Roberta’s (luvamystery65) Iron Druid Challenge. Thread 2

The past two years have been difficult caring for my mother. The past year was especially tough. We almost lost her and she has been in and out of the hospital numerous times. I’m always looking for fun reads to get me through my commute to the hospital and work (I work in the hospital) and back home. This past year I discovered The Iron Druid Chronicles from Mamzel’s thread. What a hoot this series has been. An added bonus is that my mom has enjoyed every one of these books too! We’ve also read the two novellas and a majority of the short stories. Of course Oberon is our favorite but we love Atticus and Granuaile too. What is even better is that Kevin Hearne is hilarious on Facebook and Twitter. Give him a follow for some great fun.

In honor of all that, I am making my 2014 Category Challenge Iron Druid themed. Of course I am taking liberty with the categories and binding them, as I need. I hope that 2014 brings harmony to our household and yours




I am holding my ticker here. I 'm going to use the same one for here and the 75 challenge. I picked this one because it reminds me of Atticus' knotwork tattoos that he uses for binding and shifting. The four leaf clover is for his home country Ireland.

Hounded



Where Atticus has decided to finally take matters into his own hands and confront the angry Celtic god who has been after him for centuries. Where Roberta will read all things Noir and Hard Boil etc… because who doesn’t like taking things into your own hands.

Spenser Ceremony MysteryCAT January GeoCAT January HPL Overdrive
87th Precinct The Pusher
The Maltese Falcon My Very Own

possible reads
The Song is You by Megan Abbott FBCL
Clandestine by James Ellroy HPL Overdrive

Hexed



Where Atticus battles witches with the help of werewolves and a vampire. Roberta will read all things supernatural because who doesn’t love ghosts, goblins and fangs.

Dresden Files Grave Peril My Very Own Audio
Talulla Rising FBCL
Mercy Thompson Moon Called FBCL

possible reads
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Hammered



Where Atticus heads to Asgard to repay a debt and help a friend get revenge on Thor. Roberta will head to Scandinavia and all things Scandi Crime because who doesn’t love reading about crime in a cold climate when she lives in HOT HOT HOT Houston.

Martin Beck The Laughing Policeman BCL
Department Q The Purity of Vengeance out December 2013 My Very Own soon
Inspector Sejer He Who Fears the Wolf FBCL

possible reads
The Bat by Jo Nesbo FBCL
Jar City by Arnaldur Indriðason FBCL

Tricked



Where Atticus is hiding out from the gods and needs the help of a Trickster to play dead. Roberta will read all things to do with tricks, traps and shenanigans because who doesn’t love puzzling mysteries, identities and nonsense.

Miles Vorkosigan Saga (including these because they include identity issues due to cloning and genetic engineering)
Shards of Honor My Very Own Audio I plan on reading the books in the Cordelia's Honor and Young Miles omnibus. Anything after those will be a bonus.
Barrayar
The Warrior's Apprentice
The Mountains of Mourning
The Vor Game
Replacing the year long read of Arabian Nights with the three books below.
Vorkosigan Series is a Year Long Readshttp://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/Group_Reads_of_2014#YEAR-LONG
American Gods Thanks again Mamzel! BCL

Year Long Vorkosigan Saga thread is http://www.librarything.com/topic/160914

Replacing AN
The Coyote Road : trickster tales edited by Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling ; introduction by Terri Windling ; decorations by Charles Vess FBCL
Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman FBCL
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch FBCL

Trapped



Where Atticus is stuck at the base of Mount Olympus in his attempt to bind his apprentice Granuaille. Roberta will read all things about real life struggles to overcome because who doesn’t love a hero(s).

Unbroken November Group Read FBCL
http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/Group_Reads_of_2014#NOVEMBER
I am Malala 4th Quarter Group Read (Biographies) Will be My Very Own
http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/Group_Reads_of_2014#OCTOBER
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed

Hunted



Where Atticus is on the run from the goddesses of the hunt Artemis and Diana. Roberta will read all things Western because I live in Texas and my Daddy is a cowboy. (It’s a stretch. Sue me) I’m a city girl through and through but I do love to visit the cowboy way.

Empire of the Summer Moon FBCL
Shane by Jack Schaefer
The Searchers FBCL

Possible reads
The searchers : the making of an American legend by Glenn Frankel Borrowed
Dead Man's Walk by Larry McMurtry FBCL

Shattered



Where now the world has three Druids and who knows what will happen. Where Roberta will read whatever she wants to because who doesn’t love doing that!

Shattered (of course) June 2014
Cress by Marissa Meyer
Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch

Tír na nÓg



Tír na nÓg is the Land of Promise or the Otherworld in Irish mythology. To get to Tír na nÓg an adventurer needed a guide. Tír na nÓg is where Atticus crosses planes and pays his respect to the Tuatha Dé Danann. Where Roberta will use this extra category to list my shared, group, tutored or challenge reads that do not fit anywhere else.

their eyes were watching god by Zora Neale Hurston shared read with Ellen (EBT1002); January GeoCAT; Bingo
Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather January AAC; January GeoCAT; January UNOFFICAL AlphaCAT
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman January RandomCAT
Dying to Cross by Jorge Ramos January GeoCAT (immigration focus); Bingo
Still Life by Louise Penny January GeoCAT; Bingo
Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson January Joyrides; Bingo
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde OLOB
The Hamlet by William Faulkner February AAC
Jerusalem: Chronicles From the Holy City by Guy Delisle January GeoCAT

Here is my tentative list for Mark's American Author Challenge.

January/Willa Cather- Death Comes for the Archbishop
February/William Faulkner- The Hamlet
March/Cormac McCarthy- All the Pretty Horses
April/Toni Morrison- The Bluest Eye
May/Eudora Welty- A Curtain of Green
June/Kurt Vonnegut- God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian
July/Mark Twain- Life on the Mississippi
August/Philip Roth- The Plot Against America
September/James Baldwin- Giovanni's Room or Go Tell it on the Mountain
October/Edith Wharton- The Age of Innocence
November/John Updike- The Witches of Eastwick
December/Larry Watson- Let Him Go

I am also reading a Spenser by Robert B. Parker every month with Mamie (Crazymamie) and Donna (Donna828). This has been so much fun and we started 2014 with book 9.

The Spenser Project

January – Ceremony #9
February – The Widening Gyre #10
March – Valediction #11
April – A Catskill Eagle #12
May – Taming a Sea-Horse #13
June – Pale Kings and Princes #14
July – Crimson Joy #15
August – Playmates #16
September – Stardust #17
October – Pastime #18
November – Double Deuce #19
December – Paper Doll #20

Reading Bingo Challenge 2014



More than 500 pages:
Forgotten classic: The Flame Trees of Thika
Book that became a movie: Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail
Published this year: Broken Homes
Number in the title:
Written by someone under 30:
Book with non-human characters:
Funny Book:
Female Author: Shards of Honor
Book with a mystery: Still Life
One-Word Title: Shane
Book of short stories:
Set on a different continent: Out Stealing Horses
Non-Fiction: Dying to Cross
First book by a favourite author: Neverwhere
Heard about online:
Best-selling book:
Based on a true story: The Searchers
Book at the bottom of TBR pile:
Book my friend loves:
Book that scares me:
More than 10 years old: Their Eyes Were Watching God
Second book in a series: A Fatal Grace
Blue cover:

YA Reading Bingo Challenge 2014



Female heroine:
Set in a high school: Eleanor and Park
Last book of a trilogy:
A color in the title: Red Rising
First book in a series: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Set in the future:
A breakup:
Without a love triangle: Cress
That became a movie: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Set in Paris:
Set in the past:
With magic: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Set in the summer:
With a dragon: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Made you cry: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Graphic Novel: Watchmen
Based on a Myth:
"Classic" YA book: A Wrinkle in Time
With a lion, a witch or a wardrobe:
An incredible fight scene: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows???
Heard about online:
Set in another world:
Epic love story:
With music: Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist

February Plans

Cress by Marissa Meyer Fantasy February Shattered Category
Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch – Mystery CAT Fantasy February Shattered Category
Jerusalem: Chronicles from the Holy City by Guy Delisle GeoCAT
The Madness of Angels, or the Resurrection of Matthew Swift by Kate Griffin Fantasy February
The Widening Gyre by Robert B. Parker AlphaCAT; Mystery CAT
Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold – Bingo Tricked Category
The Hamlet by William Faulkner AAC Alpha Challenge
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde OLOB February
Grave Peril by Jim Butcher Mystery CAT Fantasy February
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L 'Engle RandomCAT
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

Possibles:
The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson
Justine by Lawrence Durrell

BOOKS READ or LISTENED to in 2014

January
1. Their Eyes Were Watching God
2. Neverwhere
3. Death Come for the Archbishop
4. Ceremony
5. Dying to Cross
6. Shards of Honor
7. Still Life
8. Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption
9. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
10. Shane
11. Out Stealing Horses
12. A Fatal Grace
13. Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail
14. Watchmen
February
15. Barrayar
16. Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist
17. The Picture of Dorian Gray
18. Cress
19. The Widening Gyre
20. Grave Peril
21. A Wrinkle in Time
22. Jerusalem: Chronicles from the Holy City
23. Red Rising
24. The Hamlet
25. Broken Homes
March
26. Melt
27. Beating the Lunchbox Blues
28. A Madness of Angels
29. The Warrior's Apprentice
30. Valediction
31. All the Pretty Horses
32. The Mountains of Mourning
33. Harriet the Spy
34. The Guide Dog Mystery
35. Birds of a Lesser Paradise
April
36. The Bluest Eye
37. A Catskill Eagle
38. The Vor Game
39. I, Robot
40. Morning in the Burned House
41. The Searchers
42. Odd and the Frost Giants
43. Safe Area Gorazde
44. The Purity of Vengeance
45. The Searchers: The Making of an American Legend.
May
46. The Lies of Locke Lamora
47. A Curtain of Green and other stories
48. The Man in the Brown Suit
49. Taming a Sea-Horse
50. Interpreter of Maladies
51. Clandestine
52. Mother Jones: The Most Dangerous Woman in America
53. The Unforgiven

Migrating over to your new thread, Roberta. I hope you are having a lovely weekend!

Lori - You're my first visitor! I've been sick since Thursday but slowly recovering. It was really bad yesterday. At first I thought I was getting a cold but then I started throwing up. I haven't even been able to drink my beloved coffee!

I'm glad you are home safe and sound.

Make sure you do keep hydrated with something other than coffee since dehydration is what lands people in the hospital! Tea, gentle broths, etc. Hope you feel better soon!

Mamzel - Yes, I'm a nurse so I know how important. I was unable to keep anything down at all yesterday and I am dehydrated. I'm able to drink water, Sprite and ginger tea today. I had plans to go to the stand alone ER in front of the subdivision if I wasn't able to keep down liquids today. Glad I can get by without IV fluids. Thanks for checking in!

Oh, dehydrated... I find it is always hard for me to stay hydrated when I am sick.... the last thing I want to do is consume food or liquids! Glad to see you are on the mend. Here is hoping your recovery is a quick one.

Oh no! Feel better soon.

I'm glad you are starting to feel better, Roberta!

Eek, throwing up is the worst, glad you're on the mend and keeping things down now; hope today is on to food!

Hope you're feeling better today.

You are all so wonderful to come in and check on me!

Lori - I'm much better. I actually had breakfast and one cup of coffee! Yes! I'm gonna make it.

rabbitprincess - Thank you! I tried watching some Sherlock yesterday but PBS was being fickle and kept freezing up when they were getting kicked out of various eating establishments. Aack! I'm so behind!!!

PMM - I am eating real food and even tolerated by beloved coffee! Lots of water and ginger tea too. Thank you.

Tricia - I am feeling much better. Thank you for stopping in.

Ha! If Atticus O'Sullivan and Carl Mørck haven't filed then surely Julia will soon!

Ha! Not much chance of that — your haunting is a nice change from my childhood, when my mother had to tie a pork chop around my neck to get the dog to play with me. ;-)

Julia - I was just calling shenanigans on your 75er thread. I was a bit of a loner too and not by choice either. Kind of kindred spirits and all in good fun.

ETA: Clarified which thread!

Thanks for clarifying — I am doing a lousy job of keeping up with two threads! I can see now why so many people struggle.

Sometimes being a loner was by choice and sometimes not. I guess you could say sometimes the pork chop was around my neck so the dog would play with me, and sometimes it was around the dog's neck so I would play with it. :-)

Julia - The two threads is confusing! I don't know how people are in multiple groups and have threads going in them. Kudos to them!

I absolutely get it. I grew up in a neighborhood with older people and so I had to learn to entertain myself. Sometimes I still prefer my own company.

Happy to see that you are feeling better.

Completely understand being a loner. The closest neighbor was about a mile or so down the road when I was growing up. If my brother didn't want to play then I was definitely entertaining myself. Probably why I read so much.

Roberta, I hope you are feeling better and are back to normal (whatever that may be) now, I had a lovely two day get-away and now I face the daunting challenge of getting caught up with everyone!

Glad to hear you can have coffee again - hope you're 100% soon!

Have you started A Madness of Angels yet?

Just stopping by the new thread, and hoping that you're over your illness now!

Stacy - I can definitely see that being a loner helped nurture my love for reading. Or maybe my love for reading nurtured the loner in me. ;-)

Judy - I am hopelessly behind but feeling much better. I still have a lingering cough but that is it.

Eva - I am almost 100% and having coffee always helps.

Booklizard - I read the prologue and started some pages in but then had to get to other library books that were due back first. There are no chapters in this book! I am finishing The Hamlet for my AAC and my plan is to start A Madness of Angels on Saturday. It's due back at the library on March 16th. Have you read it?

Paulina - I am done with my illness except the cough. I have finally been able to get back into the groove of reading.

#19



The Widening Gyre by Robert B. Parker is Spenser #10. Spenser gets involved in politics and the mob. Susan is coming into her own and Spenser has to decide if he is okay with that. Paul makes an appearance and has grown up. Spenser just may grow up a bit himself. We find out the past does haunt Spenser. Hawk comes around but only for a bit. This one has redeemed the series for me.

#20



Grave Peril by Jim Butcher is #3 in the The Dresden Files. This one is tough for me to judge. The case takes place one year after book two but all of a sudden Harry has this friend he has worked cases on for the last five years. The case is all over the map too. I was really sick when I listened to this and James Marsters was perfect. I couldn't tolerate reading or watching TV so I'll give Mr. Marsters credit for keeping me company.

#21



A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle is a classic YA science fiction tale about being true to yourself. It mixes science and religion but the message is clear that it is admirable to be different, especially in the way we think and learn.

#22



Jerusalem: Chronicles from the Holy City by Guy Delisle is another chronicle from Delisle's travels with his partner who works for MSF. They live in East Jerusalem for a year. He discusses various parts of the city occupied by various groups and religions throughout the city and surrounding areas but his viewpoint is biased. I learned a lot from this book but it is definitely written from the Palestine perspective. I have to say I am intrigued enough to read more work by him.

#23



Red Rising by Pierce Brown is a YA novel set in the future about evolved humans that have moved beyond earth and colonized the moon and other planets. The humans are categorized by their colors with The Golds being at the top of the hierarchy and The Reds the very bottom. Darrow is born an low Red and is a miner on Mars. Like most of his people he believes his caste are mining to make Mars inhabitable for future generations. A series of events leads him to discover that Mars has been habitable for centuries and his people are being used as slaves to mine the substance that makes this possible. Darrow joins the resistance and dares a deceit meant to overthrow the Golds.

The plot is not perfect but it is good and I can see the story going somewhere. This is the first in a planned trilogy. Darrow is at times annoying and there is a lot of saved in the nick of time plot strategies going on. Brown is a talented writer and if you stick with the dialect and the world building you will be rewarded with a satisfying first novel. I look forward to the second installment and I hope this kid only gets better.

#24



Well bless my little ol heart I sholy did finish The Hamlet by Mr. William Faulkner. I've read some of the Snopes short stories so I knew what to expect. Faulkner is not an easy read. I suspect he goes down easier if you grew up reading Southern Literature or are at least familiar with rural Southern practices and dialects. I enjoyed it. I did rush to finish by the end of February. I would have liked to have devoted more time to the book. I plan on reading the rest of the Snopes trilogy in the somewhat near future. That Flem Snopes is a piece of work.

I did not enjoy the cow story. Ick!

#25



Stuff gets serious south of the river.

Ay Dios Mio! Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch is book 4 in the Peter Grant/Rivers of London mysteries. Wowza! The story started out a little slow for me and I thought it was going to get complicated. It did but not in a bad way. Instead of getting helter skelter as I thought it was, it wound up really tight in the end. The ending was surprising and phenomenal! Mr. Aaronovitch is back on track.

If you are reading this series then hurry and get to this book now!

Best book of the month for me!

Now that I have my copy of Broken Homes, I will indeed have to get to it quickly! Very excited to hear that you liked it.

>44 rabbitprincess: It is excellent! He is back in form with this one.

39. I love A Wrinkle in Time. The other books in the series (bar Many Waters weren't published here so I've never read then but OH, how I want to.

>46 PawsforThought: I plan to read the graphic novel of A Wrinkle in Time next. Then, I'll move on to the next in the series.

February at a glance
15. Barrayar very good
16. Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist
17. The Picture of Dorian Gray meh
18. Cress one of my faves
19. The Widening Gyre very good
20. Grave Peril
21. A Wrinkle in Time good
22. Jerusalem: Chronicles from the Holy City very informative
23. Red Rising interesting new YA author
24. The Hamlet Must love Faulkner and/or crazy white trash Southerners (it worked for me except one chapter)
25. Broken Homes very good favorite of the month

March Preview
The Warrior’s Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold AlphaCAT Tricked Category
Crackdown by Bernard Cornwell GeoCAT (focus Commonwealth)
Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh MysteryCAT
A Madness of Angels by Kate Griffin AlphaCAT
All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy GeoCAT, AAC, Hunted Category AlphaCAT
Valediction by Robert B. Parker Spenser #11
American Gods by Neil Gaiman OLOB, Tricked Category

Wow - talk about cranking out those reviews... and wonderful reviews they are!

Lori - I was so miserable and now Mom is sick but I was afraid to let them get away from me.

Oh no.... not Mom sick! Take care, both of you!

Lori - Yes she caught my cold and then she aspirated again so we are probably dealing with aspiration pneumonia. I'm trying to keep her out of the hospital but I told her if she really needs to go in then I am taking her in. She said she wouldn't argue. Her doctor is really learning to trust my instincts and I was able to send a culture in last Thursday so we began to treat today and are waiting for the sensitivity report to see if we need to change her antibiotics. How sad is it that I have most everything on hand for her already, antibiotics, oxygen, steroids, nebulizer medications. I run my own home health just about for her. You only have one mom and I plan on taking the best care of mine that I can.

Thanks for checking in on us!

Lots of great reads! Hope mom gets better soon - pneumonia sounds scary!

38> Yeah, the start of Grave Peril was weird. I kept checking to see if I'd missed a book or short story or something. I still love the series though.

43> Just started Broken Homes. Glad to hear it's good.

Hope your mom feels better soon.

>53 -Eva-: Yes, thank goodness my reading is back on track. My mom has dysphagia so pneumonia is always a worry for us.

>54 BookLizard: I'm so glad you warned me about the character of Michael just "appearing out of the blue". I would have been scratching my head! I can't wait to see what you think of Broken Homes. Thanks for the get well wishes for mom.

Oh, that too?! She's really getting a bit of a beating, your mom. Sending bunches of well-wishes her way!!!

I agree with you that Faulkner is not an easy read. I liked very much Light in August and As I Lay Dying. However, Absalom Absalom has been sitting on my shelf for about 20 years and I've been trying to motivate myself to finally read it.

>56 -Eva-: She has a lot of health problems and it is really coming to just keeping her as comfortable as possible.

>57 mathgirl40: I am ready to tackle the other two books in the Snopes trilogy sometime this year.

Hi Roberta, congratulations on completing the Falkner book, that's more that I have ever been able to do!

Hope your Mom is improving.

Judy - I think I'll continue on with the Snopes trilogy but not back to back. Mom is doing better. Thanks.

I'm laying aside American Gods for now. My original plan was to read it over the summer or late May and just enjoy it. I bumped it up for OLOB. I'm also reading A Madness of Angels, or the Resurrection of Matthew Swift by Kate Griffin. Both are dark and a little creepy. The Matthew Swift book being a little darker and creepier. I want to savor American Gods and the OLOB crowd is a little over my head. At least the Dorian Gray was so I have decided to park it and go back to it later in the year.

Another reason I'm putting it off is that I have so MANY library books and I was hit by a book bullet from The Recommender himself, Mark. The book is Birds of Lesser Paradise: stories by Megan Mayhew. It fits the RandomCAT for March and I'm thrilled because I was going to forgo the RandomCAT this month due to the length of American Gods. Whoop!

How far have you gotten in A Madness of Angels? I thought it was pretty creepy too until I got to the explanation part. Once I knew what was going on, it was much less creepy. The second book just came in at the library for me. Yay!

Booklizard - I'm only on part two. Lots of RL stuff going on. When I say it is creepy I totally mean that in a good way. I'm loving it! My library system has book 1, 2 & 4 but not book 3. What's up with that? If one of the neighboring county libraries doesn't have it, then I'll request it ILL.

My Thingavesary is next Friday! I need to choose six books. Decisions!

I know this will be one of my choices because it is one of my all time favorites and I love this series of hardbacks.

I bet your library had book 3 and someone lost/stole it.

My library had 1 & 3 on ebook but not 2 so I had to request it.

Booklizard - I bet you're right. I'm not sure if I checked Overdrive for book 3. I will though.

Happy Thingaversary! Why 6 books? I'm asking because mine's next month and I don't think I could stand the pressure of choosing that many.

Booklizard - Well from around the threads the tradition is one book for each year you have been on Library Thing, plus one more. Why? I don't know but book lovers rarely need an excuse to buy books. :-)

<64 Wow, that is an intriguing cover! Who's the publisher?

>69 MissWatson: Penguin Classics Hardback editions

I didn't even know they do hardbacks! Off to check them out...

That's a great way to celebrate your Thingaversary! Maybe I will have to adopt the tradition this year. :)

>71 MissWatson: Be careful over there! ;-)

>72 mathgirl40: I think it's a great idea. I decided I'm going to always make my plus one a fancy beautiful special edition of a book I love.

>64 luvamystery65:
The problem being to limit yourself to six books, I take it. :)

>64 luvamystery65: Oooh I love designs by Coralie Bickford-Smith:

^ Oooohhh..... Pretty!

>74 -Eva-: Exactly!

>75 ELiz_M: They are so gorgeous! I really wish they had a Dumas collection like the Austen and Dickens collection. You're Thingaversary is coming up soon. What books will you be choosing?

>76 lkernagh: Yes they are!

>70 luvamystery65: Yeah, there are pretty :) The major publishers in France don't publish hardback books. Oh and well no color or a little bit of fantasy, literature is a serious matter, you know !? If you want the classics, you only have the choice between the pocket-book and the softback omnibus :( So you can imagine my delight with these Penguin Classics Hardback editions :)

>77 luvamystery65: Good question! For my first thingaversary, I might have to go with two expensive books that I have been coveting. In that case, one would be Building Stories by Chris Ware and the other might very well be one of the books pictured in my post 75 above.

>61 luvamystery65: I ploughed on with American Gods and felt that maybe I shouldn't have. I always read on thinking it must get better soon, alas. I wasn't overly impressed with it in the end. It was a long one too! Probably I fel obliged to seeing as I had voted it in for the OLOB thing

>75 ELiz_M: love that Great Gatsby cover!! I have the Dorian Gray one already, Luxx here on LT had bought one a long time ago and posted its picture and the green eyed monster got the better of me. I just had to have one, so did. It is yummy.

>78 electrice: I wonder why the major publishers don't publish hardbacks there? I would think they would find a market in book lovers. They are delightful. I wish they would add more.

>79 ELiz_M: Building Stories looks interesting. I have it on my library wish list. Anyone of those Penguin Classics hardbacks would be amazing.

>80 LovingLit: Megan the green eyed monster will get us every time but in your case what a lovely acquisition. Re: American Gods I voted for it too but I just did not want to rush through it. I am did not like the tone of the Dorian Gray discussion on OLOB but that is just me. It might be a different crowd for AG. I have the thread starred and I'll go back and skim when I get to the book.

81> What was the tone for the Dorian Gray discussion? I haven't looked at the threads because I didn't get very far in the book. I started it but then my library loan expired. I was planning on borrowing it again, but if the discussion isn't worthwhile, I may just skip it. So many books, so little time.

I'm just popping in to catch up. There is a lot of activity here Roberta. I think those covers up at #75 are gorgeous too. They remind me of beautiful fabric, or retro wallpapers.

>82 BookLizard: There was some snarking going on between a couple of people. That happens on the internet because humor does not always translate well and some people just love to argue. That didn't bother me too much, but I'm spoiled with people being mainly kind in this group and the 75 group. What I really didn't care for was that if you did not like the book or insulted some aspect of it, some of the members took it so personally. I'm not a highbrow literature buff, but I do enjoy the classics. What I want from a group read is to be able to state my opinion and have it respected. I just didn't see that a lot and I stopped participating.

>83 Roro8: Ro! I'm so excited you popped in! Did you know those covers are cloth bound? *swoon* They have colored endpapers and matching ribbon markers.

This is another choice I have made for my Thingaversary. This was one of my absolute favorites last year.

#26



Melt The Art of Macaroni and Cheese by Stephanie Stiavetti and Garrett McCord is a book all about Mac n' Cheese but it is about so much more. It's about elevating M&C to an art. Not all of the recipes are takes on M&C. Some are more pasta style recipes and there are even salads and desert pasta recipes.

The recipes are a little fussy for my taste. I like to keep things manageable in the kitchen. Some of the cheeses are specialty that would be difficult to find but I think you could make substitutions and they gave you some examples but most of those are artisanal too. For me I won't be making any of these recipes but if you are a guru in the kitchen it might be worth a look. My cousin Joe is looking at it and a few recipes interest him. Win-win for me!

I see mention of Mac and Cheese and I immediately think "comfort food"! I will admit to mixing things up a bit in the cheese department when I make certain pasta dishes and whatnot but not sure I am ready to mess with a traditional classic. ;-)

>87 lkernagh: Exactly Lori! I don't mind trying new cheeses and adding some ingredients but when it resembles nothing like Mac n' Cheese then they've lost me.

Mmmm . . . Lobster mac & cheese, mac & cheese with truffle oil, but NOT mac & cheese with peas! Yuck!

>89 BookLizard: Here's my take

Lobster mac & cheese = yes please
Cheese with truffles oil = yes please
Mac & cheese w/peas = I like peas, but what is the point of that, no thanks!

OMG that melt book cover is making me feel a bit hungry. Great looking food for a cool day.

Iron Druid.. I m stalled at #4, since I can't find them in our system, and I'm not able to buy books right now.. so I am taking a short break.. Also I am seeing reviews that say #4 isn't so good? I will probably read on at some point, since I am in love with these books. I am currently reading The Enchanted Forest Chronicles and enjoying them.. fun reads..

Hope all is well with you! :)

>91 Roro8: I know! I believe that recipe has chorizo in it.

>92 mckait: Kath all is as well as can be around here. Thank you.

The Enchanted Forest Chronicles sounds fun. Bam! You got me. ;-)

RE: Iron Druids #4, it is probably the weakest but still important in certain plot and character developments. It deals primarily with the Southwest Native American pantheon instead of the classical and Irish. I'm going to PM you.

Audible is having a sale on Hounded for $3.99

This is going to be my third Thingaversary choice this year. This book does not have great mandalas to color but rather helps you grasp the concept of using mandalas for meditative practice. Bonus points for buying some awesome colored pencils to go with it!

^ A bit baffled by the topic - something I have never ventured near before - but I love the cover for that book!

Lori - I don't think you have to necessarily mediate while drawing or coloring mandalas but I want to. They have coloring books with some gorgeous mandalas. Check it out on Amazon. I think you would get some inspiration for your various crafts. They remind me of your kaleidoscope pictures last year.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_13?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-key...

I think that is a fantastic way to get into meditation, I know when coloring with my granddaughter I can get into a very zen state. I may have to look into this.

Don't tell anyone, but I color outside the lines. ;-)

Happy (almost) Thingaversary! I'm having trouble keeping up with my own thread, and have neglected your second one here for too long! I'm sorry!

>98 DeltaQueen50: Judy coloring is very relaxing. I'll let you know how it goes.

>99 BookLizard: BookLizard I don't think that's a secret but that is what I like about you. ;-)

>100 TinaV95: Thanks Tina. I've picked out my final books and I'll post them below.

So I've finished picking out my Thingaversary books!

I have been waiting to get a copy of The Secret Rooms for ages! Susan reviewed and I have been looking for it ever since. It is finally available through Book Depository!



Since I am ordering from BD I will go ahead and pick up this other little gem, London Belongs to Me that I have also been wanting to read.



Finally, this nice collection of shorts, The New York Stories of Edith Wharton

Great selection! Oddly enough, I have The Secret Rooms en route to me from the library.

>103 rabbitprincess: I wish it was available here from the library! I was going to get the audio from Audible but Susan said there are a lot of photos and that it really makes a difference.

Those first two have very moody covers I think.

I'm all about putting spins on comfort foods, so Melt is going on my wishlist! Gorgonzola is the main cheese in my favorite Mac & Cheese.

Hungry now....

102> Cool cover for The Secret Rooms. I hope you enjoy the Edith Wharton stories. I took a whole class on her novels.

Enjoy your books when they arrive.

>105 Roro8: Yes they do Ro, moody but beautiful.

>106 -Eva-: I wish you lived nearby. ;-)

>107 BookLizard: I bet the class was so interesting. Which of her novels is your favorite?

>108 hailelib: Thank you!

109> Not Ethan Frome although I can certainly appreciate it, especially after this winter we've had. It's hard to pick a favorite because the class was so great. I know I liked The Reef, but I can't remember exactly why. I think I'd have to go with The Custom of the Country. I remember we had a discussion about which actors should play each role if it was made into a movie. I came up with the best suggestion for the main character Undine -- Nicole Kidman because of her role in To Die For. (And I'm not just saying my idea was the best - it was agreed upon in the class. I'm just sharing so you can know why it stands out in my memory and so you can get an idea of the character and a feel for the book - assuming you've seen To Die For.)

And while I was Googling, trying to remember the title of the book, I came across an interesting tidbit. The creator of Downtown Abbey cites Edith Wharton as an influence on his writing and mentions The Custom of the Country in particular:

http://www.berkshireeagle.com/ci_22625329/julian-fellowes-abbey-owes-much-wharto...

>110 BookLizard: Thank you for the link to that article. I haven't read The Custom of the Country but I will and it is moving up my list. I now want to meet Undine because I so loved Nicole Kidman in To Die For.

#27



Beating the Lunch Box Blues by J.M. Hirsch is a nice little "cookbook" that is chock full of ideas for packing lunch. I probably wouldn't use most of his recipes but they give me tons of ideas for making similar lunches and similar dinners that convert easily into lunches. What I liked most about this book is that he shows you how to pack lunches that will hold up to 6 hours without refrigeration or microwave and snacks that hold up even longer. I do have access to a fridge and microwave but they are fairly far away and some days I am so tied to my desk it is an achievement to make it to the ladies room. Also, on weekends and holidays our cafeteria closes at 2pm. This book has me fired up for taking my food to work again. I've already implemented some ideas and I can't wait to try out some more.

That looks like a great book! I am super lazy about my packed lunches (I pack very plain foods) and would love some new ideas. Will check to see if the library has it.

I take a bag lunch to work most days and am always looking for new ideas. I'll have to keep an eye out for this book.

#28



Two years after his untimely death, Matthew Swift finds himself breathing once again, lying in bed in his London home.

Except that it's no longer his bed, or his home. And the last time this sorcerer was seen alive, an unknown assailant had gouged a hole so deep in his chest that his death was irrefutable...despite his body never being found.

He doesn't have long to mull over his resurrection, though, or the changes that have been wrought upon him. His only concern now is vengeance. Vengeance upon his monstrous killer and vengeance upon the one who brought him back.

The Madness of Angels or the Resurrection of Matthew Swift by Kate Griffin is not my usual fare. In the last year I have become a huge fan of urban fantasy thanks to Rivers of London and Iron Druid. I got the recommendation for this book from one of those library apps that says "If you like this, then try that." It was a referral for fans of the Dresden Files. This book is a whole lot darker and creepier than Dresden, Peter Grant or Atticus. The writing is very dense and stream of consciousness so if you are not a fan of that then don't even bother. I'm not a huge fan of either but sometimes it works and in this case I believe it was absolutely vital to the character of the resurrected Matthew Swift.

I won't be "hounding" anyone to read this series but I'm glad BookLizard and Tanya-dogearedcopy are reading this series too.

>113 rabbitprincess: & >114 mathgirl40: If your library has it then definitely check it out. It's a nice antidote to the lazy lunch packer. Also, his blog is http://www.lunchboxblues.com

#29



The Warrior's Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold is the ongoing saga of the Vorkosigan family. We are fully introduced to a seventeen year old Miles Vorkosigan. After a failed attempt to get into the imperial military academy, Miles accidentally becomes the leader of a mercenary force that comically grow larger and larger. The plot resolves in a way only Cordelia Naismith's son could resolve it. I love Miles! He is definitely Cordelia's son, right down to the internal dialogue that I loved so much about Cordelia. This is one fun series!

#30



Valediction by Robert B. Parker is Spenser #11. All the players are here in this novel, Paul, Hawk and Susan. Susan moves to San Francisco to be her own person. Spenser does not take this well and loses his game. Paul connects him to a dance instructor to help get Spenser's mind off Susan. The instructor's girlfriend has been kidnapped by a religious cult. Being Spenser, things are never simple.

In the end, Spenser get's the bad guys. They almost get him. Susan turns out to be a lot more like Spenser that I thought but Spenser doesn't mind because the man has his own compass.

The plot was meh. The major player dynamics were very interesting.

115> *waves* Glad you liked A Madness of Angels. It's a little darker than what I usually read, but I'm enjoying the series. There isn't as much stream of consciousness in the second book, Midnight Mayor, and I found it funnier. We I have Neon Court borrowed on our Kindle. ;-)

>119 BookLizard: Remember I told you my library was missing book 3? Well they have Neon Court labeled as book 2 and are missing Midnight Mayor. Ugh!

I'm glad you are still enjoying the series.

None of the local libraries has a copy of The Midnight Mayor in the Matthew Swift series! My luck is with me though because Paperback Swap has a copy and I have points!

#31



“In the end we all come to be cured of our sentiments.”

I felt quite at home with All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy. John Grady Cole could have been my dad. The story takes place when my dad was 12 years old. The setting being in Texas and Mexico with the ranching way of life either disappearing or vastly changing well could have been my dad's story. Thankfully, he did not have to endure what John and Lacey Rawlins had to.

The lack of quotations marks was a little off putting at first but I got used to it. I loved how the story had a lot Spanish in it but if I had not understood it then it would have been a lot of work. I do understand so the story flowed very smoothly for me.

The snow in San Antonio made me laugh out loud but then I remember seeing photos of snow in Laredo when my mom was a little girl and she thinks it was around 1946 or 1947 so it's not implausible but it was funny to me.

I was sad that John Grady Cole ended up heading out to the oil fields. I'm going to go call my Dad.

120> Ugh, indeed! Don't you just HATE it when that happens? I've had that happen to me a couple of times borrowing ebooks. Now I usually double check on LibraryThing to make sure I'm starting with the right book. Glad you can get it from Paperback Swap.

Hi Roberta. I just finished The Gods of Gotham. Thanks for recommending it, it was an excellent book. I'll be putting my review up in my thread later today probably.

Great thingaversary purchases, Roberta! Like you, I have had my eye out for The Secret Rooms ever since Susan reviewed it.

This book has me fired up for taking my food to work again.

I think I would crawl the walls if I had to eat out every work day. I admit to planning our dinners with my workday lunches in mind. As I do the cooking and my other half does the washing up, he groans every time I bring home a stash of empty Tupperware containers. ;-)

Cormac McCarthy and his lack of quotation marks takes a little getting used to, I admit. I am currently 100 pages into The Road and one conversation was rather confusing until I figured out who was talking to who.

I usually try to plan meals that would have leftovers for my lunch on the following day. Once in a while there will be enough for Monsieur as well. What has me totally baffled is how the containers I've bought have vanished. If I cleaned them in the laundry I would suspect the dryer ate them (like socks)!

126. Same here! I always try to make sure I have enough for lunch the next day (on the days when I work all day) and my containers seem to be eaten by monsters during the night or something. I bought 10 of them when I moved to a different town a few years ago. Four left now.

>123 BookLizard: I hadn't thought to check LT to make sure I'm starting the right book. I do check Amazon though because it has happened a couple of times now with my local library.

>124 Roro8: I'm glad you like Gods of Gotham Ro. I don't think I would have read it if Mark had not sent it to me. The sequel is even better.

>125 lkernagh: Thanks Lori! I anxiously await my Book Depository purchases! My library is finally carrying The Secret Rooms but I don't like the U.S. cover. I can't wait until my copy comes from BD. If they don't send me the "right" cover then I'm sending it back. LOL!

My cousin Joe does a lot of the cooking in our house and he is not crazy about sauces or marinades. I love them. They make leftovers better. He is also content with frozen veggies. While I can politely eat frozen veggies and I will use them from time to time, I prefer fresh veggies. I also need to be able to snack several times at work because sometimes that is easier than sitting for a meal.

>126 mamzel: I think my dishwasher eats my containers lids! The book recommends containers from LunchBots. They are pricey but look very solid. http://www.lunchbots.com

>127 PawsforThought: Those container eating monsters are devilish aren't they? I suspect one of them at my house is called Cousin Joe. Shh….don't tell anyone. Ha! ;-)

I wonder if those containers run off the join the container circus?

128. Yes, the container circus! That might be it.

Luckily the containers I lost were not expensive. Am considering replacing them with Tupperware ones. They cost a bit (a lot) but I like Tupperware and only have good experiences with them. They work well with stacking, which is always a plus.
A lot of containers pick up smell and taste from the food and I'd like to try and avoid that (the current ones do, unfortunately).

129> I bought some glass containers because they're less likely to pick up the smell, but they're heavier to carry around and I worry about breaking them.

130. Yeah, glass isn't an option for me. They'd definitely break and before that they'd break my shoulder.

Sistema Klip It containers are really nice... Amazon has them.

*Wave*

>128 luvamystery65: - Frozen veggies..... I can relate to preferring fresh. I will use frozen when I am making a home made beef barley and vegetable soup like I am this evening - I love using the frozen mixed veggies of corn, peas, carrots and green beans for soups like this one - but beyond that, I prefer fresh veg, with preference for "fresh". I cringe in the grocery store when I encounter produce that looks like it has been "transported for who knows how long in a truck" and is shriveled or starting to wilt!

For packable snacks that I can eat at work, I love taking in containers with grape tomatoes, baby carrots - yes, I know they are not really baby carrots, they have just been processed that way by the manufacturer - and fresh fruit. Now, for the fresh fruit, I am very lucky to work only a few blocks away from a grocery store that packages and sells a large variety of fresh fruit cut up and packaged daily in single serving containers. This has been a godsend for keeping me from craving junk food most afternoons. ;-)

>130 BookLizard: BL I'm just like >131 PawsforThought: Paws and worry that I will break glass. I do love the glass containers and use them at home a lot.

>132 mckait: Kath I looked at those containers and they have a huge variety. Thanks! *waves* right back.

>133 lkernagh: I don't like "old" fresh vegetable either. I like cut up fruit for snack too. I also have huge cravings for junk food.

My mom is back in the hospital again. She aspirated. Her caregiver spent most of the evening in the ER last night too. Whew I'm exhausted. Positive thoughts and prayers are appreciated.

I eat frozen veggies all the time. I'm sure it's a matter of what brand you use but even from the cheap brands here, you get good stuff. Some of the time, the frozen stuff is way better than the fresh ones (because they're grown outdoors and harvested at the ideal time of year as opposed to growing in a greenhouse and harvested in the middle of winter). I can't remember ever buying frozen veggies that tasted badly, very rarely even ones that aren't great. Canned ones are more of a hit and miss.

134. Seeing as I cut myself after dropping a glass in the dishwasher just yesterday I think my being wary of glass containers for lunch boxes is justified.

>135 luvamystery65: Oh no! Sending positive thoughts.

Oh Roberta, I am so sorry to hear about your Mom. Definitely sending positive thoughts along.

I'm probably the only person who likes canned green beans better than frozen.

139. Maybe you're luckier than some of the rest of us when it comes to brands. I'm yet to come across one that can can anything other than fruit and corn without making it taste vile.

>135 luvamystery65:

I hope the hospital stay is a short one.

Hope your mom gets better soon!

About canned vegetables, corn and beets are the only ones I like. I grew up with frozen because we lived in the Caribbean and didn't have mush access to fresh. There is one store now that flies in fresh vegs and, boy do they pay for it! I feel so spoiled living in California now with the best fruits and vegetables at reasonable prices. And the variety! I am fortunate that my market caters to the Mexican population but also has a good amount of oriental vegetables as well.

Sorry to read about your mom, Roberta! Sending good health wishes your way.

>136 PawsforThought: Paws I do agree that quality frozen veggies and some fruits can be very good when that is the only option. I just don't like to eat only frozen and my cousin Joe is mainly content with that. He did grill some fresh asparagus today. Whoop!

I am so bad with dropping glasses but I love drinking from glass so I don't buy plastic cups.

>137 rabbitprincess: Thank you. It means a lot.

>138 DeltaQueen50: Judy thank you. I've popped by one of your threads today to wish you the best on your surgery tomorrow. I think it will be a bit before you "see" this message but know I have you on my mind.

>139 BookLizard: BL my aunt Martha can join you in your preference for canned green beans. My dad always says that when you are truly hungry, anything is a feast. I agree.

>140 PawsforThought: ^ ;-)

>141 hailelib: Tricia the acute care phase will be short but she will need to go to skilled nursing for some rehab. I really think it will be in her best interest. It's not our favorite situation but she has been before and it affords me a short respite.

>142 mamzel: Me too Mamzel.

Living in Houston I am very fortunate to have lots of fresh fruits and vegetable as reasonable prices. We also have a lot of produce used in the Mexican and Asian kitchens. I have been on a kick lately with bok choy and long beans. Yum and perfect for a stir fry.

Sending all my best wishes and thoughts for your mom!!

>145 -Eva-: Thank you Eva

>139 BookLizard: Nope, you re not the only one...

I like fresh vegies best, too. I do not like fresh green beans cooked, just raw. ( Or canned)
We only have really fresh vegies for a short time every year. I look forward to when they are available.

>115 luvamystery65: uh oh... nope. Closing my eyes and walking away :P

I'm sorry to hear about your mom. Best wishes for her recovery.

Thanks for the link to the Lunch Box Blues site. I could use some inspiration for my daily lunches!

>147 mckait: Come to the dark side Kath... ;-)

>148 mathgirl40: Thank you Paulina. Yes I've been trying to mix it up with my lunches. Of course this week all bets are off.

#32



The Mountains of Mourning by Lois McMaster Bujold is a novella set on Barrayar in the Vorkosigan home province. There is a murder and Aral appoints Miles to take charge of the investigation. A nice preview of the man and leader Miles can become.

#33



Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh is the story of the smart and somewhat bratty Harriet M. Welsch. She wants to be a writer and she wants to be spy. Her nanny Ole Golly keeps her in line but when Ole Golly gets married and moves away, Harriet cannot contain herself. Her notebook gets in the hands of her friends and enemies and things get out of hand.

The joys of childhood and how brutal children can be. I originally picked this book up for the March MysteryCAT but it wasn't a mystery. Oh well.

#34



The Guide Dog Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner (Boxcar Children Mystery)

This is what I read for the March MysteryCAT instead. I picked it up on my phone from Overdrive. It was cute but predictable.

#35



Birds of a Lesser Paradise: Stories by Megan Mayhew Bergman is a collection of short stories featuring animals and how they impact our lives. Beautifully written these stories speak truths both joyous and painful.

Mothers, I believe, intoxicate us. We idolize them and take them for granted. We hate them and blame them and exalt them more thoroughly than anyone else in our lives. We sift through the evidence of their love, reassure ourselves of their affection and its biological genesis. We can steal and lie and leave and they will love us.

This could not hit home more than right now.

^ Love it - and so true. I need to make that image the wallpaper for my work computer.... such a great way to see who is looking at your computer as they walk past, with a possible slight edit at the end..... ;-)

>155 lkernagh: Lori that would be the best edit EVER!

I got all my Thingaversary books now! The Count of Monte Cristo and London Belongs to Me arrived today! Whoop!!!

Yay for Thingaversary books!

I've decided for my Thingaversary I'll allow myself to buy 6 books this year. Couldn't decide on 6 now and don't want to spend so much all at once.

>158 BookLizard: I think that is the best idea yet. I may adopt that next year.

Getting caught up on this thread now Roberta. Thanks for the good wishes up above and I am amazed already at how much better I see from the eye that has had the procedure. Next month I get the other one done.

>154 luvamystery65: - Love it! Pretty much sums up how I spent this rainy day. Lots of reading and minimal chores. Must say I enjoyed it. 😄

>160 DeltaQueen50: Judy there will be no stopping you once both your eyes are "done."

>161 LittleTaiko: Wonderful isn't it Stacy.

Got my first Bingo!!!

B 3 One word title Shane
I 3 Short stories Birds of a Lesser Paradise
N 3 Free square A Warrior's Apprentice
G 3 Set on a different continent Out Stealing Horses
O 3 Non fiction Dying to Cross

Yay for Bingo!

Are you going to try and complete the whole card now?

>164 lkernagh: Thanks!

>165 mamzel: That's my goal.

Congrats on the Bingo! I just got my first bingo recently too.

>167 Roro8: Thanks Ro! It's fun.

#36



The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison is a beautiful and tragic novel about growing up completely rejected by society at large and by your own society. The thoughts, the language and the emotion are drawn carefully by Morrison. I listened to the audio narrated by her so even the voice was hers. She paints a bleak picture for one poor girl but but the brushstrokes are every ones. Her cast of characters are none pure saint or pure sinner. She fleshes them out to be who they are faults and broken dreams every one of them. It makes the tragedy of what happens all the more sad.

For me, the story forced me to examine who I am and what I say. Did some careless turn of phrase uttered long ago wound someone in a way I will never know? When I walk down the street, who do I notice and who does not exist for me? Morrison is very thought provoking. This was not an easy read but it was very necessary.

#37



A Catskill Eagle is #12 in the Spenser series by Robert B. Parker. I know this book is favored by some but not me. (Sorry Joe!) Parker continues on this bizarre journey with Susan. Rant commencement Now she not only can't find herself but she went from Daddy, to husband, to Spenser and now this guy. Independence my fanny! She's even grown dependent on her therapist. What happened to you Susan? Where are you? Who is this fake fembot crying boohoo and "I don't know?"

Listen up! If you and Spenser want to chase your (and anyone else) tails all over the world so be it, but shame on you for putting Hawk in harms way! Now let's grow up and get back to solving real cases. Rant over

Thank goodness for Hawk and Rachel Wallace or I would have given up completely.

>112 luvamystery65: That lunch box books looks interesting!

>171 thornton37814: It is Lori. I really need to eat healthy again.

#38



The Vor Game by Lois McMaster Bujold was another fun trip in the world of Miles Vorkosigan. This installment was two stories mashed together and a little all over the place but it was still great fun. I'm going to take a little break from the Vorkosigan series and catch up on some of my other Category Challenge readings but I will get back to the Saga and try to complete the series.

For my 2014 Category Challenge, this portion (Vorkosigan) of my Tricked Category is completed.

Roberta, The Vor Game will be my next read for the Vorkosigan series, but not until next month. I loved The Mountains of Mouring, it will be very hard for any story to top that!

>174 DeltaQueen50: Judy The Mountains of Mourning was so different. I think it will remain a top favorite because it really slowed Miles' ambitions down and gave a peek of the man he will be. At least I hope he will be. ;-)

I'm taking a break for a bit so maybe I will jump back in when you start Cetaganda in a few months.

ETA: It would be nice to read them with you.

Roberta, how does July sound for Cetaganda? I will probably use the month of June to catch up with other challenges.

>176 DeltaQueen50: Judy July sounds perfect. It will give me some time to devote to some of my other categories. I'm really in a Western mood right now. I know you will understand all about that.

After The Searchers I want to read The searchers : the making of an American legend by Glenn Frankel and of course I have Empire of the Summer Moon I am itching to read.

I'll be interested to hear what you think of the Glenn Frankel book. I think Mamie read it last year and it sounded great.

>178 rabbitprincess: Yes I got the book bullet from Mamie too. I bought the book for my mom because she is a huge John Wayne fan but she doesn't really have the concentration to read non-fiction very well since her stroke.

INterview with Hearne

http://swordandlaser.com/home/2014/4/16/sl-video-author-spotlight-kevin-hearne

>180 mckait: Thank you Kath! Kevin was great in that interview. He seems like a very nice all around fun guy.

#39



I, Robot by Isaac Asimov is a wonderful collection of stories about the development of Robots and their place in society both on Earth and on space stations and mining colonies. While the stories reveal much about Robots with their inherent flaws, much more is revealed about humans and our inherent flaws and prejudices. The stories build up anticipation and even a little fear but many ended surprising to me.

I plan to continue the series.

#40



Morning in the Burned House by Margaret Atwood is a collection of poems. At first I had trouble relating to the poems but I had a lot going on in RL. I put the book aside and picked it back up this week. Her poems speak to nature, to relationships lost or struggling. She speaks of her father in the last half of the book. Her poems are about women and all the roles we take or are placed upon us. If you like Atwood & poetry, try this book out.

#41



The Searchers by Alan Le May is a classic Western but also should not be seen only in the light of that genre. It's the story of family, loyalty and obligation. It's the story of hate and a longing to belong somewhere but not quite belonging anywhere. The story takes place in Texas during the later part of the long Texas-Indian Wars. The story is narrated by Martin Pauley, the foster son of the Edwards family who are slain by Comanches just as Martin's family had been many years earlier.

The two Edwards' daughters are taken captive by the Comanches. The fate of daughter Lucy is revealed early on but the fate of the youngest daughter, Debbie is just a rumor and shadow for six long years. Martin and Debbie's uncle, Amos, spend years tracking her among the Comanche bands and villages. In the process, Martin learns who he is and what he is fighting for. Amos, filled with hatred for the Comanche has a narrow goal of search and destruction.

The book is well written. Le May knew his Texas history and his descriptions ring true. If you are a fan of Westerns, you've probably already read this one. If you love a good story about people this book transcends the cowboys and indians.

I told my dad I have been reading Westerns and he said, "Why are you doing that? You know the real deal." So true. That's why it's fun reading about these cowboys.

#42



Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman is a sweet story about a Viking boy who doesn't fit in. The winter sets in and it seems that it will never end. Odd strikes out on his own and meets three animals who are part of the Æsir. The group heads to Asgard to set things right.

The story was sweet and Neil Gaiman, as always, did a fantastic job narrating.

I'm headed to my hometown, Laredo to see my Dad. Whoop! It's been over a year and I really miss that old cowboy.

Have fun! I'm visiting my dad in June.

I hope you have a great trip and a wonderful time visiting with your Dad!

Have fun on your trip to see your Dad, Roberta. I loved your review of The Searchers which I think is a true classic.

I hope you enjoy your visit with your dad.

>185 luvamystery65:
It's on the wishlist!

Have a great trip! I'm a week away from going home to see my mama, so I get the enthusiasm!

Have fun on your trip!

>187 mamzel: I bet you are looking forward to seeing your dad. Where does he live?

>188 lkernagh: My trip was too short but I hope to go see him again in August.

>189 DeltaQueen50: Thanks Judy. I absolutely LOVED The Searchers and I am enjoying The Searchers: The Making of an American Legend.

>190 Roro8: Thanks Ro!

>191 -Eva-: I can't wait to see what books you bring back from your trip home Eva. I know you will enjoy catching up with mama.

>192 hailelib: Thanks Tricia. It was too short but I loved seeing my dad.

Dad lives in St. Thomas.

>194 mamzel: June will be here before you know it.

#43



Safe Area Goražde by Joe Sacco tell the story of the Muslim people of the town of Goražde in Eastern Bosnia during the 1992-19995 war. Their stories are told, at least, as much as they would share. What I loved most about this book is he also gives you a glimpse of the people apart from the war. One young man loves American music and sings at the top of his lungs any chance he gets. Another, is alternating teaching school and heading to the front lines. Before the war he had finished studies at the university in Sarajevo. He only awaited the defense of his thesis. There were young girls who still talked about boys and always wanted jeans, Levis 501 originals.

Two things stood out for me. First, how these people had been attacked and slaughtered by their former "friends" and neighbors. Second, the few Bosnian Serbs that stayed behind because they did not believe in nationalism were treated just as horribly. This GN mainly focuses on the Muslim point of view. Sacco did interview an elderly Serb that stayed behind and spoke to some Serbs away from Goražde but only mentions them in passing. The artwork was fantastic.

The main thing I took away from this is a desire to read more about the conflict. Job well done Mr. Sacco.

#44



I am a HUGE fan of Alder-Olsen and I love the Department Q mysteries. That being said, I was disappointed in The Purity of Vengeance, book #4 in the series. There was a lot of subplots that really didn't go anywhere and I found myself distracted and frustrated by that. It was too much. The nail gun murders investigation continues and more evidence has surfaced. Of course we are still left wondering about it all in the end but this is one mystery that will remained unsolved until the very end. There is an interesting revelation in regards to Rose but then this goes nowhere. Assad is heavily featured but still we learn nothing new about him and the mystery of who he really is deepens. There is a subplot about the death of Carl's uncle many years ago and accusations his cousin makes against Carl. In the end, nothing comes from it. We may hear more about this down the road. There is also additional story lines with Mona, Hardy and Vigga. Too much going on!

The main plot involves young girls who were committed to an island prison in the 1950s for being morally deviant. They were forced to have abortions and many were sterilized against their will. When Rose and Assad discover several people who went missing one day in September 1987 the threads lead back to the island prison, one young girl's horrible life and the evil man who destroyed it and continues to commit unspeakable crimes.

#45



The Searchers: The Making of an American Legend by Glenn Frankel is a well written account of why and how the movie The Searchers was made. The book gives a very detailed historical background of the Texas-Indian Wars and the stories of Cynthia Ann Parker, The Parker family and Quannah Parker. It details well the hardships of the early Texas pioneers and the clashes with the Comanches and other Indian tribes. For me this was the best part of the book.

The book then goes on to describe the American fascinations with Westerns both in serial, novel and then movies. It tells how John Ford became THE storyteller of cinematic westerns and his protege John Wayne became THE protagonist of those stories. Ford became fascinated with the story of The Searchers and was determined to tell it. He changed the story to suit his narrative. The book tells of how it made money but was not really well received. The movie did influence a later generation of directors who went on to make huge movies. Among those inspired by Ford's movie were Spielberg, Lucas, and Scorcese.

I read The Searchers before I read this book. I wish there was more about Alan Le May in the book, but he did not want to have anything to do with movie. He had been burned out by Hollywood. He left many notes with his family but the notes on The Searchers are missing to this date. That makes me sad. It is his thought process that interest me most. I loved his story and the narrative of Martin Pauley. The movie is most definitely from the uncle's, John Wayne, point of view.

If you are interested in a detailed and exceptionally written review of this book, please go to the review page and read Mamie's (Crazymamie) review. It will give you the best assessment of this book.

April Roundup

The Bluest Eye - brilliant but difficult
A Catskill Eagle - Boo!
The Vor Game - Ton o' fun
I, Robot - Loved it!
Morning in the Burned House - good
The Searchers - best of the month
Odd and the Frost Giants - sweet
Safe Area Gorazde - Excellent
The Purity of Vengeance - a bit disappointing (it pains me to write this)
The Searchers: The Making of an American Legend - A must read for fans of the movie.

Looks like you had a very interesting month! Definitely going to have to get a hold of that book about The Searchers soon. Hope you had a good time visiting your dad :)

Stopping by to say hello.

Glad you got to spend some time with your Dad.

>200 rabbitprincess: I did have a nice time visiting my dad. It was way too short though.

>201 BookLizard: Thank you BL. I appreciate your visits and your encouragement in the adventures with my mom.

So I've started my May Day by reading Mother Jones: The most dangerous woman in America. I'm listening to The Lies of Locke Lamora and I'm two stories into the A Curtain of Green and other stories in the Eudora Welty collection.

May Plans
Spenser #13 Taming a Sea-Horse by Robert B. Parker
Mystery CAT The Man in the Brown Suit by Agatha Christie
GeoCAT The Jewel in the Crown by Paul Scott
Random CAT (Motherhood) Mother Jones: the Most Dangerous Woman in America by Elliot Gorn
AlphaCAT
E The Collected Stories of Eudora Welty by Eudora Welty Also for Mark's AAC
U The Unforgiven by Alan Le May
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne

Good luck with the planned reading Roberta. I have also made a plan for May which is very unusual for me. I don't know anything about the books you have listed so I look forward to hearing what you think of them all.

OK, you caught my interest with Mother Jones. Of course, she's so dangerous my library only has one copy and it doesn't circulate. Fortunately, the other library system I use is more . . . open-minded and I've requested it. 400 pages of nonfiction is a lot for me to read, but I'll at least start it.

>205 BookLizard: BL 95 pages are notes so it's actually about 300 pages. So far it reads well. My library only has one copy too. Thankfully, no one was interested. Last year I read one nonfiction. This will be my sixth, excluding cookbooks. Participating in the CATS has given me some great opportunity for reading nonfiction.

Hi Roberta, have you read The Unforgiven by Alan Le May? It's not as good as The Searchers but still a very good western, again about Indian captives. It was made into a movie starring Audrey Hepburn but I think they missed the mark with this film.

I see you are planning on The Empire of the Summer Moon which I thought was excellent (Mark strikes again). I loved The Lies of Locke Lamora but I have noticed that it seems to be a book that gets strong reactions either way so will be interested in what you think of it.

>207 DeltaQueen50: Yes Judy I have The Unforgiven listed in my reading plans in post >203 luvamystery65:. I am saving Empire of the Summer Moon for last, as in save the "best". I have seen that folks either love or hate The Lies of Locke Lamora much like The Last Werewolf. There is a lot going on and I prefer my novels sparse as of late, but this one has met with my approval so far. I'll keep you posted.

News flash!
Latest in Hearne's series, Shattered, is being offered in the Early Reviewers!

>208 luvamystery65: - Duhh! I should have seen that. Serves me right for skimming!

The Searchers: The Making of an American Legend sounds very interesting. I didn't know much about Texas's history until I read The Son a couple of months ago, and it really is quite fascinating.

>209 mamzel: Thanks Mamzel. I've requested but I rarely get one of these.

>210 DeltaQueen50: Blame it on the surgery Judy. ;-)

>211 mathgirl40: Paulina, The Searchers: The Making of an American Legend was good. I preferred the Texas history portion of it more than the Hollywood. Also, there was very little about Alan Le May and his process for writing the book because his notes are missing. I can't wait to read Empire of the Summer Moon and now I need to add The Son to my wish list.

I hope you and your Mom have a good Mother's Day.

>213 BookLizard: BL I worked that day but we celebrated early and I did visit her after work. Thank you. How did you spend your Mother's Day?

I have Shattered from Vine, and I got a little ways into it last night. I hope to read more tonight...good series :)

214> Glad you got to see your Mom. I took myself out to dinner as my present from the cats.

215 > Jealous!

>216 BookLizard: Good for you! Your cats are so very thoughtful. ;-)

I requested Shattered from the ER but I doubt I'll get it. I'm going to try to go to his book signing next month so I'll get a hardback copy if I do. Otherwise I'll just get the Kindle version.

It would be so much fun to see him. I doubt he'll be around my neck of the woods, however.

>218 mamzel: He sounds like a lot of fun so I do hope I make it. You live in northern CA right? I think he hits Comic Con in San Diego and then does Seattle and Portland. That is as close to northern CA as he gets. I don't think he goes to Vegas this year either. :-(

#46



The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch is a fantasy novel that takes place on another planet in the city of Camorr which is described very much like medieval Venice. Locke Lamora is an orphan that loves to steal. Not to be richer but the act of thieving is what he loves the most. Locke and his fellow orphans at the Temple of Perelandro grow up to plan elaborate heist to relieve the very rich of Camorr of their valuables and more importantly of their money.

The Gentlemen Bastards, as the gang of orphans in known, owe their allegiance to Capa Barsavi the "duke" of the underworld. There is a mysterious Grey King who is slowly threatening those who pledge allegiance to Capa Barsavi. The Gentlemen Bastards are soon caught in his trap.

This book had me intrigued from the start. It is very descriptive. I usually do not like overly descriptive books but it works here to describe the world in which Lamora and his friends live. There is a disparity between the very rich and the very poor. Lamora and the Gentlemen Bastards are known thieves but they also run very secret scams on the noble born, a direct violation of the Secret Peace between the Duke and Capa Barsavi. Only the merchant class is fair game in the city of Camorr.

I liked Locke and his lying cursing friends. They have a bond deeper than friendship. The ending is very interesting and who knows where Locke ends up next. This is the first book in a series of seven. Currently there are three books out.

Hi Roberta, good review of The Lies of Locke Lamora, I have the second one on my shelves and I best get to it soon as my memories of the first book are fading. Overall I love that type of fantasy, I think it's called epic fantasy, right now I am enjoying one by Joe Abercrombie called The Blade Itself.

>221 DeltaQueen50: Thanks Judy. I read such polarizing reviews that I was a little nervous going in but it really was a great read. Locke is fantastic and I can't wait to find out more about his mysterious past. The only epic fantasy I have read is The Lord of the Ring/The Hobbit and I read a couple of the first Shannara books in high school. They were my mom's. She is a huge epic fantasy fan.

I've read Graceling and the other two books in that series. I know they are YA but they seem to fall into the category of epic fantasy. The publishing world is very confusing and gets more so every year. This new adult category is a little hilarious to me. What happened to the old titles of romance or erotica if it leans more in that direction? I suppose New Adult sounds nicer. Marketing!

It sounds like you really liked The Lies of Locke Lamora. It makes me think a bit of Raymond Feist's Magician series. There is a gang of thieves in that on, book two I think, that I really liked. My son really likes this type of book but he is only 13. Would it be suitable for a 13 year old? He has read the Raymond Feist books.

>223 Roro8: Ro I'll message you a couple of things you need to know and then you decide if your 13 year old should read it.

I finished Shattered.. it's really good!

I read and loved the Kristin Cashorebooks! I think it's a shame that someone thought labeling books YA and JUV. was a good idea, as I think some of the books so labeled don't get the attention that they should from adults. Some of them are very good....labeling in general is a peeve of mine.

>225 mckait: Kath I can't wait to read Shattered!

I loved the Cashore books too! I think it does a disservice to readers to label books as YA. When I was the YA age I was reading adult books mainly and some things I didn't get but it only encouraged me to keep reading.

#47



I read A Curtain of Green by Eudora Welty for Mark's AAC. I have to say meh on most of the stories and absolute NO on Keela the Outcast Indian and Powerhouse. I loved Why I live at the P.O and can see her potential in Lily Daw and the Three Ladies, The Whistle, The Memory and Death of a Traveling Salesman. I will give her stories another go down the road.

#48



The Man in the Brown Suit was a delightful novel by Agatha Christie. If you enjoy her work then you will love this little mystery.

#49



Taming a Sea-Horse by Robert B. Parker is another adventure with Spenser looking for April Kyle teenage hooker now 20 years old but still making poor choices. Spenser has run ins with nasty people looking for April who has gone missing. The story is a little much but what made it enjoyable was that Spenser, Susan and Hawk were all back in the old groove. That alone made it a good read for me.

#50



The Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri is a wonderful collection of short stories! Not a bad one in the bunch. These are tales of immigration and personal exploration. These are tales of the past, the present and an often unknown future. The stories are wonderfully written. Lahiri has voice that rings true. I am not Indian but I could relate to the very human story of hopes, disappointments and dreams told in these tales.

If you are not a huge fan of short stories but want to give them a try, then this is the collection that will not disappoint.

51



Clandestine by James Ellroy is well done. It takes place in L.A. between 1951-1955. Although there is a character featured in The Black Dahlia this book is not part of Ellroy's L.A. Quartet. The story of an young police officer whose ambition is greater than his sense of self preservation it is also the story of the seedy side of post war L.A.

A woman if found strangled and Officer Freddy Underhill is one of the first at the crime scene. When one of Freddy's former one night stands is found strangled in a similar fashion Freddy puts two and two together with circumstantial evidence. The trouble starts when Freddy makes things happen in the investigation. He pisses off a Detective much more seasoned and ambitious than he is and a murderer gets away with it.

A disgraced Freddy tries to get on with his life but a few years later another woman is found strangled. Are the murders related or is Freddy going mad?

James Ellroy can weave a tangled tale. I'm now officially a fan.

I love the cover of the Agatha Christie book.

Glad you enjoyed The Lies of Locke Lamora. I liked it immensely and having re-read it and the sequel in preparation for The Republic of Thieves can confirm it holds up well to at least a second visit.

>232 Roro8: The cover is beautiful Ro.

>233 AHS-Wolfy: Wolfy! Good to see you around here. I plan to read Red Seas Under Red Skies before summer is over. Have you read the prequel, The Bastards and the Knives?

My computer is acting up and I usually keep a copy of my monthly plans on there. I had to figure this out on paper. Ugh! I'm posting here so I can go back and refer to it.

June Plans

GeoCAT Starvation Lake
MysteryCAT The Laughing Policeman
AlphaCAT A: American Gods Q: Queen Lucia
RandomCAT Pale Kings and Princes Rose: Kings Macc

Spenser Project: same as RandomCAT Pale Kings and Princes
AAC: God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian by Kurt Vonnegut

Possibles:
The Pusher
Shattered by Kevin Hearne Iron Druid Chronicles #7

As far as I know, The Bastards and the Knives hasn't yet seen the light of day.

I'm reading The Laughing Policeman for the June MysteryCAT too! :) It will be a reread for me as it was on the syllabus for my Mystery Fiction class in university.

The James Ellroy book sounds really good, Roberta. I love the 1950's time period and he is an author I have long wanted to read so Clandestine is going on my list.

>236 AHS-Wolfy: I thought that the book was due out in March. At least I have two more to read before I worry about the prequel.

>237 rabbitprincess: I'd love to take a Mystery Fiction class!

>238 DeltaQueen50: Judy I think you will love Ellroy.

@Roberta, You're probably thinking about book 3 in the series, The Republic of Thieves, which was came out not so long ago. The prequel book keeps getting its release date pushed back and I'd still be surprised to see it next year never mind this.

*squee* I won Shattered from Early Reviewers! I hope you won, too!

>241 BookLizard: Wow BL! Congratulations! I did not win but I rarely review books so I don't think I'm the best candidate. I'm going to buy my book and fingers crossed I'll get to go to Hearne's book signing.

I'll cross my fingers for you, too!

>240 AHS-Wolfy: Got it! I still have books 2 & 3 to keep me occupied until the prequel comes out. I'm sure it will be advertised so I won't worry about missing it. It's good to see you posting again. I hope your work situation settles down soon.

>242 luvamystery65:
I got a message that I'm getting Shattered from early reviewers - if you end up not going to the signing, I'll send you my copy once I've reviewed it.

But, erm, I have a question - I have the series on Mt. TBR, but I haven't actually read any of them... How OK are they to read out of order??? Because I won't have time to catch up! :)

>245 -Eva-: - Well, thank goodness I am not the only person left on the planet that hasn't read the Iron Druid books! ;-)

Roberta, since I will be bending to the Iron Druid pressure soon, I am also curious to learn if the series requires a chronological read.

>245 -Eva-: & 246 Bad news first. This is one of those series that is better when read in chronological order. Like most series Hearne does give snippets of back story but there is so much going on in each of the books you will be kind of lost.

Good news next. These are really fast fun reads so you can easily get through the series in a short amount of time. Check your library and also, Overdrive, if you have a Kindle ebook reader because I got at least 5 of the series from Overdrive.

Good luck Eva & Lori. Don't forget to report back to Iron Druid Central when you get around to the series. ;-)

Thank you for the offer Eva! I'll let you know. I really hope I can get to the signing. Hearne seems like a whole lot of fun and he is always taking selfies with his fans.

Darn. Oh well, I have been know to mow through a series at high speed, so hopefully I can do that with this one too. I have the first three waiting on my Nook - I'll check the library for the rest. Thanks for the input!

247 & 248> I think Shattered would be a particularly bad book to start with, just because the last book ended with a surprise twist that wouldn't be a surprise . . . or so twisted . . . if you hadn't read the previous books.

>249 BookLizard: Agree!

Started Hounded last night and am already liking Atticus. I have a feeling that I'll have to take a break from Harry Dresden while I read these books, though, not because they're that similar, but I want to make sure one doesn't affect my thoughts of the other.

>251 -Eva-: I agree about the series (IDC & Dresden) being different but you don't want to read them at the same time or too close together. I include the Peter Grant/Rivers of London series too. I think it's because they are all modern and some of the "rules" of magic are similar but not identical and I don't like sorting them all out in my brain at the same time. ;-)

Your June plans look good. I've read The Laughing Policeman already but maybe I'll pick up another one from that series for the MysteryCAT.

252>I have that problem with the Peter Grant & Matthew Swift books, probably because they're both set in London.

#52



Mother Jones: The Most Dangerous Woman in America by Elliot J. Gorn. Biography of Mary Harris Jones also known as Mother Jones, advocate for labor and child labor reform. She was very contradictory and controversial but she fought for workers rights and the rights for children not to have to work. Educational but not shout from the rooftops good.

#53



The Unforgiven is another good western by Alan Le May. I wish I had not read it so close to The Searchers because it dims a bit in comparison. Still, it was well written and very descriptive. The tale of a Texas family with an adoptive daughter rumored to be a Kiowa. The family struggles with prejudice and isolation until one fateful year the Kiowas come calling.

>253 mathgirl40: I am really enjoying the Martin Beck series.

>254 BookLizard: I've only read the first Matthew Swift and yes the setting is very similar to Peter Gran but I thought the magic is closer to the Dresden books.

#54



I've put off my "review" of American Gods by Neil Gaiman because I wanted to let the story stew in my mind for a bit. When I first started the book in March it didn't grab me. I put it aside and picked it up again. As the story went on and the road trip began I knew I liked it. I loved Czernobog and Mr. Nancy. The Black Hats or Men in Black are characters that Gaiman likes to write about because they were in The Graveyard Book. I loved that Delirium makes a cameo appearance in the book.

After letting the story live in my head for several days I can say that I loved this book. I loved the mythology that all the immigrants brought to America. I loved how America changed them and created new ones. I loved how the land shaped the people and therefore their gods. Shadow's journey was intriguing. He spent most of his life as a shadow and letting events and people shape his outcome. In the end Shadow's eyes are opened and he makes his own decisions about the world he lives in.

“People believe, thought Shadow. It's what people do. They believe, and then they do not take responsibility for their beliefs; they conjure things, and do not trust the conjuration. People populate the darkness; with ghost, with gods, with electrons, with tales. People imagine, and people believe; and it is that rock solid belief, that makes things happen.”

This was not a book with laugh out loud moments, but this little gem made me chuckle. My hometown Laredo, lost its only bookstore two years ago because very few would frequent it. Then people went to protest on they day it closed. Idiots.

“What I say is, a town isn't a town without a bookstore. It may call itself a town, but unless it's got a bookstore it knows it's not fooling a soul.”

#55



God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian is a small book with "interviews" Vonnegut has with dead people. He get's to the afterlife with the assistance of Dr. Kevorkian and the Huntsville prison. Interesting and a little funny too.

#56



The Laughing Policeman by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö is the 4 the in the series known as The Story of Crime, or Martin Beck mysteries. A bus is found crashed in Stockholm with 9 people gunned down. One of the victims is a homicide detective. Now Martin Beck and crew must figure out what if anything the 9 victims had in common and who committed this horrible crime.

Martin Beck is now a Superintendent of detectives. He still drinks too much coffee, doesn't eat enough and sulks a lot. His marriage is unraveling slowly and painfully. Still, Martin Beck is determined to solve the crime.

If you love thrillers then this series is not for you. The crimes are unspeakable but the solving of the crime is real. Lots of interviews, poring over dates and re-interviewing witnesses. The devil is in the details and this crew pores over every single one.

I loved it!

Yay! :) Glad you liked it. I love the cover on that edition, too.

>257 luvamystery65:
It is quite brilliant, isn't it!

>259 luvamystery65:
I've only gotten around to the first two - need to keep going!

ETA:
>260 rabbitprincess:
Agree 100%

#57



The Pusher is third in the 87th Precinct novels. This one has Steve Carella back and Bert Kline is now a detective in the 87th. A young drug pusher if found hung but a syringe clues to an overdose/murder. The finger prints on the syringe do not match the victim. The premise was good but the wrap up left a little to be desired. Still the series compels me to continue.

#58



Shattered by Kevin Hearne is the seventh installment of the Iron Druid Chronicles. Now that Atticus' archdruid has been rescued from one of the islands of time, the world has three druids. That is three too many druids for someone and all of the running and scheming that has been going on is revealed to Atticus. He still makes rash decisions but slowly he thinking out the cost of his actions now that he has a close knit group he is rooted to.

Some old friends and enemies make appearances, including one very, very too brief appearance by one of my favorite characters. Granuaile makes some really cool new friends that I hope will be back in the next book. Two more to go and it hurts my heart that it will be a wait for book number eight.

#59



Oh my! I forgot to post this review which was really #57 but I'll post it as #59. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, Judy, Mark and Mamie for encouraging me to read this book. I was familiar with the subject growing up in Texas and more detail was revealed in Glenn Frankel's book, The Making of the Searchers, but this book was wonderfully written. I loved the detail of the rise and fall of the Commanche nation and the fascination with the story of Cynthia Anne Parker and her son Quanah. Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne was the perfect cap after reading the Frankel book and The Searchers by Alan Le May.

I plan to read a lot more on this subject.

Wednesday night I went to the Kevin Hearne book signing at Murder by the Book in Houston. Mr. Hearne was really cool. He showed up early and was really excited to meet his fans. He gave a free copy of Shattered (when will the touchstone work LT?) to the fan that had come the farthest to see him.

He talked about what inspired him to write, citing the voice of Chief Bromden, in Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest as an "aha" moment of how a character rather than a third person narrator really brings a story to life. He taught high school English, to pay the bills and he said he loved teaching the students but not all the BS that went with the bureaucracy of teaching. He is obviously now thrilled to be making his living as writer.

He devotes certain parts of the day to social media but then shuts down to write 1000 words in one hour and other such challenges with fellow authors. He wrote Hounded quickly as it came out of his warped brain but then when he got a book deal he wrote the outlines to the books and goes from there. Book eight is going to be called Staked! He said it will not be out next year. He needs a break from Iron Druid. He has been writing IDC since 2008.

Currently, he has submitted his Star Wars Lucas Skywalker novel for editing and it will be out in January. He is working on an epic fantasy trilogy featuring giants. The first of the trilogy will be out after the Skywalker novel, then IDC book 8, then trilogy book 2, final IDC, then final giant epic fantasy trilogy. Whew! Good news is that there will be another IDC short story coming out to tide us over until book 8. His fans are rabid so I'm sure that was purely in the interest of self preservation.

Hearne is really down to earth and hilarious. He based the widow MacDonagh on his grandmother who he says loved to sit on the porch and sip Irish whiskey and curse. She, just like Katie MacDonagh, went to Mass lit.

Book 8 will feature whatever misadventure Atticus' had in Toronto during the 1950s. Since he mentions it in nearly every book he said he decided to address it. One of his fans is a project manager from Toronto and she has set up an itinerary for him to tour various sites and neighborhoods that would have been around during Atticus' time in Toronto.

One of his acknowledgements in Shattered is to a woman he met on a flight from Minneapolis that explained a lot to him about some Hindu beliefs.

The guy is really accessible and I do hope he continues down this path. I hope he has continued success so he can keep writing, traveling and meeting his fans.

Nerds posing for a photo!

In addition to Shattered I picked up these goodies!



The Song is You by Megan Abbott
Queenpin by Megan Abbott
Knots and Crosses by Ian Rankin
Jar City by Arnaldur Indriðason
Night Soldiers by Alan Furst

Alan Furst was there today to sign for Midnight in Europe but I was unable to attend. Megan Abbot will be there next Wednesday signing for The End of Everything.

Yay! Sounds like a great time! I love reading book event reports :) And nice photo!

Oh, that's brilliant! I'm so happy he turned out to be so cool - he seems to fit with his characters. :) And, love that he based the widow MacDonagh on his grandmother - she's all kinds of awesome. Looking forward to getting to Shattered myself - sounds excellent. The nerd-photo is fantastic!

I love down to earth authors like Hearne! What a great opportunity for you to meet him!

>268 rabbitprincess: Thanks RP I had fun.

>269 -Eva-: I love when authors are able to interact well with the fans.

>270 lkernagh: Agree Lori!