mathgirl40's 2016 Category Challenge, Part 2

Welcome to the second part of my category challenge!

Here are my categories for 2016:

1. Canadian Awards
2. International Awards
3. Science Fiction and Fantasy Awards
4. Space Opera
5. Other Science Fiction and Fantasy
6. Doorstoppers
7. Classics and 1001 books
8. Dust Collectors
9. Short Stories
10. DeweyCAT
11. Other non-fiction
12. Finish that series!
13. Graphic Novels
14. Mysteries from around the world
15. Other Mysteries
16. Horror

My goal is to read at least 5 books in each category.




I'll be tracking again the books off my shelves (specifically, those books acquired before Jan. 1, 2016).

Category 1: Canadian Awards



This category will include nominees for and winners of various Canadian literary awards, including the Ontario Library Association's Evergreen list, the Giller Prize and Canada Reads.

1. Bone and Bread by Saleema Nawaz (Mar. 9)
2. Hunger of the Wolf by Stephen Marche (Mar. 10)
3. The Jaguar's Children by John Valliant (May 6)
4. Birdie by Tracey Lindberg (July 13)
5. Under the Visible Life by Kim Echlin (Sept. 8)
6. Local Customs by Audrey Thomas (Sept. 11)
7. Punishment by Linden MacIntyre (Oct. 16)

Category 2: International Awards



This category will include nominees for and winners of international literary awards, including the Tournament of Books and the Man Booker Prize.

1. The Whites by Richard Price (Jan. 27)
2. Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf (Feb. 3)
3. The Tsar of Love and Techno (Feb. 8)
4. The New World by Chris Adrian and Eli Horowitz (Feb. 15)
5. The Book of Aron by Jim Shepard (Mar. 5)
6. The Turner House by Angela Flournoy (Apr. 1)
7. My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout (Aug. 5)
8. The North Water by Ian McGuire (Aug. 22)
9. Hot Milk by Deborah Levy (Sept. 20)
10. Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien (Oct. 7)
11. His Bloody Project by Graeme Macrae Burnet (Oct. 9)

Category 3: Science Fiction and Fantasy Awards



This category will include nominees for and winners of SFF awards such as the Hugo and Nebula awards.

1. The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold (Feb. 8)
2. Much Ado About Macbeth by Randy McCharles (May 4)
3. Signal to Noise by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (May 14)
4. Child of a Hidden Sea by A. M. Dellamonica (May 29)
5. Daughter of No Nation by A. M. Dellamonica (June 29)
6. The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin (July 15)
7. The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher (Aug. 14)

Category 4: Space Opera



1. Cryoburn by Lois McMaster Bujold (Apr. 20)
2. Zoe's Tale by John Scalzi (Apr. 28)
3. Falling Free by Lois McMaster Bujold (May 11)
4. Ancillary Mercy by Ann Leckie (May 27)
5. Plan B by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (May 31)
6. I Dare by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (Sept. 10)
7. Ghost Ship by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (Oct. 17)
8. Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen by Lois McMaster Bujold (Oct. 19)

Category 5: Other Science Fiction and Fantasy



1. The Triforium: The Haunting of Westminster Abbey by Mark Patton (Jan. 17)
2. Memory and Dream by Charles de Lint (Jan. 20)
3. Sundiver by David Brin (Jan. 30)
4. The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle (Jan. 31)
5. The Just City by Jo Walton (Feb. 27)
6. 1635: Music and Murder by David Carrico (Mar. 18)
7. Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan (Mar. 31)
8. Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper (Apr. 12)
9. Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke (Apr. 26)
10. Karen Memory by Elizabeth Bear (May 3)
11. The Onion Girl by Charles de Lint (June 14)
12. An Inheritance of Ashes by Leah Bobet (June 18)
13. Maddie Hatter and the Deadly Diamond by Jayne Barnard (June 20)
14. The Humans by Matt Haig (July 8)
15. The Fountain by Suzy Vadori (July 17)
16. The Half-Made World by Felix Gilman (Aug. 30)
17. Wool by Hugh Howey (Sept. 25)
18. The Last Light of the Sun by Guy Gavriel Kay (Sept. 29)
19. The Obelisk Gate by N. K. Jemisin (Oct. 2)
20. The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper (Oct. 5)
21. Eocene Station by Dave Duncan (Oct. 23)
22. Ganymede by Cherie Priest (Nov. 7)
23. Children of Earth and Sky by Guy Gavriel Kay (Nov. 25)
24. The Alchemist by Paolo Bacigalupi (Dec. 6)

Category 6: Doorstoppers



1. Seveneves by Neal Stephenson (Jan. 29)
2. The Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan (Feb. 23)
3. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (Mar. 21)
4. Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson (Oct. 31)
5. 1634: The Baltic War by Eric Flint and David Weber (Nov. 30)

Category 7: Classics and books from the 1001 list



1. Fifth Business by Robertson Davies (Apr. 21)
2. The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins (June 5)
3. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller (June 24)
4. A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder by James De Mille (July 26)
5. Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Aug. 20)
6. Life of Pi by Yann Martel (Sept. 17)
7. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark (Oct. 26)
8. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell (Nov. 8)
9. The Secret History by Donna Tartt (Nov. 21)
10. Villette by Charlotte Bronte (Dec. 11)

Category 8: Dust Collectors



1. Mud City by Deborah Ellis (Feb. 5)
2. Green Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson (Apr. 30)
3. The Manticore by Robertson Davies (May 13)
4. Anne of the Island by Lucy Maud Montgomery (July 5)
5. Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier (Aug. 23)
6. Anne's House of Dreams by L. M. Montgomery (Oct. 11)
7. The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants by Ann Brashares (Nov. 11)
8. The Plague by Albert Camus (Nov. 16)

Category 9: Short Stories


Artwork by Tom Gauld for The Guardian

1. Stories from the Vinyl Cafe by Stuart McLean (Jan. 25)
2. The Thackery T. Lambshead Cabinet of Curiosities edited by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer (May 24)
3. Hugo Voter Packet novellas (June 10)
4. Aurora Voter Packet short fiction (June 22)
5. Chronicles of Avonlea by Lucy Maud Montgomery (July 27)
6. Hugo Voter Packet novelettes and short stories (July 29)
7. All That Man Is by David Szalay (Aug. 17)
8. The Poison Eaters by Holly Black (Dec. 24)
9. High Spirits by Robertson Davies (Dec. 27)

Category 10: DeweyCAT



1. Mr. Wilson's Cabinet of Wonder by Lawrence Weschler (Jan. 13)
2. Beyond Fate by Margaret Visser (Feb. 28)
3. They Left Us Everything by Plum Johnson (Apr. 6)
4. That Lonely Section of Hell by Lori Shenher (May 20)
5. The Mother Tongue by Bill Bryson (July 2)
6. The Gene by Siddhartha Mukherjee (Aug. 23)
7. History's People: Personalities and the Past by Margaret MacMillan (Nov. 15)

Category 11: Other Non-fiction



1. Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach (June 17)
2. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates (July 19)
3. A House in the Sky by Amanda Lindhout and Sara Corbett (Sept. 18)
4. Age of Ambition by Evan Osnos (Nov. 5)
5. The Universe Within by Neil Turok (Dec. 19)
6. A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley (Dec. 28)

Category 12: Finish That Series!



1. Chimera by Mira Grant (Jan. 3)
2. Lyre of Orpheus by Robertson Davies (Mar. 28)
3. Lord of Emperors by Guy Gavriel Kay (Mar. 31)
4. The Terrorists by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö (May 10)
5. Acceptance by Jeff VanderMeer (Aug. 7)
6. The Twenty-Three by Linwood Barclay (Nov. 20)

Category 13: Graphic Novels


Artwork by Gabriel Rodriguez, from Locke & Key series.

1. Fables, Vol. 1: Legends in Exile by Bill Willingham (Jan. 5)
2. Fables, Vol. 2: Animal Farm by Bill Willingham (Feb. 17)
3. Fables, Vol. 3: Storybook Love by Bill Willingham (Mar. 10)
4. Yotsuba&!: Volume 2 by Kiyohiko Azuma (May 16)
5. Seconds by Bryan Lee O'Malley (June 8)
6. Aurora Graphic Novel Nominees (July 7)
7. Sandman: Overture by Neil Gaiman and J. H. Williams III (July 16)
8. Lumberjanes: Beware the Kitten Holy by Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis, Shannon Watters and Brooke A. Allen (Nov. 26)

Category 14: Mysteries from Around the World



1. The Night Bell by Inger Ash Wolfe -- Canada (Jan. 8)
2. Mystery Mile by Margery Allingham -- England (Mar. 6)
3. Death of the Mantis by Michael Stanley -- Botswana (Mar. 16)
4. Cop Killer by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö -- Sweden (Mar. 22)
5. Black Skies by Arnaldur Indridason -- Iceland (Apr. 18)
6. Vintage Murder by Ngaio Marsh -- New Zealand (June 27)
7. The Snowman by Jo Nesbo -- Norway (July 3)
8. The Snack Thief by Andrea Camilleri -- Sicily (Aug. 2)
9. A Beautiful Place to Die by Malla Nunn -- South Africa (Sept. 3)
10. Murder in Little Italy by Victoria Thompson -- US (Dec. 17)
11. Light in a Dark House by Jan Costin Wagner -- Finland (Dec. 23)

Category 15: Other Mysteries



1. The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley (Mar. 4)
2. Forty Words for Sorrow by Giles Blunt (Apr. 8)
3. The White Cottage Mystery by Margery Allingham (May 7)
4. Broken Promise by Linwood Barclay (May 18)
5. The Guilty Plea by Robert Rotenberg (May 31)
6. A Monstrous Regiment of Women by Laurie King (July 22)
7. The Voice of the Violin by Andrea Camilleri (Aug. 10)
8. A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley (Aug. 24)
9. The Leopard by Jo Nesbo (Aug. 27)
10. Excursion to Tindari by Andrea Camilleri (Sept. 11)
11. Far From True by Linwood Barclay (Sept. 16)
12. Morality for Beautiful Girls by Alexander McCall Smith (Sept. 20)
13. A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny (Sept. 22)
14. The Smell of the Night by Andrea Camilleri (Oct. 24)
15. The Delicate Storm by Giles Blunt (Dec. 1)
16. Fatal Voyage by Kathy Reichs (Dec. 5)
17. A Sleeping Life by Ruth Rendell (Dec. 8)
18. I am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley (Dec. 16)
19. Rounding the Mark by Andrea Camilleri (Dec. 20)
20. Blackfly Season by Giles Blunt (Dec. 21)

Category 16: Horror



1. Salem's Lot by Stephen King (Jan. 11)
2. The Circle by Sara Elfgren and Mats Strandberg (Feb. 22)
3. Stolen by Kelley Armstrong (Apr. 2)
4. Authority by Jeff VanderMeer (Apr. 14)
5. The Fireman by Joe Hill (June 26)
6. The Demonologist by Andrew Pyper (Oct. 2)
7. Spook Stories by E. F. Benson (Oct. 13)
8. Ghosts by Gaslight edited by Jack Dann and Nick Gevers (Oct. 25)
9. The Night Wanderer: A Graphic Novel by Drew Hayden Taylor (Nov. 13)

Other books that don't fit in the 16 categories

1. Before I Go to Sleep by S. J. Watson (Jan. 22)
2. The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood (Feb. 29)
3. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (Apr. 5)
4. The Death Committee by Noah Gordon (May 14)
5. Firmin: Adventures of a Metropolitan Lowlife by Sam Savage (June 3)
6. World of Wonders by Robertson Davies (June 16)
7. The Magician's Assistant by Ann Patchett (July 10)
8. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J. K. Rowling, John Tiffany and Jack Thorne (Aug. 4)
9. The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer (Sept. 4)
10. The Well of Lost Plots by Jasper Fforde (Sept. 13)
11. Heligoland by Shena Mackay (Nov. 23)
12. The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood (Dec. 2)

So, here, finally, is thread #2. As mentioned in my previous thread, I'm behind in my reviews, as I've had a busy July with my 25th wedding anniversary, mini-vacations and lots of time spent with family and friends. I've also had plenty of reading time, so I have a backlog of reviews to write.

I'll mention a few highlights from the first part of the year.

I really enjoyed the Robertson Davies group read and was happy to reread the entire Deptford trilogy. Thanks to all who participated!

The various CATs and KITs have been great fun and have motivated me to read a bunch of books that have been languishing on my shelves.

I'd fallen prey, as usual, to the new and shiny and had been reading from a number of awards lists: Tournament of Books, Ontario Library Association's Evergreen Award, Hugo and Aurora SFF awards. I'm hoping that, for the remaining 5 months, I can get through some older books on my shelves ... except that the Booker longlist had just been announced. Sigh.

I'm also hoping to finally catch up on my favourite threads in this group and to check out new ones!

Happy New Thread!

New thread! Yay!

Happy new thread!

Congratulations on the 25th wedding anniversary and Happy new thread!

Happy 25th!

Happy wedding anniversary! And a happy new thread. Thanks for hosting the Robertson Davies group read! I am still working my way through What's Bred in the Bone and enjoying it whenever I get to it. :)

>20 thornton37814: >21 sturlington: >22 MissWatson: >23 VictoriaPL: >24 LisaMorr: Thanks for the greetings and the anniversary wishes!

>25 rabbitprincess: I'm glad you joined in the group read! I loved the Cornish Trilogy. I hope you enjoy the rest of it as much as I did.

Happy New Thread and Anniversary! I need to go get a look at the Booker list myself.

Happy new thread and anniversary!!

Happy new thread, and congratulations on your wedding anniversary! 25 years is very impressive!

>27 dudes22: >28 LittleTaiko: >29 Jackie_K: Thank you for the anniversary wishes!

83. The Snowman by Jo Nesbo (4 stars)
Category: Mysteries Around the World (Norway)

This was a particularly dark, depressing and violent installment in the Harry Hole series, in which Harry hunts a serial killer while adjusting to a new member of his team. The novel also focuses on Harry's struggle with alcoholism and his difficult relationship with Rakel. The book was disturbing in many places but also hard to put down.

84. Anne of the Island by L. M. Montgomery (4.5 stars)
Category: Dust Collector

I really enjoyed this episode in Anne of Green Gable's life, in which she leaves the island to attend college and deals with changes in her relationship with Gilbert and other friends. Anne grows up in this novel, in a number of ways. I was particularly amused by the introduction of the character Philippa Gordon, whose biggest challenge is balancing the demands of academic life with all the exciting social opportunities. Having one daughter at university right now, I see that that aspect hasn't changed in 100 years. :)

85. Aurora graphic novels
Category: Graphic Novels

These are the graphic novels I'd read from the Aurora Voter Packet.

The Lady Paranorma by Vincent Margone (5 stars) - This is a gorgeous book with exceptional artwork, though I hesitate to call it a graphic novel. It's more like a child's picture book, except that the story is not just for children.

West of Bathurst (4 stars) - This is a very enjoyable Web comic that ran for 8 years. The author based the characters on graduate students living in Massey College at the University of Toronto. It's particularly funny if you've spent time living in a university dorm or doing graduate work. If anyone is interested in reading this Web comic, the archives are available here.

Infinitum by GMB Chomichuk (4 stars) - This is a noirish time-travel story about an investigator working for a bureau that specializes in preventing crimes before they happen. The art captures well the foggy 1940's-like setting.

Blood Suckers by J. M. Frey (3.5 stars) - This is an amusing short story about vampires living in an apartment building in Toronto.

Crash and Burn: Prologue by Kate Larking & Finn Lucullan (3 stars) - The premise looks promising, but it's hard to tell from the short sample given in the Voter Packet.

>31 mathgirl40: - I just started The Redbreast so I have a few to go before I get to that one. Seems like he struggles with his drinking in every book.

>31 mathgirl40: - Oh, that was a creepy and dark one. It was the first and I think only of that series that I've read so far. Thought it was good but just haven't made it to the others yet.

>31 mathgirl40:, >35 LittleTaiko: That was my first Jo Nesbo as well - I decided I wanted to read all of them after reading that one. I've only read the The Bat so far, but definitely plan to read more.

>34 dudes22: Yes, that's quite true about Hole's struggles with drinking! I really enjoyed The Redbreast myself. That was the one I started with and I got hooked onto the series.

>35 LittleTaiko: >36 LisaMorr: I encourage you to read more in the series. I found The Devil's Star particularly hard to put down.

86. The Humans by Matt Haig (4 stars)
Category: Other SFF
Challenges: SFFKIT

The Humans tells the story of an alien who is sent to Earth to take over the body of a rather unpleasant mathematician, in order to suppress his dangerous research. This was a heart-warming and entertaining novel, in which we see how the alien perceives human behaviour, sometimes with bemusement and occasionally with admiration. Of course, I have a soft spot for stories about mathematicians, even if it's actually an alien masquerading as one.

87. The Magician's Assistant by Ann Patchett (4 stars)
Category: Miscellaneous

Ann Patchett is an excellent writer, and I enjoyed this story that explored death, love and grief in a sensitive and often humorous way. I liked the contrast between the narrator's sophisticated life in Los Angeles and the very different environment she discovers in Nebraska. This novel didn't quite match Patchett's brilliant Bel Canto but I'd recommend it all the same.

Happy new thread! I'd forgotten I'm only half-way (or so) through the Harry Hole-series. I need to start again!

LOL on The Humans. Love the title, but don't know if that's enough to stop a mathematician!

>40 -Eva-: Thanks, Eva. I've been continuing with this series. It's so dark and intense, but hard to put down.

>41 cammykitty: The title definitely intrigued me, too!

Sigh ... I am so behind with my reviews. The main reason is that I've been spending lots of time with family, as well as plenty of time outdoors, so it's not such a bad thing. My older daughter returns to school in Europe on Sunday, and my younger daughter will be back to school too (here in town) in a couple of weeks, so there will be more time for LT then.

88. Birdie by Tracey Lindberg (3.5 stars)
Category: Canadian Awards

I picked up this book after seeing it on the Canada Reads list. Many have called it an "important" work, and perhaps in time it will become known as such, but I also found it an especially challenging read. The novel consists of a series of flashbacks and dream sequences, sometimes presented in a stream-of-consciousness style. The reader eventually pieces together Birdie's story, but it is a confusing and disturbing process as we see the effects of abuse and poverty in the context of Canada's First Nations community.

89. The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin (5 stars)
Category: SFF Awards

This novel, the first in Jemisin's Broken Earth trilogy, was nominated for the Hugo Best Novel award and after reading it, I had no option but to put it at the very top of my ballot, even above Neal Stephenson's Seveneves. This post-apocalyptic novel features a richly detailed and fascinating world, as well as three plotlines that merge in a way that was completely surprising to me. The second book, The Obelisk Gate, was just published, and I can't wait to read it!

90. Sandman: Overture (4.5 stars)
Category: Graphic Novels
Challenges: RandomCAT

Even though this collection is a prequel to the Sandman series, I recommend reading the original series first. There are many appearances by characters from the other books, and the convoluted storyline which covers a large expanse of space and time can be confusing. For fans of the series, though, this volume is a real treat. I found the artwork by J. H. Williams III completely captivating and spent much of my time admiring the detailed and brilliantly coloured panels. Here are a couple of examples:

>45 mathgirl40: I was going to read that on my tablet but a 7" screen just didn't do justice to it. Will definitely be picking up a real copy at some point.

>45 mathgirl40: What brilliant art! I've tried graphic novels but found I read the text without giving the art any more than a passing glance. I've tried, but obviously my reading habits are ingrained! This art would definitely hold my interest.

>46 AHS-Wolfy: I had a pdf file of the first three chapters from the Hugo Voter Packet but abandoned that in favour of a print copy from the library. You really do need a full-sized copy to appreciate this volume.

>47 VivienneR: I often do that too, because I want to find out what happens in the story. So it often requires a second "reading" for me to appreciate the artwork fully. :)

91. The Fountain by Suzy Vadori (3.5 stars)
Category: Other SFF

One of the finalists for the Aurora YA Novel award, this is a thoughtful story about a teenager who regrets the consequences of her wishes that had magically come true. I didn't find the story particularly remarkable but I did think it was well written and would be enjoyable for middle and high school readers.

92. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates (4.5 stars)
Category: Other Non-fiction

This memoir is in the form of a letter from the author to his son. It is moving and powerful and highly political, examining the place of the black man in America. Coates's words are very convincing, but I can't say I agree with everything he says. Rather, I don't question his interpretation of his experiences but wonder how broadly it represents others' experiences. Nevertheless, what he says is thought provoking and how he says it is incredibly lyrical. I listened to the audiobook version in which Coates himself narrates, and it was spellbinding.

I found one of the most moving passages to be a description of his first visit to Paris, when a friend takes him for a meal and a walk around the city. Coates is tense and waiting for something bad to happen, but nothing does. He writes, "And watching him walk away, I felt that I had missed part of the experience because of my eyes, because my eyes were made in Baltimore, because my eyes were blindfolded by fear." What he says then to his son is,

"What I wanted was to put as much distance between you and that blinding fear as possible. I wanted you to see different people living by different rules. I wanted you to see the couples sitting next to each other in the cafés, turned out to watch the street; the women pedaling their old bikes up the streets, without helmets, in long white dresses; the women whizzing past in Daisy Dukes and pink roller skates. I wanted you to see the men in salmon-colored pants and white linen and bright sweaters tied around their necks, the men who disappeared around corners and circled back in luxury cars, with the top down, loving their lives. "

What lovely writing, especially when read aloud!

>45 mathgirl40:
It's so beautiful, isn't it?! I have single issues on the iPad and found that the colors are just so great on a screen, but I also have a hardcopy book to read since the digital format means you have to skip back and forth on the larger spreads.

>51 -Eva-: Indeed, the colours are absolutely brilliant on a screen. It is nice to have both formats.

93. A Monstrous Regiment of Women by Laurie King (4 stars)
Category: Other Mysteries

I enjoyed this second book in the Mary Russell series, though I'm still finding it difficult to get used to an older Sherlock Holmes and the romance between him and Russell. The story, an investigation into the murders of women belonging to a political organization, deals with the intersection of feminism and religion in the early 20th century in England.

94. A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder by James De Mille (3.5 stars)
Category: Classics

This novel is one of the first notable Canadian speculative fiction works. It follows the adventures of an English man after he is stranded in Antarctica and describes his interactions with a society with unusual values. This story feels a lot like H. Rider Haggard's works, and indeed, critics complained it was derivative when it was published posthumously in 1888. In fact, it had been started well before de Mille's death in 1880 and predates Haggard's works. I didn't find the story especially compelling, but there were some unusual and interesting aspects to it.

95. Chronicles of Avonlea by L. M. Montgomery (4.5 stars)
Category: Short Stories

Anne of Green Gables plays a minor role in this collection set in Avonlea, but I found myself just as drawn to the other characters featured in these stories, some of which have appeared in other Anne novels. The stories are charming and heart-warming. Oone aspect I particularly like is Montgomery's exploration of the relationships between the young and the old. The power of music is also a significant theme of several stories. My favourite story is "Each in His Own Tongue", about a stern minister's difficulties in appreciating his grandson's musical gifts.

96. All Saints by K. D. Miller (5 stars)
Category: Short Stories

I wouldn't have known about this collection of short stories if it hadn't been on the Ontario Library Association's Evergreen list. The stories are loosely connected with characters appearing or mentioned in multiple stories. The one thing that the characters have in common in that they are associated in some way with a fictional Anglican church in Toronto. Despite the setting, the author explores so much more than churches and religion. The characters are quirky, the plots are original and the outcomes unpredictable. This collection really deserves more recognition!

97. Hugo novelettes and short stories
Category: Short Stories

I had tried to read all the Hugo novelettes and short stories before the voting date but couldn't bring myself to read some of the unappealing choices that the Rabid Puppies managed to put on the ballot.

I did get through the ones listed below. Standouts were Folding Beijing and Cat Pictures Please, which, not surprisingly, were the ultimate winners in the novelette and short-story categories respectively.

Hugo nominees:
Folding Beijing by Hao Jingfang (4.5 stars)
Obits by Stephen King (4 stars)
Cat Pictures Please by Naomi Kritzer (4.5 stars)
Asymmetrical Warfare by S. R. Algernon (3 stars)
Space Raptor Butt Invasion by Chuck Tingle (3 stars)

Campbell nominees:
Strange Matter by Brian Niemeier (3 stars)
Hungry Daughters of Starving Mothers by Alyssa Wong (4 stars)

I'm embarrassed to admit that I'm so behind in my posts that I've just finished reviewing my July books. So here is the July summary, a month late:

Books finished: 15 (out of 97 for the year so far)
Books off my shelf: 4 (out of 39 for the year so far)
Favourite books: The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin and All Saints by K. D. Miller

July was a good month for short stories. Over the past couple of years, I've been rediscovering the pleasures of reading short stories. I've read so many that leave me unsatisfied (the SFF genre, in particular, features many stories that seem to be nothing more than exercises in world-building) that I'm especially happy when I find one that's particularly well crafted.

98. The Snack Thief by Andrea Camilleri (4 stars)
Category: Mysteries Around the World (Sicily)

This is the third book in the Inspector Montalbano series and one in which we delve deeper into the personal life of the inspector. In this installment, Montalbano delves into the killings of a Tunisian on a fishing boat and a man in a lift, while tensions mount between him and Livia over the plight of a stray child. Grover Gardner, as always, does a fantastic job in the audiobook narration.

99. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J. K. Rowland, John Tiffany and Jack Thorne (3.5 stars)
Category: Miscellaneous

As a devoted fan of the series who, like many others, wanted more, this was a satisfying read. I enjoyed this story, which features the offspring of the characters we've grown to love, a great deal and felt it was not inconsistent with the previous books. However, it doesn't have the depth, humour and complexity of the novels, most likely because it is in the form of a play. Perhaps I'd feel differently if I were to see it on the stage.

100. My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout (3 stars)
Category: International Awards

This book is on the 2016 Booker shortlist and has garnered a lot of praise. I can appreciate the author's skill and subtlety, but this story just didn't speak to me. Dare I say that I found the narrator too needy for my liking?

101. Acceptance by Jeff VanderMeer (4 stars)
Category: Finish That Series
Challenges: SFFKIT

This conclusion to the Southern Reach trilogy was creepy, fascinating and absorbing, but it left my mind reeling as much as the first two books did. A good number of questions were answered and just as many new ones emerged. One aspect I liked very much was the greater insight into several of the characters, making them more human and less like the strange inscrutable beings portrayed in the first two books

102. The Voice of the Violin by Andrea Camilleri (4 stars)
Category: Other Mysteries

I'm continuing to enjoy the Inspector Montalbano series. This fourth book had a number of red herrings and a somewhat unexpected resolution. Though the plots are decent, my favourite aspects of the series are the humor and the mouth-watering descriptions of Mediterranean food that Montalbano indulges in regularly.

103. The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher (4 stars)
Category: SFF Awards

The first in a new steampunk series with a nautical flavour, The Aeronaut's Windlass was nominated for a Hugo Award, though it didn't win it. I found a few of the battle scenes overly long and tedious but otherwise, this was a very entertaining adventure with a diverse cast of characters. The talking cats were particularly appealing.

104. All That Man Is by David Szalay (5 stars)
Category: Short Stories

I was very impressed by this collection of short stories which made it onto the Booker longlist. Each story featured a different male character, and almost none of these men are likeable. They show all sorts of unpleasant traits: arrogance, greed, lack of empathy, selfishness, laziness. Some are unrepentant criminals. Yet, Szalay is somehow able to make me get inside their heads and see life through their eyes. I was surprised by how much the stories drew me in and kept me reading without wanting a break.

105. Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (5 stars)
Category: Classics/1001 Books
Challenges: GeoCAT

Adichie's story, set in the late 1960's during the Biafran War, which resulted from Biafra's attempt at secession from Nigeria, was a superb read. Adichie presents the experiences of the war and ensuing famine from the Biafran side, but she does so through viewpoints belonging to a diverse set of complex characters. The novel is rich in historical and political detail, but it was the contrast and interplay between the sisters Kamene and Olanna that really drew me into the story. This is highly recommended for anyone who loves historical fiction!

>65 mathgirl40: It's unusual to find a short story collection where all the stories are strong enough to warrant 5 stars.

>67 thornton37814: I really did think all the stories were very strong, and I am happy to see that All That Man Is made it onto the Booker shortlist today!

>64 mathgirl40:
It was pretty good, I thought, but let's see where the next installments take us... :)

>66 mathgirl40: I took a bullet on that one! I'm old enough to remember the Biafra war and I enjoy history, especially 20th century.

>64 mathgirl40: Yes, it's a bit early to say, but for me, it's always promising when I get invested into the characters right away.

>70 VivienneR: I hope you enjoy it. It's really an exceptionally good work of historical fiction.

106. The North Water by Ian McGuire (4.5 stars)
Category: International Awards

This book from the Booker longlist didn't make it onto the shortlist, but I liked it very much. It's a brutal and disturbing book, recounting a whaling expedition into the Arctic in the 1850's and featuring characters that would do just about anything in the struggle to survive. This novel isn't for everyone, but if you can stomach the violence, you might find it, as I did, a page-turning story set in a fascinating landscape.

107. The Gene: an Intimate History by Siddhartha Mukherjee (4 stars)
Category: DeweyCAT

This book covers the history, the science and the ethical issues associated with the gene and genetics. I didn't find this work quite as fascinating as Mukherjee's magnificent The Emperor of All Maladies, perhaps because the scope seems narrower than that encompassed by his story about cancer. Still, it seems a very well-researched, detailed look at genetics, with reasonably understandable explanations of technical ideas.

>73 mathgirl40: I enjoyed this while I was reading it, but when I tried to sum it up for my husband I realized that I'd learned a lot about how the gene has been researched but I still can't really comprehend how it all works well enough to put it in to words! It is such a hard concept to wrap the brain around.

>74 japaul22: Very true ... the concepts are fascinating, and it seems as if much development has taken place since I first learned about genetics in high-school biology class!

108. Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier (3.5 stars)
Category: Dust Collector

This novel, written in a gothic style, tells the story of Mary Yellen, who goes to live with her aunt in Cornwall and gets entangled in her uncle's criminal activities. It's a decent adventure and romance, in a bleak, atmospheric setting. I just found out that a new film adaptation was made recently, and I'm curious to check that out. I don't believe that any adaptation of du Maurier's work would match the creepiness of Hitchcock's version of Rebecca, though!

109. A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley (4 stars)
Category: Other Mysteries

For me, the big attraction of Bradley's series is the wonderful Flavia de Luce. The audiobook versions narrated by Jayne Entwistle are especially appealing, as she really brings out the eccentric but endearing character of Flavia. This installment features a mystery surrounding a child gone missing many years ago, a gypsy fortune-teller who is attacked, and a local man found dead on the Buckshaw property.

110. The Leopard by Jo Nesbo (3.5 stars)
Category: Other Mysteries

This installment of the Harry Hole series takes him from Hong Kong back to Norway and then to the Congo. While continuing to fight his addiction issues, Harry attempts to chase down a serial killer whose victims all stayed at a remote cabin in the mountains. This was a very good mystery that kept me guessing, but at almost 700 pages, it felt overly long.

111. The Half-Made World by Felix Gilman (4 stars)
Category: Other SFF

I liked very much this steampunk novel with an Old West type of setting. The characters were terrific, especially Creedmore, who has his own unique sense of morality. I loved the witty dialogue between him and the demon that inhabits his mind. I found the pace somewhat uneven, as the novel dragged in places, but overall, I thought this was a surprisingly original story.

>78 mathgirl40: I was glancing at audio books last night for my upcoming trip to Mississippi. I can't even imagine how long a 700 page book would take in audio, but I don't want to try that!

>80 thornton37814: I've listened to several very long audiobooks. I've found that what works for me is to listen to part of a long book and then take a break to listen to a short book before resuming with the long book. Then, it doesn't seem to be so intimidating and endless! :)

112. A Beautiful Place to Die by Malla Nunn (4 stars)
Category: Mysteries Around the World (South Africa)

This mystery novel, the first featuring Detective Emmanuel Cooper, is set in 1950's Apartheid South Africa and features Cooper's investigating the murder of a white police captain. Nunn does such a good job of recreating the racial tensions of that time that the story is downright disturbing and uncomfortable in many places. Sometimes I wondered, "Did people really think like that? Did the author portray the situation realistically?" Sadly, she probably did.

I'm so behind in my reviews that I've only just finished reviewing my August books. So here's August's summary, for what it's worth.

Books finished: 15 (out of 112 for the year so far)
Books off my shelf: 4 (out of 43 for the year so far)
Favourite books: All That Man Is by David Szalay and Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

>81 mathgirl40: I'm struggling through a short story collection I got from AudioSync this summer. Since I don't have a deadline on that one, I will probably download something else for my trip and come back to it. Some of the stories are better than others (as usual in short story collections). I can probably get to the halfway point before I leave on the trip.

>84 thornton37814: Have fun on your trip! I always enjoy audiobooks on long car rides.

113. The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer (5 stars)
Category: Miscellaneous

This story of confident, capable Sophy, who excels at solving all her relations' and friends' problems, is utterly charming and entertaining. Though one associates Heyer with the romance genre, the romance element is fairly light. Heyer pokes fun at the ridiculous aspects of social life in Regency England and the characters that inhabit it, and she ends up creating a wonderful comedy of manners in the style of Jane Austen.

114. Under the Visible Life by Kim Echlin (4 stars)
Category: Canadian Awards

This is another book from the Ontario Library Association's Evergreen list. It is a well-crafted novel set in the 1970s that tells the stories of two female jazz pianists, one living in New York City and one from the Middle East who eventually settles in Montreal. The novel explores not just the usual difficulties faced by women trying to carve their own career paths at that time but also the particular challenges faced by female musicians working in the jazz genre.

115. I Dare by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (4 stars)
Category: Space Opera
Challenges: SFFKIT (for August)

This installment of the Liaden Universe space opera series brings to a conclusion a number of the plot lines started in Agent of Change and its sequels. I would not recommend that any reader start the Liaden series with this book, as familiarity with the earlier books seems (at least to me) essential in understanding all the plot lines and keeping track of the numerous characters. However, if you're already a Liaden fan, this is a very satisfying story that brings together the various Clan Korval members introduced in earlier books.

116. Excursion to Tindari by Andrea Camilleri (3.5 stars)
Category: Other Mysteries
Challenges: RandomCAT

This is the 5th installment in the Inspector Montalbano series, in which he investigates the murder of a young man and the disappearance of an elderly couple. I appreciated the intricate plot and the unexpected conclusion, but this novel didn't grab me in the same way as the earlier ones. Still, a Montalbano mystery is always an entertaining read.

117. Local Customs by Audrey Thomas (4 stars)
Category: Canadian Awards

Local Customs is a historical novel based on the life and death of real-life Romantic poet and novelist Letitia Elizabeth Landon. What makes this story rather unusual is that Letty narrates the story from the grave and examines the circumstances that led to her mysterious death. Much of the story takes place in the late 1830's on the Gold Coast of Africa (now Ghana), where Letty's husband is governor, and looks at the social tensions between the colonists and native Africans.

118. The Well of Lost Plots by Jasper Fforde (3.5 stars)
Category: Miscellaneous

This third installment in the Thursday Next series included plenty of clever lines and amusing references to classics of literature. However, I found the plot didn't keep me as interested as the first two books did. There were a few moments of brilliance, including a group therapy session involving characters from Wuthering Heights.

119. Far From True by Linwood Barclay (4 stars)
Category: Other Mysteries

This thriller is the second book in Barclay's Promise Falls trilogy and continues with some of the open questions left at the end of the first book but also adds new characters and plot twists. As I was reading the book, I kept thinking about how crazy and improbable the plot was. Yet, I couldn't stop reading! The book started with a great opening scene and kept me interested until the end.

120. Life of Pi by Yann Martel (5 stars)
Category: 1001 Books

I'd read this book many years ago and liked it very much, but it's only now, upon rereading it and discussing it in our parent-child book club, that I fully appreciate the humour, the clever narrative structure and the interesting questions of faith that it poses. I've never thought of it as a young adult book, but after our book-club discussion, I've concluded that it's an excellent book to share with young adults.

I'm still impressed by the fact that President Obama read it with his daughter and felt moved enough to send a note to Martel. Non-Canadians might not know of Martel's campaign, several years ago, to send books to then Prime Minister Stephen Harper. He never received a reply from the PM. I'm not sure what our current PM, Justin Trudeau reads, but I must say that I am very impressed with President Obama's annual reading lists!

121. A House in the Sky by Amanda Lindhout and Sara Corbett (4 stars)
Category: Other Non-fiction

Canadian Amanda Lindhout describes how her adventurous youth, backpacking in exotic locations around the world, led to her work as a journalist and eventually to her horrific ordeals as a hostage in Somalia. The narrative was thought-provoking, raising questions about whether governments or private citizens should give in to ransom demands (it is illegal to do so here in Canada) and what what responsibilities do governments and families have toward citizens who travel to dangerous regions. It also gave interesting insight into the Islamic faith, as interpreted and practiced by different people with whom Lindhout interacted.

This book was the "One Book, One Community" pick for our region and Lindhout made several appearances here a couple of weeks ago. Though I found her story of survival inspiring, I chose not to attend the events, as I'd also found her narrative extremely horrific and disturbing. I believe there was an enthusiastic turnout from other members of our community, though.

122. Morality for Beautiful Girls by Alexander McCall Smith (3.5 stars)
Category: Other Mysteries

This was another very enjoyable installment in the Mma Ramotswe series, in which she investigates a possible poisoning and deals with difficulties arising from Mr. J. L.B. Matekoni's health. I liked the larger role that her assistant Mma Makutsi plays in this story.

123. Hot Milk by Deborah Levy (3.5 stars)
Category: International Awards

Hot Milk is one of the six novels on this year's Man Booker shortlist. I didn't like it nearly as much as the critics did. I appreciated the passages of beautiful writing, the insightful observations and quirky characters, but I found the novel a little too surreal for my tastes. Also, having just finished My Name is Lucy Barton, another on the Booker longlist that did not appeal much to me, I was somewhat tired of introspective looks at dysfunctional mother-daughter relationships. Still, I wonder if there is more to this book that I missed on first reading.

124. A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny (4.5 stars)
Category: Other Mysteries

This latest mystery from Louise Penny has Armand Gamache coming out of retirement to head the Sureté Academy. Soon after he begins his new job, with Jean-Guy Beauvoir assisting him, one of the professors is found murdered, and links to Gamache's past are under scrutiny.

This mystery has all the quality I've come to expect of Louise Penny. I liked the mix of new characters, students and instructors at the Sureté Academy, with the familiar residents of Three Pines. I listened to the audiobook version of this novel, and while I am getting accustomed to Robert Bathurst's narration, I still miss the voice of the late Ralph Cosham for this series.

125. Wool by Hugh Howey (4.5 stars)
Category: Other Science Fiction and Fantasy

There is much that I love about this post-apocalyptic novel, in which a community of people live in a self-sufficient silo and where any mention of the outside world is taboo. The story is suspenseful, the setting is intriguing and the characters are multifaceted and complex. Though the novel is made up of several novellas, some of which had been published online, it felt like a coherent whole, and I look forward to reading the sequels Shift and Dust.

126. Last Light of the Sun by Guy Gavriel Kay (3.5 stars)
Category: Other Science Fiction and Fantasy

This novel is set in the same universe as Kay's superb duology, The Sarantine Mosaic, but at a much later time and presenting an alternate history based on the Viking invasion of Saxon England. I didn't like this as much as the Kay books I've read, as I just didn't seem to feel a strong connection to any of the characters as I usually do with his writing. However, a mediocre Kay book is still a very worthwhile read.

>92 mathgirl40: I've become a big fan of Linwood Barclay now. Yes, the plots tend to be far-fetched but he can really pull the reader in.

121. This was a recent read for me too. She seems to be much more forgiving than I would be. Her speaking engagements always get a good response. I was torn with the rating, I thought the first part relating her backpacking days was a bit too detailed.

>100 VivienneR: Glad to find another fan of Barclay. I've seen him in person, and he seems to be a very likable person.

I agree that the first part seemed overly long, since the book is supposedly about her experiences in Somalia. However, I found it quite interesting, as my older daughter likes to travel on her own and will often take risks (though nothing like the kind Lindhout chose) that worry me excessively. So it was interesting to read about Lindhout's motivations and mindset.

I'm thankful that my son is past the backpacking stage (now he climbs mountains!!). Every now and then he forgets himself and tells me about some incident that he has kept under wraps until now.

>102 VivienneR: Climbing mountains sounds pretty scary to me! Sometimes my daughter tells me stuff that I'd rather she had kept under wraps. :)

127. The Demonologist by Andrew Pyper (3.5 stars)
Category: Horror

The Demonologist tells the story of a professor specializing in Milton's works who battles against demons and other foes to rescue his daughter. I found the pacing in this work to be mixed. Some parts were suspenseful and exciting; others got bogged down in lengthy conversations about Milton and demonic lore. I've read three of Pyper's novels now, and despite the weaknesses of this one, I still like his writing very much.

I'm still behind in my reviews, so here, finally, is September's summary:

Books read: 15 out of 127 in all
Books off my shelf: 4 (out of 47 in all)
Favourites: The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer and Life of Pi by Yann Martel

I've been continuing to read books from the Man Booker and Ontario Library Association Evergreen awards shortlists. I'm looking forward to the Man Booker announcement next week!

128. The Obelisk Gate by N. K. Jemisin (4.5 stars)
Category: Other SFF

The first book in the Broken Earth trilogy, The Fifth Season, was absolutely stunning and fully deserved its Hugo Best Novel win. My expectations for this second book were probably unreasonably high. I might have given this novel 5 stars instead of 4.5, except that it didn't surprise me and shake me out of my comfort zone (in a good way) that the first one did. Now that I was accustomed to Jemisin's strange new world and the unusual narrative structure, The Obelisk Gate seemed more conventional. It's still an excellent story, beautifully written. On rereading (which I'll surely do sometime after the entire trilogy is done), I may very well push the rating up to a 5.

129. The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper (4 stars)
Category: Other SFF

This book seems to be the most well-known of Susan Cooper's young-adult fantasy novels, though it's actually the second in the Dark is Rising sequence. I actually liked the first one, Over Sea, Under Stone, a little better. This second book is darker, and while young Will Stanton is an interesting and complex character, I missed the engaging personalities of the children of the first book. Fortunately, I understand that they all come together in the sequels. If you enjoy fantasy inspired by Arthurian legend, then I highly recommend this series.

130. Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien (5 stars)
Category: International Awards

This is my favourite of the books I've read from the Booker longlist and the one I'm rooting for to win the prize next week. It's a saga involving two families that starts with the beginning of the Cultural Revolution in China and ends in modern-day Canada. The author shows how the Cultural Revolution affected classical music and musicians in China and does this through a very poignant story.

131. His Bloody Project by Graeme MacRae Burnet (4 stars)
Category: International Awards

This is a nice piece of historical fiction with an unorthodox structure. About the trial of a young man from a remote Scottish village who murders three members of a family, it is written in the style of a nonfiction true-crime story. A large part is made up of the murderer's own narrative, and this is supplemented by accounts of the court trial and other documents. Though this is on the Booker shortlist, I don't think it's a real contender for the prize. It's a very good read all the same.

132. Anne's House of Dreams by L. M. Montgomery (4 stars)
Category: Dust Collector

This installment in the Anne of Green Gables series features an older Anne, now a married woman, but her youthful enthusiasm still permeates the novel. I enjoyed the new setting of Four Winds, which is quite different from Avonlea, as well as the new characters: Leslie, Captain Jim and Miss Cornelia. I liked the fact that Leslie's story is a little darker than those we've seen in earlier novels, as it brings a little more realism to the Anne stories.

>110 mathgirl40: This one might be one of my favourites in the series.

I am adding Do Not Say We Have Nothing to my list, it will be one to think about for both the AwardsCat, the fact that the author is now Canadian is a bonus!

>111 rabbitprincess: I find it hard to choose a favourite from the series. There are some volumes I like more, just because of the fond memories of reading them in my youth.

>112 DeltaQueen50: Yes, the Canadian connection is a bonus, for sure. I was also pleased that one of the main characters is a Professor of Mathematics at Simon Fraser University, as I have worked with people affiliated with that department. :)

133. Spook Stories by E. F. Benson (3.5 stars)
Category: Horror
Challenges: RandomCAT

This is a nice collection of stories of the supernatural, perfect for Halloween themed reading. Most of these stories are of the haunted-house variety and involve small English houses or cottages in sleepy villages or out on the moors. I found the final one, "The Temple", about two archaeologists staying in a house that had been the site of ancient human-sacrifice rituals, quite chilling!

I need to get back to Harry Hole and I need to start Montalbano and I need more free time in which to read. And a Lear Jet. And a pony. If someone is handing them out... :)

>115 -Eva-: I hear you! I don't even care about the jet and pony (though they would be nice) ... just more reading time, please!

134. Punishment by Linden MacIntyre (4 stars)
Category: Canadian Awards

Set on the island of Cape Breton in Nova Scotia, this novel tells the story of a former prison guard at Kingston Penitentiary. Tony Breau returns to his childhood home and faces challenges that are connected to events and people from his childhood as well as from his time working in the prison system. This is a well-written and absorbing story that, through Tony's associations with lawyers, criminals, social workers and members of the police, looks at different elements of the justice system.

I've now read all 10 books from the Ontario Library Association's Evergreen list. My favourites were All Saints by K. D. Miller and They Left Us Everything by Plum Johnson. Our public library had a "Battle of the Books" event last week, in which local celebrities defended each of the 10 books and audience members got to vote for the best defense. Throughout this month, members of participating Ontario libraries can vote for their favourite book from the list, and we'll find out who wins in November. I really hope All Saints wins, as I think the author is seriously underrated!

135. Ghost Ship by Sharon Lee and Steve Martin (3.5 stars)
Category: Space Opera

In this installment of the Liaden Universe series, the Theo Waitley sequence finally converges with the main sequence of books started with Agent of Change. I actually started with the first two Theo books, and she is the Liaden character I like best, so I was happy to get back to her story. In this book, Theo gets to know her Korval family and works with an ancient sentient ship in an attempt to rescue her beloved.

>116 mathgirl40:
The odds of getting any of those are about the same.... :)

>119 -Eva-: Yes, it's sad, isn't it? Actually, now that my kids are growing up, I am getting more reading time. On the other hand, the more time I spend on LT, the longer my wishlist grows and the more books I collect on my shelves, so there's never really enough reading time.

136. Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen by Lois McMaster Bujold (4 stars)
Category: Space Opera

I was thrilled that Bujold finally wrote another Cordelia book in the Vorkosigan series, as I'd enjoyed the first two so much. This one has Cordelia embarking on new adventures with Oliver Jole, but not of the action-packed variety. Those looking for alien encounters or space battles will be disappointed. Instead, Bujold explores a number of ideas related to genetic engineering, reproductive technology and domestic relationships. There is romance and comedy, as well as minor roles played by Miles, Ekaterin and their children.

137. Eocene Station by Dave Duncan (3 stars)
Category: Other SFF

I really liked the time-travel premise (tourists and researchers going back to the Eocene Epoch) but disliked most of the characters, especially Tempest. Most were unpleasant with few redeeming qualities, and interactions between them felt unnatural. This surprised me, as I thought that Dave Duncan had done a good job with character development in other books of his that I'd read. I do like Duncan's writing, so I'd love to see another Eocene Station novel, but with a different cast of characters.

138. The Smell of the Night by Andrea Camilleri (3.5 stars)
Category: Other Mysteries

The plot of this 5th installment of the Inspector Montalbano series, concerning the disappearance of a fraudster, wasn't all that exciting or suspenseful. However, the humour, the glorious food descriptions and the wonderful personality of the politically incorrect Montalbano made this novel as entertaining as the previous ones.

139. Ghosts by Gaslight edited by Jack Dann and Nick Gevers (3.5 stars)
Category: Short Stories
Challenges: RandomCAT, SFFKIT

This is a collection of ghost stories with a steampunk flavour. Some have a strong steampunk element while others are simply traditional ghost stories with a Victorian setting. The anthology featured a few well-known authors (Peter S. Beagle, Garth Nix, Robert Silverberg and Gene Wolfe) but most were somewhat obscure authors from Australia and New Zealand. I actually liked that aspect, as I didn't know many SFF authors from that part of the world and was happy to discover new ones.

140. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark (4.5 stars)
Category: 1001 Books
Challenges: DeweyCAT

I'd read this decades ago, when I was a university student, and decided to do a reread when I found the book at a library sale. I like the compactness and unconventional nature of the story, and the characters -- the manipulative and charismatic Jean Brodie and the different members of the Brodie set -- are memorable. Spark conveys well the complex and varied relationships between students and teachers.

I've never seen the well-known film adaptation starring Maggie Smith, but I definitely want to see it. The cover of my book actually shows Geraldine McEwan of Miss Marple fame in a 1978 TV series adaptation.

141. Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson (4.5 stars)
Category: Doorstopper

At over 1000 pages, this second book in Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archive is truly a doorstopper, but I found the well-paced story fairly easy to get through. This novel continues the stories of Dalinar, Kaladin and Shallan, and brings together the storylines for these three main characters. Like the first book, this one featured terrific world-building, complex characters and intricate plots. I'm eagerly awaiting the third book!

Here is my October summary:

Books read: 14 out of 141 in all
Books off my shelf: 4 (out of 51 in all)
Favourite: Do Not Say We Have Nothing Madeleine Thien

My reading from 2017 awards lists is (temporarily) done for now. For November and December, I need to focus on reading older books from my shelves! Wish me luck and try not to throw too many book bullets my way .... :)

I'm terribly sad to hear that Leonard Cohen has passed away. I've always loved his music and just a month ago, I found one of his novels, The Favourite Game, in a Little Library and took it home with me.

I've had the great pleasure of seeing him twice in concert, both times in Kitchener, Ontario. His 2008 concert was incredible. He was in his 70's then and put on a first-rate three-hour show.

There are so many of his songs I love and so many brilliant lyrics, but I'll just write down a few lines from "Anthem":

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in

I think it's fitting that these lyrics are woven through a novel, How the Light Gets In, from another of my favourites, author Louise Penny.

If Cohen's gravelly voice doesn't appeal to you, I highly recommend the album "Famous Blue Raincoat", by Jennifer Warnes, one of his backup singers, who covered some of his best songs.

The loss of Leonard Cohen is a huge one, he has influenced so many other artists. I never got to see him live so I envy you that.

>129 DeltaQueen50: The concert was definitely memorable. He came across as both humble and full of humour. I grew up in Montreal and many of my old friends and acquaintances there took time off work on Friday to pay their respects outside his Montreal home.

142. Age of Ambition by Evan Osnos (5 stars)
Category: Other Non-fiction

This non-fiction work by journalist Evan Osnos, describing economic, social and political changes in China following the Cultural Revolution, is a fascinating read. Osnos provides the right balance in conveying information while involving the reader in personal stories. I also think he provides a reasonably balanced view, showing the terrible human-rights violations perpetrated by the government, but also trying to get the reader to understand the motivations for their actions and the history that led to them. I really enjoyed the stories of the various individuals, some from humble beginnings and facing tremendous challenges, who are trying to make their voices heard in the new China.

143. Ganymede by Cherie Priest (3.5 stars)
Category: Other SFF

This is the third novel in Priest's Clockwork Century series and involves a motley crew of rebels getting a submarine working while zombies lurk nearby. On the plus side, there are interesting characters, good alternative-history world-building, and nice exploration of steampunk technologies and use of other steampunk elements. However, the plot is rather slow and mostly linear. It didn't grab me as much as her first two books in this series did.

144. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell (5 stars)
Category: 1001 books

This intricately structured novel follows six stories from six different times and locations, the first in 1849 and the last in 2321. Though each story features different characters and settings, one flows into the next, with characters and themes tying the whole together.

This is one of the rare occasions where I'd watched the movie adaptation (twice) before reading the book. The film had received mixed reviews but I thought it was excellent. I loved the book just as much, which was no surprise as I had given 5-star reviews to two of Mitchell's other books, The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet and The Bone Clocks.

I particularly liked the extra bit in my edition where David Mitchell talks about the film version. He is very positive about the film and explains, from his vantage point, why and how it differs from the book. I found this one line especially intriguing: "Anyway, film adaptations of novels are sometimes prone to failure because they are not too faithless but too faithful: Why spend all that effort producing an audiobook with pictures?"

>133 mathgirl40: So glad you enjoyed this one. I was actually really glad I'd read the book before seeing the movie. Helped me understand what was going on most of the time. I've acquired a few more of his books but haven't gotten around to starting in on another one yet but I an see him being added to my favourite authors list when I do read a couple more.

>134 AHS-Wolfy: Well, I have to admit that the movie was very confusing the first time around. I still enjoyed it nonetheless, but the stories made a lot more sense the second time I watched it and much more so after I finished the book. I hope you enjoy Mitchell's other books. I'm looking forward to reading more of his books too.

He's one of those authors I just haven't gotten to yet. I think I have Cloud Atlas on my e-reader and may try to read it while on vacation next year.

>136 dudes22: It's a very absorbing book -- good for vacation reading!

145. The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants by Ann Brashares (3.5 stars)
Category: Dust Collector
Challenges: RandomCAT

YA Chick-Lit is really not my thing, but I've had this book in my house for years, since my older daughter had bought it as a preteen, and recently, it was chosen by another family for our parent-child book club (which I attend with my younger daughter). As YA romance goes, it's actually pretty good, if somewhat melodramatic. There are an interesting collection of personalities and many feel-good moments, but I'm not sure I'm invested enough to continue the series. For those of you who have read all the books, is it worthwhile continuing? I am, admittedly, curious about how the four teenagers develop into adults.

146. The Night Wanderer: A Graphic Novel by Drew Hayden Taylor (4 stars)
Category: Horror

This graphic novel, an adaptation of a full novel by the same name, is an unusual mix. Written by part-Ojibwa Canadian author Drew Hayden Taylor, it's a vampire novel with a gothic feel, as well as a coming-of-age story in a First Nations setting. I enjoyed the story and thought that the spare black-and-white artwork suited it well.

147. History's People: Personalities and the Past by Margaret MacMillan (3.5 stars)
Category: DeweyCAT

I had been thoroughly impressed by Margaret MacMillan's Paris 1919 when I'd read it earlier this year and so I picked up this collection of essays based on her 2015 CBC Massey Lectures. They are definitely informative and interesting, creating very vivid pictures of a number of historical figures, some well-known and some obscure but worth knowing about nonetheless. However, the volume as a whole seems unfocused and doesn't lead to any specific conclusions. Indeed, it seems like MacMillan chose a random collection of historical figures that she finds fascinating (and she even admits this, in a way). Still, these essays are a nice introduction to MacMillan if a big detailed volume like Paris 1919 seems daunting.

148. The Plague by Albert Camus (4 stars)
Category: Dust Collectors
Challenges: GeoCAT

The Plague follows the thoughts and actions of several people quarantined in an Algerian city during a plague. This book is different from many others with a similar premise in that it explores, not the global effects of the epidemic, but the changes in a few individuals' behaviours, priorities and views on life. There are many layers of meaning in this novel, which I find difficult to summarize or even comprehend adequately on first reading. It undoubtedly merits another reread some time in the future, though I hope it doesn't sit on my shelf for as long as it had the first time around. (It's in my Dust Collectors category because I had picked it up after having read The Stranger for my high school French class … over 30 years ago!)

I read The Plague in high school as well, or maybe sometime in university, but I'd like to reread it in French.

>142 rabbitprincess: I too would have liked to read The Plague in French, but my French has gotten very rusty since high school.

149. The Twenty-Three by Linwood Barclay (4.5 stars)
Category: Finish That Series!

This is the third and final book in Linwood Barclay's Promise Falls trilogy. There are a crazy number of characters and subplots, but Barclay manages to pull them all together in a very satisfying conclusion. It was really tough to put this book down once I started reading. I don't recommend reading this novel as a standalone; it really needs the groundwork laid out in the first two books, Broken Promise and Far From True.

I do hope Barclay continues to write more novels set in Promise Falls. Even though I'm happy with the conclusion of this particular story, I'm not ready to let go of the characters yet!

Sounds like I should read this trilogy.

>145 LittleTaiko: If you do, I'd love to hear what you think of it. I'm a big fan of Linwood Barclay!

150. The Secret History by Donna Tartt (5 stars)
Category: 1001 books
Challenges: RandomCAT

I absolutely loved this book, certainly as much as I did Tartt's The Goldfinch, which I'd read last year. The Secret History was creepy and suspenseful, but also erudite and beautifully written. The various characters are fascinating, complex and memorable. Tartt shows two interesting things: how easily it is for a person, even an intelligent and educated one, to fall under the influence of a charismatic personality, and how easily one can rationalize and render mundane actions that might be considered horrific.

151. Heligoland by Shena Mackay (3 stars)
Category: Miscellaneous

I have mixed feelings about this book. It's a quiet, slow-moving story, about a woman who has never fit in well anywhere and now tries to do so in her new home, among a group of quirky individuals. Mackay's writing is really beautiful. It sometimes feels pretentious and overly clever, but perhaps that's just for this particular story. I'd be interested in reading more of her work.

152. Children of Earth and Sky by Guy Gavriel Kay (3.5 stars)
Category: Other SFF

I'm sad to say that I didn't love this book. Maybe my expectations were too high, as GGK is one of my favourite authors. I thought the Sarantine Mosaic duology was brilliant, but in this novel, the character development seems weak in comparison. Perhaps I've OD'd on GGK, as I'd read the duology and The Last Light of the Sun all in the past year, and aspects of Children of Earth and Sky seemed repetitive. Despite these complaints, it's still a very good story with some beautiful moments, so I wouldn't discourage anyone from reading it. I suppose I've just been spoiled with Tigana and Lord of Emperors.

153. Lumberjanes: Beware the Kitten Holy by Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis, Shannon Watters and Brooke A. Allen (3.5 stars)
Category: Graphic Novels

This collection included the first four issues of the Lumberjanes comic series. I really liked the premise of five female campers, all with striking personalities, at a summer camp and encountering supernatural experiences. The stories were fun, quirky and over-the-top at times. I thought they were good, though not great, but I guess I should reserve judgement until I've read more from the series. Fortunately, I have the next couple of volumes, all bought as part of a Humble Bundle offer last year.

<150> - I have this somewhere and keep meaning to get to it. I read her book The Little Friend quite a while ago( I see). And I've heard other good things about it too.

>151 dudes22: I've heard mixed reviews about The Little Friend, but I like Tartt's writing so much that I'll definitely read it.

154. Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (4 stars)
Category: Horror

I did not like this book, a vampire story set in Mexico City, quite as much as Silvia Moreno-Garcia's first novel, Signal to Noise, but I thought it was very good nonetheless. This one is aptly named as it is indeed very dark. I particularly liked how the author incorporated Mexican folklore into the vampire tribes' background stories. I've read a good number of vampire novels and thought this one brought something new to the genre.

155. 1634: The Baltic War by Eric Flint and David Weber (3.5 stars)
Category: Doorstopper
Challenges: SFFKIT

My feelings about this book and indeed, this series, are mixed. The writing is workmanlike, the dialogue is occasionally terrible, some of the characters seem more like caricatures and I find the detailed descriptions of military weaponry dull. On the other hand, I love the vast array of people, places and events the series covers and the alternate-history aspects. It's great fun to speculate about how modern-day American people interact with 17th century Europeans and how both groups adapt to different ideas and technologies.

This particular book is a continuation of the stories introduced in 1633, and I really would not recommend it as a starting point for this series. I'd suggest starting with 1632, which is free at Amazon and Baen's (the publisher's) site.

156. The Delicate Storm by Giles Blunt (4 stars)
Category: Other Mysteries

This is the second book in the John Cardinal series, in which he and partner Lise Delorme investigate a murder that may have connections to the October Crisis. This story, like the first in this series, Forty Words for Sorrow, is dark and violent, but I really appreciate the quality of Blunt's writing.

I'm not sure if the October Crisis of 1970, when the separatist FLQ group kidnapped and murdered a cabinet minister, is known by many outside of Canada. I was very young when it happened, but I grew up in its wake and it was a big part of every history curriculum in Québec schools. It was this event that led Pierre Trudeau (our current Prime Minister's father) to say the infamous phrase "Just watch me" when asked how far he'd go. Shortly after, he invoked the War Measures Act, a very controversial move as it limited civil liberties. I liked very much how Blunt incorporated the details of this historic event into the present-day mystery.

Here is my November summary:

Number of books read: 15 (total for the year is 156)
Books off my shelf: 9 (total for the year is 60)
Favourites: Age of Ambition, The Secret History and Cloud Atlas

It was a very good reading month for me. Not only did I finish several exceptionally good books but I also managed to read 9 older books off my shelves. For December, I need to read 10 more from my shelves to make my goal of 70 for the year! This may be cheating, but I'm browsing through my graphic novels, novellas and other shorter works to reach the goal. I also need to finish only one more work, in the Non-fiction category, to complete my challenge.

157. The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood (4.5 stars)
Category: Miscellaneous
Challenges: SFFKIT

This is the second book in Atwood's MaddAddam trilogy. It's not so much a sequel to Oryx and Crake as it is a parallel story. This was a reread for me, and I liked it even better than I did the first time. Now that I've read the entire MaddAddam trilogy, I appreciate better how everything fits together. Also, in not rushing through the story to find out what happens, I have a better appreciation of the subtle bits of humour (as well as the not-so-subtle ones) throughout the book. Atwood really is a master of satire.

158. Fatal Voyage by Kathy Reichs (3.5 stars)
Category: Other Mysteries

In this installment of the Temperance Brennan series, forensic anthropologist Brennan investigates an airline disaster but uncovers more remains than she'd expected. I find the author's description of Brennan's professional activities, including the many scientific details, the most interesting aspect of this novel and others in the series.

159. The Alchemist by Paolo Bacigalupi (4 stars)
Category: Other SFF

I've read several of Paolo Bacigalupi's other works and liked them very much. I appreciate the quality of his writing and the care he takes in his world-building. This book is a shorter novella-length work about an alchemist that tries to fight against a fast-growing bramble, fed by the people's use of magic, that threatens to engulf his city.

I liked the Montreal-set earlier installments of the Tempe Brennan series better than the later ones.

>159 mathgirl40: I also love his books (and saying his name out loud).

>160 rabbitprincess: I'd have to agree with you there, but I'm biased as I grew up in Montreal.

>161 mamzel: My book club did one of his books and we all got our tongues twisted trying to say his name!

160. A Sleeping Life by Ruth Rendell (3.5 stars)
Category: Other Mysteries

I enjoyed this Inspector Wexford mystery, but the treatment of the Women's Liberation theme, which permeated the book through Wexford's interactions with his unhappy daughter, made the novel seem a little dated. Otherwise, the plot had some nice twists that kept me guessing until the end.

Taking the morning to play catch-up on all the threads in the group.

I see you have been reading a lot of great books, with very few "clunkers". Sorry to see the Strout book My Name is Lucy Barton was one of those clunkers, but like you, I struggle when the narrator is too needy a personality. If you get a chance, I can highly recommend the recent (2015 I believe) BBC miniseries adaptation of Jamaica Inn. Really well done! Like you, it is for Flavia that I love Bradley's mystery series so much.

>164 lkernagh: Thanks for the miniseries recommendation. I'll definitely plan to borrow a copy of this DVD from my library.

161. Villette by Charlotte Bronte (4 stars)
Category: Classics and 1001 Books
Challenges: GeoCAT

This is a thoughtful, slow-moving story about an English woman teaching at a school in the French town of Villette. What I liked best is how we really get into the mind of Lucy Snowe and see her surroundings and acquaintances through her observant (but occasionally prejudiced) eyes. Lucy is a self-reliant and courageous woman who sees through the pretensions of others. I didn't like the portrayals of supporting characters as much, as they sometimes fell victim to cliches and stereotypes. This novel is worth reading but is certainly not another Jane Eyre.

162. Flood of Fire by Amitav Ghosh (5 stars)
Category: DeweyCAT

This conclusion to the Ibis trilogy left me completely satisfied, with all subplots resolved in a believable, if not always happy way. As a whole, the Ibis trilogy covers the First Opium War and the events leading up to it, and ends with the transfer of Hong Kong to the British. The story moves through India, China, Singapore and Macau and features a large variety of characters with different religious, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. It is the interaction among the various people, including the vibrant dialogue, that I liked best.

There are so many interesting foreign words, including those from the pidgin English spoken by the characters, appearing in this trilogy. As a Star Trek fan, I was pleasantly surprised to find the words jemadar and ferengi in the novel. (The latter word was spelled differently in Ghosh's book, but I can't recall the exact spelling.)

I highly recommend this trilogy to anyone who loves long, sprawling works of historical fiction in exotic locations.

163. I am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley (4.5 stars)
Category: Other Mysteries
Group reads: Christmas Mysteries

This fourth book in Alan Bradley's series featuring the precocious Flavia de Luce is the perfect Christmas mystery. Buckshaw, Flavia's family manor, is invaded by a film crew that includes a number of famous actors. When murder occurs, Flavia puts her investigative and chemistry skills to good use. This story is a nice take on the traditional English country house mystery and I thoroughly enjoyed Flavia's wry observations on the Christmas traditions.

164. Murder in Little Italy by Victoria Thompson (3.5 stars)
Category: Mysteries Around the World (US)

This is my first time reading one of Victoria Thompson's novels. Even though this book is from the middle of the series, I found it worked very well as a standalone. In this story, midwife Sarah Brandt gets involved with the Italian and Irish communities of turn-of-the-century New York City, when she investigates the death of a young mother. I enjoyed it and will certainly read more from this series.

165. The Universe Within by Neil Turok (4 stars)
Category: Other Non-fiction

This volume, small but dense with information, consists of 5 essays based on Neil Turok's Massey Lectures. The Massey Lectures are an annual event in Canada featuring distinguished speakers lecturing on political, cultural or philosophical subjects.

Neil Turok is a physicist, from South Africa originally, but now the director of the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics here in my city. When he first arrived, I recall one of my friends squealing, "A rock star just moved onto my street!" It took me a moment to realize she was talking about a physicist, not a musician.

In these lectures, Turok's theme is the role of science within society and he covers a wide range of ideas, from the early history of cosmology to efforts in increasing scientific participation among underrepresented groups. However, there are many lengthy passages describing relativity, quantum mechanics and other physics concepts. These may be hard going for those without a science background. On the other hand, it's possible to skim over the more technical details and still appreciate the main ideas that Turok tries to convey.

Have a great Christmas. I'm looking forward to all the BBs that 2017 will bring me from your thread!

>171 DeltaQueen50: Thank you, Judy! I look forward to following your reading in 2017 too.

>167 mathgirl40: Hee hee, ferengi :)

Merry Christmas! I hope there are good books waiting for you under the tree!

>173 rabbitprincess: Thanks! There were no books under the tree but I found gift certificates for my favourite bookstores, so Santa was good to me!

I hope all my LT friends are having a good winter break and enjoying time with friends and family.

166. Rounding the Mark by Andrea Camilleri (4 stars)
Category: Other Mysteries

I thought that this 7th installment of the Inspector Montalbano series strikes a good balance between the lighthearted humour usually present in the series and the more serious and sombre theme of human trafficking. In this story, a little boy who is an illegal immigrant loses his life and Montalbano investigates the cause, while wondering if he could have prevented the tragedy.

167. Blackfly Season by Giles Blunt (4 stars)
Category: Other Mysteries

This is the third book in the John Cardinal and Lise Delorme series set in Northern Ontario. I thought the plot, which involved an amnesiac patient, drug-dealing gangs and voodoo practices, was a little over the top. However, Blunt is such a good writer that I found the novel a pleasure to read, from the first word to the last. His descriptions of Cardinal's struggles to help his manic-depressive wife are truly heartbreaking.

>169 mathgirl40: The Victoria Thompson gaslight series is one of the better historical fiction cozy series with an American setting.

>177 thornton37814: Thanks for the confirmation. I'll be looking for more of these books.

168. Light in a Dark House by Jan Costin Wagner (3.5 stars)
Category: Mysteries Around the World

This is the fourth book in the Inspector Kimmo Joentaa series set in Finland. The story revolves around an unknown woman murdered in her hospital bed. More seemingly unrelated murders follow and Joentaa must figure out the connecting factors. I found this novel a well-plotted and suspenseful story, though it is relentlessly bleak.

169. The Poison Eaters by Holly Black (3.5 stars)
Category: Short Stories

This collection of short stories was part of a Humble Book Bundle I'd bought some time ago. Reading this volume confirmed that not only are the Humble Bundles excellent value but they are terrific for trying out new authors. The quality of the stories is mixed, with some mediocre and a few exceptionally good, but Black's writing is certainly good enough that I will seek out more of her work. These stories fall mainly in the fantasy realm, with a good number inspired by traditional fairy tales, but most are quite dark. I liked "The Poison Eaters" and "The Coat of Stars" best.

>181 VivienneR: Thank you!

170. High Spirits by Robertson Davies (3.5 stars)
Category: Short Stories

While I love everything that Robertson Davies has written, I'd recommend this collection of stories with reservations. Davies was Master of Massey College at the University of Toronto for 17 years. Each of those years, he entertained the guests of the college's annual Christmas celebration with a ghost story, and they are all collected in this volume.

The stories are charming and humorous, rather than scary. However, there are a lot of inside jokes which require some knowledge of the university, Toronto and Canadian history to appreciate fully. I'm sure I missed a great many of them, despite my having some familiarity with the University of Toronto. Also, I can imagine that these stories were much more entertaining told aloud by Davies himself than read from the printed page. I had the great pleasure of seeing him once at a reading about 25 years ago and he was a very entertaining speaker.

171. A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley (4 stars)
Category: Other non-fiction

My final book of the year is a memoir by an Indian boy who got separated from his family at age 5 and was eventually adopted by his Australian family. This story relates his journey and his eventual reunion with his birth family. This book was recently made into the film, Lion.

This book is heartwarming and inspiring, and I found Saroo Brierley's search methods really interesting. This was a great book with which to end the year, as it shows, as all of us here at LibraryThing already knows, how the Internet can bring people together!

December summary:

Number of books read: 15 (total for the year is 171)
Books off my shelf: 10 (total for the year is 70)
Favourite: Flood of Fire by Amitav Ghosh

December was a month for mysteries. Even though my favourite book of the month was historical fiction, I finished 7 mysteries during the month, ranging from cozy to dark.

Year-end summary

I'm very pleased that I met both my challenge goals (5 books in each category and 70 books off my shelves), though I didn't complete these until the final week of the year!

It was a great year for reading, with 171 books read. A number of these were shorter novellas and graphic novels, but I also finished a decent number in my "Doorstopper" category.

I tried to make a top-10 list but couldn't decide on which one to cut from this list, so here are my favourite 11 books of the year, in no particular order:

Flood of Fire by Amitav Ghosh
The Tsar of Love and Techno by Anthony Marra
Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien
Age of Ambition by Evan Osnos
All That Man Is by David Szalay
The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin
Memory and Dream by Charles de Lint
Fifth Business by Robertson Davies
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

My next few days will be busy with visiting family and travelling, so I might not get around to starting my 2017 thread until the end of the week. However, rest assured I will be around for the 2017 challenge! I'm also planning to spend a few more days here in the 2016 group catching up with other members' threads.

Thanks to all my LT friends who have contributed to this thread with interesting comments, good wishes, useful recommendations and enthusiastic encouragement! It's all of you that make reading and discussing books such an enjoyable and fulfilling activity. Happy New Year!

Congrats on meeting both your challenge goals! :D

>187 rabbitprincess: Thanks! See you over in the 2017 group.