inge87's 13 for 2013 - Part 3

The old thread was loading waaaay to slowly, so it's time for something bright shiny and new—just in time for the Holiday Season.



Categories
1. Aboriginal (Native Peoples)
2. "Adult" Fantasy
3. Ecology
4. Food / Cooking
5. History
6. Mysteries
7. NYRB Children's Collection
8. Other “Adult” Fiction
9. Other Non-Fiction
10. Religion
11. YA Fantasy
12. YA Non-Fantasy
13. Year of Faith

* = reread
+ = owned and unread since before 2013 (Mt. TBR)

1. Aboriginal (Native Peoples) - Books by or about aboriginal peoples, such as Native Americans, Aboriginal Australians, or Maori. - COMPLETED 3/22

1. The Round House by Louise Erdrich (3)
2. The Jim Chee Mysteries: People of Darkness/The Dark Wind/The Ghostway by Tony Hillerman (3)
3. Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko* (5)
4. The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera (4)
5. The Blessing Way by Tony Hillerman (3)
6. Dance Hall of the Dead by Tony Hillerman (2)
7. Listening Woman by Tony Hillerman (3)
8. Leaphorn & Chee: Skinwalkers, A Thief of Time, & Talking God by Tony Hillerman (3)
9. Black Elk's Vision: A Lakota Story by S. D. Nelson (4)
10. Coyote Waits by Tony Hillerman (2)
11. Sacred Clowns by Tony Hillerman (3)
12. The Fallen Man by Tony Hillerman (4)
13. Shadows Cast by Stars by Catherine Knutsson (3)
14. The Sinister Pig by Tony Hillerman (3)
15. The Skeleton Man by Tony Hillerman (4)
16. The Shape Shifter by Tony Hillerman (2)
17. Spider Woman's Daughter by Anne Hillerman (4)
18. Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce by Robert Penn Warren+ (1)
19. The Heart of Everything That Is: The Untold Story of Red Cloud, An American Legend by Bob Drury & Tom Clavin (5)

2. "Adult" Fantasy - Non-juvenile Sci-Fi and Fantasy - COMPLETED 5/22

1. Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness (3)
2. Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay (2)
3. Soulless by Gail Carringer (4)
4. Changeless by Gail Carringer (2)
5. Blameless by Gail Carriger (3)
6. A Turn of Light by Julie E. Czerneda (5)
7. Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed (3)
8. Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal (4)
9. 2312 by Kim Stanley Robinson (1)
10. Dead until Dark by Charlaine Harris (3)
11. The Hum and the Shiver by Alex Bledsoe (3)
12. Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris (3)
13. The Ladies of Mandrigyn by Barbara Hambly (3)
14. The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter (4)
15. His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik (4)
16. Touch Not the Cat by Mary Stewart* (5)
17. Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik (2)
18. The First Century after Beatrice by Amin Maalouf (5)
19. Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (5)
20. Still She Wished for Company by Margaret Irwin (4)
21. Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth (5)
22. Silver: Rhiannon Held by Rhiannon Held (4) -- touchstone not working - the title is really just Silver
23. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: A New Verse Translation by Simon Armitage+ (4)
24. Tarnished by Rhiannon Held (3)
25. The Lost World by Michael Crichton (3)
26. Descent into Hell by Charles Williams (4)
27. Prometheus Unbound by Percey Bysshe Shelley (3)
28. Farmer Giles of Ham by J. R. R. Tolkien (3)
29. Many Dimensions by Charles Williams (3)

3. Ecology - Books the environment, natural resources, etc. COMPLETED 10/10

1. Thirst: Water and Power in the Ancient World by Steven Mithen (4)
2. My Backyard Jungle: The Adventures of an Urban Wildlife Lover who Turned His Yard into Habitat and Learned to Live with It by James Barilla (4)
3. Otter Country: In Search of the Wild Otter by Miriam Darlington (3)
4. The Ghosts of Evolution: Nonsensical Fruit, Missing Partners, And Other Ecological Anachronisms by Connie Barlow (5)
5. Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture by Toby Hemenway (4)
6. Silent Spring by Rachel Carson (5)
7. Locust: The Devastating Rise and Mysterious Disappearance of the Insect That Shaped the American Frontier by Jeffrey A. Lockwood (4)
8. Apocalyptic Planet: Field Guide to the Everending Earth by Craig Childs (3)
9. Paradise Lot: Two Plant Geeks, One-Tenth of an Acre, and the Making of an Edible Garden Oasis in the City by Eric Toensmeier (2)
10. The End of Night: Searching for Natural Darkness in an Age of Artificial Light by Paul Bogard (5)
11. The Whale: In Search of the Giants of the Sea by Philip Hoare (4)
12. All Things Bright and Beautiful by James Herriot (4)

4. Food / Cooking - If it involves food, it probably goes here. COMPLETED 12/8

1. At Mesa's Edge: Cooking and Ranching in Colorado's North Fork Valley by Eugenia Bone (3)
2. The Earth Knows My Name: Food, Culture, and Sustainability in the Gardens of Ethnic America by Patricia Klindienst (5)
3. My Berlin Kitchen: A Love Story (with Recipes) by Luisa Weiss (3)
4. An Everlasting Meal: Cooking with Economy and Grace by Tamar Adler (5)
5. The 100-Mile Diet: A Year of Local Eating by Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon (3)
6. The Kitchen Gardener's Handbook by Jennifer R. Bartley (3)
7. Food Heroes: 16 Culinary Artisans Preserving Tradition by Georgia Pellegrini (3)
8. Beautiful Corn: America's Original Grain from Seed to Plate by Anthony Boutard (3)
9. Di Bruno Bros. House of Cheese: A Guide to Wedges, Recipes, and Pairings by Tenaya Darlington (3)
10. Pandora's Lunchbox: How Processed Food Took Over the American Meal by Melanie Warner (4)
11. Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation by Michael Pollan (2)
12. A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table by Molly Wizenberg+ (4)

5. History - Books about history. Mostly European, with a bit of Asian and Latin American thrown in. Also, maybe a book about Texas or two. COMPLETED 5/2

1. The Unintended Reformation: How a Religious Revolution Secularized Society by Brad S. Gregory (4)
2. Lost World of the Golden King: In Search of Ancient Afghanistan by Frank L. Holt (5)
3. Godly Seed: American Evangelicals Confront Birth Control, 1873-1973 by Allan Carlson (3)
4. There was a Country: A Personal History of Biafra by Chinua Achebe (3)
5. Titian: His Life by Sheila Hale (3)
6. Borderland: A Journey through the History of Ukraine by Anna Reid (4)
7. You Will See Fire: A Search for Justice in Kenya by Christopher Goffard (5)
8. Plutopia: Nuclear Families, Atomic Cities, and the Great Soviet and American Plutonium Disasters by Kate Brown (5)
9. Founding Gardeners: The Revolutionary Generation, Nature, and the Shaping of the American Nation by Andrea Wulf (3)
10. Maynard L. Parker: Photography and the American Dream by Jennifer A. Watts, Editor (5)
11. The Great Influenza by John M. Barry (3)
12. Midnight in Peking: How the Murder of a Young Englishwoman Haunted the Last Days of Old China by Paul French (4)
13. American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America by Colin Woodard (4)
14. Neighbors: The Destruction of the Jewish Community in Jedwabne, Poland by Jan T. Gross* (4)
15. Better for All the World: The Secret History of Forced Sterilization and America's Quest for Racial Purity by Harry Bruinius (2)
16. Sensuous Worship: Jesuits and the Art of the Early Catholic Reformation in Germany by Jeffrey Chipps Smith (5)
17. Strange Rebels: 1979 and the Birth of the 21st Century by Christian Caryl (4)
18. The Eve of Destruction: The Untold Story of the Yom Kippur War by Howard Blum (4)
19. The Eagle: The Autobiography of Santa Anna by Antonio López de Santa Anna (3)
20. The Secret Rooms: A True Gothic Mystery by Catherine Bailey (5)
21. Music for the End of Time by Jen Bryant (4)
22. The Church under Attack: Five Hundred Years That Split the Church and Scattered the Flock by Diane Moczar (4)

6. Mysteries - Exactly what it sounds like. Hillerman mysteries will probably end up entirely in Category One though. COMPLETED 3/13

1. The Anatomist's Wife by Anna Lee Huber (3)
2. A Morbid Taste for Bones by Ellis Peters (2)
3. A Duty to the Dead by Charles Todd (4)
4. An Impartial Witness by Charles Todd (2)
5. A Bitter Truth by Charles Todd (3)
6. What Angels Fear by C.S. Harris (3)
7. Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear (2)
8. Birds of a Feather by Jacqueline Winspear (4)
9. An Unmarked Grave by Charles Todd (4)
10. Why Mermaids Sing by C. S. Harris (3)
11. And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander (2)
12. Pardonable Lies by Jacqueline Winspear (2)
13. Iced Chiffon by Duffy Brown (3)
14. When Gods Die by C. S. Harris (4)
15. Messenger of Truth by Jacqueline Winspear (3)
15. Where Serpents Sleep by C. S. Harris (3)
16. What Remains of Heaven by C. S. Harris (3)
17. Murder on Astor Place by Victoria Thompson (3)
18. Murder on the Rocks by Karen MacInerney (1)
19. Where Shadows Dance by C. S. Harris (3)
20. An Incomplete Revenge by Jacqueline Winspear (3)
21. Mr. Churchill's Secretary by Susan Elia MacNeal (2)
22. Among the Mad by Jacqueline Winspear (3)
23. Murder on St. Mark's Place by Victoria Thompson (3)
24. The Mapping of Love and Death by Jacqueline Winspear (3)
25. Murder on Gramercy Park by Victoria Thompson (2)
26. Killer in Crinolines by Duffy Brown (3)
27. Murder on Washington Square by Victoria Thompson (3)
28. A Lesson in Secrets by Jacqueline Winspear (4)
30. Death by Cashmere by Sally Goldenbaum (3)
31. Elegy for Eddie by Jacqueline Winspear (3)
32. Buried in a Bog by Sheila Connolly (4)
33. The Wisdom of Father Dowling by Ralph McInerny (3)
34. Lying Three by Ralph McInerny (3)
35. Her Death of Cold by Ralph McInerny (3)
36. When Maidens Mourn by C. S. Harris (3)
37. The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen (3)
38. The Trees of Pride by G. K. Chesterton (3)
39. Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers (4)
40. Strong Poison by Dorothy L. Sayers (3)
41. What Darkness Brings by C. S. Harris (3)

7. NYRB Children's Collection - New York Review Books has reissued many classic children's books under its Children's Collection series. They're lots of fun and hang out here. COMPLETED 12/10

1. Carbonel, the King of the Cats by Barbara Sleigh (3)
2. The House of Arden by E. Nesbit (3)
3. A Traveller in Time by Alison Uttley (4)
4. Charlotte Sometimes by Penelope Farmer (5)
5. The Rescuers by Margery Sharp (4)
6. The Midnight Folk by John Masefield (4)
7. Jenny and the Cat Club by Esther Averill (3)
8. The Mousewife by Rumer Godden* (2)
9. The School for Cats by Esther Averill (3)
10. The Bear & the People by Reiner Zimnik (4)
11. The Little Bookroom by Eleanor Farjeon* (3)
12. The Box of Delights by John Masefield (3)

8. Other “Adult” Literature - If it's fiction of a non-juvenile nature and doesn't fit into another category, it ends up here. - COMPLETED 5/9

1. At the Altar: Matrimonial Tales by L. M. Montgomery* (3)
2. The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery* (4)
3. The Frozen Thames by Helen Humphreys (1)
4. Sunflower by Gyula Krúdy+ (3)
5. A Few Green Leaves by Barbara Pym (4)
6. The Running Foxes by Joyce Stranger (5)
7. Grisly Grisell by Charlotte M. Yonge* (3)
8. Twenty Love Poems and a Poem of Despair by Pablo Neruda+ (4)
9. My Friend Prospero by Henry Harland* (4)
10. Watership Down by Richard Adams* (5)
11. Pale Horse, Pale Rider by Katherine Anne Porter (4)
12. Good Evening Mrs. Craven: The Wartime Stories of Mollie Panter-Downes by Mollie Panter-Downes+ (4)
13. Delta Wedding by Eudora Welty* (4)
14. Exodus by Leon Uris (3)
15. Frederica by Georgette Heyer* (4)
16. Black Sheep by Georgette Heyer* (5)
17. Gigi by Colette* (5)
18. The Semi-Detached House by Emily Eden+ (3)
19. The Unknown Ajax by Georgette Heyer* (4)
20. Lady of Quality by Georgette Heyer* (5)
21. The Cardinal by Henry Morton Robinson (3)
22. Wanted—A Chaperon by Paul Leicester Ford* (4)
23. Bootle's Baby: A Novel of the Scarlet Lancers by John Strange Winter* (3)
24. The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West* (5)
25. Peking Picnic by Ann Bridge+ (4)
26. Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole (2)
27. Anecdotes of Destiny and Ehrengard by Isak Dinesen (Karen Blixen) (3)
28. Kate's Progress by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles (4)
29. Laws of Migration by J. Suzanne Frank (3)
30. The Spirit Level by Seamus Heaney (3)
31. Devil's Cub by Georgette Heyer* (4)
32. Der Tod von Reval: kuriose Geschichten aus einer alten Stadt by Werner Bergengruen* (4)
33. The Ivy Tree by Mary Stewart* (4)
34. Country Plot by Cynthia Harrod Eagles (3)
35. Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather+ (4)
36. Cousin Kate by Georgette Heyer* (5)
37. Pistols for Two by Georgette Heyer* (3)
38. Ross Poldark by Winston Graham (3)
39. This Rough Magic by Mary Stewart* (4)
40. Jane and Prudence by Barbara Pym (3)
41. Sylvester, or the Wicked Uncle by Georgette Heyer* (3)
42. High Rising by Angela Thirkell (4)

9. Other Non-Fiction - If a book's not about aboriginal peoples, history, or religion, this is the place for it. - COMPLETED 10/2

1. St. Maria und St. Clemens Schwarzrheindorf, Ein Kirchenführer by Karl Königs+ (3)
2. Impressionism, Fashion, & Modernity by Gloria Groom, Editor (3)
3. The Frick Collection: Handbook of Paintings by The Frick Collection (4)
4. Education of a British-Protected Child: Essays by Chinua Achebe (3)
5. Detroit City is the Place to Be by Mark Binelli (4)
6. Tolkien: Man and Myth by Joseph Pearce (4)
7. In an Antique Land by Amitav Ghosh (4)
8. An Armenian Sketchbook by Vasily Grossman (5)
9. Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell+ (3)
10. Goldenes Zeitalter: Holländische Gruppenporträts aus dem Amsterdams Historisch Museum by Sabine Haag, Editor+ (3)
11. Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron (2)
12. Sleep: A Very Short Introduction by Steven W. Lockley & Russell G. Foster (3)
13. The Convert: A Tale of Exile and Extremism by Deborah Baker (3)
14. Eurydice Street: A Place in Athens by Sofka Zinovieff (5)
15. We Took to the Woods by Louise Dickinson Rich (3)
16. Journey without Maps by Graham Greene (3)
17. The Year of Learning Dangerously: Adventures in Homeschooling by Quinn Cummings (4)
18. Thomas Aquinas in 90 Minutes by Paul Strathern (1)
19. The Well-Laden Ship by Egbert of Liège (3)

10. Religion - Books about religion. COMPLETED 10/24

1. Walking to Emmaus by Eamon Duffy+ (2)
2. Francis of Assisi: A New Biography by Augustine Thompson, OP (4)
3. The Autobiography of a Hunted Priest by John Gerard (5)
4. Francis of Assisi: The Life and Afterlife of a Medieval Saint by André Vauchez (4)
5. The Epistles of Ignatius by Ignatius of Antioch (3)
6. Christianity and the Crisis of Cultures by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (3)
7. What Went Wrong With Vatican II: The Catholic Crisis Explained by Ralph M. McInerny (4)
8. Four Witnesses: The Early Church in Her Own Words by Rod Bennett (3)
9. Die Mutter des Herrn: ein Brief und darin ein Entwurf by Romano Guardini+ (3)
10. Saul, Israel in Egypt, Messiah, Belshazzar, Theodora, Jephtha by Georg Friedrich Händel+ (3)
11. Lamy of Santa Fe by Paul Horgan (4)
12. Happy are You Poor: The Simple Life and Spiritual Freedom by Thomas Dubay, SM (3)
13. The Song of Bernadette by Franz Werfel (3)
14. The Pen and the Cross: Catholicism and English Literature, 1850-2000 by Richard Griffiths (3)
15. Mary and the Fathers of the Church: The Blessed Virgin Mary in Patristic Thought by Luigi Gambero (5)
16. The Book of Mary by Henri-Daniel-Rops (3)

11. YA Fantasy - Fantasy, both true Young Adult and more juvenile pursuits. - COMPLETED 5/28

1. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (4)
2. Seraphina by Rachel Hartman* (5)
3. Mr. and Mrs. Bunny--Detectives Extraordinaire! by Polly Horvath (1)
4. A Breath of Eyre by Eve Marie Mont (2)
5. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater (3)
6. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater (3)
7. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (3)
8. Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick (5)
9. Divergent by Veronica Roth (4)
10. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (3)
11. Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers (3)
12. The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson (4)
13. Across the Universe by Beth Revis (3)
14. A Million Suns by Beth Revis (2)
15. The Magician's Nephew by C. S. Lewis (3)
16. Insurgent by Veronica Roth (3)
17. Warped by Maurissa Guibord (3)
18. Endlessly by Kiersten White (2)
19. Elske by Cynthia Voigt* (3)
20. The Blackhope Enigma by Teresa Flavin (3)
21. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien (3)
22. Smith of Wootten Major by J. R. R. Tolkien (3)
23. The House at Pooh Corner by A. A. Milne (4)

12. YA Non-Fantasy - Less fantastical YA books go here. - COMPLETED 10/25

1. The Book of the Maidservant by Rebecca Barnhouse (4)
2. Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby (4)
3. Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery (4)
4. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein (5)
5. The Lost Prince by Frances Hodgson Burnett* (3)
6. Adventures in Norway: The Story of Olaf and Ane by Virginia Olcott (5)
7. Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes (2)
8. A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett* (4)
9. Hank the Cowdog by John R. Erickson (3)
10. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett* (4)
11. Flame-Colored Taffeta by Rosemary Sutcliff (4)
12. Heidi by Johanna Spyri+ (3)
13. The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder* (3)
14. The Lark in the Morn by Elfrida Vipont (5)
15. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell (5)

13. Year of Faith - One book a month about the Catholic Faith to celebrate the Year of Faith, for a total of 12 books read. Inspired by a homily at St. Mary's Cathedral, Austin. COMPLETED 12/16

January - Stages on the Road by Sigrid Undset+ (3)
February - A Testimonial to Grace by Avery Cardinal Dulles, SJ (4)
March - Living the Catholic Faith: Rediscovering the Basics by Charles J. Chaput, OFM Cap. (3)
April - Pardon and Peace: A Sinner's Guide to Confession by Fr. Francis Randolph (4)
May - The Masterful Monk by Owen Francis Dudley+ (4)
June - Rebuilding Catholic Culture: How the Catechism Can Shape Our Common Life by Ryan N. S. Topping (4)
July - Will Many Be Saved?: What Vatican II Actually Teaches and Its Implications for the New Evangelization by Ralph Martin (4)
August - God in Me: A Popular Explanation of Sanctifying Grace or the Mystery of God's Life in Us by Matthew M. Swizdor (4)
September - Uncommon Faith: The Early Years of Opus Dei, 1928-1943 by John F. Coverdale (4)
October - Light of Faith by Pope Francis (3)
November - The Ratzinger Report: An Exclusive Interview on the State of the Church by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger & Vittorio Messori+ (4)
December - Christmas: Birth of Our Lord God and Saviour, Jesus Christ & His Private Life by Joseph Raya+ (3)

Currently Reading:
Advent and Christmas with the Church Fathers
The Ludwig Conspiracy
The Wandering Heart

Total Books Read This Year: 274!

Top of the TBR Stack:
Wildfire at Midnight*

January (2014!) Prospects
Blue Highways+
The Bookman's Tale
The Children's Blizzard
Cranmer's Godly Order
The Death of King Arthur: A New Verse Translation
Gods and Myths of Northern Europe+
The Hunt for Red October
I See Satan Fall Like Lightning
The Lark on the Wing
Maria Chapdelaine
The Ocean of Life
The Riddle of the Labyrinth
The Silence of St. Thomas
The Spirit of Catholicism
The War that Ended Peace

Congrats on the new thread!

Lovely new thread and a huge "Wow" for the reading you have accomplished!

Whoa, lots of mysteries! Happy new thread :)

Great shiny new thread! The picture for the thread topper is fantastic! :)

A gift of a citrus tree? Why thank you. So thoughtful!

Thanks to everyone who's stopped by. The picture is from the same convention as the urinating dog fountain on the last thread; the tree is either a Meyer Lemon or a Mexican/Key Lime.
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Pandora's Lunchbox: How Processed Food Took Over the American Meal by Melanie Warner

Keywords: non-fiction, expose, food, processed food, science, self-regulation, health, diet, cereal, cheese, vitamins, enrichment, chemicals, denial

Pandora's Lunchbox is one persons quest to learn all she can about how exactly processed food works. She travels around the United States visiting companies and conventions and even doing her own research at home (aka leaving stuff in the refrigerator and pantry for years to see what happens). If you've ever wondered why your breakfast cereal or loaf of bread has all those ingredients, you'll find out here (hint: it's to cover up the effects of the processing process). You'll also learn that most of those ingredients have never been scientifically tested for their effects on humans, because the food industry is mostly self-regulating. There's also the minor fact that they push the processed foods because they're far more profitable than healthy ones (15-30% gross profit for vegetables and chicken breasts vs. up to 70% for chips and cereal and up to 90% for cokes and sports drinks).

But the one thing that stuck with me the most was how almost every food scientist she spoke to doesn't eat much processed food at all, instead they keep their own garden, shop at farmers' markets, cook their own meals, etc. They defend their work by saying that cheap food is necessary because modern life is hectic and not everyone can eat fresh vegetables. But if they create it and won't eat it, why should anyone else?

Like all good exposes, Pandora's Lunchbox creates compulsive reading from plain facts and reality (see also, for example Plutopia). It also has the added bonus of making you want to clean out your pantry and go raid the produce section of the grocery store. Highly recommended.

The Trees of Pride by G. K. Chesterton

Keywords: fiction, novella, mystery, curses, missing persons, Cornwall, trees, legends, superstitions, bets, hubris

The Trees of Pride is a mystery novella by the English writer G. K. Chesterton that was originally published in The Man Who Knew Too Much. Squire Vane is hosting guests at his estate in Cornwall, including a poet, a doctor, and a lawyer, when he rashly takes a bet to spend the night in a grove of supposedly cursed trees. The locals say the trees are the root of a deadly fever that strikes the village each year, but the squire will have none of that superstition. But when he goes into the woods, he never comes out. Whatever could have happened to him? It's up to his guests and his daughter to find out. But (as is always the case) they have some secrets of their own.

Ooh, I love Chesterton but haven't heard of this book before! I'll have to check it out!

>23 christina_reads:, If you like Chesterton, you'll like The Trees of Pride. It's exactly the kind of mystery with a hint of moral that he's good at.
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The Pen and the Cross: Catholicism and English Literature, 1850-2000 by Richard Griffiths

Keywords: non-fiction, religion, Christianity, Catholicism, writers, poetry, novels, British

The Pen and the Cross is an overview of British Catholic fiction from the mid-19th century to the end of the millennium. Its focus is literary themes, and is more a summary of plots than anything else. Despite its academic focus though, it's surprisingly readable. The focus is on Catholic literature rather than Catholic writers, so don't go looking for people like Dorothy Sayers, because you won't find them. That Roy Campbell didn't get a mention in the section on the Spanish Civil War was also odd. Those looking for a similar book focused on the writers should turn to Joseph Pearce's excellent Literary Converts, which I can highly recommend. But if you're looking for Catholic fiction book bullets, this may be the book for you.

Jane And Prudence by Barbara Pym

Keywords: fiction, friendship, relationships, postwar Britain, village life, Anglican politics

Jane And Prudence is a dark comedy of friendship and village politics in a small village in postwar England. Jane's husband is an Anglican minister and has just been transferred to a village parish. Although she tries her hardest, she's not the most practical person in the world. She is always concerned that her friend Prudence isn't settled. In her heart, Prudence isn't exactly content with her situation either. But now Jane's found the perfect man for Prudence in her new parish, if only she can get Prudence to see things her way.

I found this one rather biting and bitter but honest. No one is really happy, although they all pretend to be. But if you like Pym or you're interested in village life in midcentury Britain, you'll probably enjoy this one.

Smith of Wootton Major by J. R. R. Tolkien

Keywords: fiction, children's, fantasy, fairies, fairyland, travel, renunciation, cake, parties

Smith of Wootton Major is a short fairy story about what happens when a fairy star is put into the cake at a party and its effects on the life of the boy who accidentally eats it.

It's short and definitely a good read for children. My edition has nice illustrations that are a cross between medieval and midcentury style. Recommended for Tolkien fans, especially the younger set.

The Little Bookroom by Eleanor Farjeon

Keywords: fiction, children's, short stories, collection, illustrated

The Little Bookroom is a collection of Eleanor Farjeon children's stories picked out by the author herself. Although you've probably never heard of her, you probably know at least one of her works, the poem "Morning has Broken" made famous by Cat Stevens. The stories here are a mix of the fantastic and the mundane, the short and the rather long. They all have a sweet, nostalgic feel to them that hints at the fact that they were all published before 1955 when the book was first published. In short, there's something here for everyone.

Besides the lovely pen-and-ink illustrations, my copy also has a nice afterword by Rumor Godden.

Descent into Hell by Charles Williams

Keywords: fiction, fantasy, Doppelgängers, theatre, death, Hell, fear, selfishness, selflessness, friendship, family, desire

Descent into Hell is a strange, compelling work about a group of amateur thespians and their neighbors who live on a hill where the veil between this world and the next is particularly thin. The company is simultaneously excited and dismayed that local poet and playwright Peter Standhope has written a play for them, if only it weren't so difficult to understand.

One member of the players, Pauline, lives in the neighborhood with her grandmother and her lifelong fear of meeting her Doppelgänger. Meanwhile the local military historian has fallen in love with actress Adela, who barely acknowledges his existence. Instead he finds comfort with her Doppelgänger while dreaming of descending a silver rope into Hell. Toss in the ghost of a man who doesn't know he's dead and a woman who may be in league with the devil, and you have the plot.

Ultimately an interesting mediation on selfishness and selflessness in the world, it has much to offer, even if it's a bit odd and even confusing sometimes. If any of this sounds interesting to you, you should pick it up. It makes for quite a good yarn.

Prometheus Unbound by Percy Bysshe Shelley

Keywords: poetry, closet drama, Greek/Roman mythology, Prometheus, Jupiter, Asia, Demogorgon, naiads and other such nature spirits, revolution

Prometheus Unbound is a closet drama in four acts about how Prometheus overthrows Jupiter's tyranny and regains his freedom. Completed in 1820, it is definitely influenced by the politics and values of the French Revolution. If you like romantic poetry, you've probably already read this, but if you haven't you should. Those who find such poetry tedious should probably stay away.

Sylvester, or the Wicked Uncle by Georgette Heyer

Keywords: fiction, historical, Regency, romance, pride, nephews, Gothic novels, abduction, France, arguing, friendship

Sylvester is a duke and boy does he know it. Unfortunately his personality tends to be a bit overbearing, and while he's a genuinely nice guy, he doesn't always come off that way. Not that he cares. He's a duke after all. Unfortunately those around him don't always share those sentiments and he winds up the subject of a Gothic novel. Written by the woman he's courting. This proves to the least of his problems however, and he's forced to muddle through as best he can. If only he can manage to win the girl at the end.

This one's so over the top that even a writer of Heyer's caliber struggles to make it believable. But if you like high drama and cross country (and Channel) travel, you'll probably enjoy the book. Just don't try to think too much.

Farmer Giles of Ham by J. R. R. Tolkien

Keywords: fiction, historical, fantasy, giants, dragons, magic swords, blunderbusses, kings, treasure, dogs

Farmer Giles of Ham is a pseudo-medieval tale of a farmer named Giles who lives in the village of Ham. After he scares off a giant, he gets rewarded by the king with an old sword. A sword that comes in handy when a dragon comes to Ham after the giant tells him it's a nice place. Will Giles outwit the dragon and the king? Or will he suffer bitter defeat? It's up to the reader to find out.

Light, fluffy and illustrated by the same artist as Smith of Wootton Major. Recommended for Tolkien fans and those who like medieval-based fantasies.

@ 30 -- Aww, Sylvester is one of my favorite Heyers! Yes, the plot is completely implausible, but it's just so much fun!

>32 christina_reads:, Sylvester is fun. I think I just wasn't in the mood for the constant bickering when I read it this time.
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The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder*

Series: Little House (6/9)

Keywords: fiction, children's, historical, South Dakota, winter, blizzards, pioneers, starvation, survival, family

The Long Winter finds the Ingalls family bringing in the harvest on their South Dakota homestead and dreaming of what they'll be able to accomplish once the sod is broken in the coming years. However, the signs are there to show that this winter will be unlike any other. Sure enough the blizzards come early and never leave. The trains are stopped and food and fuel runs dangerously low. Huddled in their building in town, it will take all the ingenuity the family has to survive this winter.

It's been years since I read the Little House books. But I find that I remembered most of this one pretty well. The constant threat of winter gives it excellent dramatic tension that lasts all the way through to the end. Highly recommended.

Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers

Series: Lord Peter Whimsey (1/15)

Keywords: fiction, mystery, British, interwar, bodies, missing persons, false accusations

Whose Body? finds Lord Peter planning to attend an auction to improve his library, when his mother alerts him to the fact that the architect of the parish church has found a body in his bathtub. But how did it get there? The mystery becomes greater when it is revealed that a local financier, Lord Levy, came home the night before and then disappeared without his clothes. Could this body be his body? It's up to Peter and his friends to find out.

A fun, lighthearted interwar mystery. If you like such things, you'll definitely enjoy this one.

>33 inge87: I read the Laura Ingalls Wilder books multiple times growing up, and didn't touch them again for decades. I re-read them as I read them to my daughter. It's interesting how your perspective and life experience will change a good book. In my recent re-read I realized that the parents must have been very worried that the family would starve or freeze to death, and yet they managed to keep a sense of calm in the home. When Laura describes how Pa couldn't lift a big grain sack any more you know that they were literally starving. As a child that went right over my head.

I think The Long Winter is one of my favorites in the series. I think she really painted a good picture of the hardship of that winter.

Out of all the Little House books, The Long Winter probably had the biggest impact on me as a young child. The blizzard was such a scary event. Really need to reread these someday.

So Sylvester, or the Wicked Uncle sould be read for fun, fun, fun and beware Just don't try to think too much. LOL

>35 SilverKitty:, 36, 37 - I hadn't read any of the series since I was in middle school, although I still have my very beat-up Scholastic book club edition of These Happy Golden Years. The fact that I remembered as much as I did from The Long Winter vs. say By the Shores of Silver Lake or On the Banks of Plum Creek does say something about the strength of the plot, I think. But I agree that when I was younger, the whole starving and/or freezing to death bit went over my head. Reading it has definitely made me want to go back and read more of the series.

>38 electrice:, Yes, no thinking allowed!

The Lark in the Morn by Elfrida Vipont

Series: Haverard Family (1/5)

Keywords: fiction, children's, mid-century, boarding school, Quaker, England, family, singing, Bildungsroman

The Lark in the Morn is a charming tale of the coming of age of one Kit Haverard, a not so happy but extremely nice young girl. Her mother died shortly after her birth, and her father is an easily distracted professor, so most of her raising was done by her overbearing cousin Laura. And to say that Laura doesn't understand Kit would be a massive understatement, and as a result Kit makes for a rather unhappy child. But then she gets sick and goes to stay in the country with her mother's family for the first time and discovers that music and especially singing can be fun. But it's at boarding school where, away from Laura's constant criticisms, she begins to shine. Perhaps she has some control over her life after all.

A lovely mid-century boarding school novel with a Quaker twist, The Lark in the Morn is an excellent story about overcoming the odds and reaching self-acceptance. The characters are well-drawn and the plot is tightly woven. Highly recommended for those who like girl's coming of age stories, mid-century schoolgirl books, or just good story-writing.

The Ratzinger Report: An Exclusive Interview on the State of the Church by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger & Vittorio Messori

Keywords: non-fiction, religion, Christianity, Catholicism, interview, modern church, Vatican II, hermeneutic of continuity vs. hermeneutic of rupture, society and the church, limbo

The Ratzinger Report has taken on a semi-legendary status in some circles in defining a new approach to Vatican II. This is the first, to my knowledge, of the future Pope Benedict XVI's interview books, preceding those he did in German with Peter Seewald. If you're familiar with those, the format is similar, but less conversational. There is also an essay inserted towards the end, with the result that feels more that a guided reading than an actual interview.

Content-wise, this was one of the first books to really open up on new interpretations of Vatican II, and to say that there were things that had been lost in the process of its implementation that needed to be regained. Continuity vs. Rupture is the name of the game here. Much of this is rather old news and accepted fact now, but in the mid-80s it was rather shockingly controversial.

Recommended for those interested in modern Catholicism and especially the implementations of Vatican II. Others may find it all a bit dated and might want to seek out his more recent interviews like Salt of the Earth or Light of the World.

For a further picture of that particularly bad winter, there is a non-fiction book called The Children's Blizzard by David Laskin which is very good.

>42 DeltaQueen50:, The Children's Blizzard sounds fascinating, especially considering what almost happened to the DeSmet students in The Long Winter.
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High Rising by Angela Thirkell

Series: Barsetshire (1/29)

Keywords: fiction, Barsetshire, interwar, family, annoying sons, plotting secretaries, flaky writers, matchmaking, British countryside

High Rising finds Laura headed back home to Barsetshire for the holidays with her youngest son Tony. Whether she'll survive them is another story. For not only is Tony monomaniacally obsessed with trains, but neighbor and old friend George Knox has acquired a new secretary who is, as Tony says, "wonky in the brain". Toss in a few matches that need to be made and it's amazing that Laura and her part-time secretary can get anything accomplished, which is bad since Laura is a writer with a three book contract to fulfill.

Rather like Laura's novels, which feature a fashion designer who saves Britain on a regular basis, High Rising is a lot of fun, even if it's not very deep. The characters as fabulous, especially Tony, who seems destined to constantly drive his mother batty. Recommended for those who like light-hearted, fun stories or well-written women's fiction.

Note: LT didn't have a cover matching my edition, so I picked this one, since I think it really captures the feel of the novel.

I missed Quote week over at TIOLI, but it's just as well, because I don't have a quote. I have a scene: "In which Laura and her publisher Adrian Coates are trying to leave for the Knoxes' New Years party but something is wrong with Tony."

"My darling, what is it, what is it?" cried Laura, kneeling down by the bed, in total abandonment.

Tony's sobs checked his speech, but at last he managed to get out the works: "I've written a poem—and it's so beautiful, mother." Then turning to Laura he buried his head on her shoulder. Gradually his sobs subsided and Laura, bulling a chair up to his bed, sat down and asked about the poem.

"It's about a moor-hen. We shot some the other day and I wrote a poem about it, and it is so marvelous, mother," and his lips began to tremble again.

"My darling, can I read it?"

"I'll read it to you, mother, but it's very, very sad, and will make you cry."

"Never mind, darling. I'd love to hear it, and so would Mr. Coates. Come in, Adrian, and shut the door."

Much comforted, and not displeased with the unexpected addition to his audience, Tony sniffed loudly, rubbed his eyes with the back of his hands, and prepared to read.

"The name of it is 'By Marsh and Mallow, Fern and Glen'," he announced.

"Jolly good title," said Adrian kindly.

"It's a very sad name," said Tony reproachfully.

"Never mind, darling," said Laura. "Let's have the poem."

Tony cleared his throat and read:

"By marsh and mallow,
Fern and glen,
By marsh and mallow,
Went they then.

By marsh and mallow,
The moor-hen,
By marsh and mallow,
Went she then.

By marsh and mallow,
When, ah, then,
A hunter sallow,
Shot that poor moor-hen.

By marsh and mallow,
Fern and glen,
By marsh and mallow,
Ne'er again."

It is idle to state that his foolish mother's eyes were full of tears by the end of the reading. "Darling," she gasped, "it is frightfully sad."

"I knew you'd cry," said Tony complacently. "I cried like anything. Isn't it marvelous, mother."

"Laura," said Adrian, "I loved Tony's poem, especially that bit where the metre goes a bit queer, and he's a much better poet than ever I was, and we'll publish it with his collected works; but do you realize that is is nearly half-past eight, and even my car can't do it in under ten minutes, on a dark night and a road I don't know."

"I'm coming," sad Laura, wiping her eyes. "Thank you, Tony. It's a sad, sad poem. Now go to sleep, and don't, please, be unhappy, and forget about moor-hens."

Tony hugged his mother violently and lay down. Just as she and Adrian were leaving the room, he called, "Mother."

"What?"

"Mother, Sibyl's asked me to go shooting again on Monday. Isn't it lovely? Can I go?"

"Yes, darling. Good night."

Laura quickly shut the door. She and Adrian looked at each other and began to laugh. In fact, they laughed so much that Laura nearly fell down the last two steps, and Adrian had to support her.

"I do have peculiar children," she said, as she got into Adrian's big car.

High Rising, pages 85-88 in my edition.

Peculiar, indeed! Thanks for that excerpt.

Well, yes, I think I'm going to need to read some Angela Thirkell now!

> 39 If you're interested in pioneers and the Dakotas, you could also pick up Land of the Burnt Thigh. This is a memoir of two sisters who are "lady homesteaders" in western South Dakota in the early 1900's. They don't almost starve to death in the long winter, but do have plenty of adventures/hardships. One reviewer here on librarything described it as "Little House on the Prairie for grown-ups". Can we please add to *your* list of books to read rather than our own? :)

I just checked, and my library has Land of the Burnt Thigh. Added to Mount TBR.

>45 mamzel:-46, Quite welcome. I'd never read Angela Thirkell before, but I'd seen lots of recommendations for her work on LT. High Rising was quite the lark.

>47 SilverKitty:-48, Better yet, you can add it to Lori's!
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I've been busy applying to grad school for library science and had to take an LT posting break, but I took the MAT this morning, which means I'm officially done! Now it's just a waiting game, so there's much more time for fun stuff like LT and reading and Thanksgiving and picking out presents for my Christmas Swap partner. You know, the really important bits. The reviews for Mary and the Fathers of the Church and Strong Poison will be up soon.

Mary and the Fathers of the Church: The Blessed Virgin Mary in Patristic Thought by Luigi Gambero, SM

Keywords: non-fiction, religion, Christianity, early church, church fathers, Virgin Mary, mariology, historical trends, theology

Mary and the Fathers of the Church is an impressive feat of scholarship that manages to be both masterful and accessible at the same time. Starting with Ignatius of Antioch and continuing until John of Damascus, Gambero covers the development of Mary's role in the Church during the era of the early fathers. The book is divided chronologically into four sections, which are in turn divided into chapters focusing on individual authors. Each chapter begins with a short biography of the writer or writers, gives an overview of the role Mary plays in their theology and then ends with a short passage from their writings to reinforce the author's points. All in all, I think it's rather brilliant.

Fr. Gambero, who unfortunately passed away earlier this year, has another book, Mary in the Middle Ages, which covers the medieval Latin theologians. It's definitely on my list for next year's reading. And if you have an interest in the early church or in Mariology, Mary and the Fathers of the Church should be added to yours.

I hope all my American visitors had a very happy Thanksgiving! I went down to Austin to my aunt's and had a great time.
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Strong Poison by Dorothy L. Sayers

Series: Lord Peter Whimsey (6/15)

Keywords: fiction, mystery, British, interwar, poisoning, lovers, living together outside of marriage, revenge, family, social face, humiliation, golden age mystery

Strong Poison finds Lord Peter embroiling himself in the murder trial of one Harriet Vane, accused of poisoning her ex-lover. He thinks she's innocent and after the first prosecution attempt fails to achieve a conviction, he sets to work. Vane and her supposed victim had been living together outside of marriage, which carried significant social stigma at the time. However, she left him after he proposed marriage, and he later died after having tea at her new flat in an attempt at reconciliation. He'd dined at his cousin's, but no one there got sick. Plus, Miss Vane is a mystery writer and knows all about poisons. Surely there's no way she could be innocent, right?

Obviously you know that Lord Peter is going to solve the case. The question is how, and leads him on quite the adventure. Recommended for anyone who likes a good mystery.

We Took to the Woods by Louise Dickinson Rich

Keywords: non-fiction, memoir, 1930s, Maine, roughing it, living off the grid, wilderness life, logging, family

We Took to the Woods is Rich's memoir of her family's life living in the remote Maine wilderness in the 1930s and early 40s (the book was published in 1942). Although her lifestyle is definitely not easy, she sure makes it sound like fun.

Recommended for those who like memoirs by interesting women, off the grid memoirs, or looks at lost ways of life.

Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation by Michael Pollan

Keywords: non-fiction, food, cooking, memoir, stuff white people like, cultural voyeurism, barbeque, braising, baking, bread, fermenting, mead, sauerkraut, cheesemaking, beer brewing

Cooked is Michael Pollin's account of different ways humans change food using the four elements: fire (Southern pork barbeque), water (boiling/braising), air (bread), and earth (fermentation).

Pollan comes off as trying way too hard here. Especially the voyeuristic first section with the white Northeasterner travelling to North Carolina to learn the art of whole hog barbeque from the wise African American cook. It took me six months to psych myself through that part, but the other sections are better and I thought the fermentation section was genuinely interesting. Extremely skippable for the majority of the world's population. Pollan fans will still want to read this one, but should go to the library to get it.

Journey without Maps by Graham Greene

Keywords: non-fiction, memoir, travel, Africa, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, drinking, naked savages, colonialist mindset, illness, mutiny, misunderstandings

Journey without Maps is British novelist Graham Greene's account of his journey through Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea in 1935. At the time, there were no accurate maps of the region, so he and his party were essentially flying blind. However, you don't really get the sense that he was having much fun. The villages are full of naked people covered in sores, and his hired servants are always simple and on the brink of mutiny.

A period piece with some value in understanding the colonialist viewpoint, but those looking for information on West African society and culture will probably come away disappointed.

Ah, what interesting books!

After the group read of The Nine Tailors, which was my first Sayers, I hope to read more of her.

I also enjoy the off-the-grid, taking to the woods type stories. I'm planning to read Angier's We Like It Wild as part of the Canadian geocat challenge. Michael Pollan books (haven't read that one) always call my name and the colonial Africanism is interesting although usually ends up saddening me, too.

And as always I enjoy your reads regarding Catholicism and Christianity. As a Protestant Christian, I know far less about Catholicism than I feel I should.

November Round-Up

On top of work and applying to grad school, I somehow managed to read 20 book. I'm most proud of Cooked, because the first chapter was so impossibly obnoxious, but now that it's finished, it can go and bother someone else.

Books Read: 20

Sources
Me (2013) - 5
Work - 5
ILL - 3
E-Books - 2
Public Library (new) - 2
Me (Re-read) - 1
Me (TBR Pile) - 1
Public Library (re-read) - 1

Categories Finished: 0

Categories Remaining: 3
4-Food/Cooking (11/12), 7-NYRB Children's Collection (11/12), 13-Year of Faith (11/12)

Books Remaining for Challenge Completion
3

Best of the Month



Fiction: The Lark in the Morn by Elfrida Vipont

Non-Fiction: Mary and the Fathers of the Church: The Blessed Virgin Mary in Patristic Thought by Luigi Gambero, SM

>55 streamsong:, Thanks! Rich's book is interesting because I doubt even the remotest Mainers live that far off the grid anymore.

Also, in regards to Michael Pollan, The Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food are genuinely good books, and I can highly recommend them if you're into that kind of thing. Cooked just doesn't live up to his earlier standard.

I try to note in my non-fiction reviews which books have broader appeal and which books are only good for people with a particular interest. I'm glad you find them interesting.

Chief Joseph Of The Nez Perce by Robert Penn Warren

Keywords: poetry, historical, Native Americans, Nez Perce, Chief Joseph, mediocre

Chief Joseph Of The Nez Perce is really, really mediocre poetry. I give the author kudos for the format, a kind of mixed media of poetry interspersed with relevant quotes from the era. But that doesn't save the text from being that kind of poetry that is really prose set off in columns with really random vocabulary choices (forked tongues being a big favorite of the author).

Unless you're in love with Robert Penn Warren, you should definitely skip this one. There are much better ways to appreciate the compelling story that is Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce.

The House at Pooh Corner by A. A. Milne

Series: Winnie-the-Pooh (2/4)

Keywords: fiction, children's, classic, fantasy, childhood, growing up, friendship, adventure, Pooh, Piglet, Christopher Robin, Rabbit, Owl, Eore, Kanga, Roo, Tigger

The House at Pooh Corner is the book that introduces Tigger, that most bouncy of animals, to the Pooh universe. Many find him overwhelming, but Kanga sees right though him. Meanwhile, Christopher Robin is changing and disappearing every morning to who knows where. But Pooh is still Pooh and still blithely humming his way though his many adventures in the Hundred Acre Wood.

If you've only see the Disney Pooh, you'll notice some differences, but they are more cosmetic than anything else, plus the inevitable sugaring of hard truths that is the Disney touch. But if you want a jaunt back to the joys and simpler times of childhood, you can't do much better than Milne's Pooh.

A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table by Molly Wizenberg*

Keywords: non-fiction, memoir, food, cooking, family, love, Paris, recipes, blog

A Homemade Life is the author's life told through her most memorable dishes. From her childhood in Oklahoma City through college in California and Paris, to her adulthood in Seattle, Wizenberg cooked and ate a lot of food. The stories behind those that were most important or symbolic for her form the individual chapters of the book. Some of them sound delicious. Luckily for us then that the recipe is included at the end of each one. We watch the author grow up, go to Paris, and eventually find love in the form of a vegetarian musician. The story is almost as satisfying as the food.

Overall, a successful memoir, as it makes me want to both meet the author and eat her food. The book reminded me a bit of My Berlin Kitchen, only much less whiny. If you're trying to pick between the two, pick this one. Recommended for those who love foodie memoirs, good storytelling, or dream of visiting Paris.

Category Counter: 11 down, 2 more to go!

The Box of Delights by John Masefield

Series: Kay Harker (2/2)

Keywords: fiction, children's, classic, Christmas, magic, witches, gangs, kidnapping, theft, flying cars, time travel

The Box of Delights finds Kay Harker on his way home for the Christmas Holidays from school. All of a sudden while transferring trains, he can't find his ticket. This leads to a change encounter with a Punch and Judy man, who not only finds his ticket, but sets him on course for great adventure. The wolves are running, and it is up to Kay to save everyone.

Abner and Daisy are up to their old tricks, only this time it involves kidnapping clerics and various other evil deeds. The book is fun, but after a while the plot just became too ridiculous to be taken seriously, and the ending makes me almost wonder if the author didn't think so too. Recommended for those who enjoy children's fantasy adventure stories who are willing to take things with a grain of salt.

Category Counter: 12 down, 1 more to go!

One more read and you are done..... looking forward to seeing what the last book will be!

The last book is for Category 13: The Year of Faith. It will be either Christmas: Birth of Our Lord God and Saviour, Jesus Christ & His Private Life by the late Melkite Greek Catholic Archbishop Joseph Raya or The Book of Mary by Henri Daniel-Rops, whichever gets finished first.

Music for the End of Time by Jen Bryant

Keywords: non-fiction, children's, picture book, World War II, POW camp, music, composition, Olivier Messiaen, Quartet for the End of Time, hope

Music for the End of Time retells the story of French composer Olivier Messiaen's time in German captivity and how he was inspired to write his famous work Quatuor pour la fin du temps (Quartet for the End of Time) there. The text is accompanied by lovely pastel illustrations by Beth Peck which capture the mood perfectly.

My one complaint is that the book ends with the premiere of the Quartet in the prisoner of war camp and then everything else is pushed into an author's note at the end of the book. It would have been much better to have had one or two more panels showing Messiaen's departure from the camp at the end of the war. This would have paralleled the beginning of the book which showed his arrival, and would have provided a more natural ending than the one in the book.

But overall, this is a highly commendable book, which opens an obscure, but interesting chapter of music history to a wider audience. There's also apparently an "adult" book on the subject, For the End of Time: The Story of the Messiaen Quartet, that I hope to get to next year. Highly recommended.

Music for the End of Time sounds interesting.

>65 thornton37814:, It is. Especially for children who may be musically inclined or interested in the Second World War.
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Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Keywords: fiction, YA, fanfiction, college, family, twins, roommates, friendship, romance, writing, inner strength, bildungsroman, thread rec

Fangirl is the story of Cath, a shy, socially awkward girl who is also an amazingly talented writer. She and her twin sister Wren are starting college at the University of Nebraska. Once the two were inseparable and both obsessed with the Simon Snow novels (think Harry Potter). Cath is now famous on the internet as a fanfiction author, but Wren claims to have moved past Simon and Baz and become an adult. She also refuses to room with Cath, saying she wants to be independent. With her strange roommate, a writing professor who hates fanfiction, and constant worries about her father back home in Omaha, it's all Cath can do to keep herself together. Plus there's the boy issue. It will take strength she never knew she had to survive, and in the process she may just discover that there's more to her than she ever dreamed.

A charming, compelling coming of age story, that in many ways reflected my own college experience. Highly recommended for anyone who ever liked fanfiction, strong female protagonists, or plain old fashioned good storytelling. Don't let the YA tag scare you away.

Christmas: Birth of Our Lord God and Saviour, Jesus Christ & His Private Life by Joseph Raya

Keywords: non-fiction, religion, Christianity, Christmas, Epiphany, Feast of the Presentation/Purification/Candlemas, eastern theology, Melkite Greek Catholic Church, icons, the Jesus Prayer, liturgy, exegesis

Christmas is, as the title would suggest, a book about Christmas. But it is Christmas in the traditional sense of the Term, meaning Epiphany and the Presentation are also discussed. There is also an interesting section on the Name of Jesus that has an extensive discussion on the history and use of the Jesus Prayer. Structurally, the book itself is a bit of a jumble, as the discussion can range from descriptions of festal icons, to scripture commentary, to discussions of the Eastern liturgy within a few pages. But for those looking for an Eastern view of the Christmas season, it might make for a good starting point.

Category Counter: 13 down, 0 more to go! Behold, it is finished!

@ 66 -- SO glad you enjoyed Rainbow Rowell! I have really loved all three of her books so far. I definitely recommend that you track down Eleanor & Park and Attachments at some ponit!

Congratulations on completing your 2013 Category Challenge!

Congratulations on completing your challenge!

Hurray, completed challenge! Congrats!

Congrats on completing your challenge!

Congratulations! Your thread has been really good (or should I say bad?) for my TBR pile!

Thanks, everyone!

>68 christina_reads:, Eleanor and Park is on my "to-ILL" list, since none of the local libraries have it. But I do plan to get to it eventually.

The Heart of Everything That Is: The Untold Story of Red Cloud, An American Legend by Bob Drury & Tom Clavin

Keywords: non-fiction, history, biography, Native American, Sioux, Dakota, Red Cloud War, pioneers, war, isolation, invasion, Crazy Horse, Red Cloud, prairie, buffalo

The Heart of Everything That Is is at once a biography of the great Dakota chief Red Cloud, the only Native American chief to defeat the United States in a war, but a history of the Sioux and of end of a way of life on the Great Plains. The title is a translation of the Sioux name for what in English are called the Black Hills, "Pahá Sápa". Red Cloud was a military strategist without parallel at a time when his tribe was increasingly encroached upon by Americans heading west. But even his mind was not enough to save them.

Life on the prairie was no walk in the park for a Native American, either before or after their suppression by the United States government. The authors do a masterful job of capturing the characters involved and creating a compulsive narrative of destiny tinged with doom. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in Native cultures, Western expansion, or good narratives histories.

I will definitely have to add The Heart of Everything That Is to my reading list. I read a novel about Crazy Horse's life recently and Red Cloud came off as less than flattering, I would like to discover another side to this man.

>76 DeltaQueen50:, I think you'd enjoy The Heart of Everything That Is. Crazy Horse plays an important role, especially once the war gets started, although there's not so much about his personal relationship with Red Cloud (Black Buffalo Woman is mentioned only three times in the entire book). Militarily Red Cloud was a genius, and if he'd had anywhere near equal firepower to the whites there's no telling what might have happened. Especially since the whites were completely incompetent when it came to understanding Native Americans.
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The Year of Learning Dangerously: Adventures in Homeschooling by Quinn Cummings

Keywords: non-fiction, memoir, education, learning, doubt, homeschooling, undercover work, unschooling, stubborn children

The Year of Learning Dangerously documents Cummings' first year of homeschooling her daughter, who was not being serviced properly by the schools in their area. Alice is a highly gifted math-hater and had convinced a series of teachers that she was incapable of learning long division, because she didn't want to do it. Homeschooling was the solution of last resort, and to a certain extent, the family was pretty much winging it.

Trying to figure out the whys and hows behind homeschooling (an better justify her guilty conscience that her daughter was missing out), the author investigates different homeschooling methodologies, from unschooling to government-sponsored homeschooling to crazy fundamentalist cult homeschooling. She even chaperones a homeschooling prom in Indiana. The parts when she goes undercover are pretty funny, and in the process you get a feel for just how disparate the various groups labeled "homeschooling" actually are.

If you've ever had an interesting in homeschooling as an institution, this is a very accessible and humorous treatment of the subject, plus there is a short bibliography at the back for those looking for further reading.

The Book of Mary by Henri Daniel-Rops

Keywords: non-fiction, religion, Christianity, Catholicism, mariology, theology, scripture, Virgin Mary, sources

The Book of Mary is a succinct overview of the Catholic teaching on the Virgin Mary and its basis in tradition and scripture. The book is divided into two sections: Part I discusses the subject and Part II contains the sources, both canonical and apocryphal, mentioned in Part I.

This book dovetails well with Mary and the Fathers of the Church, which shows how the early fathers developed their theologies of Mary from the material discussed by Daniel-Rops. It's an accessible book and offers ready rewards whether or not you have much background in the subject. Recommended for anyone with an interest in Catholic mariology or with views on the Virgin Mary in general.

Thomas Aquinas in 90 Minutes by Paul Strathern

Series: Philosophers in 90 Minutes

Keywords: non-fiction, philosophy, Aquinas, snark

Thomas Aquinas in 90 Minutes attempts to give a concise summary of Thomas Aquinas' philosophy. The only problem is that there is so much snark that everything else is lost in the background. The author doesn't even seem to like Aquinas or medieval philosophy, and his contempt for his subject hopelessly compromises his book. Skip it, please. There are much better introductions to Aquinas, like G. K. Chesterton's Saint Thomas Aquinas: The Dumb Ox or Joseph Pieper's Guide to Thomas Aquinas. They may take longer than 90 minutes to finish, but you'll get much more out of them than you ever would with Strathem.

Many Dimensions by Charles Williams

Keywords: fiction, fantasy, greed, magic

Many Dimensions is a strange novel. The summary on the back flap of my omnibus edition says it's about free will and predestination, but if that's the case, Williams certainly could have developed this plotline a bit better. In short, an unscrupulous Englishman smuggles the Stone of Solomon into the country from Persia. It is capable of great wonders, but with great power comes great responsibility. Plus, it can be multiplied infinitely without losing any strength. The chief justice and his secretary join forces with a member of the Persian embassy to put a stop to the abuse of the stone, but will they figure out their course of action in time to stop their opponents?

It's all rather disordered and I frequently had no idea why characters were doing the things they were doing. Descent into Hell is a much stronger novel, and those with a passing interest in Williams because of his friends would be much better served picking up that one.

Merry Christmas everyone and a happy St. Stephen's Day as well!

Season's greetings! :)

Happy Holidays, Jennifer!

>82 rabbitprincess:-83, Thanks for the holiday greetings!
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The Church under Attack: Five Hundred Years That Split the Church and Scattered the Flock by Diane Moczar

Keywords: non-fiction, history, modern, european, revolution, reformation, conservatism, monarchism, war, Islam, Christianity, Catholicism

The Church under Attack is an account of European history from the 16th century as viewed as a series of assaults on the Catholic Church. It's a survey, and covers quite a bit of ground in less than 250 pages by going the broad and shallow route. The author is apparently one of that rare breed of true Conservatives, an American monarchist who is not big on capitalism and even less big on revolution or individual rights. The novelty of her point of view makes up for the seeming ridiculousness of some of her opinions, but as is often the case among unusual opinions, some of her thoughts do ring true in a sort of "Hmmm, I never thought about it that way" kind of way.

Probably only of interest to Catholics of a particular stripe, or those who want to think about European history from a different point of view (note, the author's mindset is much more common in Europe so may not be as novel there than here in the US). But for those interested in such things, I can highly recommend it.

What Darkness Brings by C. S. Harris

Series: Sebastian St. Cyr Mysteries (8/?)

Keywords: fiction, mystery, historical, regency, murder, theft, awkward relationships, war, the past

What Darkness Brings is the most recent of the St. Cyr regency mysteries. Sebastian and Hero are finally sorting things out, but a stolen diamond and murdered dealer drag him away once again to solve the mystery. Especially since the accused is none other than Russell Yates. Sebastian and his father are still not talking, and his relationship with Kat seems to finally be hitting reality. There's lots going on, but some of it just seems superfluous. Hopefully Why Kings Confess will be a bit tighter.

I've made it safely back from Christmas Part II in Austin and am now having fun relaxing and watching Texas get steam rolled by the Oregon Ducks on national tv. One of the highlights of the trip was a holiday light show on Lake Austin. This being Austin, they kept it weird by including "Gangnam Style" in the music. The mandatory UT fight song sequence was also in evidence (see photo above). A cold front came through, the wind blowing off the lake was bone-numbing, and my sister just getting over the stomach flu, but a good time was had by all.

Having officially finished family Christmas*, here's the final gift tally:

The Ocean of Life: The Fate of Man and the Sea by Callum Roberts and Greenvoe by George Mackay Brown (maggie1944, 75-er Christmas Swap)
a stockpot and silicone spatulas (me)
kitchen scissors, a paring knife, and a set of nesting glass bowls (dad)
soap and a visa gift card (aunt)
a bottle of good Riesling wine and one of rose water (cousin)
candle and a crochet amigurumi booklet (sister)

*My Mom has told me I'm getting what I asked for (Japanese Farm Food and The Riddle of the Labyrinth), but all attempts to meet and have Christmas together have been foiled (first bad weather made her leave for Iowa early and then my sister got the stomach flu), so I haven't actually received them yet.

The Well-Laden Ship by Egbert of Liège

Series: Dumbarton Oaks Medieval Library (25)

Keywords: non-fiction, sayings, medieval, Latin-English, bilingual, facing pages, pedagogy, schools, Dumbarton Oaks

The Well-Laden Ship is a collection of sayings and folk wisdom set in Latin and used as a teaching tool sometime between 972 and 1008 in Liège. You get a taste of medieval society Egbert's selections, the biblical and the earthy. For all our stereotypes of the time, you'd never get away with telling 10-year-olds some of these sayings today.

If you're interested in common speech and folk wisdom, you'll probably find some treasures worth mining. But the fairy tales promised in the publisher's summary make up only a tiny minority of the material, and it's probably not worth picking up on their account. Also, Egbert's Latin is a bit weird, and as the introduction notes you feel rather bad for his students even if it did make the classical authors seem easy, so even those with a good knowledge of the language will be glad for the English gloss on the facing pages.

Well that's it for 2013! Come and join me at my 2014 thread, "Singing Our Way in 2014": here