DFed Reads More in 2024

Hello everyone! My name is Dawn and this is my 15th year in the 75-book challenge group. I live in Lexington, KY with my husband and I work for an equine non-profit organization. I've also got a business on the side that I've been steadily growing, which is taking up a good portion of my reading time so I didn't reach nearly my usual amount of books last year...however, I am still fitting a good book in as much as possible :)

I generally enjoy horse-related books (especially horse racing), biographies and travel memoirs with a few young adult reads and cookbooks or diet books thrown into the mix

I so enjoy being a part of this group and any visitors and here's to another wonderful new year of reading!

My 2023 thread can be found here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/347408#n8333268

Happy reading in 2024, Dawn!

Welcome back, Dawn!

Happy reading in 2024! I'm sure I will get tons of book bullets from you!

Starred you again - happy new year!

A belated happy new year, Dawn.

Thank you everyone and a Happy New Year to you all!

Well, the first reads are in:



#1 - Triple Ridge Farm by Ruth Fouts Pochmann, 232 pages (own). A delightful accounting of the author and her family (all naturalists in their own way) rehabilitating an old farm in Wisconsin.



#2 - Desert Dog by Jim Kjelgaard, 200 pages (own). It's been many moons since I last read a Kjelgaard book...they were staples of my childhood. This was a new one to me and his dog books certainly haven't lost any of their adventure.

Well, I've been down with the 'vid lately so that's left me plenty of time for reading when I've had the energy!



#4 - Hounded to Death by Rita Mae Brown, 304 pages (own). I've only read the first book in this series thus far and perhaps I should have kept going in order...there are SO MANY characters to follow as well as place/hunt names...it's a little much. And, a co-worker mentioned that Brown got rather political in her writings later on in the series - I definitely see what she was referring to here.

On an interesting side note: this book mentioned a local fox hunt in particular, the Woodford Hounds. A former co-worker of mine who is a long-time hunt member was mentioned!



#5 - Mostly In Clover by Harry J. Boyle, pages (own). What a lucky find at the local ReStore! A charming tale of the author's childhood on a farm in Canada in the early 1900s and very well-written.



#6 - An Unlikely Trio: the Winners of the 1913 Kentucky Derby by Eddie Price, 86 pages (own). I cannot find a link to this work anywhere! Regardless, it's the tale of Donerail's Kentucky Derby win. I saw the author speak several years ago now at my local library so I bought a copy to support...don't expect an earth-shattering work. The author readily admits that information is thin on the jockey, trainer and horse but you can tell he was stretching to fill more pages of the book...

#7 - Thrush Green by Miss Read, 224 pages (own). The first in the series, I sincerely wish I would have started here as it would have given me a much more pleasant introduction to all of the characters of Thrush Green - not that that should deter anyone from enjoying any of Miss Read's books!



#8 - Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor by Stephanie Barron, 352 pages (own). Written under the premise of documents being found that suggest Jane Austen was involved in mysteries, I have to admit that put me off a bit. But, once I got over that hurdle, this was an enjoyable Georgian-era mystery with plenty of sidenotes to explain the legal system of that time, etc., which I very much appreciated.

#9 - Little Colonel at Boarding School by Annie Fellows Johnston, pages (own). Though a wholesome children's book for the times, this series is definitely not considered politically correct anymore. Also, I live in Kentucky and definitely understand the particular southern drawl here, but I admit that Lloyd's accent throughout was distracting. And why is she the only character who does so when there are plenty of other girls, also from Kentucky?

All that being said however, this is a solidly fun, slightly preachy, period story of girls away at boarding school and the adventures they experience there.



#10 - Maestoso Petra by Jane Kendall, 160 pages (own). Another read from the Horse Diaries series...my co-worker and I are attempting to read them all so now I'm going to pass this one on to her!



#11 - The Secret of the Lost Pearls by Darcie Wilde, 400 pages (library). The latest in the Useful Woman series, I tore through this one in no time at all! I really enjoyed how a family's history was so wrapped up in the theft of some jewelry. Here's hoping another one comes out soon!

>10 DFED:: I'm super jealous about your coworker reading proclivities - mine are into YA fantasy and some truly out-of-my-comfort-zone stuff. Right now I'm getting peer pressured to read the Crescent City series.

How often are new career postings listed?

#12 - The Proof of the Pudding by Rhys Bowen, 291 pages (library). The latest in the Royal Spyness series. The "mystery" in this was pretty light but perhaps in Georgie's favor considering her condition!



#13 - Black Sheep by Georgette Heyer, 232 pages (own). I'm really enjoying Heyer's sense of humor and ability to bring characters at odds with each other together. And, the slang!! Probably half of her books I get the gist of but don't completely understand, which is part of the fun.



#14 - The Monday Horses by Jean Slaughter Doty, 166 pages (loan). Another book being shared amongst my co-workers. Doty is well known for writing solid books about horses by a person who understands them...unfortunately in this one, she had to tell a lot of hard truths.

#15 - Notes From the Porch by Thomas Christopher Greene, 142 pages (own). An Early Reviewer book - review to follow.



#16 - The Crumb by Jean Slaughter Doty, 122 pages (own). Another vintage horse book soon to be shared with a co-worker. As stated previously, Doty is not afraid to tell it like it is and I loved the main character, Cindy's voice throughout.

#17 - Appaloosa Zebra by Jessie Haas, 40 pages (own). A lovely children's book about horses - I'm amazed she found something for every letter of the alphabet!! And the illustrations are absolutely gorgeous!



#18 - The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer, 313 pages (own). I cannot recommend this work by Heyer enough - Sophy was such a great character and I laughed out loud many times while reading it.



#19 - Under the Lilacs by Louisa May Alcott, 316 pages (own). I've been a longtime fan of Alcott's works but had honestly never heard of this title until it was a lucky find at my local library's bookstore!! A sweet children's tale of an orphaned boy who ran away from the circus and found a better life. I would love to have had a sequel to this book.

#20 - Mystery Ranch by Gertrude Chandler Warner, 128 pages (loan). On a recent visit to my best friend's house, I discovered a delightful looking book set of what I soon learned were Boxcar Children book. I've never read them, so didn't know the backstory on this one but it was an enjoyable children's read nonetheless.



#21 - Patsy Jefferson of Monticello by Marguerite Vance, 154 pages (own). Our library's annual spring book sale has reared its ugly head again with the result of me purchasing a couple of books by Vance. Right up my alley, this was an enjoyable historical fiction novel for young adults - this one based on Thomas Jefferson's daughter, Patsy.



#22 - I Am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley, 304 pages (own). A Flavia de Luce novel, I've never read any of them and was, frankly, taken in by the cover and cheap price (10 cents!). I enjoyed Flavia's quirky character and have already put the first of the series on hold at the library so I can learn more of the backstory...

#23 - Ship's Boy with Magellan by Milton Lomask, 172 pages (own). Spanish Pedro is threatened with murder by his uncle who seeks to inherit his fortune so he escapes onboard Magellan's ship to voyage to the new world. The story was true to life and I'll definitely be passing this on to the nephews.



#24 - Martha, Daughter of Virginia by Marguerite Vance, 190 pages (own). The story of Martha Washington. I'm really enjoying Vance's books and hope to get my hands on some more in the future.



#25 - A Little Maid of Massachusetts Colony by Alice Curtis, 196 pages (own). More of the "Little Maid of..." series, this apparently is a sequel to A Little Maid of Provincetown which I haven't read yet. However, this particular book was chock full of adventure for sure! I especially loved recognizing place names on Cape Cod since we visited last year!

#26 - The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith, 235 pages (own). This has been on my TBR pile for far too long. I loved Mma Ramotswe's story and her attempts to start a detective agency. Her/Smith's love of Africa shines throughout the book. I'll definitely be reading more of this series!



#27 - Christmas Treasure by Bonnie Bryant, 224 pages (own). I so used to look forward to Saddle Club Super Editions - twice the book to read at once! :) This was typical Saddle Club tale: Horse Wise Pony Club members are tasked with doing a good deed for the holiday. What will the Saddle Club members choose to do?



#28 - Vicky and the Black Horse by Sam Savitt, 160 pages (own). Most horse lovers know and love Savitt's illustrations but his stories are just as good! I greatly enjoyed Vicky's story of doing everything she can to save her father's black horse.

#29 - Agatha of Little Neon by Claire Luchette, 273 pages (library). My best friend wants to start a virtual book club along with some other friends and relatives. This is our first book.



#30 - A Silver-Plated Spoon by John Robert Russell Duke of Bedford, 235 pages (own). Don't ever let anyone say that being a British peer is easy! The author was the 13th Duke of Bedford and suffered an extremely rough upbringing - not even learning of his inheritance until he was fully grown. Kudos to him that, despite horrible family relations, he took on the task of preserving one of the family estates, Woburn Abbey, on the sudden death of his father. I'd love to visit it if I ever go back to England!



#31 - Village Diary by Miss Read, 256 pages (own). I'm reading the Fairacre series as I get my hands on them but they are never a disappointment!

#32 - Sunset House by Winifred Fortescue, 320 pages (own). To be honest, I kept putting off reading this because Perfume From Provence was so delightful...the author's husband has passed, so, on an extended visit with a friend, she discovers "Sunset House" in Provence and this is the story of her purchase and renovation of that cottage.



#33 - Lessons In Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus, audiobook (library). What can I add to this pretty well known book? I will say it absolutely outraged me the way women were treated at the time - and I really don't believe that was fictionalized at all! We've come quite a way, though we've still got a way to go....I loved Elizabeth's character and really appreciated the fairly neat bow the story was tied up in.

Also - fair warning - the opening chapter of the book contains some sexual violence that could be triggering for some readers.

#34 - The Full Cupboard of Life by Alexander McCall Smith, 198 pages (own). Yes, I've jumped the gun a bit on this series but I've got the second one out of the library now and I'll continue on in a more orderly fashion :)



#35 - Gogo the French Seagull by Louis Slobodkin, pages (own). A cutesy children's book that I found at a yard sale this weekend. Gogo the seagull is a gourmet!



#36 - The Queen's Handmaiden by Jennifer Ashley, 323 pages (own). An interesting take on Queen Elizabeth I's life: this is her story from the point of view of her seamstress and childhood companion Eloise.

#37 - The Book of the Horse by Angus Hyland, 160 pages (own). A lovely gift from a co-worker, this small book highlights numerous equine works of art as well as profiles on some of the more famous equine artists.



#38 - A New You: A Guide to Weight Control by Mary June Parks, 120 pages (own). I own and have read one of the Parks' other books, Cooking for the Lord and figured I may as well read this one too! This probably isn't the best book since it clearly refers to their other books for more info. and is mostly inspirational in nature, with many Bible quotes provided throughout for guidance. There are some recipes, but the gist is a diet free from processed foods, vegetarian with the exception of fish, raw if possible and organic.



#39 - Sissy by Helen Frazier Wellmeier, 105 pages (own). A random library sale find. this is the pleasant tale of the author's childhood in the early 1900s in Piqua, OH. A with so many of these stories, times seemed to be a lot simpler & more enjoyable.

#40 - Trampled Lilies by Winifred Fortescue, 320 pages (own). I just had to order a copy of this book hot on the heels of reading Sunset House since I just knew that WWII was on the horizon at the end of that one...Fortescue ultimately has to abandon her beloved home in Provence for the "safer" shores of England.



#41 - Early Candlelight by Maud Hart Lovelace, 322 pages (own). French Canadian Dee DuGay grows up in the early 1800s in the shadow of Fort Snelling at the site of what will be St. Paul, MN. Lovelace introduces quite the cast of characters and this would be a great read for anyone who lives in, or is from, Minnesota. LTers may recognize the author from her famed Betsy-Tacy books which is the reason I picked this up.



#42 - Spare by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, audiobook (library). How can I sum this up?? I've always been an Anglophile and, as such, have kept a broad eye on the happenings of the royal family but I definitely do not read tabloids, gossip columns, etc. so a lot of this was news to me. Shame on me, however, that I too seem to have absorbed the viewpoint that Harry was the "bad boy" of the family and went "rogue" with Megan Markle. Hearing Harry's tale - from his own mouth no less! - was enlightening. I'm absolutely appalled that he never received the support (and therapy!) that he so desperately needed after his mother's death. I appreciated learning about what is very clearly a love match between himself and Markle. And, lastly, I am sorry to hear that he felt compelled to abandon the persons who should support and understand him the most, his father and brother, due to their inability to relate, support or even include Harry in family decisions. He's definitely won himself a staunch supporter with this honest biography.