Helenliz Houses the Hoard, pt 2

Thread one had passed 200 posts, so I thought that the end of the first quarter was a good a time as any for a shiny new thread.

I'm Helen, and I'm a Quality Manager for a small company making medical devices (asthma inhalers). I enjoy reading, cross stitch embroidery, growing edible things in my garden (and then eating the results!) and watching documentaries (usually to relieve the boredom of ironing).

As for last year, I don't want to set too many targets. I can get a bit obsessed or very put off by targets, it's a chalk and cheese thing with me. So there will be no particular numbers in each category. That's not to say I don't want to stretch my reading, as ever. To achieve that, I have changed up some of last year's categories and introduced a few new ones that will make me think a bit harder about what I am going to read.

My theme is historic buildings and houes. I like visiting sites of this kind, they are usually interesting, with questions around who built it, who later made changes, what they kept and what got removed. They come in all shapes and sizes and histories. They're fun to clamber around, they look interesting in the landscape and they tell us something of who we are. It's fun to imagine being at the top of the social structure, but I know that in reality I'd have more likely been stuck slaving away in the scullery or other equally unglamerous corner of the building. I've tried to pair the buildings with the themes I've picked.

I've decided to start a new thread at the 1/4 of the year, taking the time to review where I have got to so far. Welcome in for another quarter.

Currently Reading:


And the Wind Sees All
The Scent of Almonds and Other Stories (audio)

Library books on loan
A Modern Comedy
Le Morte D'Arthur
We, the Living
Transcription
Fictions
The Three Clerks
Transcription

Adding book bullets
✔️ The Crossing PLaces (Elkiedee) (Norfolk setting) (completed)
The Stranger Diaries (Charlotte & Susan)
Transcription (Stacy, amongst others)
Why We Sleep (Jackie_K)
The Great Typo Hunt (Cindy)
The Silence of the Girls (Susan) (I'm a sucker for retellings of the ancient Greeks)
Rain: Four Walks in English Weather (Carrie) (Walking in rain is sometimes the best thing ever)
The Century Girls: The Final Word From The Women Who've Lived The Past Hundred Years of British History (Susan)
Alone in Berlin (Tess)
The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle (Stacy)
Cain (Annamorphic)
I will never see the world again (Charlotte)
The Five (Carrie)

The list: 2019

January
1. The Man who Loved Children, Christina Stead, ***
2. How to be Both, Ali Smith, ****
3. Wrote for Luck, DJ Taylor, *** (audio)
4. The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne, ***
5. Atonement, Ian McEwan, ****1/2
6. The Saga of the Volsungs, Anon, ***
7. Emsworth's Plum, Linda Newell, ***
8. Devil's Cub, Georgette Heyer, ****

February
9. Murder by Matchlight, ECR Lorac, ****
10. Distant Voices, Barbara Erskine, * (Abandoned) (audio)
11. Belinda, Maria Edgeworth, ***

March
12. Lady Susan, Jane Austen, ***
13. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, AC Doyle, **** (audio)
14. Munmun, Jesse Andrews, ***
15. The Convenient Marriage, Georgette Heyer, ****1/2
16. The Italian Teacher, Tom Rachman, ***
17. The Lemon Table Julian Barnes, ****, Audio
18. The Glorious Heresies, Lisa McInerney, **

April
19. For Your Eyes Only and Other Stories, Ian Fleming, ****, (audio)
20. Circe, Madeline Miller, *****
21. The Absentee Maria Edgeworth, ****
22. The End of the Affair, Graham Greene, ***
23. The Crossing Places, Elly Griffiths, ***
24. A Good Hanging and Other Stories, Ian Rankin, ***

May
25. The Janus Stone, Elly Griffiths, ****
26. The Last Summer Ricarda Huch, ****
27. The Darkness of Wallis Simpson and other stories, Rose Tremain, *** (Audio)
28. Regency Buck, Georgette Heyer, ****1/2
29. The Monk, Matthew Lewis, ****1/2
30. Invisible Agents, Nadine Akkerman, ***
31. Stay With Me, Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀, ****
32. Why Don't You Stop Talking, Jackie Kay, ****, (audio)

June
33. May we be Forgiven, AM Homes, ****
34. Means of Evil and Other Stories, Ruth Rendell, *** (audio)
35. Bonjour Tristesse, Francoise Sagan, **
36. The White Monkey, John Galsworthy, ***
37. A Silent Wooing, John Galsworthy, ***
38. The Silver Spoon, John Galsworthy, ***
39. Marrying off Mother and Other Stories, Gerald Durrell, *** (audio)
40. Bad Girls, Caitlin Davies, ****
41. And the Wind sees All, Guðmundur Andri Thorsson, ****

Challenge Category 1: Women Authors



This impressive house is Hardwick Hall. It was built in the Elizabethan period and was renown in its time for its use of glass and the size of its windows. A rhyme of the time went "Hardwick Hall, more glass than wall".

At the top of each bay you can just make out there is an E and S. These are the initials of the builder, Elizabeth, Countess of Shrewsbury, known to her time and to history as Bess of Hardwick. She was born in a now demolished house on this site. It is this house she is most associated with, despite actually being influential in Chatsworth, as well as the Old Hall on the Hardwick site. Married 4 times, she founded a dynasty; the Cavendish family (the Dukes of Devonshire) were the offspring of her first marriage. She died in her 80s, having lived a life extrordinary by any standards.

In 2017 two thirds of the books I read were by women authors. In 2018, so far, I've achieve parity. I want to maintain that parity into 2019.

Hardwick Hall is now in the hands of the National Trust

1. The Man who Loved Children, Christina Stead
2. How to be Both, Ali Smith
3. Emsworth's Plum, Linda Newell
4. Devil's Cub, Georgette Heyer
5. Murder by Matchlight, ECR Lorac
6. Distant Voices, Barbara Erskine
7. Belinda, Maria Edgeworth
8. Lady Susan, Jane Austen
9. The Convenient Marriage, Georgette Heyer
10. The Glorious Heresies, Lisa McInernery
11. Circe, Madeline Miller
12. The Absentee Maria Edgeworth
13. The Crossing Places, Elly Griffiths
14. The Janus Stone, Elly Griffiths
15. The Last Summer Ricarda Huch
16. The Darkness of Wallis Simpson and other stories, Rose Tremain
17. Regency Buck, Georgette Heyer
18. Invisible Agents, Nadine Akkerman
19. Stay With Me, Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀
20. Why Don't You Stop Talking, Jackie Kay
21. May we be Forgiven, AM Homes
22. Means of Evil and Other Stories, Ruth Rendell
23. Bonjour Tristesse, Francoise Sagan
24. Bad Girls, Caitlin Davies

Challenge Category 2: Classics



The country cottage, with a thatched roof and roses growing round the door has to the be classic, chocolate box, impression of English houses. I hate to disappoint, but it ain't necessarily so. That doesn't stop us hankering after the classic cottage experience, right until reality hits your head on low beams, windows that rattle in the wind and a chimney that can't be persuaded to draw. However, let's ignore reality and imagine oursleves in a better place.

This category is for housing those books that have achieved classic status, at times, in spite of their failings. I'd like to read at least 6 of these this year.

1. The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne
2. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, AC Doyle
3. The Absentee Maria Edgheworth
4. The Monk, Matthew Lewis
5. The White Monkey, John Galsworthy
6. A Silent Wooing, John Galsworthy
7. The Silver Spoon, John Galsworthy

Category Challenge 3: Non-Fiction



The Mill has to be the most down to earth building. At one time they were essential to the survival of every village. They come in a variety of forms, depending on the local resources; this is a post mill, a typically East Anglian design of wind powered mill. It is built around a central post that runs the height of the mill and everything you can see with the exception of the circular roofed lower storey rotates to ensure that the sails face the wind.

This example is Saxtead Post Mill and it is in the hands of English Heritage

This matter of factness makes the mill the place I will house my selections of non-fiction. I aim to read one per month, but that's not always met, so I'll aim for 10 over the course of the year.

1. Emsworth's Plum, Linda Newell
2. Invisible Agents, Nadine Akkerman
3. Bad Girls, Caitlin Davies

Category Challenge 4: Heyer Series Read



The terraced house is a product of its time, the need to get more houses in a smaller space. They're not the maximum occupancy of the back-to-backs, but they get a bad rap. There was a tendency in the 20th century to build rows and rows of terraces, all looking the same, just one after another. But it is people that make a house a home, and this example of a terraced house is not just any terrace, it is the childhood home of Paul McCartney.

This, along with John Lennon's childhood home, are both open to visitors on pre-booked tours, as they are in the hands of The National Trust

As terraces come one house after another, I'm using the terraced house as my place to read all of Gerogette Heyer's romances in publicaiton order. This is a work in progress, as shown below. I have read 7 this year, and that was stalled by not owning 2 of them, so I will aim to read 8 of these in the year.

Heyer romances:
(r) Set in Regency Period
(g) Set in Georgian Period
(h) Set in prior historical Periods.

Finished
✔️ The Black Moth (g) 1921 Finished 01Jan18, ****1/2
✔️ Powder and Patch (g) 1923 Finished 05Feb18, ***
✔️ The Great Roxhythe (h) 1923 Finished 30Apr18, ***
✔️ Simon the Coldheart (h) 1925 Finished 7May18, ***
✔️ These Old Shades (g) 1926 Finished 31May18, ***
✔️ The Masqueraders (g) 1928 Finished 17Jul18, ****
✔️ Beauvallet (h) 1929 Finished 08Sep2018, ****
✔️ The Conqueror (h) 1931 Finished 25Dec2018, ****
✔️ Devil's Cub (g) 1932 Finished 31Jan2019, ****
✔️ The Convenient Marriage (g) 1934 Finished 12Mar2019, ****1/2
✔️ Regency Buck (r) 1935 Finished 08May2019, ****1/2

To be Read
The Talisman Ring (g) 1936
An Infamous Army (r) 1937
Royal Escape (h) 1938
The Spanish Bride (r) 1940
The Corinthian (r) 1940
Faro's Daughter (g) 1941
Friday's Child (r) 1944
The Reluctant Widow (r) 1946
The Foundling (r) 1948
Arabella (r) 1949
The Grand Sophy (r) 1950
The Quiet Gentleman (r) 1951
Cotillion (r) 1953
The Toll Gate (r) 1954
Bath Tangle (r) 1955
Sprig Muslin (r) 1956
April Lady (r) 1957
Sylvester, or The Wicked Uncle (r) 1957
Venetia (r) 1958
The Unknown Ajax (r) 1959
Pistols for Two (short stories) 1960
A Civil Contract (r) 1961
The Nonesuch (r) 1962
False Colours (r) 1963
Frederica (r) 1965
Black Sheep (r) 1966
Cousin Kate (r) 1968
Charity Girl (r) 1970
Lady of Quality (r) 1972
My Lord John (h) 1975

Category Challenge 5: Orange Prize



The building above is an Orangery. In the 18th century, having one of these showed you'd made it to the top of the social tree. They were a glorified greenhouse, for the growing of exotic plants in the miserable English climate. They were positioned to take advantage of what sun was available, often on the edges of walled kitchen gardens. The gardeners of the day alos used to make use of tricks like having the compost heap on the back wall, to provide warmth to the fruit trained on the other side of the wall.

these days they are often converted to make attractive tea rooms or resturants with a garden view.

The example above is at Belton House, which is in the hands of The National Trust

The books to accompany the Orangery are those that have won or been shortlisted for the Orange Prize in any year. I know it has changed its name now, but it'll always be Orange to me. I'd like to taarget reading 6 in the course of the year.

1. How to be Both, Ali Smith
2. The Glorious Heresies Lisa McInerney
3. Circe Madeline Miller
4. Stay With Me, Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀
5. May we be Forgiven, AM Homes

Category Challenge 6: Short Stories



This building, which is both small and slightly short on sides, is Rushton Triangular Lodge. It is an intricately decorated building, the original use of which is not entirely clear. It is generally accepted as having been used by a warrener, overseeing the safety and health of the local warren. Yes, it could be the most highly decorated bunny keeper's house. It is the decoration that makes this special though. It was built in the Elizabethan by a catholic who was less than secretive about his faith. He was imprisioned more than once, died in the tower and left the family in poverty when the estates were confiscated. Relatives of the family were involved in the Gunpowder plot. The decoration is in multiple of 3 (the holy trinity) and gets a lot more complicated from there. There are inscriptions that run around the walls and the windows make cross patterns when viewed from inside. If you knew what you were looking for, this building would have been a dangerous statement of faith.

The lodge is now in the hands of English Heritage

The size (and shortage of walls) makes this the perfect choice for short stories. Since my commuting time has reduced, I've taken to listening to short stories on audiobook in the car, on the grounds that I can stop between short stories without too much difficulty, or recap from the beginning as I set off next time. No numbers here, as it's a bit of a varibale feast!

1. Wrote for Luck, DJ Taylor
2. Distant Voices, Barbara Erskine
3. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, AC Doyle
4. The Lemon Table, Julian Barnes
5. For Your Eyes Only and Other Stories, Ian Fleming
6. A Good Hanging and Other Stories, Ian Rankin
7. The Darkness of Wallis Simpson and other stories, Rose Tremain
8. Why Don't You Stop Talking, Jackie Kay
9. Means of Evil and Other Stories, Ruth Rendell
10. A Silent Wooing, John Galsworthy
11. Marrying off Mother and Other Stories, Gerald Durrell

Category Challenge 7: 1001 List



This imposing building is Apsley House, most famous for being the London residence of the Duke of Wellington.

Apsley House is maintained by English Heritage

Apsley House also bears the fabulous address of No 1, London. And when you number a list, you start with number 1, so this is the place for that monster list, the 1001 books you should read before you die. As I'm a sucker for a good list, and the combined 1001 list (comming in at ~ 1300 books) is too good to pass up. I may not finish them, but it certainly gives me a good stock of titles to work my way through. I'm currently at 114 titles read. I would like to read at least 6 in the year, 10 would be excellent.

1. The Man who Loved Children, Christina Stead
2. The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne
3. Atonement, Ian McEwan
4. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, AC Doyle
5. The Absentee Maria Edgeworth
6. The End of the Affair, Graham Greene
7. The Monk, Matthew Lewis
8. Bonjour Tristesse, Francoise Sagan

Category Challenge 8: Translation



The attra ctive courtyard and house above is Chiswich House, an estate that was once in the countryside surrounding London, but is now an oasis of green in the sprawling metropolis. It is built in the neo Palladian style.

Chiswick House is now in the hands of English Heritage

As the palladian style was first used by Palladio in the villas in the vicinity of Venice and then across italty, this is an imported style. Like all foreign ideas, it doesn't always travel well; loggia and the like are all very well in a warm Italy, but less suited to a cold wet climate. Having said that, it does work well for my aim to read more books that have been translated into English from foreign languages. This is a new category, so I will aim at 4 for the year.

1. The Saga of the Volsungs, Anon
2. The Last Summer Ricarda Huch
3. Bonjour Tristesse, Francoise Sagan
4. And the Wind sees All, Guðmundur Andri Thorsson

Category Challenge 9: New Authors



This is an image of a most unusual building, it is a Jacobean riding house. William Cavendish was a man on the move, trained in France, he introduced the young Prince Charles (the future Charles II) to horsemanship. After the restoration of the monarchy, he returned to his family's estate and built Bolsover castle as a family retreat. It was sibsequently extended to include a large wing to impress the hoped for royal guests. The final buildings on the site were his riding house. He was the author of a book on horsemanship that we would recognise as the origins of dressage. The book is not entirely outmoded now, with his insistence on working with the horse than against it.

Bolsover Castle is maintained by English Heritage

As this is the last historic house/castle/building I visited (last weekend) I am using this to house those authors who are new to me. This is another new category, but it is one I have done before. Target is 12 new authors in the year, averageing one a month.

1. The Man who Loved Children, Christina Stead
2. How to be Both, Ali Smith
3. Wrote for Luck, DJ Taylor
4. The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne
5. Atonement, Ian McEwan
6. Distant Voices, Barbara Erskine
7. Belinda, Maria Edgeworth
8. Munmun, Jesse Andrews
9. The Italian Teacher, Tom Rachman
10. The Glorious Heresies Lisa McInerney
11. The Crossing Places, Elly Griffiths
12. The Last Summer Ricarda Huch
13. The Monk, Matthew Lewis
14. Invisible Agents, Nadine Akkerman
15. Stay With Me, Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀
16. May we be Forgiven, AM Homes
17. Bonjour Tristesse, Francoise Sagan
18. Marrying off Mother and Other Stories, Gerald Durrell
19. Bad Girls, Caitlin Davies
20. And the Wind sees All, Guðmundur Andri Thorsson

Category Challenge 10: Miscellaneous



This is Souter Lighthouse, set on the Northeast coast, just south of Sunderland, midway between the Tyne and the Wear. Opened in 1871 Souter is an archetypal lighthouse, hooped in red and white. Souter was the first lighthouse in the world designed and built to be powered by electricity. I didnl;t realise that each lighthouse not only casts a rotating beam, but that for each lighhouse the frequency and number of flashes is unique. They're not all just one light going round. It's to help with identifying the lighthouse when at sea. Well I never.

Souter Lighthouse is not longer a working house, and is now in the hands of
The National Trust

As Lighthouses come in all shapes, forms and ages, I'm going to use this category to record any books that don't want to fit anywhere else, it's the miscellaneous pile. No target numbers here - too many and I will have to rethink the categories for next year!

Category Challenge 11: BingoDog (and any other challenge lists)



Ightham Mote (said Ing-am, before you put your teeth out trying to get that out) contains a real rarity, a grade 1 listed dog kennel. yes, really. Built by the owner in the Victorian period, it is some size and fits in with the much older buildings that surround it. It is in the courtyard of the beautiful 14th century moated manor house. It is incredibly pretty, but the practical side of my brain is screaming "but think of the damp". Maybe not for me then.

The dog kennel and the rest of the estate at Ightham Mote are in the care of The National Trust

A victorian dog kennel makes this the ideal house for storing the BingoDog card. I will also include any other list type challenges that appeal to me during the year.



BingoDOG 2019 Squares: The Official List
1. Book made into a movie The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne
2. Main title has 6 or more words in it For Your Eyes Only and Other Stories, Ian Fleming
3. Title contains a homophone word (such as hair/hare, slay/sleigh, there/their/they’re) Why Don't You Stop Talking, Jackie Kay
4. Weather (title contains a weather word, or book involves/centers around a weather event) And the Wind sees All, Guðmundur Andri Thorsson
5. Book has an LT rating of 4.0 or more Munmun, Jesse Andrews
6. Book in translation Bonjour Tristesse, Francoise Sagan
7. Prize-winning book Atonement, Ian McEwan
8. Children’s/YA book, or reread a childhood favorite
9. Graphic novel
10. Food-related title or topic Emsworth's Plum, Linda Newell
11. Read a book bullet (meaning another LT member inspired you to read it) The Crossing Places Elly Griffiths
12. Book mentioned in another book you have read The Monk, Matthew Lewis
13. Animal on cover/in title/plays a significant role Belinda, Maria Edgeworth
14. Short stories or essays Wrote for Luck, DJ Taylor
15. Debut novel Lady Susan, Jane Austen
16. Book about/featuring siblings The Man who Loved Children, Christina Stead
17. Book with an artistic character How to be Both, Ali Smith
18. Fairy tale (classic or reworked) The Saga of the Volsungs, Anon
19. Author uses middle name or middle initial The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, AC Doyle
20. Cover has at least two human figures Devil's Cub, Georgette Heyer
21. Part of a series Regency Buck, Georgette Heyer
22. Alliterative title Murder by Matchlight, ECR Lorac
23. Topic or character related to medicine/health The End of the Affair Graham Greene
24. Eastern European author or setting The Last Summer Ricarda Huch
25. Read a CAT

Goodreads Around the Year in 52 Books
1. A book that was nominated for or won an award in a genre you enjoy Circe, Madeline Miller
2. A book with one of the 5 W's in the title (Who, What, Where, When, Why) The Man who Loved Children, Christina Stead
3. A book where the author’s name contains A, T, and Y Wrote for Luck, DJ Taylor
4. A book with a criminal character (i.e. assassin, pirate, thief, robber, scoundrel etc) Murder by Matchlight, ECR Lorac
5. A book by Shakespeare or inspired by Shakespeare
6. A book with a dual timeline How to be Both, Ali Smith
7. 2 books related to the same topic, genre, or theme: Book #1
8. 2 books related to the same topic, genre, or theme: Book #2
9. A book from one of the top 5 money making genres (romance/erotica, crime/mystery, religious/inspirational, science fiction/fantasy or horror) Devil's Cub (g) 1932
10. A book featuring an historical figure Regency Buck, Georgette Heyer
11. A book related to one of the 12 Zodiac Chinese Animals (title, cover, subject) The White Monkey, John Galsworthy
12. A book about reading, books or an author/writer Emsworth's Plum, Linda Newell
13. A book that is included on a New York Public Library Staff Picks list
14. A book with a title, subtitle or cover relating to an astronomical term
15. A book by an author from a Mediterranean country or set in a Mediterranean country The Italian Teacher
16. A book told from multiple perspectives The Glorious Heresies Lisa McInerney
17. A speculative fiction (i.e. fantasy, scifi, horror, dystopia) Munmun, Jesse Andrews
18. A book related to one of the elements on the periodic table of elements
19. A book by an author who has more than one book on your TBR A Silent Wooing, John Galsworthy
20. A book featuring indigenous people of a country Stay With Me, Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀
21. A book from one of the polarizing or close call votes
22. A book with a number in the title or on the cover
23. 4 books inspired by the wedding rhyme: Book #1 Something Old
24. 4 books inspired by the wedding rhyme: Book #2 Something New
25. 4 books inspired by the wedding rhyme: Book #3 Something Borrowed
26. 4 books inspired by the wedding rhyme: Book #4 Something Blue
27. A book off of the 1001 books to read before you die list The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, AC Doyle
28. A book related to something cold (i.e. theme, title, author, cover, etc.)
29. A book published before 1950 The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne
30. A book featuring an elderly character The Lemon Table, Julian Barnes
31. A children’s classic you’ve never read
32. A book with more than 500 pages
33. A book you have owned for at least a year, but have not read yet The End of the Affair Graham Greene
34. A book with a person's name in the title Belinda, Maria Edgeworth
35. A psychological thriller
36. A book featured on an NPR Best Books of the Year list
37. A book set in a school or university The Last Summer, Ricarda Huch
38. A book not written in traditional novel format (poetry, essay, epistolary, graphic novel, etc) Why Don't You Stop Talking, Jackie Kay
39. A book with a strong sense of place or where the author brings the location/setting to life The Crossing Places Elly Griffiths
40. A book you stumbled upon Distant Voices, Barbara Erskine
41. A book from the 2018 GR Choice Awards
42. A book with a monster or "monstrous" character The Saga of the Volsungs, Anon.
43. A book related to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) (fiction or nonfiction)
44. A book related in some way to a tv show/series or movie you enjoyed (same topic, same era, book appeared in the show/movie, etc.) For Your Eyes Only and Other Stories, Ian Fleming
45. A multi-generational saga
46. A book with a (mostly) black cover Bonjour Tristesse, Francoise Sagan
47. A book related to food (i.e. title, cover, plot, etc.) May we be Forgiven, AM Homes
48. A book that was a finalist or winner for the National Book Award for any year Atonement, Ian McEwan
49. A book written by a Far East Asian author or set in a Far East Asian country
50. A book that includes a journey (physical, health, or spiritual) The Absentee Maria Edgheworth
51. A book published in 2019
52. A book with a weird or intriguing title

PopSugar reading challenge 2019
01 - A book becoming a movie in 2019
02 - A book that makes you nostalgic Emsworth's Plum, Linda Newell
03 - A book written by a musician (fiction or nonfiction)
04 - A book you think should be turned into a movie
05 - A book with at least one million ratings on Goodreads
06 - A book with a plant in the title or on the cover
07 - A reread of a favorite book The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
08 - A book about a hobby The Italian Teacher
09 - A book you meant to read in 2018 Belinda, Maria Edgeworth
10 - A book with "pop", "sugar" or "challenge" in the title
11 - A book with an item of clothing or acceessory on the cover
12 - a book inspired by mythology, legend or folklore The Saga of the Volsungs, Anon
13 - A book published posthumously
14 - a book you see someone reading on TV or in a movie
15 - A retelling of a classic Circe, Madeline Miller
16 - A book with a question in the title Why Don't You Stop Talking, Jackie Kay
17 - A book set on a college or university campus Wrote for Luck DJ Taylor
18 - a book about someone with a super power
19 - a book told from multiple POVs How to be Both, Ali Smith
20 - a book set in space
21 - a book by two female authors Bonjour Tristesse, Francoise Sagan
22 - A book with a title that contains "salty", "sweet", "bitter" or "spicy"
23 - A book set in Scandinavia
24 - a book that takes place in a single day And the Wind sees All, Guðmundur Andri Thorsson
25 - a debut novel Lady Susan, Jane Austen
26 - a book that's published in 2019
27 - a book featuring an extinct or imaginary creature
28 - a book recommended by a celebrity you admire
29 - a book with "love" in the title
30 - a book featuring an amateur detective The Crossing Places Elly Griffiths
31 - A book about a family The Man who Loved Children, Christina Stead
32 - A book written by an author from Asia, Africa or South America Stay With Me, Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀
33 - A book with a zodiac sign or astrology term in the title The White Monkey, John Galsworthy
34 - a book that includes a wedding Atonement, Ian McEwan
35 - A book by an author whose first and last names start with the same letter The End of the Affair Graham Greene
36 - A ghost story
37 - a book with a two-word title Devil's Cub, Georgette Heyer
38 - A novel based on a true story
39 - A book revolving around a puzzle or game Murder by Matchlight, ECR Lorac
40 - Your favorite prompt from a past Popsugar Reading Challenge
Advanced:
41 - A "cli fi" book
42 - A "choose-your-own-adventure" book
43 - An "own voices" book
44 - Read a book during the season it is set in
45 - A LitRPG book
46 - A book with no chapters / unusual chapter headings / unconventionally numbered chapters
47 & 48 - Two books that share the same title
49 - A book that has inspired a common phrase or idiom For Your Eyes Only and Other Stories, Ian Fleming
50 - A book set in an abbey, cloister, monastery, vicarage, or convent The Monk, Matthew Lewis

Category Challenge 12: CATs



This gorgeous structure is the Wellington Arch. Built in 1825–7, it was originally intended as an outer entrance to Buckingham Palace. At first it stood facing the Hyde Park Screen, but it was moved to its present position in the 1880s. Its original design was never completed, and a controversial giant statue of the Duke of Wellington was erected on top of it in 1846. The quadriga sculpture that crowns the arch today was placed there in 1912. Since then the roads have moved and it sits in the middle of a roundabout, and was London's smallest police station for a time. I love this and the statue that crowns it.

Wellington Arch is naintained by English Heritage

This is a bit of a stretch but as the Wellington Arch is an arch (duh!) and cats are known to arching their back, this is the house I am going to shoehorn my CATs and KITs into. Not sure which one's I'll be participating as yet, this will be updated as they are established.

AlphaKit
January: Q, A - How to be Both Ali Smith
February: K, O
March: U, L - The Glorious Heresies Lisa McInerney
April: B, M - Circe Madelline Miller
May: H, V - May we be Forgiven AM Homes
June: J, D
July: C, P
August: N, I
September: F, W
October: G, T
November: S, Y
December: E, R

TBR CAT
January: dudes22 -- First in, last out - read one of the oldest members of your tbr - Atonement, Ian McEwan
February: Helenliz -- A book you borrowed to read and still haven't got to Belinda, Maria Edgeworth
March: sallylou61 -- Book acquired on/for trips or for a special occasion
April: mathgirl40 -- Book originally acquired for an LT group read or challenge The End of the Affair, Graham Greene
May: LibraryCin -- Book that I keep looking at, but never manage to open Invisible Agents, Nadine Akkerman
June: donan -- Book bullet (i.e. book suggested by someone else, not necessarily on LT) Bad Girls, Caitlin Davies
July: LittleTaiko -- Book by an author with more than one book on your TBR shelf
August: The_Hibernator -- Book purchased with great excitement and with plans to read right away that is somehow still on my tbr a year later
September: Robertgreaves -- Classics I feel I should read
October: DeltaQueen50 -- Book purchased because of its visual appeal (striking cover or colors, beautiful edition, etc.)
November: MissWatson -- Book given to me as a gift
December: RidgewayGirl -- A book I bought because it was so cheap (library sale, remainder table, etc)

Random CAT
January: Your name in print Emsworth's Plum, Linda Newell
February: We need a break The Italian Teacher
March: European Country
April: Tournament of books winner (claiming The Italian Teacher)
May: Dance
June: Playing cards Drew 4 diamonds. The White Monkey, John Galsworthy,
July
August
September
October
November
December

First Quarter Review:
Number of books: It's been a bit up and down, 8, 3 and 7 in the fiorst three montghs of the years is a bit inconsistent. It would result in 72 over the year, which is probably a reasonable average.

The best so far are The Convenient Marriage and Atonement at 4&1/2 stars each. Dud was Distant Voices which was a DNF.

Challenge 1: Women Authors: 10 books read by women authors out of 18 books. I wasnted to aim for at least 50% so I'm doing OK on this one so far.

Challenge 2: Classics: 2 books so far. Aiming for 6 in the year sees this one currently ahead of schedule. I should probably define what I consider a classic, which is an interesting concept.

Challenge 3: Non-Fiction: 1 so far is rather poor. Target for 10 for the year sees me behind target on that one. I'm not sure why, I have a lot of really good non-fiction on the pile to read, I'm just not picking them up. Hmm, must try harder.

Challenge 4: Heyer series read: 2 read so far this year and with a target of 8 in the year that sees me on schedule. I am enjoying these and am feeling very pleased that several people have also tipped their toe in the water.

Challenge 5: Orange Prize. 2 read so far this year, with a target of every other month. 2 in the first 3 months is on schedule.

Challenge 6: Short Stories. 4 in this category so far. With no target, these are just for fun. I'm enjoying the variety.

Challenge 7: 1001 List: Well this is impressive, with a target of 10, to have read 4 is most certainly ahead of schedule. The 1001 group reads are helping here.

Challenge 8: Translation: 1 so far this year sees me on track. I have recently purchased a number of books in tramnslation, so this should see the numbers through to the end of the year.

Challenge 9: New authors. Well I am surprised at 10 in this category. With a target of 12 I'm already most of the way to completion. I'm averageing 3 a month, not 1. Good work on this one.

Challenge 10: Miscellaneous. Nothing in here, but that's not a bad thing. It just means that I've made my categories wide enough to capture almost everything!

Challenge 11: Bingo & other challenge lists: Bingo is over half finished, but that just means I;ve got the difficult ones left to do. Goodreads ATY is as 16/50, so is more than a quarter done. Popsugar is doing less well at 12/50.

Challenge 12: CATs. Mixed results, but that's OK. 2 out of 3 in each of Alpha, TBR and Random CAT is fair enough. I'm not too worried about this one, it's just for fun.

So, at a quarter in, I'm not looking too bad. Some work to do on some categories, but others are filling up nicely. I'm pleased to see that my reading is probably as broad as it has been in a number of years.

Happy new thread, Helen! And happy Thingaversary!

Definitely a Happy Thingaversary! And a new thread!

>17 katiekrug:, >18 hailelib: thankyou both.

Hi, Helen - Happy New Thread!

I've just been reacquainting myself with your categories: I hadn't realised you had a dedicated Heyer one, how delightful! :)

>20 lyzard: thank you. In part, the Heyer category is your fault. >:-) I acquired all of Mum's Heyer books when we cleared her house. She'd had them shelved in alphabetical order (I know, don't tell some people, they'll not cope with that!) and I'd started reading them by just picking a title randomly. But about that time you were completing your read of Heyer's regency romances in publicaiton order and that struck me as a much more systematic way of reading the colleciton. I started last year and have continued. I can see this being a category for a number of years - there's that many to get through!

Happy new thread and happy thingaversary. I hadn't really noticed the Goodreads Challenge before, it has some very creative prompts.

>22 MissWatson: Thanks on both counts. I liked the look of the Goodreads challenge, it's got some interesting ideas in there, for certain. I suspect I won't finish it, but it's fun to see how far I can get.
There's a thread with all sorts of challenges, if you wanted to have a look see: https://www.librarything.com/topic/301256

>23 Helenliz: Thanks. Of course I went and had a look and I can feel my resistance slipping. Maybe I should do a year with only reading challenges as categories...

Happy new thread :)

Happy new one, Helen! You are reminding me that I have Circe on the shelves, and I should get to it. Did you list it in a challenge already?

*never mind, I found it

>26 Crazymamie: thank Mamie. I did indeed. >:-) I'd be happy to share a read with you.
Mine is a beautiful copy. I took the duct jacket off, so I didn't crumple it while reading, to find that the front cover is embossed with gold effect foil. It really is lovely.
Text inside is also pretty good too., so it's not a case of only being skin deep.

Happy new thread and congratulations on your Thingaversary. What would we all do if we didn't have LT!

>28 DeltaQueen50: Thanks. Oh I know! I'd have to bore actual people by discussing books. >;-) I feel sure some of them would (whisper it) read out of order. *shudder*.

>29 Helenliz:

I HEARD THAT!!!!!!!!!!

>21 Helenliz:

Aww, thank you! I hope you continue to enjoy your Heyer reads.

>30 lyzard: I hate to break it to you; there are such people in the world... I know, disgraceful. And I have learnt the error of my earlier ways. >;-)

Happy new thread, Helen! I felt sure that people were discussing reading stuff out of order, so I had to drop in :-)

I had Circe out of the library at one point, but I had too many things (really) so I gave up on it. I think I'll get it again.

Happy belated Thingaversary!

>27 Helenliz: I think your copy is much prettier than mine, but mine is also lovely and has the gold embossing:

>33 AHS-Wolfy: your belated wishes are appreciated. I mean it had already passed before I remebered to look (knowing it was about this time of year!).

>34 Crazymamie: Yup, I win. >:-) I mean yours is OK, I've certainly seen worse, but the UK edition is just so lovely. I may be a little bit in love with it.

Happy new thread Helen.

Very thorough category/challenge guide you have there. I love the pictures.

>36 fairywings: Thank you! I like a bit of structure in my life, without boxing myself in. I think this manages the balance.

Note to self: finished For your eyes only in the car today. Can't work out how to update read dates on phone. Remain a luddite.

>38 Helenliz: Haha, that made me laugh! (speaking as a fellow Luddite!)

>39 Jackie_K: Happy to oblige!
Also finished Circe which is every bit as good as I had hoped it would be.

Book: 19
Title: For Your Eyes Only and other stories
Author: Ian Fleming
Rating: ****
Where: Library
Why: Audio
Categories: short stories
TIOLI:Challenge #6: Read a book where the authors last name has 2 vowels or less

This consisted of 5 short stories, the titles of 3 of which were familiar as being film titles. The contents of the tales, however, were not necessarily familiar from what I remembered of the films. In each they are firmly rooted in a post war world, and there is a lot of descriptve detail, such that the period is clearly evoked The stories are also quite different from the films in terms of tone and attitude to women. In a few stories Bond admires a woman, but it does not end up in bed, or even there being any indication that that could happen.
Narrated by Samuel West, it's very well done and I thoroughly enjoyed this.

>41 Helenliz: Ooh, Samuel West would be a great narrator! Will have to hunt up the audio version :)

Book: 20
Title: Circe
Author: Madeline Miller
Rating: *****
Where: New
Why: Mr B's Book club subscription
Categories: Woman Author
TIOLI:Challenge #7: Read a book by a woman about a woman

I've had this on the radar since I first heard about it, as it hits all of my buttons. I loved her previous book, Song of Achillies. I enjoy the inventiveness of retellings of older stories, The suspese of not knowing the ending is taken away from the author, so creating suspense and surprise is much harder, mmaking it an interesting reading exercise. You know the ending and the major steps along the way, the susprise is in the detail and intricacy.
Meaing I went into this with very high expectations and it did not disappoint. For a start it is a ting of beauty. The dust jacket is so lovely I took it off before I read the book to avoid damaging it. Then I discovered the front cover is also embossed and is beautiful as well.
Having waffled for sometime, so to the inside. It is told in the first person, making it very immediate. Circe is the daughter of the sun god and a nymph. She is nothing special, being overshadowed by her younger siblings. She seems to make miss-step after miss-step but comes into her own. At times you know what's about to happen, and yet, each time the way it actually takes place is a surprise and not necessarily how the story has gone before. It offers a very different perspective than the myths. IN this case it is not the case of a mortal wishing to do battle with the gods, it offers a very different view of what it means to be immortal, the perils and downsides of that seemingly sought for gift - or is it a curse. I'm reminded of the Morrisy song, is it better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. I know which way this book answers that question. I loved it, every single minute.

>42 rabbitprincess: He was! It also had 5 minutes at the end of him talking about how he approached narrating the stories, which was also very worth listening to. He gets to narrate people he'd never get to play on stage, which was intriguing.

I'm glad that the contents of Circe lived up to its gorgeous exterior for you!

Helen, I liked all of the Bond books on audio. You are so right that the stories are very different from the films.

Lovely review of Circe! I am loving it, too.

>45 katiekrug:, >46 Crazymamie: I think I'm going to be raving about Circe for some time.

>46 Crazymamie: It's surprising how very different the Bond stories are from the films. They're a lot more subtle and descriptive.

I note that Circe is my first 5 star read since Dom Casmurro in April last year.

Happy new thread! Love the way your challenges are being filled.

I'm reading Circe right now and enjoying it enormously.

>49 VivienneR: thank you! Some are filling more than others, some more slowly than expected. but that's OK.
I'm glad to see so many people are enjoying Circe. >:-)

It's that time again, book subscription day. I do love comming home to find the parcel waiting for me. *squeeee*.
This month's excitement is Stay with me which was on the Orange shortlist in 2017. She's a Nigerian writer, about whom I know nothing.

Oooh, that one's pretty, too!

It also has a lemon hard cover and lemon end papers, which are really crisp and bright. I'm wondering if this is going to mislead me and the book be dark and depressing...

Probably... :)

Finished The Absentee on flight for work. Then entirely confused the hotel receptionist by asking for a cup of tea at almost midnight teehee.

Book: 21
Title: The Absentee
Author: Maria Edgeworth
Rating: *****
Where: Library
Why: Trying to clear the library backlog!
Categories: Woman Author, 1001 list
TIOLI:Challenge #2, Read a book in which the author's name has a Scrabble point value of 22 or more

This was really quite enjoyable. Helped, I think, by the recent tutoured read by Liz of Edgeworth's Belinda and the quite detailed introduction. I'm not sure of those two got me in the right mindset to read this, or put it all into context, but it helped.
It's a story of an heir to an estate in Ireland who is comming of age in London where his parents reside, as absentee landlords to their estate. He has a fondness for his home and so goes on a tour of the country and finds that one part of the esatate has a good overseer and the other does not. One part of the estate has tenants who are hard working, and a credit to themselves and their landlord, the other has bribery, underhand dealings, falling down houses and an oppressed tenantry. He then takes matters into his own hands and makes his social ladder climbing mother see that actually she fits back in Ireland a lot better than in London, and that they should return. It is slightly complicated by his search for a wife. He has a fondness for the woman brought up as his cousin, who in fact is the (believed) illigitimate child of his uncle's first wife, and so not a blood relative at all.
There is a lot going on slightly off stage, for want of a better description. This is set not long after the Union of Ireland with the rest of Britian into the UK, and so there is a fair amount of them & us going on, on both sides of the irish sea. This os not always evident, but in the choice of Grace Nugent as the cousin's name, Edgeworth was tapping into a thread of folk history related to the surname and the name Grace Nugent itself that gives her position within the family and her relationship (or possible relationship) with the heir a different spin. It's all very interesting and quite easy to read. A great social portrait of society at the time, with the poorer tenants featuring as well as the upper classes.

Well that's been a busy week. I might only have had 4 days, but it's had a lot of work. Flew (which I lurve with a passion - NOT!) to Germany to a supplier Monday afternoon, Tuesday & Wednesday in all day meetings, flew home Wednesday night, arrived in at 2 am this morning. So today I was hoping for a quiet day... no such luck. Full on day getting a report out to a customer. I'm knackered, my brain has turned into cream cheese and is trying to leave my head via my ears.

I did get some reading done while travelling, so there's that. Finished The Absentee and finally got most of the way through The End of the Affair. I must have picked that up to read many times, but never got beyond page 10 before something else has attracted my attention. I'm looking forward to a couple of nice lazy days with a spot of gardening and maybe buying some paint tester pots to try out the colours for the hall. But some relaxing is most certainly on my agenda for the next 4 days. Bank holiday weekend has come at just the right time - and the weather isn't supposed to be too bad. >:-)

Enjoy your holiday weekend, Helen! I could use one of those.

Enjoy your holiday weekend!

I have Colin Firth's reading of The End of the Affair, but haven't listened yet.

>56 Helenliz:

I'm glad that one worked for you, Helen. :)

Have a good rest, it sounds like you've earned it!

Book: 22
Title: The End of the Affair
Author: Graham Greene
Rating: ****
Where: My shelves
Why: about time!
Categories: 1001 list
TIOLI:Challenge #4. Read a book with a description of the weather in the first paragraph

I must have picked this up to read at least 5 times and always been distracted by something else and put it back. I finally got through most of it on a flight and have finished it while trying not to go to sleep too early. It's good, but not great, I think.
Maurice Bendrix is an author and friend of Henry (a civil servant) and his wife Sarah. One night he meets Henry on the common and discoveres that Henry is afraid Sarah is having an affair. Bendrix is then smitten with jealousy, as his affair with Sarah has ended. Bendrix engages a private detective and the story progresses in two timeframes, the current and the story of the affair. It came to an end in unlikely circumstances and the aftermath has very strange consequences.
The writing is lovely, the descriptions are spare but revealing. There are powerful emotions here, expressed in very understated ways by the protagonists, but I'm never sure I ever really felt them. It was a bit like analysing the affair under glass, it didn't really touch me.

>58 katiekrug:, >59 Tess_W:, >61 lyzard: Thanks. 9 hours sleep last night and I'm feeling a lot more human. I did get a bit tired and grumpy last night, which the husband decided had great comedy potential. I was less convinced.
Good Friday has dawned clear and sunny, so it is living up to its name thus far.

>60 The_Hibernator: I think he'd read that really well, he has the right kind of voice for the narrator. Hope you enjoy it when you get to it.

>62 Helenliz: The film version I saw was with Ralph Fiennes: very good.

Hope you have a relaxing weekend to make up for the crazy week.

Book: 23
Title: The Crossing PLaces
Author: Elly Griffiths
Rating: ***
Where: The Library
Why: Book bullet - and there's a reservation on this, so I can't renew it! That never happens to me!!
Categories: Women author, new author.
TIOLI:Challenge #5. Read a book relating to lindapanzo's parents' 60th wedding anniversary

I got hit by a book bullet for this series as it has a King's Lynn setting, and that's where I work. I know the area quite well so spent some of the book going "oh I know where that is" and others going "hmm, I wonder where she's put that" A university in King's Lynn, for instance, is slightly far fetched, but it acts as a location to put the main character. She's Dr Ruth Galloway, an archeologist and an expert in bones who is called in to help the police when a bone is discovered on the salt marshes. From there the story evolves, with a case of a missing girl from 10 years ago and a more recent girl taken and found dead in the same area. You could argue it gets a bit untidy towards the end, with a multitude of possible suspects all comming out of the woodwork. Howeverit all whizzes along at a satisfactory pace towards a conclusion that does not leave everything as a happy ever after, but does provide hope for the future.
This is written in the present tense, which is an interesting stylistic choice. It makes it feel quite immediate, but did take a while to get used to. The main character is approaching 40, single, intelligent, sparky and has all the hang ups that women in their prime have. I could have wished that the bed scene didn't happen, it struck me as unnecessary, but that's my only quibble.
I need yet another series like a hole in the head, but can see myself looking out more of these in the future.

3 days into our 4 day weekend and I've finished a book. And I needed to, this one is a library book and it has a reservation on it, so I can;t renew it. That never happens to me. I do not need yet another series, but I quite enjoyed this, especially knowing the area in which it is set, so I will be looking out for the next in the series at some point.

Weather has been lovely, so I've done plenty of gardening. Weeded the strawberry patch, cleared the greenhouse, cut back the hedges in the front garden and have managed to fill the garden waste bin completely - and then some. It's due for colleciton tomorrow, so I'm thinking of trying to catch them at it, so I can sneakily refill it and have them empty it again! Tomorrow also sees me on a mission to the garden centre for some plants for the greenhouse. And then it'll be back to work. While I love my job, I could get used to 4 day weekends, even if I did get into trouble with the husband for working quite a bit of Friday...

>66 Helenliz: Sounds like a busy weekend Helen! I've had fun in the garden today as well, and fortunately this time the warmth of the weather stopped me from overdoing it.

>66 Helenliz: Sounds great! We've done a lot of gardening too. We have ivy growing on the wall/fence of our front garden which needed a lot of hacking back as it was starting to strangle some of the other bushes we have there. Also did my first mow of the lawn this year. And we've sown the first of our veg seeds today too. A perfect Easter activity, if you ask me!

All caught up with you, Helen! Sorry about the exhausting Germany trip, but hooray that it is over.

I really loved The End of the Affair, and I think that is because I listened to Colin Firth narrating - so full of fabulous. I mean, really, how can one resist Mr. Darcy? I might have to listen to it again soon - sadly, he does not narrate everything else by Greene. Or even anything else by Greene. *pout*

Ruth!! I adore Ruth Galloway - those books are very addictive, so be careful.

You have been hard at work in the garden - I love to watch Craig garden (I can see hime from the screened-in porch, and it goes well with a glass of wine and a good book). How did the garden waste bin stealth go?

Book: 24
Title: A Good Hanging and Other Stories
Author: Ian Rankin
Rating: ***
Where: The Library
Why: Audio
Categories: Short Stories
TIOLI:Challenge #5. Read a book relating to lindapanzo's parents' 60th wedding anniversary

I've not read any of Ian Rankin's Rebus books, but if this colleciton of short stories is any judge, I probably ought to. Rebus is world weary and somewhat cynical, but he is always after the truth, in whatever form that might be. There are some stories that are quite distressing, others that have flashes of humour and asides that lighten the mood. None of the stories are very in depth, but they're all engaging to a degree.

Of course, I don't need any more series, that goes without saying...

>69 Crazymamie: Howdy Mamie. I can imagine Colin Firth reading very well, expecially something understated like Greene.
I know I'm on a dangerous edge with the Ruth Galloway. It may be too late, I've reserved book 2 from the library...
Gardening was productive, but has left me with a fetching bruise on one knee (I think I knelt on a stone, probably 5 or 6 times, looking at the size of the bruise!) plus a blister on one thumb and numerous scrapes and scratches. I like eating the results or lying out in it, so it is worth it. Bin plan failed. >:-( I was out when they came. So it is filled and waiting for the next collection, in a fortnight. Give it a week and I can probably jump up and down on it and it will all squish in a bit better >:-)

Book: 25
Title: The Janus Stone
Author: Elly Griffiths
Rating: ****
Where: The Library
Why: Because book 1 in the series was good & 2 arrived quicker than anticipated!
Categories: Women Authors
TIOLI:Challenge #15. Read a book with no common initials in title or author, 5 word minimum

I read this in a single evening, which is, for me, most unusual. OK, so I was staying away in a hotel with few distractions, but even so, I got to the point I was simply going to finish this.
Dr Ruth Galloway is not you usual character in a book, she's 40, Head of a department of Forensic Archeology at a very minot UNiversity, over weight, single and now preganant with a married man's child. She.s feisty, not terribly feminine and I think we'd be great pals. Shje has, however a habit (this is book 2 of a series, so I think I'm safe in calling it a habit) of getting involved in police cases that involve bones of some description. And then a crime is uncovered. Unfortunately, at some point in the book, someone decides that Ruth is dangerous and that she needs to be removed. I'm sure not allcases with old bones end like this, but so far this is a 100% plot template. I might leave it a while befor ereading the next, to allow the similarity facgtor to diminish.
This edition sees Ruth involved in an excavation in a house in Norwich that is being turned into luxury apartments when a body turns up under the porch. This is parallelled by an excavation she visits near Swaffham where there is a roman villa being dug up that also has bones under the corners of houses. There are a number of red herrings trailled across our path, with distractions of the house having been a Catholic orphaniage for a time and who has owned the house. Lots of nice details for the closet nerd to lap up.
I like the fact that I know the area, I know where is being described and that i can place the action. The descriptions of the landscape are very good, with the open skies of the fens existing clearly in my mind's eye. This is a fun series to which I will return.

So glad you're enjoying the Ruth Galloway series, Helen! It's a favorite of mine.

>73 katiekrug: She is good! I realise I'm comming a little late to the party. Just reassure me, she doesn't end up in danger in every book, does she?

Erm, maybe? To be honest, I don't recall the details of all of them :-P

Note to self. Finished the last summer this morning. Ends on a cliff hanger!

Note to self: Finished The darkness of Wallis Simpson on audio book today.

>77 Helenliz: Yes, finish that! I would like to see what you think of it. I usually read Simpson when I find something interesting.

Book: 26
Title: The Last Summer
Author: Ricarda Huch
Rating: ****
Where: My shelves (new)
Why: Charlotte's fault. She posted a link to the publisher
Categories: Women Authors, Books in translation, New author.
TIOLI:Challenge #10. Read a book about or set in Berlin, or by a German writer

This was published in 1910, but my copy was a recent translation into English. And the cover blurb is right, it does have relevance to the world we live in.
This is set in Russia, which is experienecing upheaval. There has been some incident in the university (we are not sure exactly what) that has caused the university to be suspended and the chancellor has recieved threats on account of this action. He has retreated, with his wife and 3 children, to his country house and the book is set there. The letters on this come from the 5 of the family plus the young man hired as a bodyguard come secretary to protect the chancellor.
An epistolary novel, we don't get to read all of the correspondance that is happening, so you're never quite sure of eveything that is going on. All of the letters in this come from 6 people and are (mostly) outwards going, which adds to an air of opression, you see very little of the world outside.
There's a lot that is left unsaid. We're never sure of exactly what happened, only that it has divided the population, and divides, to some extent, the family as well. There is a marked difference between those who hold a view and those who hold it strngly enough to actually act upon it, and that is made clear in the letters, but, of course, those are not seen by the people in the house.
It ends very abruptly, and the aftermath of the actions taken are not explored. What happens next it left entirely to your imagination and speculation.
This was a most intriguing read and the blurb is right, this is a book that continues to have relevance even after the passge of time.

Book: 27
Title: The Darkness of Wallis Simpson and Other Stories
Author: Rose Tremain
Rating: ***
Where: Library
Why: Audio
Categories: Women Authors, Short Stories
TIOLI:Challenge #4. Read a book whose title contains at least one 4 letter or longer embedded word

The title story here is by far the longest, taking ~ 1/3rd of the collection. Not all of them are historical, but they all share a sense of loss. This is not a cheerful collection to read, I'm quite glad I spaced it out by listeneing while commuting. The loss can be of a person, or of some part of a person. The title story has Wallis Simpson confined to bed and suffering from dementia that causes her to not remember clearly the fact that most of us do remember about her - that she caused a King to abdicate. She relates her memories of her life and her husbands. What she does remember of Edward is touching, in that it is the human things she relates, not the titles or guilded lifestyle.
The stpries were narrated by a variety of people and in some cases, the accents were approaching a parody that felt unecessary.
It's a good read, but I think that reading it all at once it could become rather opressive.

A long weekend away based in the Welsh marches sees me having finished a few books and having made progress on a few more. It consisted of some walking, some visiting historic sites (castle, abbey and industrial heritage, the whole works here). Weather not too bad, only the odd spit of rain. And this week I'm on holiday, so there may be some reading taking place there as well. I also ought to do laundry, ironing and other dull stuff, but that's not wort reporting. >:-)

Hmm, reading or chores? What to do? :)

>82 LittleTaiko: I know. I think I've got one review where it says "this book was 10000 times better than the housework I should have been doing". Most things are better than housework. As my not-at-all-houseproud mother used to say "No-one laid on their deathbed wishing they'd done more housework." A motto to live by, and why I have a worth-her-weight-in-gold cleaner.
I have been very good so far, I've sorted laundry, done a load, hung it to dry, done some ironing, put the dishwasher on and put the bins out. It's not exciting, but someone has to do it.
Reading is a treat between the chores. I try and make sure that it does not last longer than the chore did...

Glad you're enjoying your break. Wales sounds like a good call. I am wondering if I should make myself a badge for an upcoming Europe trip "I didn't vote for it, and can only apologise"... (although I guess the writing would have to be quite small).

>84 charl08: last work trip to Germany we were queueing at the EU pasport gates and my colleague's passport didn't scan neatly first time. We did joke that they were implimenting the exit early. I figured I'd carry on using the EU gates, seeing it wasn't my idea to leave... Do you think that will work?

>85 Helenliz: I (Australian-British dual national) have several times entered the EU on my British passport since the vote and have usually made a crack about being a proud EU citizen and wanting to remain so. Over the course of the next month I expect to enter the EU 3 more times.

>85 Helenliz: My mother applied for an EHIC card and it came within two days - we wondered if everyone else has given up on them?!

>86 haydninvienna: It was a sorry decision for the wrong reasons. I'm with you on regretting it. The EU has it's flaws, but what system doesn't? I think it has offered us more than most realise.

>87 charl08: Maybe we'll all need to go back to carrying something when we go to Europe in order to access health care. Yet another detail that's probably not been worked out.

And with that it's back to a Heyer romance, because why not? I'm also trying on clothes and dividing into 4 pile, too big, fit, too small and for the charity shop. Usually that pile has me wondering why did I buy that and why, more to the point, do I still have it!

In one of those *ohh* moments, one of my currently reading books, the other is mentioned. In Regency Buck, we have a mention of The Monk's author at an event held by the Prince Regent in the Brighton Pavillion.

" ... Do not on any account look to the right, Miss Taverner! Monk Lewis is eagerly awaiting his opportunity to approach you, and once he succeeds in engaging your attentionyou will not be rid of him under half an hour, I never knew a man to talk so much!".
Mr Lewis, however, the author of that celebrated novel Ambrosio, or the Monk, was not one to be easily baulked of his prey. He soon buttonholed Miss Taverner, and proceeded to fulfil Captain Audley's prediciton until she was rescued from him by Sir John Lade, who came up to inquire whether she had a fancy to sell her bays. She had no such fancy, nor did she care for Sir John, who smelled of the stables, and used the language of his own grooms, but she was grateful to him for interrupting the flow of Mr Lewis's conversation, and treated his repeated offers to buy her horses with more patience than could have been expected of her.

I know Heyer was a sticker for historical accuracy, so I wonder if our author was a bit of a social bore.
How very circumstantial.

Book: 28
Title: Regency Buck
Author: Georgette Heyer
Rating: ****1/2
Where: My shelves
Why: Heyer Series read
Categories: Women Authors, Heyer series read
TIOLI:Challenge #9: Read a coming of age story

Oh dear. my copy of this is behyond its last legs. It was being held together with selotape of unknown vintage, but certainly old enough to no longer be effective. The book has come away from the cover and there were any number of loose pages. I ended up reading it part at a time to minimise possibility of dropping it all. Which probably just goes to show this is one that Mum read more often - and I can see why. Judith Taverner and her brother Peregine are on their way to London to establish themselves in society, after a lifetime of being secluded in Yorkshire. Their father, in a fit of pique of some description ,has made them wards pf Lord Worth and it is to him the address themselves. On the journey to London, they meet a gathering at Grantham and, by chance, meet Lord Worth here in less that ideal circumstances. Judith and he don't hit it off, although he calls her Clarinda, which should give a hint to how he feels from the start. As she is his ward, he feels unable to offer for her until she reaches her majority, and so he spends time rejecting her numerous suitors. There is an air of menace, however, as she stands in inherit a larger fortune if Peregine dies, and so Perry finds himself being called out for a duel, being shot at by a highway man, amongst other adventures. He ends up being kidnapped as his marriage comes closer, but as to who is doing the kidnapping and why, that just goes to muddy the waters.
Oh, it's just a delight. The sparring, the attraction of the heiress and her fortune as well as her determination not to bow to rules, be they of society or Lord Worth's invention, make Judith a real character. Love it.

>90 Helenliz: - Sounds fun! And I believe it is sitting on my Kindle :)

>91 katiekrug: It is, you should get to it.

>90 Helenliz: £1.99 on the kindle. Why not?! I think I may have read this back when Heyer was pretty much all I could find in my local library, but no memory of it. Sounds fun.

>93 charl08: ah, go on go on go on go on, you know you want to. >;-). If I ever read it again, I think I'm going to need to find a new copy.

>94 Helenliz: I do love those well read copies, but maybe you can leave that one on the shelf now!

Book: 29
Title: The Monk
Author: Matthew Lewis
Rating: ****1/2
Where: Library
Why: 1001 group read
Categories: 1001 books, classics, new author
TIOLI:Challenge #6. Read a book about either a fire, France or a cathedral

This is not a fusty Victorian novel, not by any means. It is a riot of a plot, with any number of gothic adventures taking place, all centered around an adjoining monestry and convent. Written by an Englishman & set in Spain, it has all those stereotypes of the Catholic church to the fore, and all the strange goings on that the anti-papists would expect to see (and entirely disapprove of). Even Satan has a cameo role in the end, comming to claim his prize. It's a riot, it's completely unbelievable and great fun!

>90 Helenliz: - That sounds like a well read, well loved copy!

>97 lkernagh: It must be! It's certainly the worst condition book I've come across so far. They are all similar vintage, so I'm assuming it must have been revisited more to be in that state.

Book: 30
Title: Invisible Agents
Author: Nadine Akkerman
Rating: ***
Where: My Shelves
Why: Charlotte's fault, it was a Guardian review sometime late last year.
Categories: non fiction, woman author, new author
TIOLI:Challenge #1. Read a book whose cover contains a hyphenated word

This is a scholarly book that looks at the use of female spies in the central portion of the 17th century, a time period including the civil war, the Commonwealth and the Restoration. The focus is around finding traces of these women, when they were considered inappropriate to be spies and their traces were often hidden in their own tme, making them even harder to find now.
It started very dryly, there are lots of footnotes and attributions, as well as an extensive biography. But it became a lot more interesting, and readable, as she started to examine individual women, their letters, their place in the records and what they themselves wrote at the time and later.
There's a lot of ground covered, some of it repeated, but there are some very interesting quirks of history. The Royalist spies were society ladies (or pretended to be such) the spies for the Commonwealth were most certainly not, they appear in the records, for the most part, as nurses. It is an interesting proposition, as nurse you are in a position to spy quite effectively, is that description co-incidence or cover story?
It wasn't necessarily a rivetting read, it was a bit too scholarly for that, but it certainly had some very engaing characters and was well constructed.

Book: 31
Title: Stay With Me
Author: Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀
Rating: ****
Where: my shelves
Why: MrB's Subscription
Categories: woman author, new author, Orange prize
TIOLI:Challenge #11. Read a book, record the LT "Will you like it?" prediction and your resulting rating

This was a really good read, an eye opening account of love and marriage in Nigeria at a time of political upheaval as well as personal trials. Told entirely in the first person, the narrators were Akin & Yejide, a married couple. At times it took a while to work out who was narrating, but that wasn't a significant issue. The chapters vary in timeframe, between the 1990s and the present (2008). There are a host of characters here, and some attitudes that are alien to those of us not from that culture. The family dynamic and the taking of multiple wives has impact on the characters in different ways, and that plays out vividly in here. The way that Yejide's family dynamic affected her and is shown to through the course of the book is saddening.They say you can't choose your family, I doubt she'd have chosen that. Akin has a different family background, the beloved eldest son of the senior wife, he has status within the family that leaves him with added responsibility. The pressure bought to bear on him to have children, as well as the assumption that it is the woman's fault he cannot, has implications for his relationship with Yejide that have loud reverberations. The pain they feel in response to the losses in the book are vividly described.
At times my sympathies were with either husband or wife. By narrating in the first person, it is a very open book, with lots of thoughts and feelings be transmitted to us in almost a confessional style. We know what's going on probably better than either of the protagonists. Having been split and see-sawed between them, my sympathies ended up with both of them. The ending is a little bit neat, but one can't but help that it does work out. The course of true love never did run smooth, and here it certainly does not - but it remains love.

To answer the TIOLI question, it predicted I would probably like this book, and I did like it.

>100 Helenliz: - That was recently on sale for Kindle and I decided against it. Off to check to see if it's still on sale and snap it up!

>101 katiekrug: Happy to help. It's not one I'd be shouting that you must read, but it was certainly worth an offer. It was a subscription book for me, and they've not been badly off yet...

>100 Helenliz: I still have this one on the shelf unread. Must get to it!

A bit late posting this one, finished Saturday, but we had a hectic weekend travelling the country! Sunday was his great niece's christening, then we were in Bristol for the bank holiday Monday. Late return home and a pizza for tea was just the thing. Tuesday off to recover! So today is a very odd day to be having Monday blues, but that's where I think I am!

Book: 32
Title: Why Don't You Stop Talking
Author: Jackie Kay
Rating: ****
Where: library
Why: audio
Categories: woman author, short stories
TIOLI:Challenge #15: Read a book with no common initials in title or author, 5 word minimum

A mixed collection of short stories. She writes emotion really well, love and all the agonies and pains that entails. At times little happens, but they are beautifully written. There is nice use of language and dialect in here as well, without being difficult to understand. I listened to these and there was a good selection of voices chosen to read them. There was one very odd tale about a woman who appears to be turning into a tortoise, which was somewhat out of left field.

Ah well Helen, at least it will be Friday sooner. I've read some of Kay's short fiction, but the tortoise isn't ringing a bell (and surely I'd remember that) so should add this one to the list!

>105 charl08: I know, I've gone from Monday blues to Thursday very quickly >:-)
I'm fairly certain that's what's going on in that one story - she was overweight and seemed to be growing a shell; be that literal or metaphorical, I'm not sure. It was the one oddity in the collection. I like her short story writing, not yet read any of her longer works.

>106 Helenliz: I read Red Dust Road (her account of growing up adopted, and meeting her biological parents) and loved it. Also her poetry collection Fiere which came out about the same time and covers the same themes. I'd like to try her short stories.

>107 Jackie_K: I've been listeneing to short story collections in the car, so have got through several of those, but not yet the poetry or longer works. That, and the library doesn't seem to hold them. She's on the mental shopping list (but that's quite a long list!)

Have you read Trumpet? I really liked that. I think that was quite a while ago, not sure if it is easy to get hold of now.

>109 charl08: No, but the library has a copy. hmmm, maybe.

>90 Helenliz: Great review. I need to read more Heyer! Your description of the book made me smile because I'm currently reading a book that is falling apart in the same way. I too fear that if I accidentally drop the book, it'll take me forever to get the pages back in order.

>111 mathgirl40: Thank you. Part of me loves reading a well worn book for the feeling of being just the latest in a long line of readers. But there is something of the danger factor in one that has got just a little beyond useable!

Book: 33
Title: May we be Forgiven
Author: AM Homes
Rating: ****
Where: library
Why: Orange prize
Categories: woman author, orange prize, new author
TIOLI:Challenge #5. Read a book where the same word appears at least three times on the cover (not from title or author's name)

This didn't end up going where I expected it to, it went a lot of very dark places but was, ultimately, hopeful at the end.
George is a TV executive and very sucessful. His wife, Jane, makes a pass at her brother in law (our narrator, Harry) one Thanksgiving. Their affair results in murder taking place and the entire family being turned upside down (that's not a spoiler, it happens fairly early on). The story plays out over the terrible events of the year that follows. By the end, the lives of many people have changed drastically, and not always for the better.
At times I wasn't too sure I liked Harry, he gets into some very strange situations for no very good reason, but his nephew and niece bring out in him something that he doesn't realise is there. IN trying to deal with each day as it comes, he manages to deal with life a lot more directly than he has previously, and to achieve some good in other lives as well. This makes is ound rather worthy, but it really isnt. The cover describes this as being blackly funny, and there were certainly moments of very dark humour. But for me, it is more a book of how we can all be something we don't expect, we have more capacity than we realise.
At various points while reading this was not my sort of book at all, but I kept going and the final third really lifted for me and I am left with a feeling of hope for this family and people in general.

>113 Helenliz: I started this, and didn't get much further with it than the first few chapters. Maybe I should try again?

>113 Helenliz: Depends why you stopped. I found that while I didn't really care for Harry at the start, I cared less as he struggled to cope and got himself into a right pickle. Al a bit self inflicted and I have little sympathy for that in a character. It was the final third where the thing really came alive. Was it worth the pain of the rather icky behaviour in the first half? Maybe, but I can't say I'd entirely recommend this one, it was just a bit too icky, in places.

Book: 34
Title: Means of Evil and Other Stories
Author: Ruth Rendell
Rating: ***
Where: library
Why: Audio
Categories: woman author, short stories
TIOLI:Challenge #2: Read a location specific book, in alpha-rolling order

I'm aware of Inspector Wexford, but have never read any of the novels in which he features. This is a set of 5 short stories, each with a small problem that Wexford manages to untangle. Some of them were quite obvious (the last one, for example, I had sorted out as soon as the date of one of the diary entries was mentioned). Others were more protracted, but all were told well and Wexford is a kindly copper. Set sometime, I'm guessing, in the1980s, there is an air of them being somewhat dated now. I can't imagine someone leaving a baby unattended on the grass for some air nowadays. All in all, a pleasant enough divertion.

>116 Helenliz: Well then you have lots of good reading ahead of you. The novels especially the later ones are quite nuanced and complex. When I think of my very favorite Ruth Rendell, though, I think of A Judgment in Stone and The Lake of Darkness, both standalones. And if you tend to prefer psychological suspense her books as Barbara Vine are great, too.

>117 NinieB: But ... but ... I don't need any more series to read. I will look up the standalones, thank you for those suggestions.

>115 Helenliz: I think I didn't see much to like, or engage me in the set up of the story. But this was back in 2014, so maybe time for another go.

Book: 35
Title: Bonjour Tristesse
Author: Francoise Sagan
Rating: **
Where: library
Why: 1001 group read
Categories: woman author, new author, translation, 1001 list, short stories
TIOLI:Challenge #10. Read 2 books on the same topic or add your book to a topic someone else has listed

This is on the 1001 books list, and I have completey failed to understand why. It's a short tale of a young girl who is used to her father having mistresses and, thereby, getting her own way as he spoils her. Only this summer, in the South of France, he announces he is going to marry Anne, a woman of his own age who waa a friend of his dead wife. Anne has some quite different views on life, and certainly on young Celine, that differ quite from the usual way things go. Celeine is not happy about this, and so devises a plot where the last mistress and her current boyfriend pretend to be an item in order to make her father jealous. She never quite thinks this through to the end and so what actually happens is not what she wanted to happen - if she ever really knew.
At times she seems very young, the way she doesn;t think this through, for example. At others she seems older, her behaviour and the plot itself seem to be unlikely in a 17 year old.
At one point she muses (and I'm paraphrasing) ...or am I a silly, spolt, selfish girl...? and my answer was a resounding "yes". Maybe that says more about me than the book, I'm more of an age with Anne, and Celine annoyed me in the way teenagers can.
It was a quick read, and not difficult, but not something I will return to any time soon.

>120 Helenliz: I'm trying to read 10 books a year from the 1001 list and I must admit that most of them for me are 2 or 3 star reads. No sure why they are on the list. I must be missing the point!

>121 Tess_W: I've had a few good reads, so it's not been all bad, but I have to admit that this one just passed me by. I understand it was controversial at the time, but surely being controverisal alone is not enough to merit inclusion? If you missed the point, I must have been next to you, as it passed me by as well. >:-)

OK, team, wish me luck. I'm volunteered for secretary of a local organisaiton and today is the AGM. There is another candidate (who would, imo, be a disaster), so it'll be an election. I woke up early with butterflies and they now feel like the size of elephants in my stomach. Wish me luck. Last election I was in, I lost: let that not be a precedent for today...

You go, Helen!

Good luck, Helen!

Good luck, Helen!

All the luck, Helen, and may those voting see that you are obviously the better choice!

Good luck, Helen.

ETA: I wonder if the age one is when reading Bonjour Tristesse helps set one's opinion of the book. I read it when I was a teen myself and remember loving the book and identifying with Celine. If I read it now at my advanced age, I might very well feel very different about her. ;)

I got the job. Smug face icon required.

Congratulations!

Thank you all, that was a quick post from my phone last night. I had to stand up and say a few words, then it went to ballot. You only have to win by 1, the rest are for ego*. My ego is quite healthy, thankyou very much. >;-)

* I know that from "The West Wing", but it must be a quote from someone, any one know who?

Well done Helen. No idea re the quote. Wish it worked the other way: maybe some of our politicians might be a bit more humble if minus figures knocked their confidence a bit.

Congrats!

Well done! Of course, we all knew you would do it.

Congrats!

Thank >:-)
It's all getting rather real now, picture already on the website. I'm about to get that changed to something more respectable! I don't take a good photo at the best of times...
>134 VivienneR: I kept being told that, but until it's in the bag nothing is certain. Yes, this is why people have me pegged as a pessimist. I don't think I am, I don't expect the worst, but I do go prepared for it. But it was quite gratifying to see several people who never turn up to the AGM and said they'd only turned up to vote for me. Also had a call today from someone else congratulating me and apologising for not being able to attend. He's 10 days after a hip replacement, I think that's probably a reasonable excuse!

>128 DeltaQueen50: I think there is something in that. Although I think I'd probably never have found much sympathy in her decadent lifestyle. I can't imagine my younger self having any sympathy with someone who failed to study for an exam. Yes, I was a bit of a swot.

>136 Helenliz: I still have the occasional nightmare where I have to sit an exam I didn't know I had to revise for: wake up, realise it was a dream and feel *very* relieved...

>137 charl08: *shudder* The very thought turns me cold. I always feel sympathy for the teens taking their exams this time of year. I'd not wish myself back in their shoes. It was bad enough when I took exams, now there just seems to be even more pressure on them to deliver excellent results.

Congratulations!

>138 Helenliz: And so many more exams: I read of a kid sitting 30 different exams the other day. Nuts.

Congrats on winning the election!

And also I'll take a BB for Stay With Me.

>141 LisaMorr: Thank you. Currently finding my feet. So far everyone has been most welcoming. Which they ought to be, considering who could have got the job. Miaow. Saucer of milk for table 2 please.
Hope you find as much in it as I did. It might not have been something I'd have picked up, based on the description.

It's travel dilemma time again. I look like I'll be spending 5 hours at an airport tomorrow, waiting for a flight home. How many books is too many? Fortunately, as only a 1 night trip, I've not got very much in the bag, so I'm not space limited. Hopefully see you later in the week with some reviews to report. >:-)

Have a safe trip Helen. And the answer is, of course, "as many as you can carry/ the weight limit permits"...

What Charlotte said...

Thank you both. I went with a trilogy and 3 additional books, never knowingly under booked. I wonder how many I will actually get through... Currently reading through presentations for tomorrow's meeting. That's less fun than reading a novel, but probably the better use of my time right this minute.

>146 Helenliz: I brought three books for a three-night trip, and that almost wasn't enough! So I think you have the right idea.

>146 Helenliz: Sounds good packing there Helen, hope it's a productive visit.

>148 charl08: it was a very productive visit. Geneva is lovely (not that I saw a great deal of it). Geneva airport is less lovely, expecially for 5 hours.
>147 rabbitprincess: I coped well enough. >:-)

And with that much time, as you would expect, I have some completions to report.

Book: 36
Title: The White Monkey
Author: John Galsworthy
Rating: ***
Where: library
Why: follow on from last year's Forsyte saga read
Categories: classics
TIOLI:Challenge #11: Read a book where the author’s first, middle or last name starts with a “J”

This moves the story on and concentrates on Fleur and her husband. Fleur remains quite a shallow young lady, and she is set on collecting. Her collection includes the nice items she owns, but it also includes people who attend her salons and hearts. That of Wilfred is a case in point. She never goes as far as to have intimate relations with him, but she is not mature enough to dismiss him either. This is further complicated by the fact that he was her husband's best man and remains a close friend. Both the men come out of this a lot better than Fleur in terms of character. The white monkey of the title is a painting and that serves as an allegory of the society at the time they find themselves. This books has a wider range of non-Forsytes than the previous trilogy. Iy s none the worse for that.
Soames is now an elder statesman and he is a far more sympatheitic character than previously. He has softened, no matter how much he would say he has not. Although he does have a moment of triumph at the shareholders meeting that almost makes me want to cheer.

Book: 37
Title: A Silent Woogin
Author: John Galsworthy
Rating: ***
Where: library
Why: follow on from last year's Forsyte saga read
Categories: classics short stories
TIOLI:Challenge #2: Read a location specific book, in alpha-rolling order

This is very sweet, and short. It is of Jon and how he meets someone who helps him get over Fleur. Which is a good thing, as he deserved better than how he was treated there. This also serves to introduce Francis Wilmot, who goes on to feature in the next novel in the series. This was pleasant as a read.

And this one I'd made it most of the way through, so just needed a finish off.

Book: 38
Title: The Silver Spoon
Author: John Galsworthy
Rating: ***
Where: library
Why: follow on from last year's Forsyte saga read
Categories: classics,
TIOLI:Challenge #14 Read a book with an even number of pages

A continuation of the life of Fleur. The bulk of this seems to revolve around her being insulted, her father defending her and the way that things seem to run out of your control after you've initiated them. It's all ver gentile and upper class, even when the knives are out, they're well heeled knives. I'm not sure that the class, in general, comes out of this very well. Michael, with his efforts to be a good member of parliament (even thought he fears he is not) is probably the one who comes across as the person with whom I had the most sympathy. It's all very nice, but I'm not sure where this is going. I also miss the slightly wider cast of characters in the earlier novels.

Book: 39
Title: Marrying off Mother and Other Stories
Author: Gerald Durrell
Rating: ***
Where: library
Why: Audio
Categories: short stories
TIOLI:Challenge #6: Read a book that has a family member in the title (rolling challenge - F/M/O)

I'm not sure if this collection was fact, fiction, or was a basis in fact with ficitonal embellishment. Either way, they are a gentle set of stories of a bygone age. There is plenty of humour in here, and was a pleasant read.

Book: 40
Title: Bad Girls
Author: Caitlin Davies
Rating: ****
Where: my shelves
Why: Charlotte's fault.
Categories: women authors, non-ficiton, new authors
TIOLI:Challenge #8. Read a book of Female History

This was very interesting and very readable. A history of Holloway prison might be a bit dry, but it is also a history of the people who were incarcerated there and those who worked there. The case studies of both the prisoners and the staff made this a particularly well balanced piece, it would have been too easy to just focus on the one side of the story. Divided into parts based on time, there are then a number of chapters dealing with different elements at play during that perios. As an example, during WW2 there were incarcerated foreign nationals, spies and concientious objectors. All of them had different experiences of the same time period, meaning that there is a quite rounded view of the time presented. The case studies of the prisoners tends to avoid the cause celebres and instead to look at the experience of other women at the time. It makes for a very interesting book, as this is not necessarily what you thought you knew.
the author provides an acknowledgement in which she says her first draft was 3 times as long, and I can imagine it. It was a good length, not so long as to be repetitive, but it felt that there was sufficient detail to be informative. I found this an enjoyable read.

This one is Charlotte's fault (hello Charlotte!), I can't remember if she read it last year, or just posted a newpaper review. Either way, I went out & bought it and have only just read it. But it was worth waiting for, very readable non-fiction.

Book: 41
Title: And the Wind sees All
Author: Guðmundur Andri Thorsson
Rating: ****
Where: my shelves
Why: Charlotte's fault (again)
Categories: women authors, new authors, translation,
TIOLI:Challenge #7. Read a book set in a real place you've never been

If you like a plot driven story, this is not for you. Kata is cycling to the village hall, wearing her polka dot dress, for the concert this evening. As she cycles down the street, she is seen by the various people in the village and each of them has a chapter in which you experience their inner thoughts, their back story or such like. It is a snap shot of a disparate group of people, some of them have quite different thoughts about the same subject or relationship. Very little is brought to resolution, very little happens in the short duration of Kata's ride, however it is all told in beautiful prose. There is a rhythm to it, a sense of time passing and feelings of longing and regret. Kata, the thread that ties the tale together, remains elusive throughout. One word summary would be lyrical.

>154 Helenliz: That sounds lovely! I might add it to my library wishlist.

>146 Helenliz: never knowingly under booked -- the catch phrase of many an LT traveler.

I've been stalled on the Forsyte Saga for...well, forever. Good work in making so much progress! :)

>156 RidgewayGirl: >:-) Happy to uphold tradition. >:-)
>157 lyzard: I'm gradually running out of renwals on the loan from the library, so I thought I'd better get a move on!

>153 Helenliz: Oh good! Yes, this was one I read and enjoyed too.