The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
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GETTING TO KNOW YOU
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<closed thread>What are you currently reading?
Anne of Ingleside – L. M. Montgomery – 2.5**
This is the sixth book in the series that follows the irrepressible Anne Shirley as she grows from a young orphan to adulthood. This book focuses on Anne and Gilbert’s six children, who seem to all share their mother’s gift of imagination and tendency toward fantasy. But, I read the earlier books in the series for Anne, and she wasn’t as prevalent in this episode. I’m not sure I’ll continue reading the series at all.
LINK to my review
Heidi – Johanna Spyri – 4.5****
This classic of children’s literature tells the story of Heidi, a young orphan girl who lives with her gruff grandfather up on a Swiss mountain. It’s a wonderful story about a child who has lost much but relishes all that she has. She’s intelligent, open-minded, kind-hearted and has a great generosity of spirit.
LINK to my review
The Devil Went Down to Austin – Rick Riordan – 3***
Book # 4 in the Tres Navarre series has Tres going to Austin to confront his older brother Garrett, when he learns that Garnet has mortgaged the family ranch for a start-up venture and is four months behind on payments. What he finds is a tangled financial mess and it only gets worse when Garrett's friend and business partner is found shot, with Garrett nearby and Garrett's gun the likely murder weapon. Fast paced, intricate plotting, great characters. I figured it out just one step ahead of the reveal. I sure wish Riordan would come back to writing adult mysteries, though I understand why he continues to focus on that immensely popular (and lucrative) Percy Jackson series.
LINK to my review
Finished:
- 4*I just thoroughly enjoy this simple series.
Actively reading:
A Killer Read
11.22.63 - really liking this as an audiobook
The Handsome Man's Deluxe Café
Hallowe’en Party – Agatha Christie – 3***
A girl is found drowned in a bucket intended for apple-bobbing during a Halloween Party. Who could have murdered her? I love Hercule Poirot, although he can sometimes be insufferably smug and “superior.” I love the way he puzzles out a problem, sees the clues in seemingly inconsequential events and facts, and puts the whole together to reveal the culprit.
LINK to my review
Added several more books to my list of currently reading: A is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie
Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Choir: A Ruby, the Rabbi's Wife Mystery
Dance of the Reptiles: Selected Columns
You Might as Well Die
All library books coming due!
Speaking From Among the Bones – Alan Bradley – 3***
Book five in the series starring eleven-year-old Flavia de Luce, amateur chemist and amateur sleuth. I love Flavia. She’s an intrepid explorer, pedaling about Bishop’s Lacey on her trusty bicycle, Gladys, and doing experiments in her laboratory. She is smart, independent, curious and determined.
LINK to my review
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The Iced Princess – Christine Husom – 1*
Well this is just all over the place. It seemed to me that Husom was trying too hard to confuse and confound the investigators (and the reader) in order to have a mystery plot with some twists and turns. Nothing seemed to work for me. This is the second in the Snow Globe Shop mystery series, but the first one I’ve read. I don’t think I’ll read another.
LINK to my review
Of Mice and Men – John Steinbeck – 5***** and a ❤
Steinbeck’s novella is taken from an incident in his own background. His emotional closeness to the story is evident in this tragedy. This is the third or fourth time I’ve read it; second time listening to the audio. Steinbeck’s genius here is to write a spare story that still tells volumes about the human condition. It is a story of friendship, loyalty, and love.
LINK to my review
The Incredible Journey – Sheila Burnford – 4****
Three beloved family pets – a young Labrador, an aged bull terrier, and a Siamese cat – head home across 300 miles of wooded and mostly uninhabited territory in Ontario, Canada. I saw the original Disney movie when I was a child and read the book at about that same time. I’m glad I revisited it now. It’s a wonderful tale of adventure, friendship, loyalty, teamwork, and kindness.
LINK to my review
Finished:
- 4*,
- 3*Will finish today or tomorrow:
11.22.63
The Handsome Man's Deluxe Café
Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Choir: A Ruby, the Rabbi's Wife Mystery
You Might as Well Die
Still reading:
A Killer Read
Dance of the Reptiles: Selected Columns
A is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie
The Ruins – Scott B Smith – 3***
I read Smith’s earlier novel A Simple Plan , which was a great novel full of psychological nuance, family drama and several twists and turns. I didn’t see the same level of writing with this book. On the plus side, the action moves fairly quickly, though it does start off slowly. On the other hand, this group of young “adults” is almost uniformly unlikeable.
LINK to my review
Finished:
- 4*,
- 4*,
- 4*,
- 3*Starting:
The Burglar Who Traded Ted Williams: A Bernie Rhodenbarr Mystery
Still reading:
A Killer Read
Dance of the Reptiles: Selected Columns
A is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie
Still reading 7th Heavenby James Patterson and reading Books Can Be Deceivingby Jenn McKinlay
Listening Woman – Tony Hillerman – 3***
Book three in the Joe Leaphorn mystery series begins with Listening Woman trying to perform a cleansing / healing ritual for Hosteen Tso, an old man who refuses to divulge all he knows. I like Leaphorn; he’s smart, determined, physically and mentally strong, quick to respond to a threat but also deliberate and cautious. It took me quite a while to get into this one, but once Leaphorn was caught up in the chase, I was fully engaged.
LINK to my review
The Mysterious Benedict Society – Trenton Lee Stewart – 4****
Book number one in a children’s middle-grade series. I can certainly see the appeal for middle-grade readers. There are issues common to all children (and adults) here – what makes us afraid, bullying, learning to get along, and tolerance for other people’s differences. It’s a fun adventure story of friendship and courage.
LINK to my review
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Mrs Jeffries On the Trail – Emily Brightwell – 3***
Book Six in the Victorian Mystery series has the team investigating the murder of a flower seller. It’s a fun cozy mystery series that I’ll keep reading.
LINK to my review
Finished:
- 4*,
- 3*Still reading:
A Killer Read
Dance of the Reptiles: Selected Columns
Starting:
Davita's Harp
Scent of the Missing: Love & Partnership with a Search-And-Rescue Dog
A Christmas Beginning
Precious and Grace
Finished:
- 3*,
- 4*,
- 4*,
- 4*,
- 4*,
- 4*Still reading:
A Game of Thrones
Starting:
Death In a Hammock
On Deck (for start 12/8 or 12/9):
Finding Moon
O Is For Outlaw
Secret Letters
Just finishedThe White Darknessa gem of a little book-thinking of submitting a review here for it. Ut's the type of book that needs to be shared.
@Bea "A Game of Thrones" is a long book. I loved it. I highly recommend the series.
Finished:
- 4*,
- 4.5*Reading:
Finding Moon
O Is For Outlaw
Secret Letters
Night Passage
The Woman in White - audio
Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "@Bea "A Game of Thrones" is a long book. I loved it. I highly recommend the series."Jayme, my issue with this book is that I saw the first season (basically book #1) on TV when it came out...and I do not like to read books I have seen on TV or movie, usually. That said, I am enjoying the book, but, as I own it, it often gets pushed aside for a library book with a due date.
Sutton – J R Moehringer – 3***
Moehringer tries to bring infamous bank robber Willie Sutton to life in this work of historical fiction. The technique he used to frame the story doesn’t quite work for me. There were scenes that were completely engaging and interesting, and other that just fell flat. I really wanted to like it, but my final reaction is a wishy-washy ‘meh.’
LINK to my review
Bea wrote: "Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "@Bea "A Game of Thrones" is a long book. I loved it. I highly recommend the series."Jayme, my issue with this book is that I saw the first season (basically book #..."
The show is different from the series.
Reading:The Woman in White - audio
Hooked on Murder
Starting today:
A Red Death
A Court of Thorns and Roses
Second Sight
Spinning Silver
Blind Descent – Nevada Barr – 3***
Book six in the mystery series starring U.S. Park Ranger Anna Pigeon takes Anna to New Mexico’s Carlsbad Caverns. Much of the action in this book takes place in the confined spaces underground, and Barr spends a lot of time setting up the mystery and going into excruciating detail on the difficulties of exploring such a cave. This is a totally satisfying mystery in a series with a strong female lead.
LINK to my review
Finished:
- 4*,
- 4.5*Reading:
The Woman in White - audio
Hooked on Murder
Spinning Silver
Artifacts
Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife
Half a Crown
There There – Tommy Orange – 4****
In his debut novel, Orange explores the world of today’s Urban Indian through the stories of twelve characters are planning to attend the Big Oakland Powwow. Their lives are interwoven by coincidence, thin threads of DNA, circumstance, and/or proximity. They are in turn angry, desolate, hopeful, joyous, loving, confused, determined, generous or mean. Orange’s voice is unique and powerful. And I look forward to reading more from him in the future.
LINK to my review
Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "Bea wrote: "Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "@Bea "A Game of Thrones" is a long book. I loved it. I highly recommend the series."Jayme, my issue with this book is that I saw the first season (basi..."
Yes the show is very different from the series.
The 100-year-old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared – Jonas Jonasson – 3.5***
On his 100th birthday, Allan Karlsson escapes from his nursing home and goes on an adventure – or should I say, ANOTHER adventure. This is a fun romp of a novel that reminded me of Forest Gump . Allan’s great talent seems to be going with the flow; he’s rarely ruffled, keeps his wits about him and just enjoys the ride. Readers would do well to follow his lead. Suspend disbelief and enjoy.
LINK to my review
A Spoonful of Murder – Connie Archer – 3***
This has all the elements of a successful cozy mystery series: amateur sleuth, lots of mouth-watering dishes mentioned, a colorful cast of characters to help (or hinder) Lucky’s attempts to investigate, and a potential love interest. I’d be willing to read another in the series.
LINK to my review
Finished: Artifacts - 4*.Reading:
The Woman in White - audio
Hooked on Murder
Spinning Silver
Half a Crown
A Game of Thrones
The House of Unexpected Sisters
The Namesake – Jhumpa Lahiri – 5*****
The novel follows the Ganguli family over three decades, from the parents’ arranged marriage in Calcutta to raising their family in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This is the type of literary fiction I adore. Lahiri writes with such eloquence and grace, letting the reader learn about this family much as she would do when meeting new acquaintances who become friends over decades. She tackles issues of the immigrant experience, the clash of cultures, differences (and conflicts) between generations, and personal identity.
LINK to my review
Finished:
- 3*,
- 3*
Iron Lake – William Kent Krueger – 4****
This is book one in a series starring the former sheriff of Aurora Minnesota, Cork O’Connor. The series has become immensely popular and catapulted William Kent Krueger onto a list of the best mystery / thriller writers. The plot is satisfyingly complex, with many suspects, unclear motives, uncertain crimes (Accident? Suicide? Murder?), and more twists and turns than the most fiendish roller coaster. I’ll read more of this series.
LINK to my review
I finished "Plum Spooky" and starting "The Christmas List"
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The Seasonal Reading Challenge
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Die Trying – Lee Child – 3.5***
Gosh but these books are addictive! Reacher is former military police, and now is roaming about taking odd jobs. He’s certainly got his hands full this time. I like that in this book, Holly Johnson is a strong female …. She may be on crutches, but she is far from helpless. Implausible though it may be, Child gives the reader a fast-paced thriller full of action and intrigue.
LINK to my review
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Yellow Crocus – Laila Ibrahim – 3.5***
Good historical fiction set in 1837 to 1860 Virginia. The novel explores the ways in which family bonds are formed regardless of biological connection. I loved Mattie. She’s a strong woman who works hard and smart, watching and learning skills that will help her and her family find their way to freedom someday. I did not like Lisbeth too much for most of the book, but once she was forced to confront her assumptions she showed strength of character.
LINK to my review