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Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Sometimes there is a surfeit of good books! So many great choices in the TBR stack that choosing becomes a dilemma.
Among the Mad by Jacqueline Winspear (Newest Maisie Dobbs adventure. Thanks, Danielle, can't wait to begin this one!)

The Four Corners of the Sky by Michael Malone (an ARC- have to wait to read this one as they want the review posted in May)

The Brain that Changes Itself by Norman Doidge (Interlibrary Loan - I couldn't resist reading the first chapter - amazing!)

Contemplative Science: Where Buddhism and Neuroscience Converge by B. Alan Wallace (another ILL and part of the Columbia Series on Science and Religion)

The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett (ILL - and oops, this shouldn't have been in the stack because I read this little jewel the other night- need to review it)

Becoming Enlightened by the Dalai Lama (ARC - I've read a bit of this one, but I'm so inundated with great possibilities that I haven't gotten very far)

Drood by Dan Simmons (I'm 168 pages into this one, but have to admit that it is not really grabbing me)

Still in progress: Claire Tomlin's Jane Austen: A Life and Yoga as Medicine, both of which I'm really enjoying.

And a Give-Away - Leave a comment if you'd like a copy of My Lady of Cleves by Margaret Campbell Barnes. I'll draw a winner on Monday, March 9th.

34 comments:

  1. That dilemma--which of these good books should I read first?--is especially troubling when you've brought a stack of books home and you know your reading time is limited, so you can't get through them all!

    If you'd like to send along My Lady of Cleves, and throw in Drood, since it's not grabbing you, I wouldn't hold it against you! :)

    Happy Reading!

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  2. I am waiting for the Maisie Dobbs book to come in for me at the library! I have Drood here to read, but I haven't got around to starting it yet...

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  3. The Uncommon Reader is one of the most delightful books I ever read!
    I reviewed it here.

    And I'd love to win Anne of Cleves!

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  4. It just happened to me as well! I shortlisted 5 books from my TBR pile and then made my husband randomly pick one because I just couldn't choose! I have been eyeing Drood for a while because I have been reading so much about it..

    I'd like to read My LAdy of Cleves. Do enter me in the drawing!

    ramyasbookshelf(at)gmail(dot)com

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  5. Look how big Drood looks compared to the other books! I really need to get Among the Mad. Maybe I'll get a B&N coupon soon :)

    Oh and no need to enter me for the drawing. I read it last year and really enjoyed it.

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  6. Meg - Drood is a library book, but I'll but you in for My Lady of Cleves!

    Kailana - I won my copy from Danielle so I feel fortunate. Eager to hear your opinion of Drood.

    teabird - The Uncommon Reader IS delightful. I'll write my review before reading yours so I won't be influenced, but will provide a link. :)

    You are in for the drawing.

    Ramya - It almost hurts not to be able to read them all at once! Good idea to have your husband pick. I will continue with Drood and hope I like it better. I really liked The Terror by Simmons.

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  7. I've finally come to the top of the heap at Paperback Swap for Among the Mad, which pleases me no end because it's the latest in one of my favorite series. There were flashes of brilliance in Drood for me, but overall I found it a disappointment.

    And I'd love to win a copy of My Lady of Cleeves!

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  8. My first visit to your blog and what do I see? Maisie sitting there, perched high on the TBR pile! I wonder just how many bedside tables (translated that's night stand to you there in the US or A) has Maisie right now? I'm saving this up whilst I read the winner of the Romantic Novelists' Assocation romantic novel of the year award, Julia Gregson's East of the Sun, an ideal winter escapist read.
    Margaret Powling (UK)

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  9. You always have such interesting collection of books. The Brain that Changes Itself and the one on Neuroscience and Buddhism perk my interest.

    Enter me in the drawing. Thanks, Jenclair.

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  10. Iliana - Drood is a Fat Book for sure! So was The Terror, but I couldn't put The Terror down. You must have been commenting as I was answering comments!

    Cathy - I'm glad to hear there were flashes of brilliance; I'll keep on plugging. Right now I don't much care for either The Inimitable Mr. Dickens or the Lusting for Laudanum Mr. Collins.
    :( Both are self-involved to a remarkable degree.

    galant - My reading chair has a table on either side, current reads are usually there. Your point, however, is well taken! Maisie is finding her way around the reading world.

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  11. I am looking forward to eventually reading Drood. I hope it picks up for you! Maybe it's like The Woman in White which took me awhile to get into. The Uncommon Reader is another one I hope to read. I look forward to reading your review.

    I'd like to be entered into your drawing for My Lady of Cleves please. Thanks!

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  12. LF - Drood and The Uncommon Reader are real studies in contrast. The Uncommon Reader is a novella and Drood is like 3 volumes packed into one!

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  13. Booklogged - The Brain that Changes Itself is fascinating! I'm looking forward to the Neuroscience and Buddhism one, too.

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  14. What a great stack of books.
    The Brain that Changes Itself is the one for me....mine could use it!

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  15. I absolutely love to see a stack of books ready for the reading! What a treat!

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  16. aren't book stacks wonderful?
    Sometimes I hardly want to take a book from a stack, it just looks so good. but never fear, there's always another stack in some other corner of the room, the house, the world -- please God let there always be a bunch of stacks of books in my life.
    I'm discovered your blog not too long ago, this is my first post though - i really enjoy paying a visit here almost daily.

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  17. I so want to read the new Winspear book, I really like her books :)

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  18. Kim - :) Love them stacks!

    Cheryl - Exactly--there is always another stack (in fact, several others) around the house. Hopefully, forever!

    Thanks for taking the time to visit and to comment, Cheryl!

    Blodeuedd - I just started it, and it is living up to expectations! Maisie is such an interesting character.

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  19. This is my first visit to your blog, directed here by Marg at Historical Tapestry. I love the quote from which your blog name was taken. My first introduction to historical fiction was The Tudor Rose by Margaret Campbell Barnes, back in the mid-1950s. Bless Miss Caldwell, our local librarian who launched me on a life-long journey of wonderful reading. I'm sure I probably read My Lady of Cleves back then too, but it would be great to win a copy and revisit Anne, probably my favorite of Henry's wives. I'm adding your blog to my Google Reader - from lookin at the books you read in Feb. and the books in your current stack, I'm sure we share some reading interests. I've been reading the Maisie Dobbs series, and the books by Will Thomas as they become available. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.

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  20. Linda - One of my first historical novels was my mother's copy of Brief Gaudy Hour by Margaret Campbell Barnes. I fell in love with both historical fiction and nonfiction because of that novel.

    Thanks for visiting!

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  21. I already have one Barnes book from you, so I'll pass this time around, but I did want to say you have some excellent books in that stack! I really enjoyed The Uncommon Reader, am looking forward to the Maisie Dobbs book and think the science and religion books look great.

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  22. Love to be entered for MY LADY OF CLEVES! Thanks for the opportunity!

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  23. I'd start with the Maise Dobbs - can't go wrong with that one. Thanks for entering me in the drawing!

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  24. I'd start with the Maise Dobbs - can't go wrong with that one. Thanks for entering me in the drawing!

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  25. Oh I'd love to win! And you should read Drood because I'm dying to read that one. Or the book by the Dalai Lama sounds interesting.

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  26. Dorothy - I enjoyed The Uncommon Reader, too. Short and funny, but right on target.

    Lynn - :)

    Anonymous - same as Laura?

    Laura - I did sneak in Maisie!
    Couldn't resist starting it!

    Amanda - I'm still struggling with Drood, but Maisie is taking precedence!

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  27. I have been eyeing this one! I recently read Brief Gaudy Hour and loved it! Thanks for the opportunity!
    Good luck to all!
    Cassandra

    colec[at]students[dot]sou[dot]edu

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  28. Cassandra - Brief Gaudy Hour was wonderful, wasn't it? My Lady of Cleves is good, but she was no Anne Boleyn.

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  29. So many good choices! I love dilemmas like that :-) And I would love a chance to read My Lady of Cleves as well!

    vmlay@artsci.wustl.edu

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  30. What a wonderful collection of books you have! I also have a hard time choosing what to read on my TBR. There are so many good books!

    I would love to win My Lady of Cleves by Margaret Campbell Barnes.

    Thanks!

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  31. Marie - As dilemmas go, it is one of the best! You are in for the drawing.

    Teddy Rose - My lists of books that I really want to read just keeps growing. Your name is in the pot for the drawing.

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  32. I'm so glad the Maisie Dobbs book arrived safely! I hope you enjoy it. And would love if you dropped my name in for your book drawing. Thanks! :)

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  33. Danielle - Arrived safely and was a delicious read!

    Your name is in the drawing!

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