Reading with Style discussion

10.2 The Dispossessed

The Burglar by David Goodis

Noir + Pulp Fiction = David Goodis. And maybe not in that order, as this is probably more pulpish than noirish. OK, both, because it's really dark, too.

This short novel opens when Nat Harbin and his associates - Baylock, Dohmer and Gladden - are sitting in the car at 3am, waiting for the right moment to break into a mansion and steal $100,000 worth of emeralds. All the advance work has been done by Gladden, getting the proper layout of the mansion, if/where there are any burglar alarms, and when the owners will be absent leaving only the servants sleeping on the top floors. While doing the job, some cops show up because the car in the street is apparently suspicious. Harbin goes back out to reassure them he has left the car because it had mechanical problems.

The story gets more complicated from there with others looking to get the emeralds, too. I could imagine a B-Grade black and white movie coming from this. I liked almost all of it except the ending. It was awful. I don't have enough imagination to write, but surely he could have come up with something better. Actually, Harbin had a good idea right before the awfulness - Goodis could have gone with that.

I'm glad to have discovered David Goodis. Pulpish and Noirish is just the thing sometimes. This is probably only 3-stars, but maybe those stars are more than just plain ones, that they have a little glow to them.

+10 Task
+10 Review
+ 5 Combo (10.3 - 1953)

Task total = 25

+50 Halfway Finish
+200 Mega Finish

Season total = 1560

Congratulations on your mega finish, Elizabeth!

Also Mary, Valerie, Karen Michele, congratulations on yours!

30.1 Go for Green Redux

SVALBARD AND JAN MAYEN.

Four Against the Arctic: Shipwrecked for Six Years at the Top of the World by David Roberts

Part adventure story and part historical mystery, Roberts wrote this book about his efforts to uncover the true story of four Russian sailors stranded for six years on an island in Svalbard during the 1740s.

The author stumbled on a sketchy historical narrative and became obsessed with finfing out what actually happened. The book is broadly comprised of three parts, the story as it is known about the Russian sailors on Edgetoya, the author’s historical research and attempts to find new resources about the event, and lastly the retelling of the author’s expedition to Svalbard to attempt to find where the shipwreaked sailors lived and how they might have survived.

This is an intriguing history that is very compelling. While there are almost as many gaps at the end of the book as at the beginning, the process the author used to shen additional light on an obscre even was fascinating and well told. I would recommend the book.


30 pts 30.1 Go for Green Redux SVALBARD AND JAN MAYEN. The shipwrecked sailors and Roberts expedition were on Edgetoya which is part of Svalbard. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svalbard
5 pts 20.5 Surprised
5 pts 10.9 Anniversaries
5 pts 10.5 Golden Broadway Shows YEAR (Same Time Next Year)
5 pts St Patricks Day
10 pts Review

Task Total: 60 pts
Season total =1675pts

Post 703

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

15.8 HDYGG?
[bookAngelica's Smile (Commissario Montalbano #17)|18693682] by Andrea Camilleri

Flowers:
angeLICA's smiLe - LILAC

Vegetables:
Italy - ICEBERG LETTUCE

Herbs: page count = 304
n/a

Count: 1 flower / 1 vegetable
Total count (overall) : 9 flower / 13 vegetables / 8 herbs

+15 Task

Post Total: 15
Season Total: 825

15.9 HDYGG?
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

Flowers:
The inviSIBLE life of Addie larue - ASTILBE
the invisible LIFe OF aDDie lArue - DAFFODIL+

Vegetables:
n/a

Herbs: page count = 448
n/a

Count: 2 flowers
Total count (overall) : 11 flower / 13 vegetables / 8 herbs

+15 Task
+5 Flower Bonus

Post Total: 20
Season Total: 845

15.10 HDYGG?
Murder at the Seven Dials (Bow Street Duchess Mystery #1) by Cara Devlin

Flowers:
murDer At tHe seven aIALs - DAHLIA

Vegetables:
n/a

Herbs: page count = 302
n/a

Count: 1 flower
Total count (overall) : 12 flower / 13 vegetables / 8 herbs

+15 Task
+50 for up to 34 plants

Post Total: 65
Season Total: 910

20.2 The Virgin of the Rocks
The Rain Heron by Robbie Arnott

Review
I'm going to start this review with a warning that if you're sensitive to animal cruelty then do consider if this is the book for you. After all, this book is about the environment and the terrible impact we have on it; that we'd even try to destroy a beautiful mythical creature if we could only get our dirty hands on it.

So, yes, not going to be a favourite because it was so heartbreakingly depressing! I guess it did end with hope somewhat but it didn't quite make up for all the sad things that happened in the book. I read books to be away from reality so this probably wasn't a great choice despite the 'dystopian' slant.

I half listened and half read this book and when I switched to the ebook, I note that there was not any quotation marks for conversational purposes... This did not come through in the audiobook so if you're like me and found the lack of quotation marks disturbing then I'd recommend sticking to the audiobook. I do feel that there is a purpose in this; it made the whole book feels very quiet and contemplative and just so poetic but argh, I really can't handle it.

+20 Task
+10 Review

+50 Halfway (20-Task)
+200 Mega Finish

Post Total: 280
Season Total: 1,190

Post 651 Connie wrote: "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 so..."

+10 1001 list
+ 5 Combo 20.6, multiple points of view

Post 660 Valerie wrote: "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,..."

+5 Combo 20.5

Post 655 Apple wrote: "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 differe..."

+10 LiT

Post 665 Apple wrote: "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 perspecti..."

+10 LiT

Post 666 Joanne wrote: " 10.3 St. Patrick's Day

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

Published 2023

Review

A prelude to Baldree's debut Legends & Lattes, which I lik..."

+5 Combo 10.9

Post 674 Ed wrote: "10.4 Baby Boom

A Traveller on Horseback by Christina Dodwell
Author born 1951

Task=10

Task total=10
Season Total=485"

+ Combo 10.9

Post 677 Karen Michele wrote: "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 ..."

+10 LiT

Post 394 Karen Michele wrote: "20.5 Surprised!

The Killings at Badger's Drift by Caroline Graham

+20 Task: Badger's
+10 Combo: 10.9 Anniversaries (261) / 10.10 Group Reads / 20.3 The Madonna of the..."

+5 Combo 20.1 (see post 684)

Congratulations on your Mega finish, Tien!

20.10 - World of Crime

Still Waters by Viveca Sten

+20 task - Sweden
+10 translation

Task total: 30
Grand total: 685

Congrats on your HDYGG finish, Tien!
Have some adjustments to your totals...
15.1 4 Plants
15.2 6 Plants
15.3 You can also claim MUNG BEANS (Manhattan) +1, 6 Plants
15.4 3 Plants
15.5 5 Plants
15.6 You can also claim PARSLEY (176 pages, "7"), 3 Plants
15.7 2 Plants
15.8 2 Plants
15.9 2 Plants
15.10 You can also claim WATERCRESS (Westminster), +1, 2 Plants

Takes your total plants to 35, give yourself the +100 Bonus rather than +50 :-)

15.6 HDYGG?

The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times by Jane Goodall

ThEbookofhopeASuRvivalguidefortryingtimes = ASTER
theBOokofhopEasurvivAlGuidefortryINgtimes = BEGONIA
thebookofhopeasurvivalguidefORtryingtimES = ROSE
theboOkofhopeasurVIvaLguidEforTryingtimes = VIOLET

+15 Task, 4 Plants

Task total: 15, 40
Season total: 1450

Baby Boomer
Author born 1950
Redoubtby Mercedes Lackey

Task +10
Grand total 200

15.7 HDYGG?

Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May

winterINgthepOwerofrestANDrEtreatinDifficuLttimes = DANDELION

England = ENDIVE
Great Britain = GARLIC

+15 Task, 3 Plants
+5 Flower Bonus

Task total: 20, 43 Plants
Season total: 1470

15.10 HDYGG?

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson

Herbs
447 pages
4, DILL

Vegetables
Chicago, Cucumber
Illinois, Iceberg Lettuce

Flowers
the devil IN the white city: muRDEr, mAGic And madness at the fair that changed america GARDENIA+
the DEViL in the white city: murder, magic aNd mAdness at the fair that changed amERica LAVENDER+
the devil in the white CITY: murder, magic and madness at the fair tHat cHANged america HYACINTH+
the devil in the white city: MUrder, magic and madNess at the fAIR that chanGEd america GERANIUM+

Plants used this post =7
Total plants used = 51

+15 points
+20 flower bonus
+150 finisher bonus for 45+ plants (51)
+200 mega finish

Post Total = 385
Season Total = 1905

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; 15.10
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)

20.1 The National Gallery

By the Pricking of My Thumbs by Agatha Christie
after the Aunt's death, Tommy and Tuppence receive a painting from her, of a house Tuppence has seen somewhere before. Where is the house, who painted it, and what is its significance? All of these are investigated in the story

+20 task
+10 combos (10.9 - 212 pages; 20.9; several of the characters conspire to protect and hide a further character who has committed some rather horrendous crimes)

Post Total = 30
Season Total = 1935

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; 15.10
20.1 (x3); 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)

10.4 Baby Boom

The Life to Come by Michelle de Kretser
Born 1957

+10 task

Post Total = 10
Season Total = 1945

10.1 (x2); 10.2; 10.3 (x2); 10.4 (x2); 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; 15.10
20.1 (x3); 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)

10.2 The Dispossessed

The Arm by Clark Howard

+10 task

Task total=10
Season total=140

10.7 Strange New Worlds

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

(#3 on Space list)

+10 Task
+25 Combo (10.4 - 1952 ; 10.5 - to ; 20.5 ; 20.6 - the points of view vary during the book, we have mostly Arthur's, Ford's and Zappy's ; 20.9 - not to go too much into details but there's a conspiracy about the Planet Earth)
+10 Lost in Translation (written in english, native language is french)
+10 1001
+50 Halfway finish

Task total = 105

Points total = 785

10.1 (x3) ; 10.2; 10.3 ; 10.4 ; 10.5 ; 10.6 ; 10.7 ; 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

15.8 HDYGG?

Shifting the Balance, Grades 3-5: 6 Ways to Bring the Science of Reading into the Upper Elementary Classroom by Jan Burkins

Flowers:

shifting the baLanCE grades 3-5: 6 ways to brIng the Science of reading into the upper eleMenTAry classroom -- CLEMATIS + 5

shifting the balance grades 3-5: 6 ways to BrINg thE sCience Of reading into the Upper eLementary classrooM -- COLUMBINE + 5

ShifTing thE balance gradEs 3-5: 6 Ways to bring the science of reading into the uPpEr elementary clAssroom -- SWEET PEA + 5

sHiftinG the balaNce gRADes 3-5: 6 wAYs to bring the sciencE of reading into the upper elementary classroom -- HYDRANGEA +5

shifting the Balance grades 3-5: 6 ways to bring the science of rEAdinG INtO the upper elementary classroom -- BEGONIA

shifting the bAlance gradeS 3-5: 6 ways to bring the science of reading inTo the uppeR Elementary classroom -- ASTER

shifting the balance grades 3-5: 6 ways to briNg the sciENce of reading into the upPer elementarY classrOom -- PEONY

Herbs: page count = 272
7--PARSLEY

8 Plants this post
34 Total plants in the garden

+15 Task
+20 Flower Bonus

Task total: 35
Season Total: 910

30.10 Go for the Green Redux

book set at least 51% in any of the countries on the Group Project Spreadsheet -The Solomon Islands

Review

Book 2 in Toll's trilogy of the WWII fight in the Pacific. Thoroughly researched using all areas of historical documents, Toll tells the sad, destructive and gripping story of small dots (islands) on the map that were crucial objectives to gaining the offense over Japan. Even after the loss at The Battle of Midway, the Japanese were still convinced that the Allies would never beat them in the air or sea. However, the U.S.A. had taken the stance "whatever it takes" and through thousands of lost lives of their young men stood with it.

I am not going to give you a history lesson here, either you are interested in the subject, or not. However, if you are, this is the series to read. Although I liked book # 1 a little more, this book dragged a bit mid read, for me, Toll's writing chops and storytelling are still some of the best I have encountered. I highly anticipate book 3 which covers the last year of the war.

+30 Task
+10 Review
+ 5 Combo 20.5
Task Total 45
Season Total 910

20.1 The National Gallery

The Forgery by Ave Barrera

+20 About an artist and forgery
+15 Combo: 10.3 St Patrick's Day (2013) / 10.9 Anniversaries (120) / 20.3 The Madonna of the Cat ..."occupied by Don Lalo's old, dirty white cat"...p 21
+10 Lost in Translation

Task total = 45
Season Total = 1620 - our totals don't agree - this is what I have after adding the points you have found for me - and thanks!

20.10 World of Crime

The Children Return - set in France

# 7 in the Bruno series, and it ranks as my favorite thus far.

Two different children return, one from the recent past, one from the days of the Resistance. Both stories are gripping and held me captive, this being the book I first reached for each evening. As always, filled with lots of history of the French countryside-and of course many shared delicious meals, paired with the perfect wines.

Once again, Walker gives us characters, old and new, that are solid and interesting, We learn disturbing memories of Fabiola as she encounters a love interest, a new woman appears who catches Bruno eye. Though I think Bruno has again found the wrong woman to pursue, I think is it time he rids himself of Pamela.

All in all-a great read. If you have not picked up a Bruno book yet, start with book #1 and have a wonderful trip to France!

+20 Task
+10 Review
Task Total 30
Season Total 940

20.3 The Madonna of the Cat

He Shall Thunder in the Sky by Elizabeth Peters

+20 Task: Ramses has a cat, Sechat (I listened, so I don't know how this is spelled;)
+10 Combo: 10.9 Anniversaries (512) / 20.10 World of Crime (Egypt / Arabic)
+ 5 Jumbo

Task total = 35
Season Total = 1655

20.5 Surprised!

Five-Carat Soul by James McBride

+20 Task
+10 Combo: 10.4 Baby Boom / 10.9 Anniversaries (320)

Task total = 30
Season Total = 1685

20.10 World of Crime (Rosemary's task)

The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum by Heinrich Böll

+20 Task: Germany
+10 Combo: 10.10 Group Reads / 10.9 Anniversaries (140)
+10 1001
+10 Lost in Translation

Task total = 50
Season Total = 1735

Thanks for the great season! I'm going to try to listen to one more today, but I don't know if I'll get it posted. I'm excited about my summer season books!

10.2 - The Dispossessed

The Teacher by Freida McFadden

+10 task

Task total: 10
Grand total: 695

15.8 HDYGG

The Fallen Stones: Chasing Butterflies, Discovering Mayan Secrets, and Looking for Hope Along the Way by Diana Marcum

the fallen stones: chasInG butterfLies, Discovering MAyan secRets, and looking for hope along the way - MARIGOLD+

tHe fallen stones: chasing butterflies, discovering maYan secrets, AnD looking foR hope AloNG thE way - HYDRANGEA+

the fallen stones: Chasing butteRflies, discoVEring mayan secrets, and LOoking for hope along the way - CLOVER

tHe faLLen stOnes: cHasing butterflies, disCOvering mayan secrets, and looKing for hope along the waY - HOLLYHOCK+

the fAllEn stoNes: chasing Butterflies, discovering mayan secrets, and lookInG for hOpe along the way - BEGONIA

ThE fallEn Stones: chasing butterflies, discovering mayan secrets, and looking for hoPE along the WAy - SWEETPEA+

the fallen stoneS: chasing bUtterflies, discovering mayan secrets, and loOking for hope aLong The way - LOTUS

7 Flowers

Punta Gorda - POTATO
Belize - BEET

2 Vegetables

9 plants this post
38 plants total

+15 Task
+20 Flower bonus

Task total: 35
Grand total: 1020

15.9 HDYGG

Mask Me by Sappharia Mayer

2 Vegetables:

Washington - Watercress
District of Columbia - Daikon

2 Plants this post
40 Plants total

+15 Task

Task total: 15
Grand total: 1035

15.10 HDYGG

Master Me by Sappharia Mayer

224 pages - DILL

mASTER me - ASTER

2 plants this post
42 plants total

+15 Task

+100 Finisher 42 plants

+200 Mega Finish

Points this post: 315
Season total: 1350

Post 728 - Joanne wrote: "30.10 Go for the Green Redux

book set at least 51% in any of the countries on the Group Project Spreadsheet -The Solomon Islands

Review

Book 2 in Toll's trilogy of the WWII fight in the Pacific..."

Please give me the book and author for this post. Thanks!

Post 720 -
Jayme(theghostreader) wrote: "Baby Boomer
Author born 1950
Redoubtby Mercedes Lackey

Task +10
Grand total 200"

+5 Combo - 10.9 - 330 pages in MPE

20.5 Surprised!

A Man's Head by Georges Simenon

This opens with a condemned man escaping from the Santé prison. He doesn't know it, but the escape has been arranged by the police, more specifically Chief Inspector Maigret. Maigret had been in charge of the original investigation for the murder of an older wealthy woman and her maid. Maigret had doubts about Huertin being the guilty man.

What follows is not necessarily classic Maigret in terms of investigation. As to Maigret himself, he is all over the pages, pipe smoking and all. We also have his underlings Janvier and Lucas. As I'm not reading this series in order, I'm not sure whether those two had been previously introduced, but they were familiar names.

I love this series, and the series itself is toward the top of my 4-star group. This title is more like a solid 3-stars. That said, I can be truly glad the Simenon wrote so prolifically.

+20 Task
+10 Review
+10 Combo (10.6 - pub'd 1931, 20.10 - France)
+10 LiT

Task total = 50

Season total = 1610

And that's all for me this season!

Post 734-

Norma wrote: "10.2 - The Dispossessed

The Teacher by Freida McFadden

+10 task

Task total: 10
Grand total: 695"

+10 Combo - 10.9 (400 pages in MPE), 20.6

15.9 HDYGG?

Code Name Hélène by Ariel Lawhon

Flowers:

ANEMONE -- cOde NAME heleNE

Vegetables:
France - FENNEL

Herbs: page count = 451
5 -- THYME

3 Plants this post
37 Total plants in the garden

+15 Task

Task total: 15
Season Total: 925

15.10 HDYGG?

An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us by Ed Yong

Flowers:

ALLIUM -- An imMense worLd: how animaL senses reveal the hidden realms aroUnd us

1 Plant this post
38 Total plants in the garden

+15 Task
+100 Finisher Bonus

Task total: 115
Season Total: 1040

Karen Michele wrote: "our totals don't agree - this is what I have after adding the points you have found for me - and thanks!

I noticed that... I couldn't see where the problem was, but I thought maybe you missed counting a post. We'll stick with our total, which is higher. It doesn't affect readerboard positions.

Thank you all for a great Spring season!

Let's move on to Summer!