Bill’s Comments (group member since Nov 30, 2021)

Bill’s comments from the On The Same Page group.

2267. Without Trumpet or Drum

My review of the 1st book in the Athenian Mysteries series, The Pericles Commission by Gary Corby 4.0 stars

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Greece - The Pericles Commission by Gary Corby 4.0 stars

2258. The Pericles Commission

Alondra wrote: "Great update, Bill. So glad you enjoyed Monstress and Dust.

I put Sand down for a bit due to a reading marathon of horror. I need to return to it ASAP."

Thanks, Alondra. Sand arrived recently. Looking forward to reading it.

Lea wrote: "You always have such interesting books on the go. I like how you're trying to wind down the number of books you're reading, I really need to consider doing the same. Hope your November reads are go..."

Thanks, Lea. Good luck with yours.

- Read a graphic novel
- Read a book with an animal as the main character
- Read a children's classic
- Read an author's last published work or the last book in a series.

Total Pages Read: 2295
Bonus Points: 185 pts

Books Read:
1. The Girl Who Handcuffed Houdini by Cynthia von Buhler 128 pages, finished 1 Nov, 3.0 stars
2. The Pericles Commission by Gary Corby 335 pages, finished 7 Nov, 4.0 stars
3. Without Trumpet or Drum by John Sanders 173 pages, finished 9 Sep, 2.5 stars
4. A Murder Is Announced by Agatha Christie 237 pages, finished 14 Nov, 4.5 stars
5. Saga, Volume 4 by Brian K. Vaughan 144 pages, finished 15 Nov, 4.0 stars
6. Philip K. Dick: The Last Interview and Other Conversations by Philip K. Dick 133 pages, finished 20 Nov, 3.5 stars
7. Lore Olympus: Volume Four by Rachel Smythe, 416 pages, finished 22 Nov, 4.0 stars
8. Look to Windward by Iain M. Banks 403 pages, finished 22 Nov, 4.0 stars
9. Mother Finds A body by Gypsy Rose Lee 160 pages, finished 28 Nov, 2.0 stars
10. Hark! A Vagrant by Kate Beaton 166 pages, finished 28 Nov, 4.0 stars

10 points:
- Thanksgiving is in November!! Read a book about food or where the family eats a meal together.
- The birthstone of Nov is Topaz meaning fidelity. Read a book with a blue and/or yellow cover or about fidelity.
-- by Gary Corby (10 pts)
-- by Kate Beaton (10 pts)
- In 1512, Michelangelo’s iconic work on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel was revealed to the public. Read a book set in Italy or where the MC is an artist.
- Nov 4th is Book Lovers Day!! Read a physical book you own or a book by your favorite author.
-- The Pericles Commission by Gary Corby (physically own) (10 pts)
-- Without Trumpet or Drum by John Sanders (physically own) (10 pts)
-- A Murder is Announced by Agatha Christie (10 pts)
-- The Last Interview - Philip K. Dick (physically own) (10 pts)
-- Look to Windward by Iain M. Banks (10 pts)
-- Mother Finds a Body by Gypsy Rose Lee (physically own) (10 pts)
-- Hark! A Vagrant by Kate Beaton (10 pts)
- Read a book with orange on the cover.
-- Without Trumpet or Drum by John Sanders (10 pts)
- Read a cozy mystery.
-- A Murder is Announced by Agatha Christie (10 pts)
- Let's be thankful for our books and our reading habits- read a book, any book.

25 points:
- Nov 14th is Young Readers Day. Read a YA or Young Readers book.
- The Wizard of Oz was televised for the first time in Nov 1956. Read a book turned into a movie or tv show.
- The first week in November is Chemistry week. Read a book about science.
- On Nov 7, 1872 the Mary Celeste sailed out of New York and was later found abandoned with the table set for a meal and the lifeboat missing. It’s a mystery still today what caused the crew to abandon ship. Read a mystery.
-- The Pericles Commission by Gary Corby (Athenian Mystery) (25 pts)
-- A Murder is Announced by Agatha Christie (25 pts)
-- Mother Finds a Body by Gypsy Rose Lee (25 pts)
- Celebrate National Young Readers Week- read a middle grade.
- November is a month of seasonal change. Read a book that features a major storm.

50 points:
- Nov 12th is Diwali. It’s one of India’s biggest holidays of the year and symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. Read a book by an Indian author, set in India or one whose theme matches what Diwali symbolizes.
- Veterans Day and the day the US Marine Corps was created are both in Nov. Read a book featuring one of the armed forces.
- The Nobel Peace Prize was created in Nov 1894. Read a book by a Nobel Peace Prize winner or one about them.
- Election Day is in November. Read a book by a president, about a president or where the MC is a government official.
- Eat a snack or meal that is inspired by a book you read in November.
- National Recycling Day is in November. Read a book that you bought second hand.
- Let's do Near-to-me November. Read a local author.

My review of The Girl Who Handcuffed Houdini by Cynthia von Buhler 3.0 stars

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

A next in series book next with the 3rd Nicholas Pym historical adventure, Without Trumpet or Drum by John Sanders

2236. The Girl Who Handcuffed Houdini

End October Reading Update
I completed 9 books in October, 3 since my mid-month update. Total pages 2600+ pages.

Latest books completed
1. Monstress, Vol. 1: Awakening by Marjorie M. Liu an interesting new graphic novel series, combination of Fantasy and Sci Fi. Very gritty and dark 4.0 stars
2. The Ten-Cent Plague: The Great Comic-Book Scare and How it Changed America by David Hajdu. Non-fiction story about the history of comic books and the efforts to ban them in the late 40s and 50s. 4.0 stars
3. Girlfriend on Mars by Deborah Willis Canadian author Willis's first novel. Girl enters competition to become one of two people selected to be the first people on Mars. Story moves between her boyfriend and her. Definitely different 3.5 stars

Top Three Books
1. Dust by Hugh Howey 5.0 stars. Excellent finish to the Silo series.
2. The Ten-Cent Plague: The Great Comic-Book Scare and How it Changed America by David Hajdu 4.0 stars
3. Shattered Warrior by Sharon Shinn 4.0 stars

Currently Reading
1. Look to Windward by Iain M. Banks (Sci Fi / Culture #7)
2. Harvest Home by Thomas Tryon (Oct Horror challenge)
3. Doomsday Book by Connie Willis (Oxford Time Travel #1)
4. When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson (Jackson Brodie #3 / Mys)
5. The Skull Mantra by Eliot Pattison (Inspector Shan #1 / Mys)
6. Silent Spring by Rachel Carson (Non Fic / Environmental)
7. Chasing The Flame: Sergio Vieira de Mello and the Fight to Save the World by Samantha Power (Non Fic / Biography)
8. The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi (Dystopia)
9. The Pericles Commission by Gary Corby (Athenian Mysteries #1 / Historical fic)

In the Hopper
I'm going to concentrate on finishing the books I'm currently reading. The rest will be sort of free wheeling and probably shorter so I can finish everything by end year.

1. The Girl Who Handcuffed Houdini by Cynthia von Buhler (Hard Crime grapic)
2. Jacinda Ardern (I Know This To Be True): On kindness, empathy & strength by Jacinda Ardern (Non - Fiction)

Enjoy your November reading selections.

Alondra wrote: "Bill wrote: "My review of the 1st volume in a new series for me, Monstress. Monstress, Vol. 1: Awakening by Marjorie M. Liu 4.0 stars

https://www.goodreads.com/revie..."

I hope there is more clarity about who, what, where, etc in the next installment.

Karol wrote: "Read two more that I just loved.

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy, by Becky Chambers, 4/5 stars

I read this book all in one day - partly because it was short at < 150 ..."

I enjoyed the Monk and Robot duology (is that a word?) so very much. I hope she might continue the series. I'm hoping to start her other series this year or early next.

I'm still enjoying reading. My problem these days is that I get easily distracted by new books on my shelves and I tend to ignore those I'm already reading. I need to focus more. I'm trying to do so for the rest of 2023 and hope to be more focused in 2024.

Alondra wrote: "Bill wrote: "Alondra wrote: "Across the Sand is #2. I added it a long time ago. how could I forget?? *sigh*"

Still waiting for Dust to arrive. It'll be a 2024 read, at the earliest..."

Interesting.

Martha wrote: "I've just finished my 9th book, too so it's touch & go at the moment. LOL You can do it! If anyone can, you can!"

I have officially given up. Finishing off books for my Individual challenges and just miscellaneous others.

Congratulations!

Probably my last book of October, although I will try to complete one more. My review of Girlfriend on Mars by Deborah Willis 3.5 stars

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

For November and December, in my Non-Series challenge I'll be using no particular genre or style, probably mainly short books as I've got to finish off other books I've had on the go for a long time... My first November book is a graphic novel, The Girl Who Handcuffed Houdini by Cynthia von Buhler

Karol wrote: "The Venetian Affair, by Helen MacInnes, 4/5 stars, 10/29/2023

Great cold war spy novel. I enjoyed it."

I've read 3 of her spy novels now, including the Venetian Affair. I'm glad I discovered her work. She knows (knew) how to write an excellent spy novel.

Congratulations. I haven't read a Grisham for ages. I should check out some of his newer stuff.

2315. Girlfriend on Mars