Reading with Style discussion

20.3 The Madonna of the Cat

Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy

Bathsheba Everdene, an independent beautiful young woman, inherited her uncle's farm in rural southwestern England. Complications arise between Bathsheba and her three very different suitors. Gabriel Oaks is as solid and strong in character as his name suggests. Sergeant Troy, who lives for the moment, is a seductive cad. Bathsheba's neighbor, Mr Boldwood, is a middle-aged, serious man who is becoming alarmingly obsessed in his quest to win her hand in marriage. The scene is set for an explosive confrontation.

The book has vibrant characters including the chorus of farm hands who make humorous and honest comments in the local dialect. Thomas Hardy's descriptions of the landscape show his love of rural England and the natural world. The book follows the seasonal activities on the farm from sheep shearing to drying the hay. Nature and Chance are not always kind. However, the characters who respect and adjust to Nature are the ones who survive. "Far From the Madding Crowd" was a very enjoyable Victorian novel.

+20 task (Bathsheba has a cat, pages 5 and 23 of Penguin version.)
+10 review

Task total: 30
Season total: 685

10.6 Modernism

I Was Jack Mortimer by Alexander Lernet-Holenia

So I was wandering around my shelves the other day and saw I'd put this on my wish list back in 2017 and then promptly ignored it. But something else caught my attention that had also been published by Pushkin Vertigo and so I wandered over to their website. (Yep, sometimes I do book wandering. It can be such a pleasant waste of time!) I was reminded about this title and picked it up for Kindle.

Ferdinand Sponer picked up a fare near the train station. By the time he got to the requested destination, his fare was dead. A quick investigation showed Jack Mortimer had been shot sometime after entering Sponer's cab. Sponer panicked. He thought if he went to the police he'd be accused of murder. But what was he to do with the body? And then, wouldn't Jack Mortimer be missed at his hotel?

This is written in third person limited. The internal dialogue is good. Sponer is not maybe fully fleshed, but his characterization is done well. The plot is excellent. This is not a detective mystery and there is no investigation to follow. For most of the short novel I thought little of who might the murder have been. I was entirely focused on the predicament Sponer had found himself and in which he had made worse.

This may be a one off for me by this author, but there is always the chance I'll see another and pick it up on a whim. This climbs into the 4-star group.

+10 Task
+10 Review
+15 Combo (10.3 - 1933, 10.9 - 192 pgs, 20.10 - set entirely in Austria)
+10 LiT

Task total = 45

Season total = 1250

10.9 Anniversaries

A Rare Interest in Corpses by Ann Granger

A new mystery series to me . . . This book sets up a collaboration between Elizabeth Martin, Ladies companion and Ben Ross, a police inspector. They have a very slight childhood acquaintance and are thrown together by a murder mystery.

The novel is structured as separate and alternating chapters, each written in from the first person perspective of eithe Ben or Lizzie. It is an effective device to move the story towards its conclusion while also giving the reader insight into the lives of the protagonists. As expected with this type of book, a romance begins to bloom as well

A very enjoyable read, I will be looking fot the next book in the series.


10 pts 10.9 Anniversaries
10 pts Review


Task Total: 20 pts
Season total =1300 pts

Post 653

10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 … 10.8 10.9 10.10
20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 20.6 20.7 20.8 20.9 20.10
15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 15.7 15.8 15.9 15.10

10.7 Strange New Worlds (Karen Michele's task)

How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu
#64 on Cli-Fi list

+10 task
+5 combo (20.6 - each chapter is from a different point of view, some of the stories having same characters or connected stories)
+50 halfway bonus

Post Total = 65
Season Total = 1375

10.1 (x2); 10.2; 10.3 (x2); 10.4; 10.5; 10.6 (x3); 10.7; 10.8; 10.9 (x3); 10.10 (x2)
15.1; 15,2; 15.3; 15.4; 15.5; 15.6; 15.7;
20.1; 20.2; 20.3 (x4); 20.4; 20.5 (x3); 20.6 (x3); 20.7; 20.8; 20.9; 20.10 (x3)
30.1 (x2)

20.10 World of Crime (Rosemary's task)

The Girl Who Takes an Eye for an Eye by David Lagercrantz

+20 task
+15 combo (10.5- "Who's WHO in Hell"; 20.6 - many different perspectives - not limited to those characters listed; 20.9 - one of the story threads looks at the revelation of the conspiracy to keep a research project from becoming public)

Post Total = 35
Season Total = 1410

10.1 (x2); 10.2; 10.3 (x2); 10.4; 10.5; 10.6 (x3); 10.7; 10.8; 10.9 (x3); 10.10 (x2)
15.1; 15,2; 15.3; 15.4; 15.5; 15.6; 15.7;
20.1; 20.2; 20.3 (x4); 20.4; 20.5 (x3); 20.6 (x3); 20.7; 20.8; 20.9; 20.10 (x4)
30.1 (x2)

20.1 The National Gallery

Kusama: The Graphic Novel by Elisa Macellari

Graphic Novel, no styles
A surprise find walking through the library. We have an exhibition of Kusama's works starting here at the end of the year

Post Total = 20
Season Total = 1430

10.1 (x2); 10.2; 10.3 (x2); 10.4; 10.5; 10.6 (x3); 10.7; 10.8; 10.9 (x3); 10.10 (x2)
15.1; 15,2; 15.3; 15.4; 15.5; 15.6; 15.7;
20.1 (x2); 20.2; 20.3 (x4); 20.4; 20.5 (x3); 20.6 (x3); 20.7; 20.8; 20.9; 20.10 (x4)
30.1 (x2)

15.8 HDYGG?

Hiroshima Diary: The Journal of a Japanese Physician, August 6-September 30, 1945 by Michihiko Hachiya

Vegetables
Japan, Jalapeno
Hiroshima, Heart of Palm

Herbs
238 pages
8, rosemary

Flowers
hiroshIMa DIary: thE joUrNaL of a japanese PHysician, august 6-september 30, 1945 DELPHINIUM+
hirOshima diary: the journal of a japanese physician, AuGust 6-septemBER 30, 1945 BORAGE
hiroshima diary: the jOurnal of a jaPaNEse phYsician, august 6-september 30, 1945 PEONY
hIRoShima diary: the journal of a japanese physIcian, august 6-september 30, 1945 IRIS

Plants used this post =7
Total plants used = 42

+15 points
+5 flower bonus

Post Total = 20
Season Total = 1450

10.1 (x2); 10.2; 10.3 (x2); 10.4; 10.5; 10.6 (x3); 10.7; 10.8; 10.9 (x3); 10.10 (x2)
15.1; 15,2; 15.3; 15.4; 15.5; 15.6; 15.7; 15.8;
20.1 (x2); 20.2; 20.3 (x4); 20.4; 20.5 (x3); 20.6 (x3); 20.7; 20.8; 20.9; 20.10 (x4)
30.1 (x2)

Task 15.08 HDYGG?

The Museum of Human History (2023) by Rebekah Bergman (Goodreads Author) (Paperback 244 pages)

Flowers:
The mUseum of hUMNA hISToRy = NASTURTIUM+


1 Plant this post
29 Total plants in the garden


+15 task
+05 flower bonus

Task Total: 15 + 05 = 20

Grand Total: 490 + 20 = 510

20.9 Beware the Ides of March

Iron Lake by William Kent Krueger

There is a conspiracy which involves skimming profits from the new Native American Casino. Many of the high office citizens are involved.

Review

Recommended to me by many in IRL friends, this was the perfect time for me to give this author a go, because it fit many of the challenge's that I do. Not being a heavy mystery reader, I enjoyed this much more than I expected too.

The first episode of Cork O'Conner, a disgraced ex-sheriff, tossed out husband, and the father of 3 young children he desperately wants to raise.

The story takes place in a small town in Northern Minnesota, that also houses a Native American reservation and new casino. The mystery is deep and complex and though it took half the book, I had the ending pretty well figured out by then. This did not distract from the enjoyment of the story though. I liked learning the history and the myths of the Native American tribe .

I liked all of the characters, also deep and complex, even those I disliked immediately. For being a debut Krueger proved he has what it takes to sustain a long running series. I will add book 2 onto the TBR, but this month has given me my fill of mystery reading for the year-LoL.

+20 Task
+10 Reveiw
+5 Combo (10.4-Krueger was born in 1950)
Task Total 35
Season Total 840

30.1 Go for the Green Redux

Bahamas

Bahama Burnout: A Mick Sever Mystery by Don Bruns

This mystery takes place wholly in the Bahamas. Music journalist, Mick Sever, has been sent there to cover the story of music studio recovering after a devastating fire. You do get a sense of place in the novel – tourists, palm trees, colorful building, and the beach seeming to be a short stroll away. You also got some fun name dropping of musical artists, which to be honest I didn’t expect. The mystery is twisty and seems complicated (until it’s not!).

I wasn’t that keen on the reader though. He has an odd intonation, that I found distracting until I got used to it. This is not literature, and I was wavering between 2.5 and 3* until I neared the end. The solution to the crime(s) made complete sense and there were no pat answers – this pushed it to 3* for me.

30 task
10 review
5 combo 20.3 = little gray cat, Oliver
________
45

Running total: 1265

20.5 Surprised!

There's Nothing to Be Afraid Of by Marcia Muller

Task=20

Task total=20
Season Total=330

Books read=11
Tasks Completed: 10
10.3; 10.9 (2x)
15.1
20.2; 20.3; 20.5 (4x); 20.6; 20.10

20.5 Surprised!

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff-5/7/24-

Task=20

Task total=20
Season Total=350

Books read=11
Tasks Completed: 10
10.3; 10.9 (2x)
15.1
20.2; 20.3; 20.5 (5x); 20.6; 20.10 (2x)

15.8 HDYGG?

The Sisterhood: The Secret History of Women at the CIA by Liza Mundy

thesisteRhOodthesecRethistorYofWomenAtthecia yarrow
thesIsTerhoodtheseCreThistoryofwoMeNattheciA catmint

2 flowers
Season garden: 21 flowers/5 vegs/9 herbs = 35 plants

+15 task

Season total: 250

15.9 HDYGG?

Hedy's Folly: The Life and Breakthrough Inventions of Hedy Lamarr, the Most Beautiful Woman in the World by Richard Rhodes

Flowers

hEdy'S FOLly the life aNd bReakthroUgh inventions of hedy lamarr the most beautiful Woman in the world SUNFLOWER+
hedY's folly the life and breakthrough inventions of hedy lamARR the most beautiful woman in the WOrld YARROW
hedy's folLY the LIfe and breakthrough inventions of hedy lamarr the most beautiful woman in the world
hedy's folly the life and breakthrough inVEnTIOns of hedy Lamarr the most beautiful woman in the world VIOLET

Plants used this post =4
Total plants used = 46

+15 points
+5 flower bonus

Post Total = 20
Season Total = 1470

10.1 (x2); 10.2; 10.3 (x2); 10.4; 10.5; 10.6 (x3); 10.7; 10.8; 10.9 (x3); 10.10 (x2)
15.1; 15,2; 15.3; 15.4; 15.5; 15.6; 15.7; 15.8; 15.9;
20.1 (x2); 20.2; 20.3 (x4); 20.4; 20.5 (x3); 20.6 (x3); 20.7; 20.8; 20.9; 20.10 (x4)
30.1 (x2)

20.10 World of Crime (Rosemary's task)

The Girl Who Lived Twice by David Lagercrantz

+20 task
+10 combo (10.5- "Who's WHO in Hell"; 20.6 - many different perspectives - not limited to those characters listed)

Post Total = 30
Season Total = 1500

10.1 (x2); 10.2; 10.3 (x2); 10.4; 10.5; 10.6 (x3); 10.7; 10.8; 10.9 (x3); 10.10 (x2)
15.1; 15,2; 15.3; 15.4; 15.5; 15.6; 15.7; 15.8; 15.9;
20.1 (x2); 20.2; 20.3 (x4); 20.4; 20.5 (x3); 20.6 (x3); 20.7; 20.8; 20.9; 20.10 (x5)
30.1 (x2)

10.3 St. Patrick's Day

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

Published 2023

Review

A prelude to Baldree's debut Legends & Lattes, which I liked a bit more than this one. After Legends was such a hit, the publishers insisted the author get a second one out-pronto-"sigh". The moneymakers will never understand the pressure they put upon writers with that dictate. In the authors notes, Baldree talks about the the rough time he had getting this one out-and I praise him for his honesty.

This story takes us back to Viv's beginnings as a mercenary. While out with her company she sustains an injury and is put up in a small seaside town for recovery. Left on her own, she wanders the town and finds a small bookshop, where she becomes fast friends with Fern, who shares her love of books, and helps Viv become an avid reader. We also meet other townies and some stranger creatures appear that make the story fun and exciting.

I loved finding out where the sword, we see so much of in Legends, came from. I look forward to hearing more about Viv and all the friends from both books.

+10 Task
+10 Review
Task Total 20
Season Total 860

10.9 - Anniversaries

The Shadows of Pike Place by D.D. Black

+10 task - 270 pgs

Task total: 10
Grand total: 595

20.10 - World of Crime

The Darkness by Ragnar Jónasson

+20 task - Iceland
+10 Translation

Task total: 30
Grand total: 625

20.9 Beware the Ides of March (Joanna's task)

Cadillac Beach by Tim Dorsey-5/20/24-
The plot is a madcap romp with the two main characters attempting to recover gems stolen 50 years earlier by one of the character's grandfather. Along the way, murders, fraud and all kinds of illegal craziness ensues.

Task=20
Combo= 5 (10.9- 400p.)

Task total=25
Season Total=375

10.3; 10.9 (2x)
15.1
20.2; 20.3; 20.5 (5x); 20.6; 20.9; 20.10 (2x)

30.1 Go for the Green Redux-Luxembourg

The Candidate by Daniel Pembrey

Task=30
Combo= 25 (10.2; 10.3-2013; 10.9- 102p.; 20.9*; 20.10)
*The Russians have a spy (spies?) embedded in a Luxembourg company trying to steal trade secrets.)

Task total=55
Season Total=430

10.3; 10.9 (2x)
15.1
20.2; 20.3; 20.5 (5x); 20.6; 20.9; 20.10 (2x)
30.1

10.9 Anniversaries (Apple's task)

Riders of the Purple Sage Zane Grey- 320p.

Task=10

Task total=10
Season Total=440

10.3; 10.9 (3x)
15.1
20.2; 20.3; 20.5 (5x); 20.6; 20.9; 20.10 (2x)
30.1

20.5 Surprised!

Mrs. Pollifax and the Golden Triangle by Dorothy Gilman


Task=20
Combo= 5 (20.10- Thailand)

Task total=15
Season Total=465

10.3; 10.9 (3x)
15.1
20.2; 20.3; 20.5 (6x); 20.6; 20.9; 20.10 (2x)
30.1

10.9 Anniversaries (Apple's task)

No Filter by Heather Day Gilbert-5/15/24- 242p.

Task=10

Task total=10
Season Total=475

10.3; 10.9 (4x)
15.1
20.2; 20.3; 20.5 (6x); 20.6; 20.9; 20.10 (2x)
30.1

10.4 Baby Boom

A Traveller on Horseback by Christina Dodwell
Author born 1951

Task=10

Task total=10
Season Total=485

10.3; 10.4; 10.9 (4x)
15.1
20.2; 20.3; 20.5 (6x); 20.6; 20.9; 20.10 (2x)
30.1

20.1 The National Gallery

The Rose Grower by Michelle de Kretser

+20 Task: "American artist and amateur balloonist Stephen Fletcher" is a main character
+ 5 Combo: 10.4 Baby Boom

Task total = 25
Season Total = 1500

20.2 The Virgin of the Rocks

The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan

+20 Task: Less than half of the pages are illustrated.
+10 Combo: 10.9 Anniversaries (320) / 10.4 Baby Boom

Task total = 30
Season Total = 1530

20.6 Fruit Dish, Bottle and Violin

Tales from the Café by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

+20 The man who goes back to see his best friend who died 22 years ago
The son who was unable to attend his own mother’s funeral
The man who travelled to see the girl who he could not marry
The old detective who never gave his wife that gift...
+ 5 Combo: 10.9 Anniversaries (192)

Task total = 25
Season Total = 1560 (+5 adjustment - thanks!)

15.9 HDYGG?

An Old, Cold Grave by Iona Whishaw

Flower: clover

Season garden: 22 flowers/5 vegs/9 herbs = 36 plants

+15 task

Season total: 265

15.7 - How Does Your Garden Grow?

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

Dandelion, Borage (The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes)
Cucumber (Capitol)
Thyme (541)

+15 Task
+5 Flower bonus

Task total = 20

Points total = 665

10.1 (x3) ; 10.2; 10.3 ; 10.4 ; 10.5 ; 10.6 ; … ; 10.8 ; 10.9 ; 10.10
15.1 ; 15.2 ; 15.3 ; 15.4 ; 15.5 ; 15.6 ; 15.7 ; … ; … ; … (23 plants)
20.1 ; 20.2 ; 20.3 ; 20.4 ; 20.5 ; 20.6 ; 20.7 ; 20.8 ; 20.9 ; 20.10

Post 626 Karen Michele wrote: "20.6 Fruit Dish, Bottle and Violin

Hungry Ghosts by Kevin Jared Hosein

+20 Task: Told by Krishna, Marlee, Shweta and more

Task total = 20
Season Total = 1100"

+5 Combo 10.3

Post 632 Kathleen (itpdx) wrote: "10.5 Golden Broadway Shows

The Year of the Locust by Terry Hayes

This is a spy thriller that slides off to a sci-fi apocalypse before course correcting at the end..."

+10 Jumbo

20.2 The Virgin of the Rocks

My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
Lexile 810

A boy runs away from home to the woods, where he has some idea of how to survive. He makes his home in a hollow tree, visits the library in the nearest town, hunts and fishes, and does indeed figure out how to survive. But he finds that surviving isn’t necessarily all there is to life.

I enjoyed this, but I understood the publisher's initial fear that it would push kids to run away to the woods where they would not survive in reality! Also, you have to not mind reading about animals being trapped and killed, which I think would be upsetting for some kids.

+20 Task
+10 Review

Post total = 30
Season Total = 1400

20.8 Fancy Meeting You Here

Moriarty by Anthony Horowitz

Set just after the events at the Reichenbach Falls, where Sherlock Holmes and his enemy Professor Moriarty apparently fell to their deaths (Conan Doyle resurrected Holmes after massive protests), this book follows Inspector Athelney Jones (who first appeared in The Sign of Four) as he is drawn into an investigation involving an American gangster who has profited from Moriarty's demise to take over the underworld of London.

It's hard to write a review of this book without spoilers. It disappointed me, mostly because I thought the solution was clear long before it was "revealed". Some of the reasons for that are mentioned in the finale, so the author was aware of how much he was giving away. I also found the story very sad. 3 stars, but barely.

+20 Task (Insp Athelney Jones, Insp Lestrade, and others from the Conan Doyle stories)
+20 Combo (10.4 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony..., 10.9 285 pages, 20.7 Insp Jones visits Switzerland, 20.9 at least two criminal conspiracies)
+10 Review

+50 Halfway finish 20-pt tasks
+200 Mega finish

Post total = 300
Season Total = 1700

20.3 The Madonna of the Cat

The Killings at Badger's Drift by Caroline Graham

+20 task (Lucy Bellringer owned a cat named Wellington)
+20 combo (10.9 261 pgs, 10.10 group read; 20.1-MC Michael Lacey was a painter; 20.5 apostrophe)

Task total=40
Season total=130

Thanks for this selection Valerie! The series had escaped my notice, but I enjoyed this and plan to read more.

10.7 Strange New Worlds

The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood

Very disturbing book, to call this dystopian is an understatement. Margaret Atwood has created a world destroyed by human-driven climate change, genetic engineering and violence. There seems to be little good in the world with the Gardeners coming closest to a benevolent social structure. However even they cannot really be seen as kind or altruistic.

The book is a page turner, simply because I couldn’t figure out how it could possibly get worse (and it clearly was going to) yet it somehow did. There appear to be some hints that the blue people and the remaining characters might be able to recreate society but that is not entirely clear. I may read the last book in the series just to find out, but it will take a lot of emotional energy to get through another book as grim as this.


10 pts 10.7 Strange New Worlds
5 pts 10.5 Golden Broadway Shows Year (same Time Next Year)
5 pts 10.9 Anniversaries
5 pts 20.3 Madonna of the Cats Muffy’s family has cats
5 pts 20.6 Fruit Dish Bottle and Violin Toby, Ren, Adam One
10 pts Review


Task Total: 40 pts
Halfway Bonus: 50 pts
Mega Finish: 200 pts
Season total =1590 pts

Post 685

10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 10.8 10.9 10.10
20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 20.6 20.7 20.8 20.9 20.10
15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 15.7 15.8 15.9 15.10

10.5 Golden Broadway Shows.

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying by Frank Loesser

Truly awful. I read this as part of my personal project to read award winning plays and frankly the only good thing about reading the play was that I didnt have to sit through it in the theatre.

The play is based on a humorous ??? book of ghe same nane published in the early 1950s. The characters are all businessmen with questionable ethics who backstab and connive there way to the top’. Nepotism, toading, and incompetence are celebrated as a the way to succeed. The female characters are portrayed as out to get a husband despite being the only ones who display any competence at their jobs. Run away from this play script as fast as you can and don’t make the mistake of thinking that it would be a fun musicalto see. I listened to part of the cast album while reading the libretto and it is as bad as the text. One star only because zero is not an option.


10 pts 10.5 Golden Broadway Shows TO (A Gala Tribute To Josh Logan)
5 pts 10.9 Anniversaries See post 734 in the Librarian thread for info about MPE
10 pts Review

Task Total: 25 pts
Season total =1615pts

Post 686

10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 10.8 10.9 10.10
20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 20.6 20.7 20.8 20.9 20.10
15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 15.7 15.8 15.9 15.10

10.7 Anniversaries

The Door by Magda Szabó

It's been quite some time since I read a character driven novel. In this, there is essentially no plot. The first and last chapters are both called "The Door", which is both literal and symbolic. The last paragraph of the opening chapter reads

This book is written not for God, who knows the secrets of my heart, nor for the shades of the all-seeing dead who witness both my waking life and my dreams. I write for other people. Thus far I have lived my life with courage, and I hope to die that way, bravely and without lies. But for that to be, I must speak out. I killed Emerence. The fact that I was trying to save her rather than destroy her changes nothing.

The novel leads us to understand why this first person unnamed narrator made such a statement. She, the narrator, was a writer. It felt in places as if this was autobiographical, though I choose to believe it is not. Emerence was the caretaker, an elderly woman who still worked because she chose to do so. Emerence was tireless, sweeping the snow even while it was still snowing, for example. She was also selfless, serving many in the neighborhood. She was careful to protect both her privacy and her dignity. She was sometimes rather crotchety, but then, too, so was the Writer Lady when dealing with Emerence.

I feel rather lucky to have found this novel, read and recommended by a Goodreads friend whose name I have failed to note. I apologize and thank you whoever you are. Still, this was not quite 5 stars for me, though it can clearly see 5-star line.

+10 Task (262 pgs)
+10 Review
+ 5 Combo (10.2)
+10 LiT

Task total = 35

Season total = 1285

20.6 Fruit, Dish, Bottle, and Violin

All That Is Mine I Carry with Me by William Landay

In November 1975, Jane Larkin vanished from her Newton home. Jane was the wife of a successful attorney, and the mother of three children.

"All That Is Mine I Carry With Me" is divided into four books. It starts with writer Philip Solomon, an old friend of the middle child Jeff Larkin, deciding to write a book about Jane's disappearance. Decades after she vanished, he interviews the detective in charge of the missing person case. The other three books are told from the points of view of various family members.

Although there is no concrete evidence, the detective, Jane's sister, and some of Jane's children suspect that her husband, Dan, murdered her. Dan was bored with their marriage, and his girlfriend started coming over to their house just weeks after the disappearance. The children don't know if they are sharing a home with the man who killed their mother.

Almost twenty years later, Jane's body is found, and the detectives are back on the case looking for answers, but finding more questions. The book shows how each of the family members change during almost three decades. Miranda's need for her mother was especially poignant.

I like William Landay's writing except that he writes long conversations, once even going through 35 short pieces of dialogue back and forth, without mentioning who is speaking occasionally. It was interesting reading the various points of view in the book over such a long time span. The author kept the reader in suspense almost to the end with an unusual reveal.

+20 task (POV of Philip, Miranda, Jeff, Dan)
+10 combo 10.3 St Patrick's Day (pub 2023); 10.9 Anniversaries (320 pages)
+10 review

Task total: 40
Season total: 725

10.1 Rewind to Winter
Murder in an Irish Bookshop (Irish Village Mystery #7) by Carlene O'Connor

🎧 Audiobook Review 🎧

I was looking forward to this instalment seeing that it features a bookshop (!) however this bookshop, especially one of the owners, sounds like rubbish to me! All very snobby stocking only high brow Literature and history. Well, okay, it sounds funny now but when I first started listening, I got a little bit annoyed... also noting that not everyone is allowed into the shop. He gatekeep the store by asking a question by which the answer must be some obscure book quotation before allowing that person in the store. I'd totally fail that.

There follows a few writer characters and yet again (!) none of them are likeable in any way. What is going on... the only likeable are the O'Sullivan six plus Siobhan's fiancé and a new garda recruit (though I'm wondering if she's a nod to be politically correct/diverse). In the end, Siobhan followed her instinct and managed to fit the puzzle together to catch the murderer.

+10 Task
+10 Review

Post Total: 20
Season Total: 780

20.7 International Travel (Owlette's task)
St Kilda Blues (Charlie Berlin #3) by Geoffrey McGeachin
near the end of the book, they travelled to Israel then Germany before returning to Australia

🎧 Audiobook Review 🎧

I enjoyed this series because the detective protagonist actually has a good solid relationship with his wife. The crime is well set up though it is a bit jarring that each book is set 10 years apart. However, that showcased the author's skill in a well-researched time setting and as characters grow and matured in the time between. The ending of this one is a little bit sad and yet, hopeful, and again, I just have to say that it's really good to see a solid relationship in a crime novel.

+20 Task
+10 Review

Post Total: 30
Season Total: 810

15.8 - How Does Your Garden Grow?

Dix by Marine Carteron

Beet (Brittany)
Fennel (France)
Peppermint (303)

+15 Task

Task total = 15

Points total = 680

10.1 (x3) ; 10.2; 10.3 ; 10.4 ; 10.5 ; 10.6 ; … ; 10.8 ; 10.9 ; 10.10
15.1 ; 15.2 ; 15.3 ; 15.4 ; 15.5 ; 15.6 ; 15.7 ; 15.8 ; … ; … (26 plants)
20.1 ; 20.2 ; 20.3 ; 20.4 ; 20.5 ; 20.6 ; 20.7 ; 20.8 ; 20.9 ; 20.10

20.6 Fruit Dish, Bottle and Violin

Mason & Dixon by Thomas Pynchon

What a book! I will admit, between ¼ and 1/3 of the way through I was finding Mason and Dixon’s time back in England tedious and just wanted them to get to America. Once I got to Part 2: America I enjoyed it again. Really though, I suspect any quibbles I may have with the book should be put down to reader error.

This is a work of genius. It is (obviously) minutely researched, a work of superior imagination, potentially slightly crazy and so beautifully written. It is also humorous and very poignant. In a novel of this length there are many ideas, passages, occurrences that could be discussed at length.

I will just note two things that really struck me as I was reading it. Right from the beginning (when they are in South Africa) we are introduced to their abhorrence to slavery. This is a subtle, but overarching theme in the book. Secondly, the way Pynchon developed the relationship between Mason and Dixon was very believable – at first they are thrown together and don’t really like each other, until over the course of many years they actually are friends.

By the time I got to the end, I didn’t want it to finish. I didn’t want to leave Pynchon’s writing. 4.5*

20 task
10 1001
10 jumbo
5 combo 20.9
10 review
_____
55

50 half way finish (20s)
200 mega finish
_______
305

Running total: 1570

30.1 Go for the Green Redux
set in Azerbaijan

The Colonel's Mistake by Dan Mayland

Task=30
Combo= 15 (20.5; 20.9*; 20.10- set in Azerbaijan, Iran and France c.95%, USA c. 5%)
*The story is about a convoluted conspiracy of murky forces stealing uranium from the Iranian mullahs.)

Task total=45
Season Total=530

10.3; 10.4; 10.9 (4x)
15.1
20.2; 20.3; 20.5 (6x); 20.6; 20.9; 20.10 (2x)
30.1 (2x)

20.10 - World of Crime

Hidden in Snow by Viveca Sten

+20 task - Sweden
+10 translation

Task total: 30
Grand total: 655

20.6 Fruit Dish, Bottle, and Violin

Beartown by Fredrik Backman

I don't know why I've waited so long on this one! I have really enjoyed most of Backman's other books and I've had this one physically on my shelf for some time. I found this moving and extremely well written. The characters were all well-drawn - challenging given how many there were! - and the setting became a character in itself. There was tension and suspense until the very last pages. This book didn't have Backman's typical sense of humor, for the most part, which is understandable given a pretty heavy subject matter. But there were so many lines and descriptions that, while not always funny, were so precise and detailed (and sometimes funny!) - like the description of the hockey club president eating a sandwich "the way a German shepherd would try to eat a balloon filled with mayonnaise." I am raring to read the next two - and luckily, they'll involve hockey which will be perfect for next season of RWS! :)

+20 Task (multiple POVs throughout including Maya, Benji, Peter, Kira)
+5 Combo 10.9 (432 pages)
+10 Review
+10 LiT (translated from Swedish)

Post total: 45
Season total: 835

20.10 World of Crime

The Resort by Sara Ochs

+20 Task (set in Thailand)
+20 Combo (10.2, 10.3 - pub 2023, 20.6 - POVs include Brooke, Cass, and Neil; 20.9 - conspiracy surrounding deaths at center of book, multiple people involved)

Post total: 40
Season total: 875

20.5 Surprised!

The Cat's Table by Michael Ondaatje

This is an example of an author reading a book where they should have hired a narrator. The sentences here are gorgeous. And the author's voice is sort of pleasant and lilting. But there was no cadence, passion, or embodiment to his narration. He just read aloud. The slow pace allowed the language to come through, but it also allowed the story to be lost.

The story is also more of a collection of remembrances and anecdotes than a full-fledged novel. The adult protagonist is looking back on a boat journey when he traveled to London as an eleven-year-old. He and other of the poorest passengers roamed about the ship getting into a bit of trouble and having conversations about things. Along the way, they also learned some things about other passengers on the voyage. I had trouble keeping all the stories straight.

All that said, I think I might have liked this book in print and in a different, quieter mood.

+20 Task
+10 Review
+15 Combo (10.5 - Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, 20.4, 20.7 - various international travel is described, including the main boat ride from Ceylon to London)

Task total: 45
Grand total: 855

15.7 HDYGG

The Evolution of Useful Things: How Everyday Artifacts-From Forks and Pins to Paper Clips and Zippers-Came to be as They are by Henry Petroski

FLOWERS (7):
the evoLUtion of useful things: how eveRydAy aRtifacts-from forKS and Pins to paper clips and zippers-came to be as they are - LARKSPUR+

the EvolutIoN of UsefuL tHings: how everyDday artifacts-froM forks and pins to Paper clips and zippers-came to be as they are - DELPHINIUM+

the evOlution of uSeful thiNGs: how everyDAy artifacts-fRom forks and piNs to pAPer clips and zippers-came to be as they are - SNAPDRAGON+

the evolutiOn of usEfUl things: how everyday artifaCts-from forks and pins to paper cLIps aNd zippers-caMe to Be as they are - COLUMBINE+

the evolution of useful things: hOW everYday artifacts-from foRks and pins to papeR clips and zippers-cAme to be as they are - YARROW

the evolution of useful things: how everyday artifacts-from forks and pins to paper cliPs and ziPPers-came tO be as theY are - POPPY

the evolution of useful things: how everydaY artifacts-from forks and pins to paper clips AnD zIpperS-came to be as they are - DAISY

7 plants this post
29 plants in garden

+15 Task
+20 Flower bonus

Task total: 35
Grand total: 890

20.4 The Fighting Temeraire

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

The unabridged audio version read by Tom Parker is terrific. He does an excellent job with the different dialects and voices and really brings the story to life. It's been years since I read this book and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to it performed in an audio version. I can see why this is often called the Great American Novel. I listened to this version in 2011.

In 2024, getting ready to read James, I wanted to hear it again. I couldn't find the version I previously listened to, so I downloaded this one: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, narrated by Robin Miles. I had expected Robin to be a woman, but nope, it's a man. He did a fine job with the narration, but I think I preferred the Tom Parker version. I'm again impressed by this excellent novel.

I'm really interested to see what James does with giving Jim a voice in this story. I was paying special attention throughout this read to Jim's dialogue and best moments in the adventures.

+20 Task
+10 Review
+10 1001
+5 Combo (20.9)

Task total: 45

+50 Half-way Finish - 20 pt tasks

Points this post: 95
Grand total: 985

15.10 HDYGG?

Woodrow Wilson by H.W. Brands

Herbs: 169 pgs.
horseradish

Season garden: 22flowers/5vegetables/10herbs = 37 plants

+ 15 task
+100 finisher bonus
Task total: 115

Season total: 390

Phew! that's it for Spring 2024