AlphaKIT May: R and L

The Letters for May are:

and

Don't forget to update the wiki: http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/2015_Unofficial_AlphaKIT#May

Tentatively planning on reading two books that I've had for at least two years - The Lace Reader (actually, I've had this one for several years) and The Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Looking forward to both of these!

I have a whole slew of books for May!

Dressed to Kill by Lynn Cahoon
✔False Testimony by Rose Connors
✔Front Page Fatality by LynnDee Walker
A King's Ransom
Last of the doughboys : the forgotten generation and their forgotten world war
✔Lemon Pies and Little White Lies
✔Long Way Home
Lost Princess of Oz
✔LUSITANIA TRAGEDY
✔Ming Tea Murder by Laura Childs
✔Rinkitink in Oz
✔Thread Reckoning

I'm planning to read two history books this month, both of which are ROOTS. Lift Up Thy Voice by Mark Perry is about the whole Grimke family; the other books I've read have centered on Sarah and/or Angelina. I've wanted to read this book since reading The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd nearly a year ago.

The other book is The Road to Seneca Falls: Elizbeth Cady Stanton and the First Woman's Rights Convention by Judith Wellman, which also fits the Random CAT for May.

I was able to meet criteria this month with

Wildlife by Richard Ford
Komarr by Lois McMaster Bujold

Yipee!

So far I've got:

Reaper's Gale by Steven Erikson
Red Mars - Kim Stanley Robinson

Libriomancer - Jim Hines
Lions of al Rassan - Guy Gavriel Kay

We'll see if I get to all of them.

My online book club is reading Cleopatra by H. Rider Haggard in May.

A possible author for this month is LM Montgomery, and she has a lot to offer!

I am reading some poetry by Denise Levertov, The Jacob's Ladder, and just starting a mystery by Lyn Hamilton, The Maltese Goddess.

Later in the month I'll be reading:
The Remains of the Day
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
Memory by Lois McMaster Bujold

I am listening to A Civil Campaign by Lois McMaster Bujold

I'm reading a pretty good memoir at the moment The Real Doctor Will See You Shortly by Matt McCarthy. It is about his experiences in his intern year.
That will be my R book for May.

Here's my first for the month: The Line: A Witching Savannah Novel. It also works for the SFFCAT and the RandomCAT. Woohoo!

Whoops! I never posted my "plan to read" books for R and L.

Well, for L, I have:
The Lunatic Cafe / Laurell K. Hamilton
coming up.

For R, I've just finished:

Wonder / R.J. Palacio
4 stars

August is 10-years old and has always been homeschooled, but his parents think it's time he went to a real school. The scariest part of this is that August was born with a facial deformity and he knows it's bad.

I really enjoyed this. Sure, there were parts that weren't realistic, but overall, it was an enjoyable story. It was told from a number of different viewpoints (though I don't think there were any adult viewpoints included). It was very quick to read.

Got a real winner for this month's challenge:

Run Silent, Run Deep by Edward L. Beach

This was an excellent read.

The author was obviously a veteran of military service, as there is a convincing ring of authenticity throughout this book. However, it was never boring, never dry, or even sensational, just factual. I liked the characters, and the brief yet interesting descriptions of the equipment and duties of the men assigned to the submarine service. It's also not a "gung ho!" pro-military perspective, nor anti-military, it just IS.

I stayed up past 1:00am in order to finish it, and I don't give up my sleep for just any book. Highly recommended.

Just finished Ribbons: The Gulf War: A Poem by William Heyen. My 'L' book is going to be something by Ursula K. Le Guin...

Two more finished for me:

The Riddle of the Labyrinth: A Quest to Crack an Ancient Code by Margalit Fox
Siberiak: My Cold War Adventure on the River Ob by Jenny Jaeckel

Happy reading!

Finished two books that qualify The Suspect by L.R. Wright and The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry.

I've finished reading Lived through This by Anne K. Ream, a powerful book telling the stories of rape and other sexual violence survivors which I received through the LT Early Reviewers program.

COMPLETED Adventures in the Ancient World:2 by H. Rider Haggard

I just finished The Road to Seneca Falls: Elizabeth Cady Stanton the the First Woman's Rights Convention by Judith Wellman, which I enjoyed. More info about it will be on my individual thread.

Essex County / Jeff Lemire
4.5 stars

Lester is living on a farm with his Uncle Ken. Lou and his brother Vince played hockey when they were younger. Now, Lou is deaf and elderly and can't take care of himself on the farm, anymore; he is thinking back on all the memories. Anne is a nurse in Essex County. They each have their own stories in this graphic novel collection set in Essex County in Southern Ontario.

I really enjoyed this. It was quick to read, despite it's length, and, I thought, very Canadian. I hope it will appeal to non-Canadians, as well, though. The rural farming community was familiar to me; though I didn't grow up on a farm, I lived in a small town - a farming community. The stories all come together as you read through them. There were a couple of short stories added at the end that were originally going to be part of the main stories - I didn't find them quite as interesting. There were also bonus materials including early drawings, and promotional material that was interesting to see.

The Lunatic Cafe / Laurell K. Hamilton
4 stars

Vampire hunter, Anita Blake, is dating werewolf Richard. While they try to sort out their relationship, Anita is called to alpha werewolf, Marcus, to help find out about some missing werewolves.

I am really enjoying this series (at least for now – I know that will change later). It does remind me a lot of Sookie Stackhouse (though I know Anita Blake actually came first). This book didn't seem as dark (that is, gory) as the others have been (to be honest, I don't remember them real well, but I took a look back at my reviews for a reminder), but there was plenty of action (especially at the end) and I am enjoying Anita and Richard trying to figure out where they are going.

I'm planning on reading Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier this month.

Starting The Classical World by Robin Lane Fox

Sigh. I'm mired in tomes this month. I finished Judas Unchained by Peter F Hamilton and now am working my way through Reaper's Gale. Both are 1000 pages or more.

I am starting Ring by Koji Suzuki but I don't know if I'll be able to finish it.

>23 LisaMorr: Oh, I hope you like! It wasn't fast-paced, but the atmosphere was great! I really liked it!

I have got a book for L now - A Lady Cyclist's Guide to Kashgar, which was an interesting story that I enjoyed.

Starting "The Making of the Representative for Planet 8" by Doris Lessing

COMPLETED The Making of the Representative for Planet 8 by Doris Lessing

Starting Six Tragedies by Lucius Annaeus Seneca

The Waste Land is done. That was my second and last attempt at reading T.S. Eliot. It's not something I particularly enjoy.

Finished Fatal Flame by Lyndsay Faye! Still working on the Ring because I'll only read it during daylight hours on my days off. ;-)

I also read The Fatal Flame by Lyndsay Faye, the third book in an excellent historical mystery series set in 1840s New York City

Euphoria by Lily King.

It was good - really good.

>27 LibraryCin: I thought Rebecca was great! Very well done. My first Du Maurier - I have picked up quite a few more.

I just finished The River Midnight. It was simply wonderful. Full review written, and adding it to the wiki now. If you like historical fiction or just a beautifully written story that takes you away from everything else...you should look this one up. I'll be hunting down the author's other works sooner than later.

>36 LisaMorr: I've also read a couple by Du Maurier since. I wasn't crazy about one of them (can't recall the title at the moment), but I liked Jamaica Inn. I have a couple more on the tbr, as well.

I finished The Left Hand of Darkness

Just realized that the play I read yesterday will work for this -- Right You Are (If You Think So) by Luigi Pirandello.

Finished The Remains of the Day and ended up loving it!

Finished A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle yesterday, so I've got an R and an L this month.

I forgot to add I finished Castle Rackrent before May was over. It was fun!

I forgot to mention I COMPLETED Six Tragedies by Lucius Annaeus Seneca on Friday.