rabbitprincess burrows in the garden in 2014

CharlasROOT - 2014 Read Our Own Tomes

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rabbitprincess burrows in the garden in 2014

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1rabbitprincess
Editado: Dic 10, 2013, 8:22 pm

My bookshelves are blooming with a riot of colourful books. They are just as much fun to look at as to read...but of course I really should actually read them!



Picture taken at Buckingham Palace, London, in May 2012

In 2014 I will keep my goal of 50 books, which is achievable and gives me room to borrow lots of books from the library as well. (I have to support the library AND booksellers!) No age constraints, although I will try to give priority to titles acquired before January 1, 2014.




And in an effort to revisit some oldies but goodies, Operation Going Through the Stacks (Stalks?) is under way.


2rabbitprincess
Editado: Dic 31, 2014, 6:50 pm

2014 Reading List

Italics = books off the shelf. Bold = Favourite book of the month. Parenthetical notes will indicate audio, rereads, and other relevant information.

January
1. The Path of the Hero King, by Nigel Tranter
2. Dead People, by Ewart Hutton
3. The Everly Brothers: Walk Right Back, by Roger White (reread)
4. The Drowning Pool, by Ross Macdonald
5. It's a Don's Life, by Mary Beard
6. Doctor Who and the Planet of the Spiders, by Terrance Dicks
7. Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town, by Stephen Leacock
8. What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, by Henry Farrell
9. The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
10. The Invisible Code, by Christopher Fowler
11. The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde
12. Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster, by Jon Krakauer (Overdrive)

February
13. The Christie Curse, by Victoria Abbott (Overdrive)
14. Scottish Battles, by John Sadler
15. The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History, by Robert M. Edsel
16. McNally's Luck, by Lawrence Sanders (reread)
17. Doctor Who and the Seeds of Doom, by Philip Hinchcliffe
18. The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements, by Sam Kean (Overdrive)
19. In the Woods, by Tana French
20. The Enchanted Castle, by E. Nesbit (reread)
21. Doctor Who and the Underworld, by Terrance Dicks

March
22. Death in a White Tie, by Ngaio Marsh
23. Before the Fact, by Francis Iles
24. Bleak House, by Charles Dickens
25. Ten Years in the Tub: A Decade Soaking in Great Books, by Nick Hornby
26. The Three Musketeers, by Alexandre Dumas (tr. Lord Sudley, abridged)
27. The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches, by Alan Bradley
28. Jerusalem: The Biography, by Simon Sebag Montefiore (unfinished)
29. An April Shroud, by Reginald Hill
30. The Republic of Pirates, by Colin Woodard (unfinished)
31. Agatha Christie's Secret Notebooks, by John Curran
32. Broken Homes, by Ben Aaronovitch
33. Death to the French, by C.S. Forester
34. The Body in the Library, by Agatha Christie (audio, narrated by Stephanie Cole)
35. The Clue of the Broken Blade, by Franklin W. Dixon
36. The Sudden Arrival of Violence, by Malcolm MacKay
37. Don't Make Me Think, Revisited: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, by Steve Krug

April
38. Quite Ugly One Morning, by Christopher Brookmyre
39. The Secret Rooms: A True Gothic History, by Catherine Bailey
40. Thanks for the Feedback: The Science and Art of Receiving Feedback Well, by Douglas Stone and Sharon Heen
41. The Cold Cold Ground, by Adrian McKinty
42. The Last Frontier, by Alistair MacLean
43. Rocket Girl: The Story of Mary Sherman Morgan, America's First Female Rocket Scientist, by George D. Morgan
44. Twelfth Night, by William Shakespeare
45. The Good Soldier, by Ford Madox Ford
46. The Nameless Dead, by Brian McGilloway

May
47. Black Skies, by Arnaldur Indridason
48. Shada: The Lost Adventure, by Gareth Roberts
49. The Bridge Over the River Kwai, by Pierre Boulle (trans. Xan Fielding)
50. The Beautiful Mystery, by Louise Penny
51. A Bullet in the Ballet, by Caryl Brahms and S.J. Simon
52. A Tap on the Window, by Linwood Barclay
53. The Pelican Brief, by John Grisham
54. Doctor Who and the Brain of Morbius, by Terrance Dicks

55. Cascadia's Fault: The Coming Earthquake and Tsunami That Could Devastate North America, by Jerry Thompson

June
56. The Laughing Policeman, by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö (reread)
57. The Killings at Badger's Drift, by Caroline Graham
58. The Curmudgeon's Guide to Getting Ahead, by Charles Murray
59. Coke Machine Glow, by Gordon Downie (reread)
60. The Science of Sherlock Holmes, by E.J. Wagner
61. Northern Ireland: The Reluctant Peace, by Feargal Cochrane
62. Rilla of Ingleside, by Lucy Maud Montgomery
63. The Science of Doctor Who, by Paul Parsons
64. Towards Zero, by Agatha Christie
65. Bad Science: Quacks, Hacks, and Big Pharma Flacks, by Ben Goldacre
66. Journey's End, by R.C. Sherriff
67. The Price of the King's Peace, by Nigel Tranter

July
68. The Yellow Birds, by Kevin Powers
69. The Dalek Generation, by Nicholas Briggs
70. A Little Yuletide Murder, by Jessica Fletcher and Donald Bain
71. Red Planet Blues, by Robert J. Sawyer
72. Empire: The Novel of Imperial Rome, by Steven Saylor
73. The Sayers Swindle, by Victoria Abbott
74. Set in Darkness, by Ian Rankin
75. Light Thickens, by Ngaio Marsh
76. The Last House of Ulster: A Family in Belfast, by Charles Foran
77. Bleed a River Deep, by Brian McGilloway
78. The Norman Conquest: The Battle of Hastings and the Fall of Anglo-Saxon England, by Marc Morris
79. Mrs. Pollifax on the China Station, by Dorothy Gilman

August
80. Cubed: A Secret History of the Workplace, by Nikil Saval
81. The Case of the Gilded Fly, by Edmund Crispin
82. To Hell and Back, by Niki Lauda
83. Entry Island, by Peter May
84. Laws in Conflict, by Cora Harrison
85. Rendezvous in Black, by Cornell Woolrich
86. He Who Fears the Wolf, by Karin Fossum

September
87. An Officer and a Spy, by Robert Harris
88. Unprintable, by Julie Kaewert
89. Breakheart Pass, by Alistair MacLean
90. Ludmila: A Story of Liechtenstein, by Paul Gallico
91. Dead Souls, by Ian Rankin
92. A Briefer History of Time, by Stephen Hawking
93. Maigret and the Hundred Gibbets, by Georges Simenon (trans. Tony White)
94. Le Sphinx des glaces, by Jules Verne
95. Jamaica Inn, by Daphne du Maurier
96. Murder by Moonlight and Other Mysteries, by Anthony Boucher and Denis Green
97. The State of Quebec: A Journalist's View of the Quiet Revolution, by Peter Desbarats
98. The Design of Everyday Things, by Donald A. Norman
99. The Field of Blood, by Denise Mina
100. Mr Mac and Me, by Esther Freud

October
101. Five Dead Canaries, by Edward Marston
102. The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon, by David Grann
103. A Spy Among Friends: Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal, by Ben Macintyre
104. Pied Piper, by Nevil Shute
105. I Married a Dead Man, by Cornell Woolrich
106. Star Trek: The Next Generation / Doctor Who: Assimilation2, Volume 1, by Scott Tipton et al.
107. The Night the Rich Men Burned, by Malcolm Mackay
108. Lock In, by John Scalzi
109. La grammaire est une chanson douce, by Erik Orsenna
110. Us, by David Nicholls

November
111. The Guards, by Ken Bruen
112. Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margin of Error, by Kathryn Schulz
113. Airframe, by Michael Crichton
114. The Fourth Protocol, by Frederick Forsyth (DNF)
115. Beware This Boy, by Maureen Jennings
116. Vintage Murder, by Ngaio Marsh
117. The Arabian Nights, ed. Orton Lowe
118. League of Denial: The NFL, Concussions and the Battle for Truth, by Mark Fainaru-Wada and Steve Fainaru
119. Richard II, by William Shakespeare
120. The Lake District Murder, by John Bude
121. Jackaby, by William Ritter
122. Murder Underground, by Mavis Doriel Hay
123. The Martian, by Andy Weir
124. A Tale Etched in Blood and Hard Black Pencil, by Christopher Brookmyre

December
125. One Under, by Graham Hurley
126. Death at Sandringham House, by C.C. Benison
127. Napoleon's Buttons: 17 Molecules that Changed History, by Penny Le Couteur
128. Strange Loyalties, by William McIlvanney
129. The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
130. Dead Man's Mirror, by Agatha Christie
131. So, Anyway…, by John Cleese
132. Pictures of Perfection, by Reginald Hill
133. The Far Side of the Dollar, by Ross Macdonald
134. Red or Dead, by David Peace
135. The Papers of Tony Veitch, by William McIlvanney
136. Cover Her Face, by P.D. James
137. Mrs. Pollifax on Safari, by Dorothy Gilman (reread)
138. Wobble to Death, by Peter Lovesey
139. Doctor Who: Plague of the Cybermen, by Justin Richards -- 3 stars
140. Rob Roy, by Sir Walter Scott

Books read but not counted toward the yearly total for whatever reason
- Cabin Pressure Series 3 (audio)
- House Beautiful: The Apartment Book: Smart Decorating for Any Room, Large or Small
- DK Eyewitness Travel Ireland
- Sweater Girls: 20 Patterns for Starlet Sweaters, Retro Wraps, and Glamour Knits, by Madeline Weston and Rita Taylor

3connie53
Dic 11, 2013, 10:49 am

Yeah, Rabbitprincess joins the party!

4rabbitprincess
Dic 11, 2013, 4:43 pm

Yup, I love how this group encourages me to read more off my own shelves!

5MissWatson
Dic 12, 2013, 4:21 am

Happy reading!

6christina_reads
Dic 12, 2013, 9:20 am

Good luck, RP -- love the picture!

7VivienneR
Dic 12, 2013, 4:44 pm

Welcome back!

8rabbitprincess
Dic 12, 2013, 6:17 pm

Thanks, all! :)

9clue
Dic 13, 2013, 6:33 pm

Welcome back! I wish the Queen's gardener would do my yard next summer!

10tloeffler
Dic 26, 2013, 7:14 pm

Welcome back for more fun and games this year! Good Luck!

11avanders
Dic 27, 2013, 2:01 pm

wow those are quite some goals! Good Luck!

12rabbitprincess
Dic 28, 2013, 10:16 pm

Thanks all! And yes I would love to have the Queen's gardener do my yard work, if I had a yard :) The best part about that picture is that it was taken on the one nice day of our whole trip.

13fuzzi
Dic 28, 2013, 10:32 pm

I love your ticker!

14LauraBrook
Dic 30, 2013, 6:46 pm

* and good luck, RP!

15rabbitprincess
Dic 30, 2013, 8:14 pm

>13 fuzzi:: Thanks!

>14 LauraBrook:: LOVE IT!!!! Where do you find these amazing pictures? :D

16LauraBrook
Dic 31, 2013, 11:15 am

Simply google, my dear. It's a wonderful and dangerous thing. :)

17rainpebble
Ene 1, 2014, 2:24 am

Hi princess. Good luck with your challenge.

18karspeak
Ene 1, 2014, 6:25 am

:)

19rabbitprincess
Editado: Ene 4, 2014, 3:13 pm

>16 LauraBrook:: I bow to your Google-fu!

>17 rainpebble:: Thanks!

>18 karspeak:: :D

***

First ROOT of the year!

The Path of the Hero King, by Nigel Tranter
ROOT 1 of 50
Source: Moffat Books, Moffat, Scotland (purchased May 2013)
Rating: 4.5/5

Second in the Robert the Bruce trilogy, this book covers up to the famous Battle of Bannockburn, whose 700th anniversary is being celebrated this year. I got really caught up in the excitement in this one. Thrilling battles, some funny moments and even a fighting woman or two (in the 1300s! I was quite surprised). Looking forward to the third book.

20cyderry
Ene 2, 2014, 9:48 pm

Wow! one already!

21Familyhistorian
Ene 2, 2014, 9:48 pm

I have been meaning to read the Tranter book that I got because of my interest in Scottish history. After reading your review, it sounds like it will be interesting when I do.

22dudes22
Ene 3, 2014, 7:16 am

Stopping by to say hi. So many threads to keep up with at this time if the year...still finishing up the old ones and keeping up with new ones. Hope you have so e wonderful reading this year!

23janflora
Ene 3, 2014, 8:33 am

Hello, thank you for visiting me :) I may take your List idea so I can keep them all in one place. Happy reading!

24rabbitprincess
Ene 4, 2014, 3:21 pm

>20 cyderry:: I started that one on Dec 27, so it took a few days! Haven't finished any books since.

>21 Familyhistorian:: I peeked at your library and saw that you have Lord of the Isles. That one sounds interesting as well. Hope you like it!

>22 dudes22:: Hi! I know eh, so many threads to visit. This time of year I get home from work and find the unread messages spilling over into the second page of Talk! Hope you have a great reading year too!

>23 janflora:: By all means! I find it handy to list them all here chronologically, to complement my lists by topic over at my Category Challenge thread. Happy reading to you too!

25Familyhistorian
Ene 4, 2014, 5:44 pm

>re 21. I mainly bought Lord of the Isles because of the topic as some of my ancestors came from Islay, the main Isle which the Lord ruled. I hope that it is a good story when I get around to reading it!

26tymfos
Ene 4, 2014, 6:53 pm

Hi and welcome back for a new year! We're both aiming for 50 ROOT books.

27rabbitprincess
Ene 5, 2014, 9:23 pm

>25 Familyhistorian:: Interesting! The Isles are supposed to be beautiful as well. Would love to see them someday.

>26 tymfos:: Thanks, good luck with your goal!

****

Trying out a new format for my thread this year. Non-ROOTS will be listed with a link to my review (no touchstones), and I will wait to post until I've read a ROOT.

====

Dead People, by Ewart Hutton -- non-ROOT, library book -- 3/5 -- review

====

The Everly Brothers: Walk Right Back, by Roger White
ROOT 2 of 50
Going Through the Stacks Book #10
Source: gift
Rating: 5/5

This is the second edition of the book, published in 1999. I was prompted to revisit it after the most untimely death of Phil, the younger Everly Brother. It's a very comprehensive biography and contains many amusing photos (I always flip to the photo sections of biographies first!). And now I'll have the song mentioned in the title stuck in my head.

28Tess_W
Ene 5, 2014, 11:10 pm

That's quite an impressive number of books! Good luck!

29rabbitprincess
Ene 9, 2014, 9:23 pm

>28 Tess_W:: Thanks! The second ticker (the Going Through the Stacks one) is a goal that's been ongoing for the past couple of years. I'm lucky if I add two books to that ticker in a year.

***

Third ROOT of the year! I do have an ominously growing pile of library books, but I have been very good about reading my own books so far.

The Drowning Pool, by Ross Macdonald
ROOT 3 of 50
Source: World's Biggest Bookstore, Toronto
Rating: 4/5

This is the second in the Lew Archer series and a very good installment. I especially loved the atmosphere: it was consistently dark and shifting, like the water in the titular pool at night. Recommended.

30Nickelini
Ene 9, 2014, 9:57 pm

They are just as much fun to look at as to read

Isn't that too true? I've been known to confess that I like to pull my TBR apart just to fondle my books. Colin Firth says it better:



Did you take the picture at Buckingham Palace, and if yes, did you get the gardener's name? He can come help me too.

In 2014 I will keep my goal of 50 books, which is achievable and gives me room to borrow lots of books from the library as well. (I have to support the library AND booksellers!) No age constraints, although I will try to give priority to titles acquired before January 1, 2014.

That's EXACT:LY what I do too, and how I look at it. Great minds . . . .

Anyway, here's to a spectacular year of reading for all.

31rabbitprincess
Ene 9, 2014, 10:04 pm

>30 Nickelini:: I did indeed take that picture at Buckingham Palace. It was the one nice day of our London 2012 trip (we went in late April/early May and it was the wettest April on record). Didn't get the gardener's name though, alas.

I also like adding my extra ROOTs to the group total. Makes me feel helpful!

And I must admit I keep some of my really nice-looking books on the bookcase closer to my computer desk for ease of admiring.

32Ameise1
Ene 10, 2014, 2:57 pm

Hi RP! I'm impressed, already three books done. Wow!
Happy reading 😃

33rabbitprincess
Ene 15, 2014, 6:53 pm

>32 Ameise1:: Thanks very much! And I've added two more to the total! This is scary.

===

It's a Don's Life, by Mary Beard -- non-ROOT, library book -- 3.5/5 -- review

===

Doctor Who and the Planet of the Spiders, by Terrance Dicks
ROOT 4 of 50
Source: Dragan Tail Books, Ottawa
Rating: 4/5

A very thrilling Third Doctor adventure. It was rendered extra creepy by reading it immediately after watching The Desolation of Smaug, which features some terrifying spiders. I finished the book in a couple of hours, which was very satisfying.

Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town, by Stephen Leacock
ROOT 5 of 50
Source: Library book sale
Rating: 4.5/5

A classic work of Canadian humour (the author is the namesake of a humour award). It had me hooked from the first sentence of the preface and didn't let go. Lots of chuckles and constantly changing my mind about which chapter was my favourite.

34raidergirl3
Ene 15, 2014, 7:43 pm

Isn't there a new edition of Sunshine Sketches, with a new illustrator, Seth? I think he's originally from PEI. I haven't read the book, but there was something on the news recently about this.

35rabbitprincess
Ene 15, 2014, 9:19 pm

>34 raidergirl3:: Indeed there is! http://www.mcclelland.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780771046674
I read the New Canadian Library mass market paperback edition (with afterword by Jack Hodgins).

36avanders
Ene 16, 2014, 5:43 pm

wow you're rockin' it! I should read one of those Doctor books... right up my alley..

37tymfos
Ene 18, 2014, 4:10 pm

You're making good progress on the challenge!

38Tess_W
Ene 21, 2014, 8:05 pm

A great start. Congrats!

39rabbitprincess
Ene 26, 2014, 3:08 pm

>36 avanders:: Thanks! The Doctor Who books are a lot of fun, and very quick!

>37 tymfos:: Just finished a sixth one as well (which is why I haven't been posting on here for a few days...).

>38 Tess_W:: Thanks! :)

Books read since last post:

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, by Henry Farrell -- non-ROOT, library book -- review

====

The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
ROOT 6 of 50
Source: Book Depository
Rating: 4/5

Another enjoyable collection of Holmes stories. One of my favourites was "The Dancing Men", mainly because of the code. Was somewhat disappointed by "Charles Augustus Milverton", but really liked "The Second Stain" and "The Missing Three-Quarter" (even if the latter was very difficult to guess). Finished just in time for the second episode of Sherlock on PBS tonight!

40Merryann
Ene 26, 2014, 8:19 pm

You are certainly gathering many good books from your garden! :)

41Tess_W
Ene 28, 2014, 10:18 pm

Congrats on the progress!

42tymfos
Ene 29, 2014, 11:19 pm

6 ROOTs so far? Very good!

43Caramellunacy
Ene 30, 2014, 10:39 am

I've really loved the first two seasons of Sherlock (I haven't watched the third yet (it is getting really tough to avoid spoilers)), but they always make me want to dig up the original stories to see how they've been updated!

44rabbitprincess
Ene 30, 2014, 5:17 pm

>40 Merryann:: I sure am! :)

>41 Tess_W:: Thanks!

>42 tymfos:: Just added a 7th! See below.

>43 Caramellunacy:: Oh man has it ever been tough to avoid spoilers! Especially because my online newspaper of choice is the Guardian. It's fun to read the Holmes stories and find those little shout-outs.

====

Books read since last post:

The Invisible Code, by Christopher Fowler -- non-ROOT, library book -- review

The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde
ROOT 7 of 50
Source: not sure, probably some secondhand book sale
Rating: 3/5

One of those classics where you have a general idea of the story, but reading it gives you an opportunity to see it for yourself. I liked it and it met my expectations. Will probably read the introduction now that I'm finished, to find out more about its creation and inspiration.

45connie53
Ene 31, 2014, 7:07 am

You are doing just fine!!!

46Jackie_K
Ene 31, 2014, 3:53 pm

Very impressive, you're leaving me standing!

47LittleTaiko
Ene 31, 2014, 4:54 pm

Great first month of ROOT's!

48rabbitprincess
Editado: Feb 1, 2014, 5:41 pm

>45 connie53:: Thanks, Connie!

>46 Jackie_K:: There's plenty of time for me to fall back ;) May will probably be slow, if I go on vacation.

>47 LittleTaiko:: Thanks! Surprisingly good!

January recap: As stated above, 7 ROOTS pulled.

The Path of the Hero King, by Nigel Tranter (review)
The Everly Brothers: Walk Right Back, by Roger White (reread) (review)
The Drowning Pool, by Ross Macdonald (review)
Doctor Who and the Planet of the Spiders, by Terrance Dicks (review)
Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town, by Stephen Leacock (review)
The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (review)
The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde (review)

Book of the month: The Path of the Hero King, by Nigel Tranter -- started the year off on a great note.

In February I am continuing the Scottish theme with Scottish Battles, by John Sadler. I have other history books in the TBR pile as well. It should be a very educational month.

49Tess_W
Feb 1, 2014, 8:26 pm

WOW, I'm impressed! Great Start.

50tymfos
Feb 2, 2014, 9:23 pm

Good work! I liked The Picture of Dorian Gray, too. It's one of those rare books that I actually re-read.

51Jackie_K
Feb 3, 2014, 4:42 pm

Scotland certainly has a very interesting history, so hopefully you're enjoying this month's ROOTs! I live in Scotland (although as I am English the history is sometimes not very favourable!!).

52MissWatson
Feb 4, 2014, 6:44 am

Congrats on an amazing number of ROOTs!

53avanders
Feb 4, 2014, 11:42 am

Wow congrats on your ROOTS! Dorian Gray is one of those classics that I've still never read... but I mean to! ;)

54rabbitprincess
Feb 4, 2014, 5:38 pm

>49 Tess_W:: Thanks!

>50 tymfos:: Thanks! It was neat to finally read it after hearing so much about it.

>51 Jackie_K:: Nice! My family and I visited Scotland last year and had a great time. We did Edinburgh, Inverness and Glasgow, with a brief detour to the Highlands. Now I can picture more clearly all these places I'm reading about.

>52 MissWatson:: *bows* First book of this month is a non-ROOT, but I am working on two ROOTS as well.

>53 avanders:: It went surprisingly quickly! The only really slow chapter is Chapter 11, but it can be safely skimmed.

55avanders
Feb 4, 2014, 6:54 pm

lol! safely skimmed, ey? like Stephen King books..... ;)

56streamsong
Feb 8, 2014, 10:49 am

I love your thread topper and your garden of books!

I'm also digging thought the pile and catching a few Sherlock Holmes books. And loving the Sherlock television shows.

57rabbitprincess
Feb 8, 2014, 8:22 pm

>55 avanders:: Possibly! I haven't read a Stephen King in ages, though, so I can't say for certain.

>56 streamsong:: Thanks! It was a very pretty garden indeed. And hurray for Sherlock in all his forms :) One of these days I will watch the Jeremy Brett version.

===

Books read since last post:

The Christie Curse, by Victoria Abbott -- non-ROOT, library book -- review

Scottish Battles, by John Sadler
ROOT 8 of 50
Source: The National War Museum, Edinburgh, Scotland
Rating: 3/5

This book certainly contains a lot of information, but it also informed me of what I do NOT know: a lot of the underlying history of events between Bannockburn and Culloden. This lack of background on my part made it difficult for me to keep track of who was on what side. But I loved all the details about the ordnance and weaponry, and found Bannockburn and Culloden themselves easier to keep track of. (Incidentally, the Culloden visitors' centre, which I visited last year, is very good.) So I think I'll read some more history and come back to this book another time.

58tymfos
Feb 10, 2014, 11:59 am

it also informed me of what I do NOT know . . .This lack of background on my part made it difficult for me

I've often found that non-fiction books can do that. The "I'll read more background and come back to this" reaction is a good one!

59rabbitprincess
Feb 13, 2014, 10:09 pm

>58 tymfos:: I took a few notes on the more geeky weaponry details. Might have to read up on armaments as well!

Books read since last post:

The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History, by Robert M. Edsel -- non-ROOT, library book -- 3.5/5 -- review

===

McNally's Luck, by Lawrence Sanders
ROOT 9 of 50
Going Through the Stacks Book #11
Source: L'Armée du Salut thrift shop, Montreal, Quebec
Rating: 3/5

A reread from my teenage years. Archy McNally is an amiable rogue of a sleuth, but I love his dad, Prescott, just as much. This was an especially enjoyable read because I've been bogged down in heavy non-fiction (and still am) and needed a break.

Doctor Who and the Seeds of Doom, by Philip Hinchcliffe
ROOT 10 of 50
Source: Dragan Tail Books, Ottawa, Ontario
Rating: 3/5

A very exciting Fourth Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith adventure. Creepy monster, unrelenting pace. Some erroneous word usage, though, which made its rating suffer a bit (I can be picky about things like that).

===

I've lined up another ROOT for the bus, but it's almost 600 pages, so it might be a while before my next post. I also have two non-ROOT books on the go at home.

60Merryann
Feb 14, 2014, 2:14 am

Thank you for the review of The Monuments Men. I recently got the book and am now looking forward to reading it more than ever!

I hadn't even thought that the new edition might have changed due to the upcoming movie. I'm glad mine is the older edition so I don't even have to wonder if it's different. I'd rather have the original words of the author.

61Jackie_K
Feb 14, 2014, 11:49 am

I'm currently planning on reading a couple of short books to catch up with myself - I did though have a couple of monster page number books on my list for this year, maybe I'm going to have to be realistic and replace them with something else a bit less daunting!

Good luck with the reading on the bus! I always get so travelsick if I try and read in a car or bus.

62avanders
Feb 14, 2014, 12:50 pm

You did it! You're the first person I "know" who's read the monuments men.. Looking forward to your review!!

63Shutzie27
Feb 14, 2014, 7:22 pm

I am as well. The movie made me want to read the book.

64rabbitprincess
Feb 15, 2014, 2:00 pm

>60 Merryann:: Hurray! Hope you like it. And I'm pretty sure there wouldn't be any actual new content -- maybe a new introduction or preface or foreword. If the book were a lot older, then maybe it would have been updated.

>61 Jackie_K:: I've found it more difficult to read in cars recently, but I'm usually OK on the bus unless it's really hot and stuffy. Excessive heat makes me feel queasy.

>62 avanders:, 63: Review is here: http://www.librarything.com/review/105810647
I skimmed the last little bit because I was in a hurry to return the book to the library, but that was a time issue and not a content issue.

65Shutzie27
Feb 21, 2014, 1:45 am

#64> I really enjoyed your review! It wasn't a total rewrite (pet peeve of mine in reviews) and gave a nice, succinct summary of what you specifically liked about the book. Thanks! Added to the wish list.

I also thought it was interesting that you recommended having an iPad nearby to look up the art work. I did that when I read My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potak and a few other books as well. Technology can be intrusive to reading, but it can also be a great supplement to books as well.

I find I often am using my phone to look up things in books and my Kindle keyboard has become my chair side dictionary ever since I finally just caved and bought the Oxford English Dictionary (I read a lot of British and Irish historical mysteries and have found it to be invaluable for slang or esoteric terms.)

66MissWatson
Feb 21, 2014, 3:36 am

That sounds like an excellent reason for buying one of these gadgets. I'm still holding out, but the more I read about them here, the more I think that maybe I should give it a try...

67Caramellunacy
Feb 21, 2014, 6:30 am

I really enjoyed your review, rabbitprincess - left you a thumb. This is on my wishlist (and I want to see the movie) - as art/cultural heritage and its protection are a not-so-secret interest of mine. Not quite in the same vein, but have you read The Hare with Amber Eyes? While I found the author a bit intrusive at times, I thought it was a really interesting art biography tracing his family history through Belle Epoque Paris and WWII Vienna. (link to my review here if you're interested)

68rabbitprincess
Feb 21, 2014, 7:13 am

>65 Shutzie27:: Thank you for the kind words! And yes, technology can be helpful for books sometimes. I actually find my iPad a better supplement for print than ebooks. I get all of my ebooks through the library's Overdrive app, but the dictionary feature is hit-or-miss so I have to exit the Overdrive app, open the Internet, and THEN look up the word, sometimes switching back and forth a couple of times if I've forgotten how to spell the word. That doesn't sound like much effort, but it is annoying. If I'm reading a print book, I just have to open the Internet and type in the word directly.

British and Irish historical mysteries sound like fun! Any Irish recommendations in particular? I'm on an Ireland kick this year.

>66 MissWatson:: Well I guess you don't necessarily need an iPad specifically... a standard computer will do as well ;) I got the cheapest possible iPad mini and really like it. I use it mainly for web surfing, digital magazines and the international edition of BBC iPlayer.

>67 Caramellunacy:: Thanks for the thumb! I haven't read The Hare with Amber Eyes yet but have been very tempted indeed, since there's a hare in the title ;) I'll have to keep an eye out for it at the library.

69Caramellunacy
Editado: Feb 21, 2014, 7:29 am

I second the request for Irish historical mysteries! That sounds right up my alley.

In the British vein, I've enjoyed the Tudor-era Matthew Shardlake mysteries by C.J. Sansom - first one is Dissolution about the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VII, which reminded me a lot of a more penetrable In the Name of the Rose (though sadly without the Sean Connery visuals), though I preferred the somewhat more swashbuckling Dark Fire.

I also really enjoyed the Victorian-set Lady Emily Ashton mysteries, which begin with And Only To Deceive, especially since she gets to go traveling (Vienna in A Fatal Waltz and Istanbul in Tears of Pearl).

Not a historical mystery, but if you're looking for something to feed your Ireland kick (and, honestly, who isn't), I very much enjoyed Siobhan Dowd's YA novel Bog Child, which is set along the border during The Troubles and includes (bonus!) an archaeological burial in a bog.

70Shutzie27
Feb 22, 2014, 4:29 pm

I recently discovered Tana French, who has several books that follow the Dublin Murder Squad. I've only read Faithful Place, but really loved it. Though thwy're not really "historical," unless you count the 1980s as ancient history. ;-)

71connie53
Feb 22, 2014, 4:41 pm

Go and read all the other books by Tana French, they are all very good, Christina!

72rabbitprincess
Feb 23, 2014, 2:12 pm

>69 Caramellunacy:: Dissolution is on my TBR; thanks for the reminder! And Bog Child does sound interesting. A few years ago one of the local museums had an exhibit about Bog People and it was quite fascinating.

>70 Shutzie27:, 71: Funny you should mention Tana French, because I just read the first book in the Dublin Murder Squad series and loved it!

In the Woods, by Tana French
ROOT 11 of 50
Source: Christmas gift
Rating: 5/5

A fantastic beginning to the Dublin Murder Squad series. I clicked with Ryan's voice immediately and found the book almost impossible to put down. The ending was so suspenseful that, before I could finish reading, I had to check the back cover of the next book in the series to make sure everyone was still alive. Will definitely be reading more.

Also read recently: The Disappearing Spoon, by Sam Kean -- library book -- review

73rabbitprincess
Feb 23, 2014, 9:56 pm

Another ROOT down -- started and finished today!

The Enchanted Castle, by E. Nesbit
ROOT 12 of 50
Source: no idea, probably a gift
Rating: 3.5/5

One of my childhood Puffin Classics books that didn't get read as much as some of the others. I did like the magic in this book and how it had real-life consequences.

74Nickelini
Feb 23, 2014, 10:05 pm

I've been meaning to read Nesbit for years. I think this year it may happen.

75Shutzie27
Editado: Feb 23, 2014, 11:09 pm

Wow, you're truckin' right along. Good job!

>72 rabbitprincess: Glad you liked Into the Woods, I'm looking forward to reading that this year.

76tymfos
Feb 24, 2014, 1:11 am

I really liked In the Woods. I found the second book in the series, The Likeness, rather implausible; but the third one, Faithful Place was great and I really, really liked the fourth, Broken Harbor.

77avanders
Feb 24, 2014, 12:52 pm

>72 rabbitprincess:, 73
In the Woods - 5/5! I will definitely have to check that book out... I bought it many years back, gave it to my mom to read, she said it was "good but weird" and it kind of fell off my radar... but to be fair to the book, my mom thinks most of the books I read are "good but weird" and she reads a lot of romance (SO not my thing)...
I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it, and it's back on my radar! :)

And Interesting re The Enchanted Castle.. it's on my proposed list of 2015 roots (since 2014 is all full-up ;)) ... is it Gothic? that's what I had been told...

78rabbitprincess
Feb 24, 2014, 6:27 pm

>74 Nickelini:: It ended up being a very quick read. I started it around 2 on Sunday and was finished by 5. It just sucked me in!

>75 Shutzie27:: *bows* I hope you like In the Woods! I like to share my enthusiasm but at the same time I worry that I'm heightening expectations too much ;)

>76 tymfos:: Good to know! I intend to wait a bit before reading The Likeness, so maybe that will help get it out of the shadow of In the Woods.

>77 avanders:: And sometimes weird can be a good thing! ;)
I'd call The Enchanted Castle Enid Blyton with magic, since the kids are of boarding-school age, it's set in the UK, and the main adult is a stern but kind-hearted (and outrageously accented) French teacher, like in the Malory Towers series.

79Caramellunacy
Feb 25, 2014, 6:06 am

I just started In the Woods because of this thread. It was sitting there on my shelves beckoning me and I gave in this morning. Will keep y'all posted on how it's going!

80avanders
Feb 25, 2014, 11:51 am

>78 rabbitprincess: Agreed! :)
Can't wait to read it now!!

81VivienneR
Feb 26, 2014, 2:10 pm

>73 rabbitprincess:, 77, 78 I'm confused (easy to do). Are you referring to Edith Nesbit's Enchanted Castle or a book by Enid Blyton?

82avanders
Feb 26, 2014, 3:46 pm

>81 VivienneR: tee hee -- I'm referring to Nesbit :)
But I think rabbitprincess was saying that she'd compare the book by Nesbit with the Malory Towers books by Blyton, but with magic.

83dudes22
Feb 26, 2014, 6:26 pm

I started In the Woods on the plane yesterday and am about 3/4 of the way through. Really enjoying it. And I think I have the next one ( or at least one of them) back home on the shelf.

84rabbitprincess
Feb 26, 2014, 7:08 pm

>81 VivienneR:, 82: Yes, post 82 is correct. I would also compare The Enchanted Castle to Half Magic, by Edward Eager.

>83 dudes22:: Hurray! Glad to hear it. :D

85connie53
Feb 27, 2014, 2:12 pm

>83 dudes22:: good news! Read on!

86dudes22
Feb 27, 2014, 4:15 pm

Done! Finished! Loved it! can see why you gave it a 5.

87rabbitprincess
Feb 27, 2014, 9:58 pm

February recap, as I am unlikely to finish my current ROOT by end of day tomorrow.

February ROOTS pulled: 5

Scottish Battles, by John Sadler (review)
McNally's Luck, by Lawrence Sanders (reread) (review)
Doctor Who and the Seeds of Doom (review)
In the Woods, by Tana French (review)
The Enchanted Castle, by E. Nesbit (reread) (review)

Book of the Month: In the Woods, by Tana French -- 5-star read!

ROOTS pulled to date: 12

In March, my non-ROOTS (library books) will continue my armchair travels to Ireland. I have fiction and non-fiction about Northern Ireland on tap, and a non-fiction book about the Irish Potato Famine.

As for my ROOTS, I hope to get into audiobooks and plays, two categories of my Category Challenge that have been neglected. I have an audiobook on the go that needs to be finished, and a play waiting in my "books to be read soon" pile.

88MissWatson
Feb 28, 2014, 4:15 am

Wonderful progress!

89avanders
Feb 28, 2014, 12:27 pm

Woo hoo Congrats!

90leslie.98
Mar 1, 2014, 11:53 am

Good going!

91rabbitprincess
Mar 1, 2014, 7:43 pm

Thank you all! This is a very encouraging group ;) Lucky number 13 was finished today.

Death in a White Tie, by Ngaio Marsh
ROOT 13 of 50
Source: Friends of Library and Archives Canada used book sale
Rating: 3.5/5

It was fitting that I ended up reading this one, because the last Alleyn book I read was Artists in Crime, which immediately precedes this one in the series. I like Alleyn's mum and Agatha Troy, so it was nice to see them here, and I didn't guess whodunnit. Not that I usually do, but when it comes to mysteries I prefer being outwitted to being right; I'm just along for the ride.

92leslie.98
Mar 1, 2014, 8:05 pm

:) I have a couple of Ngaio Marsh books to reread in March - Enter a Murderer for a group read elsewhere and Vintage Murder

93Shutzie27
Mar 2, 2014, 7:23 pm

>91 rabbitprincess: I have the same attitude about mysteries!

94VivienneR
Mar 3, 2014, 9:53 pm

>82 avanders: & >84 rabbitprincess: Ah, I get it now. I sort of mis-read the original message.

95Shutzie27
Mar 6, 2014, 4:08 am

Well, I finally finished Full Dark House, huzzah! And, since there was so much chatter about it here, I've decided my next book will be In the Woods. :-)

96connie53
Mar 6, 2014, 2:56 pm

You go, Christina!

97rabbitprincess
Editado: Mar 9, 2014, 3:43 pm

Howdy visitors!

>92 leslie.98:: I like the atmosphere of her theatre-based mysteries. She really captures that environment well (as I guess she should, being a playwright).

>93 Shutzie27:: Whew, it's not just me! But strangely I am more inclined to guess when I'm watching a mystery on TV. Or if I'm watching an Agatha I try to guess what plot points will be gratuitously changed in the adaptation.

>94 VivienneR:: :) Glad we could clear that up!

>95 Shutzie27:: Yay! and yay again! Hope you like it.

>96 connie53:: :D

****

Sorry I've been AWOL from this thread. First I went away for the weekend (last weekend), and then I got a cold. First one this winter, which is saying something! So this has meant a lot of sleeping (thank goodness I am at least able to sleep, and not up all night coughing), and books that could be read in between naps, and finally deciding to not continue with books that were taking too long or that I just didn't have the patience for.

ROOTS;

Bleak House, by Charles Dickens
ROOT 14 of 50
Source: library book sale
Rating: 2.5/5

Part of the problem with this book could have been my edition. I bought it secondhand because owning the book is really the only way I'm going to even attempt any Dickens, but the print was not ideal and the book itself is a dull, leaden grey (and feels like a block of lead as well). I got up to chapter 32 and decided I'd go back to the BBC adaptation to get the rest of the story. Still, I got further on this second attempt than I did on the first attempt, so that is an achievement.

The Three Musketeers, by Alexandre Dumas père (translated by Lord Sudley)
ROOT 15 of 50
Source: Friends of Library and Archives Canada book sale
Rating: 4/5

This is not the definitive edition of Dumas' story; it's an abridged translation published by Puffin Classics. However, if you're interested in the basic elements of the story, this is an okay place to start. It hits all the high notes and moves fairly quickly (the print size also helps). I read this for a group read over at the Category Challenge and was glad for the quick hit of classic literature.

Non-ROOTS:

Before the Fact, by Francis Iles -- 3.5/5 -- review
Ten Years in the Tub: A Decade Soaking in Great Books, by Nick Hornby -- 4/5 -- review
The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches, by Alan Bradley -- 4.5/5 -- review

98Tess_W
Mar 9, 2014, 3:14 pm

I have read several of Puffin editions, and I find I like them for pleasure reading!

99Shutzie27
Mar 9, 2014, 4:09 pm

>97 rabbitprincess: I've tried Dickens several times and just can't seem to get through any of his stuff, even the great cornerstone classics. I'm usually OK with wordy, but he is just too much.

As far as abridged/edited editions go, I tried to read The Hunchback of Notre Dame several times but couldn't make it past the first three chapters. Finally, I picked up an abridged edition, a Bantam Pathfinder from the mid-1950s translated by Lowell Blair. It is fantastic and a beautiful translation! I used to be rather a snob about original works and classics, but that edition changed my mind forever.

100Tess_W
Mar 10, 2014, 5:59 am

I have read some Dickens by Puffin (Bleak House) and then re-read the original classic, for the life of me I could not figure out the difference! Both books were exactly the same in that the first 3 pages in each described mud!

101avanders
Mar 10, 2014, 2:59 pm

>97 rabbitprincess:
Bummer you didn't enjoy Bleak House more! It's one of those books that's been on my TBR list for a while, but I've never made it to it... maybe a movie/mini-series watch is in order :)

And mm a Dumas -- the Count was one of my all-time favorites, so I'm definitely interested in others of his!

102Shutzie27
Editado: Mar 11, 2014, 1:34 am

>100 Tess_W: Ha!!

I love Dumas as well. I loved The Three Musketeers so much I bought the sequel but can't bring myself to read it because I like the idea of the four of them being perpetually at the end of the book, happily sharing wine and awaiting their next adventure.

103rabbitprincess
Mar 14, 2014, 9:42 pm

>98 Tess_W: They are very zippy! And I like the colours. They really brighten up my bookshelf.

>99 Shutzie27: I think the only Dickens I've successfully completed is A Tale of Two Cities, but I haven't really tried more than three (the others being Bleak House and The Pickwick Papers).

I'd probably read an abridged edition of Hunchback as well, and I'm planning to do that for Les Misérables, if I ever get around to it.

>100 Tess_W: Funny abridgement/source text story: in university I took a course on King Arthur and one of the texts was Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur. I started reading the story about Balin and Balan and was becoming very puzzled because it all felt SO familiar, but I'd swear I'd never read Malory before. Then I realized that Roger Lancelyn Green's retelling of the King Arthur stories, which I ingested with alarming frequency during my childhood, borrows heavily from Malory -- heavily enough that I had the sentence structure buried in my subconscious all those years. So yes, abridgements can be useful sometimes ;)

>101 avanders: Yes I highly recommend the Gillian Anderson miniseries. It's a star-studded cast and it's 15 episodes, so there's plenty of room for the story to breathe, even with whatever cuts they had to make.

>102 Shutzie27: That's a great image :)

****

Non-ROOT:
Jerusalem: The Biography, by Simon Sebag Montefiore -- 4/5 (although unfinished) -- review

ROOT:

An April Shroud, by Reginald Hill
ROOT 16 of 50
Source: Russell Books, Victoria, BC
Rating: 3/5

The fourth Dalziel and Pascoe novel and a rather sedate one at that. Good if you're already into the series. I also watched the TV adaptation of this book with Warren Clarke as Dalziel and Colin Buchanan as Pascoe. It was a pretty faithful adaptation; no major deviations that I could see.

104rabbitprincess
Mar 19, 2014, 9:51 pm

Non-ROOT:
The Republic of Pirates, by Colin Woodard -- 2/5 (unfinished) -- review

ROOT:

Agatha Christie's Secret Notebooks, by John Curran
ROOT 17 of 50
Source: Xmas gift
Rating: 4.5/5

The only reason this isn't 5 stars is that I misunderstood slightly what the book was going to be about. I imagined it more as a straightforward reproduction of Agatha's notebooks, with endnotes/footnotes, explanations in square brackets, and the odd "illegible" where the handwriting could not be deciphered. However, this is more of a synthesis, sorting Agatha's notes by theme instead of chronologically; the books themselves aren't chronological anyway, so this approach makes sense and is excellent once you get used to the setup. But personally I would have called this "Secrets from Agatha Christie's Notebooks", just to be extra clear as to what it's about.

Bonus feature that I really appreciated: each chapter had a list at the beginning with all the books whose solutions were discussed in that chapter. Very handy for skipping the sections about books you haven't read yet.

105Shutzie27
Mar 21, 2014, 6:29 pm

>104 rabbitprincess: Glad you reviewed The Republic of Pirates. I read a pirate every summer and that was on my TBR list. If you're looking for excellently written, wonderfully researched pirate non-fiction, I can not reccommend Under the Black Flag by David Cordingly enough. No spelling errors and his narrative style is captivating, particularly the chapter on how pirates fought. It is still my favorite to this day.

106rabbitprincess
Mar 21, 2014, 6:32 pm

>105 Shutzie27: Ooh, Under the Black Flag looks great! I like that Cordingly was the former head of the National Maritime Museum in England -- that in itself would be an interesting place to visit. Also, photos and maps? Excellent! Added to the TBR :)

One thing I did find neat about Republic of Pirates was that it contained drawings of many different types of ships used by various navies and the pirates themselves during that period: sloops, frigates and so forth.

107rabbitprincess
Mar 23, 2014, 11:21 am

Finished another ROOT on Friday!

Broken Homes, by Ben Aaronovitch
ROOT 18 of 50
Source: Chapters, bought with a Christmas gift card
Rating: 4/5

I really enjoy the Peter Grant / Rivers of London series, and this installment is no exception. I'm thinking a reread of the earlier books in the series is in order, though; this is the fourth book in the series, and I read the third book first, so some references to the third book in this one took a while for me to recall. Still, lots of fun. Peter and the crew are always a treat to visit.

****

And a non-ROOT:
Rifleman Dodd (aka Death to the French), by C.S. Forester -- 3.5/5 -- review

108tymfos
Editado: Mar 25, 2014, 10:53 am

>107 rabbitprincess: I'm seeing several people enjoying this series. Maybe I'll look for it.

(Sigh) like I need another series...

109rabbitprincess
Mar 29, 2014, 11:49 am

>108 tymfos: I know eh! So many series, so little time. I just discovered a whole bunch of Irish series to try (two mysteries and a historical fiction).

****

And now that RL is not kicking my butt quite so much today, I have reviews for my two most recent ROOTs (and probably the last ones for the month):

The Body in the Library, by Agatha Christie -- audio, narrated by Stephanie Cole
ROOT 19 of 50
Source: iTunes
Rating: 4/5

When I first read the book in print, I gave it 3.5 stars. The audio version made me knock half a star off this rating for its very repetitive beginning -- how many times could people be told the news about the body in the library and speculate about who she was and what she was doing there? Admittedly, it was a good way to introduce the key players, but in print it's easier to skip over. To the three stars for the book I added an extra one for Stephanie Cole's narration.

The Clue of the Broken Blade, by Franklin W. Dixon
ROOT 20 of 50
Source: EVM
Rating: 2/5

I think if I'd read this one as a child I would be more fond of it today. As it was, however, grownup me thought it was rather silly. Improbable dialogue, some embarrassing stereotypes, and things that make you wonder (e.g. When do Frank and Joe ever go to school?). Still, it was better than the last Nancy Drew I read (The Clue in the Old Stagecoach), so I don't consider it a total waste of time.

110Merryann
Editado: Abr 9, 2014, 7:11 pm

You know that thing about the writers of the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew books having to promise never to reveal their identities? I've generally thought that a good thing, but maybe if they hadn't known they were cloaked in anonymity, they'd have given a bit more thought to some of the improbable scenes they came up with. I still love the books, but remember so clearly how impressed I was when first discovering Trixie Belden, because she was so real.

111avanders
Mar 31, 2014, 11:54 am

>110 Merryann: I didn't know that! very interesting... :)

>109 rabbitprincess: Ah, I worry that that will be my response to Nancy Drews... have never read a single one! But I really want to still... :)

112Shutzie27
Mar 31, 2014, 1:41 pm

>110 Merryann: I didn't know that either! I remember being crushed when I found out they were all by different people. I loved Nancy Drew as a kid, but I think today I would find her to be an annoying Mary Sue, with the perfect friends and perfect dad and perfect car and perfect boyfriend, etc. etc. I *do* recall wondering why they never had homework, however.

As I get older, I'm finding the perfect characters bother me more and I've been enjoying more flawed, realistic protagonists like in Denise Mina's Garnethill trilogy. I'm starting to lose interest in the Mary Russell Sherlock Holmes series by Laurie R. King for that very reason. Mary Russell increasingly seems to have improbable skills that happen to be needed in the book. For example, in O Jerusalem she was suddenly apparently a talented freehand cartographer and surveyor, sheesh.

113rabbitprincess
Editado: Mar 31, 2014, 6:23 pm

>110 Merryann: Yes I definitely have to be in the right mood for some improbable hijinks. And I was probably more critical of this one because I didn't read it when I was younger. I would probably be way less critical of The Mystery of Cabin Island, for instance, which I read half to death.

>111 avanders: I'd say don't read that one ;) My favourite Nancy Drews are The Ghost of Blackwood Hall and The Clue of the Whistling Bagpipes.

>112 Shutzie27: I've never tried the Mary Russell series but that's because I can't accept the premise of Sherlock Holmes (in any incarnation) being married. It just does not compute for me personally. On the plus side, that's one less series for me to worry about following ;)

And re Mary Sues, they are indeed annoying. I always say "If I wanted a Mary Sue I would have written one myself." I dabbled in fanfiction in high school and it was total wish fulfillment, which was the point. :P

****

Not going to finish any more ROOTs, so here's the total:

March ROOTs pulled: 8 (really?)

Death in a White Tie, by Ngaio Marsh (review)
Bleak House, by Charles Dickens (review)
The Three Musketeers, by Alexandre Dumas (tr. Lord Sudley, abridged) (review)
An April Shroud, by Reginald Hill (review)
Agatha Christie's Secret Notebooks, by John Curran (review)
Broken Homes, by Ben Aaronovitch (review)
The Body in the Library, by Agatha Christie (review)
The Clue of the Broken Blade, by Franklin W. Dixon (review)

Total ROOTS: 20

April will probably be a month of library books. I went on a bit of an Irish mystery spree on my last visit and have to work my way through those. But I do have some ROOTS lined up for various challenges on the Category Challenge, so I should be able to keep plugging away at my goal :)

114LadyBookworth
Mar 31, 2014, 6:32 pm

Wow !
Rabbitprincess Way to go!!
Your pulling them up{ those pesky :+} roots}LOL

Enjoy your reading next month :+}

115avanders
Mar 31, 2014, 7:47 pm

>113 rabbitprincess: thanks! I'll be sure to be on the lookout for those ;)

And congrats on your ROOTS!

116Shutzie27
Editado: Abr 1, 2014, 12:21 am

Nice job >113 rabbitprincess:!!

I was skeptical about tbe marriage aspect as well (I can be quite the pedant when it comes to Holmes) but to be ho est the relationship is pretty unobtrusive and even feels a bit cold, so I can deal with it.

117tymfos
Editado: Abr 2, 2014, 6:34 pm

>113 rabbitprincess: I've never tried the Mary Russell series but that's because I can't accept the premise of Sherlock Holmes (in any incarnation) being married. It just does not compute for me personally. On the plus side, that's one less series for me to worry about following ;)

Hooray! I'm not the only one with that reaction to the main premise of that series! I tried one, years ago, and said "No way!" before I'd read much of it. (It's good to have one less series to follow, too!)

118Merryann
Abr 9, 2014, 7:12 pm

Now I want to go read more Sherlock Holmes so I can decide whether or not I think he can get married. Lol!

>110 Merryann:, I hope I didn't ruin anything for people by saying that about the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew authors. I went back and spoiler alerted it, though that's probably like locking the barn after the horse is gone.

119Matke
Abr 14, 2014, 8:45 am

Caught up here, Princess; several reviews thumbed, several books added to the WL.

Sigh. I'll never be able to read everything I'd like to.

Loving your thread, though.

120rabbitprincess
Abr 14, 2014, 5:36 pm

Holy smokes, I need to get caught up here!

>114 LadyBookworth: Thanks! I'm enjoying my current books but haven't managed to finish any ROOTs yet…

>115 avanders: The bagpipes one even has them touring a bagpipe factory! That was my favourite part.

>116 Shutzie27: I'm not sure what this says about my view of Holmes, but I am somewhat relieved that the relationship feels a bit cold!

>117 tymfos: You've given the series more of a chance than I have… I've read reviews and summaries of the premise but never read any of the books. I almost read The Beekeeper's Apprentice once (borrowed it from the library and everything) but decided to return it.

>118 Merryann: If you want to share a read of His Last Bow later this year, let me know! That one's up next for me ;)

>119 Matke: Many thanks for the thumbs! I hope you enjoy the WL books when you get to them. And I hear you on the "so many books, etc." -- at last count my TBR spreadsheet contained over 900 titles!

****

Haven't read any ROOTs yet this month, or at least not finished any. I've had a bunch of library books out and wanted to get them finished or otherwise dealt with before going on Easter holidays. But my current bus book is a ROOT and I have two more on the bedside table, so odds are good that I'll finish at least one of them this week.

121craso
Abr 15, 2014, 11:16 pm

>117 tymfos: >113 rabbitprincess: I agree with both of you! When I heard about a series with Sherlock married I thought never going to happen!

122Merryann
Abr 17, 2014, 2:10 am

>120 rabbitprincess:, I put His Last Bow in my wishlist stack and I'll let you know if I get to it this year. It looks like a good read! I suspect this year's wishlist may become next year's TBR.

123rabbitprincess
Abr 22, 2014, 6:45 pm

>121 craso: I can totally buy the idea of Holmes marrying or getting engaged for the sake of a case, only to break it off abruptly once the purpose was served, but a permanent relationship is something else entirely.

>122 Merryann: Righto! I'll keep it at hand. :)

****

FINALLY finished a ROOT last week. First one this month!

The Secret Ways, by Alistair MacLean
ROOT 21 of 50
Source: Russell Books, Victoria, BC, Canada
Rating: 4/5

Also known as The Last Frontier, this is a thrilling tale of Cold War adventure. Plenty of ups and downs, and a few digressions, but overall well worth reading if you've enjoyed other works by Alistair MacLean.

124avanders
Abr 23, 2014, 10:00 am

Congrats on another ROOT dug up!

Also, as you've seen, I requested and received as a birthday gift The Ghost of Blackwood Hall, my 1st Nancy Drew! Thanks for that recommendation!

125rabbitprincess
Abr 26, 2014, 2:26 pm

>124 avanders: And I have two more coming!

Twelfth Night, by William Shakespeare
ROOT 22 of 50
Source: EVM
Rating: 3/5

I was glad to have watched this before reading it; having the actors in my head helped me keep the characters straight. And because the production I saw was the all-male cast production put on by Shakespeare's Globe (with Stephen Fry as Malvolio), that also made it very interesting...

The Good Soldier, by Ford Madox Ford
ROOT 23 of 50
Source: BMV, Toronto
Rating: 3/5

A book I'm glad to have read but will probably not reread. I preferred Parade's End, if only because it has more battle scenes and the viewpoints shift a bit. Spending an entire book in John Dowell's head (in The Good Soldier) is somewhat exhausting.

126connie53
Abr 26, 2014, 2:47 pm

Wow, RP You are really moving along quite nice!

127jen.e.moore
Abr 27, 2014, 12:22 pm

Stephen Fry as Malvolio? I would love to see that. I've never seen it live, but I just showed the film (starring Helena Bonham Carter and Imogen Stubbs) at my library.

128avanders
Abr 27, 2014, 7:27 pm

Yeah you are, congrats!! You're almost halfway there!

129Merryann
Abr 28, 2014, 2:00 am

>125 rabbitprincess: That's a brilliant idea about reading Shakespeare. I enjoy the flowing lines, but tend to get lost in the story and then give up. I bet watching a movie and then reading the book would help me. Thanks!

130Caramellunacy
Abr 28, 2014, 1:29 pm

rabbitprincess, was that the production with the pretty boy from The History Boys playing Sebastian (Samuel Barnett?)? I think I saw that one! I thought it was very good and especially enjoyed that they were all getting ready/made-up on stage!

131rabbitprincess
Abr 28, 2014, 6:07 pm

>126 connie53: and >128 avanders: I guess I am! Didn't feel like it in April, with all my library books.

>127 jen.e.moore: It's on DVD, and I believe it is region-free. My library bought a copy, which is how I was lucky enough to see it. Here's a trailer if you're interested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDPT2e26SgY

>129 Merryann: What was also interesting about this play was that my copy didn't have any explanatory notes, so I was focusing entirely on the text.

>130 Caramellunacy: Indeed it was! I also liked the live musicians.

132rabbitprincess
Editado: Abr 30, 2014, 6:30 pm

Not going to finish any ROOTs today so update time.

April ROOTs pulled: 3

The Last Frontier, by Alistair MacLean (review)
Twelfth Night, by William Shakespeare (review)
The Good Soldier, by Ford Madox Ford (review)

Total ROOTs: 23

It was a slower reading month than usual on both fronts. I also had a huge backlog of library books to get through. May will feature way more of my own books; I have at least four in various states of completion, so don't be surprised if I finish one or two this weekend to kick-start the month.

133avanders
mayo 1, 2014, 10:28 am

Slow or not, you're still almost halfway to your goal and we're only 1/3 done w/ the year, so Congrats!

134Shutzie27
mayo 3, 2014, 6:18 pm

I agree. You'r making far more progress than many, certainly myself included! You have much to be proud of, in my opinion.

135rabbitprincess
Editado: mayo 4, 2014, 10:42 am

>133 avanders: and >134 Shutzie27: Thank you both! OK no more angst on my part about not reading fast enough ;) Part of my perception could have been that I also spent a lot of time doing coursework for a part-time online program I'm taking, and my knitting and DVD-watching has increased, so it didn't *feel* like more reading was getting done.

May is off to an excellent start with two ROOTs read.

Black Skies by Arnaldur Indridason
ROOT 24 of 50
Source: Chapters
Rating: 3.5/5

I liked the plot of this one better than the previous installment in the series, Outrage. It had a much more Icelandic focus: specifically, the "New Vikings" and the unprecedented economic boom in the early 2000s that collapsed so spectacularly in 2008. This would make a good companion piece to Michael Ridpath's 66 Degrees North, which follows characters in the aftermath of the collapse.

Shada: The Lost Adventure, by Gareth Roberts
ROOT 25 of 50
Source: Waterstones
Rating: 4/5

This is such fun! Gareth Roberts has done a fine job novelizing the lost Douglas Adams story "Shada", originally intended for Doctor Who but never completed for broadcast because of writing delays and a BBC production strike. This is particularly recommended for those who enjoyed the Dirk Gently books by Adams; the character of Professor Chronotis had his start here.

136tymfos
mayo 4, 2014, 4:00 pm

Great progress!

137connie53
mayo 4, 2014, 5:16 pm

You are almost half way and still 1,5 month to go!!

138avanders
mayo 5, 2014, 9:27 am

>135 rabbitprincess: I know the feeling... I thought I read *way* more in Feb than in March... and I actually read the exact same number of books in each! funny how our perceptions change like that.. ;)
And congrats on your ROOT success this month already!

139connie53
mayo 5, 2014, 4:08 pm

>138 avanders: Perhaps if you would count pages it will be more!

140avanders
mayo 6, 2014, 11:39 am

>139 connie53:... good point! Hadn't even considered pages :)

141rabbitprincess
mayo 10, 2014, 3:55 pm

Thanks all!

>138 avanders: That is funny how our perception changes from one month to another! Time is very relative.

>139 connie53: and >140 avanders: Counting pages would also be a good way to encourage one to read the bigger books on the shelves.

Third of the month:

The Bridge Over the River Kwai, by Pierre Boulle, trans. Xan Fielding
ROOT 26 of 50
Source: Friends of Library and Archives Book Sale
Rating: 3/5

Overall I think the movie did an OK job of adapting this book, at least based on my vague memories of it. The book probably held my attention more than the movie did, because with the movie I was waiting for the famous ending ;)

142connie53
mayo 10, 2014, 4:33 pm

>141 rabbitprincess: I have a ticker counting pages!

143leslie.98
mayo 10, 2014, 8:20 pm

>135 rabbitprincess: I recently read Black Skis and I think that it was interesting how the mood varied from the previous Erlendur books to Outrage to this... I like the ones featuring Erlendur best, even though he is so depressed wll the time!

144avanders
mayo 12, 2014, 10:19 am

>141 rabbitprincess: and >142 connie53: yes I've wondered if that would be motivating ... I do read some thicker books... :)

145LadyBookworth
mayo 20, 2014, 3:41 am

Rabbbitprincess you are doing so well! And i agree about perceptions here I've only read 12 but when I look at my log it's 20. What can I say i like new and shiny!:-}

Keep up the good work and btw what are you studying?

146rabbitprincess
mayo 29, 2014, 8:25 pm

>145 LadyBookworth: I'm studying technical writing. It's a part-time online degree offered through a local college and has been very interesting so far.

****

Catching up on ROOTS read this month:

The Beautiful Mystery, by Louise Penny
ROOT 27 of 50
Source: Chapters
Rating: 1.5/5

I was in a really crabby mood when I started this book and unfortunately the book didn't help me get out of it. This is easily my least favourite in the series and it's left me wondering whether I ought to continue.

A Bullet in the Ballet, by Caryl Brahms and S.J. Simon
ROOT 28 of 50
Source: Book Bazaar, Ottawa
Rating: 3/5

This, on the other hand, was delightfully dry-witted and fun, and much more concise than my previous ROOT.

A Tap on the Window, by Linwood Barclay
ROOT 29 of 50
Source: Chapters
Rating: 4.5/5

A more "typical" Barclay thriller (his previous book, Trust Your Eyes, had a different family setup than usual) but no less thrilling.

The Pelican Brief, by John Grisham
ROOT 30 of 50
Source: gift
Rating: 3/5

A classic John Grisham that reads surprisingly quickly for a legal thriller. It's more of a thriller involving lawyers, meaning that there are way more chases and spy skulduggery than there are boring courtroom scenes.

Doctor Who and the Brain of Morbius, by Terrance Dicks
ROOT 31 of 50
Source: South Mountain Used Book Sale
Rating: 3/5

Another very serviceable Fourth Doctor novelization produced by Target Books. The only distracting element was that the villain's henchman was named Condo, which I found strangely amusing.

****

May was a fantastic month for ROOTS. Everything I read this month qualifies. June will be a month of library books. Before I went on vacation I suspended a bunch of library holds and I ended up reactivating a lot of them at once, so I have a LOT of material to get through.

147Caramellunacy
mayo 30, 2014, 5:19 am

I just peeked at A Bullet in the Ballet and immediately added it to the wishlist - what a great first line!

148raidergirl3
mayo 30, 2014, 7:11 am

I agree about Beautiful Mystery and debated not reading the next one as well. Instead, I listened to it and enjoyed it much more. How the Light Gets In is in some way a wrap up book. The series could end there, but it is continuing.

149avanders
mayo 30, 2014, 9:49 am

1.5/5! That's quite the low rating! ;)
I know the feeling tho... you're in a bad mood and seek the lovely escape of books and then one disappoints... pah!

150tymfos
Jun 1, 2014, 4:37 pm

The Beautiful Mystery wasn't my favorite in that series, but I didn't dislike it that much. What bothered you that you rated it so low? I remember detesting the ending.

151rabbitprincess
Jun 1, 2014, 9:26 pm

>147 Caramellunacy: Indeed! I also like that Caryl Brahms was a ballet critic for the Standard, so she really knew her stuff.

>148 raidergirl3: That is good to know about How the Light Gets In. I probably will end up reading it someday, but from the library instead of buying it, and at home instead of on the bus or while travelling.

>149 avanders: I was also cross because I really wanted to like it, especially since I'd taken the trouble of hauling it across the Atlantic to read!

>150 tymfos: It really was the ending. I was cross with Beauvoir for relapsing so quickly and betraying Gamache so badly. I wasn't convinced that it was a natural relapse; it felt more like a "sweeps week" kind of plot development, something shocking to draw in the viewers. I couldn't see how he went from his adorably sweet emails to Annie ("I saved you some chocolate-covered blueberries. Or maybe not. Sorry, turns out I ate them all.") to nearly killing his boss over a bottle of pills and crossing over to Francoeur's side. Also overly evil villains like Francoeur make me very agitated, if I can't see a comeuppance coming for them quickly. And I was cross because I'd been looking forward to it so much and probably raised my expectations too high.

152avanders
Jun 3, 2014, 10:44 am

>151 rabbitprincess: ha, well, I can understand that!

153tymfos
Jun 3, 2014, 7:55 pm

>151 rabbitprincess: Pretty much my reaction to the ending, too, come to think of it.

154connie53
Jun 9, 2014, 2:23 pm

You read quite a lot of ROOT's, RB!

155rabbitprincess
Jun 22, 2014, 4:46 pm

>152 avanders: On the plus side, at least now I know I'll be sticking to the library for that series, thus freeing up (theoretical) space on my bookshelves.

>153 tymfos: Maybe it might have worked better if the seeds of corruption had merely been sown in this one, with the payoff in the next book, instead of doing it all at once.

>154 connie53: Thanks, Connie!

****

Haven't been around these parts in a while, so I'll continue my trend of listing ROOTs only.

The Laughing Policeman, by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö
ROOT 32 of 50
Going Through the Stacks Book 12
Source: Prime Crime Books
Rating: 4 stars

This was a reread for the Category Challenge's "Mystery CAT" challenge (the June theme was "police procedurals"). Still my favourite in the Martin Beck series.

Coke Machine Glow, by Gordon Downie
ROOT 33 of 50
Going Through the Stacks Book 13
Source: gift
Rating: 3/5

This was a partial (?) reread for the Category Challenge's "Random CAT" challenge (the April theme was poetry). It contains both poems and lyrics; I probably prefer the lyrics because knowing the songs helps me get the rhythm right. But I do like his details of life on the road as a travelling musician.

Rilla of Ingleside, by L.M. Montgomery
ROOT 34 of 50
Source: Chapters, bought with gift card
Rating: 5/5

An excellent conclusion to the Anne of Green Gables series. Also a bonus if you like WW1 novels that deal with home life as opposed to the trenches. But maybe don't read it in public if you're prone to crying about things that happen in books. I learned this the hard way.

Towards Zero, by Agatha Christie
ROOT 35 of 50
Source: Big Box o'Christies
Rating: 3.5/5

Superintendent Battle investigates this case, which is consistently interesting. Wish there had been more Frederick Treves, if only because I pictured him as Tom Baker from the recent TV adaptation (which replaced Battle with Marple).

156avanders
Jun 23, 2014, 10:35 am

ohhhhhh now I want to read Anne of Avonlea!
We re-read Anne of Green Gables for book group last year (or the year before?) and I re-LOVED it.... Avonlea is a ROOT...

157rabbitprincess
Jun 29, 2014, 9:39 am

>156 avanders: I strongly approve of this idea ;)

Probably my last ROOT of the month...

The Price of the King's Peace, by Nigel Tranter
ROOT 36 of 50
Source: Moffat Books, Moffat, Scotland
Rating: 4/5

The conclusion to Nigel Tranter's trilogy about Robert the Bruce is bittersweet. I've really enjoyed learning about the Bruce through these books and might have to return to them someday.

158Conachair
Jun 30, 2014, 5:15 am

I love the Bruce trilogy. I don't know how many times I have read those. And there ist a reason why our dog is called Bruce ;-)

159LadyBookworth
Jul 3, 2014, 12:44 am

Hi rabbitprincess
Just caught up on your thread. Way to go on so many roots! Cheering you on!
And good luck with your studies -it sounds interesting.

Happy reading!

160Merryann
Jul 11, 2014, 2:54 am

You're reaching your ROOT goal...way over halfway. Way to go!

Coke Machine Glow is such a nice name for a book!

161rabbitprincess
Editado: Jul 17, 2014, 9:28 pm

>158 Conachair: Great name! And I can see how the Bruce trilogy would reward rereading.

>159 LadyBookworth: Thanks for the encouragement and good luck wishes! :)

>160 Merryann: Thanks! The cover of Coke Machine Glow is pretty, too.

****

Two ROOTS so far for July:

A Little Yuletide Murder, by Jessica Fletcher and Donald Bain
ROOT 37 of 50
Source: the library of EVM
Rating: 3/5

Christmas in July indeed! This was better than the other Murder She Wrote novel I read, but not really something I'll keep and reread. I've passed it along to my grandma.

Empire: The Novel of Imperial Rome, by Steven Saylor
ROOT 38 of 50
Source: Indigo Eaton Centre, Toronto
Rating: 3/5

This is the second of two historical novels charting the fortunes of the Pinarius family in ancient Rome, and of course I read it first! (I can be quite contrary when it comes to series.) It's similar to how Edward Rutherfurd constructs his novels, but the timeframe is much shorter, so it's easier to keep track of the various generations. I'd recommend it for people with relatively little knowledge of the period, because there are a lot of info dumps that may not be news to people already familiar with the various figures.

162tymfos
Jul 13, 2014, 8:52 pm

Wow, you are really moving along with this challenge!

163avanders
Editado: Jul 15, 2014, 2:32 pm

>161 rabbitprincess: hmm.... I like your intro "Christmas in July indeed!" Should I (add this to TBR)? I lurve Christmas, in July or any other month.... ;)

164rabbitprincess
Jul 17, 2014, 9:32 pm

>162 tymfos: I sure am! I deliberately set a goal that allows me to contribute overages to the group total.

>163 avanders: I'd say it's worth borrowing from the library if you can get it. I didn't pay anything for my copy, so I thought it was well worth my investment :P

Another ROOT, which has been on the shelf for only a couple of months:

The Sayers Swindle, by Victoria Abbott
ROOT 39 of 50
Source: birthday gift
Rating: 3.5/5

This is the second installment in the Book Collector series. I received a signed copy as a birthday present (along with a signed copy of The Christie Curse, which I'd borrowed from the library earlier in the year) and quite enjoyed it. It was just what I needed to get out of a minor case of the reading doldrums: stuck in a whole bunch of books and not making too much progress on any of them.

165avanders
Jul 17, 2014, 10:38 pm

Sweet, thanks :)

166Shutzie27
Jul 19, 2014, 9:00 pm

>164 rabbitprincess: Oh no....checked out the description of the The Christie Curse and while the last thing I need is another mystery series, they sound really good. And with your recommendation, it's been added to my Amazon wish list.

The double-edged sword of being social on Library Thing strikes again.... :-)

167rabbitprincess
Jul 27, 2014, 1:00 pm

>165 avanders: You're welcome! Hope it does the job.

>166 Shutzie27: So true! I use an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of my to-read list and quite a few entries have "so-and-so from LT" in the "Recommended by" column :) I hope you like the series.

****

This will probably end up being my pick of the month:

Light Thickens, by Ngaio Marsh
ROOT 40 of 50
Source: Friends of Library and Archives Canada book sale
Rating: 4.5/5

A mystery novel with a performance of "The Scottish Play" at its heart? Yes please! This is the last novel in the Roderick Alleyn series by Ngaio Marsh, and it goes out with a bang. Probably one I'll reread. And now I have to go reread the play as well.

168avanders
Jul 27, 2014, 2:56 pm

another for the TBR!

169rabbitprincess
Jul 30, 2014, 10:09 pm

>168 avanders: Enjoy! If you're reading the series in order, this is book 32!

Last ROOT of the month, most likely.

Mrs. Pollifax on the China Station, by Dorothy Gilman
ROOT 41 of 50
Source: library book sale
Rating: 3.5/5

Somehow I missed this one back when I first started reading the series. It was a good mix of characters, suspense and dashes of the familiar (on the very first page I was pleased to see Carstairs and Bishop again). Definitely keeping, although who knows whether I'll ever get around to rereading it.

170avanders
Jul 31, 2014, 12:16 pm

oh, wow. no! should I start w/ #1?

171rabbitprincess
Jul 31, 2014, 6:20 pm

>170 avanders: Personally, I think the books in the Roderick Alleyn series are sufficiently stand-alone that you can read them in whatever order you want... they're like Poirot or Marple in that respect.

172avanders
Ago 1, 2014, 10:04 am

Ok.... Maybe I'll start w/ #32 and if it strikes me, I'll go back to #1 :)

173tymfos
Editado: Ago 8, 2014, 5:25 pm

>169 rabbitprincess: - >172 avanders: I usually read series in order, but I may borrow Ava's strategy for this one.

174tymfos
Ago 8, 2014, 5:24 pm

>169 rabbitprincess: - >173 tymfos: OK, must be meant to be. I walk in a used book store today, and there's a copy of Light Thickens, just sitting there waiting for me!

175connie53
Ago 10, 2014, 3:31 pm

Hi Rabbitprinces, just stopping by and waving.

176Tess_W
Ago 10, 2014, 4:48 pm

Sounds like a good series, will have to check into Mrs. Pollifax!

177avanders
Ago 10, 2014, 9:43 pm

>174 tymfos: oooh, kismet, right? ;)

178rabbitprincess
Editado: Ago 16, 2014, 1:45 pm

>173 tymfos:, >174 tymfos: and >177 avanders: Hurray! That worked out nicely :) Hope you like it!

>175 connie53: Waving right back at you! :)

>176 Tess_W: She's a lot of fun. Her first adventure is The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax.

****

Only one ROOT so far this month. It's another one of those "Yeek, have to clear the library backlog before going on vacation" months. But most of the backlog is gone so I expect to have more ROOTs lined up.

The Case of the Gilded Fly, by Edmund Crispin
ROOT 42 of 50
Source: All Books
Rating: 1/5

Rated 1 star because I did not actually read the whole thing. I grew impatient and flipped to the end to see who had dunnit. I've read other Crispins and enjoyed them much more than this one. Not a good start to the Gervase Fen series.

****

On Thursday I went shopping and bought two books from a local indie bookstore:

MaddAddam, by Margaret Atwood (FINALLY in paperback)
No Safe House, by Linwood Barclay (just out this week! yay!)

179Familyhistorian
Ago 16, 2014, 6:05 pm

>169 rabbitprincess: >176 Tess_W: The Mrs. Pollifax series is great fun. I think that they are the only books that my mum ever recommended to me and I was very pleasantly surprised. I love a hero or heroine who people take a face value but who has hidden depths.

180avanders
Ago 18, 2014, 9:53 am

Oh I've heard such good things about the Atwood series!
Congrats on another ROOT down!

181karen_o
Ago 29, 2014, 7:45 pm

Hi Rabbitprincess -- just stopping in to say hello. Hope all is well!

182rabbitprincess
Ago 29, 2014, 11:29 pm

>181 karen_o: Hi Karen! Thanks for stopping by. August has been a rather slow ROOT month for me. Just finished one a couple of days ago, but probably won't get any more done this month.

183rabbitprincess
Sep 7, 2014, 10:59 pm

Forgot to reply to

>179 Familyhistorian: Indeed! I love how she continually manages to surprise people. Very Marplesque in that way.

>180 avanders: It is very good. I'm looking forward to reading the third installment!

****

Last ROOT of August was:

He Who Fears the Wolf, by Karin Fossum
ROOT 43 of 50
Source: Xmas gift
Rating: 4/5

This was just the ticket for a minor reading slump, and the ending made me want to rush right out and pick up the next book in the series.

****

I also did some Going Through the Stacks and sent off a whole box of books to a used bookstore where they give you store credit with which to buy more books. Books 14 through 26 will find good homes at the bookstore, and book 27 will be going to a friend.

****

Two ROOTS down so far this month. Reading time has still been limited.

An Officer and a Spy, by Robert Harris
ROOT 44 of 50
Source: Chapters, bought with gift card
Rating: 3/5

A narrative retelling of the Dreyfus affair. Story was good, but the physical book was not comfortable to hold, which was distracting (and limited my opportunities for reading it).

Unprintable, by Julie Kaewert
ROOT 45 of 50
Going Through the Stacks #28
Source: bought secondhand somewhere, if the condition of the spine is anything to go by
Rating: 2/5

If a mystery has a "Had I But Known" on page 6, it's a bad sign. Also, this book had some of the same problems as its predecessor in the series: namely, that after each event, the protagonist has to explain it to three different people before the next event occurs. I did, however, find it interesting that the book touches on issues surrounding Britain's place in the EU; it's still a timely issue today.

184dudes22
Sep 8, 2014, 6:40 am

I complain fairly frequently when I read books with the "if I'd only known" syndrome. I find it very annoying. And usually the author needs to repeat this more than once.

185rabbitprincess
Sep 11, 2014, 11:36 pm

>184 dudes22: Yup, that was definitely the case here! Annoying. On the plus side, more space on my bookshelves!

****

Finished another ROOT yesterday:

Breakheart Pass, by Alistair MacLean
ROOT 46 of 50
Source: Xmas gift 2013
Rating: 3.5/5

Of course I was going to like a Western written by Alistair MacLean! And of course I was going to mentally cast David Morrissey in the role of the character referred to as "the Governor"! It is also easy to imagine as a movie, which is a good thing because I've requested the movie from the library.

186tymfos
Editado: Sep 13, 2014, 11:24 pm

>183 rabbitprincess: "Had I but known" the book had that "had I but known," I might not have bought it? :-)

I liked that Fossum book, too.

187rabbitprincess
Editado: Sep 19, 2014, 7:38 pm

>186 tymfos: Hee! That book actually goes back to my university days. I'd read that whole series in high school and early university and liked it, but I'm reading them now and thinking "Man, how did I ever stand this?!" LibraryThing and book blogs have really raised my standards ;)

The Fossum book was so chilling in places! Really well done.

****

Inching ever closer to my goal:

Ludmila, a Legend of Liechtenstein, by Paul Gallico
ROOT 47 of 50
Source: probably belonged to my uncle or aunt as a child
Rating: 3/5

Found this on my bookshelf at my parents' place, read it in about 15 minutes. It was a perfect fit for one of my Category Challenge entries. And it's probably the only book I own that was published in Liechtenstein!

Maigret and the Hundred Gibbets, by Georges Simenon (translated by Tony White)
ROOT 48 of 50
Source: EVM
Rating: 4/5

As far as mysteries go, I'm not sure this is one that could be solved by the reader -- but on the other hand, Maigret has to doggedly pursue each clue as well. I enjoyed following Maigret around and will definitely be reading more, perhaps in French because I feel like I should be able to.

188avanders
Sep 18, 2014, 9:27 am

2 more!!
Maigret sounds interesting.... as far as not being able to solve the mystery before Maigret did... frustrating? or written well enough to overcome?

189MissWatson
Sep 18, 2014, 9:29 am

You're almost there!

190rabbitprincess
Sep 18, 2014, 4:46 pm

>188 avanders: I thought it was written well enough that not being able to solve the mystery would be less of an annoyance, but I don't really read mysteries to try to solve them, so I'm not sure how valid my opinion is ;)

>189 MissWatson: Definitely in October!

191avanders
Sep 19, 2014, 12:13 pm

>190 rabbitprincess: Me neither! So, sounds good to me.. ;)

192rabbitprincess
Sep 21, 2014, 6:12 pm

>191 avanders: Ah good! Hope you like it then :)

****

Made my goal by blowing some of the dust off some really long-standing reads!

Murder by Moonlight and Other Mysteries, by Anthony Boucher
ROOT 49 of 50
Source: CD
Rating: 3/5

A collection of "New Sherlock Holmes Adventures" featuring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, and recorded during the Second World War. Good atmosphere. The recording is a bit on the quiet side though.

The State of Quebec: A Journalist's View of the Quiet Revolution, by Peter Desbarats
ROOT 50 of 50
Source: EVM
Rating: not rated

I read this for Go Review That Book!, but didn't manage to finish it so I have not rated it. It would probably be more of interest to an academic than to a casual reader; it's an account of Quebec in the 1960s written during that period, so it has interesting historical value. Bit too dry for me though.

193dudes22
Editado: Sep 21, 2014, 8:06 pm

Well let me be the first to congratulate you! WOOHOO!

194MissWatson
Sep 22, 2014, 3:24 am

Congratulations on reaching your goal!

195avanders
Sep 22, 2014, 7:29 am

Woohoo!! Congratulations!!

196jen.e.moore
Sep 22, 2014, 5:15 pm

Congratulations! Isn't it a great feeling?

197rabbitprincess
Sep 22, 2014, 10:03 pm

>193 dudes22: >194 MissWatson: >195 avanders: >196 jen.e.moore: Thank you all! :) I'm glad to have met my goal just before the latest deluge of library books!

198LauraBrook
Sep 26, 2014, 11:57 am

Way to go, rp!!!!

199avidmom
Sep 26, 2014, 1:37 pm

Congratulations!

Can't top the Doctor and Sherlock's approval though. :)

200rabbitprincess
Sep 30, 2014, 7:07 pm

>198 LauraBrook: :D :D I love the GIFs you find!! Thank you!

>199 avidmom: I thank you very much :)

****

One more under the wire for September. This one entered my house on Sep 26 and I started it immediately.

Mr Mac and Me, by Esther Freud
ROOT 51 of 50
Source: Book Depository, my new best friend
Rating: 4/5

Esther Freud's latest takes us to Suffolk during the First World War, when a young boy named Thomas Maggs strikes up a friendship with noted (some would say notorious) artist and architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh. I really liked it and have now developed a greater appreciation for CRM as a result.

This drawing of his is the basis for the cover, and it is beautiful: http://www.universityofglasgowshops.com/popup_image.php?pID=280&osCsid=ku9f7...

201LauraBrook
Oct 3, 2014, 1:05 pm

OMG, Esther Freud has another new one?!?!???? How on earth did I miss this? I love her work, though I haven't read it in awhile. I keep "saving" her books for later, but looking at my shelf now I can see that I have 5 that are unread. *gulp* Looks like I should pick up one of those and get my hands on Mr Mac and Me.

202rabbitprincess
Oct 3, 2014, 5:07 pm

>201 LauraBrook: It was my first Esther Freud and now I'll be going back to read her other ones! I'm thinking The Sea House next.

203Jackie_K
Oct 4, 2014, 1:18 pm

I've heard some great reviews of Mr Mac and Me so I might try and get hold of it - maybe a ROOT for a couple of years hence? Congratulations on reaching/surpassing your goal!

204connie53
Oct 7, 2014, 2:39 pm

Congrats on reaching your goal! Great job.

205rabbitprincess
Oct 11, 2014, 9:54 am

>203 Jackie_K: Good idea! I hope you like it. And thanks!

Vaguely related to the Mackintosh, today I discovered a knitting cafe in Glasgow that runs a two-day series of workshops entitled, wonderfully, the Glasgow School of Yarn. http://www.theyarncake.co.uk/The%20Glasgow%20School%20of%20Yarn/
I am definitely on the wrong side of the pond for things like this!!

>204 connie53: Thanks, Connie!

****

First ROOT of October:

The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon, by David Grann
ROOT 52 of 50
Source: World's Biggest Bookstore, Toronto, my last trip there before it closed *sniff*
Rating: 4/5

I read this for the October GeoCAT challenge and also because it is apparently going to be a movie featuring Benedict as Percy Fawcett, the famous explorer. It's an interesting story, although it has definitely crossed the Amazon off my list of places to see; the bugs alone would drive me mad! And now I want to read Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World, which was inspired by some of Fawcett's adventures.

206Jackie_K
Oct 11, 2014, 1:40 pm

>205 rabbitprincess: Glasgow is clearly the place to be for knitters - at the moment there is a Knitter in Residence at Glasgow University, see here: http://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/humanities/research/historyresearch/researchproject...

I have such a soft spot for Glasgow. I lived there for 6 years till I moved up the road here to Stirling a few years ago, and did my PhD at Glasgow university. It's a great place!

207rabbitprincess
Oct 11, 2014, 6:26 pm

>206 Jackie_K: THAT IS AMAZING! :D Glasgow is awesome. And the university is beautiful. Studying there would be a treat. (Last year I majored in "giftshopology", aka buying a t-shirt at the campus bookstore.) What was your PhD?

208Jackie_K
Oct 12, 2014, 5:01 pm

>207 rabbitprincess: Officially it is in Russian and East European Studies, but that implies that I know Russian which (apart from a few words) I actually don't! I was looking at sexual and reproductive health services in Romania and Moldova. Thoroughly enjoyed it, though I really miss RO/MD now. I am thinking for next year that I might dig out some relevant Romanian-related reading for some of my ROOTs.

209avanders
Oct 14, 2014, 12:25 pm

>205 rabbitprincess: ooh, that's another I want to read! Benedict... Cumberbatch?!

210rabbitprincess
Oct 14, 2014, 5:26 pm

>209 avanders: Yep that's the one ;)

211avanders
Oct 15, 2014, 9:36 am

Sounds like a good reason to watch anything! ;)

212tymfos
Oct 25, 2014, 11:28 pm

Belated congrats on surpassing your ROOT goal!

213Quaisior
Oct 29, 2014, 9:25 pm

Congratulations on completing your goal!

214rabbitprincess
Oct 30, 2014, 10:16 pm

>211 avanders: Yes, I think so :)

>212 tymfos: and >213 Quaisior: Thank you very much!

****

Tomorrow is the end of October already, which does not seem possible. Here are the other two ROOTs I read this month.

Pied Piper, by Nevil Shute
ROOT 53 of 50
Source: Chapters
Rating: 4/5

I read this along with DeltaQueen50 and we both really liked it. It is a story of ordinary people doing extraordinary things in the Second World War. Very different in atmosphere from On the Beach, which I found very impressive. Looking forward to exploring more of Shute's work.

Us: A Novel, by David Nicholls (very hard to get the touchstone on this one)
ROOT 54 of 50
Source: Book Depository because I could not wait for it to come out in Canada
Rating: 4.5/5

I love David Nicholls so it was a reasonable assumption that I would like this, his follow-up to the massively successful One Day. This book covers a lot of ground and I'm looking forward to rereading it someday. The only reason it's not five stars is that it's a tiny bit too long. Or maybe I was just rushing to get it finished because the end was in sight.

215rabbitprincess
Nov 9, 2014, 9:19 am

Two ROOTs for November so far:

Airframe, by Michael Crichton
ROOT 55 of 50
Source: Friends of Library and Archives book sale 2013
Rating: 4/5

I read this for the Go Review That Book! group, and it was thrilling indeed. It did help that I am already interested in aviation; there are a lot of delightfully nerdy technical details.

The Fourth Protocol, by Frederick Forsyth
ROOT 56 of 50
Source: Friends of Library and Archives book sale 2014
Rating: 1.5/5

Did not finish. Wanted to like it but just did not have the patience. Too much story for a single book. Also, there was a lot of explanatory narration (e.g. about the structure of MI5) to wade through.

216connie53
Nov 9, 2014, 3:15 pm

Keep on ROOTing!! You are almost there.

217rabbitprincess
Nov 15, 2014, 11:58 am

>216 connie53: Thanks! Wondering if I should increase my goal slightly for next year. I seem to be very good at netting 50.

Latest ROOT:

Vintage Murder, by Ngaio Marsh
ROOT 57 of 50
Source: Bytown Bookshop, Ottawa
Rating: 2/5

Meh. I liked that this was set in NZ, but the setting was a bit superfluous. The travelling theatre company could easily have been back in England. On the plus side, this one is being released back into the wild, thus freeing up a teeny bit of space on my paperback shelf.

218rabbitprincess
Nov 16, 2014, 11:13 am

This ROOT was growing roots on my bedside table! I've had it on the go since June, as part of a group read over in the Category Challenge.

The Arabian Nights, ed. Orton Lowe
ROOT 58 of 50
Source: EVM
Rating: 3/5

This is a heavily abridged children's edition of The Arabian Nights, and it hits most of the high points. I've finally read the story of Sinbad the Sailor! Don't know how I managed to miss that one for so long. But the best part of this edition was the fact that it used to belong to my grandfather.

219connie53
Nov 17, 2014, 2:02 pm

>218 rabbitprincess: LOL; a ROOT growing roots again! Are there any holes in the top of your bedside table ;-))

And how nice that you read a book that belonged to your granddad!

220rabbitprincess
Nov 30, 2014, 10:01 am

>218 rabbitprincess: Fortunately no holes in the bedside table! It must be of the self-healing variety :)

And yes it was nice to read a book he owned. I never met him, because he died before I was born.

****

One ROOT to close out the month:

Richard II, by William Shakespeare
ROOT 59 of 50
Source: Bearly Used Books, Parry Sound, Ontario
Rating: 4/5

Sometimes an edition of Shakespeare really makes all the difference. I found the Signet Classics edition of this play to move much faster than the New Cambridge edition. Probably because the footnotes were easier to ignore. I really enjoyed this play, particularly in conjunction with the BBC's Hollow Crown series.

221rabbitprincess
Dic 3, 2014, 7:39 pm

I was just looking at one of my old ROOT threads and discovered that I had previously counted one of my boyfriend's books as a ROOT. This classification decision means I have one additional ROOT in November of this year:

The Martian, by Andy Weir
ROOT 60 of 50
Source: Chaptigo
Rating: 4.5/5

I bought this for my BF for his birthday, fully intending to read it myself once he finished. (Muahaha!) I really, really enjoyed it. The technical stuff was delightfully nerdy, and the story became so suspenseful toward the end that I was holding my breath as I read, waiting for things to work out. The only parts I skimmed over were the in-depth mathematical calculations. Very, very well done.

And here is my first ROOT for December:

Death at Sandringham House, by CC Benison
ROOT 61 of 50
Source: gift
Rating: 3.5/5

I reread this for the December MysteryCAT and Christmas mystery group read. Jane Bee is one of my favourite detectives, probably because she's Canadian, but also because she solves mysteries with Queen Elizabeth II. This one takes place over Christmas and the New Year and is a fun holiday read that takes you back to the mid-1990s. It is probably best read after its predecessor, Death at Buckingham Palace, if only because it discusses the ending of that one.

222avanders
Dic 3, 2014, 9:50 pm

Ooo I can't wait to read the Martian!

223dudes22
Dic 4, 2014, 7:22 am

I had CC Benison on my maybe list for the Twelve Drummers Drumming mystery which someone else has out of the library (the nerve!). But now I see you liked his other series, I think I'll take a BB for next year.

224rabbitprincess
Dic 13, 2014, 7:12 pm

>222 avanders: Hope you like it! It's a bit more of a plot book than a character book, but that is precisely what I was in the mood for.

>223 dudes22: There are only three books in the Her Majesty Investigates series, which is a good thing in terms of catching up but a bad thing in terms of not having any more. My favourite of the three is Death at Windsor Castle.

****

Finally, another ROOT.

Dead Man's Mirror, by Agatha Christie
ROOT 62 of 50
Source: Big Box o'Christies
Rating: 3/5

Three novellas: Dead Man's Mirror, Murder in the Mews, Triangle at Rhodes. I liked the TV adaptation of Mews better because Hastings was added to it. Triangle was probably my favourite in this set, and Mirror went on too long for my tastes. I think these novellas can be found in other collections as well, so picking up this particular compilation is not terribly urgent for Christie fans.

225connie53
Dic 21, 2014, 3:42 pm

A very happy Christmas and a good New Year, RP!

226rabbitprincess
Dic 21, 2014, 8:58 pm

>225 connie53:: Thanks, Connie! Merry Christmas to you and yours. And a happy ROOT year ;)

****

Two ROOTS to report since my last update.

Pictures of Perfection, by Reginald Hill
ROOT 63 of 50
Source: All Books, Ottawa
Rating: 3/5

This mystery requires more careful attention than I was prepared to give it at the time. Lots of characters to keep track of, and the pace is a bit slower than I was expecting.

The Far Side of the Dollar, by Ross Macdonald
ROOT 64 of 50
Source: gift
Rating: 4/5

I really enjoyed this mystery featuring Macdonald's detective Lew Archer.

227tymfos
Dic 21, 2014, 9:05 pm

I haven't read Ross MacDonald yet. I think I should probably try him.

228rabbitprincess
Editado: Dic 26, 2014, 12:02 pm

>227 tymfos: He's worth trying if you are interested in the private eyes of California in the 1930s. From what little I remember of say Hammett and Chandler, I'd say Macdonald is closer to Chandler in terms of writing style, but perhaps less flowery. Some would suggest starting with The Chill or The Galton Case.

****

I hope Santa has been good to you this holiday season, either planting new ROOTS in your garden or giving you the means to buy seedlings to plant yourself. I had the following planted in my garden:

The Moving Target, by Ross Macdonald
The Zebra-Striped Hearse, by Ross Macdonald
Paris: The Novel, by Edward Rutherfurd
The Game of Kings, by Dorothy Dunnett
Dark Road, by Ian Rankin
The House on the Strand, by Daphne du Maurier
This is the World, by Miroslav Sasek

229LauraBrook
Dic 27, 2014, 12:38 pm

Hmmm, you may have hit me with some Ross Macdonald!

230Tess_W
Editado: Dic 27, 2014, 6:28 pm

Let me know how Paris: The Novel is, I received New York: The Novel, by the same author. I completed The House on the Strand this past summer, let me know what you think!

231rabbitprincess
Dic 27, 2014, 11:07 pm

>229 LauraBrook: Hope you like him! The Moving Target is the first in the series, if you prefer to read in order.

>230 Tess_W: Will do on both counts! New York was very good and I am looking forward to Paris. I'll probably read The House on the Strand in March to coincide with the British Authors Challenge over in the 75 group. It sounds really neat!

****

A quick reread to round out my holiday. Home tomorrow and back to work Monday.

Mrs. Pollifax on Safari, by Dorothy Gilman
ROOT 65 of 50
Going Through the Stacks #35
Source: probably a gift
Rating: 3.5/5

I always enjoy the Mrs Pollifax books, and this one was no exception. It's interesting how much I remember as I read, without remembering whodunnit.

232Caramellunacy
Editado: Dic 29, 2014, 7:16 am

Oh I remember reading some of the Mrs. Pollifax's ages ago, but don't remember much of them - I should definitely dig those back out!

233Familyhistorian
Editado: Dic 29, 2014, 9:50 pm

>231 rabbitprincess: >232 Caramellunacy: The Mrs. Pollifax are some of my favourites too and I keep them so that I could do a reread - maybe that should be sooner rather than later.

234rabbitprincess
Dic 31, 2014, 1:20 pm

>232 Caramellunacy: They've been a lot of fun to dig out!

>233 Familyhistorian: Let me know which ones you dig out and I will try to arrange to read along! Mine are at my parents' place.

****

Last ROOT of the year! Just in the nick of time.

Rob Roy, by Sir Walter Scott
ROOT 66 of 50
Source: Argosy Books, Ottawa
Rating: 3.5/5

Definitely a book where you have to dedicate time and attention. It took me two months to read because I didn't set aside the right time for it. I really enjoyed the second half, once Rob Roy actually showed up ;) Maybe I'll start Nigel Tranter's Rob Roy MacGregor trilogy sometime in 2015.

****

Back with a month-end (or year-end) recap later.

235rabbitprincess
Dic 31, 2014, 6:05 pm

It recently occurred to me that I haven't done monthly recaps on this thread for a few months. So, to end the year...

December recap: 7 ROOTS pulled (YTD: 66)

Death at Sandringham House, by CC Benison
Dead Man's Mirror, by Agatha Christie
Pictures of Perfection, by Reginald Hill
The Far Side of the Dollar, by Ross Macdonald
Mrs Pollifax on Safari, by Dorothy Gilman
Wobble to Death, by Peter Lovesey
Rob Roy, by Sir Walter Scott

ROOT of the month: Probably The Far Side of the Dollar -- I sometimes start a Lew Archer novel with a bit of trepidation, because there have been a couple of less-interesting installments. Fortunately, this was a good one.

All but one of my ROOTS were mysteries, probably because they are my favourite genre and I like to escape into them during the busyness that is December. (This happened last year as well.)

In January I've cued up a mystery reread, a mythology book, a classic novel and an alternate history to balance all of the non-fiction I've borrowed from the library.

Thank you to everyone for visiting my thread over the course of the year! Hope your 2015 is filled with good books.