1si
Setting a target of 25 books for 2021.
No real restrictions on what counts as a ROOT this time.
Would like to read a few of the books I had originally lined-up for last year, but never got to, and perhaps tick off the books I did buy in 2020 - 11 in total.
ETA: decided to include as roots, books added this year. Will list below:
Acquired 2021
1. The Thursday Mystery Club - Richard Osman (✔)
2. The Sound of Things Falling - Juan Gabriel Vasquez (✔)
3. Arabian Nights: Tales of 1001 Nights Volume 1 (✔)
4. Arabian Nights: Tales of 1001 Nights Volume 2
5. Arabian Nights: Tales of 1001 Nights Volume 3
6. The Day The Sun Died - Yan Lianke (✔)
7. Ghachar Ghochar - Vivek Shanbhag (✔)
8. Kew Gardens - Virginia Woolf (✔)
9. The Following Story - Cees Nooteboom
10. Rituals - Cees Nooteboom (✔)
11. Roads to Santiago - Cees Nooteboom
12. The Man Within - Graham Greene
No real restrictions on what counts as a ROOT this time.
Would like to read a few of the books I had originally lined-up for last year, but never got to, and perhaps tick off the books I did buy in 2020 - 11 in total.
ETA: decided to include as roots, books added this year. Will list below:
Acquired 2021
1. The Thursday Mystery Club - Richard Osman (✔)
2. The Sound of Things Falling - Juan Gabriel Vasquez (✔)
3. Arabian Nights: Tales of 1001 Nights Volume 1 (✔)
4. Arabian Nights: Tales of 1001 Nights Volume 2
5. Arabian Nights: Tales of 1001 Nights Volume 3
6. The Day The Sun Died - Yan Lianke (✔)
7. Ghachar Ghochar - Vivek Shanbhag (✔)
8. Kew Gardens - Virginia Woolf (✔)
9. The Following Story - Cees Nooteboom
10. Rituals - Cees Nooteboom (✔)
11. Roads to Santiago - Cees Nooteboom
12. The Man Within - Graham Greene
6rabbitprincess
Welcome back and have a great reading year!
8floremolla
Happy New Year, Simon, and good luck with your 2021 reading goals!
9Robertgreaves
Have a happy and healthy year of ROOTing, Simon.
11si
Round Dozen by Elizabeth Cadell
Starting the year with a light read - a gentle romantic comedy. It's a little dated, but the characters are engaging and there's a nice twist towards the end.
The story revolves around William Helder, the head of a successful family firm who is encouraged by his stepmother to continue his late father's search for a missing silver flagon - part of a set of twelve given to the family back in 1689. Complications ensue...
Starting the year with a light read - a gentle romantic comedy. It's a little dated, but the characters are engaging and there's a nice twist towards the end.
The story revolves around William Helder, the head of a successful family firm who is encouraged by his stepmother to continue his late father's search for a missing silver flagon - part of a set of twelve given to the family back in 1689. Complications ensue...
12MissWatson
Happy ROOTing!
13si
>12 MissWatson: thanks Birgit & everyone else ...
Have completed my second ROOT - Sweet Days Of Discipline by Fleur Jaeggy.
This is an exceptional novella set mainly in a Swiss boarding school. In truth I'm surprised how much I enjoyed it.
I had hoped to read this last year following on from Jakob von Gunten, which is credited as a big influence on this book.
May actually be on target for a star this month! Don't think I managed any last year until the start of December.
Have completed my second ROOT - Sweet Days Of Discipline by Fleur Jaeggy.
This is an exceptional novella set mainly in a Swiss boarding school. In truth I'm surprised how much I enjoyed it.
I had hoped to read this last year following on from Jakob von Gunten, which is credited as a big influence on this book.
May actually be on target for a star this month! Don't think I managed any last year until the start of December.
14si
Saying I'm on target has of course slowed my reading to a crawl! Currently reading Orphan X, which is the type of thriller i should be racing through - but I'm not.
Today is my 10th anniversary of being on LT, so I have a new badge - which was a nice surprise when I signed -in.
Today is my 10th anniversary of being on LT, so I have a new badge - which was a nice surprise when I signed -in.
15Jackie_K
>14 si: Ah that's Sod's Law! It's like when I'm working on the ward, if anyone dares say "isn't it quiet?" they get jumped on and shushed! No easier way of guaranteeing the shift going bonkers from that moment on!
16rabbitprincess
>14 si: Happy Thingaversary! You joined not long before I did; my 10th is in February :)
17connie53
Happy Thingaversary, Simon. I forgot about my 11th a month or 2 ago. I joined in November 2009.
18MissWatson
Happy Thingaversary and congrats on the badge!
20si
Third ROOT - Elephants Can Remember
This is a later Agatha Christie mystery from 1972. Ariadne Oliver & Hercule Poirot share the sleuthing duties. Quiet funny in parts and the two very different main characters made for a interesting twist.
This is a later Agatha Christie mystery from 1972. Ariadne Oliver & Hercule Poirot share the sleuthing duties. Quiet funny in parts and the two very different main characters made for a interesting twist.
21si
Fourth ROOT: Orphan X by Gregg Hurwitz
2016 thriller about a former assassin, who turns his talents to helping people; mainly by killing other people.
The book is dedicated to a long list of fictional vigilantes, from Jason Bourne to Zorro. And Hurwitz has quilted together bits and pieces, from these past hits (plus a few others), to conjurer up a new anti-hero who feels very familiar.
It's fast paced, violent but not gory, and the main characters are engaging; but unfortunately it was too long and simplistic to hold my attention.
2016 thriller about a former assassin, who turns his talents to helping people; mainly by killing other people.
The book is dedicated to a long list of fictional vigilantes, from Jason Bourne to Zorro. And Hurwitz has quilted together bits and pieces, from these past hits (plus a few others), to conjurer up a new anti-hero who feels very familiar.
It's fast paced, violent but not gory, and the main characters are engaging; but unfortunately it was too long and simplistic to hold my attention.
22si
Fifth ROOT: The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
This was a gift last month, because of which I've dropped my ROOT cut-off date and decided to count 2021 acquisitions.
This was a gift last month, because of which I've dropped my ROOT cut-off date and decided to count 2021 acquisitions.
23rabbitprincess
>22 si: Excellent reason to change your ROOT cutoff date! That book came in at exactly the right time for me and I adored it.
26si
Sixth ROOT: From The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg
This reduces my 2020 list to 8 still unread. Which include:
An Awfully Big Adventure - Beryl Bainbridge
Zazie in the Metro - Raymond Queneau
New Cardiff - Charles Webb
(✔) The Marriage of a Young Stockbroker - Charles Webb
Pretty Maids All In A Row - Francis Pollini
Blindfold - Lucille Fletcher
The Bride Stripped Bare By Her Bachelors, Even - Chris F. Westbury
(✔) The Spectre of Alexander Wolf - Gaito Gazdanov
This reduces my 2020 list to 8 still unread. Which include:
An Awfully Big Adventure - Beryl Bainbridge
Zazie in the Metro - Raymond Queneau
New Cardiff - Charles Webb
(✔) The Marriage of a Young Stockbroker - Charles Webb
Pretty Maids All In A Row - Francis Pollini
Blindfold - Lucille Fletcher
The Bride Stripped Bare By Her Bachelors, Even - Chris F. Westbury
(✔) The Spectre of Alexander Wolf - Gaito Gazdanov
28si
Eighth ROOT: The Eve of St. Agnes and other Poems
Short collection of poetry by John Keats. Last month was the 200th anniversary of his death.
Short collection of poetry by John Keats. Last month was the 200th anniversary of his death.
29si
Ninth ROOT: The Spectre of Alexander Wolf by Gaito Gazdanov Translated from the Russian by Bryan Karetnyk.
A Russian born journalist now living in Paris after the Russian Civil War comes across a book which includes a real life tale in which he was involved.
Less plot driven than that opening suggests and more interested in the role of fate, guilt, love, etc have on life, this slim novel is well written but does drip in the middle.
A Russian born journalist now living in Paris after the Russian Civil War comes across a book which includes a real life tale in which he was involved.
Less plot driven than that opening suggests and more interested in the role of fate, guilt, love, etc have on life, this slim novel is well written but does drip in the middle.
31si
>30 connie53: Hi Connie.
Not reading much this last week.
Need to energise my reading/life now spring has arrived! Although a cold snap is forecast for the UK over the next few days.
Not reading much this last week.
Need to energise my reading/life now spring has arrived! Although a cold snap is forecast for the UK over the next few days.
32connie53
>31 si: Here in the Netherlands too. Hail, snow, rain and lots of heavy wind and alternating with some sun. Weather will be better for the coming weekend.
33si
Tenth ROOT: Ghachar Ghochar by Vivek Shanbhag
Translated from the Kannada by Srinath Perur
This is a short novel set in Bangalore told by an unnamed narrator sitting in a coffee house. He's trying to make sense of the tangled mess that's descended on his family since their new business has allowed them to move out of poverty to being relatively rich.
Interesting story with a wonderful opening chapter. Perhaps doesn't follow through on its promising beginning but is easy to read.
Translated from the Kannada by Srinath Perur
This is a short novel set in Bangalore told by an unnamed narrator sitting in a coffee house. He's trying to make sense of the tangled mess that's descended on his family since their new business has allowed them to move out of poverty to being relatively rich.
Interesting story with a wonderful opening chapter. Perhaps doesn't follow through on its promising beginning but is easy to read.
35connie53
Hi Simon. Good job on the ROOTs! Near the half way point. Probably you have read another one by now.
36si
Hi Connie, kind of you to drop by.
I do read your thread; so you are in my thoughts at this difficult time.
ROOT-wise I'm still plodding through Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell - it's good, but I've never read a book so slowly!
I do read your thread; so you are in my thoughts at this difficult time.
ROOT-wise I'm still plodding through Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell - it's good, but I've never read a book so slowly!
37connie53
>36 si:, that is a good book, read it a long long time ago and gave it 4 ****. So it's worth your time and attention, Simon. Good to read you are reading my thread too and thank you for your kind words.
38si
>37 connie53: I think I agree with 4 stars!
Thirteenth ROOT: Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell
Well I started this back in March, but despite my inattention I've somehow reach the end.
My thoughts are all fairly positive. It does move at its own leisurely pace and in a seemingly aimless way. But at the end Susanna Clarke pulls all the elements together in a very satisfying way.
Thirteenth ROOT: Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell
Well I started this back in March, but despite my inattention I've somehow reach the end.
My thoughts are all fairly positive. It does move at its own leisurely pace and in a seemingly aimless way. But at the end Susanna Clarke pulls all the elements together in a very satisfying way.
39Charon07
>38 si: I loved Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. It took me a long time to read it too, but I was sorry to see it end.
40si
>39 Charon07: Welcome to the group & good luck with your challenge.
41si
14. The Sound of Things Falling
Just managed to finish this before the month's end!
This is a 2011 novel by the Colombian writer Juan Gabriel Vasquez, translated from the Spanish by Anne McLean
Antonio Yammara is a law professor in Bogota who is injured in a drive-by shooting of a casual friend. Two years on he's physically recovered enough to return to the scene of the shooting and to began looking for answers.
Less a mystery, more a journey into Colombia's recent history from the late 1960s to the present day.
Just managed to finish this before the month's end!
This is a 2011 novel by the Colombian writer Juan Gabriel Vasquez, translated from the Spanish by Anne McLean
Antonio Yammara is a law professor in Bogota who is injured in a drive-by shooting of a casual friend. Two years on he's physically recovered enough to return to the scene of the shooting and to began looking for answers.
Less a mystery, more a journey into Colombia's recent history from the late 1960s to the present day.
42si
Fifteenth ROOT:
The Day The Sun Died by Yan Lianke
Over one increasingly bizarre and violent night the people of Gaotian, a small rural Chinese town, start dreamwalking. At first this appears harmless. It's harvest time and the farmers continue baling wheat, even though asleep, by lamplight. But as the hours pass events take a darker turn. Shops are looted, revenge for long-held grudges taken, rape and murder soon follow. Outsiders flood the area and a full-scale pitched battle starts.
There are countless horror / sci-fi stories with similar set-ups but Yan Lianke complicates his story by constantly shifting genre. He hides his real targets under layers of satire and a deadpan, repetitive narration by Li Niannian - a 14 year old boy whose family are the book's main characters.
The Day The Sun Died by Yan Lianke
Over one increasingly bizarre and violent night the people of Gaotian, a small rural Chinese town, start dreamwalking. At first this appears harmless. It's harvest time and the farmers continue baling wheat, even though asleep, by lamplight. But as the hours pass events take a darker turn. Shops are looted, revenge for long-held grudges taken, rape and murder soon follow. Outsiders flood the area and a full-scale pitched battle starts.
There are countless horror / sci-fi stories with similar set-ups but Yan Lianke complicates his story by constantly shifting genre. He hides his real targets under layers of satire and a deadpan, repetitive narration by Li Niannian - a 14 year old boy whose family are the book's main characters.
43si
Sixteenth ROOT:
Silence of the Grave by Arnaldur Indridason. English translated by Bernard Scudder
Bleak crime novel from Iceland. Detective Erlendur has a body found on a building site to investigate while continuing to try and help his drug addicted daughter - this is the 4th book in a series.
Acquired in 2013.
Silence of the Grave by Arnaldur Indridason. English translated by Bernard Scudder
Bleak crime novel from Iceland. Detective Erlendur has a body found on a building site to investigate while continuing to try and help his drug addicted daughter - this is the 4th book in a series.
Acquired in 2013.
45si
Seventeenth ROOT:
Kew Gardens by Virginia Woolf. Illustrated by Livi Mills.
A single short story republished in a hardback edition with new illustrations; published by Kew Gardens themselves. Probably looks right at home in their gift shop.
The text was first published in 1919 and it's included in various short story collections including Monday or Tuesday and A Haunted House.
Short but enjoyable story; simple black and white drawings.
Kew Gardens by Virginia Woolf. Illustrated by Livi Mills.
A single short story republished in a hardback edition with new illustrations; published by Kew Gardens themselves. Probably looks right at home in their gift shop.
The text was first published in 1919 and it's included in various short story collections including Monday or Tuesday and A Haunted House.
Short but enjoyable story; simple black and white drawings.
46si
Eighteenth ROOT:
Endless Night by Agatha Christie
A later, stand-along, Christie (1967). Brilliantly plotted but a little slow to catch fire.
Nineteenth ROOT:
A Model and Other Stories by Anais Nin
Part of Penguin 60s collection. Seven short stories, taken from Little Birds.
Twentieth/Twenty-first ROOT:
It Just Occurred To Me by Humphrey Lyttelton
China Mountain Zhang by Maureen F. McHugh
A couple of false starts! Don't like to DNF books but it at least clears some space.
Endless Night by Agatha Christie
A later, stand-along, Christie (1967). Brilliantly plotted but a little slow to catch fire.
Nineteenth ROOT:
A Model and Other Stories by Anais Nin
Part of Penguin 60s collection. Seven short stories, taken from Little Birds.
Twentieth/Twenty-first ROOT:
It Just Occurred To Me by Humphrey Lyttelton
China Mountain Zhang by Maureen F. McHugh
A couple of false starts! Don't like to DNF books but it at least clears some space.
47si
Twenty-second ROOT:
The Arabian Nights Tales of 1001 Nights Volume 1, Translated by Malcolm C Lyons
This is volume 1 of 3. And this 2008 English translation is the first complete version of the Arabic text known as the Macnahgten edition or Calcutta II (1839-1842), since Richard Burton's 1885-8 translation.
Apparently there is no original Arabic text remaining for the stories of Aladdin or Ali Baba, so they're classed as 'Orphan Stories' (a new tag for me), so Ursula Lyons's has translated them from Antoine Galland's 18th century French text.
Aladdin & Sindbad don't appear in this first volume which runs to 982 pages + notes.
This is a very well organized and presented book, I never felt lost or confused by the story within a story structure, or the repeated themes or similar names.
The Arabian Nights Tales of 1001 Nights Volume 1, Translated by Malcolm C Lyons
This is volume 1 of 3. And this 2008 English translation is the first complete version of the Arabic text known as the Macnahgten edition or Calcutta II (1839-1842), since Richard Burton's 1885-8 translation.
Apparently there is no original Arabic text remaining for the stories of Aladdin or Ali Baba, so they're classed as 'Orphan Stories' (a new tag for me), so Ursula Lyons's has translated them from Antoine Galland's 18th century French text.
Aladdin & Sindbad don't appear in this first volume which runs to 982 pages + notes.
This is a very well organized and presented book, I never felt lost or confused by the story within a story structure, or the repeated themes or similar names.
48si
Twenty-third ROOT:
How It All Began by Penelope Lively
I've had this book since 2018.
Charlotte Rainsford has to move in with her daughter Rose after being mugged and breaking her hip.
This event has a knock-on effect on many different lives and we see the consequences play out particularly for Rose, her boss - a historian, his niece Marion, Marion's lover Jeremy, and Anton - a foreign language student being coached by Charlotte.
Their stories are told with humour. As characters face up to old age, missed chances, or new beginnings. A quiet novel beautifully written.
How It All Began by Penelope Lively
I've had this book since 2018.
Charlotte Rainsford has to move in with her daughter Rose after being mugged and breaking her hip.
This event has a knock-on effect on many different lives and we see the consequences play out particularly for Rose, her boss - a historian, his niece Marion, Marion's lover Jeremy, and Anton - a foreign language student being coached by Charlotte.
Their stories are told with humour. As characters face up to old age, missed chances, or new beginnings. A quiet novel beautifully written.
49si
Twenty-fourth ROOT:
Rituals by Cees Nooteboom. English Translation by Adrienne Dixon
Prize winning novel from 1980. Told in three parts from the 1950s to the 1970s. Inni Wintrop is a dilettante, resigned to life's disappoints who is happy to just muddle along.
It's an approach to life which costs him his marriage and also leads him into contact with two obsessive, suicidal men.
Twenty-fifth ROOT:
Girl in the Red Coat by Kate Hamer
Moving this on, not for me.
Rituals by Cees Nooteboom. English Translation by Adrienne Dixon
Prize winning novel from 1980. Told in three parts from the 1950s to the 1970s. Inni Wintrop is a dilettante, resigned to life's disappoints who is happy to just muddle along.
It's an approach to life which costs him his marriage and also leads him into contact with two obsessive, suicidal men.
Twenty-fifth ROOT:
Girl in the Red Coat by Kate Hamer
Moving this on, not for me.
50si
Edging past my target for the year...
Twenty-sixth ROOT:
The White Robin by Miss Read
Gentle drama about village life. 14th book in a long running series.
Twenty-sixth ROOT:
The White Robin by Miss Read
Gentle drama about village life. 14th book in a long running series.
51MissWatson
Congratulations on having reached your target. And even more congrats on passing it!
52si
>51 MissWatson: Thanks Birgit. I've had a much better reading year than in 2020. Thank goodness!
53si
Twenty- seventh ROOT:
Mystery in White A Christmas Crime Story by J Jefferson Farjeon
A crime story rather than a mystery story? Not sure. An enjoyable tale regardless. Part of a series of books reissued by the British Library.
Mystery in White A Christmas Crime Story by J Jefferson Farjeon
A crime story rather than a mystery story? Not sure. An enjoyable tale regardless. Part of a series of books reissued by the British Library.
55si
>54 connie53: Thanks Connie..... and Merry Christmas everyone!
56si
Twenty-eighth ROOT:
Down All The Days by Christy Brown
I picked up a second-hand copy of this novel back in 2019.
It's a very raw, unflinching tale a large Catholic family & their friends and neighbours set in 1940s Dublin.
Down All The Days by Christy Brown
I picked up a second-hand copy of this novel back in 2019.
It's a very raw, unflinching tale a large Catholic family & their friends and neighbours set in 1940s Dublin.
57si
Twenty -ninth ROOT:
4.50 From Paddington by Agatha Christie
I didn't realize when I picked up this mystery that the story begins at Christmas.
4.50 From Paddington by Agatha Christie
I didn't realize when I picked up this mystery that the story begins at Christmas.
58rabbitprincess
>57 si: That's a neat coincidence!
59connie53
Hi Simon, did you know the ROOTers 2022 is now open for action
https://www.librarything.nl/ngroups/23590/2022-ROOT-CHALLENGE
https://www.librarything.nl/ngroups/23590/2022-ROOT-CHALLENGE
60si
>58 rabbitprincess: Hi RP
>59 connie53: thanks Connie. Any chance '2022' is a typo? I guess not - time to choose a book to begin a new year!
>59 connie53: thanks Connie. Any chance '2022' is a typo? I guess not - time to choose a book to begin a new year!
