Yearlong Letters X and Z

Welcome to AlphaKIT for 2020. Welcome to a new year of great reading.

The rules are... none! Use the letters however you like to choose your reads for the month. Well, okay, there is one rule: Have Fun!

Yearlong AlphaKIT letters are : X and Z.

and

Please remember to update the wiki and enter books alphabetically:
https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/2020_AlphaKIT#Yearlong_Letters:_X_and_Z

I love that there are no rules. That works for me. But I am curious how others who have participated in AlphaKIT in the past have "used" the year-long letters. My thought was that I would simply be sure to read an X and a Z at some point during the year and call it good. What other rubrics have folks used?

Surely not an X and a Z each month of the year.... ??

>2 EBT1002: Once a year is enough for me! I try to read a book by an author whose last name starts with X or Z. Z isn't usually a problem but I've had to adjust my thinking for X to include the author's full name (example: Francisco X. Stork)

>3 DeltaQueen50: Yeah, I think once a year will be enough for me, as well, Judy! Thank you!

>2 EBT1002: I have chosen Zhang Xianliang which covers both.

Other X possibilities are Malcolm X, Xinran, Gao Xingjian or if you feel like some classics, Xenophon or Cao Xueqin.

Z is considerably easier!

If you were not specifically looking for an author there are alphabet type series that have an X in the title (like the Grafton series). Or the Xenia princess series.

For my X in 2019, I read X v. Rex, a Golden Age mystery also published under other titles (hence the touchstone has a different title). Even though the second X is at the end, it amused me that I was getting two X's in the title.

For Z I am going to read something my Zoran Zivkovic who is one of my favourite authors. I have not made my mind up about X yet.

I'm likely to read one of the Zadie Smith works I have on my shelves for the Z.

For mystery fans, there is Qiu Xiaolong whose mysteries are set in China (useful for Q too), and Diana Xarissa who sets her cozy mysteries on the Isle of Man.

I find Z is easier. I've wondered if one of Michael Dibdin's Aurelio Zen series would be acceptable.

I am reading Zola this year for z.

>10 VivienneR: Hmm, I might try the first in the Qiu Xiaolong series when the Q month comes up. I do like double-dipping for these challenges. :-)

>11 Kristelh: Oh, that is a good one, also on my shelves.... (so many books...)

I was also going to suggest Chinese books for Q.

Can’t believe I already have an X book out of the way. Read What the Chinese Don’t Eat by Xinran. Really interesting series of articles she wrote for the Guardian about Chinese culture.

>12 EBT1002: I am glad I am not the only one who does the double-dipping for the challenges. Some readers frown on doing that.

>12 EBT1002: Great idea! That's always the first thing that I look for - a book that hits both letters.

I finished Xenocide for my first book of the year and happy to check off X (I don't get an X read every year).

Staring "Numero Zero" by Umberto Eco

I read The Blue Zones by Dan Buettner

COMPLETED Numero Zero by Umberto Eco

I've completed Aunt Bessie Assumes by Diana Xarissa for my "X" read this year.

>15 LadyoftheLodge: "Some readers frown on doing that." Hmm, I figure it's a win! And, of course, we're all doing the AlphaKIT to meet our own needs. I love this particular challenge because of how flexible and fun it is.

>15 LadyoftheLodge: >22 EBT1002: My impression is that most enjoy getting multiple hits from one book.

I've read a Z! Zaidee: A Romance is a charming Victorian novel, abounding in improbability.

I finished and reviewed Provence A - Z by Peter Mayle. I rated it 3★ but the narration by John Lee was first rate.

>25 VivienneR: John Lee's voice is wonderful! It makes me think of a younger Sean Connery :)

Finished Germinal by Émile Zola for Z.

>27 Kristelh: I remember loving this years ago - also The Earth. The only Zola I have read. I really do need to read more.

>28 JayneCM:. I've read Therese Raquin but I don't remember it, so need to reread. I also will try to read more of Zola.

Another Z. Read Amok by Stefan Zweig

I finished Orphan X for, well, for X.

Just realized that I forgot to report my "Z" read- Miss Cecily's Recipes for Exceptional Ladies by Vicky Zimmerman

Hands Like Clouds / Mark Zuehlke
3 stars

Elias is the coroner in the small town of Tofino, on Vancouver Island in British Columbia. When a local environmentalist/activist (or “ecoterrorist”) is found hanging from a tree, the initial thought is suicide, but Elias quickly figures out that Ian was strangled before he was hung. The local RCMP, though, is busy preparing for a US Senator to tour the area, looking at the ancient rainforest (and the already clear-cut sections) that the logging companies want to continue to raze.

Especially with the environmental angle, I had hoped this would draw me in more. The mystery itself was interesting, but the characters weren’t as much so – at least to me – until at least the second half of the book. Zuehlke puts a lot of description in the book, which does paint a clear picture of Vancouver Island, but it’s a bit too much for me, overall. I did love the setting, though.

Starting "Double Feature: Attack of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies / Bride of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies" by Brent Hartinger

COMPLETED Double Feature: Attack of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies / Bride of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies by Brent Hartinger

I have completed We by Yevgeny Zamyatin for my Z read.

I completed White Teeth by Zadie Smith for Z.

For Z I read Not So Quiet by Helen Zenna Smith.

I'm starting the House of X comics series now!

I read A Case of Two Cities by Qiu Xiaolong for my X.

Starting The Inspector Chen Collection by Xialong Qiu

COMPLETED The Inspector Chen Collection by Xiaolong Qiu

Zeitoun / Dave Eggers
4 stars

Zietoun (pronounced Zay-toon) and his wife Kathy lived in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit. Zietoun ran a painting/consulting business. They had 4 kids at the time. Kathy evacuated with the kids and Zeitoun stayed behind to keep watch on his home, plus the rental properties that they owned. It wasn’t long before things got really bad for him, while Kathy couldn’t get ahold of him and had no idea what had happened...

This was really good. There were a few parts – mostly Zietoun’s background in Syria – that I kind of lost focus, but the rest of it was really good. I did see a sort-of “spoiler” when I was only part-way through that I wish I hadn’t seen, though it wasn’t specifically about the storyline.

Starting "Stand on Zanzibar" by John Brunner

I forgot to mention that I read a Z book in September -- The True Queen by Zen Cho.

COMPLETED Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner

>30 Kristelh: I also read Amok, by Stefan Zweig. I always enjoy his writing, although I didn't think this one was up to his usual standard.

I've finished An Equal Justice by Chad Zunker for my "Z" book.

I have finished A Zoo in My Luggage by Gerald Durrell for my Z book. I enjoy his sense of humor and always learn something new and this book was no exception.

I forgot to report that I completed my X read with The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino. I usually only count author's names for the Alphakit, but decided to make an exception for X this year.

This year I read The Poet X a novel in verse...highly recommend!

and Intimations by Zadie Smith...a small book of essays written during the pandemic. A few were very thoughtful.

I did pretty good at reading Z books but not so good with X I think. Baker's Magic by Diane Zahler