Listopia Challenge

[LibraryCin]

Just an fyi that this would be starting now for you That is, anything you've read up to this point in the year, even if it's on the list, doesn't count for the challenge.

Good luck and have fun!

[Critterbee❇]

LibraryCin wrote: "Just an fyi that this would be starting now for you That is, anything you've read up to this point in the year, even if it's on the list, doesn't count for the challenge.

Good luck and have fun!"

Understood!

When I finished Adulthood Rites (Xenogenesis, #2) by Octavia E. Butler yesterday, I put the third book in the series, Imago (Xenogenesis, #3), as currently reading status, but I have not actually started it yet. Can I count that?

[Nicole R]

❇Critterbee wrote: "When I finished Adulthood Rites (Xenogenesis, #2) by Octavia E. Butler yesterday, I put the third book in the series, Imago (Xenogenesis, #3), as currently reading status, but I have not actually started it yet. Can I count that? ."

Just chiming in here that everyone has given spot on guidance! We welcome you joining this challenge now with the goal of completing it by the end of the year.

As to your specific question of whether you can count Imago which you have not started yet even though it is listed as currently reading—absolutely! If you haven't started it yet, then it can be the first book you check off your Listopia list :)

[Critterbee❇]

Thanks everyone for the feedback, and encouragement. This is a really great group!

[Amy]

Forgot to mention that my recent read and review of Beartown, found in August Other Books, also doubles as Book Five in my Listopia Two List - 100 Top Amazon Fiction for 2017. The last one will likely be Sycamore or the Weight of Ink to complete the 6. I believe the Hearts invisible Furies was on that list, as was Lillian BoxFish, and the Hate You Give. Will re-list them all with Book six

[Joanne]

Since i finished my first list, going to start a new one

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

Medieval and Renaissance Historical Fiction

[Linda C]

My Listopia list: Microhistory: Social Histories of Just One Thing

Here are books 3 and 4

3. Eiffel's Tower: The Thrilling Story Behind Paris's Beloved Monument and the Extraordinary World's Fair That Introduced It - Jill Jonnes (3 stars) 7/24/18

I truly enjoyed the story of Eiffel and his tower, its controversy and his dealings with the various elevator companies. The use of Thomas Edison and his phonograph, Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, and Gauguin and Whistler's interaction with the art exhibitions helped to flesh out the major components of the Fair. Also relevant were Le Figaro and the Paris Herald which did much to publicize the Fair and the Tower. However, other characters seemed to be questionable additions, i.e., the van Gogh brothers who except for their contact with Gauguin had no connection to the Fair but were woven throughout. A major purpose of the Fair was to showcase industry and technology, but little was actually covered other than Edison's work and the things that he found of interest when he did finally show up at the Fair and made a tour of the technology sections. I was disappointed.

4. Shapely Ankle Preferr'd: A History of the Lonely Hearts Advertisement – Francesca Beauman (4 stars) 8/6/18

Over 300 years of history depicting Lonely Hearts advertising in Britain are presented here. From the first in 1765 to the latest internet versions. Beauman presents the typical formats, the sociological reasons for the ads, the differing requirements listed in the ads, the fraud, scandal and pranks practiced on the requesters over the whole period. There were often periods of high activity followed by times when they almost stopped. For 50 years during Victoria's reign they nearly ended. This was very interesting as a social history.

[Amy]

With the Summer Queen by Elizabeth Chadwick, I fulfill book six of My Listopia List One: Remarkable Women in Historical Fiction. And I also Fulfill Book Six of Listopia List Three: Girl in a Red Dress. I think I just might finish all five lists. I am absolutely close to four of them, and now done with two. One book away from two more lists and halfway through the fifth. My review is below:

I enjoyed this read. I have known little of Eleanor (Alienor) of Aquitaine, and was excited to cover some early twelfth century history through historical fiction. This year I have devoted to remarkable women in historical fiction, from Eve, Cleopatra, and Sheba, to Marie Antoinette, to Freud's Mistress Minnie Bernays, to Eva Braun, Mrs. Houdini, and Mademoiselle Channel. She also wears a red dress on my edition, which is another fun challenge for me this year.

I enjoyed the tale, and the writing kept me engaged. Easily my favorite character of the book was Alienor's sister Petronella - whose spitfire behavior intrigued and amused me. Louis as a King was weak and ineffectual, Henry seems to be growing into it. Ancient court life still appears to me to be such a beautiful romantic mystery, less so the pilgrimages to cross between them. Alliances like a huge chess game throughout time, with the roulette of whether Heirs live or are lost in battle. I kind of love it and always have.

[Critterbee❇]

Listopia Challenge
Books from Science Fiction Books by Female Authors
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/6...
Book #1 The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline ★★★★★
Book #2 The Children of Men by PD James ★
Book #3 Shards of Honour by Lois MacMaster Bujold ★★★★
Book #4 The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau ★★★
Book #5 The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers ★★★★
Book #6 Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews ★★★★

Using spoiler tag to minimize the space of the reviews
(view spoiler)[
Book #1/6 The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline ★★★★★

The Marrow Thieves has an intriguing premise, unique and yet accurately mirroring the age-old tendency of humans to exploit humans; in this case European immigrants and the people of North American First Nations. It is difficult to review the book thoroughly without spoilers, so I will only briefly outline the story.

In this story, Earth has been savaged by global warming, the land and weather are changing to be less supportive of life, and the majority of people have lost the ability to dream. The resulting widespread madness from not dreaming has caused the dreamless to look to the only people able to still dream for answers. And the only solution that occurs to them is to capture those still able to dream, North America's Indigenous people, and harvest the marrow from their bones. That these aggressors are responsible for this condition does not stop them from hunting and stripping the life from other humans in a desperate attempt to escape the madness of their own making.

The story is told from young Frenchie's point of view, after 'recruiters' have captured his family for their marrow, and he is on the run. He races North for freedom, and joins a group of other survivors also escaping.

Although set in dystopian, futuristic North America, Earth, the themes and events mirrored what has happened on that continent since the sustained invasion/expansion of Europeans began centuries ago. The rationalization of forcefully taking what was deemed 'necessary' or 'rightfully theirs,' whether it be that might made right or that false belief of 'racial supremacy' made right, or the religious delusions of being the only people who truly mattered made right. Harvesting the marrow from the bones is an effective representation of the systematic extermination of cultural identity and restriction of free will.

The storytelling is superb; the ending does not neatly tie everything up, but rather leaves you with a lot to think about.


Book #2/6 The Children of Men by PD James ★

I found The Children of Men to be written with the precision of a surgeon, but also without joy or empathy. The concept, humans have become unable to procreate / are on the brink of extinction is similar to the brilliant Xenogenesis series by Octavia Butler, but whereas that has addictive storytelling, admirable and magnetic characters, and hope for and love of humanity, this book is dry, unsatisfactory, and plodding.

Theo, the main character (definitely not heroic) was selfish, uncaring, and contemptuous of almost everyone one he met - completely unlikable. I was very disappointed in the book, especially after it being described as riveting and suspenseful. I could not even bring myself to root for the survival of humanity, if it meant more Theo's would be about.

Unsurprising and yet still bizarre, but not in a thought-provoking way.


Book #3/6 Shards of Honour by Lois MacMaster Bujold ★★★★

Space Opera! I have finally gotten around to reading this book starting this series after hearing so many positive reviews. Shards of Honour is Lois McMaster Bujold's first complete book... and it is incredible. It has everything! Action, romance, humour, intrigue, space battles, moral struggles, politics, betrayal, rescue, heroines/heroes, villains, consequences, coherently described fantastic future tech, and flying vampire jellyfish! I cannot believe that this was her first book!

Cordelia Naismith is exploring an isolated planet with her scientific survey team when her team is caught up in intrigue and infighting among soldiers from the warlike society of Barrayar. Aral Vorkosigan is the commander of the Barrayar ship that is currently attempting to mutiny. They must combine forces to survive the unexplored planet, and reunite with their crews.

Cordelia greatly values human life, and is smart, strong, determined, and from Beta (a planet with an advanced society). Aral is loyal, a strong leader, unapologetically moral, and from Barrayar (a planet with an ambitious, militaristic expansionist society). They suit each other perfectly. The world building is effective without burying you in detail. The action scenes are violent, but not gratuitously detailed. Characters are written not to be perfect, but to be realistic and nuanced, with diverse personalities. Betans are not all without ambition and duplicity, and Barrayans are not all ruthless and oppressive. Everything is balanced perfectly.

From the start I was captured, really invested in the characters and the story. Now I want to read the rest of the series. I can also see myself re-reading this regularly. The only reason I rated the book 4 stars is that sometimes the pacing got a little jerky, and I wanted more time spent on some parts of the story. Who knows, I might change it to 5 stars after my first re-read.


Book #4/6 The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau ★★★

Dystopian science fiction starring a city with limited resources and a dim future. Two children, Lina and Doon, end up discovering a way of saving the city, while facing challenges because they are an isolated society without survival skills. As always in dystopian novels, humanity is it's own worst enemy, but in a dulled-down way.

I found this book readable, but not really gripping, and too predictable. The characters were OK, the conflicts and outcome expected. Although it is listed as YA, I feel that the book would be enjoyed by a much younger audience. It was not as violent or dark as other popular YA dystopian books, and should be a good introduction to the genre for tween or younger readers. The sentences were consistently short and matter-of-fact, easy to understand, and a lot of interesting daily life type detail was included.

Even though the story ends on a bit of an uncertain note, I am not invested enough to continue the series.


Book #5/6 The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers ★★★★

It's time for a space romp, ya'll, in the spirit of Firefly, without the gloom, violence and horrific Reavers. We join a small, close-knit crew of likable, diverse, sentient creatures on a tunneling ship as they adventure around the known universe. I really enjoyed meeting the characters and learning about the different species of the Galactic Commons (GC).

While there are some spots of danger or menace, the tone is one of hope and humour. Every being on the ship has something going on, and their backgrounds/stories take turns as the main focus of the story. The book is written quite like a television series, with a large story being the main focus of the story, and episodes of action and back story popping up as the main story line progresses.

This was a nice warm hug of a space opera. Highly Recommended.


Book #6/6 Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews ★★★★

This is a smart, funny, fierce urban fantasy set in present dayish alternate earth, with magic and a bad-ass heroine. A reckless, dangerous, magic-drunk thug is on the run from the law, and his powerful family has hired a private investigation firm to haul him in before the police find (and shoot) him. Our heroine is forced to take the job of hauling him in, and we are off and running! There is also a mysterious, magical hero involved, who is a little bit too alpha-male for my tastes, but our intrepid heroine finds herself inconveniently attracted to him.

I loved how close the heroine was with her family, the mystery, and the detailed world building. The book was addictive, and I read it in one sitting. The only thing I did not like was the piles of guns and the loving way that they were described, and (view spoiler)[ the kidnapping and mental torture that the ‘hero’ committed on our heroine; I would not be able to forgive him so easily. Granted, working together seemed like a necessity for her and her family’s survival, and it did introduce a lot of tension into the relationship that really sparked.
(hide spoiler)]

(hide spoiler)]

I have to say that this list of Science Fiction Books by Female Authors has been a treat to pull books from! What a wide variety of writing styles, stories, characters, everything!

So glad that I decided to do this challenge, and that I chose a challenging (for me) topic. I will definitely do this challenge next year if it is still happening.

And that challenge is completed; I think I have time to do another one.../goes to check out listopia...

[Jeremiah]

The Concrete Blonde by Michael Connelly
4 out of 5 Stars
Listopia Challenge: Book 3 of 6

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...

In this classic from a #1 "New York Times" bestselling author, Detective Harry Bosch thought he'd stopped the serial killer known as the Dollmaker. Now the dead man's widow is suing Harry and the LAPD for shooting the wrong man--an accusation that rings true when a new victim is discovered with the Dollmaker's macabre signature.

The Positives of The Concrete Blonde
This book is the third installment in the Harry Bosch series. In this novel Michael Connelly employs a new technique which is solely responsible for me giving this book four stars (which is the highest rating I give a popular fiction book). While I believe the books in the Harry Bosch series could be read as standalone or out of order, I would not advise it as you miss the most enjoyable part.

So what was it that put this book over the top for me? Well, without giving away any spoilers there are a series of characters that have appeared in books 1 and 2. Either way, all of these characters are not new to the story line. You have other cops such as Edgar, Pounds, and Irving, you have a reporter named Bremmer, and you have a love interest named Sylvia. Carrying a multitude of characters through a series is not unusual, but turning one of them into the criminal in the third book was a great twist. All too often I figure out the "who done it" aspect of the book very early, but not with this one. I truly loved all the plot twists along the way.

The Negatives of The Concrete Blonde
I really did not have any negatives with this book. My four star rating is the highest I give to popular fiction (mystery, romance, chick-lit, etc.). At times the chapters are a bit lengthy, but never excessive. The plot moves along well with just enough detail so that the reader does not get bogged down but yet the story feels well developed. Really, this was a very good book.

[Charlotte]

Listopia list: 100 books to read in a lifetime... https://goodreads.com/list/show/69635...

Book #5: The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum, 3 stars

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Book Concierge]

Listopia List Best Southern Literature - # 21 on the list

This is the 3rd book from this list I've read. Does NOT fit this month's tag😢


The Notebook – Nicholas Sparks – 1*
An elderly man recalls how he met his wife, writing the couple’s story in a notebook and reading sections to his wife, who is in a nursing home with dementia. I found it maudlin and simplistic, though I did like Noah’s devotion to Allie as she is lost in her dementia. On the whole, I was bored and rolled my eyes frequently. Not my cup of tea.
LINK to my review

[Critterbee❇]

I am changing the list, because the "first novels published by an author in the past 10 years" list was too inaccurate, too many books that were published too long ago.

Instead, inspired by the September tag, I will read from the list
Best Adult Female Friendship Books

Finished!
Book 1 Waiting to Exhale by Terry McMillan ★★★★
Book 2 Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg ★★★★
Book 3 Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi ★★★★★
Book 4 The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield ★★
Book 5 The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare ★★★★
Book 6 Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell ★★★
(view spoiler)[
Book 1 Waiting to Exhale by Terry McMillan ★★★★
Four women experience life, love, and loss together in 1990s Arizona. On the surface, Bernadine, Savannah, Gloria and Robin seem to be worried about finding and/or keeping a man, but their friendship with each other, and discovery of who they are and how they want to be becomes the real focal point of the story.

Terry McMillan's story-telling is engaging, her characters developed and real, and there are always surprises. They all have individual lives, individual problems, and a strong bond with each other. I love that Bernadine is caring for the emotional health of her children while going through tumultuous times, that Gloria cares so deeply for everyone around her and allows her son to grow, that Savannah recognizes her situation and knows her own great worth, and that Robin finally trusts herself completely.

In the end, they all make a decision that aligns with their characters as strong women. They are all strong from the start, and are able to realize or become more who they want to be and to do what they believe is right because of that strength. Bernadine, Savannah, Gloria and Robin each have their own individual HEA/HFN ending, regardless of whether they are with a man or not. It is that they each embrace their own power and awesomeness.

If you have watched the movie, there are some changes, added for dramatic purposes, but the underlying friendship and self-realization is still the backbone of the story.


Book 2/6 Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg ★★★★

Very charming and eccentric story of friendship, devotion and small town life, bouncing back and forth between 1930s Alabama (Ruth and Idgie) and 1980s Alabama (Ninny and Evelyn). Although this book has it's share of loss and unpalatable topics, it is a fine balance of hilarity, unconventional friendships, social injustice and what really is important in life.

In a 1980s (present day, when it was written) nursing home, Ninny tells Evelyn the story of Ruth and Idgie, a little each visit. Their story alternates with events in Eveyn's life. Evelyn is feeling old, timid and like her life really is quite over. By sharing the extraordinary story of Ruth and Idgie, Ninny causes Evelyn to start to feel differently about life. Her transformation and increased self-confidence over the story was enjoyable to read about.

I loved Idgie's character, from the moment when she first met Ruth and was smitten at the dinner table. I really was there to read about her relationship with Ruth, even with all of the crazy characters circling in the background. And the BBQ part will likely stay with me forever...


Book 3 Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi ★★★★★

Exceptional tale of two half-sisters, unaware of each other, and destined to lead two very different lives. One sister is made to marry a British slaver, and the other is kidnapped and forced into slavery. This is the story of their lives, and their descendant's lives, up until present day.

Every tale is told in the voice of one of the descendants, altogether fourteen tales, which unexpectedly connect and contrast with each other. Each character is memorable, individual. Fourteen life stories are conveyed clearly.

This book is phenomenal. So much history is covered concisely. Each character's life experiences are captured and concentrated into rich, dense, complex packages. Gyasi has written characters and events sensitively, honestly and effectively. Her writing is so good! Details provide sensory overload. How the effects of slavery are still deeply felt today.
It is a history of injustice as well as human strength and perseverance.
Highly Recommended.


Book 4 The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield ★★
SO it seems that with every group of six, I am destined to have a book that does not agree with me, and The Thirteenth Tale seems to be it for this round.

I could not become interested in this gothic novel. While gothic is not usually my cup of soup, I had read so many positive reviews that I gave the book a shot. It wound in circles of misery, with unlikable characters, and just left an empty feeling inside my heart and mind.

The writing was excellent, the storytelling was fine (which is why I rated it two stars instead of one), it was the content and characters that made me withdraw. But I cannot say not recommended, because after discussing other's opinions of this book, it seems that I am in the minority.

Book 5 The Witch of Blackbird Pond The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare ★★★★

This is a heartwarming, fish-out-of-water historical YA novel. The writing is vivid, and there are times when it is scary, but overall this is a lovely tale of friendship.

It is 1687. Born and bred on Barbados, Kit leaves after being orphaned, journeying to PURITANICAL Connecticut to live with her Aunt Rachel and Uncle Matthew. Kit is pretty spoiled, used to being a member of a wealthy family on island paradise. Connecticut in 1687 is pretty bleak, basically hard work and a lot of self-repression. No swimming, no wearing pretty clothes, no storytelling, no talking to that poor elderly widowed Quaker woman who exists next to a pond that floods yearly.

Kit has had too much freedom to sit meekly back and ignore all the joy in life, so she pretty gets in a lot of trouble, a lot of the time. This is a story of sticking by people you know are good, in the face of prejudice and avarice. It brings a lot of feels.


Book 6 Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell ★★★
This is the last of the six that I have read for the listopia challenge, and really suited the theme of Best Adult Female Friendship Books.

Written about a rural community in England during the nineteenth century, this is such a comedy of manners, a social satire, but also really focuses on the affectionate, devoted friendship of the women of Cranford.

Comic misunderstandings, ridiculous caricatures and hilarious dialogue aside, this is a warm tale of how the women compete, accept and support each other while worrying about how to address titled newcomers, the burden of gracefully accepting suddenly reduced circumstances, dressing up livestock, or the necessity of leaving the room to suck oranges in private because it is too unseemly to do so at the breakfast table.

Told in a string of 'episodes,' this is easy to pick up and continue, but did not inspire urgent, unputdownableness. Pleasant enough, laugh-out-loud humor, but not one of my absolute favourites.

(hide spoiler)]

[Joanne]

Book 1 List # 2 https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

When Christ and His Saints Slept 4.5 stars

This is the first book of Penman's Henry II/Eleanor of Aquitaine series.

The story begins shortly before the death of Henry I. Henry's male heir has died in a shipwreck, and Henry makes his daughter Maud(Empress of Germany and Countess of Anjou) his heir. No one believes a woman could/should rule thus leaving the door open for her cousin Stephen to usurp the throne. Maud spends nearly 20 years fighting for the crown that was rightfully hers. Sadly Maud would never be Queen but her long fight does secure the crown for her son Henry II, which is the point in time this book ends

This was a fascinating story of life in the 12th century, and the horrible conditions and warfare the common people lived through. Whole villages burned, the people left homeless and hungry-all over the right to the throne.

Penman is one of my favorite authors. She always explains her reasoning on facts/fiction at the end of her books, which I appreciate I held back at giving it 5 stars because it is not a book I would recommend to everyone. It is historical fiction at it's best, that said at 784 pages you really have to want to know about the subject to invest the time

[SouthWestZippy]

Book 9 of 9---ALL DONE but may sneak in a few more if I think I have time.

My Favorite Memoirs
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...


The Mustangs
2 stars

A collection of short stories of the history and human relationships with the Mustang. I had a very hard time getting into this book which is a shame, it had so much potential. It lack depth in some stories and just did not draw me into others, it was just lacking something throughout the whole book. Some of the stories are hard to stomach and shows that animals abusers have been around for a long time and other stories do show the love and respect the Mustang deserves.

[Amy]

Book Six of List Four: Historical Fiction Set in the Jazz Age.
Will send all four lists in order by the end of the year.

Bachelor Girl by Kim Van Alkemade -

4 stars; 1/2 on Audio, which was a different and interesting experience for me.

This book was unexpected. Not sure what it was going to be when it started, but I didn't guess the plot line and it wasn't typical or formulaic. Two young people, who end up with a profound friendship orbit around a rich man and become like family to him and to each other. Set in the Jazz age, the woman is trying to make her way in the theater, and the young man is secretary to the older man. Who by the way is the one who bought Babe Ruth for the Yankees, and built Yankee Stadium. This aspect and undercurrent was a complete surprise to me. Turns out while our two main protagonists are fictional, the rich man and his business endeavors including Babe Ruth and the New York Yankees, well that was based entirely in truth.

The book was an enjoyable diversion. Its also the 6th in my listopia list of Historical Fiction Set in the Jazz Age. Which is my fourth list of five. Four which have now been completed. She also sports a red dress on the cover, and that fits my list three.

Now reading Saturday Evening Girls Club - which I expect will be a quick friendship read.

[Joanne]

Book 2 of List 2 Medieval and Ren-cen Historical Fiction

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

Time and Chance

This is the 2nd book in the Henry and Eleanor series. It takes up where the 1st book left off. Henry II has finally restored the crown to his family, he and Eleanor are married and welcome a son(to the horror of her ex-husband Louis, the French King with whom Eleanor could only produce daughters). Henry and Eleanor build a dynasty on both sides of English Channel.

The book delves into the actual love and respect between Henry and Eleanor during the early years of their marriage. It was the age when men took other women, and it was accepted to a degree. However, a concubine within the court is something Eleanor will never accept. Henry never recognizes this as betrayal and he pays the price with discontent and betrayal among his family.

The story also encompassed Henry's friendship with Thomas Becket, and the dissolution of that friendship when Henry made a grave mistake and rose Becket to Arch-Bishop of Canterbury.

This was a rip roaring good read for any historical/historical fiction fan. I am already searching for a copy of the next book
Devil's Brood

[Book Concierge]

4th book from my Listopia: Best Southern LIterature - # 19 on the list

Cross posted to September monthly tag: Friendship


Cold Sassy Tree – Olive Ann Burns – 4****
Thirteen-year-old Will Tweedy narrates Burns’ historical novel which takes place in the small Georgia town of Cold Sassy Tree circa 1906. Oh ,what a treat this novel is! The characters are richly drawn, and cover the gamut of personalities. I was completely engaged in the story from beginning to end, laughing aloud several times as I watched the residents engage in gossip and speculation.
LINK to my review

[Hilde]

My 6th and final title from my list 1001 books to read before you die:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9...

The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes 4,5 ★

Crossposted to Decathlon

See my thoughts here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Hilde]

I decided to just continue with my list, so here is my 7th book from my list 1001 books to read before you die: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9...

The Secret History by Donna Tartt 5★

My thoughts are here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Rachel N.]

Book 4 from my list

Courtroom 302: A Year Behind the Scenes in an American Criminal Courthouse by Steve Bogira 4 stars

The author spent 1998 in Daniel Locallo's courtroom in the Cook County Criminal Courthouse, the busiest felony courthouse in the U.S. I haven't had much experience with the criminal court system and I was fascinated by the statistics on how many cases are settled by plea deals and how many cases involve people caught with very small amounts of drugs. It was depressing reading about how most of the defendants were poor African Americans. Bogira makes a strong point about how much money it costs to keep all these people in jail versus the amount of the drugs they were charged with possessing. He also goes into the fate of defendants with mental illness or mental disabilities, neither one of which is good, and corruption and bribery in the criminal system. There is one high profile case during the year, the beating of the African American children by a white 18 year old because they were biking in a white neighborhood. That case was interesting enough but I was more fascinated by the detail Bogira goes into on the every day cases. The book is a bit dated but I think not much has changed in our court system.

[Book Concierge]

5th book from my Listopia: Best Southern LIterature - # 5 on the list

Cross-posted to September monthly tag: Friendship


Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe – Fannie Flagg – 5*****
This is actually the third time I’ve read this book and I love just as much now as I did the first time. Flagg does a marvelous job of developing these characters, and the reader feels the love between them. I was hooked from the beginning and engaged throughout.
LINK to my review

[Charlotte]

Book #6 from my Listopia list: 100 books to read in a lifetime:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/6...

(I feel I'm so behind in this and I wanted something to motivate me.)

#6: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini) 4.5 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Critterbee❇]

Book Concierge wrote: "5th book from my Listopia: Best Southern LIterature - # 5 on the list

Cross-posted to September monthly tag: Friendship



Fried ..."


Ahh! I just read this last month for my listopia challenge, Best Adult Female Friendship Books.


I just finished with that listopia challenge with Cranford, and am now wondering if I should start a third challenge this year, or wait until next year and really get down with the Popular 100 Books To Read Before You Die Shelf. Even though that does have almost 1200 books on the list... I guess I could limit myself to the top 100. Or find another 'best a billion books to read' list.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a good list like that?

[LibraryCin]

#6. from Best Biographies:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

The Wright Brothers / David McCullough
3 stars

Wilbur and Orville Wright were the first to build and fly in their “flying machine” in the very early 1900s. They started out building and selling bicycles. This book includes a bit of biography, and a lot of technology and description of their flying experiments. They travelled from their hometown of Dayton, Ohio to North Carolina (Kitty Hawk), then to France. There seemed to be more interest in what they were doing in France than in the US.

It was ok. I listened to the audio, which was narrated by the author, which may not have been the best choice, but it does make it hard to decide if the parts I wasn’t as interested in was due to the subject in those sections of the book or because I just lost interest due to the narration. I’m going to guess a bit of both. I did find the biographical parts much more interesting than all the information about their experimenting. I also liked reading about their sister, Katharine. I did also have a copy of the print book, which was nice, as it includes photos.

[Charlotte]

Critterbee❇ wrote: "I just finished with that listopia challenge with Cranford, and am now wondering if I should start a third challenge this year, or wait until next year and really get down with the Popular 100 Books To Read Before You Die Shelf. "

I just finished my 6 from that list. I did notice that there are a lot of duplicates on there with different editions or a series rather than book entry. I cross-referenced it with Amazon's 100 books you should read in a lifetime which is an outside of goodreads/personal goal of mine.

https://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&... ... Amazon doesn't have the greatest user experience to see what they are so I actually put them in a spreadsheet. Here's another website that has the same list: https://www.realsimple.com/work-life/...

Although, the goodreads list has some entries that Amazon doesn't have like The Kite Runner

[LibraryCin]

I just posted my 6th one, but I have a few more I wouldn't mind getting to, as well. I will continue to track them here if I do.

[Critterbee❇]

Charlotte wrote: "I just finished my 6 from that list. I did notice that there are a lot of duplicates on there with different editions or a series rather than book entry. I cross-referenced it with Amazon's 100 books you should read in a lifetime which is an outside of goodreads/personal goal of mine.

https://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&... ... Amazon doesn't have the greatest user experience to see what they are so I actually put them in a spreadsheet. Here's another website that has the same list: https://www.realsimple.com/work-life/...

Although, the goodreads list has some entries that Amazon doesn't have like The Kite Runner"

Thanks, Charlotte.

I found the Amazon list on goodreads, it looks to be the same. Maybe I will do that one.

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...

[~*Kim*~]

Book 2 from Causes of Ugly Crying

It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini - 4 Stars

Craig is your typical teenaged boy, but is driven by his desire to get in to a top Manhattan pre-professional school. The stress of the school gets to him and he feels like he wants to commit suicide. Craig checks himself in to the local psychiatric hospital. This is where he meets many different people with many different issues.

I enjoyed this one, but not on the top of my list for the year. The story was good and the characters were relatable.

[Amy]

The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish, five stars, is the 6th book on my Listopia Liist Two - Top 100 Fiction books by Amazon 2017.

These are the Six:

1) The Hate U Give
2) Lillian Boxfish Takes A Walk
3) Little Fires Everywhere
4) The Hearts Invisible Furies
5) Beartown
6) The Weight of Ink

Four of these were 5 star reads for me, the other two were fours. Before posting my review, I want to remark on my personal listopia challenge status. My first list, Remarkable Women in Historical Fiction, is complete and I have read like 11-12 books that fit, and six from the actual list. I have also read over six from two other lists. Girl in a Red Dress and Historical Fiction in the Jazz Age. So this is my fourth completed list. Care to go for five? I am 3/6 for Historical Fiction with a Dash of Magic. If I can do one a month, I will have completed five lists for the years challenge. Starting the King's Witch after the Witches of New York. Posting my review of the Weight of Ink below.

The Weight of Ink

Giving this book five stars is easy. But somehow actually writing a review feels incredibly difficult. A friend who just finished it recently as I was beginning it, said “I’m still processing it.” Those words have stayed with me, as I have felt the same way throughout the book. Like I am still processing it. Having finished it this morning – I find that I loved it, but that my thoughts are scattered. I just don’t know what to make of it. It was profound, meaningful, and the word confusing comes to mind, but it is not apt. More like there are gaps, but that’s not accurate either. Ah – it’s the spaces between the words, both of the book itself and the experiences that were captured within. The spaces between what is known and unknown, told and untold. We glimpse Ester’s life and thinking, with some things unfolded and some things missing and veiled to us. The Historians Helen and Aaron who are researching her, second scribing her some 300 years later, can only begin to guess or glean, and some things will never be told. Ultimately, is shows us some things cannot or might not ever be known about history. And yet we chase it anyway. But that’s only one part of the story.

The other part of the story is Ester and other characters (Helen, Aaron) and even minor characters quest to understand something both philosophical and profound – the basic question of is there meaning to life? Is there a God? Why does God permit such suffering, injustice, oppression? Do we cling to our beliefs to manage the losses and terrors of the past? How do we understand experiences such as love, desire, life, and pleasure? And through lenses of varying characters at varying points in time. There is so much to discuss in this book, that I know will expand it for me – and I am grateful that I have at least two forums for that.

I found I turned down pages (ACK!) to Zerox certain passages to return to, simply because the intertwine of the writing and the words moved me so. I felt I had found an essence, although that essence would shift. This book reminds me of a river – and I loved the references to river throughout the book. The word ‘life force’ also springs to mind, but with the contrast of mind, dusty volumes, conservation rooms, putrid air, religious intolerance, educational institutions, and constricting corsets. And yet the heartbeat pulses. When that would happen within the book mine would pulse too. In a way the book had a dry and slow quality as well as an exciting one. And this becomes mirrored in our current historians, one old, one young, as they carefully dryly, go through these papers in search of a clue.

Another friend who is reading the book and was halfway through, said that she felt this book was about PTSD. I didn’t know what she meant at the time as I was just at the beginning, but I have held her words too and have come to understand. How we narrate a life is also at the center of this book – how we make sense of our experiences. I have been thinking a lot about what the world opens to us, and what we open to it.

There is so much more to say, and so much more that’s yet to be said. I am so looking forward to conversation of all kinds, and to now reading reviews I had yet to fully read. Five stars that will likely grow into more. I feel a meteor shower is yet to come, as I now get to go deeper with others.

[Amy]

Completed four listopia lists - working on my fifth. Historical Fiction with a dash of Magic. Here we go. Book #4 - The Witches of New York by Ami McKay.

4.5 stars. I am a predictable sort, and this one totally hit the spot for me. Historical Fiction with a dash of magic. Set in 1880, three young women, each with a different relationship with magic, convene together at a shop called Tea and Sympathy, at a time when a demon, or just plan religious fanatics, are hunting witches. There are tales of ghosts, lost mothers, difficult childhoods, and women finding their own potential to be greater than what the time allows them to be. I loved it - and guess what? There is a sequel. Half (spent?) a Yuletide Night? I think the words Half and Yuletide may be the only words that are actually correct. Enjoyed this read greatly. Fits the season too.

[LibraryCin]

#7. for "Best Biographies".
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President / Candice Millard
2.5 stars

I thought this was meant to be a biography of James Garfield, the 20th president of the U.S. He was shot not long after he took office, and eventually died when doctors didn’t really understand how to help him properly.

I listened to the audio. There wasn’t as much biography as I was expecting. Much of it was politics, which I’m not all that interested in, so I tuned out for a good portion of the first ½ to 2/3. I was on my way to giving it only 2 stars. It got much more interesting after he was shot, however. I almost raised my rating to 3 stars (ok), but decided 2.5 was probably more accurate when I took the first ½ into account, as well.

What I found much more interesting was the medicine at the time. The suggestion of germs, something no one could see, was new and many doctors didn’t want to believe it. I also found Alexander Graham Bell and his invention, the “induction balance”, quite interesting. This machine he invented was meant to find the bullet that was still lodged into Garfield’s body. This book has actually made me kind of interested in reading more about Bell!

[Rachel N.]

Book #5

The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World by Eric Weiner 3 stars

Weiner travels the world in an attempt to find out why scientists have ranked them as the happiest countries in the world. he begins in the Netherlands with a renowned happiness scientists. He then travels to places including Thailand, Qatar, Iceland and Switzerland to look into their happiness. He also travels to one of the most unhappy countries Moldova. The book is very humorous. The author mentions many studies on happiness but it would have been nice to have an appendix that listed all of these studies. The author writes the book as if he did these travels in the order presented but that obviously isn't the case since the book goes from Iceland in the middle of winter to Moldova in the middle of summer. An interesting book but I don't spend much time thinking about why I am or am not happy which according to the book is a good thing.

[Joanne]

List # 2, book # 3-Medieval and Recen. Historical Fiction

Devil's Brood

This is my favorite so far of The Penman books I have read.

This is the final tale of the marriage Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II.
Filled with family drama, warring Kings. I think I enjoyed this so much because of the dynamics between Henry and his children. Henry's rule of both sides of the Channel made him a force to be reckoned with through out Europe. There was nothing more important to him-not even his children. Seeing less and less of them, as he put down rebellions and clung to his kingdom. As his sons grew, he promised them riches and land and high-born heiress's -but never came through, keeping control of it all, believing his sons could never hold the kingdom together. As the tensions mounted, the sons set out to betray their father, with the help of Louis Capet, King of France. But the hardest betrayal to forgive was that of his Queen Eleanor. Henry forgives his sons, but makes Eleanor his prisoner for the final 17 years of his life.

Penman's writing and research always entertain me, and I have fallen in love(or it could be lust)with Richard The Lionheart.

[Michelle (MichelleBookAddict)]

(#3 of my list I Picked it up because of the title)
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/5...

3. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley 3⭐️
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Jeremiah]

The Last Coyote by Michael Connelly
Listopia Challenge book 4 of 6
4 out of 5 Stars
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...

Harry attacked his commanding officer and is suspended indefinitely, pending a psychiatric evaluation. At first he resists the LAPD shrink, but finally recognizes that something is troubling him and has for a long time. In 1961, when Harry was twelve, his mother, a prostitute, was brutally murdered, and no one has ever been accused of the crime.

The Positives of The Last Coyote
This is the fourth Michael Connelly book, in particular Harry Bosch book, that I have read in 2018. It is the fourth of six for a challenge I set out to complete. I still hope to read the other two in the last two months of the year as I really do enjoy this author's writing.

To be clear, it is certainly genre writing but I do enjoy the fact that I rarely see all of the twists coming with Connelly's writing. This book was no exception. The story line is unique and the writing is really less formulaic than many in this genre.

Finally, I always enjoy the time Connelly spends on character development. It is never over-the-top so that the reader is left bored but it is also never skimpy to the point you feel the characters are flat. Character development is a real strength of these books.

The Negatives of The Last Coyote
I really don't have any negatives with this book but it should be noted that this book, more so than the last two, really depends on some prior knowledge on the part of the reader. With The Black Ice and The Concrete Blonde I felt the reader could slide by without reading the earlier books in the series. I did not feel that way with this book.

Overall, if you love mysteries these are oldies but goodies.

[annapi]

Connelly is my favorite mystery thriller writer!

[Rachel N.]

Hooray I finished the challenge!

Book 6

The Tao of Martha: My Year of LIVING; Or, Why I'm Never Getting All That Glitter Off of the Dog by Jen Lancaster 2 stars

Jen Lancaster basically chronicles what she did in 2012. Supposedly she's living a year like Martha Stewart but there is no set plan in how she is going to do this. What she does do is start off organizing a bit, throws a Easter party based on Martha's ideas and then the whole Martha part basically disappears while she deals with a sick dog. She come sup with weird Tao statements that really don't have anything to do with what she's been talking about. It's hard to connect with some of what Jen does, such as spending what must be a huge amount of money to stock a lot of food in her basement in case of emergency, most of which she admits she doesn't know what she'd use it for. Some of the stories were funny and I could feel her pain with her sick dog. My main problem is the books title totally misrepresents what it is about. If you want to read about a year in Jen's life you'll like the book but if you expect her to actually try to base her life on anything Martha Stewart connected you'll be disappointed.

[Joanne]

Rachel N. wrote: "Hooray I finished the challenge!

Book 6

The Tao of Martha: My Year of LIVING; Or, Why I'm Never Getting All That Glitter Off of the Dog by Jen Lancaster 2 stars

Jen Lancaster bas..."

Kudos to you Rachel for finishing! I am missing 3 I think, and no chance of getting them in.

[Charlotte]

My turn to finish the challenge :)

My list: 100 books to read in a lifetime: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/6...

1. Fahrenheit 451
2. Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
3. Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity
4. One Hundred Years of Solitude
5. The Bourne Identity
6. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

My review for #6:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Sushicat]

From Best Middle East Fiction
(Also fitting monthly tag literary fiction)

5. The President's Gardens - 5 stars

In the morning there are nine heads in banana crates on the street of a small rural village in Iraq. One of them belongs to Ibrahim the Fated, the most unlikely man to be a target.

This is the starting point to consider the lives of three friends in Saddam Hussein's Iraq, from the beginning of the Iran-Iraq War to the aftermath of the American invasion. We go back to their childhood in the small world of their village, where we learn the dynamics of the place as they grow up together and become men and consider starting a family of their own. Two of them enter military service in times of peace only to find themselves in the middle of two conflicts that tear apart their country and leave behind utter devastation. We see the wars from the point of view of the simple soldiers and in the background - though never mentioned by name - Saddam Hussein's regime.

Here are rich characters, intimate portrayals of relationships and a view into Iraq very different from what we saw in the news.

[Cora]

This is my 6th (and final) book from my Listopia List:
President Obama's Reading List

The Quiet American - Graham Greene

4 stars

The Quiet American is the story of a British reporter stationed in Vietnam in the 1950s. He makes friends with an American working for the United States government who may be more than he claims. The two men compete for the affections of a young Vietnamese woman, yet remain friends.

This was an interesting read. As an American, I appreciated that the main character was British. I liked seeing a different point of view of the Vietnam War than I usually see. I also thought that Fowler was an complex character and I enjoyed seeing how his character evolved in the course of the story. I liked that it was a look at the war that focused on non-military parties and showed how all the sides were trying to influence the outcome in other ways. It gave me a lot to think about.

[Jeremiah]

The Poet by Michael Connelly
4, almost 5, Stars
Listopia - Book Five

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...

Denver crime-beat reporter Jack McEvoy specializes in violent death. So when his homicide detective brother kills himself, McEvoy copes in the only way he knows how--he decides to write the story. But his research leads him to suspect a serial killer is at work--a devious murderer who's killing cops and leaving a trail of poetic clues. It's the news story of a lifetime, if he can get the story without losing his life.

The Poet is the first book in the Jack McEvoy series by Michael Connelly but continues as book five, in a loosely connected fashion, the Harry Bosch Universe. Ultimately, this story is still a crime based mystery novel that revolves around law enforcement but instead of being told directly from the detectives point of view the narrator tells the story from a reporter's point of view. The take is not all that different but it does make for an enjoyable read.

In a forward written in 2003 for the mass market paperback version, Stephen King wrote "The second thing you need to know about The Poet is that it's genuinely terrifying." He continued writing, "I think of myself as relatively case-hardened to make-believe terrors, but the further I followed Jack into the Poet's world, the more frightened I became."

Unfortunately, these words did not prove to be true for me as a reader. While I was completely engrossed by the novel and had a hard time putting it down, I never found it to be terrifying. It does not have the suspense of say The Red Dragon and certainly is not as terrifying.

Once again, as with each of the Connelly books I have read this year the character development is extremely well crafted. Connelly never misses a chance to bring you further into the life of each of his characters and this makes the story, along with a well driven plot, very captivating.

I also particularly enjoyed the fact that Connelly connected this novel with the Harry Bosch series without it being an overt connection. In fact, if you are not a careful reader you might miss the connection altogether with the exception of both being set in L.A. This was a unique part of this book and as a reader I appreciated the skill with which it was executed.

As with all popular fiction, my highest rating is four stars but with this book I almost gave in and bumped it another level. Had it been as frightening as King said it was, I might have given it that extra star.

Either way, this is a highly recommended read.

[Linda C]

My Listopia list: Microhistory: Social Histories of Just One Thing

This is book 5

Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time – Dava Sobel (4 stars)

John Harrison, self-educated clock maker, son of a carpenter, worked to make precise timepieces. A wooden tower clock of his design remains working today. When he heard of the 20,000 pound prize being offered to create a verifiable and practical method for determining longitude, he thought he could adapt a clock method and began work. Most other viable methods being researched were based on astronomy.

The body evaluating the research was dominated by these astronomers and Harrison's discoveries were often sabotaged. His lifetime was spent improving, justifying, testing and arguing for his methodology while the Board changed the rules, demanded his prototypes and methodology, and sabotaged his testing. It took King George III to get him recognized. This was a great little book about the history of the chronometer.

[Jeremiah]

Barely made it, but got book 6 in today.


https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...

Trunk Music by Michael Connelly
3 out of 5 Stars
Books 6 of 6 for Listopia Challenge

Back on the job after an involuntary leave of absence, LAPD homicide detective Harry Bosch is ready for a challenge. But his first case is a little more than he bargained for.


It starts with the body of a Hollywood producer in the trunk of a Rolls-Royce, shot twice in the head at close range - what looks like "trunk music," a Mafia hit. But the LAPD's organized crime unit is curiously uninterested, and when Harry follows a trail of gambling debts to Las Vegas, the case suddenly becomes more complex - and much more personal.

To be honest, Trunk Music the fifth installment in the Harry Bosch series, did not live up to my expectations for Michael Connelly and this series. That is not to say that I did not enjoy this book, because I did, but not to the same riveting level.

The things that Connelly does so well, character development and dialogue, were still really well done. The more of Connelly I read the more I respect his ability to constantly grow and develop not only new characters but also those characters that he carries through the series. Furthermore, with this novel I really like the fact that he again reintroduced old characters and also developed new and interesting supporting characters in the series. Connelly is a master of character development and proved that again with this book.

What I did not like as well in Trunk Music was the story line. Normally I am on the edge of my seat to the end wondering what the last twist is going to be. However, in this novel I was not fooled at all and pretty much knew half way through the book who the guilty parties were. I don't know if it is because I am growing accustomed to Connelly's style and therefore picking up on more clues or if he just telegraphed it on this one.

I look forward to reading the next installment. I hope that maybe this one was just a fluke and that on the next story I will once again be fooled, but if not, the characters will continue to draw me back to reading this series.