Daisy's 2018 Category Challenge

This is my first time participating in the Category Challenge, which I'm quite excited about. I've decided to go with ten fairly broad categories, and aim for ten books per category. Books can only go in one category, but I may move some between categories to help reach the goal. Books started before 2018 will count as long as I finish them in 2018.

The categories I've settled on are:
1. Mysteries
2. Historical fiction
3. Juvenile fiction
4. Classics
5. Vintage/lesser-known classics
6. Short stories, essays & poetry
7. Biography & memoir
8. Other non-fiction
9. Books owned before 2018
10. Anything that doesn't fit into any of these categories!

I'll also be joining in with the CATs and AlphaKIT, although I may not participate every month. I'll probably post some possibilities for these in the coming weeks.

Mysteries

1. The Scent of Almonds and Other Stories by Camilla Lackberg
2. The Huntsman's Tale by Ann Swinfen
3. The Man in the Brown Suit by Agatha Christie
4. The Inspector and Mrs Jeffries by Emily Brightwell
5. Shadows in Bronze by Lindsey Davis
6. Ode to a Banker by Lindsey Davis
7. Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie
8. The Fourth Horseman by Sarah Woodbury
9. Anne Belinda by Patricia Wentworth
10. The Red House Mystery by A. A. Milne
11. Mystery Mile by Margery Allingham
12. The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler

Historical fiction

1. Two Chalet School Girls in India by Priyadarshini Narendra
2. A Sidekick's Tale by Elisabeth Grace Foley
3. The Scarlet Pimpernel by Emmuska Orczy
4. Elizabeth, Captive Princess by Margaret Irwin

Juvenile fiction

1. The Glass Bird Girl by Esme Kerr
2. The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
3. The School at the Chalet by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer (re-read)
4. The Poisoned Honey Cake by Caroline Lawrence
5. Tenth at Trinders by Dorothea Moore
6. Susan's Trying Term by Jane Shaw
7. A Really-Truly Princess by Amanda Kastner
8. A Job for Susan by Jane Shaw
9. Paddington Helps Out by Michael Bond
10. Where is Susan? by Jane Shaw
11. Eustacia Goes to the Chalet School by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer
12. The Chalet School Goes to It by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer
13. The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
14. Journey to Jo'burg by Beverley Naidoo
15. Mandie and the Secret Tunnel by Lois Gladys Leppard
16. The New House at the Chalet School by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer
17. Jo Returns to the Chalet School by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer
18. Caddy Ever After by Hilary McKay (re-read)
19. An Episode of Sparrows by Rumer Godden

Classics

1. Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne
2. Charlotte's Web by E. B. White
3. Rupert of Hentzau by Anthony Hope
4. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
5. Anne of the Island by L. M. Montgomery

Vintage: Lesser-known classics

1. The Black Cabinet by Patricia Wentworth
2. Veronica at the Wells by Lorna Hill
3. Pixie O'Shaughnessy by Mrs. George de Horne Vaizey
4. Kingdom Lost by Patricia Wentworth
5. Guard Your Daughters by Diana Tutton
6. The Chalet School and the Lintons by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer
7. Peter's Room by Antonia Forest
8. Masquerade at the Wells by Lorna Hill
9. Catherine, Head of the House by Joanna Lloyd
10. Summer Half by Angela Thirkell
11. The Scholarship Girl by Josephine Elder
12. Charlotte Fairlie by D. E. Stevenson
13. Miss Buncle's Book by D. E. Stevenson
14. The Getting of Wisdom by Henry Handel Richardson

Short stories, essays & poetry

1. Seriously Funny 2 by Adrian Plass and Jeff Lucas
2. Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide by J. K. Rowling
3. Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies by J. K. Rowling
4. When We Were Very Young by A. A. Milne

Biography & memoir

1. The Family Nobody Wanted by Helen Doss
2. The Girl from Aleppo by Nujeen Mustafa
3. Mama's Bank Account by Kathryn Forbes
4. Too Marvellous for Words! by Julie Welch
5. Patricia St. John Tells Her Own Story by Patricia St. John
6. Booked: Literature in the Soul of Me by Karen Swallow Prior

Non-fiction

1. Bacon Sandwiches and Salvation by Adrian Plass
2. The Essential Arithmetricks by Kjartan Poskitt (re-read)
3. The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi by Kathie Lee Gifford
4. Anecdotes of the Cynics by various authors
5. The Durrells of Corfu by Michael Haag
6. The Four Loves by C. S. Lewis
7. Paradoxology by Krish Kandiah
8. No. More. Plastic by Martin Dorey

TBR Pile: Books owned before 2018

This category *is* allowed to cross over with the others.

1. The Glass Bird Girl by Esme Kerr
2. Veronica at the Wells by Lorna Hill
3. When Hope Calls by David Lui
4. A Really-Truly Princess by Amanda Kastner
5. The Girl from Aleppo by Nujeen Mustafa
6. Too Marvellous for Words! by Julie Welch
7. A Sidekick's Tale by Elisabeth Grace Foley
8. Masquerade at the Wells by Lorna Hill
9. The Four Loves by C. S. Lewis
10. Summer Half by Angela Thirkell
11. Charlotte Fairlie by D. E. Stevenson
12. The Fourth Horseman by Sarah Woodbury
13. The Red House Mystery by A. A. Milne
14. Elizabeth, Captive Princess by Margaret Irwin
15. In My Father's House by Corrie ten Boom
16. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
17. When We Were Very Young by A. A. Milne

Miscellaneous: Anything that doesn't fit into one of the above categories

1. Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor
2. When Hope Calls by David Lui
3. A Symphony of Echoes by Jodi Taylor
4. A Second Chance by Jodi Taylor
5. A Trail Through Time by Jodi Taylor
6. No Time Like the Past by Jodi Taylor
7. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
8. Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan
9. What Could Possibly Go Wrong? by Jodi Taylor
10. The Prince of Fishes by Suzannah Rowntree
11. The Sacred Diary of Adrian Plass, Christian Speaker Aged 45 3/4 by Adrian Plass (re-read)
12. First Term at Cotterford by Liz Filleul

CATs/KITs
(bold = completed)

January
ColourCAT (Black): The Black Cabinet by Patricia Wentworth
MysteryCAT (Nordic): The Scent of Almonds and Other Stories by Camilla Lackberg
RandomCAT (Book bullet): Just One Damned Thing After Another & A Symphony of Echoes by Jodi Taylor
AlphaKIT (V): Veronica at the Wells by Lorna Hill & Pixie O'Shaughnessy by Mrs. George de Horne Vaizey
AlphaKIT (M): The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner & Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne & Paddington Helps Out by Michael Bond

February
ColourCAT (Brown): The Man in the Brown Suit by Agatha Christie
MysteryCAT (Female detective): The Man in the Brown Suit by Agatha Christie
RandomCAT: A Second Chance by Jodi Taylor
AlphaKIT (P): Two Chalet School Girls in India by Priyadarshini Narendra
AlphaKIT (J): Susan's Trying Term by Jane Shaw & A Second Chance by Jodi Taylor

March
ColourCAT (Green): Shadows in Bronze by Lindsey Davis
MysteryCAT (Global mysteries): Shadows in Bronze by Lindsay Davis & The New Catacomb by Arthur Conan Doyle (short story)
RandomCAT (In the news): The Girl from Aleppo by Nujeen Mustafa
AlphaKIT (F): Seriously Funny 2 by Adrian Plass and Jeff Lucas
AlphaKIT (I): The Inspector and Mrs Jeffries by Emily Brightwell

April
ColourCAT (Yellow): Mama's Bank Account by Kathryn Forbes
MysteryCAT (Classic/Golden Age): Kingdom Lost by Patricia Wentworth
RandomCAT (April): Kingdom Lost by Patricia Wentworth
AlphaKIT (Y): Guard Your Daughters by Diana Tutton
AlphaKIT (U)

May
ColourCAT (Blue): Too Marvellous for Words! by Julie Welch & The Chalet School and the Lintons by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer
MysteryCAT (Transit)
RandomCAT (Spring)
AlphaKIT (Q): The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
AlphaKIT (K): Paradoxology by Krish Kandiah

June
ColourCAT (Purple)
MysteryCAT (True Crime)
RandomCAT (unusual narrator)
AlphaKIT (G): A Sidekick's Tale by Elisabeth Grace Foley
AlphaKIT (R): Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies by J. K. Rowling & Peter's Room by Antonia Forest & The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi by Kathie Lee Gifford

July
ColourCAT (Pink)
MysteryCAT (Police procedurals)
RandomCAT (getting to know you)
AlphaKIT (S): Patricia St. John Tells Her Own Story by Patricia St. John & Summer Half by Angela Thirkell & The Scholarship Girl by Josephine Elder & Mandie and the Secret Tunnel by Lois Gladys Leppard
AlphaKIT (A): Anecdotes of the Cynics by various authors & Summer Half by Angela Thirkell

August
ColourCAT (Grey)
MysteryCAT (Historical mysteries): Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie
RandomCAT (mountains)
AlphaKIT (O): Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
AlphaKIT (D): Charlotte Fairlie by D. E. Stevenson & Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie

September
ColourCAT (Metallic)
MysteryCAT (Noir/Hard-boiled)
RandomCAT (birthday)
AlphaKIT (B): Little Beach Street Bakey by Jenny Colgan
AlphaKIT (E)

October
ColourCAT (Orange)
MysteryCAT (Espionage)
RandomCAT (playing cards)
AlphaKIT (N)
AlphaKIT (L): Booked: Literature in the Soul of Me by Karen Swallow Prior

November
ColourCAT (Red): The Red House Mystery by A. A. Milne
MysteryCAT (Cosy mysteries): The Red House Mystery by A. A. Milne & Anne Belinda by Patricia Wentworth
RandomCAT (money)
AlphaKIT (T)
AlphaKIT (H): In My Father's House by Corrie ten Boom

December
ColourCAT (White)
MysteryCAT (Futuristic/Fantastical)
RandomCAT (Secret Santa)
AlphaKIT (C): Caddy Ever After by Hilary McKay
AlphaKIT (W)

Yearlong
AlphaKIT (X)
AlphaKIT (Z)

BingoDOG



1. Book that fits at least 2 KITs/CATs: The Man in the Brown Suit by Agatha Christie
2. Title contains name of a famous person, real or fictional: Jane Austen: A Life by Claire Tomalin
3. Money in the title - any form of currency, type of payment, etc...: A Shilling for Candles by Josephine Tey
4. Originally in a different language: The Scent of Almonds by Camilla Lackberg
5. Book bought in 2017 that hasn’t been read yet: Veronica at the Wells by Lorna Hill
6. New-to-you author: When Hope Calls by David Lui
7. Autobiography/memoir: The Family Nobody Wanted by Helen Doss
8. Book published in 2018: The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi by Kathie Lee Gifford
9. A long-time TBR/TBR the longest: Elizabeth, Captive Princess by Margaret Irwin
10. Book with a beautiful cover (in your opinion): The Secret River by Kate Grenville
11. Poetry or plays: The Sidney Psalter by Sir Philip and Mary Sidney
12. LGBT central character: Speak Its Name by Kathleen Jowitt
13. Read a CAT (middle square): The Black Cabinet by Patricia Wentworth
14. Title contains a person’s rank, real or fictional: The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
15. Published more than 100 years ago: Pixie O'Shaughnessy by Mrs. George de Horne Vaizey
16. Book that is humorous: Bacon Sandwiches and Salvation by Adrian Plass
17. Fat book - 500 plus pages: Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain
18. X somewhere in the title: Paradoxology by Krish Kandiah
19. Relative name in the title (aunt, niece, etc...): Guard Your Daughters by Diana Tutton
20. Related to the Pacific Ocean: Kingdom Lost by Patricia Wentworth
21. Book set during a holiday
22. Title contains something you would see in the sky: The Glass Bird Girl by Esme Kerr
23. Book on the 1001 list: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
24. Number in the title: Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor
25. Story involves travel: The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

Welcome! I've had great fun reading everyone else's challenge threads so far and I look forward to 2018.

Welcome to the challenge! Looks like you've put together a nice broad list of categories...I look forward to seeing what you read, especially for lesser-known classics!

Welcome to the Category Challenge. Many of your categories mesh with mine so I will be watching to see what you chose to read. :)

You are most welcome here! Hope your challenges and reading are wonderful for the whole year.

Welcome, Daisy! I hope you enjoy it here! :)

Welcome! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Welcome aboard and enjoy the challenge!

Hi Daisy, nice to have you here. I look forward to seeing what you're reading.

Welcome to the challenge!

Looking forward to following your reading adventures next year!

Welcome to the group! Your categories look very enticing.

Welcome to the challenge and enjoy your reading!

Welcome! Can't wait to see what you read in 2018.

So glad to have you join our group. I like how you are taking a relaxed attitude to the challenge. It keeps it enjoyable. Have a great year!

I'm glad you joined us and wish you the best reading year ever. See you in 2018!

First two books finished:

1. Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor
Rating: 4 / 5
Category: Miscellaneous
CATs/KITs: RandomCAT (book bullet) - recommended by a friend
BingoDOG #24: Number in the title

2. The Family Nobody Wanted by Helen Doss
Rating: 4 / 5
Category: Biography & Memoir
BingoDOG #7: Autobiography or memoir

3. The Glass Bird Girl by Esme Kerr
Rating: 4 / 5
Category: TBR pile, Juvenile fiction
BingoDOG #22: Something you can see in the sky

4. Bacon Sandwiches and Salvation by Adrian Plass
Rating: 3.5 / 5
Category: Non-Fiction
BingoDOG #16: Book that is humorous

5. The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
Rating: 4.5 / 5
Category: Juvenile Fiction
CATs/KITs: AlphaKIT (M); RandomCAT (book bullet)
BingoDOG #25: Involves travel

>31 Rusty37: OH! *hops up and down excitedly* I LOVE that series!! I hope you do, too. If you weren't blow away by the first book, do consider continuing, as that first one is the weakest in the series (even though I still love it tons, too).

Oh, and um, Hi, daisy_may! I'm Amber.

(I think I did that backwards. Apologies.)

>32 scaifea: Hi! I thought it was really good, and definitely plan to read the next book soon. I've seen others saying similar things to you so I have really high expectations for the rest of the series!

6. A Symphony of Echoes by Jodi Taylor
Rating: 4 / 5
Category: Miscellaneous
CATs/KITs: RandomCAT (book bullet)

Just chiming in to say I also love the Megan Whalen Turner series! I might have to reread it this year.

I've got a bit behind with this...

7. The Black Cabinet by Patricia Wentworth
Rating: 3.5 / 5
Category: Vintage
CATs/KITs: ColourCat (black)
BingoDOG #13: Read a CAT

8. Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne
Rating: 4 / 5
Category: Classics, Juvenile fiction
CATs/KITs: AlphaKit (M)

9. The School at the Chalet by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer
Rating: 4 / 5
Category: Classics, Juvenile fiction

10. The Poisoned Honey Cake by Caroline Lawrence
Rating: 3 / 5
Category: Juvenile fiction

11. The Scent of Almonds and Other Stories by Camilla Lackberg
Rating: 3 / 5
Format: Paperback
Source: Library
Category: Mystery
CATs/KITs: MysteryCAT (Nordic)
BingoDOG #4: Originally in a different language

12. Veronica at the Wells by Lorna Hill
Rating: 3 / 5
Format: Paperback
Source: Owned
Category: TBR Pile, Vintage
CATs/KITs: AlphaKIT (V)

13. When Hope Calls by David Lui
Rating: 3 / 5
Format: Ebook
Source: Owned
Category: TBR Pile
BingoDOG #6: New to you author

14. Pixie O'Shaughnessy by Mrs George de Horne Vaizey
Rating: 4 / 5
Format: Ebook
Source: Project Gutenberg
Category: Vintage
CATs/KITs: AlphaKIT (V)
BingoDOG #18: X in the title

Looks like you've been having a good reading year so far!

You are doing a good job on getting that Bingo Card filled. :)

Such accolades for The Thief is putting it on my wishlist, for sure. :)

>39 DeltaQueen50:: I haven't been seeking out the books - it's just how it's worked out! I expect it'll start to slow down though.

>40 -Eva-:: I really enjoyed it - definitely would recommend.

15. Tenth at Trinder's by Dorothea Moore
Rating: 3.5 / 5
Category: Juvenile fiction

16. Susan's Trying Term by Jane Shaw
Rating: 4 / 5
Category: Juvenile fiction
CATs/KITs: AlphaKIT (J)

17. A Second Chance by Jodi Taylor
Rating: 3.5 / 5
Format: Paperback
Source: Borrowed
Category: Miscellaneous
CATs/KITs: RandomCAT (Feb)
This includes a trip to a cheese-rolling festival, so I'm counting it for RandomCAT, although it's only a very small part of the book.

18. The Essential Arithmetricks by Kjartan Poskitt (re-read)
Rating: 4 / 5
Format: Paperback
Source: Owned
Category: Non-fiction
CATs/KITs: None

19. The Huntsman's Tale by Ann Swinfen
Rating: 2.5 / 5
Format: Ebook
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Category: Mystery
I didn't enjoy this as much as the previous two books in the series, although I'll probably read at least the next book since I already have it on my Kindle.

20. A Really-Truly Princess by Amanda Kastner
Rating: 4 / 5
Format: Ebook
Source: Owned
Category: Juvenile fiction; TBR pile
This was quite a fun, sweet book, which I'd probably have enjoyed as a child.

I still have to finish The Man in the Brown Suit for February's MysteryCAT and ColourCAT. Still not sure what I'm reading for this month's MysteryCAT and RandomCAT (although I do intend to read something), but I intend to get around to finishing Anne of the Island for ColourCAT (since it's in the Anne of Green Gables series), and it will also count for AlphaKIT. My other AlphaKIT book will probably be A Sidekick's Tale by Elisabeth Grace Foley, which I have started but need to get around to finishing.

21. A Job for Susan by Jane Shaw
Rating: 4 / 5
Format: Ebook
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Category: Juvenile fiction
CATs/KITs: none

43 I just finished A Second Chance! I wish I had grabbed the next book from the library when I had a chance.

22. Paddington Helps Out by Michael Bond
Rating: 4 / 5
Format: Paperback
Source: Library
Category: Juvenile fiction, Classics
CATs/KITs: none

23. The Inspector and Mrs Jeffries by Emily Brightwell
Rating: 4 / 5
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Category: Mystery, Historical fiction
CATs/KITs: AlphaKIT - I

23a. The New Catacomb by Arthur Conan Doyle (short story)
Rating: 4 / 5
Format: Paperback
Source: Library
Category: Mystery
CATs/KITs: MysteryCAT - Global (set in Rome)

24. The Man in the Brown Suit by Agatha Christie
Rating: 3.5 / 5
Category: Mystery
CATs/KITs: ColourCAT - Brown; MysteryCAT - Female detective
BingoDOG: Fits two CATs/KITs
I'm not sure why this took me so long to finish, because it was good, but I'm glad I have finally got around to doing so.

>48 Rusty37: - I adore the Mrs. Jeffries series. It's been fun to follow the group through all their adventures as well as see how their lives continue to change.

25. The Girl from Aleppo by Nujeen Mustafa
Rating: 4 / 5
Format: Ebook
Source: Owned
Category: Biography/Memoir
CATs/KITs: RandomCAT March - in the news. It's the story of a Syrian girl with cerebal palsy who travels the refugee trail across Europe, so relates to several current topics.

26. A Trail Through Time by Jodi Taylor
Rating: 3.5 / 5
Format: Paperback
Source: Borrowed
Category: Miscellaneous
CATs/KITs: None

27. Where is Susan? by Jane Shaw
Rating: 3.5 / 5
Format: Ebook
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Category: Juvenile fiction, Vintage
CATs/KITs: None

28. Shadows in Bronze by Lindsey Davis
Rating: 4 / 5
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Category: Historical fiction, Mystery
CATs/KITs: March ColourCAT (green) and MysteryCAT (global). It has a green cover and it set in Italy. It's a bit late, but I did start it in March, so I'm counting it.

>50 LittleTaiko:: I'm just about to start the next one!

29. Kingdom Lost by Patricia Wentworth
Rating: 4 / 5
Format: Ebook
Category: Vintage
CATs/KITs: MysteryCAT and RandomCAT. I downloaded it in April 2017.
BingoDOG: #20 Pacific Ocean related. The story opens on an island in the Pacific, where the heroine has grown up.

I'm not sure this can really be classed as a mystery, but as it was billed as such I'm counting it for MysteryCAT anyway. I still found it an enjoyable read. The characterisation was very good and I wanted to know how it would all turn out.

30. Two Chalet School Girls in India by Priyadarshini Narendra
Rating: 3.5 / 5
Format: Ebook
Category: Historical fiction
CATs/KITs: AlphaKIT - P (from February). Better late than never! I read the first third or so of this in February and then got distracted. It was a good read; I'm not sure all of the characters felt true to the rest of the series, but I enjoyed the descriptions of India and thought it was a good book in its own right

31. Mama's Bank Account by Kathryn Forbes
Rating: 4 / 5
Format: Ebook
Category: Biography & Memoir
CATs/KITs: ColourCAT - Yellow. It has a yellow cover.

The story of a Norwegian immigrant family living in the US in the early 1900s. I found it a very enjoyable read.

April Summary

Books read: 7
Physical books: 1
Ebooks: 5
Audio books: 1

Owned: 2
Library: 2
Kindle Unlimited: 2
Borrowed: 1

Female author: 7
Male author: 0

The Girl from Aleppo
A Trail Through Time
Where is Susan?
Kingdom Lost
Two Chalet School Girls in India
Mama's Bank Account
Shadows in Bronze

I'm quite surprised that I only finished one physical book this month! Also, all of the books I read were by female authors. I know I tend to read more books by women than men, but I it's usually a bit more even than that! I'm hoping to read more books from my shelves next month - although looking at my CAT selections, I'm not sure that's going to happen.

I've done better with the CATs this month than in February and March, and have finished off a few leftover books, although I still have my two AlphaKIT books to finish - Guard Your Daughters and The Matchmakers - but hopefully will do so in the next week or so. I've already started The Queen of Attolia for next month's AlphaKIT, because my Open Library loan reservation came in earlier than I expected, so I've got a head start on May.

32. Charlotte's Web by E. B. White
Rating: 4.25 / 5
Format: Audiobook
Category: Classics
CATs/KITs: None

33. Eustacia Goes to the Chalet School by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer
Rating: 4 / 5
Format: Ebook
Category: Juvenile fiction
CATs/KITs: None

34. Guard Your Daughters by Diana Tutton
Rating: 4 / 5
Format: Physical book
Category: Vintage
CATs/KITs: April AlphaKIT (Y)
BingoDOG: #19 - Relative name in the title

35. The Chalet School Goes to It by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer
Rating: 3 / 5
Format: Physical book
Category: Juvenile fiction
CATs/KITs: None

36. Seriously Funny 2 by Adrian Plass and Jeff Lucas
Rating: 4 / 5
Format: Physical book
Category: Short stories, essays & poetry
CATs/KITs: AlphaKIT - P (from March)

37. Too Marvellous for Words! by Julie Welch
Rating: 4 / 5
Format: Physical book
Category: Biography & memoir; TBR pile
CATs/KITs: ColourCAT - blue (blue cover)

38. The Chalet School and the Lintons by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer
Rating: 3.5 / 5
Format: Physical book
Category: Vintage
CATs/KITs: ColourCAT - blue (blue cover)

39. No Time Like the Past by Jodi Taylor
Rating: 4 / 5
Format: Physical book
Category: Miscellaneous
CATs/KITs: None
I think this is my favourite of the series so far.

40. Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide by J. K. Rowling
Rating: 3.5 / 5
Format: Ebook
Category: Miscellaneous
CATs/KITs: None
I enjoyed this, there was some information which was new to me (although I realise most of it is on Pottermore) and which I found quite interesting. It is very short, though.

>62 Rusty37:
I'll be needing that Rowling book!

>63 -Eva-: I would say calling itself a "guide" to Hogwarts is a bit of an overstatement, it was more just bits of information about various aspects of it, but it was interesting

May Summary

Books read: 9
Physical books: 7
Ebooks: 1
Audio books: 1

Owned: 4
Library: 3
Open Library: 1
Borrowed: 1

Female author: 7
Male author: 2

Books read:
Charlotte's Web - E. B. White
Eustacia Goes to the Chalet School - Elinor M. Brent-Dyer
Guard Your Daughters - Diana Tutton (April AlphaKIT, BingoDOG relative)
The Chalet School Goes to It - Elinor M. Brent-Dyer
Too Marvellous for Words! - Julie Welch (ColourCAT)
Seriously Funny 2 - Adrian Plass & Jeff Lucas (March AlphaKIT)
The Chalet School and the Lintons - Elinor M. Brent-Dyer (ColourCAT)
No Time Like the Past - Jodi Taylor
Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide - J. K. Rowling

I've fallen a bit behind with the CATs again; I've still to finish The Queen of Attolia and Paradoxology for AlphaKIT, The Dragonfly Pool for RandomCAT and The Murder on the Enriqueta for MysteryCAT, plus The Matchmakers for March's AlphaKIT. Hopefully I should be done with a couple of these this week.

And the first two books for June:

41. Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies by J. K. Rowling
Rating: 3.5 / 5
Format: Ebook
Category: Short stories, essays & poetry
CATs/KITs: AlphaKIT - R

This book is rather mistitled; it isn't really short stories, but contains background information on the pasts of several characters from the series (Professor McGonagall, Remus Lupin, Professor Trelawney and Professor Kettleburn), plus some thoughts from J. K. Rowling about how she decided on certain aspects of these characters, such as names. Like Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide, it was quite interesting, but it was a very quick read!

42. A Sidekick's Tale by Elisabeth Grace Foley
Rating: 3.5 / 5
Format: Ebook
Category: Historical fiction; TBR pile
CATs/KITs: AlphaKIT - G

Quite a fun read, with a few unexpected twists and turns.

43. Peter's Room by Antonia Forest
Rating: 5 / 5
Format: Physical book
Category: Vintage
CATs/KITs: AlphaKIT - R

44. The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
Rating: 4.25 / 5
Format: Ebook
Category: Juvenile fiction
CATs/KITs: AlphaKIT - Q (from May; took me a while to finish, through no fault of the book...)
BingoDOG: #14 - Rank in title

Two great reads in a row! I didn't enjoy The Queen of Attolia quite as much as The Thief - I got a bit lost in all the political manoeuvring in the middle - but the last hundred pages or so were brilliant. Peter's Room is the third I've read in the Marlows series and much my favourite so far; I enjoyed the family dynamics and the (for the most part) cosy atmosphere and the discussions of the Brontës.

45. Ode to a Banker by Lindsey Davis
Rating: 4 / 5
Format: Paperback
Category: Mysteries

This is the third Falco book that I've read, and my favourite so far.

46. Journey to Jo'burg by Beverley Naidoo
Rating: 4 / 5
Format: Paperback
Category: Juvenile fiction

47. Masquerade at the Wells by Lorna Hill
Rating: 3 / 5
Format: Paperback
Category: Vintage, TBR pile

June Summary

Books read: 6
Physical books: 3
Ebooks: 3

Owned: 4
Library: 1
Open Library: 1

Female author: 6
Fiction: 6

Books read:
Short Stories from Hogwarts of Hardship, Heroism and Dangerous Hobbies by J. K. Rowling
A Sidekick's Tale by Elisabeth Grace Foley
Peter's Room by Antonia Forest
The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
Ode to a Banker by Lindsey Davis
Journey to Jo'burg by Beverley Naidoo

Only six books this month, but they were good ones, so I still feel it was a successful reading month. I have rather fallen behind with the CATs and didn't manage to pick up a book for all of them this month, but I'm not intending to let that bother me overmuch; I'll jump back in soon.

Halfway through the year, and my category totals stand at:
Mysteries: 6
Historical fiction: 2
Juvenile fiction: 14
Classics: 2
Vintage: 7
Short stories: 3
Biography: 4
Non-fiction: 2
TBR like: 6
Miscellaneous: 6

It turns out I read a lot less of some categories than I thought I did! I'll stick with my categories now, but I think next year I'll be reorganizing them a bit to get the numbers a bit more even.

BingoDOG: I've crossed off 14 out of 25 squares, which means I'm a little over halfway through. I have slowed down a lot from the beginning, though, having crossed off the easy ones; I think I'm going to have to intentionally seek out books to fill some of the remaining squares. I do have books lined up for most of them; I just need to get round to reading them.

48. The Rock, the Road and the Rabbi by Kathie Lee Gifford & Rabbi Jason Sobel
Format: Audiobook
Rating: 3 / 5
Category: Non-fiction
CATs/KITs: AlphaKIT - R (left over from June)
BingoDOG: #8 - Published in 2018

49. Anecdotes of the Cynics by various authors
Format: Paperback
Category: Non-fiction
CATs/KITs: AlphaKIT - A

50. The Durrells of Corfu by Michael Haag
Format: Audiobook
Rating: 4 / 5
Category: Non-fiction

51. Patricia St. John Tells Her Own Story by Patricia St. John
Format: Paperback
Rating: 5 / 5
Category: Biography
CATs/KITs: AlphaKIT - S

52. The Four Loves by C. S. Lewis
Format: Paperback
Rating: 4 / 5
Category: Non-fiction; TBR pile

53. Catherine, Head of the House by Joanna Lloyd
Format: Hardback
Rating: 4 / 5
Category: Vintage

54. Summer Half by Angela Thirkell
Format: Paperback
Rating: 4 / 5
Category: Vintage; TBR pile
CATs/KITs: AlphaKIT - S & A

55. The Scholarship Girl by Josephine Elder
Format: Paperback
Rating: 3.5 / 5
Category: Vintage
CATs/KITs: AlphaKIT - S

56. Mandie and the Secret Tunnel by Lois Gladys Leppard
Format: Ebook
Rating: 2.5 / 5
Category: Juvenile fiction
CATs/KITs: AlphaKIT - S

57. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Format: Paperback
Rating: 5 / 5
Category: Miscellaneous
CATs/KITs: AlphaKIT - O

58. Charlotte Fairlie by D. E. Stevenson
Format: Hardback
Rating: 3.5 / 5
Category: Vintage; TBR Pile
CATs/KITs: AlphaKIT - D

July Summary (better late than never!)

Books read: 9
Physical books: 6
Ebooks: 1
Audiobooks: 2

Owned: 7
Library: 1
Open Library: 1

Female author: 6
Male author: 4

Fiction: 4
Non-fiction: 5

Books read:
The Rock, the Road and the Rabbi
Anecdotes of the Cynics
The Durrells of Corfu
Patricia St. John Tells Her Own Story
The Four Loves
Catherine, Head of the House
Summer Half
The Scholarship Girl
Mandie and the Secret Tunnel

I read fewer books this month than I thought I would, but nine is still a good number.

59. The New House at the Chalet School by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer
Format: Paperback
Rating: 4 / 5
Category: Juvenile fiction

60. Paradoxology by Krish Kandiah
Format: Paperback
Rating: 4 / 5
Category: Non-fiction
CATs/KITs: AlphaKIT - K
BingoDOG: #18 - X in the title (replaces Pixie O'Shaughnessy which I'm moving to #15)

August Summary
Books read: 5
Physical books: 4
Ebooks: 1

Owned: 4
Open Library: 1

Female author: 4
Male author: 1

Fiction: 4
Non-fiction: 1

61. Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie
Format: Paperback
Rating: 4 / 5
Category: Mystery
CATs/KITs: MysteryCAT - historical & AlphaKIT - D

62. Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan
Format: Paperback
Rating: 3.5 / 5
Category: Miscellaneous
CATs/KITs: AlphaKIT - B

63. No. More. Plastic by Martin Dorey
Format: Paperback
Rating: 4 / 5
Category: Non-fiction
CATs/KITs: None

64. The Fourth Horseman by Sarah Woodbury
Format: Ebook
Rating: 2.5 / 5
Category: Mystery; TBR Pile
CATs/KITs: None

65. What Could Possibly Go Wrong? by Jodi Taylor
Format: Paperback
Rating: 4 / 5
Category: Miscellaneous
CATs/KITs: None

66. Rupert of Hentzau by Anthony Hope
Format: Paperback
Rating: 4 / 5
Category: Classics
CATs/KITs: None

67. Silently and Very Fast by Catherynne M. Valente
Format: Ebook
Category: Miscellaneous
CATs/KITs: ColourCAT: Metallic

And there ends September. I read seven books in total.

September Summary
Books read: 7
Physical books: 5
Ebooks: 2

Owned: 4
Library: 2
Read online: 1

Female author: 5
Male author: 2

Fiction: 6
Non-fiction: 1

68. The Scarlet Pimpernel by Emmuska Orczy
Format: Ebook
Category: Historical fiction
CATs/KITs: None

69. Miss Buncle's Book by D. E. Stevenson
Format: Hardback
Category: Vintage
CATs/KITs: None

>84 Rusty37: I love both of those books!

>85 christina_reads: They were both good reads! I really must read some more D. E. Stevenson.

70. Booked: Literature in the Soul of Me by Karen Swallow Prior
Format: Ebook
Category: Biography & Memoir
CATs/KITs: AlphaKIT - L

Naturally, I can't resist a bookish memoir, and this was a good read. Each chapter focuses on a particular book as the author draws out some of the lessons she learns from each book, or how it helped to shape her and her ideas. The chapters are arranged chronologically, so that we also learn quite a bit about her life. As well as being a fascinating read, this has also given me a desire to read some of the books she writes about, and a deeper appreciation for the one or two that I had read.

71. The Getting of Wisdom by Henry Handel Richardson
Format: Paperback
Category: Vintage
CATs/KITs: None

Published in 1910, this is the coming of age story of Laura Ramsbotham, focusing mostly on her years at boarding school in Melbourne, Australia. Although perhaps not the most uplifting read - as Laura faces much adversity as she struggles to fit in and conform to the ways of the other girls - I found this a compelling read, and kept reading to see how things would pan out for Laura.

72. The Prince of Fishes by Susannah Rowntree
Format: Ebook
Category: Miscellaneous
CATs/KITs: None

Novella based on the lesser-known fairytale The Fisherman and His Wife, set in Byzantium. It was well written and a compelling story, and I found the historical detail interesting, as it was a time and place I knew little about.

73. Jo Returns to the Chalet School by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer
Format: Paperback
Category: Juvenile fiction
CATs/KITs: None

Book twelve in the long Chalet School series. Jo has recently left school, but ends up back there for most of this term, and taking on some teaching due to staff illness, whilst also trying to write her first book. There is the usual run of accidents, Middles' pranks, and of course the Christmas play. This was just a middling book for me compared to others in the series; it wasn't one of my favourites, but still an enjoyable read.

74. Anne Belinda by Patricia Wentworth
Format: Ebook
Category: Mysteries
CATs/KITs: MysteryCAT (cozy)

75. The Red House Mystery by A. A. Milne
Format: Ebook
Category: Mysteries; TBR Pile
CATs/KITs: MysteryCAT (cozy); ColourCAT (red)

Both light-hearted, enjoyable reads. In the former, John Maurice Waveney tries to find out what has happened to his cousin, whom no one in the family seems to want to talk to him about - but why? In the second, a man is murdered in a country house, and although it seems clear enough to the police what happened, there are one or two things which just don't seem to add up...

76. Elizabeth, Captive Princess by Margaret Irwin
Format: Paperback
Category: Historical fiction
CATs/KITs: None
BingoDOG: #9 - Longtime TBR (since 2013)

77. In My Father's House by Corrie ten Boom
Format: Paperback
Category: Biography & Memoir; TBR Pile
CATs/KITs: AlphaKIT - H

78. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Format: Paperback
Category: Classics; TBR Pile
CATs/KITs: None
BingoDOG: #23 - 1001 list

I enjoyed this more than I expected to, as I didn't care for the film that much. I still don't like Gatsby, but I enjoyed the writing a lot, and liked it overall.

79. Mystery Mile by Margery Allingham
Format: Paperback
Category: Mystery
CATs/KITs: None

This was my first Margery Allingham, and a bit more thriller-y than I usually read. I thought it was well-written with good characters, but I didn't care as much for the plot. However, I think it was a good book, just not as much to my personal taste.

Catching up a bit...

80. When We Were Very Young by A. A. Milne
Format: Hardback
Category: Short Stories, Essays & Poetry; TBR Pile
CATs/KITs: None
BingoDOG: #11 - Poetry or plays

81. The Sacred Diary of Adrian Plass, Christian Speaker Aged 45 3/4 by Adrian Plass (re-read)
Format: Hardback
Category: Miscellaneous
CATs/KITs: ColourCAT (red cover)

82. An Episode of Sparrows by Rumer Godden
Format: Ebook
Category: Juvenile fiction
CATs/KITs: None

83. The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
Format: Paperback
Category: Mysteries
CATs/KITs: None

84. First Term at Cotterford by Liz Filleul
Format: Ebook
Category: Miscellaneous
CATs/KITs: None

85. Caddy Ever After by Hilary McKay (re-read)
Format: Paperback
Category: Juvenile fiction
CATs/KITs: AlphaKIT - C

86. Anne of the Island by L. M. Montgomery (re-read)
Format: Paperback
Category: Classics
CATs/KITs: None

You had a great reading year!

Wishing you a Happy New Year filled with good health and good reading.

>94 thornton37814:, >95 VivienneR: Thank you!

Just a few more books to finish off the year...

87. Waverley by Walter Scott
Format: Paperback
Category: Classics
CATs/KITs: AlphaKIT - W

88. Lies, Damned Lies and History by Jodi Taylor
Format: Paperback
Category: Miscellaenous
CATs/KITs: None

89. Autumn Term by Antonia Forest (re-read)
Format: Paperback
Category: Juvenile fiction
CATs/KITs: None