Jim's (drneutron's) 2023 Reading, Chapter 5

I'm Jim, 61, husband of 38 years, father of a son gainfully employed creating our robot overlords, who reads pretty much anything. We're in central Maryland with roots in Louisiana. I like to read (obviously), cook, trail bike riding/kayaking with mrsdrneutron, and want to learn to fly fish. Of course, LT is a big time sink, but mrsdrneutron seems to have come to terms with my LT addiction...

1. The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
2. The Black Hand: The Epic War Between a Brilliant Detective and the Deadliest Secret Society in American History by Stephan Talty
3. Sugar Street by Jonathan Dee
4. Desperate Remedies: Psychiatry’s Turbulent Quest to Cure Mental Illness by Andrew Scull
5. Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey
6. Babel, Or, The Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution by R. F. Kuang
7. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
8. The Greatest Invention: A History of the World in Nine Mysterious Scripts by Silvia Ferrara

9. Captain Carter: Woman out of Time by Jamie McKelvie
10. Conspiracy: Why the Rational Believe the Irrational by Michael Shermer
11. The Sinner by Petra Hammesfahr
12. The Red Sea Scrolls: How Ancient Papyri Reveal the Secrets of the Pyramids by Mark Lehner
13. The January 6 Report by The January 6 Select Committee
14. Jade Dragon Mountain by Elsa Hart
15. A Brief History of Singapore and Malaysia: Multiculturalism and Prosperity: The Shared History of Two Southeast Asian Tigers (Brief History of Asia Series) by Christopher Hale
16. A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
17. The World Itself: Consciousness and the Everything of Physics by Ulf Danielsson
18. Waco: David Koresh, the Branch Davidians, and A Legacy of Rage by Jeff Guinn
19. The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd
20. Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
21. To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini
22. Code Name Blue Wren: The True Story of America's Most Dangerous Female Spy--And the Sister She Betrayed by Jim Popkin
23. The Life of Crime: Detecting the History of Mysteries and their Creators by Martin Edwards
24. Uncommon Measure: A Journey Through Music, Performance, and the Science of Time by Natalie Hodges
25. Three Miles Down by Harry Turtledove

26. Episode Thirteen by Craig DiLouie
27. The Last Invitation by Darby Kane
28. The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner
29. A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske
30. We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis Taylor
31. Three Assassins by Kotaro Isaka
32. Epidemics and Society: From the Black Death to the Present by Frank M. Snowden
33. The Thing in the Snow by Sean Adams
34. Stella Maris by Cormac McCarthy
35. The Passenger by Cormac McCarthy
36. The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann
37. One Second After by Willian R. Forstchen
38. The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
39. Preparing for War: The Extremist History of White Christian Nationalism--and What Comes Next by Bradley Onishi
40. All the Blood We Share: A Novel of the Bloody Benders of Kansas by Camilla Bruce
41. Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane
42. Karma of the Sun by Brandon Ying Kit Boey
43. The Word: On the Translation of the Bible by Dr John Barton
44. Bullet Train by Kotaro Isaka
45. The Witch in the Well by Camilla Bruce
46. A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
47. Tales of Sley House by Trevor Williamson
48.The Chapel of Retribution by Glenn Burwell
49. The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett
50. Ascension by Nicholas Binge
51. Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier
52. The Age of Wonder by Richard Holmes
53. Consumption & Other Vices by Tyler Dempsey

54. The Cloisters by Katy Hays
55. The Last Heir to Blackwood Library by Hester Fox
56. The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K. Le Guin
57. Ancient Africa: A Global History, to 300 CE by Christopher Ehret
58. The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman
59. Assyria: The Rise and Fall of the World's First Empire by Eckart Frahm
60. Murderland by Pamela Murray
61. Sanctum by Sue Rovens
62. Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
63. Haven by Emma Donoghue
64. Lady Mechanika, Volume 7: The Monster of the Ministry of Hell by Joe Benitez
65. Our Hideous Progeny by C.E. McGill
66. Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
67. The Exorcist Legacy by Nat Segaloff
68. The Apparitionists: A Tale of Phantoms, Fraud, Photography, and the Man Who Captured Lincoln's Ghost by Peter Manseau
69. Under the Eye of Power: How Fear of Secret Societies Shapes American Democracy by Colin Dickey
70. The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni
71. Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
72. Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide by Rupert Holmes
73. President Garfield: From Radical to Unifier by CW Goodyear
74. G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century by Beverly Gage
75. Behold, Behemoth by Tate Brombal

Total Books: 75

Author Gender
Male: 47 (64%)
Female: 26 (35%)
Nonbinary: 1 (1%)

Author Status
Living: 68 (92%)
Dead: 6 (8%)

Publication Medium
Hardback: 28 (37%)
Trade: 11 (15%)
Mass Market: 1 (1%)
eBook: 35 (47%)

Category
Fiction: 52 (69%)
Nonfiction: 23 (31%)

Source
Library: 60 (80%)
Mine: 15 (20%)

ARC: 7
Re-Read: 5
Series: 15
Group Read: 0

Huh. Reserved one more than I needed!

Update Time!



73. President Garfield: From Radical to Unifier by C. W. Goodyear

One of the better biographies I've read of a US President - and I've read a bunch. Garfield was one of those rare people who could come from a position of strong personal to work as a unifier to actually get things done. And Goodyear presents a great picture of the life of this interesting man. My only concern - Goodyear very much likes Garfield, so I do wonder if he's painted a bit too saintly.

No matter, this was a great read!



74. G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century by Beverly Gage

Yeah, so Hoover. Not one of our shining stars for democracy and morality. But way more complex than most give him credit for. Gage's bio is looong, but fascinating. Still don't like the man, but at least I understand him a bit better.



75. Behold, Behemoth by Tate Brombal

Was looking for a recommendation from Mark on Hoopla, didn't find it, but did find Brombal's very good, very apocalyptic graphic novel. The artwork was great, the story was great, all in all a great choice for Deathtober.

(Yeah, that's a lot of greats)

congrats on new thread, Jim

Thanks, Kristel!

Happy new thread, Jim.

>8 drneutron: And congratulations on reaching 75!

New thread! Time to PARTAY...

Happy New Thread!!

>11 FAMeulstee: Thanks and thanks, Anita!

>12 weird_O: I'm good with a PARTAY!

>13 hredwards: Thanks, Harold!

Happy new thread Jim!

Happy new thread Jim, and congrats on the big 75.

>15 quondame: Thanks, Susan!

>16 ArlieS: Thanks, Arlie! #75 was a good one.

Congrats on the new thread and on reaching 75!

Ah, you got me with Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide. Hopefully my library will be providing a copy soon. :)

Hiya, Jim. Nice shiny new thread and wow, look at that set of book lists (and 75-read!).
Very erudite reading as well as some wild fantasy titles. I'm still waiting to see if the local PL will find a copy to fulfill my request for Holmes' Murder Your Employer.

and congrats on 75!

Congratulations on 75!

Happy new one, Jim, and congrats on hitting the "magic" number!

Happy new one and congrats on 75!! Those look like some interesting books up there.

Happy new one and congrats on reading 75 books!

Happy new thread, Jim, and congrats on 75!!

Congratulations are doubly in order, Jim, for a new thread and for reaching 75!

Well done buddy.

>18 streamsong: Excellent! It was really fun.

>19 SandyAMcPherson: I hope they find it for you, Sandy!

>20 Kristelh: Thanks again, Kristel!

>21 quondame: Thanks, Susan!

>22 katiekrug: And you too, Katie!

>23 RebaRelishesReading: I think I've had a pretty good reading year, even though the quantity is down a bit. Thanks, Reba!

>24 figsfromthistle: Thanks, figs!

>25 curioussquared: And you too, Natalie!

>26 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul! I've been eying your music selections lately, gonna do some Spotifying soon. 😀

Happy New Thread!

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/354535

Happy New Thread congrats on 75!!

Happy New Thread, Jim! And congratulations on 75 books!

>27 drneutron: Was there anything that chimed with you, Jim?

>29 SilverWolf28:, >30 SirThomas:, >31 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Silver, Thomas, Deb!

>32 PaulCranswick: David Gray is the one that caught my eye recently, but there were a few others that I thought I'd try out.

>33 drneutron: Almost all Welsh people believe that they can sing, but David Gray most definitely can, Jim.

Happy new thread, and hooray for hitting 75!

>34 PaulCranswick: 😀 Sounds good. I'll give it a go.

>35 mstrust: Thanks, Jennifer!

First Autumn gumbo and a firepit tonight!

>37 drneutron: Sounds nice! Crackling fire and good food.

The Isaac Bowman bourbon finished in port wine casks fits right in! 😀

I was thinking there was a tasty beverage involved.

Always… 😂

The Wayne is hosting whisky club at our house tonight. You should jump on 95 and come join us 😂

Oh, man, that would be awesome!

>5 drneutron: Congratulations on reaching 75 books!!

Thanks, Greg!

Happy new thread, Jim and congrats on reaching 75. My dad likes biography, so I might try the Garfield book with him.

Congrats on 75!

>46 BLBera: The Garfield book was pretty good! Should be in all the bookstores.

>47 hredwards: Thanks!

>48 drneutron: Garfield was good but Odie was always my favorite. ;)

Heh. Good one.

Congrats on hitting 75, Jim. I hope you celebrated with a pour of one of your favorites. Behold, Behemoth sounds like a good GN. Happy accident, right? Have you tried your library for The Killer: Vol 1? It should be a popular enough title.

Speaking, of GNs I am enjoying Clementine: Book One. It is part of the Walking Dead universe, (which I am not a huge fan of) but this one I like.

>51 msf59: Yeah, I need to stop by the library and look for a hard copy. Will look for Clementine!

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/354703

Thanks, Silver!

Hi Jim, mate, Happy New Thread and congrats on reaching 75 books read for th e year so far. Have a good weekend mate.

Thanks, John!

Hi Jim. I just started a new thread, and I should have called it Thread 5, but mistakenly called it thread 4. Are you able to edit that for me ? If so , thanks so much!

Belated happy new thread! And also congrats on reaching 75! You got me with a BB on the Garfield book.

>57 vancouverdeb: I can take care of it!

>58 atozgrl: Thanks! It’s a good one, hope you like it!

It's been a while, so this is a Double Update!



76. How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

It's Grady Hendrix, so it's good. Not his best, but still pretty good. Dolls. And worse, puppets.



77. Echo by Thomas Olde Heuvelt

A mountaineer climbs an Alp that's off the maps and brings something bad back. There's a lot going on about obsession and loss here, all of it making for a really good Deathtober read!



78. With the Devil's Help by Neal Wooten

Subtitled " A True Story of Poverty, Mental Illness, and Murder", Wooten got 2 out of 3 dead on. His family was a poor as they come, there was definitely a murder in the story. Mental illness? Yeah, it's there, but not a big part of his telling, though abuse driven by his father's and grandfather's bipolar issues certainly is. Ultimately, this one's just not that compelling in the writing, so the story really never connects.



79. The Mystery at Dunvegan Castle by TL Huchu

Third in an alternative Edinburgh series I came across last year, and a good addition to the storyline. Mostly, this one's about an outsider trying to wend her way through unfamiliar and unfriendly culture, with all that has to say about us today. The magical system is nicely worked out, I love the characters, and I'm hoping that Huchu will follow up on the plot turn at the end.

Hi, Jim. Happy Newish Thread. And congrats on finishing 75 and more!

I just DM'd you. A multiverse second Sixth Book Cafe has mysteriously appeared, and it may warrant a solar cafe probe.

Hey, Joe! I replied back. also left a response on the mysterious thread.

So I can change the title, but I don't think I can delete the thread. I think this happened once before and Kristi (?) from the LT staff was able to fix it by deleting the inadvertent thread and restoring the link to allow a continuation. You can find a link to her at the bottom of every page under "Contact".

At the very least, I can change the title so the numbering is Seventh Cafe, then we can keep using this one. That's less than ideal, so try the above first.

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/355049

Hi. It's been a while. LOL. Congrats on the newish new thread and on hitting the big 75!! Hope you've had a nice weekend. : )

Oh, it’s been fun! We’re driving from Maryland to Texas to start a 2-week family visit. Spent the day yesterday touring the Biltmore estate yesterday. We’re listening to the Lockwood & Co books to pass the miles. 😀

Oh, a nice short drive then. LOL. Enjoy the audio books and the scenery!! Oh, and the family, too!

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/355261

Thanks, Silver!

Cheerio, Doc. Have a swell trip.

Hiyah, Bill!

Update Time!

The Quick by Lauren Owen

Gothic start, vampires, mysterious society, what’s not to like? Owen’s got the stuff. So much so I came back after reading it a few years ago.



81. Junk Science and the American Criminal Justice System by M. Chris Fabricant

CSI hasn’t done the American court system any favors. But long before that, forensic scientists convinced judges that they could give definitive results with uncertain methods. Junk Science looks at this specifically from the perspective of bite mark identification, but really the problem is more general - overstating the usefulness of unproven techniques. Reading this one will probably make you angry. It’s marred by occasional overblown language, but still worth it for the lesson it brings.



82. The Screaming Staircase (Lockwood & Co.) by Jonathan Stroud

Watched the Netflix series, so we decided to listen to this one while driving to Texas to visit family. Even though we were familiar with the plot, it was fun, made the miles pass. Finished the second one too and have the third ready for when we head home.

83. The Raging Storm by Ann Cleeves

Third in the Matthew Venn series, and one that continues the series well. Cleeves really knows how to write. Venn and company are great characters and her mysteries are always mysterious. Can’t wait for the next!



84. Lockwood & Co., Book Two The Whispering Skull by Jonathan Stroud

Second in the series, also listened during our drive!

>72 drneutron:
One of the Children's Literature professors I worked with loved the Lockwood & Co series. We had them in our library but I just never got around to reading them. Maybe I should listen to them instead.

Yes! The first two were done quite well.

>71 drneutron: Junk Science and the American Criminal Justice System sounds interesting but infuriating. I can never hear about this topic without thinking of the enraging case of Cameron Todd Willingham in Texas, who was executed for killing his family and setting a fire to cover it up. Even before his execution there were serious doubts about the accuracy of the arson investigator's forensic analysis, doubts that were confirmed in an independent report after the state killed him anyway.

The Innocence Project has a good overview here if anyone is interested in learning more:
Cameron Todd Willingham: Wrongfully Convicted and Executed in Texas

>75 rosalita: - I read a long article about that case several years ago in Texas Monthly. Enraging is right.

The death penalty makes the mistakes and corruptions of the justice system permanent. It's abhorrent.

Uh... hi Jim!

Hi Jim, good readerly progress. You're a busy guy to get so many books fit in.
I do love me a good Ann Cleeves mystery. I plan to get back on that wagon when I've coped with the current library cascade.
I just started The lost library ~ so far very intriguing but I'm barely into it, so no other insights (yet). It was a doubled BB from BLBera and foggidawn.

>75 rosalita:, >76 katiekrug: Willingham factors large in the book, Fabricant is with the Innocence Project. Yep, you’d be infuriated. This was one of the better ERs I’ve gotten recently.

>77 SandyAMcPherson: yeah, driving a lot of miles helps with the book count… 😀

Here's the Thanksgiving Readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/355348

Thanks, Silver!

Dear Jim, thanks for being the glue that keeps all of us together,



Happy Thanksgiving from an appreciative non-celebrator.

Stopped by Point of Rocks last month and enjoyed a lovely walk. Thought of you! I am so grateful to this LT community and your continued leadership.

Happy Thanksgiving, Jim. Are you staying at home for the holiday?

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Happy Thanksgiving, Jim

Hi Jim, mate, Happy Thanksgiving dear friend.

Happy Thanksgiving, Jim, and thank you for all you do for us 75ers!

Happy Thanksgiving to you Jim, with an extra helping for this group that gives us all so much to be thankful for!

>81 PaulCranswick: It’s been my pleasure! Hoping you have a good weekend.

>82 witchyrichy: Happy Thanksgiving, Karen! Glad you liked Point of Rocks - one of our faves.

>83 msf59: Happy Thanksgiving, Mark! We’re at my parents’ house in Louisiana this week, heading back tomorrow. Saturday’s a tour at Woodford Reserve, with some whiskey shopping after. 😀

>84 Kristelh: Thanks, Kristel! Happy Thanksgiving to you.

>85 ArlieS: Thanks, Arlie! And to you!

>86 johnsimpson: Thanks, John. Have a great weekend!

>87 alcottacre: Happy Thanksgiving, Stasia!

>88 quondame: Thanks, Susan. I hope you’re having a good Thanksgiving!

>65 drneutron: I hope you enjoyed Biltmore. Did they have the holiday decorations up yet? I've been to Biltmore several times, but never at the holidays, so I've missed it when it's all dressed up.

I second all the thanks from everyone here for all you do for us. Wishing you and your family a very happy Thanksgiving!

They were 90% decorated. Pretty much done in the house, and it was beautiful!

>92 drneutron: I'm glad you got to see it with the holiday decorations! I know it looks beautiful in the pictures I've seen with all the decorations up.

>92 drneutron: we never made it to Biltmore, though at one point we were about an hour's drive away.

Aaaannnnd we’re home! Stopped by Woodford Reserve Distillery for a tour and some shopping yesterday. Very beautiful place, and the whiskey tasting was great! Just up the road was a small distillery called Castle & Key - at home in my recliner sipping a bit of their bourbon now!

Sounds like a lovely homecoming!

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/355572

Hi Jim. Popped in to see what I've missed lately. Hope that trip was wonderful and that you'll report on any stellar reading experiences.

Update Time! Finishing up the reading list from our Thanksgiving trip



85. Knowing What We Know: The Transmission of Knowledge: From Ancient Wisdom to Modern Magic by Simon Winchester

Winchester's take on how we know, record what we know, and pass what we know on to others. It's his usual overview-with-meandering-sidelights approach - if you've read any of his others, you'll know what I mean. So no real depth here, and no attempt to address technical issues. Still, it was a nice diversion on the subject.



86. The Hollow Boy by Jonathan Stroud

Third in the Lockwood & Co series, probably the best so far. These are definitely targeted to the YA market, but the narrator is good and the stories are fun. Made for another nice diversion when driving lots of miles.

Congratulations on finishing your trip reading list. I never seem to manage to do that :(

The Hexologists by Josiah Bancroft

Start of a new series by the author of the Babel/Senlen Ascends series. He keeps his quirky characters and unique storytelling, set in a new and really fun world. I enjoyed the book but for some reason got bogged down with it - but I think it was me and work events getting in the way. Definitely will read the next when it's out.



88. The Middle Kingdoms: A New History of Central Europe by Martin Rady

Very readable history of Central Europe from the latter part of the Roman empire to today. Rady's writing really made this region come alive. It's a popular work, but still reasonably documented, and places where his interpretation is different from others are well discussed. Recommended if you'd like to learn about this lesser-known part of European history.

>100 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks! It helps we did audio books those days we were driving. 😀

>101 drneutron: This sounds good, Jim! My library doesn't have it, sadly, but I've added it to my list of books to look for.

>99 drneutron: I really need to look at the Lockwood & Co series!

>101 drneutron: The Hexologists looks fun. The Middle Kingdom: A New History of Central Europe looks good too. Thanks for those recommendations, Jim!

Have a marvelous Monday!

😀 A three-fer!

>101 drneutron: He shoots! He scores! Your book bullet was well aimed.

😀 Was thinking you might be interested.

>101 drneutron: I've added this to my WL. Great comments.

Great! Glad I could warble about this set of books - really enjoyed them.

>101 drneutron: BB for The Middle Kingdoms!

>110 quondame: 😀

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/355731

Thanks, Silver!

Quick update from this weekend while I'm killing some time in an airport...



89. Dracula: The Company of Monsters Vol. 1
90. Dracula: The Company of Monsters Vol. 2
91. Dracula: The Company of Monsters Vol. 3

by Kurt Busiek

Fun three-part graphic novel bringing Dracula into the corporate world. Rich bad guys, vampire villain, vampire hunters, hero that's caught up in the middle. I really enjoyed the artwork, story was fun too!

>114 drneutron: The Dracula books look fun. I’m off to track them down!

Karen O

Cool!

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/355903

>117 SilverWolf28: thanks!

>1 drneutron: Would you please edit the title of this weeks readathon where it says December 14 - 16 to December 15 - 17?

Done!

>101 drneutron: Rady's book looks interesting. I added it to my PL list of potential reading.
I'm considering Heirs to Forgotten Kingdoms at the moment which is in my local library. I liked the review by the publisher about how the author went to live amongst the different communities himself. Kind of reminded me of Rory Stewart's saga in Iraq (The Prince of the Marshes) and his walking tour in Afghanistan, Places in Between.

>120 drneutron: Thank you!

>121 SandyAMcPherson: Forgotten Kingdoms looks good - onto the TBR pile!

Huh, big surprise… “ Goodreads has a 'review bombing' problem — and wants its users to help solve it”

https://www.npr.org/2023/12/17/1219599404/goodreads-review-bombing-cait-corrain

>124 drneutron: I presume LibraryThing has most of the same vulnerabilities. The big difference would be that we're smaller, and therefore seen by the perpetrators as not worth the effort; we're also less well known, and thus some of the perps may not realize we exist.

I wonder whether we also have an advantage because we're less "modern" in appearance. We look more like social media looked *before* Facebook, Twitter et al. set a new "standard", and influencers (media and on-line) redefined "social media" to exclude email lists, on-line forums, and most blogging platforms. (If it doesn't have an algorithm that promotes "engagement", it's not "social media" any more.) No point posting fake reviews on a site for old fogies who prefer not having what they see selected so as to be most likely to irritate them into responding, and furthermore like their user interfaces stable and well documented.

Yeah, I pretty much agree with all of the above. Small and stogie sometimes helps, I suppose. I know that there have been cases where some have tried to manipulate the system, I’ve been impressed with Tim and company’s willingness and ability to handle those. Thought it was an interesting article, though.

>124 drneutron:, >125 ArlieS:, >126 drneutron:
Hi Jim and and Arlie,
An insightful article. Thanks for posting the link, Jim.

I've long felt the big players on the internet like Meta and Amazon, have very poor security track-records.
To some extent, it's the ol' greedy marketing syndrome, isn't it?

In cybersecurity, there are stellar software devs who can tighten up this sort of thing but it *is* costly. I'm very pleased how on top of it that LT has been. The website is managed admirably and in a professional manner. In my experience, it has always felt a "safe" place to have an account.

I've copied the url at post#124 and forwarded it to several readerly friends who've decried G-Reads repeatedly and sent (again) my recommendation for LT.

>127 SandyAMcPherson: I hope it sends them our way! 😀

NPR Music put out a few "best-of" lists this year. I've been listening to their picks for Best of Classical Music. Every one has been outstanding. Every. One!

https://www.npr.org/2023/12/13/1218517774/the-10-best-classical-albums-of-2023

>124 drneutron: Thanks for posting that link, Jim. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot! Corrain has certainly done that for herself.

Like Arlie, I assume that something along that line could happen here on LT. I am not sure how either Goodreads or LT protects themselves.

>129 drneutron: Oh, lovely! Thanks for the link, Jim.

Jim, Thank you for doing this group, I've enjoyed following everyone's reading adventures!! Merry Christmas and have a Wonderful New Year!!

>131 hredwards: Thanks, Harold! I've enjoyed getting the groups up and running over the years. Stay tuned for the next soon!

What happens when you fly across the country and back? A big update!



92. Pilgrims of the Upper World by Jamieson Findlay

A 16th century manuscript on Kabbalah that includes Schrödinger’s equation? Yeah, that’s a great kick-off to a Dan Brown-ish conspiracy/suspense story. Findlay’s got a good set of characters and a nicely moving plot. Recommended!



93. Witch King by Martha Wells

Wells' return to fantasy, where I first met her work. Here's a creatively imagined world introduced in a double story of now and then that turns surprisingly parallel. The characters are rich, the plots are twisty, and the pace is quick. Not her best work - see Murderbot for that - but well worth spending time with it.

94. Starter Villain by John Scalzi

Scalzi's done a take on Star Trek, one on kaiju movies, and now he's taken on Bond villains. Yep, Bond villains with volcanic lairs and plots to take over the world. But like always he comes at it from a different angle - say, what happens if you inherit a supervillain organization from a long lost uncle? As always, parts had me laughing out loud, which on an airplane ain't necessarily a good idea...



95. Dead Lions by Mick Herron

Sequel to Slow Horses, and just as good at keeping me reading. Our friends at Slough House are once again thrown into actual spycraft instead of busy work and once again rise to the occasion in their own, unique way. Quite a good one!

96. The Nightingale Affair by Tim Mason

Years ago, Inspector Charles Field, Dickens' inspiration in Bleak House, was sent to Crimea to track down a serial killer threatening Florence Nightingale and her nurses, Now it looks like the person he accused was innocent - and the real serial killer is back.

This follow-on to The Darwin Affair was just as good, just as edge-of-your-seat as the first. Mason's plot is superb, and I loved how he pulled me into the Crimean War. Highly recommended!



97. Existential Physics: A Scientist's Guide to Life's Biggest Questions by Sabine Hossenfelder

I really like Hossenfelder's perspective on the state of physics today, especially in Lost in Math, where she talks a lot about how physics and math are just models of the world and not the actual world itself. Some of that's here, and I appreciated her keeping physicists honest about what the science means and what it doesn't. Less convincing are her arguments from a purely physics standpoint for answers to questions like "is there a consciousness?" or "do we have free will?". She's a pure reductionist, and makes no bones about it, and dismisses any thought that is not strictly in line with that. On the other hand, she's pretty good about showing where questions can be addressed by the scientific method and where they are ascientific, ie, out of scope for science. For that alone, it was worth reading for me.

Herron is genius. Just read my first last month.

>136 blackdogbooks: Yup!

Here's the Christmas readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/356094

Thanks, Silver!

Just passing the word... The 2024 group is up!

https://www.librarything.com/ngroups/24188/75-Books-Challenge-for-2024

Happy holidays, Jim! I hope you and yours have a peaceful and joyful season. :)

Thanks! I hope yours is too!

>140 drneutron: Thanks Jim! See you there next year!

So we’re heading out tomorrow to see the kids in Indiana, so we opened some gifts tonight. Including a heckuva haul from my Secret Santa!

Owls of the Eastern Ice
An Atlas of Extinct Countries
Murder at Teal’s Pond
The Guide
M. King’s Bodyguard

Wowzers!

>135 drneutron: Hossenfelder is on my list!

>144 drneutron: What a great Santa haul all of those look interesting to read.

Have a great holiday with your kids in Indiana. Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!! Happy, safe travels!! Enjoy your family and have a wonderful New Year!!

Thanks, you two. So far, the drive has been easy, can’t wait to see the kids.

>144 drneutron: Nice haul!
Saying all the best for 2024 now, since lately I've mainly been on LT to keep posting updates to my books-read. I'm swamped with the seasonal demands (mostly in the kitchen) but do love the pot luck suppers.

My reappearance on the threads will likely be very delayed so no new Talk is yet planned for 2024.

>140 drneutron: Woot! Thank you.

Merry Christmas. Have a nice holiday with family. Nice preChristmas gifts!

Thanks for running the 75's , Jim! Happy Holidays to you and yours!

>123 drneutron:
I got a BB on that title as well. I read My Father's Paradise by Ariel Sabar this fall and that book was a surprise. I had no idea that Jews lived in Kurdish Iraq for 2,500 years alongside several different religions until 1956 when they were forced to migrate to Israel by the Iraqi government. The author tells the story eloquently of how his parents struggled to fit into a modern Israel dominated by European Jews. He also speaks at great length about the loss of cultural customs and language. The language of that region, Aramaic, is now listed as endangered. The extinction of language and culture is a serious problem in our modern homogenous world. I am glad that authors are writing about it.

Nadolig llawen a blwyddyn newydd dda i ti!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you!

>151 vancouverdeb: And to yours, Deb!

>152 benitastrnad: Language, especially, fascinates me, and I’m really interested in forgotten/dying languages. Hoping to learn old Anglo-Saxon and learn to read cuneiform someday! 😀

>153 SandDune: Merry Christmas! Mrsdrneutron really likes the nativity. 😀

Merry Christmas, Jim. Have a great holiday with the family. Nice Secret Santa haul. I loved Owls of the Eastern Ice.

I want to drop a rec over here, that I think you will love:



Orbital by Samantha Harvey

Wow, that one sounds great! On to the TBR it goes.

If you get a chance, check out this New Yorker piece about Orbital. It is a stunner.

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/12/25/orbital-samantha-harvey-book-revie...

Merry Christmas, Roni and John!

Merry Christmas, Jim!

Merry Christmas, Jim!

All the best wishes and a peaceful time to you, Jim!

Thinking about you during the festive season, Jim

Nice to see you slip beyond 1,000 posts, Jim, overnight.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

>165 PaulCranswick: Cool!

Happy, healthy 2024 to you and all yours, Jim!

And to you, Richard!

Merry Christmas, Jim! Hope you're having a good time with your family!
Murder at Teal's Pond is a good one. You received a nice haul.

Thanks! I’m definitely looking forward to that one.

Hi Jim!

Hi, Karen! Happy holidays!

Happy Christmas, John! Hope you are having a good time with your family.

Merry Christmas Jim. Thank you very much for the Swap books!

>174 EllaTim: Thanks, Ella! I hope 2024 is great year for you.

>175 mahsdad: my pleasure!

Thanks, Karen! And to you.

Just realised I missed you moving to this thread. Congratulations on blitzing past 75 - I assume you'll hit 100 this year? Unfortunately it looks like a DC trip next year is no longer on the cards for me :0( Another time, I'm sure.

Dropping by to wish you, Danita & family all the best for the festive season. And best wishes to John and Linda too.



ETA - this is Jasper, the one member of our family you didn't get to meet.

Oh, so sad the DC trip is off. Hopefully, we’ll get a chance someday!

I’ll probably hit 100, but just barely. Up from the previous couple of years, but lower than the long-term average.

I had great plans for reading this year, but alas, that did not happen. I have read 104 books this year and am finding reading time to be at a premium - even with retirement.

Here's the New Year's readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/356315

Thanks, asilver!

>71 drneutron: Thank you for another BB, Jim.
Lockwood & Co. - The Screaming Staircase was the perfect end to my 2023 reading year.
All the best for you in 2024!

And to you as well! We’re finishing the 4th Lockwood & Co on our drive home from the son and daughter-in-law’s home.

Just got back from the kids’ home, settled in the easy chair with some Glengoyne Mrsdrneutron gave name for Christmas, catching up on LT…

Last Update for 2023!



98. The Dead are Arising by Les Payne

Interesting bio of Malcolm X, mostly focusing on his transition from up and coming criminal to Nation of Islam true believer to mainstream Islam. The perspective is an interesting one, the picture of Malcolm X that Payne paints is one of an all-in, true believer in what he believed at the time, and honestly, someone who would be tough to know. Quite a good book!

And with that, 2023's a wrap!

Thanks for hosting, Doc. Hopping over to the 2024 group now.

Have a copy of X that I've been meaning to read - have you read that one? Wondering how it compares.

Yep, I have. It’s an autobiography, so comes with an agenda, even if unconscious. Biographies do too, but I think they’re more reliable. Payne talks several times about discrepancies and choices in Autobiography that aren’t substantiated by research.