1LoisB
I was active in this group about 10 years ago but life got in the way. I made a few feeble attempts to get restarted but never seem to get there. So, I am trying yet again. I have no reading commitments so am freewheeling it. I don’t remember the mechanics but hopefully it will all come back.
3LoisB
JANUARY 2026 Reads
*1. The Killing Hour Lisa Gardner ***.5 COMPLETED
*2. The Baking Games Rachel Hanna *** COMPLETED
3. Wisteria Wedding Rachel Hanna ***.5 COMPLETED
4. Go as a River Shelley Read *** COMPLETED
*5. Next of Kin Kia Abdullah ***** COMPLETED
*6. Those People Next Door Kia Abdullah *** COMPLETED
*7. Murder at an Irish Bakery Carlene O’Connor *** COMPLETED
*8. Tai Chi and Chai Tea P. D. Workman *** COMPLETED
9. The Shepherd Frederick Forsyth *** COMPLETED
TIOLI
#3. Read a book with a food word in the title - Tai Chi and Chai Tea
#8. Read a book with multiple words in the title, all of which are one syllable - Next of Kin
#11. Read a book connected to your reading intentions for 2026 - Murder at an Irish Bakery
#12. Read a book whose page length is divisible by 26 Wisteria Wedding(234)
#14. Read a book by an author who died in 2025 The Shepherd Frederick Forsyth
*1. The Killing Hour Lisa Gardner ***.5 COMPLETED
*2. The Baking Games Rachel Hanna *** COMPLETED
3. Wisteria Wedding Rachel Hanna ***.5 COMPLETED
4. Go as a River Shelley Read *** COMPLETED
*5. Next of Kin Kia Abdullah ***** COMPLETED
*6. Those People Next Door Kia Abdullah *** COMPLETED
*7. Murder at an Irish Bakery Carlene O’Connor *** COMPLETED
*8. Tai Chi and Chai Tea P. D. Workman *** COMPLETED
9. The Shepherd Frederick Forsyth *** COMPLETED
TIOLI
#3. Read a book with a food word in the title - Tai Chi and Chai Tea
#8. Read a book with multiple words in the title, all of which are one syllable - Next of Kin
#11. Read a book connected to your reading intentions for 2026 - Murder at an Irish Bakery
#12. Read a book whose page length is divisible by 26 Wisteria Wedding(234)
#14. Read a book by an author who died in 2025 The Shepherd Frederick Forsyth
5LoisB
February 2026 Reads
Icebreaker A Novel Hannah Grace DNF
10. Singing to the Sun: a novel TIOLI #8 COMPLETED 423p
11. Blade Wendy Walker TIOLI #14 COMPLETED 287p
12. Burial Rites TIOLI #11 COMPLETED 336p
13. Wisteria Winds TIOLI #2 COMPLETED 241p
14. Beneath a Scarlet Sky TIOLI #7 COMPLETED 515p
15. Once There Were Wolves TIOLI #20 COMPLETED 257p
16. I Remember That!: Captivating Stories, Interesting Facts and Fun Trivia for Seniors Bill ‘O’’Neill TIOLI #7 *** COMPLETED ***
*17. 1222 *** TIOLI #18 COMPLETED 284p
*18 Take it Back: A Novel Kia Abdullah TIOLI #4 COMPLETED 294p
*19. The Brutal Telling Louise Penny TIOLI #10 COMPLETED 374p
*20. Rebecca Daphne DuMaurier The TIOLI #13 COMPLETED 480p
Icebreaker A Novel Hannah Grace DNF
10. Singing to the Sun: a novel TIOLI #8 COMPLETED 423p
11. Blade Wendy Walker TIOLI #14 COMPLETED 287p
12. Burial Rites TIOLI #11 COMPLETED 336p
13. Wisteria Winds TIOLI #2 COMPLETED 241p
14. Beneath a Scarlet Sky TIOLI #7 COMPLETED 515p
15. Once There Were Wolves TIOLI #20 COMPLETED 257p
16. I Remember That!: Captivating Stories, Interesting Facts and Fun Trivia for Seniors Bill ‘O’’Neill TIOLI #7 *** COMPLETED ***
*17. 1222 *** TIOLI #18 COMPLETED 284p
*18 Take it Back: A Novel Kia Abdullah TIOLI #4 COMPLETED 294p
*19. The Brutal Telling Louise Penny TIOLI #10 COMPLETED 374p
*20. Rebecca Daphne DuMaurier The TIOLI #13 COMPLETED 480p
7LoisB
I have several books in process, so my immediate objective is to complete those that have been started. First up: Blade by Wendy Walker. This was a story about a murder that takes place in the figure skating world - a world with which I am very familiar as my daughter was a competitive skater. The story is compelling, the background is very factual, and I rated it ****.
8LoisB
I finished Burial Rites but did not enjoy it. I should have Pearl-ruled it but . . . The story takes place in the early 1800s and just seemed to drag. I rated it **.
9LoisB
Singing to the Sun Regina Rodríguez Sirvent ** I found this book to be somewhat trite. It’s about a girl who comes here to be au pair. My biggest problem is that the author is Spanish and the book was written in Spanish. Many of the early words were not translated, so it left me wondering what I might be missing. I blame the translator - I would have rated it higher with a good translation.
10yolklor
welcome back!! it's never too late to hop back in. : ) i like your challenge ideas, i may take some inspiration! manifesting a fun ***** for february!
11LoisB
Icebreaker is a DNF. Not intriguing at all.
12LoisB
Wisteria Winds Rachel Hanna *** TIOLI #2 COMPLETED
13LoisB
Once There Were Wolves Charlotte McConaghy **** COMPLETED
At times I hated this book and at times I loved it. It is the story of Inti, a girl/woman with mirror-touch synesthesia whose life is devoted to wolf ecology. As much as I admired Inti for her conviction to rewilding wolves, I despised her small lies and the secrets that she felt justified to keep. Inti is an identical twin and I wonder what that experience is like and how it influenced her behavior. The story is intriguing. I could not put the book down.
At times I hated this book and at times I loved it. It is the story of Inti, a girl/woman with mirror-touch synesthesia whose life is devoted to wolf ecology. As much as I admired Inti for her conviction to rewilding wolves, I despised her small lies and the secrets that she felt justified to keep. Inti is an identical twin and I wonder what that experience is like and how it influenced her behavior. The story is intriguing. I could not put the book down.
14LoisB
Beneath a Scarlett Sky Mark Sullivan **** COMPLETED
This was an interesting historical fiction novel about Italy during World War II. Pino is an Italian Catholic teenager who started his war effort by escorting Jews over the Alps to salvation in Switzerland. He becomes a driver for a man high in the Nazi command in Italy and continues his war efforts as a spy for the resistance. The story is compelling and closely based on fact as described in the Aftermath chapter at the end of the book. It was the February selection for my real life book club.
This was an interesting historical fiction novel about Italy during World War II. Pino is an Italian Catholic teenager who started his war effort by escorting Jews over the Alps to salvation in Switzerland. He becomes a driver for a man high in the Nazi command in Italy and continues his war efforts as a spy for the resistance. The story is compelling and closely based on fact as described in the Aftermath chapter at the end of the book. It was the February selection for my real life book club.
15LoisB
I remember That Bill O’Neill *** COMPLETED
An interesting look back at my childhood and early adulthood. I’ve read O’Neill’s books before so I new what to expect.
An interesting look back at my childhood and early adulthood. I’ve read O’Neill’s books before so I new what to expect.
17LoisB
March reads - possibilities
Myra Breckenridge kindle
Hostage kindle $
March: Book One pb
Bury Your Dead kindle unlimited
State of Terror pb
Killing by numbers kindle unlimited
Culpability hc rlbc
What happens in the dark kindle unlimited
Myra Breckenridge kindle
Hostage kindle $
March: Book One pb
Bury Your Dead kindle unlimited
State of Terror pb
Killing by numbers kindle unlimited
Culpability hc rlbc
What happens in the dark kindle unlimited
18LoisB
*18 Take it Back: A Novel Kia Abdullah TIOLI #4 COMPLETED ****
Wow! I kept being surprised in this novel. It’s the story of a young girl with serious facial disfigurement who accuses 4 Muslim schoolmates of rape. She has a sexual assault advocate who is also a Muslim and who wants to do something good with her law degree. The details of the rape are somewhat brutal and emotional. Be forewarned that this is a tough story to read.
Wow! I kept being surprised in this novel. It’s the story of a young girl with serious facial disfigurement who accuses 4 Muslim schoolmates of rape. She has a sexual assault advocate who is also a Muslim and who wants to do something good with her law degree. The details of the rape are somewhat brutal and emotional. Be forewarned that this is a tough story to read.
20LoisB
*20. Rebecca Daphne DuMaurier TIOLI #13 *** COMPLETED
This was a reread of one of my favorite novels. The last time that I read it, I had given it 4*s. This time I found too much description causing me to skip much of the text.
This was a reread of one of my favorite novels. The last time that I read it, I had given it 4*s. This time I found too much description causing me to skip much of the text.
21PaulCranswick
Welcome back Lois!
I apologize for my tardiness in visiting but I didn't spot you because so far Jim hasn't added you to the threadbook feature.
>20 LoisB: Isn't it a blow when a fresh read of a favourite disappoints. That happened to me last year with one of Somerset Maugham's books.
I apologize for my tardiness in visiting but I didn't spot you because so far Jim hasn't added you to the threadbook feature.
>20 LoisB: Isn't it a blow when a fresh read of a favourite disappoints. That happened to me last year with one of Somerset Maugham's books.
22LoisB
>21 PaulCranswick: I guess age has a way of catching up with us. I now want action, not gratuitous description. However, I still think it has one of the best opening lines and an almost poetic opening paragraph:
Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.
It seemed to me I stood by the iron gate leading to the drive,
and for a while I could not enter,
for the way was barred to me.
There was a padlock and chain upon the gate.
I called in my dream to the lodge-keeper,
and had no answer,
and peering closer through the rusted spokes of the gate
I saw that the lodge was uninhabited.
Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.
It seemed to me I stood by the iron gate leading to the drive,
and for a while I could not enter,
for the way was barred to me.
There was a padlock and chain upon the gate.
I called in my dream to the lodge-keeper,
and had no answer,
and peering closer through the rusted spokes of the gate
I saw that the lodge was uninhabited.
23LoisB
JANUARY 2026 Reads
*1. The Killing Hour Lisa Gardner ***.5 COMPLETED 480p
*2. The Baking Games Rachel Hanna *** COMPLETED 454p
3. Wisteria Wedding Rachel Hanna ***.5 COMPLETED 234p
4. Go as a River Shelley Read *** COMPLETED 321p
*5. Next of Kin Kia Abdullah ***** COMPLETED 384p
*6. Those People Next Door Kia Abdullah *** COMPLETED 144p
*7. Murder at an Irish Bakery Carlene O’Connor *** COMPLETED 368p
*8. Tai Chi and Chai Tea P. D. Workman *** COMPLETED 262p
9. The Shepherd Frederick Forsyth *** COMPLETED 129p
TIOLI
#3. Read a book with a food word in the title - Tai Chi and Chai Tea
#8. Read a book with multiple words in the title, all of which are one syllable - Next of Kin
#11. Read a book connected to your reading intentions for 2026 - Murder at an Irish Bakery
#12. Read a book whose page length is divisible by 26 Wisteria Wedding(234)
#14. Read a book by an author who died in 2025 The Shepherd Frederick Forsyth
2776pp
*1. The Killing Hour Lisa Gardner ***.5 COMPLETED 480p
*2. The Baking Games Rachel Hanna *** COMPLETED 454p
3. Wisteria Wedding Rachel Hanna ***.5 COMPLETED 234p
4. Go as a River Shelley Read *** COMPLETED 321p
*5. Next of Kin Kia Abdullah ***** COMPLETED 384p
*6. Those People Next Door Kia Abdullah *** COMPLETED 144p
*7. Murder at an Irish Bakery Carlene O’Connor *** COMPLETED 368p
*8. Tai Chi and Chai Tea P. D. Workman *** COMPLETED 262p
9. The Shepherd Frederick Forsyth *** COMPLETED 129p
TIOLI
#3. Read a book with a food word in the title - Tai Chi and Chai Tea
#8. Read a book with multiple words in the title, all of which are one syllable - Next of Kin
#11. Read a book connected to your reading intentions for 2026 - Murder at an Irish Bakery
#12. Read a book whose page length is divisible by 26 Wisteria Wedding(234)
#14. Read a book by an author who died in 2025 The Shepherd Frederick Forsyth
2776pp
24PaulCranswick
>22 LoisB: That is a tremendous opening passage, you are right. Sets the tone perfectly.
25LoisB
I have to document some coincidences. In February, I read Beneath a Scarlet Sky and loved it. It’s a WW II novel that takes place in Milan. The book’s cover shows the Duomo Cathedral. At the same time, I was watching the Winter Olympics, also taking place in Milan, and regularly showing the Duomo Cathedral. Coincidence #1.
I am now reading State of Terror, a political thriller written by Hillary Clinton and Louise Penny. I’m hearing about the US/Israel attack on Iran. Coincidence #2. I fear the similarities.
I am now reading State of Terror, a political thriller written by Hillary Clinton and Louise Penny. I’m hearing about the US/Israel attack on Iran. Coincidence #2. I fear the similarities.
