Cheli's Summer reading toward 75 - 3rd Qtr

Time to move into the 3rd quarter of the challenge. Here's my 2nd Quarter thread.



2011 I'm continuing the following challenges:

US Presidents Challenge
European Challenge
50 States challenge
Reading through Time

and besides the 75 book Challenge I will also be participating in

11 in 11 Challenge - 132 books - 11 categories with 11 books plus 11 book bonus category
TIOLI challenges - each month a different set of challenges
BOYS Challenge - (Books Off Your Shelves) 50 books that I already own (either ARD (Antique Reading Device) or e-book NOOK)

I can't think of not being part of 75ers - between all the fun conversations, TIOLI, group reads, and I'm sure surprises to be found. I love sharing my reads with everyone here.

I Can't believe it! I'm actually the first personna on your new thread. Congrats on doing so well, so far, and thanks for all the wonderful cozies I'm going to be reading in the next couple months.

I forgot to ask you about Nook cozies. Want any?

Not right now.....I think I'm loaded enough....but maybe later (or maybe if you have a follow on to one I'm reading in paper)

I can't believe it's the third quarter of the year already! I look forward to continuing to follow your reading. Cheli.

Hi Cheli: Did I see that you're soon to be reading the first Jeanne Dams book? Hope you like it. I think I'll try to catch up on her other series, the historical mystery series.

Yes, Linda, I saw it at the Library and remembered that you said the series was good, so I picked it up. So July will show me reading this one.

Got your new thread starred! :)

#60 Heat Wave

Author: Nancy Thayer
Read: June 29 - July 1
Format: Uncorrected Proof 288 pages
Source: LibraryThing ER program for review
Subject: friendship, financial independence, love
Category: Love and Marriage: a lifetime commitment
Genre: Fiction
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS
Stars: ★★★½

When Gus dies of a heart attack from a congenital heart defect, Carley, a mother of two young girls, must find her own path to care for her home and family. Gus's parents want to take in the girls, but Carley is determined to make it on her own. The decisions that she makes are realistic at the same time as they are heart-wrenching but she manages to move forward with her life and bring joy and love to those around her.

I wasn't exactly sure that I like this book as I started it, but I got suckered in actually talking to the character as I read. As it went along, I was hooked and was thrilled with most of the ending. ***SPOILER*** I didn't like the way Vanessa's situation ended, that was the only down part for me.

#61 Sew Deadly

Author: Elizabeth Lynn Casey
Read: July 1 - July 4
Format: Paperback 275 pages
Source: Barnes & Noble 2009
Subject: stranger in a small town, acceptance
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS
Category: Something Old - read those TBRs
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Stars: ★★★★

When Tori moves away from her Chicago home and accepts the job as head librarian in Sweet Briar, SC, she doesn't expect to be the town pariah, but she soon finds out that not only are the people against her because she ousted the old librarian but she doesn't understand the Southern ways of behavior. Fortunately she is taken under the wing of a gentile Southern lady and welcomed (though not entirely) by the Sweet Briar Ladies Sewing Circle. She makes some friends and its a good thing because when she discovers the body of the town beauty in the library dumpster, she becomes suspect #1 and since no one else is interested in finding the murderer, she has to do it herself.

I loved this book. It was funny and light and talked about books and sewing. The characters were diverse and entertaining. The clues were well-spaced and well-hidden for the murder but right out there for you to play along as to the town meanie's identity. Can't wait for the next one - I may have to bump a few other books out of the way!

I've missed having a librarian as a sleuth since Jo Dereske has quit writing her series featuring Helma Zukas. I've got this one on my wish list. I'll try to move it up since you liked it so much!

Hi Cheli

I'm simply stopping by to wish you good health and happy reading.

I headed out to pick up Sew Deadly for my Kindle but, apparently, I've already got it. Hmmm, don't remember buying that one. Anyway, sounds great.

Also, the very last Miss Zukas came out last month so this was a good reminder. I want to read that one asap and will be sorry to see this series end. Farewell, Miss Zukas.

>13 lindapanzo: Oh - I didn't know that one had come out, Linda. I'll have to get the last Miss Zukas! Sew Deadly is on my wish list and is one that our public library has. Maybe I can get to both of them next month!

#14 I think Jo Dereske used to be with a major pb publisher. This one seems to be with a smaller publisher.

Most series just seem to end but it'll be nice to read a planned finale.

I feared hers had "just ended." It's nice to know that there is a planned finale - even if it is a different publisher.

#62 The Body in the Transept

Author: Jeanne M. Dams
Read: July 8 - July 10
Format: Hardback 202 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: widowhood, acceptance, murder
Category: Love and Marriage: a lifetime commitment
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, SYLL
Stars: ★★★½

Dorothy Martin, after losing her husband Frank unexpectedly, decides to fulfill their retirement plans and moves to Sherebury, England, a small university town that they had visited together over the years. After her first Christmas Eve service in her new hometown, Dorothy discovers the body of the Cathedral's Canon and proceeds to get involved with the investigation in more ways than one.

Dorothy was a whimsical character who I can foresee getting involved more than maybe she should in the future. This first book does whet the reader's appetite for more.

Thanks to lindapanzo for the recommendation!

Adding Sew Deadly to the BlackHole. Thanks for the recommendation, Cheli!

I've finished The Betrayal of the Blood Lily and Heresy and almost finished Grim Tuesday. I will get to the reviews shortly.

The Betrayal of the Blood Lily
Author: Lauren Willig
Read: June 30 - July 8
Format: Audiobook 12 CDs equivalent 512 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: spy network, India
Category: The good old days - historical fiction
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, AUDIO, SYLL
Stars: ★★★

The Pink Carnation series continues in this tale of Penelope Stains who appear in the previous adventure and we found that she was married hastily to protect her reputation.

Lady Penelope lacks the same moral high ground that the other featured ladies have shone, instead she was sarcastic, opinionated, striving to be her own person. In this installment, Penelope and her new husband Freddy are off to India and an obscure province to represent the British government. Penelope, never comfortable in the social scene in London, exercises her new "independence" from the social swirl of London. Freddy becomes more irresponsible showing his laziness and arrogance while Penelope starts to shine.

Their escort to the remote province is Captain Alex Reid and the relationship that develops eventually leads to a joyful conclusion.

This is probably my least favorite of the series. First I never heard anything about a Blood Lily, so where did the title come from. Penelope wasn't someone that I think I could respect even for her efforts, and lastly, I didn't get the connection with the Napoleonic war spy network at all. Hope the next one gets back on track.

#64 Heresy

Author: S.J. Parris
Read: July 5 - July 15
Format: Hardback 435 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: religious intolerance in the Middle Ages
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, SYLL
Category: Something Borrowed - from the library
Genre: Historical Fiction
Stars: ★★★★

The central character of our story is Giordano Bruno, an excommunicated Italian monk. Bruno fled the Inquisition because as a philosopher and scientist he has the same leanings as Copernicus - that the Earth revolves around the sun.

Bruno has come to England, Oxford in particular in search of a book which should clarify some of his philosophy but while there he is recruited into the service of the Queen Elizabeth looking for a band of Catholics seeking her demise.

As Bruno searches deeper and deeper for the book related to his research, he is caught deeper and deeper in the web surrounding the Catholics and the murders that have occurred. The mystery has many twists and some unexpected turns but the end is dramatically satisfying.

Thanks to Linda/Whisper1 for the recommendation. Can't wait to read the next in the series - my ER book!

Glad you enjoyed Heresy --- it was one that just didn't grab me or the big fellow either. We were hoping to like it since I got an ARC of Prophecy....but for me they both seemed like a lot of Dan Brown combined with Indiana Jones....oh well. Different strokes, etc.

#65 Grim Tuesday
Author: Garth Nix
Read: July 14 - July 17
Format: Audiobook 6 CDs equivalent 321 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: Alternate world
Category: The Kids have it - Young adult and children's books
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, AUDIO, SYLL
Stars: ★★★

Arthor Penhalingon, our hero from the first book in this series, and the keeper of the key for the Lower House is drawn into a battle with Grim Tuesday to protect hs home and his family. Arthur needs to leave the Secondary Realm of Earth and travel to the Far reaches and defeat Grim Tuesday in a battle against greed and avarice. Again good (Arthur) must overcome evil (Grim) while helping the less fortunate.

Again a fun read for the youth, with introduction of several new characters - along with Suzy Turquoise Blue from the first book, Japeth the walking Thesaurus, Captain Shelvocke the sea-faring brother of the Pied Piper. Arthur sets sail with Captain Shelvocke to find the second fragment of the Will. Expecting the same type of character as the original will in Mister Monday, the reader is pleasantly surprised by this portion. I'm looking forward to the next book.

Tina,

Sorry you didn't like Heresy. It was a little tough at the beginning, but once the story and mystery started cooking, I found it was much easier to read and had grabbed me and carried me through to the end. I've got Prophecy too as an ER so I'm reading a few others before I get to that one.

I have the S.J. Parris books in the BlackHole already. I just need my local library to get them!

#66 Real Murders : Aurora Teagarden Mysteries
Author: Charlaine Harris
Read: July 15 - July 19
Format: Paperback 290 pages
Source: Barnes & Noble
Subject: Copycat killers
Category: Something Old - read those TBRs
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS
Stars: ★★★½

Just about everyone has seen on television those shows where they recreate events such as the Jack the Ripper murders trying to decide who was involved and what really happened. The producers take all kinds of sensational murders and try to show the viewers exactly how they believe the events took place. Well, in this book, Aurora Teagarden, the assistant librarian of Laurenceton, Georgia, and a small group take detailed looks at well-known murders. As the book opens, Aurora (ROE) finds one of their members dead but the staging of the body appears exactly the same as a murder that they are about to discuss.

The police are not particularly interested in the theory of someone copying the ancient murder, but when 3 other people are killed with connections/details replicating other renowned murders, the town starts to get a bit antsy and want the killer caught.

Through the book Roe is central because she either finds the body, finds the weapon, or arrives at the scene immediately after the event, not forgetting that they all seem to take place in her neighborhood.

I was really taken with this book. The characters, quirky names aside, definitely could be better developed but since this is the first in the series, there is time for the that. What seem to me the most realistic was that Roe is not the most "interesting" person on earth. She doesn't have much of a social life so when two men start showing interest, she doesn't know what to do. This little bit of romance helped to cool the drama of the murders as they were happening. Definitely look for the next.

#26: I have owned that one for a while now. I need to get it read!

#67 A Summer in Sonoma

Author: Robyn Carr
Read: July 6 - July 24
Format: Paperback 406 pages
Source: My Shelves
Subject: friendship, bankruptcy, cancer, non-communication,marriage
Category: Love and Marriage: a lifetime commitment
Genre: Romance
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS
Stars: ★★★★

Have you ever picked up a book knowing exactly what you expect from it and get that and so much more? For me, I knew when I picked up this book, that I was reading a romance, so I expected love and marriage and I got that. But what I also got was a kick in the teeth because of what it showed me about myself and others.

This is the story of 4 girls who grew up together and how through thick and thin they stick together. Their lives are all different but when trouble strikes they bond together and carry on.
Cassie, an ER nurse, is almost raped but is rescued by a big burly biker. A friendship develops and the two spend the summer visiting all over the Sonoma Valley on Walt's Harley.
Julie, a stay at home mother of 3, is married to Billy, a firefighter, and even though their love and marriage are strong, their financial situation is not, fighting constantly to make ends meet.
Marty, a hairdresser, is married to Joe, also a firefighter, and together with their son Jason, live in nice house and have all the toys that most men have - boat, big screen TV, etc.
Beth is a OB/GYN Doctor who shuts herself off from men because her previous fiancé left her after she had a battle with breast cancer in her mid-twenties.

Each of the character's stories could have been a book on their own but the tales are interwoven so that the comparisons of their lives is front and center.

SPOILER - I don't like to put spoilers in my reviews but in this instance, it wouldn't be fair not to. The reason why this book kicked me in the teeth is that it showed the characters' flaws and made this reader, at least, stop and think. Cassie doesn't want to get romantically involved with Walt because he's not what she envisioned the man in her life should look like. Billy is forever optimistic and gets a rude awakening when he realizes that the world doesn't react to a positive attitude. Marty and Joe hear but don't listen. Beth feels that she can't burden her friends with her problems but is there to help with theirs.

I can't believe how much this book made me stop and think about the people in the world around me. Our world/society seems so intent on physical appearance - that the people that are beautiful inside seem to be lost and that means we are missing out on so much. A possible attitude can be helpful but it is important to be realistic as well. Our relationships could be infinitely better if we learned to listen better - shouldn't this be a class in school? Lastly, I now understand an old saying I heard "A trouble shared is but half a trouble, a joy that's shared is a joy made double." If we are willing to help our friends and family through hard times, why should we expect them to be any different in helping us if we have hard times. This really was a very thought provoking book. Very well-written.

Happy Sunday Cheli!

>28 cyderry: Sounds like a good book, Cheli.

#68 Drowned Wednesday
Author: Garth Nix
Read: July 23 - July 24
Format: Audiobook 7 CDs equivalent 321 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: Alternate world
Category: The Kids have it - Young adult and children's books
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, AUDIO, SYLL
Stars: ★★★½

This the 3rd installment of the Kings to the Kingdom series. Arthur has returned to his normal existence, in the hospital with a broken leg awakening Wednesday at noon, when he receives an invitation from Lady Wednesday to have lunch. Not given an opportunity to refuse, Arthur and his friend, Leaf, are swept away on a tidal wave to the Border Sea where they are separated, Leaf to imprisonment on the pirate ship of Feverfew, the enemy of Lady Wednesday, and he set adrift on a treasure buoy.

After being rescued, Arthur meets with Lady Wednesday, who has been transformed into a huge white whale with an insatiable appetite due to some curse put upon her by the morrow days. She has no idea where her portion of the will is, so Arthur has numerous tasks to perform - locate the third portion of the will, rescue Leaf, and resolve the curse and with these resolutions Lady Wednesday will hand over her key.

The characters in this installment were entertaining, the predicaments amusing - reminiscent of Jonah and the whale, and overall great for Arthur's development as our hero. The fun of Pirates and a scavanger hunt all rolled into one.

I'm in a dilemna.... Help!!!

I thought I was approaching the end of my Civil War reading with two planned for next month - Uncle Tom's Cabin and April 1865 and then I was going to move on to Reconstruction. Today while I was glancing at the library website, I came across 5 more books that I really think would be interesting.

The siege of Washington : the untold story of the twelve days that shook the Union
Wild Rose : Rose O'Neale Greenhow, Civil War spy
Season of fire : the Confederate strike on Washington
Mr. Lincoln's forts : a guide to the Civil War defenses of Washington
Symbol, sword, and shield : defending Washington during the Civil War

Since I live in the Washington DC suburbs and numerous Civil War battles took place in the area, I think these books would be fascinating, but do I delay my Reconstruction reading for another year?

Help!!!

Hmmm... let's see. In the past 12-15 years, I've spent...

Four years reading about the American Revolution
Two years reading about the Lewis and Clark expedition
Three years reading about Indiana politics during the Civil War*

So I say keep on with the Civil War. But I am a stranger to moderation in historical reading.

* If you haven't come across Governor Oliver P. Morton in your reading so far, you've really missed out.

If you're interested, go for it. I've enjoyed my Civil War reading but I'm getting tired of it.

For 12 in 12 or whatever, I'm thinking of broadening the category to War.

btw, I'm planning to read The Siege of Washington soon.

Okay, I've thought about it and I'm going to do 3 of the 5 so that I can finish the Civil War this year and start Reconstruction in 2012.

If you do not own Eric Foner's Reconstruction, Cheli, I would get my hands on a copy if I were you.

Thanks, Stasia, I'll put it on the list.

I have a copy of it. If you would like a read along partner for the book, just let me know :)

Thanks, Stasia, but I'm still in the war and not into Reconstruction yet. A few more months....

No problem. The book will still be waiting for me when you are ready. Now, as to whether I will be able to find it or not, that is another question entirely :)

Hi Cheli

I hope you are having a lovely, pain free day.

That is my wish for you Linda, but not my luck. Apparently, I was very bad this week and will have to call the Pain Mgmt people on Monday.

Sir Thursday
Author: Garth Nix
Read: July 27 - July 31
Format: Audiobook 7 CDs equivalent 344 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: Alternate world
Category: The Kids have it - Young adult and children's books
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, AUDIO, SYLL
Stars: ★★★½

Arthur continues his exploits in the House after acquiring the third key from Drowned Wednesday. In this installment Arthur is drafted into the House Army by Sir Thursday who is the trustee in chargeof the military. All residents of the House are required to serve for 100 years and Arthur cannot avoid this obligation. While still a recruit in training he experiences first hand the praactice of being washed between the ears, in essence erasing all of his memories. He doesn't even know who he is. Graduallyhis memories return and he learns what he can in the army, but danger comes when the House is attacked by Super Nifflings lead by the Piper.

An interesting side of these adventures and series.

Murder on Monday

Author: Ann Purser
Read: July 22 - July 31
Format: Paperback 288 pages
Source: My Shelves
Subject: rebelious teens, village secrets
Category: Something Old - read those TBRs
Genre: Mystery
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS
Stars: ★★½

Lois Meade lives in a small English village with her husband and 3 children. She has to deal with the normal problems of a rebellious teenager and making ends meet. To help financially, Lois heads over to a nearby village for 4 mornings a week - cleaning house for the vicar the village doctor, village, nurse, and resident artist. When another female resident is found murdered, Lois gets involved because she works for all 4 of the major suspects.

This book (first in the series) had a great premise but moved to slowly with too much filler without substance for my taste. I doubt I will continue on anytime soon.

JULY RECAP
So here's my wrap-up for the Month of July. A few more library books this month, but still a good bit of my own.

July: 4 pre-owned: 6 borrowed: 0 new: 1 ARC - 11 books.
Best of the Month: A Summer in Sonoma
The worst of the month - Murder on Monday

Here's What I read this month:

Heat Wave ★★★½
Sew Deadly ★★★★
The Betrayal of the Blood Lily ★★★
The Body in the Transept ★★★
Heresy ★★★½
Grim Tuesday ★★★
Real Murders ★★★½
A Summer in Sonoma ★★★★
Drowned Wednesday ★★★
Sir Thursday ★★★½
Murder on Monday ★★★

I hit the jackpot again this month, no bad books!


Genre Summary

Nonfiction:
0 books History
0 book Health

Fiction:
Novels: 2
Youth/Children: 3
Mystery: 5
Historical Fiction: 1
Classic: 0

The major push continued in July and I'm really hoping that I can keep it up in August.
Hopefully these books will help.

Books for next month:
Prophecy
Uncle Tom's Cabin
The Borgia Betrayal
Fatal Remedies
The Last Boy
The siege of Washington : the untold story of the twelve days that shook the Union
The Lost Hero
A Great Deliverance
If Books Could Kill
Lady Friday
Beaglemania
Fireworks Over Toccoa
The Red Pyramid

I'm really enjoying The Siege of Washington. I had no idea about the Battle of Baltimore and those unruly Maryland mobs who wouldn't let the Union volunteers through to defend Washington.

I should be finishing it either tonight, or, at the latest, on Thurs morning.

I will probably be starting the Mickey Mantle book soon, too.

I picked it up from the library yesterday afternoon and have only gotten through a few days.
I knew about the Battle of Baltimore and the MD mobs, but it's still interesting seeing all the references for my own area in the preparations.

I've got a really busy next 4 days (guests from out-of-town and various functions) so I'm not sure I'll even get to open a book until I go to bed and then I may be so tired, I will just want to sleep, but I'll try to keep up. I have the Beaglemania on my Nook for any spare moments I may have or the siege.

I also read and enjoyed Grim Tuesday last month, but I haven't yet written a review. I am a little behind. I have not yet gotten to Drowned Wednesday, but I am looking forward to it.

I read the Aurora Teagarden series a few years ago, and thought they were pretty good. I need to go and see if I missed any.

And I am looking forward to reading your review of Beaglemania.

I've been to Baltimore twice (once was just a day trip for a ballgame, via train from DC) and to Bethesda once so I'm trying to figure out the geography of it all.

When I took the train, I remember all of my fellow train mates taking sides as to which station was the better one to get off at, so I do recall that there are two stations there. I think I got off at one on the way to the game and got back on at the other, to return home.

I was just reading about Cockeysville, MD. I have no idea where that is.

ETA: Are you talking about the Ann Purser mystery? I always have mixed feelings about these.

I knew as soon as I put in markers for the reviews (Message 43,44) that I needed to do, I'd finally do them.

My sister #2 lives in Cockeysville. It's a suburb slightly north and west of Baltimore.

Cheli, I remember not liking the first in Purser's series well enough to continue, but it's been years since I read it.

Great minds and all that. I think the Ann Purser books are ok, but nothing I rush out to buy/read immediately. For me, the same is true with that bookbinder series I think you guys are reading. I may go back to these but they're not my favorites.

*waving* at Cheli ~ I hope today is a pain-free one for you

If you noticed, that is the last bookbinder book I intend to read. I had the first two in my stash. I read the first one and really didn't like it that much. I started to just pull the second one and take it to the used bookstore for trade value but someone had told me that the second was better. It was, but it wasn't enough better to make me want to read the rest of the series. It's pretty bad when your favorite character is a cat who makes an appearance in the library! The mystery wasn't bad, but I just don't like the characters.

#54 There's a lot to be said for liking the characters, or at least, a character. Even if the mystery is just ok, I'll usually continue if I like a character(s).

53>>> Stasia, I wish you're wave was enough to make it so, but, alas no. The shots that I had in my back have worn off (too soon IMO) and I go back to Pain Mgmt next week. I was supposed to play golf in a tournament with my guests today, but ended up just riding along instead. :-(

54 & 55>>I've started so many books so far this month for TIOLI and I'm carrying around IF Books could Kill but haven't opened it. I hope I am the exception to the rule and turn out liking it.

#56 I think I started it a month or two or more ago and didn't like it and put it aside. Same thing with the apple orchard mystery, One Bad Apple.

Too many good mysteries out there. For instance, I realized that I still haven't read the new Laura Childs teashop mystery. Not sure how that happened.

#56: Sorry to hear that the pain is sticking around, Cheli. I hope that the trip to Pain Mgmt does your back some good!

Just catching up with you Cheli! Hope you can get the pain under control and get at least a little relief. :)

Just got home from the end of a whirlwind weekend.
Yesterday we went to the home of friends from college (that we see frequently throughout the year) where we had a mini reunion with other friends who came in from out of town- Illinois and North Carolina. Some of these friends we hadn't seen since we got married 37 years ago! We had an old photo album from college and laughed hilariously over the old clothes and hair styles from the early 70s! We thought we were so cool back then.

Then today we got together again for a crab feast with these friends plus our Maryland tailgate buddies and golf friends. We had a great time with tremendous food which included not only the steamed crabs but BBQ ribs and Martini brownies to mention just a few. I'm stuffed but I had a great time! Didn't get much reading done but the time was valuable just as it was!

#71 Fatal Remedies

Author: Donna Leon
Read: Asugust 1 - August 8
Format: Audio 7 CDs equivalent 320 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: rebelious teens, village secrets
Category: Honeymoon - foreign settings/thrillers
Genre: Mystery
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, SYLL
Stars: ★★★

In this 8th installment of the Brunetti series, Guido's wife Paola throws a rock not once but twice through the window of a travel agency that specializes in sex tours as an act of civil disobedience. This results in Guido's being placed on administrative leave.

When the owner of the agency turns up dead (fortunately Guido and Paola were together when the murder occurred) Guido is called back in to investigate

This book, not one of Leon's best IMO, was still a great read if just for the characters and their interactions.

#72 Prophecy

Author: S.J. Parris
Read: July 20 - August 8
Format: Hardback 435 pages
Source: LibraryThing ER program for review
Subject: religious intolerance in the Middle Ages
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS
Category: Going steady: Should we keep seeing each other? - ongoing series
Genre: Historical Fiction
Stars: ★★★½

This Historical thriller is the second in the series with excommunicated monk Giordano Bruno as the central character. Bruno, a "secret agent" of Walsingham (one of Queen Elizabeth's advisors), is part of the French embassy's delegation. Sent to England by King Henri to avoid religious repercussions, Bruno is drawn into the murders of two of the Queen's Maids of Honor as well as a plot on the Queen's life and replacement on her throne by Mary of Scotland.

The murders are vailed with the mystery of the Prophecy related to the great Conjunction - Saturn and Jupiter aligning - which foretells of the end of an age. Just as we all know from history, the rivalry of Elizabeth and Mary is also the rivalry of Catholic vs. Protestant. The investigation weaves together the occult of the period as well as the conspiracies of the characters.

Great characters as well as a great story.

#73 The Siege of Washington: The Untold Story of the Twelve Days That Shook the Union
Author: John and Charles Lockwood
Read: August 2 - August 10
Format: Hardback 249 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: Begnning of the Civil War
Category: The Engagement: this is getting serious
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, SYLL
Stars: ★★★★

At the time that the Union surrendered Fort Sumter and the war was starting, neither the Confederacy or the United States was prepared for war. Some of the southern states had yet to decide on secession (Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Kentucky) but the major issue for the North was the location of its capital. Washington City was surrounded by slave holding states. When Lincoln requested troops from the loyal states to defend the capital on April 15th, a crisis erupted. Baltimoreans attacked the troops as they attempted to transfer trains for the capital. Riots broke out.

The residents of Washington felt threatened for the first 12 days of the war until troops arrived for its defense. Any moment they expected the Confederate Army to attack, "blow up the Capitol and Treasury Building, to burn the President's house and other edifices, and to leave in the blackened wreck of the ruined city, proof to the world that the Union was ruined." Others in the Confederacy felt that occupation of Washington and conversion of the city to the Confederate Capital held the benefits of establishing "instant legitimacy" for the new nation as well as recognition around the world. This would help the Confederacy negotiate loans and if the Union Government officials were captured, the war could possibly be ended quickly with little bloodshed.

However, the South was not prepared to make that step toward Washington. Arms were scarce in Virginia and Maryland. The Union destruction of the arsenal at Harper's Ferry was a double blow - the destruction of the arms that the Virginians were hoping to capture as well as the morale of not defeating the Union troops that had been stationed there.

The details of the problems of getting the troops to Washington for its defense as well as the issues of housing, feeding, and sanitation are remarkable. The reader can almost feel and smell the air of fear throughout this book.

I've been reading a great number of Civil War books, but wish that I had found this one first. It would have been a great start, explaining the issues that effected both sides militarily as well as the social issues of the surrounding area. As a Marylander, I realize that my state fell below the Mason-Dixon line, but never realized until I read this book that there were actually skirmishes when the citizens tried to support the Confederacy. Most of all for me, it helped to enlightened me as to the areas in my home state that were directly affected by the war other than the battlefields.

A definite for anyone who wants to see the problems that greeted the Union and the Confederacy at the very beginning of the Civil War.

Thanks for the review of The Siege of Washington -- I obviously need to get to it sooner rather than later!

#74 Lady Friday


Author: Garth Nix
Read: August 9 - August 10
Format: Audiobook 6 CDs equivalent 304 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: Alternate world
Category: The Kids have it - Young adult and children's books
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, AUDIO, SYLL
Stars: ★★★½

Arthur Penhaligon remains in the House after defeating Sir Thursday in the Great Maze and retrieving the 4th key. Now he must locate Lady Friday and the 5th part of the will. Little does he know that his friend, Leaf, has returned from the Secondary Realm (earth) and is trapped by Lady Friday who has an addiction to the human experiences that she drains from their souls. At the same time as Arthur begins his search, Lady Friday sends a message to Arthur, the Piper, and Superior Saturday - stating that she is giving up her position as trustee and relinquishing the key - first come first serve. But they must find the 5th part of the will first.

Arthur has several battles both external and internal in this installment which brings a greater since of drama to this one, but the ending still was a bit rushed, flat. The series still holdS interest though, as the reader foresees the coming battles.

I see you had the same reaction to Leon's book that I had. Definitely not her best!

Glad to hear that you liked The Siege of Washington, too. I also wish that I'd read it sooner.

I've come to the conclusion that not every writer is going to come out with a Gone with the Wind or Harry Potter but as long as I enjoy what they've written, it gets at least ★★★ from me. Some books are going to be better than others and each person has interests and backgrounds that are going to make 1 book better for them than another. No sweat....just enjoy!

I wish The Siege of Washington was available at my local library. It sounds like a must read for me.

Ahhh...cool again!

I have been surviving the last few days with two fans...one upstairs, one down.

Wednesday afternoon I mentioned to my husband that it didn't seem to be cool in the house and he checked and determined that the coolants in the AC had frozen up so he turned it off. We headed to bed - our room normally a cool 68˚ but this night a warmer 75˚. With a floor fan we suffered through and he headed off to work instructing me to turn it back on when I came back from my errands Thursday morning.

So when I got back, and it wasn't too bad temperature-wise, I decided to leave off a little while longer. When he came home from work, on it went a few hours later, he came downstairs and asked me what the strange smell was. I thought my PC was overheating (I smelled something burning) but he decided it was the AC and turned it off again. This afternoon when the repairman came and examined the equipment, he said that if we had left it on for a few more hours, we would have burned the house down. Guess the good Lord was watching over us.

Now we have a brand new AC unit and the house is cooling down again. Can't wait for 68˚ tonight!

.

#70: Guess the good Lord was watching over us.

Thank goodness for that! I am glad to hear that the new AC unit is working :)

I'm so glad that you are safe. Yikes, what a scary thought to know your house could have burnt down.

I hope today is a pain free day for you Cheli.

Our local weatherman took a survey and asked people (it's been crazy hot here too) whether they would prefer a heat wave like we've had or a blizzard. Only 26% said a blizzard and I am definitely with them. I would prefer to hunker down with a fire in the fireplace, heating pad, blankets and a cup of hot chocolate with a good book in hand than try to cool down hiding out in the air conditioned basement.

Which would you prefer - heat or blizzard?

#73: Blizzard, hands down for me! I always figure I can put more clothes on than I can take off!

Heat -- living in a house without AC (which I'm doing at the moment) is a real pain, but survivable. The same house without a heating system in the winter / or a blizzard means risk of life / evacuation.

Give me the heat.

>74 alcottacre: What Stasia said!

Blizzard! Can you tell that I live in the South where the only kind of blizzard we get is the kind you buy at Dairy Queen?

Cheli....just remember what our sainted Gram said "A lady can always put on enough clothes to keep warm, but a lady can never remove enough clothes to stay cool" I definitely vote for blizzard....that's why I left that god=forsaken Balto/DC area and moved to Maine!

Well, 80%, so far, have voted for the blizzard....Dejah, where do you live? Does it get really, really hot there or is it pleasant most of the time?

Okay, here's another...saw this on Shelf awareness and it's perfect! We have e-books, and ERs and audiobooks, but for all of you who wonder what about regular old books -- they are ARDs.

Antique Reading Devices Don't you just love it!?!

Blizzard. We had that worst-ever blizzard in Feb and had three days of strong heat with no power (so no fans/AC) in July. I'd take the blizzard any day.

My preference is for temps in the 60s but that rarely ever happens here.

#80: Don't you just love it!?!

Yes, I do - as I pick up my ARD once again :)

#75 Beaglemania

Author: Linda O. Johnston
Read: August 15 - August 17
Format: e-book equivalent 304 pages
Source: Nook Barnes & Noble
Subject: animal cruelty, animal rescue
Category: Something New - books acquired in 2011
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS
Stars: ★★★½

This new cozy mystery series centers around Lauren Vancouver the administrator of a privately funded animal rescue shelter that specializes in no killing. She works with public agencies to rescue and find homes for the overflow of unwanted pets. At the start Lauren is seen at the site of a raid on a puppy mill, nothing strange for her except that one of the people, Efram, identified as being involved, is a worker from her center HotRescues.

Lauren is angry with Efram and they argue, he is told not to return, he threatens her and her facility, so when he is found dead on at HotRescues and she is bending over the body, Lauren becomes the #1 suspect.

This was a nice little cozy which introduced the reader to the agency and characters involved, nothing too over the top or complicated. It did give a warm fuzzy feeling, mainly because of all the little puppies and kitties involved. I will look for the next one.

I DID IT! 75 HAS BEEN REACHED!!! and with such a fun book!

#76 If Books Could Kill

Author: Kate Carlisle
Read: August 16 - August 19
Format: Paperback 290 pages
Source: my shelves
Subject: rare books, Robert Burns
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS
Category: Going steady: Should we keep seeing each other? - ongoing series
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Stars: ★★★½

When Brooklyn Wainwright arrives in Edinburgh for an International Book Festival she is immediately caught up in literary intrigue. Her former main squeeze, Kyle McVee accosts her and talks her into validating a controversial book and several hours later he turns up dead, murdered with one of Brooklyn's binding hammers. The Scottish police lean toward Brooklyn as the prime suspect so she feels that she needs to exonerate herself.

Brooklyn is IMO a delightful character who has flaws that only make her more endearing. The mystery is not too over the top, leading the reader with numerous possible culprits. The manner in which the bookbinding world is woven in with many interesting and educational facts, also eases the reader through the adventure.

Congratulations on reaching 75! I'm glad you did it with a book you enjoyed.

WAY TO GO SIS!!

Congratulations on passing the 75 book mark!!

Congratulations, Cheli!

Congrats on reaching 75, Cheli!!! I'm looking forward to reading the beagle mystery, too. Glad to hear that it was fun.

Congrats!

Just wanted to let everyone know that we survived the 5.9 earthquake that shook the area for about 45 seconds about an hour ago. I originally thought my washing machine was shaking but I realized that I wasn't doing any laundry. It sounded like a train coming through the neighborhood. Then the house really started to shake so I headed to a doorway.

I'm just wondering if the good Lord decided that all the politicians in this area needed a good shake-up?

#91 I was wondering how you were doing, Cheli. Just came back from lunch and heard the news.

I hope you stay safe with Irene's approach. I saw one report that said it could hit the DC area.

We felt the quake in East Tennessee too, although it only shook about 10 seconds here and was much milder.

Hi, Cheli! I lost you for a while, but now I've got you starred.

Congrats on passing the big 75 book goal! Glad you weathered the quake OK. I wish you safety from Irene.

This is just too funny - I finally tracked you down to say exactly what Terrie just did. So, ditto #94!

Today I ran to the grocery store to pickup eggs and bread (ice cream too), have batteries, I'm going to charge everything tonight and tomorrow morning, and pray that the good Lord will watch over everyone and take care of us all. If you don't see me here, don't panic, I'm probably out of power or no internet access.

Hope you don't get too much ice cream, cause if the power goes, gosh shuckey darn, you'll have to EAT the ice cream so you don't waste your money. I remember when we lost our power for 4 days back in 99 with Floyd--for two days all I ate was ICE CREAM... Stay safe baby sis...

Hoping both of you sisters stay safe.

Eating nothing but ice cream for two days sounds good to me but not at the expense of having to survive a hurricane.

Will be thinking about you! Please stay safe!

I think that hubbie will volunteer to suffer through some of the ice cream if it comes to that.
I will try to keep an eye on the northern limb of the family tree if the power doesn't leave me without cable. Stay safe, everyone.

Hunker down and stay safe! Praying for everyone on the East Coast.

Echoing everyone else, Cheli - stay safe!

So far just really heavy rain, and a bit windy. Power still on, but lots of power outages in the area - power company says maybe 1-2 weeks before everything back to normal.

Glad to hear that so far, so good, Cheli. I've been wondering.

I hope that your power stays on, Cheli!

Good Morning!

Here's the latest status report.

1. Loved ones okay
2. Power is still on.
3. Cable is still on.
4. No trees down.
5. 1 book finished.

The only damage was a piece of lattice torn off the porch and a few minor branches down in the yard.

Thanks for everyone who was praying for us, now we need to make sure that tutu gets through okay.

Good status report, Cheli! I hope Tina is OK too.

#77 The Lost Hero
Author: Rick Riordan
Read: August 16 - August 23
Format: Audiobook 6 CDs equivalent 304 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: Alternate world, mythology
Category: The Kids have it - Young adult and children's books
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, AUDIO, SYLL
Stars: ★★★½

For those readers of the Percy Jackson series, who felt lost since Percy vanquished the Titans, we come again to that world but with 3 new demigods - Jason, Piper, and Leo. On their arrival at Camp HalfBlood, Jason, who has been robbed of his memories by Hera, is identified as the son of Zeus by tattoos on his arms, Leo is immediately claimed by Hephaestus, and Piper by being claimed by Aphrodite understands why her mother deserted she and her father. All three have secrets that blend them together as a team when they head out on their quests to rescue Hera and prevent further intrusions by the giants.

Each of these demigods has abilities - Jason can fly and hurl lightning bolts, Piper can hypnotize mortals with her "charm speech", and Leo and handle Fire and fix anything mechanical. We find that Jason is actually a son of Jupiter (Zeus' Roman persona) and in this way the Roman mythology is interwoven with the Greek. We are also introduced to Aeolus, God of Wind, who is a one-man Weather Channel,

Old friends appear in this book as well - Annabeth who is worried about a missing Percy Jackson, Chiron, Rachel Dare, and Thalia - who turns out to be Jason's older sister. They all join forces to complete the quests as well as other tasks that pop up.

Definitely a great start for a new series!

#78The Last Boy: Mickey Mantle and the End of America's Childhood
Author: Jean Leavy
Read: August 23 - August 25
Format: Overdrive equivalent of 553 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: Mickey Mantle Bio
Category: Something Borrowed from the library
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, SYLL
Stars: ★★

This is a biography of New York Yankee Mickey Mantle. I'm not exactly sure how to review it so I will just tell you my feelings. I am an avid baseball fan - mostly the Baltimore Orioles therefore, you do hear about the dreaded Yankees. So I really expected to hear more about baseball, but what I read was basically about injures and inappropriate behavior by Mantle and his teammates. He couldn't seem gather his excellence from the field and continue it in his private life.

The first few chapters were interesting, but then it just seemed to be the same over and over - play great, injury, bad behavior, repeat. I guess hearing the life of another pro player who just died there was a great contrast - maybe Mantle was a great player who was denied his full potential by an early injury, but the injury wasn't what stopped him from being a great man.

#79 The Borgia Betrayal

Author: Sara Poole
Read: August 11 - August 28
Format: Paperback 389 pages
Source: LibraryThing ER Program for review
Subject: Papal security, scientists vs religion
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS
Category: Going steady: Should we keep seeing each other? - ongoing series
Genre: Historical Fiction
Stars: ★★★

This book was the second in the Poisoner series. The story picks up shortly after book 1 ends and Francesca is again trying to protect Borgia, Pope Alexander VI from being murdered by Morozzi, a mad priest who favors another for the Papal throne. It seemed rather repetitive at the beginning but toward the end there some interesting developments that carried me along to the end.

Some of the passages were so filled with descriptions that I lost where or what was happening so overall I felt it needed more editing, but still it was an interesting tale.

Glad to know that all is well with you, Cheli!

I enjoyed The Lost Hero, too. I think the next one is due to be out soon.

The Borgia books sound interesting to me, and I was hoping that you'd be raving about them. But.. with your lukewarm response, I don't think I'll rushing out to find them.

The stories were good, not great, the characters need a little bit more definition - they fell a little flat, too 2-dimensional. Some characters were better than others but overall very stereotyped. But I probably will read the 3rd book when it comes out.

Glad to hear you're ok. I agree with your assessment of the Mickey Mantle book. Very disappointing.

I had put the Mantle book in the BlackHole when it was first published, but due to yours, Linda's, and Terri's not-so-stellar reviews of the book, I think I am just yanking it right back out of the BlackHole.

Glad to be of service...reducing the Black Hole should get us some protection points next time we get hit with BBs.

I have the Mickey Mantle book on my Nook....from your review, I'm glad I only spent $.99

Cheli, we all seem to have about the same impression of The Last Boy.
Glad to hear that you're OK.

115 Good idea, Stasia!

117 $0.99 -- it's probably worth about that, Tina.

#80 Murder Most Persuasive

Author: Linda O. Johnston
Read: August 28 - August 30
Format: Paperback 293 pages
Source:LibraryThing ER Program for review
Subject: inheritance, embezzlement, second chances
Category: Blind dates: Will I like them? - New series ER
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS
Stars: ★★★½

Elizabeth Parker is staying with her pregnant sister while work is being done on her apartment and her boyfriend is out of town. Sisters can rub each other the wrong way so when Elizabeth has a chance to escape to visit with her cousin who just lost her father, she grabs it and gets involved in mishaps that weave around her cousin's family and a missing former fiancé.

This book is the third in a series but my first exposure to the characters and author. They were amusing and entertaining so think I will have to locate the first two and catch up.

#81 Leading Questions in Bridge

Author:
Read: July 14 - August 30
Format: Paperback 198 pages
Source: Bridge Website
Subject: advice for defense to bridge
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS
Category: Something New - books acquired in 2011
Genre: reference
Stars: ★★★

This is not the typical book with a plot,characters, etc. Basically, it is a help guide for those bridge players that want to improve their defense. I found the format and descriptins extremely helpful and look forward to implementing the tips and tricks that were illustrated into my game.

#82 Journal of a Civil War Nurse
Author: Georgiann Baldino
Read: August 30 - August 30
Format: Nook equivalent of 15 pages
Source: B&N
Subject: Civil War nursing - Gettysburg
Category: The Engagement: this is getting serious
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI
Stars: ★★½

This was a short story telling of the difficulties related to nursing after the Battle of Gettysburg. It was informataive but I felt that it should have been a bit longer.

August RECAP Very late, but better late than never.
So here's my wrap-up for the Month of August. It was my best month number-wise yet.

August: 1 pre-owned: 5 borrowed: 3 new: 3 ARC - 12 books.
Best of the Month: Murder Most Persuasive
The worst of the month - The Last Boy

Here's What I read this month:

Prophecy ★★★½
Fatal Remedies ★★★
The siege of Washington : the untold story of the twelve days that shook the Union ★★★
Lady Friday ★★★
Beaglemania ★★★½
If Books Could Kill ★★★½
The Lost Hero ★★★½
The Last Boy ★★
The Borgia Betrayal ★★★
Murder Most Persuasive ★★★½
Leading Questions in Bridge ★★★½
Journal of a Civil War Nurse ★★

Genre Summary

Nonfiction:
3 books History/Bios
1 book Health/Hobbies

Fiction:
Novels: 0
Youth/Children: 2
Mystery: 4
Historical Fiction: 2
Classic: 0

The major push continued in August and I'm really hoping that I can stay on schedule in September. Hopefully these books will help.

Books for next month:
A Great Deliverance
At Home in Mitford
Delicious and Suspicious
The Riesling Retribution
Mr. Lincoln's forts : a guide to the Civil War defenses of Washington
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Taste of Innocence
Any Bitter Thing
Case Histories
Lost Symbol
The Husband Trap
The Red Pyramid
The Magician

#83 A Great Deliverance

Author: Elizabeth George
Read: August 19 - September 4
Format: Nookbook 547 pages
Source: Barnes & Noble
Subject: unrequited love, incest, abandonment
Category: Blind dates: Will I like them? - New series ER
Genre: Police Prcedural Mystery
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS
Stars: ★★★★

Roberta Teys is found sitting in the barn over the headless body of her father and she freely admits "I did it. I'm not sorry.” But the residents of the small village cannot believe that Roberta could possibly do such a thing and so Scotland Yard is brought in to determine if Roberta really is the murderer.

As the story unfolds the reader is taken through the village seeing Roberta as a pathetic unloved creature. Her mother abandoned the family when she was very small and her beloved older sister ran away leaving her on the farm with her overly zealous father. Her only escape appeared to be in books and time spent with her dog Whiskers and a small child in the village. However, the evidence appears to point to Roberta as the murderer because the dog's blood is all over the clothes that she was wearing and since the dog's body is beneath Farmer Teys' body, he had to be killed before her father.

The deeper that Inspector Lynley and DS Havers dig to find out the true nature of the events, the deeper the reader is drawn into the lives of not only the villagers but Havers and Lynley as well.

This book is the beginning of the Inspector Lynley series. I had watched several of the episodes that were shown on PBS and decided that I wanted to get more of the background of the characters so I'm starting at the beginning, but I got more than I bargained for.

The beginning of the book seemed a bit disjointed to me, jumping around from one character and place to another, but in the end it all came together like a flash of lightning to explain how all the characters were impacted by the events that led to the murder.

Definitely have to continue with the books - the characterizations are tremendous as well as the plot twists for the reader. I admitted to being completely stunned by the ending.

I posted a duplicate by error.

You liked Murder Most Persuasive better than I did. I've been debating whether or not to remove the first in the series from my wish list after reading this 3rd installment. I think my biggest problem with the book was that it was obviously written for the 20-something crowd.

Cheli - I love the Inspector Lynley series so much I refuse to watch the PBS bastardizing of these wonderful stories. I have several here, and most are available in audio, read I believe by davina porter.

I've got a few on order from the library and I'm looking to see if some more are available for my Nook.

I'll have to give the Ellizabeth George books another try. I read the fifth one, For the Sake of Elena about 20 years ago and didn't care for it.

>123 cyderry: I went to add the Elizabeth George series to my list, and found that it was already there -- recommended by you, Cheli!

>119 cyderry: & 125 Although there were things I liked about Murder Most Persuasive, I agree with Lori. The jargon was just too much for me. While I would probably read the other books in the series if they should come my way, I'm involved with so many series that I like better, and have such a long list of series to try, that I won't be seeking out the other books. I'm glad you enjoyed it, though!

In case anyone caught the discussion about the mysteries on TV (Inspector Montalbano for example) on Tutu's thread (http://www.librarything.com/topic/120222) I found that my cable company carried the channel and last night I sat down to watch the adaption of A Noble Radiance by Donna Leon - one of the Inspector Brunetti series. Tina was jealous when I told her what I had planned for the evening, but maybe the review I gave her should be told to everyone. Here's what I told her....

Don't be jealous because...

1. It’s got subtitles which I could handle but their talking German! You would expect Italian since it is set in Venice in the book, but instead of the lilting sounds of a romance language, there is the harsh tones of a Germanic tongue. The actors seem to go with the language. They don’t look Italian.
2. Guido is not what I expected. He’s short, not particularly good looking and with the German not particularly handsome.
3. Patta’s secretary – Signorina Elettra(?) is too young, she looks like about 20.
4. Paola is kind of plain.
5. The apartment doesn’t give off that homey feeling that the book projects. The steps were too ornate, the kitchen too large, the colors drab
6. The outdoor scenes in Venice were beautiful however, never having been to Venice I didn’t expect so many roads and sidewalks.
7. Guido sergeant seems like a buffoon.

That said, I was a bit disappointed but I will give it another shot when something shows up on the listings that I want to see.

#84 Mr. Lincoln's forts : a guide to the Civil War defenses of Washington

Author: Benjamin Franklin Cooling
Read: September 5 - September 7
Format: Hardback 234 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: defenses of the Federal Capital
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, SYLL
Category: The Engagement: this is getting serious
Genre: HISTORY
Stars: ★★★

This book documents the 68 forts and 93 unarmed batteries that surrounded the city of Washington during the Civil War. The details include maps, drawings, anecdotes concerning the construction, and directions to find the locations since many have "no visible remains" today.

An excellent volume for a Civil War buff and as a nearby resident I was easily able to visualize the locations by the directions supplied.

#85 Uncle Tom's Cabin

Author: Harriet Beecher Stowe
Read: September 5 - September 8
Format: Nookbook 312 pages
Source: Barnes & Noble
Subject: slavery, cruelty, separation,
Category: The Engagement: this is getting serious
Genre: Historical fiction
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS
Stars: ★★★

This book, written by a Northern woman, has been read by thousands and reviewed by many. Whether I can add any incite from this book, is hard to believe but here are my thoughts. The men say one thing and do another, i.e. slavery is bad but I'll still own slaves. The majority of the women in this story are the moral backbone of the families that they are members of. There is a strong Christian theme throughout from the slaveholders and the slaves.

There also appears to be a great deal of symbolism in the book - Eliza's leap to freedom, Uncle Tom's Cabin, South as cruelty and North as freedom, Eliza's escape versus Uncle Tom's sale into deeper oppression.

The Christian population of the North, this book ignited a flare against the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 and slavery in general.

Love your description of the Noble Radiance TV adaptation. I think I'd be disappointed, too!

#86 The Red Pyramid
Author: Rick Riordan
Read: September 2 - September 9
Format: Audiobook 12 CDs equivalent 516 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: Alternate world, mythology of Egypt
Category: The Kids have it - Young adult and children's books
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, AUDIO, SYLL
Stars: ★★★½

The Kane Chronicles, of which this is the first installment, tells of Carter Kane and his sister Sadie and their special abilities and destinies. Carter lives with his father, Julius, an Egyptologist. Due to his father's occupation, they travel constantly spending only 1 day, twice a year with Sadie, Carter's sister, who lives with their grandparents in London.

On the visitation, Julius takes Carter and Sadie to the British Museum for a private showing, and there they see a transformation that totally floors them. Julius is involved in a battle with a magical being, engulfed in a golden sarcophagus and disappears.

Carter and Sadie have to flee London and are taken into the care of their Uncle Amos and several Egyptian gods. The adventures that follow are fun and entertaining.

This new series by Riordan has all the entertaining factors as the Percy Jackson series and the Heroes of Olympus series but I think that it would be more fun if the gods that were introduced were more well-known. Egyptian mythology is not that widely recognized, so more background of the gods would be helpful. But a good start for this new series.

#87 Edward's Eyes
Author: Patricia MacLachlan
Read: September 10
Format: Audio Playaway equivalent 116 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: family, organ donation
Category: Something Borrowed/Something Blue - from the library, sad or blue
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, SYLL
Stars: ★★★

Two brothers, Jake and Edward, are close - Jake was handed Edward as a baby and in essence made his little brother's guide in life. Early in Edward's life, Jake helped in the potty training ritual by teaching him a love of reading and baseball. As Edward grew up, baseball was their bond.

SPOILER

Then when family news was related of the impending addition of another child, Edward knew immediately it was a girl, named her and was made her guide at birth. However, on one fateful day, Edward went into town on his bicycle and was killed. His parents decided to donate his organs including his eyes. Jake's recovery from the tragedy was completed by the relationship with the recipient - a young baseball player.

Thanks to countrylife for recommending this book.

My newest little angel granddaughter arrived in this world yesterday at 12:16PM weighing in at 8 lbs. 14 oz. and 21½" long. Stella Reese takes after Dad (he's 6'4")

#88 The Riesling Retribution

Author: Ellen Crosby
Read: September 7 - September 11
Format: Hardback 259 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: Civil Reenactment, cold cases, wine
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, SYLL
Category: Going steady: Should we keep seeing each other? Ongoing series
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Stars: ★★★½

Lucie has trouble in abundance at Montgomery Vineyards with the animosity between Quinn and Chance, her brother's impending divorce, credit card thefts and items disappearing, so what more could happen…how about a tornado that rips through the vineyard uncovering a thirty-year old skeleton which turns out to be an enemy of her father all at the same time as she is supposed to be hosting a Civil War re-enactment?

This mystery was fun and funny and sad and serious altogether. I love most of the characters - some I could do without but overall, a definite plus to the series.

Congrats on the new addition!

Congrats on the new grandbaby, Cheli.

I need to start this Ellen Crosby series.

I think I enjoy it because it is set in the Shenandoah valley just a little south of my home. I've actually been to a winery in that area.

Congrats on the new granddaughter, Cheli!

Congratulations, Cheli! Is that her picture on your profile? She's absolutely beautiful!

Yes, that's darling little Stella on my profile, sorry, I guess in all the excitement, I forgot to change the explanation of who the picture was.

I agree that she is just beautiful, but then I am a bit partial. She looks just like her father when he was a baby who looks a great deal like my husband.

Congrats on the new grandchild!

Drat that book #88, you've added another series to my list. ;)

A baby girl! How sweet! :)

#90 Delicious and Suspicious

Author: Riley Adams
Read: September 6 - September 17
Format: Paperback 269 pages
Source: My shelves
Subject: Southern BBQ, blackmail, murder,
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS
Category: Blind dates: Will I like them? - New series
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Stars: ★★★

Lulu Taylor produces the best BBQ at Aunt Pat's Restaurant in Memphis according to most of the customers so the Cooking Channel is checking her out to see if it's true. Rebecca Adrian is sent to Memphis to find the best BBQ but has little time for tasting when she is found dead in her hotel room - poisoned.

So while Lulu tries to clear the name of her family restaurant, she is also bombarded with problems from her friends the Graces (they visit Graceland every week) and some elderly gentlemen who make Aunt Pat's their second home.

The mystery wasn't that difficult to solve but my main issue with this book is that there were entirely too many characters so that at times I was confused as to who went with who. But still I enjoyed the southern "flavor" of the book and will look for the next in the series.

Cut the cast list and beef up the mystery (No pun intended.) Sometimes the start of a new series is hampered by the introduction of all the characters and this could have been the case in this one.

Cheli, I think I'm going to save this one for my culinary mystery category for 2012.

Cheli

Despite your back pain, you are zipping along with the reading. Do you find it helps distract you from the nagging pain?

Thinking of you and wishing you a pain free day.

Actually, Reading does distract me to a certain extent. When there are days when the pain is truly uncomfortable, I sit in my recliner and there I read threads or my book, or listen to an audiobook and work on my needlework.

#91 The Taste of Innocence

Author: Stephanie Laurens
Read: September 17 - September 24
Format: Paperback 436 pages
Source: My Library
Subject: Love, Marriage, investments, land deals
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS
Category: Love and Marriage: a lifetime commitment
Genre: Romance
Stars: ★★★

Stephanie Laurens has been writing the Cynster novels since 1998 and in this book we find a new connection as well as seeing old friends. In this installment , Charles, Earl of Meredith decides that it is time to marry and choses Sarah Conningham the daughter of a neighbor. They have known each other since childhood, but when he returns to his ancestral home and applies for Sarah's hand, he is startled when she states that she wants a marriage of passion and excitement and that she will give him 2 weeks to show that he can give her that before she will respond to his proposal.

What Charles learns is that Sarah is not just a passionate woman but kind-hearted and gentle of spirit devoting her time and efforts to the local orphanage.

Sarah learns that her long ago infatuation with Charles may have been more and together they embark on a life of secrets to be revealed and love to be cherished.

Sarah's orphanage plays a vital role in the story as well as identifying Charles' character and eccentricities. Cynsters never fail in entertaining.

#92 The Magician: Secrets of the Immortal Nicolas Flamel

Author: Michael Scott
Read: September 18 - September 26
Format: Paperback 464 pages
Source: Borrowed from a young friend
Subject: magic, Paris, Alcatraz
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI,
Category: The Kids have it - Young adult and children's books
Genre: Young Adult
Stars: ★★★★

This is the second installment of the adventures of Josh and Sophie Newman who are the prophesied twins who are to save the Earth from the Dark Elders who are basically a group of evil immortals trying to take over the world and enslave mankind.

Sophie in the first book was awakened to her powers and immediately fled with her brother, Nicholas Flamel, and a vampire Warrior guardian Scathach where this book starts in Paris.

Flamel with his wife, Perenelle, lived in Paris centuries before but modern day Paris is quite different leading to difficulties for the quartet that are fleeing from the evil Machiavelli and Dr. Dee. Perenelle is already being held captive on Alcatraz and they must save her before Flamel and she age beyond the immortal elixir's magic. In Paris, Flamel meets up with Comte deSaint-Germain, an immortal alchemist of his past and he with his wife, Joan of Arc, teach Sophie the powers of Fire Magic.

As the adventures progress and Josh learns of his powers, the battle between good and evil rages. Will the twins learn enough in time to save the world and their friends?

What a fun series, and my young friend and I will definitely have fun discussing these adventures. Definitely a series for family entertainment.

#93 The Untamed Bride

Author: Stephanie Laurens
Read: September 24 - September 30
Format: Paperback 448 pages
Source: My Library
Subject: Love, Marriage, espionage
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS
Category: Love and Marriage: a lifetime commitment
Genre: Romance
Stars: ★★★

Stephanie Laurens has created a new series that utilizes characters from her Cynster series. It's great to see characters that you already feel comfortable with who will come to the aid of the new characters in this series.

Derek Delborough and four of his friends are serving in India when they come across information that could end the reign of the Black Cobra. They make copies of the letter, separate, and head back to England to try to bring down the villain. When Del in arrives in Southampton, he is enlisted against his will to escort Deliah Duncannon north.

The Black Cobra's minions try to intercept them as they travel and gain the letter. The relationship that develops and the adventures involved are entertaining along with the chance t o see old friends.

SEPTEMBER RECAP
So here's my wrap-up for the Month of SEPTEMBER. It was a very good reading month number-wise and I finished my first category for the 11 in 11 Challenge. (I promised myself that this year I would try to spread out my reading throughout my categories so that when one seemed to be running away, I'd concentrate on the others that were falling behind. Three more are awaiting their last book.)

September: 5 pre-owned: 5 borrowed: 1 new: 0 ARC - 11 books.
Best of the Month: A Great Deliverance
The worst of the month - Edward's Eyes not really bad but it could have been more expanded.

Here's What I read this month:

A Great Deliverance ★★★★
Mr. Lincoln's forts : a guide to the Civil War defenses of Washington ★★★
Uncle Tom's Cabin ★★★
Red Pyramid ★★★½
Edward's Eyes ★★★
The Riesling Retribution ★★★½
The Husband Trap ★★★½
Delicious and Suspicious ★★★
Taste of Innocence ★★★
The Magician ★★★★
Untamed Bride ★★★½

Genre Summary

Nonfiction:
1 books History/Bios
0 book Health/Hobbies

Fiction:
Novels: 2
Youth/Children: 2
Mystery: 3
Historical Fiction: 2
Classic: 1

The major push continued in September and I'm really hoping that I can stay on schedule in October.
Hopefully these books will help. I should be able to complete 3 categories if I get these read.

Books for next month:

At Home in Mitford
A Light in the Window
Wild Rose : Rose O'Neale Greenhow, Civil War spy
April 1865
Elusive Bride
Why Shoot the Magistrate?
Supreme Courtship
Swan Thieves
Secret Lives of the Supreme Court
Case Histories
Death in Vienna
Lost Symbol
Skeleton Letters

Quarterly totals
Books Read Owned 15 (Pages: 5,277)
Books Read Borrowed 6 (Pages: 1,843)
Audio Books heard 10 ( 101 hours, equivalent 3,959 pages)

Total Completed
21 books and 10 audio books - 11,079 pages
28 fiction; 3 nonfiction

Genre Summary

Nonfiction:
3 books History
0 book Health

Fiction:
Novels: 3
Youth/Children: 6
Mystery: 11
Historical Fiction: 6
Classic: 1

July: 4 pre-owned: 6 borrowed: 0 new: 1 ARC - 11 books.
Best of the Month: A Summer in Sonoma
The worst of the month - Murder on Monday August: 1 pre-owned: 5 borrowed: 3 new: 3 ARC - 12 books.
Best of the Month: Murder Most Persuasive
The worst of the month - The Last Boy
September: 4 pre-owned: 4 borrowed: 1 new: 0 ARC - 11 books.
Best of the Month: A Great Deliverance
The worst of the month - Edward's Eyes not really bad but it could have been more expanded.


Favorites of 2011: (so far)

Buffalo West Wing ★★★★½
A Murderous Procession ★★★★
A Great Deliverance ★★★★
Lumby on the Air ★★★★
Summer in Sonoma ★★★★
Murder with Peacocks ★★★★
Murder is binding ★★★★
The Mournful Teddy ★★★★
Stand-in Groom ★★★★
Acqua Alta ★★★★
Sew Deadly ★★★★
Princess and the Hound ★★★★
Outlander ★★★★


Yearly total
Books Read Owned 50 (Pages: 17,169)
Books Read Borrowed 12 (Pages: 7,599 )
Audio Books heard 31 (376¼ hours, 9,656 equivalent pages )

Challenge progress
75 book Challenge 93/75
11 in 11 Challenge 1 category completed
50 State Challenge 30/50 + DC
Endless European Challenge 11/48

Total Completed
62 books and 31 audio books - 22,914 pages
86 fiction; 7 nonfiction

Genre Summary

Nonfiction:
9 books History
1 book Health

Fiction:
Novels: 13
Youth/Children: 10
Mystery: 38
Historical Fiction: 19
Classic: 3

Time to move on Join me for the finish. Here's my 4th Quarter thread.