Book-Talk Monday: What Are You Reading (December 2012)
Monday, December 3, 2012
It’s the first Monday of the month. So I hope you have your lists ready!
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- What book(s) did you finish reading (or listening to) since last month’s update?
- What are you currently reading and/or listening to?
- What’s the next book on your To Be Read stack/list?
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KayeDacus.com 
Time flies! But I actually pondered this question last night & it’s pretty sad actually.
In Nov I read Shadow on the Quilt by Stephanie Grace Whitson and Too Far to say Far enough by Nancy Rue. That’s it. Wow.
Currently-Patchwork Christmas by 3 peoples, I got it for S. Whitson as above and the cookie recipes included:)
Soon-finish Kaye Dacus’ Louisiana series (really, I’ve never done that-shame on me), another Christmassy something or other, then who knows. By then it may be March!
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I read Killing Lincoln by O’Reilly/Dugard and The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman, among others. Both interesting though I would not read either a second time.
Killing Lincoln offered some new info about Edwin Stanton, which the movie did not include (saw the movie in Nashville at Thanksgiving). And the basic premise of the movie did not match ANYTHING I have ever read about Lincoln but fits the modern desire for how modern minds WISH history had been. (The movie makes ending slavery Lincoln’s #1 objective, when in fact keeping the union intact was his primary goal from what I have learned in years and years of reading and research.)
Alice tried too hard in the Dovekeepers. Her language, though vivid and rich at first, became indulgent, kind of like chowing too much cheesecake. A little is a delight; a lot makes us ill. Still, another historical take on an event (Masada) I had not read much about.
Next on the stack: Just Jane.
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I have just finished Christmas at Harringtons, by Melody Carlson. A slew of audio books–The Fiddler and The Bridesmaid, by Beverly Lewis and many others I can’t remember. Beverly Lewis’ new series has returned to the community of The Shunning series. The books are very true to her normal form and a pleasant read.
I am currently reading A Christmas Carol, The Christmas Dog, by Melody Carlson and continue to work on Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austin. (May be next Christmas before I finish it.)
Next on my list of reads are some of my favorite, must read Christmas stories. Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol, by Tom Mula–a very interesting take on Marley’s visit to Scrooge. Highly recommend. Max Lucado’s Christmas Collection. This is a 3 novella book from Max Lucado–An Angel’s Story, The Christmas Child and The Christmas Candle. I generally listen to these on audio. I would highly recommend An Angel’s Story. It is by far my favorite of the 3. In this story, Max takes you on a journey through the incarnation from the point of view of Gabriel. It is very moving.
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I have just finished reading “Unexpected Dismounts” and “Too Far To Say Far Enough” by Nancy Rue. I enjoyed these books so much that I recently ordered the first book in this series, ” The Reluctant Prophet”, and I can’t wait until it arrives so I can read it. Currently I have started a novella by Lori Copeland called, “Christmas Lamp”. It’s about a small town named Nativity which is about to go bankrupt due to the new highway which bypasses Nativity. They bring in a financial consultant who cancels several of the town’s Christmas traditions in order to save money. Sparks fly between the financial consultant and the Mayor’s office administrator and not in a good way, at least not at first.
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All of the Reluctant Prophet books are wonderful!! Definitely on the favorite ever pile
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i just finished William Henry is a Fine Name by Cathy Gohlke (whose backlist I had to find after reading Promise Me This ) and it was exceptional. Nothing short of bafflingly good. So, I started her companion book I Have Seen Him in the Watchfires. Next on the TBR list is her newest one, Band of Sisters.
I have some Christmas blog tours going on so just read Amanda Cabot’s Christmas Roses and Melody Carlson’s the Christmas Pony as well as Every Perfect Gift by Dorothy Love and am just into The Tutor’s Daughter by Julie Klassen.
My subway book currently is an AWESOME historical nautical-fic that I was sent a query for and this book came out of nowhere and I LOVE IT! it’s called At Drake’s Command and it might be the best of its ilk since the 21st unfinished Jack Aubrey. The opening is brilliant.
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Thanks, Rachel, for this! I do hope At Drake’s Command will continue to entertain you!
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Dear Kaye D,
Hi my books I have read are Max Lucado’s book about Grace that was a great interesting read.Also I am starting reading the new star trek book called Destiny by David Mack.And I am looking forward to reading Jilliian Kent new book in January and also Rachel Hauch new book in 2012 called Once upon a Prince.So that is what I have been reading and what I am looking forward to in the new Year.Rheta Ellis
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Hi Kaye! I just finished Dee Henderson’s “Full Disclosure” (LOVED it), and started Janice Hanna’s “Sleigh Belles” last night. From one extreme to another! Not sure what’s next – I’m hoping to get Tamara Alexander’s “Belle Meade” book for Christmas!
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I loved Full Disclosure too. Readers seemed to have very extreme reactions, love or hate, but I definitely loved it.
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i gotta tell you, while i liked ‘lasting impression’ and some of alexander’s other books, i had a lot of trouble getting through the belle meade book. i think, for me, it was just the pacing 🙂
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Of the 8 books I read, I most enjoy two books by Steven James, The Placebo and Opening Moves, The Intercept by Dick Wolf and Someone Bad and Something Blue by Miranda Parker. it was very much a suspense/thriller kind of month, which I didn’t realize until now.
That theme continues as I’m reading Death, Taxes and Peach Sangria by Diane Kelly and will also read Breath of Dawn by Kristen Heitzmann. Then I take a break for a few romances/dramas (Julie Lessman, Tiffany Warren, Marlene Banks).
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I’ve been devouring Lee Child’s Reacher series over the past few months, and I’m down to the last couple. Finished Tripwire last week and Persuader is waiting at the library for me to find time to go pick it up. I haven’t read the series in order, and I don’t think it mattered much. The last one I will be One Shot, which coincidentally is the one the new Reacher movie is based on. If I were planning to see the movie, I’d wait to read the book, but based on the previews the movie looks like it’s going to be disappointing.
The last book I listened to was a YA novel called Grave Mercy. I actually got the book out of the library several months ago after reading some glowing reviews, but put it down about a quarter of the way in. Then a friend listened to it and recommended it again, so I gave it another chance. Unfortunately, I didn’t share her opinion, even though I wanted to… In fact, I thought it was one of the worst books I’ve read/ listened to in a while. Oh well.
I’m currently listening to The Thief, by Megan Whalen Turner for about the 5th or 6th time. When I finish, I’ll listen to the other 3 books in the series, also for the 5th or 6th time 😀
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Last month I seemed be stuck in 20th century investigative reporter bios like Jack Anderson’s “Peace, War and Politics”. Needed a break from contemporary politics, so on my next trip to the library’s used book shelf, “The Riddle of St. Leonard’s” from the middle of the Candace Robb’s 14th century Owen Archer Mysteries series caught my eye. Almost tossed it after only reading the first paragraph because I was fairly certain hospitals didn’t exist in the 1300s. Was pleasantly surprised to learn that they actually did, although not as we know them today. The 14thC version was more akin to what we know as hospices…less concerned with curing the sick than making them comfortable in what for most were their last days on earth. Liked “The Riddle” so much that I went back for the other two Candace Robbs on the used book shelf, also checked out the only other Owen Archer available. (Sadly, our library system doesn’t possess the entire series…) Am now reading “The King’s Bishop”, which ironically is about political intrigue in King Edward’s court.
Kaye, the falling snowflakes in the background are a nice touch for the holidays. Thanks!
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Oops! I meant “seemed TO be stuck” in the first sentence!
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Let’s see, since Nov. 1st I’ve read The FitzOsbornes at War by Michelle Cooper, Live and Let Die and Moonraker by Ian Fleming, Across the Universe by Beth Revis, and yesterday I finished Cascade by Maryanne O’Hara. I still need to finish my review of Moonraker. 🙂
Last night I started Anna Karenina and next up is Dorothy Love’s newest for a tour.
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Take A Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg and After the Rains by Deborah Raney. Listening to The Silver Chair by C.S.Lewis
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