DeltaQueen Relies on Friends in 2022 - Page 1
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Forum2022 Category Challenge
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1DeltaQueen50
Welcome to my 2022 thread. My name is Judy and I live in Delta, a suburb of Greater Vancouver, Canada. My husband and I are senior citizens, living a quiet life. We have two daughters that live fairly close, two son-in-laws and two grandchildren, all of whom we love dearly. I have participated in the Category Challenge for a good number of years as it suits my reading, I enjoy the preparation and planning and, I can’t resist a good challenge! The best part of the Category Challenge is that I have made some excellent friends here along the way.
As long as I have a book in my hand and a couple of really good friends to confide in, I am happy. Friends and books have gotten me through some tough times in my life, and I am always ready to slip away with my friends for laughs, excitement or simply quiet times. This year my Category Challenge is about friendship with each category being named after the members of a famous friendship. I have 16 categories and I hope to read 10 books for 14 of them. I also have an Alphabet Category for which I will read 24 – 26 books leaving my final category for books that don’t fit elsewhere and graphic novels. My categories are listed below with a short explanation of why I am using that particular friendship for my challenge. My reading is quite varied so be ready for some odd pairings!
I am looking forward to 2022 and this challenge. Please feel free to join in the conversation here, all opinions are valued as long as we treat others as we would like to be treated.
2DeltaQueen50
2022 CATEGORIES
A. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson: This duo is responsible for solving many a tricky mystery, and their friendship is deeper and more lasting that what appears on the surface. These two are much better together than on their own. I will use this category for my crime stories and mysteries.
B. Starsky & Hutch: Two streetwise police partners that protected each other and the public while keeping the streets of Bay City safe. This TV show was one of the first buddy cop action shows. I will place my crime series/police procedurals here.
C. Nick and Nora Charles: Friends, lovers and partners, this married duo solves the crimes and keeps their audience smiling the whole way through. Dashiell Hammett created a lasting duo with his Thin Man series but, for me, the films starring William Powell and Myrna Loy were sheer perfection and better than the books. Vintage mysteries will be located in this category with particular attention being given to the H. R. Keating List of 100 Best Crime Novels
D. Elizabeth and Jane Bennet: Sisters and best friends, this relationship is one of the reasons why I love Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice so much. They support and encourage each other each step of the way towards finding their own happy endings. A perfect place for my historical fiction reading most of which will be based on the Reading Through Time monthly/quarterly topics.
E. Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger: These three young wizards formed an unbreakable bond of friendship while at the Hogwarts School. Battling the evil Voldemort helped to strengthen their bonds, even though they didn’t always agree on everything. My fantasy reading will be placed here.
F. Godzilla and King Kong: Well these two are not exactly friends but they often appear together in film and their epic battles leave humanity caught in the middle. As co-stars and combatants these two scary creatures are the duo that I am going to use for my horror, dystopia and darker fantasies.
G. Captain James Kirk and Mr Spock: The contrast between the passionate and headstrong Kirk and the cool, logical Mr. Spock was compelling. These strong characters kept the Universe safe and made Star Trek a television science fiction classic. My science fiction reading will be placed here.
H. Chuck Noland and Wilson: In the movie Castaway, Fedex systems analyst Chuck Noland ends up on a deserted island in the South Pacific. His only companion was Wilson, a soccer ball. Strange as it seems, his friendship and conversations with Wilson kept him sane. Both because Noland travelled all over the world for his job and because of the exotic setting of the film Castaway, this category will be for global reading.
I. Dr. Meredith Grey and Dr. Cristina Yang: These two met on the televised medical drama Grey’s Anatomy and forged an unbreakable friendship. Becoming each other’s “person” they stood by each other and helped each other through every life crisis that they faced. They particularly helped each other through their romantic dilemmas which were improved by their dark humor and competitive natures. Stories of romance and love will be placed here.
J. Trixie Belden and Honey Wheeler: My childhood role models as to what friends can be to each other, Trixie and Honey met as young pre-teens and the friendly, outgoing Trixie was exactly what the lonely, sheltered rich girl, Honey needed and vice versa. They went on to have many adventures together along with their brothers and I eagerly gobbled up each one. My YA and children’s literature will be placed here.
K. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid: Together through good times and bad, this legendary duo robbed banks, evaded capture and lived the good life – until they didn’t. Remembered today mostly from the 1969 film which highlighted their camaraderie. I will place my western reading here.
L. Patience and Foritude, New York’s literary lions: These well known and well loved marble statues grace the entrance to the library at 5th Avenue and 42nd Street, New York City. They have become well known mascots to libraries everywhere. I have an extremely long library list and this will be the place where some of the books that have been on my list for some time will be placed.
M. Lucy and Ethel: No last names needed, these BFFs have brightened our lives since the 1950s and can still be found on TV reruns today. Their friendship and their television program is a classic so this is where my 1,001 Books to Read Before You Die will be placed.
N. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler: Two real life best friends who have each other’s back, protect each other’s privacy and know how to have fun with each other. This seems like the perfect place for a variety of women authors
O. Calvin and Hobbes: Before they branched out into books, calendars, mugs, etc. this famous duo brightened our comic strip reading for years as young Calvin and his stuffed Tiger tickled our funny bone with their antics and observations. I can picture Hobbes helping Calvin to learn his ABCs so this will be where I place the books I read for the Alphabet Challenge. As I don’t want to have to purchase a book to read for this category, I might be giving the letters X & Z the year off.
P. Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Chandler, Joey and Ross – Friends: This television show is the standard bearer of shows about friends. We followed the lives of these six singles for ten years and it became one of the most popular television shows of all time – all built around the theme of friendship. This group of assorted friends will be the place I put any books that don’t fit anywhere else in my Challenge along with any graphic novels that I read during the year.
A. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson: This duo is responsible for solving many a tricky mystery, and their friendship is deeper and more lasting that what appears on the surface. These two are much better together than on their own. I will use this category for my crime stories and mysteries.
B. Starsky & Hutch: Two streetwise police partners that protected each other and the public while keeping the streets of Bay City safe. This TV show was one of the first buddy cop action shows. I will place my crime series/police procedurals here.
C. Nick and Nora Charles: Friends, lovers and partners, this married duo solves the crimes and keeps their audience smiling the whole way through. Dashiell Hammett created a lasting duo with his Thin Man series but, for me, the films starring William Powell and Myrna Loy were sheer perfection and better than the books. Vintage mysteries will be located in this category with particular attention being given to the H. R. Keating List of 100 Best Crime Novels
D. Elizabeth and Jane Bennet: Sisters and best friends, this relationship is one of the reasons why I love Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice so much. They support and encourage each other each step of the way towards finding their own happy endings. A perfect place for my historical fiction reading most of which will be based on the Reading Through Time monthly/quarterly topics.
E. Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger: These three young wizards formed an unbreakable bond of friendship while at the Hogwarts School. Battling the evil Voldemort helped to strengthen their bonds, even though they didn’t always agree on everything. My fantasy reading will be placed here.
F. Godzilla and King Kong: Well these two are not exactly friends but they often appear together in film and their epic battles leave humanity caught in the middle. As co-stars and combatants these two scary creatures are the duo that I am going to use for my horror, dystopia and darker fantasies.
G. Captain James Kirk and Mr Spock: The contrast between the passionate and headstrong Kirk and the cool, logical Mr. Spock was compelling. These strong characters kept the Universe safe and made Star Trek a television science fiction classic. My science fiction reading will be placed here.
H. Chuck Noland and Wilson: In the movie Castaway, Fedex systems analyst Chuck Noland ends up on a deserted island in the South Pacific. His only companion was Wilson, a soccer ball. Strange as it seems, his friendship and conversations with Wilson kept him sane. Both because Noland travelled all over the world for his job and because of the exotic setting of the film Castaway, this category will be for global reading.
I. Dr. Meredith Grey and Dr. Cristina Yang: These two met on the televised medical drama Grey’s Anatomy and forged an unbreakable friendship. Becoming each other’s “person” they stood by each other and helped each other through every life crisis that they faced. They particularly helped each other through their romantic dilemmas which were improved by their dark humor and competitive natures. Stories of romance and love will be placed here.
J. Trixie Belden and Honey Wheeler: My childhood role models as to what friends can be to each other, Trixie and Honey met as young pre-teens and the friendly, outgoing Trixie was exactly what the lonely, sheltered rich girl, Honey needed and vice versa. They went on to have many adventures together along with their brothers and I eagerly gobbled up each one. My YA and children’s literature will be placed here.
K. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid: Together through good times and bad, this legendary duo robbed banks, evaded capture and lived the good life – until they didn’t. Remembered today mostly from the 1969 film which highlighted their camaraderie. I will place my western reading here.
L. Patience and Foritude, New York’s literary lions: These well known and well loved marble statues grace the entrance to the library at 5th Avenue and 42nd Street, New York City. They have become well known mascots to libraries everywhere. I have an extremely long library list and this will be the place where some of the books that have been on my list for some time will be placed.
M. Lucy and Ethel: No last names needed, these BFFs have brightened our lives since the 1950s and can still be found on TV reruns today. Their friendship and their television program is a classic so this is where my 1,001 Books to Read Before You Die will be placed.
N. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler: Two real life best friends who have each other’s back, protect each other’s privacy and know how to have fun with each other. This seems like the perfect place for a variety of women authors
O. Calvin and Hobbes: Before they branched out into books, calendars, mugs, etc. this famous duo brightened our comic strip reading for years as young Calvin and his stuffed Tiger tickled our funny bone with their antics and observations. I can picture Hobbes helping Calvin to learn his ABCs so this will be where I place the books I read for the Alphabet Challenge. As I don’t want to have to purchase a book to read for this category, I might be giving the letters X & Z the year off.
P. Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Chandler, Joey and Ross – Friends: This television show is the standard bearer of shows about friends. We followed the lives of these six singles for ten years and it became one of the most popular television shows of all time – all built around the theme of friendship. This group of assorted friends will be the place I put any books that don’t fit anywhere else in my Challenge along with any graphic novels that I read during the year.
3DeltaQueen50
2022 Tickers
Total Books Read
Pages Read
Books Read From My Shelf
Total Books Read
Pages Read
Books Read From My Shelf
4DeltaQueen50
How I Rate Books:
I am not a professional book critic nor do I consider myself to be an expert on literary standards, my reviews are based on my reaction to the book and the opinions expressed are my own personal thoughts and feelings.
2.0 ★: I must have been dragged, kicking and screaming, to finish this one!
2.5 ★: Below Average but I finished the book for one reason or another probably due to sheer stubborness!
3.0 ★: Slightly below average, a solid read that I finished but can't promise to remember
3.5 ★: Average, there's room for improvement but I liked this well enough to pick up another book by this author.
4.0 ★: A Good read and I enjoyed my time spent with this story - this will be an author I return to.
4.5 ★: An excellent read, a book that touched me and gave me an emotional reaction. This is a book that I will remember and recommend
5.0 ★: Sheer perfection, the right book at the right time for me
I use decimal points to further clarify my thoughts about the book, therefore you will see books rated 3.8 to show it was better than a 3.5 but not quite a 4.0; etc. These small adjustments help me to remember how a book resonated with me
I am not a professional book critic nor do I consider myself to be an expert on literary standards, my reviews are based on my reaction to the book and the opinions expressed are my own personal thoughts and feelings.
2.0 ★: I must have been dragged, kicking and screaming, to finish this one!
2.5 ★: Below Average but I finished the book for one reason or another probably due to sheer stubborness!
3.0 ★: Slightly below average, a solid read that I finished but can't promise to remember
3.5 ★: Average, there's room for improvement but I liked this well enough to pick up another book by this author.
4.0 ★: A Good read and I enjoyed my time spent with this story - this will be an author I return to.
4.5 ★: An excellent read, a book that touched me and gave me an emotional reaction. This is a book that I will remember and recommend
5.0 ★: Sheer perfection, the right book at the right time for me
I use decimal points to further clarify my thoughts about the book, therefore you will see books rated 3.8 to show it was better than a 3.5 but not quite a 4.0; etc. These small adjustments help me to remember how a book resonated with me
5DeltaQueen50
Around the Year in 52 Books Challenge
1. A book with a main character whose name starts with A, T, or Y: Last Rituals by Yrsa Sigurdardottir
2. A book connected to a book you read in 2021
3. A book with 22 or more letters in the title
4. A book that fits a prompt that did not make this list
5. A book by an author with two sets of double letters in their name
6. A book with an image of a source of light on the cover
7. A book set in or about Australia
8. Three Books set on different Continents: Book 1 - Europe: To the Back of Beyond by Peter Stamm
9. Three Books set on different Continents: Book 2 - Asia
10. Three Books set on different Continents: Book 3 - Africa
11. A book from the genre of historical fiction
12. A book related to glass
13. A book about a woman in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and maths)
14. A book with fewer than 5000 ratings on Good Reads
15. A book without a person on the cover: Before the Poison by Peter Robinson
16. A book related to Earth Day
17. A book from NPR’s Book Concierge
18. A book by an Asian or Pacific Islander
19. A book that involves alternative reality, alternative worlds, alternative history
20. A fiction or non-fiction book that is set between 1900 - 1951
21. A book with one of the Monopoly tokens on the cover
22. A book with a Jewish character or author
23. A book that features a loving LGBTQIA relationship
24. A book related to inclement weather
25. A book less than 220 pages or more that 440 pages
26. Two books with the same word in the title - Book 1
27. Two books with the same word in the title - Book 2
28. A book that won an award from Powell's list of book awards
29. A book set on or near a body of water
30. A book related to mythology
31. A book published at least 10 years ago
32. A book where the main character is a female detective/private eye/police officer
33. The next book in a series: Collecting Cooper by Paul Cleave
34. A book with an academic setting or with a teacher that plays an important role
35. Two books, one related to flora - Book 1
36. Two books, one related to fauna - Book 2
37. A book that uses all 5 vowels (a,e,i,o,u) in the title or author's name
38. A book by a Latin American author
39. A book from the TIME List of 100 Best YA Books of All Time
40. A book related to one of the 22 Major Arcana cards of the Tarot: Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice
41. A book with a theme of food or drink
42. A book with a language or nationality in the title
43. A book set in a small town or rural area
44. A book with gothic elements
45. A book related to a game
46. A book with a non-human as one of the main characters
47. A book with hand writing on the cover
48. A book posted in one of the ATY Best Books of the Month threads in 2021 or 2022
49. A book connected to the phrase, "Here (There) be Dragons"
50. A book that involves aging or a character in their golden years
51. A book published in 2022
52. A book with a time related word in the title
6DeltaQueen50
2022 Bingo
1. An Award Winning book
2. Published in a year ending 2
3. A modern retelling of an older story
4. A book you'd love to see as a movie (maybe starring your favourite actor)
5. A book that features a dog
6. The title contains the letter Z
7. Published the year you joined LT
8. A book by a favourite author:
9. A long book (long for you)
10. A book you received as a gift
11. The title contains a month
12. A weather word in the title
13. Read a CAT: Wonderful Tonight by Patti Boyd
14. Contains travel or a journey
15. A book about sisters or brothers
16. A book club read (real or online)
17. A book with flowers on the cover
18. A book in translation: To the Back of Beyond by Peter Stamm
19. A work of non-fiction
20. A book where a character shares a name of a friend
21. A book set in a capital city
22. A children's or YA book: Blood Feud by Rosemary Sutcliff
23. A book set in a country other than the one you live
24. A book by an LGBTQ+ author
25. A book with silver or gold on the cover
1. An Award Winning book
2. Published in a year ending 2
3. A modern retelling of an older story
4. A book you'd love to see as a movie (maybe starring your favourite actor)
5. A book that features a dog
6. The title contains the letter Z
7. Published the year you joined LT
8. A book by a favourite author:
9. A long book (long for you)
10. A book you received as a gift
11. The title contains a month
12. A weather word in the title
13. Read a CAT: Wonderful Tonight by Patti Boyd
14. Contains travel or a journey
15. A book about sisters or brothers
16. A book club read (real or online)
17. A book with flowers on the cover
18. A book in translation: To the Back of Beyond by Peter Stamm
19. A work of non-fiction
20. A book where a character shares a name of a friend
21. A book set in a capital city
22. A children's or YA book: Blood Feud by Rosemary Sutcliff
23. A book set in a country other than the one you live
24. A book by an LGBTQ+ author
25. A book with silver or gold on the cover
7DeltaQueen50
Sherlock Holmes & Dr. John Watson - Crime Stories/Mysteries
Possibilities
: The Girl in the Red Coat by Kate Hamer
: Conviction by Denise Mina
: The Tilted World by Tom Franklin
Books Read
1. Evil Things by Katja Ivar - 4.0 ★
Possibilities
: The Girl in the Red Coat by Kate Hamer
: Conviction by Denise Mina
: The Tilted World by Tom Franklin
Books Read
1. Evil Things by Katja Ivar - 4.0 ★
8DeltaQueen50
Starsky and Hutch - Crime Series and Police Procedurals
Possibilities
: The Marco Effect by Jussi Adler-Olsen
: Dark Saturday by Nicci French
Books Read
1. Collecting Cooper by Paul Cleave - 4.2 ★
2. Last Rituals by Yrsa Sigurdardottir - 3.5 ★
Possibilities
: The Marco Effect by Jussi Adler-Olsen
: Dark Saturday by Nicci French
Books Read
1. Collecting Cooper by Paul Cleave - 4.2 ★
2. Last Rituals by Yrsa Sigurdardottir - 3.5 ★
9DeltaQueen50
Nick & Nora Charles - Vintage Crime
Possibilities
: Last Seen Wearing by Hillary Waugh
: Pop. 1280 by Jim Thompson
: Busman's Holiday by Dorothy Sayers
Books Read
1. Home Sweet Homicide by Craig Rice - 4.0 ★
2. Smallbone Deceased by Michael Gilbert - 4.0 ★
Possibilities
: Last Seen Wearing by Hillary Waugh
: Pop. 1280 by Jim Thompson
: Busman's Holiday by Dorothy Sayers
Books Read
1. Home Sweet Homicide by Craig Rice - 4.0 ★
2. Smallbone Deceased by Michael Gilbert - 4.0 ★
10DeltaQueen50
Elizabeth & Jane Bennet - Historical Fiction
: Books for this category will mostly be from the Reading Through Time Monthly and Quarterly Challenges
: Books for this category will mostly be from the Reading Through Time Monthly and Quarterly Challenges
11DeltaQueen50
Harry Potter, Ron Weasley & Hermione Granger - Fantasy
Possibilities
: Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
: Legacy by Lois McMaster Bujold
: A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie
Books Read
1. The Sasquatch Hunter's Almanac by Sharma Shields - 3.0 ★
Possibilities
: Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
: Legacy by Lois McMaster Bujold
: A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie
Books Read
1. The Sasquatch Hunter's Almanac by Sharma Shields - 3.0 ★
12DeltaQueen50
Godzilla & King Kong - Dark Fantasy & Apocalyptic Stories
Possibilities
: The Infection by Craig Dilouie
: The Cabin At the End of the World by Paul Tremblay
: World Departed by Sarah Lyons Fleming
Books Read
1. The Road to Woodbury by Robert Kirkman - 3.3 ★
2. Kill Creek by Scott Thomas - 2.0 ★
Possibilities
: The Infection by Craig Dilouie
: The Cabin At the End of the World by Paul Tremblay
: World Departed by Sarah Lyons Fleming
Books Read
1. The Road to Woodbury by Robert Kirkman - 3.3 ★
2. Kill Creek by Scott Thomas - 2.0 ★
13DeltaQueen50
Captain James Kirk & Mr. Spock - Science Fiction
Possibilities
: Diplomatic Immunity by Lois McMaster Bujold
: Sea of Rust by C. Robert Cargill
: Foundation by Isaac Asimov
Books Read
1. Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice - 5.0 ★
Possibilities
: Diplomatic Immunity by Lois McMaster Bujold
: Sea of Rust by C. Robert Cargill
: Foundation by Isaac Asimov
Books Read
1. Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice - 5.0 ★
14DeltaQueen50
Chuck Noland and Wilson (Castaway) - Global Reading
Possibilities
: The Court Dancer by Kyung-sook Shin (Korea)
: Claire of the Sea Light by Edwidge Danticat (Haiti)
: The Good Braider by Terry Farish (The Sudan)
Books Read
1. To the Back of Beyond by Peter Stamm - 4.0 ★
Possibilities
: The Court Dancer by Kyung-sook Shin (Korea)
: Claire of the Sea Light by Edwidge Danticat (Haiti)
: The Good Braider by Terry Farish (The Sudan)
Books Read
1. To the Back of Beyond by Peter Stamm - 4.0 ★
15DeltaQueen50
Meridith Grey & Christina Yang - Romance and Love Stories
Possibilities
: Pride, Prejudice and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev
: Slightly Wicked by Mary Balogh
Books Read
1. It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas - 3.8 ★
Possibilities
: Pride, Prejudice and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev
: Slightly Wicked by Mary Balogh
Books Read
1. It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas - 3.8 ★
16DeltaQueen50
Trixie Belden & Honey Wheeler - YA and Children's Literature
Possibilities
: Incurable by John Marsden
: I Am Still Alive by Kate Alice Marshall
: The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
Books Read
1. Blood Feud by Rosemary Sutcliff - 3.8 ★
Possibilities
: Incurable by John Marsden
: I Am Still Alive by Kate Alice Marshall
: The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
Books Read
1. Blood Feud by Rosemary Sutcliff - 3.8 ★
17DeltaQueen50
Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid - Stories of the American West
Possibilities
: Comanche Dawn by Mike Blakely
: Simon the Fiddler by Paulette Jiles
: The Which Way Tree by Elizabeth Crook
Books Read
1. The Chains of Sarai Stone by Cynthia Haseloff
Possibilities
: Comanche Dawn by Mike Blakely
: Simon the Fiddler by Paulette Jiles
: The Which Way Tree by Elizabeth Crook
Books Read
1. The Chains of Sarai Stone by Cynthia Haseloff
18DeltaQueen50
Patience & Fortitude, New York's Literary Lions - Library Loans
Possibilities
: Fourth of July Creek by Smith Henderson
: Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy
: Mermaids in Paradise by Lydia Millet
Books Read
1. The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles - 5.0 ★
Possibilities
: Fourth of July Creek by Smith Henderson
: Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy
: Mermaids in Paradise by Lydia Millet
Books Read
1. The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles - 5.0 ★
19DeltaQueen50
Lucy & Ethel - Classics, Books from the 1,001 List
Possibilities
: The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
: Beloved by Toni Morrison
Books Read
1. Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys - 4.0 ★
2. Siddhartha by Herman Hesse - 3.4 ★
Possibilities
: The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
: Beloved by Toni Morrison
Books Read
1. Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys - 4.0 ★
2. Siddhartha by Herman Hesse - 3.4 ★
20DeltaQueen50
Tina Fey & Amy Poehler - Women Authors
Possibilities
: Lady Cop Makes Trouble by Amy Stewart
: Valentine by Elizabeth Wetmore
Books Read
1. The Wolves of Andover by Kathleen Kent - 3.8 ★
2. Wonderful Tonight by Patti Boyd & Penny Junior - 3.8 ★
Possibilities
: Lady Cop Makes Trouble by Amy Stewart
: Valentine by Elizabeth Wetmore
Books Read
1. The Wolves of Andover by Kathleen Kent - 3.8 ★
2. Wonderful Tonight by Patti Boyd & Penny Junior - 3.8 ★
21DeltaQueen50
Calvin & Hobbs - The Alphabet
Books Read
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H Black Sheep by Georgette Heyer - 4.0 ★
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R Before the Poison by Peter Robinson - 4.5 ★
S
T
U
V
W
Y
Books Read
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H Black Sheep by Georgette Heyer - 4.0 ★
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R Before the Poison by Peter Robinson - 4.5 ★
S
T
U
V
W
Y
22DeltaQueen50
Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Chandler, Joey & Ross - Friends -Everything Else
Books Read
Books Read
23DeltaQueen50
2022 Reading Plans
: January - Hosting MysteryKit
: May - Hosting ScaredyKit
: June - Hosting Reading Through Time
: August - Hosting AuthorCat
: September - Hosting CatWoman
: October - Hosting ScaredyKit
: November - Hosting AuthorCat
: November - Hosting CatWoman
: December - Hosting Reading Through Time
: January - Hosting MysteryKit
: May - Hosting ScaredyKit
: June - Hosting Reading Through Time
: August - Hosting AuthorCat
: September - Hosting CatWoman
: October - Hosting ScaredyKit
: November - Hosting AuthorCat
: November - Hosting CatWoman
: December - Hosting Reading Through Time
24DeltaQueen50
Welcome to my 2022 Category Challenge Thread!
26Helenliz
That's a brilliant theme! We all need a partner, be it in life or crime. >;-)
I look forward to following your reading for another year.
I look forward to following your reading for another year.
27MissWatson
Oh what a wonderful theme, Judy! And so many familiar and beloved faces here. Especially Calvin and Hobbes...
29NinieB
From an episode of >19 DeltaQueen50: "It's friendship, friendship; just a perfect blendship!"
Good luck with your reading in 2022!
Good luck with your reading in 2022!
33DeltaQueen50
Good morning everyone and welcome to the "Friend Zone"!
>25 VivienneR: I am looking forward to 2022, hopefully a better year for everyone as well as a great reading year!
>26 Helenliz: Glad to have you aboard!
>27 MissWatson: I love Calvin and Hobbs - especially his creative use of snowmen!
>28 majkia: Thanks, Jean.
>29 NinieB: Thanks Ninie, I am looking forward to whittling the H. R. Keating List down somewhat.
>30 Tess_W: Thanks, Tess. Fingers crossed that 2022 will be a happy and healthy one!
>31 scaifea: I love the planning and setting up of themes, Amber, sometimes I feel like a set decorator!
>32 Jackie_K: Thanks, Jackie!
>25 VivienneR: I am looking forward to 2022, hopefully a better year for everyone as well as a great reading year!
>26 Helenliz: Glad to have you aboard!
>27 MissWatson: I love Calvin and Hobbs - especially his creative use of snowmen!
>28 majkia: Thanks, Jean.
>29 NinieB: Thanks Ninie, I am looking forward to whittling the H. R. Keating List down somewhat.
>30 Tess_W: Thanks, Tess. Fingers crossed that 2022 will be a happy and healthy one!
>31 scaifea: I love the planning and setting up of themes, Amber, sometimes I feel like a set decorator!
>32 Jackie_K: Thanks, Jackie!
34LadyoftheLodge
I love your theme. The pix you selected are also great and a lot of fun. I wish we lived close enough to each other to be in-person friends instead of virtual friends. Dropping off a star here.
35mstrust
Such fun themes, and hooray for all your hosting in 2022! Let me wish you a year of happy reading!
36NinieB
>33 DeltaQueen50: You've been doing a great job on the Keating list--I've been picking up tips! :)
38dudes22
You've picked another great theme for your 2022 reading. Looking forward to following along and the BBs that are sure to follow. I too have a little bit of Calvin & Hobbs in my theme and I loved that comic strip.
39DeltaQueen50
>34 LadyoftheLodge: It's such a shame that we aren't able to meet face to face. I have been lucky enough to have met a few other LTers and it's always been a great experience. But I am glad that we can exchange thoughts via our threads.
>35 mstrust: Hi Jennifer. I still have one more month of hosting to add, I'm going to be a busy (girl) er... old lady!
>36 NinieB: I am really enjoying exploring this list as there are books on it that I haven't heard of and so far, most of the books I have read have been very good.
>37 katiekrug: Hi Katie, happy as always to see you!
>38 dudes22: Hi Betty, I'm looking forward to dropping a star at your thread as well. Calvin and Hobbs has something for everyone and is a classic!
>35 mstrust: Hi Jennifer. I still have one more month of hosting to add, I'm going to be a busy (girl) er... old lady!
>36 NinieB: I am really enjoying exploring this list as there are books on it that I haven't heard of and so far, most of the books I have read have been very good.
>37 katiekrug: Hi Katie, happy as always to see you!
>38 dudes22: Hi Betty, I'm looking forward to dropping a star at your thread as well. Calvin and Hobbs has something for everyone and is a classic!
41DeltaQueen50
>40 Nickelini: Glad to see you here! I'm always impatient to get on with the next thing. I've been thinking and planning for 2022 since about August.
42rabbitprincess
I 100% approve of the Holmes and Watson chosen to illustrate that category :D Also yay, Calvin and Hobbes!!
43DeltaQueen50
>42 rabbitprincess: At my age I can't help but picture Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce as the famous duo, but I know many people love this newer version of Sherlock and Watson, and since it was a color picture, I went with the newer duo.
44LadyoftheLodge
>41 DeltaQueen50: Glad to know it’s not just me! I have been thinking about my categories for months.
46DeltaQueen50
>44 LadyoftheLodge: I tend to stick with the same topics, maybe rotating a few in and out every year, but coming up with a theme and categories that will fit takes a good bit of advanced planning!
>45 clue: And vice versa, your threads are always dangerous for me!
>45 clue: And vice versa, your threads are always dangerous for me!
48DeltaQueen50
>47 hailelib: Thanks, Trisha!
49VictoriaPL
I love it! Happy Reading!
50DeltaQueen50
>49 VictoriaPL: Thanks Victoria!
51lsh63
Very nice theme as usual Judy. I’ll be following along and I plan to read a few of the books that you have planned as well.
52DeltaQueen50
>51 lsh63: Great to see you here, Lisa. I am looking forward to 2022, but I need to keep my focus on 2021 as well as I have a few challenges to wrap up there.
54DeltaQueen50
>53 pamelad: Thanks, Pamela. I am looking forward to 2022!
55Familyhistorian
You have some interesting friends in the mix, Judy!
56DeltaQueen50
>55 Familyhistorian: Welcome, Meg. Yes, I am hoping that I am able to match up some great reads to these combinations!
58DeltaQueen50
>57 scaifea: Thanks, Amber.
59beebeereads
I am following along this year. I have never set up my own thread, but will think about it in the future. I aspire to what you have done here! Hope you have a wonderful 2022 reading year.
60DeltaQueen50
>59 beebeereads: Welcome aboard! As we move into December and I am completing all the various reading challenges I set for myself in 2021, I am getting eager to get 2022 on the go.
61LadyoftheLodge
>60 DeltaQueen50: I feel the same way. I am completing my challenges and getting caught up on NetGalley, ready to start 2022!
62thornton37814
Loving your categories! That's some classic TV there! Looking forward to the mystery categories as well as a few others.
63DeltaQueen50
>62 thornton37814: Hi Lori, I was just over at your new thread admiring your pictures of Cincinnati!
64lindapanzo
Lots of great categories for 2022, Judy. I'm especially curious to see what you'll read in your Westerns category as that's one area where I'd like to read more books in 2022.
>61 LadyoftheLodge: Getting caught up on Net Galley? What is this? Whenever I get close (say, over 85% reviewed), I ask for a bunch more books. I'm getting most of my mysteries this way, these days.
>61 LadyoftheLodge: Getting caught up on Net Galley? What is this? Whenever I get close (say, over 85% reviewed), I ask for a bunch more books. I'm getting most of my mysteries this way, these days.
65DeltaQueen50
>64 lindapanzo: Hi Linda, I am very glad to see you have also set up your thread for 2022. I am looking forward to my Western Category, every few years I add this into the mix as I find Westerns great escape reading.
66LadyoftheLodge
>64 lindapanzo: Ha! That is where I get most of my Amish novels too. I have the same bad habit of requesting more books when I seem to be seeing the finish line. I have also lost out on some books because they were archived before I got to download them.
67threadnsong
Hi Judy! I was finishing up your chocolate theme and jumped the link to see . . . all of your many friends. What a great theme!
Thank you for all of your hosting, and for keeping me inspired to keep reading, keep posting, and keep making new friends via books on LT.
Thank you for all of your hosting, and for keeping me inspired to keep reading, keep posting, and keep making new friends via books on LT.
68DeltaQueen50
>67 threadnsong: Hi threadnsong and welcome to my 2022 thread. It's hard to believe that we are getting so close to a new year and a new challenge.
69lowelibrary
Good luck with your 2022 reading.
70DeltaQueen50
>69 lowelibrary: Thank you, I am looking forward to getting started. :)
71Crazymamie
Judy, I absolutely love your theme for 2022. SO fun. Looking forward to once again following your reading journey.
72mysterymax
Nice theme, great planning, perfect friends!
73DeltaQueen50
>71 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie, I saved you a comfy seat over there in the corner (right next to Katie)!
>72 mysterymax: Thanks, MM!
>72 mysterymax: Thanks, MM!
74Crazymamie
>73 DeltaQueen50: Excellent! Thank you, Judy!
75justchris
I enjoyed your descriptions of the components of your theme. How lovely! I'm a fan of many of your choices. I hope you achieve your 2022 reading goals.
78DeltaQueen50
Happy New Year to All!
79Familyhistorian
Happy New Year to you too, Judy. I hope you didn't get to much snow over there!
82DeltaQueen50
>79 Familyhistorian: Thanks Meg, I was just visiting your new 2022 thread and dropping my star. We got about 15 cms., and I have to admit with the sun shining like it is, it is very beautiful. But I will be ready to see it go in a few days and let us get back to our normal rainy but mild weather.
>80 Jackie_K: & >81 mstrust: Hooray for 2022, I just know it's going to be a better year!
>80 Jackie_K: & >81 mstrust: Hooray for 2022, I just know it's going to be a better year!
83DeltaQueen50
I had forgotten about this meme until I saw it over at Lori's thread, of course, I had to steal it for my own use:
Party Time Meme
What would you call the event? The Party At No. 5
How did the guests find their way? The Devil’s Highway
How did they know that they arrived? The Beacon at Alexandria
Any special activities? Watching the Ghosts
Did your guests stay over? The French for Always
Were there servants to help? The Women in Black
Was there turn down service? In the After
How were the guests greeted? Girl Waits With Gun
Was dinner held for late comers? Thirteen Hours
And dinner was? Tomato Rhapsody
Afterward? Parlor Games
Party Time Meme
What would you call the event? The Party At No. 5
How did the guests find their way? The Devil’s Highway
How did they know that they arrived? The Beacon at Alexandria
Any special activities? Watching the Ghosts
Did your guests stay over? The French for Always
Were there servants to help? The Women in Black
Was there turn down service? In the After
How were the guests greeted? Girl Waits With Gun
Was dinner held for late comers? Thirteen Hours
And dinner was? Tomato Rhapsody
Afterward? Parlor Games
84thornton37814
>83 DeltaQueen50: Loved your answers. The only reason I remembered that one is that I had it saved in my Evernote files with the other meme. I noticed someone had changed the "What are you eating?" to "Favorite food" this time, but I preserved the original so it would match my other answers.
85DeltaQueen50
>84 thornton37814: I get a kick out of matching my reads to the prompts. Of course it helps to read a lot of books so there's lots of choices. I did struggle with "Do Your Guests Stay Over" but managed to find something.
87DeltaQueen50
>86 ronincats: Thanks, Roni!
88DeltaQueen50
1. The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles - 5.0 ★
Category: Patience and Fortitude
January TIOLI #4: Book Appears on a "Best of 2021" List
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles is the story of two brothers who, after the release of one from reform school, decide to travel from Nebraska to California to start a new life. It’s June 1954, their mother is long gone, their father has died, the family farm has been foreclosed by the bank. There is nothing to keep them in Nebraska, and there is a chance that they could find their mother in San Francisco.
Eighteen year old Emmett Watson and his eight year old brother, Billy are ready to leave when Emmett discovers that two of his friends have sneaked away from the reformatory and are planning their own fateful journey. They want Emmett to drive them to New York where one of the two boys, Woolly knows where a large cache of money is, money that rightfully belongs to him. The other boy, Duchess, is not one to take no for an answer and he maneuvers the situation to ensure that the boys travel in the direction he so desires. Duchess has plans, not just for the money, but to “even the score” with people who he feels have done him wrong.
There is a lot to this inventive story as the author delights on taking us on many side trips as we travel across America. There are fascinating characters to meet, interesting places to visit and as we travel, we learn more about the four boys. My heart was lost to eight year old Billy as he is the moral centre of the story, but all of the boys had redeeming characteristics that enhanced the tale. I have seen mixed reviews of this book, but for me, I was totally immersed and absolutely carried away. At times the author could be a little long-winded, but the overall charm and emotion of the writing made The Lincoln Highway a memorable read and so, my first book of 2022 is a five star read.
Category: Patience and Fortitude
January TIOLI #4: Book Appears on a "Best of 2021" List
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles is the story of two brothers who, after the release of one from reform school, decide to travel from Nebraska to California to start a new life. It’s June 1954, their mother is long gone, their father has died, the family farm has been foreclosed by the bank. There is nothing to keep them in Nebraska, and there is a chance that they could find their mother in San Francisco.
Eighteen year old Emmett Watson and his eight year old brother, Billy are ready to leave when Emmett discovers that two of his friends have sneaked away from the reformatory and are planning their own fateful journey. They want Emmett to drive them to New York where one of the two boys, Woolly knows where a large cache of money is, money that rightfully belongs to him. The other boy, Duchess, is not one to take no for an answer and he maneuvers the situation to ensure that the boys travel in the direction he so desires. Duchess has plans, not just for the money, but to “even the score” with people who he feels have done him wrong.
There is a lot to this inventive story as the author delights on taking us on many side trips as we travel across America. There are fascinating characters to meet, interesting places to visit and as we travel, we learn more about the four boys. My heart was lost to eight year old Billy as he is the moral centre of the story, but all of the boys had redeeming characteristics that enhanced the tale. I have seen mixed reviews of this book, but for me, I was totally immersed and absolutely carried away. At times the author could be a little long-winded, but the overall charm and emotion of the writing made The Lincoln Highway a memorable read and so, my first book of 2022 is a five star read.
89Crazymamie
Whoa. You are off to an excellent start, Judy!
90lsh63
>88 DeltaQueen50: Happy New Year Judy! I enjoyed Lincoln Highway also.
92DeltaQueen50
>89 Crazymamie: I know!! How lucky am I to start the year off with a 5 star read.
>90 lsh63: This is my first book by Amor Towles and I know most people love his other books so I have some great reading in my future!
>91 hailelib: Happy New Year to you as well, Trisha!
>90 lsh63: This is my first book by Amor Towles and I know most people love his other books so I have some great reading in my future!
>91 hailelib: Happy New Year to you as well, Trisha!
93clue
>88 DeltaQueen50: I've been looking forward to this one! My bookclub has it scheduled for March but I may read it next month, I'm sure it will be memorable enough to read it ahead. I see you haven't read his other two, you're in for some good reading ahead.
94Tess_W
>88 DeltaQueen50: Currently reading that one with a friend, so didn't read your review! (Will come back to it). It is certainly different than A Gentleman in Moscow and I'm not sure if I'm liking it. It seems to be very John Steinbeckish to me.
95dudes22
>88 DeltaQueen50: - This was already on my radar so no BB, but the library list is so long I suppose I should put myself on it now.
96Chrischi_HH
Happy New Year, Judy! What a brilliant theme, being able to meet friends throughout the entire year. :) And a five-star read to begin with, well done!
97DeltaQueen50
>93 clue: I am looking forward to reading more by Towles. Enjoy your read of The Lincoln Highway!
>94 Tess_W: Tess, I have seen mixed reviews of this one and it appears that many are not happy that it is so very different from A Gentleman in Moscow. It's funny that you mention John Steinbeck - he is one of my favorite authors! I guess I am the perfect audience for this book.
>95 dudes22: Betty, I know all about those long library lists! I had been waiting since October for my turn at The Lincoln Highway.
>96 Chrischi_HH: Thank you, Christiane, and Happy New Year to you as well. I think this is the first time I have started the year with a 5 star read, I am hoping the good books continue!
>94 Tess_W: Tess, I have seen mixed reviews of this one and it appears that many are not happy that it is so very different from A Gentleman in Moscow. It's funny that you mention John Steinbeck - he is one of my favorite authors! I guess I am the perfect audience for this book.
>95 dudes22: Betty, I know all about those long library lists! I had been waiting since October for my turn at The Lincoln Highway.
>96 Chrischi_HH: Thank you, Christiane, and Happy New Year to you as well. I think this is the first time I have started the year with a 5 star read, I am hoping the good books continue!
98DeltaQueen50
2. Evil Things by Katja Ivar - 4.0 ★
Category: Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson
January MysteryKit: Series
January TIOLI #8: Set in one of the United Nation's 2021 Happiest Countries
I found Evil Things very interesting due to both it’s setting of Finnish Lapland and it’s timing which was the 1950s. It is the time of the Cold War and the western world is looking at the threat of Soviet Russia although when one the first female murder squad detectives is dispatched to the remote north to investigate a disappearance, it was simply considered a case of an elderly man wandering off into the forest. Policewoman Hella Mauzer is told to go and make a report on the missing man but return quickly, she defies her chauvinistic boss when she learns that this case is far more complex than she was told.
Hella is determined to solve the mystery and to prove that she is capable of handling an investigation. She is a prickly character, a loner who tends to act first and think later, she finds herself in Lapland after being accused of being “too emotional” to handle homicide. She stubbornly sticks to the evidence but as she goes through the formalities of the inquiry things suddenly start to escalate as a second body is discovered. Eventually Hella must make a choice between her own interests and justice.
I enjoyed Evil Things and as it appears to be the first in a series, I look forward to reading more about Hella, a flawed character that nevertheless is one I can admire.
Category: Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson
January MysteryKit: Series
January TIOLI #8: Set in one of the United Nation's 2021 Happiest Countries
I found Evil Things very interesting due to both it’s setting of Finnish Lapland and it’s timing which was the 1950s. It is the time of the Cold War and the western world is looking at the threat of Soviet Russia although when one the first female murder squad detectives is dispatched to the remote north to investigate a disappearance, it was simply considered a case of an elderly man wandering off into the forest. Policewoman Hella Mauzer is told to go and make a report on the missing man but return quickly, she defies her chauvinistic boss when she learns that this case is far more complex than she was told.
Hella is determined to solve the mystery and to prove that she is capable of handling an investigation. She is a prickly character, a loner who tends to act first and think later, she finds herself in Lapland after being accused of being “too emotional” to handle homicide. She stubbornly sticks to the evidence but as she goes through the formalities of the inquiry things suddenly start to escalate as a second body is discovered. Eventually Hella must make a choice between her own interests and justice.
I enjoyed Evil Things and as it appears to be the first in a series, I look forward to reading more about Hella, a flawed character that nevertheless is one I can admire.
100madhatter22
Fun categories! Happy 2022 and good luck with your reading goals.
>98 DeltaQueen50: Scandinavia+homicide detective+first in a series=added to The List.
>98 DeltaQueen50: Scandinavia+homicide detective+first in a series=added to The List.
101mysterymax
>98 DeltaQueen50: The year's first BB!
102DeltaQueen50
>99 BLBera: I had started both books before the New Year, Beth, but yes, I do admit that I gobbled both of these up quickly!
>100 madhatter22: Thanks, Shauna. I've already picked up the second Hella Mauzer book entitled Deep as Death.
>100 madhatter22: Thanks, Shauna. I've already picked up the second Hella Mauzer book entitled Deep as Death.
103Chrischi_HH
>98 DeltaQueen50: Not that I need another series, but yes, this is my first BB in 2022.
104Crazymamie
>98 DeltaQueen50: A direct hit, Judy! Adding that one to The List. Sounds right up my alley.
107charl08
I'm a late visitor but I love the categories, what a lovely idea for a theme.
>98 DeltaQueen50: I went to add this to my wishlist and found I'd read it already. My goldfish memory strikes again. A reminder to look out for the next book in the series though, so thanks for that!
>98 DeltaQueen50: I went to add this to my wishlist and found I'd read it already. My goldfish memory strikes again. A reminder to look out for the next book in the series though, so thanks for that!
108mathgirl40
I too am a bit late visiting your thread for the first time. I love your theme. Thoughts of friendship are exactly what we need for 2022!
109DeltaQueen50
>106 hailelib: Hi Trisha. Looks like I've got you hooked on another series! I hope you enjoy it.
>107 charl08: Hi Charlotte. I've seen how many books you read so I am not surprised that you can't always remember each and every one. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series and find out what happens to Hella next.
>108 mathgirl40: Hi Pauline. Friends are always important but in this day and age they are extra special. A little consideration and caring goes a long way as we navigate through this uncertain time.
>107 charl08: Hi Charlotte. I've seen how many books you read so I am not surprised that you can't always remember each and every one. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series and find out what happens to Hella next.
>108 mathgirl40: Hi Pauline. Friends are always important but in this day and age they are extra special. A little consideration and caring goes a long way as we navigate through this uncertain time.
110PaulCranswick
Happy New Year my dear Judy. xx
111MissWatson
Happy New Year, Judy!
112DeltaQueen50
>110 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul. I like your list!
>111 MissWatson: Thank you, Birgit, best wishes for the new year to you as well.
>111 MissWatson: Thank you, Birgit, best wishes for the new year to you as well.
113DeltaQueen50
3. The Wolves of Andover by Kathleen Kent - 3.8 ★
Category: Tina Fey and Amy Poehler
January TIOLI #6: A Book I Acquired in December
The Wolves of Andover is a historical novel set in Colonial Massachusetts years before the Salem witch trials. We follow the story of Martha Allan as she is sent to her cousin as little more than a servant. At the age of 23 she is already considered a spinster but she and the handy-man, Thomas Carrier fall in love but planning a future is difficult as there are secrets that keep them apart and dangers to avoid. Thomas had played a role in the execution of Charles I and was one of a group that was being hunted by Charles II, intent on revenge.
Colonial America was not an easy place to survive. Relations with the native Indians were strained, smallpox was rampant and wolves – both four-legged and two legged lurked in the woods. As we follow the courtship of Thomas and Martha, we also follow a group of unscrupulous men who have been sent by Charles II to locate Thomas and assassinate him.
The Wolves of Andover is an interesting account of colonial life. Both Martha and Thomas are based on real characters, although it is not certain that Thomas actually did play a role in the English king’s death. Martha and Thomas Carrier were ancestors of the author and Martha was eventually hung as a witch some twenty years after the events of this book. The author wrote The Heretic’s Daughter about the death of Martha so this book is actually a prequel. I enjoyed this story although it was difficult to keep all the characters and their political inclinations straight as the story continually jumped around.
Category: Tina Fey and Amy Poehler
January TIOLI #6: A Book I Acquired in December
The Wolves of Andover is a historical novel set in Colonial Massachusetts years before the Salem witch trials. We follow the story of Martha Allan as she is sent to her cousin as little more than a servant. At the age of 23 she is already considered a spinster but she and the handy-man, Thomas Carrier fall in love but planning a future is difficult as there are secrets that keep them apart and dangers to avoid. Thomas had played a role in the execution of Charles I and was one of a group that was being hunted by Charles II, intent on revenge.
Colonial America was not an easy place to survive. Relations with the native Indians were strained, smallpox was rampant and wolves – both four-legged and two legged lurked in the woods. As we follow the courtship of Thomas and Martha, we also follow a group of unscrupulous men who have been sent by Charles II to locate Thomas and assassinate him.
The Wolves of Andover is an interesting account of colonial life. Both Martha and Thomas are based on real characters, although it is not certain that Thomas actually did play a role in the English king’s death. Martha and Thomas Carrier were ancestors of the author and Martha was eventually hung as a witch some twenty years after the events of this book. The author wrote The Heretic’s Daughter about the death of Martha so this book is actually a prequel. I enjoyed this story although it was difficult to keep all the characters and their political inclinations straight as the story continually jumped around.
114markon
Evil things and The wolves of Andover both sound interesting. You're off to a great reading start!
115DeltaQueen50
>114 markon: Thanks, I really liked both of those books. It's time I turned my attention to some challenge books - Bingo or one of the Cats/Kits!
116BLBera
The Wolves of Andover sounds like a good one, Judy. I loved The Heretic's Daughter. I'll look for this one.
117DeltaQueen50
>116 BLBera: Beth, if you liked The Heretic's Daughter then you will definitely want to read this prequel. I am now wanting to read The Heretic's Daughter!
118threadnsong
>113 DeltaQueen50: That sounds fascinating, Judy. I went to Salem years ago and to realize the number of communities in and around the area where women (and some men) were hung/killed as witches was astounding.
119DeltaQueen50
>118 threadnsong: This was an interesting look at a real person who would be eventually hung as a witch as well as a fascinating look at Colonial America. Martha comes across as a rather stubborn and prickly person who may very well have made enemies, but now I would like to read The Heretic's Daughter to find out more details about how she came to this end.
120DeltaQueen50
4. The Road to Woodbury by Robert Kirkman & Jay Bonansinga - 3.3 ★
Category: Godzilla & King Kong
January SFFFKit: A Morally Grey Main Character
January TIOLI #16: A Book You Started Before the New Year
In The Road to Woodbury authors Robert Kirkman and Jay Bonansinga continue with the story of the origins of the crazed Governor, a man who has learned how to thrive in the post-apocalyptic world that now exists. While the book will only appeal to fans of the Walking Dead graphic novels and television series, the authors wisely know their audience and deliver plenty of hungry undead and chilling action.
Although the story begins with it’s focus on two new characters, Lily Caul and Josh Hamilton, once they stumble upon the walled town of Woodbury, they come under the protection of the Governor, who just recently overthrew those who were in charge and now has the power to shape Woodbury in his own ruthless manner.
I listened to an audio version of the story as read by Fred Berman who did a credible job with the material he was given. There isn’t much character development or delving into the whys and why-nots of various characters’ actions, this book is all about the horror of being caught between a multitude of zombies or living under the Governor’s thumb. I doubt if I would have enjoyed this story at all if I wasn’t already a fan of the Walking Dead multiverse.
Category: Godzilla & King Kong
January SFFFKit: A Morally Grey Main Character
January TIOLI #16: A Book You Started Before the New Year
In The Road to Woodbury authors Robert Kirkman and Jay Bonansinga continue with the story of the origins of the crazed Governor, a man who has learned how to thrive in the post-apocalyptic world that now exists. While the book will only appeal to fans of the Walking Dead graphic novels and television series, the authors wisely know their audience and deliver plenty of hungry undead and chilling action.
Although the story begins with it’s focus on two new characters, Lily Caul and Josh Hamilton, once they stumble upon the walled town of Woodbury, they come under the protection of the Governor, who just recently overthrew those who were in charge and now has the power to shape Woodbury in his own ruthless manner.
I listened to an audio version of the story as read by Fred Berman who did a credible job with the material he was given. There isn’t much character development or delving into the whys and why-nots of various characters’ actions, this book is all about the horror of being caught between a multitude of zombies or living under the Governor’s thumb. I doubt if I would have enjoyed this story at all if I wasn’t already a fan of the Walking Dead multiverse.
121Jackie_K
>118 threadnsong: Here in Scotland today on the news was a campaign to have all the people (mostly women) who were convicted of witchcraft in the 16th-18th centuries in Scotland legally pardoned. Well over half of those convicted were executed. Apparently the rate of conviction and death was around 5 times higher than the average in Europe at the time, we obviously had some very zealous witch hunters. It's a very sad part of our history.
122beebeereads
Well, I jumped in. My first LT thread is posted here
https://www.librarything.com/topic/338552
https://www.librarything.com/topic/338552
123DeltaQueen50
>122 beebeereads: I am on my way!
124DeltaQueen50
5. Collecting Cooper by Paul Cleave - 4.2 ★
Category: Starsky & Hutch
January MysteryKit: Series
Around the Year in 52 Books: The Next Book in a Series
January TIOLI #13: No Article in the Title
Part of the Christchurch Murder Series, Collecting Cooper by Paul Cleave is the second book in the series to feature Theodore Tate. Tate is an ex-cop who has just finished serving 4 months in prison from his actions in the last book. He did track down a serial killer previously so Carl Schroder of the Christchurch police, has come and asked him to assist in another case. While he is considering this proposal, he is approached by the father of a missing girl who feels, with some justification that Tate owes him his help in finding his daughter. Suddenly Tate finds himself working on two cases, and then a third case occurs which actually links all the other cases and Tate knows he is searching for yet another serial killer.
I have enjoyed all of these books, set in Christchurch, New Zealand, even though there does seem to be an abundance of serial killers working in the area. Collecting Cooper is over the top, messily violent and full of twists as the determined Theodore Tate works to solve the case and, while not for everyone, I really enjoy the humor and action that the author delivers.
Although Collecting Cooper is the second book featuring Theodore Tate, it is the fifth in the Christchurch Murder series, and I recommend that the books be read in order as many characters overlap from one book to another. I am looking forward to continuing on with this series and finding out what the vivid imagination of author Paul Cleave will come up with next.
Category: Starsky & Hutch
January MysteryKit: Series
Around the Year in 52 Books: The Next Book in a Series
January TIOLI #13: No Article in the Title
Part of the Christchurch Murder Series, Collecting Cooper by Paul Cleave is the second book in the series to feature Theodore Tate. Tate is an ex-cop who has just finished serving 4 months in prison from his actions in the last book. He did track down a serial killer previously so Carl Schroder of the Christchurch police, has come and asked him to assist in another case. While he is considering this proposal, he is approached by the father of a missing girl who feels, with some justification that Tate owes him his help in finding his daughter. Suddenly Tate finds himself working on two cases, and then a third case occurs which actually links all the other cases and Tate knows he is searching for yet another serial killer.
I have enjoyed all of these books, set in Christchurch, New Zealand, even though there does seem to be an abundance of serial killers working in the area. Collecting Cooper is over the top, messily violent and full of twists as the determined Theodore Tate works to solve the case and, while not for everyone, I really enjoy the humor and action that the author delivers.
Although Collecting Cooper is the second book featuring Theodore Tate, it is the fifth in the Christchurch Murder series, and I recommend that the books be read in order as many characters overlap from one book to another. I am looking forward to continuing on with this series and finding out what the vivid imagination of author Paul Cleave will come up with next.
125rabbitprincess
>120 DeltaQueen50: My BF read the first book in that TWD series, Rise of the Governor. I kept asking him how much the Governor was like David Morrissey (I like his Governor better than comics Governor).
126DeltaQueen50
>125 rabbitprincess: I loved David Morrissey as the Governor and I can't help but picture him in the role although he doesn't match the author's written appearance of the character. I thought it was a brilliant casting idea when they used Morrissey on the series as he took the role beyond the comics and made it believable.
127DeltaQueen50
6. Kill Creek by Scott Thomas - 2.0 ★
Category: Godzilla & King Kong
January ScaredyKit: Haunted Houses
January TIOLI #6: A Book I Acquired in December
I was looking forward to Kill Creek by Scott Thomas as I love a good haunted house story but unfortunately this book didn’t work for me. I believe this book may have been quite personal to the author as it deals with four authors, each one with issues that involve their writing. These four authors are invited to an interview not realizing two things: one, this is going to be a group interview and two, that they are going to be interviewed while spending a night in a legendary haunted house. While the premise of the book was intriguing, I wasn’t engaged by the delivery of the story.
I think a big part of the problem for me with this book was the pacing. I like my horror to be fast and furious and this story seemed to take a long time to get going. At over 400 pages it is a long book, and having to wade through 150 pages before anything other than internal character development happened seemed to bog the story down. While the book did deliver a couple of good chills once it got going, overall I didn’t find anything particularly inventive or new, and, in fact, much of the book was very repetitive.
Even though I found Kill Creek to be rather dull, I couldn’t bring myself to bin it. I stuck with it to the end but can’t say that I am glad that I did. I was hoping that the characters would provide some insight into the craft of horror writing but no, they were stereotypical, plastic characters. The one woman author was particular difficult to read about as most everything was aimed at her appearance in particular her breasts or her sexuality. The one thing that Kill Creek has left me with is the hope that I have gotten my “worst read of 2022” over with early in the year.
Category: Godzilla & King Kong
January ScaredyKit: Haunted Houses
January TIOLI #6: A Book I Acquired in December
I was looking forward to Kill Creek by Scott Thomas as I love a good haunted house story but unfortunately this book didn’t work for me. I believe this book may have been quite personal to the author as it deals with four authors, each one with issues that involve their writing. These four authors are invited to an interview not realizing two things: one, this is going to be a group interview and two, that they are going to be interviewed while spending a night in a legendary haunted house. While the premise of the book was intriguing, I wasn’t engaged by the delivery of the story.
I think a big part of the problem for me with this book was the pacing. I like my horror to be fast and furious and this story seemed to take a long time to get going. At over 400 pages it is a long book, and having to wade through 150 pages before anything other than internal character development happened seemed to bog the story down. While the book did deliver a couple of good chills once it got going, overall I didn’t find anything particularly inventive or new, and, in fact, much of the book was very repetitive.
Even though I found Kill Creek to be rather dull, I couldn’t bring myself to bin it. I stuck with it to the end but can’t say that I am glad that I did. I was hoping that the characters would provide some insight into the craft of horror writing but no, they were stereotypical, plastic characters. The one woman author was particular difficult to read about as most everything was aimed at her appearance in particular her breasts or her sexuality. The one thing that Kill Creek has left me with is the hope that I have gotten my “worst read of 2022” over with early in the year.
128DeltaQueen50
7. Blood Feud by Rosemary Sutcliff - 3.8 ★
Category: Trixie Belden & Honey Wheeler
Bingo: A YA/Children's Book
January TIOLI #11: A Children's Book Published by an English Author before 1980
Blood Feud by Rosemary Sutcliff is a children’s historical fiction novel that was originally published in 1976. This is a story of Jestyn, a young Englishman who is captured by Vikings and sold into slavery. His master, Thormod, becomes his friend, frees him and eventually becomes his blood brother. The two travel together and end up in Constantinople as members of the Emperor’s elite Varangian Guard. Thormod became embroiled in a blood feud to avenge his father’s death, and Jestyn, not truly realizing the consequences takes up the feud as well. It is the feud that directs the lives of both these young men.
Sutcliff excelled at writing good stories filled with accurate historical and cultural context. In Blood Feud she brings to life the conflicts and politics of the Byzantine empire. This is a tale of conflicting loyalties, adventure and of learning to be true to oneself.
Blood Feud is a fine example of Rosemary Sutcliff’s work and although slightly dated, this was still a story that was interesting and thought-provoking. I credit this author with my love of historical fiction and I am glad that her books are still available.
Category: Trixie Belden & Honey Wheeler
Bingo: A YA/Children's Book
January TIOLI #11: A Children's Book Published by an English Author before 1980
Blood Feud by Rosemary Sutcliff is a children’s historical fiction novel that was originally published in 1976. This is a story of Jestyn, a young Englishman who is captured by Vikings and sold into slavery. His master, Thormod, becomes his friend, frees him and eventually becomes his blood brother. The two travel together and end up in Constantinople as members of the Emperor’s elite Varangian Guard. Thormod became embroiled in a blood feud to avenge his father’s death, and Jestyn, not truly realizing the consequences takes up the feud as well. It is the feud that directs the lives of both these young men.
Sutcliff excelled at writing good stories filled with accurate historical and cultural context. In Blood Feud she brings to life the conflicts and politics of the Byzantine empire. This is a tale of conflicting loyalties, adventure and of learning to be true to oneself.
Blood Feud is a fine example of Rosemary Sutcliff’s work and although slightly dated, this was still a story that was interesting and thought-provoking. I credit this author with my love of historical fiction and I am glad that her books are still available.
130mstrust
>127 DeltaQueen50: Well, let's hope that is indeed the worst read of the year. Sorry that haunted house story didn't work.
131DeltaQueen50
>130 mstrust: It seems to be a book that gets very mixed reviews, many people loved it and then an equal amount did not.
132DeltaQueen50
8. Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys - 4.0 ★
Category: Lucy and Ethel
January 1,001 Challenge Read: Reader's Choice
January TIOLI #13: No Article in the Title
Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys was originally published in 1966 as a response to the novel, Jane Eyre. This small volume touches on many issues including race, class and feminism. Although only 152 pages long, it is packed with story, with the first part being dedicated to Antoinette’s early years as the daughter of an ex-slave owner. The middle part of the book is narrated by Antoinette’s husband, who married her for a payment of $30,000.00. Once he learns that madness runs in her family, he begins to detect signs of Antoinette’s insanity. He leaves the island and takes himself and Antoinette to England where she is totally isolated. The third part of the story is narrated once again by Antoinette. She has no sense of time or place. She resorts to violence when she feels threatened and she has a recurring dream of setting the house on fire as she feels that she can never be free until she ends both her life and the place in which she is imprisoned. The book ends with Antoinette holding a candle, leaving her prison and walking downstairs.
Beautifully written and terribly sad, the book appears to be Jean Rhys’ answer to the trope of the “madwoman in the attic” by allowing us to see Antoinette as a real person living a very tragic life. While Charlotte Bronte gives us one version of the “truth”, Jean Rhys gives us another. Evocative, passionate and dark, Wide Sargasso Sea is an interesting companion read to Jane Eyre.
Category: Lucy and Ethel
January 1,001 Challenge Read: Reader's Choice
January TIOLI #13: No Article in the Title
Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys was originally published in 1966 as a response to the novel, Jane Eyre. This small volume touches on many issues including race, class and feminism. Although only 152 pages long, it is packed with story, with the first part being dedicated to Antoinette’s early years as the daughter of an ex-slave owner. The middle part of the book is narrated by Antoinette’s husband, who married her for a payment of $30,000.00. Once he learns that madness runs in her family, he begins to detect signs of Antoinette’s insanity. He leaves the island and takes himself and Antoinette to England where she is totally isolated. The third part of the story is narrated once again by Antoinette. She has no sense of time or place. She resorts to violence when she feels threatened and she has a recurring dream of setting the house on fire as she feels that she can never be free until she ends both her life and the place in which she is imprisoned. The book ends with Antoinette holding a candle, leaving her prison and walking downstairs.
Beautifully written and terribly sad, the book appears to be Jean Rhys’ answer to the trope of the “madwoman in the attic” by allowing us to see Antoinette as a real person living a very tragic life. While Charlotte Bronte gives us one version of the “truth”, Jean Rhys gives us another. Evocative, passionate and dark, Wide Sargasso Sea is an interesting companion read to Jane Eyre.
133pamelad
>132 DeltaQueen50: Great minds. After a futile search for an ebook of Wide Sargasso Sea, yesterday I reserved it at the local library. I'm planning to read it for the Retelling Bingo Square. It's a re-read. I really like Jean Rhys's writing, even though she's so very depressing.
134Tess_W
>132 DeltaQueen50: I also like Jean Rhys. I've got this one on my TBR! Good review!
135Dianekeenoy
>132 DeltaQueen50: Wow, your review has made me want to go on a book hunt through my shelves to find this and finally read it
136Carmenere
aaaah, I'm a little late to your new thread but Happy New Year! I admire the time and thought you put into your challenges. Looks like you have a delightful year of reading ahead of you.
137Crazymamie
>132 DeltaQueen50: I need to reread this one. I read it several years ago and was slightly disappointed by it, but I think I would be more appreciative of it now, so I'd love to give it another go.
Happy Tuesday, Judy!
Happy Tuesday, Judy!
138Jackie_K
>132 DeltaQueen50: I read Wide Sargasso Sea a couple of years ago, I'm not sure *liked* is quite the right word, but I did think the writing was amazing and evocative. I'm very much not team Rochester!
139DeltaQueen50
>133 pamelad: I keep forgetting to check the Bingo prompts when I finish a book! I may just use Wide Sargasso Sea for that square as well.
>134 Tess_W: Although the book is very short, it was long enough to let me know that Jean Rhys is an author you can rely upon to deliver beautiful, descriptive writing.
>135 Dianekeenoy: I have to admit that Jane Eyre is not a favorite of mine and I thought this dark version about the wife actually improved upon the story.
>136 Carmenere: Welcome, Lynda. I am off to a very good start and I am looking forward to discovering lots of good reads throughout the year.
>137 Crazymamie: It's a very quick read, Mamie, I appreciated the darkness and having a backstory about "Antoinette". Perhaps because it was written and published in the 1960s, it has less of the Victorian vibe and seemed more sympathetic to the female characters.
>138 Jackie_K: I always thought that Jane was making the mistake of her life by marrying Mr. Rochester. This companion read only confirmed it, I am definitely not on Team Rochester either!
>134 Tess_W: Although the book is very short, it was long enough to let me know that Jean Rhys is an author you can rely upon to deliver beautiful, descriptive writing.
>135 Dianekeenoy: I have to admit that Jane Eyre is not a favorite of mine and I thought this dark version about the wife actually improved upon the story.
>136 Carmenere: Welcome, Lynda. I am off to a very good start and I am looking forward to discovering lots of good reads throughout the year.
>137 Crazymamie: It's a very quick read, Mamie, I appreciated the darkness and having a backstory about "Antoinette". Perhaps because it was written and published in the 1960s, it has less of the Victorian vibe and seemed more sympathetic to the female characters.
>138 Jackie_K: I always thought that Jane was making the mistake of her life by marrying Mr. Rochester. This companion read only confirmed it, I am definitely not on Team Rochester either!
140MissBrangwen
>32 Jackie_K: This has been on my wishlist for ages and I really need to get to it one day!
>138 Jackie_K: >139 DeltaQueen50: Me neither! I remember screaming in disbelief when I read that she married him! I completely agree that it is a mistake. I still love the novel a lot because I love Jane as a character, but I don't like the ending.
>138 Jackie_K: >139 DeltaQueen50: Me neither! I remember screaming in disbelief when I read that she married him! I completely agree that it is a mistake. I still love the novel a lot because I love Jane as a character, but I don't like the ending.
141DeltaQueen50
>140 MissBrangwen: Hi Mirjam, it had been on my wishlist for a long time as well. I'm glad that I can finally check it off.
142pamelad
I didn't think Jane did too badly. Being blind, Rochester would be firmly under Jane's control and had better be grateful!
143DeltaQueen50
>142 pamelad: Well, there is that. She could do lots of things behind his back that he wouldn't know about. ;)
144DeltaQueen50
9. Home Sweet Homicide by Craig Rice - 4.0 ★
Category: Nick and Nora Charles
January RandomCat: Home
January TIOLI #7: Author Has Written 22+ Books
I don’t think I have ever had this much fun while reading a murder mystery but Home Sweet Homicide, a 1944 mystery novel written by American author Craig Rice kept a smile on my face throughout. The story follows three young siblings as they investigate a murder that occurred in their neighbourhood.
Dinah, April and Archie are the children of widow Marian Carstairs. Marian is an author of mystery novels and the amount of time she must spend over a typewriter, means the children have many hours of unsupervised time. When the nasty woman next door gets murdered, the children decide that they will solve the mystery but allow the world to think that their mother was the detective who put the clues together and therefore get the credit and, hopefully, a boost in her readership. These three, two overly clever sisters and an ingenious younger brother bumble their way through the book and with plenty of humor and heart solve the case and also manage some matchmaking with their distracted mother and the handsome police detective.
I think one’s enjoyment and delight in this book would depend on how much you can tolerate and enjoy these children who manage to be underfoot during all aspects of the police investigation and while the police may be competent in their investigation, they have no idea how to manage children. The author uses plenty of humor to show how these children are able to run rings around the police.
Craig Rice was the pseudonym of Georgiana Anne Randolph Craig and she was a prolific writer of mysteries, several of which were turned into movies during the 1940s and 50s. Home Sweet Homicide was my first book by this author, but I have already managed to stuff a couple more on my Kindle for future enjoyment.
Category: Nick and Nora Charles
January RandomCat: Home
January TIOLI #7: Author Has Written 22+ Books
I don’t think I have ever had this much fun while reading a murder mystery but Home Sweet Homicide, a 1944 mystery novel written by American author Craig Rice kept a smile on my face throughout. The story follows three young siblings as they investigate a murder that occurred in their neighbourhood.
Dinah, April and Archie are the children of widow Marian Carstairs. Marian is an author of mystery novels and the amount of time she must spend over a typewriter, means the children have many hours of unsupervised time. When the nasty woman next door gets murdered, the children decide that they will solve the mystery but allow the world to think that their mother was the detective who put the clues together and therefore get the credit and, hopefully, a boost in her readership. These three, two overly clever sisters and an ingenious younger brother bumble their way through the book and with plenty of humor and heart solve the case and also manage some matchmaking with their distracted mother and the handsome police detective.
I think one’s enjoyment and delight in this book would depend on how much you can tolerate and enjoy these children who manage to be underfoot during all aspects of the police investigation and while the police may be competent in their investigation, they have no idea how to manage children. The author uses plenty of humor to show how these children are able to run rings around the police.
Craig Rice was the pseudonym of Georgiana Anne Randolph Craig and she was a prolific writer of mysteries, several of which were turned into movies during the 1940s and 50s. Home Sweet Homicide was my first book by this author, but I have already managed to stuff a couple more on my Kindle for future enjoyment.
145LadyoftheLodge
>144 DeltaQueen50: Uh oh, this is a BB for me. Checking it out now on Kindle.
146charl08
>144 DeltaQueen50: Sounds like fun to me, adding it to the wishlist.
147christina_reads
>144 DeltaQueen50: Oh, I really enjoyed that one too! I'm eager to try more by Craig Rice; I've got Eight Faces at Three on my wishlist.
148hailelib
>144 DeltaQueen50: You've inspired me to take the one old paperback I have by Craig Rice off the shelf to read soon. Looking at My Kingdom for a Hearse I can't remember if I ever actually read it but the blurb sounds interesting enough to give it a try.
149mysterymax
Another BB! This is a dangerous thread..
150pamelad
>144 DeltaQueen50: I read Craig Rice's The Lucky Stiff, but her sense of humour and mine didn't have much in common. Perhaps it was the wrong book and I should give her another try.
151Familyhistorian
Looks like you are off to a good start with your 2022 reads, Judy. There are a few tempting ones there!
152clue
>144 DeltaQueen50: I have it on Kindle too. I think I've read something by Rice before but nothing shows in my LT Library. There's no reason it should surprise me because I checked the books I bought last year against Amazon's records and found 4 I had never added!
153DeltaQueen50
>145 LadyoftheLodge: There are a few available for Kindle but most of them are part of a series, Home Sweet Homicide is a stand-alone story.
>146 charl08: Reading about these meddling kids and all the other slightly odd characters was fun, I am also a big sucker for the late 1940s/early 1950s setting.
>147 christina_reads: I picked up Eight Faces At Three today, Christina. I believe it is the first in her series that features a lawyer. I also picked up The Corpse Steps Out and The Lucky Stiff.
>148 hailelib: Ohh.. My Kingdom for a Hearse is also part of her series about lawyer, John J. Malone.
>149 mysterymax: I took a book bullet for Craig Rice last year from Ninie - so we are spreading the joy around!
>150 pamelad: This is the first Craig Rice that I have read, and the humor was definitely slanted toward the juvenile. I guess I was in the right mood as it hit the funny bone - not sure how her other books will come across but I do note that she is often described as the "Dorothy Parker of detective fiction" so I am assuming lots of wisecracks and quips.
>151 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg, the reading is going well, but keeping up with all the threads is going much more slowly.
>152 clue: I often find books on my Kindle that I forgot to add to my Library but luckily Amazon tells you if you have already purchased a book - otherwise I would probably have a few double purchases as well.
>146 charl08: Reading about these meddling kids and all the other slightly odd characters was fun, I am also a big sucker for the late 1940s/early 1950s setting.
>147 christina_reads: I picked up Eight Faces At Three today, Christina. I believe it is the first in her series that features a lawyer. I also picked up The Corpse Steps Out and The Lucky Stiff.
>148 hailelib: Ohh.. My Kingdom for a Hearse is also part of her series about lawyer, John J. Malone.
>149 mysterymax: I took a book bullet for Craig Rice last year from Ninie - so we are spreading the joy around!
>150 pamelad: This is the first Craig Rice that I have read, and the humor was definitely slanted toward the juvenile. I guess I was in the right mood as it hit the funny bone - not sure how her other books will come across but I do note that she is often described as the "Dorothy Parker of detective fiction" so I am assuming lots of wisecracks and quips.
>151 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg, the reading is going well, but keeping up with all the threads is going much more slowly.
>152 clue: I often find books on my Kindle that I forgot to add to my Library but luckily Amazon tells you if you have already purchased a book - otherwise I would probably have a few double purchases as well.
154scaifea
>144 DeltaQueen50: Hoo boy, that one sounds fantastic! Adding it to my list. Thanks for the review!
155Helenliz
>133 pamelad:. I enjoyed the first wife's story much better than the second. Jane Eyre should have run a mile at the first opportunity, imo. That was one book that left me in severe doubt of a HEA.
>128 DeltaQueen50: I have a couple of her books o the shelves that I've not read in quite a long time. Must go back & revisit them.
>128 DeltaQueen50: I have a couple of her books o the shelves that I've not read in quite a long time. Must go back & revisit them.
156rabbitprincess
>144 DeltaQueen50: This one was so much fun! I also gave it 4 stars.
157DeltaQueen50
>154 scaifea: You are most welcome, Amber!
>155 Helenliz: I thought that I had read everything that Rosemary Sutcliff had ever written but I have found a few, mostly ones she wrote later in her life, that I haven't read.
>156 rabbitprincess: I'm glad to hear that you liked it as well, I was a little worried that after my high praise, there could be some who found the children rather irritating instead of charming!
>155 Helenliz: I thought that I had read everything that Rosemary Sutcliff had ever written but I have found a few, mostly ones she wrote later in her life, that I haven't read.
>156 rabbitprincess: I'm glad to hear that you liked it as well, I was a little worried that after my high praise, there could be some who found the children rather irritating instead of charming!
158DeltaQueen50
10. Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice - 5.0 ★
Category: Captain Kirk & Mr. Spock
Around the Year in 52 Books: Related to One of the Tarot Major Arcana Cards
January AuthorCat: Indigenous Authors
January TIOLI #5: A New-To-You Author
Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice is a powerful post-apocalyptic story set in a small northern Anishinaabe community. When an unnamed something causes the world to go dark, this small Indian community is cut-off from the rest of the world. The people must learn to live without electricity, phones and delivery of goods and food from the south.
The winter is long and harsh and many people are not prepared to survive but the community tries to keep everyone supplied with food and heat as best as they can. Main character, Evan Whitesky and his mate Nicole have two children, they are living on the reservation and are relearning their traditional ways of living. When a white man arrives seeking refuge, Evan and the community allow him to stay even though they have doubts as to his willingness to fit in. As the winter progresses power struggles arise and the hostility and slow burning tensions built to a stunning climax.
I was spell-bound by Moon of the Crusted Snow. The author’s writing drew me into the story and his descriptions of nature and weather set the stage for this interesting dystopian tale. A story of survival that was unsettling yet hopeful, Rice is a born storyteller and I look forward to reading more from this author.
Category: Captain Kirk & Mr. Spock
Around the Year in 52 Books: Related to One of the Tarot Major Arcana Cards
January AuthorCat: Indigenous Authors
January TIOLI #5: A New-To-You Author
Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice is a powerful post-apocalyptic story set in a small northern Anishinaabe community. When an unnamed something causes the world to go dark, this small Indian community is cut-off from the rest of the world. The people must learn to live without electricity, phones and delivery of goods and food from the south.
The winter is long and harsh and many people are not prepared to survive but the community tries to keep everyone supplied with food and heat as best as they can. Main character, Evan Whitesky and his mate Nicole have two children, they are living on the reservation and are relearning their traditional ways of living. When a white man arrives seeking refuge, Evan and the community allow him to stay even though they have doubts as to his willingness to fit in. As the winter progresses power struggles arise and the hostility and slow burning tensions built to a stunning climax.
I was spell-bound by Moon of the Crusted Snow. The author’s writing drew me into the story and his descriptions of nature and weather set the stage for this interesting dystopian tale. A story of survival that was unsettling yet hopeful, Rice is a born storyteller and I look forward to reading more from this author.
159RidgewayGirl
>158 DeltaQueen50: Wasn't this book just fantastic?
160Nickelini
>158 DeltaQueen50: I really enjoyed Moon of the Crusted Snow too. I read it around this time last year. You have me wondering if you've lived in the US or spent a lot of time there . . . "reservations" is a US term and "reserve" is the Canadian term. Your choice of word jumped out at me.
161DeltaQueen50
>159 RidgewayGirl: It was fantastic ... and I just saw on Betty's thread that he is currently writing a sequel!!!
>160 Nickelini: I've always lived in Canada, Joyce, but I suspect I have picked up many American terms from the fact that the majority of my reading comes from American authors, and the majority of my television viewing does as well. My spelling of certain words tends to jump back and forth between the American and British spelling - words like color/colour, favorite/favourite etc.
>160 Nickelini: I've always lived in Canada, Joyce, but I suspect I have picked up many American terms from the fact that the majority of my reading comes from American authors, and the majority of my television viewing does as well. My spelling of certain words tends to jump back and forth between the American and British spelling - words like color/colour, favorite/favourite etc.
162AnnieMod
>160 Nickelini: I did not know that - I’ve seen both words in print by never realized that it is a country thing. :)
163Nickelini
>161 DeltaQueen50: My spelling of certain words tends to jump back and forth between the American and British spelling - words like color/colour, favorite/favourite etc.
Oh, that's such a real thing that I think a lot of Canadians struggle with and don't know why. All the words I didn't know how to spell came down to the US-UK thing until I became a copyeditor and found the resources to explain it, and tell me which one to use. A lot of it is somewhat up in the air. As a professional, Canadian English steers toward* -ize spellings over -ise (US); but, -our over -or (UK).
*Also, using "toward" is US English and "towards" is UK. These are the things you learn from years of internet chat between English speaking copyeditors.
I'm old enough to remember a US movement to simplify everything . . . for example, "love" should be "luv". Not the worst thing ever. When I'm feeling lazy or using my phone, I use "tho" instead of "though".
That said, if you're a REAL Canadian, you'll always use "colour" and pronounce the last letter of the alphabet as "Zed" and not "Zeeeeee". That's a line in the sand I won't jump over.
Oh, that's such a real thing that I think a lot of Canadians struggle with and don't know why. All the words I didn't know how to spell came down to the US-UK thing until I became a copyeditor and found the resources to explain it, and tell me which one to use. A lot of it is somewhat up in the air. As a professional, Canadian English steers toward* -ize spellings over -ise (US); but, -our over -or (UK).
*Also, using "toward" is US English and "towards" is UK. These are the things you learn from years of internet chat between English speaking copyeditors.
I'm old enough to remember a US movement to simplify everything . . . for example, "love" should be "luv". Not the worst thing ever. When I'm feeling lazy or using my phone, I use "tho" instead of "though".
That said, if you're a REAL Canadian, you'll always use "colour" and pronounce the last letter of the alphabet as "Zed" and not "Zeeeeee". That's a line in the sand I won't jump over.
164Nickelini
>162 AnnieMod: LOL - yes, and both countries were so wrong! Like Judy, I hear the two terms and it's confusing. When I get stuck I remember the song by Paul Revere and the Raiders "Cherokee People" and the line "they took the whole Indian nation and locked us on this reservation." I know any band named after Paul Revere is going to be the US one.
165pamelad
>164 Nickelini: Are you sticking with normality? Normalcy makes me sad.
166Tess_W
>164 Nickelini:
>165 pamelad:
LOL to normalcy. The term was first used in the U.S. by President Warren G. Harding when campaigning for the presidency in 1920. He used it in his campaign slogan, "Return to Normalcy", which meant get back to business following WWI. Why he created this word nobody knows. He was a newspaper editor so probably had a good vocabulary. "Normalcy" is usually only used in historical and/or political content. It's just "normal", otherwise.
As far as -ize endings--Americans use it most of the time--such as standardize, customize, etc. It has been that way on student spelling lists since I was in school--the 1960's.
I do remember when I visited England, we took a day trip from London to Avon Upon the Lake and the tour bus guide asked who spoke English. I raised my hand. He asked where I was from and I said the U.S., and his comment was, "No, you don't speak English, you speak American!"
Good flashback: Paul Revere and the Raiders! Haven't heard or thought of them for 40+ years!
Edit: I was just talking to my friend about this post--ize vs ise. And she remembered that somewhere in the 1970's, the US moved from -ize to ise--only some words, such as surprise. She said when she started teaching, in the 1950's, that some spellers had surprize. I can not remember that, though.
>165 pamelad:
LOL to normalcy. The term was first used in the U.S. by President Warren G. Harding when campaigning for the presidency in 1920. He used it in his campaign slogan, "Return to Normalcy", which meant get back to business following WWI. Why he created this word nobody knows. He was a newspaper editor so probably had a good vocabulary. "Normalcy" is usually only used in historical and/or political content. It's just "normal", otherwise.
As far as -ize endings--Americans use it most of the time--such as standardize, customize, etc. It has been that way on student spelling lists since I was in school--the 1960's.
I do remember when I visited England, we took a day trip from London to Avon Upon the Lake and the tour bus guide asked who spoke English. I raised my hand. He asked where I was from and I said the U.S., and his comment was, "No, you don't speak English, you speak American!"
Good flashback: Paul Revere and the Raiders! Haven't heard or thought of them for 40+ years!
Edit: I was just talking to my friend about this post--ize vs ise. And she remembered that somewhere in the 1970's, the US moved from -ize to ise--only some words, such as surprise. She said when she started teaching, in the 1950's, that some spellers had surprize. I can not remember that, though.
167clue
>166 Tess_W: There have been times I've explained away something I said by saying I speak Southern. One of the unfortunate things TV has done, in my opinion, is homogenize American English! Sometimes I do feel like I speak two languages. Well, three if I include Mexican Spanish.
168Tess_W
>167 clue: I'm with you! There is a "dialect", specific to Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio, which has us say "warsh" and "George Warshington!" That is called by a proper name, but I can't remember it. I have to try very hard not to put the "r" in there. Where I grew up, a mango was a green pepper and a diaper was a dightie!
169BLBera
Hi Judy - I am pulling Moon of the Crusted Snow off my shelf to read soon! I loved Wide Sargasso Sea, but I read it so long ago that I would like to revisit it.
170Nickelini
>165 pamelad: "Normalcy" is not normal. I'll stick with normality
171Nickelini
>166 Tess_W: As far as -ize endings--Americans use it most of the time--such as standardize, customize, etc. Indeed . . . that's one US-version that I prefer, though I usually go with the UK spelling in general. It all results in a lot of Canadians doubting their spelling abilities ;-)
172DeltaQueen50
>169 BLBera: Hi Beth, I hope you enjoy Moon of the Crusted Snow.
>162 AnnieMod: to >171 Nickelini: It amazing to me how we all speak and spell various words differently, I can only imagine what a newcomer to English must think! I love hearing various dialects and think it's a shame that we are losing so many of them. I was told when young and living in Eastern Canada that I had a western twang in my speaking voice and I was quite pleased that I showed my Western upbringing!
>162 AnnieMod: to >171 Nickelini: It amazing to me how we all speak and spell various words differently, I can only imagine what a newcomer to English must think! I love hearing various dialects and think it's a shame that we are losing so many of them. I was told when young and living in Eastern Canada that I had a western twang in my speaking voice and I was quite pleased that I showed my Western upbringing!
173LadyoftheLodge
>168 Tess_W: You are making me laugh! As a native of Indiana (a Hoosier from birth), I don't use all those dialect terms but have heard them. Ditto on "mango" although some use the term "mangle" or "mangle peppers," also the diaper term, can be spelled "dydee". Of course we get onto the terms for a carbonated beverage: where I come from, it's called "pop." But my husband (from Kentucky) calls the same thing "soft drink" or "soda."
174LadyoftheLodge
>172 DeltaQueen50: I have been asked if I am from Chicago or New York, because of how I pronounce some words. Also I have been told I have a midwestern twang, but I do not know what that is.
175Tess_W
>174 LadyoftheLodge: Born in Illinois, raised in Ohio. I've also been told I have a midwestern twang. Also have no idea what that is--I don't think I've ever heard it before!):
176Helenliz
I spent a year in Texas for my degree (some 30 years ago now, I note). The number of times I had the comment "Gee, don't you speak English funny". No, I speak it correctly. That didn't go down very well.
177AnnieMod
>172 DeltaQueen50: A newcomer to English decides that this language is nuts - especially after being taught British English and gets their first American teacher in a classroom. :) When the said teacher is from Texas, one starts wondering if what they were taught was actually the same language :) Not that this particular newcomer did not find the language nuts ever before that - between silent letter and reading the same letter in 11 different ways, the language is already crazy. Of course a few years and a ton of dialects and varietals and what’s not lessons later, things start making a lot more sense but yeah - the Global language can be a pain :)
178hailelib
>172 DeltaQueen50: When I was in graduate school back in 1970 most of the other students in the department were from New York and its neighbors while I was from Tennessee. I was told that when on the phone talking to my mother they couldn't understand a word I said. Then we got a new student from India and after a while he wanted to know if I had an accent. We all about died laughing.
179DeltaQueen50
>174 LadyoftheLodge: I say pop or soft drink but not sure if that's the Western or Eastern Canadian way. My Dad was in the Navy so my growing up years were divided between the West Coast, the East Coast and Ottawa, the capital city so I suspect my words are a mixture.
>175 Tess_W: I think those of us who have a twang - don't hear it although others apparently do.
>176 Helenliz: I suspect you really do hear a twang when you're in Texas! That must have been a very interesting location for you.
>177 AnnieMod: I have heard that English (any variation) is the hardest language to learn and I can well believe it. I have no skills when it comes to learning other languages but I really admire people who are able to speak more than one language. We are supposed to be a bi-lingual country of English and French and I really saw that when I lived in Eastern Canada but here in the West, no. We have more Asian languages around us.
>178 hailelib: I guess it's all a matter of who's listening! I have a sister-in-law who is originally from South Carolina and I could listen to her all day. But when she is talking to her relatives that still live there, she falls back into the full dialect, then I don't understand a word of what they are saying!
>175 Tess_W: I think those of us who have a twang - don't hear it although others apparently do.
>176 Helenliz: I suspect you really do hear a twang when you're in Texas! That must have been a very interesting location for you.
>177 AnnieMod: I have heard that English (any variation) is the hardest language to learn and I can well believe it. I have no skills when it comes to learning other languages but I really admire people who are able to speak more than one language. We are supposed to be a bi-lingual country of English and French and I really saw that when I lived in Eastern Canada but here in the West, no. We have more Asian languages around us.
>178 hailelib: I guess it's all a matter of who's listening! I have a sister-in-law who is originally from South Carolina and I could listen to her all day. But when she is talking to her relatives that still live there, she falls back into the full dialect, then I don't understand a word of what they are saying!
180DeltaQueen50
We were asked to pick up our granddaughter from the stables today and as the stables are out by Boundary Bay and the dike that forms a walking trail, we went for a short walk while waiting for her to finish. It wasn't raining but it was a very damp day, but it felt so good to get out of the apartment and get some fresh air!
This is what it would have looked like on a sunny day:
This is a view looking to the south. You can see a very hazy Mount Baker which is in Washington State.
This is what it would have looked like on a sunny day:
This is a view looking to the south. You can see a very hazy Mount Baker which is in Washington State.
182DeltaQueen50
>181 clue: It is lovely and not more than 15 minutes away from our home. Of course, it didn't look that inviting today as we had low grey clouds with a cool, damp feeling to the weather.
183cbl_tn
Hi Judy! You have some great reading going on! I'm so glad to see that you have a Trixie Belden & Honey Wheeler category. I loved the Trixie Belden books as a tween. And you got me with Home Sweet Homicide.
184LadyoftheLodge
>183 cbl_tn: I also loved Trixie Belden and still have some of the books about her. I don't have any Honey Wheeler books though.
185DeltaQueen50
>183 cbl_tn: Hi Carrie, Trixie Belden was certainly a favorite of mine as well.
>184 LadyoftheLodge: Honey Wheeler didn't have any books on her own, she was strictly Trixie's sidekick and partner. They were an unbeatable combination!
>184 LadyoftheLodge: Honey Wheeler didn't have any books on her own, she was strictly Trixie's sidekick and partner. They were an unbeatable combination!
186DeltaQueen50
11. Last Rituals by Yrsa Sigurdardottir - 3.5 ★
Category: Starsky and Hutch
January MysteryKit: Series
Around the Year in 52 Books: A Main Character whose name starts with an A, T or Y
January TIOLI #8: Set in One of the United Nations' 2021 Happiest Countries
Last Rituals by Yrsa Sigurdardottir is the first book in her mystery series that features an Icelandic lawyer, Thora Gudmundsdottir. In this first book, Thora is hired to help investigate the murder and mutilation of Harald Guntlief, a German student who was obsessed by witchcraft.
A local drug dealer has been arrested and charged, but the murdered boy’s family is unconvinced that they have the right culprit. They have sent a fellow German, ex-policeman Matthew Reich to conduct his own investigation with Thora along to assist. The book moves slowly as Thora and Matthew painstakingly follow through by interviewing the people around Matthew and work through various suspicions until the pieces fall into place and reveal what actually happened.
While I enjoyed the main character and learning of her life and family complications, this mystery, unique as it was, didn’t particularly pull me in. The beginning and the end of the book was good but the middle dragged and seemed unnecessarily dull. As this is the first in the series, I do intend to read on and hopefully the next book will be more to my taste.
Category: Starsky and Hutch
January MysteryKit: Series
Around the Year in 52 Books: A Main Character whose name starts with an A, T or Y
January TIOLI #8: Set in One of the United Nations' 2021 Happiest Countries
Last Rituals by Yrsa Sigurdardottir is the first book in her mystery series that features an Icelandic lawyer, Thora Gudmundsdottir. In this first book, Thora is hired to help investigate the murder and mutilation of Harald Guntlief, a German student who was obsessed by witchcraft.
A local drug dealer has been arrested and charged, but the murdered boy’s family is unconvinced that they have the right culprit. They have sent a fellow German, ex-policeman Matthew Reich to conduct his own investigation with Thora along to assist. The book moves slowly as Thora and Matthew painstakingly follow through by interviewing the people around Matthew and work through various suspicions until the pieces fall into place and reveal what actually happened.
While I enjoyed the main character and learning of her life and family complications, this mystery, unique as it was, didn’t particularly pull me in. The beginning and the end of the book was good but the middle dragged and seemed unnecessarily dull. As this is the first in the series, I do intend to read on and hopefully the next book will be more to my taste.
187threadnsong
What fascinating discussions about books and dialects on this thread! And Rosemary Sutcliff - that author's name sounds sooo familiar - I'll check out her author's page to see if I read any of her books in my teen/tween years.
To jump on the dialect bandwagon, I grew up in the Atlanta area and learned to say "coke" as the main word for all bubbly fizzy soft drinks. In Indiana during college, I learned that different regions of the US identify soft drinks as "pop" or "soda." Also, the top part of a house is called a "ruuf."
>132 DeltaQueen50: I read Wide Sargasso Sea years ago and was so glad to see a feminist response to the "madwoman in the attic" trope. Loved this book; I read Jane Eyre only recently, after reading The Eyre Affair. Amazing how one classic brings so much inspiration to authors.
To jump on the dialect bandwagon, I grew up in the Atlanta area and learned to say "coke" as the main word for all bubbly fizzy soft drinks. In Indiana during college, I learned that different regions of the US identify soft drinks as "pop" or "soda." Also, the top part of a house is called a "ruuf."
>132 DeltaQueen50: I read Wide Sargasso Sea years ago and was so glad to see a feminist response to the "madwoman in the attic" trope. Loved this book; I read Jane Eyre only recently, after reading The Eyre Affair. Amazing how one classic brings so much inspiration to authors.
188DeltaQueen50
>187 threadnsong: Hi threadnsong! I remember reading somewhere that if a recipe has coke-a-cola as an ingredient, chances are that it originated in Georgia as Atlanta is the headquarters of the Coke Company. I love hearing the various ways we all have of pronouncing words or how the words we actually use can help identify where we come from. It is fun to see how many books are inspired by the classics - I wonder which book has the most spin-offs - somehow I suspect it could Pride and Prejudice.
189threadnsong
>188 DeltaQueen50: Absolutely!
And wouldn't that be a good Challenge - Spin-Off books! I suspect you're right - there's P&P and Zombies, for one.
And wouldn't that be a good Challenge - Spin-Off books! I suspect you're right - there's P&P and Zombies, for one.
190LadyoftheLodge
>189 threadnsong: We did some spin-offs/knock-offs/pastiche reads as part of RandomCAT (when it was still a CAT) and I think in MysteryKIT as well. Check out the wikis if interested.
191LadyoftheLodge
>185 DeltaQueen50: Too bad! I bet Honey would have liked her own series.
192DeltaQueen50
>189 threadnsong: & >190 LadyoftheLodge: I remember that RandomCat, it was interesting to see what books people chose to read.
>191 LadyoftheLodge: Well, I know I would have been first in line for my copy!
>191 LadyoftheLodge: Well, I know I would have been first in line for my copy!
193DeltaQueen50
12. Siddhartha by Herman Hesse - 3.4 ★
Category: Lucy & Ethel
January Reading Through Time: Eastern Philosophies/Religion
January TIOLI #5: A New-To-You Author
Although Siddhartha by Herman Hesse was originally published in 1922, I remember that it was very influential during the 1960s and was touted as a book to help lead one to a higher level of enlightenment and towards learning the meaning of life. I was able to avoid the book back then but picked it up recently as it fit both the challenge of reading 1,001 Books and the topic of Eastern Philosophies for another challenge. I found the book was easily read, but this type of internal belly-button gazing really isn’t my cup of tea.
The book details the life of Siddhartha, a son of a prominent Brahmin in ancient India. Although born to a life of privilege, he turns his back on home and family and chooses instead to join a group of Samanas, who live as hermits, giving up all possessions in the hope of finding himself and reaching a higher level of self awareness. After a number of years he felt he had learned all that he could from the hermits and chose to continue his journey of self-discovery in a different direction, including the embracing of an excess of material goods. He experiments with different teachers and methods but finds no satisfaction. Eventually he turns to a simple life and this helps him as he strives to approach Nirvana.
This allegorical tale was written by a westerner for a western audience and as such barely skims the surface of Indian philosophy. I think this could be a good place to start one’s journey to understanding karma but most likely lacks the depth that one would need in order to fully grasp the wisdom and ascetics of eastern spirituality. Personally I never felt that this book resonated with me or offered me any type of revelation so it was a book of interest but not one of learning.
Category: Lucy & Ethel
January Reading Through Time: Eastern Philosophies/Religion
January TIOLI #5: A New-To-You Author
Although Siddhartha by Herman Hesse was originally published in 1922, I remember that it was very influential during the 1960s and was touted as a book to help lead one to a higher level of enlightenment and towards learning the meaning of life. I was able to avoid the book back then but picked it up recently as it fit both the challenge of reading 1,001 Books and the topic of Eastern Philosophies for another challenge. I found the book was easily read, but this type of internal belly-button gazing really isn’t my cup of tea.
The book details the life of Siddhartha, a son of a prominent Brahmin in ancient India. Although born to a life of privilege, he turns his back on home and family and chooses instead to join a group of Samanas, who live as hermits, giving up all possessions in the hope of finding himself and reaching a higher level of self awareness. After a number of years he felt he had learned all that he could from the hermits and chose to continue his journey of self-discovery in a different direction, including the embracing of an excess of material goods. He experiments with different teachers and methods but finds no satisfaction. Eventually he turns to a simple life and this helps him as he strives to approach Nirvana.
This allegorical tale was written by a westerner for a western audience and as such barely skims the surface of Indian philosophy. I think this could be a good place to start one’s journey to understanding karma but most likely lacks the depth that one would need in order to fully grasp the wisdom and ascetics of eastern spirituality. Personally I never felt that this book resonated with me or offered me any type of revelation so it was a book of interest but not one of learning.
194pamelad
>188 DeltaQueen50: In my year of reading historical romances I found plenty of books based on Cinderella, and Beauty and the Beast.
195DeltaQueen50
>194 pamelad: Oh, yes, I didn't think about fairytales - there are thousands of retellings of the major fairytales like Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast!
196clue
>188 DeltaQueen50: Another one is Sherlock Holmes though maybe not as many as P&P.
197DeltaQueen50
>196 clue: I guess this shows that whether it's romance, fantasy or mystery - we are all drawn to the familiar!
198LadyoftheLodge
>192 DeltaQueen50: I looked at the covers of the few Trixie Belden books I own, and it was interesting to see how her appearance changed depending on when the book was published! The early book with dust jacket (1951) features Trixie and Honey looking quite like kids, with short curly hair or ponytail. The 1980 paperback shows Trixie with a sleek bob hairstyle, while the 1984 paperback features a curly layered look that makes her look like a teenager. The glossy hardback (1991) also shows Trixie as a teen with a chin length, wispy flyaway hairdo.
199DeltaQueen50
>198 LadyoftheLodge: I think Nancy Drew's appearance was updated as the years went by as well. For me Trixie will always be the one with the short curly hair. But I do remember that by the time my daughter was reading about her she looked very different.
200Familyhistorian
Interesting discussion about dialects and spelling up above, Judy. Here in Canada we have lots of different accents and twangs. Sometimes it's easy to pinpoint where someone is from based on their accent but some are not so easy - probably the ones who have picked up different layers in their travels.
201LadyoftheLodge
>200 Familyhistorian: Same here in the USA--there are a lot of different accents and dialects. Sometimes a person can pinpoint a region the speaker might be from, even if not a specific state.
My husband is from Kentucky and has a distinct sort of southern accent. I can understand him perfectly, but I guess my ear is tuned to his speech. Sometimes others have difficulty understanding him though, and I have to "translate" for them. He also has some unique phraseology! People in southern Indiana also have a sort of southern lilt to their speech.
My husband is from Kentucky and has a distinct sort of southern accent. I can understand him perfectly, but I guess my ear is tuned to his speech. Sometimes others have difficulty understanding him though, and I have to "translate" for them. He also has some unique phraseology! People in southern Indiana also have a sort of southern lilt to their speech.
202DeltaQueen50
>200 Familyhistorian: & >201 LadyoftheLodge: Here in Canada, there are some very distinctive dialects. We might not fully understand them but we all know when someone is from Newfoundland! I spent some years in Ottawa, and there was a very distinctive lilt to anyone who grew up in the Ottawa Valley. The word car sounded like "ker" so that was a definite giveaway!
203DeltaQueen50
13. Wonderful Tonight by Pattie Boyd & Penny Junior - 3.8 ★
Category: Tina Fey & Amy Poehler
Bingo: Read A Cat
January CatWoman: Memoirs
January TIOLI #3: A Book with Photographs
If there was one woman who encapsulated the 1960s Rock N’Roll culture, it was Pattie Boyd. She had the look we all strived for, she was a top model with George Harrison of the Beatles as her first husband and Eric Clapton as her second. The songs “Something”, “Layla” and “Wonderful Tonight” were written about and for her. Her memoir, entitled Wonderful Tonight fills in the details of her extraordinary life which as wonderful as it was, did have some sharp ups and downs.
The book details her unconventional childhood, her early days of modelling in London and how she and George met and fell in love. It also tells us about the end of this marriage and how Eric Clapton was there waiting in the wings for her. Unfortunately, Eric suffered from an addictive personality and drugs and alcohol played a large part in destroying their marriage. After her marriages, Pattie spent time regaining her self and has become a well known photographer. She remained good friends with both George and Eric.
While reading Wonderful Tonight I felt that Pattie was being very careful not to insult or point fingers at anyone which resulted in a fairly mild and amiable story, but she is pretty honest when turning the pen upon herself which resulted in a story that was well worth reading. Assisted by author Penny Junior, this book is a fascinating look at the life of an influential “dollybird” of the 1960s.
Category: Tina Fey & Amy Poehler
Bingo: Read A Cat
January CatWoman: Memoirs
January TIOLI #3: A Book with Photographs
If there was one woman who encapsulated the 1960s Rock N’Roll culture, it was Pattie Boyd. She had the look we all strived for, she was a top model with George Harrison of the Beatles as her first husband and Eric Clapton as her second. The songs “Something”, “Layla” and “Wonderful Tonight” were written about and for her. Her memoir, entitled Wonderful Tonight fills in the details of her extraordinary life which as wonderful as it was, did have some sharp ups and downs.
The book details her unconventional childhood, her early days of modelling in London and how she and George met and fell in love. It also tells us about the end of this marriage and how Eric Clapton was there waiting in the wings for her. Unfortunately, Eric suffered from an addictive personality and drugs and alcohol played a large part in destroying their marriage. After her marriages, Pattie spent time regaining her self and has become a well known photographer. She remained good friends with both George and Eric.
While reading Wonderful Tonight I felt that Pattie was being very careful not to insult or point fingers at anyone which resulted in a fairly mild and amiable story, but she is pretty honest when turning the pen upon herself which resulted in a story that was well worth reading. Assisted by author Penny Junior, this book is a fascinating look at the life of an influential “dollybird” of the 1960s.
204DeltaQueen50
14. Black Sheep by Georgette Heyer - 4.0 ★
Category: Calvin & Hobbs
January AlphaKit: H
January TIOLI #10: Cover Shows a Women in Period Costume - Facing Away
I found Black Sheep by Georgette Heyer to be another delightful addition to my long lists of favorites by this author. The main characters Abigail Wendover and Miles Caverleigh are a little older than many of her romantic couples and I enjoyed this touch of maturity. Although Abigail is only twenty-eight, she and her elder sister, Selina, are considered to be “old maid” aunts and have been raising their niece, Fanny, since she was two years old.
Unfortunately when Abigail returns from a visit to relatives, she is met with the news that Fanny is being courted by a young man called Stacy Caverleigh, who many believe to be a fortune hunter and not quite the gentleman that he pretends to be. She tries to meet with Stacy and steer him away from her underage niece, but in a humorous case of mistaken identity, the man she accosts is actually his uncle, Miles Caverleigh, recently returned from India.
Black Sheep, like many of her novels has a fun plot and plenty of humor. Heyer’s witty style of dialogue is showcased and made the characters come alive on the pages. Miles Caverleigh quickly became one of my favorite male leads and the closing pages of the book, which surprised me, was a perfect ending.
Category: Calvin & Hobbs
January AlphaKit: H
January TIOLI #10: Cover Shows a Women in Period Costume - Facing Away
I found Black Sheep by Georgette Heyer to be another delightful addition to my long lists of favorites by this author. The main characters Abigail Wendover and Miles Caverleigh are a little older than many of her romantic couples and I enjoyed this touch of maturity. Although Abigail is only twenty-eight, she and her elder sister, Selina, are considered to be “old maid” aunts and have been raising their niece, Fanny, since she was two years old.
Unfortunately when Abigail returns from a visit to relatives, she is met with the news that Fanny is being courted by a young man called Stacy Caverleigh, who many believe to be a fortune hunter and not quite the gentleman that he pretends to be. She tries to meet with Stacy and steer him away from her underage niece, but in a humorous case of mistaken identity, the man she accosts is actually his uncle, Miles Caverleigh, recently returned from India.
Black Sheep, like many of her novels has a fun plot and plenty of humor. Heyer’s witty style of dialogue is showcased and made the characters come alive on the pages. Miles Caverleigh quickly became one of my favorite male leads and the closing pages of the book, which surprised me, was a perfect ending.
205VivienneR
I have Wide Sargasso Sea on the tbr shelf for sometime soon as part of my QEII category. It was on my bookshelves for years and was somehow lost so I had to buy another copy, which I suspect will make the original one show up.
Enjoyed the discussion about speech, spelling and accents. Coming from Northern Ireland I often get comments, usually about a word or phrase that is not used in Canada.
Enjoyed the discussion about speech, spelling and accents. Coming from Northern Ireland I often get comments, usually about a word or phrase that is not used in Canada.
206hailelib
>204 DeltaQueen50: Black Sheep is a favorite of mine and maybe it is about time to reread it.
207DeltaQueen50
>205 VivienneR: Wide Sargasso Sea is such a small book that I can see that it could easily slide behind other books or simply disappear in the stacks. Of course a good way for it reappear is to buy another copy - that always works for me!
>206 hailelib: I was surprised at how much I enjoyed Black Sheep. I think I had the idea that I wouldn't enjoy it as much as some of her other books because it was written so late in her life. Obviously she still had the "touch" as I found this book was as well written, charming and witty as I would want.
>206 hailelib: I was surprised at how much I enjoyed Black Sheep. I think I had the idea that I wouldn't enjoy it as much as some of her other books because it was written so late in her life. Obviously she still had the "touch" as I found this book was as well written, charming and witty as I would want.
208mstrust
I've got Black Sheep lined up for a CAT next month. Good to hear it's worthy!
209SandyAMcPherson
>144 DeltaQueen50: Argh ~ onto the TBR mountain stacks it goes!
Edited to add Moon of the Crusted Snow (>158 DeltaQueen50:) as well. I need to be careful about visiting this BB-laden thread!
>204 DeltaQueen50:, I just recently re-read this Heyer and actually liked it better this time compared to my earlier re-readings of the title. Miles is a character that really grew on me. My review is way down the list, Jun 19, 2017 (close to when I first joined LT and started posting reviews).
Edited to add Moon of the Crusted Snow (>158 DeltaQueen50:) as well. I need to be careful about visiting this BB-laden thread!
>204 DeltaQueen50:, I just recently re-read this Heyer and actually liked it better this time compared to my earlier re-readings of the title. Miles is a character that really grew on me. My review is way down the list, Jun 19, 2017 (close to when I first joined LT and started posting reviews).
210MissWatson
>204 DeltaQueen50: That's one of my absolute favourites, the repartee betweenMiles and Abigail is just glorious. and I love how Miles puts down his nasty nephew!
211DeltaQueen50
>208 mstrust: It's a good one, Jennifer, I think you will enjoy it.
>209 SandyAMcPherson: I hope you enjoy both Home Sweet Homicide and Moon of the Crusted Snow. I was surprised at how Black Sheep ended, but I also quickly thought that it was perfect for that particular couple.
>204 DeltaQueen50: I think Miles will go down as one of my all-time favorite male leads of Georgette Heyer. And the dialogue in this book was fantastic!
>209 SandyAMcPherson: I hope you enjoy both Home Sweet Homicide and Moon of the Crusted Snow. I was surprised at how Black Sheep ended, but I also quickly thought that it was perfect for that particular couple.
>204 DeltaQueen50: I think Miles will go down as one of my all-time favorite male leads of Georgette Heyer. And the dialogue in this book was fantastic!
212LadyoftheLodge
>207 DeltaQueen50: Ha! That business of books sliding behind others or under others has resulted in my acquisition of duplicate copies as well! Just did that the other day--I was looking for my copy of Lying Awake and it would not show itself, despite repeated shelf searches. I could not believe I handed it off, but oh well! As soon as I got another copy, I found it, of course.
213Tess_W
>204 DeltaQueen50: On my shelf, ready to read!
214DeltaQueen50
>212 LadyoftheLodge: I hate it when I discover that I have purchased duplicate books! It doesn't happen as often as it used to since I catalogued my books here on LT, but occasionally a book will get misplaced somehow and nine times out of ten, once I replace it, the original shows up!
>213 Tess_W: Have fun with Black Sheep, Tess.
>213 Tess_W: Have fun with Black Sheep, Tess.
215thornton37814
>214 DeltaQueen50: I won't say it never happens now, but it does occasionally happen. I had one book I couldn't find anywhere, so I ordered another copy. Of course, it showed up afterwards, but I kept the second one. It was a slim enough book that I could see it might get lost again among genealogy files so I decided I could keep one on the shelf and one with a project, if needed. Right now both copies are on the shelf.
216DeltaQueen50
>215 thornton37814: Good that you found a use for both copies, Lori!
217DeltaQueen50
15. Before the Poison by Peter Robinson - 4.5 ★
Category: Calvin & Hobbs
January AlphaKit: R
Around the Year in 52 Books: A Book Without a Person on the Cover
January TIOLI #1: The First Word and Last Word of the Title Have the Same Number of Letters
Before the Poison by Peter Robinson is a haunting stand-alone story that, other than it’s setting of the Yorkshire Dales, has nothing in common with his detective series. This is the story of Chris Lowndes, a recent widower who returns to Yorkshire after a successful career composing the musical backdrop to many Hollywood movies. He has purchased isolated Kilnsgate House, sight unseen, a country house that has been empty for a number of years. Only after he has settled into the house does he find out that this was the site of a famous murder case that saw Grace Elizabeth Fox hanged for the murder of her husband. Chris becomes very interested in this case and soon finds himself drawn to investigating and discovering if Grace was really guilty.
At the beginning of each chapter are passages from a fictional true crime book that describes the 1953 case and then later Grace’s own journal is used to detail her extraordinary life as a nurse during WW II. As the book progresses, Chris’ initial curiosity becomes more like an obsession as the more he learns about Grace the more intrigued he becomes.
Before the Poison is a quiet, melancholy story that is an absorbing character study. Grace was an interesting woman and her presence infuses every page. I became totally captivated by this book that is so very different from his usual mysteries. With it’s dark and brooding atmosphere, slower pacing and haunting characters, this was a great book to curl up with on a cold winter’s afternoon.
Category: Calvin & Hobbs
January AlphaKit: R
Around the Year in 52 Books: A Book Without a Person on the Cover
January TIOLI #1: The First Word and Last Word of the Title Have the Same Number of Letters
Before the Poison by Peter Robinson is a haunting stand-alone story that, other than it’s setting of the Yorkshire Dales, has nothing in common with his detective series. This is the story of Chris Lowndes, a recent widower who returns to Yorkshire after a successful career composing the musical backdrop to many Hollywood movies. He has purchased isolated Kilnsgate House, sight unseen, a country house that has been empty for a number of years. Only after he has settled into the house does he find out that this was the site of a famous murder case that saw Grace Elizabeth Fox hanged for the murder of her husband. Chris becomes very interested in this case and soon finds himself drawn to investigating and discovering if Grace was really guilty.
At the beginning of each chapter are passages from a fictional true crime book that describes the 1953 case and then later Grace’s own journal is used to detail her extraordinary life as a nurse during WW II. As the book progresses, Chris’ initial curiosity becomes more like an obsession as the more he learns about Grace the more intrigued he becomes.
Before the Poison is a quiet, melancholy story that is an absorbing character study. Grace was an interesting woman and her presence infuses every page. I became totally captivated by this book that is so very different from his usual mysteries. With it’s dark and brooding atmosphere, slower pacing and haunting characters, this was a great book to curl up with on a cold winter’s afternoon.
218Tess_W
>217 DeltaQueen50: is a BB for me!
219thornton37814
>217 DeltaQueen50: I'm reading/listening through that series. I'll probably get to the next one before too long.
220DeltaQueen50
>218 Tess_W: I hope you enjoy Before the Poison, Tess.
>219 thornton37814: The Alan Banks series has long been a favorite of mine, I think the next book up for me will be the 23rd in the series.
>219 thornton37814: The Alan Banks series has long been a favorite of mine, I think the next book up for me will be the 23rd in the series.
221RidgewayGirl
>217 DeltaQueen50: I have this on my tbr and I'd start it immediately, but it has already been packed. I hope to unpack it soon as you've made me eager to read it.
222DeltaQueen50
>221 RidgewayGirl: I think you will like it, Kay. It is very different from his other writing but it totally grabbed me.
223DeltaQueen50
16. To the Back of Beyond by Peter Stamm - 4.0 ★
Category: Chuck Noland & Wilson
Around the Year in 52 Books: Set in Europe
Bingo: In Translation
January TIOLI #8: Set in One of the United Nation's 2021 Happiest Countries in the World
To the Back of Beyond is the first novel by author Peter Stamm that I have read, but hopefully it won’t be the last. This is an unusual story that can affect the reader in many different ways as it slowly draws you into the story of a seemingly happily married man, who one evening while out in the yard, just up and walks away.
He walks across Switzerland, moving mostly at night to avoid being recognized, sleeping in the forest or in abandoned huts, scavenging as he moves along. And what of his wife and the two children he has left behind? The book alternates between Thomas, the husband and his wanderings and Astrid, the wife, and how she copes with his disappearance. Walking away from one’s obligations is interesting, but at the same time to abandon one’s family seems unnecessarily cruel so I found it difficult to be too sympathetic towards Thomas. At the same time, I found Astrid’s reluctance to accept his absence, her flimsy excuses to both herself and to others hard to understand. I wanted more, I wanted to understand the character’s motivations but the author kept us at a distance. His measured, cool prose gave us plenty of detail but nothing that truly satisfied my curiosity.
I suspect the author deliberately left his character’s motivations unfocused allowing the readers to ponder upon a variety of questions, is our current life the one we want, are our routines meant to bring comfort or to chain us down, can one ever really know another person? To the Back of Beyond is a perplexing, strange yet fascinating story that I enjoyed but I suspect there could be many readers who would simply want to toss this book against a wall.
Category: Chuck Noland & Wilson
Around the Year in 52 Books: Set in Europe
Bingo: In Translation
January TIOLI #8: Set in One of the United Nation's 2021 Happiest Countries in the World
To the Back of Beyond is the first novel by author Peter Stamm that I have read, but hopefully it won’t be the last. This is an unusual story that can affect the reader in many different ways as it slowly draws you into the story of a seemingly happily married man, who one evening while out in the yard, just up and walks away.
He walks across Switzerland, moving mostly at night to avoid being recognized, sleeping in the forest or in abandoned huts, scavenging as he moves along. And what of his wife and the two children he has left behind? The book alternates between Thomas, the husband and his wanderings and Astrid, the wife, and how she copes with his disappearance. Walking away from one’s obligations is interesting, but at the same time to abandon one’s family seems unnecessarily cruel so I found it difficult to be too sympathetic towards Thomas. At the same time, I found Astrid’s reluctance to accept his absence, her flimsy excuses to both herself and to others hard to understand. I wanted more, I wanted to understand the character’s motivations but the author kept us at a distance. His measured, cool prose gave us plenty of detail but nothing that truly satisfied my curiosity.
I suspect the author deliberately left his character’s motivations unfocused allowing the readers to ponder upon a variety of questions, is our current life the one we want, are our routines meant to bring comfort or to chain us down, can one ever really know another person? To the Back of Beyond is a perplexing, strange yet fascinating story that I enjoyed but I suspect there could be many readers who would simply want to toss this book against a wall.
224DeltaQueen50
I should mention that To the Back of Beyond was a book bullet that I took from Nickelini, and I thank her for bringing this book to my attention.
225Nickelini
>224 DeltaQueen50: I'm glad you liked it! That's one that has stuck with me
226MissBrangwen
>217 DeltaQueen50: A BB for me, too!
227DeltaQueen50
>225 Nickelini: I think this is a book that I will be thinking about for some time. I may be in the minority here, but I loved the ending. He set it up so that just when you could hardly wait to turn the page and see what was going to happen next ... it ended!
>226 MissBrangwen: Enjoy Before the Poison when you get to it!
>226 MissBrangwen: Enjoy Before the Poison when you get to it!
228DeltaQueen50
17. Smallbone Deceased by Michael Gilbert - 4.0 ★
Category: Nick & Nora Charles
January TIOLI #2: Published in my Birth Year
Smallbone Deceased by Michael Gilbert is a 1950 mystery novel. The author, being a lawyer himself, set this mystery in a London solicitor’s office and, as Dorothy Sayers did for advertising in Murder Must Advertise, gives the reader a fishbowl look at the inner workings of a 1950s law office.
The day to day business of contracts, trust funds and conveyance work is shattered with the discovery of a body concealed in a large deed box. Investigating the case is Scotland Yard’s Chief Inspector Hazlerigg, ably assisted by Henry Bohun, a new employee of the firm of Horniman, Birley and Craine. As the employees of the firm, including secretaries, clerks and partners are interviewed, plenty of red herrings are dished out and the police are kept busy tracking down alibi’s and finances.
The author uses his knowledge to give Smallbone Deceased an authentic setting, adds in some interesting characters and plenty of witty conversation to give this clever puzzle some depth and originality. Overall this was a very enjoyable read.
Category: Nick & Nora Charles
January TIOLI #2: Published in my Birth Year
Smallbone Deceased by Michael Gilbert is a 1950 mystery novel. The author, being a lawyer himself, set this mystery in a London solicitor’s office and, as Dorothy Sayers did for advertising in Murder Must Advertise, gives the reader a fishbowl look at the inner workings of a 1950s law office.
The day to day business of contracts, trust funds and conveyance work is shattered with the discovery of a body concealed in a large deed box. Investigating the case is Scotland Yard’s Chief Inspector Hazlerigg, ably assisted by Henry Bohun, a new employee of the firm of Horniman, Birley and Craine. As the employees of the firm, including secretaries, clerks and partners are interviewed, plenty of red herrings are dished out and the police are kept busy tracking down alibi’s and finances.
The author uses his knowledge to give Smallbone Deceased an authentic setting, adds in some interesting characters and plenty of witty conversation to give this clever puzzle some depth and originality. Overall this was a very enjoyable read.
229LadyoftheLodge
>228 DeltaQueen50: I have read several in the series of British Library Crime Classics and enjoyed all.
230Tess_W
>228 DeltaQueen50: On my WL it goes!
231DeltaQueen50
>229 LadyoftheLodge: Hi Cheryl. I am always happy to see older books reprinted and presented to a new audience. I love vintage crime stories and I am obviously not alone as so many older crime stories are still available.
>230 Tess_W: Hope you enjoy it, Tess!
>230 Tess_W: Hope you enjoy it, Tess!
232DeltaQueen50
18. It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Klepas - 3.8 ★
Category: Meredith Grey & Christina Yang
January TIOLI #7: Author has Written 22+ Books
It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas is the second book in the historical romance series, The WallFlowers. In this outing the focus is on headstrong American heiress, Lillian Bowman, who, along with her sister, has been brought to England to secure a marriage to an aristocrat. She has been placed in the path of the powerful and arrogant Earl of Westcliff and whenever these two are together, fireworks ensue. Both are convinced that they dislike and disapprove of each other, but it is obvious that these two are meant to be together.
This was a fun romance story with plenty of bumps along the way. Marcus and Lillian were a couple that were easy to root for, and the ending of this book has me very intrigued to read on and see what is going to happen to the next wallflower. The author certainly knows how to spice up the 19th century so, when I am in the mood for romance, this is a fun series to turn to.
Category: Meredith Grey & Christina Yang
January TIOLI #7: Author has Written 22+ Books
It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas is the second book in the historical romance series, The WallFlowers. In this outing the focus is on headstrong American heiress, Lillian Bowman, who, along with her sister, has been brought to England to secure a marriage to an aristocrat. She has been placed in the path of the powerful and arrogant Earl of Westcliff and whenever these two are together, fireworks ensue. Both are convinced that they dislike and disapprove of each other, but it is obvious that these two are meant to be together.
This was a fun romance story with plenty of bumps along the way. Marcus and Lillian were a couple that were easy to root for, and the ending of this book has me very intrigued to read on and see what is going to happen to the next wallflower. The author certainly knows how to spice up the 19th century so, when I am in the mood for romance, this is a fun series to turn to.
233Familyhistorian
You've been reading some interesting looking books lately, Judy. I caught multiple BBs catching up with your thread. Hope you've been enjoying the sunshine lately.
234LadyoftheLodge
>231 DeltaQueen50: I also am a big fan of vintage crime novels. I bought quite a few in the British Crime Library series, especially those with a theme, such as railroad crimes of crimes at the holidays.
235DeltaQueen50
>233 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg, I am doing well with my reading so far this year! I have no complaints about the weather - especially when the news is full of the huge snowstorm the eastern part of the continent is having!
>234 LadyoftheLodge: I love vintage mysteries and the ones set at Christmas are certainly favorites. Give me a country house, snow falling, guests trapped and a nice juicy murder and I am happy!
>234 LadyoftheLodge: I love vintage mysteries and the ones set at Christmas are certainly favorites. Give me a country house, snow falling, guests trapped and a nice juicy murder and I am happy!
236DeltaQueen50
19. The Chains of Sarai Stone by Cynthia Haseloff -3.5 ★
Category: Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid
January TIOLI #12: A Specific Woman is Mentioned in the Title
The Chains of Sarai Stone by Cynthia Haseloff is the story of one woman who has been reclaimed from the Comanche that kidnapped her fifteen years ago when she was still a child. She was adopted and grew up with the Indians, married and had children before she was recaptured by white men and returned to her family. She was given into the care of her uncle, a man who hated Indians and felt that his niece was little more than a savage. He had her placed in an iron collar and chained, and even though the townspeople thought he was going to far, no one interfered.
The author didn’t hesitate to show how badly returned women were treated, and, in fact, many of these women committed suicide when they realized that they were unsuccessful at integrating back into white society. Sarai needed to discover whether she can adapt to becoming white again or does her heart still belong with the Comanche.
Although based on the story of Cynthia Ann Parker, perhaps the most famous of all Indian captives, the author branches off from the original story and creates a new path for the main character to follow. Overall this was a fairly routine story although the author was born in Texas and was actually named for Cynthia Ann Parker. She obviously knows her history and what terrible conditions captive women were placed under both by the Indians and then again when they were returned to their families.
Category: Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid
January TIOLI #12: A Specific Woman is Mentioned in the Title
The Chains of Sarai Stone by Cynthia Haseloff is the story of one woman who has been reclaimed from the Comanche that kidnapped her fifteen years ago when she was still a child. She was adopted and grew up with the Indians, married and had children before she was recaptured by white men and returned to her family. She was given into the care of her uncle, a man who hated Indians and felt that his niece was little more than a savage. He had her placed in an iron collar and chained, and even though the townspeople thought he was going to far, no one interfered.
The author didn’t hesitate to show how badly returned women were treated, and, in fact, many of these women committed suicide when they realized that they were unsuccessful at integrating back into white society. Sarai needed to discover whether she can adapt to becoming white again or does her heart still belong with the Comanche.
Although based on the story of Cynthia Ann Parker, perhaps the most famous of all Indian captives, the author branches off from the original story and creates a new path for the main character to follow. Overall this was a fairly routine story although the author was born in Texas and was actually named for Cynthia Ann Parker. She obviously knows her history and what terrible conditions captive women were placed under both by the Indians and then again when they were returned to their families.
237thornton37814
>234 LadyoftheLodge: >235 DeltaQueen50: I also love those old snowy locked-room mysteries.
238DeltaQueen50
>237 thornton37814: There's nothing better for a snowy winter's evening!
239VivienneR
>228 DeltaQueen50: This is a BB for me! I love the British Library Crime Classics.
240threadnsong
>228 DeltaQueen50: and >236 DeltaQueen50: These both sound fascinating! and what a wide range of topics. Having the insights into a legal firm would certainly help with providing authenticity to the mystery. And reading about what women went through, both during and after their capture by Native tribes, is one of those "I never thought about it" moments.
I read Siddhartha as a senior in high school, and it was at that time in my life when I was doing a lot of soul-searching and self-determining. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance was another book from then. It's almost as though these books start the conversations, while time and readership determine their staying power.
I read Siddhartha as a senior in high school, and it was at that time in my life when I was doing a lot of soul-searching and self-determining. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance was another book from then. It's almost as though these books start the conversations, while time and readership determine their staying power.
241DeltaQueen50
>239 VivienneR: Enjoy Smallbone Deceased when you get to it, Vivienne.
>240 threadnsong: If you are interested in reading about Cynthia Ann Parker and her experiences as a captive of the Comanche, I recommend Ride the Wind by Lucia St. Clair Robson, it is a wonderful story, and very well researched. I was surprised by Siddhartha, I expected it to be a difficult read but it was actually very easy, it didn't totally appeal to me, but I can see that it would be a good stepping off point if one planned on learning more about eastern philosophies.
>240 threadnsong: If you are interested in reading about Cynthia Ann Parker and her experiences as a captive of the Comanche, I recommend Ride the Wind by Lucia St. Clair Robson, it is a wonderful story, and very well researched. I was surprised by Siddhartha, I expected it to be a difficult read but it was actually very easy, it didn't totally appeal to me, but I can see that it would be a good stepping off point if one planned on learning more about eastern philosophies.
242DeltaQueen50
20. The Sasquatch Hunter's Almanac by Sharma Shields - 3.0 ★
Category: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, & Hermione Granger
Every once and awhile I like to read something completely different and The Sasquatch Hunter’s Almanac by Sharma Shields certainly fit the bill for that. This is the unique and strange story of Eli Roebuck and his obsession with hunting the mystical Sasquatch. This obsession goes back to when Eli was nine years old and his mother chose to leave the family, walking off into the woods with her Sasquatch lover, Mr. Krantz. This abandonment shaped the rest of Eli’s life.
This is a dark and inventive fantasy story that engulfs the reader with some very imaginative story telling and is peopled with various magical beings including lake monsters, bird women, ghosts and unicorns. Covering some 60 years in the life of the Roebuck family, this peculiar tale was a fun read that eventually became a little too much for me to absorb and although I stuck with it, I admit that I basically skimmed the last third of the book.
I live in the Pacific Northwest and as much as I would love there to be Sasquatches, I simply cannot accept their existence. I applaud the author for the originality of this book, but in the long run, it just couldn’t hold my attention. I was reminded of the television show “Twin Peaks” that I started out loving but as it got weirder and weirder I found myself growing disenchanted with it.
Category: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, & Hermione Granger
Every once and awhile I like to read something completely different and The Sasquatch Hunter’s Almanac by Sharma Shields certainly fit the bill for that. This is the unique and strange story of Eli Roebuck and his obsession with hunting the mystical Sasquatch. This obsession goes back to when Eli was nine years old and his mother chose to leave the family, walking off into the woods with her Sasquatch lover, Mr. Krantz. This abandonment shaped the rest of Eli’s life.
This is a dark and inventive fantasy story that engulfs the reader with some very imaginative story telling and is peopled with various magical beings including lake monsters, bird women, ghosts and unicorns. Covering some 60 years in the life of the Roebuck family, this peculiar tale was a fun read that eventually became a little too much for me to absorb and although I stuck with it, I admit that I basically skimmed the last third of the book.
I live in the Pacific Northwest and as much as I would love there to be Sasquatches, I simply cannot accept their existence. I applaud the author for the originality of this book, but in the long run, it just couldn’t hold my attention. I was reminded of the television show “Twin Peaks” that I started out loving but as it got weirder and weirder I found myself growing disenchanted with it.
243Carmenere
Hi Judy! I'm popping in to visit your thread to let you know that I've put up this thread https://www.librarything.com/topic/339258#n7745832 for the Winesburg, Ohio group read. Hope you're still interested and can squeeze it into your reading life.
Hope to see you soon. :0)
Hope to see you soon. :0)
244DeltaQueen50
>243 Carmenere: Hi Lynda, I am looking forward to this group read! I have my copy of Winesburg, Ohio and I will be checking into the thread shortly.
245DeltaQueen50
Since we are at the start of a new month, I will now go ahead and set up my next thread.
My new thread is ready - come on over and join in!
My new thread is ready - come on over and join in!
Dieses Thema wurde unter DeltaQueen Relies on Friends in 2022 - Page 2 weitergeführt.
