Paul C's Roads Less Travelled in 2026 - 13

BUENA VISTA! The Roads Less Travelled Challenge goes to Cuba in July!

The Opening Words

The British Author Challenge features Natalie Haynes this month and I have a few of her books to choose from. I am going with A Thousand Ships though which was shortlisted for the Women's Prize back in 2020.




"Sing, Muse, he says, and the edge in his voice makes it clear that this is not a request. If I were minded to accede to his wish, I might say that he sharpens his tone on my name, like a warrior drawing his dagger across a whetstone, preparing for the morning's battle"

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

Poetry

Ruth Pitter is a poet I always enjoy reading. Born in the 90's of the 19th Century and living through to the 90's of the following century, she was a traditionalist poet in the line of Hardy, Yeats and Larkin. Never impenetrable but always enjoyable.



The Plain Facts

See what a charming smile I bring,
Which no one can resist;
For I have found a wondrous thing –
The Fact that I exist.

And I have found another, which
I now proceed to tell.
The world is so sublimely rich
That you exist as well.

Fact One is lovely, so is Two,
But O the best is Three:
The Fact that I can smile at you,
And you can smile at me.

Books Read (First 75)

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
6. The Good Father by Noah Hawley (2013) 384pp {Fiction} Hodder TM Challenge (Completed 10/1/26) 7.5/10
7. antibody by Rebecca Salazar (2025) 139pp {Poetry} McClelland & Stewart (Completed 12/1/26) 3/10
8. Things in Nature Merely Grow by Yiyun Li (2025) 172pp {Non-Fiction} 4th Estate (Completed 13/1/26) 7/10
9. The Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell (2017) 455pp {SF/Fantasy} Hodder (Completed 17/1/26) 7/10
10. Suspicion by Friedrich Durrenmatt (1953) 157pp {Thriller} Pushkin Vertigo (Completed 18/1/26)
11. The Wardrobe Department by Elaine Garvey (2025) 221pp {Fiction} Canongate (Completed 20/1/26)
12. The Hill Bachelors by William Trevor (2000) 245pp {Short Stories} Penguin (Completed 21/1/26)
13. Question 7 by Richard Flanagan (2023) 275pp {Non-Fiction} Vintage (Completed 23/1/26)
14. Before the Fact by Francis Iles (1932) 326pp {Thriller} Pan (Completed 24/1/26)
15. Scaffolding by Lauren Elkin (2024) 383pp {Fiction} Vintage (Completed 25/1/26)
16. Beloved by Toni Morrison (1987) 324pp {Fiction} Vintage (Completed 29/1/26)
17. The War of the Poor by Eric Vuillard (2019) 79pp {Fiction} Other Press (Completed 30/1/26)
18. The Distinctly Competent District Councillor by Jonas Jonasson (2026) 132pp {Fiction} 4th Estate (Completed 31/1/26)

February

19. Love Forms by Claire Adam (2025) 295pp {Fiction} Faber (Completed 2/2/26)
20. The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo (1831) 501pp {Fiction} Penguin Completed (2/2/26)
21. Acts of Desperation by Megan Nolan (2021) 279pp {Fiction} Vintage (Completed 3/2/26)
22. After by Morris Gleitzman (2012) 209pp {Fiction} Penguin (Completed 5/2/26)
23. What Happened to the Corbetts by Nevil Shute (1939) 245pp {Fiction} Vintage (Completed 9/2/26)
24. The Autumn Throne by Elizabeth Chadwick (2016) 484pp {Fiction} Sphere (Completed 18/2/26)
25. A Manual for Cleaning Women by Lucia Berlin (2015) 399pp {Short Stories} Picador (Completed 18/2/26)
26. Becoming Ella Fitzgerald by Judith Tick (2024) 436pp {Non-Fiction} Norton (Completed 19/2/26)
27. The Separation by Christopher Priest (2002) 405pp {SF/Fantasy} Gollancz (Completed 23/2/26)
28. Poems from an Attic by Iris Murdoch (2025) 155pp {Poetry} Chatto & Windus (Completed 24/2/26)
29. Tales of the Alhambra by Washington Irving (1832) 304pp {Short Stories} Ebook (Completed 27/2/26)
30. Lublin by Manya Wilkinson (2024) 196pp {Fiction} And Other Stories (Completed) 27/2/26)
31. Poor Deer by Claire Oshetsky (2024) 226pp {Fiction} Ecco (Completed 28/2/26)
32. Strange Pictures by Uketsu (2022) 236pp {Thriller} HarperVia (Completed 28/2/26)

March

33. Nobody Asked for This by Charly Cox (2025) 105pp {Poetry} One Place Many Stories (Completed 3/3/26)
34. Only Here, Only Now by Tom Newlands (2024) 388pp {Fiction} Phoenix (Completed 3/3/26)
35. Maurice and Maralyn by Sophie Elmhirst (2024) 258pp {Non-Fiction} (Completed 10/3/26)
36. The Cuckoo's Lea by Michael J. Warren (2025) 277pp {Non-Fiction} Bloomsbury (Completed 10/3/26)
37. The Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (1993) 202pp {Fiction} W&N (Completed 19/2/26)
38. On Reflection by Richard Holloway (2024) 227pp {Non-Fiction} Canongate (Completed 24/3/26)
39. Fierce Elegy by Peter Gizzi (2023) 61pp {Poetry} Penguin (Completed 28/3/26)
40. Returning by Edna O'Brien (1982) 158pp {Short Stories} Phoenix (Completed 30/3/26)
41. Under the Skin by Michel Faber (2000) 296pp {SF/Fantasy} Canongate (Completed 30/3/26)
42. Lost Children Archive by Valeria Luiselli (2019) 350pp {Fiction} (Completed 30/3/26)
43. Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson (1919) 247pp {Short Stories} Penguin (Completed 31/3/26)
44. Vertigo & Ghost by Fiona Benson (2019) 90pp {Poetry} Cape Poetry (Completed 31/3/26)
45. Eugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin (1833) 273pp {Poetry} Pushkin Press (Completed 31/2/26)

April

46. Supporting Cast by Kit de Waal (2020) 127pp {Short Stories} Penguin (Completed 12/4/26)
47. Water by John Boyne (2023) 166pp {Fiction} Doubleday (Completed 12/4/26)
48. The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (2025) 267pp {Fiction} Michael Joseph (Completed 15/4/26)
49. Cold Spring Harbor by Richard Yates (1986) 178pp {Fiction} Vintage (Completed 20/4/26)
50. Foretokens by Sarah Howe (2025) 80pp {Poetry} Chatto & Windus (Completed 21/4/26)
51. The Others by Sheena Kalayil (2025) 326pp {Fiction} Fly on the Wall Press (Completed 25/4/26)
52. Unruly by David Mitchell (2023) 403pp {Non-Fiction} Penguin (Completed 26/4/26)
53. Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya (1972) 262pp {Fiction} (Completed 27/4/26)
54. The Hamiltons: Official Life in 1830 by Catherine Gore (1834) 367pp {Fiction} Open Library (Completed 27/4/26)
55. The Ode Less Traveled by Stephen Fry (2005) 352pp {Non Fiction} (Completed 28/4/26)
56. Three Days in June by Anne Tyler (2025) 196pp {Fiction} Chatto & Windus (Completed 28/4/26)
57. The Pleasant Light of Day by Philip O'Ceallaigh (2009) 264pp {Short Stories} Penguin (Completed 28/4/26)
58. Belfast Confetti by Ciaran Carson (1989) 108pp {Poetry} Wake Forest (Completed 29/4/26)
59. Gilead by Marilynne Robinson (2004) 282pp {Fiction} Virago (Completed 30/4/26)
60. Gut by Giulia Enders (2015) 263pp {Non-Fiction} (Completed 30/4/26)

May

61. I, Claudius by Robert Graves (1934) 396pp {Fiction} Penguin (Completed 6 May 26)
62. Mama Amazonica by Pascale Petit (2017) 108pp {Poetry} Bloodaxe (Completed 6 May 2026)
63. A Life on Our Planet by David Attenborough (2020) 247pp {Non-Fiction} Penguin (Completed 9 May 2026)
64. Openings by Lucy Caldwell (2024) 235pp {Short Stories} Faber (Completed 9/5/26)
65. The Horse by Willy Vlautin (2024) 209pp {Fiction} Faber (Completed 13/5/26)
66. Luck is the Hook by Imtiaz Dharker (2018) 122pp {Poetry} Bloodaxe (Completed 13/5/26)
67. Valley of the Sun by Louis L'Amour (1995) 177pp {Short Stories} Bantam (Completed 13/5/26)
68. The Wax Child by Olga Ravn (2023) 178pp {Fiction} (Completed 14/5/26)
69. Crooked Plow by Itamar Vieira Junior (2018) 276pp {Fiction} Verso (15/5/26)
70. Good People by Patmeena Sabit (2026) 383pp {Fiction} Virago (Completed 19 May 2026)
71. Homesick by Eshkol Nevo (2004) 374pp {Fiction} Vintage (Completed 19/5/26)
72. The Scent of Oranges by Kathy George (2024) 359pp {Fiction} HQ (Completed 24/5/26)
73. Shroud by Adrian Tchaikovsky (2025) 436pp {SF/Fantasy} Tor (Completed 24/5/26)
74. Excession by Iain M. Banks (1996) 455pp {SF/Fantasy} Orbit (Completed 25/5/26)
75. Viking's Dawn by Henry Treece (1955) 184pp {Fiction} Puffin (Completed 27/5/26)

Read Books 75-

May (Continued)

76. Fire on the Mountain by Anita Desai (1977) 146pp {Fiction} Vintage (Completed 27/5/26)
77. She Who Remains by Rene Karabash (2018) 155pp {Fiction} Peirene (Completed 27/5/26)
78. The Laird's Luck by Arthur Quiller-Couch (1901) 67pp {Short Story} Scribner (Completed 28/5/26)
79. All He Ever Wanted by Anita Shreve (2003) 340pp {Fiction} Abacus (Completed 29/5/26)
80. Frost in May by Antonia White (1933) 208pp {Fiction} Virago (Completed 30/5/26)
81. The Earth Compels by Louis MacNeice (1938) 46pp {Poetry} Faber (Completed 31/5/26)

June

82. Built: The Hidden Stories Behind our Structures by Roma Agrawal (2018) 271pp {Non-Fiction} Bloomsbury (Completed 2/6/26)
83. Taras Bulba by Nikolai Gogol (1835) 197pp {Fiction} Kindle (Completed 2/6/26)
84. Pericles by William Shakespeare (1609) 144pp {Drama} Oxford (Completed 5/6/26)
85. Poetry Please! ed. by Charles Causley (1985) 113pp {Poetry} Everyman (Completed 6/6/26)
86. Charlotte's Web by E.B. White (1952) 184pp {Fiction} HarperCollins (Completed 7/6/26)
87. The Glorious Heresies by Lisa McInerney (2015) 371pp {Fiction} John Murray (Completed 7/6/26)
88. The Open Veins of Latin America by Eduardo Galeano (1971) 308pp {Non Fiction} Monthly Review Press (Completed 9/6/26)
89. Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen (1890) 95pp {Drama} Faber (Completed 12/6/26)
90. Everest: Stories by Ashani Lewis (2024) 148pp {Short Stories} Dialogue (Completed 12/6/26)
91. The Black Friar by S.G. MacLean (2016) 456pp {Thriller} Quercus (Completed 21/6/26)
92. Companion Piece by Ali Smith (2022) 227pp {Fiction} Penguin (Completed 27/6/26)
93. A Relative Stranger by Charles Baxter (1990) 223pp {Short Stories} Norton (Completed 30/6/26)
94. White Nights by Fyodor Dostoevsky (1848) 86 pp {Fiction} Penguin (Completed 30/6/26)

July
95. A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes (2019) 345pp {Fiction} Picador (Completed 3/7/26)
96. The Hunting Dogs by Jorn Lier Horst (2012) 323pp {Thriller} Sandstone (Completed 4/7/26)
97. Havana Year Zero by Karla Suarez (2011) 256pp {Fiction} Charco (Completed 5/7/26)
98. Blue Moon by Lee Child (2019) 448 pp {Thriller} Bantam (Completed 6/7/26)
99. Lord Cornwallis by Daniel E. Harmon (2002) 76pp {Non-Fiction} Chelsea House (Completed 7/7/26)
100. Paths of the Dead by Lin Anderson (2014) 420pp {Thriller} Pan (Completed 8/7/26)

Current Reading

Roads Less Travelled



THE AMERICAN CONTINENTs OFF THE BEATEN PATH

Our tour of the less well traveled pathways of the American continents 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 : https://www.librarything.com/topic/378317
1. Love Forms by Claire Adam

MARCH - MEXICAN AUTHORS
1. Lost Children Archive by Valeira Luiselli

APRIL - HISPANIC NORTH AMERICANS : https://www.librarything.com/topic/383269
1. antibody: poems by Rebecca Salazar
2. Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya

MAY - BRAZILIAN AUTHORS: https://www.librarything.com/topic/384022
1. Crooked Plow by Itamar Vieira Junior

JUNE - NON-FICTION ABOUT THE AMERICAS
https://www.librarything.com/topic/384736
1. The Open Veins of Latin America by Eduardo Galeano

JULY - CUBAN AUTHORS
https://www.librarything.com/topic/385218
1. Havana Year Zero by Karla Suarez

AUGUST - FRANCO CARIBBEAN
SEPTEMBER - COLOMBIAN AUTHORS
OCTOBER - FIRST NATION NORTH AMERICANS
NOVEMBER - ARGENTINIAN AUTHORS
DECEMBER - OTHER PARTS OF THE CONTINENTS

British Author Challenge (Hosted by my friend Amanda)



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

February - Elizabeth Chadwick & Nevil Shute
What Happened to the Corbetts by Shute
The Autumn Throne by Chadwick

March - Obscure Books
Only Here, Only Now by Tom Newlands (64 LT Members)

April - Kit de Waal & Stephen Fry
Supporting Cast by de Waal
The Ode Less Traveled by Fry

May - MM Kaye & Iain Banks
Excession by Banks

June - The Stuarts
Pericles by William Shakespeare

July - Natalie Haynes & Mohsin Hamid
A Thousand Ships by Haynes

August -

September -

October -

November -

December -

NON-FICTION CHALLENGE



Hosted this year by my friend Benita.

JANUARY : PRIZE WINNERS - Question 7 by Richard Flanagan
FEBRUARY : JAZZ - Becoming Ella Fitzgerald by Judith Tick
MARCH : RELIGION/SPIRITUALITY - On Reflection by Richard Holloway
APRIL : THE BODY - Gut by Giulia Enders
MAY : TRAVEL - A Life On Our Planet by David Attenborough
JUNE : BUILDINGS - Built by Roma Agrawal
JULY : AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY YEARS - Lord Cornwallis by Daniel E. Harmon

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
1831 : The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo
1832 : Tales of the Alhambra by Washington Irving
1833 : Eugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin
1834 : The Hamiltons: Official Life in 1830 by Catherine Gore
1835 : Taras Bulba by Nikolai Gogol
1848 : White Nights by Fyodor Dostoevsky
1890 : Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen
1908 : The Blue Bird by Maurice Maeterlinck
1919 : Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson
1932 : Before the Fact by Francis Iles
1933 : Frost in May by Antonia White
1934 : I, Claudius by Robert Graves
1938 : The Earth Compels by Louis MacNeice
1939 : What Happened to the Corbetts bt Nevil Shute
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
1953 : Suspicion by Friedrich Durrenmatt
1954 : The Fellowship of the Ring by JRR Tolkien
1955 : Viking's Dawn by Henry Treece
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
1971 : The Open Veins of Latin America by Eduardo Galeano
1972 : Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya
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
1982 : Returning by Edna O'Brien
1985 : Poetry Please! by Charles Causley
1986 : Cold Spring Harbor by Richard Yates
1987 : Beloved by Toni Morrison
1988 : The Pigeon by Patrick Suskind
1989 : Belfast Confetti by Ciaran Carson
1990 : A Relative Stranger by Charles Baxter
1991 : The Whitby Witches by Robin Jarvis
1993 : The Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
1995 : Valley of the Sun by Louis L'Amour
1996 : Nazi Literature in the Americas by Roberto Bolano
1997 : God's Gift to Women by Don Paterson
1999 : Antarctica by Claire Keegan
2000 : The Hill Bachelors by William Trevor
2002 : Crow Lake by Mary Lawson
2003 : All He Ever Wanted by Anita Shreve
2004 : Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
2005 : The Ode Less Traveled by Stephen Fry
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
2013 : The Good Father by Noah Hawley
2014 : The End of Eddy by Louis Eduoard
2015 : Gut by Giulia Enders
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

76/200

A-Z Challenge

A = 12 Books: Richard Adams, Claire Adam, Sherwood Anderson, Rudolfo Anaya, David Attenborough, Roma Agrawal, Lin Anderson

B = 12 Books: Roberto Bolano, Lucia Berlin, Fiona Benson, John Boyne, Iain M. Banks, Charles Baxter

C = 12 Books: Cressida Cowell, Elizabeth Chadwick, Charly Cox, Ciaran Carson, Lucy Caldwell, Charles Causley, Lee Child

D = 8 Books: Friedrich Durrenmatt, Imtiaz Dharker, Anita Desai, Fyodor Dostoevsky

E = 6 Books: Lauren Elkin, Sophie Elmhirst, Virginia Evans, Giulia Enders

F = 8 Books: Richard Flanagan, Michel Faber, Stephen Fry

G = 12 Books: Elaine Garvey, Morris Gleitzman, Peter Gizzi, Catherine Gore, Kathy George, Robert Graves, Nikolai Gogol, Eduardo Galeano

H = 12 Books: Noah Hawley, Victor Hugo, Richard Holloway, Sarah Howe, Natalie Haynes, Jorn Lier Horst, Daniel E. Harmon

I = 6 Books: Francis Iles, Washington Irving, Henrik Ibsen

J = 6 Books: Jonas Jonasson

K = 6 Books: Claire Keegan, Sheena Kalayil, Rene Karabash

L = 8 Books: Yiyun Li, Valeria Luiselli, Louis L'Amour, Ashani Lewis

M = 12 Books: Toni Morrison, Iris Murdoch, David Mitchell, Louis MacNeice, Lisa McInerney, S.G. MacLean

N = 6 Books: Megan Nolan, Tom Newlands, Eshkol Nevo

O = 6 Books: Claire Oshetsky, Edna O'Brien, Philip O'Ceallaigh

P = 8 Books: Ruth Padel, Christopher Priest, Alexander Pushkin, Pascale Petit

Q = 3 Books: Arthur Quiller-Couch

R = 8 Books: James Rebanks,Marilynne Robinson, Olga Ravn

S = 12 Books: Rebecca Salazar, Nevil Shute, Patmeena Sabit, Anita Shreve, William Shakespeare, Ali Smith, Karla Suarez

T = 8 Books: William Trevor, Judith Tick, Anne Tyler, Adrian Tchaikovsky, Henry Treece

U = 6 Books: Uketsu

V = 6 Books: Eric Vuillard, Willy Vlautin, Itamar Vieira Junior

W = 8 Books: Manya Wilkinson Michael J Warren, Kit de Waal, Antonia White, E.B. White

X = 3 Books:

Y = 3 Books: Richard Yates

Z = 3 Books: Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Total 200

100/200

Seattle Library Bingo Challenge

Best 100s

Best British 100: https://www.librarything.com/topic/378301#9103389

Best North American 100: https://www.librarything.com/topic/378301#9103390

Rest of the English Speaking World 100: https://www.librarything.com/topic/378301#9103392

Best in Translation 100: https://www.librarything.com/topic/378301#9103393

Books Added in 2026

Jan to March
Books 1-79 : https://www.librarything.com/topic/379636#9150056
(Read 10 to date)

April to June
Books 80-147 : https://www.librarything.com/topic/384892#9215629
(Read 11 to date)

42 non-fiction
74 fiction
7 poetry
12 SF/fantasy
2 Drama
8 crime / thrillers

By Men 69
By Women 78

Read: 21

Book Stats 2026

Books Read : 100
Pages Read in completed books : 25,334

Longest book : Shardik : 592 pp
Shortest book : The Earth Compels : 46 pp
Mean book length : 253.34 pp

Pages per day average in completed books : 134.04

Books written by men : 53
Books written by women: 47

Non-Fiction : 14
Fiction : 45
Poetry : 13
Thriller : 7
SF/Fantasy : 6
Drama : 2
Short Stories : 13

1600s : 1 book
1830s : 5 books
1840s : 1 book
1890s : 1 book
1900s : 1 book
1910s : 1 book
1930s : 5 books
1950s : 3 books
1970s : 4 books
1980s : 5 books
1990s : 6 books
2000s : 9 books
2010s : 21 books
2020s : 37 books

UK Authors : 44
USA Authors : 23
Chile Authors : 1
Ireland Authors : 8
Canada Authors : 1
China Authors : 1
Switzerland Authors : 1
Australia Authors : 3
France Authors : 2
Sweden Authors : 1
Trinidad Authors : 1
Japan Authors : 1
Spain Authors : 1
Mexican Authors : 1
Russia Authors : 3
German Authors : 1
Denmark Authors: 1
Brazil Authors: 1
Israel Authors: 1
Indian Authors: 1
Bulgaria Authors: 1
Uruguay Authors: 1
Norway Authors: 2
Cuba Authors: 1

Challenges :
Roads Less Travelled : 8 books
Non-Fiction Challenge : 7 books
British Author Challenge : 11 books
26 Short Story Collections : 13/26
Caroline Memorial Reads : 1
1001 Books : 4

Awards :
Baillie Gifford Prize : 1
Pulitzer Prize : 2
TS Eliot Prize : 1
Women's Prize: 2

Read : 100 books
Added : 155 books

Change to TBR : +55

January Books : 18
January Pages : 4,689
Pages Average : Per book : 260.50 Per Day : 151.26

February Books : 14
February Pages : 4,370
Pages Average : Per book : 312.14 Per day : 156.07

March Books : 13
March Pages : 2,932
Pages Average : Per Book 225.54 Per day : 94.58

April Books : 15
April Pages : 3,641
Pages Average : Per Book : 242.73 Per Day : 121.37

May Books: 21
May Pages: 5,211
Pages Average : Per Book 248.14 Per Day: 168.10

June Books: 13
June Pages: 2,823
Pages Average : Per Book 217.15 Per Day: 94.10

July Books: 6
July Pages: 1,868
Pages Average: Per Book: 311.33 Per Day: 233.50

Dedicated to::

My 13th Thread is dedicated to my absolute favourite sporting event - The Tour de France. Starting in Barcelona this year at the weekend.

Welcome to my 13th thread of 2026

Happy new thread and a start of July. Hope you enjoy wallowing! Wishing you the best. I have a couple of thriller/detective books on my July list.

>18 Kristelh: Thank you book twin. I will start the month with Natalie Haynes and then it will be Lin Anderson and Scotland!

Happy new thread!

>20 amanda4242: Thank you, Amanda.

Happy new thread, Paul!

Happy New Thread, Paul.

Happy New Thread, Paul.
For Cuba, I'll be reading Margarita Engle, technically probably not Cuban but has Cuban parents. I have 3 of her YA verse novels that need to be read and cullled. Almost everything she writes is about Cuba.
I have A Thousand Ships close to hand.

Happy new thread, Paul!

Hi Paul, all the best for lucky#13!

>22 atozgrl: Thank you, Irene.

>23 vancouverdeb: Thanks Deb.

>24 avatiakh: I am planning to read Havana Year Zero for the Roads Less Travelled by Karla Suarez.

I did start Natalie Haynes' A Thousand Ships during my lunch hour and got 46 pages in whilst enjoying spicy noodle soup! Liked the noodles but am loving the book.

>25 quondame: Thank you, Susan.

>26 mdoris: Thanks Mary. I am not particularly superstitious but do tend to avoid walking under ladders!

Happy new thread Paul!

(I shall have to have a piffle party on my thread if I'm to get my continuation link for my third quarter.)

>30 humouress: Aah you'll get there......I am off to visit right now!

Happy new thread Paul!

Happy New Thread and Happy July, Paul!

>32 Familyhistorian: Thank you, Meg.

>33 SirThomas: Thanks Thomas. I am not one of the Brits who likes to see Germany fail in soccer - old rivals that we are. I thought that they were desperately unlucky that the "goal" was disallowed in Extra Time and I would have liked to see them go much further.

Happy new thread, Paul!

>35 bell7: Thank you, Mary. Always a pleasure to see you.

Happy New Thread, Paul. A Thousand Ships sounds really good and the Pitter poem made me smile.

>37 msf59: It is brilliant Mark, written in a field full of great books and right up there.

Great to see you here buddy.

The Roads Less Travelled thread for July is up and we are going to Cuba!

https://www.librarything.com/topic/385218

>10 PaulCranswick: I am halfway through Winter Studies and Summer Rambles in Canada(1838) which is better than it sounds, but am looking forward to The Voyage of the Beagle (1839).

I did read The Voyage of the Beagle a number of years ago and found it heavy going but fascinating.

Happy New Thread Paul!!

>41 PaulCranswick: I am planning to listen to it on CDs as I drive around to less exotic destinations. First I have to get through a full cast recording of The Decameron—26 hours of listening.

>34 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul.
But I have to admit that they weren't very good this time—and they weren't very good the times before either…

Happy new thread!

>42 hredwards: Thank you Harold

>43 booksaplenty1949: I think that is probably the best way to go with it as the text may feel less turgid if spoken aloud.

>44 SirThomas: True the German team is not the force it was but I still thought they had enough to get past that game.

>45 foggidawn: Thanks Foggi.

>8 PaulCranswick: Happy New Thread.

On your reading challenge, I've read How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia by Mohsin Hamid, about 5 years ago, according to my star rating, I liked it quite a bit. I've always wanted to read more of his stuff.

>48 mahsdad: Hamid is up this month in Amanda's BAC. I have read three of his books before and he is a bit hit and miss for me.

>49 PaulCranswick: I was commenting to be social ;) Filthy is the only one of his that I have. I have so many other books on the shelf that I have to get to that I think I'll be sitting this one out. Tho, I think I'm preachin' to the choir about having too many books to get to. LOL

Happy new thread, Paul!

>50 mahsdad: Indeed Jeff and I didn't mean to seem unappreciative of the nod. Actually I have that one and another on the shelves and have to decide between them.

>51 drneutron: Thanks Jim.

Halfway through the year so let's update on the posting stats.
Here are the 100 busiest threads by total number of posts up to a few moments ago.

1 PaulCranswick 3,260
2 richardderus 2,754
3 msf59 2,224
4 Alcottacre 1,650
5 jnwelch 1,253
6 Familyhistorian 1,089
7 karenmarie 1,076
8 vancouverdeb 998
9 bell7 973
10 lauralkeet 957
11 katiekrug 952
12 BLBera 761
13 LizzieD 728
14 RebaRelishesReading 626
15 jessibud 609
16 klobrien 593
17 atozgirl 563
18 Dejah_Thoris 517
19 Whisper1 502
20 quondame 495
21 mahsdad 467
22 figsfromthistle 446
23 The_Hibernator 445
24 drneutron 444
25 AMQS 430
26 kristel 416
27 SandDune 391
28 avatiakh 371
29 mickyfine 367
30 Berly 365
31 thornton37814 360
32 (Sir)Thomas 354
33 norabelle414 352
34 foggidawn 336
35 humouress 323
36 John Simpson 312
37 storettler 306
38 copperskye 299
39 Curioussquared 298
40 laytonwoman3rd 298
41 mstrust 297
42 owltherian 279
43 ffortsa 268
44 Elorin 258
45 witchyrichy 253
46 mdoris 248
47 SqueakyChu 245
48 EBT1002 241
49 cbl_tn 238
50 Lovinglit 218
51 carmenere 217
52 EllaTim 214
53 ursula 182
54 CDVicarage 180
55 Arlie 174
56 Banjo 173
57 swynn 172
58 lycomayflower 168
59 sibylline 141
60 ChrisG 140
61 amanda4242 138
62 paulstalder 136
63 ronireads 131
64 weird_o 131
65 ctpress 129
66 kac522 128
67 magician's nephew 114
68 Chatterbox 112
69 sirfurboy 112
70 elkidee 102
71 vivians 94
72 Oberon 93
73 tiffin 93
74 hredwards 86
75 zoe 86
76 LoisB 85
77 LyndainOregon 81
78 alsvidur 77
79 silverwolf 76
80 meanderer 75
81 rbeffa 75
82 lindapanzo 73
83 ravenwoodwitch 73
84 justchris 70
85 SuzyQOregon 66
86 kyler_marie 64
87 PawsForThought 62
88 rhondak101 62
89 DebiCates 57
90 matke 56
91 ape 55
92 aktakukac 54
93 bayboi 53
94 walklover 53
95 AnneDC 52
96 Teymaneeya 49
97 deedledee 48
98 Questing 47
99 Deern 46
100 kimcassady 46

Thanks for keeping the stats, Paul. I read Exit West by Mohsin Hamid and gave it 4 stars. Good luck with your choice. I just checked and I also read How To Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia and gave it 4.5 stars, so I guess he is an author who works for me.

>54 vancouverdeb: I liked Exit West, Deb, but not unconditionally as some of the stranger plot elements left me a bit bemused.

Good grief! I still made the list, however low!

This may motivate me to post a few book reviews/responses.

Happy new thread, Paul.

>56 Matke: Lovely to see you, Gail. Comfortably listed!

Happy New Thread!

Here's the Fourth of July readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/385250

Was the lucky recipient of some bookshelves previously owned by an acquaintance who passed away just before his 104th birthday. He was able to live at home to the end surrounded by his many thousand books. Hope I have the same fate. New shelves have enabled me to get books with authors V-Z out of boxes and on display. They seem happy.

>58 SilverWolf28: Thank you, Silver!

>59 SilverWolf28: Wow it is that time of the year when we celebrate losing the colonies and you celebrate changing Charles III for your right to representation and to elect a nutcase to the White House!

>60 booksaplenty1949: Heart warming! I am currently surrounded by my books but I fear for their continuance if I pass first as Hani prefers no clutter. Ruth Ware, Lisa Jewell, Tony Parsons and Anita Shreve might survive, I guess.

>62 PaulCranswick: Well of course my acquaintance passed on his books as well as his bookcases. At least half of my books were purchased used. I have some inherited from my parents and grandparents. I don’t think your library will wind up in the dumpster.

>63 booksaplenty1949: I would hate to think so!

Interesting stats, Paul. Are we less chatty than in the past?

>65 Familyhistorian: Much less, Meg, but then again there are less of us in the group than before.

Added this Lunchtime:

148. Hunger and Thirst by Claire Fuller
149. Nonesuch by Francis Spufford
150. Twelve Post-War Tales by Graham Swift

I would have thought that the first two are possibilities to make the Booker Longlist and Swift is wonderful.

Hi Paul, mate, Happy New Thread, looking forward to the start of the Tour de France and right at the last, Channel 5 did a deal to show an hourly highlights package. I will have to make do with this after being spoilt for the last 35 years of excellent coverage by Channel 4 and then ITV 4 with their 3 to 4 hour coverage mon to fri and then full stages on a weekend.

Happy new thread, Paul!

>68 johnsimpson: I remember Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen doing the commentaries back in the Eighties and early Nineties, mate.
Seems like they are trying to move England's game in Mexico forward. They have had two extra days rest, we are playing in their back yard and at altitude without any chance of preparation. FIFA really want the host nations to remain in the tournament.

>69 banjo123: Thank you, Rhonda

BOOK #95



A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes
Date of Publication: 2019
Origin of Author: UK
Gender of Author: Female
Genre: Fiction
Challenges: BAC
Pages: 345pp

If I am being observant which oftentimes I am not, I would point out the curious fact that female authors have become extremely proficient in retelling the classics of mythology. Following Madeline Miller and Pat Barker (and there have been others subsequently, Natalie Haynes offers a wonderful feminist take upon the Trojan war and the ladies involved therein.

A big thank you to Amanda for including the author in this month's BAC. I thoroughly enjoyed this and it sits alongside the very best of its genre in my humble opinion.

>71 PaulCranswick: Glad you liked it! You should definitely check out her podcast, especially The Iliad episode.

I see that the BOOKER LONGLIST is a matter of a few short weeks from announcement.

This is not a prediction list as such but more of a wishlist of what I would like to see included. Based on blurb, books read and authors I have previously really enjoyed. This is my hoped for 13 in no particular order.

1. This is Where the Serpent Lives by Daniyal Mueenuddin
2. A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar
3. Land by Maggie O'Farrell
4. The True True Story of Raja the Gullible by Rabih Alameddine
5. Whistler by Ann Patchett
6. Good People by Patmeena Sabit - Read and adored this.
7. Dominion by Addie E. Citchens
8. White River Crossing by Ian McGuire
9. Nonesuch by Francis Spufford
10. May We Feed the King by Rebecca Perry
11. Delirious by Damien Wilkins
12. The Matchbox Girl by Alison Jolley
13. The Renovation by Kenan Orhan

Some well known books and authors as well as some left field choices. Saddened not to included Amitav Ghosh and Sebastian Barry but I cannot put all my favourite authors forward.

>72 amanda4242: I will go and have a look at that Amanda, thanks.

Greetings, Paul! I didn't make the top 100 posting stats, but I'm trying to do a little better than I have been in recent years.

>75 tymfos: Keep chipping away and I am sure that you'll get there soon, Terri. xx

You used to be a solid top 20.

Lovely to see you here in any event.

>73 PaulCranswick: I'd be surprised if Nonesuch made the list for two reasons: first, because it's a straight-up fantasy novel; and second, it's actually readable.

>77 amanda4242: Hahaha true. I have hopes for two reasons:
1. Spufford is damn good, and
2. Jarvis Cocker is a judge and he is a smart Yorkshireman with taste.

Happy new thread, Paul!

When the Tour starts, summer has really begun.

I am looking forward to it, Ella. Should be a titanic battle between the two favourites although France has a young hopeful too to put into the mix which will be interesting.

It's that time of the year again, Tour de France! Hi Paul xx

>81 DianaNL: I was so much hoping that you would drop by, dear lady. It is funny that I usually want a French winner of the tour to come through and I will be cheering on the young 19 year old French lad. Can't see him defeating the two big hitters but he adds a spark to the contest. I hope that Arensman does well for the Netherlands too.

>82 PaulCranswick: Have often watched the Tour going through a nearby town when summering in France: a long wait, during which banks etc hand out t-shirts and other souvenirs, then—-Here they come! There they go! All over in a blink. But one year I was in Paris for the ceremonial final lap up the Champs Elysées. That was pretty amazing.

For me it is all about the mountains. When I was cycle racing myself to a lesser standard I would often spend valuable training time in a bar in Brittany or in Port Vendres where I used to train.

>84 PaulCranswick: Going to a bar important to keep you out of bookstores.

>53 PaulCranswick: Gosh; I'm in at 35 which is a lot higher than I thought I would be. At first I thought I hadn't made the list because I was searching for my name lower down.

>84 PaulCranswick: Maybe you would have been a higher standard had you not spent training time in the bars? ;0)

>85 booksaplenty1949: I still got through a goodly amount of books in those days though, a lot of them borrowed from libraries

>86 humouress: You really ought to have been looking there, Nina.

Your position in the group thread posting is remarkably consistent

2022 31st
2023 38th
2024 35th
2025 35th
2026 34th (to date)

I was exaggerating a bit about the bars as I did only train three or four hours a day so I usually got time to watch the race in the bar but I wasn't knocking back the booze too much.

>87 PaulCranswick: Of course. But while book *reading* is always a good thing, book *buying* is, I can personally attest, addictive. At least drinks don’t take up shelf space, although I did know someone who used to collect those mini-bottles they served on airplanes.

>88 booksaplenty1949: No doubt it is addictive but not quite as harmful as finishing all those bottles in one sitting!

>87 PaulCranswick: May you soon be in a position to borrow from libraries again, Paul!

>90 Familyhistorian: Thanks Meg. I suspect that I will slowly transfer books over from Malaysia to the UK.

BOOK #96



The Hunting Dogs by Jorn Lier Horst
Date of Publication: 2012
Origin of Author: Norway
Gender of Author: Male
Genre: Thriller
Pages: 323 pp

I had forgotten how satisfying good Scandi / Nordic Noir really is and this is good Scandi.

Seven hours in company of Inspector Wisting and his journalist daughter Line are seven hours well spent. I will not leave it so long again before I read another of these excellent procedurals.

>87 PaulCranswick: I haven't been very active on the posting side of LT this year, so I was surprised to be up there. I suppose that means everyone's numbers are down?

>92 PaulCranswick: My sister Tannis is a big fan of Jorn Lier Horst, Paul. I think she has read everything by him. I love scandi crime too, but have not read that author yet.

>93 humouress: The numbers are down for sure on last year and last year was previously the year with the fewest posts.

In 2022 the top 140 threads had almost 64,000 posts at this stage.
In 2026 we have currently amassed 39,369.

>94 vancouverdeb: I like the books a lot, Deb. Reminiscent of Indridason's Inspector Erlendur, Mankell's Insector Wallender, Nesser's Van Vetereen, and Fossum's Inspector Sejer.

Hi Paul, I finished The Black Friar! Took me longer than expected. I enjoyed the story, with all it's plot threads and characters.

Additions on Sunday as I offset the embarrassment of a salon haircut.

151. Railsong by Rahul Bhattacharya
152. The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown
153. Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash
154. A Question of Guilt by Jorn Lier Horst
155. Whistler by Ann Patchett

The Dan Brown was bought for my sister in law.

>96 QuestingA: I enjoyed it too! I think the first episode has the edge on it but not by so much.

>97 PaulCranswick:. Some good additions Paul. Some I actually recognize. Just Saw Railsong reviewed yesterday. I'm not a big fan of Dan Brown if it is the Angels and Demons Dan Brown. And I note that you bought it for you SIL. I was just checking out Lost Lambs the other day and either put a hold or notify me on it. Whistler is also on a hold list.

>16 PaulCranswick: We are mourning the ITV highlights programme which used to be an annual feature of the Tour de France for us. But they sold the rights last year. There is a highlights programme on Channel 5 but it didn’t look great. I might watch some of the Tour in Welsh, as they are also showing it on S4C, and their coverage has been OK when I’ve watched it before.

>7 PaulCranswick: I love these categories and have good intentions, but so far, I've only managed the January prompt. Oh well. SO many books...

Have you listened to Natalie Haynes' podcast,. It is very funny.

>99 Kristelh: The Dan Brown is quite the chunkster, Kristel. My SIL actually sent me a WhatsApp and asked me to look out for the book for her. I wanted to go to the bookshop anyway and knew that Hani would not object (much) if the trip was ostensibly for her sister!

>100 SandDune: I am sick of all this TV rights bidding depriving the fans of their sports. Over here the regular satellite channels that have always shown the World Cup lost out to the telecom company here on the rights and I now have to pay an exorbitant sum to watch the football on my laptop or phone.

>101 BLBera: A challenge should be a joy, Beth, and not an ordeal so I am always happy when my friends join in where they can or are able to.

>71 PaulCranswick: I’m so glad you liked the Haynes book; I loved it. And yes, I’m noticing quite a few women taking on the myths and reimagining them. If you can, try Circe by Madeline Miller. I thought it was outstanding.

>102 PaulCranswick: I completely agree about the sports broadcasting mess. It’s infuriating, especially when the leagues p/teams negotiating these deals are owned by people already rolling in money.

>104 Matke: Indeed so, Gail. I have read The Song of Achilles and really liked it so I will get to Circe soon.

I think I was the behindest I've ever been on threads, but I've at least scrolled through yours and caught some of the highlights. Let's hope I can do better now. I even got caught up on my books. I'm two away from hitting 75! Hopefully soon!

>16 PaulCranswick: Ah, yes. Tour de France. There are plenty of Danes to look out for - hope Vingegaard will test Pogacar, but he just seems too strong and will probably win again. I hope for some Danish stage wins. Mads P., Skjeldmose and others do have a chance.

And right now I'm Norwegian. Haaland is wicked. Could be fun to see a Kane-Haaland match-up. :)

>106 thornton37814: Lovely to see you, Lori. I did notice your increased activity over the weekend. I will be over to you place soon and hopefully to celebrate your 75!

>107 ctpress: It is a great match-up and I hope that Vingegaard prevails but it will be tough. The young Frenchman Seixas has made a solid start but not yet this year, I think.

I did suspect that Brazil would be found out later in the tournament and Haaland proved what we know that, if he is allowed a chance, he will seize it. In a match up with Kane, I would personally prefer to have Haaland with me but they are both lethal.

>108 PaulCranswick: I look forward to watching how far Seixas can follow the two in front - definitely a hope for the future - but also too much pressure is put on someone who hasn't even tried three weeks in this level of competition.

Well, first Kane has to overcome an insane Azteca stadium - I'm off to bed - but I guess I will find out tomorrow. Ahem...later today.

>109 ctpress: In my experience it is the three weeks that will either catch him out or be the making of him. One of the reasons that I became a Quantity Surveyor/Construction Contracts guy instead of following my passion was the fact that I judge my body, unaided, couldn't cope with such a long tour. I could have probably handled Paris-Nice or the Criterium Dauphine Libere at a week but I don't think I could have recovered every day for three weeks.

Tough task for England. It has been delayed by an hour too. I am willing the lads on - no home or altitude advantage this is a bang average Mexican team.

BOOK #97



Havana Year Zero by Karla Suarez
Date of Publication: 2011
Origin of Author: Cuba
Gender of Author: Female
Genre: Fiction
Challenge: Roads Less Travelled
Pages: 256pp

I don't really know what I was expecting here, but I was pleasantly surprised. I was treated to a story and a piece of history that I only vaguely knew existed. Technically Graham Alexander Bell did get there first as he registered his version of the phone properly before Antonio Meucci but Meucci may have had the thing working first.

A novel where a combination of mathematicians, writers, actresses and misfits try to prove the provenance of Meucci's claim by getting hold of the evidence is not a promising prospect but it does largely work. Labyrinthine plot wise to the point of meander, it does deserve notice and is not the difficult to grab avant gardism that often creeps into Latin American fiction.

Gently recommended.

Well England got over the line in Mexico City in a tremendous game. Winning by 3-2 our midfielder Bellingham (2 goals) and goalkeeper (Pickford 2 great saves) were wonderful for us.

Now it is off to Miami on Sunday to pay Norway and Erling Haaland, born in my home area but very much the King of this Norway team.

>97 PaulCranswick: I am sure your salon hair cut looks great , Paul! I can't wait to see what you think of Whistler as often we have similar taste in books. But a lot of people have loved it, so I hope you are among them. I think you will like Lost Lambs or I did. It's a bit quirky, but it really did pull me in. I'm watching The Devil's Star but Jo Nesbo on NetFlix and it's a little tough to watch. But I like " pacy " shows but not too much gore.

>113 vancouverdeb: We do seem to have similar tastes when it comes to books and films and shows, Deb.

I of course saw your lack of enthusiasm for Whistler but I cannot say that I am wholly surprised because Ann Patchett has always been hit and miss for me.

I saw the first three episodes of Devil's Star on Netflix since I love the books but it is very dark and pretty gory. I haven't watched the subsequent shows yet but then again I have never much prioritized TV over the printed page.

>112 PaulCranswick: Our lads were amazing. I was surprised by a couple of those penalty decisions that went against us, but we did well. It would have done my nerves more good if we’d defended a bit higher and not so close to our box, though.

>115 humouress: I have to say, Nina, I don't think the Referee did a bad job considering the atmosphere in the stadium. Technically his calls were right but I don't think the penalty should have been referred back to him by VAR as it was not a clear and obvious error. Even more credit to the team in that Mexico ran out of ideas in the last 15 minutes of so of the game.

>116 PaulCranswick: They were fair calls when they went back and replayed the footage but I hadn't even seen Quansah's and Kane's infractions until they played them back. And I actually thought the first one was for us because one of our players was downed just outside the Mexican's box.

>117 humouress: It seems that FIFA have apologised to the England team for both decisions which would have been zero consolation had we lost the game.

>118 PaulCranswick: That's nice.

I've just discovered that Trump has got FIFA to suspend the US captain's red card. So what's the point of a red card at all? Infantino and Trump; what a pair.

>119 humouress: Infantino is a sick joke. The red card against Balogun was harsh but every one else who has got red carded has served a suspension irrespective of circumstances.

>121 EllaTim: I will be cheering for the Belgian team tonight!

>121 EllaTim: Don't tell our friends here, Ella, but I will too. It wouldn't break my heart if the USA win because they have played well throughout but there does seem to be an agenda in officialdom to create outcomes which leaves anything but a level playing field.

BOOK #98



Blue Moon by Lee Child
Date of Publication: 2019
Origin of Author: UK
Gender of Author: Male
Genre: Thriller
Pages: 448 pp

I will miss Jack Reacher.
I have saved up this book having bought it on release 6 or 7 years ago.
I don't read thrillers which the author franchises and gets others to write while he or she shares a credit.
This is the 24th Reacher episode and I have read all of them but this is where I stop for now.

Reacher is on the bus coming into a nameless town. He helps save an old guy from a mugging and gets himself involved in a turf war between rival gangs Albanians v Ukranians. As usual the odds are against him but as usual we have no doubt that he will endure and ultimately prevail,

I will miss Jack Reacher.

>123 PaulCranswick: lol, Paul. I had this one on my original plan for July but replaced it with my Cuba planned read. These were my husband's books. He loved Jack Reacher.

>124 Kristelh: Kristel, I even survived Reacher being Tom Cruised! Brilliant creation IMHO.

The World Cup has been overall a great spectacle so far and the three joint hosts have brought some both contrasting as well as complementary in order to heighten the enjoyment. All three have bitten the dust at the last 16 stage which is sad really but Trump involving himself in the Balogun suspension achieved something that he normally is not accused of - he was a uniting force in uniting the football world against an otherwise exemplary USA national team in the hope that Belgium would put them out. Well they did and emphatically so - 4 goals to 1. I am personally a little sad even though I also favoured the Belgians as the USA had played so well to this point.

>123 PaulCranswick: I didn't realise that the Reacher series is a franchise. A quick internet search indicates that after Blue Moon the books were co-written with his brother. *

I caught parts of the Spain - Portugal match but missed the Belgium - USA match. I'm glad that the red card mess-up didn't affect the outcome.

* ETA Andrew Child/ Andrew Grant

>127 humouress: I feel sorry for the USA team as the debacle on the red card ruined their world cup. Well done, Trump.

Yeah not my thing the book franchise. James Patterson is the main culprit and at least Lee Child is working with his brother but the authenticity is just not there anymore.

>128 PaulCranswick: Trump manages to ruin everything he touches. The football debacle caused to cheer against my own country—and my country is another thing he seems determined to ruin.

Dark days indeed.

>129 Matke: Shockingly crass, Gail. I wanted the USA to win until he asked Infantino to intervene.

Checking in on you, Paul. Happy whatever, brother!

I am no expert on British accents. Charles Darwin was born into a wealthy family in Shropshire, so perhaps he indeed spoke with the posh plummy voice of the narrator, David Case, on the audiobook version of The Voyage of the Beagle which I am listening to for 1839 in the 200 Year Challenge. But it is a bit disconcerting to hear octopi being described in a tone which sounds more appropriate for a survey of ladies’ hats at a garden party.

>131 alcottacre: Nice to see you, Juana. xx

>132 booksaplenty1949: That made me smile - tentacled hat wear! I have no idea how Darwin sounded but Shropshire would tend to have the makings of a slight Western burr.

Please don't tell him Wimbledon is ongoing!

>134 PaulCranswick: And don't tell him about the cricket either.

He's acting like a petty dictator - but what I can't believe is that people are pandering to him and letting him get away with it.

>123 PaulCranswick: I also stopped reading the Jack Reacher series. I really loved him and always pictured Lee Child himself as Reacher as I read them. I did read the first crossover to Andrew Child and stopped there. I'm not a fan of Tom Cruise as Reacher or the Netflix guy as he's too young & bulky but have watched and enjoyed both the films and the tv series anyway.

I might read a book by Andrew Child (Andrew Grant), he had a number of books under his belt before co-writing Jack Reacher.

>135 humouress: A bit too over blown and over bearing and wielding potentially far too much power to be considered "petty" unfortunately Nina.

I am at least relieved for my American friends that he cannot stand for another term and even if he tries he would never get the nomination. I hope we can get back to politics of the normal thereafter.

>136 avatiakh: The proposition of Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher was utterly preposterous, Kerry, and I couldn't watch the movie versions. I could watch and enjoy the Netflix/Amazon series although I do agree that the actor was too young to fully carry off the depth of Reacher.

Isn't it funny because I sort of picture Lee Child facially as Reacher too!

Going back to my yearly reviews of my reading/stats

STATS FROM MY 2024 READING

Books Read: 133

Fiction : 69
Thriller: 17
Non-Fiction: 26
SF/Fantasy: 2
Poetry: 14
Drama: 5
Graphic Novels: 0

Male Authors: 77
Female Authors: 56

24 Different Countries

62 UK
31 USA
8 Ireland
4 France
3 Australia, Russia
2 Germany, Japan, Palestine, Sweden
1 Austria, Canada, China, Croatia, Denmark, Israel, Italy, Malaysia, Martinique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Sri Lanka

Book of the Year:
Pet by Catherine Chidgey

Honourable Mentions
James by Percival Everett and Loot by Tania James (Fiction)
The Home Child by Liz Berry (Poetry)
Battle Cry of Freedom by James McPherson (Non-Fiction)
The Searcher by Tana French (Thriller)

BOOK #99



Lord Cornwallis by Daniel E. Harmon
Date of Publication: 2002
Origin of Author: USA
Gender of Author: Male
Genre: Non-Fiction
Challenges: NF Challenge
Pages: 76 pp

Part of a wider series aimed at juvenile students of this period of history, Cornwallis whilst presiding over one of Britain most shambolic military disasters - the surrender of Yorktown - was actually one of the more able of the British Generals of the American War of Independence and certainly one of its more humane.

Cornwallis had been sympathetic to the Colonists over the issue of the Stamp Acts and would have preferred their emancipation (representation with taxation). Whose fault Yorktown was (Clinton or Cornwallis) has been long debated but their failure to agree on a concerted plan definitely fatally undermined their plans.

WIMBLEDON UPDATE

British qualifier Arthur Fery has remarkably reached the Semi-Finals, well over 100 in the world rankings it would be remarkable if he reaches the final. I will be surprised if he beats #2 seed Zverev but one can hope and dream.

BOOK #100



Paths of the Dead by Lin Anderson
Date of Publication: 2014
Origin of Author: UK
Gender of Author: Female
Genre: Thriller
Pages: 420pp

This is the 9th episode of the Rhona MacLeod procedurals and has a very striking and inventive opening.

The characters continue to gain depth in what is one of my absolute favourite live series these days.

The plot is convoluted in a good way and everything races along and then comes together as it should.

This could be the fastest that I have reached 100 books whilst I have been a member of LT. I haven't managed 200 books since I have been a member and this is a year in which I clearly have a fighting chance.

Next Up:

The Last White Man by Mohsin Hamid

>143 PaulCranswick: Congratulations on reading 100 books, Paul. I am happy to manage 75 books a year, and I did manage that last year, but I had not done so for some years. Enjoy The Last White Man.

>145 vancouverdeb: A little way in and it has made the usual skew-eyed start of any self-respecting Hamid book.

>143 PaulCranswick: Congrats on reaching 100 so fast, Paul - go for 200 - my own reading has been inconsistent this year, but still 75 is realistic.

Even if Fery loses the semi, it's a good underdog story. Do you also have some Brits with chances for success - stage wins - in the Tour de France? It looks like a good British sports summer so far. Mads P delivered from the start, and he will be fighting like crazy for that green jersey - if he succeeds, he will have the green jersey in both the TDF, Vuelta, and Giro.

>147 ctpress: Tom Pidcock may win a stage I suppose, Carsten. We have only seven riders in this year's tour and I suppose Yates, Tarling and Fred Wright could also show at some stage.

Today will be a real test for the big hitters in the Pyrenees. To win a jersey in all three tours is quite the achievement.

Congratulations on 100. I am at 90. I decided to join you in reading The Last White Man. Hamid is not a favorite author of mine but I seem to read his books.

>139 PaulCranswick: I've been following your lookback at previous years' stats, and maybe sometime I will do something similar with the top ten lists I make at the end of each year -- see which books stuck with me and which ones I barely remember, that sort of thing. Maybe I'll make it a project next year, and try to reread at least one book from each list to see how it holds up.

>139 PaulCranswick: I love seeing stuff like this. Thanks for sharing, Paul!

>143 PaulCranswick: Go, Paul, go! You can make that 200!!

Happy whatever, brother!

Congrats on hitting 100!

Congratulations on reading 100 books, Paul. Best of luck getting to 200. I might make it there myself this year.

>149 Kristelh: Yeah Kristel, I would say that that pretty much sums up my attitude towards Mohsin Hamid as well.

>150 foggidawn: I am almost caught up and will do so just in time to celebrate the 2,000th book read by me whilst on LT. I would guess, Foggi, that you would be well over 2,500 already.

>151 alcottacre: Today or tomorrow I will be all up to date, Stasia, and will have my stats for 16 years combined. 90 books either best of year or honorable mentions.

>152 amanda4242: Thanks Amanda x