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I don't want to take over this thread with an off topic question, but can someone tell me - is LibraryThing good? great? thebest? How does it rate against GR?

Last night I finished reading "Among the Missing" by
Among the Missing: A Novel by Morag Joss. This was one of my previous "First Reads" win I will writing a review some time today.

and I won another book today.
"The Old Man and the Swamp"[book:The Old Man and the Swamp|by John Sellers. Please tell me, am I supposed to post everything here that I win, or just cozies?

I won The Boy in the Moon by Ian Brown, who was interviewed by Terry Gross yesterday. It's a memoir about raising his severely disabled son and a comtemplation on what value his son's life has in this world. I enoy memoirs and I thought this was especially well written.

I don't know about the rest of the ladies but I love to hear about all the books we win. Most of us are eclectic readers, I think, and though cozies are high on our lists we read lots of other stuff. I'm always interested to hear what others are reading and what they think of them. Just my opinion--how do others feel?

I think in this thread you should feel free to share information about any book you win, anywhere, but especially any ŷ������ win. And if I ever win again , I'll be sure to let you know . ;)

ahh Sherry now I feel guilty. One thing I have to say is that I enter books sometimes that I would never pick up in a bookstore. My thinking is ... if I win then maybe it's time to explore a different area. Since my disability/retirement about a year ago I have reached mainly for the the "lighter" reading. Now I am willing to explore some non-fiction too. I hope that eventually I will one of the "spiritual" ones I've seen up.
BTW, everyone... just want to mention again

Sounds of Murder by Patricia Rockwell was lots of fun.Sounds of Murder

hope the picture came up this time.

Almost finished You Belong to Me and received The Insider today. Thank goodness it is about half the size of the former.

I list and like to hear about all wins, especially those from GR.

Started You Belong to Me before work this morning, but - obviously - only got a few pages into the first chapter.

Karen B wrote: "ahh Sherry now I feel guilty. One thing I have to say is that I enter books sometimes that I would never pick up in a bookstore. My thinking is ... if I win then maybe it's time to explore a diff..."

That's OK, Karen . Don't feel guilty - enjoy your books! Isn't retirement wonderful? So much more time to read, though I still read pretty much only for pleasure: cozies and historical mysteries, mostly.

Oh I totally forgot to mention a fun cozy I read before the last two books I've red... A Pug's Tale
by Alison Pace

Heather L wrote: "I list and like to hear about all wins, especially those from GR.

Started You Belong to Me before work this morning, but - obviously - only got a few pages into the first chapter."

I finished it in one day--LOL Wrote a review and don't think I gave any spoilers--tried not to anyway.

I am so jealous of you speed readers (just teaing)
As I have gotten older I seem to have slowed down a bit.

Katherine: Okay, I can assure you I will NOT be finishing this book in one day, LOL. I had a humidity headache and wasn't feeling well when I got home, so instead of reading I crawled into bed for a (too short) nap. Plus, you know -- had to watch Criminal Minds this evening. 'Cause one serial killer at a time just isn't enough.

LOL at Katherine's one serial killer at a time just isn't enough. The headaches ... I never gave them a name but you're right they are humidity headaches. I also get a certain kind of headache when it is cloudy but not rainy. Someone at work told me it had something to do with the barametric pressure.

Karen B wrote: "LOL at Katherine's one serial killer at a time just isn't enough. The headaches ... I never gave them a name but you're right they are humidity headaches. I also get a certain kind of headache when..."

That was Heather L with one serial killer at a time--I can't watch Criminal Minds--not fond of two of the actors and have nightmares after watching. I can handle a serial killer on the page but not in the flesh--so to speak. LOL

Karen B wrote: "LOL at Katherine's one serial killer at a time just isn't enough. The headaches ... I never gave them a name but you're right they are humidity headaches. I also get a certain kind of headache when..."

Karen - I get those headaches too. When a low pressure system comes through right before a rain the headaches are fierce. Silly as it sounds, I've found that placing a heavy object (a wheat bag works great) on my head helps.

I just found out I won my first giveaway in over a year. Rules of Betrayal - I'll have to see if my library has the earlier books in the series before it gets here.

I received The Insider a couple of days ago and today The China-Africa Parallax arrived as did Thieves Get Rich, Saints Get Shot. Started them all but C-A is missing some pretty significant pages and the Vermont references are a bit off otherwise it is okay. Thieves is different so far but intriging. Insider looks like it is going to be good as well. Having read You Belong to Me so fast I'm slowing down a bit for awhile. Otherwise I'll get nothing done other than reading. LOL

Congratulations, Sue! That was one I was entered in - glad to see it went to someone who hadn't won in a while. :)

And yes, that was me with the serial killer comment. And, of course, there was another one on last night (CSI).

BTW, Katherine, I don't know if you saw in the other thread earlier today, but I got up to page 313 in You Belong to Me. Nothing on TV tonight, so hoping I can plow through to the end and pass it on to a friend when I see her tomorrow.

Heather L wrote: "Congratulations, Sue! That was one I was entered in - glad to see it went to someone who hadn't won in a while. :)

And yes, that was me with the serial killer comment. And, of course, there was ..."

Do you like I thought it was pretty good---thought the sheriff was it but also thought the other guy was kind of shadowy.

Jennifer,
Thanks for the comment about putting something heavy on your head ... I can see that working. Sometimes I would be so desperate I'd wrap a towel tightly around my head and I thought it helped.

Could somebody please remind me, isn't there a place where we are supposed to check off that the giveaway we won was received. I seemed to remember doing that and a book arrived today and I couldn't remember what to do.

And what do you do if you receive a book and you end up not liking it? Do you just not write a review? Do you write one with generalities? Especially if the book was donated by the author. Luckily that hasn't happened to me yet, but I wonder.

Yes you go check off that the book has arrived. Go to explore at the top of your home page--then giveaways--at the bottom of the page go to more giveaways. There will be a menu at top right where you can choose giveaways you entered--then the drop down menu giveaways you won. Double click on the title of the book and a page will come up where you can choose I received the book. Sounds like a lot of steps but they are fast.

I have a book now that I'm not too keen on--I think the book lacks development of plot and characters. I will write a review that says that and probably give it 2 stars. It seems to me that if ŷ������ wants a review that they would support both positive and negative reviews as long as they are honest.

Katherine thanks for the great advice. I don't like to hurt people's feelings. But there will always be good and bad. I guess it's just better to be honest. But not brutal. *LOL*

I won a first reads book today. A.W.O.L. Christians (Acting Without Love)

Karen B wrote: "Katherine thanks for the great advice. I don't like to hurt people's feelings. But there will always be good and bad. I guess it's just better to be honest. But not brutal. *LOL*"

I agree, Karen--I'm going to write this review out and edit before publishing and won't put it on my blog. I hope to be critical in a positive sense--I can't find the word I want--but you know what I mean--encouraging but still honest about what I see as shortcomings in the writing. It will be somewhat difficult since the author and I have shared a couple of emails and I don't want to appear unnecessarily harsh.

Ah, the word came back--constructive! I aim for constructive criticism when I haven't cared for a book.

Katherine wrote: I can't watch Criminal Minds--not fond of two of the actors and have nightmares after watching. I can handle a serial killer on the page but not in the flesh--so to speak. LOL

I gave up on Criminal Minds a long time ago because of the gruesome scenes - which seemed to be 90% about women being tortured in awful ways. I thought it was better when Mandy Patinkin was on it, but I heard he left because of the increase in violence.
Not a show for people who prefer cozies! LOL.

Mary Ellen Hughes

Katherine wrote: "Do you like You Belong to Me? I thought it was pretty good---thought the sheriff was it but also thought the other guy was kind of shadowy."

I stayed up late the last two nights reading it - finished about 1:30 this morning. At least I was able to sleep in today, LOL. Very suspenseful - it really had me turning the pages.

I correctly guessed whodunnit very early on, but it chills you how he was able to fool so many so easily. Really felt for the one character, but have a feeling we will be seeing her in a future book, as well as Mazzetti. Rose set that up quite nicely.

I thought of him really early on also but he was so rarely around--but that kept nagging at me, too. Didn't go with my gut but wasn't really surprised at the ending.

Mary wrote: "Katherine wrote: I can't watch Criminal Minds--not fond of two of the actors and have nightmares after watching. I can handle a serial killer on the page but not in the flesh--so to speak. LOL

..."

That is exactly when I left--went with Mandy--I liked Joe in Joan of Arcadia but not in this show and I cannot handle the wunderkind--I think he is creepy!

I won another book today. A Thousand Beauties by Mark Adam Kaplan

congratulations, Karen

Katherine, thanks I am getting embarrassed to post if I win something.

Well, karen, I just won two from LT!!! Noble and The Mullah's Storm David Hulegaard

Kari: Never hurts to give it a try, LOL. (Good luck!)

Kari - did you write a review? I hadn't won in over a year either, went back and added a two sentence review and won something a few days later.

ŷ������ wants authors on their site and the giveaways are designed to help authors get (hopefully) positive attention and reviews for their books.

I'm a ŷ������ author and just ran a giveaway for two copies of my book. The authors have nothing to do with who wins, but it's not random. ŷ������ basically uses an algorithm to choose the winners based on the entrant's reading tastes (taken from their "read" and "to-read" lists, I imagine) and the liklihood that they'll write a review of the book (based on the entrant's review record, I imagine).

So, the more books you have in the genre you want to read, and the more reviews you write, the liklier you'll be to win a giveaway.

-Robin Allen

I have yet to win anything on ŷ������, even though I have tons of book in my TBR list (mostly cozies) and try to review the books I read. I just figured it was because I'm outside the US and there are fewer giveaways that ship internationally.

Kari I am right there with you! I only register for YA and mystery books as that is all I read, but still nothing. *sad face*

Heidi (don't listen to me) wrote: "Kari I am right there with you! I only register for YA and mystery books as that is all I read, but still nothing. *sad face*"

That's primarily all I enter for, but will also register for some cookbooks and pop culture bios whenever they're offered. Really wanted to win the Rob Lowe book and now they've got a David Bowie bio offered! I might win more often if I registered for other stuff, but don't see any point in registering for something that it's questionable whether I'd actually read it or not.

I was just notified today that I have won , a First Reads book. Judging by the synopsis, it doesn't sound like a cozy, but it does sound like a good book. I'll let you know what I think after I read it.

Congrats on your win, Sherry!

:))))) Happy dance for you!!!

Congrats Sherry

*duh* I forgot to post this morning that I won a first reads
When Sparrows Fall

Well, congratulations to you, too, Karen B! Must be ŷ������ doesn't love me anymore :( LOL

no so much of it is random.

Well, so it is, and today I've won The Selected Letters of Georgia O'Keefe and Alfred Steiglitz

I'm particularly happy about this one since I have loved the work of both of these great artists. I also share this devotion to O'Keefe with a dear friend who has lent me several books about her and of her paintings--so when I finish reading this I will give it to my friend as a gift.