Christina reads a "leap year" in 2016, part 2

My 2016 "Leap Year" Category Challenge, Part 2

Welcome to the second half of my 2016 category challenge! I'm doing an 8x8 challenge with categories whose first letters spell out the words "leap year":

L: Let Them Eat Cake -- historical fiction
E: Elementary, My Dear Watson -- mysteries
A: All You Need Is Love -- romance and chick lit
P: Play It Again, Sam -- re-reads
Y: Yer a Wizard, Harry -- fantasy
E: Everybody! -- CATs, dogs, and group reads
A: Age Before Beauty -- from my TBR shelves
R: Roam If You Want To -- set outside the U.S. and U.K.

So far, I'm on track to finish my challenge by the end of the year (maybe even a little ahead of schedule!), and I'm having a lot of fun! Take a look at what I've been reading below.

Let Them Eat Cake: Historical fiction



1. Bee Ridgway, The River of No Return
2. Helen Simonson, The Summer Before the War
3. Kathleen Baldwin, A School for Unusual Girls
4. Deanna Raybourn, A Spear of Summer Grass
5. Ruta Sepetys, Between Shades of Gray
6. Julianne Donaldson, Blackmoore
7. Julianne Donaldson, Edenbrooke
8. Chris Cleave, Everyone Brave Is Forgiven

Elementary, My Dear Watson: Mysteries



1. Georgette Heyer, No Wind of Blame
2. Alan Melville, Quick Curtain
3. Ellis Peters, The Hermit of Eyton Forest
4. Christopher St. John Sprigg, Death of an Airman
5. Conrad Allen, Murder on the Lusitania
6. Cheryl Honigford, The Darkness Knows
7. Alice Tilton, Beginning with a Bash
8. Kate Parker, The Vanishing Thief

All You Need Is Love: Romance and chick lit



1. Kristan Higgins, Anything for You
2. Mitchell Kriegman, Things I Can't Explain
3. Neel Shah and Skye Chatham, Read Bottom Up
4. Lucy Parker, Act Like It
5. Cindy Anstey, Love, Lies and Spies
6. Lindsey Kelk, Always the Bridesmaid
7. Morgan Matson, The Unexpected Everything
8. Lily Anderson, The Only Thing Worse Than Me Is You

Play It Again, Sam: Re-reads



1. Georgette Heyer, Frederica
2. Dorothy L. Sayers, Strong Poison
3. Eva Ibbotson, A Song for Summer
4. Georgette Heyer, Cotillion
5. Rainbow Rowell, Attachments
6. Sharon Shinn, Summers at Castle Auburn
7. Georgette Heyer, The Corinthian
8. Patricia Wynn, The Birth of Blue Satan

Yer a Wizard, Harry: Fantasy



1. Jasper Fforde, The Last Dragonslayer
2. Maggie Stiefvater, The Raven King
3. V.E. Schwab, A Darker Shade of Magic
4. Evelyn Skye, The Crown's Game
5. Victoria Schwab, This Savage Song
6. Cheryl Mahoney, The Storyteller and Her Sisters
7. Genevieve Cogman, The Invisible Library
8. Jay Kristoff, Nevernight

Everybody!: CATs, dogs, and group reads



1. Connie Willis, Uncharted Territory
2. Umberto Eco and Cardinal Martini, Belief or Nonbelief?: A Confrontation
3. Kate Beaton, Step Aside, Pops
4. Jacques Philippe, Interior Freedom
5. Mindy Kaling, Why Not Me?
6. Ben Macintyre, A Spy Among Friends: Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal
7. Rebecca Mead, One Perfect Day: The Selling of the American Wedding
8. Anne Tyler, Vinegar Girl

Age Before Beauty: From my TBR shelves



1. Julie James, It Happened One Wedding
2. Jandy Nelson, The Sky Is Everywhere
3. Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt, The Most Beautiful Book in the World
4. J.L. Carr, A Month in the Country
5. Carl Hiaasen, Skink: No Surrender
6. Kristan Higgins, Somebody to Love
7. Donna Moore, Old Dogs
8. Georgette Heyer, Envious Casca

Roam If You Want To: Books set outside the U.S. and U.K.



1. Frances de Pontes Peebles, The Seamstress
2. Francesc Miralles, Love in Lowercase
3. Chingiz Aitmatov, The Day Lasts More Than a Hundred Years
4. Ruta Sepetys, Salt to the Sea
5. Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace
6. Laura Esquivel, Like Water for Chocolate
7. Martha Hall Kelly, Lilac Girls
8. Kerry Greenwood, Cocaine Blues

CATs

As I did last year, I'm planning to treat the CATs as true "take it or leave it" challenges. If I read something that happens to fit a CAT, that's great, but I'm not going to stress about doing every CAT every month. Right now, I'm most excited about the GeoCAT, but I'm sure I will read at least a couple of books for each CAT.

January
DeweyCAT (000-099):
GeoCAT (South America): Frances de Pontes Peebles, The Seamstress (Brazil)
RandomCAT (Embrace Your Uniqueness): Alan Melville, Quick Curtain (owned by 17 LT members)
SFFKIT (owned for a year or more): Jasper Fforde, The Last Dragonslayer (owned since 12/25/12)

February
DeweyCAT (100-199): Umberto Eco and Cardinal Martini, Belief or Nonbelief?: A Confrontation (195)
GeoCAT (Central Asia): Chingiz Aitmatov, The Day Lasts More Than a Hundred Years (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan)
RandomCAT (It Takes Two): Connie Willis, Uncharted Territory (romance, work partnership) | Umberto Eco and Cardinal Martini, Belief or Nonbelief?: A Confrontation (two authors) | Neel Shah and Skye Chatham, Read Bottom Up (romance, two authors)
SFFKIT (published in the last 5 years):

March
DeweyCAT (200-299): Jacques Philippe, Interior Freedom (233.7 or 234.2)
GeoCAT (Eastern Europe and Russia): Ruta Sepetys, Salt to the Sea (East Prussia)
RandomCAT (celebration):
SFFKIT (set in an alternate world):

April
DeweyCAT (300-354): Ben Macintyre, A Spy Among Friends: Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal (327.1247)
GeoCAT (Polar Regions, Islands, and Bodies of Water):
RandomCAT (Earth Day):
SFFKIT (on NPR's top 100 list):

May
DeweyCAT (355-399): Rebecca Mead, One Perfect Day: The Selling of the American Wedding (395.22)
GeoCAT (North America): Anne Tyler, Vinegar Girl (set in Maryland) | Maggie Stiefvater, The Raven King (set in Virginia) | Laura Esquivel, Like Water for Chocolate (set in Mexico)
RandomCAT (Color Your World): Maggie Stiefvater, The Raven King (raven = black) | Laura Esquivel, Like Water for Chocolate (chocolate = brown)
SFFKIT (space opera):

June
DeweyCAT (400-499):
GeoCAT (Australia and New Zealand): Kerry Greenwood, Cocaine Blues (set in Melbourne, Australia)
RandomCAT (I do! I do!): Kemper Donovan, The Decent Proposal
SFFKIT (interesting cover art): V.E. Schwab, A Darker Shade of Magic (art by Will Staehle)

July
DeweyCAT (500-599):
GeoCAT (Central America and Caribbean):
RandomCAT (Good times!):
SFFKIT (story features change through transformation or adaptation):

August
DeweyCAT (600-699):
GeoCAT (Southern Africa):
RandomCAT (camping):
SFFKIT (start or continue a series): Victoria Schwab, This Savage Song (Monsters of Verity #1) | David D. Levine, Arabella of Mars (Arabella Ashby #1)

September
DeweyCAT (700-799):
GeoCAT (Southern Asia):
RandomCAT (translators/translation): Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt, The Most Beautiful Book in the World (French)
SFFKIT (non-U.S./U.K. authors):

October
DeweyCAT (800-899):
GeoCAT (Eastern Asia):
RandomCAT (What Scares You?): Shirley Jackson, We Have Always Lived in the Castle
SFFKIT (steampunk/clockpunk/dieselpunk/etc.):

November
DeweyCAT (900-939):
GeoCAT (Middle East and North Africa):
RandomCAT (debut novel): Kate Parker, The Vanishing Thief
SFFKIT (time travel):

December
DeweyCAT (940-999):
GeoCAT (Western Europe): Donna Moore, Old Dogs (set in Scotland) | Georgette Heyer, Envious Casca (set in England)
RandomCAT (gifts):
SFFKIT (choose a Jan-Nov topic):

BingoDOG

I'll post my Bingo card here once it's created. Huzzah, the Bingo card has arrived! :) I had a lot of fun with the 2015 Bingo card, and I'll probably attempt another cover-all Bingo in 2016.



1. Less than 200 pages: Connie Willis, Uncharted Territory (149 pages)

2. Senior citizen as the protagonist: Donna Moore, Old Dogs

3. Survival story: Ruta Sepetys, Salt to the Sea (protagonist are Eastern European refugees fleeing the Soviet advance during World War II)

4. About an airplane flight: Christopher St. John Sprigg, Death of an Airman (murder mystery involving a fateful plane crash)

5. About a writer (fiction or nonfiction): Morgan Matson, The Unexpected Everything (one of the main characters is a fantasy novelist)

6. About the environment: Carl Hiaasen, Skink: No Surrender

7. Author born in 1916: Shirley Jackson, We Have Always Lived in the Castle (born December 14, 1916)

8. Autobiography or memoir: Mindy Kaling, Why Not Me? (at the very least, it's a collection of autobiographical essays)

9. Adventure: David D. Levine, Arabella of Mars (girl dresses as a boy and stows away on an airship traveling from Earth to Mars)

10. One-word title: Julianne Donaldson, Blackmoore

11. Title has a musical reference: Victoria Schwab, This Savage Song

12. Title uses wordplay: Lucy Parker, Act Like It (protagonists are actors who also "act" by pretending to be in a relationship)

13. Read a CAT: Umberto Eco and Cardinal Martini, Belief or Nonbelief?: A Confrontation (February DeweyCAT - 195)

14. A body of water in the title: Bee Ridgeway, The River of No Return

15. About/by an indigenous person: Joseph Bruchac, Code Talker (protagonist is Navajo)

16. Food is important: Laura Esquivel, Like Water for Chocolate (protagonist is a cook whose food induces strong emotional reactions)

17. Published before you were born: Georgette Heyer, No Wind of Blame (pub date 1939)

18. Features a theater: Alan Melville, Quick Curtain (mystery in which the murder occurs onstage)

19. Debut book: Frances de Pontes Peebles, The Seamstress

20. In translation: Francesc Miralles, Love in Lowercase (from Spanish)

21. Focus on art: J.L. Carr, A Month in the Country (protagonist restores a mural in a village church)

22. Coming-of-age story: Emma Mills, This Adventure Ends

23. Comics, graphic novel, manga, BD: Kate Beaton, Step Aside, Pops (comics)

24. Self-published: Cheryl Mahoney, The Storyteller and Her Sisters

25. You want the protagonist's job or hobby: Kerry Greenwood, Cocaine Blues (amateur detective/independently wealthy)

Overflow

Books that don't fit any of my categories and books that I read after I've completed the challenge will go here!

1. Rainbow Rowell, Kindred Spirits
2. Jen Chaney, As If! The Oral History of Clueless
3. Julie Buxbaum, Tell Me Three Things
4. Kemper Donovan, The Decent Proposal
5. Lindsey Kelk, The Single Girl's To-Do List
6. Meg Cabot, The Boy Is Back
7. David D. Levine, Arabella of Mars
8. Kasie West, P.S. I Like You
9. Shirley Jackson, We Have Always Lived in the Castle
10. Eva Ibbotson, Which Witch?
11. Teresa Medeiros, Goodnight Tweetheart
12. Leigh Bardugo, Crooked Kingdom
13. Joseph Bruchac, Code Talker
14. Emma Mills, This Adventure Ends
15. Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

1ST HALF RECAP

Forthcoming!

Happy new thread!!
I am excited about our Ruta Sepetys read this month! When are you thinking of reading it? I was thinking later half of the month...

Happy new thread! I see you read Death of an Airman. Great choice for the airplane flight square!

Nice new thread! Hope you find excellent books for the second half of 2016!

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread! :)

Happy new thread, Christina, hope your 2nd half of the year is as successful reading-wise as the first was!

Thanks, everyone! :)

>14 VictoriaPL: I'm looking forward to Between Shades of Gray also! The later half of the month is fine with me.

>15 rabbitprincess: I really liked Death of an Airman! It was a little bit more of a police procedural than I was expecting, but I thought the mystery was really ingenious.

Happy new thread! And congrats on great progress on the Bingo card - I'm finding a few of those squares harder to fill than others. :)

Happy new thread! Your Bingo card is looking good. I keep looking at doing a BINGO, but I can't quite commit... lol

>21 -Eva-: Thanks! Yeah, some of those Bingo squares are eluding me as well! I still have no idea what to read for the "environment" and "indigenous person" squares. I'm hoping to gain inspiration from other people's Bingo cards!

>22 nittnut: You should try a Bingo -- they're so much fun! You don't have to cover the entire card; you could just aim for one straight-line Bingo if you want a smaller commitment. :)

>23 christina_reads: re: environment. Have you read Moby Duck? It has a lot to say about plastics in the ocean and the pollution caused by the overseas shipping industry.

>23 christina_reads: I can recommend Whale Rider for your indigenous person read. It's short and has a touch of the mystical. In any case, I'm sure you'll find something.

>24 VictoriaPL: Thanks for the rec! I do like the punny title, so I'll put it on my list of possibilities! :) Also, when did you want to start Between Shades of Gray? I have a copy from the library, so I'm good to go whenever you are! :)

>25 mamzel: I've heard lots of good things about Whale Rider. Thanks for the rec!

>26 christina_reads: I was going to use RidgewayGirl's copy of Between Shades of Gray but she's still getting settled and we haven't met up yet. I did also get a copy from the Library as a backup so I'm good to start as well. When do you prefer?

>27 VictoriaPL: Well, I'm still in the midst of my current read, which will probably take me a few more days to finish. So I'm cool with waiting a bit!

>28 christina_reads: OK, PM me when you're ready.

>29 VictoriaPL: Will do!

Still sooooo far behind on reviews (and haven't even written my 1st-half recap yet!), but here are a few more short ones:



Book #28: Martha Hall Kelly, Lilac Girls
Category: Roam If You Want To

For the past few years, I’ve really gravitated toward books set during World War II, especially those dealing with the “home front” experience rather than the actual fighting. So I think I wanted to like this book more than I did. I found the story of Kasia, a Polish girl imprisoned in Ravensbrück, to be the most compelling. I especially liked how the book follows her (and the other characters) long after the war is over and shows the psychological scars that still remain. But I didn’t like Caroline’s story at all; I found her the least interesting character, and the romance between her and Paul didn’t do anything for me. The book is worth reading if you like the time period, but I’d recommend Elizabeth Wein’s Rose Under Fire for a better book on Ravensbrück.

***



Book #29: Morgan Matson, The Unexpected Everything
Category: All You Need Is Love
Bingo: 5 - about a writer, fiction or nonfiction (one of the main characters is a fantasy novelist)

I’ve said it before, but it’s true: Morgan Matson writes the perfect summer reads! I really enjoyed this one, which centers around politician’s daughter Andie and a summer that doesn’t go quite according to plan. One of my favorite aspects of the book is that Andie has a really close group of girlfriends, and those relationships are just as important as her newfound romance. I’d definitely recommend this book as an adorable summer read, especially for those who enjoy YA.

***



Book #30: Helen Simonson, The Summer Before the War
Category: Let Them Eat Cake

I really enjoyed this quiet, character-driven novel, although I wouldn’t recommend it to those who love lots of action and unpredictable twists. The plot (such as it is) centers around a young woman who moves to a rural English village to become the new Latin teacher. As one might expect, she meets with some resistance from the locals because of her youth and gender, but she also wins over some key players, including the unconventional Agatha Kent and her two nephews. Most of the book involves the resulting social politics, although the titular war (World War I) does intrude near the end.

***



Book #31: V.E. Schwab, A Darker Shade of Magic
Category: Yer a Wizard, Harry
CATs: SFFKIT - interesting cover art (I read this in June)

This book hooked me from the first line: “Kell wore a very peculiar coat. It had neither one side, which would be conventional, nor two, which would be unexpected, but several, which was, of course, impossible.” The novel is an exciting blend of fantasy and sci fi, combining magical artifacts with parallel universes. The hero is a conflicted, magic-wielding prince, and the heroine is a scrappy thief and would-be pirate. In short, I loved it and have already purchased book 2, A Gathering of Shadows!

***



Book #32: Kerry Greenwood, Cocaine Blues
Category: Roam if You Want To
CATs: Geo - set in Australia (I read this in June)
Bingo: 25 - you want the protagonist’s job or hobby (private detective/independently wealthy)

After watching and LOVING “Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries,” I decided to pick up the first book in the series. Phryne is a wonderfully entertaining character: intelligent, rich, attractive, and determined to get the most out of life. I also really enjoyed the setting of 1920s Melbourne, where Phryne rubs elbows with all sorts of people, from wealthy blue bloods to socialist cab drivers to feisty maidservants. I did miss Inspector Jack Robinson, who apparently has a much smaller role in the books than he does in the TV series. I also didn’t care too much about the mystery, but I still liked the book for its setting and protagonist.

Book #33: Lily Anderson, The Only Thing Worse Than Me Is You
Category: All You Need Is Love

Oof. I really wanted to like this one -- it's a modern retelling of Much Ado About Nothing! But I was very underwhelmed, and the main reason is that I couldn't stand the protagonist, Trixie. She's incredibly self-absorbed and utterly convinced of her own righteousness at all times, which makes her downright mean to the people around her. She's also a proud geek girl, obsessed with comic books and "Doctor Who." Don't get me wrong -- I have nothing against these things! But Trixie's constant references to geek culture didn't feel real to me. Instead, I felt like the book was trying to pander to a specific audience and going way over the top. In short, I just wasn't a fan.

***



Book #34: Kathleen Baldwin, A School for Unusual Girls
Category: Let Them Eat Cake

This one's about -- you guessed it -- a school for unusual girls. Sixteen-year-old Georgiana Fitzpatrick doesn't behave as a proper young lady should; and when one of her scientific experiments nearly burns down the stables, her parents pack her off to a school whose reputation for strictness is legendary. Of course, Georgie soon realizes that the school is not what it seems and that her fellow students all have unique, mysterious abilities. There's also romance, kidnapping, and a touch of espionage. All in all, a fun read, although not particularly groundbreaking in the genre. I'd like to read the sequel at some point.

***



Book: Julie Buxbaum, Tell Me Three Things
Category: None

I enjoyed this novel despite its ridiculous premise: Jessie Holmes moves across the country when her dad remarries, and she is forced to attend a pretentious private school where she doesn't know anyone -- that is, until the mysterious Somebody/Nobody emails her, offering friendship and guidance in navigating the social scene at her new school. Though Jessie is skeptical at first, she soon opens up to Somebody/Nobody and speculates on who it might be. To the reader, the answer is astoundingly obvious, but it's still fun to watch Jessie get there. A nice YA romance if you're into that kind of thing.

***



Book #35: Dorothy L. Sayers, Strong Poison
Category: Play It Again, Sam

I read this installment of the Lord Peter Wimsey series years ago but didn't remember much about it, except that Lord Peter finally meets his match in Harriet Vane, a young woman who's on trial for murdering her ex-lover. For me, this was the best novel in the series so far. The mystery is well plotted (although, as with other books in the series, the suspect list is so small that the true mystery is howdunit, not whodunit), and the romance is nicely underplayed. I'm definitely loving this series more and more as I continue to read, and I'm looking forward to the next book!

***



Book: Kemper Donovan, The Decent Proposal
Category: None
CATs: Random - I do! I do! (I read this in June)

I was drawn to this book because of the title, and I knew very little about it going in. The premise is that a mysterious benefactor has promised two L.A. residents, happy-go-lucky Richard and highly regimented Elizabeth, that they will each receive half a million dollars if they agree to meet each other once a week for a year and talk -- just talk. Of course they accede to the proposal, and of course they start out as very different people but eventually find some common ground. I liked the development of the relationship between Richard and Elizabeth, especially since I honestly didn't know whether it was going to end in friendship or romance. I could have done without most of the other characters, actually; they seemed like they should get their own novels rather than being relegated to secondary characters in this one. I also think people who have lived in L.A. would get more out of the book, since it's definitely written in that specific setting. Overall, I did like the book, but I'm glad I got it from the library instead of buying.

Maybe I will go for the Bingo card next year. :) I have such a hard time not going for the blackout.

You've been busy!

>31 christina_reads: I haven't decided yet whether or not I want to read Lilac Girls or not. It's one of the books we have at the library. I need to get to The Summer Before the War soon. I almost checked it out today, but I thought I might prefer to check it out next month. I guess I'll decide soon. It's definitely one I want to read and your review reinforced that.

>31 christina_reads: It looks like our thoughts about A School for Unusual Girls are pretty much the same, it was good but nothing special (I haven't even bothered to go hunt down Exile for Dreamers). I am also a fan of Strong Poison. I really feel that the more Sayers wrote the better she got at it, and the introduction of Harriet is a big part of what makes the later Lord Peter books so good.

>33 nittnut: You should give it a try! I've really been enjoying the Bingos. I've found that I can fill about 2/3 of the card pretty easily, but there are always a few more challenging squares, which just adds to the fun!

>34 VictoriaPL: Haha, I guess so! Busy with reading, anyway...haven't quite been spending as much time on reviewing! *blush*

>35 thornton37814: I definitely recommend The Summer Before the War. Personally, I liked it more than Simonson's first novel, Major Pettigrew's Last Stand. On the other hand, I found Lilac Girls to be kind of "meh." Maybe worth getting from the library. For me, it was a bit of a slog to get through.

>36 inge87: I do want to read Exile for Dreamers at some point, but it's definitely not at the top of my list. I am, on the other hand, looking forward to continuing with the Lord Peter series! I've read a few of the later books already (including Gaudy Night), but it's been years, and I know I will get more out of them this time around!

Looks like you've had a pretty good string of reading! Glad you're enjoying your reread of the Wimseys and finding more in them the second time around!

Did you see there is a second Jackaby book?

>38 rabbitprincess: By this time next month there will actually be three: Ghostly Echoes is out August 23rd.

>39 inge87: Ah, that might explain why there was a giveaway of the first two books on Litsy during their readathon last weekend! "Read the first two in preparation for the third" kind of thing.

>40 rabbitprincess: Sounds like it. While checking the publication date, I discovered that Amazon has the first six chapters of book three available as a free kindle download, so it looks like the publicists are really working on getting it promoted.

>38 rabbitprincess: >39 inge87: I did know about the Jackaby sequels, and they are definitely on my TBR list! Hopefully I'll manage to get to them soon. Have either of you read Beastly Bones yet?

>42 christina_reads: I did, in February. Looking at my review (here), I thought it was fun but suffered from a bit of middle-book-syndrome. But I'm very excited about Ghostly Echoes.

>43 inge87: Ah, the dreaded Middle Book Syndrome! I definitely still plan to read it, though. It'll be nice to have Ghostly Echoes ready afterwards, instead of having to wait for it to be published!

>42 christina_reads: I don't plan to continue with the series, but I am glad there are more books for you to enjoy :)

July recap

Well, despite a slow start, July turned into a rather average reading month for me, volume-wise. I also enjoyed most of what I read, but nothing jumped out at me as being particularly amazing. Here's what I read this month:

Books read:
1. Julie James, It Happened One Wedding
2. Deanna Raybourn, A Spear of Summer Grass
3. Evelyn Skye, The Crown’s Game
4. Conrad Allen, Murder on the Lusitania
5. Lindsey Kelk, The Single Girl’s To-Do List
6. Georgette Heyer, Cotillion
7. Ruta Sepetys, Between Shades of Gray

Favorite book of the month: Apart from my reread of Cotillion (one of my very favorite Heyers!), I honestly really liked The Single Girl's To-Do List. Lindsey Kelk is rapidly becoming one of my go-to chick lit authors!

Least favorite book of the month: I wasn't very impressed with Murder on the Lusitania...all the characters were terribly flat. On the plus side, that's one less series for me to catch up with!

CATs completed:
None this month.

Bingo squares completed:
Also none!

I can't believe I haven't spent any time on LT this month! I definitely miss it, and I'm hoping I will soon be done with my review backlog so that I can start posting full reviews again! In the meantime, here are a few more minis:



Book #36: Christopher St. John Sprigg, Death of an Airman
Category: Elementary, My Dear Watson
Bingo: 4 - about an airplane flight (murder mystery centered around a plane crash)

In this mystery centered around an English aviation club, one of its best flyers perishes in a tragic plane crash. Most people assume it’s an accident, but the victim was a first-class pilot, and the inquest revealed nothing wrong with the plane. A few of the club members suggest suicide, but a visiting Australian bishop suspects murder. When the police get involved, they realize the victim’s death may be connected to a much larger criminal organization. I liked this mystery well enough, but I think the strength was definitely in the plot rather than in the characters. For example, for the first several chapters, it looks like the Australian bishop is going to be the sleuth, but suddenly everything switches to the police inspector’s point of view. Still, this was a fun variation on the “impossible crime” mystery with a truly ingenious solution.

***



Book #37: Eva Ibbotson, A Song for Summer
Category: Play It Again, Sam

Ibbotson's novels are the ultimate comfort reads! I'd never reread this one before, and I think it's because the plot moves a bit more slowly than in Ibbotson's other novels, and the atmosphere is bleaker. It's still a lovely book, but I definitely find myself returning to A Countess Below Stairs and The Morning Gift much more often.

***



Book #38: Julie James, It Happened One Wedding
Category: Age Before Beauty

Julie James was my first contemporary romance author, and she pretty much single-handedly convinced me that not all romance novels are poorly written trash. This is another fun, banter-filled romance between hedge fund manager (?) Sidney and FBI agent Vaughn. They initially dislike each other but are forced to play nice when her sister and his brother get engaged. I think we all know where this is going.

***



Book #39: Deanna Raybourn, A Spear of Summer Grass
Category: Let Them Eat Cake

After scandalizing English society with her outrageous behavior, Delilah Drummond is packed off to British East Africa so she won’t further damage her family’s reputation. Although Delilah is the consummate city girl, with her fashionable dresses and daring bob, she soon falls in love with the African landscape. She also encounters various dangers, from marauding lions to outright murder -- and possibly finds love as well. I didn’t particularly like this book, and I’m not sure why. I didn’t dislike it either...I just felt indifferent to it. Delilah reminded me a lot of Phryne Fisher, but while I love Phryne, I didn’t have the same enthusiasm for Delilah. Maybe she was too similar (since I encountered Phryne first)? The romance also made me roll my eyes a bit; the hero is very much an alpha-male caveman type, and he just seemed like a stereotype to me. Overall, a “meh” read.

***



Book #40: Evelyn Skye, The Crown’s Game
Category: Yer a Wizard, Harry

In an alternate Imperial Russia where magic exists but only a few have the power to wield it, Vika knows she is destined to become the Imperial Enchanter and take her place at the emperor’s side. But then she learns that there is another powerful enchanter in Russia -- and that she must defeat him in the Crown’s Game, a magical duel in which the winner becomes Imperial Enchanter and the loser is condemned to death. Little does she know that the other enchanter is Nikolai, whose magic (and handsome face) intrigues her. As Vika and Nikolai get to know each other, they realize they don’t want the Crown’s Game to end in death. But will they be able to find a better solution? I have to admit, this book sort of lost me early on, when Vika is described as having wild red hair with a black streak down the middle. I immediately had a knee-jerk Mary Sue reaction, and I never quite warmed to Vika after that. I did end up somewhat liking the book, particularly for the Russian setting and the lovely descriptions of the magic. I also liked the fact that the stakes are real, and not everybody gets a happy ending. I’ll probably look for the sequel when it comes out. Nevertheless, I was definitely underwhelmed by this one, especially given the amount of hype I’d seen about it.

>47 christina_reads: It is interesting that the viewpoint changes from the bishop to the inspector. Maybe the author thought having a bishop sleuth might be too Father Brown and decided to switch to a more conventional police procedural angle? I am glad you liked the plot. For me the biggest draw was the plane crash part, but the whole book entertained me greatly. Definitely a "you have to read this! but buy your own copy -- I'm not lending mine to you" kind of book ;)

>48 rabbitprincess: Hmm, interesting theory! I liked all the plane stuff as well, although I'm certainly no expert. And I agree, I wouldn't necessarily loan out my copy of this book either! :)

>47 christina_reads:
There you are! We have missed seeing you around!!
Your description of The Crown's Game reminds me somewhat of The Night Circus, which I loved.

>47 christina_reads: Count me as another who loved Death of an Airman. The use of the bishop as a character is interesting, since he both is and isn't investigating. Plus the ending is cute. I put it in the category of Golden Age mysteries that are fun but not to be taken seriously.

I've never read any Ibbotson besides A Countess Below Stairs: she just isn't very well-known or easy to find here in the States; however, The Morning Gift sounds like one I need to track down.

>50 VictoriaPL: Thanks, Victoria! It's nice to be back...I've missed LT a lot. Still trying to catch up with threads, but I'll get there eventually! As you say, I think The Crown's Game is similar in some ways to The Night Circus, but the magical atmosphere isn't quite as immersive. Also, The Crown's Game is more plot-driven, whereas in The Night Circus, the setting is really the star.

>51 inge87: "Fun but not to be taken seriously" is what I often look for in a mystery novel! :) Which I guess is rather odd, since the story usually involves a murder. And YES, definitely track down The Morning Gift and The Reluctant Heiress (which has also been published as Magic Flutes)--just as delightful as A Countess Below Stairs!

Book #41: Conrad Allen, Murder on the Lusitania
Category: Elementary, My Dear Watson

This is a fairly pedestrian mystery novel set during the Lusitania's maiden voyage, where ship's detective George Porter Dillman thinks he'll have to deal with nothing more exciting than a few thefts. Of course, when an unpopular journalist is murdered on board, Dillman has to investigate — and choose between two women, the beautiful but aloof Genevieve and the happy-go-lucky Ellen. I didn’t particularly like this book, mostly because the characters annoyed me. Dillman is too smug and superior, and Genevieve seems more like a male fantasy than an actual person. The solution to the mystery was fine but seemed to come out of nowhere—or perhaps I just stopped paying attention too soon. Overall, a very “meh” read, and I feel no desire to continue with the series.

***



Book: Lindsey Kelk, The Single Girl’s To-Do List
Category: none

After enjoying Always the Bridesmaid, I had to track down another Lindsey Kelk novel, and this one did not disappoint! Rachel has just been dumped by her long-term boyfriend and has basically forgotten how to be single, so her two best friends create “the single girl’s to-do list” to force her out of her comfort zone. I really liked that Rachel's friendships were so central in the novel, remaining constant throughout her tumultuous love life. Of course, the ultimate romance comes as no surprise, and I would have liked the hero to be a little more fleshed out. Nonetheless, I liked this book a lot and will continue to read more by Kelk.

***



Book #42: Georgette Heyer, Cotillion
Category: Play It Again, Sam

One of my very favorite Heyer novels, mainly thanks to its delightful hero, Freddy! He is a wonderfully unconventional leading man: not particularly handsome, not a ladies’ man, not overly burdened with brains. In fact, he reminds me of a slightly more functional Bertie Wooster. But of course, his "street smarts" and kind heart ultimately win the day!

***



Book #43: Ruta Sepetys, Between Shades of Gray
Category: Let Them Eat Cake

This World War II novel centers around an aspect of the war that is sadly often forgotten. The narrator, Lina, is a 15-year-old Lithuanian girl who is abducted one night, along with her mother and brother, by the NKVD. Lina describes the horrible tortures and indignities she and her fellow prisoners suffer, as well as the desperate hope that somehow her father will find her. My favorite thing about this book is that many of the characters are portrayed with some complexity. For example, one of Lina’s fellow prisoners is a cranky old man who constantly complains, yet in the end he manages to do something heroic. Similarly, one of the Soviet guards is deeply conflicted about his cruel actions. But some of the other characters—particularly Lina’s saintly mother—remain annoyingly simplistic. I also wasn’t a fan of the flashbacks to Lina’s carefree earlier life; they were too jarring for me. Still, I liked the book overall, and I think it tells a story that needs to be told.

***



Book #44: Julianne Donaldson, Blackmoore
Category: Let Them Eat Cake
Bingo: 10 - title is only one word

Kate Worthington wants nothing more than to escape her horrible family and go to live in India with her aunt. But her mother refuses to let her go, finally delivering an ultimatum: if Kate wants to go to India, she must first receive--and reject--three marriage proposals. Since Kate is not beautiful and flirtatious like her sister, she despairs at first. But when she is invited to the estate of her old friends, Sylvia and Henry Delafield, she reasons that she can at least try. Of course, she doesn't expect to fall in love along the way. While this book is extremely predictable, I have to say that I enjoyed it anyway! My biggest complaint is that it takes Kate far too long to realize that her ideal mate is right in front of her, head over heels in love. The Big Misunderstanding could easily have been solved with a little rational communication! I should also note that the book is subtitled "A Proper Romance," which essentially just means it's rated PG; there's nothing explicitly religious or preachy about it. All in all, this was a pleasant read that satisfied my craving for a Regency romance.

Book #45: Victoria Schwab, This Savage Song
Category: Yer a Wizard, Harry
CATs: SFFKIT - book #1 in the Monsters of Verity series
Bingo: 11 - title contains a musical reference

Set in a future where the United States has disintegrated into tiny, isolated city-states, humans and monsters live under an uneasy truce that could snap at any moment. Kate Harker is a human teenager whose father ensures the safety of humans who are willing to pay for his protection. August Flynn is a monster capable of stealing a person's soul through song, but he's trying desperately not to give in to his frightening hunger. When August and Kate meet and become friends, they search for a way to keep the peace between monsters and humans. I liked this book a lot; the world-building is excellent, and both Kate and August are intriguing characters. Much of the novel is a setup for the planned sequels, so there's not a lot of closure in the end (although there's no cliffhanger per se). But I definitely liked this one enough to continue with the series--looking forward to book #2!

***



Book: Meg Cabot, The Boy Is Back
Category: none

I'm pretty sure it was Meg Cabot's The Boy Next Door that originally got me into chick lit, so I jumped at the chance to read this latest installment in the series. Becky Flowers has made it big in her small town, but she's never forgotten her high school sweetheart, the one who got away. Reed Stewart is said sweetheart, a professional golfer who left town after graduation and never came back. When he returns to help care for his ailing parents, he and Becky reconnect...and of course, we all know where this is going. I didn't actually care too much about the central romance--"old flame" isn't one of my favorite tropes--but I loved the humor and the colorful characters that surrounded Becky and Reed's story. I also enjoyed the fact that it's a modern epistolary novel, told entirely through texts, emails, and even online reviews. Definitely recommended for fans of light, fluffy chick lit.

***



Book: David D. Levine, Arabella of Mars
Category: none
CATs: SFFKIT - book #1 in the Arabella Ashby series
Bingo: 9 - adventure

Three words, y'all: Regency space opera! I loved the idea of combining 19th-century British society with space travel (they use sailing ships!). Ultimately, this is a really fun adventure story wherein Arabella, dressed as a boy, joins the crew of a ship bound for Mars. There's a handsome captain, a possibly sentient automaton, a mutiny, and a Martian uprising-- all very good fun. If you like the premise, you'll really enjoy this one!

***



Book #46: Julianne Donaldson, Edenbrooke
Category: Let Them Eat Cake

As with Donaldson's other novel, Blackmoore, I enjoyed this "proper" Regency romance. Marianne Daventry is invited to Edenbrooke along with her sister Cecily, who hopes to marry the heir to the estate. When Cecily is detained in London, Marianne goes to Edenbrooke alone, and she soon finds herself attracted to the handsome and charming Philip--not realizing that he is the very heir her sister is pursuing. This was an entertaining read, but I couldn't help being impatient with Marianne; it takes her forever to realize that Philip is the heir, and even longer to accept the fact that she's in love with him. The book is still a pleasant read, but Donaldson isn't destined to become a favorite author.

***



Book #47: Chris Cleave, Everyone Brave Is Forgiven
Category: Let Them Eat Cake

This novel is a tale of love and loss set during the early years of World War II. Mary North is an idealistic, privileged young woman who thinks the war is a great adventure, until the Blitz forces her to confront its ugly realities firsthand. Tom Shaw is an educator who isn't seduced by the glamor of war; he just wants to keep doing his job. And Alistair Heath is Tom's best friend, who enlists right away but soon realizes that the war might take more than he is willing to give. I wasn't sure I would like this book at first--the prose definitely has A Style, and I was worried it might get in the way--but I ultimately found it very compelling. There are a lot of heartbreaking moments, but there's also some great banter and great friendships. Overall, I'd definitely recommend this one to fans of World War II novels.

>54 christina_reads: Mmmmm, Everyone Brave is Forgiven caught my eye.

>55 VictoriaPL: Worth reading, I'd say! Although I got it from the library, and I don't feel a burning need to have my own copy.

>56 christina_reads: My library does have a copy.

Great to see you back, Christina. You have been busy with the reading, I see. I am definitely interested in Arabella of Mars, combining Regency with Sci-fi sounds like a blast! I am also adding Everyone Brave is Forgiven to my library list.

Our library has Everyone Brave is Forgiven, and I've had my eye on it. One of my co-workers really liked it. Glad to see your comments!

>54 christina_reads: Arabella of Mars went on my watch list when I saw the pre-pub reviews back in May, I really need to get to that one. Blackmoore sounds fun too.

>57 VictoriaPL: Yay!

>58 DeltaQueen50: Thanks! :) I have definitely been reading...I just haven't had as much time to spend on the Internet lately, unfortunately. Hoping to make more time for LT in the future! And yes, I loved the Regency + sci-fi premise of Arabella of Mars!

>59 tymfos: Hope you enjoy Everyone Brave Is Forgiven if/when you get to it!

>60 inge87: I think you will like Arabella of Mars! And Blackmoore was indeed fun, although very predictable.

Hi Christina!
>47 christina_reads: I had no idea that Eva Ibbotson wrote books for adults. I've discovered her children's books just the last year or two, so now I more from her to look forward to.

>62 mstrust: And I've never read any of her children's books before! I'll have to check them out. The books I mentioned (A Song for Summer, A Countess Below Stairs, etc.) are now being marketed as YA, but that label is really in the eye of the beholder.

>53 christina_reads: I just picked up Cotillion and glad to see you enjoyed it.

>64 LisaMorr: It's so delightful! I hope you enjoy it!

Hi, all! With October just around the corner, I've been putting together a list of books I need to read in order to complete my challenge and the Bingo card. And I've realized -- I have no idea what to read for the "About or by an indigenous person" Bingo square! So if any of you lovely LTers would like to suggest something, I'm all ears! I'd prefer a book that is (1) a relatively quick read and (2) not too depressing. Please leave any and all suggestions below! :)

Hi Christina, I see that The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie has already been recommended and I would definitely second that, it's a wonderful book. Also, Newberry winner Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell is very good. Any of the Tony Hillerman mysteries, Longmire mysteries by Craig Johnson or the Cork O'Conner mysteries by William Ken Krueger would fit as they all feature Native Americans and often explore their history. Another book I remember loving a number of years ago was Follow The River by James Alexander Thom about a woman captive who escapes and gets back to her family. Hope you find something you really enjoy!

>67 DeltaQueen50: Thanks for the suggestions! I had forgotten that some of these popular mystery series feature Native characters!

>54 christina_reads: I am completely intrigued by the idea of Regency Space Opera! I'll have to check this series out.

>69 mathgirl40: It's such a fun book! There is a planned series, but I think only the first book is out so far.

August and September recap

Well, as you might expect, I'm behind on reviews again! *blush* And I never actually caught up on LT threads, although I'm still working on it. I didn't even manage to write a recap for August! So now I'm doing a two-month recap for August and September.

Books read:
August
1. Julianne Donaldson, Blackmoore
2. Victoria Schwab, This Savage Song
3. Meg Cabot, The Boy Is Back
4. David D. Levine, Arabella of Mars
5. Julianne Donaldson, Edenbrooke
6. Chris Cleave, Everyone Brave Is Forgiven
September
1. Cheryl Mahoney, The Storyteller and Her Sisters
2. Cheryl Honigford, The Darkness Knows
3. Genevieve Cogman, The Invisible Library
4. Jandy Nelson, The Sky Is Everywhere

I also started The Most Beautiful Book in the World by Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt for the September RandomCAT. Even though I didn't finish it until today, I'm still counting it! :)

Favorite book of the month(s): I really liked The Darkness Knows, a mystery set in 1930s Chicago. I really enjoyed the setting and the main characters, and I will definitely continue with the series.

Least favorite book of the month(s): I more or less enjoyed everything I read over the past two months, but the Julianne Donaldson romances might be my "least favorite" because they were the most formulaic.

CATs completed:
SFFKIT (August: start or continue a series) - This Savage Song is #1 in the Monsters of Verity series, and Arabella of Mars is #1 in the Arabella Ashby series.
Random (September: translations or translators) - The Most Beautiful Book in the World is translated from French into English by Alison Anderson.

Bingo squares completed:
10. Title is only one word - Blackmoore self-evidently qualifies. :)
11. Title contains a musical reference - This Savage Song qualifies.
9. Adventure - Arabella of Mars features a cross-dressing girl who runs away on a sailing ship to Mars and has several adventures.
24. Self-published - The Storyteller and Her Sisters qualifies.

Book #48: Cheryl Mahoney, The Storyteller and Her Sisters
Category: Yer a Wizard, Harry
Bingo: 24 - self-published

This companion novel to The Wanderers centers around storytelling princess Lyra and her eleven sisters. All their lives, the twelve princesses have known about the enchanted forest beneath their father's castle. The forest's trees have silver, gold, and diamond branches, enough wealth to buy their kingdom many times over. But the enchantment is an evil one, corrupting anyone not strong enough to resist its whispers of wealth at any cost -- including their father. The king insists that his daughters have the power to access the forest, but Lyra and her sisters steadily resist. Eventually, however, they do enter the forest and find something unexpected: twelve princes who need the girls' help to break a curse on their faraway kingdom. But when the king suspects that his daughters have entered the forest without him, he claims the girls themselves are cursed and offers a reward to any champion who can break the "curse." Will Lyra and her sisters be able to save the princes before the king discovers what they're up to and puts a stop to it for good?

I liked this book, which is a well-told but not particularly original retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Not every character is well developed -- several princesses and their corresponding princes aren't in the story at all, apart from a brief mention of their names -- but Lyra and her prince, Dastan, are pretty three-dimensional. Lyra at first defines herself solely as "the sister who like stories," but she eventually comes to realize that she is unique in other ways, too. The romance was cute, and I liked that Lyra is torn between her love for Dastan and her desire to be independent. As I mentioned above, this novel is a companion to The Wanderers; if you've read that book, you'll remember Jasper and Julie's involvement with this story, but you won't be missing anything if you haven't read it. I found the writing style of this book a little clumsy and choppy at first, but as I got further into the story, I didn't notice the prose as much. I would recommend this book to fairytale lovers, especially those who don't mind reading books geared toward the younger end of the YA spectrum.

Book #49: Cheryl Honigford, The Darkness Knows
Category: Elementary, My Dear Watson

It's 1938, and actress Vivian Witchell has just landed her first big role on a popular radio show called "The Darkness Knows." Although she has a privileged background and still lives with her mother, a leading light of Chicago society, Viv is determined to succeed in her chosen career. She knows showbiz can be cutthroat, and she doesn't shy away from competing with her fellow actresses, both for roles and for her handsome costar Graham Yarborough's attentions. But when a famous actress at the radio station is murdered, Viv learns that the business is even more dangerous than she knew -- especially when an anonymous letter hints that she might be the next victim. The police are immediately called to investigate the murder, but the station also calls private detective Charlie Haverman to protect Viv in case the murderer decides to strike again. Charlie wants Viv to stay away from the station and stay out of trouble, but of course Viv has other ideas. Can they unmask the murderer together before Viv or anyone else becomes the next victim?

I really enjoyed this book! The mystery, while not particularly innovative, was solid, and I loved the period setting. Viv is a clever, spunky heroine whose lively narrative voice is lots of fun to follow. I did find her somewhat annoying at times; like many amateur sleuths, she takes far too many risks and races into danger without thinking about the consequences. I also found her attitude toward wealth and privilege to be a bit confusing -- she insists she wants to make it on her own, but she doesn't mind enjoying the benefits that come from living with her rich mother. I hope the issue of social class will be explored a lot more in the sequel(s) that will hopefully follow this book. I also really liked Charlie, although his characterization as a tough, streetwise detective veers toward the stereotypical at times. The banter and chemistry between Viv and Charlie is a highlight of the novel, and I enjoyed their interactions more than the slow unraveling of the whodunit. Overall, if you like the premise of this novel, it's a very enjoyable debut, and I definitely look forward to continuing with the series.

Book #50: Genevieve Cogman, The Invisible Library
Category: Yer a Wizard, Harry

Irene works for the Library, a vast repository of writings from all over the multiverse. As far as she knows, the Library's sole purpose is to collect these writings, with an emphasis on works that are particularly rare or influential. In general, Irene's job is to locate a work requested by one of the Library's higher-ups and retrieve that work from a particular world. Missions vary in difficulty based on whether the world is more orderly or more chaotic. When Irene is saddled with a brand-new assistant, Kai, and sent to a world whose balance is tipping toward chaos, she knows her latest job won't be easy. And when Irene and Kai land in an alternate version of Victorian London, they soon learn that the general tendency toward chaos is the least of their problems. Murder, mayhem, and magic abound -- but will Irene survive long enough to differentiate friend from foe?

This book is a really fun and unique fantasy novel. I loved the concept of the Library and was intrigued by the hints that something shady might be going on. At the beginning, Irene is blindly devoted to the Library and sees the preservation of literature as the highest goal. She has no interest in saving the world -- or, more correctly, one of the infinite worlds that comprise the multiverse. But as she spends more time in one particular world for this mission, she starts to wonder whether there are additional moral and ethical factors to consider. I also really enjoyed the various fantasy and mystery elements in the novel. For example, Irene and Kai team up with a private investigator, and Irene is excited to fulfill her childhood dream of working with a Holmes-esque "great detective." I was a little disappointed in the main antagonist, who is introduced as a Big Bad and remains a Big Bad throughout. But other character relationships were more fleshed out and less predictable. All in all, I think this is a very promising start to the (planned) trilogy, and I look forward to reading book two!

Book #51: Jandy Nelson, The Sky Is Everywhere
Category: Age Before Beauty

Ever since the sudden, tragic death of her sister Bailey, Lennie has basically shut down. She doesn't talk to anyone, not even her best friend or her grandmother. Her only consolations are reading Wuthering Heights for the umpteenth time and writing poetry about her sister, which she leaves in bits and pieces all over town. A month after Bailey's death, Lennie returns to school and band practice on autopilot -- that is, until she meets the new kid, Joe, who is both an amazing musician and an impossibly handsome boy. Joe is a shock to her system, and her instant crush on him actually seems to be requited. But Lennie is struggling with several conflicting emotions, including fear and guilt that she is betraying Bailey by continuing to live her life. Then there's Bailey's boyfriend Toby, who is turning to Lennie to ease his grief because she's the only one who understands. As Lennie sorts out her complicated personal life, she also slowly begins to work through her grief.

I really loved Jandy Nelson's I'll Give You the Sun, so I had high expectations for this book. Unfortunately, I didn't love this one quite as much, although I still thought it was a good read. Much as Lennie annoyed me sometimes -- she spends a lot of the novel preoccupied by Joe and/or Toby -- her actions did seem realistic to me. The romance was ultimately very sweet, but my favorite part of the book was the portrayal of Lennie and Bailey's relationship. They're only a year apart, and they've always been very close, with Lennie looking up to Bailey as the older and more extroverted sister. But in the aftermath of Bailey's death, Lennie realizes that Bailey kept some secrets from her. She also learns that her admiration of Bailey has actually prevented her from following her own dreams, because she always felt that Bailey was the one who deserved the spotlight. I thought this relationship was very complex and interesting, and I'm glad Nelson spent so much time on it, although the romantic story was a little thinner as a result. Overall, I would still recommend this book, even though it didn't quite grab me in the same way that I'll Give You the Sun did.

My public library’s semi-annual sale was this weekend, and I’m pretty excited about my book haul!



Robert McCrum, Wodehouse: A Life — I love Wodehouse’s work but know nothing about his life (except that the P.G. stands for Pelham Grenville, which is amazing). Looking forward to learning more!

Lisa Hilton, Queens Consort: England’s Medieval Queens from Eleanor of Aquitaine to Elizabeth of York — Medieval queens are the best! Ominously, the subtitle is incorrect, as the first queen discussed is Matilda of Flanders, the wife of William the Conqueror. Hopefully the book itself won’t contain such egregious errors.

Rose Macaulay, The Towers of Trebizond — Humorous portrayal of Anglican missionaries in the Middle East.

E.F. Benson, Lucia in London / Mapp and Lucia — I’ve been told that, as a fan of 20th century British fiction, I really need to read the Mapp and Lucia novels.

Martin Edwards, ed., Murder at the Manor: Country House Mysteries — Short stories generally aren’t my favorite, but I cannot resist an English country house mystery (or the British Library Crime Classics imprint!).

Anthony Wynne, Murder of a Lady: A Scottish Mystery — Another British Library Crime Classic.

Eva Ibbotson, Which Witch? — I love Ibbotson’s books for adults, but I’ve never tried one of her children’s books. This one looks adorable and should be a great choice for the 24-hour readathon!

Catherynne M. Valente, The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making — I’ve been meaning to try this one for a while. I also have one of Valente’s books for adults, but from what I’ve heard, she seems like an author I’ll probably need to ease into.

Sharon Kay Penman, A King’s Ransom — My SKP collection is now complete.

V.E. Schwab, A Darker Shade of Magic — I’ve already read and loved this book, but I couldn’t resist the hardcover in pristine condition!

Kate Parker, The Vanishing Thief — First in a mystery series set in Victorian London, and the heroine is a bookseller. Seems relevant to my interests!🙂

E.M. Delafield, Diary of a Provincial Lady — This one’s been on my TBR list for ages.

Jennifer A. Nielsen, The False Prince — This book has been compared to the Queen’s Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner, which I love.

C.S. Harris, When Gods Die and Why Mermaids Sing — Books two and three in the Sebastian St. Cyr mystery series, which is set in Regency England. I already have book one, so I’m excited to continue acquiring the series.

I also bought two DVDs, Letters to Juliet and Becoming Jane, both of which I have seen and enjoyed. And the best part is, I was able to fit all my new books on my shelves without too much rearranging!

Great haul from your library sale! Several of my favourites there, Benson, Woodhouse, Penman, and the British Library Crime Classics! Well done!

I read somewhere that Woodhouse's family called him Plum, short version of Pelham.

>77 VivienneR: Aww, Plum is such a cute nickname!

I've staked my claim at the 2017 challenge: http://www.librarything.com/topic/236007. Feel free to stop by! :)

Hello! Just catching up on your thread!

That's a great haul! Which Witch? was my first Ibbotson ever and I really liked it.

Murder of a Lady! Nice! My library ordered that one and I've placed a hold. Will also be interested to hear what you think of A King's Ransom. Never did get around to reading it after our big group read of the Plantagenet books a few years ago!

>80 VictoriaPL: Thanks for stopping by, Victoria! I'm still catching up on LT threads from MONTHS ago!

>81 mstrust: I'm very excited for Which Witch! It looks super cute and very fun for Halloween.

>82 rabbitprincess: I still need to read Lionheart...maybe I'll try to read it and A King's Ransom next year. The books are just so long that it's a bit daunting to start!

>76 christina_reads: Nice haul! I recently read Spook Stories by E. F. Benson and liked his writing. I'll have to try the Mapp & Lucia novels myself.

You got some great books, Christina, and they all look to be in excellent condition as well!

>84 mathgirl40: Thank you! I've never read E.F. Benson before, but one of my friends (whose taste is similar to mine) recently read Mapp and Lucia and loved it, so I figured it was a safe purchase!

>85 DeltaQueen50: Thanks, Judy! I'll admit, I am picky about the condition of my books, even when they're used and cheap! :)

What a great assortment of books! Definitely interested in the Wodehouse book and what tidbits of information you find out about him.

>76 christina_reads:
Great haul! Eva Ibbotson's children's books were my favorites as a child (and still are, I think) - I do hope you like Which Witch?!! I've only recently been made aware that she also writes fiction for adults. :)

>87 LittleTaiko: Thanks! I'm definitely looking forward to learning more about Wodehouse.

>88 -Eva-: I actually read Which Witch? over the weekend and really enjoyed it! I will be seeking out the rest of her children's books, for sure. I love Ibbotson's adult fiction...she writes very sweet romances, and maybe they are too sweet, but I don't care at all! :)

I'll pass on her adult fiction then, but I can always reread her children's books. I also recommend The Great Ghost Rescue and Dial-A-Ghost.

>90 -Eva-: Good to know!

October recap

So apparently it is November now! When did that happen? I had a pretty good reading month thanks to the 24-hour readathon. Unfortunately, most of the books I read didn't count toward my challenge! Still, here's what I read in October:

Books read:
1. Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt, The Most Beautiful Book in the World
2. Jay Kristoff, Nevernight
3. Alice Tilton, Beginning with a Bash
4. Kasie West, P.S. I Like You
5. Shirley Jackson, We Have Always Lived in the Castle
6. Eva Ibbotson, Which Witch?
7. Teresa Medeiros, Goodnight Tweetheart

Favorite book of the month: Beginning with a Bash was a fun Golden Age mystery that I had no trouble imagining as a great black-and-white movie.

Least favorite book of the month: I really disliked the writing style of Nevernight and felt no particular interest in the main character. It's the first book in a series, but I don't plan to continue.

CATs completed:
Random (What Scares You?) - We Have Always Lived in the Castle is a very disturbing book, albeit in a low-key way.

Bingo squares completed:
7. Author born in 1916 - Shirley Jackson was born on 12/14/1916.

Yeah, it's crazy how quickly the time has passed!!

With less than two months left in 2016, it's time to plan out the rest of my challenge reading! In order to complete my challenge, I need to read 10 more books in the following categories:

Elementary, My Dear Watson (mysteries) = 1
Play It Again, Sam (rereads) = 4
Age Before Beauty (TBR) = 5

I also need to complete five more Bingo squares:

2. Senior citizen as the protagonist
6. About the environment
15. About/by an indigenous person
21. Focus on art
22. Coming-of-age story

With these requirements in mind, here's what I'm planning to read in November and December:

• J.L. Carr, A Month in the Country -- fulfills a TBR slot and Bingo #21
• Donna Moore, Old Dogs -- fulfills a TBR slot and Bingo #2
• Tony Hillerman, The Blessing Way -- fulfills the last mystery slot and Bingo #15
• Carl Hiaasen, Skink: No Surrender -- fulfills a TBR slot and Bingo #6
• Elena Ferrante, My Brilliant Friend -- fulfills a TBR slot and Bingo #22
• Georgette Heyer, Envious Casca -- fulfills the last TBR slot
• Plus four rereads, which I'll pick based on my mood. I'm sure I'll gravitate toward some of my favorite comfort reads!

So essentially, I need to read five books in November and five in December, plus finish my current read (Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo). It should be doable, but I'd better get moving!

Once again I've fallen behind with reviews, so it's back to my mini-review format to catch up!



Book #52: Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt, The Most Beautiful Book in the World, trans. Alison Anderson
Category: Age Before Beauty
CATs: Random (translation - I started this in September)

This collection of eight “novellas”/short stories is an interesting meditation on womanhood and the passage of time. Most of the stories have a melancholic aspect, as the (almost always) female protagonists cope with issues like aging, infidelity, illness, and just plain unhappiness. All the same, I enjoyed these stories, particularly “Odette Toulemonde,” which is probably the most uplifting in the bunch. The only one that stood out to me in a negative way was “Intruder,” which has a gimmicky ending. Definitely worth reading if the description sounds interesting to you!

***



Book #53: Jay Kristoff, Nevernight
Category: Yer a Wizard, Harry

I saw a lot of buzz about this book when it came out, but unfortunately it didn’t live up to the hype for me. The story is about Mia Corvere, a young woman seeking revenge after the political murder of her father and subsequent destruction of her family. She decides to seek out the Red Church, essentially a school for assassins, in order to pursue her revenge. Sounds pretty cool, right? Unfortunately, I could not deal with the writing style, which was completely overblown and trying way too hard to be impressive. I realize this is a very subjective criticism, and other readers may love the style, but it was emphatically not for me.

***



Book #54: Alice Tilton, Beginning with a Bash
Category: Elementary, My Dear Watson

What a fun Golden Age mystery! This is the first book in the Leonidas Witherall series, in which our detective has to solve a murder that occurred in a used bookstore before an innocent man takes the blame. Along the way, Leonidas — who is almost always called Bill Shakespeare because of his resemblance to the Bard — reconnects with an old flame and becomes embroiled in a feud between two notorious gangs. It’s really more of an adventure story than a mystery; the whodunit takes a backseat to the car chases, secret passageways, and assorted goings-on. There’s also some delightful vintage banter, which makes me mad that there’s no film version starring William Powell and Myrna Loy. I’ll definitely be continuing with this series, and thankfully I already own the next book, The Cut Direct!

***



Book: Kasie West, P.S. I Like You
Category: none

“You’ve Got Mail” is one of my favorite movies, so I was excited to read this YA contemporary romance with a similar plot. One day while spacing out in chemistry class, Lily absentmindedly scribbles a lyric from her favorite indie song onto her desk. The next day, she discovers that someone has continued the lyric, and before she knows it, she and her unknown correspondent are trading notes about music and a whole lot more. But when Lily discovers the identity of her pen pal, it’s the last person she would ever expect. I really enjoyed this book, despite its utter predictability and Lily’s annoying inability to see what’s right in front of her. It’s an adorable, light romance, and sometimes that’s just what you need.

I'll have to look for Beginning With a Bash. I've never heard of Tilton or Taylor, and what a title.

>96 mstrust: Great title, right? And literal, because the victim dies from a blow to the back of the head. I really enjoyed the book -- hope you do, too!

Book: Shirley Jackson, We Have Always Lived in the Castle
Category: none
CATs: Random (What Scares You? - I read this in October)
Bingo: 7 - author born in 1916

Merricat Blackwood, her sister Constance, and her Uncle Julian are the last remnant of a once-prominent family. They live in a decrepit, isolated old house, and they don’t associate with any of the people in the nearby town. The novel’s sinister atmosphere is augmented by the suspicion that seven years ago, Constance deliberately poisoned the rest of her family. I’m no fan of horror, but I found this to be a very well-written, creepy but not too scary book. I may even read some more Shirley Jackson in the future.

***



Book: Eva Ibbotson, Which Witch?
Category: none

I’ve been a fan of Ibbotson’s YA/adult novels for years now, but this was my first experience reading one of her books for children. It was just as delightful as I expected it to be, telling the story of a dark wizard who holds a competition to determine which witch will be his bride. Beautiful and kind Belladonna would love to be the winner, but her magic is inescapably good. How will she convince Arriman the Awful that she’s his perfect match?

***



Book: Teresa Medeiros, Goodnight Tweetheart
Category: none

The plot of this romance novel is essentially “Boy meets girl on Twitter.” As such, the book is inescapably dated, but I must admit I enjoyed it anyway! It had some good banter and some sweet moments…overall, a pleasant escapist read. It’s not a new favorite or anything, but it’s definitely a fun way to spend an evening (or, in my case, the middle of the night!).

***



Book: Leigh Bardugo, Crooked Kingdom
Category: none

If you loved Six of Crows, which I did, Crooked Kingdom will not disappoint! The twists and turns of the plot kept me hooked, and I loved the fact that Kaz was always one step ahead of his enemies. And as with the previous book, I was completely invested in these characters and rooting for them all to achieve their goals. I especially liked that this book gave more attention to Jesper and Wylan, the two characters who were least fleshed out in Six of Crows. There was also a very welcome appearance by Nikolai, my favorite character in the Grisha trilogy, which leads me to believe that Bardugo isn’t done with this world yet!

>98 christina_reads:
I'm not a fan of horror either, so I'm happy to hear that We Have Always Lived in the Castle - which is on my Mt. TBR - is creepy rather than scary. Meant to read it for Halloween, but who knows what happens to time nowadays... :)

Hey. Just getting caught up. I have heard good things about Six of Crows, but I want to read Grisha first.

How's the reading going? I need to do an audit of my challenge. I think I read more than planned in some and not enough in others... Like every year, Lol.

>100 nittnut: I really liked Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom! I have to say, I was not as big a fan of the Grisha trilogy. All the books are set in the same world, but you don't necessarily have to read the Grisha books before reading these two. That said, you'll probably get more out of the Six of Crows books if you do read the Grisha trilogy as well.

My reading is going okay. I've already made some changes to my planned reads at >94 christina_reads:, but I think I have a final list now. I need to read 11 more books in order to complete my challenge and finish my Bingo card. That may be tough, given my slower-than-usual reading pace this year. But I have a couple plane trips coming up, which means a few hours of uninterrupted reading time! :) Hope your reading is going well, too. Even if you don't end up "completing" your challenge, the important thing is to have fun and enjoy what you read!

I am reading and enjoying Six of Crows now. I did not realize there was an earlier trilogy. Barduga seems to share enough of their back stories to have everything make sense. Lots of deep feelings involved.

>102 mamzel: Haha yes, Six of Crows is quite heavy on the emotions at times. But I don't mind the teen angst when it's wrapped inside a fun heist plot!

November recap

November has been yet another slow reading month for me. I'm not sure why my pace has slowed down this year, but I'm still hoping to complete my challenge, then up the ante for 2017! Here's what I read this month:

Books read:
1. Leigh Bardugo, Crooked Kingdom
2. J.L. Carr, A Month in the Country
3. Kate Parker, The Vanishing Thief
4. Joseph Bruchac, Code Talker

Favorite book of the month: A Month in the Country was a lovely little slice of life, but I really enjoyed Crooked Kingdom and Code Talker as well!

Least favorite book of the month: I was disappointed in The Vanishing Thief, which had all the right ingredients for me to enjoy it (Victorian-era mystery with a hint of romance) but just didn't work for me.

CATs completed:
Random (debut work) - According to Fantastic Fiction, The Vanishing Thief is Kate Parker's first novel.

Bingo squares completed:
21. Focus on art - The protagonist of A Month in the Country spends a summer restoring a medieval mural of the Last Judgment in a village church.
15. About/by an indigenous person - The protagonist of Code Talker is a Navajo, and the author is partly of Abenaki descent.

And here's what I plan to read in December in order to complete my challenge and fill the Bingo card:
1. Emma Mills, This Adventure Ends (Bingo #22 - coming-of-age story)
2. Carl Hiaasen, Skink: No Surrender (Age Before Beauty, Bingo #6 - about the environment)
3. Donna Moore, Old Dogs (Age Before Beauty, Bingo #2 - senior citizen as the protagonist)
4. Georgette Heyer, Envious Casca (Age Before Beauty)
5. Kristan Higgins, Somebody to Love (Age Before Beauty)
6. Patricia Wynn, The Birth of Blue Satan (Play It Again, Sam)
7. Sharon Shinn, Summers at Castle Auburn (Play It Again, Sam)
8. Play It Again, Sam
9. Play It Again, Sam

Can I read nine books in December? Time will tell!

You can do it, Christina!

>105 DeltaQueen50: Aww, thanks! :) I'm optimistic because most of my remaining books will probably go quickly -- rereads, romances, and short books!

Good luck with your December reading plans and have fun with them!!

>107 rabbitprincess: Thanks! I must admit, I'm looking forward to being done with my challenge...and then starting again immediately in 2017! :)

I am stunned to discover that I haven't been about on the threads since June. So much to get caught up on! Did a bit of thread "skim reading". Congrats on completing your read of War and Peace! I don't know about you, but I felt a great sensation of elation at finally getting that one under my belt. ;-) Like you, I love watching the "Miss Fisher Murder Mysteries" and while I have yet to read any of the books, I take comfort in knowing that you still liked the first book in the series for the setting and the protagonist. Yes, you hit me with a BB for Arabella of Mars..... Regency space opera.... OMG!

Great batch of reading since I was last out and about visiting threads!

... all caught up!

>109 lkernagh: Thanks for stopping by! There are definitely some threads I haven't visited in several months...I'm trying to make my way through them, but I probably won't get caught up until everyone abandons their threads to move to the 2017 group! :)

I've finally caught up with all the 2016 challenge threads, which is very exciting! I'm looking forward to starting 2017 with a "clean slate," as it were. Of course, I'm still not done with my challenge yet, and it's going to be a close call, but I think I can do it. Only six books left!

Meanwhile, here are some more mini-reviews:



Book #55: J.L. Carr, A Month in the Country
Category: Age Before Beauty
Bingo: 21 - focus on art

This quiet, deceptively simple novel is about a World War I veteran who spends a summer restoring a medieval mural in a village church. Nothing much happens, plot-wise, but the narrator (now an old man) remembers this summer as one of the only times in his life when he was truly happy. I really enjoyed this book, which contains some subtle humor despite its overall tone of melancholy, and I’m interested in reading more by Carr.

***



Book #56: Kate Parker, The Vanishing Thief
Category: Elementary, My Dear Watson
CATs: Random - debut novel (I read this in November)

I should have loved this book, which is about a female bookseller in the Victorian era who is also a member of a secret society of detectives. Unfortunately, I wasn’t a fan of the writing style, which I found choppy and clumsy, nor was I interested enough in any of the characters to continue with the series. The author does have another mystery series set in the 1930s, which I might try, but I’ll definitely be going in with more moderate expectations.

***



Book: Joseph Bruchac, Code Talker
Category: none
Bingo: 15 - about/by an indigenous person

This YA novel is told from the perspective of Ned Begay, a Navajo man who enlists in the Marines as a teenager and becomes a “code talker” during World War II. Although the writing style is a bit simplistic at times, the book presents a good introduction to the Navajo code talkers, and it made me want to read a lot more about them! I was also very touched by the book’s dedication:

"This book is dedicated to those who have always, in proportion to their population, volunteered in the greatest numbers, suffered the most casualties, won the most Purple Hearts and decorations for valor, and served loyally in every war fought by the United States against foreign enemies, from the American Revolution to Afghanistan and Iraq–to the American Indian soldier."

***



Book: Emma Mills, This Adventure Ends
Category: none
Bingo: 22 - coming-of-age story

I loved this book! It’s a YA contemporary novel that, while it contains a (very cute!) romance, primarily focuses on friendship. Main character Sloane has always been something of a loner, but when the charismatic Vera reaches out to her, she suddenly finds herself in the midst of a very tight-knit friend group. I found Sloane very relatable, though not always likable, and I really enjoyed all aspects of the story. Definitely recommended for people who like YA contemporaries — this is a fantastic example of the genre.

Code Talker is going on my list, so thanks for the review. I spent a couple of days on the Navajo reservation in northern Arizona, and visited the First Mesa, where we met some artists. The Begays are a huge extended family that includes many artists. I'll look for this book.

>112 mstrust: That's really cool! In Code Talker, Ned Begay is a fictional character, but he does mention that "Begay" is a common last name among Navajos because it was given to a lot of the schoolchildren by their white teachers.

Merry Christmas Christina! Thank you for your time, your kind words and the books we enjoy together. I hope your holidays are full of joy!

Hope you have a wonderful Christmas, Christina!

Happy Holidays Christina !

Merry Christmas to >114 nittnut: >115 DeltaQueen50: >116 lsh63: and to this entire wonderful community!

Catching up on my last (mini) reviews of 2016!



Book #57: Carl Hiaasen, Skink: No Surrender
Category: Age Before Beauty
Bingo: 6 - about the environment

Teenager Richard teams up with the idiosyncratic Skink (former governor, current homeless eco-warrior) to find Richard’s missing cousin Malley. There’s no particular mystery about what happened to her, but the fun is in the journey, as rule-follower Richard finds his worldview enlarged by Skink’s more reckless lifestyle. Overall, while this isn’t really my kind of book, I did enjoy it and may read more by the author. I believe Skink is a recurring character in Hiaasen’s novels, and I’d like to know more of his backstory.

***



Book #58: Kristan Higgins, Somebody to Love
Category: Age Before Beauty

Another light, charming contemporary romance from Kristan Higgins. Although most of her books are not serialized, this one borrows the location (and a few characters) from Catch of the Day, and it also features the couple from The Next Best Thing. Having read those two books, I enjoyed seeing how the various fictional worlds overlapped. That said, I don’t think you’d miss anything important if you haven’t read the other two books. I always enjoy Higgins’ books, but this one isn’t destined to be one of my favorites.

***



Book #59: Donna Moore, Old Dogs
Category: Age Before Beauty
CATs: Geo (Western Europe - set in Scotland)
Bingo: 2 - senior citizen protagonist

If you enjoy heist movies, you should definitely check out this book, which involves two priceless historical artifacts: solid gold dog statues. Main characters Letty and Dora are aging ex-hookers who hope to enjoy a lavish retirement by stealing the dogs from a museum exhibit. The trouble is, they’re not the only ones after the dogs.... While I didn’t find this one laugh-out-loud funny, it does include plenty of entertaining mishaps, mistaken identities, and mad schemes of vengeance. Definitely worth reading if the word “caper” appeals to you!

***



Book #60: Georgette Heyer, Envious Casca
Category: Age Before Beauty
CATs: Geo (Western Europe - set in England)

So far, I’ve found Heyer’s mysteries to be a bit hit-or-miss, but I think this is her best one yet! It’s an English country house murder set at Christmas. Of course, there’s a big family party, and of course, everyone has a reason to wish the estate’s owner dead. The novel is very well plotted, and the solution to the mystery is (in my opinion) utterly convincing. Even if you’ve tried another Heyer mystery and didn’t particularly like it, I’d urge you to give this one a try!

Book #61: Rainbow Rowell, Attachments
Category: Play It Again, Sam

I’ve loved all of Rainbow Rowell’s books, but this one (her first novel) remains my favorite. It’s the story of Lincoln, an Internet security specialist whose job is to monitor all emails sent from company accounts. When the emails of Jennifer and Beth get flagged for “inappropriate” usage, Lincoln has to read them; it’s his job. But before long, he gets caught up in the women’s stories and becomes genuinely interested in learning more about them. Then he begins to fall for Beth...but how can he transform his one-sided crush into an actual relationship?

***



Book #62: Sharon Shinn, Summers at Castle Auburn
Category: Play It Again, Sam

The first time I read this romantic fantasy novel, I didn’t quite pick up on the romance and felt it was a little abrupt. I don’t know what I was thinking, because this time I was all about the romance! It’s subtle and builds slowly, which is just the way I like it.🙂 I also really enjoyed the vivid fantasy world, and I liked the fact that the heroine truly grows and changes throughout the novel. Definitely recommended for fans of this genre!

***



Book #63: Georgette Heyer, The Corinthian
Category: Play It Again, Sam

One of Heyer’s excellent Regency romances, featuring a jaded young man and a scrappy girl (dressed as a boy) who’s running away from home. The plot gets a bit convoluted, comprising highwaymen, elopements, and even a murder. But of course, everything turns out right in the end!

***



Book #64: Patricia Wynn, The Birth of Blue Satan
Category: Play It Again, Sam

I read this book, the first in a series, a few years ago, but for some reason I didn’t continue with the series. Recently I decided I’d like to read book two, but I had to refresh my memory by rereading this one first. As a mystery novel, it’s not particularly strong — the solution basically comes out of nowhere — but I loved the period setting (1715! More novels about Jacobites, please!) and the main characters. I’m definitely looking forward to reading book two and seeing what happens next!

And with that, my 2016 category challenge is officially complete! I finished The Birth of Blue Satan this morning, so I just sneaked in under the wire. :) I'll be back tomorrow to do an end-of-year recap and list my favorite reads of 2016. But for now, I just want to say...

December recap

Well, I did it -- I managed to complete my 2016 category challenge! I finished 9 books in December, which is definitely above my average for the year. I credit the fact that half of them were rereads! :)

Books read:
1. Emma Mills, This Adventure Ends
2. Carl Hiaasen, Skink: No Surrender
3. Kristan Higgins, Somebody to Love
4. Donna Moore, Old Dogs
5. Georgette Heyer, Envious Casca
6. Rainbow Rowell, Attachments
7. Sharon Shinn, Summers at Castle Auburn
8. Georgette Heyer, The Corinthian
9. Patricia Wynn, The Birth of Blue Satan

Favorite book of the month: Aside from the rereads, I really loved Envious Casca, which combines a well-plotted mystery with Heyer's trademark wit and character development.

Least favorite book of the month: Can't pick one -- I enjoyed everything I read in December!

CATs completed:
Geo (Western Europe) - Old Dogs is set in Scotland, and Envious Casca is set in England.

Bingo squares completed:
22. Coming-of-age story - This Adventure Ends is a YA novel about a girl who grows and changes through the friendships she makes.
6. About the environment - It's a bit of a stretch, but I'm counting Skink: No Surrender for this one. The titular character is passionate about conservation issues, an extinct species of woodpecker figures prominently in the novel, and the narrator spends a lot of time describing the Florida environment and wildlife.
2. Senior citizen protagonist - The protagonists of Old Dogs are in their seventies.

2016 YEAR-END RECAP

Stats:

Total books read = 79
Non-challenge books = 15
Books read for CATs = 24 total (10 Random, 9 Geo, 4 Dewey, 4 SFF; there were a few overlaps)
Average books read per month = approximately 6.5
Best month = June (12 books read)
Worst month = September, November (4 books read)

Top 10 Reads of 2016 (in no particular order):

1. Helen Simonson, The Summer Before the War -- A lovely, character-driven novel about romance and politics in an English village in the months leading up to World War I.
   
2. Alice Tilton, Beginning with a Bash -- A Golden Age mystery that feels like a screwball comedy, complete with fast-talking dames and gangsters galore.
   
3. Lucy Parker, Act Like It -- An utterly charming contemporary romance that has me impatiently awaiting Lucy Parker's next novel (which fortunately comes out in February!).
   
4. Maggie Stiefvater, The Raven King -- A fitting conclusion to the wonderful and unique Raven Cycle, which contains a surprising number of Owen Glendower references for a young adult series.
   
5. V.E. Schwab, A Darker Shade of Magic -- A compelling fantasy novel with a fascinating premise (parallel universes with varying degrees of magic) and well-fleshed-out main characters. I can't wait to read the sequels!
   
6. Genevieve Cogman, The Invisible Library -- Another great fantasy premise: there are an infinite number of universes whose only point of connection is an invisible central library that collects and preserves the literature from each world.
   
7. Jacques Philippe, Interior Freedom -- A short but powerful work about letting go of anxiety and trusting in God. This was the book that most deeply affected me this year.
   
8. Georgette Heyer, Envious Casca -- One of Heyer's best mysteries, combining her trademark wit and character development with a top-notch murder mystery.
   
9. Emma Mills, This Adventure Ends -- An excellent YA contemporary that's all about friendship, with a bonus adorable romance.
   
10. David D. Levine, Arabella of Mars -- Jane Austen meets Horatio Hornblower in space!

End-of-Year Meme:

Using the titles of books you read in 2016...

• Describe yourself: Vinegar Girl
  
• How do you feel? Cocaine Blues
  
• Describe where you currently live: We Have Always Lived in the Castle
  
• If you could go anywhere...? The Invisible Library
  
• Favorite form of transportation: The River of No Return
  
• Your best friend is: Arabella of Mars
  
• You and your friends are: Kindred Spirits
  
• What's the weather like? Between Shades of Gray
  
• Your favorite time of day is: Nevernight
  
• What is life for you? The Unexpected Everything
  
• You fear: A Spy Among Friends
  
• Best advice: Read Bottom Up
  
• Thought for the day: Everyone Brave Is Forgiven
  
• How you would like to die: Quick Curtain

Final Thoughts:

2016 was a slow reading year for me...I generally read at least 100 books, but this year I only managed 79. Still, I'm happy with my progress -- I completed my category challenge, participated in several CATs, and covered the whole Bingo card. I even managed to review everything I read this year, even if some of those reviews were quite short! Now I'm excited to begin my 2017 challenge...hope to see you there!

Great meme answers, especially the You fear and the How you would like to die ones!

>124 rabbitprincess: Thanks! It's always fun to try and come up with these answers. The transportation one is always the hardest for me...I guess I don't read a lot of books with vehicles in the title!

Congratulations on finishing your challenge!

I enjoyed looking at your top-10 list. I've enjoyed every Heyer I've read so far and will have to put Envious Casca on the wishlist.

>126 mathgirl40: Thank you! Envious Casca is a good one -- hope you enjoy it!