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Book a Week 2021 - BW18: Fictional Librarians - Beatrice De Nova

Robin M

By Robin M,
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Robin M

Robin M

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Happy Sunday!  Welcome to May and our celebration of mysteries, mothers, Memorial day, macaroons, and much much more including all things Star Wars.  May the fourth be with you!  We are climbing back aboard  the good ship Pumdeg Dau o Lyfrau and floating through our interdimensional portal to Texas to begin our librarian adventures with Beatrice De Nova.  

Beatrice is the assistant librarian in the Special Collections reading room at the Houston University Library and her adventure begins when she meets Giovanni Vecchio, an Italian bookish vampire who loves whiskey, in A Hidden Fire, the first book in the Elemental Mystery series written by Elizabeth Hunter. 

There are a variety of ways to complete this challenge with plenty of rabbit trails. Read a book with one or more of the following (but not limited to) and have fun exploring:

Spell out the first and/or last name of the character's name - one book per letter from the title on the cover

Spell out the first and/or last name of the author - one book per letter 

Read one or more books in the series.

Read any book written by the author

Follow in a character's footsteps and read a book set in the country or time period of the story.

Follow in the author's footsteps and read a book set in their place or time of birth.

Read a book with the first or last name of the character or author in the title.

 

Come sail away, come sail away, come sail away with me!!!!

************************

Count of Monte Cristo Readalong

Chapter 37. The Catacombs of Saint Sebastian

Chapter 38. The Rendezvous

Chapter 39. The Guests

 

Link to Week 17

 Visit  52 Books in 52 Weeks where you can find all the information on the annual, mini and perpetual challenges, as well as share your book reviews with other readers around the globe.

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Robin M

Robin M

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Yawn! We were up until 2:30 last night and slept until noon. Sorry! 

I'm currently rereading Nora Robert's Dark Witch and Elizabeth Hunter's A Hidden Fire is waiting in the wings.   

We watched The Abyss last night and I'd forgotten how intense the movie is. Probably why I didn't get to sleep until really late. 

😘

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mumto2

mumto2

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Thanks for the fun thread!  @Robin M

I have last months librarian all ready to post!  I am currently loving Wild Signs by Patricia Briggs.....

 

April-Irene Winters

I.......London Interlude by Tracy Grant

R......Murphy’s Law by Rhys Bowen

E......An Extravagent Death by Charles Finch

N......Just A Name by Becky Monson

E.......The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths

 

W......We Came, We Saw, We Left by Charles Wheelan

I.........Carnel Innocense by Nora Roberts

N........Tribute by Nora Roberts

T.........Betrayel in Time by Julie McElwain

E.........Missing and Endangered by JA Jance

R.........The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

S.........Enjoy the View by Sarah Morganthaler

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Kareni

Kareni

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3 hours ago, Robin M said:

Beatrice is the assistant librarian in the Special Collections reading room at the Houston University Library and her adventure begins when she meets Giovanni Vecchio, an Italian bookish vampire who loves whiskey, in A Hidden Fire, the first book in the Elemental Mystery series written by Elizabeth Hunter. 

I read this years ago and enjoyed it. Incidentally, it is free for Kindle readers ~

Kareni

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Kareni

Kareni

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My distant book group will be meeting this week to discuss The Night Tiger: A Novel by Yangsze Choo. I found this an intriguing read. Those who like historical fiction set in unusual locations (it's set in 1930s Malaysia) or with an element of magical realism might enjoy this. I look forward to the discussion we'll be having.

"Quick-witted, ambitious Ji Lin is stuck as an apprentice dressmaker, moonlighting as a dancehall girl to help pay off her mother’s Mahjong debts. But when one of her dance partners accidentally leaves behind a gruesome souvenir, Ji Lin may finally get the adventure she has been longing for.

Eleven-year-old houseboy Ren is also on a mission, racing to fulfill his former master’s dying wish: that Ren find the man’s finger, lost years ago in an accident, and bury it with his body. Ren has 49 days to do so, or his master’s soul will wander the earth forever.

As the days tick relentlessly by, a series of unexplained deaths racks the district, along with whispers of men who turn into tigers. Ji Lin and Ren’s increasingly dangerous paths crisscross through lush plantations, hospital storage rooms, and ghostly dreamscapes.

Yangsze Choo's The Night Tiger pulls us into a world of servants and masters, age-old superstition and modern idealism, sibling rivalry and forbidden love. But anchoring this dazzling, propulsive novel is the intimate coming-of-age of a child and a young woman, each searching for their place in a society that would rather they stay invisible."

Regards,

Kareni

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Miss Tick

Miss Tick

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I finished Persepolis Rising this week. It is book 7 of the Expanse series. For some reason i was under the impression that it was too be the last book in the series, but I think I was mistaken, it had a gigantic cliff hanger ending with our protagonists scattered to different galaxies and a bad guy in charge. IDK, maybe the author's are just trying something new in the universe of extreme endings. 😄

I dedicated this weekend to Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells. It was a birthday present from my ds. 😍 NPR described it as "Murderbot meets Ms Marple", a classic locked room mystery. I like this series so, so much (thank you Kareni).

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Kareni

Kareni

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11 minutes ago, SusanC said:

I dedicated this weekend to Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells. It was a birthday present from my ds. 😍 NPR described it as "Murderbot meets Ms Marple", a classic locked room mystery. I like this series so, so much (thank you Kareni).

What a nice son you have, Susan!

I'm eagerly awaiting the library copy...waiting...waiting....

Regards,

Kareni

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mumto2

mumto2

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35 minutes ago, SusanC said:

I finished Persepolis Rising this week. It is book 7 of the Expanse series. For some reason i was under the impression that it was too be the last book in the series, but I think I was mistaken, it had a gigantic cliff hanger ending with our protagonists scattered to different galaxies and a bad guy in charge. IDK, maybe the author's are just trying something new in the universe of extreme endings. 😄

I dedicated this weekend to Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells. It was a birthday present from my ds. 😍 NPR described it as "Murderbot meets Ms Marple", a classic locked room mystery. I like this series so, so much (thank you Kareni).

 

22 minutes ago, Kareni said:

What a nice son you have, Susan!

I'm eagerly awaiting the library copy...waiting...waiting....

Regards,

Kareni

The audiobook for Fugitive Telemetry just appeared in my hold’s box.  It’s my next book to listen to.  I also just had Becky Chambers new book appear.......great library week!
 

Kareni,  I have enjoyed Jackie Lau romances in the past so am downloading the freebie.  Thank you!

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Kareni

Kareni

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Some bookish posts ~

From the Word Wenches: What We Are Reading

https://wordwenches.typepad.com/word_wenches/2021/04/what-we-are-reading.html

The Best Mythopoeic Fantasy recommended by Samantha Shannon

https://fivebooks.com/best-books/the-best-mythopoeic-fantasy-samantha-shannon/

Stephen King Books That Aren’t (Strictly) Horror

https://www.tor.com/2021/03/17/stephen-king-books-that-arent-strictly-horror/

11 OF THE BEST ART HISTORY BOOKS

https://bookriot.com/best-art-history-books/

**

And another FREE book ~

Regards,

Kareni

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Kareni

Kareni

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I have three more books to report ~

I quite enjoyed That Distant Dream (The Satura Trilogy Book 1) by Laurel Beckley; the only problem is that it ended on a cliffhanger and the next volume is not yet published. This seems like military science fiction but it also has a fantasy element.

"After her escape pod is found drifting through debris nearly two decades after the end of the Redelki Wars, Melin is woken from cryosleep to find a galaxy where she no longer belongs. The galaxy has moved on from the horrors she experienced, the experiences that transformed her into a hero while she slept, but she hasn’t.

Alone, broken in mind and body, Melin is slowly pulled to the planet of her ancestors. She just wants a fresh start. A chance to end the dreams plaguing her sleep. A chance for answers. For new beginnings. For a life lived in oblivion where no one knows her name or what she did.

But Satura is a planet at war. And there are no fresh starts for heroes."

**

I enjoyed Fire Ant (The Navy of Humanity: Wasp Pilot Book 1) by Jonathan P. Brazee which was a quick read; I'd describe it as military science fiction.  This is currently FREE for Kindle readers.

"2018 NEBULA AWARD FINALIST: BEST NOVELLA

Floribeth Salinas O’Shea Dalisay is an Off-Planet Worker, employed as an exploration pilot by the giant corporation, Hamdani Brothers. Sent on a routine mission to analyze one of the millions of systems in the galaxy, she stumbles across something that could threaten humanity’s very existence. She barely escapes with her life, but in the process, has to shut down her scout’s AI.

As with all OPWs, she has few rights, and instead of being lauded as a hero, the corporation thinks she is lying. Her managers believe she found something valuable and shut down her AI in an attempt to hide that fact, hoping she can sell that information to the highest bidder. Grounded, and with a huge debt now over her head, Beth has to convince the powers that be that a very real danger to humanity is lying in wait out there in deep space."

**

I enjoyed the fantasy novella, The Solstice Kings by Kim Fielding, but I don't expect to read it again. (Adult content)

"Miles Thorsen’s adopted family is… unusual. But that’s not why he fled after graduating from college. Now, after ten years of restless wandering, he returns home for the winter holiday celebration. The solstice is a time of change, and perhaps it’s time for Miles to face who he is, who he loves… and who he’ll become."

Regards,

Kareni

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mumto2

mumto2

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I have had some finishes.........

Wild Sign by Patricia Briggs was great!  Really enjoyed this one. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54325980-wild-sign

Fugitive Telemetry is the latest in the Murderbot series.  I listened to it and it was short, under 5 hours.  I enjoyed it but it honestly didn’t live up to my expectations, that said I still gave it 5*. 😂🤷‍♀️   https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53205854-fugitive-telemetry

Silent Voices by Ann Cleeves in her Vera series for one of my book chains.  These books are great!  Wish I had known about them in the Brit Tripping year as both Durham and Tyne were visited which were some of the hardest counties to find.  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16045218-silent-voices
 

The Wife Upstairs is a beach read that is a bit of an updated Jane Eyre complete with a Mr. Rochester.  It was a book that if I bought it in an airport I would be thrilled with as long as my flight was less than 4 hours.  It was a quick read.  Not great, simply kept me curious enough to turn the next page........https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53137893-the-wife-upstairs

 

Much Ado About You is a fun contemporary romance if you are a book lover.  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44234221-much-ado-about-you The main character rents a bookstore on the Northumberland coast to run for a holiday with an apartment above.  Thanks to this book I discovered it really can be done in Scotland.  How amazing!  https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/wigtown-bookshop-vacation/index.html

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bookbard

bookbard

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Read Leigh Bardugo's "Shadow & Bone" while watching the Netflix version. The miniseries was better, and one of the reasons is because Bardugo's book was in first person - it can lead to the main character seeming self-centred and it did here. Of course the miniseries incorporated her other books so it was more rounded. I look forward to season 2 of the series but won't bother reading more of the books.

Read Aaronovitch's novella, "What Abigail did that summer" which I quite enjoyed - I like the Rivers of London series.

Still ploughing through "Portrait of a Lady", but it's a slog, because I don't like any of the characters - Isabella is an idiot and all the people around her are ghouls, really. I wish they'd all knuckle down and get on with universal suffrage or something else important.

 

 

 

 

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tuesdayschild

tuesdayschild

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Posting the books (mostly audiobooks) I've recently completed first....

50 People Every Christian Should Know: Learning from Spiritual Giants of the Faith ~ Warren W. Wiersbe (2-3)  switched between audio and book and thought the book would have been better titled 50 People Warren Wiersbe Thinks Every Trainee Minister Should Know.  

Age of Swords: The Legends of the First Empire, BK2 ~ Michael J. Sullivan, narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds (3)  Not as good as the first book and the middle portion of the story really drags.   The third book in the series has just become available for library loan, and so far is better than this second book.

Dr Finlay: The Complete BBC Radio Collection ~ A.J. Cronin, narrated by David Tennant, John Gordon Sinclair, Celia Imrie, full cast  (4 )  An escapist listen, the stories range from humorous to sobering. The last story was a tail-dragger, which detracted from other well told ones in the collection.   Recommending to those that enjoy Dr. Tom Smith’s Adventures of a Scottish Doctor books.   Extra: domestic violence.

Roxanne: Kings Lake Investigation Bk3 ~ Peter Grainger, narrated by Gildart Jackson (5)  The picture of the young girl on the cover put me off wanting to listen to this audiobook – I actively avoid listening to modern era crime stories with violence against children -    the picture is a flashback moment of the young woman (who is murdered) when she was a girl.  The perpetrator of the crime in this story became obvious as I read along, and makes for an interesting twist to most fiction crime stories about escorts.   Though everything is discussed pretty euphemistically, there are some really gritty topics in this Kings Lake investigation branching out from escort agencies, and, ‘party drugs’.

Wilding: The Return of Nature to a British Farm ~ Isabella Tree, narrated by the author (3.5) for the audiobook.  This is one of those times when I know the physical book would have been the better option for me as opposed to an audiobook.   I found the audio dragged in places, too many side-trips into supporting papers, or books,  Isabella had read  (the travel journalist in her coming to the fore?), and her need to discuss the prehistoric mammals their current livestock may have evolved added to the dragging feel for me.  The chapter on worms was one of the most interesting in the book for me .... it's a topic I'm actively interested in.    This was a buddy listen with my Dh, he gave this an extra star, ranking it at 4.5 out of 5 stars.

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tuesdayschild

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@Robin M and @mumto2 I appreciate the idea sharing for your own approaches to the  A-Z challenge.  Well done!! on completing the last months librarian mumto2.

I've just started Martin Chuzzlewit ~ Charles Dickens, nudged along by @Lady Florida. posting about this title and Dombey & Son, another Dickens title I have on my want to read list.

After starting and stopping a few books, I'm hoping that A Completing of The Watsons by Rose Servitova will be my keep reading title.

 

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Robin M

Robin M

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Woot Woot! @mumto2 Well done with the spelling challenge.  I have Wild Sign in my stacks. Sticking with comfort reads and currently on #3 Blood Magic in Nora Robert's Cousin O'Dwyer's Trilogy.   Dealing with ill cats this week who are all off their feed and being persnickety. Luna has ear infection and have to dose her once a day, Gracie has a broken molar and will have dental procedure at end of the month, and poor Melvin has intestinal lymphoma and we're dosing him with prednisone and lots of tlc. 

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