You're most welcome ( I wasn't sure that a last share would be of interest, as homeschooling extras seem to have changed a lot, with online/typeable pdf things.)

There were quite a few of us, back in the day, creating pages for fun for our own children and them sharing them for free on blogs and homeschooling sites. Grin. Love the crusty neo-luddite wording... I think I must be one too.

I'm not sure if Jill, one of the contributors, is keeping the list updated on her blog

I created quite a few free downloadable pdfs during our years homeschooling and will be dismantling much of my blog. I thought I'd give a last heads up here, just encase anyone here wanted to download anything before my dropbox files disappear into the ether - middle of next month - and my domain name goes back into use for someone else in 2024. http://www.last-in-line.info/p/our-free-pages.html

More like lured in .... my Dd read this and kept telling me how much I'd enjoy it.

Not including ongoing sip-reads, my current, summer time, reads: Northbridge Rectory ~ Angela Thirkell God and Churchill ~ Wallace Henley , Jonathan Sandys The Eye of the World: The Wheel of Time Bk1 ~ Robert Jordan

Thank you @Robin M for creating another great thread for us. Creativity ...... with our ongoing house build - we're building it ourselves and have at least two more years to go at this pace - and having a leadlighter and artist (Dd) working from home it feels like my space is bursting with it. 🥰 I read quite a few titles for The Crime Spree Challenge, and, thank you (!) Sandy and Amy, I have really enjoyed this challenge. Here are a few of the titles I've listened to, just sharing the ones that ended up being more than three stars for me. Grandparents of Crime: Armadale ~ Wilkie Collins, narrators Nicholas Boulton, Rachel Atkins, David Rintoul, John Sackville, Lucy Scott (4-) (30h 2m) Romantic Suspense: Airs Above the Ground ~ Mary Stewart, narrated by Antonia Whillans (4+) (9h 13m) Golden Age: ( I read the most in this sub-genre, and so have included two books Brat Farrar ~ Josephine Tey, narrated by Carole Boyde (5) (7h 55m) (Josephine Tey focus), and, The Gazebo: Miss Silver Bk27~ Patricia Wentworth, narrated by Diana Bishop (4.5) (8h 37m) Classic Children's Mysteries: Patterns on the Wall ~ Elizabeth Yates, narrated by Abram Felsch (4) (5h 10m) (I listened to this as my nod to Classic Children’s Mysteries) Historical Mysteries: (no titles rated over 3 stars) Religious Characters: A Nun in the Closet ~ Dorothy Gilman, narrated by Roslyn Alexander (4) (6h 37m) The Americans: (no titles rated over 3 stars) True Crime: Constable Among the Heather: Constable Nick Bk10 ~ Nicholas Rhea, narrated by Philip Franks (4) Police Procedural: Persons of Interest: DC Smith series Bk4 ~ Peter Grainger, narrated by Gildart Jackson (5) (10h 30m) Unreliable Narrator: (no titles rated over 3 stars) Around the World: Maigret and the Minister & Other Stories: Inspector Maigret (Dramatised) ~ Georges Simenon, narrated by Maurice Denham (4) (2h 57m) Christmas/Holiday Themed Mysteries: Hercule Poirot's Christmas: Bk18 ~ Agatha Christie, narrator Hugh Fraser (4) (6h 31m) ________________________________________ I'm still relistening through Peter Grainger's D.C Smith, Police procedural, series. One book I finished recently that has had me thinking about it long after I've finished it. I've been mulling over the content and the impact the events in the book have had on the author. The Uncaged Sky: My 804 days in an Iranian prison ~ Kylie Moore-Gilbert, narrated by author (5) (14h) N/F. This is a very gritty memoir of a harrowing, life imploding, nightmare. Well written, and the audiobook is narrated so well by the author. Extra: quite a few f.bombs. I appreciated the interview by Sky News Australia, it precedes the writing of the book, and can currently be found here on youtube

Thank you. ( I think of you all often, especially when it's near the end of the week and could be a check-in time.) Agreeing! I prefer to listen to this series more than reading it. Gildart Jackson is the best narrator for this series. For me, he is D.C Smith

Updating with my book run since my last check-in, in week 35. For Crime Spree crime-spree/ unreliable narrator: The Death of Roger Ackroyd ~ Agatha Christie (BBC Radio Drama) (3) I’m not a huge fan of the narrator being the one hoodwinking everyone, well dramatised though so that helps this version earn itself stars. A-Z Challenge X=The Phoenix and the Carpet ~ E. Nesbit, narrated by Johanna Ward (3-4 ) I loved reading E. Nesbit’s books about the Bastable children, The Treasure Seekers, and, The Wouldbegoods to my children, years back, but never got around to reading very far in the Psamead triology to them – the first book The Five Children and It just tanked for us. I decided I’d listen to this well narrated audiobook for our a-z reading challenge. I rather enjoyed this book, it just isn’t as good as the Bastable books. Extra: Island people are referred to as savages. Other books Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH ~ Robert C. O'Brien, narrated by Barbara Caruso (4) This was on a list of books we were reading aloud to our children during our years of educating at home: we never got to this one. I couldn’t help noticing a lot of things that could have made this a good book to discuss, back in the day, as a family. I love how faithful, and brave, and giving Mrs. Frisby was for and to her family, and, to those about her. Extra: experiments on rodents for ‘science’. The author gives her thoughts on monkeys in the jungle evolving into men Kate Hardy ~ D.E. Stevenson (3 ) An undemanding, before sleep read. I liked Kate as a character, but found many of the other characters one dimensional or just tiresome. (Spooktacular October) Dracula ~ Bram Stoker, narrated by Tavia Gilbert, J.P. Guimont (4- ) I’ve never read through the original, and while I don’t think I’ll ever be doing a repeat read, listening to this on audio was the best choice for me and kept me interested in the lengthy story. I didn’t realise there was as much churched (Catholic?) contented in the story as there is – it was nice to find references to God and praying in amongst Dracula’s demonic blood-swilling escapades. The Borrowers: Bk1 ~ Mary Norton, narrated by Rownea Cooper (4 ) (4h 5m) Late-night listen. My daughter is a huge fan of Studio Ghibli's adaptation of this story and after watching The Secret World Of Arrietty with her awhile back I decided I needed to go back and relisten to the original story. Still good, but I liked The Secret World of Arrietty more. Pod and Arrietty are great, well fleshed out, characters in this book. Extra: Homily isn’t the most courageous mother. “Borrowing” is used to explain away stealing. The housekeepers intent towards the boy has abusive undertones. Mrs. Harris, Goes to Paris and Mrs. Harris Goes to New York ~ Paul Gallico, narrated by Juliet Stevenson (4 ) I really enjoyed the first book, and can see why it’s stood the readers test of time – it ended up being comfort, feel good, reading, and, is perfectly narrated by Juliet Stevenson. Bk:1 earnt all 5 stars from me. The book set lost points in the second book for me, the story centres around a child being abused in care, abandoned by his parents, and Mrs. Harris going to America to find his father. I would definitely listen to book one again, but not book two – it was a ho-hum, okay-ish listen for me. Extra: Lots of stereotypical jokes/satire, some n.bombs. Camilla: From Outcast to Queen Consort ~ Angela Levin, narrated by Julie Teal (4) (9h 45m) 4 stars for the audiobook ( some of the editing becomes a bit mangled towards the end of the book). I enjoyed this biography more than I thought I would, and have come away appreciating how hard working and resilient Camilla is. An Accidental Death: DC Smith Bk1 ~ Peter Grainger, narrated by Gildart Jackson (4) (6h 52m) I’m doing a repeat listen through this series for Crime Spree/ Police Prodecural But for the Grace: DC Smith Bk2 ~ Peter Grainger, narrated by Gildart Jackson (3.5) I convinced myself it was a good idea to relisten through this even though I find the subject matter a challenge. Not a favourite in the series, but still well written.

Happy Thanksgiving to those of you here that celebrate it.

Happy Birthday Robin. Love the stash of birthday books your family has gifted you with.

@mumto2 thank-you, we are really hoping to. Yes, I have read the Kingslake Investigation series (post D.C Smiths retirement). I enjoyed books one to three more, than book four - still gave it three out of five stars, though for me there was something lacking in that book and I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was - understandably Smith is being mentioned less and less as this spin off series evolves. Listening to them on audio is my preferred way to gobble them down (I've read on few on kindle too though). Nodding in total agreement with your comment on the Tom Bower book and the press on MM this week. Looking forward to reading your thoughts on Nine Coaches Waiting ( it ended up a favourite listen for me during 2020)

Apologising for bombing the thread with multiple posts ( one post would have been enormous) Other books Death In Soho: Augusta Peel Bk1 ~ Emily Organ, narrated by Sarah Nichols (3.5 ) The conclusion to the mystery was a little ho-hum, but I like the main character, book binder, ex. WW1 spy(?)/collaborator, Augusta Peel, and, though the narrator is just okay-ish, the story itself was interesting enough that I might try the next one in the series. Q: Has anyone read books five and six in this series? The Queen's Thief Series by Megan Whalen Turner, narrated by Steve West The King of Attolia: Bk3 (5) A well told tale! This is a wonderful story, and my favourite in the series out of books 1-4. It reminds me of The Goblin Emperor, and the storytelling in this book earnt all five stars for me. Extra: some cursing in this book (no f.bombs) A Conspiracy of Kings: Bk4 (3-4) I think I enjoy the stories with Eugenides as the central figure more than this one. A Conspiracy of Kings has Sophos and his story as the central theme with Eugenides included as a supporting character, and Sophos' romance with Eddis written in as a secondary story. Steve West is such a good narrator for these books. Extra: Some swearing (no f.bombs though) Each next book in the series, so far, seemed to have more swearing in it than the preceding one. Revenge ~ Tom Bower, narrated by Andrew Wincott (3-4) non-fiction/journalistic I’ve gifted this audiobook three stars for the writing and a solid four stars for the narration. The writing style is a bit clunky in places and there is repetition of complete paragraphs throughout the book – I initially thought the audiobook had jumped back on those repeated excerpts. Andrew Wincott does a good job narrating this. I am not usually interested in books about the younger royals, yet, since others in one of my online book groups have read it, and all have definite opinions 😉 about the content and Meghan, I wanted to read it for myself to better understand what was driving their conversation. My personal takeaways from the book: no member of the royal family comes away unscathed in this book. Sorry Harry, Meghan is definitely not Diana 2.0 – she is her own person marching to the beat of her own drum. I dislike her ongoing disrespect to the Queen, whom I admire greatly. Extra: f-bombs and cursing. Current reads (not including sip-reads) Kate Hardy ~ D.E. Stevenson. Undemanding, before sleep read. My late-night audiobooks have been repeat listens through a few of the less intense stories in the Mrs. Pollifax series. Just started another Nicholas Rhea book the library has, Constable Among the Heather, while also listening to the beginnings of a few other library loans, Midwinter Murder by Agatha Christie, and I will then have to choose between Lucky Man By Michael J. Fox, or, Adventures Of The Yorkshire Shepherdess by Amanda Owen and return the other one.

A-Z Challenge The Oaken Heart ~ Margery Allingham, narrated by Georgina Sutton (5) non-fiction/ WWII memoir I flat out enjoyed listening to Georgina Sutton narrate this, and then followed up the audiobook with a speed read through an online version later: https://www.fadedpage.com/showbook.php?pid=20210714 This book is an unvarnished reflection of the era Allingham was raised in, wrote, and, lived in - definitely not pc – and made me wince in a few places. I think Margery explains her telling of details best, “This book seems to be full of delicate subjects but it is an attempt at a history of a delicate time and I do not see how I can avoid it if I am to tell the truth, which is my object”. I enjoyed the first person narrative, it almost reads like a long, story-formatted, letter. Having already read the “thriller” (Traitor's Purse: Albert Campion Mystery Bk11) that Margery mentions writing at the time events in this book are going on about her made both books so much more interesting for me. My parents, both deceased, were in their teen years during WWII, so reading about the events in this small village is like viewing a portion of their world back then. Extra: includes a few curse words. The Freedom Circus ~ Sue Smethurst, narrated by Harriet Gordon-Anderson, Sam Smith (4) The story telling in the first chapter was a little underwhelming – it read a little like a teenaged romance, accentuated by the duel narrators – I’m pleased I kept listen as the story of this family’s harrowing journey as Jews through WWII to finally settle in Australia is interesting and hopeful.

Updating with my book run since my last check-in, week 30. I’m hoping to get back here later in the week to go back through the threads and catch up on what you’ve all been reading. For Crime Spree The Princess Spy ~ Larry Loftis, narrated by Kate Reading (3) This started out as an interesting read, I thought the content was going to be more 'spy' orientated that it ended up being. This book, unfortunately for it and the author, is being compared to his earlier book, also about a spy, Code Name: Lise, which I appreciated much more as far as spy biographies go. I think the author did a good job trying to balance what he could find as fact about Aline Griffith, against the conflicting events in her own books. The Princess Spy reads more as a US WWII operatives worker - as opposed to being a hard core spy, sans Lise - with Aline living and working in Spain until she lands the Count she's in love with: from there on out the book is more about their high society life and acquaintances. Makes for easy listening, and I'm pleased I went through it as an audiobook. * our local library had this listed in the True Crime section, and I originally picked it up to read for the True Crime reading challenge, I’ll have to count it as that. Brat Farrar ~ Josephine Tey, narrated by Carole Boyde (5) Repeat listen: I originally listened through this in 2017 as a possible listen for one of my young teens, i noted that it had Mature themes and though i enjoyed the story noted that one of the characters had a really casual attitude to pre-marital relationships …. I didn’t notice that portion so much this time as I was listening for my own enjoyment. Carole Boyd’s skilled narration made Tey’s wonderful word crafting a solid five star experience. The Franchise Affair : Inspector Alan Grant, Bk 3 ~ Josephine Tey, narrated by Carole Boyd (3) (Josephine Tey Focus) I’ve always sidestepped this as I don’t like stories with young women kidnapped and enslaved. Seeing it as a BBC radio drama on youtube I thought I’d dip my toe in to see if I liked the way this story ran: I did. Tey gives that theme a twist, not scary, or sickening, and I ended up enjoying this mystery with its nice ending so went on to listen to the unabridged version; Tey writes so well, yet I think I enjoyed the abridged version more. Extra: a 15 year old girl – street savvy and as wily as a fox - runs away from home and starts travelling about with a married man. The author includes her opinion on social, moral, and political topics in her era.