rainpebble's 2019 Reading Log

WELCOME 2019!

CHALLENGES:
1. ANNE BOOKS: 11
2. MYSTERY / SUSPENSE / THRILLER: completed
3. FANTASY FICTION / MAGIC REALISM / PARANORMAL: 9
4. GENERAL FICTION: completed
5. NONFICTION: completed
6. HISTORICAL FICTION: completed
7. THE LOST GENERATION: 8
8. Y/A / CHILDREN'S LIT: completed
9. CRITTERS: 9
10. AMERICAN SOUTH: 11
11. WOMEN'S LIT: completed
12. ROMANCE GENRE: completed
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JANUARY TOTALS: 6
FEBRUARY TOTALS: 7
MARCH TOTALS: 22
APRIL TOTALS: 11
MAY TOTALS: 10
JUNE TOTALS: 39
JULY TOTALS: 21
AUGUST TOTALS:
SEPTEMBER TOTALS:
OCTOBER TOTALS:
NOVEMBER TOTALS:
DECEMBER TOTALS:

A CENTURY OF BOOKS:
JANUARY:
1. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton; 1908
3. As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner; 1930
* 4. 2013: Life After Life by Kate Atkinson; (5*); FANTASY FICTION; ROOT; acquired 2013; Century of Reading; 2013; (1)
* 5. 1986: Two Weeks to Remember by Betty Neels; (4*); WOMEN'S FICTION; ROOT; acquired 2018; Century of Reading; 1986; (2)
6. The Ordinary Princess by M. M. Kaye; 1980
7. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee; 1960
8. The Snows of Kilimanjaro and Other Stories by Hemingway; 1936
9. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck; 1937
10. The Two Mrs. Abbotts by D.E. Stevenson; 1943
* 11. 1987: Owl Moon by Jane Yolen; (4*); CHILDREN'S LIT; Century of Reading; 1987; (3)
* 12. 2010: Secret Daughter by Shilpi Gowda; (4 1/2*); GENERAL FICTION; Century of Reading; 2010; (4)
13. In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware; 2015
14. The Red Pony by John Steinbeck; 1933
15. The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith; 1955
16. Isak Dinesen : The Life of a Storyteller by Judith Thurman; 1982
17. Faceless Killers by Henning Mankell; 1991
* 18. I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen; (4*); CHILDREN'S LIT; Century of Reading; 2011; (5)
* 19. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi; (2 1/2*); NONFICTION; Century of Reading; 2016; (6)
20. The Life and Death of Harriett Frean by May Sinclair; 1922
21. Miss Buncle Married by D. E. Stevenson; 1936
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JANUARY TOTALS: 21; (6)

JANUARY OTHER READS:
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery; (5*); VMC; ROOT; acquired 2007; Classics; published 1908

1. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton; (4 1/2*); VMC; ROOT; 2009; Century of Books; 1920

This a book about living your life in respect to appearances. And in 'old' New York it was ALL about appearances. There is a sameness within all marriages, a sameness between the ladies as well as the gentlemen, a sameness in what time the lights go on in the evenings and the time the curtains are pulled.
This could have been a very boring book but it was not at all. In point of fact, I found it to be fascinating. The main character is in love with the young lady that he eventually proposes to, but comes to realize that with her, their marriage will have that boring sameness to it of all the others, that she will be just like all of the other wives which will make him just like all of the other husbands. He meets another young lady who rather than being brought up in old New York was brought up in Europe and finds that she is quite different. She is married to a man whom she has left in Europe due to the very unhappy circumstances in the way he treated her. He becomes fascinated with this woman and even his fiancee tells him that if he should want something different, that she would not want to stand in his way. But...............times being as they were, there are certain standards to be met no matter the happiness or sadness involved.
I enjoyed this Wharton tremendously and have found her to be a wonderful author. I highly recommend the book and have given it 4 1/2 stars.

2. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery; (5*); OTHER; GENERAL FICTION; VMC; ROOT; acquired prior to L/T;

This isn't truly a review but just a bit of trivia about the author.
I think we all know the story of Anne of Green Gables and I love it and have loved it again and again. Anne Shirley is someone I would have loved to have had for a best friend growing up. Her escapades are hysterical and she is sooo dramatic.
I really liked that I was able to connect with all the characters in the book and that Montgomery has created such complete characters; so well rounded and fleshed out.
I took Anne of Green Gables to bed with me last evening and enjoyed her tremendously. I bought my copy of the book at my favorite used book store (sadly out of business now) and inside the book was a four page story on the life of Lucy Maud Montgomery. It was quite interesting. I, without really thinking about it, always just assumed anyone who wrote such happy books was quite a happy person. Apparently Mz. Montgomery had quite a bit of hardship in her life. Her mother died when she was two of T.B. and she was raised by her maternal grandparents. She became a school teacher until the death of her grandfather whereupon she returned to tend her grandmother and the farm where she was raised.
Her grandmother died in 1911 and she married a local minister who suffered profoundly of depression and melancholy. She, herself suffered "nervous spells" and severe headaches.
But she continued to write the Anne series and then the Emily series, which she said was much more autobiographical. In 1933 she became ill and her husband suffered influenza, and a complete nervous breakdown and was entered into a sanitarium. She said that was "the most terrible year I have ever lived." She, herself, had a minor breakdown in 1936. Her husband retired and she wrote her last book, Anne of Ingleside.
She died in 1942 and her husband survived her by only one year.
One just never knows.

3. As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner; (3 1/2*); LOST GENERATION;
ROOT; 2007; C of R; 1930

I read this yesterday as I lay trying to get over viral pneumonia and I must say that I enjoyed my first Faulkner.
As I Lay Dying is the story of a poor family whose mother/wife is dying & the husband has promised her that he would bury her in her hometown with her kinfolk. It is told in the first person in small chapters by everyone in the story. Mother dies early on and the remainder of the story is principally the telling of how the family struggled to fulfill the father's promise to her.
I didn't have enough time with any one character to really identify with them & thus it made it difficult for me to care about them. It was well written as all of Faulkner's works seem to be. I'm glad I read it but I think perhaps I missed quite a bit of his meaning and just read the words of the story. I will have to read this one again one day when my brain is a little less befuddled.

When I read Faulkner, Capote always comes to mind. Don't know why..... I don't think I would actually be able to compare them other that the Southern mores.

4. Life After Life by Kate Atkinson; (5*); MAGIC REALISM; ROOT; 2013; Century of Books; 2013; (1)

Brilliant!
When I first read the plot line of Kate Atkinson's Life After Life I immediately wondered how Ursula Todd would come back to life. Would it be like the movie Groundhog Day with all the frustration that came with not being able to escape the loop? Would she be aware of what was happening? Would other people be aware of what was happening to her? No matter how many possibilities I envisioned I was still surprised by the way Kate Atkinson crafted this plot. She wrote this story with such ingenuity and originality. It was never simple nor trite. I think that every time I feel déjà vu in the future I will think of this book.
Much of the story took place in London during the Blitz of WWII. These pages were frightening and heart wrenching. I could not put this one down once I began it. Atkinson gives the reader a very vivid view of war. She allows us to see it's enormity and how distressing and wearing it is for all involved.
Life After Life is beautifully written and reads like a classic. Wonderfully complex, it's a story you could read over and over and always find something new and fresh. I loved this story and know that it won't be long before my next read.

5. Two Weeks to Remember by Betty Neels; (4 1/2*); WOMEN'S FICTION; ROOT; 2018; C of R; 1986; (2)

A lovely little bit of romantic fiction as only Neels knows how to do.
She is always just the thing to curl up with, relaxing as you have your cuppa & read. She writes of nurses round about the 1960s with their careers & finding that one 'true' love.

6. The Ordinary Princess by M. M. Kaye; (5*); FANTASY FICTION; Y/A; ROOT; 2014; Century of Books; 1980

I found this little book to be very sweet and enchanting. A princess is born and not just any princess but the seventh princess which makes her very special. At her christening one of her fairy godmothers, feeling very cranky at the time, gives her the gift of being "ordinary". As the child grows up she realizes the differences between herself and her six extraordinarily beautiful sisters and sees them married off to the princes of the land one by one. But she doesn't mind for she is allowed a much freer rein than them and enjoys life playing in the wood and such.
Later when her parents feel it is time for Princess Amy to marry, the eligible princes come one by one, hopefully to propose marriage. But when they see the ordinariness of Princess Amy, they run for the hills. Eventually the King and Queen become so desperate that they attempt to hire a dragon to entice the princes to attempt the dragon quest in order to win Princess Amy's hand. When Amy hears of this she runs away from the castle & her home to live in the wood and make her own way. She hopes that by being so ordinary anyone who spots her will not realize that she is the Princess Amy and tell her parents.
Thus, the story begins. And a very lovely & fun story The Ordinary Princess is. Of course we know that eventually the Princess Amy will find her one true love but I will leave the finding up to the next readers to discover.
Suffice it to say that this reader was enchanted by The Ordinary Princess and the writing of M.M. Kaye & hopes you will be as well.

7. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee; (5*); AMERICAN SOUTH; American Classics; ROOT; 2007; Century of Books; 1960

There have been so many good, great, and wonderfully written reviews on this book that I don't really see one more making any difference.
What I will say is that this is a book that does not leave your heart nor your mind when you have finished reading it. It is a work more brilliant than brilliant. The characters become immediately enmeshed in your heart and you care about them so very much. Even Mrs. Dubose and Aunt Alexandra. And Dill had me wrapped around his little finger from his first appearance on the page.
"To Kill a Mockingbird" is a beautiful work of prose and I won't soon forget it. Now I understand why my mother read it several times a year. Simply put, it is a book one falls in love with. Readers seem to love it or to find it mundane. I am definitely one of the former.

8. The Snows of Kilimanjaro and Other Stories by Ernest Hemingway; (4*); LOST GENERATION; ROOT; 2011; Century of Books; 1936

I quite enjoyed this slim volume of short stories by Hemingway. His words have a way of engaging the reader with the time, place and space of the story. So far I have loved everything I have read by him.
The first short: The Snows of Kilimanjaro, which he titled this book after, is about a man & wife on safari in Africa under the Mountain of Kilimanjaro. He has a serious leg injury that has gone gangrene. She is attempting to keep him amused whilst they await the plane to take him to hospital. While they wait they talk and he drinks. He is not so frightened now that the pain is gone.
The second: A Clean, Well-Lighted Place, is about 2 waiters in a sidewalk cafe and an aged man who comes in every evening and sits quietly drinking until 3:00 A.M. by which time he is drunk and goes home. He attempted suicide 'last' week and his niece who cares for him saved his life. The one waiter is a bit surly and wants the old man to leave so he can close up the joint. The 2nd waiter is much more laid back and sees no harm in letting the gentleman drink for that last hour.
The third story: A Day's Wait, is about a little boy who becomes ill and must remain in bed for a day or two. His father reads to him and sits by his bed and talks with him. The boy does not want to sleep even though he is sleepy. He thinks that he is dying.
The fourth: The Gambler, The Nun, and the Radio, is about a 2 men hospitalized with gunshot wounds. One was shot twice in the abdomen and the other one in the leg. When the police come in to question them, the men insist that it was just an accident, although they were shot by an angry card player. It was an accident because the man had shot 8 times and only hit them three but was only attempting to hit the one. Good story.
The fifth: Fathers and Sons, is about a father and his son out hunting and then about the son & friends out shooting. The son, Nick, always thought of his father in the fall during hunting season.
The sixth: In Another Country, is about two men, again in hospital in Milan, Italy with war wounds. They are on machines said to help with their therapy. It is rather a character study as are the others as well.
There are four more, each as good as the last. Some of these are just a very few pages, but what pages. After a couple of them I had to just sit and ponder the meaning that Hemingway was possibly attempting to get to us. Also several of these are Nick Adams stories, which are always exceptionally good.
I highly recommend this book and I gave it 4 stars.

9. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck; (5*); LOST GENERATION; Century of Books; 1937; ROOT; 2007

This novel is a classic for all time. A beautifully drawn story of two friends who tramp together from ranch to ranch working a month or so here and there. George makes the decisions for the two of them and takes care of himself and his buddy, Lennie. Lennie is slow minded and unable to make decisions and choices. In the literary world I doubt you will find a character who grabs your heart any tighter than Lennie. There is a purity and innocence about this giant of a man that could never be seen in a normal person.
Every single character in Of Mice and Men is complete and one is able to understand their actions whether good or bad because it makes sense that that particular character would do or say that.
This is an unforgettable novel and it is so beautiful that you won't want to forget it. It has moments of sweetness, moments of horror, moments of sadness so heartbreaking you can feel them.
In one of Steinbeck's journals he said: "Try to understand men, if you understand each other you will be kind to each other. Knowing a man well never leads to hate and nearly always leads to love." How simple and yet how profound. This author was a giant among men and I think that no matter how many times you read him, he will never cease to increase your knowledge nor your desire for knowledge.

10. The Two Mrs. Abbotts by D.E. Stevenson; (5*); PERSEPHONE;
Women's Fiction; (VMC Group 1940's year read for January; family); Century of Books; 1943; ROOT;

I adore D.E. Stevenson and wish that I had come to her work earlier in my life. This, the third of her Buncle series, is my runaway favorite thus far. And I loved the first two: Miss Buncle's Book and Miss Buncle Married.

In The Two Mrs. Abbotts, our protagonist, Barbara Buncle, is now Mrs. Abbott and has two small children. It is World War II and everyone is struggling with rationing and trying to make ends meet. Barbara’s old friend from their Silverstream days, Sarah Walker, who is the doctor’s wife, is visiting the community to give a talk on behalf of the Red Cross. The two friends take up their friendship where they left off and Sarah rapidly becomes part of the local community for the length of her visit.
The second Mrs. Abbott is Jerry Abbott, who is married to a cousin of Barbara’s husband.
The novel recreates a forgotten era. A time of make-do, mend, trying to live up to certain standards, doing the right thing and supporting the armed forces. Jerry takes in paying guests and struggles with an evacuee family as well as soldiers billeted in her big old house.
There are no earth shattering events, just ordinary every day interactions between friends and neighbors. But they are portrayed in such a way that you want to keep reading to see how it will all work out. There is plenty of humor, irony and marvelously written dialogue along with believable characters which keep the reader interested.
If you want to read a book which entertains you lightheartedly, try D.E. Stevenson. She was justifiably popular in her era when people had enough of real life and wanted an alternative world in which to escape. Even though it is set in war time, no one dies or is missing in action and somehow everyone gets enough to eat. The book will leave you with the feeling that all is right with the world.

11. Owl Moon by Jane Yolen; (4*); CHILDREN'S LIT; Century of Books; 1987; (3)

I think I would have given this a 5* rating, for sure, if I had read the hardcopy rather than listening to it. Children's books just lose something for me in the telling without the art work.
But still this is a charming tale of a little girl (I assumed it was a girl-child) and her papa who go out 'owling' one cold, brisk, starry night. The child has been begging her father to go along with him for ever so long and now he finally thinks she is ready to go. "If you go owling you have to be quiet". He tells her this each time she makes a noise. When once she is frightened by a sound and emits a wee gasp, he tells her: "If you go owling you have to be brave".
Finally they stop in a clearing in the midst of the wood and he begins calling to the owls. At first they only hear the silence. But after a bit, from far off, they hear an echo of his call. He calls again. Then from nearer they hear the echo again and suddenly they see a huge shadow of an owl reflected on the brilliant white snow. They remain silent and in awe for a few moments and then the father tells the little girl they will go home now.
I think perhaps this one will go the our 'greats' for Christmas, 2019 if I find the imagery to be as satisfactory as the prose. I find Yolen to be a simply amazing author.

12. Secret Daughter by Shilpi Gowda; (4 1/2*); GENERAL FICTION; Century of Books; 2010; (4)

A remarkable novel!
The book is a wonderful story that illustrates the love a mother and father have for their children regardless of how they were conceived. It also sheds light on foreign customs and traditions and how they affect the family dynamic and relationships. I enjoyed how the story was told from five different perspectives. I was invested in these characters and also some of the back story ones as well.
I would have loved to see a different ending but for this book that just wouldn't have worked.
I highly recommend this novel.

13. In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware; (4*); MYSTERY; ROOT; 2015; Century of Books; 2015

This one was a page turner for me. Several women who shared younger times with the bride-to-be come together in a gorgeous, but creeped out, glass house in the woods of Northumberland. They are here to celebrate the bride's coming nuptials. There are twisty turns and uneven (kind of like we arguably are in R/L) characters, multiple mysteries, murder & maham galore. Totally unrealistic plots but quite enjoyable with just the right amount of shivers for this reader.

14. The Red Pony by John Steinbeck; (5*); LOST GENERATION;
Critters; ROOT; 2007; Century of Books; 1933

In this small but mighty Steinbeck book of short stories we get to meet Jody, his ma and pa and the ranch hand, Billy Buck. All four stories are coming of age stories about Jody as he learns life's harsh lessons about the weather, his world, his beloved animals and how life can so cruelly take away from one what is dear to one; but also we see him learn how to appreciate his life and the world around him and what truly matters.
This is a wonderful book; full of hopes, and dreams (some come true and some crushed).
I liked the character of the father. He rang so true for those days and times. I loved Billy Budd and Jody. I even loved the dogs and the horses, for they were characters in this book as well. The mother was just kind of there doing what mothers did in those days and it seemed right that she have not much of an impact on me, but that she did on her son.
An awesome little book that I very highly recommend.

15. The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith; (3 1/2*); VMC; (#602); NOIR; ROOT; 2009; Century of Books; 1955

The Talented Mr Ripley is about a man who attempts to take over the identity of one of his friends. The whole thing goes squirrelly on him and he ends up murdering his friend. In attempting to get out of that, he must commit another one. So he portrays himself and his friend to different people at different times and puts a lot of stress upon himself. The book was very interesting as there were a great deal of tangles and twists that Mr. Ripley must get himself out of or explain away. The whole thing was rather incredulous but very intriguing.
The story takes place in Europe and I found the descriptions of the locales and the lifestyles rather interesting.
It was a very quick page turner of a read and I liked it well enough that I will read the others in the Ripley series. I don't think it is for everyone but it was a very pleasant change for me. The book was much easier to read than the movie was to watch.

16. Isak Dinesen : The Life of a Storyteller by Judith Thurman; (3 1/2*); NONFICTION; ROOT; 2007; Century of Books; 1982

This is a thorough book on the life of this very interesting but difficult to understand writer. Thurman took on a large task in writing about this wonderful author and storyteller. Dinesen's life was not easy specifically because she never took the easy route toward anything. She seemed to be after one thing in life; excitement in it's various forms. Her choices in men only led to heartache.
Bror Blixen and Denys Finch Hatton were both strong and independent men who held her love. But this love was not returned in the same scope as with which she loved. Dinesen had a huge heart and never did or felt anything less than whole heartedly. When she was happy she soared. When she was sad she plummeted to the depths of darkness. There seemed to be no middle ground for her. The author of this book shows you all sides of Dinesen and leaves you to your own conclusions.
This is a very interesting bio of a real person who really lived life to it's fullest. I recommend it to anyone who loves the works of Isak Dinesen.

A SHORT HISTORY OF ISAK DINESEN nee KAREN BLIXEN:



April 17, 1885: Isak Dinesen is born.

Karen Dinesen, Baroness Blixen-Finecke, better known by her pen name Isak Dinesen, is born in Rungsted, Denmark. Dinesen’s memoir, Out of Africa, helped demystify the Dark Continent for millions of readers.

Dinesen was born to an upper-class Danish family. Her father committed suicide when Dinesen was 10, ending the happiest period of her childhood. She began writing plays and stories and studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen, where she developed an interest in art.

When her family sent her to Oxford to study English, she rebelled and went to Paris and Rome to study painting. In 1914, she married her cousin Baron Bror Blixen-Finecke, and the couple moved to what was then British East Africa (now Kenya), where they owned and operated a coffee plantation. While the unhappy marriage dissolved in 1921, Dinesen fell passionately in love with Africa and remained to manage the plantation for a decade. In Africa, she was a lively and extravagant hostess, fond of throwing lush dinner parties for her friends-parties which laid the basis for her 1949 story, Babette’s Feast, which was filmed in 1987.

Drought and a crash in coffee prices forced Dinesen, penniless, back to Denmark in 1931. She began publishing short story collections with Seven Gothic Tales (1934), followed by Out of Africa in 1937, which brought her recognition and respect. She published several other story collections before her death of malnutrition in 1962.

17. Faceless Killers by Henning Mankell; (3 1/2*); SCANDI-CRIME; ROOT; 2013; Century of Books; 1991

Kurt Wallander is a Swedish investigative detective. He is estranged from his wife, his daughter and friends. He has a problematic relationship with his father, who I found to be such an interesting character in the novel. I thought that all of the characters were well developed, that the dialog was very well done and I found the story-line to be quite engaging. I loved the sparse prose style Mankell has used with this series.
In this particular book of the series the brutal torture and murder of an elderly farm couple puzzles and horrifies the department. The only clues are the unusual ligature on a rope used in the crime and the wife's dying whisper that their attackers were "foreign". This puts the police on the track of the immigrant population. Wallander soon finds himself spending as much time dealing with attacks by racists as with the initial crime and Mankell uses the scenario as a way to explain both Wallander's own frustration with an immigration system that's obviously badly broken and as a warning about the escalating tensions and the hatreds of folk less level-headed than the detective.
Wallander, as a detective, is a sympathetic character and the observations about Sweden in particular and Europe in general I found to be quite a brain-worm for myself. The cultural backdrop, against which the story is set, is as bleak and as barren as the wintry landscape.
I definitely recommend this series.

18. I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen; (4*); CHILDREN'S LIT;
Century of Books; 2011; (5)

This book is wonderful. It is a for a young targeted audience. While the animals may talk and own hats they are still recognizable as wild creatures. The fundamental biological relationships between the animals remain the same but are dramatized and given human trappings. If you find bears eating rabbits upsetting or are looking for a human morality tale you won't find it here. (It just may not be politically correct enough for you.)
The book is just really funny and enjoyable in its simplicity. Not many children's books are pleasing in this way nowadays. During my first read-through I caught myself thinking: "Wait, I have seen that hat" And lo and behold, you turn the page and there's the 'aha!' moment.
The illustrations are marvelous and the Q & A between the bear and his little animal friends are priceless! Our great grands love this one read aloud to them and the 4 year old already knows the verbage by heart.

The bear asks the rabbit: "Have you seen my hat"
The rabbit's response is priceless:
"No. Why are you asking me.
I haven’t seen it.
I haven’t seen any hats anywhere.
I would not steal a hat.
Don’t ask me any more questions."

19. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi; (2 1/2*); NONFICTION; on death and dying; Century of Books; 2016; (6)

The memoir of a neurosurgeon who is diagnosed with a terminal cancer of the lung. He writes this as he is traveling on what turns out to be a short journey to death. His words and story are compelling in that he is a courageous young man and is highly motivated in everything he undertakes, including his treatment and his dying.
The first parts of the book I found quite interesting. But I had difficulty focusing on the most telling parts, the important ones for the author, of his treatment and dying, . As he died before completion of the book, his wife finished it with a focus all her own and I found I was able to again come within the pages of Paul's book.
I must admit that I skimmed parts of the middle portion in order to finish the book. That saddened me for I think that Paul Kalanithi was a very heroic young man and his story deserves to be heard.

20. The Life and Death of Harriett Frean by May Sinclair; (3 1/2*); VMC; ROOT; 2009; Century of Books; 1922

I found this to be wonderful reading.
Harriet was always "the good girl". She is the one who always "wanted to please". And she did. She remained at home taking care of her parents throughout their lives. She was thirty five at the time of the stock market crash. Her father was a stock market broker and with all the pressure he became ill shortly thereafter and she cared for him throughout his illness until his death. Then she took care of her mother. When her mother took ill she cared for her until her death.
Over the years she waited for her life to begin.
This sounds to be a depressing book but I did not find it so. I would imagine that there are a great many "Harriet Freans" in the world even today.
I enjoyed this book very much. It is a quick and easy read. I understood Harriet quite well and will be seeking out more of May Sinclair's work.

21. 1936: Miss Buncle Married by D. E. Stevenson; (4*); PERSEPHONE; (#91); bk 2; ROOT; 2011; Century of Books; 1936; Women's Fiction; Good Reads Persephone Monthly Read; January;

This book is a follow up novel by Stevenson to her Miss Buncle. I enjoyed the second nearly as much as the first.
In this second of the series, Barbara Buncle has wed one solicitor, Arthur Abbott and thusly has become Mrs. Abbott. He has agreed to let her find a new home in the country and though it takes her much time to do so, she finally finds what to her is a desirable village house. Mr. Abbott looks at the house and sees a money pit but whatever his darling Mrs. Abbott wants he will furnish for her. She oversees all of the updating and upgrading of the home and furnishes it beautifully.
While walking in the gardens she comes upon two young children playing in the creek and upon it's banks. They get to chatting and tell her that they live just beyond the wood and they are worried that the new owners of the Archway House will not allow them to play in the wood and gardens but Mrs. Abbott assures that they are most welcome to play there as they have always done.
This second novel is just as fun filled as the first with many a surprising turn of events occurring. The joy of a life in a small village shines through the pages. These comfy, cosy novels remind me so of a mix of Angela Thirkell and Barbara Pym's books with just a touch of Elizabeth Taylor thrown in.
I highly recommend D.E. Stevenson's books.

A CENTURY OF BOOKS:

FEBRUARY:
* 22. The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn; (5*); CHILDREN'S LIT; library book; Century of Books; 1993; (7)
23. Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter; 1913
24. Christine Falls by Benjamin Black; 2007
25. Flush: A Biography by Virginia Woolf; 1933
26. Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf; 1925
27. Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder; 1935
28. The Blank Wall by Elisabeth Sanxay Holding; (2*); 1947
29. Drink to Yesterday by Manning Coles; 1941
30. Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog by John Grogan; 2005
31. Over Sea, Under Stone, (The Dark Is Rising Sequence), by Susan Cooper; 1965
32. Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones; 2006
33. All Passion Spent by Vita Sackville West; 1931
34. Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder; 1932
35. The Children's Hour by Lillian Hellman; 1934
36. The Wild Palms by William Faulkner; 1939
37. All This and Heaven Too by Rachel Field; 1938
38. Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder; 1933
* 39. The Swan in the Evening by Rosamond Lehmann; (3*); NONFICTION; Memoir; VIRAGO; ROOT; Century of Books; 1967; (8)
* 40. The Dead Don't Dance by Charles Martin; (4 1/2*); AMERICAN SOUTH; Fiction; kindle; bk 1; Century of Books; 2004; (9)
* 41. The Miracle Jar: A Hanukkah Story by Audrey Penn; (5*);
CHILDREN'S LIT; Century of Books; 2009; (10)
* 42. The Cold Song by Linn Ullmann; (1 1/2*); SCANDI-CRIME; ROOT; Century of Books; 2011; (11)
43. The Silver Swan by Benjamin Black; 2008
* 44. A Winter Love Story by Betty Neels; (4*); WOMEN'S FICTION; BETTY NEELS; library book; Century of Books; 1998; (12)
* 45. How Freckle Frog Made Herself Pretty by Charlotte B Herr; (nee Bronte; (4*); CHILDREN'S LIT; Century of Books; 1913; (13)

_____________________________________________________________

FEBRUARY'S TOTALS: 24; (7)

FEBRUARY OTHER READS:
OTHER, published 1913; Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter; (4*); Y/A; ROOT; Classics; bk 1
OTHER; published 1913; How Freckle Frog Made Herself Pretty by Charlotte B Herr; (nee Bronte; (4*); CHILDREN'S LIT;

22. The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn; (5*); library book; CHILDREN'S LIT; Century of Books; 1993; (7)

This is a charming tale of a wee raccoon whose time has come to attend Raccoon School. He doesn't want to go because he is nervous about change and he does not want to leave his mother. So she shows him how he can always have a part of her with him via 'the kissing hand'. She takes his little paw in her large one, spreads his little 'fingers' out into a fan shape and kisses the palm of his 'hand'. She tells him that whenever he gets afraid or misses her while at school......all he need do is touch the palm of that 'hand' to his cheek. He wiill feel the warmth of her kiss run from his cheek to his heart and feel near her again. It will last all day while he is at school.
This satisfied the little raccoon who was now content to attend school.

23. Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter; (4*); OTHER; Y/A; ROOT; Classics; published 1913; bk 1

This is truly one of the beautiful classics. I have read it aloud to my children, my grandchildren and now to my great grandchilren. They have all enjoyed it, especially the parts about the Glad Game. But my favorite way to read it is to just curl up by myself in a quiet corner and read it for myself.
This is a wonderful book no matter what one's age. One can't help feeling 'glad' as one finishes the book. And it is a wonderful feeling when you pick it up again for the next reading. Just like you're meeting old friends again.

24. Christine Falls by Benjamin Black; (3*); NOIR; Century of Books; 2007; Mystery; bk 1; library book; (author=John Banville)

Christine Falls is a sad, dark story of lives that are burdened by wrong choices which impact the characters lives forever. I could find no character, primary or otherwise, who enjoys any lasting joy. Moments of happiness are short lived and soon replaced by the effects of poor decisions.
I did have empathy for Quirke and his early life losses but overall I felt a lack of depth in the characters and the storyline. However I find Banville to be an excellent writer and his character, the Dublin pathologist Quirke, is sufficiently noirish that I'll keep reading this series in the hope of finding the depth and dimension I found missing in this book.

25. Flush: A Biography by Virginia Woolf; (5*); PERSEPHONE; (#55); Lost Generation; Century of Books; 1933; Women's Fiction

Flush is a first person fictional narrative about the Cocker Spaniel owned by Elizabeth Barrett/Elizabeth Barrett Browning. The real dog was stolen three times but in the novella it is capsulized into a story of one theft.

Virginia Woolf opens the novel writing as if the book were non-fiction. After a few pages, she slips into the narrative form with the dog describing his life. She explores the dog's relation to the owner and tells us what it is like to be a dog. The dog is very sensitive to the moods of his owner and is protective, even becoming jealous on an occasion or two. One could say that Woolf gives Flush a soul.
"Flush dances through the meadows as a puppy. The cool globes of dew or rain broke in showers of iridescent spray about his nose; the earth, her hard, here soft, here hot, here cold, stung, teased and tickled the soft pads of his feet. Then what a variety of smells interwoven is subtlest combination thrilled his nostrils...".
This story is light hearted and avoids the heavy cloud of despair usually portrayed in books about the Barretts of Wimpole Street, though Wimpole Street is the setting of the first part of the book.
I loved how Woolf described Flush running through the parks, chasing birds & whatnot; lying soaking up the sun, etc. Her descriptiveness of a 'dog's life' is pretty spot on. This story allows Woolf to be more playful than any of the other piece she has written. The mix of fiction and fact allows her to tell a story filled with heroes and villians which make the book quite captivating like an adult fairy tale. By the end I was fully engaged and completely consumed by Flush and his life. I didn't want it to end but sadly it had to. This is a must for any fan of Woolf or even anyone who has a love for animals. The deeper meaning of the narrative is the telling of loyalty and love. We can all take a lesson from that.
I fell in love with this little book and highly recommend it. It boggles my mind just how timeless Virginia Woolf's works are.

26. Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf; (5*); LOST GENERATION; Persephone Author; Century of Books; 1925; BLOOMSBURY; WOMEN'S FICTION; ROOT; hardcopy; FICTION; British Lit; the Classics

Extraordinary!
This book by Virginia Woolf has been described as the greatest novel of the English language. That may not be an exageration. Some sentences are so beautifully written that they beg to be read again and again. Woolf never fails to put me in this situation. Her writing is sublime.
The story is simple. It follows one day in the life of Clarissa Dalloway as she prepares to host a high society party in London that evening. It jumps from Clarissa's story to that of several of the guests. It is a story about their thoughts and reminiscences more than their actions. It is a story about the love between men and women and between women and women. It is a story about the politics of marriage in the early 20th century.
Simply put, it is a classic! Woolf was and remains stellar in the world of great literature.

27. Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder; (4 1/2*); NONFICTION; memoir; Children's Lit; bk 3; Century of Books; 1935; ROOT;

My G'ma gave one of the 'Little House' books to me when I was a youngster way back in the 1950s. I don't even remember which one it was but today at 71 I am still reading them. They enrapture me and I love how Ingalls minutely describes the manner in which they built the items they needed in order to accomplish their tasks.
Stories such as these remind you of what family ties, loyalty, respect and responsibility mean.

28. The Blank Wall by Elisabeth Sanxay Holding; (2*); PERSEPHONE; GoodReads Persephone Monthly Read; (FEBRUARY); ROOT; Women's Fiction;
Century of Reading; 1947

This story is touted as a "suspense" novel and I was very excited to read it as it was highly thought of by both Raymond Chandler and Alfred Hitchcock. Ms. Holding is very good with her characterizations and while I didn't come to care about any of the characters I did understand them and why they behaved the way that each one of them behaved.
The story takes place during WWII with the husband away at war and the wife left at home with two adolescent teens, her father and one servant in the house to deal with. The daughter gets involved with a seedy character and whilst the mother attempts to undo their relationship the whole thing comes apart.
The story is a pretty formulaic tale and I am sure there are a lot who would go for this and actually enjoy the read. I finished it because I started it but it was pretty obvious where it was going, so no suspense there for me. In point of fact I found it rather boring. The most interesting parts for me were the parts of "stamp rationing" for food and petrol.

29. Drink to Yesterday by Manning Coles; (5*); MYSTERY; espionage; bk 1; WW II; autobiographical fiction; ROOT; Century of Books; 1941

A relative newcomer to the genre, I could not put this book down. It made me anxious to know what came next. It caused sleeplessness because I wanted to be reading and not sleeping. The characters fascinated me, the storyline fascinated me and I can't but help to think that this book is fiction based very heavily on fact.
Our boy Michael/Bill/Dirk was rather an oddity in his school days. He loved the languages, learned them easily, the maths and he enjoy little science projects mostly for the irritation they caused the school & schoolmaster.
When the war came Michael Kingstone was only fifteen years of age. And yet he attempted to talk his guardian, Uncle John, into allowing him to try to join up. His uncle refused him of course.
In 1916 at the tender age of sixteen he went into London to a recruiting office and lying about his age, enlisted under the name of William Saunders. He was eventually sent to the trenches at the front lines. He and another serviceman would be sent through the trenches to get as close to the German trenches in order to eavesdrop on German conversation; both of them having some knowledge of the German language. During the battle when Nazis were taken prisoner, they were brought to Bill Saunders for interrogation.
When it became known to his upper superiors how well he was doing dealing with the German language, he was sent up through the channels and asked if he was interested in working in intelligence behind enemy lines. He accepted the offer (his name now became Dirk) and was introduced to one Tommy Hambledon who was to be his partner in intelligence. Hambledon had already been in intelligence for a time and was established in the community they would be working in. Hambledon had a business there and Saunders would be his partner. This was their cover.
Several of their espionage accounts seemed familiar to me though not exact to previous account I had read.
This book is part mystery but mostly a spy story. And I thrilled to it. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next in the Tommy Hambledon series and lucky me; there are 25 of them if I can just get my hands on some. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys this genre or to those who, like me, want to try it. It will blow your mind!

30. Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog by John Grogan; (4*); CRITTERS; Memoir; dogs; ROOT; 2011; Century of Books; 2005

Hubby & I watched Marley and Me on the telly and I just had to read it right away. My granddaughter had forgotten her copy here so I read it and loved every page. I laughed, I cried..........quick read and I'm so glad that I read it.
This is the story of a yellow lab named Marley; supposedly the worst dog in the world. His family adores him but he has so much energy and is just bursting with the happiness of life that. He simply cannot ignore this nor can he behave himself. A true story, a sweet story, a happy story, a sad story.
We have a yellow lab too and I have a feeling that if our Abby Labby didn't have hip dysplasia she could have given Marley a run for his money. I thoroughly enjoyed this little book and rated it a 4* read.

31. Over Sea, Under Stone, (The Dark Is Rising Sequence), by Susan Cooper; (5*); Y/A; FANTASY FICTION; Time Travel; ROOT; Century of Books; 1965

I don't know what I expected when I began this Y/A book but it certainly wasn't the ride I was taken on. Most of the reviews I had read on this title were underwhelming to say the least so it was a very pleasant surprise to me when I found myself so ingrained in the story that I literally got goose bumps, didn't hear my husband when he spoke to me and was on the edge of the chair for most of the book. I could not put it down. And now I can't wait for the entire set of the series to arrive. I ordered it as soon as I completed Over Sea, Under Stone.
The story begins with Simon, Jane and Barney arriving with their parents for a nice holiday visiting their great Uncle Merry in Cornwall.
But then, but then............the children find an ancient map in the attic while exploring the old house. They must unravel the mystery of the map and what it might possibly lead them to. They try to keep it a secret but word gets out somehow and strange & somewhat frightening people begin to follow them and ask them questions. All of a sudden everybody seems very interested in them. And why is their Great-Uncle being so protective of them? Are they in danger? Their Uncle Merry has discussed the fight between the Light and the Dark and tells the children that as long as the Light is still out there, the Dark cannot overcome all.
This book is a wonderful beginning to what I hope is a roller coaster of a thrilling series. This book is not openly about the battle between the Light and the Dark. It is just about three children trying to understand the map and what it is leading them to.
Susan Cooper has done a very good job of writing this little thriller. It sucked me right in and I was frightened when the children were frightened and found myself saying aloud: "No, don't tell him. He isn't good." I was in it with the kids all the way.
I highly recommend this book to youngsters & adults alike who enjoy a tingling good story.

32. Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones; (5*); GENERAL FICTION; ROOT; Century of Books; 2006

Amazing!
What a beautifully written coming of age story Jones has given us. A lovely, poetic gift from his mind and hand.
The story takes place on a lush tropical Pacific Isle.
The protagonist, Matilda, is the daughter of a native Christian woman and her father has gone to work on the mainland. For a while Matilda believed her mother when she said they would soon follow him but she came to realize that they were never going to leave the island.
Most of the men from the village have gone but there remain many women and children. One of the men, Mr. Watts, who does remain is the only white man in the village. With the teacher gone Mr. Watts decides to take over the teaching of the children. And he decides to begin with his favorite piece of literature: Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. He and Matilda quickly come to share a love of this work and the character, Pip, becomes a great part of this story.
Beautifully written, both lyrically and visually, this book took my breath away. Even the horror of a warring army invading this village numerous times and committing atrocities was unable to take my mind off the beauty of this book.
Highly recommended.

33. All Passion Spent by Vita Sackville West; (5*); VMC; (110); Women's Fiction; Bloomsbury; ROOT; Century of Books; 1931

What a beautifully written novel this is. "All Passion Spent" is about a woman in her late eighties whose husband has just passed away and who finds herself suddenly with the freedom to do as she likes with the remainder of her life. Up until now, she has lived for her husband and her six children.
The children expect her to sell her home, which she does, and share the remaining years she has with them; rotating months between their homes. But Lady Slane has a very different idea for the years she has left. She wants to live very privately in the countryside with her one devoted servant and far from all of her family. She yearns for peace and quiet. So ignoring all of their demands upon her, she does exactly that.
Not a lot happens in this novel, but it is not what happens that invades the mind and spirit of the one reading it. It is the getting there, the prose, the language of the book that is taken into one's heart, treasured and held there that matters. This is simply a beautiful story and one I won't forget for a long time.

34. Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder; (3 1/2*); MEMOIR; bk 1; Children's Lit; Y/A; Century of Books; 1932

My G'ma gave one of the 'Little House' books to me when I was a youngster way back in the 1950s. I don't even remember which one it was but today at 70 I am still reading them. They enrapture me and I love how Ingalls minutely describes the manner in which they built the items they needed to accomplish their tasks.
Stories such as these remind you of what family ties, loyalty, respect and responsibility mean.

>9 rainpebble: This is a dangerous thread for me to follow. Second book this week you've sold me on.

35. The Children's Hour by Lillian Hellman; (4*); the play; GENERAL FICTION; Century of Books; 1934

Lillian Hellman's "The Children's Hour" is wonderful play. The big lie and the resulting drama that unfolds is both dynamic and captivating.
This is one of my all time favorite plays. Hellman has demonstrated, with devastating accuracy, the power of a lie while simultaneously commenting on the effects of a close minded society. The Children's Hour is just as relevant today as it was in the 40's.

36. The Wild Palms by William Faulkner; (4 1/2*); LOST GENERATION; American South; Century of Books; 1939

The scariest love story I've ever read. Faulkner's prose is difficult at first but once you manage to enter his world of words you become addicted. Wilde Palms is a book about passion, with echoes of all the big historic literary 'victims' such as Madame Bovary and Anna Karenina, all set in the intoxicating, exuberant South. Unforgettable!
William Faulkner was one of the great American literary experimentalists, and The Wild Palms offers one of his most interesting ideas: Two interwoven stories, different in plot and theme yet linked by man's imprisoned condition.
In the first, titled, Wild Palms, we meet a staid internist who becomes a married woman's object of desire. After surrendering to a couple of cosmic twists the two are carried away by passion to embrace a kind of loving doom.
In the second, Old Man, a convict is plunged into the middle of a major Mississippi River flood with a pregnant woman he rescues for company. "All in the world I want is just to surrender", thinks he, but Old Man River seems to have other plans.
First published in 1939 as If I Forget Thee, Jerusalem, this double novella famously namechecks another contemporary American author as 'Hemingwaves'. Others have noted how Wild Palms resembles two of Hemingway's better known works, A Farewell To Arms and the short story Hills Like White Elephants. I believe they are right and that Faulkner was also inspired by In Our Time, Hemingway's first short story collection which intersperses short stories with a running series of sequential anecdotes in breakaways that play off one another thematically. Wild Palms and Old Man do a similar sort of thing, if not as well.
Wild Palms is much better than Old Man. We get in Wild Palms an unsettling erotic tale at once romantic and misogynistic with the woman, Charlotte, a yellow eyed Bohemian willing to abandon her husband and daughters for a man she doesn't really seem to love. She'd rather die than give up her freedom to the point where death becomes a kind of objective, a kind of nihilistic declaration of indepedence. Her lover Harry has more rooted survival instincts but can't push himself away from passions he has been abjuring too long.
Old Man is more often anthologized for some reason. I've come across it both in isolation and with Wild Palms. It works better in the latter form, as a somewhat comic reprieve with more action than the talkier Wild Palms. The unnamed protagonist of Old Man is completely disinterested in freedom to the point of being mortified of it. Prison is all he knows. His escape was completely involuntary. The story moves from setpiece to setpiece with much potential wasted. The pregnant woman seldom rises above a cipher.
Overall The Wild Palms remains a rich, immersive ride. Even if it doesn't represent a return to his Yoknapatawpha County both stories are partially set in Mississippi and as Southern Gothic as anything can be said to be. Faulkner fans will relish that distinctive burled voice of yearning and pain. More casual readers, meanwhile, will absorb and perhaps even enjoy the doomed romance story for both its heady passions and its ruminations on the human condition crystallized in one character's famous decision in choosing between nothing and grief. Something about the vitality of being alive keeps the characters in Wild Palms afloat. The same thing keeps you reading.
The ending of each tale is blunt, harsh, shocking. Read them as written, or read them separately, but read them.

>37 rainpebble: oh this does sound good. I haven't heard of it before. Is it a long series?

37. All This and Heaven Too by Rachel Field; (4*); Historical FICTION; Biographical Novel; ROOT; Century of Books; 1938

This is just a good, old fashioned historical novel.
It is based on the life of Field's French great aunt, Henriette Desportes. The author takes Henriette's life from the time she was a 28 year old governess, travelling back to her native France in the 1840's, until her death as the wife of Henry Field in New England in the 1870's. How much of Henriette's story is actually true is up for conjecture. Probably just the parts centered around the murder of the Duchesse of Praslin and Henriette's questioning by the authorities on the extent of her involvement.
But the lack of substantive historical accuracy doesn't take away from the charm and enjoyment of this book. However I will say that it was written in the '30's and readers who prefer a more modern and direct approach in their books might find the storyline tedious and overly descriptive. I happen to enjoy the slower pace of these older novels so I found it to be an entertaining read.
I am so happy I was able to dig around on my shelves and find it again.

38. Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder; (5*); NONFICTION; Memoir; bk 3; Children's Lit; ROOT; Century of Books; 1933

My G'ma gave one of the 'Little House' books to me when I was a youngster way back in the 1950s. I don't even remember which one it was but today at 70 I am still reading them. They enrapture me and I love how Ingalls minutely describes the manner in which they built the items they needed to accomplish their tasks.
Stories such as these remind you of what family ties, loyalty, respect and responsibility mean.
Of all the Little House books, this one is far and away my favorite.

>38 rainpebble: I think everyone loves these books. The television show did a lot to introduce the tech age kids to them.

>47 Carol420:,
And aren't we thankful for that. I am now reading these to my great grandchildren in their turn.

>48 rainpebble: Good for you. There is hope for the printed word. I can't imagine a world without it.

39. The Swan in the Evening by Rosamond Lehmann; (2*); VIRAGO Nonfiction; Memoir; ROOT; Century of Books; 1967; (8)

This was just an okay read for me. I think that my expectations were much more along the line of Lehmann's relationship with Sally, her daughter. I was not expecting the whole 'searching for spirituality help' thing. But I do enjoy reading this author's words, even the long run-on sentences. That always takes me back to another time and place. For some, this will be a great read. But for myself it was rather a snooze.

40. The Dead Don't Dance by Charles Martin; (5*); AMERICAN SOUTH; General Fiction; kindle; bk 1; Century of Books; 2004; (9)

Not the best book I have read this year but very possibly my favorite read thus far. Not only did I care about our protagonist and his wife but all of the secondary characters were wonderfully written. From the deputy to the students to the hound dogs to the river......... All were wonderful reading.
Martin has created a beautiful story. The characters are so believable and honest. Dylan Stiles is married to a wonderful woman named Maggie. When she shares the news of her pregnancy with Dylan, they are thrilled. But tragedy strikes. The baby dies at birth and the tremendous loss of blood causes Maggie to fall into a coma. While her life is hanging by a thread, Dylan takes a job teaching English to community college students whose futures are also hanging in the balance. The relativeness between students and teacher is really interesting to read.
Dylan's passion for teaching is awakened during this time. But his passion for living is stymied for a time. Somehow he comes to balance his professional life with his personal life.

41. The Miracle Jar: A Hanukkah Story by Audrey Penn; (5*); CHILDREN'S LIT; Century of Books; 2009; (10)

A young family is preparing for the holiday of Hannukah. The children sweep the house and polish the Menorah as their contributions to the holiday. The parents view these chores as Hannukah gifts from the children.
The mother in this story has the same problem as in the story of the ancient Maccabees. They are nearly out of cooking oil. It is not possible to go to the store because they are snowed in. Their hope, the same as that of the Maccabees of old, is that through some miracle she will have enough cooking oil to make the family its traditional holiday treats for the entire eight days of Hannukah.
She is able to save oil left from her cooking each day in what the family calls 'the miracle jar'. For seven days she is able to achieve her goal, but there is no oil left for the eighth day. Through her ingenuity, she is able to delight her family and give them the eighth day treat. The familys' love for one another is an important attribute of this lovely little book.
If I hadn't bought this book to read to my great grandchildren, I do believe that I still would have bought it for myself. It is a wee treasure.

42. The Cold Song by Linn Ullmann; (1 1/2*); SCANDI-CRIME; ROOT; Century of Books; 2011; (11)

Generally I love the 'Nordic, Icelandic, Scandi-Crime type novels. I easily engage with the dark and brooding atmosphere of these books. The brooding psychological themes usually make for intense and satisfying reading. But this book was just plain bad. It was a huge 'snooze'. I found it to be a plain rotter of a read and I have come across very few of those in my lifetime.
The book begins with three young boys digging up what they think is their collection of treasures which they had buried earlier. Instead of treasure they find a decomposed corpse. So something good to build from but alas, our 'carpenter' had not the 'tools'.

43. The Silver Swan by Benjamin Black; (2 1/2*); NOIR; bk 2; library book; Century of Books; 2008

Although this followup to 'Christine Falls' is not as good as the first, it does show Black/Banville's skill in crafting an interesting story. A few things didn't add up; still all came out in the end.
Black writes very sensual prose, setting each scene with enough detail and making good use of scents to create a mood. So I quite like the writing here and while the novel wasn't great I enjoyed it for what it was; a 50s-ish, noir-ish mystery.

44. A Winter Love Story by Betty Neels; (4*); WOMEN'S FICTION; BETTY NEELS; library book; Century of Books; 1998

With a nasty chest cold, snow all round, a good wood fire and a cup of hot chocolate this Neels fare was just the ticket. She always writes a nice little romance.
This one is about Claudia, a nurse of course, who meets Thomas when her uncle is dying and she nurses him. They share an antagonistic relationship through most of the novel but as usual things come round for the perfect ending.

(With this cold lingering I will most likely be reading several of these. Perfect for when one's brain is all muddled up.)

45. How Freckle Frog Made Herself Pretty by Charlotte B Herr; (nee Bronte); (4*); CHILDREN'S LIT; OTHER; published 1913

A magical fairy tale of a little girl and a frog that will charm kids and take them through a charming, quaint adventure.
Marion, the little girl has a doll she calls Big Mary. And Freckles is a wee freckled frog.
Marion love parties and likes to look pretty for them. This story is about how the little freckled frog uses nature to dress 'herself' up and look pretty for the parties as well. It is quite a charming little tale.

A CENTURY OF BOOKS:

MARCH:
46. The Prophet by Kahil Gibran; 1923
* 47. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens; (4 1/2*); AMERICAN SOUTH; Fiction; Century of Books; 2018; (14)
48. The Log from the Sea of Cortez by John Steinbeck; 1951
* 49. Winter of Change by Betty Neels; (3 1/2*); ROMANTIC FICTION; ROOT; Century of Books; 1973; (15)
* 50. Roses for Christmas by Betty Neels; (5*); ROMANTIC FICTION; library book; Christmas; ROOT; prior to L/T; Century of Books; 1975; (16)
* 51. A Christmas Proposal by Betty Neels; (5*); ROMANTIC FICTION; Century of Books; 1996; (17)
* 52. A Matter of Chance by Betty Neels; (5*); ROMANTIC FICTION; Century of Books; 1977; (18)
* 53. A Christmas Romance by Betty Neels; (4 1/2*); ROMANTIC FICTION; Century of Books; 2000; (19)
54. The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall; 1928
* 55. The Edge of Winter by Betty Neels; (4*); ROMANTIC FICTION; Century of Books; 1976; (20)
* 56. A Christmas Wish by Betty Neels; (4*); ROMANTIC FICTION; Century of Books; 1994; (21)
* 57. Wish With The Candles by Betty Neels; (4*); ROMANTIC FICTION; Century of Books; 1972; (22)
58. The Pearl by John Steinbeck; 1945
59. Ilsa by Madeleine L'Engle; 1946
60. The Dogs of Riga by Henning Mankell; 1992
61. Too Close for Comfort by Ellen Feldman; 1994
62. The Giver by Lois Lowry; 1993
63. Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach; 1970
64. Whalesong by Robert Siegel; 1981
65. The Willow Cabin by Pamela Frankau; 1949
66. Charlotte's Web by E. B White; 1952
* 67. Easter Rising: A History From Beginning to End; (4*); NONFICTION;
Century of Books; 2016; (23)
* 68. They Were Sisters by Dorothy Whipple; (5*); WOMEN'S FICTION; PERSEPHONE; kindle; Century of Books; 1947; (24)
* 69. The Fifth Day of Christmas by Betty Neels; (4*); ROMANTIC FICTION; Century of Books; 1971; (25)
* 70. Fate is Remarkable by Betty Neels; (4*); ROMANTIC FICTION; Century of Books; 1970; (26)
* 71. Tangled Autumn by Betty Neels; (4 1/2*); ROMANTIC FICTION; Century of Books; 1971; (27)
72. The Lying Days by Nadine Gordimer; 1953
73. The Short Reign of Pippin IV by John Steinbeck; 1957
74. True Grit by Charles Portis; 1968
75. Ernest Hemingway and His World by Anthony Burgess; 1978
76. The Diary of Anais Nin: Volume 1 (1931-1934) by Anaïs Nin; 1966
* 77. The Gemel Ring by Betty Neels; (3*); ROMANTIC FICTION; Century of Books; 1974; (28)
78. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou; 1969
79. The Woman in Black by Susan Hill; 1983
80. Elegy for April by Benjamin Black; 2010
* 81. The Light Over London by Julia Kelly; (3*); WOMEN'S FICTION; Historical Fiction; WWII; Century of Books; 2019; (29)
* 82. On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder; (4 1/2*);
NONFICTION; bk 4; Century of Books; 1937; (30)
* 83. By the Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder; (5*); NONFICTION; bk 5; Century of Books; 1939; (31
* 84. The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl; (3*); CHILDREN'S LIT; library book; kindle; Century of Books; 1966; (32)
* 85. The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder; (4 1/2*); NONFICTION; bk 6; Century of Books; 1940; (33)
* 86. The Night Soldiers by Alan Furst; MYSTERY; Historical Fiction;
Espionage; bk1; Century of Books; 1988; (34)
* 87. Little Town on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder; (4*);
NONFICTION; bk 7; Century of Books; 1941; (35)
________________________________________________________

MARCH TOTALS: 41; (22)

46. The Prophet by Kahil Gibran; (4*); NONFICTION; Philosophy; Century of Books; 1923

A book for the ages. The Prophet, which I first read in the 1970s, is a relatively short book that can be read in an afternoon. I try to reread it at least once a decade. Its impact will endure for a lifetime.

47. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens; (5*); AMERICAN SOUTH; Fiction; Coming-of-Age; Mystery; Century of Books; 2018

A fascinating first novel by this writer of nonfiction. Where the Crawdads Sing is a beautiful story of a child left by everyone she knows and cares about until all she is left with is the marsh and all of the wild things therein. She raises herself on lots of grits which she teaches herself to cook on her ma's wood stove in the shack. She earns the money to buy the grits by digging & selling mussels, oysters and smoked fish.
The 'Marsh Girl', as those of the Carolina village call her, grows up wild, beautiful and full of the ways of the swamps and marshes of the Low Country.
I sank into this novel as one would sink into the swampy mire. Wonderful, fascinating and informative; I love the way this author uses her words and look forward to more of her works.

48. The Log from the Sea of Cortez by John Steinbeck; (4 1/2*); LOST GENERATION; Nonfiction; ROOT; Century of Books; 1951

This was Steinbeck's only work of nonfiction and it is a doozzy. He and his lifelong best friend, Ed Ricketts (who was a marine biologist), chartered a boat, hired a crew and headed out to the California gulf to find and chart specimens from the waters there.
While there is a lot in the book about hunting and finding specimens and how they handled them, there is so much in this book about how Steinbeck sees mankind and how we think, feel and why we react in certain circumstances the way that we do. Steinbeck was a very introspective man and his thoughts on all of this quite wowed me. I found it most fascinating. For instance, take the following:

"Man is the only animal whose interest and whose drive are outside himself. Other animals may dig holes to live in; may weave nests or take possession of hollow trees. Some species, like bees or spiders, even create complicated homes, but they do it with the fluids and processes of their own bodies. They make little impression on the world. But the world is furrowed and cut, torn and blasted by man. Its flora has been swept away and changed; its mountains torn down by man; its flat lands littered by the debris of his living. And these changes have been wrought, not because any inherent technical ability has demanded them, but because his desire has created that technical ability. Physiological man does not require this paraphernalia to exist, but the whole man does. He is the only animal who lives outside of himself, whose drive is in external things--property, houses, money, concepts of power. He lives in his cities and his factories, in his business and job and art. But having projected himself into these external complexities, he is them. His house, his automobile are a part of him and a large part of him. This is beautifully demonstrated by a thing doctors know--that when a man loses his possessions a very common result is sexual impotence. If then the projection, the preoccupation of man, lies in external things so that even his subjectivity is a mirror of houses and cars and grain elevators, the place to look for his mutation would be in the direction of his drive, or in other words in the external things he deals with. And here we can indeed readily find evidence of mutation. The industrial revolution would then be indeed a true mutation, and the present tendency toward collectivism, whether attributed to Marx, or Hitler or Henry Ford, might be as definite a mutation of the species as the lengthening neck of the evolving giraffe. For it must be that mutations take place in the direction of a species drive or preoccupation. If then this tendency toward collectivization is mutation there is no reason to suppose it is for the better. It is a rule in paleontology that ornamentation and complication precede extinction. And our mutation, of which the assembly line, the collective farm, the mechanized army, and the mass production of food are evidences or even symptoms, might well correspond to the thickening armor of the great reptiles--a tendency than can end only in extinction. If this should happen to be true, nothing stemming from thought can interfere with it or bend it. Conscious thought seems to have little effect on the action or direction of our species."

And that is just the tip of the iceberg.
This was a relaxing read, excluding his remarks on mankind, which had my mind whirling. But relaxing in the way in which he narrates their six week expedition; the personalities of the crew members, in the way he speaks of them weighing anchor at villages and towns and how the townspeople related to them. He weaves a spell about the actual journey and how they all interacted with each other, the sunsets, the beauty and tranquility of the gulf, how they would enjoy talking over a beer at the end of the day and how once out there, they never wanted to come back, but upon their return they each rushed to return to their own lives.
This is a very good book but one I think a person needs to take the time to reflect upon as they read it. I am so glad I took the time to read this book. It is quite different than anything of his that I have ever read and also beautiful in a very different way.
The appendix of the book is totally about Ed Ricketts and is very, very interesting. I think Steinbeck cared greatly for this man. He died tragically and at a young age. It, the appendix, runs 50 pages long and could have been the makings of a book in and of itself. In it, I could see how the author patterned characters in his books after Ricketts; Doc, in Cannery Row especially.
This one comes with high marks from me. And I think that even those who are not Steinbeck fans but enjoy nonfiction just might like this one.

49. Winter of Change by Betty Neels; (3 1/2*); WOMEN'S FICTION; ROOT; Century of Books; 1973

In this nice little romantic piece from Neels the protagonist, a nurse of course, is called from her post at hospital to care for her beloved dying uncle. He is the only remaining relation of hers. As she cares for him through this journey of passing, they become even closer than before and she spends most all of her time with him.
Upon her uncle's death she finds that he has left his home and all of his worldly goods to her. But she learns at the same time that he has appointed a guardian for her to approve all of her expenditures above her allowance and also any marriage she might make until the time she turns 30. WHAT???
Enter the guardian and the awkwardness of their relationship as it moves forward. I enjoyed this bit of women's fiction as I do all of Neels' work.

50. Roses for Christmas by Betty Neels; (5*); WOMEN'S FICTION; library book; Christmas; ROOT; prior to L/T; Century of Books; 1975

I began reading Betty Neels back in the '70s while in my 20s. Reading them again today, in my 70s, they seem as lovely and fresh as they did back in the day. I don't still have every book in paperback form so I am reading the others on my Kindle.
I always love Betty Neels books. They are good old fashion romances without all the hype and without the unsettling scenes. However I always wonder why her male characters don't show more of their feelings. That doesn't happen in this novel. Here the male hero gives very specific hints throughout to let us know how he feels about Eleanor. He kisses her and holds her close. But Eleanor goes the way of most Neels' heroines and cannot believe that he loves her. Whichever.........I love this story because we see more of each character as a real human being.
I love them all but I thought this one had something special.

51. A Christmas Proposal by Betty Neels; (5*); WOMEN'S FICTION; Century of Books; 1996

This bit of women's fiction reads a lot like Cinderella. Bertha has a mean, bit*hy step mother and a beautiful & popular, selfish, vain and stab-you-in-the-back stepsister named Clare. Her father is gone most of the time for work which leaves Bertha at the mercy of her 'step-monster' & the daughter. The only clothes they provide for her are the ugly cast offs of Clare.
True to the style of Neels storytelling, Bertha catches the eye of rich doctor Oliver Hay-Smythe. But in order for him to be allowed near her he must play this game of falling for Clare. And it plays out very well for both the main characters and the reader. I loved how all of the servants and secomdary characters were behind Bertha all the way!
For those of us who read Neels, we know most of the twists and turns that her romance novels seem to take. But that certainly doesn't stop this reader from enjoying every one of them.

52. A Matter of Chance by Betty Neels; (5*); WOMEN'S FICTION; Century of Books; 1977

This author has a way with words and continually provides excellent, sweet stories that are such a delight to read. She writes of likeable and fairly realistic characters portraying the events that lead to a love we all seek but few of us find.
This was very well written and Neels has a way of describing the surroundings perfectly. Here, the events unfold in a simplistic style that leaves me wanting to read another one of her cherished stories soon.

53. A Christmas Romance by Betty Neels; (4 1/2*); WOMEN'S FICTION; Century of Books; 2000

This is such a sweet romance. Both of the main characters are lovely people and their romance is sweet and charming.
Theodosia works in the hospital where Hugo is a senior Dr. He encounters her one day and is intrigued by her and her bright ginger hair. From then on he finds himself driving her to visit her great aunts in the country, dancing with her in the hospital ball and helping her out in any way he can. We see the Hugo's thoughts so we know he is attracted to Theodosia and feels quite protective of her. He is taken with her optimistic disposition despite her poor circumstances. I liked how he would do things to make her happy, as when he took on an extra little dog just to please her. They have a sweet and happy ending.
I love Betty Neels. Her writings are so perfect when one is ill or feeling a bit down. One relaxes when one reads her books.

54. The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall; (4 1/2*); GENERAL FICTION; VMC; (76); banned books; Bloomsbury; Women's Fiction; Classic; lesbian/gay fiction; Century of Books; 1928

Amongst so many negative reviews, I will stand and say that I loved this book. The lesbianism in it is not written overtly enough so as to be offensive. I found it to be very sensitively written and a very thoughtful read.
I cared about the characters that I should have and despised those that were to there to be despised. I am very taken with Hall's writing and look forward to reading more of her work. I am very glad that I read the Radclyffe Hall bio before reading this book. I think it brought me more in tune with her writing.
There is some happiness in the story and a great deal of sadness as well. I am certain that I will be reading this one again. I gave it 4 1/2 stars.

55. The Edge of Winter by Betty Neels; (4*); WOMEN'S FICTION; Century of Books; 1976

Another great Betty Neels story. It matters not to me if all of her stories have a common theme. They are always well written with a lot of interesting details about a lifestyle we here in the U.S. will never get to see. I enjoy reading about about the European countries, the food, and the sights.
Araminta Shaw, an emergency room nurse, falls for Dr. Crispin van Sibbelt. Or he falls for her. Whichever; he worries that the fifteen year age difference will be difficult to overcome.
Their path to happiness is nearly ruined by a misunderstanding but in the end true love conquers. I really enjoyed this sweet love story. It left me with that feeling one gets at the successful completion of a good romance novel.

56. A Christmas Wish by Betty Neels; (4*); WOMEN'S FICTION; Christmas; Century of Books; 1994

I alway enjoy reading Neels' books. They are sweet romances and quaint stories. They're like going home for Christmas and cozying up by the fire.
I found this one a very comforting read. I especially enjoyed how the author wroth the little girl, Nel, in this story.

57. Wish With the Candles by Betty Neels; (4*); WOMEN'S FICTION; Century of Books; 1972

Emma Hastings is on a driving vacation in Holland with her mother when she bumps a car driven by Dutch Surgeon Justin Teylingen. Not exactly a good start to a relationship and she is not happy to learn that he will be performing surgery at the hospital where she works as a nurse.
Emma thinks Justin is in love with his cousin. She doesn't realize that he is in love with her and is willing to wait until she falls in love with him.
This is another wonderful romance from Neels. The plot is one of her most popular. A handsome and rich Dutch doctor falls in love with a plain (or pretty) English nurse who is excellent at her job and comes from a poor but loving family. She also throws in the plot device of having the heroine in danger and the doctor must save her.
There is nothing new here. But that is what is so great about Neels' books. You know exactly what you are getting when you pick them up. They are just perfect for what ails me when I am ill or feeling down.

58. The Pearl by John Steinbeck; (5*); LOST GENERATION; Classics;
Century of Books; 1945

Another wonderful Steinbeck.
The Pearl is one John Steinbeck's smallest novels. It is an intense story but flows nicely and is easy to read. It is about an island man who, like so many others, goes diving daily with no air, down to the depths of the sea to find pearls to help them eke out a poor living for their families. These poor people live in shacks and eat the same gruel day after day. Their lives are the same day after day. But they seem a happy people. This is the story of the man who finds 'the pearl' of every diver's dream and what happens to him and his family after finding the pearl.
It is also an 'if I could just' story. One always thinks that if this or that were just to happen in their lives things would be wonderful. If you have just one teensy tiny bit of that rolling around in your brain... or not... you should read this book. It is magnificent!~!~!
I highly recommend it.

59. Ilsa by Madeleine L'Engle; (4*); AMERICAN SOUTH; Y/A; kindle; romantic fiction; Century of Books; 1946

I loved this small book by L'Engle. It is the kind of story that so many people in their aging years, looking back on their life, might relate to. We all have our 'what-ifs' and this one happens to be Henry's. Granted not many of us allow our 'what-ifs' to cripple our lives as Henry did but for this storyline it works.
It is a story of the American South and a little boy named Henry. He meets a little girl, Ilsa, who is the free spirit he yearns to be and he is fascinated by her and her life. She is the only child of a widowed doctor and they, along with their hired man, live outside of town in a secluded area on the beach with no close neighbors. I love the character of their hired man who is like a family member. Henry's life, in comparison to Ilsa's, is much more ordered and regimental. But he manages to find times and ways to sneak away and spend time with her and they become fast friends.
As the years go by these two remain the closest of friends even when Henry's family forbid him to see Ilsa. Ilsa grows within the frame of her life but Henry remains locked into the relationship he wishes he could have with her.
When they grow up she marries and though they remain the closest of friends Henry is unable to move on. Finally he leaves and goes to Europe to work for a decade and the reader might think that he was able to finally leave his 'what-if' dream world behind but when he returns nothing has changed for him. He is still obsessed with Ilsa.
Though Henry doesn't move on, the story does and for this reader the story was very satisfactory indeed.
I love L'Engle's writing. She has a marvelous way with prose.

>70 rainpebble: The Pearl was assigned reading in 8th grade english class, and your review brought back enjoyable memories of all the descriptions of how people train themselves to dive for long periods of time on one lungful of air. So interesting!

60. The Dogs of Riga by Henning Mankell; (5*); SCANDI-CRIME; bk 2; hardcopy; ROOT; Century of Books; 1992

This story is a dark & suspenseful mystery like all of Wallander's police procedurals. I have read 5 of them thus far & this remains my favorite of them all. I loved & creeped out to this novel.
The Dogs of Riga is not your run of the mill crime drama. This story takes in international crime & criminals involved in dangerous & deadly pursuits in which Inspector Kurt Wallander finds himself literally locked in the very midst. Though the story and related characters are very interesting, it seemed another, creative way to delve further into understanding Wallander himself. This is the second of the Wallander series & for me the basic combination of a meticulous, thorough, creative, & highly organized criminal investigator who is also an awkward, insecure, and sensitive man is what I find most compelling and what stays on my mind after finishing each of these novels.
I found this one to be the best of the lot so far but the entire series has enveloped me.

61. Too Close for Comfort by Ellen Feldman; (4*); MYSTERY; Century of Books; 1994

This novel reminded of the Gwenneth Paltrow, Michael Douglas movie entitled A Perfect Murder. Not in the sense that the two stories were alike but in the sense of how the suspense played into the story.
In Too Close for Comfort the protagonist, Isobel, has just married her long time fiancee, Peter. He is a psychiatrist and she is director of a non-profit. They reside in New York City and Isobel is close with her mother and grandmama who share an apartment. She & Peter, since marrying, have shared his opulent apartment, thus creating the first piece of the puzzle as Peter's practice is located just off the foyer with the foyer itself acting as his waiting room. The kitchen is also off the foyer and without a lock on that door it would be possible for incoming patients to access that part of the house.
The mystery begins with the disappearance of something belonging to Isobel, taken from the bedroom closet. Next it is an umbrella with a personalizing portrait of her painted on it. As she begins to get uncomfortable with the situation she begins to receive hand delivered anonymous notes/letters telling her that Peter is not hers, that he loves someone else.
(As I write this, I am realizing how trite and unoriginal this story line seems but reading it I found it to actually be good. My appreciation for Ms Feldman grows.)
At any rate the incidents compound upon one another and the mystery builds, becoming quite threatening and sinister.
I enjoyed this read and will be seeking out more of Feldman's work.

62. The Giver by Lois Lowry; (2 1/2*); FANTASY FICTION; bk 1; Y/A; Dystopian; Century of Books; 1993

I would say that this book is creative and unlike any book I have previously read. I found it to be new and fresh but unable to hold my interest. I will say that I am not big on the apocalyptic nor the dystopian novels but for some reason I wanted to like this book.
The setting is a bland world, a bland community with bland people, bland colors, bland minds & personalities, bland jobs, bland everything except for one character, the Giver. He has memories of times gone by, of feelings, of passions, of a life no one else remembers and now, as he is aging, it is time for him to turn over & teach the upcoming Giver, our protagonist, all of this.
Our new & young Giver in training has trouble accepting all of this and his mind begins to stretch out on its own. When the powers that be learn of this they begin their protest to his uniqueness.
I can see why readers of school age & their teachers hold such high regard to this book especially in today's world when the media controls so much of what we, the public, are allowed to know. I don't see myself continuing the series. Sadly, this book didn't do much for me.

.

63. Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach; (4*); CRITTERS; Fiction; Century of Books; 1970

I really liked this little book. It is a quick and easy read with wonderful lessons to be learned about friendship, freedom and the value of things that really matter.
In it you will follow Jonathan's travels around the world and see everything through his eyes. One would not think one could learn anything from this wee book about a fictitious little seagull but this reader did.
This is a lovely tale. I feel I can recommend it to youth and adult alike.

64. Whalesong by Robert Siegel; (5*); CRITTERS; Fiction; bk 1; ROOT; Century of Books; 1981

I found Whalesong to be an engrossing story about the lives of humpback whales. The story begins with the birthing of a new calf. The timeframe is from his infancy through his adulthood; through his parenting and becoming the leader of his whale pod.
What I loved so much about this little book is that it took me completely out of myself and down to the depths of the ocean. I felt a part of the sea and of the pod. Such a heart warming novel to be read time and again.

65. The Willow Cabin by Pamela Frankau; (5*); WOMEN'S FICTION; VMC; ROOT; Century of Books; 1949

I just finished this and didn't want it to end. The Willow Cabin is nearly the perfect book for me. I loved the entire book. I loved the characters, the building/development of them, the interaction of them, the plot and storyline, the very air about my head as I was reading this one.

"Then on my tongue the taste is sour
Of all I ever did."

"What will they give me when journey's done?
Your own room to be quiet in, Son!"

I owe my friend a debt of gratitude for sending this particular book to me. It has replaced so many others in my mind and heart. Would that all of you should feel about a book the way that I feel and felt as reading this one.
It is definitely a 10 out of 5 for me.
I would really like to just sit and revel upon The Willow Cabin. I know it will linger long on my mind.

66. Charlotte's Web by E.B. White; (4*); CRITTERS; kindle; library book; Children's Lit; Classics; Century of Books; 1952

E.B. White's writing style and use of English is masterful. To accomplish so much in a children's novel is nothing short of astonishing. Many fundamental themes of life are touched upon but the most compelling, emotionally powerful, and moving is the friendship that develops between the two main characters.
If you are emotionally sensative, be well prepared with a box of tissues. I thought I might be alone in how deeply moving I found this book. Then one day I heard that the author had worked on making a recording of his book. There is a section in the book that he attempted several times to read. But each time he would become overwhelmed with emotion and couldn't continue. For a while there was a concern that the project could not be completed, that he would be unable to read this passage. Finally on the 17th attempt he made it through. Just thinking about this part of the book brought me to tears upon reading it.
Charlotte's Web is one of my favorites. I always find it satisfying. I highly recommend it

67. Easter Rising: A History From Beginning to End by Hourly History; (4*); NONFICTION; kindle; Century of Books; 2016

This is a very short but concise telling of Ireland's beginning push to free themselves from the rule and tyranny of the British.
Easily understood, it tells of the Easter Rising which occurred in Dublin, Ireland in 1916. How a couple of thousand men, women & youth of Ireland held out a week against thousands of British troops. It also tells of how the British executed some of those who had participated in the uprising. No trials were held. They simply were taken out and executed by firing squad.
I found this to be exellent preparatory reading before studying the fight of Ireland's people for their independence from British rule.

68. They Were Sisters by Dorothy Whipple; (5*); WOMEN'S FICTION; PERSEPHONE; kindle; Century of Books; 1947

This was one of the first Persephones I read when I came onboard with LibraryThing in 2007. And now it is one of my first rereads. Flush, my favorite Persephone, being the only other reread that comes to mind.
There are so many good reviews out there that tell the story of these three sisters & their lives. I'll not attempt to compete with them but will just set down a few of the thoughts & feelings I had as I read this wonderful bit of women's fiction.
Dorothy Whipple is, I believe, head & shoulders above most other authors of this period as she grows her characters & their lives. She has a magnificent way with words that simply draws the reader into the story. Her descriptions of their worlds as the characters go through them are always spot on & do not detract from her story.
Her writing always envelopes me & at the end I am always happy I showed up for the party.
Well done, Whipple!

69. The Fifth Day of Christmas by Betty Neels; (4*); WOMEN'S FICTION; Century of Books; 1971

What a fun read this particular Neels was!

Our nurse, after a break up with her two timing fiance, leaves her London Hospital job and travels to the beautiful outback of beyond to take on a private patient recovering from polio. This particular patient is particularly bitchy and our nurse knows from day one that her recovery is much advanced to what the patient lets the handsome doctor of the house know.
It was pretty funny listening to the nurse, patient commentary. And as we always know, with Neels, things will all come out right in the end.

70. Fate is Remarkable by Betty Neels; (4*); WOMEN'S FICTION; Century of Books; 1970

No longer considered a young woman at 28, Sarah is jilted by her boyfriend, Steven. Both work at the same hospital. Steven as a resident doctor and Sarah as a nurse in the clinics. They'd been dating seriously for three years when Steven suddenly announces that he's going to marry his boss' daughter, thus improving his position both professionally as a doctor and financially. Sarah feels heartbroken but is she really? Still and all she is determined to show a brave face.
Hugo is a well respected doctor who works at the clinic several afternoons a week with Sarah as his nurse. He too was once jilted and the hospital rumor has it that he's never gotten over the woman. They work together very well and when an elderly woman needs extra care as her financial situation is poor Sarah discovers a soft and generous side to Hugo as he goes beyond his duty to see to the woman's comfort. Hugo, now 40, proposes that he and Sarah marry. He requires a wife to assist him in his social life as a doctor, and she will have a caring and secure home. Their marriage is one of convenience and as the days pass into weeks, Sarah learns more and more about her husband. Slowly Steven no longer seems to matter. Just as she realizes how much she's come to love her husband, Janet, the woman who had jilted him, returns to the scene.
I love Neels heroes. They always wait patiently for their heroine to fall in love with them and they always seem to have a sense of humor about life. Neels allows the time her heroines need to struggle through their confused emotions while her heroes quietly watch and bide their time. Usually we discover that her heroes are first to fall in love, and we see the gleam in his eye or his thoughtful looks while the heroine is completely oblivious.
Sarah is a beautiful woman and Hugo often compliments her appearance. He appears to be in control of his emotions though at the ending we see he's far from certain that Sarah loves him. The ending is sigh worthy as most of Neels endings are; so satisfying. I love reading these light, romantic, cosy books.

71. Tangled Autumn by Betty Neels; (4 1/2*); WOMEN'S FICTION; Century of Books; 1971

This little romance from Neels was quite humerous throughout. My favorite line was perhaps more Deveraux than Neels:
"her delightful bosom heaved with silent rage" lol
Again.....about a nurse who is coming from a London hospital to work in the highlands on a private case. She is quite pretty and of course the doctor on the case is darkly handsome and also the son of the patient who is recovering at his home.
I really enjoyed this Neels work. The descriptions of the surrounding areas and the sight seeing jaunts our nurse takes are so interesting. She was able to actually drive from her work place to a view point from which she could see the Isle of Skye across the waters. The family life of the doctor, his mother, sister, his fellow doctors and the servants and pets all are written so well and seem quite real.
Sadly it ended too for my heart to be satisfied.

72. The Lying Days by Nadine Gordimer; (4 1/2*); VMC; WOMEN'S FICTION; Africa; Century of Books; 1953

Just a couple of comments as this novel has been reviewed by others so beautifully and taken many words from my mouth.

The Lying Days is an absolutely wonderful book with great writing and a great storyline. I loved it. But then with the recks I had, I knew I would. It is about South Africa and I am crazy for books on Africa. I loved the way Gordimer wove her characters with light & dark colors as they should be and I liked the way that she rushed no part of the story, not even the end. I gave this one 4 1/2 stars.

73. The Short Reign of Pippin IV by John Steinbeck; (2 1/2*); my favorite author; LOST GENERATION; my favorite author; Satire; Century of Books; 1957

The Short Reign of Pippin IV by John Steinbeck; (2 1/2*)

A very humorous spoofy take on an ordinary man who is a star gazer being forced to become the King of France. And while it was quite cute and funny, I have to admit that I found myself skimming pages.
It is very different than anything Steinbeck I have ever read before. And other than the above, it is really difficult to explain it. It was so different and I am such a Steinbeck fan that I think I just really could not get my head wrapped around it.
There are the Christians, there are the Communist Christians, there are the Atheist Christians, there are the Christian Christians.
And then there are the politics. This poor man wants nothing more than to be removed from this monarchy.
I don't know how I really feel about this one. I don't know how to recommend it. It was..................different, funny, a spoof, a work of satire. So unlike the Steinbeck I have come to know and love. But it does show a versitility I had not seen previously.
Steinbeck is my favorite author and it makes me sad I just didn't get it.

74. True Grit by Charles Portis; (5*); GENERAL FICTION; American West;
a true Classic; Century of Books; 1968

True Grit is a simple and brilliant narrative. I fell in love with this book and the writer's prose.
Upon completion of the novel, as I sat thinking I couldn't help but to bring to mind the reading some years back of Peace Like a River by Leif Enger. Another perfect piece of literature.
If you've not yet read both of these, there is no better time than now. Both five star reads and both on my 'forever top reads' list.

75. Ernest Hemingway and His World by Anthony Burgess; (4*);
NONFICTION; Bio; Century of Books; 1978

This book seems to be a review of Hemingway, his friends, his women and the often shabby way he treated them.
I do not recommend this as a good biography. But if you can get past Burgess's opinions it does give the reader an idea of Hemingway's conflicted life as an author versus the expectations he had of himself in reality. 'Hemingway' versus 'Papa'. Also how he was perceived by those around him during his lifetime.
I find that biographies of authors, on the whole, help me to see them as individuals as opposed to simply a writer of words. It helps me to get into the writer's works. I enjoy reading them much more if I know something of the author. The author no longer seems so distant.

76. The Diary of Anais Nin: Volume 1 (1931-1934) by Anaïs Nin; (4*);

Throughout her lifetime Nin considered her diary to be her closest friend and confident. Through her diary she was able to express many things that she could not possibly say out aloud. These include events so shocking that they would not be published until after the death of her first husband. While this version of the diary was heavily edited and rewritten by the author prior to publication, what remains is an in depth look of someone who lived a remarkable life both as an artist and as a woman.
Some of this diary was a bit stark & disturbing for me but aside from the topics, this is so beautifully written. This is only the 3rd book of Nin's I have read but I think I shall be on the search for more of her works.
She began her diaries at the age of 11 and continued keeping a diary right through until her death in 1977.

from the Wiki:
"As early as the 1930s Anaïs Nin had sought to have the diary published. Due to its size (in 1966, the diary contained more than 15,000 typewritten pages in some 150 volumes) and literary style, she would not find a publisher until 1966, when the first volume of her diary would be published, covering the years 1931–1934 in her life."

77. The Gemel Ring by Betty Neels; (3*); WOMEN'S FICTION; Century of Books; 1974

Not the best Neels I have read, yet enjoyable enough.
A British nurse working private cases for a Dutch doctor; love with all of its prickly asides takes center stage. All comes out nicely in the end.
I have to say that I really liked all of the characters in this little story. I would really have liked to get to know a Corrie, the resident nurse and manager of the good doctor's senior home. She seemed such a 'real' person.

78. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou; (4*); AMERICAN SOUTH; Virago Nonfiction; Autobiographical; ROOT; Century of Books; 1969

Written in such lyrical language, this is a very powerful story. It explains much about the end of the segregation era. Angelou rises to heights unreachable by other autobiographical writers of this era.
It is a wonderful story telling of life as black woman supported by family and dismissed by society. She warns of future times that may present the same challenges.

79. The Woman in Black by Susan Hill; (4*); NOIR / GOTHIC; ROOT; ghost tale; Century of Books; 1983

A good story of haunting. The Woman in Black really held my interest. It has everything a good ghost story entails. A dark & foreboding house, the eerie marshlands surrounding the house, strange things that 'go bump in the night', the small village where no one wishes to speak of the strange goings on out at the house and of course your innocent who is sent to the house to do some sleuthing work.
Mrs. Alice Drabble of Eel Marsh House is a client of Arthur Kipps' soliciting house in London and when she dies, his employer sends him out to her lonely house on the marsh to dig through her private papers to speed up dealing with her estate.
When Arthur gets to the village he finds no one there will speak with him of the reclusive Mrs. Drabble, her house nor her life. However the man who trundled her groceries & needs out to her house in his pony cart is willing to take him to the house.
While at the house Arthur hears the most frightful sounds, sees apparitions and literally hears the things that 'go bump in the night'. He is there alone and tries to remain calm and continue with his work but it becomes more and more difficult. As he goes through Mrs. Drabble's papers he finds very little of use until he comes across a bundle of letters regarding a distant relative of Mrs. Drabble's who is unmarried and in the family way. The young lady wishes to keep the baby but doesn't have the means and so the little boy is adopted by the Drabbles. He later comes across legal paperwork that suggests the reasons for the hauntings of Eel Marsh House and the more he learns the more the hauntings continue until Arthur becomes ill in heart, soul & body. He is rescued from the house in a collapsed state and taken to the home of a gentleman he met on the train who says he must remain until he is on the road to recovery. He is attended by the local doctor, fed nourishing broths and which coupled with much bed rest does Arthur good. He is surprised one day to receive his fiance, Stella, who has come to take him back to London on the train.
They marry soon after and Arthur puts the experience behind him until one day.........one day................
Well, you will have to read the book to discover more of the particulars and the finale. Needless to say I enjoyed this book as I have every Susan Hill I have read. (Mrs. de Winter aside) I like the spare way she writes without throwing in flowery phrasing and unnecessary wording. I found this to be a good read and recommend it for those who enjoy a little spooking and haunting.

80. Elegy for April by Benjamin Black; (4*); NOIR; bk 3; Mystery; library book; Century of Books; 2010

Elegy for April is the best of the Quirke novels among the first three. Not only is the central mystery intriguing but the fog that begins in the first chapter immediately establishes a very real sense of the claustrophobia that pervades Dublin at the time, also conjuring up a murkiness that lingers through the mystery of our missing girl's disappearance. The fog, which frames our story fittingly, takes on a certain character of its own.
Quirke, our 'hero', is a dark, brooding, alcoholic, heavy smoking, melancholic, middle aged man who is nonetheless amazing at solving impossible crimes. Somehow the beautiful young women he meets in the story always find him attractive which is sometimes a distraction for me. However I am a sucker for any book noirish and found this one to be beautifully written. I am always struck by this author's lovely prose.

81. The Light Over London by Julia Kelly; (3*); WOMEN'S FICTION; Historical Fiction; WWII; Century of Books; 2019

The Light Over London is a nice bit of women's fiction / historical fiction which takes place in the current times and has a parallel storyline which runs through WWII. I found both storylines interesting and enjoyable.
The story begins with Cara who is newly divorced and beginning anew. She works for an antique dealer who is also an estate agent, in that he goes into the homes of deceased persons whose heirs want the antique furnishings and belongings given a fair market value and made ready for aution or sale.
In one of these homes while looking through a room distant from most of the antiques, she comes across an old box which contains a diary from the days of the war. She brings it out and shows it to her employer and the current lady of the house who basically gives the box to Cara who is already fascinated with the diary.
This diary begins the parallel storyline and the story of its writer, Louise. Louise was one of 'the gunner girls' of WWII.
I enjoyed the back and forth telling of these two stories. I appreciated the author's writing and found it easy to stay within both stories at the same time. I wouldn't hesitate to read more from this author.

82. On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder; (4 1/2*);
NONFICTION; bk 4; Century of Books; 1937

This is a sweet telling of the author's growing up years when her family lived in a little cabin built into the bank above a creek.
Pa has traded their horses, wagon and wagon cover for Mr. Hanson's dugout and land on the banks of Plum Creek. Once again Ma and the girls are making a home in the unsettled wilderness and once again Pa is planting, hewing, hunting and carving out a good life for his family. This episode in particular gives an idea of what it was like to participate in the life of a growing prairie township, attending school, starting a church and learning to be good neighbors, often with little to give but kindness.
Laura can't seem to keep herself out of mischief during these years. She wanted to but was so full of the curiosity of life that she had to do what she knew she should not. Sometimes she even got her older sister Mary in trouble with her.
This was a fun read of an episode in Wilder's life.

83. By the Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder; (5*); NONFICTION; bk 5; Century of Books; 1939; (31)

This, the fifth book in the Little House series, takes us out west to Dakota Territory. Pa has a job helping to build a railroad through the town.

Sadly Mary has lost her sight to scarlet fever and Laura must be her eyes for her. The future seems uncertain for her but it is decided that she will be home schooled until she can attend a school for the blind back East. Now it is up to Laura and Carrie to carry on with household chores. Laura knows she will have no choice but to one day teach school in order to help send Mary off to college. But she is so young and longs for a different kind of profession. She does some early preparation however when she studies with Carrie, Ma and Mary.
The Ingalls family has now faced their biggest challenge with Mary's disability but they know a solution will eventually come their way.

84. The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl; (2 1/2*); CHILDREN'S LIT; library book; kindle; Century of Books; 1966

A decent little story but it certainly doesn't meet the standards to which I hold Dahl. The moral of the story is to not kill animals!

85. The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder; (5*); NONFICTION; bk 6; Memoir; Children's Lit; Century of Books; 1940

This story is one of my favorites. It is the story of the Ingalls family and their struggle to get through seven months of blizzards.
They have moved from the shanty on their homestead to Pa's empty building in the town. He feels they will be safer there for the rough winter that is coming. As the winter, with it's many blizzards, moves on the coal runs out, as does the flour along with so many other supplies. And none in the town to purchase for the trains cannot get through.
The story focuses on how the family along with the other members of the little town survive. Laura is growing up and she takes an active part in helping the family to get by. She learns to twist hay for heat which helps Pa out as that leaves him time to pull the sledge out to the homestead to bring in more hay. Poor Pa never gets any rest and the others, not much. It is too cold to rest and sleep well. It is a full time job just to keep the one little room warm.
With the flour gone the family turns to wheat to mill so they can make bread to go with the few potatoes that are left. The girls all take turns churning wheat in the little coffee mill so Ma can bake a rough brown bread.
I found this Ingalls Wilder story to be intense. Somehow it was difficult to read of the people of the town as they got more and more gaunt waiting for supplies to reach them.

86. Night Soldiers by Alan Furst; bk1; (4 1/2*); MYSTERY; Espionage; WWII; Eastern Europe; Century of Books; 1988

Night Soldiers is a dark novel and rightly so given the period of time it covers, 1934 through 1945. I have always found this to be a most tragic period in the history of mankind, albeit a fascinating time. While being a spy thriller Night Soldiers is so much more than that. It is a very atmospheric read, created through the author's research and wonderful writing. I appreciated all of the geographical research Furst did for this novel.
This author is very well versed the the creation and growth of his characters. I am looking forward to reading much more from Furst.

87. Little Town on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder; (4*); bk 7; NONFICTION; Memoir; Children's Lit; Century of Books; 1941

After the long winter of blizzards and near starvation, the Ingalls family is finally enjoying settlling into life in the town. The family is becoming more affluent and there's so much happening in their lives.
I love the bit about the kitten and mouse fight and then in town, as an adult cat, Kitty whopping up on all of the dogs.
I also found it so interesting how Pa finished the shanty out on the homestead into a real house for the family. And they all worked so hard to turn the land into a real farm.
Laura, though she would rather do anything but, begins to study earnestly to earn her teaching certificate. She hates the idea of Mary leaving to go to school far away but teaching is the only way that she can help send Mary to the school for the blind and so she studies diligently.
Her life isn't all study, though. She still enjoys playing outdoors near their claim, going to social gatherings with her family. She makes new school friends and she and Carrie even get to attend the Fourth of July horse races with Pa.
Life in the Ingalls family undergoes many changes in this book but its underlying message is one of the importance of family ties and moral living
Though I don't think it's the best book of the series, it is charming and often funny and I enjoyed it ever so much.

rainpebble's TBR for April:

1920: Mysterious Affaire at Styles
* 1924: The Green Hat; Arlen
* 1926: Winnie the Pooh, bk 1
1928: The House at Pooh Corner; bk 2
*1929: Magic for Marigold

1930: Murder at the Vicarage
1931: After Leaving Mr. Mackenzie
1932: Pat of Silverbush; bk 1
1933: South Moon Under
1934: Voyage in the Dark
1935: Mistress Pat; bk 2
1936: Three Comrades
1938: The Long Valley
1938: The Yearling

* 1944: Liana
1945: Cannery Row, bk 1
1946: Brittaina Mews
* 1948: Snow Dog
1948: A Russian Journal
1949: Nose for Trouble

* 1950: Wildtrek
1950: The Beautiful Visit
1951: Irish Red
1952: A Many Splendored Thing
* 1954: Sweet Thursday, bk 2
1954: Lord of the Flies
1955: The Lost Wagon
* 1956: The Twelve Dancing Princesses
1956: Travels With Charley
1957: What Mrs. McGillicuddy Saw
* 1958: Maggie Now
* 1959: Stormy
1959: A Separate Peace
1959: The Rescuers; bk 1

1960: Boomerang Hunter
1961: The Winter of Our Discontent
* 1962: Winter Love
* 1962: Miss Bianca; bk 2
* 1963: The Turret; bk 3
* 1964: Two Dogs and a Horse
1965: Rescue Dog of the High Pass
1966: Miss Bianca in the Salt Mines; WISHLIST; bk 4
1968: Wind off the Small Isles
1969: Journal of a Novel: The East of Eden Letters

1970: Miss Bianca in the Orient; bk 5
1971: Miss Bianca in the Antarctic; WISHLIST; bk 6
1972: Miss Bianca and the bridesmaid; WISHLIST; bk 7
1977: Bernard the Brave; WISHLIST; bk 8
1978: Bernard Into Battle; WISHLIST; bk 9
* 1979:

1980:
1981: An Apple From Eve
1982: A Pale View of Hills
1983: Ah, But Your Land is Beautiful
* 1984:
* 1985:
* 1989: Along the Shore: Tales by the Sea

* 1990: Among the Shadows
1992: The Haunting of Sylvia Plath
1996: The World at Night; bk 4
* 1997: The God of Small Things
* 1999: Red Gold; bk 5

2000: Kingdom of Shadows; bk 6
* 2001: An Independent Woman; Jacobs
* 2002: Blood of Victory; bk 7
* 2003: A Month At The Shore; Stockenberg
2005: Dark Voyage; bk 8
2006: Maggie; bk 2
* 2007: Foreign Correspondent; bk 9
2009: Spies of Warsaw; bk 10;

2011: Spies of the Balkans; bk 11
2013: Mission to Paris; bk 12
* 2014: The Time Between; White;
* 2014: The Light in the Ruins

A CENTURY OF BOOKS:

APRIL:

* 88. Dark Star by Alan Furst; (4*); HISTORICAL FICTION; bk 2; Suspense; Espionage; WWII; library book; kindle; Century of Books; 1991; (36)
* 89. Rilla of Ingleside by L. M. Montgomery; (4 1/2*); ANNE BOOKS;
Y/A; Historical FICTION; bk 8; Great War; kindle; Century of Books; 1921; (37)
* 90. Winter's Tales by Isak Dinesen; (4*); GENERAL FICTION; Shorts;
Danish Lit; kindle; library book; Century of Books; 1942; (38)
* 91. These Happy Golden Years by Laura Wilder; (3*); bk 8; NONFICTION; Y/A; library book; kindle; Century of Books; 1943; (39)
* 92. The First Four Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder; (2 1/2*); bk 9; NONFICTION; Y/A; kindle; library book; Century of Books; 1953: (40)
* 93. Blue Wide Sky by Inglath Cooper; (4*); bk 1; ROMANTIC FICTION; library book; kindle; Century of Books; 2015; (41)
* 94. The Polish Officer by Alan Furst; (3 1/2*); HISTORICAL FICTION; bk 3; Suspense; Espionage; WWII; library book; kindle; Century of Books; 1995; (42)
* 95. Emily of the New Moon by L M Montgomery; bk 1; (5*); ANNE BOOKS; Century of Books; 1923; (43)
* 96. The Red House Mystery by A A Milne; (4*); MYSTERY; cosy; (Locked Room Mystery); kindle; Century of Books; 1922; (44)
* 97. Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Caroline Fraser; (3*); NONFICTION; BIO; L/B; Century of Books; 2017; (45)
* 98. Emily Climbs by L M Montgomery; bk 2; (4*); ANNE BOOKS; Century of Books; 1925; (46)
______________________________________________________________

APRIL TOTALS: (11)

88. Dark Star by Alan Furst; Historical FICTION; bk 2; (4*); Mystery; Suspense; Spy Thriller; library book; kindle; Century of Books; 1991

In this Furst novel our hero / anti-hero, Szara, a Polish Jew works as a Russian journalist and finds himself coerced into the spy game.

Not quite as good as the first of this series but still excellent. Reading Furst's books the WWII espionage is giving me some much needed background in areas of the war in which I had not really given much thought. I have read several of the Manning Coles novels on spy / espionage during the war but they are not nearly as intricate of the Furst novels, though lighter reading.
I will admit that thus far I am struggling through this series. Furst writes of so many people, places, introducing the reader to fresh views of war time activity, duplicity and leaderships that even striving hard to concentrate on his excellent writing, this reader finds she must work to keep her head in the work.
We have a new hero / antihero in this second book but there are a few name droppings of characters and locales from the first.
I am intrigued!

89. Rilla of Ingleside by L. M. Montgomery; (4 1/2*); Y/A; Historical FICTION; bk 8; Great War; Century of Books; 1921

This is an endearing book. Montgomery has written it in a nostalgic manner which I think some readers may not care for but which I enjoyed a great deal.
Anne with an e, and the good doctor's children are grown and growing up. The eve of the Great War is upon us with all of its darkness, horrors, losses and sadness. I did not realize the impact of the Great War upon Canada and it's citizens before reading this little novel.
The youngest daughter in the family, Rilla, is our main character but this narrative has loads of interesting characters. Not the least of which is the family dog, Dog Monday, who loves Jem with a passion unknown to most of mankind. Also there is the hysterically funny family feline, Doc, so named for his Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde persona.
The story is filled with the lives and loves of the young people. So many of the young men of the Glen sign up to go as soon as the call comes. We hear of them in their letters to Rilla and in the journal she faithfully keeps.
I loved how the young folk had a special little valley where they went for play and as they grew up they met there for talking, sharing, thinking, and wooing. The relationship that Rilla shared with her brother Walter, was so special and quite took me back to my own relationship with my brother Sam, who also died a young and violent death.....though, like Walter's death, it was quick.
This is my favorite of the 'Anne' books aside from Anne of Green Gables. Such a beloved series.

90. Winter's Tales by Isak Dinesen; (4*); GENERAL FICTION; Shorts; Danish Lit; kindle; library book; Century of Books; 1942

Winter's Tales is a grouping of short stories beautifully written as only Dinesen / Blixen was able at the time.
The one that will always stay with me is about a young man of age who was to have come into his uncle's wealth until the uncle remarries the young fiance of his deceased son. Our young man is okay with this and has long yearned to go off on his own to seek his fortune anyway.
Before he goes, he makes the trip to visit the uncle. While there his uncle tells him the story of a young man put in the frame for setting fire to the uncle's barn and fields on some further property. There is no proof of this but his two men of the property say the lad must have done it while the lad claims his innocence. The boy's old mother has come to the uncle to beg leniency on behalf of her boy.
The uncle allows that it shall be so if the old mother can harvest his large field of grain ready for the harvest. If she is successful, her lad will go free. But if she if not, the lad will be imprisoned.
The following day is the day of the harvest and before sunup the old woman is in the field cutting the yield of the harvest. The uncle sits and watches her and waits and finds himself mentally urging her on and hoping that she is successful. He orders her son brought out to walk along with her and encourage her. By late afternoon she is still working hard but the work is beginning to tell on her. The nephew tells her uncle: Doesn't he see that this hard work is killing the old mother? But the uncle, while he is sympathetic with the woman, feels that it would make him look weak in the eyes of his workers to give in and make her work easier. And so she works and sweats under the hot sun.
Just at sundown she cuts the last of the grain and slumps forward. Her son and all of the people who have been in the field encouraging her come forward to her and her son to help her up but she won't be helped up. In her perfect mother's love she has saved her son but he cannot save her.

91. These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder; (3*); bk 8; NONFICTION; Y/A; library book; kindle; Century of Books; 1943

While I am enjoying this entire Little House series by Wilder I must admit that this is my least favorite thus far. Book 8 covers Laura's mid to late teen as well as she & Almanzo's courting years. I find that I appreciate the descriptive characterizations of the family's life much more than the romance of this story.
The bits about breaking the horse teams in and Laura's teaching experiences were interesting. So I did enjoy it and gave it 3 stars.

92. The First Four Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder; (2 1/2*); bk 9; NONFICTION; Y/AL kindle; library book; Century of Books; 1953

I was quite disappointed in this volume. None of Laura's family is mentioned but for tokens mentions of Ma & Pa and then only as pertaining to the birth of Laura & Manny's baby and the housefire. The author seemed to be in a hurry to put down that this occurred and then that occurred with not much description nor storytelling in between. The novel just doesn't seem to have the author's heart in it.
The lives of the young couple does not go smoothly in their first years of marriage and I wanted to learn so much more of those years.
I plan to read a couple of bios on Ingalls Wilder and hope to find them more satisfying than these last two books of her Little House series.

93. Blue Wide Sky by Inglath Cooper; (4*); bk 1; ROMANTIC FICTION; library book; kindle; Century of Books; 2015

Blue Wide Sky is quite good for what it is; a book of romantic fiction.
Boy meets girl; they fall in love. Boy moves away; has one night stand ending culminating with girl becoming preggers. Boy relates this to first girl; they break up. Boy marries preggars girl; they have miserable marriage but also have two wonderful kids. Man and 2nd woman divorce; man still loves first woman; she still loves him. Man gets brain tumor; moves back to home of first girl; they find they still love each other. Man's brother operates on man's brain tumor, saves his life and life gois on.
Like I said, for a piece of romantic fiction, it is quite good.

94. The Polish Officer by Alan Furst; (4*); HISTORICAL FICTION; bk 3; Mystery; Suspense; Espionage; Spy Thriller; library book; kindle; Centrury of Books; 1995

The Polish Officer is consistent with all of Furst's other novels of the period during and around WWII in that he gives the period a view from another perspective. While doing so, the reader gets an informed picture of what life was like for those who are central to that particular novel. In this case, as titled the POB belongs to that of a Polish officer who sees his country crushed by the invading Nazis and its subsequent partition with the USSR. People were caught between two brutal regimes not knowing which way to go. It mentions the Katyn Massacre perpetrated by the Soviets. While always in danger our Polish officer joins the Underground in many guises and locations. He does so fully aware that he would likely not survive the war.
In this, the third book of Furst's series, I will admit that occasionally I found myself lost within the characters. I don't, however, take that away from the author but think it a lack of concentration on my part.
I love how Furst finds the exactly right moment to interject a character or characters from a previous book ............. just momentarily. Those moments enable me to center myself within the histories of this series, which I highly recommend to those of you who enjoy historical intrigue.

95. Emily of the New Moon by L M Montgomery; bk 1; (5*); ANNE BOOKS; VMC; (591); Children's Lit; Y/A; ROOT; Century of Books; 1923; (43)

Another delightful offering from L M Montgomery. As in the Anne series the heroine is once again a gifted young orphan girl being brought up by unimaginative adults who don't necessarily see or appreciate her abilities. It's very heartening to see her grow up with a sense of her own person and of her ability to stand up for what she believes is right. The characters all appear real with their own strengths and foibles but there's an even greater depth of wisdom into the workings of human relationships in this book. Coupled with the beauty of Montgomery's prose this was a wonderfully satisfying read.
I loved it!

96. The Red House Mystery by A A Milne; (4*); MYSTERY; cosy; (Locked Room Mystery); kindle; Century of Books; 1922; (44)

A typical 'locked room mystery', this novel features characters who may not be all they seem to be or may perhaps may be more than they seem to be. Each acting for mysterious motives which range from love to revenge. Servants overhear bits of conversation which offer clues. The discovery of a secret passage, the appearance of a ghost, and a convenient lake to hide evidence all become part of the plot which is more cerebral than action packed. Antony's photographic memory aids him in getting at the truth about the murder well before the local constabulary.
Written in 1922 before Winnie the Pooh was even thought of, the book was a gift for Milne's father who was a retired headmaster who loved mysteries. Milne had written twelve plays at this point in his life and that served him well here. The book has the feel of a long play, depending more on dialogue than on action. It features many of the clichés of 'locked room mysteries'. Avoiding the need for difficult transitions between scenes, Milne often addresses the reader directly to offer information. At one point, Bill Beverley affectionately teases Antony Gillingham: "Silly old ass", he chides, reminding the reader instantly of the "silly old bear" who will make his debut in just four years.
I enjoyed this mystery so much and was disappointed to find that it was the only one Milne wrote.

97. Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Caroline Fraser; (2*); NONFICTION; BIO; L/B; Century of Books; 2017; (45)

I cannot help but be saddened and disappointed within myself that I read this piece of nonfiction. Any true and loyal reader of Laura Ingalls Wilder will most likely wish that they had not read it.
I am sure that it was well researched but it has certainly ripped the heart out of the 'Little House' books'.
I wondered, in the reading of the later epistles, why Rose was not mentioned more often but after reading this book I can understand why. She was small minded, mean spirited and on the whole a disgusting person. She was not nice nor kind; not even to her parents. Nor was she a true and honest person. I mourn for her parent's elderly years. Rose most definitely took a toll on them and I got truly ill at the reading so much about her and her self importance. I found nothing special about this daughter!
It will take me a while to get the bad taste of this one out of my mouth. Then I will continue to go back to Ingalls Wilder's 'Little House' books for the comfort they have always afforded me.

I cannot recommend this one.

98. Emily Climbs by L M Montgomery; bk 2; (4*); ANNE BOOKS; Century of Books; 1925; (46)

Emily's teenage years are chronicled in this second of the series. Her three years at high school and at the end ... a major decision to make about her future. As ever L.M.M. gets a lot of mileage from the back burner characters (where would our stories be without them?) I enjoyed getting to better know Aunt Ruth, cranky old thing that she was.
It is not easy being a teenager, neither then nor now. In many ways this story still feels very contemporary. Obviously not with respect to cambric tea and petticoats, but the feelings and interactions Montgomery describes are fairly universal.
While this outing is not quite as good as the first in the series, I still loved it and continue to find it difficult not to compare Anne and Emily. They are both 5 star characters for me but somehow I find Emily's star shining a little brighter than Anne's.

A CENTURY OF BOOKS:
MAY:

99. Ingo by Helen Dunmore; bk 1; (5*); FANTASY FICTION; ROOT;
Y/A; Century of Books; 2005; (47)
100. The Tide Knot by Helen Dunmore; (4 1/2*); bk 2; FANTASY FICTION; ROOT; Y/A; Century of Books; 2006; (48)
101. The Deep by Helen Dunmore; (3 1/2*); bk 3; FANTASY FICTION; ROOT; Y/A; Century of Books; 2007: (49)
102. An Expert in Murder by Nicola Upson; (3 1/2*); bk 1; MYSTERY; Historical Fiction; London; library book; kindle; Century of Books; 2008; (50)
103. Big Red by Jim Kjelgaard; bk 1; (5*); CRITTERS; ROOT; Fiction; kindle; Century of Books; 1945: (51)
104. Nathan Coulter by Wendell Berry; (5*); bk 1; AMERICAN SOUTH; Fiction; library book; kindle; Century of Books; 1960; (52)
105. The Wasteland and Other Poems by T. S. Eliot; (3*); LOST GENERATION; NONFICTION; Poetry; kindle; Century of Books; 1943; (53)
106. Emily's Quest by L.M. Montgomery; (3 1/2*); bk 3; ANNE BOOKS; ROOT; Children's Lit; Y/A; Canadian Lit; kindle; Century of Books; 1927; (54)
107. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr; HISTORICAL FICTION; GENERAL FICTION; kindle; ROOT; Century of Books; 2014; (55)
108. The Story of Peter Pan Retold by Daniel Stephen O'Connor; (3*); FANTASY FICTION; CHILDREN'S LIT; Y/A; ROOT; kindle; Classics; Century of Books; 2012; (56)

______________________________________________________________

MAY TOTALS: (10)

99. Ingo by Helen Dunmore; bk 1; (5*); FANTASY FICTION; Y/A; Century of Books; 2005; (47)

Sapphire and her brother Conor, live on an isle right off the sea along with their mother. Their father has long since been gone, determined to have drowned when his fishing vessel was taken by the rocks off the coast, though his body was never found. The kids live for the sea and their mother fears it.
Dunmore has written a book of the sea, with all of it's creatures both real and fantasy. Her under-sea world is called Ingo and Ingo is the world of the Mer people. This first book in a series of five sets the story up for a world where Ingo and Earth come together, sometimes in pleasant circumstances and sometimes with a resounding crash.

Though I have read many of Dunmore's novels, this is the first Y/A book I have read by her and I loved it. I was happy to go along for the ride and really enjoyed this novel. Now I continue to move on through the next.

100. The Tide Knot by Helen Dunmore; bk 2; (4 1/2*); FANTASY FICTION; Y/A; Century of Books; 2006; (48)

Not quite as wonderfully awesome as the first of the series, this one was still fascinating for me.
While Dunmore doesn't seem to grow her characters (they seem pretty one dimensional to me) I like them and it is so fun to watch her adding more and more characters to this series as it moves along.
The children are so smitten with the sea, with Ingo, that they cannot help themselves from going back again and again. Sapphire is especially taken with the life of the Mer.
My favorite character thus far: Granny Carne

101. The Deep by Helen Dunmore; bk 3; (3 1/2*); FANTASY FICTION; Y/A; Century of Books; 2007; (49)

In this third installment of the series, the children must go to the dark and murky depths of 'The 'Deep' in order to save the Mer people from the wrath of 'the Krakken'. Many exciting events occur for them, both below and above the surface.

>111 rainpebble: I read that Milne about 10 years ago-I enjoyed it and never knew he wrote other books beside Pooh books when I found it by accident in the library.

I always enjoy your page with all the colorful book covers!

>118 JulieLill:,
Thank you Julie. I came across the Milne mystery by accident as well. I guess that is the only one he wrote. His father loved mysteries and that is the reason given for him having written TRHM. Pretty sweet to love dear old Dad that much, eh? I enjoyed the read very much & wish he had written more in a like vein.
:-)

102. An Expert in Murder by Nicola Upson; bk 1; (3 1/2*); MYSTERY; Historical Fiction; London; library book; kindle; Century of Books; 2008; (50)

While I enjoyed this mystery and fairly flew through it, I found it to be just a bit tedious and overcomplicated. So many theatrical characters; too many for this reader to keep track of. Also a great many small plot lines carrying on at the same time. And while that is consistent with a lot of mystery tales it didn't work well for me this time.
Again I found most of the characters, while well written, to be fairly one dimensional; not a lot of growing of them. I quite liked the characters of Josephine Tey and Archie. I hope to find them both in the next outing.
All that being said, I did like the book well enough to continue the series. I am sure that part of that is based on the fact that I adore Josephine Tey's writing.

103. Big Red by Jim Kjelgaard; bk 1; (5*); CRITTERS; Y/A; Fiction; kindle; Century of Books; 1945: (51)

Danny lives with his father in a shack back in the mountains. His mama died when he was quite young. He and his dad run a trap line and harvest wild honey for money. They are squatters who live on the land of a rich man, Mr. Haggin. Danny and his father earn a bit of extra money by doing work for Mr. Haggin who has a beautiful Irish Setter he calls Boy. When Danny sees the dog it is love at first sight. But Danny knows that he and his dad could never afford a dog like that.
Mr. Haggin takes an interest in the boy and gives him a job taking care of Boy, who Danny calls Red. Like Danny, Red shows a special quality. But he has never done for himself. He's a show dog. Mr. Haggin sends Danny to New York with Red when he's in a dog show. When they go back to Mr. Haggin's ranch, Danny is allowed to take Red out in the wilderness. Red learns from Danny how to be a brave and rugged dog. Red and Mr. Haggin give Danny a chance to see life in a whole new perspective and he learns as much from Big Red as the dog learns from him. Danny gives Red a chance to reach his potential as a dog in the outdoor world.
I loved this book by Kjelgaard. I had only read one other previously .... sixty odd years ago. The Black Fawn and it became a great favorite of two of my brothers and myself. We read it over and over again. I am thankful to have found my way back to this author. He is a wonderful writer of juvenile animal stories that suit those of any age.

104. Nathan Coulter by Wendell Berry; (5*); AMERICAN SOUTH; bk 1; Fiction; library book; kindle; Cent written about two brothers and their friends and exztended families. Cenury of Books; 1960; (52)

I felt I had come across a treasure when I found this Berry novel.

It is a beautifully written story about two young brothers and the interwoven lives of them with their friends (mostly adult) and extended family members. Tom and Nathan Coulter grew up in the early 20th century farming country of Kentucky. It was not an easy life but it sustained them, both physically and emotionally. When their mother died early on, their paternal grandma and their Uncle Burley took over mothering duties. The relationships in this novel made me long for the days of my childhood back with my family of 9, growing up in the 40s, 50s & 60s.
My favorite character: Uncle Burley.
I highly recommend this book for anyone with a heart for nostalgia.

The Wasteland and Other Poems by T. S. Eliot; (3*); LOST GENERATION; NONFICTION; Poetry; kindle; Century of Books; (53)

Literature scholars universally recognize Eliot's 'Waste Land' as one of the most influential poems of the 20th century. The poem draws on a wealth of images; from classics of Western literature to anthropology to Eastern sacred texts. The title refers to the barren land of the Fisher King in Arthurian legend. Both the king and the land eventually find redemption through the Holy Grail. Through a wonderful use of language and symbolism, Eliot brilliantly portrays the problem of meaning in the modern world and the way to deeper meaning.
Unfortunately many of Eliot's references are not easy for the lay reader to understand. Thankfully I purchased this rather than to check it out of the library so I will have it easy at hand when I want to attempt the understanding further. But as of now I will confess that this one is quite over my head and that I was unable to complete the book in its entirety.

106. Emily's Quest by L.M. Montgomery; (3 1/2*); bk 3; ANNE BOOKS; Children's Lit; Y/A; Canadian Lit; kindle; Century of Books; 1927; (54)

This is my least favorite of the Emily trilogy by Montgomery but it could easily have been my most favorite of all Montgomery's works!

I loved the characters and thought they were well drawn and that the growth was there for most all of them. Loved the 'wind woman' and was sad that 'the flash' came so rarely in this third novel. Loved the basic storyline but was irritated that there was so much of: "see Emily of New Moon" and "see Emily Climbs". There was a lot of repetitiveness from the first two books of the trilogy and so this one did not seem as original as the others.
It saddened me that Emily was so lonely for much of the story. While she decided to stay at New Moon and write, her friends Ilse, Perry and Teddy all went off to travel and develope their careers. Emily began to feel increasingly distant from all of them and as a defence for her aloneness she put on her proud 'Murray airs' which alienated her friends even more.
She shut herself away in her room writing day and night trying not to think of her friends, where they were and what they were doing.
In this closing book of the trilogy we see Emily's growth as a writer and her compulsion to be out of doors, especially late at night. But in these hours is when she is blessed with most of her story ideas.
I found the ending of the novel too pat and sadly unsatisfying. But I wish that Emily could have lived on. I saw her living on in the 'disappointed house' and writing her years away with just a cat for company. I guess I like dark.

107. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr; (4*);
HISTORICAL FICTION; GENERAL FICTION; kindle; ROOT; Century of Books; 2014; (55)

Doerr paints a picture of two adolescents growing up on opposite sides of WWII. The paths each follows ultimately lead to their meeting one another and make for wonderful storytelling. The author uses contrast of characters and events to
develop his characters: peace versus war, the mature and experienced versus the young and innocent, etc. I found it interesting how well this worked for the author.
Doerr uses short chapters to move back and forth among characters and events and to take time out of sequence. A very effective way to make what was a rather long read move along quickly.
This was my first experience with this particular author. I would like to read something else by him.

108. The Story of Peter Pan by Daniel O'Connor; (2*); FANTASY FICTION; CHILDREN'S LIT; Y/A; ROOT; kindle; Classics; Century of Books; 2012; (56)

A disappointing retelling of a classic for children. I found this story to be a clunky mess of mentionings of the highlights alone of Peter Pan. Next time I get curious about a 'retelling', I will simply go back to the real deal. I think I will be much happier that way.

A CENTURY OF BOOKS:
JUNE: PART I

109. Peter's Song by Carol P. Saul; (3*); CHILDREN'S LIT; h/c; ROOT; Century of Books; 1992; (57)
110. From Doon With Death by Ruth Rendell; (3*); MYSTERY; library book; kindle; ROOT; Century of Books; 1964; (58)
111. Fireflies by Alice Hoffman; (5*); CHILDREN'S LIT; h/c; ROOT; Century of Books; 1997; (59)
112. Haunt Fox by Jim Kjelgaard; (4*); CRITTERS; Y/A; kindle; Century of Books; 1954; (60)
113. The Blue Castle; ANNE BOOKS; kindle; Century of Books; 1926; (61)
114. Making Sure of Sarah by Betty Neels; (1 1/2*); ROMANTIC FICTION; kindle; Century of Books; 1999; (62)
115. The Sneetches and Other Stories by Dr. Seuss; (4*); CHILDREN'S LIT; h/c; ROOT; Century of Books; 1961; (63)
116. Oh, The Places You'll Go by Dr. Seuss; (3 1/2*); CHILDREN'S LIT; h/c; ROOT; Century of Books; 1990; (64)
117. Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles; AMERICAN SOUTH; Historical Fiction; Children's Lit; Y/A; Century of Books; 2001; (65)
118. Dream When You;re Feeling Blue by Elizabeth Berg; HISTORICAL FICTION; h/c; ROOT; Century of Books; 2008; (66)
119. The Lottery by Shirley Jackson; (4*); GENERAL FICTION; Thriller;
Horror; e-book; shorts; Century of Books; 1948; (67)
120. A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O'Connor; (5*); AMERICAN SOUTH; e-book; shorts; Fiction; Century of Books; 1955; (68)
121. Hollow by Breece D'J Pancake; (3 1/2*); AMERICAN SOUTH; shorts; e-book; Century of Books; 1982; (69)
122. And of Clay Are We Created by Isabel Allende; (5*); GENERAL FICTION; shorts; Historical Fiction; e-book; Century of Books; 1989; (70)
123. The Faery Handbag by Kelly Link; (4*); FANTASY FICTION; Time Travel; e-book; shorts; Century of Books; 2015; (71)
124. The Portobello Road by Muriel Spark; (4 1/2*); WOMEN'S FICTION; h/c; shorts; ROOT; Century of Books; 1957; (72)
125. To Build a Fire by Jack London; (5*); CRITTERS; General Fiction; shorts; e-book; Century of Books; 1908; (73)
126. The Enduring Chill by Flannery O'Connor; (5*); AMERICAN SOUTH; Noir; shorts; 3-book; General Fiction; Century of Books; 1958; (74)
127. The Gentile Jewesses by Muriel Spark; (4*); WOMEN'S FICTION; h/c; shorts; ROOT; Century of Books; 1963; (75)

A CENTURY OF BOOKS:
JUNE: PART II

128. The Haunter of the Dark by H.P. Lovecraft; (4*); MYSTERY; NOIR; shorts; e-book; Century of Books; 1935; (76)
129. A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner; (4 1/2*); LOST GENERATION; short; e-book; Century of Books; 1929; (77)
130. The Summer of the Beautiful Horse by William Saroyan; (3*);
CRITTERS; shorts; e-book; Century of Books; 1928; (78)
131. A Dog's Tale by Mark Twain; (5+*); CRITTERS; shorts; e-book; Century of Books; 1903; (79)
132. Esme by Saki; (5*); CRITTERS; shorts; e-book; Century of Books; 1911; (80)
133. The Mysterious Affaire at Styles by Agatha Christie; (3*); MYSTERY; h/c; ROOT; Century of Books; 1920; (81)
134. The Mystery of the Raymond Mortgage by F. Scott Fitzgerald; (4*);
LOST GENERATION; Mystery; shorts; e-book; Century of Books; 1909; (82)
135. Breakfast by John Steinbeck; (5*); LOST GENERATION; General Fiction; shorts; h/c; Century of Books; 1938; (83)
136. The Problem of Cell 13 by Jacques Futrelle; (3 1/2*); MYSTERY; shorts; e-book; Century of Books; 1905; (84)
137. Destiny by Louise Erdich; (4*); WOMEN'S FICTION; shorts; e-book; Century of Books; 1985; (85)
138. Callista's Pepperment Bottle by L. M. Montgomery; (4*); ANNE BOOKS; shorts; k; Century of Books; 1900; (86)
139. The Joseph's Christmas by L. M. Montgomery; (3*); ANNE BOOKS; shorts; k; Century of Books; 1902; (87)
140. Nan by L. M. Montgomery; (4*); ANNE BOOKS; shorts; k; Century of Books; 1904; (88)
141. Here We Are by Dorothy Parker; WOMEN'S FICTION; shorts; h/c; Century of Books; 1921; (89)
142. The Curtain Blown by the Breeze by Muriel Spark; WOMEN'S FICTION; ROOT; shorts; h/c; Century of Books; 1961; (90)
143. Voices by Alice Monroe; GENERAL FICTION; Women's Fiction; shorts; e-book; Century of Books; 2012; (91)
144. Rabbit Resurrected by David Foster Wallace; GENERAL FICTION; Paranormal; shorts; e-book; Century of Books; 1992; (92)
145. The Gentle Lena by Gertrude Stein; LOST GENERATION; e-book; shorts; Century of Books; 1909; (93)
146. A Clean Well Lighted Place by Ernest Hemingway; LOST GENERATION; e-book; shorts; Century of Books; 1933; (94)
147. The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell; LOST GENERATION; Suspense; Thriller; e-book; shorts; Century of Books; 1924; (95)

109. Peter's Song by Carol P. Saul; (3*); CHILDREN'S LIT; h/c; ROOT; Century of Books; 1992; (57)

Well now, a story about a pig and a frog wouldn't normally excite me but this pig and frog story is a special one. Peter can't find any creature in the barnyard to listen to his new song. Feeling hurt, disappointed and, he travels outside the barnyard in an attempt to find someone who will listen to his song.
Peter finally finds consolation in a new friendship with a frog. Francis John, that's the frog's name, also likes to sing. The pair's excitement at finding understanding in one another and in sharing their love of singing is a lovely surprise for the reader and for both Peter and Francis John.
This is a great little bedtime read. Even the old folks enjoy it at our house.
________________________________________________________________



110. From Doon With Death by Ruth Rendell; (2 1/2*); MYSTERY; library book; kindle; ROOT; Century of Books; 1964; (58)

This is far from the best of Rendell's novels, but still it is a fair introduction of the characters of her Inspector Wexford series.
I enjoyed the book to a degree but found it to be less than up to par with other of Rendell's works I have read. I was easily distracted from the story and it was a bit of a slog. But it served to make me curious enough to go on to the next of her Wexford series. I am hoping to enjoy it more.

111. Fireflies: A Winter's Tale by Alice Hoffman; (5*); CHILDREN'S LIT; h/c; ROOT; Century of Books; 1997; (59)

A wonderful children's tale about living in the North where the winters last from November to May. The children skate on the river all throughout the long dark winters. Every year, on one night in May, the fireflies return to the village and on that night winter ends, the flowers bloom, the strawberries ripen beneath the snowdrifts and all of the village comes out to celebrate the return of the fireflies and spring.
Alice Hoffman is one of my very favorite authors and I love all of her books, both those for youth and for adults.

112. Haunt Fox by Jim Kjelgaard; (4*); CRITTERS; Y/A; kindle; Century of Books; 1954; (60)

Jim Kjelgaard is a masterful author for the young and young at heart especially when it comes to telling the story of wildlife.
This one and The Black Fawn are probably my very favorites of his. Haunt Fox is about the coming of age of a young red fox in a rural area where the running of hounds is quite common. It is not unusual for a group of men to sit around a fire at night and just listen to their hounds run the woods, hills and forests trailing foxes. They don't even have to hunt them to love to listen to them.
In the end he lives to baffle the fox hounds another day. I wish that Kjelgaard had written a successor here.

113. The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery; (3 1/2*); ANNE BOOKS; kindle; Century of Books; 1926; (61)

Valency is 29, plain, (so her family says), single and leading a miserable life at home with her mother and a second cousin. She hates her life, her house, her room and the way her family makes her every decision for her. Her mother and cousin dictate every detail of her life and all of the members of her extended family criticize her every move.
Then on day she is diagnosed with a terminal heart condition and finds out that she has one year to live. Suddenly she doesn't care what anyone else thinks. She refuses to conform, makes shocking choices, and finds a new life for herself, possibly even including love.
I enjoyed this book a great deal once I got about a third of the way through. The first part was an effort for me but I was so glad I stuck it out as the book was well worth that small effort.

114. Making Sure of Sarah by Betty Neels; (1 1/2*); ROMANTIC FICTION; kindle; Century of Books; 1999; (62)

Not even sure that this could possibly be a Neels. She writes with beautifully descriptive prose of of settings for her little stories but not with this one.
A young lady of 23 lives under the thumb of her selfish and self centered mother and stepfather with no life nor means of her own. In their auto travel they meet with an accident and thus she meets the handsome doctor who, in the end, 'takes her away from all this'.
So the basic theme is Neels. Still and all I am thankful that I only spent about 45 minutes on this one.

115. The Sneetches and Other Stories by Dr. Seuss; (4*); CHILDREN'S LIT; h/c; ROOT; Century of Books; 1961; (63)

This is a classic Dr. Seuss book. While it is not as good as The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham & my personal favorite, Horton Hears a Who, it still is a fun read for children of any age. It reinforces to children the truths about discrimination and its effects.

116. Oh, The Places You'll Go by Dr. Seuss; (3 1/2*); CHILDREN'S LIT; h/c; ROOT; Century of Books; 1990; (64)

This contains a lot of positive messages but I found it a little obscure for younger kids.
I bought this intending to give it to my 7 year old granddaughter but after reading it decided to put on the back burner for a few years before giving it to her. It might just be me but it seemed better suited for an older audience.
Some of the metaphors are just too obscure for a youngster to understand, unlike most Dr. Seuss books. It's still a good book; just not necessarily one that you might wish to read to a youngster. I, for sure, wouldn't recommend it to the 4-8 year old age range. I agree with others who have said it would be a great little gift for a student graduating high school and going off to college. They would understand and appreciate all of the 'isms' contained within.

>134 rainpebble: >135 rainpebble: Ah, memories of reading aloud to the gang. Any love for Fox in Socks? Fun read for kids of 5 to 105.

116. Oh, The Places You'll Go by Dr. Seuss; (3 1/2*); CHILDREN'S LIT; h/c; ROOT; Century of Books; 1990; (64)

>136 haydninvienna:;
haydninvienna; YES!~! I loved reading that one aloud to my kiddos. Definitely fun for all ages. And reading some of them now brings back so many memories of those days & bedtimes.

117. Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles; (4*); AMERICAN SOUTH; Children's Lit; Fiction; civil rights; discrimination; equality; friendship; multicultural; prejudice; race relations; segregation; desegregation; social issues; Century of Books; 2001; (65)

This novel is set in Mississippi during the summer of 1964. This was a summer of desegregation in the South. The story revolves around two best friends, John Henry, who is black and Joe, who is white. They do everything together, including swimming in the local creek. But they aren't allowed to swim together in the town pool because blacks are not allowed to use the public swimming pool.
Joe then finds out that a law has been passed that blacks can do everything that whites can do. He is very excited because this means that he can go to the town pool with John Henry. The boys are both excited. But when they arrive at the town pool the following day, they are shocked to find that the town pool has been closed. The pool has been filled with black sticky tar as the white people in their community have chosen to close down the entire pool instead of facing the prospect of sharing it with their black neighbors. While the laws of the nation have changed, it becomes clear to the boys that attitudes and ideas about race will take longer to change.
The boys are saddened but the story ends on a high note. The two friends find that they are able to enter a grocery store together that was previously for whites only.
Well worth the reading even for one who lived through this damning time in our nation.

118. Dream When You're Feeling Blue by Elizabeth Berg; (5*);
HISTORICAL FICTION; h/c; ROOT; Century of Books; 2008; (66)

I think that perhaps this is my favorite Berg. I loved this book.
Kitty lives with her five brothers and sisters in a small house in Chicago in the 1940's. She is waiting for the day her boyfriend, Julian, comes home from the war. But other things are happening in their lives. Her sister's unexpected announcement, one of her brothers does something drastic for the war effort, and Kitty meets another man that could change her destiny forever.
Although some people have complained that the book is slow I savored the slowness. It took me back to another time when people weren't in such a hurry and did the best they could with what they had. Also I noticed in the acknowledgments that Berg had talked to her relatives and other WWII veterans so I felt the book was well researched. This is a lovely glimpse of days gone by.
And yes, I love this novel ..... even though ..... both of Kitty's fiances end up marrying someone else and she ends up a spinster. I think she found happiness in her life.

119. The Lottery by Shirley Jackson; (5*); GENERAL FICTION; Thriller;
Horror; Century of Books; 1948; (67)

Jackson is a true mistress of horror and the macabre. Each one of her stories, as well as her novels, fascinate me and keep me glued to my seat.
I think The Lottery is one of her best and though I have known how it ends for nearly 60 years I am still open-mouthed at the finale.
Like Gone With the Wind, I always hope it might, just might, end differently.
A work of pure genius!

120. A Good Man is Hard to Find and Other Stories by Flannery O'Connor; (5*); AMERICAN SOUTH; e-book; Fiction; Century of Books; 1955; (68)

One simply cannot be a reader of Souther Gothic and not know the name of Flannery O'Connor. I think she invented the genre. What a writer! She writes in the 'speak' of the genre. For some of you these stories may seem rough but for myself, I see brilliance in them. Even as each one of the family is taken to the woods two by two, the grandmother sits by the car assuring 'the misfit' that she knows he is a 'good man'.

121. Hollow by Breece D'J Pancake; (3 1/2*); GENERAL FICTION; shorts; e-book; Century of Books; 1982; (69)

I was not even aware of how this short story would end. It certainly did not end as I expected.
The coal mines of West Virginia were never an easy place of work and were deadly jobs at the best of times. But this short is not so much about the mining as it is about the people of the mining community. The squalor of their lives, the hunger, the poverty, the bickering and squabbles, the dificulties of holding one's family life together, amongst a plethora of other trials.
I truly thought that in the end Buddy was going to shoot Fuller or Sally when he left his trailer with his rifle. Who knew he was simply hungry for some meat and who knew what was lurking in the woods.
D'J Pancake, of whom I was unfamiliar with, is a very masterful writer of this genre. I now know that his life was ended at a young age and so his works are relatively few but I will seek out what there are. I love his style and just the way he puts words together. Reminds me of an author I am very familiar with but I cannot recall who at the time.

122. And of Clay Are We Created by Isabel Allende; (5*); GENERAL FICTION; shorts; Historical Fiction; e-book; Century of Books; 1989; (70)

This story is a brilliant recreation of the 1985 volcanic eruption in Columbia which took the lives of some 200 thousand persons and destroyed a society and economy of the nation.

Allende's tale is about a news reporter who flies into the maelstrom left in the wake of that eruption. A little girl has become entrapped in the mudflow and is slowly being sucked into the mire. The reporter stays & remains within touching of her and talks encouragingly to her for 3 days. Three days of hell and days that will remain with him for a long time to come.
The narrator of our story is the lover of the newsman/photographer who is with the child. She is able to watch them, the girl and her lover, via the television station's cameras, as he works there. When he returns to her she knows he is forever a changed man but is hopeful he will 'return' to her one day.
What a heartbreakingly beautiful piece of writing.

123. The Faery Handbag by Kelly Link; (4*); FANTASY FICTION; MAGIC REALISM; shorts; e-book; Century of Books; 2005; (71)

What a charming and magical piece of short fiction. Fantasy Fiction at it's best!
All about a magic handbag full of the faery people and their faery hill. The faery guard of the handbag is the narrator's grandmother and is a wonderful and unforgetable character. She has so many old faery stories to tell her granddaughter but tells her that she is a liar and so the granddaughter should never believe her. LOVED IT!~!
I finished this one wishing it was a novel rather than a short story. I wanted MORE!

124. The Portobello Road by Muriel Spark; (5*); WOMEN'S FICTION; h/c; ROOT; Century of Books; 1957; (72)

I truly appreciate this author's writing and it is my conclusion that Spark was brilliant and a genius with the written word. Her insight was amazing. And just
when you thought that you knew all of Muriel Spark's tricks, turns out she has yet a few more up her sleeve, including stories in which ghosts walk among us or characters finding themselves to be ghosts 'at last'. The inventiveness of the language still startles, thanks to writers such as Spark.
In this short four friends enjoy (?) an extended friendship/acquaintence over many years. Not too much really happens but it is all very interesting how that is. I did not realize that until several days after completing the story.
There are secrets within the friendships of these four; some among all four but several between just two of the four, namely "George" and "Needle". One in particular takes a twist in that it is so important to George that he is willing to commit murder in order to have it remain secret. And silly me (or brilliantly of Sparks)................I did not understand at all until the end of the story that one of the four had been a ghost all along.
This is an awesome short!

125. To Build a Fire by Jack London; (5*); CRITTERS; General Fiction; e-book; shorts; Century of Books; 1908; (73)

The last time I read this London short story was 68 years ago when I was in third grade. I was wowed by it then though my scope of understanding was not what it is today. I remain wowed by this piece of fiction today.
I have read most of London's works and still believe that this piece is his best. The tragic and riveting story sucks the reader into the cold Yukon world of the man. You are within the story and you feel what the man feels. You are desperately trying to survive the brutal cold of the Yukon. But will your attempts be enough?
The numbing cold gives the reader a chill of their own. The man's relationship to his dog and his own inability to recognize the danger he was in really adds to the overall theme. All in all, a brilliant piece of literature.

126. The Enduring Chill by Flannery O'Connor; (5*); AMERICAN SOUTH;
shorts; e-book; General Fiction; Century of Books; 1958; (74)

127. The Gentile Jewesses by Muriel Spark; (4*); WOMEN'S FICTION; h/c; shorts; ROOT; Century of Books; 1963; (75)

128. The Haunter of the Dark by H.P. Lovecraft; (4*); MYSTERY; NOIR; shorts; e-book; Century of Books; 1935; #76

129. A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner; (4 1/2*); LOST GENERATION; ROOT; short; e-book; Century of Books; 1929; (77)

130. The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse by William Saroyan; (3*);
CRITTERS; shorts; e-book; Century of Books; 1928; (78)

131. A Dog's Tale by Mark Twain; (5+*); CRITTERS; shorts; e-book; Century of Books; 1903; (79)

Another brilliant story by Twain. Told from the viewpoint of the dog, thus the title.
This story brought forth an entire gamut of emotions within me. And I don't think I want to talk about it any more. I just want to read it again.

132. Esme by Saki; (5*); CRITTERS; shorts; e-book; Century of Books; 1911; (80)

A brilliant short story about the hunt, the hunters, the dogs and a little gipsy girl.

133. The Mysterious Affaire at Styles by Agatha Christie; (3*); MYSTERY; h/c; ROOT; Century of Books; 1920; (81)

134. The Mystery of the Raymond Mortgage by F. Scott Fitzgerald; (4*);
LOST GENERATION; Mystery; shorts; e-book; Century of Books; 1909; (82)

135. Breakfast by John Steinbeck; (5*); LOST GENERATION; ROOT;
General Fiction; shorts; Century of Books; 1938; (83)

136. The Problem of Cell 13 by Jacques Futrelle; (3 1/2*); MYSTERY; shorts; e-book; Century of Books; 1905; (84)

137. Destiny by Louise Erdich; (4*); WOMEN'S FICTION; shorts; e-book; Century of Books; 1985; (85)

138. Callista's Pepperment Bottle by L. M. Montgomery; (4*); ANNE BOOKS; shorts; h/c; Century of Books; 1900; (86)

139. The Joseph's Christmas by L. M. Montgomery; (3*); ANNE BOOKS; shorts; h/c; Century of Books; 1902; (87)

140. Nan by L. M. Montgomery; (4*); ANNE BOOKS; shorts; h/c; Century of Books; 1904; (88)

141. Here We Are by Dorothy Parker; (2*); WOMEN'S FICTION; shorts; h/c; Century of Books; 1921; (89)

meh; didn't actually get it .............but then again perhaps I did

142. The Curtain Blown by the Breeze by Muriel Spark; (4 1/2*); WOMEN'S FICTION; shorts; h/c; Century of Books; 1961; (90)

This is a fascinating, absolutely fascinating story by Spark. It is about a woman of the town whose husband has gone to prison for shooting and killing a young lad for peering through the bedroom window at his wife while she is nursing their baby.
During the years while he is away in prison, the wife changes dramatically. She remodels and updates their home, begins to dress and carry herself differently, she begins entertaining and going about with a much different group of people.
Her husband gets out of prison earlier than she expects and comes home to find his surroundings very different than when he was taken into custody. He also expects to find his wife at home but she is nowhere to be found.
I was taken by surprise with the ending of this one. Spark is a marvel with a short story.

143. Voices by Alice Monroe; (3*); GENERAL FICTION; Women's Fiction; shorts; e-book; Century of Books; 2012; (91)

144. Rabbit Resurrected by David Foster Wallace; (2*); PARANORMAL;
Essays; Nonfiction (?); shorts; e-book; Century of Books; 1992; (92)

Foster Wallace is an author that no matter how hard I try I simply cannot get my hear wrapped around what he is talking about. I can only think that he was such a genius that the every-day man cannot appreciate his brilliance.
That being said..........I am glad I read this piece.

145. The Gentle Lena by Gertrude Stein; (3*); LOST GENERATION; e-book; shorts; Century of Books; 1909; (93)

Droll story about a not-too-bright German girl in service who reaches maturity and enters into an arranged marriage. She has always kept herself clean and neat. But with her first pregnancy this changes and she becomes listless and slatternly about herself. She and her husband go on to have two more babies and the 'gentle' Lena' gets worse with each one. When she gives birth to the fourth, the babe is still born and Lena dies. Her husband barely notices that his wife is gone and does on happily caring for his three little ones.
The end.................................
Well written story and though the story itself was not interesting, I found the way it was written to be of great interest. It made me look at Gertrude Stein in a whole new light.

146. A Clean Well Lighted Place by Ernest Hemingway; (5*); LOST GENERATION; e-book; shorts; Century of Books; 1933; (94)

This is a marvelous Hemingway short so different from his novels and so very good. It is about 2 waiters in a late night cafe and 1 particular old gent who likes to come in every evening and remain until 86'd by one of the waiters so that they can close the place down. That is all except that there is so much more to just that. I find it so interesting how Hemingway can take a simple scenario and write an entire story about all that is 'actually' going on within the space of a few hours.
Such a good read!

147. The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell; (5*); LOST GENERATION; Suspense; Thriller; e-book; shorts; Century of Books; 1924; (95)

I thought it interesting that there is a woman pictured on the cover of this novella when there are no females in the story.
Anyway I found this story much more thrilling at 72 than I did when I first read it in 5th grade and it terrified me then. It is the tale of a hunter falling off a boat near Ship-Trap Island to the Amazon for big game hunting. He manages to swim to the island and is very encouraged to find a great lodge and a welcoming host. He learns that his host is a big game hunter himself and has trophies all over the great lodge. But within less than 24 hours he learns that his host wishes him to join him in hunting "the most dangerous game" on earth.
This is a gob-smacking read!

A CENTURY OF BOOKS
JULY:

148. The Old Maid by Edith Wharton; (5*); WOMEN'S FICTION; ROOT;
Historical Fiction; k; Century of Books; 1924; (96)
149. Runaway by Alice Monroe; (3 1/2*); GENERAL FICTION; shorts; Century of Books; 2003; (97
150. Lying Under the Apple Tree by Alice Monroe; GENERAL FICTION; shorts; Century of Books; 2002; (98)
151. The Geranium by Flannery O'Connor; (4 1/2*); AMERICAN SOUTH; ROOT; shorts; Century of Books; 1946; (99)
152. The Peeler by Flannery O'Connor; (4*); AMERICAN SOUTH; ROOT;
shorts; Century of Books; 1949; (100)
153. Enoch and the Gorilla by Flannery O'Connor; (3 1/2*); AMERICAN SOUTH; ROOT; shorts; Century of Books; 1952; (101)
154. The Red Convertible by Louise Erdich; (5*); HISTORICAL FICTION;
Native Americans; North Dakota; Viet Nam era; shorts; e-book; Century of Books; 1984; (102)
155. Wednesday by Dorothy Whipple; (5*); WOMEN'S FICTION; ROOT;
Persephone; h/c; Century of Books; 1944; (103)
156. Dimanche by Irène Némirovsky; (4*); WOMEN'S FICTION; ROOT;
Persephone; h/c; Century of Books; 1934; (104)
157. The Curtain by Raymond Chandler; (4 1/2*); MYSTERY; NOIR; shorts; e-book; Century of Books; 1936; (105)
158. Trouble is My Business by Raymond Chandler; (4*); MYSTERY; NOIR; kindle; Century of Books; 1939; (106)
159. Red Leaves by William Faulkner; (4*); LOST GENERATION; ROOT;
short; Century of Books; 1030; (107)
160. The Murmur of Bees by Sofia Segovia; (4 1/2*); HISTORICAL FICTION; ROOT; k; Magic Realism; Mexico; Spanish Influenza; War; Century of Books; 2015; (108)
161. Yentl the Yeshiva Boy by Isaac Bashevis Singer; (4*); HISTORICAL FICTION; short; ROOT; Jewish; Century of Books; 1983; (109)
162. Impertinent Daughters by Doris Lessing; (4*); WOMEN'S LIT; Memoir;
Century of Books; 1981; (110)
163. The Power of Light by Isaac Bashevis Singer; (5*); CHILDREN'S LIT;
ROOT; Judiasm; Warsaw ghetto; WWII; short; Century of Books; 1980; (111)
164. Girl by Jamaica Kincaid; (3 1/2*); WOMEN'S FICTION; short; e-bk; Century of Books; 1978; (112)
165. Memoirs of a Yellow Dog by O.Henry; (4*); CRITTERS; short; e-bk; the Classics; Century of Books; 1906; (113)
166. Aunt Susanna's Thanksgiving Dinner by L M Montgomery; (3 1/2*);
ANNE BOOKS; ROOT; shorts; k; Century of Books; 1907; (114)
167. Somewhere I'll Find You by Charles Hoffman; (3 1/2*); GENERAL FICTION; WWII; Pearl Harbor; Newspaper Journalists; Century of Books; 1940 (115)
168. Indian Summer by Erskine Caldwell; (5*); Y/A; shorts; e-bk; coming of age; Century of Books; 1932; (116)
169. Killings by Andre Dubus; (4 1/2); GENERAL FICTION; shorts; e-bk; Century of Books; 1979; (117)
170. The Shawl by Louise Erdrich; (5*); GENERAL FICTION; shorts; e-bk; Century of Books; 2001; (118)
171. The Mother Hive by Rudyard Kipling; 3 1/2*); CRITTERS; shorts; e-bk; Century of Books; 1908; (119)

148. The Old Maid by Edith Wharton; (5*); WOMEN'S FICTION; Historical Fiction; k; Century of Books; 1924

I surprised myself when I came to realize that I had never read this one before! It's one of four novellas that Wharton eventually published together as Old New York. The Old Maid is simple but as with all of Wharton's stories, only superficially.
Charlotte gives up her child into the custody of her cousin Delia, so that her daughter's reputation may be preserved. Yet beneath this simple plot is an intricate look at sex, love and as always with Wharton the social customs of the day. She particularly looks at the restrictions and punishments leveled at women.
This story has a rather strange and creepily incestuous element to the basic conflict. One that becomes evident only after some thoughtful reflection. The characters are well drawn and the narration is beautiful as one always finds with Wharton.

____________________________________________________________


149. Runaway by Alice Monro; (4*); GENERAL FICTION; shorts; Century of Books; 2003; (97
Carla ran away to marry Clark.
“She saw him as the architect of the life ahead of them, herself as captive, her submission both proper and exquisite.”

They now run a stables, not very successfully, and are married, not very successfully. Carla is fonder of her pet goat, Flora. You sense casual manipulation and overt put-downs: a “see-saw misery”. Then, a more twisted plan, and a dash of almost magical-realism. But then that is Alice Monro

____________________________________________________________


150. Lying Under the Apple Tree by Alice Monro; (3 1/2*); GENERAL FICTION; shorts; Century of Books; 2002; (98)
In “Lying Under the Apple Tree,” she is thirteen and has a secret poetic idea about looking up through apple blossoms, which has an irresistible formality for her, like kneeling in church. She has her first erotic feelings for an older boy, but when they are interrupted in what Munro expects will be her first sexual experience, she realizes that the boy is having a relationship with the woman who owns the farm where he works. Once again, the story ends with a presage of

149. The Geranium by Flannery O'Connor; (4*); AMERICAN SOUTH; shorts; e-book; Century of Books; 1946; (99)

This short concentrates on the isolation of Old Dudley. Dudley has left his life behind. Has left the south, left the land where things are strong, powerful, and proud. New York, the land of his daughter’s apartment, stands as a cell to an old man who lived a full life in the freedom of his south. The apartment was so small that there was no place that there wasn't someone else. The kitchen opened into the bathroom and the bathroom opened into everything else and it seened you were always back where you started.
Dudley’s isolation rests just below the surface throughout the duration of the story. His age, his background, and the mixing of what was and what is engulfs him. He begins to feel as if he will live the remainder of his life trapped happily in the past within his mind and unhappily in his present where he feels stifled in a world he cannot understand.
So he sits by the window trying to glimpse his past. Dudley stares out at his favorite flower, yet even the flower exists as merely a wisp of what it was back home. The geranium across the way would be put in the window each morning.
Like Dudley, the flower appears weak, decrepit, and not quite whole. Everything has changed and he can never go back. A truth that is made final when he learns the flower’s fate of falling off the window ledge to the walk below and crumbling.

150. The Peeler by Flannery O'Connor; (5*); AMERICAN SOUTH; shorts; e-book; Century of Books; 1949; (100)

The Peeler is about Haze Motes who runs into some 'Jesus freaks' handing out flyers outside a shop where a man is selling potato peelers. Haze ends purchasing one and following a blind man and his daughter who are handing out the pamphlets.
The blind man keeps claiming that Haze is called by Jesus and Haze rejects this and becomes angry.
He then leaves and goes to a woman's house. The night before was the first time he had slept with her or anyone. They have sex again. Afterward he recalls a circus that he went to with his father and sister. His father sends them to a monkey tent as he goes into this 'special' tent. Haze manages to get into that tent and there is a woman doing some type of performance. She is lying in a casket. His eyes remained fixed on her until he hears his father’s voice and then he runs out of the tent. There seems to be a relationship between this memory of the special tent and Haze’s relationship with the woman he is with. He then remembers when he returned home from the circus. His mother hit him and asked him all kinds of questions about what he had seen, which he refuses to answer.
My understanding of this story is that the depths of shame felt by this boy regarding his memory and where he is now is a result of his own actions and also the shame of his father for where he took his son.
O'Connor's scenes are at times difficult to read but she is always masterful with a short story.

151. Enoch and the Gorilla by Flannery O'Connor; (3 1/2*); AMERICAN SOUTH; shorts; Century of Books; 1952; (101)

Enoch seeks refuge under a theater marquee during a rainstorm. He sees that as a promotion, a gorilla will be brought to the theater to promote a new jungle movie. He gets excited and stands in line to shake the gorilla's hand. However he is quite startled to find that the gorilla is actually a man in an ape costume. The 'gorilla' tells Enoch to go to hell when Enoch attempts to engage him in conversation. This causes Enoch to pause and give thought to all this.
He decides to look for a program of the ape-man's future appearances.
Then on the night of, Enoch stalks the man to another theater. He stabs him with a sharpened umbrella handle and steals his costume. Enoch takes the costume out to the woods where he strips naked and buries his clothes in a shallow grave before dressing up as the gorilla. Satisfied with his new appearance Enoch comes out of the woods and attempts to greet a couple by shaking their hands. He is disappointed when they flee in terror.
At the end he finds himself sitting alone on a rock overlooking the night sky of the city and trying to understand all that has happened.

152. The Red Convertible by Louise Erdich; (5*); HISTORICAL FICTION;
Native Americans; North Dakota; Viet Nam era; shorts; e-book; Century of Books; 1984

Lyman is a young Native American who lives on a res in North Dakota. Cars are typically considered too pricey to be on Native American reservations. But Lyman remembers when he and his brother, Henry, bought a red Oldsmobile convertible and brought it home. Everyone was shocked to see a car but the brothers were excited. They decide to just get in the car and take off on a road trip. They drive around the country even traveling to Alaska, seeing all the sights and enjoying the time on the road.
When the two return to the res from their summer of traveling Henry is drafted and sent to Viet Nam. During this time Lyman keeps up the car's maintenance, writing to reassure his brother that everything will be all right with the car and the war. Henry lives through the war but when he returns 3 years later it is obvious to the family that he is suffering from PTSD. He no longer talks to anyone and is quick to become upset.
Lyman shows Henry the car in an attempt to cheer him up but is unsuccessful. The brothers do eventually take the car out for an afternoon drive with a cooler full of beer. After drinking the beer and getting into a fight with each other, Henry says he needs to cool off and jumps into the river. Lyman hears Henry say that his boots are filling up and then sees him go down. He waits for his brother to come up and when he doesn't Lyman jumps in after him but cannot find him. When he realized his brother has drowned Lyman pushed the red convertable into the river as well.
I love Erdich's stories and this one is a classic. I will admit that sometimes her inuendos are over my head but I don't let that stop me from reading her.

153. Wednesday by Dorothy Whipple; (5*); WOMEN'S FICTION; Persephone; h/c; Century of Books; 1944; (103)

Whipple's Wednesday is the story that really moved me in this Persephone collection of short stories. It really resonated with me. The jilted wife visiting her children on one day a week, not allowed within the home but only outside the gates of the property. Husbands in England, in the days prior to WWII, always got custody of the children.
The mother's sense of unreality and deep loss was unspeakably powerful. This story hit home on so many points. Whipple never disappoints.

154. Dimanche by Irène Némirovsky; (4*); WOMEN'S FICTION; Persephone; h/c; Century of Books; 1934; (104)

Another good piece of work by Nemirovsky. Not as wonderful as Suite Française but then not much could be. I love her writing.

155. The Curtain by Raymond Chandler; (4 1/2*); MYSTERY; NOIR; shorts; e-book; Century of Books; 1936; (105)

156. Trouble is My Business by Raymond Chandler; (4*); MYSTERY; NOIR; kindle; Century of Books; 1939; (106)

A rich man hired Marlowe to keep his good for nothing son from marrying awoman whose sole interest in him was his money. This happens to be the first appearance of famous PI who is slightly rough around the edges and really likes to say the title phrase. Several dead bodies, corrupt policemen, organized crime bosses and their thugs keep things from getting slowing down.
A really fun ride!

157. Red Leaves by William Faulkner; (4*); LOST GENERATION; fathers and sons; Mystery; Suspense; shorts; e-bk; Century of Books; 1030; (107)

Red Leaves deals with the death of the Indian chief, Issetibbeha, in early Yoknapatawpha and the
flight and eventual capture of his Negro body servant. The servant, according to the custom of the tribe must be buried with his master.
This story is a masterpiece. It reads like an epic piece of work.
Faulkner has used his most genuine themes. The circle of flight from and the reconciliation to one’s fate. The use of submissiveness as a means of self preservation. The value of dignity in defeat. All are found within the covers of this brief work.
Faulkner is brilliant, as always, with this piece. I only wish I had a better understanding of his symbolisms.

158. The Murmur of Bees by Sofia Segovia; (5*); HISTORICAL FICTION; Magic Realism; Mexico; War; Generaltional; Spanish Influenza; Century of Books; 2015; (108)

This is not my review. I have quoted the blurb from the Goodreads site.

"From a beguiling voice in Mexican fiction comes an astonishing novel—her first to be translated into English—about a mysterious child with the power to change a family’s history in a country on the verge of revolution.

From the day that old Nana Reja found a baby abandoned under a bridge, the life of a small Mexican town forever changed. Disfigured and covered in a blanket of bees, little Simonopio is for some locals the stuff of superstition, a child kissed by the devil. But he is welcomed by landowners Francisco and Beatriz Morales, who adopt him and care for him as if he were their own. As he grows up, Simonopio becomes a cause for wonder to the Morales family, because when the uncannily gifted child closes his eyes, he can see what no one else can—visions of all that’s yet to come, both beautiful and dangerous. Followed by his protective swarm of bees and living to deliver his adoptive family from threats—both human and those of nature—Simonopio’s purpose in Linares will, in time, be divined.

Set against the backdrop of the Mexican Revolution and the devastating influenza of 1918, The Murmur of Bees captures both the fate of a country in flux and the destiny of one family that has put their love, faith, and future in the unbelievable."

This is such a beautiful story. I knew I would be unable to capture the uniqueness and simplicity of this piece of work. I hope this author writes many, many more such novels. She is a fresh breath of air.
Five stars and highly recommended.

159. Yentl the Yeshiva Boy by Isaac Bashevis Singer; (4*); HISTORICAL FICTION; Judaism; Poland; gender identy; Century of Books; 1983; (109)

Yentl, who goes by the name Anshel as a yeshiva boy, challenges the gender norms of that extinct European world of the 'Jewish Pale' and its predominantly Orthodox Jewish communities. The daughter of a rabbi, Yentle, studies with her father as if she were his son. Her father says, “Yentl, you have the soul of a man.” She asks, “So why was I born a woman?” He replies, “Even Heaven makes mistakes.” (a nice bit of levity there)

160. Impertinent Daughters (A Small Personal Voice) by Doris Lessing; (5*); WOMEN'S LIT; Memoir; mothers; Century of Books; 1981; (110)

I have often felt somewhay bored reading this writer's fiction. But this collection of essays and letters was brilliant. Lessing lived an extraordinary life and accomplished amazing things. She is a woman I woud love to have dinner with.

161. The Power of Light by Isaac Bashevis Singer; (5*); CHILDREN'S LIT; Judaism; Warsaw ghetto; WWII; short; e-bk; Century of Books; 1980; (111)

This is a brief account of a young couple in the Warsaw ghetto who take hope and strength from a single, hidden Hanukkah candle. The light from it gives them the courage to escape to the partisans hidden in the forests about the city.
From the day David and Rebecca met the partisans their life became "like a tale in a storybook."

162. Girl by Jamaica Kincaid; (5*); WOMEN'S LIT; Caribbean Lit; teaching aids; essay?; Humorous; Century of Books; 1978; (112)

Jamaica Kincaid’s short story Girl emphasizes the ideas of gender stereotypes in a postcolonial Caribbean society. These stereotypes are shown in the advice the mother gives her daughter. Enforcing limitations on how women and young girls play, the jobs that they hold and even in the clothing that they wear. This rift between man and woman is even further expanded upon by the demands that society puts on woman and the never ending advice to not be a slut!
I don't know if it was meant to be but I found this short story to be hysterically funny.

163. Memoirs of a Yellow Dog by O.Henry; (4*); CRITTERS; short; e-bk; the Classics; Century of Books; 1906; (113)

This story by O. Henry is about a yellow dog named Lovey who despises his owner and finds an ally against her. In this comical tale Lovey tells his story and for once we hear what a dog has to say about his annoying mistress.
The main character, the dog, kept going back and forth from past memories to the present time when the story took place. New characters kept coming into the story and every time the new character would come in they would give the dog a new name. For some that might become confusing. One ccould lose interest easily if you don’t keep up with what is going on because it’s simply about a dog walking around telling the reader about his life and experiences.
For me.......I loved it and am happy to have rediscovered O. Henry. It had been years since I read him.

164. Aunt Susanna's Thanksgiving Dinner by L M Mongtomery; (4*);
ANNE BOOKS; short; k; Century of Books; 1907; (114)

Charming brief tale of four sisters using their Thanksgiving day to cook their cranky aunt's holiday meal to serve to her guests. Things go along quite smoothly until the neighbors dog sneaks in, steals the turker while the vegetables and pies burn. The sisters are out busy saving the neighbor boy who has 'fallen' in the well.
But their old auntie returns in time for a beautiful dinner for her and her guests. The girls managed to save the day after all!

165. Somewhere I'll Find You by Charles Hoffman; (3 1/2*); GENERAL FICTION; WWII; Pearl Harbor; Newspaper Journalists; Century of Books; 1940 (115)

When former Royal Marine Michael Sinclair finally literally found the girl of his dreams, he could never have imagined the web of deception he would find himself entangled in. Strong willed with a dark past of her own, a gift of precognition made life difficult to say the least for beautiful Paige O'Neal. But then nether did living in a haunted house along with the handsome ghost of Erik Fletcher.

166. Indian Summer by Erskine Caldwell; (5*); Y/A; shorts; e-bk; coming of age; Century of Books; 1932; (116)

Caldwell writes the most wonderful stories. They grip you from beginning to end.
This one is about a single day in the lives of two adolescent boys and a neighboring girl. The boys have gone to spend the day at the muddy creek swimming hole when the girl comes down to swim. The boys decide to 'teach her a lesson' by stripping and 'mudding' her.
It is very interesting how the author describes the reaction of all three youth to this event.

167. Killings by Andre Dubus; (4 1/2); GENERAL FICTION; shorts; e-bk; Century of Books; 1979; (117)

Revenge, loss and consequences are explored in Dubus's short story. A jealous husband, angered by the fact that his estranged wife is involved in a new relationship, acts out in a presumable crime of passion and murders the 21 year old man she is seeing. As a result of this crime a father suffers the loss of his son and plots retaliation. This results in the killing of his son's murderer. Both men experience a loss and subsequently act out in revenge. The difference in the moral character of these two men is what appears to determine the fate of their consequences.
I found this work to be excellent.

168. The Shawl by Louise Erdrich; (5*); GENERAL FICTION; shorts; e-bk; Century of Books; 2001; (118)

This is the story of a Native American woman, Anishinaabeg, the mother of two young children, who just gave birth to another baby. The infant's father is not her husband but a man who lives across the water.
Her depression and bad temper after the birth eventually cause her husband to send her to live with the other man, leaving her son behind with his father. However tragedy strikes the wagon as they journey. Starving wolves attack and the daughter is eaten by them, leaving only her tattered shawl behind. The grief that follows this death shatters both her father and her brother so much that it ends up having repercussions into the future generations. The father especially cannot get over his shock of how his wife tossed his daughter to the wolves just to save herself and the baby.
The story goes on to show how generation after generation suffer from the actions of family members already gone. This not only occurs with the Indian Nations but with the rest of us as well.
What an amazing piece of work.

169. The Mother Hive by Rudyard Kipling; 3 1/2*); CRITTERS; shorts; e-bk; Century of Books; 1908; (119)

This is a fable by Kipling about the decline and destruction of a hive of bees. Their downfall begins when, in a moment of carelessness, the guardians of the hive allow it to be infiltrated by a wax moth. When her eggs hatch, the larvae devour honey and wax and undermine the structure of the hive. This leads to worse problems. More and more bees are hatched. Many with deformities. Honoured traditions collapse. The only hope for salvation is the hatching and rearing of a secret clandestine princess.
This is the first I have read by Kipling in ever so long. It was good but not great.

A CENTURY OF BOOKS:
AUGUST:
170. A Night Among the Horses by Djuna Barnes; (5*); LOST GENERATION; shorts; e-bk; Century of Books; 1918; (120)
171. Aura by Carlos Fuentes; (4 1/2*); PARANORMAL; Horror; shorts; e-bk; Century of Books; 1962; (121)
172. The Possibility of Evil by Shirley Jackson; (4*); GENERAL FICTION; shorts; e-bk; 'what goes around comes around'; Century of Books; 1965; (122)
173. Afterward by Edith Wharton; (4*); PARANORMAL; shorts; Century of Books; 1910; (123)
174. The Romance of Jedediah by L M Montgomery; (4*); ANNE BOOKS; shorts; kindle; Century of Books; 1912; (124)
175. For Esmé - with Love and Squalor by J.D. Salinger; (4 1/2*); GENERAL FICTION; shorts; e-bk; WWII; Century of Books; 1950; (125)
176. The Storm by Kate Chopin; (3*); WOMEN'S LIT; shorts; e-bk; Romantic Fiction; Century of Books; 1969; (written 1898); (126)
177. Wild Trek by Jim Kjelgaard; (5*); CRITTERS; Adventury; Y/A; dogs; kindle; Century of Books; 1950; (127)
178. Fingerman by Raymond Chandler; (4*); MYSTERY; NOIR; Pulp Fiction; Phillip Marlow; kindle; Century of Books; 1934; (128)
179. Goldfish by Raymond Chandler; (3 1/2*); MYSTERY; NOIR; Pulp Fiction; Phillip Marlow; kindle; Century of Books; 1936; (129)
180. Red Wind by Raymond Chandler; (4*); MYSTERY; NOIR; Pulp Fiction; Phillip Marlow; kindle; Century of Books; 1938; (130)The
181. The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler; (4*); 1939; MYSTERY; NOIR; Pulp Fiction; kindle; Philip Marlow; Century of Books; 1939; (131)
182. The Wind Off the Small Isles by Mary Stewart; (3*); MYSTERY; GOTHIC; ROOT; Suspense; h/c; Century of Books; 1968; (132)
183. The Little Sister by Raymond Chandler; (3 1/2*); MYSTERY; Noir; Hardboiled; Pulp Fiction; Philip Marlowe; Century of Books; 1949; (133)
184. Bunner Sisters by Edith Wharton; WOMEN'S LIT; ROOT; 2013;
kindle; Century of Books; 1916; (134)

170. A Night Among the Horses by Djuna Barnes; (5*); LOST GENERATION; shorts; e-bk; Century of Books; 1918; (120)

Barnes is one of those amazing writers where the writing is just an expression of a totally unique genius. She writes with an unconscious flow and, for the reader, almost too much awareness of what a story should be. She is brilliant in her originality and in the human truths that emerge from her strange and bizarre stories. She quite takes my breath away with her writing.

171. Aura by Carlos Fuentes; (4 1/2*); PARANORMAL; Horror; Latin American Lit;
shorts; e-bk; Century of Books; 1962; (121)

An unemployed and intellectual young man, Felipe finds a job which fulfills his economic needs. He responds to an ad placed by an elderly widow She is looking for someone to transcribe, correct and edit the diaries of her late husband, a general. Felipe moves to the widow's mansion to live there while he is completing this work and he meets the caregiver of the old widow.
Passions rise between the two and mysterious events make Felipe think that there's a strong but strange bond between the caregiver and the widow.

I think I would compare this writing as somewhere near the genius of Poe. It is terribly creepy but utterly fascinating.

172. The Possibility of Evil by Shirley Jackson; (4*); GENERAL FICTION; shorts; e-bk; 'what goes around comes around'; Century of Books; 1965; (122)

In this little story Miss Strangeworth considers herself the matriarch of her town. Afraid that there's evil in the townsfolk she sends anonymous letters full of mean spirited truths she has observed in the people of the community. She doesn't think, as so many of us do not, the we all have 'little truths' lurking in our lives. This 'watch-dogging' backfires on her at the end of the story and what she loves the most in the world is destroyed.
Excellent story!

173. Afterward by Edith Wharton; (4*); PARANORMAL; ghosties;
shorts; Century of Books; 1910;

This is a chilling and disturbing tale. It is made all the more believable and haunting by the writing of Wharton. There is a painful sense of suspense and dread which preys on the mind of the reader, this reader at least. The sudden and unexplained loss of a loved one becomes so suddenly not as difficult to imagine. I totally empathized with the woman in this story.
A really good read!

174. The Romance of Jedediah by L M Montgomery; (4*); ANNE BOOKS; ROOT; Romantic Fiction; shorts; kindle; Century of Books; 1912; (124)

I enjoyed this simple, unjaded story of Montgomery.
A young man who courted a young girl of the town returns some five or more years back. He is now a tinker and drives a wagon cart from town to town selling pots, pans and sundry items from house to house.
Almost without thinking of it, he turns his cart into the yard of his previously beloved's home. She comes out and they do indeed remember each other. They chat for a good while, she makes a small purchase and he goes on his way.
The next week finds him back at her house and so goes the entire summer. By summer's end, as he stops to tell her her he will be returning out west for the winter, they both reallize that they still love one another after all these years apart.
Sweet story.

175. For Esme With Love and Squalor by J.D. Salinger; (4 1/2*); GENERAL FICTION; shorts; e-bk; WWII; Century of Books; 1950; (125)

I loved the title of this story but did not find it all that fitting for the story.
I did find this story very interesting but more of a character study than an actual story.
Salinger has a distinctive writing 'voice' & I like it. I think I will be reading more of his work.

176. The Storm by Kate Chopin; (3*); WOMEN'S LIT; shorts; ROOT; Romantic Fiction; Century of Books; 1969; (written 1898); (126)

177. Wild Trek by Jim Kjelgaard; (5*); CRITTERS; Adventury; Y/A; dogs; kindle; Century of Books; 1950; (127)

I always thought this author's best work was The Black Fawn but I had not yet read Wild Trek. This surpasses even The Black Fawn!
What a great story! It is about a mountain man who, with his dog, hikes into the far back country which is nearly virgin territory. He is searching for two men whose plane went down in the high country in an area that is said to be inaccessable.
I loved this adventury story and wish it had been much longer. I recommend it to 'young adults' of all ages. Kjelgaard is a brilliant author of this type of story.

178. Finger Man by Raymond Chandler; (3 1/2*); MYSTERY; Noir; Pulp Fiction; kindle; Century of Books; 1934; (128)

Bit of noir about Chandler's favorite detective, the seedy Philip Marlowe. This time he is drawn into a 30 year old heist where 1 murder was committed and 2 priceless pearls were stolen. The man charged with the crime spent decades in prison and is now out. He gave up everything except who had / has the pearls and where they were / are. Chandler's job is to find them for the insurance company and receive a $25,000 payday. Of course seekers come out of the woodwork, people get shot and shot at. It is an interesting read to keep all of the characters in their proper places.
Very good for what it is. A piece of pulp fiction. I find the more I read by Chandler, the better I like him.

>178 rainpebble: Love the cover- looks like Marilyn Monroe and Eddie Albert on the cover!

>203 JulieLill:;
Julie, I do love these old pulp covers. And you are right. It looks like them to me as well, although I hadn't put that together until you mentioned it.
Thank you for popping over. I don't get around much but do love it when peeps pop by.
Good reads to ya!

179. Goldfish by Raymond Chandler; (3 1/2*); MYSTERY; Noir; Pulp Fiction; Phillip Marlow; kindle; Century of Books; 1936; (129)

180. Red Wind by Raymond Chandler; (5*); MYSTERY; NOIR; Pulp Fiction;
Phillip Marlow; kindle; Century of Books; 1938; (130)

I remember those Santa Ana winds very well from living in Southern California. They blow so hard and hot that they will burn your eyebrows off in just minutes!

181. The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler; (4*); 1939; MYSTERY; NOIR; Pulp Fiction; kindle; Philip Marlow; Century of Books; 1939; (31)

182. The Wind Off the Small Isles by Mary Stewart; (3*); MYSTERY; ROOT; Suspense; h/c; Century of Books; 1968; (132)

183. The Little Sister by Raymond Chandler; (3 1/2*); MYSTERY; Noir; Hardboiled; Pulp Fiction; Philip Marlowe; Century of Books; 1949; (133)

184. Bunner Sisters by Edith Wharton; (4 1/2*); WOMEN'S LIT; ROOT; 2013; kindle; Century of Books; 1916;

A CENTURY OF BOOKS:
SEPTEMBER:

185. Death in Kenya by M M Kaye; (4*); MYSTERY; ROOT; 2014

185. Death in Kenya by M M Kaye; (4*); MYSTERY; ROOT; 2014

A CENTURY OF BOOKS

OCTOBER:
186. Dreaming Water by Gail Tsukiyama; (4*); ROOT; 2008
187. A Hundred Flowers by Gail Tsukiyama; (3 1/2*); ROOT; 2013
188. The Other Rebecca by Maureen Freely; (1 1/2*); ROOT; 2011
189. Talking to the Dead by Helen Dunmore; (5*); ROOT; 2013
190. Your Blue-Eyed Boy by Helen Dunmore; (3 1/2*); ROOT; 2013
191. The "Rebecca" Notebook and Other Memories by Daphne Du Maurier; (2 1/2*); NONFICTION; VMC; (500); ROOT; 2013; hardcopy; Memoir; Bio

TBR:
What Made Yellow Roses Yellow?; ?; 1959; pdf
On the Sidewalk Bleeding; Mystery; Noir; 1956; pdf
The Cop Killer; Mystery; Noir; 1951; pdf
Kew Gardens; Women's Lit; 1919; h/c
The Mark on the Wall; Women's Lit; 1917; h/c
Winesburg, Ohio; Lost Generation; 1915; k
Something Childish But Very Natural; ?; 1914; pdf

186. Dreaming Water by Gail Tsukiyama; (4*); HISTORICAL FICTION; Century of Books; 2002; ROOT; 2008

187. A Hundred Flowers by Gail Tsukiyama; (3 1/2*); HISTORICAL FICTION; Century of Books; 2012; ROOT; 2013

188. The Other Rebecca by Maureen Freely; (1 1/2*); comedic NOIR; Century of Books; 2000; ROOT; 2011

189. Talking to the Dead by Helen Dunmore; (5*); Century of Books; 1996; NOIR; ROOT; 2013

190. Your Blue-Eyed Boy by Helen Dunmore; (3 1/2*); Century of Books; 1999; NOIR; ROOT; 2013

A fascinating but uneasy read. Her words suck me in whether I want to be in or not. An uneven and creepy read by halves.

191. The Rebecca Notebook & Other Memories by Daphne du Maurier; (2 1/2*); Century of Books; 1981; VMC; 500; VIRAGO; NONFICTION; MEMOIR; BIO; ROOT; 2013

I don't truly know how I felt/feel about this one. Parts of it were interesting enough but on the whole it felt sadly lacking to me. I have read other works of nonfiction by du Maurier that I liked a great deal. Here her family came across as just too wonderful and precious and it became tiring. I believe that I like her works much more than I would have liked her had we ever met. :-(

A CENTURY OF BOOKS
NOVEMBER:

192. Last Bus to Woodstock by Colin Dexter; (4*); MYSTERY; kindle; (Inspector Morse; bk 1); 1975; ROOT; 2010
193. The Rabbit Girls by Anna Ellory; (4 1/2*); HISTORICAL FICTION; WWII; 2019
194. A False Dawn by Tom Lowe; (3*); AMERICAN SOUTH; bk 1; MYSTERY; SUSPENSE; 2012
195. The 24th Letter by Tom Lowe; (3 1/2*); AMERICAN SOUTH; bk 2; MYSTERY SUSPENSE; ROOT; 2012
196. Kilmeny of the Orchard by L.M. Montgomery; (4*); ANNE BOOKS; HISTORICAL FICTION; ROOT; 2009; hardcopy; Century of Books; 1910

A CENTURY OF BOOKS
DECEMBER:

197. The Butterfly Forest by Tom Lowe; (3 1/2*); AMERICAN SOUTH; bk 3; MYSTERY; SUSPENSE; 2012

Well done on a great year's reading, 😀