This!!

Hello to everyone here, seconding what @Kareni said.... Pulling this over from last weeks thread: @mumto2 I am super impressed with your final tally, fluff titles or not, 364 books looks like a massive achievement to me. I did enjoyed reading all the comments on that thread, and here, detailing what each one's reading year looked like.

This is my last post for 2021, in about 15 mins it'll be 2022: wishing all here a safe and gentle start into the New Year (when you get there). I'm appreciating the wrap up comments and the lengthier posts in this thread; and, as I posted quite a few wrap up lists in last weeks thread I've decided to just post my favourite titles: 5 out of 5 stars The Count of Monte Cristo ~ Alexandre Dumas, narrated by Bill Homewood I was surprised at how much I ended up enjoying this book. Extra: The author uses the 'n' word once. KJV Life Application Study Bible (kindle) Music in the Hills: Dering Family Bk2 ~ D.E. Stevenson, narrated by Lesley Mackie (I wasn’t going to include any repeat listens, but as this one became a full stars listen this year, I decided to include it.) I gifted the story its full 5 stars, since I was prepared for that abrupt ‘Stevenson-ish’ ending this time through. How the Heather Looks ~ Joan Bodger 84, Charing Cross Road ~ Helene Hanff, narrators Juliet Stevenson & John Nettles Roxanne: Kings Lake Investigation Bk3 ~ Peter Grainger, narrated by Gildart Jackson Though everything is discussed pretty euphemistically, there are some really gritty topics in this Kings Lake investigation. Mary Barton ~ Elizabeth Gaskell, narrated by Juliet Stevenson The Leper of Saint Giles: Chronicles of Brother Cadfael Bk5 ~ Ellis Peters, narrated by Johanna Ward The Other Bennet Sister ~ Janice Hadlow, narrated by Kristin Atherton All the Tears in China: Rowland Sinclair Bk9 ~ Sulari Gentill Extra: Brutality in prison, opium addiction, gang lifestyle, the discussion of bigotry/ racism/ racial prejudice, an ex-boyfriend is an abusive, controlling manipulator and a stalker. Willful Grievance: The Lillie Mead Historical Mystery Series Bk2 ~ Lisa Zumpano, narrated by Claire Storey Extra: Some cursing and using God's name as an expletive. No f-bombs. Abandoned children, orphans, a policeman has O.C.D. Dogs as I See Them ~ Lucy Dawson The Spy and the Traitor ~ Ben MacIntyre, narrated by Ben Macintyre Extra: some cursing and swearing, no f.bombs. The Resilient Farmer: Weathering the Challenges of Life and Land ~ Doug Avery Another book that I wasn't expecting to appreciate as much as I did. Extra: some curse words. Suicides. Farming accident kills young worker. The Quick Roasting Tin: 30 Minute One Dish Dinners ~ Rukmini Iyer These two cook books have reinvented how I cook this year The Roasting Tin: Simple One Dish Dinners ~ Rukmini Iyer 4.5 out of 5 stars A Gentleman in Moscow ~ Amor Towles, narrated by Nicholas Guy Smith Parnassus on Wheels ~ Christopher Morley, narrated by Nadia May The Forest of Wool and Steel ~ Natsu Miyashita Extra: one of the characters has anxiety attacks, and has an OCD issue about dirt.

I'm hoping to do this too, yet I'm not sure I'll be able to respond to the list of thought provoking questions in your opening post. I enjoyed this too. Thank you for your comments, they are the perfect catalyst for me to listen to this.

As we close out the last few hours of Christmas eve down here, I wanted to stop by and wish each one here peace, hope, and love – however you spend the Christmas season - and the prospect of many good books! A quick book update Completed: What Child is This? ~ Rhys Bowen (audible) (3) a WWII short story set at Christmas time, it made for an okay listen. I really like this quote, especially as we head towards another COVID hampered Christmas: “We just have to make the best of things and be happy with what we’ve got.” Extra: some cursing. My Christmas eve listen as I sorted the final things for Christmas day tomorrow: Tied Up in Tinsel: Roderick Alleyn Bk27 ~ Ngaio Marsh, narrated by Wanda McCaddon (repeat listen) I started this audiobook a few days ago, and will get back to it over the Christmas/New Years break: The Dick Francis BBC Radio Drama Collection ~ Dick Francis, narrated by a full BBC cast . The BBC has one of these stories as a free listen on their site: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/b0418jfp I'm off to find out what this word is 🙂

Free BBC listens -a Goodreads thread I refer to through out the year. https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/21104251-bbc-radio-book-dramatizations?comment=242457894&page=3#comment_242457894 Currently listening to their dramatised version of Ben-hur, and then Howl's Moving Castle

Challenge 40 New, to me, authors, achieved 43 Return to the Reich: A Holocaust Refugee's Secret Mission to Defeat the Nazis ~ Eric Lichtblau, narrated by Dennis Boutsikaris (4) N/F Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence ~ Anna Lembke (4) N/f . Gilead: Bk1 ~ Marilynne Robinson, narrated by Tim Jerome (4) What Child Is This?: Ellie Kent Bk2 ~ Alice K. Boatwright, narrated by Saskia Maarleveld (3+) The Quick Roasting Tin: 30 Minute One Dish Dinners ~ Rukmini Iyer (5⭐) N/f Millions Like Us: Women's Lives in the Second World War ~ Virginia Nicholson, narrated by Patience Tomlinson, Annie Aldington, Rachel Bavidge, Julie Maisey, Georgina Sutton (4) N/f The Resilient Farmer: Weathering the Challenges of Life and Land ~ Doug Avery (5⭐) N/F A Place of Healing: Wrestling with the Mysteries of Suffering, Pain, and God's Sovereignty ~ Joni E. Tada (3-4) for the audiobook. N/F Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence ~ Anna Lembke (4) N/f . *Content could be triggering The Perfect Predator: A Scientist's Race to Save Her Husband from a Deadly Superbug: A Memoir ~ Steffanie Strathdee , Thomas Patterson , Teresa Barker – contributor, narrated by Christine Lakin , Dan Woren (4) N/F Travelling to Infinity: The True Story Behind The Theory of Everything ~ Jane Hawking, narrated by Sandra Duncan (3.5 ) N/F Your Life in My Hands: A Junior Doctor's Story ~ Rachel Clarke (3) (audiobook) N/f The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz ~ Erik Larson, narrated by Matt Addis (4 ) N/f The Diary of a Bookseller: Bk1 ~ Shaun Bythell, narrated by Robin Laing 4 stars for the audiobook N/f Prince Philip Revealed: A Man of His Century ~ Ingrid Seward, narrated by Julie Teal (3) N/f The Keeper of Lost Things ~ Ruth Hogan, narrated by Jane Collingwood and Sandra Duncan (2 ) Before the Coffee Gets Cold: Bk1 ~ Toshikazu Kawaguchi, narrated by Arina Ii audiobook (3) The Little Prince ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Michael Morpurgo (Translator), narrated by Richard E. Grant (2) For the Love of Books: A Celebration of the Written Word ~ Graham Tarrant (2-3) e.book. N/f Game in Diamonds ~ Elizabeth Cadell, narrated by Will Peck (2+) I listened to this close on the heels of some beautifully written books, so that impacted on my review The Spy and the Traitor ~ Ben MacIntyre, narrated by Ben Macintyre 5⭐ for the audiobook N/f Survivors Club: The True Story of a Very Young Prisoner of Auschwitz ~ Michael Bornstein, Debbie Bornstein Holinstat, narrated by Fred Berman (4.5) N/f A Gentleman in Moscow ~ Amor Towles, narrated by Nicholas Guy Smith (4.5⭐ ) (17h 52m ) Parnassus on Wheels ~ Christopher Morley, narrated by Nadia May (4) 84, Charing Cross Road ~ Helene Hanff, narrators Juliet Stevenson & John Nettles (5⭐) N/f How to Win Friends and Influence People ~ Dale Carneige, narrated by Andrew MacMillan (-) N/f A Completing of The Watsons ~ Rose Servitova (3) Wilding: The Return of Nature to a British Farm ~ Isabella Tree, narrated by the author (3.5) for the audiobook N/f Dr Finlay: The Complete BBC Radio Collection ~ A.J. Cronin, narrated by David Tennant, John Gordon Sinclair, Celia Imrie, full cast (4 ) Extra: domestic violence (spoiler) a husband is murdered and the Drs cover it up as the pregnant woman was the victim of domestic abuse. 50 People Every Christian Should Know: Learning from Spiritual Giants of the Faith ~ Warren W. Wiersbe (2+) N/f .Jack in the Pulpit: Martha's Vineyard Mystery Bk4 ~ Cynthia Riggs, narrated by Davina Porter (3) The Adventures of Maud West, Lady Detective: Secrets and Lies in the Golden Age of Crime ~ Susannah Stapleton, narrated by Clare Wille (2) N/f Dark Threads the Weaver Needs: The Problem of Human Suffering ~ Herbert Lockyer (CC) (4) N/f A Willful Grievance: The Lillie Mead Historical Mystery Series Bk2 ~ Lisa Zumpano, narrated by Claire Storey (5⭐) The Thirteen Clocks ~ James Thurber, narrated by Edward Woodward (2) A quirky fairy tale that may have fared better if I’d read it as opposed to listening to it on audiobook, which had ongoing background music and ‘noises'. No Cure for the Dead: The Florence Nightingale Mysteries Bk1 ~ Christine Trent, narrated by Lucy Rayner (3-) The Other Bennet Sister ~ Janice Hadlow, narrated by Kristin Atherton (5⭐) The Devotion of Suspect X: Detective Galileo Bk1 ~ Keigo Higashino , Translated by Alexander O. Smith, narrated by David Pittu (4) Aprons and Silver Spoons: The Heartwarming Memoirs of a 1930s Scullery Maid ~ Mollie Moran, narrated by Nicolette McKenzie (3-) N/f A Memory of Violets ~ Hazel Gaynor, narrated by Nicola Barber (2-3) A Decline in Prophets: Rowland Sinclair Bk2 ~ Sulari Gentill (4) (Aust author) I went on to read many more in the series Susie: The Life and Legacy of Susannah Spurgeon, wife of Charles H. Spurgeon ~ Ray Rhodes Jr., narrated by Joe Geoffrey (2) N/f The Forest of Wool and Steel ~ Natsu Miyashita, Philip Gabriel (Translator) (4.5⭐)

Well done!! Seeing how @mumto2 and yourself 'do' your challenges is an encouragement to have a try (at some point). And looking forward to reading those posts.... next week @mumto2 reading new to me authors is probably easier because I like to read/listen to non-fiction. Reading a lot of, just, new fiction authors would be a super hard task for me. Posting my new to me authors next....

A personal challenge: Read at least 24 physical books (completed 29) Self- imposed guidelines: Minimum of 150pgs, no repeat reads. Bella: My Life in Food ~ Annabel Langbein (N/F) (4+) 393pgs A Decline in Prophets: Rowland Sinclair Bk2 ~ Sulari Gentill (4) 354pgs The Forest of Wool and Steel ~ Natsu Miyashita (4.5) 157pgs Ladies’ Bane: Miss Silver Bk22 ~ Patricia Wentworth (ebook) (3-) 272pgs Miles Off Course: Rowland Sinclair Bk3 ~ Sulari Gentill (3) 354pgs Paving the New Road: Rowland Sinclair Bk4 ~ Sulari Gentill (4) 403pgs Gentleman Formerly Dressed: Rowland Sinclair Bk5 ~ Sulari Gentill (2) 368pgs A Murder Unmentioned: Rowland Sinclair Bk6 ~ Sulari Gentill (4) 384pgs Give the Devil His Due: Rowland Sinclair B7 ~ Sulari Gentill (3) 374pgs A Dangerous Language: Rowland Sinclair Bk8 ~ Sulari Gentill (4) 367pgs Keep a Quiet Heart ~ Elisabeth Elliot (N/F) (4) (CC) 269pgs God in the Docks ~ C.S. Lewis (ebook & audiobook) (3) 409pgs Dark Threads the Weaver Needs: The Problem of Human Suffering ~ by Herbert Lockyer (4) (CC) 129pgs (not counted too short) A Testament of Character: Rowland Sinclair Bk10 ~ Sulari Gentill (-) 337pgs This Time Next Year We'll Be Laughing ~ Jacqueline Winspear (2.5) (N/F) 314pgs The Empty World ~ D.E. Stevenson (3) (273pgs) A Completing of The Watsons ~ Rose Servitova (3) (258pgs) Vanishing Point : Miss Silver Bk25 ~ Patricia Wentworth (4) (353pgs) Nothing Venture ~ Patricia Wentworth (kindle) (3 ) (240pgs) Outrageous Fortune ~ Patricia Wentworth (3) (219pgs) Red Shadow ~ Patricia Wentworth (3-) (230pgs) For the Love of Books: A Celebration of the Written Word ~ Graham Tarrant (2-3) (228pgs) The White Cottage Mystery ~ Margery Allingham (2 ) (e.book) (176pgs) I Love You and I Like You: How to Be Married and Still Be Friends ~ Steve Chapman, Annie Chapman (-) (176pgs ) CC Help, I'm Drowning: Weathering the Storms of Life with Grace and Hope ~ Sally Clarkson (e.book) (4) (256pgs) Confessions of a Bookseller: Diary of a Bookseller Bk2 ~ Shaun Bythell (library e.book) (2.5) (328pgs) The Resilient Farmer: Weathering the Challenges of Life and Land ~ Doug Avery (5) (p283) How the Heather Looks ~ Joan Bodger (5) (264pgs) *sip-read. restarted in April 2019 (not counted in tally) The Quick Roasting Tin: 30 Minute One Dish Dinners ~ Rukmini Iyer (5) (pgs238) The Roasting Tin: Simple One Dish Dinners ~ Rukmini Iyer (5) (pgs238) One Pan Perfect ~ Donna Hay (pgs272) (no rating until I’ve tried some of the recipes) The Life Application KJV Bible *sip-read. started in Feb 2018 (not counted in tally)

I've done a quick shuffle and sort to see how I was doing with my reading hopes, and the challenges I set for this year. I initially jotted down: hoping to complete 52 titles in total this year. (12 printed books, and, 40 new to me audiobooks). As the year progressed I updated those numbers a few times to become: Complete 182 titles (24 printed books; and, 40 new, to me, authors - as opposed to new audiobooks). Part of that total number included an A-Z Challenge, which I shared as completed in an earlier post. Complete 182 titles My tally on Goodreads is not an accurate tally – picture books got included in there – so I still have two more titles to complete, to reach 182 titles read or listened to before the end of the year, which I’ll easily do. Read 24 printed books - I read 29 printed books (I'll post this next as a separate post). 40 new, to me, authors - ending up being 43 new authors I think the achievements I am quietly enjoying the most is having completed some longer standing sip-reads: A: KJV Life Application Study Bible (kindle) (began Feb 2018 completed 07 Dec 2021) B: How the Heather Looks ~ Joan Bodger memoir (began April 2018. Brit-Trip. Restarted April 2019 Completed Nov 2021)

Seconding that; and, to you too, Negin. Just need to comment on the photo in your post... what a lovely stack of picture books 💟

The challenges you complete each year are impressive (!): well done!!!!!!

It's always interesting to see what you're all reading, and to have links to hop to (🙂). Life is at a clipping pace, so I'm thankful for some busy-hands-freer-headspace to get some audio listening in. I’m still relistening through Miss Silver Mysteries as my late-night listens. Currently listing to two library loans: Gilead ~ Marilynne Robinson (lovely writing), and, The Mysterious Mr. Quin ~ Agatha Christie elsewhere. And am going to try the audio version of a book @Kareni linked as a free ebook years back: The Weaver Takes a Wife ~ Sherri Cobb South Completed: The Wind off the Small Isles ~ Mary Stewart, narrated by Susie Riddell (1h 57m) (180pgs) This was a nice palate cleanse – a sweet, short and simple listen - after completing a pretty full month of reading/listening to non-fiction. What Child Is This?: Ellie Kent Bk2 ~ Alice K. Boatwright, narrated by Saskia Maarleveld (3+) (6h 45m) The way the author got rid of the perpetrator was a little too pat; and, some of the details about babies is a little off …….. yet, as it’s a fiction story that’s allowed, I guess. Though the mystery was interesting, this is not a title I’d recommend to some of my IRL reading friends. I haven’t read the first book in the series, and the author includes enough backstory in this one so that I wasn’t left wondering ‘what was that all about?’ Themes: person in authority grooms teenaged girls, kidnapping, LBGT. Greenshaw's Folly - a Miss Marple Short Story ~ Agatha Christie (audiobook, really well narrated) As this is a short story, it feels like there is more dialogue about the case than actual story.

I’m going to post first and am looking forward to coming back later to catch up on past threads, and link hop through @Robin M collection here🥰 I’ve never intentionally focused on the Non-fiction November challenge – seeing @Granny_Weatherwax's non fiction focus a few months back was the catalyst I needed: Travelling to Infinity: The True Story Behind The Theory of Everything ~ Jane Hawking, narrated by Sandra Duncan (3.5 ) (13h 55m) Janes writes candidly about her life with Steven Hawking, trying to somehow balance caring for him as he physically as his physical condition deteriorates, and, somehow raise a young family. She writes about her - initially, emotional only - affair with Jonathan and the breakdown of her marriage to Steven, understandably, from her view point. Favourite quote: In an uncomprehending educational system whether State or private, the dyslexics in a class, like my own sons, would be typically be told they were slow, stupid, or lazy and would be sent to sit at the back of the class. Dyslexics are not stupid. Generally their intelligence quotient is higher than the rest of the population but their over developed brain has squeezed out some other facility, usually associated with language or short term memory. An intelligent child whose powers of communication are limited, and who is sent to sit at the back of the class, becomes a frustrated child who needs patient and considerate teaching to recover his self-esteem and express his latent intelligence. Teaching at home for a few hours each day was the perfect arrangement …. The Perfect Predator: A Scientist's Race to Save Her Husband from a Deadly Superbug: A Memoir ~ Steffanie Strathdee , Thomas Patterson , Teresa Barker – contributor, narrated by Christine Lakin , Dan Woren (4) (11h 31m) I downloaded this for my husband to listen to... he really appreciates non-fiction audiobooks about germs and diseases. He kept talking about details from this one, so I figured I'd listen to it as well. A true life race to find the right phages to try to beat the 'aliens' (superbug) taking over her husband’s body, Steffanie Strathdee has written a fast paced book that was hard for me to put down. I'd never heard of phages before listening to this memoir: very happy to have that rectified. I shaved off one star as the story would be going at a clipping pace and then it felt like I was being distracted by filler sentences about sipping wine, coffee breaks, music play lists, meditation sessions, and new age healers/lifeguides. Extra: a few f.bombs. Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence ~ Anna Lembke (4) (6h 11m) The author’s intro about a man with a masturbating addiction, his accent, and her reaction to both were an off putting beginning to the book for me. The audiobook lost a star right there. My favourite takeaway from the books is lesson 4 of the balance: Self-binding creates literal and metacognitive space between desire and consumption, a modern necessity in our dopamine overloaded world. (I was amazed there was little about dealing with iphone/ipad/device addiction; or, was I asleep when that was being read?). I’m pleased I listened to this though not sure I’ll be actively recommend it others. Note: Content could be triggering - covers a range of addictions, and, details some of the sexual addictions in detail. Lessons of the balance 1: the relentless pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain leads to pain. 2: recovery begins with abstinence. 3: Abstinence resets the brains pathway and with it our capacity to take joy in simpler pleasures. 4: Self-binding creates literal and metacognitive space between desire and consumption, a modern necessity in our dopamine overloaded world. 5: Medications can restore homeostasis but consider what we lose by medicating away our pain. 6: Pressing on the pain side rests our balance to the side of pleasure. 7: Beware of getting addicted to pain. 8: Radical honesty promotes awareness, enhances intimacy and fosters a plenty mindset. 9: Prosocial shame affirms that we belong to the human tribe. 10: Instead of running away from the world find escape by immersing ourselves in it. (nature) A Place of Healing: Wrestling with the Mysteries of Suffering, Pain, and God's Sovereignty ~ Joni E. Tada (3+) for the audiobook. (6h 28m) I think this is one of those books that I would have (?) appreciated more as a physical book. This is my first introduction to any writing by Joni E. Tada, and now I'm wondering if she always writes using such a conversational tone? I appreciated hearing her talk so candidly about her struggle to deal with pain, and scriptures of encouragement (which in this setting, aren't the shady green pasture type verse). The Resilient Farmer: Weathering the Challenges of Life and Land ~ Doug Avery (5) (p283) This was NOT the easiest (emotionally) book to read, I had to put it down at about half way through the book - so much pain in those first chapters. The second portion details the other side of many of Doug’s personal storms, and how he climbed up out of depression. A very good, hope and help giving, memoir, told in a kiwi-as voice. The personal, inner, circle of influence he keeps referring to reminds me of Reinhold Niebuhr (1892–1971) prayer; Father, give us courage to change what must be altered, serenity to accept what cannot be helped, and the insight to know the one from the other. Extra: some curse words. Suicides. The out-workings of male depression. Farming accident kills young worker. Quotations from the book Since I started concentrating on the things that I could influence, my circle of influence has never ceased growing. And because of my focus on achievable solutions, I have reaped the rewards. When you’re depressed, everything looks bad. Everbody’s wrecking this country, everything’s been done wrong. Yet I can take you to thousands of places where nothing’s been done wrong at all. It’s all been done quite well. If you were to put your energy into something that would grow your circle of influence, what could you achieve. In my old way of doing things I would look at a problem and it would double before my eyes. If I worry now, I look for a solution straight away. (uses TWIGing) When you feel an emotion like anxiety or anger, ask yourself: Is this thought True? Is it Worth It? And is this thought helping me achieve my Goals? (TWIG) I put it into my own words and it helps me break a problem down into manageable parts. Is the emotion real? Will solving this make me happy or better? What’s the best possible position that we could take? Out of all the stuff that’s on the board in front of me. Which is the piece that I have to concentrate on now? ________________ Even in the greatest disaster, the choice is stark: you learn or you lose. On my journey, I’ve learned that everything that’s bad has always got something good attached to it. As human beings we tend to focus in times of adversity on what’s gone wrong rather than what’s right. Everything – everything – has a teaching component, a learning element. If you don’t learn, you lose. It only becomes failure if you don’t learn. With this thinking there are only two possible results: either you win or you learn. This thinking pattern helps me a lot in managing my difficult times. ________________ When bad things happen we have a choice: to cope with them or not to cope. Coping doesn’t mean finding solutions straight away – it might just be asking for help or taking the first step. Where I’ve got to in the work I’ve been doing in my own top paddock is that the key to where you are now lies in where you’re heading. Today is the day. You can’t recreate yesterday. The earthquake – or whatever it is that’s happened – has happened. What now? We need to go through our stressed, broken phase. We need to acknowledge what’s been lost, and how much that hurts. Then as we move out of that, we begin to accept there are things we can’t change. But there’s always a possible course of action, a choice about what comes next. I look for my circle of influence, and that helps me prioritise so I can move forward. This goes beyond the personality you’re born with. These are techniques, habits of mind, that we can all learn. The old Doug used to carry the worries of the world, but today’s Doug thinks, Is this in my circle of influence? Worry is the most wasteful emotion. ________________ How the Heather Looks ~ Joan Bodger (5) (264pgs) memoir. I purchased this to read for our Brit-Tripping challenge and it ended up becoming a sip-read; it’s taken me two years and seven months to complete, which has been the perfect way and pace for me to go through it. This a lovely, gentle-spirited book detailing how the Bodger family set out to discover the UK settings their favourite childhood authors, British and Scottish, either lived in and/ or placed their stories in. This book definitely lends itself to rabbit trails so having a device handy to look books and authors up was a must for me. If you decide to read this, do make sure you keep flicking to the back of the book to read ‘The Notes on Further Reading’ compiled for each chapter there: I forgot to, until the last few chapters. The extra study I did on the author and her family - right after I finished the book – made this a very poignant read: the book is an encapsulated glimpse into the light and love this family had right before the darkness engulfed them. Millions Like Us: Women's Lives in the Second World War ~ Virginia Nicholson, narrated by Patience Tomlinson, Annie Aldington, Rachel Bavidge, Julie Maisey, Georgina Sutton (4) (19h 59m) Biographical/memoirs This a very interesting, factual, gritty book! I gave it 4 stars as I enjoyed the first person accounts more than the third person portions (which were much of the book); and, though the biographical accounts for each woman are written chronologically I did get a bit mixed up with which stories went with each character - listening at a slightly quick pace probably didn’t help though. Extra: Social and gender inequality. Lots of focus on the sexual activities of the war years; bed hoping/extra marital affairs, rape, “randy” G.I’s, ‘surprise’ pregnancies, and, horrific “butchering” abortions (nearly killed a few of the women). Domestic & workplace violence. Controlling parents/spouses. New to me Fiction: Klara and the Sun ~ Kazuo Ishiguro , narrated by Sura Siu (3-) (10h 16m) This has the tone and feel of a Y/A dystopian/sci-fi as the AF (Artificial Friend) and the human protagonist, and her boyfriend, are teen “aged”. For me the book lands in between “ it was okay” and the “I liked it” star earning range: neither bad nor brilliant. I keep hoping I’ll encounter another Ishiguro book that matches up to my appreciation of his <i>The Remains of the Day</i>. In true Ishiguro style there is no ‘happy’ ending in Klara and the Sun, more a quiet resignation and acceptance of where the opportunities and choices in life took Josie, and, Rick, and then Klara. Extra: Up until about half way through the book there was no cursing or swearing then the author injects a round of f-bombing and cursing, and continues to scatter them out through much of the remainder of the book (near impossible to skip on audio). Mystery Mile: Albert Campion Bk2 ~ Margery Allingham, narrated by Francis Matthews (4) (8h) I think this is one of the more interesting Campion mysteries, plenty of red herrings and bad guys. After the case is tied up Margery Allingham gives the book a rather abstract ending, perhaps as encouragement to read the next mystery?

For the Non-fiction November challenge: I'm currently listening to, a library loan, Travelling to Infinity: The True Story Behind The Theory of Everything ~ Jane Hawking, narrated by Sandra Duncan, and enjoying it so far. I've just started reading The Resilient Farmer ~ Doug Avery, an NZ biography. Books recently completed: My library had the e.book, thank you, @Negin mentioned last week - Dogs as I See Them ~ Lucy Dawson: the portraits are works of love. A wonderful book. 151: 29/10 The Truth: DC Smith Investigation Bk9 ~ Peter Grainger, narrated by Gildart Jackson (4) Gildart Jackson ‘is’ the voice of DC Smith! Even though I am au fait with DC as a fully developed character in Jackson’s previous books with DC as a member of the Police force, this story definitely has the feel of my favourite character being placed into a different, unfamiliar, setting in this break away story with David finding his way in a new, for him, setting working as a private detective: in this setting he is trying to find evidence so that his client will not be prosecuted, as opposed to gathering evidence for prosecution. I felt badly for DC with the way things ended, and I’m interested to see where Peter takes us in the next book. 152: 29/10 – 31/10 The Idiot: BBC Dramatised ~ Fyodor Dostoyevsky (4) (2h 40m) This radio drama is so well done, and despite the tragic denouement - Dostoyevsky allows madness to enact it’s revenge, and creates the setting for Myshkin’s fear to take him prisoner - this version has encouraged me to invest in going through the unabridged version. (The unabridged audiobook is currently included in the plus catalogue with my audible membership as a free listen.)

I enjoyed this too. Your comments here have helped me to pinpoint why I keep side stepping continuing to read Mrs. Dalloway. (Hope your book group had an engaging discussion.) Happy 31st wedding anniversary!! (Hoping a work situation opens up for your Dh, and, one he'll enjoy!)

I'm currently listening The Idiot, dramatised by BBC, sharing Goodreads, Abigail's, link with other current BBC links for those that can access the BBC site.

I must admit once I'd completed some of the looooong audio books I felt okay about including that one short read. @mumto2 You are so talented. I love your fall quilt. With TCoMC audiobook I did speed it up just a little to 1.25X. (Still a long haul listen, but I'm so pleased I completed it.)

I'm counting my a-z Challenge as completed (otherwise it'll be Christmas and I'll still be tinkering around with it.) My self-imposed rules, after asking for help here, were these: No repeat reads. Only one title per author. A minimum of 200 pages, or, 6 to 7 hrs on audiobook. The book had to end up at least a 3 out of 5 star read/listen. ___________________ A= A Gentleman in Moscow ~ Amor Towles, narrated by Nicholas Guy Smith (4.5) (17h 52m ) B= Bella: My Life in Food ~ Annabel Langbein (NZ N/F) (4+) (393pgs) C= Martin Chuzzlewit ~ Charles Dickens, narrated by Sean Barrett (3) (33h 33m) D= The Count of Monte Cristo ~ Alexandre Dumas (5) (Classic/ French lit) (52h 41m) E= The Empty World ~ D.E. Stevenson (3) (273pgs) F= The Forest of Wool and Steel ~ Natsu Miyashita (4.5) (157pgs) Technically too short, page wise, to make the selection, but too good to leave out. G= Mary Barton ~ Elizabeth Gaskell, narrated by Juliet Stevenson (Brit Lit) (5) (16h 17m) H= The Ragged Edge of Night ~ Olivia Hawker, narrated by Nick Sandys, Olivia Hawker (4) (11h 40m) I= A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of WWII’s Most Dangerous Spy, Virginia Hall ~ Sonia Purnell, narrated by Juliet Stevenson (N/F) (4) (13h 55m) J= The Other Bennet Sister ~ Janice Hadlow, narrated by Kristin Atherton (5) (20h) K= Before the Coffee Gets Cold: Bk1 ~ Toshikazu Kawaguchi, narrated by Arina Ii (3) (213pgs), audiobook (6h 52m) L= God in the Docks ~ C.S. Lewis (ebook & audiobook) (3) (Christian content) (409pgs) M= Age of Myth: The Legends of the First Empire Bk1 ~ Michael J. Sullivan, narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds (5) (16h 55m) N= No Name ~ Wilkie Collins, narrated by Nicholas Boulton & cast (4-) (Brit Lit) (27h 20m) O= The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories ~ Susanna Clarke, James Sutherland (Contributor), narrated by Simon Prebble , and, Davina Porter (4) (7h 2m) P= Prophet: A Post-Apocalyptic Thriller: The Goliath Code Series, Bk2 ~ Suzanne Leonhard, narrated by Stefan Rudnicki , Gabrielle de Cuir (4) (Christian content) (8h 23m) Q= Keep a Quiet Heart ~ Elisabeth Elliot (N/F) (4) (Christian content) (269pgs) R= A Completing of The Watsons ~ Rose Servitova (3) (258pgs) S= Summer Half: Barsetshire Bk5 ~ Angela Thirkell, narrated by Penelope Freeman (4) (7h 48m) T= A Fatal Lie: Inspector Ian Rutledge Bk23 ~ Charles Todd, narrated by Simon Vance (4-) (10h 53m) U= A Murder Unmentioned: Rowland Sinclair Bk6 ~ Sulari Gentill (4) (384pgs) V= The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz ~ Erik Larson, narrated by Matt Addis (4 ) (20h 31m) W= Wilding ~ Isabella Tree, narrated by the author (3.5) (12h 22m) X= The Devotion of Suspect X: Detective Galileo Bk1 ~ Keigo Higashino , Translated by Alexander O. Smith, narrated by David Pittu (4) (9h 2m) Y= Survivors Club: The True Story of a Very Young Prisoner of Auschwitz ~ Michael Bornstein, Debbie Bornstein Holinstat (4.5) (Juvenile N/F) (7h 32m) (352p) Z= A Willful Grievance: The Lillie Mead Historical Mystery Series Bk2 ~ Lisa Zumpano, narrated by Claire Storey (5) (7h 25m) _______________________ These next three titles got switched out as they didn't meet the minimum star rating: (K= When We Were Orphans ~ Kazu Ishiguro, narrated by Michael Maloney (2) (10h 5m)) (V= A Memory of Violets ~ Hazel Gaynor, narrated by Nicola Barber (2-3) (10h 29m)) (Y= This Time Next Year We'll Be Laughing ~ Jacqueline Winspear (2.5) (N/F) (314pgs))

That is a hard spot to be in - too weary to read - hoping you are well. Can I ask what your working on (?)... if it's a gift surprise, just ignore my question 😁

I'm pleased that after dragging it up from the depths of your TBR pile it ended up being an enjoyed read. Thank you for the link: oh my, so many suggestions! (what a fun rabbit warren to fallen down into).

I think the last book (#8), for me, was at the limit of what I can handle in suspense (scary) here is a copy and paste from my 2018, 2019, and 2020 reviews. Perhaps my thoughts on each audiobook may help - it's hard to know what level of suspense/scary another person can handle. (And Peter Grainger is about to publish book nine in this series .... so looking forward to it arriving in my inbox this month.) 47: An Accidental Death: A DC Smith Investigation Series, Bk 1~ Peter Grainger, narrated by Gildart Jackson (audible) (4) Norfolk I enjoyed this book so much I promptly purchased another in the series, #6. Extra detail; there is cursing in this book, no f bombs though. The main characters beloved spouse has just died, a teen is drowned, Grainger euphemistically refers to: a previous, violent, case against young girls, and a unmarried couple starting a sexual relationship. 48: Persons of Interest: DC Smith, Bk4 ~ Peter Grainger, narrated by Gildart Jackson (audible) (4) Huntingdonshire, Norfolk. Started out a bit slow. I’m enjoying how Grainger handles the telling of each story. Extra: Each story is - relationship details - clean, no graphic violence. Some cursing and while there are no f-bombs the author injects an abbreviation of that swear word. 61: The Rags of Time: DC Smith # 6 ~ Peter Grainger, narrated by Gildart Jackson (3) London / West Norfolk. Newly home from Ireland DC Smith gets to visit Monks (Franciscan Brothers), a monastery, and, a murder. While this is not my favourite book in the series it still makes for an enjoyable listen; and, I got to relearn a few thing about badgers along the way that I’d forgotten. Extra: Mild swear words. Lots of mature, adult, themes are referred to euphemistically. Wilson, the detective I don’t like 😉 uses God’s name as swear word so I wouldn't recommend this to some IRL reading friends. 64: Time and Tide : DC Smith #7 ~ Peter Grainger, narrated by Gildart Jackson (3.5 ) Norfolk 2018: 3* 2020: 4* Repeat listen. I still think it’s a shame that Grainger sees the need to have Waters in a run of flash-in-the-pan relationships in this series; a new book inevitably seems to introduce a next new girlfriend, or, a relationship ending (spoiler removed 🙂 ) 91: A Private Investigation: DC Smith Bk 8 ~ Peter Grainger, narrated by Gildart Jackson (5) Just a few weeks out from retiring from the Police force, this book is the grand finale for DC Smith……. which ends with an emotive cliff hanger. I’m definitely going to be reading Songbird: A Kings Lake Investigation to find out what happened to my favourite DCI, David Smith, and his team. If you enjoy Foyle’s War (DVD series) then I recommend Gildart Jackson reading this series: I’ve listened to books 1, 4, 6, 7, 8 and enjoyed them all. Extra: this story surrounds the kidnapping/disappearance of a 14yr girl. While the realistic details of what could have happened to her are discussed there is no graphic, filled with gore, details injected into the storyline. Discusses local prejudice against Lebanese immigrants. Contains irreverent cursing, some language content. No F- bombs 92: Luck and Judgement: DC Smith Bk 3 ~ Peter Grainger, narrated by Gildart Jackson (4) Mature content. This case surrounds members of a “Married Singles Swap-sey Club”: what a perfect setting to generate a murder. As intended Grainger ensures the reader, me, feels sorry for the young wife and child. I like Serena in later books so it was good to hear about her back story here. 64: But for the Grace: D.C. Smith Bk.2 ~ Peter Grainger, narrated by Gildart Jackson (3.5) The mystery is centred around assisted deaths at an aged care centre and is penned with thoughtfulness. (This was one book I skipped over, on purpose, my first go through this series as I didn't know if my heart could take it.) 98: In This Bright Future: DC Smith Bk5 ~ Peter Grainger, narrated by Gildart Jackson (5) Gildart Jackson is DC Smith! I just love his narration of this series and came back to listen to this story mostly because he reads it, and, because I’d sidestepped this title in the series the first time through - it didn’t fit a really enjoyable reading challenge I was in, Brit Tripping. Having the back story of Smith’s time in Ireland adds more flavour to the other books, and Grainger gives us a massive hint to the gift of something he never thought he’d have (no spoilers). ETA: It will be interesting to see what you think of the series @mumto2

@Robin M what mumto2 said. I don't have any ideas for next year beyond doing the a-z challenge again. The ideas tossing around here sound good. What a fun idea! I've been trying to make my way through titles of hers I haven't read yet too.

When the characters are well developed, and keep developing, and the writing is (mostly) constantly good I rather like series. D.C Smith by Peter Grainger is one of my favourite series.

copied from NZ Herald: 129 cases. Case numbers have now been hopping around in recent days, with 94 cases on Tuesday and 102 cases on Thursday. Experts are tipping numbers to continue to grow.