calm reading 75 and beyond in 2012 - part 3

Welcome to any visitors. I appreciate any comments and recommendations. I must admit to being a great lurker on other people's threads but I do try to say something occasionally. Though I tend to just sit in the corner and read:)


glitter-graphics.com

I'm aiming for a double 75 - so here's the ticker




I also take part in the 12 in 12 and the thread is here http://www.librarything.com/topic/127110

I will also be tracking number of books read per category here




The categories are

Current affairs - contemporary fiction (6 of 12)
About the past - non-fiction history (6 of 12)
Long ago and far away - historical fiction (medieval and earlier) (6 of 12)
More from the past - historical fiction (post-medieval) (5 of 12)
Chills down my spine - horror and mysteries (8 of 12)
Once upon a time - mythology, folklore and fairytales (6 of 12)
Unlikely things - fantasy (6 of 12)
New friends/Old friends - recommendations, early reviewers and re-reads that don't fit anywhere else (6 of 12)
To space and beyond - science fiction (5 of 12)
It's Greek to me - books in translation (5 of 12)
Need to know - non-fiction (6 of 12)
Great books I should have read - classics and prizewinners/nominees (6 of 12)

and I can't abandon last year's book worm so here he is



Let the reading continue:)

Book List

April

39) The Tale of Murasaki by Liza Dalby (post 25) 416 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
40) On the Black Hill by Bruce Chatwin (post 26) 249 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
41) The Janus Stone by Elly Griffiths (post 27) 327 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
42) Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant (post 28) 471 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
43) Blackwater by Kerstin Ekman (post 44) 444 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
44) Britain BC: Life in Britain and Ireland before the Romans by Francis Pryor (post 50) 500 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
45) State of Wonder by Ann Patchett (post 58) 353 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
46) Heroes and Saints edited by Richard Barber(post 67) 252 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
47) The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon (post 76) 431 pages - 411 text + 20 pages of additional stuff (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
48) Abbeys, Priories and Cathedrals (post 79) 96 pages (12 in 12)
49) Stardust by Neil Gaiman (post 86) 210 pages - 196 + 14 pages additional stuff (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
50) The Stars My Destination (Tiger, Tiger) by Alfred Bester (post 87) 258 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
51) Women in the Wall by Julia O'Faolain (post 99) 326 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
52) A Place of Secrets by Rachel Hore (post 100) 456 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
53) In the Shape of a Boar by Lawrence Norfolk (post 106) 322 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)

May

54) One Blood by Qwantu Amaru (post 117) 478 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12; ER)
55) The Magic Toyshop by Angela Carter (post 125) 200 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
56) The House at Sea's End by Elly Griffiths (post 135) 356 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
57) Eva by Peter Dickinson (post 141) 249 pages (TIOLI: 12 in 12)
58) The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (post 142) 352 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
59) The Master of Whitestorm by Janny Wurts (post 143) 413 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
60) The Making of the British Landscape by Francis Pryor (post 144) 812 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
61) It's Time by Pavel Kostin (post 145) 245 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12; ER)
62) In Praise of Cats by Max Cryer (post 166) 212 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
63) Katherine by Anya Seton (post 168) 575 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
64) The Knot Garden by Gabriel King (post 192) 495 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
65) A.D. 500 A Journey Through the Dark Isles of Britain and Ireland by Simon Young (post 193) 260 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
66) Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel (post 194) 604 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
67) The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill (post 202) 271 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
68) Fieldwork by Mischa Berlinski (post 214) 501 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
69) Dewey by Vicki Myron (post 215) 277 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
70) The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck (post 217) 476 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12; Steinbeckathon)

June

71) Now You See Me by S. J. Bolton (post ?) 395 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)

Currently reading
Religion Explained by Pascal Boyer
Imajica by Clive Barker

Book list for previous threads

No touchstones here, when there are comments they will be in the post numbered. I am also tracking number of pages and other challenges.

Books read in Part 1 http://www.librarything.com/topic/129166

January

1) North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell (post 74) 502 pages (TIOLI; 12 in12; group read)
2) The Idea of Prehistory by Glyn Daniel (post 94) 190 pages (12 in 12)
3) The Russian Dreambook of Colour and Flight by Gina Ochsner (post 95) 370 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
4) Confessions of a Pagan Nun by Kate Horsley (post 111) 191 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
5) The Earthquake Bird by Susanna Jones (post 125) 257 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
6) Falling Leaves by Adeline Yen Mah (post 133) 274 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
7) Sea Dragon Heir by Storm Constantine (post 134) 343 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
8) The Underpainter by Jane Urquhart (post 143) 340 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
9) Marvels and Magic edited by Richard Barber (post 171) 191 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
10) Brother to Demons, Brother to Gods by Jack Williamson (post 182) 184 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
11) Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris (post 189) 363 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
12) Soul Mountain by Gao Xingjian (post 200) 510 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
13) People of the Lake: Mankind & Its Beginnings by Richard E. Leakey (post 210) 226 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
14) Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (post 214) 318 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)

February

15) The Kingdom of the Wicked by Anthony Burgess (post 229) 391 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
16) White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi (post 245) 245 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)

Books read in Part 2 http://www.librarything.com/topic/132388

February continued

17) Crown of Silence by Storm Constantine (post 34) 424 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
18) Ragnarok The End of the Gods by A. S. Byatt (post 42) 177 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
19) Blow on a Dead Man's Embers by Mari Strachan (post 51) 312 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
20) Shadow's End by Sheri S Tepper (post 81) 388 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
21) The Wayward Bus by John Steinbeck (post 88) 288 pages(TIOLI; 12 in 12; Group Read - Steinbeckathon)
22) The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster (post 98) 257 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
23) Bleak House by Charles Dickens (post 114) 808 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
24) The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman (post 115) 504 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
25) God's Philosophers By James Hannam (post 116) 435 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12; group read)
26) We Never Make Mistakes by Alexander Solzhenitsyn (post 126) 138 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)

March
27) London Under by Peter Ackroyd (post 143) 202 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
28) Kil'n People by David Brin (post 144) 612 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
29) The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths (post 145) 304 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
30) The Girl in the Box by Sheila Dalton (post 155) 382 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12; ER)
31) Tallis' Third Tune by Ellen L Ekstrom (post 180) 248 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
32) The Cure for Death by Lightning by Gail Anderson-Dargatz (post 181) 294 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
33) The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal (post 182) 354 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
34) The Way of Light by Storm Constantine (post 198) 408 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
35) Fasting, Feasting by Anita Desai (post 199) 228 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
36) In a Dark Wood Wandering by Hella S. Haasse (post 200) 574 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)
37) The Winter of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck (post 227) 366 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12; Group Read - Steinbeckathon)
38) Helen of Troy by Margaret George (post ?) 755 pages (TIOLI; 12 in 12)

Well I am still a long way behind on book comments but at least I have got around to setting up a new thread. Time to see what everyone else has been doing. See you later:)

Calm - missed a fair bit of your last thread (which I will revisit shortly to bring myself fully up to speed) - congrats on the new thread and I trust that a Welsh public holiday is treating you splendidly.

Good day to you calm! Nice new thread :)
Your family is an interesting sounding bunch :)
Where are you all from originally? Do you choose Wales or were you born there?

Hi calm,i am impressed with your double target and with the number of books already read you should join the 15,000 pages to be read in 2012 group although you would easily outstrip this target, happy easter and reading.

*continuous lurking going by*

Hi Paul - typical Welsh weather - lots of rain:) Perfect for staying in and reading.

Kath - thanks for that:)

Interesting bunch? Well I'm the stop at home. I think the others see enough of the world to make up for it:) I was born in England - St Alban's in Hertfordshire though both my parents are from Wiltshire originally. Half the family moved to Wales when I was eight and I have stayed here, more or less ever since. I love this country and don't feel "right" any where else.

The family story is quite complicated but we are all spread out a bit now. Of four children 2 are in Wales now; one in Scotland and the other lives in London. My father is still in the same Welsh village we moved to in the 1970's but my mother now lives in Portugal.

Hello John - nice to see a new face here. Thanks for the suggestion but, unfortunately, I'm not joining any other groups I fail miserably in keeping up with the two I try to be active in anyway:)

Thanks for lurking Karen:)

Hi calm, no worries but if you change your mind at any time it would be nice to see you there. I am up in West Yorkshire and the weather is poor so i think i will settle down with my books and see if i can make a dent in my book mountain, ha ha.

That is some serious scattering of the family!
Lots of places to visit with each other though :)
Wales seemed like a very special place. It felt good to me..
and even I was able to imagine living there. It just felt so
calm and quiet. I am glad I had a chance to be there.

Happy New Thread Day, calm! The Welsh weather sounds devine if you've no place to go. Mind if I pull up a chair to a window and read Jane Eyre all day long. Your home sounds like the most atmospheric place to read it.

John - yes it is perfect reading weather. Not a day to be out and about:)

Kath - Well we don't see each other very often. Though my sister manages to see the others sometimes and having her own house in Portugal she sees our mother frequently - which is good.

I do love Wales and can't imagine moving away.

Thanks Lynda. Well it is pretty peaceful here apart from the sound of the rain on the roof and a bird that seems determined to peck a hole through the window:)

Stopping by to say Hi and check out your new thread!

Hi Lori:) Thanks for stopping by.

# 9 It's funny where families end up - we nearly moved from South Wales to quite a Welsh speaking area in west Wales when I was about 7. I sometimes wonder how that would have turned out - would I have been a fluent Welsh speaker by now?

Hi there! Just wanted you to know I was still around and an avid fan of your thread. : )

Hey calm - I just came by to visit your new digs. *waving*

Hello Calm, still sitting in a corner reading? That's what we like to hear.
>13 calm: I do love Wales and can't imagine moving away.
I feel the same about NZ, but I loved Wales too when I was there in 1998/9. It is really a beautiful place, and I love the accent!

Hey, Calm, love the new thread!

Lots of visitors!

Rhian - I learnt a bit of Welsh at school, but all my friends spoke English and I didn't use it outside the classroom. So I've forgotten most of it though I do understand some. Seven would have been younger than I was so maybe more of it would have stuck if your family had moved to West Wales ... who knows:)

Hi Kim - good to see you.

Dejah - *waves back* thanks for stopping by,

Megan - lots of reading, not much writing about what I have read:(

When I was younger and thought about places I would like to visit I must say that New Zealand was one of them ... oh well I enjoy being an armchair traveller reading and watching TV ... I'm sure I've "experienced" more of the world that way than I could have done any other way:)

Thanks Roni:)

calm, I am pretty sure that for the most part, traveling is out of the question
for me. If the opportunity arose for me to visit Ireland I would do it.. but..
aside from visiting my kids,(under the circumstances) it is too much to consider..
so I am with you

"But I know of a spot in my house
where no one can stand in my way.
In my own little corner in my own little chair
I can be whatever I want to be.
On the wings of my fancy I can fly anywhere
and the world will open its arms to me."

Cinderella and I agree

checking in :)
I would love to visit your area of the country :)
someday *sigh*

Kath - that's lovely and so true.

Kara - there are so many wonderful places in the world. Hope you get to visit the ones you would love, someday:)

OK - I set up this thread to post about my April reading and still haven't got around to it. So covers and titles coming up - the rest can wait:)

39) The Tale of Murasaki by Liza Dalby (31 March - 4 April)

I'll start by saying I have never read The Tale of Genji or any other of the writings that have survived from Eleventh century Heian Japan but Liza Dalby has obviously done her research making this an evocative portrayal of that long ago time and place. In fact so much so that I was sorry to leave this world when I turned the last page.

This is a fictionalised telling of what the life of Murasaki, the creator of Genji, might have been like. Based on and including parts of her diary, her poetry and The Tale of Genji Dalby has recreated a vivid picture of an alien, to me, culture. I loved reading this and maybe I should try to find a copy of the Tale of Genji.

40) On the Black Hill by Bruce Chatwin (4 - 6 April)

On the Black Hill is a novel about the lives of twin brothers on a farm on the borders of England and Wales. The story covers the first eighty years of the Twentieth century and I thought it was a wonderful picture of a bygone age. As it covered eighty or so years in a mere 249 pages the story skipped across history but I really enjoyed reading it. It was also sad in places and very evocative of time and place. A well written and interesting story.

41) The Janus Stone by Elly Griffiths (7 April)

The second book in the Ruth Galloway series. This time, as an old orphanage is being converted into apartments, a headless child's body is discovered. Once again Elly Griffiths has written a real page turner and I sped through this in a few hours. I really like the character of Ruth and her life. Inspector Harry Nelson is also a well rounded character and their are enough possible suspects for the story to be a real puzzle. The story builds to a great climax and I am looking forward to reading more about Ruth, her life and the mystery that the next set of uncovered bones will bring.

42) Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant (7 - 9 April)

I really like Sarah Dunant's historical fiction. This is the story of a novice, Serafina, forced into a Sixteenth century Italian convent by her family after she falls in love with an "unsuitable" man and also that of the convent's dispensary sister Zuana, who entered the convent after the death of her physician father sixteen years earlier.

The rivalries and politics inside the convent are well done, Dunant makes her characters seem like real and flawed women. Also the Catholic church as a whole is going through a turbulent time as convents are seen as places of luxury (and in some cases debauchery) and the last thing that the convent needs is a scandal. Dunant has successfully created a picture of the time that I really enjoyed reading.

The lyrics are Rodgers And Hammerstein from Cinderella :)
http://www.songlyrics.com/rodgers-and-hammerstein/my-own-little-corner-lyrics/

I find myself singing that song..it struck me the first time I heard it..

Hey calm - great books!

Calm - four great books to start off April. I can see how you have been spending the Easter holidays.

Thanks again Kath - nice lyrics:)

Well I liked them Dejah:)

Paul - Suzanne had a readathon over the holiday weekend and it was raining here so perfect for reading:)

Right I have now caught up on comments for my April reading, so far, and I managed to add some comments for one of my March books (The Winter of Our Discontent) - only five more to catch up on:) But I think that is probably as much typing as I can manage for a while. We'll see.

Off to see what everyone else is up to

All of the books look good!
Glad you had a good stretch of reading.
#42 has been calling out to me ... I have too many books on the stacks right now though.

#26 - 27 - Hi Calm - I hope you're doing well. I'll be adding On the Black Hill and The Janus Stone (I'm going to start exploring thrillers/mysteries a bit more) to my wish list. Thank you!

Thanks for the reviews - I'm sorry they cause you pain.

I don't think I've ever read any Sarah Dunant and Sacred Hearts sounds good - I'll add it to my list. Will you be reading Griffiths' The House at Sea's End soon? I confess I love it when I find a series and the author has already published several books in it - no waiting!

I'm definitely adding the Sarah Dunant book to the reading list. I think I've only read her non-fiction before, so I'd like to try some fiction from her! It sounds intriguing.

Yes Kath - I've had a good streak of reading. I enjoyed them all though they are very different. I can understand the too may books on the stacks quandary:)

Kerri - The Janus Stone is the second book - the first is The Crossing Places. Hope you like them.

Dejah - some days are better than other and at least I managed to get some brief comments down for April's reading and I hope to get fully caught up on March soon. They might not be the longest or most interesting comments but at least there is something written down:)

The House at Sea's End is waiting for me at the library. I'll be picking it up next week when I go to town. So I'll probably be reading it very soon:) The library has the fourth Room Full of Bones but it is out and has other holds on it so that one will take me a bit longer to get. But as that is the last one, so far, I'm not too worried about having to wait for it. It will give her time to write and publish the next one.

Sacred Hearts was my third Dunant and my favourite so far. I've also got another of her books on my shelves of shame - Transgressions a contemporary mystery.

Hi Faith - I was busy answering the other posts. I haven't read any of her nonfiction, of what I have read so far that was my favourite. It seems like well researched historical fiction so I hope you like it.

A Room Full of Bones won't be published here in the U.S. until July 3rd, so we have a while to wait. It's not my favorite series, but there are things about it I like very much. I'll definitely be reading A Room Full of Bones this summer!

Hi Dejah. Well I suppose that isn't too far away and the way my library system works you might still get to it before me:)

And I've finished another couple of books - Blackwater by Kerstin Ekman and Britain BC by Francis Pryor. I seem to be permanently behind on book comments though I am playing catch up on the March books - brief comments are now up for another two - The Hare With the Amber Eyes and The Way of Light on my last 75er thread. Still haven't got around to updating my 12 in 12 challenge though.

Hopefully I will be back before too long to comment on those recent reads.

The premise behind The Hare with the Amber Eyes is fascinating to me, but yours is not the first mixed review I've read. I was thinking of reading it this month, but I may push it off. We'll see! Thanks for the review, calm.

That's alright Dejah. I did read the whole thing and there were aspects of it that I did like. Also most of the ratings seem positive it just didn't click completely for me.

43) Blackwater by Kerstin Ekman (9 - 12 April)

Blackwater is an isolated village in Sweden and this novel follows three people with a connection to the village - Annie Raft comes to the village in the 1970's to join her boyfriend and to teach at a commune; Johan Brandberg is the youngest son in a family of five boys and Birger Torbjornsson is the local doctor. But on the night that Annie arrives in the village she discovers the bodies of two people, Johan runs away from home and Birger's wife leaves him. This book is not so much about the murder but about the lives of the characters. In fact it takes eighteen years and Annie seeing Johan again before the events of that night are finally resolved.

There is a very distant quality to this story. I never really felt connected to the characters or the story but something kept me turning the page and needing to know where Kerstin Ekman was taking us. But it is a very atmospheric novel I got a real sense of place and the isolation of the life these people lived. I did like it and will be reading more of Ekman's work.

I calm... how are you today?
I am running here and then and sitting and popping in and then vacuuming the basement or something..
laundry... you know how some days are. Can't really settle in because there is a lot to do.. but taking
breaks whenever possible :P

Glad you liked the last book :) I am still engrossed in the kindle series of ghostly fluff.... last one available though..

Hi Kath not too bad:)

Having another do nothing day:) Too wet for laundry, too much pain to clean. Playing solitaire on the computer, still playing catch up on book comments - only two from March now and the one I finished yesterday so not doing too badly. Splurked all the 75er threads without leaving any comments - apart from your new one:)

Ghostly fluff sounds good. I'm reading Ann Patchett's State of Wonder and pondering which n-f book to pick up next. Time to look over the book shelves and see what takes my fancy:)

Popping in to thank the folks commenting on your thread who mentioned The Android's Dream by John Scalzi - what a hoot! I do like Scalzi, so I figured this would be a good read. It had me from the first, he has such a weird and wonderful imagination.

Greetings calm! Your do nothing Saturday sounds devine!! Hope it was a relaxing day for you.
I'm sorry to say I haven't participated in a readathon all year. I'm due for one but there's always something going on. *Deep Sigh* Perhaps I need to take time to make time. Have a great Sunday!!

Hi Laura - great to hear that you liked The Android's Dream - I've got it on the pile of books that I hope to read this month. I like weird and wonderful imagination.

Hi Lynda - well do nothing meant a reasonable amount of reading so I've added another book finished to the backlog of book comments and nearly finished another. Oh well at least I like reading:)

Fortunately my only "responsibility" is for the cats so it is easy for me to take part in readathons. If I was juggling family or other commitments there would probably be something going on for me as well:)

Hope you have a peaceful Sunday.

44) Britain BC: Life in Britain and Ireland before the Romans by Francis Pryor (1 - 13 April)

This is my kind of non-fiction. Francis Pryor is a very readable author and he presents a chronological history of human life in Britain from the very earliest traces up to the Iron Age, lavishly illustrated with colour plates; illustrations and maps. He provides enough personal experience - digs he has taken part in, archaeologists he has met and experiences of experimental recreations - to enable the reader to connect to the information he provides. There is also plenty of additional information - from sites to visit to books to read that is very interesting.

This is not directed towards an expert reader, though there is enough for anyone who knows something about the subject, but more to the amateur enthusiast. The people who watch programmes like Time Team and would like to know more. This is an example of a very good popular archaeology book and I'll definitely be reading more of his work.

You! You keep giving me enticing books to wish for.... I love this kind of stuff. Hit by the book bullet!

Sorry Karen - hope you like it as much as I did.

Well.... I actually went and read some reviews at Amazon and I think I'll pass for now. Maybe in my next life....

Hi calm. Just doing a long overdue catch up on your thread :-)

#25 I've never read The Tale of Genji either although I would also like to try it one day. The Tale of Murasaki sounds interesting so that's one for the wishlist.

#50 And Britain BC sounds really interesting too.

Yeah, Britain BC does sound good!

Oh my goodness, so many books since my last visit! I have only read on of Bruce Chatwins and I remember quite liking it. The writing anyway if not the plot.

OK Karen, there are plenty of other books out there:)

Heather - I think it would be interesting to read The Tale of Genji ... but I've never even seen a copy:( I do wonder what someone who has read it would make of Murasaki.

Well I found Britain BC interesting. I've already requested his The Making of the British Landscape: How We Have Transformed the Land from the library and will probably move onto Britain AD: A Quest for Arthur, England and the Anglo-Saxons and Britain in the Middle Ages: An Archaeological History - both of which are available at the local library.

Thanks Jim - it is very British but fascinating:)

Megan - he is definitely an good writer. I've read two now and I think I'll be looking out for more of his work.

45) State of Wonder by Ann Patchett (13 - 15 April)

This is a book that is about the characters. Marina Singh is sent to the Amazon to find out what has happened to her colleague Anders Eckman who had been sent to find out the progress of research by Annick Swenson. As we follow Marina's story we hear about her relationship with her father, her boss Mr Fox, Eckman's wife and then the people she meets in South America and her previous relationship with Dr Swenson. Beautifully written the plot takes unexpected turns that add to the atmosphere of the story. The climax does seem a little rushed bearing in mind the slow build up of the story but the journey is well worth taking.

I read The Tale of Genji when I was in high schol (1960s)! and was impressed at how boring it was. But, then again, I was in high school.

Generally, considered one of the first novels... it is mostly plain straightforward narrative: this happened, and then this happened, and then this happened. Interesting in that it does describe Japanese culture in a way I'd not encourntered previously.

ETA: must have impressed me some given that I've remembered this much about it all these years later. My 50th Hisgh school anniversary is this year!

That's interesting Karen. I don't think I've come across anyone who has read it before. Was it a set book? From Liza Dalby's book I got the impression that Murasaki just kept writing episodes of his life and they became popular at court and were then collected into one book. Also it is such an early point in history that the culture was very different to how I think of historical Japan.

Remembering anything from something you read 50 years ago means there must be something about it ... good or bad:)

Well I went to town today. I was very restrained and only bought one book Foucault's Pendulum (secondhand and at the reduced price of 50p as it is slightly water damaged but still readable). Also borrowed a couple from the library - the third Ruth Galloway novel The House at Sea's End and The Making of the British Landscape by Francis Pryor.

Hi, stumbled on this thread as one of the Hot Topics, and I'm glad I did-you read some great books! I'm already adding a few to my TBR list.

Hi Becca - nice to see you here. Pleased you found some books for your TBR:)

#58 I really enjoyed State of Wonder too.

#60 Well, at only 50p it would have been wrong not to buy it. I've had that one for years but find it too far intimidating to read despite my husband's reassurances that it's how the Da Vinci Code should have been written.

State of Wonder was good Heather.

I read Foucault's Pendulum when it was first published - over twenty years ago! - and I do like Eco, especially The Name of the Rose - so it is well past time for a re-read. To be honest I don't remember very much about it though I'm sure it will come back to me when I read it:)

Just keeping up.. nothing of value to say....wishing you goodness :)

Thanks Kath - take care of yourself.

46) Heroes and Saints by Richard Barber (25 January - 15 April)

This collection contains, in the Heroes section, The Story of Arthur from Geoffrey of Monmouth; Kevin Crossley-Holland's translation of Beowulf; the Deeds of Cuchulain based on Lady Augusta Gregory's version; The Four Branches of the Mabinogi translated by Lady Charlotte Guest and four Saints lives - Saint Cadog; Saint Joseph of Arimathea; Saint George and The Empress Helena.

It took me a few months to get through this book not because it was bad but because of my familiarity with some of the stories kept leading me to put it aside for other books. I really enjoyed the version of the Story of Arthur as it was a variant I hadn't read before. Being familiar with the rest of the stories makes it difficult to review them but as a whole collection I am pleased to have revisited them even though I was distracted by the new and different books on my shelves.

interesting cover on this book.

*waving* at calm

>68 maggie1944: I was thinking the same thing, no title?

Hi Stasia - hope you are enjoying your break. Nice to see your name popping up on the threads:)

Karen and Megan Heroes and Saints is the second book from a box set. All the front covers are the same with the title is on the spine and the title of the whole collection is on the front of the slipcase.

Like this:-

Oo, pretty books! I love looking at pretty books.

Stasia - Folio editions are definitely interesting and sometimes pretty. On the whole they are well made and a pleasure to read.

LOL ~ EXACTLY what Stasia said :)

I think we all like looking at pretty books Kath:)

47) The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon (15 - 18 April)

A rich and complex work of alternative history, Chabon has taken a little known fact of history - the possibility that Jewish refugees during WWII might have found a refuge in Sitka, Alaska. Sixty years later the land they have settled is to be given back to the native Tlingit and at this time an alcoholic detective. Landsman, is drawn into a bigger mystery than the death of one man. The uncertainty of the time adds to the pressure of the investigation and Landsman gets deeper and deeper into trouble.

This was a wonderful story, Chabon's imagined "what if" world of Sitka is dark and dingy, like typical noir detective fiction; his characters are varied and the deeper mystery builds to a nice climax. The use of Yiddish terminology was slightly confusing to me to begin with but it does add to the feel of the book. Landsman is a great character and I liked the relationships and society as they are described. Maybe this is too noiresque to be described as an "enjoyable" read but it was definitely a compelling and interesting read.

#76: I am going to have to give that book another read at some point. I was disappointed in my first read of the book. I think I went into the book expecting something that it was not.

Stasia - I think I was expecting something different as well - with it having won a Hugo and the SF tags - but as an alternative history/detective story I thought it was very good.

48) Abbeys, Priories and Cathedrals (14 - 18 April)

To start with there is no indication of who wrote the text or took the photographs in this book published by Balfour in 1973 and to be honest I'm not entirely sure who the intended reader is. There isn't enough information for it to be a guide book and the historical information is slight. What it is though is a nicely produced book with some nice photographs of various British ecclesiastical buildings with snippets of information for each building. Pretty to look at but not much more.

Abbeys, Priories and Cathedrals looks fascinating!

Calm, you read the most interesting books. Thanks for inflating my wish list so much it could sail to Wales :o}

#78: I think I was expecting more of a straight detective novel rather than the alternative history book I was presented with. Now that I know better what to expect, I really think I need to reevaluate the book in that light.

Kath - I picked it up because I like old ecclesiastical architecture but it took me four days to read less than a hundred pages. I'd read an entry; look at a picture do the same for a couple of other buildings then put it down partly because the writing came across as repetitive - "x" built it, here are some interesting features/facts. I think it is more of a reference book but as I said in my comments there isn't very much to it.

Lynda - well, as I'm sure I've said before, I read things I think I'm going to like and LT and the 75ers have expanded my knowledge of what is available so any time I'm somewhere I can get books they are sure to come home with me and eventually they will come off the shelf. The 12 in 12 challenge means that there is going to be a reasonable mix of genes and topics.

Stasia - We seem to have had opposing opinions of what we were going to read - I was expecting something more alternative and thought of is as more of a detective novel. Not straight and I liked the way Chabon just dropped in the differences of his "what if" world.

Calm - I agree with the ladies I love the mix of reading you present to us. You are also right that the 12 in 12 challenge allows us to have a widerange of reading material. Have a lovely weekend in West Wales.

Thanks Paul and the same to you in KL:)

49) Stardust by Neil Gaiman (18 - 19 April)

In Victorian England there is a place where the border between this world and Faerie can be crossed. Every nine years there is a fair where human and faerie mix but at all other times the border is guarded. In his attempt to court the beautiful Victoria Tristan makes a promise to fetch the falling star that they have just witnessed. As Tristan enters the world beyond the Wall he discovers more about himself than he ever expected.

This is a charming fairytale with enough darkness to make it wonderful and magical. There are the usual types of things that you expect in fairyland but Gaiman's prose is poetic and subtle, in most places. Maybe I would have liked more detail, occasionally, but on the whole this is book that is worth a permanent place on my shelves.

50) The Stars My Destination (Tiger, Tiger) by Alfred Bester (19 - 20 April)

This is a true classic SF novel, Bester's futuristic world is a fascinating read and Gully Foyle is a character who is compelling in his quest for vengeance. I first read this in the late seventies and it stood up well on a re-read. Bester packs so many ideas into such a short space and the pace works well for me though I expect that some people might think that some ideas are only skimpily dealt with but this is part of the appeal for me. There is enough detail to this society and Gully's life for me to create a vivid picture but not so much as to bog down the story. This is one of my favourite SF novels and one I'm sure to read again.

Good review of Stardust! Another one added to my wishlist!

#87 - Hi Calm. I love your classic sci-fi reading. I haven't been doing as much as I'd like lately, so I'm going to try listening to some of them as audiobooks (even though I've always said that I have a hard time with fiction as an audiobook. Oops!) Yesterday I downloaded The Day of the Triffids and 2001: A Space Odyssey (which I have never read for some bizarre reason.)

Chelle - Stardust was good, a couple of gruesome scenes but I really liked it.

Kerri - Good choices, though it is a long time since I read either. I read a lot of SF in my teens/early twenties and it is good to revisit and to fill in the gaps:)

Great to see your review of the Bester novel, it's already on my tbr list but this will give it some priority. I loved Stardust too, probably time for me to reread that and Neverwhere. And I loved The Yiddish Policeman's Union too.
I saw your review of Britain BC, another that must move up my tbr pile.

Kerry - nice to see you here. Bester is definitely worth moving up the tbr list, in my opinion. Gaiman is definitely worth a re-read and I'm definitely be looking for more Chabon, another interesting writer.

Pryor's Britain BC was good. I'm already reading another of his books, The Making of the British Landscape, and plan on getting more from the library. His Britain AD and Britain in the Middle Ages both look good:)

Hi calm. I'm still hoping to somehow squeeze in The Yiddish Policeman's Union this month. And the Bester novel has been in my TBR pile forever.

I really liked Neverwhere.....

Calm - I have the Bester on the shelves and will bump it up a bit. My SF reads this year have not really hit the spot for me so I hope your recce will do it.

Heather - I hope you manage to squeeze The Yiddish Policeman's Union in as well. Books are patient so I expect the Bester will wait:)

Kath - Gaiman has an amazing imagination, I really like reading his work.

Paul - well I think that Bester is one of the good "classic" SF writers. Hope you like it.

#92 The Making of the British Landscape sounds interesting. When I was at university I did a module on how the landscape had changed since the last ice age and I remember really enjoying it. I can't remember much of what we learnt now so this sounds just the thing for a refresher.

Hi Rhian - I requested it sight unseen from the library it is good so far but I still have a long way to go ... there are around 700 pages of text and another 100 or so of other information:) I'm just pleased that my local library gives us four weeks but I definitely need to get a move on as someone else has requested it so no renewal:(

51) Women in the Wall by Julia O'Faolain (21 - 24 April)

Set in the 6th Century AD and based on the chronicles of the time Julia O'Faolain has created a fictionalised account of the life of Radegunda and her life as the founderess of a nunnery. This also includes the story of the abbess Agnes and her relationship with the poet, and later priest, Fotunatas; the political machinations of Gaul at the time and an anchorite at the nunnery.

The basic story covers around twenty years with some flashbacks to earlier times. Told from several viewpoints and not in a linear fashion this was not an easy read. I'm sure O'Faolin has done her research but she does take the story in some unexpected directions, as explained in her introduction. So this is fiction and as such it was an occasionally uncomfortable read but also a possible explanation of life at the time,

52) A Place of Secrets by Rachel Hore (24 - 26 April)

I must admit that I was a bit worried at the start of this book that it was going to be too much of a romance for my taste but, fortunately, it didn't take that direction. Instead it is a wonderful tale of family interwoven with the intriguing tale of a young girl's life in the eighteenth century. When Jude is given the job of appraising a collection of books it takes her to Norfolk, near where her grandmother grew up. Spending time with her sister and niece, Summer, should be a bonus but Summer is having nightmares that remind Jude of those she had as a child and as the story unfolds they also seem to connect to the journal of Esther Wickham, adopted daughter of the eighteenth century amateur astronomer whose library Jude is investigating.

I really enjoyed the twists and turns of the story until near the end when there were just a few too many coincidences. The family relationships seemed real and the sense of place was good. I liked this enough to read more of Rachel Hore's books.

Hi Calm, glad you enjoyed A Place of Secrets, i have it on my pile to read. I have previously read The Glass Painters Daughter and The Memory Garden by the same author after my wife told me i would enjoy them which i did, i would recommend these to you. Hope you are having a nice weekend, if it's anything like the weather up here in Yorkshire then it will be perfect reading weather.

Thanks for the recommendations John, I'll keep my eyes open for them. Weather is very wild, wet and windy so a bit of reading seems ideal.

I had the same experience with A Place of Secrets.. I liked it
more than I did A Gathering Storm, but would not be adverse to reading more of
this authors work. Tougher to get to around these parts though.

Hi Kath I should be able to get The Memory Garden and The Glass Painter's Daughter from the library but I think I'm already over booked for May.

I should be finishing up my last April book - In the Shape of a Boar by Lawrence Norfolk - later today and then I'm going to start one of my May TIOLI potential reads.

Here's the list:-
It's Time - Pavel Kostin (ER)
One Blood - Qwantu Amaru (ER)
The Making of the British Landscape : how we have transformed the land, from prehistory to today by Francis Pryor (my current NF read, from the library)
The House at Sea's End - Elly Griffiths (from the library)
*The Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck (group read)
*Wolf Hall - Hilary Mantel
Master of Whitestorm - Janny Wurts
The Magic Toyshop - Angela Carter
Eva - Peter Dickinson
The Woman and the Ape - Peter Høeg

In addition to all those I have a few books requested from the library. It re-opens tomorrow after its relocation and I don't know if any of them will be ready for me to pick up when I go into town later this week.

So added to the above list I possibly might be reading some or all of the following
Now You See Me by S. J. Bolton (potential May Murder and Mayhem)
Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (really looking forward to reading this)
Religion Explained by Pascal Boyer (group read)
The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill (another potential May Murder and Mayhem)
Stonemouth by Iain Banks (new Iain Banks so how could I resist requesting it!)

Ooops I think there might be one or two too many listed there! Well that's half the fun:)

Well I'm not going to finish another book today so I think it is time for

April Summary -

Books read - 15

13 - fiction
2 - nonfiction

Pages read - 4785

Book list
(All books marked with * were from the library, all others from my own shelves.)

1) The Tale of Murasaki by Liza Dalby
2) On the Black Hill by Bruce Chatwin
3) *The Janus Stone by Elly Griffiths
4) Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant
5) Blackwater by Kerstin Ekman
6) Britain BC: Life in Britain and Ireland before the Romans by Francis Pryor
7) *State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
8) Heroes and Saints edited by Richard Barber
9) The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon
10) Abbeys, Priories and Cathedrals
11) Stardust by Neil Gaiman
12) The Stars My Destination (Tiger, Tiger) by Alfred Bester
13) Women in the Wall by Julia O'Faolain
14) *A Place of Secrets by Rachel Hore
15) In the Shape of a Boar by Lawrence Norfolk

Apart from one they all fitted into TIOLI categories and I am still on track for my 12 in 12 challenge with at least 4 books read per category so far.

3 from the library and 12 from my shelves. That seems good:)

Books into the house - this seems very good as I read a lot more than I brought into the house though I am still trying to work out how I managed to buy only one book in April!

from the library
The House at Sea's End by Elly Griffiths
The Making of the British Landscape by Francis Pryor.

from ER
It's Time by Pavel Kostin
One Blood by Qwantu Amaru

bought
Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco

I managed to read more books and a few more pages this month than last. This was helped by Suzanne's Easter Readathon:) For this month I have managed to write book comments for everything I have read apart from the one I finished last night, that will hopefully be coming very soon:)

So all in all I am quite happy with April. Time to move onto May:)

53) In the Shape of a Boar by Lawrence Norfolk (27 - 29 April)

I think this a book that defies explanation. In some ways the way the story unfolds is ambiguous and I think the reader has to work hard to understand all the layers and strands that Norfolk brings to his tale. The first part is reasonably straightforward a rewriting of an ancient Greek myth - the hunt for the Boar of Kalydon. Though even here things are not quite what they seem and his heavy use of footnotes of primary sources made heavy reading at time and as the story progresses the footnotes expand to provide more information. The second part consists of the memories of Solomon Memel, mainly dealing with his wartime experiences and his later success as a poet. The time is the 1970's and an old friend is creating a film of his most famous poem - a blending of the ancient Greek myth and his own time in Greece.

This is a story of ambiguity; the fallibility of memory and the need for mythology ... and the creation and hunting of the "beast". Norfolk does not make life easy for the reader but, in my opinion, this was well worth the time and is definitely thought provoking.

Good review In the Shape of a Boar. I picked up an used copy last year as the blurb on the back cover grabbed my interest.

Thanks Kerry - it was the back cover blurb that made me pick it up as well:)

Managed a trip into town today and came home with a few books.

From the library A.D. 500 A Journey Through the Dark Isles of Britain and Ireland by Simon Young

The pound shop was doing a three books for £1 deal so I have taken a chance on
The Highest Tide by Jim Lynch
Lies by Enrique De Heriz
and In Praise of Cats by Max Cryer

From my favourite second hand source
1421 The Year China Discovered the World by Gavin Menzies
Ash by Malinda Lo

I think that makes up for only buying one last month:)

Off to see what everyone else has been up to and to update my catalogue:)

There is some impressive blue text hiding in among the even more impressive lists!
So many challenges, again I ask... How can yu manage them all?

:)

I sit in the corner and read:)

Honestly I doubt whether I'll read them all but I do like TIOLI for choosing which books to pull off the "shelves of shame". Obviously ER and library books have to come first.

Way back when.....you review of the Michael Chabon (post 76) story was good to read. It took me back to my reading of it.
Landsman is a great character I agree, i liked him!
But the book, as it did for Stasia, missed its mark with me. I just didnt really get it I think.

Hey calm, just stopping by to see how you're doing.

As usual some great reading here Calm; Interested to read your largely positive review of Blackwater which I will definitely get to this year as part of my Scandi 12 in 12.

Megan - yes I can see it isn't one for everyone .. but wouldn't it be boring if we all reacted the same:)

Thanks Lynda

Hi Paul - I do like Ekman. I'm not sure if it is a cultural or translation problem connecting with the characters but I did like it.

Just checking in to make sure that you are safe and sound in your reading corner ,
in your cozy reading chair :)

Well I'm home. Safe and sound is another matter. This is frequently the worst week I have nearly every year ... too many bad things have happened to talk about but I always get jittery:(

I have finished another book - still mulling it over before putting up any comments. Hope you are having a good day.

54) One Blood by Qwantu Amaru (30 April - 2 May)

This ER book does show promise but it is incredibly violent in a sort of detached way. Set in Louisiana and covering around forty years - from the 1960's to 2002 - the story jumps backwards and forwards building to a destructive climax as a hurricane hits the town. Bringing in elements of Voodoo; Black Rights; gang warfare and family dynamics the story itself is reasonably fast moving. As the elements come together the connections between the characters become increasingly intertwined, in sometimes unexpected ways.

Qwantu Amaru spent ten years writing and editing this book and the result is, on the whole, successful but there were some things that just didn't ring true. Unfortunately to say what they were would be spoilers and other people might have a different reaction. I am pleased to have read this and the author has left the ending open enough to allow us to revisit these characters though it is a complete story in itself. Not a bad debut novel and I hope it doesn't take as long for him to write another novel.

I love the cover..but it sounds like a hard one to read...

Hi Kath - yes a good cover and a nicely published book as well but the subject matter is very dark, not an "easy" read and it is not without some flaws. Still an interesting story though:)

Well I had to go out again today for an appointment in town. Fortunately a couple of holds had come in at the library so I brought home Song of Achilles! There has been a lot of positive reaction to this one and I will be putting it right to the top of the TBR stack, just got a couple of other books to finish first. The other library book is Now You See Me by S. J. Bolton - hopefully another good bit of Murder and Mayhem - I read her first three books last year and really liked them but it has taken five months for me to finally get hold of this one. I also managed to buy a copy of a book that I have wanted for a while History of the Kings of Britain by Geoffrey of Monmouth, last time I saw one on the shelf in a second hand book shop someone got to it before me.

checking in calm :)
Song of Achilles is wish listed for me.
I hope it lives up to the hype!
and you enjoy it :)

Thaqnks Kara - It is one of my favourite mythological stories and I have read a lot of re-tellings so, as people who are familiar with the Iliad and various reinterpretations like it and people who know nothing very much about the Trojan War also like it, I expect I will enjoy it:)

I'll probably be starting it in a couple of days. So hope to get my thoughts up before the end of next week.

One Blood sounds a little dark for me, but something about it has sparked my interest - it's a maybe.

I've read / studied the The Illiad several times and I'm torn about reading The Song of Achilles - I'm not even sure why. I'm really looking forward to hearing your comments.

Hi Dejah - One Blood was definitely not the worst ER I've read:) and actually it was interesting and a reasonably fast read.

It is years since I read the actual Iliad but I have read a lot of books based on the characters and the Trojan War so I'm sure I would have read it without all the buzz. Looks like I should be starting it either tonight or tomorrow depending on when I finish my current read.

Hope to be back later with book thoughts for my last two reads. Have to catch up on what everybody else has been up to first ... and possibly a little bit of house cleaning as well:)

55) The Magic Toyshop by Angela Carter (1 - 3 May)

15 year old Melanie lives with her younger siblings, Jonathon and Victoria, in a house in the country. Their father is an author and as the story starts both parents are in America, leaving the children with a housekeeper. Shortly after the story starts the children are sent to live with their uncle in South London. The Magic Toyshop refers to the shop where they end up but not all is magic and the reality is dark and dingy.

I suppose this could be classed as a coming of age story, as Melanie deals with the changes in her life. Angela Carter is known for being inspired by fairy tales but here they are not literal - Melanie likens her uncle's house to Bluebeard's castle; his puppets re-enact certain myths but this story seems more grounded in reality.

I think what Carter does successfully is set a mood and atmosphere and even in this early work that doesn't fail. The characters are not the most nuanced and the ending seems slightly rushed but, apart from that, I did like reading this.

The title of that one is appealing.. not sure about the rest of it..

Have you read Rosamund Lupton? I am reading my third book of hers. I have gottent hem
from Vine.. I really like her writing..

Hi Kath - I think Angela Carter is a good writer but not for everyone.

No I haven't read Rosamund Lupton, just checked the library and they have a couple of her books - Sister and Afterwards - have you read those? Which would be better to try?

#125 - Nice review. I plan to read it this year. I probably should have picked one of her later novels, which seem to be better received, but I found a lovely edition of this one in a used book store.

Hope you like it Kerri:)

Well I'm a few book comments behind again. Hopefully I'll get my act together a bit later today. Back soon:)

Oh calm , I hope "the worst week I have nearly every year " is far behind you now and you're back on track.
Do you really read in corner?! I've loved corner reading since I was a little girl. Cozy and no distractions.

Hi Lynda I was feeling a bit better and thought I had got away with it this year but the week's bad thing just happened - half my 8 to 10 foot Buddleia ended up in the herb garden which is rather a minor thing really:) I'm just going to have to hope that the weather and my health cooperate to clear up the mess.

I do have a chair in the corner of the living room where I do some reading but I do most of my reading in bed or sitting on the sofa - more room for the cats - though I would much rather be sitting in the corner reading:)

I liked both of those, calm.. Sister: A Novel is older, I believe. I guess that those are the only two?
I had thought there was another, but apparently not. They are both good, Afterwards had me riveted ...
so I would say it was the better of the two for me. But then, I have read it most recently so... I say, whichever looks better to you :)

Your misfortune reminds me that I've wanted to buy a butterfly bush for the space that usually held my pitiful veggie garden. Off to check local nursery's. Hope health and weather allow you to tie up the Buddleia.

Thanks for that Kath - I guess it might be best to start with her debut and save the one you thought was better for another time. I think I better clear up my current library loans and reservations first though:)

Lynda - I really like my Buddleia but it is very old and overgrown. Tie-ing up wouldn't do it I had to completely remove the damaged section - looking at it I might be able to save some of it but some drastic removal of old branches is needed before they collapse. The wind is a bit high today so I'll have to leave it and hope that what is left won't cause too much damage if it comes down:(

Hope you find a nice buddleia they are very attractive and I love the wildlife they attract.

56) The House at Sea's End by Elly Griffiths (3 - 5 May)

The third of the Ruth Galloway series. In this one Ruth is juggling returning to work with being a mother and not finding it easy. The discovery of bones during a coastal erosion survey brings Ruth and Harry Nelson together again. The mystery is strong and as more deaths occur we know that someone doesn't want the truth discovered.

I still like this series though I did find the angst of being a working mother not entirely to my taste. We learn more about Ruth's past and once again most of the supporting characters are strong. A couple of incidents make me eager to see how the consequences play out in the next book. This is a very good series with a strong sense of place and real, flawed characters. There will definitely be more Ruth Galloway books in my future reading.

:)

#99 Women in the Wall sounds intriguing calm and it's a Virago too, onto the wishlist it goes.

#135 The House at Sea's End will be my next Elly Griffiths read but I have bought far too many books lately and need to get some of them read before I buy or borrow more...

Sorry to hear about your buddleia tree :-(

Thanks Heather - yes it was Virago and very intriguing:)

I think that is a perennial problem for us all but I do like having a choice on the bookshelves ... just in case I can't get to the library:)

I think what's left of the Buddleia will be fine and there are another three in the garden so the butterflies will still be happy:)

Well I got sucked into a Readathon again so am behind on book comments again. I think it is time to just put in titles and covers again and then catch up as and when I feel up to it. So here goes

57) Eva by Peter Dickinson (4 - 6 May)

This is a YA science fiction novel. In Dickinson's future most of Earth's animals are extinct, Eva's father works with some of the few surviving chimpanzee's and after a tragic traffic accident Eva is a guinea pig in an experiment to transfer her memories and self into another body.

This is at least partly a novel looking at what it means to be human and whether human life is more "precious" than that of the other creatures that inhabit the Earth. I did find the story a bit simplistic for my tastes but I'm sure the target audience will get more out of it. I did like the character of Eva but most of the other characters are not as well-fleshed out, in my opinion. An interesting and thought provoking idea that I am pleased to have read.

58) The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (6 - 9 May)

The friendship between Patroclus and Achilles is a key to the outcome of the Trojan War and here
Miller has woven a background to their relationship that feels both plausible and well researched. For anyone who has a knowledge of The Iliad there are moments that foreshadow the later events but I don't think that will be a problem for anyone coming fresh to the story.

I really liked Miller's take on the relationships and characters that are part of this epic. The focus is very much on Patroclus and how he sees things and this is, as far as I know, an unique take on the story which gives a different and refreshing feel to something that is familiar to me.

This is a worthy addition to the vast number of books that have been written about the Trojan War, I'm not sure if it is my favourite but it is one that I will be happy to re-read. Madeline Miller has obviously researched this book well and successfully creates a past for two of the characters from Homer's The Iliad. I will look forward to whatever she writes next.

59) The Master of Whitestorm by Janny Wurts (9 - 12 May)

Korendir, the Master of Whitestorm, is first introduced as a galley slave, his escape and later adventures make great reading. The story is episodic in nature but the whole book is a pleasure to read. Janny Wurts is one of my favourite fantasy authors and this standalone novel would make a good introduction to her work.

60) The Making of the British Landscape by Francis Pryor (19 April - 13 May)

At over 800 pages this is one for someone who is really interested in the subject. Pryor's background is in archaeology; he also has taken part in archaeological reconstruction; television programmes; rare breed sheep farming and reintroducing native trees. He obviously cares about his subject and presents his information in a way that is accessible to the non-expert. The subtitle of this book is "How We Have Transformed the Land from Prehistory to Today" and Pryor succeeds in what he states he is going to do. I could say that it might have been tightened up in places but it is an interesting and informative read. The text includes maps, illustrations, photographs and colour plates. There are lots of end notes; suggestions for further reading and a glossary that all add to the information he provides in the main text.

61) It's Time by Pavel Kostin (12 - 13 May)

I received this book from LTER and it was a pleasure to read. The story of Max and his friends in an unnamed Russian town is sometimes philosophical and episodic but I found it beguiling. There is some lovely writing and the whole is very atmospheric. This was originally published in Russian and I found the translation by James Rann a very smooth read.

Such interesting looking books!

#135 - Hi Calm! This sounds like a good series, and I'm on the hunt for good series. On the wishlist it goes.

#146 What Karen said :-)

Yes, great selection of books. I read Eva a few years back so look forward to your thoughts on that one.

Agree.. very interesting selection of books..
hope all is calm and lovely in your little corner of the world.

Lots of visitors!

Thanks Karen - I guess the 12 in 12 keeps me reading a variety of books:)

Hi Kerri - yes I like Ruth, it is refreshing to have an older single woman who is happy in her life and work as the central character. Only four in the series so far.

Thanks Heather.

Hi Kerry - Eva was interesting. I wasn't knocked out by it but there were some thought provoking ideas so I'm pleased to have read it.

Hi Kath - As I said I'm using the 12 in 12 and books other people mention to keep a variety of reads. It would be easy to just slip back into old favourites. I'm hoping to get thoughts up for at least two of them today.

Not too bad here today:)

Off to check out what everyone else is up to, back later:)

Managed to put up comments for the two library books in the above list - Song of Achilles and The Making of the British Landscape. I'll try to get the rest of the comments up in the next few days though I have to go into town tomorrow to return the books:)

#151 "it is refreshing to have an older single woman who is happy in her life and work as the central character" - yes :-)

#144 So perhaps the other Francis Pryor book you read would be a better place to start? (Britain BC)

Glad you enjoyed Song of Achilles :-)

Hi Heather - re. #151 - agreed I am enjoying them:)

Britain BC was shorter and more his usual area of expertise, so yes it might be best to start with that one and see if you like his style.

Song of Achilles is enjoyable.

I'm home from town and the library so I guess it is confession time:)

Library Books:-
Stonemouth by Iain Banks (his latest mainstream novel)
The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill (lots of love for this one on the threads so I thought I would give it a go)
Fieldwork by Mischa Berlinski (recent five star recommendation by SqueakyChu)
Religion Explained : the human instincts that fashion gods, spirits and ancestors by Pascal Boyer (there's a group read of this going on at the moment)

and a couple of additions to the shelves of shame
Eight Months on Ghazzah Street by Hilary Mantel (I know I still haven't got around to Wolf Hall though I hope to read it this month but I have liked everything else of hers that I have read)
The Golden Key by Melanie Rawn (read this a long time ago and it was on my wishlist for a re-read)

Off to see what everyone else is up to but I doubt very much if I will be filling in any book comments today.

Hi Calm - Are you an Iain Banks fan, in general? It seems like I should like him (based on other stuff I enjoy), but I tried Use of Weapons a few years ago and couldn't get into it. Was that the wrong place to start? Do you have any other suggestions? (Have I asked you this question before? I can't remember.)

Hi Kerri - Someone has asked but I don't remember who:)

I'm a mainstream Banks fan I have read some of his SF but didn't like it enough to carry on reading it. Maybe I should give it another go someday:) So I can't give you a good starting place for his Iain M Banks books. Though I did like Feersum Endjinn

As for his mainstream fiction one of my favourites is The Crow Road, and there was also a good BBC TV adaptation of that one. I also like Espedair Street; The Business; The Steep Approach to Garbadale and Whit.

I should say that some of his work can be a bit strange (dark, twisted) Wasp Factory for example and the ones I mentioned above are the "straightest" I think.

I definitely think he is worth trying though.

#157 - It was probably me, but I can't remember. Eek! Anyway, I put The Crow Road on my wishlist and hope to try it someday. Thank you, Calm!

Just popping in to say hello. No sparkling wit or whimsy, wisdom or whining.. just hello :)

Hope you like it Kerri.

Hello Kath:)

Managed to fill in (short) comments for the books I listed above. Of course since I posted those I haven't stopped reading and have finished another three:) Not sure if I'm up to typing up any more book comments today so I'll be back:)

Hi calm!
I'm looking forward to The Song of Achilles
glad you liked it :)
have a great weekend!

Want to wish you a wonderful weekend Calm. Hope the weather is fine over there.

Thanks Kara - hope you enjoy The Song of Achilles and have a great weekend yourself:)

Thanks Paul, bit damp here in rainy Wales. Guess I better try to catch up on book comments and maybe read a bit:)

Janny seems very nice as well... she posts here ... somewhere. I used to see here
around before I began to stay exclusively in this group. I actually have a book of heres somewhere.... but it is unread.

How is the weekend treating you ?

62) In Praise of Cats by Max Cryer (13 - 15 May)

This is a smorgasbord of facts and snippets of information about cats. From how to say cat in twenty languages; to the cat in history and popular culture; cat related proverbs; the names of famous people's cats; pieces of poetry and the background for common phrases that contain words relating to cats. There doesn't seem to be any order to these but as a fun little book about our feline friends it was a light and entertaining read. I also liked the illustrations by Larry Nielson.

Hi Kath - Janny posts in The Green Dragon and Hobnob with Authors and maybe one of the fantasy groups. She does seem like a decent person and I do enjoy her books.

Weekend looks like it will be quiet (hopefully). Trying to play catch up on book comments before I finish another one:)

63) Katherine by Anya Seton (13 - 16 May)

I'm not going to say anything about the story, there are enough reviews containing that information. Also it is based on the life of a real person and is therefore a work of biographical fiction. Seton has successfully recreated life in 14th Century England, at court and in other places. For me this is quality historical fiction and the character of Katherine is placed to show various issues of the day. Even though this book was first published over fifty years ago it is still fresh. I first read Katherine when I was a teenager and have read it a few times since then. This latest re-read was a welcome return to the medieval world.

Katherine sounds like an interesting book. I might have to add that one to my list.

That's the same edition of Katherine that I acquired waaay back around 1972 when I was 10, and literally read to pieces. Seriously, until it was reissued not to long ago, when I wanted to re-read it, I would take one chunk of pages at a time, as the spine had broken and it was held together through some kind of magic. But, to my delight, only this week someone released a Kindle version of the book... *big, ecstatic grin* So I'll never be able to read the words off the page here!!

You have piqued my curiosity re Chabon. And the Elly Griffiths books are still solid -- I ordered her new one from the UK... -- but the latest one is not the best. Still an avid follower of that series. Re Rachel Hore, the book you read was one that I found least compelling a read -- thought her previous two were stronger. Shall be interested to hear your take on them! The first book was a perfect escapist read that put me in a happy, feel-good mood all day.

Re the O'Faolain book -- a friend of mine has lumbered her daughter with Radegunde as a middle name. She was only convinced not to use that as the girl's first name when her friend, who was going to be godmother, refused to be present at the christening if she did that to a helpless baby. Honour will be 19 this summer, and I don't think she has ever used her middle name, although she occasionally uses the middle initial now.

#168 And wishlisted (not sure why it wasn't already on my wishlist).

and now Katherine is on my wishlist too. Thanks for the heads up, calm

Lori - it is a good book, hope you do add it to your wishlist.

Hi Suzanne - That one's a 1975 edition that I found in a charity shop and it hasn't been read to death:) I can't remember what happened to the one I first read ... it might have been off my parents shelves. Good news about the Kindle edition, it is one that can be re-read.

I liked that Chabon and I will probably read more. I like the sound of Gentlemen of the Road so I'm keeping my eyes open for a copy.

I really like the Elly Griffiths books and already have Room Full of Bones on hold at the library. She has published one a year so far so we can hope for a new one next year ... though I can't find any information about it yet.

The only other Rachel Hore books my local library has are The Memory Garden and The Glass Painter's Daughter (in large print) so I'll probably get around to one of them someday.

Your poor friend's daughter - at least she wasn't stuck with it as a first name. Though given some of the very odd names children are lumbered with it could have been worse:)

Heather - I don't think you'll regret wishlisting Katherine and I have no idea how you have missed doing so before now:)

Hopefully back later with my last backlogged review and then I'll probably have a bit of a breathing space before I finish my latest read - I've finally started Wolf Hall! Only had it on the shelf for a couple of years:)

Sorry Lynda, cross posted. More love for Katherine! Hope you like it:)

That sounds right. I used to post in Green Dragon, but I
had to make a choice or two... and so here I am . I look back in
from a distance now and then, but... here is where I will stay.

Ahhhh Cat books. I have a few.. just so I can look at all the
pretty pictures.. lol

Hi Kath - I don't post in the Green Dragon very often any more, though I still read some of the threads. I have a hard enough time keeping up with the 75ers:)

That cat book doesn't have very many pictures, just a few illustrations ... nicely done but I think there are better cat books out there. I still can't resist adding to my cat book collection ... occasionally:)

I can be your Ambassador to the Green Dragon although I confess I only read some of the postings. I still love it over there. Silliness.

I hear you on the cat book thing... I was in two used bookstores today that had large cat sections, and I had to stay away as I was short on time and get caught up too easily around animal books... that said, I do plan to go back and give the section a fair shake. In Praise of Cats sounds adorable and entertaining!

Hi Karen - I do read some GD threads every day but I just don't seem to post much over there.

Hi Faith - There is something about cat books, I haven't got many but I do enjoy them. There are several books with the title In Praise of Cats, I guess it is a popular subject:)

passing through calm :)

curious on your thoughts of Wolf Hall I have it and want to read it but a little too chunky and detailed for me right now. I need to be in right brain mode for it I think. :)

What is the GD?? I am sure I could just go and look, but I'm cyber-lazy, I fear.

I've just embarked on my re-read of Wolf Hall ahead of a tutored read I'm doing with Ilana next month.

Hi Kara - I'm about half way through and enjoying it. It's strange that I kept putting it off because so many people have said it is a difficult read. I'm not finding it difficult though, I suppose, Mantel's style might be off-putting to some people. Though, being British, means that I do know some of the history already so it is not quite so daunting. My copy is around 600 pages but it doesn't seem chunky so far:)

Suzanne - the GD is The Green Dragon (http://www.librarything.com/groups/thegreendragon) and, I think, was the first LT group I joined.

I almost left Wolf Hall until next month so I could lurk on Ilana's tutored read but in the end decided to just go for it. I'm definitely not going to delay so long in reading Bring Up the Bodies, I'm sure the library must have a copy:)

Hopefully back later with thoughts for the books I have finished, no promises though:)

Hi calm, just strolling through your thread. Have you read Dewey, the library cat? It's cute.

HI Lynda - no I haven't read Dewey yet. I guess I should borrow it from the library, I could probably do with some cute reading:)

Did you know that there is a second book about him - Dewey's Nine Lives

No, I didn't know that. I'll look for that one at my library.

That's how I found out about it Lynda - going into the library catalogue to request Dewey:)

No Dewey books for me ! I am a coward...
Stopping by to catch up :)

I saw Katherine on my mother's bookshelves on a visit yesterday so have borrowed it. I probably read it years ago as I devoured Anya Seton's books as a teenager. Anyway I'll either reread it or pass it on to my teen daughter to try. I wouldn't have 'noticed' the book except for your review the other day.

Kath - unfortunately furkids have shorter lives than ours but as long as they are loved during their lives I can cope with it. Cruelty and neglect get me really angry even though I have read books where that happens.

Kerry - hope you enjoy your re-read and that your daughter likes it as well.

Still haven't got around to writing comments for my last few reads - for two of them I'll be the first to review them on LT which means that I feel I should do a better job than usual and I have also finished Wolf Hall which I thought was great. I'll get the covers posted a bit later and see if thoughts follow.

Back later:)

"I have also finished Wolf Hall which I thought was great." Hooray!

It is a very good book Heather ... now I just need to get to the sequel and wait for the third book to be published:)

64) The Knot Garden by Gabriel King (16 - 18 May)

This is better than the LT rating would suggest but I can understand why it is so low - the back cover blurb is only a tiny fraction of the story and if people read it expecting a "supernatural love story" they would be disappointed. I must admit to being baffled by the opening scene until I realised what the POV character was and later realised that this book has a strong connection to Gabriel King's earlier books which are marketed as fantasy and feature cats. Once I understood this I just went with the story and enjoyed it. There are some elements towards the end that would be upsetting to cat lovers but I did enjoy the resolution and am pleased to know that there is a follow up book, Nonesuch, as some things are left unanswered.

I still want to read this author's debut novel The Wild Road and when I find it at least I won't be misled about the story.

65) A.D. 500 A Journey Through the Dark Isles of Britain and Ireland by Simon Young (14 - 21 May)

I was in the mood for some light non-fiction and when I saw this on the library shelf I thought it would fit the bill. It is definitely light and the concept had promise but the end result was disappointing.

The author describes this as fictionalised history ... not historical fiction and the idea is that a scholar in Byzantium is transcribing the log book of an expedition to the British Isles with the idea of the Emperor reclaiming Britain as part of the empire. The time is 100 years after the Romans withdrew the legions and Britain is shown as a barbaric and dangerous place to be. OK the author does base his account on some archaeological and historical accounts but he seems to have chosen the more outrageous possibilities and one by one the members of the expedition meet their end until only the log is left to return to Byzantium.

I guess Simon Young's intention was to present his information in a quirky and interesting form but for me it doesn't quite deliver. Not totally bad but not a book I would ever want to re-read and this one doesn't make me interested in finding out whether he has written anything else. The notes and sources do provide some ideas for further reading though.

66) Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel (18 - 25 May)

Mantel is now firmly in my favourite authors. In Wolf Hal she has managed to create a picture of Tudor England and Thomas Cromwell so fitting that I can't see myself thinking of the events in any other way. The story starts as the young Thomas escapes his violent father, crossing to the continent. Nearly thirty years later the story resumes and now he is a successful family man working for Archbishop Thomas Wolsley as King Henry seeks a way to annul his marriage to Katherine of Aragon. When Wolsley fails Cromwell becomes more powerful at court.

This is richly detailed historical fiction; well researched and giving plausible motives for the action. The picture of the characters that Mantel draws are nuanced and believable, bearing in mind the distance of five hundred years. I am really looking forward to reading the next in the trilogy and more of Mantel's work.

Hi Calm, it seems you've been busy on the reading front, hope you are enjoying the weather with a good book or two or three, ha ha. Hope you have a nice weekend.

You do a lot of reading that I find interesting. I have to tread carefully here..

Hi John - yes definitely some reading going on:)

Hi Kath - I think that is a common problem around here. So many good books that sound so tempting but only so long to read everyday - need to be a bit selective with those blue-filtered glasses:)

To help you out there is a warning "Not for Kath" on The Knot Garden so you can skip that one:)

I agree with Kath! Everything you read looks so tempting. Luckily, I've already read Wolf Hall but the others......oooooo, give me strength, give me strength!!

I tell my friends who are not readers, how my LT friends watch out for me
with good books. And how much I appreciate it !Thank you for the tip :)

Hi Lynda - hope you are having a great day, I better get some thoughts up ... they are not all as good as they look:)

Kath - I think you would find that one difficult to read and to say why would be a spoiler for anyone who did want to read it. It is better than the LT rating would suggest but I can understand why it is so low - the back cover blurb is only a tiny fraction of the story and if people read it expecting a "supernatural love story" they would be disappointed.

I'll be back later to try and fill in some of the missing comments. Need to do some things around the house first before I go out tomorrow.

Managed to fill in a comments for The Knot Garden and A.D. 500 A Journey Through the Dark Isles of Britain and Ireland (posts 192/3). Wolf Hall can wait.

Time to post another one though:)

67) The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill (25 - 26 May)

There have been many positive reviews on LT for this book and I am adding my voice to the crowd:) The wonderful Dr Siri, the picture of life in newly communist Laos and some interesting deaths come together with a cast of characters that feel real to create a real page-turner. There is going to be more Dr Siri in my future - I'm just sorry that my local library does not have the whole series so I'm going to be having to put some requests in for the missing books, I just hope they don't take too long to arrive.

#202 - Hi Calm - I think I'll have to put some of these Dr. Siri books on the wishlist. I keep hearing good things about them on LT. I hope you're having a lovely weekend!

Hi Kerri - nice to see you here. I've already got the second Dr Siri requested from the library - just have to wait for it to get to my branch.

It's been a crazy day, was meant to meet up with a couple of friends in town today. Really hot and I ended up having to spend a lot of time outside. When they finally turned up the car had a flat tire so had to get that fixed, by that time it was really late so ended up just going to the beach and having icecream:)

I did manage to go to the library and picked up Lynda's recent recommendation of Dewey and the fourth Ruth Galloway mystery Room Full of Bones. I only bought one book today - Dissolution so I can finally start reading the Matthew Shardlake series.

In other news I finished Fieldwork and have finally started The Grapes of Wrath

Hello:)

Well I had to go out again yesterday and when I got back TIOLI was up so I am even further behind on book comments:) I read Dewey on Tuesday and only have a couple of chapters of The Grapes of Wrath to read so will finish that later today.

Went to a smaller town just to the south to visit the doctor and have a new medication to try. Was very restrained and only got one book from the library, The Garden of Martyrs, and one for my shelves, Stonehenge: A Novel by Bernard Cornwell.

Now for my overambitious plans for the June TIOLI (I had forgotten how chunksterish some of these books are)

Now You See Me - S. J. Bolton (library book)
*Illywhacker - Peter Carey
Imajica - Clive Barker
Sacred Games - Vikram Chandra
The Garden of Martyrs - Michael C. White (library book)
*An Instance at the Fingerpost - Ian Pears
*Religion Explained - Pascal Boyer (library book, currently reading)
Ash - Malinda Lo
blueeyedboy - Joanne Harris
A Room Full of Bones - Elly Griffiths (library book)
Stonemouth - Iain Banks (library book)

As always this is subject to change. I will try to get the shared reads finished and of course the library books are must reads. Thinking about it I might read either Imajica or Sacred Games as they are both around the 1000 page count and are for the same challenge.

Also realised I haven't used my 12 in 12 categories to guide the choices - no nonfiction history, no pre-Tudor historical fiction, no SF and no books in translation. hhmm - I might have to think about this though I am on target for the 12 in 12 and there is the rest of the year so I guess I shouldn't worry about it ... just read the books I fancy:)

Hopefully back later with some book comments.

Hi calm - So glad that you might read Illywhacker this month! It's part of one of my 12 in 12 challenges, but I've been putting it off, due to the high page count. Having a potential shared read helps with motivation. I'll try to get to it soon, probably after The Red House, which is an early reviewers book that I feel I must get to soon.

Hi Kerri - I picked it off the shelf after I noticed that you were planning to read it. I guess that is part of the TIOLI fun:) I think I am going to read the library books first, then go for the shared reads so hope to get to it before too long.

I must admit to having a lot of books with high page counts in that list - as I pulled them off the shelf the book pile for June got very tall:)

and as I was writing this I got a phone call from the library and another book is ready for me - Suzanne's recommendation of From the Holy Mountain - wonder if I can find a TIOlI challenge for it:)

Stonehenge sounds god :)

I hope that you had a good day out..
Not too much going on in my life to talk about :)

Kath - I expect it will be though Cornwell can get a bit gritty - he is very good at battle scenes - and he does seem to do a lot of research for his books which I do appreciate for historical fiction.

Going out isn't my favourite activity and, even though I like my doctor, I don't really like going to the surgery but there has been a change in the way they are allowed to prescribe certain drugs and we had to find something else in order for me to cut down (and maybe stop) taking one of them. I'm not good with change:(

#207 - While overall, LibraryThing has done wonderful things for my reading life - e-meeting interesting people from around the world, lots of great recommendations, reading many more new books, etc. - one negative, especially with TIOLI challenges, is that I tend to shun high page count books, which is something I never used to do. Something to work on, I suppose...

Kerri, Librarything has also given me lots of suggestions for books and more of an awareness about what is going on around the world ... so many interesting and fun people here:)

I don't avoid the high page count books Kerri but I do have a lot on my "shelves of shame" waiting to be read. This month though I seem to have pulled a lot of them of the shelf, two of them because of shared reads. No problem though I'm not really going for a record number of books read for the year and I'm well on target for my 12 in 12 so I'm not going to avoid them and they are all books I want to read:)

You know that I feel your pain, regarding going out.. no fun for me either. The same with change.
( Now that is a weird sentence )

sorry about the med issues :(

Kath - I'm not too worried about the change in meds ... just hope that the new drug suits me. The change I don't like is that the local health authority has told the surgery that certain types of drugs can't be issued on a repeat prescription but have to be more closely monitored - so I have to see the doctor every month in order to get the drugs I need. I'll cope:)

Thanks to Madeline (SqueakyChu) for recommending this book



68) Fieldwork by Mischa Berlinski (26 - 28 May)

This was an intriguing debut novel from Mischa Berlinski. This is about journalist Mischa (yes the main character has the same name as the author) who becomes fascinated by the story of anthropologist Martiya van der Leun who commits suicide, while serving a sentence for murder, in a Thai prison.

This could be described as a patchwork of a book as the story goes in various directions (describing the life of the narrator, Martiya, the victim and his family) but the author does a good job of bringing the various parts together. I was fascinated by the discussion of the way Martiya lives with a tribe and the cultural differences; the impact of Christian missionaries in China and Thailand and the appeal of life in a foreign country for many of the characters. I'm not too sure about the ending but apart from that I enjoyed this novel. This was a very satisfying read and I hope the author writes another book someday.

69) Dewey by Vicki Myron (29 May)

Dewey starts one cold winter morning when library director Vicki Myron finds an abandoned, frost-bitten kitten in the library drop box but this is more than Dewey's story. It is the story of a town and a community; surviving in hard times and how animals can help people feel better. It is also Vicki and her family's story which was tough reading.

I must say that once I started reading this I couldn't put it down. I loved the cat's story but, as I hadn't read any reviews, I didn't know about the family stuff and that touched some subjects I have real trouble reading about. Still a good book though and I'm not sorry to have read it.

I managed to finish Grapes of Wrath today ... so that will be my last May read. I still need to write some comments for it and Wolf Hall.

Don't feel up to doing my May stats just now so will work on those tomorrow.

70) The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck (28 - 31 May)

I had never read this before though I had seen the film and reading it added so much to the story. Steinbeck is worthy of his status - a brilliant lyrical writer who captures just what it means to be human with all the flaws and hopes that they embody.

This is the story of the hordes of people evicted from the land they had farmed for generations as the Great Dust Bowl disaster happened in the 1930's. Migrating to California with the promise of work they discover that it is no promised land and a downward spiral is the inevitable outcome as thousands seek a way to support their families. At the centre of the story is the Joad family and their struggle to remain a family and keep their humanity.

This is a brilliantly heart breaking work and once more I regret not reading Steinbeck in so many years. I'm still not ready to re-visit the ones I read at school but one day I will.

Calm - 17 books in May - impressive especially when you look at the detail. Look forward to your thoughts on Grapes of Wrath which like my own (I've almost finished it) will not be from an American perspective.

May Summary -

Books read - 17

13 - fiction
4 - nonfiction

Pages read - 6046

Book list
(All books marked with * were from the library, all others from my own shelves.)

1) One Blood by Qwantu Amaru
2) The Magic Toyshop by Angela Carter
3) *The House at Sea's End by Elly Griffiths
4) Eva by Peter Dickinson
5) *The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
6) The Master of Whitestorm by Janny Wurts
7) *The Making of the British Landscape by Francis Pryor
8) It's Time by Pavel Kostin
9) In Praise of Cats by Max Cryer
10) Katherine by Anya Seton
11) The Knot Garden by Gabriel King
12) *A.D. 500 A Journey Through the Dark Isles of Britain and Ireland by Simon Young
13) Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
14) *The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill
15) *Fieldwork by Mischa Berlinski
16) *Dewey by Vicki Myron
17) The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

They all fitted into TIOLI categories and I am still on track for my 12 in 12 challenge with at least 5 books read per category so far. I also read the most number of books and pages so far this year.

7 from the library and 10 from my shelves. That seems good:)

Books into the house - I managed to make up for buying only one book in April:) But the numbers don't balance. I borrowed 10 books from the library and have read 5 of them but I also bought 10 books. So that is 20 books into the house versus 17 read. Not so good

From the library
A.D. 500 A Journey Through the Dark Isles of Britain and Ireland by Simon Young (read)
Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (read)
Now You See Me by S. J. Bolton (currently reading0
Stonemouth by Iain Banks
The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill (read)
Fieldwork by Mischa Berlinski (read)
Religion Explained : the human instincts that fashion gods, spirits and ancestors by Pascal Boyer (currently reading)
Dewey by Vicki Myron (read)
Room Full of Bones by Elly Griffiths
The Garden of Martyrs by Michael C. White

Onto the shelves of shame
The Highest Tide by Jim Lynch
Lies by Enrique De Heriz
In Praise of Cats by Max Cryer (read)
1421 The Year China Discovered the World by Gavin Menzies
Ash by Malinda Lo
History of the Kings of Britain by Geoffrey of Monmouth,
Eight Months on Ghazzah Street by Hilary Mantel
The Golden Key by Melanie Rawn
Dissolution by C. J. Sansom
Stonehenge: A Novel by Bernard Cornwell.

Well that's it for May, still need to write comments for Wolf Hall and The Grapes of Wrath - hopefully later today.

Hi Paul - you posted while I was compiling the May stats (why are there no touchstones!) - yes it was a good reading month. Thoughts will be up soonish for Grapes of Wrath.

Now all I need to do is decided whether to start a new thread now or wait until this one gets a bit longer.

In other news today is my third Thingaversary. I am so pleased to have found LT and all the wonderful people here in the 75ers. Now do I call 4 of the books I bought last month my Thingaversary haul or do I get four when I go out next week. Decisions, decisions:)

Managed to get all those touchstones to load:) Not sure why it didn't work the first time but I hope they all go to the right books:)

Happy Thingaversary to you!!!!!

Sorry, last weeks books will not do. Four new ones are absolutely necessary.

I often have touchstones go wonky. No idea why.

Ahhh the shelves of shame...I have added a few this week myself, including :

American Grown: The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America
Michelle Obama

I haven't opened it yet..

Thanks Kath. I suppose there are worse addictions than buying books and I never seem to need an excuse to buy more:)

I'll see what I can find next week - the local market starts up in the village next week and I can normally find some books there:)

Hope you like your new addition to the shelves of shame.

Congratulations on your anniversary of finding LT. We are so glad to have you with us; and we do love our reading! and addiction to books... nothing wrong with it!

Congrats on your Thingaversary! I say you get 4 brand new books. You deserve it. Also: impressive May summary and TIOLI list. I think I'm going to post my TIOLI readings as well, as they're hard to keep track of.

wow, looks like you had a great May! I intend to get to Wolf Hall sometime in the near(ish) future but Dr Siri is on my plate for June!

Happy Thingaversary!

Hi Karen - I am pleased to have found LT:) It's a great place to hang out with other booklovers:)

Hi Kerri - Thank you - four "new to me" books for sure. It looks likely that the next opportunity for book buying will be at the market/car boot sale - I'll just see what I can find:)

The potential TIOLI list is just that - some time I should compare my plans with the actual reading:)

Thanks Chelle - I was quite surprised but it was a 31 day month, I did a readathon and went out a few more times than I would have liked - which adds reading time on the bus and while having a coffee. I guess it all added up:)

Wolf Hall was really good - I hope you like it and Dr Siri is definitely different - I liked the unfamiliar setting and the characters.

Still no book thoughts up - Kath posted a wicked, evil link on her thread and I just keep waiting for one more card - I knew I shouldn't have clicked:)

Happy THingaversary, calm! I am loving the Dr. Siri books as well.

Thanks Roni - I've already got Thirty Three Teeth requested from the library - though it will probably be a while before it is delivered to my branch. This long bank holiday weekend means that the library is closed.

*grin* you're welcome !

Hope you are having a happy day :)

eta
just be glad I didn't post this one

https://www.pottermore.com/en/signin/en/welcome

Hi Kath - I know about Pottermore and have resisted registering (so far). I think what I like about the Night Circus site is the descriptions of the tents and the fact there are goals. You "meet" characters from the book so there is a degree of familiarity but it is also a great addition to the world.

Book thoughts have now been written for Wolf Hall and Grapes of Wrath. I have also finished my first June book but I think I will set up a new thread soon so I'll leave the comments for now:)

I have registered. Period. I haven't gone any further than that.. I fer it. I loved the whole Potter thing
so much, and still watch the movies when they turn up on tv. I am afraid if I start I will fall in!

Kath - When Pottermore first opened to Beta users I followed the Hogwarts Express thread. To be honest it didn't encourage me to sign up.

I love the Night Circus though so thanks for the link. I'm beginning to wonder if I need to be able to "invite friends" to be able to progress though and I'm not joining Facebook or Twitter just to carry on playing. It is rather addictive though:)

Just about to start a new thread. I'll post here when I'm set up:)

All done - I'm over here http://www.librarything.com/topic/137902