Krista’s Comments (group member since Jul 24, 2010)

Krista’s comments from the Reading with Style group.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Krista wrote: "Does the book for this task have to be fiction? Would non-fiction essays or travel type books work?

For instance, I read [book:Four Seasons in Rome: On Twins, Insomnia, and the Bigg..."

Got it -- thanks!

Sue Grafton is mentioned in the .pdf article provided. If I'm understanding the explanation correctly, any book by Sue Grafton will qualify without having to provide a specific link that includes a reference to a 'sense of place'. Is that correct?

Does the book for this task have to be fiction? Would non-fiction essays or travel type books work?

For instance, I read Four Seasons in Rome: On Twins, Insomnia, and the Biggest Funeral in the History of the World by Anthony Doerr a few months ago, and it strikes me that this book fits the task perfectly.

Yay, with this task I can complete one of my personal reading goals of 2015, and read all three books in Sharon Kay Penman's "The Welsh Princes" trilogy.

I'm going to read the third book, The Reckoning for this task.

Happy Dance!

For anyone interested in good solid, interesting historical fiction, I'd highly recommend Sharon Kay Penman. She even has a fun mystery series set in this time period, Justin de Quincy series

20.6 Ratings
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
(Over 1 Million ratings)

Review:
Once again, I can’t believe that I haven’t read this book before! I think when I was growing up, the length and age of the book scared me off. As I got older, I pigeon-holed it as a children’s book and avoided it. Thank goodness for this challenge! The point payoff finally pushed this to the top of my TBR pile.

I loved the sweet and poignant stories of the four March sisters with their trials and tribulations. Yes, some of the words are archaic now, (the built in dictionary in my Kindle couldn’t find a passel of them) and the preachy homilies sprinkled throughout slowed down the story arcs. However, even factoring in the historical context issues facing today's modern reader, this was a great read.

+20 Task
+30 Combo (10.3, 10.7, 10.9 (Post 170), 20.2 Publ 1868 Died 1888, 20.3 #65, 20.9)
+10 Style - Oldies (Published 1868)
+10 Style - Review
Task Total = 70

Grand Total: 640 + 70 = 710

That does it for me this season. Cheers!
I'm sending a big 'Thanks' out to Kate and Elizabeth for continuing to spend many hours ensuring that these challenges continue to roll on.

15.10 TtUS Land Cruiser
Sweet Thunder by Ivan Doig
State: Montana

+15 Task
+15 Bonus (Tasks 9-10)
Task Total = 30

TtUS Land Cruiser Completion Bonus +100

Grand Total: 510 + 30 + 100 = 640

Whew -- I completed my trip just in the nick of time!

1. MC Beaton, Marion Chesney (28) -- Yes, I do secretly love Agatha Raisin with all her glorious imperfections!
2. Norah Roberts (26) -- Meh, haven't read her in years.
3. Janet Evanovich (25) -- Good ol' Stephanie Plum
4. Sue Grafton (21) -- Maybe I'll pencil in Kinsey's 'W' book for this task.
5. J.A. Jance (20) -- I'm caught up on the JP Beaumont series, so maybe I'll see what is next in the Joanna Brady series. (I don't like the Ali Reynolds series)

Sheesh -- what a bunch of lightweight stuff! Oh well, these are also pretty prolific authors.

Kate S wrote: "Krista wrote: "20.4 Balance
A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny
Approved from the Canadian list in the 20.4 Help thread
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/......"

Thanks for the catch Kate. I was even the one who got Louise Penny added to the 10.9 approved authors list. :-)

I'll give myself 5 more point for this task.

Cheers!

Happy Thanksgiving to all the US group members!

Happy Thursday to all the rest of you who aren't celebrating a holiday today. :-)

I hope everyone has a wonderful day.

-Krista

20.9 Authors with Three Names
Falls the Shadow by Sharon Kay Penman

Review:
This was totally a 5-star read for me. It's the 2nd in Penman's "Welsh Princes" historical fiction trilogy and featured the continuation Welsh, English and French history during the 13th century. Penman's writing is so skillful, and thoroughly researched. I trust that the history I'm reading is accurate. She brings the story of Simon de Montfort and the Second Baron's Rebellion to life in all it's stark realities.

Honestly, even though I'm a big British history buff, I did not know about this chapter in the Welsh and English history. I did not know that Simon de Montfort led two rebellions to try to make King Henry III keep his word about Parliamentary representation for all English people, not just the nobles. In the book Penman also brings us along in more of the Welsh history. From Llewellyn the Great, to his son Davydd, and grandson 'Llelo', (also named Llewellyn) - the continual in-fighting among the Welsh stops them from being able to throw off the English entirely.

It is a really well-written educational, but not at all dry retelling of the history of those long-ago centuries. I'm looking forward to starting the 3rd book in the trilogy soon.

+20 Task
+10 Style - Review
+ 5 Style - Jumbo (580 pages)
+ 5 Style - Oldies (Publ 1989)
Task Total = 40

Grand Total: 465 + 40 = 505

20.5 History
Honey and Salt by Carl Sandburg
(1940 Won Pulitzer Prize in History)

Review:
A couple of years ago, I was lucky enough to have a chance to visit the farm that Carl Sandburg lived on for about the about the last 20 years of his life. It's called, Connemara, and is located in Flat Rock, North Carolina. It's now a National Historic Site. The house was left basically as it was while Sandburg lived there. I remember touring the upstairs and seeing the typewriters with the author's notes still in them. It was pretty amazing.

This book of poetry was written while Sandburg lived at Connemara. It was published in 1963. It contains a wide variety of really lovely poems. I can picture some of the physical locations and plants that Sandburg describes as he would have seen them from his North Carolina environs. The book contains some love poems of various lengths that were stunning in their simplicity and sincerity. It also contained and many nature-themed poems.

It was a treat to delve into this book.

+20 Task
+10 Combo (10.9, Post #357, 20.2 Publ 1962 - Died 1967)
+10 Style - Review
+10 Style - Not-a-Novel (Poems)
+ 5 Style - Oldies (Publ 1963)
Task Total = 55

Grand Total: 410 + 55 = 465

20.4 Balance
A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny
Approved from the Canadian list in the 20.4 Help thread
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Review:
Louise Penny has done it again. She's given us another brilliant installment in the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache mystery series. In book 7 we delve deeper into the lives and psyche of the residents of Three Pines, Quebec, Canada. We also continue to learn more about Chief Inspector Gamache, and his roving band of detectives.

This time a body is found in Peter and Clara's garden the morning after the big party celebrating Clara's art show is held at the house. The identity of the victim takes us back to Clara and Peter's college days. We learn more about the cutthroat and often neurotic goings on of the art community. There are a lot of scenes spent in and around AA meetings, and discussion about the 12 Steps of AA.

We also watch Chief Inspector Gamache, and Jean Guy Beauvior continue to process the aftermath of events in Book #6. (I'm not going to give it away in case you haven't read Book #6 yet.) These books really should be read in order. I've enjoyed listening to the majority of them in audio format. The narrator, Ralph Cosham does an excellent job -- it's his voice I think of now when I hear Gamache's voice in my head.

If you haven't started this series yet --- what are you waiting for? It's terrific. Start with Book 1, Still Life ,and get ready to read a classic mystery series.

+20 Task
+10 Style - Review
Task Total = 30

Grand Total: 380 + 30 = 410

15.9 TtUS - Land Cruiser

The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson
State: Wyoming

+15 Task
+15 Bonus (TtUS Land Cruiser Tasks 9-10)
Task Total = 30

Grand Total: 350 + 30 = 380

10.1 Authors
(2nd book read for this task)

Must Love Breeches by Angela Quarles

Review:
I was in the mood for a light romance that featured time travel, and that's just what I found in this book. In it, present-day museum curator, Isabelle Rochon is transported back to 1835 London. She's arrives in the middle of a high society ball, and the first person she meets it Ada Byron (Lovelace).

She also meets Lord Montague. There is instant chemistry between them. (Of course, this is a time travel ROMANCE after all.) I thought that the historical elements from 1835 London were accurate, and I enjoyed learning about Ada Byron Lovelace, and Charles Babbage who created the first 'computer'.

The romance was good, but seemed to drag on a bit too long. I think the book could have done with a good editor to pare down a bit of the length. I don't think all the intrigue surrounding Lord Montague's efforts to bring justice to his sister's tormentors added a whole lot to the plot. In my opinion, that storyline could have been shortened.

I gave it 3 stars as it filled the bill nicely for what I was looking for, and it was educational too which is always a bonus for me.

+10 Task
+10 Style (Review)
Task Total = 20

Grand Total: 330 + 20 = 350

20.2 Innocence
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

Review:
I wonder why I put off reading this for so long? I listened to it in audiobook format and really found it to be an engaging snapshot of the strictures and nuances of the upper crust of New York City society in the late 1800's.

Poor Newland Archer. He just doesn't know which way to turn when he gets engaged to the quintessential New York City society maiden, May Welland; but finds himself getting more deeply mired in his attraction to her cousin, Ellen Olenska. Which way will he turn? Can he cut ties with the role he's been groomed to fill since childhood?

Don't be afraid to pick up this book. It is a classic for a good reason! Now, I think I need to go watch the movie and see how the actors portrayed the roles while the writing is fresh in my mind.

+20 Task
+15 Combo (10.7, 10.8, 10.9 Post 278)
+10 Style - Oldies (Publ 1920)
+10 Style - Review
Task Total = 55

Grand Total: 275 + 55 = 330

15.8 TtUS - Land Cruiser
Eventide by Kent Haruf
State: Colorado

+15 Task
+10 Bonus (Tasks 4-8)
Task Total = 25

Grand Total: 250 + 25 = 275

10.7 Librivox
The Sign of Four by Arthur Conan Doyle
(Shelved 8 time as Librivox on 11/8/15)

Review:
This is book #2 in the classic Sherlock Holmes mystery series by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. We get to learn more about Holmes, and Dr. Watson as they set out to help a damsel in distress.

Mary Morstan is trying to find out who murdered her father more than a decade ago. In the course of their investigation, the trio stumbles upon another murder. This locked door mystery takes them back in time to India where Mary's father served in the Army, and where a large treasure was stolen.

Mary is sure-headed, and Dr. Watson falls head-over-heels for her. The mystery is a good one. Some of the language regarding the Indian natives was outdated, and it was uncomfortable for me to read the stereotypical descriptions. I suspect that Conan Doyle himself would be uncomfortable with some of the characterizations were he alive today.

But Sherlock Holmes is his crusty logical self, and Dr. Watson was great. I want to see what the future holds for Mary and Dr. Watson.

+10 Task
+20 Combo (10.4, 10.8, 10.9 Degree Post #227, 20.9)
+10 Style (Oldies - Publ 1890)
+10 Style (Review)
Task Total = 50

Grand Total: 200 + 50 = 250

10.4 Math
Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome

Review:
I've given this humorous classic 5 stars. I listened to this in audiobook format and it was delightful. The tongue-in-cheek humor and descriptions of the continual scrapes the three men got into were fabulous. The dog, Montmorency was the most thoughtful one of the bunch I think.

The book was written in 1889. It's part travelogue about boating down the Thames River, and part madcap comedy. These three friends get themselves into and out of all sorts of funny situations as they set of on their jaunt in order to relieve stress in their lives. It's a holiday fraught with dangers both physical and societal. Bravo!


+10 Task
+ 5 Combo (10.9 Post 269)
+10 Style (Oldies, Publ 1889)
+10 Style (Review)
Task Total = 35

Grand Total: 165 + 35 = 200

10.1 Authors
Murder on Astor Place by Victoria Thompson

Review:
I enjoyed this first-in-the-series Historical Mystery. It's set at the end of the 19th century in New York City. Sarah Brandt is a widowed midwife who was raised in an upper crust NYC family. She's now making a living on her own after her family disowned her for marrying her medical doctor husband. She and police detective, Frank Malloy form an uneasy partnership to try to solve the mystery of who killed a runaway teenager who was in hiding from her rich family.

As it turns out, Sarah recognized the girl when she went to a boarding house to help deliver a baby. When the girl was killed the next day, Sarah is pulled into the investigation by the Irish-American detective, Frank Malloy who has his own personal demons that he's trying to resolve.

I enjoyed this book. I felt that it was historically accurate, and was fast-paced enough (without losing character detail) to retain my interest throughout. I've got the 2nd book in the series on hold at the library now.

+10 Task
+10 Style (Review)
Task Total = 20

Grand Total: 145 + 20 = 165

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Krista wrote: "Okay -- I'm almost to the top of the 'Hold' queue for the CD audiobook version of [book:The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics..."

Thanks!

Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "@Krista,
Reading relaxes me. I concentrate on the book and i am in that world."

My thoughts exactly! I can escape from my world for awhile while reading. :-)