Mamie's Fellowship of the Read (Page 2)

My name is Mamie. I have tried this challenge twice before and failed, but I do believe that the third time will be the charm, as they say. I wanted something simple that would help me to focus on reading the books I already own while allowing me to also be distracted by the bright and shiny new ones that I know will call to me in the New Year. Since joining LT, I have started making collections of the books that I purchase by year, so I decided to make each year a category, with two additional categories for library books and books borrowed from family and friends. This gives me a total of nine categories, which is where my theme for the year comes in - there were nine individuals that made up the Fellowship of the Ring. My goal is to read ten books in each category, but that could be just a pipe dream. Whatever happens, I know the journey will be filled with wine and snark and shenanigans and plenty of laughter.

Frodo - (The Archive) Books Acquired Before 2013:

1. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (3.8 stars), 2012 or earlier acquired paperback, gothic fiction/classic - January
2. The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley (reread), 2010 acquired ebook, historical romance (Mackenzies Series, book 1)
3. The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain (4.25 stars), 2010 acquired paperback, crime fiction/noir
4. Borkmann's Point by Håkan Nesser (3.5 stars), paperback acquired before 2012, crime fiction/police procedural (Inspector Van Veeteren, book 2)
5. First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones (reread), 2011 acquired ebook, urban fantasy

Gandalf - Books Acquired in 2013:
1. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré (5 stars), 2013 acquired paperback (also listened to the 2017 acquired audiobook), crime fiction/espionage (George Smiley novels, book 5)
2. Above Suspicion by Helen MacInnes (4 stars), 2013 acquired ebook, espionage/WWII
3. Soulless by Gail Carriger (reread), 2013 acquired ebook, steampunk (Parasol Protectorate, book 1)
4. Mind's Eye by Håkan Nesser (3.5 stars), 2013 acquired ebook, crime fiction/police procedural (Inspector Van Veeteren, book 1)
5. The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly (4 stars), 2013 acquired ebook, crime fiction/legal thriller (Lincoln Lawyer, book 2; Harry Bosch, book 14)

Aragorn - Books Acquired in 2014:

1. Pictures at a Revolution: Five Movies and the Birth of the New Hollywood by Mark Harris (4.5 stars), 2014 acquired paperback, non-ficiton/film history
2. Scandal and the Duchess by Jennifer Ashley (reread), 2014 acquired ebook, historical romance (Mackenzies Series, book 6.5)

Legolas - Books Acquired in 2015:
1. The Moneypenny Diaries: Guardian Angel by Kate Westbrook (4 stars), 2015 acquired ebook, crime fiction/espionage (The Moneypenny Diaries, book 1)
2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling (reread), illustrated hardback edition acquired in 2015, fantasy

Gimli - Books Acquired in 2016:

1. A World Gone Mad: The Diaries of Astrid Lindgren 1939-45 by Astrid Lindgren (4.25 stars), 2016 acquired hardback, non-fiction/diary/WWII - February
2. The Lady Vanishes by Ethel Lina White (3.5 stars), 2016 acquired ebook, crime fiction/mystery - recommended by Heather
3. Binti by Nnedi Okorafor (4 stars), 2016 acquired ebook, sci-fi/space opera - recommended by Joe (Binti series, book 1)
4. The Quiet American by Graham Greene (4.5 stars), 2016 acquired paperback, literary fiction/espionage - recommended by Bill
5. A Rising Man by Abir Mukherjee, narrated by Simon Bubb (reread), 2016 acquired audiobook, crime fiction/police procedural (Sam Wyndham, book 1)
6. Vision in Silver by Anne Bishop (4.75 stars), 2016 acquired ebook, urban fantasy (The Others, book 3)

Boromir - Books Acquired in 2017:

1. Artemis by Andy Weir (4 stars), 2017 acquired audiobook, sci-fi - January
2. The White Album by Joan Didion (4 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, non-fiction/essays - January
3. God Stalk by P. C. Hodgell (4 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, fantasy - recommended by Roni and read for her GR of it - January
4. Nightblind by Ragnar Jonasson (3 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, crime fiction/police procedural (Dark Iceland series, book 2) - Jnuary
5. The Girl With All the Gifts by M. R. Carey, narrated by Finty Williams (5 stars), 2017 acquired audiobook, dystopian/zombies - recommended by Mark - February
6. Chimes at Midnight by Seanan McGuire (4 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, urban fantasy (October Daye series, book seven) - February
7. A Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft, narrated by Fiona Shaw with Jonathan Keeble (4 stars), 2017 acquired audiobook, non-fiction/essays/feminism - February
8. Not My Father's Son by Alan Cumming, narrated by Alan Cumming (4.5 stars) 2017 acquired audiobook. non-fiction/memoir/abuse - Katie's Dirty Dozen - March
9. The Strange Death of Fiona Griffiths by Harry Bingham (4.5 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, crime fiction/police procedural (Fiona Griffiths series, book 3)
10. How to Build a Girl by Caitlin Moran, narrated by Louise Brealey (5 stars), 2017 acquired audiobook, contemporary fiction/coming of age
11. Acceptance by Jeff VanderMeer (4 stars), 2017 acquired paperback, weird fiction (Southern Reach Trilogy, book 3)
12. Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maude Montgomery, narrated by Rachel McAdams (4.5 stars), 2017 acquired audiobook, juvenile fiction/classic (Anne of Green Gables series, book 1)
13. How to Cheat a Dragon's Curse by Cressida Cowell, narrated by David Tennant (4 stars), 2017 acquired audiobook, juvenile fiction (How to Train Your Dragon, book 4)
14. The Chessmen by Peter May, narrated by Peter May (4.5 stars), 2017 acquired audiobook, crime fiction/mystery (The Lewis Trilogy, book three)
15. Echo Park by Michael Connelly (4.5 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, crime fiction/police procedural (Harry Bosch series, book 12)
16. I Hear the Sirens in the Street by Adrian McKinty, narrated by Gerard Doyle (4.25 stars), 2017 acquired audiobook, crime fiction/police procedural (Sean Duffy, book 2)
17. In the Morning I'll Be Gone by Adrain McKinty, narrated by Gerard Doyle (4.5 stars), 2017 acquired audiobook, crime fiction/police procedural (Sean Duffy, book 3)
18. A Necessary Evil by Abir Mukherjee, 2017 acquired hardback, crime fiction/police procedural (Sam Wyndham, book 2)
19. The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger (4 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, non-fiction/disaster/Hurricane Grace
20. Fatal Pursuit by Martin Walker (4 stars), 2017 acquired paperback, crime fiction/police procedural (Bruno Corrourrèges, book 9)
21. The Colorado Kid by Stephen King (3 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, mystery (Haven, the tv series is loosely based on this)
22. Sunshine by Robin McKinley (4 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, urban fantasy
23. Wait Till Next Year by Doris Kearns Goodwin (3.75 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, memoir/baseball/Brooklyn Dodgers - Katie's Dirty Dozen

Sam - Books Acquired in 2018:

1. You Gotta Get Bigger Dreams by Alan Cumming, narrated by Alan Cumming (4.5 stars), 2018 purchased audiobook, non-fiction/vignettes with selfies - January
2. The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher, narrated by Carrie Fisher and Billy Lourd (4 stars), 2018 acquired audiobook - recommended by Mark - January
3. On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder (4.5 stars), 2018 acquired ebook, non-fiction/politics - recommended by Joanne - February
4. The Cold, Cold Ground by Adrian McKinty (4.5 stars), 2018 acquired audiobook, crime fiction/police procedural - recommended by Charlotte
5. Slow Horses by Mick, Herron, narrated by Gerard Doyle (5 stars), 2018 acquired audiobook, crime fiction/espionage - recommended by Charlotte and Deborah
6. MI5 and Me: A Coronet Among the Spooks by Charlotte Bingham (3 stars), 2018 acquired ebook, non-fiction/memoir
7. Octopussy and The Living Daylights by Ian Fleming, narrated by Tom Hiddleston (4 stars), 2018 acquired audiobook, crime fiction/espionage
8. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by Ian Fleming, narrated by David Tennant (3 stars), 2018 acquired audiobook, juvenile fiction
9. A Rage in Harlem by Chester Himes, narrated by Samuel Jackson (4.5 stars), 2018 acquired audiobook, crime fiction/noir
10. Women & Power: A Manifesto by Mary Beard (4 stars), 2018 acquired hardback, non-fiction/essays/feminism - recommended by Charlotte
11. A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf, narrated by Juliet Stevenson (5 stars), 2018 acquired audiobook, non-fiction/essays/feminism - recommended by Joe
12. The Hounds of Spring by Lucy Andrews Cummin (5 stars), 2018 acquired paperback, contemporary fiction/utterly delightful
13. Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi, translation, (4.5 stars), 2018 acquired paperback/audiobook, contemporary fiction/horror
14. Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome (3 stars), 2018 acquired audiobook, humor - recommended by Lucy
15. All Systems Red by Martha Wells (4 stars), 2018 acquired ebook, science fiction/AI (The Murderbot Diaries, book 1)
16. Still Waters by Viveca Sten, translation (3.75 stars), 2018 acquired Kindle Book, crime fiction/police procedural (The Sandhamn series, book 1)
17. Guiltless by Viveca Sten, translation (3.25 stars), 2018 acquired ebook, crime fiction/police procedural (The Sandhamn series, book 3)
18. The Terror by Dan Simmons (5 stars), 2018 acquired audiobook, literary faction/horror - recommended by Susan
19. The Duke's Tattoo by Miranda Davis (4 stars), 2018 acquired ebook, romance (The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, book 1) - recommended by Charlotte
20. The Overlook by Michael Connelly (3.5 stars), 2018 acquired ebook, crime fiction/police procedural (Harry Bosch, book 13)
21. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, narrated by Dan Stevens (4 stars - reread), 2018 acquired audiobook, mystery
22. The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton, 2018 acquired hardback, crime fiction/mystery/time travel - recommended by Heather
23. The Purple Diaries: Mary Astor and the Most Sensational Hollywood Scandal of the 1930s by Joseph Egan (3.75 stars), 2018 acquired ebook, non-fiction/Hollywood history
24. Dead Lions by Mick Herron (3.6 stars), 2018 acquired ebook, crime fiction/espionage (Slough House, book 2) - recommended by Charlotte
25. The Last Man in Europe by Dennis Glover (4.5 stars), 2018 acquired hardback, historical fiction - heard about this on Charlotte's thread (Guardian reviews) and purchased it and then reading Beth's recent review of it made me want to get to it NOW
26. Matilda by Roald Dahl, narrated by Kate Winslet (4.5 stars), 2018 acquired audiobook, children's literature/classic - Katie's Dirty Dozen
27. The Dawn Watch: Joseph Conrad in a Global World by Maya Jasanoff (4 stars), 2018 acquired ebook, non-fiction/literary criticism/biography
28. The Annotated Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler (5 stars), 2018 acquired paperback, crime fiction/noir/private detective (Philip Marlowe, book 1)
29. Artificial Condition by Martha Wells (4.5 stars), 2018 acquired ebook, science fiction/AI (The Murderbot Diaries, book 2)
30. The Kill Artist by Daniel Silva (4 stars), 2018 acquired ebook, crime fiction/espionage (Gabriel Allon, book 1) - recommended by Susan
31. Queenpin by Megan Abbott (4 stars), 2018 acquired ebook, crime fiction/noir - recommended by Roberta
32. Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells (5 stars), 2018 acquired ebook, science fiction/AI (The Murderbot Diaries, book 3)
33. Tin Man by Sarah Winman (5 stars), 2018 acquired hardback, contemporary fiction
34. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon (4 stars), 2018 acquired ebook, mystery/autism/child narrator
35. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams (4.5 stars), 2018 acquired ebook, play
36. The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee (4 stars), 2018 acquired ebook, YA/historical fiction (Gentleman's Guide, book 1) - recommended by Meg
37. The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (5 stars), 2018 acquired audiobook, horror
38. The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde (4 stars), 2018 acquired ebook, ghost story
39. Exit Strategy by Martha Wells (5 stars), 2018 acquired ebook, science fiction/AI (The Murderbot Diaries, book 4)
40. Lethal White by Robert Galbraith (4.5 stars), 2018 acquired audiobook, crime fiction/detective (Comoran Strike, book 4)
41. Binti by Nnedi Okorafor (reread - read the ebook earlier this year, and this time I listened to the audiobook), 2018 acquired audiobook, science fiction (Binti, book 1)
42. Binti: Home by Nnedi Okorafor (4.25 stars), 2018 acquired audiobook, science fiction

Merry - Books Borrowed From the Library:

1. Blizzard of Glass: The Halifax Explosion of 1917 by Sally M. Walker (4 stars), library hardback, YA non-fiction/history - mentioned on Julia's thread last year in reference to the 100 year anniversary of the incident - January
2. March: Book Two by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell (5 stars), library paperback, GN non-fiction/memoir/Civil Rights Movement - January
3. Ties by Domenico Starnone (4 stars), library paperback, literary fiction/relationships - recommended by Lynda - January
4. The Jaguar's Children by John Vaillant (4.5 stars), library hardback, contemporary fiction/illegal immigration - January
5. The Dying Detective by Leif GW Persson (4 stars), library hardback, crime fiction/police procedural (Johansson and Jarnebring series, book 8) - recommended by Charlotte - February
6. The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion (4.5 stars), library hardback, non-fiction/grief - February
7. March: Book Three by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, Nate Powell (5 stars), library hardback, non-fiction/The Civil Rights Movement - February
8. Greenglass House by Kate Milford (4 stars), library hardback, juvenile fiction/mystery - recommended by Amber - February
9. My Favorite Thing is Monsters by Emil Ferris (4.5 stars), library paperback, GN - recommended by Mark and Joe - February
10. The Chalk Circle Man by Fred Vargas (3.5 stars), library paperback, crime fiction/police procedural (Chief Inspector Adamsberg, book 1) - April
11. Closed Circles by Viveca Sten, translation (3.25 stars), ebook borrowed from the Kindle lending library, crime fiction/police procedural (The Sandhamn series, book 2)
12. Tonight You’re Dead by Viveca Sten, translation (4 stars), ebook borrowed from the Kindle lending library, crime fiction/police procedural (Sandhamn Murders, book 4)
13. Like Water For Chocolate by Laura Esquirel (4 stars) library hardback, translation, historical fiction/culinary fiction/magical realism
14. They Shoot Horses, Don't They? by Horace McCoy (3.5 stars), library hardback, crime fiction/noir
15. The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman, illustrations by Chris Riddle (5 stars), library hardback, juvenile fiction/fractured fairytale - recommended by Amber and Birdy
16. Fight No More by Lydia Millet (4.5 stars), library hardback, linked short stories - recommended by Beth
17. The Lady Astronaut of Mars by Mary Robinette Kowal (4 stars), read online, novelette/science fiction (Lady Astronaut, short story) - recommended by Heather and Roni
18. First Flight by Mary Robinette Kowal (4 stars), read online, novelette/science fiction/time travel
19. The Shadow Hero by Gene Luen Yang and Sonny Liew (4 stars), GN/superheroes
20. When God Was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman (4.5 stars), library hardback, contemporary fiction - Katie's Dirty Dozen

Pippin - Books Borrowed From Friends and Family:
1. Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World by Pénélope Bagleu (5 stars), paperback borrowed from Birdy, GN/non-fiction/history
2. The Wendy Project by Melissa Jane Osborne, Illustrated by Veronica Fish (3.5 stars), paperback borrowed from Abby, GN/grief/fairy tale retelling
3. The Dark Angel by Elly Griffiths (4 stars), paperback sent by Katie and now on to Beth, crime fiction/mystery (Ruth Galloway, book 10)
4. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle (3 stars - reread), paperback borrowed from Birdy, YA science fiction/time travel (The Time Quintet, book 1)

For keeping track of anything else...

ColorCat:
January/Black - Artemis by Andy Weir COMPLETED Nightblind by Ragnar Jonasson COMPLETED
February/Brown
March/Green - How to Build a Girl by Caitlin Moran COMPLETED
April/Yellow
May/Blue
June/Purple
July/Pink
August/Grey
September/Metallic
October/Orange
November/Red
December/White

MysteryCat:
January: Nordic Mysteries - Nightblind by Ragnar Jonasson COMPLETED
February: Female Cop/Sleuth/Detective - Chimes at Midnight by Seanan McGuire COMPLETED
March: Global Mysteries - Slow Horses by Mick Herron COMPLETED
April: Classic and Golden Age Mysteries
May: Mysteries involving Transit
June: True Crime
July: Police Procedurals - A Rising Man by Abir Mukherjee COMPLETED
August: Historical Mysteries
September: Noir and Hard-Boiled Mysteries
October: Espionage
November: Cozy Mysteries
December: Futuristic/Fantastical Mysteries

ScaredyKIT
Jan - "Gothic" - The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde COMPLETED
Feb - "Survival/Disaster" -
Mar - "Weird Fiction" - Acceptance by Jeff VanderMeer COMPLETED
Apr - "Supernatural" -
May - "Close to Home" -
June - "Adapted to Screen" - The Terror by Dan Simmons COMPLETED
July - "Science/Techno Thrillers" -
Aug - "Series" -
Sept - "Stephen King and Family" -
Oct - "Ghost Stories" -
Nov - "Serial Killers" -
Dec - "Psychological Suspense" (or catchall) -

SFF-KIT
January: "Read an SFF you meant to read in 2017, but never started/completed" Artemis by Andy Weir COMPLETED
February: "Urban Fantasy" Chimes at Midnight by Seanan McGuire COMPLETED
March: "Off World" Binti by Nnedi Okorafor COMPLETED
April: "Time Travel" A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle COMPLETED
May: "Rise Up" Caliban's War by James S. A. Corey READING
June: "Series"
July: "Cyberpunk or Techno SFF"
August: "Makes You Laugh"
September: Myths, Legends, & Fairy Tales The Sleeper and The Spindle by Neil Gaiman COMPLETED
October: "Historical and Alt-historical" The Lady Astronaut of Mars by Mary Robinette Kowal COMPLETED
November: "Creatures"
December: "This is how it ends"

Thoughts for 2019:

January
RandomCAT (your name in print):
TBRCAT (first in, last out): The Leopard
CalendarCAT (Dad's Birthday - book made into a movie we both loved): The Night of the Hunter, Laura, Double Indemnity
SeriesCAT (in translation): The Leopard
AlphaKIT (Q, A): A for autobiography - Speak, Memory by Nabokov
SFFKIT (meant to read in 2018):

.......

....

This should do it - next one's yours!

Happy new thread, Mamie!

Happy new thread! You've been doing a great job at reading the books you've acquired this year :D

Happy New thread. Any excuse to gaze again at your fellowship.

>13 lkernagh: Thanks, Lori!

>14 rabbitprincess: Thank you! I am feeling badly for Legolas, so I need to work on that - the poor dear just has the one book.

>15 Helenliz: Thanks, Helen! I concur.

Happy new thread, Mamie, great to see you are continuing to hang in there with us! :)

>17 DeltaQueen50: Thanks, Judy! I actually love this group - I have just been busy with real life stuff lately, so I have not been around on the threads much. Hoping to get caught up in the next few weeks.

Happy new thread! And what @Helenliz said :) (especially >4 Crazymamie:, well hellooooooo!)

>19 Jackie_K: Thank you, Jackie! You made me laugh! A lot of eye candy up there.

Happy New Thread, Mamie!

Good luck with your continuing Fellowship of the Book. :-)

Happy new thread, Mamie. I notice Boromir gets lots of books...

>22 MissWatson: Thank you! The new and shiny tend to get the most love - I do need to work on reading more of the older ones.

>21 jnwelch: Joe, I managed to miss you the first time around. My apologies! Thank you for those good wishes - we'll see what I can get done in the remaining half of the year.

Book #69: In the Morning I'll Be Gone by Adrain McKinty, narrated by Gerard Doyle (4.5 stars), 2017 acquired audiobook, crime fiction/police procedural (Sean Duffy, book 3)

This was my final book for the month of June. I love this series set in Ireland during the Troubles and it's conflicted protagonist who, just to make things even more complicated is a Catholic in the mostly Protestant RUC. This one features a mystery within a mystery which was very well done. Set in the 1980s (the decade of my teens), I delight in all of the musical references. I cannot recommend this series highly enough on audio, where all of the humor and the lovely accents are delivered brilliantly by Gerard Doyle, who is quickly becoming one of my favorite narrators.

Books Read So Far in July:


70. A Rising Man by Abir Mukherjee, narrated by Simon Bubb (reread), 2016 acquired audiobook, crime fiction/police procedural (Sam Wyndham, book 1)

This was a reread, or actually a relisten. I wanted to revisit the first book in this series before venturing into books two and three. Set in colonial India and featuring a former Scotland Yard detective who has served in WWI and lost everything he cared about. Sam Wyndham has become addicted to opium after being treated with morphine for his war injuries, and has moved to India to head up a new position in the local police force. I love the characters and the setting, and the mystery is very well done. I am sad that the next two books are not available on audio here yet. I acquired the first one on audio because the print book was not out here yet (very weird for audio to be offered before the hardcopy), and the narration by Simon Bubb is fabulous. I think that this narration was not supposed to be sold in the US because it has disappeared from Audible and been replaced by another version featuring a different narrator. And still Audible does not have book two available at all. Sadness.


71. Matilda by Roald Dahl, narrated by Kate Winslet (4.5 stars), 2018 acquired audiobook, children's literature/classic - Katie's Dirty Dozen

Well, this was delightful. Perfectly delivered by Kate Winslet, just like Katie said. Thanks, Katie!


72. A Necessary Evil by Abir Mukherjee (4 stars), 2017 acquired hardback, crime fiction/police procedural (Sam Wyndham, book 2)

This was book two in the series I mentioned up top. Not quite as good as the first one, IMO, but still very good. I was really missing the narration as I loved the first book in that format. Still, the humor and the setting pulled me right in. Definitely recommended, but start at the beginning.


73. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: the Illustrated Edition by J. K. Rowling (reread), illustrated hardback edition acquired in 2015, fantasy

I have read this book multiple times, and I always love the story. This time I read the illustrated edition, which is absolutely gorgeous.


74. The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger (4 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, non-fiction/disaster/Hurricane Grace

This was a fascinating look at not just the actual development and fallout of Hurricane Grace, but also of the fishing industry, more specifically the sword-fishing industry. I learned so much, and it was excellent narrative non-fiction. It suffers slightly from my having read Erik Larson's Isaac's Storm previously (about the 1899 Galveston hurricane) , which I think was better organized and told in a more linear fashion. I would have loved for him to have included ship diagrams and drawings or photos of all the equipment he was describing, as I was not familiar with most of it. Still, there is an amazing amount of information presented here, and it is highly readable. I was exhausted by the time I finished - obviously I am not cut out to earn my living on the high seas.


75. The Dawn Watch: Joseph Conrad in a Global World by Maya Jasanoff (4.25 stars), 2018 acquired ebook, non-fiction/literary history

This is an excellent look at the writing of Joseph Conrad, specifically Heart of Darkness, Nostromo, and Lord Jim. The beginning of the book is slightly over written, but Jasanoff settles down into a truly engrossing narrative about why Conrad's work is still relevant today. She does not shy away from his faults or make apologies for him, but simply presents his amazing history and interprets his insights into globalization. For me, this book was an almost perfect fit, as Heart of Darkness is a story that I return to every few years, and I always find something new there waiting for me. Highly recommended.

I got the Kindle Motion version of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: the Illustrated Edition and it's really lovely!!

>27 -Eva-: I have not even heard of that version, Eva! I will have to check it out.

>28 Crazymamie:
It puts a little spin (usually small, but some large) on the illustrations. The text is the same, obviously.

>29 -Eva-: That is just so cool!

Catching up on the reading front, here is what I finished up July with:


Book #76: The Annotated Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler (5 stars), 2018 acquired paperback, crime fiction/noir/private detective (Philip Marlowe, book 1)

Well, this was delightful, which is not usually how one would describe noir, but I have BIG love for The Big Sleep, both the book and the movie. I grew up watching Humphrey Bogart bring characters like Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe to life, and even now whenever I read Hammett and Chandler, it is Bogart's voice I hear in my head narrating the story. I love the darkness and the grittiness found in these pages, but also the clever use of dialogue and the language that is a world of its own. I love how Chandler makes the city a living breathing thing - a device that has been much copied by his admirers. When I heard that there was an annotated edition coming out for the first time ever, I immediately pre-ordered it. What a treat. The editors did a brilliant job of deciding what to highlight and also of choosing the book's layout. The original text is on the lefthand page and the notes are on the facing righthand page, making it so easy and enjoyable to read the story and the notes in tandem. And the size of the book is perfect - an oversized paperback that stays open without one having to fight or break the spine. I wasn't sure what they would choose to include, but I hoped for discussion on how the novel and the movie compared. I got this and so much more - maps and photos of the city of Los Angeles from Chandler's time, comparisons between the book and the movie with discussion about why certain things were changed, definitions and origins of the slang that is used throughout the text, and excerpts from the original pulp stories that Chandler used to piece together the novel - he stole the best bits from stories he previously sold to magazines to give us some of the most memorable moments of the novel, changing names and some content to gift us with an even better version. And I laughed out loud when I read that during the making of the movie they queried Chandler about who actually killed Owen Taylor - the movie is one you have to watch several times to wrap your head around the plot, which, to me, is part of its charm. Anyway, Chandler responded that he had no idea. I LOVE this! All this to say that the annotated edition met and exceeded my expectations - highly recommended to anyone with an appreciation of and/or a fascination with noir.


Book #77: The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain (4.25 stars), 2010 acquired paperback, crime fiction/noir

I can't believe it has taken me this long to get to this book. The story pulls you in and keeps you reading even though there are really no likable characters. And there is no postman. Just saying.

Hi Mamie, as you know, I love both noir and Humphrey Bogart so when I read Chandler I hear Bogart. :) The Postman Always Rings Twice is once of my favorite books - so much story packed into such a short novel.

>32 DeltaQueen50: And it's so twisty, too. When I first started it, I thought I was going to hate the story, but it was very good. I love when books surprise me.

Hooray for hearing Bogart when you read Chandler, too! For me, he IS Spade and Marlowe.

More catching up on the reading front - here's what I have read so far in August:


Book #78: Artificial Condition by Martha Wells (4.5 stars), 2018 acquired ebook, science fiction/AI (The Murderbot Diaries, book 2) - the second entry in this very fun series. I loved ART!


Book #79: The Kill Artist by Daniel Silva (4 stars), 2018 acquired ebook, crime fiction/espionage (Gabriel Allon, book 1) - recommended by Susan - Susan mentioned on her thread that this is one of her favorite series, and that she loves Gabriel even more than Jack Reacher, so of course I had to investigate. Interesting characters and very well written; my only complaint is that the ending felt abrupt, which is strange for a 500+ page book. Needing to know what happens next, I have already picked up the second book.


Book #80: Queenpin by Megan Abbott (4 stars), 2018 acquired ebook, crime fiction/noir - recommended by Roberta - Charlotte posted a link on her thread to an article written by Megan Abbott about whether or not we should be reading Chandler (Reading Raymond Chandler in the age of #MeToo), and reading the article is how I found out about The Annotated Big Sleep - Abbott is also a Chandler fan. Anyway, after reading the article, I wanted to read something by Abbott, and I remembered Roberta loving this one, so I picked it up. Written in the noir style, it is a very good story, and I loved that the men were one dimensional while the ladies stole the show. Recommended if you like noir. This is my fist book by Abbott, but it will not be my last.


Book #81: Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells (5 stars), 2018 acquired ebook, science fiction/AI (The Murderbot Diaries, book 3) - seriously, these are like candy. Another great entry - I cannot wait for the next one.


Book #82: Like Water For Chocolate by Laura Esquirel (4 stars) library hardback, translation, historical fiction/culinary fiction/magical realism - I picked this up from the library to have a shared read with Morphy.

"...she was thinking how easy it was to wish for things as a child. Then nothing seemed impossible. Growing up, one realizes how many things one cannot wish for, the things that are forbidden, sinful. Indecent."

It's very good - I loved the writing and the magical realism is beautifully done. It reminded me a bit of Garden Spells, which it preceded by years. Although I did not love it the way that I love Garden Spells, which is much more fully fleshed, I did really enjoy it. Each chapter is a month of the year, starting with January and includes a recipe, but the months are from different years, so the story advances in jumps as you read.


Book #83: Tin Man by Sarah Winman (5 stars), 2018 acquired hardback, contemporary fiction - recommended by Joanne

Okay, this is gorgeous. Please read it. You will need tissues and wine.

"He took a bottle of Scotch out of the cupboard and came back to the heat. In the silence, the echo of industry receded, just flames now, and the soft dull thud of car doors opening and shutting on a new day outside. This had always been the worst time, when the quiet emptiness could leave him gasping for breath. She was there, his wife, a peripheral shadow moving across a doorway, or in the reflection of a window, and he had to stop looking for her. And the whiskey helped - helped him to walk past her when the fire was doused. But occasionally she followed him up the stairs and that's why he began to take the bottle with him, because she stood in the corner of their bedroom and watched him undress, and when he was on the verge of sleep, she leaned over him and asked him things like, Remember when we first met?"

And one more:

"I rest till I'm calm and my breathing has settled. I lift myself out and sit by the edge of the pool with a towel around my shoulders. And I wonder what the sound of a heart breaking might be. And I think it might be quiet, unperceptively so, and not dramatic at all. Like the sound of an exhausted swallow falling gently to earth."

>34 Crazymamie: I read Like Water for Chocolate a number of years ago and liked it quite well.

I love that Murderbot series, Mamie.

>35 thornton37814: It was very good, Lori, and I thought the magical realism was delightful.

>36 jnwelch: Me, too, Joe!

Mamie I'm thrilled you read Queenpin! I loved it as you know. It was a book bullet from ol sure shot Judy. She has never let me down.

I am also very happy that you loved Queenpin! Megan Abbott has never disappointed me, I have loved everything that I have read by her. I have Like Water For Chocolate on my shelves so I am looking forward to getting to it.

>38 luvamystery65: *grin* That Judy has wicked aim, doesn't she?! I will definitely be reading more of Abbott.

>39 DeltaQueen50: I loved her article on whether or not women should still be reading Chandler - as you know I am a huge fan of his. And now I am a fan of Abbott.

I will predict you will enjoy Like Water for Chocolate when you get to it.

Sorry to be gone for so long - September was a rough month for us, so I am very happy to see October make an appearance. On the reading front, here is what I read last month:

Books Completed in September:


86. Fatal Pursuit by Martin Walker (4 stars), 2017 acquired paperback, crime fiction/police procedural (Bruno Corrourrèges, book 9) - Another fun entry in this series set in the French countryside that features loads of delicious food paired perfectly with a lot of wine.


87. Soulless by Gail Carriger (reread), 2013 acquired ebook, steampunk (Parasol Protectorate, book 1) - Chelle's recent enthusiasm for this series made me want to get back to it. Since it had been years since I read this first entry, I decided to reread it before moving on to book two.


88. The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman, illustrations by Chris Riddle (5 stars), library hardback, juvenile fiction/fractured fairytale - recommended by Amber and Birdy - Birdy checked this one out from the library, and I told her that Amber had loved it when she read it earlier this year. Birdy also loved it, and said I had to read it, so I did. I'm not sure which I love more, the story or the illustrations - truly delightful.


89. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon (4 stars), 2018 acquired ebook, mystery/autism/child narrator - I have been meaning to read this one for years, and I am so glad that I finally made time for it. Very well done - I love books that can make you want to laugh and cry at the same time. Life is like that.


90. Borkmann's Point by Håkan Nesser (3.5 stars), paperback acquired before 2012, crime fiction/police procedural (Inspector Van Veeteren, book 2) - Okay, funny story; I thought this was the first book in the series. It was a paperback that moved with us from Indiana, and I did not realize it was not the beginning of the series until I was more than half way through it. When I went to Amazon to look up the first book, it told me that I owned it and purchased it back in 2013. Weird. I have no idea why I have book one on Kindle and book two in paperback, and I acquired the second book first. Is your head spinning yet? Anyway, I loved the humor in this and the weirdness of a detective that seems to be pursuing a serial killer at a leisurely pace.


91. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams (4.5 stars), 2018 acquired ebook, play - Loved this. I think I might have read it back in high school, but I didn't remember much of it except for the basic premise. This version is very interesting in that it has both the original version of the play that Williams wrote and the modified version. After asking Elia Kazan to take a look at it, Kazan wanted changes to Act Three, and because Williams really wanted Kazan to direct it, he made the changes even though he didn't agree with them. I liked that the edition presented the original play first, then a letter from Williams explaining the changes to Act Three and why they were made, and then the modified version of Act Three. I think Williams was right, and that the original version was better. I followed up my reading with watching the 1958 movie starring Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor, which is excellent, but now I wish I could see them perform the play as it was originally written.

That's an interesting way to present Cat on a Hot Tin Roof! I like that it includes Williams' explanation of why the changes were made. It provides some useful context.

I hope October is a better month!

>42 rabbitprincess: It was very interesting, I thought. And I loved that they put Williams' explanation in between - the two versions of Act Three are very different from each other.

And thank you! Me, too!