Joanne (Copperskye) Reads in 2023 (2)

Welcome all!

Doing some copy and pasting from thread 1 (I'm not very creative lately apparently.)
My 6 favorite books from 2022. I had it narrowed down to 5 but then I read Foster.

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr
The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Armin
Sharks in the Time Of Saviors by Kawai Strong Washburn
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Foster by Claire Keegan

Here are my (continuing) reading plans for 2023:

(Tom Gauld, Revenge of the Librarians)


My big girl, Skye, on her 11th birthday.

Books Read in 2023

January 2023
1. The Soul Of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery,OTS #1, 4 stars
2. The Lost Daughter by Elena Ferrante, OTS #2, 3 stars
3. Bleeding Heart Yard by Elly Griffiths, 4 stars
4. Invasion of the Body Snatchers by Jack Finley, OTS #3, 3.5 stars
5. Dead Lions by Mick Herron, OTS #4, 4.25 stars
6. The Soul Of Kindness by Elizabeth Taylor, OTS #5, 3.75 stars
7. Real Tigers by Mick Herron, 4 stars

February 2023
8. The Twilight Man by Koren Shadmi (graphic), 4 stars
9. The Glass Room by Ann Cleeves, 3 stars
10. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë OTS #6, 4.5 stars (reread)
11. Maigret and the Old Lady by Georges Simenon, OTS #7, 3.75 stars
12. Horse by Geraldine Brooks, 4.5 stars

March 2023
13. All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot, OTS #8, 4.5 stars (reread)
14. Spook Street by Mick Herron, 4.5 stars
15 I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai, 4.5 stars
16. London Rules by Mick Herron, 4.25 stars
17. Squeeze Me by Carl Hiaasen, OTS #9, 3.75 stars
18. Death of a Bookseller by Bernard J Farmer, 3 stars
19. Kunstlers in Paradise by Cathleen Schine, OTS #11, LTER, 4.25 stars

April 2023
20. Exiles by Jane Harper, 3.75 stars
21. Joe Country by Mick Herron, 4.25 stars
22. Factory Girls by Michelle Gallen, 4.25 stars
23. The Lost for Words Bookshop by Stephanie Butland, 4.25 stars
24. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark, OTS #12
25. Strange Flowers by Donal Ryan, 4.5 stars

May 2023
26. Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane, 4.5 stars
27. Crooked Heart by Lissa Evans, OTS #13, 4.5 stars
28. Slough House by Mick Herron, OTS #14, 4 stars
29. Maeve’s Times by Maeve Binchy, OTS #15, 3.5 stars
30. The Queen of Dirt Island by Donal Ryan, 4.5 stars
31. V for Victory by Lissa Evans, 4.5 stars

June 2023
32. Billy Summers by Stephen King, OTS #16, 4.5 stars
33. Number One is Walking by Steve martin and Harry Bliss
34. Caste by Isabel Wilkerson, OTS #17, 4 stars
35. The Last Remains by Elly Griffiths, 4 stars
36. A Stolen Child by Sarah Stewart Taylor, 4 stars
37. Blood Work by Michael Connelly, OTS #18, 3.75 stars

July 2023
38. A Month in the Country by J.L. Carr (reread) OTS#19, 4.5 stars
39. The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson, OTS#20, 4.25 stars
40. Frenchman's Creek by Daphne du Maurier, OTS #21, 4.5 stars
41. Bad Actors by Mick Herron, 4 stars
42. Sergeant Cluff Stands Firm by Gil North, OTS #22, 2 stars
43. Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn, 4 stars
44. The Last Ranger by Peter Heller, ARC, 3.5 stars

August 2023
45. IQ by Joe Ide, OTS #23, 3.75 stars
46. Dear Mrs Bird by AJ Pearce, OTS #24, 3 stars
47. Tom Lake by Ann Patchett, 4.75 stars
48. The Cat Saw Murder by Dolores Hitchens, OTS #25, 3.5 stars
49. Righteous by Joe Ide, 3.5 stars

September 2023
50. Sea Change by Gina Chung, OTS #26, 3.5 stars
51. Hula by Jasmin Iolani Hakes, 3.75 stars
52. The Mistress of Bhatia House by Sujata Massey, 3.75 stars
53. Whose Body? by Dorothy Sayers, OTS #27, 4 stars
54. The Friend by Sigrid Nunez, OTS #28, 4.5 stars
55. Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers, 3.75 stars
56. The Raging Storm by Ann Cleeves, 3.75 stars

Oct 2023
57. The Alarm of the Black Cat by Dolores Hitchens, OTS #29, 2.5 stars
58. The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman, OTS #30, 4.5 stars
59. The Ghost and Mrs Muir by R.A. Dick, (reread) OTS #31, 4 stars
60. The Secret Hours by Mick Herron, 4.5 stars
61. Maigret and the Killer by Georges Simenon, OTS #32, 3.25 stars
62. Still Life by Sarah Winman, OTS #33, 4.75 stars

Nov 2023
63. The Appeal by Janice Hallett, OTS #34,
64. A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny, OTS #35(reread),
65. Unnatural Death by Dorothy L. Sayers
66. Absolution by Alice McDermott, 4.5 stars
67. The Vulnerables by Sigrid Nunez, 4.5 stars
68. The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett
69. Twas the Bite Before Christmas by David Rosenfelt
70. So Late in the Day by Claire Keegan, 3.75 stars

Dec 2023
71. The Blackwater Lightship by Colm Toibin, OTS #36, 4.5 stars
72. The Mystery of Mistletoe Hall by Benedict Brown, 2 stars
73. The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose, 3.5 stars
74. The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson, 3.5 stars
75. Snowdrift and Other Stories by Georgette Heyer, OTS #37, 4.5 stars

38. A Month in the Country by J.L. Carr

I first read this in 2011. I loved it then. I liked it a little less this time around but I'm still glad I reread it. The prose is lovely.

My current book is The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson. I like it quite a bit.

Happy New thread! Skye is looking very handsome and pleased with himself.

Hi Mary - thanks!!

Happy new thread, Joanne!

>1 Copperskye: Love the Tom Gauld cartoon. Skye looks good for 11, when was her birthday?

Happy new thread. Skye is lovely. I love the Gauld!

Great to see a new thread, Joanne.

Have a happy new one!

Happy new one!

Happy New Thread, Joanne! Skye looks lovely and content. I read The Summer before the War a couple of years ago, and gave it 4 stars. Glad you are enjoying it.

Happy new on, Joanne. Love, love, love the photo of Skye!

Happy new thread, Joanne! What a great picture of Skye. I still think of Skye as your puppy, so how can she be 11???

>1 Copperskye: love the cartoon - if it's not fun, why do it?

Happy New Thread! Happy 4th!

Happy new thread, Joanne!

Happy new thread

Happy New Thread, Joanne. I hope you had a nice 4th. We are back from our camping trip, which was another success. We just finished Silo on Apple. A very good series. We also just started "Happy Valley" which you recommended. It begins very well.

Happy new thread, Joanne! Love the photo of Skye and the Tom Gauld cartoon. I can relate to the revised resolution hahaha.

Hi, Joanne! A lovely Skye and a Tom Gauld cartoon — what a great one-two combo to start a thread.

>9 FAMeulstee: Thanks Anita! Skye's birthday was 5/26.

>10 BLBera: Thank you, Beth!

>11 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul!

>12 drneutron: Hi Jim, thanks!

>13 vancouverdeb: Hi Deborah, thanks! After a bit of wordiness, I'm finding The Summer Before the War to be surprisingly gripping. I have about 200 pages to go.

>14 RebaRelishesReading: Hi Reba, thank you!

>15 AMQS: Thanks Anne, I wonder that myself all the time. Our walks are shorter and slower, but Skye is still my little baby girl.

>16 PaperbackPirate: Hi Pirate! Thanks!

>17 PlatinumWarlock: Hi Lavinia, thank you!

>18 figsfromthistle: Thanks Figs!

>19 msf59: Hi Mark, I saw your camping pics on FB. Looks like you had a fun weekend! We still have a couple episodes of Silo to watch. Ah, the not-so-happy Happy Valley! Hope you like it as much as we did.

>20 bell7: Hi Mary, thank you!

>21 rosalita: Hi Julia, aw, thanks!

A Month in the Country is well worth a re-read isn't it, Joanne?

Have a great weekend.

Happy new thread! Give Skye a hug and a pat for me, please.

>24 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul, A Month in the Countryis one of those underappreciated classics that I had never heard of before LT. Well worth revisiting!

>25 witchyrichy: Hi Karen, Thanks and happy to!

39. The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson

It's the summer of 1914 and young Beatrice Nash is offered a position as the Latin instructor at a school in Rye. A charming and light picture of village life slowly morphs into a deeper story of refugees, romanies, and battlefields. Not to mention a woman's right to support herself. This was a wonderfully entertaining read.

40. Frenchman's Creek by Daphne du Maurier

Young, scandalous Lady Dona leaves London and her dull husband to spend some semi-alone time at their isolated estate in Cornwall where a French pirate has been marauding the locals. She soon discovers that he's been spending some time quite nearby. This was a swashbuckling romance that I could hardly put down. The double entendres between footman William and Dona were an absolute hoot. du Maurier was such a gifted storyteller but I didn't expect to like this story of escapes and near escapes as much as I did.

>28 Copperskye: I read DuMaurier when I was in my late teens -- I'm guessing I missed a lot (even though I loved her books) and probably should revisit them.

>29 RebaRelishesReading: Hi Reba, I read Rebecca in my teens and loved it but recently attempted a reread and just couldn't get into it. Maybe because I knew what to expect, and I had just rewatched the movie, so it was probably bad timing. I reread My Cousin Rachael last year and loved it again. I definitely picked up more as an adult!

>30 Copperskye: I also enjoy reading Du Maurier. I have re-read Jamaica Inn twice and enjoyed it each time.

I also remember having a good time with The Summer Before the War. Just finished Happy Valley S1. We loved it and I have requested S2. I have been also doing a rewatch of Twin Peaks. I never did see the reboot on 2017, so I plan to check some of that of that out. Are you a fan?

I am also enjoying The Bear S2.

>31 PaulCranswick: I read Jamaica Inn in 2016 and will probably reread it, too, at some point. Frenchman's Creek reminded me a lot of it for whatever reason.

>32 msf59: I watched the original Twin Peaks, back in the day, but not the reboot. Chris is a big fan (of it and David Lynch, in general) but I just felt like I'd have to rewatch the whole thing and didn't feel up to it. One day maybe. It was such a long wait between S2 and S3 of Happy Valley (7 or 8 years or so) - you're lucky that you'll be able to dive right in when you get to it.

We're currently rewatching Endeavour - 8 seasons worth. Have you watched it?

>33 Copperskye: We were big Morse fans and also enjoy Endeavour. I do have a hard time imagining Endeavour becoming Morse however.

>34 RebaRelishesReading: I have yet to watch Morse. A couple years ago I tried watching the first episode and it just seemed too dated. I'll probably give it another chance but I'm thinking I may try the books first. Have you read any of the series?

I have not watched Endeavour but everyone is getting me excited to try it.

>35 Copperskye: No, I haven't read any of the books. We watched Morse regularly back-when and loved it. I think we had finished the whole thing before Endeavour came along. We really enjoy them both.

>36 msf59: Well good! :)

>37 RebaRelishesReading: I'll definitely try the tv series again. And the books, too.

I just realized that when I changed threads, I forgot to mention a couple books I finished at the end of June.

34. Caste by Isabel Wilkerson - A little repetitive and not nearly as engaging as The Warmth of Other Suns, but certainly a worthwhile read.

35. The Last Remains by Elly Griffiths - Excellent finish to a great series. I'll miss Ruth and company. But hey, there could still be more!

36. A Stolen Child b Sarah Stewart Taylor - This is another very good series with a female protagonist, this time a detective. It takes place in Ireland, and at number 4, it's the most recent one. The first is The Mountains Wild. I hope the author is on a yearly schedule.

37. Blood Work by Michael Connelly - Like all the other Connelly books I've read, this is a real page-turner. The hero here is ex-FBI Agent Terry McCaleb and the plot may be a little far-fetched, but I found I didn't care.

Glad you enjoyed The Summer Before the War, Joanne . I really enjoyed both Morse and Endeavour. I'm a little sad that I have now watched all of the episodes.

Hi Joanne - I need to give the Stewart Taylor series a try. She had another series that I enjoyed.

The Summer Before the War sounds like one I would enjoy as well.

>39 Copperskye: Good to know you found The Warmth of Other Suns engaging. My book club is reading it next month and the size is a little intimidating.

I'm glad you liked the final Ruth Galloway book, Joanne. I was very satisfied with the way the author wrapped up all the storylines.

Have you seen this article from The NY Times? The link should work for non-subscribers as well as subscribers:

Why did 488 Golden Retrievers Gather in Scotland?

>43 rosalita: I saw it and send a link to Hubby because we both love Goldens . I thought it was delightful!!

>40 vancouverdeb: Hi Deborah, I really like rewatching Endeavour. I remember the big plot points but there are some little things that I truly forgot or didn't really sink in the first time. An added bonus is still having S9 to look forward to!

>41 BLBera: Hi Beth, The Summer Before the War was a great summer read. I remember you had recommended Stewart's other series. I need to find them.

>42 PaperbackPirate: Hiya Pirate, The page count of The Warmth of Other Suns is daunting but I think you'll find the individual stories riveting. Very, very sad though.

>43 rosalita: Hi Julia, And I see no reason why Griffiths can't continue. I still want to know what happens next even if she's done with the characters! But even if she never gets back to them, I agree that she wrapped it up perfectly.

>43 rosalita: >44 RebaRelishesReading: Isn't that the most wonderful thing!!?? A field chock full of good boys and girls! I have a FB friend who went this year and to the previous meetup. It would be so much fun to be there!

>44 RebaRelishesReading: Such a fun story!

>45 Copperskye: I think Griffiths just wants to concentrate on her other two series for now, Joanne, but I certainly wouldn't complain if she returned to Ruth's world someday.

>46 rosalita: I imagine writers of series books can start to get pretty tired of their characters after awhile (but not Ruth!). We readers only spend a few hours with each book while the authors live with them for so much longer. I'm looking forward to her next one and still have some backlist Brighton Mysteries to keep me busy.

41. Bad Actors by Mick Herron

The latest (#8) in the Slough House series and just as good as the rest of them. Complicated plots to keep the reader guessing, characters you can truly care about, and laugh out loud dialog and situations that all add up to a thoroughly entertaining world of spies and politicians, both good, bad and in between. I'm only sad that I've caught up. Next please!

42. Sergeant Cluff Stands Firm by Gil North

So this starts out with a likeable police sergeant who lives alone with his dog and cat in a Yorkshire village, circa late 50s. When a local middle-aged woman who had recently married a much young man, is found dead of a suicide, Cluff feels that there is more to it than meets the eye. So far so good. But I started to get tired of every woman - young, old, alive, dead - being described by the size of her breasts and thighs. And then the story just went downhill. I know it was written by a man in 1960, but still. This book starts a series and maybe it gets better. I'll never know.

I always enjoy reading Martin Edwards' introductions and the cover is nice. And it was short, so there's that.

I must start the Herron books, Joanne. I know I will love them.

>49 Copperskye: Pass. Thanks for taking one for the rest of us.

>50 BLBera: They are a lot of fun, Beth. And there's only eight if them - sad if you've read them all but good if you're just starting. Oh, and they need to be read in order!

43. Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn

This was a lot more fun than I thought it would be. When four assassins retire, their employer springs for a luxury farewell cruise. Unfortunately, it's not just the end of their employment the bosses want to celebrate. Older folks solving crimes seems to be in vogue these days and this one worked. The flashbacks to their younger career days had me picturing Charlie's Angels - aging me for sure.

Thanks Mary/storeetllr for the rec!

"This year I will read for fun"...I love it. I am trying to do that, too. Skye is looking good. She's waiting for you to snap the picture and throw that ball! When we dogsit for Maverick, he keeps me busy with our collection of tennis balls. Penny looks at him like he's crazy. She would rather nap than chase balls.

Did a see a new Peter Heller book on your list? Despite the medium rating, I have already reserved a copy of The Last Ranger. Our library is getting in 4 copies so I shouldn't have to wait long. I have such fond memories of meeting him in Boulder with you. That was a Fun Time!

I hope your summer is going well, Joanne. We sure enjoyed having Hope visit us for almost two weeks. They are also coming for Christmas this year. No telling when we'll get back to Colorado again, but it will probably be next year.

Hi Donna! Thanks for stopping by! There's nothing like a ball obsessed dog (well, maybe young grandkids) to keep you on your toes. Skye is slowing down so she'd be happy to hang with Penny. Skye's arthritis flared up last month and she could hardly walk without help. She had steroid injections in each hip and is starting to feel better. It was first thought it was her ACL so we're kind of relieved that it wasn't. The recovery time is so hard.

I really liked the protagonist and the setting of Heller's new book. I think you'll like it! Boulder was such fun, wasn't it!!

I sure you're already looking forward to Christmas (and resting up!). That should be fun.

44. The Last Ranger by Peter Heller

In Heller’s The Last Ranger, Ren Hopper is a park ranger, living and working in Yellowstone National Park. In his daily life, he deals with tourists, naturalists, and locals. But there also seems to be an individual or group that has it in for him and, apparently, the wolf naturalist who lives nearby. There are a lot of backstories fleshing out the characters, giving even the villains shades of grey rather than just black and white, good and evil. The tourist and wolf stories were fun to read, and the descriptions of Yellowstone and the Lamar Valley were spot on. It was topical, too, in the politics surrounding the wolves.

Peter Heller is a wonderfully descriptive nature writer whose prose tends to be more poetic than action driven. There is a lot of action in this book, but I wouldn’t say that it was action packed so it would be a mistake to go into it expecting a thriller. I was disappointed to have a story line left open but perhaps there will be a sequel. The Dog Stars is still my favorite by Heller, but I’d say this one easily comes up second.

45. IQ by Joe Ide

Another book that I did not expect to like as much as I did and that sat on my shelf for too many years. Isaiah Qiuntabe, aka IQ, is a wonderfully sympathetic character, smart as a whip with a good moral core. I'm looking forward to continuing with the series to see what he gets up to next.

>55 Copperskye: Hi, Joanne! The Dog Stars is still my favorite Heller, too, but he's such a wonderful writer I'd be happy to read this one even if it's not quite up to par.

>56 Copperskye: I have also had this one on my e-reader for ages. Your review has moved it a little closer to the front of the queue.

Hi, Joanne. I am with you on The Dog Stars. I think he has been pretty consistent. I also really liked The Painter. I added The Last Ranger to my audio list. I thought that would be a good format.

We just finished S2 of Happy Valley. What an excellent show. It reminds me of the high quality of Prime Suspect, with Helen Mirren. Sarah Lancashire is fantastic too. I hope she won a lot of British acting awards.

We are also nearly finished with S2 of The Last Tango in Halifax, which has also been very good. Thanks for the recs.

>57 rosalita: There's a lot to like in both of those books, Julia!

>58 msf59: Hi Mark, I liked The Painter, too. I wasn't that crazy about The River and that's probably why I skipped The Guide. I may go back to it now.

My only complaint about Happy Valley is that there weren't enough episodes. It and Last Tango were both excellent. Have you watched Endeavour yet? We just rewatched the whole thing and really, nothing compares. (You need to start with the pilot episode before S1E1.)

I liked The River but I heard The Guide is worth skipping. I have not seen Endeavour but I have it high on my watchlist and hope to get to it soon.

>52 Copperskye: So glad you enjoyed Killers of a Certain Age. I wasn’t excited about reading it, because, like you said, there does seem to be a trend toward seniors solving crimes, which can get tedious, and I wasn’t blown away by the last Murder Club book, but I also really enjoyed this one.

Sorry to hear about Skye’s issues with arthritis. I empathize. Totally. Give her a special ear rub from me.

>60 msf59: John read The Guide and he was underwhelmed.

>61 Storeetllr: It was a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to the next Thursday Murder Club book. And thanks, Mary. She's feeling better but unhappy about the diet she's on. Luckily, she considers carrots and broccoli to be special treats.

I'm heartbroken today about the devastation in Lahaina Town and across Maui. What a nightmare.

I've been chatting with my mom and sister -well, I was over visiting them today . They too are quite heartbroken by the devastation in Lahina and across Maui. So many dead. I think it hits close to home for my mom and sister because my two brothers are both airline pilots and fly into Maui nearly every week, so they know it well.

Happy Friday, Joanne. I watched the pilot ep of "Endeavor" last night. Excellent. I will continue. Can you believe I never watched an episode of Inspector Morse? Maybe, this will inspire me.

Have you watched S3 of Happy Valley? I just found out, that it only came out earlier this year, so it is not available on DVD yet.

>64 msf59: Oh do watch "Morse" too. We were big fans of it when it was on and then loved "Endeavor". I wish there were more episodes of both of them.

>63 vancouverdeb: The enormity of the destruction is almost inconceivable. I'm so sad for what everyone is going through and for the history and culture that's been lost. Lives lost and lives that will never be the same.

>64 msf59: I hope you continue to enjoy Endeavour, Mark. I've never watched Morse either! I tried the first episode a couple years ago and found it very dated. I am going to try again though. But first I'll try a book - I've never read them either. We did see S3 of Happy Valley on Acorn. You could probably catch it on a 7 day free trial. There are only 6 episodes. (Acorn also has two other top favs of mine, George Gently and Foyle's War. So good.)

>65 RebaRelishesReading: Since I struggled with it, it was suggested that I start Morse with S2 E4, "Last Bus to Woodstock". I'm going to try that. After I read the book, of course. :) I was sorry to see Endeavour end. I'll miss Thursday. He was such a good character.

>55 Copperskye: I've been meaning to read Dog Stars for years! Maybe this will be the year; I've heard so many good things about it, and about Peter Heller in general.

The fires in Maui are heartbreaking.

Hi Joanne, I am over here for a visit. i also have Acorn and Britbox so will look for your recommendations. I too am a Morse fan, Endeavor and especially a Lewis fan. i thought Laurence Fox was amazing in Lewis.

That's true -- Lewis is also very good. I forgot he was part of the group :)

>67 BLBera: Oh do try and get to The Dog Stars, Beth. It's his best, imo.

>68 mdoris: Hi Mary! Thank you for stopping by and saying hello! I love British mysteries and crime shows which I think is a little odd since I generally don't like American crime/cop shows (Hill Street Blues, way back when, is a notable exception). Have you read the Morse books at all?

>69 RebaRelishesReading: I will eventually get to Lewis.

46. Dear Mrs Bird by AJ Pearce

During the London Blitz, a young woman dreams of becoming a war correspondent. Instead, she finds herself accidentally employed as an assistant to an advice columnist at a women's periodical. Her job frustrations lead her to do some advising on the side. This maybe should have been marketed as a YA book since to me it read like one. If that had been the case, I may have liked it more. As it was, it just seemed trite. Lissa Evans' books about women in the same time period are so much better.

>70 Copperskye: HI Joanne, No I have not read the Morse books and maybe I should. Me too! I am a fan of British mystery shows but not American ones generally. If it gets too gritty I am "out of there'!

>72 mdoris: I get that. I think it's all the guns and shooting that bothers me in American programs.

Good morning Joann, hope you day is going well.

>70 Copperskye: You should probably watch Lewis after you finish Morse. Endeavor obviously is sort of a prequel to Morse but I don't think order of viewing is all that important for those two (Endeavor was done after Morse anyway).

>73 Copperskye: I agree there is too much shooting in American cop shows (and in America too of course) but I find it unlikely that a British cop would go into a situation where the "bad guy" was obviously armed without a gun or any kind of protection at all. Surely there would be a lot of dead cops if that was the way the worked. (and I know about Bobbies and their sticks but I don't think they go into a building searching for an armed person that way).

>74 RebaRelishesReading: Hi Reba, All is well, thanks! Very hot here, though. And windy.

Yes, the flip side of not a lot of gun fights is being incredulous at the situations the British cops seem to get themselves in. Are they nuts going into that house\basement\alleyway\woods with no gun?? lol. Ah, the drama.

And I need to take that back about not watching American cop shows. I guess I was just thinking of typical network series. Currently we are watching both Dark Winds and the new Justified, and both are set in the US. With lots of shooting going on.

47. Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

Lara, her husband Joe, and their three adult daughters are working away at their Michigan cherry farm, trying to get the harvest in with a lack of help during the pandemic summer of 2020. While the women pick, Lara tells the story of her short career as an actress and the summer she spent at summer stock at Tom Lake, playing Emily in Our Town, and dating a now famous actor. It is a lovely story of what we choose to tell about the events and the people in our lives and what we keep to ourselves. I love how she let the story unfold.

To me, you're either an Ann Patchett fan or you just haven't read her yet. I may have liked Commonwealth more up until the last 100 pages or so, but really it's right up there with it.

And now I'm definitely going to revisit Our Town.

48. The Cat Saw Murder by Dolores Hitchens

A fun Golden Age mystery, written in 1939, and set along the Southern California coast. Miss Rachel is a feisty 70 year old Miss Marple type whose niece has been murdered and Detective Meyhew is the investigator on the case. Both seem to be looking back at the case after they've worked together to solve it and the narrative alternates between them. My first cat mystery and the first in a series that I plan to continue.

I can't wait to read Tom Lake, Joanne. I hope to get to it soon. We are into the 3rd season of Last Tango. We started "The Split", a British drama about a family of divorce lawyers. We are enjoying it very much. It is on Hulu but we are watching the DVDs. How is the 2nd season of Dark Winds? I am recording it but haven't started it.

>78 msf59: Hi Mark, thanks for dropping by! You are going to love Tom Lake. Isn't "Last Tango" a hoot?! I could absolutely watch it again. I loved all the actors in it. I haven't heard of "The Split" but I'll check it out. "Dark Winds" continues to be good. I think we are just one episode behind. We finally watched "The Quiet Girl" last night, based on Foster. It was very well done. Have you watched it yet?

I have not seen "The Quiet Girl" yet but I intend to. Thanks for the reminder. I plan to also start the latest Dark Winds. Maybe this week.

I am # 62 on my library list for Tom Lake, Joanne. It's lucky that I have other things to read. :)

>80 msf59: I just looked up The Split and see that Nicola Walker is in it. I've liked everything I've seen her in.

>81 BLBera: None of us are ever at a loss for reading material, Beth, but I hope the 61 people ahead of you read quickly. And also that there are 40-50 copies, at least!

>76 Copperskye: JoAnne, I agree with your accessment that you either like Ann Patchett, or not. I am in the group that likes her books a lot.

>76 Copperskye: I have Patchet on the Kindle just waiting for when I can read the day away. I am a fan.

>83 Whisper1: Hi Linda, I still have a couple books of Patchett's to get to. but I've loved every one that I've read!

>84 witchyrichy: Hi Karen, Definitely a great way to enjoy it - letting yourself getting fully immersed!

Hi, Joanne! Stopping by to say hello and wish you a great Labor Day weekend!

Just stopping by to say hi. Hope your week and your reading is going well!

>86 tymfos: Thanks again for stopping by, Terri, and I'm glad I found you again!

>87 Storeetllr: Hi Mary, I was just posting on your thread! My week is good, just got some good news today on Skye's health that had been a worry for weeks. Big weight off my shoulders! :)

49. Righteous by Joe Ide

The second book in Ide's IQ series about a super smart young man from Long Beach, Ca who is working on establishing himself as a private detective while continuing to mourn the sudden death of his older brother. In this book, he travels to Las Vegas at the request of his brother's girlfriend to help her younger sister out of a bind. These books are fun.

>88 Copperskye: Oh! Great news! And what a relief! When Nickel was acting sick a couple weeks ago, I was frantic. She's okay now; just came out of whatever it was on her own. They did find a couple of things in her bloodwork, so she'll need to have it drawn again in a few weeks, but I'm hoping it wasn't anything serious or continuing.

Give Skye an ear scritch for me.

50. Sea Change by Gina Chung

A young woman struggles with loneliness and abandonment issues while working at an aquarium. When she was a child, Ro’s father disappeared while on a scientific sea exploration, her boyfriend has volunteered for a one-way mission to mars, she is estranged from her mother, and her drinking is becoming an issue. And now, the upcoming threatened sale of the octopus in her care threatens to tip her over the edge. Ro has some issues to work through but she is ultimately an empathetic character. This is a debut novel and I'd read what she publishes next. The cover is even prettier in person. I was expecting more octopus...

>90 Storeetllr: Thanks Mary! I'm glad to hear Nickel is feeling better and hope her blood work is clear when it's redone.

Skye had a needle aspiration of some nodules on her liver today. We'll get the results next week but the Internist didn't see anything unusual. It started with some blood work that looked wonky so I know the feeling.

Hi Joanne. I sure hope Skye gets good results on her tests. It is encouraging that the vet didn't see anything unusual. We worry about our fur babies when they get sick. Please let us know what you find out. Fingers and toes crossed...

I am on a long waiting list for Tom Lake. After reading your excellent review upthread, I think I should be checking out Commonwealth in the meantime. I don't know how I overlooked it as I usually jump on Patchett's books when they come out. Maybe I wasn't in the mood for a family drama at the time.

I hope all is well with Skye, Joanne. As Donna says, we do worry about our fur babies when they are not well. Poppy will turn 10 later in September, but fortunately she is a small dog at 18 lbs, so we hope she will be with for another 5 years or more.

>93 Donna828: Thanks Donna! I know the vet is out of the office today but I'll call tomorrow. Commonwealth is a good book to read in the meantime! I've missed a couple of her books, too, and someday I'll get to them.

>94 vancouverdeb: Thanks Deb! If only they lived longer. I've been so blessed to have had two goldens who got into the double digits with their age. I know a lot of folks who haven't been as lucky.

Hi Joanne. Yikes. I haven’t visited since May 16th.

From your last thread, I count paper books and e-books on my list of acquisitions each year, but thank goodness for Kindle Unlimited, otherwise I’d have another 253 – yes, two hundred and fifty three – books bought this year. Well. I wouldn’t have bought that many, and would have been forced to read off my shelves and not read my current favorite genre – MM romance. BB for Billy Summers. I stopped buying King after Elevation in 2018 – yikes, 5 years. This one sounds like it’s right up my alley.

>1 Copperskye: I love the pic of your dear Skye and just read Lessons in Chemistry for my RL book club’s August discussion. I gave it one of my very rare 5* ratings. I’m following your Tom Gauld reading plan for this year, too. *smile*

>4 Copperskye: And yay for Whose Body?.

>28 Copperskye: I think I read Frenchman’s Creek in my late teens/early twenties, but am not sure. An interesting twist in my RL book club – one of our members has chosen The Scapegoat for the March 2024 discussion. I already had a copy on my shelves, but haven’t read it yet. My favorite by du Maurier is The House on the Strand – very different from most of her books. Have you read it?

Lots of good books read. I have Slough House on my shelves, to be read sometime soon-ish. Perhaps. Possibly. Next year?

Joanne, how’s Skye doing?

Hi, Joanne. How is Skye? I have to chime in on Commonwealth. It may be my favorite of her novels. I hope Donna can bookhorn it in.

>96 karenmarie: Hi Karen, I really need to stop bringing books into the house but as you know, it's difficult. I have a small pile to donate to the library but it's not really a balance of coming in and going out. I used to read a lot of King but only occasionally now. Billy Summers was different. I almost said that I hadn't read Elevation but I checked and I did. Forgettable, apparently.

Lessons in Chemistry was fun. There'll be an adaptation on AppleTV this Fall. I hope they do it justice.

My sister recently read and loved Scapegoat and I almost started it a book or two ago. I haven't read The House on the Strand yet either. I think reading a description of it kind of turned me off. Knowing it's a favorite of yours will bump it up.

I'm almost sorry I rocketed (for me) through the Slough House series. They were all so good!

>97 Storeetllr: Hi Mary, I just heard back from the IM doc this afternoon. She feels all her changes are age related and nothing to worry about. So, excellent news! Thanks for asking! Now my new general vet and I can figure out a good pain med for her arthritis and start with some acupuncture.

>98 msf59: Hi Mark, She's great (see above)! Let's hope Donna manages to get to Commonwealth. There are just too many good books out there that get missed sometimes.

51. Hula by Jasmin Iolani Hakes

Hula, Hawaiian culture, and traditions are what both joins together and tears apart the generations in this story of mothers and daughters in Hilo, HI. A collective community voice is interspersed throughout and provides history and info about Hawaii and the Hawaiian sovereignty movement. There was a lot going on here, maybe too much, but overall, and for the most part, it was an impressive debut. And with a beautiful cover.

52. The Mistress of Bhatia House by Sujata Massey

This is the fourth book in the Perveen Mistry series that takes place in 1920s Bombay, India. Perveen is an Oxford educated lawyer who, by law, cannot represent her clients in the courtroom. The mystery here was mostly overshadowed by the cultural and legal issues, mostly regarding women, and I found it intriguing. This is a wonderful series for anyone who enjoys historical mysteries.

Hi, Joanne. I'm glad to hear that Skye is OK. It can be such a worry when things seem wrong with our furkids!

>102 tymfos: Thanks Terri! And the older they get, the more that goes wrong. Like us, I guess.

I told you a few days ago I’d post the link to the Connections Archives that I mentioned on my thread, then I completely forgot. Sorry. Here it is now: https://connections.swellgarfo.com/archive

>104 Storeetllr: Ah, thank you, Mary! I guess I started playing it soon after it was launched. Now I have a whole bunch to practice on!

The last couple days were kinda' easy, for a change.

53. Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers

The first Lord Peter Wimsey mystery, my first by Dorothy Sayers and great fun. Interesting characters, decent mystery, and very witty.

I'm glad Skye is OK, overall.

>100 Copperskye:, >101 Copperskye: both sound interesting. I will look for them.

I'm glad Skye is doing well enough overall. I hope the acupuncture and pain medication help's Skye too. Poppy turned 10 today , and because she is a small dog , at 18 lbs, she is not showing any sign of aging as yet, except a bit of slowdown to with some of her walks, just like we do, I guess.

>107 BLBera: Thanks Beth, and both books were interesting!

>108 vancouverdeb: Hi Deborah, thanks! I know Skye is a senior (or elderly as one vet said), but she's still my little baby, just like your Poppy, at 10, is to you! We did some acupuncture last week and will go to canine rehab this week and see what they can do for her. It's the facility where she used to go to swim when she was younger and I know she is going to be deliriously excited when she walks through the door.

Did the acupuncture help?

>110 Storeetllr: Hi Mary, The vet said it would probably take a few visits to see a difference, so we'll see. She's had acupuncture before and I really don't know if it worked or the soreness just worked its way out. I believe that it is something that can help so I'm hopeful!

54. The Friend by Sigrid Nunez

What a beautifully written book! An exploration of grief, friendship, loss, writing, and a big Harlequin Great Dane in a New York apartment. Not a book for everybody but it sure worked for me. I'm so glad I finally read it.

55. Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers

The second in the series finds Lord Peter Wimsey's brother, the Duke of Denver, accused of murdering his sister's fiance. Lots of witnesses are introduced and interviewed (hence the Biblical title) which got a little long winded but Lord Peter, Inspector Parker, and Bunter continue to be wonderfully appealing crime solvers.

56. The Raging Storm by Ann Cleeves

I still miss Ann Cleeves' Shetland series but her Matthew Venn series is a worthy successor.

Speaking of Ann Cleeves, Barnes and Noble recently sponsored a event with Ann Cleeves and Martin Edwards, talking about (mostly) The Raging Storm. It's available on YouTube if anyone's interested. I'm not good with posting links but it's an easy google search and it's a worthwhile and fun interview.

Cleeves was asked about what she's reading and she recommended The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen. I'm not familiar with the book or the author but I noticed this morning that it's available in October, for free, via Amazon's First Read program.

I like the Matthew Venn series as well, Joanne. I'm waiting for my library to get the new one.

>116 BLBera: Hi Beth! Definitely worth waiting for - I hope you like it as much as I did!

>114 Copperskye: I liked The Raging Storm, but not as much as the first book in the Matthew Venn series.

>115 Copperskye: Oooh, both sound good, though I haven’t read Gerritsen yet. Going to check on the First Choice for October books.

>118 vancouverdeb: I remember so little about the first Matthew Venn book that I'm tempted to read it again. "So little" is probably an overstatement.

>119 Storeetllr: The description of The Spy Coast sounds interesting.

I'm just starting to get over Covid. My (and my husband's) first time getting it. A little annoyed because I managed to avoid it for so long and I just got my latest shot three weeks before. My husband got his latest vaccine 10 days before. Ugh. I don't recommend.

I’m sorry you’re having to deal with Covid. Hope you both recover completely and soon! I’ve been sick for over a week, but thank goodness it’s not Covid but the ’flu (saw the doctor last week and she tested me for both), just a garden variety bug, probably caught from the kids.

Ugh! Sorry you and your husband are just getting over Covid. I hope you are both feeling 100 % soon. And you just got your vaccines. Life is not fair.

I am sorry to hear that you have both contracted covid, Joanne. How are you both feeling? Are you at least able to get a lot of reading in?

Oh no! Be glad that you've escaped getting Covid until now, Joanne. It gets tougher with each case, at least in my experience. I've had three bouts with the C-crud despite being fully vaccinated and boostered. Plus, I stay home a lot! My advice is don't try to do too much too soon. Relaxing with a good book is the best medicine.

I bought a copy of Commonwealth at the Joplin meetup. I'm glad you mentioned it upthread so I could grab a copy. I can't believe that one slipped through my fingers somehow.

Sorry to hear that you both have been hit with Covid. I wish you both a speedy recovery.

>121 Storeetllr: Thanks Mary, I hope you are feeling better - even a garden variety flu can knock you for a loop!

>122 vancouverdeb: Thanks Deborah!

>123 msf59: Thanks Mark, reading is picking up but it was slow going for a few days.

>124 Donna828: Thanks for the advice, Donna. You certainly are a covid veteran. I'm glad you found a copy of Commonwealth and hope you like it as much as I did!

>125 figsfromthistle: Thanks Anita, We're feeling better every day!

57. The Alarm of the Black Cat By Dolores Hitchens

Not nearly as charming as the first book in the series. There's not much interaction between the two main characters and the entire premise was far-fetched. Plus, I could not get past the fact that Samantha, the black cat of the series and the titular cat of this book, is now inexplicitly, an orange/yellow cat.

58. The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman

I just love this series. Witty and warm-hearted with great characters and a good mystery.

I hope you are feeling better, Joanne. I haven't had COVID either but there seem to be a lot of people with it now. My parents both have it, and one fellow library volunteer has it as well. Fingers crossed that I can continue to avoid it. I have gotten my masks out again.

Hi Beth, Thanks! Mostly just a persistent cough now.

I hope your parents are recovering ok!!

59. The Ghost and Mrs Muir by R.A. Dick

This was a reread for me and well worth the the few hours it took to read. Truly a pleasure and a comfort read. To repeat a comment I made about it previously, romantic fantasies are not usually my thing, but I thought it was sweet and endearing and fun, and it had more depth than I was anticipating. A real charmer!

60. The Secret Hours by Mick Herron

If you're a fan of Mick Herron's Slough House series, and appreciate a very intriguing backstory, this is one you won't want to miss. Excellent!

61. Maigret and the Killer by Georges Simenon

This was a pretty standard entry, number 70, in the series. It was nice to see Madame Maigret with a bit of a larger role. These books are short and great to pick up when you aren't sure what you want to read next.

Hi Joanne - One of these days I will start the Mick Herron series; it sounds like one I would like. Too many books...

>132 Copperskye: I’ve gotten away from mysteries. May be time to get back to them.

Hope you and John have fully recovered and are back to your usual healthy selves. Give Skye and Boomer a pat for me.

>134 BLBera: Hi Beth! I have a lot of those "one of these days" books and series, as well. It's nice to know they'll always be there. :)

>135 Storeetllr: It's more spies and spy intrigue than mystery - a genre I never thought I'd like. I only reluctantly watch James Bond movies. But these are great fun and I think you'd like them, Mary!

And yes, we are feeling better, thanks! I'm still coughing, which is a drag, but I figure it'll go away eventually. And things are almost tasting normal again.

>132 Copperskye: Okay, I tried, but I just couldn’t. Perhaps I need to start with the first of the series?

>137 Storeetllr: Yeah, maybe. It's listed as a stand-alone but I'd have been lost without the prior knowledge of the series. And it wouldn't have been as much fun not knowing the characters and who they are. Slow Horses is the first and it's a lot of fun if you ever feel the urge to try a snarky spy series!

62. Still Life by Sarah Winman

This will definitely be one of my favorite books of the year. I was sorry that I waited so long to read it but then realized that, with all that was going on in the world, it was probably the best time to read about and spend time with such kind hearted, and good and decent people. What a joy!

63. The Appeal by Janice Hallett

I love a good epistolary novel and throw in a pretty good mystery and some humor and snark, and it's an entertaining winner.

I loved Still Life as well, Joanne. It's nice that those wonderful books are there when we need them.

>141 BLBera: Hi Beth! Yes, it was the perfect time and a book that I just wanted to hug!

>141 BLBera: That looked/sounded so familiar I was sure I had read it but no record of it in my library so I guess not ...and I guess I'd better get busy :)

Hi, Joanne. I have not read The Ghost and Mrs Muir but I loved the 40s film version with Rex Harrison. If you haven't seen it, track it down. I also completely loved Still Life. Glad you felt the same.

>143 RebaRelishesReading: It seems to be a popular book title for some reason. This is a good one.

>144 msf59: Hi Mark! As it happens, I picked up the DVD from my library just this morning. I have seen the movie but it's been a really long time. I loved it too, so it'll be fun to revisit.

64. A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny

A fun reread for October (thanks Mary!). I had hoped to stick to the schedule and read a chapter a night but covid slowed me down and I didn't finish it until several days into November.

65. Unnatural Death by Dorothy L. Sayers

I didn't like this third book in the Lord Peter Wimsey series as much as the first two. Part of it had to do with the mystery, which I thought was a bit weak, and part had to do with the rather cringy language used to describe a character. The book is a product of its time (1927) and I don't think books should be edited to conform with current norms but it can make for some uncomfortable reading. I loved the introduction of Lord Wimsey's helper, Miss Climpson though.

>147 Copperskye: I don't know why, but I've never felt compelled to read any Sayers even though I know she is renowned in the mystery genre. Something about Wimsey just seems off to me — an opinion formed without having read a single book featuring him, which is something Click and Clack (the "Car Talk" guys) would refer to as "unencumbered by the thought process." :-D

Hi Julia! Sometimes you know in your bones that something isn't right for you. I came late to the mystery/crime genre and feel like I need to catch up with some authors. I only read my first Agatha Christie a decade or so ago and feel a need to get back to P.D. James, and try some other new-to-me old authors, too. I do like Wimsey and his sidekick (whose name escapes me at the moment) so I'll move on to the next one. I will probably not feel the need to read them all.

PS: Ah, Click and Clack. A fondly remembered Sunday CPR staple for us for many years.

>149 Copperskye: My other frequently quoted line from C&C is to say someone (a boss? a politician? a neighbor?) is suffering from an "anal-cranial inversion." It takes long enough for to parse the insult that you can usually get out of striking distance before it sinks in. ;-)

Hi Joanne.

While I haven't posted often this year, please know I think of you and you are a special presence here on the 75 challenge group. I hope your Thanksgiving is a special time.

>146 Copperskye: Love that book!

>147 Copperskye: I loved the Wimsey mysteries when I first read them 30 or 40 years ago, but I wasn’t as enamored with Gaudy Night when I reread it earlier this year, and I don’t have any desire to read the rest.

Dear Joanne,



Happy Thanksgiving from an appreciative non-celebrator.

Lots of interesting books in your thread! So grateful to this community.

Happy Thanksgiving, Joanna. I think you mentioned being a fan of Nicola Walker. Have you watched "Annika"? We are enjoying the first season and she is very good in it.

>139 Copperskye: We are reading Still Life as the next book for one of my book clubs, and I'm really looking forward to it.

>150 rosalita: Lol. It doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, but it is a very good one!

>151 Whisper1: Linda! It is so nice to see you here! Wishing you a very happy Thanksgiving.

>152 Storeetllr: I know and I have you to thank for my Halloween read, Mary!

>153 PaulCranswick: My kind of gang, Paul! I hope you consider me a member. Thank you for the well wishes for our annual day of eating. Happy Thursday to you (or is it Friday?)!

>154 witchyrichy: Hi Karen! Happy Thanksgiving to you!!

>155 msf59: Happy Thanksgiving, Mark. We are watching Annika but are a couple episodes behind in S2. I love how she breaks the fourth wall. Hopefully not a spoiler, but she did something really, really dumb in S2 which bugged me, but I can't help loving everything she is in. We loved The Split. Have you watched River? Find it if you haven't!

>156 SandDune: Hi Rhian! Oh, I hope you and your book club enjoy it as much as I did!

Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate!

I'm thankful for all my visitors today and always, and this group and LibraryThing in general and lots of other things. Wishing all a peaceful day.



(In a break from tradition and for various reasons, one of which is driving to the airport to meet Chris's 3:15 flight this afternoon, I'll be making lasagna today with a Sticky Cranberry Gingerbread cake for dessert.)

66. Absolution by Alice McDermott

I've been a fan of Alice McDermott since reading Charming Billy several decades ago and always look forward to her new books. This one did not disappoint but it was a little different in that she had her usual Irish Catholic characters set in 1963 Saigon. Tricia and Charlene are American women living in Viet Nam with their military/intelligence service husbands. The characters are well-drawn, the sense of time and place was perfect, and the situations thought-provoking. And I loved how McDermott framed the story as a retelling to a now adult daughter. With lots of room for discussion, this would be a great book club pick. And the cover is even prettier in person.

67. The Vulnerables by Sigrid Nunez

A writer living in Manhattan during the very early days of Covid. She agrees to parrot-sit for acquaintances who are stranded in California and manages to befriend a college-aged young man who also happens to be parrot-sitting the very same parrot. Thoughtful and beautifully told, I may have liked this slightly more than The Friend. And the cover is gorgeous and so fits the story.

68. The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett

I loved The Appeal (which wouldn't need to be read before this one, but helpful for the backstory) and this similarly written Christmas novella was just as fun. Not violent but not silly either, a very good holiday mystery for those who enjoy them!

Hi Joanne - I am waiting for both Absolution and The Vulnerables from my library. Good to know I have something to look forward to. The Christmas Appeal sounds like a fun read as well.

Happy Saturday, Joanne. I will add The Vulnerables to my hefty TBR. I really liked The Friend. Do you have an active Audible account going? If so, check out Jeff Daniels memoir, that is an Audible exclusive. It is so much fun.

>161 BLBera: Hi Beth! I'll be interested in your thoughts on both Absolution and The Vulnerables. There doesn't seem to be much talk around here about either of them yet.

>162 msf59: Hi Mark! You'd like The Vulnerables. I'll keep that memoir in mind - it sounds good. I dropped Audible when I stopped listening to audiobooks. One day I may get into them again.

>68 mdoris: I'm adding this to my list of books to read in December.

>159 Copperskye: You KNOW you got me with this one!

>158 Copperskye: I have a hold on Absolution at the library , but so far it has not come in . I'm looking forward to it. I just read something good about The Vulnerables. Another title for me to look into.

>164 Whisper1: Hi Linda, I thought it was an entertaining little Holiday read. Hope you do, too!

>165 Storeetllr: Ha!! :) I thought of you when I was reading it. Eureka, the parrot, has quite the setup.

>166 vancouverdeb: Hi Deb, I thought they were both excellent! Hope your turn comes up soon.

I better do some catching up before the year ends!



69. Twas the Bite Before Christmas by David Rosenfelt

This is the latest installment, number 28, of the Andy Carpenter series. I've only read a handful of them so I don't have a lot to compare, but I thought it was better than average. Andy is a reluctant lawyer who came into some money so he doesn't need to work a lot and rather spends his time and money at the dog rescue he runs in Paterson, NJ. There's a lot of snarky fun and humor without too much silliness, and the legal/mystery angle was really good.

70. So Late in the Day by Claire Keegen

Three pieces of rather dark short fiction about men and women. The first, titular story, was my favorite, about a man who just can't seem to grasp why his fiancé would want to rethink marrying him. Smart woman. I didn't like this collection quite as much as Foster or Small Things Like These, both of which I loved, but I'm still very glad I read it.

71. The Blackwater Lightship by Colm Toibin

Set in Ireland in the early 1990's, young Declan, dying of AIDS, leaves hospital for the rural home of his grandmother, where he is cared for by his grandmother, mother, and sister, along with two gay friends. A beautiful, heartbreaking story of love, and estranged and fractured families. The characters, and of course, the setting, reminded me very much of those in Nora Webster. I'm so glad I finally read this one.

72. The Mystery of Mistletoe Hall by Benedict Brown

A 17 year-old school-boy at first seemed like an engaging voice to narrate the story of a family marooned at a snowy mansion with a dead body in the garden but, like spending time with any immature 17 year-old, his voice soon wore very, very thin. Meh.

>169 Copperskye: I agree these stories are darker; I sure did not see the turn in "Antarctica." I liked the one about the writer although Cathal was so well portrayed.

>172 BLBera: I guess I wasn't expecting them to be as dark as they were, Beth. I'd probably like them more if I reread them at some point.

73. The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose

A famous mystery writer is poisoned at the Hotel and Molly knows more than she lets on.

I didn't find this second entry in The Maid series quite as endearing as the first, but Molly is a great first-person narrator and I enjoyed the dual timeline.

74. The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson

A Cotswold manor house at Christmas is the setting for this novella as American student, Ashley, spends the holiday with her new college friend and her family. The first half is told as journal entries from the visit 30 years ago. The second half is current day NYC. I'm unfamiliar with this author and had no idea what to expect but it turned into just the Christmas book I was looking for. Fair warning, it's dark.

>157 Copperskye: Of course you are part of the "Gang" - an intrinsic member, I would say.

>158 Copperskye: & >159 Copperskye: are book bullets for sure.

75 books upcoming!

>176 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul! You're so sweet and those are two fine choices!

Hi, Joanne. I am so glad that you decided to read The Blackwater Lightship. I thought it was a terrific read. I will also get to the Keegan.

>178 msf59: Hi Mark, me too! Thanks for reading it and prompting me to finally start it. I'll be interested in your thoughts on the Keegan.

Are you watching Fargo? Juno Temple steals the show.

Joanne, it looks like you are doing some Christmas reading. I struggle with finding the kinds of Christmas stories I want to read. They can't all be A Christmas Carol I suppose. I am on the library hold list for the Keegan stories. Thanks for the "dark" warning. I'll try to be strong. Haha.

>180 Donna828: Hi Donna! I've missed you around here so it's always nice to see you posting.

Christmas reading can be a bit hit or miss, can't it? The Christmas Appeal was fun, especially since I had just read The Appeal and I loved the format. I'm reading my very first Georgette Heyer, Snowdrift and Other Stories, and although it isn't Christmassy (except that maybe the title story takes place in the snow), Regency Romance seems to fit the season for me!

Happy holidays to you, John, Chris, Skye, and Boomer, and warmest wishes for a happy new year!

Merry Christmas, Mary, and thank you! Enjoy your family!

Happy Holidays All! And best wishes for a healthy and happy 2024!

Thinking about you during the festive season, Joanne

*smooch* for a happy, healthy 2024 to you and all yours, Joanne!

Hi Joanne!

Happy Holidays, Joanne. I hope you had a lovely Christmas with John.

>184 Copperskye: I love it!

Merry Christmas to you, Joanne. Some favorites on this thread, including Still Life and The Ghost of Mrs. Muir. And some BBs: The Appeal and its Christmas counterpart, so thank you for those!

Thank you for the good wishes, Paul, Richard, Karen, Karen, Mark, and Anne!! I hope the end of the year is treating you all well!

>190 AMQS: The Appeal and The Christmas Appeal were both a lot of fun, Anne.

75. Snowdrift and Other Stories by Georgette Heyer

My first by Heyer and I loved each of these stories. I didn't expect the humor and that was a plus.

>192 Copperskye: Congratulations on reaching 75, Joanne!!

Congratulations on reading 75 books! Happy Reading in 2024!

>193 FAMeulstee: >194 PaperbackPirate: Thank you Anita and Pirate! Just under the wire.