thornton37814's bonus categories

This is continued from http://www.librarything.com/topic/96728 where I completed my 11 categories. For the remainder of the year, I have chosen to try to read some of the books I already have in my possession or that are wishlisted while allowing room for spontaneous reads. I am setting no minimums or limits per category. These categories are broad enough to encompass everything I might wish to read!

1. I Want to Go Home - These are books that have been borrowed from friends that I really want to get back to them. I have 5 boxes of books from one friend who is as avid of a reader as I am and has similar reading tastes. I have a handful from another friend. It's time for some of these to go home!

2. Complete the Challenge - I am nearing completion of the 50 States Challenge and the Canadian Challenge and have quite a ways to go on the Europe Endless Challenge. I'd like to complete 50 States and the Canadian one this year and make some headway on the other!

3. Review Me - These are books and galleys that are received through LibraryThing, GoodReads, or NetGalley that need to be reviewed for the publisher. This category will also include any reading that I need to do as part of a committee responsible for selecting book awards to be awarded by a professional organization to which I belong.

4. Kindle the Flame of Reading - These are books read on my Kindle. Many of them will be free or bargain reads, including many classics.

5. Check Me Out - These are books checked out of any library or obtained via Interlibrary Loan.

6. It's Calling My Name - Anything else I want to read. These may be books that are already owned, books received as gifts, books purchased, or anything else. It's my catch-all category!

This will be a record-setting year for me as far as reading. I've already read 90 books this year. I never dreamed I would read so much this year! However, I'm glad for the opportunity to try to make some progress on these things.

My first read will likely be the ER book that I received last weekend. I put it off until I could finish off the other categories.

I Want to Go Home

1. The Cross-Country Quilters by Jennifer Chiaverini - completed 24 June 2011
2. The Thai Amulet by Lyn Hamilton - completed 11 July 2011
3. In the Woods by Tana French - completed 16 July 2011
4. The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett - completed 18 July 2011
5. A Finer End by Deborah Crombie - completed 23 July 2011
6. Death in the Stocks by Georgette Heyer - completed 8 August 2011
7. To Love and Be Wise by Josephine Tey - completed 8 August 2011
8. The Dead Sea Cipher by Elizabeth Peters - completed 11 August 2011
9. Behold, Here's Poison by Georgette Heyer - completed 15 August 2011
10. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith - completed 31 August 2011
11. The Body in the Gazebo by Katherine Hall Page - completed 4 September 2011
12. Iron Lake by William Kent Krueger - completed 9 October 2011
13. Wicked Autumn by G. M. Malliet - completed 22 October 2011
14. Death at Whitechapel by Robin Paige - completed 24 October 2011
15. The Xibalba Murders by Lyn Hamilton - completed 25 October 2011
16. Bleeding Heart Square by Andrew Taylor - completed 20 November 2011
17. Unsolicited by Julie Kaewert - completed 3 December 2011
18. A Holiday for Murder by Agatha Christie - completed 24 December 2011
19. Death's Autograph by Marianne MacDonald - completed 27 December 2011

Complete the Challenge

1. The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Pötzsch - completed 28 June 2011
2. Taste of Romania by Nicolae Klepper - completed 29 June 2011
3. Skylark by Dezső Kosztolányi - completed 10 July 2011
4. Far North by Will Hobbs - completed 17 July 2011
5. Spanish Dagger by Susan Wittig Albert - completed 10 August 2011
6. Lick Creek by Brad Kessler - completed 25 August 2011
7. Who Has Seen the Wind by W. O. Mitchell - completed 27 August 2011
8. Dewey by Vicky Myron - completed 8 September 2011
9. Bitter Lemons by Lawrence Durrell - completed 28 September 2011
10. The Moravians in Labrador by an anonymous author - completed 29 September 2011
11. Black-Eyed Susan by Jennifer Armstrong - completed 30 September 2011
12. The Brass Dolphin by Caroline Harvey - completed 5 October 2011
13. A Light in the Storm by Karen Hesse - completed 6 October 2011
14. The Ox-Bow Incident by Walter Van Tilburg Clark - completed 7 October 2011
15. The Midnight Tunnel by Angie Frazier - completed 14 October 2011
16. Bookmarked for Death by Lorna Barrett - completed 16 October 2011
17. Desert Sojourn by Debi Holmes-Binney - completed 19 October 2011
18. Life in the Vatican with John Paul II by Luigi Accattoli - completed 22 October 2011
19. The Dogs of Riga by Henning Mankell - completed 12 November 2011

Review Me

1. The Legacy by Katherine Webb - completed 9 June 2011
2. The Sandburg Connection by Mark De Castrique - completed 16 June 2011
3. Main Street Public Library by Wayne A. Wiegand - completed 4 July 2011
4. Sweet Invention: A History of Dessert by Michael Krondl - completed 7 July 2011
5. Death of the Mantis by Michael Stanley - completed 25 July 2011
6. Murder Most Persuasive by Tracy Kiely - completed 8 August 2011
7. Saint's Gate by Carla Neggers - completed 18 August 2011
8. Lit!: A Christian Guide to Reading Books by Tony Reinke - completed 20 August 2011
9. The Mind and the Machine: What It Means to Be Human and Why It Matters by Matthew Dickerson (sorry - the touchstone is weird for this author) - completed 2 September 2011
10. Christianity and Literature: Philosophical Foundations and Critical Practice by David Lyle Jeffrey and Gregory Maillet - completed 9 September 2011
11. Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith by Douglas Groothuis - completed 21 September 2011
12. A Stir in the Waters by Mark A. Kramer - completed 21 September 2011
13. The Technologists by Matthew Pearl - completed 4 October 2011
14. If God, Why Evil? by Norman Geisler - completed 6 October 2011
15. Law, Power, and Justice in Ancient Israel by Douglas A. Knight -- completed 4 November 2011
16. I Am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley - completed 12 November 2011
17. Teaching and Christian Practices: Reshaping Faith and Learning edited by David I. Smith and James K. A. Smith - completed 12 November 2011
18. A Burial at Sea by Charles Finch - completed 7 December 2011
19. Was America Founded as a Christian Nation? by John Fea - completed 8 December 2011
20. Jesus Christ and the Life of the Mind by Mark A. Noll - completed 11 December 2011
21. Romancing the Roads by Gerry Hampel Davis - completed 14 December 2011
22. Engaging the Culture, Changing the World by Philip W. Eaton - completed 28 December 2011

Kindle the Flame of Reading

1. Lawn Tennis for Ladies by Mrs. Lambert Chambers - completed 17 June 2011
2. A Single Thread by Marie Bostwick - completed 20 June 2011
3. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving - completed 25 June 2011
4. Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving - completed 25 June 2011
5. Inspector Zhang Gets His Wish by Stephen Leather - completed 29 June 2011
6. Uncommon Grounds by Sandra Balzo - completed 30 June 2011
7. Emma by Jane Austen - completed 7 July 2011
8. Summer Secrets by Barbara Freethy - completed 9 July 2011
9. Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morley - completed 2 August 2011
10. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen - completed 25 September 2011
11. Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton - completed 14 October 2011
12. Prevention Healthy Favorites: Chicken Recipes by the editors of Prevention Magazine - completed 30 October 2011
13. Cookie Swap Cookbook by Gooseberry Patch - completed 30 October 2011
14. A Cold Day for Murder by Dana Stabenow - completed 30 October 2011
15. The Country of Pointed Firs by Sarah Orne Jewett - completed 4 November 2011
16. The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner - completed 10 November 2011
17. A Praying Life by Paul Miller - completed 12 November 2011
18. The Haunted Bookshop by Christopher Morley - completed 14 November 2011
19. The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie - completed 26 November 2011
20. Cat Deck the Halls by Shirley Rousseau Murphy - completed 13 December 2011
21. A Wee Christmas Homicide by Kaitlyn Dunnett - completed 19 December 2011
22. Persuasion by Jane Austen - completed 21 December 2011
23. Wishin' and Hopin' by Wally Lamb - completed 24 December 2011
24. Sounds of Murder by Patricia Rockwell - completed 29 December 2011
25. Emily Dickinson and the Art of Belief by Roger Lundin - completed 31 December 2011

Check Me Out

1. Serbia by JoAnn Milivojevic - completed 14 July 2011
2. Sweetgrass by Mary Alice Monroe - completed 21 July 2011
3. The Cats in Krasinski Square by Karen Hesse; illustrated by Wendy Watson - completed 23 July 2011
4. My Librarian Is a Camel: How Books Are Brought to Children Around the World by Margriet Ruurs - completed 23 July 2011
5. The Most Beautiful Villages of England by James Bentley; photographs by Hugh Palmer - completed 23 July 2011
6. The Lumby Lines by Gail Fraser - completed 27 July 2011
7. Berried to the Hilt by Karen MacInerney - completed 30 July 2011
8. Lowcountry Summer by Dorothea Benton Frank - completed 30 July 2011
9. Book Lust: Recommended Reading for Every Mood, Moment, and Reason by Nancy Pearl - completed 31 July 2011
10. The Real Macaw by Donna Andrews - completed 31 July 2011
11. Kilt Dead by Kaitlyn Dunnett - completed 5 August 2011
12. The Owl and the Pussycat by Edward Lear; illustrated by Stephanie Jorisch (Visions in Poetry series) - completed 12 August 2011
13. Adèle & Simon by Barbara McClintock - completed 12 August 2011
14. A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny - completed 15 September 2011
15. A Dark and Stormy Night by Jeanne M. Dams - completed 23 September 2011
16. Windflower by Gabrielle Roy - completed 26 September 2011
17. Farm Fresh Flavors by Randall L. Smith - completed 20 October 2011
18. A White House Garden Cookbook by Clara Silverstein - completed 20 October 2011
19. Blackwork by Monica Ferris - completed 25 October 2011
20. Cherries in Winter by Suzan Colon - completed 27 October 2011
21. Eggs Benedict Arnold by Laura Childs - completed 29 October 2011
22. The Shallows by Nicholas Carr - completed 29 October 2011
23. A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley - completed 3 November 2011
24. Blackman's Coffin by Mark de Castrique - completed 17 November 2011
25. Scone Cold Dead by Kaitlyn Dunnett - completed 23 November 2011
26. The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers by Lilian Jackson Braun - completed 27 November 2011
27. A Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas - completed 13 December 2011
28. 1225 Christmas Tree Lane by Debbie Macomber - completed 14 December 2011
29. Edible: A Celebration of Local Foods by Tracey Ryder and Carole Topalian - completed 20 December 2011

It's Calling My Name

1. State of the Onion by Julie Hyzy - completed 10 June 2011
2. Log Cabins of the Smokies by Alice Daniel - completed 24 June 2011
3. Churches of the Smokies by Charles W. Maynard - completed 24 June 2011
4. The Land of the Smokies: Great Mountain Memories by Tim Hollis - completed 25 June 2011
5. Town in a Blueberry Jam by B. B. Haywood - completed 3 July 2011
6. Local Breads: Sourdough and Whole-Grain Recipes from Europe's Best Artisan Bakers by Daniel Leader - completed 29 July 2011
7. Fatal Remedies by Donna Leon - completed 1 August 2011
8. Latte Trouble by Cleo Coyle - completed 1 August 2011
9. Farewell, Miss Zukas by Jo Dereske - completed 2 August 2011
10. If Books Could Kill by Kate Carlisle - completed 3 August 2011
11. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett - completed 4 August 2011
12. Peach Cobbler Murder by Joanne Fluke - completed 12 August 2011
13. Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers - completed 13 August 2011
14. Shrouds of Holly by Kate Kingsbury - completed 21 August 2011
15. Murder by the Glass by Michele Scott - completed 3 September 2011
16. Murder Past Due by Miranda James - completed 5 September 2011
17. The Ninth Daughter by Barbara Hamilton - completed 12 September 2011
18. A Crafty Killing by Lorraine Bartlett - completed 21 September 2011
19. Shaking the Family Tree by Buzzy Jackson - completed 24 September 2011
20. If You Give a Cat a Cupcake by Laura Joffe Numeroff - completed 30 September 2011
21. Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson - completed 11 October 2011
22. K.C.: A History of Kansas City, Missouri by A. Theodore Brown (touchstone doesn't work) and Lyle W. Dorsett - completed 29 October 2011
23. Bachelor Brothers' Bed & Breakfast by Bill Richardson - completed 8 November 2011
24. The Runaway Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini - completed 30 November 2011
25. Three Wise Cats by Harold M. Konstantelos and Terri Jenkins-Brady - completed 15 December 2011
26. The Southern Foodways Alliance Community Cookbook edited by Sarah Roahen and John T. Edge - completed 20 December 2011

Hi Lori - Nice bonus categories! I am looking forward to see what you read here.

Lori,

First congrats on finishing your 11in11! I noticed on your old thread that you read Murder on the Lusitania. I've been trying to find that one for over a year. Glad to know it's still out there, I'll keep looking.

>9 cyderry: Cheli - That one was quite enjoyable. I hope you are able to find it. I need to find the next one sometime myself. I don't really like to read series entries back to back so hopefully I'll be ready for the next installment when I find it.

Congratultions on your completion of the 11 in 11 Challenge. You've got some great bonus categories. I need to give a little attention to my 50 States Reading Challenge as well.

I finished the Early Reviewers book I received for May for my "Review Me" category.

The Legacy by Katherine Webb - After inheriting Storton Manor from their grandmother, sisters Erica and Beth Calcott go back to a place that has haunted them since the day of the disappearance of a friend years ago. In poking through some things, she finds a photo of her great grandmother Caroline with a baby -- one which surely must have been born before Caroline's known marriage.

In a parallel story covering the early part of the 20th century, we learn that Caroline, a woman from New York, married an Oklahoma rancher, and traveled west to meet him and live. We learn of the trials and tragedies of the short time she spent out west before she left the area and what prompted her to hide that part of her life from her descendants.

I really enjoyed the Oklahoma portion of the novel far more than the contemporary portion and would have liked to have seen it be the star of its own novel. The contemporary sections were not as engaging, and the manner in which they were presented sometimes made it hard to determine if it was 20 years ago or present-day since the characters involved were the same. It is also clear that there were repercussions of Caroline's past in the manner in which she treated those around her, including her own daughter. As a genealogist, I was also disappointed that Erica, as she began her search, did not try to research American records to determine if there had been a previous marriage and to see where this might have taken her. There were certainly enough clues interspersed throughout the narrative that would have led me to several sources which would likely have told more of Caroline's story for her descendants. I certainly appreciated Erica's consulting with a relative who had done some family history research, but it was clear that the author did not seem to understand genealogical problem solving.

Recommended for persons who can appreciate the historical aspects of the story without being too disappointed in the disjointed nature of the contemporary story. This review is based on an Advance Readers Copy of the book offered by the publisher through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program. 3 stars.

First up in "It's Calling My Name" is: State of the Onion by Julie Hyzy - Ollie Paras is assistant White House Chef and is a contender to be the Executive Chef there upon Henry's retirement. As she's returning to work after picking up Henry's retirement gift, she encounters the Secret Service hot on the trail of a fence jumper. She's able to knock him out with Henry's gift. But when she witnesses a man's murder at the merry-go-round a few days later, she becomes the target of this well-known international assassin. The excitement continues to build as she goes about her daily life in her role as chef and in her private life as she is targeted. The descriptions of the foods offered are marvelous. I appreciated an "inside look" at what it must be like to create menus that are pleasing to so many international guests without creating offense. I will have to admit that I was disappointed that one particular individual appears to have had nothing to do with the threat. Although I had determined the identity of the assassin, the author created enough red herrings that I sometimes doubted that I had made a correct detection. This is a series that I've heard others praise, and I'm glad that I was not disappointed. I am looking forward to the next installment. 4 stars.

>12 thornton37814: It's too bad that the author of The Legacy didn't do more with the genealogy option -- it's annoying when someone seems to willfully ignore possibilities for answers that you know are there. Based on your review, I probably won't read it because I'd find it irritating, too....

> 13 I've been meaning to read State of the Onion -- you've just motivated me to make it sooner rather than later! Thanks.

>14 Dejah_Thoris: It's one of the better cozy series, I believe. Of course, I've only read one book, but others on this thread and the 75-book thread have said that it is!

>15 thornton37814: That's good enough for me!

The White House Chef series is one I've been meaning to try. Glad to hear you like it!

>13 thornton37814: Glad you enjoyed State of the Onion! I'd already ordered it and the 2nd one when I saw that you had listed it on the food TIOLI challenge. I've bumped it up on my tentative list for this month so I can join you, but first I just have to finish The Hunger Games triology.

The White House Chef series is really great. I've read them all and can't wait for the next one to come out at the beginning of next year.

**There's a food TIOLI challenge, I've got to go check that out.**

Love your new categories - I have State of the Onion somewhere in the TBR pile. Not sure if I'll get to it this this, but it's getting harder to resist when I keep reading good reviews for it.

When I saw that food challenge, I knew which book would be the first one I would challenge in it. I'm really glad that I finally got around to the White House Chef series. I'll be reading from my Kindle this next week as I will be attending a conference. I doubt I'll have tons of time to read, but I've got some on my Kindle that I'm eager to read. One of them will even fit the "Finish This Challenge" category in addition to my Kindle category. I've also got a book on there that I've marked down for the TIOLI challenge this month.

I'll be watching these with interest, as usual. Last year, I finished 1010 early enough to do a bonus challenge for December but I doubt I'll make it this year.

I'm shocked that I'm starting bonus categories this early! I barely made it through the 100 last year. I ended up with a few over, especially when you count a few things I read that didn't count toward the 1010 challenge. This year I set mine up more flexible which allowed me to read more of what I wanted, I guess. I'm glad to be making a dent in my reading, but I just keep adding to many books to the wish list and TBR piles (especially of the Kindle variety).

The bonus categories are such a good idea. Might borrow it.

Interested in seeing your list of Kindle freebies.

Another one for my Review category: The Sandburg Connection by Mark De Castrique - Sam Blackburn and his partner Nakayla Robertson are investigating an insurance claim case. When the person being investigated dies while exerting herself more than she should have with her injury, it doesn't take long for Sam, who had been tailing her, to realize that there is something not quite right with the circumstances surrounding her death. Much of the book is set in the Asheville, North Carolina area. Part of it is set at the Carl Sandburg home south of the city which is part of the National Park Service. UNC-Asheville, Warren Wilson College, and downtown Asheville play parts in the setting as well. I enjoyed the mystery which was not as predictable as some. I enjoyed the setting tremendously. This is the first of the mysteries featuring Sam and Nakayla that I have read, but I now want to go back and read earlier installments. Persons who enjoy literature, Civil War history, or just the Asheville, North Carolina setting will likely enjoy this mystery. This review is based on an advanced e-galley provided by the publisher through NetGalley for review. 4 stars.

By the way, it's release date is September 6 according to NetGalley.

First up in "Kindle the Flame of Reading" is Lawn Tennis for Ladies by Mrs. Lambert Chambers - Sometimes it's interesting to read an older book on a subject just to see how much things have changed and/or stayed the same. This book, published in 1910, is full of advice for women interested in taking up tennis. At the time, it was one of the few acceptable sports in which women could participate. Mrs. Chambers was a Wimbledon champion from the first decade of the 20th century. Perhaps the most dated sections are those on racquets and on dress. I can't imagine how difficult it must have been for women to play with skirts only a few inches above their ankles. It's difficult to rate a book like this because it is something which is now quite dated and of interest only in a historical sense. Recommended for those wishing to read more about the early years of women's tennis.

#26 I'll have to keep that one in mind. I like to read about the olden days in sports. Like the ladies softball league players during WW2 had to wear skirts.

It's not just an old issue. A world badminton federation was trying to require pro ladies' players to wear skirts/dresses while playing and that was just a few weeks ago.

She did talk about her career and the matches in which she had participated, but those sections were mostly statistical although occasionally she did talk about a stroke she took (such as a lob) and what the effect on that game was. I would not even classify that chapter as autobiographical -- which is a shame -- because that is something that might have had lasting value.

In my "Kindle" category: A Single Thread by Marie Bostwick - Recently divorced, Evelyn visits New Bern, Connecticut and decides to leave Texas and open a quilt shop in the small town. This book is about quilts, friendship, cancer, faith, and love. I loved the characters and the setting. Although published by a mainstream publisher, it is obvious to me that the author of this book is a Christian. Many of her characters either share their faith when the circumstance arises or they have "old-fashioned values." It also makes me want to grab some fabric scraps and start stitching them together. My only complaint is that the author seems to champion machine quilting because she mentions needing machines at various times. While I'm sure machine quilting is much faster, some of the best quilts are those which were done entirely by hand. I will look forward to my future visits with Evelyn, Abigail, Liza, Margot, Charlie, Garrett, Franklin, and all the others in New Bern in future installments of the series. 4 stars.

I like your review of A Single Thread. I generally enjoy books of this type so I am going to give it a try.

I have that on my TBR pile and a "crafts" category this year, so I'll probably move it up the pile closer to the top.

Lori,

Take note - you've increased my wishlist with A Single Thread.

I really did enjoy it! It had been on my wish list for a long time, but I was able to get it either free or cheap on Kindle at some point. When I saw that it fit one of the TIOLI challenges for the month, it was a good excuse to finally get around to reading it. I'm glad I did. I'm continuing my "quilt" reading now because I'm reading one of Jennifer Chiaverini's Elm Creek novels. I will probably finish it tonight or tomorrow. I've got to get around to The Hangman's Daughter sometime this month to finish my TIOLI commitments, but I think it will fill one of my needs in one of my geography-based challenges too.

The Blackburn series sounds promising! I may try it. The White House Chef series is already on my radar.

First up in my "I Want to Go Home" category is: The Cross-Country Quilters by Jennifer Chiaverini - In this third installment of the Elm Creek Quilts novel, the focus is less on the staff of the quilting retreat and more on the campers. We are introduced to Sylvia's friend Grace, a renowned quilt artist who finds herself out of ideas for new projects because of a condition she is battling. We are also introduced to Internet friends Megan and Donna. Megan has won this trip because of a quilt contest and convinces Donna to join her. Megan as a single mother is dealing with a negligent father and the problems her son is having because of no male role model. Donna is struggling with her college daughter's sudden behavioral change due to a relationship in which she is involved. Then there is Julia, an actress who needs to learn to quilt for a role she will be portraying. Returning once again is Vinnie, a lady who is determined to find a match for her grandson who has just ended a long-time relationship. Before leaving the camp, they agree to create a challenge quilt but can only work on their piece when they have resolved or made efforts to resolve the problem. The book alternates between the women showing the progress they are making during the year and future meet-ups. This book is all about friendship and how friends can get you through the toughest of times. The characters are well-developed and quite likeable. I absolutely loved this installment in the series and am looking forward to the next installment. 4 stars.

I re-read the first 2 of the Elm Creek series for my crafts category this year and have a good number of others in the pile. If I end up increasing my goal this year (I started at 55 and have increased once to 66), I might get to another one. If not, then next year.

Two for the "It's calling my name" category:

Log Cabins of the Smokies by Alice Daniel - For the small size of this book, I was surprised at the amount of information that it contained regarding the cultural life of the settlers who lived in these cabins in the Smokies prior to the National Park's establishment. While it is not a comprehensive treatment (nor is it designed to be one), it covers the subject more than adequately for most persons with a casual interest in what life was like for those living in log cabins. 4 stars.

Churches of the Smokies by Charles W. Maynard - This small booklet describes churches which were in existence when the Great Smoky Mountain National Park began whose structures remain today. While the author does mention the total number of churches which were on the North Carolina side when the lands were purchased from settlers, the author did not actually research the number on the Tennessee side, making simply an estimate. I would have liked to have seen a listing of all the churches that had been on the park lands, even if the ones no longer there were not treated further. I found the coverage of the churches to be uneven. Having read church minutes from the earlier periods, I know that the author could have found many more stories that would have been interesting to readers and expanded the book if he had done further research. It seems to be a book that was primarily written for the tourist audience, and unfortunately about all one gets is the information that would be presented to tourists by a guide. The information contained is very readable, but I would have preferred to have known a little more about the churches and their members. 3 stars.

Book 4 in "It's Calling My Name": The Land of the Smokies: Great Mountain Memories by Tim Hollis - This is a history of tourism in the Great Smoky Mountains area, primarily in the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge/Sevierville areas in Tennessee and Cherokee area in North Carolina. However, the author did include comments on places in the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina in the Boone and Blowing Rock areas and a chapter on attractions in the Chattanooga area. It was a fun trip down memory lane. While I'm too young to remember what it was like before the mid-1960s, we had ViewMaster slides, postcards, and other memorabilia around my house depicting those areas then so much of it was not foreign to me. It is interesting to see how changes have been made over the years and also, since I live in the area, to recognize changes from the time the book was published until now. While no book can ever be comprehensive in its treatment of the area's tourist attractions, this one does a good job of making it interesting. There are lots of vintage photographs and advertisements included throughout. My one criticism is that the author often left things that could have probably been tracked down better ambiguous. I suspect he was dealing with publication deadlines, but it left me with a feeling that there were still things that needed to have been researched before the book went to print. In spite of that flaw, it is still a great trip down Memory Lane for persons familiar with the Smokies. 3.5 stars.

Third in my Kindle category: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving - What marvelous descriptions that Washington Irving makes as he relates the tale of Ichabod Crane, a schoolmaster from Connecticut who is teaching in Tarry Town, New York, and his encounter with the infamous "headless horseman." Irving is a master at describing the setting. He did enjoy writing rather long sentences in places. I enjoyed this revisit to a book read many years ago, realizing that I now had a much greater appreciation for Irving's writing. This is a story that would make a great read-aloud to upper elementary and middle school students. I read this on my Kindle with the 1992 Public Domain Books edition. This version had some formatting issues when diacritics were introduced into the text. 4 stars.

What interesting books you've been reading about the Smokies!

It's too bad that Churches of the Smokies wasn't better. I suppose a book for the tourist trade isn't likely to make a genealogist or a historian happy.

My favorite 'tourist' places in the Smokies are Cherokee and Maggie Valley (there's great little motel I love). I've seen "Unto These Hills" many, many times -- with family, while at summer camp....no wonder I keep looking for that Native American that's supposed to be somehwere on the family tree. I suspect he or she may be Creek, not Cherokee, though. No princesses.

Churches of the Smokies isn't really a bad book. It's just not thorough. You would probably like The Land of the Smokies: Great Mountain Memories. He talks about the evolution of Cherokee and Maggie Valley quite a bit. I try to drive over the mountains into Maggie Valley and Cherokee once or twice a year. I especially enjoy going when the leaves are changing. This book has made me want to go and see a few more sights in the area before they are gone.

Number 4 in the Kindle category is: Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving - Rip Van Winkle is the classic tale by Washington Irving of a rather lazy man living in the Catskill Mountains of New York who fell asleep. On returning to his village, he is surprised to learn that he has been asleep not just overnight as he supposed but for twenty years. It's a classic tale that shows how much can change in a couple of decades. ***SPOILER ALERT*** The American Revolution had taken place. Many of his friends as well as his wife had died; others had aged almost beyond recognition. The village had grown, and many newcomers were there. Business had closed, and others had taken their place. *** END OF SPOILER*** 3.5 stars.

Churches of the Smokies sounds like an interesting topic -- a shame that it's not very thorough.

First up in "Complete the Challenge" is my Germany entry in the Europe Endless Challenge: The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Pötzsch - Jakob Kuisl is the hangman of Schongau in 17th century Bavaria. His daughter Magdalena is attracted to Simon, the son of the local doctor, even though such a relationship is forbidden in the culture. When orphans are found dead bearing a mark that is widely thought to be a sign of a witch, the local midwife is imprisoned. Jakob and other are convinced that she is not a witch, although it would be much easier if she were to just confess to the crime. It is up to Jakob, Simon, and Magdalena to find the truth behind the murders before Jakob has to kill the woman who brought his children into the world. I really enjoyed this tale based on the author's own family history. He, of course, has taken liberties with the story and plot, but it has brought to light the witch scares in Germany that preceded the one in Salem here in the United States. A great piece of historical fiction! 4 stars.

Lori,
I have a bunch of old classics that I got free for my Nook. I'm going to read Uncle Tom's Cabin to go with my Civil War reading, but haven't picked another yet. What else are you planning on reading on your Kindle? Maybe we can do two books in August?

I haven't really decided what I will read immediately and what I will read later. I have a huge number of free or bargain books that I have downloaded, particularly those that are available for short time periods only. Here's what I have tagged with the Kindle tag: http://www.librarything.com/catalog/thornton37814&tag=Kindle I can always download another freebie or classic as well if we find something else.

Another entry in "Complete the Challenge": Taste of Romania by Nicolae Klepper - This is not a terrible cookbook. It is just one that failed to inspire me as others do. It was interesting to see the kinds of food that Romanians eat, to learn a little about the history of the country, to read a folktale or two, to read a couple of poems that describe the country, etc. Many of the dishes seem to be somewhat similar to goulashes. Romania wasn't a country until the latter half of the 19th century. This relatively new country's cuisine has, therefore, been influenced by the cuisines of many nearby countries as well as France. There is an extensive bibliography in the book, and the indexes appear comprehensive. The predominant cheese used throughout the book is caşcaval. In the Kindle version of the book, there is often a footnote indicated by one or more asterisks. Unfortunately it is very difficult to determine which asterisk goes to which page because they begin at about 97% of the way through the book on the Kindle edition with each footnote being on a separate page. I was able to determine that the one for this type of cheese was usually a footnote indicating other cheeses that could be used for Americans unable to locate this cheese. One thing I noted about Romanian cuisine is the extensive use of sour cream in just about everything. I've decided that I can just add some sour cream to a dish and call it "Romanian." It's an interesting book, but it's not one that I'll be using often. 3 stars.

This one is also for my Europe Endless Challenge and fills the Romania slot.

Another addition to my Kindle category: Inspector Zhang Gets His Wish by Stephen Leather - There are not many murders in Singapore so when an American businessman is murdered in a hotel, Inspector Zhang finally gets his chance to solve a locked room puzzle using seven locked room possibilities offered by novelist John Dickson Carr. This short story was a quite pleasant way to spend an hour. 3.5 stars.

Another addition to my Kindle category: Uncommon Grounds by Sandra Balzo - On the day their coffee shop is set to open, Caron and then Maggy come in to discover that their partner Patricia is dead. When it turns out to be murder, the sheriff rather than the newly elected police chief takes charge of the investigation.Maggy is not certain that the sheriff is completely competent and sets out to do a little investigating of her own. Interesting plot with enough red herrings to baffle most readers. I had a feeling all along that the person that ended up being responsible for it was the villain, but I never really knew what the motive was until the end. This was not only a quick and easy read, but also one that held my attention. 3.5 stars.

Another entry in the "It's Calling My Name" category: Town in a Blueberry Jam by B. B. Haywood - Candy Holliday lives on Blueberry Acres in Cape Willington, Maine. The book opens when a Cape Willington man who is an excellent swimmer is found dead over a cliff near Bar Harbor. He was supposed to have been the grand marshal of the parade at the annual blueberry festival where each year a Blueberry Queen is crowned. When an older woman who is a newspaper reporter ends up winning the crown although she quite obviously did not excel in any of the competitions, Candy and her friend Maggie smell some sort of fraud. When the newly crowned Blueberry Queen turns up dead a couple of days later, and the town's handyman has been charged with the crime, Candy, like many others, know that the man could never have done such a thing. She sets out to prove his innocence and find the real killer. I found the beginning parts of the novel describing the festival and the events around it very tedious. I was fairly certain that the author was using the event to introduce us to the cast of characters, but it seemed rather drawn out. Once we got to the murder of the Blueberry Queen, things began to pick up, and I found myself really enjoying the novel, its setting, and its characters. There's a good bit of humor incorporated into the novel that most readers will appreciate. Although Candy really had very little reason to involve herself to the extent she did in the investigation, there were legitimate reasons behind most of them, although she probably should have gone through other channels to achieve her goals. Still, this is a quite enjoyable cozy mystery, and I look forward to the next installment. 3.5 stars.

>50 thornton37814: Sounds like a good one, Lori!

Happy 4th!

Another NetGalley book for my "Review Me" category: Main Street Public Library by Wayne A. Wiegand - Wiegand provides histories of four upper midwestern libraries and then devotes a chapter to analyzing the catalogs of these libraries up to about 1970. The libraries studied are The Bryant Library in Sauk Centre, Minnesota, The Sage Library of Osage, Iowa, The Charles H. Moore Library of Lexington, Michigan, and the Rhinelander Public Library in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. The study is interesting as it shows the development of these small town libraries through the ages. Today's libraries scorn censorship, but it was not a problem for most of these libraries in their early days. They scorned some of the dime novels of the day. Book selection was usually made by committee in the early days and later became a responsibility of the librarian. One thing that really surprised me were the late hours many of the libraries kept. Libraries often did not open until mid-afternoon and were open until as late as 10 p.m., closing during the supper hour. The bibliography is fairly extensive, providing an excellent starting point for those interested in further research. Wiegand has done a good job researching the literary history of these communities. My only criticism is that the text becomes mired down with details that make for tedious reading in places. This book, however, is intended for a more scholarly audience, and persons interested in these communities as well as persons interested in literary or library history will find it fascinating. This review is based on a advanced readers galley received through NetGalley for review. 4 stars.

Another entry in my Kindle category: Emma by Jane Austen - Emma Woodhouse sets out to be a matchmaker for her single female friends although her efforts are not very successful. This story chronicles the day to day life of women in the Regency period. Emma shows a few characteristics of an early feminist movement by trying to show that women do not need to be married to be happy. This is a classic tale and one of my favorite Austen novels. 4 stars.

Another NetGalley entry in my "Review Me" category: Sweet Invention: A History of Dessert by Michael Krondl -- What a disappointment! This book claims to be a history of dessert, but it is more of a "selected" history. Having taken on too broad of a topic, the author chooses to focus on a handful of mostly European cultures (with a little middle-Eastern influence which extended into parts of Eastern Europe). The arrangements is not chronological for the volume or even within each chapter devoted to one of the cultures. The volume is in desperate need of editing. Sentences begin with conjunctions (and are incomplete sentences). Passive mood abounds throughout the book. While the bibliography, end notes, and general content make it obvious that the author has done extensive research on the topic, there are some huge gaps. For example, the chapter that focuses on American desserts largely ignores anything prior to the 19th century. While Fannie Farmer's famed cookbook is utilized, other well-known early sources such as The Virginia Housewife appear to have been overlooked. Very few recipes are included, and those that are included are recipes that probably only advanced pastry chefs would attempt. In its present form, this book is not recommended. This review is based on an advanced e-galley provided by the publisher through NetGalley. It is hoped that extensive editing will take place before it is printed, distributed, and sold. 2 stars.

#52 That book about public libraries sounds good. I'll have to request a copy, once I finish my fifth net galley review. I'm currently ineligible.

It was rather interesting, Linda. I think Sauk Centre was my favorite because it talked a lot about Sinclair Lewis.

Another entry in my Kindle category: Summer Secrets by Barbara Freethy - Kate, Ashley, and Caroline McKenna along with their father Duncan won a sailing race 8 years ago. Now reporter Tyler Jamison claims to be doing a follow-up story on the race and what they are doing now. The sisters, especially Kate, are suspicious of him. Ashley will no longer go aboard a boat. Caroline has a problem that Tyler soon suspects. In the meantime, Tyler and Kate seem to get along quite well in spite of their lack of trust in one another. It's a romance with plenty of secrets to discover along the way. It just didn't keep me captivate me. I'm not a huge fan of romance novels. When I do read them, I prefer romantic suspense novels where a mystery is involved to this type of romance story. 2.5 stars.

I've been thinking of a "nook" category for next year. Would give me lots of leeway in what I could read.

The reason my Kindle category is so far ahead of the others at the moment is because I've been on the road a lot this summer. I'm sure I'll start something on my Kindle before too long, but I've finished all my July TIOLI reads that were on my Kindle. I've got a stack of books by my bed that I need to read this month for other challenges, and a list of library books that I plan to read as well. Some of the other categories will begin to catch up now!

Another entry in my "Complete the Challenge" category which fills a slot in my Endless Europe challenge: Skylark by Dezső Kosztolányi - 35-year-old "old maid" Skylark lives with her parents in a fictional Serbian town in what was at that time Hungary. Relatives living on the plain have repeatedly invited the family to come visit. When the end of the summer approaches and the family has not made the trip, they decide to send Skylark alone for the visit. Mother and father wonder what they will do to pass the time as they await Skylark's return, but they soon rediscover the lives they used to have before giving them up to try to keep their "ugly" daughter Skylark happy. This is a novel which portrays daily life rather than one in which there is a major crisis or event. The characters are wonderful. The descriptions are vivid. The model for the town in the novel is the author's own Subotica, which is located in present-day Serbia. 4 stars.

Another entry in my "I Want to Go Home" category: The Thai Amulet by Lyn Hamilton - Lara McClintoch (of Canada) is making another trip to Thailand, and her friend Natalie convinces her to try to locate her missing husband William, who is an American citizen, after receiving a package with broken amulets . Even the American embassy is unaware that William is missing. It is apparent that the last time anyone saw him was at a holiday celebration. Lara's niece Jennifer is in Thailand, visiting her boyfriend's family. When Lara arrives, she is surprised by their obvious wealth. There is a 16th century narrative that opens each chapter. While the events parallel the current ones in some ways, I found the 16th century less interesting and probably unnecessary for most of the writer's audience, except for adding literary value to the work. I did enjoy the manner in which Lara unraveled the true story. It's sad that more deaths had to occur to get to that point. While I enjoyed this installment, I prefer Hamilton's archaeological plots. 3.5 stars.

I accidentally checked out the wrong country at the library. I had intended to check out a book on Croatia and ended up getting the Serbian one instead, so I'm counting this one in the "Check Me Out" category: Serbia by JoAnn Milivojevic - This book is part of a series of books on various world countries designed to give overviews of countries to younger readers. This particular volume is very heavy on the history of the country and very light on the culture of the country, which was surprising to me, given its intended audience. I also thought that there would be more about some of the country's traditions than there were. While I'm certain that I'm comparing this volume to similar works I read 35 to 40 years ago, this volume is coming up short in reader engagement. This volume is also somewhat dated because at the time of its publication in 1999, Kosovo was still part of Serbia. 2.5 stars.

Another installment in "I Want to Go Home": In the Woods by Tana French - The body of a 12 year old girl is found at an archaeological site where a new motorway will be built. One of the detectives had a special connection to the site. He was the only survivor among three friends in that location which was then woods. Are the cases related or is the location just coincidental? This is a well-written mystery, and one which definitely held my attention. My biggest problem was in believing that the Detective Ryan's real identity and interest in the earlier case was not previously known by his superiors. I also found it difficult to believe that his partner who knew did not choose to reveal the conflict of interest, knowing it could damage the case. I was disappointed that only one of the two cases was resolved. Perhaps the other will be resolved in a future installment. 3.5 stars.

Another province (Northwest Territories) down in my Canadian Challenge and counting toward my "Complete the Challenge" category: Far North by Will Hobbs - 10th grader Gabe Rogers heads to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories to be nearer his father who is drilling for diamonds in a remote region. After his mother's death nine years earlier, he's lived primarily with his grandparents in Texas. He wants to see the north about which his dad talks. At his boarding school, his roommate is a boy from one of the Dene villages. Gabe's father arranges for Gabe to fly with a bush pilot one weekend. The flight just happens to be when his roommate Raymond decides to return to his village along with Johnny Raven, an older man from the village who had been in the hospital in Yellowknife. The pilot makes some unwise decisions and suddenly only Gabe, Raymond, and Johnny are left to survive in the extreme cold. It's a great story of survival for middle age readers, especially boys. The story kept me captivated. I stayed up later than I had intended just to finish the story in one sitting. 4.5 stars.

I read and was captivated by a similar story when I was 12 or so. Strange Companion by Dayton O. Hyde tells the story of a boy who is the only survivor when his plane crashes in the NWT. He finds a young whooping crane and they survive together.

That one sounds interesting as well, Alison.

In my "I Want to Go Home" category: The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett - This is a fascinating account of Bartlett's encounters with renowned book thief John Gilkey. Another figure central to the story is Ken Sanders who chaired the ABAA's security efforts. The penalties Gilkey received were simply slaps on the wrist for him. He knew how to work the American justice system, and one who reads this volume is aware of this. My reading of this book was timely as Gilkey was arrested again just four days ago. Reading the book brought back memories of a time that I worked in a library that owned a rare copy of a book. We ended up placing it in a safe (although one could easily question why we should even have owned the book if it were not going to be available for research and study). I love books, but I love them in a completely different manner than those who are obsessed with rare books love them. I don't care if they are valuable or not from a monetary perspective. To me the value comes from the story contained on the pages. It was fascinating to see how rare book thieves operate and why at least one of them did it. I found myself cheering on the booksellers who were suspicious of Gilkey and helped in getting him behind bars. This book should interest a wide variety of readers, including those interested in books about books and those interested in true crime. I would also recommend that persons responsible for hiring personnel in retail read this volume to understand the importance of background checks for employees. This review is based on an advanced readers copy loaned to me by a friend. 3.5 stars.

In the Woods has been on my radar for a while. Our library finally got a copy, and I need to get around to it!

Another entry in my "Check Me Out" category: Sweetgrass by Mary Alice Monroe - The Blakely family has owned Sweetgrass for generations, but now a threat from within their own family makes it seem likely that they will lose the land to developers. After tragedy strikes father Preston, Morgan returns home from Montana and looks for a way to save the land. The story is much deeper than this. Sweetgrass is a metaphor that many readers will recognize even before it is discussed in one scene late in the book. The characters are outstanding in this book. There are some readers will like and others readers will not, but they all are woven together to come up with a very satisfying read that champions putting limits on development to protect natural resources. I've often admired the sweetgrass baskets when I've visited the Charleston area, but I had no idea that the sweetgrass used to make the baskets is becoming more difficult to find because so many of the lands which once thrived with it have been commercially developed. 4 stars.

Another entry in "I Want to Go Home": A Finer End by Deborah Crombie - There's a first time for everything, and this is one of those cases. This is the first time I haven't really enjoyed one of the installments of Crombie's series featuring Supt. Duncan Kincaid and Sgt. Gemma James. The setting this time is Glastonbury. The book got off to a slow start. A friend of Duncan's cousin Jack is struck by a car. Jack doesn't believe it is an accident and invites Duncan up for the weekend. The murder (a different female) was not discovered until page 162. The book was filled with new age content that is just not really my thing. Once the body was discovered, the tempo of the book picked up. Even though it was not Duncan and Gemma's place to investigate, we find them getting involved. There are developments in this book which will be central to future books in the series. Crombie is a fine writer, even if I didn't care for this particular installment of the series. 3 stars.

>70 thornton37814:

A Finer End is my least favorite Duncan and Gemma novel -- it's just bizarre in places. Don't worry, though -- Crombie returns to her regular form in the later books.

BTW, you've made Sweetgrass sound really interesting. I've added to my TBR list, but I don't know when I'll get to it.

>70 thornton37814: The friend from whom I borrowed it said the same thing.

Three more books for my "Check Me Out" category:

The Cats in Krasinski Square by Karen Hesse; illustrated by Wendy Watson - Jews in the poor walled section of Warsaw are starving. Jews who are passing as Poles along with the help of cats manage to get food to the hungry. It's an interesting story that is based on account the author read. While the illustrations are good, many younger readers would probably prefer a few more colors in the palette used. 3.5 stars.

My Librarian Is a Camel: How Books Are Brought to Children Around the World by Margriet Ruurs - This is the story of how books are delivered to remote villages around the world. The problem with the book lies in the audience for the book. Many of the vocabulary words in the text are too advanced for younger readers, and the text is too academic to interest most younger readers. The book is illustrated by photographs. I would have liked to have seen a book aimed at younger readers that relied on an illustrator and vocabulary terms that are at their level. Middle schoolers would probably be put off by the size and format of the book which looks like a children's picture book, but they are probably the ones who would have to be the audience as the book was written. 2.5 stars.

The Most Beautiful Villages of England by James Bentley; photographs by Hugh Palmer - Bentley has authored what is more or less a coffee-table book depicting villages in England. He opens with an essay about villages and the types found in England. He then proceeds alphabetically by region with selected villages. Each village includes a description of the village with a brief historical sketch. Many of the photographs included photographs of buildings. I would have preferred to have seen more photographs of gardens or the buildings in their natural habitat as that is what I associate with a village's beauty. The latter part of the book did a better job of doing this than the earlier portion. It's an interesting book, but it didn't quite meet my expectations. 3 stars.

>73 thornton37814: I love The Cats in Krasinsky Square, but I think you're right about it not appealing so much to young children. When I read it to my granddaughter -- I think she was 5 then -- she wasn't particularly impressed and hasn't asked me to read it again. As well as the pictures not being vibrant, I think that the story requires some historical knowledge that most young children don't have; she asked a lot of questions about the story, but I don't think she really understood even after I'd tried to explain.

>74 ivyd: I liked the book too, but I was also trying to put myself in the place of a child with the rating. I'm not even sure that I knew what the Holocaust was before middle school. I'm sure that Jewish children had heard stories of it. I also understand what the illustrator was trying to convey with more subdued tones, but I'm not sure it completely worked. Maybe I should try reading the story to my cat and see if he begins performing heroic efforts!

Another entry in my "Review Me" category: Death of the Mantis by Michael Stanley - Three Bushmen who were in the area are arrested for the murder of a ranger. A bushman and close friend of Detective Kubu Bengu tells him that he believes the detective in charge of the case is guilty of racial profiling and is overlooking possibilities that might involve a white man. As other deaths occur, the police step up their efforts to find the person or persons responsible. This book started out slowly for me, but it picked up as the story progressed and tensions mounted. The novel contains excellent plotting and interesting characters. I'm not sure that novels with African settings will ever be among my favorites, but I did make it through this one, and I abandoned the first of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency novels that so many readers enjoy. I received an Advance Readers Copy through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program with the expectation that a review would be written. 4 stars.

>75 thornton37814: I sometimes find it hard to rate children's books, and I don't think I'm very consistent in my ratings. If I read it as a child, I usually give it the rating I would have then. If I haven't read it before, I usually try for a combination of my guess on its appeal to children plus my adult evaluation. But sometimes, particulary if I love it now -- and The Cats in Krasinski Square is one of those books -- I just give it my adult rating.

It seems like I've always known about the Holocaust -- and maybe I have. I was born less than 3 years after the end of WW II, and when I was small, we lived next door to a lady who "isn't old! Her hair turned white when she escaped from Germany." I now wonder exactly what that meant to a 3-year-old; all I remember is my father's very great surprise that I thought she was old, and that I was satisfied with the explanation.

Another entry in my "Check Me Out" category: The Lumby Lines by Gail Fraser - Charming and delightful are two words that I would use to describe not only the village of Lumby but also this book. Like many other small towns, many residents of the village of Lumby in the Pacific Northwest are suspicious of outsiders. East Coast vacationers Mark and Pam Walker decide to uproot their lives, purchase a burned out monastery, and turn it into a bed and breakfast. Who doesn't love a town where a dog is elected mayor, animals roam free, a moose runs around with a tricycle attached to its antlers, and a pink flamingo of the plastic variety keeps up with the events? I'm looking forward to my next visit to Lumby already. 4 stars.

I read the second one this year and it's just as good. I've got 3&4 on my shelves and have to hold myself back not to devour them right now.

I have to check to see if the public library has the second one or not. I hope they do! If not, I'll be either requesting it via ILL or tracking one down at the used bookstore.

Another entry to "It's Calling My Name": Local Breads: Sourdough and Whole-Grain Recipes from Europe's Best Artisan Bakers by Daniel Leader - The author of this book owns a bakery in upstate New York called "By Bread Alone." The book itself is part food memoir, part travel memoir, part cookbook, part food history, and part helpful hints. There are many recipes including, most of which begin with some form of a sourdough starter. The recipes are quite long and complicated. As someone who has a day job, I would never have time to create most of these recipes. Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day is a much more useful bread book for me. For those who do have the time, this book would be an excellent resource for learning the ins and outs of baking bread. I did not think that the cookbook layout was well-designed. The font is a bit small, and the column format for the narrative parts is a bit awkward, reminding one of textbooks. 3.5 stars.

In my "Check Me Out" category: Berried to the Hilt by Karen MacInerney - When a sunken trip is found off the shore of Cranberry Island, marine archaeologists from the University of Maine and treasure-seeking archaeologists from a firm arrive to try to be the first to register the name of the sunken ship. One of the archaeologists turns up dead and suspicion falls to Eli, a Cranberry Island resident who had a run-in with the man earlier in the evening and was in the vicinity of the murder scene. Eli is arrested, but Natalie is certain that he is innocent and sets out to investigate other possibilities since the police don't seem interested in exploring them. There are actually a couple of subplots to the story as well. It's a great mystery in what is turning out to be one of my favorite cozy series. My only problem is that there is a place where a conversation repeats itself because the author apparently forgot that Natalie had already told John what she had discovered while snooping. The author or an editor should have caught this problem. 3 stars.

Another entry in "Check Me Out": Lowcountry Summer by Dorothea Benton Frank - This is a revisit with the character of Caroline Wimbley from the book Plantation. It's set about 10 years after her mother Lavinia died. Her brother Trip's soon-to-be-ex-wife Frances Mae has a problem with alcoholism. They must decide what to do with the girls while her mother is in rehab. They aren't sure if the girls will warm to Trip's girlfriend. Caroline's love life is explored. The ghost of Miss Lavinia is around. The Gullah servants show good common sense. It's definitely Southern fiction. This book was very slow to start. I considered abandoning the read when I was about 50 pages into the story and had not warmed to it. I reminded myself that I'd enjoyed the author's other books so I kept on reading and was rewarded. About half way into the story, there was an event that took place that changed the pace of the book as well as the lives of several characters. This is not necessarily a story where I enjoyed what happened, but it is one that probably depicts Southern genteel culture better than most. This book would probably make a great movie. 3 stars.

Another entry in "Check Me Out": Book Lust: Recommended Reading for Every Mood, Moment, and Reason by Nancy Pearl - Librarian Nancy Pearl shares some of her favorite books from selected categories and from selected authors. Each short section usually contains a hook paragraph and lists several reads. Some describe the book; others do not. I was disappointed that so many books she recommended did not have descriptions long enough to make me want to pick them up or lacked descriptions entirely. It was far safer to read this book than to read threads in LibraryThing's 75 book challenge or 11 in 11 category threads as I came away with very few items to add to my wish list from reading this book and always seem to add a ton from my fellow readers in those challenges. It's a nice book for reader's advisory, but it is far from essential. 3 stars.

Another entry in "Check Me Out": The Real Macaw by Donna Andrews - Meg Langslow is now the mother of twins and is caring for a friend's child while her friend is serving overseas in the Army. The mayor decides to abandon the town-owned shelter's no-kill policy so the citizens steal all the animals, and Meg finds them in her living room. One of these animals is a foul-mouthed macaw. They were supposed to have been transported by the local furniture store owner in his truck, but he didn't show up at the appointed time and place. Instead, he is found dead with his earring ripped from his ear. There are a lot of other themes in this book such as town finances, corrupt officials, and real estate development that play important roles. As with most of the Meg Langslow mysteries, there are some pretty funny scenes. I was quite pleased that Meg turned evidence over to the police chief rather trying to investigate it herself.. She did a fair amount of snooping, but she generally did so with permission. A great installment in an excellent cozy series. 4 stars.

For my "It's Calling My Name" category: Fatal Remedies by Donna Leon - Brunetti finds his own wife in police custody after she admits to having committed an act of civil disobedience in protest of a travel agency that operates sex tours to Asian countries. It isn't long before someone involved with that travel agency is found dead. Brunetti must work through all possibilities to find the person responsible. There's plenty of action to keep the reader engaged. The uncertainties created by his wife's acts add elements of tension. A solid installment in the series. 3.5 stars.

Another entry for "It's Calling My Name": Latte Trouble by Cleo Coyle - It's Fashion Week in New York, and Clare and her Village Blend employees have been selected to cater events for the jewelry designer Lottie Harmon. At the first one which is held in the shop itself, one of the guests is murdered and another hospitalized after drink a cyanide-laced latte. Detective Quinn is on leave, and Detectives Starkey and Hut arrest the most obvious suspect, Clare's barista. Clare knows that if justice is to be served, she must find the killer herself. There are lots of twists and turns, and I found myself wondering fairly early if the person who ended up being the killer might have done it. I'm not sure that it was all that obvious until the last couple of chapters. I love the humor that the author put into the plot based on old television programs and well-known figures from the 1970s. I wasn't quite so much a fan of the fashion scene or of one plot incident that could have probably been handled differently. Still, it's a good installment in an enjoyable series. 3 stars.

Both Donna Leon and Cleo Coyle have been on my list of authors to investigate since sometime last year. Maybe I'll get to them sometime soon!

Another entry for "It's Calling My Name": Farewell, Miss Zukas by Jo Dereske - Chief Wayne Gallant has finally popped the question to librarian Helma Zukas, and she said yes. Then a burglar hits her mother and aunt's apartment while her aunt is home. The would-be burglar ends up falling four stories to the ground below. No one is really sure what happened because her aunt has significant memory lapses. When the police recover the body, there are still things missing from the apartment. The things stolen probably have more sentimental value than monetary value. At the library, Miss Moon's bestseller display is not very popular among the local authors. It's just so sad that this is the last visit with Helma, Ruth, Chief Gallant, Helma's mom, Aunt Em, Detective Carter Houston, TNT, Walter David, the library staff at Bellehaven Public Library, and Boy Cat Zukas. This last installment brought back memories of previous installments as I read the book. There are still so many unanswered questions about what will transpire in the future. I also felt we never had complete resolution on on the final outcome of the person arrested in Detective Houston's case. I enjoyed the author's note at the end of the book. We'll miss you, Miss Zukas. 3.5 stars.

Another book in my Kindle category: Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morley - What a delightful book! Helen McGill was saved from life as a governess by her brother Andrew who bought a farm. He's also a successful author who often goes on trips to research his books, leaving his sister alone to manage the farm. When Roger Mifflin shows up with his Parnassus of Books he hopes to sell Andrew, Helen buys it instead, leaving to embark on her bookselling adventure immediately. What an adventure it ends up being! This is a book lover's book! 4 stars.

Another entry in the "It's Calling My Name" category: If Books Could Kill by Kate Carlisle - Bookbinder Brooklyn Wainwright is attending a book fair in Edinburgh. She runs into an old friend Kyle who has a potentially valuable book that could displease many in royal circles as well as those who celebrate the poet Robert Burns. He asks Brooklyn to authenticate the book but before she ever has a chance to do so, he turns up dead, murdered with one of Brooklyn's bookbinding tools. Most of the characters from the previous installment make it from the San Francisco area to Edinburgh for this installment. I did enjoy this installment more than the first, but I don't think this will ever be a favorite series. I just don't like the main character all that much nor do I really like most of the supporting cast of characters. Her mom and dad are off the deep end. She has a very hateful rival that I would love to see turn up dead in a future installment. Some of the others are weak. I did like the Edinburgh detective, and I liked Derek better in this installment as well. I do, however, think my favorite character in the entire book was the cat in the library. This is the last of this series that I have in my stash, and I don't intend to read future installments. 3 stars.

Another in the "It's Calling My Name" category: Bel Canto by Ann Patchett - A birthday party turns into a hostage situation in an unnamed South American country. The captors wanted to take the country's president, but he cancelled at the last minute, sending the vice president in his place. The entertainment is provided by a noted opera singer. It's an interesting look at the bonds between kidnappers and their hostages. The novel is almost poetic in places. The book started a bit slowly for me, probably because so many characters were introduced in such a short time, but as the novel progressed, I could not put it down. It is well-deserving of the Orange Prize it earned. 4.5 stars.

Sounds like I may have to look for Bel Canto.

>93 cammykitty: Hope you enjoy it. I've had it for a couple of years in my TBR pile, but there were several people over on the 75 book group who were reading it this month for one of the TIOLI challenges so I decided to get mine out and join them. I had seen so many people commenting on how much they had enjoyed it, but sharing the read bumped it up for me. I'm glad it did.

Another entry in "Check Me Out": Kilt Dead by Kaitlyn Dunnett - Liss MacCrimmon returns to Moosetookalook, Maine to look after her aunt's Scottish merchandise store after she has a career-ending injury. It's not long after her aunt departs for Scotland that the body of the next door neighbor turns up in the store, and Liss becomes the prime suspect in the eyes of the quite incompetent investigating officer. There were a few suspects who could have done the dastardly deed for varying reasons, and Liss must figure out who before she lands up in jail herself. She's aided by her old high school friend Dan and her aunt's employee Sherri who is also employed by the sheriff's office. Imaginative literary liaisons kept me laughing as I tried to puzzle out what they could mean along with Liss and her allies. I look forward to the next installment. While this isn't great literature, it is fun! 3.5 stars.

Bel Canto has been on my radar for a few months now, but I still can't decide if I want to read it. Truthfully, I often don't care much for modern literature -- although A.S. Byatt's Possession is one of my favorite books of all time. Your review helps tilt the scale a little further toward 'read'. Thanks.

>96 Dejah_Thoris: You know that I prefer mysteries, but I enjoy other fiction too. While Bel Canto might be considered modern fiction to some, I just thought it was an interesting plot. It could have been a piece of historical fiction if it had been set in the past. I'm glad I read it.

Nice review of Bel Canto. Now that I think about it - based on your comment at #97 above - it has a timeless quality to it as I don't remember a lot of identifiers to securely slot the story in our current time period.

That's true. It could have been the not too distant past. Planes and automobile traffic firmly set it in the latter half of the 20th century. I don't remember cell phones being utilized.

Today, RidgewayGirl, cbl_tn, and I met up in Asheville, North Carolina at Malaprop's, a great independent bookstore and then ventured down to the Tupelo Honey Cafe for lunch.



After lunch, cbl_tn and I ventured on down to Flat Rock where we toured Carl Sandburg's home and saw many of his 12,000 books.

You will find more pictures from the Tupelo Honey Cafe here: http://familyhistorian.blogspot.com/2011/08/tupelo-honey-cafe-in-asheville.html

You will find pictures from Carl Sandburg's home here: http://familyhistorian.blogspot.com/2011/08/carl-sandburg-home-national-historic...

We did not have time to tour the goat farm. It was pouring down rain when we arrived so it would have been a bit muddy. We do hope to go back sometime!

What a nice day you three look to be having. So, did you all buy books?

I bought one at the Carl Sandburg home.

I was just looking at the links of the Tupelo Honey Cafe and Carl Sandburg's home. Wow, his home is beautiful and in such a gorgeous setting - too bad it was raining for your visit, but the pictures taken in the rain are lovely.

I am looking forward to going back when we can see the farm and the goats. I did pick up a DVD that is a tour of the grounds and house that is narrated by Carl's granddaughter. They told us that she lives down the road and is often there at Connemara. I'd love to run into her sometime. The guide told us that they had been living in Michigan and that his wife had wanted to move. He was happy anywhere as long as he could have peace and quiet to write. He was sold on the house when he saw the view. His wife didn't really like the price tag, which I think was some huge amount like $40,000 back when they bought it in 1945. He spent the last 22 years of his life there. Incidentally his wife had intended for the room with that gorgeous view of the mountains to be Carl's office, but he wouldn't use it, saying he'd never get any work done. I did spot Pride and Prejudice on the shelves in the room with that table pictured.

Looks like you three had a great time!

I came home with two new books. From Malaprop's: Someday I May Find Honest Work: A Newspaper Humorist's Life, a collection of humorous essays written by a long-time columnist for my local newspaper. From the Carl Sandburg Home: Fables, Foibles, and Foobles. I had a book of selected poems in my hand, but put it back on the shelf after I spotted this one. It's a collection of humorous sayings and short sketches written originally for Sandburg's own entertainment and not for publication.

I had a great time and really love being able to put a face and a voice to Thornton's and cbl_tn's posts! I picked up an autographed copy of Ron Rash's Burning Bright and had a fun discussion with the salesclerk, where I learned that he's almost finished a new book. Malaprops is a fantastic bookstore -- Asheville is lucky! Also, the Tupelo Honey Cafe had excellent food. I had a memorable rosemary peach lemonade, which I will have to figure out how to make. The recipe is not in their cookbook.

So who's up for the next Asheville meeting?

You know that cbl_tn and I both are! Hopefully we'll have many more join us next time!

ETA: Have you finished that yummy-looking tomato pie yet?

Asheville is an easy day trip from here, and there are so many things to do there. I've already got several things on my list for future trips.

Great to see you all together.

Another entry in "Review Me": Murder Most Persuasive by Tracy Kiely - Shortly after the death of Elizabeth's great-uncle, the new owners decide to enlarge the pool and in the process uncover a body. This brings Detective Joe Muldoon back into the lives of the family. The body is that of Reggie's former boyfriend who is thought to have embezzled a large sum of money from her father's company. One of the officers on the case believes that Ann may have done it because he had tried to rape her, and she had pushed him away earlier. Joe, who had loved Ann, does not believe she is capable of doing it, but since the other officer knows of his personal involvement, he can't do much to sway opinion. Elizabeth believes she must clear her cousin's name from suspicion. This novel was too "chatty" for my tastes. The author relied too much on conversation to move the narrative. There is humor built into the story which many readers will like. There are plenty of red herrings to distract readers from settling on a single suspect too early in the plot. Some of the family members are interesting, but others are annoying. As Persuasion is the only Jane Austen novel I haven't yet read, I am certain that I did not pick up on the similarities between the novels, even though I had a friend give me the gist of the plot after reading about 50 pages. Hopefully, I will remember this novel well enough that I will see the similarities when I read Austen's final novel later this year. This review is based on an advance uncorrected proof provided through the publisher via LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program. 3 stars.

Another entry in "I Want to Go Home": Death in the Stocks by Georgette Heyer - Arnold Vereker is found dead in the stocks on Ashleigh Green, the victim of a knife wound. Suspicion quickly turns to his half-brother, half-sister, and to an employee of his company. All disliked him and had the opportunity to do so, but their stories are not convincing and leave Supt. Hannasyde and family attorney Giles Carrington with more questions than answers. With so many lies, it is hard to sort out the truth. There are a few surprises along the way, but eventually the culprit is found. Well-plotted. The family is so eccentric that the reader (at times) hopes all of them are all guilty.

I gave it 3 stars, but it's really more like 3.25 stars.

>Love the picture! It sounds like you had a great time!

My copy of Murder Most Persuasive did arrive Saturday, so I'll get to it next, after I finish the book I'm now reading, which is taking far longer than I expected. Then I'll read your review of it...

Another entry in "I Want to Go Home": To Love and Be Wise by Josephine Tey - American photographer Leslie Searle has gone missing near an artist's colony called Salcott St. Mary. The local officials call in Scotland Yard to run the investigation. Inspector Grant is sent. Has the young man made a run for it? Did he accidentally fall into the river? Was he murdered? Was there some other explanation for his disappearance? Grant must puzzle out the case that reminds him of the lady who is sawed into two pieces in magic shows. We meet an interesting cast of characters. This book started out slowly for me since there was no disappearance until page 79. Once the investigation began, the tempo of the book picked up. I found Inspector Grant to be likeable. 3.5 stars.

Marking off Texas in my 50 states challenge and using this one for my "Complete the Challenge" category: Spanish Dagger by Susan Wittig Albert - China Bayles and her guest Carole discover the corpse of Ruby's ex-boyfriend Colin among some yucca plants by the railroad. She calls her friend Sheila, the chief of police. At the same time her step-brother Miles wants to investigate the car accident that killer her father years earlier and hires her ex-cop (now PI) husband McQuaid to work on the case. Resolution for the investigation into her father's death is supposed to take place in the next installment Nightshade. It becomes apparent that Colin's death is somehow related to his past uncover work in drug enforcement. There's a lot of action in this one. China seems to get herself into a lot of situations that she should probably have avoided. The star of the show ends up being Colin's Rottweiler. 3 stars.

Great photo! Glad you had a good time, despite the rain.

Several of the books/series you've read/reviewed lately are on my Ever-Expanding List. It's good to read your thoughts on them.

Another borrowed book will soon be on its way home as I have another entry for my "I Want to Go Home" category: The Dead Sea Cipher by Elizabeth Peters - Dinah Van Der Lyn is in her room in a Beirut hotel when she hears a cry for help from the next room. She tells the person she assumes to be the night attendant. They discover a man named "Hank" dead. This tale of espionage leads Dinah through Tyre, Sidon, Damascus, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and eventually to Qumran. Whom should Dinah trust--Cartwright or Smith? I expected a murder mystery rather than an espionage story and as such was a bit disappointed in the book. There is plenty of tension as the audience wonders if Dinah is trusting the right man. There's also questions about the identity of her traveling companions and their involvement. 3 stars.

>117 thornton37814:

When I saw you were reading it for a Challenge, I reread The Dead Sea Cipher to join you -- it's not her best, is it? But even when she's not at her best, Elizabeth Peters isn't terrible.

Yes - that was my thought - not Elizabeth Peters at her best.

Another entry in "It's Calling My Name": Peach Cobbler Murder by Joanne Fluke - A couple of sisters (Shawna Lee and Vanessa) opened a bakery right across from Hannah's cookie shop. It's definitely cutting into Hannah's profits as the locals all try it out. After returning to the cookie shop from Lisa's wedding, Hannah notices there is a light still on at the bakery. Shawna Lee was supposed to have come to the wedding with some of her Southern peach cobbler, but never showed up. After calls fail to get Shawna Lee to the door, Hannah decides to see if it appears there has been a burglary. She finds a body. Hannah and her friends certainly have an unconventional manner of tag-teaming an investigation that should be left to the police even after she's been cleared as a suspect. It's an interesting piece of brain candy with a somewhat predictable outcome. I liked her desperation cookie recipe because I did something similar recently when I thought I had more chocolate chips on hand than I did. I used mixed chips. 3 stars.

A couple of children's picture book entries i "Check Me Out":

* The Owl and the Pussycat by Edward Lear; illustrated by Stephanie Jorisch (Visions in Poetry series) - I remember reading Edward Lear's rhymes back in elementary school and enjoying them. This edition of a children's book has nice illustrations, but they may be a bit too adult for younger readers. 3.5 stars.

* Adèle & Simon by Barbara McClintock - I loved this children's book about a young boy and his sister coming home from school. Along the way, Simon slowly loses all his belongings. The illustrations are gorgeous, and it should provide fun for children as they try to locate the missing items on each page. 4.5 stars.

The Owl and the Pussycat isn't a children's poem, is it? Yet it shows up regularly in children's anthologies. The kids have it in a collection of bedtime stories, illustrated by Quentin Blake, the artist who did such a great job illustrating Roald Dahl's children's books. I'm not sure that could be improved on.

Another entry in "It's Calling My Name": Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers - Lord Peter Wimsey's brother Gerald, the Duke of Denver, is arrested for the murder of Mr. Cathcart whose body was found at Riddlesdale Lodge on a night when the Duke had gone out. His brother refuses to talk. His sister is not telling the truth. Wimsey's adventure takes him to England, France, and America as he tries to clear his brother of the charges. There are a few almost comical moments in the book. I was a bit distracted as I read this book, but it was enjoyable. 3 stars.

>122 RidgewayGirl: Alison, I had seen a review of this book somewhere, and it had been on my wish list because I remember liking the poem as a child. It certainly wasn't a children's book as illustrated, but it was in the Juvenile section of the library, of course.

Another installment in "I Want to Go Home": Behold, Here's Poison by Georgette Heyer - When the master of the Poplars is found dead, most of the family and even the doctor believe it to be natural causes, but Aunt Gertrude insists upon an autopsy where poison is discovered. Of course, the evidence had been cleared away by the time it became a police case, so Supt. Hannasyde and Inspector Hemingway have little evidence on which to build their case. The question the family and the doctor and while there are plenty of motives, there is nothing which puts the suspicion on any one member above another. Will they be able to solve a seemingly unsolvable murder? Plenty of motives; plenty of red herrings. Most mystery buffs will be able to spot the truth before it is revealed, but it's still an enjoyable read. There is a reference to a previous book, Death in the Stocks, so those who have not read that earlier book should probably begin with it to see why this case reminds Inspector Hemingway of that one. 3.5 stars.

Another book for the "Review Me" category: Saint's Gate by Carla Neggers - Agent Emma Sharpe has been called back to the convent where she was once a novice by Sister Joan to comment on a painting. Emma's family had been involved in art restoration for years and now Emma investigates art crimes for the FBI. Sister Joan goes to the tower where the painting is located, surprising a thief. When Sister Joan doesn't return as expected, Emma sets off to find her. She encounters a novice named Cecelia along the way. She finds Sister Joan dead, it becomes a matter for local law enforcement, but naturally, she gets involved. Another FBI agent, Colin Donovan is in the area. Her boss Matt Yankowski comes up from Boston. Colin's friend Father Finian Bracken also plays an important role. All the crimes seem to be related to a period shortly after Sister Linden made the convent known for its art. I found this an enjoyable read. I liked the Maine setting. I enjoyed the characters. The plot was different from a lot of mysteries. While there is a touch of romance, I wouldn't necessarily classify this as a romantic suspense because the lead female character is law enforcement official instead of a governess, secretary, or other household servant. This review is based on an electronic galley provided by the publisher through NetGalley for review. 3.5 stars.

Sounds interesting, so I checked out fantasticfiction.com to see if it was part of a series. She's quite a prolific author with a few series and lots of non-series books. I think I will go put it on my wishlist and maybe see if I can find one of her other books to try.

Saint's Gate is scheduled to release August 30 according to the information on NetGalley. I didn't check Amazon to see if their release date is the same.

Reporting an abandoned book: The Clarinet Polka by Keith Maillard - Jimmy Kaprowski returns to his hometown of Raysburg, West Virginia following his deployment to Vietnam. He had never planned to return. Steel is the chief industry. There is a large Polish-American community. Unfortunately, I could not continue to read this book. It was one in which I did not feel a connection and the amount of profanity used by Jimmy and his friends was more than I was able to tolerate. I'm a little sad about this as I was really curious how he was going to incorporate the musical theme. At the point I abandoned it, we had earlier been introduced to Jimmy's sister who played piano well, loved polkas, and was learning to play trumpet. However, we had not been introduced to a clarinet player.

Another entry in "Review Me": Lit!: A Christian Guide to Reading Books by Tony Reinke - Have you ever read a book that wasn't quite what you expected, but which was quite good nonetheless? This is such a book. I expected that the author would employ a reader's advisory tone in his writing; however, he approached the subject from the perspective of learning to love books and literature. He demonstrated the value of reading both Christian and non-Christian books to one's spiritual growth. He also offered tips on how parents could inspire children to love books and to pastors on how to get church members appreciate and read books. There are many quotes from the Bible and from other writers throughout the book on the value of reading. He encourages readers to create marginalia, but only in books which are their own. Even though this book was not what I expected, I found it to be extremely valuable. I received an advanced electronic galley from the publisher through NetGalley for review, but I intend to purchase my own print copy of the book. I found myself highlighting many passages as I read through the galley on my Kindle which will be valuable to me as a librarian who enjoys promoting reading and literature. 4 stars.

Another entry in "It's Calling My Name": Shrouds of Holly by Kate Kingsbury - Samuel and Baxter are gathering holly when they come upon a man swinging from a tree. Soon the horses and carriage return to the Pennyfoot Hotel without the original occupants and with the dead body. The concern is only amplified when Samuel returns on foot with a head injury and little recollection of the events. Cecily instigates a search for her husband. Samuel slowly regains his memory. Cecily is convinced that P.C. Northcott is incapable of finding the murderer and continues her investigation. The cast of characters at the Pennyfoot is always charming. Cecily's involvement in the case did not seem to be quite as natural as in some previous cases. Although this book has a Christmas setting, the holiday theme is minimal, and the book can be read at any time of the year. While it was an enjoyable read, I found a little of the spark of previous installments missing in this one. 3 stars.

Another entry in my "Complete the Challenge" (for West Virginia in the 50 States Challenge) category: Lick Creek by Brad Kessler - Emily Jenkins lives in a home with her mother on Lick Creek in West Virginia. Her father and brother had died in the mines. Her mother was in the depths of despair. Now electricity is coming to the area. The surveyors mark the route the line is to take, but it comes too close to her home for Emily's taste. She altered the route. One day one of the workers falls from a pole near the house and is severely injured. Emily's mom Ada takes the man into her home, regaining a purpose in her life. It brings other changes as well. This is a beautiful novel with realistic characters and rich images of the landscape and events. 4 stars.

I finished another book for my Canadian challenge so this one goes in the "Complete the Challenge" category: Who Has Seen the Wind by W. O. Mitchell - This is the story of Brian O'Connal's childhood in a small town on the Saskatchewan prairie. It's full of memorable characters and even some amusing scenes in the life of a small town. I especially enjoyed Brian's first visit to the farm when he lived with his uncle for a time. The dialect sometimes made it difficult to read, but it's a book that would make a terrific read aloud for elementary aged children. The physical dimensions of the book I borrowed through interlibrary loan made it somewhat uncomfortable to read, but the illustrations made up for it. 3.5 stars.

Another book in my "I Want to Go Home" category: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith - I can't believe that I waited so many years to make the acquaintance of Francie Nolan, her brother Neeley, and her parents Katie and Johnny. They reside in Brooklyn. Francie learns quickly that she is the only one in her class whose parents were born in the United States. The others were children of immigrants. Francie excels in school, especially in writing. She loves to read, although the librarian in her neighborhood library is not going to win any customer service awards. This is just a nice, clean novel about growing up in a poor family and working toward making things better for the next generation than it was for your own. I'm sure that I'll revisit this book in the future. 4.5 stars.

Just a quick note to let you know where my 12 in 12 thread will be: http://www.librarything.com/topic/122988.

Don't worry though! I won't start posting books there until January. I'll still be here through 2011.

Another entry for "Review Me": The Mind and the Machine: What It Means to Be Human and Why It Matters by Matthew Dickerson (sorry - the touchstone is weird for this author) - Dickerson draws upon philosophy, science, psychology, and literature as well as theology to draw his conclusions about the human experience in a digital age. He uses analogies to simplify some concepts. He draws heavily from the writings of B. F. Skinner, C. S. Lewis, and J. R. R. Tolkien in his arguments. The second part of the book was far more engaging than the first. This is one of the better treatments of the subject from a Christian perspective. It should appeal to the academic community. The second part will also have some appeal to a much broader community. 4 stars.

Another entry in "It's Calling My Name": Murder by the Glass by Michele Scott - Isabel Fernandez is arrested for the murder of her ex-boyfriend's new bride where she is catering the wedding. Her friend Nikki Sands who works for Derek Malveaux's Vineyards is convinced that Isabel didn't do it. Because Isabel was an immigrant, the judge refuses bail. Lots of suspects; lots of revealed secrets; a romantic triangle; a predictable perpetrator. I enjoyed the first in this series much more than this installment.. 3 stars. (Torn between 2.5 and 3 stars; decided to give it 3)

Another entry in "I Want to Go Home": The Body in the Gazebo by Katherine Hall Page - Faith's friend Pix is leaving town to attend functions associated with her child's wedding. However, her mother has been ill so she gets Faith to check in on her. Pix's mom Ursula begins to share a family secret with Faith in hopes that Faith will be able to solve it. In the meantime, $10,000 of the minister's discretionary fund has gone missing, and Faith's husband Tom is being accused by the vestry. Faith must also work to discover who has framed her husband. Both mysteries are intriguing. Because the mystery of the "body in the gazebo" is 70 years old, this installment is quite a bit different in that involves a lot of storytelling and listening. 4 stars.

Another one for "It's Calling My Name": Murder Past Due by Miranda James - Athena College archivist Charlie Harris moved back to Athena after inheriting his aunt's home. It was his aunt's wish that he continue to board college students in the large house. The current student is Justin. He's just learned that he is the son of a famous writer who is a native of the town of Athena. No one really likes Godfrey Priest (the famed author). When he turns up dead, suspicion turns to Justin and his mother Julia. The man he's called father all these years is hospitalized at the time. Charlie really doesn't believe that Justin or Julia is responsible for the murder so he sets out to investigate. His housekeeper's daughter Kanesha is the acting chief deputy and is in charge of the investigation. There are lots of motives and lots of suspects when a womanizing man such as Godfrey Priest is the victim. As the novel progresses other motives are discovered as well. I really enjoyed this first installment in the series. Athena does not seem to be based on any of North Mississippi's towns or colleges. It's a private college in a town that appears to be small. There are some aspects that resemble Ole Miss and Oxford, but there appears to be no town square, and the town seems to be smaller than Oxford. The towns with private colleges such as Blue Mountain don't seem to be a match either. I absolutely loved Diesel, Charlie's Maine Coon cat. Diesel goes almost everywhere with Charlie -- to work, out shopping, and even to a memorial service. 4 stars.

Anyone have a chainsaw handy? If so, you can have some free wood!

Tropical Depression Lee? It was windy down here.

Yes - Lee.

Oh my! I lost a tree a couple years ago, so you've got my sympathy. & when you find a cheap thing to do with a stump, let me know. Right now, I'm growing a bush. It looks like it was a beautiful tree.

Boy, that looks like it came down with quite a thump. Good thing it feel clear of any obstructions (like a house).

I'm thinking my yard is getting another dogwood tree in the spring (if I can find someone that can dig the hole. My yard is as hard as rock -- mountain rock that is.

Marking off Iowa in my 50 States Challenge and counting it for my "Complete the Challenge" category: Dewey by Vicky Myron - What an endearing story of Dewey Readmore Books, the library cat who put the town of Spencer, Iowa on the map! I enjoyed the story of his rescue from the book drop and adoption by the library. I saw a lot of similarities between my own cat and Dewey in some aspects, but Dewey is much more of a people cat than mine has ever been or will be. It's a great story of a cat who shared the love he had to give with a town in need of it. 3.5 stars.

Wow! What a shame about the tree.

Murder Past Due sounds good.

Another entry in "Review Me": Christianity and Literature: Philosophical Foundations and Critical Practice by David Lyle Jeffrey and Gregory Maillet - This book would make a great introductory textbook to the study of Christian themes in literature. As I was reading it, I was reminded of a Sunday School class that I attended in Wyoming many years ago where we studied a poem by George Herbert and compared it to the Bible. It was a meaningful exercise and one that I repeated on my own as a devotional study afterwards. This book actually points out some of the works of literature which might be explored, whether poetry or fiction, and points to the themes that might be explored in some of these. The authors also utilize philosophy in exploring some of the works and in establishing a framework for their study. This is not a book which establishes a new interpretation of anything, but rather one which consolidates some of the research to make its study easier, making it ideal for use as a textbook. There are good bibliographies at the end of each chapter for those wishing to explore the subjects covered in more depth. 3.5 stars.

I finally managed to read another of my SantaThing books. It is another entry in my "It's Calling My Name" category: The Ninth Daughter by Barbara Hamilton - I have mixed feelings when it comes to making historical figures stars of serial fiction. On the one hand, I love the visit with that time period in a more readable fashion. On the other, I have a problem when it comes to placing the historical figure in situations in which they probably never were. Such is the case with this first installment in a series of mysteries featuring Abigail Adams, wife of later-to-be president John Adams. In this installment, one woman is dead and another is missing. It appears that a member of the Sons of Liberty, perhaps even her husband, may be responsible or have been framed. She is determined to find the real person before the English officials arrest her husband. I loved the references to historical persons. I am familiar enough with Boston and its streets and neighborhoods to have visualized and placed the geographic references. What I couldn't quite believe were the activities in which Abigail Adams engaged in the novel for a woman in that time period. In spite of my problem with the believability of the novel, it was an enjoyable read. 3.5 stars.

Another entry in "Check Me Out": A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny - Clara finally has a solo art show at a prominent museum in Montreal. There is a party back in Three Pines after the opening. The next morning the body of a childhood friend (and later enemy) of Clara is found in Clara's garden. The victim was an artist who had been a recovering alcoholic. The beauty of this novel is that it is a novel of contrasts, with the light and dark metaphor playing prominently into it. Her characters are realistic and flawed. Gamache allows Agent Lacoste to take the lead in this investigation to see if she's ready for a likely upcoming promotion. The officers, especially Jean-Guy, are still dealing with the psychological aftermath of the ordeal in the last novel (Bury Your Dead). There are hints of what will come in future installments. Do I really have to wait a year for the next one? The only consolation is that with Penny, it is worth the wait. 4.5 stars.

Another entry in "Review Me": Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith by Douglas Groothuis - This is one of the best works on apologetics that I've ever encountered. The author approaches the subject from a philosophical perspective and uses arguments that show how to reason with persons of different religious persuasion whether they believe in a major religion, are atheist/agnostic, or are pluralists (as so many are today). He shows how popular culture has influenced some misconceptions that are frequently encountered as well. He avoids the use of jargon. When he does use a term that might be considered jargon, he explains it very simply and uses analogies/illustrations so that the concept is very understandable. There is also a glossary of some terms. The author's bibliography and footnotes demonstrate his mastery of the subject. The index is great. It is a HUGE book, but it's very readable. Highly recommended. 5 stars.

Another entry in "It's Calling My Name": A Crafty Killing by Lorraine Bartlett - Ezra Hilton, owner of a Artisans Alley, is found dead. Katie Bonner, widow of Ezra's former 10% partner, becomes executor and majority owner in the business upon his death. She'd had little to do with the business up to that point, but hated her job with an overbearing boss. She quits and decides to run the shop which is about to go under. She also doesn't think the detective is doing all he can to resolve the crime so she sets out to investigate on her own, gathering as much information as she can about the artisans. With Katie's background in marketing, we can begin to see hope for survival of the struggling business as she takes over operations. I found myself liking most of the cast of characters that will likely be repeats (although I must confess that there might be one or two that I wouldn't mind seeing charged with a future crime). I had the feeling that this book is mostly a set-up and introduction for the rest of the series. There's really very little action, and I feel we didn't get to know the detective quite as well as we should, although there were some revelations near the end about him. She did manage to keep me guessing who the perpetrator was throughout the novel although I had already guessed some aspects of the solution. Not a bad start for this series! I look forward to reading more about Katie and seeing how the gallery and her relationships with some of the men progress during the course of the next installment. 3 stars.

Another entry in "Review Me": A Stir in the Waters by Mark A. Kramer (touchstones not yet available) - When I first learned of this book, I thought that the book's title sounded like a work of fiction. When I saw the beach scene on the cover, I thought the same thing. Then I saw the subtitle which indicated that the book was about infant baptism.

This book will have very little influence on Christian scholars. It's not even on their radar. Not a single library owns a copy. The book was self-published by Xulon Press. There is a time and place for self-published works. (I use them quite a bit in genealogical research.)This work, however, needed to see the touch of an editor's hand.

This book bears the mark of a self-published work from the first word to the final word of the book. The grammar is poor. Sentence structure is very weak. There are many fragments throughout the work. The author mixes personage (1st, 2nd, 3rd person) in his prose. There are problems with typography (too many fonts), formatting, particularly of numbered lists, but also of shading, headings, etc.

The author takes issue with some topics but fails to adequately argue his points. Part of the problem is that he attempts to base his argument on a Greek word, yet He has failed to utilize basic sources for word studies.

Throughout the book, the author calls the New American Standard Bible (NASB), the "NASV" when he is listing how the various English versions translate certain terms. A very generous 1/2 star.

Oh, that last one sounds horrible! I hope your next book is better.

Believe me, tymfos, if that book had not been assigned to my subcommittee for review, that book would have never crossed my radar. It's not one that I would usually read.

I decided to browse the shelves at our local public library the other day. I finally located one of the misshelved books that we've been trying to locate since late June or early July. Because of this, I have another entry in my "Check Me Out" category: A Dark and Stormy Night by Jeanne M. Dams - As Dorothy Martin and her husband Alan Nesbit head to a country estate for the weekend, the stage is set for a variation of Agatha Christie's classic locked house mystery, And Then There Were None. A hurricane-like storm hits soon after their arrival, uprooting trees and flooding the river. A body is found under one of the uprooted trees. Soon more bodies are discovered and other members of the party disappear. With communications cut off even in the modern age depicted in the novel, Alan, a retired law enforcement officer, takes it upon himself to gather evidence and begin the investigation even though he has no authority and lacks jurisdiction.Needless to say, Dorothy also gets involved. It's an interesting twist on the classic Christie novel. 3.5 stars.

Book #19 in "It's Calling My Name" (which basically means that I'm slowly whittling down the TBR pile after completing the commitment for the 11 in 11 challenge back in May): Shaking the Family Tree by Buzzy Jackson - Buzzy Jackson, who earned a Ph.D. in history, shares her ventures into the world of family history. She begins with her first local genealogical society meetings, has her own mtDNA and her father's Y-DNA tested, goes on a genealogical cruise, encounters her Alabama relatives, and visits the Family History Library in the course of the book. While I enjoyed the book, I didn't love it. It was written in a slightly more contemporary conversational tone than many books of this nature. It was interesting to see her impressions of some of the most prominent genealogists in the field. Some of these descriptions had me laughing. Although she emphasized the importance of documents, I sometimes had the same feeling that I have watching episodes of "Who Do You Think You Are?" on television, namely that too much was jumped. I realize that her intention was not to provide a detailed account of tracing her line, but I would have preferred an approach that resembles the methodology taught by the leading genealogists. I purchased this book after hearing the author speak at the National Genealogical Society's conference in May 2011. Because I enjoyed her keynote address so much, I expected to like the book more than I did. There are portions that should be read by those new to genealogical research. They will identify with someone who was going through what they are encountering as they begin their family history research. Experienced researchers have little to gain by reading this, except for an occasional laugh or two as they recognize their genealogical colleagues and picture them as the author did. 3 stars.

Another entry in my Kindle category: Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen - Catherine Morland, who enjoys reading novels, finds herself in a twist on one as she accompanies neighbors to Bath. She soon finds herself as a guest at Northanger Abbey where she falls for Henry Tilney, the son of the owner, a rather nasty general. This is Jane Austen's take/parody on a gothic novel. I tried to read this one about 35 years ago when I read a lot of romantic suspense and Gothic novels. I did not like it at that time, probably because of the linguistic and grammatical differences in reading a novel written at the time of Austen versus that of a novel written in the 1970s. I found myself enjoying it much more this time. While Catherine is not in quite the lowest of circumstances of many heroines of Gothic novels, she is not as affluent as Henry's family so there is a difference in social class. Catherine experiences many things in this novel including the betrayal of a friend. 4 stars.

Windflower by Gabrielle Roy is an entry in my "Check Me Out" category (although I had thought it would be in "Complete the Challenge" based on reviews and thread comments that placed it in Labrador. As I read it and compared the locations to my atlas, I discovered that the book was set in Quebec's Nunavik region.

Windflower by Gabrielle Roy - This is the story of an Eskimo woman living in northern Quebec's Nunavit region, specifically in Fort Chimo along the Koksoak River, who becomes pregnant by an American serviceman. She did not know the soldier's name because it was a difficult name for her. She refused to name the soldier, even though she recognized him, because she realized he would be disciplined for his conduct. The story is also about her son Jimmy's growth and coming of age. This is a beautiful story with rich language that paints a picture of the harsh life in the Arctic regions of Quebec. The attitudes of the people in that area along with the clashes in cultures between the white man and the natives is also depicted. The novel does a good job of showing the role of religion and the clergy in the area. This is a book that deserves a much wider audience. 4.5 stars.

Great review for Wildflower!

>160 lkernagh: Thanks, Lori.

The Tin Flute is one of my favorite books. I'll have to read Wildflower.

The Tin Flute is the one on my wish list. I'm glad to hear that you really like it! Another motivation to get to it soon. I don't know if it will be this month though. I feel like I'm falling behind on other things. I've got the August ER win to review and a September one on the way. I'm also trying to complete my Canada challenge next month, and the 50 states one by the end of November. I'm also trying to read at least one title from Europe Endless each month. Then I've got books that I have to read for a book award committee on which I'm serving. Needless to say, I'm swamped at the moment. I try to squeeze a "quick read" book (usually a cozy mystery) for pleasure once in awhile! Maybe I'll get to it in November!

Another entry in Complete the Challenge (for Cyprus in the Europe Endless Challenge): Bitter Lemons by Lawrence Durrell - Lawrence Durrell journeyed from Britain to Cyprus in the mid-1950s. He describes his experiences on the island as well as the landscape and culture. He gives an inside look at some of the political turmoil that was taking place at the time. I particularly enjoyed the few passages in the book that mentioned some of the Biblical events that took place on the island. Apparently there is still a tradition on the island that describes how Paul and Barnabas ate olives as they were traveling to a village. In another place it mentions where Barnbas was buried. I cannot say that I really enjoyed the political aspects of the novel. The author mentions in the introductory pages that this is not a political book. It really isn't, but it was impossible to write about this particular period in time without mentioning how the political events of the day were shaping everyday life. There was a strong anti-British element which ultimately resulted in independence from Britain after the days covered in the book. 3.5 stars.

Another entry in my "Complete the Challenge" (Labrador in the Canadian Challenge): The Moravians in Labrador by an anonymous author - This book, written by an unknown person and published in the mid 1830s, details the missionary efforts of the Moravian Church among the Esquimaux (aka Eskimo) people of Labrador. The work details what like was like among the natives and missionaries. Food was sometimes difficult to come by. After the Moravian missionaries had been there a few years, they finally got to the point that a ship arrived from England once a year. The hardships were incredible, but the Moravians did appear to have a great deal of success in evangelizing the Eskimos. There seemed to be quite a bit of repetition in the book, and there was a lot of what I would call "padding" or "fluff" in the text by including conversations, particularly those of a spiritual nature, which probably were not exactly as they are written. I would have preferred a more concisely written historical account. It's difficult to provide a rating to a book that was written in another time and probably for another purpose other than that which I read it. In the end, I chose to rate it by today's standards. While the book contains glimpses into the culture and into the evangelization efforts, there is little here that would compel an individual to read this account. A journal article or book essay containing the essence of the historical and cultural nuggets and written in a style more engaging for late 20th or early 21st century readers would be much more engaging. 2.5 stars.

Another entry in "Complete the Challenge" (South Dakota in 50 States): Black-Eyed Susan by Jennifer Armstrong - Ten-year-old Susie lives with her family on the Dakota prairie in a sod house. Her mother is very unhappy with life on the frontier and quite obviously misses her family and a more affluent life-style back East. Susie wants to find something to cheer up her mom when she and her dad go to town to purchase another quarter section of land. An encounter with a family moving further west proves to be the prescription for her mother's misery. This is a well-written children's novel that does a good job of describing the hardships faced by the pioneer settlers of the Dakota Territory. The author has done a good job with historical research to make the novel accurate in regards to homesteading and other period details. I do question if the target audience would appreciate this work as much as adults. It probably lacks the action younger readers require to hold interest. 4 stars.

I was browsing the books in the Sam's Club tonight when I saw a children's picture book that I decided that I must read right there in the store, so it's going in my "It's Calling My Name" category: If You Give a Cat a Cupcake by Laura Joffe Numeroff - Giving cats cupcakes can lead from one thing to another. The outcome of the sequence of events is fairly predictable. It's a cute book that preschoolers would probably enjoy. The illustrations are not award-worthy, but they do compliment the story. 3 stars.

And, no, I didn't buy it.

My win from the August 2011 Early Reviewers batch is my next "Review Me" finish: The Technologists by Matthew Pearl - MIT's first class is about to graduate. Before they do so, a madman is at work in the city of Boston, creating a distrust of technology among the people. Will these students be able to discover his identity and thwart his plans before Boston is destroyed? I found this to be a captivating read. The characters were interesting and well-drawn. The attitudes toward technology and Darwinism were interesting to explore. It was also interesting to see the attitudes towards a woman being enrolled in MIT pursuing education in a male-dominated field. My interest in the book never waned. There are enough red herrings to keep the reader guessing the identity of the madman until almost the end. This review is based on an advance uncorrected proof received through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program. 5 stars.

Nice review of The Technologists - Thumb! I am adding it to my potential list of books for my 12 in 12 Science theme since technology seems to play a role in the book.

Lori, I think you'll enjoy it and that it will fit that category nicely!

Filling in Malta in my Europe Endless Challenge and using it for my "Complete the Challenge" category here: The Brass Dolphin by Caroline Harvey - Lila Cunningham learns that her father has borrowed money against their home and that now the bank is repossessing it. Her employer and friend owns a home in Malta that they never use so they decide to send Lila and her father there. They arrive at a time just before World War II breaks out. It isn't long until they are taking cover from the bombings. Lila had begun working for a Count who was a historian, but she begins helping a new friend with her hospital in the city after the war erupts. Lila also begins to see a different side to her father. I really enjoyed most of this World War II story which had some of the feeling of a romantic suspense while not being pretty light on the romance and with more of a war theme than the darker suspenseful tones. Ultimately I did not like the manner in which the book was resolved and lowered my rating because of it. 3 stars.

Another entry in "Review Me": If God, Why Evil? by Norman Geisler - Norman Geisler addresses the problem of evil in this work. He examines arguments made by some that claim that God and evil cannot co-exist and offers Biblical answers. His audience for the book seems to be more of a lay audience than an academic one, although he clearly knows where philosophers and popular Christian writers stand on the issue. One of the more appealing sections to the lay Christian audience may be his appendix addressing theological issues in the popular fiction book, The Shack. The subtitle may be misleading as there is little new ground covered by this book. This book is just a convenient and concise handbook of the reasons Christians have been advocating for centuries. His parables and true-life examples should appeal to lay readers. 3 stars.

Crossing off Delaware in my 50 States Challenge and counting this for my "Complete the Challenge" category here: A Light in the Storm by Karen Hesse - ***SPOILER ALERT: This review will contain spoilers.*** Amelia Martin is the 15-year-old daughter of the assistant lighthouse keeper off the coast of Delaware as this diary begins in late 1860 and continues through 1861. She turns 16 in the book She keeps the first watch at the lighthouse.Delaware is a border state in the issue over slavery. Much of the Southern part of the state is aligned with the South, while the north tends to be more aligned with the Union. A group of runaway slaves makes Amelia realize the magnitude of the differences in her parents. Her mother believes the slaves should be sent back to their owners. Her father believes they should be helped to freedom. While Amelia has agreed with her mother in the past, something about her encounter with them makes her realize that her father is correct. It isn't long before South Carolina secedes from the Union--something that Amelia considers completely unacceptable. Other Southern States follow South Carolina's lead gradually. The tension at home begins to mount. Her mother becomes more withdrawn over time and has physical and medical problems. Her mother eventually moves in with Amelia's ailing grandmother. Her father serves divorce papers on her mother. I really enjoyed this look at the tensions in a divided community due to the war. In several places, Amelia referred to what was happening in Tennessee to Union supporters during this time. Since I live a section of Tennessee that had strong Union sympathies, these mentions were interesting. However, there was some unevenness to the writing. I felt that the author used a 20th century solution to the marriage problem. Divorce was not as commonplace in the 19th century as it is in 21st century America, and while it was not unheard of, they were more difficult to obtain. I felt the author made it too easy, even in the strained relations due to ideologies. I also felt that the diary ended rather abruptly and that its conclusion was in an awkward place and that it should have continued until one of the major events in 1862. I also felt that the Epilogue wrapped things up a little too tidily and left little room for the reader's imagination of what the future might have been for those persons mentioned in the diary. It's a good, but not a great, work of fiction. 3 stars.

Marking off Nevada in my 50 States challenge and using it for "Complete the Challenge" here: The Ox-Bow Incident by Walter Van Tilburg Clark - Art Croft and his sidekick Gil ride into a Nevada town, discovering that cattle rustlers have been at it. Art first attempts to help efforts to stop the formation of a lynch mob. Well, if you can't beat it, join it. He and Gil join the posse to pursue the rustlers, as much to prevent their becoming suspects as anything else. This western shows the forcefulness of mob psychology, particularly as some of the characters reflect in the closing chapter. Westerns are just not my thing. I do think this one is better written than most of this genre are. II have never seen the movie which was based upon the book, but I suspect that I would have enjoyed it more than the book itself, which is something I rarely say. The action just seems to lend itself to that format. 3 stars.

Great reviews, especially for Windflower. I'd read (and reread) this beautiful story many, many years ago. Seeing your review makes me think that it's time for another reread.

>175 mathgirl40: I'm really glad I tried a book by Gabrielle Roy, I hope to find a copy of her The Tin Flute sometime in the not-too-distant future to read.

I have read both Windflower and Tin Flute and loved them both. She is one of my favourite authors.

An entry in "I Want to Go Home": Iron Lake by William Kent Krueger - The discovery of the town's judge's body is the impetus that springs former sheriff Cork O'Connor back into action. He is partially Anishinaabe Indian. The frigid northern part of Minnesota is the setting for this mystery that takes place just prior to Christmas. His marriage is in trouble. He claims to want reconciliation even though he pursues an affair with a local waitress named Molly. As the story unfolds, many characters are in danger. More murders are revealed. A native American concept called "Windigo" plays an important role in this novel. I found this to be an interesting read, full of action. While I think there are some elements of the plot that could have been a bit tighter, the action was sufficient to move it forward. The use of the native American concepts reminds me of author Tony Hillerman's use of them. The unique setting of Krueger's novel provides contrast to the deserts of Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee. 3.5 stars.

I've never read any of Tony Hillerman, thanks for bringing him to my attention.

I have read several of the Hillerman books over the years, probably more than are in my library. My brother, sister-in-law, and oldest nephew are the ones who introduced me to him.

Question for everyone: I only tagged the books I read for the main 11 in 11 challenge as that. Should I tag all these bonus categories/titles "11 in 11 challenge" as well?

Good question. I've been debating the same thing... haven't made up my mind yet.

Personally I have decided not to tag my overflow books that I've read so far this year but this is because they don't fit in my chosen categories. If I had set up a new set of bonus categories then I think I would tag though.

Last year, I don't think I tagged my Christmas overflow books. Not 100 percent certain about that, though.

My new goal is to finish by 11/11/11 and then start 12 in 12 on 12/12/11. During that month, maybe set up some sort of mini-challenge for myself.

I've always tagged my overflow books with the category challenge tag (888, etc), and until I read your question, it didn't occur to me that maybe I shouldn't. My main reason for doing it that way is just laziness: I can pull up all the books I read during the year with that tag and don't have to have a 2nd tag for that.

But it seems to me that it should be okay. The tag will show what books group members are reading, even if they don't meet category criteria -- which is individually arbitrary, anyway -- and seeing those similarities is the point of tagging them.

I figure since my goal was only 66 that up til I get to 121, it all counts toward 11. Especially since I'm still trying to read within my original 11 categories.

Interesting discussion of tagging. I don't "tag" the books with my challenges at all -- I only list them on my threads. I tend to think of tags as an LT's version of subject headings in a regular library catalog, so I don't use them for anything that is peculiar to my own personal use of a book -- I usually only tag with things like genre, subjects, characters, setting, awards, etc.

Lori, I liked your review of The Technologists. That one sounds interesting!

I listened to Iron Lake a couple months ago on audio; I, too, liked that one. I plan to look for more in that series.

Another one in the "It's Calling My Name" category: Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson - This is an excellent piece of historical fiction about the yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia. The narrator is an early teenage girl named Matilda whose family operates a coffeehouse. When the fever hits, many persons begin fleeing the town. Readers will empathize with Matilda as she encounters the attitudes toward fever victims and the treatments, may of which were ineffective, that were used. The author does a good job of bringing the historical elements to life. She explained that Philadelphia was the largest city in the United States at the time and brought the death toll to life for readers when she explained how many were expected to die early in the book. I suspect that the book will be enjoyed by some younger readers and not by others, but this book would be a great springboard for discussion in classes of the epidemic, medical treatments, etc. 4 stars.

#187 My important tags, for me at least, are the year and month in which I read a book, such as read in 2011-10. I've also got a few subject matter tags, baseball, mystery, hockey etc that I refer to often.

My 999, 11 in 11 Challenge tags etc are somewhat useful but I rarely refer to them.

I read Fever 1793 earlier this year and thought it was very well done. Laurie Halse Anderson is rapidly becoming one of my favorite YA authors with books like this and Chains.

>189 lindapanzo: Linda, I don't refer to them either. The only reason I even bother tagging is because someone was gathering statistics based on them or compiling lists of most-reads or something like that. In fact, I tend to forget to tag at the time and then go back and tag a bunch at once. I may not tag for the 12/12 challenge.

>190 DeltaQueen50: Judy, I had picked up this book at the Scholastic Book Fair on campus sponsored by one of the campus organizations a few years ago and had just never gotten around to reading it. I'm really glad I did. It's very good. I thought I had read another of her books before, but I guess I haven't. None of the other titles seems like something I've read, and a lot of the YA books that I read were in the reading diary which I kept for awhile so those are in my library with "read but unowned" if I no longer own a copy or checked it out of the library when I read it. She did an excellent job with the historical aspect of the book, unlike the book in the "Dear America" series I read a few books back.

With this book, I am actually completing my Canadian Challenge which was one of the goals of my "Complete the Challenge" category: The Midnight Tunnel by Angie Frazier - Suzanna "Zanna" Snow lives in Loch Harbor, New Brunswick where her parents manage a hotel where wealthy New Englanders come to vacation annually for the entire summer. Her uncle is a famous detective in Boston, and Suzanna desires to be like him. She reads detective novels and keeps a notebook to record her observations. It's about the best she can hope for since nothing exciting ever happens where she lives. Then, one of the hotel guests goes missing. Suzanna begins her investigation even before her famous uncle arrives to conduct the official investigation. He arrives with an apprentice, about her age. Suzanna continues her investigation, partnering with the young apprentice. This is a novel that fourth and fifth graders will probably enjoy. I disliked the use of Tarot in the story line and wished that the author had not used this, because it is not a book that I, as a Christian, can recommend. Otherwise, it is a great read for those who enjoy Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew type books. 2.5 stars.

Another book in my Kindle category: Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton - A poor rural farmer in Starkfield, Massachusetts is involved in a love triangle with a poor relation of his older, ailing wife who has come to live with them. It was a marriage which probably should have never occurred in the first place. Readers see how this affects his relationship with his wife. Wharton is a master at painting a picture with words. While I'm not convinced this story would have played out this way in real life, the author's descriptions make the book worth reading. I'm not sure that I really liked Ethan or his wife that much, but I did like Mattie. It is her story that made me sad. 3.5 stars.

I just completed my next-to-the-last book in my 50 states challenge. For New Hampshire I read: Bookmarked for Death by Lorna Barrett - Tricia Miles owns Haven't Got a Clue mystery bookstore in the book town of Stoneham, New Hampshire. At her booksigning event at the store, local author Zoe Carter turns up dead. Tricia doesn't have a lot of confidence in Sheriff Wendy Adams' ability to solve the case so she begins her own investigation. The subplot of a geese problem has a couple of great moments, but overall I think it detracts from the book. This is just a fun, cozy read. Most veteran cozy readers will be able to determine who the perpetrator was mid-book, but I don't think it will mar their enjoyment of the book as they see the plot unfold. With a cat named Miss Marple, what's not to like? 3.5 stars.

ETA - By the way, this goes in the "Complete the Challenge" category here.

Hi Lori, congratulations on completing your 50 States Challenge. Well done. I started my 50 states challenge thinking it would be a snap, but I am finding months go by and I haven't read a book that will fit into the states I have left. When I finish my 11 in 11, I am going to try and work on that challenge a bit.

Actually, I'm not quite done with it. I have Utah left, but I've read about 1/3 of the book so it should be completed by tonight!

Now I'm officially done with my 50 states Challenge by reading this book in my "Complete the Challenge" category for Utah: Desert Sojourn by Debi Holmes-Binney - After a failed marriage and a need to find herself, Debi Holmes-Binney decides to embark upon a 40-day desert experience to find herself. She barely gets there before she encounters a rainstorm and then a blizzard. She is aware of the threat of wild animals as well. In the early chapters of the book she expresses a need to draw closer to God, but then she takes along Thoreau, but not her Bible. I couldn't help but question whether or not she was serious about the spiritual aspect of her experience. As the narrative played out, she rarely revisited the spiritual side. She did reflect upon the words of the cashier who had told her to remember that she was not alone, but she felt that cashier was wrong, so she must not have believed in God's presence. The author has done a good job of telling of her adventures in the earliest days of her journey, but after she reaches the midway point, she rushes the narrative. The first 200 pages relate the first 20 days of her adventure. The next 40 tell of her last 20. I can't help but wonder what reflections she may have had during those days that were not recorded in this book. What is written is well-written, but the omissions during the time she was probably most reflective about her experience are too serious to be overlooked. 3 stars.

Congratulations, Lori!

I seem to have sort of abandoned my 50 states challenge this year, though I have noted the locations of the books I've read. Maybe one day I'll update it... and I guess I could devote a category to it in the 12 in 12...

Ivy, I have a category in 2012 for my Europe Challenge, so I think you should have one for 50 States. It's a great feeling to complete the challenge!

When I was in the library the other day, I browsed the New Book Shelves and found a couple of cookbooks that I decided to check out. I'll be using these in the "Check Me Out" category:

Farm Fresh Flavors by Randall L. Smith - Organized alphabetically by vegetable, this cookbook offers suggestions for tasty ways to prepare things from the garden. The thing that really impresses me about the cookbook is the simplicity of the recipes. While some use more ingredients than others to achieve a desired flavor, none are that difficult to prepare. Another thing that impressed me are recipe variations that are sometimes offered along with the recipes. For example, there are 20 variations to a simple mashed potato recipe that will make it just a little different each time it is prepared. The chef's notes with each vegetable offer tips on working with each vegetable. There is also a section dedicated to things such as vinaigrettes and butter compounds that will be useful for many recipes. There is also a section on cooking techniques that includes preservation methods for foods. My biggest complaint about the cookbook is that there are no photographs. I checked this cookbook out of my public library, but I intend to purchase a copy for myself. 4 stars.

A White House Garden Cookbook by Clara Silverstein - The title of this book is a bit misleading. One might assume that all the recipes come from the White House kitchen, but that is not the case. The authors use the White House Garden reinstituted by Michelle Obama as an inspiration for this cookbook. While some of the recipes do come from the Obama White House, others come from previous First Family recipes, including one from Martha Washington's kitchen. Others come from community gardens across the United States that have been inspired by the White House Garden which Mrs. Obama hoped would encourage children to eat healthier. The narrative in the text is a bit too complex for children. At times, it is a bit too dumbed down for adults. I think that the family, in general, is the intended audience. The cookbook is well-illustrated. We see pictures of each vegetable in the garden with the accompanying recipes. Some of the recipes are more appealing than others. There is a diagram of the White House vegetable garden along with a photograph of its replica planted by Burpee Corporation in Pennsylvania. This would be a great cookbook to have in a home where there are children because the layout and photographs will appeal to them and might get them interested in foods and cooking. 3 stars.

Another books gets to go home in my "I Want to Go Home" category: Wicked Autumn by G. M. Malliet - Max Tudor is a former MI5 agent who is now the vicar of Nether Monkslip. The novel opens with a Fayre where one of the women turns up dead. Max joins with the local law enforcement to solve the crime. I had a hard time with the New Age elements in the first third of the book. Once the narrative progressed past that point, they were not so pronounced. The village has its share of quirky characters. It leans more to the cozy side than to the police procedural. The vicar's past experiences afford him a less meddlesome role than that of most amateur cozy sleuths, particularly as his opinions are sought. I did not really like the way the novel was wrapped up. I would have preferred for the revelations to have come out a bit differently. Still, this is a good series debut. This review is based on an ARC loaned to me by a friend. 3 stars.

In my "Complete the Challenge" category, I'm crossing Vatican City off my Endless Europe Challenge: Life in the Vatican with John Paul II by Luigi Accattoli - The author and photographer of this volume were granted more access than are typically granted to reporters covering the Vatican. The reader is able to catch a glimpse of what life in the Vatican is like through the pictures and narrative. The narrative is not as engaging as that of some books aimed at the tourist market. The photographs, however, convey the setting to the reader in more powerful terms. The book came up a little short in delivering the promised "insider's look" into the Vatican. The Vatican was still able to guard much of its privacy. This book was written several years before then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI. Readers are able to get a glimpse of the role he played at the Vatican before becoming Pope. 3 stars.

Another entry in "I Want to Go Home": Death at Whitechapel by Robin Paige - This mystery, set in the early years of the 20th century finds Jennie Churchill, mother of Winston, being blackmailed. She goes to her friends Kate and Charles Sheridan for help. There's a rather convoluted tie-in with Jack the Ripper. I found myself not really believing the plot and wondering why the author would even try to string together the events in such a manner. This one is not up to the author's usual standards. 2.5 stars.

Another entry in "Check Me Out": Blackwork by Monica Ferris - It's nearly Halloween, and Ryan McMurphy accuses stitcher and beer-maker Leona Cunningham of witchcraft. He soon ends up dead. Although many of the townspeople believe Leona put a hex on Ryan, Betsy is convinced that Leona's Wiccan beliefs would only be used for good. I did not enjoy the plot involving Wicca and witchcraft. I think this mystery could have been just as effective with the method used for killing without that element marring my enjoyment of the novel. I've enjoyed previous installments in the series, but if the author continues to feature pagan practices, I will abandon the series. The method utilized in the murder and the motive were interesting and unusual for a cozy mystery.

Another borrowed book will be heading back to it's owner in my "I Want to Go Home" category: The Xibalba Murders by Lyn Hamilton - Lara McClintoch is taking a break from the antique business after a recent divorce from her husband. She doesn't want him to be able for him to obtain a larger divorce settlement. When a friend asks her to come to Merida, Mexico, she does so, even though she doesn't know a lot about the nature of what he wants. When she arrives, he cancels their first dinner and then disappears, turning up dead. The Mexican officials confiscate her passport so that she can't leave the country. She doesn't have a lot of faith in the investigator, so she begins an investigation of her own, placing herself in danger. It was a fun read that I couldn't put down. I'm not sure that I ever sorted all the characters fully in my mind though. I'm not sure if that is because of the rapidity of my reading or if that would have been the case had I read it in a slower manner. I do believe that some of the characters were developed more than others. It's not my favorite in the series, but it's worth the read if one is interested in the Mayan culture. 3 stars.

Another entry in "Check Me Out": Cherries in Winter by Suzan Colon - Suzan Colon lost her job as a magazine writer. Although her husband is employed and has benefits, she must still watch her pennies. She turns to economizing, rediscovering her grandmother's recipes. She includes moments in her family's story from three generations. Unfortunately the narrative did not flow well and was full of poorly constructed sentences and incomplete sentences. What should have been an enjoyable read for me turned out to be a chore. The best part of the book were the copies of the handwritten or typed recipes. 2.5 stars.

Knox County Public Library is celebrating 125 years. They've put up an (almost) 11 minute documentary about the library's history. It's very well done. It's on the library's site or here on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UUjLXJIyqk

What a marvelous video, Lori! Thanks for sharing the link.

Very well done video. It's amazing the changes that have occured in the last 125 years, and I think, today's libraries are going through some huge changes now, with the introduction and popularity of both downloadable audio and e-reading books.

Thanks for the link, Lori.

I'm catching up on threads:

>202 thornton37814: MI5 agent to vicar -interesting career move. Onto the wishlist.

>205 thornton37814: - And this one

Terri & Judy - Glad you enjoyed the video.

Betty - Hope you enjoy the books.

Another entry in "Check Me Out": Eggs Benedict Arnold by Laura Childs - One of the co-owners of the funeral home turns up dead on his own embalming table. He's someone everyone in the town loves, so no one can quite figure out who would have a motive to murder him. As Suzanne and Sheriff Doogie investigate, they turn up a wide range of possibilities and motives. I enjoyed this second installment in the Cackleberry Club series even more than the first. The girls' reaction when visiting an abandoned cemetery is one that many genealogists such as myself often have. There are lots of red herrings. This is one that will keep many readers guessing to the very end, even if they read a lot of mysteries. 4 stars.

Another book in the "Check Me Out" category: The Shallows by Nicholas Carr - Nicholas Carr, like many others, noted that attention spans are on the decrease. He notes changes in the print media brought about by the age of the Internet. Many newspapers have gone under; others have declared bankruptcy. Formats have changed for both newspapers and magazines to make the experience more Web-like. He acknowledges that sometimes it is even difficult to remain focused on a blog post which is more than a few paragraphs long. He notes the presence of e-readers, but at the time he wrote the book, they had not gained the full audience they have now so he didn't feel that they were influencing reading that differently. There is much to think about in this book because Carr also analyzes the experiences of previous generations and the changes they experienced. One of the most thought-provoking sections is one which shares the results of research on multitasking. I think this title would create great discussion among faculty members. I'm not sure that I agree with all conclusions he makes. I find that I am able to stay concentrated and focused while readings books and e-books on my Kindle reader. I am sometimes overwhelmed by information coming to me by way of the Internet through Facebook or my RSS reader for blogs, newspapers, etc. I find that I'm able to often read a headline and pass up an item. I do have trouble staying focused on longer blog posts because I am usually more pressed for time when I'm reading these online items. I realize the need to be offline, so I've prioritized reading and find other ways to keep myself from staring at a screen (both computer and television). I think that the author alludes to the Internet's ability to be addictive, but he probably doesn't address it forcefully enough. This is an important book that is certain to be discussed for years to come. 4 stars.

Now, I'm out of library books so I'll have to read something for another category until I can go on Monday.

As I was looking for another book the other day, I spotted a book on my shelves. Since I will be making a business-related trip to the city very soon, I decided that it was time to pull this one down and read it. It will fit my "It's Calling My Name" category.

K.C.: A History of Kansas City, Missouri by A. Theodore Brown (touchstone doesn't work) and Lyle W. Dorsett - This is a rather dry and tedious read. It focuses on the political history of the city and very little on its settlement, progress, and other things that would have made it a more engaging read. It is also flawed by its lack of footnotes/endnotes. The authors do have a list of sources used for each chapter at the end of the book, but the failure to tie these references to specific points is a major failure. 2 stars.

Needless to say, it could have stayed on the shelf as it just didn't create any interest for me. About the only thing I'm mildly curious about is whether or not there is still a Petticoat Lane in the city. (There were a couple of photos from different time periods of this downtown thoroughfare.) I'm more curious as to whether or not there is "A little hotel called the Shady Rest" on the street.

A couple of entries for my "Kindle" category:

Prevention Healthy Favorites: Chicken Recipes by the editors of Prevention Magazine - I downloaded this small cookbook from Kindle when it was free for a short period. It offers a great selections of recipes using chicken that will appeal to many people. The recipes offer differing tastes because so many are influenced by International cuisines. The formatting on this Kindle version is much better than many books formatted for Kindle and offers photographs of many of the recipes. 4 stars.

Cookie Swap Cookbook by Gooseberry Patch - A cookie swap is a popular holiday event for some groups and organizations. This little book offers recipes that are a little "dressier" than cookies that we usually make to satisfy a child's sweet tooth. These are the types of cookies you would make for a special occasion but not necessarily for the household's cookie jar. 3 stars.

One more in my Kindle category:

A Cold Day for Murder by Dana Stabenow - Kate Shugak is asked to look into the disappearance of a park ranger who is the son of a Congressman and of a detective sent to find the ranger. Working for her former employer Jack on behalf of the FBI, Kate returns to the park which was her home for so many years to question relatives and friends. It's not long until she's dodging bullets herself. Although this series is long-running, this is the first book that I read in it. I enjoyed the mystery, but I would have enjoyed the book more with a little less profanity which seemed to be concentrated in a few scenes. I will probably read more installments of this series in the future. 3.5 stars.

Hi, Lori! I've read a number of books in the Kate Shugak series, but it's been quite a while since I read one. I loved the setting -- I find Alaska fascinating.

Terri - It was a series I'd been meaning to try, and the pricing on the Kindle was right at the time I downloaded it -- either free or 99 cents. I'm glad I did finally get around to reading it.

My ER win of the 4th in the series made me go check out the 3rd book in the Flavia de Luce series so I would be caught up when it arrives. This one is for the "Check Me Out" category.

A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley - Young Flavia befriends a gypsy whose tent burned down. It's not long until the gypsy is injured by an intruder to her caravan. She would have died had Flavia not arrived unexpectedly. Then a local man turns up dead. Flavia finds herself suddenly interested in a religious sect in the area. She puzzles through many clues as well as plenty of red herrings to find the truth. Of course, the Inspector on the case is a bit upset that she keeps contaminating his crime scenes. Flavia's character continues to delight in this installment of the series. 4 stars.

One in "Review Me":
Law, Power, and Justice in Ancient Israel by Douglas A. Knight - This book was not what I expected. I expected a book written in layman's terms, but this volume was far more technical and will probably only appeal to those with a legal background. This was provided by NetGalley for review. 1 star.

One in "Kindle the Flame of Reading":
The Country of Pointed Firs by Sarah Orne Jewett - Times are changing in 19th century Maine as a visitor to the village of Dunnet Landing discovers while with various area residents and hearing their stories. I loved her descriptions of the area, particularly those of the landscape and vegetation. I loved this short little book. It's one that I'm certain to go back and revisit later. 4 stars.

Another book for my "It's Calling My Name" category:
Bachelor Brothers' Bed & Breakfast by Bill Richardson - After reading this slim volume, I'm ready for a nice relaxing vacation to the Bachelor Brothers' wonderful establishment where I can just relax and read. The story alternates between the twin brothers Virgil and Hector and some of their guests. This is a book that will resound with book lovers. 4.5 stars.

Another entry in my Kindle category: The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner - Eric Weiner visits countries around the globe in a quest to find happiness. As he would begin many of his journeys, I would say to myself, "He's not going to find happiness there." Why? Because true happiness is not found in a certain geographic location or in material things. I would have loved a little more description of the geography and a little less on his pursuit of happiness. I found myself dissatisfied with the book because it did not meet my expectations in describing those countries and their cultures in a broader sense. Instead, we get a small glimpse of what one small subset of the country experiences. The author's writing is better than many similar books although there is room for improvement. It's not a bad book -- just a book that didn't quite meet my expectations. 2.5 stars.

For my "Complete the Challenge" category, I'm marking Latvia off my Europe Endless Challenge: The Dogs of Riga by Henning Mankell - Two bodies have washed ashore the Swedish shore in a lifeboat. They realize that the murder did not take place in Sweden and are happy to hand off the investigation to the Latvian police when it is discovered the men were Latvian criminals. When the Latvian officer is murdered shortly after returning to his country, Kurt Wallander is sent to Latvia to help investigate. He's drawn into an investigation where he quickly realizes that one of the officers with whom he is working is corrupt -- but which one is it? Wallander cannot trust anyone and does not speak the language. This was my first Kurt Wallander mystery. He's a likeable detective, but he's definitely flawed, mainly because of his lack of experience. I'm definitely interested in reading the earlier installment of the series and future installments to see how his investigative skills strengthen as he gains more experience. 3.5 stars.

My October Early Reviewers book goes into my "Review Me" category: I Am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley - It's nearing Christmas, and in order to keep the family in house and home, the Colonel has agreed to allow a movie crew to shoot on location at Buckshaw. The star of the show is one of the most famed actresses of the time. It's about 40% of the way into the book before we get to the corpse. Needless to say, 11-year-old Flavia will get involved in the investigation. This is the first in the series where Flavia has spent the majority of the time at Buckshaw. I enjoyed this change. Flavia is always a delight! I enjoyed all the literary references in this installment. While the book is set during the Christmas season, it's a book that can be enjoyed year-round. I would encourage reading the earlier books before reading this one because there are some things that will be appreciated only by those who have followed the series. This review is based on an advance uncorrected proof provided by the publisher through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program with the expectation that a review would be written. 4 stars.

Just quickly skimmed your review of I Am Half-Sick of Shadows. I will be picking that one from the library later this week..... I can hardly wait! Glad to see the 4 star rating!

I debated between 4 and 4.5 stars for the rating, Lori. I was careful to not give away in spoilers in the review because I know how much everyone loves the series, and I didn't want to say anything that would spoil it for someone else!

Another entry in the "Review Me" category: Teaching and Christian Practices: Reshaping Faith and Learning edited by David I. Smith and James K. A. Smith - As with most books of essays, the writing of the various essays is uneven. Some are written with data from research the professor conducted; others are very philosophical. Most of the writing is of the dry tone used by many in academia. I was quite disappointed that this book failed to deliver the type of material that it promised. Too many of the essays were written by professors associated with a single institution. There were a few token essays written by persons at a handful of other institutions, but 2/3 of the essays were written by professors affiliated with the college where the editors teach. Broader representation and at least a few chapters exhibiting a more practical approach rather than a philosophical or statistical approach are needed. 2.5 stars.

For my Kindle category: A Praying Life by Paul Miller - Books on prayer are a dime a dozen. This one added very little to the discussion. The thing that sets it apart from other books is the author's use of examples from the life of his autistic daughter. At times I wondered if I was reading a book on prayer or a book that related lessons taught to parents by autistic children. While some of the author's content was good, it was not presented in a unique manner. The author conducts prayer seminars, and the thought occurred to me as I was reading the book that he is probably better at conveying his thoughts audibly to an audience than in print. This book will appeal to many Christian readers, especially those who enjoy reading about special needs children. 3 stars.

Hi, Lori! I read and liked the first Wallander mystery, and look forward to Dogs of Riga.

A Praying Life sounds like one that might interest me. My son has autism, and he sometimes surprises me in the ways his budding spirituality emerges. This evening we had an argument, and at the end he asked forgiveness from God and from me.

I really do think that there is an audience for the Miller book, Terri. With your son's background, I think you could relate well to it. I think he did a better job conveying the lessons parents learn from their autistic children than he did on the title of the book.

Another entry in my Kindle category: The Haunted Bookshop by Christopher Morley - A delightful book about a bookshop that is haunted by the ghosts of unread books. It's the sequel to Parnassus on Wheels. I liked the first a little better than this installment in the Roger Mifflin series by Morley, but it's a good read that resonates with book lovers nonetheless. - 3 stars.

Another entry in "Check Me Out": Blackman's Coffin by Mark de Castrique - This is the first in the series featuring Sam Blackman, a Veteran who served as a Chief Warrant Officer until he lost a limb. He becomes acquainted with Tikima Robertson, another former veteran who visits veterans, while in the VA hospital in Asheville, North Carolina thanks to an error on a government form. When she turns up dead, Sam, along with Tikima's sister, Nakayla, sets out to investigate. The solution appears to lie in the past. There's a handwritten journal penned by Thomas Wolfe and action at the famed Biltmore Estate. There's even an interesting geological slant that shows the author did his homework to come up with such a gripping narrative. This is an outstanding first in series. Having already read a later installment, I can truly say that this mystery series is quickly becoming one of my favorites. 4 stars.

I came back to edit this post to put the first book I read in front of the other, and my title touchstones disappeared.

In the "I Want to Go Home" category: Bleeding Heart Square by Andrew Taylor - I had a very mixed reaction to this book. It is fairly well-written with more depth than many mysteries, but the only character I really truly liked was Lydia. I did not dislike the journalist Rory, but I wouldn't go so far as to say I liked him. I really disliked every other character in the book. I was not a fan of the communist/fascist theme in the book. Although the plotting for the mystery was done well, I just didn't really like it. I think the main reason for this is the dislike of the characters around whom the plot centered. I also felt that the writing could have been a bit tighter, shortening the length of the book. The book takes place in the 1930s. I really don't know a great deal about the expected behavior of persons in England during that time period, but I found myself questioning whether some of the characters, particularly women characters would have done some of the things they did. I am willing to try future novels by Taylor as long as these characters are not in the book and the communist/fascist theme isn't revisited because I think he is capable of producing a novel that I might enjoy. This one just didn't quite measure up. 3 stars.

I didn't know that Bleeding Heart Square took place in the 1930s. My favorite era!

Another book in the "Check Me Out" category: Scone Cold Dead by Kaitlyn Dunnett - Liss MacCrimmon is excited to have her former dance troupe in the greater Moosetookalook area. The manager of the troupe turns up dead after eating a scone filled with mushrooms. Liss had been very careful to make sure that the food served contained no mushrooms as she was well aware of his allergy, as were other members of the troupe. Who wanted him dead? Are there irregularities in the troupe's finances? There are lots of questions which need to be answered. Liss is happy that there is a new investigator on the scene. It's bagpipe-playing Gordon Tandy. While the mystery itself is fairly predictable and is longer than needed, the characters, the cat, and setting of this series are so delightful that the series has become one of my favorites. Dunnett provides just the right amount of humor to provide a little comic relief without making it unrealistic when the scene grows intense. I'm looking forward to the next installment. 3 stars.

Another one for my Kindle category: The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie - Narrated by the Vicar, Mr. Clement, this book features Miss Marple. Colonel Protheroe is discovered dead in the vicar's study after the vicar has been called out to visit a sick parishioner. There is no shortage of suspects, and most of them have alibis for the time of the murder. There is, in fact, a bit of confusion about the time of the murder due to the vicar's habit of setting clocks fast in order to be punctual. The Vicar works with the police in order to help solve the murder, but is his neighbor Miss Marple who provides the solution. It's been a long time since I had read this installment. While it's not my favorite Christie novel, it is one that is quite satisfying to those who don't want a mystery's solution to be overly simplistic. 3.5 stars.

Another entry for my "Check Me Out" category: The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers by Lilian Jackson Braun - It's been years since I have read one of the "Cat Who" books. I gave up on the series after noticing that the books were declining in quality. When the audiobook of this installment was donated to our library right before my Thanksgiving week trip, I decided to try it on the trip. I'm not a big fan of audiobooks because I'd rather read the books, but I thought I would give this one a try. It was delightful to revisit the characters in Pickax again. I love Moose County and its inhabitants. However, this book fell short in many ways. Long time fans will be disappointed by developments in the relationship between Qwilleran and Polly. There appears to have been a murder, but unless I didn't catch the development as I was listening, the murder was never resolved in spite of Koko's yowls insisting that there had been a murder. Without giving away the plot, I'm just going to say that Qwilleran's reactions to a development in the closing chapters of the book are quite unnatural. The narrator did a good job giving voices to the different characters. While this book is short on plot and very flawed, I still found it a pleasure to return for a visit to Pickax. 2 stars.

>236 thornton37814: I gave up on the series after noticing that the books were declining in quality.

So did I. After reading about 20 of them (looking at the series page, the last I remember reading was #18). But I loved the setting and characters, and one day I may read another one just to revisit old friends.

I have some of the ones that I haven't read in my library. I picked them up cheap somewhere thinking I would get back to them. I really do need to go back. I think I quit reading about 2001 or so. At least there are still a few here at the house I can read when I want to revisit Moose County!

Another one "calling my name": The Runaway Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini - Sylvia discovers a journal tucked in with some old family quilts. The journal was written by her ancestor's sister and documents the family's settlement on Elm Creek farm and involvement with the Underground Railroad. As she begins reading its pages, her friend Summer begins doing research at the county historical society. Sarah and Matt begin an archaeological excavation on the property. As a genealogist, I did not want to put this one down! I occasionally wanted Summer to seek out another source that might have held an answer, but it would have been rushing the story to prematurely reach the place that source might have led. This is my favorite in the Elm Creek Quilts series to date! 4.5 stars.

>239 thornton37814: I've been undecided about trying this series, since quilt-making doesn't interest me at all. But the genealogy -- and the Underground Railroad -- does! And your 4.5* rating is persuasive. So I've added it to my tentative list for 2012. Thanks (I think)!

I think you can enjoy this installment whether you've read the others or not. I think she gives enough background that you can figure out who the characters are whether or not you know them as well as those of us who began with volume one.

I'm not at all a crafting sort and I read one of those quilting books (the New Years one, I think) awhile back and enjoyed it. I'm thinking of reading the Christmas one next month.

At some point, I'd like to start at the beginning of the series.

>241 thornton37814: & 242 I sometimes try a series by reading a later book in the series, but my preference is to start at the beginning, and read the first 2 books before making a decision about continuing. I have found that when the author intends it to be a series, the first book is often not as good as later books -- too much time spent setting up the setting and characters -- though occasionally I'm hooked by the first book, and usually knowing the background from the 1st book enhances the later books.

Both of your comments make me think I'll like this series -- even though I have no intention of ever making a quilt -- so maybe I'll start at the beginning.

I was at the library once after Christmas and the New Year's one was a featured book. It looked good so I took it and read it in one or two sittings. I didn't really think about it as part of a series.

(I always think of mystery series but not other nonmystery series.)

I also don't quilt and don't intend to, and I still enjoy reading this series. I've read the first 10 in the series. The historical books are my favorites, and The Runaway Quilt is my favorite of all that I've read so far.

In a way, the historical books could be viewed as a series within the series. If a person doesn't want to commit to reading the whole series, s/he could read just the historical books:

The Runaway Quilt
The Sugar Camp Quilt
The Lost Quilter
The Union Quilters

The one I just read a couple of weeks ago is also a historical book, but set in the 1920s rather than the Civil War era: The Quilter's Homecoming

I don't quilt, but I'm not ruling out an attempt in the future. One of my sister-in-laws is an award-winning quilter. She still prefers to quilt by hand. I actually think that would be my preference if I ever started. I think that I would enjoy attending one of Sylvia Bergstrom's quilt camps and learning the fine art of quilting, but since I can't do that, I suppose that I'll either teach myself or get my sister-in-law to teach me if I ever decide to pursue it.

I'm a quilter (although not award-winning - would I recognize her name?) and I had sort of lost track of the series, so I went back and read 1 & 2 over this year and am going to try and fit at least a couple more in my challenge next year.

Another entry in "I Want to Go Home": Unsolicited by Julie Kaewert - This mystery involves Alex Plumtree who owns a publishing firm in London and a manuscript by an author using the pseudonym Arthur that is about to reveal a World War II era crime. Although the plot lent itself to promise, its delivery was disappointing. The end result was more like an amateur sleuth engaged in espionage than an exploration of the actual crime and gathering results. The action seemed to center on Alex's attempts to foil and go after his pursuers. I would have preferred an investigation into the crimes revealed by the manuscripts. Disappointing! 2.5 stars.

Another book in "Review Me": A Burial at Sea by Charles Finch - Charles Lenox, member of Parliament, is asked to go to the Suez Canal on official business. Aboard the naval ship, one of the officers is murdered. The captain asks Lenox to investigate. Before long there is a mutiny attempt, then another murder. Lenox must determine which sailor is behind the murders. This was my first venture into this series. I found Lenox a likeable enough sleuth, but I had some questions that went unanswered because I had not read the previous installments. The author probably did not provide enough background in places for those new to the series. I also felt his reason for going to Egypt was a bit contrived and unrealistic. I was also a little disappointed in the manner in which the fate of the ship criminal was resolved. I have had earlier installments on my wish list, and I do want to go back and read some of those. This book was received through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program with the expectation that a review would be written. 3 stars.

Another entry in "Review Me": Was America Founded as a Christian Nation? by John Fea - Fea, a professor at Messiah College in Pennsylvania, has done a good job presenting a balanced view of his topic in a readable manner. He has taken a look at various founding fathers, their personal religious views, comparing them to others in similar places and times, and seeing how it influenced their lives. He has also taken a look at whether it was their intent for America to be a Christian nation or not. His use of extensive sources is evident. I think that his conclusion of no conclusion makes it a perfect book to provide for discussion among college students and other groups interested in the subject. Some may criticize that he did not take a side in the argument, but the fact that he did not sets this apart from other studies of the subject, leaving the reader to make his own conclusion based on the evidence presented as well as additional study. 5 stars.

250 I like the idea of a writer on a controversial topic that actually gives the evidence and lets the reader decide -- as long as the evidence is truly presented in a balanced and impartial way. I may look that one up.

I want to invite everyone to watch our Living Christmas Tree which will be streaming live at 7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time Sunday, December 11 at http://www.fbcmtn.com. They may have the program available for offline viewing later, but I'm not sure if they will or not.

Another entry in "Review Me": Jesus Christ and the Life of the Mind by Mark A. Noll - In this book, author Mark A. Noll offers a follow-up to his much discussed The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind. He examines the problems that keep many Evangelicals from being more scholarship-minded, the progress made in recent years, and offers a critique of Peter Enns' book Inspiration and Incarnation. Noll's book is both readable and engaging, but persons who are not familiar with the other books mentioned should probably take a look at these before reading this one. 4 stars.

Three more books down:

Kindle category: Cat Deck the Halls by Shirley Rousseau Murphy - The story opens with a young girl witnessing a murder. I fear that I've made the mistake of starting a series with the 13th book. Even though I love cats and believe they can communicate somewhat (certainly not as the cats in this novel did though), I somehow found it difficult to adjust to the role the cats played in this novel. The story seems to be well-written and well-plotted, but I just had difficulty suspending my belief enough to really enjoy it. 3 stars.

Check Me Out category: A Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas - An enjoyable poem focusing on memories of Christmas. The book is sparsely illustrated. 4 stars.

Review Me category: Romancing the Roads by Gerry Hampel Davis - When you pick up a travel book that allegedly covers the United States east of the Mississippi River, you know that entries are going to brief. I expected more of a narrative or diary about the author's travels with mentions of interesting offbeat places upon which she stumbled. The words "discoveries" and "serendipities" were in the book's description, but the book definitely failed to deliver off-the-beaten-path places or serendipitous discoveries. Instead, what we have is a poorly executed plan for a book that one would expect in a self-published work but not in a book coming from a publishing house. The author completely omits four states (for which she apologizes in the introduction). The only areas of the country which are treated remotely well are New York City and the coastal areas of Florida. Why would anyone driving want to drive in New York City? Why didn't she cover other areas of New York which would have been more appealing? Why didn't she go visit some of Vermont's covered bridges? Why did the author barely include Boston (only about two paragraphs) and completely omit other parts of Massachusetts including Cape Cod and Cape Ann? Why did the author fail to visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park or any locations in East Tennessee? At times, I felt that all I was reading about were pricy hotels and their equally pricy restaurants. Occasionally she would include a few shopping destinations. Very few tourist attractions were included and those that were received minimal treatment with the exception of a few. Most of the little narrative included was not engaging. There were also several things that were inaccurate and dated. Under Nashville, she calls the Grand Ole Opry "Opryland." (Opryland was a theme park that has been gone well over a decade.) She also includes Opry Mills which was flooded in early May 2010 and has not yet reopened with the exception of the Bass Pro Shop and perhaps one or two other stores. For a work that was published in late 2011, I think there could have been some indication of its status in the notes as the place she visited will not likely be the same one that visitors of the future will see. (I've seen one volume travel works that have done a far better job than this one. Save your money. Your AAA Tour Books and many online sites will be more informative. You are more likely to find interesting local places to eat by using the Food Network's online resources for shows such as "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" or by using Yelp or other social media sites with dining ratings. This book was received through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program with the expectation that a review would be written. 1/2 star.

Another library book for "Check Me Out": 1225 Christmas Tree Lane by Debbie Macomber - In this final installment of the Cedar Cove series, Beth's daughters arrange for their father to spend Christmas with them. They are hoping that Beth and Kent will reunite. Beth finds ten puppies on her doorstep. She must find homes for all of them. We get to revisit most of the characters of the previous installments in the series in this final Christmas installment. I've only read a few of the books in the series, mostly the Christmas books, but I've enjoyed the ones I have read. I can understand why longtime fans of the series will be sad to see it end. 3.5 stars.

I read the first 2 in the Cedar Cove series this year and will try to fit in a couple more in 12, so I skipped over your review (just in case). I did see that this is the last one though so will be looking to fill in others I might be missing.

In "It's Calling My Name": Three Wise Cats by Harold M. Konstantelos and Terri Jenkins-Brady - This is a charming re-write of the story of the wise men. In this rendition, they are accompanied by cats. There were two major problems I saw. The first is the timing of the wise men's visit as Jesus was likely a couple of years old by the time they found the Messiah. The second had to do with the lands from which the wise men came. The Biblical narrative specifies that they came from the East, but in this rendition they appeared to come from the West -- Athens and Alexandria. In spite of its flaws, this is a book that I plan to keep for future re-reading. 3.5 stars.

If you missed the live broadcast of our Living Christmas Tree, you can catch it online now at: http://vimeo.com/33699323. Enjoy!

For my Kindle category: A Wee Christmas Homicide by Kaitlyn Dunnett - Every Christmas there is a hot item. This year it is a "tiny teddy," and Moosetookalook appears to be the last place in all of New England to have them in stock. Liss spearheads a marketing campaign so that all the merchants of this small town benefit. One of the tiny teddys is shot. It's not long before there is a death. Was the death related to the tiny teddy craze, or was it just coincidental? Liss can't resist getting involved in the investigation in spite of the dangers she encountered in the past and the warnings of her friends and the investigators. This is an enjoyable series because of the setting and the characters. The mystery itself could have probably been a bit more focused. At times it seemed like it was going too many directions at once. In spite of its weaknesses in plotting, it's a quite enjoyable read, and I'll look forward to future installments. 3 stars.

For the "Check Me Out" category: Edible: A Celebration of Local Foods by Tracey Ryder and Carole Topalian - It's easy to understand why this book has received praise from so many publications. It's much more than just another cookbook. The first part of the book is mostly narrative with short articles that celebrate local foods around the United States. There's plenty of humor infused with the writing. For example, in one article the writer was praising kudzu as a food source. Having grown up in the South, I was well acquainted with the nuisance and laughed as the writer gave humorous examples of how it spreads quickly, compared it to some poisonous vines, and discussed harvesting it from someone else's yard. (I don't want to give away the laughs! You'll have to read it yourself.) The book is illustrated by full color illustrations throughout that compliment the work itself. The recipes are mouth-watering and quite doable. Some persons will likely be disappointed that this is not a vegetarian cookbook. However, it celebrates local game, free-range animals, fish and seafood, etc. as well as produce. While I think I will pass on the kudzu recipes, I saw many recipes that I want to try. I borrowed this book from my local library; however, it is remaining on my wish list as I want my own copy. 4 stars.

In "It's Calling My Name" is a cookbook I received for Christmas from a friend: The Southern Foodways Alliance Community Cookbook edited by Sara Roahen and John T. Edge - Interesting cookbook that comes from the Southern Foodways Alliance. The editors have chosen recipes that depict the foods that depict the food you would likely encounter on a Southerner's table. The recipes reflect the different cultures located throughout the South and the foods available specifically in certain region. There are stories with the recipes. It's a great cookbook with a binding that should make it ideal for those actually using it while cooking. 4 stars.

In my Kindle category is the final book for the Austenathon: Persuasion by Jane Austen - Anne falls in love with Capt. Wentworth but there are obstacles to their relationship. It's classic Austen. I liked but did not love this final Austen novel. Based on my previous experiences with the author's works, I am likely to enjoy it a bit more each time I re-read it. 3 stars.

I've decided that Northanger Abbey is my favorite Austen novel. I think it is because I loved Victoria Holt and Phyllis Whitney so much in the 1970s. I tried reading Northanger Abbey back then, but I was young and did not really appreciate it that much, preferring the modern writers.

I hope Persuasion does grow on you, because I love it! But then again, I love Austen in general. :) And I'm glad to see that Northanger Abbey is your favorite! It doesn't get nearly enough love.

Merry Christmas, Lori!

Another entry in "I Want to Go Home": A Holiday for Murder by Agatha Christie - This edition I read is called A Holiday for Murder. Simeon Lee's family comes in for Christmas, but it's not long before his body is discovered. It's definitely murder, and it definitely had to be someone who was in the house. The case belongs to Supt. Sugden, but Poirot just happens to be staying at Sugden's superior's home at the time of the murder so he takes a look at the evidence as well. The oldest son Alfred also urges Poirot to investigate as he is not certain of Sugden's ability. Poirot is convinced that the character of the deceased man is the key to this investigation. This mystery kept me guessing until the very end. I really did not see this ending coming. Great mystery, especially for a Christmas one. Although this is set around Christmas, it can be enjoyed anytime. 4 stars.

ETA: This is also known as Hercule Poirot's Christmas.

I saw this Cranberry Nut Coffee Cake recipe online. It looked good so I decided to try it. I did add the orange peel to the batter it suggested because I like the combination of cranberry and orange.

Looks delicious! Merry, merry Christmas, Lori.

I couldn't get him to stretch up to the hook where the stocking was hanging this morning so I had to hold it.



So far, he's played with the stocking and the catnip ball and completely ignored the balls with the jingle bells on them. He's sniffed the packet with the catnip treats!

A nice Christmas eve read for my Kindle category: Wishin' and Hopin' by Wally Lamb - I did not attend a parochial school, but this book, written by Wally Lamb, gives me a glimpse of what it might have been like to have done so. It chronicles a couple of months in the first semester of fifth grade year for Felix Funicello, a cousin of the Annette of Mouseketeer fame. The joy in this novel is the way that ir chronicles everyday life for everyday people. From the Pillsbury bakeoff to local TV shows starring groups of kids to the school Christmas pageant, we get a glimpse of life in 1964. It's a wonderful, feel-good story about a much simpler time than the present-day. I was amused by the stories at the end of what became of the various players in the story. 4 stars.

I hope she's enjoying the book. Cats read using their posteriors, you know.

That's why he's always getting between me and the paper, me and the book, or me and the computer! I'm really surprised he stayed still until I could grab my iPhone and turn on the camera part! He usually doesn't oblige me when he's sleeping with or without his eyes open!

Another one for my "I Want to Go Home" category: Death's Autograph by Marianne MacDonald - Dido Hoare owns an antiquarian bookstore in London. Her ex-husband comes back into her life and soon ends up dead. It's apparent that the murderers are seeking something but haven't yet located. What are they after? Dido along with the police and other authorities must find out. I expected more of a cozy mystery, but this one is more of a thriller with a few cozy aspects mixed in. The plotting was not as strong as it could have been. I really did not like the ending. 3 stars.

Another entry for "Review Me": Engaging the Culture, Changing the World by Philip W. Eaton - Eaton has written a book that is certain to be discussed by faculty members at Christian colleges and universities across America. As he challenges his readers to examine the reason for the existence of the university and the constituencies they serve, he presents examples from the Amish, medieval Benedictine monks, and the Puritans as models for the types of counter-cultures Christian universities should embrace. It's a thought-provoking read, full of philosophical and literary explorations. 4 stars.

In my Kindle category: Sounds of Murder by Patricia Rockwell - Great beginning to a series featuring a psychology professor who studies sound. Pamela's grad assistant Kent discovers the body of another psychology professor in the computer lab, strangled by a pair of speakers. He runs to get Pamela. They call the police. It becomes apparent that the murder was committed by someone in the department, but who? Pamela's expertise in sound helps solve the murder. I look forward to further installments in this series. 4 stars.

Love the photo!

have a happy New Year!

Last book of the year is a Kindle category book: Emily Dickinson and the Art of Belief by Roger Lundin - This work, while well-researched, is not very readable. As a disclaimer, I must state that I read this in the Kindle version. I have no idea how the quotes were formatted in the original edition, but the manner in which quotes, particularly those featuring her poetry, had a lot of em dashes to indicate line breaks which made it not flow as well and which were distracting. I also felt that the author relied too much on quotations and did not analyze the material as much as he could have. While the author takes a look at Dickinson's use of the Bible and remarks on or alluding to faith in her letters and poems, there is no definitive answer to the question of whether or not she was really a believer or not. Doubt is shown at several times, but comfort in the Bible is taken at times as well. In the introduction, the author tells why he is placing source information in the back of the book and trying to leave the narrative free of cumbersome source citations. The book itself, however, begs for a more carefully sourced narrative because its audience is likely to be more of an academic than lay one. When we got to the end, there were numbered endnotes. The bibliography is quite extensive. There are several useful indexes. 3 stars.

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