JayneCM Reads Too Much In 2022

I am Jayne, a book lover for as long as I can remember.

This is my fourth year in the challenge. I am always too ambitious but you can never read too much!

265/265 = 100%

* Read Around The World 15/15 = 100%
* 1001 Monthly Challenge 12/12 = 100%
* BingoDOG 25/25 = 100%
* CATWoman 12/12 = 100%
* AuthorCAT 12/12 = 100%
* ShakespeareCAT 12/12 = 100%
* RandomKIT 12/12 = 100%
* AlphaKIT 26/26 = 100%
* MysteryKIT 12/12 = 100%
* ScaredyKIT 12/12 = 100%
* SFFKIT 12/12 = 100%
* Buzzwordathon 12/12 = 100%
* TBR Knockout Challenge 24/24 = 100%
* Read Your Bookshelf Challenge 12/12 = 100%
* Build Your Library Challenge 40/40 = 100%
* Totally Random Reads 15/15 = 100%

'Read Around The World' - read a book from every country

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go." Dr. Seuss


Create Your Own Visited Countries Map

1. His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie (Ghana)- finished 15th January 2022
2. Days In The Caucasus by Banine (Azerbaijan) - finished 2nd May 2022
3. The Gardener From Ochakov by Andrey Kurkov (Ukraine) - finished 4th May 2022
4. The Last Bear by Hannah Gold (Norway) - finished 6th May 2022
5. My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell (Greece) - finished 8th May 2022
6. Miss Ex-Yugoslavia by Sofija Stefanovic (Serbia) - finished 15th May 2022
7. Ice by Ulla-Lena Lundberg (Finland) - finished 17th May 2022
8. Hear No Evil by Sarah Smith (Scotland) - finished 7th July 2022
9. Build Your House Around My Body by Violet Kupersmith (Vietnam)- finished 16th July 2022
10. The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse (Switzerland) - finished 3rd October 2022
11. The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo (Malaysia) - finished 9th October 2022
12. Song of the Sea by Mya Roberts (Canada) - finished 21st October 2022
13. A Master of Djinn by P. Djeli Clark (Egypt) - finished 1st December 2022
14. A Time To Dance by Padma Venkatraman (India) - finished 7th December 2022
15. Paramedic To The Prince by Patrick (Tom) Nostestine (Saudi Arabia) - finished 9th December 2022

15/15 = 100%

'A Challenge in a Challenge' - monthly group challenge reads from 1001 Books group

"Don't limit your challenges; challenge your limits." Tony Robbins

1. January - read anything - Interview With The Vampire by Anne Rice - finished 22nd January 2022
2. February - love story - The Sea, The Sea by Iris Murdoch - finished 27th March 2022
3. March - a colour in the title - White Teeth by Zadie Smith - finished 27th April 2022
4. April - challenge yourself - Walden by Henry David Thoreau - finished 5th August 2022
5. May - World Africa Day - Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs - finished 15th August 2022
6. June - Female author - Mansfield Park by Jane Austen - finished 29th June 2022
7. July - Canada Day or Bastille Day - The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas by Gertrude Stein - finished 29th December 2022
8. August - Happiness Happens - H(a)ppy by Nicola Barker - finished 1st November 2022
9. September - Random letter generator - F - Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton - finished 15th December 2022
10. October - Trick or treat - The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway - finished 27th November 2022
11. November - Country other than your own - Kiss of the Spider Woman by Manuel Puig - finished 25th November 2022
12. December - Catch up - The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte - finished 19th December 2022

12/12 = 100%

'BingoDOG'

"Bingo is my game-o!"



* 1. Published year joined LT (2019) - Heartstopper Volume 1 by Alice Oseman - finished 22nd February 2022
* 2. Modern retelling - These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong - finished 9th January 2022
* 3. A gift - Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron - finished 18th March 2022
* 4. Features a dog - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling - finished 21st June 2022
* 5. Set in another country - Frostbite by Richelle Mead - finished 1st April 2022
* 6. About sisters or brothers - Lost In The Never Woods by Aiden Thomas - finished 12th February 2022
* 7. Childrens or young adult - Sequin and Stitch by Laura Dockrill - finished 13th January 2022
* 8. Silver or gold on cover - Lore by Alexandra Bracken - finished 24th January 2022
* 9. Nonfiction - As Beautiful As Any Other by Kaya Wilson - finished 19th January 2022
* 10. Character shares a name with a friend - The One by John Marrs - finished 21st March 2022
* 11. Published in a year ending with 2 - The Sad Ghost Club 2 by Lize Meddings - finished 6th June 2022
* 12. Weather word in title - One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia - finished 30th July 2022
* 13. Read a CAT - The World of Pooh by A.A. Milne - finished 2nd March 2022 (March AlphaKIT letter P)
* 14. A book club read - The Near Witch by V.E. Schwab - finished 20th January 2022
* 15. A long book - The Toll by Neal Shusterman - finished 25th January 2022
* 16. Set in a capital city - Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman - finished 23rd April 2022
* 17. LGBTQ+ author - The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta - finished 8th January 2022
* 18. Title contains a month - The September Girls by Maureen Lee - finished 21st January 2022
* 19. Title contains a Z - Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak - finished 31st January 2022
* 20. Award winner - Last Night At The Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo - finished 17th February 2022
* 21. Flowers on the cover - Book of Lost Threads by Tess Evans - finished 24th June 2022
* 22. You'd love to see this as a movie - Uprooted by Naomi Novik - finished 20th February 2022
* 23. Travel or a journey - The Intoxicating Mr Lavelle by Neil Blackmore - finished 20th March 2022
* 24. By a favourite author - The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan - finished 5th February 2022
* 25. In translation - The Strange Library by Haruki Murakami - finished 6th January 2022

25/25 = 100%

CATWoman

"Women are like teabags. You never know how strong they are until they are in hot water.” Eleanor Roosevelt

January - Biography, autobiography, memoir - The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting by Evanna Lynch - finished 10th January 2022
February - Women in translation - Confessions by Kanae Minato - finished 28th January 2022
March - Women Pioneers - The Weather Woman by Sally Gardner - finished 3rd November 2022
April - Women of colour - Muddy People by Sara El Sayed - finished 4th July 2022
May - Classics written by women - Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - finished 29th May 2022
June - Books set in cities - The Serpent's Shadow by Mercedes Lackey - finished 26th May 2022
July - Women in science - Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict - finished 25th June 2022
August - Children's/YA/Graphic Novels - City of Rust by Gemma Fowler - finished 20th August 2022
September - Women during war - The Killing Code by Ellie Marney - finished 9th November 2022
October - Women and crime - A Pocket Full of Rye by Agatha Christie - finished 24th September 2022
November - Womens' issues - Marie Curie and the Discovery of Radium by Ann E. Steinke - finished 30th December 2022
December - Prize winner by a woman - Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth - finished 21st November 2022

12/12 = 100%

AuthorCAT

"The art of writing is the art of discovering what you believe." Gustave Flaubert

January - Indigenous Writers - Too Afraid To Cry by Ali Cobby Eckermann - finished 23rd January 2022
February - 19th Century Authors - Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy - finished 19th April 2022
March - Authors First Published At 40 Or Later - Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby - finished 12th April 2022
April - Debut Author - Brightstorm by Vashti Hardy - finished 25th March 2022
May - Author from your own country - Echoes of War by Tania Blanchard - finished 10th May 2022
June - Nonfiction - The Light of Days by Judy Batalion - finished 23rd September 2022
July - Asian Authors - The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen - finished 30th June 2022
August - Prize winners - Pachinko by Min Jin Lee (winner 2018 Medici Book Club Prize) - finished 19th July 2022
September - African authors - Far From The Light Of Heaven by Tade Thompson - finished 1st September 2022
October - Authors in translation - The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski - finished 12th October 2022
November - Real events in fiction - The Butterfly Collector by Tea Cooper -finished 5th October 2022
December - Favourite author - Return to the Secret Lake by Karen Inglis - finished 11th December 2022

12/12 = 100%

ShakespeareCAT

“When I read Shakespeare I am struck with wonder that such trivial people should muse and thunder in such lovely language.” D.H. Lawrence

January - King Lear - Learwife by J.R. Thorp - finished 10th July 2022
February - Much Ado About Nothing - Speak Easy, Speak Love by McKelle George - finished 30th March 2022
March - Book based on a Shakespeare play - A Foolish Heart by Martha Keyes - finished 22nd December 2022
April - Hamlet - The Weight of an Infinite Sky by Carrie La Seur - finished 26th June 2022
May - Shakespeare's Kings & Medieval History - Henry V: Shakespeare Stories by Andrew Matthews - finished 26th December 2022
June - The Roman Plays & Ancient History - Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran - finished 26th September 2022
July - Justice - The Tempest - Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel - finished 20th June 2022
August - Lesser known works - Titus Andronicus - Good Murder by Robert Gott - finished 17th December 2022
September - Sonnets and poems - The Girl in the Glass Tower by Elizabeth Fremantle - finished 16th November 2022
October - Macbeth - The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown - finished 23rd November 2022
November - Shakespeare and his world - Master Skylark by John Bennett - finished 25th November 2022
December - The Winter's Tale - The Gap of Time by Jeanette Winterson - finished 27th December 2022

12/12 = 100%

RandomKIT

"Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you." Princess Diana

January - Home Sweet Home - Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers - finished 14th January 2022
February - Book with a cat - Counting By 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan - finished 17th March 2022
March - Hobby love - The Reading Promise by Alice Ozma - finished 29th March 2022
April - April showers - Shouting At The Rain by Lynda Mullaly Hunt - finished 22nd April 2022
May - May flowers - The Duke and I by Julia Quinn - finished 1st June 2022
June - Cooking the books - Rachel's Pudding Pantry by Caroline Roberts - finished 18th August 2022
July - Dog days of summer - These Unlucky Stars by Gillian McDunn - finished 18th October 2022
August - Canada - A Magic Steeped In Poison by Judy I. Lin (author lives in Canada) - finished 23rd August 2022
September - Harvest/Autumn - All Among The Barley by Melissa Harrison - finished 21st December 2022
October - What's in a name - Laurinda by Alice Pung - finished 14th October 2022
November - City in title - The Last Bookshop In London by Madeline Martin - finished 23rd October 2022
December - Christmas sweets - Tinsel: The Girls Who Invented Christmas by Sibeal Pounder - finished 13th December 2022

12/12 = 100%

AlphaKIT

"I knew the alphabet. Maybe I could be a writer." Hubert Selby Jnr.

January
For R - Rain: Four Walks In English Weather by Melissa Harrison - finished 5th March 2022
For H - The Hatmakers by Tamzin Merchant - finished 29th January 2022

February
For A - Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie - finished 24th February 2022
For B - The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo - finished 8th March 2022

March
For P - Eight Perfect Hours by Lia Louis - finished 23rd March 2022
For S - The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren - finished 28th February 2022

April
For L - The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis - finished 7th April 2022
For J - Julia and the Shark by Kiran Millwood Hargrave - finished 27th June 2022

May
For O - Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman - finished 31st May 2022
For D - The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O'Neill - finished 18th June 2022

June
For Q - Questions Raised by Quolls by Harry Saddler - finished 25th December 2022
For C - A Caravan Like A Canary by Sasha Wasley - finished 2nd July 2022

July
For E - The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton - finished 17th August 2022
For T - Tunnel of Bones by Victoria Schwab - finished 11th July 2022

August
For M - The Five Wishes of Mr Murray McBride by Joe Siple - finished 14th July 2022
For F - Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison - finished 17th July 2022

September
For K - King Solomon's Mines by H. Rider Haggard - finished 3rd September 2022
For I - Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson - finished 7th August 2022

October
For V - The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser - finished 23rd December 2022
For N - Nevertell by Katharine Orton - finished 17th September 2022

November
For G - A Good Girl's Guide To Murder by Holly Jackson - finished 27th October 2022
For U - Tiny Uncertain Miracles by Michelle Johnston - finished 30th October 2022

December
For Y - Yesterday Crumb and the Storm in a Teacup by Andy Sagar - finished 25th October 2022
For W - The Witch's Boy by Kelly Barnhill - finished 2nd October 2022

Year Long
For X - Xavier In The Meantime by Kate Gordon - finished 9th September 2022
For Z - Zane and the Hurricane by Rodman Philbrick - finished 24th December 2022

26/26 = 100%

MysteryKIT

"Mysteries abound where most we seek for answers." Ray Bradbury

January - Series - Murder At The Vicarage by Agatha Christie - finished 3rd February 2022
February - Cold Crimes - The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St James - finished 4th July 2022
March - Small Town - The Body In The Library by Agatha Christie - finished 4th March 2022
April - Noir and Hard-boiled - The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain - finished 12th August 2022
May - Detectives in Translation - Pietr the Latvian by Georges Simenon - finished 17th November 2022
June - Historical Mystery - The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline by Nancy Springer - finished 19th August 2022
July - Golden Age - They Do It With Mirrors by Agatha Christie - finished 28th July 2022
August - Technothrillers - Dragon Teeth by Michael Crichton - finished 31st December 2022
September - Animal mystery - Lending A Paw by Laurie Cass -finished 29th October 2022
October - Mysteries featuring food - The Great Witches Baking Show by Nancy Warren - finished 24th November 2022
November - Gothic - Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz - finished 14th November 2022
December - Holiday mysteries - The Christmas Tree Murders by Andrea Hicks - finished 6th December 2022

12/12 = 100%

ScaredyKIT

"Every day is Halloween, isn't it? For some of us." Tim Burton

January - Haunted House - Slade House by David Mitchell - finished 4th January 2022
February - Spiders, Snakes and other Creepy Crawlers - The Spider Ring by Andrew Harwell - finished 13th March 2022
March - Switched (or assumed) identities - Coraline by Neil Gaiman - finished 4th August 2022
April - Serial Killers - Witches of Ash and Ruin by E. Latimer - finished 12th November 2022
May - Short Stories, Novellas & Anthologies - Hometown Haunts edited by Poppy Nwosu - finished 9th July 2022
June - Into the wild - The Woods Are Always Watching by Stephanie Perkins - finished 26th July 2022
July - The living dead - Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead - finished 20th July 2022
August - Children/YA - Bridge of Souls by Victoria Schwab - finished 10th August 2022
September - Unreliable Narrator - The Turn of the Screw by Henry James - finished 4th December 2022
October - Witches, Evil Spirits and Black Magic - Hocus Pocus by A.W. Jantha - finished 16th October 2022
November - Stephen King and family - Carrie by Stephen King - finished 1st October 2022
December - Holiday theme - Wildacre: A Christmas Story by Shani Struthers - finished 6th December 2022

12/12 = 100%

SFFKIT

"Fantasy is hardly an escape from reality. It's a way of understanding it." Lloyd Alexander

January - Villain/morally grey main character - Unbirthday by Liz Braswell - finished 1st January 2022
February - Time travel - This Is How You Lose The Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone - finished 21st May 2022
March - Historical sci fi/fantasy - Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen - finished 12th March 2022
April - Lifespans - Twilight by Stephanie Meyer - finished 5th June 2022
May - Invasion - Terra Nullius by Claire G. Coleman - finished 29th September 2022
June - Next book in a series - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling - finished 2nd June 2022
July - Family, born or found - The Witch Boy by Molly Knox Ostertag - finished 28th June 2022
August - Asian Authors of SFF - Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki -finished 13th November 2022
September - Quests and Journeys - Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke - finished 30th August 2022
October - Robots and AI - All Systems Red by Martha Wells - finished 7th December 2022
November - Award Winners - The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin (won Hugo, Locus and Nebula Awards for best novel) - finished 8th November 2022
December - Wishes - Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree - finished 8th December 2022

12/12 = 100%

Buzzwordathon

"I feel it can be dangerous to explain whole cultures with buzzwords." Haruki Murakami

Hosted by BooksandLala

January - The 5 w's - What If It's Us by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera - finished 11th January 2022
February - Pronouns - As You Wish by Cary Elwes - finished 11th April 2022
March - Locations - The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley - finished 23rd May 2022
April - Big and little - Small Favors by Erin A. Craig - finished 21st September 2022
May - Directions - Aster's Good, Right Things by Kate Gordon - finished 12th July 2022
June - "All" - All That's Left In The World by Erik J. Brown - finished 5th July 2022
July - Book related words - Fable by Adrienne Young - finished 25th July 2022
August - Items - Under The Whispering Door by T.J. Klune - finished 26th August 2022
September - Light and dark - Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston - finished 9th August 2022
October - Creatures and animals - Beartown by Fredrik Backman - finished 8th September 2022
November - "ing" - Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano - finished 11th October 2022
December - Numbers - One Hundred Days by Alice Pung - finished 12th September 2022

12/12 = 100%

TBR Knockout Challenge

"The best feeling is to win by knockout." Nonito Donaire

Hosted by Completely Melanie

January - New Year
1. Book you meant to read last year - The Fell by Sarah Moss - finished 3rd January 2022
2. Read first book in a series - The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson - finished 12th January 2022

February - Short
1. Short story collection - The Beggar Maid by Alice Munro - finished 18th November 2022
2. Short book (250 pages or less) - Marigolds and Murder by London Lovett - finished 2nd February 2022

March - Transformation
1. Book with some form of shapeshifting - The Girl From The Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag - finished 1st March 2022
2. Book that includes magic - The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis - finished 3rd March 2022

April - Spring
1. Book with flowers on cover - The Yellow Bird Sings by Jennifer Rosner - finished 13th May 2022
2. Debut novel - Borderline by Mishell Baker - finished 28th March 2022

May - Birthday
1. Book with 5-7 words in title - How The Marquis Got His Coat Back by Neil Gaiman - finished 23rd April 2022
2. Book with green on cover - Heartstopper Volume 2 by Alice Oseman - finished 29th April 2022

June - Pride
1. LGBTQ+ book - Heartstopper Volume 4 by Alice Oseman - finished 24th May 2022
2. Book with transgender or nonbinary character - Act Cool by Tobly McSmith - finished 8th August 2022

July - Beach Reads
1. Book with a water creature - The Gates of Sleep by Mercedes Lackey - finished 23rd July 2022
2. Book with water on cover - The Darkdeep by Ally Condie - finished 6th October 2022

August - Back To School
1. Buddy read a book - Piranesi by Susanna Clarke - finished 2nd August 2022
2. Nonfiction - The Blue Zones Solution by Dan Buettner - finished 7th August 2022

September - Fall
1. Book with leaves on the cover - Circe by Madeline Miller - finished 15th September 2022
2. Book with red, orange or yellow on cover - October, October by Katya Balen - finished 20th October 2022

October - Halloween
1. Paranormal book - My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix - finished 9th October 2022
2. Book with word black in title, series name or author's name Black Ships Before Troy by Rosemary Sutcliff - finished 5th December 2022

November - Roll Back The Clocks
1. Book with time travel - Waking In Time by Angie Stanton - finished 16th December 2022
2. Book with word time in title or series name Now Is Not The Time To Panic by Kevin Wilson - finished 27th November 2022

December - Merry Bookmas
1. Book you think will make you merry - The Second Chance Holiday Club by Kate Galley - finished 4th December 2022
2. Bookish book - Mim and the Baffling Bully by Katrina Nannestad - finished 8th December 2022

24/24 = 100%

Read Your Bookshelf Challenge

"What is a bookshelf other than a treasure chest for a curious mind?"

Hosted by Chantel Reads All Day

January - Quiet - The Ice Whisperers by Helenka Strachera - finished 26th February 2022
February - "Love" in the title - The Vintage Guide To Love And Romance by Kirsty Greenwood - finished 14th March 2022
March - Growth - Lab Girl by Hope Jahren - finished 20th April 2022
April - Your initials in the title - Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson - finished 11th June 2022
May - New-to-you author - The Guncle by Steven Rowley - finished 30th April 2022
June - Book on the cover - Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan - finished 9th June 2022
July - One you've been avoiding - The House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward - finished 9th December 2022
August - Body part in the title - The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold - finished 6th August 2022
September - Collection - Dropbear by Evelyn Araluen - finished 13th September 2022
October - "Secret" in the title - The Secret Lake by Karen Inglis - finished 11th December 2022
November - Cosy or nostalgic - Would You Rather by Allison Ashley - finished 31st October 2022
December - Mostly white cover - The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson - finished 11th November 2022

12/12 = 100%

Build Your Library Challenge

"Do you know what they call people who hoard books? Smart." Lisa Scottoline

Hosted by ARRRGH! Schooling / BuildYourLibrary.com

* 1. A story with magic that ISN'T Harry Potter - A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske - finished 17th January 2022
* 2. A story set in a fantastical world - A Face Like Glass by Frances Hardinge - finished 26th January 2022
* 3. A portal fantasy Across The Green Grass Fields by Seanan McGuire - finished 30th June 2022
* 4. A story about a real-life adventure A Cuban Girl's Guide To Tea and Tomorrow by Laura Taylor Namey - finished 26th November 2022
* 5. A book about a sport or game Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K.Rowling - finished 28th August 2022
* 6. A story set in space - Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir - finished 6th January 2022
* 7. A book about a road trip Stardust by Neil Gaiman - finished 13th June 2022
* 8. A story about spies All The Courage We Have Found by Carly Schabowski - finished 2nd December 2022
* 9. A book about a heist Outlawed by Anna North - finished 1st July 2022
* 10. A story set at sea The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan - finished 18th January 2022
* 11. A story set under the sea The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea by Axie Oh - finished 27th September 2022
* 12. A story set in a place you have always wanted to visit (Edinburgh) City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab - finished 19th May 2022
* 13. A book with a map in it The Princess Bride by William Goldman - finished 28th April 2022
* 14. A story about someone whose life is very different from your own - Stay Gold by Tobly McSmith - finished 27th January 2022
* 15. A story about someone with superpowers - Nimona by Noelle Stevenson - finished 4th January 2022
* 16. A book with the word adventure, journey or quest in the title The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart - finished 5th September 2022
* 17. A story set during a war Toro! Toro! by Michael Morpurgo - finished 13th May 2022
* 18. A book with an animal as the protagonist Black Beauty by Anna Sewell - finished 2nd April 2022
* 19. A memoir or biography about a fascinating person This Much Is True by Miriam Margolyes - finished 22nd June 2022
* 20. A story about a discovery - Darkwhispers by Vashti Hardy - finished 15th April 2022
* 21. A book with a sword, dagger or shield on the cover - The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan - finished 4th April 2022
* 22. A book where someone travels across the world Around The World In Eighty Days by Jules Verne - finished 5th May 2022
* 23. The book you would bring with you to a desert island Frostheart by Jamie Littler - finished 28th December 2022
* 24. A new release you are excited about Book Lovers by Emily Henry - finished 16th June 2022
* 25. A story about a circus or carnival The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - finished 3rd December 2022
* 26. A mystery or thriller - The Moving Finger by Agatha Christie - finished 3rd April 2022
* 27. A new book by a favourite author Firesong by Vashti Hardy - finished 17th June 2022
* 28. A book with a suitcase or backpack on the cover - Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow by Benjamin Dean - finished 2nd January 2022
* 29. A book about camping or summer camp - The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan - finished 24th March 2022
* 30. A story that has been adapted into a movie or TV show Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead - finished 22nd March 2022
* 31. A book with the word lost in the title The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - finished 11th August 2022
* 32. A post-apocalyptic story 470 by Linda Woodrow - finished 31st July 2022
* 33. A story about a disaster Sugar by Carly Nugent - finished 5th November 2022
* 34. A book you have always wanted to read Outlander by Diana Gabaldon - finished 9th February 2022
* 35. A story about immigrants The Family Law by Benjamin Law - finished 3rd July 2022
* 36. A genre you don't normally read - Misery by Stephen King - finished 14th January 2022
* 37. A non-fiction book about a subject you've never learned about A Royal Christmas by Jeremy Archer - finished 29th November 2022
* 38. A book by a debut author - Fight Club by Chuck Palahnuik - finished 31st March 2022
* 39. A book recommended by someone famous The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller - finished 20th May 2022
* 40. A book with a beautiful cover Winterhouse by Ben Guterson - finished 7th June 2022

40/40 = 100%

.

Totally Random Reads - the ones that do not fit anywhere else

"Do not read, as children do, to amuse yourself, or like the ambitious, for the purpose of instruction. No, read in order to live." Gustave Flaubert

1. The Fire Rose by Mercedes Lackey - finished 6th April 2022
2. The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood - finished 8th April 2022
3. Heartstopper Volume 3 by Alice Oseman - finished 29th April 2022
4. A Cat Story by Ursula Murray Husted - finished 11th May 2022
5. Grimms Fairy Tales by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm - finished 11th May 2022
6. And Every Morning The Way Home Gets Longer And Longer by Fredrik Backman - finished 12th May 2022
7. Recipe For A Kinder Life by Annie Smithers - finished 14th May 2022
8. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling - finished 16th May 2022
9. Tidesong by Wendy Xu - finished 27th May 2022
10. A Murder Is Announced by Agatha Christie - finished 3rd June 2022
11. Loveless by Alice Oseman - finished 24th August 2022
12. The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett - finished 2nd September 2022
13. Ace of Spades by Faridah Abike-Iyimide - finished 22nd September 2022
14. The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett - finished 4th October 2022
15. Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix - finished 7th October 2022

15/15 = 100%

Very nice set up. I like that TBR challenge. Good luck!

Cool pictures! (although your CATWoman picture wasn't showing for me - all the other ones showed up fine). Hope you have a good reading year!

Great quotes! Love your CATS! Good luck with your reading in 2022!

Looks like you have some interesting challenges here! And I love the quotes.

Great theme and enticing challenges. Happy reading in 2022!

Great setup and some fun looking challenges! Enjoy your 2022 reading.

I love your challenge this year! Hoping to get a few BBs along the way too.

I really like your quotes, and am mightily impressed by your plan to participate in every CAT and KIT. Happy reading!

Woo hoo, looks like a great setup! Good luck with all the CATs and KITs!

Great setup! I love that Eleanor Roosevelt quote, that's one for the notebook. And the TBR challenge looks very interesting. Good luck with it!

I enjoy your quotes, and I'm happy to see you're ready for the mystery and scaredykits!

Love the quotes! Have loads of fun with your challenges in 2022.

Have fun with your 2022 challenges and find lots of great reads!

Good luck with your 2022 reading.

Interesting challenges, especially the buzz words!

Happy reading in 2022!

Hi Jayne, I don't think you can read too much either - but I'm a long way from reading 190 in a year! I think my high has been about 125. I feel like a slacker in this bunch! LOL!

I hope you have a lot of great reading ahead!

>33 clue: Maybe you have more of a life than me! :)
But I don't regret spending lots of time reading!

January 2022

1. Unbirthday by Liz Braswell - finished 1st January 2022 - January SFFKIT Villain/morally grey character
2. Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow by Benjamin Dean - finished 2nd January 2022 - Build Your Library Challenge - book with backpack or suitcase on cover
3. The Fell by Sarah Moss - finished 3rd January 2022 - January TBR Knockout Challenge - book you meant to read in 2021
4. Nimona by Noelle Stevenson - finished 4th January 2022 - Build Your Library Challenge - story about someone with superpowers
5. Slade House by David Mitchell - finished 4th January 2022 - January ScaredyKIT - Haunted house
6. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir - finished 5th January 2022 - Build Your Library Challenge - story set in space
7. The Strange Library by Haruki Murakami - finished 6th January 2022 - BingoDOG - in translation
8. The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta - finished 8th January 2022 - BingoDOG - LGBTQ+ author
9. These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong - finished 9th January 2022 - BingoDOG - modern retelling
10. The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting by Evanna Lynch - 10th January 2022 - CATWoman - biography, autobiography, memoir
11. What If It's Us by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera - finished 11th January 2022 - January Buzzwordathon - the 5 w's
12. The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson - finished 12th January 2022 - January TBR Knockout Challenge - first book in a series
13. Sequin and Stitch by Laura Dockrill - finished 13th January 2022 - BingoDOG - children or young adult
14. Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers - finished 14th January 2022 - RandomKIT - Home Sweet Home
15. Misery by Stephen King - finished 14th January 2022 - Build Your Library Challenge - genre you don't normally read
16. His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie - finished 15th January 2022 - Read Around The World (Ghana)
17. A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske - finished 17th January 2022 - Build Your Library Challenge - a story with magic that ISN'T Harry Potter
18. A Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan - finished 18th January 2022 - Build Your Library Challenge - a story set at sea
19. As Beautiful As Any Other by Kaya Wilson - finished 19th January 2022 - BingoDOG - nonfiction
20. The Near Witch by V.E. Schwab - finished 20th January 2022 - BingoDOG - a book club read
21. The September Girls by Maureen Lee - finished 21st January 2022 - BingoDOG - title contains a month
22. Interview With The Vampire by Anne Rice - finished 22nd January 2022 - January 1001 Challenge - read anything
23. Too Afraid To Cry by Ali Cobby Eckermann - finished 23rd January 2022 - January AuthorCAT - indigenous author
24. Lore by Alexandra Bracken - finished 24th January 2022 - BingoDOG - gold or silver on cover
25. The Toll by Neal Shusterman - finished 25th January 2022 - BingoDOG - a long book
26. A Face Like Glass by Frances Hardinge - finished 26th January 2022 - Build Your Library Challenge - story set in a fantastical world
27. Stay Gold by Tobly McSmith - finished 27th January 2022 - Build Your Library Challenge - story about someone whose life is very different from your own
28. Confessions by Kanae Minato - finished 28th January 2022 - February CATWoman - women in translation
29. The Hatmakers by Tamzin Merchant - finished 29th January 2022 - January AlphaKIT - letter H
30. Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak - finished 31st January 2022 - BingoDog - title contains a Z

30/250 = 12%

Read Around The World 1/15 = 6.67% His Only Wife
1001 Monthly Challenge 1/12 = 8.33% Interview With The Vampire
BingoDOG 10/25 = 40% The Strange Library, The Black Flamingo, These Violent Delights, Sequin and Stitch, As Beautiful As Any Other, The Near Witch, The September Girls, Lore, The Toll, Doctor Zhivago
CATWoman 2/12 = 16.67% The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting, Confessions
AuthorCAT 1/12 = 8.33% Too Afraid To Cry
ShakespeareCAT 0/12 =
RandomKIT 1/12 = 8.33% Mary Poppins
AlphaKIT 1/26 = 3.85% The Hatmakers
MysteryKIT 0/12 =
ScaredyKIT 1/12 = 8.33% Slade House
SFFKIT 1/12 = 8.33% Unbirthday
Buzzwordathon 1/12 = 8.33% What If It's Us
TBR Knockout Challenge 2/24 = 8.33% The Fell, The Final Empire
Read Your Bookshelf Challenge 0/12 =
Build Your Library Challenge 8/40 = 20% Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow, Nimona,Project Hail Mary, Misery, A Marvellous Light, The Sea of Monsters, A Face Like Glass, Stay Gold

Book 1. Unbirthday by Liz Braswell

January SFFKIT - Villain/morally grey character

The villain in this book is, of course, the Queen of Hearts as this is retelling of Alice in Wonderland.

What a fun and entertaining reimagining of Alice in Wonderland!
The author does a wonderful job of recreating the feel of Lewis Carroll's original story, with all sorts of little elements of the original tucked away in this story.
The Victorian era of the story is also wonderfully recreated. I particular enjoy the parallels between events that were occurring in the real life times of this era and the happenings in Wonderland. Such as the comparison to the Russian Revolution and the reluctance of the English royal family to become involved with the similar reluctance of the Queen of Clubs reticence in denouncing the Queen of Hearts; the weaving in of votes for women and the rights of factory workers and immigrants in Victorian England.
But all in all, it was just a fun read. I love retellings where you have to 'work out' the counterparts of the all the real world characters.
Thoroughly enjoyable.

"I declare teatime and Nonsense until the End of Time!"
Sounds good to me!

Good to see that you’re starting the year with a book a day!

>37 pamelad: Yes! I have a middle grade today so should be 2 for 2!

Book 2. Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow by Benjamin Dean

Build Your Library Challenge - book with a backpack or suitcase on the cover

Smiles and joy on every page! This book was witty, heartfelt and full of glittery sparkles!

The story is all about the importance of living life as your own person and forming relationships that nurture.

"One thing I've learned since then is that life can be delicate and frail, but it can also be full of colour and wonder. You just have to let it in."

A reminder to not travel through a grey and dull life through fear of what others will think, but to embrace it - the people who embrace you back are worth keeping in your life.

". . . Pride is all about family, both the ones you're given and the ones you make."

And the illustrations are adorable - I can imagine how spectacular they would look if they were all in colour, based on the inside cover illustration.

In the second half, the plot did become a little repetitive; the search for the children seemed to go round in circles for too long.

But still four rainbow, glittery, sparkly stars!

Book 3. The Fell by Sarah Moss

January TBR Knockout Challenge - book you meant to read in 2021

This is a book that will be relatable to pretty much every human, as we have nearly all had to live through lockdowns and the other recent (and ongoing) experiences of the COVID pandemic.
It is written from a number of POVs, in a loose stream of consciousness style. The characters' thoughts, like anyone's thoughts in real life, are often circular and unstructured. This adds to the humanity of the story. There are so many elements of our current lives voiced in the book that I'm sure we have thought ourselves during these times.
It has a very abrupt ending which may not be to everyone's taste - if you like a definite conclusion to a story, you may be annoyed by this. But I feel this emphasises the uncertainty that we are all still living with, as we try to find a new way forward, a way to live with our altered circumstances.
This is the first book I have read about the actual COVID pandemic, rather than a fictional pandemic. I can see that in the future, this book will become an important read as a fictional record of the time.

>40 JayneCM: - I took a BB for another one of her books and I'm hoping she doesn't write all her books in the stream of conscientious style as that's one that I just don't enjoy.

Happy New Year, Jayne! What a wonderfull collection of challenges and quotes! The TBR challenge is fantastic. If I read more than 25 books a year, I would copy it immediately. :)

Book 4. Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

Build Your Library Challenge - story about someone with superpowers

This is exactly what I want my graphic novels to be!
Nimona is hilarious from the start, witty in her cutting way, and always ready to wreak havoc and mayhem. One of her first comments about coming up with an evil plan is:

"We could do with more general chaos. I'm talking fire everywhere."

I love the duality of the story - is Nimona a girl posing as a monster or a monster posing as a girl? Don't we all have a little of both in us?

The art is wonderful, the colours are spot on. I love that is a medieval theme based around modern technology.

A heartfelt, joyful story with lots of blowing things up! Super fun.

Book 5. Slade House by David Mitchell

January ScaredyKIT - Haunted house

This was a delightfully creepy read. I loved the build up of suspense with the happenings in Slade House every nine years, with the first chapter set in 1979 and the last in 2015. Each chapter adds a little more to our knowledge of what the house is hiding.

>44 JayneCM: Oh, I loved that one - I'm so glad you did, too!!

>45 JayneCM: This one is on my list somewhere...

>36 JayneCM: oof
>44 JayneCM: oof
>45 JayneCM: oof

I've been caught in a hale of BB!
Thank goodness for libraries.

You are off to a good start--5 already!

>46 scaifea: >47 dreamweaver529: >48 thornton37814: Thanks everyone! Enjoy the BBs! Libraries are definitely fantastic - I could never buy all the books I would want to read.
Let's see if I can keep it to a book a day for the whole month - that would be something!

>49 JayneCM: When you say "keep it to a book a day" do you mean maximum or minimum? I'm trying for a book a day maximum this year!

>50 pamelad: Let's say, at least a book a day! My Goodreads goal is 250 this year, so it needs to be a book nearly every day. This month I think I have 10+ books of more than 450 pages, so we will see!

Book 6. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Build Your Library Challenge - story set in space

Who knew I loved science books set in space?! I was surprised to love The Martian so much and this is another great book by Andy Weir.

I just love how the author makes science facts interesting and accessible. I never studied physics but I can understand all the science (enough to know what he is talking about anyway!) and I don't know how he writes it to make it so easily understandable.

I liked the novel's set up, using the alternating timelines, so we can see how the mission ended up where it is.

And Rocky is my new favourite character ever! His manner of speech is so well done, hilarious.

"I am happy. You no die. Let's save planets!"

Book 7. The Strange Library by Haruki Murakami

BingoDOG - in translation

I loved this fun and creepy story about a little boy visiting the library. I particularly loved the book's layout, setting it up as an old book using illustrations, library stamps and different fonts.

I found you! I'll never be able to keep up with your pace though! :)

>51 JayneCM: - That's so ambitious.

>52 JayneCM: - I've heard lots of love for this book and I'm looking forward to reading it. Hopefully this year. I need to check and see how long the list at the library is.

>54 VictoriaPL: Hmmm, I might not be able to keep up with my pace either! :)

>55 dudes22: I did have a 6 week wait to get the book, but it is well worth it!

Book 8. The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta

BingoDOG - LGBTQ+ author

A heartwarming story of a boy and his journey to coming out and accepting both his racial identity and his sexual identity.
We follow Michael from the beginning of the book, where Michael's mother tells him it would be best to leave his Barbie at home, to Michael's triumphant debut performance as the Black Flamingo.

"He is me, who I have been,
who I am, who I hope to become.
Someone fabulous, wild and strong.
With or without a costume on."

The book is written in free verse, interspersed with the author's poetry, and has wonderful illustrations.

This is beautiful and brave.

"Remember you have the right to be proud.
Remember you have the right to be you."

>57 JayneCM: Oh, that one sounds excellent - adding it to my list!

Book 9. These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

BingoDOG - modern retelling

"A love like theirs was never going to survive in a city divided by hatred."

This is a retelling of Romeo and Juliet, set in 1920s Shanghai against the backdrop of the Communist rise for power.
The author evokes the decadence yet poverty and the juxtaposition of all the different groups living in Shanghai at that time wonderfully, whilst also imbuing a fantastical element to the story with the threat of the monster.
I love that the book is set four years after the original - the Romeo and Juliet characters were teenage lovers but now their gang affiliation has torn them apart. And Juliette is totally badass now!
This read was a solid four stars until the last few chapters and the epilogue, then it sky rocketed! The ending was totally unexpected. I cannot wait to read the second book now.

Book 10. The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting by Evanna Lynch

CATWoman - biography, autobiography, memoir

I must admit to picking this up purely from my love of Luna Lovegood. She has always been my favourite HP character - when she was first introduced, I was like that's me!
But this book focuses on Evanna's struggle with anorexia as well as her eventual casting as Luna and then into her adulthood and current day.

I appreciated that Evanna decided to not make the book all about the disease - many memoirs like this contain detailed descriptions of weights, inventive ways to avoid eating, photos, etc - she said she would use books like those as manuals for how to 'do' anorexia.

This is more a book about any mental health issue, as it is about the thought processes and emotions that led to her latching onto anorexia as her way of having control over her life. As she says, these can be channelled in different ways for different people, some destructive, some constructive. She was just as driven to 'succeed' at her anorexia as people are who choose more 'acceptable' paths to follow with their obsessions.

Her writing is beautiful and powerful. I loved the second last sentence of the afterword:

"And maybe I will live a happier, wilder, more colourful and unpredictable life if I can finally abandon the debilitating and brutal pursuit of perfection."

Of course, many trigger warnings, so check for those if you want to read this.

>60 JayneCM: - Although not something I would read, I do love that cover.

>59 JayneCM:
I don't know if I will read this one but my library actually has it for a change!

>60 JayneCM: Wow, I did not know that she published a book and that she had to battle such issues! Thank you for the review. I don't think that it is a book for me, but I love the quote.

Book 11. What If It's Us by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera

January Buzzwordathon - the 5 w's

This was a cute fluffy romance. Ben and Arthur meet but do not exchange names and numbers. Then they wish they had so each embark on a mission to find the other.
To be honest, this was my favourite part of the book. The plot seemed more focused when they were trying to find each other; once they met and started dating, it just seemed to ramble. Their dates became quite boring and very much the same. And I love pop culture references as much as the next guy, especially musicals. But if you did not know the references, there were just too many of them in this book. I think readers that didn't know the references would get frustrated.
Overall, cute and fun - Arthur and Ben have some adorable moments but not enough to hold the book together for 433 pages.

Book 12. The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

January TBR Knockout Challenge - first book in a series

Just yes, yes, yes! And why haven't I read Brandon Sanderson before?!
The characters are wonderful, eerie atmosphere, and a fantastic magic system. The world building is spot on.
I could say more, but just read it!

Book 13. Sequin and Stitch by Laura Dockrill

BingoDOG - childrens or young adult

This is a sweet early readers chapter book. It tackles some big issues in a way that is relatable to children. And I love that it is sewing themed.

>65 JayneCM: Oh man, you're reminding me that I really need to read Brandon Sanderson! I have Mistborn on my TBR shelves...maybe this will be the year.

>67 christina_reads: It has taken me ages to get to it - thank goodness someone organised a Cosmere readalong as it is so good!

Book 14. Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers

January RandomKIT - Home Sweet Home

Due to the wonderful movie, Mary Poppins really needs no introduction. There are enough of the incidents from the movie in the book for people to recognise the Julie Andrews version of Mary Poppins. There are also some other stories, such as the zoo one, that I actually enjoy more.
Like many childrens' books of this era, Mary Poppins is written in a vignette style rather than having a distinct plot that carries through the chapters.
It is a fun, quick and enjoyable read, perfect to take a trip down memory lane.

Book 15. Misery by Stephen King

Build Your Library Challenge - genre you don't normally read

Annie Wilkes is one crazy lady! King did a wonderful job of building the tension and maintaining the charged atmosphere in a book with two characters and one setting. Annie's speech patterns are wonderfully creepy and we never know just what she will do next.

As an avid reader, I liked the fact that Annie was so obsessed with the death of her favourite character and that Paul acknowledges this - I think all readers have experienced that at some point.

"The thought that grieving for a fictional character was absurd did more than cross his mind during his tossings and turnings. For grieving was exactly what he was doing, of course."

But Annie takes that grief just a little too far!

Book 16. His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie

Read Around The World (Ghana)

This was an interesting portrait of a marriage in Ghana, where having more than one wife is permissible under customary laws although not strictly legal.
I appreciate that Afi was brave enough to stand up for herself and go against the expected 'rules' for a new young wife, in a society where the men automatically have the upperhand with their "unearned authority."
The story was quite repetitive and plodded a bit however.

Book 17. A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske

Build Your Library Challenge - a story with magic that ISN'T Harry Potter

Historical fantasy with a gay romance set in Edwardian England - yes please!
I have been eagerly awaiting publication of this book and it did not disappoint.
I love the world building of magicians living in Edwardian England - lots of William Morris wallpaper and Tiffany lamp references, butlers, house parties, all the things we associate with upper class living in those times.
I love the romance between the two main characters. It was very sweet and touching in the gentle way it was written, although I do prefer my romance to be more implied than explicit. But even the steamy scenes were written with a gentle, loving touch as we see their relationship develop.
I love the mystery in the story which leaves us waiting for the next book to discover more.
I particularly love the magical house, Sutton Cottage, and the magic that binds magicians to their land and home.

>72 JayneCM: Oh, that one sounds great - I'm adding it to my list!

>72 JayneCM:, I hadn't heard about this one, but I'm excited about it now--thank you for the review!

>72 JayneCM: I added it too and my local library actually has it!

Book 18. The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

Build Your Library Challenge - a story set at sea

This is the second book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.
I really enjoy this series. The books are a wonderful entry point for kids to learn about Greek mythology, yet are also clever enough in the manipulation of the characters for those who are already knowledgeable to enjoy.

>69 JayneCM: I re-read Mary Poppins a few years back. It's fun whether it is the book or the movie.

Book 19. As Beautiful As Any Other by Kaya Wilson

BingoDOG - nonfiction

This is a beautifully written, raw and honest memoir of being transgender, of being a male with female body parts and how this influences the behaviour of people around you, whether total strangers or those who should love you the most.
In my attempt to learn more about transgender, I really appreciated Kaya's honesty in discussing both physical and emotional issues he faced. Just the everyday things in life that I would take for granted become more difficult as you begin to transition - such as anywhere that you must show a form of ID, passport, etc. that says female and having people eyeing you up and done; the at best, confused, and at worst, openly hostile looks and words people throw at you; meeting family members you haven't seen for a while who look straight past you as they do not recognise you; parents that still call you 'she' or 'their daughter'; not feeling safe in public as you never know who may react badly to your appearance.
But then I totally shared his jubilation after top surgery and being able to wear a tight T-shirt or remove his shirt at the beach. And when his father referred to him as 'his son.' Of how he finally learned to live rather than just survive.

"It meant I had to step outside of the instincts I had cultivated and learnt to trust in the days when I needed a certain kind of survival. To stay when you have learnt to run, to speak when you have learnt to be silent."

I am so grateful to the author for sharing his experiences.

This may not be the book for some as it is a more lyrical writing style, with the author meandering from topic to topic, not all relating to the trans experience. It is also not chronological so if you are after a chronological memoir of a transgender person and their experiences, this may not be for you. But it is beautifully written - the sections on his father's death and grief are so poignant and heartbreaking.

Book 20. The Near Witch by V.E. Schwab

BingoDOG - a book club read

I loved the beautiful writing, particularly about the moors and the way the witches were based in nature. The description of the Near Witch being part of the moors was very poetic as well as creepy.
But the pacing was very slow and erratic. Nothing much seems to happen for a long time; the ending is faster paced and the best part of the book. The main character, Lexi, was not especially interesting. I was much more interested in Cole, the ash-born boy, so would have preferred for the book to be based on his story. I found the short story at the end of the book that was based on him much more interesting.

Book 21. The September Girls by Maureen Lee

BingoDOG - title contains a month

I would normally enjoy a WWII novel, but this one was just meh. It was an OK read but I wouldn't rush to seek it out. The story didn't flow very well, none of the characters were particularly relatable or made me care about them, and the grammar and spelling mistakes made me wonder who on earth, if anyone, edited or proofread this book.

>80 JayneCM: I hate when I get a book that makes me wonder if it was even edited.

>81 lowelibrary: It makes me so annoyed! It makes it difficult to enjoy the actual book as then I wonder how much the author even cares about her work. If it was my book, I would have wanted to double check everything.

>82 JayneCM: - Any chance it was self-published? That could explain the errors. I had one once (it might have been an ER book, but I'm not sure) that had some of those problems and it was self-published.

>83 dudes22: Published by Orion Fiction UK. She has heaps of books, a very popular historical fiction writer. I think it is more a case of they just churn them out as quickly as possible.

>84 JayneCM: - Aaaah!

Book 22. Interview With The Vampire by Anne Rice

January 1001 Challenge - read anything

This is slow, atmospheric story telling. If you are looking for an action-packed ride, you will not find it here!
But this book has all the vibes - dark, brooding, atmospheric.

It is a thought-provoking depiction of good vs evil, and the gradations of evil. Is a vampire inherently evil or can one be a vampire with a soul, who retains some of their human kindness and compassion?

"And yet there was the question, the awful, ancient, hounding question of evil."

This concept of evil haunts Louis, as he grapples with the fact that his very survival depends on the taking of human life.

It is also a look into the question of immortality. Is our human life actually richer for being finite? Does immortality ultimately lead to a death of the spirit as the years march on in their sameness?

"It was as I'd always feared, and it was as lonely, it was as totally without hope. Things would go on as they had before, on and on."

You can certainly see the influence this book has had on later vampire fiction/movies/TV, where the vampire is no longer just the evil horror figure but someone relatable.

Book 23. Too Afraid To Cry by Ali Cobby Eckermann

January AuthorCAT - indigenous author

This is a raw, haunting memoir by an Aboriginal woman who as a baby was taken from her mother as part of The Stolen Generation. It is written in a combination of poetry and prose.
It is a brave undertaking as the author exposes all her demons as she shows how she came back to her family and to country, despite all that happened to her as a child and young adult.
The poetry in particular is so raw and brutal.

"I have learnt many things from alcoholics and addicts more messed up than me. Sometimes it is amazing who you can learn from. Sometimes it is strange where you feel safe."

This is a memoir that really brings home the human cost of government policies of the time, that assumed that Aboriginal families were not suitable to raise their own children and thus forcibly removed them from their homes.

>83 dudes22: Although typos annoy me, they annoy me much much more in traditionally-published books than self-published books - those big publishers can surely afford a freelance proofreader, whereas people who are self-publishing, especially at the start of their career, might not be able to.

Wow, so many interesting books! It looks like you had a great start to your reading year. I enjoyed all of your comments and the beautiful covers of the books you read.

>89 MissBrangwen: Thank you! I do love all the book covers too - I keep a reading journal and print out little versions of all the covers to keep a record of my reading year.

Book 24. Lore by Alexandra Bracken

BingoDOG - gold or silver on cover

I love anything related to Greek mythology. So retellings of any sort are definitely for me. But I loved the concept of this story; this was not a simple retelling, but taking the Greek gods and goddesses, making them mortal for a certain timeframe and pitting them against descendants of the ancient bloodlines of the demi-gods.
There were a lot of names to get straight in the beginning which may have been confusing if you did not know some of them already. But do not let this be an insurmountable barrier to the reading of this book. It is highly entertaining and clever in its depiction of the gods as they would be if mortal, particularly Athena - she had some wonderfully witty dialogue.

Book 25. The Toll by Neal Shusterman

BingoDOG - a long book

This conclusion to the Arc of the Scythe was an up and down read for me. It felt overly long and that some sections could have been condensed somewhat. But the wrapping all the loose ends together was masterful. I loved the ending - that humankind was returned, to some extent, to being subservient to nature and that death became again a more random concept, not subject to corruption and whim.
I particularly liked that Scythe Faraday (always one of my favourite characters) continued his kind and sympathetic nature by tending to the dying.
I also liked the ambivalent nature of the title. 'Toll' can have multiple meanings - death toll, the tolling of a bell, to pay a toll - all of which are relevant to the book.
All in all, a very satisfying ending to the series.

Book 26. A Face Like Glass by Frances Hardinge

Build Your Library Challenge - story set in a fantastical world

I read this for a 'book set in a fantastical world' for a reading challenge and boy, is this world something else! Every Frances Hardinge book I pick up just blows me away with the exquisite intricacies of her imagination. The worlds she creates are truly extraordinary, yet so wonderfully described that you just absorb them and believe in them entirely.
She is truly a master of description - this being a description of the main character from page 7;

"No, despite her best efforts, she was a skinny, long-boned tangle of fidget and frisk, with feet that would not stay still, and elbows made to knock things off shelves."

Such a description gives you an immediate feeling for Neverfell and her character.

A Frances Hardinge book is a place to immerse yourself and remain until you have read the book from cover to cover.

Book 27. Stay Gold by Tobly McSmith

Build Your Library Challenge - story about someone whose life is very different from your own

First of all, let me say that Pony is the most endearing, heartwarming and heartbreaking character. Georgia, I was not so fussed on, she was a character you see so often in books and movies. But I appreciated the honesty of the author in writing her initial rejection of Pony - this made Georgia seem much more real as she progressed in her understanding and acceptance.
Be prepared for tears as you get to the end of this story - the difficulties faced by Pony on a day-to-day basis are just gut-wrenching and I appreciate the author in writing this book to bring transgender issues to the fore in an honest, easily understood format.

Book 28. Confessions by Kanae Minato

February CATWoman - women in translation

This is a solid thriller, a bit slow in parts, but the last chapter really brought it home.
The writing is deceptively simple, but all the more powerful for it. It is written using multiple POVs, which I always appreciate as it brings more depth to the story.
On the surface, this is a simple story of revenge. But it brings up many issues, such as nature vs nurture, the role of family, particularly mothers, vs teachers/school environment in the formation of character, legal and psychological issues related to children who commit shocking crimes.
Do not let the slow burn nature of this book fool you - the build up to the last chapter is worth it!

Book 29. The Hatmakers by Tamzin Merchant

January AlphaKIT - letter H

This was delightful from beginning to end. A wonderfully imaginative world, based very loosely on England in the late 1700s (I loved the 'mad King George' character and the way his madness was explained).
Very witty - Cordelia is a fun, brave, resourceful and endearing character.
The book ended on a cliffhanger, leaving me very keen for the second book in the series, The Mapmakers.
And the illustrations, both as chapter headings and full page drawings, are charming. I just wish I could see them in colour!

"Keep wildness in your wits and magic in your fingertips!"

>96 JayneCM: - I love the cover of this book. I think I'll take a BB for it.

>97 dudes22: Same!

Book 30. Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak

BingoDOG - title contains a Z

Of course this an epic masterpiece of Russian literature. But if modern readers pick this up based on the front cover blurb of 'one of the greatest love stories ever told', they may be sorely disappointed. The Americans were not interested in getting this book in Russian hands during the Cold War because it was a heart warming love story!
It was for passages such as these that the book was banned in Russia:

"And then there was the jump from this calm, innocent, measured way of living to blood and tears, to mass insanity and to the savagery of daily, hourly, legalised, rewarded slaughter."

"I think collectivisation was both a mistake and a failure, and because that couldn't be admitted, every means of intimidation had to be used to make people forget how to think and judge for themselves, to force them to see what wasn't there, and to maintain the contrary of what their eyes told them."

The majority of this book is admittedly heavy plodding, through many, many characters who appear for brief periods of time and many, many discussions of the political problems of Russia from just before the revolution to the end of WWII.
And even the 'love story' is very one-sided. Zhivago seems quite happy to 'lose' his female companions along the way, through not fault of his own, simply due to the vagaries of revolution, civil war and world wars. And then is just as happy to replace them. The love story seems to come entirely from their side as they are all madly in love with him and are distraught and hysterical at losing him. The women definitely have the more heartbreaking stories and their plight should be emphasised.
It is very stark and matter-of-fact in its descriptions of atrocities committed and the nature writing is so evocative.
It absolutely holds a place in the canon of literature of the time, as it shows Russia from the inside, written by a man who experienced all this, but I very much dislike the labelling of it as a 'love story' as that is such a small part of the total.

February 2022

31. Marigolds and Murder by London Lovett - finished 2nd February 2022 - February TBR Knockout Challenge - short book (less than 250 pages)
32. The Murder At The Vicarage by Agatha Christie - finished 3rd February 2022 - January MysteryKIT - series
33. The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan - finished 5th February 2022 - BingoDOG - by a favourite author
34. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon - finished 9th February 2022 - Build Your Library Challenge - a book you've always wanted to read
35. Lost In The Never Woods by Aiden Thomas - finished 12th February 2022 - BingoDOG - about sisters or brothers
36. Last Night At The Telegraph Club by Malindo Lo - finished 17th February 2022 - BingoDOG - award winner
37. Uprooted by Naomi Novik - finished 20th February 2022 - BingoDOG - love to see made into a movie
38. Heartstopper Volume 1 by Alice Oseman - finished 22nd February 2022 - BingoDOG - published year you joined LT
39. Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie - finished 24th February 2022 - February AlphaKIT letter A
40. The Ice Whisperers by Helenka Strachera - finished 26th February 2022 - January Read Your Bookshelf Challenge - quiet
41. The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren - finished 28th February 2022 - March AlphaKIT letter S

41/250 = 16.4%

Read Around The World 1/15 = 6.67%
1001 Monthly Challenge 1/12 = 8.33%
BingoDOG 15/25 = 60% The Titan's Curse, Lost In The Never Woods, Last Night At The Telegraph Club, Uprooted, Heartstopper Volume 1
CATWoman 2/12 = 16.67%
AuthorCAT 1/12 = 8.33%
ShakespeareCAT 0/12 =
RandomKIT 1/12 = 8.33%
AlphaKIT 3/26 = 11.54% Ancillary Justice, The Soulmate Equation
MysteryKIT 1/12 = 8.33% The Murder At The Vicarage
ScaredyKIT 1/12 = 8.33%
SFFKIT 1/12 = 8.33%
Buzzwordathon 1/12 = 8.33%
TBR Knockout Challenge 3/24 = 12.5% Marigolds and Murder
Read Your Bookshelf Challenge 1/12 = 8.33% The Ice Whisperers
Build Your Library Challenge 9/40 = 22.5% Outlander

>65 JayneCM: I'm catching up with your thread and it looks like you had a great January of reading. I've read 3 of Sanderson's Stormlight Archives books but for some reason I've never gotten started on the Mistborn series. I really need to try this series!

>99 JayneCM: You had me confused for a minute there, Jayne - check out the author! ;)

>101 mathgirl40: I am doing a year and a half long readalong of all Brandon Sanderson's books so I am glad that 'forced' me to finally start his books.

>102 Jackie_K: Hmmm, Schwab is not normally known for her epic Russian masterpieces!

Book 31. Marigolds and Murder by London Lovett

February TBR Knockout Challenge - short book - 250 pages or less

Just OK. A cute, fun read but not much to it. I do always like a small town setting and it was a lovely setting.
I did particularly like that the main character has hyperosmia, a heightened sense of smell, and this helps her solve the murder. Something a little different.
The reveal felt very rushed.

Book 32. The Murder At The Vicarage by Agatha Christie

January MysteryKIT - series

After reading my very first Agatha Christie last year, this year my plan is to read through the Miss Marple series.
This was an enjoyable entry into the world of Miss Marple - a world of small village gossip, nosy elderly ladies and the occasional murder to solve.
The writing is simple and sparse but so witty and fun. And Miss Marple is a delight.

"There is no detective in England equal to a spinster lady of uncertain age with plenty of time on her hands."

The mystery was simple yet cunningly devised so it was a constant case of trying to integrate new clues into your thoughts of who the murderer could be.
I look forward to more outings with Miss Marple. As the book concludes:

"Really Miss Marple is rather a dear . . ."

>105 JayneCM: Murder At the Vicarage was, as best as I remember, my first Miss Marple mystery, and I fell in love with her!

>105 JayneCM: I prefer Miss Marple to Poirot but almost any Christy is a fun read.

>96 JayneCM: That's a BB for me, too! Lovely cover and it sounds like a fantastic story. Love your review and the other one posted on LT.

>105 JayneCM: I have read quite a lot of Poirot novels, but only two Marples so far. I am planning to read those in order (not like the Poirots which I just read like I fancy). I enjoyed The Murder at the Vicarage a lot as well. At first it took me a little time to get into it because I am simply so used to Poirot, but then I grew so fond of Miss Marple.

Book 33. The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan

BingoDOG - by a favourite author

Another wonderful instalment in the Percy Jackson series. Being the middle book in the series, there is still a lot of build up for the final show down and introduction of new characters, but still an exciting, interesting story in its own right.

Book 34. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Build Your Library Challenge - a book you've always wanted to read

How is that I have never read this series before?! Time travel, historical fiction and in particular, Scotland and the Jacobite rebellion - instant hit for me!
I loved the history, I loved the Scottish setting and language, I loved all the nuances of the clan interactions. But I didn't love the love story of Claire and Jamie - to be honest, I could have done without a lot of their 'interactions'.
Still, a wonderfully entertaining read. It is a page turner, no doubt about it.

>110 JayneCM: Ha! The frequency of those "interactions" have put me off the series, even though the things you listed that made it an instant hit would theoretically interest me as well. I prefer characters to get a room OFF-page ;)

>110 JayneCM: >111 rabbitprincess: Haha, me too! I have the first book in the series, but bought it because it was a bargain rather than because I was desperate to read it, and several years later, knowing enough about the series (my husband watches the TV show) I'm honestly wondering why I bothered, it's so not for me! When it gets pulled out of the Jar of Fate I'll give it a go, but I'm not going to hold my breath! I'm another who just wants to see the door shut and the next scene is the next morning when they're making tea and toast.

>111 rabbitprincess: >112 Jackie_K: Totally with on that! Implied is more than enough for me!

>110 JayneCM: Outlander keeps coming up as a recommendation because I've read so many historical romances. Since I read them as ebooks, I would like a "skip this section and return to plot" option.

>114 pamelad: That's a brilliant idea!

Book 35. Lost In The Never Woods by Aiden Thomas

BingoDOG - about sisters or brothers

This is a retelling of Peter Pan, following Wendy, Michael and John Darling in modern times.
I love retellings and I was fascinated by the beginning of the story and what had happened to the Darling siblings. However, I found the story slowed down in the middle and seemed to be slightly disjointed. About halfway through the book, I was fairly ambivalent to the story. But then it picked up for the ending which was wonderful and heart breaking.
Overall, worth the read, particularly if you like retellings in general or Peter Pan in particular.

>116 JayneCM: I might give that one a try one day.

Just catching up on your thread. interview with the vampire Outlander and Misery you've been having a great year!
Looking forward to your thoughts on These Violent Delights as I just finished it. I'm working on Our Violent Ends now.

>118 VictoriaPL: I just picked Our Violent Ends up from the library - looking forward to it!

Book 36. Last Night At The Telegraph Club by Malindo Lo

BingoDOG - award winner

Winner of the National Book Award
Winner of the Stonewall Book Award
Winner of Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature

This is a delightful coming of age / finding your identity story, but there is so much more to this book.
The writing of the budding romance is just heart melting and written with such honesty, sincerity and rawness - it definitely takes you back to those teenage moments of first love.
The book also tells the story of Chinese immigrants to the US in the period before and after World War II, and the political turmoil of China at this time. As a history buff, I appreciate the obviously detailed research that has gone into this book. I was able to look up many of the events and places described and find images and information about them.
I also appreciate that the author is keeping the voices and events true to the era. Too many historical fictions are written that alter details like this to fit our modern sensibilities. But that wasn't how it was and we should be able to accept that and realise that things have changed. I think it is important to recognise that.
Overall, a wonderful book as it covers so much territory without seeming stretched or forced. Beautifully written.

>120 JayneCM: - I'll take this as a BB.

ETA: I see it's in high demand at the library - there's a wait list.

Book 37. Uprooted by Naomi Novik

BingoDOG - love to see made into a movie

This was a beautiful book - a total sensory experience. In the end, the plot became of secondary importance to me, behind the breath taking imagery of the wood and the magic.
I loved the magical interaction between the Dragon and Agnieszka - the weaving of their magic was, well, pure magic! There have been aspersions cast as to their relationship being abusive, but I did not read it that way.
The creepy evil of the Wood was perfection; the characterisation of the trees was so vivid.

Book 38. Heartstopper Volume 1 by Alice Oseman

BingoDOG - published year you joined LT (2019)

This is a super cute, teen love story. Heart warming and adorable.
The ending was so unexpectedly abrupt though - now I need to get straight on to Volume 2!

Book 39. Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie

February AlphaKIT letter A

This was a fascinating read. It took a bit of concentration to keep all the political maneuverings straight but it was so interesting and headed to an exciting showdown.
I always love an alternating timeline that gradually blends together, giving us more insight into the motivations and actions of the characters. Particularly these characters with their multiple selves.
The book also contained many discussions on what it meant to be human and the differences between civilised and noncivilised cultures - at what point does our obligation to another species, race or culture begin and end? Must we protect all species from harm or are some expendable?

" . . . luxury always comes at someone else's expense. One of the many advantages of civilisation is that one doesn't generally have to see that, if one doesn't wish. You're free to enjoy its benefits without troubling your conscience."

"You're born assuming that someone else is paying the cost of your life."

>120 JayneCM: Sounds good and my library actually has it but don't know when I'll get to it.

Book 40. The Ice Whisperers by Helenka Strachera

January Read Your Bookshelf Challenge - quiet word in title

This was a fun and enjoyable middle grade read about two sisters and their search for their identities and their family connections.
It certainly all the elements - the icy setting in Siberia, ancient cultures, travel between worlds, two sisters who have to work together despite their antipathy towards each other to overcome evil. There were just sections of the story that dragged and then other sections seemed a trifle contrived.
Overall, an entertaining story and ultimately well worth the read.

Book 41. The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren

March AlphaKIT letter S

A light fluffy read that was enjoyable enough, for what it was. An extra star for Jess being a single mum and a believable character, as well as Nana Jo and Pops. Other than that, the majority of the characters were your stereotypical caricatures.

March 2022

42. The Girl From The Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag - finished 1st March 2022 - March TBR Knockout Challenge - book with shapeshifting
43. The World of Pooh by A.A. Milne - finished 2nd March 2022 - BingoDOG - read a CAT
44. The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis - finished 3rd March 2022 - March TBR Knockout Challenge - book with magic
45. The Body In The Library by Agatha Christie - finished 4th March 2022 - March MysteryKIT - small town
46. Rain: Four Walks In English Weather by Melissa Harrison - finished 5th March 2022 - January AlphaKIT letter R
47. The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo - finished 8th March 2022 - February AlphaKIT letter B
48. Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen - finished 12th March 2022 - March SFFKIT - historical sci fi/fantasy
49. The Spider Ring by Andrew Harwell - finished 13th March 2022 - February ScaredyKIT - Spiders, Snakes and other Creepy Crawlers
50. The Vintage Guide To Love And Romance by Kirsty Greenwood - finished 14th March 2022 - February Read Your Bookshelf Challenge - 'love' in the title
51. Counting By 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan - finished 17th March 2022 - February RandomKIT - book with a cat
52. Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron - finished 18th March 2022 - BingoDOG - a gift
53. The Intoxicating Mr Lavelle by Neil Blackmore - finished 20th March 2022 - BingoDOG - travel or a journey
54. The One by John Marrs - finished 21st March 2022 - BingoDOG - character shares a name with a friend
55. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead - finished 22nd March 2022 - Build Your Library Challenge - story adapted to movie or TV show
56. Eight Perfect Hours by Lia Louis - finished 23rd March 2022 - March AlphaKIT letter P
57. The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan - finished 24th March 2022 - Build Your Library Challenge - a book about camping or summer camp
58. Brightstorm by Vashti Hardy - finished 25th March 2022 - April AuthorCAT - debut author
59. The Sea, The Sea by Iris Murdoch - finished 27th March 2022 - February 1001 Challenge - love story
60. Borderline by Mishell Baker - finished 28th March 2022 - April TBR Knockout Challenge - debut novel
61. The Reading Promise by Alice Ozma - finished 29th March 2022 - March RandomKIT - hobby love
62. Speak Easy, Speak Love by McKelle George - finished 30th March 2022 - February ShakespeareCAT - Much Ado About Nothing
63. Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk - finished 31st March 2022 - Build Your Library Challenge - book by debut author

63/250 = 25.2%

Read Around The World 1/15 = 6.67%
1001 Monthly Challenge 2/12 = 16.67% The Sea, The Sea
BingoDOG 19/25 = 76% The World of Pooh, Cinderella Is Dead, The Intoxicating Mr Lavelle, The One
CATWoman 2/12 = 16.67%
AuthorCAT 2/12 = 16.67% Brightstorm
ShakespeareCAT 1/12 = 8.33% Speak Easy, Speak Love
RandomKIT 3/12 = 25% Counting By 7s, The Reading Promise
AlphaKIT 6/26 = 23.08% Rain: Four Walks In English Weather, The Chosen and the Beautiful, Eight Perfect Hours
MysteryKIT 2/12 = 16.67% The Body In The Library
ScaredyKIT 2/12 = 16.67% The Spider Ring
SFFKIT 2/12 = 16.67% Skin of the Sea
Buzzwordathon 1/12 = 8.33%
TBR Knockout Challenge 6/24 = 25% The Girl From The Sea, The Magician's Nephew, Borderline
Read Your Bookshelf Challenge 2/12 = 16.67% The Vintage Guide To Love And Romance
Build Your Library Challenge 12/40 = 30% Vampire Academy, The Battle of the Labyrinth, Fight Club

Book 42. The Girl From The Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag

March TBR Knockout Challenge - book with shapeshifting

Just a delight from start to finish! The characters are adorable, charming and heartfelt. The romance is sweet without being saccharine.
The art is sublime; I love that the artist is liberal with the use of colour, especially on the text message pages.
Oh, the bittersweet ending - definitely hoping there will be a sequel, but equally the story is self-contained so I wasn't left feeling that I was missing out on a conclusion.
Beautifully crafted in every way.

"Sometimes you have to let your life get messy. That's how you get to the good parts."

Book 43. The World of Pooh by A.A. Milne

BingoDOG - read a CAT (although I read a KIT!) - March AlphaKIT letter P

I have read Winnie the Pooh SO many times, both in childhood and as an adult reading aloud to children. This is my first read as an adult for just myself. And it is still just as loving, adorable and friendly as always.
Winnie the Pooh is the perfect comfort book. It offers a very special comfort and reassurance to young children, as there is a character in the book representing just about any child's personality traits.
Tigger, the over exuberant one; Piglet, the small, scared one who really tries to be brave; Eeyore, the melancholic; Rabbit, the overly bossy one; Owl, the one always trying to show off his smarts; and Pooh, the mediator.
Every child can recognise themselves somewhere in the Pooh stories and be reassured that differences are to be expected, but that need not prevent everyone coexisting happily.
Plus, they are just laugh out loud funny in parts - Eeyore is totally my spirit animal!

"We can look for the North Pole, or we can play 'Here we go gathering Nuts and May' with the end part of an ants' nest. It's all the same to me." so says Eeyore!

And the Winnie the Pooh stories represents that idyllic era of the 1920s where it seemed that the world had all come right again after World War I.
I read this in another review: Milne had H. G. Wells as a grammar school teacher and played cricket with J. M. Barrie, Arthur Conan Doyle, and P. G. Wodehouse. Can you imagine being at those cricket matches?!

Book 44. The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis

March TBR Knockout Challenge - book with magic

I have loved the Chronicles of Narnia since I was a child and reread them regularly. I love this one as it was the catalyst for more Narnia books being written. C.S. Lewis first wrote The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and had no specific plans to continue. But a question was asked of him - why is there a lamppost in the middle of a wood? This book was written as the prequel to explain the beginnings of Narnia.
I love how it ties together so many aspects of other books, in particular the lamppost, the wardrobe, the witch and the professor who owns the wardrobe.
It has, of course, many Christian overtones as it is a creation story, but mixed in with the magic of Narnia.
And Aslan is marvellous.

Book 45. The Body In The Library by Agatha Christie

March MysteryKIT - small town

Another wonderful Christie mystery! I did decide who the murderer was before it was revealed, but as usual I didn't have all the clues and details of how the murder was committed worked out.
I just adore Miss Marple - people are learning not to underestimate her now.
As one of the characters says of Miss Marple - "You're absolutely marvellous!"
Christie's writing is so simple and succinct, yet she manages to pack a lot of clues in that you don't even notice until you go back and reread sections with the knowledge of the murderer.
Admittedly, this book did have quite a few unfortunate references to class distinctions and persons being 'common' or 'cheap'. But that is all part of reading books from certain eras and in no way detracts from the enjoyment of reading Christie.

Book 46. Rain: Four Walks In English Weather by Melissa Harrison

January AlphaKIT letter R

I am a card carrying pluviophile and Anglophile, so this book was right up my alley. Everyone seems to disparage rain and only want sunny days, but rain is an essential part of our natural systems. And some of us do prefer rainy days!
The book does read slowly, particularly if you are not a fan of long descriptive nature passages. But the writing is very evocative of place, describing rainy weather in four different areas of England. And she does a wonderful job of expressing the joy to be found in rainy, stormy weather and how necessary it is to our physical and mental well-being (even if we do not think so!)

" . . . it keeps us in our place somehow, reminds us that we are still part of the natural world, and not above it."

. . . it seems to me that if you only ever go out on sunny days you only see half the picture, and remain somehow untested and callow."

Of especial interest is the wonderful glossary of English words for wet weather - 100 Words Concerning Rain.

Book 47. The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo

February AlphaKIT letter B

This is The Great Gatsby with all the doors flung wide open, no holds barred.
The author has taken the characters, settings and events of the original and imbued them with a sinister, otherworldly quality, turning the whole world of Gatsby on its head.
There are so many subtle inclusions of little details from the original, very cleverly done. I am definitely glad that I had reread The Great Gatsby recently, as I would otherwise have missed many of these.
Wonderfully written with unexpected twists and turns. The ending was fabulous in its calm and quiet revelation of the truth of one of the characters.

"Gatsby was like a storm blowing up far out to sea, and soon enough he would crash to the land."

>133 JayneCM: I read this several years ago and really liked it. I was really moved by her account of scattering her mum's ashes.

Book 48. Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen

March SFFKIT - historical sci fi/fantasy

"When you peel back the skin of the sea, you never know what you might find."

The setting is fifteenth century West Africa, where slave ships are capturing African people to trade. Simidele is a Mami Wata, a mermaid created from a human girl to enable her to collect the souls of those who die at sea and bless them on their journey to Olodumare.
Since reading the premise, I have wanted to read this book - I love mythology and this is a culture that I have not read much about. The mythology in the book was very interesting.
But the story just didn't grab me. It moved quite slowly, but did pick up towards the end. The ending was well done and I am interested enough to read the next book to find out how Simi copes with the change in her circumstances.

Book 49. The Spider Ring by Andrew Harwell

February ScaredyKIT - Spiders, snakes and other creepy crawlers

This was a really enjoyable middle grade, with a very relatable main character (to many of us readers, anyway!)
Maria is an avid reader, who doesn't really fit in at school. Her mum is always urging her to stop reading and go outside and get some fresh air, until Maria points out that her mother does not ask her little brother to come inside and read (love this - totally my life as a book obsessed child!)
Life is pretty boring until her grandmother leaves her a spider ring with mysterious powers.
Probably not for you if you do not like spiders, as there are swarms of them!
The book moves along at the perfect pace and is a quick and interesting read.

"Rereading her favourite books always made her feel happy and safe, because she already knew what would happen in the end."

>133 JayneCM: - I'm going to take a BB for this - sounds interesting.

>134 JayneCM: - I've already taken a BB for this from Abby (LT) but am wondering if I really should go back and reread The Great Gatsby before I read it. I'm not really much for rereading, but it's been so long since I read it, it might seem new.

Book 50. The Vintage Guide To Love And Romance by Kirsty Greenwood

February Read Your Bookshelf Challenge - 'love' in the title

Now this is my kind of romance -an irreverent, 'piss take' on romance novels. It was more just a whole sequence of fun and games than romance, as Jess gets herself into more and more trouble.
The main character, Jess, is a hilarious mess and I laughed so much at some of her antics.
A high star rating for pure entertainment and te best giggle I have had at a book in a while.

Book 51. Counting By 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan

February RandomKIT - book with a cat

A book about grief and loss, but also a book about hope, healing and finding a new family. The writing is simple and succinct and so, so accurate in its portrayal of human relationships. Willow's matter-of-fact outlook on the world makes what she says all the more heart breaking. She expresses so many small nuggets of wisdom and in her own way of treating everyone as an equal, she manages to bring a disparate group of people together as a family.

"Every person has lots of ingredients to make them into what is always a one-of-a-kind creation"

This is a beautiful book, which will break your heart in so many ways and then put it back together again.

"Life, I now realise, is one big trek across a minefield and you never know which step is going to blow you up."

There are also a lot of hilarious moments. The group of people who are caring for Willow would be considered misfits, even losers, by many people, which makes for some comedic interactions. Willow herself is also so funny, yet touching, in her totally factual way of looking at things.

"If I'm sent by the state of California to foster care in a remote location with no internet and no books and no vegetables, where I will live with a family who secretly worship Satan and only eat canned meat, then so be it."

The cat comes into the book as Cheddar, a mangy rescue cat. Dell (her school counsellor) obtains Cheddar to help Willow and tells her that if the foster system question her possession of Cheddar, he will tell them he is her therapy dog. In response to this, Willow thinks:

"He said that the cat was a therapy dog. I appreciate his support, but I sincerely hope that he's not running this show."

I love Willow!

>140 JayneCM: - This sounds like a great book. I'll take a BB for this.

Book 52. Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

BingoDOG - a gift

I really love a fairy tale retelling, but I particularly appreciate one that expands on the original with new characters. And this one turns the whole story of Cinderella upside down - Cinderella's happy ending is not what you think it was!
Cinderella has been dead for 200 years and her story is used to suppress freedom and dominate the females of Lille. The beginning of the book had a very 'The Handmaid's Tale for younger readers' feel to it.

" . . . but the founding tenet of our laws is that women, no matter their standing, are at the mercy of the fickle whims of men."

I loved the twists and turns as we gradually find out what really happened to Cinderella, especially the fairy godmother's part in it all.
Overall, an interesting read, certainly enough action to keep you reading, but the characters just did not seem as fully developed as they could be.

Book 53. The Intoxicating Mr Lavelle by Neil Blackmore

BingoDOG - travel or a journey

The first half of the book didn't really grab me - Edgar and Benjamin are brothers who have spent their lives up to now under their parents' constant supervision as the living embodiments of all their parents' hopes and dreams. As many Englishmen of the time (1763), they are sent to Europe on a grand tour to imbibe the 'culture' and cultivate friendships with the right people. Thus the beginning of the book just seemed to be a fun romp through France and Italy. The writing seemed too modern for the time period and it just didn't flow all that well.
But then, wow - it turned on its head when the brothers meet Mr Lavelle. You can see that Lavelle has some dark secrets in his past and that this is not heading to a happy ending. And the last 50 pages or so had me reading with my mouth open. I couldn't read the words fast enough.
This book is heart breaking, dark and menacing. It really makes you think about what constitutes happiness, and how much we should 'pay' for that happiness. Is is better to never know what you could have, if you know you cannot have it? Perhaps ignorance is bliss. Or is it better to at least have a small measure of happiness, even if it is ripped away from you and you must then walk through the rest of your life with only the memories?

"Other people's dreams are no basis for a life. We must seek as hard as we can, as a matter of emergency, to find our own dreams, our own lives."

Book 54. The One by John Marrs

BingoDOG - character shares a name with a friend

Wow, this book earns five stars due to the compelling and addictive nature of the reading experience. Once I started this, I could not stop reading!
A large part of this was the use of multiple POVs. There are five alternating POVs, across very short chapters. Each chapter ends with its own mini cliffhanger for that character, so you cannot wait to see what happens next. The more you read, the more twists there are. It makes for riveting reading, which you just cannot put down.

>133 JayneCM: I liked that one better than you did, and it is one that has stayed with me. I think I kept the book so I can re-read it at a later date.

>144 JayneCM: - This is a BB for me.

Book 55. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Build Your Library Challenge - story adapted to movie or TV show

This book delivers for what it is meant to be - a highly entertaining, highly readable teenage vampire story. I appreciate that the romance was kept to a minimum as I much prefer the action and power dynamics part of the story. I also appreciate that the author used Romanian vampire folklore on which to base the characters.
Certainly made me keen to read the next book in the series.

Book 56. Eight Perfect Hours by Lia Louis

March AlphaKIT letter P

You will not normally see me give a romance five stars, but this one hit all the spots. At first, based on the cover and the blurb, I was expecting a cutesy romance of the two characters stuck in a car. But that was only a small part of the story and it really developed from there.
The author covered a number of mental health issues without seeming at all forced or disingenuous at all.
I loved how the life stories of the main characters kept weaving back in with each other. And keep the tissues ready - the ending was heart breaking and heart warming all at the same time.
I very much related to the main character - I think we all feel unseen at times.

"Because sometimes it feels like I'm fading into the background or something, and - nobody can see me."

"I'm afraid to live too loudly."

>148 JayneCM: Have you read Louis's other book, Dear Emmie Blue? I really liked that one as well.

>149 christina_reads: It looks great - also on my list!

Book 57. The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan

Build Your Library Challenge - a book about camping or summer camp

Every summer, Percy Jackson heads to summer camp; and every summer, he faces life threatening situations. Another fun and action packed instalment in the Percy Jackson series, as we now head towards the full return of Kronos.
I particularly enjoyed the return of Rachel Elizabeth Dare and hope that we will see her again in the final book.

Book 58. Brightstorm by Vashti Hardy

April AuthorCAT - debut author

I really enjoyed the steampunk vibes of this book. Add to that explorers in an icy region, a smart female girl main character who enjoys solving engineering problems, a journey to find a lost father, a heart warming found family and some giant ice wolves, and you have a wonderful package.
I cannot wait to see where Maudie, Arthur and the rest of the Aurora crew will head to next.

"Fear kills more dreams than failure ever will. You can be comfortable or courageous - never both at once."

"Control is an illusion. We never know what life will throw at us. You are the master of your own destiny . . ."

Book 59. The Sea, The Sea by Iris Murdoch

February 1001 Monthly Challenge - love story

Is this a story of an undying love? Is it a murder mystery? Is it simply the writings of a totally delusional and self-centred man? Is it a comedic farce, with all the comings and goings of various eccentric characters?
Iris Murdoch manages to fit all these into this book, with some beautiful writing and insights into human nature and relationships.

"Upon the demon-ridden pilgrimage of human life, what next I wonder?"

Indeed.

Book 60. Borderline by Mishell Baker

April TBR Knockout Challenge - debut novel

This book had a contemporary feel with an overlay of fey. The main character, Millie, is clever, shrewd and sarcastic and I loved her. Although the actual fey storyline was a bit slow, the overarching strength of this book was its meticulous attention to disability and mental health and how these affected all the characters in differing ways.
A very engaging read with beautifully detailed characters - you can certainly picture each character. Baroness Foxfeather, even though a minor character, was particularly charming.

Book 61. The Reading Promise by Alice Ozma

March RandomKIT - hobby love

Like many readers, I am obsessed with books about books. Although there is a reading list in the back with some of the books read during the Reading Promise, this book is more about the art and act of reading than the actual books. It is about the importance of the relationships built while reading aloud to your children (or any other person who shares in the experience).
It is also a series of funny anecdotes about the author's growing up years. There are definitely some laugh out loud moments - one that comes to mind is the author as a child being convinced that the dead body of JFK was in her bottom bunk.

". . . a promise to remember the power of the printed word, to take time to cherish it, to protect it at all costs."

Book 62. Speak Easy, Speak Love by McKelle George

February ShakespeareCAT - Much Ado About Nothing

Retellings are my favourite! Much Ado About Nothing is my favourite Shakespeare comedy. I love the history of the Jazz Age. So this book is a match made in heaven.
This is a meticulously researched, beautifully written retelling of Much Ado About Nothing, set in 1920s Prohibition era New York/Long Island. Beatrice and Benedick's acerbic wit lights up the book, and Hero sparkles.
Definitely, definitely read the author's notes at the end of the book, explaining the historical sources for the various characters. I particularly appreciated how the author wove Dogberry and Verges into the story. I will need to read more about the real life people these characters were based on. There is also included a list of all the songs mentioned in the book and the recordings to look for - a wonderful resource for lovers of jazz/blues.
A wonderful read, whether you are reading it as a Shakespeare retelling, or just as a story on its own merit. It certainly stands alone and you need know nothing about the original source material.
And that cover design and the chapter heading illustrations are to die for!

Book 63. Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

Build Your Library Challenge - book by debut author

A darkly humorous, scathing look at modern society and the hopelessness many people feel in the living of their day to day lives. A little like The Catcher In The Rye for the 90s adult, Tyler gathers his followers as he espouses the beliefs and system he feels will 'save' society from its own pathetic existence.

"This is your life, and it's ending one minute at a time."

"Generations have been working in jobs they hate, just so they can buy what they don't really need."

The Narrator accepts Tyler's methods at first, but then it all starts to spiral out of control and take on a life of its own.
Unfortunately, I had already seen the movie (which remains very true to the book), so I knew the 'twist'. The book would have potentially had more impact as I was reading if I had not known this.

The writing is sparse but all the more powerful for it. There are some true gems, poking a mocking finger at our acquisitive society - "Deliver me from Swedish furniture."

April 2022

64. Frostbite by Richelle Mead - finished 1st April 2022 - BingoDOG - set in another country
65. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell - finished 2nd April 2022 - Build Your Library Challenge - book with an animal as the protagonist
66. The Moving Finger by Agatha Christie - finished 3rd April 2022 - Build Your Library Challenge - a mystery or thriller
67. The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan - finished 4th April 2022 - Build Your Library Challenge - book with a sword, dagger or shield on cover
68. The Fire Rose by Mercedes Lackey - finished 6th April 2022 - Totally Random Reads
69. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis - finished 7th April 2022 - April AlphaKIT letter L
70. The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood - finished 8th April 2022 - Totally Random Reads
71. As You Wish by Cary Elwes = finished 11th April 2022 - February Buzzwordathon - pronouns
72. Razorblade Tears by S.A. Crosby - finished 12th April 2022 - March AuthorCAT - authors first published at 40 or later
73. Darkwhispers by Vashti Hardy - finished 15th April 2022 - Build Your Library Challenge - story about a discovery
74. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy - finished 19th April 2022 - February AuthorCAT - 19th century author
75. Lab Girl by Hope Jahren - finished 20th April 2022 - March Read Your Bookshelf Challenge - growth
76. Shouting At The Rain by Lynda Mullaly Hunt - finished 22nd April 2022 - April RandomKIT - April showers
77. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman - finished 23rd April 2022 - BingoDOG - set in a capital city
78. How The Marquis Got His Coat Back by Neil Gaiman - finished 23rd April 2022 - May TBR Knockout Challenge - title with 5-7 words
79. White Teeth by Zadie Smith - finished 27th April 2022 - March 1001 Monthly Challenge - a colour in the title
80. The Princess Bride by William Goldman - finished 28th April 2022 - Build Your Library Challenge - book with a map
81. Heartstopper Volume 2 by Alice Oseman - finished 29th April 2022 - May TBR Knockout Challenge - book with green on cover
82. Heartstopper Volume 3 by Alice Oseman - finished 29th April 2022 - Totally Random Reads
83. The Guncle by Steven Rowley - finished 30th April 2022 - May Read Your Bookshelf Challenge - new to you author

83/260 = 31.92%

Read Around The World 1/15 = 6.67%
1001 Monthly Challenge 3/12 = 25% White Teeth
BingoDOG 21/25 = 80% Frostbite, Neverwhere
CATWoman 2/12 = 16.67%
AuthorCAT 4/12 = 33.33% Razorblade Tears, Anna Karenina
ShakespeareCAT 1/12 = 8.33%
RandomKIT 4/12 = 33.33% Shouting At The Rain
AlphaKIT 7/26 = 26.92% The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
MysteryKIT 2/12 = 16.67%
ScaredyKIT 2/12 = 16.67%
SFFKIT 2/12 = 16.67%
Buzzwordathon 2/12 = 16.67% As You Wish
TBR Knockout Challenge 8/24 = 33.33% How The Marquis Got His Coat Back, Heartstopper Volume 2
Read Your Bookshelf Challenge 4/12 = 33.33% Lab Girl, The Guncle
Build Your Library Challenge 17/40 = 42.5% Black Beauty, The Moving Finger, The Last Olympian, Darkwhispers, The Princess Bride
Totally Random Reads 3/10 = 30% The Fire Rose, The Love Hypothesis, Heartstopper Volume 3

>156 JayneCM: Oh, I'm so glad you liked this one! I loved it too and would really like to reread it soon!

>159 christina_reads: I really want to buy my own copy but it is not ever going to be released in paperback apparently. And the hardcover is expensive!

Book 64. Frostbite by Richelle Mead

BingoDOG - set in another country

At first, I didn't think I would like this book much. It was just a little too teenagery and angsty, with too much focus on Rose's love interests.
But the ending really brought it up a notch, when there was finally some vampire action. The conflict between the Moroi and the Strigoi is what I am here for!

Book 65. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell

Build Your Library Challenge - book with an animal as the protagonist

As a horse obsessed child, Black Beauty was one of my favourite and most reread books. And the bittersweet story of Beauty in particular, and horses of that time in general, is still just as enjoyable.
It may seem a little preachy and irrelevant at times, but Anna Sewell was attempting to draw attention to the plight of both animals and the poorer, overworked people of England in that time. Her idea in writing the book in this format was that her plea for kindness and compassion would be more palatable in the form of a story, 'written' by the horse himself.
The overarching message of the book is that we all, humans and animals, will respond to kindness, care and respect, and that it is wrong to treat anyone otherwise.

. . . how hard-hearted and cowardly it was to hurt the weak and the helpless."

And one of the characters says, "My doctrine is this , that if we see cruelty or wrong that we have the power to stop, and do nothing, we make ourselves sharers in the guilt.

Book 66. The Moving Finger by Agatha Christie

Build Your Library Challenge - a mystery or thriller

My least favourite Miss Marple so far. And Miss Marple did not appear in the book until three quarters of the way through!
The story seemed a little slower than previous ones. But still an intriguing read. And as always, Miss Christie tricked me into believing the killer was someone other than the actual perpetrator!

>163 JayneCM: The Moving Finger is one of my favorite Christies, but I would totally agree that it's not a great Marple story -- as you say, she's barely in it!

Just dropping by to say hello. You've had some great reading recently. I've added Eight Perfect Hours to my wishlist, your review is intriguing.

Book 67. The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

Build Your Library Challenge - book with a sword, dagger or shield on cover

A thoroughly enjoyable wrap up of the Percy Jackson series, with a definite lead in to the next series of books about demigods and Camp Half-Blood.

Book 68. The Fire Rose by Mercedes Lackey

Totally Random Reads

If that cover does not scream 90s fantasy, I don't know what does!
Although this book was an interesting retelling of Beauty and the Beast, it felt quite slow in parts. I did enjoy the elemental magic in the story and look forward to reading more in this Elemental Masters series. The atmosphere and setting of the book was detailed and vivid and greatly enhanced the story, particularly the inclusion of actual historical events such as the San Francisco earthquake and the Great Fire of Chicago.

Book 69. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

April AlphaKIT letter L

Five million gold stars!
I cannot even say what number reread this is for me. I read it over and over in my youth and have read it aloud to children numerous times as an adult. And still I love every word!
The writing is simple yet so evocative, both of character and place. The descriptions of Narnia both in winter and as the spring changes creep over it are beautiful. All the characters are so fully imagined, despite it being such a short book.
If I could only read one book series for the rest of my life, The Chronicles of Narnia would be the one!

>167 JayneCM: I love Beauty and the Beast retellings. Taking a BB for this one.
>168 JayneCM: That is one series I have never read.

>169 lowelibrary: The Fire Rose in the first book in a series. I am reading the second one, The Serpent's Shadow next month, which is based on Snow White. I do love retellings.
I think my ratings of Narnia do reflect my childhood love of the books. If you first read it as an adult, I am not sure if it will be as memorable.

Book 70. The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

Totally Random Reads

This is the romance everyone needs to read. It is heart warming, adorable, makes you cry, makes you laugh, makes you believe in love and believe the best in people.
The hypothesis headings at the beginning of each chapter were hilarious. The two main characters were so believable and personable - I particularly liked the sexual representation for Olive.

>170 JayneCM: Went Thingaversary shopping today at the local used bookstore. Found The Fire Rose.

>172 lowelibrary: What luck! As it is definitely OOP. I just looked on Amazon and there is a used paperback on there for $124. I bet you didn't pay that much!

Book 71. As You Wish by Cary Elwes

February Buzzwordathon - pronouns

If you are a fan of The Princess Bride, this is a wonderful collection of anecdotes from the making of the movie. The book is written by Cary Elwes, who played Westley, but includes little snippets from many of the people involved in the movie.
It is always enjoyable to receive a behind the scenes look at something you love. Probably not of interest unless you are a fan, although it is 'inconceivable' that you could not love The Princess Bride.

>174 JayneCM: I think I gave As You Wish the same rating as you, I really enjoyed it, and if anything it made me love the film even more! They all just sounded like such lovely people, and like they were all having an absolute ball making the film.

>173 JayneCM: I paid $4. Didn't realize it was such a bargain.

>174 JayneCM: I am going to rewatch the movie again over the Easter break - just because!

>175 Jackie_K: Definitely a bargain!

Book 72. Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby

March AuthorCAT - authors first published at 40 or later

As the author says, this book covers the trio of Southern literature - race, sex and class. And it does it in a way that is not forced and melds together seamlessly.
Just for my own tastes, I am not a fan of violence. Although violent in parts, it is by no means excessively graphic or gratuitous - it all played a part in the story. The two main characters are also not enjoying their actions, which is when I cannot read violent novels. By the end, they feel they are stuck in the situation they created with their hate and can only see it through to the end, even though it no longer feels like they are avenging the deaths of their sons. As Ike says, "Folks like to talk about revenge like it's a righteous thing but it's just hate in a nicer suit."
It raised some important points about the pervasive nature of hate. Buddy Lee talks about his family growing up and how they all joked about niggers and faggots and what should happen to them. As he came to realise this was wrong, he found it hard to separate his love of his family from their belief system. And then there are so many who grow up in and continue in a belief system like this and always think 'other' people are just not considered to be 'normal'.

"I guess it took me a long time to . . . get that what's normal ain't up to me."

Book 73. Darkwhispers by Vashti Hardy

Build Your Library Challenge - story about a discovery

Another wonderful Brightstorm story! I love the twins, I love the steampunk inspired world, I love the exploration, I love the intrigue and the 'baddies'.
The Brightstorm twins and the crew of the Aurora head off to the mythical Fourth Continent - is it really there?
The references to the correct usage of terms for other lands (ie. having their own worth rather than just being in relation to the nation that discovered them) and the environmental inventions of the new people were a good work-in to the story. As well as the discussion of good vs bad and how we determine them and how they differ in relation to the perspective of different people.
And as a reader and a seeker of new information always, I love that the twins (and the adults in the book) are always studying and searching for new knowledge and ways of doing things.

"The acceptance of not knowing, saying you don't know, is what opens the path to new knowledge."

Book 74. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

February AuthorCAT - 19th century author

Anna Karenina is, on the surface, the story of a woman who loses her place in society due to her love for a man not her husband. She tries to choose happiness and love over duty and the expectations of society, which proves to be her downfall.
But the book covers many topics relevant to Russia at the time - politics, war, the treatment of agricultural workers and other poorer members of Russia, society and its often hypocritical double standards, religion. Tolstoy used the book as a vehicle for many of his own personal opinions, as well as using he and his wife's courtship as the inspiration for Levin and Kitty's.

What Tolstoy says of love is completely relevant for all times:

" . . . and when you love someone, you love the whole person, as they are, and not as you'd like them to be."

And his view on religion and being tolerant of all religions and belief systems, regardless of whether we personally believe in them or even understand them, is also timeless.

"And I don't have the right or possibility of resolving the question of other beliefs and their attitude to the Deity."

Although it is a LONG book, there are many different aspects to engage the reader.

Book 75. Lab Girl by Hope Jahren

March Read Your Bookshelf Challenge - growth

This started out very slowly and I couldn't decide if the author was totally self-centred or just oblivious. I did enjoy the alternating chapters about the science of plants from the start but then I warmed to the author's story as well, particularly her relationship / eccentric friendship with the wonderful Bill. And the scene where Bill opens up and talks about his childhood and then dances, just all the tears.

But I especially appreciated this book as the author does not hold back on pointing out what is obvious but so overlooked - and that is that without plants, there is no human race.

"Planet Earth is nearly a Dr. Seuss book made real: every year since 1990 we have created eight billion more stumps. My job is about making sure there will be some evidence that someone cared about the great tragedy that unfolded during our age."

>181 JayneCM: That sounds great, I've just added it to my wishlist.

Book 76. Shouting At The Rain by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

April RandomKIT - April showers

As soon as I saw that cover on the library shelf, I had to pick up this book!
I am one of those strange people that prefer stormy, rainy weather, so when someone said to Delsie that most people prefer sunny days and she said well, not me, I just wanted to hug her.

"Seriously? You don't smell the rain? It's beautiful."

Delsie, you are speaking my language - there is nothing better than the smell of petrichor!

There are lots of little moments and gems of quotes in this book, pointing to accepting who you are, regardless of what others think of you. That the most important thing in life is finding the people who love and care for you, for you, and not focusing on the garbage that other people want to put on you. There is a wonderful navigation of friendship, leading to this simple but so meaningful quote:

"I guess some friends are just glitter, and some friends are glue."

Also:

"Grammy's always saying that when people throw rocks, you can either build walls or bridges."

This book is a definite read for middle graders as it covers many aspects that age group needs to cope with as they grow older and friendships and family dynamics change, as well as developing their sense of where they fit in the world.

Book 77. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

BingoDOG - set in a capital city

Firstly, how have I never read any Neil Gaiman before?! Not even Coraline! This book had me hooked from the first sentence. This is the type of world building that grips you from the start and even though it is fantastical, yet seems totally real. If I lived in London, I think I would find myself looking for doors to London Below.
It follows a traditional fantasy quest arc, but in a world that we are all familiar with.
I adored every word and I just wish there were more books in this world.

Book 78. How The Marquis Got His Coat Back by Neil Gaiman

May TBR Knockout Challenge - title with 5-7 words

I am not usually fussed with reading short stories associated with other works. But as it seems this is the only other Neverwhere we are getting for now, I thought I would.
It was interesting to see why everyone was scared of the shepherds of Shepherd's Bush and to get a little more of the history of the Marquis.
A quick and engaging read.

Book 79. White Teeth by Zadie Smith

March 1001 Monthly Challenge - a colour in the title

An amazing debut by a then 24 year old Zadie Smith. This books sweeps through the decades, following a large cast of characters as they navigate their way through life. The characters are so authentic, the author seeming just at ease writing middle-aged men or teenage girls; Indian, Caribbean or British; Muslim, Jehovah's Witness or atheist.
There are so many aspects of 20th century life in Britain covered by this book, yet none of it seems contrived. The narrative flow is perfect.
It is also quite humorous and witty - the repartee between the women/mothers, and between the husbands and wives. I particularly enjoyed the terrible Chalfen family; their patronising liberality was spot-on. They reminded me of The Man Who Loved Children.
This is a book about ordinary people living ordinary lives; as Archie thinks to himself,

"Maybe there will always be men who say the right thing at the right time . . . , and then there will be men like Archie Jones who are just there to make up the numbers."

A compelling read about the people who fall through the cracks, who make up the major proportion of the population, the ordinary folk just getting on with it every day.

Book 80. The Princess Bride by William Goldman

Build Your Library Challenge - book with a map

I first read this book when I was about 10 and loved it. Of course, I wanted to find out all about the 'real' book (my love and obsession with researching everything I read about has never left me!) and this was in the dark days WAY before the internet. So I was convinced for a long time that one day I would be able to find information about Morgenstern and the original The Princess Bride book.
Now of course we can just google and find out all about William Goldman's clever writing technique immediately! But even knowing that, it still reads so convincingly.
And the actual story is absolutely wonderful. The characters are all so unique and written with such wit, it is a joy to read.
His turns of phrase are hilarious:

"You expected unfairness if you breathed . . "

But I think the description in the book of the contents of the book sums it up best:

"Fencing. Fighting. Torture. Poison. True love. Hate. Revenge. Giants. Hunters. Bad men. Good men. Beautifulest ladies. Snakes. Spiders. Beasts of all natures and descriptions. Pain. Death. Brave men. Coward men. Strongest men. Chases. Escapes. Lies. Truth. Passion. Miracles. "

What more could you want?!

Book 81. Heartstopper Volume 2 by Alice Oseman

May TBR Knockout Challenge - book with green on cover

I loved Charlie and Nick in Volume 1 and now I love them even more. This was even more adorable and just heart melting than the first book. The illustrations are just perfect. It is a simple storyline but executed so well. With so few words in a graphic novel, all the words used have to count and these do. The emotion is conveyed so clearly, both with the writing and the illustrations.
And I love that Charlie has a poster of the Brideshead Revisited orange Penguin classic on his wall - yes, these are the things I notice!

Book 82. Heartstopper Volume 3 by Alice Oseman

Totally Random Reads

Same as I've said before! These books are gorgeous and adorable and sweet and heart warming in the extreme.
I am very interested to see that the author is introducing male teenage eating disorders, an issue that does not receive much notice.

Book 83. The Guncle by Steven Rowley

May Read Your Bookshelf Challenge - new to you author

GUP and the children, and their interactions and repartee, are just a delight. So many laugh out loud moments in this book. I especially loved the various references - 80s music (yes, I am still singing Wang Chung in my head), Oscar Wilde and musicals, in particular my favourite, The Sound of Music.
There is such insight into the process of grieving and moving on from that grief in a meaningful way, that is all presented so tenderly yet with such wit.

May 2022

84. Days In The Caucasus by Banine - finished 2nd May 2022 - Read Around The World - Azerbaijan
85. The Gardener From Ochakov by Andrey Kurkov - finished 4th May 2022 - Read Around The World - Ukraine
86. Around The World In Eighty Days by Jules Verne - finished 5th May 2022 - Build Your Library Challenge - a book where someone travels across the world
87. The Last Bear by Hannah Gold - finished 6th May 2022 - Read Around The World - Norway
88. My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell - finished 8th May 2022 - Read Around The World - Greece
89. Echoes of War by Tania Blanchard - finished 10th May 2022 - May AuthorCAT - author from your own country
90. A Cat Story by Ursula Murray Husted - finished 11th May 2022 - Totally Random Reads
91. Grimms Fairy Tales by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm - finished 11th May 2022 - Totally Random Reads
92. And Every Morning The Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Fredrik Backman - finished 12th May 2022 - Totally Random Reads
93. The Yellow Birds Sings by Jennifer Rosner - finished 13th May 2022 - April TBR Knockout Challenge - book with flowers on cover
94. Toro! Toro! by Michael Morpurgo - finished 13th May 2022 - Build Your Library Challenge - story set during a war
95. Recipe For A Kinder Life by Annie Smithers - finished 14th May 2022 - Totally Random Reads
96. Miss Ex-Yugoslavia by Sofija Stefanovic - finished 15th May 2022 - Read Around The World - Serbia
97. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J. K. Rowling - finished 16th May 2022 - Totally Random Reads
98. Ice by Ulla-Lena Lundberg - finished 17th May 2022 - Read Around The World - Finland
99. City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab - finished 19th May 2022 - Build Your Library Challenge - set somewhere you have always wanted to visit (Edinburgh)
100. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller - finished 20th May 2022 - Build Your Library Challenge - recommended by someone famous
101. This Is How You Lose The Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone - finished 21st May 2022 - February SFFKIT - Time Travel
102. The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley - finished 23rd May 2022 - March Buzzwordathon - locations
103. Heartstopper Volume 4 by Alice Oseman - finished 24th May 2022 - June TBR Knockout Challenge - LGBTQ+ book
104. The Serpent's Shadow by Mercedes Lackey - finished 26th May 2022 - June CATWoman - book set in a city
105. Tidesong by Wendy Xu - finished 27th May 2022 - Totally Random Reads
106. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - finished 29th May 2022 - May CATWoman - classics written by women
107. Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman - finished 31st May 2022 - May AlphaKIT - letter O

107/260 = 41.15%

Read Around The World 7/15 = 46.67% Days In The Caucasus, The Gardener From Ochakov, The Last Bear, My Family and Other Animals, Miss Ex-Yugoslavia, Ice
1001 Monthly Challenge 3/12 = 25%
BingoDOG 21/25 = 80%
CATWoman 4/12 = 33.33% The Serpent's Shadow, Pride and Prejudice
AuthorCAT 5/12 = 41.67% Echoes of War
ShakespeareCAT 1/12 = 8.33%
RandomKIT 4/12 = 33.33%
AlphaKIT 8/26 = 30.77% Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine
MysteryKIT 2/12 = 16.67%
ScaredyKIT 2/12 = 16.67%
SFFKIT 3/12 = 25% This Is How You Lose The Time War
Buzzwordathon 3/12 = 25% The Paris Apartment
TBR Knockout Challenge 10/24 = 41.67% The Yellow Bird Sings, Heartstopper Volume 4
Read Your Bookshelf Challenge 4/12 = 33.33%
Build Your Library Challenge 21/40 = 52.5% Around The World In Eighty Days, Toro! Toro!, City of Ghosts, The Song of Achilles
Totally Random Reads 9/10 = 90% A Cat Story, Grimms Fairy Tales, And Every Morning The Way Home Gets Longer and Longer, A Recipe For A Kinder Life, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Tidesong

>188 JayneCM: I love the book The Princess Bride too! Of course the movie is wonderful, but I think the book is equally great. Love the Zoo of Death!

>193 christina_reads: Such a clever book! I need to rewatch the movie, but I cannot seem to recall the Zoo of Death being in the movie?

>194 Ann_R: This was my first Gaiman book - I think I will read Good Omens next.

Book 84. Days In The Caucasus by Banine

Read Around The World - Azerbaijan

A really interesting and enjoyable memoir of a childhood in oil-rich Azerbaijan before the Soviet takeover. The author's father was an oil baron so she led a childhood of lazy summers spent at their summer mansion on the Caspian Sea and life in town (Baku) for the rest of the year. There are some terrible racist games that the children play, that as children they think nothing of, such as the massacre of the Armenians, which very much underlines the constant issues that have always been at play in these areas.
The Soviet invasion, of course, changed this lifestyle as her family was stripped of all assets and life was irrevocably changed.
It was very interesting to read of a place of which there are very few books.

" . . . the name Azerbaijan in Persian means 'Land of Fire', from the fires sometimes ignited spontaneously by the sun shining on oil slicks on the ground."

>195 JayneCM: The Zoo of Death isn't in the movie, alas! I mean, I can see why they cut it, but it was one of my favorite parts of the book.

>197 christina_reads: I didn't think it was but I haven't watched it in a long time!

Book 85. The Gardener From Ochakov by Andrey Kurkov

Read Around The World - Ukraine

I picked up this book as I love time travel and this had a particularly interesting take. A young man living in 2010 Ukraine finds a 1950s Soviet police uniform. When wearing it, he is transported back to 1957 Soviet occupied Ukraine.
It was a good read but ultimately very slow and not much happened. And the ending was very rushed and abrupt.

Book 86. Around The World In Eighty Days by Jules Verne

Build Your Library Challenge - a book where someone travels across the world

The illustrations by Robert Ingpen are a delightful edition to the story.
This is worth reading simply as a snapshot in time, showing how travel was conducted in the 1800s and descriptions of various countries during this time. Yes, it is very rah-rah British Empire and how wonderful progress is, but still an engaging read.

Book 87. The Last Bear by Hannah Gold

Read Around The World - Norway

I just want to rush around the world and place this book in every child's hands!
The relationship between Bear and April is beautifully written, heart warming and heart breaking, and makes you cry tears of sheer joy and despair.

The environmental message is delivered perfectly; subtly woven into the story so that the issues of climate change become an integral part of the story.

I totally understand April's frustration when she thinks of climate change and the fate of wild animals and wilderness, when she thinks that it "made her feel both angry and useless at the same time."

And I love Lise's comment at the end of the book, when she tells April:
"Go home, share your story with everyone who wants to listen and especially those who don't, and do what you can to tell everyone about us here in Svalbard."
It is the people who don't want to listen, who need to hear the message the most!

The illustrations are amazing. They capture Bear and the Arctic Circle perfectly.

And the final message from the author's note sums it up:
"With a loud enough roar, I know we can make a difference."

Book 88. My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell

Read Around The World - Greece

Since I was a child, I have loved natural history books, especially books about children interacting with nature without much adult interference. This is the idyllic childhood of which I dreamed!
The descriptions of nature are poetic and evocative. There are some fascinating descriptions of various creatures, especially the fight between the gecko and the mantid. And as you can imagine, there are many hilarious scenes of mayhem caused by Gerry's menagerie.
The book is also a witty, laugh out loud account of the Durrell family dynamics. With all four children being so different (although three of them are adults or late teens), there are some memorable 'discussions' and family outings.
Add to this, the eccentric cast of local characters and it makes for a highly amusing story.

As the author says in the first section:
"Living in Corfu was rather like living in one of the more flamboyant and slapstick comic operas."

>202 JayneCM: Lovely review, Jayne! I have found all Gerald Durrell's books to be exceptional but the books making up the Corfu Trilogy are without equal.

>203 VivienneR: I will definitely read more of his books!

Book 89. Echoes of War by Tania Blanchard

May AuthorCAT - an author from your own country

There are plenty of World War II books of this historical fiction/romance ilk, but the majority of them focus on the Allies. I really appreciated that this book was set in Italy and included information on the cost to the Italian people of Mussolini's Pact of Steel with Hitler and their change to the Allies when Mussolini was ousted from power. In particular, how the Italians were bombed by both 'sides' during the war and how difficult it would have been to make that transition.
The story itself was quite slow for me and was secondary to the war story. There was too much emphasis, I felt, on the 'submissive woman' trope, which of course was true at that time, did not need to make up the majority of the story.

Book 90. A Cat Story by Ursula Murray Husted

Totally Random Reads

What a one of a kind graphic novel this is! The setting of Malta, the inclusion of classic artworks as part of the story and the artwork of such and the use of different fonts and layouts throughout, really make this lovely book unique.
The story of the stray dock cats who just want to find a home is told with gentle tenderness as they undertake a journey to find the 'quiet garden' where all cats can live in peace, free from hunger.
But it really is the use of art to tell the story that made this wonderful for me. Especially appreciated was the 8 pages of Art Notes at the end of the book, where the author/illustrator discussed the motivation for the setting and talks about all the artworks referenced in the book.

Book 91. Grimms Fairy Tales by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

Totally Random Reads

There is a reason these fairy tales have stood the test of time. Simple yet effective story telling which engrosses you in each story.
I appreciate that this Scholastic edition stays true to the original stories - ie. no godmother or glass slipper in Cinderella and the gruesome ends of some characters were not cut out. It is well worth reading the 'real' Grimms, rather than the Disney versions.

Book 92. And Every Morning The Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Fredrik Backman

Totally Random Reads

A moving, heart breaking story of a man's struggle with Alzheimer's as his memories become dimmer and he desperately tries to keep them intact.

"Sometimes I remember that I have forgotten. That's the worst kind of forgetting."

The use of the analogy of the bench in the square that is getting smaller every day instantly paints a clear picture of how Grandpa is being affected. Every day he meets different people in the square; sometimes he remembers them, sometimes not.

"When a brain fades it takes a long time for the body to realise."

Wishing you the strength to endure the last week of the election campaign. It's looking like action on climate change is a winner, so fingers crossed!

>209 pamelad: Fingers crossed for sure! I live in a seat that has been Liberal since the 1950s so pretty sure Dan Tehan will be back! It would be a major upset if he lost his seat. Not sure about Josh though!

Book 93. The Yellow Bird Sings by Jennifer Rosner

April TBR Knockout Challenge - book with flowers on cover

A beautifully haunting story of a mother and her daughter and their fight for survival as Jews in Nazi occupied Poland.
We can never begin to imagine the horrors of having to hide for your life, keeping a five year old child completely silent, living with little or no food, warmth or shelter. This book conveys all these horrors, yet still retains such a beauty, that life is worth living and that there are caring, wonderful people amidst the evil. The people who were willing to hide Jews and disguise their children amongst Polish children in orphanages or in their homes, at the risk of their own lives.

As one of the characters says:
"In God's eyes your child is no different than mine. She deserves every chance to live."

Particularly beautiful was the weaving through the story of music and the yellow bird that one day would lead mother and daughter back to each other.

Book 94. Toro! Toro! by Michael Morpurgo

Build Your Library Challenge - story set during a war

An easy to read story for younger readers. It is always good to find books for middle graders about historical topics that are less written about and this story is set at the beginning of the Spanish Civil War. It focuses on Antonito and his relationship with Paco, a black bull bred on his father's farm for the bullring.
Although it is written in a very simplistic style, it instils the sense of excitement yet horror of the bullring and of the terrors of war in the perfect way for middle grade readers.

>211 JayneCM: - I think I'll take a BB for this and I'm thinking that the audio might be a good way to read it.

>213 dudes22: I think so too. I would be interested to know if the audio contains the songs that are written out in the book in actual singing.

Book 95. Recipe For A Kinder Life by Annie Smithers

Totally Random Reads

This book just reiterated to me the way I have always wanted to live. I felt such an infinity with the author and the life she has chosen - whether it was her consideration always for living as lightly as possible or the fact that like me, she finds stabbing wool with barbed needles to make felted balls strangely therapeutic.
This book contains lots of useful information about growing food and recipes for your produce, as well as thoughts on climate change and the responsibility we all hold to our planet. But it is definitely not preachy in tone - the author has obviously thought deeply about how she would like to live and is happy to just quietly go about it.

So many sentences stood out to me as thoughts I very much believe in, such as:
"Extraordinary skills are getting lost in the mists of time, simply because there are cheaper, easier ways to do things."
"Perhaps we should all adopt this state of mind: a constant awareness and vigilance regarding where water is coming from, where it is going and how much is wasted."

>215 JayneCM: I've just added it to my wishlist, although I'm not sure if it's available in the UK.

Book 96. Miss Ex-Yugoslavia by Sofija Stefanovic

Read Around The World - Serbia

A memoir that clearly shows the difficulties and confusion of immigrants straddling two cultures. What makes it even more difficult in this instance is that the author comes from what is now Serbia, what was then Yugoslavia. The wars that led up to dissolution of Yugoslavia were violent and difficult to understand for foreigners and even for the citizens, particularly children.

"The intricacies of our messy homeland with all the ethnic groups, all the pockets of fighting, all the leaders, was hard work to understand and even harder to explain."

"My brain was full of contradictory feelings as I again tried to sort out the good people from the bad, to work out who were the ones we mourned and who were the ones whose deaths we quietly ignored."

This was an interesting look into a region that is very complicated and also a good addition to books written about the immigrant experience in Australia. Bookending the story with the Ex-Yugo community beauty pageant was a perfect beginning and ending point.

Book 97. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Totally Random Reads

Many, many reads of Harry Potter later, and they are still just as captivating to read. A wonderful set up to the world of wizards and Muggles.

Book 98. Ice by Ulla-Lena Lundberg

Read Around The World - Finland

This is one of those slow, gentle books that just draw you in, even though not much happens. The writing is stark and stoic yet beautiful, just like the landscape and the people of the Orlands islands.
It will definitely not be for everyone. If you like a plot that keeps moving and changing, nope to this book. I would liken it, in the most part, to gently swaying seaweed in the ocean. The currents just take you here and there, the scenery is all pretty much the same, but you sure get to know that piece of seaweed well.
An intimate portrait of an isolated community and how living in such a harsh environment acts upon the people, particularly when newcomers arrive and in times of adversity.

Book 99. City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab

Build Your Library Challenge - set somewhere you have always wanted to visit (Edinburgh)

The setting was perfect for this story and I loved the Harry Potter and Greyfriars Bobby references. At first, the story was very slow to get moving. There was far too much telling/explaining of British terms for food and customs, presumably as this book was written for a US middle grade audience.
About halfway through, the book leapt into action and pulled you in. The use of the life thread was a tangible way to explain Cassidy and Lara's lives between the two worlds. By the end, there were enough little crumbs dropped to make me want to continue with the series and see where Cassidy and her parents go next.

Book 100. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Build Your Library Challenge - recommended by someone famous

A beautifully written story of an Achilles we do not see in the ancient texts. An Achilles who is gentle and caring, yet whose pride we know will be his downfall. I have always seen Achilles as arrogant and deserving of his fate, particularly in his treatment of Hector's body. So it was interesting to read a version showing another side of Achilles. Human nature being what it is, it is never so simple to ascertain the character traits of another.
The story of Patroclus and Achilles in their childhood and teen years was very slow and tender. Their love for each other was subtly portrayed and thus was all the more poignant.
I appreciate that the author steered away from the 'arrow in the heel' death of Achilles, which allowed it to be clear that it was Achilles' pride that was his fatal flaw. His pride lost Patroclus and so led to his final defeat.
It was fitting in the end that it was Thetis who finally allowed Achilles and Patroclus to be together in the underworld, after she had so vehemently opposed them in life.

"When he died, all things swift and beautiful and bright would be buried with him."

>184 JayneCM: One on the moms in my neighborhood when I was growing up loved rain and she always lit a fire in the fireplace when it was raining. Her husband would just be livid when he came home from work in the summer and found a fire in the fireplace and the air conditioning on! If I happened to be at their house on one of those days that just needed a fire, she would swear me to secrecy. Although she died several years ago, I often think of her on rainy days. She always seemed like sort of a TV mom instead of just the normal every-day kind.

Great election result! Even a hung parliament could be a good thing, and it's cause for optimism to see the whole country voting for issues rather than parties.

>222 clue: What a lovely memory to have. There is just something about an open fire and looking into the flames.

>223 pamelad: Definitely! I am in one of the safest Liberal seats (been Liberal since the 1950s) and there was a 7% swing against Liberal. Hopefully it sends a message!

Book 101. This Is How You Lose The Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

February SFFKIT - Time Travel

Wow, what a feast of language! This book engages all the senses with the beautiful and poetic yet fierce and sometimes cruel writing. Both the writers really know how to find the beauty in the messiness and bloodiness of war and life.
The story was very intricate, with the representation of all time as a braid that can be unspun, frayed and altered as the agents travelled upthread or downthread.
I love time travel as a theme, but it is difficult to make all the pieces 'fit', particularly in a story with myriad facets as this one does. But everything flows perfectly and the latter part of the story slots perfectly back into the earlier sections, once we know more.
It must also be difficult making the reader feel for characters that we really cannot picture. Just when you get an idea in your head of what Red or Blue looks like, it seems to slip through your fingers. Yet the reader still feels totally invested in their story.
But the absolute standout was definitely the language - the 'love' letters are just divine.

Book 102. The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

March Buzzwordathon - locations

This book was just meh. The characters were flat, one dimensional and cliched, the plot was formulaic and read like many similar books. I found that I just didn't care about these people or what happened to them. The little twist at the end lifted it a little, but most of the story was slow and fairly repetitive.

Book 103. Heartstopper Volume 4 by Alice Oseman

June TBR Knockout Challenge = LGBTQ+ book

Another gorgeous addition to Nick and Charlie's love story. I loved seeing the progression of their love, as well as the wonderful friendship group they have.
But this volume delves into darker issues as well, with Charlie's mental health issues and eating disorder. The topic was portrayed in a very sympathetic and hopeful light, providing hope and possible avenues to solutions for any readers who find themselves facing similar issues.
And again, the most delightful, heartfelt illustrations.
Whenever I finish a Heartstopper volume, I just want to sit with it and hug it for a while!

Book 104. The Serpent's Shadow by Mercedes Lackey

June CATWoman - book set in a city

A really enjoyable instalment in the Elemental Masters series, this one based on Snow White. I loved the use of the Indian culture for the story and that the seven dwarfs were seven gods and goddesses disguised as animal familiars. It was a little gruesome in parts, as the evil in the story was personified by the goddess Kali.
Overall, a great historical fantasy/fairy tale retelling.

Book 105. Tidesong by Wendy Xu

Totally Random Reads

The story is cute but not that enthralling. The winner is this book is the artwork, in particular of the ocean environment and the underwater dragons. These drawings were beautiful.

Book 106. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

May CATWoman - classics written by women

A wonderful read for the banter between Elizabeth and Darcy and the ridiculousness of the younger Bennett sisters and their mother.
As a side note, I do love these publications of classics that have no clue! Obviously the thought process is 'old book, old photo of lady for the cover' - no consideration of appropriate to the era!

Book 107. Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

May AlphaKIT - letter O

This is my third read of this book - Eleanor still makes me laugh, still makes me cry. Her emotionally stunted character is hilarious and heart breaking as she stumbles through her everyday life. Eleanor has learned to survive, her routines keep her safe, her emotional aloofness keeps her safe.

"If someone asks you how you are, you are meant to say FINE. You are not meant to say that you cried yourself to sleep last night because you hadn't spoken to another person for two consecutive days. FINE is what you say."

Eleanor has worked hard at being FINE but she has come to see that she is not truly living. Even more heart breaking is Eleanor's gradual journey to opening up her heart and letting people in. She has lived through the worst and now she wants to live her best.

June 2022

108. The Duke and I by Julia Quinn - finished 1st June 2022 - May RandomKIT - May flowers (flowers on cover)
109. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling - finished 2nd June 2022 - June SFFKIT - next book in a series
110. A Murder Is Announced by Agatha Christie - finished 3rd June 2022 - Totally Random Reads
111. Twilight by Stephanie Meyer - finished 5th June 2022 - April SFFKIT - Lifespans
112. The Sad Ghost Club 2 by Lize Meddings - finished 6th June 2022 - BingoDOG - published in year ending with 2
113. Winterhouse by Ben Guterson - finished 7th June 2022 - Build Your Library Challenge - beautiful cover
114. Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan - finished 9th June 2022 - June Read Your Bookshelf Challenge - book on the cover
115. Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson - finished 11th June 2022 - April Read Your Bookshelf Challenge - your initials in the title
116. Stardust by Neil Gaiman - finished 13th June 2022 - Build Your Library Challenge - book about a road trip
117. Book Lovers by Emily Henry - finished 16th June 2022 - Build Your Library Challenge - new release you are excited for
118. Firesong by Vashti Hardy - finished 17th June 2022 - Build Your Library Challenge - new book from a favourite author
119. The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O'Neill - finished 18th June 2022 - May AlphaKIT - letter D
120. Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel - finished 20th June 2022 - July ShakespeareCAT - Justice
121. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling - finished 21st June 2022 - BingoDOG - features a dog
122. This Much Is True by Miriam Margolyes - finished 22nd June 2022 - Build Your Library Challenge - a memoir or biography about a fascinating person
123. Book of Lost Threads by Tess Evans - finished 24th June 2022 - BingoDOG - flowers on the cover
124. Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict - finished 25th June 2022 - July CATWoman - women in science
125. The Weight of an Infinite Sky by Carrie La Seur - finished 26th June 2022 - April ShakespeareCAT - Hamlet
126. Julia and the Shark by Kiran Millwood Hargrave - finished 27th June 2022 - April AlphaKIT - letter J
127. The Witch Boy by Molly Knox Ostertag - finished 28th June 2022 - July SFFKIT - Family, born or found
128. Mansfield Park by Jane Austen - finished 29th June 2022 - June 1001 Monthly Challenge - female author
129. Across The Green Grass Fields by Seanan McGuire - finished 30th June 2022 - Build Your Library Challenge - a portal fantasy
130. The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen - finished 30th June 2022 - July AuthorCAT - Asian authors

130/260 = 50%

Read Around The World 7/15 = 46.67%
1001 Monthly Challenge 4/12 = 33.33% Mansfield Park
BingoDOG 24/25 = 96% The Sad Ghost Club 2, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Book of Lost Threads
CATWoman 5/12 = 41.67% Her Hidden Genius
AuthorCAT 6/12 = 50% The Magic Fish
ShakespeareCAT 3/12 = 25% Station Eleven, The Weight of an Infinite Sky
RandomKIT 5/12 = 41.67% The Duke and I
AlphaKIT 10/26 = 38.46% The Tea Dragon Society, Julia and the Shark
MysteryKIT 2/12 = 16.67%
ScaredyKIT 2/12 = 16.67%
SFFKIT 6/12 = 50% Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Twilight, The Witch Boy
Buzzwordathon 3/12 = 25%
TBR Knockout Challenge 10/24 = 41.67%
Read Your Bookshelf Challenge 6/12 = 50% Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, Just Mercy
Build Your Library Challenge 27/40 = 67.5% Winterhouse, Stardust, Book Lovers, Firesong, This Much Is True, Across The Green Grass Fields
Totally Random Reads 10/10 = 100% A Murder Is Announced

>231 JayneCM: I was a big fan of that book too; I'd love to reread it sometime.

Book 108. The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

May RandomKIT - May flowers (flowers on cover)

The comparisons to Pride and Prejudice are, of course, obvious, as well as to the wondrous bodice rippers of the 80s. This book, being a combination of the two, was a delightful read. I would have liked a little more of the witty repartee before we rushed to the bedroom and the males of the story were a tad too domineering, but nevertheless it is a fun and quick read to while away an afternoon reclining on the couch!
And I am looking forward to the reveal of Lady Whistledown's identity. Her gossip colomn at the beginning of each chapter was the highlight of the book.

Book 109. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

June SFFKIT - next book in a series

I really don't need to say much about HP. I have read them all so many times and love them. The writing isn't the best, but the story and the characters are so wonderful.

Book 110. A Murder Is Announced by Agatha Christie

Totally Random Reads

This was Agatha Christie's 50th book and was published in 1950 so it received a fair amount of publicity at the time. I adore her understated writing style, her ability to get to the heart of a small village and populate it with such hilarious and accurately portrayed village characters, and of course the mystery. One day I am going to actually know who the murderer is before the end of the book!

Book 111. Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

April SFFKIT - Lifespans

I never read the Twilight series at the height of its popularity, so it is about time I did!
It was an enjoyable read, quite teenage drama, but still fun. I liked that it dispensed with the usual vampire myths and made the Cullens more humanlike, so blurring the lines between who is good and who is evil.

Book 112. The Sad Ghost Club 2 by Lize Meddings

BingoDOG - published in year ending with 2 (2022)

The second instalment of Socks' story is just as wonderful as the first. Socks is now trying to navigate new friendships and all the insecurities and uncertainties that entails.
I love these books for how they open up discussion for the 'ghosties', those of us that have real difficulties with social situations and will overthink and second guess every conversation and interaction. It is always empowering to see yourself in a book and know that you are not alone.
Socks' thought bubbles are the perfect way to compare the actual conversation to the way it is construed internally.
The author's note at the end is a fabulous summation of the book:

"Don't be afraid to let your friends in, it's scary but it's worth it. You got this, Ghosties!"

Book 113. Winterhouse by Ben Guterson

Build Your Library Challenge - beautiful cover

This book has all the vibes I love - a snowy, mountainous setting, an enormous old mansion with a huge library, people who like books and puzzles, word puzzles and a mystery to solve - all the things!
And it did not disappoint. I enjoyed this book immensely and the illustrations really set the scene. It was a slow and gentle read despite the undertones of evil running through the story.
Looking forward to the next book.

Book 114. Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

June Read Your Bookshelf Challenge - book on the cover

A totally enjoyable ride through the intersection/juxtaposition of the traditional and the modern. Books vs computers - do they have to be anathema to each other or can they coexist?
I loved the journey through the mystery of the code and as I read, I did wonder if the reveal would be a disappointment. But it was perfect.
And the last line of the book sums up how we readers feel when we find 'it' - that book we adore.

"the right book exactly, at exactly the right time."

And just this, because yes of course, haven't we all?!
"I have waited my whole life to walk through a secret passage built into a bookshelf."

Book 115. Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

April Read Your Bookshelf Challenge - your initials in the title

Bryan Stevenson is the founder of the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Alabama, and has spent almost his entire legal career defending the poor, wrongly condemned and most vulnerable, the ones who get lost in the US criminal justice system.
There are so many heart breaking stories in this book and this is just the tip of the iceberg. I can imagine that for all the people the EQI are able to help, there are so many more who remain lost in the system, losing their dignity, respect, health and lives due to the inherent inequalities in the legal system - as the author says, " . . . we have to reform a system of criminal justice that continues to treat people better if they are rich and guilty than if they are poor and innocent. A system that denies the poor the legal help they need, that makes wealth and status more important than culpability."
Particularly heart rending are the stories of the children who are tried as adults and condemned to life without parole in adult prisons, where terrible things happen to them. Such as Joe, a mental disabled thirteen year old with little education, who was wrongly sentenced. By the time he wrote to Bryan Stevenson, he was thirty-one. He wrote, "If I didn't do anything, shouldn't I be able to go home now? Mr Bryan, if this is true, can you please write me back and come get me?"
My admiration and respect for people such as Bryan Stevenson has no bounds. How he can keep working with such heartbreak and despair around him on a daily basis is a testament to his strength of character, compassion and caring for the forgotten people.
A hard, compelling and necessary read.

"We need more hope. We need more mercy. We need more justice."

Book 116. Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Build Your Library Challenge - book about a road trip

A fairy tale with a difference - witty, slightly irreverent, beautifully descriptive and a rollicking good time.

Book 117. Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Build Your Library Challenge - new release you are excited for

I was excited to try this as I want to give romance a chance and this is about books, people who love books, people who work with books - what could go wrong?!

First minor gripe - it annoys me when the cover has nothing to do with the book but in a way that makes no sense. I mean, why have two people in separate boats on a lake when that NEVER happens in the book and makes no real sense as an image to represent the book?

I enjoyed the beginning and the banter and I was thinking this was shaping up well. I laughed a lot in the first few chapters. But this book should not be billed as rivals to lovers as there was never any real antagonism. Nora also was not that much of an ice queen. The characters were overall not well-developed and the writing was very repetitive. I love book references when they are well used, and most of them were. But then to mention Kafka, more as a 'look how smart I am, I mentioned Kafka' was annoying.

But she totally lost me when she plagiarised a 1958 Truman Capote novella, in the obvious assumption that her target reading audience would not have read said novella. At first I thought it was a deliberate part of the plot as it is in the book Nora and Charlie were co-editing and that they would throw their hands up in horror. But no, it was just direct plagiarism.
I still finished the book, but that just made me super mad.

Overall, a fairly stock standard, repetitive romance, but an easy, if boring, read.

Book 118. Firesong by Vashti Hardy

Build Your Library Challenge - new book by a favourite author

What an amazing conclusion to the adventures of the Brightstorm twins. This was the best book in the series. Again, loved the steampunk elements, loved the exploring. The descriptions of the wilderness in all the books in the series is just beautiful - the earth care message is clear throughout the series, but more specifically in this book. And the delivery method is so wonderful and powerful. The sapient creatures are definitely my favourites.
I appreciated seeing the twins change and have to make more mature decisions as they grew older rather than just remaining the same kids going on adventures throughout the series.
The intrigue is maintained throughout the book, right up to the last sentence. Fingers crossed there may be further adventures with either the Brightstorm twins or the sapient creatures of their world in the future!

Book 119. The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O'Neill

May AlphaKIT - letter D

You just need to look at that cover to know that the artwork in this book is going to blow you away. And it did! It is absolutely adorable and shows each of the characters so well. And the tea dragons - oh my!
I loved that this was a large format graphic novel, I loved the use of delicate, subtle colours throughout, I loved the relationships and portrayals of all the characters and how the four came together to help the tea dragons.
The extracts from The Tea Dragon Handbook at the end were an added bonus, where there were profiles for each of the tea dragons (some of whom we did not meet in this book) as well as information on their habits and how to care for them.
An absolute delight!

Book 120. Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel

July ShakespeareCAT - Justice

I will admit to loving a post-apocalyptic novel, the stripping back of civilisation to see what lies underneath when the things fall apart. And this book is wonderful. It shows the potential violence, despair and hopelessness of the end of the world as we know it, yet imbues it with hope, caring and love. The use of the Travelling Symphony is the perfect way to display that we need not lose our humanity, our love for the arts and our ability to gather as a community; if fact we need it even more.
The stories of all the characters and the interspersing of different timelines effectively and gradually revealed the time just before the Georgia Flu and the twenty years after.
A thought-provoking reread for me, as I first read this novel before the pandemic and now again, particularly lines such as these, which certainly give us thoughts of what could have been with Covid.

"August said that given an infinite number of parallel universes, there had to be one where there had been no pandemic and he'd grown up to be a physicist as planned, or one where there had been a pandemic but the virus had had a subtly different genetic structure, some miniscule variance that rendered it survivable, in any case a universe in which civilisation hadn't been so brutally interrupted."

Book 121. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

BingoDOG - features a dog

An enjoyable instalment in the Harry Potter series. I think it was a great idea to change the focus of evil in this book away from Voldemort - yet another version of Harry fighting a Voldemort attempting to return to power may have been too much of the same.

Book 122. This Much Is True by Miriam Margolyes

Build Your Library Challenge - memoir or biography about a fascinating person

If you want to be that person smirking or snorting with laughter as you read a book on the train, then go ahead and pick up this one. Miriam Margoyles is as hilarious in print as she is on The Graham Norton Show (and if you haven't seen any of those interviews, off you go now to look at Youtube).
What I appreciated the most about this wonderful autobiography is the total honesty. There has been no editing out of the crappy, less salubrious parts of Miriam's career or personal life; she is just as happy to own Sexy Sonia as the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet.
Of course, 99.9% of readers will probably know Miriam Margoyles primarily as Professor Sprout in Harry Potter, as she admits herself:

"I've been a working actress for over fifty years so it is a decidedly odd feeling to know that, whatever else I do, however acclaimed or successful I am, I will go to my grave best-known for being Professor Sprout."

But her breadth of work is amazing - from the hilarious Blackadder to the numerous voiceovers for animation and animal characters, my favourite of which will always be Fly in Babe. Babe is one of my top ten movies of all time.
I would gladly join Miriam at the Apostrophe Protection Society (if it was still in existence) as I agree that the misuse and loss of grammar is a sad reflection on humanity.

This book is a rollicking good time and a fascinating time capsule of an era where entertainment changed so drastically. And it is just so hilarious in Miriam's irreverent, no holds barred approach - believe me, she will let you know who in the industry are total tossers!

Miriam is unapologetic - this is my life, this is what I have done, this is how I feel or think, you can take it or leave it! No topic is out of bounds and Miriam is happy to name names, in religion, politics, media, entertainment. I am left wondering if she has made some enemies in the writing of this book - but doubt if she is too concerned!

Book 123. Book of Lost Threads by Tess Evans

BingoDOG - flowers on the cover

This is a beautiful story of lost souls. Grief can be debilitating and these people all have grief that has arrested their lives and relationships and caused them so much pain. It takes all of them coming together and finding a way forward together to put their ghosts to rest.
Of particular joy to me was Lily's story of knitting tea cosies for the United Nations - what a delightful and heart warming mission of Lily's.

Book 124. Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict

July CATWoman - women in science

The story of Rosalind Franklin, another woman whose achievements in a male-dominated field in the 1950s were denied her and claimed by others. Even more tragic was her early death, and lack of any recognition until many years after her death.
The majority of the book, although a fictional retelling, is description of the science involved, which may bog the reading down for some.
I did not know this back story to the discovery of the structure of DNA and am now interested to find more about exactly what happened after Rosalind's death.

Book 125. The Weight of an Infinite Sky by Carrie La Seur

April ShakespeareCAT - Hamlet

This modern retelling of Hamlet, set on the ranches of Montana, just didn't hit the spot for me. The characters were not engaging and so it was difficult to really care about them. The theme and idea behind the book resonated with me and I was really hoping to love it, as I always enjoy the little people taking on the corporations. But the ending was overly rushed and ultimately unsatisfying as it tied everything up much too neatly, considering the angst, betrayal and questioning of life choices most of the characters were experiencing.
To go from quotes such as this: "Were people born with darkness in them, or did they receive it from others like a diabolical assignment that changed their fate?" to happy families within less than twenty pages seemed highly unlikely.

Book 126. Julia and the Shark by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

April AlphaKIT - letter J

This book is absolutely beautiful, both in the writing and the illustrations. I loved Julia from the start - a book loving, list loving, notebook loving, nature loving child is just so like I was as a child (and still am!) And the book's island setting is like a dream home for me.
But then the book developed as we see Julia's mum struggling with bipolar disorder. This is a very accessible book for kids who have a parent struggling with mental health issues as while it shows that there is a way forward, it also makes it clear that there will always be ups and downs; that there is no magical happy ending and that each family will need to find a new way to live and love and cope.
Of course, a review of this book must discuss the illustrations/artwork as it is truly the most gorgeous book and the artwork is an integral part of the story. The colour palette of black, white, grey and yellow is so stark, yet the introduction of yellow as the one 'colour' gives it a warmth as well.

Book 174. The Witch Boy by Molly Knox Ostertag

July SFFKIT - Family, born or found

An enchanting graphic novel of a magic family who must learn that sometimes it is necessary to be flexible with tradition. The artwork is gorgeous and the story is engaging.

Book 128. Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

June 1001 Monthly Challenge - female author

Not my favourite Austen. Still enjoyed the banter but it is not as sharp as in other Austen novels.

Book 129. Across The Green Grass Fields by Seanan McGuire

Build Your Library Challenge - a portal fantasy

Not as enjoyable or page turning as other books in this series, but I still enjoyed Regan's story, particularly the intersex representation. The book certainly picked up more towards the end as I always enjoy the more creepy mythological creatures, such as the kelpie and peryton that Regan meets towards the end.

Book 130. The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen

July AuthorCAT - Asian authors

There are so many themes/stories in this book. We alternate between the fairy tales that Tien is reading aloud as a part of improving his mother's English, his mother and father's escape from Vietnam, his grandmother's illness in Vietnam and his mother's trip back, Tien's school life and his struggles with expressing his sexuality to his friends and parents, and of course, the fairy tales.
This could lead to muddling but the stories all flow seamlessly into and around each other and are beautifully woven together. As are the illustrations, as you see the colours and images from one story flow into the next.
Oh my, the illustrations! They are just luminous, they sparkle off the page. The use of different base colours to distinguish the different stories worked so well.
Just a beautiful, beautiful book.

July 2022

131. Outlawed by Anna North - finished 1st July 2022 - Build Your Library Challenge - book about a heist
132. A Caravan Like A Canary by Sasha Wasley - finished 2nd July 2022 - June AlphaKIT - letter C
133. The Family Law by Benjamin Law - finished 3rd July 2022 - Build Your Library Challenge - book about immigrants
134. The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St James - finished 4th July 2022 - February MysteryKIT - Cold cases
135. Muddy People by Sara El Sayed - finished 4th July 2022 - April CATWoman - women of colour
136. All That's Left In The World by Erik J. Brown - finished 5th July 2022 - June Buzzwordathon - 'all'
137. Hear No Evil by Sarah Smith - finished 7th July 2022 - Read Around The World - Scotland
138. Hometown Haunts edited by Poppy Nwosu - finished 9th July 2022 - May ScaredyKIT - short stories
139. Learwife by J.R. Thorp - finished 10th July 2022 - January ShakespeareCAT - King Lear
140. Tunnel of Bones by Victoria Schwab - finished 11th July 2022 - July AlphaKIT - letter T
141. Aster's Good, Right Things by Kate Gordon - finished 12th July 2022 - May Buzzwordathon - directions
142. The Five Wishes of Mr Murray McBride by Joe Siple - finished 14th July 2022 - August AlphaKIT - letter M
143. Build Your House Around My Body by Violet Kupersmith - finished 16th July 2022 - Read Around The World - Vietnam
144. Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison - finished 17th July 2022 - August AlphaKIT - letter F
145. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee - finished 19th July 2022 - August AuthorCAT - Prize Winners (2018 Medici Book Club Prize)
146. Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead - finished 20th July 2022 - July ScaredyKIT - the living dead
147. The Gates of Sleep by Mercedes Lackey - finished 23rd July 2022 - July TBR Knockout Challenge - a book with a water creature
148. Fable by Adrienne Young - finished 25th July 2022 - July Buzzwordathon - book related word
149. The Woods Are Always Watching by Stephanie Perkins - finished 26th July 2022 - June ScaredyKIT - into the wild
150. They Do It With Mirrors by Agatha Christie - finished 28th July 2022 - July MysteryKIT - Golden Age
151. One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia - finished 30th July 2022 - BingoDOG - weather word in title
152. 470 by Linda Woodrow - finished 31st July 2022 - Build Your Library Challenge - a post-apocalyptic story

152/260 = 58.46%

Read Around The World 9/15 = 55% Hear No Evil, Build Your House Around My Body
1001 Monthly Challenge 4/12 = 33.33%
BingoDOG 25/25 = 100% One Crazy Summer
CATWoman 6/12 = 50% Muddy People
AuthorCAT 7/12 = 58.33% Pachinko
ShakespeareCAT 4/12 = 33.33% Learwife
RandomKIT 5/12 = 41.67%
AlphaKIT 14/26 = 53.85% A Caravan Like A Canary, Tunnel of Bones, The Five Wishes of Mr Murray McBride, Lovelight Farms
MysteryKIT 4/12 = 33.33% The Book of Cold Cases, They Do It With Mirrors
ScaredyKIT 5/12 = 41.67% Hometown Haunts, Shadow Kiss, The Woods Are Always Watching
SFFKIT 6/12 = 50%
Buzzwordathon 6/12 = 50% All That's Left In The World, Aster's Good, Right Things, Fable
TBR Knockout Challenge 11/24 = 45.83% The Gates of Sleep
Read Your Bookshelf Challenge 6/12 = 50%
Build Your Library Challenge 30/40 = 75% Outlawed, The Family Law, 470
Totally Random Reads 10/10 = 100%

Book 131. Outlawed by Anna North

Build Your Library Challenge - book about a heist

I always love an underdog story, especially women fighting back against a patriarchal society. This began very much like The Handmaid's Tale in the Wild West and ended up in a 'shoot out at the OK Corrall' situation.
All the characters were engaging and well-fleshed out, considering there were so many. Surprisingly, Ada, the narrative voice and main character, was the flattest of all the characters.
Not sure I would call it feminist as such, more women doing what they needed to do to survive in a male oriented world.

Book 132. A Caravan Like A Canary by Sasha Wasley

June AlphaKIT - letter C

A heart breaking story of the after effects of childhood trauma and how impossible it can be to leave it behind you. The two siblings in the story have coped in different ways and have endeavoured to cover up what occurred to them in childhood, but it follows them still. Especially when they have to recreate a fateful road trip of twenty years ago, to deliver their mother's yellow caravan to her.
The story was unravelled slowly, using alternating timelines, and you knew were heading towards tragedy.
The inclusion of the environmental stories of regional Western Australia using graffiti artwork were a great way to highlight the issues of these beautiful yet mainly unknown regions of our country.

Book 133. The Family Law by Benjamin Law

Build Your Library Challenge - a book about immigrants

A hilarious, politically incorrect trip back to childhood in the 80s and 90s in Australia. The chapter about visiting the crappy theme parks of rural Australia was fabulous as I remember visiting them all myself on a trip to Queensland in the late 80s. The mother is so funny, with her overdramatic reaction to all situations.
So many laugh out loud moments, but it is definitely quintessentially Australia in a certain time period - not sure that everyone would get the joke!

Book 134. The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St James

February MysteryKIT - Cold cases

This was an interesting, atmospheric read until the last section. Once we found out who the murderer was, I was expecting more though. I thought there would be another twist but the rest of the book was just explanation so the ending fell flat for me. I think we found out the real story too early so the reader was left wanting something else to happen.

Book 135. Muddy People by Sara El Sayed

April CATWoman - women of colour

A memoir of growing up Muslim in Australia in the 90s, when being Muslim in any western nation was fraught with difficulties. The title has the dual meaning of the Qur'an saying Allah created his people from mud and that the author was taunted with names such as 'mud skin' when at school.
The author uses chapter titles explaining some of her family's Muslim beliefs and the rules they translated to, which also caused her problems at school when these clashed with the accepted norms of Australian school children. Such as Rule #2 Good Girls Don't Wear Bikinis - hard when you live in a hot climate like Queensland.
But this book is very relatable to us all; at some stage we were all awkward kids who had to work out the 'rules' of society and the school minefield and how we could find our place, as well as our place in a family dynamic, particularly in a divorced family. These are common experiences regardless of culture.

Book 136. All That's Left In The World by Erik J. Brown

June Buzzwordathon - 'all'

How can I call a post-apocalyptic book adorable, but this book is just so freaking adorable! Heartstopper at the end of the world.
The author started writing this before Covid and then is seemed we were starting to live his book. As it says in the author's note:
"I wrote All That's Left In The World as a story of two teens finding hope after surviving a pandemic. I didn't realise by the time it was published the theme would be universal."

There are all the usual thrills and scary moments that you would expect in this genre. But what lifted this book was the relationship forming between Jamie and Andrew - normal teen insecurities and angst in the middle of all this danger. They were so funny and sweet and just so adorable. Andrew's banter was hilarious.

Book 137. Hear No Evil by Sarah Smith

Read Around The World Challenge - Scotland

A gritty fictional telling of a true murder case in Scotland in 1817. This had the added interest of casting some light on the treatment of the deaf in earlier times, times when the deaf were often considered to also be intellectually deficient.
Jean has faced poverty, deprivation and then a tragic event in her life, which is enough without the added disadvantage of being deaf and dumb in a society that has little provision for understanding her.
It was interesting to find out in the author's note that BSL (British Sign Language) was only recognised as a language in 2003.

Book 138. Hometown Haunts edited by Poppy Nwosu

May ScaredyKIT - short stories

A compelling and unique collection of horror stories, nothing too gruesome, but fabulously creepy. One of the stories, Nature Boy, was actually beautiful in its strangeness. The majority of the stories rely on human nature and the dark parts of ourselves that we keep hidden - no need to invent evil, horrific creatures when human themselves can be the most horrific of all.
As I live in country Australia, I particularly liked the 'Aussie-ness' of the stories.

Book 139. Learwife by J.R. Thorp

January ShakespeareCAT - King Lear

The writing is lyrical, savage in parts, tender in others. Definitely not a book to read for the plot, it was a beautifully raw story of Lear's wife and her life after being banished.
It is a constant seesaw between Lear's wife being gentle and caring and her being selfish and vicious. Callous thoughts such as the following:

"Suffering being absorbing to feel but boring to observe."

She is certainly a woman of many aspects.
A slow read, but worth it for the gorgeous writing.

Book 140. Tunnel of Bones by Victoria Schwab

July AlphaKIT - letter T

It would be difficult to find a more ghostly, creepy setting than the Catacombs of Paris. The setting was definitely a major contributor to the eerie atmosphere of this book, as was the story of the poltergeist and how he came to be 'stuck'.
It was also pleasing to receive some more insight into Jacob's life, and to see more of Jacob and Cassidy's friendship developing.

Book 141. Aster's Good, Right Things by Kate Gordon

May Buzzwordathon - directions

Every word of this book is beautiful, the writing is so poetic you can feel it with all your senses. Although the topics covered are dark and sad (you will cry), ultimately you are left feeling that there is hope and love available for us all, even if sometimes it is not found in a conventional family relationship.
If only books like this were available when I was eleven. I felt every thought of Aster's, her fear and guilt and belief that she is not enough or wrong somehow.
I marked so many pages as I was reading that my book looks like an echidna, with all the bookmarks poking out of it! So many quotes that resonated with me.

"The good, right things are the most important. One day, people will notice I'm doing them. One day, people will see what I do, and they will see me. And then they will like me, or at least . . . . They will stop leaving me."

"Some days are okay. Some days are too much.
Some days there's a reason. Some days there isn't.
I don't know why I feel okay; I don't know why I feel bad.
All I know is that even when I'm feeling okay, it still feels like I'm holding my breath and waiting."

"I was a ghost. I was a ghost. Nobody could see me. I was a ghost, a shadow, a wilting flower, a cloud."

Just read the whole book, please! It is heart breaking, it is heart warming, it is a poignant look at a child's thoughts and feelings as she navigates a world she finds overwhelming, unfriendly and often cruel, and incapable of understanding her.

Book 142. The Five Wishes of Mr Murray McBride by Joe Siple

August AlphaKIT - letter M

This is from the blurb for the book: With all his family and friends gone, one-hundred-year-old Murray McBride is looking for a reason to live. He finds it in Jason Cashman, a ten-year-old boy with a terminal heart defect and a list of five things he wants to do before he dies.
There is no way this book was not going to be a tear jerker - and it was. I could see where it was going by the last 30 pages or so and if anything, the anticipation of knowing what was coming made it even sadder.
But there were lots of beautiful moments and lots of fun and funny moments - Mr McBride learning to send emails (or 'computer letters', as he calls them) was gold.
All the characters, while fitting into a certain type of 'Hallmark movie' mould, had their own little quirks and made you smile.

>269 JayneCM: - I saw this somewhere and thought it looked interesting enough. Glad to see you liked it.

>270 dudes22: It was pretty Hallmark-y, but a lovely read. I do not like the cover - I think it really does the book an injustice, using a boring stock photo like that.

>271 JayneCM: - Somedays Hallmark-y is just what's needed.

>272 dudes22: 100%

Book 143. Build Your House Around My Body by Violet Kupersmith

Read Around The World - Vietnam

First of all, that cover - just amazing!
But this book - just amazing!
This combination of historical fiction, ghost story, murder mystery, set in a hundred year time span in Vietnam, is so gripping.
The use of multiple timelines, using the day of Winnie's disappearance as day zero, is perfect. Each chapter is headed based on the day of disappearance, ranging from sixty-nine years before the disappearance to three years after the disappearance. But not arranged chronologically - the chapters jump around in time, with each chapter giving you a clue to take away in subsequent chapters. These clues are so very subtle though - nothing as obvious as mentioning a character's name; the author gives you clues such as a suitcase with engraved initials, a hat, a character's mannerisms. The weaving of these throughout the book is masterful. It takes a while for the reader to gather them all together and slot them into the correct places, which is part of the cleverness of the writing.
And when you get to the last fifty pages and all the timelines converge to the disappearance, the revenge plot really kicks in. The ending is perfect, although some may feel there are too many loose ends that are not fully clarified; I like it that way.
The language is beautiful, the ambience is so clear and sharp, truly an atmospheric, mysterious book.

>274 JayneCM: - Well - you certainly caught me with a BB there. I'm very intrigued. And you're right - that cover is great!

Book 144. Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison

August AlphaKIT - letter F

This was just what I thought it would be and wanted - a super cute, wintery/Christmassy romance, with a little bit of steam.
The setting was just perfect, and loved all the descriptions of food and baking, and the side story of the Christmas tree farm business.
The romance was adorable; I loved that it was such a build up, the intensity of their restraint as they both knew they were only meant to be fake dating.

Book 145. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

August AuthorCAT - Prize winners (2018 Medici Book Club Prize)

Historical family saga, covering four generations of a Korean family living in Japan from the early 1900s to the late 1980s. I love family sagas, following characters throughout their life, and even more so when it also features a different culture from my own and historical facts that I had not previously known.
Pachinko will not be for everyone. It is fairly slow as is most family life, when you consider it. A life is made up of many insignificant moments in the everyday, interspersed with a few major life events.

"Beyond the dailiness, there had been moments of shimmering beauty and some glory, too, even in this ajumma's life. Even if no one knew, it was true."

The writing is very matter-of-fact, quietly and calmly relating terrible events in the same manner as the everyday, which just heightens the terrible and gives it more impact.
A glorious book.

>277 JayneCM: Good to see your recommendation. It's been sitting on my Kindle since 2019, and needs to be read.

>278 pamelad: As long as you like slow family sagas! I liked the cultural/historical background information as well.

I loved Pachinko as well but have still not read Free Food for Millionaires. It does't appeal to me but it was on many best of the year lists, etc the year it was published.

You've certainly done a lot of good reading lately, I'm taking a BB for Build Your House Around My Body for sure!

>280 clue: I have added Free Food For Millionaires to my to read list, so shall see.
I have been finding all sorts of books this month as I am participating in an indie/self published readathon. Lots of lesser known books - I have enough to last me for years as I found so many interesting ones!

Book 146. Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

July ScaredyKIT - the living dead

Most of this book was fairly slow going; the majority of it being necessary set up for future battles via political manoeuvring and private discussions on morals and tradition and changes that are required. But the final quarter really ramped up and made me read faster and faster. And that last line really forces you to pick up the next book immediately!

Book 147. The Gates of Sleep by Mercedes Lackey

July TBR Knockout Challenge - features a water creature

The Elemental Masters series combines my love of historical fiction, traditional fantasy and fairy tale retellings in one gripping bundle. I love the magic system, the creatures, the historical settings, the imaginative use of a fairy tale and the descriptions of the characters. It was a little slow for most of the book and then the ending seemed to have to rush, but overall an enjoyable read, particularly for the historical elements woven into the story such as the potteries.

Book 148. Fable by Adrienne Young

July Buzzwordathon - book related word

Fable's life has been grim since her mother died and she was abandoned. There was no time mentioned, but I am imagining this as being around 1700s, and I appreciate that the author did not sugarcoat or romanticise the harsh struggle for survival faced by many poor children in these times and the matter-of-fact way that they would have dealt with their actions.

"I'd done plenty of wicked things to survive on the island, but I couldn't find it in me to feel badly about any of them. It was the way of things."

The descriptions of the diving, the setting, the sailing all set the mood and atmosphere for the book perfectly. My issue was with the slow plot. I do not necessarily mind a slow plot, if there is character and relationship development and effective dialogue. But these were both sadly lacking.
The setting and the plot were enough to keep me reading though and it was an enjoyable read, just not one to rave about.
The cliff hanger ending did draw me in to want to continue with the next book as it was left decidedly up in the air with the abrupt ending.

Book 149. The Woods Are Always Watching by Stephanie Perkins

June ScaredyKIT - into the wild

This first part of this book was just annoying, with the two girls and all their whining and arguing. Once we got to the scary parts, I just didn't find most of it very believable. The two men were so cliched, I found it embarrassing. Injuries sustained were not consistent with how the character was able to act. And the ending was much too convenient.

Book 150. They Do It With Mirrors by Agatha Christie

July MysteryKIT - Golden Age

As always with Agatha Christie, this was a great mystery. She writes the best interactions between characters. For once though, I semi worked this one out - that has not happened with a Christie for me to date! And I did not feel these were the most interesting characters compared to other books in the Miss Marple series. Miss Marple is her usual clever self while all around her see her as a slightly dithery but lovely old lady.

Book 151. One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

BingoDOG - weather word in title

The family dynamics of the three sisters in this book is just delightful; this book would be a fun and insightful journey into family relationships, both sibling and maternal, if this was the only focus. But it also includes the story of the girls spending summer at a day camp run by the Black Panthers, making this an accessible first look at this movement for kids interested in history and the Civil Rights movements of the 1960s.

Book 152. 470 by Linda Woodrow

Build Your Library Challenge - a post-apocalyptic story

The future shown by Linda Woodrow is becoming more and more recognisable, even to those most sceptical. This is not a random apocalypse book based purely on chaos and violence - Linda has based her novel on scientific studies and thus it reads as a totally realistic and probable future for our world. The title refers to our climate altered world when atmospheric carbon dioxide levels reach 470 parts per million (we are currently hovering around 420).
This book is a warning - consider which group of people you would like to be when this occurs - but also offers hope. We can face an altered future, we do not have to destroy ourselves in the process of the changes that will occur.
I particularly appreciated that there were clear storylines, independent of the disasters, as we followed various characters through the years 2031 to 2034.

August 2022

153. Piranesi by Susanna Clarke - finished 2nd August 2022 - August TBR Knockout Challenge - buddy read a book
154. Coraline by Neil Gaiman - finished 4th August 2022 - March ScaredyKIT - switched or assumed identities
155. Walden by Henry David Thoreau - finished 5th August 2022 - April 1001 Monthly Challenge - challenge yourself
156. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold - finished 6th August 2022 - August Read Your Bookshelf Challenge - body part in title
157. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson - finished 7th August 2022 - September AlphaKIT - letter I
158. The Blue Zones Solution by Dan Buettner - finished 7th August 2022 - August TBR Knockout Challenge - nonfiction
159. Act Cool by Tobly McSmith - finished 8th August 2022 - June TBR Knockout Challenge - book with transgender or nonbinary character
160. Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston - finished 9th August 2022 - September Buzzwordathon - light and dark
161. Bridge of Souls by Victoria Schwab - finished 10th August 2022 - August ScaredyKIT - children/YA
162. The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - finished 11th August 2022 - Build Your Library Challenge - book with the word 'lost' in the title
163. The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain - finished 12th August 2022 - April MysteryKIT - noir and hard-boiled
164. Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs - finished 15th August 2022 - May 1001 Monthly Challenge - World Africa Day
165. The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton - finished 17th August 2022 - July AlphaKIT - letter E
166. Rachel's Pudding Pantry by Caroline Roberts - finished 18th August 2022 - June RandomKIT - cooking the books
167. The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline by Nancy Springer - finished 19th August 2022 - June MysteryKIT - historical mystery
168. City of Rust by Gemma Fowler - finished 20th August 2022 - August CATWoman - Childrens/YA/graphic novels
169. A Magic Steeped In Poison by Judy I. Lin - finished 23rd August 2022 - August RandomKIT - Canada (author lives in Canada)
170. Loveless by Alice Oseman - finished 24th August 2022 - Totally Random Reads
171. Under The Whispering Door by T.J. Klune - finished 26th August 2022 - August Buzzwordathon - items
172. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling - finished 28th August 2022 - Build Your Library Challenge - book about a game or sport
173. Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke - finished 30th August 2022 - finished 30th August 2022 - September SFFKIT - journey or quest

173/265 = 65.28%

Read Around The World 9/15 = 55%
1001 Monthly Challenge 6/12 = 50% Walden, Tarzan of the Apes
BingoDOG 25/25 = 100%
CATWoman 7/12 = 58.33% City of Rust
AuthorCAT 7/12 = 58.33%
ShakespeareCAT 4/12 = 33.33%
RandomKIT 7/12 = 58.33% Rachel's Pudding Pantry, A Magic Steeped In Poison
AlphaKIT 16/26 = 61.54% Treasure Island, The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
MysteryKIT 6/12 = 50% The Postman Always Rings Twice, The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline
ScaredyKIT 7/12 = 58.33% Coraline, Bridge of Souls
SFFKIT 7/12 = 58.33% Dragon Rider
Buzzwordathon 8/12 = 66.67% Amari and the Night Brothers, Under The Whispering Door
TBR Knockout Challenge 14/24 = 58.33% Piranesi, The Blue Zones Solution, Act Cool
Read Your Bookshelf Challenge 7/12 = 58.33% The Lovely Bones
Build Your Library Challenge 32/40 = 80% The Lost World, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Totally Random Reads 11/15 = 73.33% Loveless

Book 153. Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

August TBR Knockout Challenge - buddy read a book

You are pulled in from the very beginning. Firstly because the world described is so fascinating and there are so many questions to be answered. And then, as more is revealed, you find yourself reading faster and faster in an attempt to have these questions answered.
An absolutely intriguing book, which demands a reread - in fact, I found myself wanting to start again as soon as I closed the book on the last page.

Book 154. Coraline by Neil Gaiman

March ScaredyKIT - switched or assumed identities

A delightfully creepy book for kids, with nods to a few classic books/TV shows which you may recognise. Coraline is a character to inspire, as she confronts her fear to save those around her.

"when you're scared but you still do it anyway, that's brave."

Book 155. Walden by Henry David Thoreau

April 1001 Monthly Challenge - challenge yourself

This is definitely an oft quoted work on simple living and how to focus on the important aspects of life that will bring true fulfilment rather than the superficial. But boy, it is a slog to read through! And particularly in the beginning chapter, it reads as the rather self-indulgent, self-righteous and patronising work of someone with money telling others how they should be living more simply. The later chapters on nature and the seasons are much more satisfying and beautiful to read.

"We need the tonic of wildness . . . we can never have enough of nature."

"I learned this, at least, by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavours to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours."

"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away."

Book 156. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

August Read Your Bookshelf Challenge - body part in title

What a chilling, brutal, heart breaking yet ultimately hopeful look at the consequences of a murder.
This book is so compelling that I read it in one sitting. It was heart breaking to read Susie's story as she watches her family from heaven after her death, the waste of her young life and all the flow on effects of one man's actions. Using the murdered girl as the narrator really brought the horror of the crime to life, as you see her watching her family and friends and how they cope with her disappearance, as well as Susie's thoughts and feelings as she comes to terms with her death and the fact that life will go on without her for those left behind.

>292 JayneCM: I found it a slog too! I wanted to read more about the pond, not his pontificating about himself!

Book 157. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

September AplhaKIT - letter I

A wonderful swashbuckling adventure - the ultimate pirate book!

Book 158. The Blue Zones Solution by Dan Buettner

August TBR Knockout Challenge - nonfiction

An interesting look at the areas in the world with the healthiest, longest living residents. The book contains fairly easy steps that you can follow at home to help yourself eat and live more like people who live in these 'Blue Zones'.

Book 159. Act Cool by Tobly McSmith

June TBR Knockout Challenge - book featuring transgender or nonbinary character

Coming from Stay Gold, August's story is darker and potentially more difficult to read. I loved August. I have read reviews talking about his 'fake' persona but I read this as just the way August has acted all his life in order to survive and cope with the family he had been dealt and the community he lived in.
I felt this book really went deeper into many aspects of the LGBTQ+ experience, such as moving to a more accepting community does not automatically make everything feel perfect for you. Life is always evolving and there will always be changes and difficulties, some of which we cope with well and some of which we muddle our way through.
And being a fan of musical theatre, I totally loved the Fame feel of the book. Any reference to the Rocky Horror Picture Show experience is always going to make me happy - good times!

Book 160. Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston

September Buzzwordathon - light and dark

Amari is a wonderful addition to the middle grade fantasy genre - she is a fabulous protagonist. I loved her guts, even when faced with knockdowns, bullying and betrayals, she always gets back on her feet.
It definitely had some Harry Potter vibes but with a more edgy, modern feel. Amari makes me think of Morpheus in The Matrix when he does that 'come and get me' hand motion to encourage Neo to fight. Amari is always ready and asking for whatever is coming and I cannot wait for the next book!
And that cover art - definitely my favourite book cover for quite a long while.

Book 161. Bridge of Souls by Victoria Schwab

August ScaredyKIT - children/YA

All the Cassidy Blake books have been wonderful - ghost hunting, paranormal activity of all sorts, strong friendships between disparate people (and ghosts) and atmospheric settings. Scary enough for middle grade but in a fun way.
Maybe I watched too many episodes of Ghost Whisperer and Touched By An Angel in the 90s, but I must admit I was expecting a different ending.
A great series and I wish there was more!

Book 162. The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Build Your Library Challenge - book with the word 'lost' in the title

An exciting adventure story of discovering a prehistoric world. The descriptions of the pterodactyls were particularly evocative, as was the setting.
Professor Challenger is such a fun caricature of the eccentric, arrogant and always convinced he is right middle class man of the period.
Prepare to ignore the mention of people of mixed race as 'half-breeds' and a few other inappropriate but not malicious naming conventions of the time.
The ending seemed quite abrupt but certainly a fun ride.

Book 163. The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain

April MysteryKIT - noir and hard-boiled

Can you ever really get away with murder? Or will it always return to haunt you and ultimately bring you down? Can love win out in the end, even if it is founded on crime and obsession?
These are the questions posed by this book about a man who has been riding the rails during the Depression and the woman who wants to anchor him in place. It is gritty, obsessive, violent and amoral, yet compelling.

Book 164. Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs

May 1001 Monthly Challenge - World Africa Day

I was surprised by how engrossed I became in this book - Edgar Rice Burroughs certainly knows how to string his audience along, which makes sense as he was a serial writer. And I certainly find myself wanting to pick up The Return of Tarzan to see whether Tarzan returns to the jungle or to 'civilisation'.
Putting aside the racial aspects of pretty much any book of this time set in Africa and suspending disbelief on some of Tarzan's heroic acts, this is a thrilling adventure story which keeps you turning the pages. And like all good serials, it finishes on a cliffhanger.
An exciting read. Definitely not your Disney Tarzan. Burroughs does not hold back on the bloodthirsty descriptions. But the passages on the jungle are atmospheric and really make you feel part of the story.

Book 165. The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

July AlphaKIT - letter E

Certainly a wild ride! I loved the body swapping, time loop aspect of the mystery - like an Agatha Christie closed room mystery on mind-altering substances!
It was an intriguing read and I did not work out the murder. The middle of the book dragged a little; as you were just seeing the same day, it became slightly repetitive. But I loved that the body swapping allowed you to see a little more each day and from a different perspective - still didn't help me work it out though!
The reason why they were there was also a very interesting concept.
Overall, a compelling and intriguing read which will keep you guessing until the end.

Book 166. Rachel's Pudding Pantry by Caroline Roberts

June RandomKIT - cooking the books

I just found this book pretty ho hum. Nothing much happened, the dialogue was stilted, the characters were cliche. The best parts were the descriptions of baking.