PawsforThought reads in 2021, part 2

Hi all.

Like many others, I didn't manage to get much reading done in 2020. Not immediately because of the pandemic, but because there were others things calling for my attention. I managed to get back into knitting and sewing (I'm a member of the Needleworks group here on LT) which has been a great distraction from the world and also spent a lot of time doing jigsaw puzzles.

I always try to fit my books into one of the TIOLI challenges, and even when my reading isn't going quite so well I at least check in and see what challenges are posted. The TIOLI is one of my favourite things about LT.

One of the things that complete fell away last year was my poetry reading. I hope that will go better in 2021.
Other than that I'm going to keep reading my beloved Golden Age mystery novels, mixed with various children's books, classics and whatever else strikes my fancy.



Currently reading:

Books read in 2021:

#1. Passenger to Frankfurt - Agatha Christie. 1970. 207 pages.
#2. The Nine Tailors - Dorothy L. Sayers. 1934. 397 pages.
#3. Equal Rites - Terry Pratchett. 1987. 285 pages.
#4. Gaudy Night - Dorothy L. Sayers. 1940. 352 pages.
#5. If Only They Could Talk - James Herriot. 1970. 123 pages.
#6. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell - Susanna Clarke. 2004. 772 pages.
#7. Death Comes as the End - Agatha Christie. 1945. 191 pages.
#8. It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet - James Herriot. 1972. 131 pages.
#9. Diaboliad and Other Stories - Mikhail Bulgakov. 1924-ish. 151 pages.
#10. The Secret History - Donna Tartt. 1992. 559 pages.
#11. Five Go to Smuggler’s Top - Enid Blyton. 1945. 202 pages.
#12. Busman’s Honeymoon - Dorothy L. Sayers. 1937. 329 pages.
#13. The Borrowers Afield - Mary Norton. 1955. 232 pages.
#14. Something Wicked This Way Comes - Ray Bradbury. 1962. 221 pages.
#15. The Sundial - Shirley Jackson. 1958. 192 pages.
#16. Art Matters: Because Your Imagination Can Change the World - Neil Gaiman. 2018. 122 pages.
#17. The Crime at Black Dudley - Margery Allingham. 1929. 208 pages.
#18. Howl’s Moving Castle - Diana Wynne Jones. 1986. 212 pages.
#19. The Green Mill Murder - Kerry Greenwood. 1993. 173 pages.
#20. N or M? - Agatha Christie. 1941. 253 pages.
#21. Creatures of the Night - Neil Gaiman. 2004. 56 pages.
#22. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie - Muriel Spark. 1961. 128 pages.

The year's reading in covers.

Poetry read in 2021:

Hopefully I am not too early to wish you a happy new thread, Paws.

>5 PaulCranswick: Not at all! Thanks, Paul!

This week children in Sweden are off school for the autumn break, which is also sometimes referred to as the "reading break" (as a contrast to the "sports break" in February/March).

Bonnier, one of the biggest publishers in Sweden, posted a reading bingo for school children on their social media with the following bingo squares:
- Read a book in a genre you don't normally read
- Read a poem
- Read a book with a pretty cover
- Read a classic
- Free square (middle)
- Eat something tasty while you read
- Read a book that has been adapted into a film or TV-series
- Read before you get out of bed
- Wear something matching what you're reading

Happy new thread! I love the idea of a reading break.

Happy new thread, Paws!

>9 FAMeulstee: Thanks Anita!

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Paws.

>7 PawsforThought: Fun challenge. There's two there that I do a lot, eat something tasty while you read, and read before you get out of bed. But wear something matching?

>12 EllaTim: I usually just drink tea while I read. And if I were to read in bed in the morning I’d never make it out of bed. I do read a lot in bed before going to sleep, though.

We're officially going to have a female prime minister for the first time in history. And this year is the centenary of the first general election where women were allowed to vote.

Happy new thread!

>14 PawsforThought: That is wonderful news!!

>15 alcottacre: Thanks!

Yeah, it's great it's finally happening. It's been a mostly-sure thing for weeks, but she was voted in as leader of her party today (and they're leading the coalition government so she'll automatically become prime minister). She'll take over when the current prime minister steps down in a week or so.

#16.



Art Matters: Because Your Imagination Can Change the World by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Chris Riddell

This is a lovely little thing full of inspiration, particularly for artistic people (of all kinds) but also other people who might sometimes feel like what they do doesn’t matter or that they can’t get their dreams.
It’s also a call to arms for the protection of libraries and literacy, which I’m sure everyone on LT can agree with. As a former librarian, I certainly do.

>17 PawsforThought: Hi Paws. That looks interesting! I don’t think I’m very artistic, but I do like the subtitle “Because your Imagination Can Change The World”

Yes to protection of libraries and literacy!

#17.



The Crime at Black Dudley by Margery Allingham
TIOLI Challenge #10: Read a book that can be found at LibraryThing in at least 3 languages

This is the first of Allinghams "Campion" mystery novels and I started reading it to have another Golden Age mystery series to read when I've finished all the Wimsey books.
I wasn't overly enthused by this books - it's a bit too much going on and not all of it seems to make sense, even in hindsight. Campion's barely in it and when he is, he's portrayed as some sort of Percy Blakeney character (in the first Scarlet Pimpernel book). I'll still read at least a couple of other novels in the series to get a fair idea of it, sometimes it takes a while for the author to settle in.

#18.



Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
TIOLI Challenge #5: Read a book that helps you complete a 2021 challenge you are working on

I love this book. I read it for the first time a couple of years ago and I don’t usually re-read things I’ve read so recently but there was a group read in the Geeks who love the Classics group and I couldn’t help myself. Plus, I’d forgotten a lot of the details and wanted to refresh my memory before moving on to the other books in the series.

>17 PawsforThought: Too bad my local library does not have that one. I will have to look further afield. Thanks for the recommendation.

>20 PawsforThought: I am also a fan of that one. I have read it at least 3 times at this piont.

Happy Sunday!

>21 alcottacre: Happy Sunday, Stasia! Nice to see you here and I’m glad I’m not the only Howl fan around. I hope you do find a copy of Art Matters, it’s a lovely little read.

#19.



The Green Mill Murder by Kerry Greenwood
TIOLI Challenge #9: Read a book with OO in the title or author's name

These books are are so lovely to read. There’s adventure and a mystery and numerous descriptions of food and clothes. It’s the perfect thing to read when you’re feeling a bit “meh” or if you’ve just finished reading something heavy and/or demanding and need a palate cleanser.

I made the decision today that I'm not going to stay at my current job. Even before I started working I felt that it wasn't the right fit and nothing has improved in six months. My contract ends at the end of December and there will most likely be a new contract for after the new year, which I'll have to re-apply for, but I don't know if I will.
I haven't told anyone at work yet - I want to wait as long as possible - but I told my family and they are not happy (think I should stick it out until I get another job). But I get anxiety every time I think about work and I don't want to feel like that anymore. I've been looking for other jobs the whole time but I'm making an extra effort now - I don't want to be unemployed more than necessary.

>24 PawsforThought: That's always a difficult decision but it sounds like you have weighed the mental health impact of staying while you look for another job vs. being unemployed for some period of time. You have to do what's right for you. Good luck with your search. What type of work do you do?

>25 lauralkeet: I'm a former librarian who's now working as an administrator for a research program. I like working at the university, but my actual job is basically a customer service/secretary job for a foundation with board and management team meetings minute keeping.
I'm not completely sure what I want to do instead of this, but I'm fairly open. The dream would be to work with language and culture questions, but the field for that is fairly narrow.

>26 PawsforThought: with board and management team meetings minute keeping
Oh, so herding cats. I understand completely!

>27 lauralkeet: Yeah, and trying to cipher what is important information and what is just rambling.

Good luck with the job search, Cousin. It is so draining to be riddled with anxiety every time you think about going to work. Hope that job that really speaks to you pops up soon.

Thank you. Yeah, it is draining - I can’t remember ever being as tired as I’ve been the past few months.

But yoga, reading and knitting has helped.

I hope you find something you like better. It's hard going to work knowing it's the same basic grind if you don't enjoy it.

>23 PawsforThought: I have not tried any of that particular series, but it sounds like they would be up my alley. I will have to give one of them a shot.

>24 PawsforThought: Ugh. I know that must be a tough decision, especially with your family urging you otherwise, but it sounds like you have made a good decision for yourself. I hope you have great luck in finding another position!

Thanks Betty and Stasia. I'm doing everything I can think of to try to find something else.

>32 alcottacre: It's a great series, I've enjoed every book I've read so far and I don't think that'll change as I keep reading. There's also an amazing TV series based on the books (but with enough change in details that you don't get the endings spoiled) that I've watched several times.

>24 PawsforThought: Best of luck finding something that's a better fit for you!

>34 Berly: Thanks Kim!

#20.



N or M? by Agatha Christie
TIOLI Challenge #8. Read a book by an author of a book you finished in the past 3 months (Aug/Sept/Oct 2021)

I wasn’t expecting much from this one, for reasons I can’t explain even to myself, but it ended up being a rather fun little trip through wartime England with the Beresfords working under cover to reveal the identities of British people loyal to Germany. Red herrings galore, but I’m glad to say I was at least suspicious of the right people from fairly early on.

#21.



Creatures of the Night by Neil Gaiman

I wasn't aware that this book existed until I searched through my library's collection of everything Neil Gaiman and stumbled on it. It's a collections of two short-ish graphic novels (or maybe graphics short stories?) about, well, creatures of the night. A cat that seems to be getting into near-deadly fights almost every night, and a girl who is found as a baby and whom the villagers thinks is evil because she has a strange connection to owls.
I really liked both stories and would have loved to read more of the same kind. But that's pretty much how I always feel about Neil Gaiman.

Hi Paws! Belated Happy New Thread!

From your previous thread: My collection of Wimsey is mass market paperbacks, trade paperbacks, and some hardcovers. I, too, would love a nice looking hardcover series.

>19 PawsforThought: I agree about this first in the series, but don’t have any interest in continuing it.

>24 PawsforThought: Best wishes as you look for another job. I hope your family comes around to supporting you.

>38 karenmarie: Hi Karen!

I’m quite relieved I’m not the only person who feels like this about Campion. I was expecting another Wimsey and got nothing of the sort. Allingham has been compared to Sayers,
Christie and Ngaio Marsh (who I’m also a fan of) so I assumed she’d be as good. I do want to try a few more books, because sometimes it takes a while before things get good, but I’m not in a rush.

And thanks for the well-wishes. My family are great most of the time, but there are always some things. I think my mum was mostly angry that she didn’t realise that I was feeling so bad.
I’ve decided not to quit yet but to stay for the two month renewal and apply for the job when the ad comes out, but I’m going to do everything in my power to find something else before then.

I had lunch with my old co-workers last week, which was really nice - I’ve missed them even though I wouldn’t want that job back. It made me realise what a big difference there is with my current co-workers, who are perfectly nice people but we have little to nothing in common and that makes it difficult to connect.

I’m still hopeful I’ll find something better, I just hope it’s fairly soon.

I almost forgot to eat lunch today because these beauties appeared in the garden and I couldn't take my eyes off them. Poor things were looking for food and managed to find our apple trees where they happily munched on dead leaves and dug through the snow for hidden treasures on the ground.
I love roe deer and it's been a long time since I've been able to really study them up close like this (usually they just run quickly past) so it was a real treat.

>40 PawsforThought: How lovely to watch these beauties for a while.
I am usually in the car, when I see some roe deer. All I get is a small glimpse, no time to watch close.

>41 FAMeulstee: Yeah, seeing them dash across the road is probably the most common way of seeing roe deer. A couple of seconds at the most. But these were wandering around and eating for at least half an hour.

>40 PawsforThought: Oh lovely! We more commonly see fallow deer near us.

>43 SandDune: Fallow deer are gorgeous, such a majestic animal. But they don’t live this far north so I’ve only ever seen them in animal parks and zoos.

>40 PawsforThought: Wow, what a lovely christmas picture they make!

>37 PawsforThought: And speaking of pictures, I loved the cover of this book.

Good luck hunting for a better, more fitting place for you. Anxiety at work is the pits.

>37 PawsforThought: I have not heard of that one before by Neil Gaiman, so I will have to see if I can get my hands on a copy.

>40 PawsforThought: Lovely!

>40 PawsforThought: What a treat Paws.

Any joy with job hunting, or are you waiting till the new year to crank that up? I saw your note about current coworkers, and that can really affect how you feel. It has often been the friends made at work that made getting up and going in easy throughout my working life.

>46 alcottacre: It was an unfamiliar title for me too, but I’m glad I stumbled upon it. I hope you manage to find a copy.

>47 Caroline_McElwee: Nothing yet, but I’m applying to every job I think sounds even remotely interesting and have qualifications for.
I have been offered an extension to my current contract (and accepted) to cover the period between the new year and the new position. I’ve also been told they want me to apply and I most likely will do that even though I don’t want it. I really hope something else comes along.

Keeping fingers crossed Paws. Imagine yourself in that new job and draw it to you.

>49 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you, Caroline! I have actually been doing that, trying to manifest my future by imagining it. Can’t hurt.

I hope 2022 is a year with special moments Paws.

>51 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you, Caroline! What a lovely photo! I love St Basil’s Cathedral but I’ve never seen it as a Christmas decoration before.

Merry Christmas to you all, dear friends! I hope you have the very best holiday the circumstances allow and that the new year brings with it only good things.

My Christmas is getting off to a great start with -12 C and clear blue skies. Perfect winter weather. I’m fortunate enough to have my family with me and we’re looking forward to a great meal tonight (and some presents, of course).

I’ll be setting up my thread in the 2022 group sometime during the weekend, when things are a bit calmer.

Or in other words: Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!

Hi Paws!

>40 PawsforThought: What a wonderful photo. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you, Karen! Merry Christmas to you too!

Have a lovely holiday, Paws.

Happy Holidays Paws!

Thank you all for the Christmas wishes. I'm recovering from yesterday's feast and enjoying time with my family.

I'll be staying on this thread until New Year's, and hopefully finishing one or two more books before the end of the year. But if you want to check it out, I have started my thread for 2022 over in the new group. It's here.

>40 PawsforThought: That's awesome!!!



These were our family ornaments this year and, despite COVID, a merry time was had by all. It sounds like the same was true for your holiday and here's to next year!!

I just checked my profile page because I wanted to check my LT age. This year will see my tenth (!) thingaversary! How time flies! I very distinctly remember setting up my LT profile at my old-old job one afternoon when I was low on inspiration and interest and needed something to focus my attention on.

I just realized I completely missed my Thingaversary this month!! LOL

>63 Berly: Well, you'll just have to celebrate it late, then.

#22.



The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark

I'm not quite sure what I think and feel about this book. I don't particularly like of care about any of the characters, which is usually a big check mark in the NO column for me, but I think this is the sort of book that somehow works anyway. There aren't many of them. I think it might be the kind of book I like more as I let it settle. It has a kind of humour that I really like - dry to the point where you almost don't recognise it's a joke.

I've been meaning to read it since I was in Edinburgh on holiday a few years ago (before the plague years) and there was some sort of jubilee connected to Muriel Spark so her books had been reprinted (the cover above) and they were prominently placed in every book shop I wandered into.
I have another Spark book borrowed from the library (Memento Mori that I meant to read this month but will hopefully get to in the new year.

2021 Reading in Review

This was another tough year, so I’m not going to feel bad about my reading total for this year (22 books). Instead I’m going to be happy that so many of my reads were utter joys, that the few duds are now read and I don’t have to think about them again, that I found new authors to love and and that I managed to get truly sucked into reading in a way I can’t remember having done since school.

My favourite reads from 2021 are Terry Pratchett’s Equal Rites, Dorothy L. Sayers’s Gaudy Night and Susannah Clarke’s Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. All of them read during the latter half of the summer - it was really a treat.

Pratchett and Clarke were also two of the best new (to me) authors I had the pleasure of getting to read this year. The third name on the top three was James Herriot.

Best of 2021

Nice year-end recap, Paws. Finding new authors and getting sucked into reading -- that's all good!

>66 PawsforThought: Looks like a successful reading year to me! Frankly, the numbers do not matter really, do they? I will take quality over quantity any day!

>67 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura!

>68 alcottacre: Completely true, Stasia! I’d rather read five really good books that force myself through 25 duds.

With every good wish for 2022 Paws. I hope you find both the perfect new job and new home. And of course, plenty of really good reading.

Three very good choices for your top three, Paws. Glad you enjoyed them, and especially the Terry Pratchett, as it's one of my favourites.

Repeating Caroline's wishes, a great new job and home to go with it. And the best of reading.

I'm spending tomorrow evening at a friend's place, so I'll post my wishes a bit early:

Forget your stresses and strains
As the old year wanes;
All that now remains
Is to bring you good cheer
With wine, liquor or beer
And wish you a special new year.

Happy New Year, Paws.

>70 Caroline_McElwee: >71 EllaTim: and >72 PaulCranswick:
Thank you all for the well-wishes, it’s much appreciated.

Ella, I was so glad that I enjoyed Pratchett, as I it seemed just my kind of thing, but I was worried I’d be disappointed. No such thing, fortunately. I’m reading the next book in the series right now (Wyrd Sisters), and it’s also a treat.