MickyFine Swings Through 2016: Fourth Dance

Life magazine photo shoot of swing dancers.

January
1. Talk Sweetly to Me - Courtney Milan
2. Manners & Mutiny - Gail Carriger
3. Dearest Rogue - Elizabeth Hoyt
4. The Dream Thieves - Maggie Stiefvater
5. Bad Feminist - Roxane Gay
6. The Thirteen Problems - Agatha Christie
7. Curse of the Blue Tattoo - L.A. Meyer
8. A Cowboy Unmatched - Karen Witemeyer
Favourite read(s):


February
9. Blue Lily, Lily Blue - Maggie Stiefvater
10. The Geography of You and Me - Jennifer E. Smith
11. Sweetest Scoundrel - Elizabeth Hoyt
12. The Boy Who Lost Fairyland - Catherynne M. Valente
13. Anne of Windy Poplars - L.M. Montgomery
14. Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between - Jennifer E. Smith
Favourite read(s):


March
15. Anne's House of Dreams - L.M. Montgomery
16. As If!: The Oral History of Clueless - Jen Chaney
17. Anne of Ingleside - L.M. Montgomery
18. The Book of Lost Things - John Connolly
19. The Rosie Project - Graeme Simsion
20. Suffragette: My Own Story - Emmeline Pankhurst
21. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking - Susan Cain
22. Step Aside, Pops - Kate Beaton
Favourite read(s):

April
23. Blackout - Connie Willis
24. The End of Average: How We Succeed in a World That Values Sameness - Todd Rose
25. All Clear - Connie Willis
26. Happy Again - Jennifer E. Smith
27. Vargic's Miscellany of Curious Maps - Martin Vargic
28. The Girl Who Raced Fairyland All the Way Home - Catherynne M. Valente
29. The Moving Finger - Agatha Christie
30. Operation S.I.N.: Agent Carter - Kathryn Immonen
31. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children - Ransom Riggs
32. The Raven Prince - Elizabeth Hoyt
33. The Leopard Prince - Elizabeth Hoyt (re-read)
34. The Serpent Prince - Elizabeth Hoyt
Favourite read(s):


May
35. Once and Always - Julia Harper (Elizabeth Hoyt)
36. Again the Magic - Lisa Kleypas
37. Luke Skywalker Can't Read: And Other Geeky Truths - Ryan Britt
38. Real Murders - Charlaine Harris
39. One of Our Thursdays Is Missing - Jasper Fforde
40. Ross Poldark - Winston Graham
41. Jessica Jones: Alias Vol. 1 - Brian Michael Bendis
42. Demelza - Winston Graham
43. Jessica Jones: Alias Vol. 2 - Brian Michael Bendis
44. Jeremy Poldark - Winston Graham
Favourite read(s):


June
45. Warleggan - Winston Graham
46. The Ice Princess - Elizabeth Hoyt
47. The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu - Joshua Hammer
48. Jessica Jones: Alias Vol. 3 - Brian Michael Bendis
49. Jessica Jones: Alias Vol. 4 - Brian Michael Bendis
50. The Noel Coward Collection - Noel Coward
51. Duke of Sin - Elizabeth Hoyt
52. The Black Moon - Winston Graham
53. Virgins: An Outlander Novella - Diana Gabaldon
54. Pistols and Petticoats: 175 Years of Lady Detectives in Fact and Fiction - Erika Janik
55. Head in the Clouds - Karen Witemeyer
56. Kill Shakespeare: The Mask of Night - Conor McCreery and Anthony Del Col
Favourite read(s):

July
57. Honouring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future - Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
58. 40 Days of Dating - Timothy Goodman & Jessica Walsh
59. The Raven King - Maggie Stiefvater
60. Gena Finn - Hannah Moskowitz & Kat Helgeson
61. Eligible - Curtis Sittenfeld
62. The View from the Cheap Seats: Selected Nonfiction - Neil Gaiman
63. Nimona - Noelle Stevenson
64. The Four Swans - Winston Graham
65. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - J.K. Rowling (re-read)
66. Imprudence - Gail Carriger
67. The Sandman: Preludes & Nocturnes - Neil Gaiman
68. These Old Shades - Georgette Heyer
69. X-Files Season 10 Volume 1 - Joe Harris
Favourite read(s):


August
70. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J.K. Rowling (re-read)
71. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - J.K. Rowling (re-read)
72. Summer Days and Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories - Stephanie Perkins (ed.)
73. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - J.K. Rowling (re-read)
74. Once Upon a Moonlit Night - Elizabeth Hoyt
75. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling (re-read)
76. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling (re-read)
77. Surrender Bay - Denise Hunter
78. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling (re-read)
79. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Jack Thorne et.al.
Favourite read(s):


September
80. Alexander Hamilton - Ron Chernow
81. To Be or Not to Be - Ryan North
82. No Other Will Do - Karen Witemeyer
83. American Gods: The Tenth Anniversary Edition - Neil Gaiman
Favourite read(s):

October
84. King Baby - Kate Beaton
85. Worlds Elsewhere: Journeys Around Shakespeare's Globe - Andrew Dickson
86. Talk Me Down - Victoria Dahl
87. Start Me Up - Victoria Dahl
88. Lead Me On - Victoria Dahl
89. Rainbow Valley - L.M. Montgomery
90. Full Steam Ahead - Karen Witemeyer
91. Literary Starbucks Jill Poskanzer, Wilson Josephson, and Nora Katz
92. Rilla of Ingleside - L.M. Montgomery
93. Hamilton: The Revolution - Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter
94. Silent in the Grave - Deanna Raybourn
95. Silent in the Sanctuary - Deanna Raybourn
96. Silent on the Moor - Deanna Raybourn
97. Midsummer Night - Deanna Raybourn
Favourite read(s):


November
98. Hag-Seed - Margaret Atwood
99. Dark Road to Darjeeling - Deanna Raybourn
100. The Dark Enquiry - Deanna Raybourn
101. Silent Night - Deanna Raybourn
102. Twelfth Night - Deanna Raybourn
103. Tailor-Made Bride - Karen Witemeyer
104. Bonfire Night - Deanna Raybourn
105. A Curious Beginning - Deanna Raybourn
106. Scrappy Little Nobody - Anna Kendrick
107. Ghostly Echoes - William Ritter
Favourite read(s):


December
108. China Rich Girlfriend - Kevin Kwan
109. Talking as Fast as I Can - Lauren Graham
110. Secrets of a Summer Night - Lisa Kleypas
111. Jane, the Fox & Me - Fanny Britt
112. Duke of Pleasure - Elizabeth Hoyt
113. It Happened One Autumn - Lisa Kleypas
114. Hyperbole and a Half - Allie Brosh
115. Never Have I ever: My Life (So Far) Without a Date - Katie Heaney
116. A World Without You - Beth Revis
117. The Post-Birthday World - Lionel Shriver
118. Fifty Percent of Mountaineering Is Uphill: The Life of Canadian Mountain Rescue Pioneer Willi Pfisterer - Susanna Pfisterer
119. Holy Bible (NLT)
120. To Win Her Heart - Karen Witemeyer
Favourite read(s):

My rating system:

/ = Ran screaming in the other direction (aka did not finish)
* = Suffered through it for reasons I'm still not sure of
** = Had far more flaws than virtues
*** = A read I don't regret but could use some improvement
**** = A good, solid read that I might revisit
***** = Loved it beyond reason and will probably re-read in short order

I didn't quite make it through my personal reading challenge for last year (although I did surpass 75!) so this year, I thought I'd simplify things a bit. This year, I'm going to track how many of my books pass the Bechdel test.

Hahaha, your placeholders are great! Happy new thread!

>7 leahbird: Thanks Leah!

Book 84



King Baby - Kate Beaton

King Baby arrives and while he offers many good things to his subjects he also demands much.

This picture book is an absolute delight with equal appeal for littles and the grown ups who read to them. As an aunt (and a Kate Beaton fan), I absolutely adored this one.

Rating: *****

Bechdel Test: Fail

Happy new thread!

*Waves* Hi Micky! :D

Happy new thread, Micky!

>10 foggidawn: Thanks, Foggi!

>11 Ape: Hi Stephen!

>12 scaifea: Thanks, Amber!

Happy new thread!!

>14 Kassilem: Thanks, Melissa!

Book 85



Worlds Elsewhere: Journeys Around Shakespeare's Globe - Andrew Dickson

Inspired by an international Shakespeare festival held in London in the lead-up to the 2012 Olympics, journalist Dickson decides to explore just what has made Shakespeare and his plays such an international sensation. Over the next few years he travels to Germany, the USA, India, South Africa, and China to explore the history and various iterations of Shakespeare and his works in these widely varying locales. Dickson explores questions like how much the plays remain Shakespeare's when translated into other (contemporary) languages and contexts, whether the wide dissemination of the plays is just a result of colonialism rather than global appeal, and the different political uses for the Bard and his plays, among others. Part travelogue, part history, and part critical exploration Shakespeare's plays in multiple cultural contexts, the book is a fascinating exploration of just why so many people continue to read and perform plays in times and places far-flung from the Bard's origins rendered in beautifully evocative prose. Recommended for Shakespeare fans who enjoy a dose of armchair travel.

Rating: ****

Bechdel Test: n/a

Happy new thread!

#16 Micky that book looks right up my alley. You hit me with a BB.

>17 The_Hibernator: Thanks, Rachel!

>18 BBGirl55: I hope you like it when you get to it. :)

I trust your BB they never fall flat for me.

>20 BBGirl55: Awww, that's sweet. :)

Book 86



Talk Me Down - Victoria Dahl

Molly Jennings is hopeful that moving back to her small home town of Tumble Creek will help alleviate her writer's block as well as provide the distance to convince her stalker ex-boyfriend to back off. While Molly's writing of erotic novels takes off in Tumble Creek, particularly when she reconnects with sexy police chief Ben Lawson, someone still has it in for Molly although it remains unclear whether it's her creepy ex.

I was in the mood for a romance novel and this filled the bill. Molly and Ben's romance is enjoyable even if the suspense plot is a little wobbly. If you like Dahl's writing or slightly smutty contemporary romance, give this one a try.

Rating: ***

Bechdel Test: Pass

Book 87



Start Me Up - Victoria Dahl

Lori had always planned to escape Tumble Creek after high school but after her father ended up in vegetative state she left college and has run his garage ever since, even after his death. Lori is a great mechanic but she's frustrated by being stuck in a life she never wanted. When her best friend's older brother, Quinn, asks for Lori's help with his backhoe they quickly discover that the chemistry between them is too extreme to ignore. But is their sudden relationship enough to break Lori out of the rut she's stuck in?

Enjoyable second entry in the series.

Rating: ***

Bechdel Test: Pass

>16 MickyFine: Nice review of Worlds Elsewhere, Micky. I thumbed it. I qualify as a "Shakespeare fan who enjoy(s) a dose of armchair travel", and I've added it to my WL.

>24 jnwelch: Thanks for the thumb, Joe!

Once Upon a Time stuff:

This week's episode was a level of good that reminded me of earlier seasons and I'm happy. I'm so happy that with a whole season arc to play with there's time to revisit characters like Cinderella. Also my Captain Swan loving self basically exploded with glee over the two of them moving in together. Overly emotional invested in the relationships of fictional characters: party of one.

Happy new thread to you!

I sort of gave up on OUAT when Emma turned evil. Does it get better?

>27 rosylibrarian: The Dark Swan arc wasn't too bad. The Hades arc was awful (the only redeeming factor for me as a hard core shipper was the Captain Swan stuff). This season has been much better so far. If you want to pick it up again, I say watch the season 5 finale and go from there.

>28 MickyFine: Seconded! Last season was kind of blah but that arc mostly ended in episode 21, and everything from episode 22 onward has been GREAT. I finally watched last week's episode and it was SO GOOD!! It's like season 1 again.

Plus, Sam Witwer. So cute

>29 norabelle414: Right? Season 1 but with the cuteness of these two:

Book 88



Lead Me On - Victoria Dahl

Jane Morgan has been hiding from her disreputable past for most of her adult life and worked hard to craft her image as a proper, straight-laced, and upwardly mobile young woman. But when Chase walks into the office where Jane works, she can't help but find herself attracted to this big, tattooed man who is everything she's avoided for over ten years. As Jane struggles with the developing relationship between herself and Chase she slowly discovers that avoiding anything that reminds her of her past may not be the best approach for all aspects of her life.

Finishing off the Tumble Creek series this romance is as enjoyable as the others in the series.

Rating: ***

Bechdel Test: Pass

Book 89



Rainbow Valley - L.M. Montgomery

Freshly returned from their European tour, Anne and Gilbert are reunited with their children and back in Ingleside. In their absence, a new minister, John Meredith has been appointed and has settled into the manse with his four rambunctious children who quickly bond with the Blythe children. As the children get into various adventures and mischief that frequently scandalizes their small community, the Meredith family must also face the realities of being without a mother and just what it means if their father should ever remarry.

I always forget how beautiful Montgomery's prose is until I settle down with her novels and then I immediately remember how lovely it is to just let the words wash over you. In this penultimate entry in the Anne series we get far more focus on the Meredith children then on Anne and Gilbert and their brood. However, the book is no less charming for this mild shift in focus. The adventures and scrapes the children get into are just as entertaining as those of the Blythe children and the quiet romance of John Meredith's courting of a local old maid is just as delightful. There is also the sharp contrast with the charms of life in this small community with the dark foreshadowing of the onset of WWI.

Rating: *****

Bechdel Test: Pass

Book 90



Full Steam Ahead - Karen Witemeyer

Nicole Renard has always felt like a mild disappointment to her father as his only child isn't a son. When local business rivals, the Jenkins, threaten her parents in an effort to recover a contested family heirloom, Nicole has every intention of fulfilling her father's wish of marrying a man who can immediately become his heir and take over their shipping business. But as Nicole prepares to leave for New Orleans to find such a man, the Jenkins interfere with her plans and leave her traveling deeper into Texas under an assumed name. In the small town of Liberty she takes a position as a secretary with Darius Thornton who is attempting to excise his past by developing boilers that won't explode. As Nicole and Darius spend time together they discover a mutual attraction that alters their plans for their futures in ways neither expected.

Witemeyer has quickly become one of my favourite Christian romance authors. While the writing in this one was a little rough at the beginning with some bumpy dialogue, the book quickly took off and I was quickly charmed by both the lead characters and their romance. As is usual with Witemeyer's books the suspense plot adds a forward momentum to the plot that keeps thing moving. I'd recommend this one to readers who enjoy Christian romance but I wouldn't suggest this be the first Witemeyer novel to try.

Rating: ***

Bechdel Test: Pass

Book 91



Literary Starbucks - Jill Poskanzer, Wilson Josephson, and Nora Katz

Starting initially as a blog on tumblr, the creators of Literary Starbucks have compiled some of the posts from their blog as well as new content created specifically for the book into one epic day at a Starbucks during which fictional characters and authors come in to place orders from this ubiquitous American chain. Whether it's Chinua Achebe ordering a scone that crumbles and being told "things fall apart" or Harry Potter ordering a butterbeer latte because Dumbledore told him to and that guy seems trustworthy, there's plenty to delight and tickle the funny bones of lit nerds of all stripes.

Rating: ****

Bechdel Test: Pass

>34 MickyFine: Oh, that sounds like a fun one, Micky. Thanks for reviewing it.

>35 jnwelch: It is a lot of fun, Joe. I've been a fan of their tumblr for a while, Joe, so I was pleased as punch when I heard the book was going to be a thing and immediately made sure my library ordered it. :)

#30 I ship these two so hard. They popped in to my top 5 favorite tv couples I am a seasion and a half behind the rest of the world.

>34 MickyFine: There's only one copy in my library system so I can't get it yet :( But your review reminded me to request the book, in any case. I've enjoyed the tumblr quite a bit as well.

>32 MickyFine: Those covers! Every time you post one, I am tempted to buy new copies of the entire series just so I can have that cover art.

>37 BBGirl55: I hear you. They're probably my favourite ship on shows that are currently airing. There's some good CS stuff ahead for you. :)

>38 bell7: Yay!

>39 foggidawn: I know. I'm so pleased that I didn't own the series already so I didn't have to feel guilty about acquiring it with the gorgeous covers. I'm tempted to buy the Emily series as well (even though I've never read it) as they had the same artist do those covers as well.

>39 foggidawn: I was going to comment on those too! They really are gorgeous, and unique.

>41 rosylibrarian: Right? The artist's bio in the back of the book says that she does the initial artwork with paper and ink then sets it up in a miniature theatre and photographs it, which gives it that wonderful depth. Elly MacKay is her name and her website has more of her gorgeous work.

Book 92



Rilla of Ingleside - L.M. Montgomery

Rilla Blythe is a slightly vain and selfish fifteen year old, positive that the next few years will be the most thrilling of her life. But it's 1914 and the world as Rilla knows it is about to change entirely. As the young men in her small world join the Canadian forces, Rilla is forced to mature quickly as she takes on caring for a war baby and participates in the efforts at home to support "the boys over there."

I went into this one knowing it was the WWI novel of the Anne books and expecting it to tug at the heartstrings even more intensely than previous novels in the series. I wasn't wrong. I spent big chunks of the novel willing back tears, although there were also sections where I was smothering laughter. The book isn't short on Canadian (and British Empire) patriotism, which might create mixed feelings for a modern reader. There is also an additional level of heartbreak reading passages on the lessons learned from the war with the modern knowledge of what came afterward. Those considerations aside, the prose is as beautiful as always and the novel is a bittersweet conclusion to Anne's story.

Rating: *****

Bechdel Test: Pass

I remember loving Rilla of Ingleside when I read it as a kid.

Who is the publisher of these gorgeous editions you have, Micky?

Book 93



Hamilton: The Revolution - Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter

The complete libretto for Hamilton annotated by Miranda and interspersed with essays on the creation, development, and reception of the musical from one of the show's producers. Worth picking up for any level of Hamilton fan whether you're in it for the behind-the-scenes details, photos of the cast during rehearsal and performance, to get a peek inside LMM's brain, or to finally figured out just what that lyric is that you haven't figure out after listening to the album umpteen times.

Rating: *****

Bechdel Test: Pass (thank you, "Schuyler Sisters")

>44 katiekrug: Tundra Books is the publisher for my edition, distributed by the almighty Random Penguin (aka Penguin Random House).

>45 MickyFine:. "Like"

>44 katiekrug: What a lovely book cover, Micky.

Wishing you a splendid weekend. xx

Thanks, Paul. They are probably the prettiest books I own. :)

>26 MickyFine: Hi Micky! Nate and I binge watched the first couple seasons of Once upon a Time when it came on netflix but we never got around to continuing with it. Perhaps I should see if more seasons have been added!

>50 ChelleBearss: Chelle!!!! Hi!!!! As for OUAT on Netflix, they've got everything up to season 5 on there now. :)

>46 MickyFine: I also like to say "Random Penguin"...
Oh also, the library copy of Literary Starbucks came in sooner than I thought. I'm looking forward to dipping into it soon!

>52 bell7: I feel like they missed an awesome marketing opportunity with that merger. Random Penguin is such an awesome company name.

Yay for Literary Starbucks. It's awesome for dipping in and out of. Or just devouring in an hour or two like I did. :)

In case you missed it, THERE IS A NEW GILMORE GIRLS TRAILER! You should WATCH IT! And then we can all squee together.

I straight up CRIED in my cubicle watching the trailer at lunch time. I've watched it 8 times so far.

I got misty eyed during my two viewings. I'm pretty sure there will be crying when I watch the episodes. :)

(I cried, too. Every one of the 20+ times I watched it yesterday.)

>54 MickyFine: there was oooohing, awwwing, some squeeing and a few tears! A WALL OF RICHARD!
I can't wait!!

Book 94



Silent in the Grave - Deanna Raybourn

Lady Julia Grey is not entirely caught off guard when her husband, Edward, collapses at a party and dies shortly thereafter as he has been ailing for the duration of their marriage. What does shock her is when she is approached by Nicholas Brisbane, a private inquiry agent, who informs her that her husband was receiving threats and may have been murdered. Refusing to believe Brisbane's insinuations, Julia goes through most of the first year of her mourning before discovering one of the notes and realizing that Brisbane may have been right after all. As she begins to work with the enigmatic Brisbane, she learns that digging into her husband's past and death may bring things to light she never wanted to see.

I picked up this first entry in the Lady Julia Grey series after seeing a blurb about the series in a recent issue of Library Journal. Their quotation of the first sentence of the book was just too delicious for me to resist: "To say that I met Nicholas Brisbane over my husband's dead body is not entirely accurate. Edward, it should be noted, was still twitching upon the floor." This first novel is a highly enjoyable mystery and while I had correct suspicions about whodunnit early on, the historical setting and the development of the characters made the entire journey worthwhile. Highly recommended for those who enjoy a good historical mystery with just a dash of flirtation in the mix.

Rating: ****

Bechdel Test: Pass

Book 95



Silent in the Sanctuary - Deanna Raybourn

After five months in Italy with two of her older brothers, Lady Julia Grey is not entirely disappointed when her father summons her and her brothers home for Christmas. Arriving at their family home in Sussex, Julia is surprised to find amongst their family party Nicholas Brisbane, who has not contacted Julia once during her absence and now appears to have several new secrets he's keeping. When one of the party is found murdered, Julia and Brisbane once again must work in partnership to solve the crime and face the sparks that fly between them whenever they meet.

This second entry in the series is a little bit smoother than the first novel and thoroughly enjoyable. I've always been a fan of murder mysteries set on an estate and Raybourn plays with the formula well. Julia and Brisbane continue to fascinate as main characters and it's a delight to get further acquainted with Julia's large family. I continue to enjoy this mystery series and have already dived into the next book.

Rating: ****

Bechdel Test: Pass

Girlmore Girls...I'm going to check that show out...y'know, eventually. I know a lot of you love it around here. :)

I just started a rewatch of Gilmore Girls so that it's all fresh in my mind when the new episodes release. I was a little worried that I wouldn't be done by release day, but I'm almost done with season 1 after 2 days off work so I think I'm OK.

>61 Ape: I'll be interested to see whether you like it, Stephen.

>62 leahbird: I did a rewatch earlier is year. It was great comfort watching while I dealt with the stress of moving and starting a new job.

>59 MickyFine: Oh, that sounds like a good series!

>64 foggidawn: I've really enjoyed it so far, Foggi. I think you'd like it.

Book 96



Silent on the Moor - Deanna Raybourn

Lady Julia Grey as well as her sister, Portia, and youngest brother, Valerius, are off to the Yorkshire moors where Nicholas Brisbane has acquired the estate of Grimsgrave. Julia is determined to finally have a serious conversation with Brisbane about the status of their relationship. But things at Grimsgrave are in a complete shambles and when ugly events from the past spill over and threaten Julia and Brisbane's future they must once again combine their efforts to uncover the truth.

I'm a fully devoted fan of the series at this point. Julia and Brisbane's developing relationship is as delightful as ever and while the mystery in this entry in the series is quieter, it is well suited to the eerie moors. If you've enjoyed the series thus far, you'll definitely want to pick up this one.

Rating: ****

Bechdel Test: Pass

Book 97



Midsummer Night - Deanna Raybourn

Lady Julia and Brisbane are just days away from being married when a figure from their past returns to threaten their chance of having any future at all.

This novella, while published after the fourth and fifth Lady Julia Grey novels falls into the timeline between books 3 and 4. While there's some highly enjoyable Julia and Brisbane cuteness, for a 50 page novella there's an awful lot of re-hashing of events from the three previous novels. Not up to the standard of the first three books in the series, it's a fine read if you're a completist but not a necessary read otherwise.

Rating: **

Bechdel Test: Pass

October Summary






Numbers in parentheses are for year to date.

Books read: 14 (97)

Bechdel Test: 12/13 (78/83)

Fiction: 11 (81)
Non-fiction: 3 (16)

Library: 12 (83)
Mine: 2 (14)

Re-reads: 0 (8)

Female authors: 13 (68)
Male authors: 4 (34)

Adult fiction: 8 (50)
YA fiction: 0 (18)
Children's fiction: 3 (10)

Pages: 4,856 (34,453)

Average rating: 3.9 (3.92)

Average time to read book: 3.1 days (3.85 days)

Favourite book(s): While it's got some rough spots as a first novel, the prize goes to Silent in the Grave for kicking off a series in which I'm now super invested.

Book 98



Hag-Seed - Margaret Atwood

Felix is the artistic director for the Makeshiweg Festival where he constantly pushes boundaries while he allows his associate, Tony, deal with the realities of finances and the Board. In the wake of the death of Felix's young daughter, Miranda, Felix throws himself into preparations for his production of The Tempest only to find himself betrayed by Tony and removed from his position. Twelve years later, Felix has become rather reclusive as he plots how to avenge himself on those who prevented him from staging his masterpiece and have since ascended the rungs of power in the federal government. Felix's one significant contact with the outside world is teaching a literacy class at the local correctional facility where they study and then film a production of a Shakespeare play. When it's announced that Tony and several others who participated in Felix's downfall will be visiting the prison to watch the current production, Felix knows this is finally the chance to both stage his production of The Tempest and get his revenge.

When I saw that Margaret Atwood would be doing a reinterpretation of The Tempest for the Hogarth Shakespeare series I was excited. Hag-Seed does not disappoint. The levels of meta are almost off the scale as we get an actual production of the play within this modern re-imagining of it and yet it works. Felix is just as fascinating as Prospero and has the same qualities of being a genuinely terrible person at times and yet still gaining the reader's sympathy. The discussions Felix has with the prison inmates about the play as part of the prep for their production also add a whole new level of metatext to the play as they discuss themes and pick apart characters that are being explored and exploded within the novel. A dream for any Can Lit professor and a delight to read if you're a fan of Atwood and have even a tangential knowledge of the play.

Rating: ****

Bechdel Test: Fail (I expected better of you, Margaret Atwood)

Glad to see you enjoyed Hag-seed! I plan to try and read more from that Shakespeare project!

Re: The Bechdel Test, it's Shakespeare though. That's a tough place to start.

It's ironic that Atwood is one of the few to actually fail the test.

>70 ChelleBearss: I've got the other books on my "for later" shelf in the library catalogue. I just happened to be first in line on the holds list for Hag-Seed so it came first. :)

>71 norabelle414: Fair point. But she did have two female characters in the book who could have plausibly met and talked and that didn't happen.

>72 Ape: I know, right? To be fair to her though, the original play can't pass the Bechdel test as Miranda is the only female character. So she didn't have much to work with to begin with.

I don't know, I mean, she made the Odysseus myth feminist-friendly with The Penelopiad, I'm sure she could have done the same here.

Anyway, I just found it ironic is all. She's one of my favorite authors of all time, after all. :)

>74 Ape: Oh don't get me wrong, there are still feminist themes in the novel. We just never get two women together at the same time.

General life note:

I'm likely to be a little absent over the next few days. Tomorrow is my birthday (the big 3-0) and I'm doing an open house (there was just no way I was going to fit everyone in my apartment at once) and then dinner out with my family. Monday I fly to Chicago. Tuesday I do touristy things during the day and then see HAMILTON!!! Wednesday I fly back to Edmonton. So I might pop in during my many hours in airports but no promises.

Happy Birthday, Micky, and enjoy that whirlwind trip to Chi-town! It's a great city.

Happy birthday!! My mom has been to Chicago and loves it. :)

>6 MickyFine: I am clearly way out of the loop this year, but I am absolutely tickled by your use of the Bechdel test. Fantastic idea!

Happy thirty, and happy travels!

I CANNOT wait to hear your report on Hamiltin! Have the best time! Happy birthday.

Hope you have a wonderful birthday and a great trip!

Really? And I've heard so many great things about Hagseed!

Happy birthday!

Happy belated birthday, Micky!

Happy Birthday, Micky!

>77 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie! I plan to have some fun.

>78 Ape: Thanks, Stephen. I've heard good things about Chicago so I'm looking forward to seeing it for myself.

>79 London_StJ: Thanks, Luxx. I've found the Bechdel test a super interesting way to look at my reading this year.

>80 leahbird: I promise a full report when I'm back home, Leah.

>81 ChelleBearss: Thanks, Chelle!

>82 The_Hibernator: It was thoroughly enjoyable, Rachel, don't let the Bechdel fail keep you away.

>83 drneutron: Thanks, Jim!

>84 norabelle414: Thanks, Nora. A+ gif usage. :D

>85 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe!

Happy belated birthday, and hope you have a great trip! Looking forward to hearing about it all.

I've been back for a few days but I'm sufficiently recovered from all the traveling to actually do a real post. A note to the wise, getting up super early (between 3:30 and 4) and passing through three time zones twice in three days is not for the faint of heart. Even though I had a four hour layover in Toronto on my way back, I got almost no reading done. My brain just couldn't focus on it so I listened to podcasts and watched movies instead. The trip itself was great. Long blurb below follows, feel free to skim or skip.

I got to Chicago around 4:30 pm local time and took the train into town. I splurged on a super swanky hotel and stayed at the Chicago Athletic Association. I have tons of pictures of the hotel and my room but I'll just post one of the super gorgeous lounge in the lobby area overlooking Michigan Avenue.



I went out for dinner that night and tried deep dish pizza. It was pretty tasty.

For my one full day in Chicago I took a river boat cruise done by the Architectural Society. It was pretty great and I took tons of pictures of buildings. I'll just show off some of my favourites.





After the tour I popped into Millennium Park to see the Bean. It was big and shiny and I really liked it. After lunch I walked over the central branch of Chicago Public Library because it is required for all librarians to visit a local library while on vacation. It was gorgeous and I poked through all nine of the public floors. The atrium on the top floor where they keep their special collections and house the Exhibit Hall is gorgeous.



Later that afternoon I went to the fancy spa at the Hilton for a mani/pedi which was delightful. Afterwards I grabbed takeout from the Shake Shack on the main floor of the hotel and had dinner in my room while I got ready to go the show.

And then it was Hamilton time! Cats it was sooooooooo good. I loved it even more than I thought I would. The theatre itself is beautiful. My seat was also amazing. Three rows from the front!



I got up obscenely early the next morning and was back on the train to the airport. End of story.

TL;DR I had a great trip to Chicago and Hamilton was amazing!

>89 MickyFine: The trip sounds appropriately spectacular! I'm so glad you had a wonderful time, and I loved seeing your photos.

Oh, lovely photos!

So glad you had a great time in Chicago!

>89 MickyFine: Wonderful, Micky! Sounds, and looks, like a great time. Wasn't Hamilton amazing?

Sounds like a fantastic trip! My seat for Hamilton will not be anywhere near as good as yours, but I'm still looking forward to it, and glad to hear how much you loved it.

>90 London_StJ: Thanks, Luxx. It was pretty fantastic.

>91 scaifea: Thanks, Amber. My little digital camera does a decent job.

>92 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie!

>93 jnwelch: It was so great, Joe. I loved getting to see all the acting details for the songs. It was great to see the actors emotional interpretations of what was going with all the characters beyond the lyrics.

>94 foggidawn: It was a good time. I wish you an equally fantastic experience when you go, Foggi.

>95 MickyFine: We all just about levitated off our seats with excitement when it started. :-)

>96 jnwelch: There were several other women near me and we were all having a case of super excited giggles in advance of the show. :)

>97 MickyFine: :-) So great!

Book 99



Dark Road to Darjeeling - Deanna Raybourn

Lady Julia and Brisbane are nearing the tail end of their honeymoon when they're intercepted by Julia's siblings, Portia and Plum. Portia demands Julia and Brisbane accompany her to India where Portia's former lover, Jane, has recently lost her husband. It is only after they're on their way that Portia informs Julia that she suspects Jane's husband may have been murdered. Upon arriving at the tea plantation, it becomes apparent that almost anyone in the small secluded community may have had a motive for the murder. But while Julia works hard to uncover just who might have committed murder she must also work to compromise with Brisbane about her role in his dangerous line of work.

A solid entry in the series. Raybourn does a wonderful job of evoking Victorian era northern India. The cast of characters are fascinating as usual and Julia and Brisbane continue to be utter charmers even after their wedding. While I felt one of the twists at the end of the novel wasn't necessary, I generally enjoyed the novel.

Rating: ***

Bechdel Test: Pass

Lovely photos, Micky. I'm glad you had a great time! :)

>100 Ape: Thanks, Stephen!

>99 MickyFine: That sounds like good fun! I'll have to look into the series.

>102 London_StJ: I've enjoyed them a lot - I'm almost through the whole series (as it exists now). Just a couple novellas left to go.

Book 100



The Dark Enquiry - Deanna Raybourn

Lady Julia and Brisbane have finally returned to London and settled into the patterns of married life. While Julia has won the concession from Brisbane that she can now assist on his cases, the definition of what her help might entail has not been set. When Julia discovers that one of Brisbane's cases involves a member of her family she refuses to keep her nose out and the couple find themselves immersed in a case that involves spiritualists and blackmail with a dash of international intrigue. As Julia comes into her own as an investigator, she discovers that hunting down mysteries is even more dangerous than she knew.

Another thoroughly enjoyable entry in this series. What I enjoy most about these mysteries is that the characters continue to grow and develop over the course of each novel and the mystery plots are never predictable. As noted on previous entries, I highly recommend this series for those who like historical mysteries with a dash of romance.

Rating: ****

Bechdel Test: Pass

Book 101



Silent Night - Deanna Raybourn

Lady Julia and Brisbane are summoned once more to her family estate for Christmas. However, Julia's expectations of a quiet and warm familial Christmas are dashed when she discovers that half the household staff are sick with colds, her father is a terrible humour, and the house isn't even decorated for Christmas. Plus, much to everyone's dismay it appears there is once more a jewelry thief in their midst during the festive season.

Thoroughly delightful Christmas novella. The writing is just as enjoyable as one of the full novels and while the mystery is on the fluffy side, it's exactly right for a book set at Christmas. Does contain mild spoilers for the previous books in the series so should not be picked up out of order.

Rating: ****

Bechdel Test: Pass

Book 102



Twelfth Night - Deanna Raybourn

1890 has just begun and already Lady Julia and Brisbane find themselves in the midst of a mystery. While still at her father's home in Sussex the entire March clan is preparing for the annual Twelfth Night revels as the family performs the St. George play every ten years. However, in the midst of preparations the household is thrown into further uproar when a baby is discovered abandoned in the stables. While Julia and Brisbane work to determine to whom the baby belongs, what they discover may alter their lives permanently.

The events of this novella follow hard on the heels of Silent Night and pick up shortly after that previous novella left off. While there were few surprises in the outcome of the plot, any time spent with Julia, her eccentric family, and Brisbane is always worthwhile.

Rating: ****

Bechdel Test: Pass

Book 103



Tailor-Made Bride - Karen Witemeyer

Hannah Richards is convinced of God's leading when she receives a small store front in the railroad town of Coventry, Texas where she can finally fulfill her dream of opening her own dress shop. However, the local liveryman, Jericho Tucker, is less than thrilled at Hannah's arrival as he believes any attempts to follow fashion just feed vanity at the expense of any other consideration. As Hannah begins to settle into Coventry, Jericho is forced to reconsider his point of view and as he does, he realizes that Hannah might be just what he and the town have needed all along.

A perfectly enjoyable Christian historical romance. As is usual with Witemeyer she creates strong characters who are flawed and who grow in their faith over the course of the novel. Recommended for those who enjoy these kind of reads.

Rating: ***

Bechdel Test: Pass

Book 104



Bonfire Night - Deanna Raybourn

Lady Julia and Brisbane are surprised when a solicitor appears on their doorstep informing them that Brisbane has suddenly inherited an estate in the country. The catch is that they must be in residence from All Hallow's Eve until Guy Fawkes Day in order to keep the house. However, upon their arrival Julia and Brisbane discover that the house is purportedly the most haunted in all of Britain. After their first restless night, Julia and Brisbane decide that all is not as it seems and investigate this seemingly haunted gift horse.

A trifle on the fluffy side, this novella is not quite as strong as other entries in the series but enjoyable nonetheless. Recommended for the completist and optional for other readers.

Rating: ***

Bechdel Test: Pass

Book 105



A Curious Beginning - Deanna Raybourn

Veronica Speedwell has just buried her guardian and is preparing to depart on another butterfly hunting expedition. However, her life is thrown into complete disarray when she returns to her cottage to the final time only to find a stranger has torn it apart. In the aftermath of that discovery she meets the Baron von Stauffenbach who informs her that her life may be in serious danger and whisks her off to London and entrusts her for a day to his friend, Stoker, who is also a naturalist. Life gets even more complicated when the baron is murdered shortly after leaving Veronica with Stoker and these two strangers must quickly develop some level of trust as they work to discover who murdered the baron and whether it was related to Veronica at all.

Raybourn's deft hand with writing historical fiction set in the Victorian era is once more in evidence in this first book of the Veronica Speedwell series. The book is thoroughly enjoyable even as she establishes the core characters of Veronica and Stoker and works around resolving the mystery at the core of the novel. Veronica is a fascinating heroine with her scientific pursuits and morals that are quite different from the norm for the Victorian era. My credulity was stretched a little bit in believing that Stoker could be quite so accomplished in as many fields as he is but given the general quality of the novel, I'm willing to overlook that single flaw. If you've enjoyed the Lady Julia Grey novels, it's likely you'll enjoy Veronica Speedwell as well although note that the atmosphere of this series is quite a bit different.

Rating: ***

Bechdel Test: Pass

Hi Micky! I'm catching up on threads after my post-election doldrums. And by that I mean I'm skimming them and hoping to keep in better communication in the future. So happy day!

>110 The_Hibernator: Hi Rachel! Nice to see you!

Book 106



Scrappy Little Nobody - Anna Kendrick

Anna Kendrick's memoir covers her childhood, her experiences breaking into acting, the realities of being a young adult in LA, and memories of working on various films. While the writing can be a bit uneven at times, Kendrick is funny and the book is a quick fun read. If you're a fan of her acting or if you've ever watched an interview with her and thought she'd be fun to hang out with for a bit, you should definitely give this book a whirl.

Rating: ***

Bechdel Test: n/a

Exciting life news. I got a second niece this morning! And now that I actually live close to all my family I'll actually get to see her tonight rather than having to wait a few weeks like I did with my first niece. :DDDDDDD

Book 107



Ghostly Echoes - William Ritter

Abigail Rook and her employer, Jackaby, have taken on what may be their most difficult case yet: solving the murder of their resident ghost, Jenny Cavanaugh. While Abigail is eager to help her friend, Jackaby is initially reluctant until a new spate of murders identical to those that happened ten years previously when Jenny died occur. As the trio work to unravel who is behind the gruesome deaths they discover a larger conspiracy that threatens the world as they know it.

The third entry in the Jackaby series is as enjoyable as the previous two. I'm not sure if it was the considerable time gap between reading the previous book and this one but the writing in the first few chapters seemed a bit rocky. Afterwards, however, the book settled into its plot and everything took off. An excellent continuation of the series that sets up for major happenings in the next book.

Rating: ****

Bechdel Test: Pass

November Summary





Numbers in parentheses are for year to date.

Books read: 10 (107)

Bechdel Test: 8/9 (86/92)

Fiction: 9 (90)
Non-fiction: 1 (17)

Library: 10 (93)
Mine: 0 (14)

Re-reads: 0 (8)

Female authors: 10 (78)
Male authors: 0 (34)

Adult fiction: 8 (58)
YA fiction: 1 (19)
Children's fiction: 0 (10)

Pages: 2,650 (37,103)

Average rating: 3.5 (3.71)

Average time to read book: 2.9 days (3.38 days)

Favourite book(s): I had a lot of solid reads this month but I'll give the prize to Hag-Seed for being such an intriguing reinterpretation of The Tempest.

I loved Hag-Seed, too. I want to read Anna Kendrick's book at some point.

>116 jnwelch: Anna Kendrick's book is fun. I'm not an audiobook person, but if you are I think it would probably do well in that format.

>117 MickyFine: Not often, but that makes sense. Hmm.

Book 108



China Rich Girlfriend - Kevin Kwan

Note: This review may contain spoilers for Crazy Rich Asians.

Nick and Rachel, after all the hurdles, are finally getting married. But in the last few days before the wedding, Rachel's father suddenly emerges and much to everyone's surprise turns out to be a high-ranking official in China. As part of their honeymoon, the newlyweds go to visit Rachel's father and to meet the rest of her newly discovered family. But as with their previous trip to Asia, hazards lurk that neither of them expected.

As with the previous novel in this series, I was again surprised at how much I enjoyed the book. Filled with a wide cast of characters, most of whom are obscenely rich and who have an entirely skewed perception of morality and reality, it remains fascinating reading. While almost none of the characters really grow or change, the plot propels everything along at a wonderful clip and leaves you compelled to understand the various machinations of many of the characters that surround our central pair of Nick and Rachel. There's also the luscious descriptions of places, food, and fashions that while occasionally overwhelming give a true sense of place. And there's often a hint of snarky humour either in the text of the novel itself or in the footnotes sprinkled liberally throughout. If you enjoyed the first novel, you'll want to pick up this one.

Rating: ****

Bechdel Test: Pass

Book 109



Talking as Fast as I Can - Lauren Graham

Lauren Graham's memoir is an utter delight from start to finish. Written exactly as you'd expect from this charming and quirky actress, the book is a quick and funny read. While there is some content on Graham's formative years, most of the book focuses on her years as an actress with an understandably substantial chunk dedicated to her years on Gilmore Girls, both the initial run and the recent new episodes. A fun and charming read that I recommend to any Lauren Graham fan.

Rating: ****

Bechdel Test: n/a

>120 MickyFine: I'm married to a big Gilmore Girls/Lauren Graham fan. Thanks for the review. I'll get it for her for the holidays.

>121 jnwelch: I hope Mrs. Joe likes it. :)

Book 110



Secrets of a Summer Night - Lisa Kleypas

Annabelle Peyton is on her fourth season and she must catch a husband this year or she'll be left with the shameful choice of becoming someone's mistress in order to save her family's finances. While at a ball she finally chats with the three other women who have all been condemned to being wallflowers for various reasons. The quartet form a pact to help each other find husbands beginning with Annabelle as the eldest. But while the women work to get Annabelle engaged to eligible Lord Kendall, Annabelle must fight her own growing attraction to the newly rich but entirely unsuitable Simon Hunt.

I enjoyed this historical romance thoroughly. Kleypas sets up a lovely premise with the four wallflowers working together to snag a husband in the difficult market of the early Victorian era. Watching Annabelle and Simon's relationship develop is a thorough delight and the denouement was actually a surprise for me as the final conflict was not what I had anticipated. I'll be picking up the other books in this series and Kleypas has made my list of authors to pick up when I'm in the mood for a historical romance.

Rating: ****

Bechdel Test: Pass

Book 111



Jane, the Fox & Me - Fanny Britt

Helene is struggling with having no friends at school, worried about her weight, and immersing herself in Jane Eyre.

This graphic novel is a highly accurate representation of the realities of being an outcast as a pre-teen. Helene's struggle were highly relatable and I loved her anecdotes about what's happening in Jane Eyre as she reads it over the course of her narrative. However, the real highlight of this book is the beautiful art.

Rating: ****

Bechdel Test: Pass

>123 MickyFine: I love Lisa Kleypas - I have not read this series though

>125 lovelyluck: Then you should give it a try. :)

Congrats on the new niece!! Glad you are close by to cuddle them both!

Glad you enjoyed Lauren Graham's book. I have that one out of the library to read. Hoping I can get to it before it is due! If not I may ask Santa for it!

>127 ChelleBearss: Thanks, Chelle! I went out to visit them last weekend and I got baby snuggles plus my older niece decided to have storytime with me. I got to read "The Itsy Bitsy Snowman" at least half a dozen times. :)

Well whether it's the library copy or a gift from Santa, I hope you enjoy the Graham book when you get to it.

You got me with Jane, the Fox & Me, Micky. Onto the WL it goes.

Book 112



Duke of Pleasure - Elizabeth Hoyt

Hugh, Duke of Kyle has been tasked with taking down the secret society, the Lords of Chaos. To aid in his information gathering, he hires Alf who is the best information gatherer in the slums of St. Giles. But unbeknownst to the Duke, Alf is not the teenage boy he thinks but a woman in disguise. As Alf and the Duke work together, secrets will be revealed and the sparks that fly between may utterly destroy both their worlds.

Another reliably enjoyable Hoyt novel. I always enjoy a good use of the "woman in disguise as a boy" trope in a romance and this novel didn't disappoint.

Rating: ****

Bechdel Test: Pass

>129 jnwelch: It's a beautiful, quick read, Joe. Hope you like it!

I'm a Kleypas fan of long-standing :)

>132 katiekrug: I can see why. She's pretty enjoyable.

Also, I should probably apologize to Stephen. I seem to be on an historical romance kick lately. It's at least partly because I'm reading ebooks almost exclusively right now. My department is almost set to move to our new temporary (for the next 2-3 years) space and we'll be there two weeks before it'll be an actual holds pick up location. And I'm too lazy to walk the extra couple blocks to pick up or return physical library material (#librarianproblems) during the gap. So it'll be ebooks or my own books for the next few weeks.

Stephen can deal with it, lol.

>134 The_Hibernator: Snork.

Book 113



It Happened One Autumn - Lisa Kleypas

As the second eldest of the self-named wallflowers, Lillian Bowman is the next to benefit from the group's concerted efforts to find her a husband. As the group are invited to Marcus, Count Westcliff's Hampshire estate for a country party the women have a good chance of finding a suitable suitor for Lillian. But when Lillian and Marcus discover that their longstanding antagonism masks a surprising attraction, Lillian's marriage plans are suddenly altered.

A case of two strong willed characters clash repeatedly but are also super attracted to each other. It was a thoroughly entertaining read.

Rating: ***

Bechdel Test: Pass

I, unfortunately, haven't been very active on Librarything recently, which on the bright side has spared me from the alarming amount of exposed flesh found on your thread, Micky. :P

>137 Ape: I'm not sure bared shoulders and deep v-necks really counts as alarming amounts of exposed flesh, Stephen. ;)

Book 114



Hyperbole and a Half - Allie Brosh

A collection of Brosh's blog posts as well as new material created for the book.

If you've never stumbled across Hyperbole and a Half before, you don't know what you're missing. Allie Brosh's often hysterical anecdotes and observations paired with her Microsoft Paint illustrations are epic on every level. I've been a fan of Brosh's blog for several years and I was pleased to see some of my favourites included in this collection. As these anecdotes are prone to causing snorts of laughter, I don't recommend reading this one in public.

Rating: ****

Bechdel Test: Pass

>139 MickyFine: Brosh has well-earned her internet fandom - very fun. I'll have to look for the book.

ETA: Library has it! Score.

>140 London_StJ: Sweet! I totally had the Hyperbole and a Half wall calendar this year. It made me pretty happy. :)

>139 MickyFine: Look at the alarming amount of bared flesh on that dog!!!! *faints dead away*

>142 norabelle414: Lol. That reminds me of this Sam the Eagle sketch from The Muppet Show.

138: Depends on how easily alarmed the person is...

Quite a bit belated, but Happy 30th, Micky! :) Thanks for posting pics of your Chicago trip. Looks like a blast! And congrats on your new niece. So cool. :)

>145 saras.library: Thanks for the birthday and new niece well wishes! :)

Book 115



Never Have I Ever: My Life (So Far) Without a Date - Katie Heaney

At 25 years old, Katie Heaney has never dated. And she's kind of ok with that. Recounting the list of crushes, flirtations, and odd romantic encounters that have led up to this point in her life, Katie reflects on the complexities of romance and the importance of the friendships with the women in her life. Filled with humour as Katie provides her inexperienced/outsider's perspective on the nuances of dating, this one is a hit whether you're a long-term singleton or coupled up.

Rating: ****

Bechdel Test: n/a

>147 MickyFine: That one looks fun!

>147 MickyFine: Yeah, I'm gonna have to read that one.

>89 MickyFine: Holy cow, I am behind. But, happy birthday! The big 3-0 is right around the corner for me. Yikes! The trip looks great. I've only ever flown in and out of Chicago, but it is on the list.

>106 MickyFine: This was cute. All actress/actor books make me realize I could never be an actress though. I could not cope with the stress. And public speaking.

>109 MickyFine: Loved it. I think Lauren Graham and I would be BFFs in real life. I just finished watching the Netflix revival this week and OMG. The ending. The ending?! That cannot be it.

>148 saras.library: It was super enjoyable.

>149 foggidawn: It's been on my reading radar for a while. I even included it on a booklist I made this summer for work.

>150 rosylibrarian: Thanks for the birthday wishes, Marie. I've been liking 30 so far (although spoiler alert, it doesn't feel much different :P). As for GG, Amy Sherman-Palladino is just a teensy bit mean. However, I'm glad we got the final four words now rather than in season 7. Can you imagine how different that would have been if Rory were 22?

>151 MickyFine: No, that would have been crazy in season 7. I'm honestly shocked that it happened in the new revival. I should have seen it coming, but I really didn't.

By the way, Logan is the dad, right? And Jess is the new Luke? I'd watch it.

>152 rosylibrarian: That's my head canon. :)

Book 116



A World Without You - Beth Revis

I'm honestly not sure how to summarize the plot of this one without spoiling some of the aspects that make it such a fascinating read. Suffice it to say that this YA novel combines elements of time travel, unreliable narration, and an exploration of what it feels like when you can't trust your own perceptions. Beautiful and compelling reading.

Rating: ****

Bechdel Test: Pass

>147 MickyFine: Could have been written by my poor secretary Norul who has reached her, erm, mid 30s, without so far finding love and companionship. My wife, ever busy, has suggested a string of potential suitors but she is simply too shy.

Have a lovely weekend.

>155 PaulCranswick: She probably needs another shy guy (or gal; whatever floats her boat). Or maybe she's good on her own. *shrugs*

Wouldn't it be nice if 2017 was a year of peace and goodwill.
A year where people set aside their religious and racial differences.
A year where intolerance is given short shrift.
A year where hatred is replaced by, at the very least, respect.
A year where those in need are not looked upon as a burden but as a blessing.
A year where the commonality of man and woman rises up against those who would seek to subvert and divide.
A year without bombs, or shootings, or beheadings, or rape, or abuse, or spite.

2017.

Festive Greetings and a few wishes from Malaysia!

>156 saras.library: You're maybe right, Sara. The problem here is that there is plenty of peer pressure on ladies to get hitched.

Merry Christmas!!

>157 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul.

>159 ChelleBearss: Merry Christmas, Chelle!

>161 Kassilem: Thanks, Melissa!

Book 117



The Post-Birthday World - Lionel Shriver

Irina and her partner, Lawrence, have slowly developed the tradition of having dinner with snooker star Ramsey Acton and his wife, Jude, every year on Ramsey's birthday. Even after Ramsey's divorce from Jude, the tradition continues even though Jude was the person that connected them. But one year, Lawrence is away on the usual date. As a snooker fan he's unwilling to let the connection go and so he pushes Irina to have dinner with Ramsey solo. On that fateful evening Irina finds herself with a rogue impulse to kiss Ramsey. What will happen if she gives in to the impulse or if she remains true to Lawrence?

The friend who recommended this novel to me got me to pick it up by comparing it to the film Sliding Doors (highly underrated flick). The novel takes a parallel universe approach exploring what becomes of Irina when she makes the choice to kiss Ramsey and when she refrains. In alternating chapters we see how Irina's life unfolds with all its differences and strange parallels. There's a lot of fun in seeing how Shriver plays with the two timelines and uses them to comment on each other. While the novel is worth picking up just to enjoy the narrative structure, the prose itself is beautiful. A fascinating exploration of how our choices make us who we are.

Rating: ****

Bechdel Test: Pass

A note on some of my upcoming reads.

I've recently joined the Alberta Readers Choice Award (ARCA) team at work. As a result, a healthy chunk of my reading from now until about June will include ARCA submissions. Odds are I'll blurb these books but I'll be keeping my opinions on them to myself until after the release of the shortlist. Just in case you're wondering why my normal review format looks different from usual.

Sounds like a neat endeavor!

Book 118



Fifty Percent of Mountaineering Is Uphill: The Life of Canadian Mountain Rescue Pioneer Willi Pfisterer - Susanna Pfisterer

ARCA Submission

This memoir, written in the first person and compiled by Willi Pfisterer's daughter from interviews, largely focuses on Pfisterer's experiences working in the Canadian Rockies after he emigrated from Austria in the late 50s. Spending most of his career working for Parks Canada, Pfisterer recounts tales of establishing mountain safety and rescue procedures as well as tales from climbs and rescues in the Rockies for the nearly thirty years he worked in the field.

Rating: ***

Bechdel Test: n/a

Catching up: happy that you liked Hyperbole and a Half, which I also loved. Hope your holidays are going happily!

>167 swynn: Nice to see you! My holidays have been going swimmingly and I've had plenty of opportunities to snuggle with my nieces which is a nice bonus. :D

I think I'm finally willing to commit to my Top 5 Reads for the year.




In no particular order:
Bad Feminist - Roxane Gay
Nimona - Noelle Stevenson
Hamilton: The Revolution - Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter
Blackout - Connie Willis
All Clear - Connie Willis

>169 MickyFine: I haven't read Roxane Gay yet, but I can get behind all the others :-)

>169 MickyFine: I haven't read Roxane Gay or the Hamiltome yet, but the other three are ones I can totally get behind :-)

Book 119

Holy Bible (NLT)

I did a Bible in a year reading plan this year and finished today.

The Hamiltome is one of the partially-finished books that I'm hoping to polish off before the end of the year. I'm hoping tomorrow is a good day to stay in and read!

>173 foggidawn: I'll cross my fingers for you. Are you listening to it while you read?

>174 MickyFine: Not song by song, though often after reading through a song, I want to listen, and then I don't want to stop and go back to reading. This is partly why I haven't finished it yet!

>175 foggidawn: I did it as a read along. Have the song playing while I read the lyrics in front of me. It worked pretty well although sometimes it was tough to pause between songs that flow together.

Looking forward to your continued company in 2017.
Happy New Year, Micky

>177 PaulCranswick: Happy new year, Paul!

Book 120



To Win Her Heart - Karen Witemeyer

After serving two years for manslaughter, Levi Grant has reconnected with his faith and made the decision to leave his prior career of prizefighting behind him and devote himself to his family trade as a blacksmith. Moving to a new town, he finds himself besotted with the local librarian, Eden Spencer. But with her utter abhorrence for any violence can Levi convince her to love a man with such a dark past?

Yet another enjoyable Christian romance from Karen Witemeyer, this time with bonus small town librarian.

Rating: ***

Bechdel Test: Pass

December Summary




Numbers in parentheses are for year to date.

Books read: 13 (120)

Bechdel Test: 9/9 (95/101)

Fiction: 8 (98)
Non-fiction: 5 (22)

Library: 10 (103)
Mine: 2 (16)
Borrowed elsewhere: 1 (1)

Re-reads: 0 (8)

Female authors: 11 (89)
Male authors: 1 (35)

Adult fiction: 5 (63)
YA fiction: 2 (21)
Children's fiction: 0 (10)

Pages: 5,857 (42,960)

Average rating: 3.9 (3.81)

Average time to read book: 2.7 days (3.04 days)*

Favourite book(s): I'm giving the final prize of the year to Never Have I Ever: My Life (So Far) Without a Date for being funny and a nice reminder that there are other people who have hung out in my boat (although I'm not sure I'm technically in the boat anymore).

*Does not include 365 days done to complete Bible in a year plan as significant outlier.

Year Over Year Comparison

Books Read
2016: 120
2015: 90
2014: 75
2013: 80
2012: 75 (+37 Shakespeare plays)
2011: 125

Pages Read
2016: 42,960
2015: 34,178
2014: 25,152
2013: 26,173
2012: 29,214
2011: 47,365

Fiction Books
2016: 98
2015: 80
2014: 64
2013: 68
2012: 67
2011: 114

Non-Fiction Books
2016: 22
2015: 10
2014: 11
2013: 12
2012: 8
2011: 11

Re-reads:
2016: 8
2015: 7
2014: 3
2013: ?
2012: 11
2011: 18

Author Gender Breakdown
2016: 89 female, 35 male
2015: 57 female, 42 male
2014: 43 female, 36 male
2013: 52 female, 31 male

Owned vs. Borrowed
2016: 103 library, 16 mine, 1 elsewhere
2015: 76 library, 14 mine
2014: 63 library, 12 mine
2013: 58 library, 21 mine, 1 elsewhere
2012: 49 library, 26 mine
2011: 93 library, 30 mine, 2 elsewhere

Average Time to Read a Book
2016: 3.04 days
2015: 3.74 days

And finally, my favourite bit of the year-end wrap up: the book meme!

Describe yourself: Bad Feminist

Describe how you feel: Happy Again

Describe where you currently live: Rainbow Valley

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Anne's House of Dreams

Your favorite form of transportation: Full Steam Ahead

Your best friend is: Talking as Fast as I Can

You and your friends are: The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu (well, minus the Timbuktu part :P)

What’s the weather like: Once Upon a Moonlit Night

You fear: A World Without You

What is the best advice you have to give: Luke Skywalker Can't Read

Thought for the day: Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between

How I would like to die: Head in the Clouds

My soul’s present condition: All Clear

And that's it for this thread, friends! Why not walk the plank and drop into my 2017 THREAD? :D