February AlphaKIT: J and B

February AlphaKIT letters are :

and

Remember to update the wiki here: http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/2016_Unofficial_AlphaKIT#February

Thanks to Roberta (luvamystery) for reminding me of the letters for this month - I just started Grave Peril by Jim Butcher and will finish it in Feb!

Right now I'm planning on Right Ho, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse and Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates.

Posting as a reminder to come back (someday!) to plan.

The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher for me

I've got Jumper by Steven Gould and Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie

I have a number of 'J' and 'B' authors lined up for February:

Loving Geordie by Andrea Baddenoch
Elkhorn Tavern by Douglas C. Jones
The Tropic of Serpents by Marie Brennan
Junkyard Dogs by Craig Johnson
Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

Don't know if I will get to them all, but I will surely complete some for this theme.

>7 DeltaQueen50: Judy the Longmire Group read Junkyard Dogs this past December. That one was kind of a hoot.

>8 luvamystery65: I am so looking forward to catching up with Walt and his friends, it's been awhile since I read one!

Here's my list for February

✔Black Circle
Black Reckoning
✔Blood on the Water
✔Body Under the Bridge
✔Bone to pick
Foreign Eclairs by Julie Hyzy
✔Guaranteed to Bleed
Read and Buried
✔Wedding Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke

>10 cyderry: whew!

I just ordered A Brief History of Seven Killings by James Marlon and The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks from the library, but at 11th and 9th in line, respectively, I may not receive them in time for February reading.

For J, this one is for sure, as it's for my f2f book club:
The Juggler's Children / Carolyn Abraham

For B, I think this fits DeweyCAT (though I should double check the Dewey number):
Bonk / Mary Roach

I seem to have far more B and J choices on my stacks of possible books to read in February than I expected! One I'm certain to get to is Joe and Azat by Jesse Lonergan. It's a graphic novel set in Turkmenistan, based on the author's Peace Corps experiences there. It not only works for the AlphaKit, but it also fits RandomCat and GEOCat.

I'll be reading several that can fit into this category this month. I won't count them all but I will count a few. I have some Jack of Fables by Bill Willingham with several subtitles that will fill neatly into each category. I'll be reading a Jim Butcher for Fantasy February so that one will count as well. I'm also reading A Brides Story, Volumes 4-6 for GeoCAT.

Lots to chose from!

I've started Abaddon's Gate by James S.A. Corey.

wrong thread

I have lots of B choices, not so many Js. One book I will definitely be reading works for both: The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes

Other possibilities:
A Blunt Instrument, Miss Buncle's Book, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, Playboy of the Western World by J.M. Synge, Translations by Brian Friel, Barrayar & Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen by Bujold...

It occurs to me that Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen will probably work for Feb. RandomCAT and the SFFKit as well.

Starting "The Book of Strange New Things" by Michel Faber.

I have finished An Unsuitable Job for a Woman by P. D. James (double J AND highly recommended!!!) and The Broken Kingdoms by N. K. Jemisin (B and J).

Now reading The Shut Eye by Belinda Bauer for the double B.

Read a play by Brian Friel, Translations.

I just finished The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters. A very good pre-apocalyptic novel of a policeman trying to solve a crime as an asteroid bears down on earth threatening to wipe out all of civilization. What choices do we make on how to live when we are certain to die within six months?

I finished Right Ho, Jeeves which was such a hoot!

Just finished the novella Train Dreams by Denis Johnson

I finished Grave Peril by Jim Butcher. Another fun entry in the Dresden Files - learned more about the vampires in this one.

Also read Jamilia - a beautiful short novel set in Kyrgyzstan.

COMPLETED The Book of Strange New Things by Michel Faber.

>26 Robertgreaves: This was such a great book, a 5 star read for me.

I just finished Agatha Raisin and the Potted Gardener by M.C. Beaton, a cute cozy mystery, but I probably won't read any more from this series.

I just finished a re-read of The Warrior's Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold, the first of what may be many shared reads with my daughter's boyfriend.

I have finished "A Blunt Instrument" and "Jill the Reckless"...

Still waiting for my library hold for the audiobook of Bujold's Barrayar to come in... I really would like to reread this before diving into Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen.

You Are Never Alone: Our Life on the Donnelly Homestead / J. Robert Salts
3.5 stars

The Donnellys were an Irish immigrant family that came to Ontario in the mid-1800s. Four of the family members were murdered by local vigilantes in February 1880. This book was written in 1996 by the man who was living with his wife and son on the Donnelly homestead at the time. He relates various paranormal “events” he (and others) have encountered there, has anecdotes about tourists (they offer tours of the homestead), and does relay a shortened version of the Donnelly story. He also shares many photos of the Donnelly family and the homestead, both from when the Donnellys lived there and “current” to when the book was written.

I found this interesting. I have read a couple other books about the murders, so it was interesting to read about the possible paranormal happenings that continued over 100 years later. The anecdotes and photos were also interesting, I thought. There were even descriptions of the buildings, and how they were originally built. It was a short, quick read.

Finished Jumper by Steven gould

I've just started After You by Jojo Moyes, the sequel to Me Before You.

Starting Ancient Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction by Julia Annas

Starting The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher.

I listened to a full cast audiobook of the play Jump At the Sun in honor of Black History month. Well worth spending a couple of hours with this!

I read A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent by Marie Brennan. Lots of fun.

I just finished Junkyard Dogs by Craig Johnson, an excellent Walt Longmire mystery.

I'm still reading The Unquiet Bones: The First Chronicle of Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon by Mel Starr. I started in January for the U, but glad it also fits this month's AlphaKit. I've had limited time to read via text, so this kindle read has gone slowly.

I've also just started listening to The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown. I've been wanting to read this one for some time now.

I stayed up late last night to finish The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher. It was incredible!

>40 luvamystery65: That's great to hear!

>40 luvamystery65: In the midst of it now. It is terrific! Definitely keeping my attention!

I'm reading Joyland by Stephen King--and loving it so far!--and planning on also reading The Book of Beasts by the Barrowmans (3rd in the YA fantasy trilogy, Hollow Earth).

COMPLETED Ancient Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction by Julia Annas (touchstones not working today)

I have finished Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty. I absolutely loved this book, 5 stars.

Another couple finished: Johannes Cabal, the detective by Jonathan L. Howard and The Lost Painting by Jonathan Harr.

The Juggler's Children / Carolyn Abraham
3.5 stars

Carolyn Abraham was born in England, but grew up in Canada. She had brown skin and when she asked her parents where they were “from”, they had a hard time answering. As she traced back their lineage, she followed them to India, her father's roots to China, her mother's roots to Jamaica... She did this with a combination of “paper” research and DNA testing of many family members.

This was quite interesting. I will admit to falling in and out of focus at various points (and not consistent points), but overall I found it interesting. I was able to follow some of the science/DNA stuff, but lost interest at other parts. Likewise, my interest waxed and waned at various points while she was actually learning stories of her ancestors. I think I found the Jamaica section of her mother's family the most interesting. It almost makes me want to research my own family... but not quite! It's a lot of time, effort, work, and money to travel to some of these places!

Just finished Joyland, and it was wonderful. There's a full review written, but if you like mysteries or old fashioned ghost stories, you should check this one out. I'm sure it will disappoint some of King's fans who want more horror in their stories, but I thought it was a wonderful escape.

>48 whitewavedarling: I'm a huge Stephen King fan and Joyland is one of my favorites by him, but I agree that it's quite different.

I agree with >49 sturlington:!

Finished Beautiful Creatures

Just finished Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel

I'm reading another Joyce Stranger book, Casey (aka Born to Trouble). I love how the author tells us about the lives of the people who live in small villages in post WWII England. Delightful combination of people and animals grace her works.

Finished The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher. What a fun read!

Another fan of The Aeronaut's Windlass here.

Also read an ARC of Because of Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn, and Saga, Volume 2 by Brian K. Vaughan.

Nice to see all the good comments about The Aeronaut's Windlass. I'm not quite ready to start it, but it's moving up the list!

I finished The Ghost of Flight 401 by John G. Fuller.

I loved, loved, LOVED Casey. If you've never tried any of Joyce Stranger's works, I highly recommend them.

>48 whitewavedarling: Count me as one who really loved Joyland by Stephen King. It was King's second outing with Hard Case Crime and the story is more about crime than "horror" or the ghost. King's storytelling abilities really shine on this one. I absolutely LOVE the cover art.

>54 majkia: & >55 BookLizard: The Aeronaut's Windlass was so good!

I've just finished reading The Art of Waiting by Christopher Jory, a compelling story of family, love, betrayal and revenge. Set in Venice and Russia during and after WWII.

Finished Jeffrey Archer's Be Careful What You Wish For. Because it ends with a cliffhanger, I immediately started on the next one in the series, Mightier than the Sword.

I finished the audiobook of Blott on the Landscape -- David Suchet was marvelous as narrator and earned the book an extra ½ star for a total of 4½★!

I am continuing to read the hardcover tome of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell -- I might even finish by Leap Year day.

Is the March thread up?

oops. setting it up now.

March thread: http://www.librarything.com/topic/219412

I finished Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist.

>64 majkia: thank you!

I just finished my second Joyce Stranger book for this month, Two's Company. I like her works, almost without exception, and highly recommend them.

Finished The Book of Beasts by John and Carole E. Barrowman, the third in the Hollow Earth series. It was so, so good. If you like YA or fantasy, you have to read the Hollow Earth series.

Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex / Mary Roach
3.5 stars

In Bonk, Mary Roach looks at the science of sex. She looks at the history of studying sex, talks to various scientists and even participates in a few studies herself!

It was interesting. And, Roach is, of course, also humourous at times. I read the ebook, which unfortunately didn't work very well for the footnotes. They are all clustered at the end, so if you read through them at that point, you're missing the context.

I have completed Elkhorn Tavern by Douglas C. Jones. This was an excellent historical fiction read that is set against the Civil War Battle of Pea Ridge.

I finished Blacklist, a mystery with a hefty dose of social commentary about the US in the wake of 9/11.

I have a question about the Wiki. Are each month's books supposed to be entered in alphabetical order by title? I am never sure where to add my entries...

>70 leslie.98: Yes. Enter alphabetically by title.

Just added Mightier than the Sword, another one by Jeffrey Archer.

I finished Tropic of Serpents by Marie Brennan, which is the 2nd volume in the Lady Trent Adventures.

I have finished listening to the LibriVox recording of Penrod by Booth Tarkington & then read the ebook of Miss Buncle's Book...

>74 leslie.98: I love Miss Buncle's Book!

I finished The Magdalen Martyrs by Ken Bruen.

COMPLETED Dangerous Admissions by Jane O'Connor and starting the same author's Almost True Confessions

Forgot to mention that I finished Between the World and Me for this challenge.

>78 LittleTaiko: I read that one this month too! Will need to post on the wiki. Thanks for bringing it up.

>75 fuzzi: Yes, it was a lot of fun! Similar style to early Angela Thirkell or Miss Read…

Another one for this month: The Cat Who Knew a Cardinal by Lilian Jackson Braun

My last entry for this month is Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi. This YA dystopian was a fun, high-sea adventure.

Added another book, Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey, and am almost finished with Three's a Pack by (again) Joyce Stranger.

It's been a good month for AlphaKIT!

COMPLETED Almost True Confessions by Jane O'Connor

Starting The Last Tobacco Shop in the World by Bjorn Turmann

Just finished a twofer: Bad Wizard by James Maxey. It's a fun sequel to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz -- Dorothy is all grown up.

Just finished Benediction by Kent Haruf.

And just about to finish No Time for Goodbye by Linwood Barclay.

Finished The Bookseller of Kabul.