DeltaQueen's Reading - Part 7

Well, the year is winding down but the reading is still going strong. I have finished my 11 in 11 Category Challenge so the balance of November and all of December is going to be free reading.

First Thread

Second Thread

Third Thread

Fourth Thread

Fifth Thread

Sixth Thread

2011 Reading List

January

1. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson - 4 stars
2. The A.B.C. Murders by Agatha Christie - 4 stars
3. Forty Words For Sorrow by Giles Blunt - 4 stars
4. The Black Rood by Stephen Lawhead - 3 1/2 stars
5. A Walk In The Woods by Bill Bryson - 4 1/2 stars
6. The Lies of Locke LaMora by Scott Lynch - 5 stars
7. Rise To Victory by R. Cameron Cooke - 3 1/2 stars
8. Pretty Birds by Scott Simon - 5 stars
9. The Indian Agent by Dan O'Brien - 3 1/2 stars
10. All The Colors of Darkness by Peter Robinson - 3 stars
11. City of the Beasts by Isabel Allende - 4 stars
12. The Guards by Ken Bruen - 5 stars
13. Fresh From The Country by Miss Read - 4 stars
14. Cat And Mouse by James Patterson - 2 1/2 stars
15. Springtime In Burracombe by Lilian Harry - 4 stars

February

16. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins - 4 stars
17. Miss Pym Disposes by Josephine Tey - 4 stars
18. The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender - 2 stars
19. The Children's Blizzard by David Laskin - 4 stars
20. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield - 5 stars
21. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman - 5 stars
22. Appaloosa by Robert B. Parker - 4 stars
23. A Share In Death by Deborah Crombie - 3 1/2 stars
24. The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons - 4 1/2 stars
25. The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng - 3 stars
26. The Outlander by Gil Adamson - 2 1/2 stars
27. The Maze Runner by James Dashner - 4 stars
28. Country of the Blind by Christopher Brookmyre - 4 1/2 stars
29. Assegai by Wilbur Smith - 3 stars

March

30. Elizabeth I by Margaret George - 4 stars
31. The Hotel On the Corner of Bitter And Sweet by Jamie Ford - 3 1/2 stars
32. I Shall Not Hate: A Gaza Doctor's Journey by Izzeldin Abuelaish - 4 stars
33. Beside A Burning Sea by John Shors - 5 stars
34. Ysabel by Guy Gavriel Kay - 3 1/2 stars
35. Shadow of the Lynx by Victoria Holt - 3 stars
36. Bad Bridesmaid by Siri Agrell - 3 stars
37. Death Minus Zero by John Baker - 4 stars
38. The Diary of Mattie Spenser by Sandra Dallas - 5 stars
39. A Story Like The Wind by Laurens van der Post - 3 stars
40. The Other Side of Paradise by Margaret Mayhew - 3 1/2 stars
41. The Sand Fish by Maha Gargash - 3 stars
42. Blacklands by Belinda Bauer - 5 stars
43. Sweet Danger by Margery Allingham - 3 1/2 stars

April

44. What To Do When Someone Dies by Nicci French - 3 1/2 stars
45. Dances With Wolves by Michael Blake - 5 stars
46. The Splendor of Silence by Indu Sundaresan - 3 stars
47. The Postmistress by Sarah Blake - 3 stars
48. The Case of the Gilded Fly by Edmund Crispin - 3 1/2 stars
49. Black Swan Green by David Mitchell - 4 stars
50. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs - 3 1/2 stars
51. The Way of the Traitor by Laura Joh Rowland - 3 1/2 stars
52. The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer - 5 stars
53. Sarah by Orson Scott Card - 3 1/2 stars
54. The Enemy by Charlie Higson - 4 1/2 stars
55. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones - 4 stars
56. The Various Flavours of Coffee by Anthony Capella - 3 stars
57. Iron Lake by William Kent Krueger - 4 stars
58. Mudbound by Hillary Jordon - 5 stars
59. Driftnet by Lin Anderson - 3 stars
60. The White Rhino Hotel by Bartle Bull - 4 1/2 stars

May

61. I Am Not A Serial Killer by Dan Wells - 3 1/2 stars
62. The Redbreast by Jo Nesbo - 4 1/2 stars
63. The Borgia Bride by Jeanne Kalogridis - 3 stars
64. Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers - 31/2 stars
65. The Walking Dead Vol. 1 Days Gone By by Robert Kirkman - 3 1/2 stars
66. The Temptation of the Night Jasmine by Lauren Willig - 3 stars
67. When The Dead Cry Out by Hilary Bonner - 3 1/2 stars
68. Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt - 4 1/2 stars
69. The Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart - 4 stars
70. The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin - 3 1/2 stars
71. The Walking Dead Vol 2: Miles Behind Us by Robert Kirkman - 4 stars
72. The Walking Dead Vol 3: Safety Behind Bars by Robert Kirkman - 4 stars
73. Murder In Mayberry: Greed, Death and Mayhem in a Small Town by Mary Kinney Branson - 2 1/2 stars
74. Blind Eye by Stuart MacBride - 4 stars
75. Far Bright Star by Robert Olmstead - 4 stars
76. Blink by Andrea Badenoch - 4 stars
77. The Saffron Gate by Linda Holeman - 3 1/2 stars
78. The Walking Dead Vol. 4 The Heart's Desire by Robert Kirkman - 4 stars
79. The Walking Dead Vol 5 The Best Defense by Robert Kirkman - 4 stars
80. The Walking Dead Vol 6 This Sorrowful Life by Robert Kirkman - 4 stars

June

81. The Religious Body by Catherine Aird - 3 1/2 stars
82. 20 Years Later by E.J. Newman - 3 1/2 stars
83. Yakuza Moon: Memoirs of a Gangster's Daughter by Shoko Tendo - 3 stars
84. A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith - 5 stars
85. Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl - 4 stars
86. The Conquest by Elizabeth Chadwick - 4 stars
87. Etta by Gerald Kolpan - 3 1/2 stars
88. Above Suspicion by Lynda La Plante - 4 stars
89. Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggach - 2 1/2 stars
90. Jeremy and Amy: The Extraordinary Story of One Man and his Orang-utan by Jeremy Keeling - 3 1/2 stars
91. Sweet Tooth Vol 1: Out of the Woods by Jeff Lemire - 4 stars
92. The Serialist by David Gordon - 4 1/2 stars
93. The Walking Dead Vol 7 The Calm Before by Robert Kirkman - 4 stars
94. The Walking Dead Vol 8 Made To Suffer by Robert Kirkman - 4 stars
95. Friday's Child by Georgette Heyer - 4 stars
96. Alphabet of Thorn by Patricia McKillip - 3 1/2 stars
97. House to House by David Bellavia - 4 stars
98. Dead City by Joe McKinney - 3 stars
99. The White Brigand by Edison Marshall - 2 1/2 stars

July

100. Wasted Years by John Harvey - 4 stars
101. The Walking Dead Vol 9: Here We Remain - 4 stars
102. The Walking Dead Vol 10: What We Become - 4 stars
103. The Complete Essex County by Jeff Lemire - 5 stars
104. Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson - 3 1/2 stars
105. Of Mice And Men by John Steinbeck - 5 stars
106. Down River by John Hart - 4 stars
107. Dairy Queen by Catherine Murdock - 3 1/2 stars
108. World of Pies by Karen Stolz - 4 1/2 stars
109. The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson - 4 stars
110. Death Without Company by Craig Johnson - 4 stars
111. The Devil's Paintbox by Victoria McKernan - 3 stars
112. The Dead of Summer by Camilla Way - 4 1/2 stars
113. As Simple As Snow by Gregory Galloway - 2 1/2 stars
114. At Bertram's Hotel by Agatha Christie - 4 stars
115. The Blue Noon by Robert Ryan - 4 stars
116. Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear - 4 stars
117. Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George - 3 1/2 stars
118. The Vanishing American by Zane Grey - 3 1/2 stars
119. Queenpin by Megan Abbott - 4 stars

August

120. Pearl of China by Anchee Min - 3 1/2 stars
121. The Goodnight Trail by Ralph Compton - 3 1/2 stars
122. The Siege of Krishnapur by J.G. Farrell - 5 stars
123. Why Didn't They Ask Evans? by Agatha Christie - 4 1/2 stars
124. What Janie Found by Caroline B. Cooney - 4 stars
125. Dog Company Six by Edwin Howard Simmons - 4 stars
126. A Plague of Doves by Louise Erdrich - 4 1/2 stars
127. Just Kids by Patti Smith - 3 1/2 stars
128. Rommel's Gold by Maggie Davis - 2 1/2 stars
129. Snowdrops by A.D. Millar - 2 1/2 stars
130. Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer - 4 stars
131. Stardust by Neil Gaiman - 4 stars
132. Track of the Cat by Nevada Barr - 3 1/2 stars
133. Winter Frost by R.D. Wingfield - 5 stars
134. Blow Your House Down by Pat Barker - 4 1/2 stars
135. The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall - 4 stars

September

136. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater - 2 1/2 stars
137. The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci - 3 1/2 stars
138. Son Of The Shadows by Juliet Marillier - 4 stars
139. The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt - 5 stars
140. The Sable Doughboys by Tom Willard - 4 stars
141. In Harm's Way: The Sinking of the USS Indianapolis by Doug Stanton - 4 1/2 stars
142. An Heir For Burracombe by Lilian Harry - 4 stars
143. China Star by Bartle Bull - 4 stars
144. Sold by Patricia McCormick - 4 stars
145. Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers - 3 1/2 stars
146. Exit Music by Ian Rankin - 4 stars
147. Empire Rising by Sam Barone - 3 1/2 stars
148. The Jade Peony by Wayson Choy - 4 1/2 stars
149. Torch by Lin Anderson - 3 stars
150. A Faint Cold Fear by Karin Slaughter - 4 stars
151. Heaven Is A Long Way Off by Win Blevins - 3 stars
152. Case Histories by Kate Atkinson - 5 stars
153. Beneath the Bleeding by Val McDermid - 3 1/2 stars

October

154. Chinaberry Sidewalks by Rodney Crowell - 4 stars
155. Fatelessness by Imre Kertesz - 4 1/2 stars
156. The Woman In White by Wilkie Collins - 4 stars
157. The Alphabet of Vietnam by Jonathan Chamberlain - 3 1/2 stars
158. The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett - 4 stars
159. Unwind by Neal Shusterman - 4 stars
160. The Man In The Queue by Josephine Tey - 3 1/2 stars
161. Janes In Love by Cecil Castellucci - 3 1/2 stars
162. Mr. Peanut by Adam Ross - 3 1/2 stars
163. The Chrysalids by John Wyndham - 4 stars
164. Kim by Rudyard Kiping - 5 stars
165. The Bat by Mary Roberts Rinehart - 2 stars
166. The Scorch Trials by James Dashner - 3 1/2 stars
167. Shavetail by Thomas Cobb - 4 1/2 stars
168. The Devil's Cub by Georgette Heyer - 4 1/2 stars
169. Ghost Road Blues by Jonathan Maberry - 3 stars
170. The Elephant Mountains by Scott Ely - 3 1/2 stars
171. Angels of Mercy by Lyn Andrews - 3 1/2 stars
172. The Walking Dead Vol 13: Too Far Gone by Robert Kirkman - 5 stars

November

173. The Shoe Queen by Anna Davis - 3 stars
174. Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson - 5 stars
175. Columbine by Dave Cullen - 4 1/2 stars
176. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie - 5 stars
177. The Poacher's Son by Paul Doiron - 3 1/2 stars
178. The Country of the Pointed Firs by Sarah Orne Jewett - 4 stars
179. American Gods by Neil Gaiman - 4 stars
180. Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas - 4 stars
181. Silence of the Grave by Arnaldur Indridason - 4 stars
182. Shanghai Girls by Lisa See - 4 stars
183. The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen - 3 1/2 stars
184. The Night Circus by Erin Morganstern - 5 stars
185. Malice Aforethought by Francis Iles - 4 1/2 stars
186. The Merchant's House by Kate Ellis - 3 1/2 stars
187. The Delicate Storm by Giles Blunt - 3 1/2 stars
188. Fashion Victim by Sam Baker - 2 1/2 stars

December

189. Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott - 3 1/2 stars
190. Slay Ride by Chris Grabenstein - 3 1/2 stars
191. The Land That Time Forgot Adapted by Scott Alexander Young - 3 1/2 stars
192. Trouble's Daughter by Katherine Kirkpatrick - 3 1/2 stars
193. Open Season by C.J. Box - 4 stars
194. A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg - 4 stars
195. Waterslain Angels by Kevin Crossley-Holland - 2 1/2 stars
196. Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels by Ree Drummond - 3 1/2 stars
197. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies adapted by Tony Lee & Cliff Richards - 3 1/2 stars
198. Blind Fear by Lynn Abercrombie - 3 stars
199. Charlotte and Emily by Jude Morgan - 3 1/2 stars
200. The White Mary by Kira Salak - 2 1/2 stars
201. Her Last Letter by Nancy C. Johnson - 2 1/2 stars
202. Mr. Darcy's Daughters by Elizabeth Aston - 3 1/2 stars
203. An Irish Country Christmas by Patrick Taylor - 4 stars
204. The Whisperer by Donato Carrisi - 2 stars

We are having a beautiful Saturday with lots of sunshine. I should be doing housework but instead I am treating myself to a walk and then an hour or so of reading. Hope everyone is having a nice weekend.

I'm so glad you are enjoying the weather. Housework we have always with us. Nice new thread!

Hi Judy- Wow, 182 books so far? Very impressive. Funny thing is, no matter how much we read, it's never enough. Right?
BTW- I FINALLY snagged an audio copy of Good Omens, so I can join, belatedly of course, the Gaiman Thread. I hope to start it Mon or Tues.

Hi Roni and Mark, had my walk and some reading time, I keep getting lost in both my current reads - The Night Circus and The Girl Who Chased the Moon.

182 is the most books I have ever read in a year, and I hope to break 200 by years end. Of course, you are right, Mark, it's never enough.

Glad you are going to be able to fit in a Gaiman this month. I still have Sandman Vol 1: Preludes and Nocturnes sitting on my shelf, calling out to me. Ilana is currently listening to American Gods and I am eagerly awaiting her review of this unusual book, so far most of us have had a very similar response to it.

Wow Judy! You've had a great reading year.

What a year of reading, Judy! Very cool.

Sounds like you're enjoying The Girl Who Chased the Moon. I'm hooked on Sarah Addison Allen.

Hi Judy - have my money on you to get to 200 this year!

183. The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen - 3 1/2 stars



The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen continues her legacy of magical, charming books that are sweetly irresistible. This one gives us a sugary sparkle and the smell of cakes baking that drifts through the air of the small town of Mullaby, North Carolina. Julia Winterson and Emily Benedict both have roots in this town, and both need to discover why this is the one place on earth they truly belong.

Emily arrives in Mullaby to meet her grandfather and solve the mystery of why her mother left in disgrace and never returned to her hometown. Julia has returned to Mullaby after leaving as a troubled teen when she was sixteen, Both have much to discover, and while putting the pieces together, they learn how to accept, forgive and tolerate. Mullaby is a magical town and, of course, love is there for them to find as well.

Sarah Addison Allen writes feel-good books, books that make you smile and sigh with contentment. The Girl Who Chased the Moon has her signature touches of whimsical magical realism along with her warmly sympathetic characters. When you are in the mood for light reading, Sarah Addison Allen can provide a nice escape.

Perfect - couldn't agree more. Thumb from me!

Delurking to add my thumb - great review! Now the test is to see if I can keep up with this thread.... I gave up trying on the previous ones!

#17 - Thanks Joe!

#18 - Hi Lori, good to see you over here. Are you still planning on setting up a thread here next year?

I loved Garden Spells as a light, fun read, so onto the wishlist this one goes too.

Yes.... I am thinking of taking the plunge next year. Reading 75 books is do-able and so long as I admit to myself that it is impossible (for me) to stay on top of all the conversations and that I don't need to reply to posts on a daily basis, this should be manageable..... ***fingers crossed***

Now back to reading The Night Circus

Lori - I'm with Judy - it would be nice to see you making a regular appearance over here!

Just quickly passing through to claim a seat here before getting back to my unpacking...

Found you again! :)

Happy Monday morning to everyone.

Yesterday was a quiet day, the grandkids came over and helped rake leaves while their parents went for some early Christmas shopping. The kids are staying with us next weekend while the parents head for a weekend in Seattle. I was outside for awhile, but admit I got tired of gathering leaves, so I slipped inside and couldn't resist finishing The Night Circus.

184. The Night Circus by Erin Morganstern - 5 stars



The Night Circus by Erin Morganstern is a deliciously mysterious tale of magic, love and a very unique circus. In slow dream like stages the reader is drawn into a story of two young magicians who are set up to duel against each other. Much like the circus itself, the book reveals itself slowly, chapter by chapter, and above all Le Cirque Des Reves influences any who enter it’s gates.

Using symbolism and incredible imagery the author has created a story that, while easy to read, dwells in your mind long afterwards. Your senses of sight, smell and touch are all ignited by her words. The whole time I was reading this book I could smell a distant scent of caramel popcorn. I am not going to describe the plot in anyway as the best part of the book is the slow reveal of the story itself.

An enjoyable, escapist read from a promising new author. This is a story that will have many different meanings depending upon the reader, for me a bittersweet tale of love, loss and redemption.

Ohhhh I can't read your review yet, I still have 100 pages left to read! (I'll come back and read it later :)

5 Stars!! Yah!! You earned a Big Fat Thumb! I'm so glad you loved it. I have 40-plus pages left.

Hi, Judy! Just stopping by to star your thread. You've been doing some great reading and reviewing!

Hi Judy - glad you enjoyed The Night Circus. I too could almost smell the caramel popcorn :-)

Glad you liked Night Circus!

My reading time was hijacked by my husband's surgery, from which he is still recovering -will be another ? 3 - 4 weeks - but I wanted to stop by and say hi!!! Windy last night !!!! Glad you enjoy Night Circus so much - mine is still waiting for me.....

Ok I came back! Great review!! Such a good book! I also gave it 5 stars and immediately gave it to a friend to read

I was off all day starting my Christmas shopping. Went with my oldest daughter and, although I didn't do much buying, got lots of ideas. Now I just need to spend a day shopping with the younger daughter and I should be able to wrap up most of it. Surprise, Surprise - just about everyone on my list will probably get a book or two from me.

Hi Chelle, Mark, Terri, Heather, Susie & Deb. Yes, The Night Circus was a great read and, Mark deserves a pat on the back for picking this book for a group read.

And, Deb is so right, we really had quite the wind storm last night. We didn't lose power, but apparently thousand in the Vancouver area did. The weatherman is predicting another windy day for us on Thursday.

I hope you have a great Thanksgiving, Judy!

Happy Thanksgiving, Judy!

I keep hearing good things about The Night Circus!

In advance of tomorrow, have a Happy Thanksgiving!

I appreciate all the Thanksgiving wishes even though we celebrated Thanksgiving here in Canada in October. It's confusing to have these holidays at different times.

I will be dropping by some of your threads today but in case I miss anyone, Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends.

Sorry Judy for muddling up where you are - I did know that the holiday was earlier in Canada, but I agree, it is confusing!

Hi Judy.
I also recently read Shanghai Girls and very much agree with your review. I only gave it 3.5 stars because I felt like she didn't know how to end the novol, but otherwise I thought it was very well-written and engaging. I learned some Chinese history and culture, and such learning is always one of my goals in reading.

I'm off to see if I can find a copy of The Night Circus later today. Your review, Ilana's early comments..... all making me feel like I must find and read that book.

Me, too, Judy - sorry! I didn't realize Canada's was in October. Our stores here might start pushing to have that, too, so they can have the Black Friday shopping day earlier. :-)

Hi Ellen, I was just over at your thread with holiday wishes. I hope you track down a copy of The Night Circus, an original story, written in a slow, dreamy style that gently draws you along.

Hey Joe, no problem, I hope you and your family have a great Thanksgiving. My daughter and son-in-law are heading south of the border, I guess they will be tackling the Black Friday crowds. I don't envy them at all.

Thanks, Judy. Me either - we avoid those crowds and wonder about those who love it so. I'd much rather spend peaceful time with family and friends. But we know people who find it a wonderful adventure, and who plan their strategy for days leading up to it.

Sorry, Judy -- I really do know about the differing dates, but it just slipped my mind.

Have a happy fall weekend!

Have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving, Judy!

Placing my star and hoping to keep up Judy!

Awww, you totally tempt me with The Night Circus. Must have self control and wait till it comes out in PB. *repeat as many times as necessary* :/

185. Malice Aforethought by Francis Iles - 4 1/2 star



Malice Aforethought by Francis Iles was published in 1931 and will certainly bring thoughts of Agatha Christie to mind, but this book is much more of a psychological character study. The reader is very much aware of what is going on and who is responsible, yet we are drawn along by the well crafted story and the desire to see how it’s all going to work out.

Dr. Bickleigh appears to be a thoroughly henpecked, mousey sort of fellow, one who draws the sympathy of others, especially as they witness his wife’s bullying ways. But slowly we, the reader, get to know another side to this complicated man, a crafty, devious side. He is in actuality a very selfish person who only considers what he wants. At this point in his life, what he wants is his wife out of the way permanently.

I found this to be wonderful quirky book with a strong vein of humor, particularly as it pertains to the middle class country life of 1930’s England. The most sinister events often occurred over the tea table and gossip and slander are the main draws at most village affairs. Malice Aforethought is a classic example of an “inverted” mystery, and a darned good story.

Thanks go to Sandy (sjmccreary) for recently reading this great story and bringing it to my attention and for the "Published Before You Were Born" TIOLI Challenge for encouraging me to pull it down off the TBR shelves.

Judy I'm on the same page as you with this one. "Darned good story indeed".

Ha ! Judy, I often resort to Chapters' gift certificates for Christmas presents for my family. I never can quite pick out a book for someone else, but I gift certificate - that much I can do!!! We kept our power etc over the windstorm. I hope we will get a little sun, but I'm not seeing it the forecast. My sister is just crazy for the Steve Jobs biography which she got for her recent birthday. Chapters is simply stuff to the gullet with those on the floor!

Glad you are getting some good reading done.

That looks good, Judy. It's on the list now.

Well, we weathered the storm and didn't lose our power yesterday. My grandkids have arrived for the weekend, so my computer time is going to be limited. Today is clear and sunny, although quite chilly. I think we are going to bundle up and take a walk on the dike nearby.

I have done some book ordering for Christmas presents, but you are right, Deb, it is so much easier to get gift certificates. Actually I love getting gift certificates for books, then I get to choose what I really want.

My granddaughter is asking for some more of my "neat" fairytales, so I guess we'll be firing up the Kindle and heading back to the Andrew Lang Fairy Books later on today. My grandson spends most of his time wandering from the computer to the Playstation.

Have a great day everyone!

>52 DeltaQueen50: Actually I love getting gift certificates for books, then I get to choose what I really want.

Right on.

Judy- Sounds like the weather is hitting you pretty hard! I hope you have a good weekend and enjoy those grandkids!

I'm adding Malice Aforethought to my TBR list right now!

I am just dropping in to add my most recent read. Today was taken up with figure skaing lessons, and swimming at the community pool with the grandkids. I like to keep them busy and tire them out! But actually I think Nana is more tired than them, can't wait to tuck them in so I can toddle off to bed as well.

Seasonoflove and Joe, I hope you are able to track down a copy of Malice Aforethought, as I think you are both big fans of Agatha Christie and other classic British mysteries.

186. The Merchant's House by Kate Ellis - 3 1/2 stars



The Merchant’s House by Kate Ellis is the first in her series featuring DS Wesley Peterson. Newly transferred to the port city of Tradmouth, Wesley’s first investigation is into the murder of an unknown women found beaten to death on a cliff side path. This isn’t the only major case the police are working on as a young child was abducted from his home just a couple of weeks earlier.

I found this to be a story that moved along at a steady pace, the reader is introduced to all the main characters and gets a feel for both the community and for Wesley‘s private life as well.. Wesley has a background in archaeology and this is introduced to the storyline in a seamless way that actually enhances the plot. Even though Tradmouth, Devon is a fictional setting, I found it realistic and well portrayed. The author’s descriptions left me eager to visit this area again.

Although I found the mystery fairly easy to figure out, I did enjoy how the past shadowed the future and how all the various plots entwined with each other eventually. This is definitely a series that I intend to follow along with as I enjoyed how the author unfolded both the historical aspect and the police procedural into a cohesive unit.

Just stopping by to say hi! Dreadful weather today! Let's hope tomorrow has a bit more sun!

The Kate Ellis book sounds like it should be added to my list. As usual, great review. I hope your weather improves. Ours is mild -- and no snow yet! But the weather comes from the West, so we'll probably get some form of yours in the next few days.

Nice review, Judy. Sorry you're getting hammered, weather-wise. We're finally getting some predictions for sun this coming week and it will be welcome.

Today was actually quite a nice day here. Calm, mild with a little weak sunshine. We took the grandkids over to the school yard behind our house and kicked around a soccer ball. Just have to get them off to school in the morning and our babysitting is done. Love having them, but also we are looking forward to some peace and quiet, and I am looking forward to having my computer back!

Re: Kate Ellis - her Wesley Peterson series consists of 16 books so far. I checked the LT ratings and her books seem to average about a 3.75 stars which appears quite promising.

187. The Delicate Storm by Giles Blunt - 3 1/2 stars



Set in the fictional town of Algonquin Bay in Northern Ontario, The Delicate Storm is the second entry in the Giles Blunt series. Detectives Cardinal and Delorme have two interesting cases on the go, a dismembered corpse is found in the woods, partially eaten by bears, and, a few days later a young woman is found strangled, naked and again, left in the woods.

Working separately, they eventually realize this these cases are connected, and again, the author draws on history, in this case the 1968 FLQ terrorist attacks of over thirty years ago. Along with dubious help from both the RCMP and CSIS, they struggle to put the pieces together. Meanwhile, Algonquin Bay is experiencing an intense ice storm that is knocking out power, and making getting around near impossible.

Well written, engrossing, and although he is careful to change the names, the FLQ storyline was quite accurate and brought back memories of a very tense time in Canadian history. The ice-coated Northern Ontario landscape is beautifully described, and we continue to get glimpses of the detectives personal lives which in turn helps to flesh out his main characters. I look forward to the third book and learning more about John Cardinal and Lise Delorme.

Morning Judy- Sounds like you had a nice weekend! And now, you can have a little P & Q. I have only read the 1st Detective Cardinal book, but I'm still on the fence about continuing the series. Since we have so many series books to keep up with, I need to be very selective.

#63 - I know, Mark, I should be more selective as well, Unfortunately I seem to like just about every mystery I pick up! I need to rein myself in and try a little harder to actually finish a series or two!

Here I am contradicting myself already, I found a mystery that I didn't care for:

188. Fashion Victim by Sam Baker - 2 1/2 stars



I have decided not to post a review on the book page as I really don’t think I could give it a fair judging.

I am probably not the target audience for Fashion Victim by Sam Baker so I am not surprised that I really didn’t enjoy this book. The story is set in various fashion capitals such as London, New York and Milan, as an intrepid reporter tracks down the story behind the murder of an up and coming fashion designer.

My biggest quibble with Fashion Victim is that it seems to be trying to be both a serious mystery and a lighter chick-lit read. I usually prefer my chick-lit on the humorous side like authors Marion Keyes and Sophie Kinsella, so this more serious look at fashion just didn’t work for me. The author, Sam Baker has a solid background in the fashion world having spent time on various magazines including Cosmopolitan, so I am sure she is both accurate and well researched. The murder part of the story just didn’t hold my interest. So all in all, not a book for me.

Judy - I am a fan of the series and have read all bar the latest which is still unavailable here. Cardinal comes across as a very real character and the setting of scene is very good. Not my absolute favourite but I always scan the "B"s in the store to see if his latest is here yet.

The Delicate Storm sounds interesting - especially with the FLQ. I've not read Giles Blunt at all -but perhaps I should put him on my wishlist...

I am also a Blunt fan. I haven't checked lately; does he have a new one?

Beth I'm not sure what we mean by new. For me in the frazzled waste of Kuala Lumpur this means released here. I have read the first four Cardinals - the 5th Crime Machine has never surfaced here though it was released last year in other countries.

Hi Judy! Sorry your last book was a bust! Hopefully your next is much better

As far as I can tell, Giles Blunt has written 5 books in his John Cardinal/Lise Delorme series. His last one came out in 2010, so I would think that chances are good for another one to come out in 2012 or 2013. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

A beautiful day here on the west coast, I was out running errands most of the morning. Tomorrow I am going Christmas Shopping with the younger daughter, going to have to use supreme willpower as we will be hitting at least one bookstore and I'm sure to have trouble sticking to my giftlist rather than buying for myself!

Ha! I feel your pain, Judy. I was Christmas shopping today and had a hard time not buying any books for myself. I solved the problem by buying books that I want to read for family members - I figure I'll get them eventually :)

Hi Katie, I am quite pleased with my purchases. I got my Mom an assortment of books that I have already read from the library - Mudbound, The Invisible Bridge and Shanghai Girls. For my husband again one book that I read from the library last year, Matterhorn and I also got him The Things They Carried as I have heard really good things about it. I also picked up The Help for my eldest daughter, and a book about cars for her husband. A couple more shopping trips should just about wind up the shopping that I need to do this year.

Judy: Great purchases. I wish I were on your list!

I usually like every mystery I read as well, and I'm definitely going to take some of your recommendations!

Hi everybody. I am really starting to get into the Christmas spirit. Tonight my husband and I are going to decorate the tree. I was thinking how this has changed over the years. When we were young, this was party night, we would invite all our friends over to help with the decorating, but mostly just as an excuse to party. Then Tree Decorating Night become family night, we would decorate the tree, play Christmas music and eat snacks and just enjoy being together. Now with the girls having families of their own, it's become like a Date Night. The two of us will decorate the tree, play Christmas music and, yes, probably enjoy a snack or two, and enjoy just being the two of us.

... And, I am probably being so sentimental because of my last read, Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott.

189. Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott - 3 1/2 stars



I had fond memories of Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott from reading it as a child, but I didn’t remember just how sweetly sentimental it truly was. Of course my reading taste has matured, and soured slightly over the years, so I found this book a little too sweet for my taste. In showing her readers the value of family, simple pleasures and an industrious life, we are told the story of Rose Campbell, orphaned and given over to the care of various aunts while awaiting the arrival of her guardian, the sea-faring Uncle Alex. Rose has been overly coddled and protected and is on the verge of becoming a sickly, timid child. Her uncle extracts a promise from the aunts to give him a year of total control over Rose’s life to see if he can bring out the healthy, vibrant girl he believes she can be.

Rose, along with her seven male cousins enjoys a year of outdoor activity, healthy eating, with many life and morality lessons. She, of course, blooms under this treatment. This book was originally published in 1875, so the outdated ideas on the female role, and the way that other races were looked at, I was able to excuse.

Overall the book held it’s charm for me, and I would encourage young girls to read this book, but treat it as a history lesson. As each chapter has a moral, this book would make a great launching pad for discussion. Overall I enjoyed my trip down memory lane and I do plan on eventually reading the sequel, Rose In Bloom, as I remember that as a charming and cozy read as well.

This book was originally published in 1875, so the outdated ideas on the female role, and the way that other races were looked at, I was able to excuse.

I wonder, when you read it originally, did you actually notice the inherent racism in this book?

I always read and enjoyed Enid Blyton's books, but never realized the racism it contained (purely a product of its time and not overtly mean) until I started re-reading them as an adult. I can't help but wonder if I never noticed because people in general were not so aware of subtle racism back then or if it was because I was a kid. Would a child today recognise the subtle racism contained in books published in a time where white people still looked down on other races?

I'm pretty certain that I didn't notice or even recognize the racism in these books as a child. My eyes have been opened in more recent years when I pick up books like this and also some of the classic mysteries of Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers and Joesphine Tey. I don't think these authors were particularly racist, but were products of their time. I cringe to think of some of the common sayings and terms that we used as kids, I don't think things really started to change until the late 1960's and into the 1970's.

That's interesting about Enid Blyton, she was another of my favorites, but again I think such casual, subtle racism was just so commonly used that we were all guilty of it.

I would like to believe that most children today would notice and recognize the racism in these books. I'm pretty sure my grandkids would, today's kids seem more aware of treating everyone equally and are taught to respect each others differences.

Have a lovely evening, Judy. My husband and I will be decorating our tree tonight, too!

I grew up in the 1990s, which is quite recent (even though sometimes it doesn't feel that way), yet I still didn't really notice. Today's kids are more aware, true, but has 20 years made such a difference? I'm not sure. Perhaps children are so drawn into the story that they don't notice things like racism if it's subtle, because the authors were merely a product of their time, while as adults we are more capable of looking beneath the actual plot to see the hidden messages (intended or otherwise) in books.

And while on this subject, I'm not sure if it was an issue where you live, but I can remember that a few years back there was a plan to edit the Enid Blyton books in order to remove offensive (by mordern standards) terms and ideas used in regards to black people and servants. I don't know if they actually did, but I thought it was ludicrous! What would be next? Editing Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, every author who wrote something before roughly 1980? I thought it a bit extreme.

In the same vein - or perhaps it is different, I don't know - Susan Wittig Albert has started a new series (in 2010?) set in the 1930s during the Great Depression in Alabama (?), a southern state at any rate. She actually had two pages of foreword to apologize about writing true to the historical period in regards to the opinions of people about coloured people, using terms as 'negro' which wasn't offensively meant at that time (mostly anyway), and to make it absolutely clear that she did not think like that. Are we truly so sensitive today that this is a problem?

Perhaps I think too easy about this subject, racism against black people really isn't that big here in the Netherlands. I believe the US have far more problems with it, even today, so perhaps I am too complacent?

#81 - I agree totally about the book editing, I would hate to see that happening. Once they start changing the author's words, what will they decide to change next?

I guess Susan Wittig Albert was covering all her bases, I think in today's world, someone would have been offended and all to willing to point fingers at her.

At the same time, I feel quite positive about the changes that have happened in the last twenty years or so. I think it will take generations before we are totally color blind, but I think we heading slowly in the right direction.

#80 - Hi Katie, hope you have fun tonight, too!

Times and attitudes do change over time and most often for the better. One of the things that most appealed to me about Malaysia when I first moved here was that there are three races here living in relative harmony. I noticed this in 1994 and also noticed on my various returns to England that the old country was progressively becoming a more tolerant nation. Sometimes we can be too sensitive to issues of race and class and gender - political correctness can stop the celebration of the diversities in life and the humour that this can be heir too. Gladly though rampant prejudice is now becoming more and more a thing of the past.

I read all of the Alcott books as a child, too (long ago) and didn't notice the racism. When I read them to my children, I did notice and used the episodes as teachable moments.

I, too, would hate to see editing or censoring of these old books. In a way, they serve as a historical record.

I think it's interesting that, while we are becoming more tolerant of other people, we are less tolerant of other's words. I find it slightly ridiculous that anyone would need to apologize for using the word "negro" in a 1930's context. That would have been, at worst, a very neutral term.

Our racial tolerance will be complete, I think, when we are able to notice and comment upon the color of a person's skin and have it be of no more consequence than commenting on a person's hair or eye color is now.

#83 political correctness can stop the celebration of the diversities in life - I agree completely!

Sandy re your second paragraph - well said!

190. Slay Ride by Chris Grabenstein - 3 1/2 stars



My first seasonal read of the year was quite the zinger. Slay Ride by Chris Grabenstein is a fast paced, action packed thriller that is wrapped up in a Christmas theme. Lots of mayhem and murder interspersed with Christmas cookies, music and school concerts.

Starting two weeks before Christmas, the story revolves around Christopher Miller, a F.B.I. agent who gets involved with the Russian mafia while trying to solve a kidnapping. With a psychotic villain as evil as they come, he has his work cut out for him. Eventually the evil is brought too close to home and Miller’s family is threatened.

This story takes off the minute you open the book, the plot is a little contrived, but fairly well-crafted. There is both graphic violence and language, but if you are looking for high powered thriller, this book will push all the right buttons.

Just found your thread! Little Women always gave me the warm fuzzies as a kid and still does to be honest but the one I truly read over and over was Little Men... I will have to seek out Eight Cousins.

I didn't notice a lot of racism in books as a child in the 1990's. The words used in UK/American books was so foreign to me growing up in NZ. NZ certainly had/has it's own prejudices and race issues but different terminology. So a lot of words I know now are incredibly hurtful meant nothing to me as a child.

#88 Lisa, that's interesting. Can you give some examples of the different terms used in NZ versus UK or US?

Well I grew up in a small town in NZ. So I remember the chant eeny meeny mynee mo... I used to sing that as a kid using the 'n' word. I had no idea what that word meant, or referred to, as a child. To me it was just the word that rhymed and how it was sung. I know recently Huckleberry Finn is being censored I definitely read that as a kid and can't remember the racist words.

I also had no idea about Judaism and that it was a religion or their history. I grew up in a non-religious house. I knew about Christianity as it's a big part of secular life - Christmas and Easter holidays etc but as a child Jew was a word I simply didn't know. I remember reading the book I am David and being very influenced by it. I think I read it three or four times growing up but I had no idea about the historical context and that he had escaped from a concentration camp and was wondering through war torn Europe - it was a big mystery to me! If I had asked my mother she would have explained but for some reason I didn't.

As for different terms used in NZ I can't give any specific examples that I remember reading a NZ children's book and there being something racist in it. But I do remember a conversation a primary school teacher was having with another teacher and I was in the same room a few years ago. In NZ we used to have picture books of black and white photos of New Zealand kids doing ordinary day to day things for beginner readers in Year 1. Apparently one of those books was withdrawn because the way it portrayed Maori children was prejudiced. An example I remember them discussing was a photo of a Maori girl in barefeet standing on a kitchen bench. It was considered to be disrespectful and 'painting a picture'.

We also did "eeny meeny" but I could never understand the problem with it, because we said "catch a tiger by its toe". I was pretty much grown before I ever heard about the other version.

I can imagine what the picture might have been like - I'm visualizing an imaginary American version with a little white girl in a pretty dress playing with dolls, a Mexican boy in tattered clothes doing yard work, and a black girl placing platters of food on a lavishly set dining table. Is that the kind of thing you mean?

Catching up, what an interesting discussion. To follow on from what Lisa has said, one word that we used as kids in the 80's was pakeha but then in the 90's, the word pakeha was linked to not just 'white man' but 'white pig' or similar and so it lost it's popularity and I don't think it has regained it. I think the Maori people of 150 years ago did really mean 'white-man' but as an oral language, so much has changed in the meanings and pronunciations of words since then.

One word my daughter uses a lot to describe something she doesn't like is 'oh, that's gay'. This bugs me but it's just what kids her age say at the moment.

I also learned the Eeny Meeny song with the original n word but kids today sing 'tiger' and don't know any different which is a good progression I think.

I grew up in three different places in Canada, Victoria, Ottawa and Halifax. As children I am pretty sure we used racial slurs that we would never use today, of course we didn't really understand what we were saying. I did the Eenie Meanie thing with the N word and never thought a thing about it. I think I came to a slow awareness and now I cringe at the off-hand remarks that were commonly bandied about. I honestly had no contact with people of other races until I was well into my teens. I remember sitting in the school auditorium one day and the teachers behind me were talking about a girl in my grade and said that she was Native American (not the words they used), I remember even being surprised by that. I think I was either a very unaware child or very sheltered, probably a little of both.

Growing up we adopted a dog that was called Blacky. He was a black labrador/German shepperd breed and by the time we got him he was almost 2 and there was no way we could change his name. But since he was black and I was young, I never really thought about the name.

Then, years later when I was a young teen, I was walking the dog in an area where he was allowed off the leash. He'd wandered into the bushes and I was calling him so we could go home when two guys on a scooter came along. One of them was black and I was calling 'Blacky, Blacky' over and over - but my dog wasn't visible. Pretty easy to see where this is going right? They thought I was talking to the black man and stopped and said something, I don't even recall what.

It could have gotten a lot worse, I guess, if my dog hadn't decided that that was the perfect time to jump out of the bushes. The surprised look on those guys faces is something I'll never forget. They drove off and I went home. When I told my mother what happened she explained that 'blacky' was sometimes used as a racial slur. Another thing learned.

191. The Land That Time Forgot by Edgar Rice Burroughs adapted by Scott Alexander Young - 3 1/2 stars



Having been a keen fan of Tarzan comics when I was a child, I thought that the adaptation to graphic novel form of The Land That Time Forgot was a perfect choice. I believe if he were alive today, Edgar Rice Burroughs would be working in the graphic novel market. His books were originally written in serial form, lively adventure stories, short on characterization but strong in picturing settings and action.

This adapatation is colorful and engaging. I enjoyed my short time lost in this strange world. I have already ordered the sequel, The People That Time Forgot.

Judy: Hmmmm. A little string of 3.5-star reads, eh? I hope your next one gets into the 4+ range! Not that 3.5 is bad (at least, for me, it's not) but still, it's nice to have that occasional book that sends you over that bar. :-)

Interesting discussion about how our awareness of language changes with time. As those of us who read can probably agree, language matters. And it evolves. I, for one, wouldn't want it to be static.

I'm very intrigued by the GN The Land that Time Forgot adapted by Scott Alexander Young. I think I'll see if my library has it.

Hi Ellen, yes, a string of good but not great reads. I am, however, going to change my rating system for next year to include decimal points in order to give me a better range. For example, Eight Cousins would probably be a 3.7 whereas Slay Ride more of a 3.4.

192. Trouble's Daughter by Katherine Kirkpatrick - 3 1/2 stars



Based on a true story, Trouble’s Daughter by Katherine Kirkpatrick tells the story of Susanna Hutchinson whose family farm was attacked by Delaware Indians in 1643. Her family were massacred and Susanna, who was nine at the time, was taken captive. She had caught the attention of Delaware, Wam-Pak by the color of her red hair and he took her to replace a daughter that had died from smallpox.

Susanna lived with the Delaware for almost 6 years, when due to the terms of a Peace Treaty, she was traded back to the Dutch at New Amsterdam. She was reunited with an elder brother and moved to Boston where she eventually married and many famous Americans such as US Presidents James Garfield, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and both Presidents Bush are among her descendants.

Covering the years of her captivity, this YA story allows the reader to work through all the emotions that Susanna feels, from terror, sadness, anger to eventual acceptance. Of course, as she came to finally embrace the Delaware as her family, she had to face the ultimate betrayal of seeing them trade her back to the white people. A well researched and interesting historical fiction story.

Sounds like an interesting book! Good review :)

#98- I've had that one on my TBR list for awhile maybe I will get to it next year!

Judy - Trouble's Daughter sounds absolutely fascinating and just the sort of story I enjoy. Will find space for it in the TBR forest for sure.

I hope you all enjoy Trouble's Daughter. Written as a YA book, the story is told simply, but the author obviously did extensive research and I believe she has delivered an extremely accurate story.

Once again, I owe a big thank you to Joe (jnwelch) for steering me in the direction of this book.

193. Open Season by C.J. Box - 4 stars



Open Season is the first book in the C.J. Box’s series about Wyoming Game Warden Joe Pickett. Set in the fictional country of Twelve Sleep, Joe is the newly appointed Game Warden, replacing his mentor Vern Dunnegan in the position. Joe is a straight up family man, loving his wife, his two daughters, and his job.

Unfortunately he finds himself in the middle of an investigation involving three dead outfitters, and although someone is quickly charged with the crime, Joe is far from satisfied. Digging deeper seems to be an unpopular choice both with the locals and his federal department, and the more attention Joe gives this case, the more trouble he is bringing down upon himself and his family.

This is an excellent introduction to what looks to be a great series. Joe Pickett is far from a super man, but he is an admirable, honest person trying to do the right thing. The setting, although fictional is all to easy to pinpoint on a map, snuggled in against the scenic Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming. The last third of this book really keep me on the edge of my seat, and jumped this book up another notch in my appreciation. Intelligent with good-pacing and an excellent sense of place, Open Season will soon be followed by book number two.

Troubles Daughter sounds fascinating, a wee gem waiting to be discovered. Thanks for the great review.

Good review! Sounds like another interesting series

Glad you liked Open Season, Judy! Joe Picket's a great character, isn't he? And the series is a grabber.

I've enjoyed all of C. J. Box's Joe Pickett novels that I've read.

Judy- I'm glad you enjoyed Open Season. I'm a fan of Joe Pickett too. I wasn't as crazy about the 2nd book but plan on continuing the series.

Hi Judy. I had a used copy of Open Season a while back and never got around to reading it. Your recommendation (along with Mark's) makes me wonder if I still have it in that stack downstairs.....

I'm not going to be around much for the rest of the week as I have been beseiged by doctor appointments and procedures. They are determining whether I will require some surgery, but that won't be happening until the New Year sometime. I will however be continuing to read and will post my comments when I am able.

Good luck with the medical issues, Judy. Keeping my fingers crossed for you that surgery won't be needed. Looking forward to seeing your reading list when you get back next week.

Sorry to hear about the medical issues. Hope everything goes well and hope you get some good reading time in!

Hope everything is fine Judy and that your medical problems are not troubling you too much. Thoughts will be with my TIOLI guru all the way.
Btw The CJ Box books look to be just what the Doctor ordered - I have Open Season and will bump it up the list a fair bit now.

Good luck, Judy!

Hope everything turns out well for you Judy!Will keep you in my thoughts!

De-lurking to send good health thoughts and vibes your way Judy.

Hi, Judy! I got behind here, but am now caught up with your thread. Open Season is one that I plan to read.

Good luck with your medical issues, Judy!

>110 DeltaQueen50:: Sorry to hear about medical woes for you, Judy. Crossing my fingers that the doctors can get things "straightened out" without surgery.

Now I see why you got your Christmas shopping done early. You got some great books for the people in your life. How unselfish of you to buy books you read and loved. I tend to buy books for other people (especially my husband) that I want to read. ;-)

Take care of yourself, Judy. Hope everything turns out well for you.

Well, I've been poked and prodded and examined thoroughly, now I wait for the doctor to call and let me know the results. I have been doing a lot of waiting room reading and have managed to finish off a few books.

194. A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg - 4 stars



A seasonal feel-good story, A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg was just what the doctor ordered. Oswald T. Campbell, following his doctor’s orders, leaves his lonely existence in Chicago and travels to the milder climate of Alabama. He is warmly welcomed by the citizens of Lost River, and although Oswald has been told he doesn’t have long to live, his life takes an amazing turn for the better.

Oswald finds Lost River full of interesting and eccentric characters like the postman who delivers the mail by boat, the various members of the Mystic Order of the Royal Polka Dots, a secret society of do-gooders, and the friendly store keeper and his tame red cardinal. This is a town with heart, and when they decide to take a abandoned little girl under their wing, they put their heart and soul into making her a happy, healthy child.

I loved this slightly magical story, that for me had just the right touch of sentimentality that I look for at this time of the year. A book to curl up with while enjoying the lights of your Christmas Tree with a cup of cocoa in your hand.

195. Waterslain Angels by Kevin Crossley-Holland - 2 1/2 stars



Waterslain Angels is a YA book about two children who decide to find the fourteen hand-carved angels that were taken from the village church and hidden during reformation days, gradually over time their hiding place was forgotten. Unfortunately, as much as I wanted to like this book, I just couldn’t warm up to it. Supposedly a straight forward mystery, but actually the children stumbled around clueless, mostly going by messages that came to them in dreams. To put suspense into the story, they were not the only ones looking for the angels, a church handyman was also eager to find them and make a profit from these priceless antiques.

Even looking at this book as children’s fiction did not make me inclined to give it a higher rating. I found the writing very choppy and abrupt and the plot was executed in a strange and unbelievable fashion. The ending came quickly, when all of a sudden one of the children showed a flash of genius and determined where the angels were hidden. I did find the marshy setting of Norfolk interesting and I wished there was more information about that in the story. All in all, I just wasn’t very impressed with Waterslain Angels.

196. Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels by Ree Drummond - 3 1/2 stars



Breaking up with her LA boyfriend, and feeling disenchanted with the city, Ree Drummond decides to move to Chicago. On her way she stops in to spend some time with her parents in Oklahoma. Just before she leaves, she meets her Marlboro Man, and although she is entirely smitten, does she want to drop her dream of the city for a life on a cattle ranch?

Obviously she does and the book describes in hilarious detail all that she and he go through to be together. Ree has since gone on to become a well recognized blogger, and this book is the outcome of people wanting to know the story behind this city lover living on the Oklahoma plains with her cowboy. Included on the final pages are a number of recipes guaranteed to satisfy the cowboy in everyone.

Breezy, funny, light and heart warming, I enjoyed Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels, and although it is considered a non-fiction memoir, I suspect there might be a little glitz and gloss added here and there. Reads like a chick-lit novel, but entirely entertaining and enjoyable.

So glad you like Redbird!!

197. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Graphic Novel adapted by Tony Hill and Cliff Richards - 3 1/2 stars



When zombies were first introduced into the world of Jane Austen I was a little taken aback. Pride and Prejudice is my favorite Austen and I wasn't sure about zombies being added into the mix. Perhaps good for a small laugh, but I just couldn't see a whole book done this way.

Then I saw the graphic novel at the library and I couldn't resist. This was the perfect solution for me. Shorter than the book, done up in a cartoon style, this was a way I could enjoy this strange blending. I still have no desire to read the Seth Grahame-Smith book, but I did find this graphic novel great fun and I enjoyed it immensely.

198. Blind Fear by Lynn Abercrombie - 3 stars



Blind Fear by Lynn Abercrombie is the second book in her series about MeChelle Deakes who works in the Cold Case Department for the Atlanta Police. This particular story starts as she wakes up with her eyes glued shut in a small soundproof room, all she can hear is the ticking of the clock and a disembodied voice telling her she has thirteen hours.

Meanwhile her co-worker has come to the realization that she has been abducted and knowing he doesn’t have the experience to handle this, he goes to MeChelle’s retired boss and begs him to help. On a constant countdown, the story follows both MeChelle as she explores her options and Detective Hank Gooch as he realizes the place to start from is MeChelle’s last case and painstaking untangles the clues and races against the clock to solve it and find her. As MeChelle’s last case was the reopening of an eighteen year old murder there is lot to put together in the thirteen hours that they have.

Even though the story takes off at lightning speed and there are many ups and downs along the way, I found it was still a very implausible plot that I really had a hard time swallowing. Even though I quite enjoyed the first book in the series, I doubt that I will be continuing on with this series.

Interesting to hear about the graphic novel of P&P&Zombies! I've heard mixed things about the novel-length work, but not much about the gn. I can see how that would be more enjoyable for an Austen fan -- it's much more 'novelty' that way, less intrusive to the original story.

Hi Faith, yes, that's it exactly - more novelty, less intrusive. I hope they eventually release graphic novels for the other monter-mash books they produced.

I have had Pioneer Woman recommended to me by a few people-I think I'll have to pick it up.

I read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and thought it was merely okay-I'm really intrigued by the graphic novel version-I bet I would like it a lot more.

Hi Seasonsoflove, I thought the Pioneer Woman was a fun read, her writing is like reading a letter from a friend. And yes, if the Bennett family have to fight zombies, it's nice to see it! : )

I got one of my Christmas presents early - yes, my book shelves are in place. Unfortunately the Christmas tree is blocking one, but I took a picture of the one on the other side of the fireplace.



I now have half my books on these two shelves, while the rest are stacked on the rickety shelves I have upstairs. At least I no longer have piles on the floor!

Nice shelves, Judy! I like the mantel, as well. :-)

Oh, those shelves are lovely, Judy! What a wonderful present for you.

The same fellow that built the bookshelves also built the fireplace surround a couple of years ago. I don't think he was very pleased that I wanted to put bookshelves there, I think he thinks it takes away from the fireplace. Oh well, in my world, books are more important.

Judy- I like the new book-shelves and if fireplace guy doesn't, well.....tough!

Ooh, love the new shelves! So I'm curious, did you have a specific bunch of books that you decided to bring downstairs, or was it purely the luck of the draw?

Nice new book shelves! Looks great!

Mary, I'm slightly anal-retentive so my books are arranged alphbetically. Right now A to L are on the tall shelves upstairs, and the two new bookshelves have my M to Z. I realize I do still have a pile of books, not exactly on the floor, but piled up on my dresser. These are the books I have pulled for my 12 in 12 Category Challenge, but at least my spare room is looking tidier.

Judy! I'm so sorry I've missed out on your thread all this time. Will start over from here on. I've seen you mention health issues on other threads and hope you're doing better.

As for organizing books, I too put them in alphabetical order on the few shelves I have, but unfortunately there is a greater proportion of them stacked in piles willy-nilly on any available surface I can find.

Hey, Judy, I see you read Eight Cousins while I was gone. I was a big Alcott fan in my younger years as well. In addition to the other issues being discussed, I was rather disturbed when I reread it last year to realize that the frail, elderly aunts were younger than me now.

I didn't care for Pride and Prejudice and Zombies in book form--I can see where the graphic form might be more appealing.

Lovely new bookcases!!

Love the new bookcases! Pooh on the carpentry guy - if he felt that strongly about those shelves, he didn't have to take the job. I'm impressed by the alphabetical organization - I keep unread books in the living areas, and already read books in the out-of-the-way corners. Taller books on taller shelves, shorter books on shorter shelves. After that, the order on each shelf is something that even I don't quite understand, but that doesn't mean that it's OK for you to move them around. ;-)

The People That Time Forgot adapted from Edgar Rice Burroughs by Steven Phillip Jones, Illustrated by K.L. Jones - 3 stars



I didn't bother adding this into the book count as it was quite short. This graphic novel tells the story of the rescue of the couple that were left behind in "The Land That Time Forgot". A quick,fun read, but for some reason, I found this one much more dated than the first one.

Love the bookshelves, Judy! And I think they are a marvelous use of the space, no matter what the carpenter thinks.

I have my unread fiction in alphabetical order by author. My non-fiction is just loosely grouped by subject. (No, not in Dewey Decimal order. ;)

Judy - Don't see what is wrong with storing alphabetically by author - I do it but only for unread books nowadays as there simply isn't room for the read books - (I am going to have to make a decision about donating some of the ones I know I will never read again).
Nice to get a glimpse of a traditional mantelpiece - there is little requirement over here for residential chimneys! btw I hope your health is A1OK at the moment.

Oooh, lovely shelves! Most of my books are alpha by author too, although I've been toying with the idea of going LoC on the whole lot...

Judy- I keep my TBR shelves in alpha order, except for my Must Read Now shelf, which is order of priority. i like being able to find books quickly. My keeper shelves are not in alpha order but more categorized.
We are a weird bunch, aren't we?

146: We are a weird bunch, aren't we? LOL - ain't it the truth. One thing I plan to do with my stay-at-home day today is organize my TBR shelves!

Hi everyone, thanks for dropping by. All these books I have to read and yet so far this month I think I have only read one book from my own shelves - too much library time!

I spent another day of shopping for Christmas and other than a few small things I am done. I will probably slip out for a bit on Friday and finish it. It's been decided that I am doing a Christmas luncheon this year and I have had instructions from both daughters to keep it light and simple. That makes my Christmas cooking very easy - and easy is always good. Elder daughter is doing dinner, then on Boxing Day I will head over to Vancouver Island and visit with my Mom and rest of the clan for a week or so.

199. Charlotte and Emily by Jude Morgan - 3 1/2 stars



Charlotte and Emily by Jude Morgan tells the story of the Bronte family and was one of the saddest books I have read this year. The six Bronte children lost their mother at a young age, were raised by a distant father with the help of an Aunt who cared more about duty and correctness than love and warmth. The two elder sisters, Maria and Elizabeth, died of consumption after being sent to Cowan Bridge School, a school for poorer children of the clergy. That the three remaining sisters, Charlotte, Emily and Anne, became writers of such talent is extraordinary. Prolific though they were, I can only imagine what they would have accomplished had they lived longer. Among their work are the classics of Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, Agnes Grey and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.

The sad times weren’t over for the Bronte family as the only brother Bramwell dies of a combination of consumption, alcoholism and addiction to laudanum, and then, around the same time first Emily, then Ann also succumb to consumption, leaving Charlotte as the only surviving sibling. She eventually marries her father‘s curate in her late thirties. The book ends with her marriage but a author’s note explains that unfortunately, she died at the age of 39 of what was thought to have been complications from a pregnancy.

I thought the author did an excellent job of presenting the facts of their lives and giving them substance and shape. Although his writing could get a little “prosy” and hard to absorb at times, I still found this an interesting story, and perhaps, because I really knew so little of these sisters beforehand, I was fascinated. Charlotte and Emily gives the reader a real appreciation of the sisters’ work, the horrible school in Jane Eyre has direct roots in Charlottes’ experience at the Cowan Bridge School. The Yorkshire moors of Wuthering Heights are a place that Emily knew very well, and, certain experiences that Anne describes in Agnes Grey, she experienced herself as a governess. The book is known in England as The Taste of Sorrow which I think is a far better title as this book is really about the whole family and the hard lives they endured.

>149 DeltaQueen50: That sounds like a very interesting -- and sad -- book. I agree with you that the English title is much more evocative. I wonder sometimes how and why titles get changed when books cross the pond (in either direction). I know sometimes it's because of slang or idioms that don't translate well across cultures, but that wouldn't seem to be the case here.

Hi Julia, this practise of two different titles can drive me crazy. I often have to work out whether the author has written two books closely together, or if I've already read the book under it's alternative title. I guess they do some sort of market research that tells them one title will work better in North America, but I often find I prefer the original title. I guess it works the same way with N. American authors, their books get different titles in Europe.

200. The White Mary by Kira Salak - 2 1/2 stars



Marika Vecera is a reporter who is known for taking the dangerous assignments. Stylizing herself on her hero, journalist, Robert Lewis, she takes jobs in war-ton countries and has been in extreme danger more than once.

She decides to write a biography of her idol after learning of his suicide. Part of her research involves a trip through the jungles of Papua New Guinea because of vague rumors that Robert Lewis is alive and can be found there. Known as The White Mary by the natives, she embarks on a symbolic journey where she learns as much about herself and her relationships as she does about Robert Lewis.

The details of her trip through these jungles makes the book worthwhile reading. The author has travelled extensively in Papua New Guinea and her descriptions really places you there. The rest unfortunately left me rather disappointed The writing just didn’t captivate me, I found the characters quite flat, and even the most intense scenes did not connect with me emotionally. Disappointing as there is an excellent story here that just needed a more dynamic writer.

Two hundred books, wow! Congrats Judy! Too bad this latest one didn't quite hit the mark, but then we can hardly expect that from every single tome we pick up considering the volume of books we get through, right?

I agree that it's unfortunate that so many book titles get changed when they cross over from one or the other sides of the Atlantic. I suppose the marketers don't take into account readers like us here on LT, who are probably far from being the norm, as far as market research go. And then of course, we Canadians are right on the fence between British and American cultures, which are both quite different from one another ever though they share (mostly) the same language.

ohhh i love the new bookshelves. Just this morning I've decided that one of my new year resolutions is to make a permanent home for my books they are still mostly in boxes in the spare room from the move in July and the books I've bought since then are in piles in the master bedroom.

Well done with the double ton Judy. Your comment in the opening of your first post here is absolutely spot on.

Welcome Ilana, Lisa and Paul. I really do wish I had chosen a better book for my 200th. This whole month has been quite hit and miss for me book-wise.

I love my new bookshelves, Lisa, but unfotunately they are already full. Any books I get for Christmas will be starting the new pile on floor. Oh, how I envy my sister-in-law whose house has extra wide halls and she lined them with bookcases.

On a brighter note, I finished my Christmas shopping today. I have promised to take the grandkids out tomorrow so they can get something for their Mom and Dad, but that will just be local and not fighting the crowds at the Mall.

You finished 200 books and your Christmas shopping. I stand in awe. Nice reading year for you, Judy. Well done!

Oh, and I have empathy for the already-full new shelves. Not only can I not keep up with all my favorite threads on LT, I can't keep bookshelves empty.....

Judy: Wow -- you are popular. I don't visit for a couple of weeks and there is a lot to catch up on. I think your idea of reading the Zombie and Jane Austen book as a graphic novel is brilliant. So many times, writers have these original ideas, but the ideas can't really carry a book.

I love your bookshelves. My bookshelves are arranged in no particular order. I love to "find" a book I don't remember buying. On the down side, I sometimes find I have two copies of a book.

Congratulations on your 200. You've done a lot of great reading this year.

I am in awe. 200 books AND your Christmas shopping done? I have been whittling away at my shopping, but probably won't finish 'til the 23rd, because I have that day off.

Hi Ellen, Beth and Mary. I have had a great reading year, except this last week or so when my reads have been less than stellar. I think this is due partly to my trying to read a few books off my shelves that have been there far too long. My next read wasn't very good either, but I did buy it when my Kindle was new and I couldn't resist books for 99 cents. I've since learned that there is often a reason they are offered at such cut rate prices.

201. Her Last Letter by Nancy C. Johnson - 2 1/2 stars



Her Last Letter by Nancy C. Johnson was a rather bland mystery story about a woman who finds a note left behind by her murdered sister. The note says that the sister was having an affair with the boyfriend of one of her sisters and she was afraid he was going to kill her. As there are two sisters left alive, and both are now married to these men, they must discover the truth. Of course due to timing, there ends up actually being about four men who could have possible committed the murder, and in order to keep the reader guessing, all these men must look slightly suspicious.

By the end of the book, I really couldn’t care which one did it, they all came across as unpleasant and slightly nasty. The two women seemed naïve and gullible. The cop-out ending would have bothered me if I was invested in the book, but it wasn’t, so it didn’t. There was very little suspense build throughout the story, and it mostly seemed to be a tale of two rich women being taken advantage of.

I feel bad that the best thing I can say about this book is that at least it is cleared from my Kindle.

Hi Judy, catching up, have to say that as an Austenite, I didn't love the graphic novel of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies as much as you did. I can still hear Mr Bennett saying "quick girls, form the pentagon of death..' shudder..

But, I loved you review of Charlotte and Emily and will have to search that one out. Oh, and love the new shelves!

Hi Leonie, I know but at least it was in cartoon form - I simply can't imagine reading those lines in book form! : )

I did the same thing with Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Judy - read the graphic. That was amusing - but, like you, I can't imagine reading it in a book.

Juday, I can only echo the congratulations and awe of others that you've finished 200 books and all your Christmas shopping!

I think I'm adding Charlotte and Emily to my list!

I should be wrapping presents right now, but I decided to sneak onto my computer instead. Every year I send my grandson and granddaughter on a treasure hunt for one of their presents. They love it, but since I started with rhyming clues, that's what they look for. I spent most of the morning writing my clues up, but now they're done and ready for their Christmas Day Hunt. (Pats herself on the back...)

202. Mr. Darcy's Daughters by Elizabeth Aston - 3 1/2 stars



Mr Darcy’s Daughters by Elizabeth Aston is based on Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice and therein is the biggest problem with this book. I personally am not in favor of taking these beloved stories and adding to them. The original author finished her book and so it should be left at that. Reviving old characters and putting your spin on them is inviting much criticism, therefore Elizabeth Ashton’s use of so many characters from the original is simply inviting trouble. That being said, I actually really enjoyed this book a great deal, I simply tried to divorce it from the original.

Mr. Darcy has five daughters, they all have their own personalities, and this book’s main focus is on the second daughter, Camilla. As their parents have gone to Constantinople, the five girls are installed under the care of their cousins the Fitzwilliams. The two elder daughters embark on their first London season and the readers are treated to the sights, tastes and fashions of Regency London with all it’s perils of social intrigue and romance.

I believe this is the first book of a series, and it is well written and quite engaging. As I said, I tried not to compare it to the original, and actually felt it had more in common with a Georgette Heyer novel, although lacking Heyer’s superb way with dialogue. I received this book as a gift quite a number of years ago and had very little expectations towards it, but I found myself engrossed and relishing this charming story. If you are looking for a pleasing regency romance, Mr. Darcy’s Daughters could do very nicely.

Congratulations on reading 200 books and getting new bookcases Judy! Sorry the last couple of reads have been less than stellar.

Hi, Judy ~ Just stopping by to wish you a very happy Holiday Season and a healthy and blessed New Year!

Judy: Excellent review. I agree with your comments regarding "sequels." If I read them at all, I have to read them without thinking of the original -- especially an original I liked. I haven't read this one by Aston, but I read another one, and I agree that she does a fine job. A friend who reads a lot of Jane-related books also thinks highly of Aston.

Just stopped by to say, have a great holiday, Judy!

Thanks for all the holiday wishes. I can't believe how close we are to Christmas, it seemed to come quickly this year. I am just about ready, spent most of today housecleaning. I am leaving on December 26 to spend a week or so at my Mom's, so I am probably going to miss the unveiling of the 2012 Group. I will probably have a lot of catching up to do when I get back. My reading has slowed down a lot over the last few days, but I am reading An Irish Country Christmas and it's a great book for this busy time, very easy to pick up and put down.

I hope to catch up with everyone over the next day or so.

203. An Irish Country Christmas by Patrick Taylor - 4 stars



Reading An Irish Country Christmas was like easing on my favorite warm robe and slippers and settling down in front of a nice cozy fire. Warm, familiar, and, yes, cozy. This is the third book in the series and held no real surprises, just the usual tales of living and doctoring in a quaint Irish village during the 1960’s.

Young Dr. Barry Laverty is missing his girlfriend, Patricia as she is away at school in Cambridge. Unfortunately his plans for a romantic reunion are put awry when he learns that she won’t be coming home for Christmas. Meanwhile senior partner, Dr. Fingal Flaherie O’Reilly is having some romantic complications of his own. They are also battling competition as a new doctor, with some rather strange views, has moved into the district. These distractions, along with their many eccentric patients, and Christmas preparations, keep them busy during the cold month of December.

This is a perfect book to read at a busy time in your own life, as the chapters are not overly long and each one tells it’s own story, making it an easy book to pick up for short reads. Well written and engaging, a great escape to a different time and place.

Stopping by to wish you Happy Holidays Judy!

Hope you have a great Christmas and a great time at your mom's Judy. We'll all be here when you get back. I'm already worried about how I'll ever manage to keep up, and I'm not going anywhere, so I can imagine how you feel! :-)

Merry Christmas, Judy!

Thanks for the holiday wishes, and Roni, I love that book tree! I will be dropping by some threads this evening and then I will be off until January when I return from visiting my Mom.

This was my first year with the 75 Challenge and it's been great. I am looking forward to catching up with everyone in the New Year.

Merry Christmas, Judy, and safe travels. Here's hoping for a great year of reading in 2012.

Merry Christmas Judy

Merry Christmas, Judy!


glitter-graphics.com

At the sake of repeating myself from my own thread Judy - it has been a pleasure getting to know you in 2011 and I wish you every happiness in 2012 and beyond in addition to a wonderful christmas in the bosom of your family.

Merry Christmas, Judy!

Merry Christmas Judy!!

Merry Christmas Judy.

mistletoe smooches!

Wishing you all the very best Judy!

Merry Chrismas Judy!

Merry Christmas, Judy! I hope you have a safe, warm, and fun holiday season!

I've loved getting to know you through the wonderful world of 75. Really looking forward to seeing your 2012 reviews. Hope you had a wonderful Christ-mas!

204. The Whisperer by Donato Carrisi - 2 stars



I was awarded The Whisperer by Donato Carisi as part of the Early Review Program here on LT. Originally I found it to be a rather disappointing read that I blamed on an awkward translation which slowed down my enjoyment of the story, but then, it’s increasingly unbelievable plot put the final nail in the coffin.

The book started off well enough with the discovery of a small graveyard of only left arms, obviously severed from young girls, and just as obviously belonging to the currently missing five young girls that had the police scouring the country. However with the discovery of a sixth arm, the police are puzzled as a sixth girl hasn’t been reported missing.

A major crime team is put together to discover both the identity of the sixth child and to hunt down this serial killer. From there the book becomes a convoluted, messy, over-done and ultimately silly story. The author’s refusal to identify the country that this story is set in was just one of the many minor annoyances that the reader faces. The book holds too many coincidences to be believed. The characters seemed forced and stiff; the story never flowed easily but always felt contrived.

This is a book that I would not have finished had it not been for the Early Review Program, at over 400 pages The Whisperer was a huge time waster that I cannot recommend.

Unfortunately my reading year is ending on a whimper rather than a bang. I am still away from home visiting my family and with little time to read, I doubt I will finish another book this year.

Looking forward to coming home and catching up with everybody in the New Year!

So sorry your last book was a bust!Have a Happy New Year!

Hi Judy, sorry you didn't enjoy your last read of the year. I've had The Whisperer on my wishlist since I saw it had been awarded a prize as the best european thriller of the year. They have the audio version in French translation over at the library, and I may or may not give it a try sometime, though I'm not overly fond of the grizzly premise.

Hope you have a wonderful and very Happy New Year!

Bummer, Judy, to have your last good read be, well, not so good. Here's wishing you only 3+-star reads in 2012!!

Happy New Year Judy -- I hope 2012 starts out with a better book.

Family or Fiction? or should that be fiction or friction?! Reading or not have a great time with your family Judy and look forward to many more posts to and from my LT guru in 2012.

Hi, Judy ~ Happy New Year!

Judy, I wish you a very Happy New Year! See you in 2012!

#190 Well, that's one book that will NOT be going on the wishlist. Thanks for taking one for the team, Judy! Enjoy the rest of your visit - I'm looking forward to seeing your daily posts once you get back home.

Happy New Year Judy!! Looking forward to catching up with you in 2012.

Happy New Year to everyone. I am closing this thread and moving over to the 2012 75 Challenge.

Yay! See you there!