And the TBR Pile Grows…
…faster than it shrinks.
One step forward, two steps back, so the saying goes. Only in this case it’s: one book behind me, half a dozen ahead. I finished Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict today, about which more later, maybe (I didn’t love it), which was one of the fourteen books from the TBR stack I shared in March. But after a stroll through blogland today, I find I have added (gulp) six more titles to my library hold list.
Tomorrow I’ll come back and add links to where I read about these. For now, in the last minute before LOST, a quick list:
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey (but of course!). (That link goes to the series website, which has fun puzzles and games, including a Morse code tutorial. Adding it here for my kids’ easy access.)
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin (read this many moons ago, inspired to reread by a Theodora Goss blog entry, which visit was inspired in turn by Sarah of Knitting the Wind) ***Updated: Scott just IMd me to say we own a copy. I thought we did but I couldn’t find it. Not that I really put my all into looking, if you know what I mean.***
Company of Liars by Karen Maitland (you had me at Canterbury Tales + thriller). (But WHO is you? I’ve searched my Reader and can’t locate the link.)
What Happens on Wednesday by Emily Jenkins (just read about this on Nina’s blog two minutes ago)
Uglies by Scott Westerfield
And now I’m off to see what Sawyer is reading tonight.* Maybe I’ll need to add something else to my list.
*Whoops, I forgot. No Sawyer last night. Good Ben stuff, though!
Sara says:
I just got the Sherwood Ring and the Perilous Journey from the library yesterday. We’re still waiting on the first book. That is the 2nd, right? I’m looking forward to reading them even though I got them for the kids!
On April 9, 2009 at 2:32 am
anne says:
I just finished both THE HUNGER GAMES and THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY. Luckily for me PERILOUS JOURNEY was on the shelves so when I returned the first Benedict society I was all set to read #2! I loved THE HUNGER GAMES! So much so that I bought it and am terribly excited for the next installment. I hate waiting to find out what happens next in good books.
On April 9, 2009 at 6:46 am
Carmen says:
I just finished Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict last week and I’m with you, I didn’t love it either. I was pretty ho-hum. I look forward to your thoughts.
On April 9, 2009 at 7:21 am
Beth says:
No Sawyer? *mournful gulp* But I love Sawyer (19yo and I don’t watch it on the vee-tee: purchasing and downloading as I type).
I love reading vicariously through you. Why is it that as my kids get older (baby turning seven *sob*) I have less time for reading??
On April 9, 2009 at 7:54 am
MelanieB says:
My to be read has been really growing since I gave up fiction for Lent. But I’ve got a nice treat for Easter week: The Penderwicks! Just came yesterday.
I read The Hunger Games last fall. An interesting story.
LOST is just getting better and better this season. I can’t believe how many ANSWERS we’re getting!
On April 9, 2009 at 9:26 am
Beth says:
I loved The Mysterious Benedict Society and its sequel. A few months ago I reviewed them both (on epinions where I post most of my reviews) and raved about both!
I’m sure you know this but there are a number of LOST booklists floating out in cyberland. I think there was even a LOST reading challenge hosted somewhere last year! 🙂 I missed Sawyer this week. Ben continues to give me the creeps but even I felt sorry (a little) for the guy when Smokey got a hold of him…
On April 9, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Melissa Wiley says:
Beth, I’ve thought about joining one of the LOST reading challenges. I’ve read a lot of the books already but it would be fun. For one thing it’s just nice to have that big a pool of people reading the same books–lots of room for discussion about them!
LOST. I told Scott last night that if we wind up feeling sympathetic toward Ben (and it’s already happening, between what happened to young Ben and what’s happening to him now), this will have been one of the most interesting character arcs in TV history. He’s a fascinating character. I would love to know how much of this was planned from the beginning–I read somewhere that initially Ben (Henry Gale then) was meant to be a much smaller character but the actor was so compelling, the writers expanded the part.
Benedict Society. The website is really a lot of fun–all those logic puzzles. That for me was a huge part of the book’s appeal, watching how the children applied their different talents and personalities to solving the puzzles! That and the Constance thing, LOL!
On April 9, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Melissa Wiley says:
Melanie, my girls had such fun with The Penderwicks. I am awfully fond of that book, despite a few quibbles. Reading it to my kids was such a joy. (And I notice it and the sequel are in constant circulation around here.)
On April 9, 2009 at 12:21 pm
nina says:
I’m in a bit of afternoon despair over all the books I am not getting read. I’m gathering up library books and just admitting I can’t read them all.
Hope you like What Happened on Wednesday. I’m sure it will make you miss your NYC days.
BTW, the links under the button for the 100 Species Challenge aren’t active. All the links look quite good to follow.
On April 9, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Melissa Wiley says:
Nina, I’m guessing about half of my library books go back unread or unfinished. My eyes are always bigger than my brain. 😉
Which links aren’t working for you? I just tried the top four (Big List of Booklists through Barcelona Journal) and they came up all right for me. I’m wondering if there’s a browser issue? Anyone else having trouble?
On April 9, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Hannah says:
So I’m not the only one who gets reading suggestions from Sawyer? 🙂 Next on my list is “Of Mice and Men.”
Re: character arcs and LOST. I think Sun is a huge one!
Re: TBR pile. Keep ’em coming!
On April 9, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Beth says:
Melissa, how right you are that if we end up feeling sympathetic for Ben, the character arc will be huge! I’ve had moments of sympathy lately, but they don’t last. 🙂 The actor is so good that I find him absolutely chilling. What always grates on me the most is the way he sows discord everywhere and plays on people’s worst fears.
I have my doubts that the direction LOST has moved in was the original intention. The show almost “lost” me completely in season 3 because I wasn’t sure I trusted that the writers knew where they were going, and that’s really important to me in a story! I’m back with it now, but I’m still a bit doubtful about the ultimate destination…still, the characters completely hooked me.
Benedict Society: did you see the Constance thing coming? I sure didn’t! 😉 But then burst out laughing and slapped myself on the forehead.
On April 9, 2009 at 9:25 pm