Reading with Style discussion
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SU 22 Completed Tasks
30.41 N35 NoirNoir by Christopher Moore
+30 Task
+50 Bingo: Eighth Bingo N33, N34, N35, N39, N44
Post Total: 80
Season Total: 1250
30.42 B2 Title has 2+ B'sThe Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
+30 Task
+. 5 Jumbo
Post Total: 35
Season Total: 1285
30.43 B6 BEARDS: First letter of title is found in "beards"Ankomst by Gøhril Gabrielsen
+30 Task
Post Total: 30
Season Total: 1315
30.44 G53 Group Reads! (On RwS bookshelf)The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe
+30 Task
Post Total: 30
Season Total: 1345
20.21 O63 ORPHAN: First letter is in "orphan"His Bloody Project: Documents Relating to the Case of Roderick Macrae by Graeme Macrae Burnet
This is certainly more historical fiction than either mystery or thriller as some readers have shelved it. At the outset we know that Roderick Macrae has murdered three people. This is not a spoiler. Even those who aren't prone to read the Preface will know about the murders from the first page which begins with the testimony of one of the women in the village who sees Roderick covered in blood after he has been at the home of Lachlan MacKenzie.
I found the presentation of this story interesting. It reads and feels like creative nonfiction as if the author had done onsite research and reported his findings. I don't mean this to sound dry - it is anything but. The first pages are statements by various people of the small village of Culduie, Scotland. There is Roderick Macrae's long memoir. There are forensic reports of the bodies (parts of which are graphic) and psychiatric reports. The telling of the trial itself purports to have been taken from newspaper accounts. In this way, it feels very dispassionate and matter-of-fact.
This is defnitely not heavy on plot. I think the way the author chose to tell this story is perfectly fitting, though I wouldn't want a steady diet of it. I cannot even say the characterizations are excellent. The characterization, if it can be called that, of the village and the 1869 time period are excellent and is where this novel shines. It is a small village where all of the property is owned by the laird, all of the inhabitants renting their small dirt-floored homes. They rent the land they farm also. All are poor and well behind in their rent.
This is both more and less than I anticipated. Maybe just different as somehow I had expected a murder mystery. There is little mystery although there is a trial. I was surprised to want to follow that trial closely and wondered if the outcome would be as certain as one would expect. Would there be a surprise ending? Overall, I'm inclined to fill in the 4th star and to place it about the middle of that group.
+20 task
+ 5 Review
Task total = 25
Season total = 655
60.61 N39 - MPE 300-399Dead Water by Ann Cleeves
+60 Task
Task total = 60
Post Total: 60
Season Total: 2295
60.66 B15 1001 booksThe House on the Borderland by William Hope Hodgson
That was a drugged-out fever dream. INSANE.
As a story, meh. The “plot” is dull, and there is no horror/suspense/tension. But HOTDAMN this is WEIRD. And it is weird in a far-before-its-time way. It broke weird ground. I can see the echoes of this book in so much, and not just Lovecraft.
I can’t say I loved this - even though it’s short it doesn’t exactly clip along… but I see why it’s on the 1001 list. At times it was a bit much, but it did create a truly cinematic experience. It’s pretty stunning given when it was written (1908). Massively influential and imaginative.
+60 task
+5 review
+5 oldie
Task total = 70
Season total = 2940
B15
I
N
G
O
20.22 N36 Not a NovelThe Making of the Middle Sea: A History of the Mediterranean from the Beginning to the Emergence of the Classical World by Cyprian Broodbank
20 pts N36
5 pts Review
5 pts Over 500 pages
History of the Mediterranean Sea which begins with geology and continues through human settlement and migration into the area through about 500 BCE. Interestingly the book stops just as the Classical Greek civilization is reaching power and before the Roman Empire. In other words the history covers everything before the « ancient history » I was taught in school. As a result, much of the work relies on archeological evidence of cultures an trade pattern. Fascinating insights!
Task Total: 30 pts
Season total: 600 pts
Bingo #1. B4 B5 B6 B7 B13
Bingo #2 I16 I17 I27 I29 I30
Bingo #3 N32 N38 N39 N41 N43
B9
I22
G50 G54 G56
N36
O62
15.2 I22- Title has 2 wordsSacré Bleu by Christopher Moore
So one day Moore is sitting in a museum looking at old French paintings, and thinking about how Van Gogh killed himself, and he thinks to himself, what if there was an actual supernatural being, a muse say, who was influencing all of these guys. She'd have to be a really beautiful woman. But that's not interesting...so what if she also has a vulgar little man a la Rumpelstiltskin who is part of the story...oh yes, and remember how it seems likely that ancient peoples had no word for blue? What if it all surrounds the color.
Somehow, Moore is able to pull this off and turn it into quite an entertaining book. This was just the book that I needed right now as I'm working long hours and need something diverting, amusing, and not too taxing to listen to in short moments.
The narrator for the audiobook is excellent.
+15 Task
+5 Review
Task total: 20
Bingo #2 - B3, I22, N34, G48, O63
+50
Post total: 70
Grand total: 300
40.45 N42 New ReleaseThe Colony by Audrey Magee
+30 task pub date 2022
+50 9th bingo B5, I23, N42, G57, O68
Post total: 80
Season total: 1475
30.42-B6-First letter in "Beards"Bowie: Stardust, Rayguns & Moonage Daydreams by Mike Allred
I distinctly remember the first time I watched David Bowie on television. I was mesmerized. I watched him sing "I Got You Babe" with the totally off-key Marianne Faithful...but I loved it. That scene and many others are recreated in this beautiful graphic history of how Bowie reimagined himself and how he created the persona of Ziggy Stardust. At first, I didn't appreciate the details of band members and managers and concert snafus, But then it really served to give a complete picture of Bowie's early career. Since this book ends with the Ziggy Stardust era...I look forward to another volume that explores his later career. Wonderful artwork!
Task=30
Review=5
Task Total= 35
Grand Total=1460
B1*; _;B3*;B4*;B5*;B6; B7*; B8*;B9*;B10*;B11*:B12*; __;B14*; ___;
I16;I17*;I18*;I19*; ___; I21*; I22*; ___;___; ___;I26;I27*; ___; ___; ___;
N31*;__;N33*;__; __;N36*;N37;N38*;___;__; __;N42*; N43*;N44; __;
G _ ;G47*; __; __; __;G51*;G52*;__;G54*; __;G56*;G57*;G58; __; ___;
O61*; ___; __; __;O64*;O65*;___;O68;O69*;O70*; ___; __; _; __;O75*
30.43- N45-Set in NicaraguaThe Jaguar Smile: A Nicaraguan Journey by Salman Rushdie
It was sad news to hear about the attack on Salman Rushdie while I was reading this account of his time in the very dangerous Nicaragua of war-torn 1986. I had not been impressed by two previous fictional works by Rushdie, but this book was interesting. Not quite as gritty as Joan Didion's Salvador which serves to document the horrors of the Salvadorian conflicts. Here, Rushdie meets with the Revolution's leaders...including Daniel Ortega and his wife. A stunning number of the revolutionaries are poets. Rushdie seems sympathetic....but not when it comes to the issue of the Sandinistas closing the main newspaper La Prensa. However, this is balanced by a meeting and interview with Violetta Chammoro...who would herself later be elected as President. At the time, she was the editor of La Prensa. Rushdie is not impressed with Chammoro despite agreeing with her on the issue of censorship. In 1986, Rushdie didn't know that he would soon become the poster child of banned authors when a fatwa was pronounced against him in 1989. Definitely worth the read.
Task=30
Review=5
oldie=5
8th Bingo=50 (B6, I16, N45, G58, O68)
Task Total= 90
Grand Total=1550
B1*; _;B3*;B4*;B5*;B6*; B7*; B8*;B9*;B10*;B11*:B12*; _;B14*; ___;
I16*;I17*;I18*;I19*; ___; I21*; I22*; ___;__; ___;I26;I27*; ___; ___; ___;
N31*;__;N33*;__; _;N36*;N37;N38*;__;__; __;N42*; N43*;N44;N45*
G _ ;G47*; __; _; __;G51*;G52*;__;G54*; __;G56*;G57*;G58*; __; ___;
O61*; __; __; __;O64*;O65*;___;O68*;O69*;O70*; ___; __; _; __;O75*
60.69 N44, Author has two sets of double letters in nameStrangers We Know by Elle Marr
Oh, lordy....it's been a long time since I've read something this BAD. I've been walking around screaming, "POOP! It's utter POOP!" since finishing it.
The characters are infinitely unlikable, the plot absurd, the writing painfully poopy. I wish I had a more eloquent review, but "poop" pretty much covers it.
Between the whining of the main character about her unnamed and unexplained yet mentioned-ad-nauseam health issues, the serial killer's "jeans strain[ing] against [his] growing chub" every time he thinks about killing someone, and the weird religious cult aspect that felt like an afterthought to explain things, I wanted to tear this atrocity up and put a match to it (despite my strong feelings against book burning). It was soooo bad. Poop.
+60 Task
+5 Review
Task total: 65
Season total: 3170
B 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
I 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
N 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45
G 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 56, 57, 58, 60
O 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 74, 75
60.67 - G55 Title has a word with a double GBluebeard's Egg by Margaret Atwood
double g found in eGG
+60 Task
+5 (pub 1983)
Post Total: 65
Season Total: 2,775
60.68 - I23 Set in: Italy, Iran, Indonesia, Iceland, IndiaSelection Day by Aravind Adiga
India
+60 Task
Post Total: 60
Season Total: 2,835
60.67. RwS shelfBaby Teeth by Zoje Stage
I honestly wonder… are there any books about the horrors of fatherhood? Yeah, no.
This books had me feeling anxious and angry for most of it, for three reasons. #1 is the motherhood horror. And that is real. Women lose something when they have a kid, and that’s what all these bad-seed books capitalize on. Hopefully, we get something in return for what we give up, but there is the fear that we won’t… and even when we do have perfectly fine, loving kids, there are times when it still sees like a bad bargain. The men keep being themselves, plus the title of daddy, when we are just all mommy all the time. My kids are not needy babies anymore and still the other day I had a meltdown because I needed some freaking space. So going worst-case with all of that always makes for good horror.
#2 is women not being believed. Need I say more?
#3 though, is where I hated this book. So this is over-the-top horror, where the kid is an evil plotter. Born bad. She just is. We know this because half the books is her POV, and she’s not a victim or misunderstood - she knows exactly what she is doing and enjoys it. However, she also has a lot of autistic and other neurodiverse traits, and othering crap like this does REAL HARM. In the real world, motivations are assumed and kids get labeled as defiant, manipulative, lazy, emotionless, etc because many NTs only accept/relate to their own neurotype. It makes me want to SCREAM.
Playing into those sensationalist fears… ugh.
+60 task
+5 review
Task total = 65
Season total = 3005
B15
I
N
G53
O
15.19 - B4, Before: Historical FictionRain by Michael McDowell
Set in the 60's, writeen in the 80's
+15 Task
+ 5 1997 or earlier (1983)
Task total = 20
Season total = 415
B:
I:
N:
G:
O:
15.20 - N32, Neighbors - on another GR group's bookshelfThe Octopus and I by Erin Hortle
Aussie readers group - https://www.goodreads.com/group/books...
+15 Task
Task total = 15
Season total = 430
B:
I:
N:
G:
O:
20.1 - I21, INFLOW: First letter of title is found in "inflow"Fragments of Feminity by Olivier Pont
+20 Task
+50 Bingo (B5, I21, N32, G50, O71)
Task total = 70
Season total = 500
B:
I:
N:
G:
O:
20.2 - I24, In search of ----------- Adventure!Les Contreforts by Guillaume Sire
The novel is centered around a medieval fortified castle that is falling in ruins and the old nobility family that is wildly living on it of hunting and wine-making ; unable to get aid for the renovation of the castle, they are to be expropriated, so the family is starting a mission to resist and defend the castle.
+20 Task
Task total = 20
Season total = 520
B:
I:
N:
G:
O:
20.3 - N42, New release: pub'd in 2021 or 2022Forget Me Not by Alix Garin
first published January 15th 2021
+20 Task
Task total = 20
Season total = 540
B:
I:
N:
G:
O:
20.25 N33 - 3 or more N's in title Portrait of an Unknown Woman
Daniel Silva and his protagonist Gabriel are a end of the summer staple for me. It is like manna from heaven for me.
Our new adventure finds Gabriel setting off, shaky and unsure, in his new life away from The Office. Notoriety, however, finds him and within pages he is wrapped up in an Art World scandal that could have shattering consequences. Unfortunately, old friends from The Office only make a few cameo appearances, and that made me sad. I hope it is not a sign of things to come. There are however, friends from his other world that star in this latest episode. Christopher and the Goat for one, whose relationship is a hoot. We also get to know Gabriel's children a bit more and Irene could turn into a favorite of mine without any help from the author. Adorable, sassy and intelligent-just want to pinch her cheeks and spend the day with her.
I will continue this series until Silva gives it up. Escapism at it's most fun for me.
Task 20
Review 5
Total Task 25
Season Total 605
20.4 - N35, NoirBlack Water Lilies by Michel Bussi
+20 Task
Task Total = 20
Season total = 560
B:
I:
N:
G:
O:
20.6 - I27, Main character is a Private EyePartners in Crime by Agatha Christie
+20 Task
+5 1997 or earlier (1929)
Task total = 25
Season total = 585
B:
I:
N:
G:
O:
20.28 - B3 - Booker PrizeOn Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan
+20 task - 2007 nominee
Task total: 20
Grand total: 660
60.70 O73, OutdoorsHatchet by Gary Paulsen
Have you ever seen Alone on the History Channel? It's this insane show where ten contestants are dropped in a remote wilderness location (each in a separate location) with ten items of their choosing and the person who lasts the longest in the wild wins. They encounter bears and other terrifying wildlife, have to build a sustainable shelter, and figure out how not to starve all the while documenting it on camera.
I feel like the people who came up with that show were heavily influenced by this book.
Thirteen-year-old Brian is headed to Canada to spend the summer with his dad. Unfortunately, the Cessna's pilot has a heart attack and Brian has to land the plane on his own once it finally runs out of gas. He crashes it into a lake and barely survives the landing. Now starts the business of survival until he's either rescued or dies.
While the writing wasn't fabulous, the story was compelling and I think if I were a teenage/preteen boy, this would be my favorite book on the planet.
+60 Task
+5 Review
+5 Oldies, pub. 1987
Task total: 70
Season total: 3240
B 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
I 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
N 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45
G 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 56, 57, 58, 60
O 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75
60.68 O70 published 70sCreepy Archives Volume 16 by Luis Bermejo
1975-1976, confirmed in the librarian thread
Well. Not what I expected. I foolishly assumed that this would be pulpy Crypt-Keepery goodness. Heavy on the monsters and gore. But this is mid-70s, so I overshot by few decades.
And wow, this is peak 70s. Or what pop culture osmosis tells me was peak 70s. IDK - before my time.
Anyway, the “horror” for most of this was about war, “The Man”, loss of freedom/individuality, the inevitability of death … that kind of thing. Occasionally there was something more quaint and classic, and those stood out like sore thumbs.
The final issue, a Christmas Special, was the best of the bunch. The stories had a fairy tale quality, very suited to the season.
ETA I just double checked and yep… the xmas issue was published in February. Okay then, lol.
+60 task
+5 review
+5 oldie
Task total = 70
Season total = 3075
B15
I
N
G53
O70
60.69 N41 Title includes a number (either numerals or letters)44 Scotland Street. Alexander McCall Smith
This is a new series by a favorite author, set in Scotland and very philosophical in nature. This study of human nature is set in an apartment building and features occupants such as Bertie, a young boy wise beyond his years and his overbearing mother, narcissistic Bruce, with whom young Pat imagines herself in love, and Domenica. Matthew, an art gallery owner and painter Angus Lordie with his gold-toothed grinning dog. Alexander McCall Smith is definitely a comfort read for me.
+60 - task
+5 - review
+50 - Bingo #12: N35; N37; N38; N41; N45
Post total: 115
Season total: 3090
B:
I:
N:
G:
O:
(view spoiler)
60.69 N40 published in the ‘40sThe Black Spider by Jeremias Gotthelf
Published 1842
Arachnophobes and vainglorious women beware!
This was an unexpected little gem of a dark fairy tale. It’s all about morality - a little town with an evil lord makes a deal with the devil, then tries to cheat the devil, and things go poorly. The devil is vanquished by a god-fearing woman, but eventually the moral of her story is forgotten and the devil comes back. Things go poorly. But faith in god overcomes the devil once more, and as long as you remember WHY and remain good little children All will be well.
Standard morality tale stuff there.
What makes this a gem is the absolutely unhinged glee that comes across in the havoc. It’s creative and nasty and kind of funny and while I am well aware that fairy tales can be grim, this is truly horror. And when it’s not being horrific, it’s lovely and pastoral.
+60 task
+5 review
+5 oldie
Task total = 70
Season total = 3145
B15
I
N40
G53
O70
30.44- N41- Numbers in TitleThe Reader on the 6.27 by Jean-Paul Didierlaurent
Another quirky read...but this one worked for me. It is clearly a parable. The main character, Guylain Vignolles, leads a strange and mostly solitary life. He goes to his awful job everyday pulping a publisher's overstocked books. He tells his mother that he has a job in publishing. He tells his woes to his goldfish. His one pleasure is to read out loud a page or two that escaped the digester at work. The pages are disconnected to any known work..but he draws something of an audience during his 20 minute trip. One day, he finds a memory stick that contains more diary-like excerpts.... and this presents a mystery that must be solved. Not a must read...but an enjoyable diversion. Probably would make a cute movie.
Task=30
Review=5
Task Total= 35
Grand Total=1585
B1*; _;B3*;B4*;B5*;B6*; B7*; B8*;B9*;B10*;B11*:B12*; _;B14*; ___;
I16*;I17*;I18*;I19*; __; I21*; I22*; __;__; __;I26;I27*; __; ___; ___;
N31*;__;N33*;__;_;N36*;N37;N38*;__;__;N41;N42*;N43*;N44;N45*
G _ ;G47*; __; _; __;G51*;G52*;__;G54*; __;G56*;G57*;G58*; __; ___;
O61*; __; __; __;O64*;O65*;___;O68*;O69*;O70*; ___; __; _; __;O75*
60.69 - B14 Set in: BC (Can), Brazil, Belgium, Botswana, BahamasThe Real Hergé: The Inspiration Behind Tintin by Sian Lye
Belgium
Post Total: 60
Season Total: 2,895
60.71 O67, Owned book, get it off your shelf!Stories I'd Tell in Bars by Jen Lancaster
I've had this on my Kindle bookshelf for years, one of my ten-at-a-time allowed Kindle Unlimited reads in fact...it's been clogging a slot for ages but I couldn't bring myself to return it without having read it yet so many other books got in the way...
So glad I finally read it! With the same sharp wit as Lindy West (The Witches Are Coming) and the heart of Andie Mitchell (It Was Me All Along) these essays hit a perfect balance of laugh out loud situations and insightful observation. I highly recommend the audio version (read by the author, with a P.S. to each chapter written and read by her husband).
+60 Task
+5 Review
Task total: 65
Season total: 3305
B 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
I 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
N 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45
G 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 56, 57, 58, 60
O 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75
20.6 - O75, 75 Years Old: Author is AgedMiss Marple au club du mardi by Agatha Christie
She died at 85 years old
+20 Task
+5 1997 or older (1932)
Task total = 25
Season total = 610
B:
I:
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60.62 B1 - Title has one wordTaboo by Kim Scott
+60 Task
Task total = 60
Post Total: 60
Season Total: 2355
60.70 I27 Private InvestigatorBlacksad by Juan Díaz Canales
This a a pulpy noir with great art. Really fantastic - the line work, the coloring - it’s top-notch. And if you are a fan of noir or classic “hard bitten” crime, well this is for you. It’s very Bogart and Bacall as cats. Or a cat and a dog? A fox? A cat and a female of some sort.
That was really my only problem with the series. The women are all sexy sexpots (or mousey literal mice), and they almost looked the same. Pert little muzzles and aahOOOga human bodies… there was a template and the artist stuck to it. Sigh.
It’s a bummer because it shows that the women characters are just there for the Gaze.
+60 task
+5 review
+50 BINGO
Task total = 115
Season total = 3260
B15
I27
N40
G53
O70
20.26 G52 GR's Choice AwardsLost Lake -2014 Nominee for Fiction
Sarah Addison Allen came to my attention from readers at one of my challenge groups. I cannot remember who it was, but I want to thank you. Addison's book are ones I reach for when all I want, or need , is escapism into someone else's life. Addison fits the bill. I will need to find another author soon though, as I only have 1 more of her older books and her new one left to read.
Although this is probably my least favorite by this author, it hit the mark for what I needed this week. The story is about Kate and her daughter Devin, who have lost their husband/father to a terrible accident. A year later Kate is still trying to find her way. There's a pushy mother-in-law, a long forgotten aunt and, of course, a troupe of other women to round the story out.
Didn't love this one, but enjoyed the escape
Task Points 20
Review 5
Total Task 25
Season Total 625
20.7 - G56, Get the giggles: HumorMicrocosme by Manu Larcenet
As stated in the french review : "... a succession of hilarious and caustic strips"
+20 Task
+50 Bingo (B4, I24, N42, G56, O75)
Task total = 70
Season total = 680
B:
I:
N:
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30.41 - G47 - Gothic Labyrinths: Selected Stories & Other Writings by Jorge Luis Borges
As it says, a book of short stories and other writings. Some made me think, but others just made me shrug and move on.
I see that when I read Borges' Fictions in 2016 I gave it 5 stars, so it seems a little mean to only give this one 3 stars when as far as I recall it is very similar. Just mood, perhaps.
+30 Task (only 3 shelvings, but some of the tales are definitely gothic)
+ 5 Review
+ 5 Oldies (1962)
Task Total = 40
Season Total = 1425
60.70 O65 Book pub'd in the 70s, any centurySideways Stories from Wayside School. Louis Sachar
This was published at the beginning of my childbearing years (1978), so it surprises me that it wasn't something that I read to my children. We shared many books, including long chapter books and now they are all voracious readers. This was a humorous, tongue in cheek book about a wacky school and children that are sometimes smarter than the adults. A bit of a break from a long summer of reading.
+60 - task
+5 - review
Post total: 65
Season total: 3155
B:
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(view spoiler)
40.46 O66 Title has a repeated wordRun Rose Run by Dolly Parton
+30 task
Post total: 30
Season total: 1505
60.63 I22 - Title has two wordsThe Hike by Drew Magary
+60 Task
Task total = 60
Post Total: 60
Season Total: 2415
60.71 I30 published 1930sPopeye Vol. 1: Olive Oyl and Her Sweety by E.C. Segar
1932, verified in librarian thread
Popeye was never a favorite of mine. I never read the comic, but reruns of the cartoon were inescapable in my early childhood. But the moment I started reading, I heard the voices. A very vivid memory of watching an episode floated up… very trippy.
This character was an oldie when I was little, so I thought my kids would have no clue. It certainly was not part of their cartoon lineup, ever. After I finished I asked my kids if they knew who Popeye was, and to my surprise both did. “The Sailor Man, right? Spinach?” Well blow me down! This was such a popular character that in 2022, a 12 and 14 year old are familiar with him, even if they don’t quite know why. Such is the power of memes. Amazing.
Since the cartoon was not a favorite, I had low expectations for the comic strip. And taken as a book it is repetitive and not always engaging. But it was a volume operation, so I can forgive the overall lack of story. Still - I laughed out loud more than once. This was silly and amusing - what more do you want out of the Sunday funny paper?
+60 task
+5 review
+5 oldie
Task total = 70
Season total = 3330
Final bingo!!!:
B
I30
N
G
O
60.64 G53 - Group readsThe House of Broken Angels by Luis Alberto Urrea
+60 Task
Task total = 60
Post Total: 60
Season Total: 2475
20.27 N41-number in titleHero of Two Worlds: The Marquis de Lafayette in the Age of Revolution
A marvelous "two-fer" (another GR's reviewers description of the book, and I loved it, so I stole it). With this book you get a comprehensive biography of Lafayette AND an excellent account of The French Revolution. I picked up the book because I had done some reading on the American Revolution earlier this year and wanted to know more about this man. I got every thing I needed to know the man, and perhaps the best explanation of how and why the French revolted shortly after the Americans. Like the Americans. the French spent years fighting to gain basic freedoms and Lafayette was at the heart of all of it.
I learned so many things about this man's amazing long life. I had no idea he had spent 5 years in an Austrian prison. The last of of those years in solitary confinement. For him to survive this and then live into his late 70's, just amazing. Another thing that surprised me: George Washington sheltered Lafayette's son for 2 years to keep him out of harms way. Many books gloss over the facts of the friendships that Lafayette forged during his time in America. Not only Washington, but Hamilton, Monroe, Jefferson, these men and many more all were lifetime friends of Lafayette.
For a book like this the research has to be impeccable, and it is. Excerpts from letters between Washington and Lafayette and also those written to and from his family are found throughout.
+20 Task
+5 Review
Total Task 25
Season Total 650
30.45 B11 Rooting for the Bad Guy (any)Arsène Lupin, Gentleman-Thief by Maurice Leblanc
+30 Task
+. 5 Pre- 1997
+50 Bingo: Ninth Bingo B1, B2, B6, B11, B12
Post Total: 85
Season Total: 1430
30.45 G58 Ghosts! (or other paranormal)The Night Visitors by Carol Goodman
+30 Task
Post Total: 30
Season Total: 1460
60.72 Guardian 1000. (Crime)Double Indemnity by James M. Cain
SO GOOD! The classic status of this short novel is very well earned.
And YES THANK YOU for the brevity. There’s nothing extra in this book, no padding. Thus, the suspense is always nice and taut. If this were written today, there would be flashbacks and backstories… the red herrings would be very drawn out…. And while more is not always a bad thing, here I appreciated the absolute economy of story. I was hooked, and never bored.
I never saw the film based on this book, so the twists and turns took me by surprise. Really loved this!
P.S. This one will fit a lot of tasks for the season and it’s a brilliantly fast read… highly recommend it!
+60 task
+5 review
+5 oldie
Task total = 70
Season total = 3400
B
I30
N
G57
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Reading with Style
Books mentioned in this topic
When Bad Things Happen to Good People (other topics)The Lord Is My Shepherd: Healing Wisdom of the Twenty-third Psalm (other topics)
The Fairy Caravan (other topics)
Before the Coffee Gets Cold (other topics)
Fascination In France (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Harold S. Kushner (other topics)Beatrix Potter (other topics)
Toshikazu Kawaguchi (other topics)
Barbara Cartland (other topics)
C.J. Sansom (other topics)
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The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin
+30 Task - Nebula Award Nominee, Best Novel (2014)
Post Total: 30
Season Total: 1170