Book a Week 2017 - BW8: Book festivals and birthdays

[Kareni]

Last night I finished the historical romance The Virgin and the Viscount: The Bachelor Lords of London  by Charis Michaels.  It was an enjoyable read but likely not a book I'll re-read; there were a few too many coincidences for my taste.  (Some adult content) 

 

"The Virgin

Lady Elisabeth Hamilton-Baythes has a painful secret. At fifteen, she was abducted by highwaymen and sold to a brothel. But two days later, she was rescued by a young lord, a man she’s never forgotten. Now, she’s devoted herself to save other innocents from a similar fate.

 

The Viscount

Bryson Courtland, Viscount Rainsleigh, never breaks the rules. Well, once, but that was a long time ago. He’s finally escaped his unhappy past to become one of the wealthiest noblemen in Britain. The last thing he needs to complete his ideal life? A perfectly proper wife.

 

The Unraveling

When Bryson and Elisabeth meet, he sees only a flawless candidate for his future wife. But a distant memory calls to him every time he’s with her. Elisabeth knows she’s not the wife Bryson needs, and he is the only person who has the power to reveal her secret. But neither can resist the devastating pull of attraction, and as the truth comes to light, they must discover that an improper love is the truest of all."

 

 

Regards,

Kareni

[Nan in Mass]

I read Dinotopia. And listened to a bunch of things but half slept through them.

 

Nan

[Narrow Gate Academy]

I finished reading and reviewing my 17th book, The Color of Magic by Pratchett.  Thanks to all who kept mentioning the series.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I'm counting it as my selected by a friend bingo square.

[Narrow Gate Academy]

Reading is happening but haven't finished anything to post. 

 

I don't see anyone saying they have picked up Come as You Are.  :toetap05:   I want you all to know that it's not a drive. No such thing as a sex drive. What? I know! I was baffled as well. We have been misled and misinformed. Disconcordance is a real thing. Want to know more? Yes, you do.  

It's on my wish list as well.  I have too many physical and virtual books in my current to read stack including two other nonfiction books that are ahead of it in line.

 

Finally started working on Suite Francaise (in French) but haven't made it into the actual book yet - reading the introductory section about the author right now.  Reading in French is not as hard as I anticipated, although the frequent interruptions from children don't help when I'm getting through certain stretches.

 

And of course the library recalled the other book I had started and it has to go back tomorrow so I guess I'll find another one to start.  I do have 8 on hold to pick up today.  

 

Oh, and I ran into this neat Literature Map that purports to find authors that are similar in style to authors you enjoy.  It might have been mentioned here before, but the kids and I are enjoying using it to find authors they want to try.

Thanks for the map link.  I bookmarked it.  I like that the closer two names are together the more people enjoy books from both author.  I've tried using Amazon recommendations for other authors with only mixed success.

[aggieamy]

I have already read Mrs. Tim of the Regiment and thought it was absolutely lovely. That's the only proper description! Looking forward to trying another one.

 

Regarding Patricia Wentworth and Miss Silver I have apparently read the first and the last books for sure but believe I may have read others years ago. I read The Girl in the Cellar https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1711160.The_Girl_in_the_Cellar back when we first moved here and was on my Agatha Christie kick. It was beside Christie in a mystery display. My family has visited many of the branch libraries in three different systems because I used to combine a tour of a library with another field trip like a walk from a guidebook. I liked The Girl in the Cellar well enough to go intentionally back to the branch where I found it in order to check it out for dd when she was reading mysteries. My Overdrive has many Miss Silver books and I did read the first one like you. I liked it but have been sort of saving them......

 

My dh chuckle for the day was when he informed me that I have a hold available at the library. You should have seen his face when I told him that hopefully the other thirty would be there this weekend so need to wait to pick up. More emails to come.....

 

How many of the 30 books have you gotten read?

 

Hi Y'all!

 

I'm dipping my toes in this thread....I've often read all your posts, but never posted. Taking a deep breath and plunging in.... :)

 

I love narrative non-fiction...last week I read 'Lion' otherwise known as 'A Long Way Home' by  Saroo Brierley. Powerful story of a lost boy and how he got lost and eventually found his way home. I have ties to India and both of my sons came to us via adoption. Always interesting to read other adoption stories.

 

The other one was 'Hidden Figures' by Margot Lee Shetterly. Excellent book! I enjoyed seeing the space race through the lives of these 'computers.'

 

I read fiction when I'm stressed or too tired to think straight. Right now rereading Nora Robert's 'Sea Swept,' an all time favorite.

 

My goal is to read 52 books this year--and with all I see on your lists...whew, I'm inspired!

 

Welcome.  I'm an adoptive (domestic) mom too!  I think you'll like this place so stick around and feel free to discuss any books you want.  Or good dessert recipes!

 

 

Currently writing a riveting non-fiction book on Real Estate--for the novice seller or buyer. Riveting, I tell ya!  :laugh:

 

Whoooo.  There's a good market for riveting non-fiction books on real estate. 

 

 

 

You both might be interested in this review I just saw on the Dear Author site ~

 

REVIEW: Vittoria Cottage by D.E. Stevenson

 

There are older additional reviews which you can see here.

 

Regards,

Kareni

 

Thank you!

 

 

 

Have you been missing pictures of men in kilts?  Watch two guys take it to a whole new level in Kilt Yoga  (beware they get a bit cheeky)

 

So I wish that my DH hadn't walked by when I was watching that.  It was hard to explain what was going on. 

[Granny_Weatherwax]

The Underground Railroad - I cannot get through a page of this book without becoming physically ill or angry. DH asked me what was wrong and I responded with "why?". He said I was clenching my jaw.

 

Too many emotional thoughts to write down at the moment.

 

[JennW in SoCal]

A one day only classic currently free to Kindle readers ~

 

Looking Backward: 2000–1887 by Edward Bellamy

 

"A masterwork of science fiction that imagines the world not just how it could be, but how it should be

 

In Boston in the year 1887, Julian West is hypnotized and falls into a deep sleep. He awakens at the dawn of a new millennium in an America where war, crime, and inequality no longer exist. In this brave new world, goods are delivered in the blink of an eye, public kitchens ensure that no one goes hungry, and the retirement age is forty-five. It sounds too good to be true, but Julian soon learns that this socialist utopia is not the stuff of dreams—it is a carefully planned, wondrously liberating reality.

 

One of the bestselling American novels of the nineteenth century, Looking Backward launched a vibrant political movement and sparked an enormous amount of debate. Today it stands as an enduring testament to the power of imagination and the best of human nature."

 

 

I read this in high school and just loved it. It is an uncannily prescient book in many ways.

 

 

 

5 SFF Love Stories About Overcoming a Language Barrier  by Stubby the Rocket

 

 

Ooooh -- added a few titles to my want to read stack at goodreads, and was amused to see Rose/Chrysalis Academy had marked the same titles.

 

I read Dinotopia. And listened to a bunch of things but half slept through them.

 

Nan

:grouphug:  Awww, Nan. Sometimes sleeping through books is a great kind of recuperative therapy. Some of my favorite comfort listens are discworld titles read by Stephen Briggs.

 

 

I finished Slow Horses last night, a solid thriller, and quite timely, featuring a group of discredited MI-5 agents. It doesn't quite measure up to Alan Furst, but I'd definitely read the next in the series. The biggest annoyance was the kindle formatting.  The point of view of the story jumps around and all too often there wasn't a nice empty space between paragraphs to warn me that we were cutting to a different scene.

 

I'm still enjoying Niall Ferguson's Civilization on audio, and just started Shirley Jackson's We Have Always Lived in the Castle. Many of you read it and talked about it last year, so I'm a little late the to the party. I'm only a chapter into the book and I'm already drawn into the story.  I was traumatized at a young age by The Lottery, so have always been leery of reading anything of Jackson's, but too many rave reviews of this book convinced me to try it. 

Edited February 24, 2017 by JennW in SoCal

[Matryoshka]

A one day only classic currently free to Kindle readers ~

 

Looking Backward: 2000–1887 by Edward Bellamy

 

"A masterwork of science fiction that imagines the world not just how it could be, but how it should be

 

In Boston in the year 1887, Julian West is hypnotized and falls into a deep sleep. He awakens at the dawn of a new millennium in an America where war, crime, and inequality no longer exist. In this brave new world, goods are delivered in the blink of an eye, public kitchens ensure that no one goes hungry, and the retirement age is forty-five. It sounds too good to be true, but Julian soon learns that this socialist utopia is not the stuff of dreams—it is a carefully planned, wondrously liberating reality.

 

One of the bestselling American novels of the nineteenth century, Looking Backward launched a vibrant political movement and sparked an enormous amount of debate. Today it stands as an enduring testament to the power of imagination and the best of human nature."

 

i don't have an ereader, just my Android phone.  I read ebooks right now on Overdrive, which I think is Epub format.  This book is available free today from Amazon, B&N, Kobo, Apple, and Google.  Would any of these work on my phone without downloading yet another App?  Is there a built-in App, say, for Google stuff (there seems to be a PlayBooks App on my phone I've never used...)

 

And, how much space do ebooks take up?  I don't seem to have a ton of free space on my phone...  (I've been assuming the books I download from Overdrive are cleared when they get returned to the library - anyone know??)

[Mom-ninja.]

I just finished An Appetite for Wonder by Richard Dawkins. I know it was normal back then, but I cannot imagine sending a 7 yr old away to boarding school.  

Edited February 24, 2017 by Mom-ninja.

[Mom-ninja.]

 

And, how much space do ebooks take up?  I don't seem to have a ton of free space on my phone...  (I've been assuming the books I download from Overdrive are cleared when they get returned to the library - anyone know??)

I have no idea. I also assume they are cleared when returned. I hope they are cause I have no idea how to do so if they aren't.

[6packofun]

I finished By Gaslight and while I enjoyed it quite a bit I didn't love it.  I feel like right now I need a book I LOVE.  lol

 

I started Here I Am because it sounded so interesting and about 20 pages in I'm annoyed at not knowing Jewish terms and that all the boys talk about is sex.  *sigh*  I want to keep going and really like it but I'm skeptical.  It's another book on the longer side to commit to...  :P

 

So, I'm going to try Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson.   :laugh:

 

OH!  I have a question about GoodReads.  Is there a way to create a list of books that are 1st in a series when I want to be sure I get the next one?  Just create a tag or something?  I haven't played around on the site much yet.  I feel like there are tons of books I've read and really liked but can't remember the author/title and so don't follow up on a subsequent book or sequel!!

[Runningmom80]

1. I'm Judging You: The Do-Better Manual // Luvvie Ajayi


2. No-Drama Discipline // Daniel J. Siegel


3. Song of Solomon // Toni Morrison


4. Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives // Gretchen Rubin


5. Men We Reaped // Jesmyn Ward


6. Not Buying It: Stop Overspending and Start Raising Happier, Healthier, More Successful Kids // Brett Graff


7. Commonwealth // Ann Patchett

 

8. How Children Learn // John Holt

 

I'm listening to Born A Crime by Trevor Noah, and I finally started The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

[Robin M]

 

And, how much space do ebooks take up? I don't seem to have a ton of free space on my phone... (I've been assuming the books I download from Overdrive are cleared when they get returned to the library - anyone know??)

From what I've read online, the only time data is being used is when downloading the book. Otherwise reading or listening to a book isn't using up data or space. I've never run into any issues with having too many books on my iPhone. I have both nook and kindle. What takes up a lot of data is streaming or you tube videos. When I let kiddo use it while out to keep him occupied while we are in a meeting, all those videos can add up to almost 2 gb. We have 6 per month now on our phones and never use it all up.

[Kareni]

This evening I finished the historical romance Duke of Pleasure (Maiden Lane)  by Elizabeth Hoyt which I enjoyed.  This is the twelfth book in the Maiden Lane series, but it stands alone pretty well.  The setting is London in the 1740s.  (Some adult content)

 

"IN THE ARMS OF DANGER

Bold. Brave. Brutally handsome. Hugh Fitzroy, the Duke of Kyle, is the king's secret weapon. Sent to defeat the notorious Lords of Chaos, he is ambushed in a London alley-and rescued by an unlikely ally: a masked stranger with the unmistakable curves of a woman.

IN THE HEAT OF DESIRE

Cocky. Clever. Courageously independent. Alf has survived on the perilous streets of St. Giles by disguising her sex. By day she is a boy, dealing in information and secrets. By night she's the notorious Ghost of St. Giles, a masked vigilante. But as she saves Hugh from assassins, she finds herself succumbing to temptation . . .

ONE KISS WILL CHANGE THEIR LIVES FOREVER

When Hugh hires Alf to investigate the Lords of Chaos, her worlds collide. Once Hugh realizes that the boy and the Ghost are the same, will Alf find the courage to become the woman she needs to be-before the Lords of Chaos destroy them both?"

 

Regards,

Kareni

 

[mumto2]

OH!  I have a question about GoodReads.  Is there a way to create a list of books that are 1st in a series when I want to be sure I get the next one?  Just create a tag or something?  I haven't played around on the site much yet.  I feel like there are tons of books I've read and really liked but can't remember the author/title and so don't follow up on a subsequent book or sequel!!

I have that same problem!

 

Lately I have had some success with using Goodreads monthly newsletter of new books. It segments the authors I have read so I can look at those first. It tells me that 35 or whatever authors I have read have new books this month with links. It helps although the letter frequently doesn't arrive early enough for me to be first in line on holds lists!

 

 

  

I read Dinotopia. And listened to a bunch of things but half slept through them.

Nan

 

I hope you are feel better soon. I loved the Dinotopia movie and tv show! I wonder if I would like the books.

 

 

 

How many of the 30 books have you gotten read?

 

 

 

 

 

Pick up is later today! I am so excited because I have been just using overdrive since before Christmas. I have all sorts of great stuff in the stack, lots of cozies, Scandinavian mysteries, Craft stuff, and even The Plover. Can I use that as my recommended by a friend because all of you keep recommending it?

 

 

 

 

 

I finished Slow Horses last night, a solid thriller, and quite timely, featuring a group of discredited MI-5 agents. It doesn't quite measure up to Alan Furst, but I'd definitely read the next in the series. The biggest annoyance was the kindle formatting.  The point of view of the story jumps around and all too often there wasn't a nice empty space between paragraphs to warn me that we were cutting to a different scene.

 

 

 

Speaking of new books in series I recently noticed a new one in that series. I need to give Slow Horses another try. I went back to the library untouched.

 

  

Thanks for the map link.  I bookmarked it.  I like that the closer two names are together the more people enjoy books from both author.  I've tried using Amazon recommendations for other authors with only mixed success.

I just want to add my thanks for the map link. I'm looking forward to playing with it. It appears to be quicker and easier than a couple of other services I have tried.

[Narrow Gate Academy]

I have no idea. I also assume they are cleared when returned. I hope they are cause I have no idea how to do so if they aren't.

 

The Overdrive books I've borrowed on my Kindle Fire are deleted when I return them.  

OH!  I have a question about GoodReads.  Is there a way to create a list of books that are 1st in a series when I want to be sure I get the next one?  Just create a tag or something?  I haven't played around on the site much yet.  I feel like there are tons of books I've read and really liked but can't remember the author/title and so don't follow up on a subsequent book or sequel!!

Books can be placed on multiple shelves. You could make a shelf called series and add the first books to that shelf. Actually I think I'll go do that as well.u

[ErinE]

.

Edited February 19, 2018 by ErinE

[Matryoshka]

From what I've read online, the only time data is being used is when downloading the book. Otherwise reading or listening to a book isn't using up data or space. I've never run into any issues with having too many books on my iPhone. I have both nook and kindle. What takes up a lot of data is streaming or you tube videos. When I let kiddo use it while out to keep him occupied while we are in a meeting, all those videos can add up to almost 2 gb. We have 6 per month now on our phones and never use it all up.

 

Sorry, I meant physical storage on the phone, not data usage. :) I know the books get downloaded; I'm always where I have WiFi when I do that, so that's not even an issue anyway....  But if they're downloaded, they have to use storage on my phone somewhere, at least while they're available to me.  I'm wondering how much space they take up... if Overdrive deletes them (and from NarrowGate's comment, sounds like they do), then that's a feature. :)  If I start downloading free/cheap ebooks, though, I'm not sure I have the space, unless I guess I could get a SD card...?

 

 

The Overdrive books I've borrowed on my Kindle Fire are deleted when I return them.  

 

Okay, this is very good to know!  I'd probably have no space at all on my phone by now it this weren't the case... :tongue_smilie:  Right now my phone says I only have 459MB left out of 16GB...  Anyone have any idea how much space a typical ebook even takes up?  I'd look at the ones I have now from Overdrive, but I have no idea where my phone is putting them... starting to feel like an old lady with the technology... :lol:

[mumto2]

Sorry, I meant physical storage on the phone, not data usage. :) I know the books get downloaded; I'm always where I have WiFi when I do that, so that's not even an issue anyway.... But if they're downloaded, they have to use storage on my phone somewhere, at least while they're available to me. I'm wondering how much space they take up... if Overdrive deletes them (and from NarrowGate's comment, sounds like they do), then that's a feature. :) If I start downloading free/cheap ebooks, though, I'm not sure I have the space, unless I guess I could get a SD card...?

 

 

Okay, this is very good to know! I'd probably have no space at all on my phone by now it this weren't the case... :tongue_smilie: Right now my phone says I only have 459MB left out of 16GB... Anyone have any idea how much space a typical ebook even takes up? I'd look at the ones I have now from Overdrive, but I have no idea where my phone is putting them... starting to feel like an old lady with the technology... :lol:

Absolutely no idea how any of this works with an iphone but you can buy free/cheap books and simply leave them in the cloud, as in sitting in your amazon account but downloaded nowhere. For me that means I buy them, let them be delivered to a device, then hit the "remove from my device" button. When I want them I search my items (for the cloud choice) on the device I want them on and download. The main amazon account with multiple devices connected means its really easy to share with dd so might be useful for you.

 

This is totally not technical (ds would cringe) but I know my devices function best when I keep things between 20 and 30 books downloaded. When I go over that number some little problem seems to appear and not necessarily with the books.

[aggieamy]

Finished The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill - I listened to this as an audiobook and I don't really know how it ended up on my to-read list because I don't see that anyone here has read it yet.  It was wonderful!  I think it difficult for cozy mysteries to be five star reads because they normally aren't that deep but this one was just splendid.  It was set in Laos in 1975.  The characters were awesome.  The dialog witty. A bit of magical realism that was fun.  I can't wait to read the next one. 

 

 

 

Pick up is later today! I am so excited because I have been just using overdrive since before Christmas. I have all sorts of great stuff in the stack, lots of cozies, Scandinavian mysteries, Craft stuff, and even The Plover. Can I use that as my recommended by a friend because all of you keep recommending it?
 

 

You should add The Coroners Lunch to your to-read list.  There was a few times during reading it that I thought "Sandy should read this!". 

[Kareni]

A one day only currently free book for Kindle readers ~

 

The Unique Hamlet: A Hitherto Unchronicled Adventure of Mr. Sherlock Holmes by Vincent Starrett

 

"In this brilliant pastiche, Sherlock Holmes investigates a mystery involving one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays

An agitated, portly gentleman waddles down Baker Street toward 221B, his pockets sagging and his eyes wide with panic. From his window Sherlock Holmes diagnoses the man as a collector of rare books, on his way to ask for help finding a missing volume. The brilliant detective is correct, of course, but even he is taken aback when the nature of the work in question—a first folio of Hamlet, inscribed in Shakespeare’s own hand—is revealed. As Holmes and his steadfast companion, Dr. Watson, investigate, they discover that rare-book collectors can be just as cunning and diabolical as any villain ever dreamed up by the Bard of Avon.
 
A founder of the Baker Street Irregulars and the author of an indispensible biography, The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes, Vincent Starrett combined a scholar’s authority with a fan’s enthusiasm in his appreciation of the great detective. No one was better suited to write a new adventure for Holmes and Watson, and The Unique Hamlet is both a loving homage and a thrilling mystery."

 

Regards,

Kareni

[Ethel Mertz]

You're not the only one. I read the first one five years ago, but never the others. So, this is my first time through the series!

 

I have watched The Wizard of Oz (seemed to be a family tradition when I was growing up to watch it once a year when it was on tv), but I always hated it. My dc were scared trying to watch it when younger & I never made them watch it. I don't think they're missing anything. Imo.

 

(I'm enjoying HP thousands of times more than Oz.)

 

Maybe one of these days I'll pick up the first HP book.

 

A one day only classic currently free to Kindle readers ~

 

Looking Backward: 2000–1887 by Edward Bellamy

 

"A masterwork of science fiction that imagines the world not just how it could be, but how it should be

 

In Boston in the year 1887, Julian West is hypnotized and falls into a deep sleep. He awakens at the dawn of a new millennium in an America where war, crime, and inequality no longer exist. In this brave new world, goods are delivered in the blink of an eye, public kitchens ensure that no one goes hungry, and the retirement age is forty-five. It sounds too good to be true, but Julian soon learns that this socialist utopia is not the stuff of dreams—it is a carefully planned, wondrously liberating reality.

 

One of the bestselling American novels of the nineteenth century, Looking Backward launched a vibrant political movement and sparked an enormous amount of debate. Today it stands as an enduring testament to the power of imagination and the best of human nature.

 

Thanks for mentioning that! I've put it on my must-read-in-2017-fiction list.

 

I just finished An Appetite for Wonder by Richard Dawkins. I know it was normal back then, but I cannot imagine sending a 7 yr old away to boarding school.  

 

I can't imagine it either. Several people urged us to send DS to a boarding choir school. No way were we sending our 8 year old (at the time) away.

[Matryoshka]

So, as I mentioned up thread, I finished Doctor Zhivago.  I had thought I might pull some quotes out of it to discuss, but of course I didn't mark them and now I'm too lazy to go back and find them.  Someone here mentioned keeping a Commonplace book, or something like that?  Is that what that's for?  I don't tend to be an annotator or a quote-keeper, but as I'm reading so much more, I'm actually finding I think I might want to start writing thoughts or quotes down as I read... anyone do this?  I'd be interested in both the how and the why..

 

I also started and finished The Bear and the Nightingale.  Loved, loved, loved this book.  So.much.  All the mention of The Golden Horde makes me want to move Mongol Queens up my reading list...  I'm looking forward to doing The Beast and the Blonde read-a-long - the book is in at the library! :)

 

I'm also reading The Autobiography of Malcolm X as an ebook.  Cause if I do A-Z  I'll need an X, and this works for either author or title... ;)  Quite good so far.  

 

And... El laberinto de los espíritus is finally here!  All almost 1,000 pages of it... is there a super-chunky category? :tongue_smilie:  Starting it today!  Has anyone else read any of the books in The Shadow of the Wind series?

Edited February 24, 2017 by Matryoshka

[AllSmiles]

I forgot to post my reading last week, so I have two weeks worth of books to report on.

 

First I read "Murder on the Orient Express." It is a great mystery, and I can't believe it took me this long to read it. I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries.

 

Then I read "Mayhem on the Orient Express." If you haven't read "Murder on the Orient Express," I think one could still enjoy this book. You would simply miss out on some of the references. I think I will try at least one more in this series,

 

"The Man in the Queue" was my first Josephine Tey book. It was good, but based on a lot of other people's reviews it sounds like her other books may be even better.

 

Last week I read "Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon." It is the fourth book in the Meg Langslow series. I have enjoyed all four books that I've read.

 

I also read, "No Wind of Blame" by Georgette Heyer. This is one of her mystery titles. I enjoyed the book, but I think I will wait awhile until I read the next in the series. It doesn't seem like her murder mystery books need to be read in a certain order.

 

I read my fifth book in the Royal Spyness series, "Naughty in Nice." Like all the others, I really love it. I really enjoy the narrator on the audio book. I would definitely read this series in order. The development of the characters builds in each book.

 

Lastly, I read "Sleeping Giants." I gave this book three stars, but I felt that the writing in the book was missing something.

 

Based on Robin's review, I ordered "The Bear and the Nightingale" from my library. I'm now first on the waiting list, and I'm excited to try it.

Matryoshka, thanks for the positive review of the book!

[Penguin]

I forgot to post my reading last week, so I have two weeks worth of books to report on.

 

First I read "Murder on the Orient Express." It is a great mystery, and I can't believe it took me this long to read it. I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries.

 

Then I read "Mayhem on the Orient Express." If you haven't read "Murder on the Orient Express," I think one could still enjoy this book. You would simply miss out on some of the references. I think I will try at least one more in this series,

 

"The Man in the Queue" was my first Josephine Tey book. It was good, but based on a lot of other people's reviews it sounds like her other books may be even better.

 

Last week I read "Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon." It is the fourth book in the Meg Langslow series. I have enjoyed all four books that I've read.

 

I also read, "No Wind of Blame" by Georgette Heyer. This is one of her mystery titles. I enjoyed the book, but I think I will wait awhile until I read the next in the series. It doesn't seem like her murder mystery books need to be read in a certain order.

 

I read my fifth book in the Royal Spyness series, "Naughty in Nice." Like all the others, I really love it. I really enjoy the narrator on the audio book. I would definitely read this series in order. The development of the characters builds in each book.

 

Lastly, I read "Sleeping Giants." I gave this book three stars, but I felt that the writing in the book was missing something.

 

Based on Robin's review, I ordered "The Bear and the Nightingale" from my library. I'm now first on the waiting list, and I'm excited to try it.

Matryoshka, thanks for the positive review of the book!

I have never read Murder on the Orient Express, either. Truth be told, I don't think I have ever read an Agatha Christie. Which is why it is slated for my Mystery Bingo square. I have a number of can't-believe-I-never-read-that books on my bingo card.

[Maus]

Well, I have been reading, but we crashed two of our four computers, leaving three kids trying to do school work on two computers, so I don't get very many turns, and I don't have the patience to post anything longer than about one sentence from my phone!

 

5. "The Reason I Jump" by Naoki Higashida.  My mom recommended this one to me.  She found it at her local library down in Arizona and read it because two of mine are on the spectrum.  Naoki wrote this when he was 13.  He is autistic and didn't speak until his mother taught him to use a Japanese alphabet board.  He answers questions about why he does some of the autistic behavior things he does.  Very enlightening.

 

4. "No Doubt About It" by Sheri Dew.

 

3. "Amazed by Grace" by Sheri Dew.

 

2. "The Gifts of Imperfection" by Brene Brown.  Listened to the Audible version on my phone.

 

1. "Catch Me If You Can: The True Story of a Real Fake" by Frank W. Abagnale.  My daughter and I went to see the play based on the movie based on this true story!

[Narrow Gate Academy]

Took part of the afternoon to read The Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie and posted a review.  Now I need to focus on finished my current nonfiction and my gemstone book.

[mumto2]

I forgot to post my reading last week, so I have two weeks worth of books to report on.

First I read "Murder on the Orient Express." It is a great mystery, and I can't believe it took me this long to read it. I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries.

Then I read "Mayhem on the Orient Express." If you haven't read "Murder on the Orient Express," I think one could still enjoy this book. You would simply miss out on some of the references. I think I will try at least one more in this series,

"The Man in the Queue" was my first Josephine Tey book. It was good, but based on a lot of other people's reviews it sounds like her other books may be even better.

Last week I read "Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon." It is the fourth book in the Meg Langslow series. I have enjoyed all four books that I've read.

I also read, "No Wind of Blame" by Georgette Heyer. This is one of her mystery titles. I enjoyed the book, but I think I will wait awhile until I read the next in the series. It doesn't seem like her murder mystery books need to be read in a certain order.

I read my fifth book in the Royal Spyness series, "Naughty in Nice." Like all the others, I really love it. I really enjoy the narrator on the audio book. I would definitely read this series in order. The development of the characters builds in each book.

Lastly, I read "Sleeping Giants." I gave this book three stars, but I felt that the writing in the book was missing something.

Based on Robin's review, I ordered "The Bear and the Nightingale" from my library. I'm now first on the waiting list, and I'm excited to try it.

Matryoshka, thanks for the positive review of the book!

 

 

I didn't read Agatha Christie or many of the classic British mystery books until I was older. The odd thing is they are what my then BF relaxed with. I think it was because she checked them out of the library which made them cumbersome to share. I simply never bothered. I read my mom's easily accessible romance novels and took lots of lit classes! :lol: It's good I left them alone because they gave me a great source of unread books to get from libraries when we made our move to England.

 

Btw, Man in the Queue is my least favourite of the Tey's I have read.

 

So glad you are enjoying the Donna Andrews series. I picked up the next two in my read/reread at the library this morning and have already read a couple of chapters of Six Geese A-Slaying.

 

 

 

 

Finished The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill - I listened to this as an audiobook and I don't really know how it ended up on my to-read list because I don't see that anyone here has read it yet.  It was wonderful!  I think it difficult for cozy mysteries to be five star reads because they normally aren't that deep but this one was just splendid.  It was set in Laos in 1975.  The characters were awesome.  The dialog witty. A bit of magical realism that was fun.  I can't wait to read the next one. 

 

 

 

You should add The Coroners Lunch to your to-read list.  There was a few times during reading it that I thought "Sandy should read this!".

 

I have read The Coroner's Lunch and at least one other book in the series. It's one of the series that I have marked on wish lists with my next book in the series. The author also appears to have another series which I have marked also!

 

Ethyl, Since I seem to be having luck finding series books I have wanted to read but couldn't locate could I have the name of the bird watching mysteries you enjoyed last year. I would like to try to locate them again.

[Kareni]

A bookish post ~ 

6 Middle Eastern Flavored Fantasy and Science-Fiction Novel  by Matt Staggs

**

 

Not quite bookish, but interesting nonetheless ~

Five Amazing Women Warriors of the Middle Ages by Michael Livingston

 

Regards,

Kareni

 

[Matryoshka]

I have never read Murder on the Orient Express, either. Truth be told, I don't think I have ever read an Agatha Christie. Which is why it is slated for my Mystery Bingo square. I have a number of can't-believe-I-never-read-that books on my bingo card.

 

When I was 15yo, I visited some family friends in Mexico City (by myself).  The last 6 weeks I spent with an older couple and didn't have much to do.  The father had a large collection of Agatha Christie books and Dracula.  I binge-read them all. :lol:

 

My favorites are Murder on the Orient Express and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.  The rest kind of jumble together, even though I've not only read many/most of them, but I've watched so many of them dramatized on BBC shows. :)  Those two really stand out to me.

[Angelaboord]

So, as I mentioned up thread, I finished Doctor Zhivago. I had thought I might pull some quotes out of it to discuss, but of course I didn't mark them and now I'm too lazy to go back and find them. Someone here mentioned keeping a Commonplace book, or something like that? Is that what that's for? I don't tend to be an annotator or a quote-keeper, but as I'm reading so much more, I'm actually finding I think I might want to start writing thoughts or quotes down as I read... anyone do this? I'd be interested in both the how and the why..

 

?

I am on my 4th attempt (at least) to keep a commonplace book and this time seems to be working out a little better, but I have no idea why. Maybe because I made it one of my goals for the year? Anyway, I have always had a habit of dogearing pages as I read to mark passages because I usually read while I nurse (I've been nursing for most of the last 13 years, I think) and I don't have a hand available to annotate. But dogeared pages really don't help me remember very much. This year I am trying to sit down at least once a week with my notebook and copy out passages from my turned down pages. Friday afternoon seems to be a good time to do this for me. If I try to do it more than once a week, I get frustrated when I can't work it in, and if I don't have a routine for working it in my schedule, I just forget about it. So this once a week thing seems to be a good compromise.

 

I am just copying quotes down as I find them, but I am thinking that I will try to include an index on a few pages in the back of the notebook.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Butter]

Not book related, but my daughter started a YouTube channel to talk about and support people (especially teens) with chronic illness.  She posted her first video tonight.  I suggested the idea to her a couple weeks ago and it has really improved her life and how she feels about everything she is dealing with just planning it.  Like if her videos help someone then it makes the whole spending most of her life in pain and in bed thing a little more worth it.

 

Watching her video, all I could think is if she's that perky sick, heaven help us if she ever gets better.  Granted, she was on the good drugs when she recorded it and it totally exhausted her.

 

[Stacia]

.

Edited November 2, 2017 by Stacia

[Angelaboord]

Who was doing a "reading the shelf" project? Was it Raifta?

 

I have been feeling really scattered with my reading since the beginning of the year and also a little dissatisfied, since so much of it seems to just be a carryover from last year (or earlier). I was walking Abby to sleep earlier today, though, and I got to looking at a few of my shelves that have degenerated into sort of random overflow stacks. I have 4 that might actually provide enough variety to work in a shelf-reading project. (Plus I think I could actually hit almost all the Bingo squares. Lol) But I was wondering, do you start at one end (or at the top of a pile) and work your way down, or do you just choose randomly off the shelf?

 

Because I don't have enough books that I'm already reading, I ordered a copy of The Shelf: From LEQ to LES, Adventures in Extreme Reading.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[JennW in SoCal]

Not book related, but my daughter started a YouTube channel to talk about and support people (especially teens) with chronic illness.  She posted her first video tonight.  I suggested the idea to her a couple weeks ago and it has really improved her life and how she feels about everything she is dealing with just planning it.  Like if her videos help someone then it makes the whole spending most of her life in pain and in bed thing a little more worth it.

 

Watching her video, all I could think is if she's that perky sick, heaven help us if she ever gets better.  Granted, she was on the good drugs when she recorded it and it totally exhausted her.

 

 

:hurray: and  :grouphug:  Thank you for sharing -- what an amazing young lady, Heather! She is warm, perky and brave to put herself out there. And extraordinary to get her black belt and to continue training when she is fighting chronic illness.  

[Stacia]

.

Edited November 2, 2017 by Stacia

[JennW in SoCal]

Someone had posted the link to yoga in kilts -- here's a BBC article about the young Scottish lads behind the video.

 

I, too, started laughing pretty hard when it first came across my social media feed -- there was too much WTM context to explain the hilarity to my dh, so I didn't even bother.

[Stacia]

.

Edited November 2, 2017 by Stacia

[Lady Florida.]

Not book related, but my daughter started a YouTube channel to talk about and support people (especially teens) with chronic illness.  She posted her first video tonight.  I suggested the idea to her a couple weeks ago and it has really improved her life and how she feels about everything she is dealing with just planning it.  Like if her videos help someone then it makes the whole spending most of her life in pain and in bed thing a little more worth it.

 

Watching her video, all I could think is if she's that perky sick, heaven help us if she ever gets better.  Granted, she was on the good drugs when she recorded it and it totally exhausted her.

 

 

She did a great job! My ears perked up when I heard Ani say Chiari Malformation.  I have a local homeschool friend with Chiari Malformation, and her daughter also has it. My friend had successful surgery. Her daughter had surgery late last year and unfortunately hasn't seen the positive results her mom did. Both mom and daughter often posts on facebook about chronic illness. I shared the video with the daughter. She's only a year or two older than your daughter. 

[Granny_Weatherwax]

I finished The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead.

 

I think I'll finish Spark and then find something uplifting.

 

I am truly amazed at those of you who have read 20+ books already. Where are you finding the time?

[Kareni]

Not book related, but my daughter started a YouTube channel to talk about and support people (especially teens) with chronic illness.  She posted her first video tonight.    ...

 

Congratulations to your daughter!  I hope this will prove to be a positive experience for her and for others who watch her.

**

 

I just finished a re-read of The Soldier's Scoundrel  by Cat Sebastian which I enjoyed once more.  (Adult content)

 

 

"A scoundrel who lives in the shadows

 

Jack Turner grew up in the darkness of London's slums, born into a life of crime and willing to do anything to keep his belly full and his siblings safe. Now he uses the tricks and schemes of the underworld to help those who need the kind of assistance only a scoundrel can provide. His distrust of the nobility runs deep and his services do not extend to the gorgeous high-born soldier who personifies everything Jack will never be. 

 

A soldier untarnished by vice

 

After the chaos of war, Oliver Rivington craves the safe predictability of a gentleman's life-one that doesn't include sparring with a ne'er-do-well who flouts the law at every turn. But Jack tempts Oliver like no other man has before. Soon his yearning for the unapologetic criminal is only matched by Jack's pleasure in watching his genteel polish crumble every time they're together. 

 

Two men only meant for each other"

 

Regards,

Kareni

[Robin M]

The Bram Stoker Nominees were announced. Don't they know that should come in October? I haven't read any of the books except Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life. If you're looking for a well-written biography, I highly recommend it. Franklin included letters, journals, and Jackson's thoughts on her writing process to create a compelling portrait of a famous American author.

Maria Alexander who is nominated for her young adult story Snowed is a long time friend and old roommate in our pre married lives. I haven't read the book yet but hope to soon. So proud of her.

[Loesje22000]

Just for fun:

A periodic table of literary Villain:

http://ebookfriendly.stfi.re/periodic-table-literary-villains-infographic/periodic-table-of-literary-villains-full-infographic/?sf=bedjgrp#ab

[Mom-ninja.]

Ok, I admit I haven't yet started the 3rd HP book yet. It is so hard for me to read series! I will start it this weekend, though.

 

 You could read them a year apart or so to mimic how people read them as they were released. 

[Granny_Weatherwax]

I have a silly question - Are you all hooked up on Goodreads? I found one of us because she posted about being on Goodreads. I like receiving Goodreads notices when I cannot log in here to catch up with the thread.

 

 

[mumto2]

You could read them a year apart or so to mimic how people read them as they were released.

 

 

 

:lol: The only thing is some of us reread the entire series each time a new hp was released!

 

 

 

 

I have a silly question - Are you all hooked up on Goodreads? I found one of us because she posted about being on Goodreads. I like receiving Goodreads notices when I cannot log in here to catch up with the thread.

Many of us are hooked up on Goodreads. I think my profile on Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/51042385-mumtotwo will help. You are welcome to friend me for a start. :)

 

Butter I watched your Dd's youtube.....lovely job. What a wonderful girl!

[Chrysalis Academy]

I have a silly question - Are you all hooked up on Goodreads? I found one of us because she posted about being on Goodreads. I like receiving Goodreads notices when I cannot log in here to catch up with the thread.

 

Yes, a lot of us are! It's fun.  I'm not sure how to send you a link to add me as a friend, but I'm Rose with the same profile picture I use here.  The link in my sig might get you there.

 

or this

Edited February 25, 2017 by Chrysalis Academy

[Chrysalis Academy]

Ok, I admit I haven't yet started the 3rd HP book yet. It is so hard for me to read series! I will start it this weekend, though.

 

 

 

I read series, and multiple books by the same author, but usually not back-to-back-to back, I often want a little space between. So it seems entirely reasonable that you take breaks between them! I'm re-reading the GOT series right now, and doing it slow enough (I hope) that by the time I get through the 5 1000 page books, the 6th will be published. Hope springs eternal.

 

Just for fun:

A periodic table of literary Villain:

http://ebookfriendly.stfi.re/periodic-table-literary-villains-infographic/periodic-table-of-literary-villains-full-infographic/?sf=bedjgrp#ab

 

That is awesome!!! It must have taken so long to put together. How clever.

[Raifta]

Who was doing a "reading the shelf" project? Was it Raifta?

 

I have been feeling really scattered with my reading since the beginning of the year and also a little dissatisfied, since so much of it seems to just be a carryover from last year (or earlier). I was walking Abby to sleep earlier today, though, and I got to looking at a few of my shelves that have degenerated into sort of random overflow stacks. I have 4 that might actually provide enough variety to work in a shelf-reading project. (Plus I think I could actually hit almost all the Bingo squares. Lol) But I was wondering, do you start at one end (or at the top of a pile) and work your way down, or do you just choose randomly off the shelf?

 

Because I don't have enough books that I'm already reading, I ordered a copy of The Shelf: From LEQ to LES, Adventures in Extreme Reading.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

 

Yep, I'm reading through my second shelf.  I usually just start at one end and then go to the other rather than picking and choosing.  The theory being that picking and choosing is what causes me to overlook the same books time and again so by forcing myself to read through them in order, they will finally get read.  

 

That being said, I've hit a section where I have 4 E.M. Forster books in a row (this is actually a common problem with lots of my shelves - 8 Austen, 10 Orwell, 5 Cather etc) so I am giving myself permission to intersperse each Forster with the next one on the shelf.  Partially because I think that I will actually remember the Forsters better if I don't read them all right in a row and partially out of fear of getting bored with one writing style.

[Matryoshka]

I have a silly question - Are you all hooked up on Goodreads? I found one of us because she posted about being on Goodreads. I like receiving Goodreads notices when I cannot log in here to catch up with the thread.

 

I joined Goodreads pretty much at the same time I started regularly participating here, at the beginning of this year.  I love Goodreads!   :001_wub:

 

I think 100% of the friends I have on Goodreads are from BaW. :)  I'd always love more - just tell me you're from BaW.  

 

I think this is how you find me? 

 

ETA: I have a different name, but the same avatar.

Edited February 25, 2017 by Matryoshka