Chèli's TIOLI Challenges

The Take It or Leave It Challenge: This is directly incorporated into my 75 Books Challenge. Each month I'll pick something different that I think would be fun to read. Join me, if you'd like. Hint: Always check your TBR pile first when selecting a book!

January, 2010: I will read a book with a color in the title.
1527::The Picture of Dorian Grey - gray
8056707::Plum Pudding Murder - plum

February, 2010 In honor of Valentine's Day - a book with LOVE in the title
2084177::Someone to Love by Jude Deveraux
8919426::Mastered by Love

March, 2010
In honor of St. Patrick's Day - a book with SAINT or GREEN in the title -
169840::Murder on St. Mark's Place
A book by an LT author - 2766298::Empire of Ivory - Naomi Novik
A Book about Women in History in honor of Women's History Month - 140514::Perfection Salad: Women and Cooking at the Turn of the Century

April, 2010
In honor of the Easter bunny- a book with AN ANIMAL in the title
96150::The Chocolate Cat Caper maybe not a chocloate bunny but close
4458265::Victory of Eagles
To recognize the change due to the coming of spring - book titles that suggest Sweaters
471853::Died in the Wool: A Knitting Mystery
7484389::Death by Cashmere
Books offered as Early Reviewer books
5118958::Charlemagne Pursuit
8961756::Apple Turnover Murder
8410558::The Brutal Telling
Books with Coffee or Tea in the Title
Teaberry Strangler
Awesome Audiobooks
Death and Judgment
Sea of Monsters

May, 2010
In honor of my birthday - a book about my hometown or home state - how many different locales can be honored?.
The Oyster Wars of the Chesapeake Bay
In honor of my wedding anniversary (36 years) a book where the title suggests Love and Marriage
3823860::Mr and Mrs Fitzwilliam Darcy:Two Shall Become One

June, 2010
In honor of Audiobook month - any audiobook!
No, I Don't Want to Join a Book Club!
The Demigod Files
Meant for someone else but not for me": read a book you've borrowed, inherited or bought second-hand
Knit One, Kill Two
The Impending Crisis
Never reviewed book
Tariffs, Blockades, and Inflation: The Economics of the Civil War

July, 2010
In honor of Culinary Arts Month - books with food or a cooking theme
Eggsecutive Orders
The Turkey Day Murder
Through the Grinder
Walla Walla - Alliterative titles
Chocolate Bear Burglary
Chocolate Frog Frame-up
Bordeaux Betrayal
Death on Demand
LT-inspired: Read a book you first heard of from a fellow LibraryThing member
A Separate Country
A new format
The Scarlet Pimpernel - e-book

August, 2010
To recognize the 3 Hs of the weather forecasts for August (Hot, Hazy, Humid) something that starts with H.
Homicide in Hardcover
Read a Classic
Pride and Prejudice
The Dream Read: Read a book whose title completes the sentence, "I would like to be..."
The Good Daughters
Overlooked Challenge (less than 25 copies)
Eat Cake
Weather in the Title
The Art of Racing in the Rain
Read A Book in a Genre Seldom Visited
The Last Olympian Fantasy

September, 2010
Challenge #1: Read a book with a LibraryThing Three-Letter Combo in its Title
Clash of Cavalry: the Battle of Brandy Station
Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln as commander in chief
Desperate engagement: how a little-known Civil War battle saved Washington, D.C., and changed American history
Challenge # 3 - Building in the Title
The Pemberley Chronicles
Challenge #4 Title with N,S, E, or West
Confederate Ordeal: The Southern Home Front
Challenge #10: Read a "Chunkster": a book with 480 pages or more
This Republic of Suffering
Challenge #12: Read a Controversial Book: standard deviation of ratings at least 1.00 (note SD)
Red Badge of Courage
Challenge #13: A book with a title in the title
Loving Mr. Darcy

October, 2010

Challenge #7 in honor of 10/10/10 to a book first released in the 21st century. I figure my ER books will be good for this.
The South vs. the South: How Southern Anti-Confederates Shaped the Course of the Civil War
The Valcourt Heiress
First Comes Marriage
The Civil War at Sea
Fiber and Brimstone
Then Comes Seduction
Sex, Murder, and a Double latte

Challenge #9 Books with only one syllable words in the title
Among the Mad

Challenge # 13 - Book recommended by Stasia
Killer Angels

November 2010
Well, I originally was going to honor all the great writers out there and all their hard work to entertain us, during National Novel Writing Month, so I was going to read a fictional Chunkster - that is a book of fiction with over 500 pages. But that was taken in September so instead I'm going to honor Sadie Hawkin's Day along with the novel writers with 'BOOKS THAT follow ANOTHER book ' AND written by a woman.
#1: Read a Book in Alphabetical Order - thread
If the South Won the Civil War
Promise of Lumby
#5: Read a Book about the World of Harry Potter
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
#10: Read a Book about History (Fiction or Nonfiction) - thread
Lincoln and his Admirals
Over the edge of the world:Magellan's terrifying circumnavigation of the globe
#11: Read a Book that follows (prequel/sequel/series/related) another Book and is written by a woman
:Seducing An Angel
Women of Pemberley

December, 2010

2. Read a book of a previous favorite TIOLI challenge with fewer than 50 books listed on that challenge - thread
Ladies of Longbourn (November's Sadie Hawkins Challenge)
Lumby on the Air (February's Elements Challenge)
Twilight - I can't believe you haven't read that yet! (May's 10,000+ copies on LT but new to you)
A House Reunited - June's Audiobook challenge
15. Read a book with a family term in the title
Mr Darcy's Daughter
16. Read a new book in an existing series
5656140::Netherfield Park Revisited
At last Comes Love
The Exploits and Adventures of Miss Alethea Darcy

Since my TIOLI challenges seeming to be growing by leaps and bounds, I decided to create a separate thread to track them all. The thread probably won't be long but at least everything should be together.

Hi Cheli: I probably won't do an audiobook but most of the others sound right up my alley. Maybe I can finish up my food mysteries category for 1010 in July.

JUNE - NO, I DON'T WANT TO JOIN A BOOK CLUB

Author: Virginia Ironside
Read: May 31 -June 10
Format: Audio 7 CDs equivalent of 318 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: getting older
Category: I Heard them!
Genre: Fiction
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, Audiobook, SYLL, TIOLI
Stars: 3

Mary Sharp has decided to keep a diary as she approaches the big 6-0 and in her writings tells of her issues with creaking bones, becoming a grandmother, a friend's death, and sex in the golden years.

The stories in Mary's diary are told with humor and truth. I certainly hope that in a few years when I reach this milestone, I'll do it with as much grace.

I just realized that my library books counted because of the "Meant for someone else but not for me": read a book you've borrowed, inherited or bought second-hand" Challenge.

Okay, I can't believe I did it. My husband Tim got his semi-annual bonus and told me that since B&N had reduced the price of the Nook, to go get it.... and I did! I'm still trying to figure out all the ins and outs but I am now an owner of a an E-reader! Will I ever get anything else done besides reading?

#6: Congratulations, Cheli! (and thank you husband Tim)

Tariffs, Blockades, and Inflation: The Economics of the Civil War

Author: Robert B. Ekelund Jr.
Read: June 23 - June 26
Format: Trade paperback 132 pages
Source: Barnes & Noble
Setting: USA
Category: Who/What/When/Where/How/Why? - Bios/history
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, RTT, TIOLI, BOSC
Stars: 2½

TIOLI Challenge category - book not previously reviewed - I can definitely understand why.

"My editorial would read that the Introduction is filled with so many 5+ syllable words that it would turn off the general reader. The main work was way too stuffy and high-handed and reads more like a thesis than a book for the general public. I think that it should be noted that scholars or economists may find it fascinating, the general reader would most probably not even get to Chapter One. That said, I'm still glad that I read it so that as I get farther into my Civil War reading I will understand the background of this impact.
I felt like I was back in college.

#9: No, thank you! The BlackHole positively does not need that one.

Congratulations on your new e-reader!

JULY CULINARY CHALLENGE EGGSECUTIVE ORDERS

Author: Julie Hyzy
Read: June 30 - July 3
Format: Nook - eBook 253 pages
Source: Barnes & Noble
Subject: poisining, espionage, recipes
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, TIOLI
Category: Crafts, Cooking, and Hobbies
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Stars: 3½

It was wonderful to finally meet members of Ollie's family and get to know some of her staff and neighbors better. I really enjoyed this cozy.

This was the first book that I read on my new NOOK e-reader and it was really an enjoyable experience - no cramps in my hands from holding the book open.

Hey Cheli ... found you. Is Eggsecutive Orders part of a series?

Yes, It's the third book in the White House Chef series.
The books are:

State of the Onion
Hail to the Chef
Eggsecutive Orders

It really is a fun series and since I live in the DC suburbs it's interesting how much real life aspects are included.

Ahhh....another fun series to add to my Series List .... must look out for State of the Onion ... I love the titles, by the way.

I love the Hyzy White House chef series. Read State of the Onion pretty much in one sitting and I might start Hail to the Chef tonight.

She's got another series out now, too. The first one is Grace Under Pressure, which just came out.

Yeah, I'm tempted to get it for my Nook.

July Walla Walla Challenge
Chocolate Bear Burglary

Author: JoAnna Carl
Read: July 12 - July 14
Format: Paperback 160 pages
Source: Barnes & Noble
Subject: chocolate molds, blackmail
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOSC
Category: Cuddle up with a Cozy Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Stars: 3

A nice little cozy mystery with yummy sounding chocolates at the center of the controversy.

July - Culinary Challenge
Through the Grinder

Author: Cleo Coyle
Read: July 19 - July 20
Format: Paperback 270 pages
Source: Barnes & Noble
Subject: serial killer, dating
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOSC, TBR
Category: Crafts, Cooking, and Hobbies
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Stars: 3

This book was really entertaining with the enthralling mystery and the interesting and amusing situations. It just makes me want to find the next one in the series to move forward.

I like the Cleo Coyle series but seem to have gotten bogged down after Through the Grinder. I hope to move on in this one soon, too.

July - new format - ebook

The Scarlet Pimpernel

Author: Baroness Emmuska Orczy
Read: July 14 - July 26
Format: E-Book 304 pages
Source: Barnes & Noble
Subject: freedom, French Revolution, Reign of Terror, corruption
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, TIOLI, RTT
Category: Surprise - Books I find and want to read /group reads
Genre: Classics
Stars: 3

What surprised me most about this book is the story - not the main plot but the underlying tale of rescue of Frenchmen by a band of Englishmen. First, you have Englishmen trying to free Frenchmen which is unusual given the animosity between the two countries that had existed since the time of Henry V, then you have the fact that the English had tried 10 years earlier to prevent the Americans from freeing themselves from England, and last the Key point for me, was the major difference between the American Revolution and the French Revolution. Seeing the violence of the French Revolution and the overthrow of the government as the chief point in that Revolution, makes me appreciate more the struggle that the American colonists undertook to gain their own freedom.

This challenge seems to be getting more involved with each month so I need to track would I could possibly read as well as what I've read.

August
Challenge #1: Read a book by a 2010 National Book Festival author
Swan Thieves
Phantom Toolbooth
Outlander

Challenge #2: Other World: Read a book set in another world
Crown of Destiny - the World of Hetar

Challenge #3: Read a book with a weather term in the title
Art of Racing in the Rain

Challenge #4: The Dream Read: Read a book whose title completes the sentence, "I would like to be..."
Darcy's Temptation

Challenge #6: Read a book without the letter "e" in the title or author
Loving Mr. Darcy - Sharon Lathan
South of Broad - Pat Conroy

Challenge #9: Read a historical mystery
The Secret History of the Pink Carnation

Challenge #10: Read A "Classic"
Red badge of Courage

Challenge #11: Read A Book in a Genre Seldom Visited
Supreme Courtship - satire

If they qualify...
The last Olympians
The Red Pyramid

Challenge #13: Overlooked Challenge: Read a book published before August 2010 that has 25 or less copies on LibraryThing (FYI: Note number of copies.)
The Promise of Lumby (18)
Clash of cavalry; the Battle of Brandy Station, June 9, 1863 (12)

Challenge #14: Read A Book that starts with H to recognize the 3 Hs of the weather forecasts for August: Hot, Hazy, Humid
Hanging by a Thread
Hooked on Murder
Homicide in Hardcover

There's no way that I can read all of these this month with other things that I have to do so I highighted the ones that I think I will get to. 6 of 17

July Walla Walla Challenge

Death on Demand

Author: Carolyn Hart
Read: July 28 - July 31
Format: Paperback 196 pages
Source: Personal Library
Subject: mystery writers, blackmail, murder
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOSC
Category: Cuddle Up with a Cozy Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Stars: 3½

The characters and their interaction are entertaining and hold the readers attention. The murder wasn't that difficult to solve because the clues are spread all over but enjoyable just the same.

There's no way that I can read all of these this month with other things that I have to do

LOL!! You, too?!

AUGUST CLASSICS CHALLENGE
Pride & Prejudice

Author: Jane Austen
Read: August 6 - August 9
Format: E-Book 509 pages
Source: E-book - Nook
Subject: social prejudices, marriage
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, TIOLI, CHUNKSTER,
Category: Miss Austen and Her Relations (P & P lives on!)
Genre: CLASSICS
Stars: 4½

There really isn't much more that can be said about this book that hasn't already been said. I love the characters that Miss Austen has created in this narrative - some are multi-dimensional, some are caricatures, some are there just because they are needed to push the story forward. But put them altogether and you have a love story that stands the test of time.

I hadn't planned to re-read this book but a few nights ago I didn't have anything to read and since it was on my Nook I started it again and again it grabbed me and held me until the end. Definitely a CLASSIC!

August The Dream Read: Read a book whose title completes the sentence, "I would like to be..."

The Good Daughters

Author: Joyce Maynard
Read: August 11 - August 14
Format: Trade paperback 276 pages
Source: LT Er prograsm for review
Subject: Farming, Art, dysfynctional families
Category: Niagara Falls - Overflow
Genre: Fiction
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, 50 State, TIOLI
Stars: 3

The story is told in alternating chapters with the two women as the narrators. The entries are almost as if the reader has been handed their diaries which have been shuffled together, showing moments that they shared as well as their individual lives.

The idea of this story is not new and the outcome was pretty evident early on. Each of the issues that appear in the book are easily predicted by the reader. It was well-written but not great reading because of the lack of originality.

August Overlooked Challenge
Eat Cake

Author: Jeanne Ray
Read: August 10 - August 15
Format: Audio 6 CDs equivalent 258 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: unemployment, rehabilation, comfort zones
Category: A Full Course Meal - Dessert
Genre: Fiction
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, TIOLI, AUDIO,SYLL
Stars: 3

Ruth's comfort zone is cake. Whenever something isn't right she thinks of cake. When things are wrong she bakes cakes. She tries to hide that she bakes as much as she does, but isn't successful when it comes to her family. She has a somewhat rebellious teenager daughter, a divorcée mother who is afraid to live alone, and a husband who has just been laid off from his job of 22 years and going through a mid-life crisis. At this moment she is confronted with a phone call that her father (with whom her mother can't bear to be in the same room) needs to come and live with them temporarily because of two broken wrists.

The stories and antics that follow are at times hilarious and others tearful. But always in the background is Ruth's need for cake in some form or other. How it all works out is a bit predictable but still enjoyable.

Ruth's need for cake in some form or other.

Sounds a bit like me! :)

The Art of Racing in the Rain

Author: Garth Stein
Read: August 19 - August 25
Format: Audio 6 CDs equivalent 356 pages
Source: Public library
Subject: Race car driving, child custody, parental rights
Category: Niagara Falls - Overflows - #7 I Heard That!
Genre: Fiction
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, Audio, SYLL, TIOLI
Stars: 2½

This story is told from the viewpoint of a dog. It's a bit strange to think that a dog would be able to communicate a story this complex, but once you suspend your disbelief, it's possible to put yourself in Enzo's place and relate to the characters.

The characters, however, are very stereotypical as well as one dimensional and the story is tired from overuse. The only bright spot was the unusual narration by Enzo. I read this book on the recommendation of a friend (not LT) because she thought it was cute coming from the dog. Maybe in her opinion, not mine.

The September Challenges are up and here is what I think I can do:
Challenge #1: Read a book with a LibraryThing Three-Letter Combo in its Title
Hanging by a Thread
Desperate engagement : how a little-known Civil War battle saved Washington, D.C., and changed the course of American history
Loving Mr. Darcy: Journeys Beyond Pemberley - Sharon Lathan
Challenge #2: Pen Name Challenge: Read a book written using a pen name by a popular author
Challenge #3: Read a book with a Building in its Title
Pemberley?
Challenge #10: Read a "Chunkster": a book with 480 pages or more.
Challenge #12: Read a Controversial Book: standard deviation of ratings at least 1.00
Challenge #13: Read a book with a title in the title (e.g. Mr., Queen, Captain, Senator)
The Exploits and Adventures of Miss Alethea Darcy** - Elizabeth Aston
The Second Mrs. Darcy** - Elizabeth Aston
Challenge #14: Walla Walla with twist - Characters in the title (Characters need to be identified in the title and then meet the WallaWalla challenge)
The ladies of Longbourn
Mr. Darcy's Daughter
Challenge #17: I've Got You Babe - Read a book with a possessive apostrophe in the title
Darcy's Temptation

AUGUST TRIPLE H CHALLENGE
Homicide in Hardcover

Author: Kate Carlisle
Read: August 24 - August 28
Format: paperback 289 Pages
Source: Private library
Subject: bookbinding, book restoration, murder,
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, BOSC, TIOLI
Category: Cuddle up with a Cozy Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Stars: 3½

This was a well-written first in a series cozy with good character development as well as good mix of characters. The mystery was well-plotted with several twists and turns and it held this reader's attention throughout. I'm looking forward to the next one.

AUGUST SELDOM VISITED CHALLENGE
The Last Olympian

Author: Rick Riordan
Read: August 26 - August 30
Format: Audio 9 CDs equivalent 381 pages
Source: Public library
Subject: New York, Greek Mythology
Category: Niagara Falls - Overflows - #7 I Heard That!
Genre: Fiction
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, Audio, SYLL, TIOLI
Stars: 4

The reader sees old friends and enemies return as well as being introduced to several new characters. The story flows so well between the emotional aspects of growing up and making decisions while battling the evil Titans.

What a fun read!

SEPTEMBER MAIN CHALLENGE - LibraryThing Three-Letter Combo

Clash of cavalry; the Battle of Brandy Station, June 9, 1863
Author: Fairfax Downey
Read: September 4 - September 9
Format: 153 pages
Source: Public library, ILL
Subject: Cavalry during the US Civil War, Battle of Brandy Station
Category: Full Course Meal
Genre: History
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, SYLL, TIOLI
Stars: 2½

ThE battle of Brandy Station (a small railroad post near Culpepper VA less than 40 miles from Washington, D.C. so named because "they had Brandy") was fought on June 9, 1863 and by some historians was the opening of the Gettysburg campaign.

This was an unusual book and I don't necessarily mean that in a good way. It was filled with information - maps that were too small to read, lists of military officers and units from numerous states and areas of the nation, commanders of both sides, descriptions of horses and what color horse went with what unit (did I really need to read that?), sheet music which told the troops to charge, retreat, etc., pictures of armaments and their use and descriptions, troop movements, it went on and on. I did manage to gather in the midst of all this miscellaneous information the value of the Calvary officers and their role in the battles - not clearly but to a certain extent. This book was poorly written, very disjointed and jumpy and, I fear, that this little known battle does not receive it's proper significance because of such coverage. But I am glad I read it.

SEPTEMBER MAIN CHALLENGE - LibraryThing Three-Letter Combo

Desperate engagement : how a little-known Civil War battle saved Washington, D.C., and changed American history

Author: Marc Leepson
Read: September 9 - September 14
Format: 236 pages
Source: Public library
Subject: Civil War, Battle of Monocacy, Capital defenses
Category: Civil War and its Leaders
Genre: History
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, SYLL, TIOLI
Stars: 4

How amazing is it to live within a 50 mile radius of an area and never know the historical impact that it holds? We've all heard of Bull Run, Gettysburg, Appomattox but how many of you have ever heard of the Battle of Monocacy? I hadn't and I've lived in the area for nearly 40 years. How many of you knew that the Confederate Army ever threatened to invade Washington D.C.? Did you know that Abraham Lincoln was actually fired upon by a hostile army?

I found this book to be terribly engrossing probably because it told me facts about the Civil War that I never knew as well as about an area that I have lived in and never fully realized its impact in history. Definitely a book that should receive more exposure.

Read a Controversial Book: standard deviation of ratings at least 1.00
1528::Red Badge of Courage

Author: Stephen Crane
Read: September 13 - September 15
Format: Audio 5 CDs equivalent 173 Pages
Source: Public library
Subject: Civil War
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, Audio, SYLL, TIOLI
Category: Civil War and its Leaders
Genre: History
Stars: 1

"I had heard so much about this book but was terribly disappointed. I had a very difficult time getting through this ""saga"". Just a another CLASSIC that didn't grab me. Don't know what the fuss was all about.

Definitely cntroversial - 100 people rated it 5 stars - I could barely get through it.

Yep, that explains the controversial.
I'm still going to read it this month, but now I'm glad it's fairly short.

So no chocolate for October?

No,chocolate in October, you can but restrictions hold me to one and I wwant the 21st century for 10/10/10.

I just wanted to make a note that Madeline posted the August awards, I won two!

Awards for August:

The Out of Breath Award (for the challenge with the most words in its title) goes to cyderry for her: Read A Book that starts with H to recognize the 3 Hs of the weather forecasts for August: Hot, Hazy, Humid!

The Best Team Award goes to cyderry and Donna828 for cyderry's designing the TIOLI frog logo and Donna828's getting it printed up on tee shirts.

I setup a challenge for September - Walla Walla with a twist - characters in the title so that I could read Ladies of Longbourne and Mr. Darcy's Daughter and now I find because I was reading for all the other challenges, I won't get my challenge done this month. Bummer, I'll have to do it again next month.

because I was reading for all the other challenges, I won't get my challenge done this month.

Oops! :)

Title with a Building Challenge
The Pemberley Chronicles

Author: Rebecca Ann Collins
Read: September 22 - September 28
Format: 366 Pages
Source: Barnes & Noble
Subject: Pride and Prejudice sequel
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOSC
Category: Miss Austen and Her Relations (P & P lives on!)
Genre: Romance
Stars: 2½

This is the first of the series by Rebecca Ann Collins which takes the Jane Austen characters from Pride & Prejudice (P&P) and continues their story in her own particular way.

Reading several of the P&P sequels and comparing the writing styles and to an extent the story content, I have to admit that even though I liked this book for what it told and I'll go on in the series, I prefer the Sharon Lathan series more - at this point.

The Killer Angels

Author: Michael Shaara
Read: September 24 - October 5
Format: Audio 12 CDs equivalent 577 pages
Source: Public library
Subject: Civil War, Gettysburg
Category: Civil War and its Leaders
Genre: History
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, SYLL, TIOLI,
Stars: 3½

"They all died, and they accomplished nothing."

The words keep reverberating in my mind.

This book is a fictitious though historically accurate account of the Battle of Gettysburg from the viewpoint of several of the highest ranking officers from both the Union and Confederate Armies.

The reader sees the indecision and heartbreak related to the commands of Robert E Lee and General Longstreet for the Confederates and Col. Chamberlain for the Union. We are also gifted with the stunning facts that if a few changes had been made, the outcome could have been quite different. Robert E. Lee is frequently touted as a superb tactician but here we are exposed to a failure on his part to listen to his second in command with .

But after all is said and done, "They all died, and they accomplished nothing."

Wow, that is a heartbreaking quote.

When I heard it, it just stuck in my head... I didn't even have to write it down, it cvered everything about the war and then some.

21st century Challenge
Valcourt Heiress

Author: Catherine Coulter
Read: October 8 - October 11
Format: Trade paperback 352 pages
Source: LibraryThing ER program
Setting: 13th century England
Category: Love Is a Many Splendored Thing
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, BOSC, TIOLI
Stars: 3

I enjoyed the book but the romance wasn't concentrated enough, the mystery was lacking in the clues department, and overall, the characters were a bit one dimensional. I think that needed a bit more editing and character development.

Decade Challenge
First Comes Marriage

Author: Mary Balogh
Read: October 12 - October 14
Format: Audio Overdrive -and paperback 388 pages
Source: Public Llbrary (audio) - my library paperback
Setting: 19th century England
Category: Love Is a Many Splendored Thing
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, BOSC, TIOLI, AUDIO
Stars: 2½

First, let me say that I love Mary Balogh's books. Se writes love stories in a series surrounding a family. She is one of my favorite authors, and this is her newest, the first in the Huxtable Series. I've read 20+ of her books and this is the first one that really disappointed me. I kept waiting for the plot to develop and it never got there. There was no conflict, no mystery just a simple love story that really did have much of a bite. These are the first two Hero/heroine/ that didn't grab me. I just hope that the series is better.

The Civil War at Sea

Author: Craig L. Symonds
Read: October 12 - October 19
Format: Hardback 170 pages
Source: Public library ILL
Subject: Civil War, naval operations
Category: Civil War and its Leaders
Genre: History
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, SYLL, TIOLI,
Stars: 3

When people think of the Civil War, rarely do naval campaigns come to mind, I know I never put the tow together until I began researching the books that dealt with this conflict and I was surprised to find that there were many from which to choose. This book details the contributions and shortcomings of both the Union and Confederate navies to the outcome of the War between the States.

This was a very well written book detailing the naval vessels that were developed for both the North and South and how they were used in different battle situations. The drawings and paintings there were included were extremely helpful in allowing the reader to see how the old fortifications and forts were no longer able to stop the newer and better equipped vessels. Not a large book by size but large on detail.

Stopping by to say hello and admiring your dedication to the TIOLI Challenge.

You have read a very wide variety, and if I understand TIOLI that is one of the benefits that came come out of accepting the Challenge.

Well done, Chèli.

Ruth/womansheart

You are welcome to stop by sometime and see what I have been reading, too.

My current thread: http://www.librarything.com/topic/93133

Decade Challenge
Fiber & Brimstone

Author: Laura Childs
Read: October 14 - October 24
Format: 328 Pages
Source: unsolicited ARC from author
Subject: Halloween in New Orleans, ponzi schemes
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOSC
Category: Niagara Falls - Overflow
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Stars: 3½

Carmela Bertrand and her friend Ava Gruiex are fashioning a massive puppet to appear in the Halloween Monsters and Mayhem Torchlight Parade. Stepping out for fresh air, they discovered the body of Brett Fowler, one of the organizers.

As usual, Carmela, against the wishes of her police detective boyfriend, gets involved in the investigation and puts herself as well as Ava into several serious predicaments. Along the way, these two ladies attend all the special events that New Orleans has to offer for the ghoulishly inclined.

This is the 8th book in the Scrapbooking Mysteries series and I have to admit that I've missed the last few, but I'll have to go back to read them because it seems that interesting events took place which reflect in this story. Not that you can't enjoy this delightful cozy all by itself, because I think that this is my favorite in the series so far. The background events and descriptions, this time, were a refreshing change of pace and was a perfect setup for Halloween to come.

Decade Challenge
Then Comes Seduction

Author: Mary Balogh
Read: October 15 - October 25
Format: Audio 10 CDs -and 567 pages
Source: Public Library (audio) - my library book
Setting: 19th century England
Category: Love Is a Many Splendored Thing
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, BOSC, TIOLI, AUDIO
Stars: 3½

The seduction of Katherine Huxtable was supposed to be an easy wager for Jasper Finley, Baron Montford, but just at the moment when was upon him Monty drew back and his non-existent conscience prevented him from taken advantage of the beautiful country mouse.

Three years later, they meet again and circumstances force them into a marriage that could destroy them both, or become their salvation.

This is the second in the Huxtable series and it far surpassed the initial installment. Mary Balogh wins again.

November 2010
Well, I originally was going to honor all the great writers out there and all their hard work to entertain us, during National Novel Writing Month, so I was going to read a fictional Chunkster - that is a book of fiction with over 500 pages. Bt that was taken in September so instead I'm going to honor Sadie Hawkin's Day along with the novel writers with Women in the title written by a woman.

Well, I've been thinking about my Sadie Hawkins Day Challenge and think I need to refine it more.
Since Daisy Mae was always following L'il Abner around, I've decided that my Sadie Hawkins Challenge should be a book that follows another book with the central figure being a woman(women) BY A WOMAN.

I've got a few of those!
At Last Comes Love
Border Lord and the Lady
Crown of Destiny
The Exploits and Adventures of Miss Alethea Darcy
Irresistible
The ladies of Longbourn
Mr. Darcy's Daughter
Netherfield Revisited
Taste of Innocence
The Women of Pemberley

Title has only single-syllable words Challenge
Among the Mad

Author: Jacqueline Winspear
Read: October 24 - October 28
Format: Audio 8 CDs -and 471 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: chemical warfare development, WWI survivors,
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, TIOLI, AUDIO, SYLL, RTT
Category: only one word
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Stars: 3½

Maisie Dobbs in 1931 witnesses the suicide of a man who apparently had been injured during WWI. She tries but is unable to prevent the tragedy from happening, and starts reliving the horrors of her time during he war.

Because of her efforts she is drawn into a rapidly advancing chemical warfare attack on the city of London - first 6 dogs are targeted, then 50 birds, 1 man - all the while the authorizes are warned by demands asking for better treatment and pensions for ex-soldiers.

Maisie while working with Scotland Yard on this investigation, is also endeavoring to aid Billy's wife Doreen and get her the best mental health care possible as well as her friend who is spiraling near to alcoholism.

The book paralleled the different types of mental illness - those resulting from war, depression, and alcohol dependency and yet it flowed so effortedlessly because of Maisie's character's involvement in all the aspects of the story. Seeing the mental health issues described from the 1930 POV in comparison to the 21st century - the reader can see that there has been improvement in the medical handling but that there is still room to go. I've read the first in the series and now this one - definitely need to go find the others.

Sex, Murder, and a Double Latte

Author: Kyra Davis
Read: October 25 - October 30
Format: 328 pages
Source: Private library
Subject: writer's plots,
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, TIOLI
Category: A Full Course Meal - Coffee or Tea?
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Stars: 3½

Sophie Katz is such a typical and yet unusual character that I was captivated from the beginning. Sophie is exotic - half black, half Jewish of Eastern European descent - a mystery writer with friends that match - a gay hairdresser, a best friend who owns and operates a sex toy shop and has both a wannabe vampire boyfriend and a sister as pure as the driven snow, add a mother and sister so self-centered that they are only upset when they aren't the first contact when Sophie is in danger (not worried that she's in danger) and you have a combination that amuses and entertains.

The ensuing mayhem keeps the reader turning the pages to see what other havoc Sophie can wreak. A fun cozy and series I will definitely continue.

History Challenge
Lincoln and His Admirals

Author: Craig L. Symonds
Read: October 31- November 10
Format: Hardback 366 pages
Source: Public library
Subject: Civil War, naval operations
Category: Civil War and its Leaders
Genre: History
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, SYLL, TIOLI,
Stars: 3

When I chose this book to read, I didn't look very carefully and therefore, didn't realize that it was the same subject by the same author of Civil War at Sea. That said, the majority of the information included in this book was the same as CWatS just organized a bit differently with a few different events included. I would suggest reading one or the other, not both because there is basically little difference.

#104 Seducing an Angel

Author: Mary Balogh
Read: October 15 - October 25
Format: Audio 10 CDs - equivalent 567 pages
Source: Public Library (audio)
Setting: 19th century England
Category: Love Is a Many Splendored Thing
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, SYLL, TIOLI, AUDIO
Stars: 3

The story was entertaining, however, I found the characterizations were not the best of Mary Balogh. Lady Paget's companion does an about face in her opinion of the Earl of Merton in less than 30 pages - first refusing to meet him and then becoming his champion. Lady Paget also has characterization issues - at first filled with independence, then wimpy, then independent again. I got the impression that this book was rushed a bit and didn't get the full editing process.

November History Challenge
Over the edge of the world:Magellan's terrifying circumnavigation of the globe

Author: Laurence Bergreen
Read: November 1 - November 13
Format: Audio 14 CDs - equivalent 480 pages
Source: Public library
Subject: exploration and discovery
Category: Overflow
Genre: History
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, SYLL, TIOLI, RTT,Endless Europe
Stars: 3

I just finished Over the edge of the world:Magellan's terrifying circumnavigation of the globe for the history challenge.

I find it hard to believe that Magellan who was as important as he was to history, doesn't even get a first page hit in Google - if it's not a GPS, Magellan is nothing. Magellan was the first person who set out and proved that by sailing west you can get to the east.

The story was filled with tales of mutiny, cannibalism, disease, orgies, superstitions, and religious zeal. I found it fascinating.

#107 The Promise of Lumby

Author: Gail Fraser
Read: November 1 - November 15
Format: Paperback 411 pages
Source: Barnes & Noble
Setting: Northwestern USA
Subject: exotic animals, prejudice, government auctions
Category: Love Is a Many Splendored Thing
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOSC
Stars: 3½

When your spirits are low, when you're feeling lonely or depressed, when just need to feel that there's a better place in this world other than where you are - pick up a Lumby book and your spirits will lighten, you'll laugh out, and you'll feel that indeed there is a better place if only in your imaginative travels to this quirky little town.

Lumby's regular citizens have are still as delightfully funny and refreshingly quirky as in the previous books. I've one more in the series and looking forward to it immensely.

If the South had won the Civil War

Author: MacKinlay Kantor
Read: November 16 - November 18
Format: 127 pages
Source: Barnes & Noble
Subject: Civil War
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOSC
Category: Overflow
Genre: History
Stars: 3

Have you ever wondered if a decisive historical event had happened differently, how the world would have been effected? This tiny little book was filled with how one man pictured the world events that would have occurred if the South had successfully defeated the Union forces in the Civil War and won their independence.

MacKinlay Kantor takes two events, turns them around, and progresses from that point. The two events that the author changes are the Battle of Gettysburg and a riding accident of Ulysses Grant. The effects of Grant's riding accident is death several weeks before the Battle of Vicksburg. Having no other competent general, the Union forces are easily driven off and the Confederacy maintains its control of the Mississippi. The Battle of Gettysburg is a decisive victory for Lee and the Army of Virginia and they move on to Washington DC and capture Lincoln and the Nation's Capitol.

By the end of 1863 the War of Southern Secession is over and the Confederate States of America are recognized as an independent nation. The USA capital is moved from Washington DC to Columbus Ohio (renamed Columbia) and the CSA capital is moved from Richmond to Washington DD (District of Dixie).

Several other interesting projections are the assassination of Abraham Lincoln on the same day, different city, same assassin, Robert E. Lee's CSA presidency, the voluntary abolition of slavery by the CSA in 1888, Cuba as a member state of the CSA, and the eventual reunion of Texas Republic, CSA and USA.

I've never before read a book that was an "alternate" history so this was extremely thought provoking for me. I can't say that I believe that even if these two events had happened as projected that I would expect the history to happen as written here, but it definitely made me stop and think.

November's Harry Potter Challenge
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Author: J. K. Rowling
Read: November 10 - November 20
Format: 784 pages
Source: Barnes & Noble
Subject: Fantasy, Wizardy, Magic
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, TIOLI
Category: Overflow
Genre: Youth, Fantasy
Stars: 5+

This was a reread for me. Just as good the second time around!

Cheli, I'm a bit confused by your Dec. challenge, Cheli. Do you mean that I can read a new release in a cozy series I've read. Say the new Monica Ferris book that comes out next week?

Yes, it should be a new release within the current year.

Twilight

Author: Stephenie Meyer
Read: November 28 - December 6
Format: Overdrive Audio equivalent 631 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: Vampires, Young Love
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, TIOLI , AUDIO, SYLL
Category: Love is a Many Splendored Thing
Genre: Romance, Paranormal
Stars: 3

This book has been at the forefront for several years and yet I resisted reading it until now. I have to say that what I expected is not what I got. I had been told by reviews and other readers how great this book and series were but I was disappointed. In fact, I was tempted several times to abandon the book, but continued to the end. I can understand why the younger generation (teenagers - 20's) is fascinated by the story of Edward and Bella but for me, it just didn't click. I doubt that I will read the next one anytime soon.

Yeah, Twilight is not great literature, but I did enjoy the subsequent books more than the first. I wonder whether it's better on paper than audio? Probably its biggest strength is that the pages go by so quickly, but you don't really get that if you're listening. (Not that I have any experience with audiobooks....)

Netherfield Park Revisited

Author: RebeccaAnn Collins
Read: November 30 - December 8
Format: Paperback 290 pages
Source: Barnes & Noble
Subject: Pride & Prejudice character expansion
Category: Miss Austen and Her Relations (P & P lives on!)
Genre: Fiction
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, TIOLI
Stars: 3

This book is third in the series of the Pemberley Chronicles and details the life Jonathan Bingley, the oldest son of Jane Bennet and Charles Bingley from Pride and Prejudice.

Of the three books so far, this is the best IMO because it is not as disjointed as the previous books. The Pemberley Chronicles and Women of Pemberley were so busy introducing the next generation that the character development was lacking but since this book concentrated on Jonathan Bingley, it read much better - smoothly integrating the other characters from the previous books.

Call of Duty: The Sterling Nobility of Robert E. Lee

Author: J Steven Wilkins
Read: December 27 - December 29
Format: Hardback 332 pages
Source: Barnes & Noble
Subject: Robert E. Lee
Category: Overflow
Challenges: 101020, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS
Stars: 3½

"Any man honored by both his enemies and his compatriots is a man worthy of our closest attentions" and Robert E. Lee is definitely a man worthy of attention. Even to this day, Northerners and Southerners maintain that his character was above reproach.

It is unfortunate that such a great man will always be remembered as the general a losing cause rather than the man of principle and dignity that he truly was.