Stacy's (LittleTaiko) School Days Challenge (2nd half)

In 2015 I burned out a bit on "required" reading so therefore this year is really quite flexible. In the ongoing effort to read more books that I own and clear the TBR pile, I've organized my challenge into the years the TBR pile was acquired. 2013 was the first year I started tracking the year a book was acquired so everything before then is lumped into a pre-2013 group. Being the realistic type there is also a category for 2016 acquisitions/borrowings as well. Additionally, this year there will be no minimum - just going to see where my reading takes me.

Freshmen Year - books acquired/borrowed in 2016
Sophomore - 2015
Junior - 2014
Senior - 2013
Undergrad - pre-2013
Grad School - Classics

Looking forward to the various CAT's, KIT's, DOG's, PUP's, and other challenges to help fill my categories!

Ratings:

1 Star - Didn't like at all or did not finish
2 Stars - It's okay but not something I would recommend.
3 Stars - I liked it but may or may not recommend it
4 Stars - Really liked it and am happy that I spent time reading it
5 Stars - Loved it and the whole world should read it too

Freshmen - Books Acquired or Borrowed in 2016

Acquired
1. Americanine by Yann Kebbi - January - 5 stars - bb from inge87
2. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara - February - 5 stars (TOB)
3. Mrs. Jeffries Wins the Prize by Emily Brightwell - March - 4 stars (next in a favorite series)
4. Oreo by Fran Ross - March - 3 stars (TOB)
5. Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben - March - 3 stars - look forward to his new release every year
6. The Secret Life of the American Musical by Jack Viertel - April - 5 stars (because I love musicals)
7. Off the Grid by C.J. Box - April - 4 stars
8. Slade House by David Mitchell - April - 4 stars
9. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman - April - 4 stars
10. Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda - April - 5 stars - (because I love the musical)
11. The September Society by Charles Finch - May - 4 stars
12. The Fleet Street Murders by Charles Finch - May - 4 stars
13. Being Mortal by Atul Gawande - May - 5 stars (bookclub)
14. Stranger in Mayfair by Charles Finch - May - 4 stars
15. Burial At Sea by Charles Finch - June - 4 stars
16. Death in the Small Hours by Charles Finch - June - 4 stars
17. The Noise of Time by Julian Barnes - July - 5 stars
18. Symphony for the Dead by M.T. Anderson - July - 5 stars
19. Inspector Spector by E.J. Copperman - July - 4 stars
20. Stoner by John Williams - August - 4 stars
21. Crowned and Dangerous by Rhys Bowen - August - 4 stars
22. Three Men in a Boat by Jerome Jerome - August - 2 stars
23. Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty - August - 3 stars
24. The Surgeon by Tess Garrison - August - 3 stars
25. Stories From the Vinyl Cafe by Stuart McClean - August - 4 stars
26. The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman - August - 1 star (DNF)
27. The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware - September - 4 stars
28. Title Wave by Lorna Barrett - September - 4 stars
29. A Great Reckoning by Louise Penney - September - 5 stars
30. Design for Dying by Renee Patrick - September - 4 stars
31. Down and Out in Beverly Heels by Kathryn Leigh Scott - September - 3 stars
32. By Cook or by Crook by Maya Corrigan - September - 4 stars
33. The Enchanted April by Elizabeth van Arnim - September - 4 stars
34. Murder in the Secret Garden by Ellery Adams - September - 3 stars
35. Dying for the Past by TJ O'Connor - October - 2 stars
36. A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles - October - 4 stars
37. Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid - October - 4 stars
38. The Inheritance by Charles Finch - November - 4 stars
39. All You Need is Fudge by Nancy CoCo - November - 3 stars

Borrowed
1. Letters to the Lost by Iona Grey January - 3 stars (Book club)
2. The Whites by Richard Price January - 3 stars (Tournament of Books)
3. The New World: A Novel by Chris Adrian January - 4 stars (TOB)
4. Benediction by Kent Haruf - January - 3 stars (Finish the series by a favorite author)
5. Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf - January - 4 stars (TOB)
6. My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout - February - 3 stars (Latest book by an author I enjoy)
7. The Invaders by Karolina Waclawiak - February - 1 star (TOB)
8. The Story of My Teeth by Valeria Luiselli - February - 3 stars (TOB)
9. A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler - February - 3 stars (TOB)
10. The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen - February - 3 stars (TOB)
11. The Turner House by Angela Flournoy - February - 3 stars (TOB)
12. Bats of the Republic by Zachary Thomas Dodson - February - 4 stars (TOB)
13. Book of Aron by Jim Shepard - March - 2 stars (TOB)
14. The Sellout by Paul Beatty - March - 4 stars (TOB)
15. The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine by Alexander McCall Smith - March - 2 stars (Book club)
16. The Question of the Missing Head by E.J. Copperman - April - 4 stars (A different series by a favorite author)
17. Chance of a Ghost by E.J. Copperman - May - 4 stars (next in a series)
18. The Vegetarian by Kang Han - May - 2 stars (potential TOB selection for next year)
19. Tuesday Nights in 1980 by Molly Prentiss - June - 4 stars
20. An Old Betrayal by Charles Finch - June - 4 stars
21. Smoke by Dan Vyleta - June - 3 stars
22. Thrill of the Haunt by E.J. Copperman - June - 4 stars
23. The Laws of Murder by Charles Finch - June - 4 stars
24. The Nest by Cynthia D'Apria Sweeney - July - 4 stars
25. Home by Nightfall by Charles Finch - July - 4 stars
26. The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins - July - 3 stars
27. Haunted Season by G.M. Malliet - July - 2 stars
28. The BFG by Roald Dahl - August - 3 stars
29. The Library Wars by Kiiro Yumi - August - 3 stars
30. Villa America by Liza Klaussmann - August - 2 stars
31. The Library Wars: Love & War, Vol. 14 by Kiiro Yumi - September - 4 stars
32. The Library Wars: Love & War, Vol. 15 by Kiiro Yumi - September - 4 stars
33. Not My Father's Son by Alan Cumming - September - 4 stars
34. The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead - September - 3 stars
35. Terror in Taffeta by Marla Cooper - October - 4 stars
36. Death of Santini by Pat Conroy - October - 4 stars
37. Scam Chowder by Maya Corrigan - October - 2 stars
38. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis - October - 4 stars
39. Ghost in the Wind by E.J. Copperman - October - 3 stars
40. Dig Two Graves by Kim Powers - November - 2 stars
41. The Lost Garden by Helen Humphreys - November - 5 stars

Sophomores - Books acquired in 2015

1. With Baited Breath by Lorraine Bartlett - January - 3 stars
2. Beautiful Lies by Lisa Unger - January - 2 stars
3. Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff - January - 2 stars
4. My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell - January - 3 stars
5. The Tender Bar by J.R. Moehringer - January - 5 stars
6. Eventide by Kent Haruf - January - 5 stars
7. Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid - February - 4 stars
8. White Egrets by Derek Walcott - February - 2 stars
9. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates - February - 2 stars
10. Savage Season by Joe Lansdale - March - 2 stars
11. An Academic Question by Barbara Pym - March - 3 stars
12. The Tsar of Love and Techno by Anthony Marra - March - 5 stars
13. Rubbernecker by Belinda Bauer - March - 3 stars
14. X by Sue Grafton - March - 4 stars
15. A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner - March - 3 stars
16. Gilead by Marilynne Robinson - March - 2 stars
17. Endangered by C.J. Box - April - 4 stars
18. The Sweet Dove Died by Barbara Pym - April - 3 stars
19. Anne of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery - April - 3 stars
20. Death & Life of Monterey Bay by Stephen Palumbi - April - 3 stars
21. Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy - May - 3 stars
22. Artifact by Gigi Pandian - May - 2 stars
23. Kindred by Octavia Butler - May - 4 stars
24. A Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch - May - 4 stars
25. The Green Road by Anne Enright - May 1 star (DNF)\
26. Girl Waits With a Gun by Amy Stewart - May - 4 stars
27. What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty - June - 4 stars
28. Notorious RBG by Irin Carmon - June - 3 stars
29. Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss - June - 3 stars
30. Outsider in Amsterdam by Janwillem van Wetering - July - 2 stars
31. Silas Marner by George Eliot - July - 4 stars
32. The Wright Brothers by David McCullough - August - 4 stars
33. Murder on the Mind by L.L. Bartlett - September - 3 stars
34. The Mysterious Code by Kathryn Kinney - September - 2 stars
35. Some Tame Gazelle by Barbara Pym - November - 3 stars

Beginning Count: 73
Current: 38

Juniors - Books acquired in 2014

1. Dino: Living High in the Dirty Business of Dreams by Nick Tosches - January - 1 star
2. Right Ho, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse - February - 5 stars
3. Stone Cold by C.J. Box - March - 3 stars
4. The Burglar Who Counted the Spoons by Lawrence Block - July - 3 stars
5. The Secret Life of Lobsters by Trevor Corson - July - 5 stars
6. Otter Country: In Search of the Wild Otter by Miriam Darlington - August - 1 star (DNF)
7. Board Stiff by Kendel Lynn - August - 4 stars
8. Why Shoot a Butler? by Georgette Heyer - October - 3 stars
9. Cosmicomics by Italo Calvino - October - 4 stars
10. Gaudy Night by Dorothy L. Sayers - November - 4 stars
11. A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters by Julian Barnes

Beginning Count: 36
Current: 25

Seniors - Books acquired in 2013

1. Jeeves and and the Wedding Bells by Sebastian Faulks - March - 4 stars
2. Rainbow Valley by L. M. Montgomery - June - 3 stars
3. Rilla of Ingleside by L. M. Montgomery - June - 4 stars
4. The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen - July - 4 stars
5. Murder on the Ile Saint-Louis by Cara Black - September - 2 stars
6. Night Music by JoJo Moyes - September - 3 stars

Beginning Count: 16
Current: 10

Possibilities:

1. The Prisoner of Heaven
2. Revolutionary Summer
3. The Wandering Falcon
4. Moll Flanders
5. Things Fall Apart
6. The Lives of Tao
7. American Ghost
8. City of Women
9. The Man Who Was Thursday
10. Dombey and Son

Grad School - Classics

1.
2.
3.

Beginning Count: 75
Current: 75

Possibilities: Lots of classics on my shelf to read

Analects by Confucius
Confessions of St. Augustine by Saint Augustine
The Arabian Nights
Poetics by Aristotle
Faust
The Odyssey
Walden

RandomCAT

January: With Baited Breath by Lorraine Bartlett
February: Right Ho, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse
March: Jeeves and the Wedding Bells by Sebastian Faulks
April: Death & Life of Monterey Bay by Stephen Palumbi
May: Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch
June: What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
July: The Noise of Time by Julian Barnes
August: Three Men in a Boat by Jerome Jerome
September: Library Wars: Love & War, Vol. 14 by Kiiro Yumi
October: Dying for the Past by TJ O'Connor
November: Some Tame Gazelle by Barbara Pym
December: After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid

DeweyCAT

Jan - 000: The Tender Bar by J.R. Moehringer
Feb - 100:
Mar - 200: Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
Apr - 300-354: Death & Life of Monterey Bay by Stephen Palumbi
May - 355-399: Being Mortal by Atul Gawande
Jun - 400: Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss
Jul - 500: The Secret Life of Lobsters by Trevor Corson
Aug - 600: The Wright Brothers by David McCullough
Sep - 700: Jimmy Stewart by Marc Eliot
Oct - 800: Why Shoot a Butler by Georgette Heyer
Nov - 900-939: A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters by Julian Barnes
Dec - 940-999:

AlphaKIT

Jan
D: My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell
U: Beautiful Lies by Lisa Unger

Feb
B: Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
J: Right Ho, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse

Mar
L: Savage Season by Joe Lansdale
Q: An Academic Question by Barbara Pym

Apr
H: Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda
V: The Secret Life of the American Musical by Jack Viertel

May
O: Kindred by Octavia Butler
P: Artifact by Gigi Pandian

Jun
F: What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
R: Rainbow Valley by L. M. Montgomery

Jul
A: America America by Ethan Canin
K: The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen

Aug
G: Exiles in the Garden by Ward Just
S: Stoner by John Williams

Sep
C: The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
M: Jimmy Stewart by Marc Eliot

Oct
I: Impossible Things by Connie Willis
W: Why Shoot a Butler? by Georgette Heyer

Nov
N: Guady Night by Dorothy L. Sayers
Y: All You Need is Fudge by Nancy CoCo

Dec
E: Echoes of Sherlock Holmes by Laurie R. King
T: After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid

All Year
X: X by Sue Grafton
Z:

BingoDOG



Read:

Debut Book
Letters to the Lost by Iona Grey

Manga
Library Wars Vol 13

Less than 200 pages
Elements of Style Illustrated by William Strunk Jr.

About a Writer
Death of a Cozy Writer by G.M. Malliet

Musical reference
The Secret Life of the American Musical by Jack Viertel

Wordplay
With Baited Breath by Lorraine Bartlett

Job/Hobby
Beautiful Lies by Lisa Unger - main character was a free lance write living in NYC; sounds great to me!

Body of Water
The Death and Life of Monterey Bay by Stephen R Palumbi

Food
Scam Chowder by Maya Corrigan

Self-published
The Burglar Who Counted Spoons by Lawrence Block

In Translation
The Story of My Teeth by Valeria Luiselli

Read a CAT
The Tender Bar by J.R. Moehringer

Theater
Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda

1916
BFG by Roald Dahl

One Word Title
Eventide by Kent Haruf

Airplane flight
The Wright Brothers by David McCullough

Focus on Art
The Secret Life of the American Musical by Jack Viertel

Environment
The Death and Life of Monterey Bay by Stephen Palumbi

Senior Citizen
Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf

Memoir/Autobiography
My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell

Coming of Age
Rilla of Ingleside by L. M. Montgomery

Published Before I Was Born
Right Ho, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse

Survival Story
The Symphony for the City of the Dead by M.T. Anderson

Possibilities:

Indigenous Person
Through Black Spruce by Joseph Boyden (wish list )
Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden (wish list)

Adventure
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
Odyssey by Homer
Digital Fortress by Dan Brown
The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett

Women BingoPUP



Read:

Less than 10 Years Old
With Baited Breath by Lorraine Bartlett

Women in Non-Traditional Roles
Girl Waits With Gun by Amy Stewart

Published before 2000
An Academic Question by Barbara Pym (published in 1987)

African American author
Oreo by Fran Ross

Award Winner
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

Women in Combat
Rilla of Ingleside by L.M Montgomery

By or About a Woman
Letters to the Lost by Iona Grey

New to You Author
Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff

Set in Latin America or Asia
The Story of My Teeth by Valeria Luiselli

Set in Europe, Australia, or NZ
The Sweet Dove Died by Barbara Pym

Over 60
X by Sue Grafton

1920's-30's Detective Fiction
Why Shoot a Butler? by Georgette Heyer

TBR Pile
Beautiful Lies by Lisa Unger

Male pseudonym
Silas Marner by George Eliot

Possibilities:

Female Ruler
Elizabeth and Mary by Jane Dunn
Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles by Margaret George

Women in Science
TBD

Short Story Collection
One Amazing Thing by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni (wishlist)

Spy
Nurse and Spy in the Union Army

Different genre/same author
Probably something by Margaret Atwood

Memoir/Autobiography
Madame Secretary by Madeleine Albright
Extraordinary, Ordinary People by Condoleeza Rice

African author
The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (wishlist)

Made into a Movie
Fried Green Tomatoes by Fannie Flagg (wishlist)

Female Critter
TBD

Middle East
Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi (wishlist)

Poetry/Plays
Selected Poems II: 1976-1986 by Margaret Atwood
The Complete Poems by Emily Dickinson

TBR Challenge - books completed for the TBR challenge group

1. Elements of Style Illustrated by William Strunk Jr. - January
2. Dino by Nick Tosches - January DNF
3. Right Ho, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse - February
4. White Egrets by Derek Walcott - February
5. Savage Season by Joe Lansdale - March
6. Stone Cold by C.J. Box - March
7. Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen - July
8. America America by Ethan Canin - July
9. The Burglar Who Counted Spoons by Lawrence Block - July
10. Exiles in the Garden by Ward Just - August
11. Otter Country by Miriam Darlington - August DNF
12. Anatomy of a Murder by Robert Traver - August DNF
13. Impossible Things by Connie Willis - October
14. A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters by Julian Barnes - November
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20
21.
22.
23.
24.

Here's my list for the challenge. Once I finish a book, I'll move it up to the list above. Really hoping to make it through all 24 this year.

MAIN LIST:

1. 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
2. The Odyssey by Homer
3. Zoo Station by David Downing

ALTERNATES LIST:
1. Arabian Nights
2. Poetics by Aristotle
3. Faust by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
4. Madame Secretary by Madeleine Albright
5. Capital Dames by Cokie Roberts
6. Serena by Ron Rash
7. Walden by Henry David Thoreau

Agatha - continuing to read Agatha Christie books in order

1. Easy to Kill by Agatha Christie - January - 3 stars
2. And Then There Were None - July - 5 stars
3. The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories - November - 3 stars

77. Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen (4 stars)

This book has been languishing on my shelves for the past three years. I didn't really know what it was about only that someone had given it to me thinking I might like it. Very happy to discover a detective series of sorts. The newly established Dept Q solves two problems, it helps close cold cases and it allows the head of the police to relegate his most disliked detective to head up the department in exchange for a nice amount of government funding. I loved the interaction between Carl and Assad. This hit the right amount of humor and mystery for my taste. Now I have another series to read.

78. The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney (4 stars)

Yes, I know this is another privileged family woe story but I couldn't help but enjoy it. The Plumb children have been told that they will inherit a bit of a nest egg when the youngest turns 40. Granted they have been told not to rely on it and that it's just to be extra money, but human nature being what it is, they just can't help themselves. When an accident involving one of the siblings essentially drains the nest egg it leaves the siblings in a bit of quandary of how to fix the mess they have made of their lives. The chapters focus on many different members of the family and/or friends which was a bit jarring at times as I couldn't quite figure out what the point of some of the chapter were. Fortunately it all comes together in the end.

79. Home by Nightfall by Charles Finch (4 stars)

I am now all caught up with this series and now eagerly awaiting the latest installment to be published later this year. One of the things I like most about this series is how the author is not afraid to shake things up. Nobody's lives remain constant or secure which gives it a very real feel.

Yay, being caught up with a series! And a happy new thread to you :)

Recap of where I am with my categories:

2016

Read: 16
Bought but not read: 15
Borrowed: 25

2015
Read: 29
Left: 44

2014
Read: 3
Left: 32

2013
Read: 3
Left: 13

pre-2013
Read: 2
Left: 150 (includes Classics)

Classics
Read: 0

Agatha
Read: 1

Looks like I better get cracking with that pre-2013 and Classics category! Happy that of the books I've purchased this year, I've read more than half. We'll see how long that lasts as I'm going to Bouchercon later this year and always buy a ton of books when I go.

Happy New Thread! Your hint about the Finch series has me intrigued. I'm reading #6 right now, so still a ways to go to see what you mean.

Happy New Thread!

Happy new thread!

Happy New Thread!

>16 LittleTaiko: of the books I've purchased this year, I've read more than half
You've got me beat there!

Happy new thread!

Wow, you read a lot more than me. Who's your favorite author? If there's one book from this thread that I should read - what would it be?

>19 MissWatson: - Thank you! Can't believe it's July already.

>20 VictoriaPL: - I seriously doubt it will last long. I have a serious itch to go on a spending spree.

>21 Jackie_K: - Thank you!

>22 TiffW: - Not sure if I could list a favorite author as it depends on the genre, my mood, and other factors. However, if I had to pick one book from the list of books that I've read so far this year, I would have to say that The Tsar of Love and Techno by Anthony Marra has been my favorite. I loved his first book A Constellation of Vital Phenomena and his follow up did not disappoint.

What about you? Any favorites?

>16 LittleTaiko:, >20 VictoriaPL: Wow, that IS amazing! Good for you! I buy books, and they immediately go to the TBR, because there are hundreds from previous years that I need to read first. Seems like it would make sense to stop bringing more books into the house, but that would be so BOR-ing.

>23 LittleTaiko: I have a serious itch to go on a spending spree.

Ahh, the itch that never goes away!

Congrats on the new thread!

Happy new thread! The Tsar of Love and Techno is, for me too, one of the best books I've read this year.

Yikes! Realized I forgot to copy over one of my categories. Poor neglected books purchased before 2013.



Undergrad - Books acquired before 2013

1. Elements of Style Illustrated by William Strunk Jr. - January - 3 stars
2. Death of a Cozy Writer by G.M. Malliet - April - 3 stars
3. America America by Ethan Canin - July - 3 stars
4. Founding Brothers by Joseph Ellis - July - 3 stars
5. Exiles in the Garden by Ward Just - August - 2 stars
6. Anatomy of a Murder by Robert Traver - August - 1 star (DNF)
7. Jimmy Stewart by Marc Eliot - September - 3 stars
8. Impossible Things by Connie Willis - October - 4 stars

Beginning Count: 78
Current: 70

Possibilities:

A Gentle Madness by Nicholas A. Basbanes
1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
Madame Secretary by Madeline Albright
Serena by Ron Rash

>25 VivienneR: - So scratched that itch and ordered some books last night. I feel better now - even better when they are delivered in a couple of days.

80. America America by Ethan Canin (3 stars)

Interesting book set in the 70's that follows Corey a young teenager who has learned the value of hard work from his father. His attention to details and willingness to work impresses a local wealthy businessman with an interest in politics. He hires Corey to do work around the house. Corey gets to know all the members of the family, especially the two daughters while working and is even invited to take part in some of their family activities. As he goes off to school, he also becomes involved in a presidential campaign that has shades of Ted Kennedy to it. Overall I liked this book, but it jumped around so much that it was hard to stay invested sometimes.

81. Founding Brothers by Joseph Ellis (3 stars)

I usually enjoy anything written by Ellis and this was no different. He focuses on six significant occurrences during the founding of the US. Having seen the musical Hamilton recently, the chapter on the Hamilton/Burr duel was especially interesting.

82. Outsider in Amsterdam by Janwillem van de Wetering (2 stars)

The good: sly humor, one of the two detectives is surprisingly attached to his cat, a look at the Netherlands, a country I don't know much about.

The bad: maybe it's a product of it's time (written in 1975) but it comes across as a bit sexist, racist, and homophobic. Also, the translation seemed particularly stilted which led to some really basic dialogue.

Decent mystery but not a series I'd like to continue.

I like the Amsterdam detectives series quite a bit, and a lot of that is the look at how things were back then. Glad we've moved forward, though.

>14 LittleTaiko:
So glad you liked the Department Q-book! It's a fantastic series.

I've been enjoying a small staycation this weekend which has meant lots of reading.

83. The Noise of Time by Julian Barnes (5 stars)

Slim novel about Dmitri Shostakovich and his struggles with the Soviet government. It's broken into three sections and focuses on the times when he was denounced. It was such a good book and made we want to read more about Shostakovich. Fortunately, I already had The Symphony for the City of the Dead on my shelves and was able to pick that up immediately.

84. Symphony for the City of the Dead by M.T. Anderson (5 stars)

Wow! This will definitely be in my top 5 for the year. A detailed look at Shostakovich's symphonies, his life, and most importantly, the siege of Leningrad during WWII. Shamefully I really didn't know too much about the Russian side of things in WWII and this was quite the eye opener. The author did a great job of taking a rather grim part of history and making it compelling reading.

85. Inspector Specter by E.J. Copperman (4 stars)

This may have been my favorite of the series, though there were a few points that seemed too obvious and I found it hard to believe that none of the detectives involved picked up on them. Love how everybody is getting more comfortable with the ghosts. I do wish that Allison would dial back the sarcasm sometimes, especially when it comes to Maxie.

86. And Then Were None by Agatha Christie (5 stars)

This has always been one of my favorite Christie novels so it was fun to reread it. It may be the first time I've read it without being on edge the whole time. The whole concept of a group of people on an island being killed off one by one in the same fashion mentioned in an old nursery rhyme is just so creepy. Loved it!

87. The Burglar Who Counted Spoons by Lawrence Block (4 stars)

Finally, another entry in the Burglar series. Okay, I've had this book for two years so maybe finally is too strong of a word, but I did enjoy catching up on Bernie's antics. Bernie is having to balance his normal job as a bookseller, his after hours job of burgling, as well as help the police with a suspicious death. Lots of fun as usual.

Great staycation! Glad to see such an enjoyable run of books for you. Did you see the recent BBC adaptation of And Then There Were None? It was excellent.

>34 rabbitprincess: - No, but I really want to watch it. I need to track it down on Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon, or wherever I can find it.

>33 LittleTaiko: A reading staycation sounds wonderful! Nice run of books for you.

88. The Secret Life of Lobsters by Trevor Corson (5 stars)

I had started to read this a few years ago and got stuck on the introduction. This time around no such problem and I'm glad I picked it up again since I absolutely loved it. Who knew that lobsters were so fascinating? Things that I learned are:

1. Male lobsters have two penises
2. Female lobsters search out the male when it's time to mate. They can take in the sperm and then add the eggs later.
3. They shed their shells many, many, many times during the course of the lives
4. It is literally a pissing contest when lobsters are fighting for dominance as the lobsters urinate through their mouths and are spitting pee at their opponent.
5. Smell is very important
6. They can't swim except for the couple of weeks when they are super lobsters. Other than that, they walk. Strange visualization, isn't it?

The author did a great job of balancing the story of the families who make their living catching lobsters with the actual science of lobsters.

89. The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins (3 stars)

Oh wow - this book was just straight up nuts in a funny yet very violent way. It took the first 100 pages or so before I had a handle on what was even happening. This is a book about Carolyn, "her siblings", the man they call Father and a struggle for control of the world. I could really see this being a Quentin Tarentino movie some day solely for the sheer amount of crazy surreal violence.

90. Silas Marner by George Eliot (4 stars)

Simple and sweet tale of a weaver who has been ostracized from his village and finds a place in a neighboring town. He is reluctant to get involved with his local neighbors but instead focuses on saving up his gold. When his gold is stolen it turns his world upside down. When a small child wanders into his cottage it creates more confusion but gives him something to live for. It's a nice tale of how family isn't necessarily defined by who you are related to and helping others.

91. Haunted Season by G.M. Malliet (2 stars)

This is the latest in the Father Max series and the first third was enjoyable. The usual issues with the village, the murder that Max is trying to help solve, etc...Well the last 80 pages or so just went completely off the rails. Seriously, they got people to confess using a headless horseman fake out? The reveal was all done by having Max and the DI telling Awena what happened. And then the totally random chaos of the killer of Max's partner from MI5 days showing up and trying to kill Awena and looking for a miracle cure which had absolutely nothing to do with the murder? What the hell was that about? Okay rant over. Not sure if I'll read another in this series or not, though the very last sentence did have me intrigued as to what the next steps for the characters would be.

>37 LittleTaiko: The Secret Life of Lobsters - wow, just wow...

Somehow I know that I will be sharing these tidbits with my work colleagues today and with my husband tonight...

>38 LisaMorr: Ha! Me, too. The kids will love this information. They're out crabbing now, so it will be almost on topic.

>37 LittleTaiko: yes, I think The Secret Life of Lobsters is a BB for me too, based on your review!

>37 LittleTaiko:
I'll add my "wow" as well! And take a BB.

Wow. Secret Life of Lobsters sounds great. Also, ocean creatures are delightfully weird.

I've been having so much fun watching the first week of the Olympics that my reading has really suffered. I have some reviews to post but it's all for books that I finished before the Olympics started. Now that the swimming is almost over maybe I'll get some more reading done...

92. The BFG by Roald Dahl (3 stars)

Fun book that I probably would have appreciated much more if I had read it first when I was young. The BFG is sweet though his misuse of the language is a bit grating at times. Loved how his story wrapped up in the end. My favorite bit was the reference to Charles Dickens as Dahl's Chickens as a play on words with the authors name.

93. Stoner by John Williams (4 stars)

One of those literary novels where nothing really happens except the quiet unfolding of a rather ordinary life. It's the story of a man who discovers a passion for Literature and becomes a professor at a local college. Despite the books flaws, primarily the depiction of his wife Edith, I still enjoyed it. Hard to explain why as it's just about one man's rather ordinary and sad life.

94. The Wright Brothers by David McCullough (5 stars)

I had forgotten how well McCullough can tell a story. Granted in this case, the Wright Brothers and their accomplishments are so fascinating it should be hard to write a boring story about them. While I obviously knew about their being the first in flight, I had never stopped to consider what an accomplishment that really was. The amount of time, effort, and brains that went into their creation is astounding. I highly recommend this book.

95. Crowned and Dangerous by Rhys Bowen (4 stars)

Latest in the fun Her Royal Spyness series. It picks up right where the last book left off. Love how Georgie and Darcy keep developing as characters. Also loved how Queenie was given an opportunity to improve herself as well.

Only four books left to complete a blackout for the regular bingo card. Time to pull those books off the shelf and focus on completing that. Maybe then I can try to complete the Women's Bingo Pup in which I'm woefully behind on.

>43 LittleTaiko:
Funny, I've heard many people say that about Stoner - that they like it, but don't really know why. :) I'm intrigued.

Haven't had much luck lately with the books I've been reading. Not sure if t's a phase, my mood, expectations of the book, or the book itself.

96. Library Wars by Kiiro Yumi (3 stars)

This entry into the series just didn't grab my attention for some reason. It was fine but I didn't think it added much to the overall story. Since there are only two more left to go, I will read them as well so I can see how it all wraps up.

97. Exiles in the Garden by Ward Just (2 stars)

This ended up being a bit of a slog to finish. For some reason I had it in my head that this was a spy novel so was surprised to find out it was instead a political based fiction novel instead. I was fine with that as an inside look at Washington can be fascinating. However, that isn't what it turned out to be either. Instead it was a lot of navel gazing from a few characters. Lucia in particular was hard to spend any amount of time with as she was so immature and selfish. The lack of quotation marks completely drove me batty. I'm okay with that in some books but it just didn't work here with long passages that drifted in between conversation and thoughts.

98. Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome (2 stars)

Humorous at times tale of three men who decide to take a holiday but sailing and camping for a few days. There attempts were woefully inadequate at times. I found the tone to be funny but the constant telling of events that happened prior to be disjointing.

Here's a hodgepodge of reviews and some DNF's.

99. Truly, Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty (3 stars)

Another solid book by Moriarty. While not my favorite of hers it still hit the spot. In a similar fashion as previous books, she takes a look at three different couples and their take on events, in this case a barbecue that goes disastrously wrong and the implication of the events. I could relate too the characters and she does a great job getting inside their heads. My favorite was Erica who was a mess but boy could I relate to her awkwardness. The ending seemed a bit rushed but other than that I enjoyed it.

100. The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen (3 stars)

Gruesome first book in the Rizzoli series. I haven't seen the TV show so that helped except for the fact that I kept trying to visualize Angie Harmon and the character described is clearly nothing like her. When reading a mystery I prefer it when the reader has a chance to figure out who did it which is most definitely not the case here. Guess it's really more of a thriller.

101. Stories from the Vinyl Cafe by Stuart McLean (4 stars)

This was a delightful collection of stories set in a small Canadian town. I completely see why one of the blurbs compares McLean to Garrison Keillor as they just have a way of telling a story about small town life. Dorothy, the book store owner, featured in my favorite stories. Poor Dave - so well intentioned but hapless, you just don't know whether to help him or roll your eyes. Would love to read more by McLean.

102. Villa America by Liza Klaussmann (2 stars)

One of those books that I liked and hated, often at the same time. Entertaining enough but oh did the characters become annoying. Not sure if it was better or worse that it was based on real people. I'm leaning toward worse as the idea that the author had so much insight into everyone's thoughts comes across as presumptuous. The way the story unfolds is so jumpy that it doesn't allow you to really care about anybody at all, much less want to know what happens to them. Not a fan of switching to having the very end of the book told solely through letters though it did make the book seem shorter then.

103. Board Stiff by Kendel Lynn (4 stars)

Fun first entry in a mystery series that I picked up in 2014. Elliot is working towards her PI license while also working as a director for a local foundation. When one of the board members is murdered she's worried about bad publicity for the foundation and could use the opportunity to get some more hours towards her license. Full of humor, overall realistic situations, and a fairly smart main character, I would definitely recommend this one.

DNF's - I got about halfway through all of these and just couldn't move forward with them for one reason or another. Trying to embrace the notion that life is too short to continue on with books that are boring me.

104. Anatomy of a Murder by Robert Traver
105. Otter Country by Miriam Darlington
106. The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman

>47 LittleTaiko: Yes! There are so many books out there that it's hard to justify spending time trying to slog through ones that don't interest you. And hurray for the Vinyl Cafe! I've attended a couple of tapings and concerts and they are lots of fun.

>47 LittleTaiko: & >48 rabbitprincess: I get podcasts of The Vinyl Cafe and love listening to them as I walk or exercise.

Where has September gone? I've been busy with work and then just got back from a quick vacation to Maine and haven't had time to post any reviews/updates. Taking advantage of a day off to get caught up before heading off to New Orleans to attend Bouchercon. Can't wait!!

107. Library Wars: Love & War, Vol. 14 by Kiiro Yumi (4 stars)

Penultimate book in the series finally gives the readers something they have been waiting for since the beginning. Nice to now that everything will be wrapped up in the final book.

108. Library Wars: Love & War, Vol. 15 by Kiiro Yumi (4 stars)

Final book was good way to finish off the series.

109. The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware ( 4 stars)

A friend of mine enrolled me in a book of month club (needless to say she's an amazing friend!). This was the first book I selected and I enjoyed it quite a bit. It's a sort of locked room mystery in that someone sees a body being thrown overboard during the middle of the night, but how can that be as everybody is present and accounted for the next day? In a similar vein as other recent mystery thrillers the main character might not be the most reliable narrator. There are some flaws with the storyline, for instance if you're so concerned about making contact with people onshore wouldn't you ask somebody when they expected internet access to be restored? Things like that aside it kept me on the edge of my seat.

110. Murder on the Ile Saint-Louis by Cara Black (2 stars)

This one ended up not quite being my cup of tea. A stranger has left a newborn for Aimee to look after. As Aimee tries to track down the baby's mother, take care of the baby, and work her day job life gets complicated. I just couldn't get into the plot of some environmental protest gone wrong.

111. Not My Father's Son by Alan Cumming (4 stars)

One of the rare audio books that I have listened to but after seeing Alan Cumming perform a couple of months ago I decided that if I was going to read his book, the audio version would be best as just listening to him talk is such a treat. I liked how he alternated between the then and now of his life as he grappled with his history with his abusive father and family secrets. Highly recommend the audio version of this book.

112. Jimmy Stewart by Marc Eliot (3 stars)

I held off on reading this for so long since the author's book on Cary Grant had left a negative memory for me after reading it. The author shows the same flaws here by being way too interested in the sex lives of celebrities. Fortunately with this book he did a much better job of balancing out the tawdry tales with actual informative facts about Stewart's life and movies.

113. Title Wave by Lorna Barrett (4 stars)

Always happy to spend some more time with the Booktown crew. This time they are on a book themed cruise where for a bit Tricia stops feeling like a jinx. I'm usually leery when an established series sends their characters outside of their usual habitat, as it ends up feeling a bit forced. This time it works though, probably due to the book themed cruise and it being a sort of working vacation. New developments in the characters lives make me eager for the next book to come out next year.

114. The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil by George Saunders (4 stars)

This funny novella is quite relevant in today's political climate, so much so that I had to keep checking to see when the book was written. The poor people of Inner Harbor only have a small piece of land to live on and in fact have to borrow part of Outer Harbor. Phil - one of the Outer Harbor inhabitants, bearing a grudge over a love affair gone wrong, sets out to extract a bit of revenge things get out of hand quickly. There are unreasonable taxes, feelings of mistrust against people who aren't quite like them, political advisors willing to say whatever it takes to win, etc...

115. A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny (5 stars)

After a couple of books that weren't the strongest in the series it was wonderful to read this one which will probably be one of my favorites. Gamache has finally determined what he's doing next career wise and it's a choice that made me happy as it keeps him involved with the police department and allows him to do what he does best, which is clean up a mess. There was a nice balance between the village activities and the police work. My one complaint is that Gamache insists on being so secretive all the time.

116. Murder on the Mind by L.L. Bartlett (3 stars)

I'm a fan of the author's other series so thought I'd give this one a try. The characters felt real to me and I enjoyed spending time with them. Not sure if I'm sold on the psychic aspect of the story, but it does make for an interesting take on a mystery novel. This time the protagonist knows for sure who the killer is, now it's just a matter of proving it. I'd be interest in reading more in the series to see how this develops.

117. Night Music by Jojo Moyes (3 stars)

The Spanish House is at the center of this story. You have Matt and Laura who were sure they were going to be left the house once the owner passes away as a reward for all the work they've done to help out the owner. Then there is isobel, a recent widow, and her two children who in fact inherit the house. A cast of village characters round out the story. Isobel is not someone I liked in the beginning as I was just wanting to shake her and tell her to grow up already. However, she does in fact grow up throughout the course of the book and I found myself rooting for her.

>50 LittleTaiko: I read the first 10 books in the Library Wars: Love and War series. I need to get the final 5. Glad to read that the ending is wrapped up nicely.
While I liked The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil better than any other book by George Saunders I still didn't like it very much. I just don't get him. Plus, I find his repetitive use of the same themes, particularly amusement parks as metaphors for life, annoying.

So Bouchercon was a ton of fun and of course I ended up bringing home more than my fair share of books - 36 to be exact. Thankfully though for my wallet, most of them were free or else only cost $1 with the proceeds going to charity. Not pictured are the 4 books I won in a contest based on my knowledge of Harlan Coben. Nice to see my reading knowledge pay off!

No other pictures from the event, but one of the highlights was meeting Charles Finch and chatting with him for a couple of minutes.



1. Delivering the Truth by Edith Maxwell
2. Guilty as Cinnamon by Leslie Budewitz
3. The Man on the Washing Machine by Susan Cox
4. Murder in G Major by Alexia Gordon
5. The Outcasts by Kathleen Kent
6. The Dead Don't Bleed by David Krugler
7. The Skeleton Haunts a House by Leigh Perry
8. The Richebourg Affair by R.M. Cartmel
9. Soft Money by K.J.A. Wishing
10. The Secrets of Wishtide by Kate Saunders
11. Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death by James Runcie
12. A Curious Beginning by Deanna Rayburn
13. The Dime by Kathleen Kent
14. Stinger by Diana R. Chambers
15. Death Takes Priority by Jean Flowers
16. By Cook or by Crook by Maya Corrigan
17. Final Fondue by Maya Corrigan
18. A Story to Kill by Lynn Cahoon
19. All You Need is Fudge by Nancy CoCo
20. Fogged Inn by Barbara Ross
21. Japantown by Barry Lancet
22. Tokyo Kill by Barry Lancet
23. The Royal Wulff Murders by Keith McCafferty
24. The Charlemagne Connection by R.M. Cartmel
25. Dying for the Past by Tj O'Connor
26. The Daughter She Used to Be by Rosalind Noonan
27. Killer Cocktail by Tracy Kiely
28. London from my Windows by Mary Carter
29. Echoes of Sherlock Holmes by Laurie R. King
30. Bad Luck and Whiskey by Molly Vandever
31. The Bitter Season by Tami Hoag
32. The Second Life of Nick Mason by Steve Hamilton
33. The Widow by Fiona Barton
34. Maestra by L.S. Hilton
35. Down and Out in Beverly Heels by Kathryn Leigh Scott
36. Design for Dying by Renee Patrick

118. Design for Dying by Renee Patrick (4 stars)

First in a series by the husband/wife writing team known as Renee Patrick, this is set in the 1930's of Hollywood and features Edith Head as a prominent character/sleuth. Loved this look at early Hollywood, the writing was crisp and the story great fun. Ready for the next book to come out next year.

119. Down and Out in Beverly Heels by Kathryn Leigh Scott (3 stars)

The cover makes this seem like a fluffy cozy but in reality it's a bit darker then that, thought not necessarily in an extreme way. The author is an actress and her insider knowledge of the movie/television business shines through. This is the first in a series and focused on an older actress who has lost everything and is in fact homeless and living out of her car though nobody in her circle is aware of the fact. The mystery involves the disappearance of her husband and the suspicious circumstances around that. Pretty good book and I'm curious enough about the character to pick up the second one someday.

120. By Cook or by Crook by Maya Corrigan (4 stars)

A cozy/cooking murder mystery with the hook that all the recipes included in the book only have five ingredients. Val has moved back from New York to live with her grandfather and to try and convince him to sell the old home he lives in. She has settled into a new life involving cooking at the local club and joining a tennis league. When one of the murders is murdered, Val ends up investigating a bit. For me, the way Val "investigated" felt completely natural and logical. Her grandfather is a hoot and provides some nice perspective.

121. The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead (3 stars)

Interesting idea to make the underground railroad a real and functioning railroad in this novel that deals with the horrors of slavery and one woman's attempt to escape north. Really it's more than just about her, it's about all of the people who helped and hindered along the way. While it deals with an important topic, I just couldn't get engaged in Cora's story. Not sure why, but at times I was even a bit bored. I feel kind of bad for feeling that way, but it was hard to really become invested in her story.

Bouchercon in NO. I'm so jealous.

Talking to Charles Finch would be so much fun! I'm jealous too!

AWESOME haul!

I am jealous about Boucheron. I will get there some day! Glad you had a good time and I'm impressed by that lovely, lovely book haul.

Woah. That's an impressive book haul.

I'll be reading The Underground Railroad as soon as I get a copy, but I feel it's hit and miss with people. I read Whitehead's zombie novel Zone One, which I liked but was a heavy read in terms of dense literary language and pondering.

>52 LittleTaiko: Boucheron! I want to go someday!

122. The Mysterious Code by Kathryn Kenny (2 stars)

Not sure what it was that put me off of this book, but I just didn't enjoy this one as much as the first six in the Trixie Belden series. The whole premise just seemed ridiculous as even if the principal banned groups or "gangs", why would that prevent everyone from hanging out after school. Anyway, think I may be done with revisiting my youth with this series.

123. The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim (4 stars)

I wish I could remember how I first heard of this book so that I could thank the person who recommended it. Set in the early 1920's in England and Italy, it is the lovely, simple story of two ladies who see an advertisement for a villa rental in Italy for the month of April. Desperately in need of a change of scenery they find two other women to join them in an effort to keep the costs low. The magic of Italy soon works its spell on the ladies. Reading this made me feel like I might be reading a Pym novel. Since Barbara Pym came after this book was published, I can't help but wonder if it had any influence on her writing.

124. Murder in the Secret Garden by Ellery Adams (3 stars)

Yea! My favorite fictional location is back with Storyton Hall. Seriously, if I ever come into a whole bunch of money, I'm going to start a book themed resort and steal some of the ideas from the book. Sadly, for Jane there is yet another murder with one of her visiting groups. The one small bright side is that at least the murders didn't occur on her property. With people being poisoned and a whole lot of herbalists on the premises there are plenty of suspects.

>60 LittleTaiko: A movie was made from The Enchanted April, you might want to look it up. It's been so long since I've seen it I can't remember what I thought of it but I loved the book.

I've seen a number of people here who liked The Enchanted April and I'm hoping to get to it soon also.

I really need to get back to the Ellery Adams series. Maybe next year when I binge series read.

>61 clue: - I have that movie marked as one to watch someday.

>62 dudes22: - Hope you enjoy it. And binging on series sounds like a lot of fun for next year!

125. Terror in Taffeta by Marla Cooper (4 stars)

Fun first book in a new series that focuses on wedding planner, Kelsey and the wedding part at the destination wedding in Mexico. When one of the bridesmaids dies minutes before the ceremony it seems odd. Finding out she has been poisoned and that the police suspect one of the wedding party is still shocking. Kelsey ends up trying to figure out who else could have done it in an effort to appease the mother of the bride. Looking forward to the next one set in California wine country.

126. Death of Santini by Pat Conroy (4 stars)

One of those books that makes you feel much better about your own family. Love the sarcasm and dark humor that the family seems to have used to survive their childhood and to cope as adults.

127. Why Shoot a Butler? by Georgette Heyer (3 stars)

Old-fashioned detective novel with damsels in distress, grim leading men, and rich people and their parties. Not sure I liked the main character that much, but then again that is the point I believe. Really enjoyed the couple of passages from Bill, the dog's, perspective.

128. Impossible Things by Connie Willis (3 stars)

A collection of short stories by one of my favorite authors. My favorites were "Even the Queen" where women and science have turned a basic part of being a female upside down, "Spice Program" - with a nod to the screwball comedies of early Hollywood, and "At the Rialto" with more screwball Hollywood fun with a dash of quantum physics thrown in.

>52 LittleTaiko: Nice haul! I've never been to Bouchercon but it sounds wonderful for mystery fans. I'm seriously considering attending in 2017, as it's going to be in Toronto, which is not too far from my home, with guest of honour Louise Penny. (BTW, I really liked the new setting for A Great Reckoning too.)

>65 mathgirl40: Do it! I'm planning to go too! :)

>67 mathgirl40: Knowing that other LT members will be there gives me extra incentive to go! Will you be going too, Stacy?

>64 LittleTaiko: Yay, Impossible Things! "Spice Pogrom" and "At the Rialto" are two of my favorite stories in that collection too. :)

>52 LittleTaiko:
That is very impressive! And good job on getting them all home... :)

Man have I been neglecting my own thread. Real life was busy for a bit between work and my personal life. My husband had surgery a couple of weeks ago to repair a detached retina. He's healing nicely, but can't drive yet which means taking him to his doctor's appointments and running the errands he used to do. At least things are getting back to normal so I've been catching up on other peoples threads and setting up my 2017.

>65 mathgirl40: & >66 rabbitprincess: - It is such a fun convention - I hope you get to go. Not sure if I'll be able to go or not. The timing is a little tricky with my work schedule but it's so tempting to try with Louise Penny as the guest of honor and a chance to maybe meet some other LT people there.

>68 christina_reads: - She really hits my sweet spot with the screwball comedies.

>69 -Eva-: - Thanks! It helped that the convention gives you a bag for the books. It became my second carry on item. That and I've learned to leave lots of room in my suitcase so I can fill the extra space with books. I was just relieved that my bag was still under 50 pound.

Now for a mad dash of reading updates.

129. Dying for the Past by TJ O'Connor (2 stars)

This is a cozy mystery where the main character is a dead detective who now spends his time as a ghost detective. He can communicate with his wife and ex-partner and help them solve cases. This book was just too all over the place for me to really enjoy it.

130. Scam Chowder by Maya Corrigan (2 stars)

Not sure if it was my general mood and stress level while reading this that led me to dislike it so much compared to the first book in the series which I enjoyed quite a bit. One of the reasons I enjoyed the first book was because Val didn't intentionally snoop. She just found things out and passed it along as a normal person would. This time she was just flat our investigating and making some stupid decisions. I already own the third book so we'll see if it switches back to a better tone.

131. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis (4 stars)

How did I not read this when I was a kid? Fun, quick, adventure story.

132. Cosmicomics by Italo Calvino (4 stars)

I can't even pretend that I understood the math references in this slim collection of short stories. All of them detail aspects of the creation of the universe and have Calvino's humor. Really enjoyed reading this.

133. Ghost in the Wind by E. J. Copperman (3 stars)

Not as good as the previous entries as there were some aspects that just had me rolling my eyes (the band performance for one). Allison seemed a bit more juvenile this time around, but fortunately it is still such a fun group of people to spend some time with that I enjoyed it.

134. A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles (4 stars)

This was just a delightful book to read. So many lovely phrases, it's a book to spend some time with and let it just unfold. It's the story of the Count who has been sentenced to a house arrest of sorts while living in a hotel. He is to spend the Russian Revolution in the confines of the hotel. The people he meets along the way lead to a very fulfilling life.

135. Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid (4 stars)

What defines a marriage? How do you grieve something that you only found recently? These are some of the questions posed by this story of a woman who has just lost her husband of nine days. She hasn't even met her mother-in-law yet. When they do it becomes about healing and finding common ground. Really enjoyed this, though Ben was a bit unbelievable.

>71 LittleTaiko: I'm so glad to see you liked this. I loved Rules of Civility and when I saw A Gentleman in Moscow at the bookstore yesterday I lost all control and bought it! It will probably be a few weeks before I get to it but so look forward to it.

>70 LittleTaiko: That is very good to know about the tote bag and the opportunity to get lots of books! Fortunately I will be staying with my parents and can leave a lot of surplus books with them ;)

>71 LittleTaiko: Forever, Interrupted looks intriguing! I've been meaning to try Taylor Jenkins Reid.

>72 clue: - Somehow I seem to be the one person who had never heard or read Rules of Civility until now. I bought it once I started hearing buzz about A Gentleman in Moscow and look forward to reading it next year for my debut novels category.

>73 rabbitprincess: - You'll be able to load up then! Nice.

>74 christina_reads: - I picked up a couple of hers after reading Maybe In Another Life earlier this year and really enjoying it. So far I'm two for two on liking her books!

Really quick thoughts on some books I've finished recently.

136. Gaudy Night by Dorothy L. Sayers (4 stars)

Finally got around to reading this one and am glad that I did. Haven't read many of the Lord Wimsey books, but had heard good things about this one. It focuses primarily on Harriet Vane and her return to her alma mater for a reunion. Very well thought out book.

137. Some Tame Gazelle by Barbara Pym (3 stars)

This debut book of Pym's shows some hints of what is to come in her later works. She's exploring small village life and the personalities within. It was a bit slow going towards the end but still a decent enough entry in the Pym catalog.

138. The Inheritance by Charles Finch (4 stars)

So happy that the latest installment in this series came out. Finally, back with Lenox, Lady Jane, Darlington, etc...Love how the author handles the flashbacks to Lenox's school days.

139. Dig Two Graves by Kim Powers (2 stars)

Interesting premise where revenge is taken by making someone go through a modern day version of the 12 labors of Hercules. However, the characters just didn't ring true to me. Really found it hard to believe that the police detective would have allowed much of the events to actually occur.

140. All You Need is Fudge by Nancy CoCo (3 stars)

I needed something light and fun to read so picked up this book which definitely fit the bill. While I hadn't read the others in the series I had no problem getting a feel for the characters and their history. Allie and her dog seem to keep stumbling over dead bodies which the local police department seems to find almost humorous. When not baking fudge (recipes included) Allie is trying to help solve the latest case in order to help our her boyfriend's family. Fun cast of characters.

141. The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories by Agatha Christie (3 stars)

Agatha Christie is my go to author for a good comfort read. Normally I'm not a big fan of the short stories, but this time around it worked for me reading a story each night gave me something to look forward to. It was a nice collection of Poirot, Miss Marple, and Parker Pyne stories.

142. The Lost Garden by Helen Humphreys (5 stars)

I have to thank clue for mentioning this book on her post and making it sound so delightful. A slim novel set during WWII, this finds Gwen heading out to the county to do her bit by helping prepare vegetable gardens for the war effort. Poor Gwen isn't the best in social situations and is much more suited for a solitary gardening world. What she gets instead is a treat to read about.

143. A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters by Julian Barnes (3 stars)

This is an amusing look at the world and how we are all linked together somehow. It starts with the tale of Noah's Ark from the perspective of a woodworm who was on the ship whether you believe it or not. The remaining stories tie back in some way to the ark or the wormwood though it might be in a small way. It sounds nuts but it was interesting and though-provoking at times.

I've just started The Lost Garden because clue and someone else - who I can't think of now - mentioned it and it's been on my TBR for a while. I'm enjoying it so far.

>77 LittleTaiko: I'll have to keep The Lost Garden in mind. I liked Coventry by Humpreys, also set during WWII.

Slowly making me way back into visiting threads. Pretty much skim reading to get caught up. Looks like we both had the same reaction to Keeper of Lost Causes (Yes, I am that far behind with reading threads!). Looking forward to reading book two in the series this coming January. OMG... you got to meet Charles Finch!?! WOOT!

Great batch of reading since I was last visiting!

... all caught up!

>80 lkernagh: - I put the second book on my Christmas wish list to my parents. Since my dad is a fan of the books I'm hoping I'll find it under my tree and can read it next year too.

144. A Robot in the Garden by Deborah Install (5 stars)

Really charming fantasy novel about Tang the robot who shows up in the garden of Ben and Amy. Their marriage is on shaky ground and Ben's decision to try to help Tang does not help matters any. It was a sweet and amusing way to spend a few hours.

145. After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid (4 stars)

What happens after you say I do and the day to day life begins? If you are Lauren and Ryan you have found that the romance has been drained from their lives and has been replaced with something closer to extreme dislike for each other. While this book started really slow and I was pretty convinced I wasn't going to like it, it grew on me once they started their unorthodox approach to fixing their marriage. It helped that the main focus actually was on Lauren and other members of her family who were delightful.

146. Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (2 stars)

While I can appreciate the backstory to how this tale came to be, it just isn't something that is in my wheelhouse. It was amusing at times but Alice is such a selfish self-absorbed child that it became exasperating to read at times. Plus, I'm not really geared to enjoy crazy fantasy novels, I need a bit more realism.

147. Echoes of Sherlock Holmes by Laurie R. King (4 stars)

Fun collection of stories that were inspired by the Holmes canon. My absolute favorite was the first story called "Holmes on the Range" which imagines a world where there is a library that houses literary characters after the author's die. Would that not be the best place to work?

Final quick list of books from 2016

148. Commonwealth by Ann Patchett (4 stars)

149. Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan (4 stars)

150. The Wangs vs. The World by Jade Chang (2 stars)

151. The Mothers by Brit Bennett (4 stars)

152. Thirteen Guests by Jefferson Farjeon (4 stars)

153. Home by Harlan Coben (3 stars)

>82 LittleTaiko: I love that idea in "Holmes on the Range"! I'll have to look for that collection of stories.

See you over in the 2017 group!