JayneCM Opens Doors In 2025

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

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

“Books and doors are the same thing. You open them, and go through into another world.” – Jeanette Winterson

My 'handle' on discord and Youtube is "IReadCerealBoxes" so a few years back I made my own TBR/reading challenge board game based on 1980s cereal boxes. I will be playing this again in 2025 to make four of my book choices each month.

And still working on my Read Around The World challenge, to read a book set in every country.

170/207 = 82.13%

Read Around The World 8/12 = 66.67%
I Read Cereal Boxes board game 44/48 = 91.67%
BingoDOG 22/25 = 88%
✅ CoverCAT 12/12 = 100%
ColourCAT 11/12 = 91.67%
CultureCAT 8/12 = 66.67%
NatureKIT 7/12 = 58.33%
RandomKIT 9/12 = 75%
AlphaKIT 18/26 = 69.23%
MysteryKIT 11/12 = 91.67%
✅ ScaredyKIT 12/12 = 100%
SFFKIT 8/12 = 66.67%

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

“When I read a good book, it’s like traveling the world without ever leaving my chair.” Richard Peck


Create Your Own Visited Countries Map

1. The Great Divide by Cristina Henriquez (Panama) - finished 7th January 2025
2. Heartbreak Tango by Manuel Puig (Argentina) - finished 28th February 2025
3. Words On Fire by Jennifer A. Nielsen (Lithuania) - finished 5th July 2025
4. The Lace Weaver by Lauren Chater (Estonia) - finished 23rd July 2025
5. Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon (Thailand) - finished 31st August 2025
6. The Cemetery of Untold Stories by Julia Alvarez (Dominican Republic) - finished 7th September 2025
7. A Disappearance in Fiji by Nilima Rao (Fiji) - finished 2nd October 2025
8. Poinsettia Girl by Jennifer Wizbowski (Italy) - finished 29th October 2025
9. The Sky Beneath Us by Fiona Valpy (Nepal) -
10. The Fourth Daughter by Lyn Liao Butler (Taiwan) -
11. The Cuban Daughter by Soraya Lane (Cuba) -
12.

8/12 = 66.67%

I Read Cereal Boxes board game

"Pay attention, don't let life go by you. Fall in love with the back of your cereal box." Jerry Seinfeld

January
1. yellow cover - Short by Holly Goldberg Sloan - finished 23rd January 2025
2. Kindle book - One Midnight With You by Shari Low - finished 15th January 2025
3. set in Australia - The Muddleheaded Wombat by Ruth Park - finished 17th January 2025
4. free choice - Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher - finished 19th January 2025

February
1. graphic novel - The Deep Dark by Molly Knox Ostertag - finished 11th February 2025
2. movie or TV adaptation - The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett - finished 8th September 2025
3. grey cover - Ready Player One by Ernest Cline - finished 15th February 2025
4. person on cover - Sunflower by Rebecca West - finished 4th February 2025

March
1. cosy fantasy - The Baby Dragon Cafe by A.T. Qureshi - finished 2nd December 2025
2. sun, moon or stars on cover - The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki - finished 8th March 2025
3. house or building on cover - The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst - finished 12th June 2025
4. green cover - The Other Princess by Denny S. Bryce - finished 11th March 2025

April
1. romance - The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood - finished 18th July 2025
2. fairy tale, myth, legend or book retelling - The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec - finished 4th December 2025
3. member of a family in title - The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo - finished 19th June 2025
4. flowers on cover - Winter Cottage by Mary Ellen Taylor - finished 17th June 2025

May
1. graphic novel - The Moth Keeper by K. O'Neill - finished 25th May 2025
2. pink cover - The Paradise Heights Craft Store Stitch-Up by Kate Solly - finished 3rd July 2025
3. middle grade - The Wombles by Elisabeth Beresford - finished 8th June 2025
4. non-human main character - Watership Down by Richard Adams - finished 2nd June 2025

June
1. blue cover - How To Stop Time by Matt Haig - finished 15th July 2025
2. pun title - The Witching Flour by Samantha Silver - finished 11th August 2025
3. dystopia - I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger - finished 28th June 2025
4. gold or silver on cover - The Merciless Ones by Namina Forna - finished 23rd September 2025

July
1. house on cover - Model Home by J. Courtney Sullivan
2. four or more people on cover - Brooms by Jasmine Walls - finished 11th July 2025
3. a name in the title - My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout - finished 8th August 2025
4. features a mythical creature - Plain Jane and the Mermaid by Vera Brosgol - finished 31st October 2025

August
1. part of a duology - The Wicked Remain by Laura Pohl - finished 25th October 2025
2. spooky classic - The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving - finished 22nd August 2025
3. cosy cover - The Rainfall Market by You Yeong-Gwang - finished 30th October 2025
4. nature on the cover - Natural Selection by Elin Hildebrand

September
1. continue a series - Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis - finished 12th November 2025
2. childhood favourite - The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis - finished 14th November 2025
3. holiday related book - All In For Christmas by Ginny Baird - finished 25th September 2025
4. book about books - Reading Lessons by Carol Atherton - finished 21st September 2025

October
1. full name in title - The Secret Library of Hanna Reeves by Christine Nolfi - finished 22nd October 2025
2. new release - Dating After the End of the World by Jeneva Rose - finished 14th October 2025
3. has a map - The Eye of the Storm by Laura Ellen Anderson - finished 28th December 2025
4. translated work - Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon by Mizuki Tsujimura - finished 16th October 2025

November
1. type of transport on cover - Final Descent by Audrey J. Cole - finished 2nd November 2025
2. genre blend - No One Leaves The Castle by Christopher Healy (fantasy mystery) - finished 29th November 2025
3. LGBTQI+ character - Ana On The Edge by A.J. Sass - finished 30th November 2025
4. season in title - Summer Frost by Blake Crouch

December
1. disability rep - Out On A Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young - finished 22nd December 2025
2. graphic novel - Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon by Paula Danziger - finished 18th December 2025
3. murder - Beach Hut 512 by Dorothy Koomson
4. involves magic - Breaking Fae Spells by Isa Medina - finished 29th December 2025

44/48 = 91.67%

BingoDOG

"Happiness is yelling BINGO!"



* 1. Features winged creature - The Dragons of Kellynch by Maria Grace - finished 1st January 2025
*2. Features fire - The Library Book by Susan Orlean - finished 5th September 2025
* 3. Travel - The Border: A Journey Around Russia by Erika Fatland - finished 20th July 2025
4. Newly in public domain - A Farewell To Arms by Ernest Hemingway
* 5. Child main character - An Escape In Time by Sally Nicholls - finished 3rd January 2025
* 6. Long title (5+ words) - The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea by Yukio Mishima - finished 1st August 2025
* 7. Non-traditional family - The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston - finished 10th December 2025
* 8. Totally random - The Bogan Book Club by John Larkin - finished 9th June 2025
* 9. Author has your first/last name - The House at Mermaid's Cove by Lindsay Jayne Ashford - finished 27th July 2025
* 10. Holiday in title - Mr Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal by Ryan Cowan - finished 30th July 2025
* 11. Non human narrator - War Horse by Michael Morpurgo - finished 25th November 2025
12. Published in language not your own - The Answer Is No by Fredrik Backman
* 13. Read a CAT - The Jam Queens by Josephine Moon (January CoverCAT - tea party) - finished 6th August 2025
* 14. Furniture on the cover - A Dark September Night by Patricia Smiley - finished 25th August 2025
* 15. Medical topic - The Cider House Rules by John Irving - finished 15th May 2025
* 16. Features a birth - Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer - finished 13th January 2025
* 17. Hollywood! - The Golden Age of Magic by Luanne G. Smith - finished 17th November 2025
* 18. Place you've never been - Lightning in a Mason Jar by Catherine Mann (USA) - finished 19th July 2025
* 19. Profession in title - The Ornithologist's Field Guide To Love by India Holton - finished 10th November 2025
* 20. Sun on cover or in title - Empire of the Sun by J.G. Ballard - finished 1st July 2025
* 21. Oldest book on your TBR - Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe - finished 25th June 2025
* 22. Set in your favourite season - A Winter In New York by Josie Silver - finished 5th January 2025
* 23. Recommended by a friend - His Name Was Walter by Emily Rodda - finished 25th January 2025
* 24. 'Library' or 'Thing' in title - The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman - finished 27th May 2025
25. Writing about writers -

22/25 = 88%

CoverCAT

"The cover of a book is the beginning of a conversation between the author and the reader." David Pearson

January - tea party - The Blanket Cats by Kiyoshi Shigematsu (tea cup) - finished 2nd January 2025
February - tree - Turtle Moon by Hannah Gold - finished 10th February 2025
March - farm animals - Barnheart by Jenna Woginrich - finished 31st March 2025
April - road - One More Croissant For The Road by Felicity Cloake - finished 7th October 2025
May - more than one element on cover - Miss Veal and Miss Ham by Vikki Heywood - finished 9th August 2025
June - something with wheels - The Eyre Affair by Jasper FForde - finished 7th June 2025
July - fruit - The Whole Bright Year by Debra Oswald - finished 21st October 2025
August - photography - Slags by Emma Jane Unsworth - finished 17th August 2025
September - cat and/or dog - Ribbing and Runes by Nancy Warren - finished 1st November 2025
October - something that will fit in your pocket - The Meryl Streep Movie Club by Mia March (DVD) - finished 22nd November 2025
November - celestial objects - We Fly Beneath The Stars by Suzanne Kelman - finished 15th December 2025
December - something you would like as a gift - Library Love by Ophelia Lux (book, of course!) - finished 30th December 2025

12/12 = 100%

ColourCAT

"The whole point is to live life and be - to use all the colours in the crayon box." RuPaul

January - green - Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg - finished 9th January 2025
February - gold - Good As Gold by Justin Smith - finished 24th November 2025
March - pink - Little Pink Taxi by Marie Laval - finished 2nd July 2025
April - brown - Sarah Brown and the Cabin by Audrey Walker - finished 27th December 2025
May - red - The Red Texts Club by Andrea Van Ryken - finished 19th December 2025
June - yellow - The Yellow Houses by Stella Gibbons - finished 21st November 2025
July - white - The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge - finished 14th July 2025
August - grey - Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte - finished 3rd November 2025
September - silver - Ian and The Great Silver Dragon Bry-Ankh by Jim Dilyard - finished 12th December 2025
October - black - Black Rabbit Hall by Eve Chase - finished 11th October 2025
November - blue - The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery - finished 19th November 2025
December - purple - Edged In Purple by John W. Feist

11/12 = 91.67%

CultureCAT

"Cultural differences should not separate us from each other, but rather cultural diversity brings a collective strength that can benefit all of humanity." Robert Alan

January - migration/displacement - The Battlers by Kylie Tennant - finished 18th May 2025
February - Finno-Ugric peoples - Stolen by Ann-Helen Laestadius - finished 20th April 2025
March - neurodiverse voices - Temple Grandin by Sy Montgomery - finished 17th March 2025
April - TTRPG & LARPers - The Sorcerer of Pyongyang by Marcel Theroux - finished 6th July 2025
May - punk/metal - Punks Versus Zombies by Jon Cronshaw
June - Aboriginal Australia - Catching Teller Crow by Ambelin & Ezekiel Kwaymullina - finished 26th August 2025
July - India - Caste Away by Hill Krishnan
August - free space; any culture not your own - Japanese Myths by Ayaka Sazanami
September - working class cultures - The Women of the Copper Country by Mary Doria Russell - finished 12th September 2025
October - non-mainstream religious subcultures - Plain Wisdom by Cindy Woodsmall and Miriam Flaud - finished 5th November 2025
November - Indigenous America - Two Old Women by Velma Wallis - finished 26th November 2025
December - LGBTQ+ cultures - Before Her by Jacqueline Woodson

8/12 = 66.67%

NatureKIT

"Nature is the source of all true knowledge." Leonardo da Vinci

January - sheep and shepherding - If Clouds Were Sheep by Sue Andrews - finished 6th February 2025
February - forests, farms and grasslands - The Forest of a Thousand Eyes by Frances Hardinge - finished 12th February 2025
March - landscapes - The Place of Tides by James Rebanks - finished 2nd March 2025
April - flying creatures - Birding Without Borders by Noah Strycker - finished 7th December 2025
May - plants, fungi, etc - Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake - finished 18th September 2025
June - oceans and rivers - The Sea Around Us by Rachel Carson - finished 21st August 2025
July - inner lives of animals - The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery - finished 7th August 2025
August - weather and climate - The Weather of the Future by Heidi Cullen
September - urban nature - The Way of Coyote by Gavin Van Horn
October - endangered species - Endangered Adventures by M.A. Greene
November - effects of nature - Fox & I by Catherine Raven
December - wild card - Under The Stars by Matt Gaw

7/12 = 58.33%

RandomKIT

"Expose yourself to as much randomness as possible." Ben Casnocha

January - about food or drink or in title - Spuds, Spam and Eating for Victory by Katherine Knight - finished 12th April 2025
February - playing with time - Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon - finished 16th April 2025
March - wishes - Five Children and It by Edith Nesbit - finished 13th March 2025
April - prime - On The Calculation Of Volume I by Solvej Balle - finished 25th July 2025
May - punctuation - The Doll's House by Lisa Unger
June - invasion - The Bicycle Spy by Yona Zeldis McDonough - finished 30th June 2025
July - 'The hills are alive' - A Wild Rose by Fiona Davis
August - a writer - The Ghost Writer by Loreth Anne White
September - cardinal direction in title - Mustang, Wild Spirit of the West by Marguerite Henry- finished 16th September 2025
October - childhood favourite - Charlotte's Web by E.B. White - finished 17th October 2025
November - villians - The Kill Clause by Lisa Unger - finished 23rd December 2025
December - endings and beginnings - Christmas of New Beginnings by Kirsty Ferry - finished 13th December 2025

9/12 = 75%

AlphaKIT

"In short, the alphabet was the origin of all man's knowledge, and of all his errors.” Voltaire

January
For S - Villa of Sun and Secrets by Jennifer Bohnet - finished 22nd January 2025
For O - The Only Woman In The Room by Marie Benedict - finished 21st January 2025

February
For L - The Last Phone Booth In Manhattan by Beth Merlin - finished 2nd February 2025
For G - The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda - finished 1st February 2025

March
For U - Linus and Etta Could Use a Win by Caroline Huntoon
For A - The One Who Got Away by Mike Gayle

April
For K - Kellynch: Dragon Persuasion by Maria Grace - finished 7th April 2025
For E - Earth Abides by George R. Stewart - finished 3rd August 2025

May
For I - All My Darkest Impulses by Lisa Unger
For D - Death in Venice by Thomas Mann - finished 21st June 2025

June
For C - Book of Colours by Robyn Cadwallader - finished 7th November 2025
For Q - The Pale Queen by Ethan M. Aldridge - finished 28th July 2025

July
For W - The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame - finished 8th November 2025
For T - How To Kill Men and Get Away With It by Katy Brent

August
For N - A Net For Small Fishes by Lucy Jago - finished 16th August 2025
For J - Jade and Emerald by Michelle See-Tho - finished 18th November 2025

September
For B - The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis - finished 11th November 2025
For M - Mosaics and Magic by Nancy Warren - finished 13th November 2025

October
For F -The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong - finished 9th October 2025
For P - Playing Fae Games by Isa Medina - finished 26th December 2026

November
For Y - Don't You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane
For H - The Christmas Book Hunt by Jenny Colgan

December
For V - Royal Valentine by Sariah Wilson
For R - The Rise - novella by Ian Rankin

Year Long
For X - XOXO by Axie Oh - finished 16th November 2025
For Z - Z For Zachariah by Robert C. O'Brien - finished 15th November 2025

18/26 = 69.23%

MysteryKIT

"Everything is a mystery, ourselves, and all things both simple and humble." Giorgio Morandi

January - winter mysteries - Crossed Skis by Carol Carnac - finished 31st January 2025
February - vintage mysteries - Death of a Bookseller by Bernard J. Farmer - finished 16th February 2025
March - spies, lies and ciphers - The London Bookshop Affair by Louise Fein - finished 6th March 2024
April - paranormal mystery - Diamonds and Daggers by Nancy Warren - finished 31st May 2025
May - not my country - Herringbones and Hexes by Nancy Warren - finished 20th June 2025
June - LGBTQ+ mystery - The Grimrose Girls by Laura Pohl - finished 10th August 2025
July - series sleuths - Nemesis by Agatha Christie - finished 10th July 2025
August - legal thrillers - Kill Night by Victor Methos
September - Silver Age mysteries - Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie - finished 19th October 2025
October - police procedural - Lyrebird by Jane Caro - finished 16th December 2025
November - psychological thriller/mystery - All Her Little Lies by Becca Day - finished 11th December 2025
December - cosy mystery - Cables and Conjurers by Nancy Warren- finished 8th December 2025

11/12 = 91.67%

ScaredyKIT

"It's as much fun to scare as to be scared." Vincent Price

January - diverse perspectives - Lone Women by Victor LaValle - finished 19th March 2025
February - haunted houses & haunted locations - The Empty Grave by Jonathan Stroud - finished 8th February 2025
March - real life monsters - In Cold Blood by Truman Capote - finished 6th June 2025
April - spiders, insects, and reptilia - The Hatching by Ezekiel Boone - finished 7th July 2025
May - out in the wild - Whalefall by Daniel Kraus - finished 12th August 2025
June - graphic novel - Hollow by Shannon Watters - finished 23rd August 2025
July - ghosts - We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough - finished 14th September 2025
August - female authors - The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia - finished 2nd September 2025
September - Stephen King and family - Gwendy's Button Box by Stephen King - finished 3rd October 2025
October - Gothic - Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen - finished 20th December 2025
November - psychological thriller - The Haven by Amanda Jennings - finished 4th November 2025
December - favourite scary trope - The Cat Who Chased Ghosts by Nic Minella - finished 5th December 2025

12/12 = 100%

SFFKIT

"Science fiction balances you on the cliff. Fantasy shoves you off." Ray Bradbury

January - cosy fantasy - The Bookseller's Apprentice by Amelia Mellor - finished 20th January 2025
February - the art of SFF - The Illustrators: Tove Jansson by Paul Gravett - finished 17th February 2025
March - magical realism - The Book Charmer by Karen Hawkins - finished 16th March 2025
April - women authors - The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar - finished 29th June 2025
May - authors of the global south - The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna - finished 12th July 2025
June - anthologies and collections - Wishing Stars by Nenia Campbell
July - alternative history - We Were Here First by Quentin Engelbrecht
August - space - Contact by Carl Sagan - finished 28th November 2025
September - back to school - Secrets of the Chosen by Keyur Viradiya
October - mysterious artifacts - Finding Fae Artifacts by Isa Medina - finished 26th December 2025
November - the day after - Ark by Veronica Roth
December - disabled main character - Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier - finished 25th December 2025

8/12 = 66.67%

Doors are open!

I am happy to step into your world of gorgeous cats and kittens. Happy reading in 2025!

Love the cats. >11 JayneCM: is my favorite. Good luck in 2025.

The cats are great! Good luck with your challenge and happy reading!

Looking forward to following along on another year of great reading!

My kitties give your pix the kitty stamp of approval! Good luck and have fun. I like the cereal box photo too.

Your cats are beautiful! Enjoy your reading in 2025!

Cute cats! Enjoy your 2025 reading!

You know I am all about the cats. Great pics.

Thank you all! I do love me some cats! Although I did allow one dog to stray into my area as well, just one.

Happy reading in 2025! I look forward to seeing how many countries you're able to cover in your challenge!

Every CAT and KIT as well as BingoDOG! Ambitious is right. Happy reading.

I love the kitties, especially >6 JayneCM: rainbow cat!

Dropping a star to follow and love the quotes.

Best wishes for a great reading year in 2025. I look forward to seeing your choices and remarks!

I love the cats, Jayne! You are very organised :-) Good luck with all the challenges.

Love the cat pics and quotes! Happy reading in 2025!

Dropping my star - all the best for 2025, which I think will already have started for you Down Under!

Happy New Year and good luck with your reading. I am looking forward to the bullets I get from you this year. You are one of my top two bullet creators.

Love your Colour CAT pic! Looking forward to following you again this year.

Hope you have a 2025 filled with good reads!

Thanks for the New Year wishes, everyone!
>32 lowelibrary: Thank you - that is very flattering to hear. :)

My plan for January CATs, KITs and other reads

January
✅ Read Around The World - The Great Divide by Cristina Henriquez (Panama)
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 1. - yellow cover - Short by Holly Goldberg Sloan
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 2. - a Kindle book - One Midnight With You by Shari Low
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 3. - set in Australia - The Muddleheaded Wombat by Ruth Park
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 4. - free choice - Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher
✅ BingoDOG - features winged creature - The Dragons of Kellynch by Maria Grace
✅ BingoDOG - recommended by a friend - His Name Was Walter by Emily Rodda
✅ CoverCAT - something from a tea party - The Blanket Cats by Kiyoshi Shigematsu (tea cup)
✅ ColourCAT - green - Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg
CultureCAT - migration/displacement- Tasmanian Aborigines by Lyndall Ryan
NatureKIT - Sheep and shepherding - If Clouds Were Sheep by Sue Andrews
RandomKIT - about food/drink or in the title - The Cider House Rules by John Irving
✅ AlphaKIT - For O - The Only Woman In The Room by Marie Benedict
✅ AlphaKIT - For S - Villa of Sun and Secrets by Jennifer Bohnet
✅ MysteryKIT - winter mystery - Crossed Skis by Carol Carnac
ScaredyKIT - diverse perspectives - Witches by Brenda Lozano
✅ SFFKIT - cosy fantasy - cosy fantasy - The Bookseller's Apprentice by Amelia Mellor

January 2025

1. The Dragons of Kellynch by Maria Grace - finished 1st January 2025 - BingoDOG - features winged creature
2. The Blanket Cats by Kiyoshi Shigematsu - finished 2nd January 2025 - January CoverCAT - something from a tea party (tea cup)
3. An Escape In Time by Sally Nicholls - finished 3rd January 2025 - BingoDOG - child main character
4. A Winter In New York by Josie Silver - finished 5th January 2025 - BingoDOG - set in your favourite season
5. The Great Divide by Cristina Henriquez - finished 7th January 2025 - Read Around The World - Panama
6. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg - finished 9th January 2025 - January ColourCAT - green
7. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer - finished 13th January 2025 - BingoDOG - features a birth
8. One Midnight With You by Shari Low - finished 15th January 2025 - January I Read Cereal Boxes board game - a Kindle book
9. The Muddleheaded Wombat by Ruth Park - finished 17th January 2025 - January I Read Cereal Boxes board game - set in Australia
10. Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher - finished 19th January 2025 - January I Read Cereal Boxes board game - free choice
11. The Bookseller's Apprentice by Amelia Mellor - finished 20th January 2025 - January SFFKIT - cosy fantasy
12. The Only Woman In The Room by Marie Benedict - finished 21st January 2025 - January AlphaKIT - letter O
13. Villa of Sun and Secrets by Jennifer Bohnet - finished 22nd January 2025 - January AlphaKIT - letter S
14. Short by Holly Goldberg Sloan - finished 23rd January 2025 - January I Read Cereal Boxes board game - yellow cover
15. His Name Was Walter by Emily Rodda - finished 25th January 2025 - BingoDOG - recommended by a friend
16. Crossed Skis by Carol Carnac - finished 31st January 2025 - January MysteryKIT - winter mystery

16/207 = 7.72%

Read Around The World 1/12 = 8.33% The Great Divide
I Read Cereal Boxes board game 4/48 = 8.33% One Midnight With You, The Muddleheaded Wombat, Understood Betsy, Short
BingoDOG 5/25 = 20% The Dragons of Kellynch, An Escape In Time, A Winter In New York, Breaking Dawn, His Name Was Walter
CoverCAT 1/12 = 8.33% The Blanket Cats
ColourCAT 1/12 = 8.33% Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe
CultureCAT 0/12 = 0%
NatureKIT 0/12 = 0%
RandomKIT 0/12 = 0%
AlphaKIT 2/26 = 7.69% The Only Woman In The Room, Villa of Sun and Secrets
MysteryKIT 1/12 = 8.33% Crossed Skis
ScaredyKIT 0/12 = 0%
SFFKIT 1/12 = 8.33% The Bookseller's Apprentice

Book 1. The Dragons of Kellynch by Maria Grace

BingoDOG - features winged creature

The dragons in this series are simply enchanting, even the grumpy, dangerous ones. And of course, the cross over with Jane Austen's novels is a delight.
Persuasion is my favourite Austen novel, so I very much enjoyed this story of Anne Elliot coming into her dragon hearing and Wentworth meeting various sea dragons.
Looking forward to the next instalment.

Book 2. The Blanket Cats by Kiyoshi Shigematsu

January CoverCAT - something from a tea party (tea cup)

Japanese books about cats are a whole thing and I love them. So no surprise that I enjoyed this one. It consists of a series of seven stories about cats that are rented out for three days at a time, with their blanket being a special comfort to them as they change locations.
My favourite was The Cat Who Went On A Journey as it was the only story told from the cat's point of view. But all the stories were interesting, covering many difficult times in people's lives, often from a different or unconventional viewpoint.

>38 JayneCM: I read the first book Pemberley: Mr Darcy's Dragon last year (a bullet from you) and plan on continuing the series this year.
>39 JayneCM: My second bullet of the year and my first of most likely many from you. You had me at cats.

>40 lowelibrary: Glad you are enjoying the Jane Austen's Dragons series - it is such fun and I love the descriptions and personalities of all the dragons.
I must admit to be a fan of Japanese cat books - there are certainly plenty!

>39 JayneCM: Adding this to the TBR! I love Japanese cat books too.

Book 3. An Escape In Time by Sally Nicholls

BingoDOG - child main character

Another fun adventure with Ruby and Alex. Time travel books have always been my favourite and these are a wonderful way for children to learn some history while reading a charming story.
Very keen for the next adventure as the quick peep into the mirror at the end of the book has revealed the next destination in time.

Book 4. A Winter In New York by Josie Silver

BingoDOG - set in your favourite season

This book had me at 80s movie references! And gelato. A charming story, and I don't care that it was predictable. Of course the lies and secrets were going to surface before the inevitable happy ending. The New York setting was magical.

Book 5. The Great Divide by Cristina Henriquez

Read Around The World - Panama

A beautifully written book set in Panama during the construction of the Panama Canal. A predominantly character driven story, it focuses on divisions - the dividing of Panama down the centre by the canal, of course, but also the divisions that occur between parent and child, husband and wife, lovers, the Americans and the local people, the workers who came from many nations to work on the canal - and how sometimes these divisions seem insurmountable.
While there is not a huge amount about the actual building of the canal, it is astonishing to picture the men who worked on the canal, using pickaxes to carve an 82 kilometre long divide. And while there may have been more lenient foremen, I'm sure there were plenty like the one in the book who were concerned only with results at the expense of the men's welfare.

>45 JayneCM: - I heard about tis last year and put it on my ever-growing list of BBs.

>45 JayneCM: Glad to see you liked this, it's one of my Christmas presents taken from the wishlist!

>46 dudes22: >47 clue: Definitely a book for those that don't need lots of 'action' - it is more about the people and relationships. The writing is exquisite. I will definitely be looking for her previous works.

Book 6. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg

January ColourCAT - green

A delightful, heartfelt story. Jumping backwards and forwards in time, we follow the rebellious, unstoppable, kind hearted Idgie and gentle Ruth as their story is told to Evelyn. Every character in this book, while somewhat stereotyped, is wonderful and I fell in love with the whole town of Whistle Stop, Alabama. It is such a snapshot of a place in time - when times were hard but people loved and lived big.

>50 dudes22: - There's a movie too. And her Elwood Springs series is very good too - and wonderful on audio if you listen to audio books.

Book 7. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

BingoDOG - features a birth

The final instalment of the Twilight series, this book could have been half the length and still told the story adequately. Way too much repetition - or maybe it was that the entire series was all much of the same and I just didn't need any more. Jacob remains my favourite; he is much less intense and self-obsessed than the vampires.

Book 8. One Midnight With You by Shari Low

January I Read Cereal Boxes board game - Kindle book

While I loved the setting and the fact that the story took place over 24 hours before Hogmanay, this fell a little flat for me. The characters were not particularly engaging (although Minnie was a sweetie). The final ten seconds before New Year's was well crafted, leaving you guessing right until the end.
As I love all things Scottish, I definitely rushed straight to the internet to see if I could find The Steamie (a Scottish movie set on Hogmanay in the 1950s). And yes, it is on Youtube!

Book 9. The Muddleheaded Wombat by Ruth Park

January I Read Cereal Boxes board game - set in Australia

Such childhood memories! I still have the large format box set I had which included this book, along with Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, Blinky Bill and The Magic Pudding. All favourites still.



Wombat is like an Australian Winnie the Pooh - he always gets into muddles but his heart is in the right place. It was great fun to visit again with Wombat, Mouse (an Australian bush mouse) and Tabby.

Book 10. Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher

January I Read Cereal Boxes board game - free choice

Truly a delight. The author has absolutely captured the joys and disappointments of childhood and how children learn by doing and being trusted to take calculated risks and learn from any mistakes.
The characters are written so well that you can picture and hear them all as you read.
Really charming, a beautiful portrayal of, dare I say it, a time when children were more innocent and easily pleased and less jaded than they appear to be now.

Book 11. The Bookseller's Apprentice by Amelia Mellor

January SFFKIT - cosy fantasy

Once again, I cannot tell how much of my enjoyment of this book was due to having grown up with Coles Funny Picture Books and hearing about the Cole's Book Arcade. But I very much enjoyed this prequel to The Grandest Bookshop in the World.
Mr. Cole is operating from a stall at Paddy's Market, his dreams of a special bookshop in the future. This story is about Billy Pyke at 12 years of age, who went on to work for Cole's Book Arcade for over fifty years. I know if I had that job, I would not want to leave either!
This is a story of magic and mayhem, of a magical duel to thwart the evil intentions of the Obscurosmith. With puzzles and riddles to solve, this is my kind of children's book.

Book 12. The Only Woman In The Room by Marie Benedict

January AlphaKIT - letter O

A few years ago, I was fascinated by Bombshell, about Hedy Lamarr and her invention in the 1940s that led to WIFI and Bluetooth. Wow! Her work was disparaged at the time and then secretly used in the 1950s without any credit to Hedy until the 1990s.
This is a particularly interesting look at Hedy's life as the majority of the book focuses on her marriage to Fritz Mandl, an Austrian weapons manufacturer. A difficult marriage, with Fritz treating Hedy as only a pretty face and his possession. And for her then to escape to Hollywood and still be treated as only a pretty face. This book, told in first person, emphasises Hedy's despair and frustration that she will never be able to contribute more than her beauty to the world.

>56 JayneCM: - I've been intrigued by a few of her books but haven't managed to read one yet. One of these days.

Book 13. Villa of Sun and Secrets by Jennifer Bohnet

January AlphaKIT - letter S

Quite repetitive, with too many revelations that just kept coming at you. No real connection with any of the characters.

Book 14. Short by Holly Goldberg Sloan

January I Read Cereal Boxes board game - yellow cover

Starting slowly, Julia was irking me somewhat. But as I read further, I started to appreciate her honesty and straight forward nature, which provides the perfect vehicle for conveying quite a few messages to tween readers. There is a lot packed in - about bravery, acceptance, honesty, being open to new experiences and unusual friendships. All through a summer production of The Wizard of Oz, which, as a musical theatre lover, was wonderful.
There are so many quotes that I loved, but this one in particular as it made me stop to think, yes I need to do that.

"I have to remember how powerful it can be to say thank you. Especially to the people you live with."

Book 15. His Name Was Walter by Emily Rodda

BingoDOG - recommended by a friend

Beautifully written and utterly engrossing, this book within a book kept me on the edge of my seat to the end. And then had me in tears, the ending was so special.
The paintings from the book found by the children are so vividly described that you can see them. I think this makes the imagery more powerful than actually having the illustrations in the book (although I would love to see them).
An amazing story that combines fantasy with history in a captivating and heart breaking way.

Book 16. Crossed Skis by Carol Carnac

January MysteryKIT - winter mystery

"It's a synonym for disaster - crossed skis."

I particularly enjoyed the setting of this mystery and the descriptions of the Austrian ski fields and mountain villages. There were a LOT of characters to get straight as eight men and eight women went on the skiing trip and it took a while to establish in my mind who was who.

My plan for February CATs, KITs and other reads

Carry forward from January
CultureCAT - migration/displacement- The Battlers by Kylie Tennant
✅ NatureKIT - Sheep and shepherding - If Clouds Were Sheep by Sue Andrews
RandomKIT - about food/drink or in the title - The Cider House Rules by John Irving
ScaredyKIT - diverse perspectives - Lone Women by Victor LaValle

February
✅ Read Around The World - Heartbreak Tango by Manuel Puig
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 1. - graphic novel - The Deep Dark by Molly Knox Ostertag
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 2. - movie or TV adaptation - Howards End by E.M. Forster
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 3. - grey cover - Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 4. - person on cover - Sunflower by Rebecca West
✅ CoverCAT - tree - Turtle Moon by Hannah Gold
ColourCAT - gold - The Lady In Gold by Anne-Marie O'Connor
CultureCAT - Finno-Ugric peoples - Stolen by Ann-Helen Laestadius
✅ NatureKIT - forests, farms and grasslands - The Forest of a Thousand Eyes by Frances Hardinge
RandomKIT - playing with time - Dragonfly In Amber by Diana Gabaldon
✅ AlphaKIT - For L - The Last Phone Booth in Manhattan by Beth Merlin
✅ AlphaKIT - For G - The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda
✅ MysteryKIT - vintage mystery - Death of a Bookseller by Bernard J. Farmer
✅ ScaredyKIT - haunted houses/locations - The Empty Grave by Jonathan Stroud
✅ SFFKIT - the art of SFF - The Illustrators: Tove Jansson by Paul Gravett

February 2025

17. The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda - finished 1st February 2025 - February AlphaKIT - letter G
18. The Last Phone Booth in Manhattan by Beth Merlin - finished 2nd February 2025 - February AlphaKIT - letter L
19. Sunflower by Rebecca West - finished 4th February 2025 - February I Read Cereal Boxes board game - person on cover
20. If Clouds Were Sheep by Sue Andrews - finished 6th February 2025 - January NatureKIT - sheep and shepherding
21. The Empty Grave by Jonathan Stroud - finished 8th February 2025 - February ScaredyKIT - haunted houses/locations
22. Turtle Moon by Hannah Gold - finished 10th February 2025 - February CoverCAT - tree
23. The Deep Dark by Molly Knox Ostertag - finished 11th February 2025 - February I Read Cereal Boxes board game - graphic novel
24. The Forest of a Thousand Eyes by Frances Hardinge - finished 12th February 2024 - February NatureKIT - farms, forests and grasslands
25. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline - finished 15th February 2025 - February I Read Cereal Boxes board game - grey cover
26. Death of a Bookseller by Bernard J. Farmer - finished 16th February 2025 - February MysteryKIT - vintage mysteries
27. The Illustrators: Tove Jansson by Paul Gravett - finished 17th February 2025 - February SFFKIT - the art of SFF
28. Heartbreak Tango by Manuel Puig - finished 28th February 2025 - Read Around The World (Argentina)

28/207 = 13.53%

Read Around The World 2/12 = 16.67% Heartbreak Tango
I Read Cereal Boxes board game 7/48 = 14.58% Sunflower, The Deep Dark, Ready Player One
BingoDOG 5/25 = 20%
CoverCAT 2/12 = 16.67% Turtle Moon
ColourCAT 1/12 = 8.33%
CultureCAT 0/12 = 0%
NatureKIT 2/12 = 16.67% If Clouds Were Sheep, The Forest of a Thousand Eyes
RandomKIT 0/12 = 0%
AlphaKIT 4/26 = 15.38% The Last House Guest, The Last Phone Booth in Manhattan
MysteryKIT 2/12 = 16.67% Death of a Bookseller
ScaredyKIT 1/12 = 8.33% The Empty Grave
SFFKIT 2/12 = 16.67% The Illustrators: Tove Jansson

Book 17. The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda

February AlphaKIT - letter G

It was not until the final forty pages that I began to be interested in reading more. Until then I was just going through the motions as it was very slow going and rather dull. As it all started to fall into place, it became more compelling as of course you want to find out the truth. Even then it still felt somewhat anticlimactic. Not a favourite thriller by any means.
The setting was the best part as a small beach town offers the opportunity for a definite 'us and them' scenario.

Book 18. The Last Phone Booth in Manhattan by Beth Merlin

February AlphaKIT - letter L

A clear winner for me - musical theatre and Charles Dickens, yes please!
I also appreciated the ending - good on you, Avery, for living your dream.

>54 JayneCM: I remember taking part in the annual Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award process as a kid in Vermont. That's an annual award voted on by Vermont middle-schoolers (the state has other award programs for picture books and YA books). As has happened in recent years with so many awards named after historical figures, Fisher's name was dropped from the award in 2019 when her involvement in Vermont's eugenics movement of the 1920s/1930s came to light. It's now called the "Vermont Golden Dome Book Award."

Book 19. Sunflower by Rebecca West

February I Read Cereal Boxes board game - person on cover

This unfinished autobiographical novel is haunting. For Rebecca West, a strong and intelligent women, to be made to feel the way Sunflower does in the novel is a devastating picture of male/female relations. I would say in the time period, but no, it still persists to this day and I'm afraid, always will.
Yet, Sunflower feels that it would be more terrible to be alone than in an unsatisfactory relationship, even though for ten years Essington made her feel stupid and worthless, denigrating her and her profession at any chance.

"But she had not wanted to be free. What good was that? It had made her feel lonely and unreal. If nobody was fond of you, you wouldn't quite exist."

And this seems to be the crux of the issue. She heads into another relationship (which is not mentioned in the novel but is discussed in the afterword), but will this be just as humiliating for her?

Some may read Sunflower as being pathetic and weak, but she is a product of our society that, even now, is critical of strong, independent women.
Not much happens in this novel but the writing is beautiful.

Book 20. If Clouds Were Sheep by Sue Andrews

January NatureKIT - sheep and shepherding

The beginning was wonderful, with the arrival of their first sheep, the aptly named Satan. I was expecting more of these farming anecdotes to continue. However, further in the book became more a list of the shows, sales and exhibitions attended, with no real farming stories.
So while I enjoyed the book, I would have loved more about the actual farming.

Book 21. The Empty Grave by Jonathan Stroud

February ScaredyKIT - haunted houses/locations

You know that feeling when you do not want a series to end? I have been putting off reading the last Lockwood & Co book as I knew I would feel bereft at the thought that there was no more Lockwood, Lucy and George to come.
And I was right. :(
Although I can now look forward to starting from the beginning; it is lucky that I am a fan of rereading.
This wrapped up the series perfectly, while still leaving little loose ends for you to continue to ponder. Entertaining and witty, spooky and full of suspense, the final instalment kept me on the edge of my seat.
A wonderful series.

>69 JayneCM: You've reminded me that I want to read those books! I enjoyed the "Lockwood & Co." series on Netflix and was sad they canceled it after just one season.

>70 christina_reads: Oh no! I have been waiting to watch the series after I had finished all the books. But only one season! I will still check it out to see if the characters match my idea of them.

Book 22. Turtle Moon by Hannah Gold

February CoverCAT - tree

Silver is a girl who, like the other people at the turtle rescue centre, has "trees running through their veins and a hint of wildness in their heart."
When I was a young girl, I wanted nothing more than to be involved in animal welfare in some way. Silver's opportunity to be involved in turtle protection in Costa Rica sounds like a dream.
An exciting adventure as they deal with poachers and also a heart warming story of a family knitting itself back together after sorrow.
I adore all the animal characters, who all have their own distinct personalities.
I must admit that the cover illustration made me think so I had to Google leatherback turtles. I had no idea they were SO big! I was aware that they were the largest sea turtle but just how big they are had not sunk in until seeing a photo of one next to people. What a majestic creature.

Book 23. The Deep Dark by Molly Knox Ostertag

February I Read Cereal Boxes board game

I adore Molly Knox Ostertag! This was gritty and beautiful, with colour and distorted/fragmentary artwork used to perfection to display emotion.
Mags and Nessa are heart warming and heart rending, as they battle their monsters with courage and compassion.
Simply stunning.

Book 24. The Forest of a Thousand Eyes by Frances Hardinge

February NatureKIT - farms, forests and grasslands

In this world, the forest is a sinister and dangerous place, filled with giant creatures and vines that will grow over an area within hours. As always, Frances Hardinge's descriptions are vivid and breath taking in their beauty and menace. This is a world that deserves a full length novel of its own as we see so many intriguing people and places that I would love to know more about.
The limited colour palette of the illustrations portrays this world perfectly.

Book 25. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

February I Read Cereal Boxes board game

This was a geek fest from start to finish and I loved it. While I was never much of a gamer, the 80s pop culture, movie and book references were my thing. And building a house that is modelled on Rivendell - yes! And the main character's favourite movie is Ladyhawke - a million yeses! I don't know anyone who has even heard of that movie and it is on a par with The Princess Bride for me.
It is also a commentary on a possible future world, where humans have made such a mess of the real world that they want to live in the OASIS to avoid reality. The consequences of which are that human contact is declining.
Thoroughly enjoyed all the geeky references but even without knowing them, this is an exciting read. Especially if you like riddles and quests.

>75 JayneCM: I have that book on my TBR still, I should move this up the queue, it seems. And I do remember Ladyhawke fondly.

>75 JayneCM: I watched Ladyhawke for the first time just months ago. I don’t know how I missed it when it first came out.

I own Ladyhawke on DVD (very old school) just so I can rewatch it often as it never seemed to be on streaming services. Although now it is on Disney Plus in Australia.

Book 26. Death of a Bookseller by Bernard J. Farmer

February MysteryKIT - vintage mysteries

I was very keen to read this classic bibliophile mystery and while I enjoyed the book references and the description of the ins and outs of the second hand book trade, it seemed to go a little off the rails with the raising of the devil and occult parts of the story. The wrongly convicted man was not a likeable character at all - it was hard to really care about whether he was proven innocent.
Just an ok mystery.

>79 JayneCM: I reviewed it for NetGalley and was struggling for positive things to say. It seems churlish to give a bad review in that situation, but dishonest not to. That was such a problem that I gave up asking for books.

>80 pamelad: I felt the same with Netgalley - it felt wrong to give a bad review as you were given the book for free. One book I was the first reviewer and I really didn't want to rate it high. It felt so awkward! And terrible for the author, if their first review is not a great one.

>81 JayneCM: I have used the “decline to review” option on NetGalley when I can’t give an honest decent opinion on a book.

Book 27. The Illustrators: Tove Jansson by Paul Gravett

February SFFKIT - the art of SFF

I have loved the Moomins since I was young, and I still love them just as much. I want to visit Finland just so I can buy all the Moomin things - they have Moomin tea in the supermarket!
This is a quick but very interesting look into the multi-faceted art of Tove Jansson. Art, particularly painting, was her first and foremost love, but the Moomins soon took over her life. Not just in the creation of the books but the entire marketing enterprise that developed from these adorable creatures. There was even a Moomin opera.
The author made an interesting point about Tove - "one wonders what gems she might have created had she realised the opportunities of the authorial graphic novel." She spent a large proportion of her work life on comic strips and she would have excelled with a full-length graphic novel.
Her political cartoons were witty and cutting. She created about 500 creations for a magazine called Garm, starting in 1935. As Tove said, "Most of all I liked the fact that I got to be beastly to Hitler and Stalin." And she did not hold back.
Like this cover from 1938.

There were plenty of Moomins in this book but I also appreciated the look at other aspects of Tove's art as she was a most prolific and talented artist.

Book 28. Heartbreak Tango by Manuel Puig

Read Around The World - Argentina

The many forms of writing - letters, police reports, stream of consciousness - add to make a picture of life and love and how lives and dreams can so easily head off in an unexpected or unplanned direction.
With just a list of objects, the author conveys the emotions and events of the characters' lives with such heart breaking pathos.

My plan for March CATs, KITs and other reads

Carry forward from January
CultureCAT - migration/displacement- The Battlers by Kylie Tennant
RandomKIT - about food/drink or in the title - The Cider House Rules by John Irving
✅ ScaredyKIT - diverse perspectives - Lone Women by Victor LaValle

February
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 2. - movie or TV adaptation - Howards End by E.M. Forster
ColourCAT - gold - The Lady In Gold by Anne-Marie O'Connor
CultureCAT - Finno-Ugric peoples - Stolen by Ann-Helen Laestadius
RandomKIT - playing with time - Dragonfly In Amber by Diana Gabaldon

March
Read Around The World - Hungry Ghosts by Kevin Jared Hosein (Trinidad)
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 1. - published 1900-1950 - Promise At Dawn by Romain Gary
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 2. - sun, moon or stars on cover - The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 3. - house or building on cover - The Sound of Light by Sarah Sundin
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 4. - green cover - The Other Princess by Denny S. Bryce
✅ CoverCAT - farm animals - Barnheart by Jenna Woginrich
ColourCAT - pink - The Girl in the Pink Raincoat by Alrene Hughes
✅ CultureCAT - neurodiverse voices - Temple Grandin by Sy Montgomery
✅ NatureKIT - landscapes - The Place of Tides by James Rebanks
✅ RandomKIT - wishes - Five Children and It by Edith Nesbit
AlphaKIT - For U - Under An Amber Sky by Rose Alexander
AlphaKIT - For A - All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
✅ MysteryKIT - spies, lies and ciphers - The London Bookshop Affair by Louise Fein
ScaredyKIT - real life monsters - In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
✅ SFFKIT - magical realism - The Book Charmer by Karen Hawkins

March 2025

29. The Place of Tides by James Rebanks - finished 2nd March 2025 - March NatureKIT - landscapes
30. The London Bookshop Affair by Louise Fein - finished 6th March 2025 - March MysteryKIT - spies, lies and ciphers
31. The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki - finished 8th March 2025 - March I Read Cereal Boxes board game - sun, moon or stars on cover
32. The Other Princess by Denny S. Bryce - finished 11th March 2025 - March I Read Cereal Boxes board game - green cover
33. Five Children and It by E. Nesbit - finished 13th March 2025 - March RandomKIT - wishes
34. The Book Charmer by Karen Hawkins - finished 16th March 2025 - March SFFKIT - magical realism
35. Temple Grandin by Sy Montgomery - finished 17th March 2025 - March CultureCAT - neurodiverse voices
36.Lone Women by Victor LaValle - finished 19th March 2025 - January ScaredyKIT - diverse perspectives
37. Barnheart by Jenna Woginrich - finished 31st March 2025 - March CoverCAT - farm animals

37/207 = 17.87%

Read Around The World 2/12 = 16.67%
I Read Cereal Boxes board game 9/48 = 18.75% The Full Moon Coffee Shop, The Other Princess
BingoDOG 5/25 = 20%
CoverCAT 3/12 = 25% Barnheart
ColourCAT 1/12 = 8.33%
CultureCAT 1/12 = 8.33% Temple Grandin
NatureKIT 3/12 = 25% The Place of Tides
RandomKIT 1/12 = 8.33% Five Children and It
AlphaKIT 4/26 = 15.38%
MysteryKIT 3/12 = 25% The London Bookshop Affair
ScaredyKIT 2/12 = 16.67% Lone Women
SFFKIT 3/12 = 25% The Book Charmer

Book 29. The Place of Tides by James Rebanks

March NatureKIT - landscapes

"The island and the wild things are never fully known. There is no end to the learning."

The author accompanies seventy year old 'duck woman' Anna to an isolated island for her last season of down collecting. This is a story of extremes, harsh conditions, and a way of life that was almost lost. It is also a quiet and slow book, as the reader needs to slow down and take each day as it comes. There is no hurrying the ducks, they dictate the pace of island living.
Also, a total lightbulb moment when I realised where the word eiderdown came from! I had no idea that it literally came from the down of eider ducks.
The descriptions of the island, the sea and the wildlife are breath taking but this is certainly a slow and contemplative book, not for readers who like a lot of happenings.

>87 JayneCM: Having just read and loved The Shepherd's Life I am intrigued by this upcoming book. BB for me-thank you!

Book 30. The London Bookshop Affair by Louise Fein

March MysteryKIT - spies, lies and ciphers

The dual timelines in this book follow Jeannie, inserted into France as a wireless operator in WWII, and Celia, working in a London bookshop in 1962 as the Cuban Missile Crisis was happening.
While the stories of two different spy networks operating in different times and for different reasons was interesting, the book could have been shorter. There was too much political pontificating about the evils of nuclear weapons which I feel could have been toned down somewhat as I feel readers are well aware.
Undoubtedly well researched though and it is much appreciated to have a book about the Cold War era as they are few and far between.

Book 31. The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki

March I Read Cereal Boxes board game - sun, moon or stars on cover

The author acknowledges that the inspiration for these books came from the delightful illustrations by Chihiro Sakurada of a night cafe run by cats.



A lovely, gentle, heart warming book about second chances and living the life that will make us fulfilled and happy. With astrological readings delivered by talking cats in a pop-up cafe at the full moon, classical music references and the most mouth watering dessert and drink descriptions, this is totally charming.
The book is a series of interconnected stories, with each character playing a minor role in each other's stories. At the end, as it all comes together, we see how the cats, the piano and this group of people are all connected to each other in the past.
This is the first of six books in the series; so far only book one has been translated into English. The English translation of book two is due to be released in October 2025 and the cover is gorgeous. Look forward to reading more about the cats.

>90 JayneCM: You had me at talking cats, taking a BB

>90 JayneCM:

Excellent, another Japanese book centred around cats. It’s going straight to my wishlist.

Book 32. The Other Princess by Denny S. Bryce

March I Read Cereal Boxes board game - green cover

An interesting historical fiction, based on the life of Princess Aina/Sarah Forbes Bonetta, an African princess who was 'gifted' to Queen Victoria. While the author managed to convey the frustration Aina felt at her lack of control over her own life and her life was a quiet tragedy, as a whole the book dragged somewhat, particularly the sections in England.

Book 33. Five Children and It by E. Nesbit

March RandomKIT - wishes

A story about a very different type of fairy! I love that the Psammead is not your typical fairy, but is a cranky, somewhat grotesque creature who begrudgingly grants wishes. The children, of course, find that getting what you wish for can often not turn out as happily as expected.
E. Nesbit has a sharp, tongue in cheek wit that is a lot of fun to read.

>95 JayneCM: Taking a BB for this classic. It sounds like something I would enjoy.

Book 34. The Book Charmer by Karen Hawkins

March SFFKIT - magical realism

"On the Saturday after her seventh birthday, a book spoke to Sarah May Dove."

And they have spoken to her ever since, telling her just who needs to read them.
Although this book is quite slow for majority of it and is definitely not for readers who like lots of happenings, this is just the kind of cosy, small town magical realism I enjoy. Nothing much happens but the townspeople are all sweet and quirky and there are some quite emotional moments.
I am content to continue on with the series, which consists of books based on different Dove sisters.

Hello Jayne! Catching up at long last with your thread. I have been waiting to see your cereal box game come into 2025 and here it is! And always impressed by your variety of books and cats here on LT.

>75 JayneCM: I love Ladyhawke so much! It was one of my movie obsessions. That fight scene in the cathedral? OMG what an amazing piece of horsemanship and cinematography. And thank you for explaining this book so well - I now feel less intimidated by the cultural references to "Ready Player One" knowing that there is a book I can turn to to understand them.

>95 JayneCM: This title sounds so familiar. I must have read it when I was a child, though I don't have it on my shelves. Must have been one I checked out of the library. Thank you for bringing it back into my consciousness.

>97 JayneCM: I did rewatch Ladyhawke again after the book brought it back to me. Still love it just as much. The special effects are a bit cheesy but it is all part of the package for me!

Book 35. Temple Grandin by Sy Montgomery

March CultureCAT - neurodiverse voices

"Temple's story is about far more than overcoming a disability. Temple's life shows us the courage and creativity of a person who found the blessings of autism - the blessings of a different kind of brain that, along with its challenges, may also bring extraordinary gifts."

Temple Grandin is an inspiration. Thanks to her persistence and single-minded determination, the lives and deaths of livestock have been radically improved. I particularly like her 'ten random people' idea. She would ask feedlot operators and other livestock carers if they would be happy if ten random people came to see their facility. Thinking of it in this way made many operators aware that they needed to improve. This thought process could be applied to so many areas.

Book 36. Lone Women by Victor LaValle

January ScaredyKIT - diverse perspectives

From the opening scenes that immediately drew you in to the final pages, this book is superb. Understated and compelling, I was gripped by every word. The curse of Adelaide's family is slowly revealed. The suspense is delightful and the truth chilling, raising questions about who creates and feeds such a monster. Particularly loved the ending, that the women got a happy ending, as they so deserved, including Elizabeth.

Book 37. Barnheart by Jenna Woginrich

March CoverCAT

This was always my dream, so I was bound to enjoy this. Just OK though - a little too whiney about how nothing goes her way for me, not enough about the actual animals.

My plan for April CATs, KITs and other reads

Carry forward from January
CultureCAT - migration/displacement- The Battlers by Kylie Tennant
✅ RandomKIT - about food/drink or in the title - Spuds, Spam and Eating for Victory by Katherine Knight

February
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 2. - movie or TV adaptation - Howards End by E.M. Forster
ColourCAT - gold - The Lady In Gold by Anne-Marie O'Connor
✅ CultureCAT - Finno-Ugric peoples - Stolen by Ann-Helen Laestadius
✅ RandomKIT - playing with time - Dragonfly In Amber by Diana Gabaldon

March
Read Around The World - Safekeeping by Jessamyn Hope (Israel)
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 1. - published 1900-1950 - Promise At Dawn by Romain Gary
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 3. - house or building on cover - The Sound of Light by Sarah Sundin
ColourCAT - pink - The Girl in the Pink Raincoat by Alrene Hughes
AlphaKIT - For U - Under An Amber Sky by Rose Alexander
AlphaKIT - For A - All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
ScaredyKIT - real life monsters - In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

April
Read Around The World - The Lace Weaver by Lauren Chater (Estonia)
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 1. - romance - Life Happens by Sarah Catherine Knights (not on LT)
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 2. - set in or near water - The Summer Book by Tove Jansson
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 3. - member of a family in title - Sisters of the Great War by Suzanne Feldman
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 4. - about art/artists - The Last Painting of Sara de Vos by Dominic Smith
CoverCAT - road - Sisters of War by Lana Kortchik
ColourCAT - brown - The Innocence of Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton
CultureCAT - TTRPG & LARPers - The Sorcerer of Pyongyang by Marcel Theroux
NatureKIT - flying creatures - Gifts of the Crow by John Marzluff
RandomKIT - prime - Once Upon A Prime by Sarah Hart
✅ AlphaKIT - For K - Kellynch: Dragon Persuasion by Maria Grace
AlphaKIT - For E - The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje
MysteryKIT - paranormal mystery - Diamonds and Daggers by Nancy Warren
ScaredyKIT - spiders, insects, and reptilia - The Hatching by Ezekiel Boone
SFFKIT - women authors - The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

April 2025

38. Kellynch: Dragon Persuasion by Maria Grace - finished 7th April 2025 - April AlphaKIT - letter K
39. Spuds, Spam and Eating For Victory by Katherine Knight - finished 12th April 2024 - January RandomKIT - about food/food in title
40. Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon - finished 16th April 2025 - February RandomKIT - playing with time
41. Stolen by Ann-Helen Laestadius - finished 20th April 2025 - February CultureCAT - Finno-Ugric people

41/207 = 19.81%

Read Around The World 2/12 = 16.67%
I Read Cereal Boxes board game 9/48 = 18.75%
BingoDOG 5/25 = 20%
CoverCAT 3/12 = 25%
ColourCAT 1/12 = 8.33%
CultureCAT 2/12 = 16.67% Stolen
NatureKIT 3/12 = 25%
RandomKIT 3/12 = 25% Spuds, Spam and Eating For Victory, Dragonfly in Amber
AlphaKIT 5/26 = 19.23% Kellynch: Dragon Persuasion
MysteryKIT 3/12 = 25%
ScaredyKIT 2/12 = 16.67%
SFFKIT 3/12 = 25%

>100 JayneCM: I think I have seen her interviewed on one of the news programs - 48 Hours or 60 Minutes or one of those. She was walking with the interviewer and talking about how she is helping cattle farmers take better care of their cattle. I like the idea of challenging them with inviting 10 random people to see their facility and glad to see the strides the farmers have made.

Book 38. Kellynch: Dragon Persuasion by Maria Grace

April AlphaKIT - letter K

Again, all I can say is that I love this series. With every new dragon introduced, I love it more.
This book is again about Anne Elliott and Captain Wentworth. As Wentworth is a naval officer, there are now marine dragons. Quite a bit of draconic conflict and a mystery to be solved. Very much looking forward to the next book.

>106 JayneCM: Marine dragons sounds so exciting! I really want to read this series, but I wish to reread the Jane Austen novels first and that will take some time (I have four to go).

>106 JayneCM: I have read Pemberley: Mr. Darcy's Dragon and have Longbourn: Dragon Entail lined up to read soon, but other books keep bumping it.

>108 lowelibrary: >107 MissBrangwen: I hope you enjoy them. They are easy reading but very entertaining. I especially love Elizabeth Bennett's role in the dragon world (I won't spoil it for you).

Book 39. Spuds, Spam and Eating For Victory by Katherine Knight

January RandomKIT - about food/food in title

I am always interested to learn more about the British Home Front during World War II and this provided a lot of information food and the rationing system, both during the war and afterwards. Sample recipes are also included.
I was particularly pleased to find a piece of information I have been searching for regarding keeping your own chickens. Many sources say that you could exchange your egg ration for chicken feed but this book gave the actual amount of feed you could receive.
Full of anecdotes as well as facts, this was a wonderful look into rationing and how Britain kept itself fed during such a difficult time.

I found this on Kindle Unlimited, where there are many books related to the home front experience, many of them based on original Ministry leaflets.

Book 40. Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon

February RandomKIT - playing with time

I love history and I love time travel. The speculation that comes with time travel is fascinating; if this changes in the past, what changes could that cause in the future?
The setting is wonderful. The lead up to the doomed battle at Culloden is tense.
Possibly a bit too long and repetitive in parts but the story of Claire and Jamie is well worth the read.

>110 JayneCM: I've borrowed this one from KindleUnlimited. Looks interesting.

Fingers crossed for the election!

Book 41. Stolen by Ann-Helen Laestadius

February CultureCAT - Finno-Ugric people

As the title suggests, there is so much that has been stolen in this book, both from the Sami as a whole and individual characters. A devastating but necessary look at the racism and violence faced by the Sami and the mental health issues that arise from dealing with these plus other problems that threaten their way of life.
Elsa is a strong and brave woman, who has had a great deal of suffering in her life, and her coming of age story is stark and beautiful.

My plan for May CATs, KITs and other reads

Carry forward from January
✅ CultureCAT - migration/displacement- The Battlers by Kylie Tennant

February
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 2. - movie or TV adaptation - Howards End by E.M. Forster
ColourCAT - gold - The Lady In Gold by Anne-Marie O'Connor

March
Read Around The World - The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende (Chile)
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 1. - published 1900-1950 - Promise At Dawn by Romain Gary
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 3. - house or building on cover - The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
ColourCAT - pink - The Girl in the Pink Raincoat by Alrene Hughes
AlphaKIT - For U - Under An Amber Sky by Rose Alexander
AlphaKIT - For A - All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
ScaredyKIT - real life monsters - In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

April
Read Around The World - The Lace Weaver by Lauren Chater (Estonia)
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 1. - romance - The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 2. - set in or near water - The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea by Yukio Mishima
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 3. - member of a family in title - Sisters of the Great War by Suzanne Feldman
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 4. - about art/artists - The Last Painting of Sara de Vos by Dominic Smith
CoverCAT - road - Sisters of War by Lana Kortchik
ColourCAT - brown - The Innocence of Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton
CultureCAT - TTRPG & LARPers - The Sorcerer of Pyongyang by Marcel Theroux
NatureKIT - flying creatures - Birding Without Borders by Noah Strycker
RandomKIT - prime - Once Upon A Prime by Sarah Hart
AlphaKIT - For E - The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje
✅ MysteryKIT - paranormal mystery - Diamonds and Daggers by Nancy Warren
ScaredyKIT - spiders, insects, and reptilia - The Hatching by Ezekiel Boone
SFFKIT - women authors - The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong

May
Read Around The World - Safekeeping by Jessamyn Hope (Israel)
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 1. - graphic novel - The Moth Keeper by K. O'Neill
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 2. - pink cover - The Paradise Heights Craft Store Stitch-Up by Kate Solly
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 3. - Victorian literature - Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 4. - non-human main character - Watership Down by Richard Adams
CoverCAT - more than one element on cover - Run For Your Life by Sue Williams
ColourCAT - red - The Red Room by August Strindberg
CultureCAT - punk/metal reads - Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh
NatureKIT - plants, fungi, etc - Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake
RandomKIT - punctuation - Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
AlphaKIT - For I - Independent People by Halldor Laxness
AlphaKIT - For D - Death In Venice by Thomas Mann
MysteryKIT - not my country - Herringbones and Hexes by Nancy Warren
ScaredyKIT - out in the wild - Whalefall by Daniel Kraus
SFFKIT - authors from the global south - The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

May 2025

42. The Cider House Rules by John Irving - finished 15th May 2025 - BingoDOG - medical topic
43. The Battlers by Kylie Tennant - finished 18th May 2025 - January CultureCAT - migration/displacement
44. The Moth Keeper by K. O'Neill - finished 25th May 2025 - May I Read Cereal Boxes board game - graphic novel
45. The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman - finisheds 27th May 2025 - BingoDOG - library or thing in title
46. Diamonds and Daggers by Nancy Warren - finished 31st May 2025 - April MysteryKIT - paranormal mystery

46/207 = 22.22%

Read Around The World 2/12 = 16.67%
I Read Cereal Boxes board game 10/48 = 20.83% The Moth Keeper
BingoDOG 7/25 = 28% The Cider House Rules, The Invisible Library
CoverCAT 3/12 = 25%
ColourCAT 1/12 = 8.33%
CultureCAT 3/12 = 25% The Battlers
NatureKIT 3/12 = 25%
RandomKIT 3/12 = 25%
AlphaKIT 5/26 = 19.23%
MysteryKIT 4/12 = 33.33% Diamonds and Daggers
ScaredyKIT 2/12 = 16.67%
SFFKIT 3/12 = 25%

Book 42. The Cider House Rules by John Irving

BingoDOG - medical topic

Undoubtably, this book discusses important topics, particularly relating to women, such as abortion, incest, rape and abuse. But even for a patient reader, it is slow, so slow, and never really takes off. It is difficult to relate to any of the characters as they are all so flat and unemotional - Melony being the exception. Just when it seems that something may happen, some tension is building, it just ends. Also much longer than it needs to be.

Book 43. The Battlers by Kylie Tennant

January CultureCAT - migration/displacement

"What was the use of wandering and wandering, never reaching any place of rest, coming to a town as strangers, and leaving it unwanted."

Considering the life led by 'the battlers', it is not surprising they would have thoughts such as this. But what is more surprising is that this is the exception. The majority of the time, they battle on while remaining hopeful.

"Humanity seemed to him so pitifully, so heartbreakingly, hopeful."

This is the feeling that you come away after reading about Snow, Dancy and the other battlers on the road. The little Aussie battler is still a saying to this day, meaning someone who faces adversity, disaster after disaster, and yet still continues on with a smile on their face and hope in their heart.
Tennant has such an authentic voice, as she spent time in the 1930s on the road. She captures both the spirit and tenacity of the people and the beauty and harshness of the landscape, with a raw charm and a genuine feeling for the people of the road. A wonderful book to read for a real sense of the Australian landscape.

This is my first time reading the book, although I have seen the 1994 drama series multiple times. Absolutely love it; definitely worth a watch if you can find it streaming anywhere.

Book 44. The Moth Keeper by K O'Neill

May I Read Cereal Boxes board game - graphic novel

As with previous works, the artwork is stunning, so comforting and cosy. The story of Anya, as she takes on the responsibility of becoming the moth keeper, is beautiful. A story about belonging and community and about longing for new places and experiences yet realising that home is best.
With the story being mainly set at night, the artwork is muted and subtle, with the luminous moths becoming a captivating feature.

Book 45. The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman

BingoDOG - library or thing in title

This book has everything I should love - a library with a unique magic system, a steampunk alternate world, dragons, Fae, and a search for a book. But somehow it just fell flat. I enjoyed the story enough to wish to continue with the series, in the hope that the characters become more fleshed out, perhaps as we learn more of their back stories.

Book 46. Diamonds and Daggers by Nancy Warren

April MysteryKIT - paranormal mystery

My favourite of the series so far, with priceless Cartier jewels and the silent movie era. It was interesting to see more of Sylvia and more of the vampires' nature.

June is going to be an improvement in the reading arena, I promise! We will forget about April and May and just move on.

My plan for June CATs, KITs and other reads

Carry forward from February
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 2. - movie or TV adaptation - Howards End by E.M. Forster
ColourCAT - gold - The Lady In Gold by Anne-Marie O'Connor

March
Read Around The World - Words On Fire by Jennifer A. Nielsen (Lithuania) -
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 1. - published 1900-1950 - Promise At Dawn by Romain Gary
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 3. - house or building on cover - The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
ColourCAT - pink - Little Pink Taxi by Marie Laval
AlphaKIT - For U - Under An Amber Sky by Rose Alexander
AlphaKIT - For A - All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
✅ ScaredyKIT - real life monsters - In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

April
Read Around The World - The Lace Weaver by Lauren Chater (Estonia)
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 1. - romance - The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 2. - set in or near water - The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea by Yukio Mishima
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 3. - member of family in title - The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 4. - flowers on cover - Winter Cottage by Mary Ellen Taylor
CoverCAT - road - Under A Gilded Sky by Imogen Martin
ColourCAT - brown - The Innocence of Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton
CultureCAT - TTRPG & LARPers - The Sorcerer of Pyongyang by Marcel Theroux
NatureKIT - flying creatures - Birding Without Borders by Noah Strycker
RandomKIT - prime - Once Upon A Prime by Sarah Hart
AlphaKIT - For E - An Education in Malice by S.T. Gibson
ScaredyKIT - spiders, insects, and reptilia - The Hatching by Ezekiel Boone
✅ SFFKIT - women authors - The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar

May
Read Around The World - Safekeeping by Jessamyn Hope (Israel)
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 2. - pink cover - The Paradise Heights Craft Store Stitch-Up by Kate Solly
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 3. - middle grade - The Wombles by Elisabeth Beresford
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 4. - non-human main character - Watership Down by Richard Adams
CoverCAT - more than one element on cover - Miss Veal and Miss Ham by Vikki Heywood
ColourCAT - red - The Red Room by August Strindberg
CultureCAT - punk/metal reads - Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh
NatureKIT - plants, fungi, etc - Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake
RandomKIT - punctuation - Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
AlphaKIT - For I - Independent People by Halldor Laxness
✅ AlphaKIT - For D - Death In Venice by Thomas Mann
✅ MysteryKIT - not my country - Herringbones and Hexes by Nancy Warren
ScaredyKIT - out in the wild - Whalefall by Daniel Kraus
SFFKIT - authors from the global south - The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

June
Read Around The World - Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon (Thailand)
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 1. - blue cover - How To Stop Time by Matt Haig
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 2. - fairy tale, myth, legend or book retelling - The Scent of Oranges by Kathy George (Oliver Twist retelling)
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 3. - dystopia - I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 4. - non-fiction - Coffin Corner Boys by Carole Engle Avriett
✅ CoverCAT - something with wheels - The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
ColourCAT - yellow - Crome Yellow by Aldous Huxley
CultureCAT - Aboriginal Australia - Catching Teller Crow by Ambelin Kwaymullina
NatureKIT - oceans/rivers - The Sea Around Us by Rachel Carson
✅ RandomKIT - invasion - The Bicycle Spy by Yona Zeldis McDonough
AlphaKIT - For C - The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club by Charles Dickens
AlphaKIT - For Q - The Pale Queen by Ethan M. Aldridge
MysteryKIT - LGBTQ+ mystery - The Grimrose Girls by Laura Pohl
ScaredyKIT - graphic novel - Hollow by Shannon Watters
SFFKIT - anthologies and collections - The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories by Ken Liu

June 2025

47. Watership Down by Richard Adams - finished 2nd June 2025 - May I Read Cereal Boxes board game - non-human main character
48. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote - finished 6th June 2025 - March ScaredyKIT - real life monsters
49. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde - finished 7th June 2025 - June CoverCAT - something with wheels
50. The Wombles by Elisabeth Beresford - finished 8th June 2025 - May I Read Cereal Boxes board game - middle grade
51. The Bogan Book Club by John Larkin - finished 9th June 2025 - BingoDOG - totally random
52. The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst - finished 12th June 2025 - March I Read Cereal Boxes board game - house or building on cover
53. Winter Cottage by Mary Ellen Taylor - finished 17th June 2025 - April I Read Cereal Boxes board game - flowers on cover
54. The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo - finished 19th June 2025 - April I Read Cereal Boxes board game - member of a family in the title
55. Herringbones and Hexes by Nancy Warren - finished 20th June 2025 - May MysteryKIT - not my country
56. Death In Venice by Thomas Mann - finished 21st June 2025 - May AlphaKIT - letter D
57. Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe - finished 25th June 2025 - BingoDOG - oldest book on your TBR
58. I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger - finished 28th June 2025 - June I Read Cereal Boxes board game - dystopia
59. The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar - finished 29th June 2025 - April SFFKIT - women authors
60. The Bicycle Spy by Yona Zeldis McDonough - finished 30th June 2025 - June RandomKIT - invasion

60/207 = 28.99%

Read Around The World 2/12 = 16.67%
I Read Cereal Boxes board game 16/48 = 33.33% Watership Down, The Wombles, The Spellshop, Winter Cottage, The Fox Wife, I Cheerfully Refuse
BingoDOG 9/25 = 36% The Bogan Book Club, Uncle Tom's Cabin
CoverCAT 4/12 = 33.33% The Eyre Affair
ColourCAT 1/12 = 8.33%
CultureCAT 3/12 = 25%
NatureKIT 3/12 = 25%
RandomKIT 4/12 = 33.33% The Bicycle Spy
AlphaKIT 6/26 = 23.08% Death In Venice
MysteryKIT 5/12 = 41.67% Herringbones and Hexes
ScaredyKIT 3/12 = 25% In Cold Blood
SFFKIT 4/12 = 33.33% The River Has Roots

>122 JayneCM: I've had a really bad reading month in May, too. Here's to better times ahead!

>117 JayneCM: From your review, this sounds like an instance where the movie was better than the book.

>122 JayneCM: Best of luck with your June reading!

Book 47. Watership Down by Richard Adams

May I Read Cereal Boxes board game - non-human main character

A beautiful book, notable for the spectacular descriptions of nature. The 'rabbitness' of the rabbits shines through. As the author said, he wanted the rabbits to seem like real wild rabbits, so while they were talking, all their actions were such that a real rabbit would be able to do.
Plenty of adventures, but also pauses where the reader can appreciate the beauty of the Berkshire Downs.

Book 48. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

March ScaredyKIT - real life monsters

Chilling yet compelling, hauntingly and beautifully written, this is a book that will stay in your mind.
Until November 1959, Holcomb, Kansas, was a town where "drama, in the shape of exceptional happenings, had never stopped there." Until the horrific and unexplainable murder of the Clutter family.
Capote keeps the 'why' of the murders under wraps until halfway through the book, making the reader consider all sorts of possible explanations.
Meticulous research and a gripping narrative make this book an engrossing read. You do not want to believe that fellow humans can be so reprehensible, yet here are two men who are amoral and show no remorse, but still have some glimpses of humanity.

Book 49. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

June CoverCAT - something with wheels

And loved it just as much on a reread, which I noticed when entering the reread dates is very strangely exactly six years to the day later. That sounds like a very Thursday Next coincidence!
Like most bookworms, I have always wished I could enter my favourite books and interact with the characters. So this book is just a wonderful read as well as being hilariously entertaining.

>129 JayneCM: Taking a BB for this one.

Book 50. The Wombles by Elisabeth Beresford

May I Read Cereal Boxes board game - middle grade

I loved the Wombles when I was young, both the book and the show. The Wombles are lots of fun and I love that they are scrupulously honest and so organised. We humans could take a few lessons in living well from the Wombles!

Book 51. The Bogan Book Club by John Larkin

BingoDOG - totally random

Think Kath and Kim in book form. I'm not sure if the Australian slang would be too incomprehensible for non-Aussie readers, but I found it hilarious. Australians do love to call things by their own invented nicknames.
But aside from the comedy, the author also touched on other themes, albeit sometimes edging quite close to political incorrectness. All the characters are hilarious but also much to be admired.
And of course, I thoroughly enjoyed the book club discussions.
A super fun read.

Just signed up for HRCYED 2.0. (Hardest Reading Challenge You'll Ever Do).
Such a well planned and laid out reading challenge with an amazing spreadsheet - I do love a spreadsheet. I will enjoy seeing how far I can get. It runs from 7th July for a year.

Book 52. The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

March I Read Cereal Boxes board game - house or building on cover

Cosy and whimsical and adorable and just everything! I loved this from the first page. There was a sweet and awkward romance, magical creatures galore, intrigue and adventure and a beautiful setting. Caz has rocketed to sharing the spotlight with my favourite character of all time, Rocky from Project Hail Mary.
Adored every minute I spent reading this book and then to find out that there is a book about the creation of Caz due for release soon - I was swooning with happiness!

>134 JayneCM: Taking a BB for this one.

>135 lowelibrary: I hope you enjoy it! Caz, the sentient spider plant, is wonderful.

Book 53. Winter Cottage by Mary Ellen Taylor

April I Read Cereal Boxes board game - flowers on cover

I very much enjoy a multiple timeline - this book had three. This definitely keeps you reading as you wait to see how the various characters throughout time fit together.

Book 54. The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo

April I Read Cereal Boxes board game - member of a family in the title

How can a book that is about grief, revenge, bitterness and heartbreak be so beautiful? Yet this book is luminous; you are totally drawn in by the beautiful writing.
I have always been drawn to myths and legends about the creatures that inhabit the shadowlands - that twilight zone of being part human, part animal. The fox is equal parts revered and feared in Chinese culture, never quite knowing how humans will react to them.
Totally mesmerising, the reader is drawn into this world and never wants to leave. The foxes were definitely weaving their magic on me.

>138 JayneCM: I read this one earlier this year, and I also loved it. Snow is such a marvelous character!

> 138 This is the fifth book I've put on hold at the library today and that's a month's reading for me! I'm so glad they allow a decline and give it to the next person, pushing me out 2 more weeks.

>139 Charon07: >140 clue: I read The Ghost Bride by this author last year and really liked her writing style and the Chinese myths. I have put The Night Tiger on library hold now.

Book 55. Herringbones and Hexes by Nancy Warren

May MysteryKIT - not my country

Obviously I am enjoying this series immensely as I just finished book twelve. There was a little bit more about Lucy's witch powers but this book seemed a little rushed to me. Still enjoyable and a wonderful ending.

Book 56. Death In Venice by Thomas Mann

May AlphaKIT - letter D

Unfortunately this novella didn't do anything more for me than make me feel slightly queasy and uncomfortable. Aschenbach himself knew that his behaviour was not quite dignified or respectable - ". . . and his conscience seemed to be reproaching him as if after some kind of debauch."

Book 57. Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

BingoDOG - oldest book on your TBR

Uncle Tom is a true hero, not for fighting back against his oppressors, but for the way he responded to their tyranny. His faith and courage in the face of adversity influenced change in many of the people around him.
Such an important book as by writing a fictional account of slavery, the author personalised the reality of slavery and made them recognisable as people with the same thoughts and emotions as their 'masters'.
The story of Cassy and Emmeline's escape from their master is particularly wonderful.
At the end of the book in summing up the character's experiences, the author has no qualms in pointing out the horror and hypocrisy of slavery, in a country that had supposedly been built on equality for all men. She even goes so far as to express the opinion that the victims of slavery are due reparation. I cannot imagine how that was received at the time.

"We ought to be free to meet and mingle - to rise by our individual worth, without any consideration of caste or color; and they who deny us this right are false to their own professed principles of human equality. We ought, in particular, to be allowed here. We have more than the rights of common men - we have the claim of an injured race for reparation."

Book 58. I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger

June I Read Cereal Boxes board game - dystopia

"The world was confused. It was running out of everything, especially future."

This is the kind of dystopian novel that I find the most fearful as it seems just like our current world, just a little askew. Making it all the more scary as it would take only a few changes to make this world reality.
Aside from the dystopian future, this is a book about how good people react in terrible circumstances, when law and order breaks down and nasty, evil people have nothing to stop them. It is much easier to be a 'good' person when society protects you; it is much more of a test when it becomes every man for himself.
It is also a story about heart breaking, forever love and how to cope with its loss.

Book 59. The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar

April SFFKIT - women authors

"The River Liss runs north to south, and its waters brim with grammar."

So begins this luminous and lyrical fairy tale. This intriguing opening line pulls you into the beautiful world of Thistleford and Arcadia and into a breath taking love.
It reminded me of one of my favourite reads, Lud-in-the-Mist, which lo and behold, the author mentions in the acknowledgements.
Utterly beautiful.

Book 60. The Bicycle Spy by Yona Zeldis McDonough

June RandomKIT - invasion

Wonderful story for middle graders about the danger and fear of being involved in the French resistance and in assisting Jewish people to escape France during the Occupation. The addition of the information about the Tour de France added extra interest to the story.

My plan for July CATs, KITs and other reads

Carry forward from February
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 2. - movie or TV adaptation - Howards End by E.M. Forster
ColourCAT - gold - The Lady In Gold by Anne-Marie O'Connor

Carry forward from March
✅ Read Around The World - Words On Fire by Jennifer A. Nielsen (Lithuania)
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 1. - published 1900-1950 - Promise At Dawn by Romain Gary
✅ ColourCAT - pink - Little Pink Taxi by Marie Laval
AlphaKIT - For U - Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
AlphaKIT - For A - Atonement by Ian McEwan

Carry forward from April
✅ Read Around The World - The Lace Weaver by Lauren Chater (Estonia)
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 1. - romance - The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 2. - gold or silver on cover - The Merciless Ones by Namina Forna
CoverCAT - road - Under A Gilded Sky by Imogen Martin
ColourCAT - brown - The Innocence of Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton
✅ CultureCAT - TTRPG & LARPers - The Sorcerer of Pyongyang by Marcel Theroux
NatureKIT - flying creatures - Birding Without Borders by Noah Strycker
✅ RandomKIT - prime - On The Calculation of Volume I by Solvej Balle
AlphaKIT - For E - Earth Abides by George R. Stewart
✅ ScaredyKIT - spiders, insects, and reptilia - The Hatching by Ezekiel Boone

Carry forward from May
Read Around The World - Safekeeping by Jessamyn Hope (Israel)
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 2. - pink cover - The Paradise Heights Craft Store Stitch-Up by Kate Solly
CoverCAT - more than one element on cover - Miss Veal and Miss Ham by Vikki Heywood
ColourCAT - red - The Red Room by August Strindberg
CultureCAT - punk/metal reads - Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh
NatureKIT - plants, fungi, etc - Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake
RandomKIT - punctuation - Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
AlphaKIT - For I - Independent People by Halldor Laxness
ScaredyKIT - out in the wild - Whalefall by Daniel Kraus
✅ SFFKIT - authors from the global south - The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

Carry forward from June
Read Around The World - Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon (Thailand)
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 1. - blue cover - How To Stop Time by Matt Haig
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 2. - fairy tale, myth, legend or book retelling - The Scent of Oranges by Kathy George (Oliver Twist retelling)
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 4. - finish a series - The Eternal Ones by Namina Forna
ColourCAT - yellow - Crome Yellow by Aldous Huxley
CultureCAT - Aboriginal Australia - Catching Teller Crow by Ambelin Kwaymullina
NatureKIT - oceans/rivers - The Sea Around Us by Rachel Carson
AlphaKIT - For C - The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club by Charles Dickens
✅ AlphaKIT - For Q - The Pale Queen by Ethan M. Aldridge
MysteryKIT - LGBTQ+ mystery - The Grimrose Girls by Laura Pohl
ScaredyKIT - graphic novel - Hollow by Shannon Watters
SFFKIT - anthologies and collections - The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories by Ken Liu

July
Read Around The World - Hungry Ghosts by Kevin Jared Hosein
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 1. - winner of any award - The Adversary by Michael Crummey (2025 Dublin Literary Award)
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 2. - four or more people on cover - Brooms by Jasmine Walls
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 3. - a name in the title - My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 4. - features mythical creature - A Sea of Song and Sirens by Whit Stanfield
CoverCAT - fruit - The Villa by Rachel Hawkins
✅ ColourCAT - white - The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge
CultureCAT - India - The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
NatureKIT - inner lives of animals - The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery
RandomKIT - 'the hills are alive' - Gold Dust Woman by Stephen Davis
AlphaKIT - For W - The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
AlphaKIT - For T - Spells, Strings and Forgotten Things by Breanne Randall
✅ MysteryKIT - series sleuths - Nemesis by Agatha Christie
ScaredyKIT - ghosts - We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough
SFFKIT - alternative history - The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick

July 2025

61. Empire of the Sun by J.G. Ballard - finished 1st July 2025 - BingoDOG - sun on cover or in title
62. Little Pink Taxi by Marie Laval - finished 2nd July 2025 - March ColourCAT - pink
63. The Paradise Heights Craft Store Stitch-Up by Kate Solly - finished 3rd July 2025 - May I Read Cereal Boxes board game - pink cover
64. Words On Fire by Jennifer Nielsen - finished by 5th July 2025 - Read Around The World (Lithuania)
65. The Sorcerer of Pyongyang by Marcel Theroux - finished 6th July 2025 - April CultureCAT - TTRPG & LARPers
66. The Hatching by Ezekiel Boone - finished 7th July 2025 - April ScaredyKIT - spiders, insects and reptilia
67. Nemesis by Agatha Christie - finished 10th July 2025 - July MysteryKIT - series sleuths
68. Brooms by Jasmine Walls - finished 11th July 2025 - July I Read Cereal Boxes board game - four or more people on cover
69. The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna - finished 12th July 2025 - May SFFKIT - authors from the global south
70. The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge - finished 14th July 2025 - July ColourCAT - white
71. How To Stop Time by Matt Haig - finished 15th July 2025 - June I Read Cereal Boxes board game - blue cover
72. The Love of my Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood - finished 18th July 2025 - April I Read Cereal Boxes board game - romance
73. Lightning in a Mason Jar by Catherine Mann - finished 19th July 2025 - BingoDOG - place you've never been
74. The Border by Erika Fatland - finished 20th July 2025 - BingoDOG - travel
75. The Lace Weaver by Lauren Chater - finished 23rd July 2025 - April Read Around The World - Estonia
76. On The Calculation of Volume I by Solvej Balle - finished 25th July 2025 - April RandomKIT - prime
77. The House at Mermaid's Cove by Lindsay Jayne Ashford - finished 27th July 2025 - BingoDOG - author has your first/last name
78. The Pale Queen by Ethan M. Aldridge - finished 28th July 2025 - June AlphaKIT - letter Q
79. Mr Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal - finished 30th July 2025 - BingoDOG - holiday in title

79/207 = 38.16%

Read Around The World 4/12 = 33.33% Words On Fire, The Lace Weaver
I Read Cereal Boxes board game 20/48 = 41.67% The Paradise Heights Craft Store Stitch-Up, Brooms, How To Stop Time,The Love of My Afterlife
BingoDOG 14/25 = 56% Empire of the Sun, Lightning in a Mason Jar, The Border, The House at Mermaid's Cove, Mr Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal
CoverCAT 4/12 = 33.33%
ColourCAT 3/12 = 25% Little Pink Taxi, The Little White Horse
CultureCAT 4/12 = 33.33% The Sorcerer of Pyongyang
NatureKIT 3/12 = 25%
RandomKIT 5/12 = 41.67% On The Calculation of Volume I
AlphaKIT 7/26 = 26.92% The Pale Queen
MysteryKIT 6/12 = 50% Nemesis
ScaredyKIT 4/12 = 33.33% The Hatching
SFFKIT 5/12 = 41.67% The Gilded Ones

I already have >146 JayneCM: and >147 JayneCM:, and Lud-in-the-Mist, in my TBR. I’m glad to see you rated them so highly.

Book 61. Empire of the Sun by J.G. Ballard

BingoDOG - sun on cover or in title

A horrifying story of a young boy's experience of the fall of Shanghai and his subsequent time spent as a prisoner of the Japanese. It is made even more horrific as we see it through the eyes of a pragmatic boy who tells it as he sees it - Jim becomes totally immune to the sight of dead bodies and describes them in a matter of fact way as just part of the landscape.
The story (which is based on the author's own experiences during WWII) is particularly interesting as the author relays all Jim's confusion and despair at being a prisoner, whereby he often wishes the Japanese would win and admires their bravery; and as he realises that "his determination to survive counted for nothing in the end." and that he was simply a pawn in the game of war.
And then the end of the war arrives, and with it even more confusion. At least in the prison camp there was some sort of order and the provision of food and shelter, little as it was. But with the end of the war came utter chaos, where everyone was "locked into a zone where there was neither war nor peace." It became every man for himself and Jim finds himself drawn back to the camp where at least he could feel safe. I found this part of the book the most interesting as most books focus on the years of imprisonment and little is said about how the prisoners found their way home when the war ended.

Book 62. Little Pink Taxi by Marie Laval

March ColourCAT - pink

Let me begin by saying I am not a romance fan, so if I need to read a romance for a prompt/challenge, I will look for one with something more to it. Thankfully, this book only featured two 'romantic' scenes, neither of which were overly detailed or lengthy. And the story surrounding the romance was sufficiently interesting to keep me reading. With a historical mystery surrounding the Scottish estate, family ghosts (one of whom enjoys luring men to the loch),sinister men and the secret of the main character's past to discover, the romance was not necessarily the central feature of the book. All set in a cosy Scottish village.
A fun read.

Book 63. The Paradise Heights Craft Store Stitch-Up by Kate Solly

May I Read Cereal Boxes board game - pink cover

A fun read with some laugh out loud moments as you remember being in the trenches of motherhood with young children. Craft, puzzles and a mystery to solve make this a feel-good read.
I was ridiculously excited to know so many of the places in the book as it was set around where I grew up as this rarely happens in books I read.
Did the ending point to a possible continuation of Fleck's amateur detective work? Let us hope so.

Catching up after being away from home for June. You've reminded me that I should reread In Cold Blood because it's such a remarkable book from Capote. Horrible, but a ground-breaking work.
I reread The Eyre Affair for its 20th anniversary and enjoyed it every bit as much as the first read.

>153 JayneCM: I love the cover! Wouldn't it be fun to have a little pink car?

Book 64. Words On Fire by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Read Around The World (Lithuania)

"And now, books had become my life. I couldn't imagine going a day without them, without the worlds they opened up to me."

Said every reader, ever. But in this book, books are dangerous, books are freedom, books are power, books are independence.
A wonderful book about a little known part of history, the book carriers of Lithuania. Set in 1893, it tells the story of Audra, who inadvertently becomes a book carrier. The Russian Empire has taken over Lithuania and is step by step banning and destroying all Lithuanian culture, language and customs.
As well as highlighting the history, this is also a story of a girl growing into her strength and courage and learning to speak up for her beliefs.
A book to keep younger readers enthralled with the action and tension while teaching them about Lithuanian history. It certainly makes the reader appreciate the we have freedom to read as we wish.

>157 JayneCM: I'm definitely taking a BB for this! I traveled to Lithuania two years ago and stopped by a memorial statue of the book carriers in Kaunas. You cannot really see it here, but the man carries a bag of books on his back. I was deeply impressed and fascinated by the resilience of the Lithuanians who saved their language and literature.

>158 MissBrangwen: That is wonderful - so happy that these people have been remembered and honoured. The book talks about how it would have only taken one or two generations without the book carriers to wipe out Lithuanian language and culture.

Book 65. The Sorcerer of Pyongyang by Marcel Theroux

April CultureCAT - TTRPG and LARPers

A fascinating book for its descriptions of everyday life in North Korea through the coming of age story of Cho Jun-su. We totally take for granted the freedom we possess when you consider that the people here must be on high alert at all times, guarding everything they say and do. The high level corruption is terrible. As North Korea has kept itself so separate from the rest of the world, it is difficult to determine how much of this story is embellished - I would be interested to find out more about the Kim family's inner circle.

Book 66. The Hatching by Ezekiel Boone

April ScaredyKIT - spiders, insects and reptilia

Fairly standard fare about the hatching of an ancient species of carnivorous spiders and the response that is taken to combat them. There are a lot of characters to keep track of, some of whom have started to come into each other's orbit - presumably this will continue in future books.
The book definitely did not finish and I am interested enough to continue the trilogy.

Book 67. Nemesis Agatha Christie

July MysteryKIT - series sleuths

"So gentle - and so ruthless," says one of the characters about Miss Marple. And indeed she is.
A particularly intriguing Miss Marple book as she is 'assigned' a cold case to investigate by a man who we met in A Caribbean Mystery.
There is a problematic opinion expressed whereby the author basically says that girls who are raped are 'asking for it' as they lead boys on.
Aside from this, an interesting mystery with a different presentation to the usual murder mystery.

Book 68. Brooms by Jasmine Walls

July I Read Cereal Boxes board game - four or more people on cover

A historical fantasy graphic novel set in 1930s Mississippi. Magic is illegal for all people except whites, but there are those who will fight against this oppression. Underground broom racing is a way to use their magic.
A heart warming story of friendship, community and love, set against the Depression era American south, with stunning artwork. Each character is unique and truly wonderful and together they make for an invincible team. I particularly enjoyed the pages after the acknowledgments and creator's notes, showing what happened to each of the characters as they grew older.

Book 69. The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

May SFFKIT - authors from the global south

"Our whole lives, we've been taught to make ourselves smaller, weaker than men. That's what the Infinite Wisdoms teaches - that being a girl means perpetual submission."

Deka needs to fight hard to rid herself of the teachings ingrained in her; even after she is deemed impure and treated brutally because of it.
This was so compelling, I read it in one day. While the basics of the storyline were nothing new - subjugation of women with some being deemed unacceptable and sent away from their homes and families - the world building was marvellous and thrilling. I particularly loved Ixa.
I would not though deem this as a young adult read, especially not for early teens. There are scenes of dark violence and abuse of women that I would not like a young teen to read.
But overall a gripping read and I cannot wait to read the next book.
And that cover art is simply stunning.

Book 70. The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge

July ColourCAT - white

Such a delightful book. All your senses are engaged, with the descriptions of sumptuous food, beautiful flowers and nature, the clothing and Maria's charming animal companions.
Maria is a feisty, brave and honest heroine, as well as being good. She is not at all the insipid, much too good heroines of many books of this era.

Book 71. How To Stop Time by Matt Haig

June I Read Cereal Boxrs board game - blue cover

"That was the familiar lesson of time. Everything changes and nothing changes.

Tom is over four hundred years old, but looks about forty. But being practically immortal is not as exciting as it seems. Tom just wants to be ordinary.
It is interesting to follow Tom through time, with there being many time leaps backwards and forwards. The story is somewhat slow at times, and a bit heavy handed in delivery, with the takeaway being that life is to be lived in the moment, rather than worrying about the past or the future. We cannot change the past and we do not know what the future holds, so just live the best we can in the present moment.

>166 JayneCM: Taking a BB for this one. This is my 5th BB from you this year alone.

>165 JayneCM: Got me with a BB, thanks!

Book 72. The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood

April I Read Cereal Boxes board game - romance

This was a fun, slightly silly but in a good way romance. There were a few closed door scenes, but nothing too lengthy or overly descriptive. With lots of quirky characters and some genuinely heart warming friend interactions, these parts of the story were much more enjoyable than the romance. Although the evolution of Delphie and Cooper from enemies to lovers was fun. I particularly enjoyed how the author, through Merritt's love of romance novels, worked in discussion on the various classic tropes and how they were obviously at play throughout the book.

Book 73. Lightning in a Mason Jar by Catherine Mann

BingoDOG - place you've never been (USA)

A beautiful, heart wrenching and heart warming story about the struggles and violence women can face in domestic situations, about found family and friendship as the women find new places for themselves and establish new lives. Spanning decades, we follow various women, including those who have set up a network to help women in need.
My only disappointment, being a maths and code nerd, was never discovering the code used in the cookbook to lead the women to Bent Oak. But that is a minor issue and is more that I am curious on that point - it has zero impact on the story itself.

Book 74. The Border: A Journey Around Russia by Erika Fatland

BingoDOG - travel

"The history of Eastern Europe can make your head spin. Borders have moved back and forth through the centuries; countries have disappeared, only to reappear later. Others have been created."

A fascinating read with LOTS of history about the various countries that border Russia and have been affected by Russia. If nothing else, this book has shown me that the more you read about these countries, the less you know and the more you need to read and research. Such a complicated region, with so much distress and trauma caused by the displacement of people from various regions.
Well worth the read.

>171 JayneCM: my wishlist is getting a workout today! That's just been added too!

Book 75. The Lace Weaver by Lauren Chater

April Read Around The World - Estonia

A beautiful and haunting story of two women from different backgrounds and cultures who are thrown together by war and love. The imagery of the stunning lace shawl knitting of Estonia is woven through the story and for a knitter, adds something extra to the story.
I very much appreciated the telling of a World War II story from Eastern Europe as their experience was even more harrowing and confusing. Imagine the elation of being given your 'freedom' from the Soviets by the Germans, to then be confronted with more deportations and terror under the new regime. And then to disappear again behind the Iron Curtain at the end of the war. After just having read The Border: A Journey Through Russia which gave some of the history of this region, this book was even more interesting.
The strong female characters are to be admired for their resilience, caring, bravery and camaraderie under the worst possible conditions.

I have borrowed the book referenced, Knitted Lace of Estonia, many times and been amazed at the intricate work. Maybe one day I will actually attempt to knit one myself!

>173 JayneCM: This looks fascinating, an area I am not familiar with. The knitting will be another feature that pulls me in. I am not a knitter, but do other needlework and am always pulled into a story that features fiber artists. I'll take the BB!

>163 JayneCM: I'm taking a BB for this one, it sounds excellent.

>171 JayneCM: I have Sovietistan by this author on my shelf, but haven't read it yet. I think it was a BB by spiralsheep, who was very active here when I joined the group, but has vanished from LT (I hope she's alright). This book sounds very interesting, too.

Book 76. On The Calculation of Volume I by Solvej Balle

April RandomKIT - prime

Utterly fascinating, the book begins with Tara Selter's 122nd experience of the 18th of November. I can see why some readers found this mundane and repetitive, as we are of course, experiencing the same day over and over. But the fascination involves Tara's thoughts and actions as she puzzles through how to deal with this time loop.
I particularly appreciate that the author acknowledges that this makes no logical sense, that the entire premise of time deals in "patterns and inconsistencies, that "you have to accept that you cannot know everything, that you have to expect some displacement in life." No time is wasted trying to explain this anomaly, it simply is. Things happen with no explanation and the reader must take that as it is. In this way, the whole premise was made more possible as life is illogical and cannot be fully explained.
I found myself totally drawn into Tara's isolation as the number of days she spends repeating 18th November continue and it becomes impossible for her to explain this to other people in her life. Very much looking forward to continuing the series.

Book 77. The House at Mermaid's Cove by Lindsay Jayne Ashford

BingoDOG - author has your first/last name

An enjoyable read, with enough intrigue and action to keep you reading. It began to feel a little too much like Rebecca, which I assume was deliberate on the author's part as the main character was reading Daphne du Maurier and it was mentioned that she lived nearby.
Not the best WWII historical fiction, but enjoyable as a light read. As I read a lot about WWII, I probably need more details and depth than a lot of readers.

Book 78. The Pale Queen by Ethan M. Aldridge

June AlphaKIT - letter Q

Quite sinister for a middle grade graphic novel, with some abusive behaviour. Absolutely charming artwork of Agatha and Heather and the village, and equally dark artwork for the Lady of the Hills. Hyacinth is utterly delightful. A story about trusting yourself and where your heart and instincts are leading you. And if something seems too good to be true, it generally is!

Book 79. Mr Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal by Ryan Cowan

BingoDOG - holiday in title

While the story is interesting and fast paced, the editing is atrocious and the writing clunky, which interrupted the flow of reading for me. Commas in random places and far too much over explaining.
For the target audience though, the story will keep their attention.

My plan for August CATs, KITs and other reads

Carry forward from February
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 2. - movie or TV adaptation - Howards End by E.M. Forster
ColourCAT - gold - The Lady In Gold by Anne-Marie O'Connor

Carry forward from March
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 1. - published 1900-1950 - Promise At Dawn by Romain Gary
AlphaKIT - For U - Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
AlphaKIT - For A - Atonement by Ian McEwan

Carry forward from April
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 2. - gold or silver on cover - The Merciless Ones by Namina Forna
CoverCAT - road - One More Croissant For The Road by Felicity Cloake
ColourCAT - brown - The Innocence of Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton
NatureKIT - flying creatures - Birding Without Borders by Noah Strycker
✅ AlphaKIT - For E - Earth Abides by George R. Stewart

Carry forward from May
✅ Read Around The World - Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon (Thailand)
✅ CoverCAT - more than one element on cover - Miss Veal and Miss Ham by Vikki Heywood
ColourCAT - red - The Red Room by August Strindberg
CultureCAT - punk/metal reads - Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh
NatureKIT - plants, fungi, etc - Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake
RandomKIT - punctuation - Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
AlphaKIT - For I - Independent People by Halldor Laxness
✅ ScaredyKIT - out in the wild - Whalefall by Daniel Kraus

Carry forward from June
Read Around The World - A Disappearance in Fiji by Nilima Rao (Fiji)
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 2. - pun title - The Witching Flour by Samantha Silver
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 4. - finish a series - The Eternal Ones by Namina Forna
ColourCAT - yellow - Crome Yellow by Aldous Huxley
✅ CultureCAT - Aboriginal Australia - Catching Teller Crow by Ambelin & Ezekiel Kwaymullina
✅ NatureKIT - oceans/rivers - The Sea Around Us by Rachel Carson
AlphaKIT - For C - The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club by Charles Dickens
✅ MysteryKIT - LGBTQ+ mystery - The Grimrose Girls by Laura Pohl
✅ ScaredyKIT - graphic novel - Hollow by Shannon Watters
SFFKIT - anthologies and collections - Reclaim The Stars edited by Zoraida Cordova

July
Read Around The World - The Sky Beneath Us by Fiona Valpy (Nepal)
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 1. - winner of any award - The Adversary by Michael Crummey (2025 Dublin Literary Award)
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 3. - a name in the title - My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 4. - features mythical creature - A Sea of Song and Sirens by Whit Stanfield
CoverCAT - fruit - The Villa by Rachel Hawkins
CultureCAT - India - The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
✅ NatureKIT - inner lives of animals - The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery
RandomKIT - 'the hills are alive' - Gold Dust Woman by Stephen Davis
AlphaKIT - For W - Devil Water by Anya Seton
AlphaKIT - For T - Spells, Strings and Forgotten Things by Breanne Randall
ScaredyKIT - ghosts - We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough
SFFKIT - alternative history - The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick

August
Read Around The World - The Cemetery of Untold Stories by Julia Alvarez (Dominican Republic)
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 1. - part of a duology - The Wicked Remain by Laura Pohl
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 2. - spooky classic - The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 3. - holiday related book - All In For Christmas by Ginny Baird
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 4. - author's first book - Swallow The Air by Tara June Winch
✅ CoverCAT - photography - Slags by Emma Jane Unsworth
ColourCAT - grey - Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte
CultureCAT - free space; any culture not your own - Sea People: The Puzzle of Polynesia by Christina Thompson
NatureKIT - weather and climate - Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
RandomKIT - a writer - And Then? And Then? What Else? by Daniel Handler
✅ AlphaKIT - For N - A Net For Small Fishes by Lucy Jago
AlphaKIT - For J - Jade and Emerald by Michelle See-Tho
MysteryKIT - legal thrillers - To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
ScaredyKIT - female authors - The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
SFFKIT - space - The Long Way To A Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

August 2025

80. The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea by Yukio Mishima - finished 1st August 2025 - BingoDOG - long title (5+ words)
81. Earth Abides by George R. Stewart - finished 3rd August 2025 - April AlphaKIT - letter E
82. The Jam Queens by Josephine Moon - finished 6th August 2025 - BingoDOG - read a CAT - January CoverCAT - tea party
83. The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery - finished 7th August 2025 - July NatureKIT - inner lives of animals
84. My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout - finished 8th August 2025 - July I Read Cereal Boxes board game - name in title
85. Miss Veal and Miss Ham by Vikki Heywood - finished 9th August 2025 - May CoverCAT - more than one element on cover
86. The Grimrose Girls by Laura Pohl - finished 10th August 2025 - June MysteryKIT - LGBTQ+ mystery
87. The Witching Flour by Samantha Silver - finished 11th August 2025 - June I Read Cereal Boxes board game - pun title
88. Whalefall by Daniel Kraus - finished 12th August 2025 - May ScaredyKIT - out in the wild
89. A Net For Small Fishes by Lucy Jago - finished 16th August 2025 - August AlphaKIT - letter N
90. Slags by Emma Jane Unsworth - finished 17th August 2025 - August CoverCAT - photography
91. The Sea Around Us by Rachel Carson - finished 21st August 2025 - June NatureKIT - ocean/rivers
92. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving - finished 22nd August 2025 - August I Read Cereal Boxes board game - spooky classic
93. Hollow by Shannon Watters - finished 23rd August 2025 - June ScaredyKIT - graphic novel
94. A Dark September Night by Patricia Smiley - finished 25th August 2025 - BingoDOG - furniture on the cover
95. Catching Teller Crow by Ambelin & Ezekiel Kwaymullina - finished 26th August 2025 - June CultureCAT - Aboriginal Australia
96. Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon - finished 31st August 2025 - May Read Around The World (Thailand)

96/207 = 46.38%

Read Around The World 5/12 = 41.67% Anna and the King of Siam
I Read Cereal Boxes board game 23/48 = 47.92% My Name Is Lucy Barton, The Witching Flour, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
BingoDOG 17/25 = 68% The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea, The Jam Queens, A Dark September Night
CoverCAT 6/12 = 50% Miss Veal and Miss Ham, Slags
ColourCAT 3/12 = 25%
CultureCAT 5/12 = 41.67% Catching Teller Crow
NatureKIT 5/12 = 41.67% The Soul of an Octopus, The Sea Around Us
RandomKIT 5/12 = 41.67%
AlphaKIT 9/26 = 34.62% Earth Abides, A Net For Small Fishes
MysteryKIT 7/12 = 58.33% The Grimrose Girls
ScaredyKIT 6/12 = 50% Whalefall, Hollow
SFFKIT 5/12 = 41.67%

Book 80. The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea by Yukio Mishima

BingoDOG - long title (5+ words)

These boys are chilling, brutal, horrific and creepy. The horrifying thing about this book is that these thought patterns definitely occur and often all it takes is one enigmatic leader with some insane ideas and the power to persuade others and all hell can be unleashed.
Beautiful writing, particularly of the sea, but decidely unsettling to read.
Also trigger warning for detailed animal harm (this scene was particularly stomach churning).

Book 81. Earth Abides by George R. Stewart

April AlphaKIT - letter E

"Men go and come, but earth abides."

Compared to more recent apocalypse-type novels, Earth Abides is a rather gentle and philosophical look at how civilisation can be drastically altered and slowly fade away to be replaced by a new version. As such, it probably offers a more realistic approach compared to the modern action-packed, violent versions.
The book is slow paced and thoughtful and makes you consider whether the civilization we have now is, on the whole, really worth saving. The opportunity of a clean slate and a new opportunity for man to live differently is potentially something to embrace rather than fear.

Book 82. The Jam Queens by Josephine Moon

BingoDOG - read a CAT - January CoverCAT - tea party

I love train travel, I love the Barossa Valley, I love baking and jam making. But this book just fell flat. The characters were all fairly generic and the school shooting incident and the transgender character seemed to be placed in the story for effect rather than to advance the story or characters.
Just an OK read for me - enjoyable enough but not something I would reread.

Book 83. The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery

July NatureKIT - inner lives of animals

Undoubtably, a fascinating look at octopuses and the way they interact with their human keepers when kept in captivity. Not being a creature that is cute and cuddly, the octopus is probably misunderstood and even reviled by many. This book shows just how interesting they are, each with distinct personalities, preferences and thought patterns. Their ability to solve puzzles and escape from even the most seemingly escape-proof enclosure shows their intelligence.
I would have enjoyed more science/facts about the octopuses, as well as the author's personal experiences with them.

Book 84. My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout

July I Read Cereal Boxes board game - name in title

You can feel the pain oozing from the pages of this short novel, a story of people who don't seem to know how to love. The love is there, they just have no idea how to share it with their family and other loved ones.
The format was too disjointed for me though.

>185 JayneCM: - I have this on my TBR pile and am looking forward to reading it.

Book 85. Miss Veal and Miss Ham by Vikki Heywood

May CoverCAT - more than one element on the cover

There is such a quiet and gentle dignity about this book (although I loved the one time we see Beatrix let loose against the ghastly Terry!)

Beatrix and Dora have lived together for most of their lives; as Beatrix calls Dora, "her public companion, her heart's secret." As they reach old age, the world seems to be done with them, when all they ever wanted was to live quietly together, earning enough to live in a dignified manner.

This is as much a book about aging as it is about a forbidden love. "It was a slow stripping, now she thought about it." Age strips away your physical abilities, your independence and your choices until you feel you have nothing left. Society often does not treat the elderly with the care and respect they deserve.

Beautiful in its simplicity, a story told in one day, yet utterly heart wrenching as we see back into Beatrix and Dora's pasts, the sacrifices they made for their love and the heartbreak that they must hide it, even into death.

Thank you to Netgalley and Muswell Press for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book 86. The Grimrose Girls by Laura Pohl

June MysteryKIT - LGBTQ+ mystery

I really wanted to LOVE this, and overall I did enjoy it. But it could have been so much more. But it was all too obvious and clumsily presented, much too in your face.
The wholly admirable message of ". . . if other people can't love you for what you are, then they don't deserve you . . . was thrown in your face so often that it ultimately became meaningless. As was the diversity in the characters - it was as though the author was ticking off a list - trans character, tick; character with anxiety and OCD, tick; asexual character, tick. And the list goes on. I would prefer one character done extremely well and in depth than for every character to have 'something' that is just mentioned once in passing.
That being said, the story was interesting and it ended on a cliff hanger that makes me look forward to the second book.

Book 87. The Witching Flour by Samantha Silver

June I Read Cereal Boxes board game - pun title

Just sheer fun. I do love a talking cat with attitude and Shakes is just that. But a talking, READING cat? Even better! A talking, reading cat who reads Tolkien? Better and better.
While the murder was solved, there is the continuing mystery of Robin's birth to unravel, as well as following Robin as she grows into her powers. I particularly love that her power is communicating with ghosts - I can see some Ghost Whisperer type scenes in future books as she potentially helps ghosts move on.

>190 JayneCM: Witchy vibes, check. Cozy mystery, check. Cat, check. Talking cat, double check. Reading Cat, absolutely. You know I must take a BB foe this one.

>191 lowelibrary: Enjoy! Shakes (short for William Shakespaw) is adorable!
I think the whole series is on KU, at least in Australia. Although I had bought the first four in paperback before I bought my Kindle.

Book 88. Whalefall by Daniel Kraus

May ScaredyKIT - out in the wild

Jonah in the belly of the whale, Moby Dick, Kraken vs Leviathan - the whole time I was reading this, I was unsure what I thought. But it is absolutely compelling reading. I know nothing about diving or the intimate biology of the sperm whale, so have no idea if this is a feasible event. But I didn't bother about that - this book does keep you reading to find out what happens.
Aside from the thrill of Jay's escape attempt from the stomach of the whale, this is an emotional look at fathers and sons and how loving too much can be suffocating and misunderstood. Alternating between the whale and Jay and his father's relationship over the years makes this a tender story as well as an exciting and pretty gross fight for survival.
Definitely a book that will stick in your mind.

Book 89. A Net For Small Fishes by Lucy Jago

August AlphaKIT - letter N

An interesting read about the true story of the Overbury Scandal of the 1600s English court. Anne and Francis (Frankie) were firm friends who defended each other to the end. While I appreciated this story of strong women who had to endure within the confines presented to women at this time, it was slow and somewhat monotonous to read.

>127 JayneCM: I am so glad you read Watership Down! It's been one of my favorite books since I first read it at the age of 13. Was this your first time reading it?

>165 JayneCM: I thought I was the only person in this world who had read The Little White Horse. It was a fun, sweet read, and my only regret was that I kept putting off reading it during my teen years.

>183 JayneCM: This topic is one that I have been pondering for the past few years, with all of the increased "weather events" surrounding continents and within continents (flooding, earthquakes). I would like to see penicillin continue, and to listen to Beethoven's 9th Symphony at any time I wish. Plus, books. Those are things that make me hope we can keep at least some things we have now.

>190 JayneCM:, >191 lowelibrary: Gotta agree with you both! Will add to my Wishlist now.

>195 threadnsong: I first read Watership Down when we studied it in high school and I think this was my fourth time reading it. I just love it.

Earth Abides did make me sad when part of the evolution of the new culture was that reading and 'book' education was abandoned as irrelevant. Which makes sense as they were in survival mode. I agree that I am hoping that we can keep some of our culture intact, but it is certainly scary to contemplate the changes that we will face.

Book 90. Slags by Emma Jane Unsworth

August CoverCAT - photography

A messy, gritty, heartfelt look at sisters and the complicated bond of love and hatred that binds them. Such a true to life look at teenagers and the urgency they feel to grow up and get living their real lives. "The thing that scares me the most is living a little life that's just going to get smaller." Don't we all remember feeling that? That there are so many better things waiting out there, once real life can begin. But as we alternate between Sarah's life in her forties and her teenage self, we see that life is a lot more difficult and that pain and trauma experienced earlier in life often stays with us forever.
There are some darkly hilarious moments which, if you were a teenager of the 80s/90s, you will recognise.

Book 91. The Sea Around Us by Rachel Carson

June NatureKIT - ocean/rivers

"For the sea lies all about us."

A classic natural history read - not just facts and figures but a poetic look at a living body and all it encompasses. I particularly enjoyed the chapter looking at the history of ocean exploration.

Book 92. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

August I Read Cereal Boxes board game - spooky classic

Such an atmospheric, tongue on cheek short horror story. Some witty asides such as "he loved his daughter better even than his pipe. . . "
The best part of this story though was the autumnal atmosphere. The descriptions of the landscape, the harvests and cooked foods of autumn are delightful.

Book 93. Hollow by Shannon Watters

June ScaredyKIT - graphic novel

This is perfection! A queer story based on The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, set in modern times. Izzy Crane is the new girl in town; Victoria Van Tassel is fed up with having to represent the Van Tassel family at every Headless Horseman tourist event. But something is out to get the Van Tassels and Izzy must save Vicky.
Loved everything about this. The artwork is divine, the characters are adorable and brave and independent, the Headless Horseman is such a gentleman. There was a quirky Scooby Doo type vibe to the setting and characters which was simply fabulous.

>200 JayneCM: What grade level is this for? My 8-year-old grandson is getting into graphic novels.

>201 lowelibrary: It is called young adult/teen. There is nothing terribly scary in it. Vicky and Izzy kiss but that's about it for on page romance. There is an assumption that readers know the basics of the story of the Headless Horseman.

Book 94. A Dark September Night by Patricia Smiley

BingoDOG - furniture on the cover

This was a somewhat slow paced mystery - the only heart pounding, thrilling moment was at the very end and it was over very quickly. That being said, it was intriguing and held the reader's interest with the other life, relationship and friendship issues presented to Emma. She had a lot to unpack as her whole life was changing completely from the life she had mapped out for herself, and I enjoyed finding out how she would deal with the various changes.
All the male characters are quite aloof, except for Arthur who is an absolute sweetheart.
Looking forward to further Justice Bay Mystery books.

>202 JayneCM: Thanks. I will hold off on that one for him a little longer.

Book 95. Catching Teller Crow by Ambelin & Ezekiel Kwaymullina

June CultureCAT - Aboriginal Australia

A haunting story told in two voices, one in prose and one in verse.

"You have colours. So many. Soon they'll come and you won't be full of colours. You'll be full of screams."

The use of allegorical verse to convey Isobel's story made it even more vivid and horrific.
Australia has a dark history from colonisation onwards. The Stolen Generation, the indifference shown about missing or dead Aboriginal people, deaths in custody, inequal access to healthcare and education. This story shows their strength as they continue to fight against injustice.

"My colours are mine. I'm not carrying your shame for what you did. Only my pride. For surviving you."

It is also a heart breaking story of grief and loss as Beth's father struggles to cope with her loss. The ending is beautiful and definitely had me in tears.

>205 JayneCM: I'm taking a BB for this one. Excellent review!

Book 96. Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon

May Read Around The World - Thailand

Margaret Landon used the two books written by Anna Leonowens about her time in the Siamese court and condensed them into this version. Reading like a biographical novel, the stories of the women of the court are fascinating and often obscene in their violence; scenes of oppression, subjugation, torture and execution. Anna played a significant role in altering the lives of the oppressed in Siam through her teaching of the young Prince Chulalongkorn, who later became king and transformed the country with the abolition of slavery and other feudal practices.
It can be slow reading though, particularly the sections on the politics of the time. I much preferred reading the personal stories about the court and the harem.

My plan for September CATs, KITs and other reads

Carry forward from February
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 2. - movie or TV adaptation - The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
ColourCAT - gold - Good As Gold by Justin Smith

Carry forward from March
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 1. - published 1900-1950 - Promise At Dawn by Romain Gary
AlphaKIT - For U - Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
AlphaKIT - For A - Atonement by Ian McEwan

Carry forward from April
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 2. - fairy tale, legend, myth or book retelling - The Scent of Oranges by Kathy George (Oliver Twist retelling)
CoverCAT - road - One More Croissant For The Road by Felicity Cloake
ColourCAT - brown - The Innocence of Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton
NatureKIT - flying creatures - Birding Without Borders by Noah Strycker

Carry forward from May
ColourCAT - red - Red Sister by Mark Lawrence
CultureCAT - punk/metal reads - Psychedelic Furs: Beautiful Chaos by Dave Thompson
✅ NatureKIT - plants, fungi, etc - Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake
RandomKIT - punctuation - Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
AlphaKIT - For I - Independent People by Halldor Laxness

Carry forward from June
✅ Read Around The World - The Cemetery of Untold Stories by Julia Alvarez (Dominican Republic)
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 4. - gold or silver on cover - The Merciless Ones by Namina Forna
ColourCAT - yellow - The Yellow Houses by Stella Gibbons
AlphaKIT - For C - The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club by Charles Dickens
SFFKIT - anthologies and collections - Reclaim The Stars edited by Zoraida Cordova

July
Read Around The World - The Sky Beneath Us by Fiona Valpy (Nepal)
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 1. - finish a series - The Eternal Ones by Namina Forna
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 4. - features mythical creature - A Sea of Song and Sirens by Whit Stanfield
CoverCAT - fruit - The Whole Bright Year by Debra Oswald
CultureCAT - India - The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
RandomKIT - 'the hills are alive' - Gold Dust Woman by Stephen Davis
AlphaKIT - For W - The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
AlphaKIT - For T - Spells, Strings and Forgotten Things by Breanne Randall
✅ ScaredyKIT - ghosts - We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough
SFFKIT - alternative history - The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick

August
Read Around The World - A Disappearance in Fiji by Nilima Rao (Fiji)
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 1. - part of a duology - The Wicked Remain by Laura Pohl
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 3. - beautiful cover - Fenny by Lettice Cooper
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 4. - author's first book - Swallow The Air by Tara June Winch
ColourCAT - grey - Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte
CultureCAT - free space; any culture not your own - Sea People: The Puzzle of Polynesia by Christina Thompson
NatureKIT - weather and climate - Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
RandomKIT - a writer - And Then? And Then? What Else? by Daniel Handler
AlphaKIT - For J - Jade and Emerald by Michelle See-Tho
MysteryKIT - legal thrillers - To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
✅ ScaredyKIT - female authors - The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
SFFKIT - space - Contact by Carl Sagan

September
Read Around The World
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 1. - continue a series - Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 2. - childhood favourite - The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 3. - holiday related - All In For Christmas by Ginny Baird
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 4. - book about books - Reading Lessons by Carol Atherton
CoverCAT - cat and/or dog - The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong
ColourCAT - silver - The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis
✅ CultureCAT - working class cultures - The Women of the Copper Country by Mary Doria Russell
NatureKIT - urban nature - The Way of Coyote by Gavin Van Horn
✅ RandomKIT - cardinal direction in title - Mustang, Wild Spirit of the West by Marguerite Henry
AlphaKIT - For B - The Horse and His Boy by C.S Lewis
AlphaKIT - For M - Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon by Mizuki Tsujimura
MysteryKIT - Silver Age mysteries - Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie
ScaredyKIT - Stephen King and family - Gwendy's Button Box by Stephen King
SFFKIT - back to school - Grey Sister by Mark Lawrence

.

September 2025

97. The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia - finished 2nd September 2025 - August ScaredyKIT - female authors
98. The Library Book by Susan Orlean - finished 5th September 2025 - BingoDOG - features fire
99. The Cemetery of Untold Stories by Julia Alvarez - finished 7th September 2025 - June Read Around The World - Dominican Republic
100. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett - finished 8th September 2025 - February I Read Cereal Boxes board game - movie or TV adaptation
101. The Women of the Copper Country by Mary Doria Russell - finished 12th September 2025 - September CultureCAT - working class cultures
102. We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough - finished 14th September 2025 - July ScaredyKIT - ghosts
103. Mustang, Wild Spirit of the West by Marguerite Henry - finished 16th September 2025 - September RandomKIT - cardinal direction in title
104. Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake - finished 18th September 2025 - May NatureKIT - plants, fungi, etc.
105. Reading Lessons by Carol Atherton - finished 19th September 2025 - September I Read Cereal Boxes board game - book about books
106. The Merciless Ones by Namina Forna - finished 23rd September 2025 - June I Read Cereal Boxes board game - gold or silver on cover
107. All In For Christmas by Ginny Baird - finished 25th September 2025 - September I Read Cereal Boxes board game - holiday related

107/207 = 51.69%

Read Around The World 6/12 = 50% The Cemetery of Untold Stories
I Read Cereal Boxes board game 27/48 = 56.25% The Secret Garden, Reading Lessons, The Merciless Ones, All In For Christmas
BingoDOG 18/25 = 72% The Library Book
CoverCAT 6/12 = 50%
ColourCAT 3/12 = 25%
CultureCAT 6/12 = 50% The Women of the Copper Country
NatureKIT 6/12 = 50% Entangled Life
RandomKIT 6/12 = 50% Mustang, Wild Spirit of the West
AlphaKIT 9/26 = 34.62%
MysteryKIT 7/12 = 58.33%
ScaredyKIT 8/12 = 66.67% The Bewitching, We Live Here Now
SFFKIT 5/12 = 41.67%

Book 97. The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

August ScaredyKIT - female authors

There is much to love in this book - the creepy, deserted college setting, the multiple timelines, the horrific witches, the overall Gothic vibes. And the last quarter of the book is definitely non-stop reading. You will be devouring those pages. But it just took a long time to get there. The majority of the book is quite slow and somewhat repetitive; not enough so to really mar my enjoyment of the book, but some may wish to get to the 'action' quicker.
The witches though - they were fabulous. Once their true nature was revealed, the scenes with the witches were darkly sensual and fantastically macabre.

>210 JayneCM: Taking a BB for the fabulous witches.

Book 98. The Library Book by Susan Orlean

BingoDOG - features fire



Ostensibly, a book about the 1986 fire that destroyed so much of the Los Angeles Public Library, this is so much more. A history of the library and the many wonderful librarians and others who made the library what it is today, as well as a history of the deliberate destruction of books.
As I know nothing about this library, when I reached the section in the 1960s where they were debating tearing down the Goodhue building and replacing it with something 'modern', I was terrified that this insanity would prevail. Thank goodness it was listed as an historic building and thus has been saved for the future.
It was fascinating (but horrific to any book lover) to read about the restoration process. So many books destroyed and so many damaged - approximately 700,000 books were wet, smoky or both.
The last chapter featured eloans and the author visited Overdrive. In the lobby there is a huge screen that displays a map of the world with real time borrowing popping up on it. The author found it mesmerising to watch books being borrowed all over the world. I know I would feel the same; I can imagine standing there and watching it with fascination (and probably jotting down some titles to look for myself!)
Interesting reading for any book or library lover.

>212 JayneCM: I worked as a librarian in that building for almost 30 years, and I knew a lot of the people Orlean interviews in her book.

>213 KeithChaffee: Wow, that is amazing! It is such a stunning building; I would love to see it in real life one day.

Book 99. The Cemetery of Untold Stories by Julia Alvarez

June Read Around The World - Dominican Republic

Such an intriguing premise - an author who feels she is finished with her writing decides to return to her homeland and build a cemetery to bury all her untold stories. But the stories are not willing to be forgotten; they still wish to be told.
There are multiple timelines and POVs throughout, which can sometimes become confused. But each is told beautifully and the magic of writing and stories shines through, in particular how important every single person's story is, no matter who you are.

"What is her story, I wonder? Not the stories she told me . . . but the story we keep to ourselves or even from ourselves about who we are and what we love and whether our lives reflect that."

Book 100. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

February I Read Cereal Boxes board game - movie or TV adaptation

I adored this as a child as I loved reading about nature and gardens and children living outdoors with animals and birds.
And this reread was just as captivating. Such a joyful transformation of Mary and Colin as they learn that the world is not centred around them, and learn to care about others.

>216 JayneCM: One of my childhood favorites as well...I should revisit it one of these days!

>216 JayneCM: - >217 christina_reads: - I bought my siter-in-law Unearthing the Secret Garden: The Plants and Places that Inspired Frances Hodgson Burnett by Marta McDowell last year for a Christmas gift. I'm hoping to borrow it back one day to read.

>205 JayneCM: Taking a BB for this one!

Book 101. The Women of the Copper Country by Mary Doria Russell

September CultureCAT - working class cultures

A fascinating read about the 1913 strike at the copper mines of Calumet & Hecla in Michigan, mainly focusing on Annie Clements and her leadership of the Womens' Auxiliary. She was dubbed the Joan of Arc of the miners and led the majority of the marches during the strike, carrying an enormous American flag.



The manager of the mine was the most callous and cold-hearted industrialist I have ever read about. His reaction to certain events and his handling of the entire affair was atrocious.
I appreciate historical fiction that presents people and events that may otherwise be lost to history and forgotten by most people and this is well worth the read.

>220 JayneCM: "I appreciate historical fiction that presents people and events they may otherwise be lost to history and forgotten by most people."
I totally second that!
Thank you for including the picture of Annie Clemenc.

>220 JayneCM: >221 MissBrangwen: and Mary Doria Russell is such a fine writer, you just know her legacy is in safe hands.

>220 JayneCM: - I loved this book when I read it. So much interesting information presented in a very readable format. I also find it interesting that she writes in multiple genres and is successful in all of them. IMHO

>221 MissBrangwen: >222 Jackie_K: >223 dudes22: This was my first book by thus author and I will definitely be looking for more.

Book 102. We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough

July ScaredyKIT - ghosts

Married couple Emily and Freddie move into an isolated house in the countryside after Emily suffers terrible injuries in an accident. But the house is strange - is it haunted? It feels as though the house is bringing out the worst in their personalities and relationship.
It takes a long time to finally get the explanation of the mystery behind the house and the lead up to it wasn't really totally interesting reading. But I loved the reveal. I experienced a macabre enjoyment of the ending, with Emily and Freddie, well, the worst versions of them, forever stuck in the house, forever plotting the other's downfall and their own escape, with the raven tapping on the window seeking her own release. Enough to drive you crazy!

>224 JayneCM: I recommend The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell, it's beautiful. I actually still haven't dared pick up the sequel, because I'm scared to get my heart broken again!

>226 Jackie_K: Same here! I also have Doc on my TBR, since it was recommended by another Category Challenger.

>226 Jackie_K: - I agree - The Sparrow was excellent. And I did read The Children of God (the sequel) and it was excellent too.

Book 103. Mustang, Wild Spirit of the West by Marguerite Henry

September RandomKIT - cardinal direction in title

Wild Horse Annie led the call for the protection of the mustangs in the American West in the 1950s. This is the story of her growing up in the West and her work in protecting the mustangs. I love a story of an underdog standing up to the 'big men' and winning and Annie is an inspiration, overcoming childhood polio, always working hard and never giving up.
As with all Marguerite Henry books, the illustrations are beautiful and the story is compelling.

Book 104. Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake

May NatureKIT - plants, fungi, etc.

"Are we able to stand back, look at the system, and let the polyphonic swarms of plants and fungi and bacteria that make up our homes and our worlds be themselves, and quite unlike anything else? What would that do to our minds?

A fascinating read about a fascinating, little publicised and often maligned topic. The author's enthusiasm and knowledge of his topic is infectious, spreading through your mind like the various fungi discussed. He often turns the way we would look at things on their head and it really makes the reader consider fungi in a whole new light.

Book 105. Reading Lessons by Carol Atherton

September I Read Cereal Boxes board game - book about books

As the blurb says, this is "an English teacher's love letter to reading and the many ways literature can make us, and our lives, better."

Books about books are definitely my favourite reads, whether they are fiction or nonfiction. And this book resonated particularly as the author is around my age and studied many of the same books in high school. It was fascinating to revisit them from a teacher's perspective. It is a reminder that "the best reading lessons never really finish." (Not that a reader needs to be told that!)
The chapter on Macbeth was especially illuminating as the author discussed an aspect of the play that we never studied - that of Lady Macbeth's childlessness and how that affected her behaviour.
Overall, incredibly interesting and slightly nostalgic to revisit some of these books.

Book 106. The Merciless Ones by Namina Forna

June I Read Cereal Boxes board game - gold or silver on cover

The Gilded Ones was so gripping but unfortunately The Merciless Ones suffered from the curse of middle books in a trilogy. There seemed to be too many twists and turns that took Deka far too long to work out.
But the world building in this series is spectacular, though brutal. And the book ended on a definite call to action for the final book in the trilogy - Deka will be going full force to fulfil her mission.

"And I'll endure whatever I must to ensure that I do so."

It is going to be an epic journey!

>220 JayneCM: What a great author for this topic! I shall have to obtain a copy

>226 Jackie_K: Yes, my heart was broken when I read the sequel. But it was worth it (I think).

>227 Charon07: and >228 dudes22: Yes indeed! Reminder to self to look for "Doc" as well.

>233 threadnsong: - I still need to read the sequel to that and I also read The Women of Copper Country which was also good.

Book 107. All In For Christmas by Ginny Baird

September I Read Cereal Boxes board game - holiday related

I am a huge fan of time travel/time slip/sliding doors stories and was very excited to read this one. One of my favourite movies ever is The Family Man with Nicholas Cage and this book, particularly the first half, was very similar to this movie except with a FMC rather than a MMC.
The children were adorable and natural but the chemistry between Dean and Paige seemed stilted and somewhat forced. There was too much description and repetition in Paige's thoughts. The flow and the magic that I would have enjoyed just wasn't there.
There was also a continuity issue regarding Paige's phone that I hope is corrected in the published book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Winter Wedding Press for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My plan for October CATs, KITs and other reads

Carry forward from February
ColourCAT - gold - Good As Gold by Justin Smith

Carry forward from March
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 1. - cosy fantasy - The Baby Dragon Cafe by A.T. Qureshi
AlphaKIT - For U - Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
AlphaKIT - For A - Atonement by Ian McEwan

Carry forward from April
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 2. - fairy tale, legend, myth or book retelling - The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec
✅ CoverCAT - road - One More Croissant For The Road by Felicity Cloake
ColourCAT - brown - The Innocence of Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton
NatureKIT - flying creatures - Birding Without Borders by Noah Strycker

Carry forward from May
ColourCAT - red - Red Sister by Mark Lawrence
CultureCAT - punk/metal reads - Psychedelic Furs: Beautiful Chaos by Dave Thompson
RandomKIT - punctuation - The Ornithologist's Field Guide To Love by India Holton
AlphaKIT - For I - Independent People by Halldor Laxness

Carry forward from June
ColourCAT - yellow - The Yellow Houses by Stella Gibbons
AlphaKIT - For C - Book of Colours by Robyn Cadwallader
SFFKIT - anthologies and collections - Reclaim The Stars edited by Zoraida Cordova

July
✅ Read Around The World - A Disappearance in Fiji by Nilima Rao (Fiji)
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 1. - finish a series - The Eternal Ones by Namina Forna
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 4. - features mythical creature - Plain Jane and the Mermaid by Vera Brosgol
✅ CoverCAT - fruit - The Whole Bright Year by Debra Oswald
CultureCAT - India - The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
RandomKIT - 'the hills are alive' - Quartet: How Four Women Changed the Musical World by Leah Broad
AlphaKIT - For W - The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
AlphaKIT - For T - Spells, Strings and Forgotten Things by Breanne Randall
SFFKIT - alternative history - The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick

August
✅ Read Around The World - Poinsettia Girl by Jennifer Wizbowski (Italy)
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 1. - part of a duology - The Wicked Remain by Laura Pohl
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 3. - cosy cover - The Rainfall Market by You Yeong-Gwang
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 4. - author's first book - Swallow The Air by Tara June Winch
ColourCAT - grey - Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte
CultureCAT - free space; any culture not your own - Sea People: The Puzzle of Polynesia by Christina Thompson
NatureKIT - weather and climate - Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
RandomKIT - a writer - In Search of Anne Bronte by Nick Holland
AlphaKIT - For J - Jade and Emerald by Michelle See-Tho
MysteryKIT - legal thrillers - To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
SFFKIT - space - Contact by Carl Sagan

September
Read Around The World - The Sky Beneath Us by Fiona Valpy (Nepal)
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 1. - continue a series - Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 2. - childhood favourite - The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis
CoverCAT - cat and/or dog - Ribbing and Runes by Nancy Warren
ColourCAT - silver - The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis
NatureKIT - urban nature - The Way of Coyote by Gavin Van Horn
AlphaKIT - For B - The Horse and His Boy by C.S Lewis
AlphaKIT - For M - Mosaics and Magic by Nancy Warren
✅ MysteryKIT - Silver Age mysteries - Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie
✅ ScaredyKIT - Stephen King and family - Gwendy's Button Box by Stephen King
SFFKIT - back to school - Grey Sister by Mark Lawrence

October
Read Around The World - The Fourth Daughter by Lyn Liao Butler (Taiwan)
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 1. - full name in title - The Secret Library of Hanna Reeves by Christine Nolfi
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 2. - new release - Dating After the End of the World by Jeneva Rose
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 3. - catch up on a late ARC - The Radcliffe Ladies' Reading Club by Julia Bryan Thomas
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 4. - translated work - Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon by Mizuki Tsujimara
CoverCAT - something that will fit in your pocket - The Meryl Streep Movie Club (CD) by Mia March
✅ ColourCAT - black - Black Rabbit Hall by Eve Chase
CultureCAT - non-mainstream religious subcultures - The Clarks Factory Girls At War by May Ellis
NatureKIT - endangered species - Tasmanian Devil: A Deadly Tale of Survival by David Owen
✅ RandomKIT - childhood favourite - Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
✅ AlphaKIT - For F - The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong
AlphaKIT - For P -
MysteryKIT - police procedural - Lyrebird by Jane Caro
ScaredyKIT - Gothic - Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
SFFKIT - mysterious artifacts - Voyager by Diana Gabaldon

October 2025

108. A Disappearance in Fiji by Nilima Rao - finished 2nd October 2025 - July Read Around The World (Fiji)
109. Gwendy's Button Box by Stephen King - finished 3rd October 2025 - September ScaredyKIT - Stephen King and family
110. One More Croissant For The Road by Felicity Cloake - finished 7th October 2025 - April CoverCAT - road
111. The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong - finished 9th October 2025 - October AlphaKIT - letter F
112. Black Rabbit Hall by Eve Chase - finished 11th October 2025 - October ColourCAT - black
113. Dating After the End of the World by Jeneva Rose - finished 14th October 2025 - October I Read Cereal Boxes board game - new release
114. Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon by Mizuki Tsujimura - finished 16th October 2025 - October I Read Cereal Boxes board game - translated work
115. Charlotte's Web by E.B. White - finished 17th October 2025 - October RandomKIT - childhood favourite
116. Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie - finished 19th October 2025 - September MysteryKIT - Silver Age mysteries
117. The Whole Bright Year by Debra Oswald - finished 21st October 2025 - July CoverCAT - fruit
118. The Secret Library of Hanna Reeves by Christine Nolfi - finished 22nd October 2025 - October I Read Cereal Boxes board game - full name in title
119. The Wicked Remain by Laura Pohl - finished 25th October 2025 - August I Read Cereal Boxes board game - part of a duology
120. Poinsettia Girl by Jennifer Wizbowski - finished 29th October 2025 - August Read Around The World (Italy)
121. The Rainfall Market by You Yeong-Gwang - finished 30th October 2025 - August I Read Cereal Boxes board game - cosy cover
122. Plain Jane and the Mermaid by Vera Brosgol - finished 31st October 2025 - July I Read Cereal Boxes board game - features a mythical creature

122/207 = 58.93%

Read Around The World 8/12 = 66.67% A Disappearance in Fiji, Poinsettia Girl
I Read Cereal Boxes board game 33/48 = 68.75% Dating After the End of the World, Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon, The Secret Library of Hanna Reeves, The Wicked Remain, The Rainfall Market, Plain Jane and the Mermaid
BingoDOG 18/25 = 72%
CoverCAT 8/12 = 66.67% One More Croissant For The Road, The Whole Bright Year
ColourCAT 4/12 = 33.33% Black Rabbit Hall by Eve Chase
CultureCAT 6/12 = 50%
NatureKIT 6/12 = 50%
RandomKIT 7/12 = 58.33% Charlotte's Web
AlphaKIT 10/26 = 38.46% The Teller of Small Fortunes
MysteryKIT 8/12 = 66.67% Sleeping Murder
ScaredyKIT 9/12 = 75% Gwendy's Button Box
SFFKIT 5/12 = 41.67%

Book 108. A Disappearance in Fiji by Nilima Rao

July Read Around The World - Fiji

An insightful mystery, shining a light on a neglected part of history and highlighting colonial racism and injustice. The English were very proud of their early abolition of slavery but there is sparse documentation on the Indian indentured servitude program that was instituted when colonies such as Trinidad, Jamaica and Fiji needed labour for the sugar plantations. Their treatment by the plantation owners was, on the whole, cruel and unjust.
Akal, the Sikh sergeant investigating the disappearance of an Indian woman from a sugar plantation, is charming, as is Taviti, his Fijian fellow police officer. The author brings 1914 Fiji to life and it was fascinating to read about a place that is little mentioned in historical fiction.

Book 109. Gwendy's Button Box by Stephen King

September ScaredyKIT - Stephen King and family

Like Pandora's box, Gwendy has to decide whether she should press any of the buttons on the box given to her by the mysterious Mr Farris. And you know from the start that curiosity will win out and that the consequences will not be good.
Being a novella, and covering so many years in Gwendy's life, there was little room for character or plot development and the lack of either is definitely felt.
Still a quick and intriguing read, albeit frustrating as there is little explanation or resolution to the origin of the button box.

Book 110. One More Croissant For The Road by Felicity Cloake

April CoverCAT - road

This didn't really work as either a travel read or a foodie book. Repetitive and not terribly interesting, it seemed to be very much about the alcohol consumed on the ride.

Book 111. The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong

October AlphaKIT - letter F

First off, that cover is everything - I adore it.
Now, I will admit, that for the majority of this book, I was sitting at a three star rating. It is very slow, but not slow in a cosy and gentle way, just slow. The writing is beautiful and atmospheric. It was just difficult to warm to Tao and being the main character, this really held the book back. But the last quarter of the book - I'll just say, have your tissues ready as it is totally heart wrenching and heart warming and just makes you melt into tears of joy.

Book 112. Black Rabbit Hall by Eve Chase

October ColourCAT - black

I do like a dual timeline; I do like a crumbling aristocratic family home in the bleak and isolated countryside of England; I do like a controlling, dare I say evil, stepmother. And Black Rabbit Hall has all these. The brooding, claustrophobic atmosphere alone makes this worth a read. Add in a mysterious birth and death or two and this is a book that you will fly through. Although somewhat predictable plot wise, it still draws the reader in as there are a few little twists to keep you guessing.

Book 113. Dating After the End of the World by Jeneva Rose

October I Read Cereal Boxes board game - new release

Post-apocalyptic, end of the world, doomsday prepping books are one of my favourite genres, although I do prefer a more realistic approach than the zombie apocalypse.
The beginning of this book and the flashback scenes to Casey's teen years were tight and well crafted, as were the fight scenes. But the relationship interactions and the romance were somewhat distanced and didn't really draw the reader in emotionally.
The ending/epilogue - the best emotional scene of the book. And let's just say there needs to be another book after ending in that way!

Book 114. Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon by Mizuki Tsujimura

October I Read Cereal Boxes board game - translated work

As to be expected with such subject matter, this was a heartfelt read about grief, regret and closure. However, it was stilted in places and some of the stories lacked emotion. I adored Lonely Castle in the Mirror by this author and I feel that this being stories about different people didn't allow enough room for true connection with the reader like that book did. The best story was that of the go-between, the person who holds the power to connect the living and the dead for one final meeting.

Book 115. Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

October RandomKIT - childhood favourite

I have read this so many times, both in my own childhood and as a read aloud to each of my children (more than once in some cases).
The very beginning of the book speaks to all children and their innate sense of fairness and justice. "Fern was up at daylight, trying to rid the world of injustice."
The playful nature of the farm animals and their interactions are hilarious.
And yes, I did still tear up at the last line we read about Charlotte. "No one was with her when she died." Tears every time, no matter how many times I have read the book.
And the illustrations by Garth Williams are how I always think of these characters; so delightful.

Book 116. Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie

September MysteryKIT - Silver Age mysteries

The last Miss Marple - I will miss Jane Marple as she is a total delight. An enjoyable mystery about a cold case (a sleeping murder). Once again, I thought I had it solved but no! Agatha Christie is definitely the master.

Book 117. The Whole Bright Year by Debra Oswald

July CoverCAT - fruit

The peach orchard setting was delightful and I fully expected to love this book. The characters just never seemed to reach their full potential, like the author was keeping them contained somehow. It jumped from scene to scene quickly which kept the plot moving but at the expense of character development. Just an OK read for me.

Book 118. The Secret Library of Hanna Reeves by Christine Nolfi

October I Read Cereal Boxes board game - full name in title

Obviously the title was the attraction of this book. A secret library? Yes, please!
And while I did find the story and characters interesting, there was not enough about the library itself.

Book 119. The Wicked Remain by Laura Pohl

August I Read Cereal Boxes board game - part of a duology

This was a pleasing ending to the story of the Grimrose Girls. The girls were much more fleshed out with more nuance in their characters. Their friendship was the key to the breaking of the curse.
I loved the endings for each girl's fairy tale, particularly as they were not your typical happy ever after, ride off into the sunset with the love of your life. I loved that the author acknowledged that true love is not everyone's HEA and that friendship is just as important.
Although the curse was somewhat confusing at times, this is a wonderful story about rock solid friendships and how to believe in yourself and trust yourself to know what is best for you when others are telling you a different story.

>246 JayneCM: I just started listening to this book tonight. It is the selection for one of my bookclubs in November. I'm glad to see it was a satsifying read for you. I am not well versed in Christie, but have enjoyed several of Hercule Pierot. This is my second Miss Marple.

>246 JayneCM:, >250 beebeereads: I have really liked Sleeping Murder each time I've read it. (Twice? Three times?) It's nice to see Miss Marple energetic and healthy, too.

Book 120. Poinsettia Girl by Jennifer Wizbowski

August Read Around The World - Italy

Exquisitely written, this tells the story of Agata della Pieta, a soprano and composer in 1700s Italy. Learning of the foundling orphanage which trained girls to be singers and musicians was fascinating.
Atmosphere is everything in this book as little happens plot wise - the girls live a quiet, gentle, secluded life, studying music. This book draws you into the hushed and hallowed halls of the Ospedale and makes it all feel reverential.

Thank you to Netgalley and Historium Press for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book 121. The Rainfall Market by You Yeong-Gwang

August I Read Cereal Boxes board game - cosy cover

If you win a ticket to enter the Rainfall Market, you are able to exchange your life for your dream life. But are your dreams always the best for you, or should we learn to see the happiness in the life we already have? A beautiful story that makes you think about the important things in life and that even when we think we are, we are not alone and life is not hopeless.

"It may feel like it's raining,
But don't forget that
Behind dark clouds there's sunshine shining."

And I'm always happy to see a cat companion - Issha is adorable.

Book 122. Plain Jane and the Mermaid by Vera Brosgol

July I Read Cereal Boxes board game - features a mythical creature

There is so much to love in this graphic novel - plain Jane who discovers she is strong and feisty and worth loving for herself; a spectacular underwater world with stunning artwork; and of course, my favourite sea creature, the selkie.

"We need to be careful which stories we tell. Think of all the fairy tales where the heroes are handsome and the villains are ugly. So much misery comes from clinging to something as flimsy and subjective as beauty, but that's often our shorthand for good and evil." (From the author's note.)

So true. Jane has spent her life feeling that she is all wrong, worthless in her world. And haven't so many of us felt this way as well? Jane is the heroine all middle graders (and adults) need to counteract the Disney princess images we are bombarded with daily.

And selkies, of course; don't forget the selkies!

My plan for November CATs, KITs and other reads

Carry forward from February
✅ ColourCAT - gold - Good As Gold by Justin Smith

Carry forward from March
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 1. - cosy fantasy - The Baby Dragon Cafe by A.T. Qureshi
AlphaKIT - For U - Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
AlphaKIT - For A - Atonement by Ian McEwan

Carry forward from April
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 2. - fairy tale, legend, myth or book retelling - The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec
ColourCAT - brown - The Innocence of Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton
NatureKIT - flying creatures - Birding Without Borders by Noah Strycker

Carry forward from May
ColourCAT - red - Red Sister by Mark Lawrence
CultureCAT - punk/metal reads - Psychedelic Furs: Beautiful Chaos by Dave Thompson
RandomKIT - punctuation - A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna
AlphaKIT - For I - Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino

Carry forward from June
✅ ColourCAT - yellow - The Yellow Houses by Stella Gibbons
✅ AlphaKIT - For C - Book of Colours by Robyn Cadwallader
SFFKIT - anthologies and collections - Reclaim The Stars edited by Zoraida Cordova

July
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 1. - finish a series - The Eternal Ones by Namina Forna
CultureCAT - India - The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
RandomKIT - 'the hills are alive' - Quartet: How Four Women Changed the Musical World by Leah Broad
✅ AlphaKIT - For W - The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
AlphaKIT - For T - Spells, Strings and Forgotten Things by Breanne Randall
SFFKIT - alternative history - The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick

August
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 4. - nature on the cover - The Start of Something Wonderful by Jessica Redland
✅ ColourCAT - grey - Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte
CultureCAT - free space; any culture not your own - Sea People: The Puzzle of Polynesia by Christina Thompson
NatureKIT - weather and climate - Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
RandomKIT - a writer - In Search of Anne Bronte by Nick Holland
✅ AlphaKIT - For J - Jade and Emerald by Michelle See-Tho
MysteryKIT - legal thrillers - To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
✅ SFFKIT - space - Contact by Carl Sagan

September
Read Around The World - The Sky Beneath Us by Fiona Valpy (Nepal)
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 1. - continue a series - Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 2. - childhood favourite - The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis
✅ CoverCAT - cat and/or dog - Ribbing and Runes by Nancy Warren
ColourCAT - silver - The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis
NatureKIT - urban nature - The Way of Coyote by Gavin Van Horn
✅ AlphaKIT - For B - The Horse and His Boy by C.S Lewis
✅ AlphaKIT - For M - Mosaics and Magic by Nancy Warren
SFFKIT - back to school - Grey Sister by Mark Lawrence

October
Read Around The World - The Fourth Daughter by Lyn Liao Butler (Taiwan)
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 3. - catch up on a late ARC - The Radcliffe Ladies' Reading Club by Julia Bryan Thomas
✅ CoverCAT - something that will fit in your pocket - The Meryl Streep Movie Club (DVD) by Mia March
✅ CultureCAT - non-mainstream religious subcultures - Plain Wisdom by Cindy Woodsmall and Miriam Flaud
NatureKIT - endangered species - Tasmanian Devil: A Deadly Tale of Survival by David Owen
AlphaKIT - For P - The Picnic by Matthew Longo
MysteryKIT - police procedural - Lyrebird by Jane Caro
ScaredyKIT - Gothic - Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
SFFKIT - mysterious artifacts - Voyager by Diana Gabaldon

November
Read Around The World - The Cuban Daughter by Soraya Lane (Cuba)
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 1. - type of transport on cover - Final Descent by Audrey J. Cole
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 2. - genre blend - No One Leaves The Castle by Christopher Healy (fantasy mystery)
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 3. - LGBTQI+ character - Ana On The Edge by A.J. Sass
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 4. - classical element in title - A Breath of Fresh Air by Jessica Redland
CoverCAT - celestial objects - We Fly Beneath The Stars by Suzanne Kelman
✅ ColourCAT - blue - The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery
✅ CultureCAT - Indigenous America - Two Old Women by Velma Wallis
NatureKIT - effects of nature - Fox & I by Catherine Raven
RandomKIT - villains - Butter by Asako Yuzuki
AlphaKIT - For Y - The Best Is Yet To Come by Jessica Redland
AlphaKIT - For H - Carrying Albert Home by Homer Hickam
MysteryKIT - psychological thriller/mystery - All Her Little Lies by Becca Day
✅ ScaredyKIT - psychological thriller - The Haven by Amanda Jennings
SFFKIT - the day after - Wool by Hugh Howey

November 2025

123. Ribbing and Runes by Nancy Warren - finished 1st November 2025 - September CoverCAT - cat or dog on cover
124. Final Descent by Audrey J. Cole - finished 2nd November 2025 - November I Read Cereal Boxes board game - type of transport on cover
125. Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte - finished 3rd November 2025 - August ColourCAT - grey
126. The Haven by Amanda Jennings - finished 4th November 2025 - November ScaredyKIT - psychological thriller
127. Plain Wisdom by Cindy Woodsmall and Miriam Flaud - finished 5th November 2025 - October CultureCAT - non-mainstream religious subcultures
128. Book of Colours by Robyn Cadwallader - finished 7th November 2025 - June AlphaKIT - letter C
129. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame - finished 8th November 2025 - July AlphaKIT - letter W
130. The Ornithologist's Field Guide To Love by India Holton - finished 10th November 2025 - BingoDOG - profession in title
131. The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis - finished 11th November 2025 - September AlphaKit - letter B
132. Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis - finished 12th November 2025 - September I Read Cereal Boxes board game - continue a series
133. Mosaics and Magic by Nancy Warren - finished 13th November 2025 - September AlphaKIT - letter M
134. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.D. Lewis - finished 14th November 2025 - September I Read Cereal Boxes board game - childhood favourite
135. Z For Zachariah by Robert C. O'Brien - finished 15th November 2025 - Year long AlphaKIT - letter Z
136. XOXO by Axie Oh - finished 16Th November 2025 - Year long AlphaKIT - letter X
137. The Golden Age of Magic by Luanne G. Smith - finished 17th November 2025 - BingoDOG - Hollywood!
138. Jade and Emerald by Michelle See-Tho - finished 18th November 2025 - August AlphaKIT - letter J
139. The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery - finished 19th November 2025 - November ColourCAT - blue
140. The Yellow Houses by Stella Gibbons - finished 21st November 2025 - June ColourCAT - yellow
141. The Meryl Streep Movie Club by Mia March - finished 22nd November 2025 - October CoverCAT - something that would fit in your pocket (DVD)
142. Good As Gold by Justin Smith - finished 24th November 2025 - February ColourCAT - gold
143. War Horse by Michael Morpurgo - finished 25th November 2025 - BingoDOG - non human narrator
144. Two Old Women by Velma Wallis - finished 26th November 2025 - November CultureCAT - American Indigenous culture
145. Contact by Carl Sagan - finished 28th November 2025 - August SFFKIT - space
146. No One Leaves The Castle by Christopher Healy - finished 29th November 2025 - November I Read Cereal Boxes board game - genre blend (fantasy mystery)
147. Ana On The Edge by A.J. Sass - finished 30th November 2025 - November I Read Cereal Boxes board game - LGBTQI+ character

147/207 = 71.01%

Read Around The World 8/12 = 66.67%
I Read Cereal Boxes board game 38/48 = 79.17% Final Descent, Prince Caspian,The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, No One Leaves The Castle, Ana On The Edge
BingoDOG 21/25 = 84% The Ornithologist's Field Guide To Love, The Golden Age of Magic, War Horse
CoverCAT 10/12 = 83.33% Ribbing and Runes, The Meryl Streep Movie Club
ColourCAT 8/12 = 66.67% Agnes Grey, The Blue Castle, The Yellow Houses, Good As Gold
CultureCAT 8/12 = 66.67% Plain Wisdom, Two Old Women
NatureKIT 6/12 = 50%
RandomKIT 7/12 = 58.33%
AlphaKIT 17/26 = 65.38% Book of Colours, The Wind in the Willows, The Horse and His Boy, Mosaics and Magic, Z For Zachariah, XOXO, Jade and Emerald
MysteryKIT 8/12 = 66.67%
ScaredyKIT 10/12 = 83.33% The Haven
SFFKIT 6/12 = 50% Contact

Book 123. Ribbing and Runes by Nancy Warren

September CoverCAT - cat or dog on cover

Another fun addition to this series as we finally head towards the wedding. Lucy has some difficult decisions coming up in the next book.
We also have the setup for another series featuring some of the characters in a different location, which I look forward to reading also.

Book 124. Final Descent by Audrey J. Cole

November I Read Cereal Boxes board game - type of transport on cover

The premise of this novella could have been thrilling with plenty of twists and turns. Is Claire imagining what is happening to her? Others are telling her it is all in her mind. Or is she being manipulated?
However the format of a novella didn't give enough time for slow development which would have built suspense. It all happened much too quickly for the reader to be invested in the characters or the plot. Definitely worth developing into a full length novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and Rainier Publishing for for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book 125. Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte

August ColourCAT - grey

The perceptiveness of the Bronte sisters is always present in their books, with Agnes Grey being no exception. Anne Bronte unpacks so many issues, such as the rearing and education of children; the satisfaction and contentment to be had in living a simple life as opposed to the disappointment and sorrow that can result in putting all your hopes in riches and outward appearances; the propensity of society to value beauty and shallow accomplishments over substance and good character.
A delightful, gentle story.

Book 126. The Haven by Amanda Jennings

November ScaredyKIT - psychological thriller

I think we have all dreamt of escaping the world and living in paradise. But as one of the characters says, the problem with utopia is people. People are messy and have different outlooks and thoughts on life, even when it seems they all want the same thing.
I read this in one day as it certainly was gripping. It takes a while for utopia to break down but you can see the cracks start to show and it keeps you enthralled as you wait to see exactly what form the break down will take.
The descriptions of Cornwall and the moor are gorgeous and it certainly sounds idyllic (until winter comes).
The ending wrapped it up nicely and I am happy we found out what happened and were not left wondering.

Book 127. Plain Wisdom by Cindy Woodsmall and Miriam Flaud

October CultureCAT - non-mainstream religious subcultures

Encouraging little stories which gave the reader an insight into the lives of two women from different cultures. Sometimes we spend too much time focusing on the differences when really there are so many similarities between us all.

Book 128. Book of Colours by Robyn Cadwallader

June AlphaKIT - letter C

A fascinating look at the beginning of the book trade in London in the early 1300s. Illumination and the painting of Books of Hours commissioned by the nobility were just beginning to created by artists outside monasteries and nunneries. It is amazing to consider the time and painstaking work needed to create one book and to consider the incredible detail contained within each page.
The author has obviously spent an equivalent amount of time and effort in researching this book as the description of the artistry is exquisite. Most fascinating of all is the inclusion at the beginning of each chapter of an excerpt from The Art of Illumination, a book being written by one of the characters to record the details of the work required. These excerpts explain the creation of many of the colours used in the paintings and there is a huge amount of work required to create these beautiful colours.
The story alternates between that of the limners (illuminators, artists) working on the book and the Lady Mathilda, the noble woman who commissioned the work and how their lives eventually intersect. While the story was interesting, it is definitely the colours, as attested to in the title, who are the stars of the book.

>262 JayneCM: - That sounds very interesting. And I like the cover very much too. BB for me.

Book 129. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

July AlphaKIT - letter W

. . . there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats."

So says Rat as he takes Mole on his first meander down the river.
A gentle delight of a book, with lovely friendships and caring and consideration shown throughout (maybe not so much by Toad!)
But the joy of this book is in the nature writing - so descriptive, so beautiful; you can feel every scene as though you are there in it.

Book 130. The Ornithologist's Field Guide To Love by India Holton

BingoDOG - profession in title

While I did enjoy the witty banter between the love interests, I should know by now that romantasy is not my thing. I always find myself disappointed that the fantasy has been relegated to a back seat compared to the romance. And I absolutely wanted more of the magical birds - I wanted them to be the stars of the book as the little there was about them sounded fascinating.
A fun read but definitely more for those who like their fantasy to be romance heavy.

Book 131. The Horseand His Boy by C.S. Lewis

September AlphaKIT - letter B

Whilst not my favourite of the Narnia books, this is still a wonderful read. We learn more of what has become of Lucy, Susan, Peter and Edmund in Narnia and visit some of the lands surrounding Narnia and see their relationships with the Kings and Queens of Narnia.
A case of lost identity leading to a daring escape and ending with, of course, happiness and peace in Narnia.

Book 132. Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis

September I Read Cereal Boxes board game - continue a series

This book gives us our first meeting with one of my favourite inhabitants of Narnia, the brave and honourable mouse Reepicheep. It is wonderful to see Lucy, Edmund, Peter and Susan back in Narnia. Inspirational allegory in this book in the series as Lucy becomes the only one able to see Aslan and must follow him, regardless of what others may think of her actions.
These books retain all their childhood magic for me - at the end, I still don't see how the children can bear to leave Narnia and return to their lives in England.

Book 133. Mosaics and Magic by Nancy Warren

September AlphaKIT - letter M

Very much enjoyed celebrating Lucy and Rafe's wedding day which would, of course, have been incomplete without the mystery of the theft of a priceless Tudor painting to solve.

Book 134. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis

September I Read Cereal Boxes board game - childhood favourite

This book begins with arguably one of the best opening lines in literature and one of the best summations of a character.

"There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Stubbs, and he almost deserved it."

The dreamlike descriptions of the end of the world, the adventures throughout and the subtle lessons for all children are just as magical as they were in my childhood. And just as when I first read this, I came to the end of the book and still cannot imagine how Lucy and Edmund can bear the knowledge that they will never enter Narnia again.
And Reepicheep, you are my hero!

Book 135. Z For Zachariah by Robert C. O'Brien

Year long AlphaKIT - letter Z

This was the first post-apocalyptic novel I ever read as a teen in the 80s and I remember it making a major impression on me. Much less action-packed and violent than equivalent books now, it is slower and more thoughtful.
But heaven help me, why is Ann so passive?! Why decide her option is to shoot the dog rather than the man? She continually makes excuses for his behaviour and then leaves the valley to him. Although probably a more realistic look at how a 16 year old girl would have behaved than the gun-toting modern equivalent.

Book 136. XOXO by Axie Oh

Year long AlphaKIT - letter X

These are a few of my favourite things!
A performing arts high school setting.
A meet cute where one of the couple are famous but the other doesn't know this and so treats them like any other human.
A great friendship group alongside the romance.
This was an adorable read, all the characters are delightful. It was interesting to learn more about K-Pop and how the bands are created and the insane expectations placed on these teenagers.

Book 137. The Golden Age of Magic by Luanne G. Smith

BingoDOG - Hollywood!

There were so many elements in this book to love. Set in 1920s Hollywood, it should have been full of glamour and splendour and fashion, especially as one of the characters was a seamstress in the costume department of a movie studio. An update to the operations of fairy godmothers in modern times. Unexpected animals as familiars.
But it all fell somewhat flat. It was difficult to engage with the characters. The ending was interesting though and I am keen to see where the next book takes us.

Book 138. Jade and Emerald by Michelle See-Tho

August AlphaKIT - letter J

"We were complex and angry and hurt and loving and trying."

Pretty much the summation of all mother-daughter relationships, at least at some time.
Lei Ling is at that awkward stage of early adolescence, where you don't know who you are or who you want to be. Added to this is the fact that there are only two Asian girls at her high school and the other one is extremely rich - Lei Ling is 'povo', as she calls herself.
This book speaks to the experience of many first generation children, as their parents have moved to Australia to better the lives of their children and often push very hard for them to succeed to take advantage of the sacrifices made on their behalf.
It is a story of the pain and difficulties of growing up, when the grass is always greener on the other side and everyone else's lives always seem better than our own.
The characters seemed somewhat one dimensional though, particularly Gigi. We never see her true nature as she is always hidden behind her wealth and beauty.

Book 139. The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery

November ColourCAT - blue

Such a delightful, charming book, just what I expected from L.M. Montgomery. The witty, tongue in cheek humour around Valancy's terrible family members had me laughing out loud.
The nature writing is just beautiful. The author brings to life all the colours, smells and sights of the Canadian woodland through all the seasons of the year.

>274 JayneCM: I liked that one too! Montgomery's nature writing is such a treat.

Book 140. The Yellow Houses by Stella Gibbons

June ColourCAT - yellow

An odd book that seemed to go nowhere and was quite disjointed. I enjoy a character driven, slow and gentle read but this one seemed to have no discernible point. I still enjoyed Stella Gibbon's beautiful writing and scene setting.

Book 141. The Meryl Streep Movie Club by Mia March

October CoverCAT - something that would fit in your pocket (DVD)

It was absolutely the title that drew me to this book as I love Meryl Streep. But the discussions of the movies drove me crazy as they talked during the movies! That is one of my absolute pet peeves and it very much annoyed me.
Otherwise this was an enjoyable read, a tear jerker of course. None of the characters will really stick with me as they were all fairly standard chick lit characters.

Book 142. Good As Gold by Justin Smith

February ColourCAT - gold

Well, I was not expecting that! I picked this up to read a ripping tale, a comedy of errors, to have a laugh at some larrikin Aussie characters.
I was not expecting to be in tears for pages and pages. But these characters really get under your skin and you feel everything with them. It is a great skill for the author to have you going from tears of laughter to gut wrenching sobs in a few pages.

"But Mary had long known that great grief always came after great love. That was the price."

An incredibly moving and memorable book.

>278 JayneCM: Those kind of books are few and far between!

Book 143. War Horse by Michael Morpurgo

BingoDOG - non human narrator

This book, like the most famous horse book of all time Black Beauty, is narrated by Joey, as we see his life as a young colt and then being sent to France in World War I.
Through Joey's eyes, we see the futility and waste of war as well as the caring and honourable side of human nature. Sometimes it takes the worst to bring out the best in people.
As a horse loving (obsessed!) child, I remember first reading about the plight of the war horses. The suffering they endured during the war was terrible but then to be left behind seemed to me the greatest injustice. As Sergeant Thunder says, "War veterans they are. D'you mean to say that after all they've been through, after all we've done lookin' after 'em . . . that they're to end up like that?"

Book 144. Two Old Women by Velma Wallis

November CultureCAT - Indigenous America

Based on an Alaskan legend, this story tells us that age does not necessarily acquaint with hopeless or useless. These old women show the younger people that they are not to be discounted, that they can be brave and strong when needed and that they have much to teach those who will listen.

Book 145. Contact by Carl Sagan

August SFFKIT - space

Wow, that was a lot! I am not going to pretend that I understand half of the physics going on here; I need to do some more reading in that area!
It was a long leadup to the space trip but the descriptions of the trip were just lyrical and beautiful.
Very thought provoking with so many issues to unpack re world society, religion, military/nuclear weapons, human relationships and what it means to be human. It certainly makes you feel very small in the grand scheme of the infinite universe.

"For small creatures such as we the vastness is bearable only through love."

Book 146. No One Leaves The Castle by Christopher Healy

November I Read Cereal Boxes board game - genre blend (fantasy mystery)

A fun read but I did expect more. The characters were, on the whole, unengaging and not that memorable. The humour often fell flat. The plot was interesting with plenty of twists and turns, the delivery not so great.

Book 147. Ana On The Edge by A.J. Sass

November I Read Cereal Boxes board game - LGBTQI+ character

Wonderful! Every library needs to have this book as it fills a gap in middle grade LGBTQI+ fiction that is essential. Set against the extremely gender defined world of figure skating makes Ana's discovery of her identity even more poignant.
The discovery process is beautifully described as Ana has no idea that her feelings make sense and that it is OK to feel that way. "I need to find a word that describes this in-between feeling." . . . . . "wishing there was a third option." I also appreciate that Ana's decisions on her identity are left open, that there no wrapping up for an ending. Ana is still exploring identity and there is always room for change.
All the friendships are warm and sincere. Everything about this book just felt like a warm hug and encouragement to be yourself. I adored it.

Hullo Jayne! So glad to be catching up on your reading for the past month and a bit. I love how you are including a first line or last sentence in your reviews.

I think your childhood shelves and mine were very close, with Charlotte's Web and The Chronicles of Narnia being ones that I read over and over. I really, really liked the first part of The Horse and his Boy when the horse was explaining to his boy how to be a good rider, from a horse's perspective.

>280 JayneCM: When I saw this movie in the theater I remember having tears during so many scenes. How tragic for horses as well as the men, and thank you for your review of this timely book.

>285 threadnsong: Thanks for visiting! I think The Horse and His Boy is definitely underappreciated compared to other Narnia books. I also really love The Silver Chair and am looking forward to reading it again. The BBC production was fabulous too.
I would not have dared to see War Horse at the movies as I know how much I would cry.

My plan for December CATs, KITs and other reads

Carry forward from March
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 1. - cosy fantasy - The Baby Dragon Cafe by A.T. Qureshi
AlphaKIT - For U - Linus and Etta Could Use a Win by Caroline Huntoon
AlphaKIT - For A - The One That Got Away: Short Story by Mike Gayle

Carry forward from April
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 2. - fairy tale, legend, myth or book retelling - The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec
✅ ColourCAT - brown - Sarah Brown and the Cabin by Audrey Walker
✅ NatureKIT - flying creatures - Birding Without Borders by Noah Strycker

Carry forward from May
✅ ColourCAT - red - The Red Texts Club by Andrea VanRyken
CultureCAT - punk/metal reads - Punks Versus Zombies by Jon Cronshaw
RandomKIT - punctuation - The Doll's House by Lisa Unger
AlphaKIT - For I - All My Darkest Impulses by Lisa Unger

Carry forward from June
SFFKIT - anthologies and collections - Wishing Stars by Nenia Campbell

July
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 1. - murder - Beach Hut 512 by Dorothy Koomson
CultureCAT - India - Caste Away by Hill Krishnan
RandomKIT - 'the hills are alive' - A Wild Rose by Fiona Davis
AlphaKIT - For T - How To Kill Men and Get Away With It by Katy Brent
SFFKIT - alternative history - We Were Here First by Quentin Engelbrecht

August
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 4. - nature on the cover - Natural Selection by Elin Hildebrand
CultureCAT - free space; any culture not your own - Japanese Myths by Ayaka Sazanami
NatureKIT - weather and climate - The Weather of the Future by Heidi Cullen
RandomKIT - a writer - The Ghost Writer by Loreth Anne White
MysteryKIT - legal thrillers - Kill Night by Victor Methos

September
Read Around The World - The Sky Beneath Us by Fiona Valpy (Nepal)
✅ ColourCAT - silver - Ian and The Great Silver Dragon Bry-Ankh by Jim Dilyard
NatureKIT - urban nature - The Way of Coyote by Gavin Van Horn
SFFKIT - back to school - Secrets of the Chosen by Keyur Veradiya

October
Read Around The World - The Fourth Daughter by Lyn Liao Butler (Taiwan)
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 3. - has a map - The Eye of the Storm by Laura Ellen Anderson
NatureKIT - endangered species - Endangered Adventures by M.A. Greene
✅ AlphaKIT - For P - Playing Fae Games by Isa Medina
✅ MysteryKIT - police procedural - Lyrebird by Jane Caro
✅ ScaredyKIT - Gothic - Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
✅ SFFKIT - mysterious artifacts - Finding Fae Artifacts by Isa Medina

November
Read Around The World - The Cuban Daughter by Soraya Lane (Cuba)
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 4. - season in title - Summer Frost by Blake Crouch
✅ CoverCAT - celestial objects - We Fly Beneath The Stars by Suzanne Kelman
NatureKIT - effects of nature - Fox & I by Catherine Raven
✅ RandomKIT - villains - The Kill Clause by Lisa Unger
AlphaKIT - For Y - Don't You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane
AlphaKIT - For H - The Christmas Book Hunt by Jenny Colgan
✅ MysteryKIT - psychological thriller/mystery - All Her Little Lies by Becca Day
SFFKIT - the day after - Ark by Veronica Roth

December
Read Around The World -
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 1. - disability rep - Out On A Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 2. - graphic novel - Amber Brown is not a Crayon by Paula Danziger
✅ I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 3. - involves magic - Breaking Fae Spells by Isa Medina
I Read Cereal Boxes board game - 4. - house on cover - Model Home by J. Courtney Sullivan
✅ CoverCAT - something you would like as a gift - Library Love by Ophelia Lux (book, of course!)
ColourCAT - purple - Edged In Purple by John W. Feist
CultureCAT - LGBTQ+ culture - Before Her by Jacqueline Woodson
NatureKIT - wild card - Under The Stars by Matt Gaw
✅ RandomKIT - endings and beginnings - Christmas of New Beginnings by Kirsty Ferry
AlphaKIT - For V - Royal Valentine by Sariah Wilson
AlphaKIT - For R - The Rise - novella by Ian Rankin
✅ MysteryKIT - cosy mystery - Cables and Conjurers by Nancy Warren
✅ ScaredyKIT - favourite scary trope - The Cat Who Chased Ghosts by Nic Minella
✅ SFFKIT - disabled main character - Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier