Ivy's 11 in 11 -- Part 2

Ivy's History and Mystery Challenge for 1011

Part 1 (January-September): http://www.librarything.com/topic/97422

My goal is to read 7 books in each of 11 categories.

1. History in the Making -- 7 completed November
2. British History -- 7 completed August
3. British Mystery -- 7 completed May, 11 completed December
4. World History -- 7 completed September, 11 completed December
5. World Mystery -- 7 completed October
6. U.S. History -- 7 completed November
7. Southern U.S. Mystery -- 7 completed December
8. Eastern U.S. Mystery -- 7 completed October
9. Other Mystery -- 7 completed December
10. History That Never Was -- 7 completed June, 11 completed August
11. Children of Yesteryear -- 7 completed November

2011 75 Book Challenge: http://www.librarything.com/topic/105572
2011 75 Book Challenge, Part 2: http://www.librarything.com/topic/118948

1. History in the Making
Contemporary fiction, non-fiction, children's & YA
7 COMPLETED: November

1. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson (January, 4*)
2. The Distant Hours by Kate Morton (February, 3 1/2*)
3. Tideland by Mitch Cullin (February, 3*)
4. A Safe Place for Women by Kelly White (May, 4*)
~~ The Night Bookmobile by Audrey Niffenegger (August, 3*)
5. Supreme Courtship by Christopher Buckley (October, 3 1/2*)
6. Q: A (Timeless) Love Story by Evan Mandery (October, 2 1/2*)
7. The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven by Sherman Alexie (November, 4*)

2. British History
7 COMPLETED: August

1. Pamela by Samuel Richardson (March, 3*)
~~ Shamela by Henry Fielding (March, 3*)
~~ "Samuel Richardson" (pp 765-781 of Eighteenth-Century English Literature) (March)
~~ "Henry Fielding" (pp 726-728, 756-760 of Eighteenth-Century English Literature) (March)
~~ Fantomina by Mrs. Eliza Haywood (March, 4*)
2. Joseph Andrews by Henry Fielding (March, 3 1/2*)
3. Fingersmith by Sarah Waters (April, 4 1/2*)
4. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson (July, 5*)
5. King Lear by William Shakespeare (August, 5*)
6. King Arthur and His Knights by Sir James Knowles (August)
7. Exploring King Arthur's Britain by Denise Stobie (August)

8. Glastonbury by Donna Fletcher Crow (December, 4*)
~~ The Life of Gildas by Caradoc of Llancarfan (December)
~~ The Life of Gildas by the Monk of Ruys (December)
9. The Chimes by Charles Dickens (December, 3*)
~~ "A Child's Christmas in Wales" by Dylan Thomas (December)

3. British Mystery
7 COMPLETED: May
11 COMPLETED: December

1. The Fleet Street Murders by Charles Finch (Charles Lenox #3) (January, 3 1/2*)
2. Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear (January, 3 1/2*)
3. Birds of a Feather by Jacqueline Winspear (Maisie Dobbs #2) (February, 4*)
4. Pardonable Lies by Jacqueline Winspear (Maisie Dobbs #3) (March, 4*)
5. Messenger of Truth by Jacqueline Winspear (Maisie Dobbs #4) (March, 4*)
6. An Incomplete Revenge by Jacqueline Winspear (Maisie Dobbs #5) (April, 4*)
7. Among the Mad by Jacqueline Winspear (Maisie Dobbs #6) (May, 4*)

8. The Mapping of Love and Death by Jacqueline Winspear (Maisie Dobbs #7) (May, 4*)
9. The Reluctant Detective by Martha Ockley (Faith Morgan #1) (May, 3*)
10. A Stranger in Mayfair by Charles Finch (Charles Lenox #4) (August, 4*)
11. A Christmas Guest by Anne Perry (Christmas #3) (December, 3*)

12. A Christmas Secret by Anne Perry (Christmas #4) (December, 3 1/2*)
13. A Duty to the Dead by Charles Todd (Bess Crawford #1) (December, 4*)
14. Rumpole and the Reign of Terror by John Mortimer (Rumpole #18) (December, 3*)
15. A Christmas Promise by Anne Perry (Christmas #7) (December, 3*)

4. World History
7 COMPLETED: September
11 COMPLETED: December

1. The Book of Love by Kathleen McGowan (January, 3*)
2. At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson (March, 4*)
3. The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell (April, 4 1/2*)
4. The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway (June, 3 1/2*)
5. The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway (July, 5*)
6. The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer (July, 5*)
7. The Landmark Thucydides (February-September)

8. Maus I: A Survivor's Tale (My Father Bleeds History) by Art Spiegelman (September, 5*)
9. Maus II: A Survivor's Tale (And Here My Troubles Began) by Art Spiegelman (October, 5*)
10. The Long Walk by Slavomir Rawicz (December, 4 1/2*)
11. Myths & Legends Explained by Neil Philip (December)

5. World Mystery
7 COMPLETED: October

1. A Murderous Procession by Ariana Franklin (Mistress of the Art of Death #4) (May, 4*)
2. The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig (July, 3*)
3. The Fatal Touch by Conor Fitzgerald (Alec Blume #2) (August, 3*)
4. Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters (Amelia Peabody #1) (September, 3 1/2*)
5. The Curse of the Pharoahs by Elizabeth Peters (Amelia Peabody #2) (September, 3 1/2*)
6. The Mummy Case by Elizabeth Peters (Amelia Peabody #3) (October, 3*)
7. Lion in the Valley by Elizabeth Peters (Amelia Peabody #4) (October, 3*)

6. U.S. History
7 COMPLETED: November

1. The White Cascade by Gary Krist (February, 4*)
2. Shade of the Raintree by Larry Lockridge (April, 3 1/2*)
3. Skeleton Key to the Suicide of My Father, Ross Lockridge, Jr., Author of Raintree County by Ernest Lockridge (April, 2*)
4. Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand (September, 5*)
5. Beloved by Toni Morrison (September, 4*)
6. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (September, 5*)
7. Marjorie Morningstar by Herman Wouk (November, 4 1/2*)

7. Southern U.S. Mystery
7 COMPLETED: December

1. Smash Cut by Sandra Brown (July, 3 1/2*)
2. Chill Factor by Sandra Brown (September, 4*)
3. The Alibi by Sandra Brown (October, 3 1/2*)
4. Shades of Earl Grey by Laura Childs (Tea Shop #3) (November, 3 1/2*)
5. The English Breakfast Murder by Laura Childs (Tea Shop #4) (November, 3 1/2*)
6. Miss Julia Takes Over by Ann B. Ross (Miss Julia #2) (November, 3*)
7. Christmas Mourning by Margaret Maron (Deborah Knott #16) (December, 4*)

8. Eastern U.S. Mystery
7 COMPLETED: October

1. The Corpse Wore Tartan by Kaitlyn Dunnett (Liss MacCrimmon #4) (January, 3 1/2*)
2. A Marked Man by Barbara Hamilton (Abigail Adams #2) (February, 4*)
3. Indulgence in Death by J.D. Robb (Eve Dallas #31) (April, 3 1/2*)
4. State of the Onion by Julie Hyzy (White House Chef #1) (June, 3 1/2*)
5. Hail to the Chef by Julie Hyzy (White House Chef #2) (June, 3 1/2*)
6. Murder Most Persuasive by Tracy Kiely (Elizabeth Parker #3) (August, 3*)
7. Whiplash by Catherine Coulter (FBI #14) (October, 3 1/2*)

8. Naked Heat by Richard Castle (Nikki Heat #2) (October, 3*)

9. Other North American Mystery
Other U.S. and Canadian locations
7 COMPLETED: December

1. No Safe Haven by Kimberley & Karen R. Woodhouse (Alaska) (March, 3 1/2*)
2. Guilt by Association by Marcia Clark (California) (April, 2 1/2*)
3. Heartsick by Chelsea Cain (Gretchen Lowell #1) (Oregon) (June, 3 1/2*)
4. A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny (Inspector Gamache #7) (Canada) (September, 4 1/2*)
5. Sweetheart by Chelsea Cain (Gretchen Lowell #2) (November, 3 1/2*)
6. Evil at Heart by Chelsea Cain (Gretchen Lowell #3) (November, 3*)
7. Gingerbread Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke, Laura Levine & Leslie Meier (Hannah Swensen, Christmas after #13) (December, 3*)

10. History That Never Was
Fantasy and sci fi
7 COMPLETED: June
11 COMPLETED: August

1. World War Z by Max Brooks (January, 4*)
2. The Passage by Justin Cronin (January, 5*)
3. The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan (Heroes of Olympus #1) (February, 4 1/2*)
4. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke (May, 3 1/2*)
5. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (May, 5*)
6. The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan (Kane Chronicles #1) (June, 3*)
7. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (June, 5*)

8. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (June, 4 1/2*)
9. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs (July, 4*)
~~ "Ozymandias" by Percy Bysshe Shelley (August)
10. The White Mountains by John Christopher (Tripods Trilogy #1) (August, 4*)
11. The City of Gold and Lead by John Christopher (Tripods Trilogy #2) (August, 4*)

12. The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan (Kane Chronicles #2) (October, 3*)

11. Children of Yesteryear
Historical and/or old children's books
7 COMPLETED: November

1. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell (Newbery Medal 1961) (March, 4*)
2. Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis (Newbery Medal 2000) (April, 3 1/2*)
3. The Tavern of Folly by Mary Dickerson Donahey (May)
4. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (Newbery Medal 1990) (July, 5*)
5. Whirligig House by Anna Rose Wright (July, 4*)
6. The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes (Newbery Honor Book 1945) (September, 4*)
~~ "Chi-wee's White Boots" by Grace Moon (November)
7. The Runaway Papoose by Grace Moon (Newbery Honor Book 1929) (November, 4*)
~~ "Unit 3. Indian Stories" (pp 69-106 of Near and Far by Nina Banton Smith) (November)
~~ "Chot-say's Trip in the Desert" by Grace Moon (November)
~~ "Doki and Pah-ta" by Grace Moon (November)

8. The Magic Trail by Grace Moon (November, 3*)
9. The Missing Katchina by Grace Moon (November, 3 1/2*)

Reserved

Ivy, you're sailing along, too.

I just finished the first Charles Todd WW1 mystery. Reminds me quite a bit of the Maisie Dobbs book, though the sleuth is a nurse during the war. Really enjoyed it.

Bouncing through to say hi!

>14 lindapanzo: Hi, Linda! I'm feeling comfortable with completing my 7/11 goal. The biggest surprise to me is that my Southern US Mystery is so far behind, since my intent for that category was to continue with the Carolyn Hart and Laura Childs series. But perhaps it's good that I'll have them left for the end, since I'm pretty sure that I will enjoy them and that they'll be fast reads.

Glad you enjoyed the Charles Todd mystery! I won the 3rd book in the August ER, but it hasn't arrived yet and I've been thinking that I should read the first 2 (or 3? there's a 2.5 book in the series list...) before I get to it.

>15 lkernagh: Hi, Lori! Thanks for stopping by!

October

70. The Mummy Case by Elizabeth Peters (Amelia Peabody #3), 3*
72. Lion in the Valley by Elizabeth Peters (Amelia Peabody #4), 3*
Category: World Mystery -- CATEGORY COMPLETED

I enjoyed the next 2 books in the Amelia Peabody series, but I was not as enthralled with them as with the first 2 books. Part of it is that I've now read the first 4 books in less than a month, and I usually find that 2, or perhaps 3, books of a series is plenty for a month. But also... in the 3rd book, I found the precocious child just too over-the-top to be believable, and the phonetic representation of his speech defect was annoying. (It was better in the 4th book.) In addition, I found the mysteries in these 2 books disappointing (for reasons that I can't say without spoilers) and would have enjoyed more information about ancient Egypt and archeology. Nevetheless, I definitely intend to continue this series, just not right away.

71. Maus II: A Survivor's Tale (And Here My Troubles Began) by Art Spiegelman, 5*
Category: World History

The quote on the cover of my edition, from the New York Times: "An epic story told in small pictures."

I like the Amelia Peabody series, but I think I'd wear out on them quickly if I read them too closely together. I like to save them for when I want a fun escape, or need a comfort read.

A lot of readers find Ramses' precociousness annoying. I'm in the minority since I don't. He actually reminds me a bit of my brother when he was a child. (My brother was precocious, but not obnoxious!)

Amelia Peabody is not my favorite series. It's okay, and I enjoy some of them more than others. I did not like the first one I ever read, and it was a long time before I tried another one. I don't really like to read a lot of any series altogether in a row anymore. I like a little more variety!

>19 thornton37814: It's not my favorite series, either, Lori, but I did enjoy them, and already I'm starting to look forward to the next book... perhaps next year!

>18 cbl_tn: I think, Carrie, that Ramses' inability to pronounce "th" annoyed me more than his precociousness; he reminded me a bit of my brother and even more of my cousin. And when I stop to think about it, I'm not sure that he is any more over-the-top than Amelia as a Victorian-era woman; in any event, I'm rather interested in seeing how he develops as a character.

73. Supreme Courtship by Christopher Buckley, 3 1/2*
Category: History in the Making

In a very clever and funny satire, the President appoints a TV judge to the US Supreme Court. I enjoyed it and thought it was very well done.

74. Q: A (Timeless) Love Story by Evan Mandery, 2 1/2*
Category: History in the Making

The narrator meets and falls in love with Q, but shortly before their marriage he is visited by his future self, who advises him, "You must not marry Q." Somewhat inexplicably, he chooses to follow this advice, and he thereafter repeatedly changes the course of his life as numerous future selves advise him that he is not on the best path.

The idea of exploring alternate futures, depending on the choices one makes, is interesting; Mr Mandery's style is crisp and clear and flows smoothly; some passages are poignant or clever or funny. But dialogue is frequently a bit stilted, the book is poorly and unevenly contructed, some episodes are too detailed and overlong, and there are constant digressions into literature, movies, television shows, people. Some of these details and digressions contribute to the theme, a few are interesting bits of trivia, a couple of them are amusing. But mostly they're overdrawn, ostentatious and, even worse, just plain boring -- especially the 40 or so pages of the narrator's attempt to write an alternate history of Freud, which he then abandons as boring!

I'm always disappointed when a book might have been really good, but misses. I had a hard time getting through it, and I am fairly certain that I would have abandoned this book, had not been an Early Reviewers win.

75. Whiplash by Catherine Coulter (FBI Thriller #14), 3 1/2*
Category: Eastern US Mystery -- 7 COMPLETED

I started reading this series back with the first book The Cove, which caught my attention because it is set in a small town on the Oregon coast. I think I've read all the books in the series, which features FBI agents Savich and Sherlock in detective/thriller/romance mysteries set in a variety of places. In contrast to most of the cozies, the personal life of the recurring characters is not a strong element, so that they could be read out of order with few spoilers.

The main plot of this installment, set in Connecticut, concerns a pharmaceutical company and a shortage of an important cancer drug. There is also a subplot involving a US Senator. Although I enjoyed the book -- light, fast-paced, entertaining -- I don't think it is one of the better books in the series.

After a good start to this month's reading, my life got a bit complicated. My husband (who has an artificial heart valve) ended up in the hospital for a couple of days, followed by the usual round of tests and doctor visits. He's doing much better now.

However, I did read 3 light and entertaining books -- all perfect for keeping my attention and interest, easy to read in short snippets and pick up later, not requiring any depth of thought:

76. The Alibi by Sandra Brown, 3 1/2*
Category: Southern US Mystery

Set in Charleston, SC, this was a thriller/romance with engaging characters and plenty of twists and turns. I was somewhat dissatisfied with the ending, not of the mystery but of the choice that one of the characters made. Of the 3 Sandra Brown novels I've read in the past few months, Chill Factor is my favorite.

77. Naked Heat by Richard Castle (Nikki Heat #2), 3*
Category: Eastern US Mystery

I've been a fan of the television series Castle since the beginning, and these books, supposedly written by Richard Castle, are rather fun. The mystery was good, but I don't think the books are very well written. I know that the real author is said to be a famous mystery writer, but they read more like scripts than novels. The snappy repartee that is so entertaining on the show often falls flat and makes Castle (that is, Rook) appear foolish or childish. A rare case, I think, of the screen being better than the book; perhaps it's the actors' ability to elevate their scripts. But I will probably read the next book in the series...

78. The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan (Kane Chronicles #2), 3*
Category: History That Never Was

I liked this 2nd book in Rick Riordan's Egyptian god series better than the 1st book, but I still think they are inferior to his Olympus series. I don't know much about the Egyptian pantheon; as far as I can tell, he's interweaving actual mythology in a very interesting way, but it frustrates me that I don't know what he's drawing from other sources and what he's making up. I'm undecided about continuing this series.

Glad to hear that your husband is doing much better now, Ivy. Good news!!

Thanks, Linda! It's certainly a relief to all of us, as we start into the holiday season with my baby granddaughter's 1st birthday coming up soon. I can't believe she's already almost a year old, crawling and climbing, thinking about walking, starting to talk -- her expression of approval is "Oh, cool!" I need to get some newer pictures posted...

Glad to hear that your husband is doing better, Ivy. Enjoy that granddaughter, as you are aware, they grow so fast!

I am also glad to hear your husband is doing better.

Ivy, I'm glad your husband is on the mend.

Judy, Lori, Carrie -- Thank you! We have someone different managing his warfarin now, and monitoring it more carefully, so hopefully there will not be a recurrence of this situation.

My granddaughters were adorable little black cats (with black tutus) for Halloween. I hope they'll send me a picture to post...

October Recap

The only outstanding book I read in October was Maus II, but all the rest were enjoyable, even parts of my least favorite Q: A (Timeless) Love Story.

1. History in the Making (6/7)
~~ Supreme Courtship by Christopher Buckley
~~ Q: A (Timeless) Love Story by Evan Mandery

2. British History (7/7) -- 7 COMPLETED

3. British Mystery (10/7) -- 7 COMPLETED

4. World History (9/7) -- 7 COMPLETED
~~ Maus II: A Survivor's Tale by Art Spiegelman

5. World Mystery (7/7) -- 7 COMPLETED
~~ The Mummy Case by Elizabeth Peters
~~ Lion in the Valley by Elizabeth Peters

6. U.S. History (6/7)

7. Southern U.S. Mystery (3/7)
~~ The Alibi by Sandra Brown

8. Eastern U.S. Mystery (8/7) -- 7 COMPLETED
~~ Whiplash by Catherine Coulter
~~ Naked Heat by Richard Castle

9. Other Mystery (4/7)

10. History That Never Was (12/7) -- 11 COMPLETED
~~ The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan

11. Children of Yesteryear (6/7)

79. Marjorie Morningstar by Herman Wouk, 4 1/2*
Category: US History

This is the 3rd time I've read Marjorie Morningstar. The first time, I was a teenager; I loved it, but I had a vague sense that Marjorie hadn't chosen right, had sold out on her dreams. The 2nd time, in my late 20s, I read it more to learn about the NY Jewish community in the 1930s than for the story; I enjoyed it, but thought it was dated -- and was sure that Marjorie had sold out.

Marjorie Morgenstern, aged 17 in 1933, has a grand dream of becoming an actress -- Marjorie Morningstar -- rather than following her expected destiny of marrying, by her early 20s, a respectable and suitable young man and settling down with home and children. In her pursuit of fame and career, she meets and falls in love with songwriter Noel Airman, the quintessential "bad boy": handsome, exciting, talented, cynical, disdainful of social conventions.

A rather ordinary story; dated, with its extreme emphasis on the importance of a woman's virginity at marriage; somewhat sexist, with the implication that a woman's destiny and contentment lie in husband and children.

But it's also much more than that. It's a beautifully written book, with fully developed fascinating characters (both major and minor), a story that kept me interested and eager for more (even knowing, as I did, how it ended), and a great deal of depth in secondary plots and situations and conversations. In 2011, I think it has to be read as historical fiction, since it is so firmly set in the New York Jewish community of the 1930s, its warmth and traditions and mores, and it is fascinating as such. Yet, as with all good literature, the characters and situations and emotions are not confined to the historical setting; even in 2011, young women agonize over sexual relationships, and fall in love with (and hope to reform) dreamers and rebels; they dream of -- and pursue -- important careers; they fight with their parents, certain that they know the better way.

And the ending: I see it differently this time. Perhaps inevitable, but rather sad that the Morningstar didn't continue to shine.

I've always wanted to read that one, Ivy.

>33 lindapanzo: I think you might enjoy it, Linda. Though in many ways it's very different, at one point, I found myself thinking of Admission, which I read and enjoyed based on your glowing recommendation.

It was more of an undertaking than I had remembered -- almost 600 pages, and I'm sure that there are as many words on each of those pages as on 2 or 3 pages of a cozy. Along with a lot more to think about. So, even though once I got into it, I had no inclination to stop and read something else, it's put me a book or 2 behind where I wanted to be by now.

80. Sweetheart by Chelsea Cain (Gretchen Lowell #2), 3 1/2*
Category: Other Mystery

These books are too grisly and gory for my taste; I usually refuse to watch a movie or tv show if there's too much blood and carnage, no matter how excellent it otherwise might be. But I'm fascinated with this macabre series about police detective Archie Sheridan's obsession with sadistic serial killer Gretchen Lowell.

Part of it is the Portland setting. It's fun to read about places that you know well, and Ms Cain's brief descriptions and odd facts about Oregon are excellent, to the extent that I usually know where and what she's talking about even if she doesn't specifically identify it. And I love the way that she takes local news stories and events, and twists and fictionalizes them -- in this book, a politician's (alleged?) affair with his 14-year-old babysitter, as well as lesser references to other events and people. The characterization is also excellent: fully developed, quirky individuals that I can't help liking despite their stupid mistakes and serious flaws. The mysteries are okay, but not outstanding and a bit predictable; what the characters might do is highly unpredictable.

But I don't really know why I'm enjoying this series so much. The best I can say is that it holds the same kind of fascination for me as the tv series Dexter, which I've been (uncharacteristically) watching from the beginning. I have the 3rd book on audio and will probably begin it today (also an oddity for me, since I have poor audio retention and rarely listen to books).

81. Shades of Earl Grey by Laura Childs (Tea Shop #3), 3 1/2*
Category: Southern US Mystery

It's been over a year since I read the first 2 Tea Shop mysteries, and although I've been intending to continue the series, I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed them. Delightful characters, a good mystery (though I did figure it out early), and a great setting with the Tea Shop and Charleston.

I like the characters and setting so much that I tend to over-rate that series by Laura Childs. I made myself be more realistic the last time, but I probably have a lot of 4.5 and 5 star ratings just because I love the characters and settings!

>37 thornton37814: I've already started the next Tea Shop Mystery, Lori. But then, I think, I'll back off for a month or 2 so I don't burn myself out on them like I did with the Elizabeth Peters books.

I think my usual inclination is to under-rate books, though I've tried to correct that somewhat. But as I have more and more rated books in my library (never occurred to me to rate books before LT), I can see the inconsistencies in my ratings. I'm pretty sparing of 4 1/2* or 5* ratings -- as well as loving the book, I need to see originality or literary merit (though I freely admit, that's quite subjective, too, and despite vestiges of literary elitism from having been an English literature major 40+ years ago, I'm far from an expert). But then there are books that I give reasonably high ratings to, because I think they're well written or whatever, but that I really didn't like very much. And on the other hand, there are the mysteries and series books that I really enjoy -- why else would I read 3,000 or so pages of a 10-book series? -- but that as stand-alone books or based on "literary merit" only end up as 3 1/2* or occasionally 4* books (Louise Penny excepted).

I've seen other people talking about more elaborate systems of rating, and I've been thinking about changing mine as well. I don't think a decimal point rating would help me much, but having an enjoyment rating or a series rating might. This last Tea Shop Mystery, for instance, would get a 4 1/2* series rating and a 5* enjoyment rating.

Something to think about.

Ivy, I tend to rate books in comparison with other books in that genre. For example, I read a lot of cozy mysteries that don't have a lot of literary merit. When I read a book that I really like and I think it's one of the better books in its genre, I'll give it 4 1/2 or 5 stars. I do the same thing for children's and YA fiction, thrillers, etc.

I try to ignore the average rating and rating distributions until after I've assigned my own rating to a book I've just finished. I've been surprised by how often my rating matches the LT average for the book.

>39 cbl_tn: That makes a lot of sense to me, Carrie. What hangs me up, though, is the comparative ratings. As delightful as I found the Laura Childs mystery, how can I say it's as "good" a book as, for instance, The Invisible Bridge or King Lear? Maybe if I had my books divided into Collections by genre, it would work better.

I usually wait until after I've chosen my rating and written my review until I check out other LT ratings and reviews, although sometimes I've looked at them earlier when trying to decide if I want to read a book, and I too have been surprised at how often my ratings are right in line with the consensus. There are exceptions, though: American Gods comes to mind since a number of people are reading it this month; it still seems to me that I should have really liked it -- but I didn't.

I'm going to give some more thought to a multiple rating system for series books and children's (and YA) books. If I do decide to do that, though, I probably won't start it until next year.

82. The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven by Sherman Alexie, 4*
Category: History in the Making -- CATEGORY COMPLETED

A while ago, I read and loved The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. I've since been meaning to read other of Sherman Alexie's books, but hadn't gotten to it until this month's TIOLI challenge motivated me.

It's difficult for me to review this, even to come to terms with it in my own mind. Despite the flashes of humor, I mostly found it sad and heart-wrenching. The book is a series of short stories and vignettes about growing up on the Indian reservation near Spokane; they're loosely connected and there are several recurring characters, but each is also a stand-alone, so there isn't the cohesiveness of A Part-Time Indian. Nor are the stories for YAs; they are instead semi-autobiographical snippets of a young man (Alexie was in his mid-20s when this book was first published) trying to understand his history, his environment, what it means to be an Indian growing up on the reservation in 20th century America.

Mr Alexie's writing style is gorgeous, more poetry than prose. It touches the emotions more than it tells a story, yet the story is there too. I'm not sure that I understood all of what he was saying; there's a lot to explore in this book.

This is a very inadequate review of a beautiful book.

I am definitely going to be following up with more Sherman Alexie books, and The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven is on my list.

>42 DeltaQueen50: I think I want to read everything that Sherman Alexie has written.

Even though The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is YA, I think it's a more mature work than The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. It seems to me that by the time he wrote A Part-Time Indian he had been able to reconcile and gain some perspective on themes and events that he was exploring in The Lone Ranger and Tonto. It's also funnier.

83. The English Breakfast Murder by Laura Childs (Tea Shop #4), 3 1/2*
Category: Southern US Mystery

Another enjoyable episode in the life of Theodosia Browning and her friends. Even though I didn't figure out the culprit ahead of time in this book, I didn't find the sunken treasure theme as interesting as the Heritage Society themes of previous books. And I do wish her resolutions included a bit more explanation of events, clues and red herrings; the books end with a lot of questions still unanswered.

~~ "Chi-wee's White Boots" by Grace Moon
84. The Runaway Papoose by Grace Moon (Newbery Honor Book 1929), 4*
Category: Children of Yesteryear -- CATEGORY COMPLETED

Grace Moon and her husband, photographer and artist Carl Moon, lived among the Indians of the Southwest for a number of years early in the 1900s. After their children were born and they moved to California, they began writing and illustrating children's books about Indians of the Southwest.

The Runaway Papoose is a charming story about little Nah-tee, who becomes separated from her tribe, and with the assistance of Moyo, a young shepherd, travels across the desert in search of her people. The time period is indistinct; reservations are not mentioned, but there are white traders and white teachers. It seems to be a time when the traditional culture and way of life is still strong but undergoing significant changes. The book is rich with descriptions of Indian culture and tales from Navajo (and Pueblo?) mythology -- including a rather interesting explanation of why the cliff dwellers left their homes; I'd really like to know if she based that on tales she had been told!

I read quite a few of Grace Moon's books when I was about 9 or so. The strengths of these books are the warm and rich descriptions of the culture and traditions; her obvious admiration for the noble and honorable Indians; her understanding of children and a child's point of view. However, the story and the characterizations take second place to the culture -- to the extent that I don't now remember which books I read as a child or almost anything about the stories (I think I read this one, since I have a very vague recollection of a child being lost). In addition, the age level is difficult to pinpoint: the protagonists are quite young, perhaps 4-6 years old (still young enough to be called a papoose in this book), but the setting and cultural descriptions would likely be tedious to a 6-year-old -- probably more appropriate for an 8-10 year old, who wouldn't want to read about a 5 year old.

I really enjoyed the book -- on an adult level -- for the cultural descriptions by someone who had experienced them. Though it isn't my planned reading for this month, I think I'm going to go ahead and read her next book.

Hi, Ivy!

35 I've got a used paperback copy of the first Gretchen Lowell series book on my shelf. One of these days, I'll get to it. I tend to not mind grisly too much.

~~ "Unit 3. Indian Stories" (pp 69-106 of Near and Far by Nina Banton Smith)
~~ "Chot-say's Trip in the Desert" by Grace Moon
~~ "Doki and Pah-ta" by Grace Moon
85. The Magic Trail by Grace Moon, 3*
Category: Children of Yesteryear

Near and Far is a 3rd grade reading and activity textbook published in 1935. I got this book when I was collecting the works of Grace Moon, since she wrote 2 of the stories in the unit on Indians: "Chotsay's Trip in the Desert," a legendary tale, and "Doki and Pah-ta," a "modern" story of 2 Indian children seeing a railroad train (steam engine) for the first time. According to the publication notes, she wrote these stories for this book, which explains why I haven't seen them anywhere else. Expecting some condescension, given the 1935 publication date, I was pleasantly surprised by the positive treatment of Indian culture. The information, however, is very basic -- probably appropriate for 3rd grade.

The Magic Trail is, I think, my least favorite of Grace Moon's books that I have read in the past few years. Mrs Moon's standard story-line is a quest to find something, and/or often someone, that is lost, and this book is more plot-driven than the others, but it also contains fewer descriptions of Indian culture. Because of the stronger story-line, however, and because the protagonist is a 12-year-old boy (with a small girl as a side-kick), this book might well have more appeal to a young reader than some of the others (that I preferred).

I had thought that this would be the last Grace Moon book that I would read right now, but there were so many hanging threads at the end that I checked the next book (I've been reading them in order of publication), and sure enough, the next one The Missing Katchina is a continuation of the story of Kawani and Yahze. So I'm now in the middle of that one (and liking it quite a lot).

>46 tymfos: If you don't mind grisly, you might like these books a lot, Terri! I hesitated to try them, knowing that, but since Chelsea Cain is an Oregon author writing about Oregon, I finally tried the first one, and I'm glad I did... and definitely hooked on the series.

86. The Missing Katchina by Grace Moon, 3 1/2*
Category: Children of Yesteryear

This book is a sequel of sorts to The Magic Trail: it's about the same two children, 12-year-old Kawani and the smaller Yazhe, sort of picks up one of the hanging threads from the previous book, and has a few veiled references to the previous adventure. But it easily could be read as a stand-alone, or before the earlier book without significant spoilers. Curiously, The Missing Katchina also leaves a major hanging thread, and I don't see any continuation in the books that I have. I am, however, missing 3 books (all 1930s -- limited numbers must have been printed then, as I've had trouble finding books of that vintage); 2 of them appear to be set in Mexico, but perhaps it's the 3rd one.

In any case, I am greatly enjoying these charming books about a lost (or at least significantly eroded) culture, an unplanned diversion in my reading sparked by the Sherman Alexie book, the reading of which was the result of the TIOLI challenge. I think I've had enough for now, though, and I'm going to move on to something else, though I fully intend to get back to Alexie's other books and the rest of the Grace Moon stories -- perhaps next year.

I'm down to 4 books needed in 2 categories to complete my 7/11 challenge -- all of them mysteries! I'm right now listening to the next Chelsea Cain book, and 2 of my planned Christmas books will fit into those categories. The lone question mark is what one book to read to finish the Southern US Mystery category -- so many possibilities!

#50 Good going, Ivy. It's nice to have only mysteries left, in order to finish the challenge, isn't it?

>51 lindapanzo: Yes, it's great, Linda! I think I finally this year incorporated enough mystery slots into my challenge -- in previous years, I've had to struggle to complete the heavier and slower books at the end.

For 2012, I've got a couple of nonfiction-type slots and plenty of mysteries but I've added a fiction (nonmystery) slot, too. I've found I've missed reading other types of novels, short stories etc. I think I have more pent-up book ideas for that category than for anything else.

It's nice to have mysteries left to read at the end of the year!

I second that, it's defintely a great thing to have nothing but mysteries left to read!

87. Evil at Heart by Chelsea Cain (Gretchen Lowell #3), 3*
Category: Other Mystery

I listened to this book. Some years ago, when my daughters were in high school, I listened to quite a few audio books; for me, they are a way to make long commutes or housework more pleasant, but not my favorite way of "reading." So, keeping in mind that it may have affected my rating and enjoyment of this book, this is my least favorite of the 3 books. I did, however, like it (and got 9 hours of housework done), and I'm really looking forward to the next book, which is scheduled to be released in paperback next week. It appears that she may be changing directions with Archie's story -- probably just at the right time to prevent it from becoming overworked.

>53 lindapanzo:-55 I'm so happy to have just mysteries left, so (except for listening to the Chelsea Cain), what have I been reading? A couple of books about mythology that I've been working on for months, and also Glastonbury, which I'm enjoying but finding I like better in small doses.

And being on the homestretch, I'm thinking more and more about the 12 in 12. My big gaps this year were not having good places for classics and for 20th century fiction that isn't comtemporary any more but not exactly historical (since they were considered contemporary when they were written). I think I've fixed the 2nd problem by having a "modern" category for 20th & 21st century fiction, but I've been thinking that maybe I'd like to break out the war books from that... a book about WW I and one set in 2011 don't seem to fit very well in a single category...

Linda, I haven't read much non-mystery fiction this year, either. I have about 5 or so in my tbr stack that I'd expected to read early this year and still haven't gotten to. It's rather a surprise to me, since that's usually an overflow category for me, and I've just barely made it to 7 in my contemporary category.

88. Miss Julia Takes Over by Ann B. Ross (Miss Julia #2), 3*
Category: Southern US Mystery

I'd thought that I would read either a Laura Childs or Carolyn Hart mystery for my penultimate book for this category. But I don't have the next books in these series, so I scoured my tbr shelves for a substitute, and found this one that's been sitting there for several years. A long time ago -- shortly after it had been published, I think -- I read the first book Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind and found it amusing. For a long time, I didn't realize that it was the first book in a series, but bought the 2nd book after discovering it was.

Miss Julia is a very correct, somewhat self-righteous, quite prudish older Southern lady. The humor of the book comes from her lack of perception, of both herself and others, though it is obvious to the reader. She reminds me somewhat of Hyacinth in BBC's Keeping Up Appearances, and it is the same type of humor: exaggerated pretensions and foibles, of which she is totally oblivious.

In this book, the safety of the illegitimate child of Miss Julia's late husband is threatened and the boy's mother has disappeared, so Miss Julia takes the matter in hand. It's definitely cozy, but light on mystery (not a murder mystery); the situations and characters are often ludicrous. But it's also quite funny, and Ms Ross does an excellent job of maintaining the 1st person voice and viewpoint of Miss Julia and of moving the story along.

I enjoyed the book, and will most likely read another one at some point. I can't say, though, that it's among my favorite series.

November Recap

My favorite book in November was Marjorie Morningstar. I enjoyed all of them, though -- no losers this month.

8 of my 10 books counted toward completing my 7/11 challenge, leaving only 2 books to finish it. I plan to read both of them (Christmas mysteries) in the next week or so, and then will hang around for the rest of the year to see how far I get in a full 11 in 11 challenge. No chance of actually completing it, but I may come closer than I anticipated when I lowered my goal to a 7/11.

1. History in the Making (7/7) -- 7 COMPLETED
~~ The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven by Sherman Alexie

2. British History (7/7) -- 7 COMPLETED

3. British Mystery (10/7) -- 7 COMPLETED

4. World History (9/7) -- 7 COMPLETED

5. World Mystery (7/7) -- 7 COMPLETED

6. U.S. History (7/7) -- 7 COMPLETED
~~ Marjorie Morningstar by Herman Wouk

7. Southern U.S. Mystery (6/7)
~~ Shades of Earl Grey by Laura Childs
~~ The English Breakfast Murder by Laura Childs
~~ Miss Julia Takes Over by Ann B. Ross

8. Eastern U.S. Mystery (8/7) -- 7 COMPLETED

9. Other Mystery (6/7)
~~ Sweetheart by Chelsea Cain
~~ Evil at Heart by Chelsea Cain

10. History That Never Was (12/7) -- 11 COMPLETED

11. Children of Yesteryear (9/7) -- 7 COMPLETED
~~ "Chi-wee's White Boots" by Grace Moon
~~ The Runaway Papoose by Grace Moon
~~ "Unit 3. Indian Stories" (pp 69-106 of Near and Far by Nina Banton Smith)
~~ "Chot-say's Trip in the Desert" by Grace Moon
~~ "Doki and Pah-ta" by Grace Moon
~~ The Magic Trail by Grace Moon
~~ The Missing Katchina by Grace Moon

89. Glastonbury by Donna Fletcher Crow, 4*
Category: British History

I enjoyed this book. It took me several months to get through it, not because I didn't like it, but because I enjoyed reading it slowly, thinking about what I had read and checking out facts and scenarios that Ms Crow had presented. The different sections were mostly stand-alone stories of historical or legendary figures whose life affected Christianity in Britain, and Glastonbury in particular, from the crucifixion of Christ through the last abbot of Glastonbury, Richard Whiting, during the reign of Henry VIII.

There is quite a lot I could say about the book, and a lot that I would like to discuss. Ms Crow extensively researched her subjects, but I'm rather bemused by some of the choices she made in presenting legends and the spin she put on them. I really wish she had included a larger bibliography.

I would recommend this book only to those who have a significant interest in early British history, or perhaps those who have found Glastonbury -- as I have -- one of the holiest places on earth. I personally thought that the many prayers in 16th century English were rather tiresome and disruptive to the earlier periods, and there was more detail in miltiary engagements that I would have preferred. The format (acknowleged by Ms Crow to have been inspired by Edward Rutherfurd's Sarum) is not as cohesive or polished or compelling as in Rutherfurd's histories.

But I liked the book, and will probably read Ms Crow's similar histories of early Ireland and Scotland.

Ivy,

I've read all three of the Donna Fletcher Crow histories of England, Ireland, and Scotland. The Ireland and Scotland books have a modern story interwoven with the historical sections. I thought it might help to know that the next two are a little different than the one you just finished. I didn't care for the modern story, so I liked those two less than Glastonbury.

Hi Ivy.... cheering you on from the sidelines as you read your last two books to complete your challenge!

>61 cbl_tn: Carrie, I'm sorry that she didn't stay with the format of Glastonbury. I'm not a big fan of the modern/historical double storyline, though I have read and enjoyed books using that technique.

I expect that Glastonbury will be my favorite, too, because of the subject matter. I've been fascinated by early British history since I was in high school -- even wrote a paper about Berta, the Frankish princess who was instrumental in St Augustine's acceptance in England.

What did you think about her version of the King Arthur legend? Certainly different than anything else I've read... I do wish she'd included historical notes about what she's gotten from other sources, what she made up and why. I thought her expanation of the reason Arthur is not mentioned by Gildas was very ingenious!

The other books seem to be out of print. It shouldn't be too hard to track them down though -- another project for next year!

>62 lkernagh: Thanks, Lori! I'm really on the homestretch... finished 1 book (comments to come soon) and started on the final book last night. I'm looking forward to almost a month of "free" reading before I start the 12 in 12.

Ivy, it's been so long since I've read the book that I don't remember the details of the King Arthur section. I do remember having a general impression that it was different, but I don't remember how. Unfortunately I've loaned my copy to a relative so I can't pull it off the shelf to refresh my memory.

I've been able to visit Glastonbury several times, and it's one of my favorite places. I was very sad to hear about the destruction of the Glastonbury thorn last December.

>65 cbl_tn: Carrie, the biggest "changes" were making Merlin a Christian, the Bishop of Caerleon, and making Guinevere the daughter of Launcelot ("The Ancelot"). I've found no basis for Merlin's Christianity (which isn't to say there's not something out there). I thought at first that, it being a Christian novel, perhaps she chose to avoid the adulterous relationship with Launcelot; but in a later section, a protagonist was said to be a bastard son of Rosamond de Clifford (for which I could find no basis whatsoever). I know the romance with Launcelot was a later addition to the Arthurian legends, and that there's some question about there being more than one Guinevere. But she certainly put it all together in a unique way.

How wonderful to have spent so much time at Glastonbury! I've been once, in 2000, and feel fortunate for having been there, but I'd love to go again.

The last I saw, they thought the thorn tree might be recovering. I hope so. I absolutely cannot understand such senseless violence, no matter what "statement" one might be trying to make. I felt the same way about the Pieta, which I saw in 1969, when I could walk right up to the statue and thought it was the most beautiful work of art I'd ever seen.

I've only read popular accounts of the Arthurian history & legend. I haven't really looked into the source material. I do remember thinking she had a novel theory in the book. It would be interesting to know more about the sources she used.

ETA: One of my most vivid memories of Glastonbury is of crawling on my hands and knees when I reached the top of the tor. The wind was blowing so hard that I was afraid I'd lose my footing!

Is it true? Finished?

>67 cbl_tn: I'm just a dilattante, Carrie. It was about 15 years ago, when my girls were in high school, that I got interested in the early sources and how the story has changed over the centuries. A few weeks ago, I found the 2 Lives of Gildas on the internet... had wanted to read them back then, but either they weren't available online or I didn't find them. As soon as I finish my last book for this challenge, I'll read them.

>68 lindapanzo: Not quite, Linda! I'm hoping to finish tonight!

90. Gingerbread Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke, Laura Levine & Leslie Meier, 3*
Category: Other Mystery -- CATEGORY COMPLETED!

A Christmas mystery anthology, published in 2010.

The Joanne Fluke story was enjoyable, but the mystery pretty obvious. The recipes sound wonderful, though, and I may try a couple of them.

I really liked the Laura Levine mystery -- with the cat named Prozac, that Jaine's mother calls Zoloft. Ms Levine was a writer on some of the 1970s tv series that I thought were clever and funny; perhaps I should read some of her other books. The problem for me, though, is that she's almost too clever, so that by the end of even a novella, I'm getting slightly tired of her brand of humor.

I didn't like the Leslie Meier story. Despite touches of family warmth, I thought the story was too dark and depressing.

I'm now about 2/3 done with my last book for this challenge!

This is why I was confused. I thought the Joanne Fluke book was your last one. I always think these are fun but they're fluffy, even by my standards. Plus, I wish she'd choose, once and for all.

Oops, never mind, I thought this was only Joanne Fluke. I remember this one now. I like the Leslie Meier books but, you're right, I didn't care for this one that much.

>71 lindapanzo: I probably confused you, Linda, because I originally intended the Joanne Fluke to be the last book, then reversed the order -- decided that the Margaret Maron book would be a better high note to end on.

I'm still a book behind on Joanne Fluke, but I seem to recall that you and others didn't think the last one was all that great, so I've just been waiting on the paperback. I agree that she needs to move along with Hannah's story... the vascillating is getting tiresome.

91. Christmas Mourning by Margaret Maron (Deborah Knott #16), 4*
Category: Southern US Mystery -- CATEGORY COMPLETED! CHALLENGE COMPLETED!

I think this 16th book of the series is one of the best in one of my favorite series. Set during the week before Christmas, there is tragedy and sadness when a high school cheerleader crashes her car and dies, but also hope and warmth in the family relationships and Christmas preparations.

Although the numerous nieces and nephews are at first confusing, mostly because so many of them appear in this book, the exact relationships are unimportant; the feelings of kinship in a large family, even among cousins, is what is significant. The mysteries were very well done, and kept me guessing to the end. Ms Maron has masterfully balanced a satisfying mystery without sacrificing the joy of the holiday season.

An interesting note to this series: my grandmother was the youngest of 11 (surviving) children. Her father, like Deborah's, was something of a reprobate, though his vice was gambling rather than moonshine. Her mother, like Deborah's, died long before her father. And 2 of her 6 older brothers were named Will and Herman! Although it was nearly a century earlier, I see in these books some of the family dynamics of my grandmother's relationships with her older siblings and in the interactions of the cousins.

AND I'M DONE WITH MY 7/11 CHALLENGE -- 7 books in each of 11 categories.

Although I reduced my goal from a full 11 in 11 challenge, I'm satisfied with what I have read this year. I think I've read a few more longer and slower books than I did last year, and I suspect that I've spent about as much time and read about as many pages as I did in 2010.

And I'm really pleased with the quality of the books. There have been only a couple of duds; almost all of them have ranged from completely enjoyable to really outstanding.

Since I'm going to continue on this challenge until the end of the year, to see how close I come to a full 11 in 11, I think I'll wait until the end of the year for a challenge recap.

Congratulations on finishing your challenge!

Ivy - I liked the Leslie Meier story the best when I read that anthology. I'm not crazy about Laura Levine's works at all. That was my least favorite.

Congrats on finishing your 11 in 11 challenge, Ivy.

Congratulations Ivy!

Congratulations on finishing your challenge!

Thank you, everyone!

>76 thornton37814: Interesting, Lori! I didn't much care for the Laura Levine story I read in another anthology, which is why I haven't tried her other books, but I did like this one. As for the Leslie Meier, I always have trouble with books about abused children; Lucy feels the same way, of course, but I still found it depressing. My daughter thinks she'll read the book -- it will be interesting to see what she thinks.

WOOT! WOOT! Congrats on finishing Ivy!

Congratulations Ivy, and I hope you have fun with the rest of your 2011 reading!

Hi Ivy, came to add my congratulations to the rest. Well done.

Congratultions on finishing your challenge, Ivy!

Congratulations!

Thanks to all of you!

Yay! Congratulations!

Congratulations on finishing the challenge!

I've only read one of the Deborah Knott mysteries, and had planned to read the rest in order -- but I started looking at Christmas Mourning as a possible December read for my holiday theme this month. I see it's book #16. Would it be OK to read anyway, or are there spoilers for earlier books? (I usually read series in order -- especially mysteries, as fear there will be spoilers.)

Thanks, Victoria & Terri!

>88 tymfos: Terri, the later books have one major spoiler of the first 9 or 10 books -- in Deborah's story, not of a mystery. But it's one that is really easy to come across; I knew it long before I got that far -- I think after just a couple of books -- and it didn't really bother me. There are some other minor spoilers and references to events in other books, but not enough that it would ruin the others. Curiously, other than the big one, the largest spoilers in this book are to Bloody Kin, which was written almost 10 years before she started the Deborah Knott series, and is sometimes called a prequel; Deborah does not appear in it, but it's about several of the recurring characters.

The ending to Christmas Mourning makes me think that perhaps I should read her Sigrid Harald series before reading the next one.

So... I think you'd enjoy it out of order, without too much damage to the earlier books.
I know Linda really liked it without having read the whole series.

Yes, I enjoyed the Christmas one without reading the earlier ones. I got confused a bit by all the family members but was able to sort those out pretty quickly.

I think I'm going to start at the beginning with this series. I really liked it. Also want to read the Sigrid Harald series, too.

>90 lindapanzo: I got confused, too, even having read the whole series! But she has a nice way of letting you know (or reminding you) of what you need to know when the various family members appear in the books.

Linda, I think you'll enjoy the Deborah Knott series. I've found it somewhat uneven... really, really liked some of them (including Christmas Mourning), found some enjoyable but not outstanding -- and there were a couple that I didn't like as well. There were some comments recently (on your thread?) about people abandoning the series after reading one they didn't like very much, but it doesn't seem to be a steady progression up or down -- my favorites, as well as least liked, appear throughout the series. And I really like Deborah!

I'm thinking that if I start the Sigrid Harald series early next year, I may be able to catch up on it by the time Three-Day Town comes out in paperback.

I've been wanting to dive into the Deborah Knott series, but not all of her books are available at the library, nor are they available through my Nook, not yet anyway. I was told to read them in order. Now I'm thinking.....

I do have plans to read One Coffee With next year.

>92 lsh63: not all of her books are available at the library, nor are they available through my Nook

I'd forgotten that some of the earlier ones are out of print (or were when I stared reading them in 2007). I was able to find used copies fairly easily, but it seems to me that the publishers are missing a bet not to have the entire series available.

As well as I remember (though I tend to forget mysteries fairly quickly), I think you'd be okay skipping some of them. Most (all?) of them add some information about Deborah's family and friends, but the mysteries are stand-alone and she does repeat information that's essential to each book. I do suggest reading the first one Bootlegger's Daughter, though, to give you the general picture -- and it's a good one!

Several short works that I haven't commented on:

~~ The Life of Gildas by Caradoc of Llanfarcan
~~ The Life of Gildas by the Monk of Ruys
Category: British History

These two Lives were a follow-up to Glastonbury. Ms Crow obviously used both of them in her section on King Arthur. The one by Caradoc is believed to have been written ca 1130-1150 and is the briefer and more interesting Life, since it has Gildas returning to Britain and Glastonbury and includes Arthur in the story. The one by the Monk, however, was probably written in the 11th century and may be partially based on a 9th century text. It is a more traditional Life, replete with mortifications and miracles; in this one, Gildas remains in France (Gaul) rather than returning to Britain, and the story (and miracles) continue long after his death. Neither of them, of course, offers an explantion for Gildas' failure to mention (the presumably contemporary) King Arthur.

92. The Chimes by Charles Dickens, 3*
Category: British History

This Christmas story (more accurately, a New Year story) was published the year after A Christmas Carol. It is a bitter invective of those in power, their disparagement of the poor, and their (sometimes well-meaning but totally misguided) actions and attitudes. The message -- that the poor must not accept the assessment of their "betters" but must keep hope and joy in their lives -- strikes me as a bit odd, but I suppose Dickens' intent was that his readers become aware of the destruction of human dignity inherent in the poor laws and the attitudes leading to their enactment. All in all, not nearly as powerful -- or wonderful -- as A Christmas Carol.

93. A Christmas Guest by Anne Perry, 3*
Category: British Mystery -- 11 COMPLETED

In the end, I liked this story, with its message of hope and the possibility of change, no matter one's age. In the middle, I grew a bit tired of Mariah's repetitive reflections, but it was a very fast read, so I kept going -- and I'm glad I did.

94. A Christmas Secret by Anne Perry, 3 1/2*
Category: British Mystery

I liked this novella -- more than the last one, A Christmas Guest.

~~ "A Child's Christmas in Wales" by Dylan Thomas
Category: British History

A lovely reflection on memories of childhood. So beautifully written that I want to call it a poem.

95. A Duty to the Dead by Charles Todd (Bess Crawford #1), 4*
Category: British Mystery

Bess Crawford is a World War I nurse who promises a dying soldier that she will deliver a message to his brother in England. Several months later, she visits the soldier's family in Kent, and begins to unravel the cryptic message.

Although the subject matter of this series interested me, I was afraid that, having so much enjoyed the Maisie Dobbs series earlier this year, I would be disappointed in this one. Not so -- I loved it! Although there are significant similarities in themes and settings, with the horrors and effects of the war, and in both women being nurses, Maisie and Bess are very different women with very different backgrounds.

I can't wait to read the next book in this series!

Thanks for the info on Christmas Mourning. Of course, when I went to get it from the library, someone else had just checked it out! Just my luck.

>97 tymfos: That's disappointing, Terri! But maybe it gives you a chance to read some of the earlier books before next Christmas?

98 Sounds like a plan!

96. The Long Walk by Slavomir Rawicz, 4 1/2*
Category: World History

Slavomir Rawicz was a young Polish Army officer in 1939, when Russia invaded Poland. He was arrested, convicted and sentenced to 25 years hard labor in Siberia. He, and 6 other inmates of the camp, escaped and walked 4,000 miles to freedom, through Mongolia, the Gobi Desert, Tibet and the Himalayas, to India.

I was mesmerized by this harrowing account of indomitable human spirit and the value of freedom. More than 1/3 of the book is the story of Rawicz's imprisonment, "trial," transport to Siberia, and camp conditions, before the escape and Long Walk take place -- but I found it just as fascinating (and horrifying) as the saga of the Walk itself.

After finishing the book, I looked up comments about the book and found that its veracity has recently been questioned. I was curious, because there were some situations that seemed too extreme to be strictly true. However, given the detail provided, the malleability of human memory, the physical stress that the group was experiencing, and other amazing feats of human survival, I find it hard to believe that this is anything other than a mostly true story. Soviets documents claiming that Rawicz was released strike me as less reliable than a comprehensive and detailed account of escape -- and that they perhaps saw Abominable Snowmen does not disprove his story.

The Long Walk sounds really interesting, Ivy. I've just checked and my library has it, so onto my wishlist it goes.

>101 DeltaQueen50: I look forward to your thoughts about it, Judy!

97. Rumpole and the Reign of Terror by John Mortimer (Rumple #18), 3*
Category: British Mystery

I'd not read any of the Rumpole books, though I'd watched some of the television shows years ago. This book -- one of the last published before Mortimer's death in 2009 and one of his few full-length (though short) novels -- deals with the erosion of civil rights in the aftermath of terrorist attacks.

I enjoyed this book. Rumpole is an entertaining character and I liked the courtroom scenes. The mystery was rather light-weight, though. And I didn't care for his depiction of women, who are definitely less intelligent than men -- although I must admit that the comments and antics of She Who Must Be Obeyed were amusing.

98. Myths & Legends Explained by Neil Philip
Category: World History -- 11 COMPLETED

I've been reading this off and on, and in a piecemeal fashion, for a couple of months. Each mythological concept, hero or story has a 2-page spread with a painting or other objet d'art. After a brief summary of the story, the various elements appearing in the art are identified and explained in side bars.

I really enjoyed the art. And, although the information is far from comprehensive, I especially liked that he mentioned relationships amng the gods and heroes, and that mythology from all over the world was included. This is a good addition to my reference library.

I came by to wish you Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, Ivy. I'll be going to visit my Mom and have limited access to a computer. I'll catch up with you in the New Year.

Thanks, Judy!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all!

Hoping that everyone has a wonderful holdiay!

Merry Christmas Ivy!

Thanks, Lori! I hope your Christmas was as lovely as ours!

99. A Christmas Promise by Anne Perry (Christmas #7), 3*
Category: British Mystery

This was the 3rd and last Anne Perry Christmas mystery for this year, finished just before Christmas. I'd not previously read any of her Christmas mysteries, and I've enjoyed them, though I don't think they're as good as her regular series. A Christmas Promise was interesting, written from the point of view of a 13-year-old waif living in London's slums, with most of the conversation in dialect; I don't think I've read any other book by her which features a child protagonist. I thought the setting was particularly vivid and well done.

Merry belated Christmas, Ivy, and a happy New Year! Hope you'll have a good one, full of good books. I've never heard of The long walk, but it sounds fascinating - thank you for a great review-

Thanks, Anders! Happy New Year!

I hadn't heard of The Long Walk either, until it was loaned to my daughter a couple of months ago. Originally published in 1956, I'm surprised that it isn't better known.

December Recap

I'm currently in the middle of 2 books, and very unlikely to finish either of them by the end of the year. Early in December, I completed my 7/11 Challenge, and then went on to reach 11 books in 2 more categories (3 total), ending the year with 99 books. I thought about reading a quick mystery to make the total an even 100, but I rather like the 99, so decided to leave it at that.

The best book in December was The Long Walk by Slavomir Rawicz. I thought that Christmas Mourning by Margaret Maron and A Duty to the Dead by Charles Todd were both excellent mysteries, and I enjoyed all my Christmas reading.

1. History in the Making (7/7) -- 7 COMPLETED

2. British History (9/7) -- 7 COMPLETED
~~ Glastonbury by Donna Fletcher Crow
~~ The Life of Gildas by Caradoc of Llancarfan
~~ The Life of Gildas by the Monk of Ruys
~~ The Chimes by Charles Dickens
~~ "A Child's Christmas in Wales" by Dylan Thomas

3. British Mystery (15/7) -- 11 COMPLETED
~~ A Christmas Guest by Anne Perry
~~ A Christmas Secret by Anne Perry
~~ A Duty to the Dead by Charles Todd
~~ Rumpole and the Reign of Terror by John Mortimer
~~ A Christmas Promise by Anne Perry

4. World History (11/7) -- 11 COMPLETED
~~ The Long Walk by Slavomir Rawicz
~~ Myths & Legends Explained by Neil Philip

5. World Mystery (7/7) -- 7 COMPLETED

6. U.S. History (7/7) -- 7 COMPLETED

7. Southern U.S. Mystery (7/7) -- 7 COMPLETED
~~ Christmas Mourning by Margaret Maron

8. Eastern U.S. Mystery (8/7) -- 7 COMPLETED

9. Other Mystery (7/7) -- 7 COMPLETED
~~ Gingerbread Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke, Laura Levine & Leslie Meier

10. History That Never Was (12/7) -- 11 COMPLETED

11. Children of Yesteryear (9/7) -- 7 COMPLETED

2011 Recap

Favorite Books of 2011

I feel a bit guilty leaving some really, really good books off this list, but these were the ones I liked the most -- that I loved all the way through -- though the reasons for each tend to be quite different. They're roughly in order, but tomorrow the order might be a little different.

1. The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer
2. The Passage by Justin Cronin
3. Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand
4. The Hunger Games (trilogy) by Suzanne Collins
5. Maus: A Survivor's Tale by Art Spiegelman
6. The Long Walk by Slavomir Rawicz
7. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (re-read)
8. The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway (re-read)
9. A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny
10. King Lear by William Shakespeare (re-read)

Favorite New Series: Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear

Books I Hated

Only 3 out of 99 books -- a very good percentage, I think.

1. Tideland by Mitch Cullen (well written, but a distasteful story)
2. Skeleton Key to the Suicide of My Father, Ross Lockridge, Jr., Author of Raintree County by Ernest Lockridge (very strange and bitter)
3. Guilt by Association by Marcia Clark (good procedural, but I despised the protagonist)

And I'm off to the 12 in 12:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/122494

I am pretty sure you mean "favorite books of 2011," Ivy -- you must be getting excited for next year! :) I've seen so much praise of The Invisible Bridge that I definitely need to get to it next year.

>114 christina_reads: Thanks, Christina! Now fixed. Obviously, I'm already done with 2011!

I gave The Invisible Bridge to several people for Christmas -- one report back so far: "I can't put it down." My own copy was loaned out shortly after I finished, and I think has now gone on to others -- I may get it back someday, but I expect it to be well worn (that is, well loved as with the Velveteen Rabbit).

Nice wrap ups Ivy! The Invisible Bridge is one I hope to get to in 2012.... great to hear it is so good!

I am glad you liked The Invisible Bridge. I also rated it as one of my best reads of the year.

>116 lkernagh: Thanks, Lori! I hope you'll be able to read it soon!

>117 thornton37814: It really is a great book, Lori.

Happy New Year to all!