Oregonreader's 2011 challenge

I'm excited about starting my second year. No books to list right now, just wanted to get the thread going. Happy New Year to all.

Glad to see you back with us again, Jan!

Welcome back!

First book of the year is an ERC, The Anatomy of Ghosts by Andrew Taylor.

(Tried unsuccessfully to enter a link to my review. I'll have to work on that! )

This is a mystery set in mid 18th century London and Cambridge. Taylor is a very good writer. I enjoyed it very much.

Hi, Jan! I haven't read a Taylor in a long time, but I have a number of them lying around. He's the Caroline Miniscule man, isn't he? (Yep! Another good use for Touchstones)

Hi OR!
I'm adding this to my wishlist and I'm looking forward to seeing what else you find enjoyable this year.

#4: I read Taylor's Bleeding Heart Square last year and enjoyed it, so I will give The Anatomy of Ghosts a try too. Thanks for the recommendation, Jan!

Thanks, everyone, for stopping by. I've been laid up with a nasty cold and not doing much of anything. But I did open up a fun book, Georgette Heyer's Regency World by Jennifer Kloester. For sheer pleasure, Heyer is my favorite author and this book looks at most of the aspects of life then and references her novels. Chapters such as clothing, manners, politics, transportation, entertainment cover matters all Heyer fans are familiar with. There is also a list of unusual expressions and names from the period. I was never sure what a pelisse was but now I know!

Sorry to hear you have not been feeling well, Jan. I hope the cold lets up soon. In the meantime, I see you have some good reading material :)

I've just finished Kepler by John Banville. When I think about the great scientific minds of the distant past, I always imagine them constantly occupied with their lofty pursuits and all their needs somehow provided. Banville puts the reader right inside Kepler's mind which is so often caught up in the petty details of life, his unhappy marriage, deaths of his children, the constant search for a patron and money. But then occasionally you get a glimpse of his genius which leads him to look again at what was known about geometry and astronomy at the time. His Kepler sees the physical world and the people around him as alien and usually hostile. When he stops to take a look around, he is always an observer, never a participant. He lacks the most basic social skills. Yet there are those who see his genius and give him the time to do his work. Banville is an amazing writer and gives a good sense of life at the turn of the 17th century. I give this one 5 stars.

My next book was The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny. This is the fifth novel, if I remember correctly, in the Inspector Gamache series and I think one of the best. I think the general feel of the stories all flow from Gamache, an incredibly intelligent, thoughtful, and sensitive man. As a very complicated plot unfolds, the author looks at art, poetry, and the eternal verities, all set in a magical place, Three Pines. As one of the characters remarks, there is no crime there except murder! I'm looking forward to the next one.

>12 Oregonreader: The next one is even better if you can believe it!

What Lori said, Jan!

Thanks for the comments, Lori and Stasia. I hope Penny is busy writing more!

As a Christmas gift, I received Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog by Ted Kerasote. I wasn't sure if I would read it because, although I love dogs, I think most books about them are overly sentimental. But I was pleasantly surprised by this one. The author finds Merle on a hiking trip in the Utah desert. He was about 10 months old and had been surviving on his own. Kerasote took him home with him to Wyoming. The books is about Kerasote's observations on Merle, a dog being raised in an unusual situation: an environment where he could run free. He compares city dogs who are usually on leash and not able to make decisions on what they do and where they go and how this affects their intelligence. He looks at the scientific record of the origins and development of the domestication of dogs. I found this really interesting.

I hadn't put that one on my TBR list because I thought it sounded overly sentimental as well... good to know that it isn't, and that it would be worth my time. Sounds like I'd really enjoy it!

#15: I already had that one in the BlackHole. I am going to have to bump it up a bit!

It seems like I've been busy reading but haven't actually finished many books. I'm usually a one-book-at-a-time reader.
I'm rereading Sense and Sensibility as part of a group read.
I've just finished The Private World of Georgette Heyer by Jane Aiken Hodge and finding that very interesting. I like the focus on her work. Along with this I'm reading Devil's Cub.

The Private World of Georgette Heyer looks interesting to me too, Jan. Thanks for the mention.

Armadillo by William Boyd. I'm a huge fan of Boyd's work but this one took a little getting into. The main character is a London insurance adjuster who seems to need a slightly warped moral code to do his job but is ultimately a decent person. I found him hard to sympathize with at first but he did grow on me. He is surrounded by a supporting cast of wonderful characters. The novel looks at a very venal and corrupt business system, almost like a new class in England, people who are protected from ever getting caught or losing. The reader is carried along, as confused as the insurance adjuster, until the end when it is all wrapped up. Ultimately, well worth reading.

I also finished Bet Me by Jennifer Cruisie. I borrowed this from my 30 something daughter who is into chiclit (is that spelled right?). It is pretty light fair but I'd have to say I suspect Cruisie is better than most in this genre. Lots of humor but really all you learn about the characters are their attitudes about men and sex.

Another William Boyd fan here Jan but I haven't read this one. I'll have to look for it because it sounds very good.

Whew! You are really sucking them down! I've read William Boyd but not recently. Thanks for the reminder! And the Georgette Heyer is attractive to me too.

#21 I hope you do get a chance to read it, Bonnie. I just saw that they've made a movie of one of my favorites of his, Any Human Heart. I loved that book and I hope I love the movie!

#22 All this reading is the result of winter weather and too many good recommendations on LT. (Your thread is one of the worst!) :) I'll confess to being a regular lurker there.

I have not read anything by William Boyd yet. Any of his that you particularly recommend, Jan?

My favorites are Brazzaville Beach and Any Human Heart. They are very different books plot-wise but he is so good at developing complex, interesting characters. I think you would really enjoy them.

Thanks for the recommendations, Jan. I will see if my local library has either of those.

Hi There

I'm compiling a list of birthdays of our group members. If you haven't done so already, would you mind stopping by this thread and posting yours.

Thanks.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/105833

The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver. This has been discussed so much on LT that I don't need to say much. I found it to be a powerful novel, probably her best. The idea of government using fear to control a population is timeless and timely.

I'm now reading A Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch. I read about this on the 'mystery readers' thread. I'm always looking for new, good mysteries.

Edited to try to correct touchstones.

I loved The Lacuna, and Finch's book is on my "wish list." I'll look forward to your impressions of it.

I also loved The Lacuna but admit to being disappointed in A Beautiful Blue Death.

#29 Thank you so much for stopping by.

Stasia, I'd have to say I agree with you about A Beautiful Blue Death. On the surface, it has everything I love in a mystery, but it left me a little flat. Charles Lenox is a a bit one dimensional. I also had trouble with the plotting. A good mystery writer will drop clues along the way, even if they are a little misleading, so the reader has a shot at solving the puzzle. Finch gave nothing away until the end, when suddenly he has a mental breakthrough and understands all. It wasn't very convincing.

#31: I have read the first two books in the Charles Lenox series and do not think I will be reading any others. I just do not care about it enough to do so. Just like you, the books left me flat.

Just dropping out of lurk mode to speak, Jan. Hi! I loved The Lacuna too. What a surprise!

The Four Last Things by Andrew Taylor. I have read two other books by this author, Bleeding Heart Square and The Anatomy of Ghosts, both of which I liked. But I found this one hard to read. Part of it might be the subject; I find it hard to read books about any kind of abuse of children but I also didn't like any of the characters so it was hard to get emotionally caught up in a more positive way. This is the first book in The Roth Trilogy and the notes say each novel is an independent read. I may try one of the others.

#34: I think I will have to give a pass to The Four Last Things. Thanks for the heads up, Jan.

In The Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer Fleming. This is another writer I heard about on the I Love Mysteries thread. This is her first book and was an entertaining read. Interesting characters and a good plot. But where in the world is she going with main characters of a female Anglican priest and a married police chief with definite chemistry? There's definitely some soul searching ahead in the next book!

Spencer Flemings' series just gets better and better. I am anxiously awaiting her newest one which comes out in April. I really like her writing and the relationship between the main characters works really well. Definitely keep reading the series!

I agree with Nikki, Jan. The series does get better!

Thanks to both of you. I'll be picking up the next book.

The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley. After reading The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, I was eagerly looking forward to the next book. It seemed like a long wait for it to come out in paperback but it was worth it. I enjoyed this book even more than the first one. Flavia's personality and charm come out even stronger. Now the long wait for the next one.

The third one A Red Herring without Mustard just came out this past week!

I have both Flavias to read, Jan, and I hope to get to them soon! I'm always happy to meet somebody my age. I'm finding this a wonderful time of life.

#41 I was eyeing that one in the book store. So tempting but I'll have to wait for the paperback.

#42 Peggy, I'm enjoying this age too. I'll be retiring in about a year and it should get even more interesting. I was discussing what to call this age with some friends and we tossed around "advanced middle age" or are we still just middle aged?

Henrietta's War by Joyce Dennys. I picked this up because I'm getting the sequel as an ERC. It is a charming book, dated because it really reflects WW II England, but filled with charm and humor. A quick, entertaining read.

#43: I need to read Henrietta's War. I have owned for a while now. Thanks for the reminder, Jan.

Oh, Jan, I'm afraid I'm early old. Granny lived to be 102, but I'm past the middle of even that.

#36: I read that one last year and am also looking forward to reading more of her work. It will be fun to see how the characters' relationship develops!

#43 Stasia, It's a good book to choose when you need a little lift. Full of understated British humor.

#44 Peggy, Isn't 60 the new 40?

#45 I'm set to read the second one next. Just couldn't wait.

Zarafa: A Giraffe's True Story by Michael Allin This is a wonderful story of a young giraffe's journey from Khartoum to Paris. The story takes place in an interesting time in history. Napoleon has been defeated and French troops forced out of Egypt. Muhammed Ali, the ruler at the time, sends a small giraffe as a gift to Charles X, hoping to win favor. Allin does a good job of describing the background and the people who accompany Zarafa on the trip. Very enjoyable.

#48: I have already read that one, so I can dodge that particular book bullet :)

60 the new 40? Maybe so, but I'm a really old 40 (something!).

I loved the book Zarafa. I'm glad you enjoyed it as well.

Happy, Happy Birthday to you. I hope tomorrow is a special day!

Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday Jan! And many more to come especially if 60 really is the new 40.

Happy Birthday!

I hope you have a wonderful birthday, Jan!

glitter-graphics.com

Have a lovely day, Jan!

Wow! Thanks to all of you for the birthday wishes. Love the cakes. I think I gained a few pounds just looking.

A Fountain Filled with Blood by Julia Spencer-Fleming. This is the second in the series and I am really enjoying them. I think the two main characters are great. I think that's the real attraction of series mysteries, you get to know the characters so well.

At Mrs. Lipppincote's by Elizabeth Taylor. Set in England during WWII, Julia and Roddy Davenant leave London and are relocated, along with their son and Roddy's sister, to a small town near the military base where he is posted. The novel describes each of their reactions to this new situation, focusing especially on Julia. She has a hard time settling in here, as I think she would anywhere, because she is too truthful to be very polite and "too busy, as a rule, measuring up and deploring other people to be in any way conscious of herself". I found it very difficult to care much about any of them although the ending gives much insight into her. But it does give a good description of the disruption of war on home, friends and family.

Edited to try to get Touchstones working.

I'm sorry that you didn't enjoy *Mrs Lippincote's* more, Jan. I loved it as I love anything by Elizabeth Taylor, but it's not quite at the top of my favorites list. And I loved Julia from start to finish - taste rules! Better luck with your next book!

#60 Peggy, I liked the writing enough to try another of her books. Any suggestions?

Henrietta Sees It Through by Joyce Dennis. This was an ERC and deals with the same time period as my last read but was much lighter. The book takes the form of a series of letters written by Henrietta, a doctor's wife on the rural coast of England, to a friend and neighbor who is away on the front. While striking a light tone to try to cheer her friend, she details the effect of war on the locals. She uses a dry, witty, very British sense of humor. It gives a wonderful sense of place and of the people during that historical time.

Jan, as is often true for me, I think my favorite E. Taylor is the first one I read, A View of the Harbour. You really can't go wrong with her unless you dislike Angel in Angel. She's always witty and the writing is always amazing, so I always love her and save what I have left of her work for days of low spirits.

Hi Jan, sorry to have missed your birthday but belated wishes.

#62 Peggy, thanks for the tip. I've added it to my list.

#63 Bonnie, thanks for the birthday wish!

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers. This had been on my TBR list for a long time then a friend gave me a copy with a strong recommendation. McCullers is a gifted writer (reminded me of Faulkner, in many ways) but her underlying view of the world is just too grim for me to appreciate. The characters are fascinating, a deaf mute on whom everyone projects their expectations but no one actually knows, a young girl who is apparently a musical genius growing up in poverty and low expectations, an itinerant traveler who sees all the injustice in the world and is driven to spread this message however futile, a black doctor who struggles with his treatment by whites in his southern town and is frustrated that all his friends and family don't see what he does. Each one of these people rage against their situation and try to reach out to each other but they are ultimately alone and inconsolable. There seems to be no hope for anything better.

To Darkness and To Death by Julia Spencer-Fleming. I just love this series. The plots are interesting enough but the main appeal is the attraction/tension between the two main characters. I'm getting One Was A Soldier as an ERC so I'm trying to finish the books in the series to catch up.

One Was a Soldier by Julia Spencer-Fleming. This was an ERC which I was excited to get because I really like this series. This is by far the best book yet and a little different from the others. Clare Fergusson is back from her tour in Iraq and, while there is a murder to be solved, the main focus of the book is on the difficulties returning soldiers have in picking up their life they had when they left. Highly recommended.

#65, 66 - I've read the first in the series and look forward to reading more when I can pick up copies of them. Good to hear they are getting even better.

Hi Jan,

I've enjoyed this thread of yours!

I've had to move The Lacuna, Merle's Door, and The Heart is a Lonely Hunter up a bit on the ol' TBR pile.

#67 Thanks for stopping by. You have some good reading ahead.

#68 Thanks! I know when I read other threads, the TBR list just grows and grows...

Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff. This is a very readable biography. Schiff does a good job of looking at the skimpy historical record and trying to logically consider what kind of person she was and why she behaved the way she did. It's a good counterbalance to all the sensationalized portraits of her.

Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie Years ago, I read all the Christie novels my library had and loved them all. I recently saw this one at a book sale and picked it up. Her books never disappoint. I think I'm going to have to read some more.

Hi! Just stopping by to say I'm enjoying your thread. You're reading a lot of books on my TBR list.

Thanks, Carly. Nice to hear from you.
I'm reading some mysteries for Mystery March so they are doing double duty!
An Incomplete Revenge and The Mapping of Love and Death both by Jacqueline Winspear. These are part of the Maisie Dobbs series which I really enjoy. I like the place and time, England between the wars. Maisie is a private investigator using the usual tools, but has also spent years studying Eastern meditation which has honed her mental skills. It adds an interesting twist.

The Law and the Lady by Wilkie Collins. I was interested in this since it was described as the first mystery with a lady detective. Having enjoyed The Moonstone and the Lady in White, I was surprised at how dated this book is. The lady detective sets out to clear her husband's name of murdering his first wife and gets nothing but discouragement and anger from her husband and his mother. She carries on because she says she loves her husband so much. Frankly, it's hard to see why she is so devoted. He's a bit of a wimp and absolutely too sensitive for words. I wanted to slap him! Ultimately, the mystery is solved but the ending is absolutely unsatisfying!

The other day I told a friend that I had bought a book and then got home and discovered I already had a copy and had even read it sometime in the past. She sent me this poem which I thought others would enjoy.

Forgetfulness by Billy Collins

The name of the author is the first to go
followed obediently by the title, the plot,
the heartbreaking conclusion, the entire novel
which suddenly becomes one you have never read,
never even heard of,

as if, one by one, the memories you used to harbor
decided to retire to the southern hemisphere of the brain,
to a little fishing village where there are no phones.

Long ago you kissed the names of the nine Muses goodbye
and watched the quadratic equation pack its bag,
and even now as you memorize the order of the planets,

something else is slipping away, a state flower perhaps,
the address of an uncle, the capital of Paraguay.

Whatever it is you are struggling to remember
it is not poised on the tip of your tongue,
not even lurking in some obscure corner of your spleen.

It has floated away down a dark mythological river
whose name begins with an L as far as you can recall,
well on your own way to oblivion where you will join those
who have even forgotten how to swim and how to ride a bicycle.

No wonder you rise in the middle of the night
to look up the date of a famous battle in a book on war.
No wonder the moon in the window seems to have drifted
out of a love poem that you used to know by heart.

Hey, Jan! Just checking in :)

Hi Stasia, thanks for stopping by.

Troubles by J G Farrell The story is told from the perspective of an English soldier; a Major has just returned from WWI and his story unfolds against the backdrop of the Irish uprising that led to the creation of the Republic. The Major goes to visit a girl he met prewar, whose English family owns a decrepit old hotel in an Irish coastal village. The title refers to the political unrest and fighting in Ireland and also to the unfolding of the Major's life. We meet some fascinating characters, her family, Irish hired help and the English aging guests who are fading as fast as the hotel. The Major is enough of an outsider to be able to step back from the contempt the English characters have for the Irish and the hate the Irish return. The decaying of the hotel mirrors the collapse of the society around it and the owner is just as oblivious to that as he is to his role in the village unrest In spite of this setting, parts of the novel are actually very humorous. The authors description of the slow collapse of the ancient hotel and how the occupants adjust is wickedly funny. I really enjoyed this one.

#75: I enjoyed Troubles a lot when I read it last year. I still need to get to the other two books in the trilogy though. Thanks for the reminder!

Jan, I love, love love the Billy Collins poem, mostly because it describes my life so well. Hope you don't mind if I steal it.

I read Troubles and loved it last year. And I have Cleopatra on my shelf and hope to get to it soon.

Hi, Jan! You've been busy. I want to read Troubles, but I have to find and put away my other two Farrells first.
And I love that poem! "It has floated away down a dark mythological river
whose name begins with an L as far as you can recall," Wonderful!

#76 Stasia, I didn't know it was part of a trilogy. I'll have to check that out.

#77, Bonnie, glad to loved the poem as much as I did. I'm going to try to track down Billy Collins and see if there is more like this one.

#78 Peggy, it sounds like I have some more Farrell novels in my future!

Hi Jan, I'm so glad to hear that you enjoyed Troubles...(interesting sentence). I recently bought it and The Singapore Grip to go along with The Siege of Krishnapur which I've had patiently waiting for me for several years. I have absolutely no excuse now not the read this trilogy...except for the lack of time. That's a pretty common "trouble" around here!

Well, as Donna provided the titles of the other two, I do not have to :)

Thanks, Donna and Stasia. They are officially on my TBR list now! I was getting a little depressed at how long that list is but I'm only a year away from retirement and then I will really get serious about it!

Congrats on the upcoming retirement, Jan!

Thanks, Stasia. I can't help feeling like a short-timer even though it's a year away.

Parrot and Olivier in America by Peter Carey.
Parrot is a lower-class English boy whose father is an itinerant engraver with no real home. After a series of misadventures, Parrot is separated from his father and rescued by the Marquis de Tilbot, a Royalist French spy. He is the link that connects Parrot and Olivier, a young French aristocrat born right after the Revolution. Olivier's parents had escaped the guillotine and still held their ancestral estate. Fearing another revolution, the parents send the by-then young man to America on the pretext of writing a book on the American prison system. Unwilling to go, he is tricked onto the ship by family friend, Tilbot, who also arranges for the older Parrot to go as his servant. The heart of the book then begins with the experiences of the two in America. Olivier sees the new, uncultured society through the eyes of privilege, used to having his comfort and wishes a priority. In letters to his mother, he comments on the strange ways of these people. This, of course, leads to comparisons with de Toqueville's book. Parrot finds himself a servant in a society that worships the principles of equality. Their very different experiences are what you might expect given their backgrounds. Carey surrounds them with fascinating characters. With surprising plot turns, the reader is swept along. This is the first book I have read of Carey's and was struck by his remarkable craftsmanship in telling this story.

Black Swan by Chris Knopf This ERC is the fifth in the series of Sam Acquillo mysteries. I have not read the first four and found that this book stands well alone. Much of the book takes place on a sailboat. Sam and his girlfriend Amanda are trying to deliver the boat to the Hamptons for a friend but have to take refuge in a harbor on a small, very private island. I am not a sailor and can't speak to the technical acumen but Knopf describes Sam's handling of the boat during a storm well enough for the average reader to follow. Sam and Amanda encounter hostility from some of the locals but the new owners of the hotel, the Black Swan, welcome them. While waiting for boat parts to be shipped to them, they become embroiled in two deaths and the disappearance of a very disturbed young man. The plot involves extremely advanced computer coding and the machinations of the owners of a large software company. As Sam becomes more and more involved, at the risk of his own life, he asks himself why he doesn't just leave. I found myself asking the same question. I could only conclude that Sam has an extremely finely honed sense of justice. In a genre where there are great extremes of writing ability, Knopf is among the better I've read. He gives Sam a strong, consistent voice and carries the reader along extremely complicated plot turns. It's a quick and enjoyable read.

i just finished The Moonflower Vine by Jetta Carleton. I heard of this book on another thread but I can't remember whose. The story is of a family living in the rural south in the early 20th century. The father is a small town school teacher and he and his wife also work a small farm. The have four daughters. The first part of the novel describes a summer when three of the girls, adults now and living a distance away, come home for two weeks. It is a sweet story of a close family, not without tensions, but basically a happy story. In the rest of the novel, she devotes a chapter to each of them, peeling away a layer and looking at key moments in their lives. Needless to say, it adds great dimension to the story, some real surprises and is a very effective way to look at the characters. The writing is first rate.

I really liked The Moonflower Vine. Your comments bring back good memories of reading this book.

Hi Linda, thanks for dropping in. Did you wish you could follow the characters after the story ended? I was especially intrigued with Ed. He was so full of contradictions.

The Sticking Place by T. B. Smith. This is not a mystery in the usual sense of the word. But I think anyone interested in mysteries would like this book. The story follows two rookies in the San Diego police department, Luke and Denny. The reader follows along with them as they go out on patrol, confront criminals and other unsavory characters, deal with political pressures on the department, and personal struggles. You get a real sense of the emotional demands placed on them by this kind of work. This is a first novel, I think, but it reads like Smith plans more books about these two. My only knowledge of police procedures comes from tv shows but the action in this book seems very real.

Knowing its reputation on LT, I was thrilled to find The Moonflower Vine on the $1 shelf at Half Price Books. Your review only makes me more eager to read it.

>89 nancyewhite: Great deal, Nancy. I wasn't quite as big a fan as some were of the book, but it was well written, and it had its moments for me.

Nancy, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I find I always enjoy a book just a little bit more when I've found a great deal, like yours!

Baltimore Blues by Laura Lippman I just discovered this series. I heard her husband (David Simon who wrote "The Wire') being interviewed and he mentioned it. I really like the book and plan to read the rest of the series. I generally have no restraint and race through a series but I'm trying to space these out to savor.

You are reading more now than I am, and I'm retired and should have my reading act together. When you retire, you're going to be fierce!

#73: Love the poem!

Peggy, all my friends who have retired tell me they are busier than ever!
Carly, glad you enjoyed the poem. Thanks for dropping in.

After Many Days by Shirley H. Perry. This is a memoir written by a woman who worked for the CIA in West Germany during the 1950s, then went on to be very active in the founding of NOW and working for the passage of the ERA. She lived an interesting life but I had hoped for more detail of her workings in the CIA. The memoir skims the surface of her life a little too much and there is much duplication of details. Overall, disappointing.

Maybe some of the events are still classified?

Anyway, I wish you more success with the book you're reading now.

Travels in West Africa by Mary H. Kingsley. I found this an interesting look at a woman traveling in Africa in the 19th century. She was a surprisingly modern woman although many of her observations of the people there made me cringe. She reflects cultural and racial attitudes of the time.

Charm City by Laura Lippman. Second in her Tess Monaghan series and not disappointing.

I am receiving Among the Missing by Morag Joss as an ERC. I'm excited about this one.

Hi Jan, I'm glad you liked The Moonflower Vine. It was a favorite (but we've had a few "favorites"!) of the Missouri Readers group. Sometimes its refreshing to read an old-fashioned story set in quieter times.

Hi Donna, I thought the book gave a good sense of what that region was like. I've only been to Missouri once (to the Branson area) but I remember what beautiful country that is. I do enjoy a story that is character-driven, like Moonflower. You come away feeling like you really know these people. I suspect there are a lot of books set in Missouri for your group to choose from!

Robert Altman, The Oral Biography by Mitchell Zuckoff. This was given to me by a friend who is a real film buff and with whom I share a love of Altman films. Zuckoff interviewed family, friends, co-workers, agents, and actors who had worked with him. Each described events from their own, and sometimes contradictory, perspectives and gradually a picture is built up of a very complex, very talented man. It reminded me very much of the structure of one of his films. The books starts with his youth in Kansas City and then follows his career, film by film. There were many films and TV shows he made that I had never heard of. I recently re-watched Nashville and McCabe and Mrs. Miller and was struck again by the amazing way he could capture the reality of the moment and avoid cliches. If you are interested in his films, this is a must read.

What am I doing with my time??? I "started" the Mary Kingsley and then put her down. I think her writing is charming, so why am I not reading it??? I can't tell you. I know about the reflecting the times business. You just have to forgive and progress.

Peggy, I hear you! I have several books that I enjoy when I'm reading but then find it hard to pick up again. One thing that slowed my reading of Kingsley's book is that I had to keep stopping to look at a map of west Africa. My knowledge of the geography of Africa is pretty sad. Actually, my knowledge of geography in general is not good. Her descriptions of the country were so lovely or interesting that every time she moved to another area, I was back at the map!

I had a quick read this weekend of Butcher's Hill by Laura Lippman. Her Tess Monaghan series is definitely one of my favorites. I love the way her entire family gets involved in her cases.

Sheer Folly by Carola Dunn. I was first interested in her books because she lives here in Eugene. She has written many Regency Romances which are truly awful. After initial reluctance, I was very surprised at how entertaining her Daisy Dalrymple series is. This is about the tenth book in the series. Set in the 20's in London, Daisy is the daughter of titled parents but very much a young woman of her age, determined to be independent. In the first book, she meets her husband-to-be, Alex Fletcher, of Scotland Yard. Needless to say, she is regularly involved in solving his cases. A quick, fun read.

OK, I am seriously behind on threads (again!), but am trying to catch up a bit.

I do not think I have read any of Dunn's books at all, so I may have to give her Daisy Dalrymple series a try.

Hi Stasia, I don't see how you visit as many threads as you do. But thanks for including me.

The Old English Peep Show by Peter Dickinson I think I heard about this one on the What Mystery are you reading thread. It was a nice surprise. Dickenson delivers a satisfying mystery but in a slow roundabout way, with lots of divergences and indirections. The main character, Superintendant Pibble, is an older Scotland Yard detective who is a lot smarter than he appears. His meandering thoughts throughout the book are a treat. One of my favorites, as he traveled through the "southern parkland, which suggests to the traveler that there are areas of England where Lady Catherine de Burgh still rules inviolate among her neighbors.." If you like English mysteries, I think you would like this one.

#105: Oo, I will have to give that one a try! Thanks for the recommendation, Jan.

Oh yeah! Dickinson is a great favorite of mine, and The Old English Peep Show ranks quite near the top. Jan, I'm liking Among the Missing. The writing is quite good, and I'm always attracted to characters who live on the edge or outside normal society. I've just gotten the bridge down and the "I" character out the door. Off to bed with it!

Peggy, Glad to hear you like Dickenson. I'll have to read some more of his. I posted a comment on the Joss book on your page. I had a lot to say about the ending and didn't want to give spoilers here in case anyone else wants to read it. I am so curious about your thoughts.

I'm reading In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick. It's the story of the actual ship on which the events in Moby Dick are based. He spends some time describing life in Nantucket at that time, where "all shared in a common, spiritually infused mission - to maintain a peaceful life on land while raising bloody havoc at sea". Most of the book describes what the whalers were like and what it was like to sail on them, and ultimately the fate of the Essex.

Very weird. The wrong title is showing even though entered correctly. I'll try again.

Well, I can't get it corrected above, so I'll enter it here: In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick.

#108: In the Heart of the Sea was the first book of Philbrick's that I read. I thought it was very good.

I am not sure what the deal is with the Touchstones today, Jan. I am having problems with them too.

I was in the mood for a quick escape so I chose The Sugar House by Laura Lippman who never fails to please!

I just found out I'm getting The Hair of Harold Roux as an ERC. It looks so good, I can hardly wait.

OOO! I think I want *Essex* too!!! I have just about decided to go ahead with Philbrick's Mayflower for the next month or so.....

Peggy, I hadn't heard about Mayflower, I'll have to hunt that one down. Philbrick is an excellent writer and tells a good story.

Just finished Blackbird House by Alice Hoffman. This was for my book group here in Eugene. It is a series of short stories all based in the same house in Cape Cod over about two hundred years. All the stories deal with death, a poignant search for love, and at least a hope of finding it at the end. I was a little put off by her incorporation of magic in the stories. In one of them, the main character was thought to be a witch although that fact was irrelevant to the story. But my biggest complaint was the same one I have with all books of short stories. If I'm really interested in the characters, I don't want the story to end so quickly.

Liberty's Exiles: American Loyalists in the Revolutionary World by Maya Jasanoff. This is a well-written and easy to read look at the American Revolution as civil war. I knew that not all colonists supported the revolution but had no idea how widespread the support for Britain was in the colonies. The fighting between loyalists and revolutionaries was brutal and went on for two years after the peace treaty was signed. Jasanoff follows the exodus of loyalists to other parts of the British empire and looks at their subsequent treatment by the British.

In A Strange City by Laura Lippman. Sleuth Tess Monaghan solves a mystery that involves the mysterious person who puts roses and cognac on Edgar Allen Poe's grave every year. Another good read.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. I just got an i pad and spent some happy hours downloading free books. I realized I had never read this and only knew the movie. This book was more interesting as a historical read than pure pleasure. I was surprised at how different it was from the movie in almost every respect. The story took place in Switzerland and England and involved different plot lines. It was an interesting look at a classic. I read this on a trip to California and loved being able to just take the i pad and not a stack of books. But it will never replace books for me.

Brooklyn by Colm Toibin I loved this book! Described as a "coming of age" novel, it follows a young Irish girl in post WWII Ireland to Brooklyn. She is initially a person who seems to go where the wind blows her, doing what her mother and sister want her to do, without discussion. Living so far away in a new country ultimately changes who she is.

I really loved Brooklyn when I read it as well.

#113: I will have to look for Liberty's Exiles. Thanks for the recommendation, Jan.

#114 and #115 Thanks for stopping by. Things have been so busy with the end of the academic year that, although I've been reading lots, I haven't been finding the time to list them here.

The Reason Why: The Story of the Fatal Charge of the Light Brigade by Cecil Woodham-Smith. The author looks at the catastrophe of this battle, and the whole Crimean War experience, by describing how the British military system created it. After Cromwell's military dictatorship, the British wanted an army with a vested interest in England's future. This led to the system of creating officers from the landed class, allowing them to purchase their positions, without any regard for their education and capabilities. This ultmately produced the Earls of Cardigan and Lucan, who led their men to disaster. An interesting side note was that the term "cardigan" for a type of sweater, came from the Earl of Cardigan's jacket style. He was ever the dandy!

Case Histories by Kate Atkinson. I really enjoyed this mystery, which was unlike any others I've read. All the individual stories were fascinating in themselves and then were tied together as they were brought to the attention of private investigator, Jackson Brodie. I did find it a little difficult to follow as she jumped from case to case but eventually I got it all straight in my mind. It was interesting that the mysteries were solved for the reader but not really tied up neatly as they are in most mysteries. I've started on the sequel, One Good Turn, hoping it will be as good.

I'm also reading The Hair of Harold Roux by Thomas Williams. This is an ERC that I am so thrilled to have received. More on that one later.

The Hair of Harold Roux by Thomas Williams. This was an ERC. I have not been successful with links so here is my review.
First published in 1974, The Hair of Harold Roux won the National Book Award in 1975. I had never heard of Williams and feel like I’ve just made a great discovery. Williams is an amazing story teller and this novel is layered with story within story, each one as interesting and compelling as the others.

The narrator is Aaron Benson, academic and author, struggling to write a novel of his youth. He is married with two children and while he loves them and sees his need for them, he seems incapable of focusing on them and giving them the attention they need. He is struggling with his novel, working to recreate an unpleasant time in his life.

The main character in his novel is Allard Benson, at university after time spent in the military during WWII. He is clearly based on the young Aaron. Aaron does not romanticize his young self and looks at him with the same analytical knife that he uses to consider his current life. Allard meets Harold Roux, also in school after the war, who acts as Allard’s moral compass. Roux has high standards, is highly principled, and naïve. He has one weakness, his hair, which affects his entire experience at school. Both love Mary Tolliver, a beautiful, young student. Harold sees her as perfection, pure and to be protected. Allard also is drawn to her great beauty and sets out single-mindedly to win her.

Allard is basically so self-centered that while he might be drawn to friends, and tells himself he loves Mary, all his actions are directed toward the goal of getting what he wants. He wants Mary but plans to change her to be more like him. There is a lack of empathy in him; he might see that he is causing pain but that is something he observes and doesn’t really change anything for him. The final disaster of the novel within the novel is a result of his inattention to what is going on with the people around him.

Ultimately, the novel is about time, how we pass through it, carry experiences forward through it, and how eventually all our friends and family move away from us in their passage. A wonderful book.

The Last Place by Laura Lippman Another very satisfying Tess Monaghan mystery. I only have three more to read in the series and I'm already regretting that. I love the supporting cast of characters in these books.

I've just started New York by Edward Rutherford. It's a big book so I may be at it awhile. I keep one book going at work and another at home. This is one of my work books which means I can only read it at lunchtime . From reviews I've read on LT, I think I'm going to get very engrossed in this one.

I just got notice that I'm receiving Nat Tate by William Boyd as a June ERC. He is one of my favorite authors and I had my fingers crossed to get this one. Can't wait!

Congratulations on your ER book!
I own *HoHR* but it's been hanging around on the shelves almost since it came out in pb. Fine review, so I'll be more motivated to pick it up the next time I come across it. Thanks, Jan!

The Reason Why looks fascinating--I'm adding it to my wishlist.

Carly, I think you'll really enjoy that one. Thanks for stopping by.

New York by Edward Rutherford Epic, sweeping, panoramic are words that come to mind after reading this novel. Rutherford tells the story of New York City from the early Dutch settlers to the Revolutionary War to the Civil War and the waves of immigrants, right up to 9/11. The story begins with the van Dyck family in 1664 and the plot follows their descendants and other families that are connected through business and personal relationships . It is an engrossing book, very well written. The stories of these individuals really provide a clear picture of how each historical event affected the people living there. Rutherford did an excellent job of allowing the reader to clearly follow the story as it moved from generation to generation and I had a good sense of the history of each family.

#117: The local college library has that one. I will have to see if I can get my hands on it. Thanks for the recommendation, Jan!

The Bell by Iris Murdoch I’ve read two of Murdoch’s later books and, although well worth reading, I think her writing was still developing when she wrote The Bell. This is the story of a lay community attached to an Anglo-Catholic abbey for sequestered nuns. There are a number of people in the community but the author gives us a look into the heads of only two. Michael owns the abbey, his decaying family home, and is the acknowledged leader. Dora Greenfield is the unfaithful wife of a man working there analyzing old manuscripts. Both are faced with ethical choices. Michael struggles with romantic and sexual feelings for two young male students and Dora struggles with her disintegrating marriage. The book is an exploration of the ethics of sexuality and power, and the religious or philosophical ideas that the characters use to justify their actions. Murdoch writes with lush descriptions of the sights and sounds that are very sensuous. This is somewhat ironic because the intent of the persons there was to strip their surroundings down to bare necessities, no personal possessions in their rooms, no flowers brought into the house, simple clothing and tasks. The problem with the book was that I didn’t like any of the characters. Michael seems deluded and pathetic , I had an urge to slap Dora most of the time, her husband, Paul, was a bullying brute and the others not much better. But Murdoch really excels at exploring religious and philosophical ideas. I read this as a book group read and I’m glad I did.

You Were Wrong by Mathew Sharpe. This was a very puzzling book. It takes place over several months in the life of Karl Floor, a high school math teacher. Karl lives in his head with no social skills and apathy his main emotion. He meets a young woman who says she is robbing the house he shares with his step-father and the plot begins to meander from there. Much of the story consists of stream of consciousness talk by his step-father which doesn't seem to have much to do with anything. Karl discovers much that he didn't know about his family, most of which he should have known if he wasn't so maddenly dense. This book was more frustrating than entertaining.

By a Spider's Thread by Laura Lippman I'm going to be so sorry when I finish this series!

I still have not read anything by Iris Murdoch. One of these days I will correct that oversight!

Hi Stasia, Hope you are having a good summer. I keep reading about the sweltering weather in other parts of the country and here in the northwest, summer hasn't started yet. Cool weather and a lot of gray days. Oh well, it's not the first time we've skipped summer but luckily it doesn't happen often.

For a first Murdoch read, I would suggest The Sea, The Sea or Flight of the Enchanter. I liked them both better than The Bell. She is well worth having a look at.

I will have to see if my local library has either one of those recommendations. Thanks, Jan.

As far as summer goes, you can have the Texas one. I cannot remember the last time it was below 100 here.

Sticking my nose in again. I agree 100% about Murdoch and you have picked two of my least favorites among the ones I've read!!!! Flight from the Enchanter was my second IM, and I'm glad that it wasn't the first. And even though the critics agreed with Jan and gave The Sea, the Sea the Booker (I think), it's my very least favorite. I'm accustomed to not being in love with her protagonists, but I loathed the man in that one. Aren't personal tastes amazingly different? If I were recommending a first one, I think I'd go with Nuns and Soldiers or maybe Henry and Cato. Entirely subjective! I haven't read The Bell, but your review makes me want to - I can feel the old IM magic beckoning me onward.

Hi Lizzie, I'm going to put your IM recommendations on my list. Reading The Bell kind of whet my appetite for more. Talking about differences in taste, my book group met last night and the range of reactions was amazing, from hating it so much they didn't finish, to loving it and wanting to read more of Murdoch. But that's what makes for a good meeting.

Sounds like it was a fine meeting, and I think IM does that to people. Somebody in the Virago group is a real IM disciple. I'm sure that there is a thread there even though it hasn't been used in awhile. Let me send you an invitation! You might love that group too!!!! OOOooops. I see that you're already a member. I think the Murdoch fan is LyzzyBee.

Peggy, I joined Virago at your suggestion some time ago but I find I haven't had much time to really explore there. But it's on my list of areas to explore. Murdoch is one of those authors whose works I'd like to read and discuss in detail. Maybe after I retire!

Nat Tate by William Boyd This was an ERC that I received. Boyd wrote this in 1998, ostensibly about an obscure abstract expressionist who achieved some fame, then committed suicide in 1960 after destroying most of his work. Reading it now, while knowing that it was a hoax, is definitely a different experience. But I was amazed at how well Boyd created the details of his life and work. I can see how the art world was taken in.

When God Was A Rabbit by Sarah Winman The story of a brother and sister growing up in a rather quirky English family drew me in at first but ultimately disappointed. The author tried to be too clever and ended up with rather a mess.

No Good Deeds by Laura Lippman. Another good read.

The Boyd book sounds interesting. I will have to see if my local library has a copy. Thanks for the recommendation, Jan!

Hi Stasia, I'm glad to be able to recommend something for you. I've gotten so many TBRs from you. I'm just starting Mayflower which I think I first read about on your thread. Loving it.

Nothing Daunted: The Unexpected Education of Two Society Girls in the West by Dorothy Wickenden. What an unexpected treat this book was. Wickenden is the granddaughter of Dorothy Woodruff who, along with Roz Underwood, graduated from Smith College in 1910. Back home in Auburn, NY, they faced an idle life of society teas and other social events which would lead them to a suitable marriage. Both girls wanted a more independent life. Through a friend, they heard about an opening for two teachers in Elkhead, CO on the western slopes of the Rockies. Wickenden has written a very entertaining account of their trip there, the families and community leaders they grew to love and respect , and the hardships and pleasures of their year there. I was left with a renewed admiration for the early settlers in the west. I really recommend this one.

The Game by Laurie R King This is another in King's Sherlock Holmes series. I've read several of these. Initially, I was really impressed that King had been able to draw a character that the reader could believe was Holmes. But as they have continued, especially after his marriage, I have to enjoy them for themselves and really forget that he is supposed to be Holmes. But a pleasurable read nonetheless.

Jan, I'm reading Mayflower off and on now too. I'm on p. 145, so do you want to read together and talk? If you do, let me know and I'll wait for you or read a little faster to catch up with you. Hope we can do it - I always need a spur!
Nothing Daunted sounds really good.

Peggy, I'm on page 161 so we are right in sync. I'd love to get your thoughts on it.

OOO! I'll play catch-up. I'm not sure that I have any thoughts on it yet except that they were certainly a motley crew.

#133: Nothing Daunted sounds terrific. I will have to see if my local library has a copy.

I am glad you are enjoying Mayflower. I hope you continue to do so!

I've been busy with grandmother duties and I've gotten a little behind here. I've been re-reading parts of Harry Potter to my granddaughter, Emma, and enjoying that. Not to mention lots of Berenstain Bears to my grandson, Andrew. But I don't think that counts as part of my challenge!
To get caught up to date:

Lady Susan by Jane Austen This is a novella, one of her early works. It is amazing what an eye she had for human foibles at such a young age.

Spies of the Balkans by Alan Furst Furst is one of my favorites but this one didn't quite grab me the way his other books have. The story of a Greek policeman who sets up a route for Jews escaping the Nazis, it follows several groups as they make their way to Salonika. I think the narrative doesn't quite reach the emotional peaks that I've come to expect.

Another Thing to Fall by Laura Lippman

#130: Grandmother reads count! The books are between covers, aren't they? If it is between covers, it counts! :)

Thanks, Stasia. If I added all those grandmother reads in, I'd be way above 100 books by now!

Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick Thanks to Peggy for tackling this one with me. This is the second of Philbrick's books that I've read and I'm struck with how well-researched, thoughtful, and readable they are. Philbrick joins the Pilgrims in Leiden, Holland where they have gone to escape from English persecution. He introduces the leaders as they make arrangements to head for America. What an incredible voyage that was, leaping off into the truly unknown. The only adventure like that today would be into space. As he traces the history of the first generation there in Plymouth, the arrival of the Puritans, the relations with the Native Americans, and King Philips War, he erased many of my "school girl" myths. One bubble to pop was my idea of the heroic Miles Standish, actually a short, pugnacious, glory hunter. No wonder Priscilla didn't want him!

I had only recently learned about King Philip's War (in Rutherford's New York) and I'm surprised it isn't more remembered. It really marked the beginning of our ancestor's decision to deal with conflicts with the Indians by killing or enslaving them. More Americans/English were killed in that war (by percentage of population) than in any other. It was really a pivotal time in our history.

When Will There Be Good News by Kate Atkinson This is the third of her Jackson Brodie novels and the ending left me wondering if it will be the last.

A Matter of Class by Mary Balogh I picked this up at a Borders close-out, needing a quick read. It is very short, more a novella, and an enjoyable quick read.

Girl in the Green Raincoat by Laura Lippman is the latest Tess Monaghan, a novella, and not quite as satisfying as her previous novels.

the Jackson Brodie saga continues in Started Early, took My Dog. It was published last year in England but only recently was released here. And Case Histories is going to be a BBC production on PBS starting in October.

One interesting thing about the Pilgrims - I learned this while researching my family tree. Despite fleeing England and Leiden due to persecution, they, in turn, persecuted the Quakers. One of my ancestors was a Quaker, came to the colonies in 1625-30 and was actually taken before a court a few times for "harboring a Quaker minister" (obviously a Quaker meeting) and then fined.

#140: I need to revisit Mayflower one of these centuries. I have enjoyed all of the Philbrick books that I have read.

#141 I'm so happy to hear there's another Jackson Brodie. After the way the last one ended, I had my doubts. And I'll be watching for Case Histories. Thanks for the tip.

It is interesting that the Pilgrims were so intolerant. You would think that, having experienced persecution themselves, they would be more tolerant of others but it was just the opposite. It must be something in human nature that encourages us to insist that others live or worship like we do, even though we been victims in the past. In Mayflower, there were many instances of individual Pilgrims being punished because their personal belief varied from the orthodox. I can think of events in the news today that reflect the same thing. You must have enjoyed researching your family tree. It sounds like you had an interesting family history!

Stasia, I've read two of Philbrick's books and loved them both.

#143: Which is the other book of Philbrick's that you have read, Jan?

Stasia, the first book I read was In the Heart of the Sea: The tragedy of the whaleship Essex. It's the story of the voyage on which Moby Dick was based. I thought it was a very good, detailed look at the life of whalers and how dependent they were on the intelligence and knowledge of the captains; their lives depended on it.
I just bought Sea of Glory: -America's Voyage of Discovery, the U.S. Exploring Expedition of 1838-42. What long titles! This was an enormous undertaking whose discoveries resulted in the Smithsonian being created.
Have you read either of these?I love finding an historian that really makes his subject come alive.

The Crimson Petal and the White by Michael Faber is a big book and I'm not sure why I finished it. I often became impatient with the writing; it seemed to meander all around and finally get back to the story. The characters were pretty much all unlikeable except for Sugar, a young prostitute too intelligent for her own good. I guess it was my interest in her that kept me going.

Persuasion by Jane Austen was a reread, maybe the fourth or fifth, but I got it free on my I pad so I dipped in from time to time.

School is just starting for us so I'm not finding much time for reading. Maybe when things settle down....

The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan I had read a reference to this on another thread but can't remember where. The story takes place in WWI era in a town on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. The basic story of a young girl falling in love, marrying, raising a family, is set against the development of the Falls by hydroelectric companies. Interesting and enjoyable.

Frederica by Georgette Heyer When the going gets tough, the tough go to Heyer! Stressful times at work and my solace is a Heyer novel in the evening. Works every time!

Mary Shelley by Muriel Spark Spark apparently wrote two biographies, one published only in England and a second one as a response to a pirated edition released in the US. The first half is biography and the second half is a critical look at some of Shelley's work. I had recently read Frankenstein and was interested in what Spark had to say about her other writings. I'll have to read some more.

Hi Jan! I agree about Heyer, but she's also wonderful when there's no stress around. Frederica is my favorite, but I've just started The Reluctant Widow. Fun and games!
As you know, I read the Spark Mary Shelley last year and have The Young Romantics by Daisy Hay screaming for me to pick it up. After my Truman stuff! You also might look at a novel about the group called Passion by Jude Morgan, which Suzanne recommended.
Hope things fall into a more reasonable place for you soon!

I just picked up a Heyer mystery at a thrift store today. I haven't read any before but figured that it was worth the quarter :)

Hi Peggy. I've read Passion and that just whetted my appetite for learning more about Mary Shelley. I think Morgan painted a much more lurid picture of the Mary-Shelley-stepsister Claire triangle. Life with Claire sounds so exhausting in either case that I'm surprised they got any writing done.

Hi Carly, I have enjoyed many of the Heyer mysteries but I absolutely love her Regencies. I hope you've tried some of those. Happy reading!

I'm glad to know that Passion is good. I read Shelley: the Pursuit last year, and I have to say that things with Claire couldn't have been painted in much more lurid colors than Holmes used - but very circumspectly! It's Hay here I come - unless I can't wait to get into the 2 Jane Austen bios I just got: The Life of Jane Austen and Jane Austen: A Life. I think I approve of those two titles very much.
As for Heyer mysteries, I'm a great fan except for Penhallow which I don't think I ever finished.

Peggy, I agree aboutPenhallow. I think her mysteries are a real mix. Most of the characters in them are a bit annoying. The young men especially seem to have a chip on their shoulder. That surprised me since I love the characters in the Regencies. So many are really funny and entertaining.

I saw those two Austen titles on your thread (I'm a regular lurker) and immediately entered them on my TBR list. I've been spending so much on books that it is now back to the library for me! I should be able to find the Austen bios there. A co-worker just gave me a kindle that he doesn't need. Now I have to figure out how to use it!

Jan, I think you're in for a treat with the Kindle. I hope that the navigation comes easy for you. Meanwhile, I'm trying to imagine not needing a Kindle. It is completely wonderful for large books! If many titles aren't available for it, that is compensated for by the fact that so much good stuff is free. I adore having the complete Dickens, Austen, etc. immediately available as well as the other quirky old books that I don't know about anywhere else.
I don't know which Austen bio I'll read first. If you start one, let me know and I'll try to catch up. I enjoyed Mayflower with you a lot.

Peggy, OK, so now I'm getting more excited about the Kindle: lots of free books! I have heard that the Kindle is much easier on the eyes than my Ipad. I have read a few things on there but it does take a toll on my eyes. I won't be reading much during the next week. I'm heading down to Disneyland with my daughter's family for a week of magic! When I get back, I'm going to tackle one of the Austen books. I'll let you know which one; I really enjoyed reading Mayflower together as well. It pushed me to get it read!

It's been awhile since I was here. We had a fabulous time at Disneyland, it truly is magic! Then back to a frenzy of work and now I'm headed down to San Jose to help care for my sister. She just had surgery for kidney cancer but the prognosis is very good. I'm hoping I can get some reading done down there.

Arabella by Georgette Heyer. I hadn't read this in many years. It was enjoyable but lacked the zing of my favorites. Annabella is a charming young girl but lacks the intelligence and wit of Heyer's best heroines.

State of Wonder by Anne Patchett I picked this out quickly to have on my i pad as I traveled and it was a happy discovery. I have read several of her other novels and found them all worth reading. I am amazed at where she gets her story lines. They are each so different and so complex. This involves a woman who works as a researcher for a pharmaceutical company. The company has been supporting a project in the Brazilian jungle for a number of years but have lost contact with the woman in charge. When the first emissary is sent to find her, they get notice that he has died of fever. The main character follows at the request of her employer and the man's wife. What develops was completely unexpected and thought-provoking. My only quibble is that I thought it ended a little too quickly.

Jan, you are busy! I'm glad that you and your family had such a magic time, and I am happy for both of you that you can take care of your sister. I hope her recovery astounds everybody by its speed and completeness.
I can't recall whether I've read Arabella. If so, I need a reread. I did, however, go ahead and jump into Emma since Madeline was reading it. It's sort of a mid-level Austen for me.
You will find your Kindle very kind o your eyes and for me that would outweigh any advantages the iPad might have, if it has any at all.
Stay in touch!

I'm back at home and slipping into my routine. That sounds rather boring but routine can be good! Here's an update on what I've read since I last checked in.

City of Thieves by David Benioff. This is a story presented as having been told to him by his grandfather, although I've read that this is "poetic license". The grandfather lived in Leningrad during the German invasion of WWII. Starving and freezing, he commits the crime of stripping a German soldier of his clothing and food. Caught, he is joined by Kolya, accused of desertion from the Russian army. They are given a task by their jailer and that begins a trek through war ravaged Russia. I think it's a measure of his writing ability that he can describe horrifying events in a way that doesn't lessen the impact but doesn't seem so gross that you have trouble reading it.

Sea of Glory: America's Voyage of Discovery The US Exploring Expedition by Nathaniel Philbrick In 1838, six ships left New England on a voyage to explore and chart Antartica, map the South Sea Islands, and map the northwest coast of America. They were gone for four years. This was an incredibly adventurous undertaking and Philbrick does his usual excellent job of telling the story. Not only are the accomplishments of the expedition amazing (the Smithsonian was started with their finds) but the stories of the men are fascinating. When they returned, the breadth and importance of what they accomplished was overwhelmed by political intrigue and court martials. A fascinating story.

Prodigal Genius: The Life of Nikoli Tesla by John J O'Neill I was interested in reading a biography of Tesla and looked on Amazon for what was available and selected this one. O'Neill does a good job of reciting the facts but he writes like an acolyte worshiping at Tesla's altar. That put me off a bit. But Tesla really was an amazing genius. He is responsible for discovering AC electricity which made it possible to light our cities) and wireless radio transmission, among many others. His name is not well-known (most people would name Edison and Marconi as the inventors) because he was cheated on many occasions and sold his patents for money to continue research. I don't think I would recommend this book but his life is worth reading about.

I just realized belatedly that I have now read 77 books this year. The * indicates an ERC

1. *Anatomy of Ghosts – Andrew Taylor
2. Georgette Heyer’s Regency – Jennifer Kloester
3. Kepler – John Banville
4. The Brutal Telling – Louise Penny
5. Merle’s Door: Lessons From a Freethinking Dog – Ted Kerasote
6. Devil’s Cub – Georgette Heyer
7. Private World of Georgette Heyer – Jane Aiken Hodge
8. Sense and Sensibility – Jane Austen
9. Armadillo – William Boyd
10. Bet Me – Jennifer Cruisie
11. The Lacuna – Barbara Kingsolver
12. A Beautiful Blue Death – Charles Finch
13. The Four Last Things – Andrew Taylor
14. In the Bleak Midwinter – Julia Spencer Fleming
15. The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag – Alan Bradley
16. Henrietta’s War – Joyce Dennys
17. Zarafa – Michael Allin
18. A Fountain Filled with Blood – Julia Spencer Fleming
19. At Mrs. Lippencote’s – Elizabeth Taylor
20. The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter – Carson McCullers
21. *Henrietta Sees It Through – Joyce Dennys
22. To Darkness and To Death – Julia Spencer-Fleming
23. *One Was a Soldier – Julia Spencer-Fleming
24. Cleopatra: A Life – Stacy Schiff
25. Five Little Pigs – Agatha Christie
26. Sense & Sensibility – Jane Austen
27. Incomplete Revenge – Jacqueline Winspear
28. The Mapping of Love and Death – Jacqueline Winspear
29. The Law and The Lady – Wilkie Collins
30. Troubles – J G Farrell
31. Parrot & Olivier in America – Peter Carey
32. The Moonflower Vine – Jetta Carleton
33. The Sticking Place – T. B. Smith
34. Baltimore Blues – Laura Lippman
35. Robert Altman, The Oral Biography – Mitchell Zuckoff
36. Travels in West Africa - Mary H Kingsley
37. Charm City – Laura Lippman
38. The Old English Peep Show – Peter Dickenson
39. *Among the Missing – Morag Joss
40. Sheer Folly – Carola Dunn
41. In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex – Nathaniel Philbrick
42. Sugar House – Laura Lippman
43. Blackbird House – Alice Hoffman
44. Liberty’s Exiles – Maya Jassanoff
45. Frankenstein – Mary Shelley
46. In a Strange City – Laura Lippman
47. Brooklyn – Colm Toibin
48. The Reason Why – Cecil Woodham-Smith
49. Case Histories – Kate Atkinson
50. One Good Turn – Kate Atkinson
51. *The Hair of Harold Roux – Thomas Williams
52. The Last Place – Laura Lippman
53. New York – Edward Rutherford
54. The Bell – Iris Murdoch
55. You Were Wrong – Matthew Sharpe
56. By A Spider’s Thread – Laura Lippman
57. No Good Deeds – Laura Lippman
58. When God Was A Rabbit – Sarah Winman
59. The Game – Laurie R. King
60. Nothing Daunted – Dorothy Wickenden
61. *Nat Tate – William Boyd
62. Mayflower – Nathaniel Philbrick
63. Spies of the Balkans – Alan Furst
64. Another Thing to Fall – Laura Lippman
65. Lady Susan – Jane Austen
66. A Matter of Class – Mary Balogh
67. The Greater Journey, Americans in Paris – David McCullough
68. When Will There Be Good News – Kate Atkinson
69. Mary Shelley by Muriel Spark
70. The Day the Falls Stood Still – Cathy Marie Buchanan
71. Persuasion – Jane Austen
72. Frederica – Georgette Heyer
73. Percival’s Planet – Michael Byers
74. State of Wonder – Anne Patchett
75. City of Thieves – David Benioff
76. Sea of Glory – Nathaniel Philbrick
77. Prodigal Genius: The Life of Nikoli Tesla – John J O’Neill

The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson. This was an ERC. This is one of those stories that stays with you after you've finished reading it. It left me speechless, struggling to define my reactions to it. It is a powerful, disturbing and very satisfying book.
Set in North Korea, a place I know little about beyond what I've picked up in the news, Johnson does a good job of creating the day to day life there, a place where individuals exist only to support the collective whole, a society shaped by years of despotic rule by a psychopath. The first half of the book is narrated by Pak Jun do, who grew up in an orphan's work house run by his father. Pak had control over where orphans were sent to work, knowing some factories were death sentences. This gave him an early education on how power worked there. As an adult, he worked as a kidnapper, snatching people from South Korea that Kim Jong Il has targeted, and later working on a ship listening to foreign broadcasts. He learns something of the outside world and begins to explore the idea of freedom. He starts on a path that is the center of the novel.
The second half of the book is narrated by 'the Biographer', a torturer who justifies his trade to himself by writing a biography of each of his victims. His story, and that of Pak, are intertwined and Johnson moves between their stories and back and forth in time with a clear hand.
The stories about Kim Jon Il are fantastic but based on true events. It is hard to believe one man could be responsible for so much suffering. The author does a good job of describing how societies can be made to do almost anything through fear and loss of control. I strongly suggest this as a must read.

Congrats on reaching the goal!

Congrats!

Thank you both. I feel like my reading is now in bonus time!

A Bitter Truth by Charles Todd An ERC. This is the third book in the Bess Crawford mystery series. I hadn't read the two previous books but this one stands alone quite well. Bess is a nurse stationed in France during WWI and has returned home to London for a brief leave. She finds a woman huddled in the cold on her porch, apparently injured, and takes her in. She agrees to the woman's request to accompany her home, worried that she has a concussion. At the large country home, Bess meets the rest of the family, discovers a murder, and is caught up in the solving of it. My early reaction was annoyance that Bess would get so caught up with a complete stranger's family that she would postpone her trip to see her parents at Christmas, lie to the police to protect family secrets, even to the point of briefly incriminating herself. But once I got past that, I did get caught up in the story. Todd (the nom-de-plume of a mother-son writing team) does a good job of creating the feel of the place and time. The characters are fleshed out enough for the purposes of the story and the mystery has a satisfying resolution. I would certainly consider reading the first two books.

My life is a little chaotic right now so not much time for reading or posting. But I've read Jane Austen: A Life by Claire Tomalin and Started Early, Took My Dog by Kate Atkinson, both very good.

Merry Christmas, Jan! (I've missed you and hope things settle down)

Thanks, Peggy.I hope you've had a wonderful holiday. I've started my new thread but haven't figured out how to make a link! I'll keep trying.

My Review