Betty (dudes22) is Looking for a Father
This topic was continued by Betty (dudes22) is Looking for a Father - Part 2.
Talk 2020 Category Challenge
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1dudes22
Welcome everyone!
I’m Betty and I’ve been on LT since 2008. I’m back for another year and my categories this year are going to be based on “Fathers”. I think this year I’m going to just dip into the Cats and Kits and have a real loose structure. I might even do some author binge reading. I’m not planning on any particular number for each category. I know some books might overlap categories, but I’ll just pick one.
Besides reading, I spend a lot of time quilting and have another thread over in the Needlearts group where I keep track of what is going on cloth-wise. Here's my link if you'd like to stop by: https://www.librarything.com/topic/314444
Note: Giving credit – most of my facts here are from Wikipedia, although I did look at a few other web sites . So if the wording sounds a little like an encyclopedia, that’s why.
I’m Betty and I’ve been on LT since 2008. I’m back for another year and my categories this year are going to be based on “Fathers”. I think this year I’m going to just dip into the Cats and Kits and have a real loose structure. I might even do some author binge reading. I’m not planning on any particular number for each category. I know some books might overlap categories, but I’ll just pick one.
Besides reading, I spend a lot of time quilting and have another thread over in the Needlearts group where I keep track of what is going on cloth-wise. Here's my link if you'd like to stop by: https://www.librarything.com/topic/314444
Note: Giving credit – most of my facts here are from Wikipedia, although I did look at a few other web sites . So if the wording sounds a little like an encyclopedia, that’s why.
2dudes22
Tickers:
Rating System:
5* - I'd take this to a desert island
4.5* - I'm recommending to friends/acquaintances/strangers in stores
4* - Liked a lot/well written
3.5* - Most cozies, lighter fiction, and series
3* - Not bad - just not for me
2* - Has a lot of problems
1* - probably won't finish/didn't finish
Rating System:
5* - I'd take this to a desert island
4.5* - I'm recommending to friends/acquaintances/strangers in stores
4* - Liked a lot/well written
3.5* - Most cozies, lighter fiction, and series
3* - Not bad - just not for me
2* - Has a lot of problems
1* - probably won't finish/didn't finish
3dudes22
1: Frank W. Cyr (1900-1995)– Father of the Yellow School Bus – Children’s/YA books –
Frank W. Cyr, is considered the 'Father of the Yellow School Bus'. He was a professor emeritus of rural education. In 1939, with a $5,000 grant from the Rockefeller Foundation, he organized a conference including transportation officials from the (then) 48 states, specialists in school bus manufacture, and paint companies to develop national construction standards for a school bus.
I’ll be using this for children and young adult books.
1. Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Maas
2. Mr. Lemoncello's All-Star Breakout Game by Chris Grabenstein
Frank W. Cyr, is considered the 'Father of the Yellow School Bus'. He was a professor emeritus of rural education. In 1939, with a $5,000 grant from the Rockefeller Foundation, he organized a conference including transportation officials from the (then) 48 states, specialists in school bus manufacture, and paint companies to develop national construction standards for a school bus.
I’ll be using this for children and young adult books.
1. Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Maas
2. Mr. Lemoncello's All-Star Breakout Game by Chris Grabenstein
4dudes22
2: 2. Sir George Cayley (1773-1857) – Father of Aviation – Travel
Sir George Cayley, born in 1773, is sometimes called the of Father of Aviation even though the Wright brothers eventually invented, built and flew an airplane in 1903 and are more well-known. A pioneer in his field, Cayley is credited with the first major breakthrough in heavier-than-air flight, understanding the relationship between weight, lift, drag, and thrust.
I’ll be traveling to other countries or reading foreign authors in this category.
1. The Absent One by Jussi Adler-Olsen
2. Slash and Burn by Colin Cotterill
3. Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
4. The Devil's Star by Jo Nesbo
5. The Saffron Kitchen by Yasmin Crowther
Sir George Cayley, born in 1773, is sometimes called the of Father of Aviation even though the Wright brothers eventually invented, built and flew an airplane in 1903 and are more well-known. A pioneer in his field, Cayley is credited with the first major breakthrough in heavier-than-air flight, understanding the relationship between weight, lift, drag, and thrust.
I’ll be traveling to other countries or reading foreign authors in this category.
1. The Absent One by Jussi Adler-Olsen
2. Slash and Burn by Colin Cotterill
3. Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
4. The Devil's Star by Jo Nesbo
5. The Saffron Kitchen by Yasmin Crowther
5dudes22
3: Melvil Dewey (1851-1931)– Father (Inventor) of the Dewey Decimal System – Non-Fiction
Melvil Dewey was an American librarian who devised the Dewey Decimal Classification for library cataloging and, probably more than any other individual, was responsible for the development of library science in the United States.
My non-fiction books will go here.
1. D-Day Girls by Sarah Rose
2. The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
3. Blue Highways by William Least Heat-Moon
4. The Gardner Heist by Ulrich Boser
Melvil Dewey was an American librarian who devised the Dewey Decimal Classification for library cataloging and, probably more than any other individual, was responsible for the development of library science in the United States.
My non-fiction books will go here.
1. D-Day Girls by Sarah Rose
2. The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
3. Blue Highways by William Least Heat-Moon
4. The Gardner Heist by Ulrich Boser
6dudes22
4: 4. Henri-Gustave Delivigne (1800-1876)– Inventor of Bullets – Book Bullets
The modern bullet is based on a version invented in 1826 by Henri-Gustave Delvigne, a French infantry officer. Delvigne's bullet had a spherical shape and was rammed into a breech's rifling grooves.
I’m really excited about the BBs I took in 2019 (there were 55 as of the time I’m posting this, 30 from LT and 20 other places) so I’ll be using this category to finally read some of the book bullets I’ve taken over the years.
1. A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
(Cheryl)
2. Gone to Dust by Matt Goldman (Nan)
3. A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams (Carol)
4. The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton (japaul22)
The modern bullet is based on a version invented in 1826 by Henri-Gustave Delvigne, a French infantry officer. Delvigne's bullet had a spherical shape and was rammed into a breech's rifling grooves.
I’m really excited about the BBs I took in 2019 (there were 55 as of the time I’m posting this, 30 from LT and 20 other places) so I’ll be using this category to finally read some of the book bullets I’ve taken over the years.
1. A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
(Cheryl)2. Gone to Dust by Matt Goldman
(Nan)3. A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams
(Carol)4. The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
(japaul22)7dudes22
5: Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) – Father of the Detective Story – mysteries
Edgar Allan Poe is considered the undisputed "Father" of the Detective Story. He created so much that is of importance in the field -- literally creating the template for all of detective fiction to follow.
I’ll be putting my mysteries of all sorts in here.
1. Aunt Bessie Assumes by Diana Xarissa
2. Boundary Waters by William Kent Krueger
3. L. A. Requiem by Robert Crais
4. 61 Hours by Lee Child
Edgar Allan Poe is considered the undisputed "Father" of the Detective Story. He created so much that is of importance in the field -- literally creating the template for all of detective fiction to follow.
I’ll be putting my mysteries of all sorts in here.
1. Aunt Bessie Assumes by Diana Xarissa
2. Boundary Waters by William Kent Krueger
3. L. A. Requiem by Robert Crais
4. 61 Hours by Lee Child
8dudes22
6: Johannes Gutenberg (c.1400 – 1468) – Father of Modern Printing – Other Fiction
Gutenberg’s invention—printing with movable type—transformed the art of communication, and started the printing revolution. He used a number of things that advanced printing: oil-based ink, adjustable molds, mechanical moveable type, and a wooden press similar to the agricultural screw press. Because of the kind of metal type he used, it was faster and more economical.
I’ll be putting fiction that doesn’t fit elsewhere in this category.
1. Montauk by Nicola Harrison
(SSV book club)
2. The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks
3. The Recipe Club by Andrea Isreal
4. Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland
5. Dream Angus by Alexander McCall Smith
6. Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley
7. Sold on a Monday: A Novel by Kristina McMorris
8. Valentine by Elizabeth Wetmore
Gutenberg’s invention—printing with movable type—transformed the art of communication, and started the printing revolution. He used a number of things that advanced printing: oil-based ink, adjustable molds, mechanical moveable type, and a wooden press similar to the agricultural screw press. Because of the kind of metal type he used, it was faster and more economical.
I’ll be putting fiction that doesn’t fit elsewhere in this category.
1. Montauk by Nicola Harrison
(SSV book club)2. The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks
3. The Recipe Club by Andrea Isreal
4. Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland
5. Dream Angus by Alexander McCall Smith
6. Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley
7. Sold on a Monday: A Novel by Kristina McMorris
8. Valentine by Elizabeth Wetmore
9dudes22
7: Louis le Prince (1841-1890) – Father of Cinematography – books made into movies
While the Lumiere brothers and Thomas Edison get much of the credit as being the forefathers of the moving image, Louis Le Prince, widely known as “The Father of Cinematography” was right there with the creators of the movie medium. He invented an early motion picture camera, although his invention did not influence the commercial development of cinema.
I’ll be putting books that were made into movies into this group.
1. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
2. The Martian by Andy Weir
While the Lumiere brothers and Thomas Edison get much of the credit as being the forefathers of the moving image, Louis Le Prince, widely known as “The Father of Cinematography” was right there with the creators of the movie medium. He invented an early motion picture camera, although his invention did not influence the commercial development of cinema.
I’ll be putting books that were made into movies into this group.
1. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
2. The Martian by Andy Weir
10dudes22
8: Vint Cerf (1943-) – Father of the Internet – E-books
Vint Cerf is an American Internet pioneer, who is recognized as one of "the fathers of the Internet", sharing this title with TCP/IP co-inventor Bob Kahn.
I’ll use this category to keep track of my e-book reading.
1. The Flinck Connection by Estelle Ryan
2. Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber
Vint Cerf is an American Internet pioneer, who is recognized as one of "the fathers of the Internet", sharing this title with TCP/IP co-inventor Bob Kahn.
I’ll use this category to keep track of my e-book reading.
1. The Flinck Connection by Estelle Ryan
2. Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber
11dudes22
9: Charles Dickens (1812-1870) – Father of Serial Novels – Series reading
Even though I could put them elsewhere, I wanted a category to keep track of my series reading so I’m using this very loosely but I did find this in Wikipedia: “The wild success of Charles Dickens's The Pickwick Papers, first published in 1836, is widely considered to have established the viability and appeal of the serialized format within periodical literature.”
So I’ll put most of my series in here.
1. Two for Sorrow by Nicola Upson
2. Scones and Bones by Laura Childs
3. The Tale of Hill Top Farm by Susan Wittig Albert
4. The Vengeance of Mothers by Jim Fergus
5. Worth Dying For by Lee Child
6. The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon by Alexander McCall Smith
7. The Library at the Edge of the World by Felicity Hayes-McCoy
8. A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny
Even though I could put them elsewhere, I wanted a category to keep track of my series reading so I’m using this very loosely but I did find this in Wikipedia: “The wild success of Charles Dickens's The Pickwick Papers, first published in 1836, is widely considered to have established the viability and appeal of the serialized format within periodical literature.”
So I’ll put most of my series in here.
1. Two for Sorrow by Nicola Upson
2. Scones and Bones by Laura Childs
3. The Tale of Hill Top Farm by Susan Wittig Albert
4. The Vengeance of Mothers by Jim Fergus
5. Worth Dying For by Lee Child
6. The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon by Alexander McCall Smith
7. The Library at the Edge of the World by Felicity Hayes-McCoy
8. A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny
12dudes22
10: Alfred Nobel – Inventor of Dynamite – Nobel Prize Winners
"I would not leave anything to a man of action as he would be tempted to give up work; on the other hand, I would like to help dreamers as they find it difficult to get on in life." - Alfred Nobel
Alfred Nobel is best know for leaving his fortune to establish the Nobel Prizes. The reason he did so was because he read a premature obituary of his death (his brother had died and the paper published the wrong obituary) which criticized him for profiting from the sale of arms. He was a chemist, engineer, and inventor besides being a businessman. Nobel held 355 different patents, the most famous of which was the patent for dynamite.
The Nobel Prize for Literature is awarded to a person rather than a book so I will use this category to read books from some of the “dynamite” Nobel Prize winners.
1. The Elephant's Journey by Jose Saramago (1998)
2. The Grass is Singing by Doris Lessing (2007)
"I would not leave anything to a man of action as he would be tempted to give up work; on the other hand, I would like to help dreamers as they find it difficult to get on in life." - Alfred Nobel
Alfred Nobel is best know for leaving his fortune to establish the Nobel Prizes. The reason he did so was because he read a premature obituary of his death (his brother had died and the paper published the wrong obituary) which criticized him for profiting from the sale of arms. He was a chemist, engineer, and inventor besides being a businessman. Nobel held 355 different patents, the most famous of which was the patent for dynamite.
The Nobel Prize for Literature is awarded to a person rather than a book so I will use this category to read books from some of the “dynamite” Nobel Prize winners.
1. The Elephant's Journey by Jose Saramago (1998)
2. The Grass is Singing by Doris Lessing (2007)
13dudes22
11: Alpha Kit:
I use the author’s last name as my criteria for this Kit. I try to read from my TBR pile but sometimes have to resort to the library. I had a few letters that didn’t get done last year so I’m hoping to do better this year and actually get all the letters done.
Jan - A - The Absent One by Jussi Adler-Olsen
Jan - U - Two for Sorrow by Nicola Upson
Feb - F - The Vengeance of Mothers by Jim Fergus
Feb - B - The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks
Mar - G - Gone to Dust by Matt Goldman
Mar - C - Worth Dying For by Lee Child
Apr - S - The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon by Alexander McCall Smith
Apr - T - The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
May - L - The Grass Is Singing by Doris Lessing
May - P - A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny
Jun - K
Jun - Y
Jul - J
Jul - R
Aug - O
Aug - H
Sep - M
Sep – E
Oct - D
Oct - V
Nov - I
Nov - Q
Dec - W
Dec - N
Yearlong – X - Aunt Bessie Assumes by Diana Xarissa
Yearlong – Z
I use the author’s last name as my criteria for this Kit. I try to read from my TBR pile but sometimes have to resort to the library. I had a few letters that didn’t get done last year so I’m hoping to do better this year and actually get all the letters done.
Jan - A - The Absent One by Jussi Adler-Olsen
Jan - U - Two for Sorrow by Nicola Upson
Feb - F - The Vengeance of Mothers by Jim Fergus
Feb - B - The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks
Mar - G - Gone to Dust by Matt Goldman
Mar - C - Worth Dying For by Lee Child
Apr - S - The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon by Alexander McCall Smith
Apr - T - The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
May - L - The Grass Is Singing by Doris Lessing
May - P - A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny
Jun - K
Jun - Y
Jul - J
Jul - R
Aug - O
Aug - H
Sep - M
Sep – E
Oct - D
Oct - V
Nov - I
Nov - Q
Dec - W
Dec - N
Yearlong – X - Aunt Bessie Assumes by Diana Xarissa
Yearlong – Z
14dudes22
12: Random Cat:
This has been one of my favorite Cats since I started doing this challenge. I’m a very big planner so this provides at least one element of surprise every month through the year.
Jan - New Year's Resolution - The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
Feb - Still Leaping - The Tale of Hill Top Farm by Susan Wittig Albert
Mar - Seasons of Love - A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams
Apr - Showers and Flowers - Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley
May - Believe in Your Shelf - The Saffron Kitchen by Yasmin Crowther
Jun - Take to the Sea -
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
This has been one of my favorite Cats since I started doing this challenge. I’m a very big planner so this provides at least one element of surprise every month through the year.
Jan - New Year's Resolution - The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
Feb - Still Leaping - The Tale of Hill Top Farm by Susan Wittig Albert
Mar - Seasons of Love - A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams
Apr - Showers and Flowers - Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley
May - Believe in Your Shelf - The Saffron Kitchen by Yasmin Crowther
Jun - Take to the Sea -
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
15dudes22
13: Other Cats & DNFs:
I may or may not dip into other Cats and Kits as my reading time allows and will post them here.
Geo Cat:
Non-Fiction Cat:
Jan - Journalism & News: The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
Feb - Travel: Blue Highways by William Least Heat-Moon
Mar - Law and Order: The Gardner Heist by Ulrich Boser
DNF: Wintering by Kate Moses
I may or may not dip into other Cats and Kits as my reading time allows and will post them here.
Geo Cat:
Non-Fiction Cat:
Jan - Journalism & News: The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
Feb - Travel: Blue Highways by William Least Heat-Moon
Mar - Law and Order: The Gardner Heist by Ulrich Boser
DNF: Wintering by Kate Moses
16dudes22
14: BINGO Dog:
1. Title contains a pun
2. The Library at the Edge of the World by felicity Hayes-McCoy
3. Scones and Bones by Laura Childs
4. Book about books, bookstores, or libraries
5. Book by a woman from a country other than the US/UK
6. The Vengeance of Mothers by Jim Fergus
7. Book with a periodic table element in the title
8. The Grass Is Singing by Doris Lessing
9. Boundary Waters by William Kent Krueger
10. Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wnedy Maas
11. Dream Angus by Alexander McCall Smith
12. Slash and Burn by Colin Cotterill
13. The Tale of Hill Top Farm by Susan Wittig Albert
14. Book published in the year of your birth
15. Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
16. Book published in 1820 or 1920
17. Book not set on Earth
18. Valentine by Elizabeth Wetmore
19. Book about birth or death
20. Montauk by Nicola Harrison
21. Weird book title
22. The Flinck Connection by Estelle Ryan
23. The Gardner Heist by Ulrich Boser
24. Book written by an LT author
25. The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
1. Title contains a pun
2. The Library at the Edge of the World by felicity Hayes-McCoy
3. Scones and Bones by Laura Childs
4. Book about books, bookstores, or libraries
5. Book by a woman from a country other than the US/UK
6. The Vengeance of Mothers by Jim Fergus
7. Book with a periodic table element in the title
8. The Grass Is Singing by Doris Lessing
9. Boundary Waters by William Kent Krueger
10. Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wnedy Maas
11. Dream Angus by Alexander McCall Smith
12. Slash and Burn by Colin Cotterill
13. The Tale of Hill Top Farm by Susan Wittig Albert
14. Book published in the year of your birth
15. Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
16. Book published in 1820 or 1920
17. Book not set on Earth
18. Valentine by Elizabeth Wetmore
19. Book about birth or death
20. Montauk by Nicola Harrison
21. Weird book title
22. The Flinck Connection by Estelle Ryan
23. The Gardner Heist by Ulrich Boser
24. Book written by an LT author
25. The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
18sallylou61
Very clever description of categories. Once again, I adore your picture of the kittens for RandomCAT as well as the cat looking at a book for other CATs and the bogs for BingoDOG.
Hope you enjoy your reading.
Hope you enjoy your reading.
20dudes22
I just thought I'd add that this idea started a few years ago when I heard/read something about "the father of the yellow school bus". I thought that would be a great idea for a YA category and have been holding it for a few years.
24DeltaQueen50
Love your theme, Betty and you've got some great categories. I am looking forward to following along.
26LittleTaiko
Oh wow - this is great! Love that there is a father of bullets for the book bullets category.
27rabbitprincess
Seconding >26 LittleTaiko: -- excellent choice for that category! Also did not know that about >4 dudes22:! Have a great reading year :)
28NinieB
How many ways do I like your new thread?
>5 dudes22: 1. Besides librarianship, Melvil Dewey tried to change spelling forever. He mostly did not succeed, fortunately.
>6 dudes22: 2. Inventor of bullets for Book Bullets—perfect!
>14 dudes22: 3. RandomCAT row o' cats.
>15 dudes22: 4. Kitten peeking over books, too cute.
Have a great year of reading!
>5 dudes22: 1. Besides librarianship, Melvil Dewey tried to change spelling forever. He mostly did not succeed, fortunately.
>6 dudes22: 2. Inventor of bullets for Book Bullets—perfect!
>14 dudes22: 3. RandomCAT row o' cats.
>15 dudes22: 4. Kitten peeking over books, too cute.
Have a great year of reading!
29JayneCM
>9 dudes22: Love this category! I had thought of doing the same. I was thinking of reading the book first, the watching the movie to compare. Are you planning on reviewing both?
30MissWatson
Excellent set-up! Enjoy your reading year!
31dudes22
>26 LittleTaiko: - I really expected it to be someone associated with guns, i.e. Colt, Winchester, etc.
>27 rabbitprincess: - I think most of us in the US automatically think of the Wright brothers and think all flight begins there.
>28 NinieB: - Thanks so much!
>29 JayneCM: - Not sure about reviewing both. Some of the books I've thought about, I've already seen the movie. Others I might try to see after I read the book.
>30 MissWatson: - Thanks!
>27 rabbitprincess: - I think most of us in the US automatically think of the Wright brothers and think all flight begins there.
>28 NinieB: - Thanks so much!
>29 JayneCM: - Not sure about reviewing both. Some of the books I've thought about, I've already seen the movie. Others I might try to see after I read the book.
>30 MissWatson: - Thanks!
32thornton37814
Interesting categories. I've dropped my star. I'm still trying to decide if I want to use the categories on which I settled or if I want to go in a different direction.
33dudes22
>32 thornton37814: - Yes - sometimes when I see what others are doing, I wonder if I should change.
34thornton37814
>33 dudes22: I was never 100% satisfied with my theme. I did change it. It may not be perfect, but it fits me better at this point in time.
35clue
I like the idea of the Book Bullets category. I was just going over my list from this year a couple of days ago and I was wondering how I could work them in. I'm not participating in as many Cats/Kits this and I hope it helps. of course I know there will be more coming!
36dudes22
I think I could just read book bullets since I took so many this year. Not to mention what I already had on my list.
37lkernagh
What a great challenge idea! I learned some new information just stopping by. Best wishes for your 2020 reading plans!
40dudes22
>39 hailelib: - Thanks - I managed to find ones that will fit my reading.
41jennyifer24
Your categories are so interesting! I've never stopped to think about why school buses look the same throughout the country- who knew!! Happy reading!
42dudes22
>41 jennyifer24: - Thanks, I hope to have a good year although it's starting out slow.
43dudes22
Book 1: Montauk by Nicola Harrison
Category: Johannes Gutenberg – General Fiction
BingoDog: Proper Name in Title
This debut novel by Nicola Harrison just didn’t do it for me. A little more “chick-litty” than I usually read. And somewhat predictable. And it could have used more editing – the author loves semi-colons.
Beatrice goes out from New York City to spend the summer in the new playground of the rich – Montauk. In 1938, the original builder Fisher has fallen on hard times after a hurricane has destroyed some of his property in Miami, and Beatrice’s husband is hoping to invest in the resort destination of Montauk, seeing a future where more people will travel out in the summer. Beatrice is hoping to reignite the passion in her marriage but soon finds that Harry has very little interest and spends more and more time back in the city.
Beatrice, meanwhile, finds herself spending more time with the local laundress for the resort and then meets the lighthouse keeper. Turns out he knew her brother who had died and she finds herself more and more attracted to him.
This might make an ok beach read, but it just wasn’t for me. I would have quit but it was chosen for our book club read this month. Now it looks like I won’t even be there to hear what others think of it.
Category: Johannes Gutenberg – General Fiction
BingoDog: Proper Name in Title
This debut novel by Nicola Harrison just didn’t do it for me. A little more “chick-litty” than I usually read. And somewhat predictable. And it could have used more editing – the author loves semi-colons.
Beatrice goes out from New York City to spend the summer in the new playground of the rich – Montauk. In 1938, the original builder Fisher has fallen on hard times after a hurricane has destroyed some of his property in Miami, and Beatrice’s husband is hoping to invest in the resort destination of Montauk, seeing a future where more people will travel out in the summer. Beatrice is hoping to reignite the passion in her marriage but soon finds that Harry has very little interest and spends more and more time back in the city.
Beatrice, meanwhile, finds herself spending more time with the local laundress for the resort and then meets the lighthouse keeper. Turns out he knew her brother who had died and she finds herself more and more attracted to him.
This might make an ok beach read, but it just wasn’t for me. I would have quit but it was chosen for our book club read this month. Now it looks like I won’t even be there to hear what others think of it.
44dudes22
So I spent a portion of this evening finding answers to the second meme that's been going around (based on my 2019 reads) while I was watching football. Here's what I've come up with:
House Guests:
What would you call the event? The Quilter’s Homecoming
How did they find their way? The Dark Horse
How did they know they'd arrived? Little Fires Everywhere
Any special activities? Beach Music
Did your guests stay over? Mudbound
Were there servants to help? Visionary Women
Was there turn down service? Nothing to Lose
How were the guests greeted? A Dog Named Slugger
Was dinner held for late comers? Left Neglected
And dinner was? Bad Luck and Trouble
Afterward? Gone Tomorrow
House Guests:
What would you call the event? The Quilter’s Homecoming
How did they find their way? The Dark Horse
How did they know they'd arrived? Little Fires Everywhere
Any special activities? Beach Music
Did your guests stay over? Mudbound
Were there servants to help? Visionary Women
Was there turn down service? Nothing to Lose
How were the guests greeted? A Dog Named Slugger
Was dinner held for late comers? Left Neglected
And dinner was? Bad Luck and Trouble
Afterward? Gone Tomorrow
45lkernagh
>44 dudes22: - Great meme answers!
46thornton37814
>44 dudes22: Fun meme answers!
47dudes22
Book 2: D-Day Girls: The Spies Who Armed the Resistance, Sabotaged the Nazis, and Helped Win World War II by Sarah Rose
Category: Melvil Dewey - Non-Fiction
With most of the men already away fighting in WWII, the Special Operations Executive (SOE) agency decided to train women to work behind the lines in France as spies and helpers for the Resistance. There's a lot to this book: a list of the women in the book with their multiple/alternate many names and there's a map of where the action is taking place. And although there are only 290 pages to the story, there are also 59 pages of footnotes, a 21-page bibliography, and a 12-page index.
The book tells the story of three of the women who participated in the SOE operation and how they worked to help the Resistance by blowing things up, creating prison breaks, and gathered information that would help England win the war. I found it very interesting.
Category: Melvil Dewey - Non-Fiction
With most of the men already away fighting in WWII, the Special Operations Executive (SOE) agency decided to train women to work behind the lines in France as spies and helpers for the Resistance. There's a lot to this book: a list of the women in the book with their multiple/alternate many names and there's a map of where the action is taking place. And although there are only 290 pages to the story, there are also 59 pages of footnotes, a 21-page bibliography, and a 12-page index.
The book tells the story of three of the women who participated in the SOE operation and how they worked to help the Resistance by blowing things up, creating prison breaks, and gathered information that would help England win the war. I found it very interesting.
48DeltaQueen50
Love the meme answers, Betty. I would love to be welcomed by a dog called Slugger!
49Tess_W
>44 dudes22: Great meme answers!
>47 dudes22: a BB for me--my graduate work in history was WWII but I have never heard of or read that book!
>47 dudes22: a BB for me--my graduate work in history was WWII but I have never heard of or read that book!
50JayneCM
>47 dudes22: I have this one on my list - planning a WWII category next year.
51dudes22
>48 DeltaQueen50: - Thanks, Judy. I don't read as prolifically as you so have less to choose from, but somehow it all works out.
>49 Tess_W: - >50 JayneCM: - It really was an interesting book and maybe deserved better than the 3.5* I gave it. But I found the tremendous amount of footnotes and flipping to the back of the book to see them interrupted the flow of the story.
>49 Tess_W: - >50 JayneCM: - It really was an interesting book and maybe deserved better than the 3.5* I gave it. But I found the tremendous amount of footnotes and flipping to the back of the book to see them interrupted the flow of the story.
52dudes22
Turns out my Thingaversary was 2 days ago and I was so busy getting ready to go away, I completely missed it. 12 years for me now. But no time to buy books before we go. I'll probably wait til one of the library sales in the spring after we get back before I indulge in some buying.
ETA: For some reason, I always think it's the 8th, but it's the 6th.
ETA: For some reason, I always think it's the 8th, but it's the 6th.
53MissWatson
Happy Thingaversary to you! Enjoy your trip.
56DeltaQueen50
Happy Thingaversary, Betty. Enjoy your time away.
58dudes22
While hubby and I were traveling down here to Fla, we decided to take the Merritt Parkway through Connecticut instead of RT 95. It runs basically parallel. Built between 1934 -1940, The Merritt Parkway was built as a limited access highway and still does not allow commercial vehicles because the bridges are low. There are 42 bridges that cross over the Merritt Parkway, most of them in the Art Deco style of the 1930s. Here are a few pictures of the types of bridges you see:
59RidgewayGirl
How much more fun it is to take the back roads when one has the time. Happy belated Thingaversary!
61DeltaQueen50
I'm all for the actual travelling being a good part of the journey, those bridges are very coo, each one so unique!
62lkernagh
Secondary routes are always more scenic (IMO) than the routes that the commercial drivers use. Nice to see the bridge styles!
63dudes22
>59 RidgewayGirl: - Yes, Kay. As one of the first limited access roads, it was very much not a back road when built. And although only 2 lanes in each direction, it feels very intimate when you drive it.
>60 pammab: - I think there are a few that are the same (or very, very similar).
>61 DeltaQueen50: - Yes, Judy, that section is probably the best of the trip. Other than that, all interstate.
>62 lkernagh: - Thanks, Lori. I thought they might be of some interest.
>60 pammab: - I think there are a few that are the same (or very, very similar).
>61 DeltaQueen50: - Yes, Judy, that section is probably the best of the trip. Other than that, all interstate.
>62 lkernagh: - Thanks, Lori. I thought they might be of some interest.
64thornton37814
It's fun to go off the beaten route sometimes. I get so tired of big trucks that I like to do that sometimes.
65dudes22
Book 3: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
Category: Louis le Prince - books made into movies
Jan Random: New Year's Resolution
There are over 600 reviews of this book, so I'm just going to put down a few of my reactions to this book. I picked it up from my TBR for the Jan Random because I had found the size somewhat intimidating (750+ pages) and because I was thinking I should read it before I saw the movie. I realize it won the Pulitzer Prize and I think the writing is probably excellent, but there was just to much stream-of-consciousness type passages and I'm just not a fan of that style of writing. I can see why it worked for this book, but still had me wanting to skip a lot (although I didn't). Even the last few pages where everything was being tied up was just to wordy for me. And I won't be going to see the movie.
66JayneCM
>65 dudes22: I have started this book twice and just couldn't get into it. I will have to persevere one day!
67dudes22
>66 JayneCM: - The writing style can be somewhat off-putting. There were times when I thought about quitting.
68dudes22
Book 4: The Absent One by Jussi Adler-Olsen
Category: Sir George Cayley - Father of Aviation - Travel (takes place in Denmark)
Alpha Kit : A
I really like this series which I originally took as a BB from Judy a way long time ago. Even though I'm only on the second book, I'm looking forward to continuing with the next book soon.
Detective Carl Morck was a great detective until he was involved in an incident that left one of his colleges dead and one paralyzed and Carl believes he was to blame. Now he's been put in charge of Dept Q to solve cold cases.
This time he finds a file on his desk for an old case. Except it's not a cold case. It was solved, someone confessed and is in jail. In trying to find out who and why it's been left, it seems that maybe all is not as it seems. The book is fairly dark and gruesome in some places. But the author also interjects a little levity here and there so the story doesn't get too depressing.
Category: Sir George Cayley - Father of Aviation - Travel (takes place in Denmark)
Alpha Kit : A
I really like this series which I originally took as a BB from Judy a way long time ago. Even though I'm only on the second book, I'm looking forward to continuing with the next book soon.
Detective Carl Morck was a great detective until he was involved in an incident that left one of his colleges dead and one paralyzed and Carl believes he was to blame. Now he's been put in charge of Dept Q to solve cold cases.
This time he finds a file on his desk for an old case. Except it's not a cold case. It was solved, someone confessed and is in jail. In trying to find out who and why it's been left, it seems that maybe all is not as it seems. The book is fairly dark and gruesome in some places. But the author also interjects a little levity here and there so the story doesn't get too depressing.
69dudes22
Book 5; The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
Category: Melvil Dewey - Father of Dewey Decimal System - non-fiction
Bingo Block: Book by journalist or about journalism
Non-Fiction Cat: Jan - Journalism and News
”The Tipping Point” is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.”
Malcolm Gladwell, who is a writer for The New Yorker, has written an interesting book analyzing (basically) how what he calls “epidemics” start. For example, in his intro he talks about how when Hush Puppies made a comeback after the company was thinking of phasing out the shoes that made them famous. Apparently at a fashion shoot, a stylist mentioned that Hush Puppies had suddenly become hip in the clubs in downtown Manhattan where kids had found them in vintage shops and thought they were cool. Then a designer called and wanted to use them in his spring collection. Then it spiraled up from there until they were once again popular.
He explores different phenomena and aspects of what can cause the tipping point, from one thing to many. He looks at what factors contribute to making a trend and what key components help to make this happen. Some of the examples he talks about are Sesame Street, the Gore Company, teen smoking and Columbia Records.
One thing that made me smile was that in one part he mentions calling 411 for information. Somewhat a dated reference.
Category: Melvil Dewey - Father of Dewey Decimal System - non-fiction
Bingo Block: Book by journalist or about journalism
Non-Fiction Cat: Jan - Journalism and News
”The Tipping Point” is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.”
Malcolm Gladwell, who is a writer for The New Yorker, has written an interesting book analyzing (basically) how what he calls “epidemics” start. For example, in his intro he talks about how when Hush Puppies made a comeback after the company was thinking of phasing out the shoes that made them famous. Apparently at a fashion shoot, a stylist mentioned that Hush Puppies had suddenly become hip in the clubs in downtown Manhattan where kids had found them in vintage shops and thought they were cool. Then a designer called and wanted to use them in his spring collection. Then it spiraled up from there until they were once again popular.
He explores different phenomena and aspects of what can cause the tipping point, from one thing to many. He looks at what factors contribute to making a trend and what key components help to make this happen. Some of the examples he talks about are Sesame Street, the Gore Company, teen smoking and Columbia Records.
One thing that made me smile was that in one part he mentions calling 411 for information. Somewhat a dated reference.
70DeltaQueen50
I'm glad that you still enjoyingthe Jussi Adler-Olsen series. I am now only a book ahead of you as somehow this series has slipped through my radar. Need to get back to it!
71dudes22
>70 DeltaQueen50: - It's sometimes hard, Judy, to keep up with series with so many interesting books out there.
72dudes22
Book 6: Two for Sorrow by Nicola Upson
Category: Charles Dickens - Father of Serial Reading - Series
Alpha Kit: Jan - U
I quite enjoy this mystery series based on the life of Josephine Tey. This time she is writing a book about Amelia Sach and Annie Walters, two women who were hanged in 1903 for killing babies. Amelia Sach operated a home where unwed women could come to have their babies and then tuned them over to Annie Walters who killed them. While doing her research, a young women who works for Josephine's friends as a seamstress is killed. There was at least one big twist in the story near the end which was unexpected.
Category: Charles Dickens - Father of Serial Reading - Series
Alpha Kit: Jan - U
I quite enjoy this mystery series based on the life of Josephine Tey. This time she is writing a book about Amelia Sach and Annie Walters, two women who were hanged in 1903 for killing babies. Amelia Sach operated a home where unwed women could come to have their babies and then tuned them over to Annie Walters who killed them. While doing her research, a young women who works for Josephine's friends as a seamstress is killed. There was at least one big twist in the story near the end which was unexpected.
73dudes22
Aunt Bessie Assumes by Diana Xarissa
Category: Edgar Allen Poe - Father of Detective Story - Mysteries
Alpha Kit: Year-long - X
This is the first in a cozy mystery series that takes place on the Isle of Man. Aunt Bessie finds a dead man on the bach while she's taking her morning walk and ends up involved in the mystery. Just what you'd expect from a cozy. A pleasant diversion for a read.
Category: Edgar Allen Poe - Father of Detective Story - Mysteries
Alpha Kit: Year-long - X
This is the first in a cozy mystery series that takes place on the Isle of Man. Aunt Bessie finds a dead man on the bach while she's taking her morning walk and ends up involved in the mystery. Just what you'd expect from a cozy. A pleasant diversion for a read.
74dudes22
Book 8: Boundary Waters by William Kent Krueger
Category: Edgar Allen Poe - Father of Detective Story - Mysteries
BINGO Block: Mystery or True Crime
Although I've just started the series and am only on book 2, I like it a lot. I know it's good for me when I need to close the book periodically because I get so nervous about what's going to happen. Which is odd because I know the hero wins (the series continues) which means the person in trouble doesn't end up dead either.
Cork O'Connor is asked by the sheriff ti help Arkansas Willie Raye find his daughter who has been living in the local wilderness for a few months. Pretty soon the FBI and the Mob are also involved all looking for Shilo out in the wilderness around Boundary Waters. Then people start dying and it's a race to find her before the bad guys.
Category: Edgar Allen Poe - Father of Detective Story - Mysteries
BINGO Block: Mystery or True Crime
Although I've just started the series and am only on book 2, I like it a lot. I know it's good for me when I need to close the book periodically because I get so nervous about what's going to happen. Which is odd because I know the hero wins (the series continues) which means the person in trouble doesn't end up dead either.
Cork O'Connor is asked by the sheriff ti help Arkansas Willie Raye find his daughter who has been living in the local wilderness for a few months. Pretty soon the FBI and the Mob are also involved all looking for Shilo out in the wilderness around Boundary Waters. Then people start dying and it's a race to find her before the bad guys.
75thornton37814
>74 dudes22: Okay, you are caught up with me. I need to get to Purgatory Ridge. I don't know why I don't prioritize those because I do like the series.
76dudes22
>75 thornton37814: - I know. I'm wondering if I can fit in another one this year.
77clue
>75 thornton37814:, >76 dudes22: You're both ahead of me! I've just read the first one which I liked a lot, I have read the two standalones though. Maybe March, I don't think I can work it in next month.
78dudes22
>77 clue: - I've read both stand-alones also, Luanne and they both made my top books of the year list when I read them.
79dudes22
Book 9: Scones and Bones by Laura Childs
Category: Charles Dickens - Father of Serial Novel - Series
Bingo Block: Pen Name or Anonymous Author
Although I like this cozy series about a tea shop in Charleston, SC, this one isn't one of my favorites. It seemed I was finding errors which diluted my pleasure. The cook in the tea shop flung her long, blonde hair away from her face (or something like that). What cook in a commercial enterprise is ever allowed to have her hair loose? And the amount of time that Theodosia and Drayton can spend running around town instead of working grated on me this time. I'll keep reading though - I can't resist the tea references.
Category: Charles Dickens - Father of Serial Novel - Series
Bingo Block: Pen Name or Anonymous Author
Although I like this cozy series about a tea shop in Charleston, SC, this one isn't one of my favorites. It seemed I was finding errors which diluted my pleasure. The cook in the tea shop flung her long, blonde hair away from her face (or something like that). What cook in a commercial enterprise is ever allowed to have her hair loose? And the amount of time that Theodosia and Drayton can spend running around town instead of working grated on me this time. I'll keep reading though - I can't resist the tea references.
80thornton37814
>79 dudes22: I love that series. I was probably a little generous with 4 stars in 2011, and it would probably translate as 3.5 now, but I think I still liked it better than you. Of course, Charleston is just about my favorite city in the U.S., and I always mourn the fact Theodosia's shop isn't real when I am in the area. I really want to sample Haley's creations.
81dudes22
>80 thornton37814: - I usually give most cozies a 3.5, but this one just didn't make it for me.
82dudes22
Book 10: Slash and Burn by Colin Cotterill
Category: Sir George Cayley - Father of Aviation - travel - foreign authors or places
Bingo Block: Set in Asia (Laos)
This is the 8th book in the Dr. Siri Paiboun series about a coroner in Laos after the end of the Vietnam War who is inhabited by an ancient spirit who helps him solve mysteries. I think one the things I like best is the humor in the book.
Ex: “Peach’s eyes had rolled so many times they should technically have been on the other side of the room by now.”
Category: Sir George Cayley - Father of Aviation - travel - foreign authors or places
Bingo Block: Set in Asia (Laos)
This is the 8th book in the Dr. Siri Paiboun series about a coroner in Laos after the end of the Vietnam War who is inhabited by an ancient spirit who helps him solve mysteries. I think one the things I like best is the humor in the book.
Ex: “Peach’s eyes had rolled so many times they should technically have been on the other side of the room by now.”
83dudes22
Book 11: The Elephant's Journey by Jose Saramago (translated by Margaret Jull Costa)
Category: Alfred Nobel - Father of Dynamite - Nobel Prize Winners - 1998
Jose Saramago was a Portuguese writer who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1998. “His works, some of which can be seen as allegories, commonly present subversive perspectives on historic events.” (wikipedia) The Nobel Prize description – “who with parables sustained by imagination, compassion and irony continually enables us once again to apprehend an elusory reality.” (Nobel prize archives)
The Elephant’s Journey is actually based on a true event. In 1551, King Joao III of Portugal decided to give an elephant, that he had received as a gift, to Archduke Maximillian of Austria. The story recounts the journey made by the elephant and his caretaker from Portugal to Vienna.
It took me a few pages to get used to the style of writing. Saramago writes sentences that are rather run-on, but not stream-of-consciousness. He uses few periods but lots of commas to separate. No paragraphs and no quote marks for conversation. The book is also written as the author talking to the reader, just telling a story with asides here and there. After I got used that, I enjoyed the story. This is one of his later books.
Category: Alfred Nobel - Father of Dynamite - Nobel Prize Winners - 1998
Jose Saramago was a Portuguese writer who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1998. “His works, some of which can be seen as allegories, commonly present subversive perspectives on historic events.” (wikipedia) The Nobel Prize description – “who with parables sustained by imagination, compassion and irony continually enables us once again to apprehend an elusory reality.” (Nobel prize archives)
The Elephant’s Journey is actually based on a true event. In 1551, King Joao III of Portugal decided to give an elephant, that he had received as a gift, to Archduke Maximillian of Austria. The story recounts the journey made by the elephant and his caretaker from Portugal to Vienna.
It took me a few pages to get used to the style of writing. Saramago writes sentences that are rather run-on, but not stream-of-consciousness. He uses few periods but lots of commas to separate. No paragraphs and no quote marks for conversation. The book is also written as the author talking to the reader, just telling a story with asides here and there. After I got used that, I enjoyed the story. This is one of his later books.
84JayneCM
>83 dudes22: I just put this on my TBR last week - good to hear it is enjoyed it.
85dudes22
>84 JayneCM: - The style of writing can take a little getting used to and there were times I had to re-read a little.
86lkernagh
>83 dudes22: - So happy to see you enjoyed the Saramago book! It is very different from other books I have read by the author.
87LittleTaiko
>83 dudes22: - I usually enjoy his books so will definitely being adding this one to my wishlist.
88dudes22
>86 lkernagh: - To be honest - I first was going to read Blindness, but after a couple of pages I quit. But now I'll try it again
>87 LittleTaiko: - This was the first of his I've tried, but I will read more.
>87 LittleTaiko: - This was the first of his I've tried, but I will read more.
89dudes22
January Recap:
I did very poorly last year with month-end summaries. There were a few months when I only read 2 books – so it didn’t make much sense to do one some months. I’m going to try and do better this year.
Books Read - 11 (7 physical, 4 ebook)
Books off TBR – 6 (6 physical, 1 ebook)
Books from Library – 5 (2 physical, 2 ebooks)
Books added to TBR – 8 (5 physical, 3 ebooks)
Pages read: 4066
Bingo Blocks: 5
Best Book: The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
Least Liked: Montauk by Nicola Harrison
I’ve had a good reading start to this year. Being away from home has limited the distractions and responsibilities that sometimes interfere. But I found I didn’t bring enough physical books with me and have hit the FOL shelf at the local library to find a few more.
I did very poorly last year with month-end summaries. There were a few months when I only read 2 books – so it didn’t make much sense to do one some months. I’m going to try and do better this year.
Books Read - 11 (7 physical, 4 ebook)
Books off TBR – 6 (6 physical, 1 ebook)
Books from Library – 5 (2 physical, 2 ebooks)
Books added to TBR – 8 (5 physical, 3 ebooks)
Pages read: 4066
Bingo Blocks: 5
Best Book: The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
Least Liked: Montauk by Nicola Harrison
I’ve had a good reading start to this year. Being away from home has limited the distractions and responsibilities that sometimes interfere. But I found I didn’t bring enough physical books with me and have hit the FOL shelf at the local library to find a few more.
90dudes22
Book 12: The Martian by Andy Weir
Category: Louis le Prince - Father of Cinematography - Books made into Movies
“Also, I have duct tape. Ordinary duct tape, like you buy at a hardware store. Turns out even NASA can’t improve on duct tape.”
After only 6 days on Mars, a huge dust storm has the crew abandoning Mars. Except Mark Watney gets blown away by the wind and an antenna pierces his suit. Although it seals because his blood freezes to seal the wound, the rest of the crew think he is dead and leave. The rest of the book is how he survives and how he gets rescued. There is a lot of scientific stuff to how he survives which is interesting even if you don't quite follow the formulas. Must have taken a ton of research.
I've seen the movie a couple of times and it follows the book pretty much. The only thing was I couldn't get Matt Damon's voice out of my head as I read.
Category: Louis le Prince - Father of Cinematography - Books made into Movies
“Also, I have duct tape. Ordinary duct tape, like you buy at a hardware store. Turns out even NASA can’t improve on duct tape.”
After only 6 days on Mars, a huge dust storm has the crew abandoning Mars. Except Mark Watney gets blown away by the wind and an antenna pierces his suit. Although it seals because his blood freezes to seal the wound, the rest of the crew think he is dead and leave. The rest of the book is how he survives and how he gets rescued. There is a lot of scientific stuff to how he survives which is interesting even if you don't quite follow the formulas. Must have taken a ton of research.
I've seen the movie a couple of times and it follows the book pretty much. The only thing was I couldn't get Matt Damon's voice out of my head as I read.
91dudes22
So you all know about my computer issues right before Christmas. So this morning I can't get my computer to turn on. Looks like I'll have to try and find some place to get it looked at.
92JayneCM
>91 dudes22: How frustrating - I hope you can get it fixed quickly.
93dudes22
>92 JayneCM: - Thanks. I have my iPad, but we'll be gone from home another month and I really need to have it.
94rabbitprincess
>91 dudes22: Oh no, not again! I hope the computer people can figure out what's wrong and fix it for you.
95dudes22
OK - I started to call and the automated voice asked if I had tried holding the start button for 30 seconds. I thought it was only 5. So it came on. Things are good again.
96dudes22
Book 13: L. A. Requiem by Robert Crais
Category: Edgar Allen Poe - Father of the Detective Story - Mysteries
“…looked at me with all the expression of a dinner plate.“
This next novel (for me) in the Elvis Cole/Joe Pike, private investigator, series is one in which Joe Pike is more prominent. The book finally reveals his background which explains a lot about why he is the way he is. The novel starts when Cole & Pike are hired to shadow the police and find out why Karen Garcia – an ex-lover of Pike – is murdered. They are hired by her father who has a lot of clout and the police are obviously not happy about this and make things as difficult as they can. Turns out the lead guy really doesn’t like Pike and eventually finds a way to arrest him for the murder of one of the witnesses in the case.
Although I generally like this series, I found some of the events were disturbing this time and there was a lot of violence; more than I remember in previous books. There were also a few side stories that came together in the end.
Category: Edgar Allen Poe - Father of the Detective Story - Mysteries
“…looked at me with all the expression of a dinner plate.“
This next novel (for me) in the Elvis Cole/Joe Pike, private investigator, series is one in which Joe Pike is more prominent. The book finally reveals his background which explains a lot about why he is the way he is. The novel starts when Cole & Pike are hired to shadow the police and find out why Karen Garcia – an ex-lover of Pike – is murdered. They are hired by her father who has a lot of clout and the police are obviously not happy about this and make things as difficult as they can. Turns out the lead guy really doesn’t like Pike and eventually finds a way to arrest him for the murder of one of the witnesses in the case.
Although I generally like this series, I found some of the events were disturbing this time and there was a lot of violence; more than I remember in previous books. There were also a few side stories that came together in the end.
97dudes22
Book 14: The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks
Category: Johannes Gutenberg - Father of the Printing Press - Fiction
Alpha Kit: Feb - B
I’ve read all of Geraldine Brooks’ fiction and liked them all. There is a variety in her subject matter and a lot of research is obvious.
This time she has written the story of King David from the Bible. Most people who have been brought up in a Jewish or Christian environment will at least recognize him as the boy who slew Goliath with his slingshot. I was a bit intimidated when I saw the list of characters at the front of the book, but the story flows in such a way that it’s easy to follow who is who. And although she uses the translation of names from the Hebrew, I found it rather easy to figure out who they were in the more common forms I am used to.
The story is told from the point of view of his prophet Natan who was captured when he was a boy by David. Natan is writing a biography of David and this is how we learn of his early life as a shepherd boy and his rise to power through King Saul. It’s often violent as David seeks to consolidate his power and become king.
David’s eventual downfall comes because he has a blind spot where his sons are concerned and refuses to see how their quest for power and to be named the next king will cause problems.
Category: Johannes Gutenberg - Father of the Printing Press - Fiction
Alpha Kit: Feb - B
I’ve read all of Geraldine Brooks’ fiction and liked them all. There is a variety in her subject matter and a lot of research is obvious.
This time she has written the story of King David from the Bible. Most people who have been brought up in a Jewish or Christian environment will at least recognize him as the boy who slew Goliath with his slingshot. I was a bit intimidated when I saw the list of characters at the front of the book, but the story flows in such a way that it’s easy to follow who is who. And although she uses the translation of names from the Hebrew, I found it rather easy to figure out who they were in the more common forms I am used to.
The story is told from the point of view of his prophet Natan who was captured when he was a boy by David. Natan is writing a biography of David and this is how we learn of his early life as a shepherd boy and his rise to power through King Saul. It’s often violent as David seeks to consolidate his power and become king.
David’s eventual downfall comes because he has a blind spot where his sons are concerned and refuses to see how their quest for power and to be named the next king will cause problems.
98thornton37814
>97 dudes22: I'm certain that one is already on my wish list. I'm glad it was that strong of a read for you!
99pammab
>97 dudes22: The secret chord is piquing my interest now. I can't believe I never realized that there is a whole world of Biblical historical fiction! I am really glad it was such an enjoyable read for you.
100dudes22
>98 thornton37814: - It was an interesting way of telling the story. If you've read others of hers and enjoyed them, you'll probably like this too.
>99 pammab: - I try to expand my reading comfort little by little also. I'm not the biggest fan of historical fiction, but I did enjoy this.
>99 pammab: - I try to expand my reading comfort little by little also. I'm not the biggest fan of historical fiction, but I did enjoy this.
101dudes22
Book 15: The Tale of Hill Top Farm by Susan Wittig Albert
Category: Charles Dickens - Father of the Serial Novel - Series
Feb Random Cat: Still Leaping into the New Year
Bingo Block: Read a Cat
I've started a new series. This one by Susan Wittig Albert is The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter. Based on the life of Beatrix Potter, author of children's books, the first one tells of how she came to buy Hill Top Farm. It includes talking animals and I found it quite cute.
Category: Charles Dickens - Father of the Serial Novel - Series
Feb Random Cat: Still Leaping into the New Year
Bingo Block: Read a Cat
I've started a new series. This one by Susan Wittig Albert is The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter. Based on the life of Beatrix Potter, author of children's books, the first one tells of how she came to buy Hill Top Farm. It includes talking animals and I found it quite cute.
102JayneCM
>101 dudes22: I read this whole series a few years ago when my youngest was born. I would read in the middle of the night while feeding and these were perfect easy reading for that. I remember loving them, but who knows?! Although when my middle son was born my nighttime reading was Anna Karenina and I actually remember it. Obviously I wasn't as tired with him!
103dudes22
>102 JayneCM: - I can see how they would make good middle-of-the-night reading. And I'm sure I won't remember much in a year or so either.
104Jackie_K
>102 JayneCM: I'm very impressed you were able to read during night feeds! I'm so cack-handed (and was so tired) I never managed that, if I'd tried to hold anything else I'd probably have dropped the baby! I used to just have the radio on very quietly, as middle-of-the-night talk radio was pretty soothing. I listened to everything from Dr Karl to South American football. I even remember hearing someone I went to uni with interviewed on the news at some unearthly hour (our dept specialised in Central & East European studies, and this was during and just after the Maidan protests in Ukraine in early 2014).
105JayneCM
>104 Jackie_K: I still don't sleep much - must have just got used to no or disturbed sleep for so many years! There were times I had to flick back, sometimes whole chapters, because I had absolutely no recollection of what I had read. So it wasn't always terribly efficient reading!
106dudes22
Book 16: The Vengeance of Mothers by Jim Fergus
Category: Charles Dickens - Father of Serial Fiction - Series
Alpha Kit: Feb "F"
BINGO Block: Epistolary Novel
This book is a sequel to Jim Fergus's novel 1,000 White Women which started the story of the government program in 1873 to promote peace between The US government and the Cheyenne Nation by having women marry Cheyenne men and have babies. This book continues by following what happens to the last group of women who are sent out west. It's hard for me to say much without giving away parts of the first book, so I'll just say that if you've read the first book, the second is just as good.
Category: Charles Dickens - Father of Serial Fiction - Series
Alpha Kit: Feb "F"
BINGO Block: Epistolary Novel
This book is a sequel to Jim Fergus's novel 1,000 White Women which started the story of the government program in 1873 to promote peace between The US government and the Cheyenne Nation by having women marry Cheyenne men and have babies. This book continues by following what happens to the last group of women who are sent out west. It's hard for me to say much without giving away parts of the first book, so I'll just say that if you've read the first book, the second is just as good.
107JayneCM
>106 dudes22: I have never heard of this program. I will definitely need to read both these.
108dudes22
>107 JayneCM: - They're excellent!
109Tess_W
>107 JayneCM: It's fiction, never any such program, but the books are good!
110clue
>106 dudes22: I get so aggravated at myself...I bought this the first time I saw it in 2018, thought I would read it immediately but no, it's still on the shelf! Got to get to it soon. My "get to it soon list" seems to grow bigger instead of smaller!
111dudes22
>109 Tess_W: - I guess I should have made that more clear.
>110 clue: - I know the feeling and I'm sure we're not the only two on LT with that problem :)
>110 clue: - I know the feeling and I'm sure we're not the only two on LT with that problem :)
112Tess_W
>111 dudes22: that message was really for Jayne. I know she's from Australia and I think she left with the impression it was a real program! No problem!
113JayneCM
>109 Tess_W: >112 Tess_W: I did wonder as it seemed an extremely peculiar idea and not something that would have fit with the viewpoint of the time. But there have been some crazy policies all over the world in the past, so you never know!
I always laugh at a comment I read a while ago - 'remember that time the British decided to turn a whole continent into a prison! That was crazy!'
I always laugh at a comment I read a while ago - 'remember that time the British decided to turn a whole continent into a prison! That was crazy!'
114dudes22
>112 Tess_W: - I realized that. I was just saying that maybe I should have made it clearer and my phrasing did kind of make it sound like a real program.
>113 JayneCM: - I've never heard that phrase. And yes, there certainly are some strange things that countries have done.
>113 JayneCM: - I've never heard that phrase. And yes, there certainly are some strange things that countries have done.
115lkernagh
Oh no... not a return of the computer issues but great job in learning that you have to hold down the start button for so long. I will keep that in mind!
Wishing you a wonderful weekend (or what is left of it).
Wishing you a wonderful weekend (or what is left of it).
116dudes22
>115 lkernagh: - Thanks. I think I was most annoyed because we're not home and I didn't have access to my regular computer people. But - all's well, stress averted.
117dudes22
Book 17: The Recipe Club by Andrea Israel
Categpry: Johannes Gutenberg - Inventor of the Printing Press - Other Fiction
Val and Lilly were friends and pen pals from the time they were in elementary school and Val moves across New York City. They decide to form a recipe club and trade recipes with their letters. At the books opening there has been a rift in their friendship that has lasted 26 years. The book is a series of letters and recipes , the majority of it before the rift takes places. Seeing how the girls change as they get older and they develop differently was ok. The recipes are basic but do reflect what was being eaten in the 60s/70s. Just an ok read.
Categpry: Johannes Gutenberg - Inventor of the Printing Press - Other Fiction
Val and Lilly were friends and pen pals from the time they were in elementary school and Val moves across New York City. They decide to form a recipe club and trade recipes with their letters. At the books opening there has been a rift in their friendship that has lasted 26 years. The book is a series of letters and recipes , the majority of it before the rift takes places. Seeing how the girls change as they get older and they develop differently was ok. The recipes are basic but do reflect what was being eaten in the 60s/70s. Just an ok read.
118dudes22
Book 18: Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Maas
Category: Frank W Cyr - Father of the Yellow School Bus - Children's/YA books
Bingo Block: 3+ letters in Bingo (ingo)
Jeremy Fink, who is turning 13 in just one month, receives a mysterious box one day which was left to him from his father who died 5 years ago. On the top is engraved "The Meaning of Life: For Jeremy Fink to open on his 13th birthday". The box can only be opened with 4 keys which appear to have been lost. So Jeremy and his friend Lizzy need to figure out how to find the four keys which will open the box.
The is a great story of coming of age and trying to figure out what's what in the world and growing up just at that time when things begin to change and kids become teenagers.
Category: Frank W Cyr - Father of the Yellow School Bus - Children's/YA books
Bingo Block: 3+ letters in Bingo (ingo)
Jeremy Fink, who is turning 13 in just one month, receives a mysterious box one day which was left to him from his father who died 5 years ago. On the top is engraved "The Meaning of Life: For Jeremy Fink to open on his 13th birthday". The box can only be opened with 4 keys which appear to have been lost. So Jeremy and his friend Lizzy need to figure out how to find the four keys which will open the box.
The is a great story of coming of age and trying to figure out what's what in the world and growing up just at that time when things begin to change and kids become teenagers.
119dudes22
Book 19: Blue Highways by William Least Heat-Moon
Category: Melvil Dewey - Father of the Dewey Decimal System - Non-Fiction
Feb Geo Cat: Travel
I'm going to have to call this done even though I haven't quite finished it. My e-book library loan can't be renewed because someone is waiting for it so I've put myself back on the hold list so I can finish it later.
Written back in 1978 and published in 1982, this book is the author's impressions as he decided to take his van and travel what were then the blue roads on a highway map. Secondary roads away from the interstates and through some of the smaller towns that lost business as more and more people traveled the major highways.
The book is written as a series of vignettes - short little chapters, sometimes with a picture of a person he talked to. Interesting facts about the places he travels through and some of the history of a place sometimes. I'll be looking forward to getting it back when I get to the top of the list again in a couple of months.
Category: Melvil Dewey - Father of the Dewey Decimal System - Non-Fiction
Feb Geo Cat: Travel
I'm going to have to call this done even though I haven't quite finished it. My e-book library loan can't be renewed because someone is waiting for it so I've put myself back on the hold list so I can finish it later.
Written back in 1978 and published in 1982, this book is the author's impressions as he decided to take his van and travel what were then the blue roads on a highway map. Secondary roads away from the interstates and through some of the smaller towns that lost business as more and more people traveled the major highways.
The book is written as a series of vignettes - short little chapters, sometimes with a picture of a person he talked to. Interesting facts about the places he travels through and some of the history of a place sometimes. I'll be looking forward to getting it back when I get to the top of the list again in a couple of months.
120clue
>119 dudes22: I read this when it first came out and a couple of more times after that. The worn original still sits on my shelf. I know you would have preferred to be able to finish it right now, but it makes my heart zing to know people are in line for it after all this time.
121Jackie_K
>119 dudes22: >120 clue: I'm always up for a good travel book, so I've added this to my wishlist, it sounds delightful.
122dudes22
>120 clue: - Well, there is only one e-book in the Rhode Island library system so that may have something to do with it. I had to wait also and had to time it so I could take it out this month.
>121 Jackie_K: - Hope you enjoy it.
>121 Jackie_K: - Hope you enjoy it.
123Tess_W
>119 dudes22: definitely a BB for me!
124dudes22
Book 20: 61 Hours by Lee Child
Category: Edgar Allen Poe - Father of the Detective Story - mysteries
Bingo Block: LT Author
Another excellent book in the Jack Reacher series. I like how he exhibits the traits he learned in the Army. I do think this time he should have figured out who the local bad guy was faster than he did. I figured it out and I'm usually wrong. Not this time! I also found the ending strange. That's all I can say without giving something away.
Category: Edgar Allen Poe - Father of the Detective Story - mysteries
Bingo Block: LT Author
Another excellent book in the Jack Reacher series. I like how he exhibits the traits he learned in the Army. I do think this time he should have figured out who the local bad guy was faster than he did. I figured it out and I'm usually wrong. Not this time! I also found the ending strange. That's all I can say without giving something away.
125dudes22
Book 21: Mr. Lemoncello's All-Star Breakout Game by Chris Grabenstein
Category: Frank W. Cyr - Father of the Yellow School Bus - Children's and YA books
“Books are sometimes windows, offering a view of worlds that may be real or imagined, familiar or strange. These windows are also sliding glass doors, and readers have only to walk through in imagination to become part of whatever world has been created or re-created by the author…A window can also be a mirror. Literature transforms human experience and reflects it back to us, and in that reflection, we can see our own lives and experiences as part of the larger human experience."
Dr Rudine Sims Bishop, winner of the 2017 Coretta Scott-King-Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement for her work related to African American children’s literature. As quoted by the author in his note at the end of the book.
The author, Chris Grabenstein writes a number of different children and YA series, one of which is the Mr Lemoncello series. This series is about books and libraries and how reading and learning can be fun. The characters are in middle school with all of the angst that middle school brings.
In this book, Mr Lemoncello has created a new game for his television network and to introduce it he has a team challenge in his library. Each team has to make it through 5 rooms based on genres in fiction. And each person on the team will make a discovery about themselves while they do it. I found it lots of fun. Oh yes – and it involves windows, mirrors and sliding glass doors.
Category: Frank W. Cyr - Father of the Yellow School Bus - Children's and YA books
“Books are sometimes windows, offering a view of worlds that may be real or imagined, familiar or strange. These windows are also sliding glass doors, and readers have only to walk through in imagination to become part of whatever world has been created or re-created by the author…A window can also be a mirror. Literature transforms human experience and reflects it back to us, and in that reflection, we can see our own lives and experiences as part of the larger human experience."
Dr Rudine Sims Bishop, winner of the 2017 Coretta Scott-King-Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement for her work related to African American children’s literature. As quoted by the author in his note at the end of the book.
The author, Chris Grabenstein writes a number of different children and YA series, one of which is the Mr Lemoncello series. This series is about books and libraries and how reading and learning can be fun. The characters are in middle school with all of the angst that middle school brings.
In this book, Mr Lemoncello has created a new game for his television network and to introduce it he has a team challenge in his library. Each team has to make it through 5 rooms based on genres in fiction. And each person on the team will make a discovery about themselves while they do it. I found it lots of fun. Oh yes – and it involves windows, mirrors and sliding glass doors.
126JayneCM
>125 dudes22: The first one is on hold at the library - I cannot wait to start this series. Puzzles to solve and books and libraries - how can I not love it?!
127dudes22
>126 JayneCM: - I know, right?
128dudes22
Book 22: Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland
Category: Johannes Gutenberg - Father of Modern Printing - General Fiction
This story follows the path and ownership of an imagined Vermeer painting through it's history from most current owner to the original painting by Vermeer. I found that I had a little trouble in the first few chapters following what was going on. The most interesting to me was the last chapter about the actual painting and the girl who posed for it.
My biggest gripe was that the painting is described as a girl sitting at a window in profile with a sewing basket on her lap which is not at all what the cover illustration shows. How hard would that have been?
Category: Johannes Gutenberg - Father of Modern Printing - General Fiction
This story follows the path and ownership of an imagined Vermeer painting through it's history from most current owner to the original painting by Vermeer. I found that I had a little trouble in the first few chapters following what was going on. The most interesting to me was the last chapter about the actual painting and the girl who posed for it.
My biggest gripe was that the painting is described as a girl sitting at a window in profile with a sewing basket on her lap which is not at all what the cover illustration shows. How hard would that have been?
129JayneCM
>128 dudes22: True! As it is an imagined painting and not an actual Vermeer painting, they could have designed the cover to fit very easily.
130dudes22
Book 23: The Flinck Connection by Estelle Ryan
Category: Vint Cerf - One of the Fathers of the Internet - E-books
BINGO Block: Small Press or Self-Published
After a politician is murdered and her team is ordered not to investigate, they do anyway. Dr Genevieve Leonard, an art expert and an expert in non-verbal communication discovers that the painting stolen from the murdered politician's house may be a painting that was stolen from the Isabella Gardner Museum back in 1990. The more they look into it, the more it seems that it may also involve a charity doing work in Gabon and the president of France. These books are always have a lot of moving parts that all come together at the end and I enjoy this series a lot.
As an aside: A group of us went to Boston last spring to go to the Isabella Gardner Museum. One of the caveats of her will was that nothing could be moved and so there are empty frames on the walls where the art work was stolen. The mystery of who stole it is still not solved and the paintings have never been found.
Category: Vint Cerf - One of the Fathers of the Internet - E-books
BINGO Block: Small Press or Self-Published
After a politician is murdered and her team is ordered not to investigate, they do anyway. Dr Genevieve Leonard, an art expert and an expert in non-verbal communication discovers that the painting stolen from the murdered politician's house may be a painting that was stolen from the Isabella Gardner Museum back in 1990. The more they look into it, the more it seems that it may also involve a charity doing work in Gabon and the president of France. These books are always have a lot of moving parts that all come together at the end and I enjoy this series a lot.
As an aside: A group of us went to Boston last spring to go to the Isabella Gardner Museum. One of the caveats of her will was that nothing could be moved and so there are empty frames on the walls where the art work was stolen. The mystery of who stole it is still not solved and the paintings have never been found.
131dudes22
Book 24: A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Category - Henri-Gustave Delivigne - Father of the Bullet - Book Bullets
“After all, what can a first impression tell us about someone we’ve just met for a minute in the lobby of a hotel? For that matter, what can a first impression tell us about anyone?”
The book begins in 1922 just when the Bolsheviks are establishing the Soviet Union and doing away with the aristocracy. So the idea that Count Alexander Rostov would be exiled to live within the attics of the Hotel Metropol instead of being shot is probably “unlikely”. If you can suspend belief and accept this, then the story becomes interesting, spanning 32 years. There are many characters to enjoy and philosophical musings, observations and intrigues.
Category - Henri-Gustave Delivigne - Father of the Bullet - Book Bullets
“After all, what can a first impression tell us about someone we’ve just met for a minute in the lobby of a hotel? For that matter, what can a first impression tell us about anyone?”
The book begins in 1922 just when the Bolsheviks are establishing the Soviet Union and doing away with the aristocracy. So the idea that Count Alexander Rostov would be exiled to live within the attics of the Hotel Metropol instead of being shot is probably “unlikely”. If you can suspend belief and accept this, then the story becomes interesting, spanning 32 years. There are many characters to enjoy and philosophical musings, observations and intrigues.
132dudes22
February Recap:
Books Read - 13
Books off TBR – 10 (10 physical, 0 ebook)
Books from Library – 3 (digital and physical)
Books added to TBR – 4 (4 physical, 0 ebook)
Pages read: 4268 (8334 total)
Best Book: The Vengeance of Mothers by Jim Fergus
Least Liked: Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland
Books Read - 13
Books off TBR – 10 (10 physical, 0 ebook)
Books from Library – 3 (digital and physical)
Books added to TBR – 4 (4 physical, 0 ebook)
Pages read: 4268 (8334 total)
Best Book: The Vengeance of Mothers by Jim Fergus
Least Liked: Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland
133dudes22
Book 25: Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
Category: Sir George Cayley - Father of Aviation - Travel (Author is English)
BINGO Block: Red cover or red prominent
This is written as a book-within-a-book. When Susan Ryeland, an editor for Cloverleaf books, returns from a week on the road with one of her authors, she finds that her boss has left her a manuscript to read of the latest book by one of their better-know authors of a mystery series. She settles in to read it over the weekend. The book then becomes the story she is reading. When she gets to the end, she finds the last chapter is missing. And when she gets to work on Monday, it seems the author has committed suicide. Except Susan decides to start looking into whether or not he may have been murdered. It's an interesting tale as the stories intertwine.
Category: Sir George Cayley - Father of Aviation - Travel (Author is English)
BINGO Block: Red cover or red prominent
This is written as a book-within-a-book. When Susan Ryeland, an editor for Cloverleaf books, returns from a week on the road with one of her authors, she finds that her boss has left her a manuscript to read of the latest book by one of their better-know authors of a mystery series. She settles in to read it over the weekend. The book then becomes the story she is reading. When she gets to the end, she finds the last chapter is missing. And when she gets to work on Monday, it seems the author has committed suicide. Except Susan decides to start looking into whether or not he may have been murdered. It's an interesting tale as the stories intertwine.
134dudes22
Book 26: Gone to Dust by Matt Goldman
Category: Sir Henri-Gustave Delivigne - Inventor of Bullets - Book Bullets
Alpha Kit - Mar - "G"
This is the first book in a PI series featuring Nils Shapiro (Shap) which was recommended to me by a friend from Minnesota that we see while we're in Mexico each year. She and I spend a couple of hours by the pool talking about the books we've read over the past year and which ones we particularly like. She belongs to a very large book club that doesn't really meet to discuss books, but rather has guest speakers, usually authors from Minnesota. This book was one that she recommended last year.
Shap is called by a friend from back when he was in the Police Dept to help the police department with a murder that has just occurred. A woman is found dead in her house and the whole house is covered with dust like you would find in a vacuum cleaner bag. I wasn't that thrilled with the beginning as I felt that the PI was just a little too flip. But the story seemed to even out after a while and I'll at least try the next book in the series.
Category: Sir Henri-Gustave Delivigne - Inventor of Bullets - Book Bullets
Alpha Kit - Mar - "G"
This is the first book in a PI series featuring Nils Shapiro (Shap) which was recommended to me by a friend from Minnesota that we see while we're in Mexico each year. She and I spend a couple of hours by the pool talking about the books we've read over the past year and which ones we particularly like. She belongs to a very large book club that doesn't really meet to discuss books, but rather has guest speakers, usually authors from Minnesota. This book was one that she recommended last year.
Shap is called by a friend from back when he was in the Police Dept to help the police department with a murder that has just occurred. A woman is found dead in her house and the whole house is covered with dust like you would find in a vacuum cleaner bag. I wasn't that thrilled with the beginning as I felt that the PI was just a little too flip. But the story seemed to even out after a while and I'll at least try the next book in the series.
135dudes22
I've decided to jump right into another Jack Reacher book - Worth Dying For by Lee Child because I was confused/concerned about the ending of the last one and wanted to see if there was an explanation in the next book. Only took about 100 pages, but at least I know.
136dudes22
Book 27: Worth Dying For by Lee Child
Category: Charles Dickens - Father of Serial Publishing - Series
Alpha Kit: March - C
As I said, I decided to start this because the end of the last book left me a little confused. I finally got an explanation. Jack arrives in a small Nebraska town to find everyone bends to the will of one family of three brothers who are hiding a secret. There is also a sub story that goes back 25 years about a missing girl.
Category: Charles Dickens - Father of Serial Publishing - Series
Alpha Kit: March - C
As I said, I decided to start this because the end of the last book left me a little confused. I finally got an explanation. Jack arrives in a small Nebraska town to find everyone bends to the will of one family of three brothers who are hiding a secret. There is also a sub story that goes back 25 years about a missing girl.
137dudes22
My reading has really slowed down since we got back from being away this winter. Things like laundry, going through the mail, getting prepped for taxes are all cutting into my reading time. Hopefully, with limited social interaction, I'll catch up again.
138LisaMorr
I enjoyed catching up on your thread and have taken BBs for Magpie Murders and the Mr. Lemoncello series.
139dudes22
>138 LisaMorr: - I recommend Mr Lemoncello a lot. Hope you enjoy them both.
140JayneCM
>138 LisaMorr: I have just started - they have just arrived at the library. Cannot wait to read more but I am doing it as a read aloud with my boys at bedtime and sometimes I have to stop as they have both fallen asleep!
And I would love to get hold of Lemoncello's Bibliomania game - sounds FANTASTIC!
And I would love to get hold of Lemoncello's Bibliomania game - sounds FANTASTIC!
141dudes22
>140 JayneCM: - Oh I'm so glad you're liking them.. But do the boys?
142JayneCM
>141 dudes22: We are not too far in but yes. They have been asking for more when I say it is sleep time (and not falling asleep that much while I read!)
145dudes22
Book 28: The Devil's Star by Jo Nesbo
Category: Sir George Cayley - Father of Aviation - Travel (Norwegian Author)
I think one of the marks of a really good book in a series is when you know that the hero wins because there's a next book, but you panic that he won't make it out of one or more situations in the book. These books work on that level excellently. This series is pretty dark anyway, probably just about at my limit. In this book there is a serial killer that Harry is part of a team to catch, but it looks like his on-going drinking may ruin both his career and his relationship. The last paragraph leads to the next book, I assume, as it's somewhat strange.
Category: Sir George Cayley - Father of Aviation - Travel (Norwegian Author)
I think one of the marks of a really good book in a series is when you know that the hero wins because there's a next book, but you panic that he won't make it out of one or more situations in the book. These books work on that level excellently. This series is pretty dark anyway, probably just about at my limit. In this book there is a serial killer that Harry is part of a team to catch, but it looks like his on-going drinking may ruin both his career and his relationship. The last paragraph leads to the next book, I assume, as it's somewhat strange.
146dudes22
Our library just posted that, although there's no loans with other libraries now, if they have the book, you can call, leave a message and they'll contact you to make arrangements for you to pick up the book.
147dudes22
A classmate of my husband has passed away (not from the virus) and I was surprised (amazed actually) to see that they're having calling hours and a graveside service. Most of the obituaries say "memorial service later" or "private funeral". I'm worried that he will want to go. Maybe the graveside service wouldn't be too bad as we could stand apart.
148LisaMorr
>147 dudes22: Oh my! Stay safe!
150dudes22
Book 29: A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams
Category: Henri-Gustave Delvigne - Father of the Bullet - Book Bullets
March Random Cat: Seasons of Love
A friend recommended this book to me because portions of it are set in Rhode Island loosely based on a place fairly close to where I live. You could probably call this chick-lit or a beach-read, but it was good for light reading at this time and took my mind off the constant barrage of news doom and gloom.
The book moves between 1931/32 and 1938 when there was a huge hurricane that devastated Rhode Island. Lily meets Nick at a football game in 1931 when she attends one at Dartmouth College with her best friend Budgie who is dating one of the football players. Lily is smitten and she and Nick begin to date and fall in love.
In 1938, Lily is spending the summer at Seaview as she has for all her life when Budgie and her husband Nick move into Budgie's old family home to restore it. Budgie tries to insinuate herself back into Lily's life and Lily tries to ignore Nick.
Told in alternating chapters, the author does a good job of keeping up the suspense about why Nick and Lily aren't together and what happened in 1931 and how it affects the 1938 story. I did figure out what one secret was before it was revealed.
Category: Henri-Gustave Delvigne - Father of the Bullet - Book Bullets
March Random Cat: Seasons of Love
A friend recommended this book to me because portions of it are set in Rhode Island loosely based on a place fairly close to where I live. You could probably call this chick-lit or a beach-read, but it was good for light reading at this time and took my mind off the constant barrage of news doom and gloom.
The book moves between 1931/32 and 1938 when there was a huge hurricane that devastated Rhode Island. Lily meets Nick at a football game in 1931 when she attends one at Dartmouth College with her best friend Budgie who is dating one of the football players. Lily is smitten and she and Nick begin to date and fall in love.
In 1938, Lily is spending the summer at Seaview as she has for all her life when Budgie and her husband Nick move into Budgie's old family home to restore it. Budgie tries to insinuate herself back into Lily's life and Lily tries to ignore Nick.
Told in alternating chapters, the author does a good job of keeping up the suspense about why Nick and Lily aren't together and what happened in 1931 and how it affects the 1938 story. I did figure out what one secret was before it was revealed.
151Tess_W
>150 dudes22: a BB for me
153JayneCM
>150 dudes22: I think I have all Beatriz Williams' books on my TBR!
154DeltaQueen50
>150 dudes22: I have A Hundred Summers on my Kindle so good to know it's enjoyable and perfect for light reading.
155LittleTaiko
>150 dudes22: - I'm glad you enjoyed it! Her books are ones I turn to when I need a bit of fun reading.
156VivienneR
>145 dudes22: I've just read one of Nesbo's and really enjoyed it. Looking forward to more.
>146 dudes22: Oh, that is wonderful library service. I've heard our library employees are still at work although closed to patrons. Cataloguing and acquisitions keep on no matter.
>147 dudes22: No matter how much we prepare there is always one more situation to have to consider. I'm glad your husband decided not to attend the funeral. Much safer. I wish my husband would stay in more. He misses going to the library every day and now goes shopping for something unnecessary.
>146 dudes22: Oh, that is wonderful library service. I've heard our library employees are still at work although closed to patrons. Cataloguing and acquisitions keep on no matter.
>147 dudes22: No matter how much we prepare there is always one more situation to have to consider. I'm glad your husband decided not to attend the funeral. Much safer. I wish my husband would stay in more. He misses going to the library every day and now goes shopping for something unnecessary.
157dudes22
>153 JayneCM: - >154 DeltaQueen50: - >155 LittleTaiko: - I'm sure I'll be reading more from her. I checked Overdrive and all her books are checked out right now.
>156 VivienneR: - re: 145 -Nesbo can be a little violent at times but I always figure there's another book in the series so at least he doesn't die :)
re: 146 - My sister works there so I also can get a little better service. I think they're mostly doing book returns and the other stuff you mentioned.
re: 147 - I'm actually somewhat surprised that he's being as good about this as he is. While I was going to the market today, one of my windshield wipers broke, so that will give him a little project to do.
>156 VivienneR: - re: 145 -Nesbo can be a little violent at times but I always figure there's another book in the series so at least he doesn't die :)
re: 146 - My sister works there so I also can get a little better service. I think they're mostly doing book returns and the other stuff you mentioned.
re: 147 - I'm actually somewhat surprised that he's being as good about this as he is. While I was going to the market today, one of my windshield wipers broke, so that will give him a little project to do.
158clue
I'm confused about Beatriz Williams. I'm sure I started a book of hers once and it was so shallow and trite that I quit reading it. Several of my book club members like her a lot and think I've got her confused with someone else. Maybe I need to give her another try.
159dudes22
>158 clue: - Maybe. This is the first book of hers that I've read, so I can't say how her others are.
160dudes22
Book 30: Dream Angus by Alexander McCall Smith
Category: Johannes Gutenberg - Father of Printing Press - General Fiction
BINGO Block: Book based on myth or folklore
A series of very short stories based on the Celtic myth of Dream Angus. Parts of the myth and then current stories based on the myth are told alternately. I confess - I didn't get it at all.
Category: Johannes Gutenberg - Father of Printing Press - General Fiction
BINGO Block: Book based on myth or folklore
A series of very short stories based on the Celtic myth of Dream Angus. Parts of the myth and then current stories based on the myth are told alternately. I confess - I didn't get it at all.
161dudes22
March Recap:
Books Read - 6
Books off TBR – 4
Books from Library – 2
Books added to TBR – 1
Pages read: 2055 (10389 total)
Best Book: The Devil’s Star by Jo Nesbo
Least Liked: Dream Angus by Alexander McCall Smith
Despite being home more, I manged to get less reading done this month. I have to admit I'm not finding it quite as distracting. Maybe I need some different books. I've certainly got enough to choose from. Spending more time sewing and organizing.
162dudes22
I've decided to quit on a book at about the half-way mark. I've been reading Wintering: A Novel of Sylvia Plath by Kate Moses. For those not familiar, Plath was a poet who committed suicide when she was only 30. It's a fictionalized story of the last few months of Plath's life with flashbacks to her life and marriage. I think the author's strength was also the weakness for me for the book. It's rather chaotic with swirling thoughts and actions, much as I expect it might have been. I think at this time with the barrage of news about the virus, it was just too depressing to continue.
164dudes22
Book 31: Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber
Category: Vint Cerf - Father of the Internet - e-books
When Anna Kate's grandmother dies, she returns to Wicklow, Alabama. She will run her grandmother's cafe until she can settle the estate and then she plans to return to Massachusetts for medical school. She is also hoping to learn more about her mother and the town where she grew up, something her mother din't talk about much. People believe that her grandmother's pies bring dreams and message from people they have lost.
This story reminded me a lot of the books of Sarah Addison Allen, with a bit of magical realism along with a heart-warming town, lots of interesting characters, some food thrown in, and some romance.
Category: Vint Cerf - Father of the Internet - e-books
When Anna Kate's grandmother dies, she returns to Wicklow, Alabama. She will run her grandmother's cafe until she can settle the estate and then she plans to return to Massachusetts for medical school. She is also hoping to learn more about her mother and the town where she grew up, something her mother din't talk about much. People believe that her grandmother's pies bring dreams and message from people they have lost.
This story reminded me a lot of the books of Sarah Addison Allen, with a bit of magical realism along with a heart-warming town, lots of interesting characters, some food thrown in, and some romance.
165dudes22
Book 32: The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon by Alexander McCall Smith
Category: Charles Dickens - Father of Serial Publishing - Series
Alpha Kit - April "S"
This series is the best comfort reading. And in this installment, I think Mma Makutsi is finally becoming more satisfied with her life. And Mma Ramotswe is realizing how much she likes having her in the agency. There are a couple of problems for the agency to solve which, of course, they do.
Looks like touchstones aren't working. I'll be back to fix later.
Category: Charles Dickens - Father of Serial Publishing - Series
Alpha Kit - April "S"
This series is the best comfort reading. And in this installment, I think Mma Makutsi is finally becoming more satisfied with her life. And Mma Ramotswe is realizing how much she likes having her in the agency. There are a couple of problems for the agency to solve which, of course, they do.
Looks like touchstones aren't working. I'll be back to fix later.
166dudes22
I needed to go out to the drugstore and market yesterday and decided to go during the senior hour. I was surprised/amazed at how many people had neither masks nor gloves on. Even the clerks at the drugstore weren't wearing any. I just can't figure it out. If it were young people such as those that were in large groups on spring break, I might have understood, but I figured us older folks would be more careful.
I'm also a little disappointed that I wasn't challenged that I'm a senior. :) Must be all the grey that's been showing more.
I'm also a little disappointed that I wasn't challenged that I'm a senior. :) Must be all the grey that's been showing more.
167lkernagh
Hi Betty, stopping by to get caught up and love the personal note in your review of The Flinck Connection.
As for not being challenged that you are a senior, I think some stores might not be looking into the "senior" requirement too closely. I am so happy that I decided last August to stop dying my hair and let my natural colour come through (which is proving to include a lot of grey hairs along my temples). The "growing out phase" is a work in progress and probably will be for at least another 12 months.
As for not being challenged that you are a senior, I think some stores might not be looking into the "senior" requirement too closely. I am so happy that I decided last August to stop dying my hair and let my natural colour come through (which is proving to include a lot of grey hairs along my temples). The "growing out phase" is a work in progress and probably will be for at least another 12 months.
168RidgewayGirl
Thanks for reminding me about the Mma Ramotswe series. It really is good escapist fare and that's a very good thing right now. I know I have an unread one on my shelf somewhere...
And my personal experience is that there are fewer people shopping on a weekday mid-morning than first thing or during the hour set aside for seniors. If there are more than a few cars in the lot, I turn around a go another time. It's not like I've got a full schedule!
And my personal experience is that there are fewer people shopping on a weekday mid-morning than first thing or during the hour set aside for seniors. If there are more than a few cars in the lot, I turn around a go another time. It's not like I've got a full schedule!
169rabbitprincess
I have what I like to refer to as Alan Alda hair: very dark brown or black with lots of silver, as he had by the end of M*A*S*H. Haven't coloured it and don't plan to start, mainly because I am lazy ;) I might end up completely grey by the end of this, though!
170dudes22
>167 lkernagh: - Nice to see you, Lori. I found The Gardner Heist at a library sale and am planning to read it for the Non-Fiction Cat this month. I think having been there will make it more interesting.
>168 RidgewayGirl: - When I went a couple of weeks ago, I went mid-morning and had no problem getting in. A neighbor went this afternoon and said the line was quite long. Since the markets are limiting how many get in, I went very close to opening so I wouldn't have to wait.
>169 rabbitprincess: - I think if I could go all white or grey, I'd do it, but my sister has very salt & pepper hair and it's not a look I like. I think I'd look an awful lot like my mother. Right now I'd just be happy to get it cut. I'm thinking of trying it myself.
Our book club had our meeting today using Zoom. We had a test on Mon just to make sure we could sign in and see and hear each other. I couldn't remember how to get audio on today, but then I figured it out. It went pretty good. There were only 5 of us today, but we're hoping next month to have a few more. It was nice just to be able to hear voices instead of reading texts. The book for this month was The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah which I read a couple of years ago. (So no review) But we also decided to go see the movie which is supposed to come out on Dec 25.
>168 RidgewayGirl: - When I went a couple of weeks ago, I went mid-morning and had no problem getting in. A neighbor went this afternoon and said the line was quite long. Since the markets are limiting how many get in, I went very close to opening so I wouldn't have to wait.
>169 rabbitprincess: - I think if I could go all white or grey, I'd do it, but my sister has very salt & pepper hair and it's not a look I like. I think I'd look an awful lot like my mother. Right now I'd just be happy to get it cut. I'm thinking of trying it myself.
Our book club had our meeting today using Zoom. We had a test on Mon just to make sure we could sign in and see and hear each other. I couldn't remember how to get audio on today, but then I figured it out. It went pretty good. There were only 5 of us today, but we're hoping next month to have a few more. It was nice just to be able to hear voices instead of reading texts. The book for this month was The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah which I read a couple of years ago. (So no review) But we also decided to go see the movie which is supposed to come out on Dec 25.
171Jackie_K
>169 rabbitprincess: >170 dudes22: I've been going grey for ages (found my first ever one aged 27 - it has since been joined by many many more!). One of the reasons I love my hairdresser (who is in Glasgow - I like him so much I carry on going there for my haircut even though we moved to Stirling over 8 years ago!) is that he always raves about my grey hair, tells me I mustn't ever colour it, and talks about how all the youngsters are spending a fortune trying to get the same effect (I can still say salt *and* pepper, although the salt is now starting to dominate!). I've a bit of a Cruella de Vil stripe down one side, unfortunately it's mainly on the underside so I have to remember to brush it over to get the full effect.
172dudes22
>171 Jackie_K: - I have a couple of friends who are grey/white and if always say if I knew my hair would look like theirs, I would.
173Jackie_K
>172 dudes22: In all honesty, the main reason I don't colour my hair is laziness! I did colour it briefly in my 30s, but it was too much like hard work! At least I'm not in for any shocks during lockdown!
174clue
I think most people with dark hair turn a beautiful gray. My sister's is like that, a gray that isn't white but isn't quite gray either. I'm a redhead and when it changes it goes a yucky yellow. I fought coloring it for awhile because I had visions of that fake bright red on my head but eventually decided to try it. I learned my hairdresser is a great colorist, she colors the sides against my face just a little bit lighter than the rest and it looks very natural and is the red it has always been. Isn't it crazy how much time, thought and money, we spend on our hair during our lifetimes? Just think how many books we could have for the money we've spent on our hair!
175rabbitprincess
>170 dudes22: I agree, I'm supposed to get my hair cut after the Victoria Day long weekend and it doesn't seem as though that will happen if we're to continue physical distancing measures. I can get my other half to trim the back of the neck, but I don't think I trust him to do a full haircut to my satisfaction!
176dudes22
175 - oh no- I wouldn't be letting my husband use scissors on me! I suppose if I was inclined to grow my hair out, now would be the time.
177dudes22
Book 33: Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley
Category: Johannes Gutenberg - Father of Modern Printing
April Random - Showers and Flowers
I remember reading a lot of buzz when this book come out and putting it on a list to be read later. It's the story of a middle-aged gay man and his dachshund of 12 1/2 years. Lily is getting older and an octopus has appeared on her head. However, although the story succeeds in capturing the love this man has for his dog, it didn't work for me overall. There's a part in the middle that became a little too far-fetched.
Category: Johannes Gutenberg - Father of Modern Printing
April Random - Showers and Flowers
I remember reading a lot of buzz when this book come out and putting it on a list to be read later. It's the story of a middle-aged gay man and his dachshund of 12 1/2 years. Lily is getting older and an octopus has appeared on her head. However, although the story succeeds in capturing the love this man has for his dog, it didn't work for me overall. There's a part in the middle that became a little too far-fetched.
178dudes22
Book 34: The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
Category: Henri-Gustave Delivigne - Inventor of Bullets - book bullets (japaul22)
Alpha Kit - April "T"
Aiden Bishop wakes up one morning in a body which is not his at Blackheath. He finds out that he is going to wake up in a different body each day for 8 days and he's supposed to solve the mystery of who murders Evelyn Hardcastle before 11:00 on the eighth day or he will go back to day one and start all over. It's a somewhat convoluted story, as Aiden moves between people and days and times and different people on the same day. The are mysteries within mysteries. And it's long. I think if it had been a little more concise, I might have liked it better than I did. It was just so! convoluted.
Category: Henri-Gustave Delivigne - Inventor of Bullets - book bullets (japaul22)
Alpha Kit - April "T"
Aiden Bishop wakes up one morning in a body which is not his at Blackheath. He finds out that he is going to wake up in a different body each day for 8 days and he's supposed to solve the mystery of who murders Evelyn Hardcastle before 11:00 on the eighth day or he will go back to day one and start all over. It's a somewhat convoluted story, as Aiden moves between people and days and times and different people on the same day. The are mysteries within mysteries. And it's long. I think if it had been a little more concise, I might have liked it better than I did. It was just so! convoluted.
179VivienneR
>178 dudes22: I have Turton's book on the shelf. Going by your comments I'm not sure if it will be a success with me. We'll see (when I eventually get around to it).
180lkernagh
>178 dudes22: - I was thinking about reading that one for the SFFKIT - Time Travel. Now I am kind of glad I didn't. I am not really in the mood for "convoluted" at the moment. Great review!
181rabbitprincess
>178 dudes22: I am going to keep my eye out for a secondhand copy of this one. Borrowed it from the library and was overwhelmed by the size of it!
182dudes22
>179 VivienneR: - I hate saying I don't like a book and maybe turning someone away from something they might like. Could just be time and place.
>180 lkernagh: - Thanks! I'm sure I lost track of some things along the way.
>181 rabbitprincess: - Yes - I kept skipping over it because of the size too.
>180 lkernagh: - Thanks! I'm sure I lost track of some things along the way.
>181 rabbitprincess: - Yes - I kept skipping over it because of the size too.
183dudes22
Book 35: The Gardner Heist: The True Story of the World's Largest Unsolved Art Theft by Ulrich Boser
Category: Melvil Dewey - Father of the Dewey Decimal Sytem - Non-Fiction
April Non-Fiction: Law and Order
BINGO Block: Based on an Historical Event
On March 18, 1990, two men dressed as policemen went to the side entrance of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, Ma. They identify themselves as police and say they’d like to come in as there was a disturbance in the courtyard. They tied up the guards and manage to steal a dozen Masterpieces.
This book was published in 2009 and, almost 20 years after, the theft had still not been solved and the paintings were never recovered. And now it’s 2020 and the mystery is still not solved. Last June a group of us took the train up to Boston to visit the Boston Rose Garden and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Isabella Gardner amassed her collection of artwork in the late 19th century. She bought a plot of land in Boston and constructed a four-story house in a Venetian palazzo style with a courtyard surrounded by the house. She lived on the fourth floor and used the bottom three floors as a museum. When she passed away in 1924, her will stipulated that no changes could be made to the museum – if there were, the collection would have to be sold by the trustees and the money given to Harvard University. And so, when visiting the museum there are empty frames hanging on the wall where the original stolen artwork was hanging. It’s still somewhat amazing the amount of all kinds of art that she collected.
The book explores a lot of the theories and investigations that have taken place over the years in trying to solve the mystery. The author tried to recreate and take off from the investigation of Henry Smith who was basically an insurance investigator. Because it’s Boston, there were always some theories that the Mob (capital M) was somehow involved. It also delves into some generalities about museums – security, insurance, other thefts.
(There are pictures, too)
Side Note: I read a fiction book earlier this year The Flinck Connection by Estelle Ryan, which is part of a series, and which had a premise that some of the paintings had been discovered.
Category: Melvil Dewey - Father of the Dewey Decimal Sytem - Non-Fiction
April Non-Fiction: Law and Order
BINGO Block: Based on an Historical Event
On March 18, 1990, two men dressed as policemen went to the side entrance of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, Ma. They identify themselves as police and say they’d like to come in as there was a disturbance in the courtyard. They tied up the guards and manage to steal a dozen Masterpieces.
This book was published in 2009 and, almost 20 years after, the theft had still not been solved and the paintings were never recovered. And now it’s 2020 and the mystery is still not solved. Last June a group of us took the train up to Boston to visit the Boston Rose Garden and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Isabella Gardner amassed her collection of artwork in the late 19th century. She bought a plot of land in Boston and constructed a four-story house in a Venetian palazzo style with a courtyard surrounded by the house. She lived on the fourth floor and used the bottom three floors as a museum. When she passed away in 1924, her will stipulated that no changes could be made to the museum – if there were, the collection would have to be sold by the trustees and the money given to Harvard University. And so, when visiting the museum there are empty frames hanging on the wall where the original stolen artwork was hanging. It’s still somewhat amazing the amount of all kinds of art that she collected.
The book explores a lot of the theories and investigations that have taken place over the years in trying to solve the mystery. The author tried to recreate and take off from the investigation of Henry Smith who was basically an insurance investigator. Because it’s Boston, there were always some theories that the Mob (capital M) was somehow involved. It also delves into some generalities about museums – security, insurance, other thefts.
(There are pictures, too)
Side Note: I read a fiction book earlier this year The Flinck Connection by Estelle Ryan, which is part of a series, and which had a premise that some of the paintings had been discovered.
184dudes22
I'm pretty sure I won't finish another book today, so I'm going to post my April reading. Didn't get as much read as I had hoped. I have a lot planned for May so I need to get going.
Apr Recap:
Books Read - 5
Books off TBR – 4
Books from Library – 1
Books added to TBR – 1
Pages read: 1561 (11,950 total)
Best Book: The Gardner Heist by Ulrich Boser
Least Liked: The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
Apr Recap:
Books Read - 5
Books off TBR – 4
Books from Library – 1
Books added to TBR – 1
Pages read: 1561 (11,950 total)
Best Book: The Gardner Heist by Ulrich Boser
Least Liked: The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
185ReneeMarie
>118 dudes22: The Jeremy Fink book is one I want to read. Based on the description, you may also like one I read recently The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart (his stories have a dark aspect, but they're really good; plus, there's a bus involved :-) and one that I LOVED as a child, Key to the Treasure by Peggy Parish. The second title is a younger reading level than the first.
>179 VivienneR: What I'll say about The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Turton is that it was a staff recommendation at the bookstore where I work. And in 25 years I've never seen another book (short of a humongous bestseller like the Harry Potter series) that had as wide a readership among the booksellers. I enjoyed it.
>179 VivienneR: What I'll say about The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Turton is that it was a staff recommendation at the bookstore where I work. And in 25 years I've never seen another book (short of a humongous bestseller like the Harry Potter series) that had as wide a readership among the booksellers. I enjoyed it.
186dudes22
>185 ReneeMarie: - That looks like a book I would like, Renee. I'm adding it to my recommended list.
187dudes22
Book 36: The Library at the Edge of the World by Felicity Hayes-McCoy
Category: Charles Dickens - Father of Serial Publishing - Series
BINGO Block: Book with Library or thing in the title
Hanna Casey has returned to Lissbeg, Ireland, a small Irish town that she grew up in. Now she's the librarian in this town and living with her mother. She fears that she may be the talk of the town and so she puts up walls and isn't very friendly. How she changes and helps facilitate change in the community makes for a good story in this book which is the first in a series about the Farrahan Peninsula. Hanna is not a very likeable character in the beginning but she grew on me as the story continued.
Category: Charles Dickens - Father of Serial Publishing - Series
BINGO Block: Book with Library or thing in the title
Hanna Casey has returned to Lissbeg, Ireland, a small Irish town that she grew up in. Now she's the librarian in this town and living with her mother. She fears that she may be the talk of the town and so she puts up walls and isn't very friendly. How she changes and helps facilitate change in the community makes for a good story in this book which is the first in a series about the Farrahan Peninsula. Hanna is not a very likeable character in the beginning but she grew on me as the story continued.
188JayneCM
>183 dudes22: A BB for me!
189dudes22
>188 JayneCM: - I hope you enjoy it. I lent it to a friend who has recently ( couple of years ago) moved to RI from Ohio and she admitted that she quit half-way through. I could see how it can seem like chasing the same leads over and over.
190Tess_W
>183 dudes22: a BB for me!
191dudes22
>190 Tess_W: - Hope you like it, Tess.
192dudes22
Book 37: Sold on a Monday: A Novel by Kristina McMorris
Category: Johannes Guttenberg - Inventor of the printing press - general fiction
Set in the Depression, Ellis Reed, a news reporter, is on his way to an assignment when he sees a farmhouse with two children in front and a sign which reads "2 children for sale". When the picture is accidentally destroyed before the article is printed and Ellis goes back to take another, the family is gone. He ends up staging the photo with 2 children who live on a farm across the street and his article gets him off the job of society reporter and into the "real" news reporting part of the paper. But he is haunted by what he did and when he goes back to deliver donations that have been sent to the paper and the family is gone, he decides to find out what happened to them.
I read this for my book club this month. I found the premise similar to Orphan Train which I read a couple of years ago. This was also based on a photo that really appeared in a newspaper.
Category: Johannes Guttenberg - Inventor of the printing press - general fiction
Set in the Depression, Ellis Reed, a news reporter, is on his way to an assignment when he sees a farmhouse with two children in front and a sign which reads "2 children for sale". When the picture is accidentally destroyed before the article is printed and Ellis goes back to take another, the family is gone. He ends up staging the photo with 2 children who live on a farm across the street and his article gets him off the job of society reporter and into the "real" news reporting part of the paper. But he is haunted by what he did and when he goes back to deliver donations that have been sent to the paper and the family is gone, he decides to find out what happened to them.
I read this for my book club this month. I found the premise similar to Orphan Train which I read a couple of years ago. This was also based on a photo that really appeared in a newspaper.
193lkernagh
>183 dudes22: - I am a sucker for books about art heists and thank you for mentioning The Flinck Connection. I like to try and pair books and this looks like a good pairing for reading. I just need to finish my Sebastian St. Cyr series binge first. ;-)
194dudes22
>193 lkernagh: - I see you've already read the first one in that series so you'll be familiar with the characters even though there are a few things and references that you might not catch if you read it out of order.
195dudes22
Book 38: The Grass is Singing by Doris Lessing
Category: Alfred Noble - Inventor of Dynamite - Nobel Prize Winners - 2007
May Alpha Kit: "L"
Bingo Block - Found in a Legacy Library (Karen Blixen)
Doris Lessing was a British-Rhodesian writer who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2007. In awarding her the prize, the Swedish Academy described her as “that epicist of the female experience, who with scepticism, fire and visionary power has subjected a divided civilization to scrutiny.”
This was Doris Lessing’s debut novel and is the story of one woman’s descent into madness. The novel takes place in Rhodesia after the second world war and reflects the racism that was prevalent at that time. That also made it a difficult and disturbing read.
The story begins with the murder of Mary and then travels back to her beginnings and comes forward again to the murder. Most of the story takes place on the farm she goes to when she marries Dick. Dick’s interest is only the farm and Mary spends most of her time alone except for one house-servant. She is afraid of the natives, intractable in her opinions and thoughts, and lives mostly within her mind. It’s a great character study but also sad and disturbing.
Category: Alfred Noble - Inventor of Dynamite - Nobel Prize Winners - 2007
May Alpha Kit: "L"
Bingo Block - Found in a Legacy Library (Karen Blixen)
Doris Lessing was a British-Rhodesian writer who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2007. In awarding her the prize, the Swedish Academy described her as “that epicist of the female experience, who with scepticism, fire and visionary power has subjected a divided civilization to scrutiny.”
This was Doris Lessing’s debut novel and is the story of one woman’s descent into madness. The novel takes place in Rhodesia after the second world war and reflects the racism that was prevalent at that time. That also made it a difficult and disturbing read.
The story begins with the murder of Mary and then travels back to her beginnings and comes forward again to the murder. Most of the story takes place on the farm she goes to when she marries Dick. Dick’s interest is only the farm and Mary spends most of her time alone except for one house-servant. She is afraid of the natives, intractable in her opinions and thoughts, and lives mostly within her mind. It’s a great character study but also sad and disturbing.
196thornton37814
>195 dudes22: That one is in a TBR pile at home.
197Tess_W
>195 dudes22: a BB for me!
198dudes22
>196 thornton37814: - >197 Tess_W: - The writing is really excellent even if the attitudes in the book are disturbing. (I keep coming back to that word)
199dudes22
Book 39: A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny
Category: Charles Dickens - Father of Serial Publishing - Series
May Alpha Kit : P
This may be my favorite series ever. Inspector Gamache has come out of retirement to take over the running of the Surete Academy, which trains young men and women to enter the Canadian police. I hesitate to say things that would give away things for people who have not yet started the series. So - there is a murder and a few other mysteries which are solved. And we see a little more into Inspector Gamache's past.
Category: Charles Dickens - Father of Serial Publishing - Series
May Alpha Kit : P
This may be my favorite series ever. Inspector Gamache has come out of retirement to take over the running of the Surete Academy, which trains young men and women to enter the Canadian police. I hesitate to say things that would give away things for people who have not yet started the series. So - there is a murder and a few other mysteries which are solved. And we see a little more into Inspector Gamache's past.
200Tess_W
>198 dudes22: being the author is of partially Rhodesian descent and also the time period, I'm sure I know which attitudes you reference. However, being a historian, I just look at it as a time period, period. For the day, in Rhodesia, I'm sure the "attitude" was common as it was in the rest of the world to some lesser or greater degree. Each timer period has had its "attitudes." I wonder what reader in 50 years will think of attitudes in the 2020's? How will they describe us? I bet we would be surprised!
201dudes22
>200 Tess_W: - I agree. I felt I should mention it, though, because I remember a book discussion where there was much made of the fact that the "N" word was used in the book. I too view it as a time-and-place thing. History is what history is.
202Tess_W
>201 dudes22: Love it--history is what history is!
203dudes22
Book 40: The Saffron Kitchen by Yasmin Crowther
Category: Sir George Cayley - A Father of Aviation - books by foreign authors or in foreign lands
May Random Cat: Believe in Your Shelf - July, 2009
Maryam Mazar was brought up in Iran before the Revolution, but left as a young woman and has returned only infrequently over the years. She lives in England with her husband and daughter but has never quite been comfortable there. She frequently seemed to blank out and retreat into herself and talked little about her life there. When her last sister dies and her nephew comes to live with them, it stirs up lots of old feelings and memories. When she indirectly causes her daughter to have a miscarriage, she decides to return to Iran for a visit.
The book is mostly about how she grew up in Iran and what her life was like Then. I never really connected with her and found the story just so-so.
Category: Sir George Cayley - A Father of Aviation - books by foreign authors or in foreign lands
May Random Cat: Believe in Your Shelf - July, 2009
Maryam Mazar was brought up in Iran before the Revolution, but left as a young woman and has returned only infrequently over the years. She lives in England with her husband and daughter but has never quite been comfortable there. She frequently seemed to blank out and retreat into herself and talked little about her life there. When her last sister dies and her nephew comes to live with them, it stirs up lots of old feelings and memories. When she indirectly causes her daughter to have a miscarriage, she decides to return to Iran for a visit.
The book is mostly about how she grew up in Iran and what her life was like Then. I never really connected with her and found the story just so-so.
204dudes22
Book 40: Valentine by Elizabeth Wetmore
Category: Johannes Gutenberg - Father of the Printing Press - Fiction
Bingo Block: Published in 2020
Set in western Texas during the oil boom of the mid 1970s, this debut novel opens with the assault of a 14 year-old Mexican girl. When Gloria stumbles to the door of Mary Rose's house after being raped and assaulted all night long, Mary Rose doesn't hesitate to take her in and protect her even though this makes her a piranha; at least to the men in town.
The novel tells the stories of the women of Odessa and how the assault affects them, even if only peripherally. The characters are each unique in their own way and the descriptions of the Texas heat and landscape are wonderful.
I look forward to what this author will write next.
Category: Johannes Gutenberg - Father of the Printing Press - Fiction
Bingo Block: Published in 2020
Set in western Texas during the oil boom of the mid 1970s, this debut novel opens with the assault of a 14 year-old Mexican girl. When Gloria stumbles to the door of Mary Rose's house after being raped and assaulted all night long, Mary Rose doesn't hesitate to take her in and protect her even though this makes her a piranha; at least to the men in town.
The novel tells the stories of the women of Odessa and how the assault affects them, even if only peripherally. The characters are each unique in their own way and the descriptions of the Texas heat and landscape are wonderful.
I look forward to what this author will write next.
205mathgirl40
>199 dudes22: This was definitely a good one! I'm also a huge fan of the Armand Gamache series and can't wait for the next one, which is supposed to be released in September.
206dudes22
>205 mathgirl40: - As you can see, Paulina, I'm not quite caught up yet. Part of me wants to rush through them and the other wants to never catch up so I don't have to wait. I suppose I could always reread. I think I would enjoy the first book even more now that I'm familiar with the characters.
207RidgewayGirl
>204 dudes22: I'm making note of this one. Thanks for a good review!
208dudes22
>207 RidgewayGirl: - I think you might like it, Kay. And I know you'll write a much better review than that. You have a knack I don't have.
This topic was continued by Betty (dudes22) is Looking for a Father - Part 2.
