Majkia (Jean) Reads What Strikes Her Fancy - Spring

Dies ist die Fortführung des Themas Majkia (Jean) Reads What Strikes Her Fancy.

Forum2018 Category Challenge

Melde dich bei LibraryThing an, um Nachrichten zu schreiben.

Majkia (Jean) Reads What Strikes Her Fancy - Spring

Dieses Thema ruht momentan. Die letzte Nachricht liegt mehr als 90 Tage zurück. Du kannst es wieder aufgreifen, indem du eine neue Antwort schreibst.

1majkia
Bearbeitet: Dez. 24, 2018, 5:11 pm


















2majkia
Bearbeitet: Apr. 29, 2018, 8:01 am

April


Books Read
1. The Crown Conspiracy - Michael J. Sullivan
2. Avempartha - Michael J. Sullivan
3. TimeRiders - Alex Scarrow
4. Updraft - Fran Wilde
5. The Man in the Queue - Josephine Tey
6. Stiletto - A Novel - Daniel O'Malley
7. The Pale Horseman - Bernard Cornwell
8. Cards of Grief - Jane Yolen
9. A Quiet Life in the Country - T.E. Kinsey

Pages Read This Month 3080


Challenges of the Month

1 - SFFKIT - Time Travel
2 - AlphaKIT - Y and U
1 - RandomCAT - April
1 - MysteryCAT - Classic/Golden Age
1 - ColorCAT - Yellow
4 - ScaredyKIT - Supernatural
BingoDOG
9 - ROOT
1 - RTT Monthly

3majkia
Bearbeitet: Mai 29, 2018, 7:02 pm

Cat 5 May



Books Read
1. King's Dragon - Kate Elliott
2. Appleby on Ararat - Michael Innes
3. The collapsing Empire - John Scalzi
4. A Head Full of Ghosts - Paul Tremblay - DNF
5. Thereby Hangs a Tail - Spencer Quinn
6. Wake of the Bloody Angel - Alex Bledsoe
7. Kushiel's Dart - Jacqueline Carey - DNF
8. Watchers of Time - Charles Todd
9. Royal Flush - Rhys Bowen
10. Mechanical Failure - Joe Zieja
11. The Queen's Poisoner - Jeff Wheeler

Pages Read This Month

Challenges of the Month

1 - SFFKIT - Rise up! /Revolution
4 - AlphaKIT - Q and K
RandomCAT - spring/flowers
1 - MysteryCAT - Transit
4 - ColorCAT - Blue
ScaredyKIT - Close to Home
BingoDOG
11 - ROOT
1 - Dice

4majkia
Bearbeitet: Jun. 29, 2018, 2:54 pm

Cat 6 June


Books Read
1. Victory Conditions - Elizabeth Moon
2. Bones of the Earth - Michael Swanwick
3. The Reality Dysfunction - Peter F. Hamlton
4. A Gathering of Shadows - V.E. Schwab
5. All Systems Red - Martha Wells
6. The Shadow Throne - Django Wexler
7. A Natural History of Dragons - Marie Brennan

Pages Read This Month

Challenges of the Month

6 - SFFKIT - Series
3 - AlphaKIT - G and R
1 - RandomCAT - Unusual Narrators
MysteryCAT - True Crime
2 - ColorCAT - Purple
ScaredyKIT - Adapted to Film
BingoDOG
1 - Roll the Dice
5 - ROOT
2 - RTT

5majkia
Bearbeitet: Aug. 1, 2018, 1:00 am

Cat 7 July



Books Read
1. A Conjuring of Light - V.E. Schwab
2. A Shadow in Summer - Daniel Abraham
3. A Betrayal in Winter - Daniel Abraham
4. The Crimson Campaign - Brian McClellan
5. Two for Sorrow - Nicola Upson
6. The Autumn Republic - Brian McClellan
7. Sleeping Giants - Sylvain Neuvel
8. An Autumn War - Daniel Abraham
9. The Beautiful Mystery - Louise Penny
10. Broken Harbour - Tana French
11. Etiquette and Espionage - Gail Carriger

Pages Read This Month

Challenges of the Month

SFFKIT -Cyber/TechnoPunk
5 - AlphaKIT - S and A
RandomCAT
2 - MysteryCAT - Police Procedural
1 - ColorCAT - Pink
ScaredyKIT - Techno/Science
BingoDOG
11 - ROOT
2 - BRB
1 - Dice

6majkia
Bearbeitet: Aug. 31, 2018, 7:52 am

August



Books Read
1. A Fearsome Doubt - Charles Todd
2. The Immortals - Jordana Max Brodsky
3. The Price of Spring - Daniel Abraham
4. The Stars are Legion - Kameron Hurley
5. Dune - Frank Herbert
6. The Other Einstein - Marie Benedict DNF
7. The Daffodil Affair - Michael Innes
8. Half-Resurrection Blues - Daniel Jose Older

Pages Read This Month


Challenges of the Month

SFFKIT - Makes You Laugh
5 - AlphaKIT - O and D
RandomCAT
1 -MysteryCAT - Historical
1 - ColorCAT - Gray
1 - ScaredyKIT - Series
1 - BingoDOG
8 - ROOT
1 - Dice

7majkia
Bearbeitet: Okt. 24, 2018, 11:22 pm

September



Books Read
1. A Closed and Common Orbit - Becky Chambers
2. The Bone Labyrinth - James Rollins
3. Dark Run - Mike Brooks
4. Empire of Sand - Tasha Suri
5.

Pages Read This Month

Challenges of the Month

1 - SFFKIT - Myths/legends/FairyTales
4 - AlphaKIT - B and E
RandomCAT
ColorCAT - Metallic
MysteryCAT - Noir/Hard Boiled
ScardeyKIT- King and Fam
DOG -
1 - Dice
3 - ROOT
2 - BFB

8majkia
Bearbeitet: Okt. 30, 2018, 2:16 pm

October



Books Read
1. Iron Gold - Pierce Brown
2. The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O. - Neal Stephenson
3. Persepolis Rising - James S.A. Corey
4. Borderline - Misha Baker
5. The Last Colony - John Scalzi
6. The Fifth Season - N.K. Jemisin

Pages Read This Month


Challenges of the Month

SFFKIT - Historical/Alt
3 - AlphaKIT - N and L
RandomCAT
MysteryCAT - Espionage
1 -ColorCAT - Orange
ScaredyKIT - Ghost Stories
BingoDOG
2 - BFB
6 - ROOTs

9majkia
Bearbeitet: Nov. 29, 2018, 2:50 pm

November



Books Read
1. Pushing Ice - Alastair Reynolds
2. The Hidden Family - Charles Stross
3. Starhawk - Jack McDevitt
4. Black Wind - Paul F. Wilson
5. The Engines of God - Jack McDevitt
6. Central Station - Lavie Tidhar
7. What Darkness Brings - C.S. Harris
8. As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust - Alan Bradley
9. God's War - Kameron Hurley - DNF

Pages Read This Month


Challenges of the Month

1 -SFFKIT - Creatures
3 - AlphaKIT - T and H
RandomCAT
2 - MysteryCAT - Cozy
ColorCAT - Red
ScaredyKIT - Serial Killers
BingoDOG
8 - ROOT
1 - DICE

10majkia
Bearbeitet: Dez. 24, 2018, 5:08 pm

December



Books Read
1. The Chrysalids - John Wyndham
2. The Second Ship - Richard Phillips
3. Iron House - John Hart
4. Ice Station Zebra - Alastair MacLean
5. The Dread Wyrm - Miles Cameron
6. Swords and Deviltry - Fritz Leiber
7. Ink and Bone - Rachel Caine
8. Mortal Engines - Phillip Reeve

Pages Read This Month

Challenges of the Month

2- SFFKIT - How It All Ends
3 - AlphaKIT - C and W
1 - RandomCAT
MysteryCAT - Fantastical/Futuristic
2 - ColorCAT - White
1 -ScaredyKIT - Psych Suspense
1 - BingoDOG
8 - ROOT
1 - Dice

11majkia
Bearbeitet: Jul. 12, 2018, 6:46 am

Cat 13: Throw of the Dice



I will use Random.org each month to select a book from my TBR. If a book selected is in a series, I'll read the next book I'm due to read rather than say the 7th book when I'm only up to the 3rd.

Books Read
Jan: They Shall Have Stars
Feb: After the Crown
Mar: The Lives of Tao
Apr: ----
May: Wake of the Bloody Angel - Alex Bledsoe
Jun: Victory Conditions - Elizabeth Moon
Jul: The Crimson Campaign - Brian McClellan
Aug:
Sep:
Oct:
Nov:
Dec:

12majkia
Bearbeitet: Apr. 2, 2018, 7:17 am

Cat 14: Malazan Re-Read



This picture makes me think of Dancer for some reason.

Since some of these books are pushing 1K pages, and the writing can be exceedingly dense, I will read what I have time for, and not push to get to a specific place in the series at years end, but will just continue the reading until I'm done. Again.

Reading both Steven Erikson's works and Ian Esselmont's works. Order is suggested by the Malazan Empire website.

1. Gardens of the Moon
2. Deadhouse Gates
3. Blood Follows
4. The Lees of Laughter's End
5. The Wurms of Blearmouth
6. Memories of Ice
7. House of Chains
8. The Healthy Dead
9. Midnight Tides
10. Night of Knives
11. The Bonehunters
12. Reaper's Gale
13. Crack'd Pot Trail
14. Return of the Crimson Guard
15. Toll the Hounds
16. Stonewielder
17. Goats of Glory
18. Dust of Dreams
19. Orb Sceptre Throne
20. The Crippled God
21. Blood and Bone
22. Assail
23. Forge of Darkness
24. Fall of Light
25. Walk in Shadow

13majkia
Bearbeitet: Aug. 26, 2018, 10:30 am

Bingo Dog





1. Famous Person in Title - The Christie Curse
2. Published >100 christina_reads: years ago
3. Published other than in English - The Hanging Girl - Jussi Adler-Olsen
4. New to you author - Stephen Booth
5. Relative Name in Title
6. Money in title
7. Published in 2018
8. X in Title - the 8th Extinction - James Rollins
9. >500 pages - The Scar
10. Set During a Holiday
11. LGBT central character - The Stars are Legion - Kameron Hurley
12. 1001 List - Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
13. READ A CAT - Welcome to Night Vale
14 Number in Title - The 6th Extinction
15. Humourous Book
16. Unread 2017 Purchase -La Belle Sauvage
17. Something in the sky in Title - Cloud Atlas
18. Pacific Ocean related - Bride of the Rat-God
19. Fits at least 2 KITs/CATs - The Last Judgement
20. Beautiful Cover
21. Autobio/Memoir
22. Poetry/Play
23. Longtime TBR - Dune - Frank Herbert
24. Story involves travel - They Shall Have Stars
25. Rank in Title - Prince of Thorns - Mark Lawrence

14majkia
Bearbeitet: Apr. 2, 2018, 7:11 am

January


Books Read
1. Black Dog - Stephen Booth - ColorCAT, ROOT, BingoDog
2. They Shall Have Stars - James Blish - Dice, ROOT, BingoDog
3. The Hanging Girl - Jussi Adler-Olsen - ColorCAT, ROOT, MysteryCAT
4. Command Decision - Elizabeth Moon - ColorCAT, ROOT, SFFKIT, AlphaKIT
5. Gardens of the Moon - Steven Erikson - Malazan, ROOT, ColorCAT
6. The Christie Curse - Victoria Abbott - ROOT, AlphaKIT, RandomCAT
7. Maids of Misfortune - M. Louisa Locke - ROOT, AlphaKIT

Pages Read This Month
2577

Challenges of the Month

1 - Dice
1 - Malazan
1- SFFKIT
4 - AlphaKIT - V and M
1 - RandomCAT - BookBullet
1 - MysteryCAT - Nordic
4 - ColorCAT - Black
0 - ScaredyKIT - Gothic
3 - BingoDOG
7 - ROOTs

Additional Stats
3 Female Authors/ 4 Male Authors

February


Books Read
1. The Scar - China Mieville
2. After the Crown - K.B. Wagers
3. Beyond the Empire - K.B. Wagers
4. A Darkling Sea - James L. Cambrias
5. The Case of the Copper Corpse - Alan Bradley
6. Hunted - Kevin Hearne
7. Revenger - Alastair Reynolds
8. Jurassic Park - Michael Crichton
9. La Belle Sauvage - Philip Pullman
10. Bride of the Rat-God - Barbara Hambly
11. Prince of Thorns - Mark Lawrence
12. The 6th Extinction - James Rollins

Pages Read This Month - 4754

Challenges of the Month

2 -SFFKIT - Urban Fantasy
6 -AlphaKIT - P and J
2 - RandomCAT
1 -MysteryCAT - Female
3 - ColorCAT - Brown
7 - ScaredyKIT - Survival/Disaster
5 - BingoDOG
1 - Throw the Dice
Malazan
10 - ROOT
1 - RTT Monthly

March


Books Read
1. The Fell Sword - Miles Cameron
2. Welcome to Night Vale - Joseph Fink
3. Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
4. Faithful Place - Tana French
5. The Fold - Peter Cline
6. Illuminae - Amie Kaufman
7. For We Are Many - Dennis E. Taylor
8. Jade City - Fonda Lee
9. All These Worlds - Dennis E. Taylor
10. The Last Judgement - Ian Pears

Pages Read This Month 4830

Challenges of the Month

4 - SFFKIT - Off World
7 - AlphaKIT - F and I
RandomCAT
2 - MysteryCAT - Global
2 - ColorCAT - Green
2 - ScaredyKIT - Weird Fiction
3 - BingoDOG
9 - ROOT

15majkia
Apr. 2, 2018, 7:20 am

I'm having a great reading year so far, with no DNFs and no real stinkers. I've read 30 books of a hoped for 100.

My only problem is I'm finding re-reading Malazan a bit slow, mainly because I have so many new books I've been wanting to read, I'm kind of resenting the re-reads. Sigh.

16rabbitprincess
Apr. 2, 2018, 8:49 am

My re-reads are thin on the ground, too, even though I put five in my pool of books to read this year.

Happy spring thread!

17Jackie_K
Apr. 2, 2018, 9:01 am

Happy new thread - you're having a great reading year so far. And your category pictures are stunning!

18MissWatson
Apr. 3, 2018, 5:16 am

Happy new thread, it is lovely to see the pictures afresh!

19majkia
Apr. 3, 2018, 6:57 am

Thanks for stopping by all!

20dudes22
Apr. 3, 2018, 7:20 am

Happy New Thread! I like how you moved your months around, so the most current are at the top. Makes a lot of sense.

21fuzzi
Apr. 3, 2018, 11:20 am

>17 Jackie_K: I agree, love the pictures, especially >13 majkia:.

22christina_reads
Apr. 3, 2018, 1:13 pm

How lovely to see all that beautiful Mucha art again!

23-Eva-
Apr. 3, 2018, 2:32 pm

>15 majkia:
If you've made it to April without any duds, you are indeed having a good reading-year. Hope it continues!

24majkia
Bearbeitet: Apr. 4, 2018, 7:51 am

Gulf National Seashore and Fort Pickens, Pensacola Beach FL



We arrived for two weeks of camping yesterday. We weren't in the area five minutes when we saw the Blue Angels (Navy flight demonstration team ) practicing. They're stationed across the bay at the Pensacola Naval Air Station.

25-Eva-
Apr. 4, 2018, 12:16 pm

>24 majkia:
Not envious. At all. Even a little bit. ;)

26fuzzi
Apr. 4, 2018, 12:31 pm

>24 majkia: I've not yet seen the Blue Angels in person, but I hope to some day.

Lovely photo, btw.

27DeltaQueen50
Apr. 4, 2018, 4:17 pm

Wow, that water is such a gorgeous color. Enjoy your time there.

28lkernagh
Apr. 5, 2018, 3:25 pm

Happy new thread, Jean! Love that beach front picture in >24 majkia:.

29mamzel
Apr. 6, 2018, 12:56 pm

I hope you are enjoying Theft of Swords. It fell squarely in my wheelhouse of enjoyment!

30thornton37814
Apr. 6, 2018, 2:59 pm

>24 majkia: Enjoy your time at the beach!

31majkia
Apr. 10, 2018, 1:39 pm



This osprey decided to land in a tree right above us. The dogs took umbrage! Well, they are duck hunters....

32mysterymax
Apr. 10, 2018, 1:43 pm

Love the images on your new thread.

33majkia
Apr. 11, 2018, 4:43 pm

Thanks all for the comments on the pictures. We're having a great time here, and the weather, although it started out quite cool, has been great. Only one rainy day so far. Sadly, Jim hasn't caught a fish and it's more than a week. :(

34majkia
Apr. 11, 2018, 4:52 pm

31. The Crown Conspiracy
32. Avempartha

AKA Theft of Swords by Michael J. Sullivan



Challenges: ROOT, ColorCAT, SFFKIT

Rating: My kinda sword and sorcery.

Snarky characters? Check. Hidden identities? Check. Thief? Check. Swordplay? Check. Really a lot of fun, but a strong female or two would have made it a lot better. One does appear, but isn't really present enough. Maybe in the rest of the series.

35majkia
Apr. 11, 2018, 5:02 pm

33. TimeRiders - Alex Scarrow First in TimeRiders Series,

Rating: I had issues.

It would have been a lot more enjoyable if I wasn't shouting at the characters frequently wondering why in the world they were so slow on the uptake.

Yeah, I know it was written for kids, but still. Honestly. 1. What kinda dumb time agency has no provisions for disruptions, and has only a few folks assigned to an outpost. 2. And why in the world was there only one group responsible for fixing time??? 3. Meat computer? The leader of the group treated Bob abominably.

36RidgewayGirl
Apr. 11, 2018, 5:18 pm

I hope your time on the coast is going wonderfully well and you don't have sand everywhere.

37majkia
Apr. 13, 2018, 7:46 am

34. Updraft - Fran Wilde - Series- Bone Universe #1



Challenges: AlphaKIT, ROOT, ScaredyKIT

Rating: Imaginative!

Impressive world-building. I liked that she never attempted to explain everything but just dumped you into this world and let you learn of it as you went.

Characterization was good with strong characters and an especially strong female lead.

Plotting was based mainly on secrets needing to be discovered by Kirit, so we were in the dark for much of the book until Kirit finally gets into a position to begin understanding the problems those secrets have caused.

I enjoyed it very much and recommend it for folks who like really imaginatively created worlds.

38fuzzi
Bearbeitet: Apr. 13, 2018, 12:23 pm

>31 majkia: lovely!!!

39majkia
Apr. 14, 2018, 1:06 pm

Still at the beach. Until Tuesday. Storms are coming in so the water is all charged up.

40mamzel
Apr. 16, 2018, 3:16 pm

I can almost taste the salty air!

41DeltaQueen50
Apr. 19, 2018, 5:20 pm

What a wonderful place to read!

42fuzzi
Apr. 19, 2018, 9:07 pm

>39 majkia: gorgeous. Love the contrast between the sky, sea, and white-white sand.

43Jackie_K
Apr. 20, 2018, 5:35 am

>39 majkia: >41 DeltaQueen50: That's gorgeous. I'd happily read all day there, with the occasional paddle in the sea.

44majkia
Bearbeitet: Apr. 20, 2018, 8:39 am

35. The Man in the Queue - Josephine Tey - Alan Grant #1



Challenges: ROOT, MysteryCAT, RandomCAT

Rating: Interesting and quite different from modern mysteries.

I enjoyed this quite a bit, and found the ending refreshing. The detective, although dedicated and quite likable, isn't infallible, and knows it. He's not driven, miserable, or depressed, other than when he's quite sure he's wrong, and can't figure out why.

45majkia
Apr. 23, 2018, 12:26 pm

36. Stiletto - Daniel O'Malley - Series: The Chequy Files #2



Challenges: ROOT, ScaredyKIT

Rating: As much fun as the first of the series.

Unusual for a sequel to live up to the original, but I think in this case it most certainly does. Lots of funny and at the same time terrifying events occur when the Chequy meet with their long time rivals from the continent and attempt to forge of peace accord. Naturally, things don't go smoothly. Not even at Ascot.

And anyway, how can you not love a series that features a heroine named Myfawny.

46majkia
Apr. 26, 2018, 3:05 pm

37. The Pale Horseman - Bernard Cornwell Series: Saxon Chronicles #2



Challenges: ROOT, RTT Monthly

Rating: What a horrible time to have to live in especially if female or a child.

The Vikings (the Danes) are taking over England, and Alfred is not doing very well against them, in attempting to save Wessex, never mind all of England. Uhtred, born a Saxon but raised as a Dane, admires the Danes, and loves quite a few of them, but struggles to remain true to his country with the much less admired and really quite hapless, King Alfred.

I struggled to stay with this book, mainly because of the grimness of the time, although, as usual for Cornwell, it is well written and exciting, and probably quite historically accurate.

47mamzel
Apr. 27, 2018, 1:49 pm

>46 majkia: What a horrible time to have to live in especially if female or a child.
So true! Unfortunately there aren't many times or places that women and children can be considered safe, even today!

48majkia
Apr. 27, 2018, 2:46 pm

>47 mamzel: Frickin' depressing.

49majkia
Apr. 27, 2018, 2:48 pm

38. Cards of Grief - Jane Yolen


Challenges: ROOT, AlphaKIT

Ratiing: Not sure how I feel about this one.

Strange, thought-provoking. How doe we influence other societies, other worlds? Is it a good thing or a bad thing, or … Sort of like Schrodinger's Cat, only for anthropologists.

50majkia
Apr. 29, 2018, 7:53 am

39. A Quiet Life in the Country - T.E. Kinsey Series: Lady Hardcastle #1



Challenges: ROOT

Rating: A bit too cozy for me.

It was okay, but awfully hard to will myself to buy into the back story. Not to mention to accept the CID rolling over and letting a woman, in 1905 become a major player in an investigation. Otherwise, okay. I'm sure cozy readers would be far more interested in this than I.

51majkia
Mai 3, 2018, 4:20 pm

40. King's Dragon - Kate Elliott - Series: Crown of Stars #1



Challenges: ROOT, BFB, AlphaKIT

Rating: Exciting tale that kept me reading

Although I do have issues.

Firstly, way too much religion. I don't mind the religion as such, but details about the set up of the clergy seemed way too much at times, and got in the way of the storytelling.

Secondly, okay, enough with the recreation of medieval Europe for fantasy novels. Be more creative!

All that said, the characters were interesting, well drawn, and I wanted to know what would happen to them. There were plot twists I didn't see coming, although they were set up well and after the fact you understood how you got there, so there is definitely that.

All in all, I'll most likely read more of this series, since I want to know how it all turns out, how folks fit together, since that wasn't clear yet as of the end of the first book. But there is only one real cliffhanger, but if you don't want to know how that turns out, the rest of the storyline is pretty well tied up, or at least enough that the book felt finished and not just cut off.

52majkia
Mai 5, 2018, 10:52 am

41. Appleby on Ararat - Michael Innes Series: Inspector Appleby #7



Challenges: ROOT, ColorCAT, MysteryCAT

Rating: Far from my favorite of the series.

Rather silly story of Appleby stranded on a tropical island after the ship he was on was torpedoed. WWII tale, with spies, lies and a nice dog. Casual racism rather marred it for me.

Yes, I know...

53majkia
Bearbeitet: Mai 8, 2018, 7:48 am

42. The Collapsing Empire - John Scalzi Series: The Interdependency #1



Challenges: ROOT, ColorCAT

Rating: What a fun and exciting read!

The empire might be about to self-destruct but as usual with politics, everybody is trying their best to get a leg up on what will be left.

Snarky, science-y, action-y, with an intriguing idea and world, and especially with characters who are well drawn and folks you can care about. Even the Emperox!

Highly recommended for sci fi fans. I can't wait for book 2.

ETA: listened to the audio and as usual Wil Wheaten was great.

54majkia
Mai 8, 2018, 7:47 am

43. A Head Full of Ghosts - Paul Tremblay

Challenges: ScaredyKIT

Rating: DNF

I'm just not a horror reader, I guess. Didn't feel anything but pity for the poor kids in this one, and really didn't care how things turned out.

55majkia
Mai 10, 2018, 1:19 pm

camping again at Lake Seminole on the Florida/Georgia border. Last night's sunset and the camp site picture from this morning.



56fuzzi
Mai 10, 2018, 1:28 pm

>55 majkia: very nice!

57DeltaQueen50
Mai 10, 2018, 2:34 pm

You got an excellent campsite, so close to the water. Your RV looks very luxurious so I can see you are not "roughing" it in any way!

58majkia
Bearbeitet: Mai 11, 2018, 6:08 pm

44. Quantum Night - Robert J. Sawyer



Challenges: ROOT, AlphaKIT

Rating: Super science-y and intriguing premise

Okay, I can see why some folks might not like this but I was super happy to see quantum physics and neuroscience married in this outing. A bit preachy it seemed at times, but really, given the premise, it could hardly avoid it.

IT is particularly appropriate given current events...

59majkia
Mai 16, 2018, 1:16 pm

45. Thereby Hangs a Tail - Spencer Quinn Series: Chet and Bernie #2

Challenges: ROOT, AlphaKIT

Rating: A bit repetitive, I thought.

I enjoy Chet's view of life, but there is just so much a dog can do, and understand, unless perhaps said dog is Oberon. Chet is definitely not Oberon.

60mamzel
Mai 16, 2018, 2:34 pm

>59 majkia: I did not binge read this series. I believe one needs a significant time gap to appreciate Chet.

61majkia
Mai 16, 2018, 6:45 pm

>60 mamzel: Agreed.

62majkia
Bearbeitet: Mai 16, 2018, 6:49 pm

46. Wake of the Bloody Angel Alex Bledsoe Series: Eddie Lacrosse #4

Challenges: ROOT, Throw the Dice

Rating: I do love Eddie and his friends. And sometimes his enemies.

Eddie, sword jockey, is hired by his friend Angelina to track down her husband, an infamous pirate. Eddie, per usual, finds himself swept up into ancillary mysteries galore. And he gets to hang out with his fellow sword-jockey Jane.

63fuzzi
Mai 17, 2018, 10:12 am

>60 mamzel: agreed. I read the first four, and couldn't finish #5.

I've got #6 on my list for this month.

64dudes22
Mai 18, 2018, 7:17 am

>59 majkia: - >60 mamzel: - >63 fuzzi: - I tend to agree. I usually read one a year. That way I don't get too bored.

65majkia
Mai 18, 2018, 9:08 am

47. Kushiel's Dart - Jacqueline Carey DNF



Challenges: ROOT

Rating: Read 150 pages then quit when abuse showed up.

I was reluctant to read this. Knew this wasn't going to go well for me. Sexual abuse is too much of a trigger for me. Written well, granted, but still...

66majkia
Mai 20, 2018, 1:50 pm

48. Watchers of Time - Charles Todd - Series: Ian Rutledge #5



Challenges: ROOT

Rating: I love this series. Very psychological and the plots are complex enough to present a lot of questions.

Ian is recuperating from an injury and so is sent off to the north of England to talk to a Priest about his concerns regarding the recent murder of his friend, another priest. Of course it all turns into quite a mess when Ian begins to delve into the hidden depths of a small village.

Ian, struggling still with his mental state after service in WWI, has a depth and understanding that means he can connect with the odd and downtrodden which lets him uncover a lot of secrets wherever he goes. And, he's tenacious and really doesn't much care if he's possibly ruining his own career when he takes on the powerful.

67majkia
Bearbeitet: Mai 22, 2018, 7:52 am

Still camping at Eastbank on Lake Seminole. Here's a candid shot of the family. Our daughter Angela and her hubby Paul joining us for a few days with their 5th wheel. Mr Majkia's sister Diane and her bit of fluff Chloe are visiting us for a month. She's enjoying the fishing even more than her brother!



We have been having lots of rain, and an alligator has been cruising along the rocks at the river's edge so keeping the dogs inside.

We head home tomorrow.

68fuzzi
Mai 22, 2018, 6:57 pm

>67 majkia: thanks for sharing!

69lkernagh
Mai 23, 2018, 2:24 pm

>66 majkia: - Very psychological and the plots are complex enough to present a lot of questions.

... and with that sentence, you have sold me on the Charles Todd books.

70thornton37814
Mai 25, 2018, 2:04 pm

>50 majkia: That one is on my wish list. Hope I like it better than you.

71majkia
Mai 29, 2018, 12:22 pm

50. Mechanical Failure - Joe Zieja Series: Epic Failure #1


Challenges: AlphaKIT, ROOT

Rating: Comedy is obviously not universal.

This is supposed to be a comedic take on the military, but I found it flat, and really didn't give a fig about the main character. I spent 20 years in the military, so know full well there is a whole lot to make fun of, but I thought this was over the top and impossible to believe . Heh, yes, I know it is science fiction, but still!

72majkia
Mai 29, 2018, 6:56 pm

51. The Queen's Poisoner - Jeff Wheeler Series: Kingfountain #1



Challenges: ROOT, AlphaKIT, ColorCAT

Rating: I really liked it!

I'm not generally a YA Fan, but this one was really good! Great characterization, imaginative world-building and interesting magic ideas. The plot wasn't too convoluted but was interesting enough to keep my attention and keep me reading.

73christina_reads
Mai 30, 2018, 10:06 am

>72 majkia: This one has been on my radar, so I'm glad to see you liked it!

74majkia
Jun. 2, 2018, 7:51 am

May Update. After a year with no DNF, suddenly in May I have 3! Otherwise, I had a good month.

I read 12 books (including the three DNF).

3F, 9M

4 Fantasy, 2 mystery, 2 period mysteries, 3 sci fi, 1 horror

Best book of the month: King's Dragon with The Collapsing Empire about tied with it.

12 ROOTs, 3 ColorCAT, 5 AlphaKIT, 1 MysteryCAT, 1 Dice

Oldest book: 1941 - Newest 2017

75fuzzi
Jun. 2, 2018, 8:17 am

>74 majkia: thanks for the update.

The older I get the more I have books that I DNF, partly because my time is more valuable than some of the tripe that is published...

76majkia
Jun. 2, 2018, 12:19 pm

>75 fuzzi: Indeed. Even some good books, if I'm not excited about reading them, and find myself avoiding them, I just DNF them. I used to hate to do it but I'm now a firm believer in Pearl Rule!

77Jackie_K
Jun. 2, 2018, 12:29 pm

>75 fuzzi: >76 majkia: I'm just transitioning from the "Must Finish Everything However Painful" to the "Pearl Rule With Glee" mindset. It must be an age thing!

78fuzzi
Jun. 3, 2018, 6:19 pm

>77 Jackie_K: shh. I'm only 29, and have been for decades... ;)

79-Eva-
Jun. 3, 2018, 10:46 pm

>55 majkia:
Gorgeous!!

80majkia
Jun. 5, 2018, 5:56 am

52. Victory Conditions - Elizabeth Moon Series: Vatta's War #5



Challenges: ROOT, Dice

Rating: A very satisfying ending to a great series.

Ky Vatta, failed student and one of the few Vatta survivors after her family is attacked at home and in space, has morphed into a cool and calm not to mention deadly enemy to the pirates attempting to take control of her world. They should run while they still can.

Really interesting characterization, a fully imagined world, and complex plotting has made this a great series.

81hailelib
Jun. 5, 2018, 10:16 pm

>52 majkia:

I need to get back to that series.

82majkia
Bearbeitet: Jun. 16, 2018, 11:24 pm

53. Bones of the Earth - Michael Swanwick



Challenges: ROOT, RTT

Rating: Lots of science-y stuff so in my element

Really enjoyed this one, but if you don't like lots of science talk and dinosaurs you might not. I loved the world as portrayed and found it unsettlingly realistic. And the characters are complex and humanly confusing. Really interesting take on time-travel, and in some ways quite different.

54. The Reality Dysfunction - Peter F. Hamilton Series: Night's Dawn #1



Challenges: ROOT, AlphaKIT, SFFKIT

Rating: Complex world building and intriguing complexity amongst the characters. Sometimes hard to follow the plot, so just roll with it.

The kind of sci fi I love, with lots of new ideas, and new worlds to explore, and intriguing ideas about how tech and humans will evolve.

83majkia
Jun. 21, 2018, 6:50 am

55. A Gathering of Shadows - V.E. Schwab Series: Shades of Magic #2



Challenges: SFFKIT, AlphaKIT

Rating: Good second book to a really interesting and well written series.

Compelling and interesting characters, good plotting, and the world building is first rate. My only complaint is that I waited too long after book 1 to read book 2 so had some issues of my own making about remembering events in the first of the series. Hopefully I won't repeat that mistake.

My only complaint about this one is that it ends on a decided cliff hanger but well, quite a few series do...

84majkia
Jun. 22, 2018, 11:18 am

56. All Systems Red - Martha Wells - Series: Murderbot Diaries #1


Challenges: ROOT, RandomCAT, SFFKIT

Rating: Imaginative and fun

A different look at AI, intelligence and what makes something human. Maybe its the entertainment feeds?

85majkia
Jun. 27, 2018, 1:07 pm

57. The Shadow Throne - Django Wexler Series: The Shadow Campaigns #2



Challenges: ROOT, AlphaKIT, SFFKIT, ColorCAT

Rating: Mysteries and Secrets and Magic, oh my!

I'm really enjoying this series. The magic is there, but not in your face and up front. More, the focus is on military SFF and politics. The characters are quite varied and all of them are fully formed and intriguing. The world-building, with much of the world hidden from our view with only hints of what surrounds our current active piece of it, is first rate.

Eager to get to the next entry in the series.

86majkia
Jun. 29, 2018, 3:00 pm

58. A Natural History of Dragons - Marie Brennan Series: Mrs Trent's Memoirs #1



Challenges: ROOT, RTT

Rating: Fun alt history with the usual Victorian expedition into 'primitive' parts of the world in an effort to explain the world and what it consists of.

Really enjoyed this. I thought Ms Brennan did a good job of sending up the Victorians' interest in the world around them as well as their disdain for other countries and peoples. And our heroine, all of 19, is already beginning to break out of the bonds of her upbringing.

87majkia
Jul. 2, 2018, 7:31 pm

59. A Conjuring of Light - V.E. Schwab Series: Shades of Magic #3



Challenges: ROOT, BFB

Rating: satisfying conculsion to the series

I really enjoyed the series. The characterization was great and world-building excellent.

88majkia
Jul. 6, 2018, 9:02 am

60. A Shadow in Summer - Daniel Abraham Series: The Long Price Quartet #1



Challenges: ROOT, AlphaKIT

Rating: The writing is lovely, the story intriguing, the worlds he's built amazing.

This is a re-read, as I want to get to the rest of the series. I loved it the first time, and perhaps love it even more. I especially like how he evokes the world in the way he's written the words. The sounds and complexity of the language fit the whole so well.

Continuing on immediately with Book 2.

89majkia
Jul. 8, 2018, 10:12 am

61. A Betrayal in Winter - Daniel Abraham Series: the Long Price Quartet #2


Challenges: ROOT, AlphaKIT

Rating: Complex, intriguing, atmospheric

I continue to enjoy the series, with the second book of this quartet. Will continue the series quite soon but need a slight break.

I'm listening to the audio, and the lyrical reading is very helpful to evoke the atmosphere and created world of the quartet.

90majkia
Jul. 12, 2018, 6:35 am

62. The Crimson Campaign - Brian McClellan Series: The Powder Mage Trilogy #2



Challenges: Dice, ROOT, BFB

Rating: Gory, lots of action, and complex plotting.

I really enjoy flintlock fantasy, with this being a great example of the subgenre. Not a lot of magic, mostly wartorn cities and countryside, and struggles between waring countries and people. Betrayal, desperation, with every once in awhile a bit of grim humor.

91majkia
Jul. 15, 2018, 1:02 pm

63. Two for Sorrow - Nicola Upson Series: Josephine Tey #3



Challenges: ROOT

Rating: Not as enjoyable for me as the two previous.

I thought we got way too tied up in Tey's personal life, and that derailed the whole mystery. The mystery was interesting enough but so disjointed by the personal stuff it was harder to follow.

92majkia
Jul. 17, 2018, 6:35 am

64. An Autumn Republic - Brian McClellan Series: Powder Mage Trilogy #3



Challenges: ROOT, AlphaKIT

Rating: Conclusion to the series which manages to wrap up most of it, but leaves me still wondering.

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised I still have questions, since there are follow on books. I enjoyed the series though, and like the flintlock fantasy subgenre. Magic mixed with technology, and strange gods and stranger people.

I'm sure I'll read the next books which I hope will explain the whole god thing a lot more.

93majkia
Jul. 20, 2018, 9:05 pm

65. Sleeping Giants - Sylvain Neuvel Series: Themis Files #1



Challenges: ROOT, AlphaKIT

Rating: Fun and interesting, not to mention a nicely different take on artifacts.

Really enjoyed the story. I wasn't a fan of the format at first but it grew on me. Nicely mysterious and alienist.

94-Eva-
Jul. 21, 2018, 9:33 pm

>87 majkia:
I have that series waiting for me - can't wait to get to it!

95majkia
Jul. 23, 2018, 1:43 pm

66. An Autumn War - Daniel Abraham Series: Long Price Quartet #3



Challenges: AlphaKIT, ROOT

Rating: Whoa. I sorta saw something like it coming, but this was better!

Really enjoying the complexity and the humanity portrayed in this series. Both sides, although doing stupid war, are shown as honest and deeply motivated people who see the same thing in very different ways.

Eager to finish off the quartet.

96majkia
Jul. 26, 2018, 8:39 am

67. The Beautiful Mystery - Louise Penny Series: Armand Garmache #8



Challenges: ROOT, MysteryCAT

Rating: I'm afraid much of it was lost on me, still good though.

Way too religious for my tastes but at least the main characters weren't overcome by the religion. I enjoy chants but that's as much as I care about monasteries.

97majkia
Jul. 29, 2018, 10:33 am

68. Broken Harbour - Tana French Series: Dublin Murder Squad #4



Challenges: MysteryCAT, ROOT

Rating: Psychologically complex and painful

This series, and this book in particular, is far more than a police procedural, rather stories that delve deeply into people's hidden fears and messed up lives and minds. They deal not just with murder, but with broken lives and psychological scars that really never heal, but that the best you can hope for is scar tissue to paint them over so the agony isn't always front and center, but yet are always there to come to the surface under certain conditions.

Not easy to read, but horribly realistic, at least in my experience.

98RidgewayGirl
Jul. 29, 2018, 11:52 am

Broken Harbor is one of my favorites of Tana French's novels. I'm looking forward to her new one!

99majkia
Aug. 1, 2018, 12:51 am

69. Etiquette and Espionage - Gail Carriger Series: Finishing School #1



Challenges: ROOT, ColorCAT

Rating: Enjoyable but awfully fluffy.

A little too girly for my tastes, but at least it was fun.

100christina_reads
Aug. 1, 2018, 4:02 pm

>99 majkia: I enjoy Gail Carriger, but I agree with your assessment that she falls at the VERY fluffy end of things!

101majkia
Aug. 20, 2018, 12:19 pm

70. A Fearsome Doubt - Charles Todd Series: Ian Rutledge #6
71. The Immortals - Jordana Max Brodsky Seiries: Olympus Bound #1
72. The Price of Spring - Daniel Abraham Series: The Long Price Quartet #4

Enjoyed all of them.

102majkia
Aug. 21, 2018, 9:56 am

73. The Stars are Legion - Kameron Hurley

Challenges: ROOT, Roll the Dice

Rating: Different and imaginative.

Props for the attempt to write a different sort of world, a world of women where no men are in evidence. The writing was great and the world-building complex and confusing and mysterious, as it should be. I guess my disappoint is that even without men, this world is all aggression and war. Maybe it would be, but I can always hope for something different if women ruled the world.

103majkia
Aug. 25, 2018, 11:52 am

74. Dune - Frank Herber Series: Dune #1



Challenges: ROOT, AlphaKIT, BFB

Rating: Stands up on re-read

I was, like everyone else who read it when it first came out, majorly impressed. Given all the changes in the genre, I'm happy to say the book does stand the test of time. I wasn't impressed with the immediate series continuation books at the time, and probably won't read them, but I am interested in the continuing books regarding the Bene Geserit, and the Navigator Guild, so will most likely read those at least.

104fuzzi
Bearbeitet: Aug. 25, 2018, 4:54 pm

>103 majkia: I recall reading the series, probably in the 1980's. Loved the 1st, read the 2nd and 3rd, and like you, have no interest in revisiting them.

But one of these days/years I'll get the itch to read Dune again.

105majkia
Aug. 27, 2018, 3:23 pm

75. The Other Einstein - Marie Benedict --- Abandoned DNF



Challenges: AlphaKIT, ROOT

Rating: Started off really interesting but devolved into boring romantic whining

Very disappointed.

106majkia
Aug. 29, 2018, 6:18 am

76. The Daffodil Affair - Michael Innes Series: Inspector Appleby #8



Rating: Weird even for this series, LOL

Challenges: ROOT, AlphaKIT, MysteryCAT

Two baffled detectives attempt to find some sort of linkage between a horsenapped cart horse named Daffodil, a missing girl who is none too bright, and a missing house from Bloomsbury.

107majkia
Aug. 31, 2018, 7:49 am

77. Half-Resurrection Blues - Daniel Jose Older - Series: Bone Street Rumba #1



Challenges: ROOT, AlphaKIT, ScaredyKIT

Rating: An okay urban fantasy.

A half-dead guy working for the powers that be in supernatural Brooklyn.

108majkia
Sept. 1, 2018, 10:38 am

First two weeks of August, I was traveling. Thought I'd share a few photos from each place.
First up: Iceland.








109fuzzi
Sept. 1, 2018, 4:13 pm

>108 majkia: ooh, ooh!

110MissWatson
Sept. 1, 2018, 5:06 pm

>108 majkia: I'm jealous.

111majkia
Sept. 2, 2018, 8:15 am

Pics from Scotland:










112rabbitprincess
Sept. 2, 2018, 8:41 am

Beautiful! It looks like the weather was pretty cool. After a pretty much constantly hot and humid summer, the second picture in particular looks almost refreshing :)

113majkia
Sept. 2, 2018, 11:00 am

>112 rabbitprincess: We had cool and rainy conditions most of the time, with the sun only peeking out a few times, but the rain was light most of the time, or just drizzle. The temps were pleasant, despite the heat wave they'd all been having. We lucked out there.

114fuzzi
Sept. 2, 2018, 3:42 pm

Lovely, lovely photos!

115thornton37814
Sept. 2, 2018, 9:15 pm

Iceland looks lovely. When I was young, I always pictured Iceland covered with ice pretty much year-round. Of course, I've know for a long time, but when you are so young, you just do word associationes.

116DeltaQueen50
Sept. 2, 2018, 11:17 pm

Great pictures, Jean, what a wonderful trip!

117majkia
Sept. 4, 2018, 7:29 am

78. A Closed and Common Orbit - Becky Chambers - Series: Wayfarers #2



Challenges: Dice, ROOT, AlphaKIT

Rating: Lots of character development, interesting world-building, not a laser firing in sight!

Nearly as good as the first of the series, and continues the tradition of thoughtful, mostly non-violent sci fi. So different!

118majkia
Sept. 4, 2018, 7:43 am

Pictures from the Lake District, England, and Wales:





119majkia
Bearbeitet: Sept. 4, 2018, 8:27 am

Pictures from Ireleand:











120fuzzi
Sept. 4, 2018, 8:50 am

Oh, lovely.

Did I mention that the photos are lovely?

One of my ancestors came from Wales, Isaac Morgan, and another from Ireland, Margaret Wall.

121majkia
Sept. 4, 2018, 10:04 am

>120 fuzzi: Oh, nice, Fuzzi. I don't have a drop of Irish, Scottish or English blood in me but I still love these countries.

122VivienneR
Sept. 4, 2018, 2:49 pm

Wonderful photos! You must have had a terrific time. A couple of the photos from Ireland look familiar to me.

123Helenliz
Sept. 4, 2018, 4:01 pm

Excellent photos of some fabulous places, you have been busy with the visiting. We've been considering Iceland - what would your must see/don't bother places be?

124majkia
Sept. 5, 2018, 7:28 am

>122 VivienneR: Thanks. We did have a great time.

>123 Helenliz: We did the Golden Circle Tour which gave a pretty good overview. We went to the Blue Lagoon Spa which was okay, but not something I'd have chosen for myself.

I'd rather have taken some of the off tours to the volcanoes or even the tour of the geothermal installations that power the island. Also don't miss the geological area where the Eurasian Plate and the North American Plate are exposed. One of my pictures shows that area.

There are short flights available to some of the further areas of the island too.

You definitely need more time than we had. We were only there for three days.

125RidgewayGirl
Sept. 5, 2018, 8:44 pm

What a fantastic itinerary!

126majkia
Sept. 14, 2018, 2:42 pm

79. The Bone Labyrinth - James Rollins Series: Sigma Force #11



Challenges: AlphaKIT, BFB

Rating: Yet another great entry to the Sigma Force series

The mix of thriller, archaeology, scientist/soldiers continues to entertain me tremendously.

The characters always continue to develop and the mix of fact and speculation is always intriguing.

127majkia
Sept. 15, 2018, 5:23 pm

80. Dark Run - Mike Brooks Series: Keiko #1



Challenges: ROOT, AlphaKIT

Rating: Good start to a series

Not a lot of exposition but lots of action. Characters were diverse and interesting, and the world building was good.

I'll probably read a sequel.

128mathgirl40
Sept. 16, 2018, 10:31 pm

Great photos!

>117 majkia: I too loved Becky Chamber's first two books and am looking forward to reading the third.

129christina_reads
Sept. 18, 2018, 11:23 am

>127 majkia: Dark Run is on my shelves -- glad to see you liked it!

130majkia
Sept. 25, 2018, 4:41 pm

81. Empire of Sand - Tasha Suri



Challenges: ROOT, AlphaKIT

Rating: A really intriguing new author, with a well thought out world.

I really enjoyed this, although I thought it was a bit slow in parts. Even so, the characters were well drawn, the world-building was well thought-out, and the story line was compelling. I'll look forward to book 2.

131majkia
Nov. 27, 2018, 8:48 am



I've been really remiss at updating my threads. We were traveling for 2 months, and then when we got home we were busy. Here are a couple of notable pictures from our trip to Canada. I'll try to end up the year by updating more often.

I have kept reading. :)

132VivienneR
Nov. 27, 2018, 11:49 am

>131 majkia: Just like the view from my window this morning.

133fuzzi
Nov. 27, 2018, 9:15 pm

>131 majkia: how do you keep your drinking water line from freezing?

134majkia
Bearbeitet: Nov. 28, 2018, 7:55 am

>133 fuzzi: funny you should ask ;) The water in the park was turned off because it got down to 19F (this was in early October!). We used our inside tank. To keep THAT from freezing, we had a tiny heater we put in the compartment near where the tank lines were. That kept water moving. Thankfully. I don't want to try any colder weather though!

ETA: Mr Majkia just bought a heated water hose. Not sure we'll get to use it much but he wanted it in case...

135fuzzi
Nov. 28, 2018, 8:58 am

>134 majkia: thanks! I was wondering as my father left NM because the temps had dropped to the upper 20s and he didn't want his water lines to freeze. He's now sitting near the Salton Sea, where it won't go below 40F.

136majkia
Dez. 1, 2018, 7:52 am

November reads:

Books Read
1. Pushing Ice - Alastair Reynolds
2. The Hidden Family - Charles Stross
3. Starhawk - Jack McDevitt
4. Black Wind - Paul F. Wilson
5. The Engines of God - Jack McDevitt
6. Central Station - Lavie Tidhar
7. What Darkness Brings - C.S. Harris
8. As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust - Alan Bradley
9. God's War - Kameron Hurley - DNF

I had one dud (for me). God's War which I should have known better, but like the author. I am tired to death of religious fanatics and their wars.

Central Station was by far the oddest science fiction book I've ever read. Not because the story was difficult or the concept weird, but because it depicted every day life in a future that colored life around the edges but didn't really change things for every day folks. Quite good.

Black Wind was another weird one, with a retelling of the World War II struggle of the US against Japan with magical elements behind all the events.

Pushing Ice and the McDevitt books are sheer fun.

As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust so does any school that tries to contain Flavia DeLuce.

The Hidden Family was interesting, not great though, but I'll still read a few more entries int hat series.

What Darkness Brings was rife with character developments more important than the mystery, I think.

On the personal side: Our house is a mess, so I'm a bit distracted. Having the kitchen cabinets re-pickled, and getting new countertops and back splash. Not sure when it will all get done, as my new cooktop is already delayed. Sigh. Also, our heater decided to go out so they were ripping out the heater area in the garage, but that was finished yesterday. Hurrah.

Hope everyone is have a good holiday season and keeps healthy.

137majkia
Dez. 21, 2018, 6:27 am

Wishing all who celebrate, a Blessed Yule

138fuzzi
Dez. 21, 2018, 12:44 pm

>137 majkia: thank you. Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays back atcha!

139thornton37814
Dez. 31, 2018, 1:05 pm