VivienneR will Shine on Some Crazy Diamonds in 2018 : Part 3

Light show over Vancouver

Welcome to part 3 of my thread!

In recognition of Pink Floyd, one of my favourite bands, I've chosen twelve of their songs for twelve categories.

I can also be found over at Club Read

Shine On You Crazy Diamond (from Wish You Were Here)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54W8kktFE_o

Careful With That Axe, Eugene (from: Ummagumma)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8OE4gedQuc

Crime: This speaks for itself - mystery novels will go here.

The Blood Card by Elly Griffiths

The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths

Last Rights by Barbara Nadel

The Black Tower by P.D. James

Ashes to Ashes by Barbara Nadel

The Hireling's Tale by Jo Bannister

Wicked Autumn by G.M. Malliet

The House at Sea's End by Elly Griffiths

Grantchester Meadows (from: Ummagumma)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DAdWcsM7Po

Fiction not included in other categories.

Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan

The Child in Time by Ian McEwan

Pompeii by Robert Harris

Cat out of Hell by Lynn Truss

The Coral Thief by Rebecca Stott

Enduring Love by Ian McEwan

Fearless (from: Meddle)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeyHPAdxuy0

Canadian: This reminds me of my "fearless" son who climbs in the Canadian Rockies.

The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny

How the light gets in by Louise Penny

Down to the Dirt by Joel Hynes

The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny

Family Matters by Rohinton Mistry

A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny

Glass Houses by Louise Penny

Never Let You Go by Chevy Stevens

The Last Plantagenets by Thomas B. Costain

Sysyphus (from: Ummagumma)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTgQIEqd5Ac

Classics: I'm hoping to read all 9 volumes of The Forsyste Chronicles by John Galsworthy and some of Trollope's Barsetshire series.

The Man of Property by John Galsworthy

Framley Parsonage by Anthony Trollope

In Chancery, and Indian Summer of a Forsyte (Interlude) by John Galsworthy

To Let, and Awakening (interlude) by John Galsworthy

The White Monkey, and A Silent Wooing (interlude) by John Galsworthy

The Silver Spoon, & Passers By by John Galsworthy

Swan Song by John Galsworthy

Maid in Waiting by John Galsworthy

Flowering Wilderness by John Galsworthy

One More River by John Galsworthy

The Dogs of War (from: A Momentary Lapse of Reason
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvQ8yYmUOLA

War: Any books with the topic or setting of war.

The Mapping of Love and Death by Jacqueline Winspear

See Emily Play (from: The Piper at the Gates of Dawn)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPf56QaRXhg

YA and Children

Backyard Fairies byPhoebe Wahl

I am a taxi by Deborah Ellis

Quid Pro Quo by Vicki Grant

Too much, not enough by Gina Perry

Is There Anybody Out There? (from: The Wall)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIxYe3G3Iz4

Non-fiction, Biography and Orphans

The Doctor's Dilemma by George Bernard Shaw

A Collection of Essays by George Orwell

Churchill and Orwell: The Fight for Freedom by Thomas E. Ricks

Painting as a Pastime by Winston S. Churchill

1968: Today's authors explore a year of rebellion, revolution and change by Marc Aronson

Trudeau's Shadow: the life and legacy of Pierre Elliott Trudeau

Inferior: How Science got Women Wrong - and the new research that's rewriting the story by Angela Saini

The Garden in Every Sense and Season by Tovah Martin

Goodbye things: the new Japanese minimalism by Fumio Sasaki

Any Colour You Like (from: Dark Side of the Moon)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bK7HJvmgFnM

ColourCAT

January - Black:

The Blackhouse by Peter May

The Camel Club by David Baldacci

February - Brown

Sure and certain death by Barbara Nadel

Curtains for Roy by Aaron Bushkowsky

March - Green

The Girl in the Green Raincoat by Laura Lippman

An Irish Country Cookbook by Patrick Taylor

Death of a Ghost by M.C. Beaton

April - Yellow

The Grave's a Fine and Private Place

Gwendy's Button Box by Stephen King

The Final Solution by Michael Chabon

May - Blue

Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland

Blacklight Blue by Peter May

Those Girls by Chevy Stevens

June - Purple

Pushing Up Daisies by M.C. Beaton

Mask of Night by Philip Gooden

Death on the Downs by Simon Brett

July - Pink

The vanishing act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell

August - Grey

Cometh the Hour by Jeffrey Archer

Set in Darkness by Ian Rankin

September - Metallic

The Golden Child by Penelope Fitzgerald

Tin Man by Sarah Winman

October - Orange

The little stranger by Sarah Waters

Malcolm Orange Disappears by Jan Carson

November - Red
December - White

Obscured By Clouds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16V-wNwlTw0&list=PLsBqRPeVly7NvxT-02wQeeMB6x...

MysteryCAT

January - Nordic Mysteries:

The Laughing Policeman by Maj Sjöwall

February - Female Cop/Sleuth/Detective:

The Circle by Peter Lovesey

Flying Too High by Kerry Greenwood

March - Global Mysteries:

Season of Snows and Sins by Patricia Moyes

Noble Lies by Charles Benoit

Conclave by Robert Harris

April - Classic and Golden Age Mysteries

Busman's Honeymoon by Dorothy L. Sayers

Some Buried Caesar by Rex Stout

The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler

May - Mysteries involving Transit

Blood on the Line by Edward Marston

Murder on the Ballarat Train by Kerry Greenwood

June - True Crime

Catch Me If You Can by Frank W. Abagnale

Rattenbury: the life and tragic end of BC's greatest architect by Stan Sauerwein

July - Police Procedurals

Prime Suspect by Lynda La Plante

Dead Souls by Ian Rankin

August - Historical Mysteries

Dying in the Wool by Frances Brody

The Abbey Court Murder by Annie Haynes

September - Noir and Hard-Boiled Mysteries

The Wycherly Woman by Ross Macdonald

The Dramatist by Ken Bruen

October - Espionage

Call for the dead by John le Carré

November - Cozy Mysteries
December - Futuristic/Fantastical Mysteries

Another Brick in the Wall (from: The Wall)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrxX9TBj2zY

RandomCAT

January - Ack! I've been hit

The Grass is Singing by Doris Lessing

February - Laissez les bons temps rouler

The Singing Sands by Josephine Tey

The Cracked Spine by Paige Shelton

March - Ripped from the headlines

The Curse of the Narrows: the Halifax Explosion 1917 by Laura M. MacDonald

When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir by Patrisse Khan-Cullors

Frozen in Time: The Fate of the Franklin Expedition by Owen Beattie

April - April Loves Books

The Long Way Home by Louise Penny

The Cat Who Smelled a Rat by Lilian Jackson Braun

A Small Case for Inspector Ghote? by H.R.F. Keating

May - Spring is all Around

Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle

June - Unusual Narrators

What's Bred in the Bone by Robertson Davies (angels)

Nutshell by Ian McEwan (unborn child)

July - Getting to Know You

The Lost Ones by Sheena Kamal

The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah

August - Let's Go to the Mountains

Into the Silence: the Great War, Mallory and the Conquest of Everest by Wade Davis

September - Happy Birthday

Lost in Yonkers by Neil Simon

October - Playing Cards

The Tooth Tattoo by Peter Lovesey

November -
December -

Several species of small furry animals gathered together in a cave and grooving with a pict (from: Ummagumma)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICbbPSXUAmY

AlphaKIT

Jan - V & M:

Splinter the silence by Val McDermid

The Corsican Caper by Peter Mayle

Feb - P & J

Portrait of a lady by Henry James

Shroud for a Nightingale by P.D. James

Mar - F & I

Past Imperfect by Julian Fellows

The Berlin Stories by Christopher Isherwood

Apr - Y & U
Miss Mole by E.H. Young
An Unkindness of Ravens by Ruth Rendell

May - Q & K
Murder on the Yellow Brick Road by Stuart Kaminsky
A Fistful of Collars by Spencer Quinn

Jun - G & R
The Girl in the Garden by Kamala Nair
After the Fall: an illustrated novel by Victoria Roberts
Murder Being Once Done by Ruth Rendell
The Janus Stone by Elly Griffiths

Jul - S & A
The Summer before the war by Helen Simonson
The Scent of the Night by Andrea Camilleri

Aug - O & D
The Greatcoat by Helen Dunmore
The Hundred and One Dalmations by Dodie Smith
The One Plus One by Jojo Moyes
Ostrich Boys by Keith Gray

Sep - B & E
Shades of Blue by Bill Moody
Star Trap by Simon Brett
If You Knew Her by Emily Elgar

Oct - N & L
Silent Victims by Lynda LaPlante
Ratlines by Stuart Neville
Force of Nature by Jane Harper

Nov - T & H

Dec - C & W

Yearlong - X & Z
Agent Zigzag: The true wartime story of Eddie Chapman: lover, betrayer, hero, spy by Ben Macintyre
Aunt Bessie Assumes: An Isle of Man Cozy Mystery by Diana Xarissa

Dogs (from: Animals)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiaF4kuxJco

BingoDog

1. Title contains name of a famous person: Mr Mac and Me by Esther Freud
2. Published more than 100 years ago: Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton
3. Originally in a different language: Excursion to Tindari by Andrea Camilleri
4. New-to-you author: The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor
5. Relative name in the title: Dead man's ransom: the 9th chronicle of Brother Cadfael by Ellis Peters
6. Money in the title: Even money by Dick Francis
7. Book published in 2018: Rowan and Eris by Campbell Jefferys
8. X somewhere in the title: Exit West by Mohsin Hamid
9. Fat book >500 pages: Broken Harbour by Tana French
10. Book set during a holiday: The Clock Strikes Twelve by Patricia Wentworth
11. LGBT central character: Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin
12. Book on the 1001 list: The Accidental by Ali Smith
13. Read a CAT - ScaredyCAT: Close to Home: Moth Smoke by Mohsin Hamid
14. Number in the title: Angel with two faces by Nicola Upson
15. Humorous book: Rumpole and the Penge Bungalow Murders by John Mortimer
16. Unread 2017 purchase: The Color of Our Sky by Amita Trasi
17. Something seen in the sky in title: The Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
18. Related to the Pacific Ocean: Congregation of the Dead by Graeme Kent
19. Fits 2 KITs/CATs: Jar City by Arnaldur Indridason (January ColourCAT & MysteryCAT)
20. Beautiful cover: The Georgia Straight: a 50th Anniversary Celebration by Doug Sarti, Bob Geldof (introduction)
21. Autobiography or memoir: Mozart's Starling by Lyanda Lynn Haupt
22. Poetry or plays: The Garden by Vita Sackville-West
23. A long-time TBR: A Mind to Murder by P.D. James
24. Story involves travel: Full Circle by Michael Palin
25. Rank in the title: The Sea Captain's Wife by Beth Powning

Welcome - the thread is now open!

Happy new thread! Love that cat in the wall pic. >:-)

Happy new thread, Vivienne! And Happy Canada Day! How is the weather where you are? At 3 p.m., Ottawa had an air temperature of 35 and a humidex of 47. I went out for groceries around 8:30 or 9 and haven't been outside since I came home. Yuck.

>15 Helenliz: Thank you Helen! Appropriate eh?

>16 rabbitprincess: I was thinking about you when I saw the headlines this morning. Happy Canada Day! It is freezing here - well, relatively speaking! I considered turning on the furnace. With a mix of sun and cloud it's 18° and I'm wearing fleece. Yuck here too!

Happy new thread and Happy Canada Day, Vivienne!

Happy new thread, Vivienne!
Wow, your weather sounds both wonderful and strange- it's July! Wish we had some freezing weather.

>18 lkernagh: Thank you. I hope your Canada Day was a good one too. I had photos from friends in Esquimalt that looked like you were having sunshine.

>19 mstrust: Jennifer, wonderful and strange - a perfect description of weather in the mountains. July is usually hot so I expect the temperatures will be up in the 30s before long (Celsius, of course). We don't need fireworks, we get lots of lightning storms!

>17 VivienneR: - I would give so very much to be having temperatures like that right now. It's summer here in Texas which started really at the end of May and hadn't let up. We're consistently in the high 90's/low 100's which means I really don't spend much time outside anymore. It's kind of sad that I'm excited that it might only be in the lower 90's at the end of the week. Oh well, more time to read I suppose...

>21 LittleTaiko: We had summer last month with temperatures in the 90s but I guess summer is over! I just read that central British Columbia had snow today! Hard to believe. I'm just hoping summer makes a return visit before fall arrives. Although I have to admit, it is actually a very nice day, perfect for outside activity.

Obscured By Clouds - MysteryCAT - Police Procedurals

Prime Suspect by Lynda La Plante

One of those books that was originally written as a successful tv series. I enjoyed Helen Mirren's performance of a high ranking police officer at a time when female officers were hardly tolerated and she had to struggle against the hostility of her male colleagues. These attitudes from the 1990s made the story a bit dated (although I'm sure they still exist to some extent today), but not a bad police procedural nevertheless.

My latest Early Reviewer win:

Is There Anybody Out There? - Non-fiction, Biography and Orphans

The Garden in Every Sense and Season by Tovah Martin

Not the typical gardening or nature book that offers basic advice and information. Instead this is a gorgeous book about one woman's observations of her extensive garden in each season. Martin shares the changes she experiences through each of the senses: the shapes, smells, sounds, and taste. Each is accompanied by an essay and beautiful photographs. Happily I discovered that I share some of Martin's practices, such as trimming the flowers off the spirea so that the sculptural form of the shrub can be appreciated more.

This is a book that can be dipped into anytime and is guaranteed to fire up the reader's gardening enthusiasm no matter what time of year.

>24 VivienneR: Ooh that's a BB for me!

>25 Jackie_K: Glad to be of help Jackie!

Any Colour You Like -- ColourCAT - Pink

The vanishing act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell

A heartbreaking story of dark family secrets. I'd no idea that asylums had such a history. This was powerful and compelling. Highly recommended.

>24 VivienneR: Looks interesting. I'll keep it in mind the next time I want a gardening book. I still have one on tap at the moment.

>27 VivienneR: - She's an author I had never heard of until recently and now for some reason her name pops up all the time! Enough so where I just purchased This Must Be the Place last weekend while my friend picked up her non-fiction book I Am, I Am.

>29 LittleTaiko: Isn't it strange that some authors or books escape our attention until we are flooded with notice. Somehow I'd never heard of O'Farrell either, which is embarrassing as she comes from Northern Ireland, like me.

Another Brick in the Wall -- RandomCAT - Getting to Know You

The Lost Ones by Sheena Kamal

A debut suspense novel from Vancouver featuring 30-something Nora Watts, a deeply troubled woman, alcoholic, homeless and casual investigator. She gave up her daughter for adoption fifteen years ago and now is contacted because Bonnie, the daughter, has gone missing. This is a story set in the the gritty dark side of of modern Vancouver. It was good and I'll watch for more by Kamal.

No touchstones :(

Hi Vivienne, yes the weather did turn out to be quite lovely on Canada Day here. not too hot and sunshine.

>27 VivienneR: - Taking a BB for the O'Farrell book, and even better, it looks like my local library has that one, along with a stack of other books by the author!

>32 lkernagh: My library has a lot of books by O'Farrell too. I'll be working my way through them.

You had perfect weather for Canada Day. It was cool and cloudy here but I enjoyed it while it lasted and before the heat returned.

Sysyphus -- Classics

Maid in Waiting by John Galsworthy

In this, the first book of the trilogy End of the Chapter, the main characters are members of Fleur's husband, Michael Mont’s’s family. Initially I found the writing style less polished than the books that went before, and thought it might have been an early piece reworked. However, when I started to read Simonson's The Summer Before the War alongside, it proved that less than perfect writing by Galsworthy is still a cut above. So, although the beginning was less engaging than some of the previous books in the Forsyte Chronicles, its merit held up when compared to the contemporary work.

There are repercussions following an expedition when Hubert Cherrell, Mont’s cousin, killed a Bolivian muleteer in a violent altercation. His sister Dinny tries to solve his predicament through negotiations and receives a couple of marriage proposals along the way. The other storyline was about the mental health issues of the husband of a family friend. Galsworthy’s characters are vivid, he is insightful about his era and brings it to life. While not up to the high drama of the Forsytes, this is well worth reading.



Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict - AlphaKIT S & A

The Summer before the war by Helen Simonson

I was half-way through this book before it even came close to holding my interest. After the success of her last book, Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand, this one was very disappointing. For most of the book the dialogue and characters are stilted, cartoonish, a parody. The final section set during the war, was harrowing, out of step with the rest of the book.

Happy new thread, Vivienne! So much reading done already!

Thank you, Birgit. Yes, I've been getting through a lot of books this year.

>34 VivienneR: - Well, your review is not moving the Simonson book up on my reading list. It's been on my shelf for a couple of years but I just haven't been moved to pick it up yet.

>37 LittleTaiko: I hope you try it soon and let me know what you think. I expected more of Simonson and wonder if I got it wrong.

Good to see that you are continuing to enjoy the Forsyte books. I am feeling a sense of release at finishing To Let and glad to get away from the Soames and Irene soap opera. Overall I really enjoyed the writing, the characters (except for those two) and the descriptions so I may well continue on with the Saga at some point.

Judy, I hope you do continue with the Forsyte books. I'm pretty certain you will get to like Soames better.

Another Brick in the Wall -- RandomCAT - Getting to Know You

The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah

A story of two sisters who survived occupied France. No wonder this generation is known as "the greatest", they needed to be great to endure hardships and distress to a degree unknown to later generations.

Grantchester Meadows -- Fiction

Cat out of Hell by Lynn Truss

As anyone who knows cats will tell you, yes, a talking cat is entirely believable. This wacky, weird, horror story from Lynn Truss (author of Eats, shoots and leaves) is fantastically entertaining right to the Author Notes at the end. I'll never see my cat in the same light again.



Dogs -- Bingo
X in the title

Exit West by Mohsin Hamid

Hamid's beautifully written novel focuses on universal human needs and migration. He imparts a deep story with perception and understanding yet keeps the text elegantly minimal. By using the ingenious device of "doors" to transport Nadia and Saeed, Hamid is able to go to the heart of the story of two young people, without needing to detail the usual migrant conveyances. My heart goes out to people like Nadia and Saeed who must flee their home in order to survive. Highly recommended.

And at last I have a bingo!

Grantchester Meadows -- Fiction

The Coral Thief by Rebecca Stott

Disappointing. I felt like slapping Daniel Connor, the character who had his coral collection stolen by a woman in the same train carriage. It was the end of his career, his reputation, he had no money, no job, but every time he meets the woman he can be put off by a promise or a kiss. Wake up Daniel! I ended up speed-reading to get through it.

I have another Rebecca Stott book on the shelf, I hope it's better.

>42 VivienneR: A talking cat? This sounds like a book my sister would like...

>44 MissWatson: It becomes strangely believable! A mystery novel (not cute or cosy) with a twist!

>42 VivienneR:
Huh, I had no idea she wrote fiction as well!

>46 -Eva-: And with perfect punctuation! Nice of you to drop by, Eva.

Fearless -- Canadian

Glass Houses by Louise Penny

Immediately after I started this and two other books I got flu. I might have enjoyed this more if I'd been in good health. No review, too much effort required.

>48 VivienneR: Hope you're feeling better soon!

The flu. YUCK! I hope you feel better soon, Vivienne.

Get well soon!

I hope you feel better soon.

Thank you everyone! At last I'm feeling better but my reading plans went out the window! However, I managed to finish the books I had already started before getting sick.



Dead Souls by Ian Rankin
I will follow up soon with Set in Darkness just as rabbitprincess advises.



Quid Pro Quo by Vicki Grant
I really enjoyed this YA book that was my Early Reviewer win.

Careful With That Axe, Eugene -- Crime

Ashes to Ashes by Barbara Nadel

Francis Hancock, the endearing undertaker from the East End of London, and still-traumatized survivor of "the first lot", was caught up in the worst blitz attack to hit the city on the night of December 29, 1940. Hearing of a little girl out in the middle of the attack, he thought a search for her would take his thoughts off the tumult in his mind. He followed her to St Paul's Cathedral where he discovered a despicable plot in progress.

Churchill declared that St Paul's Cathedral, a symbol of all the British people held dear was to be protected at all costs, while Hitler was determined to raze it to the ground with waves of incendiary bombs. Nadel's description of the attack that night highlighted the terrifying ordeal, when much of London was burning with white-hot flames. Her impressive knowledge of the building was able to impart the gripping events taking place on the inside. There is casual racism, sexism, and prostitution, common in the 1940s, but after looking at today's news, it appears to be just as common today.

A cathedral has stood on the site since 604. The current building was the masterpiece of Sir Christopher Wren who rebuilt after the destruction of the Great Fire of London. This is a book worth reading for the events, atmosphere, and social culture of the era, as well as the mystery.

Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict - AlphaKIT

The Scent of the Night by Andrea Camilleri

Another good mystery featuring Salvo Montalbano and his crew. But for the life of me, I can't figure out why Livia and Montalbano are still trying to maintain their long-distance romance. They were never a good match.

July Summary
Read in July: 15
Year to Date: 116

Ashes to Ashes by Barbara Nadel 4★
The Coral Thief by Rebecca Stott 2.5★
Cat out of Hell by Lynn Truss 3.5★
Glass Houses by Louise Penny 4★
Maid in Waiting by John Galsworthy 4★
Quid Pro Quo by Vicki Grant 4★
The Garden in Every Sense and Season by Tovah Martin 4★
The vanishing act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell 4★
Dead Souls by Ian Rankin 4★
Prime Suspect by Lynda La Plante 3.5★
The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah 3.5★
The Lost Ones by Sheena Kamal 3.5★
The Scent of the Night by Andrea Camilleri 3★
The Summer before the war by Helen Simonson 2★

Dogs -- Bingo
X in the title Exit West by Mohsin Hamid 4.5★

Careful With That Axe, Eugene -- Crime

The Hireling's Tale by Jo Bannister

The dictionary definition of hireling is "a person hired for material reward". In this novel Bannister presents several who fit the description: an assassin, prostitutes, and police. This action-packed story takes place in the sleepy town of Castlemere, featuring dedicated police officers determined to find the murderer of a young woman. Her body crashed through the tarpaulin cover into a tourist narrowboat on the canal while an international business conference was taking place at the nearby hotel. The list of suspects is daunting and further complicated by odd, unexpected shootings in the area. Eventually a witness makes herself known and Detective Sergeant Donovan, the tall, lanky Ulsterman is sent to pick her up and deliver her to safety, not an easy task with a lethal assassin around. A mistake by Detective Inspector Liz Graham, who should have known better, brought disastrous consequences.

Unscrambling the puzzle pieces, a roller-coaster rescue in the Fens of eastern England, and the personal oddities of the characters combine to make this mystery a nail-biter. I'll be on the lookout for more by Jo Bannister, who hails from Northern Ireland.

Any Colour You Like -- ColourCAT - Grey

Cometh the Hour by Jeffrey Archer

Although it's been two years since I read the last book in the series, I was able to rejoin the story as if no time had elapsed. This one continues the family saga now in the 1970s with a good infusion of the Cold War. The despicable Lady Virginia Fenwick is my favourite character. Archer's usual cliffhanger ending was more subdued in this one, but still, I'm looking forward to the next one, the last in the series.

Any Colour You Like -- ColourCAT - Grey

Set in Darkness by Ian Rankin

As usual a great mystery novel with three very different investigations and a return of Big Ger Cafferty. There is so much more to Rankin's books, especially the involvement of Scottish bureaucratic and parliamentary happenings. Edinburgh is just as much a character as Rebus or Siobhan Clarke, taking Rankin to a higher level than most police procedurals. The description of Hogmanay brought on a bout of nostalgia: first-footing, black bun, doing a turn, and more, although the bloody events that followed were even more shocking in comparison. Rebus's music choices are always of interest, often matching my own, from Wishbone Ash to Tom Waits, and of course his favourite, The Rolling Stones.

There wasn't a print version available at the library so I settled for the audiobook. Narration by Samuel Gillies was OK, but not noteworthy. As there was little differentiation between characters it was sometimes difficult to know who was speaking. I prefer Rebus in print.

My favourite line was the rebuttal to a claim for Scotland's first family status. Rankin states "Everybody knew Scotland's first family was The Broons". When I was a child, this was one of my favourite comic strips made famous in Scotland's Sunday Post, the other one being the companion strip Oor Wullie.

This was supposed to be for the Bingo square (with an LGBT central character) but after reading it I realized it didn't really fit well.

Grantchester Meadows -- Fiction

Enduring Love by Ian McEwan

The only type of love that endures is that which is not reciprocated.

Unlike most novels whose story rises to a culmination, McEwan uses the big event as an opener. And what an unforgettable opener! The account that follows is a disturbing story of obsession: sinister, ominous, but utterly compelling.

Joe is a frustrated scientist, now reduced to writing popular science journal articles. His thought processes, of rationalizing in the scientific way is eluding him, and the occupational hazard of "popularizing" has taken over. Is Joe an unreliable narrator? There is so much that can be read into the story that the reader is never quite sure of the veracity of Joe's version. The scene where he tries to acquire a means of defence may be dark but is pure comedy, that somehow fits with the creepiness factor.

Another excellent, beautifully written tale from McEwan.

>60 VivienneR: This is one of my favourite McEwan's Vivienne. Glad it hit the spot with you.

>61 Caroline_McElwee: So far all I've read by McEwan have been winners. This one especially. What I find most impressive is that they're all so different. Talented guy!

Obscured By Clouds - MysteryCAT - Historical

Dying in the Wool by Frances Brody

I was attracted by the setting of Yorkshire textile mills in 1922 with a war widow taking up a new career as a private detective after some success as an amateur, however, it turned out to be disappointing. There was some interesting information about the textile industry and the time frame was well done but the characters were flat and uninspired, the sleuthing was tedious, and the plot far-fetched. Skip this one.

>63 VivienneR: the characters were flat and uninspired, the sleuthing was tedious, and the plot far-fetched.

I agree with your assessment. I have not been tempted to take up the next in series.

>64 thornton37814: I'm glad we agree! It was a recommendation from someone in another group and a big disappointment. The cover is nice.

>63 VivienneR: Thanks for the warning about this one! It's been on my radar, I think largely because I liked the cover and the description. But now I'm happy to take it off my TBR list!

>66 christina_reads: Glad my experience has been of use, Christina!

Sysyphus -- Classics

Flowering Wilderness by John Galsworthy

This is the second book in End of the Chapter, the final trilogy of the Forsyte Chronicles. The story centres on Dinny Cherrell and her engagement to Wilfred Desert who was once Fleur's admirer. Demonstrating how the social order has changed, Dinny is a strong woman, self-assertive and determined, unlike the simpering Irene. She is one of my favourite characters of the entire saga.

This one finished with a cliffhanger of sorts making me want to start the remaining volume right away.

Another Brick in the Wall -- RandomCAT - Let's Go to the Mountains

Into the Silence: the Great War, Mallory and the Conquest of Everest by Wade Davis

A magnificent, exhaustive and well-researched chronicle of the three British Everest expeditions of the 1920s. Davis sets the era and tone of post-war sensibilities by devoting a sizeable portion - about the first third of the book - to the Great War and how the climbers came through it. Mallory and the other personages don't even enter the picture until after that, and actual climbing is still a long way off. The person I most admired was Australian George Finch who, against great opposition for his science as well as his colonial origins, introduced the use of oxygen in the second and third climbs. Tibet is not regarded kindly by the climbers, but then snobbery, racism, and the class system was rife, even among the members of the buttoned-down Royal Geographical Society and Alpine Club.

The 1924 attempt ended disastrously when George Mallory and Andrew Irvine disappeared on the final climb to, or from, the summit. Mallory's badly injured body was found in 1999 still roped to Irvine until the fall broke the rope. After all their effort, I like to think they made it to the summit but that will never be known.

This is an excellent book if the reader is prepared for an major undertaking and wants all the nitty gritty details of each climb, climber, the politics of the times and of the associations involved. (For example, now I know the difference between Mummery and Whymper tents.) If you just want to read about the life of Mallory and his experience on Everest, then Jeffrey Archer's Paths of Glory, a fictional work that is nevertheless accurate, would be a better choice.

Two for Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict

AlphaKIT O & D



The Hundred and One Dalmations by Dodie Smith

A wonderful story about a puppy thief who wants to make a spotted fur coat with two litters of dalmation pups. This is a classic for young readers and a joy to read.



The Greatcoat by Helen Dunmore

A very atmospheric ghost story set in the 1950s involving a slip in time.

Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict - AlphaKIT O & D

The One Plus One by Jojo Moyes

Jess is the mother of a single-parent family trying hard to keep her head above water and teach her kids to do the " right thing" while she deals with a deadbeat dad, school bullying, a flatulent dog, and anything else that can go wrong. Despite the troubles, it is a light read with lots of humour and a touch of romance. I enjoyed this, my first Jojo Moyes novel, but I'll be on the lookout for more.

Dogs -- Bingo

#24 story involves travel:

Full Circle by Michael Palin

Michael's year-long journey circled the Pacific Rim starting and finishing in Alaska. I missed the tv series so this was a good way to make up for it. The 80,000 km trip set began in 1995, so although a bit dated by this time, Palin is always upbeat and entertaining.

>70 VivienneR: funny, I moved the Dunmore earlier this week, and couldn't remember if I'd read it or not. Will check.

>73 Caroline_McElwee: Caroline, I've read others by Dunmore and this one was quite different. I'm not sure if the idea worked well (I may be too much of a realist for ghost stories), but it was still enjoyable.

My latest Early Reviewer book:

See Emily Play -- YA and Children

Too much, not enough by Gina Perry

This is a bright, colourful book that will appeal to young children. The opposing ideas are illustrated in a way that is understandable to tots. There are lots of images to pore over and find something different every time. My young friends loved tidy Moe, but adored messy Peanut.

Checked and I haven't yet read The Greatcoat, at least I know where in my chaos it currently resides! I used to love ghost stories as a younger person, but haven't read any recently. Funny how some things just fall off our radar.

Obscured By Clouds - MysteryCAT - Historical

The Abbey Court Murder by Annie Haynes

A melodrama where the bad are very bad, and the silly are very silly. Was the murder committed to prevent a scandal? Oh the horror! There are many holes in the investigation by Furnival who just makes wild guesses and chats up a maid to get information. I can imagine this as an amateur stage production with the audience encouraged to make exaggerated oohs and aahs. And the amount of fainting and swooning makes me worry for the health of the women. When Judith tries to drown herself in the moat (where else?) she is dragged out and proclaimed ok, just fainted.

Fun, if you can take this sort of thing but Haynes is no Christie, not even close.

Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict - AlphaKIT O & D

Ostrich Boys by Keith Gray

When their best friend, Ross, died, three teenage friends decide to take his ashes to Ross, Scotland, a place he'd always wanted to visit, to give him a "proper" funeral. On the way they discover a lot about themselves and friendship in general. This is a well-written, thought-provoking story, that I can highly recommend to teen readers as well as adults.

Stopping by and taking a BB for the >57 VivienneR: Bannister read and for the Dunmore book The Greatcoat!

>79 lkernagh: Hi, Lori. Two good ones. I think you will especially like The Greatcoat.

Careful With That Axe, Eugene -- Crime

This one is probably Dud of the Month (or maybe of the Year)!

Wicked Autumn by G.M. Malliet

It is apparent from the beginning who will be the murder victim: the bossy, imperious head of the local Women's Institute. Nor is it a spoiler to give away the method of the murder, a peanut allergy, leaving the "who" and "how" to be discovered. The derogatory remarks were just as insulting to the victim after her death when one would expect a softening of ire. In fact, there were no truly pleasant characters and most were misogynistic to some extent. Helping the police is the village priest, Max Tudor, a former MI5 agent, who sounds like an enticing inclusion. Malliet tried to give him some character by reflecting on why he left MI5 to become a priest, but it was out of place in the story, did not help the character development, and frankly, was unconvincing. In fact, the entire dramatis personae were cut-out characters expected to people an English village murder, in this case sadly lacking.

This was my first Malliet. Needless to say I won't be trying another.

>81 VivienneR: I read a different Malliet, Death of a Cozy Writer, and was similarly unimpressed. Good to know I shouldn't bother trying another!

>82 christina_reads: Glad we agree on Malliet! Very disappointing.

>81 VivienneR: Duly noted - avoid Malliet.

>81 VivienneR:, >82 christina_reads: not read him before, on that verdict I'm not going to bother. Sorry you had to find the clunkster.

Just glad I was able to re-direct others!

If I have more than one that will fit the mystery category, I often narrow it down by choosing a British female author. The algorithm failed me this time.

Fearless -- Canadian

Never Let You Go by Chevy Stevens

Stevens has a brilliant ability with suspense. In this story set on Vancouver Island, she doesn't disappoint. And although I figured out who the bad guy was by the middle of the book, it was still a page-turner. Domestic abuse makes for a tough read in places but was relieved by many tender moments between mother and daughter. However, it defies understanding how one person could be such a consistently abysmal judge of character.

Dogs -- Bingo

#11 LGBT character:

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

Baldwin's story about an American in Paris in 1950 discovering his sexuality is an American classic. It's a short read, but every word should be savoured. Quietly passionate, moving, beautifully written.

>88 VivienneR: That is one of my all time favourites Vivienne. I read it first when I was 14. I reread it from time to time.

>75 VivienneR: my husband snagged that one as well, and our 3 year old loves it. He's been toting it around the house. It's a charming little book.

>89 Caroline_McElwee: It is a wonderful book, Caroline. One of those that deserve to be reread often. This was my first reading.

>90 virginiahomeschooler: Glad your 3 year old loves his book! Yes, it's colourful, funny and very appealing. I love reading children's books and if there isn't an adult book that appeals in the ER selection, then a junior book is very welcome. And my boy is all grown up, so it's always good to have a few books to read or gift to visiting children.

Dogs -- Bingo

#1 title includes the name of a famous person:

Mr Mac and Me by Esther Freud

Charles Rennie Macintosh is the Mr Mac in Freud's beautiful, sensitive story. By looking at Mr Mac through the eyes of an 11-year old boy Freud shows the architect's vulnerability following his rejection after completing the design of the Glasgow School of Art. He and his wife, Margaret MacDonald, also a gifted artist, retreated to Suffolk in 1914. The story yields an amazing amount of information about Macintosh, Margaret, and the the culture of the times. Freud's story also points to the moment in our history when craftsmanship was being replaced by mass production.

I've always been an admirer of Mackintosh designs but now I feel like I have known him for a short while. Wonderful, highly recommended.

The author notes at the end reminds the reader that the Glasgow School of Art, one of Mackintosh's great achievements, burned just as Freud's book was going to print.

>92 VivienneR: I'm going to add that to my wishlist. To add to the sadness, a couple of months ago, as the restoration from the 2014 fire was coming to a close, another (worse) fire ravaged the building again. It's still unclear how much, if any, of the building can be saved.

I'm so sorry to hear the results of the latest fire. I loved this book, I'm sure you will too. However, there was an underlying touch of sadness because Macintosh was in financial straits at the time, suffering from depression and was suspected of being a German spy!

>92 VivienneR: I'm so glad you liked this one! It is my favourite Esther Freud (although I've read only two, so it's a small field at the moment).

The latest fire was devastating. I'll be in Glasgow in a couple of weeks and will have to see about paying my respects at the school :(

>92 VivienneR: long a Mackintosh fan Vivienne. I did visit the school of art many years ago, how lucky I was. I'm heartbroken by the fires.

I've had this novel a while, I need to nudge it up the pile.

>95 rabbitprincess: The fire of 2014 was bad (the one Freud mentioned) but this one is much worse. It is devastating news. Enjoy your trip to Glasgow, I always thought it a lovely city but haven't been there for a long time. Take photos!!

>96 Caroline_McElwee: Your were indeed very lucky to have visited the school. You will really enjoy Mr Mac and Me. It's one of those books that I'd like to go right back to page one and start over again. I'm sure I'd get even more out of it, especially if I looked for images of their art and design while reading.

August Summary
Read in August: 18
Year to Date: 134

❤️Best of the Month: I had a few really good ones; these four were my favourites, each of them rating :

Set in Darkness by Ian Rankin
Enduring Love by Ian McEwan
Into the Silence: the Great War, Mallory and the Conquest of Everest by Wade Davis
Mr Mac and Me by Esther Freud

and the rest:

The Hireling's Tale by Jo Bannister 4★
Wicked Autumn by G.M. Malliet 1★
Never Let You Go by Chevy Stevens 3★
Flowering Wilderness by John Galsworthy 4★
Too much, not enough by Gina Perry 5★
Cometh the Hour by Jeffrey Archer 4★
Dying in the Wool by Frances Brody 2★
The Abbey Court Murder by Annie Haynes 3★
The Greatcoat by Helen Dunmore 3.5★
The Hundred and One Dalmations by Dodie Smith 4★
The One Plus One by Jojo Moyes 4★
Ostrich Boys by Keith Gray 4★
Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin 4★
Full Circle by Michael Palin 3.5★

>92 VivienneR: - I'm going to be taking a BB for this one too.

Hope you're having a good weekend, Viv! I can only dream of finishing 18 books in a month.

>99 dudes22: I hope you enjoy it, Betty.

>100 mstrust: Jennifer, it was only because I was hiding indoors from wildfire smoke that I managed 18 (and one of them was a children's book from Early Reviewers). Unfortunately it's still smoky so September is shaping up to be a good reading month too.

Any Colour You Like -- ColourCAT - Metallic

The Golden Child by Penelope Fitzgerald

A London museum has installed a priceless exhibit, including a gold-covered mummy of a child, that is drawing thousands of visitors daily. This is a murder mystery laced with satirical humour mocking the eccentric or self-important staff of the museum. Written in 1977, this spoof of the Tutankhamen exhibition at the British Museum was Fitzgerald's first work of fiction, and very entertaining.



Dogs -- Bingo

Something you would see in the sky

The Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz

Double value in this mystery within a mystery. There are lots of familiar names, abundant clues, and the favourite locale of an English village. Highly recommended for mystery fans.

>102 VivienneR: Glad you enjoyed Magpie Murders -- I'm planning to read it this month as well!

>103 christina_reads: It's very clever, Christina, I'm sure you'll like it!

Obscured By Clouds - MysteryCAT - Noir & Hard-boiled

The Wycherly Woman by Ross Macdonald

Hard-boiled is not my preferred genre, but I enjoyed this Lew Archer tale. Although there are a few unlikely scenes, it kept me engaged and entertained.

Although both of these authors are Canadian expats, I'm only counting Costain as a Canadian author.



Another Brick in the Wall -- RandomCAT - Happy Birthday

Lost in Yonkers by Neil Simon (who shared my July 4th birthday)

I enjoyed this play set in 1942 about two boys staying with their grouchy grandmother while their father tries to earn money to pay off debts. The ending was disappointing.



Fearless -- Canadian

The Last Plantagenets by Thomas B. Costain

I borrowed this to read up on Richard II who had a brief mention in another book I read recently. Costain is so easy to read that I have since bought the entire series "A History of the Plantagenets". He has a remarkable ability to depict the characters as real people, not just a list of names and dates to be memorized. And he covers secondary individuals just as well. I thought I knew about William Caxton until I read Costain's more detailed, and interesting, account. My only complaint is that there was no family tree. Highly recommended.

Dogs -- Bingo

5. A relative's name in the title

Dead man's ransom: the 9th chronicle of Brother Cadfael by Ellis Peters

In 1141, an exchange of civil war prisoners has been arranged. Before that happens one of the prisoners is found dead. When Cadfael examines the dead man, he finds fibres from the expensive cloth that was used to suffocate him. This was another very enjoyable Cadfael mystery from Peters.

>107 VivienneR: I keep meaning to re-read this series, they are a good read.

>106 VivienneR: I didn't know Thomas Costain was Canadian! That might explain why he was the first author and supervising editor for a history-of-Canada series (I have the first book, The White and the Gold).

>106 VivienneR: I'm glad to see your recommendation for The Last Plantagenets. That book has been sitting on a shelf in my parents' house for the past 40 years. I'm not sure how it got there, given that my parents don't read much in English. I guess it's time I took it home with me. :)

>109 rabbitprincess: In case you missed it, I believe there is a push at Distributed Proofreaders of Canada to process Costain's books, as they entered the public domain recently.

>110 mathgirl40: Oh excellent! I'll have to get on that. Maybe I can write some blurbs to keep on hand for when they're ready ;)

>108 Helenliz: Yes, Peters does a great job of bringing the 12th century to life. And Cadfael is such an interesting character.

>109 rabbitprincess: I guess that's another must-read series for my library. My knowledge of Canadian history could use a little help.

>110 mathgirl40: It's one of those books that sit on the shelf for so long they become invisible. I have a few of them, maybe more than a few.

Obscured By Clouds - MysteryCAT - Noir & Hard-boiled

The Dramatist by Ken Bruen

Another outstanding Jack Taylor mystery from Bruen. What I like most about this series is Bruen's writing: spare, concise, incisive. Where other writers can blether on for pages describing something, Bruen gets to the point, without the reader missing any feature or nuance. The ending in this one was a heartbreaker.

>113 VivienneR: Happy to see you enjoying this series. It's definitely a favourite of mine.

>114 AHS-Wolfy: I was introduced to Ken Bruen through the Jack Taylor tv series featuring Taylor played by Iain Glen. That's when I fell in love with Taylor and Bruen - and Glen, of course!

>107 VivienneR: - So glad to see you are enjoying the Brother Cadfael series! I "devoured" those books when they came out. The younger reader I was at the time had a reader crush on the Hugh Berringer character. ;-) One of these days, I will find time for a re-read of the series.

>116 lkernagh: ha! You took the thoughts right out of my head! Right down to the "I must re-read these sometime"...

>116 lkernagh: & >117 Helenliz: I too read most of them when they came out but they were chosen so haphazardly that now I've no idea if I've read a specific title or not. But I enjoy them enough that a re-read is fine with me. I've never had a crush on Hugh Berringer though...

Dogs -- Bingo

A book with money in the title

Even money by Dick Francis & Felix Francis

Not as good as Dick Francis in his heyday but a fair mystery featuring a bookie. There was a lot of information about how the system works, most of which went over my head although I understood enough to follow the plot. It seems Felix Francis will never reach the popularity of his father.

>116 lkernagh: >118 VivienneR: Lori, I'm with you on the Hugh Beringar crush! :)

>120 christina_reads: I will have to pay more attention to Sheriff Hugh Beringar in my next Cadfael book!

>121 VivienneR: For me, One Corpse Too Many was probably the generator of that crush. :)

>122 christina_reads: Ah, yes! I remember that one. I read it years ago so it might be time for a re-read!

Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict - AlphaKIT B & E

Shades of Blue by Bill Moody

Moody's jazz-infused mystery novel was a perfect read for me because jazz happens to be one of my favourite music genres. There was no lack of name-dropping and some interesting details about the music but I wasn't able to add any titles or artists to my music collection - I already own them all. The mystery was secondary, for me, this was more like a visit with old friends.

I'll look for this one as I read Moody's Looking for Chet Baker and liked it.

>125 mstrust: And I'll look for Looking for Chet Baker! Thanks for that rec, Jennifer. He's another of my favourites.

Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict - AlphaKIT B & E

Star Trap by Simon Brett

I always enjoy a Brett mystery with actor-sleuth Charles Paris. This one was no exception. It was full of character and will appeal to theatre-goer and crime fan alike. The ending was a nice twist. Well done!

Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict - AlphaKIT

Year-long X & Z

Agent Zigzag: The true wartime story of Eddie Chapman: lover, betrayer, hero, spy by Ben Macintyre

A very readable biography of a WWII spy who landed on his feet no matter how dire the circumstances. From a pre-war safe-breaking and burglary career to double agent, his story is as good as any adventure tale but the beauty of Macintyre's book is in the fascinating details of the double-cross and in the page-turning style of writing.

>128 VivienneR: - I always keep an eye out for a book I think my husband will like. This sounds like something he might enjoy so a BB on this.

>128 VivienneR: This one has been on my wishlist for a few years after hearing the author being interviewed on the radio about it. I'm glad you liked it, and I'll have to become more active in finding it. The author has another interesting one called Operation Mincemeat that I'll look for.

>129 dudes22: It's a book that would probably be more appealing to guys, and very well written.

>130 mstrust: I picked up Operation Mincemeat at a library booksale years ago that is still on my tbr list. Now that I know how well Macintyre writes I'll move it up.

Sorry, no pumpkin spice. :))

>130 mstrust: >131 VivienneR: Operation Mincemeat is really good! I'm a big fan of Ben Macintyre but haven't gotten to Agent Zigzag yet -- must add it to my TBR list!

>132 christina_reads: Good to hear! Macintyre can certainly hold the reader's attention, and doesn't have any dragging sections.

Macintyre has a new one out now or very soon, too: The Spy and the Traitor.

Thanks RP! I'll watch for that one!

Any Colour You Like -- ColourCAT - Metallic

Tin Man by Sarah Winman

A quiet lyrical novel packed with emotion. This is one I will read again.



Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict - AlphaKIT B & E

If You Knew Her by Emily Elgar

A suspenseful mystery set in a hospital ward.

I have to keep my comments short because I fell yesterday and landed on a finger!! Difficult to type.

>136 VivienneR: Ow, ow, landing on a finger! I hope it's better soon!

>137 rabbitprincess: I have an impressive splint on it now! Typing is even more difficult.

>136 VivienneR: Just adding that Tin Man deserved so much more than my physically-imposed one-liner. It was excellent.

I fell yesterday and landed on a finger!! Difficult to type.

Oh... not good. Glad to see the impacted finger is in a splint. Here is hoping the injury heals quickly. Nothing worse than discovering how important/useful a finger is because of an accident.

Thanks for your good thoughts, Lori. It's funny, but one injured finger can put the whole hand out of action. It was the ring finger of my right hand, more essential than I ever realized.

That sounds like a painful accident! I hope it heals quickly.

Sorry to read about your fall, Vivienne, I can image that typing is very difficult with a splint! Here's to healing quickly.

>142 mstrust: & >143 DeltaQueen50: Thank you for the sympathy! My finger has fully recovered.

Unfortunately worse was to come. For a while I have been fighting off what I claimed to be a virus (it wasn't) and ended up in emergency followed by a week in hospital. Well, three hospitals actually, local, regional, and the big city hospital for surgery. Also hundreds of kilometres by ambulance. I'm home again, hoping it's all over although I'm still experiencing some symptoms that are a little concerning.

Naturally, reading has been going very slowly. More to come on that.

>144 VivienneR: oh my! Trips to hospital seem to be catching on LT at the moment, seems we're all keeping the medical profession on their toes. I will take your being home as good news. Hope you continue to improve and the concerning symptoms vanish without needing further trips to hospital(s). Look after yourself.

>144 VivienneR: Oh my word how scary! I wish you a speedy recovery, Vivienne.

>144 VivienneR: Aaaaggghhhh! That is so scary! I hope you're doing better soon.

Wow! When you get sick, you don't fool around! Glad to hear you're back home at least.

>144 VivienneR: oh my. I hope you feel better soon Vivienne. Books are always the best medicine. I hate being the kind of ill that obstructs reading.

So sorry that you needed hospitalization, Vivienne. Take care of yourself now that you are back home, I know how easy it is to overdo things.

Adding my best wishes for a full recovery from a very scary experience. I hope you find solace in reading.

Thinking about you, Vivienne. I hope you will be well soon.

Thank you all for your good wishes! It's good to be back among friends (not that I wasn't with friendly paramedics and nurses). I convinced the doctor that I could finish medication orally at home instead of staying in hospital to have it through an IV line. Now that I'll be rattling for a week or more I'm not sure it was a wise decision but I'm so very glad to be at home.

While in hospital reading choice was limited to what was on my phone. Not a lot, but enough to keep me entertained.



Sysyphus -- Classics

One More River by John Galsworthy

The ninth and final novel in the Forsyte Chronicles. I've been reading one per month this year and now will be sorry to say goodbye to the Forsytes and their extended family. Galsworthy continues the story that involves divorce laws as they were in the 1930s. Different, but not much, from those that Soames and Irene experienced in the 1890s. An excellent ending to the series.



Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict - AlphaKIT Yearlong X

Aunt Bessie Assumes: An Isle of Man Cozy Mystery by Diana Xarissa

An enjoyable cozy mystery set in one of my favourite places, the Isle of Man. Although it has flaws, this is the first in a series and I'll probably seek out others.

The evening meetings at Aunt Bessie's home where the sleuths enjoyed excellent dinners were a little hard to bear for someone on the "nothing by mouth" list.

Thanks to LittleTaiko for the recommendation.

>154 VivienneR: I've never heard of that Xarissa series. The location sounds interesting.

>155 thornton37814: The Isle of Man is an interesting place for many reasons, not least is its mystical quality.

Any Colour You Like -- ColourCAT - Orange

The little stranger by Sarah Waters

Although this is a long story, the drawn-out, slowly-evolving style enhances the reading experience, playing with the reader's mind right to the end.

As well as the orange cover, this was on the Orange long list in 2010.

It seems you just can't leave LT for a few days without all kinds of things happening. Sorry you were so sick it required a hospital (or three)...but glad to hear you're back home. Rest up..

>158 dudes22: Thanks, Betty. It's been one of those summers where not much went right. Recovering slowly but surely.

Obscured By Clouds - MysteryCAT - Espionage

Call for the dead by John le Carré

I read this a few years ago but when I decided to re-read all of le Carré's work I started with this one, the first of the George Smiley books. It was well worth it.

Any Colour You Like -- ColourCAT - Orange

Malcolm Orange Disappears by Jan Carson

Northern Ireland author, Jan Carson, has the most imaginative writing style I've ever come across. That it's a debut novel makes it all the more awe-inspiring. Eleven year-old Malcolm, his parents, and baby brother travel around America living in their beat-up Volvo. Malcolm is worried about the holes that are beginning to form on his body although no one else notices. When the father abandons the family, Malcolm's mother finds a job and home at a Baptist retirement village in Oregon filled, of course, with fantastically colourful characters. Carson maintains the surprise factor throughout this ingenius story without once letting up. This is a wonderful, unforgettable story.

My thanks to @Jackie_K for the recommendation.

>181 VivienneR: I'm so glad you enjoyed it! You're right, you'd never tell it was a debut, it's so clever and well-written.

>162 Jackie_K: It was wonderful, Jackie! I loved every character, especially Malcolm. Thanks again!

Thanks to you and Jackie, I have added Malcolm Orange Disappears to my list. :)

Aa have I...

ETA: I decided to look at the library and not one in the whole state ILL system has one. Boo hoo..

>164 DeltaQueen50: I know you will love it, Judy!

>165 dudes22: Betty, I couldn't find one to borrow either so I bought a previously-owned copy online - and so glad I did!

Sorry to learn about your health "crisis" but glad to see that you are now back home and on the road to recovery!

>157 VivienneR: - I tend to classify The Little Stranger as a sleeper ghost story. It takes ages for the suspense to build, which I tend to like in a story.

>157 VivienneR: I looked back on my comments, and some were similar to yours: The plot drug in quite a few places but picked up toward the end. I think the book was longer than it needed to be, and I wasn't happy with the ending. Of course, I expected it to be more like an old Gothic/romantic suspense novel with a "happily ever after" ending, and this book ended up being drastically different.

>167 lkernagh: Thanks, Lori. all better now.

Sometimes long drawn out stories don't work for me but this one held my interest.

>168 thornton37814: I agree with "drastically different" ending! After the long story, Bam! It was over. It took a few minutes of thought to figure out what happened - even though I was expecting it for some time.

Another Brick in the Wall -- RandomCAT - Playing Cards

The Tooth Tattoo by Peter Lovesey

An intriguing mystery featuring detective Peter Diamond, a classical music layman who must investigate a complex crime involving a chamber music quartet. Some interesting information on varied topics including netsuke, tooth tattoos, and patrons who allow musicians to play their valuable instruments. I always enjoy Lovesey and this one was no exeption. I especially liked how the music fitted so well with the story. Well done!

Dogs -- Bingo

Set during a holiday

The Clock Strikes Twelve by Patricia Wentworth

A good old-fashioned mystery set on New Year's Eve in a grand home with all the family present. The plot is in the style of Agatha Christie, with Miss Silver being Miss Marple's doppelgänger even to her knitting. And although I enjoyed this, in my opinion Christie did it better.

>171 VivienneR: I've been meaning to start the Miss Silver series! Thanks for the reminder. :)

>172 christina_reads: Glad to be of help, Christina! This might have been my first but I'll be reading more of the Miss Silver series. If I've read any before, it was a long time ago and I've forgotten them anyway.

Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict

AlphaKIT October N & L

Silent Victims by Lynda LaPlante

A grim Prime Suspect story where Jane Tennison, newly appointed head of the Vice Squad, investigates crimes against young rent boys. She discovers a public figure is her prime suspect and is instructed unequivocally on how her inquiry should proceed. After all her effort to break through the glass ceiling, her career could come to an abrupt end if she makes the wrong decision. An unpleasant reminder of current celebrities being charged with old sexual crimes.

Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict

AlphaKIT October N & L

Ratlines by Stuart Neville

I was disappointed to discover that this wasn't directly about "Ratlines", the escape routes used by Nazis who hid out in Ireland after the war. The plot involves Albert Ryan, directorate of intelligence in Ireland in the early 1960s investigating ex-Nazis being bumped off. Ryan, eager to get out of Ireland went to Northern Ireland and signed up in the British Army to fight in WWII, making him very unpopular when he got back home to the anti-British republic. However, the writing was a bigger let down: short undemanding sentences that I suppose was meant to indicate a fast paced thriller but instead came across as rudimentary. I have another book by Neville, and although it is said to be better, it might be some time before I take it off the shelf.

Dogs -- Bingo -- number in the title

Angel with two faces by Nicola Upson

Upson has thrown everything but the kitchen sink into this one: secret homosexuality, abusive husbands, incest, old family secrets, nefarious dealings in the church, theatre, a psychopathic gamekeeper, and more. Too much! In many places attitudes seem to be more appropriate to modern times than to the 1930s. And somehow I can't see Josephine Tey in the role of sleuth as portrayed by Upson.

Only one Bingo square left and it's an easy one.

>176 VivienneR: Ugh, that sounds like some of the ITV adaptations of Miss Marple novels...or rather, the adaptations of Agatha Christie novels into which they shoehorned Miss Marple, such as Murder is Easy. They'd throw in these sensational elements that weren't in the original novel, add characters, delete others, change the motive, change the murderer...

>177 rabbitprincess: Exactly. Except Nicola Upson did it all by herself.

>176 VivienneR: - I have that on my TBR pile. Maybe I'll move it down. Maybe I'll even abandon the series. Although I gave her first book high marks, I never felt an urgency to continue.

>179 dudes22: I bought the first in the series (full price) and enjoyed it, but this one and another were on the freebie shelf at the library. I guess as the saying goes, you get what you pay for.

I was so happy that I found all 15 candies in the Halloween Haunt. It seems it was the easiest that caused me the most head-scratching (1 & 4) but I got there in the end.

I spent yesterday afternoon on the Halloween Hunt, I was stuck on a couple (#5 & #10) but the helpful hints got me on the right track and I got all 15 candies. It was a fun way to spend the afternoon.

I've only gotten 3 so far. There are a couple that I think I know the answer to, I just can't find the right page on LT to give me a candy. I haven't read through the hints yet though and haven't spent very much time on it. A new quilt in progress has me more interested.

>181 VivienneR: >182 DeltaQueen50: I found them all pretty quickly. It took me a bit longer on a couple, but even they didn't take that long. This was one of the easiest hunts they've done.

>182 DeltaQueen50: Congratulations, Judy. I guess I had my coffee quota because there were a few that jumped out at me right away. But silly me didn't think of joining what rhymes with "moose" and "bumps" into one word.

>183 dudes22: I can understand a new quilt having priority, Betty. Browsing the clues is a good way to pass a few minutes and there is always the chance of hitting the right page accidentally, which happened to me in the Pirate hunt.

>184 thornton37814: Good for you, Lori. This is only the second one I've ever tried and it was fun - like an easy crossword.

Dogs -- Bingo -- bought in 2017 still unread

The Color of Our Sky by Amita Trasi 2.5★

Mukta, a ten-year-old girl of a low caste is rescued from a life as a prostitute by a wealthy family who has a daughter of a similar age, Tara. Although Mukta is regarded as a servant the girls become friends of a sort, yet Tara eventually betrays Mukta and arranged for her to be kidnapped and sold into the sex trade. After a cursory search Tara and her father leave India for the United States. Eleven years later the adult Tara returns to India to search for Mukta. Does this seem familiar? Yes, the story is almost identical to The Kiterunner and although the writing is well done the story grates. Tara is obviously trying to soothe her guilty conscience but in my opinion, her action was unforgiveable and she deserves no redemption. The saddest thing is that even with many plot holes and predictablity, the story that describes prejudice, ancient traditions, and the chaos of India, is believable. However, I chose to speed-read through the second half of the book. This wasn't to my taste.

This completes my Bingo card. I wish I could have finished with a more enjoyable book!

Careful With That Axe, Eugene -- Crime

The House at Sea's End by Elly Griffiths 4.5★

As well as the first-rate location on Norfolks saltmarsh I'm hooked on archaeologist Ruth Galloway. She is so confident in many areas yet insecure in others. The best part about starting this series so long after they were published is that I can go straight to the next one without having to wait for another to hit the bookstores. Interesting plot, great characters and a bit of a love interest: what more can you ask for?

Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict

AlphaKIT October N & L

Force of Nature by Jane Harper

I liked Harper's first book better. This one dragged a bit.

Is There Anybody Out There? - Non-fiction, Biography and Orphans

Goodbye things: the new Japanese minimalism by Fumio Sasaki

A good reminder of just how much unnecessary stuff we possess and how to get rid of it. There are some parts that are quite repetitive. But I put it down a few times to go get rid of something, so it is inspiring.

Come and join me over at the new thread here