VivienneR visits Wind in the Willows the third time

Welcome to my 8th year of participating in the Category Challenge. I've chosen 11 categories and while most books might fit in more than one I don't double up.

My thread features illustrations from The Wind in the Willows, a quinessentially English book written by a Scot, Kenneth Grahame. Many versions have been published since the original in 1908 and has featured over 50 different illustrators. The illustrations I'm using are simply some I like best.

When author Tana French was asked which book changed her life, she replied: I blame my career choice on my dad reading me The Wind in the Willows when I was five or six. I can still remember hearing him read the sentence “Never in his life had he seen a river before – this sleek, sinuous, full-bodied animal …” That was when it hit me what words can do".

Current reading plans

  

Read recently

      



Mysteries: 8
Fiction: 12
Series: 8
Celtic: 9
Faraway places: 18
RandomCAT: 12
HistoryCAT: 10
GenreCAT: 11
MysteryKIT: 11
AlphaKIT: 22
BingoDOG: 25

Mysteries

1. The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths
   
2. Found Wanting by Robert Goddard
   
3. The Last Seance: Tales of the Supernatural by Agatha Christie
   
4. Beggar's Banquet by Ian Rankin
   
5. The Au Pair by Emma Rous
   
6. Blacklands by Belinda Bauer
   
7. The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
   
8. Eight Detectives by Alex Pavesi

Fiction

1. The Children Act by Ian McEwan
   
2. Rabbit Foot Bill by Helen Humphreys
   
3. The Switch by Beth O'Leary
   
4. The Dragon in the Library by Louie Stowell, illustrated by Davide Ortu
   
5. Night of Power by Anar Ali
   
6. The End of the Affair by Graham Greene
   
7. The Purple Swamp Hen and other stories by Penelope Lively
   
8. The Broken Girls by Simone St. James
   
9. Consent by Annabel Lyon
   
10. Disappearing Moon Cafe by Sky Lee
    
11. Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
    
12. All I Ask by Eva Crocker

Series

1. Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith
   
2. Far From True by Linwood Barclay
   
3. Love Story, with Murders by Harry Bingham
   
4. Blood Line by Lynda La Plante
   
5. The Best Man to Die by Ruth Rendell
   
6. Death of a Gossip by M.C. Beaton
   
7. Death of a Cad by M.C. Beaton
   
8. Put on by cunning (aka Death Notes) by Ruth Rendell
   
9. Slow Horses by Mick Herron

Celtic - Ireland and Scotland

1. Turbulent Priests by Colin Bateman
   
2. Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart
   
3. The Forgotten Waltz by Ann Enright
   
4. Green Hell by Ken Bruen
   
5. Night Boat to Tangier by Kevin Barry
   
6. The Ghosts of Belfast by Stuart Neville
   
7. Normal People by Sally Rooney
   
8. Little Constructions by Anna Burns
   
9. Tower by Ken Bruen & Reed Farrel Coleman

Faraway places and GeoKIT

1. How to Pronounce Knife by Souvankham Thammavongsa - North America & Asia
   
2. A Promised Land by Barack Obama - North America
   
3. Drive your plow over the bones of the dead by Olga Tokarczuk - Europe
   
4. Burmese Days by George Orwell - Asia
   
5. A Luminous Republic by Andrés Barba - Central & South America
   
6. Into the Abyss by Carol Shaben - Polar regions
   
7. The Tomorrow-Tamer and other stories by Margaret Laurence - Africa
   
8. Bliss and other stories by Katherine Mansfield - Oceania
   
9. Alone in the Wild by Kelley Armstrong - North America
   
10. Miguel Street by V.S. Naipaul - Central & South America
    
11. The Devil of Nanking by Mo Hayder - Asia
    
12. The Crystal Drop by Monica Hughes - North America
    
13. Far North by Will Hobbs - Polar regions
    
14. Beartown by Fredrik Backman - Europe
    
15. The Suspect by Fiona Barton - Asia
    
16. The Mission Song by John le Carré - Africa
    
17. Great Australian Journeys by Graham Seal
    
18. The Nose by Nikolai Gogol

RandomCAT

January - LOL: Carry On, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse
February - Fruit & veggies: Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich
March - It's a surprise: The Traveller and other stories by Stuart Neville
April - Let's go to the library: Conviction by Denise Mina from dudes22 library
May - Let's play Monopoly: The Orphan Thief by Glynis Peters (Coventry)
May - Let's play Monopoly: Lehrter Station by David Downing
May - Let's play Monopoly: Monopoly: the world's most famous game and how it got that way by Philip Orbanes
June - Everything old is new again: Macbeth: a novel by A.J. Hartley & David Hewson
July - Summertime: Killing with Confetti by Peter Lovesey
August - On the Road Again: The Woman on the Orient Express by Lindsay Jayne Ashford
August - On the Road Again: North Star by Hammond Innes
September - Winner, winner: The Second World War: Triumph and Tragedy by Winston S. Churchill

HistoryCAT

January - Middle Ages: Cruel as the Grave by Sharon Kay Penman
February - 1800 to present: The Second World War: Alone by Winston S. Churchill
March - Early modern 1500-1800: The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel
April - Ancient 8th C BC - 6th C AD: Venus in Copper by Lindsey Davis
May - Dynasties: The sisters who would be queen: the tragedy of Mary, Katherine, & Lady Jane Grey by Leanda De Lisle
June - War: The Second World War: The Grand Alliance by Winston S. Churchill
July - Social history: The Madonnas of Leningrad by Debra Dean
August - Your country: Raven's Cry by Christie Harris, illustrations by Bill Reid
September - Politics: Nineteen Eighty-four by George Orwell
October - Pick a region: A Brief History of Earth: Four Billion Years in Eight Chapters by Andrew H. Knoll

GenreCAT

January - Non-fiction: The Pigeon Tunnel: Stories from My Life by John le Carré
February - Memoirs: No Time Like the Future: an optimist considers mortality by Michael J. Fox
March - Action/adventure: Moonraker by Ian Fleming
April - Literary fiction: Clock Dance by Anne Tyler
May - Short stories: Climb: stories of survival from rock, snow and ice by Clint Willis
June - Historical fiction: Pompeii by Robert Harris
July - Romance: The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner
August - Drama: Sweeney Todd and the String of Pearls by Yuri Rasovsky
September - YA & Children: 1, 2, 3 Salish Sea: A Pacific Northwest Counting Book by Nikki McClure
September - YA & Children: Lionclaw, a tale of Rowan Hood by Nancy Springer
October - Horror: The Cement Garden by Ian McEwan

MysteryKIT

January - featuring water: Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
February - pastiche: Rowan Hood: Outlaw Girl of Sherwood Forest by Nancy Springer
March - locked room: Flowers for the Judge by Margery Allingham
April - senior citizen detective: The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
May - set in Europe: The Track of Sand by Andrea Camilleri
June - Golden Age: The Shakespeare Murders by A.G. Macdonell
July - Cop n' Robbers Lady: Death at Windsor Castle by C.C. Benison
August - Cozy featuring animals: The Cat Who Wasn't There by Lilian Jackson Braun
August - Cozy featuring animals: Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann
September - Mismatched detectives: The Dark Angel by Elly Griffiths
September - Mismatched detectives: A Cure for All Diseases by Reginald Hill

AlphaKIT

All Year Z: Zero Avenue by Dietrich Kalteis
All Year Z: Ratking: An Aurelio Zen mystery by Michael Dibdin
All Year X: Aunt Bessie Believes by Diana Xarissa
All Year X: Building Stronger Bones Naturally by Xandria Williams
January M: Common Murder by Val McDermid
January P: The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
February T: Redhead by the Side of the Road by Anne Tyler
February K: What She Knew by Gilly Macmillan
February T: The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England by Ian Mortimer
March U: Uncommon Type by Tom Hanks
March R: Rescued by David Rosenfelt
April A & W: Wherever She Goes by Kelley Armstrong
April A & W: Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich
May I & N: The Imposter Bride by Nancy Richler
June C & D: Double or Die by Charlie Higson
July S & O: The Order by Daniel Silva
August V & J: Union Jack by Val McDermid
August V & J: The Purity of Vengeance by Jussi Adler-Olsen
September F & L: The Left-Handed Dollar by Loren Estleman
September F & L: For Your Eyes Only by Ian Fleming
September F & L: Find You First by Linwood Barclay
September F & L: Lies by T.M. Logan

1. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
2. Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson
3. Lucky Jack Road by J.G. Toews
4. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
5. Leonard: My Life as a Cat by Carlie Sorosiak
6. Eiger Dreams: ventures among men and mountains by Jon Krakauer
7. Diamonds are forever by Ian Fleming
8. The Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice
9. Toby, a Man by Todd Babiak
10. The way through the woods by Colin Dexter
11. Death of a Policeman by M.C. Beaton
12. A Shot in the Dark by Lynne Truss
13. Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare
14. Breath: the new science of a lost art by James Nestor
15. A Bitter Feast by Deborah Crombie
16. After the Funeral by Agatha Christie
17. Three Past Midnight: the Library Policeman by Stephen King
18. Postcard Stories 2 by Jan Carson illustrated by Benjamin Phillips
19. The Lying Room by Nicci French
20. Kill All the Judges by William Deverell
21. Backlash by Lisa LaPlante
22. Lady in waiting: my extraordinary life in the shadow of the crown by Anne Glenconner
23. Indians on Vacation by Thomas King
24. The Song Dog by James McClure
25. Here We Are by Graham Swift

Welcome to the new thread.

Happy new thread, and what a treat to revisit those beautiful illustrations!

My first visitor! Thanks, Jackie.

Happy new thread, and I hope you're staying cool!

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread!
I love scrolling through your pictures, they're just so lovely.

Happy new thread!

This is one of my favorite threads to visit, Vivienne. Gorgeous pictures. They make me smile.

Happy third thread! Stay cool!

I have Beartown and the Jane Austen Society in my TBR so I'm looking forward to your comments on them

I hope you enjoy Garry Disher's Blood Moon as much as I did.

Happy new thread, Vivienne. Today was a little cooler here, it's amazing how just a few degrees can make a difference! I am interested in all your reading, but Indians on Vacation is one I have on my own shelf so I will be watching for your comments on it.

>25 DeltaQueen50: it's amazing how just a few degrees can make a difference! Right? Today was hotter than we get most summers, but it felt so much more reasonable after the past 3 insane days.

>17 christina_reads: Thank you, I think I'm doing a fairly good job at staying cool. But it's been tough.

>18 mstrust: Thanks, Jennifer. For once, I've heard that your location is cooler!

>19 Helenliz: Thanks, Helen. I love illustrations from children's books, especially if they're about nature.

>20 NinieB: Thanks, Ninie.

>21 NanaCC: Oh, that's so nice of you, Colleen! It goes both ways.

>22 rabbitprincess: Thanks, RP. I'm listening to slow music. I'll dance when the temp goes down.

>23 Nickelini: They both seem to get good ratings. I'm looking forward to them.

>24 pamelad: I've enjoyed Garry Disher's books before and glad to hear this is a good one.

>25 DeltaQueen50: I'm so glad you are enjoying cooler temperatures. Our forecast says it won't go below 40C until Friday (39C) when it will remain in the high 30s all week. It was just 43C today. It's hard to believe that the national record set in 1937 has been broken 3 times this week in BC on three consecutive days.

>26 Nickelini: Yes, usually by summer's end I think 32C is the perfect temperature. Well, a normal summer, that is.

I've already started The Devil of Nanking by Mo Hayder and so far all I can say is that it's not for the faint-hearted. That is probably obvious by "Nanking" in the title.

Happy new thread! The pictures are so gorgeous!

Happy New Thread! I see some interesting reads in your plans for this month.

>28 VivienneR: So true.

>28 VivienneR: Thank you, Birgit.

>30 dudes22: I plan ahead every month, but often by the end of the month the books I've read are quite different.

>31 NanaCC: I don't know what to make of it yet but can't stop reading (listening).

I'm glad to say we're expecting cooler weather, down to 42C today and 39C tomorrow when I hope to go shopping for groceries before we have to start on the bird seed. The streets remain empty and still, no kids playing, no dogs being taken on walks, few birds, an occasional car.

>33 VivienneR: Cooler weather didn't arrive today. It was 47C by all three thermometers I own.

>34 VivienneR: So dangerously hot for so many days. People dying from the heat, fires causing the evacuation of Lytton. Your heatwave is making news all over the world, and surely it must make even climate-change-deniers stop and think?

>34 VivienneR: Wow - that is some serious heat. I can't even imagine what that feels like.

Hoping this heatwave stops very soon, Vivienne. Frightening stuff.

>35 pamelad: I was so sad to hear Lytton burned after all they've gone through. There were 55 new fires started in the province in the last couple of days. I hope it makes climate change deniers stop and think but I doubt it.

>36 AlisonY: I never thought I'd ever experience heat like that. Cooler today and expected to go to 39C today and for the next week - which I used to think was very hot. I'll be heading out to the grocery store at 8 am and while it's still under 30C.

>37 VivienneR: We've ungone a complete reversal in temps. here at the coast. This morning it is cloudy and only 18 degrees. I hope we are going to be sending this cooler weather your way, Vivienne.

>38 DeltaQueen50: Oh, wow! I wish you could send it our way. I set out just after 8am to the grocery store but it was already 32, and 34 when I got back an hour later, so it's hard to tell how the day will go. The forecast is for high thirties every day for the next week with thunderstorms today and tomorrow. Not good.

category: Faraway Places & GeoKIT - Asia

The Devil of Nanking by Mo Hayder

A cross between horror, mystery and a real event, the Nanking Massacre of 1937, this is not a story for everyone. Hayder's novel is a story of a young woman obsessed by the story of the 1937 massacre of Nanking. This troubled woman who calls herself Grey, travelled to Japan to search of a piece of film shot during the massacre that will confirm what she believes to be true and ease her own demons. The text is alternatively Grey's account and that of an elderly survivor, now a visiting professor in Japan, who reads from his journal written in the days before and after the massacre. As both stories are revealed bit by bit, the connection is at first puzzling, then becomes thinly apparent, and then disclosed with a final startling revelation. Hayder's characters and writing are excellent, her knowledge of the culture is extensive, and although this is not a book for the faint-hearted, the horrific story this novel is based on is an intriguing choice in itself as well as being a chilling theme for a psychological thriller.

The book goes by the name of Tokyo in the UK.

>40 VivienneR: I read The Devil of Nanking years ago and although I don't remember the finer points, I do remember that it was very dark and atmospheric.

>41 DeltaQueen50: I've heard of the 1937 massacre but looked up Nanking in Wikipedia to get more information. For me, that horrifying page set the tone for the book. But I did enjoy (if that's the right word) the book.

I've been planning on reading The Rape of Nanking by Irish Chang but I think I have to be in right mindset for it and I haven't gotten there yet.

>43 DeltaQueen50: That sounds even more horrific but as it is non-fiction, it's worthwhile. It's important for events like this to be remembered as too often they are forgotten, which is like wiping the slate clean. Hayder's book might seem like she trivialized the event but that's not the case, the massacre was part of the back story and handled very respectfully.

category: RandomCAT July - Summertime

Killing with Confetti by Peter Lovesey

This is what can happen when a top cop's son plans to marry an influential criminal's daughter. Peter Diamond was to keep an eye on the convict while he attended the wedding in case one of his enemies tried to bump him off but it turned out that the murder victim was someone else. Lovesey writes a good police procedural and Diamond is always worth a few good lines.

The bride's cat was named Claude, a particularly appropriate name even though he kept his claws sheathed.

>45 VivienneR: Ack!! Another series that I love but keep falling behind on!

>46 DeltaQueen50: I enjoyed this one a lot and went in search of more. They are old enough that they're not plentiful in libraries, which is a shame.

category: Bingo - arts and recreation

A Bitter Feast by Deborah Crombie

Duncan, Gemma and the children have been invited for weekend at a grand country home where a charity luncheon is being held to boost the career of local chef, Vivian Holland. The action begins with a serious car crash where Kincaid is injured, the other driver killed and her passenger is found to have been already dead. A dramatic opener for this episode in Crombie's series that has a great plot in which Duncan and Gemma are able to assist. The descriptions of food were so tempting, even my detested green beans sounded good as haricot vert.

>48 VivienneR: I loved this one, Vivienne. I wonder if there will be any more?

>47 VivienneR: And yet it's not that old a series. So frustrating!

>49 NanaCC: I loved it too! I thought it better than the last one or two. I hope it's not the last.

>50 NinieB: Frustrating and annoying. I'd like to find all the in-betweens that I haven't read yet.

>48 VivienneR: Crombie hasn't come out with a new installment in a couple years. I hope she has not quit writing. I will admit I liked the earlier ones better where Duncan and Gemma were partners, but I like Doug and Melody too. I hate that even those partnerships broke up. I'm sure she's trying to be more realistic, but I miss regular police detectives with the same sidekicks!

>48 VivienneR: - I am sooo far behind in this series.

>52 thornton37814: Too bad if she has quit writing. I agree, I liked the earlier ones better. I may have missed some in the series before this one. This can happen if the libraries I can use don't have the full set between them.

>53 dudes22: Isn't that usually the way with series? There are just so many new shiny books to read.

category BingoDOG: type of building in title

Three Past Midnight: the Library Policeman by Stephen King

Now I know why I don't read horror fiction often, I found this one to be more funny than horrific. Entertaining though, how could it not be when it has a sinister librarian.

category BingoDOG: made me laugh

Indians on Vacation by Thomas King

Bird and Mimi travel to Europe in search of a medicine bag that an uncle absconded with a long time ago. All travellers will relate to their experiences, which in their case mostly take place in Prague. It's a funny, gentle story, quirky yet serious and moving. They are both charming but I adored Mimi, a Blackfoot feminist who is ready to stand up for her rights, gender, and nationality.

>56 VivienneR: That sounds good! I prefer his fiction to his non-fiction

>57 Nickelini: This was my first Thomas King book so I can't compare.

>58 VivienneR: Oh! Somehow I read that as you having read more of him -- you captured him very well

I was introduced to him in one of my first university classes with the short story "Borders," and I was impressed. An unusual and memorable story. A few years later I read Green Grass Running Water, which I loved, loved, loved. My next King read was The Inconvenient Indian, which is non-fiction, and it was okay, but I found it repetitive of things I already knew from ?? who knows where. My book club got a lot out of it though, so don't dismiss it if you're interested. Then I read a short story collection, One Good Story, That One. As with most short story collections, there were gems and duds. I'm definitely a fan of Thomas King, but my very favourite First Nations novel is still Kiss of the Fur Queen, by Tomson Highway.

>56 VivienneR: Sounds like a book to look forward to!

>59 Nickelini: Thank you for the booklist! That will make it easier to choose my next Thomas King book. Every time I see Tomson Highway's name I mentally add him to my list. Someday he'll reach the shelves.

>60 DeltaQueen50: You would enjoy it, Judy.

category: GenreCAT July - romance

The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner

For a Jane Austen fan this was hard to resist even though I predicted it might prove too sweet for my taste, as indeed it was. Although I didn't learn anything new about Austen it was a nice romantic story set soon after WWII with the bonus of the Jane Austen connection. It was OK, but did not earn my devotion as it did for others.

Just catching up on your thread. Almost finished with your BINGO card.

>63 VictoriaPL: I've been concentrating more on Bingo this year because I didn't want a repeat of last year when I had to sprint to the finish in December. :)

category: MysteryKIT Cops and Robbers Lady

Death at Windsor Castle by C.C. Benison

The entire series was a lot of fun but this entry was the best. I've heard there will be no more in the series and that's a shame because housemaid Jane Bee and Her Majesty make a terrific pair of sleuths. I loved the setting and background story of Windsor Castle and the Knights of the Garter. By including details of pomp and protocol it was a tad lengthy for a cozy mystery, but it was well-written and I wouldn't remove a word.

>65 VivienneR: I’ll have to look for this series, Vivienne.

>66 NanaCC: I think you'd enjoy it, Colleen.

category: Mysteries

Blacklands by Belinda Bauer

If I had noticed any tags for this book it would have put me off reading it. I'm glad that didn't happen because it was a gripping story of a boy who wanted to find the site where his long dead uncle was buried by a pedophile. This would improve his status at home and make his Nan happy. In the course of the story, the boy contacts the killer in prison hoping to trick him into identifying the spot. Instead he inadvertently identifies himself. Bauer is successful at getting inside the head of the most repellant character without being graphic, as well as creating a believable twelve-year-old boy.

This was Bauer's debut, gripping and chilling, a story that doesn't flag on the suspense throughout. I will definitely be reading more by this author.



category: Faraway Places and GeoKIT North America

The Crystal Drop by Monica Hughes

At one time I worked at the provincial museum of Alberta and some time afterwards this book was recommended to me because it mentions Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump World Heritage Site, one of the museums in the network. Naturally, I had to read it. That was in the mid-90s. I enjoyed it at that time and this summer when we began to experience some of the drought and heatwave conditions Hughes wrote about, I decided to read it again.

Published in 1993, the story is set in 2011 in Alberta where a teenage girl and her younger brother are orphaned when their mother died in childbirth. They have no other family except an uncle near the British Columbia border. Climate change has brought many changes, drought, heat, lack of services. The farm is desolate and they have been living on gophers and weeds. After burying their mother and the baby in the dust of the river bed they have no option but to set off on foot to find their uncle. One of the first places they come to is a strange and beautiful building that has been taken over by four young men from the Peigan tribe. Although threatening and scary, they help to some extent and provide some information about what turns out to be a famous museum. The pair continue their risky journey, were attacked by survivalists and spent a frightening night surrounded by hungry coyotes, among other near-death experiences. What was shocking but completely believable was that rich and poor were further apart than ever. The rich had green landscapes, unlimited clear water thanks to river damming, and were prepared to protect that vigorously from the poor who had nothing.

This YA book is important because it describes what can happen if we continue to abuse the planet. Setting the story in 2011 may have seemed like a possibility in 1993 but fortunately we've been given a grace period and Hughes' landscape is still in the future. When I read it in the 90s it seemed unlikely to happen in my lifetime but since experiencing the 2021 heat dome of western Canada it was more believable and I enjoyed it even more. Highly recommended.

category: AlphaKIT July S & O

The Order by Daniel Silva

This was my first book by Silva and he lived up to expectations. My copy was an audiobook read by George Guidall, normally a good narrator but this time his voice was raspy and indistinct. Also, he was unable to differentiate between characters, they all sounded much the same. The topic was similar to Robert Harris's Conclave, both books dealing with the election of a pope, but I liked Harris better.

category: Faraway Places - GeoKIT Polar Regions

Far North by Will Hobbs

This is a terrific adventure story set in the Northwest Territories where two sixteen year olds and the uncle of one take a plane ride out of radio range. The inexperienced pilot landed the plane on a river near the top of a waterfall and then the engine stalled. The passengers were able to reach the river bank but the plane and pilot went over the falls. The boys, one from Texas, the other one aboriginal as well as his elderly uncle, had to spend the winter in the frigid conditions with little in the way of necessaries. Although the old man knew little English he was able to share his knowledge and using his old skills for Arctic living gave him some satisfaction and spiritual comfort. It was interesting to see the difference in characters and how they approached problems, of which there were many. I appreciated that Hobbs portrayed the respect Dene have for living creatures and the environment. Enthralling throughout.

Reading about the icy, snowy conditions was almost a physical relief as we in the British Columbia interior still suffer from record high temperatures, drought, and wildfires.

Reading books set in snow and ice sounds like a good idea for you. Hope you have some more on hand. :)

>71 DeltaQueen50: Good idea, Judy! It isn't getting any better here. Environment Canada forecast 29C for today but it was 31C by 11am.

>72 VivienneR: I really feel for you, we ended up only having about a week of really hot weather and that just about did me in. We are now having seasonally warm days but nothing above 25C and it cools down at night. With so many forest fires our province wide lack of rain is concerning, and as far as I can see, no rain is forecast for the immediate future.

category: HistoryCAT - Social history

The Madonnas of Leningrad by Debra Dean

Marina, now aged and afflicted with Alzheimer's disease, was a docent at Leningrad's famous museum the Hermitage. During the 900-day siege of Leningrad that began in 1941 the museum's paintings were removed for protection, leaving the empty frames in anticipation of their return. As the siege continued, food stores were destroyed and the starving people of Leningrad had to scavenge for what is normally thought of as inedible. Marina created a mental version of the museum, committing details to memory. The story alternates from the years of the siege to the present when Marina and her family attend a wedding. While her memory is hazy about the present, she can remember the Hermitage paintings clearly, but what she sees in the present morphs into the paintings and the siege: are the beautiful peaches of the wedding feast part of a still life; the pop of champagne corks explosions?

A gentle story, sad, but with little sentimentality. Dean did a remarkable job of portraying the degeneration of Marina's mind, and of the Hermitage.

>74 VivienneR: I experienced it as an audiobook and the reader did such a good job. You described it beautifully as a gentle book - that's just right.

>75 VictoriaPL: An audiobook would be a lovely way to "read" The Madonnas of Leningrad.

>74 VivienneR: Sounds wonderful - a BB for me.

Hoping that you can stay cool, Vivienne. We're being told here in SC that smoke from those fires is causing poor air quality here, so you must all be dealing with so much.

Continuing to think of you in all that heat, Vivienne. Here in Scotland it's mid-high 20s, and that's quite enough to finish me off. I hope you get decent rain (with no lightning) soon.

>77 JayneCM: I'm sure you'll enjoy it, Jayne.

>78 RidgewayGirl: I read that too. Sorry that our smoke is causing your poor air quality. At last the temperature ha gone down to 30C today but going back up to high thirties. We haven't had a lot of smoke, but a group of fires nearby joined up and while it's no threat to us, we have considerable smoke today. Now that the nights are cooler I opened all the windows last night to try and cool off the house - that was a mistake.

>79 Jackie_K: Thank you, Jackie. Rain would be wonderful although I say that while remembering the phrase "be careful what you wish for". Unfortunately lightning is common in the mountains.

category: BingoDOG - about history

Lady in waiting: my extraordinary life in the shadow of the crown by Anne Glenconner

An entertaining memoir of her life mostly during the time as Princess Margaret's lady-in-waiting and as an attendant at the coronation. It demonstrates the vast difference between the aristocracy and everybody else. Her husband, Colin Tennant, was a bad-tempered nutcase (my description), who Glenconner calls "highly strung" and I can't imagine anyone staying with him beyond a day or two. I have a suspicion that she enjoyed his attention-getting tantrums as much as he did. The early part of her story was more interesting followed by a section of name-dropping of who was at Mustique. She has only praise and kind words for many including the Queen, Princess Margaret, Prince Charles and Princess Diana. She speaks openly of her sons illnesses and how she cared for them. Charlie, the eldest, was a heroin addict and eventually died of Hepatitis C, the result of his addiction, Henry died of AIDS, and the youngest, Christopher, had a motor cycle accident causing a lengthy coma from which he recovered after painstaking care by friends and family. She also has twin daughters who did not feature much in the story. Lord Glenconner's last act of "eccentricity" was his will where he left everything to his Caribbean manservant, cutting out his entire family. There is nothing of her life that I envy, particularly her cruel governesses and to say nothing of her crazy husband. Neither is there anything I can relate to. However, she can tell a good story and what a stiff upper lip!

>81 VivienneR: Since her husband didn't leave money to her, I assume she had her own inheritance? Overall it sounds as if she had a very difficult life.

>81 VivienneR: How terrible to live through such grief with her children and her horrible husband. I see she is now writing mystery fiction.

>82 clue: The family contested the will and the estate ended up split between the manservant and Lady Glenconner's grandson, who is the current Lord.

>82 clue: I can imagine Lady Glenconner saying her life was "bliss" and yes, she enjoyed a lot of luxury, but her husband was vile and losing three sons was heartbreaking. Because she was a girl she didn't inherit anything from her own family. Her father advised her to buy a house of her own, a "bolt hole" should she ever need it. That was the best advice she ever received as she ended up living there.

>83 JayneCM: I've earmarked her mystery novel and look forward to reading it. My library has it on order. When the contents of the house in the Caribbean were being sent to auction she was able to come to an arrangement with the auction house regarding her personal items. They couldn't stop them going to auction, but she was to get the proceeds.

I always wondered what happened to Princess Margaret when she appeared in a wheelchair near the end of her life. Lady Glenconner said Margaret was sitting on the edge of the bath washing her hair under the shower. Afterwards she turned off the cold water while scalding water kept flowing from the hot tap. She'd just had a stroke and wasn't able to respond fast enough.

I enjoyed the book more that I thought I would.

category: Faraway Places - GeoKIT Europe

Beartown by Fredrik Backman

As much as I enjoy hockey and have enjoyed Backman's A Man Called Ove, this book lacks anything of interest to me.

>81 VivienneR: Wow. I actually worked with a woman for a few years here in Phoenix who seems to have lived a parallel existence, but without the furs and diamonds. I didn't think anyone could rival her cursed life, but here's one.

>86 mstrust: I don't think even furs and diamonds could relieve the misery some people experience. Lord Glenconner should have been given the boot on day 2 of the marriage when he took his demure wife to a live sex show.

Thinking of you in all this heat and smoke, Vivienne.

>88 RidgewayGirl: Thank you, Kay. Our air quality for the last couple of days has been at 11 (10 is the highest). Because of the smoke planes and helicopters are grounded and local fires are limited to ground only firefighters. The temperature is still in the high 30s, normal for this time of year but I feel sorry for the firefighters in their heavy gear. A little wind with a little rain would be nice but the air is very still and there is no rain in the forecast.

Are you still getting our smoke?

>89 VivienneR: Hi Vivienne, catching up. I didn't realise that the aftermath of that dreadful week of extreme heat is still going on - the air quality issue must be horrific.

In NI we broke our highest ever temperature records 3 times in the space of a week recently. At one stage it was the hottest place in the UK which is unheard of - normally we're a good 10-15 degrees lower from SE England. It's hard not to think about global warming these days, isn't it? Between that and COVID I feel increasingly fearful that my kids are going to be a generation where normality has gone completely out the window.

>89 VivienneR: I’m sorry to hear that your temps are still extremely high, Vivienne. My niece lives in Seattle and they are contemplating getting air conditioning. They’ve never needed it before. My brother was out there visiting a couple of weeks ago, and my niece had booked a resort for all of them near where they go hiking. It had air conditioning and he said they were all grateful for it. We are expecting a couple of hot days here where I live in Massachusetts (nothing like your highs) at low 90’s F. The air quality says unhealthy for sensitive groups.

I worry about the future for my grandchildren.

>90 AlisonY: Hi Alison, nice to see you dropping by. The entire month of June was unusually hot and finished with the heat dome that continued into July. Hot summers are normal in the south and central regions of BC's interior but not usually until July or August. The result is that the fire season started early and while these hot dry conditions last, the fire risk is extreme. When I came here to live, forest fires were normal but mostly limited to forest, not consuming whole towns or having whole towns evacuated as a precaution. And the snow on the mountains stayed until the middle of July, melting at a manageable rate.

It's hard to believe NI being the hotspot in the UK. When my mother visited me here she'd remind me every day to "take your umbrella". I would have been a laughing stock! Now I take it to use as a sunshade in the park. Perfectly normal.

>91 NanaCC: That's the problem with West-coasters, we think the climate doesn't require air-conditioning (or even double-glazing in some places). We got a new furnace a couple of years ago which was expensive but would have been double the price if AC had been added. Like many people here we opted out. We can usually keep the house cool by closing windows in the daytime, opening them at night. But that was before we ever heard of a "heat dome". Your temperatures in Massachusetts sound lovely, I always think 32C (90F) is just right for summer.

Yes, I worry for the future of today's children too. They will have to deal with worse than what we are now experiencing.

>89 VivienneR:
Oh Vivienne, I'm so sorry to hear that you're still under smoke. It's so exhausting and just wears you out, doesn't it! We've been fortunate in the Vancouver area so far and even though we haven't had rain since June 13 (in Vancouver!!!), our air has been okay. But we could have a smoked out August and September, so in anticipation I've ordered two air purifiers with HEPA filters. No idea if they will help, but I want to be prepared. September is my favourite month in Vancouver because the air is magical, but we've had too many nasty smoky Septembers over the past few years. It's sad to see those gorgeous Septembers gone.

>90 AlisonY: In NI we broke our highest ever temperature records 3 times in the space of a week recently. At one stage it was the hottest place in the UK which is unheard of - normally we're a good 10-15 degrees lower from SE England.

OMG! That's another crazy 2021 weather record. When we were in London in late June/early July 2009, there was a heat wave with temps around 33C. The local news was quite funny. Being from Vancouver, we totally get not being set for temps in the 30s (personally, I like a civilized temperature like 18C but I'm happy up to about 24C; anything hotter I need to be on holidays with a pool or swimmable lake or ocean). Anyway, one of the stories was "why does Greece have to problems with 32C and we all think it's the end of the world?" and then the weather forecast said "if you want to cool off in the British Isles, your only hope is Northern Ireland, where it will be cloudy and 18C"

Out of interest, what are the temp records that were set for NI? The thing that was so shocking about the temperature records that were broken in Canada last month is how much beyond the previous records they were, and all the comments like "it's never been this hot in LA," "it's never been this hot in Las Vegas," etc.

Also, I just found out that one of my coworkers is from Lytton, the town that burned down after their 3 record-breaking days. (I knew she grew up in that area, but I always thought she was from a nearby town that also starts with an L). Not only did the house she grew up in burn, her parent's store on Main St. also burned. Very sad!

>93 Nickelini: Yes, it is exhausting and I've no idea why that is because I'm not doing anything except reading indoors. It's either too hot or too smoky to do anything else. I got an air purifier recently and I keep it going in the bedroom all the time. I hope it helps. My next door neighbour has taken to wearing a close-fitting mask all the time.

We just got another heat alert. Now I think I could take the heat if the damn smoke would go away.

June is one of my favourite months - sunny, warm, no wasps, a great time to have breakfast outside with my book. Not this year, and it looks like the whole summer is going to be a write off.

Sorry to hear about your co-worker and the family business.

>94 VivienneR: Yes, it is exhausting and I've no idea why that is because I'm not doing anything except reading indoors.

Here are my thoughts: I think the smoke is oppressive. It's unpleasant to be outdoors. Instead of fresh air, it smells bad. The light looks wrong. It's like you're living on Mars, or in a dystopian movie. It's nice to sit indoors and read . . . but at this time of year, it's also lovely to sit outdoors and read. I've lived in Vancouver most of my 58 years, with a year in Australia and several summers in the far north, and I've never lived with smoke until the last 10 years. Some of them have been small local fires, but they're all nasty and clearly unhealthy. My daughter in Switzerland doesn't even want to come home in summer anymore in case it's just smoke season.

We just got another heat alert. Now I think I could take the heat if the damn smoke would go away. Definitely. That heat dome we had in Vancouver was horrible, but not as bad as the smoke. To have both together, well, that's just unspeakable.

June is one of my favourite months - sunny, warm, no wasps, a great time to have breakfast outside with my book. Oh how nice! I have to remember that for holidays. June in Vancouver usually is disappointing. I always say "don't plan an outside wedding in Vancouver in June!". Often we have nice weather in February, March, April, May, and then June gets cold and rainy. Junuary, we call it. So many years summer doesn't start until July, even after a perfect spring. I look forward to a June break in your area to escape the June doldrums.

>95 Nickelini: Now that I think of it, one of our worst rainstorms came in June. I remember because it was my son's birthday. I was watching BC news on tv and the house on the screen was his neighbour. The creek was so high it lifted the surface of the road from one side to the other.

>96 VivienneR: yikes!!

>94 VivienneR: I hope you get a break in the weather soon, and that there's an end to the fires. No wonder you're feeling exhausted - it's impossible to relax when you're trapped inside and the smoke is warning you of disaster.

>95 Nickelini: I recognise that uneasy dystopian feeling - the pink skies full of smoke are menacing.

>95 Nickelini: >98 pamelad: I remember when I was close to some forest fires a few years ago in Tennessee and it was very surreal. We were not that close and yet small ash was raining on us, which looked like snow. A year later we returned to the same place and the grass growing near the burned trees was SO green, very vivid, ike technicolor. It felt very dream-like.

>98 pamelad: Feeling a little down too. All of 2020 gone and now that we have our shots we're stuck inside. We can see across the street but no further. Our beautiful mountains are completely hidden by a grey blanket.

>99 VictoriaPL: Oh, that would be surreal. I suppose there was nothing left of old withered grass that would normally make the colour more natural. My car is probably covered in ash but I haven't seen any visible bits. I'll find out tomorrow when I go for groceries. A visit to the library to pick up something cheerful or diverting is in order too.

category: Fiction

The Purple Swamp Hen and other stories by Penelope Lively

This is a wonderful collection of stories, every one a winner. Lively makes it difficult to choose a favourite but the title story was hard to beat.

>101 VivienneR: that's unusual, so often collections are uneven.

>102 VictoriaPL: I agree. That has been my experience too, but I enjoyed every one of this collection. Maybe it arrived just at the right moment in time for me.

Yay! Smoke has dissipated somewhat and sunshine is coming through!

>103 VivienneR: Everything looks better when the sun is shining!

>104 pamelad: So true!

>103 VivienneR: Is there enough to sing "Good morning, sunshine"? I hope the improvement continues!

>93 Nickelini: The NI temperature record now stands at 31.4 in NI, Joyce. I know that's child's play and a normal summer in most other countries! Right now it's 15 degrees at 10:40am and it's rained solidly for the past 2 days. Back to normal, then.... I have to say we really did enjoy the couple of weeks of terrific weather.

Vivienne, the smoke situation sounds absolutely horrendous. I really hope that goes away soon for you - it must be miserable.

>106 MissWatson: That might be a good way to tempt the sunshine to carry on. Although my singing ability might scare it off.

>107 AlisonY: There are a few big fires in the area where people have either been evacuated or are on evacuation alert. My complaints are nothing by comparison.

it's rained solidly for the past 2 days I keep reminding myself to be careful what I wish for, but that sounds lovely! We are expecting 40C at the weekend and a 30% chance of showers on Monday.

category: BingoDOG With a character you'd like as a friend

Kill All the Judges by William Deverell

Chosen for the category "with a character you'd like to have as a friend". Retired criminal lawyer Arthur Beauchamp ("pronounced Beecham") is generous, hospitable, witty, tolerant, and lives in British Columbia's idyllic Gulf Islands in the Salish Sea. Naturally as a friend, I'd expect an invitation.

Like his character, Deverell is also a criminal lawyer, founder of the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association, whose books draw on his experiences in the courtroom and as an activist. In the highly entertaining Arthur Beauchamp mystery series he successfully merges satire, comedy and eccentric yet believable characters while engaging in criminal investigations. His courtroom dramas are highly entertaining. In this story, it is the judges who are being targeted. The accused is an island neighbour, activist and author of ribald poetry. He has created some friction with Beauchamp because as a forestry clearcut protester he was up a tree for weeks with Beauchamp's wife and made a pass at her. His defence lawyer is in hiding suffering from a nervous - or possibly cocaine - breakdown and whose imagination has been unbalanced by his writing a novel similar to the case. Beauchamp's harried junior and hero-worshipper is also being influenced by his own imagined version of the case, where he too is a legal star. Complex, funny and clever.

category: Mysteries

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

The baby left abandoned in a house where everyone else was found dead has grown up and discovered she has inherited the house. Intriguing opening but then it slowed as plot holes began to show, making the story just too unbelievable even for fiction. Disturbing and dark, if you like that kind of thing, but not what I expected.

>109 VivienneR: Sounds good, so I’ve just bought Kill All the Lawyers. His books aren’t available on Overdrive here, and are very expensive as ebooks except for this one.

>111 pamelad: I haven't read that one and it's not in the library collection. I'll watch for your opinion. My only complaint is that his books seem to be getting longer.

>112 VivienneR: I think a lot of mysteries are getting longer these days. And some are printed with wide margins or large spacing to make them feel longer.

>113 rabbitprincess: You're right, they are getting longer although my eyes appreciate the wider spacing that is more common now. Some mysteries are best read in ebook format because of the length. Robert Galbraith and Tana French jump immediately to mind.

July Summary

No 5 star books this month and Backman didn't live up to expectations. However, I've nothing to complain about, it was a good month with some pleasant surprises.

Read this month: 17
Year to date: 109

The Best 4 - 5 stars:
Killing with Confetti by Peter Lovesey
A Bitter Feast by Deborah Crombie
Indians on Vacation by Thomas King
Death at Windsor Castle by C.C. Benison
Blacklands by Belinda Bauer
The Crystal Drop by Monica Hughes
Far North by Will Hobbs
Lady in waiting: my extraordinary life in the shadow of the crown by Anne Glenconner
The Purple Swamp Hen and other stories by Penelope Lively
Kill All the Judges by William Deverell

The Rest 3 - 3.5 stars:
The Devil of Nanking by Mo Hayder
Three Past Midnight: the Library Policeman by Stephen King
The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner
The Order by Daniel Silva
The Madonnas of Leningrad by Debra Dean
The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

Disappointments:
Beartown by Fredrik Backman

The Broken Girls by Simone St. James

My first book for August was disappointing. I know I'm going against popular trend here but I've come to the conclusion that supernatural and ghost stories are not for me. Unfortunately they seldom satisfy this realist.

category: RandomCAT - On the Road Again

The Woman on the Orient Express by Lindsay Jayne Ashford

I was wrong in thinking this would be a cozy mystery in the style of Agatha Christie's famous novel. It is more like her autobiographical works: An Autobiography and Come, Tell me How You Live from which Ashford has taken many details. She cleverly follows Christie's life story and how she met Max Mallowan, her second husband. It begins with Christie fleeing England on the Orient Express as her now divorced husband Archie marries his mistress. On the train she met two other women, one fictitious and the other a real life friend of Christie's. As a travelogue it was first class, describing the journey, the food, the people, and the sights in detail. Naturally, there is the hint of mystery. It's an enthralling read that held me captivated.

Agatha Christie has been a favourite author since I was a pre-teen, reading all of her work and several books about her. And while "faction" is not a genre that attracts me, Ashford did not disappoint. It has encouraged me to revisit some of my favourite Christie novels.

>117 VivienneR: that sounds good!

>117 VivienneR: that sounds different.

>117 VivienneR: I think "faction" for me depends on who is being fictionalised. There are a couple of Obama/Biden detective novels I'd like to read, and this Agatha Christie one sounds good too.

>118 VictoriaPL: & >119 Helenliz: & >120 Jackie_K: It took me completely by surprise. The details about Christie, Max Mallowan, Katherine and Leonard Woolley (lead archaeologist) were all spot on. The third woman, Nancy Nelson was fictitious, written in to give the story some plot.

"Faction" doesn't usually interest me because I find myself trying to decide which is which. In this case I know enough about Christie to know what was true, what was dressed up, and what was made up. Ashford has written other books that don't interest me.

category: HistoryCAT - Your country

Raven's Cry by Christie Harris, illustrations by Bill Reid

This is a Canadian classic, a history of the Haida people of Haida Gwaii (formerly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands) off the northern coast of British Columbia. Published in 1966, it is a fictionalized retelling of the near destruction of the Haida nation. In 1775 when explorers in search of the Northwest Passage came across the islands they picked up some otter pelts that they discovered brought fabulous sums of money in China, so much that Captain Cook's sailors threatened mutiny if he did not return for more. For the exchange of an item of nominal worth, a chisel or a few glass beads, the profit was unbelievable. In China they filled the empty holds with tea, silk and porcelain to sell in their home ports thus making even more money. English and Americans rushed to the fur trade. Naturally, with such potential wealth accessible, greed and trading practices became ruthless. With the added threat of disease brought to them, the Haida nation suffered almost to the point of extinction. Following on that disaster missionaries and colonial law attempted to wipe out their rich culture. Christie's fictional history follows the ancestors of real life Charles Edenshaw, one of the great Haida artists whose carvings were exquisite. Illustrated by Bill Reid who is another creator of superb Haida art. This is an excellent book and one of the best on the topic.


Charles Edenshaw 1886 - Canoe with mythical travellers (Argillite carving)

>122 VivienneR: This one sounds really interesting, Vivienne--noted!

>117 VivienneR: I thought this cover looked familiar. I've had it on the TBR since 2016! I haven't read all of Agatha Christie and haven't read much in recent years. I'd like to start from the beginning of both Poirot and Miss Marple and read them in order. I may think of that for a challenge next year.

>122 VivienneR: This looks fascinating. My library doesn't have it, or any books on the Haida people. But there are some documentaries on Kanopy that I will watch.

>122 VivienneR:
That sounds interesting! Noted.

On a similar note, we just got home from camping south of Nanaimo. Near our campsite were petroglyphs. None of us, including my university geography student daughter, knew that we had petroglyphs in British Columbia. They were super interesting. This set had the only known example of a deer-bird, and several of the more common sea-wolf. My daughter and I were all "how cool is a sea wolf?!" I want to read more about the sea-wolf!

>123 NinieB: Yes, it was very interesting.

>124 clue: I've had mine on the shelf for two years because I thought it was just a mystery. You don't need to read any Agatha Christie books to appreciate it but you will probably check out some entries on Wikipedia!

>125 JayneCM: Haida culture is so interesting and the people are lovely. I hope you find something good.

>126 Nickelini: Oh, that's so cool. We've seen petroglyphs on the Gulf Islands but I can't remember exactly where or which islands. Isn't there a petroglyph park on Vancouver Island, although I don't remember ever being there. A sea-wolf sounds intriguing. They definitely demand some investigation.

category: BingoDOG - One word title

Backlash by Lisa LaPlante

If you like police procedurals this one is for you but keep in mind that the police make so many mistakes and it's frustrating to see them tripping up in a sort of slow motion. LaPlante is the creator of Jane Tennison and the Prime Suspect series. This series featuring Anna Travis is similar and just as good.

category: GenreCAT August - Drama

Sweeney Todd and the String of Pearls by Yuri Rasovsky

This was terrific fun with many laugh out loud moments. I listened to an audio version with full cast.

>128 VivienneR: You put this series on my wishlist a while ago, Vivienne. I really must get to it.

>130 NanaCC: Sadly, this was the last of the library holdings so it will be my last one too - unless they add more. What disappoints me is that they are all like Prime Suspect episodes, not much variation.

>40 VivienneR: I took a BB for The Devil of Nanking, as I like psychological thrillers and am also interested in the setting. I recently finished The Library of Legends by Janie Chang, which is set at the start of the Nanking Massacre. I decided to look up Mo Hayder, as I'd not read any books by her, and I was dismayed to see that she had passed away just days ago. I'm sure her many fans are saddened by this news.

>56 VivienneR: Glad to see you liked Indians on Vacation. I've enjoyed a number of Thomas King's books and this new one is on my TBR.

>132 mathgirl40: Glad to hear I can send BBs your way, they normally come in the opposite direction. I'm so sorry to hear Mo Hayder died, she was so young and talented. I intend to look for more of her work.

I just downloaded a copy of The Library of Legends, it's a book that always catches my attention, so thank you for another BB.

Thomas King is another author whose books I just recently discovered. I'm looking forward to reading more.

>132 mathgirl40: I took a BB for The Library of Legends as well. Luckily my library has a copy!

>134 JayneCM: Ricochet!

>134 JayneCM: >135 VivienneR: Nice to have a BB hit multiple recipients! :) I’m a little behind on my reviews but will eventually write a proper review of it on my thread. I hope you both enjoy it.

And I'm thinking of taking one too.

Yay! HatTrick!

category: Fiction

Consent by Annabel Lyon

I can't say I liked Lyon's book although it is clearly very well-written. It's about two sets of sisters, two of them disabled. And although there is so much more to the story I wasn't able to connect with any of the characters or the story in any meaningful way which made it feel remote. I don't have any siblings so I could be wrong in this, but these women did not show the sibling (or twin) relationships that I imagine should be there. The focus on perfume and clothes, particularly one dress, was puzzling and sorry to say, it went right over my head. The ending came as a surprise although I should have been prepared for it. What I enjoyed most about this thought-provoking story is that it's set in and around Vancouver.

>139 VivienneR: You can forgive a lot when a book is set in your part of the world, on streets you know. But it doesn't sound as though that was quite enough.

>140 pamelad: You're right, it wasn't enough. It's literary fiction, but I'm just not clever enough to get the point. I seem to be in the minority though.

category: MysteryKIT cozy featuring animals

The Cat Who Wasn't There by Lilian Jackson Braun

Possibly one of the weakest stories but it's always fun to visit Koko and Yum Yum. Qwilleran goes on a tour of Scotland with other residents of Moose County.

>142 VivienneR: It's been a long time since I visited Moosetookalook. I loved Koko and Yum Yum.

>143 thornton37814: I always keep a couple of Braun's books handy. I love Koko and Yum Yum too.

category AlphaKIT V & J

Union Jack by Val McDermid

Part of a series but can be read on its own. Caustic and acerbic, featuring all the backbiting of a union convention. Not my favourite from McDermid.

>142 VivienneR: I know I read this, but I have no recollection of it being set in Scotland! The earlier books in the series are my favourites, and my favourite of all is The Cat Who Sniffed Glue.

>146 rabbitprincess: Qwilleran was annoyed because all his tour buddies wanted typically American things, not shortbread every day (???) and other Scottish treats. One person died so the trip was cut short. It made me investigate how to make stovies that I remember was an Oor Wullie favourite.

ETA: Thank you, I'll put The Cat Who Sniffed Glue on my wishlist.

category: AlphaKIT V & J

The Purity of Vengeance by Jussi Adler-Olsen

Disturbing, creepy and too long, yet completely riveting. The characters are the main draw for me in this series, especially Assad and Rose.

>148 VivienneR: I had never heard of the Department Q series but I have chosen the first one for September MysteryKIT for mismatched detectives as it seemed it would fit.
I have always been reluctant to pick up any Scandi or Nordic noir as I am not a fan of gruesome. But I'll give it a go!

>149 JayneCM: I was gripped with the first in the series but found too much violence in the second one. I gave the next one a try and although still gruesome, I really like the characters. Adler-Olsen is able to add a touch of humour to keep things not exactly light, but less dark. I'll watch for your opinion. Hope you enjoy it.

>150 VivienneR: Phew, that sounds ok then! Just waiting for the library hold to arrive.

category BingoDOG: set somewhere you'd like to visit

Death of a Policeman by M.C. Beaton

The Scottish Highlands, a perfect fit for the "set somewhere you'd like to visit" BingoDOG square. It would be even better if Hamish Macbeth was there too.

Only one more bingo square left!

category: BingoDOG Read a Cat (August GenreCAT)

Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare

One of the most fun plays from Shakespeare but also the most exasperating. I've read it before and seen it performed a few times. And who can ever forget Michael Keating's Dogberry in Kenneth Branagh's 1993 movie.

And that's my BingoDOG card DONE!

>153 VivienneR: congrats on finishing your BINGO.

>154 VictoriaPL: Oh my, you were fast! Thank you. Big change from last year when I was scrambling to finish in December.

>153 VivienneR: Congratulations on finishing your Bingo card! I was fast tracking Bingo earlier in the year and now seem to be languishing.

>153 VivienneR: Congratulations!

Well done on finishing your Bingo card!

Congrats on filling your Bingo Card!

>153 VivienneR: - Congratulations on finishing your card! I need to pick up the pace if I expect to finish.

>153 VivienneR: I think Much Ado About Nothing is my favourite Shakespeare play, and I loved the Branagh film. I first discovered it though in a wonderful BBC production in the mid-1980s, Beatrice and Benedick were played by Cherie Lunghi and Robert Lindsay and I have loved the play ever since.

>153 VivienneR: Congratulations Vivienne--it's a big accomplishment!

Thank you everyone! Yes, it does feel like an accomplishment, even though it only involves reading.

>161 Jackie_K: It's one of my husband's favourite Shakespeare plays, I like to think that's because it was the first one we saw together before we married (long time ago). It's not my favourite because I find it so exasperating but I loved Branagh's movie.

Much Ado is my favorite Shakespeare too, and I'm sure that opinion is influenced by how much I love the Branagh adaptation! (I also quite enjoyed Joss Whedon's adaptation, but it definitely has a very different feel.)

>164 christina_reads: Yes, Branagh has certainly influenced us. I loved his adaptation of Hamlet too, which is one of my favourite plays alongside Macbeth.

category: MysteryKIT Cozy featuring animals

Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann

It's difficult to describe this uniquely inventive yet charming book. I expected a mystery typical of many cozies that are "solved" by cats but I was far off target. Instead, the mystery of the shepherd's unexpected death and the investigation by his flock, is mere background for the allegorical nature of the book. Who would have imagined a flock of sheep could have such well-developed individual characters while continuing to behave exactly like sheep? Swann introduced a number of dark topics but all the while maintained the innocence of the flock who remain sheeply in all respects. It's more light-hearted than funny, and although it has melancholy moments, more contemplative than sad. Swann has introduced me to new friends and I sincerely hope there will be future meetings. Recommended.

>166 VivienneR: Who would have imagined a flock of sheep could have such well-developed individual characters while continuing to behave exactly like sheep?

Great question. I have to read this book--I've got a copy and everything.

>163 VivienneR: And I'm sorry but I don't think it's only reading!

>167 NinieB: It was so different and I always enjoy that. Of course, the sheep are standing in for humans and all their myriad personalities. And the next thing they run off all together, alarmed at something, just like a flock of sheep. I loved it. I'll watch for your opinion. I do hope you like it.

OK, that was badly expressed. But I spend so much time planning Bingo, keeping lists of suitable books for every square, and then one gets moved to a CAT, and another one goes to a KIT, etc. Bingo ends up being a lot of work before I even get around to the good part - reading.

category: Fiction

Disappearing Moon Cafe by Sky Lee

This fictional family history of Chinese immigrants from late 18th century railroad camps to modern day Vancouver Chinatown, focusses on the women of the family. It is surprising that in addition to the difficulties of adapting to a new society, immigrants add their own cultural limitations, strict rules and secrets that survive through generations. The huge cast of lacklustre characters, lengthy time span, and an intricate story makes this a novel that requires careful attention to take in the full meaning. Being shortlisted for the Canadian Governor General Award in 1990 did not make this a popular choice beyond dedicated CanLit readers. There are comparable books that are more expressive.

>169 VivienneR: I had a prof at university who raved about this so I bought a copy. The one time I picked it up I found it needed more attention than I had to give. One day though!

Adding my congrats on finishing your Bingo!

>170 Nickelini: I'd like to say I'll return to it for a re-read another time but seriously, I doubt that will happen, it was hard work. Your prof's opinion was probably accurate though. And considering the influence Chinese immigrants have had on the west coast, their history is an important part of BC's (and Canada's) history.

>171 mstrust: Thank you, Jennifer. Nice to see you dropping by.

My latest Early Reviewer snag fits September's GenreCAT - children's literature

1, 2, 3 Salish Sea: A Pacific Northwest Counting Book by Nikki McClure

What a wonderful concept, counting sea creatures and natural life from the rainy Pacific coast. A child will not only learn about counting, but will get an idea of life in a unique geographic area. The caption accompanying the numbers is sure to become an entertaining tongue-twisting game of salmon swimming home, kelp crabs lunching in a forest, and clams for an octopus's feast. The sense of quantity is demonstrated through escalating numbers soaring to "one million raindrops returning to the Salish Sea".

The cover, showing two orcas swimming in a calm sea, is striking but some of the illustrations inside are indistinct, although it should be remembered that in real life a close look at a sea creature in a tide pool can be indistinct too.

Named for the first inhabitants of the region, the Coast Salish people, the Salish Sea is an inland sea that encompasses Puget Sound, the San Juan Islands and the waters off of Vancouver, BC. The area spans from Olympia, Washington in the south to the Campbell River, British Columbia in the north, and includes the large cities of Seattle and Vancouver. It has 419 islands. - The SeaDoc Society

category: Fiction

Commonwealth by Ann Patchett

My copy was in audio format that I can't recommend because it's sometimes necessary to flip back to check out some detail or character, and that's next to impossible on audio. And there were so many characters, as well as a timeline that jumps back and forward. Print would have been the better choice.

Still, Patchett can spin a compelling tale and this one is outstanding. She is particularly skilled at creating complex, credible characters.

So far my favourite Patchett remains unchanged: Bel Canto takes that title.

category: RandomCAT - On the Road Again

North Star by Hammond Innes

Published in 1974, Innes' hero Mike Randall witnesses a petrol bomb being thrown into a house in Northern Ireland from which he was quick to rescue a child. When he was summoned to court as witness, the lawyer for the accused manages to twist his account, freeing the charged pair and accusing Randall as the petrol bomber. He headed back to work restoring a wrecked trawler to seaworthiness for the journey to the North Sea oil rig, North Star. This was at the height of civil unrest in Northern Ireland but also during a time of industrial activism. Innes captures the air of the times accurately. A massive storm forms the dramatic finale. This action novel was all the more enjoyable because it had an excellent background story.

category: Series

Put on by cunning (aka Death Notes) by Ruth Rendell

Wexford takes his investigation to California where he and Dora are delighted by Hummingbirds and flocks of Monarch butterflies, never seen in England. This was a nice twisty mystery of heiress identification. Rendell has a lovely writing style, and often includes small details about the natural world.

>176 VivienneR: I really should get back to this series. I’ve only read the first, and enjoyed it. Availability at the library is the problem. I also read one of her stand alone. Creepy in a good way.

>177 NanaCC: I like Rendell's books but our library is like yours, and there are only odds and ends available. Same goes for Barbara Vine, her pseudonym. Sometimes it's refreshing to have detectives do actual detective work instead of relying on all the electronic aids available now.

category: AlphaKIT - all year Z

Ratking: An Aurelio Zen mystery by Michael Dibdin

It must be several years ago when I caught a couple of episodes of the TV series only to find the broadcast was finished. Since then I've been looking for Dibdin's books. I found a couple from later in the series and enjoyed them enough that I kept up the search and have since added a few more to my collection. This one is the first in the series that I wanted to read it before starting any others. I can't say anything against Dibdin or Aurelio Zen. The story was complex without being convoluted, the main character, an unfairly demoted police commissioner, was intricate and appealing, and Dibdin provided a good picture of the differences in regional Italian culture and police methods. More than a murder mystery, this one has an excellent story, I enjoyed every page.

category Faraway Places & GeoKIT Asia

The Suspect by Fiona Barton

The original plan of two teenage friends going on a trip to Thailand was postponed when one couldn't raise the money. A barely-known acquaintance steps in as a replacement with predictable results. I didn't much care for the characters and a poor audio version didn't add anything to the experience.

>179 VivienneR: I have this one on the shelf and can't remember how it came to me, but I'm glad you liked it so much. I didn't know if was a tv series either. You're full of info, thanks!

>181 mstrust: When I looked up Michael Dibdin I found we had something in common. He moved from Lisburn, Northern Ireland to Edmonton, Alberta. Which is exactly the move that I made. Both places are kind of out of the way.

I think Rufus Sewell in the tv series sold me on the character.

category: Faraway Places and GeoKIT - Africa

The Mission Song by John le Carré

Bruno Salvador, son of a daughter of a Congolese chief and an Irish priest considers himself to be thoroughly British. His flair with languages make him a skilled translator and ripe for British Secret Service picking. He's a gentle, loyal man, an innocent who is unprepared for the lethal mix of power brokers he is facing, from Old Etonians to indigenous Africans, wreaking havoc in the Congo.

As expected, Le Carré's writing is extraordinary. The story is told in first person, a perspective perfect for audio presentation, in this case with an outstanding narration by David Oweloyo who raised my enjoyment of the novel with his voice alone.

August Summary

Read this month: 20
Year to date: 129

The Best 4 - 5 stars:
The Woman on the Orient Express by Lindsay Jayne Ashford ❤️
Raven's Cry by Christie Harris, illustrations by Bill Reid
Sweeney Todd and the String of Pearls by Yuri Rasovsky
The Purity of Vengeance by Jussi Adler-Olsen
Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare
1, 2, 3 Salish Sea: A Pacific Northwest Counting Book by Nikki McClure
North Star by Hammond Innes
Ratking: An Aurelio Zen mystery by Michael Dibdin
The Mission Song by John le Carré

The Rest 3 - 3.5 stars:
The Broken Girls by Simone St. James
Backlash by Lisa LaPlante
Consent by Annabel Lyon
The Cat Who Wasn't There by Lilian Jackson Braun
Union Jack by Val McDermid
Death of a Policeman by M.C. Beaton
Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
Put On By Cunning (aka Death Notes) by Ruth Rendell
The Suspect by Fiona Barton

Disappointments:
Disappearing Moon Cafe by Sky Lee

category: AlphaKIT all year X

Aunt Bessie Believes by Diana Xarissa

It's a cute story but my goodness, what a lot of padding. Every minute detail of every pot of tea made has been included. Aunt Bessie is the Isle of Man sleuth who does most of the investigation over tea. The plot was very simple and easily guessed from the beginning but a mystery author cheats by wrapping up the case with a confession.

>185 VivienneR: As much as I'd love an Isle of Man setting, I don't think I'd enjoy that one.

>186 thornton37814: I found it disappointing, but it was short and sweet, no sex or swearing. Best of all it filled the difficult letter X.

>185 VivienneR: - I read the first one last year and wasn't overly impressed but was going to carry on just because it's "X". But I think I'll pass continuing in the series.

>188 dudes22: Understandable, I'm going to pass on the rest of the series too.

I can hardly believe we are into the second week of September and this is just my second book finished. I guess I've been gadding about too much.



category: RandomCAT September - Winner, winner

The Second World War: Triumph and Tragedy by Winston S. Churchill

"In War: Resolution, In Defeat: Defiance, In Victory: Magnanimity, In Peace: Goodwill" - Churchill

This is the final volume of Churchill's six-volume work. The opening was for me the least interesting because it dealt with places and a period of the war that I am least familiar with so it took a lot of concentration and a few google searches for background information. Then, thanks to Churchill's outstanding writing, it became completely engrossing. He has a way of describing multiple complex events that are happening simultaneously in a straightforward manner that makes it easy to comprehend. And he includes some insightful reflections that did not often reach the news or common knowledge at the time or since. It appeared that discussions for peace by the allies took more effort and diplomacy than fighting the war did. If you find the subject interesting, this is a terrific work that I'm glad I invested the time spent reading all six volumes.

The Nobel Prize in Literature 1953 was awarded to Sir Winston S. Churchill "for his mastery of historical and biographical description as well as for brilliant oratory in defending exalted human values." It is commonly thought that he received the Literature Prize for his memoir "The Second World War", however, that multi-volume work was unfinished at the time, and not considered.

category: GenreCAT September - YA and Children

Lionclaw, a tale of Rowan Hood by Nancy Springer

Lionel Lionclaw thinks of himself as a coward, which is not the first impression others have when they see his height of seven feet, but it's what his father calls him because the young Lionel prefers to play a harp instead of fight. When his father sends bounty hunters to capture him they cruelly take Rowan Hood as bait. Lionel begins to see his true self and the meaning of bravery. This story shows that life in the forest is not always a green, dreamy haven but can be cold, wet, and scattered with traps.

>190 VivienneR: I have this six volume set on my kindle, Vivienne. Your reviews always make me think I should start it. And yet here I am with it untouched. I’m going to push it up again.

>192 NanaCC: Colleen, I hope you get around to them at some time. I read them out of order which didn't matter much, some on kindle and some audiobook, and I can't decide which format was better. Churchill came across as a different person to the grumpy old guy often depicted in the media.

The end of the last volume (and the end of the war) was bittersweet with Roosevelt's death, Stalin's betrayal, and the British electors who chose Eden over Churchill. Fortunately we have this unbiased memoir as an accurate record.

category: Faraway Places and GeoKIT Oceania

Great Australian Journeys by Graham Seal

Beginning with the arrival of the first peoples in Australia about 70,000 years ago, Seal follows the many arrivals and journeys of Australians and visitors to their island. The stories of transported convicts were interesting and provided more detail than usual about the colourful characters and the dire conditions they left behind. The most entertaining chapter was about Tigga, a cat found in a garden in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. His microchip revealed he was from Australia, via London, England, where he had been treated by a vet. The puzzle of his travels was eventually solved but sadly he died while in care and it was Tigga's ashes that made the journey back to Australia. Mark Twain's visit to Australia was another highly entertaining section. His witty remarks are as funny now as they were when delivered. Wisely, Seal's stories are not chronological but enticingly jump around in time. From historical to contemporary, the comings and goings of Australians are fascinating.

category: AlphaKIT September L

The Left-Handed Dollar by Loren Estleman

I've only read one Loren Estleman book before and it was from the Valentino series that I really enjoyed. This one, in the hard-boiled style of the Detroit series is very different but just as much fun featuring the excellent character of Amos Walker as a classic old-school detective. If you enjoy hard-boiled, this is a good one.

category: AlphaKIT September F

For Your Eyes Only by Ian Fleming

1. From a View to Kill
2. For Your Eyes Only
3. Quantum of Solace
4. Risico
5. The Hildebrand Rarity

Five short stories, all typical of Bond but none exceptional. Sexist language is frequent and more abhorrent in modern days. Quantum of Solace was the best in my opinion, where Bond listens to a story about love and marriage which has a surprising finish - surprising to Bond, that is.

>196 VivienneR: I haven’t read many of these books, Vivienne, and I’ve only seen a couple of the movies (Sean Connery). The sexist language is definitely rampant.

>197 NanaCC: I have to say Bond books, even though they are dated, are generally better than Bond movies. This one wasn't as good as most, probably because of the short story format.

>198 VivienneR: when I read a Bond book, I remember that it's a product of its time, and is not alone in that regard. I also treat them like the Marvel movies my husband keeps taking me to. Oh, he's handsome. Oh, that's a very bad dude. Hey, pass the popcorn.

>199 VictoriaPL: Good idea, Victoria! Bond isn't the only character in fiction who uses sexist language. And being so handsome almost makes up for it. I've been enjoying Bond books since I was a teen, can't start complaining now.

category: Series

Slow Horses by Mick Herron

"If Moscow rules meant watch your back, London rules meant cover your arse. Moscow rules had been written on the streets, but London rules were devised in the corridors of Westminster, and the short version read: someone always pays. Make sure it isn't you. Nobody knew that better than Jackson Lamb. And nobody played it better that Di Taverner."

The "slow horses" spending their days at anonymous Slough House instead of the eminent headquarters, are the disgraced bunch of MI5 spies shunted to the bottom of the list, and given the epithet because they botched an op, or are lacking in trustworthiness. They all want to be back in action instead of getting the thankless mundane jobs passed down to Slough House. River Cartwright believes he was set up but can he prove it or will he have to wait until his time at Slough House has been served, if there is such a time?

No foreign agents or international espionage, this was purely in-house and the action progressed at a clip. I don't remember ever reading such an entertaining and gripping spy novel, it was fantastic.

This is the first in the series (although LT erroneously lists it as 7th - ETA this has since been corrected. I look forward to reading them all.

>201 VivienneR: BB for me!

>202 christina_reads: Good! I hope you enjoy it.

>201 VivienneR: I read this a couple of years ago and I really liked it. For some reason this is one of the series that has slipped through the cracks and I need to put the second book back on the rotation list!

201 you’ve hooked me too, Vivienne. ;-)

>201 VivienneR: sounds interesting!

category: HistoryCAT - Politics

Nineteen Eighty-four by George Orwell

Considering this was written in 1948 it is a sort of backward look at history, formed of what Orwell imagined at the time might form the future. In the political and social unrest of the 1930s and 1940s this was a dystopian view understandably envisioned by someone with Orwell's perception and experience. Not a pleasant story, but for political junkies of today, a must-read book.

I haven't read this for many years yet was surprised by how much detail I remembered.

>204 DeltaQueen50: Books from series are the usual victims to slip through the cracks. I've got the second book in the series ready but in audiobook format this time. If the narrator isn't to my liking I'll have to put a hold on the library's print version.

>205 NanaCC: Why am I not surprised, Colleen? Hope you enjoy it.

>206 VictoriaPL: It was certainly different to any spy novel I've read. I hope Herrick can keep it up.

>208 VivienneR: I really enjoyed the first four of the Slough House series.

>209 pamelad: I'm glad to hear that, Pamela! I hoped it wasn't just the first episode that was good.

category: MysteryKIT mismatched detectives

The Dark Angel by Elly Griffiths

I'm beginning to find this series somewhat of a soap opera instead of a mystery. By the time the murderer was revealed, I'd forgotten that a murder had happened. And there wasn't as much in the way of archaeological information as usual. However, it was riveting and I love the cast of characters, especially Flint and Bruno.

Category AlphaKIT September F & L

Find You First by Linwood Barclay

Barclay has done it again! This is a gripping thriller full of twists and turns yet is easy to follow. It is somehow surprising that the results of sperm donor clinics don't appear in more mysteries. I listened to the audio version narrated by George Newbern who is outstanding.

>212 VivienneR: That sounds interesting. An author not on my radar . . . until now

>213 Nickelini: Canadian Linwood Barclay is wonderful! Try him out. I like the Promise Falls series best but I've yet to come across one I don't like. His delightful memoir Last Resort is a good introduction.

category: HistoryCAT October

A Brief History of Earth: Four Billion Years in Eight Chapters by Andrew H. Knoll

I found this on the new books shelf at the library and it instantly appealed. Dealing mostly with geology, this is a surprisingly easy to read history of earth, well written in a straightforward style in chronological order, ending with how humans are changing the planet. Simple enough that I was able to comprehend, but I admit my knowledge of earth is still pretty elementary.

>214 VivienneR: Last Resort is my favourite Barclay book! I was able to find a used copy online and was glad I did, because otherwise I would have had to steal the library's copy :) It was also reissued a few years ago in ebook form.

>216 rabbitprincess: Last Resort was my favourite too! It was wonderful to see what a terrific kid Barclay was and to recognize that it shows in his writing as a grown-up. Mine was borrowed from the library but I envy your personal copy. It must seem like an old friend on your bookshelf.

category: Faraway Places & GeoKIT (Europe)

The Nose by Nikolai Gogol

Two short stories from the satirical absurdist Gogol. In the first, a Collegiate Assessor who refers to himself self-importantly, as The Major, wakened up one morning to find his nose is missing. His social pretensions prevent him from investigating openly with the fear of being ridiculed. The nose has been seen around town and eventually apprehended boarding a train. Funny, and strange in a Kafkaesque way. I am left wondering about possible analogies.

The second story The Carriage involves the potential sale of a carriage discussed at the opening of a bacchanalian evening when the seller, ended up in a drunken stupor. When the buyer shows up next day with a troop of fellow officers expecting another night of carousing they find the seller "not at home" while in fact he is hiding and recovering from the night before.

This book is one of Penguin's Little Black Classics series.

category: MysteryKIT - Mismatched detectives

A Cure for All Diseases by Reginald Hill

Inspired by Jane Austen's Sanditon, Hill has written this clever crime novel in which Andy Dalziel is a convalescing patient in a Sandytown private nursing home. When a murder is committed Peter Pascoe leads the investigation without his superior Dalziel. At least, that's what Pascoe thinks, but Dalziel is difficult to keep under wraps. Terrific storyline, an innovative presentation style, and a cast of highly-developed characters keeps interest high. The differences between the two detectives are stunning: Pascoe, university educated, goes by the book; Dalziel is ribald, his speech littered with folksy Yorkshire phrases, and he is not averse to breaking rules. And although they work well as a pair, it would be tough getting Pascoe to admit it. This was fabulous entertainment even if Hill had omitted the criminal aspect. My favourite Reginald Hill so far.

One of my favourite quotes from Dalziel:
"You've been running your eyes over me like an Aberdeen undertaker wondering whether to charge by the inch or the ounce."

category: GenreCAT - October Horror

The Cement Garden by Ian McEwan

MaEwan's first novel published in 1978 was recommended to me by LTer Caroline_McElwee. The story is of four children left to fend for themselves when both parents die. Grisly and horrific, this is a story that will stick in the memory. McEwan's writing style is so perfectly suited to the short novel that its very brevity enhances the story. Recommended, even though I know this is not everyone's cup of tea.

>219 VivienneR: Inspired by Sanditon?! Sounds like I need to check that one out!

>221 christina_reads: Yes, you must check it out! It's been decades since I read Sanditon and I can barely remember it but this was written with Hill's voice, but strangely in a Jane Austen style. Not a retelling, but an original Hill. Very clever, much more clever than I can describe. I read that it took him ten years to write it.

category: AlphaKIT X

Building Stronger Bones Naturally by Xandria Williams

There is a great deal of good information here for anyone interested in avoiding osteoporosis, I'm not one of those but still find the information useful and it's a good reference book for exercises and diet. My only criticism is that one needs to turn back and forth from one section to another in order to follow a topic.

category: AlphaKIT L

Lies by T.M. Logan

This debut novel from Logan started off well but lost credibility soon after. And though I kept on reading, I found the characters annoying and so many holes in the plot that it made the story frustrating. I had already guessed much of how it would finish, so no surprise there.

September Summary

Read this month: 16
Year to date: 145

The Best 4 - 5 stars: ❤️
The Second World War: Triump and Tragedy Vol. VI by Winston S. Churchill
Great Australian Journeys by Graham Seal
Slow Horses by Mick Herron
Nineteen Eighty-four by George Orwell
Find You First by Linwood Barclay
A Cure for All Diseases by Reginald Hill
The Cement Garden by Ian McEwan

The Rest 3 - 3.5 stars:
Lionclaw, a tale of Rowan Hood by Nancy Springer
The Left-Handed Dollar by Loren Estleman
For Your Eyes Only by Ian Fleming
A Brief History of Earth: Four Billion Years in Eight Chapters by Andrew H. Knoll
The Dark Angel by Elly Griffiths
The Nose by Nikolai Gogol
Building Stronger Bones Naturally by Xandria Williams
Lies by T.M. Logan

Disappointments:
Aunt Bessie Believes by Diana Xarissa

category - Fiction

All I Ask by Eva Crocker

With short staccato sentences and no plot to speak of, this was unbelievably boring, even the explicit sex was boring. Crocker has been compared with Sally Rooney, and while I didn't care for Rooney, this is worse. Mine was an audiobook with poor narration, adding nothing to the story. It is difficult to understand why this was longlisted for the Giller Prize.

I went back to the library catalogue to read the description but found that the book has been removed from the library collection after only six weeks since it was acquired, so it appears I am not the only disappointed reader.

>225 VivienneR: I will add Seal's travel book to my next year's list, I'm planning on reading a dozen books set in Australia.

>227 Tess_W: Glad I was able to help. I found Seal's book to be more interesting than a lot of travel books. I hope you enjoy it.

Please join me for the last quarter of the year here https://www.librarything.com/topic/335735