December 2022 REPORTING Thread - Chime Rang Out

[Janice, Moderator]

Again this month, there will be no scoring. When you report your completed challenge, tell us which task you chose, explain how your book met the prompt, and give a short blurb about your boook.

[Katrisa]

WoF Katrisa
I read Holidays on Ice which both starts with an H and has the word Holidays!
This book is a mixture of Sedaris family stories (always hilarious) and a few fiction short stories. This is probably my favorite Christmas book. It makes me laugh every time even though I have listened to it multiple times. I heart David Sedaris!

[Sharon]

WoFSharonBiskit

I read A Little Christmas Spirit. There is a string of lights on the cover. Best of all, it was a sweet little story but not overly sappy like some can tend to be! I enjoyed reading it as I decorated my tree in between chapters.

[Jenn]

WoF - Jenn

I read The Diamond Eye which was just as amazing as I expected it to be. I have loved everything that Kate Quinn has written (that I have read so far), and am sure that I will continue to do so.

To fit this task, it is classed as Historical Fiction :D

[♞ Pat]

I just finished

The Last Green Valley by Mark T. Sullivan

Historical Fiction - based on a true story of real people - about the Ukrainian migration to Poland (protected by the Germans) ahead of the invading Soviets. I had no idea this had even happened. I love it when I learn something about history that I didn't know. The book was...I think Janice called it "preachy"...and there was definitely an element of that there - not enough to call it "Christian Fiction" but it was a tad over emphasized. Still, I can understand how going through that ordeal would either convince an individual one way or the other of the existence of a higher power.

Stalin was worse. That's what stuck with me.

[Janice, Moderator]

♞ Pat wrote: "I just finished

The Last Green Valley by Mark T. Sullivan

Historical Fiction - based on a true story of real people - ab..."

I found his other book Beneath a Scarlet Sky to be in a similar vein and maybe that's why I felt Green Valley to be a bit preachy.

[Cherie]

Pat - I read both of Sullivan's books and never associated preachy for either of them. I loved them both.

[Cherie]

Wof Cherie

I read The Long Ships for the "Historical" prompt. It is listed as Historical Fiction.

This book was nominated for one of the December group read books, but it did not win. It happened to be available to me, so I downloaded it.

It was a Viking story. The main character, Orm, and his friends and family had many adventures throughout the course of the story. The story, set in the 10th century, is a saga of many of the events that happened over the course of Orm's life. The Vikings were raiders, preferring to rob for food and livestock wherever they could find people eeking out a living close to the shore. They killed and were captured and treated as slaves all over Europe. They killed Christians when they found them, and were eventually converted (babtised) themselves.

I listened to the audiobook version, narrated by Michael Page. He

[Trudy]

WofF TrudyAn

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini ((author's last name begins with H).

I have finally gotten around to the book that everyone else read 15 years ago. I'm relieved that it fully lived up to the hype. The plot follows the progression of life in Afghanistan from the 1980s through to the rise of the Taliban. What a tragic story. Character development was strong, and I loved Miriam and Laila. The author is a great storyteller, writing without complexity, but able to elicit an emotional response from the reader.

[Lilisa]

WoF - Lilisa

I listened to A Woman in Berlin (10 hours, 26 minutes) - historical nonfiction.

For eight weeks during the fall of Berlin in World War II a young woman in her 30s kept a diary. This is her account of how civilians survived, or not, as the Russian army entered and occupied the city. There was horror and brutality. There was also compassion and human dignity. Not everyone on the winning or losing side is good or evil. The book is about the relationship between the civilians and the occupying army - it was complex. The author documents her thoughts, struggles for survival, interactions with members of the Russian army, and what happened around her during those eight weeks. It was an impactful and sobering listen.

[Jayme, Moderator]

WoF Jayme
I read Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese. It begins with an H and is also historical fiction.

This was a solid 4 star read. It weaved the Salem witch hunt, the Scottish witch hunts and the novel The Scarlett Letter into a rich and interesting story. What I found most interesting though was the condition known as synthesthesia where people see colors when they hear sounds. The MC has this condition as did her aunt and grandmother which is why they were considered witches. I didn't know anything about it until I read this book - fascinating. Apparently, Billie Eilish has it as well.

[Laura (Lclwags)]

WoF Laura(Lclwags)
I chose to read a book that begins with the letter H and listened to Hooked. It's a dark romance that is sort of a Peter Pan retelling where Hook gets the girl. It probably could have used a couple trigger warnings, and it's definitely for mature audiences! It was ok. The storyline wasn't great, but I don't think that was the main focus of the book. *wink*

[♞ Pat]

Jayme wrote: "WoF Jayme
I read Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese. It begins with an H and is also historical fiction.

This was a solid 4 star read. It weaved the Salem witch hunt, t..."

That one is on my read list for the coming year. It sounds like a good read!

[Jane Reads]

WoF - Jane Reads

I read April Fool Dead by Carolyn G. Hart, an author whose last name begins with H.

This book is #13 in the Death on Demand cozy mystery series. Death on Demand is MC Annie's mystery bookstore, where she will host a book signing on April 1st for local mystery writer Emma's latest book, Whodunit. Annie promotes the signing with flyers and a treasure hunt, which a murderer sabotages with a fake contest and copycat flyers implicating others in several local suspicious deaths. Annie and Emma work together to discover whodunit, so that the event for Whodunit goes off without an April Fool hitch.

I didn't enjoy April Fool Dead as much as the other books in the 26-book series. There's a lot going on, and the plot gets confusing at times. I will still continue the series, however.

[Anna]

Wof Anna M



I read Frog Music a historical fiction book based on the true story of a murdered 19th-century cross-dressing frog catcher*by Emma Donoghue. Set in San Francisco, 1876. Historical Fiction

Donoghue's is one of my favourite authors and this book didn't disappoint. This is not much a mystery novel but more a character study & story of Blanche whose lives changes after she meets Jenny. The story has dual timeline. Before Jenny was murdered ( not a spoiler) and After.

*wiki

[Sue Q]

.


WoF Sue Q

I read The Women of the Copper Country by Mary Doria Russell for a Historical Book (tagged as Historical > Historical Fiction.

The book is about a mining strike in a town in Michigan and the women behind the strike movement. (Fighting for an 8-hr day, fair pay, and removal of the one-man drill, etc.) It primarily focuses on a woman called Big Annie and her contributions to the movement.

[Lanelle]

WoI Name - Lanelle

I decided to read an H book. I went with Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer.

Joan Bauer is one of my favorite authors. I love how her main characters deal with serious issues in positive ways and inspire those around to be good and true. Hope Was Here was a Newbery Medal nominee in 2001.

[Peggy]

WoF Peggy

I read Het schaduwspel which is historical fiction. Overall I really enjoyed it and rated it 4 stars. It was interesting to read some more about this part of Dutch history, especially about Jan Pietersz. Coen, who is very famous but also very controversial.

[Janice, Moderator]

WoF Janice

I read Monk's Hood for the challenge. It fits the historical fiction prompt. I like this series because it's light reading. Brother Cadfael is such a gentle fellow and his herbalism skills are interesting. In this one, the plant Monk's Hood was used as poison and Brother Cadfael was on the case, trying to save the innocent and find the guilt.

[Camilla]

WoF Camilla

I read Twelve Slays of Christmas. Cozy mysteries aren't my favorite genre, but I needed a Christmas-themed book for a few other challenges, so I happily noticed it worked for this monthly challenge as well. It fits the option "Read a book with a sting of lights or several candles are featured on the cover", as it has Christmas lights in the trees.

I'd say a fairly normal representation of a harmless cozy mystery book. Wouldn't want to read this one in June, LOL!

[Margo]

WoF margo

I listened to Hamnet whivh is both a book beginning with H and a historical fiction novel.

I enjoyed the story very much both for the historical detail and the writing. The book is a fictional account of the life of William Shakespeares wife Agnes, or at least a portion of it. Interestingly Will is almost a side character in her story. Maggie O'Farrell is a writer I have meaning to pick up for a long time and I'm delighted that I finally did. Can't wait to read more from her.

[Kristie, Moderator]

WoF: Kristie

I chose The Villa by Rachel Hawkins for the author's last name begins with H task. The author's last name is Hawkins.

There were two timelines in this story. In one there is a murder committed in a villa in Italy in the 70s. The other timeline is more recent with a couple of best friend authors spending some time in the same Villa. One of the authors begins to investigate the murder and... well, things happen.

[Kira]

WoF Kira's Treasures

I chose The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett for a book that is historical in nature. It is a historical fiction book.

The book followed two timelines, one for the twins Desiree and Stella and the other for their daughters, Jude and Kennedy. The lives of all these characters were encompassed beautifully throughout the book and I really enjoyed this. I had it on my TBR for a long time and I am glad to have finally read it.

My Review

[Lynn]

WoF - Lynn

I read Holiday Romance which both starts with an H and has the word Holiday!

For the past nine years, Molly and Andrew took the same flight from Chicago to Ireland for Christmas. During those 7 hours each year, sat next to each other, they have become become the best of friends. This year, their 10th anniversary, their flight is cancelled due to a storm, and we follow them as they try to get home for Christmas.

A cute fluffy holiday romance that did exactly what I was looking for.

[Anna KR]

WOF-Anna's Reading Life

I read The Painted Castle by Kristy Cambron which has three time periods, 1800s, 1940s and present day which are linked via a painting located in a manor property in Framlingham, East Suffolk County, England.

There is a bit of romance, mystery and fits the challenge as it is also historical fiction.

[Amanda (Mandy)]

WOF Name: Amanda(Mandy)

I read Holiday Romance.
It fits the challenge in that the title begins with "H" and also the title has Holiday in it.

This is a fun Romantic Comedy about 2 friends who have the tradition of flying together from Chicago to Ireland every year. Once they reach Ireland, they split up to visit their respective families. This year their flight gets cancelled so you follow their adventures trying to get home for the holidays. It was a great book and a light holiday read.

[Ayacchi]

WoF Aya

I read Bundori for Historical Mystery.
The story set in Edo period when Japan was under the rule of shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi. This is the #2 book in the series and here, the MC had to catch a head-trophy killer to fulfill his father's dream of the way of warrior and to show his loyalty to his lord, the shogun. Historical wise, it was enjoyable to read. It's a good fiction to learn about Japanese history, culture, and society, for there are many facts in it. But story wise, it wasn't as thrilling as I thought it would be.

[Pragya]

WoF Pragya

I read Lessons in Chemistry for historical fiction.

This was a real quick read, a page turner. There is chemistry (both literally and figuratively), lots of drama, and humor. It's about two chemists who fell in love and how the mystery unfolds about their families and life struggles. Also, includes a lot about feminism, just what I like.

[Robin]

WoF Robin from KY

I read Something From Tiffany’s by Melissa Hill. It fits the challenge because the author's last name starts with the letter "H."
I listened to the audiobook version of this book. It was a quick listen, 9hrs & 33mins. It was a very cute holiday read. Well, the beginning of the book was set in NYC at Christmastime, but later it was set in Dublin & London post Christmas. So essentially the book was not all Christmas-y. It was mostly about a mix up of gifts of from Tiffany's. One gift was an engagement ring, while the other was a charm bracelet. The gifts are given to their unintended recipients, and an unexpected engagement happens. The man, who had planned to propose to his girlfriend attempts to get his ring back, but things aren't as simple as they should be.
The book has been adapted to a movie by Reese Witherspoon's production company Hello Sunshine, and is available on Amazon Prime.

[Stacy]

WoF Stacy SP

I read Hex on the Beach by Gina LaManna

I enjoyed this, a fun start to the series. Lily, the MC, is just a normal person doing a normal job. Then she is approached by two witches, who inform her that they are her aunts and actually she is the next mixologist. (A special witch who can make powerful potions)
This fits the task because the title begins with a H.

[Almeta]

WoF Almeta

Read a book that begins with the letter H .

I read Hideous Kinky.

It was set in Morocco, a great place for a "coming-of-age" story for two young girls, and a "find-myself "story for their mother. I gave it 4 stars.

[Janice, Moderator]

Badges are posted. Please let me know if I've missed anyone.

[Sue Q]

Thank you for the badge Janice!