tymfos major-league 11 in 11 Category Challenge

Hi! Welcome to my 2011 11 in 11 category challenge! All lurkers and posters welcome, as long as you're not spamming.

This year, I have decided to simply give my categories names and NOT define them, and be free to use any books that can in any way fit the category name. I did a pretty good job of staying with my categories in 2010, but I was constantly tweaking the "definition" of what was included in several of them.

I'm also going to allow more space for reading mysteries this year, and especially series -- trying new ones that have been recommended, and catching up with the next installment of old favorites. (That's the point of the "leadoff" and "on-deck" categories.)

In fact, in general, I'm just trying to allow more space for reading what I want to read.

These are the category names I've chosen, as of now. I reserve the right to change my mind! (I also reserve the right to move books around from one category to another later in the year to balance things out if books can fit in more than one category.


1. Pregame
2. Play Ball!
3. Leadoff
4. On-deck
5. Phantom players
6. All-Stars, MVP's, & Other Awards
7. Foul Play Territory
8. Fireballers, Rainouts, Steals, & Errors!
9. Away Game Travel Day (Cars, trains, boats & planes, etc.)
10. Team Physician & Front Office (Doctor, Lawyer, Indian chief)
11. Team Chaplain
extra category: Utility Players

I know these are odd categories, and a lot of them are baseball-related terms, but I'm putting my own "spin" on them so I can put many different types of books into them! I already have books in mind that fit, one way or another, as I view the categories. And the "utility players" category is for the books that don't fit into the regular lineup!

My plan is to do 7 books in each of these 11 categories -- a 7-11 challenge -- for a total of 77 books. Thus I'll need just 2 more books than the goal for my 75 challenge, if I manage to fit all the books here that I read.

As a later development, I decided to have a main theme (or pair of themes) for each month:
January: "Cold white snow & ice of January"
February: "Black History Month"
March: "Spring Training / Mystery March"
April: "Autism Awareness Month --and Support Your Library" (for Natl. Library Week)
May: "May Murder & Mayhem -- & Motorsports"
June: "Justice, Journeys, and Jazz"
July: "Big League Cities"
August: "Anything Goes"
September: "Series & Sequels"
October: "Halloween"
November: "Fill in the Blanks"
December: "Holidays and (other) December Disasters"

These themes are evolving over the course of the year, and subject to editing at any time. Not all of my reading will fit the monthly theme -- Early Reviewer books are totally exempt -- but I will try to include some aspect of the theme in at least half the books I read each month. Note that, like the categories, the book can fit the theme in any imaginable way.

I'm going to try to provide most of the following as a heading for each book, as applicable:

Challenge Book #
Title:
Author:
Copyright/Year of original publication:
Genre:
Subject:
Setting:
Main Characters:
Series:
Dates Read:
Number of pages:
Off the Shelf? (pre-2011):
Category for 11 in 11 challenge:
How does it fit the category?
Alternate category
Does it fit the Theme of the Month
How does it fit the theme?
My Rating:
Notes:

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Category 1: Pregame (OK, these are mostly ones I have to read because they are ER books to review)

1. Summer of Shadows, by Jonathan Knight
2. One Was a Soldier by Julia Spencer-Fleming
3. Pray for Silence by Linda Castillo
4. I Shall Not Hate: A Gaza doctor's journey by Isseldin Abuelaish
5. The Twisted Thread by Charlotte Bacon
6. The Reluctant Detective by Martha Ockley
7. Flip Flop Fly Ball by Craig Robinson

Currently reading:

Possibilities include: Early Reviewer books; books read in preparation for book discussion group; also any books with words like "before" in the title, or books related to a time "before" something. Class of 1846 comes to mind -- about famous Civil War officers who went to West Point together before the War. I'm sure there are other such books that could be found to fit the category in this way.

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Category 2: Play Ball!

1. The Ice Bowl by Ed Gruver
2. Satchel: the life and times of an American legend by Larry Tye
3. Murder at Wrigley Field by Troy Soos (audio book)
4. Women at Play: the story of women in baseball by Barbara Gregorich
5. For Love of the Game by Michael Shaara
6. Worth the Wait: Tales of the 2008 Phillies by Jayson Stark
7. Indian Summer: the forgotten story of Louis Sockalexis the first Native American in Major League Baseball
8. Murder at Fenway Park by Troy Soos (audio book)

Currently reading:
The Summer Game by Roger Angell

Possibilities are: The Echoing Green, We Would Have Played for Nothing

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Category 3: Leadoff

1. Jar City by Arnaldur Indridason
2. A Drink Before the War by Dennis Lehane
3. The Wine of Angels by Phil Rickman
4. Real Murders by Charlaine Harris (Aurora Teagarden series book #1) Audio book
5. Faceless Killers by Henning Mankell
6. Tonight I Said Goodbye by Michael Koryta
7. Don't Look Back by Karin Fossum
8. Iron Lake by William Kent Kreuger (audio book)

currently reading:

Abandoned:
The Innocence of Father Brown by G. K. Chesterton (e-book)

Possiblilities include these first-in-a-series (in some cases, first English translation in a series) books:
A Duty to the Dead, The Sleeping Doll, Death at La Fenice, The Various Haunts of Men, Blindsighted, The Coroner's Lunch, Heartsick, The Chicago Way, Field of Darkness

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Category 4: On Deck (next book in series -- usually mysteries!)

1. White Nights by Ann Cleeves
2. Double Cross by James Patterson
3. Too Easy by Phillip DePoy
4. Easy as One, Two, Three by Phillip DePoy
5. Heaven's Prisoners (audio book -- abridged) by James Lee Burke
6. Black Cherry Blues by James Lee Burke (unabridged audio book)
7. Darkness, Take My Hand by Dennis Lehane
8. A Morning For Flamingos by James Lee Burke (unabridged audio book)
9. A Stained White Radiance by James Lee Burke

Currently reading:

Possiblilities include these books, next in line for me in series that I've started (many of which I am way behind in):
Wings to the Kingdom, 206 Bones, The Serpent's Tale,

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Category 5: Phantom players

1. Ghosts and Specters of the Old South by Nancy Roberts
2. So Cold the River by Michael Koryta
3. Slave Ghost Stories by Nancy Rhyne
4. Only Call us Faithful by Marie Jakober
5. Cemetery of Angels by Noel Hynd
6. Ghosts of Boston Town by Holly Nadler
7. Nine Ghosts by R. H. Malden
8. In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead by James Lee Burke

Currently reading:

Possibilities:

Category 6: All-Stars, MVPs, and Other Awards

1. The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney (2006 Costa Award Book of the Year; long-listed for 2007 Orange Prize)
2. Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny (2010 Edgar Award, Best Novel)
3. Morality Play by Barry Unsworth (Short List for 1995 Booker Prize)
4. Is it Just Me by Whoopi Goldberg
5. My Lord, What a Morning by Marian Anderson
6. Look Me In the Eye by John Elder Robison
7. Jade Visions: The Life and Music of Scott LaFaro by Helene LaFaro-Fernandez
8. The Last Boy: Mickey Mantle and the End of America's Childhood by Jane Levy (audio book)
9. Home by Marilynne Robinson

Currently reading:

Possibilities:
Books about famous people or performers, such as Fortissimo, Golden Girl; books that have won or been listed in nomination for a major award.

Category 7: Foul Play Territory

1. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
2. Wolves of Fairmount Park by Daniel Tafoya (fiction)
3. Blacklandsby Belinda Bauer (audio fiction)
4. The Baptism of Billy Bean by Roger Alan Skipper
5. Don't Blink by James Patterson
6. The Redbreast by Jo Nesbo
7. A Welcome Grave by Michael Koryta

Currently Reading:
Nemesis by Jo Nesbo

Category 8: Fireballers, Rainouts, Steals & Errors

1. The Children's Blizzard by David Laskin
2. A Sudden Sea by R.A. Scotti
3. Stealing the General by Russell S. Bonds
4. The Neon Rain by James Lee Burke (audiobook)
5. Sorrow's Anthem by Michale Koryta
6. Triangle: The Fire That Changed America by David Von Drehle
7. Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans by David Rutledge
8. 33 Men: inside the miraculous survival and dramatic rescue of the Chilean miners by Jonathan Franklin

Currently reading:
Three Rivers Rising: A Novel of the Johnstown Flood by Jame Richards

Possibilities include:
The Great Fire Chicago 1871, San Francisco is Burning, Storm watchers, The Gardner Heist,

Category 9: Away Game Travel Day (Cars, Trains, Boats, and Planes, etc.)
1. Nights of Ice by Spike Walker
2. In the Blink of an Eye by Michael Waltrip
3. Faster Pastor by Sharyn McCrumb
4. A.J.: The Life of America's Greatest Race Car Driver by A. J. Foyt with William Neely
5. My Sweetest Victory by Alex Zanardi
6. The Hungry Ocean by Linda Greenlaw
7. One More for the Road by Ray Bradbury
8. The Ship and the Storm by Jim Carrier

currently reading:
Eyes of the Amaryllis by Natalie Babbitt

Possibilities include: Real Men Work in the Pits, Last Train to paradise, The Horseshoe Curve, All Fishermen are Liars, Lost at Sea,

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Category 10: Team Physician & Front Office (Doctor, Lawyer, Indian chief)

1. A Free Man of Color by Barbara Hambly
2. Medical Apartheid by Harriet A. Washington
3. Fever Season by Barbara Hambly
4. An Anthropologist on Mars by Oliver Sacks
5. Salem Witch Judge: The Life and Repentance of Samuel Sewall by Eve LaPlante
6. Judgment Calls, by Alafair Burke
7. The Right and the Power by Leon Jaworski
8. Missing Justice by Alafair Burke
9. Baltimore Blues by Laura Lippman
10.Nemesis by Philip Roth
Currently reading:

Possibilities include:
Every Second Counts, How Doctors Think, The Puzzle People: Memoirs of a Transplant Surgeon, Make No Law, Tecumseh: a Life

Category 11: Team Chaplain

1. Troubling Biblical Waters by Cain Hope Felder
2. God Plays Piano, Too: The Spiritual Lives of Disabled Children by Brett Webb-Mitchell
3. Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom
4. Church Signs: Love and Laughter on the Road, photography by Donald Seitz
5. Traveling Light by Max Lucado
6. Psalms for Sojourners by James Limburg
7. The Eternal Now by Paul Tillich

In Progress:
Addiction and Grace by Gerald G. May

Possibilities include: Books with a religious slant

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Utility Players (These didn't fit into a category)

1. Mary White by Caryl Ledner
2. Army Life in a Black Regiment by Thomas Wentworth Higginson
3. Up High in the Trees by Kiara Brinkman
4. Developing Talents by Temple Grandin
5.
6.
7.

All the books that didn't fit into my regular lineup.

Ongoing Summary:
1. Pregame: 7 books
2. Play Ball!: 8 books; 1 in progress
3. Leadoff: 8 books
4. On-deck: 9 books
5. Phantom players: 8 books
6. All-Stars, MVPs, and other Award Winners: 9 books
7. Foul Play Territory: 7 books; 1 in progress
8. Fireballers, Rainouts, Steals & Errors: 8 booksl 1 in progress
9. Away Game Travel Day (Cars, trains, boats & planes): 8 books
10. Team Physician & Front Office (Doctor, Lawyer, Indian chief): 10 books
11. Team Chaplain : 7 books, 1 in progress
Utility Players: 4 books

Total: 93 books completed
50 Fiction, 42 Non-fiction,
1 "sort of" non-fiction (novel based on life of a real person; all the other holders have it tagged as non-fiction/biography, but clearly it's a novelization and it calls itself that -- closer to historical fiction.)


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Looks good! I'm anxious to see how this works out for you.

I'm thinking that I may have to revise this to add a category for Early Reviewer books. One thing I've found for 2010 was that few of my ER books fit into my 1010 challenge -- and I got a lot of them this year. I suppose they could go in the "utility player" category, but if I get as many next year as this year, that would pretty much fill up that category.

But if I add one, that means letting go of another category . . .

I decided to make a "pregame" category for Early Reviewer books and books I need to read to get ready for book discussion group. That will, hopefully, encourage me in getting through those in a timely manner. I got rid of the "all-American" category. Most of the books I had in mind for that, I can squeeze in elsewhere -- or use the "utility player" category if necessary.

I also decided I need a place for my devotional & theological reading. I'm calling that "team chaplain."

Memory time: back in the day, when I was in Philadelphia, I took some courses at a Roman Catholic college in Philadelphia. The resident priest there was the chaplain of the Philadelphia Flyers at that time. (He even had a real Flyers jersey with his name on it.)

The "utility players" category for books that don't fit is going to be truly an "extra" category beyond the 11. Given the number of books I've read in 2010 so far, that may not be a problem if I keep up the pace.

Very creative categories. Hope you manage to fit everything in, looking forward to seeing you juggle those books around! :)

Hi Terri! I'm glad to see you here, and I like your category names and choices.

Thanks, DeltaQueen! I do think it will be a juggling act. And I may make it even more interesting (see below).

Hi, Darryl! Glad to see you here too.

I am thinking of adding a twist to my reading by assigning themes for different months, to which at least some of my reading would be geared. I'm still thinking on that . . .

What great categories! You have me wishing for Spring. I've starred you and look forward to your progress.

Thanks, Lynda! I'm looking forward to doing this challenge!

Well, you are really in a league of your own here!

#24 I guess you could say that, Terri!

As a challenge within the challenge, I am tentatively planning a "theme" for each month: for January, something like "Cold, White Snows of January." Anything that relates (setting, words in title, subject matter, names of characters, etc.) will do to fit the theme. I won't try to fit all my reading for the month to the theme: there will always be books in progress carried over from month to month, or group reads, or ER's, or just books that cry out in the night, "Read me! Read me!" that won't fit the theme. And some themes may have more books that will fit than others do. But I'll try to do at least two or three related to the theme.

Some ideas for "Cold White Snow & Ice of January" theme:

1. The Children's BLIZZARD (if I don't read it in December for this year's disaster category); I could probably squeeze it in the "RAINOUT" category. (When I lived in Boston, I remember some Red Sox games getting postponed due to snow.)

2. A Free Man of Color, for my "Leadoff" category, the first book in the Benjamin JANUARY series.

3. Bone COLD by Erica Spindler, perhaps for the "Foul Territory" category.

4. WHITE Nights by Ann Cleeves ("On Deck" in the Shetland Island mysteries series.)

5. Nights of ICE by Spke Walker ("Travel Day" category -- boats)

6. Mary WHITE by Caryl Ledner (not sure what category)

7. Karluk by William Laird McKinlay (Arctic exploration, lots of cold & snow -- not sure what category)

8. Storm Watchers by John D. Cox (probably the rainout category again).

9. A Night to Remember by Walter Lord. I started the book in December, but I think I'll wait until January to finish, as the iceberg fits the theme!

#25 This is a neat idea - I'm excited to see how you manage to keep all this straight!

#25 Interesting idea. I've got a "seasonal" category but I often prefer to read about warm weather stuff during the winter and cold stuff during the hot months.

#26 I probably won't manage it well in the end,Sandy, but I thought I'd try. I definitely won't keep ALL my reading in the month to the theme -- that would be way too difficult!

#27 Linda, your approach would probably tend to fuel my discontent with whatever weather I was having at the moment. Anyway, most of the categories won't be so weather-related -- for instance, February is Black History Month; April is Autism Awareness Month, etc., and I'll probably use those as themes. Of course, October will be the Halloween Reading List! (Maybe March will be Baseball Spring Training theme, though.)

One of my seasonal books that's at the top of my list is Chasing Spring: An American Journey Through a Changing Season by Bruce Stutz.

I do tend to have discontent in the winter months at least.

Another thing I've discovered is that, for each season, there's a longish collection of essays. I've owned the Winter one for quite awhile and may actually read that one first.

A Free Man of Color is an early 2011 intended read for me, too. I intend to get a copy whenever my free $5 Amazon reward kicks in.

I am fortunate in that A Free Man of Color is available from our county library. I have the 2nd and 3rd in that series sitting on the shelf -- I found them in a used bookstore while we were on vacation this summer.

Challenge Book #1
Title: The Children's Blizzard
Author: Laskin, David
Copyright/Year of original publication:2004
Genre: non-fiction
Subject: The blizzard of January 12, 1888
Setting: The Dakotas, Kansas & Minnesota
Dates Read: finished 1/1/11
Number of pages: 271 plus sources, acknowledgments & index
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: NO -- ILL
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Category #8. Fireballers, Rainouts, Steals, & Errors!
How does it fit the category? Well, this was actually a "snowout" -- but some serious "errors" happened in failure of storm prediction & warning!
Alternate category:
Theme of the Month: The Cold, White Snow and Ice of January
Does it fit Theme of the Month? How?: Can't get a better fit than this story of a January blizzard!
My Rating: 4 1/2 stars

Oh, my, this was a powerful story. Such basic, unvarnished human drama, courage, suffering, and life & death decisions. And it contains one of the simplest yet most profound explainations of "weather" that I've ever read. I'm not a science-type person, but I came closer to understanding the dynamics of a big storm (and its effects on the human body) than perhaps I ever have before.

I read that book a couple of years ago and loved it. Of course, I remember the blizzard being included in several books that I'd read through the years, including one of the Little House books. It was nice to read a non-fictionalized account of it.

The Children's Blizzard sounds very interesting. I hadn't realized that the blizzard in the Little House books was of such magnitude, and the addition of weather explanation in addition to personal story make the book seem even more enticing. Onto the TBR pile it goes!

32, 33 The book even makes reference to Wilder's book that dealt with the blizzard. He does say that she was very accurate in her description in the Little House book!

The Children's Blizzard is definitely going on my wish list, sounds fascinating.

#35 It is, Judy!

Challenge Book #2
Title: A Free Man of Color
Author: Barbara Hambly
Copyright/Year of original publication:1997
Genre: historical fiction / mystery
Subject: murder and prejudice
Setting: 1833 New Orleans
Main Characters: Benjamin January
Series: Benjamin January #1
Dates Read: 1/1/11 - 1/9/11
Number of pages: 311
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: NO, ILL
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Leadoff, #1
How does it fit the category? First in series
Alternate category:: Foul Play Territory, Team Physician
Theme of the Month: The Cold, White Snow and Ice of January
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? YES! Main character is named January!
My Rating: 4 stars
Notes: Very detailed historical fiction, and an unusual mystery with a surprising ending!

It took me a while to really get into this book, but through no fault of the author. The story is well written: the setting intricately drawn, the characters well-crafted, the historical detail stunning. But the world of 1833 New Orleans is so very different from the world I know -- or even the majority of the antebelum South, of which I have some knowledge -- that it took me awhile to settle in and follow the story. Once I acclimated to the setting, the story took off for me, and was hard to put down. Benjamin January is a most compelling character. I hope to visit his world again soon! (Book 2 of the series is on the TBR shelf, waiting!)

Ohhhhh. . . . A Free Man of Color sounds like the perfect book for me! And to learn that it is the first book in a historical mystery series...., Well, all I can say is I think my TBR pile is going to become a mountain very quickly with all the great books everyone is reading for this challenge.

#38 I think there are 9 books in the series so far, if the series page is correct. There was a lot of detail about the class/caste system of old New Orleans, which was very complex, and about the chages that ensued after the U.S. took over the city with the Louisiana Purchase. One thing that took getting used to was how negatively Benjamin January felt toward Americans -- but when you think how Southern Americans treated people of color in those days, it's understandable. Traditional French New Orleans society was a little gentler, at least to free men and women of "color" (mixed blood) like the main character. The strict stratification of "black" and the various degrees of "colored" in that society kind of blew my mind!

Challenge Book #3
Title: Ghosts and Specters of the Old South
Author: Nancy Roberts
Copyright/Year of original publication: 1974 (mine was printed in 1984)
Genre: folklore / short stories / ghost stories
Subject: Southern supernatural folklore
Setting: variety of sites in the South
Main Characters: n/a
Series: NO
Dates Read: 1/3/11 through 1/9/11
Number of pages:93
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: NO. Bought used in 2011
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Phantom players, #1
How does it fit the category? spooky
Alternate Category:
Theme of the Month:The Cold, White Snow and Ice of January
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How?NO
My Rating: barely 3 stars
Notes:

I just wasn't impressed at all with this thin volume of southern folklore. A few of the stories were sort of interesting.

I can't get the touchstone to work. Drat!

Challenge Book #4
Title: Nights of Ice
Author: Spike Walker
Copyright/Year of original publication: 1997
Genre: Collection of related non-fiction shorts
Subject: Shipwrecks and rescues
Setting: Alaska's high seas
Main Characters: assortment of fishermen & Coast Guard rescuers
Series: No
Dates Read: 1/9/11to 1/10/11
Number of pages: 206
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: Purchased from used bookstore 2010
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: "Travel Day (cars, planes, boats, & trains)
How does it fit the category? boats!
Alternate Category: Fireballers, Rainouts, Steals, & Errors!
Them of the Month:The Cold, White Snow and Ice of January
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? YES Lots of cold & ice!
My Rating:****
Notes:

OK, I admit it; I'm hooked on the TV show "Deadliest Catch," and marvel at folks who work in that kind of environment. It's just amazing all the things that can -- and do -- go wrong when you combine boats and commercial fishing gear and wind and waves . . . I love stories of the high seas, fishing lore, and especially stories of maritime disaster and rescue. My, how I admire folks who risk their necks to rescue others in a dangerous environment!

Nights of Ice is is a fine collection of stories about boats and their people in dire trouble -- in cold Alaskan waters, yet -- and the folks who saved (at least some of) their butts. My favorite is "In the path of a miracle." I could hardly put it down!

I can't wait to see what you think of the Marian Anderson book. I've always admired her for both her strength and her humility.

#42 I'm planning to read that one (My Lord, What a Morning) next month, as part of my "Black History Month" theme.

I don't know if you saw my last book posting last year, but I read a picture book, When Marian Sang, that I'd bought for my son. If you ever want to share the story of Marian Anderson with a young person, I highly recommend that book!

I've seen When Marian Sang! It's beautiful.

I'm writing Nights of Ice in my notebook as a potential gift idea for my brother in law. I've drawn his name in the family holiday gift grab bag 2 of the past 3 years. He's so hard to buy for - he only likes fishing and motorcycles - and he'll never give any suggestions that fit our gift budget. This year I gave him Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. He looked at it askance. I think his post school reading is limited to magazines and work manuals. My sisters and I talked up what a great book it's supposed to be (we haven't read it). He loves watching Deadliest Catch so maybe I'll try this book next. Thanks for the review.

I've got a Marian Anderson-related book on my TBR list for, hopefully, this year.

The Sound of Freedom: Marian Anderson, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Concert That Awakened America by Raymond Arsenault

Linda, let us know what you think of that one! I've heard of it, but I haven't heard if it's good or not yet.

45 Glad I could help, Violet!

46, 47 Ditto what Katie said! I'd be interested to know if that one is good, too Linda.

Maybe I'll read it for Black History Month, too.

@37, 39

Oh, that one sounds just up my alley. Mysteries are always fine and I am particularly fond of book that take place in New Orleans. Thanks!

49 Great idea, Linda!

50 You're welcome! I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for dropping by!
I'm planning to read the next book in the series next month.

Challenge Book #5
Title: In Cold Blood
Author: Truman Capote
Copyright/Year of original publication: 1965
Genre: non-fiction / true crime
Subject: The murder of a family & the criminals who did it
Setting: Rural Kansas
Main Characters: the Clutter family (victims); Perry Smith & Dick Hickock (murderers)
Series: NO
Dates Read: 1-14-11 through 1-16 11
Number of pages:384
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: YES; paperback exchange many years ago.
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: "Foul Play Territory"
How does it fit the category? serious foul play
Alternate Category:
Theme of the Month: Cold, White Snow & Ice of January
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? YES Word "Cold" in title
My Rating:****
Notes: The book that set the standard in true crime writing

I don't read a lot of "true crime" writing, but this 1965 classic is worth reading. It lingered on my shelf unread for years; perhaps I thought it would sensationalize the crimes, but Capote's unemotional, low-key narrative style is a perfect balance for the emotional nature of the grisly crime which took place on a farm near rural Holcomb, Kansas in November of 1965. Capote is also even-handed in his description of the killers; neither demonizing them nor being overly sympathetic to the circumstances that may have made them what they were.

I picked In Cold Blood off the shelves when I was about 16 or so, read a few pages, and have been afraid of it ever since. Think I should try again?

#53 I don't know how squeamish you are . . . so it's hard for me to answer. I will say that it is a very well-written book that I found hard to put down. Being as the one victim was 16, I wonder if that may have been a factor in how your reacted to the book -- identifying with the victim? And it is very suspenseful, because you know the crime is going to happen . . . And there is some gore in the description of the crimes -- I didn't find it excessive, but I'm a little thick-skinned in these matters -- too much CSI-type reading, I guess.

I can take a lot that I couldn't back then. My ex is a cop's kid, so have seen many, many true crime shows since. Sounds like it's worth it, if you can keep your spirits from getting mired in the pessimistic.

55 if you can keep your spirits from getting mired in the pessimistic.

Frankly, I found Capote's telling of the story so compelling that I really didn't feel a danger of getting "mired" in anything through most of the book. Only near the end, when the legal process was playing out, did I find the narrative starting to stall just a tiny bit and my brain started to dwell on some things. I'm not sure why he included some of the information that he did in that segment -- but that's a very, very minor "complaint."

Okay. I'll have to read it now. Thanks!

I hope you enjoy it . . . well, enjoy is not quite the word when dealing with mass murder . . . but you know what I mean.

I had trouble sleeping, and wound up finishing books #6 and #7:
The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney
Mary White by Caryl Ledner.

I don't have time for full entries on them now, but I'll be back later to give the details!

Oh insomnia...

:) Hi, Katie!

Challenge Book #6
Title: The Tenderness of Wolves
Author: Stef Penney
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2006
Genre: Stef Penney
Subject: epic search drama which starts with the murder of a trapper
Setting: Northern Territory of Canada, circa 1867
Main Characters: Mrs. Ross; Francis Ross, William Parker, Donald Moody
Series: NO
Dates Read: finished 1/19 11
Number of pages:371
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: NO ILL from county library
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: All-Stars, MVP's, & Other Awards
How does it fit the category? Costa Award; Long-listed for Orange Prize
Alternate Category: Foul Play Territory
Theme of the Month: Cold, White Snow & Ice of January
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? YES -- plenty of cold, ice, & snow
My Rating: 4 1/2 stars
Notes:

This book has been described as "epic," and in a way it is. It more or less starts with a murder, and the search for the murderer. Along the way, we meet a multitude of fascinating characters; then, as their past and secrets are revealed, we get to know some of them all over again. The way their stories intersect and intertwine is fascinating. And it is all set in the breathtaking wilderness of the Northern Territory, circa 1867. You can almost FEEL the cold as you read. I didn't feel that the ending was quite as good as the story itself -- but it fit, with appropriate loose ends and no sugar-coating. Recommended

Challenge Book #7
Title: Mary White
Author: Caryl Ledner
Copyright/Year of original publication: 1977
Genre: other readers have it tagged as non-fiction, biography; but the book itself says "novel based on the life of" -- so I'd call it historical fiction?
Subject: A teen-age girl who wanted to change the world
Setting: Emporia, Kansas, 1921
Main Characters:Mary White; her father, journalist William Allen White; her mother Sallie White
Series: NO
Dates Read: finished 1/19/11
Number of pages:179
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: YES; from college library sale 30 years ago!
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Utility Players
How does it fit the category? doesn't fit other categories well
Alternate Category: All Stars (a person of some fame)
Theme of the Month: Cold, White Snow & Ice of January
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? YES "White" in title and as character name
My Rating: three stars (?)
Notes: An ABC made-for-TV production was made of this; not sure which came first, the book or the movie; this printing has photos obviously from the movie.

I'm not sure why I bought this oh so many years ago, or why I kept it with me for so long, or why I read it now except that it had "White" in the title to fit my monthly theme. The college library from which I bought it must have disposed of it at a library sale within 3 or 4 years of its publication!

This book was about the daughter of a famous journalist. She was an idealistic non-conformist who was always drawing the ire of traditionalists around her. She tried to fight for civil rights long before it was a common cause; she idealized Jane Addams, founder of Hull house; she struggled to find the patience to deal with those who did not share her vision.

I think the target audience for this book is probably young adult. It was a decent story, and the writing was OK. I'm very ambivalent about how to rate this; the subject of the book was a pretty amazing young woman, but I felt that her story could have been told more effectively. Some of the writing felt a little, I don't know, the word "trite" comes to mind, but that's not the right word.

I'll have to look for Tenderness of Wolves, but I'm in Minnesota enjoying the Siberian wind... perhaps will wait until summer when I'm complaining of the humidity!

63: It was -54 degrees F this am with the windchill when I woke up. I can certainly understand the 'Siberian Wind'! Stay warm!

In Cold Blood sounds really interesting. I may have to keep my eye out for it...

Glad you enjoyed The Tenderness of Wolves. I read it a couple of years ago, and I really enjoyed it.

#63 I spent a lot of time reading that one with a throw wrapped around me and a cup of hot tea!

#64 Brrrrrrrrrr!

#65 Hi! Thanks for stopping by!

Challenge Book #8
Title: White Nights
Author: Ann Cleeves
Copyright/Year of original publication:2008
Genre: Thriller/Mystery
Subject: murder
Setting: Shetland Islands
Main Characters: detective Jimmy Perez
Series: Yes 2nd in Shetland Island series
Dates Read: finished 1/21/11
Number of pages:392
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: YES via Amazon, 2010
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: On Deck
How does it fit the category? Next in series
Alternate Category: Foul Play Territory
Theme of the Month: Cold, White Snow & Ice of January
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? YES Word WHITE is in title (but it's set in the totally wrong season!)
My Rating: 3 1/2+
Notes:

If you are looking for mile-a-minute action and constant edge-of-your seat suspense, this isn't the book for you. This is subtler stuff. But if you like a more slowly-unfolding mystery with interesting characters in an unusual setting, you're likely to enjoy this book.

Challenge Book #9
Title: Jar City
Author: Arnaldur Indridason
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2000 (Icelandic) 2004 (English translation)
Genre: Mystery fiction -- police procedural
Subject: investigation of a murder
Setting: Reykjavik, Iceland
Main Characters: Inspector Erlendur
Series: Book #1, Inspector Erlendur series
Dates Read: 1-21-11 through 1-24-11
Number of pages: 275
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: NO Inter-Library Loan
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Leadoff
How does it fit the category? first in series
Alternate Category: Foul Play Territory
Theme of the Month: Cold, White Ice & Snow of Winter
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? YES (sort of) Set in ICEland
My Rating: 4 stars- minus
Notes:

At first, I wasn't sure I would like this. The writer's (or translator's) style seemed abrupt, odd. The dialogue felt strange. The Inspector's thought process seemed inscrutable. One scene between Erlendur & his daughter really bugged me. But I became accustomed to the style, and grew to like it. I liked the character of Erlendur as he gradually became more focused in my mind, and his train of thought progressed and became easier to follow. I also loved how the author created some memorable minor characters -- some of them just blew me away. (Like the two quibbling elderly ladies in the third chapter, victims of a home invasion.) I also learned a bit about Iceland.

I'm calling it a 4 star minus -- not quite a four star, but better than a 3 1/2

I've been wanting to venture into one of Indridason's Iceland stories. I'm glad to see the review. I'm wondering if this is a series that can be read out of order or if it is one that is best kept that way.

Terri, I think we're pretty much in agreement on Jar City. I liked it but didn't think it was as great as "people" seemed to think.

I might continue with the series but I have so many other mysteries I like more.

#69 I've only read the one, so it's hard to tell. There are some family-related issues that look like they will develop over time in the series; also, there is one sort of mysterious character in the background of this first one who I suspect will probably emerge more fully as the series develops. Someone else who has read several in the series encouraged me to read them in order.

#70 For me, I like the differentness (?) of the setting and style. I think they'll be a good series for me to continue. And I'm curious to find out more about the mysterious Marion.

I have three more books finsihed that I need to post. Here's the first one:

Challenge Book #10
Title: So Cold the River
Author:Michael Koryta
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2010
Genre: horror/thriller/mystery fiction
Subject: Two historic hotels, newly restored; one antique bottle of mineral water with very eerie qualities; tracing the history of a man about whom very little seems to be known . . .
Setting: Southern Indiana
Main Characters: Eric Shaw
Series: NO
Dates Read: finished 1/28/11
Number of pages:508
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: NO. Inter-library loan
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: "Phantom Players"
How does it fit the category? Supernatural element to story
Alternate Category: "Foul Play Territory"
Theme of the Month: Cold, White Snow and Ice of January
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes; word "Cold" in title (though book is actually set in summer weather).
My Rating:almost 4 stars
Notes: Interesting fictional use of real places and locality's history in story.

This is the kind of horror I like -- a bit on the subtle side, with a lot of atmosphere. It has a strong supernatural element, but not a lot of gore. Actually, this book sits on the margin between horror, thriller, and mystery. And I love that it's set in a real place, a place with a lot of history; and that it uses that history in a very interesting way in a story set (and least the this-worldly part) in the modern day. I found it to be quite a page turner. And there's an element of weather, too, which is a plus for me.

ETA to correct grammar and eliminate a redundancy

Challenge Book #11
Title: Morality Play
Author: Barry Unsworth
Copyright/Year of original publication: 1995
Genre: historical fiction / mystery
Subject: medieval players and a murder
Setting: small village in England
Main Characters: Nicholas Barber, renegade priest
Series: NO
Dates Read: finished 1/29/11
Number of pages: 206
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: NO Loan from a friend
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: "All Stars, MVPs, and other Awards"
How does it fit the category? 1995 Booker Pirize Short List
Alternate Category: "Foul Play Territory"
Theme of the Month: "Cold, White Snow and Ice of January"
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? YES Set in winter; lots of snow
My Rating: 4 stars
Notes:

I don't know a lot about medieval traveling players, but from all appearances Unsworth researched his subject carefully; there are references to and descriptions of a variety of practices used by actors of the day. Nicholas Barber, a runaway priest, is our narrator; the book seems to capture the attitudes and sensibilities that a priest of that time might have. He is believable as a man of his time and background.

The story kept me reading and guessing how the whole mess was going to turn out -- and these players do get themselves into quite a bit of trouble (I don't think that's a spoiler -- the narrator makes it clear from the start that there is trouble coming in his tale; as the story progresses, you can SEE trouble brewing.) A fascinating book which explores the roles people play in life as well as art! Four stars.

ETA to add an additional thought

Challenge Book #12
Title: The Ice Bowl
Author: Ed Gruver
Copyright/Year of original publication: 1998
Genre: non-fiction
Subject: One VERY cold football game (Cowboys vs. Packers, 12/31/67) and the events which led up to it
Setting: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Main Characters: Vince Lombardi & the Green Bay Packers; Tom Landry & the Dallas Cowboys
Series: NO
Dates Read: finished 1/30/11
Number of pages: 207 plus appendix and index
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: NO Inter-library loan
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: "Play Ball"
How does it fit the category? it's about a football game
Alternate Category: "All Stars, MVPs, and other Award Winners"
Theme of the Month: Cold, White Snow & Ice of January
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes Lot's of cold and ice (though it was December . . .)
My Rating: 3 stars
Notes:

Good morning . . . It's 7 o'clock and it's 13 degrees below zero

Thus the day began: the day of the coldest football championship game (probably the coldest football game of any kind) in NFL history. And it actually got COLDER!

I expected this book to be about the famous football championship game commonly known as "The Ice Bowl," and it was. But it was also about the two coaches, Lombardi and Landry, and how their coaching styles evolved leading up to the fateful game. It also was a little too technical for a reader like me. I enjoy my football, but my ability to understand the X's and O's of the playbook is somewhat limited. I thought the book was at its best in the anecdotes it told about the conditions that day and the people involved in the game. I give it about 3 stars -- it would probably be rated higher from a reader more in tune with the details of football strategy.

I keep a running summary near the top of the thread, but here are the statistics for the month of January:

Summary:
1. Pregame: 0 books, 0 pages
2. Play Ball!: 1 books, 207 pages
3. Leadoff: 2 books, 586 pages
4. On-deck: 1 books, 392 pages
5. Phantom players: 2 books, 601 pages
6. All-Stars, MVPs, and other Award Winners: 2 books, 576 pages
7. Foul Territory: 1 books, 384 pages
8. Fireballers, Rainouts, Steals & Errors: 1 books, 271 pages
9. Away Game Travel Day (Cars, trains, boats & planes): 1 books, 206 pages
10. Team Physician & Front Office (Doctor, Lawyer, Indian chief): 0 books, 0 pages
11. Team Chaplain : 0 books, 0 pages
plus
Utility Players: 1 books, 179 pages

Total: 12 books
7 Fiction, 4 Non-fiction,
1 fiction that is "almost" non-fiction (novel based on life of a real person; all the other holders have it tagged as non-fiction/biography, but clearly it's a novelization and it calls itself that -- closer to historical fiction.)

11 of the twelve could be wedged, in some way or other, into my "Theme of the Month." I don't expect that ratio to continue to be as strong as the months go on.

I'm peeking in to see how some other folks are keeping their lists. Love the categories, and I think I'll steal, er, borrow, your month-end summary idea. I read Free Man of Color last year and had a very similar reaction: I enjoyed it a lot after it got going.

Hi, Jim! Please feel free to borrow any ideas from my thread that seem useful. My formats of books posts and summaries have bits and pieces borrowed from various people's threads.

I have the second Benjamin January book sitting on my desk, planning to start it soon. I'm hoping that, having become familiar with his world now, I'll "get into" the story more quickly than the first.

Well, last night, while the cookies I baked were cooling, I played around adding some graphics to my category lists. Kind of fun!

We got off easy with the weather here, compared to what a lot of folks are getting.

Your category graphics look good. I especially like the little train that goes around.

Thanks, Judy!

(I love trains!)

I love the new graphics. I think my favorite is the "whatever" clock for your misc. books.

You're making great progress so far.

Glad to hear the big storm mostly passed you by.

#81 Sandy, that "whatever" graphic is probably my favorite, too! I had a hard time finding what I wanted for that category, and was really pleased when I found that.

Thanks for the kind words.
I hope you are coping OK with the aftermath of the big storm.

#82 They've done a remarkable job here clearing the streets and making them safe. My only complaint is that I got stuck at the end of my own driveway because of the big pile of snow thrown up by the city's plow! Thankfully, I was able to get my snow shovel out of the garage and dig out around the wheels and popped right out of there. We've had 2 days of bright sunshine now and, with the snow on the ground, everything is lovely! (Of course, I'm a big fan of winter. My husband would describe things a little differently!)

Nice graphics - someday I'll have to give them a try.

@83
Those darn plows! :)

Heh, oops, and my apologies, tymfos. I just assumed this was sjmccreary's thread, but clearly I didn't check. I don't mean to be rude! (By the way, your Fireballers, Rainouts, Steals, & Errors picture really is beautiful.)

#85 I totally agree!
#86 That's OK, pammab! Sandy and I are both used to the 75 Challenge group, where people comment and chat like that all the time on everyone's threads. I don't find it rude at all. And I do totally agree.

Thank you for the compliment about my picutre.

Feel free to stop by and comment on anything here, anytime!

I finally finished my first book for the month . . . and my first e-book! A quick read. It was one of the few that was available from our library e-book catalog that sort of fit into my reading plan for the month, so I downloaded it.

Challenge Book #13
Title: Is it Just Me?
Author: Whoopi Goldberg
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2010
Genre: non-fiction; social commentary
Subject: Civility
Setting: modern American culture
Main Characters: Whoopi Goldberg and all the rude people who tick her off
Series: NO
Dates Read: 2/6/11 through 2/7/11
Number of pages: 192
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? NO Source?: e-book through library Overdrive system
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: All Stars . . .
How does it fit the category? Ms. Goldberg is a star, don't you think?
Alternate Category:
Theme of the Month: Black History Month
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? Yes How? African-American author
My Rating:2 1/2 stars
Notes: my first e-book completed

Is it just me, or does it seems like every star has to write a best-seller book these days, regardless of writing ability, while many talented writers starve?

Don't get me wrong, there was a certain appeal Ms. Goldberg's commentary on the current Rude American Way of Life. I would say that I could nod in agreement with much of what she said. I don't fly, so I really didn't relate to the parts about air travel, though what she said made sense.

The one thing where it seemed it was "Just Her" was the commentary on food in the workplace. I discussed it with co-workers, and nobody seemed to have a problem with food smells in our employee "kitchen" --which is a counter with a mini-fridge and microwave stuck in the employee bathroom. (Perhaps other odors are more of a nuisance there.)

Most of what she said should be common sense, though the actions of many people seem to indicate that many people lack that common sense today. There's a certain appeal in seeing that it isn't "Just Me" -- a "famous star" feels the same way about the rudeness in society. But I can't say that made it worth sitting through a 190 page rant about civility. Something just didn't work for me.

I'm struggling with a problem. I have a bunch of things that I want to read for my "theme of the month" that don't really fit well in any of my categories (except "utility player," the bonus "miscellaneous" category). I hate to fill up the misc. category this early in the year!

Several things I'm reading do fit into my categories nicely:

Troubling Biblical Waters fits my "team chaplain" (religious) category, which is currently empty;
Medical Apartheid fits my "team physician" category
Neither of these is an easy read, though for differing reasons. Medical Apartheid is shocking and appalling. Troubling Biblical Waters just requires a lot of concentration.

But I have a Civil War e-book I'm halfway through, Army Life in a Black Regiment, that doesn't seem to fit anywhere in the scheme of things. Neither does Elijah of Buxton, which I want to read this month. I was also looking at Booker T Washington's autobiography, which I downloaded from Project Gutenberg. May I call him an All Star? I'm definitely putting Marian Anderson's autobiography in that category.

I have one book that doesn't fit the theme of the month, but will fit in my "on deck" category -- Bury your Dead, next up in the Three Pines series. I've been dying to read it, but can't seem to get started because I want a nice block of time in case it is difficult to put down (as her mysteries can often be).

Yes, I've squeaked a few books into odd categories to make them fit into my 11 11. Life of Pi as animal behavior??? Good luck!

My Lord, What a Morning is "in transit" to my library, so I should be able to start it this week. When were you planning on reading it?

#90 Life of Pi as animal behavior???
Very creative!

I'm going to start My Lord, What a Morning as soon as I finish any one of the three books that I'm reading now -- that's probably within the next few days, depending on my fatigue level. (Lately, I've been dozing off when I try to read in the evenings!)

#91 I know what you mean! It was my first day back to work after a cold. I want to read but my body has other ideas. I'm one chapter in to My Lord, What a Morning. It's good so far, but you can tell she was writing it for an immediate audience, not people who weren't alive when her career was at it's peak. There aren't any dates in my edition except on a few of the photos! I went to wikipedia just to figure out what era I was reading about. She was born in 1897, so the first chapter is pre-1910 then.

#92 Katie, I quickly saw what you meant about the dates, as I've noted in my notes here!

Challenge Book #14
Title: My Lord, What a Morning
Author:Marian Anderson
Copyright/Year of original publication: 1956
Genre: autobiography
Subject: the career of a famous singer
Setting: performance halls around the world
Main Characters: Marian Anderson
Series:NO
Dates Read: finished 2/14/11
Number of pages:312
Off the Shelf? (pre-2011): YES, purchased at library sale last year
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: All Stars, MVPs, etc.
How does it fit the category? Author/subject was a famous singer
Alternate Category
Theme of the Month Black History Month
How does it fit? Author/subject was a famous and ground-breaking African American singer
My Rating: 4 stars
Notes:

I really enjoyed this autobiography by the famous contralto who was the first African American singer to be a member of the Metropolitan Opera Company. She is perhaps most famous in the minds of some Americans for her Lincoln Memoiral concert on Easter Sunday of 1939, after the DAR refused to allow a "Negro" to sing in Constitution Hall.

One weakness (and I saw that Katie just mentioned it) was the lack of dates. Occasionally she would mention the year something happened, but it was difficult to really know when in time certain things were happening. That is a small quibble. I found her writing easy to read, and I enjoyed her writing "voice" almost as much as the recordings I've heard of her singing voice. In light of her great talent, I appreciated her humility -- I mean humility in the healthy sense that she could see her own limitations as well as her significant talents, not the unhealthy kind of humility of feeling inferior to anyone.

It was sad to see the prejudice she had to face, but good to see that she did not give up and managed to achieve a great measure of success.

>93 tymfos: Nice, informative review, Terri! I'm adding this one to my wishlist.

Thanks, ivyd! I hope you enjoy it!

Challenge Book #15
Title: Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present
Author: Harriet A. Washington
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2006
Genre: non-fiction
Subject: racial bias/abusive practices in medical experimentation
Setting: wherever medical research has occurred
Main Characters: people of color; the (historically) white, male medical research establishment; also, the CIA, US military, and the apartheid govt. of South Africa
Series: NO
Dates Read: 2/1/11 through 2/16/11
Number of pages: 404 plus acknowledgment, notes & index
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: NO, from local Library
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: "Team Physician"
How does it fit the category? medical topic
Alternate Category:
Theme of the Month: Black History Month
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes, in obvious way.
My Rating: still deciding
Notes:

This is such a grim book that it took me a rather long time to get through. Harriet Washington has researched the history of medical studies using people of African origin or descent from slavery times through the present. It appears to be thoroughly researched and well documented. Washington cites a need for honesty in dealing with the issue for the sake of current research efforts with African Americans -- who appear reluctant to serve as medical research subjects in even legitimate and ethical studies. She argues that such reluctance is not just fallout from the infamous Tuskegee Syphilis Study, as many white people claim, but is the result of a long-standing pattern of medical abuses toward subjects with dark skin.

Many -- no most -- of the stories here are truly ugly, the abuses blatant and obvious, the racial bias clear. Those are the most powerful (and upsetting) stories. Then there are those situations where the abuse or the bias is less clear. In a few cases, Washington seems to tiptoe on the borders of working both sides of the issue re: the need for participation vs. the appropriateness of the studies. While this sometimes illustrated the difficulty of conducting truly fair and ethical experiments, sometimes it appeared to this reader that the author was pushing the issue in cases where the ethics were ambiguous at worst -- for instance, terminally ill prisoners who consented to highly risky procedures because they knew they would be dead in a few weeks barring a true medical miracle. This hardly seemed necessary, as there was more than enough obviously unethical material to make her point.

This is not at all a pleasant book to read, but it is a real eye-opener.

I wish-listed that one instantly when you first mentioned it, but I don't have the heart to read it this month!!! Citizenjoyce said that African-American women writers are bold and take no prisoners, and I'm enjoying this month's reading, but do feel a little as though I've been shot through with holes from all the evil in the world. Reading these works and being witness to the past is important though.

I hear where you're coming from, Katie! Sometimes I just can't handle books that tell true stories involving prejudice and/or cruelty and such. It's important to read such things, but I usually need to take them in small doses.

Challenge Book #16
Title: In the Blink of an Eye: Dale, Daytona, and the Day that Changed Everything
Author: Michael Waltrip and Ellis Henican
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2011
Genre: non-fiction
Subject: memoir of NASCAR racer Michael Waltrip
Setting: NASCAR
Main Characters: Michael Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt
Series: NO
Dates Read: 1-17-11 through 1-19-11
Number of pages: 223
Off the Shelf? (pre-2011): NO newly purchased from Amazon
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: "Cars, Trains . . ."
How does it fit the category? Race Cars
Alternate category "All Stars"
Does it fit the Theme of the Month No
How does it fit the theme?
My Rating: 3 1/2 stars? (not sure yet)
Notes:

I read this to observe the 10th anniversary of Dale Earnhardt's death. While the title might suggest that it is mostly about Dale Earnhardt, it really does tell the basic story of Michael Waltrip's life and career, though with quite a bit of a focus on Dale's role in his life -- and especially that fateful 2001 Daytona 500. I enjoy Waltrip's self-deprecating and often offbeat humor, and his trademark down-to-earth manner. I felt he overstated some (obvious) things. I liked it for sentimental reasons. It really wasn't a "great" book by literary standards. But as a NASCAR fan, I found it a really good book to read. A little bitty cynic in me wondered if he wasn't exploiting the 10th anniversary of Dale's death by releasing it now. But I can easily believe that it's taken him this long to really come to terms with what happened that day, and talk about it.

I stayed up late to finish this book:

Challenge Book #17
Title: Fever Season
Author: Barbara Hambly
Copyright/Year of original publication: 1998
Genre: Historical fiction / mystery
Subject: Musician/surgeon Benjamin January deals with a yellow fever epidemic, prejudice, a runaway slave who needs help, and the disappearances of free men and women of color from the city.
Setting: New Orleans, 1833-34
Main Characters: Benjamin January, Hannibal Sefton, Rose Vitrac (fictional characters); Marie Laveau and Delphine Lalaurie (real historical people)
Series: Benjamin January, book 2
Dates Read: finished 2/22/11
Number of pages: 395
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: Yes, used bookstore I visited on vacation last summer
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: "On Deck"
How does it fit the category? Next book in series
Alternate Category: Team Physician
Theme of the Month: Black History Month
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes. Benjamin January is "a free man of color" dealing with prejudice and injustice in 1830's New Orleans.
My Rating: 4 stars
Notes:

I was eager to read this second book in the Benjamin January series, and it did not disappoint; indeed, I found myself drawn into the story more quickly than by the previous book, A Free Man of Color. Hambly has done her homework and is skilled at bringing her setting to life; you can almost feel the heat and humidity, smell the stench of death in the yellow fever hospitals, experience the sting of prejudice and injustice. The mystery itself is sophisticated and thoroughly linked to the historical setting and some real people who lived in New Orleans at that time.

Great to hear the series does not disappoint. I am looking forward to starting the series myself later this year.

I'm also hoping to read A Free Man of Color soon. I like her Abigail Adams series (under penname Barbara Hamilton) so much, that I have high hopes for this one.

This series sounds like it may be better than some of the series I've read set in NOLA.

Hi, Lori, Ivy, and Lori!

It's interesting reading the Hambly books and another book I'm reading, Army Life in a Black Regiment in light of the current controversy over racial language in books, including current efforts to "update" (make "politically correct") the language in books by Mark Twain or others. Legislation has been introduced to rename Negro Mountain and Polish Mountain in Maryland due to racial/ethnic sensitivities. (Why would Polish Mountain be offensive to anyone, I wonder?)

To be historically accurate to the era, Hambly's dialog (and her POV character's thought processes) use the terminology of the era. She talks about it in an author's foreword. No offense is intended -- indeed, her books make the reader feel keenly the injustice of racism. They intruduce the reader to the complex and strictly stratified social world of that time and place.

Army Life in a Black Regiment, written by the white commanding officer, is a product of its time -- including language usage and a rather paternalistic (though respectful) attitude toward the author's troops. I just don't see how people today can get a clear picture of what life was like back then if we edit out those aspects that don't meet current sensitivities. And what is the saying -- if we forget our history, we're doomed to repeat it?

There is also the matter of how we present speech dialect. I had a choir director who felt it demeaning and offensive to sing spirituals with any trace of dialect. Personally, to me that seems to suggest a Euro-American arrogance that our "proper English" speech is superior to the dialect in which the songs were originally sung. While visiting South Carolina, I was introduced to the Gullah language -- which apparently has influenced "standard" English, as well as some southern African American dialect. Why should Gullah be considered less legitimate than English? It's all very confusing to me.

My desire is to respect all, and offend none, but to be honest about where we all have been so that the more sordid aspects of the past may not be repeated.

ETA for clarity

I don't really have anything to add, but very interesting discussion on language, tymfos. I feel like in a lot of these situations there is no "right" approach, except for to make a decision and then justify it and recognize vocally that you realize the drawbacks of your approach and the positives of the other.... I agree that it's incredibly worthwhile not to whitewash the past.

Terri - excellent comments! I am firmly in the camp that deplores 'political correctness' or revisionist history of historical-based fiction, or books/history in general. They, meaning the books, are slowly disappearing from existence, as our only eyes into the what was considered the norm at the time.

#105, 106 Thanks for your positive comments, pammab and Lori. I may copy my post 104 to my threads in other groups where I discuss these books.

Challenge Book #18
Title: Troubling Biblical Waters: Race, Class, and Family
Author:Cain Hope Felder
Copyright/Year of original publication: 1989
Genre: non-fiction, biblical studies
Subject: "the significance of the Bible for Blacks and the importance of Blacks in the Bible"
Setting: n/a
Main Characters: n/a
Series: Bishop Henry McNeal Turner Studies in North American Black Religion, Volume 3
Dates Read: finished 2/22/11
Number of pages: 177 plus notes and index
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: YES. Purchased at ELCA Global Mission Event held at Howard University in the early 1990's.
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: "Team Chaplain"
How does it fit the category? Bible commentary
Alternate Category:
Theme of the Month: Black History Month
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes. It deals with the history of Black people in the Bible and in utilizing the Bible down through history
My Rating: unsure
Notes:

This is not a book for the general reader; it is designed for those with a background in historical-critical Biblical exegesis and at least a passing familiarity with Biblical languages.

According to the introduction, this book grew out of articles and papers Dr. Felder originally wrote for various audiences and occasions and subsequently expanded or revised. He looks at the oft-ignored Black African people found in the Bible; he studies the themes of race, class, and family as found in the Bible, looking beyond the dominant culture's reading of the text and toward how the texts speak to people in the Black church today.

These are scholarly articles; as is often the case, they are not particularly engaging reading at times. Felder notes a number of interpretations and conclusions with which other scholars may take issue.

The final chapter relating to the Church and the nuclear threat is in some respects outdated; since the fall of the old Soviet Union, today's threats are different from those in the 1980's. (No longer do two "superpowers" hold all the nuclear arms.)

Dr. Felder is Professor of New Testament Language and Literature at Howard University.

Challenge Book #19
Title: Army Life in a Black Regiment
Author: Thomas Wentworth Higginson
Copyright/Year of original publication:1869
Genre: non-fiction, memoir
Subject: A Union Civil War regiment comprised of freedmen
Setting: South Carolina & Florida
Main Characters: Colonel Higginson, his troops and his officers
Series: NO
Dates Read: 2-10-11 through 2-23-11
Number of pages: 194 plus index
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?:NO public domain e-book downloaded from Project Gutenberg
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Utility Players
How does it fit the category? does not fit other categories
Alternate Category:
Theme of the Month: Black History Month
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes. It is about a Black regiment during the Civil War
My Rating:
Notes:

This is the memoir of the white colonel of the First South Carolina (Union) regiment -- a Union regiment comprised of freed slaves. They were actually the first Black regiment in service, pre-dating the storied 54th Massaschusetts by several months.

In some ways Colonel Higginson was a product of his time -- there is a touch of paternalism in his attitude toward his troops -- but he was quite ahead of his time in many of his attitudes. It may be noted that he was an abolitionish at the start, thoroughly opposed to slavery, and apparently had significant experience with former slaves prior to the forming of his regiment.

It is clear that Higginson had deep respect and affection for his troops, and indeed preferred them to any white troops he'd commanded -- he said they had fewer vices. Indeed, when he sometimes referred to them as "child like" he was generally viewing that as a virtue -- his troops, having been isolated in slavery on the Sea Islands of SC, simply did not as a rule drink and swear the way typical white troops did, and they did have an enthusiasm for the adventures of military life that he thought was marvelous.

As noted in posts above, some readers may be offended by some racial terminology used in the book, and the use of dialect when he quotes his men's speech and songs. I sense that he took delight in their speech and his respect for their Spirituals is obvious in the entire chapter he devotes to that music -- in his analysis, comparing it favorably to the Scottish folk music with which he was familiar.

Because it is Higginson's memoir, there are sections where there is less of his men and more of his own personal experiences in the war. But I thought it was an amazing book to have been written by a man of his era, and his troops were obviously very good soldiers.

Early this year, we made a brief educational trip to Charleston, SC, to experience some of the history there. At the Old Slave Mart Museum, dedicated to educating visitors about the nature and evils of slavery, the gift shop had a number of books based on WPA interviews with former slaves in the South. This book was among them; given my love of spooky folklore, I couldn't resist. It balanced out some of the grimmer material I've read this month.

Challenge Book #20
Title: 1747221::Slave Ghost Stories: Tales of Hags, Hants, Ghosts, & Diamondback Rattlers
Author: Nancy Rhyne
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2002
Genre: folklore
Subject: supernatural folklore related by former slaves interviewed by WPA workers in the 1930's; researched and edited by Nancy Rhyne in 2002.
Setting: mainly South Carolina & Georgia
Main Characters: n/a
Series: NO
Dates Read: 2-24-11 through 2-25-11
Number of pages: 139 plus glossary
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: NO -- too new. Purchased at museum in Charleston, SC.
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: "Phantom Players"
How does it fit the category? ghost stories
Alternate Category:
Theme of the Month: Black History Month
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes. Not only were these ghost stories related by African-Americans who had been slaves, but the stories include historical details of their lives prior to emancipation
My Rating: *still thinking about it*
Notes:

During America's Great Depression of the 1930's, the WPA sent out workers to interview African Americans who had been slaves, in an effort to document the experience of slaves in their own words while it was still possible.

One of the questions in the scripted interview was, "Do You Believe in Sprits?" This book contains some of the stories told in response to that question.

It is a very short book (139 pages plus glossary) filled with short stories (avg. 2-4 pages each) in fairly large type -- it's a very quick read. There are a wide variety of stories -- even a few stories about ghosts that turned out to not be ghosts after all. It's fascinating to see the wide range of stories, attitudes, and storytelling styles.

It should be noted that Ms. Rhyne states in her prologue that the stories are not verbatim -- she edited them to make them "more accessible."

A lot of my reading has been on the grim side too. The ghost story book looks like a must have though! I love books that go to the original source... although I understand the "still thinking about it" rating. The bilingual book I read that was based on "oral tradition" spent so much time trying to set up the way the story was told that it all turned out lame.

#111 I finally settled on 3 1/2 stars, I think -- partly because it was such a short, short book, I think.

OK, here's the next one for the challenge:

Challenge Book #21
Title: Bury Your Dead
Author: Louise Penny
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2010
Genre: mystery fiction
Subject: murder, grief, Canadian history
Setting: Quebec and the village of Three Pines
Main Characters: Armand Gamache
Series: Inspector Gamache/Three Pines, book #6
Dates Read: finished 3/3/11
Number of pages:371
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: No. Public Library
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: All Stars, MVPs and Other Awards
How does it fit the category? Agatha Award 2010 for Best Novel
Alternate Category: On Dec, Foul Play Territory
Theme of the Month: Mystery March
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? YES -- mystery
My Rating: 4 1/2 stars
Notes:

Louise Penny has done it again. There is something different about her mysteries. They just feel different. There is humor and warmth, but I wouldn't call them cozies. Her sly wit sometimes catches me unawares and makes me laugh. Her mysteries are very literate; this one is filled with books. It features several intertwined narratives of mystery. The first is a case here-and-now in Quebec, touching on a more antique mystery. Then there are two mysteries from the recent past to be unravelled -- one purely for the reader, a tale that Inspector Gamache already knows all too well; another still brimming with new possibilities for reader and detectives alike. There are twists and turns and surprises. There are interesting, well-developed characters, and thought-provoking flashes of insight about human nature.

But will all -- or any -- of the mysteries be neatly solved, their loose ends tied up without ambiguity?

This is a thoughtful, literate, complex, satisfying book.

ETA to fix typos and clarify -- I wrote this too late at night!

Oh, rats! I've got my category numbering messed up again. My 75 challenge thread says I've done 4 books in the "on deck" category, but here this seems to be the third. AAAAAgh!

ETA to add Never mind. I think I just had a typo in the list on the other thread. And the number of pages looks correct.

I have been bitten by the infectious Three Pines bug myself. Loved the first two books and I am looking forward to reading book three!

Lori, they just seem to get better and better . . .

Okay, I'm going to have to read Louise Penny eventually. They all sound good.

#116 They are, Katie!

Have a great day, everyone!

I'm at home sick with the flu. May as well post my latest book:

Challenge Book #22
Title: Satchel: the life and times of an American legend
Author: Larry Tye
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2009
Genre: non-fiction, biography
Subject: perhaps the greatest pitcher who ever lived
Setting: "Jim Crow" apartheid pre-civil-rights era USA, "Negro League" baseball, Major League Baseball after they finally got sense and integrated
Main Characters: Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson,
Series: NO
Dates Read: finished 3/6/11
Number of pages: 300 plus appendix and notes
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: No. ILL
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Play Ball!
How does it fit the category? about baseball
Alternate Category: All stars
Theme of the Month: Spring Training / Mystery March
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes. Baseball
My Rating: 3.75 stars
Notes:

Admittedly, Larry Tye had a difficult task in writing a biography of Satchel Paige. While on the one hand, the subject himself is so fascinating that instant interest is generated, it's difficult to pin down many facts of the man's life and career. The old "Negro League Baseball" didn't keep the kinds of statistics MLB did; and Satchel Paige did a lot of barnstorming baseball, of which there are even fewer records. And then, the man was a bit of a yarn spinner himself, frequently embelishing some aspects of his life, and creating mystery around others. He was one of those rare persons whose first name (or, rather, nickname) creates immediate recognition in many listeners. But few people really knew him; he was, at heart, a loner. He was a complex character who refused to be "owned" by any team in an era long before baseball had heard of the concept of free agency. He was no saint; he spent big, bigger than he could afford to; at one point, he was apparently a bigamist. He was larger than life and possibly more talented than any baseball pitcher who walked the planet.

I think Tye does a pretty good job with this book, all things considered. There were times when I got confused about the "when" of some things, as he didn't keep to a strict chronological order. There were times when I felt the writing dragged a bit, that he repeated certain information too often.

The main things I walk away with are a sense of how awesome Satchel Paige's talent truly was, and wonderment that he could pitch so well so long, and dismay at how bigotry denied this man the kind of career he should have had, both in his prime days as a player and in later years when his baseball knowledge could have nurtured young players through coaching.

Get well! At least you got some reading done!

#119 At least you got some reading done!

Have I ever!

This probably was a poor choice for a "sick day" read, as it kept me from getting much rest . . .

Challenge Book #23
Title: A Drink Before the War
Author: Dennis Lehane
Copyright/Year of original publication:1994
Genre: mystery/action fiction
Subject: gang warfare and corrupt politicians in Boston
Setting: Urban Boston
Main Characters: Patrick Kenzie, Angie Gennaro
Series: Kenzie & Gennaro #1
Dates Read: 3/7/11 - 3/8/11
Number of pages: 282
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: No, too new; got this year from Amazon
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Leadoff
How does it fit the category? First in series
Alternate Category: Foul Play Territory, Pregame ("before" the war)
Theme of the Month: Mystery March
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes. Mystery
My Rating: 4 stars
Notes:

This book grabbed me by the throat and didn't let me go. Dennis Lehane spins a fast-paced story with realistic characters: flawed protagonists with mixed motives, and all kinds of villains (some white collar, some wearing gang colors). It is tough and gritty; it deals with real-world ugliness and the seeming hopelessness of the mess that urban America has become: racism, violence, corrupt politics, gang warfare, abuse. The language is quite rough, though I didn't find it gratuitously so. The violence is fairly intense. But it's not just a bloodbath for the sake of violence. This is a book that explores the urban psyche and refuses to seek easy answers. It acknowledges the evil that lurks even within the "good guys" and acknowledges some of the forces that shape the "bad guys," while not letting anyone off the hook.

I probably already told you this. Drink before the War is awesome, and you wrote up a great quick review of it. I took a mystery writing class at one time, and it was one of the books we studied.

#121 And was definitely worth studying, Katie!

I spent a lot of time reading while I was sick. Here's a long review of a long book:

Challenge Book #24
Title: The Wine of Angels
Author: Phil Rickman
Copyright/Year of original publication: 1998
Genre: mystery/fiction/horror
Subject: new woman priest in village confronts local conflict, mystery, old secrets, and inexplicable events.
Setting: Ledwardine, Herefordshire, England (20th century)
Main Characters: Rev. Merrily Watkins & Jane Watkins (daughter);
Series: Yes; Merrily Watkins #1
Dates Read: 3-9-11 through 3-10-11
Number of pages: 631
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: YES via Amazon last year.
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Leadoff
How does it fit the category? first in series
Alternate Category: foul play territory or phantom players
Theme of the Month: Mystery March
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes, Mystery
My Rating: 3.8 stars
Notes:

Something's rotten in Ledwardine. Trouble is fermenting in the ancient village in Herefordshire's cider-making country. And it only takes a few rotten apples to spoil the whole bunch. OK, apples figure prominently in this story, particuarly the ancient apple orchard just outside the churchyard -- the "first unhallowed ground," as it was known, where suicides were likely to be buried in times past.

The Rev. Merrily Watkins is about to be installed as the Priest-In-Charge of the congregation at Ledwardine. But she finds herself mired in all kinds of conflict: with her teenage daughter, and her odd behavior; with various locals pressuring her from both sides in the controversy over a proposed play by a gay playwright about a local 16th-century priest accused of witchcraft; with a lecherous parishioner who has a fetish for women in priestly vestments. She also finds herself at a sort of crossroads where Christian faith and pagan beliefs may intersect, as she works cautiously with a local (who has been labeled a modern witch by some) to understand odd events.

This last issue really struck me, as Merrily begins to question why the institutional Church seems to have abandoned, or at least downplayed, its belief in the supernatural -- except for "the old guy in the sky, Himself." She calls her advisor at theological college for advice about paranormal activity in her vicarage (a subject which her education did not cover) who, while acknowledging the Medieval church's work in the paranormal sphere, responds with the question ". . . do these phenomena really fit inside our field of operation" these days? She seems to wonder: at a time when so many people are fascinated by the paranormal, why has the mainline Church left the once-standard-doctrine subject of angels and demons largely for pagan/New Age religions to respond to?

The Wine of Angels is a long book (631 pages). The tale develops slowly -- odd to say when somebody's dead by the end of the prologue, but apart from that, the author spends a lot of time setting the scene, introducing the characters, and creating atmosphere before much real action takes place. This is a complex tale with interwoven plot lines, some of which only connect together at the end. There are elements of the supernatural, and elements of human evil -- and it's hard to tell how much of which is in play until the very end.

And it was the end which left me a little disappointed. Some of the connections didn't quite fit for me -- how did Rev. Merrily get from "here" to "there" in sorting out a centuries-old mystery? Some of it seemed a little implausible (and I'm not talking about the supernatural elements -- I'm willing to "suspend disbelief" for those when reading this genre.) Perhaps my American sensibilities are less attuned to what might happen in a small village in the English countryside.

One thing that did ring true, at least in some respects, was the conflict between old residents of Ledwardine and the "newcomers" who think they know what's best for the town. That seems to be a universal issue in small communities, whatever side of the Big Pond you live on.

This is a long book, maybe a little too long. But it held my attention and I kept wanting to read on. I can't remember the last time I read a 600+ page book so quickly.

Challenge Book #25
Title: Summer of Shadows (no touchstone)
Author: Jonathan Knight
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2011
Genre: non-fiction / sports / true crime
Subject: Cleveland Indians' pennant race 1954; murder of Marilyn Shepherd the same summer
Setting: Cleveland, Summer 1954
Main Characters: Cleveland Indians, Dr. Sam Shepherd
Series: NO
Dates Read: 3-1-11 through 3-14-11
Number of pages: 446 plus notes in Advance Reader Edition
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: No. LT Early Reviewer program
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Pregame
How does it fit the category? ER copy
Alternate Category: Play Ball or Foul Play
Theme of the Month: Spring Training / Mystery March
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? YES, baseball-related / crime
My Rating: 3.8
Notes: This was an Early Reviewer copy

I did enjoy this. I do feel that the coverage of the Shepherd murder was a bit flimsy and one-dimensional. The baseball writing was good. I liked some of the details included about various things going on in socieity -- the advent of supermarkets, TV dinners, etc. I have some quibbles with the structure. Review posted in works page: http://www.librarything.com/work/10742036

Challenge Book # 26
Title: Murder at Wrigley Field, audio edition
Author: Troy Soos
Copyright/Year of original publication:
Genre: mystery fiction
Subject: murder, baseball, and war politics in WWI Chicago
Setting: Chicago, 1918
Main Characters: Mickey Rawlings
Series: Yes Troy Soos' baseball murders
Dates Read: finished 3/2/11 through 3/14/11
Number of pages: N/A (audio)
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: NO. Net Library dowload from library
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Play Ball
How does it fit the category? baseball-related
Alternate Category: foul play territory
Theme of the Month: Spring training/ Mystery March
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Obviously fits both themes
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Notes:

This was an enjoyable mystery. There was a lot of historical detail about what was going on in American society during WWI, particularly the abridgment of citizens' liberties to express political opinions, or even to play music composed in a country with which we were at war.

The book contained some good baseball storytelling. Mystery plot felt a little convoluted, though.

Great reviews. Thanks. I'm looking forward to Summer of Shadows. I'm more interested in the baseball part than in the Sam Shepherd part.

Here's another good one!

Challenge Book #27
Title: Women at Play: the story of women in baseball
Author: Barbara Gregorich
Copyright/Year of original publication: 1993
Genre: non-fiction / sports history / women's studies
Subject: women who have played baseball at different levels through the years
Setting: Baseball diamonds throughout the U.S.
Main Characters:
Series: NO
Dates Read: finished 3/21/11
Number of pages: 208 plus notes and index
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: Yes. Cannot remember where purchased.
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Play Ball!
How does it fit the category? baseball history
Alternate Category:
Theme of the Month: Spring Training
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? YES -- baseball book
My Rating: 4 stars
Notes:

This book was a real eye-opener! I had no idea that so many women had played baseball -- not softball, but the real thing -- for over a century. I had heard of Amanda Clement, who umpired semi-pro ball in South Dakota beginning in 1904, because our library has a children's book about her. But I knew little about most of the women featured in this book, and their teams, and their league.

Author Barbara Gregorich does a fine job of introducing the reader to baseball's women pioneers. The book is divided into sections corresponding to the different eras of women's baseball. In each section, there are chapters about individual players (and umpires) of note, and about women's teams.

From the "Bloomer teams" of the early 20th century, to the women of the AAGBL (featured in the movie "A League of Her Own"), the books shows us that countless women have played baseball with skill and dedication, the best of them demonstrating ability comparable to male pro baseball players.

Of course, Gregorich reminds us, playing baseball is one thing; having access to playing in the Major Leagues -- or MLB minors -- is another thing. For many years Major League Baseball kept African-Americans out of baseball with a "gentlemen's agreement" that was never put into writing. But as of the time this book was written, there was actually a written piece of the baseball regulations PROHIBITING the hiring of women as players, even in the minor leagues. Of course, I remember the battle to allow girls into Little League, and read some articles about women fighting to umpire in the major leagues. But this book spells out the many levels the fight has taken over the years -- Little League, high school, and college levels -- and gives us a glimpse of the overt hostility so many of the powers-that-be and rank-and-file players in the "national pastime" have expressed toward women in their game.

Gregorich also lets us know about those sympathetic to the women atheletes' cause -- people like Henry Aaron, the great slugger who insisted that women could and would, someday, play in the big leagues; former Atlanta Braves executive Bob Hope (not the comedian) who tried to organize a minor league franchise of women players (blocked by the higher-ups); and others who have championed the cause of women with genuine baseball talent and skills.

I would like to read an "update" as to how women have fared in the almost 20 years since this book was written. I daresay author Barbara Gregorich, who clearly hoped that women would be in the majors by now, must be disappointed in whatever progress women have made.

A thought-provoking book.

Terri, it's been more than a month since I stopped in here and you've been reading a lot of interesting books, as usual. I've added several to the wishlist, and realized that I had another already listed that I'd forgotten about. I'm really enjoying your monthly themes and am very impressed at your ability to mostly read within those themes each month.

Hope all is going well with you these days, and I'll try not to wait so long to come back again!

Thanks for dropping by, Sandy! I've been having fun reading mostly within my themes.

Hope things are going OK for you. Come back any time!

Busy day today! Just enough time to finish this book:
Challenge Book #28
Title: For Love of the Game
Author: Michael Shaara
Copyright/Year of original publication: 1991; book was published posthumously. Introduction by Jeff Shaara in this edition copyright 1997.
Genre: sports fiction
Subject: A day in the life of a pitcher nearing the end of his career.
Setting: A hotel in New York and Yankee Stadium
Main Characters: Billy Chapel, Gus Osinski
Series: NO
Dates Read: 3-21-11 through 3-24-11
Number of pages: 161
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: No. ILL
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: "Play Ball"
How does it fit the category? Baseball story
Alternate Category:
Theme of the Month: Spring Training
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes. Baseball story.
My Rating: 3.75 stars?
Notes:

When I learned that Michael Shaara's last novel, For Love of the Game, was a baseball story, I knew I had to get my hands on a copy. The Killer Angels is one of those rare books I rate at 5 stars; I love it. This short (161 pages) baseball story, published after the author's death, is not in the same league (pardon the pun) as his Pulitzer Prize winner about Gettysburg. And it is very different in style. But, in the end, I enjoyed most of it.

What goes on in the mind of a gtifted baseball pitcher during the course of a game? Welcome to 24+ hours in the life of aging major league pitcher Billy Chapel. Follow the stream of his thoughts from one evening to the next -- from the visiting team's hotel to the baseball diamond and through the course of an important game and its aftermath.

I liked the parts of this book that focused on baseball. The problem is that the other main storyline, if you want to call it that, was about Billy's relationship with a woman named Carol -- a woman the reader actually meets only briefly, one we get to know mostly from Billy's thoughts. I didn't like Carol -- she seemed two dimensional and not particularly likeable -- and therefore I really didn't enjoy parts of the story dealing with her.

I also found the style -- pretty much Billy's stram of consciousness, and therefore rather abrupt and disjointed -- a bit off-putting at first. But the baseball writing grabbed me in the end, even drawing tears at one point.

The edition I read includes an introduction by Jeff Shaara which I really enjoyed.

I'm not sure how to rate this. I think I'm giving it 3.75 stars.

ETA typo fix

Hi, Terri. I'm back. ;-)

I just noticed that you listed One Was a Soldier by Julia Spencer-Fleming as being currently in progress in your pregame category. Did you get that book from the ER program? I wanted that one so much! I only requested 2 books, hoping I'd get that one - or another I was just as excited about. But, alas....

I've been re-reading the series in anticipation of this book being released and just finished the 3rd, Out of the Deep I Cry, two days ago. Back when I first discovered the series, I read them out of order and it was Out of the Deep that really drew me into Clare and Russ's story, despite not understanding a lot of the references. I read the books again, in order, and still liked it best. And now on the 2nd or 3rd re-read I still love this book.

I hope you're enjoying the new book - you lucky duck - and I'll be watching for your comments. Even if you hate it, I'll be reading it for myself as soon as I can, so there's no pressure from me.

#129 With all the other great baseball books I want to read, I think I'll skip this one, for now.

#130 Yes, Sandy, I got it through LT's ER program. I have mixed feelings on this one. It's taken a bit too long to get the mystery going; I kind of stalled reading it.

#131 Linda, that's probably a good call.

I spent 2 1/2 hours in Mr. Goodwrench's waiting room after work today while they worked on my Chevy. Spent it with the book Worth the Wait: Tales of the 2008 Phillies by Jayson Stark. I'm about halfway through; might have read more, but got a bit distracted by Dr. Phil and Judge Judy on the flatscreen TV there -- despite my best efforts to ignore them.

Challenge Book #29
Title: One Was a Soldier
Author: Julia Spencer-Fleming
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2011
Genre: mystery fiction
Subject:
Setting: (fictional town) Millers Kill, NY in the Adirondack Mountains
Main Characters: Claire Fergusson, Russ VanAlstyne
Series: Yes 7th Claire Fergusson/Russ VanAlstyne Mystery
Date finished: 3-26-11
Number of pages:
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: YES Advace Readers Edition from LT Early Reviewer program -- counts regardless of date.
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Pregame
How does it fit the category? advance copy
Alternate Category: On Deck (next in series)
Theme of the Month: Mystery March
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes. Mystery
My Rating: to be determined
Notes:

I have to think a bit before I write a review, since this is a "real" review for the ER program. I'm always a bit more thoughtful before I spout off on these. Everyone on is raving about this book. I am not quite so impressed, and need to figure out why. Cranky mood? Too high expectations?

133> You've read others in the series?

#134 All of them! It has been a favorite series of mine.

Challenge Book # 30
Title: Worth the Wait: Tales of the 2008 Phillies
Author: Jayson Stark
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2009
Genre: sports non-fiction
Subject: The World Champion 2008 Philadelphia Phillies baseball team.
Setting: Ballparks around the country
Main Characters: The team and fans
Series: NO
Dates Read: 3-25-11 through 3-27-11
Number of pages: 218
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: No Purcahsed this year B&N
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Play Ball
How does it fit the category? baseball
Alternate Category: All Stars
Theme of the Month: Spring training / Mystery March
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes. Baseball
My Rating: 4 1/2 stars
Notes:

I loved this account of the 2008 Phillies by ESPN.com writer and lifelong Philadelphian Jayson Stark. His quirky sense of humor was perfect for relating the story of the long-suffering Philadelphia baseball franchise and the city's snake-bitten sports fans. At the time the Phillies won this World Series, the city of Philadelphia had gone longer between major sports championships than any other city with teams in all four major pro sports leagues (MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL) -- 25 years, since the 82-83 Philadelphia '76ers basketball team.

OK, maybe he wore out the "long-suffering Philadelpha" theme, but anyone who has gone through life as a fan of the Phillies -- the first team in MLB history to reach the 10,000 loss mark -- can resonate with that.

This book started out as a collection of Stark's ESPN.com columns about the 2008 Phillies team. But they have been re-written significantly, and bunches of delightfully offbeat statistics have been added.

Stark gives us glimpses of the team at pivotal points in the regular season. Then he does a day-by-day account of the divisional series, League Championship series, and World Series. At the end of each game's account, he includes a complete box score and a page of "Useless Information" -- the kind of oddball statistics guaranteed to delight any stat rat.

I really enjoyed this book. I'd recommend it to any Phillies fan, and I think most baseball fans could appreciate it.

I've finished 2 more books. I'll make full posts later when I have time, but #31 is Cross Country by James Patterson. #32 is an audio book, Real Murders by Charlaine Harris, the first in the Aurora Teagarden series.

I'm currently halfway through The Wolves of Fairmount Park by Dennis Tafoya.

I needed some suspense brain candy -- something to keep me turning pages and guessing without having to think too deeply. This series usually does that for me.

Challenge Book #31
Title: 2895228::Double Cross
Author: James Patterson
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2007
Genre: mystery/suspense/thriller fiction
Subject: criminal profiler psychologist/detective vs. (yet another) serial killer
Setting: Washington, DC
Main Characters: Alex Cross, Bree Stone, "DCAK" (DC Audience Killer), Kyle Craig
Series: Yes, Alex Cross series
Dates Read: finished 3/29/11
Number of pages: 389 (but with lots of "white space")
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: No, from Public Library
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: "On Deck"
How does it fit the category? next book in series
Alternate Category: "Foul Play Territory"
Theme of the Month: Mystery March
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes! Definitely an element of mystery
My Rating: 3.3 stars
Notes:

This was a typical installment in the Alex Cross series by James Patterson. Lots of action, short chapters, plot twists. An attention-seeking serial killer is performing spectacular executions on full view of the public. An old nemesis is back in the picture -- despite being locked up in a super-maximum security prison. Is Dr. Cross going to be lured back into crime-fighting from his private practice in psychology? (Do we even need to ask the question?)

Challenge Book #32
Title: 116518::Real Murders (AUDIOBOOK)
Author: Charlaine Harris
Copyright/Year of original publication:
Genre: Cozy Mystery Fiction
Subject: A series of murders based on famous crimes, centered around a group of true-crime buffs called "Real Murders"
Setting:
Main Characters: Aurora Teagarden
Series: Yes. First book in Aurora Teagarden series
Dates Read: Finished 3/30/11
Number of pages: N/A (audiobook)
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: No, library download from NetLibrary
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: "Leadoff"
How does it fit the category? First in series
Alternate Category: "Foul Play Territory
Theme of the Month: Mystery March
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes, it's definitely a mystery
My Rating: 3 stars
Notes:

It starts with a murder at a meeting of the "Real Murders" club -- a club that studies famous murder cases. The all-too-real murder of a club member is staged to duplicate the crime scheduled to be discussed at the meeting. Soon people are dropping like flies -- all in ways that mimic famous crimes -- and librarian Aurora Teagarden seems to be in the middle of all the action. Whodunit??

I wasn't terribly impressed by this first book in the Aurora Teagarden series. The mystery wasn't bad, but I didn't warm to the characters too well. I may give the second book a go to see if it's any better -- since it's also available for library loan download -- but I'm not in a hurry to get to it.

Awwww... I like the premise of Real Murders, but if there aren't good characters, who cares.

Apparently, this was one of Charlaine Harris's very early books. I've seen comment that the series improved as she got more experience. So I'll likely try another eventually. The characters have potential. I just wish Aurora was less preoccupied with dumb stuff and there was more focus on the mystery. I really don't care how her hair looks on a particular day, or her wardrobe, etc. (And I want more about the library!)

Of course! Libraries are important. ;)

Challenge Book #33
Title: 9762070::The Wolves of Fairmount Park
Author: Dennis Tafoya
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2010
Genre: crime fiction
Subject: a drive-by shooting; it's background and its aftermath
Setting: Philadelphia
Main Characters: Orlando Donovan, Brendan Donovan, Danny Martinez, George Parkman, Sr.
Series: NO
Dates Read: finished 4/4/11
Number of pages: 336
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: YES purchased last summer at the Book Barn
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: "Foul Play Territory"
How does it fit the category? crime fiction
Alternate Category:
Theme of the Month: This is a leftover started during Mystery March.
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How?
My Rating: 3.4 stars
Notes: This author has real potential.

Welcome to the mean streets of Philadelphia -- the City of Brotherly Love hardly seems to live up to its name as the book opens with the killing of two teens -- "good boys" -- in a drive-by shooting in front of a drug house. The aura of gritty violence only intensifies in the aftermath of the shooting.

Why were the boys there? Why were they shot? We see the search for answers by the fathers of the boys -- Brendan Donovan, a Philadelphia cop, and George Parkman, Sr., a successful businessman; Brendan's estranged brother Orlando, a hard-core junkie; and Daniel Martinez, the detective assinged to the case. We also meet a memorable cast of hard-core criminals. This is a "hard-boiled," violent story not for the faint of heart.

Author Dennis Tafoya does for Philadelphia what Dennis Lehane does for Boston in his Kenzie/Gennaro novels as he shows us the seamy underside of the city through the worst and even the best parts of the city. The atmosphere is gritty, intense. Where Tafoya falls short is in the story itself. It didn't pull me along like a Lehane novel. But it was a good effort. This writer has real talent for creating atmosphere, bringing a reader into the scene, and drawing interesting, complex characters. As I understand it, this is only his second novel. I won't hesitate to read future efforts.

Guardedly recommended -- especially for folks who know or are interested in Philadelphia, or for those who enjoy more character-focused (rather than plot-driven) fiction.

Challenge Book #34
Title: Pray for Silence
Author: Linda Castillo
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2010
Genre: mystery fiction
Subject: a mass murder in Amish country
Setting: rural Ohio
Main Characters: Chief Kate Burkholder, State Agent John Tomasetti
Series: Kate Burkholder #2
Dates Read: finished 4-5-11
Number of pages: 304
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: YES LT early reviewers -- before the close of 2010.
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Pregame
How does it fit the category? ER edition
Alternate Category: On Deck or Foul Play Territory
Theme of the Month:
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? NO. Early Reviewer books exempt from monthly categories
My Rating: 3 stars (barely)
Notes: This is a RE-READ.

I had loved the first book in this series, Sworn to Silence, so much, I got impatient when my ER copy of Pray for Silence was slow in coming. I downloaded the audio from my local library, and really did NOT enjoy it at all. After taking some time, I read the hard-copy version with much lower expectations and I guess it met them. My review is on the book's main page:

http://www.librarything.com/work/9562607

Challenge Book #35
Title: Up High in the Trees
Author: Kiara Brinkman
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2007
Subject: a special young boy in a family in crisis
Setting: the family home & the family summer home
Main Characters: Sebastian "Sebby" Lane, Stephen Lane ("Dad"), Cass Lane, Leo Lane
Series: NO
Dates Read: finished 4-10-11
Number of pages: 326
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: Yes. Gift 2010
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Unsure. May have to go into utility category
How does it fit the category?
Alternate Category:
Theme of the Month: Autism Awareness Month
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Narrator has some Autism Spectrum characteristics
My Rating: 3 1/2 stars
Notes:

Many thanks to Linda for this unusual book about an unusual boy. This story's narrator is young Sebby Lane, who is trying to make sense of life in his crisis-striken family. A number of reviewers / blurbers describe Sebby as autistic. The book itself never labels him thus. He does clearly have some characteristics of the Autism Spectrum, though he also expresses some thoughts that would be very uncharacteristic of someone on the spectrum. Of course, it's a spectrum -- nobody has all the possible traits.

I found myself drawn into Sebby's story through his eyes which see the world in a unique way. This is a quick read. While the book weighs in at over 300 pages, many of the pages are not full. Sebby tells his story in bits and pieces, so there is a lot of "white space" on many of the pages. Sebby's voice takes some getting used to, but by the end of the book I felt like I knew him -- and he seemed one of the most "normal" people in the book. Some aspects of the family situation seemed a little implausible at times, but the story worked.

A thought-provoking story.

Challenge Book #36
Title: God Plays Piano, Too: The Spiritual Lives of Disabled Children
Author: Brett Webb-Mitchell
Copyright/Year of original publication: 1993
Genre: non-fiction
Subject: spirituality of children with disabilities
Setting: a residential hospital facility for children with various mental/emotional/behavioral disabilities
Main Characters: a "Spiritual Dude" (Director of Religious Life at an institution) and kids he dealt with
Series: NO
Dates Read: 4-1-11 through 4-11-11
Number of pages: 191 plus notes
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: No. Inter-Library Loan (Thank You to Mt. Aloysius College for sending the book!)
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Team Chaplain
How does it fit the category? deals with religious themes
Alternate Category: ?
Theme of the Month: Autism Awareness
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? YES Several chapters deal specifically with children with autism -- other chapters have information that could be applied to children with autism
My Rating: 3 1/2 stars
Notes:

I read this for Autism Awareness Month because it was tagged by many with "autism." In reality, only a few chapters dealt specifically with kids with autism. Indeed,, Webb-Mitchell's understandings of autism seemed limited and understandably a bit outdated (given that the book was published in 1993). However, I think there are principles discussed throughout the book which can apply to kids with autism.

Webb-Mitchell is an ordained pastor who has always had a special interest in how disabled children experience God and spirituality. His experiences demonstrate religious awareness in disabled kids whom society (and, unfortunately all too often, the church) dismiss as lacking the capacity for religious awareness.

The best part of this book are the stories he tells about the kids. Occasionally, Webb-Mitchell's commentary felt a little tedious, but he made some good points.

The focus here is mainly on conventional Judeo-Christian religious traditions; though some of the youngsters had understandings of those concepts that might seem "strange" to traditional thinkers, there was little here of any alternative spirituality.

Good food for thought for religious leaders and others in churches and synagogues who would like to open their congregations to meaningful ministry with people with disabilities.

Challenge Book #37
Title: Blacklands -- audio book
Author: Belinda Bauer
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2010
Genre: mystery fiction
Subject: boy wants to locate body of relative missing at hands of serial killer
Setting: Exmoor, England
Main Characters: Stephen Lamb; Arnold Avery
Series: NO
Dates Read: finished 4/14/11
Number of pages: N/A (audio book)
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: No. Library download from Net Library
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Foul Play Territory
How does it fit the category? serial killer
Theme of the Month: Autism Awareness / Support your Library
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes. Download from library
My Rating:3 1/2 stars
Notes:

This was creepy little book that worked well on audio. The narrator set an appropriately measured, somber tone, and his voice was a subtle but constant reminder that the setting was on "the other side of the big pond." He especially captured the persona of the serial killer quite chillingly.

This is, for the most part, not an action-packed mystery. It moves at a slow, deliberate pace as the tension builds. The author skillfully conveyed the horror of the serial killer's past crimes and fantasies without going into a lot of graphic details.

There were a few small aspects of the story that seemed a bit contrived, but on the whole it worked well.

Dreary, rainy day -- perfect for finishing up a book.

Challenge Book #38
Title: Faceless Killers
Author: Henning Mankell
Copyright/Year of original publication: Sweedish: 1991; English translation, 1997
Genre: Mystery Fiction -- Police Procedural
Subject: Solving a brutal murder; dealing with unrest over immigration in Sweeden
Setting: Ystad, Skane, Sweeden
Main Characters: police inspector Kurt Wallander
Series: Kurt Wallander series #1
Dates Read: finished 4/16/11
Number of pages: 280
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: NO Pulbic Library
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Leadoff
How does it fit the category? first in series
Alternate Category: foul play territory
Theme of the Month: Support your Library
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes, is library book
My Rating: 3/12 stars
Notes:

This was a pretty good police procedural, and had the added bonus of getting a glimpse of Sweeden and its culture, circa 1990. Inspector Kurt Wallander is called to the scene of a brutal crime. The road to a solution is filled with mis-steps, but he doggedly perserveres.

I'm not sure I like Wallander as a person; he's actually a slightly pathetic character. But he's a committed and believable detective. I enjoyed the different turns the investigation took as Wallander and company dug up and followed up on clues.

I may give the next book in the series a try.

I'm not sure where to put the book I just finished, Look Me In the Eye. It probably should go in my utility player category, since it really doesn't fit any of the other categories well. But I'm going to tentatively cram it into my "All Star" category, because: a) the book has won some lesser book awards, and b)part of the story is Robison's time on tour as an audio/special effects technician with the rock group KISS when they were really popular "stars" and c) it was an "all star" book in my opinion.. Maybe a bit of a cheat. I may re-think it if the all-star category fills nicely.

Challenge Book #39
Title: Look Me In the Eye (slightly edited paperback edition)
Author: John Elder Robison
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2007 (orig.), 2008 (paperback)
Genre: Memoir
Subject: Growing up with undiagnosed Asperger Syndrome
Setting: New England
Main Characters: John Elder Robison and family
Series: NO
Dates Read: finished 4/18/11
Number of pages:302 (including reading group guide)
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: No. From public Library
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: All Stars
How does it fit the category? See post 149
Alternate Category: Utility Players
Theme of the Month: Autism Awareness Month/Support your Library
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? deals with autism spectrum and came from library.
My Rating: 4 stars
Notes:

John Elder Robison (elder brother of Augustine Burroughs) gives readers a look at what it was like to grow up with Asperger Syndrome before anyone knew what it was -- he wasn't diagnosed until age 40. He also provides a wonderful glimpse at how the mind of one "Aspergian" works. I just loved this book. There were some moments in it when Robison was less than lovable, with his wild pranks (he notes in his postscript to the paperback edition that he wouldn't want his son doing some of the things he did as a youth). But I'm really impressed with how he struggled and perservered and really made a success of his life despite numerous challenges (including a very dysfunctional family of origin).

He notes in his postscript to the paperback edition that he made some changes from the original hard cover edition. He "cleaned up" some of the language, because he found that it was functioning as a barrier to what he was trying to accomplish with the book. He added the postscript, and there is also a guide for reading groups who want to discuss the book.

Working with Kiss definitely makes it all star. This one has been on my WL for awhile. I'll have to get around to it!

#151 I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Challenge Book # 40
Title: Sudden Sea: The Great Hurricane of 1938
Author: R.A. Scotti
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2003
Genre: non-fiction
Subject: hurrican which struck New England in Sept. of 1938
Setting: New England, especially Rhode Island, Connecticut; and Long Island, NY
Dates Read: finished 4-23-11
Number of pages: 244 plus acknowledgments, notes and index
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: NO From local public library
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Rainouts
How does it fit the category? Storm
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Fits Support your Library because it is library book
My Rating: 4 stars
Notes:

This was a very fine account of the terrible hurrican which struck Long Island and New England without warning in Sept. of 1938.

Challenge Book # 41
Title: An Anthropologist on Mars
Author: Oliver Sacks
Copyright/Year of original publication: 1995
Genre: non-fiction, essays
Subject: unusual ways that our brains can act
Dates Read: finished 4-25-11
Number of pages: 296 plus bib and index
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: No, from Public Library
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Team Physician
How does it fit the category? Dr. Sacks is a neurologist
Theme of the Month: Autism Awareness & Support Your Library
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Fits both. Is from library, and last 2 essays deal with autism.
My Rating: 3.75 stars

Dr. Sacks looks at a number of people who are unusual in one way or another due to neurological issues -- brain injuries, developmental disabilities, etc. We meet, among others, a painter who becomes color blind; a surgeon with Tourette's Syndrome; several "autistic savants"; and animal scientist Temple Grandin, who has achieved great things in her field despite having autism. (She is the subject of the title article, having likened herself to "an anthropologist on Mars" in her efforts to understand the culture of neurotypical people's social behavior.)

I feel some of Dr. Sack's ideas and attitudes about autism are a bit dated (the book dates from 1995), but these are all interesting stories. He gets into a bit more technical detail in some of the cases than I can fully comprehend, but the stories of the individuals are so compelling, they are worth a read.

So is Sacks mostly readable? He has a book about music & the brain that I've been curious about.

#154 Yes, at least I think this book was pretty readable. Some of the technical analysis of the cases was a bit much for my non-scientific brain, but I sort of glossed over some of that and enjoyed the rest.

I have that music book on my list to look into, also.

They both have to go onto my wishlist then... not that that means I'll get to them any times soon.

Challenge Book #42
Title: Have a Little Faith
Author: Mitch Albom
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2009
Genre: non-fiction; memoir
Subject: Albom's interactions with his rabbi and with an inner-city pastor and how they impact him
Setting: Southern New Jersey and Detroit, Michigan
Main Characters: Rabbi Albert Lewis ("Reb") and Pastor Henry Covington
Dates Read: Finished 4-26-11
Number of pages: 249
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: NO Public Library
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Team Chaplain
How does it fit the category? about faith
Alternate Category:
Theme of the Month: Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Support your Library -- YES, book is from Library
My Rating: 4 stars
Notes:

Out of the blue, Mitch Albom was invited by his rabbi to write the rabbi's eulogy. As Mitch gets to know Reb as a person in the time left in his life, it changes Albom's own life. At the same time, he becomes acquainted with an inner-city Christian pastor with a checkered past.

A lovely, gentle book about the nature of faith, community, tradition, religious tolerance, respect, and understanding.

I obtained this book mainly for information that might be helpful regarding my son; therefore, I freely admit, I skimmed over portions which seemed unlikely to apply to my son. (For instance, he is not likely to ever become an artist, so the art career section didn't seem particularly useful to us.)

Challenge Book #43
Title: Developing Talents: Careers for Individuals with Asperger Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism
Author: Temple Grandin
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2004
Dates Read: finished April 30, 2011
Number of pages: 153
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: No. Obtained through Inter-Library Loan
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: "utility player"
How does it fit the category? can't see another category where it fits.
Theme of the Month: Autism Awareness
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes, for obvious reasons
My Rating: 3 1/2 stars
Notes:

A lot of this information was geared to people whose autism is a bit higher functioning than my son's. However, there were still plenty of useful pointers, and even some affirmation for directions in which are pointing as to what he might like to do for a living.

Challenge Book #44
Title: The Baptism of Billy Bean
Author: Roger Alan Skipper
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2009
Genre: country noir
Subject: a murder; life in Appalachia
Setting: West Virginia and Western Maryland
Main Characters: Lane Hollar, Toby Hollar, NoBob Thrasher, Sheriff Dick Trappel, Nickel Ballew
Series: No -- at least, not yet. I wish he'd write a sequel, though. I'd buy it.
Dates Read: finished 5/3/11
Number of pages: 361
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: Yes. From Amazon, purchased last year
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Foul Play Territory
How does it fit the category?
Theme of the Month: May Murder & Mayhem
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? There's a murder and some mayhem
My Rating: 4 stars
Notes: Local/regional author and setting (familiar nearby portions of West Virginia and Western Maryland)

This book was recommended by a library patron who was familiar with the author, who lives in nearby Western Maryland. My enjoyment of the story was enhanced by familiar terrain, as he described some familiar places, including a few roads I drive on a somewhat regular basis.

That said, I feel the story stands on its own merits. Lane Hollar, a curmudgeonly Vietnam War vet, is fishing with his grandson when something happens on the "reservoy" (reservoir) near their fishing spot. A man, Billy Bean, winds up dead. Was it murder, as Lane suspects?

Skipper skillfully evokes the changing world of Appalachia, and creates multi-dimensional characters who fit the story and setting. Relationships are complex. Motives are cloudy. The book has a hard edge, but does not contain an excess of graphic violence. There is humor, love, anger, and suspense.

Skipper does dispense with some conventions of punctuation, specifically quotation marks. (I've encountered this before, in some work by Cormac McCarthy, for instance.) It requires some thought on the reader's part to discern who is actually saying what. Sometimes it's not altogether clear what is spoken and what is internal dialog. Sometimes, I think that vagueness is intentional.

That vagueness extends to the ending, where one major loose end is left somewhat untidy. It left me wanting to know more about what is going on in the mind of one character -- but, then, life is full of unanswered questions like that.

The Baptism of Billy Bean is more than a mystery/suspense tale. It's a slice of Appalachian life. I plan to read more books by this author.

The Baptism of Billy Bean sounds really good, I am adding it to my wishlist. Thanks.

#160 I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Today was my day off, and I spent waaaaay to much time reading and on LT. But I did get my ILL done so I can return it tomorrow:

Challenge Book #45
Title: Salem Witch Judge: The Life and Repentance of Samuel Sewall
Author: Eve LaPlante
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2007
Genre: Non-fiction; biography
Subject: The only Salem Witch Judge to express public remorse for his role in the trials; he was also the author of the first abolitionist tract.
Setting: Boston, Massachusetts and vicinity
Dates Read: finished 5/3/11
Number of pages: 311 plus genealogy, acknowledgments, bibliography, and index
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: No. Public Library
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Since he was a judge, maybe "Doctor, Lawyer . . ."
How does it fit the category? lawyers were rare back then, even on the bench; at least he was a judge -- close enough for the era
Alternate Category: Chaplain (deals a lot with the man's personal faith and Puritan beliefs of the era)
Theme of the Month: Holdover from last month's "Support your Library"
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? YES. Library book (inter-library loan)
My Rating: 3 stars
Notes:

This is an extremely detailed biography of Samuel Sewall, written by one of his descendants. He was an interesting man. Of all the officials involved in condemning accused witches to death, he was the only one to publicly repent of his actions. He later became a supporter of Native American rights and sponsor of a scholarship fund for Native Americans (though largely because he wanted to convert them), and wrote the first abolitionist tract (long before popular sentiment in the North turned against slavery). and also argued in a manner for the spiritual equality of women.

When I say this is detailed, it is sometimes painfully so. I found that the early chapters dragged as they spelled out seemingly arcane details about his youth and family background. Things picked up when the narrative reached the witch trials, but I found the account of that disaster (the focus of the title) less detailed than I would have expected, especially given the excruciating detail about other matters. This is probably due to Sewell's reluctance to discuss the trials in his diary, as noted by the author. (The diary was major primary source material for the book.)

There were also some times when the narrative was a bit difficult to follow. One example is Sewall's trip back to England. LaPlante hops around in time talking about certain political events that led to other events while he was abroad; by the time she returned to the main thread of the story, I had to go back and re-read to see "when" we were at.

It was rather fascinating to catch a glimpse of Puritan piety through the eyes of an intelligent man. There was a lot about Sewall's faith and how it informed his decisions for better or (in the case of his work in the witch trials) for worse.

The story is also a reminder of how challenging life often was for the colonists, even those who were well off financially and socially.

I kind of wonder who the target audience was for this book. If for scholars, why no footnotes? If for popular consumption, why not written more accessibly? However, there is an extensive bibliography, and LaPlante does frequently name sources of information within her text. And she says up front that most of the material is from Sewall's diary.

This was the story of an interesting man, but I feel it could have been told more effectively. I suspect that the fact that the author is a descendant of her subject may have actually had a negative impact on the project.

It does sound like he was an interesting man. Too bad the book wasn't better edited. & I agree. I'm not sure being a descendant makes you a good biographer. It just gives you access to a lot of material. I remember reading something about Virginia Wolfe written by a descendant that vehemently denied something she talks about in her journals. Even if he was right, being a relative made him lose a bit of credibility.

162. I understand that there's another book about this judge. I'd like to read it some time and compare.

Challenge Book #46
Title: Too Easy
Author: Phillip DePoy
Copyright/Year of original publication: 1998
Genre: Mystery Fiction
Subject: dead banker, missing wife and two missing good ol' boys who were with man when he died
Setting: Various cities in Georgia, USA (including Atlanta, Savannah, and Tybee Island)
Main Characters: Flap Tucker, Dalliance Oglethorpe
Series: Flap Tucker #2
Dates Read: 5-4-2011
Number of pages: 189
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: Yes. Purchased from Amazon last year.
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: On Deck
How does it fit the category? next book in series
Alternate Category: Foul Play Territory
Theme of the Month: May Murder & Mayhem
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes. Murder & Mayhem abound!
My Rating: 4 stars
Notes:

Reading Phillip DePoy's Too Easy in one day was just too easy! I'm a fan of Southern fiction anyway, but DePoy is special -- a real original. I love his quirky, offbeat characters; his off-the-wall plotting; and his oddball humor and clever use of literary allusions. He always manages to work in some folklore, often in the oddest of ways. And this one was set partly in my favorite city -- Savannah, GA -- and nearby Tybee Island, which is special to me.

This time Atlanta-based PI Flap Tucker's best friend, Dally, sends him searching for a mysterious woman and two good ol' boys who disappeared in the wake of a nasty banker's untimely death. The belief is that they are hiding out near Savannah, on Tybee Island. While searching, another body turns up along the way.

Yes, parts were a bit implausible, but that was OK. It was a rollicking fun read with some food for thought along the way, a nice break from the darker mysteries I've been reading lately. And I didn't figure out how the banker really died until DePoy was ready for the characters to let me in on the secret.

The copy I read was in a Mystery Guild volume, Easy Does It, containing the first two Flap Tucker mysteries. It's good to pair them because near the start of this second story comes a rather strong "spoiler" for the first book. (In his second series, about Fever Devilin, he became much more subtle about working in material from earlier books.)

Too Easy sounds good. I'll have to keep my eye open for it.

#164 I enjoy this series! Hope you will, too!

Challenge Book #47
Title: Easy as One, Two, Three
Author: Phillip DePoy
Copyright/Year of original publication: 1999
Genre: mystery detective fiction
Subject: search for a missing child
Setting: rural Georgia
Main Characters: Flap Tucker, Dally Oglethorpe
Series: Flap Tucker #3
Dates Read: 5-6-11 through 5-7-11
Number of pages: 277
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: Yes. Amazon, last year
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: On Deck
How does it fit the category? Next in series
Alternate Category: Foul Play Terrritory
Theme of the Month: May Murder & Mayhem
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? I imagine there's enough mayhem to count.
My Rating: 4 stars
Notes:

Another enjoyable entry in DePoy's Flap Tucker series. These are light, but not too; amidst the wry humor, off-beat characters, and quirky storylines, there is always some food for thought. In this one, a little girl goes missing in same mountain area where legend says that the ghost of another lost little girl still roams. Flap ruffles some feathers trying to find the girl. This story features more memorable supporting characters.

Challenge Book #48
Title: Faster Pastor (audiobook version)
Author: Sharyn McCrumb
Copyright/Year of original publication:
Genre: ?????
Subject: A race car driver in a jam
Setting: Judas Grove, Tennessee
Dates Read: finished 5-13-11
Number of pages: n/a (audio)
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: NO. Download via NetLibrary
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Cars, Tains, boats & planes
How does it fit the category? Lots of cars!
Theme of the Month: May Murder & Mayhem / and Motorsports
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes, Motorsports
My Rating:2 1/2 stars
Notes:

I love auto racing, my husband is a pastor, and I usually love Sharyn McCrumb's writing, so I thought I'd like this. After all, she did such a great job bringing NASCAR to literature in St. Dale that I actually found it worthy of a re-read near the 10th anniversary of The Intimidator's death. But this one was a disappointment.

When a race car driver quite literally crashes a funeral as the result of a car chase, he's sentenced to teach stock-car driving to local pastors who will be competing in a race for over two million dollars as the result of a NASCAR fan's will.

The idea of a race for pastors isn't that odd to me -- for several years, I recall Jennerstown Speedway had a "Faster Pastor" race featuring local clergy (sans million-dollar purse). But this book just didn't work for me. Part of it was too much time spent explaining the basics of racing to presumably less-than-knowledgable readers. She did that much more gracefully in St. Dale and even in Once Around the Track, which I also read previously. Part of it was just that the story just didn't grab me.

I don't know if the audio format had an impact. I found it interesting that this was part of a series called "Southern Voices," but the narrator sounded like a Yankee to me.

How appropriate that this disappointing book should be #48 for the year -- the number of my possibly LEAST favorite NASCAR driver.

ETA trying to fix touchstones

Yes, I hope they catch up with the touchstones soon! Didn't Sharyn McCrumb write a bunch of Scottish mysteries? I'm remembering one called something like Pay the Piper that involved small pox and of course a bag pipe.

She wrote a series about a lawyer named Elizabeth MacPherson; the one I remember reading was set in North Carolina, but there was a Scottish connection, too, as her name might suggest. I gather some (most?) were set in Scotland.

She also wrote/writes a series of wonderful, atmospheric mysteries set in Appalachia -- The Ballad Novels -- with which I'm better acquainted. The most recent book of McCrumb's that I've seen (though haven't read yet), The Devil Amongst the Lawyers (c2010), is from that series. A main character in these is Nora Bonesteel, an older mountain woman gifted with a touch of "second sight," if you know what I mean. I did not read them in order, and I rather wish I had. They are a series where I might consider a re-read in their proper order.

I love stories based on ballads! I'll have to read more of her.

I hope you enjoy them, Katie.

Challenge Book #49
Title: The Neon Rain (audio book)
Author: James Lee Burke
Narrator: Will Patton
Copyright/Year of original publication: 1997; audio copyrighted 2009.
Genre: mystery/crime fiction
Subject: dirty dealings
Setting: New Orleans and surrounding area
Main Characters: Dave Robicheaux
Series: Yes; first in Dave Robicheaux series
Dates Read: finished 5/17/11
Number of pages: N/A (audio)
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: NO, download via NetLibrary
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: First in Series
How does it fit the category? it's first in series!
Alternate Category: Foul Play Category
Theme of the Month: May Murder & Mayhem
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes -- murder and mayhem galore!
My Rating: 3 stars
Notes:

I'm not sure if I read this one before -- I read a bunch from this series years ago. I enjoyed this audio, and narrator Will Patton was very believable as Dave, and caught good nuances doing the dialog of other major characters, too. (He sounded a litttle silly doing the dialogue of Dave's lady love interest, though, aiming at a falsetto that didn't quite work for me.)

This book had a fast-moving plotline, with a lot of action, and it kept me listening. I probably got more housework done than I would have otherwise, because this was what I was listening to while I cleaned, and I didn't want to stop listening. In the end, I still didn't quite get all the connections between all the bad guys and what they were doing and why. Maybe on the printed page, it would have seemed clearer. But I didn't mind too much.

This book is not for the faint of heart -- there is a lot of violence and rough language. But boy, the man can write! His descriptions -- whether of a barroom brawl or a New Orleans sunset -- are so vivid and crystal clear, they can sear an image into the brain. Good start to a series that (I know) has many even better moments ahead.

OK, I was supposed to be doing other things, but once I started this book it was hard to let it go. I kept picking it up . . . stayed up a bit late . . . took it to lunch . . . very compelling.

Challenge Book #50
Title: I Shall Not Hate: A Gaza Doctor's Journey
Author: Izzeldin Abuelaish
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2011
Genre: memoir
Subject: Peacemaking in the midst of war and occupation
Setting: The Gaza Strip and Israel
Main Characters: Dr. Abuelaish, his family, and colleagues
Dates Read: finished 5/18/11
Number of pages: 237
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: YES. December LT ER book
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: "Pregame"
How does it fit the category? Early Reviewer book (though my review is late)
Alternate Category: Doctor, Lawyer . . .
Theme of the Month: N/A -- ER books exempt
My Rating: 4 1/2 stars
Notes:

This is an amazing book by an amazing man. I need to think a bit before I write my review, as this is a "real" review for LT ER program.

I have The Neon Rain on my tbr shelves and am hoping to get to it this year (it fits two of my categories) so thanks for the positive review.

I'll be looking for your review on I shall not hate. I requested it too, but alas, was not lucky.

#172 I hope you like the book when you get to it!

#173 OK, you asked for it . . .

Here are my comments about I Shall Not Hate:

Once I began reading this book, I found it difficult to put down. This is a remarkable book by and about a remarkable man. Dr. Abuelaish has overcome great obstacles, growing up with grinding poverty and oppression in Gaza, and achieved great things. The everyday indiginities he has endured to pursue his education and profession are immense, and his patience in the face of it all is remarkable. Most remarkable is his willingness to forgive even the most grievous of wrongs; his ability to see the good and bad on both sides of a deep divide; his determination to meet each person he encounters as an individual without pre-judging, and his drive to look forward toward the future, rather than lingering helplessly in the grip of past wrongs.

I learned a lot from this book about life in Gaza, and about what it means to be a peacemaker in a world filled with too much violence and hate. I hope that someday his dream of peace and reconcilliation between Palestinians and Jews will be fulfilled. An excellent book!

Yup, I still want to read that book.

Challenge Book #51
Title: Don't Blink (audio book)
Author: James Patterson
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2010
Genre: mystery/thriller fiction
Setting: New York City & vicinity
Dates Read: finished 5/19/11
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: No. Overdrive Media Library download
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Foul Play Territory
How does it fit the category? Lots of murder & mayhem
Theme of the Month: May Murder & Mayhem
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes.
My Rating:3 stars
Notes:

This is an audio download I settled for because the titles I wanted weren't available. It was a "typical" James Patterson thriller -- fast-paced, lots of action, short chapters, plot twists. A pretty decent thriller, if you enjoy the genre, but not terribly memorable.

This one was memorable:

Challenge Book #52
Title: The Redbreast
Author: Jo Nesbo
Translator: Don Bartlett
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2000; 2006 for English Translation
Genre: police procedural mystery fiction
Subject: A crime spree with its roots in World War II events
Setting: Oslo, Norway
Main Characters: Inspector Harry Hole
Series: Harry Hole #1 in English Translation order; #3 in original Norwegian publication
Dates Read: Finished 5/21/11
Number of pages: 521
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: No. Inter-library Loan
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Foul Play Territory
How does it fit the category? murder
Theme of the Month: May Murder & Mayhem
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? YES; plenty of both
My Rating: 4 stars
Notes:

This is an extremely ambitious, intricately-plotted mystery that takes us back to the trenches of WWII and how the things that happened then may echo through the years into modern crime. It started out rather slowly, laying the foundation; slowly doesn't mean not interesting, as some of the early action was extremely mysterious and perplexing; but it takes a while for the divergent threads to begin to come together as connections are slowly made. It took me a while to warm up to Harry as a character, but I was sold by the end of the book. In fact, I just made my very first e-book purchase (as opposed to free goodies from Project Gutenberg) -- the next book in this series. I think that speaks for itself.

Finally finished this one:

Challenge Book #53
Title: Stealing the General: The Great Locomotive Chase and the First Medal of Honor
Author: Russell S. Bonds
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2007
Genre: non-fiction; Civil War history
Subject: Union plot to steal a Confederate locomotive, the chase which ensued, and all that followed
Setting: Mostly in Georgia, USA
Main Characters: James Andrews, William Fuller
Dates Read: finished 5/24/11
Number of pages: 374 plus extensive notes, bibliography, and index
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: No, from Public Library
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Rainouts, Fireballers, Steals & Errors
How does it fit the category? Stolen Train
Alternate Category:Cars, Trains, Boats & Planes
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? No
My Rating: 3.4 stars
Notes:

This book is an account of the "Great Locomotive Chase" or "Andrews Raid" of 1862. A group of about two dozen raiders, most from Ohio regiments of the Union army, went behind enemy lines under the direction of a civilian named James Andrews, with the intent of stealing a locomotive and destroying railroad bridges. The train's conductor, William Fuller, was determined to stop them, and the chase was on.

The book was fairly well written, and quite detailed. I'm having trouble deciding what rating to give it as it seemed to have a lot of merit, yet failed to consistently hold my attention -- which may have been just a matter of my mood and preoccupation with "May Murder & Mayhem."

More good press for Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole books. I guess I'll have to get round to picking up that one at some point.

179 I hope you like it. Thanks for dropping by!

Challenge Book #54
Title: Tonight I Said Goodbye
Author: Michael Koryta
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2004
Genre: noir mystery fiction
Subject: PIs hired to locate missing wife & child after apparent suicide (or was it?) of another investigator.
Setting: Cinccinati, Ohio and Myrtle Beach, SC, USA
Main Characters: Lincoln Perry, Joe Pritchard, Amy Ambrose
Series: Lincoln Perry, PI #1
Dates Read: 5/24/11 - 5/25/11
Number of pages:290
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: No, from Public Library
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Leadoff
How does it fit the category? First in series (and author's debut novel)
Alternate Category: Foul Play Territory
Theme of the Month: May Murder & Mayhem
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes -- murder & mayhem galore
My Rating: 4 stars
Notes: Koryta's debut novel

I had already read one of Michael Koryta's stand-alone novels and loved it. This solid first-in-series novel was also Koryta's debut, and even in its earliest stages Koryta's writing showed a sure touch. Solid characters, a quick-moving plot, and a reasonable number of twists and turns made this book hard to put down.

Challenge Book #55
Title: A.J.: The life of America's Greatest Race Champion by A.J. Foyt (no touchstone -- even tried forced touchstone with the book's LT work number, but no luck. GRRR!)
Author: A.J. Foyt with William Neely
Copyright/Year of original publication:1983
Genre: memoir
Subject: life of one of America's greatest race-car drivers
Setting: Indianapolis Motor Speedway and other race tracks around the world
Dates Read: 5/25/11 through 5/26/11
Number of pages: 249 plus photo pages and stat pages
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: YES. Purcahsed used, somewhere, a year or so ago
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Cars, Planes, Boats, and Trains
How does it fit the category? Race Cars
Alternate Category:
Theme of the Month: Motorsports
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes, obviously
My Rating: 3 stars
Notes:

A. J. Foyt is most definitely an American Original. This book was written many years ago, when "Super Tex" was still an active driver. It is frequently entertaining, occasionally maddening, and rarely boring -- at least for a reader who likes auto racing. Foyt is and has always been a character, and has never lacked for ego. But he's earned the right to boast. He was the first man to achieve four Indy 500 wins, and won races in a wide variety of motorsports series and disciplines. It's reasonable to say that he may be the greatest all-around, multi-discipline race car driver of all time (though, personally, I'm parial to Mario Andretti for that title).

The book takes us from his working-class roots in Houston to victory lane in places like Indy, Daytona, and Le Mans, and deals with conflicts between and within race teams, sanctioning bodies, and tire companies. Foyt also shares glimpses and opinions of other drivers around him when he was in his prime -- some of whom, he will admit, were decent drivers but many of whom he didn't feel belonged on the race track.

Especially interesting are his comments about the role of sanctioning bodies -- especially in light of what subsequently happened in American open-wheel racing.

Two more books, # 56 & 57 (will post formally when I get time):

Sorrow's Anthem by Michael Koryta
The Twisted Thread by Charlotte Bacon (ER book)

Challenge Book #56
Title: Sorrow's Anthem
Author: Michael Koryta
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2006
Genre: mystery fiction
Subject: PI investigates murder and arson
Setting: Cleveland
Main Characters: Lincoln Perry.
Series: Lincoln Perry, PI
Dates Read: finished 5/29/11
Number of pages: 309
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: Yes, purchased used last summer (Book Barn, I think)
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Fireballers, Rainouts, Steals & Errors
How does it fit the category? About series of arson fires
Alternate Category: On Deck (originally placed there) or Foul Play territory
Theme of the Month: May Murder & Mayhem
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? YES; plenty of both
My Rating: 4 stars
Notes:

I think I've found a new favorite author. This is the third book I've read by Michael Koryta (the second in this series featuring Lincoln Perry, and I believe it was his second novel overall) and I have thoroughly enjoyed all of them. The characters are multi-faceted and believable, the plots are complex without becoming too convoluted, the endings are surprising but don't pop out of thin air, and they do keep me turning pages.

I don't want to explain the plot here, because it's hard to do without spoilers. But it involves arson, murder, loyalty and perceived disloyalty among friends. It's a winner.

Challenge Book #57
Title: The Twisted Thread
Author: Charlotte Bacon
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2011
Genre: literary thriller
Subject: death at an exclusive boarding school
Setting: "Armitage Academy", an exclusive prep school in Massachusetts
Main Characters: Madeline Christopher
Dates Read: Finished 5/30/11
Number of pages: 374
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: No; LT ER book
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Pregame
How does it fit the category? Early Reviewer copy
Alternate Category: foul play territory
Theme of the Month: May Murder & Mayhem
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? In a subtle way, I guess so.
My Rating: 3 stars
Notes:

This book was slow to pull me in, but indeed it did eventually grab me. It's a subtle kind of mystery/thriller which explores the dark places in the lives and relationships of people at an prestigious academy. In some ways, it was very good. It kept my attention, and the author created enough threads to make me wonder, and keep me reading to see how it all fit together.

My main complaint is that the author was less than subtle in dealing with the issues of snobbery and elitism. She SHOWED the perils and evils of elitism quite effectively, but was not content with that; she hammered the point home with heavy-handed TELLING through her characters' speeches and inner dialogues. It got a bit tiring. "Show, don't tell," is a writer's mantra Bacon needs to take to heart. But to her credit, she showed that some "elite" characters may be more multi-dimensional than others would expect.

This was a decent literary mystery that unfolded with enough surprises to keep me guessing just about to the end.

Challenge Book #58
Title: Heaven's Prisoners (abridged audio book)
Author: James Lee Burke
Genre: mystery/action fiction
Subject: crime
Setting: New Orleans and environs
Main Characters: Dave Robicheaux
Series: Dave Robicheaux #2
Dates Read: finished 5/31/11
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: from county library
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: On Deck
How does it fit the category? next in series
Alternate Category: foul play territory
Theme of the Month: May Murder & Mayhem
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes, plenty of both
My Rating: since it was abridged, I'm not going to rate it.
Notes:

I'm reluctant to give this a rating, since it was abridged by someone other than the author. It served its purpose in my "re-read" of the Robicheaux series in order. It reminded me about key events in the chronology of the series. It was a decent mystery, too, even in its much-shortened state

Challenge Book #59
Title: My Sweetest Victory
Author: Alex Zanardi
Copyright/Year of original publication:
Genre: memoir
Subject: racing career and recovery from terrible accident
Dates Read: finished 6/1/11
Number of pages: 365 plus chronology and indix
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: Yes. Purchased used last year
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Cars, trains . . .
How does it fit the category? Racing cars
Alternate Category:
Theme of the Month: left over from last month's Motorsports theme
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? YES
My Rating: 3 stars
Notes:

This is the story of Alex Zanardi, who nearly died in a racing accident which took both of his legs above the knees -- and recovered to race again in a race car with modified controls. Parts of this book were amazing. And then, for me, parts of it dragged. I'm a race fan and interested in Zanardi's career, but I really didn't want a blow-by-blow description of every race he ran during his championship seasons. And his ego showed through a bit. But, then, I think one needs pretty powerful self-esteem to accomplish the comeback that he did from such a serious accident. Some of the images were powerful -- the priest using motor oil spilled from his wrecked car to give him last rites; the fact that he lost so much blood, there were only two pints left in his system when he got to the hospital. His humor is sometimes delightful, as when he reports commenting to someone that he left his legs back in Berlin. I learned a lot about prosthetics (extremely difficult to fit and use when both legs are lost, and especially above the knees) and about the kind of drive it takes to thrive after such a terrible accident. I just wish the book were edited a bit more stringently.

Challenge Book #60
Title: Don't Look Back
Author: Karin Fossum
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2002
Genre: police procedural mystery
Subject: investigation of the death of a teenager
Setting: a small town in Norway
Main Characters: Inspector Sejir
Series: Inspector Sejir series, #1
Dates Read: finished 6/2/11
Number of pages: 295
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: NO. too new. Purchased at Penn State IAUW book sale last month.
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Leadoff
How does it fit the category? first in series
Alternate Category: foul play territory
Theme of the Month: leftover from May Murder & Mayhem; also fits June Justice
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? (if not obvious) YES
My Rating: 3.8 stars
Notes:

This was a good, solid mystery. I like Fossum's style. It's not quite as heavy as some of the other Scandinavian mystery writers whose works I've read. It's not as complex as her countryman Nesbo's books. It's just a good, solid police procedural with likeable main characters, and an interesting array of suspects. I definitely want to continue this series!

Another author to add to the wishlist. I do like these Scandinavians!

I already have Don't Look Back on my tbr shelves. It's quite possible that I'll get to it sometime during this year's challenge as it does fit two of my categories.

188 I must say, Judy, my wishlist has grown greatly since LT introduced me to these wonderful Scandinavian authors.

189 I hope you enjoy Don't Look Back, Dave!

I finished another one:

Challenge Book #61
Title: Judgment Calls
Author: Alafair Burke
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2003
Genre: legal/crime mystery/thriller
Subject: prosecution of an alleged rapist
Setting: Portlande, Oregon
Main Characters: Samantha Kincaid
Series: Samantha Kincaid Mysteries #1
Dates Read: finished 6/9/11
Number of pages: 335 plus acknowledgments and excerpt from next book in series
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: Yes From used bookstore in Kingston, RI in 2010
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Doctor, Lawyer . . .
How does it fit the category? main character is assistant prosecutor
Alternate Category: foul play territory; leadoff
Theme of the Month: Justice, Journeys & Jazz
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? YES, deals with prosecution
My Rating: 3 1/2 stars
Notes:

This was a pretty good little legal/crime thriller, especially since I think it was Alafair Burke's first novel. She knows her stuff, having worked in the Portland DA's office and as a law professor. It wasn't a "can't put it down" read for me, but I did keep picking it up, and toward the end I was eager to keep going. I suppose there are little things I could quibble about, but there was a lot that was good. I must warn, the descriptions of the crime were quite disturbing.

Challenge Book #62
Title: Church Signs: Love and Laughter on the Road
Author: photography by Donald Seitz
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2009
Genre: photo study
Subject: messages on church signs
Setting: all over America
Dates Read: 6/15/11
Number of pages: 128
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: No, purchased today AAUW book sale
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Team Chaplain
How does it fit the category? church related
Alternate Category:
Theme of the Month: Justice, Journeys, and Jazz
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Journeys -- signs along the road
My Rating: 3 stars
Notes:

I probably shouldn't count this -- there was very little reading, mostly the church signs themselves. But it is a pleasant book. Some of the signs shown are clever, a few have questionable theology, all are pieces of Americana. The surroundings are often as interesting as the signs themselves. They range from extremely rural settings to business strips where the local Waffle House sign towers over the church.

Challenge Book # 63
Title: The Hungry Ocean: A Swordboat Captain's Journey
Author: Linda Greenlaw
Copyright/Year of original publication: 1998
Genre: memoir
Subject: swordfishing
Setting: the Grand Banks
Main Characters: Captain Greenlaw, Charlie, Carl, Ringo, Kenny, Peter, owner Bob Brown
Dates Read: 6/9/11 through 6/15/11
Number of pages:261
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: Yes, purchased 2010 at Pages and Light
Category for 11 in 11 challenge:Cars, trains, boats & planes
How does it fit the category? boat
Alternate Category:
Theme of the Month: Justice, Journeys, Jazz
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes, journey
My Rating:4 stars
Notes:

Linda Greenlaw is no ordinary fisherman. For one things, she's a woman -- rather unusual in the business, especially as captain of a longline swordboat. Also, she has a degree in English and government from Colby College, so she's unusually articulate. For many years, she was also one of the most successful swordboat captains in the US fleet. And she captained the Hannah Boden, sister ship of the ill-fated Andrea Gail which was lost in The Perfect Storm as described by Sebastian Junger. She credits Junger for inspiring her and for sparking the popular interest in swordboats which made her book possible and her name recognizable. Of course, now she's featured in the TV series Swords, but this book was written long before that.

This is mainly a description of a particular swordfishing trip. It is interrupted with small chapters called "Mug up"s which generally tell old stories that relate to issues that came up on the fishing trip. She describes all the good and bad things about the trip, her crew, her boat owner, other captains, and herself. I'm making it sound boring, probably, but it is not. Some of the technical discussion of fishing was a bit more detailed than I could follow, but the bulk of the narrative was fascinating, and I enjoyed it immensely.

Ah, why not count the church signs book? You read the signs. There's a Margaret Maron mystery, I think it's Up Jumps the Devil that starts every chapter with a church sign quote. Great fun!

193 One of these days, I'll get to Maron's books, Katie!

Challenge Book #64
Title: Traveling Light
Author: Max Lucado
Copyright/Year of original publication:
Genre: spirituality/devotional
Subject: a devotional study of the 23rd Psalm
Dates Read: finished 6/18/11
Number of pages: 164 plus notes and study guide
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: No, too new; purchased at church rummage sale this month
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Team Chaplain
How does it fit the category? spirituality
Theme of the Month: Justice, Journeys, and Jazz
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Journeys -- about baggage on one's spiritual journey
My Rating: 3 1/2 stars
Notes:

Lucado takes Psalm 23 phrase by phrase and shows the reader how it can be used to help discard some of the emotional/spiritual baggage that weighs people down in life. He does not confine his commentary to that psalm, however, but draws in other scripture to fit his themes. Lucado has a great way with words, a down-to-earth expressiveness that connects a reader to his message.

This book would be categorized as popular devotional literature, not scholarly theology or biblical studies, but most of the theology here is pretty good. He uses some of the texts in ways we're taught not to use them in seminary (picking the English translation with the meaning he wants, rather than going back to the original language text; conflating the four gospel narratives into one when discussing the Resurrection and its aftermath) but there is much that is valid and helpful in this volume. There are also some great stories a preacher can use as sermon illustrations.

The book concludes with a study guide, which I did not discover until I was almost done with the main text. I think if I'd known it was there from the start, I would have used it and worked my way through the book more slowly.
.

Challenge Book #65
Title: Only Call us Faithful: A Novel of the Union Underground
Author: Marie Jakober
Copyright/Year of original publication:
Genre: Historical fiction
Subject: Union loyalists in the Confederate States during the Civil War
Setting: Richmond, VA
Main Characters: Elizabeth Van Lew
Dates Read: finished 6/19/11
Number of pages: 381
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: No, Inter-Library Loan
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Phantom players
How does it fit the category? story is told by the ghost of a Union spy
Theme of the Month: Justice,Journeys & Jazz
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Sort of. Issues of justice, and the spy network involved some travels by members
My Rating: 3 stars
Notes:

Not sure what to say about this one. The ghost of Union loyalist Elizabeth Van Lew of Richmond tells the story of the Union underground. She definitlely was, according to the historical record, a central figure in a network of Union spies that even had a member working in the Confederate White House. I had the problem I have with a lot of historical fiction -- wondering what was historical and what was fiction. The author cleared some of that up in her afterword. I enjoyed most of the story of what was going on during the war with the spy network; though I normally like ghost stories, I didn't like the way she used the ghost gimmick, the parts where the story moved into the present time and the spirits were hanging around "revening." I also didn't appreciate the strident, preachy tone of the commentary about a host of issues. I agree already: slavery was horrible; secession was a bad idea; women weren't treated fairly in those days, etc., etc. I didn't need a sermon with my story. It is an interesting subject, however, one that history has mostly neglected out of necessity. (Most of these people continued to live in the South after the war, and didn't want their activity publicized.)

Hi Terri - good review of Only Call Us Faithful. I agree, the ghosts revening was a stretch in the story that probably could have been left out and still kept the story intact. one thing I can comment on is that in Canada, where the author is from, the school system, or at least my school system, only briefly touched on the American Civil War and focused most of its time on Canadian history, and to a very, very large extent on European history. I can see where someone well versed in the American Civil War might find some of the statements preachy and restating the obvious.

196 That's a good point! I imagine the fact that Jakober is Canadian may well impact what she felt was important in telling the story. That makes perfect sense. Because when she talked about how people viewed the war and slavery in the present day, it didn't fit with my experience of people's opinions today. Of course, it was a southern character speaking in the book, and I know southerners tend to see things differently sometimes. (Have you ever read Confederates in the Attic?)

#191 Terri, I'm not sure if I'd like a whole book of church signs but I absolutely love those occasional emails that go around with the funny church signs and/or church bulletin items.

Linda, our church denomination's magazine usually has a few church bulletin bloopers published each month. Some of them are really a hoot!

Challenge Book #66
Title: Black Cherry Blues (audio book)
Author: James Lee Burke
Copyright/Year of original publication: 1989; audio, 1993
Genre: Mystery/suspense
Setting: Southern Louisiana and Montana
Main Characters: Dave Robicheaux
Series: Dave Robicheaux #3
Dates Read: finished 6/20/11
Number of pages: n/a (audio)
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: No. NetLibrary download
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: On Deck
How does it fit the category? Next in Series
Alternate Category: Foul Play Territory
Theme of the Month: Justice, Journeys, and Jazz
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes. Dave seeks justice, he journeys to Montana to find it. There's a blues musician, too.
My Rating: 4 stars
Notes:

Thankfully, this was an unabridged audio, so I got the full pleasure of Burke's writing. The man can definitely turn a phrase, immerse the reader in a scene, craft complex and compelling characters -- good guys and bad guys.

An old friend gets ex-cop Robicheaux involved with his suspicions of a possible murder. When one of the alleged perpetrators is murdered, Dave is arrested. Out on bail, he skips out to Montana to go after evidence to clear himself. Surprises abound.

This audio was narrated by Mark Hammer. I worried that I'd miss Will Patton's spot-on performance narrating as Robicheaux in the first two installments of this series, but Hammer did a fine job.

The other reviews I remember of Only Call Us Faithful seem to echo yours. I've heard the ghost thing was a bit weak, and that the woman this was based on was no Hollywood glamor spy. It's too bad it wasn't a better book, because it covers a part of history most people never learn about.

It wasn't bad, Katie. The story of the spies was pretty fascinating. I suspect that even the fictional incidents were true to the kind of things these folks did in the underground. Some of the "ghost" part just seemed a bit silly, though one could say that some of the silliest aspects were a kind of metaphor or satire of bizarre aspects of the war and how people perceived it.

Another book:

Challenge Book #67
Title: The Reluctant Detective
Author: Martha Ockley
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2010
Genre: Christian mystery fiction
Subject: An Anglican priest who is an ex-detective witnesses the murder of a priest during the Eucharist; whodunit?
Setting: Little Worthy, England
Main Characters: Rev, Faith Morgan, Detective Inspector Ben Shorter
Series: Faith Morgan mysteries #1
Dates Read: finished 6/22/11
Number of pages: 224
Off the Shelf (pre-2011 or ER)? Source?: Yes, ER book
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Pre-game
How does it fit the category? ER book
Alternate Category: Foul Play territory; Leadoff; Team Chaplain
Theme of the Month: June Justice, Journeys, and Jazz
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? well, they're trying to bring a killer to justice
My Rating: 3 stars
Notes:

My early reaction to this book was not very positive. It initially felt written to formula; some characters felt quite shallow and stereotyped. However, the book got much better as it went along, as the characters became more fully fleshed out. It eventually turned into a fairly decent mystery novel. . . well, crime novel, since I didn't feel the mystery was too deep. The author gave too many clues as to whodunit to suit me. However, it took quite a while to see the how the "big picture" fit together.

The religious aspects of the novel fit into the plot pretty naturally, being as the protagonist is a priest and the whole drama centers mainly around a church and its people. It didn't feel too "preachy," avoiding a flaw I've found in much of the Christian fiction I've read. This was a decent debut of a series. I'm not eager to see the next installment, but I might consider reading it when it comes out.

ETA to fix typo

>201 tymfos: I felt the same way. I won't go out of my way to locate a copy of the second in the series. It was entirely too predictable.

>201 tymfos: And my reaction was about the same.

202, 203 Sounds like we pretty much agree! Thanks for stopping by!

Challenge Book #68
Title: The Right and the Power: The Prosecution of Watergate
Author: Leon Jaworski
Copyright/Year of original publication: 1976
Genre: Non-fiction
Subject: Jaworski's role as the Watergate Special Prosecutor, and the downfall of Pres. Richard Nixon
Dates Read: finished 6-24-11
Number of pages: 279 plus appendices and index
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: Yes, had this forever
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Doctor, Lawyer . . .
How does it fit the category? Special Prosecutor -- lawyer
Alternate Category:
Theme of the Month: Judicial June
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes, obviously
My Rating: 2.95 stars
Notes:

As a youth, I remember watching the proceedings of the Senate Select Committee investigating Watergate whenever I had a chance, and having my Mom tape record the hearings so I could hear what happened when I was in school-- and even during a hospital stay I had at that time. The whole business fascinated me, and I long ago read John Dean's Blind Ambition, Woodward & Bernstein's All the President's Men, and a few other books on the topic. I had never read this one, though it arrived on my bookshelf years ago.

I'm probably being a bit hard on this book, giving it less than 3 stars. Parts of it were brilliant -- most of it was quite good. My main quibble was the wholesale inclusion of long legal briefs, decisions, and memos within the text, disrupting the narrative flow. Certainly these documents were important, but I think it would have been more effective to summarize and footnote them in the narrative text and place the full texts of the documents in an appendix. As it was, he wound up summarizing them anyway to explain them for non-lawyer readers, creating redundancy.

I did learn things from this book. Jaworski provided the behind-the-scenes explanation of several developments which puzzled me. It was also helpful to hear that, even if Ford hadn't pardoned Nixon, it is likely that any conviction achieved against him would have wound up overturned because of the pretrial publicity. (Interestingly, one of the precedents for that was the Sam Shepherd murder case, which I read about recently in another book.) Publicity regarding Nixon's role in Watergate was unprecedented, including the televised Senate Select Committee hearings and televised impeachment proceeding. An extremely long delay would have been required before prosecution to try to counteract the adverse publicity, and even then an impartial jury would come from where? Mars? (My way of putting it, not his.)

Jaworski comes across as an honorable man who did his best to uphold the law in a very difficult chapter of our nation's history. In the very last chapter, Jaworski more or less took off his legal objectivity and reacted, in retrospect, to the whole scandal in a more personal way. I found this quite powerful.

Challenge Book #69
Title: Psalms for Sojourners
Author: James Limburg
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2nd edition copyright 2002 (not sure date of first edition)
Genre: Bible study / devotional
Subject: The Psalms on one's journey through life
Dates Read: finished 6/28/11
Number of pages: 128
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: Yes. Amazon
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Team Chaplain
How does it fit the category? Bible study
Theme of the Month: June Journeys . . .
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes, sojourn concept
My Rating: 3 1/2 stars
Notes:

I bought the first edition of this book years ago, read it several times, and used it as the basis for a Bible Study on the Psalms. My own old copy was falling apart, so I decided it was time to buy the revised edition, and now I've gotten around to reading the new edition. There aren't a lot of changes, other than expanded information on material for further study.

This is a short, basic study of the Psalms, focusing on how the Psalms accompany us on the journey of life. It identifies the basic types of Psalms and what ones fall into which categories, and meditates on their role in the life of the believer. I find it quite helpful both for personal devotional use and for teaching about the basic types of Psalms. It is not a full-fledged commentary on the Psalms by any means; it is more of an introductory work on the topic.

It should be noted that this book looks at the Psalms from a Christian point of view.

Challenge Book #70
Title: One More for the Road
Author: Ray Bradbury
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2002
Genre: short stories
Dates Read: finished 6/29/11
Number of pages: 350
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: Yes, have had it for years
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Away Game/Travel Day
How does it fit the category? For the Road . . .
Alternate Category:
Theme of the Month: June Journeys
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Title -- for the road
My Rating: 3 stars
Notes:

I normally love Ray Bradbury's writing, and I feel funny only giving this book 3 stars. But this collection of stories just didn't grab me. Some were great, and the writing quality was excellent in all, but I just didn't enjoy a lot of the stories very much.

You've gotta love that cover, though . . .

What I did really enjoy was Bradbury's Afterword -- which made me understand and appreciate a few of the stories a little more, and which revealed some of how his mind works in crafting tales. I also enjoyed the tiny excerpts from several of his novels that were included at the end of the book. For me, several of them were short trips down memory lane. I might actually like to read some of those books again.

Challenge Book #71
Title: Missing Justice
Author: Alafair Burke
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2004
Genre: mystery/suspense fiction
Subject: the case of an administrative judge who goes missing
Setting: Portland, Oregon
Main Characters: Deputy D.A. Samantha Kincaid
Series: Samantha Kincaid #2
Dates Read: finished 6/30/11
Number of pages: 354
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: Yes, bought used last year
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Doctor, Lawyer
How does it fit the category? District Atty. is main character
Alternate Category: Foul Play Territory; Next in Series
Theme of the Month: June Justice
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes, obviously
My Rating: 3 1/2 stars
Notes:

This was a pretty good mystery. In this second book of the series, Samantha Kincaid has been promoted to prosecutor for Major Crimes Unit, and her first case deals with a judge who goes missing. There are lots of twists and turns. I didn't see the end coming at all.

Total: 71 books completed
38 Fiction, 32 Non-fiction,
1 "sort of" non-fiction (novel based on life of a real person; all the other holders have it tagged as non-fiction/biography, but clearly it's a novelization and it calls itself that -- closer to historical fiction.)

Summary:
1. Pregame: 6 books, 1912 pages
2. Play Ball!: 6 books: 1094 pages + 1 audio
3. Leadoff: 9 books: 2364 pages + 2 audios
4. On-deck: 9 books, 8322 pages + 2 audios
5. Phantom players: 4 books, 1121 pages
6. All-Stars, MVPs, and other Award Winners: 5 books, 1382 pages
7. Foul Territory: 6 books: 1602 pages + 2 audios
8. Fireballers, Rainouts, Steals & Errors: 3 books, 589 pages
9. Away Game Travel Day (Cars, trains, boats & planes): 7 books, 1654 pages + one audiobook
10. Team Physician & Front Office (Doctor, Lawyer, Indian chief): 6 books, 1979 pages
11. Team Chaplain : 6 books, 1038 pages plus notes and index.
plus
Utility Players: 4 books, 852 pages

To meet the minimum of 7 in each category, I need:
1. Pregame: 1 more
2. Play Ball: 1 more
3. Leadoff: have met minimum
4. On Deck: have met minimum
5. Phantom Players: 3 more
6. All-Stars: 2 more
7. Foul Territory: 1 more
8. Fireballers, Rainouts, Steals, Errors: 4 more
9. Away Game: have met minimum
10. Office: 1 more
11. Chaplain: 1 more

Challenge Book #72
Title: Darkness, Take My Hand
Author: Dennis Lehane
Copyright/Year of original publication: 1996
Genre: PI mystery fiction / thriller
Subject: murder & mayhem
Setting: Boston
Main Characters: Patrick Kenzie and Angie Gennaro
Series: Kenzie & Gennaro #2
Dates Read: finished 7/7/11
Number of pages: 355 plus excerpts from other books in series
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: No, too new; an AAUW book sale this year
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: On Deck
How does it fit the category? next in series
Alternate Category: Foul Play Territory
Theme of the Month: Big League Cities
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes, set in Boston, the home of the Red Sox
My Rating: 4 stars
Notes:

This series is on the extremely gritty end of the spectrum of books that I read, with more violence and harsh language than is my usual cuppa tea. I keep reading them for the same reason I keep reading James Lee Burke's classic series featuring Dave Robicheaux: the quality of the writing. Well-crafted, complex characters; descriptive writing that takes you to the setting with all your senses; plots with more twists and turns than a country mountain road; and just good, solid storytelling that makes you think.

In this one, Kenzie & Gennaro are hired by a psychologist who believes her son is being threatened because the girlfriend of a mob henchman confided to her about a murder. But nothing is quite as it appears. As murder and mayhem break out in Kenzie's old neighborhood, links are made with a series of 2-decade-old crimes, and dirty secrets rise to the surface. And no one in Patrick Kenzie's inner circle is safe.

A monstrously good thriller!

My "On Deck" (next in series) category is getting full, and I have many books I want to read that will fit there.

I'm going to move Sorrow's Anthem from its original slot in "On Deck" and place it in the less-full "Fireballers, Rainouts, Steals and Errors" category because it involves a series of arson fires; I'm switching The Neon Rain from it's original slot in "Leadoff" (first in series) and putting it, also, in the "Fireballers, Rainouts. . ." category.

That balances things out among the categories a bit more.

Now to meet the minimum of 7, I need:
1 more in Pregame
1 more in Play Ball (in progress)
3 more in Phantom Player (I'm saving some slots there for Halloween)
2 more in All Star
1 more in Foul Play Territory (in progress)
2 more in "Fireballers, Rainouts. . . "
1 more in Physician/Front Office
1 more in Team Chaplain (in progress)

As far as the categories where I've met the 7-book minimum, I will almost certainly max out Leadoff and On Deck with 11 books; and possibly fill Away Game/Travel Day, too.

Challenge Book #73
Title: A Morning For Flamingos (unabridged audio book)
Author: James Lee Burke
Copyright/Year of original publication: 1990; audio book copright 1993
Genre: hard-boiled mystery fiction
Subject: murder and drug dealing and a drug sting
Setting: New Orleans and vicinity
Main Characters: Dave Robicheaux
Series: Dave Robicheaux #4
Dates Read: finished 7/8/11
Number of pages: n/a (audio)
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: No, download from Net Library
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: On Deck
How does it fit the category? Next in series
Alternate Category: Foul Play Territory
Theme of the Month: Big League Cities
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes. New Orleans, home of the NFL Saints and NBA Jazz
My Rating: 4 stars
Notes: Narrated by Mark Hammer; Recorded Books production

This series is well worth the second look I'm giving it, reading it in order including the scattered installments I'd already read. The man can just flat-out write. While the books contain all the gritty action and language and nastiness typical of the genre, Burke always manages to bring in a positive note at the end of, or even in the midst of, the turmoil. These are books that make one think; beyond the fistfights, gunshots, and plot twists, complex issues are explored. The bad guys aren't all totally bad, and the good guys -- even (especially) the protagonist -- have major flaws. And the descriptions put you right on the scene.

This one starts with Dave transporting two condemned prisoners to Angola, the tough Louisiana prison where executions take place. One of the prisoners is a long-time friend, one is evil almost beyond description. But you can't count on them reaching their destination. Add in a DEA agent trying to recruit Dave for a drug sting, a drug-dealing mobster with a disabled son, an old flame of Dave's who married into the mob, and assorted other shady characters, and you have the ingredients for a thriller only James Lee Burke could concoct.

Funny, as I move titles around a bit to fill out this year's categories, I've started playing with ideas for next year's anticipated 12-category challenge. I'm thinking of doing a song-title theme. Possible Titles for my 2012 Medley of Books:

1. American Pie (for all things USA)
2. New York State of Mind (lots of books are set in NY)
3. Jambalaya (On the Bayou) (James Lee Burke's Dave Robicheaux books will fit here)
4. Norwegian Wood (a place for Nesbo, Fossum, and their compatriots)
5. King of the Road (Stephen King books would fit here; travel books might work, too)
6. Blowin' in the Wind (weather-related books)
7. Spooky (self-explanatory)
8. On and On (for series)
9. Killing Me Softly (for murder mysteries)
10. Magical Mystery Tour (for more assorted mysteries)
11. Take Me Out to the Ballgame (sports)
12. Anything at All (miscellaneous)

OK, I'm defeating a lot of the point of categories by making so many of them easy to fit mysteries into. But I don't like it when I really want to read a book and can't find a place to fit it into my challenge. This is supposed to be fun.

ETA to add Oops, forgot a category for my devotional/theological books. Amazing grace? But which one do I get rid of to put it in? Or should I make Anything at All an extra bonus category?

That a great idea, and I would make Anything At All as an extra bonus category, it's always important to have flexibility!

I also have been thinking about next years categories and songs is one of the formats I have been toying with, so far your titles and mine are completly different.

I like the song-title idea too. At one point I even considered using one artist for all the categories -- I think Led Zeppelin might actually work! I love that people are already thinking about 2012; I've got a list going and everything!

I've been jotting down ideas for categories for next year for a while. I have more than 12 so I'll have to trim down before we get to next year. There are some books that don't fit into this year's categories that I definitely want to get to next year.

Challenge Book #74
Title: Iron Lake (audio book)
Author: William Kent Krueger
Copyright/Year of original publication: (need to look this up)
Genre: mystery/suspense fiction
Subject: Former sheriff deals with a disappearance and death on and around a reservation
Setting: the Iron Range in Minnesota
Main Characters: Cork O'Connor
Series: first in Cork O'Connor series
Dates Read: finished 7/13/11
Number of pages: n/a (audio)
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: No. Download from NetLibrary
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: leadoff
How does it fit the category? first in series
Alternate Category: Foul Play Category
Theme of the Month: big league cities
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? No
My Rating: 3.75 stars
Notes:

Good start to a series about a former cop who is drawn into the investigation of a missing teen, a suspicious death (is it suicide or murder?), and a whole bunch of corruption. Interesting setting on and near an Indian reservation in Minnesota. I liked the use of Native American folklore, too.

The Lehane book is on my shelves, & isn't William Kent Krueger great! He's local here, and I managed to take a writing class with one of his writing group members. I need to read more of his books too.

217 This was my first book by Krueger, but definitely won't be my last, Katie. Cool about the writing class! :)

Challenge Book #75
Title: Jade Visions: the life and music of Scott LaFaro
Author: Helene LaFaro-Fernandez
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2009
Genre: biography
Subject: jazz bassist Scott LaFaro
Series: Number 4 in North Texas Lives of Musicians Series (University of North Texas Press)
Dates Read: finished 6/17/11
Number of pages: 247 plus discography, endnotes, and index
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: No, Inter-Library Loan
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: All Stars
How does it fit the category? biography of jazz pioneer
Alternate Category:
Theme of the Month: big league cities
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? I can fit it in because important segments of the story take place in LA and New York
My Rating: 3 stars
Notes:

Back in the day, while stricken with the youthful delusion that I might be talented enough for a music career, I spent six or eight weeks in what was known as the "Summer Evaluation Program" at Berkee College of Music in Boston, taking classes and having my musical ability evaluated. Berklee is primarily a jazz school, and I got my first real introduction to that art form that summer. One of my earliest jazz music purchases was a re-issue of a pair of early albums by the Bill Evans Trio. Being a pianist, I bought it to hear Bill Evans; I wound up more interested in the bassist, Scott LaFaro. I was haunted by the tragedy of his untimely death in a fiery car crash in July of 1961, just 10 days after recording the legendary sessions with Evans and Paul Motian at the Village Vanguard in New York City.

I'm indebted to Darryl (kidzdoc) for making me aware that this book about LaFaro existed. I always wanted to know more about LaFaro and his music. This book just made me more impressed with his musical ability and contributions to the jazz world. Scott's sister describes his brief life and gigantic musical accomplishments. Who would have guessed that Scott didn't take up the bass until he was 18 and headed for music college to major in another instrument? Yet by age 20, he was advanced enough to be performing with some of the biggest names in jazz at the time. And by his death at age 25, he had revolutionized the use of the bass in jazz music. In addition to the biographical details, LaFaro-Fernandez includes chapters analyzing Scott's music and impact on the jazz idiom, including one written by an associate professor from the Eastman School of Music.

I am glad to have read this book. I knew little of LaFaro's life or the broad extent of the work he did during his brief professional career; this book greatly expanded my knowledge. But there were times when I wasn't sure if I was reading a biography or a tribute. I think it was meant to be both. The author is justly proud of her brother's role in the development of jazz. Sometimes it felt like she was trying to fit into the book every good thing anyone of note ever wrote or said about Scott LaFaro -- though she did occasionally give an example of critics who were critical of him at the time of his work. There were also some oddities in the punctuation and grammar in some places.

Overall, a decent but probably not totally objective book about a gifted and fascinating musician who died much too young but changed the jazz world forever.

Working on my "Second 75" now:

Book # 1B
Title: Baltimore Blues
Author: Laura Lippman
Copyright/Year of original publication: 1997
Genre: mystery fiction
Subject: former reporter investigates murder of prominent attorney
Setting: Baltimore
Main Characters: Tess Monaghan
Series: Tess Monaghan #1
Dates Read: finished 7/20/11
Number of pages: 290
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: Yes, gift from LT friend
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Front Office (Doctor, Lawyer . . .)
How does it fit the category? Lawyers all over the place in this book, including the first murder victim
Alternate Category: first in series, foul play territory
Theme of the Month: Big League Cities
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes; set in Baltimore, home of the Orioles and Ravens
My Rating: 3.75 stars
Notes:

Thanks to Stasia (alcottacre) for providing this book. I had read some of the later installments in this series, but missed the beginning. I worried that the first book might not measure up (first-in-series books are often weak), but this didn't disappoint. After a slightly slow start, it drew me in. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed Lippman's wry sense of humor; reading it in a waiting room setting, I had to stifle giggles a few times. The story kept me guessing right to the end. Later books in the series are even stronger, but this was a very good read.

Challenge Book #2B
Title: Flip Flop Fly Ball
Author: Craig Robinson
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2011
Genre: Sports -- "an infographic baseball adventure"
Subject: odd baseball statistics and trivia
Dates Read: finished 7/20/11
Number of pages:154
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: Yes; LT Early Reviewer Book
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Pregame
How does it fit the category? Early Reviewer book
Alternate Category: Play Ball
Theme of the Month: Big League Cities
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes. Baseball
My Rating: to be determined
Notes:

I need to do a real review of this one eventually, as it's an LT ER book. But, for now, let's just say it's the weirdest book I've ever reviewed. These are not your garden variety baseball stats and trivia. And most of the book consists of graphics, with some text between sections. The subjects of Robinson's attention range from logical, through whimsical and off-beat, to totally bizarre. I started out kind of liking it, but somewhere along the line a lot of it got a bit too weird. And some of the diagrams are really difficult to follow, especially with middle-aged eyes that don't see teeny-tiny print in poorly contrasting colors very well. And, in the text portions, I got tired of the author telling me how he sneaked cigarettes in non-smoking areas.

"I got tired of the author telling me how he sneaked cigarettes in non-smoking areas."

The first time something happens in a book, it's just part of the story, the second time, I think "didn't you already tell me this", after that it's like" alright already, you've told me - get over it". Especially when it adds nothing to the book except more words.

I'm glad I didn't ask for that book then. It does sound intriguing. Maybe something to check out of the library and browse through.

Recently, it seems I get increasingly annoyed at catch phrases that an author repeats ad nauseam. It seems like it's happening more often lately.

222 Yeah, it was a little overdone. Thanks for stopping by, Betty!

223 It's worth a browse, Linda. I don't think it's worth whatever they'll charge to buy it. A big book full of color graphics like that can't be cheap to produce. It's a neat premise -- an Englishman falls in love with American baseball, comes over to the US and visits a bunch of ball parks, and does unique graphic representations of off-beat statistics and baseball history. Some of it was really good. But some of it got too far beyond off-beat for me. And the writer's personality started to grate on me.

Speaking of baseball: The Pirates actually managed to get into first place in the NL Central for a short time. But they've fallen back to 2nd. Still, all things considered, a pretty good showing for the Bucs.

Of course, the Phillies still have the best record in the majors, I'm happy to say.

75 Challenge Book #3B
Title: Triangle: The Fire That Changed America
Author: David Von Drehle
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2003
Genre: non-fiction / history
Subject: the deadly 1911 fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Co. factory in New York City
Setting: early 20th century New York, Lower East Side
Dates Read: started 7/21/11; finished 7/22/11
Number of pages: 268 plus appendix (list of fire victims), notes, sources, index
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: Yes. Purchased used at Baldface Books in Dover, New Hampshire
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Fireballers, rainouts, steals & errors
How does it fit the category? Fire
Theme of the Month: Big League Citues
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes, New York City setting
My Rating: 3.8 stars
Notes:

This is the story of the Triangle Shirtwaist Co. Fire of March, 1911, which killed 146 workers. It was the deadliest workplace disaster in New York City history until Sept 11, 2011, when the massive loss of life in the World Trade Center dwarfed the Triangle's death toll. It was also a catalyst for groundbreaking regulations dealing with working conditions and workplace safety.

Author Von Drehle pieces together the details of the terrible fire clearly, and the reader gets a clear sense of the horror of the swift, deadly blaze. But every disaster, indeed every story, has a context -- and Von Drehle excels in explaining how this tragedy fit into the larger context of early 20th century New York. Immigration, the rise of unions, and the politics of Tammany Hall are all part of that context, and receive careful attention.

A fascinating story about a dreadful tragedy at a pivotal time in our nation's history.

That's a book that I would probably read if I came across a used copy at our used book store. Now that I'm using the public library more, I should check to see if they have it!

#225 This one is going right onto the TBR list. I've never read anything, at least not in book form, about the Triangle Shirtwaist fire.

226 Hi, Lori. I'm sure many libraries do have it, though ours didn't. I hope you find a copy.

227 It's quite worthwhile, Linda.

>228a Ours did have it! I'll get it sometime. Added it to my list of things to check out sometime.

I've got one of those lists, too, Lori! :)

I have it in my TBR pile and was going to read it for my "one word title" category till I realized there was a sub-title. I will get to it sometime and am more interested after reading what you've written.

Challenge Book #4 B
Title: Indian Summer: the forgotten Story of Louis Sockalexis, the First Native American in Major League Baseball
Author: Brian McDonald
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2003
Genre: non-fiction sports biography
Subject: The subtitle says it all
Setting: Cleveland, OH and other baseball cities
Dates Read: finished 7/26/11
Number of pages: 244
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: Yes, purchased last year at Ollie's
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Play Ball!
How does it fit the category? baseball bio
Alternate Category: All-Stars
Theme of the Month: Major League Cities
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes, about Major League Baseball
My Rating: 4 stars
Notes:

On the surface, it sounds like something you'd see in the news today: an incredibly gifted and intelligent athlete is unable to handle success, lives life too much in the fast lane, and destroys himself and his career through substance abuse. Only this story takes place at the end of the 19th century, the drug in question is alcohol, and the athlete in question is the first Native American to play in Major League Baseball. (Actually, as the author of this book admits, another ball player is officially acknowledged as the first Native American major league player. However, that player did not acknowledge his racial identity, attempting to "pass" for white -- in an ethnic version of "don't ask, don't tell," I guess.)

Louis Francis Sockalexis was a full-blooded member of the Penobscot tribe in Maine and was openly, unabashedly a Native American -- or, as the language of the day would say, an Indian. Indeed, there are those who feel that the naming of the current Cleveland baseball team was done with him and his playing days in mind, as the current American League franchise was named at a time when he was very much within memory of those who had seen him play.

He excelled at sports in an early age, was offered a scholarship at Holy Cross in Worcester, MA to play baseball there, and eventually was offered a contract with the major league ball club in Cleveland. (Note: this was a National League club which went out of business, not the current American League franchise.) For a brief, glorious time he was one of the best of the best in the game: a power hitter with blazing speed running the bases and a phenomenal throwing arm. But his success, and the fast life to which it led, sowed the seeds of his rapid and tragic downfall.

Brian McDonald tackles the story with insight and compassion. There were some quirks in the writing that originally annoyed me -- the tendency to refer to Sockalexis as "The Indian" being the main one. However, I think his point was that, for so many of the whites around Sockalexis, that's how they viewed him -- as "The Indian." McDonald coveys a sense of the isolation he must have felt in a "white man's world" that so thoroughly misunderstood his people and subjected him to intense prejudice. McDonald helps us understand that context with information about how Native Americans were being treated, including misguided attempts to "help the Indians" by destroying their culture.

In the end, I found this to be an informative and moving story.

Challenge Book # 5 B
Title: Murder at Fenway Park (audio book)
Author: Troy Soos
Copyright/Year of original publication:
Genre: mystery fiction
Subject: 1919 baseball, gambling, murder
Setting: Boston
Main Characters: Mickey Rawlings
Series: Mickey Rawlings #1
Dates Read: finished 9/28/11
Number of pages: N/A (audio)
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: No. Download from Net Library
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Play Ball
How does it fit the category? baseball-centered mystery
Alternate Category: first in series, foul play territory
Theme of the Month: Big League Cities
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes; Boston Baseball
My Rating: 3 stars
Notes:

This was a decent mystery. I enjoyed the baseball history woven into the story. There was a bit of an information dump at the end, as the main character explained how he figured out what was going on.

Challenge Book #6 B
Title: A Welcome Grave
Author: Michael Koryta
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2007
Genre: mystery fiction / noir
Subject: murder and a clever frame job
Setting: Cleveland, OH and rural Indiana
Main Characters: Lincoln Perry, PI
Series: Lincoln Perry #3
Dates Read: finished 7/28/11
Number of pages: 294
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: No, too new; purchased this year a AAUW book sale
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Foul Play Territory
How does it fit the category? crime
Alternate Category: next in series
Theme of the Month: Big League Cities
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes, Cleveland, home of the Indians, Browns, & Cavaliers
My Rating:3.8 stars
Notes:

This is the third installment of Michael Koryta's Lincoln Perry series. I think I liked it a bit less than the last one, Sorrow's Anthem, which was excellent, but this one was still quite good. The plot had so many twists and turns it threatened to be come a bit convoluted at times, but the pieces fit nicely at the end -- and there really was a surprise in store. The fact that I spent some of my time away from the book thinking through plot points and trying to figure out how it all fit together says something about the compelling nature of the story line.

Challenge Book #7 B
Title: Cemetery of Angels
Author: Noel Hynd
Copyright/Year of original publication: 1995
Genre: horror
Subject: a threatened woman, a creepy old house, missing kids, and an empty grave
Setting: Los Angeles and (early on) Connecticut
Main Characters: Rebecca and Bill Moore; Detective Edmund Van Allen, LAPD
Series: NO
Dates Read: finished 7/30/11 (2 a.m.)
Number of pages: 355
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: Yes; sent by kind LTer before start of the year
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Phantom Players
How does it fit the category? ghosts!
Alternate Category: Foul Play Territory
Theme of the Month: Big League Cities
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Set in LA, home of the Dodgers, Clippers, etc.
My Rating: not sure
Notes:

OK, this was a creepy one, folks. And it got a little far out there. (Well, way far out there.) And, before it was done, it strayed into some territory that made me distinctly uncomfortable.

And I could hardly put it down. Stayed up into the wee hours of the morning finishing it. I had to know how it turned out.

It starts with Rebecca running from a mysterious assailant near her home in Connecticut. Then she and her husband move to LA, into a creepy old house full of mysterious noises and smells and odd occurrences. The kids get an "imaginary playmate," then suddenly vanish.

Meanwhile, there is seriously odd crap going on in the adjacent cemetery.

Then it starts to get weird.

I'm not sure how to rate this. The actual writing is not stellar -- occasional odd/grammatically improper word choices and punctuation, some paragraphs where the lead sentence has little to do with the rest of the paragraph. Once, someone knocked on the door, thought about a bunch of stuff, and then walked up to the front door. (?) It's definitely not a literary masterpiece. But the STORY is a real page-turner.

I must say, the supernatural aspect got a little too far out there for me. It wound up not making a lot of sense, perhaps because it didn't fit my belief system -- even the theoretical, speculative edges of my beliefs, or even the level where I can "suspend disbelief." I think I got so wrapped up in the story more because I wanted to know how it turned out for the people involved -- I wanted to know if the missing kids would be OK, and I wanted to know what was up with the "stalker," who was a "real world" threat, not a paranormal one.

Interesting review on Cemetery of Angels. Perhaps Noel Hynd is an author to watch for. If the writing style improves, we may have something.

Katie, it looks like Hynd has done a variety of styles of books. Some of his more recent are categorized as Christian fiction, apparently of a sort of apocalyptic variety. This DEFINITELY was NOT of that genre -- there was plenty in it that went against the grain of even liberal Christian theology.

Challenge Book #8 B
Title: Ghosts of Boston Town
Author: Holly Mascott Nadler
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2002
Genre: regional folklore / true ghost stories
Subject: alleged hauntings in the Boston area
Setting: Boston and environs
Dates Read: Finished early 8/2/11
Number of pages: 175
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: Yes; purchased some time ago
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Phantom players
How does it fit the category? ghosts
Theme of the Month: holdover from last month's Big League Cities
Does it fit the Theme of the Month? How? Yes, Boston is home of the Red Sox and Celtics
My Rating: 2.7 stars
Notes:

OK, this was a decent but not exceptional book of "true" ghost stories. It didn't particularly scare me. I always enjoy the history that emerges about the locale in such stories. This book was a little lighter on history than many I've read. IMO, there didn't seem to be a lot of historical documentation regarding the background of many of the stories. There was no list of sources consulted or footnotes. In at least one case, the author admitted that the legendary background story of the "haunting" could not be documented -- there were no newspaper or other sources indicating that certain alleged untimely deaths ever happened. The most historically "rooted" hauntings were also the most familiar stories -- such as Salem and the aftermath of the witch trials. I did enjoy the story of the incident which supposedly inspired E.A. Poe to write The Cask of the Amontillado.

Progress report for the end of July:

I've met the minimum goal of seven books completed in all but four categories (not counting the "utility players" overflow category). I have books in progress in three of the remaining categories.

When I've finished the books already started, the only category (other than "utility players") short of the minimum will be "Phantom Players." "On Deck" will be completely filled with 11 books.

OK, going to start the book I need to meet the minimum in the Phantom Players category. It's Nine Ghosts by R. H. Malden, a book of short stories. I'm going to move this to my purse as a "carry around" book, and finish Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans as my main non-fiction book.

So now, when I finish all the books I'm currently reading, I'll have finished at least the 7-book minimum on all the categories. Then I can aim to finish them all off with 11 books.

Ah, so I'm not the only one who has a sort of "carry around" book and a "real" book going at the same time. I sometimes get reading time at school while the kids are doing "silent sustained reading." The kids have trouble with the silent, the sustained, and the reading part of that activity so sometimes my reading is distracted, to say the least.

The kids have trouble with the silent, the sustained, and the reading part of that activity. . .

LOL! Sounds like my son!

Challenge Book #9 B
Title: A Stained White Radiance
Author: James Lee Burke
Copyright/Year of original publication: 1992
Genre: mystery fiction
Subject: murder & mayhem
Setting: New Iberia, Louisiana and New Orleans
Main Characters: Dave Robicheaux
Series: Dave Robicheaux #5
Dates Read: finished late evening 8/2/11
Number of pages: 423
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: No, from public library
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: On Deck
How does it fit the category? Next in Series
Alternate Category: Foul Play Territory
Theme of the Month: Anything Goes
My Rating: 4.2 stars
Notes:

Reading this series in order, the books get better and better. It's a delight to see the growth in both the character and the writer as Burke hit his stride in this series. Five down, over a dozen left that he's written since this one. If they keep improving at this rate, I'll run out of stars to hand out.

This one starts when Dave is called out to investigate a shot fired through the window of an antebellum mansion. Weldon Sonnier, the mansion's owner, is part of a hugely dysfunctional family with a great deal of power in Southern Louisiana. He's also a bit of a shady character. His brother is a televangelist whose brother-in-law is a former Klansman turned politician. His sister is an old flame of Dave's. It's quite a family, and the have some nasty secrets, both personal and "professional." And Dave is drawn into the middle of it all. Throw in some nasty mob-related thugs and the story gets very intense very quickly.

This is a complex tale peopled with well-drawn, multi-dimensional characters. Burke grounds it in a solid sense of place in his beloved Southern Louisiana, a setting which he evokes by appealing to all the senses. (It's no coincidence that I made jambalaya for supper this evening.)

And in the process of telling a whale of a mystery/suspense story, Burke manages to deal with issues of real significance. What more can you ask from a book?

Looking at the categories that have filled quickly vs. slowly, I may eventually move Barbara Hambly's Benjamin January series books to the "Team Physician" category, as the main character is a trained surgeon of his time. That would free up space in the series categories "Leadoff" and "On Deck." Just a thought -- I'll wait and see if it's necessary.

I keep meaning to get to the first Barbara Hambly book but haven't done so, as of yet.

I'm also playing to start that Mickey Mantle bio soon. Right now, I'm reading about the early days of the Civil War and will probably start the final Miss Zukas librarian mystery tonight, too.

I really like the Hambly series. It's fascinating, and Benjamin January is a marvelous character who offers a unique POV.

The Mantle bio is going slowly -- my audio book listening ops have been few. The library check-out ends tomorrow. I sure hope it will be available to renew.

I've gone ahead and moved the Hambly series to the Physician category. The series categories are just so much easier to fill, given my reading habits.

Challenge Book #10 B
Title: Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans
Author: David Rutledge, editor
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2006
Genre: Non-fiction Anthology
Subject: New Orleans culture and Hurricane Katrina
Setting: New Orleans
Dates Read: finished 8/4/11
Number of pages: 156 plus acknowledgments
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: Yes, purchased used prior to 2011
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Fireballers, Rainouts, Steals & Errors
How does it fit the category? rain -- hurricane
Alternate Category:
Theme of the Month: Anything Goes
My Rating: not sure yet
Notes:

This is a very small but handsome book. The content varies in style and quality. It contains articles written by New Orleans writers displaced by Katrina; it also contains excerpts from older publications about New Orleans, some interesting artwork, and even a few recipes.

I'll have to add the New Orleans book to my TBR list. Sounds good. I've never been there but I like to read about it.

I read a book shortly after Katrina. Sounds a bit like that. Why New Orleans Matters.

Hi, Linda! *waves* I think Why New Orleans Matters is on my list to look up.

Challenge Book #11 B
Title: The Eternal Now
Author: Paul Tillich
Copyright/Year of original publication: 1963 (sermons dated from 1956-1962)
Genre: sermon collection
Dates Read: finished 8/6/11
Number of pages: 185
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: Yes, had this for ages.
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Team Chaplain
How does it fit the category? sermons
Theme of the Month: Anything goes
My Rating: not sure
Notes:

Tillich was famous for, among other things, recasting the Christian faith in the language of the day. That day being the late 1950s/early 1960s, many of these sermons seem "dated." The 60's existentialism and the heavily male-dominated language are not terribly helpful for the typical reader today, IMHO. However, within a few of these sermons lurk gems of wisdom that were quite worth thinking about. His thoughts on the command, "You Shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain" were especially helpful.

He acknowledges the difficulty of speaking about God in the modern world:
Everyone at one time or another finds himself in a situation where he must decide whether he shall use or avoid the name of God, whether he shall talk with personal involvement about religious matters, either for or against them.

And then there's this point, which acknowledges a subtle but popular use of God's name in vain:
There is a form of misuse of the name of God that offends those who hear it with a sensitive ear, just because it did not worry those who misused it without sensitivity. I speak now of a public use of the name of God which has little to do with God, but much to do with human purpose -- good or bad. Those of us who are grasped by the mystery present in the name of God are often stung when this name is used in governmental and political speeches, in opening prayers for conferences and dinners, in secular and religious advertisements, and in international war propaganda. Bringing his line of thought about using God's name in vain into the present day, I would add circumstances where it is claimed that God is using a disaster or disease to "punish ______s" or when it's used in sentences such as "God hates ______s "(fill in the blanks with any groups of people of which the speaker doesn't approve).

I was slow to get through this book. This was partly because the sermons with which I didn't resonate were a slog to get through; and because the ones in which I found some gem of wisdom took some time to fully think through. It's such a mixed bag, I've had a hard time giving it a rating. I'll probably go with a sort of middle-of-the-road 3 stars.

Challenge Book #12 B
Title: Nine Ghosts
Author: R. H. Malden
Copyright/Year of original publication: not listed; curiously, only the date of the reprint is given on this edition.
Genre: short stories/ horror
Setting: Most are set in England, late 19th through early 20th century
Dates Read: finished 8/8/11
Number of pages: 109
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: Yes, Christmas present 2010
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Phantom players
How does it fit the category? ghosts and other spookies
Theme of the Month: Anything Goes
My Rating: 3.75 stars
Notes:

This little horror collection is a gem. R. H. Malden was an Englishman who wrote rather in the style of M.R. James. These stories have a lot of atmosphere, and an understated, subtle creepiness that I enjoyed. They are not scare-the-socks-off-you, in-your-face scary. But they were creepy enough to be a poor choice for an insomniac to read in the wee dark hours. Indeed, they were eerie enough that, when I finished, I put the book out of the room, in the hall -- then found myself not wanting to look out toward the hall! (Silly of me, yes.) I especially liked that a lot of these stories were set in and around old English churches and churchyards/graveyards, and/or involved clergy. Several of Malden's other books would indicate that old churches were a special interest/expertise of his, and his descriptions of the fascinating old buildings and the atmosphere thus invoked really added to my enjoyment of the book. Recommended for anyone who enjoys old-fashioned ghost/horror stories.

OK, I'll be starting a new thread. I'll post a link when it's ready.

ETA to add: It's ready: http://www.librarything.com/topic/121816

I just moved Bury Your Dead from the "On Deck" category (which had the largest number of books) to the "All Stars, MVPs, and other Awards" because it won the Agatha Award for Best Novel last year. So I now have at least 7 books in every category (except the overflow category), and have met the minimum goal for this challenge. On to the next thread to try and "max out" all my categories!

What I need to fill out all the categories:

1. Pregame: 4 books
2. Play Ball!: 3 books
3. Leadoff: 3 books
4. On-deck: 2 books
5. Phantom players: 4 books, (1 is in progress)
6. All-Stars, MVPs, and other Award Winners: 4 books, (1 is in progress)
7. Foul Territory: 4 books
8. Fireballers, Rainouts, Steals & Errors: 4 books
9. Away Game Travel Day (Cars, trains, boats & planes): 4 books, (1 is in progress)
10. Team Physician & Front Office (Doctor, Lawyer, Indian chief): 2 books
11. Team Chaplain : 4 books

I really like the idea of just naming the categories without a predefined definition! Looks like its worked really well!

253 It really has been a change that I've enjoyed. The one unwritten rule about that is that I have to be able to explain "how does it fit the category" in one line. That way, I can't get too convoluted about the connection!

Thanks for stopping by!

Challenge Book #13 B
Title: The Last Boy: Mickey Mantle and the End of America's Childhood -- "enhanced" audiobook version
Author: Jane Leavy
Copyright/Year of original publication:
Genre: sports biography
Dates Read: finished 8/14/11
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: No. Download from Overdrive via public library
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: All Stars
How does it fit the category? Hall-of-famers
Alternate Category:
Theme of the Month: Anything goes
My Rating: Not sure yet
Notes:

This is a tough one to review. Mantle was a complex character. He was an incredible baseball talent, whose impressive stats would have even been better if he hadn't played most of his career injured. He could be good-hearted and generous, but could be horribly crude and offensive. He was, in some ways, quite humble, but could be extremely selfish and thoughtless. He was a womanizer. He seemed to have no respect for women. Of course, his drinking was legendary.

He was also a childhood hero of the author. Trying to do him justice and be honest about him was a tough job for a writer. She opted for a somewhat non-traditional format focusing on key events in Mantle's life, rather than a simple chronological biographical narrative, which I found a little hard to follow at times. I think the audio format didn't help, because I couldn't just "look back" when I got confused. One minute we're at Billy Martin's funeral, and a bit later we're back at a point where he's still among the living.

I'm not sure what the "enhanced" part of the audio book was. Were the interludes read by the author, where she described her meeting with Mantle, in the original book? I'd need to see the print copy.

I was feeling pretty disgusted with Mantle and thoroughly unsympathetic. Then Leavy explored the issue of the abuse he apparently suffered as a child. I thought she handled that delicate subject pretty well. In a society where the role of "victim" often seems reserved for females, I find it important to discuss the reality that boys -- even, it appears, Mickey Mantle -- can be victims and that women/teenage girls can be perpetrators. Leavy makes a good case that Mantle showed a number of classic symptoms associated with survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

Leavy also explores the significance of Mantle's relationship with his overbearing father; how he spent his life in a futile attempt to be what he thought his father wanted him to be.

This was a complex book about a complex man. Leavy doesn't attempt to excuse or justify Mantle's behavior based on his personal baggage, but she does try to understand it. I think the book is at least moderately successful.

Challenge Book #14 b
Title: The Ship and the Storm: Hurricane Mitch and the Loss of the Fantome
Author: Jim Carrier
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2001
Genre: non-fiction/ weather-maritime disaster
Subject: Hurricane Mitch and an ill-fated ship
Setting: the Gulf of Honduras
Dates Read: finished 8/15/11
Number of pages: 263 plus map
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: Yes
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Travel Day
How does it fit the category? Boats
Alternate Category: Fireballers, Rainouts...
Theme of the Month: Anything Goes
My Rating: 3.7 stars
Notes:

This was a fascinating book about an unconventional cruise ship and a hurricane which refused to follow the computer models used to predict hurricane development and path.

The Fantome was a floating party under sail. Well, it really depended more upon its engines for propulsion, but the sails looked good. It began life as the Duke of Westminster's elegant schooner for cruising the French Riviera. It was owned for a time by Aristotle Onassis, though he apparently never used it. It wound up as part of the Windjammer Barefoot Cruises fleet, owned by Mike Burke -- an operator who did things his own way.

A storm which began as 1998's Tropical Wave 46 eventually became tropical storm Mitch -- and then, with unexpected swiftness and ferocity, Hurricane Mitch, at the time the 4th most powerful Atlantic storm on record, one of those rare monsters known as a Category 5 hurricane. And Mitch was an exceptionally unpredictable storm.

The ship and the storm would encounter one another in the Gulf of Honduras, among the Bay Islands which rarely see powerful hurricanes. The ship would take evasive action -- but was there anywhere to run?

This book vividly evokes how the good-time atmosphere of the Fantome was replaced by a battle for survival; how hurricane forecasters struggled to make sense of what computer models said about Hurricane Mitch, compared to the storm's actual behavior; and the misery of residents of the Bay Islands and coastal Honduras as they were assaulted by a storm that was supposed to go somewhere else.

I thought the phrasing was sometimes a bit awkward, but for the most part this was a compelling, thorough, and evenhanded look at a real tragedy. I wish there had been footnotes, but the source of information was often indicated within (or could be inferred from) the text. There was no bibliography; the book appears to have been largely based upon interviews, the subjects of which are noted in the Acknowledgments.

My husband really likes books about ship disasters so I'll have to check and see if he's read this one yet. I think I got him one last year (?) from one that you had read.

Challenge Book #15 B
Title: 33 Men: inside the Miraculous Survival and Dramatic Rescue of the Chilean Miners
Author: Jonathan Franklin
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2011
Genre: non-fiction
Subject: Rescue of 33 miners from collapsed mine after 69 days below.
Setting: Chile
Dates Read: 8/20/11 - 8/21/11
Number of pages: 300
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: No; newly purchased from Borders going-out-of-business sale
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Fireballers, rainouts, steals, errors (disaster category)
How does it fit the category? Disaster; it was an error for that dangerous mine to even be in operation
Alternate Category:
Theme of the Month: Anything goes
My Rating: 4 stars
Notes:

This is a marvelous account of the 2010 Chilean San Jose mine rescue by one of the few journalists given "inside" access at the rescue scene. Franklin handles the disaster without sensationalizing it. He provides information about aspects of the rescue not generally known, including the complexity of dealing with the trapped miners' health, both physical and mental. He comments thoughtfully on the media circus that gathered around the rescue site and the rescued miners. He also shows the role that politics played in how images of the rescue operation were controlled by the Chilean government, while giving credit for good decisions made by officials.

But the real focus is on the 33 men -- "Los 33" -- who were trapped 2,300 feet below the surface, and on the many rescuers who dedicated themselves to freeing the miners from their imprisonment deep in the mountain. I believe Franklin shows true respect for the miners. He acknowledges that there were some problems and divisions among the miners -- to be expected when 33 men are confined under extreme stress-- but doesn't point fingers or blame at individuals. When he names individual miners in the account, it is usually for praiseworthy actions.

Note: the book has no footnotes, but I would not expect any as it is based almost exclusively on the author's eyewitness experience at the rescue site and numerous interviews with the people involved.

I'm giving this book 4 stars. The rating probably would have been even higher, but in the book's Epilogue, "The Triumph of Hope," I felt that Franklin fell into spouting some of the very same "feel good" cliches and over-simplifications that he seemed to criticize the Chilean government for promoting, and glossed over some of the very difficulties that he'd spent a whole book documenting.

Challenge Book #16 B
Title: In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead
Author: James Lee Burke
Copyright/Year of original publication: 1993
Genre: mystery fiction
Subject: murder and the ghosts (literal and figurative) of the past
Setting: New Iberia, LA
Main Characters: Dave Robicheaux; FBI agent Rosie Gomez; actor Elrod Sykes
Series: Dave Robicheaux #6
Dates Read: finished 8/23/11
Number of pages: 344
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: No, from public library
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: Phantom Players
How does it fit the category? phantom soldiers -- maybe paranormal, maybe psychological, maybe some of each
Alternate Category: Foul play territory, On Deck
Theme of the Month: Anything Goes
My Rating: 4.25 stars
Notes:

In my ongoing reading of the Dave Robicheaux series -- all of them, in order this time -- I've been looking forward to re-reading this installment of the series, which I read for the first time when it was new. The final third of the book, I simply read straight through and refused to put it down for something so mundane as going to bed at a reasonable hour. I was caught up in the mystery -- or mysteries. There are several -- that of a lynching which Dave witnessed as a youth, the remains of which have finally surfaced on the bayou; that of the murder of at least two prostitutes in modern-day New Iberia and environs; that of the phantoms Dave and those around him encounter. Ghosts? Dreams? Delusions? Hallucinations? All of the above? Burke is careful not to explain everything, but leaves room to explain away enough that the "ghost story" doesn't dominate the crime story, even while it illuminates issues involved. This is a great book -- gritty and grisly and beautiful by turns, giving lots of room for thought.

Challenge Book #17 B
Title: Home
Author: Marilynne Robinson
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2008
Genre: literary fiction
Subject: family estrangement and forgiveness
Setting: Gilead, Iowa
Main Characters: Rev. Boughton and his grown children Jack and Glory
Series: is a companion novel to Gilead
Dates Read: finished 8/25/11
Number of pages: 325
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source?: No -- too new, purchased last week at a used bookstore
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: All-Stars, MVP's and other Awards
How does it fit the category? Orange Prize Winner
Theme of the Month: Anything Goes
My Rating: 3.9 stars
Notes:

I loved Gilead, which I bought last summer (or the summer before?) at a used book store. Last week, I found Home, featuring the same town and many of the same characters, at the same used book store. I dove right in. Whereas Gilead focused on the Ames family of Gilead, Iowa, this book focuses on the Boughton family. It's about the homecoming of Jack, the "problem child" of the family. The style and tone are very different from Gilead. I honestly didn't like it as much as Gilead, though it was very well-written. And it really was quite moving.

I loved Gilead and didn't realize before reading your review for Home that there was a companion book. Your review has intrigued me enough to keep it in mind when I browse the shelves of my favorite used book store.

Do keep it in mind. It was a worthwhile read. Only, it's made me want to go back and re-read Gilead because I remember some things differently from that book than how they happened in this one. Faulty memory on my part? Unreliable narrator in one or both books? (They are written from totally different POVs.) Perhaps there was a conversation in one book that revealed something that narrator's POV lacked knowledge of in the other?

It's amazing how a different POV can totally alter a storyline.

Challenge Book #18 B
Title: Nemesis (audio book)
Author: Phillip Roth
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2010
Genre: historical fiction / literary fiction
Subject: a crisis of faith and personal conscience during a polio epidemic and beyond
Setting: a Jewish neighborhood in Newark, NJ circa 1944; a Jewish camp in the Pocono Mountains
Main Characters: Bucky Cantor, playground director and phys ed. teacher
Dates Read: finished 8/29/11
Number of pages: N/A audio This book seemed rather short in length.
Off the Shelf (pre-2011)? Source: Library download from Overdrive
Category for 11 in 11 challenge: I'm forcing it into the "Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief" category
How does it fit the category? Deals with an epidemic (there's a doctor or two) and the summer camp in the story has a Native American theme
Theme of the Month: Anything Goes
My Rating: 3.8 stars
Notes: Brilliance Audio production

In 1944, there was no vaccine or cure for polio (though treatments existed which helped, to some degree, many who contracted the disease). Indeed, though it was known to be highly contagious, the mechanism of polio's spread was not yet understood. As a result, all manner of theories abounded regarding the risks, leading to a general state of paranoia during outbreaks of the disease. Who/what was to blame for its spread? Flies? The hot dog vendor? A mentally-challenged neighbor? Contaminated library books?

This story explores the grim reality of urban life in a polio outbreak. However, it is even more the story of a man's grim battle with his own thoughts -- his fear, his conscience, his doubts, his guilt, and his anger at God -- in the face of a disease he cannot control and a World War in which he was deemed too nearsighted to serve.

Bucky Cantor is the neighborhood playground director, and he watches helplessly as his young charges begin to sicken and die of polio. The reality of the situation eats away at him as he ponders the opportunity to escape the inner city for work as a camp counselor in the Pocono Mountains, where his girlfriend Marcia works. What is his duty to his young charges at the playground? Is his playground a killing field of contagion, or an oasis from even more dangerous situations?

I listened to the audio version of this book (a Brilliance Audio production) and found some parts compelling, some parts a bit tedious, and some parts mildly curious (such as the description of summer camp life in the 1940's). Then there were the moments that left me with an "oh, no!" on my lips and a sinking feeling in my stomach as I anticipated what manner of disaster loomed ahead. In the end the biggest tragedy is, perhaps, less a matter of germs and twisted limbs, and more a matter of psychology and twisted thoughts -- because sometimes our mental state can stunt our lives more than any physical ailment.

Nice review of Nemesis and now added to my 12 in 12 category. I am still plugging away at my 11 in 11 Challenge and I am looking at everyone's reviews with an eye for my 12 in 12 reading. I am pretty sure I am beyond help at this point......**sighs**

264 Thanks, Lori!

I'm really slipping. I started a new thread for this challenge, then kept posting on this one. DUH!!!!

So now I'm going to take all my book posts since then and COPY THEM and move them over to the new thread.

HERE IS WHERE I'LL BE: THE 2ND THREAD:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/121816

oopsie! It is a great review. I'm curious about the book, but not sure I can face something that dismal right now.