Reading with Style discussion
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FA 20 Completed Tasks
10.7 Non FictionArt Before Breakfast: A Zillion Ways to be More Creative No Matter How Busy You Are by Danny Gregory
10 pts 10.7 Nonfiction
5 pts 10.2 Scrabble BABY TILES:ABBAZWTBMCNMHBYA. DG
10 not a novel
10 review
Try something new! This “how to start drawing” book focuses not on technique but rather on just doing something creative. The author humorously pushes the reader to grab 20 minutes and draw when ever possible. His approach encourages the beginner to let loose preconceptions and create. Very inspiring.
Task total: 35 pts
Season total: 185 pts
... 10.2 ... ... ... ... 10.7 ... ... ...
... ... 20.3 ...20.5 ... ... ... ... ...
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
10.8 JetsettersWhen Books Went to War: The Stories that Helped Us Win World War II by Molly Guptill Manning
10 pts 10.8 Jetsetters Germany France Solomon Islands
5 pts 10.7 Nonfiction
5 pts 10.2 Scrabble TUB Tiles WBWTWTSTHUWWWI MGM
10 Review
10 Not a Novel
Very interesting micro history of the book program that supported American service men and women during World War II. Based on experience from WWI, the American military recognized that providing reading material to troops was important for morale so beginning with a series of public book drives, they set out to provide reading material collecting almost 10 million volumes. Donated books were not necessarily interesting for soldiers and sailors and the physical format of most books printed at the time was not appropriate for a fighting force (too heavy, bulky ). So in collaboration with the publishing industry, they created Armed Services Editition — a unique light weight paperback edition designed to fit in a uniform pocket in series of 25+ books issued each month. Well over a 1000 popular and classic titles were distributed - over 100 million volumes.
The author juxtaposes the German censorship policy with the American experience and engages the reader with quotes frim letters written by the troops to the program office and participating authors expressing their gratitude for the books. It very effectively highlightsthe value of what was one of themost effective morale programs of WWII
On a cultural note, the change in the availability of entertainment on demand today is not discussed but the author understands that modern reader holds that perspective when reading the book. Very interesting and recommended
Task total: 40 pts
Season total: 225 pts
... 10.2 ... ... ... ... 10.7 10.8 ... ...
... ... 20.3 ...20.5 ... ... ... ... ...
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
20.6 Civil WarMarch by Geraldine Brooks
20 pts 20.6 Civil War
5 pts 20.2 Journalist
5 pts 20.5 Wine p. 19 “I took the glass of champagne “
5 pts 10.3 Single
5 pts 10.4 Pilgrim
5 pts 10.8 Jetsetter Massachusetts, Virginia, District of Columbia
10 pts Review
March is a new look at an old classic story. In Little Women, the March father is away as an army chaplain during the civil war. This book tells his story amid the chaos of war. Like many “alternate” histories or retellings, the book does tend to fall into a trap of including famous people from the period as minor characters and placing the main character in circumstances designed to illuminate a specific perspective on the time period. In addition, (formerly) enslaved people seem to be present to make specific points and are not developed fully as characters in their own right even as they have substantial effect on the narrative.
Task total: 55 pts
Season total: 280 pts
... 10.2 ... ... ... ... 10.7 10.8 ... ...
... ... 20.3 ...20.5 20.6 ... ... ... ...
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
20.3 ProlificThe Sword in the Stone (The Once and Future King #1) by T.H. White
1120L
Review
The title obviously points to the fact that this is a tale of King Arthur. However, this is a story of his childhood. The time before he got the sword. The time where he was tutored by no other than the great wizard Merlin. His lessons were in forms of quests and half of these had to be taken in animal form. He was transformed as some kind of animal and he then proceeded to learn certain wisdom as imparted by the wise of their kinds.
The Sword in the Stone wasn't quite as engaging as I thought it'd be. Then again, I was never a fan of Arthur's legends so I didn't have much expectation. However, I did find myself unexpectedly chuckling over a few incidents / dialogues in this novel so that was a really good thing as I don't laugh that often when reading. As I listened to the audiobook, I must also commend the narrator as having done an amazing job with all the voices.
+20 Task
+5 (10.2 - SITS)
+10 Review
+10 Oldies (pub 1938)
Post Total: 45
Season Total: 435
20.7 P.I.Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead by Sara Gran
+20 Task
+10 Combo (10.2 - CDATCOTDSG => Tacos ; 10.8 - New-York, Louisiana and California)
Task total = 30
Points total = 160
20.4 SimilarBetween the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
I'm late reading this book, even though it's been sitting on my shelf since it was published. By now, I'm sure you've already heard that this is a fantastic book and absolutely worth reading. I have little to add to all of the accolades that have been heaped on this book other than to say that I wasn't disappointed despite going in with high expectations. The story of the murder by police of one of Coates' college classmates is poignant and personal and yet so unfortunately universal. Reading it on the heels of the murder of George Floyd, and so many others, it's clear that Coates is right about how fragile his body is in our world; how reasonable his fear for his son.
I also really connected with his thoughts about religion. He expresses a sort of envy of the solace that some people find through faith in God. He recognizes the positive influence that Black churches have been for the Black community, yet can't find that faith in himself and finds himself feeling somewhat an outsider to the community because of it. My experiences are completely different and yet so similar in feel; he hits something universal here.
+20 Task (approved in thread)
+10 Combo (10.2 - BTWAMTC - MAT; 20.2)
+10 Not-a-novel
+10 Review
Task total: 50
Grand total: 160
20.7 P.I.Peace Talks by Jim Butcher
You've no business starting this series here with Book 16. Go back and start at the beginning, or at least much earlier. This is a series with a complicated world, complete with magical rules, political machinations, and an entire universe of fantasy beings ranging from different types of vampires to Bigfoots (of different varieties) to ghouls and many, many others. The lead wizard of this series, Harry Dresden, has a very particular voice that you'll either find insufferably annoying or entertaining. If you don't like it in one of the early books, you won't like it much more here. He does develop as a character over the course of the series, but the tone remains pretty similar.
For this reader, James Marsters, the narrator for the audiobooks, is the voice of Harry Dresden. The narration of these books is pitch-perfect and I've loved listening to them. I think I've listened to all but one or two of these in audio format. Highly recommended if you're an audiobook listener at all.
+20 Task (approved in thread)
+10 Combo (10.4, 20.3)
+10 Review
Task total: 40
Grand total: 200
10.5 Monster ReduxGhosts by Dolly Alderton
Review
Ghosts is the story of a year in the life of Nina Dean, a 32 year old food writer from London. Nina is at that age where most of her friends are married, having babies and leaving London for leafy commuter towns with bigger houses and better schools. Nina on the other hand has just joined a dating app on the recommendation of her Only Single Friend Lola. And here begins what she describes as the strangest year of her life.
I enjoyed this book far more than I expected to after reading the first chapter. At first it seemed like Nina was just a stereotype of a single woman in her early thirties. To some extent she is, and plenty of the usual cliches about millennials are on display here, but as the book went on Nina became a far more interesting and developed character and I found myself really hoping that things would work out well for her. The subplot involving her mum and dad was touching and I loved the exploration of the different relationships Nina had with each parent.
The book is enjoyable and easy to read, I’d say it’s a perfect beach read but given the current state of the world I imagine there’s not much call for holiday reading. One little complaint is that I really disliked the (view spoiler)
+10 task
+10 review
+25 combo
[10.2 (‘gad’)
10.3
10.4
20.2 (the author’s Goodreads biography identifies her as a journalist)
20.5 (“On our third bottle of white wine, I began to feel drunkenly maternal towards myself four hours previously...” - ebook location 734)]
Post total: 45
Season total: 120
15.1 Power of Nine(reading in order by publication date, starting with 09)
Homer & Langley by E.L. Doctorow
+15 Task (pub 2009)
Task total=15
Season total=240
20.5 WineThe Prince by Tiffany Reisz
Yep, 100% down the rabbit hole with this series. This book is thickly plotted and gives the history of many of the characters that the series introduced in the first two books. This is less erotica and more mystery and thriller, complete with cliffhanger ending. Still, I'm devouring this series and was ready to move on to the next book immediately.
Again, this series is not for the prudish or the feint of heart. In this book, we're learning the history of teenage romance (and brutality) as well as childhood trauma. Where other books have been sort of happy-sex-positive-kink, this book has some of the darker world of these characters. I didn't love that here--I wanted more of the lighter erotica bits instead of the darker deep emotional bits. But I can't deny that this book drives the series forward at a frantic pace and left me ready to see what happens to all these characters.
+20 Task ("Sighing, Kingsley picked up his sherry and twirled the contents to coat the sides of the glass." (75.1%))
+10 Review
+10 Combo (10.4, 10.8 - Connecticut, New York, Maine and others)
Task total: 40
Grand total: 240
15.4 Power of 9The Cost of Lunch, Etc.: Short Stories by Marge Piercy
+15 Task (Author born 1945)
Task total: 15
Grand total: 255
20.3 - prolificThe Dark Tower by Stephen King
King has written 61 novels, 5 non fiction books, 11 collections, and 15 other works (screenplays, etc.)
Well, this is the last book in the Dark Tower epic. It’s an exercise in author self insertion, for one thing. For another, it doesn’t matter how many times I read it, the ending still infuriates me. It also doesn’t matter how much it infuriates me, it’s the only rational ending to *this* story. It’s typical of the cyclical nature of this kind of hero myth. Ka like a wind… and a wheel. Doesn’t matter how *we* want the story to end – it ends how IT wants to end. I will say that King is probably the only author I know of who could *get away* with this gambit and not make it horribly cheesy and just unreadable. Yes, it’s still cheesy but King has a way of making it work somehow. Gan made the story work.
But you still can’t fool me. It’s turtles all the way down.
+20 task
+25 jumbo (1050pgs)
+10 review
+5 combo (20.10 - born 1947)
Task total: 60
Season total: 95
Task 10.3 SingleAt BPL, Masks of the Outcasts is shelved in the Adult section. Masks of the Outcasts contains the two short novels of the "Dipple" series, #1 Catseye and #2 Night of Masks.
Catseye (Dipple #1) (1961) by Andre Norton (Paperback, Ace #F-167, 176 pages)
Review: Andre Norton was a prolific writer of fantasy and science fiction, with the target audience mainly what we today call “young adult” and also “new adult” (a genre slipped in between “young adult” and “adult”). My library had this one in the adult section, and so does BPL (see above note). Catseye is #1 of the two short novels in the “Dipple” universe. It is a complete story in and of itself. One commentator said it was notable for having zero female characters. Wrong! There is one female character, a housewife who enters a store, makes a purchase, then leaves, action that takes less than a paragraph to describe.
Positives for the novel: (1) The individuals have believable and differing motivations for their actions. (2) I’ve always enjoyed fantasy novels with telepathic communications with animals. (3) The worldbuilding in the first half was well done, especially for a 1961 “new adult” science fiction novel. Negatives for the novel: (1) no women (except for the cameo of the housewife); (2) the first half introduced mysteries that are never resolved. (view spoiler) I wanted those mysteries resolved!!; (3) the last half is flee-chase-fight-flee-chase-fight-flee. Sometimes it seemed there was a guy with a blazer just to have the fight scene.
Overall, I wouldn’t recommend this novel.
+10 Task
+10 Review
+10 Combo (#10.2 Tiles: ANC Word: CAN; #20.3 Prolific)
+05 Oldies -25 to 75 years old: (1945-1995)
Task Total: 10 + 10 + 10 + 05 = 35
Grand Total: 30 + 35 = 65
Task 10.7 Non-Fiction (Ed's Task)Read a Non-Fiction book that is NOT a biography, autobiography or memoir.
The System: Who Rigged It, How We Fix It (2020) by Robert B. Reich (Hardcover, 224 pages) [322.309]
Answer: It's the oligarchy vs. the rest of us!
+10 Task
+10 Not-a-Novel: non-fiction
Task Total: 10 + 10 = 20
Grand Total: 65 + 20 = 85
10.7 - NonFictionIf You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood by Gregg Olsen
+10 task (true crime)
+10 Combo (10.2 - IYTATSOMFSATUBOS - toast, famous, boast; 20.3)
Task total: 20
Grand total: 180
Task 20.8 Bedtime (Bryony's Task)Read a book that appears on this list of books featured on Book at Bedtime.
As of September 15, 2020: This book is at the bottom of page 8 of the list.
The Aspern Papers (1888) by Henry James (Paperback, 180 pages)
**This is the MPE Edition**
+20 Task
+10 Combo (#10.2 Tiles: TAPJH Word: PATH, #20.3 Prolific)
+10 Oldies -76 to 150 years old: (1870-1944)
Task Total: 20 + 10 + 20 = 40
Grand Total: 85 + 40 = 125
15.4 Power of 9The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe
reading 09 to 90
page # locked in message 14
(questions thread)
336 pgs
15 task
____
15
Running total: 315
10.7 - non fictionA Square Meal: A Culinary History of the Great Depression by Jane Ziegelman and Andrew Coe
I love non-fiction about popular culture and I love non-fiction about food culture. This was a perfect combination of the two – an exploration of how the Great Depression and WWII changed the American mindset about food and economy. It’s a study of the beginnings of victory gardens, home economics, and dietary guidelines, regional foodways and nationally available convenience foods. The Depression changed the way Americans saw food and food stability, what was available, what was affordable, what was fashionable, and what was *good*. It also saw the rise of commercially processed and packaged foods, further changing the American palate. It was pretty thought provoking, especially given the current circumstances. I really enjoyed it.
+10 task
+10 review
+10 combo (10.2 - SHAM, 20.2 - Andrew Coe has been a journalist for over 20 years)
+10 not a novel (non-fiction)
Task total: 40
Season total: 135
15.1 Power of NineTempest At Dawn by James D. Best
+15 Task (pub 2009)
Post Total: 15
Season Total: 450
From Post 69Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "10.6 Banned
Definitely Deadby Charlaine Harris
#187 on the list
Task +10
Grand Total: 10"
+5 Combo 20.3
From Post 87Denise wrote: "20.3 Prolific
Essential Bukowski: Poetry by Charles Bukowski
In his novels, short stories, and poems, Bukowsi wrote about everything, from childhood to earning a li..."
+10 Not a Novel
20.5 WineThe Rosie Project (Don Tillman #1) by Graeme Simsion
"She quickly finished her wine and stuck out her hand..." @1:37:40
Review
I tend to run away from books that are so hyped up. 7 years' from publication, I finally picked this one up and wow, I did not expect to love this so much. It is funny, witty, and absolutely heart-warming. Despite the lightness feel of the novel, it does address issues but in positive ways. The pacing of the novel was consistent throughout and the character, the story completely engaging and charming. I am a convert: I love The Rosie Project!
+20 Task
+5 (10.4 - R for Rosie)
+10 Review
Post Total: 35
Season Total: 485
From Post 90Ann wrote: "10.8 Jetsetters
What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding by Kristin Newman
(The very definition of jet-setting; she was on her 3rd passport by the end. First 3 I th..."
Sorry, Ann, this title doesn't qualify for 20.5. 20.5 requires a novel.
From Post 125Karen Michele wrote: "10.2 Scrabble!
Faces on the Tip of My Tongue by Emmanuelle Pagano
+10 Task: FOTTOMTEP FOOT
Task Total: 10
Season Total: 25"
+10 Not a Novel (short stories)
+5 Combo 10.7
From Post 127Karen Michele wrote: "10.3 Single
Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell
+10 Task
Task Total: 10
Season Total: 50"
+5 Combo 20.2
From Post 137Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "10.2 Scrabble
All Together Deadby Charlaine Harris
CHAT
Review
Sookie is more involved with the vampire community even though she isn't dating her vampire boyfriend a..."
+5 Combo 20.3
From post 146Coralie wrote: "20.2 Journalist
The Cavalier in the Yellow Doublet by Arturo Pérez-Reverte
+20 Task
+20 Combo 10.2 TCITYDAP=>CITY, 10.9 yellow, 20.3, 20.5 (After a few sips of wine..."
+5 Jumbo
From Post 147Ann wrote: "10.4 Pilgrim
Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir by Jenny Lawson
Hilarious. If you have read any of The Bloggess, you already know this. I was..."
Sorry, this does not qualify for 20.5 as it is not a novel.
From Post 149Connie wrote: "20.2 Journalist
Once Upon a Time I Lived on Mars: Space, Exploration, and Life on Earth by Kate Greene
Kate Greene, a science journalist and physicist, and five o..."
+5 Combo 10.7
30.1 Go for the GreenDeath by Proposal by Jaden Skye
100% Aruba
This is another entry in the Caribbean mystery novellas by Jaden Skye. This time Cindy (the recurring MC), and her boyfriend, Matteus (whom she met on Grenada) are vacationing on Aruba. Vacation plans go awry though, due to the death of a young woman at the same resort.
I’m reading these for the Countries group project, so that is one positive about this book – it takes place wholly in Aruba. Also, it’s short. I needed a complete change of pace after two emotionally involving books and before jumping into a more serious NF read. This book provided that. The premise of the book is contemporary and intriguing.
However, the negatives outweigh the positives. Skye is still competent, but this novella definitely felt rushed. Unfortunately, the editor whom I enjoyed in the Grenada installment is lost in action. I can tolerate the odd mistake, but I have NO patience for mix ups in characters names. As well, we didn’t get as much of a flavor of the island which was disappointing. The resolution to the mystery was implausible. Well, frankly, I thought the denouement was stupid. 2*
30 task
20 one book country bonus
10 review
10 combo 20.5, 20.7
______
70
Running total: 385
20.5 = 'Cindy went right to the bar and ordered a glass of wine.'
20.7 = the MCs are now (finally) Private Detectives (in the Grenada installment Cindy was an amateur and Matteus was a cop. In the intervening 4 books they became actual Private Detectives).
Kate S wrote: "From Post 147Sorry, this does not qualify for 20.5 as it is not a novel
Oops. Posts 90 & 147 have been updated, and post 148 shows the corrected season total of 515.
20.2 Journalist How the Other Half Learns: Equality, Excellence, and the Battle Over School Choice by Robert Pondiscio
This book, which details a year in the life of Success Academy, a "no excuses" charter school with many schools around NYC, is certainly going to appeal to a pretty niche audience, but if you're at all interested in education and enjoy well written nonfiction, it might be worth picking up. I was and am critical of this book, but the writing and structure is excellent, so it was a good read in that sense. There were places that I don't think his facts are presented quite accurately, though these are small enough details that if you're not in education they won't stand out to you (e.g. at one point he admires how Success Academy uses a 2012 6th grade test passage with 4th graders - which suggests they are super advanced, but in reality I know the passage and the reading level used on the test in 2012 really has moved to the point that now that IS a 4th grade passage).
But my bigger issues were some logical contradictions I don't think he resolved enough. Maybe they're not resolvable - but the book seems to suggest that they are, and he's solved them, and I disagree. One tension is that he seems to suggest that schools serving low-income kids are EITHER chaotic messes OR, basically, this (very regimented, highly paternalistic). That just isn't true - there are schools all along that spectrum, and while you could decide that the S.A. approach is the way to go, you certainly don't have to. A second tension is the suggestion he continually makes, quite explicitly, that schools serving middle-class and wealthy kids are uniformly filled with kids who value school and achievement, pay attention, work hard, behave well, and whose parents are fervently committed to their schoolwork. Having attended such a school myself, even 30 years ago, I know that's just not the case. Absolutely there are differences, and there are ways that behavior management comes into play differently, but I absolutely sat next to (middle class) kids who didn't care about school, cheated, didn't do homework, fooled around in class, etc. The fact that their life outcomes were not tanked by stupid behavior in middle school is a different story (and appropriate, I would say, given what we know about 12 year olds!). And finally, I know the author has a strong bias toward a particular kind of curriculum, which interestingly enough S.A. doesn't have. Instead of rethinking his bias, he posits that they succeed in spite of, not because of, their curriculum. That could be true, but if you're using their test scores to justify other aspects of their school design, I'm not sure why you would assume that the curriculum they use is irrelevant.
+ 20 task (approved in help thread)
+ 10 combo (10.2 - tiles are HTOHLRP, word is HOP; 10.7)
+ 10 review
+ 10 not-a-novel (nonfiction)
Task Total: 50
Season Total: 50
20.3 Prolific The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton
What an unusual book! Not at all what I expected. I think because my first thought when I hear "Michael Crichton" is Jurassic Park (and the movie, not the book!), I assume it'll be a fast paced thrill type book, and I forget that Crichton actually was trained in science. The book is written in day by day chunks, like a reconstruction or journal entry, complete with data sets and transmissions included. The story tells about a bacteria that arrives in the U.S. from space, via a satellite, killing instantly, and the race against time to figure out what it is and what to do about it. The scientific details are slow going at first but once I had a sense of what I was dealing with, the pace picked up and I was eager to read on. I did feel like the ending was somewhat abrupt - I was shocked when I looked down and saw how little was left, and wondered how on earth things would get wrapped up in time!
+20 task (wrote 29 books)
+5 combo (10.2 - TASMC = mast)
+5 oldies (first pub 1969)
+10 review
Task Total: 40
Season Total: 90
30.1 Go for the GreenMrs. Pollifax, Innocent Tourist by Dorothy Gilman
+30 task (set about 80% in Jordan)
+20 bonus (blue on spreadsheet)
+15 combo (10.2 - MPITDG = pit, 10.4, 20.3 - at least 23 books listed for her on GR)
Task Total: 65
Season Total: 155
20.10 Another Birthday? The Outsider by Stephen King
I always enjoy Stephen King's writing (and am in awe of his productivity!) and this one was another page-turner. This book tells the story of an unspeakable crime committed, with DNA and eyewitnesses fingering a popular coach. Police soon discover that he also has an out-of-state alibi, on camera. I've read some reviews that say that this book (and a lot of his later books) suffer from some repetitiveness and from falling into some tropes he tends to overuse. There was definitely some of that -- some character types he'll go to over and over again, some that seem pretty cliche, and not particularly well-rounded as characters -- but for the most part I'm grabbing a book like this for writing that flows, and for plot, and this had both of those things. Another critique is the fact that it starts out reading like a mystery but turns to some supernatural elements. I didn't mind that, because I expected it, and the plot drew me in and carried me through. The book was well worth it if you like the mystery/paranormal/horror-y genre blending.
+20 task (born 1947)
+10 combo (10.8 - OK, TX, and OH, 20.3)
+5 jumbo (561 pg)
+10 review
Task Total: 45
Season Total: 200
10.7 Non-FictionWord by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries byKory Stamper
Kory Stamper is a lexicographer. She writes dictionaries. She has an advantage with this reader because I find the English language fascinating but I never thought that finding out how a dictionary is written could be so interesting and fun. Where do you find new words or new meanings of current words? Even what part of speech it is? How do you find the origin of a word and track its evolution? How do you decide the most common pronunciation? And which others do you include? And what happens when someone reads your dictionary and finds that same-sex marriage has been included in the definition of marriage?
Stamper uses her words well and brings this subject to light with some wonderful humor.
+10 task
+10 review
+10 NAN
+5 combo Scrabble tiles: WBWTSLODKS word: bold
Task total: 35
Season total: 120
Post 171 Heather wrote: "10.7 - non fictionA Square Meal: A Culinary History of the Great Depression by Jane Ziegelman and Andrew Coe
I love non-fiction about popular cult..."
Just a note: RwS policy is to use the first named author for author tasks. We will accept Jane Ziegelman as a journalist, however. Though her bio doesn't specifically state "journalist", it does indicate articles in magazines and other types of publications that we would interpret the authors being journalists.
20.3 ProlificMurder in Vienna by E.C.R. Lorac
I took the plunge and chanced that reading this series out of order wouldn't be a problem. As far as I can tell, it isn't. That's a good thing, because some of the earlier installments are out of print and used copies are very dear.
The story opens with passengers on a Viscount airplane enroute from London to Vienna with a stopover in Zurich. The fact that it was a Viscount was apparently of interest in the time period because that model of aircraft was mentioned periodically throughout the novel, and I took moment to google it. Among the passengers is Scotland Yard's Superintendent Robert MacDonald, ostensibly on holiday. He would have been on holiday if he'd had anything to say about it, but the title tells us there will be a murder and it's unlikely he would have been included without his skills being required. While obviously not the country house mystery of the period, it pretty much follows this tradition and the suspects can be assumed to be limited to those on the flight.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent with this. Of course it is almost all plot. If I chose to work at it, I might easily have figured out the how and why of the murders, even though there was still a surprise or two. The writing is good enough - neither too simple nor too complex - and there is more than a passing attempt at some characterization. Well, perhaps not much more than a passing attempt, but there was enough that I wasn't rolling my eyes at some feeble attempt. I will definitely read more by this author when I'm able to get my hands on them. Was this extraordinary? No, but good fun and a high 3-stars.
+20 Task (more than 40 titles in this series alone)
+10 Review
+10 Combo (10.2 - MIMECRL = Rice, 10.4)
+ 5 Oldies (1956)
Task total = 45
Season total = 160
And Woohoo! A two-fer - both a mysteries challenge and another year in my women of the 20th century challenge
15.2 Power of Ninepublication years, numerical order
Transcription by Kate Atkinson
+15 Task (pub 2018)
Task Total: 15
Season Total: 240
20.5 - WineThe Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose
+20 task (She makes herself at home, pouring herself a large glass of red wine...
I look into the kitchen and watch my mom fill her wine glass a second time.)
+5 Combo (10.4)
Task total: 25
Grand total: 205
10.7 Non-fictionOrtona Street Fight by Mark Zuehlke
Be still my beating heart – well written!!, edited!!…. you know what I mean (after my last book!).
I had this on my TBR before we went to Italy. We weren’t going to that area, but I was interested in reading about the Italian Campaign because my Dad was part of that. After reading this it doesn’t sound like he was part of this battle, but it was interesting, nonetheless.
This is the short and to the point version of the battle that took place in Ortona and environs. I’m not super interested in reading about WW2, in general or really, about specific battles. However, this was so well done even I was compelled to keep reading. Zuehlke was able to bring the battle to life, along with some soldiers and keep the story moving.
My recollection is that he has written in depth books about the Canadian WW2 military involvement. This is the ‘Coles notes’ version. As you would expect it sounds terrible.
Based on this book I feel that I can recommend Zuehlke’s books if you are interested in reading about Canadian military history (WW2) written in an accessible manner. 4*
10 task
10 review
10 not a novel
5 combo 20.2
_____
35
Running total: 420
10.2 ScrabbleHarrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
HTNTM - nth
LOL WHUT.
Readers, you need to have Gideon the Ninth fresh in your mind before starting this. There is only a hint of “previously on”, and the book goes off WILDLY. I had to go find a chapter-by-chapter recap, and it was still confusing; do not attempt without.
Halfway through, I was still completely lost. WTELF? I found the Canaan house bits grating. I was losing patience because you should not be 200+ pages into a book and have absolutely no clue what is going on. Also? Harrow is a bore.
Shortly after I was thinking this was a disaster, the book picked up. ACTION! These books are the very best when there is necromantic action. This would make a hell of a movie, if they could get the incredibly detailed gore right.
Anyway - Gideon was an action flick, Harrow was aN extra-mysterious mystery. I was doubting this one, but when things start to come together it’s worth the confusion and WTF. This was WAY more insane than Gideon and that is saying a lot. The pacing isn’t great, and the climax is more than a little REALLY but the swashbuckling and nasty magic is great fun.
+10 Task
+10 Review
+5 Combo (20.5 “You did not really like the taste of wine...”
+5 Jumbo (512 pages MPE)
Task total = 30
Season total = 545
15.2 Power of NineHer Fear (The Amish of Hart County #5) by Shelley Shepard Gray
+15 Task (pub 2018)
Post Total: 15
Season Total: 500
20.5 WineNottingham (Nottingham #1) by Nathan Makaryk
"But if the Sheriff insisted on sharing wine first, he would have to abide. De Lacy took a long slow draw from his cup and patter his lips together, a miniature applause for a drink well done." p92
Review
I'm not sure I've ever read a Robin Hood retelling. I know I own a YA one which I have yet to read. This premise of mixing history and myth intrigued me and while it was a tad slow at the beginning (mostly due to my having to struggle to adjust to multiple perspectives), the novel was brilliantly executed.
The novel opens with brothers-in-arms Robin of Locksley and William De Wendenal marching in the Crusades with King Richard. There was an issue with the army's supplies and they were sent back to England to sort this out. When Robin and William returned, they tracked these supplies to Nottingham and found themselves embroiled the local politics as the people are in a state of unrest. Their seemingly simple original mission suddenly lost its priority as they were buried deeper in the mire of love, betrayals, deceptions, and deaths.
There were so many perspectives in this novel that I feel there really isn't a 'primary' one. We hear from Robin and William, of course, but also Guy of Gisbourne (only the captain), Sheriff Roger De Lacy, Marion, Elena Gamwell, and a number of others. After about halfway, the novel picks up on the pace and I really couldn't bear to put it down for the last 100 pages! That ending though... I need some support (please PM me if you've read it as I could barely believer my eyes... WHAT did I just read?).
I really wanted to revisit the 1973 cartoon while I was in the middle of reading this and wow, this novel totally blew that cartoon out of the water. As much I enjoyed the cartoon, it was mostly due to childhood reminiscence, this novel, Nottingham, is an epic retelling of Robin Hood filled with strong female characters, complex villains, and an intricate web of intrigues.
+20 Task
+5 (10.3 - R for Rosie)
+10 Review
Post Total: 35
Season Total: 535
20.5 WineThe Mermaids of Lake Michigan by Suzanne Kamata
"We are up plates of spaghetti, drank the wine, sopped up the sauce with big chunks of bread." -@55%
Review
Magical Realism is a bit of hit and miss with me. This one is somewhat of a miss because I just couldn't figure out what the whole point of the story is. The Mermaids of Lake Michigan is a coming-of-age story where a girl begins to realise that her parents aren't as infallible or perfect as she always thought they were when she was a little girl and her journey to that acceptance as she steps into her womanhood. It is told solely from the point of view of Elise Faulkner who was a loner until one summer when another girl breezed into her life and changed everything. The story itself isn't all sad even if I feel there is that tone of sadness along with exhilaration of promise as saying goodbye to previous phase of life and moving on to a new one.
+20 Task
+10 (10.2 - MOM; 10.4 - M for Mermaids)
+10 Review
Post Total: 40
Season Total: 575
10.1 Short WorksThe Wilful Eye edited by Isobelle Carmody & Nan McNab
YA but not found on BPL
Review
There were 6 stories overall and each accompanied with author's notes on their choice of fairy tale and the reason why they wrote the retelling as they did. The first one really gripped me especially since author's note stated that she pulled inspiration from soldier's PTSD etc. Such a gritty hard core retelling of The Nutcracker. My second favourite would be Beauty and the Beast -though mostly because it's such a familiar tale. The rest of the stories aren't that well known either and by that I meant that they're not the ones popular with retellings. These retellings though are dark and I am continually amazed by authors' extent of inspirations and unique weavings of these stories.
+10 Task
+5 (10.2 - WET)
+10 Not-a-Novel
+10 Review
Post Total: 35
Season Total: 610
20.2 JournalistA Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter
20 pts 20.2 Journalist
5 pts 20.3 Prolific see https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_...
5 pts 10.2 Scrabble GOT tiles: T G O T L G S P
5 pts 10.4 Pilgrim
10 pts Oldies
10 pts Review
I have mixed feelings about this book. It seems as if it should have been completed about 60% of the way through when the story of a young girl growing up in a swampland in Indiana took a turntoward a more conventional love story. Elnora faces challenges, and through her own pluck, earns money to finance her education, and despite a rough start becomes a well liked member of her community despite a mother who is at best indifferent to her needs. This part of the story incorporates well written descriptions of Indiana wetlands eco systen including the wildlifre Elnora collects
Then everything seems to take a turn for the better and the writing starts to seem more stilted with some character transformations that seem almost miraculous.
Worth reading but overwritten with too much angst as the (expected) conclusion is reached
Task total: 55 pts
Season total: 335 pts
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Reading with Style
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John Berendt (other topics)Barbara Kingsolver (other topics)
Algernon Blackwood (other topics)
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A View from the Bridge / All My Sons by Arthur Miller
10 pts 10.2 Scrabble FAT tiles: AVFTBAMS AM
5 pts 10.7 Nonfiction
10 Review
10 Not a Novel
5 Oldies
Two plays by Arthur Miller. The first (A View from the Bridge) is unsurprising and rather formulaic, enjoyable but the ending is telegraphed well in advance. There seems to be much more that could have been done with the premise but which wasn’t.
The second play, All My Sons addresses the effect of war profiteering on a family with a twist ending that leaves the reader wondering about the motivations of the main character. Was the guilt from his actions what drive the ending or was it the fact of wrongdoing being discovered and publicized. I would like to see this play staged.
Task total: 40 pts
Season total: 150 pts
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