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FA 18 Completed Tasks
Post 735 Valerie wrote: "10.5 Pet DayThe Third Policeman by Flann O'Brien
I love this book! It is crazy and makes no sense, but that is the point. Overall, the novel is darkly comic with some..."
This one gets just 5 Prize Worthy points. The second listing is a nominee.
Post 736 Coralie wrote: "20.3 Birds Without WingsThe Gaze by Elif Shafak
+20 task
+10 Combo (10.5 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2..., 20.3)
Task Total: 30
Season Total..."
Not sure which task you meant for your combo 20.3. Perhaps 20.4 for singled out?
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Post 735 Valerie wrote: "10.5 Pet DayThe Third Policeman by Flann O'Brien
I love this book! It is crazy and makes no sense, but that is the point. Overall, the novel ..."
Ummmm, I only claimed 5 for prize - I guess you were anticipating I would try for more! ha, ha.....
Post 750 Deedee wrote: "Task 20.8 Autumn (Karin's Task)Read any book published between 1678-1958 (Vivaldi's birth to Vaughan William's death), by an author born in and a resident of one of the countries of these composer..."
Combo for 10.5, as Heron is a bird.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Valerie wrote: "Ummmm, I only claimed 5 for prize - I guess you were anticipating I would try for more! ha, ha..... "
Ha! Or I slipped the 10 Review points onto the prize worthy line! Sometimes the eyes play tricks! Glad you weren't disappointed. ;-)
20.1 War's EndA Very Long Engagement by Sébastien Japrisot
This is a powerful novel which touches on how war can destroy the human psyche. As I read, I thought that each of us has a breaking point. Some reach that point sooner than others, and, if we're lucky, most of us never have to find out for ourselves what triggers it. The five men of the GR description reached their breaking point and chose self-mutilation in order to avoid further time at the front. Each has been court-martialed for that offense and sentenced to death. Instead of facing the firing squad, their sentence was to be sent over the top into No Mans' land to await their discovery by the Germans.
The novel is mostly taken up with the story of one young woman, Mathilde Donnay, who was engaged to the youngest of the five. She, and the families of the other four, were notified of their loved one's death as having been honorable in the line of duty. Mathilde learns such may not have been the case. A determined woman, she tries to learn the truth of what happened that day.
I have read a few books of late where I didn't like any of the characters. This novel is quite the opposite - I liked everyone. Of course, there were some soldiers referred to who were not likeable, but they were not the actual characters in the book, just those spoken about. But while "the five" had reached their breaking point, there were heroes as well. I quite liked Mathilde, who had been in a wheel chair since the age of three. Sylvain, one of her care givers, was marvelous. There were soldiers who had been there on "that day" who shared their memories - and not necessarily memories of themselves, but of others.
While I have given more plot than I usually do in my reviews, I never felt this was solely a plot-driven novel. Some might think so. The writing fits the story perfectly, and the manner in which the story is told is varied. Mathilde wrote letters, and though the contents of her letters are never included, we get the contents of her responders. I found the characterizations of the main characters to be quiet good, and even those of the minor characters was more a good cameo than wooden representations.
I don't know if I would read more by this author or not, as I haven't looked to see anything about other titles or whether they have been translated. I wanted to read this novel in my pursuance of learning/experiencing more about World War One. It served that purpose magnificently, and am more than happy to give it a full 5-stars.
+20 Task (mostly post-war)
+10 Review
+10 Combo (10.9, 20.5)
+ 5 Oldies (pub 1991)
+ 5 Prize worthy
Task total = 50
Season total = 1110
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Post 736 Coralie wrote: "20.3 Birds Without WingsThe Gaze by Elif Shafak
+20 task
+10 Combo (10.5 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2..., 20.3)
Ta..."
It should have read 20.4 - it was set in multiple times.
20.8 AutumnCelia's House by D.E. Stevenson
+20 task
+10 Combo (20.4, 20.10)
+5 Oldies (published 1943)
Task Total: 35
Season Total: 2055
2 more pages set between the wars and I would have claimed 20.1
10.8 Cli FiNew York 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson
+10 task
+10 Combo (10.3, 20.5)
+5 Jumbo (624 pages)
Task Total: 25
Season Total: 2080
20.10 Fall EquinoxRussian Roulette: The Inside Story of Putin's War on America and the Election of Donald Trump by Michael Isikoff and David Corn
I'm just going to put my whole review as a spoiler, as I don't want to risk offending anyone on here as I have great respect for this group and its members. Politics can be so divisive and they've found their niche on social media and not a forum such as this, but I find it impossible to review a political book without talking politics.
(view spoiler)
+20 Task ("rUssIAn rOulEtte")
+10 Review
+5 Combo: 10.3--America
Task total: 35
Season total: 2840
also: Thank you so much, Rosemary and Elizabeth, for your congrats <3 They made my day :-)
15.10 AbBY (chronologically)Date Range 1971-1975
The Monogram Murders (New Hercule Poirot Mysteries #1) by Sophie Hannah
+60 Task (author born 1971)
+100 Finish (Chronological)
Post Total: 160
Season Total: 1,235
15.9 AbBY Chronological
1900-04
Mystery Mile by Margery Allingham (born 1904)
Task total: 45
Season total: 405
1900-04
Mystery Mile by Margery Allingham (born 1904)
Task total: 45
Season total: 405
20.7 A Month in the CountryThe Late Monsieur Gallet by Georges Simenon
First, let me say that I see nothing that would indicate these need to be read in order. I did read the first one first, Pietr the Latvian. It's been long enough that I don't remember what kind of introduction to Maigret was in that one. Here, Simenon does not especially assume that you already know Maigret. I find his character to be as well-drawn - perhaps better - than one might expect of characterizations in the genre. He's a big fellow and he likes to be challenged in his job. At first, he finds nothing especially interesting in the case. Despite this, he goes about his job with thoroughness. The more he finds out, the more he is intrigued.
These are in no way as dark as are his stand alone novels. Still, they are murder mysteries, a genre that brings out the worst in at least one character. Perhaps others will be more discerning, but I didn't see the solution until Maigret reveals it. And then he goes home to his wife.
I need to read more Maigret. Good, solid mysteries. Perhaps nothing earth-shaking, but worth turning to again and again. 3-stars, which isn't a slight from me.
+20 Task
+10 Review
+25 Combo (10.2, 10.5, 10.6, 20.1, 20.10)
+10 Oldies (1931)
Task total = 65
Season total = 1175
(And thanks, Coralie, for posting this! I thought I needed another short one before end of season, and this fit the bill perfectly!)
10.2 Next?Eleventh Grave in Moonlight by Darynda Jones
+10 Task (#11 in series)
+10 Combo (10.9 Moonlight = 9)
Task Total: 20
Season Total: 20
10.2 Next?The Trouble with Twelfth Grave by Darynda Jones
+10 Task (#12 in series)
Task Total: 10
Season Total: 30
10.2 Next?The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey
+10 Task (#5 in series)
+5 Oldie (1951)
+5 Prize-Worthy [Grand Prix de Littérature Policière for Romans étrangers (tie) (1969)]
Task Total: 20
Season Total: 60
Not sure if this book qualifies for prize-worthy. It won, but was a tie.
10.5 Pet DayNicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens
+10 Task (Penguin)
+15 Oldies (pub 1839)
+15 Jumbo (817pp)
+5 Prizeworthy (Audie Award for Classic 2012)
Points this post: 45
RwS total: 360
AbBY total: 75
Season Total: 435
10.2 Next?The Chatelet Apprentice by Jean-François Parot
+10 Task (#1 in series)
Task Total: 10
Season Total: 110
10.2 Next?A Morning for Flamingos by James Lee Burke
+10 Task (#4 in series)
Task Total: 10
Season Total: 120
10.2 Next?Ha'penny by Jo Walton
+10 Task (#2 in series)
+10 Prize-Worthy [Gaylactic Spectrum Award Nominee for Best Novel (2008), Prometheus Award for Best Novel (2008)]
Task Total: 20
Season Total: 140
10.2 Next?The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine by Alexander McCall Smith
+10 Task (#16 in series)
Task Total: 10
Season Total: 160
10.2 Next?You Might as Well Die by J.J. Murphy
+10 Task (#2 in series)
Task Total: 10
Season Total: 170
10.2 Next?The Handsome Man's Deluxe Café by Alexander McCall Smith
+10 Task (#15 in series)
Task Total: 10
Season Total: 180
10.2 Next?Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Choir: A Ruby, the Rabbi's Wife Mystery by Sharon Kahn
+10 Task (#6 in series)
+5 Combo (20.10)
Task Total: 15
Season Total: 195
10.4 Bookshelves11.22.63 by Stephen King
+10 Task (21st Century Literature group bookshelf, p.2)
+15 Prize-Worthy [ITW Thriller Award for Best Hard Cover Novel (2012), このミステリーがすごい！ for Best Translated Mystery Novel of the Year in Japan (2014), Goodreads Choice Award for Best Science Fiction (2011)]
+15 Jumbo (849 pages in the most popular edition, which I started reading in...but switched to audio)
Task Total: 40
Season Total: 235
10.6 NoirBlack Betty by Walter Mosley
+10 Task
+5 Combo (10.2 - #4 in series)
Task Total: 15
Season Total: 250
20.10 Fall EquinoxAt Some Disputed Barricade by Anne Perry
+20 Task
+5 Combo (10.2 - #4 in series)
Task Total: 25
Season Total: 275
15.1 AbBYDate Range 1910-1960, Any order
Murder on Capitol Hill by Margaret Truman
+15 Task (author born 1924)
Post Total: 15
Season Total: 290
15.2 AbBYDate Range 1910-1960, Any order
The Burglar in the Library: A Bernie Rhodenbarr Mystery by Lawrence Block
+15 Task (author born 1938)
Post Total: 15
Season Total: 305
15.3 AbBYDate Range 1910-1960, Any order
The World According to Bertie by Alexander McCall Smith
+15 Task (author born 1948)
Post Total: 15
Season Total: 320
I did not expect to do this well or to even post as it was a particularly poor reading season for me. Thank you for the series task as it made my total by itself.
Task 15.4 AbBY Chronological Moving backwards in time
1945-1949
Author was Born: 1949 (fantasticfiction.com)
That Old Cape Magic (2009) by Richard Russo
Task Total: 20
Grand Total: 525 + 20 = 545
20.1 War's EndGentlemen Prefer Blondes by Anita Loos
This purports to be the diary of Lorelie Lee, gold-digging dumb blonde extraordinaire. If I ever saw the movie, I have entirely forgotten it. I just looked at Wikipedia, and I remember the song "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend", but I remember it from Carole Channing, not Monroe, so maybe I just have never seen the original film.
This is barely worth 3 stars. I found much of it thoroughly amusing, especially the first half. Well Dorothy and I are really on the ship sailing to Europe as anyone could tell by looking at the ocean. But it got tedious. It seems the author had a beginning sketch, but because her premise is that the character is one-dimensional, there was no place to take the novel.
+20 Task (pub'd 1925, contemporary)
+10 Review
+15 Combo (10.5 - Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, 10.9, 20.7)
+10 Oldies
Task Total = 55
Season total = 1230
10.2 SeriesThe Witch Doesn't Burn In This One by Amanda Lovelace
This is a book of poetry with an underlying theme and story. It is visually different with its use of blank space and colored ink. It is conceptually striking with its underlying theme of women are greater than the men who want to blame them and strike them down and burn them either physically or metaphorically. The individual poems range in impact. Some are inherently mesmerizing and others are stronger by being part of this collection. Many of the reviews are low in stars and dislike the rage expressed. I really read it as the rage was against the structure and the beliefs and not against men as people of a male gender but men as a cultural construct of superiority. And even if it wasn't so, this is a book in a series and if each expresses an idea related to womanhood, then, yes, this needs to be here, the fire needs to be part of the series.
+10 task
+10 review
Task total: 20
Grand total: 2420
20.10 Fall EquinoxClarissa, or, the History of a Young Lady by Samuel Richardson
Review
(view spoiler)
+20 pts - Task
+20 pts - Combo (10.3 -https://cityofclarissa.weebly.com, 10.5 - MPE, 20.5,20.8)
+20 pts - Oldies (1748)
+25 pts - Jumbo (1534 pages)
+10 pts - Review
Task total - 95 pts
Season Total - 510 pts
working on two more big old books. Will I finish them in time? fingers crossed!
20.5 Singled OutThe Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi
+20 task
+10 Combo (10.2, 10.9)
Task Total: 30
Season Total: 2110
10.1 Favorite ListsThe Edwardians by Vita Sackville-West
+10 task Using https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1... from post 320 #30 on list
+15 Combo (10.5 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1..., 10.9, 20.8)
+10 Oldies (published 1930)
Task Total: 35
RwS completion 100
Season Total: 2245
Post 773 Bea wrote: "10.2 Next?The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey
+10 Task (#5 in series)
+5 Oldie (1951)
+5 Prize-Worthy [Grand Prix de Littérature Policière for Romans étrangers (..."
_5 Combo for 10.5 Penguin - [book:The Daughter of Time|3021682]
Post 781 Bea wrote: "10.2 Next?Ha'penny by Jo Walton
+10 Task (#2 in series)
+10 Prize-Worthy [Gaylactic Spectrum Award Nominee for Best Novel (2008), Prometheus Award for Best Novel (2..."
This is just 5 Prizeworthy, as nominees don't qualify.
15.5 AbBYChronological / Date Range 1959-1963
In a House of Lies by Ian Rankin
+30 Task (author born 1960)
Points this post: 30
RwS total: 360
AbBY total: 105
Season Total: 465
15.7 AbBYDate Range 1945-49
Dead Babies by Martin Amis
+30 Task (born 1949)
Post Total: 30
Season Total: 1315
15.8 AbBYDate Range 1940-44
The Road Home by Rose Tremain
+45 Task (born 1943)
Post Total: 45
Season Total: 1360
15.7 AbBY Chronological1961-1965 Michel Bussi
Don't Let Go by Michel Bussi
+30 Task (author born 1965 )
Task Total: 30
Season Total: 1140
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Reading with Style
Books mentioned in this topic
All the Single Ladies (other topics)Infidel (other topics)
Dragonfly in Amber (other topics)
The Big Sleep (other topics)
The Big Sleep (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Rebecca Traister (other topics)Ayaan Hirsi Ali (other topics)
Diana Gabaldon (other topics)
Raymond Chandler (other topics)
Samuel Richardson (other topics)
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Date Range 1966-1970
The Shadowy Horses by Susanna Kearsley
+45 Task (author born 1966)
Post Total: 45
Season Total: 1,075