Book a Week 2019 - BW50: 52 Books Bingo - Nature and Allegory

[Robin M]

Happy Sunday and welcome to week fifty in our 52 Books rambling roads reading adventure. Greetings to all our readers, welcome to all joining in for the first time and everyone following our progress. Visit  52 Books in 52 Weeks where you can find all the information on the annual, mini and perpetual challenges, as well as the central spot to share your book reviews.

I finished our 2020 52 books bingo and had fun coming up with new and different categories to amuse your reading palates. I'll post it on the website and attached a pdf file for download soon.   As we wind down the year, our last two categories are Nature and Allegory. Nature may be literal or symbolic which pairs up quite nicely with allegory, a narrative that take an abstract look at characters and events. 

Bookriot: 50 Must-Read Books On Nature and Science.

Bookauthority: 76 best nature books of all time.

Chicago Review of Books: The Best Nature Books of 2019, Part 2

Goodreads: Best Nature Books and Popular Human Nature Books and Allegorical Socialism and Communism in Fiction

Sandra Neily's The Beauty and Value of Nature-Based Fiction

Human Nature, Allegory, and Truth in Plato’s Republic

Allegorical Fantasy books 

NPR: A Celebrated Chinese Novelist Dreams Up A Nightmare Sci-Fi Allegory

19 children's books you need to re-read as an adult

Have fun following rabbit trails!

What are you reading?

 

Link to week 49

 

Edited December 8, 2019 by Robin M

[Robin M]

I'm currently reading Robert Jordan's Knife of Dreams and perusing assorted writing books, trying to decide which ones I want to work through during 2020.  

Last night we watched the MCU's 2008 version of the Incredible Hulk with Ed Norton as Bruce Banner.  Awesome movie. 

[Kareni]

Today only, a free book for Kindle readers ~

What I Saw in America by G. K. Chesterton

Regards,

Kareni

[Kareni]

Some bookish posts ~

First Book You Fell in Love With:The Center for Fiction’s 2019 First Novel Prize Authors Weigh In

https://lithub.com/what-was-the-first-book-you-fell-in-love-with-4/

Jo Walton’s Reading List: November 2019

https://www.tor.com/2019/12/06/jo-waltons-reading-list-november-2019/comment-page-1/#comment-842118

THE CRIME STORIES OF NEW ZEALAND by Nalini Singh

https://crimereads.com/new-zealand/

26 Books From the Last Decade that More People Should Read:Our Favorite Writers Recommend Some Underappreciated Gems

By Emily Temple

https://lithub.com/26-books-from-the-last-decade-that-if-you-havent-read-you-should/

VICTORIAN MYSTERY NOVELS SET AROUND THE WORLD—YES, THAT'S RIGHT, OUTSIDE ENGLAND

https://crimereads.com/victorian-mystery-novels-set-around-the-world/

Regards,

Kareni

[Negin]

I read A Day on Skates - 4 Stars - This children’s book, written in the early 1930s, is charming and sweet. I don’t usually read children’s books now that my two are grown, but this was well worth a read. It makes me wish that I had known about it back when they were young. It’s fun to get the whole Dutch feel with the story and the illustrations are an absolute delight.

Some more pictures from Sevilla. The first two are from a quinceanera or some other Catholic festival. Spain is full of festivals and parades. We loved it. We loved all the warmth and friendliness. 

 

[Robin M]

Let's see if this works 

2020 52 books bingo.pdf

[mumto2]

19 minutes ago, Robin M said:

Let's see if this works 

2020 52 books bingo.pdf 96.79 kB · 1 download

Well, I am in!  I definitely have ideas for some of the squares already.😁

One of the categories in my unfinished 10 x10 challenges is Asian Detectives........I been planning on requiring different countries but will never finish in 2019 if I do that.  I filled another one from China in that I read awhile ago and finally read The Shadow Walker by Michael Walters https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1696597.The_Shadow_Walker which I have wanted to read since the start of the year.  It’s a detective story set in Mongolia!  How cool is that!  Even better it was good😂.  I loved the setting, so interesting and apparently quite accurate.  My library even has more......I truly thought I would never find more than this first in the series.

Currently reading Helsinki White by James Thompson which is another book I have been saving.  It’s the third published in a Nordic Noir series that is an all time favorite.  I need Finland and decided I have to read it sometime......the author died while writing the series and I just don’t want to make the books end too quickly.  The main character has a brain tumor and so did the author which makes me wonder how much is autobiographical.  Thompson was an American married to a Finn and in the books Vaara is married to an American wife.  I find the expat parts to be very well done.  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11890815-helsinki-white

My audio and paper books are both so close to being done........Blue Lightning by Cleeve’s because I can’t “do” Scotland without one of her Shetland mysteries........although I still like Vera better.  I also have a few pages left in Rise of the Magicks........hopefully I will finish it up tonight.

[Mothersweets]

I actually started and finished a book in one week! I've been having such a hard time sticking with a book without losing interest so I feel rather accomplished this week, haha. 

A Bitter Feast by Deborah Crombie. This is #18 in a series but it read just fine as a stand alone novel. I can't remember where I heard of this one - was it someone here? It is a mystery set in the Cotswolds and the detectives are a husband/wife cop team based in London. They are visiting friends in the country and this is a bit of an interesting twist - the husband is involved in one of the murders. I enjoyed this and plan to read more of the series.

@Negin and @Aethelthryth - I have that book! It is a delightful story and I love the illustrations, too. I discovered it when my youngest was about 8 and I so wish I had found it sooner. 

Negin - beautiful photos!

[Liz CA]

Still mostly in Egypt with Amelia Peabody...but slipped in "Nine Tailors" By Dorothy L. Sayers.

Audiobooks:

Finishing "The Golden One" 

I forgot what I have on tap but I know there is something waiting. I think it may be "Vendetta in Death" by Robb

Reading:

"Tomb of the Golden Bird" on Overdrive, then I remembered that I picked up several of her books at a sale and will re-read "He Shall Thunder in the Sky."

[Negin]

5 hours ago, Æthelthryth the Texan said:

@Negin thanks once again for the pictures- the are wonderful and I love seeing them- and for the children's book rec. I'm thinking of buying it, as my MIL is straight up Dutch so maybe it would be something special for her with the kids....I'm going to send the link to her and see. 

Thank you. If you do get the book, I hope that your kids and MIL all enjoy it. 

3 hours ago, Mothersweets said:

 and @Aethelthryth - I have that book! It is a delightful story and I love the illustrations, too. I discovered it when my youngest was about 8 and I so wish I had found it sooner. 

Negin - beautiful photos!

Thank you also. And yes, it's such a lovely book. 

[Negin]

Kindle book on sale today. 

[Teaching3bears]

Robin, I will have to check out some of those nature books. Looking back, I have loved most of the nature books I have read in my life.

Negin, I was in Seville about twenty years ago and loved it! Such a beautiful city with such an atmosphere of fun and liveliness. I would love to visit again.

I haven't posted lately but in the past month or so I have managed to read a few books.

I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb
When I read the first half of this book I thought it was nothing special and quite depressing but the second half of the book is much more interesting and makes the book worth reading. It was long but a very easy read.

The River Midnight by Lilian Nattel
A very nicely put together book. Each chapter is devoted to the story from the point of view of a different character so you hear the story of the events in this little village from several perspectives.

Talking to Strangers. By Malcolm Gladwell.
He was interesting as always. I agree with his idea that, in real life, sometimes people don't react like we expect them to and the way he describes the impact this should have on the justice system. It was interesting/scary to hear how bad police officers are at figuring out if someone is telling the truth.

Lady Chatterly's Lover by D.H. Lawrence
He is a really good writer. I could really imagine the characters and their personalities as if they were people who I knew very well. Some of the "tea" talk was off-putting, especially the gameskeeper so I can see how the book was banned way back when.

Ella Enchanted.
We read this for homeschooling and fun. It's a kids' book but I strongly recommend it if you have never read it.

I just started Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

[SKL]

Howdy.  We finally got JRR Tolkein's Letters from Father Christmas (audiobook) and started it.  It's nice, though I'm not sure the kids are very into it.  Would be nice to see the illustrations he mentions.  (Just decided to order a hard copy so we can do that.)

I have read one or two chapters of our read-aloud in the past week ... should finish before Christmas.

We are almost done with Matthew.  I thought we'd finish all the Gospels before Christmas, but now I kind of doubt it.  I hope to at least get to Luke's description of the Nativity.

I am still reading that Boundaries with Teens book ... been a bit lazy on that lately.

[mumto2]

@Negin I just took a closer look at your latest avatar.......it’s lovely.  The columns are fascinating with the mosaics.  Was it taken in Spain or closer to home?

12 hours ago, Æthelthryth the Texan said:

@Negin thanks once again for the pictures- the are wonderful and I love seeing them- and for the children's book rec. I'm thinking of buying it, as my MIL is straight up Dutch so maybe it would be something special for her with the kids....I'm going to send the link to her and see. 

I finished the The Woman in the Window by AJ Finn. It had a very Hitchcock like vibe- I'm not a huge old school film person, but it combined many of the film noir types I had to watch in various college courses. It borrowed from Rear Window for sure, but I definitely wasn't able to call the finale of this one in advance, so 4/5 stars. It was rather slow started, but the protagonist was likable, so it wasn't a deal breaker. I think I wouldn't have noticed as much had I not just come off too very fast paced books. 

I'm working on The Chestnut Man by Søren Sveistrup now and it is very, very gritty. Maybe too much so. I can handle suspense and murder mystery books, but this one is a bit grisly in the opening chapters so I'll have to see it it gets worse. If so, it'll be a DNF. I don't want to read a true horror "Saw" type book. 

I just finished Helsinki White which turned out to be incredibly gritty with the really shocking bits nearer the end of the book.  I think I will wait another year before reading the next in the series!  While I love Nordic Noir I find that pretty much every book in that genre that I read has at least one truly distasteful to me scene......I turn those pages really quickly or if I am sewing do something loud with the machine.

[Kareni]

Today only, a free book for Kindle readers ~

The Adventures of Martin Hewitt by Arthur Morrison

Regards,

Kareni

[Robin M]

On 12/8/2019 at 11:54 AM, Kareni said:

THE CRIME STORIES OF NEW ZEALAND by Nalini Singh

https://crimereads.com/new-zealand/

Great article. Will be adding Paul Cleave to my want list.  Especially since Nalini Singh and New Zealand authors are going to be part of my 2020 10 x 10 as well as on the author spelling challenge. 

15 hours ago, Mothersweets said:

I actually started and finished a book in one week! I've been having such a hard time sticking with a book without losing interest so I feel rather accomplished this week, haha. 

A Bitter Feast by Deborah Crombie. This is #18 in a series but it read just fine as a stand alone novel. I can't remember where I heard of this one - was it someone here? It is a mystery set in the Cotswolds and the detectives are a husband/wife cop team based in London. They are visiting friends in the country and this is a bit of an interesting twist - the husband is involved in one of the murders. I enjoyed this and plan to read more of the series.

Yes, a few of us have read Deborah Crombie.  I read out of order of course so goal for 2020 is to read more of her novels.  I added her a couple days ago to the Ladies of Fiction bookology spelling challenge.  

I'm just about done working up the Ladies of Fiction spelling challenge which is all women authors.  I keep changing my mind.  😀  However the two ladies above are firm on the list.  Will post it in a couple days. 

[Maus]

Well, Momma had to take a sick day last week, but at least I got some more reading in.  Since I'm old and all, I'll keep taking advantage of the Large Print Agatha Christie collection at my library.  I actually found two I don't think I've read before: The Hollow, and Taken at the Flood.  Not that it matters a lot.  It's been so long since I last read any of her books, I don't remember until the very last what's going to happen.

61. "Why Didn't They Ask Evans?" by Agatha Christie.

60. "The Hollow" by Agatha Christie.

59.. "Taken at the Flood" by Agatha Christie."

58. "Easy to Kill" by Agatha Christie.

57.  "The Simple Faith of Mr. Rogers" by Amy Hollingsworth. 

56.  "A Body in the Library" by Agatha Christie.  

55.  "Christopher Columbus: A Man among the Gentiles" by Clark B. Hinckley. (LDS)  

54.  "The Priesthood Power of Women" by Barbara Morgan Gardner.  (LDS)

53. "Rethinking School" by Susan Wise Bauer.  

52. "The Question of the Absentee Father" by E.J. Copperman/Jeff Cohen.   

51. "The Question of the Felonious Friend" by E.J. Copperman/Jeff Cohen.

50. "The Question of the Unfamiliar Husband" by E.J. Copperman/Jeff Cohen.

49. "The Question of the Missing Head" by E.J. Copperman/Jeff Cohen.

48. "Pax" by Sara Pennypacker.  

47.  "The Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum. 

46.  "Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkien.  

45.  "Math with Bad Drawings" by Ben Orlin. 

44.  "The Number Devil" by Hans Magnus Enzensberger.

43.  "Insights from a Prophet's Life: Russall M Nelson" by Sheri Dew (LDS).

42.  "Live Up to Our Privileges" by Wendy Ulrich (LDS).

41.  "The Knowledge Gap: The Hidden Cause of America's Broken Education System --  And How to Fix It" by Natalie Wexler.

40.  "Blood, Bullets, and Bones" by Bridget Heos.

39.  "World War I:  The Rest of the Story and How It Affects You Today" by Richard J. Maybury.

38.  "The Thousand Year War in the Mideast:  How It Affects You Today" by Richard J. Maybury.  

37.  "The Two Towers" by J.R.R. Tokien.

36.  "Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien.

35. "The Clipper Ship Strategy" by Richard J. Maybury.

34. "The Money Mystery" by Richard J. Maybury.

33. "Evaluating Books: What Would Thomas Jefferson Think About This" by Richard J. Maybury.

32. "Ancient Rome: How It Affects You Today" by Richard J. Maybury.

31. "Are You Liberal? Conservative? or Confusted?" by Richard J. Maybury.  Funny title, because I thought I knew what I was, but now I'm confused!

30.  "Whatever Happened to Justice?" by Richard J. Maybury.

29. " The Instant Economist: Everything You Need to Know About How the Economy Works" by Timothy Taylor. 

28. "White Like Her: My Family's Story of Race and Racial Passing" by Gail Lukasik.

27. "Personal, Career, and Financial Security" by Richard J. Maybury.

26. "Rascal" by Sterling North.

25. "Whatever Happened to Penny Candy?" by Richard J. Maybury.

24.  "Joy in the Covenant" by Julie B. Beck.  (LDS)

23. "The Essential 55" by Ron Clark.

22. "How to Tutor Your Own Child" by Marina Koestler Ruben.

21. "Faith is Not Blind" by Bruce and Marie Hafen. (LDS)

20. "Silent Souls Weeping: Depression, Sharing Stories, Finding Hope" by Jane Clayson Johnson.  (LDS)

19. "Leap of Faith" by Bob Bennett. (LDS)

18.  "Covenant Keepers" by Wendy Watson Nelson. (LDS)

17. "Manga Classics: MacBeth" adapted by Crystal S. Chan.

16. "One Dead Spy" by Nathan Hale.

15. "Stellar Science Projects About Earth's Sky" and "Wild Science Projects About Earth's Weather" by Robert Gardner.  

14. "Stuff Matters" by Mark Miodownik.  

13. "Led by Divine Design" by Ronald A. Rasband. (LDS)

12. "Forensic Science Projects with a Crime Lab" by Robert Gardner. 

11. "Manga Classics: The Jungle Book" adapted by Crystal S. Chan

10. "Donner Dinner Party" by Nathan Hale. 

9. "Manga Classics: The Stories of Edgar Allan Poe" adapted by Stacy King. 

8. "Bodies We've Buried" by Jarrett Hallcox and Amy Welch.

7. "The Forensic Casebook" by N.E. Genge.

6. "Shaken Faith Syndrome" by MIchael R. Ash. (LDS)

5. "Fingerprints: Crime-Solving Science Experiments" by Kenneth G. Rainis.

4. "Forensic Investigations" (6) by Leela Burnscott. & ("Bones Speak" by Richard Spilsbury)

3. "A Reason for Faith" edited by Laura Harris Hales.  (LDS)

2. "Left Standing" by Mason Wells, et al. (LDS)

1.  "Camino Easy" by B. G. Preston. 

[Negin]

On 12/9/2019 at 11:03 AM, mumto2 said:

@Negin I just took a closer look at your latest avatar.......it’s lovely.  The columns are fascinating with the mosaics.  Was it taken in Spain or closer to home?

 

Thank you! This was in Barcelona at the Palau de la Musica Catalana. I highly recommend a visit to this beautiful opera house/concert hall for anyone planning a visit to Barcelona. 

On 12/9/2019 at 10:26 AM, Teaching3bears said:

Negin, I was in Seville about twenty years ago and loved it! Such a beautiful city with such an atmosphere of fun and liveliness. I would love to visit again.
 

Seville was our second favorite city. I would also love to go back someday. 

[Robin M]

For fans of star wars:  4 ways Emperor Palpatine engineered his return in Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker

Behind the Music: 8 Memoirs and Biographies of Iconic Musicians

Books about London from the heart of its migrant communities

9 Books to Give to Important Women in Your Life

 

[Robin M]

Our 2020 Ladies of Fiction spelling and/or reading challenge for 2020 is complete.  Trying to figure out whether Ladies of Fiction Bookology or  just Ladies of Fiction or Fictional Bookology is better for the 52 books website tab.  

 

 

Here's the pdf file as well.  I'll get it posted on the website soon. 

 

 

 

2020 Ladies of Fiction Spelling Challenge.pdf

Edited December 12, 2019 by Robin M
Corrected spelling and reloaded 2020 LOF pdf

[Kareni]

47 minutes ago, Robin M said:

Our 2020 Ladies of Fiction spelling and/or reading challenge for 2020 is complete....

This looks intriguing, Robin.

(Just a note that the last name should be Rumer Godden.)

Regards,

Kareni

[Kareni]

Today I finished the historical romance  Rogue Meets a Scandalous Lady (Mackenzies Series Book 11) by Jennifer Ashley which I enjoyed.

 "David Fleming, Hart Mackenzie's right-hand man, seeks refuge with his vicar friend in Shropshire, only to find that the vicar's beautiful niece, Sophie, is seeking refuge as well. Tongues are wagging all over London about Sophie, and she finds that the only gentleman sympathetic to her plight is the reprobate David.

David and Sophie match wits as they help her uncle dig up the countryside searching for a villa from Roman Britain, and David decides to use his conniving ways to fix all Sophie's problems."

 **

I started but put aside Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente. I'd heard excellent things about this book, but it was not speaking to me.

Regards,

Kareni

[mumto2]

@Robin M the Ladies of Fiction Bookology looks great!😀. I just had a good time looking for books for January..........

@Kareni  Space Opera didn’t work for me either.  I ended up abandoning it ...... if I remember right it started out sort of reminiscent of Hitchikers.

I have now completed both my A to Z by Author and A to Z by Book Title.  Woot!  I wasn’t sure if I was going to finish this year.  For Z I read a new to me fantasy author Roger Zelazny.  Trumps of Doom was the sixth in the series but was interesting.  I might want to read the Chronicles of Amber series in the future.......

[Robin M]

2 hours ago, Kareni said:

This looks intriguing, Robin.

(Just a note that the last name should be Rumer Godden.)

Regards,

Kareni

 You are my official fact checker. i knew if i missed something, you would catch it.  will fix it tomorrow.  Thank you!  😘

[Robin M]

More fun links to add books to your christmas and end of the year buying lists.

20 must read time travel books

Beginners guide to Chinese Science Fiction

Discover another side of Paris - books recommended by author Cara Black

The Millions A Year in Reading

Bill Gates 5 Books to enjoy this winterGuardia

Guardian's Top Ten drama filled dinner parties in Fiction

[mumto2]

Before I explore Robin’s links I am going to share my nature read........Wesley the Owl by Stacey O’Brien https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3001512-wesley-the-owl was a wonderful audiobook.  Read by the author, I sort of feel like I had a 7 or so hour conversation with her learning all about Wesley.  Stacey is a biologist who was working at an avian behavior lab at the time of Wesley’s hatching.  When she accepted her 4day old baby owl she knew she was making a commitment for the rest of Wesley’s life because he had a wing injured and would never be strong enough to live wild.  I learned so much.........and birds are a huge interest of mine. 

This is one of those books that I really wish I had used for science with my kids.  Overall fine for all audiences......possibly might be better suited for older kids because of the fact that Wesley loved Stacey so much he mated with her,  so studied in depth.  She also mentions how one of her friend’s researched a male birth control pill.......and gives a bit more detail regarding sperm in friend’s study than I probably would have enjoyed when they were young......So a warning is given,  the pill part happens shortly after Wesley’s first mating behavior I believe.

[Kareni]

22 hours ago, mumto2 said:

@Kareni  Space Opera didn’t work for me either.  I ended up abandoning it ...... if I remember right it started out sort of reminiscent of Hitchikers

I concur. It has a distinctive style that unfortunately was not working for me.

Today I started and did not finish yet another book: Sailing to Sarantium (Sarantine Mosaic) by Guy Gavriel Kay. I feel like going back to an old favorite....

Regards,

Kareni

[Kareni]

Here is a mega list of best book lists ~ Largehearted Boy's "Best Books of 2019" Lists Update - December 11th. It's impressively daunting!

Regards,

Kareni

[mumto2]

1 hour ago, Robin M said:

More fun links to add books to your christmas and end of the year buying lists.

20 must read time travel books

Beginners guide to Chinese Science Fiction

Discover another side of Paris - books recommended by author Cara Black

The Millions A Year in Reading

Bill Gates 5 Books to enjoy this winterGuardia

Guardian's Top Ten drama filled dinner parties in Fiction

After going through “the 20 must read Time Travel books” I think I have my first 10x10 (or whatever we decide on) topic for next year.

Kareni, I just looked at that list and don’t even know where to start!

[Robin M]

3 hours ago, Kareni said:

Here is a mega list of best book lists ~ Largehearted Boy's "Best Books of 2019" Lists Update - December 11th. It's impressively daunting!

Regards,

Kareni

Jiminy Christmas!  Two hours later and coming up for air.   Thank you, Karen.  It is an impressive list. 😁

[Kareni]

Today only, free for Kindle readers ~

The Pursuit of the House-Boat by John Kendrick Bangs

Written in 1897. This sounds intriguing:

 "Not even death can keep a good pirate down—but the world’s greatest detective might be able to give him a run for his money

The houseboat on the river Styx is the afterlife’s hippest meeting spot, and it attracts some of history’s greatest luminaries: William Shakespeare, Confucius, Napoleon Bonaparte, George Washington, and Socrates have all spent time together there. But such illustrious men also attract less savory characters from the past. One of these scoundrels, the great pirate Captain Kidd, seizes an opportunity to pick up some cigars from London with the houseboat. Now the vessel is missing, and there’s only one dead man skilled enough in deduction to track down Kidd and the boat—the world’s foremost detective, Sherlock Holmes.
 
Meanwhile, Captain Kidd has his hands full, as the stolen boat contains an unexpected set of stowaways who are making his quick jaunt far more difficult than he bargained for. The Pursuit of the House-Boat is a raucous romp through the underworld."

Regards,

Kareni

[Kareni]

Regarding Largehearted Boy's "Best Books of 2019" Lists Update - December 11th

12 hours ago, Robin M said:

Jiminy Christmas!  Two hours later and coming up for air.   Thank you, Karen.  It is an impressive list. 😁

 

15 hours ago, mumto2 said:

Kareni, I just looked at that list and don’t even know where to start!

It is crazy indeed. If I have time to spend, I just click on something random and enjoy.  (One could easily spend one's reading time reading all the lists!)

Regards,

Kareni

[Robin M]

Furniture made from books

if you are in love with Baby Yoda

2020 - The year of the bookworm in Britain

 

 

[Kareni]

1 hour ago, Robin M said:

Furniture made from books

Oooh, there are some nifty pieces there, Robin! Thanks for the link.

Regards,

Kareni

[Kareni]

Some bookish posts from author Gail Carriger ~

ABC Book Recs from Gail Carriger (Miss Carriger Recommends)

Gail Carriger’s Favorite Holiday Reads ~ Books for Kids & Adults (Miss Carriger Recommends)

Regards,

 Kareni

[Kareni]

More from Gail Carriger ~

8 Books That Will Comfort Your Soul (Miss Carriger Recommends)

Recommended Books to Escape Reality

A Completely Biased List of Funny Books that Make Me LAUGH! (Gail Carriger Recommends Humor & Comedy)

Regards,

 Kareni

[Penguin]

Hello, BaW friends. I am just starting to make my 2020 reading plans, and appreciate all of the book list links. I did not even come close to finishing my 10x10 challenge, and I am conflicted about whether or not to continue with it. On the one hand, I am not one to fret over changing things up for the New Year/New Decade. But on the other hand, I am not sure that my 10x10 continues to serve me. Hmmm...

Since I became an empty nester in August, I have done a lot of traveling. I guess that is what happens when you have children living all over the place. Since August, I have made seven longish road trips, flew to my Mom's house for a long weekend, and I recently spent three weeks in Europe. In November, I went to Denmark (for the first time since moving away in 2016), and I went to the Netherlands to see my son. It was a bit early for Christmas decorations, but they were starting to put them up. The first two photos were taken in Denmark, and the third one was in Rotterdam.

I hope everyone has been doing well!

[Robin M]

5 hours ago, Penguin said:

Hello, BaW friends. I am just starting to make my 2020 reading plans, and appreciate all of the book list links. I did not even come close to finishing my 10x10 challenge, and I am conflicted about whether or not to continue with it. On the one hand, I am not one to fret over changing things up for the New Year/New Decade. But on the other hand, I am not sure that my 10x10 continues to serve me. Hmmm...

Since I became an empty nester in August, I have done a lot of traveling. I guess that is what happens when you have children living all over the place. Since August, I have made seven longish road trips, flew to my Mom's house for a long weekend, and I recently spent three weeks in Europe. In November, I went to Denmark (for the first time since moving away in 2016), and I went to the Netherlands to see my son. It was a bit early for Christmas decorations, but they were starting to put them up. The first two photos were taken in Denmark, and the third one was in Rotterdam.

I hope everyone has been doing well!

Waving hello! Great pictures and puts me in the Christmas mood. Glad you have enjoyed your travels, getting to visit with your kids.  How neat that you got to spend time in Europe and Denmark.  If you have any more pictures to share, please do.  

I haven't had much luck with some of my 10 x 10 categories either.  I'll either do 2 x 10 or 4 x 5 in 2020.  Working on my 2020 plans as well and leaning more towards 'mood' reads and seeing where it takes me.  One goal is to finish the Wheel of Time series. I'm currently on book # 11 Knife of Dreams. 

Which means I am delighted to find 10 Epic Fantasy Books like Wheel of Time on Bookriots.  I've added Way of the Kings and Sorcerer to the Crown to my Christmas wish list and The Priory of the Orange Tree is only $1.99 on Kindle so got that one.  Jemisin I already have on my shelves.  

Still browsing Largehearted Boy's amazing lists when I have a few minutes. 

[mumto2]

@Penguin Beautiful pictures!  Your trip sounds wonderful.

1 hour ago, Robin M said:

Waving hello! Great pictures and puts me in the Christmas mood. Glad you have enjoyed your travels, getting to visit with your kids.  How neat that you got to spend time in Europe and Denmark.  If you have any more pictures to share, please do.  

I haven't had much luck with some of my 10 x 10 categories either.  I'll either do 2 x 10 or 4 x 5 in 2020.  Working on my 2020 plans as well and leaning more towards 'mood' reads and seeing where it takes me.  One goal is to finish the Wheel of Time series. I'm currently on book # 11 Knife of Dreams. 

Which means I am delighted to find 10 Epic Fantasy Books like Wheel of Time on Bookriots.  I've added Way of the Kings and Sorcerer to the Crown to my Christmas wish list and The Priory of the Orange Tree is only $1.99 on Kindle so got that one.  Jemisin I already have on my shelves.  

Still browsing Largehearted Boy's amazing lists when I have a few minutes. 

Like others I have started planning.......spent quite a bit of time with the Largehearted Boy while watching the election returns last night.  I am looking forward to the Bingo because I think many of the categories will work with my series reading quite well.  For 10’s I am struggling.......

Last year I started planning a category for the books behind the Alfred Hitchcock movies.  I think I found 7 in terms of both easily sourced and appealing to me and may see where that takes me in terms of vintage mysteries.  I read 39 Steps from the list this year and really enjoyed it.

I also have a list of various detectives located in places I couldn’t easily group into my Nordic, Asian and Brexit country reads of this year.  Maybe just 10 detectives, all from different countries.........one from each continent except Antarctica.

 I have done some rereading this year and want to do more next year.  I had forgotten how much I enjoy it.

Books with Dragons is another thought........I want to reread The Lord of the Rings so loved Robin’s list which led me to this list https://bookriot.com/2017/10/20/best-epic-fantasy-series/. Some of those series are ones I have been considering for years but wasn’t in the mood for that many huge books.  I have never wanted to commit to Wheel of Time which is another thought.

 

[Robin M]

2 hours ago, mumto2 said:

@Penguin Beautiful pictures!  Your trip sounds wonderful.

Like others I have started planning.......spent quite a bit of time with the Largehearted Boy while watching the election returns last night.  I am looking forward to the Bingo because I think many of the categories will work with my series reading quite well.  For 10’s I am struggling.......

Last year I started planning a category for the books behind the Alfred Hitchcock movies.  I think I found 7 in terms of both easily sourced and appealing to me and may see where that takes me in terms of vintage mysteries.  I read 39 Steps from the list this year and really enjoyed it.

I also have a list of various detectives located in places I couldn’t easily group into my Nordic, Asian and Brexit country reads of this year.  Maybe just 10 detectives, all from different countries.........one from each continent except Antarctica.

 I have done some rereading this year and want to do more next year.  I had forgotten how much I enjoy it.

Books with Dragons is another thought........I want to reread The Lord of the Rings so loved Robin’s list which led me to this list https://bookriot.com/2017/10/20/best-epic-fantasy-series/. Some of those series are ones I have been considering for years but wasn’t in the mood for that many huge books.  I have never wanted to commit to Wheel of Time which is another thought.

 

I love rereading books, especially during stressful times.  I forget who, maybe Karen who said, that she rereads one book for every new book read. 
Hey, maybe we could do a Lord of the Rings reread.  We just watched all the movies which put me in the mood to revisit the books.  Books with dragons is a good idea. Especially after I saw Beware of Dragons Bookriot's list.   I still have almost the whole Dragonlance series  as well as others stowed away in the bottom of my closet.   several boxes of science fiction/fantasy.   Let me know which ones you are interested in and I'll see if I have them. 

 

Edited December 14, 2019 by Robin M

[mumto2]

29 minutes ago, Robin M said:

I love rereading books, especially during stressful times.  I forget who, maybe Karen who said, that she rereads one book for every new book read. 
Hey, maybe we could do a Lord of the Rings reread.  We just watched all the movies which put me in the mood to revisit the books.  Books with dragons is a good idea. Especially after I saw Beware of Dragons Bookriot's list.   I still have almost the whole Dragonlance series  as well as others stowed away in the bottom of my closet.   several boxes of science fiction/fantasy.   Let me know which ones you are interested in and I'll see if I have them. 

 

I think @tuesdayschild is either in the process of/ or planning to read LoR.  Happy to do a read along.

I will start looking a bit more seriously for dragon ideas..........Feel free to chime in.........currently my list is sort of familiar ones from the master wish list.......I have had His Majesty’s Dragon on my lists for years and never seem to read them, I check them out but never have a chance to read.  Dd went through a dragon fantasy stage and has a few series I never read .....Patricia McKillop, I think, for one.  I owned  Gormingast and abandoned it because it was huge and heavy with itty bitty print.  It’s now on Kindle.  I want to finish the Eragon series.  Finally,  Tea with a Black Dragon is one I really want to read https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/435415.Tea_with_the_Black_Dragon?ac=1&from_search=true.  I don’t think it was on any of our lists but it is on my list. 😉

[Robin M]

33 minutes ago, mumto2 said:

Finally,  Tea with a Black Dragon is one I really want to read https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/435415.Tea_with_the_Black_Dragon?ac=1&from_search=true.  I don’t think it was on any of our lists but it is on my list. 😉

Oh, that does look good.  Have you seen Patricia Briggs Dragon Bones (Hurog Duology series) ?  Just read the excerpt on Amazon. Added to my Christmas list. 

[Kareni]

2 hours ago, Robin M said:

I love rereading books, especially during stressful times.  I forget who, maybe Karen who said, that she rereads one book for every new book read. 

I didn't say that, but it's quite likely that I do reread one book for each new one read!

1 hour ago, mumto2 said:

I have had His Majesty’s Dragon on my lists for years and never seem to read them

I suspect you'd enjoy the series. My daughter and I read the first few several years ago, and my husband did the same more recently. He'd have read more but he ran out of summer!

1 hour ago, mumto2 said:

Finally,  Tea with a Black Dragon is one I really want to read

I read that from a friend's shelf some ...uh...three decades ago. I was thinking recently that it might be interesting to reread it.

Have you read Dragon Bound (Elder Races Book 1) by Thea Harrison? It's a paranormal romance that I quite like. (Adult content)

Regards,

 Kareni

[Kareni]

Last night I finished The Snow Angel by Jayne Fresina. This was an enjoyable historical romance that I suspect I'll be rereading. It contained elements of Dickens' A Christmas Carol; it also contained a surprising twist near the end which I did not foresee. 

 "It's Christmas 1877 and Anne Follyot— of little beauty and no fortune, but sturdy spirit and an excess of imagination— is invited to stay with her favorite aunt in Cornwall. She's all anticipation, waiting for the man chosen to escort her on this journey. According to her aunt, she met him before, many years ago, but Anne cannot remember him and she's positive that he must long-since have forgotten her. She's never been memorable.

But J.P. Deverell, Esq. is now a grown man with a dangerous reputation, of which her aunt cannot possibly be aware. And Anne means to make the most of her aunt's mistake and this adventure. She considers herself a modern, independent woman, for whom a little scandal is well overdue. If she doesn't seize this chance now, she might never have another.

As Charles Dickens wrote, "No space of regret can make amends for one life's opportunity misused."

* * * *

He's in no temper for eggnog and mistletoe; no mood to tolerate the painfully polite company of some plain spinster, in a carriage, for three days. It's probably a contrivance to get him home for Christmas.

Remember Anne Follyot? He doesn't care to remember himself sixteen years ago, let alone recall the dull vicar's five year-old niece.

He'd planned to spend his Yuletide working, alone and in peace. But a letter from his mother has guilted him into this act of begrudging chivalry, aided by the whispers of his best friend's mischievous ghost.

"Bah, Humbug!" As Charles Dickens also wrote.

* * * *

But this journey will not turn out quite the way either traveler expects, for when these two opposites collide, so do ghosts of the past, the present and the future.

It will be a holiday season with all the usual fare—peril, pandemonium, family quarrels, mulled wine and bodily injury. Certainly a Christmas adventure never to be forgotten this time.

At least, by one of them. "

Regards,

Kareni

[mumto2]

51 minutes ago, Robin M said:

Oh, that does look good.  Have you seen Patricia Briggs Dragon Bones (Hurog Duology series) ?  Just read the excerpt on Amazon. Added to my Christmas list. 

I had forgotten about that one!  It is part of my Overdrive so I put a hold on it.

6 minutes ago, Kareni said:

I didn't say that, but it's quite likely that I do reread one book for each new one read!

I suspect you'd enjoy the series. My daughter and I read the first few several years ago, and my husband did the same more recently. He'd have read more but he ran out of summer!

I read that from a friend's shelf some ...uh...three decades ago. I was thinking recently that it might be interesting to reread it.

Have you read Dragon Bound (Elder Races Book 1) by Thea Harrison? It's a paranormal romance that I quite like. (Adult content)

Regards,

 Kareni

I knew someone here had read Tea with a Black Dragon!  I haven’t read Dragon Bound either so I put a hold on that too.  I did read her Lionheart series and enjoyed it.

[Negin]

19 hours ago, Penguin said:

Since I became an empty nester in August, I have done a lot of traveling. I guess that is what happens when you have children living all over the place. Since August, I have made seven longish road trips, flew to my Mom's house for a long weekend, and I recently spent three weeks in Europe. In November, I went to Denmark (for the first time since moving away in 2016), and I went to the Netherlands to see my son. It was a bit early for Christmas decorations, but they were starting to put them up. The first two photos were taken in Denmark, and the third one was in Rotterdam.I

I love your pictures! Denmark is a country that I would love to visit. We visited Amsterdam a few years ago and dream of going back. That's the only part of the Netherlands that we got to see. 

[Kareni]

13 hours ago, mumto2 said:

 I haven’t read Dragon Bound either so I put a hold on that too.  I did read her Lionheart series and enjoyed it.

For what it's worth, I liked Dragon Bound much more than I did the Lionheart series. My other absolute favorite in the same series as Dragon Bound is the fourth book,  Oracle's Moon (Elder Races Book 4)

Regards,

Kareni

[mumto2]

I have spent a lot of time today with lists........my categories are sort of planned for the 10 x10 which at this point I will stick with.  Hopefully think of better names for the categories.😉 I am going to post my list in case someone finds it helpful.  Please excuse typos etc.....cutting and pasting notes.  This is so just planning.....in most cases if  I list a title I was able to source the book from a library.

 

Hitchcock Movies

The thirty nine steps by John Buchan

Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith

The Lodger by Marie Belloc Lowndes

The secret agent by Joseph Conrad (s)

Ashenden by w. Somerset Maugham (n)

Trouble with Harry by jack trevor story

The birds by Daphne du Maurer

Psycho by Robert Bloch

Vertigo bypierre Boileau 

Before the Facts by Frances Isles

 

Time Travel

An Ocean of Minutes by Thea Lim

The River of No Return by Bee Ridgeway

What the Wind Knows byAmy Harmon

Timekeeper by Tara Sim

Time After Time by Lisa Grunwald

Version Control by Dexter Palmer

The Future of Another Time by Annalee Newitz

Here and Now and Then by Mike Chen

This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar

All Our Wrong Today’s by Elan Mattel

The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes

 

Agatha Christie........my next 10

 

Dragons

The Hobbit.......LoR

Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison

Dragon Bones by Patricia Briggs

Eragan Series

His Magisty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik

Tea with a Black Dragon by RA MacAvoy

Suldruns Garden by Jack Vance 

The Briar King by Greg Keyes

Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake

The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan

Wizard’s First Rule by Terry Goodkind

Arrows of the Queen by Mercedes Lacky

Daggerspell by Katherine Kerr

Wizards of Earthsea by Ursula K. LeGuin

Dragons Autumn Twilight by Wes Hickman

 

British Historical

Brother Cadefel

Abbess of Meaux by Cassandra Clarke

Ariana Franklin

Poison Bed

Tudor Vendetta

The Queens Head

 

Patricia Wentworth.............next 10 in order

 

New to me Cozies......or I read the first ones decades ago

 

Series Reads and rereads and finishes

Truthseeker by CE Murphy 

Magic to the Bone by Devon monk 

Half resurrection blues by Daniel Jose older 

A local habitation...October daye......Seanan McGuire 

Ghost of a Chance by Simon green

Unshapely things by Mark del Franco

Reread negotiator series ce Murphy....heat of stone

Finish Benedict Jacks series

Reread Libriomancer by Jim Hines

Finish Faith Hunter reread

Finish Kate Daniels Magic seres

 

Series from Brit Tripping that need to be finished (or least be continued)

Frances Brody

Catherine Lloyd

Dorothy Sayers 

Fiona Buckley 

Carola Dunn

Deborah Crombie

Jacqueline Winspear

Charles Finch

Rennie Airth

Robin Paige

Susan Wittig Albert

Elly Griffiths......magician series 

 

Worldwide Detectives 

The Golden Scales by Parker Bilal.....Cairo

The Tomb of Zeus by Barbara Cleverly........Crete

Death of an Englishman by magdalen nabb.....Italy 

Andean Express by Juan de recacoechea.....Chile

Slow Horses by mick Herron .....London

The widows of malabar hill by sujata massy.......India 

Shadow of the rock by Thomas mogford.......Gibraltar 

Bruno chief of police by Martin walker ...France 

The Turkish gambit by Boris akunin......Russia

Black run by Antonio manzini....Italian mountains

Kaleidoscope by j. Robert janes ......France 

 

 

 

[Robin M]

Week 51 is live