Christina reads a "leap year" in 2016

My 2016 "Leap Year" Category Challenge

Welcome to my 2016 category challenge! In thinking about how I wanted to structure my reading this year, I realized a couple of things: (1) 2016 marks the eighth year that I've participated in LibraryThing's annual category challenge; and (2) 16 categories is way too many for me! Therefore, I've decided to go with an 8x8 challenge rather than a "traditional" 16x16.

I also pondered many different possible themes for this challenge, until I remembered that 2016 is a leap year! This inspired me to choose categories whose first letters spell out the words "leap year":

L: Let Them Eat Cake -- historical fiction
E: Elementary, My Dear Watson -- mysteries
A: All You Need Is Love -- romance and chick lit
P: Play It Again, Sam -- re-reads
Y: Yer a Wizard, Harry -- fantasy
E: Everybody! -- CATs, dogs, and group reads
A: Age Before Beauty -- from my TBR shelves
R: Roam If You Want To -- set outside the U.S. and U.K.

I think these categories will provide a good mix of challenges and comfort reads. And because I shouldn't have too much trouble reading 64 books, I'll most likely have extra time at the end of the year for free reading! :)

Let Them Eat Cake: Historical fiction



1. Bee Ridgway, The River of No Return
2. Helen Simonson, The Summer Before the War
3. Kathleen Baldwin, A School for Unusual Girls
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Elementary, My Dear Watson: Mysteries



1. Georgette Heyer, No Wind of Blame
2. Alan Melville, Quick Curtain
3. Ellis Peters, The Hermit of Eyton Forest
4. Christopher St. John Sprigg, Death of an Airman
5.
6.
7.
8.

All You Need Is Love: Romance and chick lit



1. Kristan Higgins, Anything for You
2. Mitchell Kriegman, Things I Can't Explain
3. Neel Shah and Skye Chatham, Read Bottom Up
4. Lucy Parker, Act Like It
5. Cindy Anstey, Love, Lies and Spies
6. Lindsey Kelk, Always the Bridesmaid
7. Morgan Matson, The Unexpected Everything
8. Lily Anderson, The Only Thing Worse Than Me Is You

Play It Again, Sam: Re-reads



1. Georgette Heyer, Frederica
2. Dorothy L. Sayers, Strong Poison
3. Eva Ibbotson, A Song for Summer
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Yer a Wizard, Harry: Fantasy



1. Jasper Fforde, The Last Dragonslayer
2. Maggie Stiefvater, The Raven King
3. V.E. Schwab, A Darker Shade of Magic
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Everybody!: CATs, dogs, and group reads



1. Connie Willis, Uncharted Territory
2. Umberto Eco and Cardinal Martini, Belief or Nonbelief?: A Confrontation
3. Kate Beaton, Step Aside, Pops
4. Jacques Philippe, Interior Freedom
5. Mindy Kaling, Why Not Me?
6. Ben Macintyre, A Spy Among Friends: Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal
7. Rebecca Mead, One Perfect Day: The Selling of the American Wedding
8. Anne Tyler, Vinegar Girl

Age Before Beauty: From my TBR shelves



1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Roam If You Want To: Books set outside the U.S. and U.K.



1. Frances de Pontes Peebles, The Seamstress
2. Francesc Miralles, Love in Lowercase
3. Chingiz Aitmatov, The Day Lasts More Than a Hundred Years
4. Ruta Sepetys, Salt to the Sea
5. Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace
6. Laura Esquivel, Like Water for Chocolate
7. Martha Hall Kelly, Lilac Girls
8. Kerry Greenwood, Cocaine Blues

CATs

As I did last year, I'm planning to treat the CATs as true "take it or leave it" challenges. If I read something that happens to fit a CAT, that's great, but I'm not going to stress about doing every CAT every month. Right now, I'm most excited about the GeoCAT, but I'm sure I will read at least a couple of books for each CAT.

January
DeweyCAT (000-099):
GeoCAT (South America): Frances de Pontes Peebles, The Seamstress (Brazil)
RandomCAT (Embrace Your Uniqueness): Alan Melville, Quick Curtain (owned by 17 LT members)
SFFKIT (owned for a year or more): Jasper Fforde, The Last Dragonslayer (owned since 12/25/12)

February
DeweyCAT (100-199): Umberto Eco and Cardinal Martini, Belief or Nonbelief?: A Confrontation (195)
GeoCAT (Central Asia): Chingiz Aitmatov, The Day Lasts More Than a Hundred Years (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan)
RandomCAT (It Takes Two): Connie Willis, Uncharted Territory (romance, work partnership) | Umberto Eco and Cardinal Martini, Belief or Nonbelief?: A Confrontation (two authors) | Neel Shah and Skye Chatham, Read Bottom Up (romance, two authors)
SFFKIT (published in the last 5 years):

March
DeweyCAT (200-299): Jacques Philippe, Interior Freedom (233.7 or 234.2)
GeoCAT (Eastern Europe and Russia): Ruta Sepetys, Salt to the Sea (East Prussia)
RandomCAT (celebration):
SFFKIT (set in an alternate world):

April
DeweyCAT (300-354): Ben Macintyre, A Spy Among Friends: Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal (327.1247)
GeoCAT (Polar Regions, Islands, and Bodies of Water):
RandomCAT (Earth Day):
SFFKIT (on NPR's top 100 list):

May
DeweyCAT (355-399): Rebecca Mead, One Perfect Day: The Selling of the American Wedding (395.22)
GeoCAT (North America): Anne Tyler, Vinegar Girl (set in Maryland) | Maggie Stiefvater, The Raven King (set in Virginia) | Laura Esquivel, Like Water for Chocolate (set in Mexico)
RandomCAT (Color Your World): Maggie Stiefvater, The Raven King (raven = black) | Laura Esquivel, Like Water for Chocolate (chocolate = brown)
SFFKIT (space opera):

June
DeweyCAT (400-499):
GeoCAT (Australia and New Zealand): Kerry Greenwood, Cocaine Blues (set in Melbourne, Australia)
RandomCAT (I do! I do!): Kemper Donovan, The Decent Proposal
SFFKIT (interesting cover art): V.E. Schwab, A Darker Shade of Magic (art by Will Staehle)

July
DeweyCAT (500-599):
GeoCAT (Central America and Caribbean):
RandomCAT ():
SFFKIT (story features change through transformation or adaptation):

August
DeweyCAT (600-699):
GeoCAT (Southern Africa):
RandomCAT ():
SFFKIT (start or continue a series):

September
DeweyCAT (700-799):
GeoCAT (Southern Asia):
RandomCAT ():
SFFKIT (non-U.S./U.K. authors)

October
DeweyCAT (800-899):
GeoCAT (Eastern Asia):
RandomCAT ():
SFFKIT (steampunk/clockpunk/dieselpunk/etc.):

November
DeweyCAT (900-939):
GeoCAT (Middle East and North Africa):
RandomCAT ():
SFFKIT (time travel):

December
DeweyCAT (940-999):
GeoCAT (Western Europe):
RandomCAT ():
SFFKIT ():

BingoDOG

I'll post my Bingo card here once it's created. Huzzah, the Bingo card has arrived! :) I had a lot of fun with the 2015 Bingo card, and I'll probably attempt another cover-all Bingo in 2016.



1. Less than 200 pages: Connie Willis, Uncharted Territory (149 pages)

2. Senior citizen as the protagonist:

3. Survival story: Ruta Sepetys, Salt to the Sea (protagonist are Eastern European refugees fleeing the Soviet advance during World War II)

4. About an airplane flight: Christopher St. John Sprigg, Death of an Airman (murder mystery involving a fateful plane crash)

5. About a writer (fiction or nonfiction): Morgan Matson, The Unexpected Everything (one of the main characters is a fantasy novelist)

6. About the environment:

7. Author born in 1916:

8. Autobiography or memoir: Mindy Kaling, Why Not Me? (at the very least, it's a collection of autobiographical essays)

9. Adventure:

10. One-word title:

11. Title has a musical reference:

12. Title uses wordplay: Lucy Parker, Act Like It (protagonists are actors who also "act" by pretending to be in a relationship)

13. Read a CAT: Umberto Eco and Cardinal Martini, Belief or Nonbelief?: A Confrontation (February DeweyCAT - 195)

14. A body of water in the title: Bee Ridgeway, The River of No Return

15. About/by an indigenous person:

16. Food is important: Laura Esquivel, Like Water for Chocolate

17. Published before you were born: Georgette Heyer, No Wind of Blame (pub date 1939)

18. Features a theater: Alan Melville, Quick Curtain

19. Debut book: Frances de Pontes Peebles, The Seamstress

20. In translation: Francesc Miralles, Love in Lowercase (from Spanish)

21. Focus on art:

22. Coming-of-age story:

23. Comics, graphic novel, manga, BD: Kate Beaton, Step Aside, Pops (comics)

24. Self-published:

25. You want the protagonist's job or hobby: Kerry Greenwood, Cocaine Blues (amateur detective/independently wealthy)

Overflow

Books that don't fit any of my categories and books that I read after I've completed the challenge will go here!

1. Rainbow Rowell, Kindred Spirits
2. Jen Chaney, As If! The Oral History of Clueless
3. Julie Buxbaum, Tell Me Three Things
4. Kemper Donovan, The Decent Proposal

Nice job! Love the idea of using LEAP YEAR for your categories!

Great setup! Looks like you will have a fun reading year. Also I like the Sherlock photo ;)

>13 mamzel: Thanks! I knew I wanted to do 8x8 for a while, but I didn't know how to create a theme for that. So I was excited when that inspiration suddenly struck!

>14 rabbitprincess: Thanks! And yeah, that photo took me about 0.5 seconds to pick out. :)

What a fun way to organize your categories!

Love the LEAP YEAR theme! And some nice toppers to go with your categories :-)

Brilliant idea, and how clever to allow yourself so much latitude for free reading!

This is a fun set up!

Love the illustrations!

Very clever theme! Looks like it will be a lot of fun.

Great set up Christina! You always have such clever names for your categories which is why I always want to steal from you! (Don't worry, I am planning on going straight in 2016 with no stealing)

>19 luvamystery65: Thanks! :)

>20 -Eva-: Thank you -- I had a lot of fun looking for appropriate pictures!

>21 VivienneR: I'm definitely looking forward to 2016!

>22 DeltaQueen50: Thank you so much! :) And I absolutely LOVED your "big steal" in 2015 -- and the fact that you used one of my categories!

Ahh, forgot to respond to >16 LittleTaiko:, >17 leslie.98:, and >18 MissWatson:! Thank you all for stopping by and for your lovely compliments! :)

Great theme! I had not even thought about that 2016 is a leap year... I also really like your category titles. :)

>25 Chrischi_HH: Thank you! I was really excited when the leap year theme occurred to me.

I love your Leap Year theme and setup!

>27 lkernagh: Thanks, Lori -- good to see you here! :)

I'm curious -- what do you do with books that could fit under more than one category? I know some people do overlaps, but if you don't, how do you pick which category to place the book under? Here are my personal "rules" for this situation:

1. In general, "Age before beauty" (books from my TBR shelves) should be my last resort, because I want to read as many books from my TBR as possible.

2. Specific categories should be filled before general categories. For example, a book that fits the GeoCAT should go into "Roam If You Want To" (books set outside the U.S./U.K.) before "Everybody!" (CATs, dogs, and group reads), because the former is a more specific category and thus harder to fill.

Does anyone else do something like this, or am I the only one this insane? :) Do you simply place the book in whichever category is emptiest at the time? Do you move books around as the shape of your challenge shifts throughout the year?

>29 christina_reads: - I just place the book in whichever category is emptiest at the time. Lazy, I know but it works. ;-)

>29 christina_reads: I allow for overlaps from a non-CAT list onto a CAT list; but keep unique titles in the non-CAT lists themselves. In general, I first check to see if it works for a current CAT, then plant/transplant as necessary in the non-CAT lists :-)

This is a harder decision in the first half of the year for me. I agree that I generally try to fill up my more specific (and therefore harder) categories first. I figure I will read books for the easier categories without even trying as I go through the year. In essence I do most of my planned/goal oriented reading up front each year when I'm excited about it and then have broad enough categories to free read the rest of the year while still filling in the challenge.

That's indeed a good question. And the reason for why I created three sets of categories for 2016: the first set is where the book comes from (tbr/borrowed/acquired), and there overlap is not possible. The second set is my focus categories. Within these, I won't allow overlap and will have to decide where to put each book. I think I will check which categories are emptiest and hardest to fill and decide by that. And the third set is CATs/DOGs, which I only use to track my participation and not really as separate categories. So, overlap within the sets - no. Overlap between the sets - yes.

I want my Cats/Dog/Bingo to fit within my challenge categories, so I do have a "miscellaneous" just in case it doesn't fit anywhere else. I think this year I have some categories planned so that books might fit multiple places, but I don't do overlaps so I try to fit it into the "hardest" categories first. I won't know for sure though until the Bingo Dog blocks are done how much wiggle room I have.

ETA: I do allow overlaps between the Cats/Dog/extra challenges, just not within my challenge categories.

>30 lkernagh: It may be simple, but it makes so much sense!

>31 Tanya-dogearedcopy: I do the same, in that if a book fits a particular CAT, I'll put it in the CAT category first. This year I have two categories that can easily be filled with CAT books, so I anticipate that those will be filled rather quickly!

>32 japaul22: Like you, I have a few categories that will probably fill themselves. I never really thought about front-loading the harder categories at the beginning of the year, but that's a really good strategy!

>33 Chrischi_HH: What an interesting structure for your challenge! I'm doing something similar, in that my CAT and Dog participation will be logged separately at >10 christina_reads: and >11 christina_reads:. There will definitely be overlap between those two lists and my eight true categories. But I don't plan to overlap among the eight true categories.

>34 dudes22: Agreed -- I always try to fit CATs and Bingo within my categories, but sometimes that doesn't quite work. I can't wait to see how Bingo will turn out this year...looking forward to seeing the new cards that are created!

Traditionally for me, I tend to put the book in the category it best fits, however if there are two it qualifies for, then I'd probably put it in the one that will be harder to fill or else the one with the least amount of books already logged. Usually once I put a book in a category it stays there, there have only been a couple of times where I shifted one out to help fill a slower filling category.

>36 LittleTaiko: I've never moved books around, but I'm not sure why I'm so resistant to it!

>37 christina_reads: - Yeah, it's not something I normally do, mainly because once I'm done with something I really don't want to think about it again.

I've definitely moved books around, but mostly because I have (indecisive as I am) changed my categories late in the game. :)

>38 LittleTaiko: That makes sense. Once I've read and reviewed a book, I tend to move it to the back of my mind, which makes room for the next book!

>39 -Eva-: Luckily, we are all about flexibility in these challenges! :)

love your setup! LEAP YEAR!

I love your categories! This looks like it will be a really fun year for you.

>41 cyderry: Haha, thanks! :)

>42 mstrust: I think so -- I'm really looking forward to it!

Great looking challenge. As I finally browse the threads here I'm noting that many of us are doing the Bingo and CAT challenges. I'll have to look into this before posting my own thread.

>44 avatiakh: I enjoy the CATs and Bingo because I think it increases the pleasure of the social aspect of the challenge. There's more to chat about if we're reading books with a common aspect to them!

Wonderful set-up!

>46 mysterymax: Thanks! :)

Love your pictures and your categories!

>48 Tess_W: Thank you! I always have fun choosing them for each year's challenge.

Love the pictures and your 8x8 structure. And I'm going to copy your Bingo message set up, and do the same with mine. Looking forward to your reading!

Love the categories! Super smart to do an 8x8. I'm still having a think about mine. :)

Happy New Year!

>51 nittnut: Happy New Year! Can't wait to see what you decide to do with your challenge!

Happy New Year, everyone! I spent most of yesterday frantically writing up the rest of my 2015 reviews, as I'd gotten extremely behind. But I managed to finish them with more than an hour to spare! :) If you're interested, my 2015 recap post -- including a list of my top 10 favorite books of the year -- is here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/192759#5396454.

Now I'm just excited to start my 2016 challenge! But I still haven't decided what book I want to kick off the year with. My only firm plans for January are to read The Seamstress by Frances de Pontes Peebles for the GeoCAT and to start War and Peace for the group read. Neither one of them is calling my name right now, though...so it looks like I'll have to investigate my TBR shelves!

Sounds good to me. Happy New Year and best wishes for 2016!

>53 christina_reads:, lol, I did the same! I think I wrote six reviews on Thursday, some dating back to books I finished in November...

>54 lkernagh: Happy New Year, Lori!

>55 whitewavedarling: Haha, there's nothing quite like trying to write a review of a book you read two months ago...

Happy New Year! (Happy Leap Year -- love the theme!)

>Thanks! :) Happy 2016 to you as well!

Love the categories! I look forward to following along :)

>59 skrouhan: Thanks for stopping by!

Book #1: Georgette Heyer, No Wind of Blame
Category: Elementary, My Dear Watson
Bingo: 17 - published before you were born (pub date is 1939)

Plenty of people wanted to murder the shiftless, good-for-nothing Wally Carter. His rich wife, Ermyntrude, was tired of giving him money that he only drank or gambled away. Ermyntrude's daughter, Vicky, thought her mother would be happier with another man. The slick "Prince" Alexis Varasashvili had his eye on Ermyntrude's fortune. And several other characters had equally strong movies for wanting Wally out of the way. But when he actually is shot, it seems that no one could possibly have fired the gun without being immediately discovered. As suspicion rests on each of the characters in turn, it's up to Scotland Yard's Inspector Hemingway to discover the truth. Along the way, a sordid scandal comes to light, a crooked business deal is unearthed, and romances end and begin.

I'm glad I chose this book to kick off my 2016 reading, since it contains both an ingenious mystery plot and a wonderful assortment of classic Heyer characters. I loved the histrionic Ermyntrude, who is certainly vulgar but also extremely kind-hearted. And Vicky, who delights in playing a variety of different roles (such as Sports Girl and Dutiful Daughter), annoyed me at first, but eventually I began to enjoy her antics in spite of myself. The main characters are so well-drawn that the mystery is a bit sidelined, but I do think the solution is very clever. I guessed the murderer but not the "how" or the "why," although Heyer plants a few clues throughout the novel. The romances are a bit undercooked, especially the one involving Wally's ward, Mary Cliffe. I don't know whether I'd consider it one of my favorite Heyer mysteries, but it was still a fun read and a great start to the year!

Georgette Heyer is a perfect author to start the reading year. ;-)

>62 lkernagh: My thoughts exactly!

LOL! A character named Ermyntrude! I do have to read Heyer sometime.

Thanks for the reminder that I should really read more of Heyer's mysteries.

>61 christina_reads: I haven't read any Heyer yet, but have seen the name here on LT several times and after reading your review I think I really should get to her books.

Nice theme :-)

>64 cammykitty: Right?! Heyer novels always have at least one or two fabulous character names.

>65 LittleTaiko: To be honest, they're not as good as her romances, but they are still solid reads if you enjoy Golden Age mysteries!

>66 Chrischi_HH: Yes, do it!!! Her Regency romances are excellent!

>67 psutto: Thanks for stopping by! :)

Heyer is always good when the stack of books you thought you were going to read doesn't feel all that appealing.

>68 christina_reads: - I've read a couple of the mysteries and thought they were cute. Perfect for when I need something light and fun.

So many of you are so creative with the photos and categories!

>69 hailelib: Absolutely! I basically couldn't figure out what I wanted to read, so I defaulted to a Heyer novel. :)

>70 LittleTaiko: Definitely a great choice when you just need a light, pleasant read.

>71 LibraryCin: Why thank you! :)

That book pile from your Age Before Beauty category is a horror to behold. Hope it's not a personal photo. Good luck with your challenge!

>73 AHS-Wolfy: Haha, nope, my TBR books are a bit more organized...but they're just as fearsome staring at me from my shelves!

Hi Christina! Great challenge set-up -- as usual. Good luck with War and Peace and the rest of your challenge.

>75 VioletBramble: Thanks! War and Peace has been a very pleasant surprise so far, although the battle stuff can get a bit tedious at times.

Great idea with your LEAP YEAR challenge! And nice book to start the year out. I've not read any Heyer yet but I have three of her books and I need to fit her in sometime this year.

>77 LisaMorr: Ooh, you're in for a treat with Heyer! Hope you end up enjoying her as much as I do!

Christina, did you see that there's a new TV adaptation of War and Peace coming soon?
http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/war-and-peace?&mkwid=so36KD8Fw%7Cdt_pcrid_81...

>79 VictoriaPL: Yup! :) As a matter of fact, that's partially why I decided to read War and Peace this year. My plan is to DVR all the episodes, then watch them once I've finished the book.

>80 christina_reads:. I should have known you have a plan, LOL.
Enjoy!

>81 VictoriaPL: Me, a planner? Shocking! ;)

>82 christina_reads: LOL ;)

TV War & Peace??? That just sounds wrong!!! but at an hour a week, it might take them a few years to get through it.

>84 cammykitty: Haha, yeah, you'd think! In actuality, I believe there are four episodes, but I'm not 100% sure.

Book #2: Frances de Pontes Peebles, The Seamstress
Category: Roam If You Want To
CATs: Geo - set in Brazil
Bingo: 19 - debut book

This historical epic set in 1920s and '30s Brazil tells the story of two sisters, Emília and Luzia, and the bond they share despite the very different directions in which life takes them. They grow up in a small mountain town, where they eke out a living as seamstresses. Emília dreams of someday moving to a big city, dressing in fine clothes, and leaving poverty behind forever. Luzia, whose arm was deformed after a childhood accident, simply wants to escape her cruel nickname of "Victrola." Emília eventually achieves her goals by marrying the rich Degas Coelho, but she find herself unprepared both for Degas' family and for the strict rules of Brazilian high society. Meanwhile, Luzia is abducted by a gang of bandits led by the notorious Hawk, but she eventually discovers a certain aptitude for their way of life.

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, it paints an extremely vivid picture of Brazilian life during this time period, encompassing wealthy city dwellers, powerful country landowners known as "colonels," and the impoverished rural folk who equally fear the colonels and the bandits as they constantly prey upon each other. I know basically nothing about Brazilian history, so it was fascinating to immerse myself in this unfamiliar setting. I also really liked the central relationship between Emília and Luzia; even though they are very different people, and they don't spend much time together in the novel, they still share an obvious bond. On the other hand, the book is very slow-paced, and I honestly found it a slog a lot of the time. It's definitely worth reading if the setting interests you, but I must admit, I'm just relieved to have finished it!

Book #3: Kristan Higgins, Anything for You
Category: All You Need Is Love

Connor O'Rourke thinks it's the perfect time to propose to his on-again, off-again girlfriend, Jessica Dunn. His restaurant is thriving, his new house is big enough for a family, and he's even thinking of opening his own brewery. But when he gets down on one knee, Jessica gives him a kind but firm "no." Her life has always been complicated: unlike Connor, she grew up in poverty with alcoholic parents and an intellectually disabled younger brother. She finally has a good job and a stable living situation, and she doesn't want anything to change. But Connor is left reeling by her refusal and says that he can't be with Jessica anymore if she's not willing to move forward with him. The problem is, no matter how many women his well-meaning sister sets him up with, he can't get Jessica out of his mind. And Jessica, despite her independent facade, begins to realize that she misses Connor a lot more than she thought she would.

When I need a light, quick, palate-cleansing read, I almost always pick up a Kristan Higgins novel. This one was enjoyable, as always...I liked that the conflict between Connor and Jessica feels realistic, given Jessica's difficult past. It was also fun to spend more time in the world of the Blue Heron series, of which I think this is the last installment. All the characters and couples from earlier books make an appearance, and they've all pretty much achieved their happily-ever-afters. In fact, if I had one complaint, the sheer amount of happiness in this book -- literally everyone is getting together, getting married, and/or having babies -- is pretty saccharine and unrealistic. But then again, I'm not reading fluffy romance novels for the realism. :) If you're looking for a sweet, fun romance you can read in a day, I'd definitely recommend this book, although you might be a little confused about the secondary characters if you haven't read the rest of the series.

Book #4: Alan Melville, Quick Curtain
Category: Elementary, My Dear Watson
CATs: Random - owned by 17 LT members
Bingo: 18 - features a theater

Crowds flock to the London premiere of Douglas B. Douglas' sensational new musical comedy, hoping to catch a glimpse of stage idols Brandon Baker and Gwen Astle. But they get even more sensation than they bargained for when leading man Baker is shot dead in the middle of Act 2. Fortunately, Inspector Wilson of Scotland Yard is in the audience, along with his son Derek, an enterprising young journalist. When another cast member is found hanged in his dressing room, the obvious conclusion is that he murdered Baker, then committed suicide. But Inspector Wilson isn't convinced, especially when he finds a bullet hole in a place that would be impossible under that theory of the crime. He and Derek jointly investigate the mystery, which leads them to a remote village, several salacious secrets, and an altogether unexpected solution to the mystery.

I absolutely love Golden Age mysteries, and this one was a very enjoyable read, unique in its lighthearted tone and somewhat breezy attitude to police procedure. (For instance, does Inspector Wilson even have jurisdiction over the case? In this book, it doesn't matter: he's first on the scene, so he simply commandeers the investigation.) I loved the humorous running commentary on show business of the era; apparently the author himself had a long career in the industry. And I laughed out loud at various silly jokes, particularly an exchange where the play's director is impatiently waiting for the doctor to examine the corpse. Finally fed up, the director asks, "Well?" "Not at all; in fact, he's dead," the doctor replies. The mystery plot isn't particularly original, and a twist in the last chapter may irritate readers who want their mystery authors to play fair. But I really enjoyed the book's tongue-in-cheek style and would definitely recommend it to fans of the genre!

Very happy to see your review of The Seamstress, Christina! When that one first came out, I hemmed and hawed about the book. I believe I even checked it out from the library but debated about actually started to read it. Glad to see that I probably haven't missed a gem of a story by passing it by.

>88 christina_reads: Ooh, I hope my library orders this one!

>89 lkernagh: BUT, other people on LT enjoyed it a lot more than I did! So maybe I'm in the minority. I just have very little patience with books where I feel like the pacing is too slow. Some people like to marinate in a novel, but I'm always wanting to race ahead and see what happens next!

>90 rabbitprincess: It's a lot of fun! I found a copy in a used bookstore and snatched it up right away. :) I love that a lot of these vintage mysteries are being rereleased as British Library Crime Classics!

Some people like to marinate in a novel,

I love that phrase!

Book #5: Jasper Fforde, The Last Dragonslayer
Category: Yer a Wizard, Harry
CATs: SFFKIT - owned since 12/25/12

In the Ununited Kingdoms, magic is a part of everyday life, but it's only used for the most mundane of tasks, like rewiring a house's electricity or removing all the moles from the garden (or your face). But lately, the magic levels seem to be rising in the Kingdom of Hereford, and nobody quite knows why. Moreover, the local pre-cogs have begun to prophesy the death of the world's last remaining dragon -- an event of great importance, not only because dragons seem to be inextricably tied to magic, but also because once a dragon dies, its lands are up for grabs. Thus, the premonition inevitably results in a huge influx of people and corporations hoping to claim the Dragonlands for themselves. In the midst of all this, Jennifer Strange, a seemingly ordinary 15-year-old girl, learns that she has a surprising destiny: she is the Last Dragonslayer, the one fated to kill the dragon. The problem is, Jennifer isn't quite sure she wants to do it....

As a big Fforde ffan, I'm glad I finally got around to reading this book, his first YA novel and the first book in a trilogy. Overall, I found it pretty enjoyable and quite reminiscent of the Thursday Next books in some ways. Like Thursday, Jennifer is a strong and intelligent heroine who's willing to fight for her principles. She also has a quirky pet, although it's not a dodo but a Quarkbeast, a visually terrifying creature with the personality of a dog. And just as Thursday often gets into trouble with the all-powerful Goliath corporation, Jennifer runs into similar problems with Consolidated Useful Stuff. In fact, maybe that's the reason I didn't like this book as much as Fforde's other work -- it's a bit too similar to the Thursday Next series, except without all the fun literary references and time travel. I'd say it's still worth reading if you enjoy Fforde's particular brand of schtick, but it's not the best entry point into his work.

>93 christina_reads:
I have that one on Mt. TBR, so very happy to be cautioned about how close it is to Thursday - I too had hoped it went in another style. Thanks for the heads-up!

>94 -Eva-: You're welcome! It's still a good read, but it helps to go in with the right expectations.

January recap

Well, this year got off to a pretty slow start for me, reading-wise! I only read five books in January, mostly because The Seamstress took me so long. Luckily, the East Coast blizzard allowed me to catch up somewhat! :)

Books read:
1. Georgette Heyer, No Wind of Blame
2. Frances de Pontes Peebles, The Seamstress
3. Kristan Higgins, Anything for You
4. Alan Melville, Quick Curtain
5. Jasper Fforde, The Last Dragonslayer

I also finished Book One of War and Peace and started Book Two. I'm really glad I'm finally reading this book...the battle sections are pretty boring, but the social comedy is lots of fun!

Favorite book of the month: Quick Curtain - It's such a fun and funny Golden Age mystery, especially for fans of the theater!

Least favorite book of the month: The Seamstress - I didn't hate this book or anything, but the pacing was too slow for me.

CATs completed:
Geo (South America) - The Seamstress is set in 1920s and '30s Brazil.
Random (Embrace Your Uniqueness) - Quick Curtain is (or at least was) owned by only 17 LT members.
SFFKIT (owned for a year or more) - I've owned The Last Dragonslayer since 12/25/12.

Bingo squares completed:
17. Published before you were born - No Wind of Blame was published in 1939.
18. Features a theater - Quick Curtain centers around a theater production and a murder that occurs onstage.
19. Debut book - The Seamstress is Frances de Pontes Peebles' first novel.

>88 christina_reads: - Sounds like the perfect book to fill that theater bingo spot! I'm going to have to see if my library has it as it sounds right up my alley.

ETA: no luck with the library; might end up as one of my Thingaversary purchases in April instead!

>97 LittleTaiko: Sorry your library didn't have it! Maybe you'll get lucky and find a used copy somewhere.

No Kristan Higgins at my library. Rats. I was looking for something fluffy for a busy week. Maybe I'll just re-read a Heyer. Lol

ETA: Actually, there are heaps at the library, if only one does not misspell the author's name when inputting it.

>99 nittnut: Haha, her name is tricky! Hope you are able to obtain and enjoy some of her books. They're all entertaining, but I think Too Good to Be True and All I Ever Wanted are my favorites.

Book #6: Connie Willis, Uncharted Territory
Category: Everybody!
CATs: Random - work partnership, romance
Bingo: 1 - less than 200 pages (149)

Renowned planetary explorers Findriddy and Carson have a simple mission: to investigate and map out the alien planet they're currently surveying. But their task is fraught with several complications. Their alien guide, Bult, is hellbent on extorting every last possible penny from Earth by fining Fin and Carson for everything from "destroying indigenous flora" (stepping on the grass) to "disturbing the land surface" (leaving footprints). Earth is also watching Fin and Carson with an eagle eye, theoretically to prevent them from destroying the indigenous environment and customs, but actually to evaluate what natural resources might be worth exploiting. Then a visiting scientist, Evelyn Parker, arrives to tag along on Fin and Carson's cartographical expeditions, complicating the already volatile relationship between them. Evelyn's speciality is the mating customs of various species, both human and alien; and it's no coincidence that as the expedition continues, all parties find themselves exploring the uncharted territory within their own hearts as well.

I'm such a huge Connie Willis fan, so I was very glad to finally read this short novel. It's one of her comedic offerings (think Bellwether, not Doomsday Book), and I loved her satire on political correctness and the "noble savage" myth. (Not that she paints the aliens as villains, either; they're just regular people, no better or worse than the visiting Earthers.) There's also a lot of playfulness surrounding gender: Evelyn turns out to be a man, and Fin's gender isn't revealed until quite a ways into the story. Of course, this all foreshadows the eventual emergence of the romantic plot, and I really enjoyed the resolution of that as well. It's a bit predictable but also quite funny. Overall, I'd say this book is a pleasant diversion, although it lacks the thoughtfulness and depth of Willis' longer novels. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for newcomers to this author, but her fans should definitely enjoy it!

>101 christina_reads: - That one was already on my wishlist as I have loved everything I've read of hers thus far. Happy to see that you recommend it!

>102 LittleTaiko: Since you've loved her other works, I think you're the right audience for this one! :)

>101 christina_reads: I'm a Connie Willis fan too, but I've only read her longer fiction. I'll have to keep this one in mind.

>104 mathgirl40: I have to admit, I'm kind of burnt out on long books right now (thanks, War and Peace!), so the shortness was definitely part of its appeal for me. :)

Book #7: Francesc Miralles, Love in Lowercase (trans. Julie Wark)
Category: Roam If You Want To
Bingo: 20 - in translation (from Spanish)

Samuel is a thirty-something professor of German living in Barcelona, ringing in the New Year alone with no sense of joy or optimism for the year ahead. But his life suddenly becomes much less lonely with the arrival of a stray cat who immediately demands his attention and affection. The cat leads Samuel to his upstairs neighbor Titus, who is compiling a collection of inspirational stories. Samuel eventually agrees to help the elderly and ailing Titus with his book, which opens up Samuel to a host of new people and experiences. He befriends Valdemar, a possibly homeless conspiracy theorist who philosophizes with him late into the night. He mildly flirts with the veterinarian who comes to give the cat its shots. And by sheer happenstance, he runs into Gabriela, the girl he fell madly in love with as a child but whom he hasn't seen in decades. But will Samuel be able to transcend his solitary habits and actually act on his feelings?

I should say up front that I didn't particularly enjoy this book, but I don't think it's necessarily the book's fault. Based on the title and cover, I was expecting a romantic comedy. The cover art looks similar to that on Rainbow Rowell's books, so I think that made me subconsciously expect a Rowell-esque story. But this book is very different; in fact, the romance is quite weak, which disappointed and sometimes even aggravated me. It's not that I always need a strong romantic plot in my books, although I admit it's usually a plus! But if there's going to be a romance, I'd like for it to be emotionally satisfying...and for me, this one wasn't. Gabriela is barely a character at all; she's merely an idealized romantic fantasy for Samuel to moon over. And in fact, the romance isn't even the main plot. The book mostly just follows Samuel around Barcelona as he philosophizes (in a not particularly deep manner) about life and love. So I wasn't a fan of this book, but maybe I would have liked it more if I'd gone into it with different expectations.

Happy 29th February! I've thought of your thread all day long. :)

Happy leap day for your leap year thread!

>107 Chrischi_HH: >108 LittleTaiko: Haha, thank you both! I probably should have posted something fun yesterday...but I really didn't do anything to "celebrate," except for watching the movie "Leap Year"!

February recap

Another slow reading month! And as you can see, I haven't spent much time on LT either...once again, I find myself a few reviews behind. I blame "Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries"...I recently discovered the show and naturally had to binge-watch all three seasons! But here's what I did manage to read in February:

Books read:
1. Connie Willis, Uncharted Territory
2. Francesc Miralles, Love in Lowercase (trans. Julie Wark)
3. Umberto Eco and Cardinal Martini, Belief or Nonbelief?: A Confrontation (trans. Minna Proctor)
4. Mitchell Kriegman, Things I Can’t Explain
5. Kate Beaton, Step Aside, Pops
6. Neel Shah and Skye Chatham, Read Bottom Up

I'm also about halfway through The Day Lasts More Than a Hundred Years by Chingiz Aitmatov, which I was planning to read for the February GeoCAT. It's a good book, but I have found it very easy to put down. And of course, I'm still plugging away at War and Peace as well!

Favorite book of the month: Step Aside, Pops - Kate Beaton's comics, often based on history and literature, were a delight as always!

Least favorite book of the month: Things I Can’t Explain - I think I overestimated my '90s nostalgia for "Clarissa Explains It All," because this book really didn't do anything for me.

CATs completed:
Dewey (100-199) - Belief or Nonbelief?: A Confrontation is shelved at 195.
Random (It Takes Two) - Uncharted Territory is about both a work partnership and a romance. Belief or Nonbelief?: A Confrontation has two authors. Read Bottom Up is a romance written by two authors.

Bingo squares completed:
1. Less than 200 pages - Uncharted Territory is 149 pages.
13. Read a CAT - Belief or Nonbelief?: A Confrontation counts for the February DeweyCAT and RandomCAT.
20. In translation - Love in Lowercase is translated from the Spanish.
23. Comics, graphic novel, manga, BD - Step Aside, Pops is a collection of comics.

I blame "Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries"...I recently discovered the show and naturally had to binge-watch all three seasons!

Those shows are fantastic! I love the wardrobe, the sets, everything about them.

.... wait.... you watched all three seasons?! I have only seen the first two. Must track down access to season three.

>111 lkernagh: The wardrobe is magnificent! And I absolutely love all the Phryne/Jack romantic tension -- it's the slowest of slow burns, and it is perfect! And yes, I've seen all three seasons; they're all available on Netflix in the U.S.! But I've heard that only the first two seasons are available in some other countries, unfortunately.

Book #8: Umberto Eco and Cardinal Martini, Belief or Nonbelief?: A Confrontation (trans. Minna Proctor)
Category: Everybody!
CATs: Dewey - 195; Random - two authors (I read this in February)
Bingo: 13 - read a CAT

This slim volume is a collection of letters written in the 1990s between Umberto Eco, renowned author, scholar, and atheist, and Carlo Maria Martini, a cardinal of the Catholic Church. The letters, which were originally published in an Italian newspaper, present these men's opposing points of view on a number of philosophical and theological topics, including: secular and religious perspectives on the end of the world, the politically fraught issue of when human life begins, the Catholic Church's refusal to admit women to the priesthood, and the ultimate source of human ethics. Though Eco and Martini often disagree, their letters maintain a consistent tone of civility and open-mindedness that is all too rare in public discourse nowadays.

I enjoyed this book, and I think it's somewhat unique in that both believers and nonbelievers could get something out of it. As I mentioned, both Eco and Martini approach the conversation with sincerity and goodwill, never mocking or belittling each other's positions, but actually having a genuine dialogue and hoping to learn from one another. I wish our public figures in general would take the hint! I will say, though, that I don't think these letters would actually change anyone's mind; an atheist wouldn't suddenly convert to Christianity, nor would a religious person lose his/her faith because of this book. Because the letters were originally written for newspaper publication, they couldn't be long or in-depth enough to explore the topics thoroughly. Basically, I came away from this book wanting more, but I'd still recommend it if the subject matter appeals to you.

I saw the word 'letters' and immediately backpedaled for a proper read of your review (given that I love all things epistolary). Not sure the subject matter would appeal unless I am in the mood but given my appreciation for Umberto Eco, I can see him being a good match for a cardinal on such matters. ;-)

>114 lkernagh: I too love all things epistolary! Sadly, this doesn't quite scratch the same itch as, say, Ella Minnow Pea or The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. :)

Book #9: Mitchell Kriegman, Things I Can’t Explain
Category: All You Need Is Love

Those who grew up in the ‘90s will likely remember Clarissa Darling, the witty, offbeat heroine of the Nickelodeon sitcom “Clarissa Explains It All.” This novel, written by the creator of the show, follows a grown-up Clarissa trying to navigate life in her late 20s. Although she achieved her childhood goal of becoming a journalist, she’s now unemployed because the newspaper she worked for has gone under. Her family is also in a state of upheaval, as her overachieving mother and impractical father are separating. And most confusing of all is her love life, as she wavers between an old romance and a chance at something new. Clarissa may have been a know-it-all as a teen, but now she'll have to confront, and maybe even embrace, the fact that she still has a lot to learn.

When I was a kid, “Clarissa Explains It All” was one of my favorite shows, but I definitely overestimated my level of nostalgia for it! First of all, I actually remembered much less about the show than I thought I did. I had no memory of Clarissa’s lists and wacky superstitions, and I didn’t remember her female friends at all. In fact, I think all I really wanted to know was what happened between Clarissa and her best friend Sam. The show kept them platonic throughout, but honestly, my sappy romantic soul wanted them to end up together! And — spoiler alert — they don’t. In fact, Sam is never actually “on page”; Clarissa reminisces about him quite frequently, but we never get his side of the story. That bugged me so much that maybe I’m not being fair about the rest of the book. But overall, I thought it was pretty mediocre chick lit, not really worth reading unless you’re a diehard Clarissa fan.

Book #10: Kate Beaton, Step Aside, Pops
Category: Everybody!
Bingo: 23 - comics, graphic novel, manga, BD (comics)

If you don't already know Kate Beaton, creator of the delightful webcomic Hark! A Vagrant, you should check out her comics IMMEDIATELY! Not only are they hilarious, but many of them are based on literary works and historical events, so they are educational as well. This book collects some of Beaton's greatest hits from the website, so some people may be disappointed at the lack of new material (there's a little bit, but not much). Even so, I'm glad to have a hard copy collecting some of my favorites, from the brazen velocipedestrienne (!) on the front cover to the "straw feminists in the closet" to the classic Gorey and Nancy Drew covers. Definitely recommended for Beaton fans or for those who like their humor to be both smart and silly.

>117 christina_reads: Thumb! I love Kate Beaton too. Have you read The Princess and the Pony? It is hilarious. I bought it for a friend's daughter and read it first.

>118 rabbitprincess: No, haven't read The Princess and the Pony yet, but I really want to! That dumb fat pony is a thing of beauty and a joy forever.

Book #11: Neel Shah and Skye Chatham, Read Bottom Up
Category: All You Need Is Love
CATs: Random - romance with two authors (I read this in February)

This epistolary novel tells the story of a 21st-century romance solely through emails and texts. Elliot and Madeline meet at a restaurant opening in New York City and slowly begin to communicate through emails, texting, and finally in-person interactions. But they're not only communicating with each other; they're also in simultaneous conversations with their best friends, David and Emily respectively, as they frantically over-analyze each interaction down to the very last comma. Elliot and Madeline tentatively embark upon a relationship while navigating modern dating pitfalls such as how to wait the appropriate amount of time before responding to a text, or how to tell the difference between a date and a group hang. But beyond all the angst and analysis, are they actually right for each other?

I picked up this book from the library on a whim and found it a quick, pleasant read. I love a good epistolary novel, and I'm especially interested in modern-day versions that utilize technology like emails and texting. Moreover, the epistolary format emphasizes the paradox that despite all the modes of communication available to Elliot and Madeline, they are actually pretty bad at communicating honestly with each other. This drives the conflict in the book, as well as most of its humor. I have to say, I wasn't particularly enamored of Elliot or Madeline, especially the former; I'm not quite sure why Madeline is so interested in such a bland guy. The best friends, David and Emily, are actually more interesting characters, but that's probably because they're offering genuine opinions, not censoring themselves to please a potential love interest. Overall, I think this novel is a pretty accurate representation of modern dating, and it's a pleasant way to spend an evening, but there's nothing particularly deep or emotionally resonant about it.

>117 christina_reads: - I'm not familiar with Beaton but this sounds fantastic! Definitely adding to the wishlist.

>121 LittleTaiko: Ooh, yay! If you want to get a taste of her work, check out her website at http://harkavagrant.com.

Book #12: Chingiz Aitmatov, The Day Lasts More Than a Hundred Years (trans. John French)
Category: Roam If You Want To
CATs: Geo - set in Kazakhstan, author from Kyrgyzstan (I started this in February)

Set in Kazakhstan in the latter half of the 20th century, this novel centers around Yedigei, a railway worker at the isolated Boranly-Burannyi train station in the middle of the steppe. He has lived with his wife and daughters in the tiny community by this train station for many years, and the other families who live there are practically his family also. When his neighbor and friend Kazangap dies, Yedigei takes responsibility for burying him properly at the ancient Kazakh cemetery of Ana-Beiit, even though it is a long journey from Boranly-Burannyi. Yedigei is able to arrange a small funeral procession that includes several men from the village, a camel, and even a tractor. As the procession makes its way through the steppe, Yedigei reflects on his relationship with Kazangap and on several other significant events in his life. Eventually, his quest collides with a momentous scientific discovery involving contact with intelligent life on another planet.

For me, this book was very put-down-able; I never felt like I simply had to know what was going to happen next. Nonetheless, I was surprised by how much I ultimately enjoyed the story. It certainly took me to an entirely different place and time -- I've barely read any Soviet literature, and I definitely haven't read anything set in Kazakhstan before. I think the book wonderfully describes Yedigei's way of life in a way that is both very specific and somehow accessible to contemporary Western readers. I also loved the meditative quality of the prose, which is enhanced by the frequent repetition of certain phrases and paragraphs throughout the book. The bulk of the novel is told in flashback as Yedigei recalls various incidents, and these flashbacks provide most of the plot. In the book's present, not much actually happens, but I never felt like things were moving too slowly. The sci-fi aspect of the plot seemed pretty disposable to me, but I was certainly curious while reading to see how it would connect with Yedigei's story! Overall, even though this book wasn't a page-turner, I'm really glad I stuck with it.

>123 christina_reads: That does sound interesting, I think I'm going to add it to my wishlist.

>124 Jackie_K: It was very different from my usual type of book, that's for sure!

Book #13: Lucy Parker, Act Like It
Category: All You Need Is Love
Bingo: 12 - title uses wordplay (protagonists are actors who also “act” like they’re in a relationship)

Actress Lainie Graham is the sweetheart of the London stage, and her wholesome public persona is now especially sympathetic because she's recently been dumped. In contrast, her co-star Richard Troy is the quintessential bad boy. His Byronic good looks and considerable talent have counterbalanced some of his negative behavior, but the public is no longer willing to overlook his violent temper. Desperate to get public opinion back on their side, the theater manager and Richard's agent concoct a plan: Richard and Lainie will pretend to be in a relationship so that her positive image will rehabilitate Richard's negative one. At first, Lainie objects to the plan -- she can't stand Richard's obnoxious behavior and inflated ego -- but she is eventually convinced to play along. As she spends more time with Richard, however, she learns that there's much more to him than meets the eye. Meanwhile, Richard is surprised to discover that Lainie is intelligent, kind, and more than willing to match him quip for quip. But how can these two actors be confident that their so-called fake relationship has evolved into something real?

After a streak of books that weren't grabbing my attention, I was delighted to discover this sweet romance! I always enjoy the "fake relationship becomes real" trope, so I was predisposed to like the book anyway. But the adorable banter between Lainie and Richard is what really sealed the deal for me. Their sarcastic jabs at one another soon become playful teasing, and these interactions really made their chemistry believable. I appreciated how their careers as actors added another layer of complexity to the relationship; I especially enjoyed watching Richard seethe as Lainie had to pretend to be in love with her ex, another actor in the same play. The book does contain some of the romance genre's more annoying clichés, such as a physically perfect hero with piercing blue eyes and a Big Misunderstanding that needlessly threatens the relationship. But overall, this book was a lovely surprise that came along at just the right time for me. Definitely recommended for fans of romantic comedies!

Book #14: Bee Ridgway, The River of No Return
Category: Let Them Eat Cake
Bingo: 14 - body of water in the title

Nicholas Falcott, Marquess of Blackdown, is about to die on the battlefield at Salamanca. But instead of being trampled by a French cavalry horse, he suddenly disappears in a blaze of light and reappears in the 21st century. There, Nicholas finds himself under the protection of the Guild, a secret society of individuals with the ability to jump forward in time. The Guild provides Nick with a new identity, plenty of money, and enough information about the modern world for him to survive in the present. Nick believes it’s impossible to go back to his original time -- until one day, out of the blue, the Guild leaders order him to do just that. They tell him about a rival group of time travelers whose attempts to change history will result in widespread disaster, unless Nick can go back to 1815 and stop them. But when he jumps back to his own time, he learns that the Guild is keeping secrets from him. He also reconnects with Julia Percy, his beautiful young neighbor who is somehow connected to this feud between time travelers.

This is a book I should have loved: it’s got Regency England, romance, intrigue, and time travel! But sadly, the novel’s underwhelming execution didn’t live up to its great premise. One of the biggest problems for me was the pacing. It took forever to set up the world and introduce Nick and Julia as characters. Once Nick jumps back to 1815 (about 1/4 of the way into the book), things pick up a little, but the pacing still drags. Nothing really important occurs until the last 50 pages or so, when the characters suddenly learn a whole lot of new information at breakneck speed. My other big problem with this novel is that NOTHING IS RESOLVED IN THE END. Nick eventually learns more about the future catastrophe that the time travelers are trying to prevent, but he doesn't actually do anything about it. So basically, this book is one long setup for a payoff that isn't going to happen until the sequel -- and I don't think it's actually been published yet, so it could be a long wait! I'll admit that I am a bit curious to know how things turn out, but it may not be worth the aggravation this book caused me.

>127 christina_reads: I'm sorry that The River of No Return was a let down. Your description sounded so promising!

>128 VictoriaPL: I really wanted to love it! And I've read some really positive reviews of it...but for me, the fact that most of the plot was left unresolved (presumably for a sequel) was a deal breaker. If I'd known that going in, I might have enjoyed it more.

>127 christina_reads: - Sounds like you had the same problems I did with the Ridgway book.... great premise but failed horribly in the delivery.

>130 lkernagh: I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who disliked it! It's so disappointing when you want to love a book and just can't.

Happy Easter!

>132 nittnut: Same to you!

>127 christina_reads: - That was exactly how I felt about the book - it sounded wonderful but just didn't live up to the promise in the end. I was so annoyed that it didn't have much of an ending. Still no sequel published? My book club read it in 2014, I assumed the sequel would have been out by now.

>134 LittleTaiko: No sequel yet, although there is apparently a prequel novella called The Time Tutor.

March recap

Well the first quarter of 2016 is over, and I'm kind of surprised by how little reading I've done! Normally I average 8-10 books a month, but this year it's been more like 5-6. I blame a combination of TV and the constant, looming presence of War and Peace, which I still haven't finished! :)

Books read:
1. Chingiz Aitmatov, The Day Lasts More Than a Hundred Years
2. Lucy Parker, Act Like It
3. Bee Ridgway, The River of No Return
4. Jacques Philippe, Interior Freedom
5. Ruta Sepetys, Salt to the Sea

And as noted above, I still have some War and Peace left, but I'm planning to finish it this weekend. Hopefully I'll be able to add significantly to my total in April, since the 24-Hour Read-a-Thon is coming up!

Favorite book of the month: A tie between Salt to the Sea, a compelling and unique WW2 narrative, and Interior Freedom, which was exactly the book I needed to read at this point in my life.

Least favorite book of the month: The River of No Return — I had such high hopes for it, but it completely failed to live up to its premise!

CATs completed:
Dewey (200-299) - Interior Freedom is shelved at either 233.7 or 234.2.
Geo (Eastern Europe and Russia) - Salt to the Sea is set in East Prussia.

Bingo squares completed:
3. Survival story - Salt to the Sea is a story of Eastern European refugees fleeing the Soviet advance during WWII.
12. Title uses wordplay - In Act Like It, the protagonists are actors who must also “act” like they’re in a relationship.
14. Body of water in the title - The River of No Return.

Salt to the Sea was also my best read of the month!

>123 christina_reads: The Day Lasts More Than a Hundred Years is on my to-read list for September's SFFCAT challenge. I read Aitmatov's novella Jamilia for Februrary's GeoCAT, and slow and atmospheric may just be the way he writes.

And I agree, Interior Freedom is an amazing book.

>136 christina_reads:
Haha! War and Peace does eat a lot of allotted reading time, doesn't it. :)

>137 VictoriaPL: It was so good, wasn't it?! Have you read anything else by Ruta Sepetys? I haven't, but now I really want to! Maybe we could do a tandem read?

>138 inge87: I think you will like it since you liked Jamilia. I'd love to read that one as well.

>139 -Eva-: SO MUCH reading time! I'm still not finished, and I feel like the end is really dragging...hopefully I can get through it this weekend!

>140 christina_reads: I haven't. That would be a great idea!
I was thinking Between Shades of Gray as it's connected (sort of). But probably not this month...

>141 VictoriaPL: I'd totally be up for Between Shades of Gray! And I agree, definitely not this month! Perhaps in the summer?

>142 christina_reads: it's a plan! Yay!!!

My library's semi-annual sale was this weekend, and I found some great stuff! :)



Mary Stewart, The Stormy Petrel — I really like her novels of romantic suspense, and I haven’t read this one yet.

Brandon Sanderson, Mistborn — I’ve heard nothing but great things about Brandon Sanderson, and I also really enjoy thief-heroes.:)

Robert Barnard, Corpse in a Gilded Cage — Give me ALL the English country house murder mysteries!

Malcolm Pryce, Aberystwyth Mon Amour — I’ve had the sequel, Last Tango in Aberystwyth, for a really long time, but I still haven’t read it because I needed to get my hands on this one first!

Charles Kingston, Murder in Piccadilly — I’m a bit bummed that this is an ARC rather than a finished copy, but I can’t pass up a mystery released by British Library Crime Classics!

Thomas Pynchon, The Crying of Lot 49 — I’ve been meaning to read this one for a while, and it was only $1, so why not?

Anne de Courcy, The Fishing Fleet: Husband-Hunting in the Raj — I don’t know much about the British Raj, but what little I do know is fascinating! Can’t wait to learn a bit more about the “fishing fleet”!

Ruby Jackson, Churchill’s Angels — Obviously I am not going to pass up a book about female pilots during World War II!

Caroline Stevermer, A College of Magics — I think I’ve read this one before, and I honestly don’t remember too much about it. But the fact that Stevermer co-wrote Sorcery and Cecelia, one of my favorite historical fantasy novels, means that I have high hopes for it!

Stella Gibbons, Westwood — After Cold Comfort Farm, Stella Gibbons has my allegiance for life.

Erin Bow, The Scorpion Rules — I remember reading some good reviews of this one when it came out. The plot seems to involve a lot of political intrigue — the protagonist is a royal hostage — which is never a bad thing in my book (pun intended)!

Lauren Morrill, The Trouble with Destiny — I thought Meant to Be was really cute, and this book seems to center around a high school band. My dorky trombonist heart couldn’t resist!

Patricia C. Wrede, The Enchanted Forest Chronicles — How have I not read these yet? I don’t know, but I’ve really enjoyed Wrede’s other books, so I’m sure this series will be great as well!

Excellent haul! I've wanted to read the Malcolm Pryce for a while. Will be interested to hear what you think!

Nice haul! The Aberystwyth has been on my wishlist for a long time - not often one comes across a copy IRL, so congrats!

Nice stack of books!

>144 christina_reads: Great stuff indeed! Congrats on your nice haul.

>144 christina_reads: Nice!

Nice haul! Our library sale is next weekend!

Thanks, everyone! :)

>145 rabbitprincess: The Pryce series has been on my TBR list forever...I'm excited that now I can finally begin!

>146 -Eva-: I got my copies of both Aberystwyth Mon Amour and Last Tango in Aberystwyth at the library sale! I don't think I've ever seen them anywhere else.

>150 mstrust: Ooh, have fun! And don't forget to post pics of your haul! :)

>144 christina_reads: Nice haul! Happy reading . . .:)

I have had the first two Malcolm Pryce books on my shelves since I took a book bullet from Dave (Wolfy) a few years ago - another series I would like to start!

Yay, another Dewey's Readathon-er! I'm so looking forward to tomorrow :)

>144 christina_reads: Nice haul! I haven't read Scorpion Rules yet, but I loved Erin Bow's Plain Kate.

Good luck with Dewey's Readathon tomorrow!

>152 tymfos: Thanks!

>153 DeltaQueen50: I think I got that book bullet from Dave as well. Looking forward to starting the series!

>!54 I'm SO excited! Off to bed in a couple minutes so that I can be well-rested for it! :)

>155 mathgirl40: I think Plain Kate is on my list as well!

As previously mentioned, I will be participating in Dewey's 24-Hour Readathon tomorrow. I was able to set aside the entire day, so I'm looking forward to getting lost in a few good books! If you're also participating, whether for the whole day or just a few hours, please feel free to stop by my blog -- I'll be creating a progress post tomorrow morning -- or say hi on Twitter @YouBookMe!

>157 christina_reads: Enjoy your readathon!!

>158 rabbitprincess: Thanks, I did! :) I actually stayed up and read for all 24 hours...I am both proud and EXHAUSTED.

>159 christina_reads: Wow!! I just went over to your blog to read your summary post. Really impressed that you stayed up the whole time! Also now I want white cheddar popcorn ;)

>159 christina_reads: Congratulations, that's really impressive!

That's amazing! You deserve a nap!

Wow! Congrats! I had only heard of this this year, and am just too busy with packing and getting organized to move, but I'd like to try for next time. I'm not likely to go for the full 24 hours, though. I'm sure I'd fall asleep! :-)

>144 christina_reads:, a couple of those are on my wishlist, The Fishing Fleet and Churchill's Angels.

>160 rabbitprincess: Haha, that white cheddar popcorn is SO addictive!

>161 mathgirl40: Thanks very much! :)

>162 mstrust: Oh believe me, I slept for QUITE a while last night/this morning to make up for it!

>163 LibraryCin: It's a really fun event -- you should definitely try it sometime! The next one will be October 22.

>164 Roro8: They both look really interesting! If I get to them this year, I'll definitely share my thoughts.

>165 christina_reads: Maybe I should put that in my calendar now!? :-)

>166 LibraryCin: I already have :)

>166 LibraryCin: Haha, I would! ;)

>167 kgriffith: Me too...already looking forward to it!

April recap

Phew, April was a busy month -- and a really good one, too! My baby nephew was born, and I got a new job! :) I also had an above-average reading month, mostly thanks to the readathon on April 23. Here's what I read last month:

Books read:
1. Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace (trans. Anthony Briggs)
2. Georgette Heyer, Frederica
3. Rainbow Rowell, Kindred Spirits
4. Cindy Anstey, Love, Lies and Spies
5. Jen Chaney, As If! The Oral History of Clueless As Told by Amy Heckerling, the Cast, and the Crew
6. Ellis Peters, The Hermit of Eyton Forest
7. Lindsey Kelk, Always the Bridesmaid
8. Mindy Kaling, Why Not Me?

I'm also halfway through A Spy Among Friends: Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal by Ben Macintyre, which is completely fascinating!

Favorite book of the month: Always the Bridesmaid was a very fun read! I love British chick lit, and I definitely want to read more by Lindsey Kelk now.

Least favorite book of the month: I hate to say it, but War and Peace was such a slog at times! Don’t get me wrong; I also loved parts of it! But the overall reading experience was pretty rough.

CATs completed:
None. However, I am planning to count A Spy Among Friends (shelved at 327.1247) for this month's DeweyCAT, even though I'll be late finishing it.

Bingo squares completed:
8. Autobiography or memoir - Why Not Me? is a collection of autobiographical essays, so I figure it counts!

Happy Star Wars Day, and May the Fourth be with you! :)

And May the Fourth be also with you!
Congrats on the new nephew and your new job!

Congratulations on all your good news!

Congrats on excellent personal developments and on finishing War and Peace!

Also, yay, A Spy Among Friends! Ben Macintyre's books are always interesting.

Happy Star Wars Day, and May the Fourth be with you! :)

And also with you!

And I just noticed that your 10th Thingaversary is just 10 days before mine. So hooray for new books... although I'm not buying mine until mid-June, because that's when the next library book sale is.

Great news about events in your RL, Christina!

>170 VictoriaPL: Thanks! Can't decide which thing I'm more excited about. :)

>171 MissWatson: Thank you!

>172 rabbitprincess: I love Ben Macintyre! Operation Mincemeat remains my favorite of his so far, but I'm slowly making my way through his body of work.

>173 casvelyn: Hooray for Thingaversaries! Smart move to wait until your library sale. My library already had its spring sale, so I did my Thingaversary celebrating somewhat early! :)

>174 DeltaQueen50: Thank you! It's all very exciting (and, in the case of the job, a huge relief)!

Using the rather blah day weather-wise to get caught up with some threads. Great book haul and well done reading all 24 hours of the readathon!

>176 lkernagh: Thanks, Lori! I haven't been on LT in a while and definitely need to get caught up myself!

May recap

Argh, where has my motivation gone? Didn't do much reading in May, and I certainly didn't do much (or any) reviewing...I still haven't written reviews for books I read in MARCH! Nevertheless, here's what I did manage to read in May:

Books read:
1. Ben Macintyre, A Spy Among Friends: Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal
2. Rebecca Mead, One Perfect Day: The Selling of the American Wedding
3. Anne Tyler, Vinegar Girl
4. Maggie Stiefvater, The Raven King
5. Laura Esquivel, Like Water for Chocolate (trans. Carol Christensen and Thomas Christensen)

I've also begun Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly, which isn't bad but could be better. I'm not super enthused, but it's an ER book, so I feel obligated to read it!

Favorite book of the month: I love weddings and found One Perfect Day to be a very fascinating read!

Least favorite book of the month: Like Water for Chocolate didn't do anything for me. I'd heard it compared to Sarah Addison Allen's work, but I really didn't find them similar at all.

CATs completed:
Dewey (355-399) - One Perfect Day: The Selling of the American Wedding is shelved at 395.22.
Geo (North America) - Vinegar Girl and The Raven King are both explicitly set in the U.S., and Like Water for Chocolate is set in Mexico.

Bingo squares completed:
16. Food is important - In Like Water for Chocolate, every chapter starts with a recipe that is woven throughout the narrative; the protagonist affects other people's emotions and actions with her cooking.

Book #15: Jacques Philippe, Interior Freedom (trans. Helena Scott)
Category: Everybody!
CATs: Dewey - 233.7 or 234.2 (I read this in March)

"Interior Freedom leads one to discover that even in the most unfavorable outward circumstances we possess within ourselves a space of freedom that nobody can take away, because God is its source and guarantee. Without this discovery we will always be restricted in some way and will never taste true happiness. Author Jacques Philippe develops a simple but important theme: we gain possession of our interior freedom in exact proportion to our growth in faith, hope, and love. He explains that the dynamism between these three theological virtues is the heart of the spiritual life, and he underlines the key role of the virtue of hope in our inner growth. Written in a simple and inviting style, Interior Freedom seeks to liberate the heart and mind to live the true freedom to which God calls each one." (Summary from Amazon.)

Every once in a while, a book comes along that tells you exactly what you need to hear in that moment. Interior Freedom was one of those books for me. I was feeling a lot of stress and anxiety for various reasons, and this book spoke pretty directly to my state of mind at the time. It's written from a Christian (specifically Catholic) perspective, and I don't think the solutions it offers would be useful for non-Christians. But it really gave me a new perspective on faith in particular: if I really believe in an almighty and all-loving God (as Christians profess to do), then I must have absolute trust in his love for me and his ability to bring good out of even the toughest situations. Definitely recommended for Christians of all denominations, especially those who are feeling weighed down by circumstances in their lives.

>179 christina_reads: Nice review, thanks!

I did not get very far in my May reading either. I blame Spring. And bronchitis. But that's OK, there's no rush!

>180 VictoriaPL: Hope you've recovered from your bronchitis now! I've had lingering allergies...my least favorite part of spring!

Book #16: Ruta Sepetys, Salt to the Sea
Category: Roam If You Want To
CATs: Geo - set in East Prussia (I read this in March)
Bingo: 3 - survival story (protagonists are refugees)

"World War II is drawing to a close in East Prussia and thousands of refugees are on a desperate trek toward freedom, many with something to hide. Among them are Joana, Emilia, and Florian, whose paths converge en route to the ship that promises salvation, the Wilhelm Gustloff. Forced by circumstance to unite, the three find their strength, courage, and trust in each other tested with each step closer to safety. Just when it seems freedom is within their grasp, tragedy strikes. Not country, nor culture, nor status matter as all ten thousand people -- adults and children alike -- aboard must fight for the same thing: survival.” (Summary from Amazon.)

I’m a sucker for a good World War II story, and this one approaches the conflict from a unique (to me) perspective: it focuses on three Eastern European teenagers who are caught between Nazi Germany and the advancing Red Army. My favorite character was Florian, who is carrying out a secret mission while trying very hard not to fall in love with Joana. But I honestly enjoyed all three main characters’ stories, especially after they meet up and continue their westward journey together. There are definitely some heartbreaking events in this book, which is to be expected, but the overall message is one of hope. I’d definitely recommend this book to fans of historical fiction, especially those who don’t mind a narrative geared toward a younger audience.

Book #17: Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace (trans. Anthony Briggs)
Category: Roam If You Want To

"Set against the sweeping panoply of Napoleon's invasion of Russia, War and Peace -- presented here in the first new English translation in forty years -- is often considered the greatest novel ever written. At its center are Pierre Bezukhov, searching for meaning in his life; cynical Prince Andrei, ennobled by wartime suffering; and Natasha Rostov, whose impulsiveness threatens to destroy her happiness. As Tolstoy follows the changing fortunes of his characters, he crafts a view of humanity that is both epic and intimate and that continues to define fiction at its most resplendent.” (Summary from Amazon.)

It took me more than three months to read this book, and I’m still not quite sure what to make of it. I feel a bit presumptuous in criticizing such a well-known classic, but certain parts of the novel worked for me much more than others. There’s a lot of social comedy in this book, which I loved! And I find the Napoleonic era fascinating, although I’ve only been exposed to it from a British point of view, so it was interesting to see that conflict from a Russian perspective. However, there are reasons most people never finish this book, and those reasons are: the overly long, mind-numbingly tedious descriptions of battles; philosophical digressions; and tirades about the right and wrong way to study history. I do think this book is worth reading once, but I’m glad I don’t ever have to read it again!

I also want to note that I liked the Briggs translation; it’s not as word-for-word accurate as the Pevear-Volokhonsky translation is rumored to be, but I suspect it’s more readable. Instead of footnoting the long French passages, Briggs just translates them directly into English, although he does note when certain characters are speaking French. I actually preferred this, but some readers may not. Also, the Briggs translation is pretty aggressively British; for example, some of the lower-class soldiers have Cockney accents! Again, I didn’t mind this, but I can see how others might. All in all, I’d recommend this translation for casual readers but maybe not for serious scholars.

>182 christina_reads: I loved this one! I want to read Between Shades of Gray now.

>184 VictoriaPL: I loved it, too -- one of my top reads of 2016 so far! I definitely want to read Between Shades of Gray as well. Would you be up for a tandem read? I probably won't get to it until July or August, though, so if you want to read it sooner, I totally understand! :)

Book #18: Georgette Heyer, Frederica
Category: Play It Again, Sam

"Determined to secure a brilliant marriage for her beautiful sister, Frederica seeks out their distant cousin, the Marquis of Alverstoke. Lovely, competent, and refreshingly straightforward, Frederica makes such a strong impression that, to his own amazement, the Marquis agrees to help launch them all into society. Normally wary of his family, which includes two overbearing sisters and innumerable favor-seekers, Lord Alverstoke does his best to keep his distance. But with his enterprising -- and altogether entertaining -- country cousins getting into one scrape after another right on his doorstep, before he knows it the Marquis finds himself dangerously embroiled.” (Summary from Amazon.)

I love Georgette Heyer, and I love to treat myself occasionally by rereading one of her novels. Frederica isn't one of my all-time favorites, so it's not in my usual rotation, which means it had been a few years since I'd read it. I'd forgotten how delightful it is! I can't decide whom I liked more, the pragmatic Frederica or the bored Alverstoke, and I love how their love grows out of a shared sense of humor. Highly recommended!

>185 christina_reads: Oh, definitely! We've been looking for another tandem read!! No rush, whenever is good with me.

>187 VictoriaPL: OK great! :) Want to plan for July, then?

Book: Rainbow Rowell, Kindred Spirits
Category: None - since this work is so short, I don’t want to count it toward my challenge total

Elena is a “Star Wars” superfan. She grew up watching the original trilogy with her dad and is absolutely thrilled when “The Force Awakens” comes out. In fact, she’s so excited that she decides to camp out in front of the movie theater before opening night. She imagines a huge group of people who love “Star Wars” just as much as she does, and she can’t wait to share her excitement with like-minded fans. Unfortunately, she never imagined that (1) there would only be two other people in line, (2) one of them would be a silent boy named Gabe who doesn’t seem particularly interested in sharing the “Star Wars” love, or (3) she’d have nowhere to pee except in a cup behind a dumpster. Still, Elena is determined to persevere, and her eventual experience is as wonderful as it is unexpected.

At a succinct 62 pages, this tale is either a very short novella or a very long short story. Either way, I really enjoyed it, as I’ve enjoyed all of Rainbow Rowell’s books. Rowell is obviously very interested in fandom and its role in the creative arts, and this story explores one small facet of that. Elena is a fan of “Star Wars,” and she has certain expectations about how fans should behave. But her fellow line mates, Troy and Gabe, don’t exactly match up with her preconceived ideas. And as she discovers, Gabe has doubts about the authenticity of her fandom because she’s a “cool” girl and not a “nerd.” I thought the story explored the idea of what constitutes a “real fan” very well, albeit in a narrowly focused way. There’s also a bit of romance in the story (which, duh, it’s Rainbow Rowell), but I would have loved a bit more! Still, fans of Rowell’s other work will definitely want to read this as well, whether or not they’re into “Star Wars."

>188 christina_reads: July it is!

>186 christina_reads: See, Frederica is one of my favorite Heyers, I LOL every time. Maybe because I have 4 younger brothers...

>190 VictoriaPL: Great! I'll make sure to have a copy ready to go for next month. :)

>191 nittnut: I really do love it! It's not quite up there with The Grand Sophy, Cotillion, or Sylvester for me, but it's still wonderful! And I definitely love Jessamy and Felix. :)

>183 christina_reads:
Congrats on finishing!! It's a tough one to get through. :)

Howdy!

>189 christina_reads: Sounds like a fun read. I really liked Eleanor and Park by Rowell, and I was a huge Star Wars fan when the movies first came out, so I'll have to keep this novella in mind.

>195 mathgirl40: I definitely recommend it, along with anything else by Rowell! My favorite of hers is Attachments, but I've loved all her books!

Since I'm abominably behind on reviews, I've decided to do a bunch of really short ones to catch up! If you want to know more about a particular book, feel free to ask me. :)



Book #19: Cindy Anstey, Love, Lies and Spies
Category: All You Need Is Love

A fun, lighthearted bit of Regency fluff for those who enjoy YA historical romance. I found the spy storyline weak, and the romance wasn't quite compelling for me -- Georgette Heyer, this is not! But it's a pleasant enough read for fans of the genre.

***



Book: Jen Chaney, As If! The Oral History of Clueless
Category: None

This book will only appeal to people who really love the movie "Clueless" and who are fascinated by behind-the-scenes movie knowledge. Fortunately, I fall within this demographic, so I really enjoyed the book!

***



Book #20: Ellis Peters, The Hermit of Eyton Forest
Category: Elementary, My Dear Watson

Full disclosure: this installment of the Brother Cadfael series features a male character called Hyacinth. But I still love this series about a 12th-century Benedictine monk who solves crimes! (Who wouldn't?)

***



Book #21: Lindsey Kelk, Always the Bridesmaid
Category: All You Need Is Love

Entertaining British chick lit about a young woman named Maddie whose two best friends are at opposite ends of the romantic spectrum: one just got engaged, while the other is getting divorced. My friend pointed out that Maddie is a huge pushover, which she (my friend) found irritating. While I think that's a fair criticism, I ultimately enjoyed the book for its humor and romance, so I'd definitely read more by this author.

***



Book #22: Mindy Kaling, Why Not Me?
Category: Everybody!
Bingo: 8 - autobiography or memoir (collection of autobiographical essays)

I think Mindy Kaling is very talented and hilarious, and this book had me giggling pretty much nonstop. I like that she isn't preachy, she's very self-aware, and she doesn't apologize for her confidence (some might say arrogance). As she says in the book, there's nothing wrong with being confident -- as long as you've put in the hard work to back it up. Bottom line: if you like Mindy Kaling, you'll like this book.

>197 christina_reads: Well, the Cadfael mysteries are set in the 12th century, so we can safely assumed Hyacinth was named for one of the two early Christian martyrs, not the flower. Peters always picks such unusual names for her characters, especially the Anglo-Saxon ones.

>197 christina_reads: I love the Cadfael mysteries.

>198 MissWatson: Oh, I'm sure the name was historically appropriate! But it still made me giggle, because I am apparently a five-year-old. (A quick trip to Wikipedia reveals that Hyacinth is also a Greek mythological figure.)

>199 luvamystery65: Me too -- one of my go-to comfort series! I still have five or six left to read. :)

More mini-reviews! I read these in May.



Book #23: Ben Macintyre, A Spy Among Friends: Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal
Category: Everybody!
CATs: Dewey - 327.1247 (I started this in April)

Guys, if you’re at all interested in espionage in the 20th century, you need to read Ben Macintyre! This is a fascinating stranger-than-fiction account of Kim Philby, an old-school English gentleman who rose to an extremely high position in the Secret Service while actually being a spy for the USSR.

***



Book #24: Rebecca Mead, One Perfect Day: The Selling of the American Wedding
Category: Everybody!
CATs: Dewey - 395.22 (I read this in May)

Mead, a British journalist, examines the contemporary American wedding from a sociological and monetary perspective. If you enjoy weddings but suspect they’ve gone off the rails in recent years decades -- particularly in the ever-inflating costs for both the couple getting married and their guests -- you’ll find a lot of interesting material here.

***



Book #25: Anne Tyler, Vinegar Girl
Category: Everybody!
CATs: Geo - set in Maryland, USA (I read this in May)

First there was The Austen Project, for which six famous contemporary authors tried their hand at updating the novels of Jane Austen. Now Hogarth Shakespeare is doing a similar project with the Bard’s plays, with Vinegar Girl being a retelling of The Taming of the Shrew. Judging it as a novel, I found it a very pleasant read, albeit not particularly original or memorable. But I didn’t think it was a particularly good retelling of The Taming of the Shrew! So whether you enjoy the book will probably depend on what you’re looking for.

***



Book #26: Maggie Stiefvater, The Raven King
Category: Yer a Wizard, Harry
CATs: Geo - set in Virginia, USA; Random - raven is a synonym for black (I read this in May)

If you love the series, you’ll love the ending! I thought certain plot elements were resolved a bit too abruptly, but the heart of the book -- the relationships between Blue, Gansey, Ronan, Adam, and Noah -- remains true. I was also torn on the addition of Henry Cheng as a character. First of all, I should say that I LOVED Henry Cheng! (Maybe he could have his own book? More Henry Cheng, please!) But part of me felt like the book was already crowded enough between the five main players and all the people at Fox Way. Be that as it may, I found this book to be a deeply satisfying ending to a wonderful series. If you love fantasy, you definitely need to read it!

***



Book #27: Laura Esquivel, Like Water for Chocolate (trans. Carol Christensen and Thomas Christensen)
Category: Roam If You Want To
CATs: Geo - set in Mexico (I read this in May)
Bingo: 16 - food is important (protagonist is a chef whose cooking has magical properties)

I’d heard a lot of good things about this book; people are always mentioning magical realism and comparing it to Sarah Addison Allen’s books (which I love). But ultimately, it didn’t do much for me. I felt sorry for Tita, doomed to take care of her bullying mother and remain unmarried while the love of her life marries her sister. But I also found the entire situation entirely too melodramatic, and the supernatural elements didn’t charm me. Overall, a disappointing read.

I've never read Like Water for Chocolate, but I enjoyed the movie very much, so I was hoping the book would be good too.

>202 -Eva-: I haven't seen the movie, so I really have no idea how they would compare. I don't necessarily think the book is bad; it just wasn't for me. I hope I haven't put you off reading it -- maybe you will really enjoy it!

>202 -Eva-:
I'll get it for the recipes regardless, so it'll be good! :)

>204 -Eva-: It does have the recipes, and some of them look delicious! :)

>201 christina_reads: The Rebecca Mead book sounds like a topic I might be interested in reading about. I keep hearing that Like Water for Chocolate is okay, but not great. I still want to read it though and form my own opinion!

>206 Tara1Reads: I definitely recommend the Mead book if the subject matter interests you! As for Like Water for Chocolate, I felt like I was in the minority -- I've heard so many good things about the book. So hopefully you will enjoy it more than I did!

June recap

You guys, 2016 is halfway over! When did that happen? But despite the abnormally quick passage of time, June was my best reading month of the year! Here's what I read:

Books read:
1. Martha Hall Kelly, Lilac Girls
2. Morgan Matson, The Unexpected Everything
3. Helen Simonson, The Summer Before the War
4. V.E. Schwab, A Darker Shade of Magic
5. Kerry Greenwood, Cocaine Blues
6. Lily Anderson, The Only Thing Worse Than Me Is You
7. Kathleen Baldwin, A School for Unusual Girls
8. Julie Buxbaum, Tell Me Three Things
9. Dorothy L. Sayers, Strong Poison
10. Kemper Donovan, The Decent Proposal
11. Christopher St. John Sprigg, Death of an Airman
12. Eva Ibbotson, A Song for Summer

Favorite book of the month: Apart from the rereads (Strong Poison and A Song for Summer, both excellent!), I’m going with A Darker Shade of Magic. It grabbed me from the opening sentence and never let go!

Least favorite book of the month: I wasn’t really a fan of The Only Thing Worse Than Me Is You...the heroine annoyed me too much!

CATs completed:
Geo (Australia and New Zealand) - Cocaine Blues is set in Melbourne, Australia.
Random (I do! I do!) - The Decent Proposal contains a wedding-related word in the title.
SFFKIT (interesting cover art) - A Darker Shade of Magic has a very striking cover.

Bingo squares completed:
4. About an airplane flight - Death of an Airman is a murder mystery centered around a plane crash.
5. About a writer (fiction or nonfiction) - One of the main characters in The Unexpected Everything is a fantasy novelist.
25. You want the protagonist’s job or hobby - I’d love to be independently wealthy and solve crimes while looking fabulous, like Phryne Fisher in Cocaine Blues!

***

And now, methinks it's time for a new thread for the second half of the year! Please join me by clicking here or following the thread continuation link...hope to see you there! :)