TIFFIN'S Second for 2021

A continuation from: https://www.librarything.com/topic/327818#

List of Books Read in 2021
Unless otherwise stated, all reads are 3-4.5

1: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling (REREAD)
2: Slightly Foxed, Winter 2020
3: The Tinderbox: Soldier of Indira (young YA), by Lou Diamond Phillips
4: Hearts of Oak, by Eddie Robson.
5: The Night Tiger, by Yangsze Choo
6: Moving Target by Ross Macdonald
7: The Way Some People Die by Ross Macdonald
8: The Jade Temptress by Jeannie Lin
9: The Worst of All Possible Worlds by Alex White (Excellent series)
10: The City in the Middle of the Night by Charlie Jane Anders (GOOD)
11: Black Irish Blues by Andrew Cotto
12: Prince of Foxes by H.L. Macfarlane
13: The Nakano Thrift Shop by Hiromi Kawakami (GOOD)
14: Hard Time by Jodi Taylor
15: Doing Time by Jodi Taylor
16. Red Noise by John P. Murphy
17: Count Scar by C. Dale Brittain
18: Heretic Wind by C. Dale Brittain
19: The Nun's Betrothal by Ida Curtis
20: IQ, by Joe Ide (VERY GOOD)
21: Righteous by Joe Ide
22: Wrecked by Joe Ide
23: Hi Five by Joe Ide
24: The Salisbury Manuscript by Philip Gooden
25: The Durham Deception by Philip Gooden
26: The Ely Testament by Philip Gooden
27: Manhattan Transfer by John E. Stith
28: Under a Gilded Moon by Joy Jordan-Lake
29: Midnight Bargain by C.I. Polk
30: The Sentient by Nadia Afifi
31: Tower of Mud and Straw by Yaroslav Barsukov
32: The Apothecary Rose (1) by Candace Robb
33: D (A Tale of Two Worlds) by Michel Faber (GOOD but likely children's lit)
34: vN by Madeline Ashby (GOOD)
35: The Mages of Starsea (Starsea Cycle Book 1) by Kyle West
36: The Orb of Binding (Starsea Cycle Book 2) by Kyle West
37: The Rifts of Psyche (Starsea Cycle Book 3) by Kyle West
38: How to Love the World: Poems of Gratitude and Hope, edited by James Crews
39: The Blood is Still by Douglas Skelton
40: The Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto
41: The Lady Chapel (2) by Candace Robb
42: The Nun's Tale (3) by Candace Robb
43: The King's Bishop (4) by Candace Robb
44: The Riddle of St. Leonard's (5) by Candace Robb
45: A Gift of Sanctuary (6) by Candace Robb
46: A Spy for the Redeemer (7) by Candace Robb
47: Sidewalk Saint (4) by Phillip DePoy
48: Weave the Lightning by Corry L. Lee
49: The Beijing Opera Murder by Chris West
50: The Lady Carey by Anne R. Bailey
51: The Hungry Ghost Murder by Chris West
52: Coraline by Neil Gaiman (Excellent)
53: The Red mandarin Murder by Chris West
54: Saxons vs. Vikings: Alfred the Great and England in the Dark Ages by Ed West
55: A God in Chains by Matthew Hughes
56: A Dream of Death by Connie Berry
57: A Legacy of Murder by Connie Berry
58: The Bohr Maker by Linda Nagata (REALLY GOOD)
59: Deception Well (2) by Linda Nagata
60: Vast (3) by Linda Nagata
61: Recalled to Life by Reginald Hill
62: Flowers and Foul Play by Amanda Flower
63: Murder at Kensington Palace by Andrea Penrose
64: The Secret Countess by Eva Ibbotson
65: The Cross-Legged Knight (8) by Candace Robb
66: A Vigil of Spies (10) by Candace Robb
67: The Penultimate Truth by Philip K. Dick
68: Snow White, Blood Red, Fairy Tale anthology I, by assorted
69: Murder Never Knocks by Mickey Spillane
70: The Library of the Unwritten by A.J. Hackwith (EXCELLENT)
71: The Archive of the Forgotten by A.J. Hackwith (EXCELLENT)
72: The Angel's Mark by S.W. Perry
73: The Whispered Word by Ellery Adams
74: Phoenix Extravagant by Yoon Ha Lee
75: The Grace of Kings (1), by Ken Liu (EXCELLENT)
76, 77, 78: The complete Riftwar Saga by Andreas Christensen (GOOD)
79: The Templar's Garden by Catherine Clover
80: The Herald (6) by Ed Greenwood
81: West of January by Dave Duncan (EXCELLENT)
82: Endurance: The Complete Series by A.C. Spahn FUN)
84: Blackcollar (1) by Timothy Zahn
85: The Blacklash Mission (2) by Timothy Zahn
86: Blackcollar: The Judas Solution (3) by Timothy Zahn
87: Asperfell (1) by Jamie Thomas
88: The Forest Kingdom (2) by Jamie Thomas
89, 90, 91: Broken Crown by Karpov Kinrade (AWFUL)
92, 93, 94, 95: Fallen Realm by Karpov Kinrade (MORE AWFUL)
96: The Chosen of the Manifold (4) by Kyle West
97: The God of Lost Words by A.J. Hackwith (FIVE STAR)
98: The American Invasion of Canada by Pierre Berton
99: The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard (SUPERB)
100: The Return of Fitzroy Angursell by Victoria Goddard
101: We Could Be Heroes by Mike Chen
102: The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms (1) by N.K. Jemisin
103: The Broken Kingdoms (2) by N.K. Jemisin
104: The Kingdom of Gods (3) by N.K. Jemisin
105: The Secret Chapter (6) by Genevieve Cogman
106: The Dark Archive (7) by Genevieve Cogman
107: The Awakened Kingdom (4) by N.K. Jemisin
108: The Untold Story (8) by Genevieve Cogman (EXCELLENT)
109: Ambassador 1A: Seeing Red by Patty Jansen (REALLY GOOD)

Series Waiting for Completion

- The Kingkiller series by Patrick Rothfuss, Book 3, still hasn't been published. Rothfuss said he had to sort out some issues in his personal life before he could write it, which he has apparently done, and is now working on Book 3. No publication date given as yet.
- Riders Guild Book III by Marta Randall - no sign yet
- The Thrice Crossed Swords by A.M. Steiner (due out May 2020) - no sign yet
- Fortress of Amicae, The Chronicles of Amicae, Book 3, by Mirah Bolender - wishlisted until price comes down
- The Asperfell conclusion, book 3, due out in 2022, by Jamie Thomas

79: The Templar's Garden, Maid of Gascony Book 1, by Catherine Clover

Kindle edition {added}



I liked the history, which was in the era of Henry VI, 1452, with civil war brewing in England after the Hundred Years war. I wasn't as interested in the religiosity, although I do concede that the era would indeed have been very much as Clover portrays it with the Roman Catholic faith heavily interwoven into daily life. The author is a scholar specialising in this era; her knowledge is evident. I'm always interested in the Templars.

Did not finish:
Hell Divers from the Hell Divers series, by Nicholas Sansbury Smith

Really grim and hard bitten, so just not what I need to read right now.

Happy new one Tui.

Ummm. Nice, Tui! Read in the best of health and keep us posted!

Happy new thread, Tui!

This is a second message on your thread within a week ;-)
Do know I regular visit, but seldom leave a note. I hope all is well with you and yours.

Hi and thanks, Paul, Peggy, and Anita! xo

Happy new one!

Thanks, Jim. I like to pull up anchor just over the 200 point.

Finished Slightly Foxed, No. 69, Spring 2021 but not counting it as a book read.

Hi Tui! Definitely grok the decision to abandon ship with >4 tiffin: since there is a time and a place for the genre...just not now.

>11 tiffin: I do count copies of Slightly Foxed as books read, though I am now reading through the first copies (I started my paper subscription with volume 45) online and as I am rather whizzing through them perhaps I shouldn't count those!

>12 richardderus:: Yep. That is best read when all is far more right with the world than it right now.

>13 CDVicarage:: Kerry, I went back and purchased all of the first issues up to when my paper subscription started at issue 17. Bedtime reading!

80: The Herald, The Sundering Book 6, by Ed Greenwood

Kindle edition {added}



I read the first four books of this series yonks ago, didn't read the fifth, and had the sixth sitting on my Kindle waiting. I decided to just go ahead and read it, so of course got a bit befuddled as I couldn't quite remember what was going on. This is the final book of the Sundering series. I think it might have benefitted from reading all the books before it.

81: West of January, by Dave Duncan

Kindle edition {added}



This was an epic adventure on the planet Vernier where one day as we know it, following the path of their sun, is a lifetime here. The main protagonist, Knobil, the byblow of one of the group known as Angels, starts life as a herdsman but circumstances push him out into his world so that he lives as one of the seafolk, runs into the vicious slavers, then experiences life with the traders, the spinsters, then the Angels themselves. It's a complex story, intricately woven together. I was fascinated by the world Duncan has created, equally fascinated by the flawed yet brilliant anti-hero Knobil and his life. The planet is an unforgiving one, the struggle to survive for all of its peoples is truly--I repeat--epic.

82: Endurance: The Complete Series, by A.C. Spahn

Kindle edition {added}



This was a funny series: the characters, the dialogues, the situations. Aging spaceship with a motley yet brilliant crew, aliens taking over planets, all that good stuff.

83: Fugitive Telemetry, Murderbot series book 6, by Martha Wells

Kindle edition {added}



I really enjoy this series!

>18 tiffin: It doesn't stop delighting me, so I hope it won't you either.
***
I wish you and Des and Rhys and Arlen a happy celebration of Thanksgiving, Tui.

You know that you're one of the folk I'm most grateful to have in my life every year.

Thank you, Richard! That's beautiful.

84: Blackcollar, Book 1 of the Blackcollar series by Timothy Zahn

Kindle edition {added}



Conquered Earth, aliens, underground resistance fighting back--the Blackcollars--all that good stuff.

85: The Backlash Mission, Book 2 of the Blackcollar Series by Timothy Zahn

Kindle edition {added}



Good old science fiction.

86: Blackcollar: The Judas Solution, Book 3 of the Blackcollar Series by Timothy Zahn

Kindle edition {added}



All nicely wrapped up. I like Zahn's storytelling.

>3 tiffin: Adding that one to the BlackHole.

>18 tiffin: I did not know that there were 6 books in the series now. Thank you for bringing it to my attention, Tui.

Happy Wednesday!

Thanks for dropping by, Stasia. I'm heavily into visiting other planets at the moment because I'm not too thrilled at what we're doing to this one.

>25 tiffin: I am not sure that I can blame you, Tui!

87: Asperfell, Asperfell Trilogy Book 1, by Jamie Thomas

Kindle edition {added}



Imaginative good vs. evil story, epic in its scope as all good vs. evil tales should be.

88: The Forest Kingdom, Asperfell trilogy Book 2, by Jamie Thomas

Kindle edition {added}



The third book won't be out until 2022 but the first two books ended right where they should, and just how they ought to.

>27 tiffin: >28 tiffin: Looks like a trilogy that I should check into - after book 3 is out!

89, 90, 91: Broken Crown, Vampire Girl Books 1-3, by Karpov Kinrade

Kindle edition with no touchstone



Well, it was free. Sometimes I do wonder at what I get myself into. To be fair, the ideas and the story were good. Imaginative and well thought out. But the writing was in serious need of a good editor. She's ok with dialogue but when describing action, it becomes a series of simple sentences with a kind of "I thought this, I did that, he did this, they did that" kind of format. It was almost staccato, lacking the flow of really good writing. I read all three books because, as I said, the ideas were good. And it was free.

I did get suckered into buying the next omnibus in the series: my completist tendencies hoisting me on my own petard again. *sigh*

Some good and all free is a formidable combination, Tui. I won't be trying the Kinrade at this point, but I'll keep in mind that you have read it........... Meanwhile, I wonder whether you know The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard. A non-75er LT friend recommended it to me, Roni just finished it, and I am loving it now very much. You have to spend $ for it, but it is well worth the price (whatever it was. I've suppressed it). A free omnibus of 8 fantasy series beginners includes Goddard's Stargazy Pie. That title is Sword & Magic: Eight Fantasy Novels. Do you know the woman? If not, you're welcome!

Thanks, Peggy! I'll check her out.

>30 tiffin: *whew* one book-bullet I dodged. I purged it from the Kindle after reading that!

>33 richardderus:: I think you would have found it too cringeworthy, Richard.

92, 93, 94, 95: Fallen Realm, by Karpov Kinrade No touchstone

Kindle edition



Oh brother. This was a mess. Misused words, incorrect verbs, spelling mistakes, grindingly simple sentences, gag-inducing dialogue at times. Ok, so why did I finish it? I honestly don't know. This husband and wife team had some good ideas, creating an alternative world (Hell) that was interesting, situations which had potential, but the poor writing was a real problem for me. I gather they self-published without the benefit of an editor. The two volumes could have been condensed into a trilogy instead of seven "books". The hormonal level of the writing was of a fourteen year old just writhing out of puberty (dash here, dash there, sex, more dashing hither and yon, more sex, you know).

I'm not adding this to my books because, frankly, I'm too embarrassed to do so. I will claim the books as read, however, because a certain kind of agony should be rewarded. I can't even claim pandemic desperation because I have over 100 tbrs sitting here. Perhaps stupidity on my part because I'll never get those hours (and that money) back.

Sounds like I can skip Karpov Kinrade altogether. I do hope your next read is better for you, Tui!

>35 tiffin: You've suffered enough. Time to shake the fetid spore-cloud from your cloak!

>36 alcottacre:: Stasia, I sincerely think you can.
>37 richardderus:: Yeah. They have ideas but they need help with the execution of them.

I cleansed my palate by finishing off the Slightly Foxed Real Reader's Quarterly, No. 59, Autumn 2018. It was like a breath of fresh air!

>35 tiffin: Well at least you guaranteed that those books will never cross my threshold - garlic cloves safely in place to guard against putrid fiction of the undead!

>38 tiffin: Slightly Foxed is on the other hand much more palatable.

Took one for the team there, Paul!

96: The Chosen of the Manifold, The Starsea Cycle Book 4, by Kyle West

Kindle edition



A slowly unfolding series. Not a manifold as in a car's engine, although it is something trying to bring things into one place. There are seven orbs which have to be gathered, and Lucian has only found two, so the series will be chuffing along for a while yet. It's an interesting enough tale.

97: The God of Lost Words, Book 3 of Hell's Library Trilogy, by A.J. Hackwith

Kindle edition



This was splendid! Five star all the way. This fierce, glorious library anchored next to Hell but not owned by it reaches its conclusion in its fight for survival. I loved the characters, the story being told, its author's profound love of books and their souls. I didn't want it to end.

>41 tiffin: >42 tiffin: Putting both of those series into the BlackHole. I am especially hoping I can get my hands on the Hell's Library trilogy.

Happy weekend, Tui!

>43 alcottacre:: I read it on the Kindle, Stasia, both for the cost and the ease. Our small house can't hold any more bookshelves, so I mostly purchase books this way now.

>44 tiffin: Do you know if the books are Kindle exclusive or not, Tui? I hate reading on mine unless I absolutely have to.

Hi, Tui. Just here to remind you --- The Hands of the Emperor!

>45 alcottacre:: Sometimes but the Kindle is a lot less expensive than paper or hardbound books, so that works better for a retired person's budget.

>46 LizzieD:: Thanks, Peggy. Off to look for it right now! Ok, it's on the Kindle now!

98: The American Invasion of Canada: The War of 1812's First Year by Pierre Berton

Kindle edition (touchstone not quite accurate)



War is nasty. It is not glorious or honourable or noble. People die, and die horribly in most cases. I had never known about the war of 1812 in any detail, having only the most superficial understanding of what it was as an event in Canadian history. The late Pierre Berton, a historian of some fame in Canada, sets the record straight. At first it was merely interesting as Sir Isaac Brock tried to plan for a war he knew was coming, against the recalcitrance of his superiors in England who were preoccupied by the Napoleonic wars. But as it progressed it became appalling, serving only the gods of greed, ambition, vainglory, eventually leaving both Brock and Tecumseh dead. So now I have a better than superficial understanding of this nasty piece of business, and I can't say I'm better off for it.

>48 tiffin: A very, very ugly conflict. It was inevitable but it was insanely brutal.

Like you, once I knew about it I wasn't edified.

99: The Hands of the Emperor, by Victoria Goddard

Kindle edition



Peggy, I am so grateful to you for urging this book on me. It is one of the finest books I've read in years. I'm on the last few pages and will write some words which I hope will do it justice when I reach the end.

Comments: I do so love being told a good story, a seamless story in which I can become totally immersed. I love authors who don't over explain but give you just enough to use your own imagination while creating a world which is utterly believable and true. I particularly love being given characters who are fundamentally decent, humorous, and kind, whom you would be glad to have as your own friends but who aren't the least bit soppy or unreal. "The Hands of the Emperor" was such a book. As my knowledge of Kip's world grew, guided by Goddard's very capable hands, so too did my knowledge of this extraordinary world post-Fall. Goddard never quite tells us what caused the Fall except to say that some kind of magic went awry, and the world changed drastically as a result. So magic is there in this world but it is, as I feel magic should be, subtle and part of the weavings of things rather than a up-your-nose abracadabra fireworks and explosions series of events.

What is most important in this wonderful tale--and wonder full it is--are the people. Their relationships, friendships, bonds and loyalties, personalities and characters, well, rarely have I liked being with a group of people so much. Kip himself is one of the most compelling of beings, humble and yet fiercely proud. If there was a misstep in this story, I didn't trip over it. I didn't even mind the celebratory pomp and circumstance at times, not reading it as overwrought but as a simple truth. There was humour throughout the tale, a very important part of a good read for me.

Well done, Victoria Goddard, for creating several days of utter enchantment for this hard-sell occasionally jaded old reader. As I get older, I find that truly good reads like this get farther and farther apart. When I do stumble across one--thank you again, Peggy--I feel the newness and wonder of reading wash over me again. When I was young, it was all new, all ahead of me, so I read with an avidness free from experience. At this point in my life, with enough reading behind me to find many stories formulaic or familiar, I mostly read for entertainment and distraction. How lovely to be told a story that feels new, to be taken somewhere I haven't been.

>50 tiffin: I am going to get to that one at some point!

Yay indeed, Peggy!
Stasia, I just know you'd love it.

>53 tiffin: I have already downloaded it to my Kindle, which I HATE to read from, but I am going on a trip in March so hoping to read it then - if I can stand it, lol.

Stasia, I was like that about the Kindle for a long time but a few years ago it came to my rescue when I had a bout of bronchitis, as I could get right under the covers with only one hand sticking out. It made turning the pages so much easier. Another factor are aging eyes with cataracts: I can increase the font so there is no eye strain. What with the pandemic and all, I was able to keep reading without needing the library. The one thing I find you lose with the Kindle is the ability to glance back at earlier pages to refresh your memory about something but I've adapted. It no longer is my back-up reading system but my main one, as I don't have to find storage space for those books requiring shelving, married as I am to someone who gets really irritable if new bookshelves come into the house (but doesn't find bicycles or bicycle parts count as clutter).

>50 tiffin:: I've now posted my comments about The Hands of the Emperor.

>56 tiffin:, >51 LizzieD: Between the two of you, it just wasn't to be resisted. *sigh*

>57 richardderus:: I think I owe you one or two, Richard.

>58 tiffin: I certainly hope so! I've been gunning for your TBR since who-whipped-the-cat.

100: The Return of Fitzroy Angursell, by Victoria Goddard

Kindle edition



The continuation of the Hands of the Emperor tale. Can't say much because it would be a spoiler, just to note that it wraps things up which is good. Not as excellent as "The Hands of the Emperor" but it's a different kind of story.

101: We Could be Heroes by Mike Chen

KINDLE edition



A story about two unlikely super heroes, an equally unlikely friendship, finding out who you really are and what you want to be, a cat named Normal, and an ethical cop. A nice little read.

>55 tiffin: I understand that a lot of people are lovers of the Kindle. With me the problem is that when I was in school, I was forced to read electronic books and grew to very much hate them in that format. So, I guess I am old school in that regard :)

>62 tiffin: Adding that one to the BlackHole!

Not counted as a read: Slightly Foxed, A Real Reader's Quarterly, No. 71, Autumn 2021

Best bedtime reading in the world!

>64 tiffin: I find reading the Quarterly in bed is a problem---I keep wanting to jump up and add things to my LT Wishlist!

>50 tiffin: You have articulated so well what I find in my own reading---too many books under me belt affects my enjoyment of things I might have loved 30 years ago, and it's harder for anything to give me that gobsmacked feeling, or even that "lost in a book" feeling. It's a bit of magic itself when it happens now.

>65 laytonwoman3rd:: Linda, I have the same problem. Notepad on the night table plus a pencil.
It sure is a bit of magic when it happens now, and sadly too rare.

>65 laytonwoman3rd:, >66 tiffin: Hmmm, yes that's an interesting observation. Just this week I was reflecting on my 2021 reading and how few strong standouts there were. And yet I read a lot of very good, very enjoyable books. I think you're on to something with the idea that a lifetime of reading affects your enjoyment, specifically the ability to be "wowed," by a book.

102: The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, Book 1 of the Inheritance Trilogy, by N.K. Jemisin

Kindle edition {added}



I love this author's imagination.

103: The Broken Kingdoms, Book 2 of the Inheritance Trilogy, by N.K. Jemisin

Kindle edition {added}

>68 tiffin: Yay! I do, as well.

Hoping you're both well and happy.

Hi Richard--yes, she is a never fail good read for me. I'm well, thank you! SAD season is upon us, so happy is *outstretched hand waggling motion* but hey, I'm safe, have enough to eat and read, so I'll just carry on until the days grow longer again.

>71 tiffin: It's not a fun thing, SADD...I don't suffer, but I empathize when summer blasts and batters me with endless hot bright horrors.

You've been doing some very very good reading, so I see you're in a good groove. Mike Chen writes well enough, plots well enough...he's a nice guy...and I keep just not reviewing his books. I need to. They're called review copies for a reason, after all.

>68 tiffin: I have a couple of hers on Kindle. Will have to nudge up next year Tui.

>73 Caroline_McElwee:: I'm waiting for her to write the third book in a recent series that I quite enjoyed--blanking on name of series at the moment.

I love it! And it's the *perfect* color! *smooch*

>75 richardderus:: Hooray! When those cold winds blow across the Atlantic, you'll be ok. Happy Yuletide, Richard.

Arrived mere hours before the cold is set to start, too! It's been a whopping 15C all this week. Tomorrow night, *wham* down comes the frost. Or so they promise me. It better be cold by Yule or I will decompensate!

>75 richardderus: Ain't she a peach, though?

>78 laytonwoman3rd: Awomen!

>75 richardderus: oooh, love that colour.

104: The Kingdom of Gods, Book 3 of the Inheritance Trilogy, by N.K. Jemisin

Kindle edition {added}



Migosh Jemisin has an extraordinary imagination! She is playing around with nothing less than creation coming out of the Maelstrom, gods, demi-gods, demons, and mortalkind, all mixed together in a remarkable world. Love, hate, courage, cowardice, revenge, you name it, it's all in this series. The world(s) she has created are seamless, so that you believe in them while you are there with no niggling back itch saying "oh that's not right". Good stuff!

>81 tiffin: I'm also a fan of her Broken Earth trilogy, just as fascinatingly original.

>80 Caroline_McElwee: I do, too!

My new reading year always starts on January 1st, so 13 more reading days until we move into 2022 and it all begins again. I won't have read as many books as I did last year but this year wasn't as pandemic-y as last year. When my mom's nursing home was in lockdown for nearly three months, time spent visiting the oldster was spend reading more (and gardening better). Before Omicron came on the scene, things were starting to loosen up a bit here but now they are stepping back to tightening up again.

It's anyone's guess how my reading will reflect this new reality in 2022. I'm still allowed into the nursing home but must go through the mouth and nose swab testing again each time I visit. There is a 15 minute wait while the test *cooks*, so if I remember to take my Kindle each time, this will be reading time. I don't have one of those whizz bang phones, so don't get distracted by that bit of technology.

My lads have their Kindles linked to mine, so every year I have the fun of setting up a new Christmas folder into which I hurl about 20 books for all of us to read. Science fiction, fantasies, history, biographies, whatever catches my eye. I try to read them before they get to them so if there is a dud, I can weed it out. One calls me his "libramomary" or something like that, loving that he can always find something to read that he knows he'll like in his busy life with time at a premium. Himself prefers reading a "real" book, so there are several of those wrapped and under the tree for him. I hope he will like them.

I can't imagine having tried to go through the last two years without a pile of TBRs at hand. How did non-readers manage? Throughout my whole life, books have been my salvation, my fortress and sanctuary, my cloak and shield. The habit of reading will see us through the coming year, fellow readers, as long as our basic needs are met and our kettles are in working order.

Bless you all, and keep you safe.

>82 richardderus:: me too, Richard!

>83 tiffin: How did non-readers manage? Throughout my whole life, books have been my salvation, my fortress and sanctuary, my cloak and shield. The habit of reading will see us through the coming year, fellow readers, as long as our basic needs are met and our kettles are in working order.

...no kettle≺no coffee≺no life on Earth...I do not decaffeinate well.

My roommate wasn't interested in reading as a regular habit until the pandemic. He asked, in a wondering tone, "what did I used to do?" when he came back from the library last week.

Isn't that delightful, Richard! I'm with you re the coffee--and it has to be good coffee, not dreck.

>86 tiffin: It's certainly a relief, though it hasn't meant less football.

105: The Secret Chapter, The Invisible Library series book 6, by Genevieve Cogman

Kindle edition {added}



I really enjoy this series.

106: The Dark Archive, The Invisible Library series book 7, by Genevieve Cogman

Kindle edition {added}



A really enjoyable series, and the 8th book is now out! Onward!

>68 tiffin: I own that one, I think. I looks like I need to get it read!

>88 tiffin: That is a series that I need to return to at some point. I think I have only read the first 3.

>88 tiffin: >89 tiffin: I'm up to number five in this series I think.

>89 tiffin: My review of The UNtold Story comes out on Monday! Eight books and counting.

Or in other words: Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!

Diolch, Rhian! To you and yours as well.

>92 richardderus:: looking forward to it, Richard--and to the reading the book!

Have a lovely holiday, Tui.

What a lovely photo, Paul! That's my idea of heaven. God Jül to you and yours!

107: The Awakened Kingdom, by N.K. Jemisin

Kindle edition



A novelette.

Happy Wednesday, Tui! I hope you have a wonderful New Year!

Thanks, Stasia. Happy New Year to you too.

>100 tiffin: Appreciated. I cannot wait to see what you are reading in the new year.

108: The Untold Story, Book 8 of the Invisible Library series, by Genevieve Cogman

Kindle edition



What a grand series this was, what a cracking good wrap-up, and what a relief that there could be more in the future. This book wrapped up what the previous seven books has been working toward, so if she ends the series here, it is complete.

So it looks as though I'll have finished 108 books this year. I doubt if I'll finish another by the 1st but we'll see.

New thread for 2022 to start here on January 1st: https://www.librarything.com/topic/338015#n7697016

>102 tiffin: Yay!! I'm so so pleased it made the grade for you.

As far as I know, this is not the last one, but one can't be too sure of anything in these grim, dark days. I damn near passed out when the Library rescinded her brand! And that entire cave scene was waaay trippy.

...like I'll wait until the 1st...

I know! Good stuff, and I look forward to more.

Her latest tweet:
"Have just worked out how my protagonist can escape Paris (past the Revolutionary Guard, etc). Trying to be as clever as the Pimpernel when devising cunning escapes is *hard*."
Yaaay!!

Forget your stresses and strains
As the old year wanes;
All that now remains
Is to bring you good cheer
With wine, liquor or beer
And wish you a special new year.

Happy New Year, Tui.

Thank you, Paul. Happy New Year to you too.

I got one more book read for 2021:

109: Ambassador 1, Seeing Red by Patty Jensen

Kindle edition {added}



Good stuff! I'm glad I got the omnibus.