Mount TBR 2014 Challenge discussion

Christine, I love your preparations! Good luck with Mt. Olympus!

God bless you and happy 2014, my dear! I surely understand my newly-débuting challenges "Ethereal" and "My Kind Of Mystery" aren't what you read. If you find your titles match anything in "Gentle Spectrums" however: I'd love to have my new Australian friend. :)
Yours Truly, Carolyn. http://cmriedel.wordpress.com/gentle-...

First one! woo hoo. I'm still trying to cram in one more book for 2013. :-)

Christine wrote: "NO 003 - Payment In Blood by Elizabeth GeorgeElizabeth George

My Review

It's been easy going so far ... but have just seen the hill that I need to..."

Oooh, 950 pages. That is a bit of a hike to get to the next site. Good luck!

Christine wrote: "No 4 - The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman

A long book (900+ pages) but enjoyable. Was refreshing to read an alternate theory as to the 'Princes in the Tower'."

Wow. 900+ pages done. Just like that. I used to be able to zoom through books like that.....Great pace. Zeus better keep an eye on that throne. :-)

I know you inhale at the best of times, my Ozzie friend but 900 pages? I've been busy. I just love how it's taking me a week to read a mother F'n "Hardy Boys" book! {Dripping sarcasm to the max}.

I'm home too but always feel there's stuff I ought to do by daylight. Especially summer in Manitoba, the hot weather being so brief; it would be a sacriledge to read or view TV at that time. So night is my time - which did lead to 100 books last year! I'm off to finish "Hardy #2" now. The early darkness is a benefit to me this time of year. ;) Anyway I figured folks would enjoy my humour above.

I liked A Suitable Vengeance and getting all the background on the characters. Although, I do wonder why authors are motivated to throw in prequels once they start a series.

Well-Schooled in Murder bothered me a lot....but then these sorts of stories that involve children do (and my son was small at the time I read it, so all my mother-instincts were kicking in).

Christine wrote: "No 4 - The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman

A long book (900+ pages) but enjoyable. Was refreshing to read an alternate theory as to the 'Princes in the Tower'."

Did you like this one? I loved it when I read it years ago.

Wow, Christine !
I am majorly impressed . You are doing great so far !
I just joined and signed up for the smallest challenge .
Maybe I'll watch you guys in the higher groups and get some inspiration !

I have the Buckley books on my shelf as well, along with Karen Harper's series. Did you enjoy them?

I was surprised and pleased to see several mysteries in your early reading. You'll always enjoy the royals but I can relate very well to your deviation into variety. :) I hope all is well for you in 2014, my power-reading friend.

Wonderful start! I love several of the series and authors you are reading.

I am a mere 9 behind the feverishly plodding Christine. :) Already in 2014, my selection is quite varied. Not that 'award-winners' necessarily gleaned high marks from me.

Christine wrote: "I've also had a problem with disappointing books - which I'm not used to. The 'Jean Auel' book I started, everyone said was a great series, while I felt was well written I didn't like it..."

I found that book (The Clan of the Cave Bear) to be the worst one of the series, so if you are interested you might want to try the next one (The Valley of Horses), which I thought was much more interesting.

I noticed your absence but guessed you had things to do other than reading. A fire, Christine! Please tell me the family and pets are all well!

So sorry about your misfortune - fire - UGH and scary! But, so glad to hear you, your family, and pets are all fine.

Christine, so sorry to hear about this. But very glad that you, your family, and pets are all okay.

Christine, so sorry to hear about your house fire! Glad that everyone is OK though.

Oh no! I'm so sorry about him! Birds are so strong, so lively, do their very best to adapt and I admire them with all of my heart. I honour your lovely bird. Here's to you, wonderful Tweety!

I'm sorry to hear about Tweety and the fire.

Good! Congrats!

That's a relief, Christine. Prayers were answered for your family for sure.

Congratulations on your progress, I just made it half way too!

Even with disruptive occurrences, you have caught up. I'm pleased for you and congratulate you, along with Ellinor. :) But it makes me want to run after you ladies, so watch for my head after Mount Kilamanjaro! Yours energetically, Carolyn.

Christine! I didn't know she was expecting! Congratulations to her! Won't you e-mail me with pictures? The odd thing is that this message was marked as already opened. But I KNEW I hadn't seen the contents and always pay attention to what's going on with friends. :) Please tell the Mother and baby they have my congratulations from Manitoba! With a big hug, Carolyn!

Christine wrote: "Another month is upon us and brings us just a little closer to the end of 2014.

I've done a bit of calculating and, at the end of July, I had read 93 books .... however, it will take me just over ..."

You're not the only one who has added more books to the ever-growing piles. In just the last week I added enough books to negate almost half of my TBR progress so far. [We won't talk about the other books I've bought earlier this year. :-) ] Good luck with your August reading!

What a wonderful month November is: my favourite.

After the last few days we've had, working hard to preserve two flowerbeds of flowers longer, against -10C overnight; I won't comment on lamentation of warmth.

I meant to tell you if you haven't caught it yet: I recapped of the "My Kind Of Mystery" group. I revealed the secret, extra level should people want to attach more reviews. The end of year prize point system is given and I applauded you for finding "the invisible floor". http://cmriedel.wordpress.com/2014/10...

Thought you'd like knowing A RIEDEL Clue is up! I'm giving all my guests a chance to weigh in, lest they miss my post. :) http://cmriedel.wordpress.com/2014/11...

Yes my dear! I'd love to send you a card this year, on two occasions. If you're near e-mail today, perhaps I might have your address. The touch of real mail is the way I like to elevate friends I've made. :) This morning is warm for our birth month, in the great white north. +2C before the sun has risen (with the time just changed back). It will rise to a good 10+C degrees. A few balmly days before a week in which the best high is 0C.

I'll be thinking of you on November 24th, my friend!

My party's tonight. A smaller one with folks and one couple last weeke-end. Ah, I'll think of you with sunny weather, laughing with some ocean background!

Thank you, Christine! I see we've both gone a few days without loading this site. I wonder if you clean much harder and broader like I do when company is invited. I'm glad I left an early wish but now it is important to say: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY FRIEND CHRISTINE!

You have attained a new age and a fresh year. I hope it is very happy and that, beginning yesterday, your spirit is refreshed and your mood bright for celebrating your birth. Please tell me how you've been spending it! E-mail, blog, or here.... I'm all ears. Brightly and fondly yours, Carolyn.

Happy Birthday! Enjoy your day!

That's good! Was it an ocean side view? I picture you with Australian women smiling in the sun. There's nothing wrong with where I live, though. Outside my window is a protective-looking, sentinel row of dried sunflowers that are 6 to 10 feet tall. Sweet looking and sounding chickadees are landing on them right in front of me and snow is falling very nicely all around us.

I have longed to see whales all of my life. On the two or three occasions I went somewhere I might see them - didn't even get to an aquarium. I can most certainly offer you the lovely experience of being near chickadees: any time of year. They are all weather birds; remarkable, cute, and the sonbbird variety.

That sounds like a beautiful moment. Oddly, just as my eyes read this post, a bluejay landed on the sunflower nearest this window. :) You and I are helping each of our natural residents to say hello across the world.

I look forward to you in my company, dear Christine! I hope my Christmas card reached you ahead of the blessed celebration. Happy new year to you as well. Many of us feel we need far better than 2014 and I have faith it shall come true!

I am stopping at 138 books but I am very pleased with that. It's the most I've read per year in my life and I only promised 75. After moving and welcoming a Granddaughter, 127 is wonderful for you. Love, Carolyn. https://cmriedel.wordpress.com/riedel...

I meant by "my company", welcoming you to my challenges. The URL is there for whatever suits your flavour. :) Happy new year my dear; the one we deserve and are ready for!

No rush whatsoever. I avoid traffic and run from February. I'm excited to see which groups you do. Married? I didn't know you were seeing anyone! Wow! Jaw-dropping! Congratulations!

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding, and great job on Mt. TBR! 127 is a great number of books!

So... when you were walking up the beach and saw a nice whale "with a friend"... Those drinks "with friends" for your birthday.... Happy new year to my mates in Australia!

I meant to siphon out, when it was that you were referring to your lover. :)

I have news and better leave it where it can be viewed after I exit. One of my challenge participants is a specialist in numerology and tarot readings. She is donating a choice of these, as a finale prize in "Ethereal"!!!! I'm happy to share that before I go. My blog will furnish information.

You aren't necessarily into that but others will see it after my folder falls on the visible queue. I'm saving the Australian mystery compilation among potential prizes for you, in that group. :) Keep in touch there! Your Friend, Carolyn. https://cmriedel.wordpress.com/riedel...

FYI: The last "A RIEDEL Clue" will be up about January 9. It would be fun if you won a prize on your first riddle; an easy one. Tally your points (the link is at the review page) in a comment by February 28, 2015 and we'll draw the finale prize. Points get everyone who joined at least one name in the bowl, for participating even a little. :) http://cmriedel.wordpress.com/mykindo...