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FA 21 Completed Tasks
20.10 Musical MysteryMoon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch
Here I am back with the ‘Rivers of London’ series, and it’s still smart and snappy and oh so fun. As with the first instalment, this is a police procedural with the added bonus of modern magic thrown in. We follow along with Peter Grant’s first person narrative – through the (often mundane) police work and his learning magic (which seems to be a lot of textbooks and Latin!).
The main characters from the first instalment are back, including Lesley who is off on sick leave (due to an incident in the first novel) but still being Peter’s sounding board and trying to keep him following proper police procedure. This instalment involved jazz musicians dying unnatural deaths, which leads to time being spent in jazz clubs, hanging out with a band, and Peter making a deeper connection with his Dad (a well regarded jazz musician). All in all this is a very satisfying instalment which really makes me want to plunge into #3 right now! 4.5*
20 task
10 review
10 combo 20.3, 20.5
_____
40
Running total: 725
20.1 SeriallyEugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin
(pub’d serially 1825-1832; it’s listed on the Wikipedia page for this task)
Poetry in translation, especially poetry that rhymes, is both an incredible feat and a hopeless undertaking. Since I don't read Russian, I'm not sure which Eugene Onegin is more of.
The word order and phrase-ology are often tortured, and a good number of the rhymes are near misses at best. But the tone is joyful, the imagery is vivid (particularly Tattiana's dream in Canto the Fifth), and the tongue-in-cheek self-reflection at the end of each Canto is as good as postmodern. Others more knowledgeable than me can determine how much credit (and blame) Pushkin gets and how much goes to the translator.
While Eugene is the main focus throughout, I love that Tattiana gets the final say. It's not exactly a happy ending for her either, but at least she leaves him "stood as if struck by lightning fire."
+20 Task
+10 Not-a-Novel
+10 Review
+10 1001 Books
+15 Combo (10.5 Classics: 1587 shelvings; 20.3 Ratings: average 4.10; 20.9 Anniversary: “He enters. High the cork arose / And Comet champagne foaming flows.”)
Post total: 65
Season total: 815
Claimed to date:
10.1 - 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 - 10.9 10.10
15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 - 15.6 15.7 - - 15.10
20.1 20.2 20.3(x2) 20.4 - 20.6 20.7 - 20.9 -
20.3 RatingsThe Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
"Courage is fear you ignore."
Elsa Wolcott has been told by her mother that "no man of note wants an unattractive wife." At age 25, the tall slender woman longs for excitement, romance, and meaning in her life like she has found in the novels she enjoys reading. It's 1921 in Texas, and Elsa admires the style and independence of the Flappers. She goes out one night looking for fun, and meets handsome Rafe Martinelli. A few minutes of passion leads to an unplanned marriage, and life on Rafe's parents' farm. Elsa comes to enjoy her work on the farm, but their marriage is strained.
Fast forward to 1934 when their Texas farm is completely dry, and crops are dying. The Great Depression has brought poverty and unemployment to the country. Dust storms ripped up the topsoil, and filled the lungs of the farmers. When Elsa's son gets sick from breathing the dirt-filled air, she heads out to California with her two children looking for work. It was a shock to find few job openings, and tent cities full of impoverished migrants. Even young children were picking crops to help keep food on the table. The owners of the large farms kept reducing wages so survival was uncertain. Union organizers came in to fight for a living wage, but were met by violence from the farm owners.
The book does cover some of the same territory as "The Grapes of Wrath," but is told mostly from the views of a desperate mother and a teenage daughter finding her voice. "The Four Winds" shows the courage of Elsa as she becomes a strong, resilient woman facing incredible challenges and making many personal sacrifices.
+20 task
+ 5 combo 20.5 Boomer (born 9/25/60)
+10 review
Task total: 35
Season total: 860
Task 15.10 20 or more lettersIn the Company of Cheerful Ladies (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency #6) (2004) by Alexander McCall Smith
+15 Task
Task Total: 15
Grand Total: 535 + 15 = 550
From Post 691Karen Michele wrote: "20.3 Ratings
Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019 by Ibram X. Kendi
+20 Task:
+ 5 Combo: 10.3 Back to School / 10.9 Oxford
+10 N..."
I think this will settle our score discrepancy.
From Post 93Tien wrote: "10.7 Service (Anika's Task)
61 Hours (Jack Reacher #14) by Lee Child
reference to military service
+10 Task
+15 Combo (10.6 - October; 20.3 - avg 4.10; 20.5 - 1954)
P..."
+5 Combo 10.3
From Post 640Tien wrote: "20.3 Ratings
Worth Dying For (Jack Reacher #15) by Lee Child
4.21 avg
+20 Task
+20 Combo (10.2 - "dying"; 10.6 - October; 10.7; 20.5 - 1954)
+5 Jumbo (513p)
Post Tota..."
+5 Combo 10.3
From Post 702Heather wrote: "20.8 - Gothic
The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole
+20 task
+10 combo (10.6 - born 9/24/1717, 10.8 - set in Italy)
Task total: 30
Season total: 465
10.1;..;10.3;1..."
+10 1001 books
From Post 750Beth wrote: "10.3
Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019 by Ibram X. Kendi
This was a fascinating book, with a different author writing each se..."
+5 Jumbo
Mary wrote: "Kate S wrote: "From Post 682So is the correct total: 70 pts?"
That is what I have as well.
Kate S wrote: "From Post 691Karen Michele wrote: "20.3 Ratings
Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019 by Ibram X. Kendi
+20 Task:
+ 5 Combo: 10..."
Ah, thanks, Kate -- I see what I did!
20.1 SeriallyThe Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
This is another enjoyable classic mystery by Collins.
There are so many elements contained in this one novel that are the basis of contemporary novel genres – romance, gothic wrong-doings and ‘madness’, espionage, crime (organized and otherwise), and identity theft. I really liked how Collins had different voices tell the story. It was a bit annoying how feeble Laura (the wronged woman) was, but her sister, Marian, more than made up for it. She was smart and had a lot of backbone; and used these qualities the best she could within the confines of Victorian Society. There is also a great deal of gothic atmosphere in this novel, which was effective and memorable.
I found it did drag on a bit (around the 2/3 mark), but that is understandable considering it was first published as a serial. Despite this Collins had a real knack for keeping the reader engaged. I had an extended time reading this (due to circumstance) and I was always eager to get back to the story. 4*
20 task
10 review
10 1001 list
5 jumbo
10 combo 10.5, 20.8
_____
55
Running total: 780
20.4 Nonlinear Riviera Gold by Laurie R. King
20 pts 20.4 Nonlinear. Several flashbacks previous events surrounding Mrs Hudson
5 pts 20.10 Musical Mystery Holmes is pretending to be a violinist under the name Sheldon Russell)
5 pts 20.9 Anniversary p 114 Ah the first swallow od champage is always the best
5 pts 20.5 Boomer
5 pts 20.3 Ratings
5 pts 10.8 Mediterranean France and Monaco
10 pts Review
Very Good mystery featuring Sherlock Holmes and his wife Mary Russell. Mary takes center stage and is working to solve a mystery that reaches back to Mrs Hudson’s youth. A number of 1920s celebrities make appearances in the book and the events of the first part of the 29th century also play a role (trying not to give any spoilers). Both the the mystery and its solution are cleverly thought out and the book is well paced and kept my interest. This series continues to be interesting and worth a read. You could jump in at this installment but would miss a little of the back story.
Task total: 55 pts
Total Season: 1205pts
10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 ... 10.7 ... 10.9 ...
20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 20.6 20.7 20.8 20.9 20.10
15.1 ... 15.3 15.4 ... ... 15.7 15.8 ... 15.10
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Post 658 Lagullande wrote: "20.9 Anniversary (Kate S's task)The Big Four by Agatha Christie
+20 Task (approved in help thread)
+15 Combo (10.5, 10.7 Captain Hastings..."
From posts 658 and 680....please may I change The Big Four from Task 20.9 to Task 20.1? No change to points.
20.9 Anniversary (Kate S's Task)The Forgotten Waltz by Anne Enright
"...that night she got, for the first time since he had known her, rat-arsed on champagne."
+20 Task
+10 Combo (10.3, 20.5 1962)
Points this post: 30
RwS total: 260
CoA total: 30
Season Total: 290
.... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... 10.9 ....
.... 15.2 15.3 .... .... .... .... .... .... ....
20.1 .... 20.3 20.4 20.5 20.6 .... .... 20.9 ....
20.3 - RatingsSilent Graves by Sally Rigby
+20 task - 4.59
+5 combo - 10.2
Task total: 25
Grand total: 985
20.3 - RatingsKill Shot by Sally Rigby
+20 task - 4.58
+5 Combo - 10.2
+10 Combo points missed on post 497 (10.6, 20.5)
Task total: 35
Grand total: 1020
20.9 - AnniversaryToxicity by Libby Fischer Hellmann
+20 task - The wedding ceremony was over in 5 minutes. Toast and champagne followed.
Task total: 20
Grand total: 1060
20.3 - RatingsNobody's Child by Libby Fischer Hellmann
+20 task - 4.15
Task total: 20
Grand total: 1080
I’d like to make a change please. I would like to change the book I claimed for 15.6 to be changed to 20.3. 20.3 Ratings
20.3 Dark Tales by Shirley Jackson (4.03 stars)
Task - 20 pts
Combo - 5 pts ( 10.5-107)
Not a Novel - 10 pts
Task Total - 35 pts
15.7 Counting on Authors The Last Camel Died at Noon by Elizabeth Peters
15 task
____
15
Running total: 795
20.3 RatingsLes Strates by Pénélope Bagieu
+20 Task
No style, graphic novel
Task total = 20
Season total = 410
10.1 ; 10.2 ; 10.3 ; … ; … ; 10.6 (x2) ; 10.7 ; 10.8 ; 10.9 ; …
… ; … ; … ; 15.4 ; … ; 15.6 ; 15.7 ; … ; 15.9 ; …
20.1 ; … ; 20.3 (x4) ; 20.4 ; 20.5 ; 20.6 ; … ; … ; 20.9 ; 20.10
15.9 CoA 18-19 lettersGirl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
+15 Task
Post total: 15
Season total: 830
Claimed to date:
10.1 - 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 - 10.9 10.10
15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 - 15.6 15.7 - 15.9 15.10
20.1 20.2 20.3(x2) 20.4 - 20.6 20.7 - 20.9 -
15.6 CoA 14 lettersThe Lottery and Other Stories by Shirley Jackson
CoA summary
Task Post #. Pub.Year. Author
15.1 644. 1955. M.M. Kaye
15.2. 814. 1952. Barbara Pym
15.3. 724. 1927. Annie Haynes
15.4. 695. 1905. Edith Wharton
15.5. 778. 1993. Anita Brookner
15.6. 831. 1949. Shirley Jackson
15.7. 716. 1977. Elizabeth Peters
15.8. 827. 1929. Margery Allingham
15.9. 756. 1878. Anna Katherine Green
15.10. 793. 1976. Dorothy Salisbury Davis
Task - 15 pts
Sub Completion - 100 pts
All Female Bonus -50 pts
All pub bef. 1996 Bonus - 50 pts
Mega Finish -200 pts
This post total - 415 pts
15.3 Counting on AuthorsRound 3
Her Mother's Secret by Natasha Lester
+15 Task (13 letters)
Post Total: 15
Season Total: 1,985
10.7 Service (Anika's Task)War's Unwomanly Face by Svetlana Alexievich
+10 Task
+20 Combo (10.3, 20.3 4.50, 20.5 1948, 20.6)
+10 NaN
Points this post: 40
RwS total: 300
CoA total: 30
Season Total: 330
.... .... .... .... .... .... 10.7 .... 10.9 ....
.... 15.2 15.3 .... .... .... .... .... .... ....
20.1 .... 20.3 20.4 20.5 20.6 .... .... 20.9 ....
15.1 Counting on AuthorsSigns in the Blood by Vicki Lane
+15 Task (9 letters)
Post Total: 15
Season Total: 15
15.2 Counting on AuthorsA Dog Walks Into a Nursing Home: Lessons in the Good Life from an Unlikely Teacher by Sue Halpern
+15 Task (10 letters)
+5 Not-a-novel
Post Total: 20
Season Total: 35
15.3 Counting on AuthorsA Killer Plot by Ellery Adams
+15 Task (11 letters)
Post Total: 15
Season Total: 50
15.4 Counting on AuthorsThe Diary of a Bookseller by Shaun Bythell
+15 Task (12 letters)
+5 Not-a-novel
Post Total: 20
Season Total: 70
15.5 Counting on AuthorsThe Sins of the Father by Jeffrey Archer
+15 Task (13 letters)
Post Total: 15
Season Total: 85
15.6 Counting on AuthorsThe Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
+15 Task (14 letters)
Post Total: 15
Season Total: 100
15.7 Counting on AuthorsThe Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley
+15 Task (15 letters)
+5 Over 500 pages
Task Total: 20
Season Total: 120
15.8 Counting on AuthorsMurder in the South of France by Susan Kiernan-Lewis
+15 Task (17 letters)
Task Total: 15
Season Total: 135
15.9 Counting on AuthorsSpeak by Laurie Halse Anderson
+15 Task (19 letters)
Task Total: 15
Season Total: 150
15.10 Counting on AuthorsDeath of an Old Sinner by Dorothy Salisbury Davis
+15 Task (21 letters)
Task Total: 15
Season Total: 165
Coralie wrote: "Finishing bonus 100
Mega Finish: 200
"
Congratulations! Well done!
10.10 Group ReadsPiranesi by Susanna Clarke
+10 Task
+20 Combo (10.3; 20.3 - 4.29 avg; 20.5 - 1959; 20.6)
Post Total: 30
Season Total: 625
10.1 TBRFractured by Dani Atkins
When Rachel was 18, her world was torn apart by an accident. Now five years later she is beginning to suffer blinding headaches, a belated effect of her injuries. But after she collapses, she wakes to find herself in an alternative life where the original accident barely touched her, and someone who died is still alive. She can’t believe this is her real life, but she seems to have been given a second chance - maybe she should just go along with the people who tell her she has amnesia?
I enjoyed this much more than I expected from a free Kindle romance downloaded years ago, mostly because the writing style is very good. I did work out what was happening fairly soon, but that didn't spoil the story for me.
+10 Task (on my TBR since 2013)
+ 5 Combo (20.5 born 1958, posted on help thread)
+10 Review
Task Total: 25
Season Total: 1335
20.10 Musical MysteryA Dying Note by Ann Parker
+20 Task
+10 Combo (10.2; 20.6 three awards listed for this edition: A Dying Note)
Post Total: 30
Season Total: 655
20.1 SeriallyKim by Rudyard Kipling
Young Kimball O'Hara is a white orphan who has grown up as a street child in India. One day he meets a way-seeking Tibetan lama who takes him on as a disciple, and Kim's sense of adventure makes him happy to travel at the lama's side, while at the same time delivering secret messages for an old acquaintance. He's soon drawn into the 'Great Game' of espionage.
Kim is an endearing boy, but what I enjoyed most about this was the innocence of the lama and the way the book describes the breathtaking variety of scenery, people and customs in India. There are certainly some racist terms but they are usually applied by the ignorant to people who are beyond their understanding. And when someone seems to be acting out a cliché, they are doing exactly that - acting, to disguise their real purpose.
+20 Task (on the list)
+ 5 Combo (10.5)
+10 Review
+10 1001 list
Task Total: 45
RwS Finish: 100
Season Total: 1480
10.4 Truth and Reconciliation (Valerie's Task)Between Two Worlds by Miriam Tlali, indigenous to South Africa.
Post Total: 10
Season Total: 665
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Reading with Style
Books mentioned in this topic
Beyond This Point Are Monsters (other topics)Justified Secrets (other topics)
Merciful Secrets (other topics)
Silent Secrets (other topics)
Veiled Secrets (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Margaret Millar (other topics)Shawn McGuire (other topics)
Shawn McGuire (other topics)
Shawn McGuire (other topics)
Shawn McGuire (other topics)
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15.10 Counting on Authors
English Climate: Wartime Stories by Sylvia Townsend Warner
+15 Task (20 letters)
+ 5 Not a novel (short stories)
Task Total: 20
Season Total: 1310