January 2017: BingoDOG Reads

Here is the thread to record our reads for BingoDOG. I have not seen a wiki yet, but if someone would be so kind to set it up, I'll add the link here.

Here is the wiki page: http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/2017_BingoDOG

My first read of the year fits the square: Title Refers to Another Work. It is Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood; the title refers to The Tempest by William Shakespeare, and the novel is a retelling of The Tempest, in the Hogarth Shakespeare series.

BingoDOG always starts off easier and gets harder later! Both my ebook and my audio that I'm currently listening to fit a Bingo category. :-)

Read Secrets of Wishtide for the set in a time before you were born square.

I picked Die Entdeckung der Langsamkeit for the "set in a time before you were born" square, which also fits for the January RandomCAT.

Set in a country I've never been

The Pearl That Broke Its Shell / Nadia Hashimi
4.5 stars

This book tells the stories of two women in Afghanistan. Rahima and Shekiba. Rahima lives in the present-day and after a few years of living as a boy (not uncommon for a family with no sons), she is still only 13(?) when she is “sold” to a warlord as his 4th wife to pay her father’s debts (along with her two slightly older sisters, also sold to the warlords’ family as wives).

Rahima’s hunchbacked aunt has been telling Rahima and her sisters the story of their ancestor, Shekiba, who lived in the early 20th century. Shekiba lost her family to cholera at a young age and wanted to take care of herself, but she wasn’t allowed. As she did not get along with her extended family, they gave her to another family as a housekeeper, but she got into trouble and was sent away from there, as well…

This was really good. I am always more interested in a woman’s point of view in these kinds of books. Of course, there were some horrible things that happened in the book! I was interested in both stories, so switching back and forth didn’t bother me (it was clearly marked at the beginning of each chapter whom we were following). I was a bit appalled at how little seemed to have changed between the two time frames in the book, at least for women. The end was left just a little bit open, so that I’d love to read a sequel. This was the author’s debut novel and I do hope to read her next book, as well.

Are there instructions on setting up a wiki somewhere? I could do it on the weekend if it's not done first and there some straightforward instructions somewhere. Thanks!

I can also do it. I used to know how--just need to refresh my memory.

Ok, it's stupidly easy to make a wiki page. I started the BingoDOG page here but haven't finished adding in all the categories yet.

http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/2017_BingoDOG

Categories now all ready to go.

Sorry, meant to do that for y'all but a head cold got in the way.

>8 sturlington: Thank you, I'll add my book asap.

I've already read two books that qualify for Bingo squares -- I love how easy it is to do this at the beginning of the year! :)

First, Crosstalk by Connie Willis fits the "science-related" square because the plot centers around a near-future technology that (sort of) enables telepathy. There's also a lot of information on historical scientific experiments about telepathy, which I found very interesting.

Second, The Hating Game by Sally Thorne fits the "debut work" square, and I highly recommend it to fans of chick lit or romance!

>12 christina_reads: Me too!

I'm 2/2 on Bingo reads this month:

Sting by Sandra Brown for #5: Book with a One-Word Title

and

War of the Whales: A True Story by Joshua Horwitz for #12: Title Refers to another Literary Work (War of the Worlds)

Science-related

My Stroke of Insight / Jill Bolte Taylor
4 stars

Jill Bolte Taylor was a single, 37-year old neuroanatomist (brain scientist), when she, herself, suffered a stroke. This book tells her story of the stroke and her 8 year recovery.

The first part of the book explained some of the science of the brain. Have to admit that my mind wandered during parts of this section, but from what I heard, she was making it easy enough to understand. I was listening to the audio, which of course, makes it a bit easier for my mind to wander. The author read the audio herself and did a very good job, but apparently she also does public speaking (she has done a TED Talk about this).

The second part of the book describes the stroke and her recovery. She lost use of the left side of her brain (the analytical part) and actually seemed to enjoy simply using her right brain for a while, not worrying about her ego, feeling compassion and inner peace, etc. Oddly enough, the book was amusing at times even while she was describing her stroke (she was excited to be able to “study” a stroke first-hand!) and in some descriptions of her recovery (“tuna… tuna?… tuna” in different tones of voice as she racked her brain, trying to figure out what tuna was). I was amazed at how child-like she was and how much she needed to re-learn! This was the most interesting part of the book for me.

The last section of the book described the right brain vs the left brain and talked a lot about inner peace and such. Overall, I really liked this book.

Debut Author
Grief is the thing with feathers, Max Porter
This is part novel/part poem about a father and his young sons trying to cope with the sudden death of their mother. Told in three voices - Dad, Boys, Crow - we see the effect of death and the Crow who arrives and stays just until he is no longer needed. 5 stars.

I tried to add this to the wiki page but ended up completely baffled.

>16 katrinasreads: The easiest thing to do is copy what someone else has posted on the wiki, substituting the details for your book. You will need the address of the work page, which you can copy from the top of your browser when you're looking at the book's LibraryThing page. For your book, the address is http://www.librarything.com/work/16362723

Finished A Stranger in My Grave for the published in the 1940s-1960s square.

I've finished The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filer which I read for the Awards Cat this month and decided to go ahead and use it for the "read a Cat" block.

I finished Slavery by Another Name: The Re-Enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II by Douglas A. Blackmon for the "Color in the title" square.

I just finished Alan Bradley's Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd, which I'm counting for the "title refers to another work" square. The title is a quotation from Macbeth, act IV, scene 1.

I'm also starting Julian Fellowes's Belgravia, which I'm counting for the "place name in the title" square; Belgravia is a posh London neighborhood.

Set in a time before I was born

Death in the Air / Shane Peacock
3.5 stars

In the second book in the series “starring” a 13-year old Sherlock Holmes, Holmes is watching a trapeze performance when one of the performers flies off the bar and lands near Holmes. It appears that someone cut the bar and Holmes is determined to find out who did it. Holmes is also currently homeless and manages to find an apothecary to take him in in return for his help.

I quite enjoyed the mystery in this one, but up until the end, I wasn’t as interested in the secondary characters. However, the last third of the book or so really did pick up for me. I have to admit to not reading much of Conan Doyle’s Holmes, so I’m not sure if these are characters that appear when Holmes is an adult, as well, or not. I would think at least some of them are. If so, the series might be even more appealing to those who enjoy Doyle’s adult Holmes.

Read Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner for the share initials square.

I've read a couple of books for the BingoDog, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott was read for the "Read A Cat" square and Cider With Rosie for the "Published in the 1940s to 1960s" square.

I read What We're Fighting For Now is Each Other by Wen Stephenson for the science-related square; it is about climate change and the climate justice movement.

Going to go ahead and fill that free space with my choice for the January RandomCAT: Franklin's Lost Ship: The Historic Discovery of HMS Erebus, by John Geiger and Alanna Mitchell.

I finished The Last Days of New Paris by China Miéville for the "Set in a country you've never been to" square. (It is set in Paris, France, and I've never been to France.)

I reread The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and it filled the "place you'd like to visit" square.

I finished Elantris for the 'one word title' square

A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon fits the "Appeals to the Senses" square as the senses of smell, sight and touch are evoked by the title.

I finished Shogun which I had originally read in 1980, so it's a re-read.

I've lost the link that tells us how to use the Bingo Card. Can anybody leave that link for me? Plz & Ty!

>32 Tess_W: Is this the link you need? http://www.librarything.com/topic/233008#5839134

Yes, TY so much!

So far, I have Evicted for a one word title and the English Channel for a place name.

I am counting finishing a collection of short stories, reminisces, and recipes for short stories: Christmas Days: 12 stories and 12 feasts for 12 days by Jeanette Winterson for the short story square. (Short stories are not my thing, I prefer novels.)

I filled the free space with my January CATWoman read, Sanditon and other stories. Jane Austen, which means funny, satirical and hilarious.

I have completed 2 squares:

"Book with a place name in the title" with Villette
"Satire" with Moo

though I may end up using one of those for the "book with a one-word title" square later on!

Set in a place I want to visit

Three Maids for a Crown / Ella March Chase.
4 stars

This novel follows the Grey sisters. The oldest, Lady Jane Grey became Queen of England for 9 days, following Henry VIII’s son, Edward. Henry’s oldest daughter (Jane’s cousin), Mary I, took over and imprisoned and later beheaded Jane. Jane had two younger sisters, Katherine (Kat) and the hunchbacked Mary. Kat married twice for love and Mary was never expected to marry. They were all threats to the throne.

I have read much about Jane, but only one other book (I believe it was nonfiction) about her sisters. I really enjoyed this, but then Jane has fascinated me since high school. The chapters switch perspectives between all three of them. I actually didn’t like Mary in this book, nor did I like Kat all that much. It’s a fictional portrayal, so that may not be, personality-wise, what they were really like, anyway, but the book was still enjoyable, and of course, it’s always a fun way to learn more.

I'm hoping someone will be able to link to the BingoDOG general thread and the BingoDOG wiki from the group's main page? Thanks so much!

Books about books

The World's Strongest Librarian / Josh Hanagarne
4 stars

Josh Hanagarne grew up to be 6’7” tall and became a librarian. Along the way, he tried many things to get control of his Tourette’s syndrome ticks. He is Mormon and loved to read from an early age. He was about 6 years old when the ticks first appeared, but he wasn’t diagnosed until much later. His father guessed early on that that was what was going on. One thing that Josh tried when he was an adult to help with the ticks was weight training.

I listened to the audio and quite enjoyed this memoir/autobiography. There was plenty of humour in the book and the audio was engaging. I really enjoyed all the book references, most of which I’ve read! Especially loved his “crush” (when he was a child) on Fern from Charlotte’s Web and the mentions of that particular book, as I just reread the book myself! The bits and pieces of Mormonism were interesting, as well. Most (all?) of what I’ve read about that is about the Fundamentalist Mormons (the polygamous Mormons), so it was interesting to read what is similar between the religions.

>40 LibraryCin: Send a message to -Eva- -- she's the group administrator and the only one who can do that.

I picked up Playing With Books by Jason Thompson at the library today for the "Book about Books" square.

>42 sturlington: Thank you! I'll do that. :-)

I'm counting Devil in the Smoke, by Justin Richards, as my "set in a time before you were born" book -- it's set in Victorian London, albeit a version of that time and place that features Sontarans and Silurians ;)

I finished The Scapegoat by Daphne du Maurier, which I counted for the Author Abroad square. Du Maurier is well known for her novels set in Cornwall, but this novel is set in France.

I am counting my reread of The Murder at the Vicarage for my "set in a time before you were born" book - it was first published in 1930 so I guess that it is set in 1929/1930 (in any case, decades before I was born!).

And I realized the audiobook I listened to of Service With a Smile will work for "read the next book in a series" square as it is the 4th book in the Uncle Fred series.

>46 sturlington: I forgot about that square! Almost all my books so far this month are by authors abroad as I live in the U.S. and read mostly British authors! I guess that I will use The Girl on the Train for that one...

>46 sturlington:, >47 leslie.98: I'm confused. I thought that the Author Abroad square was defined as:
"*This could be authors writing about their travels (such as Dumas writing about his travels in Russia, or Patrick Leigh Fermor walking across half of Europe); authors who live in another country and set their books there (for instance Martin Walker's mystery books set in France, Donna Leon's series set in Venice); writers who had to go into exile (for example Thomas Mann or Salman Rushdie?); authors who left their country of origin, for whatever reason, and started writing in the language of their new home (such as Nabokov or George Mikes)." http://www.librarything.com/topic/233008#5770039

This definition would make this a difficult square to fill. I'm aware that folks are free to interpret squares as they choose; that there are not supposed to be any "police." Is the definition just a suggested (or optional) guideline?

Thanks for your help with this.

>48 sallylou61: I'm just putting my own interpretation on it, but I thought it fit the spirit of the square because du Maurier is so strongly associated with her home of Cornwall and this novel was set abroad for her.

>46 sturlington: >47 leslie.98: >48 sallylou61: >49 sturlington: I'll out myself as the one who suggested this, and the important word in the explanation is "could": you're welcome to interpret it as you like. To me, du Maurier venturing outside her usual tramping ground of Cornwall fits.

I used Bellwether for the single-word title and I am happy to report that I thoroughly enjoyed my first taste of Connie Willis. I never heard of her until I joined LT, so thanks to all who shared their enthusiasm for her books.

>50 MissWatson: Thanks.

>50 MissWatson:. >49 sturlington: Thanks so much MissWatson for telling me your intentions in suggesting the topic. Whenever the originator of a topic explains it, that can very helpful to others. I was interpreting the topic much too strictly, and was not aware of the importance of the word "could."

>48 sallylou61: I was unaware of that description -- I have some Michael Dibdin books on my TBR that would qualify (a British author who lived in Italy & wrote mysteries set there) so I will rescind my selection of The Girl on the Train.

>54 leslie.98: I think that this "author abroad" square is the only square this year having an explanation. Last year I coordinated the woman BingoPUP, and that card had a number of explanations for squares. I knew who had suggested each square, and found it helpful to refer any interpretation question to the square's suggester.

About an animal

Scent of the Missing: Love and Partnership With a Search-and-Rescue Dog / Susannah Charleson
4 stars
272 pages

This is primarily the story of Puzzle, but there are also bits and pieces about her handler (and the author). The author has been helping with search-and-rescue of missing humans for a while. She helps with the SAR dogs that are sometimes called out. She eventually decides she would like to be the handler of the one of the dogs, herself, so she finds a golden retriever puppy and trains her. Interspersed with stories of Puzzle’s training, the author shares stories of various searches she has been on.

This was very interesting, I thought. The entire training and certification process was interesting and I also found the search stories interesting: toddlers, elderly, teenagers, also searching after disasters… I do wonder, though, how the trainers can have jobs, but still go running when they are called to help.

I'm struggling to find something for the shares my initials square and was wondering if any of you had any suggestions. Anyone know of an author with TS initials? It doesn't seem like it'd be that hard, but I'm coming up empty.

I have a bunch of "S" authors in my lbrary...but only one TS and that's a nonfiction writer, Tom Standridge. Oh, I got his last name wrong, it's Standage.

I've got Trenton Lee Stewart who wrote The Mysterious Benedict Society series of books. I like them.

>58 clue: and >59 dudes22: Thank you! I'll look them up. :)

>57 virginiahomeschooler: Traci, I have an author called Tatjana Soli in my library. I have read The Lotus Eaters by her and quite liked it. It is about a woman photographer in Viet Nam. She has other books as well, but that is the only one I have read by her. There is also an author called Taylor Stevens who writes a series of crime novels with The Informationist being the first one.

>57 virginiahomeschooler: If you are at all interested in politics or women's issues, you might consider Gender and the American Presidency: nine presidential women and the barriers they faced by Theodore F. Sheckels. This book was published in 2012 well before the 2016 election. I notice that very few people have this book in their collections, and I was the only one to review it. https://www.librarything.com/work/12732727/reviews/87580721
Unfortunately, according to me review, it does not include Hilliary Clinton (who, of course, ran in the 2008 primaries) or Geraldine Ferraro.

Former major league pitcher Tom Seaver wrote a baseball book Great Moments in Baseball published in 1992.

Coffins of Little Hope is a novel written by Timothy Schaffert, published in 2011.

These are the only TS authors I have in my catalog.

>57 virginiahomeschooler: If you like plays, you could try Tom Stoppard, who wrote Arcadia and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.

>57 virginiahomeschooler: - Nothing new here - the only one I have in my read library is Coffins of Little Hope.

One word title: Emma by Jane Austen

A lot of my TBR books are one word but then a colon and the words A Novel. For instance, Shelter: A Novel or
Moonglow: A Novel Would they work for the one word title or not? Opinions?

I found a BB author for my initials on my TBR The Mothers by Brit Bennett Yay!

>66 beebeereads: I don't usually consider the subtitle "A Novel" to be part of a book's title, so I think the books you mentioned should be fine!

>57 virginiahomeschooler: If you enjoy mysteries, then British writer Tom Rob Smith (author of Child 44) would work. Another is American mystery writer, Scott Turow, author of Presumed Innocent (sorry can't get touchstone to work for Turow).

You guys have been doing so well suggesting authors with the initials T.S., how about some suggestions for my initials: S.T.?

>69 sturlington:

Sydney Taylor, author of the All-of-a-Kind Family children's series about a Jewish family in NYC in the early 1900s

Sheri Tepper, author of quite a few science fiction works

>70 casvelyn: DOH! Sheri Tepper. I even have one of her books on my Kindle to be read!

I got from the library and pretty much read today 1001 Books for Every Mood, which will fit the Book About Books square nicely.

>71 sturlington: I've never read any Tepper, but I've got some of her stuff on my TBR list.

I've read The Convenient Marriage for Set in a Time Before You Were Born. 1776 was just a wee bit before I came on the scene. :)

I haven't looked into figuring out an author with my initials yet, but is everyone keeping their initials in the same order or can we reverse them? Just a thought! Thanks!

>74 LibraryCin: I won't be using my actual initials for that square. I think it was a square last year, too, and when I played along silently I used David Morrissey's initials because that fit the theme of my challenge :P This year I'm going with CG for Coast Guard, to give me an excuse to read some Charlotte Gray, finally!

>75 rabbitprincess: Ah, thank you! I will have to see what I want to do with that square, then. I will likely use my own initials and see what I can find. If I can't find anything that way, maybe I'll get creative.

Read The Throwback Special by Chris Bachelder for Special.

I read Ethan of Athos by Lois McMaster Bujold for the 'Science Related Square'.

My preferred source for investigating initials is https://www.fantasticfiction.com/ - you can copy the list of authors with a last name of x and sort them (they are listed by first name).

>75 rabbitprincess: Thank you for that thought. I may use SC (for Sushicat) for the challenge. My real initials UW came up with only one author... (there used to be four but they now exclude the least popular ones...). Anybody ever read Urban Waite?
ETA: I just realized it could be worse - I tried WU...

>75 rabbitprincess: >79 sushicat: Indeed, that's a great idea. I haven't got anything with my own initials in the TBR. Off to investigate MW.

ETC

I used The hare with amber eyes for a book with an animal in the title.

>69 sturlington: If you haven't decided yet for your ST book, I'd like to recommend Scarlett Thomas - The End of Mr. Y, or Our Tragic Universe or Popco.

This of course got me thinking what do I have to read for LM - and I only had one, but I'm excited for it: Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. I have heard such glowing praise for it from many LTers.

>79 sushicat: Apparently I have plenty to choose from. Thanks for the link. I started writing the names down, then gave up. I'll have to look again when I have a day to actually look up there books as I browse the authors themselves. Ideally, I'll find one who is already on my tbr, but we'll see!

ETA: If I couldn't find anything with my initials (CW), I was going to try LC, but I probably don't need to!

I'm starting a chick-lit novel called Can I See You Again? by Allison Morgan, and I'm thinking of using it for the "appeals to the senses" square because the title refers to the sense of sight. But maybe that's a bit too literal? I'd love to hear others weigh in!

>85 christina_reads: Christina, I'm not the one who thought of this topic but it is one of my favorites because, to me, it is very open to individual interpretation. I think Can I See You Again? would certainly fit as sight is one of the senses. I used Breath of Snow and Ashes as it immediately made me think of the scents that the title brought to mind.

My initials were very difficult to find. Luckily one of titles I planned to pick up from the library is An ordinary decent criminal by Michael Van Rooy. I'm going with that one.

ETA: If that one doesn't appeal I'll have to use my middle initial. JR will be much easier to find.

Next in series

Palace of Stone / Shannon Hale
3.25 stars

In this sequel to The Princess Academy, Miri is called to the palace in the city to help her friend Britta prepare for her wedding to the prince. While there, Miri is allowed to attend school, where she becomes involved with other students who want a revolution, as they feel the nobility should no longer exist. Miri gets caught up in it before she realizes that it may put Britta in danger.

It was ok. I’m giving the story 3 stars, but upping it by ¼ star for the well-done audio. There are multiple cast members for the audio, there are songs that are sung (I was picturing the lyrics to the songs being written out in the book, but they are performed in the audio), and I liked the way letters, thoughts and “quarry-speech” are done for the audio, as well. Despite all this, my mind did still wander somewhat while listening, so I’m attributing that to the story, which is why the slightly lower rating. I rated the first book “good” (3.5 stars) and it appears there is a third book in the series, so I will plan to read it, as well.

I've read The Camel Club by David Baldacci for the "book or title about an animal" square.

I read Radiance by Catherynne M. Valente for the "one-word title" square.

I just realized that the mystery I finished a few days ago, A Tan and Sandy Silence, works for the "beach/resort community" square as it takes place in Fort Lauderdale Florida & St. George, Grenada with lots of beach scenes :)

>91 leslie.98: I also got one for that square: The Elementals by Michael McDowell, which takes place at some isolated vacation houses on the Gulf of Mexico.

Finished three this week that I'm using for my card.

One Word Title - Crosstalk by Connie Willis
Debut Book - Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Animal - Mister Monkey by Francine Prose

All books that I would recommend to others.

I finished a one-word title with the Swedish play Creditors…

I finished a book for the "Set in a country you've never been" square: The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu: and Their Race to Save the World's Most Precious Manuscripts by Joshua Hammer. I'm putting it in this square instead of the "Book about Books" square since the subtitle does not reflect the subject of the majority of the book which is the political situation, especially regarding the struggles against terrorism, in Mali.

I used Lotta Schmidt, and other stories by Anthony Trollope for the short stories. I'm growing quite fond of his story-writing.

I finished The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks for the "science-related" square.

Would it be possible to put up one of the bingo squares in these threads? I find that I am constantly having to go back to my own thread to see the square when I come to this thread..

Can a compound word be used? For instance, Jimmy Bluefeather for Color in the Title?

Also for Book or Title about an Animal. Does it have to be one specific animal or can it be several animals such as in Farm City?

Yes, a compound word can be used. Definitely more than one animal is fine - the more the merrier!

I keep forgetting to post over here. I've completed several squares this month:

Set before you were born: The Poisoned Pilgrim by Oliver Potzsch, 1666
Science related: Galileo's Middle Finger: Heretics, Activists and the Search for Justice in Science by Alice Dreger
Next in a series: Love Songs From a Shallow Grave by Colin Cotterill, book 7 in Dr. Siri
Read a CAT: Priceless: How I went Undercover to Rescue the World's Stolen Treasures by Robert K. Wittman, January RandomCAT search & rescue
A satire: Lords and Ladies by Terry Pratchett
Color in the title: Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen by Lois McMaster Bujold
Published in the 1940-1960s: Ross Poldark by Winston Graham, 1945
Made into a movie: Firestarter by Stephen King
Set in a country you’ve never been: The Vegetarian by Han Kang, South Korea

I am inconsistent with posting here as well, I like how >101 staci426: has posted and I am copying that. This is what I have filled so far
4. Set in a Place you want to visit: A God In Ruins by Kate Atkinson, set in England
20. Debut Novel, Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
16. Science Related: Ethan of Athos McMaster Bujold, genetic engineering
11: Book About Books: If On a Winter's Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino
12: Title refers to another literary work, The Fireman by Joe Hill refers to Farenheit 451
21: Book or Title about an Animal (Crow) Grief is the Thing with Feathers
14. Author shares your first and last initials. I am using The Vegetarian by Han Kang which turned around would be K and H
22. Place Name in Title: The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America, place America.

I added the 'Place Name in Title' square with The Murder in Romney Marsh by Edgar Jepson.

Read a CAT (Free square)

Their Eyes Were Watching God / Zora Neale Hurston
2.5 stars

This book follows African-American Janie as she goes through three husbands during the 1920s? 1930s? in Florida.

So, it seemed, to me, like it started off with a bunch of gossipy women. Shortly after, we went back in time to hear about Janie’s life and her three husbands. I wasn’t at all interested in the first husband and I remember nothing of what happened with him. The second husband was slightly more interesting, but for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out if she was married to “Joe” or “Jody”. It was only at the end of that section that I finally realized that they may have been the same guy. Her third husband, Tea Cake was more interesting, but I zoned out for parts of that section, as well.

I was ready to rate it 2 stars until the surprising ending. That, combined with the slightly more interesting Tea Cake brought up my rating to 2.5 stars. I do know that part of why I “missed” (that is, I wasn’t interested, so wasn’t really paying attention to what I read) much of the book was that the dialogue was written in a dialect that you really have to focus on to figure out. At least, it didn’t come easy to me, and I have a hard time slowing myself down to follow it better, so I missed much of the dialogue, but I know that wasn’t all, as there were other parts that I missed out on, as well.

I know so many people loved this, but sorry, not me.

Oh, and this isn’t this book alone, nor does it reflect this story, but once again, I HATE when publishers put an introduction, preface, foreword, etc of a classic where they pretty much reveal the entire plot!!! I started reading it, but when they started mentioning plot, I skipped the rest and read the book. I then went back and read the intro. Why, why, why do this? Why give it all away before one has even read the story!? Put these comments in an afterword…

Book or title about an animal: completed When We Were Animals by Joshua Gaylord

I have finished two so this month:

16: Science-related: Why we make mistakes by Joseph Hallinan
17: Author was born in 1930s: Shake hands forever by Ruth Rendell (born 1930)

Although it would certainly fit into the "Made into a movie" square, I'm putting Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly in the "Science-related" square since it prominently features black women in science during the 1940s through 1960s, a time when relatively few women worked in science. The book contains a lot of information about aeronautics, both concerning airplanes during World War II and space craft used in the race into space.

I chose to use The Voice of the Violin by Andrea Camilleri with it's setting of Sicily as "a place I want to visit".

I read Sweet Lamb of Heaven and I am using it for appeal to senses as there is lot about the sense of "hearing". I could move it to beach, resort square because it also has a setting on the ocean in Maine.

For science-related, I completed Hot, Flat and Crowded; for debut work, I read Elizabeth is Missing and for read a CAT, I finished Frost in May (for the CATwoman).

I highly recommend Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morley for the "Book Published in 1917".

I've added a couple more, Suds in Your Eye for book published 1942.

I just finished The Nine Billion Names of God by Arthur C. Clarke, who was born in 1917.

>111 DeltaQueen50: I second that motion!

I almost forgot: I used Homeworld for a book I've owned more than five years.

I added two more to my card:

The Man Who Was Thursday by G.K. Chesterton for author uses initials
Paris for One and Other Stories by Jojo Moyes for the short story square

I finished off a few more squares:

Find a Victim by Ross MacDonald for a book owned for at least 5 years
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein for a book published in 1940s-1960s
Snow Country by Yasunari Kawabata for a book set in a country I have never been to

I managed to squeeze in one more for January! Edith Wharton's The Glimpses of the Moon is set in the 1920s, so I'm counting it for the "set in a time before you were born" square. Fabulous book, by the way, and less depressing than most of her other novels!

I managed to place 9 out of 10 books read in January on the board:
3: Color in the title: The Bluest Eye - Jan 8 - 4 stars
5: One word title: Bulles by Daniel Torres - Jan 14 - 4 stars
7: Appeals to the senses: Il Gattopardo - Jan 31 - 4 stars
10: Collection of short stories: What We Talk About When We Talk About Love - Jan 22 - 4 stars
11: Book about Books: The Investigation - Jan 10 - 4.5 stars
16: Science related: Drive - Jan 13 - 4 stars
20: Debut: Red Rising - Jan 3 - 5 stars
24: Set in a time before you were born: Seven for a Secret by Elizabeth Bear - Jan 28 - 3.6 stars
25: Next book in a series you've started: First Family by David Baldacci - Jan 19 - 4 stars

>119 sushicat: - Some comments on the placement:
Appeals to the senses: the vivid portrait of Sicily in the book very much appealed to the senses
Seven for a Secret takes place in London 1938 - but in a Britain occupied by the Prussians

Just finished People of the book by Geraldine Brooks for square 11 - books about books. I had mixed feelings about it.

February thread is here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/247756

I managed to get 10 squares filled in January.
4. Set in a Place you want to visit: A God In Ruins by Kate Atkinson, set in England
20. Debut Novel, Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
16. Science Related: Ethan of Athos McMaster Bujold, genetic engineering
11: Book About Books: If On a Winter's Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino
12: Title refers to another literary work, The Fireman by Joe Hill refers to Farenheit 451
21: Book or Title about an Animal (Crow) Grief is the Thing with Feathers
14. Author shares your first and last initials. I am using The Vegetarain by Han Kang which turned around would be K and H
22. Place Name in Title: The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America, place America.
7. Appeals to the senses: Sweet Lamb of Heaven This book is about "hearing"
8. Published 1942, Suds in Your Eye

Also realized I was able to fit Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science, by Atul Gawande, into the "science-related" square (if you consider medicine to be science). So a total of three Bingo squares in January.