rabbitprincess travels through time and space in 2018

As some of you may know, I'm a huge Doctor Who fan. In 2017 I had the honour of meeting the then-current Doctor, Peter Capaldi. Having met him while he was flying the TARDIS added a whole new dimension (HAR!) to the episodes. To hang on to that fuzzy feeling a while longer, I've based my challenge on the titles of the episodes that make up Series 10 (Peter's last season) of Doctor Who.



The Pilot - general fiction
Smile - graphic novels etc.
Thin Ice - history non-fiction
Knock Knock - audiobooks and mysteries
Oxygen - plays
Extremis - français
The Pyramid at the End of the World - history fiction
The Lie of the Land - non-fiction
Empress of Mars - SFF
The Eaters of Light - Scotland, Ireland, Wales (Celtic cultures)
World Enough and Time - rereads
The Doctor Falls - group reads

ROOT ticker:




The 2018 Pool:



The BingoDOG:

The Pilot - General fiction

The Pilot is a soft reboot of the series, and as such is a good episode for newcomers to Who. Bill is curious about time travel but at the same time is genre-savvy, so she's not coming into this adventure cold.

This episode contains the Doctor running "like a penguin with his arse on fire" (as described by Bill).

1. Occupied City, by David Peace
2. Those Who Walk Away, by Patricia Highsmith
3. The Power, by Naomi Alderman
4. Campbell's Kingdom, by Hammond Innes
5. The Birds and Other Stories, by Daphne du Maurier

Smile - Graphic novels, short story collections, essays... all the little weird books

This episode features the Emojibots, which are more menacing than they sound. It also features a prize-winning skeptical emoji that I would like to just wear over my face all the time.

1. Heart and Brain: Body Language, by The Awkward Yeti
2. Norse Mythology, by Neil Gaiman
3. Women & Power: A Manifesto, by Mary Beard
4. Kipling: A Selection of His Stories and Poems Volume 1, by Rudyard Kipling
5. You're All Just Jealous of My Jetpack, by Tom Gauld
6. The Hare Book, by Jane Russ
7. Baking with Kafka, by Tom Gauld

Thin Ice - historical non-fiction

The Doctor and Bill visit the Frost Fair of 1814. Love this one!

1. Curse of the Narrows: The Halifax Explosion 1917, by Laura M. MacDonald
2. Why Spencer Perceval Had to Die: The Assassination of a British Prime Minister, by Andro Linklater
3. The Butchering Art: Joseph Lister's Quest to Transform the World of Grisly Victorian Medicine, by Lindsey Fitzharris

Knock Knock - Audiobooks and mysteries

This episode features David Suchet (POIROT!) as a mysterious figure called the Landlord. The BBC produced a special binaural soundtrack for this episode to maximize the creepiness factor of the creaky old house that plays a key role in the episode.

Also using this for mysteries because I TOTALLY FORGOT TO INCLUDE A CATEGORY FOR THEM. It works because David Suchet = Poirot.

Audiobooks
1. The Diary of River Song, Series 1 (Big Finish audio drama)
2. At Home: A Short History of Private Life, by Bill Bryson (read by Bill Bryson)
3. The Diary of River Song, Series 2 (Big Finish audio drama)

Mysteries

MysteryCAT
January (Nordic mysteries) Oblivion, by Arnaldur Indriðason
February (Female cops/sleuths/detectives) Speak Ill of the Dead, by Mary Jane Maffini
March (Global mysteries) L'Affaire Saint-Fiacre, by Georges Simenon
April (Classic and Golden Age mysteries) Malice Aforethought, by Francis Iles
May (Mysteries involving transit) Mystery in the Channel, by Freeman Wills Crofts
June (True crime) The Massey Murder, by Charlotte Gray
July (Police procedurals) Murder at the Savoy, by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö
August (Historical mysteries) Bertie and the Seven Bodies, by Peter Lovesey
September (Noir and hardboiled) The Getaway, by Jim Thompson
October (Espionage) The Spy Who Came In from the Cold, by John le Carré
November (Cozy mysteries) Mrs. Pollifax Pursued, by Dorothy Gilman
December (Futuristic and fantastical mysteries) The Hanging Tree, by Ben Aaronovitch

Other mysteries
1. The Dead House, by Harry Bingham
2. The Shadow District, by Arnaldur Indridason (translated by Victoria Cribb)
3. Beau Death, by Peter Lovesey

Oxygen - plays

This was the first episode I saw after meeting Peter (it aired that very night)...high stakes, great social commentary, and an emotional depth made even deeper by the fact that I had seen Peter in actual person. So it makes sense as the category where I put my plays (which are often best experienced in a live theatre setting).

1. The Colony of Unrequited Dreams, by Robert Chafe
2. Cause Célèbre, by Terence Rattigan
3.

Extremis - livres en français; books about language, translation, writing, and books

This episode features the Pope, somehow speaking Italian without the benefit of the Tardis interpreting for him. I chose this for my French category because of the multiple languages used in the episode and the translation problem that crops up.

Livres en français
1. L'Affaire Saint-Fiacre, by Georges Simenon
2.

Books about language, translation, writing, and books
1. Track Changes: A Literary History of Word Processing, by Matthew G. Kirschenbaum
2. Never Use Futura, by Douglas Thomas
3. The Subversive Copy Editor, by Carol Fisher Saller

The Pyramid at the End of the World - historical fiction

There's a 5000-year-old pyramid in the desert. But it wasn't there yesterday. Who put it there, and why?

Hopefully my historical fiction reads in this category will take fewer liberties ;)

1. Girl Waits with Gun, by Amy Stewart
2. The North Water, by Ian McGuire
3. The Miller's Dance, by Winston Graham

The Lie of the Land - general non-fiction

This episode has some excellent commentary on truth and the ability to distinguish fake news from real. Hoping my non-fiction reads will teach me some truths and help me fill gaps in my knowledge that will in turn help me think more critically.

1. Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Music and the Sixties, by Ian MacDonald
2. Have Not Been the Same: The CanRock Renaissance 1985-1995, by Michael Barclay, Ian A.D. Jack, and Jason Schneider (10th anniversary edition)
3. Usque Ad Mare: A History of the Canadian Coast Guard and Marine Services, by Thomas E. Appleton
4. Game Change: The Life and Death of Steve Montador, Brain Injuries, and the Future of the Game, by Ken Dryden
5. The Life of a Scilly Sergeant, by Colin Taylor

The Empress of Mars - SFF

The perfect SFF title. This episode features the Ice Warriors meeting British soldiers from the age of empire. The soldiers look like the ones in the Michael Caine movie Zulu.

1. The Diary of River Song, Series 1 (Big Finish audio drama)
2. Doctor Who: Sting of the Zygons, by Stephen Cole
3. American Gods, by Neil Gaiman
4. Doctor Who: The Resurrection Casket, by Justin Richards
5. The Diary of River Song, Series 2 (Big Finish audio drama)

The Eaters of Light - Scotland, Wales, Ireland, other Celtic cultures

This episode is set in Scotland at the time of the Ninth Legion and features a Pictish people (either Picts or precursors), making it a good excuse to dig out books related to Scotland...and other areas of Celtic culture.

1. The Last Highlander: Scotland's Most Notorious Clan-Chief, Rebel, and Double Agent, by Sarah Fraser
2. Arthurian Romances, by Chrétien de Troyes (reread)
3. Mortal Causes, by Ian Rankin

Ideas:
The Disorderly Knights, by Dorothy Dunnett
Nigel Tranter - MacGregor's Gathering
A History of Ancient Britain, by Neil Oliver
Ian Rankin
Denise Mina
Christopher Brookmyre
Val McDermid
Alistair MacLean
Walter Scott - Kenilworth
Craig Robertson - Witness the Dead

World Enough and Time - rereads

This is an amazing episode, bringing back a whole bunch of things. And the title works really well for a rereads category. Had I but world enough and time, I'd do a hell of a lot more rereading.

1. Arthurian Romances, by Chrétien de Troyes
2. Speak Ill of the Dead, by Mary Jane Maffini
3. The Complete Father Brown, by G.K. Chesterton
4. The Spy Who Came In from the Cold, by John le Carré
5.
6.

The Doctor Falls - Group reads

A group of humans and aliens (including Nardole and the Doctor) band together to fight the Mondasian Cybermen. Also, the Master and Missy band together to mess up the Doctor's plans.

This episode killed me, even more so because I was watching with my parents and couldn't cry in front of them :P

RandomCAT
January (Ack! I've been hit!) Quick Curtain, by Alan Melville
February (Laissez les bons temps rouler) Ten Days in Summer, by Susan Calder
March (Ripped from the Headlines) Spyworld: Inside the Canadian and American Intelligence Establishments, by Mike Frost
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

ColourCAT
January/Black: The Black Arrow, by Robert Louis Stevenson
February/Brown: The Complete Father Brown, by G.K. Chesterton
March/Green: 1921, by Morgan Llywelyn
April/Yellow: Nemesis, by Agatha Christie
May/Blue: The Disorderly Knights, by Dorothy Dunnett
June/Purple: Murder at the Savoy, by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö
July/Pink: The Hanging Tree, by Ben Aaronovitch
August/Grey: Grey Seas Under, by Farley Mowat
September/Metallic: Doctor Who and the Giant Robot, by Terrance Dicks
October/Orange: Designs on Life, by Elizabeth Ferrars
November/Red: Bloody Scotland (ed. Lin Anderson)
December/White: Cause Célèbre, by Terence Rattigan

Group/Shared Reads
February: The Grave's a Fine and Private Place, by Alan Bradley (shared with christina_reads)
April: The Canterbury Tales, by Geoffrey Chaucer
November: WW1
December: The Murder Mystery Xmas thread

Hi! What a pleasant surprise to find the 2018 group set up on my return from the holidays. Looking forward to learn more about your categories!

I can't wait to see the pictures that go with each of these categories!

>14 MissWatson: You're very welcome! I'm on holiday myself at the moment and won't be back for another week, so I'll flesh out the categories then.

>15 Jackie_K: It is a fair bet that many will involve P-Cap :D

Hello rabbitprincess. I will confess that your categories have me scratching my head, seeing as how this is the first time I have visited this particular group. I am going to be fascinated to watch yours fill in.
Good Reads girl. :-)

>17 rainpebble: Nice to see you here in the category challenge! The categories (posts 2 to 13) are named for the episodes of this past season of Doctor Who. Every year I use the same categories that cover everything I read, and I give them different names ;)

Thanks for setting up the group and I wish you success with 2018 cats and reading!

As I suspected...

>18 rabbitprincess: >20 christina_reads:

That Charlie Brown face is mine. **shakes head & leaves room to check out Netflix for Dr Who**

Looking forward to seeing the whole setup when you get back, RP. Also keeping my fingers crossed that there will be at least one picture of David Tennant in the mix. ;)

>19 majkia: You're welcome and thanks! A happy 2018 to you as well :)

>20 christina_reads: :D

>21 rainpebble: Have fun! There should be some classic and new Dr Who on US Netflix so you can try out lots of different episodes :)

>22 DeltaQueen50: I'll do what I can!

Doctor Who!

I need to get back to watching it. I stopped watching when the Silence came on the scene because I was home alone at night and it was scary. And then it went off Netflix which was even scarier. :(

>24 casvelyn: They removed ALL the seasons? :( At one point they had just stopped adding new ones after about Season 7.

The Weeping Angels creep me out the most. They featured in the interactive adventure at the Doctor Who Experience in Cardiff and I was practically trampling other people to get out of that section quickly. D:

>25 rabbitprincess: I just checked because it’s been awhile. There is no Doctor Who on Netflix. My parents have the DVD subscription in addition to the streaming service, so I guess I’ll have to hijack their account the next time they go on vacation.

So, sad Doctor Who story: Every time I go to Half Price Books, I look for Doctor Who and Star Trek. There’s never any there. The last time I went, they had every season of every version of Star Trek plus seasons 1-7 of Doctor Who. I had just enough money in the budget to buy one season of one show. So I got Doctor Who season 3.

I love the Weeping Angels! Blink is my most favorite episode yet!

>26 casvelyn: Season 4 might be my favourite. I love Donna and especially "The Fires of Pompeii" (which coincidentally enough features Mr. Capaldi...).

I haven't seen Dr Who since Peter Davison had the part. I'll look forward to an update via your 2018 reading!

>28 VivienneR: And this will be an interesting time for you to get an update -- the next Doctor is Jodie Whittaker! P-Cap's last episode is the Christmas special.

>29 rabbitprincess: I remember Jodie Whittaker from Broadchurch. I used to be a big Dr Who fan but then RL took over. Time for a re-visit.

Going through all your photos is making me want to rewatch the last season. But I don't have it. :(

>25 rabbitprincess: &>26 casvelyn:, seasons 1 through 9 are available to watch free on amazon prime, if you have that.

>31 virginiahomeschooler: The complete season 10 is supposed to be out on DVD soon, finally. I don't like when they release the season in two parts.

Now that we've chosen our CATs for the year, I've started building my 2018 pool. Never mind that I still have a perfectly good 2017 pool to dip into :D

>33 rabbitprincess: I have a stack on my nightstand of books I've pulled out for next year's challenge. I keep looking at it thinking, hmm maybe i should read that book now then telling myself I can't read those yet as they are designated for next year. I may need a 12 step program.

34 - I'm the opposite. I'm looking at books for next year, but saying No, I'll read that next month!

It will only be a few short weeks until we start buying books thinking they'll be great when we read them in 2019!

>34 virginiahomeschooler: The stack on my nightstand are books I've pulled off the shelves for this year's challenge - then changed my mind, read something else, and meanwhile the space on the shelves has mysteriously filled.

>37 VivienneR: Lol, yeah that does tend to happen.

>37 VivienneR: So glad to know I'm not the only one with the self-filling bookshelf problem!

>34 virginiahomeschooler: Me too! I've earmarked The Massey Murder for the "true crime" part of MysteryCAT and of course I want to read it right now! I'm intending to borrow it from my parents, though, and I won't be visiting until Christmas. If I can just hang on until then...

>35 cmbohn: Going through my TBR list has unearthed some interesting things. I want to read all the books at once!

>36 clue: Yes! So true.

>37 VivienneR: >38 virginiahomeschooler: >39 casvelyn: Oh yes my on-deck pile does that to me too! Nearly lost space for one of my Kipling books because I'd had it out forever.

Oh, what Kipling book are you reading? I just bought The Man Who Would Be King in a little Dover thrift edition.

>41 cmbohn: I was given two volumes of Kipling poems and selected stories that belonged to my grandfather: Volume 1 and Volume 2 Between them they contain The Man Who Would Be King, The Jungle Book, and Kim, among other things.

I love all of those stories! You're in for a treat.

Thanks for setting up the 2018 group! It's good to see Peter Capaldi back on your thread and I look forward to following along. :)

>43 cmbohn: I am most looking forward to reading them in that particular edition :)

>44 Chrischi_HH: You're welcome! There is always room for Peter (and David Morrissey, and Benedict Cumberbatch, and and and...) on my thread :D

I'm impressed with your advance planning for the ColourCAT. So well organised.

>46 MissWatson: I was feeling particularly procrastinatey that evening ;)

LOVE the theme! So fun, and you have really put a lot of thought into choosing the categories and the images.

>48 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie! Not sure how I managed to completely omit a mystery category when I first set up the theme, but it ended up working out :)

I knew there was a reason I waited for you to finish "dressing" your categories! What fabulous pics of the outgoing Dr. ;-)

Your theme is so creative! I especially like "Audiobooks and Mysteries" - I had to take a second look to find Poirot!

>50 lkernagh: Thanks, Lori! They are indeed fabulous pics.

>51 VivienneR: Yes, David Suchet looks so different without the moustache! :)

Dr. Who titles make fun categories indeed. I'm really looking forward to the next season and a new doctor. Allons-y!

Finally getting around to checking out next years threads and setting my stars. First - thanks for taking over the setting up of the group. Looks like you got your categories all set and some interesting reads for next year. I'm thinking of finally getting to Le Carre myself (I can never remember how to get that caret over the "e". Pretend it's there.

>53 mamzel: I'm looking forward to seeing Jodie as well! Hope she gets to keep her Northern accent :) And yes I had fun contorting my usual reading diet into the parameters of these titles!

>54 dudes22: You're very welcome! I consider this group my home base on LT, so it's a pleasure to have set it up. Hope you enjoy le Carré!

Checking in, princess! Look at how organized you are. I'm just starting to think about my next thread and have done nothing towards setting it up.
I know you are a big Tennant fan. Have you been watching "Broadchurch"? I just finished the third season yesterday.

>56 mstrust: I've watched all of season 1 and most of season 2. The courtroom drama stressed me out too much though, so I ended up looking up the ending on Wikipedia. Am undecided on watching season 3. If I could have only the bits with Miller and Hardy bickering with each other, I'd watch that ;)

I am sooooo looking forward to Good Omens! Need to get a new copy of the book though so I can eventually re-read it. I had an old mass market paperback and (foolishly, as it turns out) gave it away.

Ha! Well, season 3 doesn't have any courtrooms in it, and though there is a horrific crime, there's no murder. But if you've had enough of the Latimer family, they are still very much in it. Hardy and Miller do bicker their way along though.

De-lurking to say that I'm so excited for Good Omens, too! I'm a huge Gaiman fan, and the casting is amazing.

>58 mstrust: The Latimers are fine, and I am looking forward to seeing Beth pilot the Tardis! ;) I just get stressed out watching courtroom drama in general.

>59 scaifea: Howdy! Yes! I cannot WAIT to see how David Tennant and Michael Sheen play off each other. I've had a soft spot for Michael Sheen ever since watching The Damned United.

Yassssss. Love the Doctor Who theme!

I thoroughly enjoyed the Christmas special! I can't wait for the new season with a new Doctor!

The Christmas special was fantastic.

>61 andreablythe: Thanks, Andrea!

>62 mamzel: I had to record it and watched it on Boxing Day morning (Dec 26). I enjoyed it, but I will miss Peter terribly. I was weeping periodically for the rest of the day.

>63 Zozette: They seemed to have a lot of fun putting it all together!

****

Peter Capaldi dressed up in Jon Pertwee's velvet jacket from Planet of the Daleks on his last day on set. He looks SO HAPPY! :D And because I'm still a bit cut up about the Christmas special, I started crying all over again. :')

http://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2017-12-29/peter-capaldi-dressed-up-as-the-thi...

>64 rabbitprincess:
Ahh, his joy is adorable.

>65 andreablythe: Isn't it just! That's exactly the look I'd have on my face if I were to try on his jacket ;)

****

Perhaps not surprisingly for this challenge, my first book is a Doctor Who book.

The Diary of River Song, Series 1 (Big Finish audio drama)
Category: Empress of Mars, Knock Knock
Source: Big Finish
Rating: 4.5/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/143937116

I loved this! River is one of my favourite characters, and my only regret is that she didn't get much screen time with P-Cap. Perhaps Big Finish will pair them up in a future series of River's diaries? This was a great collection that made cleaning out cupboards way more enjoyable.

Loving the Doctor Who categories and the photos of Peter Capaldi and Pearl Mackie. I'm not sure if I spelled her last name right. I really like Bill as a companion and was so happy to see her return in the Christmas special (even if it wasn't really her).
I agree with Judy -- this thread needs David Tennant pics. And Matt Smith pics.
>32 rabbitprincess: I am also not a fan of the DVDs being split into two parts. I thought it worked for the series that was part Amy/Rory and part Clara. After that I think it's just the BBC being greedy.
Looking forward to seeing your 2018 reads -- I see a few Doctor Who titles in your photo collage above.

Despite initially forgetting a dedicated mystery category, you've been able to fit mysteries in nearly every other one. I'll be doing the same.

>67 VioletBramble: I loved Bill too! I loved that she was curious and open to exploration but also very aware of how dangerous space travel could be.

>68 pamelad: Yes, I like to use mysteries to fill the CAT challenges as a way of easing the pressure on my main mystery category :)

****

As requested by VioletBramble and DeltaQueen50, here is a photo of David Tennant (on the cover of my latest Doctor Who book):



Doctor Who: Sting of the Zygons, by Stephen Cole
Category: Empress of Mars
Source: library
Rating: 4/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/149077609

Zygons are a classic monster, and I enjoyed both their creepiness and the setting (the beautiful Lake District in England). Also, Martha rules! All in all a good Doctor Who story.

>69 rabbitprincess: Thank you!

>70 DeltaQueen50: I enjoy the fact that he's doing a Capaldi-esque hand gesture :D

****

Another cold weekend in store for Ottawa. Temperatures in the mid-minus-20s and windchills another 10 degrees below that. Sounds like the perfect time to do a bunch of reading and reviewing!

Revolution in the Head: The Beatles’ Music and the Sixties, by Ian MacDonald
Category: The Lie of the Land
Source: Chaptigo
Rating: 5/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/130901632

I found out about this book from an article about the best Beatles books and would concur with the article's sentiments. This is an excellent, thorough analysis of all the Beatles' songs and will have you "getting back" to well-loved tunes and ones that hadn't crossed your mind in years.

The Colony of Unrequited Dreams, by Robert Chafe
Category: Oxygen
Source: library
Rating: 3.5/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/148693508

This is the stage adaptation of Wayne Johnston's excellent novel. Read the novel first. The play does a fine job of distilling the book to its essence, but if you have to choose between the two, go for the book!

The Beatles sounds really good and my local library actually has it.

Stay warm!

>71 rabbitprincess: I loved Johnston's book. I think I'll give the stage adaptation a pass.

>69 rabbitprincess: Yay! And Martha! She's one of my favorite companions.

>72 hailelib: The introduction is kind of boring, but the actual analysis of the Beatles' songs is top-notch. Get the third edition, if you have a choice of editions.

>73 lkernagh: Thanks, Lori! We're going up to 7 degrees tomorrow! :O

>74 thornton37814: Probably a good call. The play itself was great, though. And I'm thinking I'll have to read The Custodian of Paradise sometime soon. Also I need a copy of First Snow, Last Light.

>75 VioletBramble: Martha is great! I'm glad she has more adventures through these books.

****

Good news: the Rideau Canal opened on the weekend!
Bad news: it's closing temporarily because we're getting freezing rain overnight, and tomorrow the high temperature will be about 7 degrees with rain.

We can't really win, weather-wise, can we?

Fortunately, crappy weather of either type (cold and windy or warm and rainy) is perfect for getting some books read.

Quick Curtain, by Alan Melville
Category: The Doctor Falls (January RandomCAT)
Source: Blackwell’s, Oxford, England
Rating: 4/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/146093188

I read this for the January RandomCAT (as a book bullet from christina_reads and LittleTaiko) and enjoyed it very much. I loved the narrative tone and the interplay between Wilson Sr. and Wilson Jr. Recommended for fans of light theatre-based mysteries.

Occupied City, by David Peace
Category: The Pilot
Source: library
Rating: 3/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/work/8519655/reviews/148161943

This is billed as the second installment in the "Tokyo Trilogy", but you don't need to have read the first book (Tokyo Year Zero). It's set in Japan after WW2, during the Occupation, and the same story is told from multiple viewpoints. This is about as experimental as I get with my fiction, and I didn't quite finish the book, but it was a worthwhile experiment for me.

Found and starred your thread :)

I am a Doctor Who fan too btw. It is made near where I live.

>77 sirfurboy: What fun to be able to go around and recognize corners where the TARDIS appeared and Galeks exterminated people!

>77 sirfurboy: Thanks for dropping by! It must be so cool to see an alien planet and recognize it for somewhere closer to home. Do they ever do casting calls for extras? :D

>78 mamzel: I know eh? And to see them filming would be pretty cool too.

>78 mamzel: and >79 rabbitprincess:

Yes it is interesting. In one series there was an alien hospital rendered in CGI right on top of a camp site on the Gower that I went to often (I presume they rendered it there as that was the only sign of habitation on that shore, and so they hid the signs of humanity behind the alien CGI). Torchwood and the Sarah Jane Adventures were also filmed in Cardiff too of course, and Amgueddfa Cymru/National Museum of Wales often hosts filming at some of their sites, which is interesting because I worked on some projects with staff there who hosted the film crews. The Amgueddfa Cymru staff particularly liked the Sarah Jane Adventures crew, who were apparently lovely in every way (and they had no complaints about the others).

They also use various Cadw (Welsh Heritage) sites that I am quite familiar with. A lot of these were also used by the series "Merlin" and it can be fun comparing when the same location is used in each.

Many of the scenes that are meant to be London are, in fact, in Cardiff, so familiarity with Cardiff city often leads to recognition of locations.

I am sure they do use extras, but I am just a little too far away for me to consider that. Another series filmed right on my doorstep (almost literally - a neighbour's house features in the series) is Hinterland (Y Gwyll in Welsh). This is on Netflix and friends of mine have indeed appeared as extras in this series, although I have never felt like putting my name forward for it.

Napa Valley is also often used as a backdrop but they don't seem to use my supermarket, gas station, or the school where I work. Wonder why!

>80 sirfurboy: Oh yes, I recognized the big staircases at either side of the main lobby in the National Museum of Wales! Both Doctor Who and Sherlock have used those staircases, I think.

Hinterland is on my Netflix list!

>81 mamzel: Obviously the solution is for you to write a screenplay that specifically features those locations ;)

Back to cold weather this weekend. Yesterday the temperature dropped about 20 degrees in 5 hours! It was not a great day: rain in the morning, flash freeze in the afternoon, and snow in the evening. We were on the edge of a major winter storm so didn't see nearly as much snow as Montreal was supposed to, fortunately, but it certainly made travel trickier than it would be otherwise.

I've been reading two by two it seems!

The Black Arrow, by Robert Louis Stevenson
Category: The Doctor Falls (January ColourCAT)
Source: library book sale
Rating: 3/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/112662878

Not amazing, but not terrible. RLS is certainly not a Ricardist, if his footnotes and word choices are anything to go by. Kidnapped was better.

The Last Highlander: Scotland’s Most Notorious Clan-Chief, Rebel and Double Agent, by Sarah Fraser
Category: The Eaters of Light
Source: library
Rating: 2.5/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/149077635

This was a bit of a slog, writing-wise, and I ended up returning it to the library unfinished. I'd already renewed it once and have a lot of other books to get through, so I decided to cut my losses.

>83 rabbitprincess: You had footnotes in The Black Arrow? My edition did not. What did he say?

>84 MissWatson: A couple of examples, one more factual, one displaying the non-Ricardist POV.

"I gave you fifty lances,* sir," he said.
*Technically, the term "lance" included a not quite certain number of foot soldiers attached to the man-at-arms.

Dick, returning this scrutiny, was surprised to find in one who had displayed such strength, skill, and energy, a lad no older than himself -- slightly deformed, with one shoulder higher than the other, and of a pale, painful, and distorted countenance.*
*Richard Crookback would have been really far younger at this date.

>71 rabbitprincess: Lookout, BB! Revolution in the Head: The Beatles’ Music and the Sixties, by Ian MacDonald isn't in the local library collection. I'll put a "suggestion" in the box.

>86 VivienneR: I hope your library is able to acquire it somehow! The third edition was published in the early 2000s, but there may be a reprint available that the library can purchase.

****

A highly productive weekend around these parts. Today I finished two books and made headway on my audio of Bill Bryson's At Home: A Short History of Private Life, which I listened to while doing a spot of tidying.

The Dead House, by Harry Bingham
Category: Knock Knock
Source: library
Rating: 4.5/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/149739857

This is #5 in the Fiona Griffiths series. Both book and series are highly recommended.

Heart and Brain: Body Language, by The Awkward Yeti
Category: Smile
Source: Chaptigo
Rating: 4/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/150152852

An impulse purchase at Chapters on Friday; I was downtown waiting out the traffic and decided to browse. This is a fun comic strip and a delightful book to have on one's shelves.

>87 rabbitprincess: I might have to go with Interlibrary Loans instead.

>85 rabbitprincess: Thank you! I recognize the second, but not the first of the notes. I think I'll check out another edition sometime, just to satisfy my nerdy instincts, but I can't contemplate a complete re-read.

>88 VivienneR: ILL should do it. Chapters also has it in stock online ;)

>89 MissWatson: That's weird that different editions would have different footnotes! If you do come across another edition, it would be interesting to compare.

We're getting the same crazy weather swings in our part of Ontario too! I hope you'll get some time skating on the canal this winter.

I must say I am intrigued by The Awkward Yeti after following your touchstone!

>91 mathgirl40: The canal reopened on Tuesday, but people will probably have to hurry! Just saw on the news that the forecast for Saturday is a high of 4.

The Awkward Yeti is a fun comic! I relate so much to Brain. :)

>90 rabbitprincess: I broke my new year resolution (about limiting book purchases) and bought a copy of Revolution in the Head. The rationale is that my son and daughter-in-law will enjoy it too.

>92 rabbitprincess: I relate so much to Brain. So do I. So so so much.

I like Gallbladder too, but he makes me sad. I had to have mine out a few years ago, and now I think that he was just trying to help Liver by making stones and then I went and kicked him out. (I justify it by reminding myself that my gallbladder didn't make stones, he quit working entirely, and laziness is a trait I find intolerable, and also he tried to kill me in the process.)

Why yes, I anthropomorphize my internal organs and it's all Awkward Yeti's fault. :)

>93 VivienneR: Then it's really only 1/3 of a new book for you! ;) Enjoy!

>94 casvelyn: Yes, he is achingly adorable :) I'm sorry that yours gave you so much trouble (and was not even cute about it).

And I too anthropomorphize my internal organs thanks to this comic. My other favourite comic in that regard is Sarah's Scribbles. It was so validating to see someone else portray their uterus as a malignant sentient being! :P

I totally need to check out The Awkward Yeti after reading the comments posted to this thread!

>96 lkernagh: Yes! It's light-hearted and very true. Hope you like it!

****

It's been a productive weekend on the reading front. Finished three books!

American Gods, by Neil Gaiman
Category: The Empress of Mars
Source: library
Rating: 4/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/149875441

I read this because my cousin had been reading it, and because of the TV series with Ian McShane as Mr. Wednesday. My cousin ended up bailing on this book, so I was apprehensive, but I ended up really liking it! There were a couple of bits I could have done without, but the book as a whole is ambitious and thought-provoking and unexpectedly funny in places.

Doctor Who: The Resurrection Casket, by Justin Richards
Category: The Empress of Mars
Source: library
Rating: 3/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/149815461

Not the most memorable of Doctor Who novels. I'd read this before in audio but had no recollection of the plot! Oh well.

Curse of the Narrows: The Halifax Explosion 1917, by Laura M. MacDonald
Category: Thin Ice
Source: Bookmark, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Rating: 4/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/141574612

I bought this in Halifax last year to mark the 100th anniversary of the Halifax Explosion. This book in particular illustrates, on a chemical/molecular level, why the explosion was so devastating, and the potential for confusion when the rules of navigation are given local interpretations or there are language barriers among the crew and pilots. Well worth reading for a comprehensive overview of the Explosion.

That's a shame about Doctor Who: The Resurrection Casket. I have it on my wishlist. I think it may be the last one with ten and Rose that I haven't read.

Have you read Shada? Doctor Who and Douglas Adams... what can be more perfect? It was great!

I now have Curse of the Narrows in page and e-book. I really need to open one up at some point. I saw the movie many years ago and it was pretty good (and scary).

>97 rabbitprincess: Oh, yay for the Gaiman! I LOVE that one. Added bonus: I live only about 20 minutes from The House on the Rock.

I got a notification from Barnes and Noble today saying that a credit I have is due to expire soon. I was thinking about spending part of it on 12 Doctors, 12 Stories and was wondering if you'd read it, and if so what you thought.

Even though I've read Blizzard of Glass I've put Curse of the Narrows on my wishlist.

>98 virginiahomeschooler: If you can get it on sale or with a gift card, it might be worth it. I borrowed the print copy from the library and the audio was a gift from a friend, so I do think I got what I paid for ;)

>99 Yells: Oh yes, Shada was excellent! :)

>100 scaifea: Nice! You'll have an even more vivid picture in your head. My most vivid picture was of Ian McShane as Mr. Wednesday. (He is quite possibly the reason I finally decided to pick this up.)

>101 virginiahomeschooler: I received it as a gift from my friend a couple of Christmases ago. Overall, I liked it. Some stories were better than others, obviously, but they were all at least good. The box set is nice, especially because it comes with art cards of all 12 covers :)

>102 hailelib: And now I have to read Blizzard of Glass!

>97 rabbitprincess: I gave Curse of the Narrows five stars. Interesting how aid was so quick in coming 100 years ago when there were no cell phones or government disaster agencies. It was a great read.

>103 rabbitprincess: What I was looking at was the eBook. I couldn't find it as a physical box set.

>104 mysterymax: The content was certainly good! My particular print copy had some weird typesetting issues, and I would have liked bigger photos. It is amazing how quickly they were able to send help, also because of the big blizzard that came quickly on the heels of the explosion!

>105 virginiahomeschooler: Hm, I dunno if it would be as nice in an ebook. Book Depository has the gift set: https://www.bookdepository.com/Doctor-Who-12-Doctors-12-Stories-Various/97801413...

>106 rabbitprincess: Thanks. I'd definitely pefer the physical set.

>107 virginiahomeschooler: Good call!

****

I worked from home yesterday because of the freezing rain, so I ended up getting a fair bit of reading done over the past day and a half (if I don't have to make a lunch the night before, that's even more reading time!).

Those Who Walk Away, by Patricia Highsmith
Category: The Pilot
Source: library
Rating: 3.5/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/149815572

This one had me thinking of Don't Look Now, probably because of the fact that two female suspense writers chose to set stories in Venice. I thought Don't Look Now was spookier, but this was pretty good. It was definitely an unusual plot. (WTF, Coleman?)

Also, my BF saw this book on the table and started singing "The Gambler", by Kenny Rogers, so I've had that in my head for days. Thanks a lot.

Nemesis, by Agatha Christie
Category: The Doctor Falls (April ColourCAT)
Source: parents
Rating: 3/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/139917335

This is allegedly a re-read, but it was a long time ago and I think my memories of it bleed together with The Sittaford Mystery for some reason. Anyway, this isn't bad, but there was no reason to keep accusing modern girls of falsely reporting rape :-/

Since I lurk in your thread here, I thought I'd drop by and let you know that I FINALLY got around to reading your Go-Review-That-Book assignment. And, honestly, I don't know how I feel about The Graveyard Book! I am glad that you pushed me to finally getting around to reading it, and I did write a full review, and may revise it in a few days, but thought I'd pop by to let you know :)

>109 whitewavedarling: You're very welcome! That's what I really like about the Go Review That Book group -- you never know what you're going to get!

It's the 24 in 48 readathon this weekend, but I haven't actually been doing that much reading! Less than 6 h total as of this typing. Too many distractions. But I did finish one book and read another from start to finish yesterday, so that's pretty good.

Norse Mythology, by Neil Gaiman
Category: Smile
Source: library, via Overdrive
Rating: 4/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/150455822

I read this earlier in the week but hadn't had a chance to review it yet. Recommended as a retelling -- I laughed out loud several times (particularly with regard to the story about poetry being introduced to the world). Borrowed this but might have to get my own copy.

Track Changes: A Literary History of Word Processing, by Matthew G. Kirschenbaum
Category: Extremis
Source: library
Rating: 4/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/149875546

Recommended for those interested in how writers have assimilated new technologies into their writing process. The writing has a more academic tone than your average book-about-books (or about writers), but the content is worth checking out. It may inspire you to dig out your old computers and see what kind of stuff is lurking on the hard drives ;)

Girl Waits with Gun, by Amy Stewart
Category: The Pyramid at the End of the World
Source: library
Rating: 4/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/149952834

This was an impulse borrow from the library, as opposed to a requested hold, although it was on my to-read list. I enjoyed it very much -- I read the whole thing in about two and a half hours -- and am looking forward to picking up the next book sometime.

>111 rabbitprincess: - I've had the second book in the Amy Stewart series on loan from the library for a shamefully long time now. The third book is probably out by this point.

>112 LittleTaiko: Yep, Miss Kopp's Midnight Confessions. :)

Speaking of new books, the library website informs me that I have the new Flavia de Luce in transit! The Grave's a Fine and Private Place

>113 rabbitprincess: Ooh, same here! I look forward to trading thoughts on Flavia's latest adventures with you.

>114 christina_reads: Yay! Let me know when you have your copy and we can do a shared read! :)

>115 rabbitprincess: Apparently my hold is in from the library, so I'll plan to pick it up today. But I likely won't be able to start it until next week, since I'm currently in the middle of another book. I'm happy to do a shared read if you don't mind waiting! Or we can just discuss whenever we've both finished. I'm good with whatever! :)

>116 christina_reads: Just picked up mine! I can start next week :)

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Just sneaking in under the wire with two more reviews for January. The monthly stats are coming soon.

Why Spencer Perceval Had to Die: The Assassination of a British Prime Minister, by Andro Linklater
Category: Thin Ice
Source: library
Rating: 3/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/148926715

This will make a good warm-up read for The Miller's Dance, which is set beginning in 1812. I'm not sure how convinced I am by the premise (basically, it was a conspiracy), but it was an interesting read.

The Shadow District, by Arnaldur Indridason (translated by Victoria Cribb)
Category: Knock Knock
Source: library
Rating: 3.5/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/150048408

The first in the Reykjavík Wartime Mystery series, this ticks a fair number of boxes for me. This was a good solid mystery read, and I'll certainly pick up the next book in the series.

January recap

Starting off 2018 on a high note with 20 books read.

The Diary of River Song, Series 1 (Big Finish audio drama)
Sting of the Zygons, by Stephen Cole
Revolution in the Head: The Beatles’ Music and the Sixties, by Ian MacDonald
The Colony of Unrequited Dreams, by Robert Chafe
Quick Curtain, by Alan Melville
Occupied City, by David Peace
The Black Arrow, by Robert Louis Stevenson
The Last Highlander: Scotland's Most Notorious Clan-Chief, Rebel and Double-Agent, by Sarah Fraser (abandoned)
The Dead House, by Harry Bingham
Heart and Brain: Body Language, by The Awkward Yeti
American Gods, by Neil Gaiman
The Resurrection Casket, by Justin Richards
Curse of the Narrows: The Halifax Explosion 1917, by Laura M. MacDonald
Those Who Walk Away, by Patricia Highsmith
Nemesis, by Agatha Christie
Norse Mythology, by Neil Gaiman
Track Changes: A Literary History of Word Processing, by Matthew G. Kirschenbaum
Girl Waits with Gun, by Amy Stewart
Why Spencer Perceval Had to Die: The Assassination of a British Prime Minister, by Andro Linklater
The Shadow District, by Arnaldur Indridason (translated by Victoria Cribb)

My favourite book of the month was Revolution in the Head, by Ian MacDonald. It was wonderfully comprehensive and detailed, and I spent a lot of time revisiting Beatles songs as a result.

My least favourite book of the month was The Last Highlander. I had a hard time getting into the book and returned it to the library unfinished.

I read Quick Curtain for the RandomCAT and The Black Arrow for the ColourCAT. I also read my April ColourCAT selection (Nemesis).

And once again I had a mythical January, with American Gods *and* Norse Mythology.

Currently reading

Have Not Been the Same: The CanRock Renaissance 1985-1995, by Michael Barclay — I have two chapters left!!
At Home: A Short History of Private Life, by Bill Bryson — audio, read by Bill Bryson. Four discs to go! I have to put them on my phone first.
Kipling: A Selection of His Stories and Poems Volume 1, by Rudyard Kipling — I have about a week’s worth of Serial Reader of Kim left, and then I think I’ll call this book finished.
The Brothers Karamazov, by Fyodor Dostoevsky (translated by Constance Garnett) — Still reading on Serial Reader.
Arthurian Romances, by Chrétien de Troyes — a re-read from my university days. The first two were hard to get through, and I nearly rolled my eyes clean out of my head at Lancelot. Yvain’s story is good so far though.
Women & Power: A Manifesto, by Mary Beard — yay!!

February plans

Once I finish Have Not Been the Same, I’ll put The Complete Father Brown on my bedside table. It’s my selection for the February ColourCAT.

I also hope to finish At Home this month and pick a new audio. Probably another Doctor Who audio to cleanse the palate a bit!

On the library shelves:

The North Water, by Ian McGuire — requested after Judy reviewed it.
The Butchering Art, by Lindsey FitzHarris — medical history sounds good to me!
The Power, by Naomi Alderman — this will make a good combo with the Mary Beard book.
Never Use Futura, by Doug Thomas — I can never resist a book about fonts
Beau Death, by Peter Lovesey — I haven’t been keeping up with the Peter Diamond series, but this installment ties into the history of Bath, so I thought I’d check it out.
The Birds and Other Stories, by Daphne du Maurier — Looking forward to reading this after hearing the title story in audio.
The Hare Book, by Jane Russ — um YES I am going to request this type of book from the library. It’s produced by a British hare preservation trust.
Celtic Mythology, by Philip Freeman — a re-request. I will skip the part that retells the Mabinogion, because I have a book of that already.
You’re All Just Jealous of My Jetpack, by Tom Gauld — I love Tom Gauld! This will tide me over until Baking with Kafka comes in.
Bearing Witness: Journalists, Record Keepers and the 1917 Halifax Explosion, by Michael Dupuis — another re-request. This one ties in with Curse of the Narrows, which I read this month.
Mortal Causes, by Ian Rankin — if an older Rebus is available on the library shelves, I borrow it.
The Grave's a Fine and Private Place, by Alan Bradley -- new Flavia, hot off the press!
Game of Queens, by Sarah Gristwood -- non-fiction about the women who made 16th century Europe.
Game Change, by Ken Dryden -- a biography of Steve Montador, a former NHLer, through which Dryden explores the science surrounding concussions and what the NHL can do to reduce the number of players whose careers are destroyed by hits to the head and their after-effects.

>97 rabbitprincess: I took a BB for Curse of the Narrows!

>117 rabbitprincess: Now that I've completed the Erlendur series, I'm happy to see that there's more Arnaldur Indridason to read.

>118 rabbitprincess: A book about fonts? I'll be waiting for your comments!

A good month! Well done.

>118 rabbitprincess: A very impressive start to the year!

What a great reading month!

>119 mathgirl40: Excellent! I don't know what makes that event so fascinating to me, but it is. Re Erlendur, I still have Oblivion left and will probably read it sometime this year.

>120 MissWatson: Will report back ASAP!

>121 mysterymax: Thanks! I think River Song helped kick things off nicely.

>122 virginiahomeschooler: January is usually pretty good, especially because I'm not taking vacation ;)

>123 LittleTaiko: Thanks! And only one DNF, which is really good.

>118 rabbitprincess: A nice haul for January. I have read the Neil Gaiman books on your list but the others are all new to me I think.

Celtic mythology looks interesting for this month :)

I'm also going to congratulate you. You're a reading machine and 20 is incredible!

>125 sirfurboy: Thanks! It was an interesting month. I will be sure to let you know what I think of the Celtic mythology book!

>126 mstrust: Thanks! February is shaping up to be a quick-fire month too, because I'll likely finish three long-standing books over the course of the month.

>113 rabbitprincess: - YAY, a new Flavia!

Awesome job with your January reading.

>128 lkernagh: Exciting, indeed. I remember feeling a little let down by the last book, though, so I hope this one will put me in a better frame of mind. I may also go back and reread one of the older books in the series ;)

Yep, January was a pretty darn good month!

****

February may be a short month, but I am already racking up some good numbers.

Women & Power: A Manifesto, by Mary Beard
Category: Smile
Source: library
Rating: 4/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/150220329

A short but powerful book. I loved the illustrations, the drily witty captions, and the little index! I could easily have read a book ten times as long by Beard on the subject.

At Home: A Short History of Private Life, by Bill Bryson
Category: Knock Knock
Source: compact disc
Rating: 4/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/86455909

This was a 13-disc audiobook that I'd copied to the computer, and somehow I thought I'd deleted the files for discs 10 to 13. I found them again but decided I might as well stop reading now. It's a really interesting book and I'm looking forward to a re-read in print so that I get ALL the funny parts (there were a lot of them).

After reading this thread I just pre-ordered the Audible version of the next Flavia De Luce book :)

I liked The Shadow District but I tend to like nearly every book set in Iceland, especially Arnaldur’s book. I can barely wait until his new book is released next month.

>130 Zozette: Excellent! Flavia is such fun. And yes, books set in Iceland are so neat! I do like Arnaldur, but I think my new favourite is Yrsa Sigurdardottir.

****

Yesterday was a productive reading day: finished off two books. And today it is snowing, so I expect to get even more reading done.

The North Water, by Ian McGuire
Category: The Pyramid at the End of the World
Source: library
Rating: 3/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/150262069

I was warned this was a dark, visceral book. The warnings were correct. I felt slightly ill reading this. While I don't regret reading it, I also don't regret borrowing it from the library rather than buying it.

Arthurian Romances, by Chrétien de Troyes
Category: World Enough and Time; The Eaters of Light
Source: bought for school
Rating: 2/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/70475608

This was a reread inspired by avatiakh's focus category of King Arthur. I took a whole course on King Arthur in university, and this book was part of the syllabus. We read only "The Knight with the Cart" and "The Story of the Grail" (as far as I remember), and ten years later I am struck by how weird the storytelling style sounds. It will probably be a long while before I try reading this again...but I am glad for the prompt to do so now.

Another good Icelandic mystery author is Viktor Arnar ingolfsson though he has only written four books.

You are on fire with your reading! The North Water is a very intense read - I am glad that I warned people about how dark it is.

You've had some good reading happening in January! Looks like February will be just as good.

I have a hold on the new Flavia book too but it hasn't actually arrived at the library yet and there is another hold ahead of mine. Patience is not my strong point.

>132 Zozette: Weird, all my library has of his work is one book and in French! I shall have to go the interlibrary loan route to check him out.

>133 DeltaQueen50: Yes, I appreciated the warning!

>134 VivienneR: Finishing up the Arthurian Romances has put a bit of a spring in my reading step. I'm not terribly patient either and want to be reading about five books simultaneously.

****

If you like beautifully animated movies, Irish folklore and/or movies that make you cry, you need to watch Song of the Sea: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1865505/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Thinking I'm going to have to dig out W.B. Yeats' Irish Fairy and Folk Tales again and give it another try.

Would you be up for starting The Grave's a Fine and Private Place soon? I'm ready to go if you are!

>135 rabbitprincess: Ooh, we *love* Song of the Sea in our house! The previous film by the same team is also stunning, and is where we got the inspiration for my daughter's name - it's called The Secret of Kells: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0485601/

>136 christina_reads: How's Wednesday or Thursday? I can stick it into my bus book rotation later in the week.

>137 Jackie_K: I do remember that that was the inspiration for her name! I've requested The Secret of Kells from the library. Looking forward to it -- and if the soundtrack is as good as Song of the Sea's, I'll probably be buying that as well :)

>138 rabbitprincess: Oh sorry did I tell you that already? *stuck record* It is a gorgeous film though, and I like the music too. IIRC, the soundtrack is by an Irish band called Kila who we saw in Glasgow a few years ago - kind of vaguely trad-psychedelic, with a guy who played the bodhran like Animal from the Muppets.

>138 rabbitprincess: Sure, that works!

>139 Jackie_K: You might have mentioned it as part of another conversation and I "eavesdropped" (or whatever you call reading along on a thread). I love the story though! :) And I LOVE the description of Kila. Animal is my favourite Muppet! Kila's on this soundtrack too.

>140 christina_reads: Excellent! I am in training later this week and will likely sneak off for a visit with Flavia on my breaks :D

So I somehow managed to finish five books this week... :D I've been in training for the past couple of days, and the change of scene has meant more time for reading. I also finished a long-standing Serial Reader read and zipped through a library book earlier in the week.

I've managed to write two reviews. The other three will follow tomorrow.

The Power, by Naomi Alderman
Category: The Pilot
Source: library
Rating: 3.5/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/work/18197339/reviews/150367005

I found this plausible and gripping, although I could have done without the frame narrative of the letters.

Kipling: A Selection of His Stories and Poems Volume 1, by Rudyard Kipling
Category: Smile
Source: EVM
Rating: 2/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/94417686

The Jungle Book's jungle stories were OK, but I thought Kim kind of stopped rather than ending. I read both of these through Serial Reader rather than my grandfather's hard copy of the book, and after that I decided to call it quits on the rest of the volume.

>142 rabbitprincess: I gave Rich Vol 1 & 2 for his birthday this year (the Kipling books)...great minds and all that.

>131 rabbitprincess: Hmmm ... I'll have to think about whether I want to include Arthurian Romances to my Arthurian category. I probably should, as it's a classic, but on the other hand, I have no lack of books to fill this category.

>143 mysterymax: Nice! I was given my copies by my mum after they cleaned out my grandma's house. They're sitting on a bookshelf that used to be in my dad's room when he lived there. (The house had about 50 years' worth of stuff in it...)

>144 mathgirl40: I'd say you're not missing out on much, especially if you have lots to fill the category already.

****

It's the weekend, and time to catch up on my reviews. Reading also continues apace.

The Butchering Art: Joseph Lister’s Quest to Transform the World of Grisly Victorian Medicine, by Lindsey Fitzharris
Category: Thin Ice
Source: library
Rating: 4/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/work/19510421/reviews/150366973

This caught my eye thanks to the Guardian, and favourable blurbs from Caitlin Doughty and Henry Marsh didn't hurt either. It made the longlist for the 2018 Wellcome Book Prize, which I should really start raiding more regularly for book ideas.

Campbell’s Kingdom, by Hammond Innes
Category: The Pilot
Source: Rockcliffe Park book sale
Rating: 2.5/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/work/390712/reviews/123120529

This is the sort of impulse purchase I make at used book sales, because I can't resist the catnip of mid-20th-century British writers writing about Canada (hilarity usually ensues). This was meh. It was okay, but not earth-shattering.

The Grave’s a Fine and Private Place, by Alan Bradley
Category: The Doctor Falls (shared read with christina_reads)
Source: library
Rating: 4/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/work/19048438/reviews/150871373

YAY! I was 19th on the holds list (thank you, stalking of the On Order section of the library catalogue), and the library ordered more than 19 copies, so I got this the day after it was officially published. Christina and I have had an impromptu group read and I found this one much better than Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd. A lighter atmosphere, somehow.

In the event I ended up finishing NINE BOOKS last week. Granted, two of them were long-standing reads, and one was a collection of comics that took maybe half an hour to read, but given that February is usually less productive than other months, I'll take it.

Never Use Futura, by Douglas Thomas
Category: Extremis
Source: library
Rating: 3.5/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/150367045

I put this in my "books about books" category because it's about typefaces: specifically, Futura, which has an interesting history and is surprisingly ubiquitous. The book is visually pleasing, as you might expect for a book about this subject, and is worth browsing for casual to medium-knowledgeable folks. Actual experts might not learn much.

Have Not Been the Same: The CanRock Renaissance 1985-1995, by Michael Barclay, Ian A.D. Jack, and Jason Schneider
Category: The Lie of the Land
Source: Christmas gift
Rating: 4/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/81148830

I've been reading this since April 2017 and am glad to finally check it off the list. I feel like I learned a lot! Later I'll go through the discography in greater depth.

Also, I think it interesting that the two books in this category so far relate to music.

The Diary of River Song, Series 2 (Big Finish audio drama)
Category: Knock Knock, The Empress of Mars
Source: Big Finish
Rating: 4.5/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/143937138

Another excellent box set from Big Finish. Turns out my favourite stories in both series so far have been by James Goss, which makes me think I should read his novelization of City of Death sooner rather than later!

You’re All Just Jealous of My Jetpack, by Tom Gauld
Category: Smile
Source: library
Rating: 3/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/150688512

I liked this collection of comics but felt that I was missing out on some of the references. I love Gauld's drawing style, though, and when I get his work I really get it. My favourite of his comics is the one that deals with Poirot's moustache: https://www.theguardian.com/books/picture/2017/nov/10/tom-gauld-on-poirots-moust...

>145 rabbitprincess: So glad you liked The Grave's a Fine and Private Place more than its predecessor! I'm still reading, but I definitely agree with you that the overall atmosphere seems lighter. I'll be back once I've finished it (hopefully in a couple of days)!

Also, I quite enjoyed You're All Just Jealous of My Jetpack as well. Love that Poirot comic! I think my favorite in the collection was his take on the Shakespeare conspiracy: https://i.pinimg.com/736x/c3/a7/99/c3a79909e7757b8e17aad841677e90e3--rhett-butle....

>147 christina_reads: Hahaha the turtleneck sweater is a nice touch! Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on Flavia :)

Nine books in one week is an awesome feat. You rock!

>149 mstrust: Thanks! :D Not likely one to be repeated anytime soon...

Big excitement in Ottawa today: Bluesfest has started to announce its lineup. Cue the usual arguments between the "best lineup ever!" and the "ugh the festival is going to hell in a handbasket!" crowds. Me, I'm pretty stoked to see that Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets are playing the first day of the festival. But I suspect they won't be playing my favourite song of theirs, "Christmas at the Airport"... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEwNS869Yyg

In other music news I am bingeing on Rumbler, the second album by a Canadian instrumental surf-rock group called C&C Surf Factory. It's on Canadian iTunes, anyway, and well worth getting. Crunchy riffs and groovy bass lines. The first track, "Vintage Ninja", is one of those "all work ceases immediately when this comes up on the shuffle" songs. (You should also get their first album, Garage City.)

****

So far I have finished only one book this week, but that's OK.

Beau Death, by Peter Lovesey
Category: Knock Knock
Source: library
Rating: 3.5/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/150452999

I picked up this installment of the Peter Diamond series solely because of the history-of-Bath angle. It was a good read, if a bit long because my edition was just over 400 pages.

I just finished that one! Reminded me I should look for more in that series.

>146 rabbitprincess: Diary of River Song is now high on my list of wants. Once I get caught up on the print books, I'm going to try to work my way through all the audios as well. I feel like I could just focus on Doctor Who and never read (or listen to) anything else, and I'd still not have time to get it all in.

>152 cmbohn: Me too! I've added The Stone Wife to my to-read list after reading that one.

>153 virginiahomeschooler: I agree! And Big Finish is constantly producing amazing audio dramas. I just bought Series 3 of The Diary of River Song, and they've just released Volume 2 of The Churchill Years, which features Madam Vastra!

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Catching up on reviews because I haven't had time to sit down and write much this week.

The Birds and Other Stories, by Daphne du Maurier
Category: The Pilot
Source: library
Rating: 4.5/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/149952797

I love Daphne du Maurier, particularly her ability to create quietly chilling suspense. The Birds is a much better story than the movie would have you think.

The Hare Book, ed. Jane Russ
Category: Smile
Source: library
Rating: 4/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/150688407

Well of COURSE I was going to request this from the library, with a title and cover like that. Very good.

Usque Ad Mare: A History of the Canadian Coast Guard and Marine Services, by Thomas E. Appleton
Category: The Lie of the Land
Source: borrowed from friend
Rating: 2.5/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/137835587

I borrowed this from a coworker who had served in the CCG. It took a long time to get into and even then I ended up skim-reading the most interesting-sounding chapters. It's rather ponderously written; we need a more modern history with proper colour photos and an update on the past 50 years (this was published in 1968).

>154 rabbitprincess: Oh, I adore Madame Vastra! I've been listening to Dalek Empire III, which I was really excited about because David Tennant was one of the performers. But, unless I'm totally lost (which is a definite possibility), his character isn't The Doctor. I'm only on part 2 of 6, so maybe I'm just not far enough to have it all be explained.

>155 virginiahomeschooler: Yeah, I think his character is a minor one. I seem to recall hearing that he was recording something else in the same studios that Big Finish use and, when he heard there was a Doctor Who drama going on, persuaded them to let him have a minor role because he loved Doctor Who so much. I don't know if that story was referring specifically to Dalek Empire III, but it's plausible enough for me ;)

I love Madame Vastra too! I watched "Deep Breath" again recently and loved her performance in that episode. "Your grasp of biology troubles me."

Still catching up on reviews. Only one behind. And I have to finish another book tonight; it's due back tomorrow!

The Miller’s Dance, by Winston Graham
Category: The Pyramid at the End of the World
Source: borrowed from parents
Rating: 4/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/149453068

The Poldark series continues to be very good entertainment. Some tense moments in this one though. Stephen Carrington is such a jerk!

Baking with Kafka, by Tom Gauld
Category: Smile
Source: library
Rating: 4/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/151337896

I enjoyed this collection more than You're All Just Jealous of My Jetpack. Both are good though!

>157 rabbitprincess: Ooh, I totally agree with your spoiler for The Miller's Dance!

Great to see your Whovian thread again. I will miss Capaldi a lot, but the new Doctor seems very interesting too. We (i.e. Los Angeles) had our Gallifrey One con this past weekend and Steven Moffat and Matt Lucas and a few other lovelies made a showing. So much fun!

>158 christina_reads: At some points I wasn't sure if I'd be able to keep going, I was getting so mad.

>159 -Eva-: Yay! Nice to see you too! :) I've been seeing some photos from Gallifrey One and am super jealous. It looks like it would be a lot of fun.

>160 rabbitprincess:
It's a smaller con (well, compared to the San Diego one...), but it is indeed a lot of fun!

>161 -Eva-: The San Diego one looks more frightening than fun, to be honest! So many people. Gallifrey One would be more manageable.

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Finally caught up on my reviews! Yay!

Mortal Causes, by Ian Rankin
Category: The Eaters of Light
Source: library
Rating: 4/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/150821153

A grisly death in Mary King's Close during the Edinburgh Festival. Rebus investigates. A bizarre joke is told in snippets by various members of the squad. Another good Rebus story.

Game Change: The Life and Death of Steve Montador and the Future of Hockey, by Ken Dryden
Category: The Lie of the Land
Source: library
Rating: 4.5/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/150871442

This is an important book for anyone interested in hockey, specifically in what can be done to prevent hits to the head. Dryden uses one player's story to provide the anchor for his discussion of the issues and what can be done about them. His writing is a dream.

Malice Aforethought, by Francis Iles
Category: Knock Knock (April MysteryCAT selection)
Source: Adelphi Books, Portsmouth, England
Rating: 4/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/121727915

From the first line to the last, this is a delightfully chilling suspense novel: one of the first whydunnits or howdunnits, in which we know the identity of the murderer but wait to see how they will commit the crime and whether they will get away with it.

>162 rabbitprincess: - Malice Aforethought sounds like fun. I'll definitely have to check that one out.

I can second Malice Aforethought. It's wonderful! Glad you liked it too, princess!

>163 LittleTaiko: I hope you like it!

>164 mstrust: I'm glad as well, because I had not been so much enamoured of Before the Fact.

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Wednesday was my Thingaversary. I've been on LT for just over seven years and participating in the Category Challenge for five of them. I get fantastic recommendations and book chat from you all. This is my happy place on the Internet :)

I did some Thingaversary celebrating yesterday with a trip to Book Bazaar, my favourite used bookstore. Yes, I was out in the crappy freezing rain. But I managed to find five lovely books:

Police at the Funeral, by Margery Allingham
The Tiger in the Smoke, by Margery Allingham
Hungry Hill, by Daphne du Maurier
Julius Caesar, by William Shakespeare (in a Folger Shakespeare edition, yay!)
Maigret et l'homme du banc, by Georges Simenon

I also bought a book on my mum's behalf: The Sea for Breakfast, by Lillian Beckwith. For some reason she has a few Beckwiths, probably from my great-grandmother, and she and my grandma have been enjoying them. So when I saw a bunch at the store I texted my mum the titles to see if she needed any. I ended up buying this one because the title is funny.

The book for my mum does not count in my book-buying or 2-for-1 TBR statistics. And the Allinghams are kind of half my books, because my friend J will share them with me once she starts reading all of Allingham's books in order. (She's been doing this with the other Queens of Crime and is working on Dorothy L. Sayers' oeuvre at the moment, having finished Ngaio Marsh.)

And then today I went out to the library and picked up a few holds that had accumulated:

The Incredible Crime, by Lois Austen-Leigh
Family Matters, by Anthony Rolls
All Those Explosions Were Someone Else's Fault, by James Alan Gardner
Rabbit Cake, by Annie Hartnett

Two British Library Crime Classics, an impulse request with an excellent title, and a book I heard about on Litsy and asked my library to order. A good assortment.

Happy Thingaversary! You have added some great books.

At one time I binged on all Lillian Beckwith's stories. They are a lot of fun. I loved the first one where the locals try to talk her out of keeping the Gaelic name of the house. It originated from the outdoor toilet having a seat with a square hole (easier to make than a round one) and translated as something like "house of the square bums".

>166 VivienneR: Hahaha I need to read that one! Was that The Hills is Lonely?

Happy Thingaversary, rp. I love the explosion titled book. Might have to find that one myself.

Happy Thingaversary!

>167 rabbitprincess: It might have been, I really don't remember much more about it but had an idea it was the first. Like old cartoon-style picture postcards from the seaside, Beckwith's style of humour is out of style now, not pc.

>167 rabbitprincess:, >170 VivienneR: I liked The Hills is Lonely, but if I had been a crofter on that island Beckwith wrote about I would have found it very condescending. Different times.

Happy Thingaversary - good haul, enjoy!

>168 dudes22: Thanks, Betty! I think it was Paulina (mathgirl40) who read it first, and then I saw that title in my library listings. Very memorable! ;)

>169 virginiahomeschooler: Thanks, Traci! I may complete the haul with a Big Finish audio or two ;)

>170 VivienneR: I will consider myself forewarned. It would be interesting to follow up a Beckwith with a more modern take on life in that part of Scotland.

>171 pamelad: Yes, from what I've been reading about Beckwith, it sounds like her books contained (or people thought they contained) thinly disguised versions of people she knew. That must have been awkward.

>172 Helenliz: Thanks, Helen! :)

>173 rabbitprincess: You can never go wrong with Big Finish!

Happy Thingaversary! And many more!

>174 virginiahomeschooler: My thoughts exactly! There was one I read about in an issue of Doctor Who Magazine recently that I'll have to go back and find. It sounded good.

>175 mstrust: Thanks, Jennifer! :)

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The weather gods decided that one day of freezing rain this weekend was insufficient; today had to be filled with freezing rain as well. This put paid to any thoughts of going out, so instead I puttered around the apartment. I tidied up my desk, the surface of which is apparently made of wood rather than piles of paper. It's a bit unsettling actually.

I also watched the beautifully drawn movie The Secret of Kells. Now I want to go back to Dublin and see the book again.

****

Speaking of charming island locales, my latest read took place in the Isles of Scilly.

The Life of a Scilly Sergeant, by Colin Taylor
Category: The Lie of the Land
Source: library
Rating: 4/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/151229420

This was an impulse borrow from the library, and what a good impulse it was. Just the sort of pick-me-up you need for a dreary winter weekend.

>176 rabbitprincess: So glad you got to The Secret of Kells. It really is so beautiful, isn't it?

I'm adding The Life of a Scilly Sergeant to my wishlist. I used to follow his page (or rather the Scilly Police page, but it was written by him) on facebook, and it was always really entertaining. It wasn't the same when he left though. The Scillies are on my bucket list (along with all the Scottish islands - a few years ago the Scillies even applied to be an associate member of the Scottish Islands Federation: https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/membership-of-scottish-islands-federation... ).

Happy Thingaversary! I'm glad you were able to celebrate even with the nasty weather.

Happy Thingaversary!! I think I've already bought all the books for mine, although it's not until May... :)

>177 Jackie_K: Yes! And now I kind of want a Book of Kells colouring book ;)

I went to look for the Scilly Police page but couldn't find it! I hope they didn't take it down...

>178 LittleTaiko: Thanks, Stacy! The weather has improved significantly, so I can go out and finish buying my Thingaversary books. Or maybe just order some audio dramas from Big Finish.

>179 -Eva-: Thanks, Eva! That sounds like sensible planning to me! Get it done while you're thinking about it ;)

>180 rabbitprincess: Aw, it looks like the page has come down (I think I stopped following it after he left, because it wasn't so much fun. What a shame, it was a great advert for the islands).

We got our daughter a colouring book related to the film, but haven't let her use it yet! It's too beautiful for scribbles! (mean mummy).

>181 Jackie_K: Could you photocopy a couple of pages for her? Then she can colour the pages but not muck up the whole book (I get what you mean about the scribbles not being the best way to colour it in...)

This book has been making the rounds at the office, and it is a strong contender for my book of the year (let alone February).

The Subversive Copy Editor, by Carol Fisher Saller
Category: Extremis
Source: library
Rating: 5/5
Review: https://www.librarything.com/review/151229473

Most editing books tend to focus on the actual editing part of the job. But editing doesn't occur in a vacuum; the text was produced by an author, and any number of other humans will be involved in the production process. This book will help you learn how to get along with those other humans to get the job done.

>182 rabbitprincess: At the moment we're still distracting her with other books, but that is a good idea!

>183 rabbitprincess: Ooh a BB for me. Editing is something I'm hoping to move into once I'm a bit more established as a freelancer.

>183 rabbitprincess: >184 Jackie_K: Hmm, I think Amazon UK could do with a better editor. The hardback copy is less than £20, the paperback copy (deliverable by Prime, not even a marketplace copy) is down as £1,111.00!!!

>184 Jackie_K: I've thought of doing the same with some of my colouring books, for myself ;)

>185 Jackie_K: Are you looking at the first edition or the second edition? The second edition is available in paperback for £11.50: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Subversive-Copy-Editor-Second-Relationships/dp/02262400...
(and definitely get a print copy :D)

February recap

Somehow I managed to bend time and space and read 24 books this month. That’s almost a book a day!

Women & Power: A Manifesto, by Mary Beard
At Home: A Short History of Private Life, by Bill Bryson (audio, read by Bill Bryson)
The North Water, by Ian McGuire
Arthurian Romances, by Chrétien de Troyes (reread)
The Power, by Naomi Alderman
The Butchering Art: Joseph Lister’s Quest to Transform the World of Grisly Victorian Medicine, by Lindsey Fitzharris
Campbell’s Kingdom, by Hammond Innes
The Grave’s a Fine and Private Place, by Alan Bradley
Kipling: A Selection of His Stories and Poems Volume 1, by Rudyard Kipling
Never Use Futura, by Douglas Thomas
Have Not Been the Same: The CanRock Renaissance 1985-1995, by Michael Barclay, Ian A.D. Jack, and Jason Schneider
The Diary of River Song, Series 2 (Big Finish audio drama)
You’re All Just Jealous of My Jetpack, by Tom Gauld
Beau Death, by Peter Lovesey
The Birds and Other Stories, by Daphne du Maurier
The Hare Book, ed. Jane Russ
Usque Ad Mare: A History of Canada’s Coast Guard and Marine Services, by Thomas E. Appleton
The Miller’s Dance, by Winston Graham
Baking with Kafka, by Tom Gauld
Mortal Causes, by Ian Rankin
Game Change: The Life and Death of Steve Montador, Brain Injuries, and the Future of the Game, by Ken Dryden
Malice Aforethought, by Francis Iles
The Life of a Scilly Sergeant, by Colin Taylor
The Subversive Copy Editor (2nd edition), by Carol Fisher Saller

My favourite book of the month was The Subversive Copy Editor, by Carol Fisher Saller. It was exactly what I needed to read at this time, and even better, my manager is ordering copies for all of us editors at my work :)

My least favourite book of the month was Kipling: A Selection of His Stories and Poems, Volume 1. Some of the stories were all right, but others didn’t work for me, and I ended up not finishing the book.

My crazy numbers this month can be attributed to several factors:
- polishing off three long-standing reads
- reading several short books
- having two days of training and two days of a branch meeting where I could get more reading done on breaks

I didn’t do too many group reads or challenges. Christina and I did share a read of the new Flavia, and we agreed it was back to Flavia’s usual standards :)

Currently reading

The Brothers Karamazov, by Fyodor Dostoevsky (translated by Constance Garnett) — Still reading on Serial Reader. It’s such a long book, but I’m not sure it would have been any easier in print.
The Canterbury Tales, by Geoffrey Chaucer — I’m getting a head start on the April group read by reading this on Serial Reader and making notes of my impressions so that I can save them for the group discussion. I can see why The Miller’s Tale is so popular with high school students.
The Complete Father Brown, by G.K. Chesterton — my next huge bedside book. This will be mostly a reread. I can’t remember whether I finished the last collection in this volume the last time I read it.
The End of the Affair, by Graham Greene — audio, read by Colin Firth. Yes, that is the main reason I own this book :D
A History of Ancient Britain, by Neil Oliver — a long-time resident of the TBR that I’m reading for my Scottish and other Celtic lands category. It’s interesting but seems to be following the structure of the TV show, so much so that it feels like there are commercial breaks built into it.
His Bloody Project, by Graeme Macrae Burnet — another entry in my Scottish category. Very, very good so far.

March plans

I haven’t thought too much about my plans for March. I’ll just read what I feel like and see what happens. It would be nice to actually read my March RandomCAT selection so that I can return it to my BF’s dad.

On the library shelves:
The Slitheen Excursion, by Simon Guerrier — I need to encourage the library to buy more Doctor Who novels.
The End of Absence: Reclaiming What We’ve Lost in a World of Constant Connection, by Michael Harris — my manager was reading this, so I thought it was worth checking out.
Bearing Witness: Journalists, Record Keepers and the 1917 Halifax Explosion, by Michael Dupuis — of course I haven’t read this yet! What makes you think I’d do that? That would be sensible.
Places in the Darkness, by Chris Brookmyre — hello, you’re back again. If I do manage to read this, it will fit the March SFFFKIT theme of “off world”.
Someone to Watch Over Me, by Yrsa Sigurdardottir (translated by Philip Roughton) — I’m working my way steadily through the Thora Gudmundsdottir series. Only one more left after this one.
Timekeepers: How the World Became Obsessed with Time, by Simon Garfield — I think this one came to my attention through Canongate Publishing’s Twitter feed.
Family Matters, by Anthony Rolls — British Library Crime Classic!
The Incredible Crime, by Lois Austen-Leigh — another British Library Crime Classic!
All Those Explosions Were Someone Else’s Fault, by James Alan Gardner — best title!
Rabbit Cake, by Annie Hartnett — after hearing about this on Litsy, I asked my library to order it.

The Incredible Crime looks good, so I just downloaded it onto the Kindle.

>188 pamelad: Excellent! I'll be interested to compare notes with you :)

The Subversive Copy Editor is great! So glad you enjoyed it! Also, I look forward to seeing what you think of The Incredible Crime. Also, The End of the Affair as read by Colin Firth sounds wonderful! I've read it in print and really enjoyed it.

Believe it or not, my daughter finally convince me to watch Dr Who... I'm in the last season with Matt Smith. I fell like I've joined the real world. lol!

>190 christina_reads: Having Colin Firth as the narrator is an interesting experience... the main character is a dick, but he has Colin Firth's lovely voice, so I'm alternating between eye-rolling and indulgence.

>191 mysterymax: YAY! :D Next step is to get you into the Doctor Who audio dramas!!

I took a BB for The Subversive Copy Editor. I have several friends who are technical writers who might enjoy this book, and I also have co-workers who edit my own software documentation. It will be interesting to see things from their point of view. :)

I'm incredibly impressed that you finished 24 books in the shortest month of the year. Well done!

>193 mathgirl40: There is a chapter intended for authors specifically, but yes I think you will find it an interesting read :)

And thanks!

Impressive February reading!

>195 hailelib: Thanks, Tricia! :)

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Going to take advantage of a quiet Sunday morning to start a new thread. Stay tuned...