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message 101: by Marie (new)

Marie (mariealex) | 1103 comments 15.1 - Name of the game

Lodestar by Shannon Messenger

E - 2+ E's
I - Instructor
S - Series #4 - 7

Word : SEI (a type of whale)

Task total = 15

Points total = 85


message 102: by Ann (last edited Dec 14, 2020 08:25AM) (new)

Ann (lit_chick_77) | 551 comments 10.7 La Niña

The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin

!!!!!!
Another incredible book. I neglected everything in order to devour this, one again in audio format. I cannot overstate how excellent this series is.

This book reminded me a little of The Three Body Problem, except that this was enjoyable. Both deal with worlds with unstable climates that lead to extinction level events regularly, and what humanity does to make sure that they are still around when the planet is livable again. And of course, why the climate is such a disaster and how to try and fix it.

Obelisk was a little slower than The Fifth Season.. No, that’s not quite it - it is more narrow in focus. TFS builds a world and characters and a huge mystery, hopping around the world and time, while TOG stays mostly in one place, focuses on fewer people, and unravels the mystery a bit more. There’s not a lot of startling reveals here, and oddly not a lot of roadblocks. Things progress much more linearly, though because of the players and the factions there is a simmering tension running through everything. A crisis is coming, maybe some catharsis too, but the stage is set for Big Drama.
I am a bit confused about the motivations of one of the factions though... it is supposed to be vague right now or did I miss something because my children interrupted me so many times? It seems like they are working towards the same goal as another faction, but I guess with a different purpose in mind. I am tempted to dive into the 3rd book immediately, but I’m going to try and wait until my vacation.

+10 task. (For task clarity, the book is set at the beginning of an Ice Age)
+ 5 combo (10.9)
+10 review
+5 award

Task total = 30
Season total = 125


message 103: by Rebekah (new)

Rebekah (bekalynn) Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Post 59 Rebekah wrote: "20.7 Lifetime
Our Nig by Harriet E. Wilson

+20 pts - Task
+ 5 pts - Combo(10.2)
+10 pts - Review

Task Total - 35 pts

Review
Could anyone ha..."


I’m sorry! I meant 10.5. Although the work is classified as a novel and all names changed and towns marked as such W___________,
The intro and appendix flatly state this is the life story of the author.


message 104: by Kathleen (itpdx) (new)

Kathleen (itpdx) (itpdx) | 1727 comments 15.3 Name of the Game
We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Square 2D-Letter E - Eight or more words in title
Square 5C - Letter I - title word “in”
Square 6D -Letter N - Number in the title
Square 6E - Letter N - New author for me

Word. NINE
+15 task
+5 NAN
Task total 20
Season total: 60


message 105: by Joanna (new)

Joanna (walker) | 2309 comments 10.10 Group Reads

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

This book gets the extra star for the excellent narration of the audiobook by Tom Hanks. This first-person narrative lends itself perfectly to audio format and Hanks gives a convincing and compelling performance as the narrator.

The structure of the book is interesting, jumping about in time and memories as a story of a family unfolds with the house as the centerpiece to the lives of the family members. I loved the characters here--they had vitality and complexity. None of them was perfect, all of them were just trying to make it through as best they can. This felt especially right for 2020--the year in which we are all just trying to make it through as best we can.

Ann Patchett is one of those authors who sneaks up on you and overtakes you with solid characters and good writing that somehow feels unexpected. I should read more of her books.

+10 Task
+10 Review
+5 Combo (10.6)

Task total: 25
Grand total: 155


message 106: by Rebekah (last edited Jan 18, 2021 10:16PM) (new)

Rebekah (bekalynn) 10.4 Valentines
The Camel Club by David Baldacci

Review
I’m not a connoisseur of thriller spy novels. I do read them but usually not my number one choice out of the mystery genre I love. I think mainly because so many of them seem full of gratuitous sex and violence and they reinforce what has become a pervasive prejudice in our nation against a particular Religion. However this story wasn’t like that at all and nearly a view from “the other side”, yet still very American. There was a romantic interest without the graphic porn and violence without the detailing of body parts turned into things akin to a nauseating food substance. It also has the twists and turns and unexpected quirks that I love that keep me guessing, especially a very unusual one I’ve not read before. Even when I finally figured “who,” then it was the “why” that kept me guessing. All that I truly appreciated until the fatal flaw. I’m not one that expects an author to get every little detail right. I’m not a nit picker who would complain to the author that a certain specie of bird that is native to the western section of Papau New Guinea has a a beak ridge he didn’t mention or some such as I’ve seen readers do. This flaw though was just too much and though appearing in the latter part of the book, it spoiled the rest of it because I could no longer suspend belief and dive into the story. The pool of water was no longer there so to speak.
Here it is, a wounded vet who lost both hands, had gotten his right dominant hand replaced with a life like prosthetic. The left hand was still a metal hook. He was one of several wounded soldiers in line to shake hands with POTUS. When the President shook his right hand, the soldier saluted with his left hook. That glared out but I thought “ok, maybe could happen. Guy wanted to give the salute and President had his right hand which he still wasn’t used to”. I grudgingly gave the benefit of the doubt. But later when the Camel Club was reviewing the video of that moment and it was mentioned, an ex- soldier said “ That’s not unusual. I’m a lefty myself, and I’ll often salute with my left and shake with my right”!* That was the shot fired that killed the story! Anyone with ANY military experience, even if you are a family member of a soldier or sailor or marine or airman or even anyone with a rank system such as Law Enforcement, or even a kid in Scouts know it is NEVER acceptable to salute with your left hand as long as you have a good right hand. In fact, even if I didn’t have a good right hand, I don’t think most of us would still use our left. I hate that one detail had to ruin it for me. I finished the book, but it just wasn’t as fun as it was when I saw the story as if I was in it. I’m sure you readers understand.
Otherwise I did like the premise and plot although in the reviews, readers were all over the place. One likened it to a redo of the film White House Down, which I’ve not seen, but when looking it up, the film was released in 2013 whereas the book was written in 2005. I couldn’t find any credit to Baldacci so it may have been the other way around. Some called it “overworked”, “juvenile” and yet it appears on multiple lists that begin The Best........ Anyway I personally liked it until that flaw and I’m surprised the author hasn’t received numerous messages about that from other military people and fixed it. The comment from the Camel Club member wasn’t necessary to the story and the left hand salute was a major clue so I don’t know why it was left in.

*I may not be quoting this exactly. It was an audiobook but this was the gist of it.

Task - 10 pts
Combo - 5 pts ( 10.3)
Review - 10 pts
Jumbo - 5 pts

Task total -30 pts


message 107: by Beth (new)

Beth Robinson (bethrobinson) | 1174 comments 15.3

Baksheesh by Esmahan Aykol

Square 14B - letter Y - set in Turkey 100%
Square 10D - letter T - translated
Square 1E - letter R - series name has an R (Kati Hirschel)

Word - TRY

Task total: 15
Grand total: 210


Elizabeth (Alaska) 15.4 Name of the Game

Washington Black by Esi Edugyan

Square 15D - Letter L - Last/most recent book
Square 2B - Letter E - two or more Es in author name
Square 10B - Letter T - pub'd in the teens (2018)

Word = LET

+15 Task

Season total = 110


message 109: by Norma (new)

Norma | 1832 comments 10.2 - Christmas

Kiss the Girls by James Patterson

+10 task - #285 on list
+5 Combo - 10.3

Task total: 15
Grand total: 115


message 110: by Norma (new)

Norma | 1832 comments 10.1 -Square Peg

What She Knew| by Gilly Macmillan

+10 task (unlesss I over looked another task it fits)

Task total: 10
Grand total: 125


message 111: by Kim (last edited Dec 14, 2020 01:58PM) (new)

Kim (kmyers) | 438 comments 15.1

A Season of Secrets by Elizabeth Adams
Square 12C - letter S - series 4-7 (Sugarcreek Amish Mystery #4)
Square 2B - letter E - Author entire published name has 2 or more E's
Square 10B - letter T - Pub'd in the Teens - any century (2015)

Word = SET

+15 Task
Post total - 15
Season total: 135


message 112: by Kim (new)

Kim (kmyers) | 438 comments 15.2

The Second Chance Boutique by Louisa Leaman
Square 4B - letter D - Debut Novel
Square 9B - letter I - set on an island (England)
Square 5R - letter N - New to you author
Square 16B-letter E - Author born in Europe

WORD = DINE

Task +15
Post total - 15
Season total - 150


message 113: by Kim (new)

Kim (kmyers) | 438 comments 15.3

Master of His Fate by Barbara Taylor Bradford
Square 13B - letter T - Author born in the thirties - any century (1933)
Square 11B - letter H - MPG: Historical Fiction
Square 16E - letter E - Novel has Eight or more named characters

WORD = THE

Task +15
Post total -15
Season total - 165


message 114: by Lagullande (last edited Dec 15, 2020 09:05AM) (new)

Lagullande | 1131 comments 10.5 Author

The Quiet American by Graham Greene

+10 Task
+5 Combo (20.10)


Points this post: 15
RwS total: 40
NoTG total: -
Season Total: 40

.... .... .... .... 10.5 .... 10.7 .... .... ....
.... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... ....
.... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... ....



message 115: by Deedee (new)

Deedee | 2286 comments Task 15.02 Name of the Game

Them Bones (Sarah Booth Delaney #1) (1999) by Carolyn Haines (Goodreads Author) (Hardcover, 318 pages)

Square 10D – Letter T – Title has no “The”
Square 11B – Letter H – Author's first or last name begins with H
Square 14C - Letter Y – MPG Mystery

Word = THY

+15 Task

Task Total: 15

Grand Total: 50 + 15 = 65


message 116: by Beth (new)

Beth Robinson (bethrobinson) | 1174 comments 10.2 Christmas

Angels & Demons by Dan Brown
#159 on list

I stumbled on the movie on cable recently and became curious about the book, since we had this task. The essence of the idea of the Illuminati playing a particular role and assorted characters racing to save the people of Vatican City by solving puzzles is the same. Most twists are the same and I cannot mention them, but found the imteresting both in watching and reading. The book races forward, like an action movie, and certainly didn't seem to have the length the mpe claims. As is typical, a few subplots and a couple characters were pared down to simplify the plot for the movie and, in one spot, to provide a more satisfying ending. There were a few jarring moments that were sidelines, like the "inevitable" sudden male/female Bond-movie like ending, for all that both characters were strong and valuable during the story, and that the assassin's Muslim religion seemed to be written to be tied into his role as one of the villains. Yeah, it was historically appropriate, but it twanged.

Overall, this was a fun, pulse racing adventure built very well around a core theme of the conflict of religion vs science, with just enough philosophizing slipped in seamlessly to a conversation or internal narrative.

+10 task
+10 review
+5 award
+10 length - mpe has 736 pages
+10 combo (10.3, 10.5 robert langdon is approached because of the nonfiction book he wrote)

Task total: 45
Grand total: 255


message 117: by Katy (last edited Dec 15, 2020 12:40PM) (new)

Katy | 1216 comments 15.1 Name of the Game

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Square 15D - letter L - most recent book by author
Square 16E - letter E - 8 or more named char. (Noemi, Catalina, Florence, Virgil, Howard, Francis, Marta, Dr. Cummin, Dr. Camarillo)
Square 10E - letter T - no "the" in title
Word = LET

+15 Task

Post Total: 15
Season Total: 15


message 118: by Katy (new)

Katy | 1216 comments 15.2 Name of the Game

The Enigma Game by Elizabeth Wein
820 Lexile

Square 14D - letter Y - MPG Mystery
Square 2B - letter E - author name has 2 Es
Square 3D - letter A - MPG adventure
Square 11B - letter H - MPG historical fiction
Word = YEAH

+15 Task

Post Total: 15
Season Total: 30


message 119: by Connie (new)

Connie  G (connie_g) | 1908 comments 15.2 The Name of the Game

Raven Black by Ann Cleeves

Square 7B-Letter G-Author's name has no letter G
Square 2B-Letter E-Author's name with 2 or more E's
Square 10C-Letter T-MPG: Thriller
Word: GET

Task total: 15
Season total: 85


message 120: by Deedee (last edited Dec 15, 2020 08:37PM) (new)

Deedee | 2286 comments Task 10.8 Lunar (Tien's Task)
The New Year, 2021 will be The Year of the Ox.
Read a book first published in a year of the Ox: 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021.

Year: 1973

Evening In Byzantium (1973) by Irwin Shaw (Hardcover, 368 pages)
Review: I picked this up because I expected a “bestseller”, “beach read” type of novel from the 1970s. And my expectations were correct! This novel is from the point of view of a 48-year-old male, Jesse Craig, in the midst of a mid-life crisis. Jesse is a film producer who had great success in the past, but his most recent couple of films have been flops. He travels to Cannes, France, to attend the Cannes Film Festival and to try and jump start his movie producing career.

Parts of the novel were very dated – throwaway remarks about President Richard Nixon, dismay at long-haired young men sleeping on the beach, and the whole phone protocols the characters follow (no answering machines, stationary corded phones, requiring a human phone operator to ‘place’ a long distance call). Our hero also has the non-charming habit of evaluating every female’s appearance; only ‘attractive’ females are worthy of his attention. Jesse misses the point of what he refers to as ‘woman’s liberation’ – despite that, he does enjoy the ‘free love’ part of ‘liberation’.

Overall, the novel succeeds as a beach read/bestseller. The dated parts are unintentionally entertaining. The sexism is annoying but typical of the times. I did like the was the novel ended. Conditionally recommended.

+10 Task
+05 Combo (#10.4 Title begins with CHERUBS)
+10 Review

Task Total: 10 + 05 + 10 = 25

Grand Total: 65 + 25 = 90


message 121: by Coralie (new)

Coralie | 2769 comments 10.10.7 La Nina

The Lost Future of Pepperharrow by Natasha Pulley

+10 Task (The constant electrical storms play a major role in the story, also the fog and the snow – it was all weather!)

Task total = 10
Season Total: 140


message 122: by Tien (new)

Tien (tiensblurb) | 3114 comments 10.10 Group Reads
Salt Slow by Julia Armfield

Review
The only reason I picked this book up is because it's the only one (of a selection of a group read for a challenge) that is available on my library's borrowbox app. It is only 5+ hours and the cover looks rather appealing. Halfway through, I was really confused with all these stories and when I looked at the MPG: short stories, magical realism, horror... all 3 where I usually struggle with combined in this one book. I sort of gave up hope of understanding anything at that stage. I usually like paranormal stories for which some stories in this book hinted at but when trying to 'logically' fit these stories in terms that I actually understand, I couldn't. These stories all went over my head because I just don't understand the message. The only thing I liked was the author's prose; her way to describe certain feelings (one of 5 senses as opposed to emotions), tastes, sight, etc.

+10 Task
+10 Combo (10.3 - J for Julia; 10.4 - S for Salt)
+10 Review

Post Total: 30
Season Total: 230



message 123: by Kim (last edited Dec 16, 2020 05:55AM) (new)

Kim (kmyers) | 438 comments 20.1 Black History Month

Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin

5.0 stars - Black Like Me tells the story of a Texas journalist, who, disturbed by the conditions he sees around him, decides to look at the problems through the lens of those who live them every day, by turning his skin black and living in the black community. Nothing prepares him for the demoralizing, dehumanizing experience he has, where one day he is a respected man and the next he fears for his life. But Griffin doesn't make this about himself, and afterwards he is clear that he does not speak for the black community, but it cannot be denied that the book had a profound effect on America, coming at what would be the beginning of the Civil Rights movement. For many years he traveled America giving lectures, going to troubled cities, but always saying to the city leadership - why are you asking me these questions, you have so many black leaders among you - ask them!
The story of the 6 weeks he spent in New Orleans, Mississippi, Alabama and Atlanta is disturbing and eye-opening. He feared for his life from the moment he crossed into Mississippi until he left it, under cover of darkness a few days later, arriving during a time when lynchings were tacitly approved, when a jury refused to convict members of the mob who murdered Mack Charles Parker.
The story of John Howard Griffin is in itself fascinating, from his wartime experience rescuing children from the Nazis, his temporary blindness, his deep Catholic faith and his experience writing the book and afterwards. In the Afterword, Robert Bonazzi, a Griffin scholar, writes fifty years later, giving us further insight to the author and the book itself.
The most haunting part for me is viewing this book in the context of the Civil Rights movement and the part it played, and seeing that almost 60 years later, it is still relevant and many of the same issues are being played out in city after city across the country to this day.

+20 Task
+10 Review
+15 Combo 10.3 (J), 10.8 (1961), 10.4 (B)
+5 Style - Award - Anisfield-Wolf Book Award (1962)

Post Total: 50
Season Total: 215


message 124: by Nick (last edited Dec 16, 2020 09:11AM) (new)

Nick (doily) | 500 comments 15.1 Name of the Game

Reposted below.


message 125: by Nick (last edited Dec 16, 2020 09:16AM) (new)

Nick (doily) | 500 comments 15.2 Name of the Game

Reposted below.


message 126: by Nick (last edited Dec 16, 2020 09:20AM) (new)

Nick (doily) | 500 comments 15.3 Name of the Game

Reposted Below.


message 127: by Elizabeth (Alaska) (last edited Dec 16, 2020 09:01AM) (new)

Elizabeth (Alaska) Nick, if you could use this format, it would help Kate with scorekeeping (there are multiples of the E, I, and T):

Square 10C - letter T - MPG Thriller
Square 11C - letter H - author first or last name begins with H
Square 14D - letter Y - MPG Mystery
Word = THY


message 128: by Nick (last edited Dec 16, 2020 09:21AM) (new)

Nick (doily) | 500 comments Sure. I figured I would do something wrong at first.

15.1 Name of the Game

for Observations on the Feeling of the Beautiful and Sublime by Immanuel Kant 1st pub’d 1764
Trans. From German by John T. Goldthwaite.

Square 10D -- letter T = originally not published in English
Square 2D -- letter E – more than 8 words in title
Square 16B --letter E – Author born in Europe (East Prussia)

Word = TEE

Task Points = 15
Not a Novel Bonus = 5
1st pub’d before 1997 Bonus = 5
Total Points So Far: 25


message 129: by Nick (last edited Dec 16, 2020 09:21AM) (new)

Nick (doily) | 500 comments 15.2 Name of the Game

for War by Sebastian Junger

Square 16D -- letter E– title has no letter “E”
Square 1B -- letter R – more than 10K ratings (19, 736)
Square 3B --letter A – set in a country beginning with letter A -- Afghanistan

Word: ERA

Task Points = 15
Not a Novel Bonus = 5
Total Points This Task = 20
Total Points So Far: 45


Elizabeth (Alaska) Nick wrote: "Sure. I figured I would do something wrong at first."

LOL Thank you - and glad to see you back!


message 131: by Nick (last edited Dec 16, 2020 09:22AM) (new)

Nick (doily) | 500 comments 15.3 Name of the Game

for The Green Ripper by John D. MacDonald

Square 4E -- letter D – title has double letters “EE” and “PP”
Square 1E -- letter R – series name contains an “R” (Travis McGee)
Square 14D -- letter Y – MPG: Mystery

Word: DRY

Task Points = 15
Total Points So Far: 60


message 132: by Nick (new)

Nick (doily) | 500 comments 15.4 Name of the Game

for At the Bottom of the River by Jamaica Kincaid

Square 12B -- letter S – 80 pages
Square 16C-- letter E – 1st pub’d in the 80s (1983)
Square 9B -- letter I – set on an island (the Caribbean island is probably Antigua where Kincaid grew up)

Word: SEI (type of whale)

Task Points = 15
Total Points So Far: 75


message 133: by Valerie (new)

Valerie Brown | 3286 comments 20.10 Grand Master

A New Lease of Death by Ruth Rendell

This is the second instalment of the Inspector Wexford series. This is a story that isn’t what I would normally consider a mystery. We know right from the beginning who did it, Wexford solved that years ago and the murderer has been convicted. It seemed to be more of a study of human nature and psychology.

The most important thing you need to remember while reading this book, is that it was written before 1967 (when it was published). So, you have to be able to go along with the premise of a nervous father investigating his potential daughter-in-law’s murderous father. If you can do that it is an interesting study. Wexford has a small role in this novel, but he does hold the key. Overall, I liked it (once I understood what I was actually reading) and will try Wexford #3 at some point. 3.5*

20 task
10 review
____
30

Running total: 150


Elizabeth (Alaska) 15.5 Name of the Game

Friends in High Places by Donna Leon

Square 1E - Letter R - Series name with R (Brunetti)
Square 9B - Letter I - Island (Venice)
Square 4E - Letter D - Double Letter (Donna)

Word = RID

+20 Task

Season total = 130


message 135: by Kate S (new)

Kate S | 6459 comments From Post 62

Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "10.7 La Nina
From Dead to Worseby Charlaine Harris
Bon Temps got hit by Hurricane Katrina in this installment of the Sookie Stackhouse series.


Task +10
Grand Total: 10"


+5 Combo 20.10


message 136: by Karen Michele (new)

Karen Michele Burns (klibrary) | 5290 comments 10.8 Lunar (Tien's Task)

The Case of the Lame Canary by Erle Stanley Gardner

+10 Task (1937)
+15 Combo: 10.4 Valentine's / 20.2 Jazz / 20.10 Grand Masters

Task Total: 25
Season Total: 100


message 137: by Karen Michele (new)

Karen Michele Burns (klibrary) | 5290 comments 20.2 Jazz

The Conjure-Man Dies: A Mystery Tale of Dark Harlem by Rudolph Fisher

+20 Task
+ 5 Combo: 10.4 Valentine's

Task Total: 25
Season Total: 125


message 138: by Karen Michele (new)

Karen Michele Burns (klibrary) | 5290 comments 20.10 Grand Master (Elizabeth (Alaska)'s Task)

The Deeds of the Disturber by Elizabeth Peters

+20 Task

Task Total: 20
Season Total: 145


message 139: by Joanna (new)

Joanna (walker) | 2309 comments 15.3 Name of the Game

Followers by Megan Angelo

Square 7C - Letter G - GR auth
Square 2B - Letter E - 2+e in auth name
Square 6E - Letter N - New to me auth
Square 8D - Used as Letter E - Wild Card (E)
Word: GENE

Task total: 15
Grand total: 170


message 140: by Valerie (new)

Valerie Brown | 3286 comments 20.7 Lifetime

A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle

This is the first Sherlock Holmes novel. It is short, but it is divided into two parts.

The first part is where Holmes and Watson meet and end up rooming together. A murder occurs and the police (who have worked with Holmes previously) are a little stumped so they call Holmes in (Watson accompanies). We get to see Holmes at work, which is fun. Of course, he determines a great deal at the crime scene and certainly has enough evidence to find the killer.

Then the second part begins in the American desert! What? I knew this was going somewhere, and it was well written so I ‘went with the flow’. Of course, this is the in-depth description of the motive. We follow the victims and the killer to Europe finally landing in London – and right into Holmes’ Baker St. lair.

I really enjoyed this mystery. It was a well thought out and slightly complicated plot – all told compactly. 4*

20 task
10 review
5 combo 10.4
_____
35

Running total: 185


message 141: by Kathleen (itpdx) (new)

Kathleen (itpdx) (itpdx) | 1727 comments 15.4 Name of the Games
A Good Man is Hard to Find and Other Stories by Flannery O'Connor

Square 5D-Letter I - No letter "i" in author name
Square 7B-Letter G - No letter "g" in author name
Square 7E-Letter G - "Good" in title

Word: GIG

+15 task
+5 NAN short stories
+5 oldie
Task total: 20

Season total: 80


message 142: by Denise (new)

Denise | 1827 comments 15.3 Name of the Game

All the Good People I've Left Behind by Joyce Carol Oates

Square 2B  -  letter E - 2 or more E's in author name
Square 7E  -  letter G - "Good" in title
Square 13B - letter T - author born in 30's

Word = GET

+15 task
+  5 not-a-novel
+  5 pub'd 1979

Task total=25
Season total=75


message 143: by Tien (new)

Tien (tiensblurb) | 3114 comments 20.5 Africa
Life and Times of Michael K by J.M. Coetzee

Review
Michael K has no particular love for his mother especially since they've lived estranged from each other and he spent most of his life in an institution due to his hare lip and simple mind. Whether his mind is truly simple is up to the reader to decide. Even as he accepted his duty to care for his sick mother, he appears to able to take initiatives and the necessary steps to get things done; to make his mother happy at first and later on, his freedom. He drifted through the roads and war, at times caught by the army or police but always he found ways to be free. Life and Times of Michael K was fairly easy to read through but I have no particularly strong feelings about it except to admire protagonist's ability to live simply and taking joy in the earth [I've 2 brown thumbs].

+20 Task
+10 Combo (10.3 - J; 20.3)
+10 Review
+15 Prizeworthy

Post Total: 55
Season Total: 285



message 144: by Norma (new)

Norma | 1832 comments 10.3 - Winter

The Modeen Transformation by Frank H. Jordan

+10 task

Task total: 10
Grand total: 135


message 145: by Norma (new)

Norma | 1832 comments 15.4 - Name of the Game

The Stonecutter by Camilla Läckberg

Square 15C - letter L - 400+ pages
Square 16B - letter E - born Europe - Sweden
Square 10D - letter T - translated

Word - LET

+15 task

Task total: 15
Grand total: 150


message 146: by Norma (new)

Norma | 1832 comments 20.6 - Caribbean

Private Paradise by Jami Alden

+20 task
+5 Combo - 10.3

Task total: 25
Grand total: 175


message 147: by Rosemary (new)

Rosemary | 4307 comments 10.3 Winter

Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death by James Runcie

The first instalment in an ultra-cosy mystery series set in Grantchester, on the edge of Cambridge, which was also the setting of Rupert Brooke's 1912 poem that ends "Stands the Church clock at ten to three? And is there honey still for tea?" The amateur sleuth here is the local vicar, Sidney Chambers, a canon although still only in his thirties, who helps out a policeman friend. Sidney is single, and there are various claims on his heart running as a thread through the stories - because yes these are short stories, not a novel.

I needed a real comfort read, and this seemed to fit the bill, but I was a little disappointed at the lack of depth caused by having to introduce new series characters in a short story format. It would have been better to start with a novel and have short stories later, when the characters were already established and the author could focus on sharpening the plots. Still it was enjoyable enough.

+10 Task
+10 Review
+ 5 Combo (10.4)

Task total: 25
Season Total: 165


Elizabeth (Alaska) 20.10 Grand Master

Some Lie and Some Die by Ruth Rendell

So I've read all of the Barnaby (Midsomer) books and have turned to Wexford. It may be that the only thing they have in common is that they take place away from London. Caroline Graham (Barnaby) seemed to find groups of people who lived lives out of the norm while Ruth Rendell seems more drawn to lonely people. I'm not certain why I'm even trying to make comparisons - maybe just to direct my thinking.

I noticed in The Veiled One a reference to a place called Sundays. I chose not to question the name. This novel is an earlier installment in the series and appears to be where the location called Sundays begins. It will be fun to see if it crops up again. Anyway, the name comes from the estate being at one time owned by Sir Geoffrey Beauvoir de Saint Dieu. I remember just barely enough of my high school French to be momentarily confused how that translated to Sundays. In another place is: She was killed up there. I'm as sure of that as I'm sure I'll never be the Maigret of Marumi. There is not much humor in the series, but I will now be watching for it!

Back to Sundays ... The novel opens with thousands of young people flocking to the vicinity of Kingsmarkham for what looked to be the UK equivalent of Woodstock. I remember these times of great open air weekend-long, even week-long, concerts, held in fields. The 1970s were an interesting time, to say the least. As I anticipated, a body was found before the weekend ended.

I'm not going to exaggerate and say I'll love this as much as Brunetti, but I'm happy to have found this series. When I rate this just 3-stars, don't be fooled and think I didn't enjoy it, because I did. It's just hard to rave. What I *can* rave about is that it fills a slot in both my 20th Century Women's challenge and my 20th/21st Century Mysteries Challenge. I'll take that to the bank (reading-wise, of course).

+20 Task
+10 Review
+10 Combo (10.3, 10.8 - pub'd 1973)

Task total = 40

Season total = 170


message 149: by Connie (new)

Connie  G (connie_g) | 1908 comments 15.3 Name of the Game

Mystery in White by J. Jefferson Farjeon

Square 4E-Letter D-Double trouble
Square 5C-Letter I-Title Word "in"
Square 6E-Letter N-New to you author
Word: DIN

+15 task
+ 5 pub before 1996 (1937)

Task total: 20
Season total: 105


message 150: by Coralie (new)

Coralie | 2769 comments 10.3 Winter

The Good Doctor by Damon Galgut

+10 Task

Task total = 10
Season Total: 150


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