Cherie's Trivial Choices in 2020

[Janice, Moderator]

✔️

[Cherie]

1. Badge 3, Book 13
2. & 3. Card 16, History-Nay
4. The Witch's Daughter
★★★
5. I listened to an audiobook from my library. The hc is 305 pages.
6. Task Requirement: There are shoes on the cover.
7. State how the book fits the criteria: Brown boots are on the cover.
8. Specifications:

It was an okay story. I had other choices planned, but I cannot read and work, so when I find an audiobook that fits, the others get bumped.

[Janice, Moderator]

✔️

[Cherie]

1. Badge 3, Book 14
2. & 3. Card 22, Geography-Nay
4. The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes
★★★★
5. I listened to an audiobook from my library. The hc is 305 pages.
6. Task Requirement: The book set in London.
7. State how the book fits the criteria: The book is set in 1914 London, much of it at 221B Baker Street.
8. Specifications: none.

Another new Sherlock Holmes series. Did you know Dr. Watson had a son? Did you know SH had a daughter? Actually a very good story and the narrator, Steve West, has a lovely voice. I will read Moriarty another time.

[Janice, Moderator]

✔️

[Cherie]

1. Badge 2, Book 14
2. & 3. Card 26, Entertainment-Nay
4. Pirate King
★★★
5. I listened to an audiobook from my library. The hc is 300 pages.
6. Task Requirement: The title has the word "King" in it.
7. State how the book fits the criteria: "King" is in the title.
8. Specifications: none.

My least favorite Mary Russell series book. An author's attempt at humor, maybe.

[Janice, Moderator]

✔️

[Cherie]

1. Badge 3, Book 15
2. & 3. Card 27, Geography-Nay
4. River Marked
★★★★★
5. I listened to an audiobook from my library. The hc is 326 pages.
6. Task Requirement: The book was originally published in 2011.
7. State how the book fits the criteria: The 1st edition hc book was published March 2011.
8. Specifications: none.

What a terrible honeymoon but a great story! I loved the North American mythology.

[Janice, Moderator]

✔️

[Cherie]

1. Badge 3, Book 16
2. & 3. Card 13, Sport-Nay
4. The Serpent's Tale
★★★
5. I read the ebook format. The hc is 371 pages.
6. Task Requirement: The genre is Historical Fiction set in Britain.
7. State how the book fits the criteria: The book is listed as Historical Fiction on the main book page and is set in a small abbey near Oxford in 1176.
8. Specifications: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

The second book in the Mistress of the Art of Death series was not quite as exciting as the first book, but still an okay story. Little forensic work, but some interesting points in deduction and more history involving Henry Plantagenet and his wife Eleanor.

[Jayme, Moderator]

It looks like you and I are at the same place going back and forth between badge 2 & 3. I might end up finishing badge 3 before badge 2. LOL

[Janice, Moderator]

✔️

[Cherie]

Jayme wrote: "It looks like you and I are at the same place going back and forth between badge 2 & 3. I might end up finishing badge 3 before badge 2. LOL"

So far, I have only read a second task for already posted cards. I am trying to finish the last four books for badge 2 and then, I have to decide which cards to actually finish for badge three, or keep posting until 5 cards are finished. :o)

[Cherie]

1. Badge 3, Book 17
2. & 3. Card 10, Geography-Nay
4. Journey to Munich
★★★★
5. I listened to an audiobook from my library. The hc is 278 pages.
6. Task Requirement: The cover has a flag on it.
7. State how the book fits the criteria: The cover has a flag on it. The setting is in Munich in 1938.
8. Specifications:

Maisie Dobbs was sent to Munich by the British Secret Service to bring back a man held in a prison camp. It was a story full of heartache and brutality and courage.

[Cherie]

1. Badge 2, Book 15
2. & 3. Card 7, Geography-Nay
4. A Single Shard
★★★★
5. I listened to an audiobook from my library and followed along in the ebook on Kindle. The pb is 192 pages.
6. Task Requirement: Setting is North or South Korea.
7. State how the book fits the criteria: The book is set in a small village on the west coast of Korea, mid to late 12th century.
8. Specifications: none.

I have had this book on my TBR list since the Geo-Challenge. I am finally glad to have finished it. It was a wonderful story. One of the main characters is an orphan boy, called Tree-ear. The book is also a Newbery Medal winner.

[Janice, Moderator]

✔️

[Annerlee]

Cherie wrote: "1. Badge 1, Book 1
2/3. Card 9, Geography-Yay
4. Locked Rooms
..."

I saw you'd read this one recently and wanted to ask your advice. I picked up a copy for pennies recently (my edition has a steam train with smoke on it for the challenge) but now realise this is number 8 in the series.

So, the usual question: do I jump in at no 8 or will I spoil the previous books if I decide to read them? I've already gathered Sherlock is married - it tells me on the blurb.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

[Cherie]

Hi Annerlee,

Locked Rooms, has references to several things that happened in previous stories, but not really detailed. The author does not really recap a whole lot of things in every book, like some do.

If you decide to read it, just go with what you do not understand. It is NOT going to spoil anything. Their relationship is very quirky, which is what I like, and who knows, you may have to start hunting for some more of the other books. I actually started the series out of order myself and intentionally read O Jerusalem out of order.

[Annerlee]

Thank you Cherie. That feels like the right answer. I'm going to go with it after I finish The Hunting Party

[Cherie]

1. Badge 2, Book 16
2. & 3. Card 6, Art/Literature-Nay
4. The Magician's Nephew
★★★★
5. I read the paperback which has 221 pages.
6. Task Requirement: Read another book by C.S. Lewis or another Irish author.
7. State how the book fits the criteria: The book is by C.S. Lewis.
8. Specifications: none.

I read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe / The Magician's Nephew some time ago and have always planned to read the series in chronological order. The Magician's Nephew is listed as #6 in the series but is #1 in the chronological order. So - two down and five to go...

[Janice, Moderator]

✔️

[Cherie]

1. Badge 3, Book 18
2. & 3. Card 22, History-Yay
4. Cry, the Beloved Country
★★★★
5. I listened to an audiobook from my library. The hc is 316 pages.
6. Task Requirement: The book is set in South Africa or written by a South African author.
7. State how the book fits the criteria: The book is set in South Africa in 1946. Alan Paton was a South African author.
8. Specifications: none.

A very moving story and the audiobook performance by Michael York is one not to be missed.

[Cherie]

1. Badge 3, Book 19
2. & 3. Card 5, Entertainment-Nay
4. Night Broken
★★★★★
5. I read the ebook from my library. The hc is 341 pages.
6. Task Requirement: Genre is Paranormal Fantasy.
7. State how the book fits the criteria: Paranormal Fantasy is listed in the Main Book Page.
8. Specifications: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

I loved it! It was such a great story in this series. I am so glad I got to read/listen to so many of them for this challenge.

[Shirley]

Cherie wrote: "1. Badge 3, Book 19
2. & 3. Card 5, Entertainment-Nay
4. Night Broken
★★★★★
5. I read the ebook from my library. The hc is 341 pages.
6. Task Requirement: Genre is Paranormal Fantas..."Hey Cherie, you are really zooming along.

[Janice, Moderator]

✔️

[Cherie]

1. Badge 3, Book 20
2. & 3. Card 9, History-Yay
4. The God of the Hive
★★★★★
5. I read the ebook from my library. The pb is 354 pages.
6. Task Requirement: The cover has an airplane on it.
7. State how the book fits the criteria: There is an airplane on the cover of the book.
8. Specifications:

This book was a follow on to The Language of Bees, which ended in a cliff hanger.

[Janice, Moderator]

✔️

[Shirley]

Cherie wrote: "1. Badge 3, Book 20
2. & 3. Card 9, History-Yay
4. The God of the Hive
★★★★★
5. I read the ebook from my library. The pb is 354 pages.
6. Task Requirement: The cover has an airplane..."
Wow - 5 stars. Isn't it great to read a book and say that you absolutely loved it?

[Cherie]

Yes, Shirley. I really love the author’s treatment of the characters in this series. The mystery in this book was especially spellbinding. It also had a profoundly human element around family and friendship and at the last, loyalty.

[Cherie]

1. Badge 3, Book 21
2. & 3. Card 8, Geography-Nay
4. Garment of Shadows
★★★★★
5. I read the ebook from my library. The hc is 266 pages.
6. Task Requirement: Read a book set in Africa or written by an African author.
7. State how the book fits the criteria: The book set in and around Fez, Morocco - in North Africa in 1924.
8. Specifications: none

This is the twelfth book in the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series. I did not realize until I started reading it, that it would fit this task. Some of the characters in this story have appeared in two previous books. The situation in Morocco, with the Rifi uprising and the fighting between the tribes in the Spanish controlled part of Northern Morocco and the French controlled protectorate was very interesting. Turns out that Holmes' fifth cousin was Marechal Lyautey, on his mother's side.

[Cherie]

1. Badge 3, Book 22
2. & 3. Card 4, Geography-Nay
4. Hell Bay
★★★★
5. I listened to an audiobook from my library. The hc is 304 pages.
6. Task Requirement: Read a book set on an island.
7. State how the book fits the criteria: The story in the book takes place on a remote island off the coast of Cornwall, called Godolphin Island, the last in the Isles of Scilly group. The Isles are real, but Godolphin is not.
8. Specifications: none

This is the second book of this series on Card 4. Not planned, just happy circumstances. I am having a great time listening to the books in this series, narrated by Anthony Ferguson.

They had a talent show, of sorts, one night and one of the MCs, Thomas, recited E. A. Poe's Annabel Lee. His comment "One cannot go wrong when reciting Poe. I've always thought the man was one part hack and three parts genius."

[Cherie]

1. Badge 3, Book 23
2. & 3. Card 19, Entertainment-Nay
4. The Woman in Black
★★★
5. I read the ebook from my library. The hc is 216 pages.
6. Task Requirement: The book is a ghost story.
7. State how the book fits the criteria: The book is definitely a ghost story.
8. Specifications: none

This book was one of the Group Read titles for April. Not my favorite genre, but it was a well written story that I will like to forget sooner rather than later.

[Janice, Moderator]

✔️

[Anne ✨]

Cherie wrote: "1. Badge 3, Book 19
2. & 3. Card 5, Entertainment-Nay
4. Night Broken
★★★★★
5. I read the ebook from my library. The hc is 341 pages.
6. Task Requirement: Genre is Paranormal Fantas..."
I loved it! It was such a great story in this series. I am so glad I got to read/listen to so many of them for this challenge

I have'nt read this author, and she has so many books... I'm happy to see how much you've enjoyed this series, I'm going to add book 1 to my TBR!

[Cherie]

1. Badge 3, Book 24
2. & 3. Card 7, Science-Yay
4. Palace of Treason
★★★
5. I listened to an audiobook from my library. The hc is 480 pages.
6. Task Requirement: Book is set in Russia or written by a Russian author.
7. State how the book fits the criteria: Most of the story takes place in Russia, mostly in Moscow.
8. Specifications: none

This is the second book in the Red Sparrow trilogy. I did not like it as much as the first book. It was quite long and drawn out. I am on the fence now, whether I will read the last book. I really do not care all that much for the characters.

[Roz]

Goodness, Cherie. You've been moving along quickly. And I admire the way you've been able to kill 2 birds with 1 stone killing off some of your series.

[Janice, Moderator]

✔️

[Cherie]

1. Badge 2, Book 17
2. & 3. Card 30, History-Nay
4. The Museum of Extraordinary Things
★★★★
5. I read the ebook from my library. The hc is 368 pages.
6. Task Requirement: The title has the word "Museum" in it.
7. State how the book fits the criteria: The word "Museum" is in the title.
8. Specifications: none.

Interesting story, beautifully told with compelling characters. The historical references including the Shirtwaist Factory Fire and the catastrophic fire of the newly renovated Dreamland on Coney Island the day before opening in 1911 were well researched and gruesome in details. "The living marvels", the characters in the carney shows and museums showed a side of how these people made their living and was well detailed. Something that we would never think about today.

[Cherie]

Now, I really have to finish Where the Crawdads Sing .

[Cherie]

1. Badge 3, Book 25
2. & 3. Card 27 Entertainment-Nay
4. The American Agent
★★★★
5. I listened to the audiobook from my library. The hc is 384 pages.
6. Task Requirement: Theme is WWII.
7. State how the book fits the criteria: The story in this book takes place in August though October of 1940, prior to and during the German blitz of London and the Englinsh country side.
Maisie and her friend are Ambulance drivers at night and her business assistant is an Air-Raid Warden. During the day, Maisie and Billy work with the secret service and the American Embassy representative to solve the murder of an American woman working alongside Robert Morrow, broadcasting the conditions of the British to the American public.
8. Specifications: WWII listed in the MBP

This is the last of the Maisie Dobbs series books. The quotes in the story and the news broadcasts really added to the reality of what it was like for the British having bombs dropped on them every night. It also discussed the plight of the American men that went to England to become fighter pilots and fight against the Germans while the USA government did everything they could to keep up the isolationist propaganda and the news from the American public.

[Cherie]

1. Badge 3, Book 26
2. & 3. Card 30, Geography-Nay
4. Old Scores
★★★★
5. I listened to an audiobook from my library. The hc is 294 pages.
6. Task Requirement: The cover has a historic or landmark building on it.
7. State how the book fits the criteria: The book cover shows the Big Ben Clock Tower, in Westminster, London.
8. Specifications:

I had not planned this one, but lucked out that the Big Ben Clock tower was featured on this series issue, both the audiobook and the hardcover copies. #9 in the series and we finally find out how one of the MCs got the scar on his face.

[Cherie]

1. Badge 3, Book 27
2. & 3. Card 26, Sport-Nay
4. Blood Is Blood
★★★★
5. I listened to an audiobook from my library. The hc is 320 pages.
6. Task Requirement: The story has a competition/contest in it. It doesn't need to be a main theme, just so long as the event is significant.
7. State how the book fits the criteria: There is a standing arm wrestling contest in a pub in chapter 18 between the brother of one of the main characters and the leader of a gang of criminals. It was very well documented and quite exciting and graphic.
8. Specifications: none.

Another serendipity find for a challenge task and another good story in the series. One left now.

[Janice, Moderator]

✔️

[Cherie]

1. Badge 3, Book 28
2. & 3. Card 5, Geography-Nay
4. Island of the Mad
★★★
5. I read an ebook copy from my library. The hc is 309 pages.
6. Task Requirement: The book is set in Italy or written by an Italian author.
7. State how the book fits the criteria: A little more than 50% of the story takes place in Venice, Italy.
8. Specifications: none.

This is the last, currently published book in the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series. It was set in June 1925. Cole Porter, his wife Linda and Elsa Maxwell and her partner Dickie were the featured historical figures. Fascists, Il Duce, and Blackshirts were also part of the background story, along with "Moral management" of the insane also came into the story-line. A fun scene had Mary driving a motor boat for the owner as he taught himself how to water ski. We take so many things for granted today. When and where DID water skiing begin???

[Janice, Moderator]

✔️

[Cherie]

1. Badge 3, Book 29
2. & 3. Card 27, Art/Literature-Nay
4. His Bloody Project
★★★★★
5. I listened to an audiobook from my library. The hc is 290 pages.
6. Task Requirement: There is a house on the cover.
7. State how the book fits the criteria: There is a stone house on the cover.
8. Specifications:

I was searching for audiobooks narrated by Antony Ferguson and found this one available from my library web site. What a story! Another "planned" book bumped off my list.

[Janice, Moderator]

✔️

[Janice, Moderator]

This is one of my favourite books. I see you gave it 5 stars as well.

[Shirley]

Cherie and Janice, I also loved that book.

[Lucy]

Looks like I'm adding this one!