Terrible Terri (tymfos) tackles the tomes Thread Three

Welcome to thread #3 of my 2016 75 Challenge thread! I’m Terri, and I’ve been an LT member, and 75 Challenger, since 2009. I live in the mountains of Pennsylvania with my husband, college-age son, and a tabby cat named Siegfried (Sig for short).

I’ve enjoyed being a part of this group. Thanks to folks here, I’ve added a lot of items to my Ever-Expanding List of books to read! I read a wide variety of books, both fiction and non-fiction, but am probably a little too partial to mysteries. I also participate in the Category Challenge each year, and once again I've focused that challenge on series reading.

I tend to be a rather moody reader, and usually don't do much with the special challenges, like the AAC or TIOLI, though I may drop into them occasionally. I have been doing the Navajo Tony Hillerman/Craig Johnson monthly reads, located here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/209475 . I'd already read all the Longmire books so far, but this has introduced me to Tony Hillerman's work, and I plan to continue this year. I like some of the monthly themes too, like Mystery March and September Series & Sequels. And I usually start an Autism Awareness thread in April.

I welcome comments by visitors (as long as you’re not bringing me spam.)

Books finished in JANUARY (note to self: have entered "finished" date in book record for these)
1. Learning to Walk in the Dark by Barbara Brown Taylor AUDIO (1/1/16)
2. The Patience of the Spider by Andrea Camilleri AUDIO (1-5-16)
3. Six Geese a Slaying by Donna Andrews (1-6-16)
4. Skinwalkers by Tony Hillerman (1-6-16) e-book
4a. Beneath the Book Tower by Steve Hamilton e-book short story (1-7-16)
5. Death in a Strange Country by Donna Leon (1-8-16)
6. Last Train to Paradise by Les Standiford (1-12-16) e-book
7. Native Tongue by Carl Hiaasen (1-13-16) e-book
8. Never Haunt a Historian by Edie Claire e-book (1-16-16)
9. Dreaming of the Bones by Deborah Crombie (1-17-16)
10. The Case of the Missing Servant by Tarquin Hall AUDIO (1-18-16)
11. The Small Hand by Susan Hill (1-19-16)
12. Wednesday's Child by Peter Robinson (1-25-16)
13. Final Account by Peter Robinson (AKA Dry Bones that Dream) e-book (1-28-16)
14. Lost Cat: A True Story of Love, Desperation, and GPS Technology by Caroline Paul e-book (1-30-16)

books finished in FEBRUARY (note to self: have entered "finished" date in book record for these)
15. The Riesling Retribution by Ellen Crosby AUDIO (2-2-16)
16. Out on a Limb: A Smoky Mountain Mystery by Carolyn Jourdan e-book(2-3-16)
17. Kissed a Sad Goodbye by Deborah Crombie (2-6-16)
18. Broken English by Gaus e-book(2-9-16)
19. The Paper Moon by Andrea Camilleri AUDIO (2-10-16)
20. Shelf Ice by Aaron Stander e-book (2-15-16)
21. A Finer End by Deborah Crombie (2-16-16)
22. A Specter of Justice by Mark de Castrique (2-17-16)
23. August Heat by Andrea Camilleri AUDIO (2-17-16)
24. Little Girl Blue the Life of Karen Carpenter by Randy Schmidt (2-18-16)
25. Dressed for Death by Donna Leon (2-20-16)
26. The Delicate Storm by Giles Blunt (2-26-16)

Books finished in MARCH (note to self: have entered "finished" date in book record for these)
27. The Wings of the Sphinx by Andrea Camilleri AUDIO (3-5-16)
28. The Boys of Summer by Roger Kahn e-book (3-9-16)
29. Nobody Knows: The Forgotten Story of One of the Most Influential Figures in American Music by Craig Von Buseck (3-11-16)
30. Home to Harmony by Philip Gulley AUDIO (3-17-16)
31. I Don't Care if we Never Get Back by Ben Blatt & Eric Brewster (3-17-16)
32. The Body in the Fjord by Katherine Hall Page (3-24-16)
33. Reliving the Passion by Walter Wangerin, Jr. (3-27-16)
34. Never Buried by Edie Claire e-book (3-29-16)
35. A Thief of Time by Tony Hillerman (3-31-16) more

Books finished in APRIL
36. Winterkill by C J Box (4-6-16)
37. Healers by Ann Cleeves (4-8-16)
38. Joyland by Stephen King AUDIO (4-9-16)
39. Send in the Idiots by Kamran Nazeer (4-20-16)
40. The Track of Sand by Andrea Camilleri AUDIO (4-23-16)

Books finished in MAY
41. Plainsong by Kent Haruf (5-4-16)
42. Rubbernecker by Belinda Bauer e-book (5-7-16)
43. The Haunt of Grace by Ted Loder (5-8-16)
44. Never Sorry by Edie Claire e-book (5-10-16)
45. The Name of God is Mercy by Pope Francis AUDIO (5-12-16)
46. Talking God by Tony Hillerman AUDIO (5-13-16)
47. Never Preach Past Noon by Edie Claire (e-book) (5-19-16)
48. The Highwayman by Craig Johnson (5-27-16)
49. Swan for the Money by Donna Andrews e-book (5-28-16)

Books finished in June
50. Stitches: A Handbook on Meaning, Hope and Repair by Anne Lamott (6-1-16)
51. The Leopard by Jo Nesbo AUDIO & e-book (6-4-16)
52. The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco (6-5-16)
53. Final Undertaking by Mark de Castrique (6-6-16)
54. The Black Echo by Michael Connelly (6-9-16)
55. And Hell Followed With It: Life and Death in a Kansas Tornado by Bonar Menninger (6-14-15)
56. Death at Charity Point by William G Tapply (6-15-16)
57. The Cold, Cold Ground by Adrian McKinty AUDIO (6-17-16)
58. Signs and Wonders by Philip Gully (6-18-16)
59. My Lobotomy by Howard Dully (6-19-16)
60. The Merry Misogynist by Colin Cotterill (6-22-16)
61. Someone You Know by Brian McGilloway e-book (6-25-16)
62. The Potter's Field by Andrea Camilleri AUDIO (6-25-16)

abandoned
The Wine-Dark Sea by Robert Aickman

Books finished in JULY
63. Eventide by Kent Haruf (7-3-16)
64. The Lamp of the Wicked by Phil Rickman (7-4-16)
65. Bad Kitty gets a Bath by Nick Bruel (7-6-16)
66. The Water Room by Christopher Fowler e-book (7-5-16)
67. A Killer Plot by Ellery Adams (7-9-16)
68. The September Society by Charles Finch AUDIO (7-10-16)
69. The Girls She Left Behind by Sarah Graves e-book (7-10-16)
70. Death and Judgment by Donna Leon AUDIO (7-14-16)
71. Benediction by Kent Haruf (7-17-16)
72. And Justice There Is None by Deborah Crombie AUDIO(7-21-16)

(second novella of the year by same author -- grouping with the first, book #11, from February)
11b Dolly: A Ghost Story by susan Hill AUDIO (7-23-16)

73. Home Fires by Margaret Maron AUDIO (7-25-16)
74. Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith by Kathleen Norris (7-27-16)

abandoned
For the Dignified Dead by Michael Genelin e-book

Books finished in AUGUST

75. Coyote Waits by Tony Hillerman (8-2-16)

76. From Doon With Death by Ruth Rendell e-book (8-3-16)
77. Phantom by Jo Nesbo AUDIO (8-6-16)
78. Grace: More than we deserve, greater than we imagine by Max Lucado e-book (8-6-16)
79. Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf (8-11-16)
80. Tailing a Tabby by Laurie Cass e-book (8-12-16)
81. Ghosts of Grand Rapids by Nicole Bray e-book (8-12-16)
82. Haunted Green Bay by Timothy Freiss e-book (8-13-16)
83. The Body in Blackwater Bay by Paula Gosling (8-14-16)
84. Mighty Fitz: The Sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald by Michael Schumacher (8-15-16)
85. The Seventy-Seven Clocks by Christopher Fowler e-book (8-18-16)
86. The Story Teller by Margaret Coel AUDIO (8-19-16)
87. The Baby Snatcher by Ann Cleeves e-book (8-20-16)
88. The Age of Doubt by Andrea Camilleri AUDIO (8-22-16)
89. The Forgotten Ones by Brian McGilloway e-book (8-26-16)
90. As Good as Gone by Larry Watson (8-30-16)

Books finished in SEPTEMBER

91. Fatal Undertaking but Mark de Castrique (9-1-16)
92. Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton AUDIO (9-1-16)
93. Snow Angels by James Thompson e-book (9-5-16)
94. A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny (9-5-16)
95. Police by Jo Nesbo AUDIO (9-9-16)
96. Flight 93: The Story, the Aftermath, and the Legacy of American Courage by Tom McMillan e-book (9-11-16)
97. Risky Undertaking by Mark de Castrique AUDIO
98. Lost Road Courses by Martin Rudow (LT ER book)

currently reading
An Obvious Fact by Craig Johnson
The Draining Lake by Amaldur Indridason e-book
Sum it Up by Pat Summitt
The Petite Advantage Diet by Jim Karas

Devotional/Theological:
Leaves from the Notebook of a Tamed Cynic by Reinhold Niebuhr

As I said above, I participate in the yearly category challenge, and have recently focused it on series reading. This year, I’m adding a little “flavor” to the effort. I realize that many of my categories are too broad to be represented by any one dish, or even two dishes. I mean no disrespect to any nationality if the choice of dish doesn’t quite fit the settings of all the books, or seems stereotypical. These categories are subject to change.

1. Appetizer -- The first book in a series
2. Salad -- The second book in a series
3. Main Course -- Books in the “middle” of a series. This year, I’ll only list books here that don’t fit in any other categories, to avoid a ridiculously long list here.
4. Dessert -- The last/most recent book in a series
5. Snacks -- books from a series read alone or out of order
6. Lutefisk -- Books/series with a Scandinavian/Nordic setting
7. Cheesesteaks and Scrapple -- Book/series set in Pennsylvania
8. Old Fashioned – Books/series where history plays a significant role
9. Rice -- Books/series set in Asia.
10. Cappuccino and a bagel -- Books/series which feature coffee/coffee shops (or tea/tea rooms) or baking/bakeries
11. Mint Julep -- Books/series set in the Southern US
12. Guinness Stout -- Books/series set in Ireland or featuring those of Irish descent
13. Fish & Chips – Books /series with a British setting
14. Lasagna -- Books/series set in Italy
15. Indian Fry Bread -- Books/series featuring Native Americans
16. Peanuts and Crackerjackx -- Books/series relating to sports
16. Genuine, All-Natural Ingregients -- This is the category for books from non-fiction collections.

MISCELLANEOUS CHALLENGE STUFF
January British Author Challenge: The Small Hand by Susan Hill DONE
January Non-Fiction Challenge (bio): Nobody Knows: by Craig von Buseck (bio of Harry T. Burleigh) finished in March
January book for the Navajo Tony Hillerman/Craig Johnson monthly reads: Skinwalkers DONE

I didn't do much of anything with challenges for February
started: The Boys of Summer by Roger Kahn for Spring Training Baseball read
The hold I had on an Agatha Christie audio book for the British challenge didn't come available until March 5

Possible March challenge reads: (Note: I don't say "planned" because I know better than to plan anything . . .)
Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy for British challenge (on myTBR shelf) did not start
Moo by Jane Smiley for the AAC (On hold list for e-book; our library must have weeded the shelf copy we had) copy did not come available in time
The Boys of Summer by Roger Kahn for Spring Training read DONE
A Thief of Time by Tony Hillerman for the group reading his books DONE

April
Autism Awareness April:
Rubbernecker by Belinda Bauer (DONE!)
Send in the Idiots: Stories from the Other Side of Autism (DONE!)
The Way I see It by Temple Grandin (intended to read, but didn't)
The Rosie Project (possible read, but didn't)

The Name of God is Mercy by Pope Francis (for Nonfiction Spirituality emphasis) DONE!

May
Talking God by Tony Hillerman (for Hillerman/Johnson thread and May Murder & Mayhem) DONE!
The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco (for group read and MM&M) CURRENTLY READING
My Lobotomy for May Mental Health Awareness CURRENTLY READING
The Leopard by Jo Nesbo (MM&M) CURRENTLY READING
Never Preach Past Noon by Edie Claire (MM&M) DONE!
Swan for the Money by Donna Andrews (MM&M) DONE!

I've really done very little with the various themes and challenges this year. I did participate in May Murder & Mayhem, and plan to participate in September Series and Sequels.

glitter-graphics.com

This thread is now officially launched!

Whoohoo! Delicious new thread. I love your menu challenge--very appealing. : )

Hi, Kim! I have fun with the menu challenge. I keep tweaking it a bit. . .

My keyboard was sticking and skipping, so yesterday I bought a new one to connect to my computer. (The last straw was when I tried to log into LT, and when I tried to enter my user name, the "t" stuck and filled the blank with endless repeating "ttttttttttttttt........." -- and I couldn't get it unstuck.)

The layout on this keyboard s a bit different than I'm used to, at least for the "home, end, page up, page down, delete" keys. It is driving me a bit crazy.

Happy new thread, Terri! I love the photo of Sig up top - so handsome!

Happy new thread, Terri. I like your glittery welcome mat. Your kitty is very handsome, too.

Happy new thread, Terri. Love the picture of the handsome lad at the top of your thread. I hope you get used to your new keyboard - at least it doesn't stick.

Happy new thread, Terri.

>12Hi, Mamie! It's not a new photo, but it is a favorite of mine.

>13 BLBera: Hi, Beth! Thanks for the kind words.

>14 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg! The keyboard doesn't stick, but the connection with the computer doesn't seem to stick, either -- today I had to unplug it and plug it back into the computer to get the computer to recognize it.

>15 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul! I hope you're having a good week.

Book #50 Stitches: A Handbook on Meaning, Hope and Repair by Anne Lamott (6-1-16)

This is a short but meaningful book of reflections about the way our lives and communities are "stitched" back together in the face of sorrow and disappointments.

I my previous thread, I had written about my son needing a "do-over" of the math course he had last semester.

Last evening, he had his first test in the summer re-take of that class.

98%!!!!!!

(Big sigh of relief)

>18 tymfos: Yay! When is he (and you) freed of this obligation?

>19 qebo: hi, Katherine! The last day is June 30. It's one of those intensive one-month courses.

>18 tymfos: Woot!! Congrats to your son!!

Terri, I read that title in >17 tymfos: as Stitches: A Handbook on Meaning and Home Repair. LOL! I think I need more coffee!

And HOORAY for the 98%!! Awesomesauce!

Happy new thread! I'm glad to hear that your son is off to a terrific start in his summer course.

I liked Stitches and I particularly like her narration on the audio books.

Congrats on the great math grade!

>21 scaifea: Thanks, Amber!

>22 Crazymamie: LOL! More coffee for me, too, please, Mamie. Thanks!

>23 cbl_tn: Thanks, Carrie!

>24 Copperskye: I haven't listened to her on audio yet. Must try that! Thanks, Joanne!

Book #51 The Leopard by Jo Nesbo e-book and audio
(Harry Hole series #8)

Dragged back to Oslo after running off to Hong Kong, Harry fights police politics as much as he battles the serial killer in this installment. And who knew that he knew so much about volcanos and avalanches? Odd knowledge can come in handy.

I found this one even more confusingly complex and outrageously implausible than Harry's usual adventures, though at least the supposedly great detective didn't miss a major red flag like he did with the last one. Only 3 stars -- it was OK but seemed to drag on forever. Only near the very end did I find it hard to put down.

Book #52 The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco

Brother William and his trusty aide, novice Adso (the narrator) arrive at an abbey where there has been a mysterious death. More deaths follow. William is there to deal with matters of faith, heresy, and politics, with an arriving Papal delegation; but he and Adso are drawn into the role of detectives.

I read this for the May group read. It's very clever, and certainly well researched for historical detail, but I found it rather tedious. Church history and theology are interests of mine, and both were factors in this book set in a 14th-century abbey in the midst of heresy investigations. But there was more detail than I could process under my current reading opportunities. It was a slow read for me, and I found myself just wanting it to be done so that I could move on to other things.

I didn't give it a star rating, as I could recognize the quality of the book. It was just the wrong book at the wrong time for me.

I knew my Thingaversary was early June, but I missed the actual day.

I'm holding off on buying my Thingaversary books because I'll be going to a used book sale soon.

Actually . . . is it a sort of LT blasphemy to say that I have more books than I need on the shelf, and even more available via library, so I'm really not eager to buy more books?

There is one old book I need to finish an old Ann Cleeves series, that I might buy -- perhaps the Kindle edition, since the paper ones seem to be rare and overpriced. I can't get it via our ILL, so buying is the only option. I'd like to finish the series.

Happy New Thread, Terri! Love the kitty topper. Sorry the Nesbo and Eco were let-downs. I have not read either.

Happy Thingaversary! I celebrate my 8th, at the end of the week. My, how time flies...

>28 tymfos: I feel the same way and am trying to curb my book buying. Happy Thingaversary! My 8th Thingaversary just passed.

Happy Thingaversary! Monday will be my 8th. I'll be at a conference in Oregon, and I'm counting on a trip to Powell's for my Thingaversary shopping!

>29 msf59: >30 Copperskye: >31 cbl_tn: Hi, Mark, Joanne, and Carrie! It seems like I'm in good company by having a June Thingaversary!

After struggling through the Eco, I picked up a mystery from a favorite series and tore through it in a day.

Book #53 Final Undertaking by Mark de Castrique (Burryin' Barry series)

I love this series about a former Charlotte, NC policeman who returned to his hometown in the mountains to help with the family funeral parlor business when his father was diagnosed with Alzheimers. He keeps getting called on to use his police experience to help out the local law enforcement. The setting is great, the characters enjoyable, the dialog realistic and often witty, in a down-home way.

This time, a shooting at a street festival leads to Barry being formally deputzed. But he still has a funeral business to run -- with a new summer intern. As the issues around the shooting investigation become more and more complex, it becomes obvious that someone is leaking information, and it's impossible to know who to trust.

There was one scene that really had me laughing out loud, and there were plenty of grins and chuckles, too. But there are plenty of serious moments and issues in this not-totally-cozy mystery.

>6 tymfos: I really love that Menu Challenge idea. I'm going to try to keep it in mind as I read---it just adds another layer of fun to selections!

>27 tymfos: I had much the same reaction ("tedious") to The Name of the Rose when I tried to read it many years ago. I gave up then, but I've always thought I'd go back to it one day.

>32 tymfos: Oh, brother. Another series I've never heard of that sounds really appealing. Thanks, Terri! (I think.)

>33 laytonwoman3rd: Hi, Linda! Please feel free to borrow as much as you want from my Menu Challenge, and adapt it as you wish.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who had a hard time getting through The Name of the Rose.

Oh, brother. Another series I've never heard of that sounds really appealing. Thanks, Terri! (I think.)

LOL! I know what you mean. And -- get this -- in the book, Barry (the protagonist) is in a bookstore and picks up a volume in his favorite mystery series . . . a real series, sounds good, one I'd never heard of . . . so I have to check it out, right???

At least there are only 6 books in the Burryin' Barry series. There are 25 in the series Barry picked up in the bookstore -- the Brady Coyne series by William Tapply. That series won't be growing because Tapply died in 2009. Hopefully, there will be more Burryin' Barry novels from de Castrique.

I like de Castrique's other series, the Sam Blackman series, about a former MP who lost a leg in Iraq, and has become a PI in civilian life. That series has a small tie to my family history -- the first story begins in the VA hospital in Asheville, NC where one of my great-uncles died many years ago. (I did not know that piece of family history when I started reading them!). All those mysteries have a local history angle from the Asheville area, generally dealing with literature or folklore.

"I like de Castrique's other series, the Sam Blackman series," Oh. So you had to make it worse! And go on....what's the name of the series mentioned in the book?

>35 laytonwoman3rd: And go on...what's the name of the series mentioned in the book?

Brady Coyne series by William Tapply. I haven't tried it yet. I gather they are set in New England.

Have I launched enough "book bullets" yet? :-)

>32 tymfos: I love de Castrique's Sam Blackman series and have wondered about that one. I'll have to try to find some of them.

I'm glad to hear your son's summer class is going better this time. I know there are some professors who don't have the gift of teaching. They are good at research and publication, but they just don't seem to be capable of teaching in a way students comprehend. Hopefully your son has found a good professor this time around.

>36 tymfos: I'm riddled with 'em! Oh, and I meant to say up there, kudos to your son for getting a grip on his math course.

>37 thornton37814: I think you would enjoy it, Lori. In addition to how much I enjoy the characters and plots, there are some nice values in the mix. I especially like the elderly Methodist pastor of the small mountain congregations, who appears occasionally in the stories.

My son really likes the professor this term; they seem to be using a better textbook now, too, which can't hurt.

>38 laytonwoman3rd: Thanks, Linda! He's in class now, and I'm in the college library killing time waiting for him, after a quick grocery run.

Well, I've been listening to a murder mystery set in Northern Ireland: The Cold, Cold Ground by Adrian McKinty. Now I've come up on the hold list for an e-book, and what is it? A murder mystery set in Northern Ireland (!) -- one of Brian McGilloway's newer series (not the Ben Devlin series set in the Republic, the other one with the female detective on the Northern side of the border).

They are set in different eras (one at the height of the Troubles, one in the aftermath) but I'm afraid there are too many similarities for me to avoid getting them confused. I must finish the McKinty and quickly get to the McGilloway!

I read a book from both of de Castrique's series. I liked them both but preferred the Blackman one. Need to get back to those series.

>41 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg! I read books from the Blackman series first. I'm not sure if I like it better or . . . just differently. They are really different types of series. The Blackman series isn't cozy -- he's a PI -- and I like the literary aspects of the stories. The Burryin' Barry series has some more cozy elements -- up to the point I'm at in the series, he's mainly an undertaker and former law enforcement -- just became a temporary deputy in the latest one I read. I've got a feeling that may change . . . or not.

My son has another math test this evening. He's worried about this one. Word problems are his nemesis. I have my fingers crossed (which makes it hard to type . . .)

Crossing my fingers, too, Terri, and keeping you both in my thoughts.

Yep, my fingers are crossed, too! Um, belatedly... Still counts!

Hope your crossed fingers worked, Terri.

I'll join in the belated finger-crossing. Amber's right: it definitely counts.

>44 Crazymamie: >45 scaifea: >46 Familyhistorian: >47 The_Hibernator: Thanks, Mamie, Amber, Meg, and Rachel!

Turns out, none of the finger-crossing was belated. Because of his autism, my son gets accommodations (extra time, distraction-free environment) for his testing. They couldn't do that Thursday evening (the testing lab he would use wasn't open at that hour) so he went in today, during the day, to test. I await hearing the results!

Well, my son reports that he passed the test, but only with a 72. I think he's as disappointed as I am, after how well he did on the previous test and the practice test for this one.

He has to pass the course with at least a C, so he's ok so far -- but I'm worried about the grade slipping further as the work gets harder.

I'm reading a great book I got through ILL: And Hell Followed With It: life and death in a Kansas tornado by Bonar Menninger, about the EF5 tornado that tore through Topeka in June of 1966. A note in my record reminds me that I have Linda (lindapanzo) to thank for this book bullet! I stayed up till 1:30 a.m. reading, and can't wait to get back to it.

>50 tymfos: Bonar Menninger
Of the Menninger Clinic family?

>49 tymfos: 72
Uh oh. How many more tests?

>51 qebo: I don't know his background except he's from Topeka and has a degree in journalism from Kansas State and has worked as an investigative journalist.(Thus says the notes about the author in the book)

Three more tests. He says this week's work is easier than last week. (Fingers crossed)

You are doing a lot of typing with fingers crossed lately! I hope everything goes well - just 3 more to go.

>53 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg!

The massacre in Orlando makes me sick. My heart goes out to the injured and families of the dead. What a waste! So many lives cut short senselessly.

In one of those odd coincidences we sometimes have with books, my current audio book police procedural mystery, The Cold, Cold Ground, involves a detective trying to catch a killer who announced that he is targeting gays -- including an attack on a gay bar. (shudder) The book is set in 1981 Northern Ireland, but feels too close to current reality on that score.

OK, I've finished two books that I haven't posted here yet, except for mentions and in the lists.

Book #54. The Black Echo by Michael Connelly (6-9-16)
Harry Bosch series #1

A body is found in a large pipe, dead of an apparent overdose. The man was a known user. Normally, the death would have been written off as an accidental overdose. But Harry Bosch gets the call, and Harry recognizes the man as someone he served with in Vietnam. He looks closer, and some things don't add up for him. . .

And we're off. Along the way we encounter an old bank heist, the FBI, and the story of those Army soldiers known as "tunnel rats."

I think I read a book or two from later in this series years ago (pre LT), when I wasn't focused on series reading. I'm finally going back and starting the series. This was a 4-star read for me -- rare for a first-in-series. Connelly managed to provide Harry's back story without an info dump -- it came out quite naturally in the course of the book. The plot kept me interested and reading. I think this is one I stayed up late to finish.

Book #55 And Hell Followed With It: Life and Death in a Kansas Tornado by Bonar Menninger (6-14-16)

This is a non-fiction account of the EF5 tornado which struck Topeka, Kansas in June of 1966. It begins with author's notes (1) to explain source material and how he used it and (2) to warn readers that those who survived the tornado by huddling under bridges were very, very lucky -- that it is NOT recommended. That said, he gets to the story, and what a story it is.

He follows the experiences of a great number of people who were in the tornado. The accounts are more or less divided up into different areas that the tornado hit as it entered and moved through the city. Each section has a map, and at the beginning there is a larger map to place the area maps into the larger context. I found these maps extremely helpful in following what happened, as the area maps are marked with the locations of different people that we are reading about.

There is a chapter involving Toledo history and a legend which people associate with the tornado. There is also a chapter about the formation of tornadoes, this tornado in particular, and the history of tornado forecasting. I found this fascinating; people less interested in weather might differ on that opinion. We also read of the aftermath of the storm, and how it furthered the progress of tornado safety.

But it was the accounts of the people in the storm that I found absolutely riveting. I've read a lot of weather-related books, and a number of them on tornadoes, but I've never gotten such a clear sense of what it's like to experience a major tornado. The stories were spellbinding, and some of the details were absolutely incredible.

I could hardly put this book down. I read until 2 a.m. the night I started it, and the next day (my day off) I did very little but read, except for those tasks I absolutely had to accomplish (medical appointment, cooking meals, etc.) I thought this was a fabulous book, and I've given it 5 stars.

After finishing my struggle reading The Name of the Rose, I've raced through three really good books that have been good enough to keep me up at night. It might not be good for my beauty sleep, but it has invigorated my reading and pulled me out of a threatened reading funk.

>57 tymfos: Well, hooray for that, Terri! I also love those Harry Bosch books - I need to get back to that series.

Keeping my fingers crossed and sending positive mojo for those remaining tests - the 72 could just be a fluke. Just a bad day for a test or something about it had him distracted - that's happened to Rae before. Little things can make a huge difference. Hoping the next one is another he knocks out of the park.

>58 Crazymamie: Thanks Mamie! One thing I learned today is that it is not just the tests that determine the grade. There is homework, too. He said his overall grade up to this point is a 90. That has me breathing a little easier.

He really likes this teacher. He never said anything at the time, but apparently he really didn't like the math teacher last semester. We should try to avoid his classes in future scheduling.

He came out of class last evening with a big smile, saying how much FUN the class had been. They are doing graphing this week, he says. Apparently he didn't like it before, but now he says he really likes it.

That is awesome, Terri! The right teacher makes all the difference. I am so happy for both of you that he is loving it this time around.

>55 tymfos: Nice review of the Connelly, Terrie. I got that one for my husband at the latest book sale. I may read it too after your comments. Just what I need…another series.

I'm so glad your son has found a math teacher he likes. I remember my Algebra teacher as having little patience with those of us who didn't get the whole math as letters thing. I wish I had a more caring teacher. I loved geometry.

>60 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie!

>61 Donna828: Thanks, Donna! I had a similar experience with Algebra in high school. I had a miserable time in Algebra I with a miserable teacher -- so much so that, even though I muddled through and passed the course, I decided to drop off the College Prep track and take Business Math the following year! The Business Math class bored me silly so much that my Guidance Counsellor suggested that I switch mid-year and re-take the second half of Algebra I with a different teacher, even though it wouldn't count for credit because I'd passed it the previous year. I LOVED IT! That teacher was wonderful! I'm still not a "math person," but I learned a valuable lesson about the imporance of a good teacher.

Book #56 Death at Charity's Point by William G. Tapply (6-15-16)

OK, so they can't all be winners. I read this because it's the first in a series that was mentioned in a book I really liked, in a series I really like, by an author I really like. And it's set in the Boston area, which is an area I know and like. I figured it would be worth a look.

I wasn't impressed. I really didn't like it much. I'll grant that it was not only first-in-series, but the author's first novel. I may give a look at one from later in the series and see if it's better. (There were 20-some in the series, so someone must have liked it for it to go on so long.)

Brady Coyne is a lawyer in private practice, catering to rich clients. One of them asks him to investigate her son's death, which has been ruled a suicide. He was a teacher at a posh prep school, so he looks for answers there.

I didn't particularly like Brady, though I liked the desciptions of Boston and its North Shore. I found it inexplicable how he solved the mystery. It just didn't work for me.

I'm late to the party. Happy New Thread, Terri.

>55 tymfos: I've read lots of books of the Harry Bosh series. I like it very much.

I liked The Name of the Rose. I've read The Prague Cemetery this year which is another good Eco book.

Hi Terri, Cold and overcast here today - perfect weather for staying indoors and getting caught up with some threads.

Going back to your previous thread, I hear you on the business of RL. Sending Good Luck wishes to your son with his summer school course, which it looks like he doesn't need - WOOT for 98% on his first test and 72% on the second still sounds good in my books. I have my fingers crossed for him. Great news that the college library is open while your son is in his class. Sounds like the perfect place to wait for him.

Happy new thread! Love the Sig topper!

>64 Ameise1: Hi, Barbara! I think The Name of the Rose may have been a case of reading the book at the wrong time. I do think it's one that requires some sustained reading and thought, and the end of the semester wasn't the best time to attempt it. Definitely, the quality was there.

>65 lkernagh: Sorry to hear your weather is blah, Lori, though you're making good use of it.

We've had some very nice weather, so I haven't been in the house much on computer -- though I did finish a book yesterday in the car, with my husband driving for a nice day trip. We went to Elk County, PA, to the Elk Country Visitors' Center. We didn't see any live elk (wrong time of day for sighting -- need to be there around dawn or dusk -- but we heard some good bluegrass music, as they were having an Arts Festival with a live band.

So I've finished an audio (during house and yard work) and a regular book (in car as passenger).

Book #57 The Cold, Cold Ground by Adrian McKinty

This tale set in the1gfvbbbbbbbdk8io

Oh, dear. The cat jumped on the keyboard, and something he did (what???) has made the screen lighting level dim quite a bit. How did he do that???????

OK, we'll start again, though I can barely see what I'm typing. What did that cat do? And how do I undo it?? Well, I found one key that brings up the screen lighting . . . oh, if I press it again . . .how about that? I didn't know that did that! Wow, the cat taught me something about the computer! Professor Siegfried!

Book #57 The Cold, Cold Ground by Adrian McKinty (6-17-16)

Sean Duffy series, book #1

This book, set in the vicinity of Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1981 (the height of "The Troubles"), was a bit out of my comfort zone. But I learned lot about the history and politics of The Troubles and the attitudes of people in that time and place. As the book opens, IRA hunger strikers are dying to be martyrs to their cause in their jail cells . . and a killer is on the loose on the outside.

Two men are murdered in a way that shows the deaths clearly connected . . . a mailing comes to detective Sean Duffy, allegedly from the killer, promising the death of more men . . . gay men. OK, this takes place more than 30 years ago, but echoes with the massacre that is dominating our own news. It got even more . . . relevant when a gay bar was attacked in the story.

The plot's question of whether the motivation was strictly anti-gay or if it had a political component also resonates, as Northern Ireland, 1981 was a place where life was dominated by terrorism.

This was just a difficult book to be reading right at this time. It was very gritty and violent, full of harsh attitudes and strife. I will likely read another of Sean Duffy's adventures -- but not too soon in the future.

I listened to the audio book, and found the narration spot-on. I really liked the narrator.

Book #58 Signs and Wonders by Philip Gulley

Harmony series, #3

I needed a "comfort read" and turned to this series about a gentle Quaker minister and his flock in a small Indiana town. As gentle as the tone is, it still dealt with real-life issues that tend to divide people. I like minister Sam Gardner's grace-filled understanding of a loving God, which resonates with my own faith far better than the hellfire-and-brinstone kind of legalism that I often encounter.

This is mostly a series of loosely-connected events from a year in the life of Sam and his congregation. I can see the kinds of conflicts that arise in small-town churches, though some are exaggerated just a bit. I found it a pleasant read.

Wishing a Happy Father's Day to fathers in our group, and all men who provide fatherly care or mentorship to youth.

I don't quite understand it . . . on Mother's Day, I want to be taken to dinner so I don't have to cook. On Father's Day, my husband wants to grill. Go figure.

>70 tymfos: Thank you Terri. I got to pay for dinner.

>71 PaulCranswick: Paul, that hardly seems fair to you . . .

Our neighbors are grilling, too. Given how close together the houses are, and that the windows are open, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed by grill aromas (and fumes) . . .

>70 tymfos: I've noticed that, Terri. Our neighbor has two teenaged daughters, a wife who is a nurse, and he does most of the cooking anyway--this afternoon he had a backyard full of people and he was at that grill for a couple hours! My husband is not the grill master around here (although he is in charge of lighting the fire and cleaning up afterward), so we have to find another way to "treat" him on Father's Day.

>55 tymfos: I too read The Black Echo several years ago and had much the same reaction you did. It was a dynamite read, and I always intended to read more in the series. Now you've got my whistle whetted again, and since I've been concentrating recently on series catch ups, I'm going to put this one back in the queue.

>63 tymfos: Funny thing....I belonged for awhile to a mystery book club, who read a different author each month. Everyone in the group was allowed to pick any book by that author. One month we read Taply, and I think this was the one I picked. I was definitely underimpressed. Several in the group were raving about him, but they had read later books. Maybe I'll need to rethink my aversion to the author.

and lastly
>70 tymfos: I love the Harmony series for the same reason you do. They are gentle comfort reads when either real life, or literary mania get to be too much. Just enough reality to latch onto without the saccharine do-goody of some religious themed series.

>73 laytonwoman3rd: Hi, Linda! I commented to hubby about it, and he just laughed. He likes to grill occasionally, and this seemed a good day for it.

I finally finished a non-fiction book I've been nibbling at for weeks.

Book #59 My Lobotomy by Howard Dully

Howard Dully was 12 years old when the infamous Dr. Freeman performed a transorbital lobotomy on him. Howard's stepmother had arranged the procedure, and Howard's father agreed to it. This seems to have been a genuine case of the "wicked stepmother" who had it in for the kid, who was probably somewhat troublesome but doesn't appear to have truly been mentally ill or had serious behavior issues -- at least not before the operation.

This book is his story as Howard pieced it together when, as an adult in his 50's, he decided that it was time to try and understand what had happened and why.

This is a really fascinating story. I wish I had heard the original NPR program featuring Howard back in 2005. I wonder if I can find it online somewhere after all this time?

I've been looking for the documentary of My Lobotomy but can't find it. My psychology prof said it was amazing and to watch it rather than reading the book. That's a scary topic!

>75 tymfos: That sounds like a scary/interesting story. It is really amazing the things that were done to people in the name of mental health back in the day!

>76 The_Hibernator: That's interesting, Rachel. A shame to not be able to find it.

>77 Familyhistorian: Yes, Meg, they sure did some scary things back then!

I'm celebrating -- my son got a 95% on his latest math test. I think this class will turn out OK! And he's still really enjoying it.

>78 tymfos: So is the instructor that your son has now a regular instructor that he can take classes from next semester?

>69 tymfos: I've read some of Gulley's books. I'm not sure if I made it all the way through the series or not when they came out.

I do like the sound of the other de Castrique series you mentioned so I'll see if I can add the first to my wish list.

>79 Familyhistorian: She's a regular instructor, Meg, but she's not scheduled to teach the math class that he needs next, that he's scheduled to take in the fall. At least it's good that he's not taking it with the teacher he really didn't like. The next teacher is a bit of an unknown quantity to us, but I haven't heard anything negative.

>80 DianaNL: Thanks, Diana! A bright and happy summer to you, too!

>81 thornton37814: Give it a try, Lori -- I do think you might like it.

OK, I just abandoned a book of short stories, The Wine Dark Sea by Robert Aickman, after reading just half of one tale. I thought I was in the mood for a bit of horror, but it did not appeal at all. I probably should have tried another story, since such collections usually are uneven in quality, but just didn't feel motivated to.

After finishing a gritty audio book, I've gone back to visit Inspector Montalbano, via an audio of The Potter's Field.

My current e-book is Someone You Know by Brian McGilloway, another visit to Northern Ireland. I don't like this Lucy Black series quite as much as his Ben Devlin series set in the Republic of Ireland, but the book is pretty good.

Paper books: a dose of Dr. Siri in The Merry Misogynist by Colin Cotterill; and my current devotional book, Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith by Kathleen Norris.

I love using the computers here at the college while my son is in class. The internet connection is so much faster than we have at home. There are some LT threads that just take forever to load at home -- everything zips right along here.

Poor Sig! Earlier today at home, I heard a bit of meowing, but when I looked, I couldn't see where he was. I had the front door open for a bit, and when I went to close it, there was unexpected resistance. I looked up, and there was Sig on top of the door again!

>74 tututhefirst: Ack! Tina, sorry, we cross-posted, and I missed your post altogether until now!

It sounds like we think alike on the books and authors you mentioned. (What do they say? Great minds think alike!)

Maybe it would be worthwhile trying a later book from Tappley. I usually want to read series in order, but sometimes it takes a while for an author to really get up to speed.

I love the Harmony series for the same reason you do. They are gentle comfort reads when either real life, or literary mania get to be too much. Just enough reality to latch onto without the saccharine do-goody of some religious themed series.
Exactly!!!!

Sweet Thursday, Terri.

Hi Terri--My son is having a similar experience with summer school. He loves this new teacher and just got back his first test with 100% in chemistry!! He had a huge grin on his face. Crossing my fingers, too!

And you got me with Black Echo and And Hell Followed With It. : )

>86 Ameise1: Thank you, Barbara!

>87 Berly: Kim, so great about your son's class! Kudos to him for his 100% test grade!

I finished two -- no, three -- more books (one an audio). I've added them to my list, but will post about them later.

Book #60 The Merry Misogynist by Colin Cotterill (6-22-16)
Dr. Siri #6

Another outing with Laotian coroner Dr. Siri and crew. Siri and Dtui are sickened when the body of a lovely young woman lands in the morgue -- her murder was especially gruesome and disturbing. When a similar crime comes to his attention, Siri wonders if yet other women have been murdered in the same way -- the shattered communications systems of the time in Laos make it almost impossible to track serial killers if they commit their crimes in different jurisdictions -- or even if they dispose of bodies in a different jurisdiction than where their victims went missing. Siri begins to investigate, with a little help from both likely and unlikely assistants.

This installment in the series gave us a glimpse into the mind of the killer, too. It was a disturbing tale, but humanized by the kind-hearted protagonist and his helpers.

Book #61 Someone You Know by Brian McGilloway AUDIO (6-25-16)
(DS Lucy Black series #2)

The story begins with the discovery of a dead teen-age girl on the railroad tracks. Soon there are signs of an online predator who is targeting vulnerable teens. DS Lucy Black knew the girl, and becomes involved in the investigation.

This book got better as it went along. I figured out parts of the solution, but not all of it.

Book #62 The Potter's Field by Andrea Camilleri
Inspector Montalbano #13

A body is found in a remote field which is the source of clay for potters. The body has been disfigured to prevent identification -- fingerprints burned off, face shattered. Shortly after, a woman seeks her husband, who seems to be missing. Meanwhile, one of Montalbano's police associates has been behaving strangely.

This was a pretty good mystery. There were times when I got a little impatient, wondering if the opinionated Montalbano had made an improper assumption upon which he based his actions. I liked the symbolism employed in the story.

I listened on audio and, as always, Grover Gardner's narration was wonderful.

>90 tymfos: That's the next Dr. Siri on my list. I mean to get to it this summer. But, >92 tymfos: You're way ahead of me with Montalbano.

Congratulations to your son on his latest test score. It's nice to hear about an educational program that's working as it's meant to.

>93 laytonwoman3rd: Hi, Linda! Thanks for the congrats to my son. He really seems to be enjoying this class. I wish this instructor was teaching the next level class!

I haven't posted any photos of Sig lately. Here is a recent one:

Current reads:



I just realized, I'm reading three books set in England. Hmmm....

>94 tymfos: Sig knows where he belongs----among the really important stuff!

>95 tymfos: I'll be interested in what you think of The Water Room, which I just recently finished.

>96 laytonwoman3rd: I recalled your comments about it (and just now further refreshed my memory). They made me cautious but curious. I don't much care whether I as a reader can solve the mystery, but I might be put off by the need for a chapter of explanation. I do like the characters! Someone had commented that the book was fun on audio, but I couldn't access an audio book copy.

BTW, your recent comments on the first in the series by Finch, A Beautiful Blue Death prompted me to get back to that particular series!

You seem to be influencing my choice of reading material lately, Linda . . .

You know, I really hate my new keyboard. My old one, I could navagate in the dark. But this one, the "page up, page down, home, end, and delete" keys are laid out differently, and I keep landing on the wrong keys and deleting when I mean to page down, moving to a different window when I mean to move to a different place in the current page, etc.

eta I just did it again! I was trying to edit my post, and hit the wrong key and went back to the previous thread I was on . . .

>97 tymfos: Well, I'm happy to oblige!
>98 tymfos: All keyboards should be standardized. Same with automobile dashboards and controls.

All keyboards should be standardized.
Agreed! Hubby and I were just discussing that.

I must say, I'm really enjoying The Water Room so far. The writing is just so entertaining. But I'm not far into the plot.

>95 tymfos: Wow Terry...what a great lineup of current reads. I'm ending up with several BBs to go chase down. I did read Amazing Grace several years ago and remember that I really enjoyed it. In fact I gave it 5 stars!

Oh, I love the Sig photo! And those bookshelves!

> Sig looks right at home among the books. Luv it!

I am a fan of Kathleen Norris. I need to see what else she's written that I haven't read. Amazing Grace was pretty amazing.

>101 tututhefirst: Glad Amazing Grace was a five-star read for you, Tina. I am really enjoying it.

>102 scaifea: Hi, Amber! Yes, that photo is of ". . . a few of my favorite things."

>103 Donna828: Hi, Donna. It's a great book. I'm not sure if I've read anything else by her.

I've added a book to my current reads. My newest non-fiction read is Sum It Up, the final memoir written by Pat Summitt. The choice is prompted by news today of her death at age 64.

>94 tymfos: Nice to see Sig!

>104 tymfos: I've been watching coverage from local media and following it on Facebook and Twitter all day. I was trying to work on my book. I got a bit done, but not much. I was too distracted by all the memories and tears. They've had special coverage most of the day on local news outlets. I actually was awakened before 6 a.m. by one of the local media outlets with a text message they sent out through the emergency notification system.

>105 thornton37814: She was an amazing woman, wasn't she? I'm appreciating her even more as I read about her life.

Good news! My son's class finished tonight. It's not official until the grades are posted Tuesday, but it appears he got a solid B in the class.

It looks like I'm adding another book into my mix. My hold came up for Eventide, and I want to read it so that I can read Benediction when the patron who has it from Inter Library Loan returns it. (she's one who usually reads quickly and returns them before they have to go back to their home library.)

>106 tymfos: Indeed, she was. Glad your son appears to have done well.

>107 tymfos: I need to start with the first in the Trilogy.

Happy weekend, Terri. My library has got some Phil Rickman books. I wrote them done on my list.

Glad you liked that Kansas tornado book, Terri.

Now that I got the e-book antitrust settlement funds burning a hole in my Kindle pocket, I think I may get a disaster book I've been meaning to read. I've been trying not to spend my windfall too fast so I may ponder the possibilities. It's been awhile since I've read a disaster book.

>108 thornton37814: Thanks, Lori! I've enjoyed both Plainsong and Eventide.

>109 Ameise1: I hope you had a happy weekend, Barbara.

I've only read books from this series from Rickman, and imagine they'd not be everyone's cup of tea. I don't know what you'll think of them.

>110 lindapanzo: A co-worker read it right after I did, Linda. Her reaction was the same-- couldn't put it down.

>111 tymfos: I'm in the midst of a disaster book, the natural gas explosion in an East Texas town in March of 1937 that leveled a school.

What a heartbreaking disaster that is chronicled in Gone at 3:17.

Good news about your son's grade! :)

>112 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul!

>113 lindapanzo: Linda, I'm sure I read about that disaster somewhere -- I can't find a book listed among my reads about it, though. Maybe a chapter in a broader book on disasters? A magazine article? Or maybe I saw something on TV? Heartbreaking. I'm adding your book to my list.

>114 The_Hibernator: Thanks, Rachel!

>105 thornton37814: That disaster book was good. At almost 80 years later, he didn't have a lot of first hand accounts but interesting nonetheless. A young, 20 year old broadcaster named Walter Cronkhite got his start at the New London, TX disaster. Because of this disaster, natural gas was given the smell of rotten eggs. Before this disaster, it was an odorless gas.

The other disaster book, on a disaster which has been referenced a bit in the news, is about the 1970's arson at a gay night club. During the Orlando coverage, they kept referring to this earlier disaster. I probably won't be reading that one right away though.

I remember learning about that explosion somehow! I remember about it being the reason that odor was finally added to natural gas. But I don't have a record of actually reading a book about it. So I've added it to the list.

I have a bunch of books I've finished to comment on.

Book #63 Eventide by Kent Haruf
Plainsong book #2

Oh, how pleasant to visit with the folks of Holt, Colorado again! Not that everything in the book is pleasant -- on the contrary, there is some real tragedy here. Victoria has gone off to college, leaving the McPheron brothers on their own again. Meanwhile, we meet Luther and Betty and their kids, a thoroughly dysfunctional brood; we also meet DJ and his grandfather. The story is told gently and yet vividly, and one gets a real sense of this small community on the plains.

I'm eagerly anticipating reading Benediction soon!

>94 tymfos: Aha, another wonderful Sig photo! What a creature...a lovely adventurous one!

>119 Whisper1: Hi, Linda! Good to see you about on the threads! You've been in my thoughts. Thanks for stopping by!

Book #64 The Lamp of the Wicked by Phil Rickman
Merrily Watkins series #5

I like to occasionally read this series about a female Church of England priest who, in addition to being a parish pastor, has been called to Deliverance Ministry -- dealing with those situations where the Church must respond to Evil with a captal E -- the dark forces. In the words of an earlier time, she's the diocesan Exorcist.

In this book, the purported paranormal element seems much more subdued than in the earlier books. But the issue of Evil is surely present. Merrily finds a body, possibly linked to the disappearance of some other women, and is drawn into the investigation. Eventual connections are found with an earlier series of murders. Meanwhile, Merrily is dealing with a depressed daughter (who now questions the existence of God) and an odd church member.

I found this plot rather unsatisfying. I think I was most put off by some of the non-paranormal "science" (pseudo-science?) with which the book dealt. There was a nice twist or two at the end.

Book #65 Bad Kitty Gets a Bath by Nick Bruel

Cats normally clean themselves by licking. But, fleeing from Big Puppy, Bad Kitty has managed to tear up the kitchen, knock over the trash, and now needs a real bath. There's only one problem: CATS HATE BATHS. (This point is made quite strongly.)

Ok, this is really a kids book, but it is laugh-out-loud funny. Listed at 125 pages, it's long enough that I'm going to count it, even though a lot of the pages are covered with hilarious pictures of Bad Kitty and very few words.

If you've ever had a cat, I think you'll see the humor in this book. There is also some good information about cats tucked into this entertaining volume.

Book #66 The Water Room by Christopher Fowler
Bryant & May #2

The Peculiar Crimes Unit is at it again, when a woman is found dead in her own bathroom, fully dressed, with a throat full of river water. Other odd deaths follow in the neighborhood. Meanwhile, an academic who is an expert on London's underground rivers seems to be up to something not quite legal. Neither of these cases has been properly assigned to the unit, but Bryant and Mays are on the case, anyway.

OK, this plot is convoluted and rather implausible. But, by gosh, this mystery was entertaining, and I learned a lot of interesting things about London's history and the underground rivers that flow beneath the modern city.

This book may be just the thing if you're looking for an offbeat mystery.

Hi Terri: Stopping by to say hi. The Fowler looks good; I like mysteries with history.

>123 BLBera: Hi, Beth! Glad you stopped by. I really enjoyed the Fowler book, though it is kind of weird, in an entertaining kind of way.

Book #67 A Killer Plot by Ellery Adams (7-9-16)
Books by the Bay Mystery #1

This was a cozy mystery set in coastal North Carolina involving a writers' group, a land development proposal, and murder.

This was an OK mystery, but not one that makes me want to run out and read the rest of the series.

Book #68 The September Society by Charles Finch AUDIO (7-10-16)
Charles Lenox mystery #2
Charles is recruited to look for a missing Oxford student. Odd clues have been left in his dorm room, and another student has disappeared. There is a body. Clues point to a group called the September Society. In the midst of the case, Charles is pondering asking Lady Jane to marry him.

This was a pleasant enough mystery that kept me guessing.

Book #69 The Girls She Left Behind by Sarah Graves e-book (7-10-16)
Lizzie Snow series book #2

A girl has disappeared. A monster is on the loose; a woman who was once his victim has arrived in the area, acting very strangely. Meanwhile, forest fires rage in the north woods, drawing closer and closer to town.

This installment of the series features 3 POVs: a third-person narration from protagonist Lizzie's point of view, a third-person narration from the missing girl's POV, and a first-person narration from the point of a very disturbed woman. These dissonant voices gradually come into sync as the story unfolds.

This story was somewhat aggravating in the way it unfolded, but it kept me reading. Toward the end, the suspense was really intense.

This series featuring deputy Lizzie Snow of Bearkill, Maine (formerly of the Boston homicide division) has a much harder edge than Graves' cozy "home repair" mystery series, though both are set in Maine. This series is in the north woods of the state, and features harsh conditions and even harsher crimes.

Suspended book:

Murder in the Mystery Suite by Ellery Adams. I'm not sure how I ended up with another Ellery Adams mystery so soon after the other one, which I didn't like that much.

I loved the idea of a series set in a resort focused on books and reading; however, the reality of the book was a disappointment to me. After listening for about an hour, I was just rolling my eyes too many times. The setting was just too over-the-top fanciful . . . it was just too corny for me.

Current reads:

Sum it Up by Pat Summitt
Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith by Kathleen Norris
Benediction by Kent Haruf
Death and Judgment by Donna Leon AUDIO and paperback
Grave Consequences by Dana Cameron e-book

Hi, Terri! As usual, it is nice to see all this quality reading going on. Makes me smile.

Go Dr. Siri. So glad you are enjoying this wonderful series.

And hooray for Mr. Haruf and Holt, Colorado. I love those books.

>125 tymfos: I remember reading that first installment. I looked at my review which said I was looking forward to the next one. Four years later, I still haven't read the next one, and I haven't really tried to find it. I guess I didn't like it quite as much as I said in my review. ;-)

>128 msf59: Hi, Mark! I'm thinking you may be the person who introduced me to Dr. Siri . . .

>129 thornton37814: Hi, Lori! That's an interesting observation. Sometimes it takes me a while to get to a second book, but if I really liked the first, I usually at least try to find it.

It's been over a month since my 7th Thingaversary, and I finally finished up buying my Thingaversary books, downloading the "one to grow on" today.

Here's the haul, bought over the course of about 5 weeks:

1. Adam and Evil by Gillian Roberts
2. The Crow Trap by Ann Cleeves
3. Come Death and High Water by Ann Cleeves
4. If Ever I Return, Pretty Peggy-O by Sharyn McCrumb
5. A Thorn in My Pocket: Temple Grandin's Mother Tells the Family Story by Eustacia Cutler
6. Bad Kitty Gets a Bath by Nick Bruel
7. To the Bright and Shining Sun by James Lee Burke
. . . and one to grow on:
For the Dignified Dead by Michael Genelin e-book

>131 tymfos: Ann Cleeves, Sharyn McCrumb, and a "Bad Kitty" book! Sounds like my kind of haul!

>132 thornton37814: Hi, Lori! It's a fun bunch of books.

I've suspended/abandoned yet another book: my e-book, Grave Consequences by Dana Cameron. It's not a particularly bad book, but not what I'm in the mood for. I want something a bit more substantial.

I'm trying the e-book I bought from Amazon yesterday. For the Dignified Dead by Michael Genelin looks interesting. I've never read a book set in Slovakia before, and it has great reviews. I'm out-of-order for the series, it being the most recent, but I have a challenge category for that.

I've started And Justice There Is None by Deborah Crombie on audio. I have access to a print copy at the library, but so far it's very good on audio.

Book #70 Death and Judgment (AKA A Venetian Reckoning) by Donna Leon. AUDIO
Comissario Brunetti #4

This was a powerful book dealing with an unpleasant subject. I think anyone reading the prologue could get a sense that, somehow, human trafficking would be a part of the story, so I dont think that mentioning that issue is much of a spoiler. This was ultimately a grim book that left me feeling quite unsettled; but it was also an excellent and, I think, very realistic portrayal of the issues involved.

The basic human decency of Guido Brunetti made the unpleasant subject matter bearable as it eventually emerged. I love Guido Brunetti as a character, along with his delightful wife and daughter. They are well-developed characters with a complex and realistic relationship. The setting of Venice is fascinating.

I stumbled on this in Overdrive and saw that it was next up in the series for me. I didn't bother to check my catalog or shelf, so only when I went to list it as "currently reading" did I see that I own a paperback copy (housed on the bottom shelf in the corner). By then, I was well into the audio, and not inclined to change format -- I have a bunch of paper books already in progress, and the audio was excellent. Toward the end, I was just sitting listening to it during times when I could have been actually reading. (Usually, I listen when doing other things.) That says something about the quality of the book and the audio narration.

I think it was the depth of this book that made me suddenly fussy about what else I was reading, abandoning a so-so e-book read for something that looked meatier.

Lots of good mysteries on your thread, Teri. That is a great pictures of Sig. That is a dude who knows where to hang out so that he looks good! I bet you breathed a sigh of relief when your son's results came out.

>133 tymfos: I wasn't crazy about that Cameron book when I read it.

Sorry you didn't like Ellery Adams and Charles Finch more. Those two, along with Louise Penny, Laura Childs, and Kerry Greenwood, are my favorite currently-writing mystery authors.

I've read the first two Donna Leon books and definitely need to pick up the pace on her series.

>135 Familyhistorian: Meg, I was very relieved that he did so well in the class!

>136 thornton37814: Thanks for telling me that, Lori. It makes me feel better about abandoning it.

>137 lindapanzo: Actually, Linda, I rather liked the Finch. That's the second in that series, and I plan to continue and read the next one at some point in time. The Adams, not so much for me.

>138 tymfos: Oops, I misread.

I find that a lot of mysteries that I like these days are just so so as mysteries but I like their long-running cast of characters.

>139 lindapanzo: I find that a lot of mysteries that I like these days are just so so as mysteries but I like their long-running cast of characters.

Definitely, me too! On the other hand, if I don't connect with the main characters in some significant way, they rarely work for me regardless of the plot -- especially for cozies. (It's a little different with, say, noir -- I don't necessarily expect to like the characters then.)

Hi, Terri.

That's true for me, too - many series that I like (Reacher, Dr. Siri, Precious Ramotswe come to mind) can be so-so on the mystery front, but I really enjoy the characters.

My latest mystery/detective love is Robert Galbraith's series with Cormoran Strike. The characters are great and the mysteries are good too! : )

>141 jnwelch: Hi, Joe! So true! I read Dr. Siri more for the characters than the mystery.

>142 Berly: Hi, Kim! I haven't read any of those yet.

I finished a couple of books over the past week.

Book #71 Benediction by Kent Haruf

I love these books set in Holt, Colorado. In this one, time has moved on. The characters we've come to know over the past two books are gone or relegated to the periphery. We meet, instead, a new cast of characters: an old man, dying, who is estranged from his son; the dying man's wife and middle-aged daughter; their neighbor, who has taken in her orphaned young granddaughter; a young boy being raised by his grandfather; an idealistic young minister and his reluctant clergy family; and a thoroughly dysfunctional family living in a trailer at the edge of town -- among others.

This novel is the story of the complexities of realationships within families and communities.

Book #72 And Justice There is None by Deborah Crombie

Kincade and James #8

A woman is murdered in her driveway. The crime is on Gemma James' turf, but it appears it may be connected with a crime that Duncan Kincade is investigating. They join forces again while facing major changes in their personal lives.

This was a complex story that worked pretty well. I really like this series. I listened on audio.

I've abandoned another book, one of my Thingaversary purchases. For the Dignified Dead by Michael Genelin did not live up to my expectations.

>145 tymfos: That's too bad. I always hate it when I spend money on something I don't enjoy.

>145 tymfos: That book seems to have deceased in a less than dignified manner, Terri! My word you'd have zipped beyond 75 already without wasting time on a few duds.

Have a glorious weekend.

>146 thornton37814: Yes, Lori! Maybe it would have improved if I'd kept reading, but there are too many other things I want to be reading now. I got a quarter of the way through and just didn't really like the protagonist and the type of plot wasn't my cup of tea.

At least it was on sale for 99 cents when I bought it.

>147 PaulCranswick: Hi, Paul! I guess you're right about the time wasted on duds slowing my progress, but I've had some very good reads lately, too. (Kent Haruf's books come to mind.)

Wishing you a great weekend, too, Paul!

>145 tymfos: Too bad that one of your Thingaversary books was a dud, Teri. You are very close to hitting 75 - you go girl!

>149 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg! Well, they can't all be great reads. Maybe I'll try it again when I'm in a different reading mood.

OK, this next book is too short for me to want to call it a full book -- only a little over 3 hours on audio. I read another novella by the same author in February, so I'm combining it with that for my count. Thus, it is #11b.

Book #11b Dolly: A Ghost Story by Susan Hill AUDIO

This was atmospheric enough, but the actual story wasn't as good as most of the works I've read by Susan Hill. It's called "a ghost story," but it's more an atmospheric horror story. I wouldn't really call it a ghost story.

If you think dolls can be creepy, this will really creep you out!

Book #73 Home Fires by Margaret Maron AUDIO (7-25-16)
Judge Deborah Knott series, book #6

I generally love the Deborah Knott series. The previous (fifth) in the series didn't work for me at the time I tried to listen to it, and I wound up skipping it; but this sixth installment was so good, I was quick to finish it. The exploration of race relations is still timely, and done in a way that captures the nuances of how people often deal with one another.

This book deals with arson fires at several black congregations in Judge Knott's home area. One of her nephews is a possible suspect.

I thought Benediction was right up there with Plainsong, Terri - and Eventide was no slouch. What a great writer he was.

>152 jnwelch: Definitely, Joe! I love those books, and can't wait to read Our Souls at Night. Such a shame that he's gone, and there will be no more treasures from him.

Book #74 Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith by Kathleen Norris (7-27-16)

Poet Kathleen Norris was raised with a Methodist and Presbyterian background, left the church entirely for years, and then was drawn back to Christianity when she began attending her grandmother's Presbyterian church when she and her husband moved to South Dakota. Along the way, she became acquainted with a nearby Benedictine monastery.

All through this, she struggled with the vocabulary of Christian faith, because sometimes the words seemed to get in the way, more than help her faith. This book is the result of her wrestling with the words until they blessed her. They are not definitions, but rather reflections.

Not everything she wrote worked for me, but much of it was very meaningful to me.

>153 tymfos: vocabulary
I read this book... a dozen or so years ago and remember it, if vaguely, for this aspect, appreciated the struggle.

Hi Terri...You are really clipping along in your reading, and very close to reaching the 75 goal. Congratulations. Seeing Sig opening your thread made me smile.

Happy summer to you.

Hi Terri! I haven't read a Susan Hill in a while. Have to remember her for October. :) Hope you are enjoying summer and surviving the heat.

I love Susan Hill's stories. Wishing you a lovely Sunday, Terri.

>153 tymfos: Good books on faith are few and far between these days so that is one worth looking for.

I'll be interested to see what book brings up 75 for you, Terri. xx

>154 qebo: Hi, Katherine!

>155 Whisper1: Hi, Linda! Happy summer to you, too! Love the kitties!

>156 Berly: Kim, hope you are enjoying the summer, too! The heat this year has been . . . interesting.

>157 Ameise1: Barbara, you have a lovely Sunday, too!

>158 PaulCranswick: Paul, I have a bunch of books going now, not sure which one I'll finish next for the big 75. Actually, I had considered holding off on Amazing Grace and making that #75, but it needed to go back to the library!

Eta to answer a post I missed

My computer use has been sporadic lately. Sig has claimed the desk chair as his latest favorite perch, and it's often too much trouble to dislodge him. Today he booted me out of the chair -- leaping up onto the chair back, he tried gently nuzzling, then licking me out of the way at first -- then stuck a paw -- with a claw -- in my ear. OWWW!

Yay! 75!!

Book #75! Coyote Waits by Tony Hillerman (8-2-16)
#10 Leaphorn/Chee mysteries

Jim Chee is burned trying to rescue a policeman from a burning patrol car, only to find that the man was shot dead first. Chee arrests an old Navajo man, wandring drunk in the road nearby with a recently-fired gun. While on injury leave, Chee looks into the case unofficially, as there are questions about how the old man came to be so far from his home on foot. The old man is a distant relative of Joe Leaphorn's late wife, so Leaphorn winds up doing his own informal investigation.

This may be the best in the series yet -- a satisfying, complex mystery.

Book #76 From Doon With Death by Ruth Rendell
Inspector Wexford #1

I've read enough about Ruth Rendell to know this first Wexford novel was not, by far, her best work. In 1964, when it was published, it likely broke some ground. Today, the then-common assumption upon which the "twist" was based is no longer so common.

A woman disappears and is found dead in the woods. Investigation shows that she had an admirer referred to as Doon -- whose identity no one seems to know. Inspector Wexford is on the case.

At this point in the series, Wexford isn't a very well-defined character, but I like him and know that Rendell will develop him as the series goes on, and look forward to seeing how he grows. I like his sidekick Burden, too.

Hi Terri, I was going to catch up with you over at the Category Challenge, but I see your thread isn't too active over there, so I tracked you down here. I was a big fan of Inspector Wexford back in the day and read them all faithfully for a number of years, I didn't finish the series as other series took hold of my attention but Ruth Rendell was certainly one of the British mystery writers that got me interested in the genre.

Hi, Judy! Thanks for tracking me down here. Yes, not too active over on the Category Challenge, except to update how my categories are filling up. Frankly, not as active over here on the 75 as I used to be. Life just gets in the way.

I do plan to read more Rendell, though I doubt I'll manage the entire series.

Happy Friday, Terri! Hooray for Benediction. We sure love Mr. Haruf around here and we sure hated to lose him.

I see Dr. Siri has a new book coming out soon. Hooray!

Hope you have a great weekend.

>165 DianaNL: Hi, Diana! I hope you have a great weekend, too!

>166 msf59: Hi, Mark! I'm planning to read Our Souls at Night soon. Our library has a large print copy. And I'm glad to see more Dr. Siri on the way! Have a great weekend!

Popping in to say Hi!

>161 tymfos: What a good choice for Book #75. Congratulations and hooray for this Hillerman series that gives us some interesting characters and welcome information about Native Americans. I'm glad I am reading more Hillerman. We have many of his books because my husband read the series a few years ago.

Stopping by to see how you and The Striped Leader are getting along. Looks like has has things well under his thumb, er paw.

Congrats on reaching 75 and beyond!

Congrats on reaching 75, Terri!

To 75 and beyond! Congrats, Terri.

I just picked up the newest Dr. Siri, and I'm looking forward to starting it.

>168 Berly: Hi, Kim! :)

>169 Donna828: Hi, Donna. I'm really appreciating the Hillerman series, too! I actually slowed down on the Rendell book because I wanted to finish the Hillerman for #75!

>170 streamsong: Looks like has has things well under his thumb, er paw.
You can say that again, Janet!
Thanks for the congrats.

>171 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg!

>172 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe.
I still have a few Dr. Siri's to go before I'm ready for the new one.

Trying to find time to post two more books I finished. Maybe later. Right now, laundry beckons.

Happy Sunday, Terri! And hooray for hitting #75!! Always a milestone around here. Hope you had a good weekend.

>175 msf59: Thanks, Mark! My weekend was great. I hope you have a great week.

Book #77 Phantom by Jo Nesbo AUDIO (8-6-16)
#9 Harry Hole series

How to describe this without a ton of spoilers? Harry is back. He's not on the police force, but is drawn into investigating an apparent drug-related murder involving someone dear to him. He's on a streak of sobriety, but temptation is always only a bottle away.

These stories tend to be a bit on the implausible side, but they always keep me reading (or in this case, listening).

I had to listen to the last chapter of this twice to make sure I heard it right . . . (three times, actually, but the first time was because it was 2 in the morning and I dozed off)

Book #78 Grace: More than we deserve, greater than we imagine by Max Lucado e-book (8-6-16)

This has been my devotional book over the past week or so, and I really liked it. As the title suggests, it's all about God's grace. Lucado has a real gift for making his message come alive.

How I love the image of Sig on your book case. If you look closely, does Sig happen to have wings?

>178 Whisper1: No wings, Linda. (Maybe horns? He can be a bit devilish.)

Congrats on 75!

Congrats on 75, Terri.

75! Woo Hoo

Congratulations on 75!

>177 tymfos: Congratulations on 75, tymfos! It's been a while since I've read a Lucado, but your like of this one is leading me to take a look.

>180 drneutron: Thanks, Jim! It's good to hit the magic number for this challenge.

>181 Ameise1: Thanks, Batbara!

>182 cal8769: Thanks, Carrie!

>183 laytonwoman3rd: Thanks, Linda!

>184 brodiew2: Thanks, Brodie! I really liked that Lucado. I highly recommend it.

Glad you stopped by!

Congratulations, Terri!

Yay for you!

Well done for whizzing past 75 and then some, Terri.

>187 kidzdoc: Thanks, Darryl!

>188 The_Hibernator: Thanks, Rachel!

>189 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul!

I am back from a week's vacation in Michigan and Wisconsin. We decided to skip our foray into Milwaukee due to the rioting. I never realized how deep the racial divisions are in that city, so I've learned quite a bit about it in the past two days of reading news commentary.

On a more positive note, we had lunch at a really neat place in Houghton, MI:



Just look at the name. Need I say more?

(This photo was taken a few years ago when we ate there for the first time. It was raining too hard for a good photo the day we were there last week -- plus a semi truck was parked along one side of the building this time around.)

I also got as lot of reading done while we were traveling:

79. Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf (8-11-16)
80. Tailing a Tabby by Laurie Cass e-book (8-12-16)
81. Ghosts of Grand Rapids by Nicole Bray e-book (8-12-16)
82. Haunted Green Bay by Timothy Freiss e-book (8-13-16)
83. The Body in Blackwater Bay by Paula Gosling (8-14-16)
84. Mighty Fitz: The Sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald by Michael Schumacher (8-15-16)

And I visited a few bookstores, and made a few purchases:

Bloodline: A Genealogical Mystery by Fiona Mountain
The Body in Blackwater Bay by Paula Gosling
Mighty Fitz: The Sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald by Michael Schumacher
Dead Renegade by Victoria Houston
The Ghost Pirates and Others: The Best of William Hope Hodgson

You can see by comparing the lists, I read two of the new purchases before I got home!

What a great book haul.

I'm curious about Ghosts of Grand Rapids. Was this a good book?

I read Our Souls at Night and loved it.

>190 tymfos: so sorry to hear of the racial divisions in Milwaukee. While I'm home recovering from the latest surgeries, I've been watching a lot of documentaries and movies. Today I watched PBS documentary regarding the Freedom Riders and their courage as they entered Birmingham, AL (also called Bombingham), and then Mississippi.

It boggles my mind how people can be so incredibly hate filled.

On the positive note, I am glad you had a good vacation. How did Sig fare without you? I imagine he missed you greatly.

Yes, he is a bit of a devil, but I think that's what I like about that cat. May he always hold the love of adventure in his soul.

Today is LAUNDRY DAY! I go back to work tomorrow, so today is the day I wash all the clothes we used while we're away. I'll have to make a grocery store run at some point, too.

>192 Whisper1: Hi, Linda! Good to see you here! I need to get over to your thread and see how you're doing. I hope this extensive post is a sign of continuing successful recovery from your surgery.

Ghosts of Grand Rapids was kind of a mixed bag. There was a lot of regional history, which I enjoyed. Most of the ghost stories themselves weren't particularly memorable, and it wasn't the most well-written book I've read (though not awful either) but I learned a lot about Grand Rapids! It was an e-book that I borrowed through Hoopla -- they have a whole series of them available about different localities. (The Haunted Green Bay book was from the same series.) I do plan to read the ones about Pennsylvania locales -- there are several of them: Ghosts of Southwestern Pennsylvania, Haunted Roads of Western Pennsylvania, and Haunted Scranton,

When I lived in Philadelphia, I actually had a neighbor who had been part of the Freedom Riders movement when she was young. She showed me photos from then, and said she'd even caught a glimpse of herself once in a documentary (PBS, I think -- probably broadcast in the 1980's) that used old footage taken during the Freedom Rides.

Sig always misses us when we go away -- but we have a wonderful cat sitter, a friend who adores him and takes very good care of him while we're away.

Brief comments on the books I read on vacation:

Book #79 Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf.

This final offering by Haruf, who died too soon, was a little gem. Set in Holt, Colorado, the only nod to the earlier books he wrote set in the town is a sly mention of a play based on one of those books -- and a comment by a character about not knowing anyone in Holt like those brothers who took in that teenage girl . . .

Enough has been written about the plot by other readers. Just read it. It's good.

Book #80 Tailing a Tabby by Laurie Cass

Bookmobile Cat series #2

OK, this series has obvious appeal for me: bookmobile, tabby cat, librarian as protagonist. It's set in Michigan, which is part of why I was so glad to snare it from Overdrive to read on this vacation. (It came available just in time!)

That said, these are kind of corny mysteries. And the meddlesome aunt who runs the rooming house really gets on my nerves. If she wrote her out, or taught her to MYOB, the books would be much better -- that part of the plotline is just annoying and, well, kind of stupid. (I think maybe there's hope, as this story may have set the stage for her to lighten up a bit???)

Anyway, I know I'll read at least the next one in this series, because I got it for a dime at the library booksale. I do like Minnie and her cat.

These were both e-books of regional ghost stories I borrowed through Hoopla. They contain some interesting local history. They're not the most well-organized and well-written books I've read, but they're not bad.

Book #81 Ghosts of Grand Rapids by Nicole Bray

I like how the author dug up the background on one of the old legends. And she actually de-bunked the alleged history behind at least one other story. I learned a lot about Grand Rapids history. Some stories were a bit creepy. But the book suffered from some odd organization.

Book #82 Haunted Green Bay

This book suffered from occasional lapses that an editor should have caught -- "your" for "you're" -- that sort of thing.

There was some interesting local history here, and a few stories that were spooky.

I was most interested in the story about the National Railroad Museum, because we were visiting it, but that story was the most disappointing. There was one odd incident reported in a railroad car -- once, by one person. Most of the "story" he wrote was a history of Dwight Eisenhower, because it was his railroad car that was "haunted." (That part sounded like a junior high history report, and was not what I wanted from this book.) Oh, and of course, people claimed that maybe the museum was built on an old Indian burial ground. I suppose it's possible, but I didn't get the feeling that even the author took that claim seriously.

Book #83 The Body in Blackwater Bay by Paula Gosling

Book #1, Blackwater Bay series; also fits in Jack Stryker series

I really enjoyed this mystery set on a tiny island on one of the Great Lakes. (The particular lake and state go unnamed in this one.) This was a really well-written whodunit (and whydunit!) that kept me reading. Even though it was published in 1992, it didn't feel particularly dated. Perhaps the skeptical treatment of a wife who thinks she's being stalked by her estranged husband seemed out-of-date, but I suspect women still encounter plenty of that, especially in rural areas. The suspicion of the wife when the husband turned up dead seemed normal enough. Fortunately, the sheriff didn't want her to be guilty, and was willing to look further for suspects.

I liked the interplay of the characters and the snappy dialogue. I just thought it was extremely well-written.

I had read a library book years ago by Paula Gosling -- the second in this series, actually -- and liked it enough to make a note of the author. I found the note when I cleaned out my desk last month (along with my husband's watch which had been "missing" for five years) and added this book to my List.

This isn't a particularly easy book to get hold of. It was rare in our state ILL system, and it isn't available for Kindle download. I could have ordered a used copy from Amazon. But -- yay for vacation -- I found an excellent hard-cover copy in a Houghton, Michigan bookstore for what I would have paid Amazon for shipping.

Book #84 Mighty Fitz: The Sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald

OK, I read a lot of disaster books, and especially books about shipwrecks. This one has been on my list for years, since a TV program -- History Channel, I think -- did a program and the author was one of the people interviewed. You know how it is, you see a talking head, and the person's name and the name of their book flashes up on the screen? I was sufficiently impressed that I wanted to read the book.

I found this edition in a Houghton, Michigan bookstore. It's a trade paperback published by the University of Minnesota Press, and the print is really tiny. What's worse, periodically there was a glitch in the printing so that the already-fine print was sort of scrunched into a narrower line.

It didn't matter. I devoured the (relatively short) book in a day. It's a very good account of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. It's not the first book I've read on the subject -- I read Frederick Stonehouse's The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald a few years ago. That book was workmanlike in its presentation, and very opinionated in its outlook. This book is both more well-crafted and more balanced in its treatment of the subject.

>194 tymfos: Oh, I love your description of those sly references in Our Souls at Night, Terri. I got a kick out of those, too. What a heartbreaker that we won't get any more books from him.

>193 tymfos: I can't recommend Haunted Scranton, Terri. Pure bad writing and very little local history of a substantial nature. If you want to know HOW bad I thought it was, you can read my full review on the book page.

Hi Terri! Belated congrats on passing the 75 milestone! I noticed a Fiona Mountain mystery in your latest book haul. I really liked both of her genealogical mysteries, and I'm sad that there aren't more of them.

Hi, Terri! Hooray for Mr. Haruf. Like Joe mentioned, he will be missed.

Hope the week is going well.

>194 tymfos: I have to agree with you about the Tailing a Tabby book. Not the greatest. However, I'm sure I'll continue with it because of the cat and the books. I've read the first two.

Hi Terri. I've started the thread for September Series & Sequels.

It's at: http://www.librarything.com/topic/229450

Hoping you'll all stop by.

>198 jnwelch: Hi, Joe! Haruf was a marvelous writer, and is surely missed.

>199 laytonwoman3rd: Thanks for the warning, Linda. I read your review. That's a shame.

>200 cbl_tn: Carrie, I think it may have been a mention from you that put Fiona Mountain on my radar -- either you or Lori.

>201 msf59: Hi, Mark! I've had a good week. I hope you have a good weekend.

>202 thornton37814: We're even on that series, Lori. #3 is on my shelf.

>203 lindapanzo: Yay!! Thanks for the alert, Linda.

Book #85 The Seventy-Seven Clocks by Christopher Fowler e-book (8-18-16)

Book #3 Bryant & May Series

The Peculiar Crimes Unit is dealing with a series of extremely peculiar crimes. They seem to center on a particular family, which has a long history of leadership in the Watchmakers Guild.

I love the main characters in this series, but this plot was even more implausible than the last one. It also featured a guest character, Jerry, who truly annoyed me. I gave it three stars for the delightful Bryant & May, but the plot was more of a 2 -- especially the totally unbelievable conclusion.

Book #86 The Story Teller by Margaret Coel AUDIO (8-19-16)

Book #4 Wind River series

A young Arapaho graduate student is killed. An Arapaho artifact is missing. The museum's curator claims they never had the rare ledger book, but Vicki Holden does not believe her. Vicki and Father John O'Malley are drawn into the mystery; it's soon obvious that someone has a deadly secret.

This was a pretty good mystery.

>205 tymfos: Oh, shucks. I have that on audio. I wasn't keen on the plot of the last one either. Maybe I'll just give this one a miss; it was a freebie, and I don't listen to audio that much these days anyway.

>206 tymfos: Our library has several of those in audiobook format, so I've listened to a few. I've enjoyed some more than others, but I like it overall.

Book #87 The Baby Snatcher by Ann Cleeves

Book #6, Inspector Ramsay series

A woman disappears, reappears, disappears again and is found dead. Young children disappear and then are found safe, miles away. Inspector Ramsay and his crew are on the case. The book is full of odd characters who are not all quite as they appear on the surface. I love the way Ann Cleeves delves into the thought processes of her characters -- she has a real knack for exposing the kind of hidden, petty thoughts and unsupported suppositions that so often lead to misunderstandings.

This is an older series by Cleeves, less complex than her more recent works. This was a quick, satisfying whodunit that I finished in about a day. And I did not figure out the mystery until the solution was given.

It did end rather abruptly. The killer was exposed, the crime explained, the arrest made, and that was that. Seems like there could have been a bit of an epilogue, especially as this was the last in series. (It was published in 1997, so I doubt that Cleeves will return to this cast of characters.)

>207 laytonwoman3rd: Linda, I remember your review of the previous one, which I liked more than you did. This one was way too much of a stretch for me. I think part of it was, on the previous one, the history of the underground rivers fascinated me; this one, I don't understand or have much interest in the guilds. But, more than anything, it was just way too farfetched to buy into -- more so than the last one, IMO.

>208 thornton37814: Lori, I've liked some of these more than others, too, but generally like this series. This was one of the better ones, I thought.

eta to add to comments

>191 tymfos: >200 cbl_tn: Another lover of the Fiona Mountain genealogy mysteries here. So sad there are only the two. I wanted to read more about the female detective in the story and the use of genealogy in the book is a lot more realistic than some other genealogy mysteries.

>191 tymfos: >200 cbl_tn: >211 Familyhistorian: I know I read the second one because the review is on LibraryThing. I'm pretty sure I read the first one because the plot, title, and cover are familiar. I suspect I read it before LibraryThing.

>211 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg! I'm glad I remembered rightly that the Fiona Mountain books had realistic use of genealogy.

>212 thornton37814: Hi, Lori! I see your review for the second one, which is the one I have. Sounds promising, but not perfect for plot. I hope I find the first someday. BTW, I know how it is, remembering what books were read pre-LT. For instance, I know I read a good bit of Sue Grafton's series, but have little idea which ones I read and which ones I didn't.

Book #88 The Age of Doubt by Andrea Camilleri AUDIO (8-22-16)

Montalbano becomes involved with a mystery surrounding a yacht and a speedboat in the harbor, and a body that was found by one of the boats floating in a dinghy just outside the harbor.

In this installment, Montalbano is increasingly dealing with matters of the heart, and concerns about his advancing age.

Listening to this series on audio, with Grover Gardner narrating, is always like visiting with an old friend. I listen less for the mysteries (which are only so-so) and more for the characters, who are always interesting and a lot of fun (even though there is sadness, too, sometimes).

>214 tymfos: Agreed, Terri. Love that series. I've never tried it on audio, but you make it tempting.

>213 tymfos: I did pretty good for awhile keeping a "reading diary." I basically created a bibliography of everything I read and the date of completion. Unfortunately I finally quit doing that (after years of maintaining it). How I wish I had kept track of those intervening years!

>215 jnwelch: Joe, try it -- you'll like it on audio, I bet!

>216 thornton37814: Lori, I never kept track of my reading before LT, except notes about authors I wanted to read more of.

I was going to listen to the next in Deborah Crombie's series, but decided I wasn't in the right mood. So I downloaded All the Light We Cannot See from the library, but I'm getting the feeling that it's not going to work well for me in audio format. Hmmm....

I finally found the right audio to listen to now: Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton. The beautiful writing of this powerful story, combined with Michael York's perfect narration, is awesome.

>219 tymfos: That is a great book. I read it probably 20+ years ago.

I'm enjoying it a lot. And the audio is excellent.

Book #89 The Forgotten Ones (aka: Preserve the Dead) by Brian McGilloway e-book (8-26-16)
Lucy Black series #3

Luch helps recover a body from the river, and early on, an unusual mystery begins to unfold: the body has already been enbalmed. Why is it in the river? It may have been the first dead body in this story, but it won't be the last. Meanwhile, Lucy tries to help the sister of a neighbor, who is a victim of domestic violence. But the battered woman's partner will turn up in an unconnected context later in the story -- too much of a coincidence, methinks? I hate plot contrivances like that.

One issue comes up again and again in this story -- that of the trouble that can come of being less than honest about who one is. The author doesn't actually draw the connections between the separate occurrances of this theme, but it seemed obvious to me.

This was a decent enough mystery. I just don't like this newer series as much as McGilloway's Ben Devlin series, mainly because I don't like Lucy as much as Ben, and I don't like the Northern Ireland setting as much as the setting just over the border in the Republic of Irleland.

They call the books in this series "Lucy Black Thrillers," but I really don't find them true thrillers. They are more police procedurals. In this one, it might have been more of a thriller if the author had written it to give the reader more investment in the characters most at risk as the story unfolded. As it was, peripheral characters were the ones most in need of saving, except for a few brief moments when Lucy herself was in harm's way.

>222 tymfos: That's an author I keep meaning to try. Sounds like I should start with the Ben Devlin series.

>223 cbl_tn: Definitely! I really like the Devlin series. The first one is Borderlands.

Happy weekend Terri!

You are reading some great mysteries, Terri. I think I will pack a few for my UK trip. Have a great weekend.

Hi Terri - You are reading some good mysteries. I haven't read any Coel but I've heard good things. I totally agree; it's hard to remember my pre-LT reading, especially mysteries, for some reason.

>225 The_Hibernator: Thanks, Rachel. have a good week!

>226 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. Enjoy that trip!

>227 BLBera: Thanks, Beth! I like the Coel series, though I'm not especially impressed with the quality of the audio narration. I do a lot of them on audio because those particular ones are readily available to me via a library source that way.

Hi, Terri! Hooray for Montalbano! You are way ahead of me on this series but I really enjoy it and I agree, it is a perfect audio.

Hope you are doing well.

>229 msf59: Hi, Mark! All is well. I'm up late watching my Pirates playing your Cubs in extra innings. Fortunately, I have tomorrow as a day off from work.

I just finished the new Larry Watson novel. I must write a real review as it's an ER book.

Ah, the humidity has broken and the temperature cooled nicely this evening. It's actually cool enough that, sitting in front of an open window, I'm curled up with a warm throw and a cup of herbal tea. And a book, of course.

Book #90 As Good As Gone by Larry Watson (8-30-16)

I need to write a proper review of this for the ER program. For the moment, some random thoughts:

Calvin Sidey is called upon to take care of his grandchildren while his son and daughter-in-law are away for the woman to have surgery. Calvin is a recluse, an old-school cowboy with his own way of living and doing things.

There are things going on in the lives of the grandchildren that they don't want to share with the adults in their lives. They need help, but refuse to ask for it. They try to manage on their own, and it all backfires. Then Calvin steps in, tries to manage things on his own . . . and that more than backfires.

Montana 1948 was a hard act to follow, and I probably judge Watson's work a bit more critically because of the expectations that marvellous book created for me. As Good As Gone didn't grab me quickly like Montana, 1948. I was slow to get into it.

The characters were complex and thoughtfully drawn. The setting in 1960's Montana comes alive -- any time I'm tempted to forget where and when I'm at in this book, some well-chosen item from popular culture will remind me. (No, I never lived in Montana, but I sure remember the 1960's.)

Frankly, the characters were all annoying, each in his or her own way. The Sideys have a fiercely independent streak that can only serve to create havoc.

By the end, when the you-know-what really hits the fan, I was battling with the knowledge that I should read carefully, but yielding to the temptation to rush to see how it would turn out. So, in that regard, I guess the book was a success -- I wanted to know how it turned out. I gave it 4 stars because it is so well-written, but can't call it highly enjoyable for me.

eta to add Maybe I'll just use these comments for a review . . .

Book #91 Fatal Undertaking by Mark de Castrique (9-1-16)

Book #5 in the Burryin' Barry series.

With a new business partner helping to run the funeral home, Barry is now officially back in law-enforcement as a part-time deupty. When a local charity fundraiser's "haunted house" attraction turns deadly, Barry is drafted by the Sheriff to lead the murder investigation. Matters are complicated when his ex-wife shows up with a videographer to cover the story for a tacky cable reality show.

I love this series. Set in the mountains of North Carolina, it has its cozy elements, especially relating to Barry's work at the funeral home. But it also a harder edge, on the crime side. Barry is a truly decent human being who tries to do the right things, but is not a super-cop. There is humor, and there are tears. The characters are well-drawn and complex. I read these largely for the characters and the setting, but the mysteries are very good, too -- and usually a bit on the unusual side.

Hi Terri, you've been reading up a storm! I don't know if you are interested in another Irish mystery series, but I just read The Wrong Kind of Blood by Declan Hughes and thought it was very good. Set in Dublin, the story reminded me a little of Ken Bruen's Jack Taylor series, although the main character here isn't quite as hopeless as Jack Taylor.

>232 tymfos: I have had my eye on that Mark de Castrique series for quite a while. I'll get to it one of these days!

>233 DeltaQueen50: Judy, I think I recall noting the comments you made on your thread about that one, and pondering adding it to my list. I'm really relectant to add to my list of series to try . . . but . . . well. . . maybe . . . ;)

>234 cbl_tn: I really like both of his series, Carrie.

I got my new glasses on Wednesday before work, and are they ever a help in the reading department! I hadn't realized just how much I needed that new eyeglass prescription.

I'm into "September Series & Sequels" with an e-book, Snow Angels, first in the Inspector Vaara series by James Thompson. I just dowloaded the audio of Police by Jo Nesbo from Carnegie library. And now I've got the new Louise Penny book checked out from my local library.

The Penny and the Nesbo will each bring me up-to-date on their respective series.

In non-series reading, I am in the odd position of having three -- no four -- non-fiction books going at once. I started Sum it Up the day I learned of Pat Summitt's death. I have a large print copy, and it was too bulky to take on vacation, so my reading of it stalled then and I never quite got back to it. Then I won an ER book, Lost Road Courses, that I need to review. Then last night, I remembered that I had a Kindle book I planned to read to commemorate 9/11, and September is already here. I took a look at it, Flight 93: The Story, the Aftermath, and the Legacy of American Courage, and immediately got drawn in. Then there's my current devotional/spirituality read, Leaves from the Notebook of a Tamed Cynic by Reinhold Niebuhr.

eta for touchstone issue: The touchstone for the Flight 93 book only works if I leave part of the subtitle off. After "American Courage" should be the words "on 9/11."

Book #92 Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton AUDIO narrated by Michael York (9-1-16)

Oh, this was a wonderful book, made more wonderful by the perfect narration on the audiobook by Michael York. Published in 1948, this book is set in South Africa before the official apartheid system (which plagued the country for so long) was made law; but race was, regardless, a prime defining factor in the lives of the people.

I'm not going to do a full review here, as plenty of people have already done so; and having listened rather than read the book on paper, I'm not going to try to spell the names of characters and places to explain the story.

I'm just going to say that this was probably my favorite book of the year so far. Five stars!

Terri, was it you who read a book about the "Nazi Titanic," the sinking of a passenger ship with a huge loss of life. If so, do you recall the name?

I'm reading a Kindle single on this and would like to read more.

>238 lindapanzo: Linda, I think maybe this is the one you're thinking of:

Death in the Baltic: The World War II Sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff by Cathryn Prince

>238 lindapanzo: Thanks, Terri. That's the ship I'm reading about in my Kindle single but I'd like to learn more. I'll add it to my wishlist.

You're welcome. I read it as an ER book. It was a pretty good account of the tragedy. And it was such a huge loss of life, and so few people know about it, so I'm glad things are finally getting written about it.

Terri, I have the Larry Watson book to read and review. I WILL do it this month. I usually get right on an ER but a couple of friends loaned me books which I wanted to get back to them…and then there's the library always notifying me that books I've reserved are waiting for me. Book pressure!

I downloaded the first in the Montalbano series after hearing so many good things about them. I love Grover Gardner as a narrator and I see they are quite short. All good things…

Enjoy your long week end.

>237 tymfos: Cry, The Beloved Country is one of my favorite novels. I've read it twice, but I think I would like to listen to Michael York read it one day. There is a fine movie with Richard Harris and James Earl Jones as well...I recommend it.

You just reminded me that it is time to get to my September Series & Sequels reading. Thanks Terri and have a great weekend.

Good afternoon, tymfos!

>214 tymfos: I love the cover on this one. It reminds me of Santorini. I have not read or listened to any of them, but my dad is a big fan. I will have to try one on audio.

>242 Donna828: Hi, Donna! I hope you enjoy the Watson. I know how it is when the books kind of stack up, with holds coming available and all.

One note about the Montalbano series -- the first one was the one I liked least, and I almost didn't continue the series. So if you like it even a little bit, try the next one. That was the one that "hooked" me.

>243 laytonwoman3rd: I'd like to see that movie some day, Linda!

>244 Familyhistorian: I hope you have a good weekend, too, Meg!

>245 brodiew2: Good evening, Brodiew2!

I do enjoy the covers on most of the Montalbano books. They are usually interesting.

I just received my latest ER book (the August one already) and was surprised to see a 2015 copyright. Somehow I always expect these books to be brand new releases. I guess they're pushing the release of it in paperback form, which is what I received.

Anyway, I just realized our library already has a hard-cover copy of the book from it's original release. So it seems a waste for me to have gotten one of the ER copies. Ah, well. It does sound good, which is why I requested it.

>237 tymfos: I've meant to read this book. Your comments inspire me to find it among the many books I own that are scattered throughout the house.

Thanks for your great review. And, congratulations for reading so many books. I return to work a week from Tuesday. In the meantime, I found a tv show I think you would like. Have you followed Paranormal Witness? I highly recommend it.

>248 Whisper1: Hi, Linda! I hope you are as moved by Cry, the Beloved Country as I was.

No, I haven't tried that TV show. Thanks for the suggestion.

Best wishes to you on your return to work!

Thanks Terri. I look forward to beginning anew and working for a few more years, then retirement! Though before I retire, I need a game plan in hand. I have a few friends who didn't make plans are are now like deer in headlights not knowing where to turn or what to do.

I think you would like the tv series. I'm hooked!

>250 Whisper1: I agree, Linda: retirement is best done with sufficient pre-planning, for a variety of reasons and factors. You are wise to be thinking ahead!

>237 tymfos: Cry, the Beloved Country
I have never read this and really I should. Could be something to suggest to the RL book group...

>252 qebo: Katherine, this would be a marvelous book for a book group!

>237 tymfos: * moves Cry, the Beloved Country up in the Mt. TBR *

>254 DianaNL: Hi, Diana! Good move!:)

I am reading the new Louise Penny novel and was enjoying it up until now, more than halfway through. But now I'm finding errors in continuity and logic that are driving me crazy. I'm seriously thinking of abandoning it. I don't understand why so many folks think it's great.

The big logic flaw: How could anyone think that Gamache having a photocopy of the map -- one where the original is his, hanging on his wall-- could in any way be seen as suggesting compromising behavior? How could anyone think that the threat of someone planting a copy in his room might even give him pause, let alone be motive for murder

I have very little patience with these kinds of problems with books, I guess. I can understand the author having continuity errors slip by in the process of revision, but a major publisher should have a set of fresh eyes read through a major release to catch those. The logic error is more mystifying. These are supposed to be experienced inspectors, and they come up with an outlandish theory out of nowhere and can't see a really basic flaw in the premise? Bah!

Well, the part that bothered me was a little glitch, one theory put in that didn't go anywhere. I wish she'd omitted that. Reading on, the rest of the book was quite good. Really. I should be more patient when I read.

Patience can sometime be a virtue, but not always. I'm glad this one righted itself for you. :-)

>257 brodiew2: Good thought, Brodie! Thanks for stopping by!

Book #93 Snow Angels by James Thompson
Book #1 in the Inspector Vaara series

I don't know if I've ever read a book set in Finland before. This book has many of the dark qualities typical of Nordic crime novels, but the protagonist, Inspector Vaara, is a bit more balanced than many of the detectives in this genre.

Vaara is faced with a very brutal crime which has aspects of a sex crime, and aspects of a racial hatred crime. The details are grisly, but are imparted in a less dramatic way than in some crime novels -- the detective's formal observations, the details of the post-mortem. To me, it doesn't feel gratuitous, which is my complaint about many crime novels which wallow in grisly details. And the most disturbing oft-repeated detail becomes a key factor in forming one theory about the crime. Enough said.

This is a book with a lot of atmosphere, in the Arctic Circle in the darkest part of the year -- days near the winter solstice when it's always dark. There are many very troubled people, and even otherwise normal people going stir-crazy in the perpetual darkness. Those bothered by violence and rough language will want to avoid this one.

Book #94 A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny
Latest book (#12) in the Three Pines/Inspector Gamache series

As Gamache prepares to come out of retirement to take over as Commander of the scandal-ridden officer training academy, a mysterious map is found that was hidden in the walls of Olivier and Gabri's bistro in Three Pines. Of course, there is eventually a murder, and it appears there may be a tie-in to the map. A high-ranking Mountie is brought in for an independent investigation, since Gamache is a possible suspect in the murder. Intrigue abounds.

As I read, my feelings were all over the place with this one. I started out loving it. About midway through, there was one error in continuity -- an editing blip, I'm sure -- which left me scratching my head. (There was a question asked that made no sense in light of what had been said up until that point.) Then there was a theory advanced which made no sense in light of the overall plot. At that point, I was starting to wonder if this would be worth finishing. I'm glad I perservered. After that brief stutter, the story moved on reasonably to its ending, which was quite nice. The solution to the map's history seems a little "far out," but we who read this series know that Three Pines is not an ordinary place. All in all, a delightful read, except for a few paragraphs.

Terri.. I just finished A Great Reckoning and didn't notice the blips you mentioned....must have been not as focused as you. At first, I was feeling almost let down, thinking that it was just more of the same, but the story quickly pulled me in, the characters still feel like friends, and I was just enthralled with Amelia, wanting to know who/what she really was to the story. I was definitely not disappointed.

>259 tymfos: >260 tututhefirst: Good, good, good!! I have my copy of A Great Reckoning sitting here, just waiting for me to start it!!

>259 tymfos: I've got to catch up with the series before moving to that one. I think I'll go grab the next one (from the stacks) I haven't read to take home. I probably won't get to it for a couple of weeks, but at least I'll be motivated to read it soon if I have it on hand.

I loved Cry the Beloved Country too. Glad you enjoyed it.

Great comments on A Great Reckoning, Terri. Thanks for the warning; things like that drive me crazy as well.

>260 tututhefirst: Hi, Tina! Glad you enjoyed A Great Reckoning. Amelia was an interesting character. At some point near the end, before it was revealed, I guessed what her connection was to Gamache.

>261 Copperskye: Hi, Joanne! Enjoy the Penny!

>262 thornton37814: Hi, Lori! Where are you at in the series?

>263 The_Hibernator: It was impressive and quite moving, wasn't it, Rachel?

>264 BLBera: Hi, Beth! I hate it when something in a book doesn't make sense.

Remembering the terrorist attacks of 9/11/01, our church included a special litany in the service. After church, I went to a fundraising dinner at the local firehouse, to benefit our local fire department. Supporting first responders seemed an appropriate thing today.

Book #95 Police by Jo Nesbo.

#10 Harry Hole series

In this Scandi-crime novel, someone is killing police officers at the scenes of unsolved crimes, on the anniversaries of the crimes. Without Harry Hole to help with the mystery, the Crime Squad is struggling to catch the culprit. Meanwhile, a mystery coma patient is being guarded in a closed section of an Oslo hospital building. . . thus begins another of Jo Nesbo's high-voltage crime novels, full of double-dealing and surprises.

Overall, this was a very good, suspenseful mystery. There were some parts that bothered me, which seemed a bit gratuitous. And, in the middle, it did tend to feel a bit loooooong . . . but at the end, it was too suspenseful to stop reading -- or, in my case, listening, as I followed this adventure on audio book.

I do believe that Nesbo loves messing with readers minds . . .

Book #96 Flight 93: The Story, the Aftermath, and the Legacy of American Courage by Tom McMillan e-book (9-11-16)

Every September, I read abook about the 9/11 terrorism attacks. I got this one on sale as a Kindle book, and decided it would be this year's book.

This was published in 2014, and includes information that was not available for books written earlier. It draws upon the results of the various investigations made related to the 9/11 attacks in general, and Flight 93 in particular. We learn more about how the terrorist attacks were planned. We also learn more about the souls who were on the plane, and about the aftermath of the Flight 93 crash; also, it details the planning and construction of the Flight 93 Memorial in rural Somerset County, PA.

I had a few minor annoyances with the book relating to the unnecessary repetition of some pieces of information. Overall, though, I thought this was an excellent account of what happened, as best as anyone can know.

The book was written so that the average reader should be able to follow the narrative easily; there are extensive source notes, a bibliography, and an index at the end of the book.

Happy Sunday, Terri! Good review of As Good as Gone. Sorry, you had mixed feelings about it. I also have this one on shelf, thanks to ER. I do love Watson.

I also read and enjoyed Snow Angels but have not followed through on the rest of the series.

>268 msf59: Hi, Mark! I think I may have taken the BB of Snow Angels from your warbling about it. :)

>266 tymfos: It's good to see that #10 in the Harry Hole series is a hit, Terri. I'm reading #9. :-)

>270 DianaNL: The ending to that is a stunner!

I'm reading the newly-released Longmire novel, An Obvious Fact.

>267 tymfos: Than you for the review of Flight 93. It is important to remember the events of 9/11/01. I commend you for reading a book on the subject every year. That is pretty cool.

I'm about 3/4 of the way through the new Louise Penny. That continuity error must've flown way over my head. Really liking it though I think I've learned to expect the "far out" when it comes to Three Pines.

I agree with Brodie. It is admirable that you read a book each year regarding 9/11. We watched the movie Zero Dark Thirty regarding the capture/killing of Bin Laden. It was very interesting.

Happy weekend!

I've been neglecting LT the past week. RL has been busy! I've got two books to post but not right now.

>272 brodiew2: Hi, brodiew2! I find that annual reading quite meaningful.

>273 lindapanzo: Yes, Three Pines isn't an "ordinary" place, is it. "Far out" is right, Linda!

>274 Whisper1: Honestly, Linda, I don't think it's particularly admirable. It's just something I do. I haven't seen Zero Dark Thirty, but we have it available at our library, so maybe I'll watch it sometime. (I'm not much of a movie person.)

>276 The_Hibernator: Thanks, Rachel! Happy Week to you -- Fall Equinox is tomorrow.

I plan to start a new thread sometime tomorrow, to celebrate the Equinox, the official arrival of Fall in this half of the world.

OK, it's time for that new thread. Join me at

https://www.librarything.com/topic/233072