DeltaQueen Threads Her Way Through 2016 - Part 8

Welcome to my final thread of the year in which we will celebrate the festive season. My name is Judy and I live in the suburbs of Vancouver, B.C. Reading is my passion and I read many different types of books, both fiction and non-fiction. This is my seventh year participating in the Category Challenge and I have enjoyed every year. 2016 has continued the fun of great reading, good discussions and friendly banter. So pull up a chair, grab a mug of hot chocolate and get comfortable as I aim some book bullets in your direction!



It's hard to believe that we are approaching the last month of the year. My 2017 thread is up and ready but I am looking forward to these last few weeks here at the 2016 Category Challenge. I have completed my challenge and have simply continued reading books and using these categories as most books I pick up seem to easily fit.

2016 CHALLENGE CATEGORIES



A. Threads of Mystery: This is where I will place mysteries and crime stories

B. Matched Threads: Series books will fit here

C. Vintage Threads: When it comes to vintage, my choice is often a mystery. This will be a place for my well-aged mysteries

D. Hanging By A Thread: This will be a category for adventure or thriller reads.

E. Colorful Threads: A place for YA and Children’s Literature

F. Threads of Love: Family Sagas and Romance will find a home here

G. Tangled Threads: Books that are set during a time of conflict or war

H. Fiber Optic Threads: Science Fiction

I. Magic Threads: Fantasy

J. Dark Threads: Dystopian, Apocalyptic, Horror

K. Thread Count: Thread Count must be absolutely accurate when labelling an item. This sounds like the perfect place for the truth that non-fiction reads will bring to me. There could be some DeweyCats listed here.

L. Designer Threads: Award Winners & Nominees, Books From Lists.

M. Threads of Time: Historical Fiction as determined by the Reading Through Time Group and other reads

N. Threads of Silk & Gold: Hope to find a few treasures in my Global Reading. Many of my GeoCat reads will be found here.

O. Threads of Fate: Randomly generated books by using the Folly button on LT. As I list all my TBR and wish lists here on LT, I will pick a book each month using this method. I have borrowed this idea from KatieKrug.

P. Random Threads: Reader’s Choice. Books that don’t fit in other categories.

Tickers

Books Read:




Pages Read:




Books From My Own Shelves:

Threads of Mystery - Police Procedurals/Mysteries



Books Read

1. Stonemouth by Iain Banks - 4.2 ★
2. Hear No Evil by Georgie Hale - 2.5 ★
3. Birthdays For the Dead by Stuart MacBride - 3.3 ★
4. Cold Light by Jenn Ashworth - 3.5 ★
5. Death At La Fenice by Donna Leon - 3.2 ★
6. The End of the Night by John D. MacDonald - 3.7 ★
7. The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith - 4.1 ★
8. Tomato Red by Daniel Woodrell - 4.0 ★
9. The Never List by Koethi Zan - 3.0 ★

Category Completed

10. Wolf Winter by Cecilia Ekback - 3.9 ★
11. Loving Geordie by Andrea Badenoch - 4.5 ★
12. Island of Lost Girls by Jennifer McMahon - 3.3 ★
13. The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins - 4.2 ★
14. Clandestine by James Ellroy - 3.7 ★
15. The Price of Guilt by Margaret Yorke - 4.1 ★
16. Twelve Days of Winter by Stuart MacBride - 4.0 ★
17. The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith - 4.3 ★

Matched Threads - Series



Books Read

1. Buried Strangers by Leighton Gage - 3.8 ★
2. Junkyard Dogs by Craig Johnson - 4.3 ★
3. The Meanest Flood by John Baker - 4.1 ★
4. Ill Wind by Nevada Barr - 3.4 ★
5. Skin by Mo Hayder - 3.8 ★
6. Children of the Revolution by Peter Robinson - 4.0 ★
7. The Snack Thief by Andrea Camilleri - 4.0 ★
8. The End Of The Wasp Season by Denise Mina - 4.5 ★
9. The Wrong Kind of Blood by Declan Hughes - 4.2 ★

Category Completed

10. The Treasure of the Golden Cheetah by Suzanne Arruda - 3.6 ★
11. Kissed A Sad Goodbye by Deborah Crombie - 4.0 ★
12. Cockroaches by Jo Nesbo - 4.0 ★
13. City of Veils by Zoe Ferraris - 4.3 ★

Vintage Threads - Well Aged Mysteries



Books Read

1. The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn by Colin Dexter - 3.3 ★
2. The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett - 3.6 ★
3. Night Has A Thousand Eyes by Cornell Woolrich - 4.1 ★
4. The Thirteen Problems by Agatha Christie - 4.1 ★
5. Have His Carcase by Dorothy Sayers - 4.2 ★
6. The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie - 3.5 ★
7. Police At The Funeral by Margery Allingham - 3.8 ★
8. One Two Buckle My Shoe by Agatha Christie - 4.1 ★
9. The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie - 4.3 ★

Category Completed

10. A Question of Proof by Nicholas Blake - 3.6 ★
11. The Price of Murder by John D. MacDonald - 3.8 ★
12. Leave Her To Heaven by Ben Ames Williams - 5.0 ★
13. Poirot Investigates by Agatha Christie - 4.0 ★

Hanging By A Thread - Adventure/Thriller Reads



Books Read

1. Roosevelt's Beast by Louis Bayard - 3.4 ★
2. Tropic of Serpents by Marie Brennan - 3.8 ★
3. Rogue Male by Geoffrey Household - 4.5 ★
4. The Orchid Affair by Lauren Willig - 3.2 ★
5. Three Rode Together by Ben Bridges & Steve Hayes - 2.6 ★
6. The Queen of the South by Arturo Perez-Reverte - 4.0 ★
7. The Captive Wife by Fiona Kidman - 4.0 ★
8. A Far Off Place by Laurens Van Der Post - 4.1 ★
9. Night of the Comanche Moon by T.T. Flynn - 3.5 ★

Category Completed

10. Lost Canyon by Nina Revoyr - 3.8 ★
11. The End (The Enemy Book 7) by Charlie Higson - 4.2 ★

Colorful Threads - YA & Children's Literature



Books Read

1. Darkness Be My Friend by John Marsden - 4.0 ★
2. Revolution by Deborah Wiles - 5.0 ★
3. Gatty's Tale by Kevin Crossley-Holland - 4.2 ★
4. Kensuke's Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo - 3.8 ★
5. Lassie Come-Home by Eric Knight - 4.0 ★
6. Red Glass by Laura Resau - 4.2 ★
7. Dunger by Joy Cowley - 4.0 ★
8. Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson - 4.2 ★
9. The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven by Sherman Alexie - 4.2 ★

Category Completed

10. Storm-Blast by Curtis Parkinson - 3.2 ★
11. Breathe: A Ghost Story by Cliff McNish - 2.5 ★
12. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame - 4.0 ★
13. A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle - 3.8 ★

Threads of Love - Family Sagas/Romance



Books Read

1. Bath Tangle by Georgette Heyer - 3.8 ★
2. The Lost Garden by Helen Humphreys - 5.0 ★
3. The Earth Hums in B Flat by Mari Strachan - 4.2 ★
4. Celebrations in Burracombe by Lilian Harry - 4.0 ★
5. The Duke and I by Julia Quinn - 3.6 ★
6. Blood Sisters by Barbara & Stephanie Keating - 4.2 ★
7. At Home In Thrush Green by Miss Read - 4.0 ★
8. A Durable Fire by Barbara & Stephanie Keating - 4.0 ★
9. Rilla of Ingleside by L. M. Montgomery - 4.0 ★

Category Complete

10. The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon - 3.6 ★
11. Kilmeny of the Orchard by L.M. Montgomery - 2.5 ★
12. The Kashmir Shawl by Rosie Thomas - 3.9 ★
13. In Borrowed Light by Barbara & Stephanie Keating - 3.9 ★
14. The School At Thrush Green by Miss Read - 4.0 ★
15. Arabella by Georgette Heyer - 4.2 ★
16. An Irish Country Wedding by Patrick Taylor - 4.0 ★
17. Twelve Days of Christmas by Trisha Ashley - 4.0 ★

Tangled Threads - Conflict/War



Books Read

1. The Watch by Joydeep Roy-Bhattacharya - 4.3 ★
2. Elkhorn Tavern by Douglas C. Jones - 4.1 ★
3. Girl At War by Sara Novic - 3.7 ★
4. Where The Heart Is by Annie Groves - 3.4 ★
5. Daughter of Xanadu by Dori Jones Yang - 4.1 ★
6. War Brides by Helen Bryan - 3.2 ★
7. Other Times by Leslie Thomas - 3.8 ★
8. The Sepoy Mutiny by V.A. Stuart - 3.4 ★
9. Sink The Shigure by R. Cameron Cooke - 3.6 ★

Category Complete

10. The Far Side of the Sky by Daniel Kalla - 3.9 ★
11. The Attack by Yasminda Khadra - 3.3 ★
12. The Eye In The Door by Pat Barker - 4.1 ★
13. Tamar by Mal Peet

Fiber Optic Threads - Science Fiction



Books Read

1. The Martian by Andy Weir - 4.3 ★
2. Pelquin's Comet by Ian Whates - 4.5 ★
3. Flowers For Algernon by Daniel Keyes - 5.0 ★
4. Conflict of Honors by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller - 4.1 ★
5. Brothers In Arms by Lois McMaster Bujold - 4.1 ★
6. Way Station by Clifford D. Simak - 3.8 ★
7. Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson - 3.5 ★
8. Breathe by Sarah Crossan - 2.5 ★
9. These Broken Stars by Ami Kaufman - 4.0 ★

Category Completed

10. Mirror Dance by Lois McMaster Bujold - 4.5 ★
11. The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes - 4.5 ★
12. Carpe Diem by Sharon Lee - 4.0 ★
13. War With The Newts by Karel Capek - 4.5 ★

Magic Threads - Fantasy



Books Read

1. Jack of Fables, Vol. 1: The (Nearly) Great Escape by Bill Willingham - 4.1 ★
Jack of Fables, Vol. 2: Jack of Hearts by Bill Willingham - 4.1 ★
Jack of Fables, Vol. 3: Bad Prince by Bill Willingham - 3.8 ★
2. The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie - 5.0 ★
3. Fables, Vol. 13: The Great Fables Crossover by Bill Willingham - 4.1 ★
Fables, Vol. 14: Witches by Bill Willingham - 3.9 ★
Jack of Fables, Vol. 7: The New Adventures of Jack And Jack by Bill Willingham - 4.0 ★
4. Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch - 4.1 ★
5. Moon Called by Patricia Briggs - 4.0 ★
6. The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch - 4.2 ★
7. Journey To The Center of Earth by Jules Verne - 3.4 ★
8. The Mermaid's Sister by Carrie Anne Noble - 3.0 ★
9. The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison - 4.2 ★

Category Completed

10. Princess of the Silver Woods by Jessica Day George - 3.7 ★
11. Foxmask by Juliet Marillier - 4.5 ★

Dark Threads - Dystopian, Apocalyptic, Horror



Books Read

1. Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick - 3.3 ★
2. The Twelve by Justin Cronin - 3.9 ★
3. Wool by Hugh Howey - 5.0 ★
4. Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer - 3.0 ★
5. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel - 5.0 ★
6. Shadows by Ilsa J. Bick - 3.4 ★
7. Allegiant by Veronica Roth - 2.5 ★
8. Beyond Exile by J.L. Bourne - 3.8 ★
9. Until the End of the World by Sarah Lyons Fleming - 4.3 ★

Category Completed

10. Deadline by Mira Grant - 3.8 ★
11. So Long Lollipops by Sarah Lyons Fleming - 4.0 ★
12. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley - 4.0 ★
13. The Fifth Child by Doris Lessing - 4.5 ★
14. Autumn: The City by David Moody - 3.8 ★

Thread Count - Non Fiction



Books Read

1. Book Lust To Go by Nancy Pearl - 4.0 ★
2. Lost in Shangri-La by Mitchell Zuckoff - 4.1 ★
3. Resistance: A Woman's Journal of Struggle and Defiance in Occupied France by Agnes Humbert - 3.7 ★
4. Dior by Alexandra Palmer - 3.4 ★
5. Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery by Robert Kolker - 4.5 ★
6. Lama by Derek Tangye - 3.5 ★
7. The Johnstown Flood by Willis Johnson - 3.8 ★
8. The Garden of the Gods by Gerald Durrell - 4.0 ★
9. Trials and Tribulations: A Memoir of Volunteering in the Gambia by Cassie Bryant - 3.5 ★

Category Completed

10. Photograph by Ringo Starr - 3.8 ★
11. American On Purpose by Craig Ferguson - 4.1 ★
12. Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure by Matthew Algeo - 5.0 ★
13. The Lost Continent: Travels in Small-Town America by Bill Bryson - 4.2 ★
14. Helmet For My Pillow by Robert Leckie - 4.0 ★

Designer Threads - Award Winners & Nominees, Books on Lists



Books Read

1. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson - 5.0 ★
2. Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi - 4.0 ★
3. City of Thieves by David Benioff - 4.5 ★
4. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad - 4.0 ★
5. Prayers For The Stolen by Jennifer Clement - 4.5 ★
6. The Death of Bees by Lisa O'Donnell - 5.0 ★
7. The Orenda by Joseph Boyden - 5.0 ★
8. The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan - 3.4 ★
9. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes by Anita Loos - 4.1 ★

Category Completed

10. An Untamed State by Roxane Gay - 5.0 ★
11. Out Backward by Ross Raisin - 4.3 ★
12. Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton - 5.0 ★
13. The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill - 5.0 ★
14. Ratking by Michael Dibdin - 4.2 ★
15. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde - 4.5 ★
16. Last Night At The Lobster by Stewart O'Nan - 4.5 ★

Threads of Time - Reading Through Time



Books Read

1. The Dog Master by W. Bruce Cameron - 5.0 ★
2. Mademoiselle Chanel by C.W. Gortner - 4.5 ★
3. Mrs. Poe by Lynn Cullen - 4.1 ★
4. The Last Midwife by Sandra Dallas - 3.5 ★
5. Band of Angels by Julia Gregson - 3.0 ★
6. Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon - 4.1 ★
7. The Daring Ladies of Lowell by Kate Alcott - 3.6 ★
8. Mister Teacher by Jack Sheffield - 4.0 ★
9. The Forever Queen by Helen Hollick - 4.1 ★

Category Completed

10. The Empress of Ice Cream by Anthony Capella - 4.2 ★
11. True Sisters by Sandra Dallas - 4.5 ★
12. A Touch of Stardust by Kate Alcott - 4.3 ★
13. The Falcons of Montabard by Elizabeth Chadwick - 4.0 ★
14. The Observations by Jane Harris - 3.6 ★

Threads of Silk & Gold - Global Reading



Books Read

1. A Golden Age by Tahmima Anam - 4.2 ★
2. And The Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini - 4.3 ★
3. Together Tea by Marjan Kamali - 3.3 ★
4. It Falls Into Place by Phyllis Shand Allfrey - 3.2 ★
5. Temple of a Thousand Faces by John Shors - 4.2 ★
6. The Lieutenant by Kate Grenville - 4.5 ★
7. Growing Up Wild in Trinidad by Gervase Bush - 2.7 ★
8. We Need New Names by Noviolet Bulawayo - 3.7 ★
9. Night of Many Dreams by Gail Tsukiyama - 4.0 ★

Category Completed

10. Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie - 4.1 ★
11. Train To Pakistan by Khushwant Singh - 4.1 ★
12. The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson - 4.0 ★
13. Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - 5.0 ★

Threads of Fate



Books Read

1. Bad Penny Blues by Cathi Unsworth - 4.0 ★
2. Ragtime Cowboys by Loren D. Estleman - 4.0 ★
3. Witch Light by Susan Fletcher - 4.2 ★
4. Ice Moon by Jan Costin Wagner - 3.3 ★
5. Until You're Mine by Samantha Hayes - 3.0 ★
6. Dead Before Morning by Geraldine Evans - 3.3 ★
7. Never Look Away by Linwood Barclay - 3.8 ★
8. The Long And Faraway Gone by Lou Berney - 3.9 ★
9. Trumpets West! by Luke Short - 3.9 ★

Category Completed

10. Death By The Gaff by Vernon Loder - 4.0 ★
11. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson - 4.5 ★
12. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson - 4.2 ★
13. Sacrifice by S. J. Bolton - 4.0 ★

Random Threads



1. Fables, Volume 11: War & Pieces by Bill Willingham - 4.0 ★
Fables, Volume 12: The Dark Ages by Bill Willingham - 3.8 ★
2. Jack of Fables, Volume 4: Americana by Bill Willingham - 3.8 ★
Jack of Fables, Volume 5: Turning the Pages by Bill Willingham - 3.6 ★
Jack of Fables, Volume 6: The Big Book of War by Bill Willingham - 3.8 ★
3. Never Cry Wolf by Farley Mowat - 3.8 ★
4. Kindred by Octavia E. Butler - 4.0 ★
5. The Fade Out, Act 1 by Ed Brubaker - 4.2 ★
The Fade Out, Act 2 by Ed Brubaker - 4.1 ★
6. Fables, Volume 15: Rose Red by Bill Willingham - 4.0 ★
Jack of Fables, Volume 8: The Fulminate Blade by Bill Willingham - 3.4 ★
Jack of Fables, Volume 9: The End by Bill Willingham - 2.8 ★
7. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty - 4.6 ★
8. The Walking Dead, Volume 23: Whispers Into Screams by Robert Kirkman - 4.1 ★
The Walking Dead, Volume 24: Life and Death by Robert Kirkman - 4.2 ★
9. Fables, Vol. 16: Super Team by Bill Willingham - 3.7
Fairest, Vol 1: Wide Awake by Bill Willingham - 4.0
Fairest, Vol. 2: The Hidden Kingdom by Lauren Beukes
Fairest, Vol. 3: The Return of the Maharaja by Sean E. Williams

Category Completed

10. Three Men In A Boat by Jerome K. Jerome - 4.2 ★
11. The Fade Out, Act 3 by Ed Brubaker - 4.1 ★
Fatale, Vol. 1:Death Chases Me by Ed Brubaker - 3.9 ★
Fatale, Vol. 2: The Devil's Business by Ed Brubaker - 4.0 ★
12. Fatale, Vol. 3:West of Hell by Ed Brubaker - 3.7 ★
Fatale, Vol. 4: Pray For Rain by Ed Brubaker - 4.1 ★
Fatale, Vol. 5: Curse the Demon by Ed Brubaker - 4.0 ★
13. Lumberjanes, Vol. 1: Beware the Kitten Holy by Noelle Stevenson & Lumberjanes, Vol. 2: Friendship to the Max by Noelle Stevenson - 3.6 ★
14. Fables, Vol. 17: Inherit The Wind by Bill Willingham - 4.0 ★
Fables, Vol. 18: Cubs in Toyland by Bill Willingham - 2.5 ★
Fairest in All the Land by Bill Willingham - 4.0 ★
Nimona by Noelle Stevenson - 4.0 ★
15. Werewolves of the Heartland by Bill Willingham - 3.8 ★
1001 Nights of Snowfall by Bill Willingham - 4.0 ★
Cinderella, Vol. 1: From Fabletown With Love by Chris Roberson - 4.0 ★
Cinderella, Vol 2: Fables Are Forever by Chris Roberson - 3.5 ★
16. The Dead Path by Stephen Irwin - 3.7 ★
17. Snapper by Brian Kimberling - 3.8 ★
18. Pretty Deadly by Kelly-Sue Deconnick - 4.0 ★
Sex Criminals, Vol. 3: Three the Hard Way by Matt Fraction - 3.5 ★
19. Black River by S.M. Hulse - 5.0 ★

An Important Service Message:

208. The School At Thrush Green by Miss Read - 4.0 ★
Category: Threads of Love
TIOLI #14: Rolling Challenge - Thanksgiving



The School at Thrush Green by Miss Read is the 9th book in her series of books about the village of Thrush Green and it’s inhabitants. As the title infers, this book concentrates on the upcoming retirement of two of the teachers at the village school. These two women have spent many years at the school and will be missed, but they are planning on retiring to a seaside cottage in the picaresque south-west corner of England.

As always the stories are simple and flow without urgency as the residents of Thrush Green carry on with their lives over the course of a spring and summer. There is much speculation as to who will purchase the house adjoining the school yard once the teachers vacate. Also there is a flurry of excitement when one house is burglarized but for the most part the book is simply capturing the progress that the seasons make and there are many descriptions of the countryside and the conditions of various gardens.

The School At Thrush Green is another heartwarming entry in this series that captures the charm and nostalgia of living in a quaint English village. In these books time virtually stands still as there is never any reference to what is happening in the outside world. Both timeless and sweet these books are true comfort reads.

I'm so glad I found your new thread. You might want to consider adding the link to the new thread in the old one since you didn't use the continuation feature.

>21 DeltaQueen50: I love Miss Read books!

Happy holiday thread! I like the mug cozy on that mug of hot chocolate. Makes me want to do some knitting ;)

>22 thornton37814: Thanks Lori, I didn't even realize that I didn't use the continuation feature! I'll go and add the link.

>23 rabbitprincess: I love hot chocolate even though like all good things it needs to be taken in moderation!

Happy new one, Judy!

Happy new thread. I envy you Canadians that extra month to digest Thanksgiving dinner.

Happy new thread, Judy. Your threads are all so pretty. I need to read some Miss Read; it sounds perfect for holiday reading.

I love your thread of thread theme images!

Happy New Thread, Judy! Since calories don't count anymore, I've brought along a thread warming snack:

Happy new thread, Judy! Hoping that your weekend is full of fabulous!

Happy Saturday everyone! My daughter and son-in-law are away both this weekend and next so my granddaughter is staying with us and she is great company for me. She has just learned to knit and is working on a scarf so I am supplying the back-up for that (this means when she misses or drops a stitch, I get to unravel her work and fix the problem.) We are going to go shopping this afternoon.

>25 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie!

>26 RidgewayGirl: LOL, Kay - sounds like you must have had quite the feast! I like how the American Thanksgiving kicks off the festive season, makes this time of year special.

>27 BLBera: Hi Beth, Miss Read books are perfect reads when RL gets busy or stressful. I often find myself reaching for one of her books as the holidays start to take over our lives.

>28 NatalieSW: Thank you, Natalie and welcome.

>29 mstrust: Mmmnn, coffee and donuts - a marriage made in heaven! Thanks, Jennifer. :)

>30 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie, getting to hang out with my 12 year old granddaughter is certainly fabulous!

Happy new thread, Judy! Love the holiday-themed topper!

Happy New Thread, Judy. Great pictures for your last thread of the year.

Oh, I love that red spotted cup!

From #232 in your last thread, I definitely took a bullet for The Eye in the Door by Pat Barker. I had almost forgotten this trilogy (I think I have noted it somewhere).

And #243 Ratking by Michael Dibdin is from another favourite series. Unfortunately the library here doesn't carry many of his books. Dibden lived in the country town in Northern Ireland where I lived, and he moved from there to Edmonton, Alberta - exactly as I did! So I feel a sort of kinship with him.

Happy new thread, Judy.

>32 Storeetllr: Hi Mary, I am trying to get myself in the holiday mood, Christmas and the holiday season seems to be sneaking up on me this year!

>33 dudes22: Thanks, Betty, it just seems weird that we are heading into the final month of 2016 - it really is true that time goes by much more quickly the older one gets!

>34 VivienneR: I like that cup as well. Doesn't it just seem like a perfect one to wrap your hands around while sipping something warm.

>35 VivienneR: The Regeneration trilogy is a powerful read, Vivienne. I think I rated the first one a little higher for it's emotional impact, but the second one is still very good. I hope to finish off the trilogy next year.

I didn't know there is a Canadian connection with Michael Dibdin. I assumed he wrote so knowledgeable about Italy that he must have lived there!

>36 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg.

209. Pretty Deadly by Kelly-Sue Deconnick - 4.0 ★
Sex Criminals, Vol. 3: Three The Hard Way by Matt Fraction - 3.5 ★
Category: Random Threads



Pretty Deadly by Kelly Sue Deconnick, Art by Emma Rios

Pretty Deadly, Vol. 1: The Shrike has some of the most striking and beautiful artwork that I have seen in a graphic novel, while the story-line is both original in concept and rich in metaphysical details. This is a book that requires multiple reading in order to appreciate it’s style and substance. It has a dreamlike plot but does require the reader to both question and ponder where the story it heading. I think the author could have been a little more linear but I do have to say that the western setting blended well with the magical realism that this story relies heavily upon.

The story unfolds through the eyes of a skeleton rabbit who tells the story to a butterfly, and I quickly realized that this was a story that I had to just let happen, and then reread it again for the details. In some ways it reminded me a little of the fabulous Sandman series and that is high praise indeed. This is only the first volume but it will be interesting to see if this level of excellence is kept up in future issues.

Sex Criminals, Volume Three: Three the Hard Way

Continuing on with the plot point of people making time actually stand still when sharing an orgasm, Sex Criminals, Volume 3: Three the Hard Way wasn’t quite as good as the previous issues, I felt there was a lack of story and a lack of forward direction.

Jon and Suzie are not the only ones who can make time stand still, they are finding out that there are others out there who freeze time when they climax, although some of these others are pretty strange.

As I mentioned above, I didn’t enjoy this volume as much as the previous ones probably because not a lot actually happens, it also seemed quite disjointed and was difficult to understand exactly where the story is going. But the tongue-in-cheek humor is still a strong component, the main characters are still very likeable, added to that the art is good and the concept is intriguing so I have high hopes for future issues.

Happy new thread, Judy! I've just been catching up with what you've been reading... I got so far behind!

Happy new thread, Judy!

>39 tymfos: Hi Terri, I know what you mean about getting behind - it's an occupational hazard!!

>40 MissWatson: Thank you.

210. City of Veils by Zoe Ferraris - 4.3 ★
Category: Matched Threads
November GeoCat: Northern Africa and the Middle East
TIOLI #6: Title Includes a Heteronym or a Homonyn



City of Veils by Zoe Ferraris is the second book in her mystery series that is set in Saudi Arabia. I read these books as much for the information about this closed society where woman are considered chattels and are forced to go in public in long black robes and with their faces covered. Many men appear to fear women and blame them for the desires they can inspire. Even though these books are set in the more ‘liberal’ city of Jeddah, there are still incidents of public floggings and executions.

The main characters in these stories are Nayir Sharqi, a Bedouin guide who also assists the police in their inquiries, and a female forensic scientist named Katya Hijazi. Although Katya works for the police, she has to maintain a lie that she is a married woman in order to keep her job. Nayir is in love with Katya but hesitates to say anything as he is unsure of her feelings toward him.

The mystery involves the discovery of a young woman’s body on a beach. She was brutally beaten, burned and stabbed before being discarded into the ocean. The case is a complicated one and eventually involves an American who is working in Jeddah and his wife. The murder mystery is gripping and at one point involves a particularly hair-rising sandstorm in the desert.

This is an excellent series with interesting police cases that also help to shed light on this strange and exotic culture. I highly recommend this original and creative series.

Hi Judy: I like your festive thread topper, I feel like there are not enough days left to get ready for Christmas.

Wow does that say 210 books up there? Impressive!

Goodness me, I am offline for a few days and you have new thread up with 40+ posts on it already! I like your holiday topper.

And a comment left over from your previous thread -- glad to see that you liked Ratking!

>32 Storeetllr: >37 DeltaQueen50: I'm trying to pretend Christmas doesn't exist. I'll have to get serious at some point soon, though, as I know we'll be having a big family celebration with presents needed for everyone, not just the little kids.

>42 DeltaQueen50: Sounds really good! I'll be adding this series to my wishlist.

>43 lsh63: Hi Lisa. Yes! 210 books and still counting. This is going to be my best reading year yet. I finished last year with 204 books read and I am well past that now with the whole of December to go. I am happy about this as the older I get the more I become aware that my time (reading and otherwise) is limited.

>44 leslie.98: Leslie, I am looking forward to reading more of the Aurelio Zen series. I also enjoy the Inspector Montalbano series by Andrea Camilleri but they are lighter than Dibden and there are definitely times I prefer the darker stories.

>45 Storeetllr: I'm sort of pretending it isn't coming either, Mary. But I guess no matter how hard we try, we have to face that it is coming. My husband who is a huge fan of Christmas isn't into it this year either. We are planning on bringing out the decorations this week and decorating next weekend, perhaps that will bring on the Christmas spirit. The first Zoe Ferraris book is called The Night of the Mi'raj or Finding Nouf and it was very good as well.

Happy new thread and thanks for yet another BB (Ratking sounds great!).

>47 -Eva-: Thanks, Eva, and you're welcome. :)

Thanks, Judy. I'll be reserving it from the library asap.

I have decided (more or less) on most of my Christmas gifts. Because I personally hate shopping, and none of my nieces need or want stuff (at least nothing that I can afford to give), I'm going to give each one of the four of them a gift certificate to a dine-in movie theater including both the price of the tickets and dinner for two. (They can pay for their own bar tab; I'm not rich! LOL) What do you think? Better than socks or scarves?

>49 Storeetllr: I think that is a great idea. I am in the same boat with most of my family as they have everything they could possibly want, I am reduced to giving gift certificates and treat-gifts like chocolate, candy and booze. MY biggest problem is coming up with creative ways to wrap gift certificates! Actually dinner and a movie might just be something for my daughters and son-in-laws!

211. Twelve Days of Winter by Stuart MacBride - 4.0 ★
Category: Threads of Mystery
2016 Christmas Mystery Read
TIOLI #7: Author's Last Name Has Two Capital Letters



Twelve Days of Winter by Stuart MacBride consists of twelve short stories that are skillfully connected by the various characters and the actions that they undertake. If you haven’t read MacBride before you could be taken aback by the twisted black humor and violence of the various situations that his characters find themselves in but those who have read him, will find themselves on familiar ground. From a lab technician who learns she may have Aids when she finds it’s her lover on the autopsy table to a politician about to be exposed as a child molester these stories tell of desperate people caught up in unthinkable situations.

Although all these stories are set during the festive season and are based on the familiar Twelve Days of Christmas, these are far from uplifting tales. MacBride places his stories in the grimy streets of a large Scottish city and gives each story it’s own shade of bleakness. I would caution anyone who abhors over the top violence to steer away from this book.

Personally I enjoyed these clever stories that illustrate that the holiday season can, for some people, be the worst time of the year. I should mention that I listened to the audio version as read by Ian Hanmore whose strong Scottish accent made these stories come alive.

>37 DeltaQueen50: Sorry Judy, I should have mentioned that Dibdin also lived for a while in Italy.

>51 DeltaQueen50: I took a bullet on Macbride's book. The library doesn't have it but it'll keep for next year when I can get a copy of my own.

>52 VivienneR: Vivienne, it certainly makes sense that Dibdin spent a lot of time in Italy. I listened to an audio version of the MacBride book, it's definitely short being only 130 pages, but it's a great sampling of how he writies.

212. Arabella by Georgette Heyer - 4.2 ★
Category: Threads of Love
Reading Through Time Monthly: Choice of Two Periods
TIOLI #3: A Book I Started Before December



I thoroughly enjoyed Arabella by Georgette Heyer, it was the perfect light read for my busy life right now. Rather than the heroine of the piece, this time it was the male main character that raised this book up a few notches. Robert Beaumaris is one of Heyer’s most swoon-worthy heroes. His kindness, humor and intelligence put him heads and shoulders above all the other London gentlemen and his conversations with his dog, Ulysses, were my favorite part of the book.

The story is about Arabella a vicar’s daughter who is given a season in London with the objective of snaring herself a rich husband in order to help launch her brothers and sisters. Through a misunderstanding she allows herself to be taken as an heiress and soon she is besieged with men. Of course she only has eyes for Beaumaris but as she feels guilty about the lie she is living as well as having been warned off of him by her godmother, she holds herself at a distance. When Arabella’s brother comes to London and gets in trouble financially, Arabella finally turns to Beaumaris for help.

With perfect period detail, witty and engaging writing and wonderful characters, Arabella was another Georgette Heyer masterpiece.

>54 DeltaQueen50: I love Ulysses :-) Was this your first reading of Arabella? My mom and I were chatting about Heyer books the other day & I could not for the life of me remember this title but when I described how the heroine foists a mongrel dog on the hero, Mom said at once "Oh, Arabella! That is a good one."

>55 leslie.98: Yes, this was my first reading of Arabella, I discovered Georgette Heyer through friends here at LT and now I am working my way through her books. I think Arabella will long remain a favorite, mostly due to Usysses!

213. The End (The Enemy Book 7) by Charlie Higson - 4.2 ★
Category: Hanging By a Thread
TIOLI #3: Started Before December



The End (The Enemy Book 7) by Charlie Higson is the 7th and is being labeled the final volume in his YA apocalyptic series. As much as I like the idea of closing off another series, I am sad that it has to be this particular one. These books have been a guilty pleasure of mine for a number of years, they are all well over 400 pages but read quickly and easily. Packed with lots of adventure, action and violence, I have enjoyed each book.

A terrible disease has struck and all adults over the age of fifteen are infected. Most die, but those that live are forever changed. They now act inhuman and all they seem to want to do is attack and kill the healthy. In this final book, the surviving adults form an army but the real threat is that the parasites that they carry are ready to be launched and infect the living children. Both sides gather in London’s Hyde Park for the final battle.

The End brought gathers the many various story-lines that have been spread over the course of the series and gives closure. As no one is ever safe in these books, I was prepared to lose some of my favorite characters but I also knew that the author would leave his readers with a feeling of completion and hope.

I am SO glad that you went back and put a link to this thread in your last thread--I could have lost you forever!!

>54 DeltaQueen50: Arabella sounds great -there was a dog in another Heyer that I really liked -- the title escapes me now. I love her sense of humor. I'll add this to my list.

>57 DeltaQueen50: Hi Roni, I was glad that Lori let me know that I had forgotten to use the Continuation Link when I set up this thread. I am finding that I have to concentrate on everything I do these days or I forget totally what I am about! If you are ever in danger of losing me, I can always be found by going to my home page - I have links to all my threads there. :)

>59 BLBera: Arabella will definitely be on my list of favorite Georgette Heyer books. Her humor is the type that puts a twinkle in your eyes - much lighter than belly laugh humor!

>59 BLBera: That's probably Frederica with Luff, the mongrel from Baluchistan.

214. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde - 4.5 ★
Category: Designer Threads - 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die List
TIOLI #3: Started Before December



I found The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde a complex yet detailed observation of a young man’s character as he exchanges his soul for eternal youth and beauty. Although his outward appearance remains fresh, youthful and handsome, inside he is hedonistic, vain and amoral. He is tied to a portrait that was painted of him and while he remains unchanged, the portrait continuously ages and shows the flaws and corruption that have tainted him. The picture grows ever more hideous as the years go by.

Tremendously quotable, extremely witty, Oscar Wilde’s prose is a joy to read. As he explores the nature of sin and the amorality of mankind, phrases run tripping off the tongue and although the subject matter was quite horrible, his words are almost musical.

I read this book through installments from Daily Lit and I am glad that I have finally read it and can now understand why Oscar Wilde is rated so highly, although I certainly didn’t always agree on some of the things he wrote about women but I expect that is more to do with the times he lived in rather than his sexuality.

The Picture of Dorian Gray is a sad and haunting tale that presents the idea that there is no sinning without consequence. This fable about the human condition encourages it’s readers to contemplate their own spirituality giving this book both a timeless quality and ensures it's place as a classic.

>57 DeltaQueen50: I have a couple of books from this series. Sounds like I should try to fill in the rest of the series. Thanks for your comments!

>63 mamzel: I hope you enjoy the series when you get to it, Mamzel. It's a no-holds barred, violent and gory ride but a fun one for all of that!

215. Tamar by Mal Peet - 4.0 ★
Category: Tangled Threads
December GeoCat: Western Europe
TIOLI #9: Only two Letters Are Used as Vowels in Author's Name



Tamar by Mal Peet is a vividly told story that jumps back and forth from WW II to the present. In 1944 two soldiers are dropped into Holland to help organize the Resistance while in 1995 a young woman launches her search to reveal family secrets from the strange clues in a shoebox left for her by her grandfather.

This is a story of love, jealousy and betrayal. I found the love triangle a bit of a stretch, but the details about Holland during this last year of World War II was fascinating. I am not usually a fan of books that follow two timelines but I thought this plot device worked well here and I found myself totally drawn into both stories. The “twist” at the end of the book was certainly no surprise but overall I found this book highly readable.

Tamar is classified as a YA book but I would say it’s definitely for 14+ as the author does not steer away from the brutality of the war. Tamar is a well constructed, multi-layered story that I enjoyed.

What a terrible day! We actually are having some very cold weather and have had some snow as well. Unfortunately my furnace decided to shut down today and we couldn't get anyone in until 5:30 pm. I spent most of the day in front of the fireplace, wrapped in blankets. I wish I could say that I got a lot of reading done, but instead I kept falling asleep! It is nice and warm now though.

We are supposed to be getting another snow storm tomorrow and I have made plans to go Christmas shopping with my elder daughter, at least she has a good vehicle for driving in the snow! We have all decided to cut back this year on the gifts as there really isn't anything any one of us desperately needs. So my shopping will consist of picking up a few gift certificates.

Why do furnaces wait until there is a very cold day before they go on the blink? And what a day it must have been in your area! I guess it will be the day after tomorrow when the snow reaches this part of the province. We haven't had any yet although it's been very cold.

Enjoy the shopping trip, that's one thing I really miss about the big city.

>66 DeltaQueen50: What a terrible day to be without heat, Judy. At least it is warm and toasty now and the snow is supposed to hold off until Friday so I hope you got your Christmas shopping done.

>66 DeltaQueen50: How awful! At least you have a fireplace - could have been even worse without one :/

Oh, Judy! What a long day for you. I'm glad that you got it fixed, though. Have fun with your shopping - mine is almost finished, I am happy to report.

Glad you made it through yesterday. You're a survivor!
Sending you warm wishes for today-

Glad you made out ok - I think that snow from your side of the country is supposed to get here Sun night and give us a couple or three inches. That will be our first this winter.

Yuk on the furnace dying! That's awful. Although I admit I'm a little jealous of the fireplace, which I haven't had access to in years.

Luckily the snow held off yesterday while we were shopping. It was actually a really nice day, clear, sunny and cold. Today the snow is coming down and we are supposed to get somewhere between 5 - 15 cm. I hope it stops this afternoon as this evening I am going to the Nutcracker with my elder daughter and granddaughter. I am looking forward to the performance, if not the drive to get there!

Thanks for all the good wishes for warmth, the furnace is chugging away nicely with it's spare part and hopefully all will be well once the repairman returns on Monday with the new part.

As is usual for December, my reading is suffering from me having so much else to do. One of my current reads is The Talented Mr. Ripley and it's gotten to the "can't-put-down" stage so I am planning on doing some serious reading this afternoon.

This is our first snow in about 4 years so it's nice for the kids and I hope it sticks around for the weekend so snowmen can be build and sleds can come out of the basement. But then, I am hoping it warms up next week and we go back to our usual mild winter. I am most definitely not a snow-bunny!

>67 VivienneR: Vivienne, we did have a great day shopping. We first went to an Art Knapp's nursery that really goes all out with Christmas decorations, we browsed the ornament section, had a mulled cider and got into the Christmas spirit. Then we headed out to the shops. A fun day.

>68 Familyhistorian: I got a good start on the shopping, Meg. Hubby and I are meeting some of his family for Sunday Brunch this weekend and then we will go shopping afterwards. And on Monday I am meeting up with my younger daughter for another day of shopping. That should pretty much wrap things up for me.

>69 leslie.98: What I really missed when it was so cold was our wood burning stove that we had in our family room. It could heat the whole house! Unfortunately we had to take it out a year ago due to the insurance people. :(

>70 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie, don't you love it when the shopping part of Christmas is over. I love the house decorating, the food prep and the wrapping of gifts - I just could do without the shopping! I'll be glad to see the end of that part.

>71 mstrust: Yep, Jennifer, I am ready to hang out with Rick and Daryl! I survived a day of 55 degree weather in my house with only the aid of my two bathrobes and about three afghans!

>72 dudes22: Betty, I am more than happy to send our snow eastwards to you!

>73 andreablythe: Andrea, don't be too jealous, the fireplace is a gas one and it really didn't throw out very much heat - it was more of a mental thing - being able to see the flames - cause I sure couldn't feel them.

My parents lost power for a day when a tornado touched down less than a half mile from their house, but it's warmer in SC than in BC! I have the places I've lived on my weather app and we've reached the part of the year where the temperatures for Edmonton look like they really must be in Celcius rather than Fahrenheit.

>76 RidgewayGirl: I feel like such a wimp when I complain if our winter temperature gets into single digits! Compared to Ottawa's -5 degrees or Edmonton's -22 degrees, our +2 degrees isn't really anything to complain about!

216. The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith - 4.3 ★
Category: Threads of Mystery
December RandomCat: Our Gifts
December GeoCat: Western Europe
TIOLI #9: Only Two Letters Are Used As Vowels in the Author's Name



I thoroughly enjoyed The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith. Full of games, deceit, manipulation and murder, this was a mesmerizing read. As much a psychological study as a thriller, Tom Ripley is a character that one does not forget. A conniving sociopath who made his first appearance in 1955, one can still see his lasting impression on many of today’s authors.

The Italian setting made a great backdrop for this tale of betrayal and although you couldn’t help but be aware that Ripley’s crimes would not be as easily concealed with today’s forensics, it was still a fascinating case of cat and mouse. Even though Ripley was a despicable character with an enlarged sense of superiority, it was difficult not to root for him. This is due to the genius of the author who was able to put her readers into Tom Ripley’s skin, while at the same time making the other characters a little less sympathetic. This is interesting because it is obvious that Tom Ripley would rather live in anyone else’s skin than his own.

Overall, I found The Talented Mr. Ripley a unique and thought-provoking story that alternated between being disturbing and exhilarating. A very good read.

>77 DeltaQueen50: +2 Judy? Does that mean this is going to melt? I think I will give it a helping hand by unburying my car before wading off to the library. How is the snow out your way?

>79 Familyhistorian: We didn't get all that much, Meg. I suspect you probably got a lot more being closer to the mountains. The drive home last night through Surrey showed that they got a lot more than us as well. It appears to have turned to rain now and is melting quite quickly.

>80 DeltaQueen50: We do seem to get a lot more precipitation here, Judy. After wading to the new skytrain (it was really wet with rain and melted snow in the ruts in the road - where were the snowplows?), I went downtown and the streets and sidewalks there were bare.

>81 Familyhistorian: Typical west coast weather - pours in one place while the sun shines barely 20 miles away!

217. The Observations by Jane Harris - 3.6 ★
Category: Threads of Time
Reading Through Time Monthly Theme: Choice of Two Eras
TIOLI #5: Rolling Challenge - Solstice



The Observations by Jane Harris is a Victorian novel set in rural Scotland. The melodrama is narrated by Bessy Buckley, a 15 year old who leaves her unsavory past behind in Glasgow and finds a job as a housekeeper in a remote country house. It soon becomes apparent that Bessy is running from a criminal past and is an unreliable narrator. Her mistress, Arabella is also exceedingly strange and she has Bessy keep a journal of her day to day activities and thoughts which she then reviews. Bessy discovers that the mistress keeps her own observations and reads some rather unflattering things about herself. Feeling betrayed she pays her mistress back by instigating a “haunting” by a maid who died while in service. Unfortunately, her tricks convince her mistress and she suffers a mental breakdown causing Bessy to feel very guilty.

I enjoy Victorian melodrama like Fingersmith and The Crimson Petal and the White but unfortunately I don’t think the Observations measured up to those books. There were long periods in the book where nothing happened and I would grow bored with the story. Then the activity would pick up and I would once again be pulled into the story. Eventually I just kept reading as I wanted to know how this was all going to end. And once again, I was let down by the ending, expecting there to be a twist or a big reveal instead the story sort of rolled along and ended very quietly.

Overall, The Observations was a better than average work of historical fiction, but my own expectations meant that I was left feeling rather unsatisfied by the read.

>78 DeltaQueen50: Wasn't The Talented Mr Ripley an amazing story? There is so much left unsaid. Obviously Greenleaf senior thought his son was gay otherwise he'd surely have sent a girl to tempt him home. But that couldn't be mentioned when the book was written. I know there are sequels, but I haven't read them because I don't think they would live up to the success of this book.

>84 VivienneR: Vivienne, I loved The Talented Mr. Ripley and it will most likely be a book that lingers in the mind, in fact, I am already wondering why I didn't give the book 5 stars (I may go back and change that). The whole gay aspect of the story was interesting. It was obviously there and part of the plot but in a very quiet and understated way. I also am not sure if I want to continue with more Tom Ripley books. If I happen to stumble over them I would pick them up but I will not be actively seeking them out.

218. A Helmet For My Pillow by Robert Leckie - 4.0 ★
Category: Thread Count
December DeweyCat: 940 - 999
TIOLI #4: A Book With Numbers In The First Sentence



Helmet For My Pillow is the written account of U.S. Marine, author and military historian Robert Leckie on his experiences during the Second World War. The book starts on the day of his enlistment and takes the reader through basic training and his assignment to the 1st Marine Division. He was deployed to the Pacific theatre with his first stop being the island of Guadacanal.

Helmet For My Pillow is a personal story about one actual on-the-ground ‘gyrene’. From his time fighting from island to island and his liberty adventures in Australia, his recollections are vivid and gives the reader a sense of what these young men went through on a day-to-day basis. The author was 21 when he enlisted and he and his fellow marines were sent into some of the war’s fiercest fighting. Eventually Robert Leckie was evacuated with wounds from the island of Peleliu.

From his sense of kinship with his fellow marines, the laughter and fun they shared to the harrowing battle scenes and the horror of dead bodies strewn about, the author gives the reader a glimpse of one man’s war experience which makes for a very gripping, interesting and intense read.

>78 DeltaQueen50: The Talented Mr. Ripley is one of those books that's been on my tbr shelves for a while and I keep telling myself I'll read it one of these days. Maybe your review will be the push it needs to actually reach the top of that particular mountain.

Good morning, DeltaQueen50! I hope all is well with you.

>78 DeltaQueen50: I have not read The Talented Mr. Ripley, but I remember the film being haunting well filmed and acted. Creepy, disturbing.



>86 DeltaQueen50: This looks good.

>88 brodiew2: Hi Brodie, The Talented Mr. Ripley was a great read. I have seen the movie a number of years ago and now I would like to see it again. I remember both Jude Law and Philip Seymour Hoffman were part of the cast and Gwyneth Paltrow as well. From what I remember, the film was a little different from the book, but as I say it's been awhile.

A Helmet For My Pillow is also a very good read if you are interested in WW II. Apparently there was a 2010 HBO mini-series called "The Pacific" that was adapted from this book.

219. War With The Newts by Karel Capek - 4.5 ★
Category: Fiber Optic Thread
December SF/FFKit: December Round Up
TIOLI #15: A Science Fiction or Fantasy Set In Our World



War With the Newts by Czech author Karel Capek is both a satire based on mankind’s trait to exploit any new found life-form that we find and also, due to his concern over what was happening in Europe at that time, a rather obvious dig at the rise of National Socialism that was occurring in Germany. Originally published in 1936 this work of science fiction concerns the discovery of a race of intelligent sea-dwelling lizards on a remote Pacific Island.

The book starts with a much lighter tone than that which develops later. A sea captain stumbles upon these creatures on an island near Sumatra and quickly learns to utilize them for collecting pearls. Eventually this operation is expanded and then the lizards are put to work on many different projects. As the men control and direct these lizards, teaching them to use tools and even weapons, they in turn are watching and learning. All too soon these enslaved creatures are being mistreated and the tension between humans and lizards builds until fights break out and then escalates into a full scale war.

War With The Newts deftly shows how our human habit of exploitation leads to bigotry, greed, cruelty and ultimately to our own downfall. Although written over eighty years ago, it is very sad and very obvious that not much has changed in today’s world. The author manages to skewer religion, capitalism, fascism and even social reform during the course of this short book, making War With the Newts a fascinating and unusual read.

>90 DeltaQueen50: If only the people who need to most would read more books like this, the world might be a better place! I'm going to look for this one at the library.

>91 Storeetllr: I know, Mary. Someone should put together a reading list for Donald Trump like author Yann Martel did for our previous Prime Minister, Stephen Harper. The aim was to make Steven Harper a well-read and more thoughtful person. The author sent over 57 books to the Prime Minister's office, but I don't know if Mr. Harper actually read any of them.

220. An Irish Country Wedding by Patrick Taylor - 4.0 ★
Category: Threads of Love
December AlphaKit: T
TIOLI #4: A Book With Numbers in the First Sentence



Another delightful installment in the Irish Country Doctor series, An Irish Country Wedding by Patrick Taylor sees one of the doctor’s embark upon a marriage while the other is leaving Ballybucklebo for advanced training in obstetrics.

Of course before either event the doctors have to deal with various illnesses and crises that arise in this rural Irish village. Their beloved housekeeper needs emergency surgery and the village then rallies round to ensure the doctors are fed. A new romance is blooming and both doctors are planning for the future.

Chock full of Irish wit and charm, these are heart-warming books that tell of Irish village life in the 1960’s.

Happy Friday, Judy! Catching up with your thread, and I am happy to see that you enjoyed The Talented Mr. Ripley - I have that one on my shelves and am hoping to get to it next year. But you got me with A Helmet for my Pillow - adding that to the list. I keep seeing that Irish Country Doctor around the threads and think I will have to jump into that series a some point.

Hoping that your weekend is filled with fabulous!

Good morning, DeltaQueen50! I was at the library last night and picked up the 1934 Robert Donat Count of Monte Cristo. I'll be checking it out this weekend. Have you seen it?

>92 DeltaQueen50: For all his (many, many) flaws, I don't think anyone doubted that Harper knew how to read. The same cannot be said for that other guy.

>94 Crazymamie: Happy Friday to you as well, Mamie. As I am reading more of the books from the 1001 ist of Books You Should Read Before You Die, I am finding out why these books are rated so highly. So far I have liked all of the ones I have recently read and now I wonder why I avoided many of them for so long! Have a great weekend.

>95 brodiew2: I have seen the Robert Donat version of The Count but it was many years ago and I really don't remember it all that well. Of course there is no way that the whole story could be fit into a film lasting less than 2 hours so I expect a good deal has been changed from the book. I hope you enjoy it.

>96 RidgewayGirl: LOL Kay, I'm afraid it's too late to make Trump a more empathetic person. At least Harper carried himself quite well as our Prime Minister but I personally don't think the same can be said of Mr. Trump.

>97 DeltaQueen50:. Having recently completed the unabridged audio book of The Count, I understand that the plot has to be largely condensed. Sadly, but not terribly so, those tangents and minor plot devices were some of my favorite parts of the book.

I have enjoyed Robert Donat in 39 Steps and Bulldog Drummond. It should be good.

Hi, Judy. Glad to get back to your 2016 thread for the rest of the year. Have you warmed up yet? We've had a full day of lovely rain!

Happy Saturday, Judy! Just stopped by to say I started Black River (a potential TIOLI shared read for us), and I am really liking it. I hope you can get to is this month, as I think it's right up your alley, too!

>98 brodiew2: Robert Donat is a very good actor and I think you will enjoy his performance of the Count. Enjoy your film!

>99 ronincats: Oh, how I long for the rain to return. It's freezing cold here and we have been told to expect up to 15 cm of snow tomorrow evening. I just got home from the grocery store and between Christmas and the weather warnings, it was a mad house!

>100 katiekrug: Excellent timing, Katie. I picked up Black River this morning and have read the first dozen pages and you are right, I am really liking both the story and the writing so far. After this one and my last book, Last Night At The Lobster, I am going to need a happy book though!

221. Last Night At The Lobster by Stewart O'Nan - 4.5 ★
Category: Designer Thread - Long List - International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award
TIOLI #5: Rolling Challenge - Solstice



With Last Night At the Lobster, author Steward O’Nan has perfectly captured a moment in time that made the reading experience feel quite voyeuristic. The final hours of a Red Lobster Restaurant in New England occurring on a snowy night just five days before Christmas had an authenticity about it that made the reading all the more poignant. I have often frequented these types of chain restaurants that are housed in the back end of a mall parking lot and so the book had a familiar yet despondent note.

More of a mood piece than an actual story, we step into the restaurant and immediately are caught up in the employee’s last shift. As the manager, Manny opens the restaurant we learn that corporate management is closing them down. Some have jobs to move onto and others are being simply let go. It’s understandable that most of the employees who are being let go fail to show up, leaving the rest to scramble to keep the business flowing smoothly. A few customers-from-hell, a couple of surly employees, and the blighted love affair of the manager and one of the waitresses liven up the final hours of the Red Lobster but as the hours tick down the overall feeling is one of sadness.

Although very low key Last Night At The Lobster is a haunting and unforgettable glimpse into the lives of a group of service industry workers who are facing the reality of job change or loss. I read this book in pretty much one sitting and was totally absorbed.

I like most of Stewart O'Nan's work, but The Last Night of the Lobster really is one of his very best.

I'm a huge O'Nan fan and agree with Kay that Lobster is one of his best. I've read (and listened to) it several times.

>102 DeltaQueen50: I read that one back when it came out, and I loved it. It was the first book by O'Nan I'd ever read, and I think it's still my favorite.

>102 DeltaQueen50: Just as I decide to read books that are already on my tbr shelves, you hit me with another bullet! You know I can't resist a new-to-me author.

Well over 200 books again this year, I see, dear Guru.

Have a lovely weekend.

>102 DeltaQueen50: - I too am going to take a BB on this. Interestingly enough, the one Red Lobster that we had here in Rhode Island didn't last that long. I think I may have gone to it twice. (didn't like it - or the prices - but gave it a second chance just to be sure) There's just so much fresh seafood here and pretty much all the restaurants have seafood options, that I fear it was doomed to failure.

ETA: 15 cm of snow can only make things messy this time of year. Better in Jan when we can snuggle in with our Christmas gift books and a cup of tea.

>98 brodiew2: I didn't know Robert Donat played Bulldog Drummond! I will have to search that out. Enjoy your time with The Count!

We had 6 inches (~15 cm) of snow here in Massachusetts yesterday followed by freezing rain and now today regular rain & comparatively warm temps of 50°F (~10°C) -- talk about a mess! Luckily I cleared my car of snow in the short gap between snow & rain...

>102 DeltaQueen50: Judy, I am so thrilled that you loved Last Night at the Lobster - just like Lori, it was my first O'Nan and remains my favorite. I keep coming back to it every year for a reread. Your review is spot on.

Taking the morning to play catch-up on all the threads in the group.

Not surprising, you have been busy reading! I have made a note of a number of books, in particular, the Capella book The Empress of Ice Cream. I loved The Various Flavours of Coffee and can just imagine what his story with a focus on ice cream would be like! Love all of the Fables reading. So happy to see you loved Ethan Frome and The Book of Negros. Both are such great stories. October had its fill of lovely gothic reads, I see. ;-)

>20 DeltaQueen50: - Amen to that statement, as I eat a mincemeat tart with my coffee. ;-)

>66 DeltaQueen50: - Why is it that furnaces always seem to pack it in when the cold weather strikes? We went through three days of flaky heating at work when the cold snap came. It is all fixed now but good grief, I feel for you.

It appears that our snow arrived early as we woke up to more snow on the ground and it continues to fall. My granddaughter came up and joined us for breakfast and she has put a smile on my face that will probably last the day. I am going to start wrapping gifts later and I also hope to cuddle on the coach with an afghan and a book, tree lights on and the curtains open to watch the snow.

>103 RidgewayGirl: This was my first O'Nan but I can assure you that it won't be my last.

>104 katiekrug: I remember the conversations that you and Mamie had about Last Night At The Lobster so I just knew that it would be a book that I would like!

>105 thornton37814: Last Night At The Lobster seems to be a favorite with everyone who reads O'Nan. I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

>106 VivienneR: I love finding (and liking) a new author who has written a good number of books so I have lots more to discover by him!

>107 PaulCranswick: Yes, Paul, I have been reading up a storm and I've had an excellent reading year. I am looking forward to what 2017 is going to bring me reading-wise.

>108 dudes22: I have wondered how a restaurant like The Red Lobster stays open on the West Coast as well as there are so many seafood restaurants to be found. I have never been to one but have been to The Olive Garden, Applebee's and Milestones many times - especially when shopping at the malls. I am hoping that this snowfall turns to rain later on today and washes everything
away but if instead it turns cold again, we could have a big mess out there.

>109 leslie.98: Uh-oh - freezing rain is such a hazard - be careful out there!

>110 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie. Between Mark, Katie and yourself, Last Night At the Lobster practically flew to the top of my TBR pile!

>111 lkernagh: Today seems to be a good day to stay inside and play catch-up, Lori. Are you getting lots of snow? I have to admit I still think about the exotic ice cream treats that were described in The Empress of Ice Cream, it was a good book. Thank heavens our furnace is in tip-top shape now, the repairman was here on Friday putting in the new parts that he ordered so I am toasty warm. Since you liked >20 DeltaQueen50: up above, I have another one for us Christmas lovers that I will post in the next spot.

This is my type of workout!

Mine too!

Ditto!

>112 DeltaQueen50: - we keep getting dustings of snow here in Victoria but nothing that really lasts, except for the colder temps so I have been making a lot of use of my new puffer jacket! ;-)

>114 katiekrug: & >115 Crazymamie: Let's all enjoy our holiday workouts!

>116 lkernagh: I am so not a snowbunny! I am hoping that it all goes away and we can go back to our green Christmas-es! But I am glad that you getting to wear your new winter jacket!

Hi Judy just checking in to see what you're up to. I like snow when it looks so pretty after falling overnight and then a snow day the next day.

Last Christmas it was so warm here I needed to bring the fan out, it had to be close to 70!

>90 DeltaQueen50: War with the Newts sounds good Judy - one for the wishlist.

>118 lsh63: Hi Lisa, I am reading up a storm, trying to get a pile more books finished in 2016. Our snow has pretty much been washed away and the temp. is slowing improving.

>119 souloftherose: I really liked War With the Newts, Heather. I am trying to read some of the 1001 Books You Should Read Before You Die, and this one grabbed my attention. Very short and very readable.

LOVE that Holiday workout. Just my cup of wine.

>121 andreablythe: Heh! Heh! Nothing like a good workout - right?

Judy, I finished Black River and tried to give it a million stars, but LT limited me to five :)

>123 katiekrug: Katie, I expect to finish it later on this evening as long as Christmas preparations don't get in the way! I am loving this story, so sad but the author doesn't drag out the misery, it's just there along with the pent-up rage and grief. I just realized that the author is a woman which I have to admit surprised me, and a debut novel to boot. S.M. Hulse is someone that I will certainly be watching out for.

222. Black River by S.M. Hulse - 5.0 ★
Category: Random Threads
TIOLI #2: Title Consists of a Color and an Object



Black River by debut author S.M. Hulse was an outstanding read. An American tragedy that draws the reader in with it’s detailed rendering of a unique character. Wes Carver is a complicated, driven yet broken man. He is a hard man to understand or get close to, in fact, it appears that only one person ever has broken through the outer shell and that would be his wife, Claire, who has just passed away from cancer. Wes brings her ashes home to Black River, a small town in Montana whose claim to fame is that the state prison is located there.

Wes and Claire once lived in Black River and Wes worked as a correctional officer, but 20 years ago a prison riot changed their lives. Held and tortured for 39 hours by a vicious inmate, Wes’s rage, fear and grief are still bottled up inside him. But the prison riot isn’t the only reason why Wes is scarred, he grew up in the shadow of a father who committed suicide and there was an incident with his stepson that caused great damage to the family and saw Claire and Wes move to Spokane. As Wes arrives back on the ranch that was once his home, he learns that the person responsible for his scars, burns and smashed fingers is coming up for parole.

With his silent stoicism and rigid morality Wes Carver is a hard man yet we do see another side, a much gentler man who lost the ability to play his violin and express his inner soul through his music when his fingers were smashed. Black River is both harsh yet delicate in it’s portrayal of one man’s quest for grace and the author hit all the right notes. There is a great deal more to this story than I have described here, but rest assured that Black River is a wonderful story of both rage and redemption.

Excellent review, Judy!

>126 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie, I found this book a hard one to review. There was so much happening in the book but I also didn't want to give too much away. Anyway, I loved it and will be watching for more from this author.

I'm planning on taking a BB for this, but I'm wondering just how much violence is there in the book?

>128 dudes22: Betty, there is some violence but it is not overdone or over-described. The prison torture is referred to, but as a event that happened in the past.

223. Sacrifice by S. J. Bolton - 4.0 ★
Category: Threads of Fate
TIOLI #5: Rolling Challenge - Solstice



When Tora Hamilton uncovers a dead body on her property, little did she know that this was just the beginning of a nightmare that would encompass her life, her family and her surroundings. Sacrifice by S. J. Bolton is an absorbing thriller that has many twists and turns for the reader to unravel until the final solution is uncovered.

Moving to the remote Shetland Islands was difficult enough for obstetrician Tora, but when she starts to ask questions about her grisly discovery, things take a decidedly nasty turn. Being warned off by the police, other doctors and even her husband leads her to take risks and bring herself to the attention of whoever has been killing women by taking their hearts.

Although Sacrifice is 550 pages, it reads quickly and is full of events that will make your heart start pounding. The story totally holds the readers attention and the final 100 pages simply can’t be put down. This book was S. J. Bolton’s debut book and now I am looking forward to reading more thrillers by this author.

Oh MY! Another BB.

ETA: DQ - your link goes to "The Hunger Games"

>131 dudes22: Thanks for letting me know about the link, Betty. I've fixed it.

My New Year resolution will be to wear armour when visiting your thread!

I already have S.J. Bolton on my wishlist but it looks like it's time to move her onto my tbr.

Hi Judy!! >113 DeltaQueen50: LOL -- me too!!!

Back to your prior thread, I have Ratking on my shelves and your review is very enticing! Along with a couple of companion comments. :-)

I also have Awakening by S.J. Bolton on my shelves.

I have to much to look forward to!

>113 DeltaQueen50: Great workout idea.

Happy holidays, Judy.

I am dropping in and out of LT today as I clean house. I have one more bathroom to go and that's it for today. Tomorrow I will be doing some cooking and I will give the kitchen a final clean. The family is gathering here on Christmas morning for present opening and brunch. Dinner will be at my eldest daughters.

I am leaving on Boxing Day to visit my family on Vancouver Island so tomorrow will also be a day of packing and gathering everything I want to take with me. I'm sure I will find some time to drop in to LT as well!

>133 VivienneR: I hesitate to even say how long that S.J. Bolton was sitting on my shelves!

>134 EBT1002: Ratking was a great introduction to the Aurelio Zen series, I am hoping to read more of this series next year.

>135 BLBera: Glad you like my workout, Beth. Happy holidays to you as well.

>136 EBT1002: Thanks, Ellen. With what is going on in the world today, Peace is something we all should be wishing for.

>137 DeltaQueen50: Have a wonderful holiday on Vancouver Island, Judy!

Happy Holidays Judy ! Enjoy your time with your family.

Wouldn't it be nice if 2017 was a year of peace and goodwill.
A year where people set aside their religious and racial differences.
A year where intolerance is given short shrift.
A year where hatred is replaced by, at the very least, respect.
A year where those in need are not looked upon as a burden but as a blessing.
A year where the commonality of man and woman rises up against those who would seek to subvert and divide.
A year without bombs, or shootings, or beheadings, or rape, or abuse, or spite.

2017.

Festive Greetings and a few wishes from Malaysia!

Today will be another day of popping in and out of LT as I am packing, cooking and doing some last minute cleaning.

As I am going to be away until after the New Year I have made sure to pack a book or two to finish off this year with and a few to start the 2017 Challenge with. I've had another wonderful year on LT and with the Category Challenge and I am looking forward to continuing on in 2017.

>138 mathgirl40: Thanks Paulina, I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday.

>139 lsh63: The Best of the Season to you as well, Lisa.

>140 PaulCranswick: That is such a lovely thought, Paul, and one that I wish with all my heart would come true.
Best wishes to you and your family.

I am going to try and visit as many threads as possible today, but just in case I miss anyone:

Merry Christmas, Judy!

Merry Christmas, Judy! Have a great time with your family :)

Merry Christmas, Judy!

Thank you for the lovely Christmas wishes!

224. Twelve Days of Christmas by Trisha Ashley - 4.0 ★
Category: Threads of Love
TIOLI #5: Rolling Challenge - Solstice



Twelve Days of Christmas by Trisha Ashley was a fun romantic story that has gotten me in the Christmas mood. For the past few years the Christmas season has been a sad one for Holly Brown as her husband passed away just a couple of days before Christmas. She tries to get away from the holidays and this year a house-sitting job at a remote country home seems the perfect place to escape to.

Of course, things have a way of working themselves out and before too long, Holly finds herself hosting a family Christmas as relatives of the home owner keep showing up. Just as the heavy snowfall arrives so too does the owner of the house. He and Holly have not been getting along over the phone so she is surprised that she feels quite happy over his unexpected early return.

A lovely slow and cautious romance set against an old-fashioned Christmas with lots of baking and cooking included made Twelve Days of Christmas the perfect book for a Christmas read.

This is the Christmas tree at the end of the Pacific Beach Pier here in San Diego, a Christmas tradition.

To all my friends here at Library Thing, I want you to know how much I value you and how much I wish you a very happy holiday, whatever one you celebrate, and the very best of New Years!

Merry Christmas to you Judy:

Have a wonderful time with your family, Judy.

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, Judy. Have a great time on the Island!

I hope you're having a wonderful time on Vancouver Island, Judy!

Judy, I hope you had a wonderful holiday!

Merry Christmas, DeltaQueen50! Better later than never. ;-P I hope you and your had a good one. We certainly did.

Hope you had a fabulous holida, Judy!

I am enjoying my time on Vancouver Island, spending time with my family. I don't get much computer time so I just dropped in to leave a review of my last book. I expect to get at least one more book finished before moving on to 2017!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.

225. Cotillion by Georgette Heyer - 5.0 ★
Category: Threads of Time
December Reading Thru Time: Choice of Two Eras
TIOLI #9: Only Two Letters Are Used As Vowels in the Title



Cotillion was another fun historical romp by Georgette Heyer. The author switches up on her leading man with the engaging Freddie Stanton and the result was a main character to really root for. Instead of the tall, dark, handsome world wise hero, Freddie is open, sincere and kind. The young heiress, Kitty was charming and resourceful, but hands down, it was the stalwart Freddie that stole the show.

A false engagement, two separate elopements and a surprise connection kept the book flowing and fun. This may well have been the most humorous of Georgette Heyer’s books. There is a chapter when Freddie escorts Kitty to the tourist spots in London that was hilarious. Freddie may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but he knows how to maneuver in and about London society perfectly. A cotillion is a country dance, and the title fits this book perfectly as the characters dance around each other as the plot weaves them in and out of interesting situations. Kitty and Freddie are charming but there are also a handful of other characters that raise this book to the highest level of historical romance. Told in Heyer’s creative language, Cotillion is a book that I enjoyed from cover to cover.

>158 DeltaQueen50: So glad you enjoyed one of my favorite Heyers! Freddie is the BEST. :)

>130 DeltaQueen50: I've generally liked mysteries set in the Shetlands, so I might have to give that one a try.

>158 DeltaQueen50: Freddie is one of the best Heyer heros! Hmm, maybe Cotillion is due for a reread.

Happy New Year, Judy.

Having a quiet but fun time with my family and planning on a quiet New Years Eve and then a family dinner on New Years Day. I will probably be coming back home at some point during the 1st week of January. I am eager to get back and get caught up with LT. I have read one more book, which should be my final one of the year and the review follows.

>159 christina_reads: Cotillion is definitely among my top three Georgette Heyers.

>160 thornton37814: I love the setting of Shetland Island as well, Lori. There is such history between the families that have lived there for a few generations.

>161 Familyhistorian: I agree that Freddie was one of the best romantic leads, he had lots of good qualities without being too perfect.

>162 mstrust: & >163 VivienneR: Happy New Year!

226. Captain Alatriste by Arturo Perez-Reverte - 3.8 ★
Category: Hanging By A Thread
December GeoCat: Western Europe
TIOLI #7: Author Has 2 Capital Letters in his Last Name



Captain Alatriste by Arturo Perez-Reverte is an entertaining escapist story set in 17th century Spain. This historical adventure has plenty of swordplay, a nice amount of history and, since it is the first book in a series, plenty of characters to be introduced to.

The main character is an ex-soldier who now earns his living by selling his dexterity with his sword to the highest bidder. Alatriste with his many scars and melancholy manner has a warrior’s code of honor which gets him in trouble when he accepts a job to assassinate two English strangers and then during the heat of the battle, fails to follow through when one of the victims asks for mercy, not for himself but for his younger companion. The two intended victims turn out to be the English Prince Charles and the Duke of Buckingham come to Spain to hurry along the intended betrothal of the prince with the Spanish Infanta. The mysterious powers that hired him are powerful men that do not want their Catholic princess to go to the English heretics. Although Alatriste is able to escape their planned punishment in this book, he has made a couple of powerful enemies who I am sure will carry their plotting over to the next book in the series.

The author, Arturo Perez-Reverte, is well known for his admiration of Alexandre Dumas and with Captain Alatriste one finds a fun, swash-buckling story with touches of political intrigue that would sit well alongside The Three Musketeers.

Cotillion was fun, wasn't it!

A quiet New Year's Eve sounds perfect! I also plan one for myself and my birds.

>167 Storeetllr: Hi Mary. Have a lovely New Years!

Before I pick up my first read of 2017, I wanted to close out 2016 by choosing my top reads of the year. I had an excellent reading year and couldn't narrow it down to just 5 books so here is my final list:

The Death of Bees by Lisa O'Donnell
The Orenda by Joseph Boyden
Wool by Hugh Howey
The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie
An Untamed State by Roxanne Gay
Leave Her To Heaven by Ben Ames Williams

I could re-do this list in a couple of days and probably would have two or three different choices, but this is the list that stands today.

I am looking forward to launching my 2017 reads and can only hope for a reading year just like 2016!

>169 DeltaQueen50: Happy New Year, Judy! I have enjoyed reading your reviews this year and look forward to keeping up in 2017. I loved The Orenda and Wool!

Great list, Judy.

Happy New Year and see you on your 2017 thread!

>169 DeltaQueen50: I'd read Wool and loved it too. It almost made my own "best of 2016" list.

I'm home from my holidays. Closing this thread and looking forward to moving over to the 2017 thread. Can't wait to see where my books are going to take me over the course of next year!

Come and join me at My 2017 Category Challenge - Part 1