2021 October Reading Challenge

[Elizabeth]

For October's reading challenge, it's time to read True Crime. A brand new title you might try is My Brother the Killer: A Family Story by Alix Sharkey, for a local angle you could read Ted Bundy: America's Most Evil Serial Killer by Al Cimino. If murder isn't what you're looking for try The Gardner Heist: The True Story of the World's Largest Unsolved Art Theft by Ulrich Boser or The Orchid Thief: A True Story of Beauty and Obsession by Susan Orlean. For a more historical crime, you might enjoy Duel with the Devil: The True Story of How Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr Teamed Up to Take on America's First Sensational Murder Mystery by Paul Collins.

In November, the library is hosting a mystery event for adults called "Who Dun It: Noir Night at the Guilded Keys" and to support that program, all libraries should have a True Crime display up in their libraries in October.

Dress the part as you carefully investigate the contents of various rooms, mingle with suspicious characters, and gather clues to catch a jewel thief and murderous mastermind in this adult-themed, immersive 1940s evening full of fun and suspense.

This is an adult-themed event, so leave the kids at home. Film-noir costumes are encouraged. Free photo booth images will be available.

For free tickets and information:
thecountylibrary.org/WhoDunIt

(The website will go live in October, make sure to check back and get your tickets!)

[Britt, Book Habitue]

Oooh Gardner Heist has been on my list forever....

[Elizabeth]

Britt, Book Habitue wrote: "Oooh Gardner Heist has been on my list forever...."

Not gonna lie, the Gardner Museum might be my favorite museum I've ever been to. It is wonderful!

[Debbie]

Cool! Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann is next on my list to read. Since I was going to read it October anyway, works out perfectly! And another book not for a kidlette.

[Elizabeth]

Debbie wrote: "Cool! Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann is next on my list to read. Since I was going to read it October anyway,..."

That's awesome! I'm glad you had something that works on your list.

[Teresa]

I'm considering The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary, Killer Show, or The Wolf of Wall Street.

[Linda]

This will be hard for me. There are not too many books in the category that excite me.

[Becky]

I'm going to read The Trial of Lizzie Borden

[Elizabeth]

Linda wrote: "This will be hard for me. There are not too many books in the category that excite me."

Linda, you could always try juvenile non-fiction. These books sound really fun Daring Heists: Real Tales of Sensational Robberies and Robbers or Escape at 10,000 Feet: D.B. Cooper and the Missing Money or even Weird But True: Stupid Criminals: 100 Brainless Baddies Busted, Plus Wacky Facts.

[Audrey]

I already started Ripper: The Secret Life of Walter Sickert. Does that count?

[Linda]

Elizabeth wrote: "Linda wrote: "This will be hard for me. There are not too many books in the category that excite me."

Linda, you could always try juvenile non-fiction. These books sound really fun [book:Daring He..."

Thank you. I will look into those.

[Greg]

For anyone to whom true crime does not appeal, primarily because most true crime revolves around murder, there is a useful list of non-violent true-crime novels that may be of interest: https://dbrl.bibliocommons.com/list/s...

[Debbie]

WOW! Cool, Greg, for posting this!

[Teresa]

I finished The Wolf Of Wall Street audio book. At first, it was fascinating, like a slow motion train wreck.


Spoiler alert?


It quickly became too unpleasant, with the near constant cussing, insults and drug fueled outrageous behavior. The man is/was a sexist, racist, classist, lying, bribing, absolutely wasteful, disrespectful drug addict thief who defrauded people out of two hundred million dollars. He served less than two years in prison and paid back a measly $100,000 out of the one hundred million he was ordered to and he's still a multi-millionaire. I slogged through the last 6+ hours of the audio book. I can't recommend the book and I will never watch the movie.

[Susan]

I just started “My Brother the Killer”. Can’t wait to read it all. The beginning is great.

[Audrey]

I also started The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary. Only then did I remember I've seen the movie of it! It was good. The book kind of rambles at times.

[Becky]

I finished The Trial of Lizzie Borden. I listened to the audiobook and the reader was very droll. The text was also very dry and like reading a dissertation, BUT, the case is so compelling and interesting. I was on the edge of my seat listening to the closing arguments. Ultimately, it was a very good read!

[Elizabeth]

Teresa wrote: "I finished The Wolf Of Wall Street audio book. At first, it was fascinating, like a slow motion train wreck.


Spoiler alert?


It quickly became too unpleasant, with the near constant cussing, i..."

I am so disappointed that he hasn't paid his fine. One of my favorite tv shows was Leverage, and the show runner for that show often tweets about interesting crimes, but he has a saying, "A fine is a price." We let white collar criminals and rich people get away with too many issues, and then not even paying back the entire fine, and this person is not back in jail. ARGH.

[Elizabeth]

Audrey wrote: "I also started The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary. Only then did I remember I've seen the movie of it! It was good..."

Ooh, I remember being interested in the movie, but I never got around to seeing it. I'll have to look it up again.

[Elizabeth]

Becky wrote: "I finished The Trial of Lizzie Borden. I listened to the audiobook and the reader was very droll. The text was also very dry and like reading a dissertation, BUT, the case is so com..."

I'm glad you enjoyed it. :D

[Debbie]

Becky wrote: "I finished The Trial of Lizzie Borden. I listened to the audiobook and the reader was very droll. The text was also very dry and like reading a dissertation, BUT, the case is so com..."

One thing I liked about the book was the author never gave any sense of her own opinion of Lizzie's guilt or innocence.

[Debbie]

I have finished Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann.

[Em]

I read The Island of Lost Maps: A True Story of Cartographic Crime as my true crime selection. An interesting read.

[Greg]

Utah Hornbakers wrote: "I read The Island of Lost Maps: A True Story of Cartographic Crime as my true crime selection. An interesting read."

That one looked really interesting to me. Did you like it?

[Linda]

Even though this was't my favorite challenge, I actually managed to read two books. Daring Heists: Real Tales of Sensational Robberies and Robbers and Lawbreaking Ladies: 50 Tales of Daring, Defiant, and Dangerous Women from History

[Britt, Book Habitue]

I read (listened to) Start by Believing.... but I'm not sure it counts.
We'll see if I get around to something that fits the challenge better.

[Debbie]

Britt, after looking at the description of the book, it most definitely qualifies for this challenge. They were crimes; they truly, horribly happened. Even if it was mostly a description of the fight to get the truth to light, the same was true of Killers of the Flower Moon. The fight to bring justice in a system that didn't want to 1) acknowledge there was a real problem and 2) stop it.

[Debbie]

Greg wrote: "Utah Hornbakers wrote: "I read The Island of Lost Maps: A True Story of Cartographic Crime as my true crime selection. An interesting read."

That one looked really interesting to me...."

ditto

[Debbie]

We are about a week out from November's Challenge. Any ideas about what new and exciting realms we will visit for that?

[Greg]

Debbie wrote: "Britt, after looking at the description of the book, it most definitely qualifies for this challenge. They were crimes; they truly, horribly happened. Even if it was mostly a description of the fig..."

Agreed. In my experience, True Crime genre novels rarely focus on the crime, usually focusing on the efforts to solve them or fight them. Count it!

[Elizabeth]

Linda wrote: "Even though this was't my favorite challenge, I actually managed to read two books. Daring Heists: Real Tales of Sensational Robberies and Robbers and [book:Lawbreaking Ladies: 50 T..."

That's great! I'm glad you participated even though it's not your favorite genre.

[Em]

Greg wrote: "Utah Hornbakers wrote: "I read The Island of Lost Maps: A True Story of Cartographic Crime as my true crime selection. An interesting read."

That one looked really interesting to me...."

Yes, I would recommend it.

[JoAnn]

Debbie wrote: "I have finished Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann."

Debbie wrote: "Cool! Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann is next on my list to read. Since I was going to read it October anyway,..."

I just finished it today. I couldn't put it down, so read it in two days. Absolutely horrible. And I thought The Unanswered Letter: One Holocaust Family's Desperate Plea for Help, which I also read this month was hard.

[Deborah]

I had a hard time getting into this one. Still working on my book. Hopefully I will finish by the end of the month.

[Greg]

It took me a while to get to this one, this month! I read Billion Dollar Whale by Tom Wright & Bradley Hope.

For good measure, I also read Molly's Game: From Hollywood's Elite to Wall Street's Billionaire Boys Club, My High-Stakes Adventure in the World of Underground Poker by Molly Bloom.

And I started, but have yet to finish, Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit by John E. Douglas, Mark Olshaker. I should finish it in the next few days.

8/8 for 2021

[Elizabeth]

Just a couple more days you guys! I know you can do it. Don't forget to put what you've read to get entered into the drawing.

[Debbie]

And November's Challenge is?

[Elizabeth]

Debbie wrote: "And November's Challenge is?"

I posted it yesterday, Debbie. If you click on Discussions, it should be near the top of the Reading Challenges area. :D

[Debbie]

Elizabeth wrote: "Debbie wrote: "And November's Challenge is?"

I posted it yesterday, Debbie. If you click on Discussions, it should be near the top of the Reading Challenges area. :D"

It did not show up in my notifications until after even this message! Interesting. I'll double check next time.

[Elizabeth]

Debbie wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "Debbie wrote: "And November's Challenge is?"

I posted it yesterday, Debbie. If you click on Discussions, it should be near the top of the Reading Challenges area. :D"

It did not..."

That is so odd.

[Whitney]

I almost forgot to post! But I did read The Gardner Heist by Ulrich Boser and I listened to Priceless by Robert K Wittman.

[Mary]

I read The Rope:A True Story of Murder, Heroism and The Rise of The NAACP by Alex Tresniowski

[Deborah]

I made it! I read The Unusual Suspect: The Rise and Fall of a Modern Day Outlaw by Ben Machell for this challenge.

[Elizabeth]

Happy Halloween!

Good job for everyone has finished. You have until midnight to post what you've read and be entered into the prize drawing. I'll draw the winner in the beginning of November.

Good luck!

[Audrey]

I finished The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary.

I also made to the appendix of Ripper: The Secret Life of Walter Sickert.

[Debbie]

Audrey wrote: "I finished The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary.

I also made to the appendix of [book:Ripper: The Secret Life of Wa..."

When I get to the appendix (as opposed to the epilog) I consider the book done. Even if I know I'm going to read through the appendix for added information.

[Audrey]

I'm not sure if it counts here or not. But I did finish the other book. It was labeled true crime, but most of it wasn't about the crime.

[Elizabeth]

Britt is our prize drawing winner for October 2021s reading challenge for reading Start by Believing: Larry Nassar's Crimes, the Institutions that Enabled Him, and the Brave Women Who Stopped a Monster by John Barr.

Congratulations!

[Audrey]

Cool!

[Debbie]

Hooray Britt. And you were wondering if it would count!