sjmccreary's new and improved 2015 category challenge

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sjmccreary's new and improved 2015 category challenge

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1sjmccreary
des. 31, 2014, 4:28 pm

A fresh start for the new year!

This year, for the first time, I will not have a category for each "year". So, rather than 15 categories in 2015, I will only have 10. For my challenge, I need to read 5 books in each of the 10 categories. I will not be allowing any overlaps. Fifty books total. Easy peasy.

Originally, I had set up a very big and complicated challenge for 2015, involving 15 categories, and 15 books in each, and allowing unlimited overlaps. Oh, my - that was just too much. I hope this revision will be easier and simpler and more enjoyable.

The (new and improved) 2015 Category Challenge:

1. 1001 Books - from the combined lists in the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die books
2. Ireland & Africa - settings, subjects, authors
3. 20th century - events or settings
4. Historical - prior to 20th century - events or settings
5. Foreign - settings outside US
6. Nonfiction
7. Mystery - any/all sub-genres
8. Older than me - published before I was born
9. Religion - either as a subject or as a key element
10. Series - either continuing a series already begun, or starting a new one (which is always fun!)

I've got some ideas for most of these categories already, but I will welcome any and all suggestions. I probably won't be able to read all the suggested books this year, but I will definitely make a note of all the titles that look interesting and keep them for another year.

And now, it's about time to prepare for tonight's celebration to ring in the new year. Plenty of good food, the best of friends coming over to share it with us, and an assortment of adult beverages for toasting our good fortune. Tomorrow, we'll open the new year with a houseful of family members eating and drinking and exchanging gifts in a belated Christmas celebration.

I wish all my LT friends a happy and safe New Year's celebration, and a year filled with good books, good friends, and good times. Let's enjoy 2015 together!

2cyderry
des. 31, 2014, 4:44 pm




Wishing you good health and happiness in 2015!

3_Zoe_
des. 31, 2014, 4:45 pm

Happy New Year! I'm all for simplification.

4rabbitprincess
des. 31, 2014, 5:21 pm

Happy New Year! Looking forward to following your simplified challenge.

5lindapanzo
des. 31, 2014, 6:22 pm

Happy New Year!! Simplify seems to be the watchword for 2015 reading.

6thornton37814
des. 31, 2014, 9:03 pm

I've found your new thread! Happy New Year! Looking forward to seeing what you read.

7mamzel
gen. 1, 2015, 12:53 am

Happy New Year to you as well!

8VivienneR
gen. 1, 2015, 4:36 am

Wishing you well on you nice straightforward challenge. I'll be following your reading.

9lkernagh
gen. 1, 2015, 3:39 pm

Happy New Year!

10electrice
gen. 1, 2015, 3:56 pm

Simple is great too, Happy New Year !

11-Eva-
gen. 1, 2015, 10:10 pm

Yes, found my way over here!! :)

12cbl_tn
gen. 2, 2015, 5:36 pm

Happy New Year! All of your categories are interesting to me, and I'm especially curious about what you'll be reading for your Ireland and Africa category. It's such an unusual combination. I still have several African countries to visit in my Commonwealth Challenge and I hope to read books for several of them this year.

13tututhefirst
gen. 2, 2015, 6:40 pm

Dropping a star Sandy..so glad you let us know where you are. I'll be lurking to see how your very interesting categories are going. It seems a good way to handle reading at this point in your life. Love that you're slowing down now that you've moved. Have a happy New Year.

14maggie1944
Editat: gen. 3, 2015, 8:21 am

I dropped over, too, to put a star here. I'm impressed with your simplification plans. I totally identify with making life a bit more simple, more clear, and focused. I'll try to keep up with you. Good luck!

15sjmccreary
gen. 3, 2015, 12:38 pm

Thank you for all the holiday greetings, and welcome visitors from the 75 Books Group!

Here is it January 3 already, and I haven't picked up a single book this year! We drove into town last night for dinner so I was able to listen to another disk in the audio book currently happening in the car, but that's all. Thursday, the house was filled with family as we celebrated a late Christmas, then yesterday my husband took a vacation day and we both worked on projects around the house that need to be done. Today is more of the same, and tomorrow probably will be too. These are big-ish projects - his and her's, so we don't get in each other's way. However, as I type this, I am filled with the realization that his project is noisy! Mine is just tedious. Which is why I'm on LT just now, and not working. But now, in addition to the noise of power tools, he's begun singing so I guess I need to wander back upstairs to my own job - getting caught up on scanning and filing and recording months' worth of correspondence and statements and paid bills and getting everything organized and ready for the tax return. Who wants to come help?

16ronincats
gen. 3, 2015, 2:23 pm

I'm glad you posted in the introductions of the 75 challenge group, Sandy. I missed you all last year, I think. Now I have you starred.

17countrylife
gen. 3, 2015, 7:31 pm

Like your revamp, Sandy! Looking forward to reading about your books.

18rosalita
gen. 3, 2015, 11:22 pm

Chalk me up as another 75er who has found my way to your new LT home. I'm looking forward to seeing how you fill out your challenges this year, Sandy.

19tloeffler
gen. 4, 2015, 6:47 pm

Thanks for the note on my thread, Sandy! You're starred now, so hopefully I can keep up with you. Are you abandoning MO Readers too? I hope not!

But either way, you will always be my friend!

20billiejean
gen. 5, 2015, 11:31 am

Happy New Year, Sandy! I like how you have done the category challenge. I used to do the category challenge, but I stopped when the number of categories got too much for me. I like that you can modify it. Maybe I will do this again sometime.

21paruline
gen. 5, 2015, 7:43 pm

Dropping my star, like I do every year! Good luck with your challenge!

22sjmccreary
Editat: gen. 6, 2015, 4:06 pm

I'm very pleased that my 75 group friends have found me here. And no, Terri, I will not abandon the MO Readers. What would you do without me there?

Today was the first day back to work from the long holiday weekend. We are both still working on our household projects - in fact that's what I'm doing right now. ;-) But I have at least had a chance to be read a little. I started a book for the January HistoryCAT the other day, and then immediately opened one of the new books I picked up from the library today. But I finished the audio book today, so here is

Book #1



The Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett

Category - oh, I don't know, I'll figure it out later when I'm back on the laptop computer containing my excel spreadsheet and not the household bills computer


The guys in my family adore Terry Pratchett and the Diskworld books. I've heard bits and pieces of several of them on audio during family trips, and have attempted reading a few, but never really took to them. I finally did complete one a year ago and thought it was pretty good. Then for my first-ever attempt at Christmas reading last month I read The Hogfather. It was so much better than the movie, that I was encouraged to pick up this book on audio for the trip to Austin to spend Christmas with our older son - it was the only Pratchett audiobook on the shelf at that library branch. The wizards at Unseen University field a "football" team to play against a team from town following the new, civilized rules. Even my son found it tedious. However, it came together at the end. Finally. But it was far too long. And the cover photo looks like a volleyball game, when everything in the book sounds like soccer. And there were several references to characters and events in earlier books. I gave it 3 stars. I will probably pick up another Diskworld book some day, but I'm in no hurry.

Next on audio - Sula by Toni Morrison

ETA - category = books in a series

23DeltaQueen50
gen. 6, 2015, 6:31 pm

Happy New Year, Sandy. I've placed my star and I like your revised Challenge very much. Here's to keeping things simple!

24sjmccreary
gen. 6, 2015, 9:26 pm

The end of year meme that has become a tradition in these parts:

Describe yourself: The Secret Keeper

Describe how you feel: The Stupidest Angel

Describe where you currently live: Mystic River

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Over the Edge of the World

Your favorite form of transportation: The Christmas Train

Your best friend is: The Inimitable Jeeves

You and your friends are: Shanghai Girls

What’s the weather like: Before the Dawn

You fear: Faceless Killers

What is the best advice you have to give: The Lost Art of Finding Our Way

Thought for the day: And Then There Were None

How I would like to die: Murder With Puffins

My soul’s present condition: A Conspiracy of Faith

25rabbitprincess
gen. 6, 2015, 9:30 pm

PUFFINS! That would be a pretty cute-filled way to die.

26cbl_tn
gen. 6, 2015, 11:01 pm

>24 sjmccreary: Great meme answers! Can I ride the Christmas train with you? It sounds like fun!

27electrice
gen. 7, 2015, 8:31 am

>24 sjmccreary: Describe how you feel: The Stupidest Angel Oh angel, don't be so hard on yourself :)

Describe where you currently live: Mystic River I should hope not ! Am I wrong and this got nothing to do with this horrible, wonderful eponym movie !?

Thought for the day: And Then There Were None Oups, have a bad day, did you ?

>26 cbl_tn: What she said ...

28sjmccreary
gen. 7, 2015, 3:30 pm

>25 rabbitprincess: Puffins, as with other "cute" creatures, are probably more vicious that we'd like to think. Still, it is a funny title and made me smile.

>26 cbl_tn: A Christmas train filled with LTers - wouldn't that be the best trip ever?

>27 electrice: Oh, I'm so thankful for your concern! Part of the problem is that my titles last year were not very conducive for this purpose. I was thinking of "Mystic River", not for the setting in the book or the very forgettable movie, but because now I live away from the city in a very rural area - somewhat foreign to my friends from town. "And then there were none" was the best advice I could find and, to me, implied something similar to "be prepared".

I guess I'll have to take a book title's ability to fit into this meme into account when deciding what to read this year!

29electrice
gen. 7, 2015, 3:36 pm

>28 sjmccreary: Don't you dare, this is what make this meme so funny! I'm happy to know that you're well though :)

30sjmccreary
gen. 7, 2015, 3:41 pm

>29 electrice: Perfectly well, thank you. :-)

31cbl_tn
gen. 7, 2015, 5:24 pm

>28 sjmccreary: That sounds like a perfect LT meetup, and there's sure to be a bookstore at the destination. Don't all train stations have bookstores?!

32sjmccreary
gen. 7, 2015, 5:37 pm

>31 cbl_tn: The beauty of a train meet-up would be that we could travel from one bookstore to another.

Not all train stations have book stores - most of the small train stations around here (and there aren't many of them) don't even have "stations" - just benches on the platform next to the track, and sometimes a roof to keep the rain off. There is a reason that train travel is not popular out here - it's very inconvenient!

33VivienneR
gen. 8, 2015, 2:04 am

Love your meme answers - especially your favourite form of transportation!

34sjmccreary
gen. 8, 2015, 3:02 pm

So over on Betty's (dudes22) thread, I commented on the beautiful quilt blocks she did in conjunction with her 2014 challenge and told her that she had inspired me to get back to quilting myself - something I've loved for years but haven't done recently. She invited me to post photos of the blocks of my new quilt. Since it doesn't have anything to do with this challenge, I started a thread over in the needlework group. I'll post photos and progress reports over there. If anyone is interested, please feel free to visit: https://www.librarything.com/topic/186242

35tututhefirst
gen. 8, 2015, 4:19 pm

Sandy..thanks for the link to the Needlearts group. Your quilt block is beautiful . I'm going to lurk on that group for awhile hoping that maybe I'll get inspired to do a little more on several projects I've had going....and going....and going.....for years.

36cbl_tn
gen. 8, 2015, 4:29 pm

>32 sjmccreary: I think the Christmas Train needs to be in Europe then. When I visited my brother in Germany a few years ago, one thing that impressed me was that there was a bookstore in almost every train station, even in the smaller towns.

37sjmccreary
gen. 8, 2015, 4:32 pm

Tina, those ladies in that group are incredibly talented, and the most active among them seem to do their own designing. Out of my league! But their work is amazing, and I love seeing what they've done.

I can identify with the problem of on-going and never-ending projects. I was a little embarrassed at how many projects I had when we moved from the old house and I had to face them all at the same time!

I'd love to see what you're working on, too.

38sjmccreary
gen. 8, 2015, 4:33 pm

>36 cbl_tn: Carrie, you've convinced me! Let's go!

39electrice
Editat: gen. 9, 2015, 6:10 am

>38 sjmccreary: Count me in, it will be fun, fun, fun!

40thornton37814
gen. 8, 2015, 9:32 pm

Love your meme answers! I think I found the ones I came up with a few days ago. I'll just have to get it posted!

41lkernagh
gen. 13, 2015, 9:10 pm

Great meme answers and I didn't even know there was a needlework group here on LT..... the things one learns floating through the threads around here! ;-)

42sjmccreary
gen. 27, 2015, 6:53 pm

Oh my, the last 3 weeks have been a mess! For 2 weeks I had little to no internet access. Sometimes yes, sometimes no, sometimes on one computer but not another, until finally nothing anywhere - except my husband's tablet. Installing a new router seemed to help - for a day. Except that the tablet got nothing. After the first day, we were truly un-connected. A terrible situation for someone who works from home. Finally - finally - after several long and very frustrating calls to different tech support people, plus a tearful one to my husband in the middle of a work day - everything seems to be working again. We have been able to get on the internet from any device at any time for about 10 days now. Of course by then everything was so far behind!

In three weeks, since I last posted here, I have completed 1 book. One. In three weeks.

Book #2



Sula by Toni Morrison

category - 20th century


This is the story of a black community in Ohio known as The Bottom, located in the hills above a prosperous white town in the valley. (The inconsistent name is explained in the story.) In the early 20th century, racial segregation and discrimination were rampant, and this place was no exception. Living in the town were two young girls, Nel and Sula, who were neighbors and best friends. Their homes were completely different, with Sula's being one of those families that generate a lot of gossip. Several key events occured in Sula's family that are described in the story from different viewpoints. When the girls were grown, Sula left town and lived a far different life from Nel and the other people left behind. But then Sula returns to the Bottom and everything changes.

I've enjoyed the other Morrison books I've read, her ability to weave threads of a story together to create a tapestry are wonderful, and this book really isn't any different in that respect. The story could have been longer to allow more opportunities to explore some of the other characters and events that are brought up in the book and then left alone, or at least not fully developed. I had this book in an audio version, read by the author. She has a wonderful voice, and nothing would be better than to be in a room with her listening while she reads her writing. But it doesn't translate well to digital sound. At times she nearly whispers and, without the visual clues and vibrations in the air that would accompany being physically present, her voice became nearly inaudible over the car's speakers. I advise sticking to print versions of Toni Morrison's wonderful writing.

43tututhefirst
gen. 27, 2015, 7:05 pm

WELCOME BACK Sandy! We spent 2 weeks last fall visiting at my son's mountain top house in the Blue Ridge where there is only very limited connectivity....I can well understand how frustrated you were. I think I could do without TV (which he didn't have), landline phone, even central heat/air (they have a wood stove) but no internet about sent me over the edge. Here's hoping you are now in a steady state. I look forward to seeing what else you'll be reading this year.

44_Zoe_
gen. 27, 2015, 7:21 pm

Ack! Two weeks without internet might drive me crazy. I'm glad you survived.

45lindapanzo
gen. 27, 2015, 8:41 pm

Two weeks?!? Yikes, that'd be tough. Glad you're back, Sandy.

46rabbitprincess
gen. 27, 2015, 9:42 pm

Glad to hear your Internet is back. Two weeks without stable access would be extremely frustrating, especially working from home!

47DeltaQueen50
gen. 27, 2015, 10:47 pm

Great to have you back among us, Sandy.

48cbl_tn
gen. 27, 2015, 10:49 pm

I'm sorry to hear of your internet woes and I'm glad you're back with us. We've been having trouble with our internet at work. It's been very hard to get things done with an unreliable network connection. So far this week has been better.

49lkernagh
gen. 27, 2015, 11:58 pm

I have troubles imaging little to no internet for two weeks. I would find it tough but not impossible - I would resort to reading my TBR bookcase of books - but my other half, well, he would be crawling the walls after one day and I don't even want to imagine what two weeks would be like.... I would probably send him to a hotel with wi-fi for my sanity! ;-)

Glad to see you back in LTland!

50cyderry
gen. 28, 2015, 12:02 am

Oh, my friend, I don't even want to Think about 2 days without Internet let alone 2 weeks!

When my computer crashed and I had to wait 2 days for the new one, if my old computer hadn't been available I would have been camped out in Tim's office just to have connection with the outside world. You amaze me.

51sjmccreary
gen. 28, 2015, 6:30 pm

Oh, it's so good to be back online! I don't mind being away from internet (and TV and phones) when I'm on vacation. But when I'm home and needing to work, or just conduct personal business, or want to do ordinary things like get on LT, then I get pretty annoyed when I can't connect. The one call that ended up fixing everything was to Linksys tech support. I was dismayed in the beginning because the woman on the other end had a pretty heavy accent, but she was wonderful, she asked intelligent questions and knew what to do with the answers. She was able to walk me through re-setting everything step-by-step and always seemed to know just what I was looking at on the screen, whether I was on Windows 7 or 8 or the android tablet. It took over an hour, but she was patient and pleasant, even when I was a bit surly in the beginning. It was definitely worth the extra cost to buy the Linksys router instead of the Netgear, just for the tech support.

Last night I stayed up late and finished another book:

Book #3



As You Wish by Cary Elwes

Category - nonfiction


Ordinarily I don't care about the memoirs of movie stars or other popular figures. But someone on LT recommended this book a few months ago as being a must-read for anyone who loved the Princess Bride movie. I would echo that. Elwes comes across as humble and genuine as he talks about all the big stars he got to work with and how amazing that was and how special this particular project was. There were sidebar comments from other actors and people connected to the movie that touched on the same subject Elwes was discussing on that page, which were very nice. A section of color photos in the middle is always a hit with me, as it gives me something to look at whenever I get bored with the text. However, in this book, I literally forgot about them until I turned a page and there they were. Very fast-reading and very interesting.

Now I want to read Princess Bride again and watch the movie - again.

52rosalita
gen. 28, 2015, 8:03 pm

No Internet for two weeks! That's just awful, especially for someone who works from home as you do. I get jumpy if the Internet is out when I get home from work and I have to go a whole evening without it. I would have been climbing the walls for 2 weeks. Seriously, I would have had to consider getting a room in a hotel with free wi-fi.

It's good to have you back, Sandy!

53christina_reads
Editat: gen. 28, 2015, 10:19 pm

>51 sjmccreary: Good to know that you enjoyed As You Wish, since my hold just came in at the library! Methinks I'll re-watch the movie before tackling the book. :)

(Edited to fix touchstone.)

54sjmccreary
gen. 29, 2015, 9:20 am

>52 rosalita: I wasn't completely without internet access - at first it was merely unreliable, sometimes I could get on and sometimes I couldn't. But it got continuously worse each day, and quickly reached the point where I effectively couldn't work. If I had absolutely, positively needed to do something right now, I could go work at the library. And there was always the 3G data plan on the smart phone! Really, I don't know what I was complaining about!

>53 christina_reads: I wish I'd watched the movie first. But I've seen it so many times, and he described things so well, that I never felt like I didn't remember something. Now, if I can watch it soon, I'll be able to pick out the details that he talked about that I hadn't known before - like how he had a broken toe and could barely put any weight on that foot in several scenes.

55mamzel
Editat: gen. 29, 2015, 5:26 pm

>53 christina_reads: You may want to watch the movie after to try and spot some of the things he talks about (like an injury from riding an ATV).

56staci426
gen. 29, 2015, 3:55 pm

>51 sjmccreary: I read that one last month and thought it was great! I actually listened to the audio which Elwes read himself. He did a great job with the reading. The side parts with the stories from the other cast and crew members were read by each person too. Seeing the pictures in the print edition would have been nice.

57billiejean
gen. 29, 2015, 9:40 pm

I enjoyed your reviews of Sula and As You Wish. Now I want to read them both!

58hailelib
Editat: gen. 31, 2015, 8:57 am

Sketchy internet is nearly as bad as no internet!

We have two internet connections at home because of my husbands work. He gets his editing projects online and sends them off that way but Charter ( at least, where we are) is unreliable and can sometimes be on and off and occasionally completely gone for two or three days. So, we added internet to our landline phone connection. Slower connection so no streaming but we can do email, etc. This was after a week when neither internet or phone worked!

At least you were able to read a couple of good books.

59dudes22
gen. 31, 2015, 10:53 am

I feel your pain. We've been in Alabama this past month visiting my husband's 92 year old uncle. His son lives next door and we can use his wifi, but only my husband's Mac can get the signal and we have to sit at the kitchen counter and point it at the window. My iPad doesn't get it at all, so I usually go over once a day and sit on the porch to check stuff. How nice it is when someone takes the time to help you without rushing through it. I find that so frustrating i usually delegate my husband to fixing everything.

60ronincats
feb. 1, 2015, 11:08 pm

So glad everything is fixed now. Yes, I know it isn't life-threatening, but it sure is inconvenient and irritating! I get upset when LibraryThing is down for 10 minutes--two weeks of intermittent unpredictable internet would be horrendous.

61sjmccreary
març 13, 2015, 1:56 am

This has started off as a slow year for me on LT. Two weeks of internet trouble, followed by 2 weeks of vacation, followed by 4 weeks of trying to recover from the traveling, getting ready for tax season - both our personal return and my clients' tax returns, and the conclusion of the college basketball season and anticipating the March Madness NCAA tournament.

Although, as it turns out, not only have I not been posting, I haven't been reading much, either.

Book #4



Disgrace by J M Coetzee

category: Ireland/Africa


This was a well-written book, but disturbing in a Lolita sort of way. A washed-up college professor in South Africa, divorced more than once and a self-proclaimed philanderer, gets caught having an affair with a student. He is suspended from the school and goes away - in disgrace - to live with his daughter. She is a lesbian who is currently living alone on a rural property raising dogs. Her (black) neighbor helps her maintain the place. One night, (black) bandits attack - the place is ransacked, the dogs are killed, the valuables are stolen, the father is tortured and the daughter is raped. He wants to talk with her about the rape, but she won't and he has to take her word for it that she is alright and gotten all the medical attention that she needs. Still, there is much tension between them and she is unable to sleep in her own bed at home. He keeps trying to blame the attack on racial issues and encourages her - a single white woman living in a remote area - to sell out and move to a safer location. However, the racial angle never seemed to take root. For me, the biggest issue never stopped being the sexual problems. Even after he returns to his home in the city, he continues to be attracted to the student, even though he doesn't seem to even like her. And the daughter refuses to acknowledge that a rape - traumatic for any woman - could be especially difficult for a lesbian woman who is estranged from her partner.

The book actually reads very easily and quickly, despite its weighty topics. I do wish that he'd done more with the racial tension angle - set in South Africa, that could have been a very interesting situation.

Book #5



A Mind for Numbers by Barbara Oakley

category: nonfiction


This is a companion book to the Coursera course called "Learning how to learn". I wasn't able to follow the course online because of the internet issues I was having, but I read the book which, according to one of the reviews, follows the course lectures nearly word for word. It talks about how people learn in different ways, and the problems that are common in trying to learn math and science especially. There are lots of different "tricks" to being a better learner that are presented, and she is also good about including the "why" of each method of learning. I was pleased that I had already figured out some of these on my own, but still wish I'd had the benefit of the rest of the information while I was still a student. Not that I would have bothered to read the book if it had been offered to me back then. And I was tempted to push it on my own kids, but realized that they wouldn't be any more willing to read it than I would have been at their age.

62sjmccreary
març 13, 2015, 1:58 am

That was all for February. March has gotten off to a better start, but I will wait and post those books another day. And I want to visit all the other threads and catch up on everything I've been missing lately.

63sjmccreary
abr. 2, 2015, 6:23 pm

Time for a March recap. But I can't right now. (stupid tax season)

Short story - I finished 4 books and abandoned 4 more. Currently, I have an audio in the car that is going very well, a print book that will likely also be abandoned, and I think 4 more books checked out of the library. None of which look very appealing, to tell the truth. Quick! Someone suggest something quick and easy and fun!

64cyderry
abr. 2, 2015, 7:04 pm

Doll People is quick and fun!

65tloeffler
abr. 2, 2015, 7:09 pm

Dang. I get a chance to visit you and I'm hit with an impossible challenge. I would suggest Waiting for Gertrude as quick & easy & fun, but I was burned the last time I suggested it to my book group...

Anyway, I went by & saw your quilt blocks, and I am uber-impressed. I don't have the patience for quilting (or the talent either), but I can create a mean scrapbook...everyone brings something to the table.

Hope you and Chris and the family are doing well! I really enjoyed our dinner a few weeks back. We should do that more often!

Take care of yourself!

66sjmccreary
abr. 2, 2015, 7:35 pm

>64 cyderry: Doll People is checked out, but I put a hold on it. It looks perfect. Thanks, Cheli!

>65 tloeffler: Terri, you told me about Waiting for Gertrude when we had dinner last month. Only one copy in the system, but it's available, so I put a hold on it too.

Scrapbooking - talk about needing patience and creativity and an artist's eye - it's beyond my abilities!

We're doing well. I put the St Charles book fair dates in my calendar and will try to engineer a trip over there. Dinner was delicious and we will do it again. When are you coming this way? We've talked before about meeting for lunch in Columbia some time. I'd definitely be up for something like that - after tax season is over.

67ronincats
abr. 3, 2015, 8:07 pm

Only a short time left in tax season, and then hopefully you will be able to relax!
{{{{Sandy}}}}

68sjmccreary
abr. 6, 2015, 6:08 pm

Thanks, Roni! Unfortunately, not as short as most people think. My clients are all Not-For-Profit organizations and their tax returns aren't due until May 15. So, rather than a mere week and a half, I still have more than a month to go. And that's assuming that I get all the information and documents in from everyone in time and don't have to file extensions for anyone. Which has never happened before. Last year was my earliest to get everyone filed. Mid June.

69ronincats
abr. 7, 2015, 1:01 pm

Oh. Um, okay, then I just will hope that it all is highly profitable! Although, Not-For-Profit organizations...

70sjmccreary
abr. 10, 2015, 11:48 pm

I'm definitely a for-profit enterprise! And so are most of my not-for-profit clients, actually. It's a specific tax term that is generally associated with charities and churches, but it also applies to other kinds of enterprises. It has more to do with their purpose for being and ownership structure than their business acumen.

But I'm taking this evening off. My husband and I drove into town and had a nice steak dinner and drinks. Back home and I'm relaxing with all my LT friends. Tomorrow it's back to tax returns, but tonight I'm going to catch up with my book comments and - hopefully - several other threads too.

Book #6



The Ragtime Kid by Larry Karp

category: mystery


Read with the MO Readers Group, this is a fictional story set among known facts of Scott Joplin's life. As a mystery, it fell very far short of anything interesting. As historical fiction, it was a fascinating look at Sedalia, MO in the late 1800's and the rise of ragtime music.

Book #7



Eaters of the Dead by Michael Crichton

category: historical


This is the account of a Babylonian nobleman's journey to Scandinavia in the 10th C, and his time spent among the warriors there. Fast and fun read.

Book #8



The Children's Book by A S Byatt

category: 1001 books


A very large story about a circle of friends and family over a period of time from the 1880's through WWI in England. A group of artists and craftsmen. A mother who is an author of children's books and spends her time telling stories which become a part of this book. Adults who behave childishly and children who struggle to understand them and what it means to be adult. A very large cast of characters. Good, and might be better as a re-read.

Book #9



Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth

category: foreign


Fascinating memoir of a midwife in London's east end in the 1950's. Raw and graphic, but still charming.

71sjmccreary
abr. 11, 2015, 12:17 am

That's it for March. So far in April:

Book #10



Grave Goods by Ariana Franklin

category: religion


Adelia Agular, mistress of death for King Henry II, returns in the 3rd book of the series. This time Henry wants her to travel to a burned out abbey to examine a pair of skeletons purported to be the remains of Arthur and Guinevere.

Book #11



The Doll People by Ann M Martin

category: mystery


suggested by >64 cyderry:. Short and fun, just as she promised. An antique doll house family of china dolls gains new neighbors when their owner's little sister gets a new doll house with plastic dolls. The "daughter" dolls from each family become friends and seek out adventure by trying to solve the mystery of doll missing for 45 years.

72RidgewayGirl
abr. 11, 2015, 5:52 am

Yes, I'm holding on to my copy of The Children's Book not only because the cover is so gorgeous. I'll want to reread it someday.

73cbl_tn
abr. 11, 2015, 7:15 am

>71 sjmccreary: The Doll People does sound like fun! The public library system has copies at several branches so I've added it to my library TBR list.

74dudes22
abr. 11, 2015, 8:25 am

Every time I pick up The Children's Book from my TBR, I end up putting it back because of it's size. Maybe this summer on the deck.

75cyderry
abr. 11, 2015, 10:13 am

>>71 sjmccreary: Two of my favorites. I was devastated when I heard the news that Ariana Franklin had died. Adelia will have no resolution, sadly. I'm also glad to see that you like The Doll People. My book club is reading it this month.

76lindapanzo
abr. 11, 2015, 8:57 pm

I thought the same about The Ragtime Kid, Sandy. Makes me want to visit that town but the mystery was nothing to write home about.

77-Eva-
abr. 14, 2015, 11:55 pm

Congrats on finishing The Children's Book! I've done the same as >74 dudes22: quite a few times. One of these days I'll actually read it.

78sjmccreary
abr. 15, 2015, 3:29 pm

I'm not certain I would have been able to finish The Children's Book if I hadn't had it in audio. It's such a big book, with so much going on - the "real life" drama and the made up stories - that it all just washed over me like flowing water. I think I could do it in print next time, now that I know what to expect.

Doll People was a lot of fun - Cheli, do you know if the sequels are as good?

I'd forgotten that Ariana Franklin had died, and was wondering whether there would be another book about Adelia. Guess not. :-(

Linda, if you ever make it to KC, we'll take a drive over to Sedalia and look around - it's not far. Come watch the Royals - they've started this year where the left off at the end of last year. Lots of fun - for right now, at least!

79cyderry
abr. 15, 2015, 3:44 pm

78>> Actually there is one more Adelia book - A Murderous Procession it was very good and I read it about 2 months before she died so I was really bummed when I heard that she had passed away.

As for the Doll People sequels I planned to read at least this year but haven't gotten there yet. There are 4 books total in the series.

80mamzel
abr. 15, 2015, 3:58 pm

>78 sjmccreary: Her last book, The Winter Siege, was completed by her daughter and just recently came out. It is not part of the series but was fabulous nonetheless.

81lindapanzo
abr. 15, 2015, 4:34 pm

Last I looked, the Royals were the only undefeated MLB team left. Not sure if that's still true or not but they're off to a great start.

I was reveling in the fact that the Cubs were in first place yesterday. We can't remember the last time that they were over .500.

The Royals play here this summer. I sat with two friends for years but we gave them up. This year, we got a small Cubs package and our second game, in May, is vs. KC.

82sjmccreary
abr. 15, 2015, 4:57 pm

I just put a hold on Murderous Procession at the library. Looking forward to it. Will decide after that about going ahead with Winter Seige or just park it on the wishlist for a while.

Hi Linda - since the Royals didn't play yesterday, they are still undefeated. I know it won't last much longer, but it's fun to hear the TV guys talking about them, and saying nice things all the time. My first game is next Wednesday - I just hope that isn't the game that breaks the streak! I noticed that it seemed the Cubs were winning quite a bit so far, too. I hope you get a good game in May, with KC winning in extra innings!

83lindapanzo
abr. 15, 2015, 5:42 pm

I forget...are you going to be joining us for the book about the KC Athletics?

84sjmccreary
abr. 15, 2015, 6:06 pm

Planning on it - if my book ever shows up!

85sjmccreary
abr. 16, 2015, 1:01 pm

Book #12



Drop City by T C Boyle

category: 1001 books


Set in 1970, a hippie commune in California (drugs, sex, natural living) is being bothered by local law enforcement so they decide to move to Alaska and settle in a remote area sparsely populated with seriously competent off-the-grid enthusiasts.

Actually quite funny in parts, and not in a way complimentary to the hippies, without being a parody. Genuine concerns and conflicts and even some adventure. Not neatly wrapped up at the end - I was left wanting to know what happened later - but not a cliff hanger, either.

I was reluctant going in, but ended up enjoying it very much.

86DeltaQueen50
abr. 16, 2015, 2:37 pm

Drop City sounds interesting, Sandy. They would have a hard time practising nudity year-round in Alaska!

87lindapanzo
abr. 16, 2015, 3:50 pm

I read Drop City years ago and liked it. My only Boyle book, I think.

Awhile back, you were telling me about a kids' book with a tollbooth in it. Do you recall the title?

88christina_reads
abr. 16, 2015, 4:07 pm

>87 lindapanzo: I know this question wasn't addressed to me, but are you thinking of Norton Juster's The Phantom Tollbooth?

89sjmccreary
abr. 16, 2015, 4:12 pm

lol, Judy! there were no scenes in the book which match the cover photo. they wore weather-appropriate clothing throughout the book - allowing for full or partial nudity in the warm California summertime. But there was a funny statement from one of the Alaskans caught oogling the hippie women by his wife. "they sure don't spend much money on underwear, do they?"

Linda, do you mean Phantom Tollbooth?

90lindapanzo
Editat: abr. 16, 2015, 4:44 pm

>88 christina_reads: >89 sjmccreary: Yes, I think that's it. I am sort of in the mood for something like that. Thank you both.

91sjmccreary
abr. 16, 2015, 7:55 pm

I hope you like it!

92tloeffler
abr. 16, 2015, 8:21 pm

If anyone is going to do the Johnson County Book Sale, I could maneuver a trip across the state on June 4-5. I'd have to come home Friday night, because Saturday is my scrapbooking day, and Sunday is my nieces' graduation party. I may or may not have to spend the next week in Audrain for another go-live. Should be a rousing time.

ALSO, the Warrensburg DCI show is July 13, so I am taking that week off, going to Warrensburg Monday/Tuesday, and then the Book Fair is Friday, Saturday & Sunday! So we can meet in Warrensburg Monday and St. Charles Friday or Saturday! Good fun!

Linda P, I just got my Kansas City Athletics book from ILL today, so I'll be starting it tonight!

93sjmccreary
abr. 16, 2015, 9:50 pm

I'd totally forgotten about the JOCO book sale! We're piggy--backing a short vacation onto a business trip to Vegas and will be leaving Thurs afternoon. I could go to the sale in the morning and then straight to the airport after lunch. When is Donna coming up?

We were also talking about St Louis in July for the St Charles book fair. Chris thought he might be able to get his meeting scheduled for that week, but then pointed out that I could go over by myself even if he isn't going. Let me know the schedule for Warrensburg and we'll plan something. This is shaping up to be a great summer!

I stopped by the library today but the Athletics book STILL isn't here. Not sure what's taking so long.

94billiejean
maig 27, 2015, 7:26 pm

You are reading lots of interesting books! I believe that we have a copy of Doll People around here somewhere. I must go look for it. I also liked the Ariana Franklin books that I read. I should finish them, too.

Hope your work is going ok.

95sjmccreary
maig 28, 2015, 4:50 pm

Once again, I'm here for a long overdue recap of books read.

Book #13



White Noise by Don DeLillo

category: 20th century


Set in the mid 1980s, a college professor with an overwhelming fear of death struggles to come to grips with the intrusion of technology into daily life. When he comes into contact with a toxic airborne chemical, his fear goes into overdrive. The ridiculousness of some of the publically accepted notions are hilarious. I enjoyed this book more and more as it went on.

Book #14



Art Quilts of the Midwest by Linzee Kull McCray

category: nonfiction


I've been a quilter for many years, but I'm also an accountant so my quilts are of the regular, geometric, mathematical variety. There is always a pattern. Always. And it is closely followed. The point is to make attractive but utilitarian blankets and other coverings. Art quilts, on the other hand, are like paintings or sculptures made from colored fabric and thread. They are amazing, beautiful, and thoroughly impractical. They not intended to be used as blankets, like the ones I make are. They are beautiful for beauty's sake. I heard about this book from Terri (tloeffler) whose cousin is one of the featured artists. I'm always impressed by the talent and creativity of some people.

96sjmccreary
maig 28, 2015, 5:14 pm

OK, so that's it for April. May has been embarrassingly short of books finished.

Book #15



A Vintage Affair by Isabel Wolff

category: foreign setting


Recommended by Judy (DeltaQueen50) recently, I took this on vacation with me a few weeks ago. It was a perfect beach read - light and pleasant, but not totally brainless. Judy's descriptions are better than mine, but as a reminder, this is the one about a young woman who opens a vintage dress shop in London while struggling to deal with her feelings of guilt and regret for past actions, or inactions. The romantic elements are secondary, but important. A wonderful book.

Book #16



Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

category: older than me


A classic story that has spawned dozens of adaptations, so it was familiar and I kept waiting for the bits I knew. What I didn't realize, though, was how much I would have to wait through. This book is entirely too long, with too many characters that were hard to remember and keep straight during the 5 weeks I listened to it on audio.

One complaint that I was surprised to find upsetting was the way that Fagan was continually referred to as "the Jew". I don't recall any other character who was so consistently not called by name. And it's not as though Fagan displayed so much stereotypical "Jewish" behavior which could justify the constant reminder. I had trouble justifying this, even taking the difference in social mores into account.

97cyderry
maig 28, 2015, 6:11 pm

more power to you for reading Oliver Twist.

98sjmccreary
maig 28, 2015, 6:56 pm

>97 cyderry: Yeah, well, never again!

99lindapanzo
maig 28, 2015, 7:06 pm

I like the musical, Oliver, but I've never read the book.

When I was in school, I loved Dickens. Not so much anymore.

100sjmccreary
maig 28, 2015, 7:16 pm

I think the reason the musical and the other different adaptations are so popular is that, at heart, it's really a great story.

I never read any Dickens in school. Well, except for A Christmas Carol in the 7th grade. A year or so ago I read Great Expectations and liked it very much. But Oliver Twist - not so well.

101lindapanzo
maig 28, 2015, 8:54 pm

>100 sjmccreary: I've borrowed LauraBrook's copy of Havisham by Ronald Frame, the backstory of Miss Havisham. At some point, I need to read it, preferably before I next get together with her.

I liked Great Expectations. Last year, for the first time in a long time, I read a doorstopper Dickens novel. I ended up liking Bleak House pretty well but hate devoting all my time to one long book like that.

102DeltaQueen50
maig 29, 2015, 5:55 pm

>96 sjmccreary: I am glad that you enjoyed A Vintage Affair, Sandy, and I love the cover yours had, much nicer than mine!

103-Eva-
juny 2, 2015, 6:30 pm

I read an abridged version of Oliver Twist when I was a kid, but it is on the to-read list in its unabridged format. Thanks for the heads-up. :)

104lindapanzo
jul. 11, 2015, 12:09 pm

Hi Sandy, hope all is well. I was thinking of you when I heard about all the KC Royals who made the All Star team.

105countrylife
nov. 1, 2015, 6:23 pm

Hello, Sandy. Are you having internet troubles again? Miss seeing you here.

106ronincats
nov. 1, 2015, 6:33 pm

Me, too!

107lindapanzo
nov. 1, 2015, 8:45 pm

Sandy, I hope you and your husband are enjoying the World Series. Have you been to any of the games?

108cyderry
nov. 1, 2015, 8:56 pm

Cheering for the Royals for you!

109countrylife
nov. 9, 2015, 7:31 am

Hope all is well with you, Sandy. Thinking of you today.

110sjmccreary
nov. 14, 2015, 2:04 am

Ah, you guys! Thanks for checking on me. I'd almost forgotten I even had a thread and only found it this evening when I wasn't even looking for it.

Yes, all is well here.

Kansas City has been an exciting place lately, with the Royals. Everything here was blue for a month - everyone wore blue clothes, buildings were lit in blue, and the fountains all around town had blue water. Royals flags and banners and posters everywhere. The civic pride that team has inspired is nothing I've ever experienced before.

I went to the first post-season game, against Houston. We lost. My husband said I wasn't permitted to go to any more games. He went to one of the Toronto games, when we came from behind to win. He had tickets for world series game 6, and was thrilled that it wasn't needed.

So, let me tell you why I've been absent so much.

I changed jobs.

For quite a few years, I've been self-employed and worked part time. I loved my work, but was needing to make a change. At age 55, I thought I had enough time to do one more thing before ending my career, so I began looking for a "real" job. In March, I had an interview for a job at the university in the town closest to us that I was very excited about. It was right in the middle of tax season, and I knew I would need to work very hard to get all my tax returns completed quickly if I got the job. I was disappointed not to get the job, but I'd already gotten a good start on the tax season, so I decided to push ahead and try to get it finished early. My clients are all not-for-profits, and their tax returns are due on May 15.

There is a CPA firm in town that works with the same client base as me. I've been acquainted with them for years, and have gotten quite a few referrals from them during that time. On April 28, the owner of the firm sent me an email informing me that one of his staff was retiring. She worked part time, and he wondered whether I would be interested in picking up her work. I responded I didn't know whether I was interested or not, since I really wasn't sure what he was proposing (was he offering to give me those clients?). We met a few days later and spent 2 hours talking about everything either of us could think of related to the issue. I still don't know what he had in mind in the first place, but it soon became clear that the only way the deal would work for both of us was for him to hire me and take over my clients. We spent the next 4 weeks in almost daily email correspondence trying to work out the kinks and agree on details.

Memorial Day weekend, he sent me a formal offer - for more money than I'd asked for. I still needed several days to decide, even after all the discussions. In the end, I accepted the offer, and sent notices to all my clients the first week of June. My employment was to become effective July 6. Which meant that the entire month of June was a huge push to get everything finished, and billed. I had a constant stream of questions about the announcement and last minute requests to do small jobs. But on July 2, for the first time in my life, everything on my to-do list was finished.

The new job is great. I was hired to be part-time, but have been working nearly full-time hours almost from the beginning. I'm traveling a lot, and putting a ton of miles on my car. Since I started, I've been out of town 11 weeks and driven nearly 9000 miles. I'm racking up a lot of Marriott reward points. But the work is good, and the clients are better. I've learned a lot and keep learning more every week. I'm still adjusting to the new routine. It's been a long time since I had a full-time job - not since my youngest son was born in 1993. And I'm still trying to figure out how to live normally while spending so much time in hotels. I've put on weight from all the restaurant food, and I can't remember the last real book I finished. (Lots of audio books in the car, but not print.) And I'm looking for a cleaning lady because the last thing I want to do when I'm only home on weekends is housework.

So that's my story. I've just been too busy to spend as much time here as I'd like. I keep hoping that I'll get off the learning curve and settle into a routine that will let me get back to reading some and then coming here to talk about what I've read.

I've missed you guys.

111RidgewayGirl
nov. 14, 2015, 5:46 am

Congratulations on the new job and the new challenges!

112dudes22
nov. 14, 2015, 6:10 am

Congratulations Sandy on your new job. Having the courage to make a change at 55 - good for you.

"...for the first time in my life, everything on my to do list was finished." Could you please come work on mine? I don't think it will ever be done.

And I hope your job settles in so that you can spend more time with us here.

113maggie1944
nov. 14, 2015, 8:15 am

Congratulations! BTW, there is a method for getting all done from To Do lists: make your lists shorter and shorter. It works!

I hope the new job settles down and you are not burdened with one more pile of things to do which never end. I also hope you find good deal of time to read all you want to read.

114cbl_tn
nov. 14, 2015, 8:31 am

Hi Sandy! Congrats on the new job! I hope the schedule smooths out to a nice balance of work and leisure time.

115rabbitprincess
nov. 14, 2015, 8:37 am

Congratulations on your new job! Hope you get the time for print books soon, and that all your audiobooks are good ones.

116_Zoe_
nov. 14, 2015, 10:35 am

Congratulations on the new job! I'm glad to hear it's going so well.

117cyderry
Editat: nov. 14, 2015, 11:30 pm

Great to hear that there is an exciting reason for your MIA status. I hope that you will find the help for home soon.

118DeltaQueen50
nov. 14, 2015, 10:52 pm

Great to see you posting, Sandy and to read your exciting news. Congratulations!

119tututhefirst
nov. 14, 2015, 11:22 pm

So thrilled for you Sandy. Taking up a new job/challenge is a sure way to stay young at heart. From experience, (I sorta did the same thing when I was 60) you will find that things will settle down in another year, you will find someone to do the household chores, and you will be able to enjoy some of the new areas you travel to in addition to the work part of the expedition.

Keep going with the audio books, and don't discount them as "reading." Just your ears, not your eyes. Your brain still has to process the words. I hope you enjoy your adventure, and look forward to seeing you stop by every once in awhile.

120-Eva-
nov. 15, 2015, 12:09 am

Well, that's a great reason to be absent - congratulations!! Anytime you want (or have time) to come by and hang out with us, we'll be happy to see you!

121lkernagh
nov. 15, 2015, 10:24 am

Lovely to see you posting and congratulations on the new job!

122mamzel
nov. 16, 2015, 10:59 am

How wonderful to get one more job under your belt before retiring. It must be so gratifying to get such a good one, too!

Welcome back!

123ronincats
nov. 16, 2015, 9:24 pm

Glad to hear from you and know that your absence has been for positive reasons, Sandy!

124lindapanzo
nov. 17, 2015, 12:49 pm

Congrats on the new job, Sandy!!

125thornton37814
nov. 18, 2015, 2:05 pm

Glad you are enjoying the new job!

126paruline
nov. 20, 2015, 10:24 am

Adding my congratulations on the new job! And glad you're enjoying it!

127countrylife
nov. 25, 2015, 7:52 am

You've more courage than I! Congratulations on the new job! I hope you get home time for the holidays.

128sjmccreary
des. 11, 2015, 9:46 pm

Thanks for all the supportive comments. Work's still going well, and actually slowed down a little the last couple of weeks. Although it's picking up again Monday. I'm scheduled to be out of town for all of next week, and the first part of Christmas week. I'll get home in time to unpack, repack, load the car and then leave early the next morning to drive the family to Austin to spend Christmas with my son and his fiance. Looking forward to 5 days of family-only time down there.

But the best news of all - I finally FINISHED a print book! I've started several since I started working hard in the spring, but I think this is the first one I finished!

Last Tuesday, Dec 1, was the annual LT meetup in Joplin, MO, and I was actually able to attend thanks to a last-minute change in my work schedule. It was a smaller group than we've had in past years, but was a wonderful day nonetheless. I managed to pick up The Farm by Tom Rob Smith and, even more impressive, hold onto it despite repeated attempts from another LTer to steal it away. I started reading it the next day. And finished it today.

Loved it. And I'll send to that other LTer if she will provide her address.

129lindapanzo
des. 11, 2015, 10:01 pm

Great to see you here, Sandy.

I was going to ask you about Ben Zobrist. We are excited to have him in Chicago.

130sjmccreary
des. 11, 2015, 11:11 pm

I hope he does as well for you as he did for us - I'd like to see the Cubs in the post season again next year. His wife is a professional singer and did the national anthem a couple of times at home games. There was a lot of talk because she was pregnant and due anytime during the world series. It made the news here that she told him that he was to stay and play even if she went into labor. He seems like a genuinely good guy.

131tymfos
des. 15, 2015, 11:34 am

Hi, Sandy! I'm just catching up with your news. Congrats on the new job! Sounds exciting.

132rosalita
des. 17, 2015, 4:24 pm

>128 sjmccreary: I managed to pick up The Farm by Tom Rob Smith and, even more impressive, hold onto it despite repeated attempts from another LTer to steal it away.

Hey, I resemble that remark!

I'm glad you liked it, and I'd love to have it if you're sure you can give it up. Is there anyone local that you'd like to lend it to first? Otherwise, I will gladly PM you my address, and thank you very much. It almost makes me feel bad for guilt-tripping you, but ... nah! :-)

And yay for letting us have Ben Zobrist. He looks like a nice guy in addition to a good player, which I always like to hear.

133sjmccreary
des. 22, 2015, 1:17 am

>132 rosalita:. Maybe my husband would read it, but he's totally "out of sight out of mind", so just bring it back to Joplin next year. He won't even notice it's gone. I promise.

134ronincats
des. 23, 2015, 3:39 pm



For my Christmas/Hanukkah/Solstice/Holiday image this year (we are so diverse!), I've chosen this photograph by local photographer Mark Lenoce of the pier at Pacific Beach to express my holiday wishes to you: Peace on Earth and Good Will toward All!

135tymfos
des. 23, 2015, 5:57 pm

Wishing you a peaceful Christmas, Sandy!

136lkernagh
des. 24, 2015, 4:59 pm

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas, Sandy!

137cyderry
des. 24, 2015, 5:21 pm


138rabbitprincess
des. 24, 2015, 6:15 pm

Sending best wishes for the holidays and all the best for the new year!

139dudes22
des. 25, 2015, 7:29 am

Merry Christmas, Sandy!

140-Eva-
des. 27, 2015, 7:22 pm

Best wishes for the holidays - hope you have a great trip!