♞ Pat Attempts the Great Alphabet Challenge

[Janice, Moderator]

I deal with book series like I do tv serious. I'm along for the ride until the story lines become repetitive or stale and then I move on.

[♞ Pat]

Janice wrote: "I deal with book series like I do tv serious. I'm along for the ride until the story lines become repetitive or stale and then I move on."


Yep. I don't watch too much television, but my hubby is a total addict, so I usually sit in my recliner with my earbuds and a book while he watches. At least we are in the same room. And sometimes, he can get me to watch a movie or binge watch a series IF it's a short one. If it goes more than a couple of seasons, I start to lose interest. I'm an easily distracted hamster.

The Rats book - I'm proof reading it as a possible "book flood" release for my daughter for Christmas this year. I'm buying her ONE new release from each month of 2025 to give her this year on Christmas Eve. Wrapping each of them individually and then tagging them to be opened on that same month of 2026.

January's title was Witchcraft for Wayward Girls which I haven't read yet, but will this month!

[Janice, Moderator]

What a great gift idea! I like that. I have Witchcraft for Wayward Girls on my wishlist. Another one that was released today that I'm really interested in is Isola.

[♞ Pat]

Janice wrote: "What a great gift idea! I like that. I have Witchcraft for Wayward Girls on my wishlist. Another one that was released today that I'm really interested in is Isola."

Yes. She is a manager for Barnes and Noble which is a lot like being a librarian. Surrounded by books, no time to read. I told her what I wanted to do, and she liked the idea.

My original thought was to get books we could buddy read, but then I realized I wanted to be sure the books were GOOD before I bought her a copy, so I'm doing quite a bit of ARC stuff this year.

Isola - not on MY radar. I"m off to check it out. You aren't the only one adding to your TBR from conversations!

[Janice, Moderator]

Tit for tat! LOL

I have a personal challenge where I read a new release every month. It doesn't need to be specific to the month, just needs to be published in 2025.

[♞ Pat]

BADGE 1 , BOOK #11
THEMES, T
The Holdout by Graham Moore
Hardback
Pages ~ 336
Read ~ 2.8.25
Task Summary ~ TRUE CRIME
Rationale ~ A true-crime podcast produces a docuseries, reassembling the jury in a famous murder case, on which one juror influenced the outcome, with disastrous repercussions.
4☆

This book was a dark horse. I'm surprised at how quickly I got into it and how good it was. Great plot, great characters, a nice pair of crimes, a lot of time in court, and some fun twists at the end. Just a really nice little book.

[Janice, Moderator]

Don't you love finding gems like that? I'm reading a book like that right now, Haunting Charlie. At first, I thought it was going to be light silly urban fantasy, but i'm becoming quite engrossed - and even scared. I can't wait to go to bed to read more.

[♞ Pat]

I really DO love finding one that is a happy surprise. There are so many books like that - ones that don't get all the hype and advance billing that they need to make it to the best seller lists or the choice awards or even to the six digit number of reviews that would get them more attention.

So maybe I'll check out your Charlie book. Right now, Addie Larue has me quite engrossed!

[Janice, Moderator]

I finished the book last night. It wasn't a 5 star read, but it was enjoyable and had me turning pages instead of the light switch.

[♞ Pat]

I just finished Addie Larue. I don't know how I have managed to go so long without actually reading that one. It was GOOD. Of course, I knew it HAD to be, what with all the hype and awards and stuff, but still....

Thought it wasn't my thing. Turns out it was right up my alley.

[Janice, Moderator]

I love when that happens. :)

[♞ Pat]

Janice wrote: "I love when that happens. :)"

ME TOO!

I'm reading a new release at the moment, which I put on my Amazon first reads a couple months back. Title is Glamorous Notions. Sort of a light read, which I need after the tome that was Addie Larue, but it's a good story. Don't know that it fits any particular TASKS for here, but it fits a couple in my other two annual challenges. My last ones for this badge are sitting in my queue for next week's reads. Then I'll see about starting a second badge. Probably one of the easier ones - names or titles.

[Janice, Moderator]

I got Glamour Notions from Amazon first reads. I have like Megan Chance's other books so I thought it might be worthwhile.

Did you report your Addie Larue book?

[♞ Pat]

Janice wrote: "...

Did you report your Addie Larue book?"

No. It didn't fit any of my remaining tasks here. :-(

I'm working on my "Women" book at the moment.

[Janice, Moderator]

Okay, a book "just because" then. :)

[♞ Pat]

Janice wrote: "Okay, a book "just because" then. :)"

Kind of. I'm participating in the ATY52 challenge this year as well, and using some of those prompts to fill the tasks here and vice-versa.

I'm doing that particular challenge with a Reading In Order, so the books have to fall a particular way, and some of the prompts from there just haven't quite matched up. But a lot of them have, and I'm loving how nicely these two challenge are playing together. One narrows the other narrows the first one. It makes book selections much easier (so far).

[♞ Pat]

BADGE 1 , BOOK #12
THEMES, W
Looking for Jane by Heather Marshall
Hardback
Pages ~ 400
Read ~ 2.12.25
Task Summary ~ WOMEN
Rationale ~ Pre-Roe, unmarried girls pregnant out of wedlock, Catholic adoption homes, and back alley abortions. Extremely relevant in the post Dobbs era
4☆

1971, 1980, and 2017 timelines. I grew up during this era - the 60's and 70's were volatile times with massive political upheaval and changes brought about by the empowerment of women and people of color. It was a vivid and scary time to be alive. I knew, of course, of the Roe v Wade decision as I was in my mid-teens when it happened, but what I did NOT realize was that Canada also had restrictive abortion laws.

The Underground Network of Janes provided a way out for terrified women (many young and unmarried, some wives of abusive husbands, poor women with too many mouths to feed already and husbands who refuses to not exercise HIS marital rights over their bodies, many victims of rape and/or incest) who would otherwise face bleak and hopeless futures. Men have always been ready (and sometimes over eager) to shame and punish women for being sexual. Things haven't really changed all that much. It's depressing that we are having to have this fight all over again. It's like shoveling sand off a beach.

[♞ Pat]

BADGE 1 , BOOK #13
THEMES, P
Saltblood by Francesca De Tores
Hardback
Pages ~ 368
Read ~ 2.18.25
Task Summary ~ PIRATES
Rationale ~ Historical fiction tale of Mary Read, legendary pirate, born in 1685. Anne Bonny and Calico Jack are featured as well. Blackbeard's head is mentioned...
4☆

It's a shame that this book is so hard to get your hands on, because it's a good story. I ended up having to actually purchase the title in order to read it, and I'm glad that it will be sitting on the bookcase in my guest room for visitors to my home to enjoy as well.

It's a solid historical fiction tale, with real-life character Mary Read, legendary pirate, cast as the central MC. Pirates and seafaring abound!

[Janice, Moderator]

I see what you mean. Audible doesn't have it and Amazon only has the paperback. I'll check my library first before I order it.

[Janice, Moderator]

I have Prime, but this item has a $10.00 shipping fee. I'll keep it on the back burner for now. :(

[♞ Pat]

Janice wrote: "I have Prime, but this item has a $10.00 shipping fee. I'll keep it on the back burner for now. :("


I'm happy to send it to you my copy if you really want to read it. I ordered the hardback copy from Amazon and the cover is beautiful! You can get the ebook from the publisher as well...

https://www.bloomsbury.com/au/saltblo...

I'm just going to store shelve it on my guest room bookshelf because I almost never reread anything. So if you want it, it can be yours. :-).

It was published in April of last year, so it's possible that it might get a push later, so if you want to wait and see, that's ok too. The offer is there if you want to take me up on it.

No pressure. ;-)

[♞ Pat]

Just two books left! Hopefully I will be Badge #1 and done by end of February.

Goal is to finish at least ONE more of the lists....
HOPE is to finish at least TWO more of the lists...

[Janice, Moderator]

Thanks for the offer, Pat. But I think it might be pretty pricy mailing a parcel across the border.

I hope to be finished badge 1 by the end of the week. I want all my toppler reads to be applied to badge 2 which with be titles for me. What do you plan to read for badge 2.

[♞ Pat]

Janice wrote: "Thanks for the offer, Pat. But I think it might be pretty pricy mailing a parcel across the border.

That makes sense. I didn't think about that part of things, and with the orange disaster and his stupid tariffs, who knows when things will get themselves sorted out. I did my part to make sure he never saw the oval office again, but ... gads. I'm just so freaking embarrassed that he's out on the global stage representing us again. I don't understand it. I doubt I will EVER understand it.

I want all my toppler reads to be applied to badge 2 which with be titles for me. What do you plan to read for badge 2...."

I will probably go with Titles. That seems to be the most easily fit into my ATY52 challenge as well. At least for the first couple of months. LOL. Then I'll be fussing and cussing and discussing to figure out how to fit the last half-dozen or so in there. It's a good challenge that you put together this time. I'm liking all the books I've read so far. ... well except for that Mythology one, but it was my first Romantasy, and I know better than to pick another one of THOSE now.

I have my next five or six title queued up for the first week of March, so we'll see how that goes. I'll get one more read this week for Badge 1, but the last one will have to wait until March rolls over. I've got three more that won't fit that last prompt, but it will sit nicely into my first March book, and then I'll be on my way again.

Let me know if you change your mind about the Saltblood book. It's just going to sit here...

[Janice, Moderator]

I'm reading The Women right now and it's set in the Vietnam War. The characters discuss how Americans were so at odds with each other with people and that there was so much dissention. I couldn't help but think that not much has changed. I also think that history will repeat itself, and it doesn't matter whether you remember or not. That might be pretty jaded.

Speaking of titles, it will be easy to plug most titles in at the beginning and much harder once you get close to finishing.

[♞ Pat]

I read The Women as an ARC last year, and knew that it was destined to be a best seller. Although I don't think it's her BEST book, the story was captivating.

I'm pretty jaded myself at this point. I no longer have words to convey how distressed I'm feeling about American Democracy at this point. The idiots of this country sold out to the oligarchs and we're now a country of "Buy Your Politicians and Get Out of Jail Free!"

[Janice, Moderator]

I share your distress. I can't imagine what it would be like living there. I trying to cut down on social media because all I do is doom scroll. My son is coming for pizza and I don't discuss politics with him. He claims that it's all about politics for me. He exaggerates.

[♞ Pat]

I try not to listen to any of it, but it's pervasive here and there's almost no way to avoid it. The man insists on being headline news every single day. He's relentless.

So I'm avoiding reality by reading as much fiction as possible to keep my off of my social media.

I'm loving my Nature book!
The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year

It's extremely meditative and hopeful, even though she's definitely an environmentalist.

[Janice, Moderator]

I was telling my son tonight that I'm reading a heavy book on Vietnam and an intense murder mystery. I said I think I need to read something light and fluffy next.

[♞ Pat]

BADGE 1 , BOOK #14
THEMES, N
The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year by Margaret Renkl
Hardback
Pages ~ 270
Read ~ 2.20.25
Task Summary ~ NATURE
Rationale ~ 52 essays written in weekly formats and separated into each of the four seasons. They feature how the gradual changing of the seasons week by week affect the flora and fauna of her backyard.
5☆

This was a really wonderful read. The essays are broken into smaller parts, with poetry and literature references as well as the author's own reflections. The overall feeling that I was left with was one of peace with the world and with myself - something that I'm in sore need of in today's hot political climate. It was very environmentally conscious, and I really loved it. I plan to purchase my own copy.

[♞ Pat]

I'm getting ready to start one called Gliff. Hoping it's a light and fluffy read, based on the blurbs. But you can never tell.....

It won't count toward my badge, but it's the last one that I need to read for the Monthly challenge for February.

That Crow book really WAS wonderful. I never reread anything, but this one, the way it's structured, it would lend itself to a yearly rereading, just one essay a week.

[♞ Pat]

Janice wrote: "I was telling my son tonight that I'm reading a heavy book on Vietnam and an intense murder mystery. I said I think I need to read something light and fluffy next."

I didn't find The Women nearly as heavy a book as The World Played Chess. That's probably one of the greatest coming of age books I've ever read.

[Janice, Moderator]

I'll make a note to avoid that book, Pat. What is so heavy for me with The Women is that the trauma is unrelenting. Yet, I'm so invested in it.

[♞ Pat]

War books are definitely tough. :-(

Gliff was definitely a book for the current political times. But...

It's really annoying when an author doesn't use quote marks to specify spoken words. It makes the overall comprehension of the text harder than it has to be, making the book more complicated than it actually is.

I'd like to rate it higher because the story itself is great, but the lack of clarity between conversations, actions, and prose is just too annoying for me to get past. Call me old fashioned.

But because of the actual content, I'm going to bump my rating up, because what annoys me won't annoy everyone.

3 stars from me

[Janice, Moderator]

I've read print books with no punctuation and found it really disconcerting.

[♞ Pat]

I just started my Villian book. It's long, so I'll be a few days but I've got the finish line in sight!

[Janice, Moderator]

Yeah!

[♞ Pat]

BADGE 1 , BOOK #15
THEMES, V
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due 4☆
Hardback
Pages ~ 576
Read ~ 2.3.25
Task Summary ~ VILLANY
Rationale ~ Throughout its 111-year history (1900-2011), the Arthur G Dozier School for Boys gained a reputation for abuse, beatings, rapes, torture, and even murder of students by staff. Despite periodic investigations, changes of leadership, and promises to improve, the allegations of cruelty and abuse continued.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida...
4☆


And DONE! Gads this was a long book!

[♞ Pat]

[Janice, Moderator]

Woohoo! Congrats on finishing the first badge.

I have The Reformatory to read for either Badge 2 (titles) or 3 (female authors).

[♞ Pat]

It was a good one, but it wasn't The Nickel Boys. That one broke my heart.

[Janice, Moderator]

I haven't read that one.

[♞ Pat]

Janice wrote: "I haven't read that one."

Oh my gosh. You should. EVERYbody should.

[♞ Pat]

BADGE 2 , BOOK #1
TITLES #W
We Could Be Rats by Emily R. Austin
Hardback
Pages ~ 256
Read ~ 3.4.25
Task Summary ~ (W)e
3☆

What Did I think of it? ~ This book wasn't really as good as I expected it to be, for as long as I had to wait to get it from the library hold queue. It's has a long wait list. The book is essentially a split narrative about suicide. The first half of the book is written by Sigrid, the younger sister. Interestingly, the chapters she writes are numbered as attempts - attempt 1, attempt 2, attempt 3, etc. It's bizarre reading, and it's hard to figure out what she is talking about most of the time, but as you put these chapters together, a character emerges. By the second half - written by Sigrid's elder sister who is trying to make sense of why her younger sister would try to kill herself - you are pretty much as clueless as Margit is. It was an interesting premise, but it was a hard book to really get into. The attempt chapters are so fragmented and cut off before the end of the chapter, you really don't know what's real in Sigrid's mind and what's fantasy.

[♞ Pat]

I'm a bit behind in my posting - I've got two more books to post out, but I'm tangled up with work and appointments this past week, so I've been READING, just not POSTING.

I'll get caught up. Hopefully tomorrow.

[Janice, Moderator]

No problem. I'll be here. :)

[♞ Pat]

BADGE 2 , BOOK #2
TITLES, #J
Jesus Out to Sea by James Lee Burke
audio
Pages ~ 204
Read ~ 3.5.25
Task Summary ~ (J)esus
2☆

Honestly, I don't even know why I picked this one up, other than there is an SRC task that asks for a graveyard or cemetary on the cover. I like James Lee Burke. I do. And I think I mentioned on here that I was thinking about starting his Dave Robicheaux series. This book, however, isn't one of those books. This is an anthology of short bits, the kind of place where an author works out whether or not a character or an idea has merit before (s)he surrenders a good chunk of life-time time to build it into a full novel. None of these vignettes have that kind of merit. It's still James Lee Burke, but not the JLB that I enjoy reading. These stories are hard biting, gritty, and feel like the dirt and grime from an oil field. I didn't enjoy my visit here.

[♞ Pat]

BADGE 2 , BOOK #3
TITLES, #H
The Herd by Emily Edwards
format
Pages ~ 352
Read ~ 3.10.25
Task Summary ~ (H)erd
4☆

Considering the measles epidemic that is currently ravaging the southern USA, and the fact that our current Secretary of Health and Human Services has a long record of being anti-vaccinations, this book is a really timely piece of reading. Two women, best friends, one the mother of a child with early childhood seizures, the other who has an autistic brother and grew up with a rabid anti-vaccine mom. They both are frantic to protect their daughters. They both are trying to do what is best. But you know where this book is going to go, and it does GO there. And there is fallout and blame and anger and grief and all the feels that you'd expect to feel with the results of their understandable decisions. I could not find it in my library, so I ended up buying my copy, which is good since several other people in my family have asked to read it once I finished. It's available on Amazon and Audible, and it's worth paying a bit for a book that looks at hard choice issues as grey rather than black and white. The author doesn't actually take a side, doing a brilliant job of addressing both sides.

[♞ Pat]

Ok. That's it for me for a bit. I'm caught up (I think).

[Janice, Moderator]

The herd sounds like a heavy read.