Apple’s Comments (group member since Aug 28, 2021)

Apple’s comments from the Reading with Style group.

10.9 Surgery best wishes (Coralie's task):

The Midwife by Tricia Cresswell

This was the read for my Friday night book club, and I wasn't sure how I was going to go, and I had stupidly read the book where other groups write their response, which included a spoiler.

I started late (last Sunday, with book club on Friday) and was not going to make my way through, so jumped into the audiobook come Wednesday, and was quickly finished on Thursday, as the performance (some books are read, and those that work best are a performance), was superb.

The book is for the majority, split into two timelines about 3 years apart, one in the late 1830's in the northeast of England, the other in London in the early 1840's, and I kicked myself when the timelines collided for not making the connection sooner.

The earlier part tells the story of Mrs Sharp, a woman found naked in field after a storm with no memory of who she is or where she is from, but as she recovers and interacts with the world seems to have an uncanny knowledge of medicine and procedures.

The latter story is that of Dr Borthwick, an "accoucheurs ", essentially a male midwife, who comes to serve the upper classes, as well as serving to assist in the slums.

This is a well told, intelligent book, and there is more than one twist which will surprise and entice you.

(This is the first book in my 2 years in the group that the librarian host has actually read and finished, which I think is definitely a recommendation!)

+10 task
+10 review


Task Total = 20
Season Total = 20

10.9;

Only your first book has to be either of those genres, after that, you are free to choose whatever you like 😊

At work, on phone. I read nearly all of a Junior Fiction series on Princesses around the world when I was trying to get myself back into reading, My Royal Story. I know a little on most major queens/princesses, and have done a bit further reading on some of them.

Plus I watched the Mrs Brown movie 🤪

The Victorian era is interesting, so much going on, but my memory of royal involvement in politics is foggy.

Has anyone read Wonder Boys? It looks like it will fit, just want confirmation before I start ;)

Sorry, on phone so can’t link to comment

So, whilst a lot of political things are happening there, how responsible or influential on them is she? Or how much do they play a part in the text? I am somewhat familiar with Victoria, but it’s awhile ago. What was her position on slavery and suffrage? I don’t think she was involved with the suffrage movement, but was she involved in anti slavery.

Monarchy were not, from memory, law makers by this time, that was parliament, which is why I am uncertain. They attended parliament, but they are not the executive arm, like the President.

Yes!

Thanks Valerie 😊, this is correct

Sorry Joanne, I think so.

I have looked at the blurb, and it is a challenge. I am concerned it is more espionage, but I can see how unrest in the Middle East and the capture / assassination of Bin Laden is political.

If you choose to read, we will trust your judegement.

I know everyone is keen to start the new season, but there is a slight delay, as we can't update the 10 point tasks as Joanne is away this weekend, hopefully having a wonderful time, but we can't update her posts!

Please plan the current 10 point tasks around the poll leaders, we will reach out to the various task planners, and everything will be back to normal in a couple of days.

Ed wrote: "20.5 Tom Spanbauer:

Time Regained by Marcel Proust

Post- 20
Combo= 5 (20.6)
Oldie=10 (1927)
Jumbo=10 (784p.)

Post Total= 45
Season Total=195

Tasks Completed:
10.6
2..."

Hi Ed, can you confirm which combo this is? 20.6 is for graphic novels, thanks.

Ed wrote: "20.3 Francine Pascal and Nelson DeMille:

Hot Mess by Jeff Kinney-

Post- 20
Combo= 5 (20.6)

Post Total= 25
Season Total=150

Tasks Completed:
10.6
20.3 (2x); 20...."

Sorry Ed, 20.6 can't be used for combos, -5

Joanne wrote: "20.7 Best Friends Forever

Dog or Cat as an important part of the book

To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis

+20 Task
+10 Aged (Connie Willis is 77 years old)
..."

Hi Joanne, the bucket list task can't be used as a combo, so -5

Mary wrote: "15.7 BBR

BBR When Red Is Black by Qiu Xiaolong

Shanghai Redemption by Qiu Xiaolong

15 pts 15.7 BBR D. Read a book set in the same time pe..."

15.7 is worth 20 points, so +5

Never Mind by Edward St. Aubyn, and all the books in the Patrick Melrose series, of which I seem to own most, except the first one ...

I should be looking at it too with my goal!

20.4 C.J. Sansom and Caleb Carr:

The Darkness by Ragnar Jónasson
Mystery and crime

+20 task
+10 combo (10.5 - 2015; 10.9)

Post Total = 30
Season Total = 275

10.3; ...; 10.5;10.6, ...; ...; 10.9; 10.10 (x2)
15.1; 15.2; 15.3; 15.4;
20.3; 20.4; 20.5; 20.6

10.5 New Year New Date:

The Accidental by Ali Smith
Published 2005

+10 task
+15 combo (10.6; 20.5; 20.8 - shortlisted 2006)

Post Total = 25
Season Total = 245

10.3; ...; 10.5;10.6, ...; ...; 10.9; 10.10 (x2)
15.1; 15.2; 15.3; 15.4;
20.3; ...; 20.5; 20.6

10.3 New Year's Resolutions
I am, slowly, trying to read my way through the 1001 list - finally hit 270, yay!

The Twins by Tessa de Loo

+10 task
+10 aged (78, born 1946)
+10 combo (10.2 - so many train rides! And a bombed train station; 20.2 - the sisters discuss their life stories, including work and war;

Post Total = 30
Season Total = 220

10.3; ...; ...;10.6, ...; ...; 10.9; 10.10 (x2)
15.1; 15.2; 15.3; 15.4;
20.3; ...; 20.5; 20.6

Here is my map that I have just created, and I am adding my reviews there as well!

toppitope.travelmap.net

And because I stayed home from work today, as I woke up dizzy and with a pain in my head (not a headache, a very different feeling), I managed to get a second book (audiobook this time) finished.

I have been enjoying Nordic Noir for awhile now, and thought I would test out a new author from a new country, which lead me to Ragnar Jónasson's The Darkness.

I don't know why this one didn't quite click for me. Detective Inspector Hulda Hermannsdóttir is of an age where she is about to retire, in fact, she is being forced to retire early, and you get the sense, perhaps mostly from her own way of thinking, that she isn't well liked or respected being a woman in what is essentially a boy's club environment.

There are different timelines, and it is hard to see where the earlier timeline might be going for awhile, and there is a later twist which reveals the reason why Hulda seems to be so isolated and alone, as well as lonely.

There is also an event that I found hard to place. It appeared to me that it was happening after Hulda's retirement, but with the events which occur at the climax of the story, and with the epilogue, that can't be right, so I am not even sure how they fit at all.

I honestly can't work out how there is a series after this, not with how this one ended, and I am not really sure I can be concerned with finding out, when I have read other series in this genre that I would prefer to spend my time finishing.