Paul C's Roads Less Travelled in 2026 - 1

These are completos The Chilean version of a loaded hotdog.
For this year's threads I will be featuring food from the roads less travelled we will be visiting. January will see us in Chile.

By way of introduction I am Paul. I have resided in Malaysia since 1994. I am a construction professional. Husband to Hani who is the biggest hearted person I know as well as being the best cook. I have three "kid"; Yasmyne (28), Kyran (26) and Belle (21) as well as a grandaughter Nami (Pip) who is 2 years old. I have a place in Yorkshire, England from whence I hail and Hani spends much of her time there (and I hope to do so soon) as Belle and Yasmyne (+Pip) also are in Yorkshire, whilst Kyran works as a teaching assistant in London.

My reading is varied and I also enjoy poetry (reading it and occasionally scribbling it down).

Opening Words

I am starting the year with a shared read with Stasia: The Place of Tides by James Rebanks




"The age of humans will pass. Perhaps the end had already begun, though it may take a long time to play out. "

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

Poetry

Walter de la Mare died 70 years ago this year (in 1956)

This is his poem The Market Place

My mind is like a clamorous market-place.
All day in wind, rain, sun, its babel wells;
Voice answering to voice in tumult swells.
Chaffering and laughing, pushing for a place,
My thoughts haste on, gay, strange, poor, simple, base;
This one buys dust, and that a bauble sells:
But none to any scrutiny hints or tells
The haunting secrets hidden in each sad face.

The clamour quietens when the dark draws near;
Strange looms the earth in twilight of the West,
Lonely with one sweet star serene and clear,
Dwelling, when all this place is hushed to rest,
On vacant stall, gold, refuse, worst and best,
Abandoned utterly in haste and fear.

Books Read:

January:

1. The Place of Tides by James Rebanks (2024) 285pp {Non-Fiction} Penguin/Allen Lane (Completed 1/1/26) 8/10
2. Nazi Literature in the Americas by Roberto Bolano (1996) 204 pp {Fiction} Vintage (Completed 3/1/26) RLT Challenge/ TM Challenge 6/10
3. Girl by Ruth Padel (2024) 107 pp {Poetry} Vintage (Completed 4/1/26) 4/10
4. Shardik by Richard Adams (1974) 592 pp {SF/Fantasy} Oneworld (Completed 6/1/26) BAC/TM Challenge 7/10
5. Antarctica by Claire Keegan (1999) 209pp {Short Stories} Faber (Completed 7/1/26) 8.5/10

Current Reading

Roads Less Travelled



THE AMERICAN CONTINENT OFF THE BEATEN PATH

Our tour of the less well traveled pathways of the American continent in 2026.

I will not impinge on the wonderful American Author Challenge and I am not looking to repeat the Canadian author challenges that have featured as this is largely about everywhere else on the continent.

This will be our journey:

JANUARY - CHILEAN AUTHORS: https://www.librarything.com/topic/377059
1. Nazi Literature in the Americas by Roberto Bolano

FEBRUARY - ANGLO CARIBBEAN AUTHORS
MARCH - MEXICAN AUTHORS
APRIL - HISPANIC NORTH AMERICANS
MAY - BRAZILIAN AUTHORS
JUNE - NON-FICTION ABOUT THE AMERICAS
JULY - CUBAN AUTHORS
AUGUST - FRANCO CARIBBEAN
SEPTEMBER - COLOMBIAN AUTHORS
OCTOBER - FIRST NATION NORTH AMERICANS
NOVEMBER - ARGENTINIAN AUTHORS
DECEMBER - OTHER PARTS OF THE CO

British Author Challenge (Hosted by my friend Amanda)



January - Cressida Cowell & Richard Adams https://www.librarything.com/topic/376836#n9049588
Shardik by Richard Adams

February -

March -

April -

May -

June -

July -

August -

September -

October -

November -

December -

NON-FICTION CHALLENGE



Hosted this year by my friend Benita.

JANUARY : PRIZE WINNERS

The Time Machine

I will be reading 200 books one from each of the last 200 years, I will read them in date order and limit myself to one book per author.
Starting 2025 and ending 31 December 2026. I am combining this with my 50 Modern Classics from last years and other years I covered last year. The older books I will try to read in sequence

1826 : The Last Man by Mary Shelley
1827 : The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni
1828 : Pelham by Edward Bulwer Lytton
1829 : The Misfortunes of Elphin by Thomas Love Peacock
1830 : At the Sign of the Cat and Racket by Honore de Balzac
1908 : The Blue Bird by Maurice Maeterlinck
1945 : The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams
1946 : Comet in Moominland by Tove Jansson
1947 : We Always Treat Women Too Well by Raymond Queneau
1952 : All Our Yesterdays by Natalia Ginzburg
1954 : The Fellowship of the Ring by JRR Tolkien
1960 : The Great Fortune by Olivia Manning
1961 : Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
1963 : The Experience of Pain by Carlo Emilio Gadda
1965 : Lost Empires by JB Priestley
1966 : Silence by Shusaku Endo
1967 : Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin
1974 : Shardik by Richard Adams
1975 : The Monkey Wrench Gang by Edward Abbey
1976 : Blaming by Elizabeth Taylor
1977 : Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
1978 : The Cement Garden by Ian McEwan
1979 : The White Album by Joan Didion
1988 : The Pigeon by Patrick Suskind
1991 : The Whitby Witches by Robin Jarvis
1996 : Nazi Literature in the Americas by Roberto Bolano
1997 : God's Gift to Women by Don Paterson
1999 : Antarctica by Claire Keegan
2002 : Crow Lake by Mary Lawson
2007 : The Burnt-Out Town of Miracles by Roy Jacobsen
2008 : The Museum of Innocence by Orhan Pamuk
2009 : In Other Rooms, Other Wonders by Daniyal Mueenuddin
2011 : What it is Like to go to War by Karl Marlantes
2012 : Nagasaki by Eric Faye
2014 : The End of Eddy by Louis Eduoard
2016 : Conclave by Robert Harris
2017 : The Pine Islands by Marion Poschmann
2018 : A Lucky Man by Jamel Brinkley
2019 : The Other Americans by Laila Lalami
2020 : The Cold Millions by Jess Walter
2021 : The Heeding by Rob Cowen
2022 : Heart Lamp Stories by Banu Mushtaq
2023 : Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood
2024 : The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden
2025 : Nesting by Roisin O'Donnell

45/200

A-Z Challenge

A = 12 Books: Richard Adams
B = 12 Books: Bolano
C = 12 Books:
D = 8 Books:
E = 6 Books:
F = 8 Books:
G = 12 Books:
H = 12 Books:
I = 6 Books:
J = 6 Books:
K = 6 Books: Claire Keegan
L = 8 Books:
M = 12 Books:
N = 6 Books:
O = 6 Books:
P = 8 Books: Padel
Q = 3 Books:
R = 8 Books: Rebanks
S = 12 Books:
T = 8 Books:
U = 6 Books:
V = 6 Books:
W = 8 Books:
X = 3 Books:
Y = 3 Books:
Z = 3 Books

Total 200

5/200

English Language Awards

50 Awards I will Monitor With Current Winner

1. BOOKER PRIZE: Flesh by David Szalay READ

2. BOOKER INTERNATIONAL: Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq READ

3. GOLDSMITH'S PRIZE: We Live Here Now by C.D. Rose

4. ORWELL PRIZE FOR FICTION: Heart Be at Peace by Donal Ryan

5. JAMES TAIT BLACK PRIZE: My Heavenly Favourite by Lucas Rijneveld

6. HAWTHORNDEN PRIZE: Lublin by Manya Wilkinson

7. NERO FICTION PRIZE: Lost in the Garden by Adam S Leslie

8. BRITISH BOOK AWARD WINNER: James by Percival Everett READ

9. DYLAN THOMAS PRIZE: The Coin by Yasmin Zaher

10. WOMEN'S PRIZE: The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden READ

11. WALTER SCOTT PRIZE: The Land in Winter by Andrew Miller READ

12. SCOTTISH BOOK AWARD: What Doesn't Kill Us by Ajay Close

13. WALES BOOK AWARD: Clear by Carys Davies

14. WATERSTONES DEBUT FICTION AWARD: The Artist by Lucy Steeds READ

15. BETTY TRASK AWARD: Winter Animals by Ashani Lewis

16. AUTHOR'S CLUB FIRST FICTION PRIZE: Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon READ

17. ONDAATJE PRIZE: Clear by Carys Davies

18. JHALAK PRIZE: Anansi's Gold by Yepoka Yeebo

19. THE WRITERS PRIZE: The Wren, The Wren by Anne Enright READ

20. THE ENCORE PRIZE: Lublin by Manya Wilkinson

21. IMPAC DUBLIN PRIZE: The Adversary by Michael Crummey

22. IRISH BOOK AWARDS: Nesting by Roisin O'Donnell READ

23. PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTION: James by Percival Everett READ

24. NATIONAL BOOK AWARDS: The True True Story of Raja the Gullible and His Mother by Rabih Alameddine

25. KIRKUS PRIZE: The Slip by Lucas Schaefer

26. NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD: My Friends by Hisham Matar

27. LA TIMES BOOK AWARD: Say Hello to My Little Friend by Jennine Capo Crucet

28. PEN FAULKNER AWARD: Small Rain by Garth Greenwell

29. PEN HEMINGWAY AWARD: Early Sobrieties by Michael Deagler

30. THE CENTER FOR FIRST FICTION: Natch by Darrell Kinsey

31. GILLER PRIZE: Pick a Colour by Souvankham Thammavongsa

32. GOVERNOR GENERAL PRIZE: Small Ceremonies by Kyle Edwards

33. MILES FRANKLIN PRIZE: Ghost Cities by Siang Lu

34. PRIME MINISTER'S AWARD: Theory & Practice by Michelle De Kretser READ

35. OCKHAM NEW ZEALAND BOOK AWARDS: Delirious by Damien Wilkins

36. CNA FICTION AWARD: The Lost Love of Akbar Manzil by Shubnum Khan

37. T.S. ELIOT PRIZE: Fierce Elegy by Peter Gizzi

38. FORWARD PRIZE: Avidya by Ravinthiran & Wellwater by Solie

39. PULITZER POETRY: New and Selected Poems by Marie Howe

40. NATIONAL BOOK AWARD POETRY: The Intentions of Thunder by Patricia Smith

41. GRIFFIN PRIZE: Psyche Running by Durs Grunbein

43. DUFF COOPER PRIZE: Wild Thing by Sue Prideaux

44. WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION: The Story of a Heart by Rachel Clarke READ

45. WOLFSON HISTORY PRIZE: Survivors: Lost Stories of the Last Captives by Hannah Durkin

46. ORWELL NON-FICTION PRIZE: Looking at Women, Looking at War by Victoria Amelina

47. BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE: How to End a Story by Helen Garner

48. CUNDHILL PRIZE: The Summer of Fire and Blood by Lyndal Cooper

49. PULITZER PRIZE FOR HISTORY: Native Nations by Duval & Combee by Fields-Black

50. NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR NON-FICTION: One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad

I have not included other prizes for more specific genre fiction; thrillers, sci-fi/fantasy, horror, YA etc because it would spiral to over a hundred awards.

I have not included foreign language awards (other than as translated into English) as again there are so many great awards that I simply couldn't keep up with them all.

I have only included single book awards and not awards that award multiple books or lifetime achievements.

I have favoured UK awards admittedly on the selfish grounds that I hail from there and my reading origins are bound by place.

Where Awards have multiple categories (British Book Awards etc) I have only included the fiction winner unless separately included.

Currently 12/52 books read

BOOKS ADDED (hopefully a reduction here!!!)

January
1. Ruin and Renewal by Paul Betts
2. Super Pulses by Jenny Chandler
3. The Road Cyclist's Companion by Peter Drinkell
4. The Heart is a Shifting Sea by Elizabeth Flock
5. Elidor by Alan Garner
6. Angel Island by Inez Haynes Gillmore
7. One of Our Ministers is Missing by Alan Johnson
8. Wilder: How Rewilding is Transforming Conservation and Changing the World by Millie Kerr
9. August Blue by Deborah Levy
10. The War of the Poor by Eric Vuillard
11. An African History of Africa by Zeinab Badawi
12. On Reflection: Looking for Life's Meaning by Richard Holloway
13. Selected Poems by Linton Kwesi Johnson
14. Poems from an Attic by Iris Murdoch
15. A Lonely Man by Chris Power
16. Together: A Manifesto Against a Heartless World by Ece Temelkuran

8 non-fiction
4 fiction
2 poetry
1 fantasy
1 thriller

By Men 9
By Women 7

Read: 0

Book Stats 2026

Books Read : 5
Pages Read in completed books : 1,397

Longest book : Shardik : 592 pp
Shortest book : Girl : 107 pp
Mean book length : 279.40 pp

Pages per day average in completed books : 199.57

Books written by men : 3
Books written by women: 2

Non-Fiction : 1
Fiction : 1
Poetry : 1
Thriller :
SF/Fantasy : 1
Drama :
Short Stories : 1

1970s : 1 book
1990s : 2 book
2020s : 2 books

UK Authors : 3
Chile Authors : 1
Ireland Authors : 1

Challenges :
Roads Less Travelled : 1 book
Non-Fiction Challenge :
British Author Challenge : 1 books
Time Machine Challenge : 3 (45)
1001 Books :

Awards :

Read : 5 books
Added : 0 books

Change to TBR : -5

January Books : 5
January Pages : 1,397
Pages Average : Per book : 279.40 Per Day : 199.57

THIS THREAD IS DEDICATED TO :



Caroline McElwee.

Beloved by so many in this group and elsewhere across the site.

To Caroline

If she liked something
You knew that her taste was unerringly sound
That she would saliently point out
Qualities a more careless eye may not have found.

She walked us through the dusty hallways
Of exhibitions and enthused on objet d'art
Whose beauty she would bestow upon us
Closely that the ether never seemed quite so far.

The paintings, the gardens and the parks
Whether brush strokes or shady nooks
She coloured the world with smile and kind word
For those with a shared love of books.

Welcome to my first thread of 2026

I will slowly get set up here and will be back more fully on 1 January.

Happy new year and thread!

Happy new year and happy new thread, Paul!

Happy New Thread! 🧵

>16 amanda4242: Thank you, Amanda.

Looking forward to another year with you and seeing how many challenge reads you manage to rack up.

>17 bell7: Thanks Mary. Let's see if our reading numbers closely resemble each other as usual in 2026.

>18 SilverWolf28: Lovely to see you here early, Silver. I will be interested when I do the final reckoning of books read in 2025 what the podium looks like but I am sure that you'll be standing on it somewhere!

>21 PaulCranswick: I've read 514 books so far and with 5 days left in the year I'll probably reach at least 520 books.

>22 SilverWolf28: Impressive!

Happy New Year, Paul! I hope it's filled with lots of good books!

Okay...it's day one, and I'm #25 to post! 2026 won't be any slower than '25 around here.

Happy New Year to come Paul. I've been much less active on LT in recent years but I appreciate the enthusiasm you bring to your threads even if I play catchup reading them most of the time. It makes me sad to lose a member like Caroline who brought so much to LT over the years.

Keep on reading!

Happy New Year and new thread Paul. Thank you for your friendship.

>24 cbl_tn: Thank you Carrie. I wish the self-same for you my friend.

>25 richardderus: Yikes that is a scary thought, RD. I am hoping that you will be the busiest thread this year.

>26 RBeffa: Thank you, Ron. I treasure your visits my good friend however spaced they may be.

You are right about Caroline it is a bitter blow.

>27 SqueakyChu: And I wholeheartedly thank you for your friendship too, Madeline. xx

Happy new thread Paul. Happy reading in the new year.

>30 Kristelh: Lovely to see you book twin!

Happy new thread, Paul! And happy reading in the new year.

>32 EllaTim: So pleased that you'll be with us, Ella. You are very much integral to my enjoyment of the group.

Welcome back, Paul!

I've got the BAC setup over here. https://www.librarything.com/topic/376834#

>34 drneutron: Thank you, Jim. I guess I haven't occasioned too much surprise in my return.

>35 amanda4242: I will go and reintroduce myself, Amanda.

Hi Paul!! Sounds like a busy year ahead for you. Best wishes!! And many books. : )

>37 Berly: Hi Kimmers! We always start a new year with the highest of expectations don't we?

Happy New Year to one of my all-time favorites of the 75 challenge groups. I look forward to visiting more often this year. Thanks for all you do for this group.

Thank you dear lady and, you know, the feeling is mutual.

>15 PaulCranswick: Happy New Years, Paul! May this one find your family more together (in Yorkshire, I hope) and less apart.

>22 SilverWolf28: Wow!

>41 ArlieS: I hope that you are right, Arlie. xx

Hi Paul, I hope that I manage to keep up this year much better than last year.

>14 PaulCranswick: Lovely words about Caroline.

Yes, Paul, many thanks for the tribute to Caroline.

Not even the start of the year yet and you're off to the races, Paul. I'll do my best to keep up in 2026!

>43 SandDune: Thanks Rhian. Great minds really because I was just over at your thread welcoming you back.

>44 Whisper1: Thank you, Linda.

>45 Familyhistorian: And I you, Meg. I noticed you have started your thread and I will be across there shortly.

Happy new year, Paul!

>48 ursula: Thank you, Ursula.

>1 PaulCranswick: Oh my!that looks delicious. I will have to try some!

Happy new year!

Happy new year and new thread, Paul!

>50 figsfromthistle: Thanks Anita. When Hani is back with me, I may get her to make her version of them.

>51 jessibud2: Thank you dear Shelley.

Here's the New Year's readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/377057

>53 SilverWolf28: Thank you Silver

The Roads Less Travelled (Americas) thread for January is up:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/377059

We will be visiting Chile.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, my friend!

Happy New Year, Paul. You will need a new thread before the new year! I may join you for some of your off-the-beaten-path challenges.

I hope 2026 is a wonderful year for you and yours.

Happy New Year, Paul. Looking forward to hanging out with you once again, my friend.

Happy New Year, Paul! Hope you have a great year ahead of you!!

Happy New Year!

Should be New Year by where you are by now so...Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year! What a lovely tribute to Caroline.

>56 mahsdad: Thank you, Jeff

>57 amanda4242: And the very same to you, dear Amanda

>58 BLBera: And there was me planning to take things steadier in 2026, posting wise!

Lovely to see you, Beth, and a happy new year to you too.

>59 msf59: Indeed Mark, you are an integral part of our little troupe!

Happy New Year!

>60 Fourpawz2: Lovely to see you, Charlotte. Happy new year. xx

>61 SilverWolf28: Thank you, Silver. xx

>62 RebaRelishesReading: Well into the first morning, Reba. Happy new year back to you my friend.

>63 AMQS: Thank you Anne. Wishing you and your lovely family a lovely 2026.

>66 avatiakh: Thanks, Kerry.

Happy New Year!


It's not the lunar new year yet, but I'm looking ahead. Thanks for being the untiring ambassador of this group visiting so many people through the year.

Happy New Year Paul! I've finally made it over to the new threads.

>70 justchris: Some horse anyhow Chris!

Thank you for those terribly kind words, I think though that Jim is the glue that holds us all together.

>71 vancouverdeb: Relieved to see one of my favourites here, Deb. Keeping an eye out for your thread!

>5 PaulCranswick: Oo, a Claire Keegan book that I do not have yet! I will have to see if I can get a copy!

>6 PaulCranswick: Very much looking forward to reading some new authors this year for the challenge - assuming I can get hold of them, of course.

>9 PaulCranswick: I like the sound of that challenge! I may try that one of these years. . .

>14 PaulCranswick: What a terrific idea, Paul, to dedicate your thread.

I was just checking in to see if you finished the book yet, lol. Happy whatever, Juan!

Happy New Year, Paul - always a joy to visit here and see what you are up to with your threads for the new year. Looking forward to be inspired by food and books from corners of the world I'm not familiar with. I wouldn't mind trying a Chilean hot dog today. I worked new years eve - and the food they served were really, really bad.

Happy New Year, dear Paul.

I hope that your return to England will finally become truth xx

Happy new year, Paul. Just dropping my star. I wish I could keep up with your threads! 75 posts on January 1? I'll do my best anyway.

>75 DianaNL: Diana it is lovely to see you here, I have missed you so. It will not be for want of trying if I don't get back to the UK in the first quarter of this year. At least for a break.

>76 sirfurboy: Thanks Stephen. I am honestly hoping to things a bit steadier around the threads this year.

Happy New Year, Paul! wishing you and your family all the best in 2026!

>78 Carmenere: Thank you, Lynda. I really enjoy your company in this wonderful group.

Happy new year, Paul! May it be filled with books and time spent with your family to the brim!

>9 PaulCranswick: Ah, Manzoni! It should be a great read. I've been meaning to read it for a while, my Italian friend even gave me two (!) copies of the book.
Because the thing is—Manzoni wrote his book in Tuscan, then after about 20 years revisited it, rewrote everything in the dialect the characters were supposed to have that he learned in the meantime (the story takes place in Lombardy), and published everything once again. I wonder what editions is being chosen by the translators throughout the world?...
*let's not get into the dialect/language debate, please, let's just say it's complicated until this day

>80 zuzaer: Thank you and lovely to see you here.

The translation of the Manzoni's book was by Bruce Penman in 1972.

Happy New Year and good reading!

Happy New Year Paul! Best wishes to you and yours for 2026.

And happy new thread.

Happy New Year, Paul. Here's to some fabulous reading!

Happy new year and new thread, Paul!

>82 torontoc: Thank you, Cyrel. Lovely to see you.

>83 humouress: Thanks Nina. x

>84 ChrisG1: Thanks Chris. I always start off with high hopes for my reading.

>85 banjo123: Thank you, Rhonda. Lovely to see you.

Happy New Year and happy new thread, Paul. I hope you get to spend all the time in Yorkshire that you want. My son & daughter-in-law are building a house right next to us (like 75 feet door to door), and we already have a path worn for our 3 year old grandson to use. :)

Dropping by for New Year's and a star. Happy New Year Paul!

>88 mitchma: That sounds fabulous, Paula. I do miss the fresh chill air of Yorkshire at this time of year.

Our grandkids are similar ages - Nami/Pip is nearly 30 months old now.

>89 swynn: That is good to know, Steve. I always enjoy seeing what you have been reading.

I've finally made it over to your thread--just in time for Barney to tell me that I'm supposed to be petting him. I guess that means it is almost time for a reading break. I think I can finish a book on the 1st! I'm close! I also need to put some stitches into a couple of projects this evening.

>72 PaulCranswick: Yep! Jim is the fantastic host, and you're the greatest schmoozer at the party! Plus, all of the poetry and diverse reading goals and so on continue to be inspiring even if I never come close to those sorts of things.

>92 Berly: Thank you, Kimmers. I am always happy to see you buzzing in the threads.

>93 thornton37814: Likewise, Lori, I am just about to complete my first book too. Be careful with Barney, I wouldn't want you to get confused and turn him into a pullover!

>94 justchris: Thanks Chris, at least you can take solace in the fact that I always fail in my goals too!

>97 PaulCranswick: But they're so ambitious in terms of range and volume! Just reading your lists of intentions tire me out, even as I admire them.

>98 justchris: Now I know why my sleeping has improved, Chris!

LOL!

BOOK #1



The Place of Tides by James Rebanks
Date of Publication: 2024
Origin of Author: UK
Genre: Non-Fiction
Gender of Author: Male
Awards etc: Edward Stanford Travel Prize (Shortlisted)
Pages: 285 pp

This is the second book that I have read by James Rebanks and though it doesn't quite match The Shepherd's Life, it is beautifully written and a fascinating account of a world I knew absolutely nothing about.

And then it does a bit more in segue into human existence and the maintenance of disappearing ways of life.

All in all a good way to start off my 2026 reading.

>100 Berly: If I can make you laugh every day of the year, Kimmers, I will be a happy chappy.

>102 PaulCranswick: An admirable goal. It was pretty funny. If only rest and recovery worked like that.

>103 justchris: Indeed and if so I probably wouldn't feel like death warmed up most of the time!

>101 PaulCranswick: I just posted my 'review' as well. Thanks for sharing the read with me, Paul!

>105 alcottacre: And I did keep up!!! I cannot often say that.

Found the new thread and will try to keep track of your reading, but life has really kicked my butt when it comes to time spent with books.

>107 benitastrnad: Lovely to see you here, Benita, and I hope you have a much better reading year my friend.

Happy new year Paul!

Happy New Year, Paul!

So soon book one completed and 110 posts, Paul! Amazing !

>77 PaulCranswick: Hah! some hope. You are on 111 messages now :)

wish you a peaceful 2026, a year that takes you further

Happy new Year, Paul - may your year be full of happines health and joy - and of course - books.

>109 louisisaloafofbreb: Thank you, Lily

>110 quondame: Thanks Susan

>111 vancouverdeb: A decent start, Deb, I will allow.

>112 sirfurboy: Things will settle soon, Stephen.

>113 paulstalder: Thanks, dear Paul

>114 SirThomas: Books will feature for sure, Thomas.

I wish you a joyous new year, Paul!

>106 PaulCranswick: Yay, Paul!

Happy whatever. . .

Hello Paul! Happy New Year, and happy first thread of 2026.

>1 PaulCranswick: I do hope you can move back home this year. Any specific plans?

>14 PaulCranswick: I was saddened to read of Caroline’s death. Thank you for dedicating this thread to her.

Dare I hope to try to keep up with your threads this year?

It sounds like your year is off to a good start, Paul. Keep it up.

FYI- I am still making it through my "Rock & Pop" CD collection. Currently in the "S"s. I wonder where I'll be in the next 6 months. I had no idea this would take a couple of years. Like I mentioned before- I end up listening more by that particular artist, if I own it or not. That is extending things.

I am listening to Patti Smith. I love both Horses & Easter. Is she too punk for you? Of course I will be getting to The Smiths very soon.

>108 PaulCranswick:
According to my reckoning, I only read 81 books this year. That is way down from the 100 per year I normally read. Even working full time I read more than I did this year. On well - new year, new chances to take.

Happy new year! Hope you get home to Yorkshire soon. I heard Pip needs a hug.

>14 PaulCranswick: A lovely tribute to a lovely person.

I admire all your challenges. I invested in a paper book journal that has space for 200 books. More reading, much, much less scrolling on my part and I might be able to do it.

Happy New Year, Paul. Your thread has already taken off!

While I may not be able to keep up here, I am interested in your Americas challenge, and will try to read along there.

Happy New Year Paul! I'm back, full of New Year's good intentions, and look forward to following along a little more closely this year.

>118 Dejah_Thoris: I was over at your new thread a little while before and was saddened to read that you had had a tough year in 2025. Here's hoping that 2026 is much kinder to you, Princess.

>119 alcottacre: Yesterday was a nice day, Stasia, as I worked half day and then caught up with a few attorney friends of mine in the Royal Lake Club.

>120 karenmarie: First quarter hopefully I can get back to the UK for a while at the very least, Karen. I am currently negotiating with Samsung to take care of our arbitration here and handle the new project in Cairo while being based mostly back in Yorkshire.

I am still a little stunned that I can't share poetry and discuss what we are discovering with Caroline anymore.

>121 msf59: I like listening to Patti Smith, Mark, but is relatively small doses. The song she wrote with Springsteen - "Because the Night" is very much a favourite of mine.
The Smiths I love and saw them a couple of times when I was at university.

>122 benitastrnad: I think that it is a question of readjustment, Benita. You had always been so active in everything that taking your work commitments away has possibly left a void that it will take time for you to fill in the ways you want to.

I am scared actually at the thought of my own retirement because I have - like you - always been so driven - that I think I will find the long days ahead a little daunting.

>123 witchyrichy: Lovely to see you, Karen. Pip is staying with her Gran at the moment as Yasmyne brought in the New Year with one of her school friends in London. I had a video call with Hani and Pip yesterday and it was clear who was tiring out who!
I used to keep a book journal and it is interesting to look back at it and what I was reading and enjoying from 1995-2008 when for some reason I stopped.

>124 ffortsa: You are always welcome, Judy. I cannot keep up as well as I used to do but each visit and each hello is special and appreciated.

I am currently reading Roberto Bolano for my first book in the challenge and he is full of ideas.

>125 AnneDC: I was really pleased to see you back, Anne. I have been over at your thread and understand why you were a little distracted a while!

Happy New Year, Paul! I see I was correct in my prediction that, on the second day of the new year, your first thread would already be too long for me to read every post. But, I read many and have noted your recommendation of The Shepherd's Life. I may not be able to visit your threads as much as I might like if you keep posting pics of such delicious looking food! I just finished lunch, and just looking at those scrumptious looking completos is making my mouth water. (Don't stop though. I'll just have to be strong.)

Happy New Year and happy new books!

Hi Paul, starred you once again to see how much you read and how many you add to the shelves. Hope to get to see you in person sometime in 26, mate.

>96 PaulCranswick: LOL - I probably have a few of his "specialty fibers" in what I was stitching! As they say in cross stitch (when you are owned by cats), "stitched with love and cat hair."

>130 Storeetllr: Lovely to see you, Mary. Those completos do look scrumptious don't they?!

>131 foggidawn: Thanks Foggi. I will be very surprised if I manage to get through as many books as you do.

>132 johnsimpson: Indeed John.
I hope that you and Karen have a great year. That your health improves and the NHS take better care of you.
I hope our respective teams do ok although I am hoping mine triumphs tomorrow in the War of the Roses.
I hope that our Test team plays sensible, attacking and more importantly winning cricket with a more balanced team.
I hope that Asa Tribe, James Rew, Josh Bohannon and Jack Carson get chances to shine. I hope that Yorkshire thrive in the County Championship.

>133 thornton37814: Belle is the cat lover in my family, Lori, and I do agree that the cat does seem to rule the roost in her household if that is not too shameless a mixing of metaphors.

Happy New Year, and Happy New Reading Challenge!

Finally found this thread!

>136 ocgreg34: Lovely to see you, Greg. Happy reading in 2026, my friend.

>137 booksaplenty1949: I was missing your posts. Happy New Year! Did you make it to 100 in '25?

BOOK #2



Nazi Literature in the Americas by Roberto Bolano
Date of Publication: 1996
Origin of Author: Chile
Genre: Fiction
Gender of Author: Male
Awards etc: Best Translated Book Award 2008 (Shortlisted)
Challenges: Roads Less Travelled; Time Machine 43/200
Pages: 204 pp

This is a clever and biting compendium settling out both to analyze the bibliographies as well as producing potted histories of various right-wing "Nazi" writers from the Continents of the Americas. The catch being of course that all the writers mentioned and dissected are entirely fictional themselves.

What sets out as being entertaining becomes tedious with repetition although that is allayed somewhat with the life details he assigns each of them. The writer who treasures her baby picture in the arms of Hitler, the writer spurning the "charms" of Ginsberg and so on.

For those familiar with the history of South American literature (and I don't claim to be) would recognize the device as one employed on a number of occasions by Jose Luis Borges.

A writer of obvious talent but not really my idea of what constitutes a novel.

>139 PaulCranswick: It sounds both interesting amd daunting. Where did the idea come from? Were there Nazi writers in South America after the war?

>127 PaulCranswick: I think that is awesome that you saw The Smiths in the 80s. How were they live? I didn't discover them until the early 90s, along with Joy Division.

>140 zuzaer: Not really daunting to be fair and it is not so difficult a read. I'm sure that there were fascist writers and poets in the Americas but these were not they.

>141 msf59:. They were tremendous Mark. I think the best band I saw on the University circuit then was The Housemartins. Morrissey was excellent though with his stylistic strangeness, his flowers and his barefeet.

>138 PaulCranswick: I did. 😻

>144 booksaplenty1949: Well done!!

>145 PaulCranswick: Henry IV part 1 put me over the top.

>146 booksaplenty1949: Hahaha; I'll bet you are not the first person to say that!

I just realized, you might be entertained by the fact that a cricket pub opened in my neighborhood last year. They've always got at least one cricket match on a screen, plus other sports from roller derby to soccer also playing. Their fish and chips were quite tasty.

The Annual Meme in which you use last years read book titles. Blagged from Lori as usual:

Describe yourself: I had read God's Gift to Women but I couldn't mislead my friends to that extent so it is The Reborn

Describe how you feel: Swell

Describe where you currently live: The Safekeep

Your favorite time of day is: Afternoon with the Blinds Drawn

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: The Wild Places

Your favorite form of transportation: Small Boat

Your best friend is: A Lucky Man!

You and your friends are: The Monkey Wrench Gang

Describe your job: Conflict Resolution for Holy Beings

What are you eating: Flesh

What’s the weather like: Fifteen Wild Decembers

You fear: The Experience of Pain

What is the best advice you have to give: Tell Me Everything

Thought for the day: We Always Treat Women Too Well (not really)

How you would like to die: Mother Mary Comes to Me

Your soul’s present condition: Lit Up Inside

What is life for you: Poetry for Life and Other Chronic Conditions

>148 justchris: As you know Chris, I am a devotee of the Gentleman's game. Haven't had much to cheer about this winter with England losing in the Ashes Series to Australia, but I would enjoy a themed pub for sure. Good fish and chips would really seal the deal!

Already 2 books in! You’re doing good, Paul!

About retirement, I began planning that next step early on, about 7 years before but then my situation was complicated by a 35 year mortgage and a support payment (I was on the sending side). Circumstances changed but I was happpy that I started planning early because my next chapter went better. Start planning now, my friend.

>151 Familyhistorian: I am more concerned about what I will do not whether I will be able to afford to retire, Meg, but you are right that retirement planning is important. My retirement plan/policy is supposed to pay out at 70 which is when I guess I will want to tuck up and read more than ever.

>149 PaulCranswick: Your first one got a big chuckle from me. Great answers!

>153 thornton37814: I am glad it made you chuckle, Lori, but it would have utterly bewildered my wife!

Love the meme answers!

>155 foggidawn: Thanks Foggi. There were one or two other answers I could have put that may have been a little more risque!

2025 in review

Best Reads:

SIX OF THE BEST IN NO ALPHABETICAL ORDER BY AUTHOR:

1. Dusk by Robbie Arnott
2. Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton
3. The Shepherd's Life by James Rebanks
4. Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy
5. Hostage by Eli Sharabi
6. The Artist by Lucy Steeds

Tremendous year of reading quality wise and I have a big problem to pick a winner. Three of my best reads were in the last month of the year and I think that I am going to select DUSK as my winner

>152 PaulCranswick: I was surprised to find that once retired, I didn't have any trouble at all finding things to do. It may have helped (?) that I retired while still recovering from cancer treatment, i.e. lower energy than I'd been before. (I'm still lower energy than I'd like to be. Drat it. There's so much I could be doing, if I had the "spoons" for it.)

So you may be surprised how retirement works for you in practice.

Finally finished Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship and Travels, my 1829 pick for the 200 Year Challenge. Actually for the most part it is a significantly earlier work, but apparently Goethe continued to tinker with the Travels section and it did not reach its final form until 1829. A rather confusing work in which the eponymous hero romances a string of mostly indistinguishable women. A child-woman in boy’s dress plays a mysterious role; she inspired the opera Mignon but I cannot imagine its plot. Hamlet is discussed, and mirrored, at length. Another “classic” ie book one is happier to have read than to actually read, although it did have its moments. Carlyle’s translation is engaging.
Next up for the Challenge: Rural Rides.

>157 PaulCranswick: Hostage was my best read for 2025. Glad you had a chance to read it.

>149 PaulCranswick: Ha, ha, Paul. Some good ones in this meme.

Describe your job: Conflict Resolution for Holy Beings

>158 ArlieS: I suppose that the closing of chapters scares me a little, Arlie. I think back to how my father in law degenerated after retirement and it fills me with dread.

>159 booksaplenty1949: My next one is the extremely long Three Musketeers - I really don't know why Dumas' books have to be so lengthy. I admired The Count of Monte Cristo but I think it would have been a far greater book pared down to half the size.

>160 SqueakyChu: I asked Kyran to bring it for me from the UK as it is not available in the shops here, Madeline, and what a powerful, emotional and upsetting read it is. I defy anyone with a shred of compassion in their being not shed a tear towards the end of Sharabi's account.

>161 ctpress: Thanks Carsten. I always look forward to that year end / year beginning meme.

>162 PaulCranswick: I really don't know why Dumas' books have to be so lengthy.

Probably the same reason Charles Dickens' books are so long: they were serialized and the authors wanted to get paid.

I admired The Count of Monte Cristo but I think it would have been a far greater book pared down to half the size.

BLASPHEMER!

>164 amanda4242: Ah yes, serialization!

Really, Amanda, you enjoyed all of The Count of Monte Cristo equally? I seem to recall some rambling sub-plots that were completely unnecessary to my enjoyment of the whole.

>165 PaulCranswick: I loved all of it, especially the intricate subplots.

>166 amanda4242: That is what makes this group and reading so special as it can divide us whilst bringing us together!

>162 PaulCranswick: I think long novels was the style-of-the-day. Look at Dickens!

>168 thornton37814: And Trollope and Thackeray and Hugo!

>162 PaulCranswick: Dumas was indeed paid by the word, as it were, but unlike Dickens and the other British novelists mentioned in some responses here, Dumas farmed out the writing of his novels to other contributors, although he had overall editorial control.

>170 booksaplenty1949: Yes, that is clearly a mark against him. A sort of French 19th century version of James Patterson!

>171 PaulCranswick: More of a brand than an author, it would seem.

>172 booksaplenty1949: I would suspect that it was not quite as brazen as Patterson but it was well known that he employed "assistants".

Hi Paul, and Happy New Year. Joined 75 books for 2026. Just love reading all the bookish posts on LT. I have to stay off FB and YT for my own sanity. What better way than to read...and read...and read!

>174 Mary_Mignano: Yes indeed, Mary Beth and make your pals happy at your return in the process.

>173 PaulCranswick: In our library, we found that the ones Patterson writes with co-authors did not check out as well as the ones he wrote alone. We pretty much only got the ones with just his name.

>176 thornton37814: I never add co-authored modern fiction books, Lori. Be it Patterson or whoever. Since Lee Child handed over most of the work on Reacher to his brother I have dropped the series, Bill and Hillary Clinton are not thriller writers so I wouldn't touch the co-authored stuff they have put out.

BOOK #3



Girl by Ruth Padel
Date of Publication: 2024
Origin of Author: UK
Genre: Poetry
Gender of Author: Female
Awards etc: Poetry Book Society Special Commendation
Challenges: N/A
Pages: 107 pp

This didn't really work too well for me.

There were a few sublime phrases and lines but not enough to sustain the collection. A lot of allusions to Greek mythology and the Goddesses and Sirens and Muses which left me more than a little cold.

I went into it quite excited to read Ruth Padel who had heard such good things but came out of it understanding RD's distaste for the form. Pretentiousness seemed to be at the fore-front.

Not really recommended.

>176 thornton37814: I bailed out on Patterson when he committed The Unforgiveable Sin in one of his Alex Cross books. The title mercifully escapes me, but it was one that ended in a true cliff-hanger. Not a resolution of the main plot point with a dangling thread to lead to the next book, but just abruptly cutting off in the middle of a scene with an infant being kidnapped.

Nope. Not playing that game. Figured out that cheat as a kid back in the '50s when action serials were a popular feature at the Saturday matinees, and they always ended with the hero being pushed over a cliff or trapped in a burning building, with the next "exciting episode" opening with his miraculous escape from last week's certain death. I was insulted by that tease as a 9-year-old, and still don't appreciate it all these decades later.

>179 LyndaInOregon: I agree Lynda that there is a fundamental dishonesty in such undertakings. Forcing you to keep coming back. In the Victorian era when books were released in serial form as they were being written in the periodicals of the time, it was honest and an escapism from the drudgery of the time. Now it just seems to articulate the greed of an author spinning the wheels and milking the cow at the same time to shamelessly mix my metaphors.

>179 LyndaInOregon: I realize that growing up on a military base where the Sat. matinee was 5¢ and our parents wanted us out of the house stunted my skepticism - I knew I'd always see the next episode, so didn't feel cheated. Sometimes the next episode was the Sun. matinee, also 5¢.

>179 LyndaInOregon: I agree with you Lynda!

>157 PaulCranswick: Paul, I added Dusk and the Shepherd's Life to my TBR pile of 2026! Both sound good!

A new thread is due so soon. I am not surprised. You have a well-deserved following!

Hi, Paul.

I could have sworn that I dropped by earlier, but apparently not.

So: A happy, peaceful, and prosperous 2026 to you. May you and yours stay safe.

>181 quondame: I suppose that the absence of expense would rather lessen the resentment, Susan!

>182 Whisper1: I do highly recommend both of them, Lynda.

I don't know about deserving, dear lady but I am a busy bee.

>139 PaulCranswick: Have you read any other Bolaño? Last year I read 2666, his rather imposing final work, and while I quite enjoyed it I found that it had that same quality of tedious repetition. In the context of 2666, what I gradually found was that via repetition he was achieving a total, almost oppressive sense of place, but it did take quite a bit to get through it as a reader.

I''ll have tp try that meme at 149. Already 3 books read , and I am still on my first book - and it's some great scandicrime!

>152 PaulCranswick: For sure, it wasn't as much a case of not being able to afford retirement but what I would do when I got there which is why I went back to school part time and started volunteering for a historical society. Retiring just meant actually being able to fit everything into my days plus get sleep!

>183 Matke: Thank you, Gail. Where are you keeping a thread this year as I will go and seek you out!

>185 DarthFisticuffs: No I was a Bolano virgin! I pondered which one to start with and chose that one because it was the earliest I had in his oeuvre. 2666 which I also have does look an imposing read and worsened by quite small print.

>186 vancouverdeb: I miss my Scandi crime, Deb, and I will have to get back to some this year. I am sure that your MEME will be worth seeing!

>187 Familyhistorian: Meg, I didn't intend to imply anything about financial circumstances only that lifestyle wise I am not sure that I have a sufficient plan of how I will stay active as yet.

>189 PaulCranswick: Speaking of Scandi crime fiction, I ended last year with the first book in the Department Q series. The Keeper of Lost Causes was well done. I'll probably keep reading this series, but the holds are long.

>178 PaulCranswick:Pretentiousness seemed to be at the fore-front aka "bog-standard poetry"...comes the dawn at last, PC?

>191 justchris: I think that is an excellent series, Chris, and I have read the first four or five.

>192 richardderus: Certainly not Pauline conversion, RD, but a recognition that - for all the decent stuff - there is plenty of twaddle as well.

>193 PaulCranswick: Twaddle outweighs and outreaches good stuff in every field, every art, every era. Finding good stuff is hard. Oceans of good-enough hide it better than anything else.

Good morning (here in Florida) Paul. Have a good day!

>180 PaulCranswick: "an author spinning the wheels and milking the cow at the same time"

I shall spend the rest of today (and possibly a good portion of the next month or so) trying to visualize that trick!

Happy New Year Paul, and happy new thread!! Your building project is a beautiful Sight!!

Paul, I've been here before and womanfully reading through your posts at least and going back when what you said intrigued me. Fun!
I'm also awed by that building that completely dominates the cityscape, and deservedly so. AND I'm tickled to see real Chile dogs! (North Carolina style dogs are called chili dogs by other people: a bit of mustard, onion chips, cole slaw, and chili with the dog on a bun!)

I do, however, want to get in with a Happy New Year wish before we reach double digit January and you move on to thread 2. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!! I hope it holds wonderful things for you and your wonderful family.

I'll just add that I had put The Shepherd's Life on my mental wish list, and now, I'll look for it again - said mental list develops holes....
I'll also add that Stasia and I read 2666 together a few years ago. I think we both appreciated the experience as something different but going on too long. I bought The Savage Detectives and hope to live long enough with eyes and mind to get to it.

>194 richardderus: Drivel does abound I fear, RD. I am amazed to be honest that a lot of the modern poetry gets published as it is of very dubious merit to be honest.
For every Simon Armitage and Raymond Antrobus there are a dozen mediocrities being celebrated for inanity.

>195 Kristelh: Morning back at you, book twin. xx

>196 LyndaInOregon: Hahaha, yes Lynda, I deserve that!

>197 hredwards: Thank you Harold. On my way back from the airport after sending Kyran there (his trip was way too short!) I did get a jolt of pride seeing the city scape lit up and Merdeka 118 looming magnificently in the distance.

>199 PaulCranswick: Inane drivel has always driven sales in every field.

>198 LizzieD: What a lovely post, Peggy, and I am so pleased at finding you here. 2666 and The Savage Detectives are both on the shelves and daunt me more than a little bit to be honest. He is a challenging writer for sure.

>201 richardderus: Hahaha well we will agree on that certainly, RD.

UP AND COMING



JANUARY 2026

20 NEW BOOK RELEASES IN THE UK

1. Departure (s) by Julian Barnes
2. Only Sing by John Berryman
3. Everybody Loves Our Dollars by Oliver Bullough
4. Fulfillment by Lee Cole
5. Cameo by Rob Doyle
6. My Husband's Wife by Alice Feeney
7. The Storm by Rachel Hawkins
8. Seven by Joanna Kavenna
9. Dream Latitudes by Alia Kobuscko
10. The Persian by David McCloskey
11. Half His Age by Jennette McCurdy
12. Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden
13. Evensong by Stewart O'Nan
14. May We Feed the King by Rebecca Perry
15. Vigil by George Saunders
16. Glyph by Ali Smith
17. The Ten Year Affair by Erin Somers
18. Facing the Bridge by Yoko Tawada
19. A Shell-Shocked Nation by Alwyn Turner
20. The Cut-Up by Louise Welch

A few still without touchstones.

I'm dropping by (again) to wish you and yours all the very best for 2026. Happy New Year!

Thank you, Nina (coincidentally I was just posting at your place!).

Weird angles but you are also showing another building/project I worked on in Marina Bay Sands (I did some claims work for Ssangyong against one of the Subcontractors building one of the three towers).

I can recommend Evensong from the list of new releases in the UK. I think Mark and Katie and more on LT have also read it.

>207 vancouverdeb: I thought that I had seen it mentioned in the threads, Deb.

Evensong is beautifully written. I wish I would have read Plainsong and Evenson in the same time frame. I forgot a lot of Plainsong when reading the later.

>209 Whisper1: Plainsong is one of my favourite novels period, Linda.

>175 PaulCranswick: Admittedly, I keep looking for an emoji to respond, but I'll soon break that habit! Happy to see that I own already some of the books I'm seeing touted here and there on LT. Particular fan of Scandicrime. Have read Jo Nesbo previously, but this year starting with The Bat and reading through his Harry Hole novels.
Have read about 13 of the Agent Pendergast-Lincoln/Child novels thus far, and just finishing Troubled Blood- Robert Galbraith, though I read the other Strike novels first. Thrilled to be amongst bookish friends. Politics have been very tough on me, as my empathy gets in the way of better judgement and I get banned on FB frequently! lol!
So, sticking to the fiction (mostly) but celebrating that at 65 I am learning about the "system" like never before.

PS. Also reading about every American President in order and reading John Adams by McCullough and Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner's "The Gilded Age" Don't want you to think it's all fun, frivolity and fiction! 😆

>211 Mary_Mignano: I have read quite a number of the Harry Hole books by Nesbo (the first eight) all of Inspector Wallender and all of Inspector Erlendur. I do really enjoy my Scandi.

I had been fairly active in local politics (UK) as a young man but find myself increasingly being repelled by the polarities of modern practice.

>212 Mary_Mignano: John Adams by McCullough is a pretty daunting read - I have it on the shelves but not plucked up the courage to read it yet.

I find that this group sustains me in ways that other forms of social media simply do not.

BOOK #4



Shardik by Richard Adams
Date of Publication: 1974
Origin of Author: UK
Genre: SF/Fantasy
Gender of Author:
Awards: N/A
Challenges: British Author Challenge / Time Machine
Pages: 592 pp

Some consider this Adams' best work. They are deluded but it is still more than readable. It has a magical first chapter in which the animals of the jungle are fleeing a wild fire and in which the giant bear Shardik makes its first appearance.

Overly long but the themes of faith, the importance of safety of children, loyalty and divinity are interesting.

I read this many years ago and can remember why I liked it so much then and understand why its impact is no longer as profound today.

Travel, albeit homeward-bound, upcoming, and I am stressed. Ancient green Penguin, Cork and the Serpent whose happy discovery on a back shelf I recently reported is providing me great comfort. The Derby, a Maharajah, a mysterious piece of jewelry insured for many times its value—-all the comforting elements of an escapist mystery.

>215 booksaplenty1949: I should go and look for a similar distraction although I am enjoying Claire Keegan's debut Short Story Collection.

>214 PaulCranswick: I've made a start on The Plague Dogs, it's very wordy but then I've just made it to the start of chapter two so need to keep my head down. I like that the animal research station has the acronym A.R.S.E. (Animal Research: Scientific and Experimental).

Happy Tuesday, Paul, or at least here is it still Tuesday. I have Raising Hare on my nightstand and I am looking forward to it!

>217 avatiakh: I read that one 45 years ago, Kerry! I remember thinking that it was an easier read than Shardik although it seems to have fallen out of favour over the years.

>218 AMQS: Wednesday morning here, Anne, but I sort of think in LT time these days so Happy Tuesday it is!

I seriously loved Raising Hare when I read it last year and was long a candidate for my book of the year.

>201 richardderus: "Inane drivel has always driven sales in every field."

Sturgeon's Law. (Ninety percent of everything is crap.)

>220 LyndaInOregon: That sounds close to the mark, Lynda!

Nice that you had a good visit with Kyran. Will you be able to get back to the UK soon?

>222 Familyhistorian: I am now aiming for March after Ramadhan, Meg. Hopefully it will materialize this time!

>223 PaulCranswick: “Not aiming” or now aiming?

>224 booksaplenty1949: Well spotted. I am a bit tired today. I will amend it!!!

>225 PaulCranswick: Meaning was of course still clear. But I know you value the precision of the written word.

>226 booksaplenty1949: Whilst being occasionally imprecise!

>221 PaulCranswick:, >220 LyndaInOregon: Formulated pithily, an eternal verity.

>204 PaulCranswick: So many new releases!
Happy to see a new one from Stewart O’Nan. Ooo and George Sanders and ooo, Ali Smith!
Back up a few dozen posts, Mother Mary Comes to Me is already on my wish list. I’ll be visiting my library a lot in 2026. Book buying ban is in effect.

>219 PaulCranswick: what is LT time? I switched the time displayed to my timezone and don't remember which one was the default one.

>212 Mary_Mignano: Several years ago I read Truman by McCullough and enjoyed it. I live in Truman country and was able to tour some of his historical sites after reading, so it made it more real I guess. I like McCullough.

>212 Mary_Mignano: >213 PaulCranswick: I really enjoyed McCullough's biography of John Adams. Truman is sitting on the shelf as we speak. McCullough does such a great job of telling history in an engaging way.

Great meme answers! You had the perfect book for several of them!

>157 PaulCranswick: Thank you Paul for your list. I loved your comment "seriously loved" Raising Hare! I did too! I really ddin't want it to end. It was fabulous! I am also a big fan of James Rebanks and have loved all his books but the Shepherd one in particular with all the info of the Lake District. I have put the other books of your favs list on hold at the library and picked up Dusk yesterday. Can hardly wait to read it! I see a woman in Colorado was killed by a cougar a few days ago and then they were hunted down. Such a tragedy when we are barging in on their territory. One of my favourite books was Ghost Walker about a scientist who tracks and observes a cougar family in B.C. and never feels threatened or at risk.

>228 richardderus: I did think you would be on board with Lynda's view on quality, especially if it is applied to poetics.

>229 Carmenere: I have my Thingaversary coming up, Lynda, which will up non-buying rhythm but I aim to buy much less this year too. Not quite a ban exactly (because nobody here would ever believe me!)

There are some interesting books coming out in the UK this month though which will tempt me I am sure.

>230 zuzaer: For me, it is the time shown on my posts. Which is the time in New York City, Eastern Standard Time or GMT-5.

>231 hredwards: I read the first few pages of the Adams biography, Harold, and I can confirm that I am quite sure that the book will be tremendous. It is just that it is a huge tome.

>232 witchyrichy: I am sure that you are right, Karen. But each book is quite the commitment.

>233 cbl_tn: Thanks Carrie, but even I didn't have the chutzpah to describe myself as God's Gift to Women!

>234 mdoris: I have noticed Mary that we do seem to have similar tastes in most things. I am sure that you will get lost in Dusk if you give it chance as it does start a touch slowly.

>204 PaulCranswick: Thanks for the list of new books. Especially Stewart O'Nan and George Saunders. They are pretty much, must read authors for me.

But I wanted to clear up what I thought was some confusion. There was some talk about Plainsong in conjunction with Evensong

Plainsong is Kent Haruf, and one of its sequels is Eventide.

Evensong is by O'Nan.

Maybe it was just me that was confused, but there it is... ;)

>239 mahsdad: That is right, Jeff. I correctly listed O'Nan's upcoming UK publication. And commented only on my love of Plainsong and didn't tie the two books together necessarily.

>239 mahsdad:
It confused me as well because I have read both Haruf and O'Nan and wasn't sure which of the authors the discussion was about. Oh well - that's life in a digital space.

In my opinion both authors are worth reading, but Haruf is a personal favorite of mine. (all of his books.)

>241 benitastrnad: 100% agree, Benita. Haruf's books are up there, for me, with the best in American lit and while Stewart O'Nan's books are well worth reading they are not at the same level.

BOOK #5



Antarctica by Claire Keegan
Date of Publication: 1999
Origin of Author: Ireland
Genre: Short Story
Gender of Author : Female
Awards: Rooney Prize / William Trevor Prize / LA Times Book Award
Challenges: Short Story 26 / Time Machine
Pages: 209 pp

This is how Claire Keegan announced herself and what an augury for the brilliance to come!

15 wonderful short stories in the rightly lauded collection. She captures the human condition in all its discomforts here in a way that one wouldn't expect for her then age.

>139 PaulCranswick: I have read a couple of Bolano's book, although several years ago, but not that one. I will have to see if I can track down a copy.

>149 PaulCranswick: Love the answers to the meme!

>157 PaulCranswick: Thanks for the list, Paul. I will check out the titles that are not already read or in the BlackHole.

>214 PaulCranswick: I have not yet read that Richard Adams book, so I will have to give it a try at some point.

>243 PaulCranswick: That one is already in the BlackHole or I would add it again. I very much enjoy Keegan's work.

Happy whatever, Paul!

>244 alcottacre: Bolano is a strange fish, Stasia. Brilliant imagination but very unorthodox.

Keegan's books (that is the fourth I have read) are uniformly excellent.

>209 Whisper1: This is the message where Plainsong was linked with Evensong and then with a book called Evenson. To further complicate things the touchstone to Evensong was to a book called Lucifer Vol II with the subtitle Evensong. Mr Cranswick is off the hook, in any event.

>239 mahsdad: See my message 246.

>246 booksaplenty1949: & >247 booksaplenty1949: I honestly don't know whether there is any link between the two authors. I have read three books by Haruf and thought them wonderful. I have read two by O'Nan and thought them pretty decent without being blown away.

Haruf was very much focused on Colorado whilst O'Nan hails from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and has written about more varied locales.

Hello Paul! So glad I checked in. You may recall years ago that I listen to the unabridged audio of The Count of Monte Cristo by Dumas. It remains one of my favorite books of all time. Recently I watched the two current French films of The Three Musketeers. I thought the films were the kind of swashbuckling Adventure I was looking for. The cool thing about the width and breadth of Dumas' books is that any filmed version can hit the plot high points and still have different subplots. One of my goals this year is to listen to The Three Musketeers. I no longer have an hour and a half each way in my work commute, so this will be an interesting adventure. Nonetheless it is on the list for 2026. How is it going for you?

>249 brodiew2: I do remember, Brodie. There are elements of Monte Cristo that held me transfixed as it was exceptional in parts - I just thought it was overly long. I will be concentrating this weekend on The Musketeers.

My Thingaversary is on 14 January so I will take this as the nearest Friday to add my sixteen required books.

>245 PaulCranswick: Bolano is a strange fish - I read his 2666 and if that does not prove it, nothing else will :)

When I get to Antarctica, it will be my fourth Keegan book too.

>251 PaulCranswick: I am sure you can suffer through it, Juan!

>248 PaulCranswick: I've only read Plainsong and according to my rankings I loved it. I'll have to read more.

I've read a bunch of O'Nan, and he is mostly a big hit for me. It may be that he's a fellow Pittsburgher, that I have an affinity for him.

Different strokes...

>252 alcottacre: Not expecting to suffer, Juana, although wallow is possible!

>253 mahsdad: Not so different, Jeff. I like reading O'Nan for sure but I just don't think he is as good as Haruf was.

In a year that I am hoping/expecting to buy less books there are a lot of intriguing ones upcoming.

This is the BBC pointing out 40 exciting book releases in 2026:

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20260106-the-40-most-exciting-books-to-look-...

I've been meaning to get over here for a week, Paul, but with setting up my own thread and visiting all the new threads on LT, I somehow have been delayed until now. And you're already over 250 posts. I'm glad I got in before you had to start a new thread, which I see will be coming shortly. In any case, I want to wish you a great new year! It looks like you are already off to a good start, with 5 books finished already.

>127 PaulCranswick: I sincerely hope that you can finally get back to England sometime this year, and that you will be able to spend some extended time there at the least. I know you miss your family.

>256 atozgrl: Thank you Irene for that lovely post. I do miss them a lot. There is definitely light at the end of what has been a very long tunnel!

Hi Paul- I was a tad shocked to see hoe old your kids are now (>1 PaulCranswick:), even though I know that time marches on etc, and that mine are similarly shockingly old (14 and 17).

You're off to Chile! Marvellous. I love the place...lived/travelled there as a family of 5 when I was 8, and I went back in 1999 for another visit.

>258 LovingLit: Yes for sure! Little Lenny was in your arms (and under the weather) when we met up at the Container Mall but I think you would struggle to do that nowadays!

Only going virtually to Chile as part of this year's reading challenge but I do wish you were right as I would love to go there.

^ aaah, it's all become clear. Poor you not getting to go to Chile though haha

>260 LovingLit: One day, God willing, Megan.

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/377584

Thank you, Silver

>255 PaulCranswick: Another Robert Harris novel set in ancient Rome? I'm there for it!

>264 ChrisG1: It has been a while since he produced one of those, Chris. Harris never fails to entertain.

Good luck finding your Thingaversary books, Paul. You just reminded me that my Thingaversary is coming up in February. Probably a good thing you posted that link to the 2026 releases.

>255 PaulCranswick: Lots of interesting in new releases. Beth already got me with Land by Maggie O'Farrell . She also has link to a list posted. At least my library is getting it and I have put on hold it, when it is available to be purchased

>266 Familyhistorian: Found 'em, Meg, and will put them up later when I get home from work.

There are some good looking books on our horizons!

>267 vancouverdeb: I agree Deb. I might have access to a library too when some of these come out!

>268 PaulCranswick: I sure hope you can move back to the UK soon, Paul, for cooler weather and libraries!

Have fun Paul on your Thingaversary buying spree! I always enjoy viewing your purchases.

>269 vancouverdeb: I do too, Deb. Hani will be back here in February so that we can do our Ramadhan and Hari Raya festivities together and I hope that we will then depart together.

>270 mdoris: I will update soon, Mary. I found a surprise book of poems which I am looking forward to.

Just came to say hello on the soon to be replaced thread ...

>272 paulstalder: Thanks Paul. I am always happy when I see you around these parts.

Here is what I got for my Thingaversary.

From the Discount Book Store

1. Ruin and Renewal by Paul Betts
2. Super Pulses by Jenny Chandler
3. The Road Cyclist's Companion by Peter Drinkell
4. The Heart is a Shifting Sea by Elizabeth Flock
5. Elidor by Alan Garner
6. Angel Island by Inez Haynes Gillmore
7. One of Our Ministers is Missing by Alan Johnson
8. Wilder: How Rewilding is Transforming Conservation and Changing the World by Millie Kerr
9. August Blue by Deborah Levy
10. The War of the Poor by Eric Vuillard

From Kino this lunch

11. An African History of Africa by Zeinab Badawi
12. On Reflection: Looking for Life's Meaning by Richard Holloway
13. Selected Poems by Linton Kwesi Johnson
14. Poems from an Attic by Iris Murdoch
15. A Lonely Man by Chris Power
16. Together: A Manifesto Against a Heartless World by Ece Temelkuran

8 non-fiction
4 fiction
2 poetry
1 fantasy
1 thriller

By Men 9
By Women 7

>274 PaulCranswick: Looks like a lovely Thingaversary haul!

>274 PaulCranswick: a lovely haul! Happy thingaversary.

>what a haul. Of course, you were “required” to do it

>274 PaulCranswick: well done, enjoy reading them

Happy thingaversary Paul.

>274 PaulCranswick: Nice haul, Paul!

>275 thornton37814: I think it is at least a varied one, Lori. Less fiction than my hauls would normally see, I guess.

>276 zuzaer: Thank you. I am particularly excited to find a book of brand new discovered selected poems by the late, great Iris Murdoch.

>277 AnneDC: Indeed Anne. I always try to fulfill requirements!

>278 paulstalder: Thank you, Paul. If I am not mistaken your steady accumulation surpasses mine as usual.

>279 Kristelh: Thank you Book Twin. Do you have any of those. A lot of them more obscure than I would normally add.

>280 Dejah_Thoris: Thanks Princess.

>282 PaulCranswick: well, I am afraid, you are mistaken, at least as far as last year is concerned :) I am having problems with findagrave (they always change my chosen language - German - back to English. Annoying, very annoying. I should document for them what kind of problems I have ... but that's my opportunity to concentrate on books again instead of gravestones)

>274 PaulCranswick: The Zeinab Badawi looks really interesting, so I hope it turns out to be.

Thingaversary orisons, PC!

>274 PaulCranswick: Nice haul, Juan! Happy Thingaversary!!

I have picked up a few book this week as well, if you want to check out the 'This Just In' thread.

>284 paulstalder: Maybe I misread your thread, Paul, or as you say there were some translation issues.

>285 richardderus: Thank you, RD. I have had that one on the wishlist since I saw it reviewed.

>286 alcottacre: Thanks Juana. I will certainly go and see what you have added.

>274 PaulCranswick: A proper Cranswickian haul!

>283 PaulCranswick:, No Paul, I am afraid that my book twin might be moving away from me.

>281 PaulCranswick: I anticipate reading a lot more nonfiction this year than last. I guess we'll see how it really plays out. I'm currently listening to a book that is probably for middle grade readers. It's been on my wish list for a while, and I saw it was available in audio. I just wanted something different than a mystery at the moment. This one is historical fiction--set in New England--and deals with racial prejudice.

>289 amanda4242: Maybe the only time this year! (I know nobody believes me!)

>290 Kristelh: I wonder if the stuff you have been adding is stuff that I have?

>291 thornton37814: Yes, Lori, me too. 4 of my best 6 books last year were non-fiction.

>274 PaulCranswick: Happy Thingaversary Paul! That is quite a nice haul. I had not heard of Wilder: How Rewilding is Transforming Conservation and Changing the World but I am intrigued. Adding it to Mt. TBR.

>294 atozgrl: It took my eye in the discount store. I have been reading a lot of books on nature, ecology, conservation and the environment so this fits nicely.

>285 richardderus: Read An African History of Africa last year. A good, if fairly superficial, introduction.

>296 booksaplenty1949: She is a reasonably well regarded TV journalist in the UK. I wouldn't expect a particularly scholarly work but a readable one.

>297 PaulCranswick: It is framed as a personal tour, which works pretty well. Her background is Sudanese, not generally thought of as part of sub-Saharan Africa, which gives the book a certain slant. After I read it I went on to Henry Louis Gates’ take on the subject for additional perspective.

>298 booksaplenty1949: That is a very good idea. I might follow suit with that. I have links sort of with four African nations from a work perspective. Egypt, Morocco, Ghana and Sao Tome & Principe and I do have a fondness for a much unfairly maligned continent that has been systematically plundered and desperately needs the rest of the world to offer a helping hand.

>296 booksaplenty1949: Given the extent of the subject it's a blessing it's superficial or it would deforest Finland making the paper for it. Do you recall if there was a bibliography?

>300 richardderus: Yes, the copy I read was 543 pages. No bibliography, as I recall. The author generally meets with a scholar or similar authority at each site she visits and their comments are quoted more or less without discussion.

>301 booksaplenty1949: Ahh...that's a really frustrating lack for me. I'll give it a pass, thanks for the information.

>300 richardderus: >301 booksaplenty1949: & >302 richardderus: I just had a look at my copy and there are detailed notes with a detailed sources sections that gives a quite extensive bibliography. I have the Penguin edition.

>303 PaulCranswick: Well that’s the one I read, so my bad for mis-remembering. I borrowed it from the library, so was not able to confirm. ☹️

>304 booksaplenty1949: Not to worry I wouldn't have remembered something like that either unless I had used it to buy other books.

>213 PaulCranswick: I read it once before and actually seem to have little recollection of it! Now, I take it a couple chapters at a time, interspersed with some lighter fiction as it seems our daily life here is ample war and discourse for any rational being.

>231 hredwards: Hoping to read that also. Glad you enjoyed it

>232 witchyrichy: Agreed.

Since the first week of January, I have been appallingly sick, and not able to read due to severe headaches, and congestion that when I cough to clear it, appears to originate somewhere around my navel. Slowing my 75 book reading progress. I'm hoping to read today. I badly want to read, and not scroll, or listen to podcasts, but burning eyes, sinus pressure and racking coughs are now my daily curse. What plague is this!? Started to develop well over a month and a half ago. ALL this, to say, Everybody! Wash your hands! Take your vitamins, minerals, supplements, and sanitize your surfaces! This IS a curse, when one is immobilized and cannot use being bedridden as an excuse to READ!

>306 Mary_Mignano: Small chunks are a good way to read through a number of books at once, Mary Beth.

>307 Mary_Mignano: & >308 Mary_Mignano: I will definitely read McCullough soon.

>309 Mary_Mignano: Sorry to hear that you haven't been well, Mary Beth, hoping that you'll make a quick and full recovery in order to start turning those pages.

Thanks, Paul. I've actually had a wonderful life-affirming upward recovery from a seriously debilitating and painful autoimmune disease, Hashimoto's Disease, and an underactive thyroid with horrible symptoms of fibromyalgia. Surprisingly, getting rid of all the toxic doubters and judgemental critics who were supposed to love me unconditionally but didn't, accomplished what all the meds couldn't. That and a gluten-free diet for awhile, daily 2 mile dog walks and losing 90 pounds! Likely lowering my high Cortisol level from all the stress of toxic people allowed me to accomplish the rest, but required losing my daughters. I write this not for sympathy, but so people can realize the harm others can cause to your health. I've never felt better but the bout with flu and a sinus infection that won't let go, was an unwelcome visitor, I'm not going to lie . lol 😆 Anyway I didn't read the whole time I had the sinus infection and flu, so catching up now!

>311 Mary_Mignano: Thank you for sharing that, Mary Beth. The stress of toxic relationships is certainly harmful to us. I know I need to lead a much healthier life and I was reminded of that when Hani arrived back here on Tuesday.

I have another friend with Hashimoto's Disease and she really struggled with it and continues to do so in fact. I am glad you managed to come through to the other side and you must be kind to yourself too.