Familyhistorian's Reads for 2022 - Part 4

You know you live in a damp climate when there are ferns growing out of the moss on the tree limbs

Welcome to my thread. My name is Meg and I live on the west coast of Canada in a land of soaring trees and rugged mountains. This place feels like home now because I miss the sight of abundant foliage when I travel elsewhere. But I’d really like to travel elsewhere. I was just getting into the swing of having more time to travel when everything shut down. Still there were things to keep me busy, like writing and reading. I must have been doing a lot of that in the last year because keeping up with the threads was more of a challenge than usual. I’d like to say that I’ll do better this year but, who knows. We’ll see what this year brings.

BLOG



I write about genealogy and history on my blog. I’m currently trying to take my maternal line back further based on some clues found in the letters I have been studying. You can see my latest blog posts at: A Genealogist’s Path to History

Challenges

Reading Through Time

Quarterly

January-March 2022 – 19th Century Europe (& rest of the world, excluding Northern America) - A Dangerous Collaboration by Deanna Raybourn - DONE
April-June 2021 – 19th Century Northern America (includes Civil War; excluding the Old West)
July-September 2021 – The Old West
October-December 2021 – 20th Century: Before WW1 (1900-1913)

Monthly

January: Eastern Philosophies & Religion - Jade Dragon Mountain by Elsa Hart - DONE
February: Rural Life - The Black Country by Alex Grecian - DONE
March: We are Time's Subjects - The Victorian and the Romantic by Nell Stevens - DONE
April: Technology
May: Beginnings
June: The Golden State
July: Mental Health – Then and Now
August:
September: Harvest Moon
October: Musically Speaking
November: Ends and Endings
December: Reader’s Choice

2021 Nonfiction Challenge

January: Prizewinners and Nominees - Canada's Odyssey: A Country Based on Incomplete Conquests by Peter H. Russell - DONE
February: Welcome to the Anthropocene
March: Espionage (and Counter-Espionage) - Agents of Influence: A British Campaign, a Canadian Spy, and the Secret Plot to Bring America into World War II by Henry Hemming - DONE
April: Armchair Traveling
May: From Wars to Peace
June: Science & Medicine
July: Cross-Genres
August: Books by Journalists
September: Biography
October: From the ‘Middle Ages’ to the Renaissance
November: Books About Books
December: As You Like It

List of books for challenges

Non-fiction:

February: The Making of the British Landscape (start early, close to 700 pages)
March: Agents of Influence: A British Campaign, a Canadian Spy, and the Secret Plot to Bring America into World War II
April: Road Through Time: The Story of Humanity on the Move
May: Hitlerland: American Eyewitnesses to the Nazi Rise to Power
June: The Story of the Human Body: Evolution, Health, Disease
July:
August: Britain 1940: The Decisive Year on the Home Front
September: Chanel
October:
November:
December:

Reading Through Time

Monthly

January: Jade Dragon Mountain
February: The Black Country
March: The Victorian and the Romantic
April: Radio Girls
May: The Makers of Scotland: Picts, Romans, Gaels and Vikings
June: The Black Dahlia
July:
August:
September:
October:
November:
December:

Quarterly
January-March:
April-June: Battle Cry of Freedom
July-September:
October-December:

Little Free Library

Books culled in 2022

January - 7

February - 0 (there's a fence around my usual LFL)

March - 7

April - 3

Books read in February 2022
When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed
Light Perpetual by Francis Spufford
Passion on Park Avenue by Lauren Layne
The Bone Garden by Kate Ellis
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
All that Remains: A Renowned Scientist on Death, Mortality, and Solving Crimes by Sue Black
Smallbone Deceased by Michael Gilbert
Death Finds a Way by Lorine McGinnis Schulze
The Tale of the Mandarin Duck by Bette Midler
Tunnels by Rutu Modan
A Dangerous Collaboration by Deanna Raybourn
Henrietta’s War by Joyce Dennys
Witness in Death by J.D. Robb
The Black Country by Alex Grecian
No Time for Goodbye by Linwood Barclay
56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard
The Ghost Fields by Elly Griffiths

Books read in March 2022

The Final Silence by Stuart Neville
Judgment in Death by J.D. Robb
Glass Town: The Imaginary World of the Brontes by Isabel Greenberg
To Have and to Hoax by Martha Waters
Matrix by Lauren Groff
Dare to Disappoint by Ozge Samanci
Death of a Dude by Rex Stout
In Five Years by Rebecca Serle
We Run the Tides by Vendela Vida
Fortune Favors the Dead by Stephen Spotswood
The Inheritance of Soloman Farthing
The Other Side of Midnight by Simone St. James

Books read in 2022

Books acquired in 2022

Acquisitions for March 2022

So far they are:

One Dance with a Duke by Tessa Dare
Story Trumps Structure by Steven James
The Anatomy of Story by John Truby
The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman
Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang
Lady Violet Investigates by Grace Burrowes
Lady Violet Attends a Wedding by Grace Burrowes
On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder

I think that's it. Welcome all!

Happy new thread!

The green scenery is lovely.

>13 quondame: You're fast, Susan. We see a lot of green here!

Happy new one!

Happy new thread!

Happy Saturday, Meg. Happy New Thread. Getting out on any walks?

Happy new thread, Meg. Rainy here today and warmer. I'll take it

New thread orisons, Meg.
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As always, trying the fancy one first just meant a 5 not a 4. AGLOW then ALLOW.

Hi Meg, happy new thread! I love the moss pic in >1 Familyhistorian:. Have you read the moss book by the same author as Braiding Sweetgrass? It's a good one too. Yeah, the sun is shining and I think it's going to be a good day.

>15 figsfromthistle: Thanks Anita!

>16 thornton37814: Good to see you here, Lori.

>17 msf59: Thanks Mark. I just got back from my walk today. I try to fit a walk in everyday, rain or shine.

>18 jessibud2: Hi Shelly, good to see that things are warming up for you and you are back home to see it.

>19 richardderus: That looks like a challenging one, Richard. I'll have to have a look at the rest of your message when I do today's Wordle.

>20 mdoris: Hi Mary, I haven't read anything by the author of Braiding Sweetgrass. I'll have to check it out. They keep promising constant rain here but it was sunny for my whole walk.

>22 Familyhistorian: Just had hail here! Happy reading this weekend Meg. The book is called Gathering Moss. My daughter gave it to me years ago thinking I would like it and I did.

Happy new thread, Meg. x

Happy new one!

>23 mdoris: Gathering Moss looks interesting, Mary. We didn't have any here. Just blue skies - so strange!

>24 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul!

>25 drneutron: Thanks Jim!

Okay, that was easy!
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>19 richardderus: It all depends on the word you start with, doesn't it?

Hi Meg. I'm simply stopping by to see what good books you are reading, and to learn how you are! Spring is almost here in the area where I live in Pennsylvania. the green stems of daffodils and poking through the ground. I love zinnia's and managed to grow some rather pretty, large pink ones last summer. I cultivated seeds, and will wait another few weeks before placing them in the ground. Our weather is so fickle, last Saturday we had snow enough for me to need help cleaning the driveway and the sidewalks, then there was rain, followed by days of sunshine. Today was a sunshiny day and even though I was inside, it cheered me to look out the windows to see the beauty.

Hi Linda, good to see you here. It's always wonderful to see signs of spring even when the weather is fickle. Nice to see a cheerful sunny day though.

Happy Sunday, Meg. Glad to see you are getting out for walks every day. I think you showed interest in doing a shared read of Harlem Shuffle. Would you be up for it, in early April? Stop by and let me know.

>30 msf59: Early April for Harlem Shuffle looks doable, Mark.

It was more difficult this time
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Hi Meg my dear, Happy New Thread and hope that you are having a good weekend and we both send love and hugs to you dear friend.

>33 johnsimpson: Hi John, good to see you here. All the best to you and Karen.

49. Betrayal in Death by J.D. Robb



I’ve made it to the twelfth book on my reread of the in death series. Betrayal in Death had Dallas on the trail of a serial killer for hire. Finding the killer was one thing and they figured out who it was pretty fast. But who was behind the murders and what was their ultimate goal? Dallas didn’t like where her investigation was taking her because it looked like Roarke was the ultimate target.

It was hard to pull this one out.
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50. Mystery Mile by Margery Allingham



I’m slowly reading the Campion mystery series. The series is set in the 1930s, a time between the world wars. The setting and dialogue are true to the times. Maybe that’s why I found the action in Mystery Mile a bit hard to follow. All the sources of confusion were wrapped up in the end as they are in all good mysteries but I’m not sure if I will continue with this series.

I'm off to the library in a few minutes but want to post another review before leaving to return the book. It's still morning here and I've already attended an online writing sprint and a question and answer period about writing.

There are a few things on my to do list for this afternoon. If I write them down here maybe that will make me get to them. Besides returning books at the library and picking up the holds that somehow came through even though most of them are on pause, I also want to:

- make a follow up phone call to the local paper about advertising for PoCo Heritage (I hate making phone calls).
- watch a webinar about Ancestry DNA

That should keep me busy and maybe if there are only two things on the list they'll get done.

51. Seek You: A Journey Through American Lonelinessby Kristen Radtke



In the graphic novel, Seek You: A Journey Through American Loneliness, the author explored loneliness through her lived experience. While I could relate to the scenarios the examples seemed a bit off due as much to the focus being on the US as to the author being from a younger generation. Then the narrative wandered further into the history of the early 20th century, looking at the science based fallacies preached about parenthood and the threat of affection shown to children. The science was taken to the nth degree through Harry Harlow’s experiments with monkeys which was explored in detail by juxtaposing Harlow’s explorations with the events in his own life. This commentary added fascinating insight into American’s experiment with loneliness.

This one was difficult but in the end nothing else would work.
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>39 Familyhistorian: That sounds like an interesting book Meg!

>41 mdoris: It was an interesting look at loneliness especially when it got into the early history, Mary. I borrowed it from the Vancouver Public Library. You might be able to find it in your own library.

>39 Familyhistorian: I will see if I can find a copy of that one. I read a biography of Harlow a couple of years ago.

>43 alcottacre: The biography of Harlow sounds like it would be interesting, Stasia. Makes me wonder if the author of that book had the same opinion about the man as the author of the GN did.

This took a while.
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52. The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton



It took me a while to get into The Miniaturist. Maybe because I was not familiar with the world of 17th century Amsterdam. It was a stifling world in more ways than one which the young heroine, Nella, learned to her cost. As the family she joined in marriage spiralled down into destruction, she found her own strength and ability to support those who survived.

I haven't been on LT much in the past couple of days. It has been raining so much here lately that I had to take advantage of the last day and a half where there was no precipitation and the sun actually made an appearance!

I got two items on Tuesday's list (>38 Familyhistorian:) done, sort of. I made the phone call only to have to leave a message as the person at the newspaper was out of the office. I suspect that they are away due to our schools being on March Break. The school break is probably the reason we've had so much rain in the last two weeks.

53. The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig



I’ve been reading through some heavier books lately, or at least it feels that way. For a change of pace I picked up a book from my own stacks, The Secret of the Pink Carnation. It was a fun romantic adventure set in the time of the French Revolution when things had calmed down a bit but there was still scope for adventurous English people to try and get the better of the French authorities. The tale was a fun romp through the hidden identities trope with plenty of humour and romance thrown in.

Another 4.
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54. Pulp by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips



The graphic novel, Pulp, was a history within a history. The storyteller, Max, an illustrator of old west tales, was down on his luck. His secret was that he was drawing on his own past to tell his sagas about gunslingers. His present, in NYC during WWII wasn’t much better, and it wasn’t hard to slide of the straight and narrow once again.

I know what you're saying about the rain Meg. It's getting to me too! Sun here for a bit today but still cold.

>48 Familyhistorian: - I enjoyed this one when I read it several years ago. I think I read the next two in the series and then sort of lost interest.

>44 Familyhistorian: If you are interested in reading the Harlow bio, it is called Love at Goon Park by Deborah Blum. I read it about 3 years ago so the details are vague in my mind at this point, but I thought it a pretty good read.

>46 Familyhistorian: That one is already in the BlackHole or I would add it again.

>48 Familyhistorian: Dodging that BB as I have already read it.

>50 Familyhistorian: Adding that one to the BlackHole. Thanks for the recommendation, Meg.

Have a wonderful weekend!

>51 mdoris: It feels like the rain is never ending, doesn't it Mary? I'm looking forward to it getting warmer and sunnier.

>52 katiekrug: I saw that The Pink Carnation was part of a series, Katie. I don't think I will read any more of them though. It felt more like a one and done read somehow.

>53 alcottacre: Thanks for the info on the Harlow bio, Stasia. I'm glad I hit you with at least one BB!

55. Agents of Influence: A British Campaign, a Canadian Spy, and the Secret Plot to Bring America into World War II



I’d read a bit about the campaign run on US soil by British and Canadians in the hopes of influencing Americans to enter WWII on the side of the allies. Agents of Influence: A British Campaign, a Canadian Spy, and the Secret Plot to Bring America into World War II told the story of the steps taken by Bill Stephenson and his crew as they used various means to manipulate public opinion to overcome the isolationists. It was a very interesting and eye opening read.

I'm back in the 4 rut again.
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>46 Familyhistorian: I have seen that one a few times in the used book store and was wondering about it. Was it a good read for you?

Happy weekend!

>59 figsfromthistle: I found the The Miniaturist hard to get into but easier to read once I got into a rhythm.

56. A Rogue of One's Own by Evie Dunmore



A Rogue of One’s Own was a lovely novel to fall into. The story of Lucie, the suffragette estranged from her family, and Tristan, a man who had learned to shield his true feelings by becoming a rogue was a fun romp but had a serious side. Both were hampered by the law which was only changed by the passage of an amendment to the Married Woman’s Property Act. It was change that took a long time coming.

This was an odd one.
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I had my first anti shingles shot yesterday. Didn't realize how much it affected me until I went for my daily stroll. I didn't have enough energy left to go to the grocery store afterwards as planned. I hope to be over this tomorrow.

Happy Sunday, Meg. I like your GN picks. I enjoyed both of those, as well. I have my copy of Harlem Shuffle and plan on starting it, in about a week.

Belated happy new thread, Meg!
I try to catch up with the threads after a week away.

>63 Familyhistorian: Sorry the shingles shot lowered your energy. I hope you feel better by now.

>64 msf59: I'm always on the look out for good GNs, Mark and often find leads to good ones on your thread as well as on Joe's thread. I'll add Harlem Shuffle to the mix in the coming week, Mark.

>65 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita. I'm still not as energetic as usual but today was better than yesterday.

This was a hard one.
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>57 Familyhistorian: You hit me with another BB!

>61 Familyhistorian: And that one too.

Have a wonderful week, Meg!

>69 alcottacre: I've read some good ones lately, Stasia. I hope you enjoy them when you get to them.

57. The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray



The novel, The Personal Librarian was based on the life of Belle de Costa Green, the personal librarian to J.P Morgan whose efforts were a driving force behind the collections of the Pierpont Morgan Library. The well-researched story of Belle’s life was interesting especially as she dared more than most woman of her time. The fact that she was passing as white added another layer to the story and a further barrier for her to navigate on her road to creating the legacy she left.

I crapped out today. There were just too many possibilities.
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>71 Familyhistorian: - Hi Meg. Hope you are fully recovered after the shot. I don't remember having any reaction other than a sore arm but then, that's always the case with me and shots. I did make the mistake, though, of getting the second shingles shot and another shot (I forget which one) on the same day, one in each arm. Could barely lift my arms to take of my shirt the next day but thankfully, it didn't last long. Note to self: one at a time!

I have that Benedict book and look forward to getting to it. I like her books, the 2 or 3 others that I have read so far.

>71 Familyhistorian: that looks like an interesting read.

Hope you are feeling less fatigued after the shingrix vaccine.

>73 jessibud2: I'm back to normal now after the shot, Shelley. I really was okay the day after when I was just sitting and reading. Maybe it was a bit unrealistic of me to expect to get in my usual 10,000 steps without feeling a loss of energy though.

I've never read a book by Benedict before. What other books of hers have you read?

>71 Familyhistorian: I already have that one in the BlackHole or I would be adding it again!

>74 figsfromthistle: The Personal Librarian was a good read, Anita. I'm basically back to normal now but will make sure that I don't have anything heavy planned for the day after the next shot.

>76 alcottacre: I picked that one up as a BB from another thread, Stasia. Maybe that's why it's already in the BlackHole.

>78 Familyhistorian: Probably, although I could not tell you who or when.

58. Sharpe's Tiger by Bernard Cornwell



I’d been aware of the Sharpe books for a while, even before LT but it was talk of the books on the threads that got me to pick up the first book. That and the fact that my research has shown that somehow when the people in my family were sent away to fight, one of the places they usually ended up was India.

I’m reading the series in chronological order so I started with Sharpe’s Tiger which was set in 1799 in Mysore. As it was the start of the series, Richard Sharpe was a lowly private, a put upon private with corrupt command above him. So began the tale which led to the siege of Seringapatam. The story showed both sides in the conflict in all their questionable glory. There was lots of action and Sharpe got to be heroic. It was great. I’ve already got the next book on hold at the library.

>79 alcottacre: I'm the same. I hardly ever remember who I get a BB from and sometimes it is a cumulative effect from seeing it on multiple threads anyway.

>81 Familyhistorian: Yeah, we do seem to read a bunch of the same books in the group, don't we? It seems like the BBs just get passed from one member to another.

>82 alcottacre: They do get passed around but there are a lot of them and sometimes there are mixed reactions so at least it's not like we're just following the herd.

Hi Meg and happy new thread.

>3 Familyhistorian: Interesting blogs about information available at the click of a mouse but not necessarily being accurate. I’ve discovered that, too. And I’ve discovered that the census records get names wrong – my g-g-grandmother Hermoine is in quite a few census images incorrectly. And that’s before people transcribed the names incorrectly, too.

>63 Familyhistorian: I’m sorry the anti-shingles shot took away your energy.

>75 Familyhistorian: - The first Benedict I read was The Other Einstein which I really liked. I know there are some people here who don't like her work but I did. Then I read Lady Clementine and liked that one, too. Both made me google and dig further into the histories I did not know a lot about. I have since bought but have not yet read, The Only Woman in the Room (about Hedy Lamarr), The Mystery of Mrs. Christie, Carnegie's Maid and The Personal Librarian. I love historical fiction and wish that history had been taught in school using such engaging texts! Another historical fiction writer I have come to love is Hazel Gaynor. I can give you some titles of hers that I have read, too, if you are interested. She does a lot of research, too.

>84 karenmarie: Hi Karen, it's tricky when tracking down those ancestors, isn't it? On top of everything else, they lied or someone else in the family gave the census taker the wrong information. It makes the hunt trickier and more intriguing too.

I'm over the shingles shot now and pretty much back to normal.

>85 jessibud2: I probably should have looked at the books in my stacks because I have a couple of those titles, The Only Woman in the Room and The Mystery of Mrs. Christie. I picked them up because I was interested in the subjects of the novels. They are, of course, unread. Thanks for letting me know about books by Marie Benedict that you enjoyed. I'll have to look those ones up.

I am aware of Hazel Gaynor's books but have only read The Girl from the Savoy which I really liked. I'm also supposed to be reading The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter for a writing group that I'm in but it's not one I would have picked for myself so I'm a bit resistant. Which of hers have you read and enjoyed?

>87 Familyhistorian: - The first of hers that I read, and really loved, was A Memory of Violets which is about the *flower girls* of London in the late 1800s/early 1900s. Based on true events, it's a story told in 3 voices, 3 perspectives. I had known nothing of that history and couldn't put it down. I also read and loved The Girl Who Came Home, about a survivor of the Titanic, also based on true events. There were links to the real village and events, at the end of the book. I love when a book causes me to dig deeper. I do have The Girl from the Savoy and When We Were Young and Brave but have not yet read them.

>88 jessibud2: Thanks Shelley, I'll have to have a look for the ones that you liked. I do enjoy Hazel Gaynor's writing and I'm particularly drawn to the ones set in London so the flower girl one has a particular appeal.

I'm back on track with Wordle but starting a new streak. I made it to 36 on my last streak which came to an end yesterday. Maybe my next streak will last longer.
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I'm going to list the rest (I hope even though there are a few days left) of my acquisitions for March. Maybe then I will start reading the book I'm supposed to be reading for a writing group that I'm part of. I'm resisting because it's a book I'm "supposed" to read. My end of March acquisitions are:

The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter by Hazel Gaynor
Home Sweet Homicide by Craig Rice
Colored People by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd
Edge of the Grave by Robbie Morrison

59. To Love and to Loathe by Martha Waters



Diana, the widowed Lady Templeton, and Jeremy, the Marquess of Willingdon, were part of the same set of friends and had been sparring partners for years, at least verbally. With the connivance of his astute grandmother, Diana bet Willingdon that she’d see him wed within a year. It was a bet he felt sure to win as he was more known for his affairs that his pursuit of eligible maidens. But then he threw a house party and things got a lot more interesting in To Love and to Loathe.

That took a while.
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Hi Meg, I am home for a bit after having to rush over to the Island but I expect I will be going back soon as there will be decisions to be made soon. I am also reading Margery Allingham in chronogical order and have found her quite hit or miss. Some of her books I have really liked and others were a real struggle to get through. I am going to be reading The Only Woman in the Room this month for the Reading Through Time Challenge, I have heard some less than complimentary comments about Marie Benedict's writing but I have been attracted to the subject matter she writes about. I was going to tell you which Hazel Gaynor book that I liked best but I realized that although I have four of hers on the shelf, I have yet to read one! Better get going on that. :)

>94 DeltaQueen50: It sounds like there are some hard decisions to be made, Judy. The best of luck with that.

I've read some of Margery Allingham's books before and yes some are really good and some hard to follow. I never thought about reading The Only Woman in the Room for technology but that would work and it's just sitting there on my shelf. I'm one up on you for the Hazel Gaynor books because I actually read one, The Girl from the Savoy. I've also started the lighthouse one and so far it's good but it's a duel timeline one. I'll see how I get on.

60. The Victorian and the Romantic: a memoir, a love story, and a friendship across time by Nell Stevens



A PhD student comes close to understanding the subject of their theses. That was especially true of the author of The Victorian and the Romantic: a memoir, a love story, and a friendship across time. As the student, Nell Stevens, studied the life of novelist Elizabeth Gaskell she was able to write her theses but she also found parallels to the events she was going through in her own life. It was interesting to see the memoir parts of the narrative juxtaposed to Gaskell’s history as the author told it. There were similarities even at that far a remove.

That was a hard one.
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I have never read anything by the Brontes so it was strange that I read two books related to them in March. The first was Glass Town: The Imaginary World of the Brontes by Isabel Greenberg which was an obvious link. The second was the last read I posted about, The Victorian and the Romantic by Nell Stevens. The novelist that Stevens wrote about was Elizabeth Gaskell who wrote a biography of Charlotte Bronte which became controversial right after it was published and generated some law suits.

Maybe these recent reads are a nudge to get me to read something written by one of the Brontes?

>98 Familyhistorian: I'd encourage you to read The Tenant of Wildfell Hall if you're going a-Brontëing.

Happy weekend-ahead's reads.

>99 richardderus: Thanks for the recommendation, Richard. I had no idea where to start.

Yet another one with lots of possibilities. I was running out of tries.
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I just spend the last half hour figuring out books for challenges. That's what happens when I've told myself that I really should be writing up the minutes for Friday's Exhibit meeting. Looks like I've settled on some interesting ones for my upcoming challenges:

Road Through Time: The Story of Humanity on the Move
Battle Cry of Freedom
Radio Girls

Back to 4
Wordle 287 4/6

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>104 Familyhistorian: WOW, isn't it a gorgeous time of year.

>105 mdoris: I love cherry blossom time, Mary. It's so pretty when the trees start to blossom. Now if only we could get the sun back!

>104 Familyhistorian: Beautiful!

Happy week-ahead's reads.

61. The Fallen Architect by Charles Belfoure



Douglas Layton had dared to hoist himself up several rungs in society’s hierarchy by becoming a renowned architect. It brought him fame and marriage into a well-placed family. All of that was lost when the balcony of a theatre he had designed collapsed and people were killed. After spending five years in jail he was released but reviled. He had to start over but the guilt was crippling until he started over with a new name, a new career as a scene painter and a need to know what really happened.

The Fallen Architect was a good mystery. It also showcased the fascinating world of variety theatre at the beginning of the 20th century.

>107 richardderus: Thanks Richard. I hope your reads are treating you well.

62. Seduction in Death by J.D. Robb



The thirteenth book in the in Death series was Seduction in Death. Two privileged young men used their wealth and technical know-how to seduce and kill women they targeted in a game of one up man ship. It was up to Dallas and her team to catch and neutralize them before they claimed more victims. To counter balance the negative sex angle, the teams’ relationships were going through some growing pains as Peabody and McNab got more serious and Charles Monroe and Dr. Dimatto decided to explore their interest in each other.

So this morning I was going to go for my walk, then come back and drive over to pick up a few things at the grocery store. My timing was off. I just missed the few hours we had without rain. It was sprinkling a bit when I started out but by the time I finished my walk my jeans were wet even though I wore boots. I decided that going out again today was not an option.

>104 Familyhistorian: The cherry blossoms remind me of home, Meg, and since I am a bit homesick at the moment that is probably not a great thing! Kind on eyes and nose as I recall!

Have a lovely week ahead. xx

That was a near run thing.
Wordle 288 6/6

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>112 PaulCranswick: Yes, I suppose you don't have spring flowers where you are, Paul. Soon maybe?

>114 Familyhistorian: I am hoping to return home in May, Meg - spring moving cordially into summer.

>115 PaulCranswick: May is a nice time of year after all the April showers. I hope that your plans work out.

63. Death of an Avid Reader by Frances Brody



Well, that’s a title that would entice readers, Death of an Avid Reader was a mystery set it England just after WWI. It’s part of the Kate Shackleton mystery series, the first one I have read but not the first in the series. Kate set herself up as a private detective after her husband went missing during the war and her new case involved finding a child that a woman had given up for adoption as she had a daughter while her husband was away. The search for the daughter was complicated by a missing librarian and a murder in Kate’s local library were she had worked. The case got solved after a few red herrings were dragged across the path.

I enjoyed the story and there was one particular description which I thought very apt in summing up a view from a window of a tram making its way through the fog. “Street lamps shone dimly through the gloom, blobs of dark mustard paste.” That painted a vivid picture for me somehow.

Back to 4 at last
Wordle 289 4/6

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>118 Familyhistorian: Excellent! Me too.

>117 Familyhistorian: "blobs of dark mustard paste" is instantly visually *there* for me...plus I get a more foreboding, weighty feel when I read it.

>119 richardderus: It was a nice change from barely squeaking in with 6 yesterday.

The rest of the passage was pretty foreboding but that description definitely added to the feeling.

Hi, Meg. I am liking Harlem Shuffle but far from loving it. I think I am 120 pages in.

>121 msf59: Hi Mark, I'm just a bit ahead of you. I think Harlem Shuffle lacks the compelling will they or won't they make it of his two big books. I'm still reading on.

Snow on the far mountains.

64. Murder By Matchlight by E.C.R. Lorac



Conditions in war time London figured into the murder mystery in Murder by Matchlight. It was a bit slow moving but a classic puzzle nonetheless. It served as a reminder that crime was still going on in the city at this time and in some cases were made easier. Venues were more open as metal fences were taken away. But for the war Regents Park, the scene of the crime, would have been closed. Causalities in the Blitz also made it easier for the victim to pick up another’s identity. Falling bombs also figured in the denouement of the mystery.

It took a few tries to get this one.
Wordle 290 5/6

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We had hail!

>126 mdoris: I saw some of that on the news. We had unexpected sunshine!

Waving a quick hello before I completely miss your thread, Meg!

>128 bell7: Hi Mary, I know that feeling. I'm further behind on the threads this year than I was before.

65. Death Wears a Mask by Ashley Weaver



There’s something so refreshing about the sleuthing couple in the Amory Ames series. They are so frequently at odds. She’s always suspecting him of having something on the side but loves him anyway. He knows how to get on her good side by helping her solve a murder.

In Death Wears a Mask, a young man was killed at a masquerade party. Was he involved in the theft of jewels that his aunt wanted Amory to investigate or was there some other motive behind his murder? Complicating matters, the host of the party, the devastatingly handsome Lord Dunmore, had his sights on Amory. Things would all come to a head when Dunmore held another party the following weekend.

Getting better
Wordle 291 3/6

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>131 Familyhistorian: I was shocked when I got it in 2 yesterday. I had the first letter in place and knew a vowel and one place it didn't belong. With the 3 letters I'd eliminated as not being in the word, I was having trouble coming up with any option except what it was.

Hi Meg. I see you are rereading the In Death series. I am currently listening to Glory in Death, No. 2 in the collection. This is my first go-round. They are growing on me. ;-)

>132 thornton37814: It is a shocker getting Wordle in 2. I did it twice in a row once and it really threw me. Yesterday's word was odd but the only choice in the end.

>133 Donna828: Good to see that the in Death series is growing on you, Donna. I like the way that she continues to develop the characters throughout the series. I think that is why they work so well even on a second read through. That and I try to figure out what technology was like at the time she wrote each book because she tries to morph current day stuff into future tech which is interesting in itself.

Is it me or are the words getting harder?
Wordle 292 5/6

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>136 Familyhistorian: I used to consistently guess wordle in three tries now it takes me four and five. So I would say yes ;)

>137 figsfromthistle: Maybe they're running out of easier 5 letter words the longer the game goes on!

66. Christine Falls by Benjamin Black



A pathologist in 1950s Dublin, Quirke had a dicey past and a penchant for a drink or ten. In Christine Falls, the first book in a series, the reader got to know Quirke and his foibles and the messed up greater family of which he was a part or apart – both work. The action started with his brother-in-law tampering with the records of a young woman’s death. That put our hero on the hunt to find out what had happened to the woman and how his brother-in-law was involved.

The action went from Dublin to Boston, exploring privilege and the machinations of the Catholic Church. It was a thriller with a lot of mileage and an involved origin story for a quirky character. I’m interested to see what the next story in the series will be.

My stats for solves in 5 are expanding
Wordle 293 5/6

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>140 Familyhistorian: So far, my stats are 32% in 4 tries (like today), 28% in 3 tries, and 17% in 5 tries. I've had 6 in 6 tries and 4 in 2 tries, statistically pretty paltry but significant: I'm no genius or luck magnet, but I don't stink completely!

>141 richardderus: Decent stats, Richard. Wordle ate my beginning stats and I've not solved the puzzle a couple of times so my stats are 95% solved. My current streak is 11 solved and my maximum streak is 36 solved.

>142 Familyhistorian: My best streak is 40...I want to get it into triple digits, so I'm very careful to play only on my computer!

>143 richardderus: I only play on my computer but my earlier stats were lost anyway. Not sure what happened. Good luck getting to triple digits, Richard.

67. Who Buries the Dead by C.S. Harris



I haven’t read one of the St. Cyr series books for ages. Who Buries the Dead was the tenth book in the series. This one involved a murder and the theft of King Charles I’s head. The mystery also had links to Jamaica and the wealth to be made on the backs of slaves in the plantations there. In this entry, Devlin was the target of an assassin but it was difficult to figure out the source of the threat. He was stirring up so many factions. He needed to solve the mysteries to keep his family safe.

Looks like I'm starting a streak of solves in 5.
Wordle 294 5/6

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I don't dare start playing Wordie. It sounds like you are doing very well with it! i got completely hooked on Sudoki and I know how much time that sucked up.

>146 Familyhistorian: My streak is of fours!

Happy Sunday (shortly)!

>147 mdoris: Wordle isn't bad timewise, Mary. You can only play it once a day when the new puzzle comes out.

>148 richardderus: My streak was of fours, Richard, now it seems to be taking longer.

Happy Sunday, Meg. I have had Christine Falls on shelf for ages. I just don't read many mysteries these days but I should get to it. I am glad to have finally put down Harlem Shuffle. It became a bit of a grind.

>151 msf59: Christine Falls was interesting, Mark. I read a lot of mysteries. I finished Harlem Shuffle this morning. It was more of a struggle to finish than I thought it would be. Usually towards the end of a book I don't want to put it down.

Things are improving
Wordle 295 4/6

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>151 msf59: >152 Familyhistorian: And now I am not interested in reading Harlem Shuffle! Bummer. Ain't got no time for that. On to better ones! Happy Monday. Enjoy Wordling.

>154 Berly: I haven't written down all my thoughts on Harlem Shuffle yet, Kim. There were some redeeming qualities. Maybe after today's Wordle.

Hard word but better score
Wordle 296 3/6

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>156 Familyhistorian: Took me 4; it's not a word I use often, so it easily could've been an X day if not for inspiration striking.

>157 richardderus: It was a hard word to get because there weren't that many possibilities given the first 3 letters I knew were in the puzzle.

68. Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead



Harlem Shuffle was a hard one to quantify. Was I expecting more because of my previous two reads from the author were prize winners? If the story was from a lesser known writer, would my review be more generous? I don’t know.

The story was set in New York’s Harlem in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s which were a time of change. The main character, Carney a slightly bent furniture store owner had to navigate through altering expectations and the unrest that characterized this era. It was a tricky trail which threatened to get the better of him a few times and he was an interesting character; only not so interesting that I felt compelled to find out what would happen to him.

Another 5
Wordle 297 5/6

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Snow, lightening and thunder. Geeesh!

69. The Disappearance of Adèle Bedeau by Graeme Macrae Burnet



A young woman, Adèle Bedeau, and that was enough to disturb the routine acceptance of fellow patron’s foibles at the Restaurant de la Cloche. Would there have been as much concern if it was a young man who disappeared? Probably not. Nor would the police have been called in so quickly, bringing Inspector Gorski onto the scene. He questioned the patrons, particularly Manfred Baumann. Was Baumann involved in the young woman’s disappearance? He certainly has something on his conscience.

In the slow paced thriller, The Disappearance of Adèle Bedeau, the reader found out all kinds of disreputable details about the main characters’ pasts and saw how guilt can prey on the mind.

>161 mdoris: And hail, we had hail, rain and sunshine. Definitely a mixed bag. Nice to be back to sun today.

70. Love on Lexington Avenue by Lauren Layne



My library hold stacks were looking overwhelming so I picked out a book from the stack that looked to be a quick read, Love on Lexington Avenue, the second book in the Central Park Pact Series. That was the evening that my internet and my TV, of course as they are all connected, stopped working. So, I had extra reading time to finish the story of Claire’s romance quickly.

It was a fun romance involving Claire and the contractor she hired to redo the tired Upper Eastside Brownstone she inherited from her three timing husband. Said husband was the cause of the pact between the three women who all found out they’d been played by the same guy when they skipped out on his funeral and all ended up hanging out in the same park. This was another enjoyable entry showing one of the women reclaiming her life.

When I got the last letter there weren't many places this could go.
Wordle 298 3/6

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71. Someone to Romance by Mary Balogh



With a number of library holds started I was feeling bogged down because the reads are going slowly. So, I picked up another quick read. This time from my own stacks. Someone to Romance was a historic romance which I read through quickly although it was sometimes difficult to keep track of all the secondary characters. The main couple was easy to follow and were in this case a young woman almost of the shelf (at 25) and a man just come back from America who was trying to keep his true identity under wraps.

Going well
Wordle 299 3/6

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72. The Intuitionist by Colson Whitehead



In the reimagined world of The Intuitionist, elevators were key. They allowed for buildings to reach for the sky. But what if they failed? Well, there was the Department of Elevator Inspectors to make sure that didn’t happen. But, as with any human endeavour, there were different factions in that department, the empiricists and the intuitionists. Lila Mae Watson was an intuitionist and also the first black woman to become an elevator inspector. But her job was far from secure especially when an elevator in a new building she had just inspected went into free fall. Thus began Lila Mae’s quest to find out what happened and clear her name.

It was a different and compelling tale which dealt with competing factions and the learned blindness of race relations.

Took longer this time
Wordle 300 5/6

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>83 Familyhistorian: True, very true.

>96 Familyhistorian: Adding that one to the BlackHole. It looks interesting!

>104 Familyhistorian: Lovely! Although I can just feel my allergies going nuts, lol.

>108 Familyhistorian: That one sounds good too!

>130 Familyhistorian: Do I need to start another series? No, but that one sounds so good!

Have a wonderful weekend, Meg!

>170 alcottacre: Looks like you did a thorough read of my thread, Stasia. Too bad I couldn’t tempt you with more of my reads. Have a happy Easter weekend.

Back to 4
Wordle 301 4/6

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It's been a different Easter weekend for me. I went out to visit a friend on Good Friday and she cooked a traditional Easter meal. That was fun. Easter Sunday was more quiet but at least we had sunshine.

Interesting word choice
Wordle 302 4/6

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I'm not sure I Wordled yesterday. I'll have to make sure I get to it today.

>174 Familyhistorian: It was "interesting" all right. I hope you keep your 4-streak alive today!

>175 thornton37814: I barely squeaked Wordle in during the last few days, Lori. It's hard to remember when you're busy.

>176 richardderus: I saw some complaints that the word yesterday started with a vowel. Was that the problem, Richard? It started with the same first letter as my usual first word does so I was ahead of the game.

>178 Familyhistorian: No, I'm not particularly distressed by that. I was frustrated at the sheer variety of words that fit the pattern! Made it all a crap-shoot. *grumble*

This was a teaser
Wordle 303 5/6

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>179 richardderus: I just caught up with your thread now, Richard, and I could see that wasn't the problem. It does seem that the words are getting harder as we go on.

Just watched an interesting talk on Zoom from Politics and Prose. The authors interviewed were Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Andrew Curran and the book was Who's Black and Why? which is about the invention of race as seen through essays written in the 18th century for a Bordeaux essay contest.

>46 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg. I read The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton a few months ago. I agree, it takes some time to get through it. It seemed difficult to slog through it, but I am glad I read it.

New thread alert.

*smooch*

>183 Whisper1: I appreciated the history that it showed me, Linda. I knew nothing of Amsterdam in that era but it definitely wasn't a page turner.

>184 richardderus: I'll have to check that out, Richard.

There weren't many words to chose from once I got the first letter
Wordle 304 4/6

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73. Sharpe's Triumph



The second book in the Sharpe series, Sharpe’s Triumph, took on the Battle of Assaye in September 1803. Sharpe once again had to deal with his nemesis Obediah Hakeswill who lied and cheated to get his revenge on Sharpe who was now his equal in rank, a Sergeant. But Sharpe also had his allies and rubbed shoulders with the upper ranks. He also got to prove himself in battle for the first time.

This was once again a fast moving, page turner. I’m sure it won’t be long until I read the next installment in the series.

>188 Familyhistorian: Knowing what I do about Cornwell's quality of research and his uncanny ability to pin readers to their seat, I'm predicting "sooner." The TV show made from these books was good, as well; the Saxon books and their TV show are very good as well.

It's deeply satisfying when someone who really puts in the work reaps the proper rewards.

>189 richardderus: Cornwell really knows his stuff. I find all the background info about the real people and the lay of the land fascinating. The Saxon books also sound like interesting reads but I have a few more Sharpe books to get through first.

Another 4
Wordle 305 4/6

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You know how you put something on your calendar and it seems like there is plenty of time before it happens, then all of a sudden it's there? That's what happened to me. A genealogy group I'm a member is gathering for four days at the BCGS library to research like we're in Salt Lake City. So I did that but had to leave early as I'd arranged to meet a friend for an early bite and a movie, the first movie I've seen in a theatre in two years. We saw the newest Sandra Bullock flick The Lost City. It was good fun.

>188 Familyhistorian: I read the first book in the series and never got beyond it. I really should read the rest of the series!

This was a hard one.
Wordle 306 4/6

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>193 alcottacre: I find that they are good fast reads full of action that pulls me through the narrative. I'm also interested in the settings as I've found a few family members who were stationed at various places in India as part of the British forces at different times in the past.

>195 Familyhistorian: Cool about your family members. As far as I know, none of my family was ever in India.

>196 alcottacre: Cool but kind of odd as well. I've found quite a few of them who were sent to India including my own father. Strange since most of them were living in greater London.

An easy one for a change
Wordle 307 3/6

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Hi Meg, I'm back home again for awhile and trying to catch up here at LT. I am still trying to stick to lighter reads right now and find that mysteries do a good job of holding my attention. I've taken note of a couple that you have recently read.

>198 Familyhistorian: ...took me all six...

>199 DeltaQueen50: Hi Judy, there are definitely times when lighter reads are needed. I find that mysteries or romances fit the bill for me. I hope you enjoy the reads that you took note of on my thread.

>200 richardderus: At least you got it, Richard. I found yesterday's Wordle easy and today's even more so.
Wordle 308 2/6

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74. Capote's Women by Laurence Leamer



Fairly early in his life, Truman Capote was recognized as a gifted writer. He parlayed that talent into a life where he hobnobbed with the rich and beautiful people, particularly the women. He loved to dish the dirt with them and they dished it right back not realizing he was passing on the info they revealed about themselves. That all changed when he wrote a story that included many of the women’s secrets. He had promised a full-fledged book but that never got done. The short story that was published was enough to alienate the women who had been his friends and entre to the high life.

Capote’s Women was about an era that has passed when women with style married high powered moneyed men. The book was as much about that time as about Capote’s life story.

There was no where else to go
Wordle 309 3/6

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Hi Meg!

>3 Familyhistorian: Catching up on your blog, I was fascinated to read about Easter and about Reverend Strange.

>92 Familyhistorian: This series sounds like just the thing I’m interested in right now – I’ve decided to read all the Bridgerton novels after watching the series and am powering through the third novel. I’ve added the first in this series to my wish list.

>104 Familyhistorian: Beautiful!

>130 Familyhistorian: And another series! I’ve just added the first to my wish list.

>139 Familyhistorian: I’ve got this one and the second in the series on my shelves and have tagged the first to read this year.

>204 Familyhistorian: Wordle took me my usual four. Congrats on three.

>205 karenmarie: Hi Karen, looks like you did a thorough read of my thread. I have been reading a lot of series lately probably because I was able to get to some of the books on my shelves for a change. Martha Water's books are fun ones and I really like the Amory Ames series.

I'm glad you're enjoying the info on my blog. It's nice to get feedback!

>203 Familyhistorian: I did read somewhere that Capote's best book was enabled by Harper Lee opening the doors for him and assisting with much of the research only for her to get little or not acknowledgement from Capote. I know insufficient about him to criticize him but he was apparently something of a gossip.

>207 PaulCranswick: His gossiping is something that comes out in Capote's Women, Paul. The book that Harper Lee assisted him with was In Cold Blood which, I believe, was one of his major works.

That was a hard one!
Wordle 310 6/6

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>209 Familyhistorian: Agreed, Meg. It was my 100th game and I was worried it may have been my first loss but I got it in 5.

Today's was more manageable!
Wordle 311 2/6

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It's always fun to have a series to read. I am really enjoying all of Jodi Taylor's. Right now I am on the Elizabeth Cage series. Enjoy!

>210 PaulCranswick: It was a strange combination of letters. I haven't done today's yet. I hope I find it easier too.

>211 Berly: It's nice to visit with characters you can follow from book to book. I'm currently doing a reread of the In Death series so that's added to my series reading for now. They're enjoyable the second time around too!

This took me a while.
Wordle 311 4/6

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75. The Answer Is... by Alex Trebek



I’m a fan of Jeopardy and saw it hosted by Alex Trebek for more years than I care to remember. The Answer is… was his story in his own words. The narrative covered his formative years in Sudbury, a place I remember traveling through more than once. It really did look like a moon scape; not a place to tarry long. He left there to go to school and university, later starting in radio and at CBC where he hosted shows such as Reach for the Top, which I remember watching. Moving to LA put enabled him to host American various game shows before Jeopardy.

The book was chock full of pictures which makes sense since TV is a visual medium. It was also a moving reflection on his life.

>215 Familyhistorian: ...we miss you, Alex, that's the answer.

Lovely results! I Wordled before coffee so I'm just grateful my streak is alive.

>215 Familyhistorian: - I read the book when it first came out. I think he would be positively tickled by Mattea's current streak and by this whole season of long streaks this year. I miss him, too, but I think that both Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik are doing terrific jobs.

Nice choice for 75!

>216 richardderus: Very true, he is missed.
I must admit I was stumped by today's Wordle but I figured it couldn't be that hard if Paul got it in two! No before coffee excuses for me, Richard, since I don't drink the stuff.

>217 jessibud2: I remember that you read The Answer Is... because I read another book about Alex Trebek around the same time. I think he would definitely be tickled about Mattea especially her Canadianness. I know I am!

>218 drneutron: Thanks Jim. I wanted to read a significant book for number 75.

Another Alex Trebek and Jeopardy fan. Also agree that both Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik are doing terrific jobs.

>222 RebaRelishesReading: The new hosts are doing a good job. It's so good that the controversy over the hosting job burned itself out and didn't taint the show at all.

Congrats on reading 75 books!

>224 figsfromthistle: Thanks Anita!

Meg, do you ever listen to Cross Country Checkup on cbc radio? Ian Hanomansing had Mattea on this past Sunday. I have a link on my thread. For a 23-year old, she is so mature and articulate; she does us all proud!

>226 jessibud2: Hi Shelley, I don't listen to CBC radio although many people have recommended it to me. I'll have to check out the link on your thread. I saw a story about her at the end of Global News last night. They had her father on to comment on her success as well.

Sometimes English seems like such an odd language.
Wordle 312 3/6

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>227 Familyhistorian: - I did see that too but couldn't find a link to post it.

Happy Wednesday, Meg. I am back and very slowly trying to catch up on LT. I am also trying to make up some ground on the reading front too. That is also a challenge.

I would like to read The Intuitionist, at some point.

>229 jessibud2: I tuned in early for the local news and was surprised to catch that segment at the end of the national news. It caught my eye!

>230 msf59: I hope you had a good time away, Mark. I didn't plan to read two books by Whitehead in such close proximity but I had The Intuitionist home from the library when I was reading Harlem Shuffle. Maybe it was a good thing to read the two books in quick succession. I enjoyed the older book more.