fuzzi's "Hop-Along With Me To 75 Books Read in 2018" Challenge Thread!

I'm baaack!

My reading is eclectic, and I review EVERY book I read, so do stop by again.

Oh, and I don't "spoil", so read my reviews without fear!

Here's the link to my ticker:




Reading Register 2018 is here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/279507#

Ruthie is reading an ER book, Counting on Snow...

Starred!

>3 harrygbutler: wow, you're fast!

Congratulations on being #1!

>4 fuzzi: Just luck. I didn't realize I was posting that soon after the start.

Welcome back!

Hope your 2018 is filled with great reading!

Hi Fuzzi. Best wishes for a great 2018.

Happy New Year! I wish you to read many good books in 2018.

Happy reading in 2018!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year
Happy New Group here
This place is full of friends
I hope it never ends
It brew of erudition and good cheer.

Happy New Year, Fuzzi! May you have some great reads in 2018.

Happy new year and happy reading!

So did you pick a MacLean for this month? (Maybe you did and I'm forgetting.)

Happy New Year, fuzzi! I hope you have a wonderful 2018!

Happy New Year back atcha (all)!!!

>15 harrygbutler: I think we did, it probably is noted on your last thread...?

>17 fuzzi: Nope, just checked. You said you wanted to pick a ROOT — Circus, Floodgate, or The Golden Gate — but didn't actually choose one.

>18 harrygbutler: thanks for checking. I was going to look, myself, tomorrow, but you saved me the search.

The BAC in January is Debut Novels, which for MacLean is HMS Ulysses, but I've already read that one, so I guess I'll skip it.

Let's do Circus!

Psst, in case some of you missed it, I added something to post #2:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/279504#6300682

>19 fuzzi: Circus works. Now to find my copy. :-)

>20 fuzzi: Awww.

>21 harrygbutler: if you can't find your copy, I can switch. I've got all my unread MacLeans on one shelf (right now)...

>23 harrygbutler: Found it this morning.

>23 harrygbutler: good news.

>2 fuzzi: Good to start them young with the ER books. What a cutie!

Happy New Year. I hope your 2018 is filled with great things.

I've started Circus, but I don't know how much time I'll be able to give it until the weekend.

I remember loving Alistair Maclean's books when I was younger. I just devoured them one after another.

Happy New Year, fuzzi!

>25 Familyhistorian: I think she's the Cat's Pajamas!

>26 BLBera: thank you, kindly. Same to you.

>27 harrygbutler: now I know what book to start tonight! We spent the better part of the day shoveling and clearing off the snow from last night...I'm bushed...

>28 Eyejaybee: I just discovered MacLean in the last couple of years.

>29 humouress: aw, thanks.

Hi, fuzzi. Dropping a star.



>2 fuzzi: Ruthie is adorable. How old is she now?

>31 rretzler: she is 20 months, thank you.

Happy New Year, fuzzi! You're starred.

>2 fuzzi: what an adorable little reader!

Hi, fuzzi, you've been starred! ****

I said hi already over on your Classics challenge, but wanted to make sure I didn't miss this thread, so hello again!

>35 foggidawn: hi backatcha!

My first two books/reads of 2018 are both "comfort" rereads, in an effort to jumpstart me out of my reading funk:


#1 The Pride of Chanur by CJ Cherryh
After a recent reread, I still hold to my opinion of this book: an excellent blend of scifi, technology, politics, and culture, from a different universe...yet the characters remain likeable, and believable, despite non-human appearance. The author and this series is superb!


#2 Chanur's Venture by CJ Cherryh
I just re-read this book, again, but can't say how many times I've read it before. Upon this umpteenth read I will affirm it's still a good, intense story of aliens and alien worlds, filled with believable characters and intriguing technical details. Recommended!

>37 fuzzi: Pride of Chanur comes up in my recommendations a lot. Maybe I should get around to checking it out one of these days :)

>37 fuzzi: Reading funks are the pits!

>38 Narilka: yes! Yes! Yes! It's probably my favorite CJ Cherryh, although I love most of her books.

>39 CassieBash: this one sure is. I usually sprint out of the gate on January 1st, but not this year. I had eye surgery a few days before the end of the year, and was more interested in stuff around the house than books, go figure.

#3 The Kif Strike Back by CJ Cherryh

Intrigue, action, politics, rescues, firefights, plot twists and turns aplenty, what's not to love?

Onward, to book #4...

>34 CassieBash: good to see you stop by!

>33 AMQS: thanks! I love seeing her hold a book in that manner...I want to help give her a lifelong love of BOOKS!

Stopping by to say HI!

::waving back at @rretzler::

Sorry to hear about the funk fuzzi but the Chanar books are good comfort reads! I still haven't read anywhere near enough Cherryh (her books are hard to come by over here) - only the Chanur series and the Faded Sun trilogy but I loved both.

>45 souloftherose: so nice to see someone else appreciates CJ Cherryh's work. I gave up trying to find her books in stores, even here in the USA. Most of my copies were internet purchases.

Looks like I should have another go at her work. I have The Faded Sun trilogy and Foreigner on my shelves. I think it was that last one I picked up last year due to LT recommendations.

>47 humouress: Foreigner is very good. There are a ton of books in that series, but I enjoyed the first three I read.

The Faded Sun was also very good, although very slow to start as with most of her books.

The Chanur books are still my favorites, though.

#4 Chanur's Homecoming by CJ Cherryh

I just completed yet another reread of this, and I still love it. The author writes interesting, real characters, and the worlds they inhabit are filled with other alien species, each with their own well-developed culture. There is plenty to keep the reader riveted: action, politics, suspense, and more. Highly recommended, but read the first three books in the series prior, or you will have a hard time following the plot(s)!

Highly recommended read is available today for $1.99 USD, Love Saves the Day!

Amazon link is here:
https://www.amazon.com/Love-Saves-Day-Gwen-Cooper-ebook/dp/B008ZPG7AO?_bbid=8725...

Apple link:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/love-saves-the-day/id554494836?_bbid=8725042&am...

Kobo link:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/love-saves-the-day?utm_source=linkshare_us&...

This was an LT Early Reviewer book that I gave an enthusiastic five stars to when it was published!

>50 fuzzi: Thanks for the tip!

>51 harrygbutler: you're welcome. I wasn't sure you'd see it here, so I posted it on your thread.

>52 fuzzi: Thank you; I appreciate it.

#5 Genesis (King James Bible) a reread of the first book of the Bible, containing familiar stories including but not limited to Creation, Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.


#6 Circus by Alistair MacLean
A twisty tale of espionage, with a circus' high-wire artist caught up in the middle of the intrigue. Nicely done, another gripping read from this author.

#7 Tilly and Tank by Jay Fleck (an Early Reviewer selection)
Cute story, with great simple yet appealing pictures. I enjoyed reading this book, and look forward to reading it to my grandchild...BOOM!

>54 fuzzi: Good morning! Glad you liked Circus. I thought the identity of the traitor was fairly obvious, but I certainly enjoyed the unfolding of the action and was particularly pleased by the final twist of Bruno's being an agent.

I did, I liked especially the ending twist, which I had guessed, but was not sure about the other's identity.

#8 Penguin the Magpie: by Cameron Bloom

This book was not what I expected. Instead of a tale of how a bird helped a family, it is more of a philosophical/help book with this family's travails interspersed throughout. I did love the photographs, though.

#9 Racing Manhattan by Terence Blacker (an Early Reviewer selection)

Entertaining story about a young orphan who leaves home to get into the racing business, and finds a misunderstood and mistreated horse that she believes could be a champion: in other words, this is a pony book.

I did feel that the author did a decent job of telling the story in first-person, which is not always done well, and I appreciated the fact that he did not feel it necessary to flood the reader with excess information that was not needed to tell this tale.

>59 fuzzi: pony book I'm getting the itch to read a pony book myself. I may have to start the Gypsy series a bit early.

>60 CassieBash: hahaha! I put in a request through ILL for the first Gypsy book. We'll see...

Nothing wrong with pony books! I've loved reading American versions (by Marjorie Reynolds, Glen Rounds, Glenn Balch, Sam Savitt, and Joan Houston to name a few), and recently discovered British pony books such as those written by Josephine Pullein-Thompson.

Quiet over here. I hope you've been having a good week!

>62 harrygbutler: busy, but good, thanks! One more done...


#10 A Civil Contract by Georgette Heyer

A thoroughly enjoyable Regency about a marriage of convenience, without the breathless and alarming situations of the typical entry in this genre.

It also has deeper characters and situations, but I've come to expect those from this author. I'm keeping this for a later reread.

#11 The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper

While this book may appear dated in some ways, the tale and the pictures are timeless. This one goes in the box for my granddaughter!

Have you caught onto Jane Badger yet? She writes about British pony books, although her website has some American works as well. Go check her out (website, Facebook, physical book, what have you)! I discovered a bunch of new UK pony books through her!

>65 alsvidur: yes! I "found" Jane Badger and the Pony Mad Book Lovers (http://www.ponymadbooklovers.co.uk) sites several years ago while searching for a couple favorites from my childhood. She's a good resource. Both of them are.

Stay tuned, NEW "pony" book review coming up...

#12 Gypsy From Nowhere by Sharon Wagner

I appreciate it when I find an author who can write a story that appeals to both a juvenile and an adult audience. The author of Gypsy From Nowhere, Sharon Wagner, appears to be in that category. While set in Montana of more than forty years ago, this tale is timeless, about a young girl who struggles with her feelings of failure and unworthiness, and how through the love of a horse overcomes her doubts. Never preachy, heavy-handed, or overly dramatic, the author strikes a balance that is just right, and left a smile on my face as I finished the last page.

I plan to not only keep my copy of ths book for a later reread, but seek out her other works.

>67 fuzzi: Thought you'd like the Gypsy trilogy. Interestingly enough, Wagner's other genre seems to be suspense/horror/mystery. I haven't read anything by her but the Gypsy series, but I suppose I shouldn't be surprised since 2 of the 3 Gypsy books involve some mysterious goings-on that Wendy and the gang have to solve. Let me know if you come across any other horse titles by her--the Gypsy trilogy is it as far as I can tell.

>68 CassieBash: I wasn't sure if the other books by Sharon Wagner were by this author, or another one with the same name. Anyway, thanks for the recommendation!

#13 The I Hate To Cook Book by Peg Bracken

A delightful dry and witty look at cooking for those who find kitchen chores less than enjoyable. The book includes recipes for the novice or uninspired cook, household hints, and even a couple pages of equivalent and substitution tables at the back. While written close to sixty years ago, most of this book is not dated.

From her chapter about leftovers ("or every family needs a dog") we read:

"But still you can't quite bring yourself to dispose of it! So you put it in the refrigerator, and there it stays, moving slowly toward the rear as it is displaced by other little glass jars half full of leftover ham loaf and other things. And there it remains until refrigerator-cleaning day, at which time you gather it up along with its little fur-bearing friends, and, with a great lightening of spirit, throw it away."

I'm keeping this one.

#14 Why I Believe the King James Bible is the Word of God by Peter S Ruckman

This is the transcript of a sermon preached back in the 1980's about why the author believes that the King James Bible is the inerrant word of God. He uses scripture and history to back up his beliefs. It's strong meat but so worth it for the serious or questioning Christian.

>70 fuzzi: re: leftovers — so true! I just had a refrigerator cleaning day this weekend.

>72 foggidawn: That is a title I can totally relate to! Luckely I found a husband who loves to cook, so I don't have to do it.

>70 fuzzi: Oh dear, so true. While we do have a dog and he would be happy to eat anything and everything, his digestive system isn’t so tolerant. :0)

>73 FAMeulstee: me too! My dh loves to create, cook. If he cooks, I do the dishes.

>74 humouress: we had a Boston terrier that just could not stomach "people food". Our current Lab/Shepherd will eat anything...

>64 fuzzi: I read that one earlier this month too.

>70 fuzzi: That one's not for me.

>71 fuzzi: I attended a "King James only" church for awhile. I never really came around to their way of thinking on translations, but I did understand them a little better.

>76 thornton37814: thanks for the feedback!

I'm an indifferent cook. I do like making cookies and pies during the holidays, but dinner/meals? Nah.

I don't label myself as "KJO", as most of the time it's been used as an epithet of sorts. I'm a Bible-believer: I believe the Bible is the word of God, that the King James text is inerrant. People can disagree with me, no hard feelings.

>71 fuzzi: The author specifically thinks the King James version is the word of God? What's wrong with the other versions? Not poetic enough? Too literal of translations? Doesn't use old-modern English wording?

>75 fuzzi: Our dog would very much like to have people food, and she used to, but health issues have put her on a restricted diet. The vet does allow her to have some sorts of vegetables in small quantities, however, in particular baby carrots and her favorite, raw cabbage.

>78 The_Hibernator: I suggest you read it for yourself if you'd like to see his reasons. I'd rather not get into a Bible debate on a book thread.

Or if you would like some online information that isn't hysterical, I'll send you some links.

>79 harrygbutler: cabbage? Wow. My poor terrier would have been put outside if she ate cole vegetables. My current dog can handle most of that stuff, even at her age of 8.

>80 fuzzi: When I get out a head of cabbage to chop up for some dish, she smells it (I presume) and comes running, almost before I get the head to the cutting board. She especially likes the ribs, because they are crunchier.

>81 harrygbutler: That sounds good. Maybe I can wean our Jasper off chewing pebbles.

>81 harrygbutler: we had a Sheltie/Lab when I was a teenager. My mother would drop vegetables she was cutting, and say "whoops!" Our dog learned that the word "whoops!" meant that a treat had fallen to the floor, and come running. She'd eat everything except limp stuff like leaf lettuce.

My current dog gets to lick the cat food cans once I have emptied them. All I have to do is go over to where the box of Friskies pâté is kept and pick out a couple cans, and suddenly she's behind me, waiting for her treat, ha!

>82 humouress: ouch! Try raw carrot slices?

>79 harrygbutler: >83 fuzzi: Huh. I thought the love of baby carrots was a cocker spaniel thing (or at least our cocker spaniel's thing). Fauna loves almost any fruit or vegetable, including bananas, spinach, apples, peas, and even frozen okra. She doesn't wait for a cue like fuzzi's Sheltie/Lab but instead hangs around whenever someone's doing anything with food, in the hopes of a windfall.

>84 CassieBash: like this?

Jasper is a golden retriever and is about a year and a half old (or 18 years old in gr terms - hah!). Apparently he’s still in the chewing stage and I can only hope he grows out of it. So far he’s destroyed the irrigation system in the garden and now he’s working on my plants (so I’m forbidden to buy any more until he gets through this stage, but I got impatient last week and bought some, with foregone results). He knows I don’t like him chewing pebbles, so he sits just out of reach chewing his ‘baccy, daring me to chase him and try to get it off him.

It’s one fight I’ve given up; but maybe I can bribe him with the carrots instead.

>86 humouress: Tirzah never chewed pebbles, but she wore off the tips of her canine teeth chewing on bones, and the bars of her crate...oh, and the drywall in the hallway!

Why not give the carrots a try? He might enjoy the crunch, especially if you buy "horse" carrots.

>85 fuzzi: Except she's usually milling about, circling like a vulture. She doesn't settle under the table unless we're eating--I suppose she's hedging her bets that if something falls during dinner, she'll be faster than we are if she's strategically positioned.

>86 humouress: Yeah, try the carrots. Our dogs also like the Himalayan yak/cow cheese; it's hard but tasty and seems to keep them busy. The only problem is that they become possessive with them so if you have more than one dog (or live in a multi-species house like we do), you might want to separate the animals while they're chewing on it. There are also different styles of antlers you can buy, and some even have cheese packed inside. Again, since cheese is involved, keep an eye on other pets while your dog(s) have it.

We had some more snow yesterday and a little today. Jasper is almost completely covered with a fresh layer and now resembles a partially-carved Egyptian sphinx. The only pine needles showing are the ones at his throat; those on the back and on top of his head are covered, as is his tail tuft. I didn't get pictures yet; I'll try to get some tonight. I believe more snow is moving in tonight, bringing another couple or so inches (although that was supposed to happen overnight and it didn't for us, so maybe...), and then the big whammy is coming on Friday and into early Saturday morning (we're already under a Winter Storm Watch for this, with a projected 5-9 inches), with a break during the day on Saturday and then, Saturday night (you guessed it!) more snow.

*Sigh* I'm ready for spring now, please.

Hildy used to go through a rawhide "straw" a day, and she'd devour spare rib bones (in particular) like eating potato chips, though she's a smaller dog (a rat terrier, we think, but as she was a stray we took in, we don't know for sure). We never had trouble with her chewing other things until she had been on the restricted diet for a long time. Now she's so desperate for other flavors that she'll go after things she shouldn't if we don't keep them out of her way.

>89 CassieBash: Oops! I just realized that only fuzzi knows who my Jasper is on this thread. Silly me. I meant to post this on my thread, but since it's already here, some clarification:

My Jasper is a snow lion:





Don't worry about the book; its dust jacket is professionally covered in plastic and I was exceedingly careful of how I placed it between his paws.

We had a cat once that loved to eat peas so he hung around waiting for them to drop on the floor when we had them. He also was psychic when it came to ice cream. Ed would go to the freezer to get out the ice cream and Dude would be there right away (he always got to lick the bowl when Ed was finished.) The funny thing was if you were going to the freezer for anything else, he would never appear - just ice cream.

>92 rretzler: cats are like that...amazes me whenever it happens.

>90 harrygbutler: can she have a cow hoof? I used to give those to my terrier, as she'd go through bones and rawhide chews like cotton candy. The hooves were the only things that slowed her down.

>89 CassieBash: it was 70 here today... ::ducks::

>93 fuzzi: That I don't know, although I wouldn't be surprised if she couldn't have it. I will be asking the internal medicine specialist for suggestions at her next follow-up next week, as it would be good to find her something that is permissible.

#15 My Father, My Son by John Pekkanen and Elmo Zumwalt

My Father, My Son is technically not a difficult book, with an easy-to-read style, the author telling the touching story of a military family without delving into detailed discussions about politics, warfare, or military tactics. But once you reach the midway point, the subject segues into the aftereffects of Vietnam, and the consequences of the methods of warfare used in that conflict. A good though sobering read, told through many interviews of the family and friends.

>93 fuzzi:, >94 harrygbutler: We had to watch the dogs when the farrier trimmed the horses' hooves because they tended to eat the trimmings and get sick. Horse hoof vomit is not something you want to see.
>93 fuzzi: We're under a Winter Storm Watch with a predicted 5-9 inches of snow, starting at midnight tonight (or tomorrow, depending on how when you want to start your day). Local models right now indicate that my house will likely only get up to 4 inches, but the Plymouth area, where I work, will see about 6 or so, with South Bend getting hit hard with upwards of 10 inches with some possibility of localized 12 inches. And cold, so no making more snow critters to keep Jasper company just yet.

>96 CassieBash: the cow hooves were sold in pet stores, and had been cleaned, so probably were a lot safer than raw horse hoof trimmings, ick.

You can keep your snow. We're supposed to have rain, though the temps have dropped from 70F yesterday to upper 30s. Double-ick.

Be safe.

>97 fuzzi: I'm hoping that, if we get the snow, that much of it falls overnight and our campus will close. The last time we had a snow event (as if we'd all want to buy tickets to see this--hah!) on a Friday, it took me 45 minutes to get to work, and then I was only there for an hour before they closed the campus. Another 45-60 minutes home. I literally spent more time in the car that day than at work. Which is why everyone is hoping they'll have enough of an excuse to call it very early.

>98 CassieBash: one thing I do like about the schools and universities here is they first do a 1 or 2 hour delayed opening notice, and then once they see how bad it is in the morning, they can upgrade it to a closing. That way no one has to come in and then go home, as in your case.

#16 To Be a Logger by Lois Lenski

Written in the 1960s, this "regional series" tale of the loggers, their families, and their communities in the Pacific northwest is more modern than Lois Lenski's other books, but still was a pretty good read. The author researched her subject well, and it shows in her writing: her children are typical youngsters, caught up in the fun of each day...but after their chores are done. There is a little "preachy" feel in this story about what's best for the forests, but never enough to abandon the book.

>93 fuzzi: I bet Jasper would love that too, but I don’t know if I can find it here. I don’t think we even have such things as horse carrots.

Having said which, I gave him half a dried up carrot, which he gobbled up (chewed first), so the next day I tried a few more pieces, but though he grabbed it eagerly, he wasn’t quite as excited about it; there are still some chunks lying around today. Thanks for the suggestion, but it looks like I’ll have to keep looking.

>101 humouress: horse carrots is a term for those HUGE carrots that are too large and tough for human consumption. Jasper might like carrots that aren't too dried up. :)

>102 fuzzi: He was more interested in the first one, which was more dried up but I don’t know if it was because it was more work for his teeth or he just got bored with the taste later. He destroyed one of the kids’ water pistols today and seemed more interested in the remains of the plastic than the remains of the carrot.

I suspected that was what horse carrots are, but Singapore doesn’t have its own agriculture and probably doesn’t import them in. I was at the RDA stables and thought of asking but I think people just bring normal carrots in as treats for the horses.

>103 humouress: well, shucks. I was hoping it would help.

Time to think some more...

#17 Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown by Maud Hart Lovelace

We're back with the usual group of friends: Betsy, Tacy, and Tib, and an addition, Winona Root. Winona's father gets complimentary passes to the opera house, so the friends get to go see real plays. Of course, this encourages Betsy's writing habit.

I liked how the author has grown the characters into 12 year olds, starting to see the adult world ahead, but still rooted in childhood fun. There are bobsled parties, shopping expeditions, and an encounter with a horseless carriage! I especially enjoyed Betsy's first trip to a real library, after one is opened in her town, and her reactions to having a world of literature available.

I read this as a child, and enjoyed it just as much, if not more, as an adult read.

>105 fuzzi: I never read the Betsy Tacy series as a child. I've got the first one, so I'll have to get around to it one of these days.

>106 rretzler: I only read #4 before. I picked up the rest of the series last year at a FOTL book sale. They're fine as an adult read!

Happy Valentine's Day, fuzzi

>108 rretzler: thank you!! Hope you had a good day, too.

#18 Petra by Marianna Coppo

Petra is the story of a mountain, or is it a pebble, or an egg, or ??

I liked the illustrations, but the tale never grabbed my interest, and I felt some of the vocabulary would be beyond a child's understanding.

#19 Corrie ten Boom's Prison Letters by Corrie ten Boom

In this slim volume we are given a glimpse of life within a Nazi prison, told through letters written by Corrie and her sister Betsie. Their crime? Hiding Jews from the Nazis and assisting their escape. This is a good companion to the excellent The Hiding Place, but can also be read as a standalone volume.

#20 The Black Stallion's Courage by Walter Farley

Hopeful Farm is in need of a new barn, and the only way to raise the needed funds is by racing Black Minx, and The Black! Can Alec and Henry keep The Black's daughter in top racing condition after the Kentucky Derby, and also transition The Black from his life at stud to a successful new career as an older handicap racer?

Another good, solid entry in The Black Stallion series.

The first Black Stallion Book is a classic, but I didn’t realise it ran to such a long series! Was it Anita who was reading these too?

>113 humouress: yes, she's been with us since early last year!

Harry (@harrygbutler) has also been consistently reading and posting, the threads are here:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/279891 (2018 thread)

http://www.librarything.com/topic/255769 (2017 thread)

Your thread makes me want to revisit those childhood "horse" books. I read quite a few of Corrie Ten Boom's books back in the day.

>115 thornton37814: well, come on! What are you waiting for?

I didn't discover Corrie ten Boom's works until a few years ago...

>116 fuzzi: Maybe summer. I've got several ARCs at the moment plus all the challenges to conquer. Once I get my conference presentations out of the way, I should have more time to spare.

>117 thornton37814: looking forward to it.

Did you have favorite "horse" stories?

>118 fuzzi: I remember really liking Misty of Chincoteague and the follow-up to that one. I also remember Black Beauty. I think I read a couple in the Black Stallion series, but I don't remember which ones--probably the initial one and at least one other.

>119 thornton37814: I was quite "pony-mad" as a juvenile (happens a lot!) though I never was allowed to ride. So, I read every horse book I could get my hands on, like Black Beauty, National Velvet, Sky Rocket: the Story of a Little Bay Horse, Come On Seabiscuit, The Black Stallion series, the Marguerite Henry books, and more.

What's nifty is so many of these "childhood" books are good adult reads, they don't talk down to their audience. One author I love is Joan Houston, who only wrote three books, but all are wonderful. Another good "horse & rider" storyteller is Marjorie Reynolds: I only read two of her stories as a juvenile, but have found most of the rest and enjoyed them as adult reads. And if you ever come across anything by Anne Bosworth Greene at a good price, BUY IT. Her writing is wonderful, and even her juvenile books are lovely reads.

#21 Exodus (King James Bible) a reread of the second book of the Bible. Most people should be familiar with the Moses story, leading the Jewish ex-slaves from Egypt, through the Red Sea, to the Promised Land. It's not all good, though, as the people tend to whine and complain about everything, and after agreeing to follow God's Commandments, almost immediately forge a golden calf, strip down, dance, and worship an idol. Humans haven't changed much, ha!

#22 Pirate King by Laurie R. King

I am a big fan of this author's Russell/Holmes books, but had not read this particular installment until now. As I read I discovered that the story line did not involve me, and I struggled to keep going. At about the halfway point it was as if the tale suddenly shifted into high gear, taking me for a joy ride. Not one of the better books in this series, but a decent one.

Note: if you've never read any Russell/Holmes volumes I highly recommend you start at the beginning with The Beekeeper's Apprentice, and not in the middle with Pirate King.

#23 Gypsy and Nimblefoot by Sharon Wagner
Nice followup to the author's first Gypsy book, taking place almost immediately afterwards. The people are real, the kids act normal, and the story isn't contrived. Good read for young or old, especially if you like horses!

#24 The Mansions of the Gods by Rene Goscinny and Albert Uderzo

The Romans decide to subdue the last outpost of Gauls by removing the forest and building a luxury block of flats. The contractor and his underlings have a little difficulty removing the trees due to Getafix' magic, but continue to aggravate our "barbarian" friends. Lots of word play, puns, etcetera, and the artwork is fabulous as always. Another fun adventure of Asterix, Obelix, Dogmatix and the gang.

An example of the quality of the artwork:

#25 Laura's Luck by Marilyn Sachs

Laura is a couple weeks shy of turning twelve, and is headed for camp for the first time due to a family crisis. Despite her unhappiness Laura is determined to be a "good sport" but the situation deteriorates until she winds up in the infirmary. Why can't she just enjoy her vacation like her younger sister Amy is doing?

Well done story by an author whose other works I thoroughly enjoy, and this one is not an exception. Like Beverly Cleary, Marilyn Sachs has truly captured childhood and pre-teen angst without subjecting us to all the whining found in other works of this genre.

>124 fuzzi: Ooh, yum

#26 The Complete Peanuts 1950-1952 by Charles M. Schulz

I really enjoyed reading this book containing the first three years of Peanuts comic strips. Although I'd seen many before in a "selections from" collection there were other strips I'd never read before including: Violet's mudpie baking (she adds eggs and cream), Charlie Brown's first appearance wearing his trademark zigzag shirt, bratty Lucy in her crib, and later on we are treated to the first time Charlie Brown has Lucy hold the football for him.

Schulz' work is timeless despite being almost 70 years old. My copy is from Kindle, but I liked this so much that I might get the hardcover version as well.

>121 fuzzi: I'm reading the Bible chronologically this year using the NASB Ryrie Study Bible. I'm into Deuteronomy now on the Chronological reading plan from the YouVersion Bible app. I'm marking it read there, but I'm reading the print version. I'll probably just read from my iPad when I travel to avoid the extra weight of the study Bible and catch up with the study portions when I return.

>127 fuzzi: I love Peanuts!

>128 thornton37814: I'm reading the books as printed in my KJB. Numbers is next! I've tried to read the Bible on my iPad, but there's just something about the tissue-thin pages that draws me...

The Peanuts book was a freebie as part of a hotel chain rewards program.

>127 fuzzi: Cool! We have the complete set of Fantagraphics reprints, which we got as they were released. I've got to have a go reading through them at some point. Fantagraphics is also reprinting the Sunday comics in color, putting out one volume per year, with each volume covering a half-decade.

>130 harrygbutler: you must have a super strong foundation! :D

I had such a fun time reading the old strips.

>131 fuzzi: It does creak a bit. :-)

>129 fuzzi: I read from the YouVersion app the last 3 times I did the Bible in a year, so I decided it is time to go with a real print one this year. I'll probably take the Bible and my Psalms daily devotional book along. They really won't take that much more space. The cats' luggage takes more space than my own.

>133 thornton37814: cats' luggage? Ha!

Where are you taking your cats?

#27 Gypsy and the Moonstone Stallion by Sharon Wagner

Wendy and her friends come upon evidence that a horse is living on Wild Horse Island, could it be the Moonstone Stallion of legend? And can the horse be found and rescued before development contractors start blasting sections of the island?

This is a charming story of teens who love and care for horses, and is the third in a series.

>134 fuzzi: The cats are going to Richmond, Virginia and Raleigh, North Carolina.

>136 thornton37814: if their Mommy will be with them, and if she is interested in a meetup, Raleigh is doable. :)

>137 fuzzi: I'll be hanging out with Jeff part of the time, but I'll probably have Wednesday night available since Jeff is tied up with his church's Bible study that evening. I may even have Thursday evening. During the day I'll be researching at UNC-Chapel Hill's special collections on Thursday. They are supposed to be pulling stuff for me. Jeff may or may not go. Jeff and I will be together all day Friday--at the state archives and doing stuff that evening. I'm heading back to Tennessee Saturday, although Jeff and I may do breakfast before I head out. (I'm staying at LaQuinta in Cary because my cats can stay there.)

>133 thornton37814: I discovered with my kids that the smaller they are, the more luggage you need to carry for them. Now my oldest is a teenager, I’m sure he’d be happy to get by with just a couple of sets of clothes for a whole holiday :0/

>122 fuzzi: fuzzi, I am a huge Mary Russell fan as well, and I must admit that Pirate King did not thrill me either until Sherlock finally showed up!

>127 fuzzi: We have the first several volumes of them in hardcover and I absolutely adore them - especially when they were little. I used to have a bunch of the original paperback releases from the 60s and 70s, but who knows where they have gone.

>138 thornton37814: check your PMs. You'll be close enough to me that it'll be a shame if we can't meet.

>140 rretzler: I never read reviews before I write one, so I was relieved (in a way) to see that my thoughts on Pirate King were similar to other readers' views.

Do you have a favorite Russell/Holmes? Aside from the first two, I liked O Jerusalem and Locked Rooms the best.

I had the original Snoopy collection from the mid-sixties, but it's been gone for over 30 years.

Hi! Stopping by to say that we weathered the storm fairly well, but lost Internet for a while.

I used to have lots of different paperback Peanuts collections, both larger (maybe about the size of a modern trade paperback) and mass-market paperback size, but I convinced myself to let them go once I got the Fantagraphics sets.

>142 harrygbutler: sorry you were offline, hope you got some good reading done!

I had both the original Peanuts collection, and the Snoopy as mentioned previously, but don't recall any others in those larger paperbacks.

#28 The Collected Short Stories of Louis L'Amour, Volume 7

Good solid collection of the author's frontier stories with the emphasis on westerns. None of those added to this volume appeared to have been included just to "pad" the collection. And for those who are fans of the Ward McQueen/Tumbling K stories, you'll be pleased to find at the end six tales about him and Kim Sartain.

>141 fuzzi: fuzzi, I'd have to say that those two are probably my favorites as well - particularly O Jerusalem. Also ranking right up there for me were The Beekeeper's Apprentice, probably because it was the first, and Justice Hall, because it was a continuation of the Hazr cousins. I really hope the book coming out soon is a good one - I just looked back at my rating of The Murder of Mary Russell and I gave it 5 stars - I'm not sure why, because as I'm thinking of it, I wish it had been less about Mrs Hudson and more about Mary and Sherlock.

>145 rretzler: oh, I enjoyed Justice Hall too! I liked most of the books in the series exceedingly well, with only a few exceptions, mainly The God of the Hive and Language of Bees which I felt were "forced", and missing much of the personal interplay between Russell and Holmes, which is such an important part to making the series work. Locked Rooms was riveting for me, and I've read it more than twice, along with The Beekeeper's Apprentice, A Monstrous Regiment of Women, and O Jerusalem.

I gave The Murder of Mary Russell 4 1/2 stars, so you're not alone.

#29 Counting With Barefoot Critters by Teagan White

The illustrations and rhyme of this book are cute, but not sappy. I really liked how the number of animals on the right side page was the same number of leaves, or flowers, or bugs on the left side. Very nicely done, going straight to my granddaughter!

#30 The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King
This has been and remains one of my favorite reads. I have perused Sherlock Holmes stories in the past, and was unimpressed, but Laurie R King takes the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle character and adds dimension, breathes life into a well known detective. She also adds a foil for Holmes, a young girl, orphaned, but independent, a teen with similar wit and mental ability to challenge the great detective to leave retirement in order to apprentice her.

Sounds silly, unrealistic, contrived? Doesn't matter, because it works. And for the hours it takes to finish the book, I am there with the unlikely pair, seeing their faults and strengths, learning to love them for who they are.

Highly recommended.

#31 A Monstrous Regiment of Women by Laurie R. King (reread of a favorite)

We're back with Russell and Holmes in this sequel to The Beekeeper's Apprentice. Russell is busy with studies and research at Oxford, looking forward to attaining her majority and inheritance within a few weeks. Then she meets an old friend, becomes involved with a new organization for women's rights and social support, and finds that her future is headed in a different direction than she'd been planning.

Strong sequel, with enough sleuthing and verbal interchanges between the characters to keep fans of the first book happy.

#32 The Black Stallion Mystery by Walter Farley

Alec and Henry see some yearlings for sale that look as if The Black was their sire, so they jump on a plane to Europe to investigate, and take their prize stud and main money-making racing stallion along? Really?

Much of this entry in The Black Stallion series requires the reader to suspend common sense. I have no plans to ever read it again.

>150 fuzzi: and take their prize stud and main money-making racing stallion along Yeah, that's just asking for trouble. Never mind that there could be other horses with similar features to The Black siring yearlings in Europe. Even the premise seems like a stretch.

>150 fuzzi: Good review, I had no re-reading plans either ;-)

>151 CassieBash: and this was back in the day of propeller planes...a long flying time with a stallion on board?

Farley did that flying theme before in The Black Stallion Revolts, but there was a more legitimate reason for transporting the horse in that manner.

>152 FAMeulstee: I'm pretty sure I'd either read it before, or skipped to the ending at some point, because that part was familiar.

I'm looking forward to next month's The Horse-Tamer, which I recall enjoying.

#33 O Jerusalem by Laurie R King

A worthy addition to Laurie R King's Russell/Holmes series, taking place during an interlude of The Beekeeper's Apprentice. I enjoyed how the author wove the characters within post-World War I history, and made the streets and countryside of Palestine come alive in sight, sound, and smell.

I keep seeing this series recommended all over LT - but there are 15 books already! I’m not sure if I’m ready for that.

>155 humouress: read the first one, or two, and decide from there. Once you read those, you can read in order or skip around. I have my favorites, including O Jerusalem and Locked Rooms, my less-than-favorites such as God of the Hive and The Language of Bees, and the rest range from decent read to worth-reread. I'm not sure which one I'll reread next: I devoured these books before I started doing reviews here on LT, and I want to review them all. The Moor will definitely be a reread, soon, and I can see The Game in my sights as well.

#34 Heaven to Betsy by Maud Hart Lovelace
Betsy is two years older, and heading for high school with old friends and new, exploring new interests, and feeling the effects of attention from young men. I like how religion, principles, and moral courage were interjected to the narrative with a gentle hand, making for a slightly more "grown up" story.

#35 Betsy In Spite of Herself by Maud Hart Lovelace

Betsy visits a friend in Milwaukee, and decides to change herself into a more fascinating persona, with humorous results and only partial success, as the real Betsy keeps rising to the surface.

With each addition to this series, I find myself enjoying it more. The details from this period, a century ago, are intriguing, and add depth to the storyline, such as the porter brushing off Betsy's outer garments before she departs from the parlor car. I loved reading about the immigrant population's Christmas traditions, so similar to my own family's, drawn from my Germanic heritage. This was an entertaining read, and I am eagerly looking forward to the next book.

I googled the Betsy-Tacy series since I'm following your thread. It was interesting; apparently, it's based on the author's childhood, more or less, and the reading difficulty increases through the series, so that readers can grow with the characters, from 5 years old up to getting married.

>159 humouress: I'd noticed that myself. Like the Little House books of Laura Ingalls Wilder, the reading style and level increases with the age of the main character. I've loved Laura's stories for years, but now have similar feelings for Betsy's tales.

#36 Betsy Was a Junior by Maud Hart Lovelace
We're back again with Betsy and her friends. Her older sister Julia has left for "university", and Betsy tries to be more responsible, mature, but her attempts often backfire in ways she never imagined. Still, she's writing again, which is an improvement over last year and her dismal essay contest results. Amusing, touching, even exasperating at times, this book is a keeper.

#37 Betsy and Joe by Maud Hart Lovelace

Betsy is a senior, and has two young gentlemen actively wooing her: her old chum, Tony, and the boy who caught her eye four years before, Joe. She also is looking forward to adulthood with some reflection as to how she should act and what she wants from life. As the previous entries in the series, it's still a joyful book, but with slightly more serious overtones, and the author conveys the emotions and meditations of a seventeen year old quite well.

This series just gets better and better!

He is risen! Have a blessed day!

>163 harrygbutler: the LORD is risen, indeed!

Happy Resurrection Sunday.

#38 Betsy and the Great World by Maud Hart Lovelace

Betsy is finally doing what she and her friends had talked about for years, going on a tour of Europe. From the cruise boat to the Azores, and to other exotic places such as Algiers, Venice, and Oberammergau, Betsy discovers the Great World she wants to write about, makes new friends, and learns about love.

What really makes this book stand out are the details, the descriptions of the streets and countrysides of her tour. The author based these books on her own life, which explains how we are easily drawn into Betsy's adventures.

>148 fuzzi:, >149 fuzzi:, >154 fuzzi: I've seen a number of people in the group recommend the Mary Russell series. It's on the list but I am determined to finish some series before starting another....

>166 souloftherose: it is addictive, I admit.

The first remains my favorite, but others are very good, too, especially Locked Rooms. I might reread The Moor or The Game as well.

#39 The Horse-Tamer by Walter Farley

Forget the last two books in the series, this one reads more like the Walter Farley we've come to appreciate!

The Horse-Tamer begins with Henry and Alec waiting for their plane to depart, and Henry starts talking about his brother, a horse "tamer", not trainer. The remainder of the book is the story of Bill Dailey, and how he managed to retrain vicious or severely unruly equines.

Sounds hokey, but the narrative works, has the elements that usually make Walter Farley a good read. I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

First Quarter Best and Worst Reads:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/279507#6438039

>169 fuzzi: Looks like you had a solid quarter.

>170 harrygbutler: it was pretty satisfying, even if I didn't keep up with our Alistair MacLean planned reads!

#40 Betsy's Wedding by Maud Hart Lovelace

Betsy settles down in marriage, learns to cook, continues to write, and delights us as always.

And with this, the tenth book in the series, we finish the tales of those little girls from Deep Valley, Minnesota of a century ago.

>172 fuzzi: I'll try to get started on those tales sometime. I really don't remember them from my childhood.

I only read one, didn't realize there were others. I also missed reading Anne of Green Gables before I became a mother.

#41 Sergeant York by John Perry

Before I read this biography of Alvin York, I only knew a little about him, that he was a hero of WWI and had won medals for courage.

But Sergeant York was more than that, a man from the backwoods of Tennessee, used to hunting and farming, and had strong principles. After being drafted he filed to be a conscientious objector, not wanting to kill based upon his Christian beliefs, but after prayer he decided that fighting for defense was acceptable.

The first sixty pages is pre-WWI and his return to the USA, and the rest of the book details his work establishing schools for the poor children of the hills who had no access to education. I liked how Alvin York stood by his principles, butting heads with those who wanted to use his name to fill their own pockets, or further their own political careers.

Sergeant York was not perfect, had flaws, and this bio did not hide them, but told his story in a well-balanced way, and without heavy religious themes that might keep non-Christians from reading his story.

>175 fuzzi: My knowledge of Alvin York is pretty small, too. I once knew the details of his WWI service, and that's about it. Of course, I've seen the Gary Cooper movie, but that was years ago now.

>176 harrygbutler: that's one move I've never seen, and now will probably put it on my to-watch list.

>172 fuzzi:: Ooo, don't forget Emily, Carney, and Winona! There are more books by Lovelace; they just don't feature Betsy as the min character. You don't have to leave Deep Valley just yet if you don't wish to. (Emily of Deep Valley, Winona's Pony Cart, and Carney's House Party)

>178 alsvidur: funny you should mention that today! I went to the library looking for those three books, but did not find them. I came home with The Valentine Box and The Trees Kneel at Christmas instead.

>179 fuzzi: I’m glad you can still find them. I went on a Chalet School bender many years ago but when I wanted to repeat the experience a couple of years ago, I could only find one book in the library system. As Singapore is so small, the whole National Library catalogue is accessible from any one library, so I could see they had no other Chalet School books in the country :0(

>180 humouress: it's unfortunate that libraries purge older books that so many of us would love to read or reread.

>181 fuzzi: I wish more states sponsored statewide copies of last resort to hang onto those older books. If we are among the last ten libraries owning a copy, I'm cautious to withdraw it, even if the book is no longer needed. We have a section we call "storage" in which these can go and not take up space on the main shelves.

>182 thornton37814: that's a good idea! It's frustrating when even ILL cannot locate a book for me.

#42 Ruth (Bible)
A touching story of a woman who loses everything, except her widowed daughter-in-law who refuses to abandon her.

#43 Covered Wagon Women Volume 2 edited by Kenneth L. Holmes

This is a thoroughly engaging book composed of journals kept by women as they crossed the prairies in 1850, destination California, Oregon, or Salt Lake City. The daily struggles to feed their families and stock, keep their children safe, and assist in all aspects of survival are fascinating to read, and contemplate. I especially enjoyed comparing the descriptions of the same landmarks, like Chimney Rock, by different writers. A map of the routes taken would have been great.

#44 The Valentine Box by Maud Hart Lovelace

While some aspects of this tale are dated, the core story of a shy girl wanting to be friends is timeless, and brought a smile to my face.

>182 thornton37814: The academic libraries in Indiana all have agreements that we hold onto "scarcely held" print books--books with 5 (or maybe 3, I forget which we decided on) or less holdings in the state--to ensure that there will be copies available for inter-library loan. I have a huge binder full of the titles (some of which are missing, probably from years ago) which Ancilla needs to hold onto.

I believe that we decided that, in case of flood, fire, or other potential collection-damaging disasters, it would be good to keep more than just the last copy in the state. Ball State had a water pipe burst a year or so ago--fortunately much of the collection was spared--but it could have been a huge loss.

>182 thornton37814: >187 CassieBash: *sigh* I only wish...

But Singapore is a consumer society; when we bought our house here, my husband said ‘It’s 40 years, it’s old’ whereas I, from the UK, was thinking it was quite young.

>188 humouress: the house I was raised in was built in 1811, that was kind of old.

My current house is 48 years young.

#45 The Trees Kneel at Christmas by Maud Hart Lovelace

Charming story of a Syrian family living in post WWII Brooklyn, New York. The title refers to a tale the grandmother tells six-year old Afify and her brother Hanna, about how on Christmas Eve the trees in Syria kneel for the newborn Jesus, and how you can see it if you only have faith enough. Afify decides to see for herself, and plans to visit the park at midnight while everyone is at church.

This author is a winner. I fell in love with her Betsy-Tacy books, but have found other of her works are just as wonderful to read. The children are typical children, and in this particular tale we see a slice of first and second generation immigrants mingling their old world traditions with the new ones of their adopted land. Wonderful read.

>187 CassieBash: I love such examples of foresight in both real life and fiction!

>190 fuzzi: That one looks charming! I will put it on my list, and try to remember to look for it near Christmas time.

>189 fuzzi: Exactly!

>190 fuzzi: I'm listening to an Inspector Alan Banks book by Peter Robinson, but next-up is Betsy-Tacy. It was available for download at the same time. Hopefully I'll get to it by the weekend.

>194 thornton37814: super!

This summer we're planning a trip up north, and since we'll be in Minnesota, about an hour from Mankato, I'm hoping to stop by and see "Deep Valley" for myself! Maud Hart Lovelace based her books on her own childhood living there.

#46 Greenville: Images of America by Roger Kammerer

This is a (mainly) picture history of a town close to where I live. I enjoyed seeing the old photos, and reading the captions, but mourned to see how many of the lovely structures of the past had either burned down or been razed. The section on tobacco farming and auctions was fascinating. Recommended if you're interested in history, or seeing historic images of a small town in North Carolina.

Those Arcadia books are a nice look at the past. We have a few, and I'm always tempted by others when I see them at book sales or bookstores.

>197 harrygbutler: it wasn't a deep read, but still enjoyable.

>196 fuzzi: I love the Images of America series. Of course, they are more meaningful when one has a connection to the place.

>199 thornton37814: that was the first one I recall seeing.

#47 Teen-Age Dog Stories edited by David Thomas

I have found that short story collections can be a mixed bag of good, mediocre, and awful tales, but Teen-Age Dog Stories was a pleasant exception to my usual experience with the genre. A couple of the stories included were old favorites from familiar authors, but the others were good enough to make me want to look up other works by their authors. Don't let the title dissuade you from trying this book: the stories within are not juvenile, include more adult themes, though never in a graphic manner.

>201 fuzzi: Ooh, I'll keep an eye out for that one! I have one other in the series, Teen-Age Science Fiction Stories, but I don't think I've ever read it.

>202 harrygbutler: I'd send you my copy, but it might not survive mailing, it's in that bad shape, though the pages aren't quite falling out.

The only story I didn't care for, and decided to not finish was written by Booth Tarkington. I've not appreciated his other works, so no surprise.

>203 fuzzi: I have some books around like that. :-)

I made a start in Tarkington's The Gentleman from Indiana a couple years ago but lost interest partway through. I've not tried his Penrod books, nor Seventeen, though I have it around.

>204 harrygbutler: Penrod was my first attempt to read Tarkington. After not finishing it and a short story by that author, I don't think I'll try him again.

Penrod is not nearly as good as Penrod Jashber, for some reason. I think I've read Penrod and Sam, but I don't remember it. It's been a looong time ago.

>204 harrygbutler: >205 fuzzi: >206 2wonderY: Penrod, now there's a name I've not heard in a long time! I was read to from those as a child, it seems.

After discussing the origins of the dog named Kazan (movie or book?) with @harrygbutler, I felt an urge to reread the story by James Oliver Curwood, and got about halfway through last night before I was too sleepy to continue. I recall the first time I read it, back about 1970. The story has nuances I missed as a child, when my main interest was reading about the wolves. It's definitely a good adult read.

#48 Kazan: the Wolf Dog by James Oliver Curwood (aka Kazan, Father of Baree)

Kazan is one of those books from the early 20th century that works well as a youth or adult read: there are elements of cruelty, violence, and brief descriptions of a small pox plague and its effects on the inhabitants of northern Canada, but nothing overly graphic. The author, better known for his work The Grizzly King which was made into a popular movie The Bear, displays his literary ability as well as his first-hand knowledge of the subject matter, having lived in the time and places he writes about. Curwood composes better than Jack London, and with less of the societal commentary that drags the telling of the latter author's works such as White Fang. And Curwood was an early advocate for conservation and limiting the unfettered slaughter of animals of his time, and it shows in his writings without being preachy.

This was one of my favorite books of my childhood, and it remains a favorite read some 45 years later.

>209 fuzzi: I was thinking it sounds a lot like The Call of the Wild, but you say he's a better writer than London.

>209 fuzzi: Good to know Kazan holds up well. I've not reread The Call of the Wild for a long time, but I still have the copy I received as a child, so I'll get around to it again sometime.

>210 thornton37814: I think Curwood is better at telling a tale, and without dragging in all the "the clay of his being had been molded" sort of extraneous stuff.

>211 harrygbutler: I reread The Call of the Wild not that long ago, maybe five years? I still appreciated it.

>209 fuzzi: The Curwood books were also youth favourites of mine. I no longer have them around, but do remember I loved them :-)

>213 FAMeulstee: it's nice to see someone else who loved/loves these books.

I've not yet read The Grizzly King, might try that sometime.

#49 Under the Sweetwater Rim by Louis L'Amour (reread)

After reading this book again, I have to say that Under the Sweetwater Rim is a little better than the standard "good" Louis L'Amour. All the characters are believable, the plot is interesting, (involving Army payroll), and I found myself rooting for the hero. There are also a couple strong women in the mix, which is not unusual for this author, but always welcome. In some L'Amour novels there's a lot of angst by the protagonist about not being good enough for the love interest, but it's nicely muted here. Good solid read.

>215 fuzzi: I recall enjoying that one. Maybe I should pull it off the shelf and have another go.

Oh, I remember reading Curwood's "Baree: The Story of a Wolf Dog" as a child! I totally forgot about that! I'll have to find a copy for a re-read. I enjoyed it back then, and it sounds like they hold up well.

Another book bullet for Under the Sweetwater Rim. I've been meaning to pick up a L'Amour, but didn't quite know where to start.

Edit: Haha! I have a copy of Baree on my own shelves! It looks like it is a sequel of sorts to Kazan. It was originally called "Baree, Son of Kazan."

>217 alsvidur: that's the book. I recall it was called Kazan the Wolf Dog, which was changed to Kazan, Father of Baree in my reprint edition, and Baree, Son of Kazan's title was changed as well.

Most L'Amour books are worth a read. Conagher remains one of my favorites, but so are several others including The Man Called Noon.

#50 Lord of Thunder by Andre Norton

I'm glad that Andre Norton did a sequel to The Beast Master, mainly because I liked the characters, but partly because there were a couple things in the plot that I felt needed to be addressed. Good news is that one item I was wondering about does have a follow-up in this volume, but unfortunately the author again left some unfinished story lines, they're just hanging there. Still, if you like this author, and especially if you liked the first book, I'd say this was worth reading. I'll probably keep it around on my shelves, as some of these books are getting hard to find.

#51 Projects for the Birder's Garden: Over 100 Easy Things That You can Make to Turn Your Yard and Garden into a Bird-Friendly Haven by Fern Marshall Bradley

This would be a good reference book for beginners who are interested in starting a bird garden, as it has plenty of feeder projects, recipes for bird feeding, and other bird-related information included. For those of us who have been watching birds and creating habitats for years, it's pretty elementary stuff, but still worth a look.

>220 fuzzi: That one looks more promising for someone like me; however, I would probably just ask a friend's advice.

>221 thornton37814: For me it was a three star since it did not have much of interest to me. However, I haven't decided if I'm going to rehome it, as it does have some information I might use in the future.

#52 Christmas Horse by Glenn Balch

Ben and his family live on a ranch in Idaho, where they breed and raise horses and cattle. It's the only life he has known, but now that he's 14 he has to go to school in Boise, several hours' drive from home.

When he goes home in December, his Christmas present is a 'green broke' horse he had his eye on, to train as his own cow horse. But in a week he has to go back to Boise? How can he train his horse, "Inky", while at school?

Ben does some growing up in this book as he works hard to balance school and the challenge of finding time and money to take care of his horse.

This book is suitable for either adults or juveniles. I read it when I was about 12, but it was just as good as a reread, some 45 years later.

>223 fuzzi: I saw on your rehoming thread that you had at last found the edition of this book you were seeking. Congrats!

Book bullets shooting all over the place in this thread!

You got a bulls-eye on me with The Trees Kneel at Christmas. I've put it on my For-Later shelf at the library to read during the holidays.

The Beekeeper's Apprentice has been on my wishlist for 9 years! Your review makes me think it's time to move that one to the top of the stack.

And Sergeant York, the biography! Why have I not read that yet? I did read Sergeant York and His People by Sam Cowan, but that one was only a 3-star read for me. The Sergeant York movie was one of the most requested on family movie night at our house when the children were young. My library doesn't have the biography, so I'll need to order it through ILL. On one of our ladies' trips, six of the ladies in our family had the pleasure of Sergeant York's grandson as our tour guide at his grandfather's house, which is now a museum. We also enjoyed the York gristmill, and walked through the cemetery where he is buried, and from which we were able to see the outcropping on the overlooking hills where he prayed.



As we are all readers, we also visited the setting of The Widow of the South, which we had all read. The Carnton House and Cemetery were very touching.

Our last book-based stop was the home of the author of Spencer's Mountain (Earl Hamner), on which The Walton's tv series was based. We toured the Walton's museum, and enjoyed the Hamner home place.

>224 harrygbutler: thank you. This one had been a saved search on Ebay for a couple years, at least. I've been looking for a copy for longer than that. The Apollo edition still has the Pers Crowell ink illustrations (appropriate, the horse is named Inky).

EDIT: added edition image

>225 countrylife: Sgt York's museum? Oh what a great visit, and the Hamner's homestead too! I reread The Homecoming recently, still such a lovely story, and Spencer's Mountain made a big impression on me when I first read it, sometime in my early teen years.

I cannot understand how some people aren't delighted by The Beekeeper's Apprentice as much as I am. Hope you love it as much as I do.

#53 The Dog Who Bit a Policeman by Stuart Kaminsky

Though slower starting than other books in the series, this did finally pick up and I enjoyed the rest of the story. The investigation of dog-fighting included descriptions of the fights, which bothered me even though they were not particularly graphic. Worth reading, but it's best if you've read previous entries in the series.

#54 Year of the Unicorn by Andre Norton

An intriguing telling of a familiar plot: maidens are given to mercenaries as payment for services rendered in battle, but in this version the mercenaries aren't quite human, and only one of the young girls has the ability to see beyond the illusions. Enjoyable but not predictable read.

#55 Anne's Colors by Kelly Hill - (Early Reviewer)

A delightful little book full of colors and patterns, and a wonderful introduction to Anne of Green Gables.

#56 Brown Sunshine of Sawdust Valley by Marguerite Henry

Cute pony story told partly through diary entries, partly in third person.

#57 Wolf in the Snow by Matthew Cordell

I love the wordless story and the illustrations of this book, about a little girl and a wolf pup who both get lost in a snow storm.

>231 fuzzi: I'm glad you liked it!

#58 John Muir's Wild America by Tom Melham

This is not strictly a biography, as it lets the reader know much more than this famous naturalist's history. The author not only writes about Muir's life and exploits, but follows in his footsteps, climbing the same peaks, walking the same trails, even kayaking down some of the rivers that Muir wrote of. It makes this a more personal and highly enjoyable read. And the many photographs just enhance the experience. Highly recommended.

>233 fuzzi: That would be a good way to find out about somebody, spend some time exploring the same places that they did.

#59 St. Peter's Fair by Ellis Peters

Another good mystery about Brother Cadfael, with lots of history sprinkled about the story to give it a ring of authenticity. I thought I knew the murderer, then I wasn't sure, then I found out...love mysteries that don't make it too easy to guess. A keeper.

>234 Familyhistorian: agreed. I wouldn't have gone as far as the author did, in his quest to follow Muir. Some of the exploration exploits had me a tad worried, like scaling glaciers and crossing over deep crevices by the way of a thin ice bridge...nope! I am not that brave or foolhardy!

>235 fuzzi: I started earlier this year re-reading the Cadfael books. I intend to do 4 this year, but I have not gotten to my 2nd quarter read yet. I started at the beginning because I wasn't sure which I'd read and which I had not. The first was definitely a re-read. Looking forward to the second one, hopefully next month, but it may get bumped into July with the other things I plan to read and with my Genealogy Group Read of the chunkster Albion's Seed. I need to read 200 pages in it by this weekend, another 200 two weeks later, and another 200 by the end of the month. That leaves about 300 pages for July.

>237 thornton37814: whew!

I've only read about 4 or 5 of the Cadfael's. Last year I made a point of finding them all so I could read them in order. I was told, specifically, not to read the last one until I'd read all the others.

Yeah, I hate spoilers.

#60 The Black Stallion and Flame by Walter Farley

Fairly standard fare about Alec and The Black, caught in a situation similar to the one that brought them together. I do enjoy how the author writes about their relationship, the rest of the story is okay.

Long time, no chat. Sorry about that. It iss good to see your comments on the Laurie R King books. I'd been reading the Holmes/Russell series but put it down and forgot about it so this has reminded me to pick back up now my life is a bit more stable again.

Hope you are well

>240 eclecticdodo: thanks for the kind words. Most of the Russell/Holmes books are good to excellent: a couple I'd 3 star, but they're still better than so many others out there.

#61 Double Star by Robert Heinlein

An actor is hired to play the part of a missing dignitary, with some predictable and unexpected results.

This is one of the better vintage Heinlein, with plenty of twists and political machinations.

#62 Captain Kidd's Cat by Robert Lawson

In this book the author tells the tale of pirate Captain Kidd through the eyes of his ship's cat, McDermott. Amusing, but with enough real-life events to move this from a child to youth reading category. The illustrations are marvelous, detailed, humorous. Good read, I enjoyed the cat's commentary which is not too "cutsey" as an adult read.

Addendum to post above: yes, this is the same author and illustrator of Rabbit Hill, Ben and Me, and Paul Revere and I.

#63 Merchanter's Luck by CJ Cherryh (reread)

Original review from 2011:

I recently read this for the first time, and enjoyed it as I do most of CJ's books. I liked it a lot better than Tripoint.

2018: Upon rereading, I found I had greater appreciation for the nuances of each character's personality in this story. The tragedy in Sander's past also touched me more deeply than I recall from my first read 7 years ago. Very good book.

>245 fuzzi: I have over the decades grown very attached to C.J. Cherryh's Alliance/Union books with their solved-only-for-now resolutions. Rimrunners is a favorite.

So many books! Fortunately for my TBR pile, I doubt I could find most of them :0)

>246 quondame: I love Rimrunners, have reread it several times.

Nice to see someone else who loves CJ Cherryh. My favorites are the Chanur books, though the Morgaine series is also very good.

Every read Cuckoo's Egg or The Paladin? Both are excellent stand-alone books.

>247 humouress: that stinks. I know I can't find CJ Cherryh's books in used book stores, and have bought most of mine through abebooks.com or ebay.

#64 Hill's End by Ivan Southall

While seven schoolchildren are on a hike in the nearby hills, a freak and severe storm hits, decimating the area. With no adult to advise or guide them they try to make their way home, unaware of what the storm has done to their town as well.

Okay, this one I could NOT put down, stayed up waaaay past my bedtime. A gripping story for youth and adults.

>249 fuzzi: That one sounds like an exciting read.

>250 harrygbutler: indeed, it was. I've read another book by the same author (Ash Road) and it was very good as well.

>248 fuzzi: I've read both. Paladin is another favorite - I remember arguing it's quality over Daughter of the Empire with my dad when it came out. The first Foreigner book is my favorite in that is the peak of many of the themes Cherryh worked with for so long, but aside from the Rusalka series, which I must approach with caution, I've read many of her books repeatedly. Hunter of Worlds was my favorite until Foreigner came out. My dad's favorites were also the Chanur books.

>249 fuzzi: You liked it better than I did last year (only 1/2 a star less).
I have his To the wild sky waiting on the shelves, sadly Ash road is not translated.

>252 quondame: The Paladin surprised me, as did Cuckoo's Egg, not at all what I'd expected. I loved the first Foreigner book, read two more, and then life got busy and I never got back...whew.

I love how Cherryh develops her characters, and doesn't bog down the narrative with endless explanations and descriptions. When I read other SciFi books, sometimes I just want to yell: "Get ON with it!"

I've not read Rusalka, yet, and finally read The Dreamstone last year. I do prefer Cherryh's SciFi to her fantasy, though I recently burned through the Fortress series, also last year I think.

I'm drawing a blank on Hunter of Worlds, it's possible I've missed that one. I've been trying to catch up on books of hers I've somehow not read yet. For years my reading was limited by what books were available at the library.

I absolutely loved The Faded Sun series, but don't read the reviews here if you've not read it yet, too many spoilers.

Have you read the Rider at the Gate books? They're spooky, but good.

There are very, very few of CJ Cherryh's works that I just "like", Hestia was a recent okay read. I liked Hammerfall but didn't get around to read the sequel. I plan to, but so many other books are calling my name...

>253 FAMeulstee: Sorry to hear Ash Road is not translated: I read an excerpt from it in one of our Reading/English books in grammar school, and I wanted to read the rest of the story...but could not recall the title of the book, until LT!

I'll have to find more of that author's works.

>254 fuzzi: I've read pretty much everything by C.J. Cherryh and own most of it, though not the most recent Foreigners. Cherryh herself says she was in a very bad place when she wrote the Rusalka trilogy and has since rewritten those books or at least revised them. If there is anything by her I haven't read at least twice I'd be surprised. Her language does a sort of rewire on my brain that can pull me right out of an obsessive loop. Gene Wolfe's writing can do the same, but so much more powerfully that it often puts me into another sort of loop.

#65 My Recipes Are For The Birds by Irene Cosgrove

Nice little spiral-bound guide to birds and feeders, including recipes. The recipes use some ingredients that either are no longer available (Grape Nuts, All Bran cereals) or not recommended (bread crumbs, honey). I did get some ideas for ingredients to try when I make my suet cakes next autumn.

#66 The Will To Win: the True Story of Tommy Smith and Jay Trump by Jane McIlvaine McClary

Here's another book to add to my "Why didn't I read this before???!" category.

Whether or not you are a fan of horse sports you might enjoy this biography of the rider Tommy Smith, and his mount Jay Trump, who together won the Grand National steeplechase in 1965. The author gives us the high society beginnings of Tommy contrasting with the hard-luck short track racing origin of Jay Trump. It's well-written, interesting, and intriguing enough to keep the reader up past bedtime. I'm keeping this one.

>256 quondame: good for you. :) There are still a few of her books I've not read, mainly the Foreigner series, but I do plan to get to all of them eventually.

I think what I love about CJ Cherryh's stories is the development of thinking characters, flawed, but doing their best in a highly-political landscape. I even like the antagonists in many of her works, they are that multifaceted.

>259 fuzzi: Yes, Cherryh's characters and the intensity of their inner lives are a draw. There are so very authors that endow characters with much in the way of interests and characteristics that don't serve the narrowest of plot purposes that I treasure those who do.

#67 If a Horse Had Words by Kelly Cooper & Lucy Eldridge

Nice illustrations. The text is rather advanced for the intended audience.

>249 fuzzi: Book bullet on that one. It appears to be difficult to find except as a reprint so I'll probably end up placing an interlibrary loan when we get back to campus in August.

>257 fuzzi: You can't find Grape Nuts??? What, does North Carolina have something against fiber cereals? What do you mix with your yogurt for that pleasant crunch? Our Kroger carries it, and there's always Amazon. (Note--that page may or may not be the best purchase option; there were several listings for Grape Nuts on Amazon.) When you try out some, let us know how the birds liked it.

>261 fuzzi: We used to have a bay Arab; the horse on the cover reminds me of him.

I have not seen Grape Nuts in years, though they might be in some more high-end store like Harris Teeter. I used to love them!

>264 fuzzi: Rest assured; they're still around. My sisters and I sometimes get a box to put in our yogurt cups; they're really good that way!

#68 Island of the Mad by Laurie R. King

Adequate entry into the Russell/Holmes series, light on sleuthing, reads more like a travelogue. Amusing.

#69 The Lonely Sea by Alistair MacLean

A very good collection of this author's shorter works, most of which are page-turners, aka "don't-turn-off-the-light-yet-I-have-to-find-out-what-happens" type of reads.

And in forty pages MacLean enthralls the reader with the hunt for the Bismarck, and does it so much better than CS Forester could in a full length novel.

I'm keeping this one!

>267 fuzzi: Oh, that one does sound good! It's not one I've come across yet.

>267 fuzzi: I thought I had read all of Alistair Maclean’s books at one time or another, but have never heard of this one. I shall look out for it now.

I've been on vacation, and catching-up after vacation, so my reading is waaay down this month:

Three for July so far:


#70 What In The World Is Wrong With Gisbert? by Jochen Weeber - (ER)
Interesting little book about how a giraffe feels when teased. While it expresses the emotions of being "picked on" fairly well, the "everything is fine now that my friends like me again" ending was a little unrealistic. I thought it would have been better with more of a "I like me for me" moral. Not bad, but not a book I'd give to my granddaughter.


#71 Rebel With a Cause by Franklin Graham - (ROOT)
This book has been sitting around my shelves for sixteen years, recommended to me shortly after I became a Christian...and yet I've avoided reading it for no particular reason I can think of.

That being said, it's a pretty good read, not glossing over nor glorifying Franklin's wild, wild days before he decided to give up rebellion to start following Jesus. The author shows his own flawed nature, while struggling as the son of a famous preacher. I never felt the book was preachy, but more of a journal of this young man's journey into maturity.


#72 The Children of Noisy Village by Astrid Lindgren
Delightful read about a young girl, her family, and two other families that live in close proximity to each other in the Swedish countryside. I love how the children are real, and the adults aren't treated as buffoons. The author adds some Swedish traditions to the mix that make this book even more special. Now I have to find the other books in the series...

I hope you had a good vacation. Sounds like it was busy if your reading was down.

>271 Familyhistorian: thank you, it was lovely. We were away for 11 days, and I drove 3400 miles, so there wasn't time nor energy at the end of each day to devote to reading...

#73 Emily Climbs by LM Montgomery

This volume continues the story of Emily of New Moon. Like many of this author's protagonists Emily is an orphan, though taken to raise by somewhat sympathetic distant relatives. And like Anne of Green Gables, Emily loves to write, though no one seems to understand her creative drive. However, unlike Anne, this installment of the series is mainly told through journal entries.

It's better than other LM Montgomery's works I've read, though not quite as rich and full as her previous Anne series. Overall, I did enjoy reading about Emily and her family, her experiences at a new school, and plan to read the third book in the trilogy. Recommended.

#74 The Black Stallion's Ghost by Walter Farley

Another weird/strange entry into an otherwise enjoyable series: Alec and the Black encounter a haute ecole horse trainer and his grey mare deep in the Everglades, resulting in a supernatural experience. No, just no.

#75 Mollie: The Journal of Mollie Dorsey Sanford

I've read several other diary/journal volumes from the mid 1800s USA, but found this one to be particularly enjoyable. The author started writing down her thoughts and experiences at age 14 when her family moved from Indiana to Nebraska, and continued it into her adulthood, marriage, and beyond. It's not only well-written, literate, but also it sheds more light upon the mores of the time period. The author also includes a few of her own attempts at poetry, which I thought were pretty good. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who has a passing interest in history.

>275 fuzzi: Congratulations on reaching 75, fuzzi!

Congratulations fuzzi!

Hurrah for reaching #75! It sounds like you found a good read for it, too.

>270 fuzzi: The Children of Noisy Village sounds like one I need to read. Our library only has Christmas in Noisy Village though.

>275 fuzzi: Congrats, you made it and with months to spare! (Now time to try for the 100 mark, eh?) :)

Thanks to all the well-wishers!

Last night I started on #76, a classic that I keep meaning to read, Robinson Crusoe. So far it is interesting.

Congrats!

>282 drneutron: thanks!