DeltaQueen Tries for Balance & Focus in 2023 - Part 5
Original topic subject: DeltaQueen Tries for Balance & Focus in 2023 - Part 4
This is a continuation of the topic DeltaQueen Tries for Balance & Focus in 2023 - Part 4.
Talk2023 Category Challenge
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1DeltaQueen50
The bigger they are the better the balance!
Hello, my name is Judy and I have been participating in the Category Challenge since 2009. I live in a suburb of Vancouver, B.C. with my husband of 44 years. Our two daughters are married and, lucky for us, living not too far away. We have two grandchildren, a boy and a girl, who are pretty much grown up but we see them often. Grandson is a real outdoors guy and loves to fish, hunt and go camping. Granddaughter is in her second year of college and is working toward a teacher’s certificate which will take her four years, I believe. She is crazy for horses and rides every week. She is currently supplementing her income by working part-time at a local coffee shop. We live a quiet life and reading is a favorite occupation for both of us.
I have decided that this year will be a year of seeking balance and focus in my reading life. I have less categories than I usually have and will plan everything on a monthly basis. I have chosen monthly themes and will try to read at least 2 books that will fit each theme. We have an interesting mix of Cats and Kits this year but I am planning on participating only when I have a book that fits. As always I will be reading a certain number of books from the 1,001 Books To Read Before You Die list and participating the Reading Through Time Challenges, keeping track on a monthly basis. Another way of obtaining balance is to read both high and low from my own shelves – I have 20 shelves that are packed with books so I plan to read at least two books from separate shelves every month. Along with that I also have over 1,300 books loaded onto my various Kindles and Audio Apps and so will try to include a couple of them monthly as well. I also have a very long library list that I need to keep chipping away at.
The focus part of my challenge this year involves series. I am trying to focus on my on-going series so instead of starting new series, I will read from the ones I am already working on. Of course, I will also be participating in the BingoDog which I hope to complete with books that I have already chosen to read. As I do love a good reading challenge, I also have developed one of 30 prompts from other various challenges and one that is a monthly challenge for one book. Of course I will be continuing to participate in the monthly TIOLI Challenges.
As we are about to enter into the last quarter of the year, I can say that my challenge is working. My shelves are showing empty spaces as I mostly replace my books with e-books. I have made a few dents in my series but this will be an on-going project. As always, I am enjoying good books and good conversation here on Library Thing!
Has anyone else noticed what I noticed when I was pasting these elephant pictures to my thread - it's the same elephant in both pictures! Who knows what the animal was really balancing on but it's won my admiration just by balancing it's bulk on it's own front legs.
2DeltaQueen50
Challenge Format:
I intend to list my reading by the month, but I will list my planning process at the beginning of each month. There may be some over-lapping but even if a book fits in a variety of places, it will only count once in my monthly book count.
1. Monthly Planning
I will chose a theme for the month and read one or two books that will fit
Themes
January: Winter Weather
February: Matters of the Heart
March: Short Stories
April: Historical Fiction
May: Hispanic Heritage
June: An English Summer Garden
July: Celebrating Canadian Authors
August: Travel, Adventure, Survival
September: Back to School
October: Things that Go Bump in the Night
November: War
December: Christmas Stories/Mysteries
Cats & Kits
I will list which Cat/Kit I am participating in, along with the book that I
will be reading
1,001 Reads
Will chose one or more books to read from the 1,001 Books to Read
Before You Die List
Reading Thru Time
Historical Fiction that will fit the monthly theme as set by the members
of the Reading Through Time Group
High & Low Shelves
Books chosen from my shelves
Kindle & Audio
Also chosen from my stock
Series
One of two series books per month
Library Books
At least one or two from the list each month
Extras
Just in case I read a book that doesn’t fit elsewhere
I intend to list my reading by the month, but I will list my planning process at the beginning of each month. There may be some over-lapping but even if a book fits in a variety of places, it will only count once in my monthly book count.
1. Monthly Planning
I will chose a theme for the month and read one or two books that will fit
Themes
January: Winter Weather
February: Matters of the Heart
March: Short Stories
April: Historical Fiction
May: Hispanic Heritage
June: An English Summer Garden
July: Celebrating Canadian Authors
August: Travel, Adventure, Survival
September: Back to School
October: Things that Go Bump in the Night
November: War
December: Christmas Stories/Mysteries
Cats & Kits
I will list which Cat/Kit I am participating in, along with the book that I
will be reading
1,001 Reads
Will chose one or more books to read from the 1,001 Books to Read
Before You Die List
Reading Thru Time
Historical Fiction that will fit the monthly theme as set by the members
of the Reading Through Time Group
High & Low Shelves
Books chosen from my shelves
Kindle & Audio
Also chosen from my stock
Series
One of two series books per month
Library Books
At least one or two from the list each month
Extras
Just in case I read a book that doesn’t fit elsewhere
3DeltaQueen50
Tickers
Books Read
Pages Read
Books Read
Pages Read
4DeltaQueen50
2023 Reading Challenge
1. Connection to Ireland: Matt's Haunting
2. Set during a war: The Heroic Garrison
3. Read a non-fiction book: No Beast So Fierce
4. Published the year you joined Library Thing (2008): A Daughter's Secret
5. A body part is in the title: A Serpent's Tooth
6. A post-apocalyptic story: Siege
7. A book related word is in the title:
8. The book features a road trip: A Thousand Miles
9. The word “Lost” in in the title: The Lost World
10. A new-to-you author: One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow
11. The word “All” is in the title: All the Light We Cannot See
12. An item is named in the title: A Catalog of Birds
13. A short book of 250 pages or less: Enter a Murderer
14. Location is in title: Jellicoe Road
15. Science Fiction or Fantasy Written by a Woman: Scout's Progress
16. A Direction word is in the title: Star of the North
17. The title contains 5 – 7 words: The Life and Times of Persimmon Wilson
18. A pronoun is in the title: You Are Dead
19. A Sword, dagger or shield in pictured on the cover: Sharp Ends
20. “Love” is in the title: The Man Who Loved Lions
21. Read a Graphic Novel: The Customer is Always Wrong
22. Finish a long-reading series: Circle of Flight
23. Title contains a month: February's Son
24. Story is set in space: The Last Colony
25. One of the 5 W’s – who, what, where, when and why – is in the
title: Where Angels Fear to Tread
26. The word “Secret” is in the title: The Secrets We Left Behind
27. Title contains a quiet word – quiet, whisper, silence, hush, etc – These Silent Woods
28. “ING” is found in title words: Last Seen Wearing
29. A memory word in title – memory, remember, recall, past, when: A Memory of Violets
30. Set in a Mediterranean country: The Scent of the Night
5DeltaQueen50
2023 Interconnected Monthly Reading Challenge
1. January: A Book That Starts with “A” or “The”: The Heroic Garrison by V. A. Stuart
2. February: The cover or spine of the book compliments the January book cover: Splendid by Julia Quinn - Navy Blue Spine compliments The Heroic Garrison by V. A. Stuart - Dark Red Spine
3. March: The Title Starts with the next letter in the alphabet from your February book: "T" - The Taking of Jemima Boone by Matthew Pearl - historical fiction
4. April: A different genre from your March book: Death At the Opera by Gladys Mitchell - Mystery - 191 pages
5. May: The book is longer than the book in April: The Glass-Sided Ants' Nest by Peter Dickinson - 212 pages - 21 letters
6. June: The title has half as many letters as your May book: The Cartel by Don Winslow - set in Mexico
7. July: Set in a different country or part of the world from your June book - Crime Machine by Giles Blunt - set in Canada
8. August: The same genre as the July book: Crime Machine - July and Shoot to Thrill by P. J. Tracy are both crime novels.
9. September: Turn to page 50 of the August book and your September book must have one of the words on this page in it’s title - Postscript to Poison by Dorothy Bowers
10. October: The book’s title starts with the first letter of the author’s name from your September book
11. November: Set in a different time period from your October book
12. December: Book has to be within 20 pages of the book you read in November.
1. January: A Book That Starts with “A” or “The”: The Heroic Garrison by V. A. Stuart
2. February: The cover or spine of the book compliments the January book cover: Splendid by Julia Quinn - Navy Blue Spine compliments The Heroic Garrison by V. A. Stuart - Dark Red Spine
3. March: The Title Starts with the next letter in the alphabet from your February book: "T" - The Taking of Jemima Boone by Matthew Pearl - historical fiction
4. April: A different genre from your March book: Death At the Opera by Gladys Mitchell - Mystery - 191 pages
5. May: The book is longer than the book in April: The Glass-Sided Ants' Nest by Peter Dickinson - 212 pages - 21 letters
6. June: The title has half as many letters as your May book: The Cartel by Don Winslow - set in Mexico
7. July: Set in a different country or part of the world from your June book - Crime Machine by Giles Blunt - set in Canada
8. August: The same genre as the July book: Crime Machine - July and Shoot to Thrill by P. J. Tracy are both crime novels.
9. September: Turn to page 50 of the August book and your September book must have one of the words on this page in it’s title - Postscript to Poison by Dorothy Bowers
10. October: The book’s title starts with the first letter of the author’s name from your September book
11. November: Set in a different time period from your October book
12. December: Book has to be within 20 pages of the book you read in November.
6DeltaQueen50
2023 TOTAL BOOKS READ
January
1. A Catalog of Birds by Laura Harrington - 4.2 ★
2. The Heroic Garrison by V. A. Stuart - 3.8 ★
3. After the Snow by S. D. Crockett - 2.5 ★
4. Empire of the Sun by J. G. Ballard - 4.3 ★
5. When the Music's Over by Peter Robinson - 4.5 ★
6. The Other Typist by Suzanne Rindell - 4.1 ★
7. Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby - 4.5 ★
8. A Daughter's Secret by Anne Bennett - 3.7 ★
9. The Taster by V. S. Alexander - 3.7 ★
10. Paper Wife by Laila Ibrahim - 4.0 ★
11. Chess Story by Stefan Zweig - 4.0 ★
12. The Silent Land by Graham Joyce - 4.5 ★
13. Deadly Friends by Stuart Pawson - 4.0 ★
14. The Princess Bride by William Goldman - 4.5 ★
15. The Midwife of Venice by Rpberta Rich - 3.8 ★
16. Bats in the Belfry by E. C. R. Lorac - 3.6 ★
17. The Scent of the Night by Andrea Camilleri - 4.0 ★
February
18. The Hunger by Alma Katsu - 4.0 ★
19. Splendid by Julia Quinn - 3.8 ★
20. Vathek by William Beckford - 3.4 ★
21. The Girl from World's End by Leah Fleming - 3.6 ★
22. Black Seconds by Karin Fossum - 4.0 ★
23. The Life and Times of Persimmon Wilson by Nancy Peacock - 5.0 ★
24. Scout's Progress by Sharon Lee - 4.3 ★
25. The Awakening by Kate Chopin - 3.3 ★
26. A Thousand Miles by Bridget Morrissey - 2.0 ★
27. The Salt Line by Holly Goddard Jones - 2.5 ★
28. The Bells At Old Bailey by Dorothy Bowers - 3.5 ★
29. No Beast So Fierce by Dane Hucklebridge - 3.8 ★
30. Eden by Tony Monchinski - 3.8 ★
31. Sydney Bridge, Upside Down by David Ballantyne - 4.0 ★
32. Slightly Scandalous by Mary Balogh - 3.8 ★
33. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta - 4.3 ★
34. A Darker Domain by Val McDermid - 4.1 ★
January
1. A Catalog of Birds by Laura Harrington - 4.2 ★
2. The Heroic Garrison by V. A. Stuart - 3.8 ★
3. After the Snow by S. D. Crockett - 2.5 ★
4. Empire of the Sun by J. G. Ballard - 4.3 ★
5. When the Music's Over by Peter Robinson - 4.5 ★
6. The Other Typist by Suzanne Rindell - 4.1 ★
7. Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby - 4.5 ★
8. A Daughter's Secret by Anne Bennett - 3.7 ★
9. The Taster by V. S. Alexander - 3.7 ★
10. Paper Wife by Laila Ibrahim - 4.0 ★
11. Chess Story by Stefan Zweig - 4.0 ★
12. The Silent Land by Graham Joyce - 4.5 ★
13. Deadly Friends by Stuart Pawson - 4.0 ★
14. The Princess Bride by William Goldman - 4.5 ★
15. The Midwife of Venice by Rpberta Rich - 3.8 ★
16. Bats in the Belfry by E. C. R. Lorac - 3.6 ★
17. The Scent of the Night by Andrea Camilleri - 4.0 ★
February
18. The Hunger by Alma Katsu - 4.0 ★
19. Splendid by Julia Quinn - 3.8 ★
20. Vathek by William Beckford - 3.4 ★
21. The Girl from World's End by Leah Fleming - 3.6 ★
22. Black Seconds by Karin Fossum - 4.0 ★
23. The Life and Times of Persimmon Wilson by Nancy Peacock - 5.0 ★
24. Scout's Progress by Sharon Lee - 4.3 ★
25. The Awakening by Kate Chopin - 3.3 ★
26. A Thousand Miles by Bridget Morrissey - 2.0 ★
27. The Salt Line by Holly Goddard Jones - 2.5 ★
28. The Bells At Old Bailey by Dorothy Bowers - 3.5 ★
29. No Beast So Fierce by Dane Hucklebridge - 3.8 ★
30. Eden by Tony Monchinski - 3.8 ★
31. Sydney Bridge, Upside Down by David Ballantyne - 4.0 ★
32. Slightly Scandalous by Mary Balogh - 3.8 ★
33. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta - 4.3 ★
34. A Darker Domain by Val McDermid - 4.1 ★
7DeltaQueen50
2023 Books Read (con't)
March
35. Circle of Flight by John Marsden - 3.8 ★
36. The Customer is Always Wrong by Mimi Pond - 4.2 ★
37. Life on the Mississippi by Rinker Buck - 4.0 ★
38. Mothers Tell Your Daughters by Bonnie Jo Campbell - 4.2 ★
39. Raft of Stars by Andrew J. Graff - 3.4 ★
40. The Taking of Jemima Boone by Matthew Pearl - 3.8 ★
41. The Laughterhouse by Paul Cleave - 4.2 ★
42. Godiva by Nicole Galland - 4.3 ★
43. Sharp Ends by Joe Abercrombie - 4.2 ★
44. Star of the North by Anna Jacobs - 3.6 ★
45. Where Angels Fear to Tread by E. M. Forster - 2.7 ★
46. Enter A Murderer by Ngaio Marsh - 3.7 ★
47. Round Mountain by Castle Freeman Jr. - 4.5 ★
48. Sad Cypress by Agatha Christie - 3.8 ★
49. The Secrets We Left Behind by Soraya M. Lane - 4.0 ★
50. American By Day by Derek B. Miller - 4.2 ★
51. Hard Ride by Elmer Kelton - 4.0 ★
April
52. One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow by Olivia Hawker - 4.0 ★
53. Dear Mrs. Bird by AJ Pearce - 4.2 ★
54. Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher by Timothy Egan - 5.0 ★
55. Traitor to the Throne by Alwyn Hamilton - 4.2 ★
56. False Colours by Georgette Heyer - 4.0 ★
57. Now We Are Dead by Stuart MacBride - 4.2 ★
58. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr - 5.0 ★
59. Last Seen Wearing by Hilary Waugh - 4.5 ★
60. Eat, Brains, Love by Jeff Hart - 4.0 ★
61. Death At the Opera by Gladys Mitchell - 4.0 ★
62. The Maid by Nita Prose - 4.0 ★
63. The Sands of the Kalahari by William Mulvihill - 4.1 ★
64. Crome Yellow by Aldous Huxley - 2.0 ★
65. The Low Bird by David L. Robbins - 3.7 ★
66. In A Dark House by Deborah Crombie - 4.5 ★
March
35. Circle of Flight by John Marsden - 3.8 ★
36. The Customer is Always Wrong by Mimi Pond - 4.2 ★
37. Life on the Mississippi by Rinker Buck - 4.0 ★
38. Mothers Tell Your Daughters by Bonnie Jo Campbell - 4.2 ★
39. Raft of Stars by Andrew J. Graff - 3.4 ★
40. The Taking of Jemima Boone by Matthew Pearl - 3.8 ★
41. The Laughterhouse by Paul Cleave - 4.2 ★
42. Godiva by Nicole Galland - 4.3 ★
43. Sharp Ends by Joe Abercrombie - 4.2 ★
44. Star of the North by Anna Jacobs - 3.6 ★
45. Where Angels Fear to Tread by E. M. Forster - 2.7 ★
46. Enter A Murderer by Ngaio Marsh - 3.7 ★
47. Round Mountain by Castle Freeman Jr. - 4.5 ★
48. Sad Cypress by Agatha Christie - 3.8 ★
49. The Secrets We Left Behind by Soraya M. Lane - 4.0 ★
50. American By Day by Derek B. Miller - 4.2 ★
51. Hard Ride by Elmer Kelton - 4.0 ★
April
52. One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow by Olivia Hawker - 4.0 ★
53. Dear Mrs. Bird by AJ Pearce - 4.2 ★
54. Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher by Timothy Egan - 5.0 ★
55. Traitor to the Throne by Alwyn Hamilton - 4.2 ★
56. False Colours by Georgette Heyer - 4.0 ★
57. Now We Are Dead by Stuart MacBride - 4.2 ★
58. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr - 5.0 ★
59. Last Seen Wearing by Hilary Waugh - 4.5 ★
60. Eat, Brains, Love by Jeff Hart - 4.0 ★
61. Death At the Opera by Gladys Mitchell - 4.0 ★
62. The Maid by Nita Prose - 4.0 ★
63. The Sands of the Kalahari by William Mulvihill - 4.1 ★
64. Crome Yellow by Aldous Huxley - 2.0 ★
65. The Low Bird by David L. Robbins - 3.7 ★
66. In A Dark House by Deborah Crombie - 4.5 ★
8DeltaQueen50
2023 Books Read (con't)
May
67. The Shuddering by Ania Ahlborn - 4.2 ★
68. Blue Horses by Mary Oliver - 4.0 ★
69. Darkest Unsolved Mysteries by Edward Collins - 2.5 ★
70. Daughters of the Storm by Elizabeth Buchan - 4.1 ★
71. American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins - 5.0 ★
72. Anthem by Deborah Wiles - 4.2 ★
73. Siege by Rhiannon Frater - 3.7 ★
74. The Glass-Sided Ants' Nest by Peter Dickinson - 2.6 ★
75. Don't Send Flowers by Martin Solares - 3.8 ★
76. A Memory of Violets by Hazel Gaynor - 3.6 ★
77. The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco - 3.3 ★
78. The Snow Walker by Farley Mowat - 4.0 ★
79. Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski - 3.5 ★
80. City of Spies by Mara Timon - 4.0 ★
81. Some By Fire by Stuart Pawson - 4.0 ★
82. I Know An Old Lady by Margaret Standafer - 3.7 ★
83. The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros - 4.3 ★
84. Grizzlies, Gales and Giant Salmon by Pat Ardley - 3.7 ★
85. Sky On Fire by Emmy Laybourne - 3.8 ★
86. The Bone Garden by Kate Ellis - 4.0 ★
June
87. Saints of the Shadow Bible by Ian Rankin - 4.2 ★
88. Sugar Candy Cottage by Elizabeth Cadell - 4.0 ★
89. A Serpent's Tooth by Craig Johnson - 4.0 ★
90. The Cartel by Don Winslow - 4.3 ★
91. The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald - 3.4 ★
92. Under a Siena Sun by T. A. Williams - 3.8 ★
93. A Litter of Bones by JD Kirk - 3.8 ★
94. The Man Who Loved Lions by Ethel Lina White - 3.3 ★
95. Soul Catcher by Michael C. White - 4.5 ★
96. Storm in the Village by Miss Read - 4.2 ★
97. Trustee From the Toolroom by Nevil Shute - 4.1 ★
98. The Summons by Peter Lovesey - 4.2 ★
99. Wall by Tom Abrahams - 3.0 ★
100. There's Trouble Brewing by Nicholas Blake - 4.0 ★
101. The Rainbow and the Rose by Nevile Shute - 2.5 ★
102. The Great Trek by Zane Grey - 3.8 ★
103. Bramton Wick by Elizabeth Fair - 4.0 ★
104. Savage Drift by Emmy Laybourne - 3.7 ★
105. Mercy Falls by William Kent Krueger - 3.8 ★
106. Fair Stood the Wind For France by H. E. Bates - 4.2 ★
107. The Hot Rock by Donald E. Westlake - 4.0 ★
May
67. The Shuddering by Ania Ahlborn - 4.2 ★
68. Blue Horses by Mary Oliver - 4.0 ★
69. Darkest Unsolved Mysteries by Edward Collins - 2.5 ★
70. Daughters of the Storm by Elizabeth Buchan - 4.1 ★
71. American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins - 5.0 ★
72. Anthem by Deborah Wiles - 4.2 ★
73. Siege by Rhiannon Frater - 3.7 ★
74. The Glass-Sided Ants' Nest by Peter Dickinson - 2.6 ★
75. Don't Send Flowers by Martin Solares - 3.8 ★
76. A Memory of Violets by Hazel Gaynor - 3.6 ★
77. The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco - 3.3 ★
78. The Snow Walker by Farley Mowat - 4.0 ★
79. Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski - 3.5 ★
80. City of Spies by Mara Timon - 4.0 ★
81. Some By Fire by Stuart Pawson - 4.0 ★
82. I Know An Old Lady by Margaret Standafer - 3.7 ★
83. The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros - 4.3 ★
84. Grizzlies, Gales and Giant Salmon by Pat Ardley - 3.7 ★
85. Sky On Fire by Emmy Laybourne - 3.8 ★
86. The Bone Garden by Kate Ellis - 4.0 ★
June
87. Saints of the Shadow Bible by Ian Rankin - 4.2 ★
88. Sugar Candy Cottage by Elizabeth Cadell - 4.0 ★
89. A Serpent's Tooth by Craig Johnson - 4.0 ★
90. The Cartel by Don Winslow - 4.3 ★
91. The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald - 3.4 ★
92. Under a Siena Sun by T. A. Williams - 3.8 ★
93. A Litter of Bones by JD Kirk - 3.8 ★
94. The Man Who Loved Lions by Ethel Lina White - 3.3 ★
95. Soul Catcher by Michael C. White - 4.5 ★
96. Storm in the Village by Miss Read - 4.2 ★
97. Trustee From the Toolroom by Nevil Shute - 4.1 ★
98. The Summons by Peter Lovesey - 4.2 ★
99. Wall by Tom Abrahams - 3.0 ★
100. There's Trouble Brewing by Nicholas Blake - 4.0 ★
101. The Rainbow and the Rose by Nevile Shute - 2.5 ★
102. The Great Trek by Zane Grey - 3.8 ★
103. Bramton Wick by Elizabeth Fair - 4.0 ★
104. Savage Drift by Emmy Laybourne - 3.7 ★
105. Mercy Falls by William Kent Krueger - 3.8 ★
106. Fair Stood the Wind For France by H. E. Bates - 4.2 ★
107. The Hot Rock by Donald E. Westlake - 4.0 ★
9DeltaQueen50
2023 Books Read (con't)
July
108. Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland - 4.0 ★
109. Savage Country by Robert Olmstead - 4.0 ★
110. February's Son by Alan Parks - 4.0 ★
111. Arundel by Kenneth Roberts - 4.5 ★
112. Starlight by Richard Wagamese - 5.0 ★
113. Mary Wakefield by Mazo de la Roche - 3.8 ★
114. Ocean State by Stewart O'Nan - 4.0 ★
115. Crime Machine by Giles Blunt - 4.0 ★
116. The Snow Gypsy by Lyndsay Jayne Ashford - 3.2 ★
117. The Radleys by Matt Haig - 3.8 ★
118. The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields - 4.5 ★
119. The Last Colony by John Scalzi - 4.2 ★
120. Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem - 4.0 ★
121. Death Stalks A Lady by Shelley Smith - 3.3 ★
122. Nights At The Circus by Angela Carter - 3.3 ★
123. Dark Places by Gillian Flynn - 4.1 ★
124. You Are Dead by Peter James - 4.2 ★
August
125. Mistress of Rome by Kate Quinn - 4.0 ★
126. Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean - 3.7 ★
127. The Fall of the Governor, Part 1 by Robert Kirkman - 3.4 ★
128. Gabriel's Story by David Anthony Durham - 4.5 ★
129. Of Wee Sweetie Mice and Men by Colin Bateman - 4.0 ★
130. Into the Jungle by Erica Ferencik - 3.6 ★
131. Sisters of Reckoning by Charlotte Nicole Davis - 4.0 ★
132. The Complete Steel by Catherine Aird - 3.5 ★
133. The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan - 5.0 ★
134. The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter - Japanese Folk Tale - 3.5 ★
135. Haywire by Justin R. Macumber - 4.0 ★
136. The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - 3.6 ★
137. The Hike by Susi Holliday - 2.0 ★
138. Shoot to Thrill by P. J. Tracy - 3.5 ★
139. The Labyrinth Makers by Anthony Price - 4.0 ★
140. Return to the Lost World by Greig Beck - 3.7 ★
141. The Winter Garden Mystery by Carola Dunn - 3.7 ★
142. Deathwatch by Robb White - 4.2 ★
July
108. Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland - 4.0 ★
109. Savage Country by Robert Olmstead - 4.0 ★
110. February's Son by Alan Parks - 4.0 ★
111. Arundel by Kenneth Roberts - 4.5 ★
112. Starlight by Richard Wagamese - 5.0 ★
113. Mary Wakefield by Mazo de la Roche - 3.8 ★
114. Ocean State by Stewart O'Nan - 4.0 ★
115. Crime Machine by Giles Blunt - 4.0 ★
116. The Snow Gypsy by Lyndsay Jayne Ashford - 3.2 ★
117. The Radleys by Matt Haig - 3.8 ★
118. The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields - 4.5 ★
119. The Last Colony by John Scalzi - 4.2 ★
120. Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem - 4.0 ★
121. Death Stalks A Lady by Shelley Smith - 3.3 ★
122. Nights At The Circus by Angela Carter - 3.3 ★
123. Dark Places by Gillian Flynn - 4.1 ★
124. You Are Dead by Peter James - 4.2 ★
August
125. Mistress of Rome by Kate Quinn - 4.0 ★
126. Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean - 3.7 ★
127. The Fall of the Governor, Part 1 by Robert Kirkman - 3.4 ★
128. Gabriel's Story by David Anthony Durham - 4.5 ★
129. Of Wee Sweetie Mice and Men by Colin Bateman - 4.0 ★
130. Into the Jungle by Erica Ferencik - 3.6 ★
131. Sisters of Reckoning by Charlotte Nicole Davis - 4.0 ★
132. The Complete Steel by Catherine Aird - 3.5 ★
133. The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan - 5.0 ★
134. The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter - Japanese Folk Tale - 3.5 ★
135. Haywire by Justin R. Macumber - 4.0 ★
136. The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - 3.6 ★
137. The Hike by Susi Holliday - 2.0 ★
138. Shoot to Thrill by P. J. Tracy - 3.5 ★
139. The Labyrinth Makers by Anthony Price - 4.0 ★
140. Return to the Lost World by Greig Beck - 3.7 ★
141. The Winter Garden Mystery by Carola Dunn - 3.7 ★
142. Deathwatch by Robb White - 4.2 ★
10DeltaQueen50
2023 Books Read (con't)
September
143. World Departed by Sarah Lyons Fleming - 4.5 ★
144. Down Among the Dead Men by Geradine Evans - 3.0 ★
145. Through Black Spruce by Joseph Boyden - 4.5 ★
146. Windhall by Ava Barry - 2.0 ★
147. Death At The President's Lodging by Michael Innes - 4.0 ★
148. The Guide by Peter Heller - 3.7 ★
149. Chaka by Thomas Mofolo - 3.7 ★
150. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt - 4.0 ★
151. Matt's Haunting by Rebecca Patrick-Howard - 3.0 ★
152. Fair Land, Fair Land by A. B. Guthrie - 4.3 ★
153. Postscript to Poison by Dorothy Bowers - 3.8 ★
154. These Silent Woods by Kimmi Cunningham Grant - 4.3 ★
155. Dear Teacher by Jack Sheffield - 4.0 ★
156. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou - 4.0 ★
157. Days Without End by Sebastian Barry - 4.5 ★
158. Pearls Before Swine by Margery Allingham - 3.6 ★
159. Copper River by William Kent Krueger - 4.5 ★
September
143. World Departed by Sarah Lyons Fleming - 4.5 ★
144. Down Among the Dead Men by Geradine Evans - 3.0 ★
145. Through Black Spruce by Joseph Boyden - 4.5 ★
146. Windhall by Ava Barry - 2.0 ★
147. Death At The President's Lodging by Michael Innes - 4.0 ★
148. The Guide by Peter Heller - 3.7 ★
149. Chaka by Thomas Mofolo - 3.7 ★
150. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt - 4.0 ★
151. Matt's Haunting by Rebecca Patrick-Howard - 3.0 ★
152. Fair Land, Fair Land by A. B. Guthrie - 4.3 ★
153. Postscript to Poison by Dorothy Bowers - 3.8 ★
154. These Silent Woods by Kimmi Cunningham Grant - 4.3 ★
155. Dear Teacher by Jack Sheffield - 4.0 ★
156. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou - 4.0 ★
157. Days Without End by Sebastian Barry - 4.5 ★
158. Pearls Before Swine by Margery Allingham - 3.6 ★
159. Copper River by William Kent Krueger - 4.5 ★
11DeltaQueen50
2023 Books Read (con't)
October
160. Last Chance by Gregg Hurwitz - 3.6 ★
161. The Whisper on the Night Wind by Adam Shoats - 4.2 ★
October
160. Last Chance by Gregg Hurwitz - 3.6 ★
161. The Whisper on the Night Wind by Adam Shoats - 4.2 ★
12DeltaQueen50
Monthly Reading Plans
September 2023 Reading Plans
Monthly Theme Books – Back to School – school setting
✖ Goodbye Mr. Chips by James Hilton - will not get to
✔ Death at the President’s Lodging by Michael Innes
✔ Dear Teacher by Jack Sheffield
Monthly Cats/Kits
✔ AlphaKit: V – Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt E – Down Among the Dead Men by Geraldine Evans
: ClassicCat: SKIP
✔ GeoCat: Africa – Chaka by Thomas Mofolo
: KiddyCat: SKIP
✔ MysteryKit: College/University Setting – Death at the President’s Lodging by Michael Innes
✔ RandomKit: The Wild, Wild West – Fair Land, Fair Land by A. B. Guthrie Jr.
✔ ScaredyKit: Haunted House – Matt’s Haunting by Rebecca Patrick-Howard
✔ SeriesCat: Vintage Series – Death at the President’s Lodging by Michael Innes,
Pearls Before Swine (12) by Margery Allingham, Postscript to Poison (1) by Dorothy Bowers
: SFFFKit: SKIP
1,001 Books
✔ I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
✔ Chaka by Thomas Mofolo
Reading Through Time – School Days, Days
✔ Dear Teacher by Jack Sheffield
High & Low Shelves
✔ The Guide by Peter Heller
✔ Through Black Spruce by Joseph Boyden
✔ Pearls Before Swine by Margery Allingham
✔ Fair Land, Fair Land by A. B. Guthrie Jr.
Kindle & Audio Books
✔ Days Without End by Sebastian Barry
✔ Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
✔ Postscript to Poison by Dorothy Bowers
✔ Windhall by Ava Barry
✔ Matt's Haunting by Rebecca Patrick-Howard
Series
✔ Copper River (6) by William Kent Krueger
✔ World Departed (1) by Sarah Lyons Fleming
✔ Down Among the Dead Men (2) by Geraldine Evans
Library
✔ These Silent Woods by Kimmi Cunningham
Extras
✖ One Bright Summer Morning by James Hadley Chase - will not get to this month
September 2023 Reading Plans
Monthly Theme Books – Back to School – school setting
✖ Goodbye Mr. Chips by James Hilton - will not get to
✔ Death at the President’s Lodging by Michael Innes
✔ Dear Teacher by Jack Sheffield
Monthly Cats/Kits
✔ AlphaKit: V – Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt E – Down Among the Dead Men by Geraldine Evans
: ClassicCat: SKIP
✔ GeoCat: Africa – Chaka by Thomas Mofolo
: KiddyCat: SKIP
✔ MysteryKit: College/University Setting – Death at the President’s Lodging by Michael Innes
✔ RandomKit: The Wild, Wild West – Fair Land, Fair Land by A. B. Guthrie Jr.
✔ ScaredyKit: Haunted House – Matt’s Haunting by Rebecca Patrick-Howard
✔ SeriesCat: Vintage Series – Death at the President’s Lodging by Michael Innes,
Pearls Before Swine (12) by Margery Allingham, Postscript to Poison (1) by Dorothy Bowers
: SFFFKit: SKIP
1,001 Books
✔ I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
✔ Chaka by Thomas Mofolo
Reading Through Time – School Days, Days
✔ Dear Teacher by Jack Sheffield
High & Low Shelves
✔ The Guide by Peter Heller
✔ Through Black Spruce by Joseph Boyden
✔ Pearls Before Swine by Margery Allingham
✔ Fair Land, Fair Land by A. B. Guthrie Jr.
Kindle & Audio Books
✔ Days Without End by Sebastian Barry
✔ Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
✔ Postscript to Poison by Dorothy Bowers
✔ Windhall by Ava Barry
✔ Matt's Haunting by Rebecca Patrick-Howard
Series
✔ Copper River (6) by William Kent Krueger
✔ World Departed (1) by Sarah Lyons Fleming
✔ Down Among the Dead Men (2) by Geraldine Evans
Library
✔ These Silent Woods by Kimmi Cunningham
Extras
✖ One Bright Summer Morning by James Hadley Chase - will not get to this month
13DeltaQueen50
Monthly Reading Plans
October 2023 Reading Plans
Monthly Theme Books - Dark and Disturbing
: Devil’s Wake by Steven Barnes
: The Bus on Thursday by Shirley Barrett
: The Suicide Motor Club by Chris Buehlman
: Haunted Nights by Ellen Datlow
Monthly Cats/Kits
AlphaKit: N – The Naked Nuns by Colin Watson H – Exit Lines by Reginald Hill
ClassicCat: By a Woman – The English Air by D. E. Stevenson
✔ GeoCat: Canada and the United States – The Whisper of the Night Wind by Adam Shoalts
✔ KiddyKat: Siblings – Last Chance by Gregg Hurwitz
MysteryKit: SKIP
RandomKit: Treats – Josephine Baker’s Last Dance by Sherry Jones
ScaredyKit: Tricks – The Suicide Motor Club by Chris Buehlman
SeriesCat: Asian Setting – The Merry Misogynist by Colin Cotterill
SFFFKit: Award Winners – Fahrenheit 451
1,001 Books List
: An Obedient Father by Akhil Sharma
Reading Through Time – Traditions
: The Good People by Hannah Kent
High & Low Shelves
: Exit Lines by Reginald Hill
: The Merry Misogynist (6) by Colin Cotterill
Kindle & Audio Books
: The Naked Nuns by Colin Watson
: The English Air by D. E. Stevenson
: Outback by Patricia Wolf (KU)
✔ Last Chance by Gregg Hurwitz
: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Brabury
Series
: Roseanna (1) by Maj Sjowall & Per Wahloo
: Darkness, Darkness (12) by John Harvey
Library
✔ The Whisper on the Night Air by Adam Shoalts
: Josephine Baker’s Last Dance by Sherry Jones
October 2023 Reading Plans
Monthly Theme Books - Dark and Disturbing
: Devil’s Wake by Steven Barnes
: The Bus on Thursday by Shirley Barrett
: The Suicide Motor Club by Chris Buehlman
: Haunted Nights by Ellen Datlow
Monthly Cats/Kits
AlphaKit: N – The Naked Nuns by Colin Watson H – Exit Lines by Reginald Hill
ClassicCat: By a Woman – The English Air by D. E. Stevenson
✔ GeoCat: Canada and the United States – The Whisper of the Night Wind by Adam Shoalts
✔ KiddyKat: Siblings – Last Chance by Gregg Hurwitz
MysteryKit: SKIP
RandomKit: Treats – Josephine Baker’s Last Dance by Sherry Jones
ScaredyKit: Tricks – The Suicide Motor Club by Chris Buehlman
SeriesCat: Asian Setting – The Merry Misogynist by Colin Cotterill
SFFFKit: Award Winners – Fahrenheit 451
1,001 Books List
: An Obedient Father by Akhil Sharma
Reading Through Time – Traditions
: The Good People by Hannah Kent
High & Low Shelves
: Exit Lines by Reginald Hill
: The Merry Misogynist (6) by Colin Cotterill
Kindle & Audio Books
: The Naked Nuns by Colin Watson
: The English Air by D. E. Stevenson
: Outback by Patricia Wolf (KU)
✔ Last Chance by Gregg Hurwitz
: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Brabury
Series
: Roseanna (1) by Maj Sjowall & Per Wahloo
: Darkness, Darkness (12) by John Harvey
Library
✔ The Whisper on the Night Air by Adam Shoalts
: Josephine Baker’s Last Dance by Sherry Jones
14DeltaQueen50
2023 Hosting Duties
✔ January: RandomKit
✔ March: Reading Thru Time – Notorious Women
✔ April: ClassicCat – Classic Mystery/Detective Novels
✔ May: ScaredyKit – Surviving the Horror
✔ June: MysteryKit – Vintage Mysteries
✔ July: SFFFKit: Series
✔ August: Series Cat: I’ve Been Meaning to Get Back to This Series
✔ October: GeoCat – Canada and the United States
November: KiddyCat – Fairy Tales, Myths & Legends
✔ January: RandomKit
✔ March: Reading Thru Time – Notorious Women
✔ April: ClassicCat – Classic Mystery/Detective Novels
✔ May: ScaredyKit – Surviving the Horror
✔ June: MysteryKit – Vintage Mysteries
✔ July: SFFFKit: Series
✔ August: Series Cat: I’ve Been Meaning to Get Back to This Series
✔ October: GeoCat – Canada and the United States
November: KiddyCat – Fairy Tales, Myths & Legends
16DeltaQueen50
Well, other than forgetting to put a new number on this thread, I am now open for business. I guess I will just repeat Thread #4.
17RidgewayGirl
Happy new thread, Judy!
18rabbitprincess
>16 DeltaQueen50: As group admin, I can change the title so that it says Thread 5 :)
19LibraryCin
I'll echo >17 RidgewayGirl:! Happy new thread!
20lowelibrary
Happy new thread
21DeltaQueen50
>17 RidgewayGirl: Thanks, Kay - it hard to believe that we are soon to be entering the final quarter of the year!
>18 rabbitprincess: I sent you a PM Rabbitprincess, I would love it if you could change the title to #5.
>19 LibraryCin: & >20 lowelibrary: Thanks, Cindy and April.
>18 rabbitprincess: I sent you a PM Rabbitprincess, I would love it if you could change the title to #5.
>19 LibraryCin: & >20 lowelibrary: Thanks, Cindy and April.
23rabbitprincess
>21 DeltaQueen50: Done! :)
25MissWatson
Happy new thread, Judy. The elephant is great!
27BLBera
Happy new thread, Judy. It's great that you are making room on your shelves -- for more books, right?
28Storeetllr
Happy New Thread!
31LadyoftheLodge
Happy New Thread! Still enjoying keeping up with you and being welcome.
32DeltaQueen50
>22 dudes22: Thanks, Betty. I can't believe how quickly the year has gone. I guess it's time to start thinking about how I want to set up next year's challenge.
>23 rabbitprincess: A huge thank you, RP!
>24 katiekrug: >25 MissWatson: >26 mstrust: Thank you Katie, Birgit & Jennifer. I am struggling a little with my reading right now so I am hopeful that having a new thread to fill will inspire me!
>23 rabbitprincess: A huge thank you, RP!
>24 katiekrug: >25 MissWatson: >26 mstrust: Thank you Katie, Birgit & Jennifer. I am struggling a little with my reading right now so I am hopeful that having a new thread to fill will inspire me!
33DeltaQueen50
>27 BLBera: I am trying to control my book buying urges, Beth, but not doing a very good job of it. I don't get out to the bookstores much anymore but my finger gets plenty of exercise pushing those Kindle buttons!
>28 Storeetllr: Thanks, Mary.
>29 Jackie_K: I got a little chuckle out of the same elephant being used - what did we every do before "copy and paste"?
>30 Tess_W: I am a compulsive list maker and paper pusher. I think that's why I love the Category Challenge - there is always something that I can make a list for!
>31 LadyoftheLodge: Thanks Cheryl. As I get older I am finding my world shrinking so having this computer really gives me the escape that I need.
>28 Storeetllr: Thanks, Mary.
>29 Jackie_K: I got a little chuckle out of the same elephant being used - what did we every do before "copy and paste"?
>30 Tess_W: I am a compulsive list maker and paper pusher. I think that's why I love the Category Challenge - there is always something that I can make a list for!
>31 LadyoftheLodge: Thanks Cheryl. As I get older I am finding my world shrinking so having this computer really gives me the escape that I need.
34Familyhistorian
Happy new thread, Judy! You are a great planner thinking about next year already.
35DeltaQueen50
>34 Familyhistorian: Thanks Meg. I am looking forward to making all the lists and planning my categories!
36DeltaQueen50
151. Matt's Haunting by Rebecca Patrick-Howard - 3. ★
Category: Kindle & Audio Books
September ScaredyKit: Haunted Houses
2023 Reading Challenge: A Connection to Ireland
September TIOLI #2: Headline Character Count
When Matt’s parents purchase a dilapidated cottage on the remote Irish island of Inis Dubh he finds himself roped into going there and overseeing the renovations. His best friend and the love of his life, Taryn joins him and soon they discover that this island is full of ghosts and secrets. The cottage seems to be a key place in the haunting and Matt and Taryn believe this is all connected to a missing woman from a number of years ago. Then a second young woman disappears and they find themselves hunting not only ghosts but a serial killer as well. Without knowing who the killer is, the reader soon leans that he has his eye on Taryn.
Matt’s Haunting by Rebecca Patrick-Howard is a spooky haunted house story with a paranormal mystery attached and I was intrigued from the start. Unfortunately the author spends far too much time sorting through Matt’s and Taryn’s relationship which caused the book to be overlong and took away from the more interesting aspect of the book, the haunting and the killings.
Matt’s Haunting needed both a better editor and proof-reader. The story needed come cutting and shaping and the many spelling mistakes and wrong words needed correcting. I liked the parts of the book that dealt with the ghosts but overall I think this is a book that I should have set aside.
Category: Kindle & Audio Books
September ScaredyKit: Haunted Houses
2023 Reading Challenge: A Connection to Ireland
September TIOLI #2: Headline Character Count
When Matt’s parents purchase a dilapidated cottage on the remote Irish island of Inis Dubh he finds himself roped into going there and overseeing the renovations. His best friend and the love of his life, Taryn joins him and soon they discover that this island is full of ghosts and secrets. The cottage seems to be a key place in the haunting and Matt and Taryn believe this is all connected to a missing woman from a number of years ago. Then a second young woman disappears and they find themselves hunting not only ghosts but a serial killer as well. Without knowing who the killer is, the reader soon leans that he has his eye on Taryn.
Matt’s Haunting by Rebecca Patrick-Howard is a spooky haunted house story with a paranormal mystery attached and I was intrigued from the start. Unfortunately the author spends far too much time sorting through Matt’s and Taryn’s relationship which caused the book to be overlong and took away from the more interesting aspect of the book, the haunting and the killings.
Matt’s Haunting needed both a better editor and proof-reader. The story needed come cutting and shaping and the many spelling mistakes and wrong words needed correcting. I liked the parts of the book that dealt with the ghosts but overall I think this is a book that I should have set aside.
37DeltaQueen50
152. Fair Land, Fair Land by A. B. Guthrie - 4.3 ★
Category: High & Low Shelves
September RandomCat: The Wild West
September TIOLI #6: Title Fit the Posted Picture
Fair Land, Fair Land by A. B. Guthrie is the third book in the series that he wrote about the American West. He started with The Big Sky, a story about mountain men, then moved on to The Way West detailing how pioneers followed the Oregon Trail settling and developing the region. This third book he called a finishing touch as he wanted closure for the characters of the first two books.
In Fair Land, Fair Land we once again meet Dick Summers, originally a mountain man who became a guide on the Oregon Trail. Now as he looks around, he can see and feel the end of his free way of life. More and more white people are settling, building farms and towns and changing the land. He and his friend Higgins decide to strike out and live a free life while they can. Along the way he meets and takes as his companion, Teal Eye, a young Blackfoot woman who he knew in the past. The book is leading us to his confrontation with Boone Caudill, a previous partner who owes Dick Summer an explanation for his behaviour that ended with the death of a good friend to both men.
This was my first read of Fair Land, Fair Land although I have long been a fan of A. B. Guthrie and have read most of his other books more than once. The author was well known in Montana as a conservationist and was strongly in favor of wolves being returned to Yellowstone Park. In this book he shows some of this by having Dick Summers becoming aware and pondering upon the end of the buffalo, the treatment of the Indians, and the eventual spoiling of the land by over development. This was a historically accurate portrayal but is also a moving and engrossing story.
Category: High & Low Shelves
September RandomCat: The Wild West
September TIOLI #6: Title Fit the Posted Picture
Fair Land, Fair Land by A. B. Guthrie is the third book in the series that he wrote about the American West. He started with The Big Sky, a story about mountain men, then moved on to The Way West detailing how pioneers followed the Oregon Trail settling and developing the region. This third book he called a finishing touch as he wanted closure for the characters of the first two books.
In Fair Land, Fair Land we once again meet Dick Summers, originally a mountain man who became a guide on the Oregon Trail. Now as he looks around, he can see and feel the end of his free way of life. More and more white people are settling, building farms and towns and changing the land. He and his friend Higgins decide to strike out and live a free life while they can. Along the way he meets and takes as his companion, Teal Eye, a young Blackfoot woman who he knew in the past. The book is leading us to his confrontation with Boone Caudill, a previous partner who owes Dick Summer an explanation for his behaviour that ended with the death of a good friend to both men.
This was my first read of Fair Land, Fair Land although I have long been a fan of A. B. Guthrie and have read most of his other books more than once. The author was well known in Montana as a conservationist and was strongly in favor of wolves being returned to Yellowstone Park. In this book he shows some of this by having Dick Summers becoming aware and pondering upon the end of the buffalo, the treatment of the Indians, and the eventual spoiling of the land by over development. This was a historically accurate portrayal but is also a moving and engrossing story.
38Storeetllr
>36 DeltaQueen50: Thanks for taking the hit on this one so I don’t have to.
39DeltaQueen50
>38 Storeetllr: LOL! You are welcome, Mary. :)
40VivienneR
Happy new thread, Judy. Can't believe we're on the final stretch. I love looking through your lists of books and usually get hit with a BB or three.
>32 DeltaQueen50: I was wondering who would be the first to mention next year's planning! I might have guessed. :)
>32 DeltaQueen50: I was wondering who would be the first to mention next year's planning! I might have guessed. :)
41mstrust
>33 DeltaQueen50: I really dislike Amazon's reworking of their Kindle Rewards program. I used to earn free downloads, but now the points expire.
And have you watched "Daryl Dixon"?
And have you watched "Daryl Dixon"?
42DeltaQueen50
>41 mstrust: Welcome, Vivienne. Yes, I am already thinking about next year - I love the planning!
>42 DeltaQueen50: I have watched the first episode of Daryl Dixon and have the second one ready to go - maybe later on today. I like the French setting but other than that I don't see anything new - as usual the really bad guys are other humans and zombie slaying seems to be almost an afterthought. I will watch the series as I am a Daryl fan.
>42 DeltaQueen50: I have watched the first episode of Daryl Dixon and have the second one ready to go - maybe later on today. I like the French setting but other than that I don't see anything new - as usual the really bad guys are other humans and zombie slaying seems to be almost an afterthought. I will watch the series as I am a Daryl fan.
43DeltaQueen50
I have been experiencing some A-Fib episodes and I spent last night in the hospital. They gave me an electric shock and that bounced my heart rate from 160 down to 85 or so. I was sent home this morning with instructions to call my doctor(s) and see if they think my medicine needs adjustment. I am just so happy that I got to come home so quickly as I hate being the hospital!
45Tess_W
>43 DeltaQueen50: Glad you are home and hope this gets sorted.
46RidgewayGirl
>43 DeltaQueen50: Glad you're home again, Judy. Here's hoping it doesn't happen again.
48DeltaQueen50
>44 mstrust: & >45 Tess_W: & >46 RidgewayGirl: It was a long night, for sure. I can't sleep in those skimpy beds that they have in Emergency, I spent most of the night in a very uncomfortable chair. I have called my heart doctor and he's scheduled some tests for me and then a follow up appointment to go over my meds. in case something needs adjusting. A-Fib is difficult as your body can go in and out of it so easily. Those electric shocks are no fun, my chest is covered in tiny blisters from the burn.
49Tess_W
>48 DeltaQueen50: I would agree, Judy, A-Fib is so very fickle. It acts up unexpectedly! I don't have A-Fib, I have it's "cousin", SVT (Superventricular Tachycardia), which is in the upper chamber of the heart and not as serious. I have to take an aspirin and the smallest dosage of a beta blocker possible (propranolol) . In 10 years I have had only one time my heart was beating so fast that I was having difficulty breathing. I called the Dr. and by the time he called back it was gone! He told me that people with SVT are also susceptible to A-Fib. He told me that if I wanted to slow my heartrate to: hold my breath and strain, dunk my face in ice water, or cough. Here's to no more surprises, Judy!
50DeltaQueen50
>49 Tess_W: I have my fingers crossed that everything stays regular as I have heard that eventually the heart muscle toughens up and the electric shocks don't work anymore either. Here's to no more surprises for you either!
51DeltaQueen50
153. Postscript to Poison by Dorothy Bowers - 3.8 ★
Category: Kindle and Audio Books
September Interconnected Reading Challenge: A title word appears on page 50 of previous month's book
September Series Cat: Vintage Series
September TIOLI #2: Headline Character Count
Originally published in 1938, Postscript to Poison by Dorothy Bowers is this English author’s first book. In it she introduces Inspector Dan Pardoe whom she wrote about three more times. This story is about the investigation into the death of Cornelia Lackland who, while recovering from a lingering illness is poisoned. The suspects are limited to immediate family, servants, and the few people who visited the house around the time of her death.
Inspector Pardoe interviews all the suspects and as other elements come to light, the case becomes far more complicated than he had originally thought. With Cornelia’s cruel treatment of others, her constant changing of her will, anonymous letters floating about and long lost relatives turning up, the author keeps her readers guessing as to who the murderer could be. When another murder takes place, it seems to muddy the waters somewhat, but Inspector Pardoe persists and eventually reveals all.
I enjoyed this first novel and hopefully will read more by this author. Unfortunately there isn’t a large catalogue to choose from as the author died from tuberculosis when she was 46.
Category: Kindle and Audio Books
September Interconnected Reading Challenge: A title word appears on page 50 of previous month's book
September Series Cat: Vintage Series
September TIOLI #2: Headline Character Count
Originally published in 1938, Postscript to Poison by Dorothy Bowers is this English author’s first book. In it she introduces Inspector Dan Pardoe whom she wrote about three more times. This story is about the investigation into the death of Cornelia Lackland who, while recovering from a lingering illness is poisoned. The suspects are limited to immediate family, servants, and the few people who visited the house around the time of her death.
Inspector Pardoe interviews all the suspects and as other elements come to light, the case becomes far more complicated than he had originally thought. With Cornelia’s cruel treatment of others, her constant changing of her will, anonymous letters floating about and long lost relatives turning up, the author keeps her readers guessing as to who the murderer could be. When another murder takes place, it seems to muddy the waters somewhat, but Inspector Pardoe persists and eventually reveals all.
I enjoyed this first novel and hopefully will read more by this author. Unfortunately there isn’t a large catalogue to choose from as the author died from tuberculosis when she was 46.
52VivienneR
Judy, I'm so sorry to hear you are having more heart problems. I hope you can find a quick treatment that you can apply if it happens again.
It happened to my husband recently and the hospital monitor just went wild. They thought it wasn't working so disconnected him and tried again, same thing. Meds brought it down to 166 and then things got better. It was very scary. He collapsed at home and his head hit the bottom bookshelf which practically scalped him. I drove him to emergency with towels wrapped round his head to soak up the copious blood.
Take care of yourself. I hope you are feeling well again soon.
>51 DeltaQueen50: This is one of the books I'm considering for October. Good to get your opinion.
It happened to my husband recently and the hospital monitor just went wild. They thought it wasn't working so disconnected him and tried again, same thing. Meds brought it down to 166 and then things got better. It was very scary. He collapsed at home and his head hit the bottom bookshelf which practically scalped him. I drove him to emergency with towels wrapped round his head to soak up the copious blood.
Take care of yourself. I hope you are feeling well again soon.
>51 DeltaQueen50: This is one of the books I'm considering for October. Good to get your opinion.
53lsh63
Hi Judy, I hope things settle down for you soon. A-fib has been a topic of discussion in the family lately, my mother was diagnosed with it last year, and was promptly put on medication. We're not certain if her heart rate went wild because she was in a highly agitated state from a UTI or if she had it all along. Last week when I took her for an ultrasound she was very unsteady on her feet, where I thought she was going to fall, it turned out that she hadn't taken her medication. It was scary.
54DeltaQueen50
>52 VivienneR: That episode with your husband sounds scary, Vivienne. It's frustrating that I have to wait to see any of my doctors as I don't want to have to go back to the hospital if I can help it.
>53 lsh63: A-Fib seems to be quite common amongst us 'oldies'. My favorite sister-in-law also has it, and I hear of more and more cases all the time. Hopefully the medication will keep your Mom from going into it.
>53 lsh63: A-Fib seems to be quite common amongst us 'oldies'. My favorite sister-in-law also has it, and I hear of more and more cases all the time. Hopefully the medication will keep your Mom from going into it.
55Familyhistorian
Sorry to see that you had to spend the night in the hospital, Judy. I know they keep you there to monitor you but being that uncomfortable can't do a body much good. It's good that it was only one night. I hope your heart has settled down now.
56DeltaQueen50
>55 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg.
57msf59
Sweet Thursday, Judy. Happy New Thread. How are all your various challenges going? I have not participated much, in the past few weeks but I am getting books read off shelf and that is the main thing. Have a good weekend.
58DeltaQueen50
>57 msf59: Hi Mark, I am enjoying my reading although I seem to have slowed down considerably. I doubt that I will get to all the books that I had planned to read in September but I will keep working at it. Good on you for continuing to read the books from your shelf, it does give one a feeling of satisfaction to see those shelves shrinking doesn't it.
59DeltaQueen50
154. These Silent Woods by Kimmi Cunningham Grant - 4.3 ★
Category: Library
2023 Reading Challenge: A "Quiet" word is in the title
September TIOLI #6: Title fits the posted picture
These Silent Woods by Kimmi Cunningham Grant is the story of a secretive army vet who, upon the death of his girlfriend, almost loses custody of their baby daughter. He takes the baby and disappears into the Appalachian wilderness, living in a cabin owned by an army buddy of his. He fears that he is being sought and that his girlfriend’s parents will never give up the search. Then one day, he and his daughter see a stranger in the woods near their land and he fears that this could be the end of their safety.
I was completely pulled into this story, the author is also an award winning poet and this shows in her vivid and evocative writing. The relationship between the father and daughter pulls on the heart-strings and helps to make this book memorable. In fact, all the characters in the book are well developed and help to flesh out the riveting story.
These Silent Woods is a multilayered story, delivering both family relationships and suspense. There is a quiet thread of tension that runs throughout the story and makes the reader aware that the outside world could intrude at any moment. The author’s lyrical prose highlights her observations on nature and wildlife but there are a few plot holes and unbelievable twists that left me with some unanswered questions.
Category: Library
2023 Reading Challenge: A "Quiet" word is in the title
September TIOLI #6: Title fits the posted picture
These Silent Woods by Kimmi Cunningham Grant is the story of a secretive army vet who, upon the death of his girlfriend, almost loses custody of their baby daughter. He takes the baby and disappears into the Appalachian wilderness, living in a cabin owned by an army buddy of his. He fears that he is being sought and that his girlfriend’s parents will never give up the search. Then one day, he and his daughter see a stranger in the woods near their land and he fears that this could be the end of their safety.
I was completely pulled into this story, the author is also an award winning poet and this shows in her vivid and evocative writing. The relationship between the father and daughter pulls on the heart-strings and helps to make this book memorable. In fact, all the characters in the book are well developed and help to flesh out the riveting story.
These Silent Woods is a multilayered story, delivering both family relationships and suspense. There is a quiet thread of tension that runs throughout the story and makes the reader aware that the outside world could intrude at any moment. The author’s lyrical prose highlights her observations on nature and wildlife but there are a few plot holes and unbelievable twists that left me with some unanswered questions.
60LadyoftheLodge
>42 DeltaQueen50: I am also looking forward to planning and getting ready for next year. I like discussing the categories.
I hope you are feeling better soon and the A-fib gets addressed. My husband also has it and you are right about the intermittent episodes. The shock treatment did not work for him either after awhile.
I hope you are feeling better soon and the A-fib gets addressed. My husband also has it and you are right about the intermittent episodes. The shock treatment did not work for him either after awhile.
61DeltaQueen50
>60 LadyoftheLodge: Hi Cheryl. I am currently having good days and bad days so I am really looking forward to 2024 planning to give me something positive to think about. I know that another trip to the hospital and another shock treatment is looming and I am not looking forward to that. It doesn't help that I can't get in to see either of my doctors until late October. So does medication keep your husband's A-fib in check?
62DeltaQueen50
155. Dear Teacher by Jack Sheffield - 4.0 ★
Monthly Theme: Back to School
September Reading Through Time: School Days
September TIOLI #2: Headline Character Count
Dear Teacher is the third book in author Jack Sheffield’s series of observations about his years as a head master at a small primary school in North Yorkshire. This book covers the school year of 1979 – 1980. Margaret Thatcher has come into power and the feeling in the staff room so far is quite mixed. This is the year that JR of the top television show Dallas got shot and Abba are the top hit-makers. Although Jack is seeing Laura Henderson, his thoughts and heart are yearning for her sister, Beth.
Other characters are experiencing life in different ways from newly wed bliss or a surprise pregnancy, to a marriage that needs some attention. The tone of the book is warm, safe and comforting much like life in the British village of Ragley-on-the-Forest. Filled with stories about the eccentric villagers or amusing tales about what the children said or wrote along with references to popular culture of the times, Dear Teacher is a nostalgic look back and a comfort read for someone who well remembers those times.
Monthly Theme: Back to School
September Reading Through Time: School Days
September TIOLI #2: Headline Character Count
Dear Teacher is the third book in author Jack Sheffield’s series of observations about his years as a head master at a small primary school in North Yorkshire. This book covers the school year of 1979 – 1980. Margaret Thatcher has come into power and the feeling in the staff room so far is quite mixed. This is the year that JR of the top television show Dallas got shot and Abba are the top hit-makers. Although Jack is seeing Laura Henderson, his thoughts and heart are yearning for her sister, Beth.
Other characters are experiencing life in different ways from newly wed bliss or a surprise pregnancy, to a marriage that needs some attention. The tone of the book is warm, safe and comforting much like life in the British village of Ragley-on-the-Forest. Filled with stories about the eccentric villagers or amusing tales about what the children said or wrote along with references to popular culture of the times, Dear Teacher is a nostalgic look back and a comfort read for someone who well remembers those times.
63threadnsong
Hello Judy and Happy New Thread. And so very, very sorry to hear about your recent hospitalization. I see the ads for medications to control A-fib and now I know several people (via this thread) who are affected by it.
I am so glad you are doing better, even with the extra doctor's visit looming, and thank you as always for your great book reviews. And themes. And holy cow, we are looking at 2024, aren't we?
I am so glad you are doing better, even with the extra doctor's visit looming, and thank you as always for your great book reviews. And themes. And holy cow, we are looking at 2024, aren't we?
64DeltaQueen50
>63 threadnsong: Thanks Threadnsong. I hadn't heard much about A-Fib before I was diagnosed but since then I have met quite a few people who have it.
65DeltaQueen50
156. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou - 4.0 ★
Category: 1,001 Books List
September TIOLI #1: Tagged "Racism"
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is the 1969 autobiography of her early years by American author-poet Maya Angelou. This is a powerful coming of age story that covers her life from age three to eighteen, ending with the birth of her son. The author details some of her struggles with both racism and misogyny and she explains how the love of literature, her strength of character and her eventual acceptance and embracing of black culture allowed her to move forward and feel empowered.
Most of her growing years were spent in the small segregated town of Stamps, Arkansas under the care of her paternal grandmother who implanted a strict moral code. She and her brother are taught to avoid contact with white people and stick to their own kind but nevertheless there were some racist incidents. When she and her brother were sent to live with their mother in St. Louis, eight year old Maya is raped by her mother’s boyfriend, another trauma for her to overcome.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is considered a classic of African-American writing as her story shines a light not just on her race and gender but many other aspects as well. She wasn’t afraid of showing that at times she was confused, uncertain and naive which in turn, allowed me to see her as a real person and become invested in her childhood journey.
Category: 1,001 Books List
September TIOLI #1: Tagged "Racism"
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is the 1969 autobiography of her early years by American author-poet Maya Angelou. This is a powerful coming of age story that covers her life from age three to eighteen, ending with the birth of her son. The author details some of her struggles with both racism and misogyny and she explains how the love of literature, her strength of character and her eventual acceptance and embracing of black culture allowed her to move forward and feel empowered.
Most of her growing years were spent in the small segregated town of Stamps, Arkansas under the care of her paternal grandmother who implanted a strict moral code. She and her brother are taught to avoid contact with white people and stick to their own kind but nevertheless there were some racist incidents. When she and her brother were sent to live with their mother in St. Louis, eight year old Maya is raped by her mother’s boyfriend, another trauma for her to overcome.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is considered a classic of African-American writing as her story shines a light not just on her race and gender but many other aspects as well. She wasn’t afraid of showing that at times she was confused, uncertain and naive which in turn, allowed me to see her as a real person and become invested in her childhood journey.
66DeltaQueen50
157. Days Without End by Sebastian Barry - 4.5 ★
Category: Kindle & Audio Books
September TIOLI #10: About a war that took place before I was born
While Days Without End by Sebastian Barry is not a classic western, it illuminates a particularly violent time in American history as seen through the eyes of young Irish immigrant, Thomas McNulty.
Opening in the late 1850s, we meet Thomas and his best friend John Cole. With not a lot of options open to poor orphan boys like themselves, the two boys spend some time as dancing partners for miners but when they grow and mature into young men and no longer appeal as females, they join the army. At first they are sent out West to participate in the Indian Wars and as their closeness develops into love, they are soon to be involved in the brutality of the American Civil War.
The author has created two memorable characters, anti-heroes in many ways, cross dresser Thomas and his beloved partner John even adopt a young Indian girl to complete their small family. The times are difficult and the book is packed with violence but the writing is poetic, raw and gripping as the story unfolds. Much like Cormac McCarthy’s writing, the combination of lyrical prose and bloody actions work together to make the story come alive on the pages.
I suspect that Days Without End is a book that one either loves or hates and I come down firmly on the side of love. The plot can seem a little unreal at times, but the author delivers his story in such an interesting way that I found Days Without End to be a very satisfactory read.
Category: Kindle & Audio Books
September TIOLI #10: About a war that took place before I was born
While Days Without End by Sebastian Barry is not a classic western, it illuminates a particularly violent time in American history as seen through the eyes of young Irish immigrant, Thomas McNulty.
Opening in the late 1850s, we meet Thomas and his best friend John Cole. With not a lot of options open to poor orphan boys like themselves, the two boys spend some time as dancing partners for miners but when they grow and mature into young men and no longer appeal as females, they join the army. At first they are sent out West to participate in the Indian Wars and as their closeness develops into love, they are soon to be involved in the brutality of the American Civil War.
The author has created two memorable characters, anti-heroes in many ways, cross dresser Thomas and his beloved partner John even adopt a young Indian girl to complete their small family. The times are difficult and the book is packed with violence but the writing is poetic, raw and gripping as the story unfolds. Much like Cormac McCarthy’s writing, the combination of lyrical prose and bloody actions work together to make the story come alive on the pages.
I suspect that Days Without End is a book that one either loves or hates and I come down firmly on the side of love. The plot can seem a little unreal at times, but the author delivers his story in such an interesting way that I found Days Without End to be a very satisfactory read.
67mathgirl40
I'm very sorry to hear about the hospitalization and hope that your doctor is able to get things sorted out for you. Do take care of yourself!
>62 DeltaQueen50: I've not read any of Jack Sheffield's books, but your description and the cover image make the series sound very appealing.
>62 DeltaQueen50: I've not read any of Jack Sheffield's books, but your description and the cover image make the series sound very appealing.
68DeltaQueen50
>67 mathgirl40: Thanks, Pauline. I just wish I could get in to see my doctor sooner than late October. The Jack Sheffield series of books are a light-hearted looked at the late 1970s and early 1980s. Set in Yorkshire and full of quirky characters, they are a light and fun read especially enjoyable between more serious books.
69DeltaQueen50
158. Pearls Before Swine by Margery Allingham - 3.6 ★
Category: High & Low Shelves
September Series Cat: Vintage Series
September TIOLI #2: Headline Character Count
Pearls Before Swine by Margery Allingham is the 12th book in the Albert Campion series and was first published in 1945.. Albert Campion has been on the continent involved in undercover war work and now has returned to England for some well deserved leave. He is therefore flabbergasted when he steps from his bath only to find the corpse of a woman on his bed. Apparently Lugg and the dowager Marchioness of Carados, not knowing that he was home, thought this was a good place to stash the body that she found in her about-ti-be-married son’s bed.
Thus kicks off this 12th mystery and we find Campion, who only wants to enjoy his leave, caught up in a twisty, complex mystery that will see him chloroformed, kidnapped, involved in a hunt for art thieves and encounter more near murders before he assists the police in finding the true culprit behind all these nasty deeds. Although there were too many characters to keep track of, Pearls Before Swine gives the reader an interesting look at war-time London.
As this series advances we find Campion changing. Originally when introduced he was a 20 something bright young thing, now he is a war-weary 40 year old who yearns for the company of his loved ones amid peace and quiet. Still sharp and well able to out-think most people, especially the criminals, he has the ability to see beneath people’s outer veneer. Although he doesn’t relish the hunt he does truly seem to want to help people. Pearls Before Swine was a little too complex to make for an easy read but it definitely adds to the overall series.
Category: High & Low Shelves
September Series Cat: Vintage Series
September TIOLI #2: Headline Character Count
Pearls Before Swine by Margery Allingham is the 12th book in the Albert Campion series and was first published in 1945.. Albert Campion has been on the continent involved in undercover war work and now has returned to England for some well deserved leave. He is therefore flabbergasted when he steps from his bath only to find the corpse of a woman on his bed. Apparently Lugg and the dowager Marchioness of Carados, not knowing that he was home, thought this was a good place to stash the body that she found in her about-ti-be-married son’s bed.
Thus kicks off this 12th mystery and we find Campion, who only wants to enjoy his leave, caught up in a twisty, complex mystery that will see him chloroformed, kidnapped, involved in a hunt for art thieves and encounter more near murders before he assists the police in finding the true culprit behind all these nasty deeds. Although there were too many characters to keep track of, Pearls Before Swine gives the reader an interesting look at war-time London.
As this series advances we find Campion changing. Originally when introduced he was a 20 something bright young thing, now he is a war-weary 40 year old who yearns for the company of his loved ones amid peace and quiet. Still sharp and well able to out-think most people, especially the criminals, he has the ability to see beneath people’s outer veneer. Although he doesn’t relish the hunt he does truly seem to want to help people. Pearls Before Swine was a little too complex to make for an easy read but it definitely adds to the overall series.
70BLBera
I keep meaning to read more Allingham, Judy. I love her Campion books.
Sorry to hear that A-fib is still bothering you. I hope your meds keep it under control. I know people who have had it, and they say it is very uncomfortable.
Sorry to hear that A-fib is still bothering you. I hope your meds keep it under control. I know people who have had it, and they say it is very uncomfortable.
71DeltaQueen50
>70 BLBera: Thanks, Beth. I am enjoying working my way through the Campion series.
72lsh63
>69 DeltaQueen50: I think I have done a wonderful job of obtaining most or all of the books in the Campion series without reading any of them except for the first book. I think sometimes I think they might be as you indicated, too complex for my poor little brain. I still want to get to them one day. I think I'm going to be a rebel and read them out of order.
73Jackie_K
>72 lsh63: I think I have done a wonderful job of obtaining most or all of the books in the Campion series without reading any of them except for the first book.
I haven't read any of these books by Margery Allingham, but I can very much relate to the sentiment in this sentence about books in general!
I haven't read any of these books by Margery Allingham, but I can very much relate to the sentiment in this sentence about books in general!
74DeltaQueen50
>72 lsh63: I think this series will definitely stand up to being read out of order. Campion is an interesting character to read about as he is neither a policeman nor a private detective. He is a high society problem solver and his connections are usually all he needs to gain entrance to just about anywhere. I think you will enjoy the books when you get to them.
>73 Jackie_K: Yes, I have managed to fill my shelves with a few series that I have yet to begin. Someday ... I keep telling myself!
>73 Jackie_K: Yes, I have managed to fill my shelves with a few series that I have yet to begin. Someday ... I keep telling myself!
75DeltaQueen50
My Top Books of the 3rd Quarter of 2023
: Starlight by Richard Wagamese
: The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan
: Days Without End by Sebastian Barry
: Through Black Spruce by Joseph Boyden
: World Departed by Sarah Lyons Fleming
: The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields
: Starlight by Richard Wagamese
: The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan
: Days Without End by Sebastian Barry
: Through Black Spruce by Joseph Boyden
: World Departed by Sarah Lyons Fleming
: The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields
76JoeB1934
>75 DeltaQueen50: I have added all of them to my vastly growing TBR. Thanks!
Of course, there is NO CHANCE I can read them all, so I must filter them in some way.
Of course, there is NO CHANCE I can read them all, so I must filter them in some way.
77LadyoftheLodge
>61 DeltaQueen50: My hubby just saw the cardiologist yesterday. The medications keep him stable, although he still has the a-fib. He does not have symptoms of racing heart or shortness of breath or dizziness. He got a good report from the cardiologist.
78DeltaQueen50
>76 JoeB1934: I hope you enjoy the ones you do read, Joe. However, I should warn you that World Departed by Sarah Lyons Fleming is a Zombie apocalypse story. I love her story-telling and I love stories with zombies but I know that many people prefer not to read "zombie" books. :)
>77 LadyoftheLodge: Good news that the medication is working for him, I am hoping that my doctors can come up with some kind of combination that will work for me.
>77 LadyoftheLodge: Good news that the medication is working for him, I am hoping that my doctors can come up with some kind of combination that will work for me.
79JoeB1934
>78 DeltaQueen50: Thanks for the tip. I definitely won't read that one. I have so many others to read!
80DeltaQueen50
159. Copper River by William Kent Krueger - 4.5 ★
Category: Series
September TIOLI #9: A Place Name in Title
Copper River by William Kent Krueger is the 6th book in his excellent Cork O’Connor series. This book picks up right after the preceding one as a contract for his life has been put out and in order to keep his family safe, he leaves and goes into hiding. He knows this is temporary as the man who blames him for the death of his sons will soon find out the truth.
Before Cork gets away completely though he is attacked and wounded. He makes his way to the remote Upper Peninsula of Michigan where he has a cousin, Jewell. She is a widow with a son called Ren, and she agrees to look after him. He doesn’t realize that he has run into even more danger here as there is an on-going conspiracy that includes multiple kidnappings, rape and murder. Keeping Ren and his friends safe becomes Cork’s number one priority.
I can’t gush enough about this book, or indeed, this series. The writing is absorbing and suspenseful, the characters well developed and interesting and the author’s sense of place gives us a strong feeling for the north woods that stand alongside the shores of Lake Superior. Copper River was a wonderful read and I am looking for more from this creative and versatile author.
Category: Series
September TIOLI #9: A Place Name in Title
Copper River by William Kent Krueger is the 6th book in his excellent Cork O’Connor series. This book picks up right after the preceding one as a contract for his life has been put out and in order to keep his family safe, he leaves and goes into hiding. He knows this is temporary as the man who blames him for the death of his sons will soon find out the truth.
Before Cork gets away completely though he is attacked and wounded. He makes his way to the remote Upper Peninsula of Michigan where he has a cousin, Jewell. She is a widow with a son called Ren, and she agrees to look after him. He doesn’t realize that he has run into even more danger here as there is an on-going conspiracy that includes multiple kidnappings, rape and murder. Keeping Ren and his friends safe becomes Cork’s number one priority.
I can’t gush enough about this book, or indeed, this series. The writing is absorbing and suspenseful, the characters well developed and interesting and the author’s sense of place gives us a strong feeling for the north woods that stand alongside the shores of Lake Superior. Copper River was a wonderful read and I am looking for more from this creative and versatile author.
81dudes22
>80 DeltaQueen50: - I'm still a couple behind this one so I skipped your review but saw the "can't gush enough" and realize I need to get going and catch up.
82DeltaQueen50
>81 dudes22: I love this series! And, of course his stand-alone books as well.
83dudes22
>82 DeltaQueen50: - I'm anxiously waiting for my hold on his newest stand-alone from the library.
84msf59
Happy Saturday, Judy. I also loved Days Without End and I also really enjoyed Old God's Time. I want to read more of his earlier work.
>75 DeltaQueen50: Good list!
>75 DeltaQueen50: Good list!
85VivienneR
>80 DeltaQueen50: Thanks to that excellent review you sent me on a search for William Kent Krueger books.
86DeltaQueen50
>84 msf59: Hi Mark, I hope you are having a great weekend. I suspect that I may have taken the BB for Days Without End from you. He is an impressive writer and I am looking forward to reading more from him.
>85 VivienneR: Vivienne, the Cork O'Connor series is very good and seems to be getting better the further I get into it. His stand-alone books such as Ordinary Grace and This Tender Land are among some of my best reads of the last few years. He is well worth looking into.
>85 VivienneR: Vivienne, the Cork O'Connor series is very good and seems to be getting better the further I get into it. His stand-alone books such as Ordinary Grace and This Tender Land are among some of my best reads of the last few years. He is well worth looking into.
87DeltaQueen50
160. Last Chance by Gregg Hurwitz - 3.6 ★
Category: Kindle & Audio Books
October KiddyKat: Siblings
October TIOLI #1: Title Letters are Divisible by Five
Last Chance by Gregg Hurwitz is the sequel to his YA thriller The Rains. We continue to follow the Rain Brothers as they fight against an alien invasion that has overtaken the world. They are not just up against the insect like aliens, most people over the age of eighteen have been turned into mindless zombies controlled by the space creatures. Now a new species of beings has been developed and hatched, and these creatures are extremely strong and ferocious.
Chance and Patrick find out that not only are they immune to the spores that turn humans into zombie like creatures, they have also been genetically engineered to be the humans best chance at defeating these creatures and taking back Earth. Of course their saving of Earth depends on their staying alive long enough to complete their mission. The brothers, along with their girlfriend Alex, fight to stay alive although the clock is ticking down as Alex is approaching her eighteenth birthday. The action is non-stop and intense as this daring trio fight to save humanity.
Last Chance is aimed at the YA market and as such there were some aspects that I felt were not needed, but the author provides a good combination of horror, action, teen romance, humor and gross-out ick that I am sure would appeal to the younger set. Fast-paced, exciting but entirely predictable.
Category: Kindle & Audio Books
October KiddyKat: Siblings
October TIOLI #1: Title Letters are Divisible by Five
Last Chance by Gregg Hurwitz is the sequel to his YA thriller The Rains. We continue to follow the Rain Brothers as they fight against an alien invasion that has overtaken the world. They are not just up against the insect like aliens, most people over the age of eighteen have been turned into mindless zombies controlled by the space creatures. Now a new species of beings has been developed and hatched, and these creatures are extremely strong and ferocious.
Chance and Patrick find out that not only are they immune to the spores that turn humans into zombie like creatures, they have also been genetically engineered to be the humans best chance at defeating these creatures and taking back Earth. Of course their saving of Earth depends on their staying alive long enough to complete their mission. The brothers, along with their girlfriend Alex, fight to stay alive although the clock is ticking down as Alex is approaching her eighteenth birthday. The action is non-stop and intense as this daring trio fight to save humanity.
Last Chance is aimed at the YA market and as such there were some aspects that I felt were not needed, but the author provides a good combination of horror, action, teen romance, humor and gross-out ick that I am sure would appeal to the younger set. Fast-paced, exciting but entirely predictable.
88dudes22
>85 VivienneR: - re: >86 DeltaQueen50: - What she said!
89VivienneR
>86 DeltaQueen50: Thanks for the added information. The library doesn't have all his books but I'll find enough to keep me happy.
>88 dudes22: Another fan!
>88 dudes22: Another fan!
90DeltaQueen50
161. The Whisper on the Night Wind by Adam Shoalts - 4.2 ★
Category: Library
October GeoCat: Canada and the United States
The Whisper on the Night Wind by Adam Shoalts takes the reader on an amazing journey to the wilds of Labrador as he and his companion, Zach, investigate a series of encounters that occurred over a century ago. The small settlement of Taverspine, which today has mostly disappeared, experienced visitations from a creature that no one could identify. There were nameless sounds, unknown tracks, and sightings of a strange creature. Children reported being stalked and sled dogs disappeared. The people who lived in Taverspine were experienced trappers, they were sure that the creature wasn’t a bear and in fact, they eventually felt that that had been the victims of a windigo or a demon.
Shoalts is a skilled woodsman and naturalist with a lot of experience travelling in the Canadian wilderness. He and a friend decided to go to this area of Labrador and see if they could find answers. What follows is a wonderful book that describes the woodlands, rivers and mountains of a land that has not had a lot of attention from man. There is a haunted darkness to these isolated forests and the two travelers had to be careful not to spook themselves. They did come up with a working solution that could explain the Taverspine monster, but were unable to prove it and after they were home and checked their night vision camera, they were left with more questions than answers.
The Whisper on the Night Wind was an excellent read that combined folklore, history, natural science, and adventure into one fascinating story.
Category: Library
October GeoCat: Canada and the United States
The Whisper on the Night Wind by Adam Shoalts takes the reader on an amazing journey to the wilds of Labrador as he and his companion, Zach, investigate a series of encounters that occurred over a century ago. The small settlement of Taverspine, which today has mostly disappeared, experienced visitations from a creature that no one could identify. There were nameless sounds, unknown tracks, and sightings of a strange creature. Children reported being stalked and sled dogs disappeared. The people who lived in Taverspine were experienced trappers, they were sure that the creature wasn’t a bear and in fact, they eventually felt that that had been the victims of a windigo or a demon.
Shoalts is a skilled woodsman and naturalist with a lot of experience travelling in the Canadian wilderness. He and a friend decided to go to this area of Labrador and see if they could find answers. What follows is a wonderful book that describes the woodlands, rivers and mountains of a land that has not had a lot of attention from man. There is a haunted darkness to these isolated forests and the two travelers had to be careful not to spook themselves. They did come up with a working solution that could explain the Taverspine monster, but were unable to prove it and after they were home and checked their night vision camera, they were left with more questions than answers.
The Whisper on the Night Wind was an excellent read that combined folklore, history, natural science, and adventure into one fascinating story.
