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Laurel's Chronicles of a Crazy Cat Lady (2025 Lists and Reviews)
Oh dear, I've done it again. Audible had an 85% off sale...I picked up 13 titles, at an average $4 apiece...
The Odyssey
The Iliad
The Waringham Chronicles, Volume 1: The Runaway
The Waringham Chronicles, Volume 2: The Wheel of Fortune
The Waringham Chronicles, Volume 3: Revolutions
Illuminations
The Shadowy Horses
Named of the Dragon
The Clockmaker's Daughter
The Chocolate Maker's Wife
Clear
West
Whale Fall
Laurel wrote: "Oh dear, I've done it again. Audible had an 85% off sale...I picked up 13 titles, at an average $4 apiece..."
🤣🤣🤣 I mean it was a sale...
#37
Castle of Refuge3 green stars.
Series: #2 of 6: A Dericott Tale
I found this tedious at times. It is, well, it is very much a fairy tale. Teen Christian historical fiction, with the emphasis on teen and Christian. Audrey is not the plucky heroine that Delia was in book one. She doesn't believe in herself, and she makes some very impulsive, foolish decisions. But since it is a fairy tale, there will be a charming prince (okay, a duke, or is he a viscount?), any danger will be quickly resolved, and of course they will live happily ever after. It is an adequate retelling of The Ugly Duckling, but I found it all much too simplistic. I'm not really the audience for these, still, I might pick up another when I want something mindless with a feel-good ending.
Description: Ever since she was a child, Audrey wanted her life to be extraordinary. But as the daughter of a viscount born in late fourteenth-century England, the only thing expected of her was to marry—until an act of malice by her sister, Maris, four years ago damaged her face and her prospects. Though Maris was sent away, twenty-year-old Audrey is still suffering the scars of her sister’s cruelty. When her father announces his plans to marry off his damaged daughter and bring Maris home, Audrey decides to flee in search of her true destiny. Life outside her home is dangerous, and Audrey soon finds herself attacked, sick, and in desperate need of help. She is taken in at Dericott Castle to be nursed back to health. While there, she decides to keep her identity a secret and work as a servant in the castle. But she doesn’t count on falling in love with the young and handsome Lord Dericott, who lost his arm several months earlier and bears scars of his own.
Cumulative pages: 10,444
Mod
I picked up 13 titles, at an average $4 apiece..."
🤣🤣🤣 I mean it was a sale..."
tsk tsk... Naughty... LOL 👍
#38
Tidelands4 red stars.
Series: Fairmile #1
Vivid and minute detail of time and place, but fairly glacial pacing until the very end. I don't know if that served to ratchet up the tension or not. Part of the persistent feeling of dread that permeates this book relates to the very real dangers for women in this time period. Especially a single woman, with a precarious marital status, who works in the healing arts, and has to constantly bend over backwards to avoid any talk of magic or witchcraft. She doesn't have strong opinions about the religious differences of her time, but she does have a pretty rigid moral code that she lives by. This makes her relationship with the very young Catholic priest rather hard to believe, but people do sometimes make bad choices. I loved her fierce devotion to her two children. Alinor has a hard life, but she has the determination to make the best of things. I'd like to imagine that she represents the strong women ancestors that we all have surely had. Despite some of the plot being quite predictable, I did like the ending where her daughter had to quickly grow up and make some difficult decisions of her own, showing the same strength, moral character, and devotion of her mother. I look forward to seeing what becomes of Alinor and her family in the next book in the series.
Description: On Midsummer’s Eve, Alinor waits in the church graveyard, hoping to encounter the ghost of her missing husband and thus confirm his death. Until she can, she is neither maiden nor wife nor widow, living in a perilous limbo. Instead she meets James, a young man on the run. She shows him the secret ways across the treacherous marshy landscape of the Tidelands, not knowing she is leading a spy and an enemy into her life. England is in the grip of a bloody civil war that reaches into the most remote parts of the kingdom. Alinor’s suspicious neighbors are watching each other for any sign that someone might be disloyal to the new parliament, and Alinor’s ambition and determination mark her as a woman who doesn’t follow the rules. They have always whispered about the sinister power of Alinor’s beauty, but the secrets they don’t know about her and James are far more damning. This is the time of witch-mania, and if the villagers discover the truth, they could take matters into their own hands.
Cumulative pages: 10,899
#39
Wandering Stars4 red stars.
In some ways, I liked this better than There There. It stuck to one family rather than a whole cast of unrelated characters. So it had some continuity. You could almost say this is a coming of age story of the three brothers, and it had a more hopeful and redemptive feel to it, despite the overall topic of addiction. I was disappointed, however, that as a generational saga, I just didn't see the continuity. We learn so little about Jude Star and his son that it could have been left out of the book entirely. I wanted so much more. Where the first book really excelled was in the whole identity question - what did it mean to be native American? But here, it seemed as if the three boys were so removed from their heritage - but not the legacy of discrimination and addiction - that I'm not sure that mattered in the end. The focus was all about surviving, overcoming, and healing from trauma, whether the more nebulous generational thing, or the more immediate traumas of gun violence, addiction, cancer, dementia, and loss of parents. It will be interesting to see where Tommy Orange goes from here.
Description: Colorado, 1864. Star, a young survivor of the Sand Creek Massacre, is brought to the Fort Marion prison castle, where he is forced to learn English and practice Christianity by Richard Henry Pratt, an evangelical prison guard who will go on to found the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, an institution dedicated to the eradication of Native history, culture, and identity. A generation later, Star’s son, Charles, is sent to the school, where he is brutalized by the man who was once his father’s jailer. Under Pratt’s harsh treatment, Charles clings to moments he shares with a young fellow student, Opal Viola, as the two envision a future away from the institutional violence that follows their bloodlines. In a novel that is by turns shattering and wondrous, Tommy Orange has conjured the ancestors of the family readers first fell in love with in There There—warriors, drunks, outlaws, addicts—asking what it means to be the children and grandchildren of massacre. Wandering Stars is a novel about epigenetic and generational trauma that has the force and vision of a modern epic.
Cumulative pages: 11,214
#40
Her Majesty's Mischief5 purple stars.
Series: Simon & Elizabeth #4 (and final)
I am so sad to finish this series. I wish there were more! Plotwise, I am not a fan of dual alternating storylines, but I did like both and it was lovely to see Calkin again and to leave him with a HEA. So, perhaps not really a "purple" for me, but at least a blue "rounded up", and I wanted my rating to reflect my love for this series overall. In the first book, Simon and Elizabeth are both young teens who form an unusual kind of friendship. Each subsequent book jumps ahead multiple years to bring Simon and Elizabeth back together at different points in her life, reflecting her circumstances under Edward VI, and Mary. In book 4, she has been the Queen of England for 5 years, and Simon is well-established in his apothecary business with a wife and two children. I love that the author tries to make these stories as realistic as possible, and that she tries to give an accurate portrayal of Queen Elizabeth's character. That is important to me in historical fiction. Also, Simon is just such a good and loveable and honest person.
Description: Simon Maldon is sent by Queen Elizabeth to form an honest assessment of the Scottish queen's character. With Simon gone, his son Henry, wife Hannah, and old friend Calkin delve into the murder of Simon's brother-in-law, Will Clark. Determined to hide his crimes, the killer is willing -- even eager-- to murder again. Simon faces his own trials when Scottish outlaws capture his party. In order to thwart their leader's grandiose schemes, Simon must escape and make his way to Edinburgh. Will the rough men of the Marches help or leave the Englishman to make his way as best he can?
Cumulative pages: 11,453
Mid-June update:I think it was a mistake (well, not really, but definitely unrealistic...) to have so many C categories this year. If I even manage one of each list that will be an accomplishment! My pyramid goals are also problematic because there isn't a lot of overlap. I haven't made much progress in Chronicles (2 out of 10 so far), City/Country (0 out of 9), Cornwall (1 out of 8), Clubs (1 out of 7), and Canada (0 out of 6). The lower numbers aren't so difficult, but I think I do need more of a plan. So, I think I'm going to prioritize Chocolate for the rest of June (only need 3 titles for that one), and Composers (4) is the RTT theme for July. Corgis I'm not worried about, so let's say Canada for August, Clubs for September, Cornwall for October, and City/Country for Nov. Corgis can be December if I need it. I'm doing fine on Cozy and Cats. That leaves Chronicles, and maybe I can fit in one or two a month for the rest of the year. I'm about to start
READ The Strength of His Hand (Chronicles of the Kings #3) on audio. I've got
READ Dark, Witch & Creamy on Kindle, and
READ The Chocolate Maker's Wife is available on Libby.
As for all the unfinished leftovers, I just added up all the pages, and if I read 16 pages a day, more or less, on any of them, they'll all be done by the end of the year. I've got 8 titles - 4 in progress but paused - and the other 4 are chunksters that I've been trying to read for years. Prioritizing
READ First Knight because I started it in January! and I may get a good chunk of reading time tomorrow because I'm taking my car to the mechanic - it was overheating this week with the AC on - and I could be sitting waiting for several hours.
So that relieves my angst about the leftovers, and I get to start something new. Win/win!
Now, I need to get outside and do some weeding. And still have some things to plant before the heatwave hits us on Saturday and Sunday.
#41
The Strength of His Hand3.5 pink stars
Series: Chronicles of the Kings #3
Not as good as the previous book, but it still tells a good story. I do like her interpretation of the characters, and their genuine struggles with faith, forgiveness, and morality. Where this didn't work as well for me - It got very preachy at times, and relied far too much on quoting wholesale from the Bible, even foreshadowing with prophecies of the Messiah. I thought it made some of the dialogue rather cumbersome. This is the conclusion of Hezekiah's story. The next book in the series continues with the next generation. I loved the characters of Jerusha and Hephzibah. We didn't see that much of Hephzibah in the previous book, as it was really Jerusha's story. This story deepened Jerusha's character, who had come from being a slave of the Assyrians, to a woman of deep faith, and who defies her husband in reaching out to the banished Hephzibah. All in all it is a moving tale with lots of drama and unexpected humor. It just got a bit over the top at times.
Description: The legacy Hezekiah has established as one of Judah's great leaders is threatened: his beloved wife, Hephzibah, remains barren. Desperate to provide a successor to her husband's throne, Hephzibah makes a forbidden pact with the fertility goddess Asherah. Feeling repulsed and betrayed by her act of idolatry, Hezekiah destroys the pagan shrine. But in his rage, he himself is critically injured. As Hezekiah struggles to redeem his wife and save his nation, the aged prophet Isaiah arrives with divine instructions for the king to put his house in order and choose a successor. With his life--and the future of his kingdom--hanging in the balance, Hezekiah once more cries out to the Lord.
Cumulative pages: 11,784
July plans:I am really not ready for July. How is the year half over already? After a couple of very nerve-wracking days this week I traded in my old Ford Focus for a "new" 2024 Prius LE hatchback. Yeah, I was a nervous wreck making that decision, but I am going to LOVE this car. I get to drive it to Madison, WI, next week for the chamber music workshop I'm attending, and then to Rapid City the following week for my mother's funeral service. It's a good thing I am still 5 books "ahead" of my goal, because except for audiobooks (which I can now listen to on the car's system again!) I don't think I will be keeping up.
My July focus is going to be on composers, and it is also the RTT July theme. The only one I could find on audio was
READ Illuminations. I've also got a cat mystery checked out on Libby:
Cat on the Edge (since returned for lack of time. Will rerequest later...)
Substituted
READ Cat About Town
For now I'm still finishing
READ The Lady of the Tower (Audible) and reading
READ Dark, Witch & Creamy.
Still have two more "chocolate" books to read
READ The Chocolate Maker's Wife and
Chocolate House Treason
Book club reads for July are
READ Clear and
READ The Frozen River
I have both on audio.
That leaves the cover color challenge (red or blue). I could read
The Heir of Douglas: The Scandal That Rocked Eighteenth-Century England (red) or
The Jacobite's Wife (blue) both of which fit the RTT 18th century theme.
Or I go for making a dent in my City/Country theme with
City of Dreams (blue)
Blood Country (both) or
City of Darkness (both)
I'm still working on a number of leftover/stalled items too which I won't elaborate, but you can see what they are in the next post...
JULY LOGFinished:
The Tasha Tudor Family Cookbook: Heirloom Recipes and Warm Memories from Corgi Cottage - finished early July
First Knight (Archive.org) - finished Jul 13
The Lady of the Tower - finished Jul 16 on audio and reread in print July 29
Illuminations - finished Jul 22
Cat About Town - finished Jul 27
Dark, Witch & Creamy - finished Jul 30
Counterpoint: Theo, Earl of Suffolk - short story, finished Jul 30
Counterpoint: Barbara, Lady Villiers - short story, finished Jul 31
Currently reading:
Braids of Song: Weaving Welsh Music into the American Soul - started Mar 23
Wanderland - started Apr 9
Sugar and Slate - started May 28
Mozart's Sister - started Jul 30
Clear - started Jul 31
Next up:
Company of Liars - Audible
The Chocolate Maker's Wife
The Frozen River
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Vivaldi's Virgins - checked out on Libby
The Conquest - Kindle
Waiting for holds:
Isaiah's Daughter
The Ghost Cat
James
Still might read:
Queen By Right - restarted Nov 1 (PAUSED)
Chocolate House Treason
Wolf Hall
The Odyssey
The Summer Queen
New Acquisitions:
The Bear Pit - Kindle .99
The Brothers Crawford: Colonel William, 1722-1782 and Valentine Jr., 1724-1777 - Heritage Books, $66
By Love Divided - Kindle, $3.99
The Winter Garden - Kindle, $1.99
The Fourth Daughter - July First Reads
The Women of Arlington Hall - July First Reads
The Quiet Librarian - Audible, $2.99
The Conquest - Kindle, $4.99
#42
First Knight3.5 pink stars.
In 1994, Chadwick was asked to write a novelization of a screenplay that was being made into a movie by Columbia Pictures. She was given four months for the task. This came somewhat early in her writing career. The movie was good, but not great. It tries to be a hero's tale, revolving around Lancelot, and is somewhat based on the tale "The Knight of the Wagon." We have King Arthur late in his reign and in the midst of a civil war with Malagant. Guinevere is the heiress of the neighboring kingdom of Leonesse, and she hopes that marrying the much older Arthur will provide protection for her people. She meets Lancelot on the way to Camelot when he comes to her rescue in a kidnapping attempt by Malagant. The book follows the movie quite closely, with a few additions providing some backstory for the characters. So Chadwick doesn't have the scope to improve much on the plot, but where she shines is in her descriptions that bring action and the time period to life. I could visualize the movie as I read. It's a quick read, and the action moves right along. Why it took me 5 months to read this - I kept putting it off for other things. As an Arthurian tale, it is somewhat unimaginative and almost entirely lacking in actual romance. But that is not the fault of Ms. Chadwick. I think she did an admirable job of making Guinevere a strong and capable character in her own right. So if you liked the movie, you will probably like the book. Likewise if you are a Chadwick completist.
Description: This is a novelization of the 1995 motion picture by Columbia Pictures, starring Richard Gere, Sean Connery and Julia Ormond. Official blurb: "All the colorful characters and events of fabled Camelot come vividly to life in this unique new account of the legendary King Arthur, Lancelot du Lac, and Guinevere, Lady of Leonesse. Here is a Lancelot never before revealed -- a fearless drifter who sold his sword for money until he found something truly worth the battle. Here, too, is a different Guinevere, a warrior queen...and wise King Arthur Pendragon, who would go to any length in order to save his people. Lancelot was First Knight -- until his love for Guinevere tested his loyalty for his king. Thrill as this chivalrous trio defends the Round Table from the murderous rogue Malagant in a fantastic rendition of an enduring tale."
Cumulative pages: 12,080
I couldn't resist. And it's not as if I don't have enough to read. But I added a new category - Cafes - with 10 titles to message #7 above.
#43
The Lady of the Tower4.5 blue stars.
Series: The Lydiard Chronicles #1
A sweeping saga of a book, covering the first 27 years of the Stuart dynasty, through the eyes of Lucy St. John and her sisters. With the death of Elizabeth I their ancestral connection to royal favor is ended. Seduced and then rebuffed by a powerful lord, Lucy rejects court life and turns to her studies of plants and healing, and expects to have a quiet life of solitude, while her relatives are all jockeying for favor and scheming in various ways to have a life of power and prestige. Then Lucy meets the much older Allen Apsley and he promises not to curtail her independence if she marries him. He is no stranger to court politics, and eventually he is appointed the warden of the Tower of London. The family relationships are fascinating. We see the court from inside and out. From James I to Charles I, and the powerful Howard and Villiers families. But we also follow Lucy to Guernsey, then to a remote estate in Wales, and eventually back to London. Fortunes are built according to the whims of the rich and powerful, or following the lure of riches to be made in the New World, whether seeking Spanich gold, or engaging in the slave trade. And her husband is not immune to such schemes. Deeply in debt as the king requires more and more money to finance his extravagant lifestyle, we see the beginnings of what will become Civil War in England. The novel is based on family archives, court documents, diaries, and letters. It is dense with history, people, and places as family fortunes are made and lost, and Lucy comes alive as a very compelling character.
Description: Lucy St.John, a highborn orphan at the glittering court of King James, is drawn into a dangerous affair with the Earl of Suffolk—a fateful choice that creates powerful enemies. Betrayed by her sister, Barbara and cast out in disgrace by the formidable Countess of Rochester, the Earl's vengeful sister, Lucy’s life at court is shattered. An unexpected marriage elevates her to the position of mistress of the Tower of London, where she faces the harsh realities of plague, political upheaval, and tragic executions of both enemies---and friends. As Barbara's fortunes rise through a marriage into the powerful Villiers family, Lucy is drawn into a dangerous game of power and survival. Lucy must navigate a perilous path, fighting to protect her honor, her family, and her very survival.
Based on the true story of Elizabeth St.John’s ancestor, Lucy St.John, this critically acclaimed novel offers a vivid portrayal of one woman’s resilience in the face of betrayal, and her courageous journey through the turbulent politics of seventeenth-century England.
Cumulative pages: 12,428
#44
Illuminations3.5 pink stars
I thought this novel was probably true enough as historical fiction. I have loved her music for years, and the poetry of her writings, but there is much about her life that I did not know. However, I felt that this book reduced her life to the horrors of being an anchorite, having to fight for the rights and recognition of women within the medieval church, and her relationships with two particular women - Jutta of Sponheim and Richardis von Stade. What I didn't get was any sense of how her visionary theology developed, how did she learn music, all of her scientific and medical writing, her traveling and preaching (later in life), and how did her visions inform all of her creative process. She was such a remarkable woman, and this didn't do her justice in my opinion. But perhaps that is an impossible task.
Description: Hildegard experienced mystic visions from a very young age. Offered by her noble family to the Church at the age of eight, she lived for years in forced silence. But through the study of books and herbs, through music and the kinship of her sisters, Hildegard found her way from a life of submission to a calling that celebrated the divine glories all around us. An outspoken critic of political and ecclesiastical corruption, she courted controversy and nearly died an excommunicant. Her courage and originality of thought continue to inspire today. In this brilliantly researched and insightful novel, Mary Sharratt combines fiction, history, and Hildegardian philosophy into a moving portrait of a woman willing to risk everything for what she believed, a triumphant exploration of the life she might well have lived.
Cumulative pages: 12,702
#45
Cat About Town3.5 pink stars
A pretty ordinary cat cozy mystery. I gave an extra 1/2 star because I thought the setting on an island off the coast of Massachusetts was believable and adequately described. I wouldn't say it was integral to the plot, but it has possibilities. I also liked the relationship between Maddie and her grandfather. The cat is pretty ordinary, except that he squeaks instead of meows (I have one of those...) and walks around happily on a harness. It's hard to avoid cliches, I'm sure, so here we have stray cat found in a cemetery (why is it always a cemetery?), beautiful old Victorian house in danger of being sold, at least two potential love interests, the murder victim is someone everyone hated, at least one character connected to the local police (in this case there are two, her father, and a former boyfriend). The murder itself was rather mundane. Plot is not a big element. I was more interested in the side mysteries - just what mysterious "job" is her grandfather involved in? (You know he isn't the murderer....) And, who is the mysterious benefactor helping to save the house, and support the local animal shelter by planting the idea that Maddie and her grandfather should start up a cat cafe? (Hope that's not a spoiler, since the series is called Cat Cafe Mysteries...) But we won't see that happen unless we read the next book in the series...
Description: Maddie James has arrived in Daybreak Island, just off the coast of Massachusetts, eager to settle down and start her own business―and maybe even fall in love. When a stray orange tabby pounces into her life, she’s inspired to open a cat café. But little does Maddie know that she’s in for something a lot more catastrophic when her new furry companion finds the dead body of the town bully. Now all eyes are on Maddie: Who is this crazy cat-whisperer lady who’s come to town? If pet-hair-maintenance and crime-fighting weren’t keeping her busy enough, Maddie now has not one but two eligible bachelors who think she’s the cat’s pajamas . . . and will do anything to win her heart. But how can she even think about happily-ever-after while a killer remains on the loose―and on her path?
Cumulative pages: 12,997
#46
The Lady of the Tower5 blue stars.
Reread.
Yes, I am counting this book again, since I have finished reading it in print, after finishing it on audio. And I have raised it from 4.5 to 5 blue stars.
Cumulative pages: 13,345
#47
Dark, Witch & Creamy3 green stars.
Just okay for a first of series. It was light and easy to read, but very twee and even a little cornball at times. This should probably be marketed as young adult, or even middle grade. The setting is interesting, but a little inconsistent. It is supposed to be remarkably hard to find, and yet it is full of tourists all the time. Some of the characters are fun - I liked her cousin Pomona, the Widow Mags and her granddaughter Evie, whose attempts at magic always go awry, the very old vampire Viktor, who seems to have made himself Caitlyn's unofficial bodyguard. The mystery is okay, but the resolution is very unsatisfying, and then there are too many side mysteries left hanging, that I suppose are supposed to get you to keep reading the series. Like who is Caitlyn's mother? So, anyway, treat this as an introduction to the setting and characters, but not quite ready for prime time. It has potential for those who like The Munsters or Bewitched.
Description: Caitlyn's world changes when she learns that she was found as an abandoned baby and adopted by her American family. Now, her search for answers takes her to a tiny English village where a man has been murdered - and where a mysterious shop selling enchanted chocolates is home to the "local witch"... Soon Caitlyn finds herself fending off a toothless old vampire, rescuing an adorable kitten and meeting handsome aristocrat Lord James Fitzroy... not to mention discovering that she herself might have magical blood in her veins! When she's dragged into the murder investigation and realises that dark magic is involved, Caitlyn is forced to choose. Can she embrace her witchy powers in time to solve the mystery and save those she loves?
Cumulative pages: 13,809
#48
The Tasha Tudor Family Cookbook: Heirloom Recipes and Warm Memories from Corgi Cottage3 green stars.
Forgot to add this - read early in July. Didn't write a review. I liked the Tudor family trivia throughout, but the recipes themselves were pretty standard fare and a bit underwhelming. Not a keeper to add to my cookbook collection.
Cumulative pages: 14,051
August Plans:I don't think I'll be finishing another book this month, unless I jump on those Lydiard Chronicles novelettes tonight or tomorrow (actually, a pretty good chance I'd say.) I'd say it's been a hard month for reading but I've managed to keep ahead of my goal. I've created a sort of priority list for the rest of the year, but it's mostly leftovers that I've mentioned time after time, so I'm not going to post it here, but I'll keep it near the computer for easy reference.
Okay, the seven most pressing titles... if I combine the pages counts of all 7, and read 20 pages of just those every day, all will be finished by the end of the year. Three of them are "currently reading" but really they've been stalled, and I hereby pledge that these three WILL be read by the end of August:
READ Braids of Song: Weaving Welsh Music into the American Soul
READ Wanderland
READ Sugar and Slate
The other four are leftovers from last year, but I really want them crossed off as read by the end of the year:
Queen By Right
The Summer Queen
Wolf Hall
...And Ladies of the Club
Previous month's plans that got postponed, but I still plan to read them:
Chocolate House Treason - January cover color challenge, but it would fit the current RTT 18th century theme.
READ Company of Liars - the RTT April challenge "not what it seems"
Her Royal Spyness - April cover color challenge
READ The Chocolate Maker's Wife - RTT 17th century, and would also work for the April cover color challenge, and my chocolate theme
The Conquest - not leftover, but I just decided to read this and purchased it on Kindle for the June RTT theme "people on the move" (pilgrimage to Compostela), and for my Chadwick author focus.
Mozart's Sister - just started this for the July RTT theme "composers" and my composers theme
Vivaldi's Virgins - next up for composers - I need four titles for my Pyramid goals...
Book club books that I am behind on:
READ The Ghost Cat - my hold on Libby JUST came in. This was for an April book club
READ Clear - only 2.5 hours on audio, I have this lined up to listen before this Saturday's meeting
READ The Frozen River - only a month behind. This is ready to go after I finish Clear.
Daughters of the Witching Hill - discussion book for August, so not late yet...
The July cover color challenge - listed possibilities in my July plans. Haven't decided which one(s) yet.
New for August:
READ The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and
READ The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - my bookclub is doing James in September, but I want to read (reread) these first.
Birth of the Chess Queen: A History - RTT theme for August "chess". Also considering
The Queen's Gambit - I doubt I will do both.
I have ideas for the August cover color challenge, but since I am unlikely to get to them any time soon, I will save that for an update later in the month.
Oh yeah, I should add a new focus and author for this month, but I'm still working on Chadwick, chocolate, and composers!
Whew! I have my work cut out for me!
AUGUST LOGFinished:
Clear - finished Aug 1
Sugar and Slate - finished Aug 4
Wanderland - finished Aug 12
The Frozen River - finished Aug 18
Currently reading:
Braids of Song: Weaving Welsh Music into the American Soul - started Mar 23
Mozart's Sister - started Jul 30
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer - started Aug 12 (reread)
The Chocolate Maker's Wife - started Aug 18
The Ghost Cat - started Aug 20
Next up:
Company of Liars - Audible
Vivaldi's Virgins - checked out on Libby
The Conquest - Kindle
Waiting for holds:
Isaiah's Daughter
James
Still might read:
Queen By Right - restarted Nov 1 (PAUSED)
Chocolate House Treason
Wolf Hall
The Odyssey
The Summer Queen
New Acquisitions:
Inspector Alan Grant: The Full Collection - Chirp audiobooks, $4.99
The First Witch of Boston - August Prime First Reads selection, free
An Extremely Unlikely Death - Kindle, $1.99
Love in the Scottish Winter Highlands - Kindle, $5.99. A bit more than I usually spend, but my grandmother's name was Beatrice Bradshaw (married name). How could I resist?
King Raven Trilogy
London - with above, Audible 2 for 1 credit sale
Mod
#49
Counterpoint: Theo, Earl of Suffolk3 green stars.
Nothing really to see here. A teaser. One scene from The Lady of the Tower told from another character's point of view. The author calls these "novelettes," but it's barely even a short story at 19 pages. The rest is filler about her other novels.
Description: A Short Story. Theo Howard, Earl of Suffolk is torn. Betrothed to a child to satisfy his family dynasty, he longs for the freedom to make his own choice. And when he attends a lavish party at his family's newly-restored palace, he is immediately attracted to Lucy, a beautiful young lavender-seller. But in this enchanted world of Shakespeare's Midsummer's Night Dream, all is not as it appears. Theo's headstrong sister Frances is determined to sabotage her own arranged marriage, and aided by the cunning of Frances and her friend Barbara St.John, perhaps Theo can find his own path to happiness and true love.
#50
Counterpoint: Barbara, Lady Villiers3 green stars.
The "counterpoint" is to provide a contrasting point of view to an episode in The Lady of the Tower. Barbara Villiers is certainly a fascinating, if unlikeable, person. The author is a master at setting a scene and providing vivid descriptions. But there really isn't enough here to stand on its own as a story. Fun to read though if you've read The Lady of the Tower.
Description: Barbara Villiers has always despised her sister Lucy, and when Theo Howard, Earl of Suffolk, fell in love with her, Barbara thought she'd die of jealousy. Instead, she decided to get even by befriending someone even more scandalous than herself, Theo's sister, Frances Howard, Countess of Somerset. Unfortunately, Frances was then imprisoned in the Tower of London, accused of murder, and Barbara had to find a way to turn this to her advantage - and continue her vendetta against Lucy.
Cumulative pages: 14,108
Busy busy!! I love it keep on going girl!
#51
Clear5 purple stars.
I will read this again. It is a little gem of a novel about language and communication, relationships, loneliness, nature, and faith. And maybe it's also about change and how we resist or embrace it. There is a certain tension throughout because of the lack of a common language. The characters don't really know what the other is thinking and neither does the reader. John is conservative and proper and very well educated. He has married an older woman later in life. Mary is a little more of a pragmatist. She takes things for what they are, and certainly she never expected to get married. Ivar is a simple man, perhaps the last speaker of the Norn language. And he has been alone on the island since his family all left 20 years before. How John and Ivar learn to communicate is fascinating. Besides being seriously injured, when he does begin to establish a connection he finds that he cannot or doesn't want to tell Ivar why he is there. And then we have Mary, who has been left on her own without knowing what has happened, and she takes it upon herself to go after her husband and bring him home. When Ivar does learn why John is there, he is angry and hurt, but he also has to make a decision about what to do about it. Some have criticized the ending for being both abrupt and ambiguous. I thought it was perfect.
Description: John, an impoverished Scottish minister, has accepted a job evicting the lone remaining occupant of an island north of Scotland—Ivar, who has been living alone for decades, with only the animals and the sea for company. Though his wife, Mary, has serious misgivings about the errand, he decides to go anyway, setting in motion a chain of events that neither he nor Mary could have predicted. Shortly after John reaches the island, he falls down a cliff and is found, unconscious and badly injured, by Ivar who takes him home and tends to his wounds. Unfolding during the final stages of the infamous Scottish Clearances—a period of the 19th century which saw whole communities of the rural poor driven off the land in a relentless program of forced evictions—this singular novel explores what binds us together in the face of insurmountable difference, the way history shapes our deepest convictions, and how the human spirit can endure despite all odds.
Cumulative pages: 14,304
#52
Sugar and Slate5 purple stars.
I don't give very many purple star ratings, but this book was just extraordinary. Yes, it is about Wales and "Welshness" but it is also one of the best books about being mixed-race in a very "white" place that I have ever read. There is something fascinating about the author's exploration of things both deeply familiar and deeply exotic. She also has a way with words, whether she is describing life in London, Africa, Guyana, or Wales that is vivid and captivating. And since prose, after all, isn't enough to express what she wants to say, each chapter ends with her original poetry. I cannot do this book justice with my review. I will definitely keep this book on my shelf and read it again.
Description: A mixed-race young woman, the daughter of a white Welsh-speaking mother and black father from Guyana, grows up in a small town on the coast of north Wales. From there she travels to Africa, the Caribbean and finally back to Wales. Sugar and Slate is a story of movement and dislocation in which there is a constant pull of to-ing and fro-ing, going away and coming back with always a sense of being ‘half home’. This is both a personal memoir and a story that speaks to the wider experience of mixed-race Britons. It is a story of Welshness and a story of Wales and above all a story for those of us who look over our shoulder across the sea to some other place.
#53
Wanderland3 green stars.
I really wanted to like this more than I did. Britain - check. Natural world - check. Spirituality - check. Mysticism - check. Wainwright nominee - check. I'll give it 3 stars for the effort made. For the quest itself. And she is a good enough writer. However, I found her constant chip on the shoulder attitude and her judgmentalism to be off-putting. She didn't seem to know what she wanted. Just wander around to random "sacred" sites, and expect to be moved, to be spoken to, to be somehow changed by the experience. After a year of doing this, what had she learned? Was she perhaps a little more willing to listen and observe, to be open to serendipity, to be open to others the way she wanted them to open to her? Maybe. I will say there was a certain humor in many of her observations. And of course, I want to follow in her footsteps and see all these places for myself - Lindisfarne, Iona, Stonehenge, and St. Michael's Mount. And I can identify with going to a place with certain expectations, and then to feel - nothing. So perhaps I'm being a bit too judgmental myself.
Description: A London journalist with multicultural roots determinedly sets off around the country in pursuit of the Other and a connection to Britain's captivating natural world. Where might this lead? And if you know what it is to be Othered yourself, how might this color your experiences? And what if, in invoking the spirit of the land, 'it' decides to make its presence felt? Whether following a 'cult' map to a hidden well that refuses to reveal itself, attempting to persuade a labyrinth to spill its secrets, embarking on a coast-to-coast pilgrimage or searching for a mystical land temple, Jini depicts a whimsical, natural Britain. Along the way, she tracks down ephemeral wild art, encounters women who worship The Goddess, falls deeper in love with her birth land and struggles – but mostly fails – to get to grips with its lore. Throughout, she rejoices in the wildness we cannot see and celebrates the natural beauty we can, while offering glimpses of her Canadian childhood and her Indian parents' struggles in apartheid-era South Africa.
Cumulative pages: 14,776
#54
The Frozen River5 blue stars.
Though inspired by the real-life diary of Martha Ballard, only the bare outline of this story is real. That leaves the author free to imagine what sort of woman she was, and to create a character not bound by history. There is still plenty of historical detail, although endless recitals of helping women give birth may cause the eyes to glaze over a little. The mystery is slow to unfold - the real tale is in the daily lives of the characters, and the complex relationships that provide motive for their actions. Martha may come across as a bit too modern to be realistic, but I appreciated her independence, her protectiveness for her children and her patients, her pragmatism, and her desire for justice when the real world fails her. I delighted in the relationship she has with her husband, and with the world around her, including a somewhat magical silver fox, and a temperamental horse. There is a lot that goes on beneath the surface here, and a second reading could be very rewarding. Such a great blend of history and psychology, with a touch of romance, and all the drama of "Call the Midwife" mixed in which really transcends any particular time period. I love historical fiction that can do that.
Description: Maine, 1789: When the Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As a midwife and healer, she is privy to much of what goes on behind closed doors in Hallowell. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, crime and debacle that unfolds in the close-knit community. Months earlier, Martha documented the details of an alleged rape committed by two of the town’s most respected gentlemen—one of whom has now been found dead in the ice. But when a local physician undermines her conclusion, declaring the death to be an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the shocking murder on her own. Over the course of one winter, as the trial nears, and whispers and prejudices mount, Martha doggedly pursues the truth. Her diary soon lands at the center of the scandal, implicating those she loves, and compelling Martha to decide where her own loyalties lie.
Cumulative pages: 15,224
September plans:How fast August went, and only 4 books to show for it! But I spent 10 days traveling - a trip by car to Canada for the North American Festival of Wales in Ottawa, and a chance to visit relatives and the places that my ancestors lived and are buried. I did finish a chunky audiobook, but other than that, I was too busy for any reading.
So... September. I may be 5 books ahead of my annual number of books reading goal, but have not made any progress on the backlog of monthly challenges still to be read. But here I am adding September to the mix.
For bookclubs, I am reading
READ The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
READ The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and
READ James for Perspectives,
READ Fireside Tales for the Welsh group, and my Welsh language group will also be reading some of the tales in Welsh.
The Tenth Gift is the Sept. choice for The Reading Loft. It actually won't be discussed until Oct. but I list it here because it fits the "coffee" color cover challenge. Another coffee colored book I might read is
READ Case of the One-Eyed Tiger
The other September color is green and so I list
Ross Poldark (also a Cornwall title which I need) and
The Bellbird River Country Choir in honor of my choirs starting up again this month.
The RTT theme this month is Highlands & Islands. Considering
The Heir of Douglas: The Scandal That Rocked Eighteenth-Century England and/or
The Jacobite's Wife I listed these for the July color challenge, but didn't get to them yet. Both also fit the 18th-century quarterly challenge.
And finally, a book I'd like to read because of my Canada trip, and my great-grandmother was one of the Home Children:
The Forgotten Home Child
Beyond that, I just want to get caught up a bit and start October with less of a backlog!
September log:Finished:
The Chocolate Maker's Wife - finished Sep 2
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer - (reread)
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - finished Sep 10
The Ghost Cat - finished Sep 12
Hexes & Hush Money: Paranormal Cozy Mystery - finished Sep 14
James - finished Sep 16
Case of the One-Eyed Tiger - finished Sep 23
Wenjack - finished Sep 27
The Cotswolds Cookery Club: A Taste of Italy - finished Sep 30
Currently reading:
Braids of Song: Weaving Welsh Music into the American Soul - started Mar 23
Mozart's Sister - started Jul 30
Selections From Straeon Y Pentan - started Sep 10
Fireside Tales - started Sep 10
Company of Liars - started Sep 16
Next up:
Vivaldi's Virgins - checked out on Libby
The Conquest - Kindle
The Forgotten Home Child - Audible
Daughters of the Witching Hill - Audible
The Queen's Gambit - Kindle
Waiting for holds:
Isaiah's Daughter
The Tenth Gift
Still might read:
Queen By Right - restarted Nov 1 (PAUSED)
Chocolate House Treason
Wolf Hall
The Odyssey
The Summer Queen
New Acquisitions:
A Queen's Spy - Kindle, free
Hexes & Hush Money: Paranormal Cozy Mystery - Kindle, .99
Case of the One-Eyed Tiger - Kindle, .99
Cats' Eyes - Kindle, $3.99
One Cat For the Road - Kindle, (used points)
Call of the Camino - Amazon Sept First Reads pick
Daughters of the Witching Hill - Audible, $5.05
The Queen's Gambit - Kindle, (used points)
The Jacobite's Wife - Kindle, $2.99 and Audible $4.71 (together much cheaper than one Audible credit...)
BlueBuried Muffins - Kindle, free
Outlaw - Audible credit
#55
The Chocolate Maker's Wife3.5 pink stars round up.
Solid historical research, but veers a bit too much into melodrama and romance for my taste. Much of her internal monologue and hand-wringing, and suppositions got a bit repetitive and could easily have been cut (i.e. "he only wants me because I resemble his first wife....") But I did enjoy much of the detail about chocolate making, and all of the drama of the plague, and the Great Fire, slavery and the New World. It is full of real historical characters, and all the vivid descriptions and historical detail might be a bit much for some but I enjoyed it. It is full of passion, intrigue, and mystery although I was expecting some kind of reveal about her true parentage that didn't really satisfy at the end. Trigger warnings for rape, incest, and suicide. But overall, I did enjoy this and I would read more by this author.
Description: Rosamund Tomkins, the illegitimate daughter of a nobleman, spends most of her young life in drudgery at a country inn. To her, the Restoration under Charles II, is but a distant threat as she works under the watchful eye of her brutal, abusive stepfather . . . until the day she is nearly run over by the coach of Sir Everard Blithman. Sir Everard offers Rosamund an "opportunity like no other," allowing her to escape into a very different life, becoming the linchpin that will drive the success of his fledgling business: a luxurious London chocolate house where wealthy and well-connected men come to see and be seen, to gossip and plot, while indulging in the sweet and heady drink. But Sir Everard's plans for Rosamund and the chocolate house involve family secrets that span the Atlantic Ocean, and which have already brought death and dishonor to the Blithman name. Rosamund knows nothing of the mortal peril that comes with her new title, nor of the forces spinning a web of conspiracy buried in the past, until she meets a man whose return tightens their grip upon her, threatening to destroy everything she loves and damn her to a dire fate.
Cumulative pages: 15,832
Mod
How fast August went, and only 4 books to show for it! But I spent 10 days traveling - a trip by car to Canada for the North American Festival of Wales in Ottawa, and a chance to ..."
I really enjoyed Poldark. I have the next two or three on my bookshelf and need to get to them..
#56
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer4 red stars. Reread.
A childhood favorite and one I reread several times, although not for many years now. And what a celebration of childhood it is! Still entertaining and a rollicking good adventure.
#57
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn4 red stars.
I had never read this before, although I read other books of Mark Twain, several of them more than once. Now with Percival Everett's retelling James I wanted to read this first. While The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is so clearly a children's book about a loveable rascal who gets caught up in things of a very serious nature, nevertheless it all has a happy ending. With Huckleberry Finn, one is not quite sure how to approach this. It starts out as something of a coming of age tale and a serious one at that. Then Tom Sawyer enters the picture and we are thrown back into a mixture of childhood escapade and satire. Both Huck and Jim seem willing to play along with Tom's elaborate farce of imprisonment and escape. We get our happy ending, but with the realization that things could have turned out far more disastrously. And what do we make of the fact that Tom knew all along that Jim was now a free man? Twain seems keen to show that Jim is the better person here, sacrificing his freedom in order to rescue the injured Tom. In between, we get the story of two adults (the duke and the dauphin) playacting a role designed entirely for their own benefit and not above abusing and endangering both Huck and Jim. Despite all the playacting by various characters, Twain also manages to give us some very serious commentary on morality, friendship, slavery, and freedom. Finally, I shouldn't have to say it, but the use of the "n" word is perfectly natural for the time and setting of this story. Jim comes across as a hero, and yet given the time period, even Mark Twain ends up short-changing him.
Description: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a novel by Mark Twain that first appeared in 1884. The story is narrated by Huck Finn, a young boy who runs away from home to escape his abusive father. He travels down the Mississippi River on a raft, accompanied by Jim, a runaway slave seeking freedom. As they journey together, they encounter a variety of characters and face numerous challenges, all while grappling with issues of morality, racism, and personal freedom. The book is renowned for its rich depiction of 19th-century American life, its use of regional dialects, and its satirical take on social and political issues. Twain's storytelling and Huck’s rebellious spirit make it a compelling and enduring work in American literature.
Cumulative pages: 16,301
#58
The Ghost Cat3.5 pink stars.
A sweet tale. Nothing great, but it was not what I expected. Little slices of life from within (mostly) one tenement in Edinburgh, noting the furnishings, the clothing, the food. A few famous people, some very ordinary people, and a few not so nice people. And a cat who can mainly just be a witness, with some limited ability in his last three lives to actually change people's lives. And he is also changed, perhaps becoming a bit more tolerant and less judgmental about people. His relationship with Eilidh over several of his incarnations is quite touching. I will look for more by this author. A cozy, feel-good read on a gloomy day.
Description: Early morning, 1902. At 7/7 Marchmont Crescent, Eilidh the charlady tips coal into a fire grate and sets it alight. Overhearing, Grimalkin the cat ambles over to curl up against the welcome heat and lick his favorite human’s hand. But this is to be his last day on earth…before he becomes the Ghost Cat. Follow Grimalkin as he witnesses the changes of the next 120 years, prowling unseen among the inhabitants of an Edinburgh tenement while unearthing some startling revelations about the mystery of existence, the unstoppable march of time and the true meaning of feline companionship.
Cumulative pages: 16,573
#59
Hexes & Hush Money: Paranormal Cozy Mystery3 green stars.
This is a debut book and the first of a series. I hope the author will get enough encouragement to continue writing. There are some good ideas here, but the whole thing needs a LOT more development. It's very short - little more than a novella really. It took a long time to establish that this island is somewhere in New England, but beyond that, all we know is that this is a fishing community, with a very old and mysterious past. Ivy is a witch who comes from a family of witches, but they seem to be the only witches, and so this fact is kept hidden for much of the book. She has a black cat as a "familiar," and it is implied that this is sort of soul-bonded kind of thing. And yet, until the cat is kidnapped, there really isn't anything in the story indicating anything special. Hex is just one of several cats that hang out at the cafe. So far (after one book) the "witchiness" consists of adding rather benign spells to the coffee served. All very cozy. Far more interesting is the fact that the island is a bit magical and has a way of protecting itself from harm, using mysterious magical coins that appear out of nowhere. These serve as a warning, offering clues according to where they show up, and apparently can serve as a sort of lie detector. There were not a lot of island characters introduced, which made the "bad guys" pretty obvious. There were the usual cozy mystery tropes of the sheriff who is both a love interest and a source of conflict, at least at first, but this was so hastily resolved that you would think this is a romance and not a cozy mystery. Not sure where this goes at all really. The mystery was resolved well before the end of the story, leaving 30 or so pages of telling us how wonderful and cozy everything is now, and (spoiler alert) getting engaged, and making her best friend a partner in the cafe, and setting up some foreshadowing (involving more coins) for the next adventure. It's not a bad way to spend an afternoon.
Description: For witch Ivy Rowan, life at the Catnip Café is a magical dream, right down to her purring familiar, Hex. But when a ruthless developer is murdered behind her shop—and the town’s restoration fund vanishes with him—Ivy’s dream becomes a waking nightmare. The sheriff wants her to stick to frothing milk, but she can't when damning gold coins appear at her tables and a rival is struck down by a hexed cappuccino. With Hex suddenly kidnapped, Ivy must act. To save her familiar and her freedom, she must unravel a century-old money-binding spell to unmask a modern-day killer—before the next cup she pours is her own last rites.
Cumulative pages: 16,727
#60
James4.5 blue stars
Interesting and certainly thought-provoking, but the author takes some great liberties with history here. I'll make allowances for that, since this is literary fiction, not historical fiction. We're playing with a literary character to present his story from the point of view of a highly intelligent and well-read man, despite his being a slave. It speaks more to the 21st century black experience. I went along with it for about 2/3 of the book and then it took a huge departure from Mark Twain, and I'm not convinced it was an improvement. It almost seemed as if James, with his pencil, was rewriting the ending, and it felt more like a violent fantasy of empowerment. I can agree that I wasn't entirely satisfied with Twain's ending either - the whole nonsense with Tom Sawyer enacting some grand rescue that wasn't needed. And the choice to make Huck Finn his son (sorry if that's a spoiler) took all the power out of the choices that Jim made for the sake of friendship and kindness. James does what he did to save his son, and then ends up abandoning him in the end. Rather than being a free man at the end, it felt more like James had become a slave to violence and power. But probably since I am a white person (and a woman) I am missing the point here. I would really like to hear Sadie's story.
Description: When the enslaved Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans, separated from his wife and daughter forever, he decides to hide on nearby Jackson Island until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck Finn has faked his own death to escape his violent father, recently returned to town. As all readers of American literature know, thus begins the dangerous and transcendent journey by raft down the Mississippi River toward the elusive and too-often-unreliable promise of the Free States and beyond. While many narrative set pieces of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn remain in place (floods and storms, stumbling across both unexpected death and unexpected treasure in the myriad stopping points along the river’s banks, encountering the scam artists posing as the Duke and Dauphin…), Jim’s agency, intelligence and compassion are shown in a radically new light.
Cumulative pages: 17,030
Mid-September update:So, my search for a "really good" cat cozy series continues. I have so far read 5 out of 10 of my original list (message #3) and I have rated them as follows:
4 red stars - Curiosity Thrilled the Cat (Magical Cats Mystery #1) - decent mystery, but the magic was a bit superfluous, and the Minnesota setting could have been anywhere. Probably my rating is too high, because I wouldn't go out of my way to read another one.
3.5 pink stars - Lending a Paw (Bookmobile Cat Mystery #1) - idyllic setting and it has potential, but I didn't quite buy the main character as a believable librarian. The cat was great though! I might read another.
4.5 blue stars - The Whole Cat and Caboodle (Second Chance Cat Mystery #1) - definitely the best of the bunch so far. Believable cats, and seniors working as a detective team.
3 green stars - Murder Past Due (Cat in the Stacks Mystery #1) - totally thrown off by having a woman narrate the male main character. Mostly forgettable. Won't read any more of these.
3.5 pink stars - Cat About Town (Cat Café Mystery #1) - pretty ordinary. I gave it an extra 1/2 star for the setting.
Other books:
3 green stars - Hexes & Hush Money: Paranormal Cozy Mystery (Cat Cafe Witch Mystery #1) - more of a novella, and the whole set up needs a lot more development
2.5 yellow stars - Sour Puss (Mrs. Murphy Mysteries #14) - definitely not one of her best, though I do generally really like this series.
Yeah, most of these I rated about 1/2 star too high. None of them were bad, just mostly forgettable, and too dependent on the usual cozy mystery tropes. I will read more of the Whole Cat and Caboodle series though. The senior "Charlie's Angels" vibe was fun.
So what's next? I have just purchased Cats' Eyes (Crazy Cat Lady #1) as it wasn't available on Libby. It has a Good Reads rating of 4.23 so that bodes well. The main character is a retiree and a cat shelter volunteer. The author is a member of the Cat Writers' Association. Who knew there was such a thing. I had to look it up, and it seems they are having their annual conference in Indiana in October. I was briefly tempted with the idea of going. I think it would be a hoot, but it is really aimed at writers, and I am just a reader. So. I'll let you know if the book lives up to expectations.
Another one with an above 4 rating is One Cat For the Road which has the twist of being set in a post-apocalyptic future where domestic pets are rare. Sounds promising. Okay I'll get that one too...
Another mid-September update.It's that time of year where I spend far more time analyzing what I have to get read in the next 3 1/2 months than I do actually reading. So I make lists of my lists, and lists of what I still need for all my goals. Yes, one of my lists are things that I would LIKE to get read but probably won't. The cover colors usually take care of themselves. And I don't have that many book club reads left. Four that I feel obligated to read, and four more that I would like to read, but it's okay if I don't get to them. So really there are only two things that I aspire to complete - my pyramid goals spelled out in message #13, and the Reading Through Time prompts even if it's only one book for each of them. Obviously, it helps if a book can be counted in more than one place, but honestly there isn't a lot of overlap. So I need to read about 40 books in the next 15 weeks. Next I go through my lists and sort by length of book - now I need to prioritize the shorter ones! And some of the leftover things I wanted to finish this year might have to get set aside until winter time. I've also annotated my list with source information (owned, Libby, Audible, etc.) and which ones can be cheaply attained. Library wait lists can be maddening, so if I can get a book for a few bucks I'll buy it. I've added several Kindle and Audible books today, so they are ready to go with no waiting.
City/Country titles - Need 9! What was I thinking!
The easiest to get (or I already have...)
City of Masks - library has this - I just placed a hold
The Bellbird River Country Choir - I'll probably use an Audible credit for this.
The City of Man: Inferno - have on Kindle
City of Darkness - have on Kindle
Blood Country - have on Nook
An Irish Country Doctor - have on Chirp
A Country Road, A Tree - available on Libby
The Horseman - available on Libby
The Just City - available on Libby
Cornwall - Need 7. You'd think I'd have 7 read already!
A Cornish Recipe for Murder - have on Kindle
A Vow of Silence - Libby audio
The White Hare - have on Chirp
Jamaica Inn - Libby audio
The Curse of Penryth Hall - Libby audio
The Lost Girls of Penzance - cheap on Amazon, or free on Kindle Unlimited
A Death at Seascape House - cheap on Amazon, or free on Kindle Unlimited
Canada - Need 6
The Forgotten Home Child - long but I want to read it. Owned on Audible
READ Wenjack - very short, but not readily available. I have requested it through ILL.
Crow Lake - Libby
Crow Mary - Libby audio
Daughters of the Deer - library has! I placed a hold
Cape Random: A Novel - another ILL
Chronicles - Still need 6
The Winter King - Libby audio
The Corgi Chronicles - very short and cheap on Amazon
The Solitary Sparrow - I'll use an Audible credit
Hounded - Libby
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase - Libby audio
Just One Damned Thing After Another - have on Kindle, also available on Libby audio
Clubs - Need 6. This might be the category that gets set aside. But then they are all pretty light reads...
READ The Cotswolds Cookery Club: A Taste of Italy - have on Kindle
The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club - Libby audio
The Sunday Philosophy Club - have on Kobo, or available on Libby audio
The Ladies' Midnight Swimming Club - Libby
The Marlow Murder Club - Libby audio
The Friday Night Knitting Club - Libby audio
Corgis - Need 4
READ Case of the One-Eyed Tiger - currently reading
The Corgi Chronicles - already listed above
To Fetch a Felon - Libby audio
Christmas at Corgi Cove - Libby
Composers - Still need 3
Mozart's Sister - currently reading
Vivaldi's Virgins - on deck on Libby
READ Braids of Song: Weaving Welsh Music into the American Soul - currently reading
Cats - Only need 2.
Cozy Mystery - Only need 2.
Chocolate - Need 1 more
Might do The Chocolate Cat Caper - Libby
Have been wanting to do Chocolate House Treason since January, but it is very long, and I think I should pick something shorter at this point.
Not going to list the RTT themes here, as I don't even know what Oct, Nov, and Dec are yet. But the ones I'm catching up on are
READ Company of Liars - currently reading
The Conquest - Kindle
The Queen's Gambit - Kindle
The Jacobite's Wife - Audible
Mod
Bill wrote: "You are so organized. It really impresses me. And you have such a mix of books."I may be organized, but 50 books is still twice as many as I can get read by the end of the year! Already thinking about how to structure next year differently. I'm liking all the themes that start with C (next year will be D), but I need to go back to a Pyramid Goal scheme that is NOT based on themes. More like - historical fiction, next in series, leftovers, new authors, etc....
Yet another update:Apparently I really like making lists and organizing things more than actually just reading. Ha ha! I have revised my Pyramid Goals (message #13) and added in some things I was tracking in #14 (those are now gone from there). So here is the new list of goals:
12 Titles That Start With C (done - have read 14 so far)
11 Cozy Mysteries (need 1 more)
10 Cats (need 1 more)
9 Chronicles (still need 5)
8 Cornwall/Canada/Cotswolds etc. (need 6)
7 City/Country/Cottage/Castles etc. (need 4)
6 Choirs/Clubs/Cafes etc (need 3)
5 Corgis (need 4)
4 Composers and Clergy (need 1)
3 Chocolate (need 1)
2 Christmas (done)
1 Classic (done)
Should have done this much sooner. I did think about it! This is a lot less to read than I had before. Now I can give more attention to Reading Through Time, not abandoning all my leftovers waiting in the wings, and maybe even trying to read at least one book from each of my lists. You might see one more update with THAT list!
#61
Case of the One-Eyed Tiger4.5 blue stars, rounded up.
I don't usually rate the first of a cozy series this high, but I found the author's style and the main character to be delightfully different. A breath of fresh air. And an utterly adorable corgi. He must be doing something right with 18 more books in this series to look forward to. Okay, having said that, I'll admit that the main character is sort of borderline unlikeable. He is awkward, sarcastic, a bit judgmental and surprisingly non-tech savvy for a Gen X-er. Some of the jokes at the beginning, especially about older folks, fell decidedly flat. But give him a chance. I think our Zach has hidden depths and sensitivity that may develop in future installments. The dog is almost the main character, totally unbelievable in pointing out clues to our clueless Zach, but it worked for me. And there are some side characters that I hope will be developed further. I look forward to reading more of this series, but with the caveat that reading them back to back might become a little wearing.
Description: The unexpected inheritance of an estate and winery sends recently widowed author Zach Anderson to Oregon for a fresh start. Pomme Valley is a quaint town where everyone knows your business and nothing interesting happens—until a famous sculpture is stolen and a gallery assistant is shot to death the day Zach arrives. Before he can even unpack, he’s interrogated by the police. Together with his newly adopted corgi, Sherlock, Zach must dig up clues to prove his innocence. All evidence points to him, but why would someone want to frame him for the crime? Dark secrets may be buried in the fertile soil of the vineyard now under his reluctant care… And if Zach and Sherlock don’t solve the case soon, they won’t just be playing dead.
Cumulative pages: 17,290
#62
WenjackUnbearably sad, but 5 purple stars.
This reads almost like a prose poem. It stands as an elegy for the more than 6,000 children who died as a result of their forced removal to the so-called Indian residential schools - "from disease, from abuse, from exposure or accidents while trying to run away." "Chanie Wenjack couldn't have known it, but that sweet boy forced the first public inquiry into residential schools in Canada. At the conclusion of this inquiry, the all-white jury unanimously questioned not just the philosophy but also the morality behind residential schools . . . although it would take another thirty years for the last institution's doors to be shut." The sad story is beautifully framed through a Greek chorus of animals who provide commentary and witness to the unfolding tragedy. I found it very moving. And serendipitously, I read this just a few days before September 30, a federal statutory holiday in Canada that honors the children and survivors of residential schools: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Description: An Ojibwe boy runs away from a North Ontario Indian School, not realizing just how far away home is. Along the way he's followed by Manitous, spirits of the forest who comment on his plight, cajoling, taunting, and ultimately offering him a type of comfort on his difficult journey back to the place he was so brutally removed from. Written by Scotiabank Giller Prize–winning author Joseph Boyden and beautifully illustrated by acclaimed artist Kent Monkman, Wenjack is a powerful and poignant look into the world of a residential school runaway trying to find his way home.
Accumulated pages: 17,402
Used an Audible credit to pick up Outlaw. I'm always attracted to retellings of the Robin Hood story. And it fits my Chronicles theme being book 1 of the Outlaw Chronicles. I need 5 titles for this goal yet, and only had 4 that were "for sure". So this will be #5. Not sure which month I'll plug it in yet...
Before I do my October planning, here is a revised list of the titles I'd most like to read for each of my remaining goals for the year. This is mainly for my own reference...Cats: Need 1
Cats' Eyes - owned on Kindle
Chronicles: Need 5
The Corgi Chronicles - owned on Kindle
The Winter King - owned, print - might use Audible credit...
The Solitary Sparrow - will use Audible credit
Hounded - Libby
Outlaw - owned on Audible
Cornwall/Canada: need 5
READ The Cotswolds Cookery Club: A Taste of Italy - currently reading on Kindle
The Forgotten Home Child - owned on Audible
A Cornish Recipe for Murder - owned on Kindle
A Vow of Silence - checked out on Libby audio
Daughters of the Deer - library book
City/Country: need 4
The Bellbird River Country Choir - will use Audible credit
City of Masks - library book
An Irish Country Doctor - owned on Chirp
The Cat of Yule Cottage - owned on Kindle
Clubs/Cafes: need 3
The Bellbird River Country Choir - already listed
READ The Cotswolds Cookery Club: A Taste of Italy - already listed
BlueBuried Muffins - owned on Kindle
Corgis: need 3
The Corgi Chronicles - already listed
To Fetch a Felon - Libby audio
Case of the Fleet-Footed Mummy - owned on Kindle
Composer: need 1
currently reading 2, so not listing
Chocolate: The Chocolate Cat Caper - Libby
#63
The Cotswolds Cookery Club: A Taste of Italy3 green stars, but just not for me.
Honestly, I don't understand the attraction. I find romances to be completely unrealistic and hopelessly contrived. But if that is your thing, this very short tale is sweet enough. All three books taken together might add up to one novel. The basic idea of the cookery club is good, and the other three women were all interesting with very different personalities and circumstances. Not everything is resolved for all of them, but presumably will be if you read the series. I liked the dog Eric and he got to have his own little romance. And there is humor. But I would have left out the whole part about Connie's brief affair with the decorator. It just seemed to me to be a whole lot of filler with no substance. So bottom line, this was all teaser and very shallow. It might have helped if there had at least been actual recipes....
Description: Connie has had enough. Enough of the city, enough of her job – and most importantly, enough of her cheating boyfriend! So, when her best friend jets off to sunny Australia for six months and calls on Connie to house and dog-sit, the timing couldn’t be more perfect. Finally free to chase her dreams, Connie sets up her very own Cotswolds Cookery Club – a place to share scrumptious recipes and, more importantly, a lot of wine! Cue Melody, Kate and Eleanor, three very different women who Connie realises are all in need of a recipe for happiness… But with two gorgeous men turning up the heat, Connie may have just ended up with a recipe for disaster!
Cumulative pages: 17,536
October plans:I actually am feeling like I have a handle on my reading for a change. Of course, it's a process of simplifying and adjusting goals, deciding what is the most important to me, and letting go of some things. So I'm prioritizing my Pyramid goals, RTT themes and in-person book clubs, and letting go of the online book club, long-time leftovers, and trying to read at least one book from every list. Just isn't going to happen. I'll try and add some from those lists as I finish most of the other goals, and of course I always reserve the right to add shiny new things at the expense of everything else! Nothing is written in stone and can be changed on a whim. Such is the joy of being retired! In fact, I just added three new Kindle titles - one of them is a chess theme which might replace my previous pick for that RTT theme. I am also prioritizing shorter books this month in order to get more titles out of the way. And many of those are cozy mysteries which feels right for October!
I'll finish reading
READ Braids of Song: Weaving Welsh Music into the American Soul this month, though not in a hurry.
READ Fireside Tales is for the Welsh book club this Saturday. It is only 88 pages, and it will get read in the next few days. The other book club has picked Clear for this month, which I am leading. It is short, so I may reread it.
Mozart's Sister looks to be getting paused frequently for newer things, but I still hope to finish it this month.
On audio, I am still listening to
READ Company of Liars for an RTT theme earlier in the year. It also works for another month's theme, so I may let go of the one I had planned for that (for now). My sister and I are going out to Rapid City again in a couple weeks. For that, I have
To Fetch a Felon waiting on Libby, and several others checked out or on hold and expecting soon:
A Vow of Silence
The Sunday Philosophy Club and
Wicked Autumn. On Chirp, I have
An Irish Country Doctor and on Audible I have recently added
Outlaw for another "Chronicles" title.
On Kindle, I am looking at these for this month:
The Corgi Chronicles - a children's book, and short!
Case of the Fleet-Footed Mummy - just because it's Halloween
A Cornish Recipe for Murder
BlueBuried Muffins (yes, I have a little cooking theme going here...) and just added
Death at the Old Curiosity Shop
Oops - almost forgot I have two library books out...
City of Masks
Daughters of the Deer
And on Libby I have checked out
Hounded
I think it's going to be a fun month!!
October log:Finished:
Fireside Tales - finished Oct 3
Braids of Song: Weaving Welsh Music into the American Soul - finished Oct 6
Company of Liars - finished Oct 9
Currently reading:
Mozart's Sister - started Jul 30
Hounded - started Oct 1
Death at the Old Curiosity Shop - started Oct 4
Clear - reread for book club, started Oct 8
To Fetch a Felon - started Oct 10
Long-term projects:
Selections From Straeon Y Pentan - translating with my Welsh Reading Group, Sep through Dec
...And Ladies of the Club - Oct through Dec
Next up:
The Forgotten Home Child - Audible
The Corgi Chronicles - Kindle
A Vow of Silence - Libby audio
A Cornish Recipe for Murder - Kindle
BlueBuried Muffins - Kindle
The Sunday Philosophy Club - Libby audio
Outlaw - Audible
Daughters of the Deer - library book
City of Masks - library book
Case of the Fleet-Footed Mummy - Kindle
Still might read:
Vivaldi's Virgins - checked out on Libby
The Conquest - Kindle
Daughters of the Witching Hill - Audible
The Queen's Gambit - Kindle
Isaiah's Daughter - Libby
The Tenth Gift - Libby
New Acquisitions:
Death at the Old Curiosity Shop - Kindle
Death at the Village Chess Club - Kindle
Death at the Village Christmas Fair - Kindle
The Moorwitch - Amazon First Reads pick
The Restoration Garden: A Novel - Amazon First Reads pick
The Samuel Pepys Mysteries: Books 1-3: Historical mysteries from 17th century London - Chirp audiobooks, $1.99
Death Comes for the Archbishop - Kindle, free
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On The Same Page
Books mentioned in this topic
Company of Liars (other topics)Selections From Straeon Y Pentan (other topics)
...And Ladies of the Club (other topics)
Clear (other topics)
Company of Liars (other topics)
More...
Finished:
Castle of Refuge - finished Jun 4
Tidelands - finished Jun 10
Wandering Stars - finished Jun 18
Her Majesty's Mischief - finished Jun 19
The Strength of His Hand - finished Jun 26
Currently reading:
First Knight (Archive.org) - started Jan 5
Braids of Song: Weaving Welsh Music into the American Soul - started Mar 23
Wanderland - started Apr 9
Sugar and Slate - started May 28
Dark, Witch & Creamy - started Jun 19
Next up:
Company of Liars
The Chocolate Maker's Wife
The Lady of the Tower
The Frozen River
Waiting for holds:
The Ghost Cat - 16 week wait. I may use an Audible credit
Still might read:
Queen By Right - restarted Nov 1 (PAUSED)
Chocolate House Treason
Wolf Hall
The Odyssey
The Summer Queen
New Acquisitions:
The Odyssey
The Iliad
The Waringham Chronicles, Volume 1: The Runaway
The Waringham Chronicles, Volume 2: The Wheel of Fortune
The Waringham Chronicles, Volume 3: Revolutions
Illuminations
The Shadowy Horses
Named of the Dragon
The Clockmaker's Daughter
The Chocolate Maker's Wife
Clear
West
Whale Fall
(the above were all from Audible (85% off sale - average $4 apiece)
The Frozen River - used Audible credit
The Heart of the Conqueror Audible, included with Prime (i.e. might disappear later...)
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Audible, included with Prime
Speaking from Among the Bones - Kindle $1.99
Laurus - Kindle .99
Chirp sale: $1.99 each
Death Comes for the Archbishop
My Ántonia
O Pioneers!
One of Ours
GWENLLIAN - Kindle, free
The Herb Knot - Kindle, .99