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Kate L. (katethegreat)'s Bulletin Board Entries

katethegreat
Kate L. (katethegreat): Nothing much

I noticed that my last notebook entry is two years old. It talks about a book I barely remember reading!

Yesterday, we decorated for Christmas. I am looking forward to the holiday and starting my Classics Challenge in the new year.

Entry added on 11/30/2009 12:19 PM
Firefly
Cathy W. (Firefly) - , :

I like the return of the holiday elephant!! What's your Classics Challenge?

Reply added on 11/30/2009 4:01 PM
katethegreat
Kate L. (katethegreat):

Hey, thanks for noticing. I think I may have deleted my old elephant though. I'll figure it out after New Years. Check under classic lit discussion topic. A person listed twelve different types of classics to read and then we announce which ones we will try. I'm going to commit to the light version, but will try for them all.

Reply added on 12/6/2009 6:38 PM
Firefly
Cathy W. (Firefly) - , :

Cool!! I'd have to do a lot of thinking to come up with something for each of those categories. You never know, though. I ran across a great elephant for you when I was looking for a graphic for the SRWC newsletter. Do you think I marked it though? Nope. Oh well. Someday I'll run across it again. :-)

Reply added on 12/26/2009 7:38 PM
katethegreat
Kate L. (katethegreat): What elseI'm fairly certain that I read a book after The Good Husband, but can I remember what it was? No!! Now, I am reading Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet. It is very long, but it reads quickly. I am only about a third of the way through it. It is a historical fiction and I wonder where he is going to go with the story. I have over six hundred pages left to find out. Wish me luck!
Entry added on 5/30/2007 11:54 PM
katethegreat
Kate L. (katethegreat): The Good Husband of Zebra DriveJust finished this book and thought it was good. It is the most recent edition in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. It focuses less on Mma Ramostwe and more on the supporting characters. I realize that I like Mma Ramostwe best, but I can understand expanding a little bit. There is never a cliff hanger in this series, so it is always interesting how the author ties up everything in the end. Many times there is a humorous element to it as well. Next, I will be picking up the next Lemony Snicket book and then I should probably try another non-fiction.
Entry added on 5/9/2007 9:36 AM
katethegreat
Kate L. (katethegreat): Man with the Golden GunI just ready probably my third or fourth James Bond book by Ian Fleming. I like Fleming's Bond better than Garderner's. However, this book wasn't that great. It still has all the chauvanism of a typical Bond story and his cheeky attitude, but Fleming used a bunch of dialogue to give you the story. It was kinda boring. Usually, it is one chase scene or make-out scene and then onto the next. This story had a lot of talk and ideas. It was alright, but if I wouldn't recommend it for your first James Bond book. Next, I will start the third Lemony Snicket book, Wide Window. That will be a quick read and then onto a non-fiction.
Entry added on 4/28/2007 2:16 PM
katethegreat
Kate L. (katethegreat): The Reptile RoomJust finished the second book in the Series of Unfortunate Events. It is very well written and I have really been pulled into the story. I know this series is meant to be for kids, but there are some surprisingly shocking violent references. I don't know that I would recommend this for a grades school kid, but they are great stories and characters.
Entry added on 4/19/2007 5:49 PM
katethegreat
Kate L. (katethegreat): Sunday Philosophy ClubJust finished this one. I LOVED the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency and thought I would try another series by the same author. It seems like he used the same format of No. 1, but I think it fell flat. The protaganist spends a lot of time thinking about issues not pertinent to the mystery, but I found them uninteresting. I also did not like the ending. The mysterty is solved, but the main character decides to do nothing about it because punishment is for those that are guilty and she believes it truly was an accident. I find this hard to stomach. The writing is good and I enjoyed most of the supporting characters, but I will not be continuing this series.
Entry added on 4/16/2007 9:40 AM
katethegreat
Kate L. (katethegreat): Lemony SnicketHaving already seen the film, I was interested in reading this children's series. I got the first book and read it in a day. It only covers part of the story from the movie. I suspect from the title of the next book in the series that it was also part of the film. I would also like to read that. It isn't as captivating as Harry Potter, but it is easy to read and I enjoyed. We will see how the next book goes as to whether or not I will continue the series. Meanwhile, I still need to finish the book my mil loaned me. I only have one essay left in it and actually got something out of the last essay I read in it. Wish me luck!
Entry added on 4/9/2007 3:26 AM
katethegreat
Kate L. (katethegreat): Stella in HeavenI just finished this. I read about it after Art Buchwald died. I didn't know he had written an actual novel and I wanted to check it out. It presents a different idea on the heaven stories that I have read in the past. I liked it. Now, I should get back to the book my mother-in-law gave me. It is essays on meeting Jesus again for the first time. I'm about half way through. I'm not getting a lot out of it, but I gotta finish it so I can talk to mil about it.
Entry added on 4/1/2007 12:30 AM
katethegreat
Kate L. (katethegreat): Skipping ChristmasThis was a quick read! Probably because it is mostly dialogue and it really isn't very long. I thought it was kinda cute, but I wasn't crazy about the ending. I could see where he was headed the whole time, but it felt thrown together. Like the timer was going off on his Christmas ham and he had to finish the story quickly. Certainly not your usual Grisham book. I liked Painted House better.
Entry added on 3/27/2007 10:59 PM
katethegreat
Kate L. (katethegreat): Life of Pi

Just finished this one. I liked. Not so much that I will keep this hardcover copy I received from a kind pbser, but it was good. About half way through I was a little bored with the story because I wanted to know how it ended. Then it was over and it left me with many questions. The writing is enjoyable and I like the story, but I didn't really want to contemplate the philosophical issues presented. It wasn't heavy or anything, but I read through some of that stuff quickly. I can see why so many people enjoyed it.

Ok, I just realized that I recently read Vanishing Acts, but I failed to mention it here. I'll have to look up when I sent it out on pbs to know when I read it. I didn't like it as much as My Sister's Keeper. I will try The Pact next time though and see how that goes.

Entry added on 3/24/2007 7:43 PM
katethegreat
Kate L. (katethegreat): Not a lot of reading

I've slowed down my reading a bit. I finished Talking God and liked it a lot. I will probably read more of Hillerman. I picked up a book that my mother in law sent me, Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time. I'm not crazy about it so far. It is interesting in that it is written by a Jesus researcher, who is also a Christian. He tells you some of the facts about the time Jesus was on Earth and how it supports his faith. I find it interesting, but not necessarily helpful in supporting my faith. It doesn't diminish it either, but I'm just left wondering, 'why?'. Did my mil think this would help me in my new life in the Episcopal Church or the fact that I don't buy into all the miracles of Jesus' story so I am a kindred spirit of the author? I don't know. Since it is hard to get through, I picked up and finished Virgin Blue by Tracy Chevalier. I liked it better than Girl with a Pearl Earring. Maybe because it included a modern setting I could relate to the characters better. It is a super quick read and one element of the ending is obvious.

Note: forgot to mention that I read Vanishing Acts sometime around the beginning of March. I talk about it in a later notebook entry.

Entry added on 3/19/2007 6:24 PM
katethegreat
Kate L. (katethegreat): Liked Hillerman BetterI liked Talking God better than Absolution of Murder. However, I think I am learning that I'm not crazy about mysteries. The premises are always fairly weak. Like in Absolution the murderer did it because she was in love with this woman who had no idea of her feelings and when the murderer found out she was getting married, she killed her. That is pretty weak. Hillerman was good. The story moved quickly and had a little political intrigue, but not enough to get complicated. I'm not sure what I will read next. Maybe a Picoult book.
Entry added on 3/5/2007 9:35 PM
katethegreat
Kate L. (katethegreat): Finished AbsolutionFinished absolution and all I can say is, eh. It was alright. I am jumping to the third book in the series next. We were supposed to read the first one and one other for book club. They are quick reads, but if you think about the book as I do it will take you a bit longer. I did start Talking God by Tony Hillerman. So far, so good. The story takes off right away and you are getting a feel for the characters life on a reservation. I'll let you know how it goes.
Entry added on 2/22/2007 4:15 PM
katethegreat
Kate L. (katethegreat): There is always next monthI didn't read the book my friend gave me. Partly, because we didn't see each other on the 14th and partly because I started, Absolution of Murder. It is an historical fiction. I don't really care for it. I thought maybe I don't like historical fiction, but on contemplation I realized that I am only interested in certain parts of history, not all of it. This book takes place is sixth century Ireland. It is well written, but I get tired of the author educating me on the ways things were then. He keeps making the characters ask questions so that we get a paragraph about something he obviously wanted us to know. It usually has nothing to do with the plot, but is more about the time period.
Entry added on 2/20/2007 7:30 PM
katethegreat
Kate L. (katethegreat): Books I have read

I finished all the available No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency books. The next book isn't due in the UK until April, so there is no telling when it will become available on pbs. *sigh* I'm really enjoying this series. I also finished Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Jesus Childhood Friend. It is really funny. My husband liked it a lot too. We recommended it to my mother-in-law. She is somewhat religeous and is sort of a serious lady, so it is hard to say whether she will like it or not. I'll keep you posted. Now, I am reading Twelve Little Cakes, which was recommended to me on the discussion boards a while back. I'm a quarter Czech, so I like hearing stories from the old country and I wonder what it was like for my great-grandparents. I'll be letting my friend borrow it, so I can't post it yet. It has a few people on the wish list. I also finished Reviving Ophelia. This is a non-fiction concerning junior high age girls. If you have girls in your family this is quite an eye opener. Next, I will be reading a Tony Hillerman book that a friend bought me. He is from the area where the books take place and said the descriptions are fantastic. I'll be seeing him on the 14th, but I don't know that I have can have it done by then. Wish me luck!

Entry added on 2/7/2007 2:48 PM
katethegreat
Kate L. (katethegreat): Different bio

Instead of reading Christopher Reeve's biography, I thought I would finish the Dave Pelzer series with, "A Man Named Dave". It was a good read. I could understand where he is coming from. I don't have any interest in reading his other books or hearing him speak, but I enjoyed the three books about his life. If you ever need a book to remind you how good you have it, you should read his first book, "A Boy Called 'It'". It was harrowing. I can't believe he made it through his childhood. Just when he had finally given up, staff at his school came to his rescue. It helps me remember that people generally are good. I try to forget when they are sometimes stinkers! =) I get to pick up the correct book at the library this week for the No. 1 Ladies Detective Series. That might be my next book or a friend on the Open Space Advisary Board with me gave me a Tony Hillerman book and swears it is great. Apparently, Hillerman writes about the four corners area a lot(where my friend is from) and really puts you there. I will have to check it out. I haven't spent much time down in that area of the state and it will be nice to get a feel for it.

Entry added on 1/13/2007 11:54 PM
katethegreat
Kate L. (katethegreat): too many books

Let's see. I just finished Cell by Stephen King and before that I read one of the books in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series. I read Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris. My husband is reading it now, but I will post it when he is done. I thought I had the next book for the No. 1 Series on hold at the library, but when I actually saw the book it was the wrong one, so I released my hold and put the correct one on hold. I hate disappointments! What will I read next? Probably a non-fiction because I have a bunch on my tbr. Maybe Christopher Reeve's biography.

Entry added on 1/10/2007 12:11 PM
katethegreat
Kate L. (katethegreat): Full Cupboard of LifeI read the fifth book in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, Full Cupboard of Life. I am really enjoying this series. Sadly, I realized that I failed to have the next book on my wishlist, but I have it now. I also found out that there is a seventh book. I thought I was nearing the end. Oh well, more to enjoy. Currently, I am reading the Thirteenth Tale. It is more ghost story than mystery. It send chills down your spine while driving you to the climax. I'm almost at the end and will have to decide if it is a keeper. I'm on the fence right now. It was recommended here at PBS and I know it has a long wishlist. I'll feel guilty if I don't pass it on. What to do? What to do?
Entry added on 1/3/2007 3:46 PM
katethegreat
Kate L. (katethegreat): Lost BoyI just finished the second Dave Pelzer book that follows him from a childhood of extreme abuse from his mother onto adulthood. It is pretty interesting. It almost makes me want to look into being a foster parent. I'm also reading a story here and there in the complete works of Flannery O'Connor. O'Connor is a great short story writer. I highly recommend her.
Entry added on 1/1/2007 7:55 PM
katethegreat
Kate L. (katethegreat): What have I read lately?I just finished reading a damaged copy of A Child Called "It". It is incredibly sad that innocent children everywhere are treated so terribly by their family. It makes me want to run out and hug every kid I see and ask them how they are treated at home. Of course, that would be creepy and would get me in more trouble than it's worth. Before this I read the third book in the Fitzwilliam Darcy series by Pam Aiden. I'll be giving the books back to my mother-in-law. She gave them to me as a gift, but I know she very much wants to read them. I picked up another book on the Anglican church. It is a much quicker read than the first one. Once I am done with it I'm going to let my neighbor read it. She expressed an interest in becoming Episcopalean. Oh yes, before either of these I read, Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier. It is a book club book for pbs - see the discussion boards. I liked it a lot. Not so much that I will run out and get more books by this author, but a very enjoyable quick read. Next book is, The Kalahari Typing School for Men by Alexander Smith. It's a wishlist book, so I'll be quick about it and send it on its way.
Entry added on 12/23/2006 12:50 AM
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