Catseyegreen Back for Year 2

Welcome to my second year's thread. My name is Sara and I live in southern New Mexico, about 40 miles north of the US/Mexico border. I am married with 2 grown daughters who are in turn married as well. So far no grandchildren (sad sigh). I love books and cats and I practice a number of textile crafts. For fun I primarily read fantasy and science fiction but I also enjoy mysteries and the occasional romance.
Last year I reviewed everything I read but only posted a list here. This year I hope to expand and write at least a sentence or two.
As the US heads into it's regularly scheduled political lunacy I look forward to taking refuge here among fellow book lovers.

my thread from 2023
https://www.librarything.com/topic/347272#n8327374

For 2024 I am going to continue participation with the Discworld challenge.
First up: Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett.

Adding the year schedule for reference:
January Equal Rites
March Wyrd Sisters
May Witches Abroad-- my personal favorite
July Lords and Ladies
September Maskerade
November Carpe Jugulum

I am also wanting to participate in the British Author Challenge. I will be starting there with Joan Aiken.

Welcome back, Sara!

JANUARY

1. Wrack and Rune by Charlotte MacLeod
2. Etched in Bone by Anne Bishop
3. Lake Silence by Anne Bishop
4. Wild Country by Anne Bishop
5. Night Fall by Joan Aiken
6. The Serpent in Heaven by Charlaine Harris
7. All the Dead Shall Weep by Charlaine Harris
8. Handmade Renaissance Faire Fashion by Mara Vicario and Maria Angeles Guissado
9. Eye of Heaven by Jim Mortimore
10. The Red Scrolls of Magic by Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu
11. Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers
12. The Shuddering City by Sharon Shinn
13. Old-Fashioned on Purpose Cultivating a Slower, More Joyful Life by Jill Winger
14. Crowbones by Anne Bishop
15. Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett
16. Vision in Silver by Anne Bishop
17. The Proof of the Pudding by Rhys Bowen
18. Make the Bread, Buy the Butter by Jennifer Reese
19. Survival of the Fritters by Ginger Bolton
20. Katya's World by Jonathan L. Howard
21. The Sign of the Four by Arthur Conan Doyle
22. The Food and Feasts of Jesus by Douglas E. Neel and Joel A Pugh
23. The October Man by Ben Aaronovitch -- audiobook

FEBRUARY

MARCH

Happy reading in 2024, Sara!

Hi Sara! Happy new year and looking forward to seeing what you read in 2024!

Happy New Year, Sara!

2.
First full book of 2024.
This is the conclusion of author's "Others" series. It ends pretty much as the others did in that the Others have a negative view of humanity and work to keep humans under strict control. The rare exception being in the Courtyard where the cassandra sangue Meg and the wolf leader finally come to better terms with their relationship.
The ending is logical and well-constructed, if a little strange

3.
A spin-off of the author's "Others" series. A young woman receives a decrepit lake-side resort as her share of divorce proceedings. The divorce was messy and she is traumatized but determined to succeed. Her first tenant discovers a human body in the woods which triggers a chain of events that leads to a huge confrontations between the Others and humans who are llooking to take over land.
I really enjoyed this one, it is logical and the characters came to life for me.

4.
Frankly, not as good as the others. There are so many POVs shifting around that it is hard to follow the plot. Storyline is much bleaker than the previous ones.

5.
Read for the British Author's challenge. Although I enjoyed this story for once I felt the author could have done more to add substance to it. The "mystery" is barely laid out before it is solved and the suspense aspect of the novel is resolved way too quickly. I feel like it failed to live up to it's potential.

6.
Felicia, Lizbeth's younger sister, is going to the Grigory school and remains as a stand-by for transfusions for the Czar. She is kidnapped by her old family from Mexico.
It was okay. Honestly, I feel like this child needed to be placed in a time out or given some tough love to get her to straighten up. She makes for an annoying main narrator.

7.
Half-sisters Falicia and Lizbeth are alone in Segundia Mexia. Eli and Peter have left without disclosing their destination and Lizbeth is convinced Eli has deserted her. Meanwhile Felicia is plagued with visitors who are trying to tie her into a marriage alliance.
Unconvincing narrative, wandering plot-line and a couple of character inconsistencies made this one hard to get into.

So, now I am learning how to add book covers. Maybe later I will be able to add other pictures. For me, this is a great accomplishment.

Another goal for 2024 was to try more recipes from all my old cookbooks. Last week I made:
Criss-Cross cookies from

and Onion Rye Bread from

The cookies were pleasant but not anything exceptional. Still, my husband appeared to enjoy them. He is something of a Cookie Monster.
The bread turned out excellent. It was quite light for a rye, fluffy and flavorful. It made some really good grilled cheese sandwiches later. Definitely one for the repeat list.

8.

I volunteer at a Maker's Center and run the textile program. When I see a book like this I like to pick it up to evaluated it's usefulness for helping a beginner. The book is complete with patterns but it requires basic sewing knowledge before tackling any of the patterns. Not a book for beginners.
It is quite lush looking and some of the costumes are spectacular- in particular the Butterfly Fairy. Other patterns are more basic and include a chemise, cloak, hood, bodice, a linen shirt etc. There is some leather-work involved as well as some beading. The authors pay particular attention to accessorizing costumes for those attention getting details.
I thought it was a worth-while read and I am glad to see my local library acquiring some items like this.

9.

When I was entering my collection into LT I realized I could not remember very much about the Dr Who novels I was entering. I remember reading them and maybe some plot outline but that was mostly it. So I decided I would go and randomly pick one novel a month to re-read. I did manage to re-read several last year and will be continuing this year.
Basically, this book boils down to Leela takes a very long sea voyage. She and the Doctor are investigating mysterious events on Rapa Nui (Easter Island). Other events occur in the book but it is mostly about Leela who also lassos a whale and rides it and fights pirates while scandalizing her Victorian companions. Parts of this were a little tedious but some of the rest brought out the intrinsic silliness of the Fourth Doctor.

10.

Wanting just to have a period of time to develop their relationship, mage Magnus and Shadowhunter Alec are embarking on a vacation through Europe. But of course, there would not be a fun story if their trip was smooth and uninterrupted. Starting in Paris they are interfered with by the Cult of the Scarlet Hand-- a group Magnus started decades ago. The relationship stuff is cute but a little too slapstick for my taste.
I picked this one up randomly at the last library book sale. It clearly falls in the middle of a series but it stood alone pretty well for me. It wasn't good enough to make me go and hunt down the rest of the series.

11.

This story was the highlight of the year so far for me. Like the other books by the author it treats sensitive issues with a light, gentle understanding. I have lost several family members and friends in the couple of years and the description of the funeral rites and end actually had me crying. A rare thing for me.

The city of Corcannon was built by a god of the same name who used a piece of technology that nobody understands anymore. Seismic forces will destroy the city unless it is renewed with the blood of one of Corcannons descendants. Of course there is only one of those left.
The plot is more complicated than this and follows 4 different characters as they play different roles in saving Corcannon. A happy ending makes for a fun story.

The author attempts to address the separation and dispossession many people feel in the modern world by modifying and slowing modern conveniences and introducing some ways to slow down and become more intentional. She is a homesteader and clearly has embraced that lifestyle. Personally, I feel her suggested changes are too radical for most people to implement. I already do several of the things the author suggests - I bake my own bread, sew for myself, read books etc. And I still experience lots of stress.
More of a romantic , rather than practical, viewpoint.

It's Trickster night (aka Halloween) and there is a huge gathering of humans and Others which is interrupted by an appearance of Crowbones- a harbinger of death. Of course, lots of deaths and threats happen in and around the resort. Chief Grimshaw and Julian need to solve the riddle of the Crowbones in order to end the threats. Good story, I really enjoyed it.

The first book with Granny Weatherwax. Read for the Discworld Challenge.

Hi, Sara. First-time visitor here broadening her scope, but I have so little LT time that my visits will be few.
I'm carried back when I see Charlotte MacLeod topping your list! I loved Peter Shandy, but I loved and adored Sarah Kelling. I think I read everything she wrote as it came out, whenever it was that it came out. Love and adore Becky Chambers. Have been unable to read Patchett.

Enjoy yourself!

I finally found a copy of this, my library had all the rest of this series except this one so I am reading it out of order. I might have enjoyed it a little more if I had not already read the finale. The Courtyard begins to feel the effects of the Humanity First and Last movement and starts to prepare to provide refuge for their own humans.

>23 LizzieD: Thanks for dropping by. It's good to have a visitor.

New recipes tried last week:
Pita bread from
I am not sure why I don't do much flatbread. I can make tortillas but rarely go beyond that. This recipe puffed up very well and made some excellent sandwiches for dinner. A keeper.

and Creamy Curried Vegetable Soup from
A good recipe for a busy , and cold, day. Recipe uses coconut milk which I do not usually stock in my pantry so it requires a little planning for me. It made a large quantity so we will probably be eating this next week as well.

A cozy mystery. Pure fluff.

This narrative-style book is more about the author's quest to make everything from scratch than the recipes she provides. Different chapters cover her experiences raising chickens, making cheese, raising goats and trying to duplicate breakfast cereal. Each recipe is rated for make it vs buy it, hassle factor and a cost comparison. The prices are outdated of course but it is still an interesting and possibly useful study.

I really need to catch up with the Becky Chambers books--I'm still in the first trilogy. And I think that's a book bullet for the Sharon Shinn book. I like her writing, have all of her early books, and think Wrapt in Crystal is one of the best sf mysteries of all time, but wasn't as enamored of her more fantastical books and have also fallen way behind.

And do we see a theme here? I do enjoy Georgie and her Royal Spyness mysteries, but have only gotten through the first 10. Those are ones I get through the library, so need to get onto that library cart!

I am keeping up on my bread-making, although I use my bread machine.

>29 ronincats: I have been reading lots of library books so far this year. I loaded up on a whole bunch of books right before the New Year. I have almost worked my way through all of them-- just in time to get another big bag full.

Another cozy mystery, not much character developement, stereotypical plot development. The cat is cute but does not really feature that much ion the story.

Rusalka is entirely a water world, colonized by humans hoping to extract valuable heavy metals from the deeps. Katya is a newly licensed submarine pilot, working her first job for her Uncle. They are sunk by a mysterious monster then rescued by the military.
It is a fast-moving story that mostly takes place under water. giving this a post-war thriller feeling.

Read for the Bristish Authors challenge

This is another book where the narrative is far more interesting than the recipes. I found the recounting of all the different feasts and how they were held by common people both fascinating and touching. I am thinking of holding a "Todah" feast for my husband who has finally had a successful result after his round of radiation therapy and ongoing chemo.
The recipes are mostly very simple.

A Rivers of London novella. It's kind of a side-trip to Germany, the city of Trier. Tobias Winter is the German counterpart to Peter Grant. he is sent to investigate a mysterious death, apparently caused by a magical growth of fungus. His investigation leads him to links with local vineyards and, of course, River Goddesses. It's a fun little story.

January summary:

total books read= 23
mystery = 5
SF&F = 14
non-fiction = 4

FEBRUARY

24. Murder in Williamstown by Kerry Greenwood.
25. Death at Victoria Dock by Kerry Greenwood.
26. The Castlemane Murders by Kerry Greenwood
27. Lies Sleeping by Ben Aaronovitch
28. False Value by Ben Aaronovitch
29. Ultimate Nutrition for Health by Manfred Urs Koch
30. The City of the Dead by Lloyd Rose
31. Bookshops and Bonedust by Travis Baldree
32. Beginning Operations by James White
33. A Stitch Before Dying by Anne Canadeo
34. Deadlands: Boneyard by Seanan McGuire
35. Library Wars vol 1 by Kiiro Yumi
36. After Atlas by Emma Newman

Phryne and her daughters are once again solving crimes. These are 3 separate cases that never really come together in any cohesive storyline. It feels like 3 short stories spliced together.


So, when the new book falls flat, go back to the tried and true. Phryne is driving home when bullets are fired through her windshield. She gives chase to the shooters but fails to stop them. Then she finds the dying young man they left behind.


Phryne finds murder at the carnival. While on a ride she grabs a manikin only to discover it is, in fact, a mummy. This leads her to pursue an extremely cold case of a missing gold miner. At the same time her lover, Lin needs to research the same gold fields to uncover a seventy-year old theft of gold from the family.

Rivers of London #7. I am really enjoying this series. As a training wizard for the Folly, Peter Grant really resonates. In this installment, a lot of the old characters are back including Leslie May and Mr Punch. I won't provide spoilers but it is an enjoyable way to spend a cold afternoon.


After the events of the previous book, Peter is on suspension. So of course he gets sent undercover to investigate strange doings at a new Tech startup. Since the start-up is using The Hitchhiker's Guide as decor and department names there are nerdy moments galore in this one.

We had a church reception for new members on Sunday and in addition to the fruit salad I brought a bread and cookies which were new recipes for me.

I made Caraway Cheddar Bread and the Chewy Tangerine cookies. The bread recipe called for 1 regular loaf pan, I divided the batter into 3 small loaf pans. The loaves are close-textured and maybe a tiny bit heavy, I have an Onion-Cheddar bread recipe that has a lighter texture, I may try combining the 2 recipes. I did not get to try any of the bread but it was very well received and a lot of people commented positively about it.
I made a couple of changes to the cookies, I did not have dark Karo so I substituted half light Karo and honey instead. I used the peel of a large orange instead of the tangerines. I used a fancy valentine cutter on the cookies but the batter spreads just enough that there was not a good impression. My Cookie Monster sampled them the first night and said the flavor was "subtle". But the next day the flavors had combined better and the flavors were present. All but one cookie was eaten.
Today is baking day and I have4 pulled out my sourdough to warm up for bread. I soaked some beans last night and we will have soup and bread for dinner.

Yesterday was the first library book sale of the year. I scored quite a few books for $13.00. I now have a TBR pile that I should be working through for a few weeks at least.
The Unicorn by Nancy Hathaway
Caesar of Santa Fe by Tim MacCurdy
A Stitch Before Dying by Anne Canadeo
The Fourth World of the Hopis by Harold Courlander
Knitting Outside the Swatch by Kristin Omdahl
Urban Pantry by Amy Pennington
Beginning Operations by James White
The Shadow Matrix by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Star of Danger by Marion Zimmer Bradley
An Offer from a Gentleman by Julia Quinn
Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn
The Other Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

>40 catseyegreen: Caraway cheddar bread had me salivating, Sara.

>41 catseyegreen: Nice haul although surprisingly maybe, I don't have any of those myself.

Have a great weekend.

I have been having trouble swallowing and have subsequently lost quite a bit of weight. My doctors are recommending I concentrate on nutrient-dense foods. This book has a helpful format, dividing the food groups up into categories and then giving attention to each individual foods content. There are multiple charts comparing needs for different age groups as well as different foods. Some of the charts I found difficult to follow as the author uses a personal coding system but I was able to make myself a personal foods list to concentrate my meal planning with.

My monthly Dr Who re-read.
An 8th doctor with Anji and Fitz novel. The Doctor visits New Orleans and immediately encounters a murder victim. This leads to participation in the police investigation as well as the local witches and sorcerers. This is one of the supernatural stories rather than scientific or even pseudo-scientific. The Doctor nearly gets sacrificed to a demon, Anji finally goes on a date and Fitz goes grave-robbing.

After being wounded in battle, Viv the Orc finds herself in the small town of Murk. She becomes involved with the locals while recovering from her wound.
A sweet and gentle story.

2 more recipes this week, both from
I had a very full schedule so I wanted some recipes to start in the morning and come home to.
Turkey Sloppy Joes were surprisingly tasteless in spite of all the hot sauce the recipe called for. I will not be repeating this one.
On the other hand the Russian Red Lentil soup was really flavorful. I especially enjoyed the yogurt and mint aspects of the recipe. I did feel it was too "brothy", next time I would reduce the water but otherwise a really good and healthy dish.

The first 3 novels of the Sector General Hospital.
Hospital Station.
A collection of short stories of varying quality. There is an interesting variety of alien lifeforms imagined here. I did not like the character O'Mara but he only features in the first story.
Star Surgeon
I like the concept of the space station with 384 levels dedicated to providing the atmosphere, gravity, environmental and nutritional needs of 80 different species and how they all work together to save their critically ill patients. Unfortunately, the second half of the book is involved with war and dealing with casualties which I did not find very interesting. I have difficulty buying that personality as lacking in empathy and diplomacy as O'Mara's could really work as the head of such a facility. Conway's relationship with Murchison almost seems like an afterthought- not a real romance.
Major Operation
Conway is placed in charge of a new, mysterious patient. Very interesting.

A cozy mystery that centers around a knitting group of friends. In this book they are all going on a retreat together to an exclusive spa owned by a famous author. I felt that, for a group of friends, there were a lot of nasty comments between them. The mystery itself was somewhat stereotyped. I won't be looking for the rest of the series.

>47 catseyegreen: This series just gets better and better. The first books were stitch-togethers of stories initially published in the pulps. While White was in the minority for his time initially in characterizing alien beings as basically cooperative and friendly, over the years he wrote, he made giant strides in his portrayal of women and his writing complete novels rather than a collection of vignettes. Keep reading, the best is yet to come. The Galactic Gourmet is one of my favorites!

>49 ronincats: If I can find them I will. This one kind of fell into my lap as I picked it up at a library book sale earlier this month. My local library is not very big and has not resumed inter-library loans after covid, so I have to rely on second-hand sources.

>47 catseyegreen: I have very fond memories of the Sector General books and would like to hunt them down again. I think I only have one in my library currently.

>51 elorin: I found 3 more in the series when I went looking Double Contact, Code Blue- Emergency, and The Genocidal Healer. I look forward to digging into them.

34.
I picked this up at a used book store because I am a fan of a couple of the author's other series. This is based on an RPG I never heard of, not that I know much about RPGs. It is a sort-of steam-punky western that takes place in a circus. There are lots of elements that I think must be related to the game- various creatures and settings that kind of clutter up the story. On the other hand, the relationship Annie has with her deaf-mute daughter lifts the story out of the setting somewhat. There are plenty of monsters and other horror elements but it is really not a scary story.

35.
This manga has an interesting premise- an agency dedicated to protecting books against government censorship. But this was about one recruit with poor self-esteem who is trying to get through her initial training. Her instructors are unsupportive and her room-mate is downright nasty to her.
I won't be following this series.

36.
Book read for the British Author Challenge. Not my thing, I found it pretty depressing.
That's 3 strikes in a row. I have got to find something better... maybe a Georgette Heyer novel.

About time I got caught up with this again....

February summary: 13
Total books read: 36
mystery: 4
SF&F: 8
non-fiction: 1

MARCH

37. A Civil Contract by Georgette Heyer
38. Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett
39. The Witches of Bone Hill by Ava Morgyn
40. The Dead Letter Delivery by C. J. Archer
41. All Systems Red by Martha Wells
42. The Remarkable Retirement of Edna Fisher by E. M. Anderson
43. Artificial Condition by Martha Wells
44. Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells
45. Winter's Gifts by Ben Aaronovitch
46. Bone Spindle by Leslie Vedder
47. Eight Days of Luke by Diana Wynne Jones
48. Homemade Yogurt & Kefir: 71 Recipes for Making & Using Probiotic-Rich Ferments by Gianaclis Caldwell

37.

This is the story of a marriage of convenience that makes me feel how arranged marriages could work in the real world. The couple is married for financial reasons, they manage to get along with each other and with mutual respect they gradually come to form a loving bond together.
A lovely, gentle story, there is little action in it but a great deal of introspection for the characters.
My copy is an old Ace paperback and while I was reading it the brittle glue in the spine cracked and the book basically fell apart. I don't know where I can find another copy but it is high on my radar right now.

38.
Read for the Discworld Challenge

39.
Sisters Cordelia and Eustace inherit a house from a relative they have never met before. They are both suffering from bad times recently and travel there as a refuge. Once there they find out there are peculiar terms in the will and lots of strange events happening around them.
This has all the classic gothic trappings- spooky Victorian house, lots of ghosts, witchcraft, suspicious villagers, ancestral secrets, hidden passages and suspicious villagers.

40.
Book 4 of the Glass Library series. Sylvia and Gabe are investigating her Mother's past. They discover a set of letters which hint that her Mother was being offered in marriage to the highest bidder by her father. Trying to find one of the potential suitors leads them to a mental hospital treating shell-shocked soldiers. Sylvia also finally comes to an acceptance of her paper magic and begins to learn spells.
I am not sure where this series is going- nothing really seems to get solved or resolved, the romance has not even advanced to kisses and the characters don't seem to care about any of it.

41.
A self-aware security bot becomes attached to the group of human scientists he is assigned to. They are threatened by another force on the planet they are exploring.
I can see why this series is so popular, it's a short introduction to the main character but Murderbot is very appealing. I am not sure why he wants to comsume 37,000 hours of popular TV but his desire to be left alone by people really resonated with me. I am on the hunt for the rest of the series.

42.

A quirky story of an 83 year old woman who is the "chosen one" who will be sent to find a magic sword and defeat an evil wizard who is leading dragon attacks against major cities.

--She could have been the poster child for elderly white women: pasty, wrinkly, with an old-lady perm, and old-lady glasses on a chain, and a blue housedress that hadn't been in fashion since the 1960s, and a faded floral handbag that had never been in fashion at all.
Besides, old people weren't Chosen Ones. Old people were mentors.
Never mind that all she could teach someone was knitting.--

Of course, Edna is the perfect choice but nobody believes it, especially not Clem, the previous, teen-aged, favored candidate who is determined to find the sword and find revenge for her sister's death.
Fun.

43.

After leaving "his humans" the Bot has decided to return to the scene of the crime- the mining colony where he thinks he may have been part of a massacre. To get there he has been pitching rides on cargo transports. His final leg of the journey is with ART, a research vessel that gets sent out on cargo hauls between his university missions. ART is massively more intelligent the the Bot but is also sympathetic- in a sarcastic way- to his mission. Together they penetrate the mine pit and dig into Murderbot's past. Oh, and some useless humans hang around also.

44.

Murderbot Diaries vol 3. In which our favorite Bot goes after the giant corporation GrayCris. In this story we meet Miki, who is kind of the opposite of the super-intelligent AI, ART. Miki is child-like and empathetic, not someone our rogue SecUnit can really relate to but must work with. They are on a giant space station that was intended to be used for terraforming but was put to other uses by GrayCris.

These books are getting better. I will be searching for the rest of the series as this is all my local library is carrying.

45.
I listened to an audio-book of this. The American agent from previous books in the series returns in a stand-alone novella. She is with "the basement" branch of the FBI, investigating odd occurrences. She is sent to Wisconsin after a former agent calls in a tip and then disappears. She arrives just after an "ice tornado" has decimated the police station and a huge snow-storm has closed off the town. Kimberley persists on her mission anyway and soon uncovers supernatural events linked to an expedition that mysteriously disappeared 170 years before. Lots and lots of X-Files references.

46.
A YA fantasy retelling of Sleeping Beauty where the enchanted beauty is the prince and the rescuer is a former noblewoman turned treasure-hunter. Fi is not only a former noble but also living under a curse placed upon her by a former partner, so she really does not want to become partners with Shane the huntsman but needs her to guide her to a magical treasure stash. Together the venture into the lost wilds and find the treasure Fi is after, but Fi pricks her hand on an enchanted rose which means she is the one who is supposed to wake up the fabled sleeping prince and restore the land. Fi is not convinced. And incidentally, she does not believe in love at first sight, destined love or any other nonsense about love.
The blurb for this compares the story to Indiana Jones but it was much more like a D&D campaign.

Fun fantasy linking the old Norse gods to their days of the week. It is interesting to match the modern representations to their days as well as their place in the story. This is not a direct introduction to Norse mythology but might make an interesting bridge for a child.
47.

>67 catseyegreen: This sounds fun! Adding it to my wishlist.

March summary

February summary: 12
Total books read: 48
SF&F: 10
romance: 1
non-fiction: 1

APRIL

49. Alien Emergencies by James White
50. The Secret Portrait by Lillian Stewart Carl
51. The Murder Hole by Lillian Stewart Carl
52. The Corpse in Oozak's Pond by Charlotte MacLeod
53. Strange New Worlds: The High Country by John Jackson Miller
54. Smoothie Project by Catherine McCord

The Second Sector General Omnibus. It includes the story collections of Ambulance Ship, Sector General and Star Healer.
these stories are mostly about Conway, a human physician who works in Sector General- a vast space station of 384 levels that is set up to treat any of the 80 different species of the Federation. Each level is designed to accommodate different environmental, gravity, and atmospheric needs. The staff is intentionally mixed between the species to allow for more exposure and understanding.
Ambulance Ship is about the development of Sector General's first ambulance service and their experiences among different, sometimes previously unknown aliens.
In Sector General, Conway has risen to Senior Physician and is in charge of several, very diverse wards.
Star Healer is the only one that presents as one unified novel and it reads as though it is a stitch-up of 3 or 4 different stories. In this one Conway has been accepted as a probationary Diagnostician, the highest rank obtainable in Sector General. He must prove his ability to hold in his mind multiple downloaded alien personalities and still work effectively.

>73 catseyegreen: Definitely needing this (and the first!) omnibus!

Only 6 books completed for April which was a marathon of doctors and bad news.

science fiction-2
mystery- 3
cookbook 1

My 1 I started a combo of chemotherapy and radiation and have completely unable to focus on much at all. Finally read a cookbook today. This may be as good as it gets for now. Therapies are projected to run 7 weeks.

MAY

55. Jamie's America: Easy Twists on Great American Classics, and More by Jamie Oliver
56. Exit Strategy by Martha Wells
57. Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells
58. Network Effect by Martha Wells
59. System Collapse by Martha Wells
60. The Penguin Book of Spiritual Verse: 110 Poets on the Divine ed. by Kavel Akbar
61. The Power of Days: A Story of Resilience, Dignity, and the Fight for Women's Equity by Celeste Mergens
62. Grounded: The Adventures of Rapunzel by Megan Morrison
63. The Man in the Ice by Konrad Spindler

Good luck with the chemo and radiation. I hope it gets what is wrong and you come out of it healthier.

Me, too. I hope life gets better for you soon.

Okay, I get Oliver is writing for a non-American audience but the feeling I got from most of this book is an urge to scream "tourist!".
After he leaves New York he travels to just a few regions to sample the cuisine. As a resident of one of those areas (Arizona and New Mexico) I really just stared in disbelief at some of these recipes. His alterations of traditional dishes of these regions would result in something so far from the originals that I am truly wondering about the rest of the dishes in the book. That said, the illustrations are fun and colorful and his essays about the regions he visits were interesting.

,
Novellas #4 and $6 of the Murderbot Diaries.
Short and action-packed. In Exit Strategy Murderbot must rescue his "favorite human" from the Corporation which as kidnapped her. In Fugitive Telemetry the Murderbot plays at detective when there is a murder on station, he must learn to work together with a team, something that does not come naturally to him.
Fun stories following a cyborg and his attempts to fit in with human society.

,

When his scientific team gets highjacked, Murderbot has to keep fend off possibly alien incursions and a betrayal by an old friend. This leads to a grandiose rescue with multiple POV's. In this book we learn a lot more about ART, Murderbot's friend from the second book.
Fugitive Telemetry is a continuation of the events in Network Effect. Murderbot, ART and their humans are still on the planet and making plans to evacuate the surviving colonists when the evil corporation shows up.

These remain action-packed and fun. Murderbot is at once cynical and vulnerable at once and I look forward to future boks.

Like most anthologies this one is somewhat uneven in quality. The editor has done an outstanding job of providing a mix of religions and cultures. Some of these poems were amazing for their insight into spirituality and the nature of the divine, many others were more about the physical and political aspects of religion.

9 books read for May.

poetry - 1
cookbook -1
non-fiction -2
SF&F -5

JUNE

64. Witches Abroad by Terry Pratchett