calm reading 75 and beyond

Hi I'm calm and I have been a member of LT and the 75ers since 2009. I live in West Wales with two cats, Xander and Lexa, and a houseful of books. I mainly read fantasy; speculative fiction and some historical fiction.

I don't post much. Though I do lurk on a number of threads.

I will keep a list of books read in the 2nd message and do monthly round-ups. I will also tag "read in 2019"

In 2018 I read 159 books. If you want to know more you can check out the "read in 2018" tag in my catalogue

I didn't give 5 stars to any new to me reads, though I did re-read some old favourites and they were all as good as I remembered.

These were the new to me 4 and a half star rated books (in alphabetical order). * = the top 5 of those.

The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman
Beartown by Fredrik Backman
The Boy on the Bridge by M. R. Carey
Fellside by M. R. Carey
Shogun by James Clavell
Water & Glass by Abi Curtis
*Hild by Nicola Griffith
Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic by Tom Holland
Not Forgetting the Whale by John Ironmonger
To the Bright Edge of the World by Eowyn Ivey
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
*A Gathering of Ghosts by Karen Maitland
*King Rat by China Miéville
*Circe by Madeline Miller
The Crash of Hennington by Patrick Ness
Frogkisser! by Garth Nix
*Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry
Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs
Bellman & Black by Diane Setterfield
Artemis by Andy Weir

Read in 2019

January

1 The Many-Coloured Land by Julian May
2 The Golden Torc by Julian May
3 The Nonborn King by Julian May
4 The Adversary by Julian May
5 Intervention by Julian May
6 Jack the Bodiless by Julian May
7 Diamond Mask by Julian May
8 Magnificat by Julian May
9 World's End by Mark Chadbourn
10 Darkest Hour by Mark Chadbourn
11 Always Forever by Mark Chadbourn

February

12 The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks
13 Someone Like Me by M. R. Carey
14 The Devil in Green by Mark Chadbourn
15 The Queen of Sinister by Mark Chadbourn
16 The Hounds of Avalon by Mark Chadbourn
17 Jack of Ravens by Mark Chadbourn
18 The Burning Man by Mark Chadbourn
19 Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard
20 The Mirror of her Dreams by Stephen Donaldson
21 A Man Rides Through by Stephen Donaldson
22 The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
23 Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold

March

24 The Baker's Boy by J V Jones
25 A Man Betrayed by J V Jones
26 Master and Fool by J V Jones
27 Red Moon by Kim Stanley Robinson
28 King's Cage by Victoria Aveyard
29 Mythos by Stephen Fry
30 Us Against You by Fredrick Backman
31 Sorcery Rising by Jude Fisher
32 Wild Magic by Jude Fisher
33 Rose of the World by Jude Fisher
34 The Barbed Coil by J. V. Jones
35 Blood Ties by Pamela Freeman
36 Deep Water by Pamela Freeman
37 Full Circle by Pamela Freeman
38 An English Ghost Story by Kim Newman
39 The Sisters of the Winter Wood by Rena Rossner

April

40 The Hallowed Hunt by Lois McMaster Bujold
41 City by Clifford Simak
42 The Margarets by Sheri S Tepper
43 Little, Big by John Crowley
44 Maia by Richard Adams
45 The Enigma Score (AKA After Long Silence) by Sheri S Tepper
46 The Melody by Jim Crace
47 The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker
48 Shadow of the Torturer by Gene Wolfe
49 The Claw of the Conciliator by Gene Wolfe
50 The Sword of the Lictor by Gene Wolfe
51 The Citadel of the Autarch by Gene Wolfe

May

52 Stormwarden by Janny Wurts
53 Keeper of the Keys by Janny Wurts
54 Shadowfane by Janny Wurts
55 The Ornatrix by Kate Howard
56 The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch
57 Beauty by Robin McKinley
58 Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay
59 Moonheart by Charles de Lint
60 Nightwatch by Terry Pratchett
61 Dune by Frank Herbert
62 Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert
63 Children of Dune by Frank Herbert
64 God Emperor of Dune by Frank Herbert
65 Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert
66 Chapterhouse: Dune by Frank Herbert
67 Hunters of Dune by Brian Herbert

June

68 Sandworms of Dune by Brian Herbert
69 Nocturna by Maya Motayne
70 Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss
71 Black Leopard Red Wolf by Marlon James
72 The Heart of Myrial by Maggie Furey
73 Spirit of the Stone by Maggie Furey
74 The Eye of Eternity by Maggie Furey
75 The Seed Collectors by Scarlett Thomas
76 Rejoice A Knife to the Heart by Steven Erikson
77 The Wanderers by Meg Howrey
78 Joust by Mercedes Lackey
79 Alta by Mercedes Lacey
80 Sanctuary by Mercedes Lackey
81 Aerie by Mercedes Lackey
82 Marianne, The Magus and the Manticore by Sheri S Tepper
83 Marianne, the Madame and the Momentary Gods by Sheri S Tepper
84 Marianne, the Matchbox and the Malachite Mouse by Sheri S Tepper
85 Little (Grrl) Lost by Charles de Lint
86 Beauty by Sheri S Tepper (when I try to touchstone it goes to the other Beauty I read earlier this year so this one is https://www.librarything.com/work/27620)
87 Harpy's Flight by Megan Lindholm
88 The Windsingers by Megan Lindholm
89 The Limbreth Gate by Megan Lindholm
90 Luck of the Wheels by Megan Lindholm
91 Wyrms by Orson Scott Card

July

92 Golden Witchbreed by Mary Gentle
93 Ancient Light by Mary Gentle
94 The Will of the Wanderer by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
95 The Paladin of the Night by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
96 The Prophet of Akhran by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
97 The War of the Flowers by Tad Williams
98 Austral by Paul McAuley
99 The Blue Salt Road by Joanne Harris
100 The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
101 Dragon Wing by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
102 Elven Star by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
103 Fire Sea by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
104 Serpent Mage by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
105 The Hand of Chaos by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
106 Into the Labyrinth by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
107 The Seventh Gate by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
108 Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson
109 Green Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson

August

110 Blue Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson
111 Dragon Prince by Melanie Rawn
112 Star Scroll by Melanie Rawn
113 Sun Runners Fire by Melanie Rawn
114 Stronghold by Melanie Rawn
115 The Dragon Token by Melanie Rawn
116 Skybowl by Melanie Rawn
117 The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert
118 Blood Queen by Joanna Courtney
119 La Belle Sauvage by Philip Pullman
120 The Hickory Staff by Robert Scott & Jay Gordon
121 Lessek's Key by Robert Scott & Jay Gordon
122 The Larion Senators by Robert Scott & Jay Gordon

September

123 Mute by Piers Anthony
124 Innocent Mage by Karen Miller
125 Awakened Mage by Karen Miller
126 Watchtower by Elizabeth A Lynn
127 The Dancers of Arun by Elizabeth A Lynn
128 The Northern Girl by Elizabeth A Lynn
129 Wolves by Simon Ings
130 The Beauty of the Wolf by Wray Delaney
131 The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
132 Black Sun Rising by Celia Friedman
133 When True Night Falls by Celia Friedman
134 Crown of Shadows by Celia Friedman
135 The Revenants by Sheri S Tepper
136 The Glass Warrior by Robert E. Vardeman
137 Phantoms on the Wind by Robert E. Vardeman
138 Symphony of Storms by Robert E. Vardeman
139 The Crystal Singer by Anne McCaffrey
140 Killashandra by Anne McCaffrey
141 Crystal Line by Anne McCaffrey

October

142 The Infinity Concerto by Greg Bear
143 The Serpent Mage by Greg Bear
144 The Mount by Carol Emshwiller
145 Release by Patrick Ness
146 The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden
147 The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden
148 Dragonsdawn by Anne McCaffrey
149 Red Star Rising AKA Dragonseye by Anne McCaffrey
150 A Map of Days by Ransom Riggs
151 Dragon's Kin by Anne & Todd McCaffrey
152 Dragon's Fire by Anne & Todd McCaffrey
153 Dragon Harper by Anne & Todd McCaffrey
154 Dark Fire by Jonathan Wylie
155 Echoes of Flame by Jonathan Wylie
156 The Last Augury by Jonathan Wylie
157 Forty Signs of Rain by Kim Stanley Robinson
158 Fifty Degrees Below by Kim Stanley Robinson
159 Sixty Days & Counting by Kim Stanley Robinson
160 The Nameless Day by Sara Douglass

November

161 The Wounded Hawk by Sara Douglass
162 The Crippled Angel by Sara Douglass
163 The Overstory by Richard Powers
164 Gingerbread by Helen Oyeyemi
165 Dragonheart by Todd McCaffrey
166 Dragonsblood by Todd McCaffrey
167 Dragongirl by Todd McCaffrey
168 Dragon's Time by Anne McCaffrey
169 Sky Dragons by Anne McCaffrey
170 Hades Daughter by Sara Douglass
171 God's Concubine by Sara Douglass
172 Darkwitch Rising by Sara Douglass
173 Druid's Sword by Sara Douglass
174 The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
175 The Girl in Red by Christina Henry
176 Melmoth by Sarah Perry
177 The Last by Hanna Jameson
178 Moreta Dragonlady of Pern by Anne McCaffrey
179 Nerilka's Story by Anne McCaffrey
180 The Masterharper of Pern by Anne McCaffrey
181 Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey
182 Dragonquest by Anne McCaffrey
183 Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey
184 Dragonsinger by Anne McCaffrey
185 Dragondrums by Anne McCaffrey

December

186 The White Dragon by Anne McCaffrey
187 Renegades of Pern by Anne McCaffrey
188 All the Weyrs of Pern by Anne McCaffrey
189 Early Riser by Jasper Fforde
190 The Tangled Lands by Paolo Bacigalupi and Tobias S Buckell
191 The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
192 The Dolphins of Pern by Anne McCaffrey
193 The Skies of Pern by Anne McCaffrey
194 Wizard of the Pigeons by Megan Lindholm
195 Fevre Dream by George R R Martin
196 Faerie Tale by Raymond Feist
197 The Summer Tree by Guy Gavriel Kay
198 The Wandering Fire by Guy Gavriel Kay
199 The Darkest Road by Guy Gavriel Kay
200 Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein
201 Pantomime by Laura Lam
202 The Complex by Michael Walters
203 The Children of Jocasta by Natalie Haynes
204 Frankissstein by Jeanette Winterson
205 To Ride Hell's Chasm by Janny Wurts

That's it for 2019!

Welcome to any visitors. Post or lurk as you wish.

Happy reading in 2019 to you all

Thanks for the link, your thread is starred!

Good to see you fuzzi :)

Happy 2019, Calm!

Thanks Chelle

Happy reading Calm. You are much better at it than I am! I mostly lurk but was saddened about Xander's leg. We have just gone through that as well - our almost 4 year old kitty Winnie (1 of 3 and she is the youngest) got a bump on her knee several months ago. We hoped it was a cyst but after an operation to remove it and retesting weeks later they found an early aggressive type cancer. They needed to remove her entire left rear leg on Nov 12th. It was a hard couple weeks at first but she is a strong determined cat and she has done much much better than I would ever have imagined. She can't get up on the bed and she isn't happy about that, but putting makeshift steps lets her get into her favorite chair. She can get up and down the steps in and out of the house. I hope Xander does well also.

>8 RBeffa: Thanks Ron. I hope your Winnie adapts quickly, Xander gets around quickly though he still doesn't jump up onto things. Steps at strateic points (up to the bed and windowsill) have helped. His remaining back leg is definitely stronger as he goes up a lot more quickly now.

>9 quondame: Happy New Year Susan

Dropping off a star for you, Calm.

Welcome back!

Cheers to you 2019 thread, calm! I'm glad to see Backman rated so highly for you last year. I was pleasantly surprised by Backman's writing in A Man Named Ove and I hope to read more of him in the coming months. Hope the kitties are doing well!

Dropped a star!

Happy New Year, calm!

Happy reading in 2019, calm!
*back into lurking mode*

Hi calm, good to see you here.

Happy new year calm!

Nicola Griffiths' Hild is a book I need to try again at some point - I think I wasn't in the right mood when I first read it.

Dropping off my star!

Happy 2019
A year full of books
A year full of friends
A year full of all your wishes realised

I look forward to keeping up with you, Calm, this year.

Stopping by to wish you a Happy New Year calm, and to drop a star.

Happy new year.
I wish, that you may find a good and solid path in 2019

Happy New Year and happy new thread!

Hi calm, good to see you here for another year of reading.

Hope your weekend is going well, Calm.

Found you !

Calm, I hope you are doing fine and will come and stop by and confirm it to us.

Missing my friend from West Wales. xx

Popping in to say Hello!

Wishing you a lovely weekend, Calm. xx

Thanks everyone. Sorry to have not been posting this year but I didn't feel up to it.

I have been around and lurking.

Book list in >2 calm: has been updated sporadically. I reached 75 in June, 150 in October but I doubt if I will get a triple 75 but still hope to get to the 200 or so this year.

>32 calm: Nice to see you checking in Calm. You've been a busy reader. One day I'll re-read the Dune series. I picked up Someone Like Me by M R Carey this year with every intention of reading it and I am hoping I can still squeeze it in. If not it will be one of my first for 2020. I also picked up the followup novel to Girl With all the Gifts, The Boy on the Bridge.

>32 calm: Congratulations on reaching 75 & 150! I've done of few of the same this year, just finishing The Starless Sea. What were the outstanding reads for you?

Hi calm, lovely to see how active you have been on the reading front! Looks like you will clear 200 before year end.

>33 RBeffa: Hi Ron - I've done a lot of re-reading this year and I enjoyed the Dune series. M. R. Carey writes really interesting books I hope you manage to read Someone Like Me soon it will probably end up on my best of the year list.

>34 quondame: Susan not counting re-reads the outstanding so far have been

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden (and the rest of the trilogy)
The Tangled Lands by Paolo Bacigalupi and Tobias S Buckell (4 short stories set in the same world 2 from each author)
The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker (Trojan war through the eyes of the captive women)
Someone Like Me by M. R. Carey
Blood Queen by Joanna Courtney (Lady Macbeth as a historical person rather than the Shakespearean interpretation)
The Starless Sea: A Novel by Erin Morgenstern (I love stories within stories)
The Overstory: A Novel by Richard Powers
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon (just a great fantasy novel with a lot of strong female characters)

I'm reading The Testaments at the moment and that will probably end up on the list as well.

>35 lkernagh: Thanks Lori I hope to get there :)

Hi calm, nice to see your post!

Of your favorites for 2019, I've read The Bear and the Nightingale trilogy and thought it a wonderful read too.
I enjoyed The Testaments but it wasn't what I expected. Still solid though.

Hope the kitties are well and that all of you will have a wonderful holiday season!

>36 calm: The Katherine Arden trilogy is a favorite of mine as well. I've recently finished The Starless Sea which I mostly liked pretty well, though it was harder to get going with.

>37 Carmenere: Thanks Lynda. Kitties are well.

>38 quondame: Hi Susan. Funny story about the Arden trilogy I picked up the first book at the library and the librarian insisted that I read the rest of the books - so much so that she immediately put the other 2 on hold for me (as they were at different branches within the system).

The Starless Sea wasn't an easy read but I liked its complexity and it had cats, books, gaming and mystery so there were a lot of things that I like.

Hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

Have a comfy, caring, and very

Merry Christmas!

Thank you Chelle and Susan.

Merry Christmas to you.

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Solstice, some other tradition or none at all, this is what I wish for you!

Peace be with you Calm, and Merry Christmas to you and the kitties

Thank you for keeping me company in 2019.......onward to 2020.

Best wishes this holiday season!! See you in 2020!

>36 calm: Lovely to see you posting calm and browse your best of 2019 reads. The only ones I've read are The Bear and the Nightingale trilogy but quite a few of your other favourites are on my to read list. Hope you and the kitties are enjoying the Christmas period.

Thanks for the Season's Greetings Roni, Ron, Paul, Heather and Kim. Nice to see you all.

Best of 2019 as seen in >36 calm:

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden (and the rest of the trilogy)
The Tangled Lands by Paolo Bacigalupi and Tobias S Buckell (4 short stories set in the same world 2 from each author)
The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker (Trojan war through the eyes of the captive women)
Someone Like Me by M. R. Carey
Blood Queen by Joanna Courtney (Lady Macbeth as a historical person rather than the Shakespearean interpretation)
The Starless Sea: A Novel by Erin Morgenstern (I love stories within stories)
The Overstory: A Novel by Richard Powers
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon (just a great fantasy novel with a lot of strong female characters)

adding Pantomime by Laura Lam (first in a trilogy I need to request the rest from the library)

The Testaments didn't make the list, it was good but not great

Happy New Year Calm, and may the new year bring lots of calm time to read many good books.

>49 calm: Pantomime looks interesting!

Another resolution is to keep up in 2020 with all my friends on LT. Happy New Year!

>50 sirfurboy: Thank you Stephen

>51 quondame: It was

>52 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul

I'll be tracking down everyone's 2020 threads in the next few days and start my own soonish (probably after I finish at least one book).

Happy New Year to everyone who visited/lurked this year. I'll see you all in 2020 :)

I'll look for your thread on 75 Books Challenge for 2020!