Lori's (thornton37814) Cat-Filled 2020 Category Challenge

(L-R: Sherlock, Mr. B, and Barney)

I'm simplifying my challenge. As the years increase past the original 9-9-9 or 10-10 challenges, the amount of categories is just too unwieldy. I'm going back to 10 categories this year. I'll also name my abandoned reads category. I will track journal and magazine articles read as well as book chapters or essays, but I will not count those toward my overall total.

This year's theme is cats. I randomly selected the cat for each category name.

1. Maine Coon - Mysteries
2. Siamese - Historical Fiction
3. Norwegian Forest - Other Fiction & Literature
4. Persian - History & Genealogy
5. Scottish Fold - Travel
6. Ragamuffin - Food & Drink
7. American Shorthair / Tabby - Cats
8. Russian Blue - Poetry
9. Ragdoll - Juvenile/YA
10. Bengal - Other Non-Fiction

Shelter Cats = Abandoned Reads

Image credit: Circe Denyer, "Maine Coon Cat," Public Domain Pictures (https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?image=158855&picture=maine-coon-cat : accessed 7 Dec 2019). CC0

Category 1: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

1. Facets of Death by Michael Stanley - completed 1 January 2020
2. Much Ado About Nutmeg by Sarah Fox - completed 1 January 2020
3. Garden of Lamentations by Deborah Crombie - completed 2 January 2020
4. Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers - completed 5 January 2020
5. Off the Grid by John Hunt - completed 6 January 2020
6. Doctored Evidence by Donna Leon - completed 13 January 2020
7. Death Finds a Way by Lorine McGinnis Schulze - completed 17 January 2020
8. She Lies in Wait by Gytha Lodge - completed 20 January 2020
9. The Asylum by Nathan Dylan Goodwin - completed 21 January 2020
10. Clue by Paul Allor and Nelson Daniel; lettered by Neil Uyetake and Gilberto Lazcano - completed 24 January 2020
11. The Witch Elm by Tana French - completed 26 January 2020
12. The St. Valentine's Day Cookie Massacre by Elisabeth Crabtree - completed 30 January 2020
13. Borrowed Crime by Laurie Cass - completed 3 February 2020
14. The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill - completed 3 February 2020
15. File M for Murder by Miranda James - completed 7 February 2020
16. Nighttime Is My Time by Mary Higgins Clark - completed 7 February 2020
17. Blood from a Stone by Donna Leon - completed 13 February 2020
18. Still Waters by Viveca Sten - completed 13 February 2020
19. Death by Chocolate Frosted Doughnut by Sarah Graves - completed 15 February 2020
20. Corned Beef and Casualties by Lynn Cahoon - completed 15 February 2020
21. Coconut Layer Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke - completed 18 February 2020
22. Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson - completed 22 February 2020
23. English Tea Murder by Leslie Meier - completed 24 February 2020
24. Hidden Depths by Ann Cleeves - completed 24 February 2020
25. British Manor Murder by Leslie Meier - completed 25 February 2020
26. Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers - completed 29 February 2020
27. Rounding the Mark by Andrea Camilleri - completed 1 March 2020
28. Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions by Mario Giordano - completed 1 March 2020

Image credit: Andreas Lischa (aka webandi), "Siamese Cat," 2017, Pixabay ( https://pixabay.com/photos/cat-siamese-cat-fur-kitten-2068462/ : accessed 7 Dec 2019). Pixabay License. Free for commercial use. No attribution required.

Category 2: Siamese (Historical Fiction)

1. A Killer in King's Cove by Iona Whishaw - completed 12 January 2020
2. The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro - completed 24 January 2020
3. Beheld by TaraShea Nesbit - completed 25 January 2020
4. The Thief of Auschwitz by Jon Clinch - completed 30 January 2020

Image credit: Bfe, "Norwegische Waldkatze," 2005, Wikimedia Commons ( https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Norwegian_forest_cat.jpg : accessed 7 Dec 2019). CC BY-SA 3.0.

Category 3: Norwegian Forest (Other Fiction & Literature)

1. Christmas Camp by Karen Schaler - completed 4 January 2020
2. Two Steps Forward by Suzanne Woods Fisher - completed 9 January 2020
3. Waterland by Graham Swift - completed 14 January 2020
4. Christmas Days: 12 Stories and 12 Feasts for 12 Days by Jeanette Winterson - completed 20 January 2020
5. Nightwoods by Charles Frazier - completed 22 January 2020
6. An Incomplete Obituary for Damien Stewart Wilson by Sean Rose - completed 23 January 2020
7. A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare - completed 5 February 2020
8. Chocolat by Joanne Harris - completed 17 February 2020

Image credit: Magnus Brath, "Grey Persian Cat - Chilerito," 2011, Flickr (https://www.flickr.com/photos/magnusbrath/5339239144 : accessed 7 Dec 2019). CC BY 2.0.

Category 4: Persian - History & Genealogy

1. Triangle: The Fire that Changed America by David Von Drehle - completed 12 January 2020
2. Generations and Change: Genealogical Perspectives in Social History edited by Robert M. Taylor, Jr. and Ralph J. Crandall- completed 21 January 2020
3. Stepping Into Rural Wisconsin: Grandpa Charly's Life Vignettes, from Prussia to the Midwest by Edward J. Kuehn and Linda T. Ruggeri - completed 28 January 2020
4. Putting Flesh on the Bones: Bringing Your Ancestors to Life by Mark W. Swarthout - completed 9 February 2020
5. Yorkshire: A Story of Invasion, Uprising and Conflict by Paul C. Levitt - completed 14 February 2020
6. Branching Out: How to Research Your Family's History by Simon Fowler - completed 22 February 2020
7. Seasoned by Salt: A Historical Album of the Outer Banks by Rodney Barfield - completed 25 February 2020
8. The History of England: From the Reign of Henry the 4th to the Death of Charles the 1st by Jane Austen - completed 1 March 2020
9. The Wright Brothers by David McCullough - completed 3 March 2020

Image credit: Dr. LP9339, "Sweetie, the Sweetest Scottish Fold," 2018, Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sweetie_Scottish_fold.jpg : accessed 7 Dec 2019). CC BY-SA 4.0.

Category 5: Scottish Fold - Travel

1. The Hidden Ways: Scotland's Forgotten Roads by Alistair Moffat - completed 16 January 2020
2. Romney Marsh: Eighth Wonder of the World by Roderick Leyland - completed 9 February 2020
3. Speaking Chileno: A Guide to Spanish from Chile by Jared Romey - completed 9 February 2020
4. Journey to the Alcarria: Travels Through the Spanish Countryside by Camilo José Cela - completed 16 February 2020
5. NC 12: Gateway to the Outer Banks by Dawson Carr - completed 4 March 2020

Image credit: Togle1, "Ragamuffin Kitten from Ragamuffin Cat World," 2016, Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ragamuffin_kitten-GRACIE.png : accessed 7 Dec 2019). CC BY-SA 4.0.

Category 6: Ragamuffin - Food & Drink

1. The Art of Uzbek Cooking by Lynn Visson - completed 2 January 2020
2. The Little Berlin Cookbook by Rose Marie Schulze - completed 5 January 2020
3. Laurel Mercantile Co.: Recipes & Stories (vol. 1) edited by Erin Napier - completed 7 January 2020
4. Perfect Pie and Pastry Recipes: Homemade Dessert Pies Made Easy Cookbook by Katherine Hupp - completed 3 February 2020
5. Traditional Recipes of Reunion Island by Yohann Maillot - completed 9 February 2020
6. Circle of Friends Cookbook: 25 Mac & Cheese Recipes by Gooseberry Patch - completed 22 February 2020

Image credit: "Orange Tabby Cat," Pxfuel (https://www.pxfuel.com/en/free-photo-ozxro : accessed 7 Dec 2019). CC0 1.0.

Category 7: American Shorthair/Tabby - Cats

1. Good Mews: Inspirational Stories for Cat Lovers by Kitty Chappell - completed 23 January 2020
2. Flubby Is Not a Good Pet by J. E. Morris - completed 15 February 2020

Image credit: Vereskaya, "Russian Blue Male Cat," 2009, Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Russian_Blue_cat.jpg : accessed 7 Dec 2019). CC BY-SA 3.0.

Category 8: Russian Blue - Poetry

1. Stag's Leap by Sharon Olds - completed 27 January 2020
2. Fidelity: Poems by Grace Paley - completed 15 February 2020
3. Rainbows Are Made: Poems by Carl Sandburg - completed 26 February 2020

Image credit: Peter Jo, "Ragdoll Cat," 2018, Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/photos/cat-animal-ragdolls-ragdoll-cat-4008189/ : accessed 7 Dec 2019). Pixabay License. Free for commercial use. No attribution required.

Category 9: Ragdoll - Juvenile & YA

1. Keep Calm and Carry On, Children by Sharon K. Mayhew - completed 6 January 2020
2. Julio Bunny Goes to the Library by Nicoletta Costa - completed 4 February 2020

Image credit: V. Sauvaget, "Brown Spotted Tabby Bengal Cat," 2007, Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brown_spotted_tabby_bengal_cat.jpg : accessed 7 Dec 2019). CC BY-SA 3.0.

Category 10. Bengal - Other Non-Fiction

1. Bible Personalities: A Treasury of Insights for Personal Growth and Ministry by Warren W. Wiersbe - completed 7 January 2020
2. An Unhurried Life: Following Jesus' Rhythms of Work and Rest by Alan Fadling - completed 17 January 2020
3. Be Free: Exchange Legalism for True Spirituality by Warren W. Wiersbe - completed 27 January 2020
4. Great Possessions: An Amish Farmer's Journal by David Kline - completed 28 January 2020
5. Evernote: Your Second Brain by James Keaton - completed 9 February 2020
6. Luke: The Gospel of Amazement by Michael Card - completed 17 February 2020
7. The Enchanted Hour: The Miraculous Power of Reading Aloud in the Age of Distraction by Meghan Cox Gurdon - completed 21 February 2020
8. The Possibility of Prayer: Finding Stillness with God in a Restless World by John Starke - completed 27 February 2020

Image credit: Mendocino County Animal Care Service, "Shelter Cats Looking for a Home in Mendocino County," 2011, Flickr ( https://www.flickr.com/photos/animalcareservices/5371946659/in/photostream/ : accessed 7 Dec 2019). CC BY 2.0.

Shelter Cats - Abandoned Reads

1. Ribbon of Sand: The Amazing Conversion of the Ocean and the Outer Banks by John Alexander and James D. Lazell - abandoned 25 February 2020
2. A Body in the Bookshop by Helen Cox - abandoned 3 March 2020

Magazine and Journal Articles Read

1.

Book Chapters and Essays Read

1.

I've never tried the BINGODOG before. I think I'll hit a lot of these during the year although one or two may be difficult for me. (I'm not a huge fan of sci-fi so the "not on earth" may be hard. However, I do think I've got a non-fiction read planned that will hit that square.) Books here will be duplicated from categories above.



1. File M for Murder by Miranda James
2.
3. An Incomplete Obituary for Damien Stewart Wilson by Sean Rose
4.
5.
6.
7. The Thief of Auschwitz by Jon Clinch
8. Death Finds a Way by Lorine McGinnis Schulze
9.
10.
11. Corned Beef and Casualties by Lynn Cahoon
12.
13. The Art of Uzbek Cooking by Lynn Visson (GeoCAT)
14.
15. Julio Bunny Goes to the Library by Nicoletta Costa
16. The Little Berlin Cookbook by Rose Marie Schulze (Berlin native)
17. The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill
18. A Killer in King's Cove by Iona Whishaw
19.
20.
21.
22.
23. Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers (Arthur Ransome's Legacy Library)
24. Much Ado About Nutmeg by Sarah Fox
25. Keep Calm and Carry On, Children by Sharon K. Mayhew (World War II evacuation of children from London)

You had me at CATS. Thanks for curating such great cat pix, and I look forward to following along!

I love the cat theme as I am very much a cat person.

Cats all the way! It just seems that reading and cats go together!

I love the Bengal. My son's teacher brought her Ragdoll kittens to school the other day - she breeds them. They are so adorable!

>16 NinieB: Thanks. I love my fur babies.

>17 Zozette: I'm glad the theme strikes a chord.

>18 JayneCM: How fun to bring kittens to school!

Lovely cats, all of them. Have a great reading year!

Awwww! Love all the cat photos, but especially the one of your boys! :)

>20 MissWatson: Thanks. I'm hoping for a great year.

>21 rabbitprincess: I like the one of my boys best too!

So many beautiful cats! Great to see you all set up and ready for 2020, Lori.

You found some beautiful cats to decorate your thread!

Nice cat pictures, but arghh! I'm deathly allergic, even went into shock once and they had to perform a tracheotomy!

>23 DeltaQueen50: Meow!

>24 hailelib: I did, especially those three at the top!

>25 Tess_W: I hear they are coming up with ways to mitigate cat allergies now, but yours sounds more extreme than many.

Glad to see you here again. Have you starred. Happy reading!

Very nice pics! Good luck with your challenge.

>27 dudes22: Thanks, Betty!

>28 majkia: Glad you enjoyed them, Jean!

The moderator of the Genealogy@LT Group appears to no longer be active on LibraryThing. It's been several years since the person posted anything. In an effort to resuscitate the group, I posed a question there about Christmas genealogy wishes. If you are a member of the group, I invite you to help me resuscitate it. If you are interested in genealogy, I invite you to join us over there. I have another question up my sleeve to be introduced closer to New Year's Day, but I'd love to see this group active!

Love the cat pictures - especially the orange tabby one. I have a soft spot in my heart for them since the cat we had when I was growing up was one.

Happy reading!

>31 LittleTaiko: I hunted hard to find an orange tabby unless I just used one of Barney. I was tempted to do that, but I didn't want to single him out from his brothers. I did know I wanted a photo of an orange tabby there though.

KITTIES!!!!! I love the pictures, especially of your boys. I had a ragdoll cat up until several years ago. She was a tiny 4.5 pound ball of fluff with no teeth who was absolutely the boss of her much larger brothers.

What beautiful cats. I think I'd be frozen to the spot if I was actually stared at by that Siamese with the piercing blue eyes.

>33 casvelyn: Ragdolls are cute.

>34 Jackie_K: I looked at several Siamese photos, but that one won me over too!

I've never tried the BingoDOG, but I think I can hit most of the squares, so I posted it in my "extra" spot up top.

>36 thornton37814: I really enjoy the Bingo Dog, Lori. It's one that you work at your own pace and I have found that it fills up fairly easily. About halfway through the year, I start to actually look for books that will fit. Hope it works for you.

>37 DeltaQueen50: Thanks.

>36 thornton37814: I am also doing my first BingoDog and am enthusiastically looking for books to fit. Happy searching!

>39 pamelad: I suspect most will be easy to fill, but there are a couple that may be harder. The specific older year ones will difficult in some ways and not in others.

>40 This-n-That: I'll see how it goes. In the past, there were some categories I knew I would never deliberately seek a book to fill (far various reasons). I honestly never looked at the cards last year. I knew I was not going to do any challenges.

>42 This-n-That: Sounds like a good plan.

Love the cats and the categories, although I'm still trying to figure out why you wouldn't choose tabbies for the food category - they choose food all the time. =^..^=

>44 BookLizard: I think I did tabbies on cats because mine are tabbies.

I love all your cat pictures! They are so pretty, with their own unique facial features. I bet their personalities are really interesting too! Good luck with the challenges this year too:-)

>46 seascape: Thanks. It was fun locating cat pictures!

Love the pictures of the cats, especially your own cats.

I have found I enjoy reading for the BingoDOG more than for the CATS since one can read something that fills a square at any time of the year. I often find that reading for bookclubs, CATS, adult education courses, etc. fills a square relatively early in the year. Although I try to use books from my tbr collection for BingoDOG, I usually find I also need to use library books, and occasionally buy a book with the aim of filling a square. Also, as >42 This-n-That: states, you could just try to do a line or two of the bingo card -- something I did the first time I played.

Have fun reading this year.

>48 sallylou61: Thanks. Just prefer cats to dogs! Meow! (Sherlock typed that.)

Great "Read Around the World" program for Knox County (Tennessee) students: https://www.wbir.com/article/news/local/as-seen-on-tv/read-city-usa-launching-ne...

Cats for our CATegory challenges - the perfect fit! And you have chosen adorable pictures. Enjoy your reading, and have fun with your first Bingo!

>51 Chrischi_HH: Thanks!

2019 Year-End Meme:

Describe yourself: The Family Tree Problem Solver

Describe how you feel: Plum Tea Crazy

Describe where you currently live: Glass Houses

Your favorite time of day is: The Darkness

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: The Library at the Edge of the World

Your favorite form of transportation: The Long Flight Home

Your best friend is: Sworn to Silence

You and your friends are: The Chosen

What’s the weather like: The Dry

You fear: Wild Fire

What is the best advice you have to give: Grow Your Own Herbs

Thought for the day: The Grave's a Fine and Private Place

How you would like to die: Assaulted Caramel

Your soul’s present condition: A Sea of Troubles

What is life for you: Tracing Your Ancestors in Lunatic Asylums

It's always a treat to see a picture of your boys!

>54 RidgewayGirl: They were quite photogenic for me the other day so I'll have some good ones to use on the next thread!

Top reads of 2019:

5 stars

The Chosen by Chaim Potok
Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver by Mary Oliver

5 star Children's Literature

Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall
Miss Mink: Life Lessons for a Cat Countess by Janet Hill
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: The Poetry of Mister Rogers by Fred Rogers and Josie Carey; illustrated by Luke Flowers
The Night of His Birth by Katherine Paterson; illustrated by Lisa Aisato
Like a Bird: The Art of the American Slave Song by Cynthia Grady; illustrated by Michele Wood

5 star Cooking and Crafts

My Little Crocheted Christmas: 25 Projects to Make the Season Bright by Doerthe Eisterlehner
Sallie Ann Robinson's Kitchen: Food & Family Lore from the Lowcountry by Sallie Ann Robinson

4.5 stars

I Could Pee on This, And Other Poems by Cats by Francesco Marciuliano

4.5 stars Children's Literature

Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora

Worst of 2019:

1 star

Dying Runs in My Family by Guy Conner
Going Places: A Motor Touring Guide to Wales
What's That Word? Vocabulary Quizzes by Douglas Grey

Book 1. Facets of Death by Michael Stanley

Date Completed: 1 January 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: In this prequel to Kubu Bengu series, a heist at the world's largest diamond mine sends the straight-out-of-the-university Bengu and CID colleagues into investigation mode, especially when the robbers are killed but the diamonds remain missing. Suspicion falls to a local witch doctor, but the young officer comes up with a plan to solve the case. Will he succeed or fail? The novel felt disjointed to me because the chapters were so short. Ultimately the mystery itself was gratifying, but the novel's flow stymied by the writing. I received an advance review electronic copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book 2. Much Ado About Nutmeg by Sarah Fox

Date Completed: 1 January 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: When a man goes overboard on a yacht and a vicious sports writer's body emerges from the same waters, Marley McKinney, the owner of Flip Side, a pancake house in Wildwood Cove, begins pursuing the case. In spite of reminders from the sheriff about dangers of her involvement, she questions people she encounters who are in town for the Golden Oldies Games. Marley prepares for her wedding with Brett as she runs her business and pokes her nose into the investigation. Although I did not read the previous five installments, I really enjoyed the setting and the central characters for this series. I want to go back and read the earlier installments. It's a perfect read for when you need something on the cozy side. I received an advance electronic copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wonderful theme! Cats, who would have thought of it?

I'll look forward to seeing some photos of your boys. We can never have too many cat photos.

And 2 books already.

Lovely to see the three furkids as the opening picture to your 2020 thread, Lori! I am always amazed whenever I see a picture of a Scottish Fold cat. Those ears!

Look at you go... two books read and it is only Jan 2. ;-)

>59 VivienneR: I've got some ready to go atop the next thread!

>60 hailelib: About to add the third--an audiobook I completed on the drive home.

>61 lkernagh: Scottish folds are cute. Several years ago I read a book about a man who took his Scottish fold cat with him everywhere.

3. Garden of Lamentations by Deborah Crombie

Date Completed: 2 January 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Gemma at the request of the investigating officer works outside her own beat on a case in which a nanny is found murdered in a garden. She became involved because her good friend was a friend of the woman employing the nanny. This leaves Melody in charge at their precinct. When Chief Supt. Dennis Childs is critically injured following a meeting with Duncan in which he told Duncan the reason he transferred him before going to Singapore for medical treatment was to keep him safe, Duncan begins to piece together events of the last few investigations. He isn't certain who he can trust so he keeps much to himself until he needs Doug's assistance. He fears he could be a target. Gemma feels Duncan is shutting her out as he tries to protect her and their children by keeping the investigation quiet. Duncan, with the help of Doug and Melody, slowly pieces together the corruption case, but they must figure out how to blow it open without ending up as victims. Both threads would make excellent separate installments. The two together is almost too much of a good thing. I listened to the audio version read by Gerard Doyle.

Book 4. The Art of Uzbek Cooking by Lynn Visson

Date Completed: 2 January 2020

Category: Ragamuffin (Food & Drink)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: This installment in Hippocrene's International Cookbooks series focuses on Uzbekistan's cuisine. Their cuisine's influences come from many Asian countries as well as Russia. The author suggests New York and Seattle as cities where one can sample Uzbek cuisine. While I wouldn't mind sampling some dishes in the volume, none struck me as things I really wanted to make. The desserts looked tastiest to me. The book needs photographs to accompany the dishes in the unfamiliar cuisine as well as to accompany the information on typical Uzbek life and the place of food in the culture. The font used seemed to be an older font with less appeal to modern readers.

I saw this one on Cheli's thread:

Did you have guests during the holidays, Answer the questions with titles of books you read in 2019

What would you call the event? A Christmas Memory

How did they find their way? Ship of Fools

How did they know they'd arrived? The Liar in the Library

Any special activities? Whimsical Cross-Stitch

Did your guests stay over? Iced Inn

Were there servants to help? Little Women

Was there turn down service? Knot on Your Life

How were the guests greeted? Homemade Root Beer, Soda, and Pop

Was dinner held for late comers? Only For You

And dinner was? Eggs on Ice

Afterward? Chats with Cats

Looks like Mr. B may have designs on my 2019 SantaThing haul:

Ooh, nice haul! I read The Hidden Ways last year and really liked it.

>66 thornton37814: He looks better behaved than my cat, who likes to chew on the corners of books! He's especially fond of library books for whatever reason.

>65 thornton37814: That's a fun meme, Lori!

>67 Jackie_K: I may have added it to my Book Depository wish list after seeing your review. I provided a link to my Book Depository wish list in SantaThing, and that's one of the titles I got.

>68 casvelyn: Mr. B is a cuddle buddy! He likes snuggling and lap-occupying!

>69 DeltaQueen50: I liked it just because it was different!

Spotted Mississippi Library Commission's 2020 Reading Challenge on my Facebook feed: https://mlcref.blogspot.com/2019/12/mlc-2020-reading-challenge.html

>66 thornton37814: Nice haul and great photo!

>72 rabbitprincess: I do love my cats! That one is my snuggle buddy!

Dropped by to say hi.

>74 mysterymax: Thanks, Max. I still haven't made it to all the threads. I hope I can do that in the next couple of days. I'm feeling more and more behind every day that passes.

Book 5. Christmas Camp by Karen Schaler

Date Completed: 4 January 2020

Category: Norwegian Forest (Other Fiction & Literature)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: If you enjoy Hallmark Christmas movies, you'll enjoy this novel and may have viewed it. It's the typical workaholic female learning to achieve a life-work balance scenario. Haley wants to become a partner in her firm, but her boss tells her she must first attend a Christmas camp he attended the prior year. The camp, held at an inn somewhere within driving distance of Boston, allows visitors to experience a traditional Christmas and possibly form new traditions of their own. Haley finds herself drawn to Jeff, the inn owner's son. Jeff views this as his father's last Christmas camp because the inn is losing money. He plans to move his father to a corner apartment in a development he oversees. Can Haley let go enough to enjoy the season? Will her plan to save the inn drive an irreparable wedge between her and Jeff? I really enjoyed this one. I'd expected it to arrive via Overdrive before Christmas. When it arrived in the closing days of the year, I debated whether or not to return it unread or read it. I'm glad I chose to read it. It's probably my favorite Christmas story of those read for the 2019 season (even if it was read entirely in 2020).

Book 6. Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers

Date Completed: 5 January 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: In this first Lord Peter Wimsey mystery, his mother interests him in a case in which a corpse is found in a man's bathtub. Then his friend Detective Parker of Scotland Yard seeks his assistance in locating a missing man. Although Inspector Sugg suggested the man in the tub and Levy were one and the same, Detective Parker and Lord Peter knew evidence suggested otherwise. While the book is well-plotted, the writing style takes a while to engage the reader. I listened to the version read by Nadia May, a pseudonym for Wanda McCaddon. She read a bit more rapidly in places than the ideal speed.

Book 7. The Little Berlin Cookbook by Rose Marie Schulze

Date Completed: 5 January 2020

Category: Ragamuffin (Food & Drink)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: This small cookbook provides tourists with a take home souvenir of their time in Berlin by providing a way to remember dishes they tasted. I would never make a very good German because I'm not a huge fan of mustard or the pickled taste. The desserts appeal to me most, and I'm not likely to make those. The book did not contain a recipe for stollen which is a fairly common German Christmas fruitcake.

>76 thornton37814: I have this one on my list for my Christmas through the year category as it keeps coming up on my library recommendations!

>78 thornton37814: Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte - as long as there is a recipe for Black Forest cake! Not from Berlin, but probably the most common German food most people would think of. I agree that the desserts are the best thing! And Bienenstich - bee sting cake - my other favourite.

Hi Lori, your set up is definitely one I can appreciate! Love the grumpy looking Scottish Fold. It looks like your reading for the year is off to a good start.

>79 JayneCM: I didn't make Christmas through the year a category, but I'm considering reading a Christmas book each month. They'll be easier to catch in Overdrive/Libby that way! No black forest cake either! However, bee sting cake made the book!

>80 SouthernKiwi: It was a cute Scottish Fold. I know my pace will slow down because I have syllabus deadlines later in the month and indexing due the first of next month for a journal index. I also need to keep plugging away at genealogy client research.

>81 thornton37814: Yes, there are lots of Christmas books available now! Although my library sometimes boxes them away until later in the year to save shelf room. Bee sting cake is soooo good - if you have a sweet tooth!

>82 JayneCM: Maybe I'll try that--or see if Hannelore will make one!

>83 thornton37814: A bit of a process but worth it. Makes me want to make one now!

>84 JayneCM: If it's a bit of a process, it won't happen any time soon. I love to cook, but I just don't have time right now.

>78 thornton37814: If it is a book focusing on Berlin cooking, Stollen would not be included because it comes from Saxony, Dresden in particular.

>86 MissWatson: That explains it then. I just thought it was German and should be in there!

>76 thornton37814: Christmas Camp does sound like a movie I would watch! :)

>88 christina_reads: I would like to see the movie. A friend who read my review saw the movie and said it was equally charming!

Book 8. Keep Calm and Carry On, Children by Sharon K. Mayhew

Date Completed: 6 January 2020

Category: Ragdoll

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Sisters Joyce and Gina, forced to evacuate London amidst nightly German air raids, make friends on the train who will end up in the same village. One of these friends ends up in the home of a bad man, and the sisters and friend Molly determine to find a way to rescue him. In the midst of doing so, they uncover some illegal activity in the village. The story's rather abrupt ending sets the book up for at least one future installment. The story appears to be written at a 4th grade level for the most part. Narrator Joyce is a little older, but many 4th graders enjoy reading stories with slightly older protagonists. It lacks the impact of other books dealing with the evacuation such as Good Night, Mr. Tom. I received an electronic copy through LibraryThing Early Reviewers with the expectation of an honest review.

Wow. 8 books finished! Way to read, Lori!

>91 lkernagh: It will slow down soon. I head back to work Wednesday.

Book 9. Off the Grid by John Hunt

Date Completed: 6 January 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 2 stars

Review: The author started with a story line focusing on a kidnapping and then switched to another story line involving the detective and a suspect from the earlier investigation in a relationship. The detective was called to investigate a dangerous situation. The action was set in northern Ontario. The plot really didn't flow and was rather confusing. The book contained more violence than I expected. The title didn't seem to fit the second and larger portion of the book. The writing left much to be desired. I received an electronic copy through LibraryThing Early Reviewers in exchange for an honest review.

Book 10. Laurel Mercantile Co.: Family Recipes & Stories (vol. 1) edited by Erin Napier

Date Completed: 7 January 2020

Category: Ragamuffin (Food & Drink)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: This little souvenir recipe book contains many dishes Mississippians encounter at church pot luck dinners. The recipes come from Erin Napier's family. Since the family resides in the Southern part of the state, several recipes show a New Orleans influence. Versions of many dishes in the book already fill my own recipe box. It serves as an introduction to Southern foods for tourists visiting the Laurel area because of the HGTV show set in the town.

Book 11. Bible Personalities: A Treasury of Insights for Personal Growth and Ministry by Warren W. Wiersbe

Date Completed: 7 January 2020

Category: Bengal (Other Non-Fiction)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Wiersbe provides clergy a resource on preaching biographical sermons. He includes tips for the sermon as well as "notes" he made throughout the years on various Biblical persons. This section is not highly readable. It seems more like "note cards" with sound bites taken from other sermons, commentaries, and Christian books with information pertaining to the subject or some aspect of the subject's life. Perhaps my favorite takeaway from the entire book is a quote by C. H. Spurgeon on Paul pertaining to 2 Timothy 4:13:

He is inspired, and yet he wants books! He has been preaching for at least thirty years, and yet he wants books! He has seen the Lord, and yet he wants books! He had a wider experience than most men, and yet he wants books! He has been caught up into the third heaven, and had heard things which it was unlawful for a man to utter, yet he wants books! He had written the major part of the New Testament, and yet he wants books! The apostles says to Timothy and so he says to every preacher, "Give thyself unto reading."

I actually looked up the passage in Spurgeon's sermon, and I think Wiersbe should have added a couple more lines to his note card for the next sentences in that selection state: The man who never reads will never be read; he who never quotes will never be quoted. He who will not use the thoughts of other men's brains, proves that he has no brains of his own.

Book 12. Two Steps Forward by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Date Completed: 9 January 2020

Category: Norwegian Forest (Other Fiction & Literature)

Rating: 3 stars

Review:Jimmy returns home to Lancaster County after the ranch where he worked closed. He meets Sylvie, young widow of Jake, and her young son. Sylvie wants to breed her Arabian horse with an Amish carriage horse, but Jimmy knows the horse is worth much more. The two are drawn to each other, but will Jimmy get cold feet or be able to go against his mother's wishes? The book contains a pro-life message. Readers of earlier installments in the series will be happy to find Bishop David as well as Luke and Izzy in this one. With the horse breeding angle, the story didn't feel as "Amish" as some books, but many readers will enjoy it. I received an advance review copy through LibraryThing Early Reviewer's program with the expectation of an honest review.

>76 thornton37814: I LOVE those Hallmark Christmas movies. They're so ... I don't know ... wholesome? And the experience has the appeal of Christmas carols, because I know where they're going but the experience is the warm part. I never even thought to look for that same experience in books.

>97 This-n-That: I suspect it won't get rave reviews from child readers.

>98 pammab: This one was turned into a movie. Many of Debbie Macomber's books are Hallmark-style books.

I'm just catching up with your thread and see that you're already off to a roaring start in January! I love your cat photos. :)

>100 mathgirl40: Well, I think my January reading may be more like March allegedly comes--in like a lion and out like a lamb. I did finish a book today. I probably would have finished it last night if I'd realized the 36 pages remaining were really about 12 because there was a trailer for the next in series. I really should have suspected such and looked, but I didn't. I knew I was just too tired to continue much longer, got to the end of a chapter, and stopped for the night.

Book 13. A Killer in King's Cove by Iona Whishaw

Date Completed: 12 January 2020

Category: Siamese (Historical Fiction)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Lane Winslow left the British secret service and moved to King's Cove in rural British Columbia. She finds herself a suspect when a dead man is found in her creek. No one in the community knows the man. Inspector Darling and Constable Ames investigate. Because Lane is sworn to secrecy on many matters, she cannot always provide an answer to questions. Lane is held in the local jail until a man from Lane's past shows up confirming the man's identity and asserting Lane's innocence. Will that be enough to keep Lane out? Lane feels the need to clear her own name. The narrative includes flashback to WWI and WWII eras even though it is set just after WWII. I found this to be confusing at times and detract from the overall narrative. I think needed information from the past could come out in ways less disruptive to the novel's flow. Still the series shows promise. One cannot help but compare the series to Maisie Dobbs although that series begins a bit earlier. The author leaves an opening for a relationship to develop between the detective and Lane.

Book 14. Triangle: The Fire that Changed America by David Von Drehle

Date Completed: 12 January 2020

Category: Persian (History & Genealogy)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Beginning with a garment worker's strike and then moving onto the day the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory went up in flames, the book tells the story of immigrant labor in unsafe conditions. The fire department could not reach building floors housing the factory. The fire escapes were flawed. Locked doors impeded exit for many. Some jumped to their deaths in efforts to escape the flames. The book goes on to detail the reforms brought about by the human tragedy and the trials of the plant's owners. The narrative holds the reader's attention. An annotated list of casualties appears before the "blind end notes." I hate blind end notes. Please number them so we know they exist!

>103 thornton37814: - I think I may have read this before I was on LT. Or, I started and never finished it. I hear you about blind end notes. I just finished a book that had 59 pages of them for a book that was only 290 pages. If I tried to keep track and read them as I went, the story was so choppy. I finally decided to ignore them. But I agree they should be numbered.

>104 dudes22: I really prefer old-fashioned footnotes. No page flipping required! I read it for one of the category challenges.

Book 15. Doctored Evidence by Donna Leon

Date Completed: 13 January 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: In this installment, Commissario Brunetti investigates a case Lt. Scarpa dismissed based on circumstantial evidence. The old woman who was a nuisance to her neighbors because she listened to her television at a loud volume was assaulted and murdered. Money from her bank accounts disappeared almost instantaneously. His wife, reading their daughter's textbook, makes a remark about the seven deadly sins which guides his investigation. Suspects abound, but he identifies the person responsible for the crime, clearing the reputation of an immigrant woman. I listened to David Colacci's excellent audio narration. I enjoyed turning over Guido's wife's remark in my own head as well.

>102 thornton37814: - You are on quite the reading roll. I’m definitely intrigued by this one and will add it to my wishlist.

>107 LittleTaiko: It's a good start to the series. Meg commented on another thread that she prefers this series to Maisie Dobbs.

>108 thornton37814: - I’ve only read the first book in the Maisie Dobbs series and stopped because I didn’t like it all that much. I’m trying hard to remember why but there was something about it that bugged me. Who knows?

>109 LittleTaiko: Whatever it was that annoyed me did go away after a bit. I think it was something with the espionage angle because I'm not a huge espionage fan.

Exciting news! There will be an American equivalent of the British Library Crime Classics--The Library of Congress Crime Classics. Poisoned Pen Press will be collaborating with LC. See article in LCM: Library of Congress Magazine: https://www.loc.gov/lcm/pdf/LCM_2019_0910.pdf

>111 thornton37814: That is exciting! I have known about the LC magazine but haven't seen it lately. It's really good too isn't it? Thanks for the info.

>112 clue: I'm thrilled they will do the same for American mystery, although I suspect I'll prefer the British ones overall because I tend to prefer British mysteries. It is a good magazine.

Book 16. Waterland by Graham Swift

Date Completed: 14 January 2020

Category: Norwegian Forest (Other Fiction & Literature)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Tom Crick, a middle-aged history teacher, faces job termination due to consolidation of history into a more general subject area. He spends more time discussing events local to the Fens and his own story than the subject of history. He also faces challenges at home as his wife suffered a mental breakdown. Swift's writing style is unique. This book would lend itself well to a book group for discussion as readers will engage with the narrative differently.

>111 thornton37814: Interesting! I've been seeing some of these Penzler American Mystery Classics at the bookstores lately: https://penzlerpublishers.com/books/. Seems like more publishers are jumping on the "reissuing classic mysteries" idea, which is good news in my book!

>115 christina_reads: I've read many of the ones pictured! Otto Penzler seems to be the American mystery anthologizer of choice. He also compiled the "Big Book of . . . Stories" (short story mysteries).

Book 17. The Hidden Ways: Scotland's Forgotten Roads by Alistair Moffat

Date Completed: 16 January 2020

Category: Scottish Fold (Travel)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Moffat takes readers on a journey through some of Scotland's history by following ancient roads--or a rail route in one instance. From Robert the Bruce and Agricola to defending Scotland from German invasion during World War II, Moffat engages the reader by discussing not only the historic information but also the natural resources in the area. While each route contained an overview map of the route, the shortcoming of the book was the lack of photos to help readers unfamiliar with the area picture it. Some stories interested me more than others, but anyone who enjoys Scottish history will enjoy this travelogue.

>116 thornton37814: I think my mum bought that book; she has several by Alistair Moffat. It sounds like she will like it!

>118 rabbitprincess: Hope she enjoys it. This was one of my SantaThing gifts that fit the city vs. countryside theme for the travel challenge.

Book 18. An Unhurried Life: Following Jesus' Rhythms of Work and Rest by Alan Fadling

Date Completed: 17 January 2020

Category: Bengal (Other Non-Fiction)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Alan Fadling shares insights learned which make time in our fast-paced society to wait on and listen to God. He shows the importance God placed on rest by emphasizing the Sabbath as well as the seven-year rests for the land itself. I really appreciated the insights offered by the author as well as his study of the subject evidenced by quotes from classic and modern authors. While I think his message is to be intentional in making a time alone with God, his guidance in helping people prioritize what is important and what needs to be dropped could perhaps be improved. I sometimes allow myself to become too overbooked, and Fadling's message showed me I need to slow down. I need to find time to enjoy life so I can hear God speak. I want to dig into some of the works cited.

Book 19. Death Finds a Way by Lorine McGinnis Schulze

Date Completed: 17 January 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Reviewing a book written by someone you know can be a daunting task. I avoided reading this even though I owned it because I feared I might not like the book. Janie Riley, genealogist, travels to Salt Lake City where she meets Clarissa. Janie observes Clarissa's soon-to-be-ex-husband giving Clarissa a difficult time. Then she notices someone watching Clarissa. When Clarissa turns up dead, and her papers turn up missing, Janie feels the need to make sure the murderer does not get away. She begins investigating Clarissa's case with memories of stolen glances at her work as they researched side-by-side. Will she remember enough to help bring a murderer to justice?

I found the book a fun and surprisingly pleasurable read. The ancestral story resonates with the reader. The modern plot as the story unfolded seemed implausible, particularly in regards to the way the police handled the case. In fact questions regarding this remain with the reader after the mystery's solution. Most genealogists will enjoy this adventure, particularly if heading to Salt Lake City for a research trip.

Book 20. She Lies in Wait by Gytha Lodge

Date Completed: 20 January 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: 14-year-old Aurora went missing from a camping trip 30 years ago. Now the police in an investigation led by DCI Jonah Steens recover her body in a hole near the river where the group camped. Along with the corpse, police discover drugs. Jonah calls all the campers as well as a teacher seen by the group for additional questioning. The story alternates between the "present" and 1983 when Aurora went missing. The back flashes really did nothing to move the story along except to present the story mostly from Aurora's point of view without revealing too much. While the mystery kept me interested, the writing itself lacked something I can't quite articulate. The blurb calls her a playwright. Perhaps the problem involves the difference in writing a novel and play. I look forward to the next installment of the series.

Book 21. Christmas Days: 12 Stories and 12 Feasts for 12 Days by Jeanette Winterson

Date Completed: 20 January 2020

Category: Norwegian Forest (Other Fiction & Literature)

Rating: 2 stars

Review: This collection features short stories and recipes/food memories. "The Mistletoe Bride" featured gothic elements and was probably my favorite story, but it seemed reminiscent of another story I read at some time. Only a couple of the recipes interested me. Most of the stories fell flat for me and didn't seem Christmas-y at all although they were all set around the holiday. Perhaps the reason for this is the author's cynicism for the holiday outlined in the book's introduction. I nearly abandoned the book in the middle of the introduction in spite of the fact the Pearl rule page point could not be invoked.

>123 thornton37814: What a shame! I would have picked that book up for the cover art alone.

>124 JayneCM: I suspect those who enjoy fantasy would enjoy it far more than I did. I also suspect atheists would enjoy it far more than Christians like myself.

Book 22. Generations and Change: Genealogical Perspectives in Social History edited by Robert M. Taylor, Jr. and Ralph J. Crandall

Date Completed: 21 January 2020

Category: Persian (History & Genealogy)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Although this book was published in 1989 and strides in technology since that time provide different avenues of research than existed at that time, this book still contains much relevant information for researchers today. The Board of Certification for Genealogists codified many genealogical standards incorporating the use of social history in genealogical research. At the time of the book's writing, some genealogists already incorporated social history methods or research in their own family narratives. This book showed its value to many more. However, it also demonstrated the standards held by many microhistorians to those academics who might undervalue it. I found the essays by Elizabeth Shown Mills, Patricia Trainor O'Malley, Lawrence J. Kilbourne, Virginia DeJohn Anderson, and Claudia L. Bushman most interesting. The essays on naming patterns were useful to those researching in the essay's focus area.



Book 23. The Asylum by Nathan Dylan Goodwin

Date Completed: 21 January 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mystery)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Morton Farrier finds an additional marriage for a client's father; however, he initially did not research it since the client told him not to research more recent generations. When the client adamantly denies the previous marriage and Morton's present work load allows him time, he retrieves the marriage record and death certificate for the first wife. The client wants to learn more about the first wife who died in an asylum. One must always prepare for unexpected discoveries, and this case illustrates the lesson. Genealogical ethics once again seem a bit problematic. Farrier discusses his case more openly than a professional genealogist should without written client authorization. I understand why the author had him discuss it with the person he did, but I don't think the story would suffer with the omission of the unethical behavior. Still I enjoyed this short story.

Book 24. Nightwoods by Charles Frazier

Date Completed: 22 January 2020

Category: Norwegian Forest (Other Fiction & Literature)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Luce lives in the lodge belonging to her late employer. She's actually "squatting" now, but lacking another place to go, she remains. She loves solitude. After her sister's murder, she takes in her delinquent niece and nephew. Although the situation does not meet state standards, the social worker in charge overlooks it. Frazier's well-drawn characters draw readers into the story even if that story does not resonate. The author invokes the Appalachian region's natural beauty, making full use of it to create an atmosphere appropriate to the action.

Just dropping in to say hello to you and the boys. I don't think I'll ever catch up on threads.

>128 VivienneR: I understand. If you get just a little behind, it's hard to completely catch up. I sometimes just skim or jump over a hundred posts or so on some threads and read the last few.

Book 25. Good Mews: Inspirational Stories for Cat Lovers by Kitty Chappell

Date Completed: 23 January 2020

Category: American Shorthair / Tabby (Cats)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: The author turns her cats' antics into stories teaching about a Christian's walk with the Lord. Each story is accompanied by a Scripture and 3 cat quotes. As a cat lover, these resonated with me! It would make a great gift for Christian crazy cat ladies or any other Christian who loves cats and wants to spend a few minutes each day thinking about cats and their relationship with God.

Book 26. An Incomplete Obituary for Damien Stewart Wilson by Sean Rose

Date Completed: 23 January 2020

Category: Norwegian Forest (Other Fiction & Literature)

Rating: 2 stars

Review: Damien Stewart Wilson suffered abuse at the hands of his father. He resides with his mother and could be classified as a religious seeker even though he and his mother were to be baptized at a Baptist church. Instead the troubled teen dies just days beforehand. I did not enjoy this. I skimmed the description, if I even did that, downloading it on the basis of the word "obituary." I'm sure an audience for this short story exists, but it does not resonate with me.

Book 27. The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

Date Completed: 24 January 2020

Category: Siamese (Historical Fiction)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Stevens, who served as butler to Lord Darlington of Darlington Hall and now serves for the American who purchased the mansion after Darlington's post-World War II death, takes a motoring trip and recalls the glory days of his service. Miss Kenton, the head housekeeper, plays prominently in his memories as do the important world leaders who visited the home. Stevens did not know how to relax, and Miss Kenton tried to pursue him at inopportune times. They both let a life together slip from them because of their stubbornness. I listened to the audio version and although Simon Prebble portrayed the butler precisely, the book's writing style, being entirely told in Stevens' voice, made it a bit monotonous. I recognize the genius of the novel, but it went on too long in audio format.

Book 28. Clue by Paul Allor and Nelson Daniel; lettered by Neil Uyetake and Gilberto Lazcano

Date Completed: 24 January 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 2 stars

Review: This graphic novel, based on the classic board game is too modern for me. I wasn't a fan of the person illustration either which seemed "blocky" to me. There are a few extra characters--detectives, butler, and a doctor. I would prefer a historical graphic mystery to this.

Book 29. Beheld by TaraShea Nesbit

Date Completed: 25 January 2020

Category: Siamese (Historical Fiction)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Nesbit imagines life in the Plymouth Colony in this fictionalized account providing a back story and after story to its first murder. The author writes in the vernacular of the day, creating a piece which helps the reader become absorbed in 17th century life. Much of the story's narration comes from the wife of the convicted murderer. Her differences with Bradford and Standish at times make the reader question her reliability as a narrator and at times create questions of the integrity of the colonial leaders. The book, lacking an action-driven plot, requires the reader to savor the characters and atmosphere created by the author. As someone who loves colonial American history, I enjoyed this book; however, it may not be a book for everyone. I received an advance review copy from Bloomsbury, the publisher. While an honest review was encouraged, it was not required.

Book 30. The Witch Elm by Tana French

Date Completed: 26 January 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: After being assaulted by burglars, Toby suffers several lingering injuries including head trauma. His uncle's cancer diagnosis precipitates his return to the home where he spent so much time. When his cousin's son finds a skeleton in the Wych Elm, the Garda looks at the family with suspicion. Toby can't remember certain things about the night long ago. Will the thieves who injured Toby be found? Will the murder investigators rely only on circumstantial evidence or seek the truth? I enjoyed Uncle Hugo, the genealogist, most in this story. It's too bad he died. He would make an excellent genealogist sleuth. The direction the story took in the last couple of chapters turned me off. The story seemed longer than necessary, and I disliked the ending. The characters used more profanity than my comfort level allowed.

>134 thornton37814: Going on my TBR!

>135 thornton37814: My evaluation of that book was just about the same as yours! I rated it 2.5 stars. That was my first French and I was very disappointed!

>136 JayneCM: Hope you enjoy it.

>137 Tess_W: I was almost tempted to give it 2.5. I felt it was a generous 3. However, I enjoyed parts of it, but it really didn't end well. I'm not sure all the parts fit together. I'm glad I read some of the Dublin Murder Squad books first, or I'd be tempted to avoid those.

Book 31. Be Free: Exchange Legalism for True Spirituality by Warren W. Wiersbe

Date Completed: 27 January 2020

Category: Bengal (Other Non-Fiction)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Years ago I owned most of Wiersbe's "Be Series" in print. I got rid of the collection in one of my moves, and I often regret some of the radical downsizing. Wiersbe's books are perfect for personal or group Bible study. His writing still speaks to Christians today. I read a chapter each day, although I read a couple of chapters on a couple of days, of the Galatians volume. Wiersbe frames everything from the historical context in which Paul wrote the letter. The Galatian Christians, influenced by the Judaizers, became too legalistic. Paul reminds them of the freedom in Christ they enjoy. I enjoyed revisiting this volume in my daily quiet time.

Book 32. Stag's Leap by Sharon Olds

Date Completed: 27 January 2020

Category: Russian Blue (Poetry)

Rating: 2 stars

Review: This slim volume of poetry won a Pulitzer Prize. I located it on a list of poetry everyone should read. I did not enjoy it. The volume focuses on her divorce and the feelings surrounding it. The author definitely took out her feelings through her writing. It was "TMI" (too much information). Although Olds' writing style excelled, the topic left me cold.

>135 thornton37814: - Good review, Lori. The Witch Elm was my least favorite of all the Tana French novels published to date.

>141 lkernagh: I'm glad I read a couple of the Dublin Murder Squad books before I read this one. It might have turned me off to French.

Book 33. Great Possessions: An Amish Farmer's Journal by David Kline

Date Completed: 28 January 2020

Category: Bengal (Other Non-Fiction)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: David Kline, an Amish farmer, describes the natural wonders around him in this book. The essays, first appearing in Family Life Magazine, share his love of birds, trees, and wildlife. His love of birds is quite evidence throughout the essays. One essay suggested fruits, both berries and ones growing on trees, one should seek to cultivate. The essay also suggested nut trees which should be planted. As I read it, I wondered how many of my Amish ancestors followed similar patterns of planting these for their own families. While they contributed to the family's cupboard, they also provided a source of entertainment through bird watching. When I read the title, I thought the book would focus more on aspects of farming, but I enjoyed this just as much.

>135 thornton37814: Yours is not the only "less than enthusiastic" review of The Witch Elm that I have seen so I think I will avoid this book. I am currently reading and enjoying her Dublin Murder Squad books.

>144 DeltaQueen50: I definitely prefer the Dublin Murder Squad books.

Book 34. Stepping Into Rural Wisconsin: Grandpa Charly's Life Vignettes, from Prussia to the Midwest by Edward J. Kuehn and Linda T. Ruggeri

Date Completed: 28 January 2020

Category: Persian (History & Genealogy)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Author Edward J. Kuehn researched his grandfather Charly and grandmother Hulda. At first he created a small publication for his own family, but later he wrote this volume incorporating social history and family photographs. Although citations do not perfectly adhere to standards, one can follow them to locate cited sources. He also often discusses the evidence although he may or may not know that was what he was doing. I enjoyed reading this tribute to the author's beloved grandfather. I won this in 2018 from a GoodReads giveaway and misplaced it. I found it in a book box recently and pulled it out to complete the requested although not required review.

Book 35. The Thief of Auschwitz by Jon Clinch

Date Completed: 30 January 2020

Category: Siamese (Historical Fiction)

Rating: 4 stars

Review:Captured in their native Poland, Jacob and Eidel Rosen and children Max and Lydia arrive at Auschwitz. Men and women reside in separate quarters with little interaction. The family never sees Lydia again. Jacob wisely tells twelve-year-old Max to lie about his age to avoid the gas chamber where children are sent. The only thing remaining of Lydia is a portrait painted by Eidel which now hangs in an official's home. Will using that work of art as a bargaining chip boost the family's odds of survival? Read along to find out. Each chapter ends with a reflection by an elderly Max. The horrors of Nazi Germany's concentration camps always make me wonder how humans could treat others this way. Clinch captures the climate well, demonstrating both the prisoners' struggle for survival as well as the abuses they suffered.

Book 36. The St. Valentine's Day Cookie Massacre by Elisabeth Crabtree

Date Completed: 30 January 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Kat moves back to Hatter's Cove from Miami and takes a job at the newspapers where she once interned. A new bakery decides to open ahead of schedule in time for Valentine's Day. Tiffany, who served time for the manslaughter of her father, returns to town following her release. A man found dead by the bakery's dumpster with a bag of cookies bearing Kat's name creates a very tangled puzzle. A detective Kat knew in Miami began working for Hatter's Cove's police department on the day of the murder. The almost novel-length novella shows promise with an interesting main sleuth and a detective who apparently knows how to remind her when she crosses the line. I reserve judgment on the newspaper owner until future installments.

Best and Worst of January

Best:
Fiction: Garden of Lamentations by Deborah Crombie
Non-Fiction: Great Possessions: An Amish Farmer's Journal by David Kline

Honorable Mention:

Waterland by Graham Swift
Beheld by TaraShea Nesbit
An Unhurried Life: Following Jesus' Rhythms of Work and Rest by Alan Fadling
Generations and Change: Genealogical Perspectives in Social History edited by Robert M. Taylor, Jr. and Ralph J. Crandall

Worst: Off the Grid by John Hunt

Runner-Ups:

Clue by Paul Allor and Nelson Daniel; lettered by Neil Uyetake and Gilberto Lazcano
An Incomplete Obituary for Damien Stewart Wilson by Sean Rose

Book 37. Borrowed Crime by Laurie Cass

Date Completed: 3 February 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Minnie Hamilton, assistant director of a northwestern lower peninsula Michigan library, runs its bookmobile services, relying on volunteers or off-duty staff member volunteers to be the second person on outings. Her cat Eddie goes along, especially charming schoolchildren. When Denise Slade can't make it on her day, she sends her husband Roger in her place. When the bookmobile stops for a restroom break, Roger is shot. Was it a hunting accident? or was Roger, or even his wife Denise, the target? His sister wants to sue the library, but Minnie, realizing her job is in jeopardy, knows she must assist the officials in catching the killer. With one of the normal officers off, a new officer assists in the investigation. He shows an interest in Minnie but doesn't realize she's been dating Tucker. Tucker has been making lots of excuses lately about not spending time with Minnie. Is he seeing another woman? As one might expect in this series, the cat helps nab the killer. It was a pleasant outing. The killer wasn't completely obvious, but most readers might suspect the person early. At one point Minnie looks through some records that eliminate a suspect, but the author does not share what she saw that eliminated him--just provided evidence that the glance eliminated him. The reader can somewhat figure out what she found by the questions she asked about the records, but since it was knowledge possessed by Minnie, providing details would clarify matters for readers. This pleasant read is perfect (or is it purrfect?) for a day when something light and fun appeals.

Book 38. The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill

Date Completed: 3 February 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 2.5 stars

Review: Dr. Siri Pahboun, 72-year-old coroner for Laos whom deceased spirits visit, suspects foul play when an important man's wife comes to the morgue at the hospital. However, the body is taken before he completes the autopsy. Still he completed enough steps to verify his suspicion. Then rescuers recover the body of a Vietnamese man in a lake. On the surface it appears he was tortured, potentially leading to bad relations with Vietnam. However, the coroner from that country obtained another corpse from the same location which was immediately known to be Vietnamese. I loved his nurse and his assistant with Down's syndrome. The spiritism angle was a little too strange for me. I doubt I'll continue the series because of that. It's really a shame because I liked the setting in a culture with which I'm unfamiliar. I listened to the audiobook read by Gareth Armstrong who is a good narrator.

>151 thornton37814: I had a similar reaction. The mystery was interesting, the setting fascinating, but the spiritism threw me off kilter.

>152 MissWatson: It made it very difficult for me to follow. It was just strange. I guess the spiritism angle may have thrown it more into a "fantasy" genre for me.

Book 39. Perfect Pie and Pastry Recipes: Homemade Dessert Pies Made Easy Cookbook by Katherine Hupp

Date Completed: 3 February 2020

Category: Ragamuffin (Food & Drink)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: For a small cookbook, this one isn't bad. The book begins with crusts, offering tips such as always using ice water or making certain the butter or shortening is cold. It then moves to fruit pies, most requiring two crusts. Custard-based pies and other pies, such as pecan, follow. The author provides several tips on meringues to vary the flavor a bit. While I'll probably use my own family's recipes for most of the pies included, I did enjoy this.

Book 40. Julio Bunny Goes to the Library by Nicoletta Costa

Date Completed: 3 February 2020

Category: Ragdoll (Juvenile & YA)

Rating: 2.5 stars

Review: On a rainy day, Julio Bunny is bored. He sees a friend reading a pirate book and thinks it looks interesting. The friend takes him to the library where a goat serves as the librarian. I can't help but wonder about a goat librarian. Wouldn't the goat eat all the paper? I'm not quite sure this book works although it does theoretically encourage reading. Other books do a better job addressing the topic.

>156 This-n-That: I hate to cause someone not to read a book, but if you want Christmas-y, it's not that. She doesn't really believe in what Christians would say is the "Reason for the season" either. It just fell flat for me. I think I appreciated The Remains of the Day, but I think it would have worked better in print for me.

Book 41. A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare

Date Completed: 5 February 2020

Category: Norwegian Forest (Other Fiction & Literature)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: This classic Shakespeare comedic play features two men in love with the same woman who both end up falling for another woman after Puck errs. Shakespeare, who often incorporates elements of fantasy, included faeries in the play. There's even a play within the play in this one. It's not my favorite Shakespeare play, but it's a good one.

I'm not finding much time to read this week. I've got a lot going on. I have read stuff, but I just haven't completed much. I hope to remedy that tomorrow. I'll be riding in the church bus with our youth choir on their trip to an event in middle Tennessee. It's normally a 3.5 to 4 hour drive, but with snow in the forecast and the road closures on I-40 due to potholes or other issues because of this week's flooding, it could take longer. I hope to be able to read on the bus and then perhaps while they are rehearsing if I don't need to be involved in auditions or sectionals. We'll be heading back Saturday late afternoon/evening so I hope to have more time then too. I hope I can complete two books in process and begin the Viveca Sten one for the group read. I'm only taking my iPad so the e-books will be my entertainment. I probably won't check in here until I return. I'm sure it will take a few days to catch up so please forgive me.

Wishing you safe travels, Lori!

>160 RidgewayGirl: Thanks, Kay.

Have a safe trip! I hope you find lots of little pockets of reading time.

>162 rabbitprincess: Just got back in. I finished two books and began another. I probably would have made more progress if I had not had a horrible headache on the return trip. I'll try to find time to review them tomorrow, but I'm probably not staying online long tonight because of the headache. I took something just now, but I'll mostly relax and pet cats.

Book 42. File M for Murder by Miranda James

Date Completed: 7 February 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Charlie Harris, archivist at a university in Athena, Mississippi, finds himself involved in another investigation when his daughter Laura returns home to teach drama. When the playright/director for the production turns up dead, several suspects with varying motives emerge. Fortunately Diesel the cat helps keep a fire meant to torch the home from ever gaining hold and shows Charlie the suspicious package addressed to Laura before she can open it. One suspect is killed. Police must seek the killer from striking again and try to keep Laura safe, but Charlie and his son Sean, an attorney, know they need to help. While this installment provides a fun reading experience, the police and amateur sleuths need better relationship development to improve the series. Kanesha, whose mother works for Charlie, seems entirely too cold and distant. I think the author, in an effort to make her seem all business-like, made her too cold.

Book 43. Nighttime Is My Time by Mary Higgins Clark

Date Completed: 7 February 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 2 stars

Review: A class reunion provides the backdrop for this novel. A serial killer appears to be at work. Much of the book concerns itself with one member missing and others concerned the last member of a group will be the next victim. I did not enjoy this book. Too much action came from tiresome conversation. I never got past apathy for all the characters. I considered abandoning the book several times, but I wanted to read a book by Clark after her death. I obviously picked the wrong one from my library's e-book collection.

Book 44. Putting Flesh on the Bones: Bringing Your Ancestors to Life by Mark W. Swarthout

Date Completed: 9 February 2020

Category: Persian (History & Genealogy)

Rating: 1 star

Review: I picked up this book some years ago when offered free. Its content disappoints. To me "putting flesh on bones" involves writing about the ancestor, incorporating elements of social history. Instead the author provides a few types of resources which might provide records or more information on your ancestor. I really don't think any of the resources, in and of itself, would bring an ancestor to life as the subtitle claims. It is only when those resources are used in conjunction with social history and woven into a narrative this happens. At least I spent no money on this book which needed an editor's hand.

Book 45. Romney Marsh: Eighth Wonder of the World by Roderick Leyland

Date Completed: 9 February 2020

Category: Scottish Fold (Travel)

Rating: 2.5 stars

Review: In this odd little book, Leyland asks whether Romney Marsh deserves to be called the eighth wonder of the world as one writer claims. He discusses the flora of the region, includes a bit of history, and provides several photographs of the era. What appeared to be the focal question was never answered. The book ends rather abruptly without a conclusion. The author overused forms of the "be" verb in his writing. The photographs bumped the rating up slightly. I obtained this book free for Kindle in 2012.

Book 46. Traditional Recipes of Reunion Island by Yohann Maillot

Date Completed: 9 February 2020

Category: Ragamuffin (Food & Drink)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: This small, but interesting, collection of recipes, influenced by French, Indian, and Chinese cuisines, offers readers a glimpse of the typical fare of Reunion Island. The collection contains no photos.

Book 47. Speaking Chileno: A Guide to Spanish from Chile by Jared Romey

Date Completed: 9 February 2020

Category: Scottish Fold (Travel)

Rating: 1 star

Review: While a few of the expressions included in this volume may assist a tourist visiting the country of Chile, most shows the author's familiarity the slang associated with sexual innuendo, drunkenness, and other low forms of expression. Most females will not wish to read this, and persons under age twenty-one should not read it. The author's potty mouth ruins this book. This was a freebie obtained several years ago on Kindle.

Book 48. Evernote: Your Second Brain by James Keaton

Date Completed: 9 February 2020

Category: Bengal (Other Non-Fiction)

Rating: 2.5 stars

Review: A very basic introduction to Evernote for persons using or considering using the platform. Better books on the subject exist. The introduction and conclusions both thank the reader for downloading the book.

I just returned from the annual exam for my boys. All three were healthy, and their weight is okay for now, but the vet would like for me to cut back a little to keep them from gaining weight as they age. This will take awhile to adjust, I suspect, as the ones with more voracious appetites will probably cheat Barney who tends eat small amounts at a time, so I'll have to find ways to make sure each gets his own ration.

Happy birthday, Lori!

>172 RidgewayGirl: I can't see the image, but thanks!

Nuts! Does it show up for you now? If it doesn't, I'll drive over with a cupcake instead.

>174 RidgewayGirl: Should I lie so you drive over with that cupcake? It shows up.

I purchased a birthday present for myself today. I ordered season 4 of Shetland on DVD. Then I placed an order for:

Plain as Day by Laura Bradford (a Kindle short)
Murder by the Book by Lauren Elliott (first in a series I've been meaning to try)
A Frontier Teacher in Tonto Basin by Angeline Mitchell; edited by Stanley C. Brown (a diary to read for a presentation I'm doing in May)
The Possibility of Prayer by John Starke (a book just released today that caught my eye in the publisher's catalog)

Only the last one is in print. I opted for e-book on the others. I'll try to add touchstones for the last two after I add them to LibraryThing since no valid touchstone options displayed.

I spent about $23 on the books and $20 on the DVD. Not bad for my birthday gift to myself.

Now I'm cooking my birthday supper. I began the baked potato. I'll start the ribeye steak in a bit. Strawberry shortcake (angel food cake, strawberries, ice cream) is for dessert.

Why do birthdays make us miss our moms so much?

Happy birthday! Your dinner sounds great -- enjoy :)

>177 rabbitprincess: I'm glad I made it myself. The steak was better than most of the ones at local restaurants. I always cook my baked potatoes by coating the outside with oil and sea salt, so they cook up very tender. The only problem was that I was too full for dessert. I'll enjoy it later. I may take it to book club on Thursday to share.

Happy Birthday, Lori. Your dinner sounds delicious!

Happy birthday!

>179 DeltaQueen50: I enjoyed it.

>180 MissWatson: Thanks!

Happy birthday!

>182 Jackie_K: Thanks!

Happy belated Birthday! Your dinner sounds perfect.

>184 dudes22: Thanks!

Book 49. Blood from a Stone by Donna Leon

Date Completed: 13 February 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: When an African street vendor selling counterfeit brand name bags dies, Brunetti gets called to the scene. With only American tourists as witnesses, he begins to reconstruct what happened and begins investigating the man's identity and residence. A search of the man's home reveals hidden gems of high value. However, Patta tells Brunetti to quit investigating. Two higher agencies take over the investigation. Brunetti smells something amiss. The reader is left asking questions as this one leaves many matters hanging or speculative. While I enjoyed the installment to an extent, the lack of answers left me slightly unsatisfied. I loved David Colacci's narration.

Happy belated birthday wishes, Lori! You picked a lovely present to go with the delicious birthday dinner. Kay's yummy cake will cap the party!

>187 VivienneR: Thanks. I'll enjoy watching the show and reading the books.

Book 50. Still Waters by Viveca Sten

Date Completed: 13 February 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: When a man's body washes ashore on Sandhamn, Thomas Andreasson goes there to investigate with a couple of junior detectives while the team leader departs for her vacation. The recently divorced Thomas' connection to the island makes him a good choice to ask questions of the locals. When the dead man's only known surviving cousin also turns up dead, the team realizes both victims likely met their fate at the hands of a murderer. One story line which eventually shows a slight relation to the other involves Nora, a friend of Thomas, and her doctor husband who argue over a job opportunity. While this isn't a perfectly plotted mystery, its setting and likable characters keep readers engaged. While the book fits the police procedural category best, Nora does a bit of amateur sleuthing, making this one readers of both sub-genres might enjoy.

Book 51. Yorkshire: A Story of Invasion, Uprising and Conflict by Paul C. Levitt

Date Completed: 14 February 2020

Category: Persian (History & Genealogy)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Levitt traces the history of Yorkshire from prehistoric times to the recent past in this work, showing a history of invasion by other peoples into the middle ages and conflicts, such as that between Protestants and Catholics, after that. Although the recent past extends almost to the twenty-first century, the two World Wars are the last major conflicts treated. Levitt's work is quite readable and provides a good overview. Documentation is a bit sparse and surprisingly seemed to follow APA format rather than a more traditional humanities approach to citation. This, of course, limits its usefulness to historians, but for laypersons wanting an overview of Yorkshire's history, it excels.

Book 52. Flubby Is Not a Good Pet by J. E. Morris

Date Completed: 15 February 2020

Category: Tabby/American Shorthair (Cats)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: This children's book compares the cat to other pets who sing, catch, run, and jump. Since Flubby doesn't do those things, the book concludes "Flubby is not a good pet." However, there's a silver lining in a shared need between pet and human. I think the book misleads about cats because cats can do all those things. The singing may not be like that of a bird, and they may only do the other things when not being asked to do them, but cats are great pets. I am happy to see the mutual need element. The illustrations are okay. This book is good for beginning readers.

Book 53. Death by Chocolate Frosted Doughnut by Sarah Graves

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Date Completed: 15 February 2020

Rating: 3 stars

Review: The town's pirate festival promises to be good business for Jacobia "Jake" and her friend Ellie who own the local bakery. When a man turns up dead in their basement, Jake becomes the chief suspect and knows she needs to catch the person or persons responsible before she lands in jail. The bakery plays a secondary role in this adventure with the seaside location paramount. While the main characters feel better developed than in the first installment, the mystery itself needs better plotting. Jake and Ellie come across as bumbling fools who fail to heed their own intuition, rather than clever amateur detectives. I almost quit reading this installment when a snake scene went on far too long. Potential exists for the series, but it still needs a dose of reality achieve it.

>192 thornton37814: Mmmmm now I want a chocolate frosted doughnut!

>193 rabbitprincess: I want mine with custard filling!

Book 54. Corned Beef and Casualties by Lynn Cahoon

Date Completed: 15 February 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: St. Patrick's Day festivities brought lots of visitors to South Cove. Jill's coffee and book store sold lots. When a young woman who visited the shop turns up dead at the beach, Jill can't resist assisting her boyfriend in the investigation even though he warned her off. This novella presents a quick and fun read for cozy fans or fans of the series. While I read a Christmas novella from the series and enjoyed it, I need to begin the series.

Book 55. Fidelity: Poems by Grace Paley

Date Completed: 15 February 2020

Category: Russian Blue (Poetry)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Published when the author was eighty-four, this collection reflects, in part, the author's reflections on that period in her life. The author's style involves all lower case with the exception of the word "I." Spaces, rather than punctuation, mark pauses. The author's style does not resonate well with me, although I appreciated some of the poems. The author's atheism manifested itself in one poem in the collection. I prefer Mary Oliver's poetry.

I've been watching Hallmark Movies & Mysteries tonight. I'm really enjoying A Beautiful Place to Die (link to the book on which it is based). While I own a couple of later books in the series, I've never read them. I think I'd want to begin with this one (even though I'm watching the movie). I'll have to see if I can find this at the used bookstore as part of my Thingaversary haul next month.

Book 56. Journey to the Alcarria: Travels Through the Spanish Countryside by Camilo José Cela

Date Completed: 16 February 2020

Category: Scottish Fold (Travel)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: The author, who won a Pulitzer later in life, recounts his travels in Spain's Alcarria region. He enjoyed talking to locals or doing things based on opportunity. The tale seemed to be as erratic as his planning for the journey had been. The narrative ended somewhat abruptly although some hints of its near completion appeared in the concluding chapter. The author consistently refers to himself in the third person as "the traveler." The construction seems odd to us now. While more modern forms of transportation existed--and the author did take a bus at one point--the locals mostly seemed to get around by animal-driven carts. I wonder what a modern traveler to the region would find. Perhaps the style appeals more to his original Spanish audience, but it lost its appeal through time or translation. Interesting tidbits of local color make it still worth reading, but one must slog through less interesting pieces to get to these gems.

Sounds like a good birthday celebration.

>199 hailelib: I've pretty much decided I have to celebrate it myself since my parents are no longer around to help celebrate. I did create a birthday fundraiser for a charity on Facebook and was able to reach the $200 goal on my birthday. It runs through the end of the month, but I suspect most people who were going to contribute already did so.

Book 57. Luke: The Gospel of Amazement by Michael Card

Date Completed: 17 February 2020

Category: Bengal (Other Non-Fiction)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: In the early days of Contemporary Christian Music, Michael Card was one of my favorite artists. His music always seemed to provide a refreshing insight into a familiar passage of Scripture. I'm not sure when I stumbled across this commentary he wrote, but the title intrigued me. I eventually ordered the Kindle version. I decided to pull it out to use in my daily quiet time. Card provides insights into the text by making the reader think about it through the lens of first century culture. He explains some aspects of Jewishness--although Luke is probably the least Jewish of the Gospels. This commentary does not explore textual criticism of passages nor does it argue theological differences. It is perfect for a layman's daily quiet time. The text presented in the commentary comes from the Holman Christian Standard Bible.

Book 58. Chocolat by Joanne Harris

Date Completed: 17 February 2020

Category: Norwegian Forest (Other Fiction & Literature)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Vianne Rocher opens a chocolate shop in a French village near the Catholic Church. The story begins around Valentine's Day and runs until the day after Easter. She tempts the villagers to pursue happiness, breaking their Lenten vows, with her offerings. The book contains a touch of magical realism, friendships, religious undertones, and a whole lot of chocolate-y goodness.

>202 thornton37814: I haven't read the book, but about 20 years ago I saw the movie; I think it was one of Johnny Depp's first.

>203 Tess_W: I didn't see the movie. Comments say there are big differences in the two.

>196 thornton37814: Sorry you didn't enjoy the poetry more. I liked the one novel I've read by her, but now I can't remember the title. (The protagonist was an adolescent girl who ran away from home, her adventures, and where she found safety.)

>205 markon: Yes. I read that one for the American Author Challenge for February. David McCullough for March is much more to my liking--and since I'll be on the Outer Banks that first week, I thought I'd read The Wright Brothers. Seems appropriate when I'll be visiting Kitty Hawk.

Book 59. Coconut Layer Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke

Date Completed: 18 February 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Hannah accompanies her mother to California to visit a relative. Doc prescribed the vacation for her when he diagnosed her with stress. It isn't long until she receives a message the police need her help in an investigation in which Lonnie's presence makes him a suspect. Mike can't investigate because Lonnie is his partner. Only a newly minted detective and the chief himself can investigate, so even the chief wants Hannah to meddle this time. The victim's personality made her unpopular so several persons held motives. A remains of a coconut layer cake plays into the investigation, thus giving the installment its title. The book contains lots of recipes. The premise of this one does not really hold up that well as the police would have called in the state to conduct the investigation. However, it was fun. The love triangle between Hannah, Norman, and Mike continues. I received an electronic advance copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A few acquisitions:
IVP offered me a discount on some of their books, so I took advantage and ordered a couple to use later this spring in devotional time:
1) When Faith Becomes Sight: Opening Your Eyes to God's Presence All Around You by Beth and David Booram
2) Becoming a Just Church: Cultivating Communities of God's Shalom by Adam L. Gustine

An ER book arrived:
3) Mr. Nobody by Catherine Steadman

I went to a funeral near Carrie's house. For my birthday, she gave me:
4) Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook by Debra M. Eldredge et al (Sherlock is sitting on it at the moment.) The other cats are emptying the rest of the gift sack. I think they found the package of cat treats. They took out the cat lap throw. Yes, of course, they just want to climb in the gift sack.

I also brought back a couple of Carrie Beth's books to read:
5) At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson
6) Death Walks in Eastrepps by Francis Beeding

Book 60. The Enchanted Hour: The Miraculous Power of Reading Aloud in the Age of Distraction by Meghan Cox Gurdon

Date Completed: 21 February 2020

Category: Bengal (Other Non-Fiction

Rating: 3 stars

Review: This book champions reading aloud to children and teens. The author cites research as she makes her arguments for its benefits. She briefly touches on benefits for the adult reading (or listening). Technological threats to reading aloud earns a place as a major theme. The book is perhaps too academic in tone for most adults and not academic enough for the academic market. The use of hidden end notes limits its academic usefulness even more. An appendix lists read-alouds, but its lack of annotation limits its usefulness to parents unfamiliar with the books. Still the book presents interesting information, but perhaps not in an engaging manner.

Book 61. Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson

Date Completed: 22 February 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: What a fun read! Malcolm Kershaw runs a mystery bookstore in Boston. A female FBI agent walks in near closing time one day to ask about a blog post he wrote some years back for the store on "Eight Perfect Murders." She sees a pattern between random murders and the post which discusses such crime classics as Strangers on the Train and The A. B. C. Murders. Readers ponder the reliability of the narrator among other things. It includes some aspects of a psychological thriller. Lovers of crime classics will want to dip into this one which may or may not leave them guessing until the last page due to twists and turns along the way. I needed its edginess as the moment. Did I mention there's a cat? I won an advance copy through GoodReads. Although requiring no review, the giveaway encourages winners to write an honest one.

Book 62. Circle of Friends Cookbook: 25 Mac & Cheese Recipes by Gooseberry Patch

Date Completed: 22 February 2020

Category: Ragamuffin (Food & Drink)

Rating: 2 stars

Review: Too many of these recipes are similar. Some use ingredients like cream of mushroom soup I would never use in macaroni and cheese. While someone who seeks a recipe for this dish may find one, to me macaroni and cheese is a comfort food. As a comfort food, I want my tried and true recipe so it brings true comfort.

Book 63. Branching Out: How to Research Your Family's History by Simon Fowler

Date Completed: 22 February 2020

Category: Persian (History & Genealogy)

Rating: 2 stars

Review: Poorly written and full of formatting errors, such as apostrophes displaying as question marks inside black diamonds, this book is little more than a slightly annotated list of web sites for British genealogical research. While the author includes several record groups, the short book length itself shows none receive the treatment essential for someone new to genealogical research. The author fails to stress the importance of noting the source from which information was gathered and fails to discuss evaluating evidence. Almost every new researcher comes across records that disagree and without a foundation by which to evaluate the evidence, big mistakes will occur. While correlating bits and pieces of information to make an assertion might be a little more advanced, some sort of introduction to the concept and a reference to a source that would help a new person understand it would be useful. If someone seeks useful websites for British genealogy, a free copy of the book might be useful. Otherwise the free FamilySearch wiki provides links to many useful resources around the world for researching one's family.

I requested British Murder from NetGalley. I guess I didn't pay enough attention to the description of the book because it ended up being two reprints. One is English Tea Murder. The other is British Manor Murder.

I just re-read the first. Because my thoughts are pretty much the same as they were before, I'm leaving the review "as is." I have not read the other one so a review will be forthcoming when completed. I'll count these as separate books since they were first published that way.



Book 64. English Tea Murder by Leslie Meier

Date Completed: 24 February 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 3 stars

Review:Lucy Stone and some of her friends join a tour group from Winchester College to England. While still in the air, the tour leader dies of an allergic reaction. A doctor on board the plane who is a member of the group is unable to save the man in time. Lucy and her friends begin to notice some strange things. One member of the group attempts suicide; Lucy's friend Pam is barely spared when pushed in front of traffic. Could the members of the group be involved in a conspiracy? If so, what possible reason could they have had to murder a well-beloved professor? The mystery element in this book is fairly light. The book is mostly an account of a visit to England with a few misadventures along the way. While I enjoyed the sights and sounds of England, I was a bit disappointed that there was not a more clear-cut murder in this one.

Book 65. Hidden Depths by Ann Cleeves

Date Completed: 24 February 2020

Category: Mysteries (Maine Coon)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: When a couple of persons are found in vastly differing bodies of waters surrounded by flowers, Vera and her team seek to find a connection to resolve the murders. Love triangles figure into the plot. Although I liked this installment a little better than the first two, I still prefer the author's Shetland series. Anne Dover's narration seems to fit the characters.

Book 66. Seasoned by Salt: A Historical Album of the Outer Banks by Rodney Barfield

Date Completed: 25 February 2020

Category: Persian (History & Genealogy)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Although this book contains text to present overviews of the pictured topics, it mostly contains photographs. The album does not extend to the modern tourism era, focusing on the barrier islands' way of life, its involvement in the Civil War, and its place in maritime studies. While I'm glad I read it, it was not all that helpful in preparation for a vacation there as it focused very little on things I'm likely to see. Local residents will appreciate it more.

Book 67. British Manor Murder by Leslie Meier

Date Completed: 25 February 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Lucy's grandson moved to Alaska with her son and his wife. She mopes because she missed seeing the lad. Her friend Sue asks Lucy to accompany her to England for a hat show at Moreton Manor. They expected more grandeur, but find the manor itself serves as a tourist attraction while the family lives in a secondary house. As they wander in the maze, they find a corpse. They discover things are not quite they seem at the manor with cheap reproductions replacing valuable art pieces. Some inconsistency exists between the earlier installment with a British setting and this one. In English Tea Murder Pam, faced with a maze, states the key is to turn to the left since designers know most people will turn right. In this one, Pam can't figure out which way to go and turns right, getting them lost in the maze. It seems either Pam or Lucy would remember this and automatically go left.

Abandoned Book 1. Ribbon of Sand: The Amazing Conversion of the Ocean and the Outer Banks by John Alexander and James D. Lazell

Date Abandoned: 25 February 2020

Category: Shelter Cats (Abandoned Books)

Comments: The authors repeatedly misspelled my surname when referencing a man who co-authored something in the 17th century. When I got to the chapter on snakes, I decided I'd had enough. The book is fairly academic in tone. It's boring. I abandoned it about halfway through.

Book 68. Rainbows Are Made: Poems by Carl Sandburg

Date Completed: 26 February 2020

Category: Russian Blue (Poetry)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: I enjoyed most of the poems in this collection, but there were a few that were rather simplistic.

Book 69. The Possibility of Prayer: Finding Stillness with God in a Restless World by John Starke

Date Completed: 27 February 2020

Category: Bengal (Other Non-Fiction)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: In the first couple of chapters, the author of this work on prayer tried to be too familiar with the reader. However, the book improved after the shaky start. I expected the book to focus more on the "stillness" aspect than it did. While a couple of chapters did so, the theme did not seem to run throughout the book. The cover art work drew me to the book. While it is not the best book on the subject, readers will find a few takeaways to assist in their Christian growth.

Hope you enjoy your visit to the outer banks Lori! I had a friend several years ago that went there every year for vacation, but I've not made it myself.

>220 markon: This is my first trip there. I've always wanted to go. While I'd enjoy it if things were a little warmer, the rates were good because it was the off season. I'm hoping it is warm enough to at least stroll along the beach. I think it will be a little cool for my normal beach shoes, but that does at least remind me that I need to put some sort of shoe I don't mind getting a little dirty in the car.

>219 thornton37814: Have fun the Outer Banks. I think that's going to be our next vacation when I retire in 2021 as we can then go on off-season. Let us know what you liked most about it!

The book looks like I need to read it. I have no problem being quiet, I have a problem with being still.

>222 Tess_W: I think I'm mostly packed. I've got most things out in the car at this point with the exception of last minute stuff, except for a couple of project totes and one or two cat more things I can go ahead and put out there. If I forget some of the cat stuff or need more litter, I've already spotted a PetsMart less than a mile from the hotel. I want to check on the status of a refrigerator in the room before I buy some things though. The web site doesn't say the rooms have them. If I find it has one, I'll go to the store when I go eat supper tomorrow night.

I'm woefully behind on reading eveyone's threads but did want to wish you a very belated birthday. Also - you're reading at quite a good clip this year! Very impressive.

>224 LittleTaiko: I might have finished a book today, but I kind of got disgusted with a scene in the one I was reading and put it aside to read another one. I haven't officially abandoned the one, but I'm trying to decide if I want to take a chance of being disgusted again. It's an ARC so I'm under obligation for a review.

Have a wonderful trip, Lori. :)

>226 DeltaQueen50: Thanks. So far, so good.

Book 70. Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers

Date Completed: 29 February 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: My comments from 2011 serve as a decent summary of the book: Lord Peter Wimsey's brother Gerald, the Duke of Denver, is arrested for the murder of Mr. Cathcart whose body was found at Riddlesdale Lodge on a night when the Duke had gone out. His brother refuses to talk. His sister is not telling the truth. Wimsey's adventure takes him to England, France, and America as he tries to clear his brother of the charges. There are a few almost comical moments in the book.

I will add that Ian Carmichael's narration was excellent.

My rating remains the same. I commented in 2011 that I was distracted when I read the book. I wondered if my rating would change or not when listening to a narration. It did not. Lord Peter is not my favorite detective, and I doubt he ever will be. I find myself wondering if one must possess a certain fascination with lords, earls, and dukes to enjoy these.

Book 71. Rounding the Mark by Andrea Camilleri

Date Completed: 1 March 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: This may be my least favorite in the Montalbano series to date. Inspector Montalbano discovers a corpse while swimming. It ends up being about a small boy Montalbano encounters who is later murdered. He investigates on the side without authorization and without letting his superiors or his team know what he's up to. In fact, Fazio comes across as a more competent detective than Montalbano in many ways for without him and Mimi, there would not have been a next installment in the series. Grover Gardner's narration was excellent, as usual, but the ending of this one felt a bit abrupt as I listened.

Book 72. The History of England: From the Reign of Henry the 4th to the Death of Charles the 1st by Jane Austen

Date Completed: 1 March 2020

Category: Persian (History & Genealogy)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Written at age sixteen to entertain her family, Jane Austen provides a rather unorthodox account of England's rulers from Henry IV to Charles I. The edition I read contained facsimiles of her handwritten work plus a transcription of it and illustrations by her sister Cassandra. It also contained an introduction written by A. S. Byatt and a note on the text by Deirdre Le Faye. I found Jane's writing quite legible and could read it nearly as fast as the transcription.

Book 73. Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions by Mario Giordano

Date Completed: 1 March 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 2 stars

Review: Auntie Poldi retires to Sicily and almost immediately gets caught up in a police investigation even though she was repeatedly told "no." She thinks authorities neglect the case so her determination to solve it drives her to ignore threats and warnings from officials. The story does not flow well. Whether that lies in the original story or in the translation, I do not know. I never developed a liking for Auntie Poldi, and I doubt I will read future installments.

I was up half the night with a touch of food poisoning. After I fed the cats, I decided to wander down the halls to see if I could find ginger ale, Sprite, or 7-up in a vending machine or at the store in the lobby. This floor lacks a machine, so I asked the clerk at the desk since I didn't see any in their case. He said they'd missed their delivery this week so they were out of lots of things. He told me the machines were on the other floors. The machine on the second floor stocked Sierra Mist wasn't taking dollar bills. The one on 3rd floor didn't have anything for bad stomachs. The one on 4th did take my $1.75, but when I pressed Sierra Mist, out popped Dr. Pepper. I went back to the front desk. The clerk refunded my money, then he went and checked the staff machine in back that stocks canned drinks for 50 cents but they had nothing clear. He gave me quarters for the $1 bill he'd handed me when I told him about the 2nd floor machine not taking dollars. Fortunately that one worked. The internet suggests the "BRAT" diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast). I had a banana in my room so I've just eaten it. I think plain toast might be difficult to come by, but I suspect I can get one of the bagel places to toast a plain bagel for me. I'll grab some applesauce at the grocery store since I know you can buy pre-packaged 4 packs. I'll also buy some ginger ale or other clear drink and more bananas. I suspect I'll be feeling like being a little more adventurous with what I eat tomorrow and hate to lose out on the opportunity to try a restaurant at lunch or supper, but I think I'd better play it safe. The boys are giving me their unending devotion.

>232 thornton37814: I do hope you feel better soon. Nothing makes you feel more wretched more quickly than food poisoning. My own cure is to fast for 24 hours, then just toast to start.

>233 Helenliz: Thanks. I managed the toasted bagel fine for a late breakfast. I just ate some applesauce and a banana along with some crusty bread (since I lack a toaster in the hotel room). I'm glad the appetite is coming back. I may eat smaller more frequent meals for today.

It's rotten being sick but being sick away from home is the worst. I'm glad you're doing better.

>235 clue: I have spent most of the day resting and recuperating. I will probably delay the planned Hatteras trip for a day and do Manteo tomorrow. That way if I get tired, I am close enough to come back to the hotel in a short time.

Book 74. The Wright Brothers by David McCullough

Date Completed: 3 March 2020

Category: Persian (History & Genealogy)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: McCullough's biography of the Wright Brothers explores their fascination with aviation and the race to be first to create a machine capable of flight. Although the brothers lacked a college education, their mechanical skills and their fascination with birds proved useful in being the first to fly. The brothers, from Dayton,Ohio, found a place in the Kill Devil Hills/Kitty Hawk area of North Carolina to test their machine. We all know what happened. Eventually the brothers found a place nearer home to continue their experiments although they returned to the Outer Banks a few years later. The book also deals with their work in Europe and with Orville's flight and crash in the Washington, D.C. area. Although most of the book reads well, some detail near the end becomes tedious. The book contained "hidden end notes" that I loathe.

Abandoned Book 2. A Body in the Bookshop by Helen Cox

Date Abandoned: 3 March 2020

Category: Shelter Cats (Abandoned Reads)

Comments: I enjoyed this book until about 40% through the book when the book took a turn I did not expect. It was one I, as a Christian, did not wish to read about in detail. I took a break for a few days and returned to the book but when the theme picked back up immediately, I knew it was time to abandon the book. Nothing about this appeared in the book's description, and I will not be reading previous or future installments. I received an advance electronic copy through NetGalley with the expectation of an honest review.

Book 75. NC 12: Gateway to the Outer Banks by Dawson Carr

Date Completed: 4 March 2020

Category: Scottish Fold (Travel)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Author Dawson Carr gives just the right amount of history of the Outer Banks themselves along with the efforts to connect the Outer Banks to not only help locals reach neighboring areas but also promote tourism. Naturally road and bridge construction always met with environmental concerns. Today's visitors appreciate the balance between the two. Hurricanes frequently wreak havoc, but the state plans for such eventualities and responds quickly. As I read the book, my travels took me on NC 12 from Corolla to the Graveyard of the Atlantic by the place one catches the ferry to Ocracoke, I truly appreciate the author's insights. Footnotes within the text and additional photographs would improve the book a bit, but this book will serve as a lasting reminder to tourists of their visit to the Outer Banks.

>239 thornton37814: Will check this book out! The Outerbanks is my next vacation destination.

>240 Tess_W: I think it will serve very well as a guide. My public library owned a copy, but since it was published by University of North Carolina Press, many libraries should stock it. If you have not already read McCullough's book on The Wright Brothers, I recommend you read it before visiting the memorial. I really felt it prepared me well for the visit. The ticket you purchase there lasts seven days so you can return later.