DeltaQueen's Fourteen Steps to Guide Her 2014 Reading - Part 6

Welcome to my 6th thread of 2014.

My 2014 Category Challenge is complete, and I am spending these last couple of months working on some other challenges, like the Commonwealth Challenge and the Reading Through Time Challenge. I am also enjoying this opportunity to simply pull a book that catches my attention off the shelf and read.

This month I have been working on some of the series that I enjoy, and finishing off a couple of trilogies. As I am soon to return to the Anne of Green Gables series, I thought a few pictures of Prince Edward Island that bring Anne to mind would be in order.

BALANCE OF THE YEAR READING PLANS:

November - Catch Up Month

I have literally hundreds of series that I am slowly working through so I have decided that even though September was a Series and Sequels month, I will also use November as a catch-up month and read series and sequels for most of the month as well as participating in the Cats and TIOLI’s.

December - Free Reading Month

December can be such a busy month so I will not make too many reading plans. Instead I will enjoy a month of free reading, along with the Cats and TIOLI Challenges. I foresee a number of comfort reads coming up this month. Hopefully this will leave me fresh to jump into the 2015 Category Challenge in January.

There is a reason why The Count on Sesame Street was one of my favorite characters, I like to count and keep track of things:

2014 Total Books Read




2014 Total Pages Read




2014 Books Read From My Shelves

How I Rate Books:

2.0 ★: I must have been dragged, kicking and screaming, to finish this one!

2.5 ★: Below Average but I finished the book for one reason or another.

3.0 ★: Average, a solid read that I finished but can't promise to remember

3.5 ★: Above Average, there's room for improvement but I liked this well enough to pick up another book by this author.

4.0 ★: A very good read and I enjoyed my time spent with this story

4.5 ★: An excellent read, a book I will remember and recommend

5.0 ★: Sheer perfection, the right book at the right time for me

November Reads



169. Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie - 4.5 ★
170. Whiter Than Snow by Sandra Dallas - 3.3 ★
171. The Dead of Night by John Marsden - 4.0 ★
172. Brimstone by Robert B. Parker - 4.0 ★
173. I Don't Want To Kill You by Dan Wells - 2.8 ★
174. Horde by Ann Aguirre - 4.0 ★
175. Sarah's Quilt by Nancy Turner - 3.9 ★
176. The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton - 3.3 ★
177. Anne of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery - 4.0 ★
178. Push Start by Alan Savage - 2.0 ★
179. Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood - 3.4 ★
180. The Concubine's Tattoo by Laura Joh Rowland - 3.8 ★
181. Breathers: A Zombie's Lament by S.G. Browne - 3.8 ★
182. The Remedy For Love by Bill Roorbach - 3.9 ★
183. The September Society by Charles Finch - 3.0 ★
184. Tales of the South Pacific by James Michener - 4.0 ★
185. An Irish Country Courtship by Patrick Taylor - 4.0 ★

December Reads



186. Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen - 3.8 ★
187. The Shade of the Moon by Susan Beth Pfeffer - 3.2 ★
188. You Better Not Cry by Augusten Burroughs - 4.1 ★
189. Snowfall In Burracombe by Lilian Harry - 4.0 ★
190. Children of the Street by Kwei Quartey - 4.0 ★
191. The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie - 3.8 ★
192. Montana 1948 by Larry Watson - 4.5 ★
193. Devil's Peak by Deon Meyer - 4.1 ★
194. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba - 4.0 ★
195. The End of the Drive by Louis L'Amour - 3.5 ★
196. The Paris Winter by Imogen Robertson - 4.3 ★
197. The Frog Earl by Carola Dunn - 3.9 ★
198. Mad Mouse by Chris Grabenstein - 4.0 ★
199. Return To Thrush Green by Miss Read - 4.2 ★
200. Curse of the Blue Tattoo by L.A. Meyer - 3.8 ★
201. Comfort and Joy by India Knight - 3.8 ★
202. The Daughter of Time - Josephine Tey - 3.7 ★

174. Horde by Ann Aguirre - 4.0 ★
TIOLI #16: Read A Dystopia



Picking up right where the second book left off, Deuce, Fade, Stalker and Tegan are off on a mission to find help for the beleaguered town of Salvation as thousands of murderous mutants have attacked and are determined to wipe it out. From here the book builds to an epic conclusion that completes Deuce’s story and bring the Razorland Trilogy to a satisfactory end.

I have really enjoyed this YA Dystopian trilogy, the author told an interesting, mostly believable story that drew me in. The first book started with basic survival and escape, but by the time of the third book, Horde, the story had evolved into a world survival situation. I believed in the final solution and although most of this book was non-stop action, the fact that a peaceful resolution was worked out made for a realistic and credible ending.

Although the trilogy has been dark and violent, in this third book, it was gratifying to see the main characters grow weary of the brutality and fighting. The ending that included both tolerance and understanding was a great way to close the story and at the same time, give the characters a hope for the future.

Marking a spot here Judy. :-)

Here!

Great pictures of PEI! One of these days I will go back there. Happy new thread!

My mother was born on PEI and I've always had a soft spot for Anne. Happy new thread!

I really should get around to picking something up from Ann Aguirre. Never see anything in the 2nd-hand shops from her though (which I suppose is really a good thing) so may include 1 for my Thingaversary in January.

Happy new thread! And congratulations on going so far beyond your challenge. I love the PEI images, I've never been there but it looks so beautiful. The November and December images really capture the atmosphere of those months.

>1 DeltaQueen50: Love the Anne-themed thread topper photos!

>8 luvamystery65: Saved you a comfy chair in the corner, Roberta!

>9 mstrust: And pulling up another comfy chair!

>10 rabbitprincess: I haven't been to PEI since I was a little girl, but I would love to go back there. I guess anyone who has grown up loving Anne of Green Gables has a yearning to visit PEI.

>11 dudes22: Thanks, Betty. Do you get to visit PEI very often?

>12 AHS-Wolfy: There a few authors that are very hard to find in second hand stores. I am always on the lookout for Colin Cotterill (the Dr. Siri series) but with no luck. I guess people hang onto their favorites. With Ann Aguirre, I have only read this Razorland trilogy, but I am certainly interested in trying something else by her.

>13 VivienneR: Putting up pictures for November and December sure makes me realize that the year is winding down. Can't believe Christmas is only about a month away! I'm starting to panic!!!

>14 thornton37814: Lori, I have a soft spot for anything Anne related. Of course when I was younger I also had a big soft spot for Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden as well!

Actually, I've never been to PEI although I've wanted to. Just never worked out. Maybe someday.

>16 dudes22: It's definitely a place you have to plan to go to, it's not just somewhere you drop in as you are driving by!

175. Sarah's Quilt by Nancy Turner - 3.9 ★
Reading Through Time Quarterly Theme: 1900 - 1913
TIOLI #9: Read A Book About Homesteading



Sarah’s Quilt is a sequel to These Is My Words, the story of Sarah Prine and her family as they homestead in the territory of Arizona. This second book opens in April of 1906, and find a widowed Sarah still living on her ranch and very much involved in her family’s affairs. This is the beginning of a difficult summer for the family, there is a drought that has lasted almost three years at this point, her good friend and neighbour, Rudolfo Maldonado has made it clear that he would like to marry Sarah and she must decide if she is ready for that kind of relationship again. One branch of the family lives in San Francisco and when the devastating earthquake hits, Sarah and her father-in-law travel to California to be of assistance. A young man shows up claiming to be the son of Ernest, her long missing brother, it soon becomes clear that he means to stay and make a claim on the ranch. Her mother is showing more and more signs of senility and her beloved sister-in-law is experiencing a difficult pregnancy.

The fictional character of Sarah Prine is based on the author’s great grandmother, and one of my all time favourite characters. This is a truly interesting story set in the Arizona Territory during a time of change. Horses were giving way to the new horseless carriages, gas lighting and sewer systems were being installed in the cities of Phoenix and Tucson and the author has caught this feeling of growth and change in her story of this one family’s life over the course of a few months time in 1906.

Although I didn’t love this story as much as the first book, I am glad that I was able to revisit Sarah and see how her life evolved. I know there is one more book in the trilogy, which I may pick up at some point, but for now I am content that her middle years found her productive, peaceful and looking forward to the future.

>18 DeltaQueen50: That one sounds interesting. I'll have to hunt the first book so I can "start at the very beginning."

ETA: My public library has it! It's checked out at the moment, but I'll look for it.

>18 DeltaQueen50: Lori, you are in for a treat. I loved These Is My Words.

I've caught the BB too!

I've just caught up with the messages on your previous thread but thought I'd reply here. I'm so sorry to hear about the health issues but glad to hear that you're on the mend! I thought your husband's comment about your reading being "complicated" was hilarious. I guess that's why I enjoy this group so much. Most people here totally understand "complicated reading"!

I too am a big audiobook user, and I download them from my library's collection onto my iPod. I always do a daily walk or workout with an audiobook. In fact, I try to choose page-turners for audio, as that usually motivates me to walk longer than I might otherwise. :)

Your PEI photos are lovely. Been there twice for vacation and would love to go back!

Happy new thread!! I too just caught up with all the posts on the previous thread and that ordeal sounds horrible! Take care of yourself!! Definitely agreeing about audiobooks - they make walking a joy, with the right narrator. Hope you're recovering well and fast.

>21 dudes22: Betty, I do hope you are able to track down a copy of These Is My Words, it is an excellent read.

>22 mathgirl40: Thanks, Paulina. I had no idea so many of us were into audio books! I have listened to a few and some I have loved, so I do know that some work for me and some don't. I have the most success with books that have a fairly simple plot and lots of action, which also sounds like the perfect type of book to encourage my walking.

>23 -Eva-: Thanks, Eva.

176. The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton - 3.3 ★
November GeoCat: Australia
TIOLI #14: Title Contains a Noun/Object From a Children's Nursery Rhyme or Hand Game



The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton had many of the ingredients that I look for in a juicy read. Troubled women, interesting relationships between the aforementioned women, wonderful settings like the romantic Cornish coast, a tantalizing mystery that included a tumble down cottage and a secret garden. I should have been in reading heaven, but instead at times I found myself struggling to finish the book.

I do seem a little off with my reading right now, and so I am not going to post my thoughts to the books’ page as I fear my quibbles are more to do with me than the book. I think part of my problem was that I found the character of Nell rather cold and unlikable. As she was the center of the book, not caring about her meant that I always felt a sense of detachment from the story.

This is a monumental effort from the author, she has created a multi-layered, generational story of a family and it’s secrets. I actually thought there would be a bigger punch when the final reveal came, but for me, there were no surprises as I had worked out what had happened long before the end of the book. Overall, I found The Forgotten Garden to be an oddly-plotted but lushly written story that held both spell-binding moments but unfortunately also some mind-numbing ones as well. I will certainly pick up another book by this author as I believe she shows a great deal of promise.

177. Anne of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery - 4.0 ★
TIOLI #4: Author's Career Spanned More Than 15 Years



Anne of Ingleside captured the charm that had been missing in the last couple of Anne books for me. From the opening pages that described a picnic that Anne shared with her friend Diana while on a trip home to Green Gables, to her joy at returning home to her husband and children, this was a fitting goodbye to the young Anne as she slips into a gracious middle age.

The focus of this book is on her family. Anne’s children are an assorted group from the two older boys, down-to-earth Jem and dreamer Walter, the twins Nan and Di, youngest son Shirley and the baby, Marilla, named after Anne’s beloved foster mother. The wonderful housekeeper, Susan rounds out the family and is an important member to both the adults and the children. As the seasons turn and time passes we get a bird’s eye view of their home called Ingleside and the happiness, laughter and love contained in that home. Of course, there are sad times as well, the death of a loved pet, the difficulties of an extended visit of an older, crabby great-aunt, a child’s fear when a parent becomes ill.

I personally believe that L.M. Montgomery excels in her writing of children. Yes, the story is old-fashioned and sentimental and these children are perhaps a little too good for total believability but she captures the essence of young hopes and dreams effortlessly. I very much enjoyed her descriptive writing of nature, seasonal changes and the society of rural Prince Edward Island. Anne of Ingleside both soothed and captivated me and certainly deserves it’s place on my shelf of best loved books.

I noticed when I was looking at books for the Bingo next year, that one of this series was published in 1915 which is one of the squares. I love her stories of Anne too and that will be a way to treat myself to a reread.

I have The Forgotten Garden waiting for me on my TBR bookshelves. The only Morton I have read so far is The Distant Hours which was a good read but not as good as The Thirteenth Tale, which is the story I seem to keep comparing other similar stories to. ;-)

>27 dudes22: I am planning on reading Song of the Lark for my 1915 Bingo read, but I did notice that P.G. Wodehouse's Something Fresh was also first published in 1915 as well. Looks like 1915 was a good year for books.

>28 lkernagh: That's funny, Lori, as I too was mentally comparing The Forgotten Garden with The Thirteenth Tale. Probably a little unfair of me, as the Setterfield book was a five star read and not many other books would compare favorably.

>28 lkernagh: >29 DeltaQueen50: I think the moral of this story is that I should read The Forgotten Garden before I read The Thirteenth Tale so I won't be disappointed. ;-)

>30 thornton37814: Definitely, Lori!

178. Push Start by Alan Savage - 2.0 ★
November GeoCat: Australia



Push Start by Alan Savage was a Kindle deal that lives up to the old adage you get what you pay for. Two young men finish high school and decide to take a road trip and explore Australia. The story details their adventure with some descriptions of scenery and the people they met on the road, but mostly this was a journal of how they searched for jobs so that they would have money to keep their ancient Volkswagon van on the road. They had to be constantly cobbling repairs, pour in gallons of oil, and ensure that they never drive on dirt roads which clogged the engine or drive over certain speeds which would overheat the engine. The title of the book refers to how they got started every day.

Incidents about their unreliable transportation seemed to take over much of the book but occasionally there would be a story about some interesting fellow travellers that they met in the various campgrounds, or a description of a scenic spot that kept me turning the pages. I never really worried about their vehicle problems as it was very clear that these boys were from the suburbs of Melbourne and had only to call on their parents to be instantly rescued. These boys still had a great deal of maturing to do as they were very easily influenced to go off on a drinking spree or spend their money gambling so it was no surprise that eventually they couldn’t afford to fix their vehicle and found themselves having to hitchhike.

I really have nothing to say about Push Start that would recommend it to other readers. I was expecting much more of a travelogue and instead got a story about a couple of silly boys who still had a lot of life lessons to learn.

** Please note that the book didn't have a cover so I download the above picture.

I'll admit that this one interests me, having spent some years driving an ancient VW Beetle with iffy brakes and plenty of quirks. If it was a warm day (and I was living in Arizona at the time) I knew that if I turned off the engine, it would not start again for at least an hour.

>33 RidgewayGirl: You might have more sympathy for these kids than I did, Kay. What drove me crazy was a mechanic would tell them that they shouldn't drive on dirt roads as the motor would clog up. Then they would see a 100 mile short cut on a dirt road and, of course, they would take it. Hard to have any sympathy when they broke down in the middle of nowhere.

But I do remember driving in some interesting cars in my time, when I was 17 my boyfriend's car had no floor so he laid some boards down for my feet to rest on. Unfortunately in the spring when the snow melted and the roads were muddy, the mud would spray up from underneath and I would end up with mud splattered all over my face.

>32 DeltaQueen50: That one sounds like it would annoy me too much. Instead of sympathy, I'd likely answer each setback with "good, serves you right."

>32 DeltaQueen50: Exactly. I got to the point that I decided if I really wanted to hear about an idiot 18 year old, I could just ask my sister about my knuckle-headed nephew! ;)

179. Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood - 3.4 ★
November GeoCat: Australia
November MysteryCat: Historical Mysteries
TIOLI #4: Author's Career Spanned More That 15 Years



Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood is the first in her Phryne Fisher series. After solving a case of high society theft, Phryne is approached by a concerned father who would like her to journey to Australia and check on his daughter who he feels is in trouble. Phryne arrives in Melbourne and immediately is involved in locating a seedy abortionist, tracking cocaine dealers and investigating a case of apparent poisoning.

As the first book in the series, the mysteries were not as important as setting the scene and introducing the characters. This is a very visual book, and 1920’s Melbourne comes to life with richly drawn settings, clothes and food. Phryne herself is wildly exuberant and displays a strong passion for life. She takes control of most situations and I found her to be someone that I enjoyed reading about. It is obvious that the author thoroughly enjoys writing about the roaring twenties and her exciting flapper character.

These will be great books to turn to when I need some light-hearted adventure and glamour.

This one has been on my tbr list for too long, time to move it forward. I love Phryne Fisher.

>38 VivienneR: In this day of moody, angst ridden dectectives, she's a breath of fresh air with her confident, out-going personality. I'm looking forward to following her adventures.

Nice new thread Judy. Love the pics of PEI. I've always wanted to go there.
Thanks for the review of The Dead of the Night on your previous thread. I read the first book in the series many years ago. I then went out and found all the rest of the books in the series but have never read them. i really need to get to them.
Congratulations on completing your Category Challenge and reading 179 (so far) books.

>37 DeltaQueen50: - love this cover. May need to check this series out.

>40 VioletBramble: I had put off reading the second book in the John Marsden series for almost a year and don't intend to wait that long before reading the next one. I have the next couple of books on my shelf but must remember to order the rest.

>41 dudes22: Betty, I like the style and the content of the Phryne Fisher mystery. Certainly not literary, but fun reads, perfect for lighter reading.

180. The Concubine's Tattoo by Laura Joh Rowland - 3.8 ★
November MysteryCat: Historical Mystery
TIOLI #5: Embedded Word In Title



The Concubine’s Tattoo by Laura Joh Rowland is the fourth book in her series set in 17th century Japan. I find these books are an interesting way to learn of this exotic land. The book opens with Sano Ichiro’s wedding which is interrupted as he is needed by the Shogun to investigate the death of a concubine.

Sano’s marriage is off to a rocky start as his new bride, Reiko, makes clear her desire to be involved in his work. While he believes his role is to protect his wife and shield her from life‘s unpleasant side, as the case develops he comes to a better understanding of how little power or independence women have. By allowing his wife some leeway, he is also able to open doors in the investigation that were closed to him.

As Sano conducts his investigation he becomes deeply involved in the daily life of the Shogun’s court, with jealous retainers trying to increase their influence, rigid samurai who cling to the traditional ways, and courtiers who involve themselves in any number of petty quarrels and sexual liasons. Of course, his long time rival, Chamberlain Yanagisawa sees this as an opportunity to discredit him and bring about his downfall.

I enjoy reading about this time period and the author includes rich historical details, great characters and some very twisted political schemes that enhanced the mystery.

181. Breathers: A Zombie's Lament by S.G. Browne - 3.8 ★
TIOLI #12: One Plural Word in Title



In Breathers: A Zombie’s Lament by S.G. Browne we are introduced to Andy, a recently reanimated corpse. He and his undead friends attend a Zombie Self Help Group as they try to come to terms with their new lifestyle and find a purpose and reason for their existence. Andy died in a horrific car accident that also took his wife. He reanimated but she remained dead. His closest friend now is Rita who committed suicide only to find herself having to live out her life as an “undead". There are many rules and regulations to being a zombie, and if they step out of line they are gathered up by the SPCA and held until a guardian pays a fine, upon which they are released into the guardian’s custody. Andy lives in his parents wine cellar in the basement, his mother tries to find common ground with him, but his father is simply disgusted.

Things start to change when Andy accepts the offer of food from a new zombie acquaintance. Supposedly a jar of venison, this meat taste delicious and leaves him craving more. As he and his friends eat more of this marvellous meat, they notice some changes occurring. They are healing, Andy’s speech is rapidly improving and then, one day first Rita and then Andy realize that their hearts have started up. Of course they soon realize that what they are eating is human flesh.

At times both funny and thoughtful, Breathers: a Zombie’s Lament, is an original look at zombies. I admit to feeling a good deal of sympathy for Andy, even as I cringed and snickered at the black humour. A different, unique read that was good enough that I can even forgive the author for putting me off BBQ Ribs.

LOL, I still can't even look at the commercials or ads for McDonald's McRib sandwiches! There were on sale while I was listening to The Angels are the Reapers (by Alden Bell; narrated by Tai Sammons.) There is a scene in the book involving cannibalism, and poof! "just like that" I was off the McRib forever!

Just getting caught up on your reading adventures for the last month or so. There are SO MANY series that I'm either currently reading or want to read that I could do a whole year of only series! It's crazy!

>44 DeltaQueen50: You've had a nice run of good books, Judy.

Hope you are continuing to feel well.

>44 DeltaQueen50: Got me with a BB- that sounds pretty good. Thanks for the review!

>45 Tanya-dogearedcopy: Oh, I remember that scene in The Angels Are The Reapers! Pretty gross, but I did love that book!

>46 LauraBrook: Hi Laura. Crazy just about describes the never-ending, never-getting-quite-caught-up series reading that I am constantly juggling. I love them, but I also end up feeling guilty over the ones that seem to linger on the shelf too long.

>47 VivienneR: Hi Vivienne. I took advantage of the lovely weather we are having right now to take a good long walk this morning. My grandkids are here for the weekend and they came with me which made the walk extra nice. I am feeling great!

>48 mstrust: You are welcome. Breathers is a little different as it is totally from the zombie's point of view, and even though these are much more highly developed than most zombies, it is interesting to see things from their perspective.

182. The Remedy For Love by Bill Roorbach - 3.8 ★
Early Review Program
November RandomCat: Mayday! Mayday!
TIOLI #15: The Title Contains a Traditional Thanksgiving Ingredient, Although Not Necessarily a Food Item



Just before a big storm hits, Eric, a small town Maine lawyer is in the line-up for checkout at the grocery store. In front of him is a scruffy young woman who looks to be homeless and down on her luck. Before too long he has paid for her shortfall, driven her to her cabin in the woods, chopped wood for her, donated his groceries as he can see she doesn’t have enough to survive being snowed in during the duration of the storm. By the time he leaves, the winds are howling and the snow is mounting up. He barely manages to hike back through the woods to the main road. His car has been towed. With nowhere to go, he returns to the cabin.

What follows is an intense, claustrophobic few days as these two strangers are snowed in together. The cabin is extremely rustic with no plumbing and only a wood stove for heat. Both the floor and the walls have cracks that allow the snow to drift in. The young woman, Danielle has many secrets and tells many untruths. Eric slowly uncovers the lies, peels back the layers and in the process of doing so, unburdens his own troubles and reveals a great part of himself to her.

Extremely readable, this was a hard book to put down, I read this book in gulps, completely absorbed in both the depth of the character study and the hazard that they were in. I felt rather like an interloper between these two damaged characters as they search for and perhaps find a new path in their lives. I found The Remedy For Love to be both a lyrical exploration of the nature of love and an absorbing story about both physical and mental survival.

>50 DeltaQueen50: Sounds like an interesting book.

>50 DeltaQueen50: Yes, it does sound interesting. Despite the generally low ratings, I've learned to trust your opinions and am adding this to my wishlist.

>51 thornton37814: & >52 sjmccreary: The Remedy For Love was an interesting read and rather a different type of book for me, digging as it did into the internal workings of these young people. From the ratings it's obvious that many people didn't like the story, but I hope Sandy that you find something of value in this read when you get to it.

183. The September Society by Charles Finch - 3.0 ★
November MysteryCat: Historical Mystery
TIOLI #5: Title Has At Least One Embedded Word



The September Society by Charles Finch is his second book in his historical mystery series set in Victorian England. Unfortunately, I found this book rather tedious and felt that the book could have been easily shortened by at least 70 pages.

At first I enjoyed the Oxford setting and all the information about the university that was passed along, but as the book moved along, I would have rather the author worked more on advancing and strengthening the plot which was quite weak.

There was however some advancement in the main character, Charles Lennox’s, life which may prove to bring an added interest in later books and I will probably give this series another try in the future as I both like the main characters and the Victorian atmosphere.

The Remedy for Love sounds worth reading. And I still haven't read the first in the Charles Finch series.

>54 DeltaQueen50: - I've only read the first of the Charles Lennox mysteries but I'm planning to eventually continue with the series. At least I know not to expect much from the second book.

>55 RidgewayGirl: I really liked The Remedy for Love, thought it was different and it certainly held my attention. I hope you read it as I would love to read your thoughts on it.

>56 VioletBramble: I really liked the first Charles Lennox book so I perhaps had my expectations raised a little too high, but I have been assured that the series does improve after the second book, so I am willing to eventually carry on with book number three.

I found that the Lennox books tend to wax and wane as you work through the series. Some are better than others. My favorites are the ones where Lennox's lady has a good part to play as well as her socialite friend and her friend's Scottish doctor husband. Can you tell it is rather early in the morning.... I cannot remember the names of those other characters!

>58 lkernagh: I'm glad to see that I am not the only one who sometimes forgets characters names, Lori. I still the there is more plus than minus to the Lennox books so I will definitely carry on with the series.

184. Tales of the South Pacific by James Michener - 4.0 ★
Commonwealth Challenge: Tonga, Samoa, Tuvalu, Oceania
TIOLI #5: Embedded Word In Title



Tales of the South Pacific by James Michener is a Pulitzer winning collection of stories that are an account of World War II in the Pacific and are based loosely on the author’s own wartime experiences. The stories, narrated from a single perspective, show both the racial and social strictures that were in effect in the 1940’s. Some of the stories are funny and point out our human frailties while others weave a spell binding story of struggle and tragedy. This isn’t the feel-good musical that was developed from the book, although the characters from that musical do appear in a few of the stories. Instead these stores tell of life and death in a tropical paradise.

The author paints a vivid picture of both the days of boredom and the endless waiting that soldiers have to endure, along with the work, planning and logistics that went into keeping the American armed forces moving forward through the islands. I found this book to be an absorbing commentary on the American war effort in the Pacific Theatre.

Along with the striking descriptions of the beauty of these coral islands with their white beaches and green palm trees, the author provides the reader with interesting, unique characters. Some you will love, some you will hate, some are a product of their time while others are well ahead of their time. Along with American military personnel the author introduces a number of natives and gives the reader a glimpse of their lifestyle and what they thought of the Japanese, the Americans, and the war. All the characters are unforgettable and bring the reader to a greater understanding of the American psyche during the 1940’s, and in particular the can-do style of Americans serving far away from home.

Excellent review. It sounds interesting and I see the local library has a copy so I'll check it out.

>60 DeltaQueen50: Wow! That's sounds really interesting (in a good way)! I hadn't known that it was a short story collection. I had the mistaken impression that it was an overly long soap opera-ish novel (a la John O'Hara - which is doubly unfair as I haven't read him either!) Anyway, great review! I'll certainly keep an eye out for it next tie U'm out book foraging :-)

>61 VivienneR: I think the most interesting thing about the book, Vivienne, is that it was published in 1948, and I think it reflects America's mindset at that point in time. Racism is looked at, but it isn't yet the full blown issue that is will become over the next decade or two. I also think the hurry up and wait attitude of the military was pretty accurate as well.

>62 Tanya-dogearedcopy: Michener seems to have disappeared from the author lists today, but he certainly was one of the major authors of the 1960's and 1970's. Many of his books have been made into movies, but as they are so long and involve so many characters the movies often zero in on just a few. I hope you are able to track down a book or two of his.

185. An Irish Country Courtship by Patrick Taylor - 4.0 ★
TIOLI #5: Title Has An Embedded Word



The fifth book in his Irish Country series, An Irish Country Courtship brings the story back to the Northern Irish village of Ballybucklebo in the days immediately after the New Year of 1965 has been rung in. A romantic let-down has Dr. Barry Laverty wondering if this village is really where he wants to be. He has six months left before he becomes a full partner and is going to use that time to decide where he sees himself in the future. Meanwhile Dr. Fingal O’Reilly is becoming ever closer to Kitty O’Hallorhan. Kinky, the housekeeper is feeling a little threatened by Kitty’s presence and the two women need to work out their individual territories.

Strewn throughout the book are details of the day-to-day medical care the doctors provide to the community, and as always, there an abundance of humor and life lessons that are taught and absorbed by both villagers and doctors alike. One of the main storylines sees the doctors expose an elaborate scheme that Councilman Bertie Bishop has devised to fleece some of the villagers out of their share of a racehorse.

These light-hearted books are guaranteed to bring on a smile or two as this is a captivating series that entertains as it warms the cockles of your heart.

186. Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen - 3.8 ★
December MysteryCat: Cozy Mysteries
TIOLI #14: Book Fits the LT Bingo Card - First In A Series



Fresh, fun and lively. These are all words that I would use to describe Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen, the first in her series featuring Lady Georgiana, daughter of the Duke of Glen Garry and Rannoch, and thirty-fourth in line to the English throne. Being a minor royal means there are certain appearances that must be kept up, and a ‘common’ job would be frowned upon.

Even so the penniless Georgie is determined to make her own way in the world and avoid at all costs an arranged marriage to some minor, fish-faced European prince. With high humor and many missteps Georgie sets out to do just that. Of course she hadn’t counted on the body that turned up in her bathtub or the fact that the Queen would like her to spy on Mrs. Wallis Simpson. It soon becomes obvious that someone has a taste for murder and Georgie is the intended victim.

The main character is quite appealing and fun to read about. The love interest is the darkly handsome Darcy who is both Irish and Catholic (which brings it’s own set of problems). The mystery is a little thin, but being the first book in the series, the emphasis was mainly on setting the scene and introducing the characters. This series will be the perfect choice when I am in the mood for a light adventure with romantic highlights.

I skipped your review of An Irish Country Courtship because I'm only up to book 4 which I'm reading now. So this will probably be read sometime next year. But I saw the 4 star rating so I'll be looking forward to it.

>66 dudes22: You have a good one to look forward to then, Betty!

187. The Shade of the Moon by Susan Beth Pfeffer - 3.2 ★
TIOLI #16: Bah humbug! Book Has Nothing To Do With Christmas



Although originally meant to be a trilogy, The Shade of the Moon is the fourth book in Susan Beth Pfeffer’s Life As We Know It series. It’s been four years since the moon was knocked out of it’s orbit and closer to earth, and people are now settling down to a grim survival.

I was rather disappointed with this book as I had enjoyed the previous three books in the series but I felt the author took the story in a very different direction with this book. We are expected to believe that after a scant four years, some people have developed a feeling of superiority and entitlement simply because they are the ones that live in the safe enclave.

Jon Evans and his family have come to the safe town of Sexton, and the family decided that his step-mother Lisa and her young son, along with Jon would use the slips that allowed them to live inside the enclave. Jon, because of his soccer ability is living a life of privilege because he is a star on the team, but he is all too aware that one misstep could find him thrown out and having to join the rest of his family in the poor town of White Birch. People that live in White Birch are called grubbers and work as domestics or in the greenhouses raising food.

I found it impossible to buy into this storyline. I can’t imagine a society would develop so quickly where basic human rights and equality would be so overlooked. The Evans family has been interesting to follow up to this point but the strong and independent members I am used to reading about were difficult to recognize in this book.

Some excellent reviews here! Rhys Bowen and Laura Joh Rowland are both authors that I'd like to try one day. Glad to see your positive comments about their series.

>69 mathgirl40: You can count on me to keep those series coming - I can't seem to get away from them!

188. You Better Not Cry by Augusten Burroughs - 4.1 ★
TIOLI #2: Read A Book About Christmas



You Better Not Cry by Augusten Burroughs is a collection of Christmas essays that range from exceedingly funny to mind-blowingly sad. I was practically in tears after reading the second to last essay entitled “The Best and Only Everything”, and then the last story, for me the gem of the collection, “Silent Night” ended the book on a perfect note. This was not the book I thought it was going to be, but a much more meaningful and deeper reading experience.

The stories run the gamut from abrasively funny, to cynically sentimental, yet instead of an anti-Christmas book, I felt quite warm and fuzzy after I turned the last page. These are certainly not your typical Christmas stories as You Better Not Cry is full of disasters and bad decisions and I think there will be some people put off by his darkness, yet his writing is beautifully descriptive and whether he is writing about his confusion over Santa Claus or his own sexuality, this book comes across as both witty and honest.

Well I've finished An Irish Country Christmas and it was every it as good as I expected. I'll be continuing with this series next year sometime. Maybe I'll have you "pick" it for me for the Bingo ( ha, ha). And I'm adding Rhys Bowen to my Recomended by LT collection so I don't lose site of that series (like I need another sereis!). And then, I'm also going to check out You Better Not Cry.

>72 dudes22: If you need me to pick it for you, just let me know, I'd be more than willing!

>71 DeltaQueen50: I have to admit the cover of the Burroughs book would put me off :)

I've always wondered and meant to ask, where did you find the TIOLI categories?

>74 VivienneR: My husband totally agrees with you about that cover, Vivienne. He thought it was terrible.

The TIOLI Challenges are part of the 75 Group, but they are open to anyone who would like to participate. They run on a monthly basis with the leader, Madeline, surprising us with her challenge at some point during the last 5 days of the month. After her challenge is posted, anyone can add a challenge for that month. All challenges must be posted by the 4th day of the month. We usually end up with about 20 challenges over all. They are great fun and really help me pare down my choices from my TBR. It can be pretty challenging to find books that not only fit the TIOLI challenges but at the same time, the Category Challenge, the Reading Through Time Challenge and even the Commonwealth Challenge. It keeps me scrambling, but I guess it's pretty obvious that I love a good challenge!

If you would like to check out what we've got going for December, here's a link: TIOLI DECEMBER

189. Snowfall in Burracombe by Lilian Harry - 4.0 ★
December RandomCat: Wish Upon A Star
TIOLI #2: Read A Book About Christmas



The Burracombe series by Lilian Harry have been comfort reads for me. Snowfall in Burracombe is the seventh book in the series about an English village and it’s inhabitants during the 1950’s. This book is set in December of 1953 and is appropriately about the festive season. There are romances and tragedies as well as the simple day to day routines of this quiet rural village. Of course the scenes depicting the various villagers celebrating Christmas were my favourite as they brought back memories from my own childhood.

There is some darkness brewing on the horizon as there are secrets being kept, a scandal brewing that could have serious consequences and important life changing decisions that need to be made. After seven books, I feel as if I know these characters so well, but it is a bit of a challenge to reacquaint myself with some thirty residents. This is definitely a series that needs to be read in order as there are many different plotlines to follow.

I did love the Christmas scenes and I felt very much like I was visiting with old friends and getting caught up with all the gossip. I look forward to the next installment.

>65 DeltaQueen50: A wonderful review to one of my favorite series! I eagerly await each new book in the fall, gobble it up and then not-so-patiently wait until the next one comes out 11 months later. Have you read anything else by Rhys? I've read her Evan Evans series and liked that just as well. I'm trying to hold off on her Molly Murphy series just so I have something left to look forward to. Not like there are hundreds of others out there that I'm dying to read, but you know what I mean! ;)

>77 LauraBrook: Laura, I have read one of the Molly Murphy books and I liked it as well. Not as humorous as HRS, but a great setting and Molly is an interesting main character. I don't know why I haven't gotten back to that series, other than the fact that I have too many series to keep track of, I guess. Anyway, I think you will enjoy them when you get to them.

>76 DeltaQueen50: I commented in the other group about not having heard of this series. I think it's because it's hard to track down in the U.S. I see the first one is available on Kindle so I may have to bite the bullet and pay for it since it doesn't seem to be easily available in libraries.

>79 thornton37814: - oh that explains it! I just went to put the first one on my wishlist on Overdrive and couldn't find any. Think I'll check out the library book site and see what that has.

ETA: Nope - none there either.

>80 dudes22: My first clue was when I went to add it to the wish list account. It didn't come up in LC. It was a British imprint when I got it via TALIS from Overcat.

>79 thornton37814: & >80 dudes22: I started the series through library lends, but then decided that my Mom would love this series so I ordered the first three for her through the Book Depository. They are also available second hand through Awesome Books. Lilian Harry is regularly found on the bookshelves here in Canada, I guess being a member of the Commonwealth means we get our share of British books.

190. Children of the Street by Kwei Quartey - 4.0 ★
December GeoCat: Sub-Saharan Africa
Commonwealth Challenge: Ghana
TIOLI #5: Book Title Has A Noun That is Found in the Title of a Christmas Carrol



Set in the African country of Ghana, Children of the Street is the second Inspector Darko Dawson mystery by Kwei Quartey. There is a flood of homeless, poor children that are coming to the city of Accra from all parts of the country in search of a better life. Unfortunately some of these children are turning up murdered and mutilated and Inspector Dawson and his team are trying to find out who is behind these murders.

This is an interesting series, set as it is in the country of Ghana. The main character, Darko Dawson is a caring, committed man in a job that is very difficult, and he has his moments where the sheer futility overcomes him but overall he is a man to admire.

There is a third book to this series and I certainly plan to get my hands on it at some point. I hope the author continues on with this series as he writes mysteries that are full of twists and suspense while still imparting information about his native country.

I enjoyed Kwei Quartey too, he provides an interesting and different kind of protagonist.

>84 VivienneR: I see there is a third book in the series called Murder at Three Points. I hope he continues on and writes more books in the series.

>83 DeltaQueen50:
I've only read the first one and didn't realize there were already three! I absolutely want to read the rest in the series as I enjoyed both the main character and the great sense of locale.

And onto the wishlist it goes...

>86 -Eva-: I actually enjoyed Children of the Street even more than the first one. I think it was the setting of Accra and the vividness of his descriptions of the plight on the street children.

>87 VivienneR: Me, too!

191. The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie - 3.8 ★
December MysteryCat: Cozy Mysteries
TIOLI #14: A Book That Fits the LT Bingo Card - A Book With A Mystery



The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie, originally published in 1961, is a tale of murder by black magic. This is the authors’ take on the supernatural and she has included séances, witches and an old 15th century inn called The Pale Horse. The novel is a stand alone although one of her reoccurring characters, Ariadne Oliver is featured and other characters from previous books also make an appearance. I recognized the vicar and his wife from The Moving Finger and Colonel Despard from Cards on the Table.

The main character, Mark Easterbrook stumbles into a reference that The Pale Horse is a place of evil, and that, along with a list of names that turn out to belong to people who have recently died starts him and a friend, Ginger, on an investigation. Meanwhile, from a slightly different angle, the police are also taking an interest due to a recent murder of a priest.

I found this appropriately chilling and original and enjoyed it very much. The author starts her story slowly, but as the pages turn, she amps up the tension and moves her story along quickly. Typically there were a few red herrings along the way and an interesting twist at the end which made The Pale Horse a very satisfactory read.

>89 DeltaQueen50: That one was indeed chilling! Also, I have that same cover :)

>89 DeltaQueen50: Thank you for the review. This one goes on my want list. I have only read 3 Agatha Christie novels and this one sounds intriguing.

I started reading Agatha Christie when I was pre-teen, and I believe I've read everything she wrote, some multiple times. After reading your review Judy, I want to start all over again. Sure, she wrote some pot-boilers (mentioned this in her autobiography, when she was so hard-up she only had one servant) but there is simply no one who compares.

>89 DeltaQueen50: I read it last year and thought it was one of her better ones.

>90 rabbitprincess: Sort of a strange cover as there are no shrunken heads to be found in the story!

>91 craso: Hi Caroline, this is one of the things I love about her - every once and awhile she surprised her readers by putting out a book that was completely different from her normal mysteries.

>92 VivienneR: I read a ton of Agatha Christies when I was in my early twenties and now I am going back and discovering new ones that I missed and rereading many of the old favorites. Personally I find Josephine Tey a better writer, and I love Dorothy Sayers but you are so right, there is something about Agatha that makes her the Queen!

>93 mysterymax: I am finding that I really like many of her stand alone mysteries, I loved Why Didn't They Ask Evans? and Endless Night. Her stand alones were among the ones I missed in my twenties, at that time I preferred to concentrate on Hercule Poirot.

192. Montana 1948 by Larry Watson - 4.5 ★
December American Author Challenge
TIOLI #16: Bah Humbug! Read A Book That Is Nothing To Do With Christmas



Montana 1948 by Larry Watson chronicles the events in a small Montana town, and in particular, the effects these events had on one family. As told through the eyes of the only child in the family, David, we learn of his quiet, inward looking father, sheriff of the town and his morally upright but loving mother. They are all part of the Hayden family who were a power source in the county. People looked up to and respected the Haydens, his rancher grandfather who had spent previous years himself as the sheriff, his war hero uncle, the local doctor and his father. Another important character was Marie Little Soldier, the Sioux housekeeper, and the catalyst of the events that were to change this family forever.

This is a story that I felt viscerally, the author writes simply and from the heart. As the plot develops I felt David’s loss of innocence as his small town life of fishing, riding and hunting changes when racism, betrayal and violence come into it. His own identity and strong family ties are shattered. He is telling the story as an adult, looking back upon that summer, but the reader intimately feels the child’s confusion and anguish.

Larry Watson’s writing reminds me in many ways of both Ivan Doig and Kent Haruf. These men write with a western viewpoint. Their writing is rich, meditative and stripped of any extra unneeded words, cutting right into the soul of the story. Montana 1948 tells a powerful, candid and emotionally charged story in under 200 pages. I admire both the writing and the story.

193. Devil's Peak by Deon Meyer - 4.1 ★
December Geo-Cat: Sub-Saharan (South Africa Focus)
TIOLI #14: Book That Fits LT Bingo Card - Set On A Different Continent



Devil’s Peak by Deon Meyer is an excellent thriller. Set in South Africa, I found the book got off to a slow start with three separate narrators, a young woman making a confession to a minister, a distraught man deciding on revenge after his son is shot in a robbery, and a drunken police detective who is on the edge of losing everything to the drink. It took awhile for me to keep the voices separate and around the time I finally did, this part of the book was over and the next part was straight forward story told mostly from the police detective’s viewpoint. I knew these three narrations would converge and when they did, the story popped and took off on a roller coaster ride.

This is the first of a series featuring DI Benny Griessel and I can tell you that I will be on the look out for the rest of this series. The author pushes all the right buttons and delivers a first class thriller. One note of warning however, between the assegai wielding vigilante and the Columbian drug kingpins, this story holds a great deal of violence and so may be a little too dark for some readers. However, if you like your crime to be in-your-face and somewhat bloody, with a sharp and perceptive storyline this South African crime series may be of some interest to you.

Sigh!

2 more BBs. I'll never catch up.

That BB hit me too. I've abandoned all hope of ever catching up.

Well, Montana 1948 is NOT a book bullet for me. I already have a copy on my TBR. Try again, Judy.

Oh, look, Judy's handing out BBs again. So shocked I'm falling off the couch... :)

>100 -Eva-: - Eva - you crack me up sometimes!

I like that I am getting a reputation for being one of the fastest (book) guns in the West!

>97 dudes22: Catching up with book bullets doesn't seem to be an option around here, Betty! I have become resolved to the fact that I will never get to all the books that I want to.

>98 VivienneR: Me either, Vivienne.

>99 RidgewayGirl: Ok, Kay, I have a few more up my sleeve that may do the trick!

>100 -Eva-: LOL! I aim to please, not knock you out of your chair, Eva!

I'm cheating a little right now, setting aside some of the thicker reads in favor of shorter books in my quest to reach 200 books for the year.

>102 DeltaQueen50: 200 books! I'm cheering for you!

194. The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind by William Kamkwamba - 4.0 ★
December GeoCat: Sub-Saharan Africa
Commonwealth Challenge: Malawi
TIOLI #5: Book Title Has A Noun That Is Also Found in the Title of a Christmas Carol



This book was one that brought me joy. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba tells his story of how, growing up in the drought-ridden, poor country of Malawi, he dreamed of one day building a windmill like the ones he read about. His goal was to bring electricity and water to his village. He planned on studying and learning what he needed to at school, but that plan was cut short when his parents could not afford the tuition fee and he was needed at home to help forge for food to stave off starvation.

William held onto his dream and with the use of old science textbooks, scrap metal and bits he could find, he managed to cobble together a workable windmill that provided enough energy for four lights, eventually a second machine was assembled that became a water pump. This boy who was called “crazy” by many achieved his dreams and became an inspiration to others.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is so much more than an instruction guide to building windmills. This story is a vivid memoir of this unusual young man who grew up in extremely difficult conditions and found a way to bring freedom along with power to his village.

>103 VivienneR: Thanks, Vivienne! :)

Oh no, another BB. I should just add your library as my wishlist.

>106 VivienneR: This was a BB from Carrie to me, she read it for her Commonwealth Challenge and it caught my attention.

>95 DeltaQueen50: When I went to the library, the book I'd planned to read for the American Author Challenge was not in so I took your advice (and the advice of others who rated it high this month) and picked up Montana 1948 instead.

>108 thornton37814: I think you are in for a pretty good read, Lori. It's very short but he packs a lot of story and emotion in those few pages.

195. The End of the Drive by Louis L'Amour - 3.5 ★
TIOLI #11: A Word In the Title That Implys An End or Finality



The End of the Drive is collection of western short stories, penned by Louis L’Amour. These stories were varied and I liked some a lot more than others, but overall a nice collection of stories all told in his straight forward, slightly formulistic manner.

The opening story was a variation on a familiar theme, and got the book off to a good start as a young man learns a valuable life lesson from his father. Another story that stood out for me was “ Desperate Men”, a story about prisoners who escape from Yuma Territorial Prison and embark on a gruelling trek across the desert, in as much danger from each other as from the elements. There is one longer novella in the collection, an exciting tale called Rustler Roundup, about neighbour turning against neighbour when their suspicions are aroused as to who is behind the cattle rustling in the area.

No surprises here but an interesting collection of western stories that involve courage, resolve and honour as once again Louis L’Amour builds upon the code of the Old West.

my quest to reach 200 books for the year.

You can do it!

>111 lkernagh: Hi Lori, I am closing in on my goal of 200 and now I am wondering how much past my goal can I get?

196. The Paris Winter by Imogen Robertson - 4.3 ★
Reading Through Time Quarterly Theme: 1900 - 1913
TIOLI #5: Book Title Has a Noun Found in the Title of a Christmas Carol



The Paris Winter by Imogen Robertson is set during the Belle Époque period when Paris was considered to be the center of arts, learning and fine living. The story is about three young women, Maud Heighton is an Englishwoman in Paris to study art. She is so devoted to her studies that she would rather starve than miss a class. Tanya Koltsolva is a wealthy young Russian who is also studying art, although her family is encouraging her to find a rich husband, she likes to toy with the idea of making her own way in life. Finally, Yvette, a young girl from the slums of Paris who works as a model at both the art school and with various artists. Street-smart Yvette has a generous nature and often helps others that need a guiding hand.

As we follow these young women over the course of the winter of 1909/10, we are drawn into a story of fraud, murder and revenge. The plot is deceptively simple, yet with a few added twists and turns it keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. The author used actual history to help shape the story, as the fictional art school was based on a real one and the actual flooding of Paris in January 1910 is an important component of the plot.

I felt that the story would have benefited from tighter editing as at times it seemed to drift. However, her beautifully written, detailed descriptions of the city of Paris was outstanding. From the highest echelons of society to the shanties of Montmartre the author gifted the reader with a vivid sense of place. The Paris Winter is a book that I will long remember due to its setting, atmosphere and mood.

>196 Great review of The Paris Winter. I also really enjoyed this book, it is on my book of the month list.

Adding The Paris Winter to my TBR list! Wondering if it could count for the "disaster" square of the 2015 Bingo, since you say the flooding of Paris is an important component of the plot.

>114 Roro8: Ro, this was almost a 5 star read for me, the slowness at the start of the book and the lack of editing held it back for me, but it was a darned good read.

>115 christina_reads: Christina, the flood is thoroughly described, affects the main characters, and helps to move the plot along so, yes, I would say it could definitely be used for the "disaster" square.

>115 christina_reads:. I agree, it would definitely qualify for the disaster square.

The Paris Winter sounds like a very good read. I'd recently read The Painted Girls, also set during the Belle Époque and about three women (sisters studying dance, in this case). I enjoyed it very much and would love to learn more about that time period.

>116 DeltaQueen50: >117 Roro8: Thanks! I don't read a lot of disaster books, so I was really struggling to find something for that square, but this looks like a great fit!

>118 mathgirl40: Paulina, I read Painted Girls earlier this year and there are similarities, but I think I preferred The Paris Winter, but then I am a sucker for the crime aspect.

>119 christina_reads: I hope you enjoy The Paris Winter, Christina!

Spent yesterday afternoon at the hospital while my husband had various medical tests, he will find out in January whether or not they will proceed with the operation on his back. I am off to the hospital myself tomorrow for some blood tests and then in January I am scheduled for a stress test and they are also going to put me on a 24 hour blood pressure monitor. Our life seems to be revolving around doctors and hospitals these days! The good thing about sitting in waiting rooms is that I am getting lots of reading time.

With only 5 or so books left to read for the year, I have been thinking about which books I will choose as my top reads of 2014. As of right now, I think they would be the following (in no particular order):

The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain
Room by Emma Donoghue
The Death of Sweet Mister by Daniel Woodrell
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra
We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver

I also really enjoyed the Raj Quartet by Paul Scott and the First Law fantasy series by Joe Abercrombie.

197. The Frog Earl by Carola Dunn - 3.9 ★
Reading Through Time Monthly Theme: Regency Period
TIOLI #16: Bah Humbug! A Book That Has Nothing To Do With Christmas



The Frog Earl by Carola Dunn is a regency romance that I didn‘t have very expectations of, yet it turn out to be a very fun read. Simon Hurst had a promising career in the navy but gave that up when his older brother died and he became the Earl of Derwent and the heir to his father’s title. Unfortunately Simon is a little rough around the edge, he doesn’t follow the latest fashion or manners. He is slightly stocky in appearance and it isn’t long before he is laughably called the Frog Earl. Feeling humiliated he decides to retire to the country. Of course both his fortune and his title are highly desirable, but Simon wants to find a wife who will love him as he is.

While out riding Simon stumbles upon the beautiful Lakshmi Lassiter, known as Mimi, the daughter of a British Army Colonel and an Indian Princess. She has dropped her gold bracelet into the pond and believing Simon to be a lackey of some sort asks him to fetch it for her. He extracts a promise of three things from her, including a kiss which she readily agrees to, but once her bracelet is safely upon her wrist, she reneges on her promise.

Yes, The Frog Earl is a reworking of the fairytale about The Princess and the Frog. Although this regency romp wasn’t quite up to the standards of Georgette Heyer, it was still a pretty good read being both sweetly romantic and knowing not to take itself too seriously. An entertaining read.

Sorry to hear doctors and hospitals are an important part of your life right now. On the other hand, you want to start off the new year in good health. And, as you say, you are getting lots of reading done. Best wishes for the best results. Stay well.

>122 DeltaQueen50: That sounds like a potentially fun read! Carola Dunn also wrote a mystery series set in the 1920s...I remember reading and enjoying the first one, Death at Wentwater Court.

I hope it all goes well for you and your husband!

Sorry to hear of the hospital visits and hope the tests work out okay for you both.

>123 VivienneR: Anything that gives me more reading time can't be all bad! Got my blood tests taken care of this morning and now this afternoon I am going to start my Christmas wrapping. May have to take a break at some point and squeeze in some more reading!

>124 christina_reads: I have Death at Wentwater Court on my wish list and since I'm enjoying both the Phryne Fisher and the Royal Spyness series, I will enjoy this one as well.

>125 mstrust: & >126 AHS-Wolfy: Thanks Jen and Dave.

198. Mad Mouse by Chris Grabenstein - 4.0 ★
TIOLI #1: Use Three Consecutive Letters From the Name Madeline



Mad Mouse by Chris Grabenstein is the second book in his crime series that features Danny Boyle and John Ceepak. Danny is the narrator, young and likeable, the story unfolds through his eyes. As a part-time summer cop, he works with Detective John Ceepak and together they keep both the beach and the boardwalk at Sea Haven, a New Jersey beach town, safe for the tourists and locals alike. Danny has grown up in Sea Haven, his friends are there and he appears to be in transition from party boy to responsible adult. He couldn’t have a better role model than John Ceepak. Unfortunately it appears that Danny has left at least one enemy in his wake.

Whether it’s rescuing a wheelchair bound kid from bullies or solving a serious crime, John Ceepak always goes by his code of honor. As a previous solider he is loyal to a fault, always there to help Danny, back him up in tricky situations and impart some life lessons along the way. John Ceepak reminds me of the cartoon character of Dudley Do-Right, but the witty, perceptive way in which he is presented raises this book above cartoon level.

Mad Mouse is very much like the carnival ride it is named after. A wild ride with both a quick pace to the plot and the dialogue. Sheer entertainment with lots of twists and turns, this book was a fun read. However there is more to this book than laughs, it has a dark side with violence and murder as well. A different and well presented series and it’s obvious the author enjoys his time spent in Sea Haven as much as his readers do.

Hospital visits and tests are no fun - hope it all comes out OK.

Good luck with all the doctors. Hopefully you have lots of good books to get you through.

Thanks Eva and Stacy, I am officially done with doctors now until the new year! Getting everything finalized for Christmas and feeling like I am actually going to be ready this year. I will be leaving the day after Christmas to go and visit my Mom and the rest of the family in Victoria, which I am really looking forward to. I am also more than ready for the new year and the new challenge - can't wait to get started!

199. Return To Thrush Green by Miss Read - 4.2 ★
TIOLI #6: A Color or Shade of Color Is In the Title



Dora Saint who published under the name of Miss Read wrote many nostalgic books about British country life and rural villages. In her books she paints wonderful pictures of thatched cottages, village greens and well tended gardens. In Return to Thrush Green, she bring her readers back to the small village called Thrush Green and updates us on the comings and goings of the inhabitants.

This is a world where everyone knows everyone’s business and has an opinion whether they are the local vicar or the neighbourhood busybody. The drama usually circles around village affairs from how to tidy up the local cemetery to raising money for repairs to the village school. There is a timelessness abut her books, and although they don’t entirely ignore modern times, they seem to exist in a vacuum all their own.

Return to Thrush Green is a simple, heart-felt, comfort read that was gratefully picked up during the hustle and bustle of this holiday season.

Glad to hear that your visits to doctors is over for now. Enjoy Victoria and have a wonderful holiday.

Enjoy Christmas in Victoria, Judy. I envy your chance to go for a walk along Dallas Road.

Thanks Vivienne, there are a number of walks I am planning on doing in and around Victoria while I am there, and Dallas Road is definitely one of them. I have my fingers crossed that we get a spell of mild, clear weather.

I have reached my goal of 200 books, and although my 200th wasn't exactly a stellar read, it was still a lot of fun. I will carry on posting here until January 1st, at which time I will move over to the 2015 Category Challenge.

200. Curse of the Blue Tattoo by L.A. Meyer - 3.8 ★
TIOLI #6: Book Title Contains a Color or a Shade of a Color



Although I personally didn’t enjoy The Curse of the Blue Tattoo as much as the first Jacky Faber book, I have no doubt that if I was eleven or twelve, I would be totally swept away by this book. Even at my advanced age, I was still quite taken by Jacky and her trials.

After being discovered to be a girl, Jacky is put off the Dolphin and is sent to a young lady’s school in Boston. Jacky soon realizes just how far she is from being the “lady” that Jamie, the love of her life, wishes her to be. Of course, being Jacky, she is soon involved in a number of adventures as she goes about helping friends and setting wrongs to right. Although the plot was a familiar one and the characters very predictable, one can’t help but find this a fun read. Jacky is a fearless, ardent young person and she makes me long to join her “Dread Sisterhood”.

Curse of the Blue Tattoo is book number two in L.A. Meyer’s rollicking adventure series featuring the perfectly imperfect Jacky Faber. I am planning on passing these books along to my granddaughter when she is eleven, and I am sure she will fall in love with Jacky as well.

Congratulations on 200 books - I'm suitably impressed. And while I'm here - a Merry Christmas to you and a Happy healthy New Year!

Congratulations on 200! That's a lot of reading!

Wow! 200 Books! Congratulations!

Congratulations on 200 books! I'm so impressed! Jacky Faber sounds like a fun series that I will have to investigate. I get more book bullets from you than anyone else.

Congratulations on "200"!

I've been eyeing the Jacky Faber series for awhile, and think I must put it up on my stacks for 2015 :-)

>138 dudes22: Thanks, Betty. I am about to go and visit the various threads and leave my Christmas wishes.

>139 mstrust: I am finding retirement gives one a fair amount of reading time. My problem now is that I either have to give myself less reading time or less LT time in order to fit in the exercise that I need to do.

>140 craso: Thanks, Caroline. I pretty much wander around with a book or two in my hand constantly, so yes, I do a lot of reading. :)

>141 VivienneR: It is a fun series, Vivienne, although I really thought it showed how it is meant for a YA audience in this last book.

>142 Tanya-dogearedcopy: I can't imagine anyone not having fun reading these books. Hope you enjoy Tanya.

201. Comfort and Joy by India Knight - 3.8 ★
TIOLI #4: Both Red and Green On the Cover



Comfort and Joy by India Knight would be classified as chick-lit. But for me there was a little more to it, as it wasn’t a straight forward girl meets boy love story. This was, in fact, a love story about a family and by family, I don’t mean the traditional mother-father-child family, but rather a huge conglomeration of people who are connected to each other in various ways. The common denominator to this family is the love they have for each other.

Covering three Christmases, the reader follows Clara’s life and how each Christmas is affected by the growths and changes in her life. Starting when she is forty, there is a lot of humour, some emotional truths, a few hard hitting facts and a warm holiday feeling that made this book a lovely Christmas read.

If you like your Christmas stories a little on the bawdy side, Comfort and Joy would make a great addition to your Christmas book list.

Congrats on hitting 200 books for the year! And merry Christmas!

>145 cbl_tn: Thanks Carrie.

Merry Christmas! Hope there are lots of shiny new books under the tree.

Just wishing you a very Merry Christmas, Judy and a wonderful year ahead. I'm looking forward to all the book bullets coming my way in 2015!

And glad you liked Comfort and Joy. I nearly choked laughing out loud when she went for a drink at the hotel and met a bloke ("Bo-Bo-Bond Street?").

Very impressed with your meeting your goal of 200 books! Merry Christmas!

We always open one package on Christmas Eve and I chose to open my package from my Secret Santa from the 75 Group. I received three excellent books, all from series that I am following:

In A Dark House by Deborah Crombie
Dear Teacher by Jack Sheffield
Benediction by Kent Haruf

I can't wait to find out who my Secret Santa is so I can thank him/her!

>147 rabbitprincess: I'm off to a great start, RP, with a first package of books opened. There are a few more under the tree that are definitely book shaped!

>148 VivienneR: I giggled my way through a number of scenes in that book, Vivienne.

>149 mathgirl40: Thanks, Paulina. I always forget that there is still a week left in the month after Christmas and I aim to get everything done for the year by Christmas. Now I can coast to year's end.

Merry Christmas Judy! Enjoy those books and I will see you on our new threads soon!

200 books , you are my hero:) Once the festivities wind down, I do have a few books I'd like to finish before the end the year.We'll see.......

Congratulations on reaching your target of 200 books.

I'm a bit late for Merry Christmas wishes now, so let's try Happy Holiday! My fingers are crossed for perfect holiday weather for you.

Merry Christmas!

A belated Merry Christmas, Judy, and a wish for an excellent 2015!

Judy I hope you had a very Merry Christmas. I am rooting for us to have a very Happy New Year/2015.

>96 DeltaQueen50: You are still a menace but that's what I love about you!

Belated Merry Christmas! Hope it was a good one and that you have a wonderful New Years.

Congratulations! 200 is a very respectable number indeed!

I am currently visiting my Mom in Victoria and will probably stay here until early next week. I have limited computer access and haven't had a lot of reading time either. I have managed to finish one more book which will be the last one for the year. That makes my final count 202 books.

>151 lsh63: I hope you had a great holiday, Lisa

>152 Roro8: Hi Ro. The weather here has turned quite cold but it is clear and sunny so it is perfect walking weather. My brother and I have gotten out every day so far and gotten a walk in.

>153 inge87: Thanks and all the best of the season to you as well.

>154 LauraBrook: Hi Laura, I certainly have my fingers crossed for all of us to have a good 2015.

>155 luvamystery65: Ha, Ro. I like being a "menace". I am looking forward to lots of fun and a little misbehaving during 2015!

>156 LittleTaiko: Same to you, Stacy. I still can't believe that 2015 is just about here!

>157 -Eva-: Thanks, Eva.

A most Happy New Year to everyone and a big wish for lots of good books to come our way in 2015!

202. The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey - 3.7 ★
TIOLI #9: Book Title Has a Musical Reference



The Daughter of Time was a very different book for Josephine Tey, having much more of a historical slant than her usual fare. It was however a well presented case for Richard III’s innocence in the murder of the two princes in the tower.

As Alan Grant lies in hospital, he finds himself drawn into investigating the facts behind the assumption that Richard was the guilty party and in doing so, turned up enough evidence that causes one to wonder why this wasn’t thoroughly examined before. History, it seems, is often written by the ones who gain the power and in this case, Henry Tudor seemed to be the one manipulating how these murders were viewed.

Personally I have always thought that Richard was perhaps the scapegoat, and it seems to me that the one who had the most to gain was Henry Tudor, especially as he happened to be married to Edward IV’s daughter who stood in line to inherit right behind her two brothers.

Overall I found The Daughter of Time to be an engrossing read, although not as intriguing as most of her books are. She obviously felt strongly that this was a mistake that needed to be addressed, but unfortunately direct proof in this case has been absorbed by time and without documentation of some sort all that remains is speculation.

Great review! For various reasons, I've always agreed with Tey. Sir Thomas More took a big hit in my estimation when it was realized his opinion was second hand.

I read The Daughter of Time earlier this year and it was really interesting to read in light of the discovery of Richard's remains. Wonder what Tey would have made of it.

Sorry the Tey wasn't so great for you; it's by far my favorite from her. Which do you prefer?

When I catch up on threads, I usually keep the best for last (ie yours) since I need to mentally prepare to be riddled with BBs. I was sorry to hear about your recent health troubles. Trying to get (and stay) in shape is always a challenge. The key for me is to find an activity I really enjoy so that exercising does not become a duty.

Wishing you a Happy New Year! And I was not wrong about the BBs :)

I always liked The Daughter of Time ...

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, Judy. I hope you enjoy excellent health - and books - in 2015.

Happy New Years!

We are having a quiet evening and staying in at my Mom's. My brother and I are cooking dinner for the rest of the family and we have decided to have a shrimp and prawn cocktail to start with, followed by grilled lamb chops, baked potato and asparagus. For dessert we are simply having lemoncello gelato and an assorted amount of home made Christmas cookies. I hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year.

>160 VivienneR: The information about Thomas More was a surprise to me as it was something I don't remember hearing about before. Of course it does make sense when one considers that his account was written during the Tudor years.

>161 rabbitprincess: If I remember correctly when they found Richard's bones he did have a crooked back, which in The Daughter of Time she hints that this was a made up fact added after Richard died.

>162 mstrust: I think my favorite Josephine Tey would be Brat Farrar or The Franchise Affair, but really, I have loved pretty much everything I have read by her.

>163 paruline: Hi Stacy, I'm always happy to hear that I've been able to distribute some book bullets! I've been trying to keep up with my walking while away from home, especially as I have a stress test scheduled for next week.

>164 hailelib: It's interesting how books like The Daughter of Time and Sharon Kay Penman's Sunne in Splendor have been able to shift public opinion about Richard III.

>165 VivienneR: Happy New Year, Vivienne. I am hoping for a great reading year for all of us!

Over the last few years, a friend has chosen all of Tey's books for us to read - I only managed to read one of them! :-O However, I do own them all, and I'm hoping to right this wrong in 2015. Sounds like a very nice NYE for you and the family!

> Thanks Laura, I do hope you enjoy the rest of the Tey books that you have.