thornton37814's 2015 Category Challenge

I had a terrible time deciding how to do my challenge this year. I've finally decided to just have 5 broad categories with 15 books in each minimum. I'll consider my challenge complete when I have achieved 15 in each category. At that point, I'll evaluate whether I want to continue with the same categories or do a mini-challenge for the remainder of the year.

This year's theme is Board Games, mainly of the variety that I played as a child growing up. If it's not an "old game," it didn't become a category.

Category 1: Hi Ho! Cherry-O = Books Borrowed from a Friend. (Just to explain - I never owned this game, but my neighbors across the street did. We played it a lot.)

Category 2: Scrabble = Library Books. (These can be physical books, e-books, or audiobooks. They just have to be borrowed from the library. I just wanted something that required the use of a reference book such as the dictionary for the library category.)

Category 3: Clue = Books I Own. (These will probably mostly be books that are already in my library, but I will allow any book that I purchase and read this next year in physical form or any book gifted to me which I read to be included. Clue was my favorite game growing up, and since mystery is also my favorite genre, it just kind of fits.)

Category 4: Operation = E-books. (Operation is about as close to an electronic game as we had back then, even if it was battery-operated, I think. These will be books on my Kindle or iPad. It will also include ARC e-galleys that I read, generally on my iPad.)

Category 5: Risk = Challenge Books. (These will be books I read for challenges such as the British Author Challenge or American Author Challenge. A lot of these are authors with whom I am not familiar, so I'm definitely taking a risk by reading them.)

Abandoned Books will go in a Sorry Category. I hope it doesn't get too full.

There were so many other games that I wanted to use - Trouble, Aggravation, Yahtzee, Game of the States, Monopoly, etc. It just wasn't going to happen this year.

Category 1: Hi Ho! Cherry-O - Books Borrowed from a friend



1. All the Crazy Winters by Deborah Adams - completed 21 Feb 2015
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Category 2: Scrabble - Library Books



1. Polish Classic Recipes by Laura Zeranski and Peter Zeranski - completed 23 Jan 2015
2. The Strange Library by Haruki Murakami - completed 24 Jan 2015
3. Day of Vengeance by Jeanne M. Dams - completed 29 Jan 2015
4. In the Dead of Winter by Nancy Mehl - completed 31 Jan 2015
5. Square Meals: America's Favorite Comfort Food Cookbook by Jane Stern and Michael Stern - completed 31 Jan 2015
6. Library Lily by Gillian Shields - completed 5 Feb 2015
7. Walking a Literary Labyrinth: A Spirituality of Reading by Nancy M. Malone - completed 11 Feb 2015
8. The Cornish Coast Murder by John Bude - completed 13 Feb 2015
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Category 3: Clue - Books I Own



1. A Saintly Killing by Martha Ockley - completed 10 Jan 2015
2. Sacred Marriage: What If God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More than to Make Us Happy? by Gary Thomas - completed 17 Jan 2015
3. Lending a Paw by Laurie Cass - completed 23 Jan 2015
4. Winter at the Door by Sarah Graves - completed 19 Feb 2015
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Category 4: Operation - E-Books



1. Choosing Charleston by T. Lynn Ocean - completed 10 Jan 2015
2. The World Before Us by Aislinn Hunter - completed 1 Feb 2015
3. A Lifelong Love by Gary Thomas - completed 1 Feb 2015
4. Praying with Paul: A Call to Spiritual Reformation by D. A. Carson - completed 16 Feb 2015
5. Biocode: The New Age of Genomics by Dawn Field and Neil Davies - completed 16 Feb 2015
6. The New Rules for Love, Sex, and Dating by Andy Stanley - completed 16 Feb 2015
7. Second Street Station by Lawrence H. Levy - completed 20 Feb 2015
8. Romancing Your Better Half by Rick Johnson - completed 21 Feb 2015
9. The Cons of Online Genealogy by Peggy Sue George - completed 27 Feb 2015
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Category 5: Risk - Challenge Books



1. Nocturnes: Five Stories of Music and Nightfall by Kazuo Ishiguro - completed 13 Jan 2015
2. The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers - completed 13 Jan 2015
3. Family Album by Penelope Lively - completed 17 Jan 2015
4. Daisy Miller by Henry James - completed 6 Feb 2015
5. Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh - completed 26 Feb 2015
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Sorry - Abandoned Books



1. Double Booked for Death by Ali Brandon - abandoned 16 Feb 2015

Your categories bring back some childhood memories of game playing and I like how broad they are as well. Looking forward to seeing what you chose to read in 2015, Lori.

Fun theme! Looks like a good, flexible challenge. Have a good reading year!

Good theme! Looking forward to following your reading.

Cool theme. Maybe you can pick up the games you had to leave out for the 2016 challenge?

That's a fun theme - and great illustrations!

I loved Clue, Operation and Sorry. Another favorite was Life. My brother and I played that one a lot. We also had a game called, I think, Masterpiece, where players buy and sell famous paintings. I always enjoyed that one. Our youth group played Pit and Uno a lot. I have fond memories of playing Yahtzee with a friend in England. And Trivial Pursuit, and Pictionary. Pass the Pigs is fun. Then there's Apples to Apples...

>13 cbl_tn: I thought about using Pit for the abandoned reads, but I decided to use Sorry instead. There are definitely lots of games from which to choose. After I'd posted my categories, I discovered someone else had chosen games too. I felt bad then about having chosen it.

>8 DeltaQueen50: They are broad, maybe too broad. We'll see. Yes. Games were fun in childhood.

>9 rabbitprincess: There should definitely be flexibility there. I just need to downsize some of the TBR piles. I'm going to have to avoid the shiny new stuff on NetGalley.

>10 VivienneR: Thank you.

>11 sturlington: I probably won't use the same theme two years in a row.

>12 -Eva-: Thanks, Eva. They are mostly from Amazon.

I'm thinking of doing a year of non-challenging categories, too. After years of more structured reading, it might be fun, and will at least have me ready to challenge myself in 2016.

This looks like fun. Enjoy the reading!

I'm looking forward to seeing what books you choose to read next year! Hope they're wonderful.

>16 RidgewayGirl: I'm glad people don't think I'm crazy. I just know that I have a very busy year so I'm trying to make it realistic and get some of the TBR piles down to manageable sizes.

>17 MissWatson: Thanks. I'm sure I will.

>18 mamzel: I'm looking forward to seeing what I'll read too. I know that I went through a couple of TBR boxes the other night and pulled some that I'd like to finish. There is one of them that will probably be read this month -- maybe two, but I know some of those will make it onto next year's reading.

Looks like a fun time for 2015!

>20 cyderry: Thanks, Cheli. I just hope I have enough time to read. I've got so much going on next year that I'm a little worried about even hitting 75, much less 100+ like I did this year. Even that is way down from my usual amount.

>22 Samantha_kathy: Thanks. At least I'll have memories of fun times when I put something in a category!

Good theme - enjoy the reading time you do have and don't worry if you don't reach as many as this year.

>24 dudes22: Thanks. I can only do what I have time to do. We'll see how well it goes.

A board game theme! The only board game you have listed that I have not played before - or have any knowledge of - is HiHo! Cherry-O! I am going to have to investigate that one further. I was never any good at removing the elastic band in the leg for "Operation" and I have fond memories of week long games of "Risk" that my older sister and her friends would play. Favorite board game for our family is "The World According to UBI", in fact, we still play it when we are all together.

Happy reading, Lori!

>26 lkernagh: I guess we are even, because I've never heard of "The World According to UBI."

>27 thornton37814: - Think Trivial Pursuit with a twist and you have the basic idea of what "UBI" is. It involves a map, deciphering clues AND the locations of the deciphered clues on the map. Just shouting out the answer like with Trivial Pursuit isn't good enough, you have to know your geography pretty good as well, especially because the only way you are able to obtain a rubic for your pyramid is by correctly providing the correct UBI coordinates - based on the map provided - for the location. Not for the faint of heart and perfect for large groups. Lots of fun!

You category people are all so creative. I feel humbled by it all

>28 lkernagh: I always loved maps and geography!

>29 The_Hibernator: Thanks. I didn't feel that creative this year.

Quick update. The only reading I've managed so far in 2015 is my daily Bible reading, but I'm caught up on that. I should be able to begin reading some books now that I'm home. I just enjoyed the time that Jeff and I got to be together those first few days of the year. I have to be at work tomorrow morning.

When I came home and texted Jeff to let him know I made it back, he told me that I might want to check my Facebook feed for an update on one of my brothers. They had found a mass on his colon back before the first of the year and had scheduled a colonoscopy for the 14th. However, his daughter took him to the VA Hospital today because the doctors told him to come in for tests since he was in so much pain and unable to eat or sleep. I'm still waiting on an update from her.

I also had another surprise when I got home. Apparently water pressure caused a pipe to burst that leads from the bathroom to my garage. I have water everywhere in the garage. I was planning to go through the garage and purge in the spring, but it looks like my water everywhere issue is going to force me to do it in the cold month of January. Fortunately the damage appears to be confined to my garage for the most part. I'll be calling the plumber as soon as the Provost gives me permission to skip the faculty meeting which we are required to attend. I'm hoping she'll at least let me call one and see how long it will be until he can arrive. I turned all the water to the house off. Fortunately, I have a camping toilet with liners. I've also got bottled water on hand, but still . . . I'd rather have indoor plumbing!

Goodness, Lori - what a heap of troubles in one day. I hope the news about your brother is positive; waiting to hear can be trying.

As for the garage, I hope there is a quick and simple fix - water, water, everywhere is no fun, as I know from my own experience. And indoor plumbing is one of the triumphs of modern civilization. You'll have it back soon.

Take care.

I've been through a broken pipe/flood (mine took out one half of the house - 3 stories) but you can survive this - the more important problem is your brother - I will say prayers. Please keep us posted on his progress. As a 4 yr cancer survivor - my advice is a positive attitude. Believing in his future and trusting his doctors will keep him calm and stress-free.

So sorry to hear about your brother, Lori. This, as well as the pipe problem has certainly gotten 2015 of to a rocky start. I am sending lots of healing and fixing thoughts your way!

That certainly isn't a good way to return home, Lori. Hope your brother has good news. On the pipe issue - I wouldn't want to have to clean up the garage in the winter. Will keep you in my thoughts.

>31 thornton37814: - Wow, not a good greeting to come home to after your vacation! Here is hoping that you will recieve some good news on both the plumbing and your brother's health.

>31 thornton37814: I hope that you will get positive news for your brother and that your plumbing problem will be promptly solved.

Good morning, Lori. I hope you're doing well and coping with the flood, etc. You and your brother are in my thoughts.

Lori, I'm so sorry to hear about your brother's health problems, I hope you get good news soon. Water problems are a real pain especially in winter. Let's hope you get back to normal very quickly.

More good wishes. Let us know how things go with your brother (and your plumbing).

>32 Dejah_Thoris: When you have a problem, you appreciate it all the more when you get it back.

>33 cyderry: Yes - My brother is what is occupying most of my thoughts.

>34 DeltaQueen50: Actually it really started very good in North Carolina. It's just that I came home to the problems.

>35 dudes22: Well, it's been too cold to do too much cleaning up in the garage, but I have discovered that the water damage may not be quite as bad as I believed to stuff stored there.

>36 lkernagh: Thanks, Lori. They are doing a biopsy tomorrow. Apparently they only did a colonoscopy for the first surgery. The oncologist thinks it may be bad, but he may be preparing us for the worst and then we'll be relieved when the news is better. We just won't know until after the biopsy.

>37 electrice: Thanks.

>38 Dejah_Thoris: Thanks for the prayers.

>39 VivienneR: Things are beginning to feel a little more normal, but we're still in a waiting pattern with my brother. Hopefully we'll know more by tomorrow afternoon.

>40 hailelib: Thanks!

Here are my answers to the meme based on 2014 reads:

Describe yourself: The Girl of His Dreams

Describe how you feel: Love So Amazing

Describe where you currently live: Where Memories Lie

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion

Your favorite form of transportation: Killer Cruise

Your best friend is: Nora Webster

You and your friends are: The Forgotten Girls

What’s the weather like: The Summer Wind

You fear: The Curse of the Pharaohs

What is the best advice you have to give: Go Tell It on the Mountain

Thought for the day: Who's Picking Me Up from the Airport

How I would like to die: Out of the Blue

My soul’s present condition: The Ponder Heart

Hoping that your life gets back to normal soon. Absolutely love your Out of the blue answer. That really is the best way to go.

That's a very good thing to fear! I also enjoy your thought for the day :) Great answers!

>45 LittleTaiko: That was really the best answer that I could find.

>46 rabbitprincess: I liked that fear one too. I just couldn't resist using that title for the thought for the day.

Oh dear, such scary news! Hope your brother's test comes back OK - that waiting game is so, so hard. Sending *virtual hugs* your way!

Take care, Lori, and keep us up to date with both your brother and your water situation. Maybe more about the brother. The waiting part is really difficult.

>48 -Eva-: Thanks. Waiting is a pain!

>49 RidgewayGirl: The waiting is the toughest.

My brother has gotten even worse news (on his birthday, of all days). The cancer has spread to other organs. Chemotherapy will be the course of treatment.

I'm sorry, Lori. How's your brother doing with the news?

So, so sorry about the news. Been holding your brother in my thoughts and prayers.
Love your meme answers.

That is terrible news. I'm so sorry to hear it.

>52 RidgewayGirl: Well, he knows that it is in God's hands. He may be taking it better than some of the rest of us overall, but it is really easy on no one.

>53 VictoriaPL: Thanks for the prayers. Some of those meme answers were hard to find based on last year's books.

>54 MissWatson: It really is bad.

I'm so sorry to hear that your brother's troubles have increased. Really hoping that chemotherapy does the job. I'll be thinking of you guys.

>56 LittleTaiko: Thanks, Stacy.

So sorry to read the bad news about your brother, Lori. I hope that the chemotherapy works. I will be holding him and your family "in the light" to use Quaker terminology. (I think that you mentioned in some post that you have some Quaker background.)

>58 sallylou61: Yes. The Thornton line was a Quaker one.

That wasn't the news we were hoping for, but let's see what chemo can do. In Sweden we "hold our thumbs" that things go well, so I'll do that for you.

Lori, I'm so sorry the news wasn't the best. I am hoping for the best possible outcome for your brother.

>60 -Eva-: Thanks for "holding your thumb." The doctors give him 5-6 years with chemo.

>61 DeltaQueen50: Thanks so much.

Was just catching up and am so sorry to hear of all that has befallen you since I was last here. I'll keep you in my thoughts.

>63 mysterymax: Thanks, Max.

1. Choosing Charleston by T. Lynn Ocean

Date Completed: 10 Jan 2015

Category: Operation

CAT Challenge: RandomCAT - Olympus Has Fallen (Robert Ellis/Robert Forster)

Rating: 3 stars (probably closer to 2.75)

Review: Carly Stone comes home to discover her husband in bed with another woman. She leaves for her hometown of Charleston. She goes back to New York to her job as a mediator and soon finds her husband in the hot tub with the woman. She quits her job, donates his stuff to charity, arranges to have a friend sell her house, and leaves for Charleston permanently. Her father's business is threatened by a real estate development that will contain a mega hardware store. In spite of her hate for the developers, she finds herself attracted to the son. Grandma provides comic relief in this story. There's much more to it when Carly begins to try to stop the development and other things start happening. The plot is a bit far-fetched, but it's good for a non-demanding read that will occasionally put a smile on your face. The book needed additional grammatical editing in a few places.

The plumbing issue itself wasn't a very big one. It has been fixed. The water damage caused some problems with drywall and ceiling that will need to be addressed. Fortunately those should be covered by insurance so I'll be contacting my insurance company Monday to get an adjuster over and to get those issues addressed.

I've only been on sporadically since we've been traveling and am sorry to hear the news about your brother. Will keep him (and you) in my prayers.

>67 dudes22: Thanks, Betty.

I'm so sorry about the difficult news you've had about your brother. I'm with Allison - I'll be holding you and your family in the light.

I'm glad the water damage wasn't too bad - you don't need any extra stress right now.

Take care.

>69 Dejah_Thoris: Well, it may end up being pricy damage, but the insurance should cover it. Appreciate the thoughts for my family.

I hope your brother's chemo goes well.

So sorry about your brother's news. I hope his treatment goes well.

>71 rabbitprincess: >72 VivienneR: Thanks so much!

2. A Saintly Killing by Martha Ockley

Date Completed: 11 Jan 2015

Category: Clue

CAT Challenge: None

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Faith Morgan is the vicar at Little Worthy in Hampshire and a former police officer. This installment of the series finds a woman commissioned to paint the church for its anniversary dead by apparent murder. Her friend Detective Ben Shorter leads the investigation. As Faith goes about her parish business, she discovers relevant information. In addition to the main story, Faith's mother is in the beginning stages of Alzheimer's Disease. There is some family business to be settled as decisions regarding her mother's future must be made. I enjoy this series. It is better written than much of the Christian fiction out there. It is more about village life, particularly as it relates to the church community, than something that becomes "preachy." I received this through LibraryThing Early Reviewers with the expectation that a review would be written.

Sad to hear the bad news. Here's hoping your brother's treatment goes well.

Hope the chemo goes well. Wish it had been better news.

>75 AHS-Wolfy: Thanks.

>75 AHS-Wolfy: I think we all wish that the news had been better.

Hi Lori:

I'm catching up on threads again, I'm sorry to hear about your brother. I will keep your family in my thoughts.

>78 lsh63: Thanks. My brother is getting to go home today as soon as they insert the chemo port. He'll begin chemo in a couple of weeks.

3. Nocturnes: Five Stories of Music and Nightfall by Kazuo Ishiguro

Date Completed: 13 Jan 2015

Category: Risk

CAT Challenge: None

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: This collection of short stories by Ishiguro is united by the theme of music. Two of the stories share characters; the others are stand-alones. As in most collections of this nature, some stories are more enjoyable than others. "Crooner" was probably the most enjoyable. "Nocturne" was the story with the same characters as "Crooner", but it was less enjoyable than the first. I also enjoyed "Malvern Hills" The stories read quickly and were overall a pleasant way to pass time.

4. The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers

Date Completed: 13 Jan 2015

Category: Risk

CAT Challenge: None

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: This is a Southern coming-of-age story told through the eyes of a twelve-year-old who is to be in her brother's wedding and wishes to "stow away" on his honeymoon. Important characters were developed as they should have been and one gets a sense of how each relates to the main character of F. Jasmine. While I recognize the literary merit of the book, I felt a little dissatisfaction in the end with the overall story.

Ha! Ingenious categories, Lori! I'll be dropping in to follow your achievements.

>82 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda.

5. Sacred Marriage: What If God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More than to Make Us Happy? by Gary Thomas

Date Completed: 17 Jan 2015

Category: Clue

CAT Challenge: None

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Thomas addresses the interdependence of one's relationship with God and the marriage relationship in this volume. He advocates that couples should be pointing each other in the direction of God as their relationship grows. He makes a lot of good points. The biggest problem with the book lies in the mechanics of writing. Thomas sometimes tries to make a story a point rather than an illustration for a point, particularly in the first portion of the book. The book has several grammatical problems which I found distracting. These should have been addressed in the editorial process. While the focuses are slightly different, I really preferred Timothy Keller's The Meaning of Marriage to this one. That is not to say that I did not benefit from Thomas' thoughts and views on the matter. In fact, I downloaded a NetGalley copy of the author's A Lifelong Love as I was reading this volume.

It's always interesting when you're aware of the flaws in an author's work but still get enough out of it that you want to read more. I hope you enjoy the new download as well if not more.

>85 Dejah_Thoris: It's possible that he's ironed out a few of the distractions and become a better writer over the years. That one was definitely not new by any means. I was reading something from one of the Christian book blurb things I have in my Facebook feed and noticed that Francis Chan has a new book out that appears to approach marriage as a way to grow spiritually as well. (Well, I guess recent might be a better word since it was published last year sometime.) I've added it to my wishlist as well. I haven't even checked to see if it is something the local library purchased or not. It's also only made it onto the Amazon one and not the LibraryThing wishlist account. I have several books over there that I need to add before it gets too out of control.

6. Family Album by Penelope Lively

Date Completed: 17 Jan 2015

Category: Risk

CAT Challenge None

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Allersmead was once the home of a family with 6 children, husband, wife, and au pair. The novel is not told form the perspective of any singular person but instead alternates through various voices until we see a complete pictures of the family. There is even a secret that is known but not discussed. I loved the descriptions of the food and the moments in the kitchen which are quite prominent throughout the novel, but the writing style was a bit choppy for me although I realized that it was simply a literary style that does not work for me. It's a novel some will read and devour and others will abandon. Its short length makes it one that many will want to give a try.

Catching up on threads and sorry to hear the news about your brother. You are in my thoughts.

>88 paruline: Thanks so much. I talked to his earlier this evening. He's in good spirits in spite of his circumstances.

>89 thornton37814: That's good to hear, Lori. I hope you're doing well, too.

I have been absent from your thread for a while so I am checking in to see how things are. Sorry to read the news of the test results. I will keep you and your brother in my thoughts over the coming weeks.

>90 Dejah_Thoris: Well, there was a little scare last night with my brother. He noticed some blood seeping into his colostomy bag. The phone-a-nurse lady told him to go to the ER, so he did. When he got there, they told him that was perfectly normal for that small amount of blood to be there and that the phone-a-nurse has a big sign in front of her to remind her to refer everyone to the ER. Apparently she has even referred people with just a splinter to the ER according to the doctors. The ER physicians and one of his surgeons all took a look and said it was fine and that the incisions were beginning to heal.

>91 lkernagh: Thanks, Lori. It's easy to miss out on threads. There are so many of them. It only takes a day away to get behind on them. However, we all have to find time to read things besides threads sometime, don't we?

Lori, when my sister was going through her cancer treatment there were any number of times that we had to get her into the emergency. Anything that seemed different, or wrong, or any unexpected pain and we were told to bring her in. I guess they don't want to take any chances and it is a relief for the caregivers that the hospital staff are there and ready to explain things in a straight forward manner. There is often just so much information to absorb that it's great to have that backup.

>93 DeltaQueen50: I suppose that can be useful. I'm sure my brother will have many extra visits forthcoming.

>92 thornton37814: I'm sure the ER visit was frightening for everyone, but it's good to know that the incisions are healing well. You're all in my thoughts and prayers.

>95 Dejah_Thoris: Thanks, Dejah.

ER visits are never to be wished for, but better go too often than not go that one time it's needed!

>97 -Eva-: True.

7. Lending a Paw by Laurie Cass

Date Completed: 23 Jan 2015

Category: Clue

CAT Challenge: None

Rating: 4 stars

Review: This first installment of a cozy series featuring a librarian, Minnie Hamilton, who drives a bookmobile as part of her responsibilities and the stray cat Eddie who adopted her is a fun read. Eddie stows away on the bookmobile's first run. He makes an escape from the bookmobile. Minnie follows him to an old abandoned farmhouse where she finds the body of the donor responsible for the bookmobile. Minnie is afraid the detectives are focusing on the wrong suspects and promises her friend and fellow library worker that she'll investigate. The author does a good job of creating several viable suspects with motives. The characters in the little Michigan resort town by the lake are likeable and developed. This particular installment featured a little bit of genealogical research which I also enjoyed. I look forward to reading future installments in the series.

P.S. Thanks to my secret Santa from SantaThing for this one!

8. Polish Classic Recipes by Laura Zeranski and Peter Zeranski

Date Completed: 23 Jan 2015

Category: Scrabble

CAT Challenge: None

Rating: 4 stars

Review: While not a large cookbook, this one offers some classic Polish recipes (along with their English and Polish names). The recipes are arranged in five broad categories: appetizers and salads, soups and soup garnishes, entrees and side dishes, pierogi, and sweets and pastries. The photographs of the food add to the book's appeal. The recipes that I'm most likely to use are mostly from the pierogi and sweets and pastries categories although there is a chilled fruit soup recipe that also caught my eye. I borrowed this book from the library, but it is one that I would enjoy owning.

Note: I don't need any more cookbooks. I'm going to have to downsize my cookbook collection as it is. Therefore, unless I find this book at a deep discount at a library booksale or used bookstore, I'm not likely to buy it. Fortunately, it is skinny enough that I can hopefully squeeze it in on a shelf somewhere if I do acquire it.

Hi Lori! I thought I had stopped by your thread earlier, but I guess not.
Sorry to hear about your brother. I hope he does well with the chemotherapy and has minimal side effects.
Hi-Ho Cherry-O was a favorite game when I was young. They ruined it when they got rid of the stand-up trees.

>101 VioletBramble: They got rid of the stand-up trees? Hmmm That's sad! I talked to my brother tonight. He's still in quite good spirits.

9. The Strange Library by Haruki Murakami

Date Completed: 24 Jan 2015

Category: Scrabble

CAT Challenge: None

Rating: 3 stars

Review: This is a very unusual story about a boy who goes to the library seeking information on taxes in the Ottoman empire. Instead he has a nightmarish experience and ends up a prisoner at the hands of an old man with some strange companions. It's not my typical genre, and I'm not sure that I even understood what Murakami intended. I do not think I would encourage children or young teens to read this because they might find a reason not to visit their own public libraries. The book does have interesting illustrations. The format of the book, with fold-up flap covers, is quite unusual as well. It's a quick read, demanding less than 30 minutes of one's time.

Note: I don't know enough about Sci-Fi and Fantasy subgenres to know if this one fits the month's challenge for that, but I suspect not.

>103 thornton37814: You're braver than I am - I've been avoiding Murakami entirely.

It's nice to hear your brother is in good spirits.

>104 Dejah_Thoris: I thought that as short as that one was that I could tackle it. I am really not sure what to make of it. It's a strange book.

All Murakami books are strange. You just have to go with the flow and start with the certainty that you will probably never understand what the book is about or what Murakami intended. Just enjoy the ride (as they say).
Glad to hear that your brother is feeling well.
>102 thornton37814: Yes, they got rid of the trees that you hung the cherries on. The new version is played inside the game box, (not on a game board) where they have drawn/painted tree tops -- they actually look like bushes -- with multiple holes that the cherries sit in. Lame.

>106 VioletBramble: In other words, you don't think Murakami understands them himself? I think I'll pass on the new version of the game. It's retro or nothing for me!

Quick update on my brother: He begins chemo tomorrow morning.

Quick update on my boyfriend's mother: Last night they expected her to go home tomorrow. Jeff got a call from his mom this morning before he got to the hospital saying they were going to release her today! She's still got a lot of recovery to do at home, but at least she'll be home.

Lori, I'm reading Being Mortal by Atul Gawande, which is about how we talk with each other and medical providers about the difficult decisions in choosing which procedures we want. It focuses on end of life care, but a lot of it is useful in knowing how best to support someone who is undergoing an illness. I wish I'd read it before my mother's heart surgery, but at least I have a better idea of what questions to ask going forward.

>109 RidgewayGirl: Good to know, Kay. I already know what my dad's wishes are.

10. Day of Vengeance by Jeanne M. Dams

Date Completed: 29 Jan 2015

Category: Scrabble

CAT Challenge: None

Rating: 2.5 stars

Review: Sherebury is in search of a new Bishop. Alan is on the search committee. One of the candidates turns up dead. Dorothy, of course, feels the need to investigate. This is approached by visiting the parishes of the remaining candidates and conducting informal interviews with them. They turn up some irregularities, bring others into the investigation, and eventually solve the crime. I was excited to see that Dams was returning the series to Sherebury although a great deal of the action takes place in other locations throughout England. I was disappointed in the mystery itself. This series has just not been the same since Alan retired from the police force. This is probably the last installment I will read even if the series continues. The last three installments have not been worth reading. It's time to move on.

>111 thornton37814: This series has gone down hill, hasn't it? And in truth, I never liked it as much as her Hilda Johansson mysteries, of which I wish she'd written more. I'm sorry it was such a disappointment.

>112 Dejah_Thoris: It really has. She should have left Alan on the force, I think. They just don't work as well with him being retired.

Our annual blind date with a book display:

That is fabulous! What a hoot!

My brother's first chemo treatment did not really go as planned. They could not get the port to work and ended up delivering it intravenously. He had been home about 5 minutes when the hospital called and told him to come back. They'd taken a look at an x-ray they had taken and determined he had a partially collapsed lung. The pulmonologist believes it was punctured as they were fiddling with the port earlier in the day. He's in the hospital, but it does look like they are succeeding in the repair process. If he continues to make the progress, he may be able to go home tomorrow.

>116 thornton37814: Oh Lori, I'm so sorry to hear that. How fortunate that they caught damage quickly and that he's responding to treatment. I know this must be tremendously stressful for you being so far away.

>117 Dejah_Thoris: I was pretty much speechless last night. I was just so shocked and stunned. I've had so much going on this month. Let's just say there is one other family health issue (not me) that I haven't shared publicly. Between the illnesses and the house damage, January has been a stressful month. I hope February is much better.

How are you doing, Lori? Take care of yourself.

You have had quite bit on your plate this month. I do hope February is much nicer to you.

>114 thornton37814: Thanks for reminding me of that! I read about it last year and thought it would be fun to try.

>119 RidgewayGirl: Last night I was pretty numb. I told Jeff that I was pretty close to speechless.

>120 VictoriaPL: Me too!

>121 mamzel: Hope your patrons enjoy it. My goal was to get it up by at least Monday. I decided that if I could get it done before the weekend, it would be a bonus.

Sorry to hear of your brother's continuing problems.

Love your blind date idea for the library. I'm going to tell my sister about it when I get back home next week. What's on the sign?

>123 dudes22: We basically just tell how it works. We made that sign last year. It says something about reading the descriptions, finding one, and taking to the front desk. I don't remember what else is on it.

11. In the Dead of Winter by Nancy Mehl

Date Completed: 31 Jan 2015

Category: Scrabble

CAT Challenge: None

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Ivy Towers returns to Winter Break, Kansas to handle arrangements after her great aunt's death under suspicious circumstances. She's going by "Sam" now, but she'll always be known as Ivy to the residents of the small town. Her great aunt has left everything to her except for a few token gifts intended for friends. As Ivy struggles to decide what to do with the bookstore before going back for her final semester of college, she finds herself helping the deputy sheriff investigate her aunt's death. She also finds herself drawn to a Denver bookseller and to the deputy. I appreciated the manner in which the author wove Christian faith into the novel without making it overly preachy. The conversations about faith seemed to flow naturally rather than being contrived to include in the plot. While it is not great literature, it is an enjoyable read. There are not a lot of cozy Christian mysteries out there, and this one's quality is similar to many of the more enjoyable mainstream cozies. I'm not certain if later installments are available at my library, but I think I would enjoy another visit to Winter Break to see how Ivy's life progresses.

12. Square Meals: America's Favorite Comfort Food Cookbook by Jane Stern and Michael Stern

Date Completed: 31 Jan 2015

Category: Scrabble

CAT Challenge: None

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Authors Jane and Michael Stern have spent hours combing through old cookbooks to locate recipes that remind us of a certain time and place from our past. The recipes are generally from cookbooks from the 1920s to 1950s and take us back to the foods that provided comfort. Each chapter is prefaced with a discussion that is certain to please most lovers of culinary books. Having lived in Cincinnati for a number of years, I was delighted to find a recipe for Cincinnati style chili that I'm going to have to try, even though I have several other recipes for it and can purchase Skyline chili in both canned and frozen forms where I reside. There are some classic recipes that have become a definite part of American culture. For example, the authors include recipes for Chex snack mix and for Rice Krispie treats, although they call them by different names that may have been used when the recipes were first published on the boxes. I chose to read this one from the library, but I enjoyed it so much that I may have to purchase a copy anyway. I enjoyed the old photos and graphics, but I would have loved it if there had been color photographs of some of the photos. The entire book has a "vintage" feeling, and I suppose those color photos would be out of date, but it might help today's readers get a better idea of the foods if they were not part of their region's or family's cuisine.

Keeping your brother and family in my prayers.

Hoping for better things to come your family's way in February, Lori.

>116 thornton37814:
That's terrible news - wish they had looked at the X-ray before sending him home! I've had a punctured lung and it was not a pleasant experience. Hope they get his port to work smoothly and soon!

>125 thornton37814: You know I actually have that one kicking around somewhere - I'll have to dig it out. It sounds perfectly pleasant, which would be good right now.

I hope you have a wonderful Sunday and that February gets off to a nice start. I am also hoping for a kinder, gentler month. Take care.

>127 cyderry: Thanks, Cheli.

>128 DeltaQueen50: They gave us hopes that he would get out yesterday, but he's still there even tonight. Maybe tomorrow?

>129 -Eva-: Thanks for the empathy. I was just about numb when I heard what they had done.

>130 Dejah_Thoris: It was exactly what I needed. I hope for a kinder, gentler month. I guess it got off to a good start. I sang special music at church today, and it really seemed to be a song that a lot of people, including myself, needed to hear.

13. The World Before Us by Aislinn Hunter

Date Completed: 1 Feb 2015

Category: Operation

CAT Challenge: None

Rating: 2 stars

Review: This is a story of 3 time periods. In the present, Jane Standen is an archivist working at a struggling museum. About 20 years previously, a girl in her care became lost in the woods, never to be found. About a hundred years earlier, the same land was home to an asylum where another girl went missing. There is connection between the parts, and I'm certain there are persons who will appreciate this book far more than I did. I found parts of the narrative to read more like non-fiction than the fictional account that they were. It simply did not flow well for the type of book that it was. The other problem with the book is the lack of resolution. It leaves the reader conflicted. There are readers who appreciate books that capture the fact that not everything in life is going to be settled. This is a book for that type of reader. This review is based on an advance review e-galley provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a review.

14. A Lifelong Love by Gary Thomas

Date Completed: 1 Feb 2015

Category: Operation

CAT Challenge: None

Rating: 3 stars

Review: This book is more or less a book for couples who are already married and having difficulties. There are some questions for discussion and reflection at the end of each chapter. Its tone is quite a bit different--more practical and less philosophical--than his seminal work Sacred Marriage. Persons who are just beginning the marriage journey will be better served by his earlier work. This one is recommended for Christian couples who are unhappy in their marriage as it may assist in resolving some of the issues that are keeping you from love. This review is based on an e-galley provided by the publisher through NetGalley for review.

>132 thornton37814: This one sounds as though is should be great, but I confess that I'm with you in preferring resolution at the end of a book (a series, of course, is an exception). Everything doesn't have to be wrapped up with a bow, but if I've spent an entire book working through a mystery, I really would like the mystery to be solved. Two nice reviews.

>132 thornton37814: I received that book as an ER book, and I couldn't even finish it. It was the only book I abandoned last year. I thought the plot lines were just too unfocused and that there were too many stories going on at once. I normally like that style of book and I love historical fiction by authors like Mantel, Grenville, Donaghue, Sarah Waters, etc., but this book was not good. At least in my opinion!

>134 Dejah_Thoris: It really wasn't my cup of tea, and it should have been with the historical/archival angle. I was quite disappointed.

>135 japaul22: I made myself keep plugging along, but I seriously considered abandoning it myself. There were too many stories going on, and it just didn't flow nicely.

Update on my brother: He got to go home this evening.

Great news! I hope he is feeling better.

>138 rabbitprincess: Thanks! We all do. I hope I get a chance to talk to him today. I didn't want to bother him once he got home yesterday.

Still praying.

>140 cyderry: Thanks, Cheli. I managed to forget to bring my cell phone to work today, and I'm going to a concert tonight so I won't be able to call tonight.

I'm glad your brother is back home. I hope the concert was excellent and you get to talk to your brother today.

Good news that your brother is going home, Lori.

>142 Dejah_Thoris: The concert was absolutely incredible. I'm really glad I got to go. I did talk to my brother. He seems to be doing well. He's still a little ticked off at them for their carelessness.

>143 DeltaQueen50: He is very happy to be home.

>144 thornton37814: Excellent - both that you had such a marvelous time and that you're brother is doing well. If he's only a little ticked off, he is a man of tremendous restraint.

What was the concert?

I still like the Dorothy Martin books from Jeanne Dams, though I admit not as much as I used to.

>145 Dejah_Thoris: Well, he's complained to the proper people. The concert was Shades of Blue, the United States Air Force Band of Mid-America. Truly incredible performance!

>146 lindapanzo: I'm glad someone still likes them. They just are not working for me.

>147 thornton37814: I've given up on lots of other series, though. The Patricia Cornwell books. J.D. Robb. Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books.

>148 lindapanzo: I found I didn't like J. D. Robb as much as Nora Roberts. I never got into Evanovich's. I read some of Cornwell's early books but they never were my favorites.

>126 thornton37814: That looks like a great cookbook. A few months ago, some friends and I watched noir movies from the 40's and 50's and did a potluck meal with foods from that time. That cookbook would have been handy!

>150 mathgirl40: I have a real weakness for cookbooks. It's a shame that I'm going to have to get rid of some of mine. There just won't be room for all of mine, all of my mom's, and all of Jeff's mom's. That is probably the part of my library with which I'm going to have the most struggle in downsizing.

>>151 thornton37814: Have you looked into cookbooks in e-format? Maybe you could save your favorites in ebook format and then eliminate the book in downsizing. That way you'd still have both - the cookbook and more space.

>118 thornton37814: Just catching up Lori, I hope things are going better now. It seems we never get problems singly. Take care.

>152 cyderry: I have a few cookbook e-books. I haven't thought of digitizing any myself (mainly because I have a hard time motivating myself to scan stuff like photos and stuff as it is), and I just don't have the budget to purchase a bunch.

>153 VivienneR: So far, February is better, but the month has just begun. I did, however, finally get my check from the insurance company so I can proceed with repairs caused by the water damage last month.

15. Library Lily by Gillian Shields

Date Completed: 5 Feb 2015

Category: Scrabble

CAT Challenge: None

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Lily loves to read. Efforts to get her to "have fun" like other girls failed until she met Milly in a park. Each girl shared her interests with the other. The illustrations by Francesca Chessa add a lot to the book. It's one that will be savored by book lovers. This book was published by a Christian publisher; however, there is nothing in it which makes it a Christian book. It's just a nice book that can be enjoyed by any child (or adult).

I am going "missing in action" for a few days. I should be back here either Monday night or Tuesday, but it may take a few days to catch up on everyone's threads. I plan to savor every moment that I get to spend with my "Valentine" even if we are celebrating a weekend early.

Have a wonderful weekend!

>156 thornton37814: Have a marvelous weekend, Lori! Enjoy every moment.

>154 thornton37814: I tried to follow a recipe on my iPad once. ONCE!
It kept powering down which meant that I had to wash and dry my hands every time I needed to read the next step. Give me paper cookbooks, any time.

Have a great weekend, Lori!

Have a fun weekend!

Great to hear your brother is home!! "a little ticked off" = showing great restraint.

>157 rabbitprincess: It was fun.

>158 Dejah_Thoris: I did enjoy every moment.

>159 mamzel: I'm thinking that if they are scanned to PDF, that I can print pages as needed. I use my iPad for Pinterest recipes quite often. I think I have it set so that it won't power down on me too quickly.

>160 DeltaQueen50: >161 hailelib: I had a great time. I'm back in Tennessee now mostly. I did, however, manage to leave my heart in Raleigh.

>162 -Eva-: I think he won't show quite that much restraint if it happens again.

>163 thornton37814: - I use my iPad for recipes all the time now too. I've copied most of them into my Evernote app which has made it incredibly easy to just prop up the iPad and use it. Plus, it means that all my recipes are with me at all times so if I need to pick something up at the grocery store I can just consult the recipe to see what I need.

>165 LittleTaiko: I use Evernote for many, but I also have a lot "pinned" at Pinterest.

16. Daisy Miller by Henry James

Date Completed: 6 Feb 2015

Category: Risk

CAT Challenge: None

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Winterbourne happens upon a young boy and his older sister, Daisy Miller, in Switzerland. She's a terrible flirt. Both parties end up in Italy where Daisy's infatuation with an Italian man is gaining her an unfavorable reputation. Daisy's mother doesn't act very grown up. Her little brother is more than a little pesky. Winterbourne doesn't act as you would expect him. This novella has characters that are developed but that do not appeal much to 21st century readers. The lead character is particularly annoying. I listened to the Overdrive audio version of this book which was well-done. I read the book several years ago, and my reaction to the book and its characters this time seems to be the same as I remember from the reading of it then.

Last month, I was at Ollie's, a store here that specializes in close-outs. They had some Orville Redenbacher salted caramel popcorn that was in "pop-up bowls." I have now eaten two of the three bags (about 2 weeks apart from each other). I really like this flavor. It has just a little sweet but not too much. I also like these little bowls that are easier to manage than the rather tall bags.

I have been watching with interest the reviews everyone has been posting of Henry James reads. Daisy Miller stays on my future reads list, because I really want to see how my reaction compares with yours and others.

>169 lkernagh: The good thing is that it is short. I've kind of wondered if part of the problem isn't the difference in 21st century culture vs. the culture at the time in which it was written. I'm not willing to say that is the issue, but I do know that the types of characters represented in the novel would present problems for today's readers in a relational manner.

17. Walking a Literary Labyrinth: A Spirituality of Reading by Nancy M. Malone

Date Completed: 11 Feb 2015

Category: Scrabble

CAT Challenge: None

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Malone enjoys reading and views it as a spiritual act. She shares some of her thoughts on how reading is used for spiritual reflection, even sharing thoughts on how erotic literature (not pornographic) can also fill that need, citing the Song of Solomon as the biblical precedent. Malone was an Ursuline nun who, at the time of the writing of the book, was living away from the convent. Malone does share a short annotated list of books that have been meaningful for her. This is a quick read that book lovers may enjoy.

I know several of my friends like children's books. Some of my friends on Facebook were raving about The Green Ember which is free for Kindle at the moment.

Thanks Lori, I've downloaded a copy of Green Ember even if it turns out to not be a book for me, I think my granddaughter would enjoy it.

>173 DeltaQueen50: I downloaded it too, but I haven't had a chance to read it. One of the ones who was raving is a children's librarian in a public library. The other is a children's curriculum specialist.

18. The Cornish Coast Murder by John Bude

Date Completed: 13 Feb 2015

Category: Scrabble

CAT Challenge: None

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Julius Tregarthan is found dead in his own home. Initially investigators believe that the shots may have been fired from a path outside the window; however, the vicar has a differing view. Suspects include his niece Ruth who discovered the body as well as many other village persons. There are a couple of misleading clues which may throw some readers "off the scent" of the real murderer, but a confession is finally obtained by the Inspector. I enjoyed the setting of this novel and some of the elements, but I did not find it particularly stimulating.

>175 thornton37814: I thought the same on that one. I used to love these classic-type mysteries but don't typically enjoy them now as much as I used to.

>176 lindapanzo: I'm glad I wasn't alone in my assessment. Well, I can, at least, mark it off my to-be-read list.

>177 thornton37814: Even so, I'd like to try a couple more of those British Library Crime Classics or whatever they're called. There's a winter/Christmas one that has gotten good reviews. Mystery in White by Jefferson Farjeon. I think I have Murder Underground, too.

The setting was probably the main reason I picked up The Cornish Coast Murder, and it did deliver on that front. Of all the British Library Crime Classics I've read so far, they have at least been pleasant diversions, if nothing earth-shattering, so I'll probably keep reading them.

>175 thornton37814: The setting does sounds good, but the overall 'meh' reaction for several different folks probably means I can safely skip it.

I hope you're having a lovely and relaxing weekend!

Good Golly, Lori, you've certainly had you ups and downs this year. I really hope that your brother and boyfriend's mom can now work on healing and feeling better.
Your get a way to Raleigh sounds like it was just what you needed.
Hope what's left of the weekend will be relaxing.

>178 lindapanzo: I'll have to check and see if those will be available for me in the future at a library. I need to make myself read some of the "borrowed" pile. That's the category I'm not doing quite as well in at the moment.

>179 rabbitprincess: The setting is definitely what worked best, and it was part of the attraction. It is a somewhat pleasant diversion. I think it just doesn't work quite as well today as it did during the "Golden Age."

>180 Dejah_Thoris: It can probably be safely skipped although you might enjoy it more than I did. I was able to get a lot of work done with DNA matches today. I was surprised that GEDmatch stayed functional most of the day. Of course, I enjoyed having a Valentine for the first time in decades. We made the best of the distance as we could.

>181 Carmenere: Thanks. I'm hoping most of the downs are over. My brother will have his second chemo treatment on Thursday. My other brother will be having outpatient surgery to remove a knot the size of a golf ball from his shoulder the same day, but they already know it is not cancerous. I'm hoping their younger sister can manage to avoid doctors and hospitals.

Abandoned Book Alert



Double Booked for Death by Ali Brandon

Date: 16 Feb 2015

Category: Sorry

Comments: I just could not get into this book. The characters did not grab me. There were hints of more paranormal elements than I wanted to read. I invoked the "Pearl rule." I've got too many other books I want to read to waste additional time on this one.

No kidding, Lori. There are so many books. I'm beginning to think that if people continue to write them, I may not get them all read before I die.

>184 RidgewayGirl: That is so inconsiderate of them to write them at rates faster than we can read. ;-)

19. Praying with Paul: A Call to Spiritual Reformation by D. A. Carson

Date Completed: 16 Feb 2015

Category: Operation

CAT Challenge: None

Rating: 4 stars

Review: D. A. Carson has updated his 1992 work A Call to Spiritual Reformation. He explores Paul's prayers and offers insights for modern readers and how they should be praying. The book should appeal to those in ministry as well as to many laypersons in the church. There are questions at the end of each chapter which lend themselves well to group discussions for small groups. The book is well-indexed. This review is based on an advance readers copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes.

20. Biocode: The New Age of Genomics by Dawn Field and Neil Davies

Date Completed: 16 Feb 2015

CAT Challenge: None

Rating: 4 stars

Review: As someone who has a very strong interest in genetic genealogy, I wanted to find a readable book that gave me a larger overview of the genomics field. This work by Field and Davies was an excellent, highly accessible book. It offered insights into how the field of genomics is being used in humans, animals, and even the environment. Those of us familiar with genetic genealogy will recognize mentions of the work of 23andMe, National Geographic's Genographic Project, and Family Tree DNA. The book also reports on a few other projects which primarily serve non-English speaking population groups. The authors also ventured into speculation of what may result in the future as a result of genomics research, even venturing to guess that there might be an online dating service based on matching compatible genomes. While the book may use a little more jargon than a person with absolutely no background in genetics might have, it was highly readable for those of us with a "hobbyist knowledge." It is well-researched, citing a number of genetics studies. This review is based on an advance readers copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes.

>187 thornton37814: Biocode sounds like a winner, Lori - thanks!

>188 Dejah_Thoris: Thanks. It isn't coming out until May, but it is interesting.

21. The New Rules for Love, Sex, and Dating by Andy Stanley

Date Completed: 16 Feb 2015

Category: Operation

CAT Challenge: None

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Stanley's work is a good introduction to dating and love for teens and young adults. He addresses these topics that seem to be neglected or perverted by today's culture from a Biblical perspective. The book is designed primarily to accompany a DVD series to which I did not have access. It would probably be very useful in church youth groups or small groups for the youth or young adult singles. While the book could be useful beyond church circles, it will probably not enjoy much popularity beyond them. This review is based on an advance reading copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

Hi Lori, I hope you are staying warm and safe in spite of the nasty weather you are getting.

>191 DeltaQueen50: I'm staying inside where it is warm. I've been fortunate that the power has stayed on here. I have a friend a couple of subdivisions over that has not been quite so lucky. Their power was out several hours. They have called off classes for the rest of the week so I'll be home until it is supposed to thaw out this weekend. We are supposed to get more ice and a couple of inches of snow on Friday. Temps will be frigid between now and then. I will keep a trickle of water running tonight so the pipes don't freeze.

Biocode does look interesting. Would I get more out of the book after I have my DNA run? Or does it matter? I am looking to do that this year.

I've been at home since Monday afternoon. We are very fortunate to have power too. I am not happy about another wave coming in. This girl needs some sunshine. Hang in there!

>193 VictoriaPL: I don't think it matters, Victoria. It's more of an intro. If you want a good intro to genetic genealogy, David Dowell's NextGen Genealogy is the most up-to-date resource out there. I do think we all have a bit of "cabin fever." I'm looking forward to the warm-up on Saturday.

22. Winter at the Door by Sarah Graves

Date Completed: 19 Feb 2015

Category: Clue

CAT Challenge: None

Rating: 2.5 stars

Review: Lizzie Snow takes a job in Bearkill, Maine. She's hired by the sheriff because of her experience as a homicide detective in Boston. She has ties to a state officer who is working in the area and has recommended her. The sheriff is suspicious of the deaths of several retired or former police officers in the area. Although all have been ruled accidental or suicide, there's just too much coincidence for him. There are also some missing persons and Lizzie's real reason for taking the Bearkill job, her missing niece. Most of the townspeople are unlikeable and/or annoying. The story has a dark edge and the root of the problem is drug trafficking, specifically meth. This is not my type of mystery. I found the story itself to be disjointed in places. I'll skip future installments. This book was received through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program in exchange for a review.

Sounded interesting until I saw the 2.5 rating

>196 dudes22: Betty, you might enjoy it more than I did. Look at the other ratings when you click through to the book. Mine is on the low side. It was just not my type of book. I really still like my mysteries to be closer to the cozy side, even in police procedurals.

It was when you said it was disjointed that I lost interest. But I'll check some of the other reviews when I get a minute. Thanks

>198 dudes22: Well, there is that factor, but still others may have followed the plot line better than I did for their ratings to be higher. It may be that there was too much going on. Tina (tututhefirst) said that she also snagged this one and has another book or two in front of it. You may be able to see how she reviews it when she gets to it.

23. Second Street Station by Lawrence H. Levy

Date Completed: 20 Feb 2015

Category: Operation

CAT Challenge: None

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Mary Handley, an out-of-work sweat shop employee, is hired as the first female detective by the New York Police department when Charles Goodrich is murdered. The plot includes a "who's who" of the 19th century with Thomas Edison, J. P. Morgan, Nikola Tesla, and George Westinghouse being important in the plot. Even the Pembertons of Atlanta Coca-Cola fame make appearances. Despite the implausibility of the plot, it was entertaining, at least after the opening few chapters, and kept me interested in the outcome. Many of the minor characters seemed to be a little more fully developed than the Mary herself was. Historical mystery fans who enjoy real-life characters inserted in the plot will enjoy this one. This review is based on an advance uncorrected proof e-galley provided by the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes.

I won this book through ER but haven't received it yet. Looks like a winner!

>201 mamzel: Opinions are pretty varied on it. I think my rating is about where the most people placed it. Hope you enjoy it.

Looks like Second Street Station might be worth it just for the cameos! But as for reality, it's blown right when you say out-of-work sweat shop employee, is hired as the first female detective by the New York Police department.

>203 cammykitty: Yes. It's still a fun read!

We have about 4 inches of new snow today. They were predicting more ice than snow, but I'm thankful that we got more snow than ice.

I know it's inconvenient, but it is beautiful.

>206 RidgewayGirl: It is beautiful. Of course, as the rain moves in this afternoon and causes the snow and ice to melt, they are expecting flooding problems. Apparently there is already flooding in the Nashville area.

We don't get snow here often but when we do, its' turning to rain is always a concern regarding flooding and/or freezing. Hope you are on the high side of your street, Lori!

>208 DeltaQueen50: I'll be fine at my elevation. The house is way above the street level too. The issue will be getting to the store or to work because I have to go through roads with low spots on them. I'll deal with that when I have to do so.

24. All the Crazy Winters by Deborah Adams

Date Completed: 21 Feb 2015

Category: Hi Ho! Cheery-O

CAT Challenge: None

Rating: 3 stars

Review: In Jesus Creek, Tennessee, something is amiss. First the home of Oliver who has recently written a genealogical/historical profile of the town goes up in flames. It is ruled arson. Then the library is found ransacked, and even worse, the librarian is dead. All of this occurred on the same night in a town which normally has nothing eventful happen. Delia Cannon, a local genealogist and life-time resident, knows that they cannot be coincidental. So does the local police chief, Reg. Although the plot is not without flaws, it is a fun and quick read. As I was reading the novel, I realized how much the worlds of genealogy and book publishing have changed since the book appeared in print in 1992.

25. Romancing Your Better Half by Rick Johnson

Date Completed: 21 Feb 2015

Category: Operation

CAT Challenge: None

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Johnson has written a book to help marriages, particularly newer ones, survive and thrive. When I first began reading the book, I had the impression that the book was pretty negative. Everything seemed to involve things "not to do" rather than focusing on what to do. As I got a few chapters into the book, this began to change. As the book became more optimistic, I began to enjoy it more. Johnson seems to quote heavily from other authors on the topic. I saw similarities to Willard Harley's His Needs, Her Needs and Gary Chapman's The Five Love Languages that I read in a graduate course for a unit on pre-marital counseling. He also quoted Gary Thomas, a well-known Christian marriage author, several times. While I don't think there is a lot of new material here, I do think it is presented in a practical way that many couples may appreciate. There are bullet-pointed tips at the end of each chapter to help couples apply the material in the chapter. There are also some practical lists at the end of the book following the end notes which may be overlooked by many readers who stop when they reach the references. This review is based on an advance e-galley provided by the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes.

>195 thornton37814: My librarian put this one on hold for me, but I took a good look at it and decided it wasn't for me. Your review makes me think I was right!

>200 thornton37814: Like mamzel, I won this as an ER book but it hasn't arrived yet. I skipped over your review, but the 3.5 star rating makes me hopeful!

>205 thornton37814: I agree that snow is better than ice - I'm glad that's what you got.

>210 thornton37814: That one sounds interesting just for the genealogy aspect. I may give it a try.

I hope you continue to get through the bad weather and the melt safely - and warmly!

>212 Dejah_Thoris: Thanks. I'm supposed to have some assistance digging out tomorrow. I really reached my stress limit today when I realized that there was no way I could finish on my own. I'd already managed to do the splits and twist my bad knee twice. I finally just gave up. Despite repeated attempts at asking local friends for names of persons who do snow removal, I came up with nothing. I'd even inquired asking where were the teenagers looking to make a few bucks by shoveling snow. Still no one. Our worship pastor noticed after it was too late to help today but said he'd round up a crew to help tomorrow. He said that he thought there would be several people in the church that they'd be trying to help dig out. It won't be first thing in the morning though since they won't be going in until 10 a.m.

Sigh! Another 1 to 4 inches of snow is coming overnight/in the morning.

Could you park at the end of your driveway, so you don't have to shovel? I mean, it won't last too much longer, so you just have to get yourself and your car to the street, right?

We've had quite a bit of snow here, but of course the city is used to it and has the equipment to take care of the roads. Sunday morning though, we woke up to several inches and I had to take my daughter and two girls staying with us to their drama workshop before the streets had been plowed. It took longer, but I think I'm finally getting a feel for how to drive safely in the snow. Didn't stop an SUV from roaring past me and almost going off of the road, however. And the snow was so beautiful! Some of the students in the drama workshop had come from Bombay and had never seen snow before, so they were especially thrilled.

>215 RidgewayGirl: Kay, I'm on the steepest part of the street where the cars tend to slide most. I don't think it is wise to park there. It is impossible to park in my driveway at the end because the slope up begins immediately.

I would like to have "Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes" removed from "My Favorite Things."

Sorry, Lori. Hills and snow are not a good combination.

>217 RidgewayGirl: No, they aren't. I'm going to make a run to get some groceries and do a few errands around noon. Goal is to be home before the storm hits.

Lori, I hope your weather conditions improve. It seems the east side of the continent got hit hard this winter. Am I right in saying snow is unusual in TN? In my area where we usually have tons of snow, we had only one fall this year (although it was a lot). Instead, we had unusually heavy cloud cover all winter without a break - in my opinion, worse.

>219 VivienneR: We usually get a little bit of snow over here in East Tennessee each year, but nothing like the continual hammering we've had the last couple of weeks.

Oh Lori, I'm so sorry for your snow troubles! I hope you got some help digging out and that you're in for the night safe and sound. And warm.

>221 Dejah_Thoris: I'm so over "digging out." I feel like I've been shoveling daily. The exercise is probably good for me, but I think I'd prefer some other type of workout.

I agree that's it's great exercise but the timing isn't always welcome. I hope you can stay home tomorrow if you are badly hit tonight.

>223 Dejah_Thoris: If I get hit badly tonight, I won't be able to get in anyway. They haven't called off school for tomorrow yet. We've only had a little bit so far. I guess we'll see what happens.

My niece in Mississippi sent me a photo of her snowman and asked me where mine was. I told her I didn't have time to build a snowman because I would be too busy shoveling. I did, however, decide to take time to build what could possibly be the world's tiniest snowman. Coffee beans for the eyes and cherry chips for the mouth. I did have a coffee bean for the nose, but I dropped one of the coffee beans and was too lazy to go back in to get another. I decided his nose was skin anyway.

Yay! What's his name? Having had a week of slightly over freezing temperatures during the day (it was 41 degrees on Tuesday!) our own enormous snowman is much reduced and has lost his head. RIP Denton 2015-2015. Snow is predicted for a week from now.

>226 RidgewayGirl: LOL - I didn't know you were supposed to name snowmen. I'll call him "Tiny Tim."

>225 thornton37814: He's adorable!

>228 Dejah_Thoris: Thanks!

26. Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh

Date Completed: 26 Feb 2015

Category: Risk

CAT Challenge: None

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Charles Ryder is serving in the Army in World War II. His tour of duty leads him to Brideshead, a place which has a history for him. He spent many days there during his college years. He also visited there a few years later. It's a story of the upper class and one which deals with love lost. Catholicism plays an important part in the narrative. The prose is beautifully written. It's a shame that I didn't enjoy the actual plot more.

27. The Cons of Online Genealogy by Peggy Sue George

Date Completed: 27 Feb 2015

Category: Operation

CAT Challenge: None

Rating: 1/2 star

Review: The author who admits she has little personal interest in genealogy is simply disenchanted with a couple of sites which did not meet her expectations. In the case of Ancestry.com, she believes they want to charge her a fee to store her tree, photos, and grandmother's collected data. She completely ignores all the marvelous databases that provide access to records. In the case of WikiTree, she simply misunderstood or did not read the site's terms and conditions. The short rant disguised as a book is full of grammatical, proofreading, and spelling errors. Not recommended.

Well, you'll never count me among the snow-lovers, so I'm sending my sympathy! I do love your snowman, though - very sweet!

The Cons of Online Genealogy sounds like someone got too upset to think herself out of it. While they didn't write a book, one person behaved similarly regarding LT - they mistook LT for a book selling site and were outraged that it listed books not available for sale in order to trick people. She threatened to call the FBI.

>232 -Eva-: Eva, I've lost any previous love of snow after the past two weeks.

>233 RidgewayGirl: In the author's bio at the end of the book, she claims to be a prolific writer. Let's just say that several of us in the genealogical community ordered it while it was free yesterday. I think one person who reviewed it may have paid $4.99 for what amounts to about 9 pages of content. It was still listed at $4.99 although you could get it free when I downloaded it. By the time I posted the review, the digital list price was listed at $200.00. I cross-posted my LT review to Facebook. A member of my church who is an author commented, "This smells distinctively of a scamlet. Authors abuse the borrowing system on Amazon by "writing" tiny books and then offering them via the Kindle Unlimited system. Any author can use this, I once did, and if a reader borrows your book through the system and reads 20 percent or more, then Amazon gives the author a cut of a lump sum of money they set aside for their indie author base. Frauds abuse this system by writing tiny books so that all you have to do is open the first page and you have blown passed the first 20 percent and the author gets a tiny cut from the lump sum from Amazon. These scamlets have ruined the KU system for the rest of us authors and we don't participate any longer." It's really sad that this type of abuse of the system takes place.