PAUL C in the War Room - Fifth with Arnold & Montgomery at Quebec

Montgomery and Arnold almost took Quebec for the Revolutionary forces. Montgomery was killed in the battle whilst Arnold went on to infamy.

I am Paul Cranswick indiscriminate book lover aiming to focus more in '24.
Married to Hani (SWMBO) with three grown-up children Yasmyne (26), Kyran (24) and Belle (19) and now with one granddaughter Nami (Pip) born to Yasmyne in August last year. Currently I live and work in Kuala Lumpur (KL) but I am expecting this to change in the coming weeks and months. In KL, my long suffering maid, Erni, keeps the coffee flowing as I try to assist in the completion of the World's second tallest building.

The Opening Words

Amanda has chosen a writer I profess to being completely unfamiliar with this month for the BAC. So today I added Planetfall to my collection and I will read it immediately.



"Every time I come down here I think about my mother. I don't want to; it just happens. My brain has decided it's a critical subroutine that must be executed when the correct variables are in place"

Interested..........?

Books Read

January

1. Dear Future Boyfriend by Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz (2000) 90 pp Poetry / 150Y Challenge 15/150
2. Pax Romana by Adrian Goldsworthy (2016) 420 pp Non-Fiction / War Room / 150Y Challenge 16/150
3. The Lantern Bearers by Rosemary Sutcliff (1959) 306 pp Fiction / War Room / 150Y Challenge 17/150
4. Black Hearts in Battersea by Joan Aiken (1964) 286 pp Fiction / BAC / 150Y Challenge 18/150
5. Carthage Must Be Destroyed by Richard Miles (2010) 373 pp Non-Fiction / War Room / 150Y Challenge 19/150
6. When We Were Warriors by Emma Carroll (2019) 248 pp Fiction / War Room / 150y Challenge 20/150
7. Double Indemnity by James M Cain (1936) 136 pp Thriller / 150Y Challenge 21/150
8. Persian Fire by Tom Holland (2005) 376 pp Non-Fiction / War Room / 150Y Challenge 22/150

February

9. North Woods by Daniel Mason (2023) 369 pp Fiction 150Y Challenge 23/150
10. The African by JMG Le Clezio (2004) 106 pp Non-Fiction / 150Y Challenge 24/150
11. The British are Coming by Rick Atkinson (2019) 564 pp Non-Fiction / War Room
12. Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather (1927) 297 pp Fiction 150Y Challenge 25/150

Current Reading

The War Room



JANUARY - Ancient Wars (Greeks/Romans/Persians/Carthage/Egyptians/Alexander, etc) https://www.librarything.com/topic/356820
1. Pax Romana by Adrian Goldsworthy
2. The Lantern Bearers by Rosemary Sutcliff
3. Carthage Must Be Destroyed by Richard Miles
4. Persian Fire by Tom Holland

FEBRUARY - The American War of Independence
1. The British are Coming by Rick Atkinson

SEPTEMBER - WW2
1. When We Were Warriors by Emma Carroll

British Author Challenge (Hosted by my friend Amanda)



JANUARY - Joan Aiken & Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle : Black Hearts in Battersea

American Author Challenge (Hosted with occasional assistance this year by my friend Linda)



JANUARY - Mark Twain
FEBRUARY - Susan Sontag
MARCH - Truman Capote

150 YEARS OF BOOKS

150 years; 150 books; 150 authors; 15 months

Done:
Row 1 : 1874


Row 2 : 1889


Row 3 : 1904, 1908, 1910, 1915


Row 4 : 1923, 1927


Row 5 : 1936, 1937, 1945


Row 6 : 1958, 1959


Row 7 : 1964, 1966


Row 9 : 1994, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005


Row 10 : 2010, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2023

Books Added

January books 1-31
https://www.librarything.com/topic/357215#8360403

February
32. This Other Eden by Paul Harding
33. Deadland by William Shaw
34. Grave's End by William Shaw
35. The Swallowed Man by Edward Carey
36. Nagasaki by Eric Faye
37. The Vatican Cellars by Andre Gide
38. The African by JMG Le Clezio READ
39. The Volcano Lover by Susan Sontag
40. Little by Edward Carey
41. Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter by Simone de Beauvoir
42. The Sisterhood by Katherine Bradley
43. Lean on Me by Serge Joncour
44. The Lost by Simon Beckett
45. City of Ghosts by Ben Creed
46. Peace by Garry Disher
47. Edgar & Lucy by Victor Lodato
48. Village of the Lost Girls by Agustin Martinez
49. The Library : A Fragile History by Andrew Pettegree
50. The Separation by Christopher Priest
51. George V : Never a Dull Moment by Jane Ridley
52. Lucky by Alice Sebold
53. Nomad by James Swallow
54. Burning Man by Frances Wilson
55. Clisson and Eugenie by Napoleon Bonaparte
56. Hell's Gate by Laurent Gaude
57. Weyward by Emilia Hart
58. Trap for Cinderella by Sebastien Japrisot
59. Human Nature by Serge Joncour
60. Salt Creek by Lucy Treloar
61. Baumgartner by Paul Auster (recommended by Donna?)
62. Dune : Messiah by Frank Herbert (recommended by my son, Kyran)
63. The Gormenghast Trilogy by Mervyn Peake Gormenghast
64. Titus Alone by Mervyn Peake (I won't add Titus Groan because it is already on the shelves.
65. Kenilworth by Sir Walter Scott
66. Britain's Europe : A Thousand Years of Conflict and Cooperation by Brendan Simms.
67. Planetfall by Emma Newman
68. The Reborn by Lin Anderson (the missing book in the series for me)
69. Caret by Adam Mars-Jones
70. In Memoriam by Alice Winn
71. Egyptian Earth by Adel Rahman al-Sharqawi
72. The Details by Ia Genberg READ
73. My Heavenly Favourite by Lucas Rijneveld

Book Stats

Books Read : 11
Pages Read in completed books : 3,274 pp

Longest book : The British are Coming : 564 pp
Shortest book : Dear Future Boyfriend : 90 pp
Mean book length : 271.00 pp

Books written by men : 7
Books written by women : 4

Non-Fiction : 5
Fiction : 4
Poetry : 1
Thriller : 1

1930's : 1 book
1950's : 1 book
1960's : 1 book
2000's : 3 book
2010's : 4 books
2020's : 1 book

UK Authors : 6
US Authors : 4
France Authors : 1

Nobel Winners : 1 (79/120)
Carnegie Medal Winners : 1 (6th overall)

Read : 11 books
Added : 54 books

Change to TBR : +43

Welcome to my fifth thread which is now open!

Happy New thread Paul! I haven't gotten through one thread yet

>12 Owltherian: Thanks Lily. I am sure that you will pick up speed!

>13 PaulCranswick: I would think so too, and you're welcome.

Happy new one!

>14 Owltherian: You have pretty much raced to almost 100 posts already. Some people don't get as many posts as that in an entire year!

>15 figsfromthistle: Thank you dear Anita. x

I will be a bit slow setting up this thread today as I will be busy this afternoon.

>16 PaulCranswick: Wow, that is crazy-

>18 Owltherian: Yeah, you have joined us like a force of nature already Lily!

>19 PaulCranswick: I didn't realize that I was almost at 100 posts, and I started another book titled Ghost Hunts: Chilling Tales of the Unknown by Jason Hawes & Grant Wilson

Happy new thread Paul!

And welcome home to Hani!

Happy new one, Paul! I'll check back later to see the top when it is all set up. : )

>20 Owltherian: You will celebrate a new thread within a couple of weeks or so, I guess, Lily.

>21 quondame: Thank you, Susan.

>22 Berly: Hahaha ok, Kimmers - I will get onto it now!

>23 PaulCranswick: I bet i will eventually

>25 Owltherian: The most common number to renew your thread is at about 250 posts. I normally go over 300 this year. Some people go as early as 150 posts - the thread renewal link will appear at 150 posts, I think.

>26 PaulCranswick: I think so as well, ive seen it happen before.

Happy New Thread, Paul! Happy reading. I renew my thread as it approaches 300 - last one I think might have been at 286 posts ? Just as it is a is convenient to me time wise.

>27 Owltherian: Just proceed with your threads how you wish to including the renewal of them!

>28 vancouverdeb: I used to be a 250-270 guy but I was making too many threads!! Lovely to see you Deb.

Happy new thread, Paul!

Thank you dear Thomas.

Happy New thread Paul! Have a great day.

Good morning Paul! I'm about to get ready for school.

>33 Kristelh: Thank you, Kristel.

>34 Owltherian: Good morning, Lily. Have a good day at school.

Happy New Thread, Paul. I hope work has been easing up for you.

>36 msf59: Nice to see you, Mark. Work is still really tough, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

>35 PaulCranswick: My teacher is gone again sadly so i am struggling because so many others chose to do it alone instead of as a class (in algebra)

Happy New Thread Paul!!

>38 Owltherian: Algebra makes me shiver - just the mention of the word!

>39 hredwards: Thank you dear Harold.

>40 PaulCranswick: Yeah, luckily its my 2nd period but i have it twice a day so that's not great

>41 Owltherian: Algebra twice a day! Surely there should be a law against that!

>42 PaulCranswick: Yeah and im stressed due to how loud my cafeteria is

Hi Paul, mate, Happy New Thread.

Happy new thread, Paul!

So glad that Hani is back with you. I hope her presence will speed up your return to England.

>43 Owltherian: In my school canteen I remember being far more worried about the food than the noise!

>44 johnsimpson: Thank you mate. Would you have left the batting unaltered for the fourth test?

>45 FAMeulstee: Well she might drag me back to the UK if she is able to get over her jet lag!

>46 PaulCranswick: The food is absolutely horrific- but the mac & cheese is good though.

Happy new thread!

>48 Owltherian: mac & cheese has always been a food I have avoided like the plague, Lily.

>49 amanda4242: Thank you dear Amanda.

>50 PaulCranswick: Really? Thats intresting, the food i avoid eating entirely is Tofu.

>51 Owltherian: Add to that for me cuttlefish (like eating elastic bands) and mussels (I used to like but was violently ill once afterwards). I don't like mutton and I don't eat pork.

>52 PaulCranswick: Pork and Mutton is okayish, if it doesnt have fat on it. I HATE fat on stuff.

Happy New Thread!

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/358715

>53 Owltherian: My objection to pork is not based on fat or taste, Lily. Like you though I don't like fatty meat.

>54 SilverWolf28: Thanks Silver.

>55 SilverWolf28: And thank you always for your diligence in keeping this readathon going.

>56 PaulCranswick: My objection to anything has to deal with taste & or texture.

>58 Owltherian: I don't know if you have ever eaten durian. Malaysians call it the queen of fruits but it is very much an acquired taste. My objection to it is on the basis of texture rather than taste.

>59 PaulCranswick: Ive never had durian but i heard it does not smell good

>60 Owltherian: It was said by one wag that eating durian was "like eating peaches and cream whilst sitting on the toilet!"

>61 PaulCranswick: Oh my biscuits that is funny.

>62 Owltherian: :D

>63 PaulCranswick: Um- is it normal to be really anxious when meeting new people? A new person joined that RP group and I'm shaking already....

Happy new thread Paul!

>64 Owltherian: I guess all people are different, Lily. I am, surprising to most people, a little bit introverted so I do get anxious meeting people occasionally.

>65 humouress: Thanks Nina.

Some more additions

67. Planetfall by Emma Newman
68. Egyptian Earth by Adel Rahman al-Sharqawi
69. The Details by Ia Genberg
70. My Heavenly Favourite by Lucas Rijneveld

Mainly novels in translation other than the BAC book that I actually added yesterday.

Happy new thread!

>66 PaulCranswick: Yeah i had an anxiety attack but I'm okay now

>68 witchyrichy: Thank you, Karen

>69 Owltherian: I found that deep breathing exercises worked well for me, Lily.

>70 PaulCranswick: Yeah, i tried doing that but i ended up hugging a stuffed animal

>71 Owltherian: The mind boggles, Lily!

>72 PaulCranswick: Hugging stuffed animals only helps sometimes though which is sad.

Have finished two books this month whose plots depend on the American Revolution, although the war itself is very much in the background, which is fine by me. So now looking ahead to the Wars of the Roses, another conflict I can’t say grabs me, apart from the Shakespearean angle. But I just discovered that Charlotte Mary Yonge wrote a novel set in this period. And it’s available on Project Gutenberg! I have avoided her historical fiction—-not my favourite genre—-but am otherwise a fan, so looking forward to giving Grisly Grisell a go.

>73 Owltherian: I tried to hug a real animal, or rather get her (my cat) into a carrier to go to the vet. Swelling in my shredded thumb will probably go down in due course. Fortunately it was just for a check-up so will try again when a few helpers can be on hand.

>73 Owltherian: I hope you mean like Teddy bears, Lily. Genuinely stuffed animals are pretty gross!

>74 booksaplenty1949: One of my favourite books The Sunne in Splendour is set amid the War of the Roses.

>75 booksaplenty1949: I have always found cats particularly averse to being hugged. Golden Retrievers on the other hand.....

>75 booksaplenty1949: I mean teddy bears, hugging taxadermied animals would be weird....

>78 Owltherian: Thank goodness for that!

>77 PaulCranswick: ... and some golden retrievers can be very demanding about their hugs ...

>79 PaulCranswick: But if i cant find stuffed animals i would hug one of my actual alive animals

>80 humouress: We used to have a springer spaniel, Nina, who was also particularly fond of being cuddled.

>81 Owltherian: Gentleness is important in that sort of thing and trust both to and from the animal.

>82 PaulCranswick: Yeah, i usually just hold them and i can calm down that way

>77 PaulCranswick: A cat can snuggle up to you with paws outstretched in a very warm and soothing way. But it’s strictly the cat who decides when it’s time for a hug.

>67 PaulCranswick:
I have read Planetfall by Emma Newman and I usually like Sci/fi. I didn't care for that book and so have not read any of the sequels. I think there are 4 books in the series, but the first one just didn't click.

Hi Paul - I gave Planetfall 2 stars and that was generous.

Hi Paul! Happy weekend!!

>67 PaulCranswick: I am unfamiliar with all of those! But I trust your judgement. ; )

>83 Owltherian: Whatever works for you, Lily.

>84 booksaplenty1949: That is so true, cats don't give their affections so unreservedly normally.

>85 benitastrnad: I am not loving it yet, either, Benita. I don't care for Sci-fi when it gets into jargon at the very beginning and that is exactly what happens here.

>86 m.belljackson: I don't give ratings these days, Marianne, but I am thinking that two stars is pretty accurate as it goes.

>87 Berly: All three of the books in translation look interesting, Kimmers.

>89 PaulCranswick: I really should have warned people not to start with Planetfall; the second book in the series is very different, much better, and can be read without reading the first book.

>91 amanda4242: Hahaha now you tell me, Amanda!

>92 PaulCranswick: Sorry! It's been a few years since I've read them and I did enjoy the first book, just not as much as the second.

Hey again paul.....not in a great mood anymore

>89 PaulCranswick: >91 amanda4242: Planetfall wouldn't be a book I recommended except for a very specific audience, but I felt it offered something, though not the characters, worthwhile.

>93 amanda4242: As you know it is not my genre really but I wanted to read something by her.....for you and the challenge.

>94 Owltherian: Chin up, Lily!

>95 quondame: I will persevere with it, Susan.

>96 PaulCranswick: I was called a monster...i guess that's what happens if your actively named after a demon....

Happy newish thread, Paul.

I haven’t finished the books I started this month, think I took on too much. I’m still feeling tired. But next month new opportunities! (Maybe one of those fiction books mentioned here)

>95 quondame: I started Planetfall didn’t dislike the beginning. Liked the idea of growing your own house organically. But halfway through I got stuck, don’t know why.

>98 Owltherian: There is a demon named Lily?

>99 EllaTim: Yes, Ella, my reading is a bit slothful too this year so far. Don't know why I can't quite get going.

>100 PaulCranswick: Well my actual name is Lilith, my nickname is Lily

>101 Owltherian: Ah! Genesis puts Lilith's creation as from the same source as Adam himself.

>102 PaulCranswick: Yep, and then she was banished from the Garden Of Eden for not complying with and obeying Adam.

>103 Owltherian: And misogyny ruled from there.

>104 PaulCranswick: Thats true

>105 Owltherian: In my humble opinion, women are much stronger than men but it is clear that all the holy books without exception had a man as its author and/or interpreter.

>106 PaulCranswick: Yeah, plus men have a weak spot on there bodies.

>96 PaulCranswick: The second book, After Atlas, would probably be much more to your taste since it's a murder mystery.

Happy new thread, Paul. >5 PaulCranswick: Is there a list somewhere of the war topics by month?

>107 Owltherian: Well I think that both sexes have weaknesses, Lily. I think that generally ladies are emotionally stronger than men who tend to pretend otherwise.

>108 amanda4242: Now you tell me, Amanda, hahaha!

>109 Familyhistorian:

MONTH - BY - MONTH IN THE WAR ROOM

JANUARY - The Ancients (Greeks, Romans etc)
FEBRUARY - The American War of Independence
MARCH - The War of the Roses
APRIL - Wars of Religion
MAY - The Napoleonic Wars
JUNE - The English Civil War
JULY - Colonial Wars
AUGUST - World War Two
SEPTEMBER - The American Civil War
OCTOBER - American Follies (Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan and the Gulf Wars)
NOVEMBER - World War One
DECEMBER - The Spanish Civil War
WILDCARD - Pick your own fight!

>111 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul! Now I can trawl my shelves to find something for March.

>112 Familyhistorian: You are welcome, Meg. It was a bit remiss of me not to do that earlier.

>110 PaulCranswick: Yeah, thats true

>114 Owltherian: Certainly my experience too!

>115 PaulCranswick: I would think, and i have two war books i think- not sure but i will be looking at them

Just finished work for the weekend. Hope to make some reading progress this weekend.

I am on a site and i literally have to sit and wait bc two people are having a date and I'm boredddd

>118 Owltherian: What sort of site is that, Lily?

>119 PaulCranswick: Its a site called padlet but the 'date' is over and its like basically 2am EST for me rn

I am in the minority here as I quite enjoyed Planetfall - not great but very readable I thought - and will probably go on to read the next book in the series.

>120 Owltherian: I will stay right here on LT and in the safety of the 75ers, Lily!

>121 SandDune: I have read a bit more. Will definitely finish it Rhian but it isn't really my kind of thing.

>121 SandDune: By the way Mr. SandDune must have been as pleased as me as we won our ninth game in a row to beat Leicester and stay 2nd last night. Give my warmest regards to him.

>122 PaulCranswick: Its now 5:25am and i still haven't slept

>124 Owltherian: You need to sleep, Lily.

>123 PaulCranswick: He is! I heard all about it!

>123 PaulCranswick: I am still buzzing about winning last night. First time since 1931 that we won 9 league games in a row.

Hi
Friend. I'm simply stopping in to say hello and to affirm your coordination of the "War Room." And, your work in completing such a major project as you are workingo n.

>128 Whisper1: Thank you my dear Linda. xx

>121 SandDune:
I am thinking that I will put the next title in the series back on my gigantic TBR reading list, but I am not going to be in a hurry to read it.

>127 PaulCranswick: I will tell that to Mr SandDune. He will be amazed at my footballing knowledge!

Happy new thread, Paul!

>125 PaulCranswick: I didnt sleep, at all

Crikey, PC, how have I missed this thread until now...anyway, here at last.

>130 benitastrnad: Yeah, Benita, I don't think the author is going to be for me!

>131 SandDune: Feel free to do so, Rhian. I am sure that he knows that little factlet anyway but he will certainly be impressed that you do!

>132 banjo123: Thank you, dear Rhonda

>133 Owltherian: Not at all healthy, Lily. But I have always lived with insomnia myself so I know that it stunts growth for a start.

>134 richardderus: And always welcome, RD. I was chugging along steadily but for some reason my threads have gotten up a bit of steam recently.

>136 PaulCranswick: But i did end up falling asleep on my great grandmothers couch for an hour

*waving* hello, Paul, before I miss a thread entirely! Hope it's been a good weekend for you.

>138 Owltherian: Well an hour is better than nothing, I suppose!

>139 bell7: So far so good, Mary. I'm off to inspect your new premises right now!

>140 PaulCranswick: Yeah, i guess and i listened to my 1025 song playlist on spotify today

>141 Owltherian: Well not all of it surely, Lily, because at 3 minutes a song there are 51 hours of music on that playlist!

>142 PaulCranswick: There are about 56 hours and 31 minutes on that playlist

Only 140+ posts behind again, Paul. I am going for the record!

Happy whatever!

Paul help! The person who harrassed me is back again!

>143 Owltherian: I was fairly accurate then, Lily!

>144 alcottacre: Good luck, Stasia!

>146 PaulCranswick: Yeah and uh how do i deal with the person....they keep coming back even tho i keep reporting them

>145 Owltherian: Oh dear! Amanda is better at this sort of stuff than I am. I can only tell you to report and flag it Lily. And to stay away from the other groups if they are toxic.

>147 Owltherian: I suppose >148 PaulCranswick: comments apply here also.

>148 PaulCranswick: I already did, and they basically told me to go to hell using rope! I don't really care anymore but i reported and flagged it already

>150 Owltherian: I have been in this group since 2011 and, whilst there has been the occasional difference of opinion and I know that a few of our number don't like me overly, I have never felt hassled or victimized here. I view the 75ers as as safe a place as you'll ever find in such a forum.

I am a little bit surprised if the site admin has not been helpful.

>151 PaulCranswick: Yeah, she should be IP banned already....but she isn't but she seems obsessed with me so i kinda joked about that and called me a 9yo which i kinda thought was funny

>152 Owltherian: It does seem that that group is not the very best you could be a part of.

Just an update on the posting "league".

We are running slightly faster than last year just at the moment. 76 threads exceed 60 posts already.

1 PaulCranswick 1454
2 richardderus 1257
3 katiekrug 1035
4 msf59 948
5 scaifea 697
6 Berly 688
7 EBT 603
8 lauralkeet 576
9 Alcottacre 545
10 karenmarie 506
11 FAMeulstee 484
12 figsfromthistle 466
13 klobrien 452
14 bell7 448
15 Familyhistorian 444
16 vancouverdeb 422
17 jnwelch 405
18 BLBera 400
19 Curioussquared 313
20 drneutron 291
21 RebaRelishesReading 281
22 SandDune 280
23 Whisper1 262
24 The_Hibernator 236
25 mahsdad 218
26 storeetller 217
27 (Sir)Thomas 214
28 streamsong 210
29 quondame 203
30 Caroline_McElwee 201
31 LizzieD 201
32 jessibud 200
33 norabelle414 195
34 foggidawn 193
35 donna 182
36 atozgirl 182
37 ursula 178
38 mickyfine 170
39 weird_o 166
40 AMQS 163
41 humouress 162
42 copperskye 161
43 SqueakyChu 154
44 Tess_W 154
45 ronireads 152
46 mdoris 146
47 Banjo 135
48 Lovinglit 135
49 John Simpson 129
50 kristel 125
51 mstrust 125
52 thornton37814 122
53 EllaTim 117
54 witchyrichy 117
55 carmenere 115
56 cbl_tn 114
57 avatiakh 105
58 Elorin 104
59 laytonwoman3rd 102
60 chelle 99
61 owltherian 91
62 ffortsa 90
63 Arlie 87
64 lyzard 84
65 ravenwoodwitch 81
66 SuzyQOregon 79
67 fuzzi 73
68 ctpress 72
69 Oberon 72
70 PlatinumWarlock 66
71 swynn 65
72 ChrisG 64
73 lindapanzo 64
74 justchris 63
75 CDVicarage 62
76 kac522 62

>153 PaulCranswick: Yeah, seems like it.

>155 Owltherian: I can vouch for this group. Even the people I don't see eye-to-eye with are basically very good people too.

>156 PaulCranswick: I would say that too, and I'm already making a private group for chatting with the friends that aren't toxic

>157 Owltherian: Safe spaces are important.

>158 PaulCranswick: Yep & i have a few irl but most of mine are online

>159 Owltherian: Mine is here and in my reading nook.

>154 PaulCranswick: Thanks for the stats, Paul.
I see I am back at my one of preferred numbers :-)

>154 PaulCranswick: Thanks for the stats, Paul.

>161 FAMeulstee: Consistent as ever, Anita.

>162 figsfromthistle: You are welcome, Anita x

>121 SandDune: Maybe I’ll give Planetfall a go. The précis looked quite enticing but then the comments on this thread didn’t look promising. But anyway, Mt TBR first …

>164 humouress: My thread is not the place to pick up tips for Sci-Fi, Nina, as you know!

I need a reading nook in my house, and i am mostly going to be reading children's books at the moment due to that being the only thing my grandmother has in her house, besides my aunt, uncle, and dads books in which i don't know if those are appropriate

>166 Owltherian: Well I have not made the best use of mine this weekend.

>167 PaulCranswick: Neither have i honestly

Thanks for the stats, Paul! I see I’m dropping in the ranks as usual… 😂

Always fun to see the stats! My thread-posting numbers aren't as robust as this time last year, but still, I'm in good company ~14 with Anita, Karen, and others whose number and mine are often comparable.

Hiya, Paul. I’m always amazed that you have the patience to compile the stats. Patience is not my middle name. A tip of the hat to you. It adds to the LT enjoyment.

What did you end ip thinking of the Tan Twan Eng book? I’ve resigned myself to waiting a long time between his books, but they sure are gems when they come out, aren’t they.

Happy belated new thread, Paul. You are a posting machine ;-)

>111 PaulCranswick: I guess I should start thinking about the Wars of the Roses soon.

>154 PaulCranswick: Happy to still be on the list, even at 63rd.

>169 drneutron: A bit, Jim, but you have held up much better in the last few years.

>170 bell7: The beginning to the year's posting was a bit ponderous by normal standards but has picked up a little bit in the last few weeks.

Paul guess what!

>171 jnwelch: I keep up with the posting stats on a daily basis, Joe, so it is actually not much work once it is set up.
I am a huge admirer of Tan Twan Eng. All three of his novels have been different but excellent.

>172 ArlieS: Thank you, Arlie.
The War of the Roses is a subject of interest for me, but is populated by having two distinct points of view. Those considered "Ricardian" and sympathetic to Richard III and those virulently critical of him.

>174 Owltherian: Tell me, Lily?

>176 PaulCranswick: I made it to 100 posts!

>177 Owltherian: I saw that already, Lily. I am up to date pretty much in real time. You are the 60th to pass that milestone in 2024 and one of the fastest.

>175 PaulCranswick: The Wars of the Roses is something I know next to nothing about, so I'm looking forward to learning!

>179 ChrisG1: As a Yorkist, Chris, I will be reading most likely out of my comfort zone as the bulk of modern scholarship is anti-Richard in echoes of the Shakespearean character assassination.

>154 PaulCranswick: Still in the TOP 30 - I like it.
But I would also like it if I were further down.
Thanks for putting this together, Paul.

>181 SirThomas: You are more than welcome, Thomas.

>180 PaulCranswick: At least we now know that his spinal deformity was real, not a Shakespearean smear. I assume you’ve read The King’s Grave and/or seen the movie version.

>183 booksaplenty1949: The scoliosis of the spine suggested he would certainly have one shoulder higher than the other.

im back in algebra and am more confused as ever

>185 Owltherian: My head spins even at the mention of that dread word - algebra!

>186 PaulCranswick: my head is already spinning & what makes it worse is i got no sleep at all

The March BAC thread is up!

https://www.librarything.com/topic/358824

Dropping by to say hello. I've just requested The Black Arrow from the library for my War of the Roses read.

>1 PaulCranswick: Happy new thread!

>187 Owltherian: No sleep is definitely not good for you, Lily, especially when you are trying to study concepts as difficult to grasp as algebra!

>188 amanda4242: Yah! Or should I say lechyd da!

>189 avatiakh: Good idea, I may look at that one too!

>190 ocgreg34: Thank you, Greg.

I will be reading The Black Arrow for the Wars of Roses, too

>193 Kristelh: I might join both of you for that Kristel.

I know I don't like Philippa Gregory's historical novels and The Sunne in Splendour wasn't to my taste and the Conn Iggulden books (Gengis Khan) that I read were too manly for my taste. And those are about the only modern authors I recognize on the lists of War of the Roses books. I'd like something written in the last 30 years that has attitude and wit and doesn't romanticize the period or its people.

>195 quondame: I have also considered reading Stormbird by Conn Iggulden, Susan. One other intriguing option but it is from a goodly while ago is The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey in which he bedridden detective examines the evidence against Richard III.

Hi Paul, I dropped by to wish you all the best. I have had a stellar reading year so far but I have a feeling that I will slow down somewhat in March as we are planning on a few days away visiting my family. Enjoy your books!

>196 PaulCranswick: I've read Daughter of Time a couple of times, though both decades back. I was a Plantagenet fan-girl in my teens and the in my 30s re-read a bunch of "old favorites".

The House of Niccolò takes place 1460-1483 but in Flanders, France, Dijon, Italy, Trebizond, Cyprus, West Africa, Scotland, Egypt (and Sinai) and Bugundy. Some of the English royal family, including Richard, Duke of Gloucester, make appearances, either as refugees or military opponents, but I'm afraid if I dip into that again, I will get little else read for 2 weeks or so.

Paul, I agree with Joe in his post #171. Hats off to your ability to have the patience to compile so many lists and stats. I can see where this part of your personality enables you to oversee the building of such incredible buildings.

>198 quondame:
You could try the books of Allison Weir. She writes both fiction and nonfiction and has several books about the Wars of the Roses. Last White Rose is fiction and her book Wars of the Roses is nonfiction.

>200 benitastrnad: Thanks, I'll have a look.

Oh! I did have a look - in 2002 I read Royal Blood: Richard III and the Mystery of the Princes which rants against Alison Weir's Princes in the Tower. And I'm not attracted to the descriptions of her novels.

>197 DeltaQueen50: I am still to get truly going this year, Judy. I am enjoying my reading but I am not getting enough done due to extreme external forces (the stresses and strains of work most particularly.

>198 quondame: "A Plantagenet fan girl" made me smile, Susan. I remain a fan boy then!

>199 Whisper1: Thank you, Linda. I do my best but the projects are pretty tough to bring to reality without losing a fortune in the process!

>200 benitastrnad: She is readable, Benita, but her anti-Richard bias is bit too much for me to recommend her!

>201 quondame: Alison Weir is not a favourite of mine particularly, Susan.

>191 PaulCranswick: Yeah, lets just say i somewhat failed the assignment

>205 Owltherian: Never mind, Lily. There will always be another!

>206 PaulCranswick: Guess so, i am utterly exhausted to the point i fell asleep with my glasses on yesterday

>207 Owltherian: Hahaha I do that all the time!

>208 PaulCranswick: Yeah, im surprised i didn't think to take them off.

>209 Owltherian: If you fall asleep unplanned then how will you take off the glasses.

I guess so, i basically fell asleep as soon as i laid down

>211 Owltherian: I wish I could do that!

>212 PaulCranswick: I am usually never able to do that but yesterday i was

>213 Owltherian: I need to be able to do that too!

>214 PaulCranswick: Lots of people want to know how i somehow stay awake with no sleep but its quite hard

THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION LONGLIST WILL BE RELEASED NEXT WEEK.

I am notoriously poor at predicting what will get chosen but I will have a go.

1. Absolution by Alice McDermott
2. The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan
3. Penance by Eliza Clark
4. Piglet by Lottie Hazell
5. Study for Obedience by Sarah Bernstein
6. Julia by Sandra Newman
7. The Fraud by Zadie Smith
8. The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff
9. Loot by Tania James
10. Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
11. Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward
12. The Wren, The Wren by Ann Enright
13. Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad
14. Biography of X by Catherine Lacey
15. Soldier, Sailor by Claire Kilroy
16. The Middle Daughter by Chika Unigwe

I am now furious at one of my friends friends

>217 Owltherian: Did he or she sit on your glasses?

>218 PaulCranswick: No, she kept using the wrong pronouns for me and it annoys me bc they keep doing it.

>219 Owltherian: This issue of the use of pronouns is such a modern construct, Lily. Isn't it much better to refer to people by their actual names?

>196 PaulCranswick: I think I've settled on Stormbird for my March War Room book. I read Iggulden's ancient Rome books & thought he did a great job.

>220 PaulCranswick: I guess but when you cant say my name then the best thing is pronouns.

I've been reading The Wars Of The Roses: The Fall Of The Plantagenets And The Rise Of The Tudors by Dan Jones.
It is interesting, I've never investigated this part of British history very much.
The only complaint I have so far is they sure like the names Henry, Elizabeth, Richard and a few others, even with the charts at the beginning I have a hard time keeping track of who is who. No wonder they fight all the time! ;)

>221 ChrisG1: I think I will probably read that one too, Chris, as my fiction selection for the challenge.

>222 Owltherian: Living in Malaysia this modern trend passes us completely by - I don't really want to get into a debate on the subject, Lily, but I do think that basic good manners dictate that we should try to call someone by their name where the issue is remotely sensitive.

>223 hredwards: That is quite right, Harold - adding of course Edward and Anne into that mix for the purposes of confusing student and reader alike.

>224 PaulCranswick: Yeah, i kinda wanted to punch her due to how mad i was but i didn't end up doing so thankfully.

Paullll! I learned how to put photossssss!!!

>226 Owltherian: That wouldn't help anything much, Lily.

>227 Owltherian: It is fun isn't it but controlling the height and width of them is most important.

yeah, thats what i need to learn, and if i had ended up punching her off to the principal i hates office

>230 Owltherian: Yeah there is that, Lily, but violence to combat ignorance begets no resolution.

>216 PaulCranswick: I've come to check out your Women's Prize for Fiction Prediction and give you my thoughts, Paul. The more prediction videos I watch , the less certain I am about anything, not that I could ever guess what might be on the Women's Prize Longlist. Different people have different ideas , with some books in common on quite a few list .

I've certainly heard The Fraud , Julia.Tom Lake, Let Us Descend, The Wren, The Wren, Enter Ghost , Biography of X, and Soldier , Sailor mentioned more than once on prediction videos, so you may have something there. I read Absolution earlier this year, and I wasn't keen on it . It would not make my prediction list, if I made one, but who knows with the judges of course. I'm very keen for March 5 to arrive to arrive and we'll see which books you have correctly predicted. And I can't wait to see the real Longlist. Not too long to go. Fingers crossed!

>232 vancouverdeb: One of the great things about the Prize is that it always throws up a number of surprises, Deb.

>233 PaulCranswick: Paul, How true this is! I read most of Ann Patchett's books. I was very surprised to see Tom Lake on the list because I thought it was very boring. I couldn't finish it, and that's unusual for me. I know the like of a book is very hard to qualify, but I wonder what criteria is used in the process.

>234 Whisper1: I actually got on quite well with that one, Linda, but I hated Study for Obedience. Based on enthusiasm for it by others though I do predict it could well make the longlist.

>231 PaulCranswick: That's very true, and that principle did nothing to the kid who almost strangled me to death at school so that's why my family and I hate him

>236 Owltherian: I'm really glad I didn't go to your school, Lily!

>237 PaulCranswick: Yeah, i wish i went to a different school

^I have been discussing some music with Mary and mentioned that I have been listening to Liz Phair's debut Exile in Guyville. Yes, it is very edgy and profane but I think it is one of the great albums of the 1990s and still packs a punch, 30 years later. She is also Chicago's own. She wrote some good music after this but she never reached these heights again, IMHO. Are you familiar with this one?

Happy mid-week, Paul!

>238 Owltherian: I would have thought so.

>239 msf59: I do like Liz Phair, Mark even though I don't listen to her quite so much these days. Pretty sure that is her best album.

>240 PaulCranswick: This school is horrible and im being put in yet another honors English class by my teacher- ughhhhh

Thanks for posting the stats, Paul. Now I know why some threads keep getting away from me.

It will be interesting to read about the War of the Roses. I've touched on parts of the history before having read The Daughter of Time and, of course, the news about the discovery of Richard III's body. He now lies in splendour in Leicester Cathedral as I saw on my visit there.

>241 Owltherian: What's wrong with honors English?

>242 Familyhistorian: The War of the Roses is a fascinating period of English history, Meg. For such a era filled with intrigue, gore and glory there is surprisingly little in the way of good fiction for it.

>243 PaulCranswick: Its stressful and all i got this year so far is D's when i usually get A's or B's

>244 Owltherian: They can't actually force you to take an honors course. Just tell the school that you will not take the class because the extra work will take away from the time you need for your other classes.

>245 amanda4242: I have until friday to tell her....but i always mess up what I'm trying to say when i talk to teachers

Hi Paul, it was fun catching up with you, especially your patient listening voice and helpful advice for our new member, Lily. We need to encourage younger readers so that Library Thing remains a 'thing' in the years ahead.

>216 PaulCranswick: I am looking forward to the Women's Prize for Fiction list. Thanks for posting your version. I've only read Tom Lake but have Absolution home from the library and am on the waiting list for The Vaster Wilds. Have you read all those books or is that your educated guess?

I failed to finish a book for the February War Room thread. I read about 120 pages in Revolutionary Roads before the library due date rudely interrupted me. Haha. I may check it out again sometime because I enjoyed the author's combining his love for history and the long road trip he took to the various Revolutionary War sites.

Hope all is well in your world. Am I correct in thinking that Hani is back with you in Malaysia now? I hope you get to see your sweet Pip before too much time goes by. Those babies change so rapidly.

>246 Owltherian: Try writing it down first, or give your reply in a note. Make sure to say you're declining so you can focus on your other classes so the teacher will know you're not just being lazy.

>248 amanda4242: I can always email her but she said to come and see her before Friday

>244 Owltherian: Your grades may be related to your troubles with sleeping, Lily.

>250 PaulCranswick: Yeah, i do have two F's and a few D's and it makes me anxious so i guess it does.

>245 amanda4242: It is interesting, Amanda, because the school system that I am used to in the UK and vicariously in Malaysia is so different.

>246 Owltherian: Be firm, Lily, but polite (as I am sure you would be).

>247 Donna828: Thank you for that lovely post, Donna. I think it is pretty obvious that I try my best to encourage new members to feel comfortable in the group and I also agree that the younger readers are vital both to the future of this group and to publishing in general!

The predicted Women's list is simply a prediction based on reviews, blurb and hype and not necessarily my selection of what I liked. I didn't like Study for Obedience for example but did enjoy Tom Lake.

>248 amanda4242: That is pretty sound advice, Amanda.

>252 PaulCranswick: I will always be polite, in which usually lets the teachers listen to me more

>249 Owltherian: Probably a tactic because she doesn't think you will decline her request face-to-face.

>251 Owltherian: Stress, over work and lack of sleep will contribute badly in matters like this.

>254 Owltherian: Yes I am quite certain you would be, Lily.

>255 PaulCranswick: Yeah, and im planning on working a lot on work i can work on atm

>257 Owltherian: Good for you, Lily.

Your touchstone for The Wren, The Wren takes you to the wrong book. For some reason The Wren, The Wren, is the third one down even though it is a perfect match.

>216 PaulCranswick: LT has recently expanded its recognition of awards and honours and I ran across a list new to me. The LT page https://www.librarything.com/list/11841/Best-Books-of-1926-1935
presents 403 books from this list. At the top were books of the period which anyone would regard as first-rate: Yeats Collected Poems, To the Lighthouse, In Search of Lost Time, etc. And then about another fifty which I would regard as works of enduring quality and/or entertainment value, held by a large number of LT members. Then many more obscure works by authors now known for only one or two of their books. And then several pages of books whose titles and authors were completely unknown to me. Many were of course non-fiction works on subjects about which more up-to-date books are available. But there were lots of novels, once apparently highly regarded, now held by fewer than 10 LT members, some of whom are no doubt hanging on to a parent’s copy for sentimental reasons with no intention of ever reading it. Sic transit gloria alborum. They mean very little.

>259 Kristelh: Thanks Kristel, I hadn't noticed that to be honest.

>260 booksaplenty1949: A fascinating list although it is not an entirely accurate one either. Without checking fully it says I have 54 of the 403 books.