Familyhistorian ROOTs again 2

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Familyhistorian ROOTs again 2

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1Familyhistorian
Jul 5, 2015, 11:08 pm

My last thread was getting very long so time for a change. Welcome to my new thread. Where I will finish off the 3 ROOTs to my goal and keeping on ROOTing to add to the group score.

2Familyhistorian
Edited: Jan 2, 2016, 11:21 pm




But then there's that other activity that keeps on filling the shelves.


3Familyhistorian
Edited: Jul 5, 2015, 11:16 pm

4Familyhistorian
Jul 5, 2015, 11:12 pm

38. The Lazarus Curse by Tessa Harris

I am doing a lot of reading but have been slow in finishing ROOTs. My first ROOT for July is The Lazarus Curse, the fourth Dr. Thomas Silkstone Mystery. Another series I have started in the middle. I love historical mysteries; especially those set in London and will be on the hunt for more in this series.

5Tess_W
Jul 6, 2015, 12:04 am

Sounds like a wonderful read, Meg!

6MissWatson
Jul 6, 2015, 3:41 am

You are so close to your goal, that's great ROOTing. Happy new thread!

7Familyhistorian
Jul 6, 2015, 10:18 am

>5 Tess_W: It was a good one, Tess. I keep finding these great new series - so many books so little time (sigh).

8Familyhistorian
Edited: Jul 6, 2015, 10:22 am

>6 MissWatson: Thanks Miss W!

9avanders
Jul 6, 2015, 12:28 pm

Hello to your new thread! Only 2 more ROOTs!!

>3 Familyhistorian: wow, looks like a nice set of new books! Yay! :)

10rabbitprincess
Jul 6, 2015, 6:25 pm

Happy Thread #2! Great haul in June. I've been debating whether to pick up The Bletchley Girls. It reminds me of The Bletchley Circle, even though that was set after the war.

11Familyhistorian
Jul 6, 2015, 9:15 pm

>9 avanders: Thanks Ava, I am working on those ROOTs and should polish them off soon. Unfortunately, every month seems like a nice set of new books!

12Familyhistorian
Jul 6, 2015, 9:46 pm

>10 rabbitprincess: I was thinking of The Bletchley Circle when I picked up The Bletchley Girls which is probably one of the reasons why the book was published now. The true stories of the women who had to keep their service secret will make interesting reading, I think. I am very interested in the affects of the official secrets act which kept so much of what happened in WWII out of the public domain. It is a mind set that is difficult for us to understand in these days of over-sharing but I know that my father never divulged the information that he was told to keep secret even almost 70 years after the fact. The official secrets act had a powerful effect.

13avanders
Jul 6, 2015, 10:40 pm

>11 Familyhistorian: I have no doubt that you will :)

I know, too true, but .... Well, we are, no question, book people :). So, it's only fitting...

14Familyhistorian
Jul 6, 2015, 11:49 pm

>13 avanders: Sometimes I think I should actually acquire a few less books - maybe use the library more? I still have enough ROOTs to get through that it would take me years to read them all even if I stopped buying now.

15avanders
Jul 7, 2015, 9:29 am

>14 Familyhistorian: I know, me too... and yet, I can't seem to stop buying new books.... ;p
At least (with this group's help!) I've picked up my ROOT pace quite a bit :)

16Familyhistorian
Jul 7, 2015, 10:19 am

>15 avanders: I find the ROOTs group helps me concentrate on reading those oldies but goodies that have been on my shelf for a while. Then I can move them along which is good because I can use the shelf space.

17Tess_W
Edited: Jul 7, 2015, 5:15 pm

>14 Familyhistorian: Meg, I am not a library user, sadly. It seemed when I used to use it that the days/times I was able to go it was always closed. I even put the books the book drops but they were always late and I was always paying $5 here and $2 here and I surmised that I could buy a book for that and save money on the gas. I also felt compelled to read them in a hurry when I had library books, you could only have them for 30 days. More than half I checked out I never read and then ended up paying over due fines on them. Buying books either 2nd hand or cheap Kindle reads is much better for me! So of course, my roots grow proportionally! But since I joined this group I'm moving them out at 40-50 per year and I don't buy that many, so somewhere about 2058 I should have some space on my shelves!

18Familyhistorian
Jul 7, 2015, 9:29 pm

>17 Tess_W: Fortunately my library let's me renew books online, twice. So 90 days is doable. The only wrinkle is if someone puts a hold on the book which means it can't be renewed. That's when I usually have to pay a fine. Economically and shelf wise the library works out for me. I can see how it would be frustrating only having 30 days especially if you are not in to the rhythm of returning books on time.

19avanders
Jul 8, 2015, 11:53 am

>16 Familyhistorian: so true... extra shelf-space is always welcome! ;)

>17 Tess_W: lol yeah, around 2058 sounds about right ;)

20Familyhistorian
Jul 8, 2015, 9:33 pm

19> 17> Hmm, I wonder if I could do it by 2058 - maybe if I brought in fewer books?

21Jackie_K
Jul 11, 2015, 11:31 am

>17 Tess_W: >18 Familyhistorian: I get library books out for my little girl; not so much for me these days as I don't feel I can justify it when I have so many unread TBRs! But I don't worry too much about fines - I'm usually only a few days or a week overdue so even on 3 books I'm paying less than £1, and I figure that goes back into their coffers so that they can carry on buying more books and providing their service to the community. Also in the UK we have a lot of public service cutbacks and libraries are closing down all over the place, so I figure out if I even use it, get books out I don't finish or am slightly overdue, I'm all part of their stats to prove that local people are using the facility and value it.

22Familyhistorian
Jul 11, 2015, 8:34 pm

>21 Jackie_K: I always have library books on the go even with my tons of TBRs. It is the most economical way to deal with all the BBs on LT and the few fines I pay are a small price to pay especially if the go toward running the library or buying new library books.

23avanders
Jul 17, 2015, 10:22 pm

>22 Familyhistorian: agreed: "It is the most economical way to deal with all the BBs on LT"
;)
I tend to be a fine-free girl... fortunately my library is close... and I post the due-dates for my borrowed books on my calendar :)

24Familyhistorian
Jul 19, 2015, 4:49 pm

>23 avanders: My library sends me an email when the books are due which is very helpful as long as it doesn't get lost in amongst all the other emails in my in box. There is a library not far from me but I have never stepped foot in it - the outside is a poison green colour, not inviting at all besides, not enough books. I go to the main Vancouver library with is about an hour long bus ride away but a great excuse to go into the city. The main library is large with 6 floors of different kinds and categories of books - now that gives me scope!

25Jackie_K
Jul 21, 2015, 10:47 am

>24 Familyhistorian: wow, you live in Vancouver? I went there nearly 20 years ago and *loved* it, I'd love to go back and explore some more!

26avanders
Jul 21, 2015, 2:39 pm

>24 Familyhistorian: ah, yes, I can see that happening... I happen to be one of those hyper-organized people w/ a gazillion folders that I use rather than let emails pile up in my inbox... ;)
Bummer that the library near you is so uninviting! But sounds like a great excuse to get out and explore :)

27Familyhistorian
Jul 25, 2015, 3:16 am

>25 Jackie_K: Well, actually I live in one of the city suburbs to Vancouver, Jackie. It is a beautiful and interesting place to live which is probably why I stay.

28Familyhistorian
Jul 25, 2015, 3:18 am

>24 Familyhistorian: My emails used to be a lot more organized, Ava but life as somehow gotten a lot more busy. I barely get a chance to glance at the emails before I trash them but they still keep on coming. I am sure that I should unsubscribe from a lot of stuff if I had the time to figure out how!

29avanders
Jul 27, 2015, 1:14 pm

>28 Familyhistorian: yes, it does suffer when I'm busy! And I know what you mean... unsubscribing is sometimes a mixed bag for me.... what if it's a scam thing and it triggers more subscriptions? That's where the paranoia comes in ;p

30Familyhistorian
Jul 29, 2015, 12:47 am

>29 avanders: Ooh I never heard of unsubscribing leading to spam. One more thing to worry about!

31Jackie_K
Jul 29, 2015, 4:09 pm

>30 Familyhistorian: If you click 'unsubscribe' all that does is tell the originating site that yours is an email address that is actively monitored (and thus worth sending more spam to) rather than potentially abandoned. Generally you're better off deleting, and adding the addresses to a blacklist if your email provider has that facility, rather than giving them any information about this being an active email address.

32avanders
Jul 30, 2015, 2:41 pm

>30 Familyhistorian: or maybe it's not worth worrying about it ;)
>31 Jackie_K: But, yeah :( That's the concern. I *believe* legitimate websites that you have actually signed up for do not do this when you unsubscribe... but these days, so much of it is automated that .. who knows. :P

33Familyhistorian
Jul 31, 2015, 12:50 am

>31 Jackie_K: I never thought of that, Jackie. Good to bear in mind.

34Familyhistorian
Jul 31, 2015, 12:51 am

>32 avanders: Yes, I have seen even legitimate websites that I have signed up for go off the rails sometimes.

35Familyhistorian
Jul 31, 2015, 2:23 am

39. Forbidden Love by Karen Robards

Forbidden Love has been on my shelf for about two or three years. The writing was good but I had a problem with the premise of the book. The story involves two lovers, in this case a lord and his much younger ward. That is the love that is forbidden. I think that the lord and his ward should have resisted each other or at least not succumbed so quickly.

36Familyhistorian
Jul 31, 2015, 4:01 pm

40. Still Life by Louise Penny

This one has been on the shelf for maybe a year or two. I started Louise Penny’s mystery series set in Three Pines, Quebec the same way I seem to start most series - in the middle. I liked the books that I read and wanted to see how it all begun. It is all there, the eccentric community of Three Pines, the complex relationships between the investigating officers and the redouble Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. Now I just have to remember which books I need to read to fill my blanks in the series.

37rabbitprincess
Jul 31, 2015, 5:17 pm

>36 Familyhistorian: I start series in the middle too! With Gamache, my first book was actually the sixth (Bury Your Dead). It's still my favourite.

38Familyhistorian
Jul 31, 2015, 6:58 pm

41. The Unknown Ajax by Georgette Heyer

I read The Unknown Ajax many years ago so this could be considered a reread but I have never read this particular volume before so I am counting it as a ROOT. I bought it as part of my Heyer collection, a collection I dip into whenever I feel the need. It has been a particularly trying time for me. My boss was diagnosed with cancer in May and died in June, my cat of 17 years died in July. I wasn’t in the mood for anything too deep or soul-searching.

This delightful tale of Lord Darricote’s heir, the grandson of the son that he had disowned, is enlivened by well drawn characters and the usual sparkling repartee. The plot also includes smugglers who are a bit too close to home for the heir, Major Hugo Darricote, and a plan to marry the major to the Darricote granddaughter which both feel they must resist. It was great fun and a good mood changer.

39Familyhistorian
Jul 31, 2015, 8:43 pm

>37 rabbitprincess: I agree, Bury Your Dead was my favourite Gamache so far. I liked that it was set in Quebec City and steeped in its history. History always pekes my interest - especially the history of places which I know. I don't know Quebec City very well but I do know the province of Quebec having been brought up there. The mystery interlaced with the history of Samuel de Champlain really made the book for me.

40Familyhistorian
Edited: Oct 11, 2015, 1:30 am

I was so busy in July that I had less time to visit bookshops. I think that resulted in fewer buys than usual but still too many, sigh.

The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott
Pirate Lattitudes by Michael Crichton
The Strings of Murder by Oscar de Muriel
In the Woods by Tana French
The Lost Empress by Steve Robinson
The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths
Without a Trace by Nora Roberts
Demise in Denim by Duffy Brown
The Great Pearl Heist by Molly Caldwell Crosby
Murder at the Inn: A History of Crime in Britain's Pubs and Hotels by James Moore
The Digital Photography Handbook by Doug Harman
Goddesses Never Age by Christiane Northrup
Show Your Work by Austin Kleon

41Tess_W
Aug 1, 2015, 10:53 pm

>40 Familyhistorian: Looks like a great haul!

42Familyhistorian
Aug 2, 2015, 12:22 am

>41 Tess_W: I does doesn't it, Tess. Now all I need is the time to read them and the other books on my shelves!

43connie53
Aug 2, 2015, 2:55 am

>40 Familyhistorian: Lots of books. Did you buy some time to read them too? ;-))

44Familyhistorian
Aug 2, 2015, 7:01 pm

>43 connie53: Wish I could buy the time, Connie. My course it almost complete and that is the last one in the program that I am taking. I hope to be able to spend some more time reading than I have been in the past but will also need to spend time working on my writing business so it is ready to go when I retire from my day job - hopefully soon. Then maybe I will find some balance in my life that will include a good lot of time for reading.

45connie53
Aug 3, 2015, 2:09 am

>44 Familyhistorian: I hope that will happen soon. Balance is so important.

46Familyhistorian
Aug 3, 2015, 3:30 am

>45 connie53: I have felt off balance for quite a while now, Connie. I think I need to slow things down a little.

47connie53
Aug 3, 2015, 4:24 pm

>46 Familyhistorian: That is probably a good plan. The point is that it is difficult to let go of some things or choose. But if you know what the problem is you are halfway there.

48Jackie_K
Aug 3, 2015, 4:44 pm

>46 Familyhistorian: I think that's a very common feeling, but a very good way of putting it. I can relate to 'off-balance', definitely.

49avanders
Aug 3, 2015, 6:04 pm

>36 Familyhistorian: oh yes, another series I'm supposed to read one of these years! I have Still Life on my shelves! :)

>40 Familyhistorian: fun haul! And >42 Familyhistorian: So, yes.... But >43 connie53: brilliant idea! Hmm.. isn't there a movie w/ that concept? That time is literally precious, you can buy more, and then there are murders? or something? sounds familiar...

50Familyhistorian
Aug 3, 2015, 11:51 pm

>47 connie53: Things should slow down a bit when I finish the program that I am in. I am in the final course and all the work is at the end. I am looking forward to being done and I just want it to be over! In between course work I am busy planning a complicated trip for my vacation in September/October. (That always makes me edgy for some reason.) I hope that things will calm down by mid August.

51Familyhistorian
Aug 4, 2015, 12:05 am

>48 Jackie_K: I think we have all had that off-balance feeling, Jackie. Just lately it seems a bit worse.

52Familyhistorian
Aug 4, 2015, 12:08 am

>49 avanders: It is a great series, Ava, but probably best to start at the first book which you already have. Buying time would be nice only not if it led to murder. I don't remember that plot but it sounds like an interesting one.

53connie53
Aug 4, 2015, 5:33 am

>50 Familyhistorian: That's good to hear!

54avanders
Aug 4, 2015, 6:28 pm

>52 Familyhistorian: good! Looking forward to reading it :)
lol yeah, agreed: "only not if it led to murder" ;)
The movie is called In Time... I haven't seen it yet, but still want to!
(from google: In a future where time is money and the wealthy can live forever, Will Salas (Justin Timberlake) is a poor man who rarely has more than a day's worth of life on his time clock. When he saves Henry Hamilton (Matt Bomer) from time thieves, Will receives the gift of a century. However, such a large transaction attracts the attention of the authorities, and when Will is falsely accused of murder, he must go on the run, taking the daughter (Amanda Seyfried) of an incredibly wealthy man with him.)

55Familyhistorian
Aug 5, 2015, 12:56 am

>53 connie53: It would be good, Connie, if we were done. The last class was tonight but we aren't finished our group project - the one where the third group member never showed for the last classes. The other member of the group wants things done a certain way which I am having difficulty with but I just want it done and over - then I will be able to take a breath before I plunge into the thick of things again.

56Familyhistorian
Aug 5, 2015, 12:58 am

>54 avanders: That movie sounds interesting, Ava. I do wonder why he took the daughter of an incredibly wealthy man with him - was it kidnapping or did she want to go with him (maybe Daddy issues?)

57connie53
Edited: Aug 5, 2015, 3:44 am

>55 Familyhistorian: That doesn't sound to good, Meg. The group has only three members, one absent, one stubborn and you? I think you need a bit of encouragement.

58avanders
Aug 5, 2015, 9:30 am

>56 Familyhistorian: good question.... we'll have to watch to find out! ;)
>55 Familyhistorian: and >57 connie53: sounds very frustrating!

59Familyhistorian
Aug 6, 2015, 12:49 am

>57 connie53: Thanks for the encouragement Connie! Love the graphic!

60Familyhistorian
Aug 6, 2015, 12:56 am

>58 avanders: I have lots of questions about that movie, Ava. I guess I will have to watch it some day. This project is very frustrating. I just want it to be over. This is my last class in the program that I have been going to for 5 years and I want it to be done. I stayed home from a meeting tonight so that I could work on my part of the project which the other group member wants changed. Grr.

But on an upbeat note, I booked my hotel room for London tonight so my anxiety about my trip is a bit less. Most of my hotels are now booked - Glasgow, Islay, Edinburgh, ?, Kew, London. Only the ? needs to be booked but I need to figure out where I want to go first - all the places are genealogy related. All that time to research and no homework to do. I can't wait!

61connie53
Aug 6, 2015, 4:44 am

That sounds like a fun trip, Meg.

62avanders
Aug 6, 2015, 9:31 am

>60 Familyhistorian: If I get to it first, I'll be happy to answer questions for you! :) Actually.... there. I've requested it from the library! :) (love this free library dvd rental thing!)

Ugh, at least it's your last class! Yeah, group projects can be HARD, especially when it's for a grade or some kind of public presentation! I was in a class where we had to pair up with just 1 other person to defend or prosecute a mock trial and my best friend was thrilled that we got to work together.... until we realized we had completely opposite ideas about how to approach the case. It was the first time she saw "that side of me"... you know, the one that *isn't* completely easy going bc it actually matters (i.e., grade). Fortunately, there was another case to choose from, so we switched and were much better off! Hope your project goes easier now that you've re-worked something based on someone else's opinion! ;p (blech) But so close to being done! (And then what?)

Fun re your trip!! :) London, Glasgow, Islay, Edinburgh, Kew... sounds amazing!

63Tess_W
Aug 7, 2015, 12:23 am

I hate group projects! As a teacher its difficult to give the same grade to each members of a group. I hated group projects when I was a student in college because I wanted to get it done yesterday and it had to be perfect!

I'm jealous of your trip! Be sure to post pictures and tell us the goodies!

64Familyhistorian
Aug 7, 2015, 12:48 am

>61 connie53: I'm looking forward to it Connie!

65Familyhistorian
Aug 7, 2015, 12:52 am

>62 avanders: I'll be interested to find out what happens in that movie, Ava, especially why the daughter of the rich guy is with him.

When the group project is done as far as I am concerned we handed it in and get a mark and I finally graduate from the program that I have been doing for 5 years! That's why the delay is excruciating! I should have the time to do more planning on my fun trip!

66Familyhistorian
Aug 7, 2015, 12:57 am

>63 Tess_W: Group projects are the pits. I have had to do a lot of them in the program that I am in. Everyone in the program knows the score and is pretty good about the group work but in this class there were people from outside of the program. The 3 people from the program weren't allowed to work together (you know we all had each other tagged for the project right away.) Our group projects have the added wrinkle of being for outside clients so not only do we have to hand in the project for a mark we also have to hand the finished work to a client.

I will take pictures and let you know my progress. I am so looking forward to this trip - or will be when the anxiety from setting everything up is done.

67avanders
Aug 7, 2015, 10:28 am

>65 Familyhistorian: ok I'll post an update (w/ spoiler indications where necessary) :)

How exciting!! So close!! So... is the trip like a graduation trip?

68Familyhistorian
Aug 9, 2015, 1:24 am

>67 avanders: No, it is a genealogy trek and it just worked out that I had the time off when the genealogy group decided to go.

69avanders
Aug 10, 2015, 2:06 pm

>68 Familyhistorian: oooooh, cool!

70Jackie_K
Aug 10, 2015, 2:42 pm

>60 Familyhistorian: Islay is the only one on your list I've not visited (although that depends where the ? ends up being of course!). It's definitely somewhere I want to go to, although as my husband is a big fan of their single malt whiskies (there are 7 world class distilleries on the island) it would turn into a non-stop distillery tour trip if he had his way!

71Familyhistorian
Aug 11, 2015, 12:23 am

>69 avanders: Yeh, really cool - I went on a genealogy trek with this group to Scotland before and it was great. This time we tacked on England.

72Familyhistorian
Aug 11, 2015, 12:27 am

>70 Jackie_K: I visited Islay when I went to Scotland in 2010, Jackie. I didn't go to any of the distilleries but I knew they were there. I break out in hives if I drink whiskey so don't go looking for it - my theory is that it is an allergy passed down through over exposure in the bloodline!

73Familyhistorian
Aug 12, 2015, 1:06 am

42. Murder in Grub Street by Bruce Alexander

I don’t know how often I have passed Murder in Grub Street by in the search for my next read. It has been sitting on the shelf for years, probably even decades. I don’t know why it took so long to read it but I am glad that I did.

This is one of the mystery series which features Sir John Fielding but it is told from the point of view of his 13 year old servant, Jeremy. Every person but one in the printing shop where Jeremy was supposed to be starting his apprenticeship was killed and it is up to Sir John to solve the murder with Jeremy's help. The book was a page turner as much for the details about London in the 1700s as for the murder mystery.

74Familyhistorian
Aug 23, 2015, 1:35 am

43. The Whispering Gallery by Mark Sanderson

The Whispering Gallery is a suspenseful mystery set in London between the wars. It paints a picture of the city during this time period and captures its attitude and energy. Scrappy reporter, Johnny Steadman tries to unravel the mystery of a suicide/murder in St. Paul’s Cathedral. The investigation leads him to strange places and rough encounters but he needs to continue. His life just might depend on it.

75avanders
Aug 24, 2015, 2:54 pm

>73 Familyhistorian: sounds interesting -- is it a YA?

>74 Familyhistorian: another one that looks good... was it?

76Familyhistorian
Aug 25, 2015, 12:08 am

>75 avanders: Hi Ava, Murder in Grub Street is not YA. It is part of a series of historical mysteries featuring Sir John Fielding - a real historical figure. The Whispering Gallery was very good - an historic mystery that is full of suspense.

77avanders
Aug 25, 2015, 11:43 am

Hey! You passed your goal w/ nary a Congratulations from me... CONGRATULATIONS!!


Also >76 Familyhistorian: thanks :)

78Tess_W
Edited: Aug 25, 2015, 6:55 pm



Congrats!

79Familyhistorian
Aug 25, 2015, 9:15 pm

>77 avanders: >78 Tess_W: Thanks Ava and Tess.

80Familyhistorian
Aug 29, 2015, 8:19 pm

44. A Bride by Moonlight

I always like to throw in a little romance between the nonfiction and mysteries. A Bride by Moonlight is a lively historic romance with lots of twists and turns to its plot and, of course, the suitably conflicted hero and quite unsuitable object of his desire.

81Familyhistorian
Edited: Oct 11, 2015, 1:32 am

Well, I think the acquisition stack for August is shorter than usual (maybe that is because there are less thick tomes). These are the titles I picked up last month:

Walking London: The Best of the City by National Geographic
The Union Street Bakery by Mary Ellen Taylor
Obsession in Death by J.D. Robb
The Devil's Music by Pearl R. Meaker
Agony of the Leaves by Laura Childs
Sweet Tea Revenge by Laura Childs
Steeped in Evil by Laura Childs
A Bigamist's Daughter by Alice McDermot
Queen of Hearts by Rhys Bowen
Geared for the Grave by Duffy Brown
Trapped by Scandal by Jane Feather
Shoplifter by Micheal Cho

82Tess_W
Sep 5, 2015, 7:25 am

<81, Oh, they all sound so good!

83Familyhistorian
Sep 6, 2015, 2:34 am

>82 Tess_W: That's the problem, Tess they all sound so good when I am in the bookstore that I have to bring them home.

84Familyhistorian
Sep 6, 2015, 4:36 pm

45. You have the right to remain Puzzled by Parnell Hall

This book has been sitting on my shelf ever since it came out in paperback – probably in 2007. I am not sure why I stopped reading this series. It might be because I wanted to get the next one before I started on this one. I sometimes do that with series that I really like and I do like this one. The mysteries are good and the action is fast moving with Aunt Cora getting herself into trouble every time she turns around. Funny and fast with crosswords thrown in – what’s not to like?

85avanders
Sep 7, 2015, 8:37 pm

>84 Familyhistorian: sounds great! ... I'd never even seen such a thing... a mystery w/ some crosswords? Fun! :D

86Familyhistorian
Sep 9, 2015, 12:15 pm

>85 avanders: Mysteries come with all kinds of gimmicks these days, Ava. There are lots with receipes this series just happens to have crosswords instead.

87avanders
Sep 9, 2015, 12:20 pm

>86 Familyhistorian: I put it on my wish list :)

88Familyhistorian
Sep 9, 2015, 12:26 pm

46. Dead Man's Chest by Kerry Greenwood

I love the Phryne Fisher series on TV and I heard that some of the characters are different in the books. That is probably why it took me a while to read this book which had been languishing on the shelves. I quite enjoyed this story although I kept picturing the TV characters. It was a fun read so I will hunt down other books in the series.

89connie53
Sep 13, 2015, 7:59 am

Congrats on reaching your goal, Meg!

And surpassed it by 6! Wow.

90Familyhistorian
Sep 13, 2015, 2:25 pm

Thanks Connie. I brought lots of ROOTs with me on my travels so hopefully I will increase the ROOTs totals - if I can stay out of bookstores!

91connie53
Sep 13, 2015, 3:23 pm

That's my point of failure too! Those bookstores!

92Tess_W
Sep 13, 2015, 9:12 pm

Congrats on those roots!

93avanders
Sep 14, 2015, 2:40 pm

>90 Familyhistorian: >91 connie53: so true... they're just so enticing!

94Familyhistorian
Sep 19, 2015, 6:26 pm

>91 connie53: There are lots of bookstores in Scotland too, Connie but I am being good because I know that I will need to carry all those books in my suitcase while I am on my travels. That's one way to cut down on the book buying!

95Familyhistorian
Sep 19, 2015, 6:27 pm

>92 Tess_W: Thanks Tess, I am trying to fit more ROOTs in on my travels.

96Familyhistorian
Sep 19, 2015, 6:29 pm

>93 avanders: I am trying to keep busy and out of bookstores while I am here, Ava. Not knowing where the bookstores are helps!

97avanders
Sep 21, 2015, 3:21 pm

>96 Familyhistorian: that sounds like it would work. A little sad though.... ;)

98Familyhistorian
Sep 21, 2015, 4:27 pm

>96 Familyhistorian: Well, I have been in bookstores, Ava but I always have to remember that anything that I buy I have to carry on my travels. I have already mailed back two small packages with books.

99avanders
Sep 21, 2015, 5:18 pm

>98 Familyhistorian: so true! it is a difficulty w/ traveling ;)
Wow - already 2 small packages! So, not so sad. :)

100Familyhistorian
Sep 21, 2015, 5:38 pm

>99 avanders: I had to clear some room for when I am in London, Ava. I am hoping that there will only be the two packages I sent from here because I am shedding books from my suitcase as I finishing reading them so hopefully there will be room for any further books that I get.

101avanders
Sep 22, 2015, 10:21 am

>100 Familyhistorian: oh I love doing that! I don't know why, but I really enjoy leaving books I've read behind for someone else to find :)

102Familyhistorian
Sep 23, 2015, 5:51 pm

>101 avanders: My main motivation for leaving them behind is so that I can replace them with new ones but it would be cool if one of the people who cleans the rooms is into reading.

103Familyhistorian
Sep 24, 2015, 4:08 am

47. Death and the Jubilee by David Dickinson

I started to read Death and the Jubilee a few years ago. I can remember reading it when waiting for the ferry to Bowen Island when I was doing my internship for Bowen Heritage. It seemed like a good book to bring along to read for my ferry ride to Islay.

This time the pace picked up and the mystery was interesting if a bit disjointed. It is set in 1897 around the time of Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee and I enjoyed the historical detail.

104avanders
Sep 24, 2015, 9:56 am

>102 Familyhistorian: well, whatever the motivation... ;) Maybe even if your cleaning person isn't into reading, s/he will pass it on :)
>103 Familyhistorian: What a cool cover! Perhaps a BB...

105Familyhistorian
Sep 24, 2015, 1:31 pm

>104 avanders: I think that most of Dickinson's covers are in a similar style, Ava. Kind of a Victorian feel to it, isn't there?

106Familyhistorian
Sep 24, 2015, 5:04 pm

48. Dead Cold by Louise Penny

The series of murders featuring Penny’s Chief Inspector Gamache is one that I came to after much of the series was already written so I started somewhere in the middle. Now I am working my way from the beginning. Dead Cold is the second book in the series and once again involves a murder in Three Pines. It is a joy getting to know the eccentric villagers better and seeing how their lives evolve. The mystery is interesting too.

107Familyhistorian
Sep 26, 2015, 5:37 pm

49. The Murder Room by P.D. James

My plan to bring a bunch of ROOTs with me on my trip is working. I started The Murder Room a few years ago – I found the bookmark somewhere after the first few chapters in the book. It had been so long that I had to start from the beginning again. This time it grabbed my interest. The action centres on a small museum in London which has a room devoted to the sensational murders of the interwar years. Adam Dalgliesh visits the museum casually at first but then again when he and his squad are called in to investigate the murder of one of the trustees that happens at the museum. The usual red herrings are scattered throughout the plot and more bodies are found but Dalgliesh and his team bring the murderer to book in the end.

108rabbitprincess
Sep 27, 2015, 1:58 am

>107 Familyhistorian: That sounds like a good one! Perhaps that will be my next PD James.

109Familyhistorian
Sep 27, 2015, 4:27 am

>108 rabbitprincess: It was good but long. As well as the intriguing murder mystery, there was a bit of information about being a museum in England and trying to make ends meet without charging admission which is a government edict. I found that part interesting as I am currently in England enjoying museums with no entry fee!

110avanders
Sep 27, 2015, 7:42 pm

>105 Familyhistorian: yes - I like the combination of the era-feel, the colors, and the random extras .. that's a mug hanging from the word "Jubilee" right? I like it when actual thought goes into covers :)

>107 Familyhistorian: funny how that happens - at one point, a book may hold no interest and at another, it's the perfect thing... :) Sounds like a good read!

111Tess_W
Sep 27, 2015, 8:42 pm

>109 Familyhistorian:, so glad you are enjoying England. I went in 2004 and would love to return...so many places, so little money!

112Familyhistorian
Oct 1, 2015, 1:45 pm

>110 avanders: I think it's a mug but I don't have the book anymore so I am only seeing the cover on my phone.

113Familyhistorian
Oct 1, 2015, 1:47 pm

>111 Tess_W: I love visiting England, Tess, as I feel at home here. I try to visit as often as I can which is not as often as I want.

114Tess_W
Oct 5, 2015, 2:47 pm

>113 Familyhistorian: Well let me know the next time you go, maybe we can meet up! I've been once for 14 days, but so want to go again!

115Familyhistorian
Oct 5, 2015, 3:57 pm

>114 Tess_W: Will do, Tess. I hope it doesn't take that long until I come back. I think it has been over 10 years since I was in England. Far too long.

116Jackie_K
Oct 5, 2015, 4:27 pm

I'm loving this conversation about England (I am English, although I live in Scotland now). I think I need to see England with new eyes (I think the novelty of living in Scotland hasn't worn off yet - I've been here 10 years and have no intention of leaving - so I'm too excited about exploring up here!). I also want to explore more of Wales.

117Familyhistorian
Oct 6, 2015, 4:03 pm

>116 Jackie_K: I didn't realize that you live in Scotland, Jackie. I could have looked you up when I was there if I was anywhere close. Where do you live?

118Jackie_K
Oct 6, 2015, 5:18 pm

>117 Familyhistorian: I'm in Stirling, so I don't think I was too near you (I vaguely recall you going to Islay?). Eventually I'd like to head further north, but I do love living here in Stirling for now, it's a lovely city.

119Familyhistorian
Oct 9, 2015, 1:49 am

>118 Jackie_K: I was in Islay and in Glasgow but for most of the time that I was in Scotland I was in Edinburgh so not too far from you, I think.

120rabbitprincess
Oct 9, 2015, 4:56 pm

>119 Familyhistorian: Oh, so jealous! I miss Scotland. Hope you had a great time!!

121Familyhistorian
Oct 9, 2015, 6:43 pm

>120 rabbitprincess: Oh yes, I had a great time in both Scotland and England. Now I think that I have to make it back there again soon!

122connie53
Oct 10, 2015, 1:31 pm

I want to visit England too! And Scotland! I've only been to London but I think I will enjoy other cities and the countryside too!

123Familyhistorian
Oct 10, 2015, 7:00 pm

>122 connie53: Hi Connie, you should make a point of visiting Scotland and England - you are much closer than I am! I think that you will find the rest of England is quite different from London which is a world onto itself.

124Familyhistorian
Edited: Oct 18, 2015, 11:46 pm

While I was traveling I had many issues with WiFi and got behind in my posting to my thread. So I am behind on reviews and I am finally getting around to the list of books that I acquired in September. This is not the total for September as I am still waiting on one parcel of books that I sent to myself while I was in Scotland. I will count those books in the month that they arrive in my house. My suitcase was getting too heavy to haul onto trains with all those books!

Islay Walks by the Islay & Jura Tourism & Marketing Group
Picturing Scotland: Southern Argyl by Colin Nutt
Mr. Standfast by John Buchan
Tartan Tragedy by Antonia Fraser
Sketches of Islay by William MacDonald
Edinburgh Street AZ Atlas
Argyll 1730-1850 by Robert A.A. McGeachy
The Painted Girls by Cathy Marie Buchanan
All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Only a Kiss by Mary Balogh
The Girls at the Kingfisher Club by Genevieve Valentine
Blue Labyrinth by Preston & Child

125Tess_W
Oct 10, 2015, 10:03 pm

What a stash!

126Familyhistorian
Oct 11, 2015, 2:33 am

>125 Tess_W: I only got to bring back some of the books with me, Tess. Others I read and left along the way as I didn't want my suitcase to get too heavy.

127Familyhistorian
Oct 11, 2015, 2:34 am

50. Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon by Nancy Atherton

My first ROOT for October, Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon is a mystery without bodies. It is cute and readable, nice for a change from more heavy reads – not that I have been reading anything heavy lately.

128connie53
Oct 11, 2015, 3:19 am

>123 Familyhistorian:

I bet you are right about London and the other parts of England. And yes, I'm very close to England, but I think I won't talk my Hubby into visiting other parts. He is not that flexible but you never know! There might come a chance to do so in the next few years.

129Tess_W
Oct 11, 2015, 9:34 am

>123 Familyhistorian: I have visited other parts of England and found them to be delightful--even though my time was limited. Went to Stonehenge during the night of the Hale-Bopp comet and it was so "magical". We stayed overnight in some little town near there and the next day went to a very small restaurant for "real" shepherds pie. This town, and I can't remember the name of it, was just like a fairy tale town with small cottages, cobblestone streets, etc. The Salisbury plain is just gorgeous. I also went to Avon-Upon-the Lake and while Shakespeare's home, while very touristry was okay, it was the locale that was so beautiful with a plethora of interesting shoppes; including at least one bookshop. I have to tell you that we went to a play at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, "A Winter's Tale." Once the play started we looked at each other and were wondering: is this in English? The actors had such an accent and talked so fast we couldn't even understand them. At intermission we went to the Theatre's bookstore and bought a copy of the play and tried to read up so we knew what was going on! I don't think we were the only ones because we also went to the bathroom and there were people who lived in England who were saying the same thing!

130Familyhistorian
Oct 11, 2015, 5:36 pm

>128 connie53: Good luck with talking your husband into visiting the other parts of England, Connie. I guess I have an advantage as the only person I have to talk into any traveling is myself - even when I was married I traveled by myself most of the time.

131Familyhistorian
Oct 11, 2015, 5:40 pm

>129 Tess_W: Those sound like interesting parts of England to visit, Tess. I heard that Stonehenge used to be better to visit before it was put behind fencing. That sounds like a strange Shakespearean experience although I do admit that sometimes I can't follow what is going on in Shakespeare's plays as the dialogue is hard to follow.

132avanders
Oct 11, 2015, 8:27 pm

>124 Familyhistorian: fun! :)

>127 Familyhistorian: a "mystery without bodies" -- interesting concept ;)

To chime in re visiting... I'd like to visit them all! I've been to London and Bath... and it's definitely only whetted my appetite!

133Familyhistorian
Oct 11, 2015, 8:41 pm

>132 avanders: I'm the same. I want to visit them all too! Because most of my travel is for family history research I get to visit a lot of places as my ancestors lived all over the place - bless them. Each trip I try to take in one smaller area as well as going to London. This time I went to Chelmsford, Essex but on one previous trip I went to various places in Dorset and on another trip I concentrated on Northants.

134avanders
Oct 11, 2015, 8:46 pm

>133 Familyhistorian: very cool! :) I'd love it if someday I can visit my family's various homes... I'm sure I'll see at least a few!

135Familyhistorian
Oct 12, 2015, 3:37 am

>134 avanders: I'd love to be able to visit my family's homes as well but most of them are no longer there so I have to be content with visiting the villages and towns where they were.

136Jackie_K
Oct 12, 2015, 5:13 am

>133 Familyhistorian: ooh, what did you think of Northants? I am a Northamptonshire girl born and bred, and my family (with just the exception of my sister and me) are all still living there.

I also love Dorset. We had a few family holidays in Weymouth, and as an adult I went there again and explored around the Swanage area. The coastline is wonderful.

137rabbitprincess
Edited: Oct 12, 2015, 10:21 am

>131 Familyhistorian: I visited Stonehenge last month and didn't mind it being put behind fencing. The henge itself is on a raised mound surrounded by a ditch, and the visitor path is on the other side of the ditch. The fencing is very low, from what I recall (maybe halfway between ankle and knee on a 5'4" person) and the path is set up so that there are plenty of good vantage points for photos. It also helps that the site has timed entry, so you don't have to contend with too many people at a time (but even with large numbers of people, it's not nearly as bad as, say, Windsor Castle, which is positively bristling with tourists and the occasional selfie stick).

Here are some photos to give you an idea of how the site looks. In Picture the First, I'm standing at the fencing and using very little zoom. Picture the Second was me trying to get the Heel Stone into the shot with Stonehenge, so there is no zoom.

Picture the First

Picture the Second

The path actually winds around Stonehenge at different distances. By the end you get quite close to it:

Picture the Third

Another interesting aspect of the site is that the new visitors' centre is actually a mile or so away from the site, so as not to spoil the sightlines. There are shuttles between the site and the visitors' centre, or you can walk there via the National Trust footpath. We walked there and took the shuttle back.

138connie53
Oct 12, 2015, 11:00 am

>137 rabbitprincess: I did not know they were that big! But seeing the people walking around the they are huge!

And what is the Heel Stone? The 'little' stone on the right?

Thanks for sharing, RP!

139rabbitprincess
Oct 12, 2015, 11:23 am

>138 connie53: Yep, it's the one on the right.

140connie53
Oct 12, 2015, 12:58 pm

>139 rabbitprincess: Haha, good guess!

141rabbitprincess
Oct 12, 2015, 2:31 pm

>140 connie53: And here's a closeup of the Heel Stone: https://pics.librarything.com/picsizes/8d/74/8d74ed342c00cee6372362f6c41434b4171...
It looks like it has a face! :P

142Familyhistorian
Oct 12, 2015, 8:33 pm

>136 Jackie_K: I really enjoyed being in Northants, Jackie. I was at a conference so got to stay at the university. I also visited Great Weldon, Kettering and Kilsby (my ancestor, the Rev. Thomas Strange was the nonconformist minister of Kilsby for ages and is buried in his church). It was great seeing the county and following in my family's footsteps.

143Familyhistorian
Oct 12, 2015, 8:36 pm

>137 rabbitprincess: Thanks for the photos of Stonehenge. I have never been there so I didn't know how well the fencing was done. I had just heard that people could no longer walk amongst the stones as they had once been able to.

144Familyhistorian
Oct 12, 2015, 8:37 pm

>141 rabbitprincess: That does look like a face!

145rabbitprincess
Oct 12, 2015, 9:54 pm

>143 Familyhistorian: Yes, they decided to put up the fencing because they were worried about the site being damaged, and because there may still be other archaeological finds to discover. But even without being able to walk among the stones, it was still thrilling, probably because it's such an iconic image. I was worried it would feel fake or tacky in person, but fortunately it did not.

According to the English Heritage website, they do allow access to the stone circle at some times, but only outside normal operating hours and it has to be booked in advance. I imagine the solstices are popular dates to do that.

146Familyhistorian
Oct 12, 2015, 11:15 pm

>145 rabbitprincess: I will have to make it a point to see Stonehenge on one of my trips.

147Familyhistorian
Oct 12, 2015, 11:21 pm

51. The Blue Last by Martha Grimes

The Blue Last has been on my shelf for as long as it has been out in paperback – what 13 or 14 years? I used to devour Grimes’ mysteries but then I just stopped. The strange notes at the beginning and the unforeseen and the seemingly unfinished ending reminded me why I stopped. Not sure if I will continue – I guess I should check my shelves first to see if there are any more Grimes lurking there before I decide.

148avanders
Edited: Oct 13, 2015, 10:46 am

>137 rabbitprincess: (et al. ;)) so cool! Stonehenge is another one of those on my long bucket list.... :)
(along w/ the Easter Island Stone Heads... and their bodies!)

149Familyhistorian
Oct 13, 2015, 11:28 pm

>148 avanders: I thought there were just heads on Easter Island. Are there bodies too?

150avanders
Oct 14, 2015, 11:24 am

>149 Familyhistorian: apparently there are! I put a link in >148 avanders: "and their bodies" is a link to the snopes page discussing it. See also this article.

151Familyhistorian
Oct 15, 2015, 12:08 am

>150 avanders: Very interesting to see the bodies!

152Familyhistorian
Edited: Oct 15, 2015, 12:11 am

52. Ambrose Bierce and the Queen of Spades by Oakley Hall

One more mystery done, one more ROOT finished. Ambrose Bierce and the Queen of Spades showed San Francisco in the early days when the railroad monopoly wielded power. It worked as an historical novel but not really as a mystery.

153connie53
Edited: Oct 15, 2015, 1:54 pm

>141 rabbitprincess: You are right about the face! But I can see faces in lots of things like the tiles on the floor of my bathroom.

>148 avanders: Ohhh, WOW! That's really interesting. But why was there no previous digging done to see how they were placed there! That's what I was thinking.

154avanders
Oct 15, 2015, 2:58 pm

>151 Familyhistorian: and >153 connie53: I know, so crazy! I never even wondered if there were bodies! Then all of a sudden, one day, bodies.
I don't know why people never dug before.. maybe they just thought like me.. whoa, those heads are cool ... and never got beyond it ;)

155Familyhistorian
Oct 16, 2015, 12:57 am

>153 connie53: >154 avanders: I think we just got so used to photos of the heads that we thought that was all there was. After all we never got close enough to one to dig below the surface but you would think that archaeologists would have looked before now - they are always digging stuff up!

156connie53
Oct 16, 2015, 1:45 pm

>155 Familyhistorian: That is what I mean, Meg. Those lazy archaeologists ;-))

157Familyhistorian
Oct 17, 2015, 12:23 am

>156 connie53: Lazy or maybe they couldn't talk anybody into paying for them to dig.

158connie53
Oct 17, 2015, 6:37 am

>157 Familyhistorian: That could be true too!

159Familyhistorian
Oct 18, 2015, 2:12 am

>158 connie53: I wonder how many other things are out there that weren't fully explored because of lazy/underfunded archaeologists?

160Tess_W
Edited: Oct 18, 2015, 1:12 pm

>152 Familyhistorian: I have a CD of some of Bierce's writings (short stories) and except for one I would fathom to say that you are indeed correct, more historical fiction than anything else.

161Familyhistorian
Oct 18, 2015, 2:15 pm

>160 Tess_W: Hmm, it would have been good to know that going in, Tess. If I had been thinking historical fiction from the get go maybe I wouldn't have spent time waiting for the mystery to be solved - which it wasn't.

162avanders
Oct 18, 2015, 3:27 pm

>156 connie53: >157 Familyhistorian: lol yeah, lazy ;)

>159 Familyhistorian: great question... probably SO much

163Familyhistorian
Oct 18, 2015, 5:25 pm

>162 avanders: I am just thankful that they uncover what they do, Ava. I enjoyed seeing a lot of their finds when I visited the British Museum.

164avanders
Oct 19, 2015, 12:16 pm

165connie53
Oct 23, 2015, 1:23 pm

>159 Familyhistorian: That's a very good question! And I agree with >162 avanders: . Probably a lot, but they have to leave something to discover and excavate for future Archaeologists. LOL

166Familyhistorian
Oct 25, 2015, 1:20 am

>165 connie53: Sometimes it is better when things are discovered later when techniques and practices have evolved. So it is good to leave things for future generations to uncover.

167avanders
Oct 26, 2015, 10:23 pm

>165 connie53: lol good point!

>166 Familyhistorian: ooh another good point! So we don't ruin things w/ our clumsy 21st century machinery ;)

168Familyhistorian
Oct 29, 2015, 12:46 am

>167 avanders: But then again, new discoveries are needed all the time to keep everybody interested in the past and to keep the archaeologists in practice!

169Familyhistorian
Oct 29, 2015, 12:48 am

53. A Red Herring without Mustard by Alan Bradley

The Flavia de Luce mysteries continue to be an interesting twist on the village murder mystery. A Red Herring without Mustard brings in to play an obscure religious sect, a missing baby and a fortune telling gypsy. What really happened years ago when a young child went missing? It is up to Flavia to find out.

170avanders
Oct 29, 2015, 11:23 am

>168 Familyhistorian: also true... and odd how it actually happens! At some point... it seems like at some point we should have discovered everything physical... but then the world seems to be ever-changing, doesn't it...

171Familyhistorian
Oct 29, 2015, 11:59 pm

>170 avanders: Sometimes the changes lead to new discoveries when grounds erode and uncover things that were previously buried.

172Familyhistorian
Oct 30, 2015, 12:54 am

54. The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance - What Women Should Know by Katty Kay & Claire Shipman

I read a non-fiction ROOT from my shelves. The Confidence Code is a wide ranging study of confidence or the lack of confidence in women. It was very well done.

173Familyhistorian
Oct 31, 2015, 2:31 am

55. A Most Contagious Game by Catherine Aird

One more October ROOT. Thomas Harding, the invalid hero of A Most Contagious Game, brings to mind the bedridden Inspector Grant of Daughter of Time. Aird’s novel is also a well written classic murder mystery.

174Jackie_K
Oct 31, 2015, 4:56 am

>173 Familyhistorian: The title just sounds so very British! As soon as I read it I 'heard' it in a 1950s BBC continuity accent!

175Familyhistorian
Oct 31, 2015, 7:48 pm

>174 Jackie_K: That's about the right era, Jackie. But the book was first published in 1967 (I guess that accent lasted for a while!)

176Familyhistorian
Edited: Oct 31, 2015, 8:08 pm

56. Dark Angel/Lord Carew's Bride by Mary Balogh

I spoke too soon, this is my last ROOT for October and it is two books in one. Dark Angel/Lord Carew’s Bride are two earlier Balogh romances which have been reprinted as one book.

177Familyhistorian
Nov 1, 2015, 12:56 am

I thought I would be good with two ROOTs threads for 2015 but this one is getting too long. Time for a new thread for the last months of 2015.
This topic was continued by Familyhistorian ROOTs again 3.