Ack! Terrible time of the year for that to happen. Hope you'll get something sorted really quickly Kareni.

Enjoying all the challenge shares - they each look like a fun way to read through 2019! (With the society being mentioned, would an acronym, sometime like TEBOS, work ? the T could stand for The or for something Theology based. Looking forward to seeing what clever name you all decide on.) I've completed the Holly Challenge with my last book - a worthy read. I'm not sure if I'll get back here again, after this week, until the New Year..... ( post another surgery and with the hoped for clean bill of health. No response needed for that) Wishing each of you good health, peace and rest, and some time to read!, during the Christmas season. 🙂 O = The Invisible Child: On Reading and Writing Books for Children ~ Katherine Paterson (5) N/F (book) I purposely wanted to sip read this, so I could pause and ponder over the thoughts Katherine had originally crafted as acceptance speeches and were then gathered together as a collection to form this book. I don’t think I would have enjoyed the speeches in a few solid reading sessions, one speech crammed in on top of the last four speeches would be a little bit like eating too many chocolate eclairs in one go. I’ve underscored portions and jotted my own thoughts down throughout the book; I’ll definitely be rereading The Invisible Child. I’ve gained a greater understanding to the background of what birthed the thoughts behind Katherine's books which gives me a grudging respect for some of the titles that I have definitely had mixed feelings about …. maybe time for me to take a re-read of a few of those from a different vantage point. ETA: Adding what I am reading/listening to: The False Mirror ~ Charles Todd Affairs at Thrush Green ~ Miss Read (audio) The Seven Deadly Friendships ~ Mary DeMuth (CC) Dixon of Dock Green: 12 Episodes of the BBC Radio 4 Drama (Listening to this with the dc in the evenings, both are officially on summer break) hoping to start these soon... The Christmas Hirelings ~ Mary Elizabeth Braddon, The Christmas Card Crime ~ Donald Stuart (audible)

🙏

I’ve been shuffling and sorting book titles and authors for the reading challenges I’d like to try next year (The Book ’tecs, Sleuths, and, Private Eyes spelling challenge, and, join in the Scotland focus). One of the titles I’m really looking forward to listening to - someone here recommended it (Kareni?), thank you! - is Quirkology which will help to take care of one of those tricky Q’s. I won’t be reading/listening as voraciously next year so I’m going to set my reading quota to 70. Completed: 210: Y = Year at Thrush Green: Thrush Green Bk12 ~ Miss Read (5) Faux English Village. It was an absolute delight to have this gentle read to enjoy as we head towards Christmas. It’s always a pleasure to revisit the villagers in Thrush Green and to have the focus of the book paying so much tribute to Mrs. Curdle. Extra: emotional adultery, a led characters mother dies, death of a beloved pet. All scenarios are penned with a gentle hand. 211: The Courts of the Morning ~ John Buchan, narrated by Peter Joyce (2 ¾ ) This one is a political adventure, not my cup of tea, so I didn’t find it as engaging or as enjoyable as other Buchan stories – at one point I just skipped ahead, trimming off 4 chapters, which didn’t seem to affect the story at all. 212: Tied Up in Tinsel: Roderick Alleyn Bk27 ~ Ngaio Marsh, narrated by Nadia May (3) Relisten. (The Moors, Aylesbury Vale, Downley – Buckinghamshire) Repeat listen. I’d forgotten who’d dunnit and enjoyed this story more this 2nd time through. The first time, years ago, I was critiquing to see if the content was suitable for one of the DC – it wasn’t for them back then, as Marsh’s characters are portraying mature (often messy!) adult scenarios. Extra: Some bawdy content, partricide. Still reading : O= The Invisible Child: On Reading and Writing Books for Children ~ Katherine Paterson I'm aiming to complete my first read through of this book, this year; and, count it as the last book needed to spell “holly’.

Hoping you are able to come back, on another thread, next year, and tell us how the 'we'll see' went.

It is amazing! We had this for years and recently gifted it onto another family with younger dc to enjoy.

It's not just hair. (Hug)

Flat out enjoying all the planning 10x10 , and Scotland selections. Gorgeous gift idea @The Accidental Coach

Agreeing, if it's someone who doesn't know me that well purchasing me a random, not on my wishlist, book. Fun selection. (I've run out of time ... link hopping: hope to catch up with the rest of the thread tomorrow)

So good to see you appreciated this book too. I went on and on about it so much, before, during and after reading it - it has became one of my top picks for this year - that my Dh caved in and asked for me to download the audio for him. We had no idea this was a portion of U.S history. Delayed surgery, and the wait for you all 😞 Hoping the Jan 17th gifts you with Emma well and ready for surgery. (& really hope your Gndsns end of year 'thing' went well!!)

My ds spent a good while browsing through the link @Tanaqui shared 😉 The unboxed visuals were so helpful and our games wishlist has now grown!! A few we added The original Pandemic is sold out - the 10th-anniversary edition looks good (pricey though) Dragon's Hoard, and, Friday: A Solo Adventure , are less expensive options 😉 Anyone here played either of these? Discover Lands Unknown Fabled Fruit Reef NMBR 9 Azul, and Hive are on the list but are currently sold out in the store we use.

Runners-up (?) 😏

If you're dd is still into more gentle reads (I'd count these all as clean reads) ..... Bess Crawford Series ~ Charles Todd The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter Series ~ Susan Albert Wittig (my dd & I enjoyed these more via audio) Thrush Green series ~ Miss Read Gray Matter ~ David Levy (my family's favourite NF book for this year) ETA: With art, is that NF, fiction, or both? News of the World ~ Paulette Jiles

ooo, yes, please, count me in! Nice categories. Especially like the "truly random". 😋 Is NYRB the classics publisher? Love? No, however, I do like a few of the audiobooks. Needs must for your DD, especially when the library is shut - you poor thing😉 - we've had similar torture with other authors. My 2 dc thought Surfeit of Lamprey's was wonderful - complete with the murder involving a skewer through the eye 🤔 It's lovely! (The picture you shared of Emma a while back is adorable.) Good news that her pre-appoint went well. We'll be thinking of you all on Thursday!

It's a 2019's reading challenge being discussed. Here might help to find easier challenges, or just make up your own and share as you go along.

Flicking through following posts for the title reveal 😉 Read Ngaio Marsh? (faints!) I've only ever 'read' one, audiobooks are a must, for me. Benedict Cumberbatch, Anton (ETA) Lesser (for abridged versions) and Philip Franks (unabridged) are a much more palatable way to read Marsh; and some titles should just be skipped altogether. (Marsh was ex.pat NZer and one author my younger/mid years' highschoolers were to read - trying to find a title that would engage their interest and didn't have too much adult content meant I ended up listening to a lot of Ngaio Marsh.) So.... would you read 10 books in each category like Matryoshka? (NICE! Line up..... The first three. Wow! Amazing challenge. Wonder if, really simple, picture books in French and Maori could count for me 😅 ) Taking that on board. I'm currently on the long wait list ... perhaps it might improve by the time it reaches me. 😋 @Lady Florida. LOVE!!!!! Your new avatar. Sneaks in with.... Yes mumto2 . Say yes! Hoping you get to pop in more often!! Is this by Schoschana Rabinovici? (Sounds like one I'd appreciate.)

I have done my bi-annual shop for Audible audiobooks (mostly via Amazon, discussed here) so nicely topped up. (I’ve squirrelled away quite a few titles mentioned on this thread. My thanks ♥ ) Completed: 149: Artists in Crime: Roderick Alleyn Bk6 ~ Ngaio Marsh Buckinghamshire / London Repeat listen. 4.5* audiobook, read by Philip Franks. Adding this review, belatedly. Though I’ve rated this as a 4.5, it’s not a book that I would actually recommend to many of my IRL reading associates. There is quite a lot of bohemian artist /free love/ lifestyle talk in this book, no salacious details though.... and of course there is the 'standard' nude artist’s model. The young woman murdered was pregnant 😞 Marsh refers to one of her characters as “unmoral” – he is! Adult themes. Despite those issues, I think this showcases the best of Marsh’s writing acumen: a well told murder mystery, the right amount of tension and suspense (for me); and, the attraction Roderick feels for one of the artists weaves its way through the whole story. 208: Why Shoot The Butler? ~ Georgette Heyer, narrated by Ullie Birve (3.5) (Repeat listen) Faux Places = Upper Nettlefold / Pittingly Rd / Carchester / Hillingdeen (Real = Little Haven, Pembrokeshire) Goodreads review Extra for others that like to know: some cursing, alcoholism, drownings. 209: L = The Mission Walker ~ Edie Littlefield Sundby, narrated by Jaimee Paul (3.5) N/F blog review My rating is for the audiobook, not Edie. Still reading (including sip reads, and books for ‘Holly’): The Courts of the Morning ~ John Buchan (chipping away at this) The Illustrated Guide to Cows ~ Celia Lewis N/F (sipping this one slowly – beautiful!) Y = Year at Thrush Green: Thrush Green Bk12 ~ Miss Read (my kind of book!!) O= The Invisible Child: On Reading and Writing Books for Children ~ Katherine Paterson (this book is gaining underlings by the score. Good reading!) How the Heather Looks ~ Joan Bodger memoir (lovely, gentle read!) These Brit Trip locations were kindly posted by another BaW poster (21 counties) Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cheshire, Cornwall, Cumbria, Devon, Durham, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Kent, Northamptonshire, Northumberland, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Scotland (Dunbar, Edinburgh), Shropshire, Somerset, Surrey, Sussex, Wales (Monmouthshire), Yorkshire (N), Yorkshire (W)

@Noreen Claire I don't know if they have a link up yet, the sale clicked in while I was on Audible downloading a purchase. That is a shame! Maybe it's a Country location thing? Using The Eleventh Orphan as my example, I have to open up each item on Amazon in the Audible Audiobook search engine, or click the Audible Audiobook tab Paperback $10.2018 Used from $2.4025 New from $6.13 Audible Audiobook from $18.8043 New from $18.80 if I'm in the book/kindle section to see the 'better' audiobook price, The above books shows as this price on Audible : Member sale price: $12.35 (50% off) Regular price: $24.70 , and as this on Amazon once I've done my tab click trip : See all 5 formats and editions Paperback $10.1118 Used from $2.4025 New from $6.13 Audiobook $10.74 or 1 creditor 1 credit

Audible's 50% off sale 'especially' for members isn't really that special, I just clicked over to Audible Audiobooks on Amazon and every audiobook I'm interested in is cheaper to purchase there. Some sale. 🤔 Just saying..... ETA: Wondering if the lower specials are applicable to non-Audible members?

Grinning, no probably not then (my dd wonders what I'm laughing at). I do like some level of hope n happiness at the end of my fiction reads.

Hope you can nail down some quick listens, and steps! ** Yearly Goals: I was hoping to read/listen to more non-fiction this year, managed that with 43 books I’ve currently read/listened to 218 books total, was aiming for 175 (It doesn’t really feel that impressive, I was just killing time as I’ve lain around convalescing between surgeries. No response required 😉 ) Brit Trip Possibilities - 159 titles (I got to read so many detective/mystery titles thanks to the Bus Trip: Joy!) Listened to 166 (hmmm 🤔) Goals I’d like to achieve before Christmas: I’ve only read 51 books, so I’m really wanting to complete one of the physical books I have on hand, to have read 52 in 52 Finish off spelling Holly (have 'o' and 'y' to go) I found it free on Amazon (thank you)...... the language usage looks lovely. Do you know if it has people "Drowning in the Floss" at the end (grr)?

That is really interesting. (sorry for 2 separate posts, I was about to sign out and then read Kareni's interesting extra!)

Please refresh my memory.... what was your 600pg-er

There are so many books that have the same / similar titles, and usage of these two words is just one of them, Not very professional to create a dust storm with an already respected writer. Bad move.

It's not your bad ... I didn't send you our snail mail addi - postage to NZ is brutal: a better use for that is for you to buy books and influence us suggest we read them 😉 I think Sandy and yourself should note I "rebelled" it, and my prize is to read a few more books for fun. My dd and I flat out enjoyed that series a few summers back. Ouch! Well done. Pushing through the pain sounds brave to type, but the doing is pain filled.