LadyoftheLodge reads her own books in 2018

Hello! I am new to this group, and a worthy cause it is for sure. I have thousands of books, most housed in a wing of my house (the Library, what else?) Looking forward to ROOT-ing in 2018. I may up the ante on this goal if I am able to keep to the task of reading my own books.

Welcome Cheryl!

It'a never too late to read those books that have been waiting patiently on our shelves for their time in spotlight. Hope you find some great books!

Welcome to the ROOTers, Cheryl! I'd love to have my own library in a wing!

Welcome and have fun! I love that you have a library wing :D

Welcome and happy ROOTing!

Welcome, Cheryl - look forward to seeing what you're reading - happy ROOTing!

Welcome from me too (and more library wing jealousy here too - it sounds perfect!).

I just finished another book that has lain dormant on my shelves for a few years. This is a good one for a reading group, and has cool recipes too! I found a couple of new (aakkk!) books to add to my TBR pile! Read It and Eat by Sarah Gardner

Bad Guys and Gals of the Wild West is really a nonfiction book for kids, the title says it all! I especially liked the photos of the bad guys and gals in the book, as well as the examples of WANTED posters.

Welcome to the group and good luck with your ROOTing, Cheryl.

Welcome, and happy ROOTing. Love the idea of a library wing. Maybe in another life.

Just finished Victoria by Daisy Goodwin. I read this one quickly and it was one of those that I found hard to put down. I had it in my hand when I was cooking and doing household stuff. I like the feisty young Queen, and wished the book had not ended. I read this one for the ColourCAT June Category Challenge, as in purple for royalty.

Working through the TBR pile, but then went to a local bookstore for a coffee and of course got pulled into browsing and one thing led to another and. . . you know the rest.

Rancher Ferrets on the Range by Richard Bach was a quick read. This story stars an all-ferret cast (with a few sheep thrown in for good measure). I enjoyed the other stories in the Ferret Chronicles much more than this one. I think this is one of those books that comes across better as an audiobook than reading it on the page. I still like the story, but I didn't see the point of the dancing Scottish sheep at the end. Not a necessary part of the story. Each of the stories in the Ferret Chronicles has a philosophical point, and this one comes through loud and clear. 4 stars

Don't Cry for Me, Hot Pastrami by Sharon Kahn, part of a series in which Ruby the rabbi's widow stars as the quirky sleuth. I had a hard time getting into this book, as it seemed to take a long time for the plot to unfold. The ending makes a lot of sense, but things seemed to bog down in the middle of the book. There are a lot of fun characters, and the story is set on a low-budget cruise ship. Being an avid cruiser on very nice cruise ships, I thought some of the descriptions were humorous and apt. 3 and a half stars

Ben and Me by Robert Lawson, a fictional account of Ben Franklin's life and experiments, as told by Amos, his helpful sidekick who happens to be a mouse. I first read this book in 4th grade and it was even more fun to read as an adult. I "got" more of the jokes! 5 stars

You are really doing well with your ROOTing, Cheryl.

Thanks! I have way too many books!

Another One Bites the Crust by Ellie Alexander
This is part of a series called A Bakeshop Mystery. I read most of the others in this series, and this one seems to me to be the weakest. There were a lot of typos and word omissions (and being the Grammar Policegirl, I marked them in the book with my pencil, since it is a print edition). I wondered whether the editing was just hurried, or whether the author used a ghost writer to write a lot of the book.

I love the setting (a bakeshop, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, lots of theater) and the characters, but the plot in this one just did not hang together. Even though I am familiar with all the characters, I kept having to back track to find out who was doing what. The reason for the murder that was committed just did not seem plausible to me. A redeeming factor is the interesting ending that leads into the next novel. 3.5 stars

Scornful Scones, Cozy Corgi Mysteries by Mildred Abbott
This is not the first novel in this cute series, narrated by the owner of a bookstore with a bakery above it, set in a small mountain town. I liked the characters a lot, and the person who committed the murder was a big surprise. That is unusual since I usually figure out the culprit by the middle of the book.

My big issue with this book is the need for editing word usage, despite the many helpers who supposedly edited the work as listed in the Acknowledgments at the end. I also greatly dislike the current writing style that uses incomplete sentences. (Grammar Policegirl at work here, thanks to a lot of grammar study drummed into us kids by the nuns at my Roman Catholic grade school.)

The other issue with this book is that the author assumed the reader had read all the other books in order, so would be familiar with the characters and events that preceded the events in this book. Since I did not read them, I was puzzled several times when reading the book. Most authors who write a series take a few pages to reintroduce characters and events, so as to avoid this confusion.

However, being a real sucker for cute dogs, small towns, quirky characters, and book stores, I will (alas) go back and read all the others in this series. 4 stars

I had the sample book on my Kindle and ended up reading the whole book, so I guess this counts.
Traitorous Toys (Cozy Corgi Mysteries) by Mildred Abbott

This book is also in the Cozy Corgi series I mentioned earlier. It seems to be edited much better than the other one I read, and the plot hung together too. As I said for the earlier story, I love the quirky family, small town shops, bookstore, bakery, and the little dog, although I am not a corgi fan or owner. Now I need to go back to read Book One, also on my Kindle.
4.5 stars

I just finished The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey. This was a tough read for me, and I ended up skipping and skimming after getting through about 50% of the book. I guess my knowledge of the history of English monarchs is sorely lacking, resulting in confusion throughout. I knew about the "Princes in the Tower" and I understood the premise of the book, in which Inspector Grant attempts to use police methods to solve this historical cold case. This was disappointing, since for years I had heard about how this book was such an interesting read and a classic mystery novel. 3 stars

Another finish! Death of a Gentle Lady by M.C. Beaton.
I forgot how much I like the Hamish Macbeth mystery novels. I started to read them years ago and have a dozen on my shelf and more on my Kindle. Now I will have to go back and read the ones I missed! 5 stars

Cruel Candy by Mildred Abbott
Another one of the Cozy Corgi bookshop mysteries. This one seemed to be written in a better manner, than the later ones I read, meaning fewer short and incomplete sentences, and fewer word usage errors. This one really hung together, and I got to meet all the characters I would have met if I read the series in order. I did guess the perp pretty quickly, but not the motive. Love the doggie! Now I have one more to read in the series. 5 stars for this one

The Teashop Girls is really a book for young girls, probably middle school. The main character helps her grandmother find ways to save the Steeping Leaf teashop from extinction. Along the way, she deals with her crush on a jerk of a boy, and changes occurring with her best friends. I love her grandma! I read this book for ColourCAT Challenge Pink, since it has a pink and green cover. 5 stars

>24 LadyoftheLodge: I read this one several years ago, but remember enjoying it a great deal. A really nice read with a scone and a cuppa

>25 Caramellunacy: I found out there is a follow up book to Teashop Girls and of course I had to find a used copy of it. . . .I am feeding my book addiction big time. It is too hot to go outside, so we have been staying indoors and reading. Bliss!!

Ooh, really? What was it called? I may have to go in search!

The Secret Ingredient is the follow up to Teashop Girls. I got a used copy and am anxious to read it.

Just finished The Provincial Lady in Wartime by E. M. Delafield. I read this for the RandomCAT challenge for July. This is another in the Provincial Lady series, written in diary format. The lady involves herself in finding a way to serve her country, which is on the brink of World War II. Lots of the usual tongue in cheek humor found in the other books in this series. 4 stars

I am finally back from Alaska! Great trip, very little time to read,except on the plane. I finished Savage Sourdough which was on my Kindle.

Another finish! The Hundred Gifts by Jennifer Scott. This is the first book I have read by this author. It is definitely a "chick lit" or women and friendship kind of book, but also has a lot to say about loneliness and taking care of others, midlife crisis, and how people change over time. 4.5 stars

Out to Pasture but not over the hill by Effie Wilder presents a look at life in a retirement community--humorous but also poignant, not in any way demeaning to the senior citizens. When I opened the back cover of the book, I found a copy of Guideposts which contained a story about the author. I must have placed it there when I bought the book. This was a short novel and an easy read, so I will need to go on now to read the other three in the series. The author was 88 years young when the book was published, and the fourth one in the series seems to have been published in 1999. I am sure the author must have gone on to her reward by now. If you read this book, be prepared to find some politically incorrect comments, but that does not detract from the book. Rather, it is indicative of the time period in which the author lived and the viewpoint of her writing. 4.5 stars

Death of a Greedy Woman by M.C. Beaton features my old friend Hamish Macbeth, the bumbling policeman who always solves the crime. Great travel reading, like visiting old friends. 5 stars

A Crossworder's Holiday not one of my faves, five short stories. One needed to solve the crossword puzzles in the book to solve the crimes. This was a used book, so someone had partially solved the puzzles and it was frustrating to search through them to find the clues used to solve the crime. Meh.

Over What Hill? by Effie Leland Wilder is the second in the series that began with Out to Pasture. The books are written in diary form, and tell about the daily interactions and humorous yet poignant happenings at a retirement home the South. 4.5 stars

Looks like six finishes this month, for a total since May of 48 ROOTS, yippee! Currently reading two books but doubt I will finish them by end of the day today. Silent in the Sanctuary and The Traveler's Tricks American Girl Mysteries.

Guess again! One more finish for July. This was on my Kindle for a long time.
The Traveler's Tricks, American Girl Mysteries is a children's book, fast read, set during the War of 1812. The storyline features stagecoach passengers, several of whom harbor secrets of their own. One of them is a thief! 4.5 stars

First August finish! A Dinner to Die For is one of the Cherringham mystery series. This one was the first I read, but not the first in the series, which actually starts with some short stories. The mystery features Sarah, an IT specialist, and her sidekick who is a retired police officer from New York. It is set in a small village in England, and deals with two rival restaurant owners. I guessed the perp part way through the book, but it was still a fun read with a satisfying ending. 4.5 stars

Looks like you're ahead of schedule for meeting your goal - great work!

Just finished Silent in the Sanctuary for ColourCAT August. Tickers updated. This is the second in a series about Lady Julia and her smouldering sidekick Brisbane, as they attempt to unravel another mystery. I read several of the others in the series, and now am going back to the beginning. This one took place at Yuletide in the family home (a decaying abbey), with several mysteries and a murder to solve. 5 stars

Number 3 for August: Older But Wilder which is number three in the series Notes from the Pasture, about senior citizens at a retirement community. This one was not as funny as the first two, and some of it read like a series of jokes. The author stated that the book was compiled from notes and vignettes sent to her by readers of her first two books, as well as her own experiences. I thought it ended rather abruptly. Two more in the series to go! 4.5 stars

Number 4 for August: Too Many Cooks by Rex Stout, a mystery set in the 1930's featuring the eccentric Nero Wolfe and his sidekick Archie Goodwin. I had a hard time keeping the names of the chefs all straight. Look past the racial comments to enjoy the eccentricities of the detective himself, reading the book in its context and the time in which it was written. 4 stars

Wow, you are reading a lot in the first few days of August!!!

>42 connie53: That was one of my goals when I retired from full time work--spend time reading!

Just finished Number 5 for August By the Shores of Silver Lake for Colour CAT challenge. Ticker up to date.

Number 6 for August: Death of a Witch a Hamish Macbeth mystery.

Number 7 for August: Friendship Cake. Good beach read, about a group of women who are working on a church cookbook, all of them with different personalities. Yes, there are recipes in this book! The main point of the book is how they are drawn together and help each other through crises of life. 3 stars

Number 8 for August: One More Time Just for the Fun of It by Effie Leland Wilder. This is book four in the series about people living in a retirement community. Miss Hattie is definitely showing signs of aging, but still manages to find the humor in the later years of life. This book includes some anecdotes that were sent in by readers of her other books. 3.5 stars.

Tickers are up to date!

Number 9 for August The Tailor of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter. This is part of the "complete works" of Beatrix Potter, a very nicely illustrated version with notes about the author. 5 stars

Number 10 for August The End of Summer by Rosamunde Pilcher. I liked this book when I first read it many years ago, but now it seemed dated and rather thin in the plot line. 3 stars

I decided I needed to read some fun and short books to celebrate Labor Day weekend. I have quite a few "little books" that measure four or five inches square. Most of them were gifts. They are great fun to read, so here are the ones I read, in addition to a few kids' books.

Cat Confessions
Smitten with Kittens
Diana, the People's Princess by Donnelly
Diana, The Life of a Princess

Catwings
Wonderful Alexander and the Catwings
Esio Trot

I just finished Full House by Maeve Binchy. This is a fun re-read for me. The story tells of how an Irish couple devises a plan to get their adult kids to move out of their house and get out on their own. 5 stars

Another finish--Elizabeth Ann Seton in the Saints by Our Side series of biographies. I only wish I could be as good as she was! 3.5 stars

Aging with Grace: What the Nun Study Teaches Us by David Snowdon has been on my TBR list for years! A very interesting research study, which began with research on Alzheimer's disease, and also provided information on living a healthy life into old age. Some of those nuns lived to be over 100 years old! 5 stars

Just completed Oh, My Goodness! More Surprises from FairAcres by Effie Leland Wilder. This is the final installment in the series of five books, written in diary form, about the senior citizens residing at the FairAcres retirement community. I did not find this one as enjoyable as the other four in the series. It ended rather abruptly. Perhaps the author was running out of material; she mentioned the difficulty of being able to see well enough to write, hence the co-author. 3.5 stars Ticker up to date.

Another finish--Bookstore Cats, which is a photo book of bookstore cats at bookstores in a variety of locations. In addition to photos of the cats in the bookstores, the book included literary tidbits and lists of cats found in literature, mythology, and owned by authors. Some poetry was also included. This was a fun read that featured "famous" bookstore cats. Being a cat lover and a book lover, this was an ideal short read. 4.5 stars
Ticker up to date--four more to go!!

Go go go!

The Cleverness of Ladies by Alexander McCall Smith is a series of short stories. I usually like his work and have read all the Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency books. However, this book fell far short of his usual quality writing. I wondered if these were juvenalia or practice pieces or drafts. One of the stories just made no sense to me at all. 1 star
Ticker up to date-getting down to the wire. . .. 3 to go . . . .

Great job, Cheryl Sue. That Maeve Binchy book sounds like fun!

I went to a book fair to support a local food bank. Oh wow! It was half price day, so I got a couple of bags of books! Now I will have lots more of my own tomes to read for next year.

We just got back from ten days in Greece, so I did not get to read on this very busy archaeological tour. I did get to read a book on my Kindle for NetGalley while on the airplane.

Just went over my target of 75 ROOTs! Yippee! Here is what I read:
Teacher, Teacher by Jack Sheffield
Tiny Tilda's Pumpkin Pie by Susan Kantor
Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown by Charles M. Schulz

As you see from my list, I decided to read some seasonal books. Great fun, Charlie Brown!
Ticker updated!

Hooray, well done!

>60 LadyoftheLodge: Woo hoo! Excellent work :)

Just added a new ticker with a goal of five more ROOTs. I like seeing my progress on the first completed one, so added a new one instead of updating.

Congrats, Cheryl Sue.

Thanks! I just picked up two bags of books at a book sale for charity, so I now have more of my own books to read for next year.

Just finished The Queene's Cure and The Table Where Rich People Sit. One more to go for Ticker #2, updated!

I just finished reviewing several books for NetGalley, so will move on now to the Category Challenges for November! Here are my latest:

The Victorian Christmas Brides Collection
A Christmas Revelation
Creating Sanctuary: Sacred Garden Spaces
Science Comics: Wild Weather
The Craft of University Teaching

OK, I have been trying to re-read Touch Not the Cat by Mary Stewart--for about nine months now. I even took it along on a trip to Ireland and figured I would finish it on the plane. But alas, I still could not get into the book. I read this book when it was first published, and thought it was one of my fave novels. Many years have passed, and I am not the same person I was then, so I guess it is no longer one of my faves. I am counting it here as completed, since I made an honest attempt and finally read the last chapter to remind myself of the ending.

Ticker updated! Goal reached! Yippee!!

Hooray! Well done on meeting your goal (even if it was with a frustrating book!)!

>68 LadyoftheLodge: Good call on counting it as completed -- you gave it a very good shot! Hope the next book is speedier for you.

Thanks for the kind words! On to something else now.

Congratulations on reaching your goal!

OK, so I read another one. I just finished Hot Flash Holidays which was just what I needed--some humor, the ability to laugh at ourselves and deal with the changes that come with aging. I finished it in two evenings.Very humorous and so true, best understood by "women of a certain age." Now I need to read the others in the series. 5 stars

Congrats on meeting your goal!