Joy (jlshall) Keeps It Simple in 2024
Conversazioni2024 Category Challenge
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1jlshall
Hi there, and thanks for stopping by. I’m Joy (“jlshall” here at LibraryThing), and I’ve been doing the Category Challenges since 2012, although I didn’t participate during this past year.
I was a little hesitant about the 2024 challenge. 2023 was a rough year for me – some major life changes kept me from doing any reading at all for the first few months. But, little by little, I’ve started up again. Reading has helped me through rough times in the past, and the Category Challenge has always helped keep me focused and on track. And I’m hoping it will go on doing that.
I’m keeping things very simple for 2024. No themes or set goals. If I can read one or two books a month, I’ll feel like I’ve been successful. So I’m just using months of the year as my categories. But I’ve always loved the AlphaKIT, so I think I’ll give that a try. No BingoDOG this year – it requires a little too much commitment. I’m not sure about the other CATs and KITs, but CalendarCAT and RandomKIT both look interesting – I might drop in now and then.
And… I think that’s the plan. At least for now. If there’s one thing this year has taught me it’s that life doesn’t always go according to plan. So we’ll see what develops.
(Originally posted 12/29/2023)
I was a little hesitant about the 2024 challenge. 2023 was a rough year for me – some major life changes kept me from doing any reading at all for the first few months. But, little by little, I’ve started up again. Reading has helped me through rough times in the past, and the Category Challenge has always helped keep me focused and on track. And I’m hoping it will go on doing that.
I’m keeping things very simple for 2024. No themes or set goals. If I can read one or two books a month, I’ll feel like I’ve been successful. So I’m just using months of the year as my categories. But I’ve always loved the AlphaKIT, so I think I’ll give that a try. No BingoDOG this year – it requires a little too much commitment. I’m not sure about the other CATs and KITs, but CalendarCAT and RandomKIT both look interesting – I might drop in now and then.
And… I think that’s the plan. At least for now. If there’s one thing this year has taught me it’s that life doesn’t always go according to plan. So we’ll see what develops.
(Originally posted 12/29/2023)
3jlshall
AlphaKIT
My favorite of all the CATs and KITs. I love the way it helps me decide what to read each month, and I need that more than ever.
• The Wiki for the 2024 AlphaKIT is HERE.
• The 2024 AlphaKIT main thread is HERE.
Letters / Reading for 2024:
YEARLONG: X Z . . . (Yearlong Thread)
•
•
JANUARY: A Y . . . (January Thread)
• The New York Trilogy: City of Glass; Ghosts; The Locked Room, by Paul Auster (1985) (added to wiki)
• Heads You Lose, by Christianna Brand (1941) (added to wiki)
FEBRUARY: F E . . . (February Thread)
• Peril at End House, by Agatha Christie (1932)
• World's Fair, by E.L. Doctorow (1985)
MARCH: H R . . . (March Thread)
• The Road to Lichfield, by Penelope Lively (1977)
• Last House, by Jessica Shattuck (2024)
APRIL: U O . . . (April Thread)
• Hamnet, by Maggie O'Farrell (2020)
• Unexpected Night, by Elizabeth Daly (1940)
MAY: N P . . . (May Thread)
• Power and Glory: Elizabeth II and the Rebirth of Royalty, by Alexander Larman (2024)
• The Queen of Poisons, by Robert Thorogood (2024)
JUNE: J B . . . (June Thread)
JULY: I S . . . (July Thread)
AUGUST: M G . . . (August Thread)
SEPTEMBER: V C . . . (September Thread)
OCTOBER: D T . . . (October Thread)
NOVEMBER: L W . . . (November Thread)
DECEMBER: K Q . . . (December Thread)
............
(The image is from a children’s book illustration by the 19th Century British artist-illustrator Helena Maguire. I added the “ABC” text.)
My favorite of all the CATs and KITs. I love the way it helps me decide what to read each month, and I need that more than ever.
• The Wiki for the 2024 AlphaKIT is HERE.
• The 2024 AlphaKIT main thread is HERE.
Letters / Reading for 2024:
YEARLONG: X Z . . . (Yearlong Thread)
•
•
JANUARY: A Y . . . (January Thread)
• The New York Trilogy: City of Glass; Ghosts; The Locked Room, by Paul Auster (1985) (added to wiki)
• Heads You Lose, by Christianna Brand (1941) (added to wiki)
FEBRUARY: F E . . . (February Thread)
• Peril at End House, by Agatha Christie (1932)
• World's Fair, by E.L. Doctorow (1985)
MARCH: H R . . . (March Thread)
• The Road to Lichfield, by Penelope Lively (1977)
• Last House, by Jessica Shattuck (2024)
APRIL: U O . . . (April Thread)
• Hamnet, by Maggie O'Farrell (2020)
• Unexpected Night, by Elizabeth Daly (1940)
MAY: N P . . . (May Thread)
• Power and Glory: Elizabeth II and the Rebirth of Royalty, by Alexander Larman (2024)
• The Queen of Poisons, by Robert Thorogood (2024)
JUNE: J B . . . (June Thread)
JULY: I S . . . (July Thread)
AUGUST: M G . . . (August Thread)
SEPTEMBER: V C . . . (September Thread)
OCTOBER: D T . . . (October Thread)
NOVEMBER: L W . . . (November Thread)
DECEMBER: K Q . . . (December Thread)
............
(The image is from a children’s book illustration by the 19th Century British artist-illustrator Helena Maguire. I added the “ABC” text.)
4jlshall
CalendarCAT (just in case....)
• The Wiki for the 2024 CalendarCAT is HERE.
• The 2024 CalendarCAT planning thread is HERE.
JANUARY: ... (January Thread)
•
FEBRUARY: ... (February Thread)
• Peril at End House (Hercule Poirot #8), by Agatha Christie (1932; first published in February 1932)
MARCH: ... (March Thread)
• The Road to Lichfield, by Penelope Lively (1977; author born in March 1933)
APRIL: ... (April Thread)
• Hamnet, by Maggie O'Farrell (2020; subject of the book is the son of William Shakespeare, and Shakespeare was born and died in April)
MAY: ... (May Thread)
•
JUNE:
JULY:
AUGUST:
SEPTEMBER:
OCTOBER:
NOVEMBER:
DECEMBER:
............
(The image is a 1924 advertising calendar for Brainerd & Armstrong Spool Silk.
• The Wiki for the 2024 CalendarCAT is HERE.
• The 2024 CalendarCAT planning thread is HERE.
JANUARY: ... (January Thread)
•
FEBRUARY: ... (February Thread)
• Peril at End House (Hercule Poirot #8), by Agatha Christie (1932; first published in February 1932)
MARCH: ... (March Thread)
• The Road to Lichfield, by Penelope Lively (1977; author born in March 1933)
APRIL: ... (April Thread)
• Hamnet, by Maggie O'Farrell (2020; subject of the book is the son of William Shakespeare, and Shakespeare was born and died in April)
MAY: ... (May Thread)
•
JUNE:
JULY:
AUGUST:
SEPTEMBER:
OCTOBER:
NOVEMBER:
DECEMBER:
............
(The image is a 1924 advertising calendar for Brainerd & Armstrong Spool Silk.
5jlshall
RandomKIT (also just in case)
• The Wiki for the 2024 RandomKIT is HERE.
• The 2024 RandomKIT planning thread is HERE.
JANUARY Topic: Early Birds ... (January Thread)
•
FEBRUARY Topic: Escape or Rescue ... (February Thread)
• Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library, by Christ Grabenstein (2013)
MARCH Topic: World Wildlife Day ... (March Thread)
•
APRIL Topic: Enchanting Garden Visitors ... (April Thread)
•
MAY Topic: Art & Architecture ... (May Thread)
• Elegant Enigmas: The Art of Edward Gorey, by Karen Wilkin (2009)
JUNE Topic:
JULY Topic:
AUGUST Topic:
SEPTEMBER Topic:
OCTOBER Topic:
NOVEMBER Topic:
DECEMBER Topic:
............
(The image is a study of cats by 19th Century Dutch-Belgian artist Henriette Ronner-Knip who was known for her paintings of domestic animals.)
• The Wiki for the 2024 RandomKIT is HERE.
• The 2024 RandomKIT planning thread is HERE.
JANUARY Topic: Early Birds ... (January Thread)
•
FEBRUARY Topic: Escape or Rescue ... (February Thread)
• Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library, by Christ Grabenstein (2013)
MARCH Topic: World Wildlife Day ... (March Thread)
•
APRIL Topic: Enchanting Garden Visitors ... (April Thread)
•
MAY Topic: Art & Architecture ... (May Thread)
• Elegant Enigmas: The Art of Edward Gorey, by Karen Wilkin (2009)
JUNE Topic:
JULY Topic:
AUGUST Topic:
SEPTEMBER Topic:
OCTOBER Topic:
NOVEMBER Topic:
DECEMBER Topic:
............
(The image is a study of cats by 19th Century Dutch-Belgian artist Henriette Ronner-Knip who was known for her paintings of domestic animals.)
6jlshall
I’ll add the monthly pages as the year goes along. So … I think I’m all set. Off to a brand new start in 2024.
Many thanks to all the challenge organizers and hosts. And another thank you to all the other challenge participants for the inspiration, recommendations, encouragement, etc.
And Happy Reading to everyone in 2024!
Many thanks to all the challenge organizers and hosts. And another thank you to all the other challenge participants for the inspiration, recommendations, encouragement, etc.
And Happy Reading to everyone in 2024!
8rabbitprincess
Welcome back and have fun with your reading!
9lowelibrary
Love all the vintage kitties. Good luck with your reading in 2024.
11MissBrangwen
I hope you find joy in reading in 2024! Oh, and I love the vintage cat pictures.
12DeltaQueen50
Welcome back, here's hoping 2024 is a very good year!
15christina_reads
Welcome back, and good luck with your 2024 reading!
17jlshall
Thank all of y'all for the visits and the kind wishes. I hope everyone gets a lot of great reading done this year! And I'm looking forward to seeing what you're reading and adding many more titles to my (already massive) "must read" list.
18jlshall
Just doing a little planning for possible AlphaKIT reads.
For most of my reading in 2024 I’ll be trying to use books already on my shelves. These are a few of the titles I’ve come up with for X and Z:
For “X” I’ll most likely read something by Diana Xarissa. I’ve been working my way through her Markham Sisters series and I’ve already got the next couple on my Kindle. I’ve also got one of the books in her Isle of Man (Aunt Bessie) series.
Also in my Kindle library: The Xibalba Murders, by Lyn Hamilton – first book in her Lara McLintoch Archaeological Mysteries series. Though I’m not sure I really need to be starting yet another new series.
And I think I’ve got at least one of the X-Files TV-show tie-in novels, so that would be another maybe.
For “Z” I have books by Zora Neale Hurston, and Zilpha Keatley Snyder. I also have Save Me the Waltz, by Zelda Fitzgerald, though I’ve tried to read it several times over the years and never made it past the first few pages.
For most of my reading in 2024 I’ll be trying to use books already on my shelves. These are a few of the titles I’ve come up with for X and Z:
For “X” I’ll most likely read something by Diana Xarissa. I’ve been working my way through her Markham Sisters series and I’ve already got the next couple on my Kindle. I’ve also got one of the books in her Isle of Man (Aunt Bessie) series.
Also in my Kindle library: The Xibalba Murders, by Lyn Hamilton – first book in her Lara McLintoch Archaeological Mysteries series. Though I’m not sure I really need to be starting yet another new series.
And I think I’ve got at least one of the X-Files TV-show tie-in novels, so that would be another maybe.
For “Z” I have books by Zora Neale Hurston, and Zilpha Keatley Snyder. I also have Save Me the Waltz, by Zelda Fitzgerald, though I’ve tried to read it several times over the years and never made it past the first few pages.
19MissWatson
Welcome back, and I hope 2024 will be a good year for you!
20jlshall
>19 MissWatson: Thanks, and I hope the same for you!
21jlshall
JANUARY Reads
1. City of Glass (New York Trilogy #1), by Paul Auster (1985)
2. Ghosts (New York Trilogy #2), by Paul Auster (1986)
3. The Locked Room (New York Trilogy #3), by Paul Auster (1986)
4. Heads You Lose (Inspector Cockrill #1), by Christianna Brand (1941)
1. City of Glass (New York Trilogy #1), by Paul Auster (1985)
2. Ghosts (New York Trilogy #2), by Paul Auster (1986)
3. The Locked Room (New York Trilogy #3), by Paul Auster (1986)
4. Heads You Lose (Inspector Cockrill #1), by Christianna Brand (1941)
22jlshall
1. City of Glass (New York Trilogy #1), by Paul Auster (1985)
Read: Jan 1-9, 2024
Genre: Fiction / Mystery
Rating: ✭✭✭✭½
I usually start my reading year with a mystery, and this is definitely a mystery. In fact, it was nominated for an Edgar award as Best Mystery Novel in 1986. But it's also definitely not in the "whodunnit" category I generally read. It's more of a "what's-going-on-here?" mystery, with Auster playing around with themes of reality and identity, and doing it in a highly entertaining manner.
City of Glass was my introduction to Paul Auster and it's made me want to read the other two volumes in the New York Trilogy. It's also made me want to re-read Poe's "William Wilson" -- obviously a work Auster had in mind when he wrote this.
Read: Jan 1-9, 2024
Genre: Fiction / Mystery
Rating: ✭✭✭✭½
I usually start my reading year with a mystery, and this is definitely a mystery. In fact, it was nominated for an Edgar award as Best Mystery Novel in 1986. But it's also definitely not in the "whodunnit" category I generally read. It's more of a "what's-going-on-here?" mystery, with Auster playing around with themes of reality and identity, and doing it in a highly entertaining manner.
City of Glass was my introduction to Paul Auster and it's made me want to read the other two volumes in the New York Trilogy. It's also made me want to re-read Poe's "William Wilson" -- obviously a work Auster had in mind when he wrote this.
23Tess_W
>22 jlshall: A BB for me! Also, I've read a lot of Poe, but not heard this one--also going to secure!
24jlshall
>23 Tess_W: It's been many years since I read Poe's story, and I only have vague memories of it. But I love Poe, so I welcome any reason to re-read one of his tales.
And now I'm becoming a Paul Auster fan, too! Moving on to the other two books in the trilogy.
And now I'm becoming a Paul Auster fan, too! Moving on to the other two books in the trilogy.
25jlshall
2. Ghosts (New York Trilogy #2), by Paul Auster (1986)
Read: Jan 10-11, 2024
Genre: Fiction / Mystery
Rating: ✭✭✭✭½
Novella-length second entry in Auster's New York Trilogy. This is the detective story stripped down to basics: one man, the private detective Blue, is hired by a second man, White, to watch a third man, Black, and to make regular reports on everything Black does. All the character names are colors: As well as Blue, Black, and White, we eventually get Brown, Green, Grey, Gold, Red, and Violet.
Blue rents a room in the building across from the building in which Black has his own room (on Orange Street), with a window that looks directly into Black's window. He settles in and gets started on his assignment – watching Black. And so it goes ... the case continues on for years, with Blue watching Black's every move – or at least every move he can see from his window. And when Black ventures out of his room onto the streets of New York City, Blue follows him, sometimes even donning disguises in the process, Sherlock Holmes-style. (Even though, at one point, Blue tells his mentor, Brown, that he (Blue) is not the Sherlock Holmes type.)
Blue has a fiancée who is referred to only as "the future Mrs. Blue." He tells her he will come back to her when the case is concluded. He thinks about her constantly during all the years he's on the case, but doesn't see her or get in touch with her. Eventually he runs into her (almost literally) on the street, walking arm-in-arm with another man. When she sees him, she starts screaming and beating on his chest, calling him names and accusing him of terrible crimes. The other man pulls her away from Blue and leads her off. She's now referred to as "the ex-future Mrs. Blue" and Blue "realizes that he has thrown away his life." But the case goes on a while longer. There is still a mystery to solve and a lot to happen between Blue and Black, as well as some surprising developments with White, who turns out to be even more mysterious than he seemed in the beginning.
I loved this strange little tale. Loved the way it pares down the mystery genre to its core essentials, and also loved the playfulness and wit. Now I'm ready to take on the third book in the trilogy.
Read: Jan 10-11, 2024
Genre: Fiction / Mystery
Rating: ✭✭✭✭½
Novella-length second entry in Auster's New York Trilogy. This is the detective story stripped down to basics: one man, the private detective Blue, is hired by a second man, White, to watch a third man, Black, and to make regular reports on everything Black does. All the character names are colors: As well as Blue, Black, and White, we eventually get Brown, Green, Grey, Gold, Red, and Violet.
Blue rents a room in the building across from the building in which Black has his own room (on Orange Street), with a window that looks directly into Black's window. He settles in and gets started on his assignment – watching Black. And so it goes ... the case continues on for years, with Blue watching Black's every move – or at least every move he can see from his window. And when Black ventures out of his room onto the streets of New York City, Blue follows him, sometimes even donning disguises in the process, Sherlock Holmes-style. (Even though, at one point, Blue tells his mentor, Brown, that he (Blue) is not the Sherlock Holmes type.)
Blue has a fiancée who is referred to only as "the future Mrs. Blue." He tells her he will come back to her when the case is concluded. He thinks about her constantly during all the years he's on the case, but doesn't see her or get in touch with her. Eventually he runs into her (almost literally) on the street, walking arm-in-arm with another man. When she sees him, she starts screaming and beating on his chest, calling him names and accusing him of terrible crimes. The other man pulls her away from Blue and leads her off. She's now referred to as "the ex-future Mrs. Blue" and Blue "realizes that he has thrown away his life." But the case goes on a while longer. There is still a mystery to solve and a lot to happen between Blue and Black, as well as some surprising developments with White, who turns out to be even more mysterious than he seemed in the beginning.
I loved this strange little tale. Loved the way it pares down the mystery genre to its core essentials, and also loved the playfulness and wit. Now I'm ready to take on the third book in the trilogy.
26Tess_W
>25 jlshall: Sounds interesting. I will look up book # 1!
27jlshall
3. The Locked Room (The New York Trilogy #3), by Paul Auster (1986)
Read: Jan 12-19, 2024
Genre: Fiction / Mystery
Rating: ✭✭✭✭
Final book in Auster's New York Trilogy, and probably (in my opinion, anyway) the weakest of the three works.
It's a complicated story. But briefly the basics are this: A writer named Fanshawe disappears, leaving behind a wife, a new baby, and his life's work of unpublished novels, plays and poems. His boyhood friend (who is also a writer and the narrator of the novel) agrees to become a sort of literary executor, taking charge of all the manuscripts and seeing that they get published. Along the way, this friend gets involved with Fanshawe's wife and eventually becomes obsessively entangled in the life Fanshawe left behind.
As I said, I think this one doesn't quite come up to the standard of the other two novels in the trilogy, but it's still a great read. So glad I've finally read something by Paul Auster. It's nice to add a new favorite author to my list, even though it took me a long time to discover him.
Read: Jan 12-19, 2024
Genre: Fiction / Mystery
Rating: ✭✭✭✭
Final book in Auster's New York Trilogy, and probably (in my opinion, anyway) the weakest of the three works.
It's a complicated story. But briefly the basics are this: A writer named Fanshawe disappears, leaving behind a wife, a new baby, and his life's work of unpublished novels, plays and poems. His boyhood friend (who is also a writer and the narrator of the novel) agrees to become a sort of literary executor, taking charge of all the manuscripts and seeing that they get published. Along the way, this friend gets involved with Fanshawe's wife and eventually becomes obsessively entangled in the life Fanshawe left behind.
As I said, I think this one doesn't quite come up to the standard of the other two novels in the trilogy, but it's still a great read. So glad I've finally read something by Paul Auster. It's nice to add a new favorite author to my list, even though it took me a long time to discover him.
28jlshall
4. Heads You Lose (Inspector Cockrill #1), by Christianna Brand (1941)
Read: Jan 22-31, 2024
Genre: Fiction / Mystery
Rating: ✭✭✭
Classic country house mystery. A group of close friends are enjoying their stay at Pigeonsford Estate. Then one of the group is found decapitated in a snowy ditch. But everyone is either a member of the same family, a close friend, or one of the villagers who've all known each other for years. No one seems a likely suspect. And there doesn't appear to be any reason for the murder. At first, anyway. Of course, by the middle of the story, it seems that just about everyone had motive, means, and opportunity. And Inspector Cockrill has a thoroughly baffling case on his hands.
I enjoyed this one, although the solution to the murders seemed a little far-fetched. I did guess who the culprit was fairly early on, but not the why or how.
There's definitely a lot of what we would now consider racist content in the book, some of which would probably have been disturbing even at the time. I don't think of myself as particularly sensitive to that sort of thing, but I believe it did influence my feelings about the series. But I liked the Inspector, so I might give him another chance.
Read: Jan 22-31, 2024
Genre: Fiction / Mystery
Rating: ✭✭✭
Classic country house mystery. A group of close friends are enjoying their stay at Pigeonsford Estate. Then one of the group is found decapitated in a snowy ditch. But everyone is either a member of the same family, a close friend, or one of the villagers who've all known each other for years. No one seems a likely suspect. And there doesn't appear to be any reason for the murder. At first, anyway. Of course, by the middle of the story, it seems that just about everyone had motive, means, and opportunity. And Inspector Cockrill has a thoroughly baffling case on his hands.
I enjoyed this one, although the solution to the murders seemed a little far-fetched. I did guess who the culprit was fairly early on, but not the why or how.
There's definitely a lot of what we would now consider racist content in the book, some of which would probably have been disturbing even at the time. I don't think of myself as particularly sensitive to that sort of thing, but I believe it did influence my feelings about the series. But I liked the Inspector, so I might give him another chance.
29pamelad
>28 jlshall: I've recorded 5 Inspector Cockrill books on LT, and this one is the weakest, so I hope you like the others. Green for Danger is a classic.
30jlshall
FEBRUARY Reads
1. Peril at End House (Hercule Poirot #8), by Agatha Christie (1932)
2. World's Fair, by E.L. Doctorow (1985)
3. Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library, by Chris Grabenstein (2013)
1. Peril at End House (Hercule Poirot #8), by Agatha Christie (1932)
2. World's Fair, by E.L. Doctorow (1985)
3. Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library, by Chris Grabenstein (2013)
31jlshall
PrizeCAT
Adding another category. I probably won't be able to keep up with this every month, but I've got many prize-winners on my TBR lists and on my shelves. And this seems like a good way to help me get a few of them read.
• The Wiki for the 2024 PrizeCAT is HERE.
• The 2024 PrizeCAT planning thread is HERE.
JANUARY: Long-Running Prizes ... (January Thread)
•
FEBRUARY: A Prize from Your Own Country ... (February Thread)
• World's Fair, by E.L. Doctorow (1985): 1986 Winner, National Book Awards (USA)
MARCH: A Prize That's New to You ... (March Thread)
• Experimental Film, by Gemma Files (2015): Shirley Jackson Award for Novel 2015; Sunburst Award for Adult 2016
APRIL: Women's Writing ... (April Thread)
• Hamnet, by Maggie O’Farrell (2020): Women’s Prize for Fiction 2020
MAY: Doubling Up (books that won two or more awards) ... (May Thread)
•
JUNE: Book Lists
JULY: A Prize from a Country Other than Your Own
AUGUST: A Prize for a Genre
SEPTEMBER: A prize winner/longlist/shortlist that also fits another CAT/KIT
OCTOBER: One That Missed Out (a book on a shortlist/longlist that didn't win)
NOVEMBER: Children's Book Awards
DECEMBER: A Prize of Your Choice
............
The image is an old photo of Fulmer Zaida, a champion show cat born in 1895.
Adding another category. I probably won't be able to keep up with this every month, but I've got many prize-winners on my TBR lists and on my shelves. And this seems like a good way to help me get a few of them read.
• The Wiki for the 2024 PrizeCAT is HERE.
• The 2024 PrizeCAT planning thread is HERE.
JANUARY: Long-Running Prizes ... (January Thread)
•
FEBRUARY: A Prize from Your Own Country ... (February Thread)
• World's Fair, by E.L. Doctorow (1985): 1986 Winner, National Book Awards (USA)
MARCH: A Prize That's New to You ... (March Thread)
• Experimental Film, by Gemma Files (2015): Shirley Jackson Award for Novel 2015; Sunburst Award for Adult 2016
APRIL: Women's Writing ... (April Thread)
• Hamnet, by Maggie O’Farrell (2020): Women’s Prize for Fiction 2020
MAY: Doubling Up (books that won two or more awards) ... (May Thread)
•
JUNE: Book Lists
JULY: A Prize from a Country Other than Your Own
AUGUST: A Prize for a Genre
SEPTEMBER: A prize winner/longlist/shortlist that also fits another CAT/KIT
OCTOBER: One That Missed Out (a book on a shortlist/longlist that didn't win)
NOVEMBER: Children's Book Awards
DECEMBER: A Prize of Your Choice
............
The image is an old photo of Fulmer Zaida, a champion show cat born in 1895.
32lowelibrary
>31 jlshall: Great picture. No wonder that beautiful cat was a champion.
33jlshall
>32 lowelibrary: Yes! He won over a hundred prizes. Reminds me of a Persian kitty I once had.
34jlshall
5. Peril at End House (Hercule Poirot #8), by Agatha Christie (1932)
Read: Feb 2-9, 2024
Fiction / Mystery
Rating: ✭✭✭✭½
I read a lot of the later Poirot novels when I was a teenager, and now I'm slowly reading my way through the early books. I knew "whodunnit" in this one, as I'd seen the British ITV version, with David Suchet as Poirot. But that didn't keep me from enjoying the read.
Read: Feb 2-9, 2024
Fiction / Mystery
Rating: ✭✭✭✭½
I read a lot of the later Poirot novels when I was a teenager, and now I'm slowly reading my way through the early books. I knew "whodunnit" in this one, as I'd seen the British ITV version, with David Suchet as Poirot. But that didn't keep me from enjoying the read.
35jlshall
6. World's Fair: A Novel, by E.L. Doctorow (1985)
Read: Feb 10-22, 2024
Fiction / Historical Fiction
Rating: ✭✭✭✭
Read: Feb 10-22, 2024
Fiction / Historical Fiction
Rating: ✭✭✭✭
36jlshall
7. Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library, by Chris Grabenstein (2013)
Read: Feb 2-28, 2024
Children's Fiction / Middle Grade / Young Adult
Rating: ✭✭✭½
Read: Feb 2-28, 2024
Children's Fiction / Middle Grade / Young Adult
Rating: ✭✭✭½
37jlshall
MARCH Reads
1. The Road to Lichfield, by Penelope Lively (1977)
2. Experimental Film, by Gemma Files (2015)
3. Last House, by Jessica Shattuck (2024)
1. The Road to Lichfield, by Penelope Lively (1977)
2. Experimental Film, by Gemma Files (2015)
3. Last House, by Jessica Shattuck (2024)
38jlshall
8. The Road to Lichfield, by Penelope Lively (1977)
Read: Mar 1-7, 2024
Fiction / Women's Fiction
Rating: ✭✭✭✭
Read: Mar 1-7, 2024
Fiction / Women's Fiction
Rating: ✭✭✭✭
39jlshall
9. Experimental Film, by Gemma Files (2015)
Read: Mar 7-17, 2024
Fiction / Horror / Suspense
Rating: ✭✭✭½
Read: Mar 7-17, 2024
Fiction / Horror / Suspense
Rating: ✭✭✭½
40jlshall
10. Last House, by Jessica Shattuck (2024)
Read: Mar 17 - Apr 3, 2024
Fiction / Historical Fiction
Rating: ✭✭✭✭
Read: Mar 17 - Apr 3, 2024
Fiction / Historical Fiction
Rating: ✭✭✭✭
41jlshall
APRIL Reads
1. After Annie, by Anna Quindlen (2024)
2. Hamnet, by Maggie O'Farrell (2020)
3. Unexpected Night (Henry Gamadge #1), by Elizabeth Daly (1940)
1. After Annie, by Anna Quindlen (2024)
2. Hamnet, by Maggie O'Farrell (2020)
3. Unexpected Night (Henry Gamadge #1), by Elizabeth Daly (1940)
44jlshall
13. Unexpected Night (Henry Gamadge #1), by Elizabeth Daly (1940)
Read: Apr 25 - May 1, 2024
Fiction / Mystery
Rating: ✭✭✭
Read: Apr 25 - May 1, 2024
Fiction / Mystery
Rating: ✭✭✭
45jlshall
MAY Reads
1. The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church, by Sarah McCammon (2024)
2.
1. The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church, by Sarah McCammon (2024)
2.
46jlshall
14. The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church, by Sarah McCammon (2024)
Read: May 2 - May 7, 2024
Nonfiction / Memoir / Cultural History / Religion
Rating: ✭✭✭✭
Read: May 2 - May 7, 2024
Nonfiction / Memoir / Cultural History / Religion
Rating: ✭✭✭✭
