. And you might kill the dog that is brought to you for killing, because you need the money, you need the client, and because you don't have a better option for the animal that has for some reason lost its value to the one person in the world who had been willing to be its advocate in the crowded, hostile world.

Animals are property - closer to an automobile than to a human being - in the eyes of the law. And so we veterinarians - though trained as physicians - are, in fact, more like mechanics in many ways. Our patients are repaired only as long as their value exceeds the cost of upkeep, though often, it is true, that value is defined by emotion and love. Very often, however, the owner opts to junk the animal and get a new one.

When I think of the emotional beating we take in school - and in the real world - I wonder why more veterinarians are not psychopathic murderers, rampaging through the streets. The fact that, by and large, we don't go mad attests to how much the human heart can take."

60MickyFine
Set 29, 2013, 12:01 pm

>58 alsvidur: I still haven't read The Raven Boys. :P

61alsvidur
Set 29, 2013, 12:42 pm



Title: Triple Threat: Galloping Detective #1
Author: Clarie Birch
Genre: Juvenile mystery
Publication date: 1991 (1991)
Catalog: 813.54 / PZ7
Acquisition: Library - ILL
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 4

Lucy loves riding and helping her friend Jenny out at her family's tack shop. A series of break-ins at the store, her barn, and other shops in town has Lucy remembering odd things she's seen. Lucy has to put everything together (and convince people she's not a 'meddling kid') before something awful happens to Jenny's family and their horses.

I read this series when it first came out, and I still remember the story 20-some years later. Interesting plot and characters, exciting moments, realistic horses and riders.

62alsvidur
Set 29, 2013, 1:27 pm



Title: Dogs of War: The Stories of FDR's Fala, Patton's Willie, and Ike's Telek
Author: Kathleen Kinsolving
Genre: Non-fiction
Publication date: 2012 (2012)
Catalog: 636.unknown / SF422.8 best guess
Acquisition: 3 months ago
Category: Monsters, Hogwarts
Rating: 1

Short histories of the dogs owned by WWII big shots. President Roosevelt had the Scottish terrier Fala, General Patton had a bull terrier named Willie, and Eisenhower had a Scottish terrier named Telek. There is a short about Cairo, the Afghan War dog, as well.

I was at first intrigued by some of the information Kinsolving mentioned about Fala, and I wanted to find out exactly what she got the information. However, most of her references are movies and Wikipedia pages. She even imagines certain incidents and puts them in the book, eg 'here is what might have been written on Willie's tombstone, if he had one'. She cites scenes from movies in the text as if they actually occurred and are primary sources. So.... aside from taking every single thing in here with a grain of salt, the writing wasn't terrible. She just needed to do a better job researching. The entire bit about Cairo was copied and pasted from another person's previously published article.

63alsvidur
Out 1, 2013, 9:27 pm

September Summary

Books: 41
Total books: 307

Non-fiction, horses: 2
Non-fiction, animals: 10
Non-fiction, other: 1
Fiction: 28
Classics: 0

TBR Pit books read: 1
Time spent in TBR: 1 day - 1 year
Library books read: 19
ILL books read: 5
Books borrowed and read: 0
% TBR/library/borrowed: 61%

Books acquired: 73
Cash spent: $17.00

Year-by-year:

2 - 1940s
2 - 1950s
1 - 1960s
1 - 1970s
2 - 1980s
12 - 1990s
6 - 2000s
15 - 2010s

Genre:
1 - YA fiction
1 - Adult fiction
4 - Juvenile fiction
16 - Children's picture
2 - Humor
2 - graphic novel
2 - Illustrated fiction
1 - Memoir
1 - Board book

2 - Juvenile non-fiction
2 - Adult non-fiction
7 - Children's non-fiction

Classification:
1 - 398
1 - 591
1 - 599
8 - 636
2 - 741
1 - 798
7 - 813
1 - 940
18 - unknown

1 - D
1 - E
3 - PN
2 - PS
23 - PZ
3 - QL
1 - S
7 - SF

Category Challenge
0 "The Standard Book of Spells" off lists of pre-college recommendations and Top 100/1001 lists
6 "Travels with Trolls" aka Reading Globally/Stateside
1 "Magical Me" stories of both people and famous horses
0 "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" uncommon-to-me genres like mystery, sci-fi, or fantasy
0 "Home Life and Social Habits of British Muggles": Sociology, H, 300
0 "Magical Theory": Book learnin', Q, 400/500
12 "Monster Book of Monsters": Animals, QL/S, 590/636
0 "The Healer's Helpmate": Medicine, R, 600
1 "Quidditch Through the Ages": Sports and rec, G, 700
27 "Sonnets of a Sorcerer": Literature, P, 800
2 "Hogwarts: A History": History and geography, D/E/F, 900

64alsvidur
Out 1, 2013, 9:36 pm



Title: Horse Magic
Author: Bonnie Bryant
Genre: Juvenile fiction
Publication date: 1995 (1995)
Catalog: 813.54 / PZ7
Acquisition: 2 years ago
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 3

The girls at Pine Hollow Stables are planning a special outing at the barn for some city kids on Halloween. Stevie's friend Dinah is also visiting, but Dinah and Lisa aren't getting along. Lisa thinks that Stevie's boyfriend Phil is cheating with Dinah, and Dinah thinks Lisa is stuck up. On top of that mess, Stevie thinks the barn is haunted when things start moving around and disappearing.

Standard Saddle Club fare. A bit formulaic, but no one will tell me that The Saddle Club is nothing less than perfect for the genre.

65alsvidur
Out 2, 2013, 12:43 am



Title: Tight Spot: Galloping Detective #2
Author: Claire Birch
Genre: Juvenile mystery
Publication date: 1985 (1991)
Catalog: 813.54 / PZ7
Acquisition: Library - ILL
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 3

2 years have passed since Lucy helped solve a series of thefts and break-ins involving the local riding scene in "Triple Threat". Now, so many things are going wrong at Up and Down Farm - bridges collapsing, manes getting cut before a show, rumors around town, and then a big fire - that Lucy can't help by think that they're all connected. She tries to piece together everything before the barn has to close.

66alsvidur
Out 2, 2013, 12:55 pm



Title: Collision Course: Galloping Detective #3
Author: Claire Birch
Genre: Young adult mystery
Publication date: 1985 (1991)
Catalog: 813.54 / PZ7
Acquisition: Library - ILL
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 3.5

Lucy's mother moved the family to New York City, and Lucy's having a tough time with a new school, making new friends, having a crush on a fellow rider, and having to ride in a teeny little stable in the city. Someone is out to get one of the riders, but Lucy's also being targeted.

Lucy grew up pretty fast between books - there's some curse words, discussions about drug use, and going on dates. I loved the descriptions of how different riding in the city is from usual riding. It was an interesting perspective. The mystery was a bit more well-rounded this time - there were loads of false leads.

67alsvidur
Editado: Out 7, 2013, 11:01 am



Title: Double Danger: Galloping Detective #4
Author: Claire Birch
Genre: Young adult mystery
Publication date: 1991 (1991)
Catalog: 813.54 / PZ7
Acquisition: Library - ILL
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 3.5

Lucy's on vacation in LA visiting her father, who produces a TV show. She's excited that she gets to act as a stunt rider, too. But someone's causing accidents on the set. Lucy has to figure out who is being targeted and why.

68alsvidur
Out 7, 2013, 11:06 am



Title: False Lead: Galloping Detective #5
Author: Claire Birch
Genre: Young adult mystery
Publication date: 1986 (1991)
Catalog: 813.54 / PZ7
Acquisition: 5 months ago
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 3.5

Lucy notices that a lot of robberies are happening to the homes of students at her barn. Aside from figuring that out, she's commuting to a barn from New York, struggling with homework, and dating the brother of one of her riding students.

Lucy's mother has a lot of trust in a 15-year-old, that's for sure.

69alsvidur
Out 7, 2013, 11:12 am



Title: Near Miss: Galloping Detective #6
Author: Claire Birch
Genre: Young adult mystery
Publication date: 1992 (1992)
Catalog: 813.54 / PZ7
Acquisition: Library - ILL
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 4

Lucy gets a summer job taking care of a small private barn on a fancy island estate. Along with the 6 horses, she's also responsible for teaching the 3 kids how to ride. Of course, there's a mystery: This time, someone's trying to kill one of the family. Does it have anything to do with the legend of treasure hidden in the house?

70alsvidur
Out 7, 2013, 11:19 am



Title: High Stakes: Galloping Detective #7
Author: Claire Birch
Genre: Young adult mystery
Publication date: 1992 (1992)
Catalog: 813.54 / PZ7
Acquisition: Library - ILL
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 4

Lucy's old friend Liz (waaay back from book #1) asks her up to Saratoga Springs, New York, to help her solve a mystery. Liz is convinced that a jockey found with cocaine in his car was framed. While she solves the mystery, Lucy works a bit on the backstretch, takes lessons with a new trainer, and misses her boyfriend.

Lucy's mother has finally woken up - it just took her 16-year-old daughter staying with strangers 4 hours away, working on a racetrack, and having an older boyfriend come stay with Lucy away from supervision. Geez. On a whole, I wouldn't recommend the series to anyone except those who like children's horse books or nostalgia. But to those groups, I say go for it.

71alsvidur
Out 7, 2013, 11:30 am



Title: Who Has the 9:30 Appointment?: More RMM
Author: Robert M Miller
Genre: Humor
Publication date: 1979 (1979)
Catalog: 741.59 / NC1429.M538
Acquisition: Library - ILL
Category: Monsters, Quidditch
Rating: 3

Robert Miller has illustrated the humorous side of the veterinary profession since the 1950s. His one-panel cartoons have been collected in a half-dozen books. This is one of them. They're a little 'inside-jokey', and sometimes make fun of things clients do or say, so these will likely fall very flat for people who have not lived through the situations themselves. An example of a cartoon is below:

72alsvidur
Out 7, 2013, 11:39 am



Title: The Best of RMM
Author: Robert M Miller
Genre: Humor
Publication date: 1971 (1971)
Catalog: 741.59 / NC1429.M538
Acquisition: Library - ILL
Category: Monsters, Quidditch
Rating: 3.5

1000-some panels are collected in this volume; most are from his first book in 1960, which has been revised and expanded to this edition.

73alsvidur
Out 7, 2013, 11:47 am



Title: RMM Strikes Again!
Author: Robert M Miller
Genre: Humor
Publication date: 1984 (1984)
Catalog: 741.59 / PN6231.V48 M55
Acquisition: Library - ILL
Category: Monsters, Quidditch
Rating: 3

More one-panels, but with some added poetry, rhymes, and limericks.

One of the sets lampoons each veterinary school. Here's what he had to say about Michigan State:

"The students who live in East Lansing
Love laughter, cold beer and dancing.
They regard education
As a joyous vacation
With Michigan taxpayer's financing."

The grammar suffers a bit in his works, but some are still amusing enough to peruse the whole album for.

74alsvidur
Editado: Out 7, 2013, 11:57 am



Title: RMM: The Second Oldest Profession: The History of Veterinary Medicine
Author: Robert M Miller
Genre: Humor
Publication date: 1991 (1991)
Catalog: 741.59 / NC1429.M538
Acquisition: Library - ILL
Category: Monsters, Quidditch
Rating: 4

This is a HUGE book with thousands of cartoons. They're all arranged by probable time period, with little introductions on each section where Miller details what practicing in that time period might have been like. This one is my favorite out of the previous 3 books. I don't think this cartoon was included in this collection, but it was easily found on google:

75alsvidur
Out 13, 2013, 11:33 pm



Title: Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal
Author: Mary Roach
Genre: Pop science
Publication date: 2013 (2013)
Catalog: 612.3 / QP145
Acquisition: Library
Category: Healer's Helpmate
Rating: 3

Roach is famous for her other popular science books on the topics of corpses (Stiff), sex (Bonk), ghosts (Spook), and space (Packing for Mars). She now adds in the gastrointestinal system with Gulp. Gulp does not teach you about how the body digests and processes nutrients for energy, but encompasses several anecdotes about adventures the author went on in the quest for anecdotes for her book. She visits animal science departments, pet food research centers, human taste test centers, and digestive research labs. She investigates if people have actually gotten out of being swallowed alive by whales. She includes some information about the first historically famous GI researcher.

Bonus points for amazement and enthusiasm. Average fare. Those who have lost their naivete about physiology can skip it.

76alsvidur
Out 13, 2013, 11:40 pm



Title: The Witches
Author: Roald Dahl
Genre: Juvenile fiction
Publication date: 1983 (1998)
Catalog: 823.91 / PZ7
Acquisition: Mine, re-read
Category: Sonnets, Travel (UK)
Rating: 4

A boy comes face-to-face with the Grand High Witch. Although he undergoes some physical changes, he and his grandmother fight to defeat the child-hating witches of England.

This reread seemed like the book was just an overly long short story. Not bad, but quick and to-the-climax.

77alsvidur
Out 13, 2013, 11:46 pm



Title: The Graveyard Book
Author: Neil Gaiman
Genre: Juvenile fiction
Publication date: 2008 (2008)
Catalog: 823. / PZ7
Acquisition: Mine, re-read
Category: Sonnets, Travel (UK)
Rating: 4

Baby Bod escapes from being murdered by toddling into a cemetery where he is taken in by the ghosts and supernatural beings who live there. Gaiman took Kipling's The Jungle Book and moved it from the Indian jungles of the 1800s to a modern day cemetery.

78alsvidur
Out 13, 2013, 11:54 pm



Title: The Bride Wore Size 12
Author: Meg Cabot
Genre: Adult mystery/chick lit
Publication date: 2013 (2013)
Catalog: 813.6 / PS3553
Acquisition: 2 weeks ago
Category: Sonnets, Travel (NYC)
Rating: 3.5

Heather Wells is a dorm director at a college in New York City. She's getting married this month and is really, really hoping that no one dies in 'The Death Dorm' this year. No such luck though. With the murder, her thieving mother suddenly back in town, a high-profile student, and the wedding, she has a full plate, but Heather is still out to figure out whodunit.

Quick chick lit, classic Meg Cabot.

79alsvidur
Out 14, 2013, 12:33 am

Halfway through October, and here's where my Spooky Reads stand:

Mysteries - 7
Ghosts - 1
Witches - 1
Halloween - 1

80MickyFine
Out 14, 2013, 2:26 pm

>78 alsvidur: I didn't know this was out. Onto the birthday wishlist it goes!

81alsvidur
Out 16, 2013, 10:38 pm



Title: The Raven Boys
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Genre: YA paranormal
Publication date: 2012 (2012)
Catalog: 813.6 / PZ7.S855625
Acquisition: Mine, re-read
Category: Sonnets, Travel (VA)
Rating: 4

Blue's family is full of psychics. She sees a future ghost one day and is told that she will either kill him or he is her true love. She then meets the boy. (This book is so much more than that, but I don't want to spoil it for anyone. There are ghosts, psychics, murders, lots of paranormal stuff, witches, old Welsh kings, weird birds, and some humor.)

It started off a bit slower than I remembered, but got cooking 2/3 the way through.

82alsvidur
Out 19, 2013, 4:59 pm



Title: Animals Nobody Loves
Author: Seymour Simon
Genre: Children's non-fiction
Publication date: 2001 (2001)
Catalog: 591.65 / QL100
Acquisition: 1 month ago
Category: Monsters
Rating: 2.5

2-page photo spreads are accompanied by a bit of text about the animal. The information wasn't awe-inspiring or original, so the rating went down a bit. It wasn't bad, but I've seen this type of work done better.

83alsvidur
Out 19, 2013, 8:49 pm



Title: Most of My Patients Are Animals
Author: Robert Miller
Genre: Memoir
Publication date: 1985 (1985)
Catalog: 636.08 / SF613.M53
Acquisition: Library - ILL
Category: Magical Me (Robert Miller), Travel (CA)
Rating: 3.5

Dr Robert Miller (the veterinarian cartoonist whose works are mentioned above) has also written a memoir. Much like James Herriot's stories, but taking place in Southern California in the 1960s and 1970s, these tales are remembrances of particular clients or patients. Miller worked with more circus animals than cattle, so his anecdotes have an unusual flavor. Although he is a very respected veterinarian and author, his passion didn't come out quite as much as usual in veterinary memoirs. He added more humor, though.

84alsvidur
Out 19, 2013, 10:14 pm



Title: John and Tom
Author: Willem Lange
Genre: Children's picture
Publication date: 2001 (2001)
Catalog: E / PZ10.3
Acquisition: 1 month ago
Category: Sonnets, Travel (Vermont)
Rating: 4

John is a logger in Vermont. His Morgan workhorse Tom helps him one day when a tree falls on John.

85alsvidur
Editado: Out 20, 2013, 9:27 pm



Title: The Story of Jumping Mouse
Author: John Steptoe
Genre: Children's picture
Publication date: 1972 (1993)
Catalog: 398.2 / E78
Acquisition: 1 month ago
Category: Sonnets, Standards (Caldecott Honor)
Rating: 4

A mouse wants to see the strange land across the river, but being a mouse, is having some problems. Magic Frog helps him on his way, and in turn, Jumping Mouse helps other animals.

Wonderful black-and-white illustrations.

86alsvidur
Out 20, 2013, 9:32 pm



Title: Next Panda, Please!: Further Adventures of a Wildlife Vet
Author: David Taylor
Genre: Memoir
Publication date: 1982 (1982)
Catalog: 613.08 / SF613
Acquisition: 2 years ago
Category: Monsters, Magical Me (David Taylor)
Rating: 3

Veterinarian David Taylor talks of European zoo animal medicine in the 1960s and 1970s in the form of anecdotes. Interesting but not enough to shout about.

87alsvidur
Editado: Out 22, 2013, 8:00 pm



Title: !Viva el Vet!: From Animal Hospital to a Colombian Practice
Author: David Grant
Genre: Memoir
Publication date: 2001 (2001)
Catalog: 613.08 / SF613
Acquisition: 2 years ago
Category: Monsters, Magical Me (David Grant), Travel (Colombia)
Rating: 4

David Grant (a different English veterinarian than above) is convinced by a friend to take over a practice in Colombia. His work at the RSPCA clinic doesn't prepare him for his work in South America - his South American clients are rich, while he lives amongst the poor - and he experiences a bit of culture shock. He is concerned about avoiding getting mugged, working with the endemic mafia, and finding enough clients when he refuses to crop ears.

The fish-out-of-water scenario, and not the animal anecdotes, comprises the bulk of the story, and it does the book good. It was an interesting and enlightening read.

88alsvidur
Out 22, 2013, 8:18 pm

We'll be taking a vacation through Lexington, Nashville, and down to Atlanta this weekend. I'm looking forward to visiting a lot of good bookstores!

89DFED
Out 23, 2013, 12:45 pm

You MUST visit Joseph-Beth in Lexington and, if you're here this Saturday, Keeneland is still running! And, BookManBookWoman in Nashville is an interesting stop (think triple stacked books!).

90alsvidur
Out 23, 2013, 5:43 pm

I LOVE Joseph-Beth, too! I'll be going through Lex Thursday and Monday, so I'll miss KEE, but I'm planning on stopping at J-B, Black Swan, and maybe a Half-Price Books. Are there any other good used-book places? Thanks for the Nashville recommendation; I'll plan on giving them some money!

91DFED
Out 24, 2013, 9:16 am

Morris Book Shop is a great, locally owned, bookstore with new books. Wild Fig is also locally owned but sells used books. Across the street from Black Swan (near Ramseys restaurant - also worth a stop!) is another little used bookshop but I can't remember the name...good luck & happy shopping to you!!

92alsvidur
Out 24, 2013, 11:09 am



Title: Pumpkin Jack
Author: Morgan Howell
Genre: Children's picture
Publication date: 2000 (2000)
Catalog: unknown / PZ7
Acquisition: Mine, re-read
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 4

In a word - a year in the life of a pumpkin. A boy loves his jack-o-lantern so much that he doesn't throw it out after Halloween. When Jack gets moldy, the boy puts the pumpkin the garden. A year passes, and a sprout comes up where Jack was. What could the sprout be?

93alsvidur
Out 24, 2013, 11:10 am

Thanks, Dawn. I'll try to make my way around to everywhere you mentioned. Yay!

94alsvidur
Out 25, 2013, 1:35 am

Trip canceled, sick pet. :(

95thornton37814
Out 25, 2013, 6:40 pm

Sorry about your sick pet!

96DFED
Out 28, 2013, 9:09 am

Aww - sorry to hear that - hope your pet is better soon!

97alsvidur
Out 29, 2013, 8:43 pm

It was touch and go for awhile, but it looks like Connor the rabbit will make it through. Thanks for the thoughts, guys!

98alsvidur
Out 29, 2013, 8:46 pm



Title: The Dream Thieves
Author: Maggie Steifvater
Genre: YA paranormal
Publication date: 2013 (2013)
Catalog: 813.6 / PZ7
Acquisition: 1 month ago
Category: Sonnets, Travel (VA)
Rating: 4

Notes coming

99alsvidur
Out 29, 2013, 8:50 pm



Title: Exotic Animal Formulary
Author: James Carpenter
Genre: Non-fiction, medical reference
Publication date: 2013 (2013)
Catalog: 636.08 / SF917
Acquisition: 1 hour ago
Category: Monsters, Healer's Helpmate
Rating: 5

Notes coming

100alsvidur
Out 29, 2013, 8:54 pm



Title: The Horse: Photographic Images, 1839 to the Present
Author: Gerald Lang
Genre: Non-fiction, photography/horses
Publication date: 1991 (1991)
Catalog: 779.32 / TR729.H6
Acquisition: 5 months ago
Category: Monsters, Quidditch
Rating: 2.5

Notes coming

101MickyFine
Out 30, 2013, 2:27 pm

Glad to hear your rabbit is doing well.

102alsvidur
Editado: Out 31, 2013, 3:38 pm

October Summary

Books: 26
Total books: 333

Non-fiction, horses: 1
Non-fiction, animals: 5
Non-fiction, other: 1
Fiction: 19
Classics: 0

TBR Pit books read: 5
Time spent in TBR: 1 hour - 2 years
Library books read: 1
ILL books read: 10
Books borrowed and read: 0
% TBR/library/borrowed: 62%

Books acquired: 4
Cash spent: $136.00

Year-by-year:

3 - 1970s
7 - 1980s
6 - 1990s
5 - 2000s
5 - 2010s

Genre:
7 - YA fiction
1 - Adult fiction
4 - Juvenile fiction
3 - Children's picture
4 - Humor
3 - Memoir
1 - Board book

3 - Adult non-fiction
1 - Children's non-fiction

Classification:
1 - 398
1 - 591
1 - 612
4 - 636
4 - 741
1 - 779
10 - 813
2 - 823
2 - unknown

1 - E
3 - NC
1 - PN
1 - PS
13 - PZ
1 - QL
1 - QP
4 - SF
1 - TR

Category Challenge
1 "The Standard Book of Spells" off lists of pre-college recommendations and Top 100/1001 lists
9 "Travels with Trolls" aka Reading Globally/Stateside
3 "Magical Me" stories of both people and famous horses
0 "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" uncommon-to-me genres like mystery, sci-fi, or fantasy
0 "Home Life and Social Habits of British Muggles": Sociology, H, 300
0 "Magical Theory": Book learnin', Q, 400/500
9 "Monster Book of Monsters": Animals, QL/S, 590/636
2 "The Healer's Helpmate": Medicine, R, 600
5 "Quidditch Through the Ages": Sports and rec, G, 700
14 "Sonnets of a Sorcerer": Literature, P, 800
0 "Hogwarts: A History": History and geography, D/E/F, 900

103alsvidur
Out 31, 2013, 3:41 pm

Accounting 10-29-13:
$125.74, Amazon, 2 books

Textbook of Rabbit Medicine
Exotic Animal Formulary

Accounting 10-24-13:
$11-something, Meijer, 1 book

Allegiant

Accounting 10-22-13:
Kyle got for himself, Meijer, 1 book

House of Hades

104alsvidur
Nov 1, 2013, 12:01 pm



Title: The Sleep Ponies
Author: Gudrun Ongman
Genre: Children's picture
Publication date: 2000 (2000)
Catalog: E / PZ7
Acquisition: Library - ILL
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 3

A little girl is told that is she is very quiet and still as she falls asleep, she can ride and play with ponies in her sleep.

I had high expectations, considering the prints from this book are heavily marketed as baby room decor amongst the horsey set, but the book was simply OK. Good even. The illustrations kept distracting me from the story and text.

105alsvidur
Nov 1, 2013, 12:12 pm



Title: Deep Through the Heart: Profiles of 20 Valiant Horses
Author: CW Anderson
Genre: Juvenile non-fiction
Publication date: 1940 (1961)
Catalog: 798.4 / SF337 .A5
Acquisition: Library - ILL
Category: Monsters
Rating: 4

Short vignettes (about 5 paragraphs long) describe each of the 20-some horses Anderson decided to sketch. Most are racing thoroughbreds, but there is a Morgan, Connemara, and grade horse in there too.

Anderson is not stingy with his compliments about horses, just as Marguerite Henry loves her exclamation marks. His illustrations make the book worth it by themselves. This is a different work from 20 *Gallant* Horses, Black Bay and Chestnut, and his other collections of famous horses.

106alsvidur
Nov 1, 2013, 12:43 pm



Title: Fury: A Little Golden Book
Author: Kathleen Irwin
Genre: Children's picture
Publication date: 1957 (1957)
Catalog: E / PZ7
Acquisition: 2 years ago
Category: sonnets
Rating: 3

THE horse story - boy likes horse, horse likes boy but no one else, horse and boy beat everyone. Based on the old TV series.

107alsvidur
Nov 2, 2013, 5:53 pm



Title: Killer Ants
Author: Nicholas Nirgiotis
Genre: Children's non-fiction
Publication date: 2009 (2009)
Catalog: 595.79 / QL568.F7
Acquisition: Library - ILL
Category: Monsters
Rating: 4

Predatory ants for kids. :) Includes ant life cycle, how they reproduce, basic anatomy, different species of ants, and their life styles.

Incredibly detailed illustrations, interesting information.

108alsvidur
Nov 2, 2013, 6:01 pm



Title: The Day the Crayons Quit
Author: Drew Daywalt
Genre: Children's picture
Publication date: 2013 (2013)
Catalog: E / PZ7
Acquisition: Library - ILL
Category:Sonnets
Rating: 4

Each color of crayon in Duncan's crayon box has written him a letter. Red is tired out, Blue is worn down, Beige would like to be used for something other than wheat, Pink wants to be used for anything, and Yellow and Orange aren't speaking to each other, etc. Duncan still wanted to color, so what could he do?

Very cute. this one will stay on my wish list.

109alsvidur
Nov 2, 2013, 7:33 pm



Title: Mysterious Bones: The Story of Kennewick Man
Author: Katherine Kirkpatrick
Genre: Juvenile non-fiction
Publication date: 2011 (2011)
Catalog: 979.70 / E78.W3
Acquisition: Library - ILL
Category: Hogwarts
Rating: 3

A 9,000-year-old skeleton discovered in Washington state was the focus of a long court trial about what to do with the remains. The native tribes wanted to rebury the bones, but anthropologists wanted to study it. Mysterious Bones takes us briefly through the battle while focusing on different viewpoints in anthropology, as well as what life was possibly like for the Kennewick Man. While in a picture book sized book, this is a detailed work and has some ethical discussion points not particularly suitable for younger children.

Eh. Not bad, not terrific.

110alsvidur
Nov 2, 2013, 8:11 pm



Title: Funny Bunnies
Author: Laurie Frankel
Genre: Non-fiction, rabbits
Publication date: 2004 (2004)
Catalog: 636.93 / SF453
Acquisition: Library - ILL
Category: Monsters
Rating: 2.5

A large photo of a rabbit is paired with a few sentences on that breed's history and a few about that specific rabbit's personality. Many breeds are not mentioned or profiled. This is not a book to read to learn about rabbits or breeds, but to just to look at rabbit pictures.

111alsvidur
Editado: Nov 4, 2013, 12:13 pm



Title: I Rode a Horse of Milk White Jade
Author: Diane Lee Wilson
Genre: Juvenile fiction
Publication date: 1998 (1999)
Catalog: 813.54 / PZ7
Acquisition: Library - ILL
Category: Sonnets, Travel (Mongolia)
Rating: 4

Oyuna's foot was crushed by a horse when she was a baby, and since then her parents have tried to get rid of the bad luck she brings. Oyuna doesn't see her foot as a trial though, and longs to ride the horses. She starts sneaking out to ride them, and eventually earns the right to do outdoor tasks, all the while dreaming about winning the big horse race - one that brings good luck to the winner every year. When the Khan's army raids her village, she pretends to be a boy so that she can stay with her horse.

Love the heroine.

112alsvidur
Editado: Nov 4, 2013, 12:13 pm



Title: Drama High: The Incredible True Story of a Brilliant Teacher, a Struggling Town, and the Magic of Theater
Author: Michael Sokolove
Genre: Non-fiction
Publication date: 2013 (2013)
Catalog: 370.92 / LA2317.V65
Acquisition: 6 weeks ago
Category: Home Life, Quidditch, Travel (PA)
Rating: 3.5

Early Reviewers

Notes to come later.

113alsvidur
Nov 14, 2013, 12:29 am

Accounting 11-1-13:
$5.18, Amazon, 1 book

"Conformation and Performance"

Accounting 11-1-13:
$11.43, Amazon, 3 books

"The Heart of a Dog"
"Write a Story for Me: Marguerite Henry"
"Longeing and Long-Lining"

114alsvidur
Editado: Nov 21, 2013, 3:41 pm



Title: Chloe and Maude
Author: Sandra Boynton
Genre: Picture book/I-Can-Read
Publication date: 1985 (1985)
Catalog: 813.54 / PZ7
Acquisition: Library - ILL
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 5

3 short stories by Boynton starring 2 cats who are best friends. Super cute.

115alsvidur
Nov 21, 2013, 3:29 pm



Title: Me and My Pet Rabbit
Author: Christine Morley
Genre: Juvenile non-fiction
Publication date: 1997 (1997)
Catalog: 636.93 / SF453.2.M67
Acquisition: 2 months ago
Category: Monsters
Rating: 1.5

This book states a rabbit's life span is 5 years. Well, yeah, it will only be 5 years (instead of 10+), if you follow the advice in this book. Feeding only pellets and veggies, keeping a rabbit by itself in a hutch outside, and explaining to kids how to breed their pet rabbits are only some of the issues that merit the rating. The book has a nice lay-out and is well written, but what is written about is not very humane. The advice seems like it comes from several decades prior to when the book was actually written. Thankfully, most people are more evolved.

116alsvidur
Editado: Nov 21, 2013, 3:35 pm



Title: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
Genre: YA fiction
Publication date: 2008 (2010)
Catalog: 813.6 / PZ7
Acquisition: Mine, re-read
Category: Sonnets, Standards
Rating: 4.5

Re-read for the movie.

117alsvidur
Nov 21, 2013, 3:33 pm



Title: Catching Fire
Author: Suzanne Collins
Genre: YA fiction
Publication date: 2009 (2009)
Catalog: 813.6 / PZ7
Acquisition: Mine, re-read
Category: Sonnets, Standards
Rating: 5

Re-read for the movie.

118alsvidur
Nov 21, 2013, 3:35 pm



Title: Mockingjay
Author: Suzanne Collins
Genre: YA fiction
Publication date: 2010 (2010)
Catalog: 813.6 / PZ7
Acquisition: Mine, re-read
Category: Sonnets, Standards
Rating: 4

Re-read for the movie.

119alsvidur
Nov 22, 2013, 12:15 am



Title: DK: Judaism
Author: Douglas Charing
Genre: Non-fiction
Publication date: 2003 (2003)
Catalog: 296 / BM573
Acquisition: Library
Category: Home Life
Rating: 3

120alsvidur
Nov 24, 2013, 9:23 pm



Title: Murder at the Spaniel Show
Author: Lynn Hall
Genre: Juvenile fiction/mystery
Publication date: 1988 (1988)
Catalog: 813.6 / PZ7
Acquisition: 7 month ago
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 2

Tabby works as a kennel girl for a big show kennel. The kennel is hosting the national specialty, and the kennel owner's brother is going to be one of the judges. He gets death threats, but who could it be from? One of the competitors who has a grudge? His wife? The other judge? The kennel owner?

While the mystery part is interesting, and I didn't guess the villain until the end, the story itself is a bit thin. About 1/3 of the book is exposition about dog shows, and I didn't entirely care about any of the characters. Perhaps I'm used to reading adult mysteries, where there is death and mayhem, but 2 typewritten threats didn't exactly have me quaking in my boots.

121alsvidur
Nov 24, 2013, 9:30 pm



Title: Takedown Twenty
Author: Janet Evanovich
Genre: Adult fiction
Publication date: 2013 (2013)
Catalog: 813.6 /
Acquisition: 1 day ago
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 3

Bounty hunter Stephanie Plum has her sights set on bringing in mobster Salvatore Sunucchi. The problem is, none of the Burg wants to give up dear Uncle Sunny - who happens to be her boyfriend Joe's godfather as well. Ranger needs her help tracking down someone who's killing old ladies. And there's a giraffe running around Trenton.

Typical of the series - fun fluff and an entertaining evening.

122alsvidur
Nov 26, 2013, 7:41 pm



Title: CW Anderson's Sketchbook
Author: CW Anderson
Genre: Juvenile non-fiction
Publication date: 1948 (1948)
Catalog: 743.69 / NC780
Acquisition: Library - ILL
Category: Monsters, Quidditch
Rating: 4

Famous horse artist CW Anderson shows kids how to draw. No, it isn't about circles and ovals, but about understanding your subject. He does emphasize lines and motion, but focuses on looking at the horse and picture as a whole. It's nice to see a book for kids that doesn't tell them that anyone can draw a good horse without knowing in depth anatomy. I wish I had this book when I was younger.

123alsvidur
Nov 26, 2013, 7:44 pm

Accounting 11-26-13:
$15.87, Drollery Press online, 1 book

new edition of the House Rabbit Handbook

124alsvidur
Nov 26, 2013, 9:56 pm



Title: Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth
Genre: YA fiction
Publication date: 2011 (2012)
Catalog: 813.6 / PZ7
Acquisition: Mine, re-read
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 3

Rated not as high as the first few reads, not sure why, just not as snappy. Four seemed to fall for Tris pretty darn fast - maybe character development not as smooth as some of the other popular works? Either way, still OK. Did this movie come out yet? Not sure if everyone knows what this one is about or not. Oh well.

125MickyFine
Nov 27, 2013, 2:35 pm

>124 alsvidur: This one's pretty huge. Movie comes out next year.

126alsvidur
Dez 2, 2013, 5:49 pm

November Summary

Books: 19
Total books: 352

Non-fiction, horses: 2
Non-fiction, animals: 3
Non-fiction, other: 2
Fiction: 12
Classics: 0

TBR Pit books read: 2
Time spent in TBR: 1 day - 2 years
Library books read: 1
ILL books read: 9
Books borrowed and read: 0
% TBR/library/borrowed: 63%

Books acquired: 5
Cash spent: $32.47

Year-by-year:

2 - 1940s
1 - 1950s
2 - 1980s
2 - 1990s
6 - 2000s
6 - 2010s

Genre:
4 - YA fiction
1 - Adult fiction
2 - Juvenile fiction
1 - I-Can-Read
3 - Children's picture

2 - Adult non-fiction
5 - Juvenile non-fiction
1 - Children's non-fiction

Classification:
1 - 296
1 - 370
1 - 595
2 - 636
1 - 743
1 - 798
8 - 813
1 - 979
3 - unknown

1 - BM
1 - E
1 - LA
1 - NC
1 - PS
10 - PZ
1 - QL
3 - SF

Category Challenge
3 "The Standard Book of Spells" off lists of pre-college recommendations and Top 100/1001 lists
2 "Travels with Trolls" aka Reading Globally/Stateside
0 "Magical Me" stories of both people and famous horses
0 "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" uncommon-to-me genres like mystery, sci-fi, or fantasy
2 "Home Life and Social Habits of British Muggles": Sociology, H, 300
0 "Magical Theory": Book learnin', Q, 400/500
5 "Monster Book of Monsters": Animals, QL/S, 590/636
0 "The Healer's Helpmate": Medicine, R, 600
2 "Quidditch Through the Ages": Sports and rec, G, 700
9 "Sonnets of a Sorcerer": Literature, P, 800
1 "Hogwarts: A History": History and geography, D/E/F, 900

127alsvidur
Dez 2, 2013, 5:51 pm

Accounting 12-2-13:
$25.94, amazon.com, 1 book

"Puppy Problems? No Problem!: A Survival Guide for Finding & Training Your New Dog "

128alsvidur
Dez 15, 2013, 5:45 pm



Title: Mice Are Nice
Author: Nancy Larrick (ed)
Genre: Children's picture, poetry
Publication date: 1988 (1990)
Catalog: 808.81 / PN
Acquisition: 3 months ago
Category: Sonnets, Fantastic Beasts
Rating: 3

Poetry focused on mice.

129alsvidur
Dez 15, 2013, 5:51 pm



Title: The Fault in Our Stars
Author: John Green
Genre: Young adult
Publication date: 2012 (2012)
Catalog: 813.6 / PZ7
Acquisition: 3 months ago
Category: Sonnets, Travel (US - Indiana, Netherlands)
Rating: 4

16yo Hazel meets a guy at a kids with cancer support group.

Lots of tears. PMS time is not the time to pick this puppy up.

130alsvidur
Editado: Dez 16, 2013, 1:32 am



Title: Fever 1793
Author: Laurie Halse Anderson
Genre: Juvenile fiction
Publication date: 2000 (2002)
Catalog: 813.6 / PZ7
Acquisition: 11 months ago
Category: Sonnets, Travel (PA)
Rating: 3.5

Mattie helps run her family's coffee shop in Philadelphia. But in the summer of 1793, a yellow feverr epidemic rages through the city.

Nicely researched. Not exactly compelling in certain topics - it's a bit odd that I most cared about her relationship with the artist apprentice instead of, you know, all the dying and surviving and marauding.

131alsvidur
Dez 16, 2013, 12:32 pm



Title: The Secret of the Yellow Death: A True Story of Medical Sleuthing
Author: Suzanne Jurmain
Genre: Juvenile non-fiction
Publication date: 2009 (2009)
Catalog: 614.54 / RC212.C9
Acquisition: 7 months ago
Category: Healer's, Travel (Cuba)
Rating: 4

Yellow Death explains how Walter Reed's team went about figuring out how yellow fever is transmitted. Back in 1900, Reed and a few other doctors went to Cuba at the request of the government. They had a few theories when they went, and they wanted to test them all: was it caused by the same bacteria as hog cholera? was it transmitted by fomites? was it transmitted by mosquitoes? To cover these hypothoses, they also needed human volunteers. Reed was the first medical researcher to have volunteers sign a medical release form.

Interesting and well-written.

132alsvidur
Dez 17, 2013, 7:32 am



Title: The Big Book of Cats
Author: Gladys Emerson Cook
Genre: Children's "non-fiction"
Publication date: 1954 (1968)
Catalog: 636.8 / SF446 .C6
Acquisition: 3 months ago
Category: Monsters
Rating: 1.5

Suitable only as tchotchke. Creepy paintings of cats accompany out-dated and just plain incorrect information, mostly on cat breeds. This book's paintings will come out of the paper and murder you while you sleep. Or simply watch you as you keep someone in your basement for their skin. 'Cause that's the kind of person who would appreciate paintings of cats this disturbing.

133MickyFine
Dez 17, 2013, 5:17 pm

>129 alsvidur: PMS time is not the time to pick this puppy up. Unless you need a cathartic cry, probably not a great idea, it's true.

134alsvidur
Editado: Dez 23, 2013, 2:42 pm



Title: Socks
Author: Beverly Cleary
Genre: Juvenile fiction
Publication date: 1973 (1973)
Catalog: 813.54 / PZ7
Acquisition: 3 months ago
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 4

A surprisingly sympathetic tale of Socks the cat who has to deal with a new baby in the house.

135alsvidur
Editado: Dez 23, 2013, 2:41 pm



Title: Harry the Dirty Dog
Author: Gene Zion
Genre: Children's picture
Publication date: 1956 (2002)
Catalog: 813.54 / PZ7
Acquisition: borrowed
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 4

Harry hates baths, so he runs away and gets dirty. By the time he wants back home, his family doesn't recognize him.

136dk_phoenix
Dez 19, 2013, 8:19 am

>132 alsvidur:: BWAAA-HAHAHAHA...!!!!!

(Thanks a lot, I almost spit coffee all over my keyboard...!!!!)

137alsvidur
Dez 19, 2013, 6:51 pm

Accounting 12-19-13:
$16.39, amazon.com, 4 books

The Flambards series

138alsvidur
Editado: Dez 23, 2013, 2:37 pm



Title: Where's Spot?
Author: Eric Hill
Genre: Children's picture
Publication date: 1980 (1980)
Catalog: 813.54 / PZ7
Acquisition: borrowed
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 4

Spot's mother searches for puppy Spot with the help of the reader lifting flaps. Under each flap is a different animal, but none are Spot until the last flap.

139alsvidur
Editado: Dez 23, 2013, 2:36 pm



Title: On Market Street
Author: Arnold Lobel
Genre: Children's picture
Publication date: 1981 (1981)
Catalog: 813.54 / PZ7
Acquisition: borrowed
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 3

Each page is a letter illustrated by a person made out of things that start with that letter: books, Xmas trees, etc.

140alsvidur
Editado: Dez 23, 2013, 2:34 pm



Title: I Love My White Shoes
Author: Eric Litwin
Genre: Children's picture
Publication date: 2008 (2008)
Catalog: 813.54 / PZ7
Acquisition: borrowed
Category: Sonnets
Rating: 4

Pete the cat loves his white shoes, but he keeps stepping in things that color his shoes. He keeps a cool attitude about it all and continues singing his song.

141alsvidur
Editado: Dez 23, 2013, 2:43 pm



Title: American Heritage Picture History of World War II
Author: CL Sulzberger
Genre: Non-fiction
Publication date: 1966 (1994)
Catalog: 940.54 / D743
Acquisition: borrowed
Category: Hogwarts
Rating: 3

WW2 described by a journalist, accompanied by lots of old photos and first-hand accounts. The photo quality is not great, considering what other WWII books have been able to do. You will also need a strong back to haul this one around - almost 700 pages and 5 pounds.

142alsvidur
Dez 24, 2013, 1:46 am



Title: House Rabbit Handbook: How to Live with an Urban Rabbit, 5th edition
Author: Marinell Harriman
Genre: Non-fiction
Publication date: 2013 (2013)
Catalog: 636.93 / SF453
Acquisition: 1 month ago
Category: Monsters
Rating: 4

I think I prefer the older editions, actually. The new release has color photos and updated information, especially medical care, with references and links to the House Rabbit Society website. However, it's getting a little hippy-dippy for my taste. Eg, in a sidebar about massage and in regards to finding a lump, heat, or other physical issue, "...simply rest your hand there for a moment. Chances are that the warmth, energy, and love you transmit will help soothe it." How about just taking your poor rabbit in to a vet? The majority of the references are from the HRS website and a 2010 seminar in rabbit care, so the Handbook essentially references itself. Maybe I just expect too much from a basic guide to house rabbit care. Still, if a new rabbit owner was to get only 1 book on rabbits, this would still be the one I recommend.

143alsvidur
Dez 24, 2013, 1:56 am

I am SO excited! My next book finished will be the completion of my year-long goal: to read 365 books - an average of 1 per day. Sometime in October, I burned out on reading and pretty much stopped. A few weeks ago, I forced myself to finish off the last few books, and here I am! I am way more psyched about this than Christmas! I wonder what my 'last' book will be?

144PaulCranswick
Dez 24, 2013, 4:46 am



Emilie, thanks for being a constant source of reading wonder. One book or better per day is phenomenal.
Have a lovely Christmas.

145dk_phoenix
Dez 24, 2013, 8:27 am

>142 alsvidur:: I'll have to check that one out! After about a year and a bit of living with a rabbit, I still find myself a little baffled at times... she's also enormous and a little aloof, but we're trying to gently coax her out of her shell. It's quite the process, but she's a sweetheart all things considered.

146MickyFine
Dez 24, 2013, 3:21 pm

>143 alsvidur: That is very exciting! Congrats, Emilie!

147alsvidur
Dez 25, 2013, 8:36 pm

Accounting 12-24-13:
$0.00, Christmas gifts, 6 books

Accounting 12-25-13:
$0.00, Christmas gifts, 9 books

148alsvidur
Dez 27, 2013, 11:20 am

Accounting 12-27-13:
$44.20, Eclipse Press online sale, 14 books

149alsvidur
Dez 28, 2013, 2:16 pm

Accounting 12-26-13:
$0.00, Amazon gift card, 2 books

Accounting 12-27-13:
$0.00, Amazon gift card, 1 book

150alsvidur
Dez 28, 2013, 5:26 pm

Accounting 12-28-13:
$14.34, Amazon/gift card, 1 book

151alsvidur
Editado: Dez 29, 2013, 6:38 pm

Why yes, my friends, I do have Queen's famous power ballad playing in my head, because here is book number three-hundred and sixty-five!



Title: Beautifully Unique Sparkleponies
Author: Chris Kluwe
Genre: Non-fiction, essays
Publication date: 2013 (2013)
Catalog: 814.54 / PN6165
Acquisition: 4 days ago
Category: Magical Me (Chris Kluwe), Home Life, Quidditch
Rating: 2

Kluwe gained prominence when he wrote a curse-filled online response letter to a politician's request that NFL team owners try to stop their players from saying things in favor of same-sex marriage. Kluwe is a punter for the Vikings and is in favor of people keeping the whole right to free speech thing going. His letter was amusing, and how can you avoid purchasing a book called 'Beautifully Unique Sparkleponies'? You can't.

There were multiple times when my attention was lost, but there were a few times when I thought to myself Kluwe's written attractions were that he was normal, not a literatti, and just a person expressing his views in ways that many other people express their views. I'm not sure if this is coming out like I want it to, but he seems nice. The book would have been better had it been only 100 pages instead of 250, but oh well. I still read a book called 'Beautifully Unique Sparkleponies'.

(Seriously though, 'We Are the Champions' is stuck in my head. No matter what other music I try to listen to.)

152alsvidur
Dez 29, 2013, 6:46 pm

December Summary

Books: 13
Total books: 365

Non-fiction, horses: 0
Non-fiction, animals: 2
Non-fiction, other: 3
Fiction: 8
Classics: 0

TBR Pit books read: 2
Time spent in TBR: 4 days - 11 months
Library books read: 0
ILL books read: 0
Books borrowed and read: 5
% TBR/library/borrowed: 54%

Books acquired: 38
Cash spent: $100.87 (oopsie)

Year-by-year:

2 - 1950s
1 - 1960s
1 - 1970s
3 - 1980s
3 - 2000s
3 - 2010s

Genre:
1 - YA fiction
2 - Juvenile fiction
5 - Children's picture

3 - Adult non-fiction
1 - Juvenile non-fiction
1 - Children's non-fiction

Classification:

1 - 614
2 - 636
1 - 808
7 - 813
1 - 814
1 - 940

1 - D
2 - PN
7 - PZ
1 - RC
2 - SF

Category Challenge
1 "The Standard Book of Spells" off lists of pre-college recommendations and Top 100/1001 lists
3 "Travels with Trolls" aka Reading Globally/Stateside
1 "Magical Me" stories of both people and famous horses
1 "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" uncommon-to-me genres like mystery, sci-fi, or fantasy
1 "Home Life and Social Habits of British Muggles": Sociology, H, 300
0 "Magical Theory": Book learnin', Q, 400/500
2 "Monster Book of Monsters": Animals, QL/S, 590/636
1 "The Healer's Helpmate": Medicine, R, 600
1 "Quidditch Through the Ages": Sports and rec, G, 700
8 "Sonnets of a Sorcerer": Literature, P, 800
1 "Hogwarts: A History": History and geography, D/E/F, 900

153alsvidur
Dez 29, 2013, 6:58 pm

I missed just a few years from 1940 through now. 1945, 1946, 1958, 1963, 1965, 1969, and 1970: 7 years out of73.

1880 Heidi
1903 Tale of Squirrel Nutkin
1915 Dear Enemy
1928 Millions of Cats
1940 Deep Through the Heart
1941 Blind Colt
1942 The Little House
1943 Meet the Malones
1944 Dogs at War
1945
1946
1947 Stone Soup
1948 Cheaper by the Dozen, Beany Malone, CW Anderson’s Sketchbook
1949 Carney’s House Party
1950 Emily of Deep Valley
1951 Flip and Morning
1952 Happy Easter, Betsy Great World
1953 Star of Wild Horse Canyon, Winona’s Pony Cart, Big Black Horse
1954 Bunnies ABC, Find the Constellations, Big Book of Cats
1955 Betsy’s Wedding
1956 Cinnabar, Tickner’s show Piece, Harry Dirty Dog
1957 The Horsemasters, Dear Garbage Man, Fury
1958
1959 Silly About Cats
1960 Runaway Flying Horse, Little Cottontail, 3 Dollar Mule
1961 Chester
1962 The Snowy Day
1963
1964 Bread and Jam for Frances, White Stallion of Lipizza
1965
1966 Another Man O War, Picture History WWII
1967 The Outsiders, CW Anderson Favorite Horse Stories
1968 Horses How They Came To Be
1969
1970
1971 A Horse Called Dragon, Thunderhoof, Freckle Juice, best of RMM
1972 Won’t Somebody Play With Me, Story of Jumping Mouse
1973 The Witch Kitten, Socks
1974 All the Pretty Horses, Muffin Muncher, Serendipity, First World War in Posters
1975 The Candy Egg Bunny
1976 (Good Work Amelia Bedelia), Animals That Build Their Homes
1977 Birth of a Foal, Horse Named Doodlebug, WWII the Home Front USA
1978 Nitter Pitter
1979 Leo the Lop Tail Two, (Amelia Bedelia Helps Out), Who Has 930 Appt
1980 Hattie Tom and the Chicken Witch, Cats, Leo the Lop 3, SHimmeree, Paper Bag Princess, Where’ Spot
1981 Oink and Pearl, (Amelia Bedelia and the Baby), On Market Street
1982 Strange Animals of Australia, Goodnight Time Tales, Morgan Mine, Next Panda Please
1983 The Seal, Animals in War, Hiawatha, What Did You Do in the War Daddy, The Witches
1984 The Very Bad Bunny, Rainbow Brite Big Color Mix-up, Wilfrid Gordon Mcdonald Partridge, Minikin, RMM Strikes Again
1985 Princess of Power Sword of She-Ra, Princess of Power Queen of the Ball, Princess of Power Everythin But Happiness, Mumkin, Tiht Spot Detective 2, Collision course Detective 3, Most of My Patients Are Animals, Chloe and Maud
1986 Pound Puppies Pick of the Litter, Animals that live in Trees, Baby Bears, Rumpelstiltskin, Animals and Their Hiding Places, Why Do Animals Sleep Trough Winter, What Is a River, False Lead Detective 5
1987 There’s an Alligator Under My Bed, Buttermilk Bear, PIsh Posh, Misty Morgan, Bonnys Big Day
1988 Amelia Bedelia’s Family Album, What Is a Dinosaur, Horse Crazy SC1, Murder at Spaniel Show, Mice Are nice
1989 The Wild Mustang, Hens, From Pigeon to Packhorse, Amazing Otters
1990 The Day of Ahmed’s Secret, Wild Horses of Sweetbriar
1991 Sc19 Star Rider, I Wonder If I’ll See a Whale, Swans and Sugarplums and Satin Slippers, Brother Francis and Friendly Beasts, Tar Beach, Amazing Grace, Triple Threat Detective 1, Double Danger Detective 4, RMM Second Oldest Profession, The Horse Photographic Images
1992 SC21 Racehorse, Great Pumpkin Switch, Matthew Wheelock’s Wall, Sami Time of Troubles, Seven Blind Mice, Rough Face Girl, IF Wishes Were Horses, Near Miss Detective 6, High Stakes detective 7
1993 It’s Raining pigs and Noodles, Peppe Lamplighter, The 5-Dog Night, Posters f World War II, Sweetest Fig
1994 One for the Money, SC32 Chocolate Horse, SC37 Stage Coach, Secret Oceans, Catkin, Reindeer People, Just in Time for Chistmas, Lvoe a Llama, Guess How Much I Love You
1995 A Dog’s Life, The Tree That Would Not Die, Faithful Friend, Sacred River, Rosie the Riveter Women Working Home Front WWII, V Is for victory, Lassie Come Home Wells, Horse Magic SC47
1996 A Game of Thrones, American Too
1997 Read to Your Bunny, HP1 sorcerer’s Stone, Library lil, Habibi, Fair!, 1000 Paper Cranes, Me and My Pet Rabbit
1998 HP2 Chamber of Secrets, Ex Libris, Storytellers, Design for Victory, Life Pig Farm, Rose Horse Milk-White Jade
1999 HP3 Prisoner of Azkaban, War Dogs, The 40s Decade of Triumph, Touch and Go, Century Farm
2000 Confessions of a Shopaholic, HP4 Goblet of Fire, Cool Careers Girls Animals, WWII The War at Home, Rabbit animal Lives, Pumpkin Jack, Sleep Ponies, Fever 1793
2001 Ella Minnow Pea, Always Faithful, Buddies: Men Dogs and WW2, Dead Until Dark, Winter Shoes Shadow Horse, Red Legs, Children of WWII Home Front, Animals Nobody Lves, John and Tom, Viva el Vet
2002 David Gets in Trouble, Skull Alphabet, Living Dead in Dallas, Sisterhood Pants 1
2003 The Snow Pony, The Rabbi’s Cat, HP5 Order of the Phoenix, Club Dead, Horse Named Seabiscuit, How Do Dinosaurs Get Well, Sisterhood Pants 2, Seabiscuit vs War Admiral, Grwoing Up in a New Century 1890 to 1914, Eggs, Judaism
2004 Dead to the World, Eyewitness Pirate, What Wendell Wants, 100 Best Books for Children, WWII Home Front, Mice ad Rats, Funny Bunnies
2005 The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, horse Tales, Solar System, Rosa, HP6 Half-Blood Prince, Dead as a Doornail, 13 Little Blue Envelopes, Sisterhood Pants 3, America in the 1900s and 1910s, Rosie the Riveter
2006 An Abundance of Katherines, Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist, Starlight, Definitely Dead, Stop Dressing 6yo Like Skank, The Appaloosa Horse, 12 Sharp
2007 Merryland, HP7 Deathly Hallows, Beastly, All Together Dead, Pony in the Picture, Horse in the House, Sisterhood Pants 4, Appaloosas, Behind the Scenes Racehorse, War Posters Weapons of Mass Communication, Cattle Kids
2008 Paper Towns, Last Black King of the KY Derby, Tales of Beedle the Bard, Graceling, From Dead to Worse, Tenth Avenue Cowboy, Skipingo Home, Out About at Vet Clinic, Rosie and Mrs America, My Chincoteague Pony, When Mothers Went to War, Graveyard Book, Hunger Games, I Lvoe My White Shoes
2009 Shiver, HD2 Bell’s Star, HD3 Koda, Moon Rabbit, Fire, A Touch of Dead, Dead and Gone, Homestretch, The Georges Jewels, The Help, Longest Night, America in the 1940s, Killer Ants, Catching Fire, Secret Yellow Death
2010 HD5 golden Sun, Linger, Hex Hall, HD4 Maestoso Petra, Dash and Lilt’s Book of Dares, Dead in the Family, Raven Speak, This Book IS Overdue, Even Bad Dogs Go Heaven, America in the 1910s, America in the 1900s, Still Life Adventures in Taxidermy, America in the 1950s, Shadow, Noni the pony, Hus little horsie, Mokingjay
2011HD7 Risky Chance, What Happened to Goodbye, If I Were a Veterinarian, Migrant, Caterpillars, Demonglass, Darth Vader and Son, Farm Anatomy, Dead Reckoning, Last Little Blue Envelope, Sisterhood Pants Everlasting, Delirium, Beauty Queens, Attachments, Tumford the Terrible, Sammy in the sky, Best in Show, Race the Wild Wind, Mysterious Bones, Divergent
2012 Buffy: the Making of a Slayer, Monstrous Beauty, HD6 Yatimah, Book of Blood, This Lullaby, HD8 Black Cloud, Love in a Nutshell, Mr and Mrs Bunny, Malcolm at Midnight, Hello Hello, Runaway Princess, Fantastic Flying Books, Grave Mercy, Deadlocked, Abandon, Underworld, Pandemonium, World’s Greatest Lion, Let’s Pretend This Never Happened, Taeh Goes to the Vet, Crown Prince, Inherit the Wind Fables 17, How Tell cat Plotting Kill You, Dogs of war Fala Willie Telek, Raven Boys, Fault in Our Stars
2013 The Husband List, War Dogs: Churchill and Rufus, Dark Triumph, Clementine Spring Trip, Eleanor and park, Wedding Night, Animal wise, Vader’s Little Princess (x2), Dead Ever After, Awaken, Geek’s Guide Dating, Requiem, Chu’s Day, Cubs in toyland Fables 18, Fangirl, Gulp, Bride Wore Size 12, Dream Thieves, Exotic Animal Formulary, Day the Crayons Quit, Drama High, Takedown 20, House Rabbit Handbook, Beautifully Unique Sparkleponies

154alsvidur
Dez 29, 2013, 7:32 pm

2014 in review

Total Books: 365

Non-fiction, horses: 14
Non-fiction, animals: 43
Non-fiction, other: 45
Fiction: 264
Classics: 2

TBR Pit books read: 32
Time spent in TBR: 1 hour - over 3 years
Library books read: 110
ILL books read: 38 (and mixed in above)
Books borrowed and read: 14
% TBR/library/borrowed: 53%

Books acquired: 409
Cash spent: $782.66

Year-by-year:
1 – 1880s
1 - 1900s
1 – 1910s
1 – 1920s
10 – 1940s
17 - 1950s
12 - 1960s
21 - 1970s
52 - 1980s
63 - 1990s
105 - 2000s
83 - 2010s

Genre:
30 – Non-fiction
58 – Children’s non-fiction

5 - Memoir
1 - Self-help
9 - Adult fiction
1 - Poetry
12 - Humor
1 - Sci-fi
17 – Chick lit
2 – Essays
1 - Art
1 - Short stories
1 – Fantasy
2 – Thriller
1 – Historical fiction
3 – graphic novel

15 - YA contemporary
4 – YA fantasy
8 - YA paranormal
3 - YA dystopia
2 - YA historical fiction
18 –YA (unknown)

8 – Juvenile fantasy
45 – Juvenile Fiction
1 – Juvenile short story
10 – I-Can-Read/Early Reader
92 – Children’s picture
13 - Illustrated fiction
2 – Board book

DDC Classification:

Information
2 - 011 (bibliographies)
1 – 020
1 – 070
1 - 073

Religion
1 – 271
1 - 296

Social sciences
1 – 305
1 - 323
1 - 331
4 – 355 (military science)
1 - 370
1 - 394
7 – 398 (folklore)

Science
2 - 523 (astronomy)
1 - 551
1 – 567
1 - 590
7 – 591 (zoology)
2 - 595 (other inverts)
6 – 599 (mammals)

Technology
2 - 612 (human physiology)
1 – 613
1 - 614
1 – 630
24 – 636 (animal husbandry)

Arts and recreation
1 - 704
13 – 741 (drawing)
1 - 743
2 - 769 (prints)
3 – 779 (photographs)
1 - 791
1 - 792
7 – 798 (equestrian sports)

Literature
1 - 808
4 – 811 (American poetry)
153 - 813 (American fiction)
3 - 814 (American essays)
22 – 823 (English fiction)
1 – 833
1 - 839

History and geography
1 – 910
1 – 926
12 – 940 (history of Europe)
1 - 941
1 – 948
1 – 954
1 – 976
1 - 979

50 – unknown

LOC Classification:
1 – BM (Philosophy – Judaism)
1 - BX (Philosophy - Christian deonominations)
12 - D (World history - History – general)
1 – DA (World history - History – Great Britain)
1 - DL (World history - Northern Europe/Scandinavia)
1 - DS (World history - Asia)
14 - E (American history)
2 – F (Western history - Local history – Western Hemisphere)
1 - G (Geography)
1 – GB (Geography - Physical geography)
1 - GT (Anthropology - Customs)
1 – GV (Recreation)
2 - HD (Social sciences - Labor)
1 – HQ (Social sciences - Women)
1 – LA (Education – History)
6 - NC (Fine arts - Drawing, design, illustration)
2 – PE (Literature – English language)
14 - PN (Literature – general literature)
1 – PR (Literature – English lit)
27 – PS (Literature – American lit)
1 – PT (Literature – Scandinavian/German/Dutch lit)
195 – PZ (Literature – Children’s)
2 - QB (Science - Astronomy)
1 - QE (Science - Geology)
15 - QL (Science - Zoology)
1 – QP (Science – Physiology)
1 – RC (Medicine – Internal med)
2 - S (Agriculture)
33 – SF (Agriculture - Animal science)
1 - T (Technology)
3 - TR (Technology – Photography)
5 – UH (Military science - Other military)
2 - Z (Library science)
5 – unknown

Category Challenge
31 "The Standard Book of Spells" off lists of pre-college recommendations and Top 100/1001 lists
112 "Travels with Trolls" aka Reading Globally/Stateside
17 "Magical Me" stories of both people and famous horses
6 "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" uncommon-to-me genres like mystery, sci-fi, or fantasy
11 "Home Life and Social Habits of British Muggles": Sociology, H, 300
5 "Magical Theory": Book learnin', Q, 400/500
62 "Monster Book of Monsters": Animals, QL/S, 590/636
6 "The Healer's Helpmate": Medicine, R, 600
22 "Quidditch Through the Ages": Sports and rec, G, 700
248 "Sonnets of a Sorcerer": Literature, P, 800
38 "Hogwarts: A History": History and geography, D/E/F, 900

155alsvidur
Dez 29, 2013, 7:36 pm

It looks like history, kid's books, animal science, zoology, and general fiction ruled the LOC this year. In DDC, folklore, animal science, zoology, graphic novels, equestrian sports, American and British fiction, and European history were pretty popular.

157alsvidur
Dez 29, 2013, 7:51 pm

158MickyFine
Dez 29, 2013, 9:55 pm

Congrats on reaching your goal!!!

159dk_phoenix
Dez 30, 2013, 8:38 am

Love your stats! I'm working on some of my own, but not nearly as detailed...

160alsvidur
Jan 1, 2014, 11:18 pm