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Charlas75 Books Challenge for 2021

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amanda4242's thread

1amanda4242
Editado: Dic 31, 2021, 4:44 pm

January
1. The Hundred and One Dalmatians--BAC ★★★★
2. Doctor Dolittle's Caravan--BAC ★★★1/2
3. A Dog of Flanders--BAC ★★
4. Tales of the Mist ★★★
5. Asterix and the Soothsayer ★★★1/2
6. Stig of the Dump--BAC ★★★1/2
7. The Reluctant Dragon--BAC ★★★★
8. The Brothers ★★★
9. Weep Not, Refugee ★★
10. The Old Drift ★★★1/2
11. Asterix in Corsica ★★★1/2
12. Widdershins ★★★★
13. Some Days ★1/2
14. Armed in Her Fashion ★★★1/2
15. Arid Dreams: Stories ★★1/2
16. The Poison Master--BAC ★★★1/2
17. Threshold ★★★★
18. The Original Dream ★★
19. The Boggart--BAC ★★★1/2
20. The Terror ★★★1/2
21. Across the Green Grass Fields ★★
22. Stormhaven ★★★★
23. The Boggart and the Monster--BAC ★★★1/2
24. Necropolis ★★★★
25. The Starlight Barking--BAC ★★★
26. Bloodline ★★★★
27. Black Caps and Red Feathers ★★
28. Miss Buncle's Book--BAC ★★★★
29. Three Apples Fell from the Sky ★★1/2
30. Hoarfrost ★★★★

February
31. Ermyntrude and Esmeralda--BAC ★★★★
32. Emiline: Knight in Training ★★1/2
33. Patience & Esther: An Edwardian Romance ★★★1/2
34. The Ice Dragon ★★1/2
35. Orlando--1001 & BAC ★★1/2
36. The Jumblies, and Other Nonsense Verses--BAC ★★★1/2
37. The Line of Beauty--1001 & BAC ★★★‌1/2
38. A Tale of Two Time Lords: A Little Help From My Friends ★★★‌1/2
39. What Ho, Automata--BAC ★★★‌1/2
40. Deja Vu Halloo--BAC ★★★‌1/2
41. A Pilgrimage of Swords ★★★★
42. The Kraken's Tooth--BAC ★★★★
43. The Last Wish ★★★‌1/2
44. A Room with a View--1001 & BAC ★★★★1/2
45. Sexing the Cherry--1001 & BAC ★★
46. Maurice--BAC ★★★★1/2
47. Constantine: The Hellblazer Volume 1: Going Down ★★1/2
48. Constantine: The Hellblazer Volume 2: The Art of the Deal ★★★
49. Deadpool & Cable Ultimate Collection Book 1 ★★★1/2
50. How to Fight a Dragon's Fury--BAC ★★★★

March
51. The Worst Breakfast--BAC ★★
52. Raven 1: Nemesis ★★★1/2
53. Mistress of Mellyn--BAC ★★★1/2
54. The Big Score ★★★★
55. Deadpool Classic Vol. 1 ★★★
56. The Boggart Fights Back ★★★1/2
57. Asgard - Volulme 1 - Ironfoot ★★1/2
58. The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra--BAC ★★★
59. Bigfoot and the Bodhisattva ★★★★
60. Gloria Victis - Volume 1 - The Sons of Apollo ★★★
61. The Red Knight: The Bloody Tapestry ★★★
62. The Rescuers--BAC ★★★
63. Earwig and the Witch--BAC ★★1/2
64. Stopping for a Spell--BAC ★★★
65. Angel Vol. 1: Being Human ★★★
66. Angel Vol. 2: City of Demons ★★★
67. Angel & Spike Vol. 1: All the Devils Are Here ★★★
68. James Herriot's Treasury for Children--BAC ★★★★★
69. Seven Shakespeares Vol. 3 ★★★
70. Seven Shakespeares Vol. 4 ★★★
71. Forever Evil: Blight ★★
72. Heartbeat ★1/2
73. Folklords ★★★1/2
74. The Perplexing Theft of the Jewel in the Crown--BAC ★★1/2
75. Castle Waiting ★★★★1/2
76. Queen Pokou ★★★1/2

2amanda4242
Editado: Nov 6, 2021, 1:49 am

April
77. Castle Waiting Volume II ★★★★1/2
78. Thornyhold--BAC ★★★1/2
79. Ludo and the Star Horse--BAC ★★★1/2
80. The Green Book--BAC ★★1/2
81. The Corner Shop--BAC ★★★
82. Heathen Volume 1 ★★★1/2
83. Heathen Volume 2 ★★★1/2
84. Heathen Volume 3 ★★★
85. Ghosted in L.A. Vol. 1 ★★1/2
86. Black Angel - Volume 1 - Night Hawk ★★★1/2
87. Something is Killing the Children Vol. 1 ★★★★1/2
88. Something is Killing the Children Vol. 2 ★★★★1/2
89. Something is Killing the Children Vol. 3 ★★★★1/2
90. The Red Mother Vol. 1 ★★★
91. The Red Mother Vol. 2 ★★★
92. The Red Mother Vol. 3 ★★★
93. Ghosted in L.A. Vol. 2 ★★1/2
94. Ghosted in L.A. Vol. 3 ★★★
95. Miss Buncle Married--BAC ★★★★
96. Alberic the Wise and Other Journeys ★★★★★
97. What Did You Eat Yesterday?, Volume 1 ★★★
98. Bernard the Brave--BAC ★★★
99. What Did You Eat Yesterday?, Volume 2 ★★★
100. Mask ★★
101. Saijiki - A Calendar of Poems - Prologue: The First Campaign ★★★
102. Black Cowl ★★1/2
103. The Inviolable Dolce ★★★
104. You, My Dearest, Crying In My Apartment ★★1/2
105. An Alien Heat--BAC ★★★★
106. What Did You Eat Yesterday? Vol. 3 ★★★
107. Hellblazer Vol. 24: Sectioned--BAC ★★★1/2
108. What Did You Eat Yesterday? Vol. 4 ★★★

May
109. The Swirling Hijaab--BAC ★★★1/2
110. Bernard into Battle--BAC ★★★
111. Hard Time--BAC ★★★★
112. The Desert and the Drum ★★★★
113. What Did You Eat Yesterday? Vol. 5 ★★★
114. What Did You Eat Yesterday? Vol. 6 ★★★
115. What Did You Eat Yesterday? Vol. 7 ★★★
116. What Did You Eat Yesterday? Vol. 8 ★★★
117. What Did You Eat Yesterday? Vol. 9 ★★★
118. What Did You Eat Yesterday? Vol. 10 ★★★
119. What Did You Eat Yesterday? Vol. 11 ★★★
120. What Did You Eat Yesterday? Vol. 12 ★★★
121. What Did You Eat Yesterday? Vol. 13 ★★★
122. What Did You Eat Yesterday? Vol. 14 ★★★
123. The Unknown Ajax--BAC ★★★1/2
124. Faithless
125. Faithless II
126. Moriarty the Patriot, Vol. 1 ★★★
127. Moriarty the Patriot, Vol. 2 ★★★
128. Journey through Islamic Art--BAC ★★★
129. Going to Mecca--BAC ★★1/2
130. The Mystic Masseur--BAC ★★★
131. Fugitive Telemetry ★★1/2
132. Cable Vol. 1 ★★
133. Stranger Things: Science Camp ★★★1/2
134. Wynd Book One: The Flight of the Prince ★★★1/2
135. The Drops of God Vol. 1 ★★★
136. The Drops of God Vol. 2 ★★★
137. The Drops of God Vol. 3 ★★★
138. The Drops of God Vol. 4 ★★★
139. The Drops of God Vol. 5 ★★★
140. The Drops of God Vol. 6 ★★★
141. The Drops of God Vol. 7 ★★★
142. The Drops of God Vol. 8 ★★1/2
143. The Drops of God Vol. 9 ★★★
144. The Drops of God Vol. 10 ★★★
145. The Drops of God Vol. 11 ★★★
146. The Drops of God Vol. 12 ★★★
147. The Drops of God Vol. 13 ★★★
148. Jim Lives: The Mystery of the Lead Singer of The Doors and the 27 Club
149. Lady Mechanika Volume 1: The Mystery of the Mechanical Corpse ★★★★
150. Lady Mechanika Volume 2: The Tablet of Destinies ★★★★
151. Moriarty the Patriot Vol. 3 ★★★
152. The Witcher: Fading Memories ★★★★
153. Origins ★★★
154. An Unkindness of Ravens ★★1/2
155. The Empress of Salt and Fortune ★★★
156. Elizabeth and Monty: The Untold Story of Their Intimate Friendship ★★1/2
157. A Cruel God Reigns Volume 1 ★★★★
158. A Cruel God Reigns Volume 2 ★★★★
159. A Cruel God Reigns Volume 3 ★★★★
160. A Cruel God Reigns Volume 4 ★★★★
161. A Cruel God Reigns Volume 5 ★★★★
162. A Cruel God Reigns Volume 6 ★★★★
163. A Cruel God Reigns Volume 7 ★★★★
164. A Cruel God Reigns Volume 8 ★★★★

June
165. A Cruel God Reigns Volume 9 ★★★★
166. A Cruel God Reigns Volume 10 ★★★1/2
167. A Cruel God Reigns Volume 11 ★★★★
168. A Cruel God Reigns Volume 12 ★★★★
169. A Cruel God Reigns Volume 13 ★★★1/2
170. A Cruel God Reigns Volume 14 ★★★1/2
171. A Cruel God Reigns Volume 15 ★★★1/2
172. A Cruel God Reigns Volume 16 ★★★★
173. A Cruel God Reigns Volume 17 ★★★★
174. The Caiman ★★★1/2
175. Ramadan Moon--BAC ★★★1/2
176. The Way We Live Now--BAC ★★★1/2
177. The Lost Ages 1. The Fort on the Moors ★★★
178. Embodied: An Intersectional Feminist Comics Poetry Anthology ★★★
179. The Sins of the Cities of the Plain--BAC ★★
180. The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water ★★★1/2
181. The Last Witch ★★★
182. Nottingham ★★★1/2
183. Cape Town Curios ★★★★
184. Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor Vol. 1 - After Life--BAC ★★★1/2
185. Fantastic Mr. Fox--BAC ★★★★1/2
186. The Count of Monte Cristo--1001 ★★★★★
187. Chicken in the Kitchen ★★★1/2
188. Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor, Volume 2 - Serve You--BAC ★★★
189. Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor, Vol. 3 - Conversion--BAC ★★★1/2
190. We Only Find Them When They're Dead Vol. 1: The Seeker--BAC ★★★★

3amanda4242
Editado: Ago 5, 2021, 9:59 pm

July
191. The Eagle of the Ninth--BAC ★★★★1/2
192. All Creatures Great and Small--BAC ★★★★1/2
193. Kingsman: The Secret Service--BAC ★★★
194. Books of Blood Volume One--BAC ★★★★
195. Deadpool vs. X-Force ★★★
196. The Little Broomstick--BAC ★★★★
197. The Rose of Versailles Volume 4 ★★★
198. Rain and Other Stories ★★
199. Moriarty the Patriot Vol. 4 ★★★
200. Hurrah St. Trinian's and Other Lapses--BAC ★★★1/2
201. I Was a Rat!--BAC ★★★1/2
202. Rebecca and Rowena--BAC ★★
203. Hellblazer: Rise and Fall ★★1/2
204. The Girl From the Other Side: Siúil, a Rún, Volume 1 ★★★
205. To Your Eternity Vol. 1 ★★★
206. To Your Eternity Vol. 2 ★★★
207. The Last Kingdom--BAC ★★★★
208. To Your Eternity Vol. 3 ★★★

August
209. Palladian--BAC ★★
210. Freddy vs Jason vs Ash: The Nightmare Warriors ★★
211. To Your Eternity Vol. 4 ★★★
212. The Pale Horseman--BAC ★★★★
213. The Opposite House--BAC ★★

4amanda4242
Editado: Ene 5, 2021, 8:03 pm

Q4

5amanda4242
Editado: Nov 6, 2021, 1:53 am

British Authors Challenge

January: Children's classics (before 1996)
1. The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith ★★★★
2. Doctor Dolittle's Caravan by Hugh Lofting ★★★1/2
3. A Dog of Flanders by Ouida ★★
4. Stig of the Dump by Clive King ★★★1/2
5. The Reluctant Dragon by Kenneth Grahame ★★★★
6. The Boggart by Susan Cooper ★★★1/2
7. The Starlight Barking by Dodie Smith ★★★
8. The Jumblies, and Other Nonsense Verses by Edward Lear ★★★1/2
9. The Rescuers by Margery Sharp ★★★
10. Stopping for a Spell by Diana Wynne Jones ★★★
11. James Herriot's Treasury for Children by James Herriot, illustrated by Ruth Brown and Peter Barrett ★★★★★
12. Ludo and the Star Horse by Mary Stewart ★★★1/2
13. The Green Book by Jill Paton Walsh ★★1/2
14. Bernard the Brave by Margery Sharp ★★★‌
15. Bernard into Battle by Margery Sharp ★★★‌

February: LGBT+ History Month
1. Ermyntrude and Esmeralda by Lytton Strachey ★★★★
2. Orlando by Virginia Woolf ★★1/2
3. The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst ★★★‌1/2
4. A Room with a View by E. M. Forster ★★★★1/2
5. Sexing the Cherry by Jeanette Winterson ★★
6. Maurice by E. M. Forster ★★★★1/2
7. We Only Find Them When They're Dead Vol. 1 by Al Ewing ★★★★

March: Eleanor Hibbert & Vaseem Khan
Mistress of Mellyn by Victoria Holt ★★★1/2

The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra by Vaseem Khan ★★★
The Perplexing Theft of the Jewel in the Crown By Vaseem Khan ★★1/2

April: Love is in the air
1. Thornyhold by Mary Stewart ★★★1/2
2. The Corner Shop by Elizabeth Cadell ★★★
3. Miss Buncle's Book by D. E. Stevenson ★★★★
4. Miss Buncle Married by D. E. Stevenson ★★★★
5. An Alien Heat by Michael Moorcock ★★★★
6. Hellblazer Vol. 24: Sectioned by Peter Milligan ★★★1/2
7. The Unknown Ajax by Georgette Heyer ★★★1/2

May: Na'ima B. Robert & V. S. Naipaul
The Swirling Hijaab by Na'ima bint Robert, illustrated by Nilesh Mistry ★★★1/2
Journey through Islamic Art by Na'ima bint Robert, illustrated by Diana Mayo ★★★
Going to Mecca by Na'ima B. Robert, illustrated by Valentina Cavallini ★★1/2
Ramadan Moon by Na'ima B. Robert, illustrated by Shirin Adl ★★★1/2

The Mystic Masseur by V. S. Naipaul ★★★

June: The Victorian Era (1837-1901)
1. The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope ★★★1/2
2. The Sins of the Cities of the Plain by Anonymous ★★
3. Rebecca and Rowena by William Makepeace Thackeray ★★

6amanda4242
Editado: Dic 31, 2021, 4:44 pm

July: Don't judge a book by its movie
1. Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake ★★★★1/2
Fantastic Mr. Fox directed by Wes Anderson ★★★★
2. The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff ★★★★1/2
The Eagle of the Ninth {1977 mini-series} ★★★
The Eagle {2011 film} directed by Kevin Macdonald ★★★
3. All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot ★★★★1/2
All Creatures Great and Small Season 1 {2020 series} ★★★★
4. Kingsman: The Secret Service by Mark Millar ★★★
Kingsman: The Secret Service {2014 film} directed by Matthew Vaughn ★★★★
5. Books of Blood Volume One by Clive Barker ★★★★
Books of Blood {2020 movie} directed by Brannon Braga ★★1/2
Tales from the Darkside Season 4, Episode 7: "The Yattering and Jack" directed by David Odell, teleplay by Clive Barker ★★
The Midnight Meat Train {2008 film} directed by Ryûhei Kitamura ★★★★
6. The Little Broomstick by Mary Stewart ★★★★
Mary and the Witch's Flower {2017 film} by Hiromasa Yonebayashi ★★★
7. Hurrah for St. Trinian's and Other Lapses by Ronald Searle ★★★1/2
The Belles of St. Trinian's {1954 film} directed by Frank Launder ★★★★
8. I Was a Rat! by Philip Pullman ★★★1/2
I Was a Rat {2001 movie} directed by Laurie Lynd ★★★

August:Helen Oyeyemi & Bernard Cornwell
The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell ★★★★
The Pale Horseman by Bernard Cornwell ★★★★

The Opposite House by Helen Oyeyemi ★★

September: She blinded me with science

October: Narrative poetry

November: Elizabeth Taylor & Tade Thompson
Palladian by Elizabeth Taylor ★★

December: Awards & honors
1. The Boggart and the Monster by Susan Cooper ★★★‌1/2 (Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award Nominee)
2. How to Fight a Dragon’s Fury by Cressida Cowell, read by David Tennant ★★★★ (Audie Winner)
3. Earwig and the Witch by Diana Wynne Jones ★★‌1/2 (Bank Street CBC Best Children's Book of the Year, Maine Regional Library System Cream of the Crop List)

Wildcard: Books off your shelves
1. The Poison Master by Liz Williams ★★★1/2
2. What Ho, Automata by Chris Dolley ★★★1/2
3. Deja Vu Halloo by Chris Dolley ★★★1/2
4. The Kraken's Tooth by Anthony Ryan ★★★★
5. The Worst Breakfast by China Miéville and Zak Smith, illustrated by Zak Smith ★★
6. Hard Time by Jodi Taylor ★★★★
7. Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor Vol. 1 - After Life by Al Ewing and Rob Williams ★★★1/2
8. Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor, Volume 2 - Serve You by Al Ewing and Rob Williams ★★★
9. Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor, Vol. 3 - Conversion by Al Ewing and Rob Williams ★★★1/2

7amanda4242
Editado: Jul 11, 2021, 12:34 am


Create Your Own Visited Countries Map


Last year I read books by authors from fifty-one different countries. I'm going to continue the count and I hope to get to seventy-five this year.

I'm only listing the first book I read for a country because I don't want the list to get out of hand.

2020
1. United Kingdom--Weight: The Myth of Atlas and Heracles by Jeanette Winterson
2. South Korea--Tokyo Ueno Station by Yu Miri
3. Equatorial Guinea--La Bastarda by Trifonia Melibea Obono
4. Iran--Women Without Men by Shahrnush Parsipur
5. Brazil--Along the Tapajós by Fernando Vilela
6. United States--Come Tumbling Down by Seanan McGuire
7. Bangladesh--The Gurkha and the Lord of Tuesday by Saad Z. Hossain
8. Poland--Blood of Elves by Andrzej Sapkowski
9. Japan--The Heart of Thomas by Moto Hagio
10. Canada--Fifteen Poems by Leonard Cohen
11. Spain--Bowie: An Illustrated Life by María Hesse
12. Nigeria--We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
13. Suriname--The Cost of Sugar by Cynthia McLeod
14. France--The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
15. Taiwan--Notes of a Crocodile by Qiu Miaojin
16. Egypt--Heart of the Night by Naguib Mahfouz
17. Turkmenistan--The Revenge of the Foxes by Ak Welsapar
18. Russia--Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
19. Jamaica--Falling in Love with Hominids by Nalo Hopkinson
20. Rwanda--The Barefoot Woman by Scholastique Mukasonga
21. India--Shubh Diwali! by Chitra Soundar
22. Israel--Bear and Fred: A World War II Story by Iris Argaman
23. China--The Moon Opera by Bi Feiyu
24. Republic of the Congo--Jazz and Palm Wine by Emmanuel Boundzéki Dongala
25. Belgium--Cassio 1. The First Assassin by Stephen Desberg
26. Malaysia--Rupert Wong, Cannibal Chef by Cassandra Khaw
27. New Zealand--Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
28. Sweden--Vei Vol. 1 by Sara Bergmark Elfgren
29. Croatia--Harleen by Stjepan Šejić
30. Botswana--The Silence of the Wilting Skin by Tlotlo Tsamaase
31. Singapore--Farquhar by Joshua Ip
32. North Korea--The Red Years: Forbidden Poems From Inside North Korea by Bandi
33. Australia--Phoresis by Greg Egan
34. Mexico--Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
35. Netherlands--Rampokan Java by Peter van Dongen
36. Barbados--Redemption in Indigo by Karen Lord
37. Madagascar--Beyond the Rice Fields by Naivo
38. Zimbabwe--Running with Mother by Christopher Mlalazi
39. Algeria--The Meursault Investigation by Kamel Daoud
40. Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)--Teaching English in Swaziland: essays on the life of Gordon James Thomas by Sarah Mkhonza
41. Angola--Good Morning Comrades by Ondjaki
42. Italy--Mirka Andolfo's Mercy Vol. 1: The Fair Lady, the Frost and the Fiend by Mirka Andolfo
43. Kenya--The Perfect Nine: The Epic of Gĩkũyũ and Mũmbi by Ngũgĩ wa Thiongʾo
44. Turkey--Soulscape by Bahadir Baruter
45. Switzerland--Lyric Novella by Annemarie Schwarzenbach
46. Germany--Lucky Luke Saddles Up by Mawil
47. Austria--Little Death by Thomas Kriebaum
48. Norway--Peer Gynt by Henrik Ibsen
49. Columbia--The Bitch by Pilar Quintana
50. Argentina--Petite Fleur by Iosi Havilio
51. Ireland--Deadpool vs. Old Man Logan by Declan Shalvey

2021
52. Finland--The Brothers by Asko Sahlberg
53. Burundi--Weep Not, Refugee by Marie-Thérèse Toyi
54. Zambia--The Old Drift by Namwali Serpell
55. Thailand--Arid Dreams: Stories by Duanwad Pimwana
56. Indonesia--The Original Dream by Nukila Amal
57. Cameroon--Black Caps and Red Feathers by John Nkemngong Nkengasong
58. Armenia--Three Apples Fell from the Sky by Narine Abgaryan
59. Côte d'Ivoire--Queen Pokou: Concerto for a Sacrifice by Véronique Tadjo
60. Mauritania--The Desert and the Drum by Mbarek Ould Beyrouk
61. Venezuela--The Caiman by María Eugenia Manrique
62. South Africa--Cape Town Curios by Colin Cloud Dance
63. Mozambique--Rain and Other Stories by Mia Couto

8amanda4242
Editado: Ago 9, 2021, 8:59 pm

Currently reading



Imajica by Clive Barker, read by Simon Vance

9drneutron
Dic 30, 2020, 6:41 pm

Welcome back!

10amanda4242
Dic 30, 2020, 6:52 pm

11thornton37814
Dic 30, 2020, 7:59 pm

Welcome back. Hope your 2021 reading is cause for celebration.

12DianaNL
Editado: Dic 31, 2020, 9:53 am

Best wishes for a better 2021!

13PaulCranswick
Dic 31, 2020, 9:25 am

Welcome back my dear Amanda.

Here is to you beating 6x75 mark in 2021.

14amanda4242
Dic 31, 2020, 1:24 pm

>11 thornton37814: Thank you! And I hope yours is as well!

>12 DianaNL: And the same for you!

15amanda4242
Dic 31, 2020, 1:27 pm

>13 PaulCranswick: NO!!! It was nice to hit 450, but that much reading left me exhausted! I'm planning on cutting back so I'll have time to do things like watch a movie, organize my shelves, actually post about my reading, get enough sleep, etc.

16FAMeulstee
Dic 31, 2020, 6:03 pm

Happy reading in 2021, Amanda!

17amanda4242
Dic 31, 2020, 6:05 pm

>16 FAMeulstee: Thank you!

18PaulCranswick
Ene 1, 2021, 1:59 am



And keep up with my friends here, Amanda. Have a great 2021.

19amanda4242
Ene 1, 2021, 9:17 pm

>18 PaulCranswick: And all the same for you, Paul.

20amanda4242
Editado: Ene 2, 2021, 4:30 pm

1. The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith

I have a clear memory of reading this one as a child, hoping I could make it to the end of the book before the batteries in my flashlight gave out. I was surprised at how many little details I had retained, things that were only in the book, so clearly not from having seen the movie many times. The story of Pongo and Missis rescuing their puppies is still a charming read, and one I'm glad I revisited.

21amanda4242
Ene 3, 2021, 1:34 pm

2. Doctor Dolittle's Caravan by Hugh Lofting

My mother bought this for me when I was a little too young for it, and then it got packed away somewhere until I went scouring my shelves for children's classics by British authors. I'm not sure what I would have thought of Doctor Dolittle's Caravan as a child, but as an adult I was enraptured by the great raconteur Pippinella's tales and impressed that a nearly century-old book was so condemning of abuses in the pet trade.

22amanda4242
Ene 3, 2021, 7:33 pm

3. A Dog of Flanders by Ouida

Mawkish to a level only achievable by Victorian authors.

23amanda4242
Editado: Ene 4, 2021, 2:27 pm

4. Tales of the Mist by Laura Suárez

A creepy little graphic novel of scary stories inspired by Spanish folklore. The stories are a little short to be truly chilling, but the black and white art gives a truly chilling air to the book.

Received via NetGalley.

24amanda4242
Ene 4, 2021, 9:17 pm

5. Asterix and the Soothsayer by René Goscinny

My first Asterix comic of the year, but certainly not my last.

25PaulCranswick
Ene 4, 2021, 10:57 pm

You are past me already I see, Amanda, although I will finish number 5 today too, I think.

26amanda4242
Ene 5, 2021, 1:02 am

>25 PaulCranswick: I may have a slight lead in number of books read, but you have me beat on number of pages.

27amanda4242
Ene 5, 2021, 5:48 pm

6. Stig of the Dump by Clive King

A sweet, funny little book about a boy who befriends a caveman who's living in a nearby chalk pit/dump. There's obviously something fantastical going on, but this is really about a kid making a friend and sharing a kid's adventures. Highly recommended.

28PaulCranswick
Ene 6, 2021, 6:40 am

>27 amanda4242: Lovely story is that one. I remember reading it at school and then a time or two afterwards (with my kids too). I would have been sad if you'd not liked it.

29amanda4242
Ene 6, 2021, 11:33 am

>28 PaulCranswick: As if I could ever dislike such an enchanting story!

30amanda4242
Ene 6, 2021, 6:47 pm

7. The Reluctant Dragon by Kenneth Grahame

The Disney short was of course a favorite of mine growing up, and I was so pleased to find that the book was even more delightful.

8. The Brothers by Asko Sahlberg

Proof that complex family dramas don't have to be 1,000 pages long to be satisfying.

31PaulCranswick
Ene 6, 2021, 9:10 pm

>30 amanda4242: I have The Brothers on the shelves and you just helped nudge it up a fair way towards the reading table.

32amanda4242
Editado: Ene 6, 2021, 10:01 pm

>31 PaulCranswick: It's not flashy, but it is a cool little gem.

33amanda4242
Ene 7, 2021, 8:41 pm

9. Weep Not, Refugee by Marie-Thérèse Toyi

A novella of the unrelenting suffering of Burundian refugees, featuring: genocide, rape, starvation, child soldiers, sex trafficking, and general misery. Although I didn't much care for it, this is not a bad book and my only real complaints about it are the grammatical errors and disjointed plot, both of which could be fixed with a good editor.

34amanda4242
Ene 10, 2021, 12:17 pm

10. The Old Drift by Namwali Serpell

This is a dense one, which mixes historical figures, magical realism, and elements of science fiction together to create a multi-generational saga following the fortunes of three families, while exploring the history of foreign powers exploiting Zambia, from British colonization in the 19th century to industrialized nations using the country as a dumping ground for e-waste and its people as medical test subjects in the 21st. With so much going on it would not have surprised me if this novel had spun wildly out of control, but Serpell deftly holds it all together to craft a very engrossing read.

35amanda4242
Ene 12, 2021, 3:59 pm

11. Asterix in Corsica by René Goscinny

Our favorite Gaulish duo visit Corsica and give the Romans hell. I really wish I had started reading this series years ago.

12. Widdershins by Jordan L. Hawk

A delightful mix of historical novel, mystery, romance, and Lovecraftian horrors.

36amanda4242
Editado: Ene 12, 2021, 11:22 pm

13. Some Days by María Wernicke, translated by Lawrence Schimel

A picture book about grief and loss. Well, at least that's what the description says it's about, because you sure as hell can't tell from reading the book.

37amanda4242
Ene 17, 2021, 7:27 pm

14. Armed in Her Fashion by Kate Heartfield

Very good historical fantasy set in worn-torn 14th century Flanders, with the Flemish, French, and the Chatelaine of Hell all competing for control of the area. Full of battles, politicking, legal chicanery, and fantastical happenings.

15. Arid Dreams: Stories by Duanwad Pimwana, translated by Mui Poopoksakul

Extremely well written, but it's exhausting reading a book full of stories about men being assholes.

16. The Poison Master by Liz Williams

An alchemist and a poisoner join forces to overthrow evil overlords. The world building is excellent, but the pacing is a little off and the characters could have used a touch more development.

38PaulCranswick
Ene 17, 2021, 8:12 pm

>37 amanda4242: Almost a book a day as per last year!

I have Arid Dreams lined up to read very soon, Amanda, so let's see how exhausted it makes me!

Hope you have been having a great weekend.

39amanda4242
Ene 17, 2021, 8:31 pm

>38 PaulCranswick: My weekend has been going well, and Monday is a holiday here so I have an extra day to enjoy!

Hope you have a great week!

40PaulCranswick
Ene 17, 2021, 9:22 pm

>39 amanda4242: Oh the joy of a Monday Public Holiday! MLK Day, right?

41amanda4242
Ene 17, 2021, 9:38 pm

>40 PaulCranswick: Yep, that's the one. I'm also fond of the Friday holiday...and mid-week holidays have their charms, too!

42PaulCranswick
Ene 17, 2021, 10:20 pm

>41 amanda4242: Hahaha I can empathise!

43amanda4242
Ene 19, 2021, 3:52 pm

17. Threshold by Jordan L. Hawk

Still happily revisiting the world of Widdershins.

18. The Original Dream by Nukila Amal, translated by Linda Owens

An exercise in style over substance.

44PaulCranswick
Ene 22, 2021, 5:24 am

Going at a book a day again, I see!

45amanda4242
Ene 22, 2021, 2:55 pm

>44 PaulCranswick: My current read is a door-stopper, so my reading numbers have slowed substantially.

Happy weekend!

46amanda4242
Editado: Ene 23, 2021, 6:12 pm

19. The Boggart by Susan Cooper

I wasn't much taken with Cooper's Dark Is Rising Sequence so I had pretty low expectations for this one. I was happily proven wrong and found The Boggart to be an entertaining tale of two Canadian children who accidentally import a mischievous spirit from Scotland. The children actually talk and behave like children and the Boggart itself has a very interesting POV. Since it was written in the 1990s the computer talk is all antiquated, but it's so out of date that it's kind of taken on the air of a historical novel.

20. The Terror by Dan Simmons

The true story of Franklin's ill-fated expedition to find the Northwest Passage is the stuff of nightmares: ships frozen in place, limited fuel, spoiled food stores, scurvy, cannibalism, and myriad other horrors. Unfortunately Simmons decided to tack on a supernatural creature to the already gruesome facts, so his engrossing and terrifying historical novel is often interrupted by an unneeded (and oft-times silly) giant polar bear monster. If the supernatural stuff had been cut this would have been an excellent historical epic rather than a fairly entertaining one with some significant bloat.

47PaulCranswick
Ene 24, 2021, 3:22 am

>46 amanda4242: I remember reading his Drood and thinking that he overdid a good thing so much that he tended to spoil it.

48amanda4242
Ene 24, 2021, 3:18 pm

>47 PaulCranswick: Why is it that once authors reach a certain level of popularity it seems there is nobody around during the editing process to tell them they need to cut parts that just don't work?

49amanda4242
Editado: Ene 31, 2021, 11:08 pm

21. Across the Green Grass Fields by Seanan McGuire

A none-too-bright young girl walks through a mysterious door leading to Hooflands, a magical world full of all manner of mythological hoofed creatures. The pace is slow, the characters generally dull, and the world-building weak*. I wish McGuire's editor had told her to stop phoning it in.

*Although some may find it interesting to know that female centaurs have to pay stud fees.

23. The Boggart and the Monster by Susan Cooper

Wherein we discover the Loch Ness Monster is actually a depressed boggart. I'm finding this a delightful series and have already picked up the third book from the library.

25. The Starlight Barking by Dodie Smith

What an odd one! In this sequel to The Hundred and One Dalmatians, Pongo and Missis awake one morning to discover all creatures on the planet except dogs are in some sort of enchanted sleep. Cadpig, whose human pet is the Prime Minister, summons them to London to help solve the mystery. Oh, and all dogs can now fly. There are some wonderful moments, but it's a really bizzare book.

27. Black Caps and Red Feathers by John Nkemngong Nkengasong

28. Miss Buncle's Book by D. E. Stevenson

29. Three Apples Fell from the Sky by Narine Abgaryan, translated by Lisa C. Hayden

22. Stormhaven by Jordan L. Hawk
24. Necropolis by Jordan L. Hawk
26. Bloodline by Jordan L. Hawk
30. Hoarfrost by Jordan L. Hawk

Still very much enjoying my return to Widdershins.

50amanda4242
Feb 1, 2021, 7:22 pm

31. Ermyntrude and Esmeralda by Lytton Strachey

In this delectably witty novella, two seventeen-year-old girls exchange letters relating their discovers about love and sex. Not for the prudish, but perfect for those who don't mind a risqué amusement.

51PaulCranswick
Feb 1, 2021, 9:24 pm

31 books in 32 days. Why am I not surprised?

52amanda4242
Feb 1, 2021, 9:27 pm

>51 PaulCranswick: And I had planned to slow down this year...so much for resolutions.

53PaulCranswick
Feb 1, 2021, 9:37 pm

>52 amanda4242: January has already flown by - aren't resolutions only intended for January?!

54amanda4242
Feb 1, 2021, 9:55 pm

>53 PaulCranswick: I accept your logic!

55scaifea
Feb 2, 2021, 7:41 am

>50 amanda4242: Adding this one to my list - it sounds like a hoot!

56amanda4242
Feb 2, 2021, 1:26 pm

>55 scaifea: It certainly is!

57amanda4242
Feb 6, 2021, 6:17 pm

32. Emiline: Knight in Training by Kimberli Johnson

33. Patience & Esther: An Edwardian Romance by S. W. Searle

34. The Ice Dragon by George R. R. Martin

Lame.

35. Orlando by Virginia Woolf

It's the best Virginia Woolf book I've read, but that really just means I thought it had a few redeemable parts.

58PaulCranswick
Feb 6, 2021, 10:35 pm

>57 amanda4242: I am about to read a Woolf myself because of you. The shortest one I can find as I have so far never really "got" her writing.

Have a lovely weekend.

59amanda4242
Feb 6, 2021, 10:54 pm

>58 PaulCranswick: I almost feel I should apologize for inspiring you to read Woolf! I've always thought she was grossly overrated.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, and best wishes for the coming week.

60PaulCranswick
Feb 6, 2021, 10:58 pm

>59 amanda4242: I have read three of her novels all of which are 1001 Book inclusions and none of which I could follow in the slightest. I am reading A Room of One's Own which is blessedly short and is apparently her in explanatory mood so comprehension may ensue.

61scaifea
Feb 7, 2021, 9:21 am

Ooof, I wasn't a fan of Orlando, either, and I think that's the only Woolf I've read.

62amanda4242
Feb 7, 2021, 2:44 pm

>60 PaulCranswick: It's been years since I've read it, but as I recall A Room of One's Own is at least comprehensible.

>61 scaifea: I've read several of Woolf's books and would say if you didn't like Orlando, don't bother reading any more of her.

63amanda4242
Feb 10, 2021, 3:34 pm

36. The Jumblies, and Other Nonsense Verses by Edward Lear, illustrated by L. Leslie Brooke

I'm not a big one for poetry, but I do have a fondness for nonsense. Lear's rhymes evoke such fantastical images and the words just beg to be read aloud.

64amanda4242
Feb 12, 2021, 9:36 pm

37. The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst

This is a genuinely well-written book I'm glad to have read, but my enjoyment was impaired by two things:

1) The 1980s setting. I'm too young to have experienced most of the decade, and it was too recent when I was going to school for us to have studied it as history, so I was a little lost at times.

2) I was reading Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth at the same time. Hollinghurst has a good style, but he pales in comparison to Wharton's elegant rage.

Still, glad I read it and I will pick up another of Hollinghurst's books at a later date.

38. A Tale of Two Time Lords: A Little Help From My Friends by Jody Houser

I needed something light after my last read, and this Doctor Who graphic novel was just the ticket.

65PaulCranswick
Feb 13, 2021, 10:25 pm

>64 amanda4242: The Hollinghurst is also on my menu this month - BAC, Queen Betty Challenge and Booker winner - but I will remember to avoiding pairing his with Edith Wharton!

66amanda4242
Editado: Feb 14, 2021, 1:38 am

>65 PaulCranswick: I should warn that there are a lot of explicit musings on sex in Hollinghurst...although you'll probably be more put off by the preponderance of Conservative characters and their admiration/veneration of Margaret Thatcher.

67PaulCranswick
Feb 14, 2021, 1:51 am

>66 amanda4242: I am a convinced and confirmed heterosexual Amanda - I love women far too much not to be - but I have so many friends whose sexuality dances to a different tune and I believe that diversity in everything is what makes us what we are. I am comfortable with all my gay friends - men and ladies alike - so that holds no problems for me in Hollinghurst's writing - the Conservative politics, however, well might!

68amanda4242
Feb 14, 2021, 12:41 pm

>67 PaulCranswick: Oh, I didn't think you'd have any problem with the flavor of the sex. I was just giving a generalized heads-up for sexual content; of course the political content warning was probably the more needed! ;)

69amanda4242
Feb 14, 2021, 12:48 pm

39. What Ho, Automata by Chris Dolley
40. Deja Vu Halloo by Chris Dolley

Take a heaping helping of P.G. Wodehouse's Jeeves and Wooster, a touch of Arthur Conan Doyle, throw it into a steampunk Edwardian era, and dust with a generous amount of Doctor Who at its wibbly wobbliest, and you'll come up with something very much like the Reeves & Worcester series.

Is it Wodehouse? Not quite. Is it Conan Doyle? Not remotely. Is it super fun silliness? Absolutely.

70PaulCranswick
Feb 15, 2021, 2:34 am

>68 amanda4242: Advance warnings for politics over sex is nowadays appropriate, right?!

>69 amanda4242: Does look like good fun.

71amanda4242
Feb 15, 2021, 10:17 pm

>70 PaulCranswick: Advance warnings for politics over sex is nowadays appropriate, right?!

Absolutely!

72amanda4242
Feb 16, 2021, 1:21 am

41. A Pilgrimage of Swords by Anthony Ryan

A re-read in advance of reading the sequel. My review from my first read still stands. https://www.librarything.com/work/23137125/reviews/172387968

42. The Kraken's Tooth by Anthony Ryan

How can I help but love a book that's dedicated to Indiana Jones?

As in the previous installment, The Kraken's Tooth is chock-full of action and gives a complete, satisfying story in a compact package that can be devoured in one sitting. I enjoyed the fleshing out of Pilgrim/Guyime's backstory and hope the next volume will show us more of the wonderful Seeker's story.

Received via NetGalley.

73amanda4242
Feb 20, 2021, 3:52 pm

43. The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski, translated by Danusia Stok, read by Peter Kenny

Not great literature, but I really enjoyed it.

74amanda4242
Feb 21, 2021, 2:19 pm

44. A Room with a View by E. M. Forster

Do you suppose there’s any difference between Spring in nature and Spring in man? But there we go, praising the one and condemning the other as improper, ashamed that the same laws work eternally through both.

Every time I read this I gain some new insight, catch another glimpse of something beautiful.

75amanda4242
Feb 23, 2021, 5:06 pm

45. Sexing the Cherry by Jeanette Winterson

There are parts that are enjoyable--the Twelve Dancing Princesses section is wonderfully reminiscent of Angela Carter--but on the whole I found this one disjointed and gimmicky.

76amanda4242
Editado: Feb 25, 2021, 8:31 pm

46. Maurice by E. M. Forster

This review I wrote several years ago still holds true:

There are some books that overwhelm the reader with excitement and plot twists and all sorts of other things, but have absolutely no substance to them and leave the reader with only the memory of having read the book. Then there are books that are seemingly insubstantial, yet are so profound that the reader will carry them with them for the rest of their life. Such a work is E. M. Forester’s Maurice.

The story is quite simple: it concerns the two times Maurice Hall fell in love. It is by no means a perfect novel. The characters can be a bit flat and the plot occasionally becomes a bit too idealistic, but the power of Maurice doesn't come from its plot: it comes from the profound humanity with which Forster writes. It is a book not for the mind, but for the heart.

77PaulCranswick
Feb 25, 2021, 10:41 pm

>76 amanda4242: Lovely review, Amanda. It is one of only two of his novels I still need to read. You chased it up the TBR list quite dramatically!

78scaifea
Feb 26, 2021, 7:22 am

Hi, Amanda!

>76 amanda4242: I haven't read this one, but what I *have* read of Forester strikes me in the same way - quietly wonderful. I'm glad you liked this one and that it holds up as a reread! I'll bump it up my list.

79amanda4242
Editado: Feb 26, 2021, 4:30 pm

>77 PaulCranswick: Thank you! It might not be Forster's strongest novel from a technical standpoint, but I think it's his most passionate writing.

80amanda4242
Feb 26, 2021, 3:12 pm

>78 scaifea: "Quietly wonderful" is a beautiful description of Forster's writing.

81amanda4242
Editado: mayo 17, 2021, 1:54 pm

47. Constantine: The Hellblazer Volume 1: Going Down by Ming Doyle and James Tynion, IV
48. Constantine: The Hellblazer Volume 2: The Art of the Deal by Ming Doyle and James Tynion, IV

Story: Okay. The first volume isn't terribly exciting--although I love the Welcome to Night Vale reference--but volume two picks up a bit. Mostly this feels like a retread of ground thoroughly covered in the original Hellblazer series.

Characterization: Bland. John Constantine's worst character traits have been mellowed out here, and when you take away Constantine's worst traits there ain't much of him left. Also, there was scant effort put into making him sound British, let alone like a Scouse.

Art: Not good. Constantine looks like a square-jawed hipster.

To sum up: This isn't Constantine's worst outing, but it's far from his best. I just think it's a little sad that a character whose books used to carry a mature audiences label is now in books which make the YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens list.

82amanda4242
Mar 2, 2021, 3:48 pm

49. Deadpool & Cable Ultimate Collection Book 1 by Fabian Nicieza

Deadpool's a bit more stable restrained here than I'm used to, but I enjoyed the book and am glad I bought the whole series when it was on a ridiculously good sale.

50. How to Fight a Dragon's Fury by Cressida Cowell, read by David Tennant

And I've reached the end of my re-read of Hiccup's adventures. I do so love this series.

83amanda4242
Editado: Mar 3, 2021, 4:56 pm

51. The Worst Breakfast by China Miéville and Zak Smith, illustrated by Zak Smith

I continue to be thoroughly unimpressed by Miéville. This children's book is about a young girl telling her sister about the worst breakfast ever, with increasingly foul offerings being recited (mostly) in rhyme, culminating in the revelation of what that breakfast has to do with the current one: the orange juice has "bits" in it. As someone who firmly believes orange juice should be freshly squeezed and thick with pulp, I cannot even begin to imagine why thin, watery OJ would be preferred.

All I could think while reading it was that Shel Silverstein did the rhyming of gross foodstuffs so much better in Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out.

52. Raven 1: Nemesis by Mathieu Lauffray, translated by James Hogan

This graphic novel reminded me a bit of the first season of Black Sails: besides the obvious similarity of pirates in the Caribbean, there's a great deal of setup for the rest of the series interspersed between the action sequences. It's a riveting book with gritty art, and I'm looking forward to the second volume.

Received via NetGalley.

84PaulCranswick
Mar 3, 2021, 6:18 pm

>83 amanda4242: Do agree of course about OJ. One of the benefits of the lockdown is that Hani found someone who buys and delivers your fruit and vegetables and he has been delivering these absolutely wonderful oranges. Succulent and sweet - a delight to eat and/or drink.

85amanda4242
Mar 3, 2021, 6:35 pm

>84 PaulCranswick: I've never lived anywhere that didn't have an orange tree in the backyard so I've been very spoiled.

86PaulCranswick
Mar 3, 2021, 6:52 pm

>85 amanda4242: And I have never lived anywhere that does so that makes me not spoiled at all! Did have a couple of very sweet fig trees in my garden on the coast near Alexandria many moons ago and I remember making myself sick by literally eating 20 or so of the fruit straight from the tree.

87amanda4242
Mar 3, 2021, 10:08 pm

>86 PaulCranswick: Moderation, my friend, moderation!

88PaulCranswick
Mar 7, 2021, 5:52 pm

>87 amanda4242: As you have seen over the years with my book buying, Amanda, I don't always succeed with the moderation thingy.

89amanda4242
Mar 7, 2021, 8:05 pm

>88 PaulCranswick: There are some things to which we should moderate the rule on moderation; book buying is one of them.

90amanda4242
Editado: Ago 9, 2021, 1:40 pm

53. Mistress of Mellyn by Victoria Holt

Since I resemble a hedgehog, at least I am not spineless.

This one owes a huge debt to Jane Eyre, but where Brontë's heroine is a meek little mouse, Holt's is as prickly as a hedgehog and has a spine of steel.

Martha Leigh is an impoverished gentlewoman who takes a job as governess to the daughter of Connan TreMellyn, a recently widowed wealthy Cornish landowner. As this is a gothic romance, mysterious occurrences and brooding men abound, but Miss Leigh is too level-headed and sharp-tongued to be a stereotypical gothic heroine: she is more of a detective than she is a wilting flower. I also award her bonus points because she actually spends a good portion of the novel with the child she is being paid to educate, something an inordinate number of literary governesses fail to do.

While Mistress of Mellyn may not be great art, it is greatly entertaining and would make one hell of a movie.

54. The Big Score by K. J. Parker

Saloninus has faked his death to escape his fame/infamy and finds out the hard way that while he still possess all of his genius, nobody is willing to pay for it without the name to go with it. What follows is a terrifically twisty money-making scheme that takes a swipe at the authorship question.

I don't know that I'd ever want to read a full-length Saloninus novel, but I treasure each novella and hope Parker continues to delight us with tales of the rascally genius.

Received via NetGalley.

55. Deadpool Classic Vol. 1

A collection of some of Deadpool's earliest appearances. I wasn't overly impressed, but it was interesting to see the evolution of my favorite Marvel character.

91PaulCranswick
Mar 8, 2021, 8:40 am

>90 amanda4242: Hibbert/Holt/Plaidy was a great pick for BAC. I have another couple of Jean Plaidy novels on the shelves and may get to one or two before the year is out.

92amanda4242
Editado: Mar 8, 2021, 11:55 am

>91 PaulCranswick: Thanks! I also have some Plaidy books on the shelf which are tempting me.

93amanda4242
Editado: Mar 12, 2021, 5:49 pm

56. The Boggart Fights Back by Susan Cooper

So glad to spend more time with the Boggart and would dearly love to see another one.

57. Asgard - Volulme 1 - Ironfoot by Xavier Dorison

In this graphic novel a Viking settlement terrorized by a sea serpent hires a monster hunter to take care of the problem. It's a decent story and the art is good, but I kept thinking that it's really just an excuse to write Captain Ahab as a Viking.

Received via NetGalley.

58. The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra by Vaseem Khan

The cover made me think this was going to be significantly more fluffy than I usually like my mysteries, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that while it's generally light in tone, the characters are interesting and the mystery decently thought out. And yes, the elephant really is charming.

59. Bigfoot and the Bodhisattva by James Morrow

94souloftherose
Mar 21, 2021, 11:14 am

>90 amanda4242: Mistress of Mellyn sounds intriguing - added to the list!

95PaulCranswick
Mar 21, 2021, 11:31 am

>93 amanda4242: I managed to find a book by Vaseem Khan today but it is the second in the series, but I'll read it.

Have a great Sunday.

96amanda4242
Mar 21, 2021, 1:04 pm

>94 souloftherose: It's certainly an entertaining way to spend an afternoon.

97amanda4242
Editado: Mar 21, 2021, 1:25 pm

>95 PaulCranswick: Glad you found one! AnneDC said over on the BAC thread that there's enough of a recap that starting with book two shouldn't be a problem.

Enjoy your week.

98amanda4242
Editado: Ago 10, 2021, 5:11 pm

60. Gloria Victis - Volume 1 - The Sons of Apollo by Juanra Fernández

Historical graphic novel about chariot racers in Rome. The races are exceptionally well drawn and the story has caught my interest. My only complaint is that the first book comes to a too abrupt ending.

Received via NetGalley.

61. The Red Knight: The Bloody Tapestry by Marc Legendre

The art is very good, but the plot is barely half a step removed from 1930s pulp fiction. I wasn't enamored of this volume, but it did have just enough going for it that I'm willing to give the series a chance.

Received via NetGalley.

62. The Rescuers by Margery Sharp

If I had read this as a child I probably would have been happily swept up in the adventure. As an adult I was annoyed by Miss Bianca, who is kind of a pampered princess throughout the book; she's far from useless, but she and her companions constantly speak as if she needs to be protected.

63. Earwig and the Witch by Diana Wynne Jones

Apparently this is the last book Jones finished writing before her death, but I'm not convinced that it was truly completed. There are plot threads left dangling and the characters are a bit lacking.

99amanda4242
Editado: Mar 28, 2021, 4:00 pm

64. Stopping for a Spell by Diana Wynne Jones

Three short tales of unwanted visitors and magic. These are far from great stories, but I enjoyed the hour or so I took me to read the collection.

65. Angel Vol. 1: Being Human by Bryan Edward Hill
66. Angel Vol. 2: City of Demons by Bryan Edward Hill
67. Angel & Spike Vol. 1: All the Devils Are Here by Bryan Edward Hill

The art is nothing to write home about, but the story arcs are coherent and enjoyable and the characters are fairly well written.

100PaulCranswick
Mar 21, 2021, 8:00 pm

Close to a book a day again this year, Amanda - I want what you're eating.

101amanda4242
Mar 21, 2021, 8:58 pm

>100 PaulCranswick: *snerk* Pepsi and spicy potato soft tacos from Taco Bell.

102PaulCranswick
Mar 21, 2021, 9:40 pm

>101 amanda4242: Boo hoo we don't have Taco Bell in Malaysia for some reason.

103amanda4242
Editado: Mar 21, 2021, 9:58 pm

>102 PaulCranswick: You're really not missing that much. I don't even know why I eat there when there are at least four actual Mexican restaurants in town where I can get far superior food for about the same price.

104PaulCranswick
Mar 23, 2021, 11:17 pm

>103 amanda4242: There are a couple of excellent Mexican restaurants in KL, although one is Latin American per se and not just Mexican. It is a favourite cuisine of mine and I usually get there about once a month.

105amanda4242
Mar 24, 2021, 8:24 pm

>104 PaulCranswick: I'm very fond of the cuisine, too. I'm also more than a little spoiled by having it available on damn near every street corner.

106amanda4242
Editado: Mar 28, 2021, 4:31 pm

68. James Herriot's Treasury for Children by James Herriot, illustrated by Ruth Brown and Peter Barrett

A gorgeous collection of Herriot's children's stories. The stories are nostalgic without being overly sentimental, and the language is simple enough for a child to understand but sophisticated enough to expand vocabularies. Brown's and Barrett's illustrations are sublime, with the Yorkshire Dales rendered in lush greens and animals so soft looking you'd think you could reach out and pet them.

69. Seven Shakespeares Vol. 3 by Harold Sakuishi, translated by Jennifer Ward
70. Seven Shakespeares Vol. 4 by Harold Sakuishi, translated by Jennifer Ward

For centuries people have wondered how the son of a glove maker managed to write some of the world's greatest plays. Sakuishi's answer is that Shakespeare wasn't a single person, but a collective of seven people who pooled there knowledge and resources to create great works of art. Sure it's improbable, but no more so than claiming Elizabeth I was secretly Shakespeare. The series is an interesting take on the authorship question and I'll probably continue to read it.

71. Forever Evil: Blight by Ray Fawkes and J.M. DeMatteis

72. Heartbeat by Maria Llovet, translated by Andrea Rosenberg

73. Folklords by Matt Kindt

74. The Perplexing Theft of the Jewel in the Crown by Vaseem Khan

The British Crown Jewels are on display in Mumbai and the Koh-i-Noor is stolen; it's up to Inspector Chopra to find the culprit.

I didn't enjoy this entry in the series as much as I did the first. The main mystery is weak, with improbable coincidences and lackluster inspecting taking the place of actual work. Even Khan didn't seem that interested in it: he kept cutting away to little side stories which were much more entertaining.

Ganesha the elephant continues to be adorable.

I may pick up the next volume if I need a completely undemanding read, but Inspector Chopra will never top my list of personal favorite detectives.

107amanda4242
Mar 30, 2021, 9:59 pm

75. Castle Waiting by Linda Medley

Excellent graphic novel about what happens to the enchanted castle after the princess runs off with prince charming.

108amanda4242
Editado: Mar 30, 2021, 10:20 pm

Some stats

Books

new reads: 62
re-reads: 13
1001 books (all editions): 4
British Author Challenge: 25

Translations: 16
Dutch: 1
English: 59
Finnish: 1
French: 5
Indonesian: 1
Japanese: 2
Polish: 1
Russian: 1
Spanish: 3
Thai: 1

From
Edelweiss: 1
Kindle Unlimited: 3
Library: 16
NetGalley: 7
New: 6
Open Library: 2
Prime: 2
Scribd: 10
Shelves: 28

pages read: 15,018
audiobook hours: 17 hours 22 minutes
average rating: 3.24 stars

Authors

female: 29 books by 25 authors
male: 41 books by 28 authors
N/A (multiple authors, unknown, etc.): 5 books

nationalities

American: 19
Argentinian: 1
Armenian: 1
Belgian: 1
British: 31
Burundian: 1
Cameroonian: 1
Canadian: 1
Finnish: 1
French: 4
Indonesian: 1
Japanese: 2
N/A (multiple authors, unknown, etc.): 5
Polish: 1
Spanish: 3
Thai: 1
Zambian: 1

109FAMeulstee
Mar 31, 2021, 10:06 am

>107 amanda4242: Congratulations on reaching 75, Amanda!

110PaulCranswick
Mar 31, 2021, 11:00 am

Well done, Amanda on reaching 75 already!

111amanda4242
Mar 31, 2021, 3:03 pm

>109 FAMeulstee: Thank you!

>110 PaulCranswick: Thanks! And I've actually cut back from last year, too.

112amanda4242
Editado: Mar 31, 2021, 3:43 pm

76. Queen Pokou: Concerto for a Sacrifice by Véronique Tadjo, translated by Amy Baram Reid

A novella based on a legend of a queen who sacrifices her son to save her people. Tadjo gives the basic story and then gives variations on it, showing the queen in turns as a dutiful monarch, a devastated mother, and as power hungry. A short read, but a satisfying one.

113drneutron
Mar 31, 2021, 6:16 pm

Congrats on passing the goal!

114amanda4242
Mar 31, 2021, 6:58 pm

115amanda4242
Abr 4, 2021, 4:59 pm

77. Castle Waiting Volume II by Linda Medley

I do hope Medley decides to return to Castle Waiting someday. The aren't any cliffhangers, but it's clear there is so much more of the story left to tell.

78. Thornyhold by Mary Stewart

Geillis "Gilly" Ramsey inherits a house in the country from her cousin Geillis Saxon, who may have been a witch. There are lavish descriptions of the countryside, some strange goings on with the neighbors, and a hint of magic (or maybe just the machinations of a very perceptive woman). I almost didn't count this one for April's BAC theme because the love interest didn't appear until well into the book, but at the end we learn many of the actions taken by one of the characters are motivated by her romantic aspirations.

Thornyhold was a very pleasant book with which to spend an afternoon, and the descriptions of the countryside alone make it well worth reading.

116PaulCranswick
Abr 5, 2021, 11:06 pm

>111 amanda4242: I'm not buying books like a few years ago either, Amanda, bit I'm still adding about a book a day!

117amanda4242
Abr 6, 2021, 12:34 am

>116 PaulCranswick: A book a day sounds like a reasonable rate to me!

118PaulCranswick
Abr 6, 2021, 1:04 am

>117 amanda4242: Yes well, that at least partially explains why we are such good pals!

119amanda4242
Abr 7, 2021, 3:41 pm

>118 PaulCranswick: It's good to have friends who understand the important things. :)

120amanda4242
Abr 7, 2021, 3:58 pm

79. Ludo and the Star Horse by Mary Stewart

A Bavarian boy and his horse chase the sun through the houses of the zodiac.

It's an odd premise for a book, but I liked the quest and the nods to Greek mythology.

80. The Green Book by Jill Paton Walsh

A group of refugees from Earth must learn to survive on a planet that may not be capable of sustaining human life.

Truthfully this one feels very shallow, more like an outline than a completed book.

81. The Corner Shop by Elizabeth Cadell

A silly and vastly over-complicated plot, but it's a fun screwball romantic comedy.

121amanda4242
Editado: Abr 15, 2021, 4:50 pm

82. Heathen Volume 1 by Natasha Alterici
83. Heathen Volume 2 by Natasha Alterici
84. Heathen Volume 3 by Natasha Alterici

Aydis, an outcast Viking girl, goes on a quest to prove herself a courageous hero. She frees Brynhild from her fiery prison, makes unexpected allies, and encounters gods and monsters.

I received the first volume of this comic when I signed up for some mailing list and liked it so much I bought the second. I really liked the second so I bought the final volume...which wasn't nearly as good. The entire series was clearly building to a big confrontation between Aydis and her allies and Odin, but it was all over in a microsecond. And I didn't care for the new style of the art in volume three.

Although the ending was a let down, I did enjoy most of the series and will read it again.

86. Black Angel - Volume 1 - Night Hawk by Yann, translated by Joseph Laredo

87. Something is Killing the Children Vol. 1 by James Tynion, IV
88. Something is Killing the Children Vol. 2 by James Tynion, IV
89. Something is Killing the Children Vol. 3 by James Tynion, IV

I got the first two volumes of this series in a recent Humble Bundle offering that I had purchased for an entirely different title, but boy am I glad this was in there! It's kind of a combination of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Supernatural, and Stranger Things with a heaping helping of gory violence. It won't be to everyone's taste, but I loved it and would be overjoyed to see the series continued.

90. The Red Mother Vol. 1 by Jeremy Haun
91. The Red Mother Vol. 2 by Jeremy Haun
92. The Red Mother Vol. 3 by Jeremy Haun

85. Ghosted in L.A. Vol. 1 by Sina Grace
93. Ghosted in L.A. Vol. 2 by Sina Grace
94. Ghosted in L.A. Vol. 3 by Sina Grace

123PaulCranswick
Abr 24, 2021, 10:46 pm

Not so familiar with most of your recent reads, Amanda, except maybe the DE Stevenson as I read on of hers for the BAC a few years ago.

Speaking of BAC, I will be reading The Camomile Lawn by Mary Wesley for this month's challenge. Interesting woman - I perhaps should have included her as a pick earlier.

Have a great weekend.

124amanda4242
Abr 25, 2021, 12:12 am

>123 PaulCranswick: I would be very surprised if you were familiar with my most recent reads, as even I wasn't familiar with most of them! Humble Bundle recently had a graphic novel bundle that had some titles which looked interesting, so I've been reading my way through it.

Mary Wesley does sound interesting. The library has a few of her books and her biography, so I may check her out myself.

Hope you enjoyed your weekend and that your week goes well.

125PaulCranswick
mayo 1, 2021, 5:10 am

Wishing you a great weekend, Amanda.

126amanda4242
mayo 1, 2021, 3:44 pm

>125 PaulCranswick: Thanks, and the same to you!

127amanda4242
mayo 1, 2021, 5:07 pm

100. Mask by Megumu Minami

101. Saijiki - A Calendar of Poems - Prologue: The First Campaign by Akio Shiba

102. Black Cowl by Miu Minami

103. The Inviolable Dolce by Miu Minami

104. You, My Dearest, Crying In My Apartment by Miu Minami

105. An Alien Heat by Michael Moorcock

106. What Did You Eat Yesterday? Vol. 3 by Fumi Yoshinaga
108. What Did You Eat Yesterday? Vol. 4 by Fumi Yoshinaga

107. Hellblazer Vol. 24: Sectioned by Peter Milligan and Si Spencer

109. The Swirling Hijaab by Na'ima bint Robert, illustrated by Nilesh Mistry

A picture book about a girl playing with her mother's hijaab. She imagines it as a warrior's cape, the sale of a boat, the blanket at a tea party, and a number of other things; at the end she says its best job is an expression of her mother's faith.

There's not much to say about a book that's only twenty-four pages long, but the little girl's imaginative adventures are fun and Mistry's illustrations are beautiful, with an excellent sense of movement to them.

The Swirling Hijaab is published in dual-language editions in twenty different languages, so I would definitely recommend it if your in the market for multicultural educational picture books.

128amanda4242
Editado: mayo 11, 2021, 6:11 pm

110. Bernard into Battle by Margery Sharp

Rats have invaded the embassy where Bernard and Miss Bianca live, forcing the valiant mousy residents to defend their homes. It has some good action, but there's too much of the pampered princess Miss Bianca for my taste.

111. Hard Time by Jodi Taylor, read by Zara Ramm

Book two of the Time Police series has Team Weird going undercover to breakup an illegal time travel ring. I don't like this series *quite* as much as The Chronicles of St Mary's, but it's still a heck of a lot of fun.

112. The Desert and the Drum by Mbarek Ould Beyrouk, translated by Rachael McGill

113-122. What Did You Eat Yesterday? Volumes 5-14 by Fumi Yoshinaga

The first few volumes had me thinking this might be another case like Redwall where the only enjoyment I got was from the descriptions of food, but the character development picks up significantly as the series continues; it's slow and a little too subtle, but it is worth reading for more than the recipes.

123. The Unknown Ajax by Georgette Heyer

I'm so glad I decided to give Heyer another try. This is perfectly enchanting entertainment.

124. Faithless by Brian Azzarello
125. Faithless II by Brian Azzarello

The cover proclaims this series "An erotic depiction of faith, sex, and the devil in the tradition of the divine comedy." Whoever wrote that obviously never read Dante.

126. Moriarty the Patriot, Vol. 1 by Ryosuke Takeuchi
127. Moriarty the Patriot, Vol. 2 by Ryosuke Takeuchi

Sherlock Holmes's nemesis recast as a vigilante, fighting the oppressive ruling class of Victorian England. Not something I'll add to my permanent collection, but I'll happily pick up the next volume from the library once it's available.

129amanda4242
Editado: Jun 12, 2021, 11:42 pm

128. Journey through Islamic Art by Na'ima B. Robert, illustrated by Diana Mayo

A little girl dreams of Islamic art in different countries and eras.

This is case in which I think the story exists as something from which to hang the illustrations. Mayo's art is undeniably beautiful, but I think an art book with color photographs covering the same subject might be a better investment: children will be able to marvel over the actual art and, as they grow older, read about the works presented.

129. Going to Mecca by Na'ima B. Robert, illustrated by Valentina Cavallini

The story of a UK Muslim family's Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca. It covers every step of their journey: from their departure, through all of the rituals in which they partake at Mecca, and finally their exhausted, but spiritually uplifted, return.

I wanted to like this one more than I did, but I just don't think it was very clearly presented. People with little or no knowledge of Islam will need to consult the scant glossary in the back before reading the story to understand what's going on. And Cavallini's illustrations give very little indication of the massive number of people who are there, so a Muslim child shown this book in preparation for their own pilgrimage will be ill-prepared for the crush of humanity they'll encounter.

In short, Going to Mecca could be okay as the very first introduction to the subject of the Hajj, but should probably be supplemented with other books for actually learning about it.

Oh, and I was not a fan of the cloth cutout illustrations--made me think of Gumby. *shivers*

130. The Mystic Masseur by V. S. Naipaul

This has all the beats of a really good social satire, but I kept getting the feeling Naipaul was simply mocking his characters rather than critiquing anything.

131. Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells

The poor emo cyborg has to interact with humans again, this time to solve a murder on a space station. The mystery is basically the science fictional equivalent of the butler did it. I've grown tired of the Murderbot formula and won't be continuing with the series.

132. Cable Vol. 1 by Gerry Duggan

The only good thing about it is Deadpool's cameo.

133. Stranger Things: Science Camp by Jody Houser

I was not impressed by the couple of Stranger Things comics I've read, but this one is very short and stars my favorite character so I thought I'd give it a shot. I was quite pleasantly surprised at how good this story of Dustin's time at Camp Know Where is; the plot is lifted straight out of a Scooby-Doo cartoon, but it's a fun romp that helped ease the craving for the next season of the show.

130amanda4242
Editado: mayo 24, 2021, 4:04 pm

134. Wynd Book One: The Flight of the Prince by James Tynion, IV

Magic is forbidden in Pipetown. Beings with magical blood are outlawed in order to protect the last "pure" humans, so naturally the protagonist is a boy with pointed ears. This book ain't exactly subtle in its metaphors, but I liked the art and the characters have potential so I'll pick up the next volume when it's available.

135. The Drops of God Vol. 1
136. The Drops of God Vol. 2
137. The Drops of God Vol. 3
138. The Drops of God Vol. 4
139. The Drops of God Vol. 5
140. The Drops of God Vol. 6
141. The Drops of God Vol. 7
142. The Drops of God Vol. 8
143. The Drops of God Vol. 9
144. The Drops of God Vol. 10
145. The Drops of God Vol. 11
146. The Drops of God Vol. 12
147. The Drops of God Vol. 13
by Tadashi Agi

I decided to re-read this series since the final eleven volumes have just been released in English. It's entertaining and I've picked up a hell of a lot about wine.

148. Jim Lives: The Mystery of the Lead Singer of The Doors and the 27 Club by Paolo Baron

So, there's an old urban legend that says Jim Morrison faked his death and went off to live in obscurity for the rest of his days. This graphic novel treats the legend as fact and adds in a heaping helping of conspiracy. The sheer insanity of it should at least be good for a laugh, right? Nope, it's just bad writing with slightly less bad art. I'm so glad this was a review copy and that I didn't actually spend money on this pile of crap.

Received via Edelweiss.

149. Lady Mechanika Volume 1: The Mystery of the Mechanical Corpse by Joe Benitez
150. Lady Mechanika Volume 2: The Tablet of Destinies by M. M. Chen

Love this series. The stories are great and the art is lavish, with mindbogglingly intricate details.

131amanda4242
Editado: mayo 23, 2021, 11:18 pm

Some stats

Books

new reads: 118
re-reads: 32
1001 books (all editions): 4
British Author Challenge: 40

Original language
Dutch: 1
English: 96
Finnish: 1
French: 8
Indonesian: 1
Italian: 1
Japanese: 36
Polish: 1
Russian: 1
Spanish: 3
Thai: 1

Translations: 54

From
Edelweiss: 2
Kindle Unlimited: 3
Library: 34
NetGalley: 8
New: 31
Open Library: 3
Prime: 2
Scribd: 18
Shelves: 49

pages read: 26,868
audiobook hours: 31 hours 35 minutes
average rating: 3.17 stars

Authors

female: 62 books by 36 authors
male: 63 books by 41 authors
N/A (multiple authors, unknown, etc.): 25 books

nationalities

American: 40
Argentinian: 1
Armenian: 1
Belgian: 1
British: 45
Burundian: 1
Cameroonian: 1
Canadian: 1
Finnish: 1
French: 5
Indonesian: 1
Italian: 1
Ivorian: 1
Japanese: 23
Mauritanian: 1
N/A (multiple authors, unknown, etc.): 20
Polish: 1
Spanish: 3
Thai: 1
Zambian: 1

132PaulCranswick
mayo 24, 2021, 12:28 am

>129 amanda4242: I have a very mixed experience with Naipaul. His book Among the Believers infuriated me as I believed it to be strongly anti-islamic and his novels Guerillas and In a Free State are not particularly easy reads. His book A House for Mr. Biswas would be in my list of my top twenty favourite novels though and I thought it wonderful.

I have stopped and started a few of his this month as I have been having trouble concentrating but I have finally gotten Half a Life to bite and am enjoying it immensely to date.

133amanda4242
mayo 24, 2021, 12:55 am

>132 PaulCranswick: I'm hardly an expert on him since I've only read two of his books, but Naipaul strikes me as an asshole who wasn't nearly as talented as he thought he was. Not that he couldn't crank out some decent writing, but what I've read isn't quite good enough for me to put up with his bullshit.

134PaulCranswick
mayo 24, 2021, 3:32 am

>133 amanda4242: I find you unusually reticent for a Monday morning, Amanda!

I certainly got the asshole impression from his writings on Islam and he was apparently particularly obnoxious to various groups in society and most particularly to womanhood in general:

In an interview at the Royal Geographic Society in 2011, when asked if he considered any female writer his equal: “I don’t think so.” Singling out Jane Austen, he explained that he “couldn’t possibly share her sentimental ambitions, her sentimental sense of the world.” Then: “I read a piece of writing and within a paragraph or two I know whether it is by a woman or not. I think it is unequal to me.” This is all because of a woman’s inherent “sentimentality, the narrow view of the world… And inevitably for a woman, she is not a complete master of a house, so that comes over in her writing too.” (from Flavorwire).

See also this link :

https://jezebel.com/v-s-naipaul-is-worse-than-mike-cherico-and-john-fitzge-37746...

135PaulCranswick
mayo 24, 2021, 3:33 am

I can enjoy some of his writing but I would have disliked the fellow intensely, I'm quite sure of that.

136FAMeulstee
mayo 24, 2021, 3:41 am

>130 amanda4242: Congratulations on reaching 2 x 75, Amanda!

137amanda4242
mayo 24, 2021, 3:03 pm

>134 PaulCranswick: I find you unusually reticent for a Monday morning, Amanda!

Well it was still Sunday night here when I wrote it. ;)

So Naipaul was cruel, a racist, a misogynist, and didn't understand Jane Austen. What a sterling example of humanity!

I don't need to like an author to enjoy their works, but Naipaul's personal shortcomings do shine through in what I've read.

138amanda4242
mayo 24, 2021, 3:03 pm

>136 FAMeulstee: Thank you!

139PaulCranswick
mayo 25, 2021, 10:01 am

>137 amanda4242: I agree that his obnoxious character did surface in his writing. At his best as in A House for Mr Biswas he was wonderfully deft and, dare I say, sentimental which he criticises in the female of the species.

Congratulations on reaching 150 books already!

140amanda4242
mayo 26, 2021, 3:44 pm

>139 PaulCranswick: Thanks! A sudden urge to read graphic novels really boosted my numbers.

I've requested A House for Mr. Biswas from the library, so I'll see if it improves my opinion of Naipaul's writting.

141amanda4242
Editado: Jun 10, 2021, 7:42 pm

151. Moriarty the Patriot Vol. 3 by Ryosuke Takeuchi

152. The Witcher: Fading Memories by Bartosz Sztybor

153. Origins by Clay McLeod Chapman

154. An Unkindness of Ravens by Dan Panosian

155. The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo

156. Elizabeth and Monty: The Untold Story of Their Intimate Friendship by Charles Casillo

The devoted friendship between Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift is one of the most famous relationships in Hollywood history so I was very excited to get my hands on a book that focused on it. It quickly became apparent that the title is misleading in two ways: first, most chapters are about Taylor or Clift; and second, basically everything Casillo writes about has been covered in other biographies of the actors.

What we have here is mostly repeated rumors (did we really need another book speculating on the size of Clift's genitals?), highlights of Taylor's romantic entanglements, salacious gossip about Clift's sex life and his years-long decline, amateurish "insights," and repeated statements about the stars' physical attractiveness, with the occasional chapter about Taylor's and Clift's friendship thrown in.

The only thing that keeps this book from being another Hollywood Babylon is Casillo's obvious sympathy for his subjects, but that's really not enough to recommend it.

Received via NetGalley.

157-173. A Cruel God Reigns Volumes 1-17 by Moto Hagio

174. The Caiman by María Eugenia Manrique illustrated by Ramón París, translated by Amy Brill

175. Ramadan Moon by Na'ima B. Robert, illustrated by Shirin Adl

Follows a Muslim family's observance of Ramadan. It focuses on the how of the observation rather than the why, but it's very well done and would be an excellent picture book to add to a child's library.

142amanda4242
Jun 10, 2021, 5:42 pm

176. The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope

Although I didn't love it, there was much that I admired. The financial shenanigans were horrifyingly dull reading, but the fractious Longstaffe clan earned the book an extra half star. I'll probably pick up a (metaphorically and literally) lighter Trollope in the future.

143amanda4242
Editado: Ago 9, 2021, 1:53 pm

177. The Lost Ages 1. The Fort on the Moors by Jérôme Le Gris, translated by Allison M. Charette

This is an interesting take on apocalyptic fiction. In the first few pages we learn that the apocalypse occurred in the Middle Ages and humanity hunkered down to wait it out. The real story begins centuries later, where all pre-apocalyptic knowledge has been lost and people live as nomadic hunters.

I was quickly engrossed by the story, and really liked the art. I'm looking forward to volume two.

Received via NetGalley.

178. Embodied: An Intersectional Feminist Comics Poetry Anthology edited by Wendy Chin-Tanner and Tyler Chin-Tanner

Anthologies are always a mixed bag, and this one is more so than most. There are some excellent poems here and there is some striking artwork, but rarely do the poems and art truly mesh. It's worth reading, but it doesn't quite hit its mark.

Received via NetGalley.

144PaulCranswick
Jun 10, 2021, 11:45 pm

>142 amanda4242: Well done for finishing that one!

145amanda4242
Jun 11, 2021, 12:45 am

>144 PaulCranswick: I did enjoy it, but it definitely would have been improved if 300 or so pages had been cut.

146amanda4242
Editado: Jun 12, 2021, 12:33 pm

179. The Sins of the Cities of the Plain

What does one read after a well-regarded Victorian classic? Victorian porn, of course!

Purporting to be the memoirs of Jack Saul, a real-life rent boy who was involved in the Cleveland Street scandal, The Sins of the Cities of the Plain gives us a look at the seedy underbelly of Victorian London. Its literary value is negligible, and it gives the impression that one could hardly open a door in the era without risking viewing any sex act from anilingus to zoophilia.

Not really recommended, but it's available on Project Gutenberg if you want to take a peek.

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/53964

147amanda4242
Jun 13, 2021, 5:00 pm

180. The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water by Zen Cho

A four start read bumped down to three and a half because of the end, which is really more of a stop than an ending.

148amanda4242
Editado: Jun 14, 2021, 11:07 pm

181. The Last Witch by Conor McCreery

A young girl discovers she is a witch and must defeat an evil coven. It's a bog-standard chosen one story with nothing that stands out either good or bad. The publisher say's this a limited series, but there's more than a few unresolved plot threads in the last issue, so I wonder if there's going to be a second series.

149amanda4242
Editado: Jun 27, 2021, 6:23 pm

182. Nottingham by David Hazan

183. Cape Town Curios by Colin Cloud Dance

184. Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor Vol. 1 - After Life by Al Ewing and Rob Williams

185. Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake
Fantastic Mr. Fox {2009 film} directed by Wes Anderson

I've loved the book since childhood, and have fond memories of reading it under the covers with a flashlight. I'm glad to report that it does hold up to re-reading and that I'm still charmed by the roguish Mr. Fox.

I did not have high hopes for the movie when it was first announced since I've always found Anderson to be a very hit and miss filmmaker. I was happy to find that Fantastic Mr. Fox is one of the hits, although I think it tries a little too hard to be quirky and clever. The stop-motion animation and color palette give the film a distinctive look, and the voice talent is top-notch. It's not quite as good as the book, but it's an adaptation that does get it right.

150PaulCranswick
Jun 27, 2021, 8:53 pm

>149 amanda4242: I have read almost everything by Roald Dahl - I think only The Twits is outstanding and he never failed me yet.

151amanda4242
Jun 27, 2021, 9:41 pm

>150 PaulCranswick: I've only read a handful of Dahl's books--almost exclusively his children's tales--but I do so enjoy his twisted sense of humor.

152amanda4242
Jun 28, 2021, 2:25 am

186. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, translated by Robin Buss

Still superb. Buss's translation gives it that extra little hit to make it a five star read.

153amanda4242
Jul 6, 2021, 10:18 pm

187. Chicken in the Kitchen by Nnedi Okorafor, illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini

188. Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor, Volume 2 - Serve You by Al Ewing and Rob Williams
189. Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor, Vol. 3 - Conversion by Al Ewing and Rob Williams

190. We Only Find Them When They're Dead Vol. 1: The Seeker by Al Ewing

191. The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff

Sutcliff had such a gift for making an era come to life! This is my second time reading The Eagle of the Ninth, and this time I was struck by how she never forgets that Marcus sustains a career-ending injury at the beginning of the book; so many writers have their characters be inexplicably healed, but Sutcliff shows Marcus's long recovery, his setbacks, and shows that while there are things he can no longer do, there are many other he still can.

The Eagle of the Ninth {1977 mini-series}

This mini-series is typical of what I've seen of BBC productions in the 70s: faithfully adapted, reasonably well acted, and produced on what appears to be a budget of two pounds and a cup of tea. Not the greatest thing ever made, but I enjoyed it.

It's on youtube if anyone wants to take a look. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEjWO5ZEvW0ebuCjJv2C3ql_S-zkjUGlN

The Eagle {2011 film} directed by Kevin Macdonald

And proof that a larger budget doesn't automatically equal a better movie. It's clear that the filmmakers did actually read the book, but they cut most of the character moments that make the book a treasure and replaced them with fights and moralizing so we're left with a generic sword and sandal story. That being said, there are really only three departures that I feel are flat out wrong: not freeing Esca before going North was a mistake because it's important that it's his choice to go; cutting the Demetrius of Alexandria bit was a mistake because it's dumb to go on a covert mission without a cover story; and having the remnants of the Ninth Legion come to the rescue was a mistake because it's just silly.

192. All Creatures Great and Small by James Heriot
All Creatures Great and Small Season 1 {2020 series}

The book is the perfect summer reading: light, undemanding, and utterly charming.

The TV series is much the same as the book, although they did make a few parts overly dramatic. Still thoroughly enjoyable, and I'm looking forward to the second season.

154PaulCranswick
Jul 6, 2021, 10:38 pm

>153 amanda4242: So pleased to see that you like the James Herriot book. Charming is the right word, I think.

155amanda4242
Jul 7, 2021, 5:16 pm

>154 PaulCranswick: I enjoyed it so much that I bought the sequel.

156amanda4242
Jul 7, 2021, 5:36 pm

193. Kingsman: The Secret Service by Mark Millar

A young man from a council estate gets tapped to be a secret agent. Not really anything spectacular going on here, mostly just an excuse for some mindless action.

Kingsman: The Secret Service {2014 film} directed by Matthew Vaughn

This is one of the few cases where I think the movie improves upon the source material. The characters and plot are more fleshed out, the nods to classic spy movies are fun, and Colin Firth gives the whole thing a nice touch of class.

157amanda4242
Editado: Jul 11, 2021, 7:28 pm

194. Books of Blood Volume One by Clive Barker

I've been looking over various reviews of this collection and it seems like everyone has a different opinion on what the best and worst stories are, which surely says something about it's quality. I have my favorites, but I don't think there's a bad story in the lot and recommend it as an excellent introduction to Barker's horror writing.

"The Book of Blood"

We start with a very short framing story of the dead taking revenge upon a fake medium. It's only a few pages long, but it's well-realized and sets the perfect tone for the collection.

"The Midnight Meat Train"

An office drone stumbles into a nightmare of murder, cannibalism, and an ancient pact between the world above and the world below. It's probably the goriest of the stories (what else would you expect with a title like "Midnight Meat Train"?), but it's also one of the most complex.

"The Yattering and Jack"

A demon is sent to corrupt the soul of what appears to be the most boring and oblivious man on the planet. As the story progresses we discover that Jack is not as blind as he seems and is actually engaging in psychological warfare against the servant of Hell. There's a subtle humor to this one that makes it my favorite story in the collection.

"Pig Blood Blues"

A former police officer goes to work at a juvenile detention centre where some very hinky things are occuring. There's a tinge of folk horror to this one that gives it some interest, but it's my least favorite.

"Sex, Death and Starshine"

When a production of Twelfth Night is hampered by a famous but talentless leading lady, a mysterious benefactor comes forward to help improve things. An odd story of passions that survive death.

"In the Hills, The Cities"

Two bickering tourist are witness to a strange event: the inhabitants of two remote villages bind themselves together to form two giants and engage in ritual combat. I'm not sure I really get this one, but it has some very striking imagery.

Books of Blood {2020 movie} directed by Brannon Braga

This was originally intended to be an anthology mini-series, but was changed to an anthology film instead. There are three loosely connected tales, with only the middle one being actually based on one of Barker's stories. Two of the tales are bland an unmemorable; it's only the second tale, the one based on "The Books of Blood" story, that is truly worth watching.

Tales from the Darkside Season 4, Episode 7: "The Yattering and Jack" directed by David Odell

I wish I had some wine to pair with this cheese. Barker wrote the teleplay so the plot is very faithful, but everything is played for easy laughs so it's miles away from the spirit of the story.

The Midnight Meat Train {2008 film} directed by Ryûhei Kitamura

There are countless slasher movies out there about assholes doing stupid things and then being tortured to death in increasingly improbable ways, but thankfully The Midnight Meat Train is not one of them. The film expands on Barker's original tale just enough to make a full-length film, but it remains at heart the story of a decent guy who is just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

There are literally buckets of blood used onscreen, but this isn't torture porn: people die brutally, but very quickly. Still not for the squeamish, but it's a refreshing change of pace for those who don't mind violent horror.

158PaulCranswick
Jul 11, 2021, 11:44 pm

>156 amanda4242: I really enjoyed the film although SPOILER I don't think what happened to Firth's character helped it overall.

159amanda4242
Jul 12, 2021, 12:07 am

>158 PaulCranswick: That was certainly an unpleasant moment! Thankfully they made up for it in the sequel.

160amanda4242
Editado: Ago 2, 2021, 10:38 pm

195. Deadpool vs. X-Force by Duane Swierczynski

Deadpool travels through time for...reasons, I guess? Cable chases him, and then everyone forgets what happened. Waste of time.

196. The Little Broomstick by Mary Stewart

Mary and the Witch's Flower directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi

197. The Rose of Versailles Volume 4 by Ryoko Ikeda

198. Rain and Other Stories by Mia Couto

I know I read it because I distinctly remember turning the pages, but damned if I could remember a single thing after the paged turned.

199. Moriarty the Patriot Vol. 4 by Ryosuke Takeuchi

200. Hurrah St. Trinian's and Other Lapses by Ronald Searle

The Belles of St. Trinian's directed by Frank Launder

201. I Was a Rat! by Philip Pullman

I Was a Rat {2001 movie} directed by Laurie Lynd

161amanda4242
Editado: Ago 16, 2021, 5:12 pm

202. Rebecca and Rowena by William Makepeace Thackery

Pretty much everyone who has read Ivanhoe is unhappy with the ending, believing that it would have been much better if Ivanhoe had married Rebecca instead of Rowena.* Thackery apparently shared this sentiment and wrote a "sequel" in which we see what became of the characters in later years. Rebecca and Rowena does have some amusing bits, but it earned my everlasting enmity because Thackery converted Rebecca to Christianity! Her steadfast refusal to give up her own faith is one of the strongest parts of the original and the rat bastard just tossed it out the window!

*I agree Ivanhoe would have been better off with Rebecca, but I also think Rebecca was better off without Ivanhoe.

203. Hellblazer: Rise and Fall by Tom Taylor

204. The Girl From the Other Side: Siúil, a Rún, Volume 1 by Nagabe

207. The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell

209. Palladian by Elizabeth Taylor

210. Freddy vs Jason vs Ash: The Nightmare Warriors by Jeff Katz and James Kuhoric

A lot of Freddy and Jason related stuff, but Ash is apparently only in this as an excuse to include the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis.

205. To Your Eternity Vol. 1 by Yoshitoki Oima
206. To Your Eternity Vol. 2 by Yoshitoki Oima
208. To Your Eternity Vol. 3 by Yoshitoki Oima
211. To Your Eternity Vol. 4 by Yoshitoki Oima

162PaulCranswick
Ago 3, 2021, 12:01 am

200 already passed and racing towards 3x75 - wowzer!!

163amanda4242
Ago 3, 2021, 12:13 pm

>162 PaulCranswick: Short books really do make me look like a speed reader.

164amanda4242
Ago 5, 2021, 10:06 pm

212. The Pale Horseman by Bernard Cornwell

Raced through this one in three days and am raring to start book three.

213. The Opposite House by Helen Oyeyemi

The Opposite House is peopled by assholes who are the authors of almost all of their own miseries.

165PaulCranswick
Ago 8, 2021, 9:46 pm

I have made a good start to the BAC in August by reading books #6 & #7 of the Uhtred series. I find it good value even though he has more lives than a cat.

166amanda4242
Ago 8, 2021, 9:51 pm

>165 PaulCranswick: I find it good value even though he has more lives than a cat.

Something he has in common with Richard Sharpe, who fought the French from Trafalgar all the the way to Waterloo. Cornwell's heroes are improbably hard to kill!

167PaulCranswick
Ago 8, 2021, 10:18 pm

>166 amanda4242: Wouldn't be much of a series though I suppose if the hero got dusted in the first skirmish!

168amanda4242
Ago 9, 2021, 8:50 pm

>167 PaulCranswick: Well, it is possible to kill your lead and still have a long-running series--the TV show Supernatural killed off one of its two leads over a hundred times and ran for fifteen seasons--but it would make for a very different type of story!

169amanda4242
Editado: Ago 9, 2021, 9:01 pm

Este tema fue continuado por amanda4242's second thread .