inge87's 16-in-16, Part III: A Gallery of Beauties

The Gallery of Beauties (Schönheitengalerie) is a collection of paintings at Nymphenburg Palace in Munch consisting of 36 portraits of local lovelies created for King Ludwig I of Bavaria. It's a kind of hall of fame for early 19th century Munich women. I like to think that there are lots of beauties of a different sort in this thread. So here's to round three of 16-in-16!

2016 Categories
1. Robert Southwell: Classic Fiction (pre-1920)
2. The Inklings: Fantasy
3. Mary Chesnut: General Biography/Memoir
4. Naoko Takeuchi: Graphic Novels and Non-Fiction
5. Gertrud von Le Fort: Historical Fiction
6. Bede the Venerable: History
7. Dorothy L. Sayers: Mysteries
8. Fra Angelico: Other Non-Fiction
9. Beatrix Potter: Picture Books
10. George Mackay Brown: Recent Fiction (1970 onward)
11. Dominic de Guzmán: Religion
12. Élisabeth Leseur: Religious Biography/Memoir
13. Mary Stewart: Retro Fiction (1920-1969)
14. Gregor Mendel: Science
15. Herodotus: Travel
16. Frances Hodgson Burnett: YA/Juvenile Fiction

Symbol Key
* = re-read
+ = owned at least a year and still unread (Mt. TBR)
^ = foreign language book

1. Robert Southwell: Classic Fiction (pre-1920)

1. An Alphabet of Saints by Robert Hugh Benson - 1905 (4)
2. Lord of the World by Robert Hugh Benson - 1907 (4)
3. The Dawn of All by Robert Hugh Benson - 1911 (4)
4. Peacock Pie: A Book of Rhymes by Walter de la Mare - 1913 (4)
5. Saga of the Jómsvíkings by Anonymous+ - 13th century (3)
6. The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare - 1598 (3)
7. The Way of an Eagle by Ethel M. Dell+ - 1911 (3)
8. The Georgics by Publius Vergilius Maro - 29 BC (3)
9. The Poetical Works of Rupert Brooke by Rupert Brooke - 1904-15 (3)
10. The Good Comrade by Una L. Silberrad* - 1907 (4)
11. Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog) by Jerome K. Jerome - 1889 (3)
12. Daniel Deronda by George Eliot - 1876 (3)
13. The Frogs by Aristophanes - 405 BC (3)

2. The Inklings: Fantasy – COMPLETED 3/19

1. Sweep in Peace by Ilona Andrews (3)
2. Wickedly Dangerous by Deborah Blake (3)
3. Survival by Julie E. Czerneda+ (4)
4. Migration by Julie E. Czerneda+ (4)
5. Regeneration by Julie E. Czerneda+ (4)
6. Dreaming Death by J. Kathleen Cheney (4)
7. Winterwood by Jacey Bedford (3)
8. Moon Called by Patricia Briggs (4)
9. Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs (3)
10. Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs (3)
11. Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs (3)
12. Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs (3)
13. River Marked by Patricia Briggs (2)
14. Perelandra by C. S. Lewis (3)
15. Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs (3)
16. The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien (4)
17. The Silver Bough by Lisa Tuttle (2)
18. Whatever Else by J. Kathleen Cheney (3)
19. The Golden City by J. Kathleen Cheney* (5)
20. The Seat of Magic by J. Kathleen Cheney* (4)
21. The Shores of Spain by J. Kathleen Cheney* (3)
22. The Seer's Choice by J. Kathleen Cheney (3)
23. After the War by J. Kathleen Cheney (4)
24. A Thousand Words for Stranger by Julie E. Czerneda (4)
25. Arabella of Mars by David D. Levine (5)
26. The Sparrow in Hiding by J. Kathleen Cheney (3)
27. Emissary by Melissa McShane (3)
28. Burning Bright by Melissa McShane (3)

3. Mary Chesnut: General Biography/Memoir – COMPLETED 11/24

1. Outwitting History: The Amazing Adventures of a Man Who Rescued a Million Yiddish Books by Aaron Lansky (4)
2. Marked for Death: Islam's War Against the West and Me by Geert Wilders (3)
3. Mary's Monster by Ruth Van Ness Blair (4)
4. Locally Laid: How We Built a Plucky, Industry-changing Egg Farm from Scratch by Lucie B. Amundsen (3)
5. Pretty-shield: Medicine Woman of the Crows by Frank B. Linderman+ (4)
6. The Quest for Shakespeare by Joseph Pearce (4)
7. Richard II: A Brittle Glory by Laura Ashe (3)
8. The Gardener of Versailles: My Life in the World's Grandest Garden by Alain Baraton (3)
9. The Art Deco Murals of Hildreth Meière by Catherine Coleman Brawer (4)
10. For the Glory: Eric Liddell's Journey from Olympic Champion to Modern Martyr by Duncan Hamilton (4)
11. Evelyn Waugh: Portrait of a Country Neighbor by Frances Donaldson (3)
12. Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J. D. Vance (5)

4. Naoko Takeuchi: Graphic Novels and Non-Fiction – COMPLETED 12/29

1. Library Wars: Love & War, Volume 1 by Kiiro Yumi (3)
2. Girl in Dior by Annie Goetzinger (2)
3. The Comic Book Story of Beer: The World's Favorite Beverage from 7000 BC to Today's Craft Brewing Revolution by Jonathan Hennessey, Mike Smith, & Aaron McConnell (3)
4. A Bride's Story, Volume 2 by Kaoru Mori (4)
5. Karl I: The Emperor of Peace by Marcel Uderzo and Marc Bourgne (5)
6. Cardcaptor Sakura Omnibus, Book 1 by Clamp (2)
7. Trinity: A Graphic History of the First Atomic Bomb by Jonathan Fetter-Vorm (5)
8. Boxers by Gene Luen Yang (3)
9. Saints by Gene Luen Yang (4)
10. The Vanished Path: A Graphic Travelogue by Bharath Murthy (2)
11. Fresh Romance, Volume 1 by Janelle Asselin (ed.) (3)
12. Fatherland: A Family History by Nina Bunjevac (3)

5. Gertrud von Le Fort: Historical Fiction – COMPLETED 9/11

1. Laurus by Eugene Vodolazkin (4)
2. The Quiet Gentleman by Georgette Heyer* (4)
3. Black Sheep by Georgette Heyer* (4)
4. The Unknown Ajax by Georgette Heyer* (4)
5. With This Curse by Amanda DeWees (3)
6. Cursed Once More by Amanda DeWees (2)
7. A Man for All Seasons by Robert Bolt* (5)
8. A Civil Contract by Georgette Heyer* (4)
9. Venetia by Georgette Heyer* (5)
10. Harrington by Maria Edgeworth* (3)
11. Sir Thomas More by Anthony Munday et al. (3)
12. The Morning Gift by Eva Ibbotson (3)
13. Nocturne for a Widow by Amanda DeWees (3)
14. Margaret the Queen by Nigel Tranter (2)

6. Bede the Venerable: History – COMPLETED 10/1

1. Murder by Candlelight: The Gruesome Slayings Behind Our Romance with the Macabre by Michael Knox Beran (4)
2. The Gates of Europe: A History of Ukraine by Serhii Plokhy (5)
3. Mesa of Sorrows: A History of the Awat'ovi Massacre by James F. Brooks (4)
4. Strangers Below: Primitive Baptists and American Culture by Joshua Guthman (3)
5. Encounters at the Heart of the World: A History of the Mandan People by Elizabeth A. Fenn (4)
6. Mexican Martyrdom: Firsthand Accounts of the Religious Persecution in Mexico 1926-1935 by Wildrid Parsons (4)
7. Homeschool: An American History by Milton Gaither (3)
8. The Seasons: A Celebration of the English Year by Nick Groom (4)
9. Ad Infinitum: A Biography of Latin by Nicholas Ostler+ (3)
10. Dieser Friede by Thomas Mann^ (4)
11. Rising Road: A True Tale of Love, Race, and Religion in America by Sharon Davies (4)
12. Fashioning the Body: An Intimate History of the Silhouette by Denis Bruna (Ed.)+ (4)
13. Classical Literature: An Epic Journey from Homer to Virgil and Beyond by Richard Jenkyns (4)
14. The Victorian Age in Literature by G. K. Chesterton (3)
15. A History of Modern Oman by Jeremy Jones & Nicholas Ridout (3)

7. Dorothy L. Sayers: Mysteries – COMPLETED 5/30

1. Quick Curtain by Alan Melville (3)
2. Death of an Airman by Christopher St. John Sprigg (4)
3. In the Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming (4)
4. A Fountain Filled with Blood by Julia Spencer-Fleming (3)
5. Out of the Deep I Cry by Julia Spencer-Fleming (5)
6. Thirteen Guests by J. Jefferson Farjeon (4)
7. Winter at the Door by Sarah Graves (3)
8. The Girls She Left Behind by Sarah Graves (3)
9. Death on the Cherwell by Mavis Doriel Hay (3
10. Gaudy Night by Dorothy L. Sayers* (5)
11. Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers (3)
12. Unnatural Death by Dorothy L. Sayers (3)
13. A Girl Like You by Michelle Cox (5)
14. The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club by Dorothy L. Sayers (3)
15. Strange Gods by Annamaria Alfieri (3)
16. Murder of a Lady by Anthony Wynne (4)
17. A Deadly Thaw by Sarah Ward (4)
18. Aunty Lee's Delights by Ovidia Yu (3)
19. Serpents in Eden: Countryside Crimes by Martin Edwards (Ed.) (3)
20. Murder for Christmas by Francis Duncan (3)

8. Fra Angelico: Other Non-Fiction – COMPLETED 6/18

1. The White Stag by Kate Seredy (2)
2. The Big Thicket: A Challenge for Conservation by Pete Gunter (4)
3. I Want to Get Married!: One Wannabe Bride's Misadventures with Handsome Houdinis, Technicolor Grooms, Morality Police, and Other Mr. Not Quite Rights by Ghada Abdel Aal (3)
4. Books Make A Home: Elegant Ideas for Storing and Displaying Books by Damian Thompson (3)
5. The Abolition of Man by C. S. Lewis (4)
6. C. S. Lewis for the Third Millennium: Six Essays on the Abolition of Man by Peter Kreeft (4)
7. Humanist Educational Treatises by Craig W. Kallendorf (ed.) (4)
8. Essays Ancient and Modern by T. S. Eliot (4)
9. The Lady in the Blue Cloak: Legends from the Texas Missions by Eric A. Kimmel & Susan Guevara (3)
10. Viking Legacy: Scandinavian Influence on the English Language by John Geipel (3)
11. First Catiline Oration by Cicero^ (4)
12. The Ring of Words: Tolkien and the Oxford English Dictionary by Peter Gilliver, Jeremy Marshall, & Edmund Wiener* (4)
13. Consider This: Charlotte Mason and the Classical Tradition by Karen Glass (4)
14. The Devil Knows Latin: Why America Needs the Classical Tradition by E. Christian Kopff+ (3)
15. Life Under Compulsion: Ten Ways to Destroy the Humanity of Your Child by Anthony Esolen (5)
16. Dutch Bulbs and Gardens by Una L. Silberrad (3)
17. An Experiment in Criticism by C. S. Lewis (3)
18. Shakespeare the Papist by Peter Milward, SJ (3)
19. A Love Letter to Texas Women by Sarah Bird (3)
20. How to Be a Texan: The Manual by Andrea Valdez (3)

9. Beatrix Potter: Picture Books – COMPLETED 2/14

1. The Pied Piper of Peru by Ann Tompert (2)
2. Martín de Porres: The Rose in the Desert by Gary D. Schmidt (5)
3. Knots on a Counting Rope by Bill Martin, Jr. (4)
4. B is for Bear: A Natural Alphabet by Hannah Viano (3)
5. Americanine: A Haute Dog in New York by Yann Kebbi (4)
6. Saint Nicholas and the Nine Gold Coins by Jim Forest (4)
7. The Easter Chick by Géraldine Elschner (4)
8. The Nativity by Géraldine Elschner (3)
9. Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick (5)
10. Saints for Girls: A First Book for Little Catholic Girls by Susan Weaver et al. (4)
11. I Sing a Song of the Saints of God by Lesbia Scott (4)
12. The Miracle of Saint Nicholas by Gloria Whelan (4)
13. Joseph and Chico: The Life of Pope Benedict XVI as Told by a Cat by Jeanne Perego (3)
14. I'm in Charge of Celebrations by Byrd Baylor (3)
15. A Time to Keep: The Tasha Tudor Book of Holidays by Tasha Tudor (3)
16. Easter: The Passion and Resurrection by Géraldine Elschner (4)
17. The Egg Tree by Katherine Milhous (3)
18. The Blue Whale by Jenni Desmond (4)
19. S is for Salmon: A Pacific Northwest Alphabet by Hannah Viano (3)
20. Shackleton's Journey by William Grill (3)
21. Wandering Whale Sharks by Susumu Shingu (4)
22. Neighborhood Sharks: Hunting with the Great Whites of California's Farallon Islands by Katherine Roy (4)
23. Time of Wonder by Robert McCloskey (3)
24. Song of the Swallows by Leo Politti (4)
25. The White Cat and the Monk: A Retelling of the Poem "Pangur Bán" by Jo Ellen Bogart & Sydney Smith (4)
26. A Fine Dessert: Four Centuries, Four Families, One Delicious Treat by Emily Jenkins & Sophie Blackall (5)
27. The Wolves of Currumpaw by William Grill (4)
28. Sonya's Chickens by Phoebe Wahl (5)
29. Of Bells and Cells: The World of Monks, Friars, Sisters and Nuns by M. Cristina Borges (5)
30. Confederate Night Before Christmas by Mark Vogl (3)

10. George Mackay Brown: Recent Fiction (1970 onward) – COMPLETED 6/11


1. Black-Eyed Susans by Julia Heaberlin - 2015 (3)
2. Friction by Sandra Brown - 2015 (3)
3. The Gentle Traditionalist: A Catholic Fairy-Tale from Ireland by Roger Buck - 2015 (4)
4. Wild Hearts by Sharon Sala - 2015 (3)
5. Cold Hearts by Sharon Sala - 2015 (3)
6. Deep in the Valley by Robyn Carr - 2000 (3)
7. Just over the Mountain by Robyn Carr - 2002 (3)
8. Down by the River by Robyn Carr - 2003 (2)
9. Elijah in Jerusalem by Michael O'Brien - 2015 (3)
10. The Walled Garden: Poems by Andrew Thornton-Norris - 2015 (2)
11. The Paradise Project by Suzie Andres - 2015 (3)
12. Cosmas, or the Love of God by Pierre de Calan* - 1977 (4)
13. First Star I See Tonight by Susan Elizabeth Phillips - 2016 (3)
14. Turbulent Covenant by Jessica Steele - 1980 (3)
15. Submerged by Dani Pettrey - 2012 (2)

11. Dominic de Guzmán: Religion – COMPLETED 3/27 (Easter)

1. The Reign of Christ the King by Michael Davies (3)
2. Corpus Christi: Holy Communion and the Renewal of the Church by Athanasius Schneider (3)
3. The Crucified Rabbi: Judaism and the Origins of Catholic Christianity by Taylor Marshall (3)
4. You by Fulton Sheen (4)
5. Conversation with Christ: The Teaching of St. Teresa of Avila about Personal Prayer by Peter Thomas Rohrbach (4)
6. Friends of God: Homilies by Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer (3)
7. Mit brennender Sorge by Pope Pius XI^ (4)
8. On Pascha by Melito of Sardis+ (4)
9. A Short History of the Roman Mass by Michael Davies (3)
10. The Seven Last Words by Fulton Sheen (3)
11. The Sadness of Christ by St. Thomas More+ (3)
12. The House of Gold: Lenten Sermons by Bede Jarrett, OP (5)
13. Interior Freedom by Jacques Philippe (4)
14. How to Converse with God by St. Alphonsus Liguori (4)
15. The Divine Romance by Fulton Sheen (3)
16. On the Admirability of the Virgin Theotokos by St. Lawrence of Brindisi (3)
17. Von heiligen Zeichen by Romano Guardini^ (4)
18. Mantilla: The Veil of the Bride of Christ by Anna Elissa (4)
19. Without Roots: The West, Relativism, Christianity, Islam by Joseph Ratzinger & Marcello Pera* (4)
20. The Heliand by Anonymous+ (4)
21. Mary, the Second Eve by John Henry Cardinal Newman (4)

12. Élisabeth Leseur: Religious Biography/Memoir – COMPLETED 5/8

1. Saint Martin de Porres and the Mice by Eva K. Betz (4)
2. Blessed Bishop Nicholas Charnetsky, C.SS.R. and Companions: Modern Martyrs of the Ukrainian Catholic Church by John Sianchuk (3)
3. A Story Of St. John Vianney by Brother Ernest, C.S.C. (3)
4. Demeter and Persephone: Homeric Hymn Number Two by Homer & Penelope Proddow (4)
5. Saint Germaine and the Sheep by Eva K. Betz (3)
6. Saint Athanasius by F. A. Forbes (3)
7. St. Margaret Clitherow by Margaret T. Monro (3)
8. Saint Pius V by Robin Anderson (4)
9. A Procession of Saints by James Brodrick, SJ (4)
10. Mother Elisabeth: The Resurgence of the Order of Saint Birgitta by Marguerite Tjader (2)
11. Saint Colum and the Crane by Eva K. Betz (3)
12. Blessed Miguel Pro: 20th-Century Mexican Martyr by Ann Ball (3)
13. Vom heiligen Bonifatius den Kindern erzählt by Georg Schwikart^ (4)
14. The Curé of Ars: Patron Saint of Parish Priests by Fr. Bartholomew J. O'Brien (4)
15. Radical Love by Toni Greaves (4)
16. The Life of Padre Pio: Between the Altar and the Confessional by Gennaro Preziuso (3)
17. Laurentius von Brindisi: Apostel auf den Straßen Europas by Niklaus Kuster^ (4)
18. Hope for the World: To Unite All Things in Christ by Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke (4)
19. Positively Medieval: The Surprising, Dynamic, Heroic Church of the Middle Ages by Jamie Blosser (3)

13. Mary Stewart: Retro Fiction (1920-1969) – COMPLETED 11/13

1. The Moon-Spinners by Mary Stewart - 1962 (3)
2. The Z Murders by J. Jefferson Farjeon - 1932 (3)
3. Dshamilja by Chinghiz Aitmatov+^ - 1958 (3)
4. Last Poems by A. E. Houseman - 1922 (4)
5. Charlotte Cross and Aunt Deb by May Hollis Barton* - 1931 (4)
6. Pastoral by Nevil Shute - 1944 (4)
7. The Persimmon Tree and Other Stories by Marjorie Barnard* - 1943 (3)
8. Airs Above the Ground by Mary Stewart* - 1965 (3)
9. Madam, Will You Talk? by Mary Stewart* - 1955 (3)
10. Log Book: Selected Poems by Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen - 1944-97 (3)
11. A Promise is for Ever by Denise Robins - 1961 (3)
12. The Wind off the Small Isles by Mary Stewart - 1968 (3)
13. My Brother Michael by Mary Stewart* - 1959 (3)

14. Gregor Mendel: Science – COMPLETED 11/3

1. Missing Microbes: How the Overuse of Antibiotics Is Fueling Our Modern Plagues by Martin J. Blaser (4)
2. The Story of Life in 25 Fossils: Tales of Intrepid Fossil Hunters and the Wonders of Evolution by Donald R. Prothero (3)
3. Resurrection Science: Conservation, De-Extinction and the Precarious Future of Wild Things by M. R. O'Connor (3)
4. Where the Wild Things Were: Life, Death, and Ecological Wreckage in a Land of Vanishing Predators by William Stolzenburg (4)
5. California Condors in the Pacific Northwest by Jesse D'Elia & Susan M. Haig (3)
6. Dangerous Neighbors: Volcanoes and Cities by Grant Heiken (3)
7. The West without Water: What Past Floods, Droughts, and Other Climatic Clues Tell Us about Tomorrow by B. Lynn Ingram & Frances Malamud-Roam (3)
8. Eruptions that Shook the World by Clive Oppenheimer (3)
9. American Serengeti: The Last Big Animals of the Great Plains by Dan Flores (3)
10. Dead Pool: Lake Powell, Global Warming, and the Future of Water in the West by James Lawrence Powell (4)
11. Coyote America: A Natural and Supernatural History by Dan L. Flores (3)
12. The Little Ice Age: How Climate Made History by Brian Fagan (3)
13. The Hidden Half of Nature: The Microbial Roots of Life and Health by David R. Montgomery & Anne Bikle (4)

15. Herodotus: Travel – COMPLETED 12/31

1. The Ghost of Flight 401 by John G. Fuller (3)
2. The Far Traveler: Voyages of a Viking Woman by Nancy Marie Brown+ (4)
3. Honey from a Weed: Fasting and Feasting in Tuscany, Catalonia, the Cyclades and Apulia by Patience Gray (4)
4. South Toward Home: Travels in Southern Literature by Margaret Eby (3)
5. Robbery Under Law by Evelyn Waugh (3)
6. Merrie England: A Journey Through the Shire by Joseph Pearce (4)
7. The Living Mountain: A Celebration of the Cairngorm Mountains of Scotland by Nan Shepherd (4)
8. From the Holy Mountain: A Journey among the Christians of the Middle East by William Dalrymple (4)
9. Rising Ground: A Search for the Spirit of Place by Philip Marsden (4)
10. From Pillar to Post by Anne Sinclair Mehdevi+ (3)
11. Twilight in Italy and Other Essays by D. H. Lawrence+ (2)
12. Under Another Sky: Journeys in Roman Britain by Charlotte Higgins (4)

16. Frances Hodgson Burnett: YA/Juvenile Fiction—COMPLETED 7/22

1. Jackaby by William Ritter (3)
2. Beastly Bones by William Ritter (3)
3. Thee, Hannah! by Marguerite De Angeli (3)
4. The Glass Sentence by S. E. Grove (3)
5. Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty (5)
6. The Golden Specific by S. E. Grove (3)
7. When We Were Very Young by A. A. Milne (3)
8. Now We are Six by A. A. Milne (3)
9. Tales from Shakespeare by Charles & Mary Lamb (4)
10. The Children of Green Knowe by Lucy M. Boston (3)
11. The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes (4)
12. Time of Trial by Hester Burton (4)
13. Shadows on the Pond by Alison Cragin Herzig (3)
14. Captains Courageous by Rudyard Kipling (3)
15. Ghostly Echoes by William Ritter (3)
16. Time Enough for Drums by Ann Rinaldi* (5)
17. Serafina and the Twisted Staff by Robert Beatty (4)
18. Ragged Dick by Horatio Alger (4)
19. Fame and Fortune by Horatio Alger (3)
20. Mark, the Match Boy by Horatio Alger (3)
21. Rough and Ready by Horatio Alger (3)

DeweyCAT
-January-
Library Wars: Love & War, Volume 1 by Kiiro Yumi
Outwitting History by Aaron Lansky

-February-
Jackaby by William Ritter
Beastly Bones by William Ritter
Dreaming Death by J. Kathleen Cheney
Wild Hearts by Sharon Sala
Cold Hearts by Sharon Sala
The Ghost of Flight 401 by John G. Fuller

-March-
Thee, Hannah! by Marguerite De Angeli
In the Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming
A Fountain Filled with Blood by Julia Spencer-Fleming
Out of the Deep I Cry by Julia Spencer-Fleming
Demeter and Persephone: Homeric Hymn Number Two by Homer & Penelope Proddow
You by Fulton Sheen
Laurus by Eugene Vodolazkin
Friends of God: Homilies by Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer
Mit brennender Sorge by Pope Pius XI
Lord of the World by Robert Hugh Benson
Saint Germaine and the Sheep by Eva K. Betz
Saint Athanasius by F. A. Forbes
On Pascha by Melito of Sardis
St. Margaret Clitherow by Margaret T. Monro
A Short History of the Roman Mass by Michael Davies
The Seven Last Words by Fulton Sheen
The Sadness of Christ by St. Tomas More+
Elijah in Jerusalem by Michael O'Brien
Saint Pius V by Robin Anderson
The House of Gold: Lenten Sermons by Bede Jarrett, OP
Easter by Géraldine Elschner
The Dawn of All by Robert Hugh Benson
Interior Freedom by Jacques Philippe

-April-
The Big Thicket by Pete Gunter
I Want to Get Married! by Ghada Abdel Aal

-May-
The Abolition of Man by C. S. Lewis
Humanist Educational Treatises by Craig W. Kallendorf (ed.)
Death on the Cherwell by Mavis Doriel Hay
The Paradise Project by Suzie Andres
The Lady in the Blue Cloak by Eric A. Kimmel & Susan Guevara
Gaudy Night by Dorothy L. Sayers
Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers
Homeschool by Milton Gaither
Dangerous Neighbors by Grant Heiken
Unnatural Death by Dorothy L. Sayers
The Seasons: A Celebration of the English Year by Nick Groom

-June-
Viking Legacy by John Geipel
Ad Infinitum: A Biography of Latin by Nicholas Ostler
The Ring of Words by Peter Gilliver, Jeremy Marshall, & Edmund Wiener
The Devil Knows Latin by E. Christian Kopff+

-July-
The West without Water by B. Lynn Ingram & Frances Malamud-Roam
Eruptions that Shook the World by Clive Oppenheimer
American Serengeti by Dan Flores
The Living Mountain by Nan Shepherd
Coyote America by Dan L. Flores
The Wolves of Currumpaw by William Grill

-August-
A Civil Contract by Georgette Heyer
The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club by Dorothy L. Sayers
Airs Above the Ground by Mary Stewart
Life Under Compulsion by Anthony Esolen
The Georgics by Vergil

-September-
The Gardener of Versailles by Alain Baraton
The Morning Gift by Eva Ibbotson
The Good Comrade by Una L. Silberrad
The Art Deco Murals of Hildreth Meière by Catherine Coleman Brawer
Dutch Bulbs and Gardens by Una L. Silberrad

-October-
A Deadly Thaw by Sarah Ward
Serafina and the Twisted Staff by Robert Beatty
An Experiment in Criticism by C. S. Lewis
Daniel Deronda by George Eliot

-November-
The Wind off the Small Isles by Mary Stewart
From Pillar to Post by Anne Sinclair Mehdevi
Rising Ground: A Search for the Spirit of Place by Philip Marsden
Twilight in Italy and Other Essays by D. H. Lawrence
Without Roots: The West, Relativism, Christianity, Islam by Joseph Ratzinger & Marcello Pera

-December-
How to Be a Texan: The Manual by Andrea Valdez
Boxers by Gene Luen Yang
Saints by Gene Luen Yang
Confederate Night Before Christmas by Mark Vogl

GeoCAT
-January-
Saint Martin de Porres and the Mice by Eva K. Betz (Peru)
Pied Piper of Peru by Ann Tompert (Peru)
Martín de Porres: The Rose in the Desert by Gary D. Schmidt (Peru)

-February-
Corpus Christi by Athanasius Schneider (Kyrgyzstan/Kazakhstan)
A Bride's Story, Volume 2 by Kaoru Mori (Central Asia)
Dshamilja by Chinghiz Aitmatov (Kyrgyzstan)

-March-
Demeter and Persephone: Homeric Hymn Number Two by Homer & Penelope Proddow (Greece)
The White Stag by Kate Seredy (Hungary)
Laurus by Eugene Vodolazkin (Russia)
The Gates of Europe by Serhii Plokhy (Ukraine)

-April-
The Blue Whale by Jenni Desmond (Ocean)
Shackleton's Journey by William Grill (Antarctic)
Wandering Whale Sharks by Susumu Shingu (Ocean)
Mother Elisabeth by Marguerite Tjader (Sweden)
Neighborhood Sharks by Katherine Roy (Fallaron Ils., CA)
Time of Wonder by Robert McCloskey (Penobscot Bay, ME)
The Far Traveler by Nancy Marie Brown (Iceland/Greenland)
Honey from a Weed by Patience Gray (Cyclides)

-May-
Strangers Below by Joshua Guthman (USA)
Song of the Swallows by Leo Politti (California)
Blessed Miguel Pro by Ann Ball (Mexico)
Encounters at the Heart of the World by Elizabeth A. Fenn (Mandan)
Pretty-shield by Frank B. Linderman (Crow)
The Paradise Project by Suzie Andres (California)
The Lady in the Blue Cloak by Eric A. Kimmel & Susan Guevara (Texas)
Mexican Martyrdom by Wilfrid Parsons (Mexico)
South Toward Home by Margaret Eby (USA)
Homeschool: An American History by Milton Gaither (USA)
A Fine Dessert by Emily Jenkins & Sophie Blackall (USA)
Robbery Under Law by Evelyn Waugh (Mexico)

-June-
Pastoral by Nevil Shute (Australia)
The Persimmon Tree and Other Stories by Marjorie Barnard (Australia)

-August-
Strange Gods by Annamaria Alfieri (Kenya)

-October-
Cardcaptor Sakura Omnibus, Book 1 by Clamp (Japan)
For the Glory by Duncan Hamilton (China)
Aunty Lee's Delights by Ovidia Yu (Singapore)

-November-
A History of Modern Oman by Jeremy Jones & Nicholas Ridout (Oman)

-December-
Murder for Christmas by Francis Duncan (England)
Under Another Sky: Journeys in Roman Britain by Charlotte Higgins (Britain)

RandomCAT
-January-
Saint Nicholas and the Nine Gold Coins by Jim Forest
The Nativity by Géraldine Elschner
The Gentle Traditionalist by Roger Buck

-February-
Jackaby by William Ritter
Beastly Bones by William Ritter
Finding Winnie by Lindsay Mattick

-March-
I'm in Charge of Celebrations by Byrd Baylor
A Time to Keep by Tasha Tudor

-April-
The Big Thicket by Pete Gunter
Karl I by Marcel Uderzo & Marc Bourgne
Wandering Whale Sharks by Susumu Shingu
Where the Wild Things Were by William Stolzenburg

-May-
The Children of Green Knowe by Lucy M. Boston
The Lady in the Blue Cloak by Eric A. Kimmel & Susan Guevara
The White Cat and the Monk by Jo Ellen Bogart & Sydney Smith

-June-
Cosmas, or the Love of God by Pierre de Calan
The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes
The Ring of Words by Peter Gilliver, Jeremy Marshall, & Edmund Wiener
The Quiet Gentleman by Georgette Heyer
Black Sheep by Georgette Heyer
The Unknown Ajax by Georgette Heyer

-July-
The West without Water by B. Lynn Ingram & Frances Malamud-Roam
The Golden City by J. Kathleen Cheney
Dead Pool by James Lawrence Powell
A Man for All Seasons by Robert Bolt
Time of Trial by Hester Burton

-August-
The Way of an Eagle by Ethel M. Dell
Strange Gods by Annamaria Alfieri

-September-
The Gardener of Versailles by Alain Baraton
The Life of Padre Pio by Gennaro Preziuso

-October-
A Deadly Thaw by Sarah Ward
Serafina and the Twisted Staff by Robert Beatty
Aunty Lee's Delights by Ovidia Yu
Serpents in Eden by Martin Edwards (ed.)
The Sparrow in Hiding by J. Kathleen Cheney

SFFKIT
-Jan-
Survival by Julie E. Czerneda+
Migration by Julie E. Czerneda+
Regeneration by Julie E. Czerneda+

-Feb-
Jackaby by William Ritter
Beastly Bones by William Ritter
Dreaming Death by J. Kathleen Cheney
Winterwood by Jacey Bedford

-March-
The Glass Sentence by S. E. Grove
Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty
Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs
Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs
The Golden Specific by S. E. Grove
Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs
Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs
Lord of the World by Robert Hugh Benson
Elijah in Jerusalem by Michael O'Brien
The Dawn of All by Robert Hugh Benson

-April-
Perelandra by C. S. Lewis

-June-
The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
The Silver Bough by Lisa Tuttle

-July-
Whatever Else by J. Kathleen Cheney
The Golden City by J. Kathleen Cheney
The Seat of Magic by J. Kathleen Cheney
The Shores of Spain by J. Kathleen Cheney
The Seer's Choice by J. Kathleen Cheney

-August-
After the War by J. Kathleen Cheney
Ghostly Echoes by William Ritter
A Thousand Words for Stranger by Julie E. Czerneda

BingoDOG – COMPLETED 9/25


1. Blessed Bishop Nicholas Charnetsky, C.SS.R. and Companions by John Sianchuk
2. Elijah in Jerusalem by Michael O'Brien
3. The Golden City by J. Kathleen Cheney
4. Death of an Airman by Christopher St. John Sprigg
5. Gaudy Night by Dorothy L. Sayers
6. Resurrection Science by M. R. O'Connor
7. The Moon-Spinners by Mary Stewart
8. Outwitting History by Aaron Lansky
9. Saga of the Jómsvíkings by Anonymous
10. Survival by Julie E. Czerneda
11. The Ring of Words by Peter Gilliver, Jeremy Marshall, & Edmund Wiener
12. Where the Wild Things Were by William Stolzenburg
13. Migration by Julie E. Czerneda
14. Death on the Cherwell by Mavis Doriel Hay
15. Pretty-shield by Frank B. Linderman
16. Sweep in Peace by Ilona Andrews
17. The Z Murders by J. Jefferson Farjeon
18. Quick Curtain by Alan Melville
19. In the Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming
20. Dshamilja by Chinghiz Aitmatov
21. The Art Deco Murals of Hildreth Meière by Catherine Coleman Brawer
22. Time of Trial by Hester Burton
23. Library Wars: Love & War, Volume 1 by Kiiro Yumi
24. The Walled Garden: Poems by Andrew Thornton-Norris
25. Mary's Monster by Ruth Van Ness Blair

Woman BingoPUP


1. Black-Eyed Susans by Julia Heaberlin
2. The Children of Green Knowe by Lucy M. Boston
4. Daniel Deronda by George Eliot
5. I Want to Get Married! by Ghada Abdel Aal
6. A Bride's Story, Volume 2 by Kaoru Mori
7. The Moon-Spinners by Mary Stewart
8. Locally Laid by Lucie B. Amundsen
9. St. Margaret Clitherow by Margaret T. Monro
10. The Quiet Gentleman by Georgette Heyer
11. Dutch Bulbs and Gardens by Una L. Silberrad
12. Encounters at the Heart of the World: A History of the Mandan People by Elizabeth A. Fenn
13. Migration by Julie E. Czerneda
14. Death on the Cherwell by Mavis Doriel Hay
15. Log Book: Selected Poems by Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen
16. Library Wars: Love & War, Vol. 1 by Kiiro Yumi
17. Dreaming Death by J. Kathleen Cheney
18. The Far Traveler by Nancy Marie Brown
19. From Pillar to Post by Anne Sinclair Mehdevi
20. The Golden City by J. Kathleen Cheney
21. The Persimmon Tree and Other Stories by Marjorie Barnard
22. Survival by Julie E. Czerneda

Currently Reading:
The Secret Diary of Elisabeth Leseur

Total books read so far: 244

Top of the TBR Pile:
The Catholic Perspective on Paul
On Christian Teaching
To Trade the Stars

mr 181; cb 151-67

Okay, we're good to go! So come on in and grab some cake. I'm out of eggs at the moment, so it will have to be shortbread. :)

Happy new thread and thanks for the yummy shortbread, I will try not to leave a trail of crumbs!

>24 DeltaQueen50: Thanks! Luckily I have dogs (a.k.a canine vacuum cleaners), so crumbs are not an issue.

Mmmmm. Is it lemon shortbread? I love lemon shortbread! Happy new thread!

Best of the Cats: Take Two!



1. Robert Southwell: Lord of the World by Robert Hugh Benson
2. The Inklings: Species Imperative: Survival, Migration, Regeneration by Julie E. Czerneda
3. Mary Chesnut: The Quest for Shakespeare by Joseph Pearce
4. Naoko Takeuchi: Karl I: The Emperor of Peace by Marcel Uderzo & Marc Bourgne
5. Gertrud von Le Fort: Laurus by Eugene Vodolazkin
6. Bede the Venerable: The Gates of Europe: A History of Ukraine by Serhii Plokhy
7. Dorothy L. Sayers: Out of the Deep I Cry by Julia Spencer-Fleming
8. Fra Angelico: C. S. Lewis for the Third Millennium: Six Essays on the Abolition of Man by Peter Kreeft
9. Beatrix Potter: Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick
10. George Mackay Brown: The Gentle Traditionalist: A Catholic Fairy-Tale from Ireland by Roger Buck
11. Dominic de Guzmán: The House of Gold: Lenten Sermons by Bede Jarrett, OP
12. Élisabeth Leseur: A Procession of Saints by James Brodrick, SJ
13. Mary Stewart: Pastoral by Nevil Shute
14. Gregor Mendel: Missing Microbes: How the Overuse of Antibiotics Is Fueling Our Modern Plagues by Martin J. Blaser
15. Herodotus: The Far Traveler: Voyages of a Viking Woman by Nancy Marie Brown
16. Frances Hodgson Burnett: Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty

Happy new thread! By the way, I agree with your review of A Man for All Seasons from your last thread. The play is absolutely brilliant!

Happy new thread! You're so close to getting a full Bingo! :D

Also yum, shortbread!

>26 VictoriaPL: Thanks! On the internet everything is possible, so for you it can be lemon. :)

>28 mathgirl40: Hi, glad to see another fan! A Man for All Seasons speaks so much to today's issues, but I think some people avoid it because they see it as "old" or "religious". Considering that speaking the truth can be just as brave an act now as it was in More's day or in 1960, I think that's a shame.

>29 rabbitprincess: Thanks! That last square's set to fall in September when DeweyCAT covers art. Then I'll have to focus on WomanBingoPUP. That one's a little trickier.

OOH, shortbread! Thank you! And happy new thread, of course!

>31 MissWatson: You're very welcome, thanks for stopping by!

July Round-Up!

Books Read: 22 (24 in 2013, 26 in 2014, & 20 in 2015)

Category Challenge

155 of 192 read - 80.73% done (true total 191 books)

8 of 16 categories completed - 50% done

Individual Categories
1. Robert Southwell: Classic Fiction (pre-1920) - 6 - 50%
2. The Inklings: Fantasy - 22 - 100%
3. Mary Chesnut: General Biography/Memoir - 7 - 58.33%
4. Naoko Takeuchi: Graphic Novels and Non-Fiction - 5 - 41.67%
5. Gertrud von Le Fort: Historical Fiction - 7 - 58.33%
6. The Venerable Bede: History - 9 - 75%
7. Dorothy L. Sayers: Mysteries - 13 - 100%
8. Fra Angelico: Other Non-Fiction - 14 - 100%
9. Beatrix Potter: Picture Books - 27 - 100%
10. George Mackay Brown: Recent Fiction (1970 onward) - 12 - 100%
11. Dominic de Guzmán: Religion - 17 - 100%
12. Élisabeth Leseur: Religious Biography/Memoir - 15 - 100%
13. Mary Stewart: Retro Fiction (1920-1969) - 7 - 58.33%
14. Gregor Mendel: Science - 11 - 91.67%
15. Herodotus: Travel - 7 - 58.33%
16. Frances Hodgson Burnett: YA/Juvenile Fiction - 12 - 100%

Challenges
DeweyCAT - 6
RandomCAT - 5
SFFKIT - 5
BingoDOG - 2
WomanBingoPUP - 1
GeoCAT - 0

Genre
Fiction - 11 - 50%
Non-Fiction - 11 - 50%

Sources
Me (this month) - 10 - 45%
ILL - 5 - 22.5%
Me (other) - 4 - 18%
Irving PL - 1 - 4.5%
Me (last month) - 1 - 4.5%
Me (rest of this year) - 1 - 4.5%

TBR and Rereads
TBR books - 0 - 0%
Rereads - 4 - 18%

Authors
Female - 9 - 52.94%
Male - 8 - 47.06%

Edition Language
English - 21 - 95.5%
German - 1 - 4.5%

Original Language
English - 20 - 91%
German - 1 - 4.5%
Latin - 1 - 4.5%

Series
Stand-Alone Books - 14 - 63.64%
Series Books - 8 - 36.36%

Ratings Distribution
1 star - 0 - 0%
2 stars - 1 - 4.5%
3 stars - 9 - 40%
4 stars - 9 - 40%
5 stars - 3 - 13.5%

Average Rating
3.64

Discovery of the Month



Time of Trial by Hester Burton

First Line of the Month

"The house is cursed," my mother said.

—Amanda DeWees, With This Curse

Best of the Month



Fiction: A Girl Like You by Michelle Cox

Non-Fiction: Dead Pool: Lake Powell, Global Warming, and the Future of Water in the West by James Lawrence Powell

Well, apparently this is the year of inadvertently using cover images for thread toppers. I just realized that Augusta Strobl (the one on the left) is on the cover of my copy of Emma. A book, I will admit, I have never been able to finish.

The Way of an Eagle by Ethel M. Dell+

Categories: Robert Southwell, RandomCAT

Keywords: fiction, British fiction, romance, adventure, drama, colonialism, military, India, home counties, scheming women, broken engagements, adultery, ugly hero, guilt, hysteria, bad decisions, death, potboiler, virago, vmc

The Way of an Eagle is one of those books that's so bad, it's good. A stirring melodrama of courage, cuckolding, and colonialism, it starts in a besieged fortress and never lets up until the very end. The British commander of the fort knows the gig is up and that his reinforcements will not arrive in time, therefore he asks one of the three other surviving officers to make sure his daughter is saved. Nick volunteers and promptly drugs her and hauls her out during the relative safety of the night. Now Nick is not only ugly as sin, he is a man's man: people do what he orders because he's the kind of man you can't disobey. Upright and principled, he refuses the Victoria Cross for saving Muriel because all he did was "run away". Muriel, meanwhile is both attracted and repelled by her savior, which is good, because if she weren't conflicted this book would be very short indeed. They become engaged while she is recovering in Simla, only to be torn apart when Muriel believes gossip coming from one of Nick's enemies. She returns to England and he soon becomes engaged to another siege survivor—a man as handsome and charming as Nick is ugly and uncouth. And naturally, because this is that kind of book, he is just as weak and unprincipled as Nick is willful and honorable. Not that Muriel can bring herself to admit that for 100+ pages. Because naturally Nick has lost an arm in India and comes back to recover in the same corner of England as Muriel. Meanwhile, we have some adultery, scarlet fever, and nervous hysteria to keep us entertained. Muriel now realizes that she was wrong to ever reject Nick, but now she is back in India and he is nowhere to be seen. Whatever is she to do? Cue the suspense.

I love bad books. I once went out and bought a particular one solely because a book named it as an example of non-literature. So therefore this book was right up my alley. Those who demand quality plots instead of potboiling drama will not enjoy it nearly as much. But it does show some interesting light on pre-Great War British attitudes toward India and Indians as well as a lot of middle class Edwardian values. Not to mention that it has some of the most amazing purple prose you are ever likely to meet. A bestseller in its day, it's the perfect book for the hopeless romantic or for anyone who is looking to add more drama to their life. Definitely a marmite book, but it's my kind of marmite.

First Line: The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.

>35 inge87: There are days when I love this sort of stuff, the plot here reminds me of the books Emma Drummond wrote. I see that Dell's books are available from Gutenberg. Oi veh.

>35 inge87: Ha! You've almost tempted me. The reader should know what they are getting into with that first line anyway!

>36 MissWatson: Oh, the allure of free bad books. So tempting, so awful, so available . . .

Speaking of available, here's the link to Project Gutenberg's The Way of an Eagle, because some things must be seen to be believed. :)

>37 VictoriaPL: Indeed, that's pretty much how it is the entire book. For example, here's our first view of the hero:

"The Brigadier glanced up at the speaker and caught the last glow of the fading sunset reflected on his face. It was a clean-shaven face that should have possessed a fair skin, but by reason of unfavourable circumstances it was burnt to a deep yellow-brown. The features were pinched and wrinkled—they might have belonged to a very old man; but the eyes that smiled down into the Brigadier's were shrewd, bright, monkey-like. They expressed a cheeriness almost grotesque. The two men whom he had followed into the room stood silent among the shadows. The gloom was such as could be felt."

A Civil Contract by Georgette Heyer*

Categories: Gertrud von Le Fort, DeweyCAT

Keywords: fiction, British fiction, historical fiction, Regency era, romance, marriage of convenience, classism, family, lost loves, country estates, veterans, Napoleonic Wars, contentment

A Civil Contract is a rather different kind of historical romance than we usually expect from Heyer. Instead of a determined heroine driving the hero crazy, we have a hero giving up his great love to enter into a marriage of convenience after his father's death reveals that his family is facing ruin. Adam has nothing to offer but his title, while Jenny has lots of money and a father who wants to see her marry a title. And what a father he is, driving Adam crazy with his meddling and "surprises". But little by little things begin to thaw between the two of them. Adam manages to lose some of his resentment and Jenny learns to make her way in her new world. All of which would be much easier if his previous love could keep her emotions under control.

Like I said, this is different from your average Heyer: much more melancholic and almost a downer at times. It's a book about being content with what you have, instead of aspiring for the heights. But when it comes to the everyday realities of life, it can be quite beautiful. So don't come into to it looking for the next The Grand Sophy or Frederica, because it is absolutely nothing like. But if you want a quieter romance, this may be for you.

First Line: The library at Fontley Priory, like most of the principal apartments in the sprawling building, looked to the south-east, commanding a prospect of informal gardens and a plantation of poplars, which acted as a wind-break and screened from view the monotony of the fen beyond.

The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club by Dorothy L. Sayers

Categories: Dorothy L. Sayers, DeweyCAT

Series: Lord Peter Wimsey (5/11)

Keywords: fiction, British fiction, mystery, golden age mystery, clubs, veterans, murder, poison, digitalis, doctors, artists, family, inheritance, fraud, soldiers, greed

The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club finds Lord Peter getting involved in a murder investigation after a man is found dead at his club. The Bellona Club is for military veterans, and the general was a standby. Until, of course he died. At his age and with his heart the doctor believes it was a natural death, until events force an autopsy and it is discovered that the police have a medical murder on their hands. Just how did the general ingest so much digitalis? And who wanted him dead? Luckily for the police, Lord Peter and Detective Parker are on the case.

A nice addition to the series, nothing amazing or outstanding compared to the others, but the medical element does provide a bit of novelty. If you like the other early books in the series, you'll like this one. But generally speaking, I feel the later in the series you go the better the books are. Recommended for Lord Peter fans and those who enjoy vintage medical mysteries.

First Line: "What in the world, Wimsey, are you doing in this morgue?" demanded Captain Fentiman, flinging aside the "Evening Banner" with the air of a man released from an irksome duty.

>39 inge87: The nice thing about Heyer is that here are books for every stage of life, from bright-eyed fervour and wanting things to be perfect in your youth to the resigned acceptance of things as they are when you reach middle age. The benefits of a long writing career, I suppose, you can grow old alongside her heroines.

Happy new thread! I've yet to read any Heyer, but most people around here talk so warmly of her books that I will need to try one soon. :)

>41 MissWatson: Indeed. I like pretty much all of her romances except the spunky-orphan-meets-confirmed-bachelor ones, luckily she wrote enough that I can skip them and not miss out. A Civil Contract, while unique, is probably closest in tone with Venetia, which I have also found a bit on the melancholy side.

>42 -Eva-: The nice thing about Heyer is, as Birgit mentions in the post above yours, that she wrote so much there's pretty much a book for everyone. So check out the plots, and I'm sure you'll find a good one. :)

Venetia by Georgette Heyer*

Categories: Gertrud von Le Fort

Keywords: fiction, British fiction, romance, historical fiction, Regency era, rakes, family, secrets, idiot brothers, heroine who knows her own mind

Venetia is an orphan who runs her family's estate, while her brother shirks his duties and idles on the Continent having fun in the army, and is also responsible for her extremely studious younger brother who was born with a hip defect and walks with a limp. She has two devoted suitors, on extremely righteous and worthy, the other young with a severe case of puppy love. Then one day the absent lord of the estate next door comes home and everything changes. Lord Damerel is a rake and not fit to be acquaintances—much less friends—with a lady of quality like Venetia, but of course that is exactly what happens. And then the fun really starts.

A charming tale of late starts and second chances, both of our heroes are flawed and have had life throw them some serious curveballs. Damerel is a rake, who realizes that his previous career has made any relationship with Venetia an unachievable dream. Whereas, Venetia, keep hidden away from the world at her father's whim finally finds the strength to fight for what she wants after essentially giving up most of her life to supporting her family. How they manage to find a way together, in spite of the various pitfalls life throws at them, is a joy to read. Quite possibly my favorite Heyer novel, it's the perfect blend of bitter and sweet.

First Line: 'A fox got in amongst the hens last night, and ravished our best layer,' remarked Miss Lanyon.

Shadows on the Pond by Alison Cragin Herzig

Categories: Frances Hodgson Burnett

Keywords: fiction, American fiction, teen fiction, proto-YA, Vermont, summer, friendship, first love, sisters, beavers, trapping, parental marriage problems

Shadows on the Pond is an interesting 1980s novel of family, friendship, and beavers in rural Vermont. Jill and her family spend every summer at their summer home in Vermont, except this year her father and sister have stayed in New York City. Her parents are arguing and her sister seems to have left her behind, but she still has her local friend, Migan, and their pond with its massive beaver dam. Except this year an aunt's boyfriend has announced he is going to trap beavers. Jill and Migan immediately go on the offensive, springing his traps to save the animals. They also meet a new boy, Ryan (named for Nolan Ryan) who goes to Jill's school and takes an interest in their adventure. An adventure that becomes dangerous when the hunter catches on to them. Turning 14 has never been so dangerous.

A nice bit of proto-YA. It's survived the past thirty years remarkably well, although there is something about the treatment of the parents' marital problems that seems particularly 1980s to me. Jill, Migan, and Ryan get to run around the countryside having grand adventures and learning about life. Plus there's the environmental aspect, which is nicely done. I grabbed this on impulse from a library book display, and it turned out to be a solid read. Best for younger teens interested in close female friendships and saving the environment.

First Line: Part of the road was gone.

Airs Above the Ground by Mary Stewart*

Categories: Mary Stewart, DeweyCAT

Keywords: fiction, British fiction, thriller, travel, Austria, Vienna, Lipizzaner horses, circuses, theft, smuggling, murder, secret agents, marriage, lying spouses, veterinarians

When Vanessa uncovers evidence that her husband is not on a business trip in Stockholm but rather in southeastern Austria, she knew her life was suddenly about to be more interesting. She just had no idea how interesting it was going to be. But soon enough she finds herself escorting the son of a family friend to Vienna and discovers the wonders of the Airs Above the Ground that are the trademark of the Spanish Riding School and its Lipizzaner horses. But her husband's business is more complicated than she knew and it seems like this time she is going to get dragged into it too.

A fun period thriller. This is rather unique for Stewart in that the couple sort out their issues quite quickly and work together to solve the bigger problem. The circus angle is interesting, as is everything you'll learn about Lipizzaners. Highly recommended for fans of Stewart or the genre.

First Line: Carmel Lacy is the silliest woman I know, which is saying a good deal.

It was 105 today (40.6 C) and absolutely miserable. I was sitting in a hot car waiting for someone and reading Madam, Will You Talk?, when I got to the scene when Richard takes Charity to the restaurant and, among other things, they eat "a froth of ice and whipped cream dashed with kirsch". It sounded like the greatest thing I'd ever heard. Actually, hours later it still sounds fantastic.

This weekend's rain and cold front cannot come soon enough.

>47 inge87: EWWWWW! That is a horrendous temperature! I hope the rain and cold front come ASAP!

We are suffering from a heatwave too. It was our hottest August 11 since 1944, and this was the 15th day this year above 32 degrees C. Ugh.

>48 rabbitprincess: It's par the course for this time of year. Some years we can even get up to 110 or 112 (43-44.5 C) not counting the heat index. That doesn't mean you get used to it. You just learn to live around it and develop a fondness for ice cream and cold drinks. But I am very excited about the upper 80s (29-32 C) next week. It's been so long since we were anywhere close to that that I may need to wear a sweater. ;)

Fondness for ice cream and cold drinks! Yes, I used this morning as an opportunity to make some strong tea that I bottled and stuck in the refrigerator for later caffeine intake.

I used to love Mary Stewart when I was a preteen. She had a set of middle grade mysteries set in all sort of exotic places. Airs Above the Ground is definitely going on the WL.

As for Emma, ha ha! I knew that illustration didn't look like it quite belonged on an Austin novel. Emma is one that is always on my list to get to, but I never seem to get to it. ??? Shirley Jackson is attempting to get in the way this year.

According to The Weather Channel, it was 93 (33.9) and felt like 103 (39.4)—with 51% humidity!—here at 5 pm CDT. In other words, it's still miserable but at least we're trending in the right direction. I cannot comprehend how my grandparents and other, more distant ancestors survived this without air conditioning, but, of course, somehow they did. I am not as strong as they were.

>50 cammykitty: Airs Above the Ground isn't Stewart's best book, but it is one of her better ones. I've just about given up on Emma; the only reason I still have the book is that the spine is really attractive and looks good on a shelf.

Captains Courageous by Rudyard Kipling

Categories: Frances Hodgson Burnett

Keywords: fiction, British fiction, juvenile fiction, spoiled brats, fishing boats, survival, adaptation, Grand Banks, Gloucester, friendship, growing up

Captains Courageous is the tale of a spoiled mama's boy who gets sick smoking a cigar and ends up overboard in the North Atlantic. Luckily for him, he is picked up by the crew of the "We're Here", a fishing boat out of Gloucester, Massachusetts. They don't believe him when he says he's the son of a multimilionaire, and put him to work just like any other member of the crew. It's hard work and builds character—which is exactly what he needs. He makes a true friend in the captain's son and soon begins to see the others on board as equals instead of uncouth idiots. This being well before the age of social media, it's not until the ship returns to harbor weeks later that he is able to get word to his parents, who have believed him dead since he disappeared from the ship.

If you've ever had an interest in old-fashioned fishing vessels and life on the Grand Banks, this is the book for you. But there's more to it than that. It's also a well-spun tale of a boy growing up and learning to become a man—often against his will—and discovering that it's a lot more fun than the perpetual indolence of youth. Recommended probably more for boys than girls, but definitely a classic adventure that the young or young-at-heart may want to pick up.

First Line: The weather door of the smoking-room had been left open to the North Atlantic fog, as the big liner rolled and lifted, whistling to warn the fishing-fleet.

I've never actually known what Captains Courageous is about! But now that I know it's about fishing boats and the North Atlantic, I'll definitely have to read it!

>53 rabbitprincess: Yep, you can tell Kipling put a lot of research into it. It has everything you ever wanted to know about the North Atlantic fishing industry in the 1890s, plus some serious male bonding and emotional growth.

Madam, Will You Talk? by Mary Stewart*

Categories: Mary Stewart, DeweyCAT

Keywords: fiction, British fiction, thriller, travel, France, Avignon, murder, kidnapping, car chases, (wo)manhunts, fathers and sons, stepmothers, widowed heroine

Madam, Will You Talk? was Mary Stewart's first thriller, and while it is not perhaps as perfectly crafted as some of her later works, it contains all the elements you expect and enjoy from her work. Our heroine is war widow, spending her holiday in the south of France with an old friend, when she accidentally becomes involved with something much bigger and darker than herself. A murderer has her in his sights, and there is a child in danger. But who is hunting whom? And just what do they really want? It may cost her her life, but our heroine is going to find out!

A fun, romantic thriller. It's not quite Stewart at her best, but it is very good. The slightly older, widowed heroine makes it stand out from the rest of her oeuvre, as does the fact that she has a close female friend with her for most of the book. If you like Mary Stewart, you need to pick this one up.

First Line: The whole affair began so very quietly.

Life Under Compulsion: Ten Ways to Destroy the Humanity of Your Child by Anthony Esolen

Categories: Fra Angelico, DeweyCAT

Keywords: non-fiction, American non-fiction, modern life, modern society, freedom, family, child-raising, reading, quality time, Christian living

Life Under Compulsion is a very interesting study of the ways in which modern society restricts and guides people to act a certain way and how you can free yourself (or your children) from its grasp. The goal is true freedom of thought and an escape from the rat race, with a focus on reading and classical thought and the quest for beauty in the mundane. Each chapter is dedicated to a specific area of modern society, how it is problematic, and what one can do to break out and forge your own path. Some of this has been heard before, but some is new, and there is a lot to chew on. It's definitely the kind of book to savor slowly as to get as much out of it as possible.

The one thing you can say about Esolen is that he knows how to write. His prose is worth reading for its style even if you think his thoughts are nonsense. Whether this preaching will reach anyone but the choir is questionable, but Esolen gives the reader much to consider, whether or not they agree with him. Highly recommended for anyone who thinks that modern society is turning humans into cloned automatons and has wondered what to do about it.

First Line: The trouble with language is that you can use it not only to tell the truth but also to conceal it or distort it.

After the War by J. Kathleen Cheney

Series: The Golden City (5/3)

Categories: The Inklings, SFFKIT

Keywords: fiction, American fiction, novella, fantasy, historical fantasy, Portugal, twenty years later, seers, amnesiacs, veterans, World War I, family, remembering, choices

After the War is set twenty years after the end of the The Shores of Spain and tells the story of "João" a young laborer who lost his entire memory during World War I. A chance encounter at a café changes his life when he bumps into people who knew him in his previous existence—one of whom claims to be his wife. But somewhere in the depths of his memory lurks a secret, one which someone appears to be desperate to uncover. Can he remember himself in time, or will he and his new old friends be able to improvise their way to the bottom of things? You will have to wait for the end to find out.

A fun novella, possibly the best installment in that world since The Seat of Magic. I had hoped for more news of our old friends from the trilogy, but the novella format really didn't allow for much (except that Marina and Joaquim appear to have finally grown up sometime in the last twenty years). If you like your fantasies with a bit of history and mystery, this may be for you, but to truly understand everything, you'll want to start with The Golden City.

First Line: The Café Martinho da Arcada at the Parça do Commercio had a sign in their window, advertising that Serafim Palmeira would be singing there that evening.

Strange Gods by Annamaria Alfieri

Series: Vera & Tolliver (1/?)

Categories: Dorothy L. Sayers, GeoCAT, RandomCAT

Keywords: fiction, American fiction, mystery, historical fiction, Kenya, British East Africa, colonialism, racism, murder, romance, safari, family, secrets

Strange Gods is an historical murder mystery set in colonial British East Africa (now Kenya). Vera is the daughter of Scottish missionaries living on a coffee plantation. She struggles with the pressure her mother puts on her to act a proper lady, and longs to see the handsome Inspector Tolliver, with whom she enjoyed a very nice dance at a recent party, again. She gets her wish, but only because her uncle is found murdered in the garden. His death sparks a racial and political firestorm, when a local Kikuyu elder is arrested for the crime, even though the evidence suggests he didn't do it. It is up to Tolliver and his assistant to get to the bottom of things in time to save him, but will their efforts be enough?

Not the best-written book—the mystery is constantly warring with melodrama for front billing—it is nevertheless a satisfying read. The heroine, as well as several other characters deal with issues of belonging and split loyalties, which makes for some extra drama in the plot, as well as the obvious race and class issues. Recommended for anyone with an interest in historical fiction set in colonial Africa or that have plots involving social issues.

First Line: They never went out in the dark because of the animals.

Log Book: Selected Poems by Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen

Categories: Mary Stewart, WomanBingoPUP

Keywords: poetry, Portuguese poetry, anthology, sea, love, ocean, mythology

Log Book is a collection of the modern Portuguese poet Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen's oevre translated into English. The book is divided into sections based on the collection in which the poems were originally collected, from 1944's Poetry to new poems published between her last collection and the publication of this volume in 1997. Most of her work deals with the sea and/or classical mythology. They are short poems, but pack a lot of meaning into a few lines. It's interesting stuff, and one could only wish that more of it was available in English.

First Line: Midday. A corner of the deserted beach.
The huge, deep, open sun on high
Has chased all the gods from the sky.

Three poems from Islands (1989) by Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen, as translated in Log Book

"The Navigators"

Multiplicity makes us drunk
Astonishment leads us on
With daring and desire and calculated skill
We've broken the limits –
But the one God
Keeps us from straying
Which is why at each port we cover with gold
The sombre insides of our churches

"Discovery"

With elation they greeted the new
Things
The world seemed created on that very
Morning

"Writing"

In Mocenigo Palace where he lived alone
Lord Byron used the large rooms
To contemplate solitude mirror by mirror
And the beauty of the doors when no one passed through

He listened to the swishing of sea in the silence
And the lost echo of steps down a distant hallway
He loved the sheen of the polished floors
And the high ceilings where shadows whirl
And though he sat in just one chair
He liked to look at the chairs that were empty

No one needs so much living space
But writing requires solitudes and deserts
And things to see as if they were something else

We can imagine him sitting at his desk
Imagine his tall solid neck
His white shirt opened
The white of the paper the spidery writing
And the light of the candle – as in certain paintings –
Making everything alert

Harrington by Maria Edgeworth

Categories: Gertrud von Le Fort

Keywords: fiction, British fiction, historical fiction, Judaism, anti-antisemitism, politics, riots, romance, rivals, gossip, evil nannies, false accusations, first-person, bildungsroman, Broadview editions

"Unless I shut my eyes, how can I avoid seeing vulgar people, madame..."

Spurred on in part by a letter she received from a Jewish educator living in North Carolina, Maria Edgeworth's Harrington exposes the vulgar hatreds, which simmer beneath the surface of an otherwise "civilized" society. The book itself is the engaging story of a man's experiences with anti-Semitism and his ultimate rejection of it. Harrington has been an anti-Semite since he was a young boy, when his nurse threatened him with "Simon the Jew" and being turned into sausage to get him to behave. His parents and their friends also dislike Jews, so no one puts a stop to his antics until it is almost too late. After he is sent to school he befriends a young Jewish boy named Jacob as well as his future rival Lord Mowbray. It is during this time with Jacob that Harrington begins overcoming his fear, which proves convenient when as an adult, he falls in love with Berenice, daughter of a Spanish Jew. Things come to a head and romantic rivalry, threats of disinheritance, and even a full scale city riot promptly ensue. In the process, Edgeworth makes a pointed commentary on the nature of prejudice and freedom and how they can be manipulated for political gain. While the work at times strays into the predictable and cliché, Harrington never looses its enjoyability and makes for a interesting view of theme largely ignored by other writers of her time.

Note: In spite of the cover, this book actually takes place in the late 18th century.

First Line: When I was a little boy of about six years old, I was standing with a maid-servant in the balcony of one of the upper rooms of my father’s house in London — it was the evening of the first day that I had ever been in London, and my senses had been excited, and almost exhausted, by the vast variety of objects that were new to me.

The Georgics by Publius Vergilius Maro

Categories: Robert Southwell, DeweyCAT

Keywords: poetry, Latin poetry, Classical poetry, didactic poetry, agriculture, farming, horticulture, animal husbandry, beekeeping, mythology, folk traditions, bilingual edition, Loeb Classical Library

The Georgics, whose name ultimately derives from the Greek word γεωργικά (geōrgika) meaning "farm things", is Virgil's great poem on agriculture. Divided into four books, it covers farming, horticulture, animal husbandry, and beekeeping, and is filled with interesting tidbits about traditional practices and ancient mythology. Much of what he wrote is no longer current (obviously), but the poem gives the reader many insights into ancient life and how people once lived and provided for themselves. An interesting read, but probably for Vergil fans and those interested in Classical life only.

First Line: What makes the crops joyous, beneath what star, Maecenas, it is well to turn the soil, and wed vines to elms, what tending the cattle need, what care the herd in breeding, what skill the thrifty bees—hence shall I begin my song.

Dieser Friede by Thomas Mann^

Categories: Robert Southwell, DeweyCAT

Keywords: non-fiction, German non-fiction, history, politics, World War II, Nazism, Drang nach Osten, Munich agreement, Anschluss, Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Great Britain, France, appeasement

Dieser Friede (This Peace) is a 1938 essay by the great German author Thomas Mann about the catastrophic politics that lead up to the Munich Agreement and Germany's annexation of the Sudetenland. Interestingly, he lays a lot of blame on Britain, saying that for their own reasons the British government supported Germany's increasing aggression instead of trying to stop it. They preferred Fascist Germany as an anti-communist bulwark and did not particularly care who got hurt in the crossfire. Mann also has some rather strong words about the Anschluss, which he points out was not really an "Anschluss" (in the sense of union) at all but rather an annexation of foreign territory. And all of this in his trademark style of wonderful prose.

It is an interesting first-hand document of the beginning of one of the darkest corners of the 20th century. Some of his arguments were new to me, but none of them were outrageous. You can tell he is looking at the world around him from his American exile and wondering at how wrong things are going. It's very short, only 28 pages in the German edition, but it certainly gives the reader a lot to think about, especially considering the parallels between 1938 and the way that, for example, Turkey's President Tayyip Erdoğan uses the Turkish population in Germany for his own political ends. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in the early days of World War II or how political situations can be manipulated or get wildly out of hand.

First Line: In den letzten Tagen und Wochen haben Ereignisse sich vollzogen, die einen immer noch beträchtlichen Teil der Welt – man darf ihn den besseren nennen – in tiefste Enttäuschung, Entmutigung, ja Verzweiflung gestürzt haben.

My Translation: In the last few days and weeks events have taken place that have sent a considerable part of the world—one may call it the better part—into the deepest disappointment, discouragement, and despair.

Ghostly Echoes by William Ritter

Series: Jackaby (3/?)

Categories: The Inklings, SFFKIT

Keywords: fiction, American fiction, YA, fantasy, historical fantasy, paranormal, mystery, New England, investigation, ghosts, magic, science, corruption, murder

Ghostly Echoes continues the story of our favorite New England paranormal investigators. After a series of events that greatly resemble what happened ten years earlier, Jackaby and company reopen Jenny's file and begin trying to figure out what happened to her. The trail takes them to a scientific and magical abomination, a deadly vampire, and a secret society with ties to a figure from Jackaby's mysterious past. I had thought this was going to be trilogy but judging from the ending definitely going to be at least a book four.

An improvement from Beastly Bones, the book sets up what is sure to be an exciting confrontation in the next book. Abigail's long-distance relationship with Charlie is also given some space to grow, and we get to learn a lot more of Jackaby's past than has ever been revealed before. Only the author knows what will happen next, but I'll certainly be one of those waiting to find out. I've heard comparisons for this series with Doctor Who but to me it reminds me more of a paranormal Sherlock Holmes with Abigail as the female Watson. If you like your detectives eccentric and your mysteries paranormal, you'll definitely want to pick up this series. But you'll want to start with Jackaby first.

First Line: Mr. Jackaby's cluttered office spun around me.

Sir Thomas More by Anthony Munday et al.

Series: The Arden Shakespeare

Categories: Gertrud von Le Fort

Keywords: fiction, English fiction, play, history play, Elizabethan drama, Jacobean drama, unfinished work, Sir Thomas More, riots, government, Erasmus, truth, conscience, treason, execution

Sir Thomas More is a play that was initially written around 1591 to 1593 by Anthony Munday but was later revised for performance around the beginning of the 17th century by a group of playwrights, among them Shakespeare. The manuscript left to us is an chaotic draft with contributions and corrections in a number of different hands, including that of the censor. After all, a play about Sir Thomas More, a man executed as a traitor by Henry VIII could hardly be seen as noncontroversial in Elizabethan or even Jacobean England. The author(s) tried to make the play more acceptable by avoiding the divorce issue entirely and focusing on more arcane reasons for dissent, but the censor was definitely not a fan. No one knows if the play was ever performed, but the manuscript allows us to witness the creation process as it existed over four hundred years ago.

The plot begins with the "Evil May Day Riots" of 1517, in which resentment of the privileges of wealthy foreigners living in London broke out into violence. Thomas More was instrumental in calming the unrest, and in the play this is presented as the moment his star really begins to rise. He is appointed to the Privy Counsel and receives a visit from Erasmus; however, the king wants him to sign some articles that More disagrees with (what they are is never actually stated) and he is arrested along with John Fisher, the Bishop of Rochester, and imprisoned in the tower. Both are later executed, and it is indeed with More being led away to his death that the play ends.

The fact that Shakespeare was involved guarantees continuing interest whatever the actual merits of this play, but I find the fact that Munday, who himself was an active participant in the persecution of Catholics would try to write a play in which one of the most iconic Catholics of his day is the hero, to be even more intriguing. Whatever your motivation, this is not a play to read for its plot, because as I stated before all we have is a draft version, but those interested in play creation, in accounts of the life of Sir Thomas More, or in Elizabethan/Jacobean theatre beyond the great names, may want to pick this one up. The Arden Shakespeare edition contains a nearly 130 page introduction and numerous appendices, which give the reader all the background knowledge needed to understand the play and its background.

First Line: "Whither wilt thou hale me?"

LibraryThing has a new list in honor of their 11th birthday for books that were your favorites when you were around 11-years-old. Here are my eleven, from which you can tell that my eleven-year-old self was a romantic who loved historical fiction. Some things never change . . . :)



1. These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder - My favorite Little House book. I still have the beat-up copy I bought from Scholastic Book Club (remember that?).

2. Time Enough for Drums by Ann Rindaldi - The book that introduced me to Rinaldi, who became one of my tween-self's favorites. I totally wanted my own John Reid when I grew up. Her older books (pre-late 1990s) are much closer to YA than her later ones and in my opinion much better.

3. The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare - Do I really need to explain? No, I didn't think so.

4. Be Ever Hopeful, Hannalee by Patricia Beatty - A reconstruction Atlanta-set mystery featuring a working-class heroine. It was technically a sequel, but I read it first and loved it so much it became the first book I ever ordered on Amazon.

5. A Paradise Called Texas by Janice Jordan Shefelman - Historical fiction about German immigrants in Texas, we read this in fourth grade Texas history and I liked it so much I sought out the rest of the trilogy on my own.

6. Sing Down the Moon by Scott O'Dell - Romance among the Navajos in the mid-1800s. Like I said, my 11-year-old self was a bit predictable.

7. Calico Captive by Elizabeth George Speare - Pierre. Years later I found myself talking to a high school friend about this one and we both agreed that the heroine's decision-making skills were somewhat lacking in that regard. Why leave Quebec when you could have Pierre, who is—I don't know—rich, handsome, and madly-in-love-with-you? Really, she needed a good knock on the head! Plus, it's based on a true story.

8. Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink - I used to run around my backyard pretending that I was Caddie living in the wilds of Wisconsin.

9. Hitty, Her First 100 Years by Rachel Field - What girl didn't wish that her life could be as eventful as Hitty's?

10. Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison by Lois Lenski - Another historical adventure, this one featuring the heroine adapting to life among the Delaware. Remarkably respectful of Native Americans considering its age.

11. The Ramsay Scallop by Frances Temple - Eleven is way too young to really appreciate this one, but I read it then anyway. Two betrothed strangers come together on the road to Santiago de Compostela during the Middle Ages.

The Poetical Works of Rupert Brooke by Rupert Brooke

Series: Faber Poets of the Great War

Categories: Robert Southwell

Keywords: poetry, British poetry, collection, war poetry, romance, love, loss, death

The Poetical Works of Rupert Brooke is a collection of all his poems the editors found fit to print organized from last to first with a collection of fragments from his final journey to Gallipoli in an appendix at the end. The problem with collections ordered this way is that all the good stuff is at the beginning, and the drift towards juvenilia makes for increasingly tiresome reading. Considering that Brooke's best work was done in a few short years before his early death from septicemia on the Mediterranean front of World War I, at times it becomes quite a slog. But Brooke wrote poems worth reading: including his war sonnets, "Grantcester", and some very interesting pieces set in Polynesia. And he deserves to be remembered, as a minor poet, perhaps, but as someone who had genuine poetic talent. It helps that both he and I are fans of the poets of the 90s. At times you can feel a bit of their rhythmic musicality come through his more modern style. So if you are interested in poets who died in World War I or just 20th century poets in general, Brooke is one you will want to bump into, and this volume is a good way to do so.

Plus, aren't the covers of the Faber "Poets of the Great War" series great?

First Line: I strayed about the deck, an hour, to-night
Under a cloudy moonless sky; and peeped
In at the windows, watched my friends at table,
Or playing cards, or standing in the doorway,
Or coming out into the darkness.

That's probably it for August. I'd hoped to get through The World that was Ours for GeoCAT, but I'm starting a new job tomorrow and staying at my sister's until I find an apartment, and all I really feel like reading is the copy of Time Enough for Drums I grabbed when I left my house this morning. So it's "yes" to comfort reads and "no" to Apartheid memoirs. I'll probably do the monthly round-up tomorrow, if I can manage to survive day one with any brain cells intact.

>68 inge87: Good luck with the first day at the new job!

Yes, all the best for the new job!

>68 inge87: Good luck finding a new place and I hope the job goes well!

>69 rabbitprincess:, >70 MissWatson:, >71 VictoriaPL: Thanks everyone. For a day that started off with what turned out to be a flat tire, it went surprisingly well. And as you can see, I'm still alive to talk about it. :)

>72 inge87:
Oh no! Everything had better have gone up from there!!

>73 -Eva-: So far, so good! :)

Ooops . . . I forgot one! It should slot in before Rupert Brooke.



A Thousand Words for Stranger by Julie E. Czerneda

Series: Trade Pact (1/3), The Clan Chronicles–Chronological Order (4/9), The Clan Chronicles–Publication Order (1/9)

Categories: The Inklings, SFFKIT

Keywords: fiction, Canadian fiction, science fiction, humanoid species, evolution, amnesia, space ships, adventure, romance, family, secrets, remembrance, memories, galactic law enforcement

A Thousand Words for Stranger was Julie E. Czerneda's first novel. As such it is a little rougher around the edges than her other books, but it also contains all the elements that make her stories so good: real science and interesting aliens combined with a compelling plot and strong female characters. In this case, we are introduced to the Clan, a mysterious humanoid species with great powers, the secrets of which they keep close to their chests. Sira may or may not be clan—she can't remember a single thing about herself, but she knows she's in danger. So she seeks shelter on Justin Morgan's ship and together they find adventure and some answers as they travel through space. But every answer they find brings them closer to danger, because there are those who want Sira badly and will do whatever it takes to get her, no matter who or what is standing in their way.

I really liked this one, but I've liked everything by Czerneda that I've read. This is the first in its trilogy and the first published book in the overall series, it actually falls in the middle of the projected nine-book series (ennealogy?) chronologically. So depending on how you like to read series, you can start here or with Reap the Wild Wind, which takes place before this book but was published ten years later. Whatever you choose, if you like science fiction that takes women seriously you need to read Czerneda.

First Line: The sign was rain-smeared and had never been overly straight.

August Round-Up!

Books Read: 19 (19 in 2013, 33 in 2014, & 19 in 2015)

Category Challenge

166 of 192 read - 86.46% done (true total 210 books)

8 of 16 categories completed - 50% done

Individual Categories
1. Robert Southwell: Classic Fiction (pre-1920) - 9 - 75%
2. The Inklings: Fantasy - 24 - 100%
3. Mary Chesnut: General Biography/Memoir - 7 - 58.33%
4. Naoko Takeuchi: Graphic Novels and Non-Fiction - 5 - 41.67%
5. Gertrud von Le Fort: Historical Fiction - 11 - 91.67%
6. The Venerable Bede: History - 10 - 83.33%
7. Dorothy L. Sayers: Mysteries - 15 - 100%
8. Fra Angelico: Other Non-Fiction - 15 - 100%
9. Beatrix Potter: Picture Books - 27 - 100%
10. George Mackay Brown: Recent Fiction (1970 onward) - 12 - 100%
11. Dominic de Guzmán: Religion - 17 - 100%
12. Élisabeth Leseur: Religious Biography/Memoir - 15 - 100%
13. Mary Stewart: Retro Fiction (1920-1969) - 10 - 83.33%
14. Gregor Mendel: Science - 11 - 91.67%
15. Herodotus: Travel - 7 - 58.33%
16. Frances Hodgson Burnett: YA/Juvenile Fiction - 15 - 100%

Challenges
DeweyCAT - 5
SFFKIT - 3
RandomCAT - 2
BingoDOG - 0
GeoCAT - 1
WomanBingoPUP - 1

Genre
Fiction - 17 - 50%
Non-Fiction - 2 - 50%

Sources
Me (other) - 5 - 26.32%
ILL - 4 - 21.05%
Me (this month) - 4 - 21.05%
Corsicana PL - 3 - 15.79%
Work - 2 - 10.53%
Me (rest of this year) - 1 - 5.26%

TBR and Rereads
TBR books - 1 - 5.26%
Rereads - 4 - 21.05%

Authors
Female - 10 - 58.82%
Male - 7 - 41.18%

Edition Language
English - 18 - 94.74%
German - 1 - 5.26%

Original Language
English - 17 - 84.22%
German - 1 - 5.26%
Latin - 1 - 5.26%
Portuguese - 1 - 5.26%

Series
Stand-Alone Books - 14 - 73.68%
Series Books - 5 - 26.32%

Ratings Distribution
1 star - 0 - 0%
2 stars - 0 - 4.5%
3 stars - 13 - 40%
4 stars - 4 - 40%
5 stars - 2 - 13.5%

Average Rating
3.42

Discovery of the Month



Dieser Friede by Thomas Mann

First Line of the Month

"Carmel Lacy is the silliest woman I know, which is saying a good deal."

—Mary Stewart, Airs Above the Ground

Best of the Month



Fiction: A Thousand Words for Stranger by Julie E. Czerneda

Non-Fiction: Life Under Compulsion: Ten Ways to Destroy the Humanity of Your Child by Anthony Esolen

Rising Road: A True Tale of Love, Race, and Religion in America by Sharon Davies

Categories: Bede the Venerable

Keywords: non-fiction, American non-fiction, history, religion, murder, American history, Alabama history, Birmingham, Alabama, Catholicism, Protestantism, Methodism, bigotry, racism, KKK, rigged trials, injustice, child abuse, conversion, nativism, interwar America

Rising Road is the true story of the 1921 murder of Father James Coyle, a Catholic priest, by Edwin Stephenson, a Methodist minister, in Birmingham, Alabama. Stephenson, an anti-Catholic like many Americans in that day, was angry that Coyle had married his daughter to a Puerto Rican named Pedro Gussman—in spite of the fact that he himself made a living by marrying run-away couples at the county courthouse. Ruth Stephenson Gussman comes out as the other victim in the story, she clearly suffered years of abuse by her parents and her marriage was just the latest of her many attempts to escape them and live life the way she wanted to. Stephenson shot Coyle in broad daylight and turned himself in to law enforcement, but went on to be defended by future Supreme Court justice Hugo Black and be acquitted in a trial that was probably rigged by the KKK. Davies' book describes how events unfolded and gives important background on the political and social movements of the time that allowed it all to happen. A very readable work on an event that should not be forgotten, this book comes highly recommended for those interested in true crime, the history of Catholic America, or in this history of race, religion, and justice in the American South.

First Line: The sorest misfortune of Ruth Stephenson's young life was not that she was born (and died) a decade or more too soon to ever really enjoy the promises women's suffrage would bring.

Arabella of Mars by David D. Levine

Series: The Adventures of Arabella Ashby (1/?)

Categories: The Inklings

Keywords: fiction, American fiction, science fiction, historical science fiction, Regency era, Mars, Martians, family, spaceships, cross-dressing, secrets, rebellions, automatra

Arabella of Mars is a fun interplanetary regency adventure set in a world where man has colonized Mars and made peace with the Martian people. Arabella is a tomboy and much more interested in the things her father and brother do than the "proper" things her mother would like her to, When she goes too far one too many times, she finds herself put on a ship back to Earth in the company of her mother and younger sisters. Her mother wants to get her married off (this is a regency), but Arabella just wants to go back to Mars—especially when the family receives word that her father has died. A cousin's drastic actions soon make her return imperative, so Arabella disguises herself as a boy and joins a crew on a trade ship bound for Mars. It turns out that life as a cabin boy is nothing like she thought it would be, harder and more dangerous than she ever dreamed, whether the threat is hateful crew-mates or deadly French privateers. But Arabella has to get to Mars, no matter what it takes or what she finds there upon her arrival, so she's willing to do whatever it takes to survive. And learns a lot about herself in the process.

An exciting journey that will surely be appreciated by fans of steampunk or woman-positive science fiction, the book has excellent plotting and Arabella along with the captain and his navigator are characters I cannot wait to meet again. Luckily, although it stands very well on its own, it appears to be the first in a series. So who knows where Arabella will end up next.

First Line: Arabella Ashby lay prone atop a dune, her whole length pressed tight upon the cool red sands of Mars.

Time Enough for Drums by Ann Rinaldi*

Categories: Frances Hodgson Burnett

Keywords: fiction, American fiction, historical fiction, American Revolution, family, secrets, war, death, growing up, Bildungsroman, romance, occupation

Time Enough for Drums is a classic novel of the American Revolution. In it we watch Jemima Emerson grow from a childish fifteen-year-old to a mature woman as she attempts to hold on to whatever parts of her life she can in the face of the chaos of war. Trenton, New Jersey, in December 1775, is a place standing on the brink of change and Jem's family is no exception. Her elder brother is forming a regiment for the Continental Army and her younger brother wants nothing more than to join the fight as well. All Jem really wants to to somehow escape her tutor, the Tory John Reid, and do her part for what she sees as her country. Whether that's helping her friend Nathaniel Moore or rebellion against the demand's of John Reid, it all seems a bit like a game. Until an accidental discovery dramatically raises the stakes and war comes to Trenton. With everything changing, is it any surprise that Jem changes too?

Probably Rinaldi's best work, it's what we would now call YA, but covers Jem's early adulthood as well as her teen years. Full of adventure, family, romance, and a lot of growing up, it manages to show the hardships of war and the power of human resilience without ever losing heart. Highly recommended for those who enjoy historical fiction, well written teen-centered novels, and novels set on the homefront.

First Line: The cold wind stung my face and brought tears to my eyes when I turned into it to look at my brother Dan, who stood next to me on the hill.

Sonya's Chickens by Phoebe Wahl

Categories: Beatrix Potter

Keywords: fiction, American fiction, juvenile fiction, picture book, animal husbandry, chickens, circle of life, family, diverse books

Sonya's Chickens is the story of Sonya, a young girl living on what appears to be a small farm or homestead. One day she is given responsibility for the family's new chickens. Sonya takes this responsibility very seriously until one night something terrible happens.

This is an amazing book for a whole host of reasons: the excellent narrative, the fantastic illustrations, and the character of Sonya herself—what a wondrously determined young mother she is to her chickens—but it is also notable for being an example of the best kind of diverse books. The kind that features diverse characters in normally everyday situations, and doesn't actually mention it. The only way we know that Sonya is biracial is that we see her parents. What Sonya does could be done by any child, but here it is done by Sonya. In an era in which there is an increasing call for truly diverse books (versus books people read during diversity/heritage months), Sonya's Chickens is up to the task. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a good, well-rounded picture book.

First Line: One day, Sonya's papa came home with three fluffy chicks.

>79 inge87: I have not yet read that one. I love Rinaldi. Off to see if the library has it!

>81 VictoriaPL: It was one of her first books, and in my opinion, her best. Hopefully you can find a copy: it's a great read!

The Gardener of Versailles: My Life in the World's Grandest Garden by Alain Baraton

Categories: Mary Chesnut, DeweyCAT, RandomCAT

Keywords: non-fiction, French non-fiction, gardening, memoir, Versailles, history, cyclones, destruction, rebirth, kings, court, politics, history, tourists

The Gardener of Versailles is Alain Baraton's memoir of his life and Versailles, the place where he has long worked as head gardener. We learn a lot about the gardens and their history and that of Versailles, a world full of politics and intrigue. We also learn about Baraton and how he stumbled into what would be a dream job to many, a job that bureaucratization would keep him from obtaining if he were to attempt it today. There is also a lot about the great storm of 1999 that destroyed so much of the garden and allowed them to begin again with almost a clean slate. If you're looking for a book about the nuts and bolts of gardening in great gardens, this is not the book for you. But if you want a book about the joy of gardening and one man's love for Versailles and its history, you'll want to pick it up.

First Line: I sleep like a log, which is fitting for a gardener.

The Morning Gift by Eva Ibbotson

Categories: Gertrud von Le Fort, DeweyCAT

Keywords: fiction, British fiction, historical fiction, World War II, Holocaust, Anschluss, romance, romanticism, music, exile, fake marriages, science, rivalry

The Morning Gift is a very nice piece of historical fiction set during the lead-up to World War II. The Nazi's have annexed Austria, and Ruth is trapped in Vienna, while the rest of her family has managed to escape to Britain. A fake marriage to an old family friend promises a way out, but once they arrive the complications only seem to multiply. Will they find a way out of the net of they created? Or will the path to happiness take another course?

The first part of the book is excellent, but then it goes off the rails as Ruth's romanticism gives way to ridiculousness. But overall it's a great read, so if you've liked other works by Ibbotson, you'll probably want to read this one too.

First Line: Vienna has always been a city of myths.

First Star I See Tonight by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Categories: George Mackay Brown

Keywords: fiction, American fiction, romance, security, friendship, attempted murder, sabotage, sports stars

First Star I See Tonight is an alright romance about a retired sports star and a struggling private investigator. Cooper left football at the top of his game and is now looking to take on a new challenge by owing and running a nightclub. Piper is trying to build a business as a private investigator. Watching Cooper should help make her career—until he catches her in the act. What follows is a somewhat formulaic romance with a bit of suspense as we try to figure out who has it out for Cooper. It's fun, but it's nothing special.

First Line: The city was his.

Murder of a Lady by Anthony Wynne

Categories: Dorothy L. Sayers

Keywords: fiction, British fiction, Scottish fiction, mystery, Golden Age mystery, locked room mystery, country house mystery, Scottish highlands, family, secrets, murder, suicide, manipulation

Murder of a Lady is a Scottish mystery in which the strange murder of a local institution sparks a series of similarly bizarre events. Mary Gregor, sister of the local laird, was a society fixture until her sudden death in a locked room. No one can figure out how she was killed, but gradually secrets begin to leak out and suggest that she was not as beloved as people would make her seem. But none of that explains why the murderer has suddenly decided to act or why he seems to be leaving herring scales wherever he goes.

A nice locked-room mystery and an excellent addition to the British Library Crime Classics series. Fans of that genre and of golden age mysteries will definitely want to pick it up.

First Line: Mr. Leod McLeod, Procurator Fiscal of Mid-Argyll, was known throughout that county as "the Monarch of the Glen".

From the Holy Mountain: A Journey among the Christians of the Middle East by William Dalrymple

Categories: Herodotus

Keywords: non-fiction, British non-fiction, travel, Middle East, religion, Christianity, persecution, Greece, Mount Athos, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Islam, politics, history, Byzantium, heresy

From the Holy Mountain is an excellent travel narrative that starts off a bit slow but once it gets good, is really good. Dalrymple travelled from Greece through the Middle East to Egypt in the footsteps of the Byzantine monastic chronicler John Moschos in 1994. This was a world in which much was the same as now (Turkey's southeastern unrest) and much was different (Assad's Syria was an oasis of stability). But the situation among Christians has changed little since then except that it has become worse, so the stories of persecution and resilience ring true even twenty years later. But since there are still Christians being persecuted there, the predictions of total extinction made by various people he encounters have proven to be premature. But at this rate, given a bit more time it will probably happen sooner or later. By far the concept that has stuck with me the most is the idea that Islam was originally perceived as another heterodox version of Christianity instead of its own religion, which had an interesting effect on its relationship with preexisting Christian communities once it had taken over an area.

Definitely a book to read if the subject of Middle Eastern Christians interests you. A nice follow up is Gerald Russell's 2014 book Heirs to Forgotten Kingdoms, about minority religions in the Middle East, which includes a section on Christians. The situation for religious minorities in contemporary Islamic society has long been fraught. Dalrymple's story shows just how much has been lost and how much there is left to lose. Highly recommended.

First Line: My cell is bare and austere.

Nocturne for a Widow by Amanda DeWees

Categories: Gertrud von Le Fort, DeweyCAT

Keywords: fiction, American fiction, historical fiction, Gothic fiction, actresses, musicians, ghosts, stepfamilies, curses, e-book

Nocturne for a Widow is the Gothic tale of what happens when an English actress decides to retire and accept a marriage proposal from an American, only to have her husband die shortly after her marriage leaving her only a doubtful ownership of a house deep in the country and a stepson. Suffice to say, nothing is as it seems, either the house or the stepson. Because someone or something is unhappy in that house and wants our heroine to fix things—if only she could figure out just what went wrong in the first place.

A fun story, if a bit formulaic, but it comes with the excellent style I expect from the author. If you like contemporary Gothics with an only-fashioned feel, you'll want to check DeWees out, whether it's this one or one of her other books.

First Line: The ability to lie persuasively is one of the greatest gifts a woman can possess in this life.

The Life of Padre Pio: Between the Altar and the Confessional by Gennaro Preziuso

Categories: Élisabeth Leseur, RandomCAT

Keywords: non-fiction, Italian non-fiction, religion, Christianity, Catholicism, monasticism, Capuchin Order, biography, Padre Pio, Italy, mystics, stigmata

The Life of Padre Pio is a good account of the life of the man who was born Francesco Forgione and eventually joined the Capuchin Order to become Father Pio of Pietrelcina. A mystic who demonstrated such powers as bilocation, foresight, and, most famously, the stigmata, Father Pio struggled with poor health his entire life, but still managed to become one of the most famous and revered religious figures in Italy.

Although definitely sympathetic to St. Pio, the author mostly manages to tread the fine line between history and hagiography. I read it shortly after I finished William Dalrymple's From the Holy Mountain and was struck at just how much Father Pio would have fit in with monks and culture of Eastern Christianity. Which just reminds us that Italy's culture is in many ways more Mediterranean than Western. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in this modern saint.

First Line: Set in the midst of an enchanting panorama and surrounded by the barren hills of Sannio, some twelve kilometer (7.5 miles) from Benevento, Pietrelcina greets the eye of the visitor spread out on a rocky projection some 350 meters or 1200 feet above sea level.

The Good Comrade by Una L. Silberrad*

Categories: Robert Southwell, DeweyCAT

Keywords: fiction, British fiction, family, debts, honor, romance, espionage, Holland, Norfolk, daffodils, honesty, social climbing

Despite the connotations of its title, The Good Comrade is not a book about communism, instead it is an excellent work about self-worth, personal honor, and social class with a healthy touch of romance. The Polkington's live life constantly on the edge of insolvency: the mother and two of her daughters want to live as they are accustomed and the father is a retired officer prone to drinking and gambling, which leaves only the middle daughter to hold things together. All she wants is to live a decent honorable life, but her family's refusal to be realistic about their situation makes it impossible. Especially once her father gambles off this quarter's check. An argument with one of his creditors leaves Julia desperate to prove her family's worth by coming up with £30 (roughly £2800 in today's money). So she decides to steal a rare daffodil bulb and joins the grower's family in the Netherlands as a companion. Naturally, she cannot bring herself to follow through with it, and a renewed acquaintance with her family's creditor leaves her feeling more awkward than ever while also offering her a way to prove her worth.

Not just a romance, but a serious look at the foibles of the middle-class values of the day (the part about the younger sister's marriage's "breaking-in" period is positively chilling). The love story is remarkably realistic and compelling, while not overwhelming Julia's overall search for self-respect and happiness. I'm surprised Persephone Books never picked this one up, as it's very much in their line. Highly recommended.

First Line: The Polkingtons were of those people who do not dine.

Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog) by Jerome K. Jerome

Categories: Richard Southwell

Keywords: fiction, British fiction, humorous fiction, travel, boating, River Thames, vacation, fox terriers

Three Men in a Boat is the thrilling tale of three men who take a week's vacation to go boating on the Thames. Oh, and they bring along a terrier, one of nature's most ferocious beasts. Suffice to say, nothing quite goes as planned but a good time is had by all. Interspersed with the narrative are reminiscences of previous river journeys and other humorous anecdotes typical of those experienced by young men. Never before has travelling the Thames been so interesting, so funny, or so dominated by fox terriers. If you like your fiction funny, this is the book for you.

First Line: There were four of us - George, and William Samuel Harris, and myself, and Montmorency.

And now a quote (complete with a photo of my fox-terrier mix being ridiculous):



"Fox-terriers are born with about four times as much original sin in them as other dogs are, and it will take years and years of patient effort on the part of us Christians to bring about any appreciable reformation in rowdiness of the fox-terrier nature."

—Jerome K. Jerome, Three Men in a Boat

The Art Deco Murals of Hildreth Meière by Catherine Coleman Brawer

Categories: Mary Chesnut, DeweyCAT, BingoDOG

Keywords: non-fiction, American non-fiction, design, art, architecture, building decoration, murals, mosaics, art deco, public art

The Art Deco Murals of Hildreth Meière is the first real study of one of the most important American muralists of the twentieth century. You may never have heard of her before, but if you've ever seen a picture of Radio City Music Hall, you've seen her work in the three medallions of song, drama, and dance. I'm more personally acquainted with her neo-byzantine mosaics at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church in that same city, which are beyond impressive. It turns out, there was a period in which she was the go-to designer for public buildings, churches, or corporations when they wanted that modernist touch. Yet within fifty years of her death, she has been almost completely forgotten. This necessary and remarkable volume goes a long way to change that. Dividing her work into basic categories like public buildings, churches, corporations, and non-deco style, the author takes a comprehensive look at Meière's work and the methodology that supported it. It's very interesting reading and I have a sudden urge to go visit the Nebraska State House that I didn't have before (it appears to be a wonder of modernist decoration). If you are interested in art deco design, building decoration, or interesting women artists, you really should seek this one out.

First Line: At the time of Hildreth Meière's birth in 1892, few American artists identified themselves as muralists.

And with that I have completed my BingoDOG card!











1. Blessed Bishop Nicholas Charnetsky, C.SS.R. and Companions by John Sianchuk
2. Senior protagonist: Elijah in Jerusalem by Michael O'Brien
3. Survival Story: The Golden City by J. Kathleen Cheney
4. Airplane Flight: Death of an Airman by Christopher St. John Sprigg
5. Writer: Gaudy Night by Dorothy L. Sayers
6. Enviroment: Resurrection Science by M. R. O'Connor
7. Author Born in 1916: The Moon-Spinners by Mary Stewart
8. Memoir: Outwitting History by Aaron Lansky
9. Adventure: Saga of the Jómsvíkings by Anonymous
10. One-Word Title: Survival by Julie E. Czerneda
11. Musical Reference: The Ring of Words by Peter Gilliver, Jeremy Marshall, & Edmund Wiener
12. Wordplay Title: Where the Wild Things Were by William Stolzenburg
13. CAT: Migration by Julie E. Czerneda
14. Body of Water: Death on the Cherwell by Mavis Doriel Hay
15. Indigenous: Pretty-shield by Frank B. Linderman
16. Food: Sweep in Peace by Ilona Andrews
17. Published Before I was Born: The Z Murders by J. Jefferson Farjeon
18. Theatre: Quick Curtain by Alan Melville
19. Debut: In the Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming
20. Translation: Dshamilja by Chinghiz Aitmatov
21. Art: The Art Deco Murals of Hildreth Meière by Catherine Coleman Brawer
22. Coming of Age: Time of Trial by Hester Burton
23. Manga: Library Wars: Love & War, Volume 1 by Kiiro Yumi
24. Self-Published: The Walled Garden: Poems by Andrew Thornton-Norris
25. I Want Her Job: Mary's Monster by Ruth Van Ness Blair

Congratulations on filling your Bingo card!

>85 inge87: Thanks!

Dutch Bulbs and Gardens by Una L. Silberrad

Categories: Fra Angelico, DeweyCAT, WomanBingoPUP

Keywords: non-fiction, British non-fiction, gardening, gardens, bulbs, flowers, the Netherlands, tourism, horticulture

Dutch Bulbs and Gardens is a brief overview of the Dutch way of growing bulbs as it existed in the first decade of the 20th century. Silberrad knows her flowers and her bulb growers, and she comes across as clearly knowing her stuff. If you were wondering what flowers were big at the time, she talks a lot about what is popular now and what has gone out of fashion but was popular in the mid-to-late 19th century. It's interesting stuff and comes complete with some very lovely illustrations on Project Gutenberg. This seems to be the author's only non-fiction work, she was a fairly prolific novelist and even wrote a novel, The Good Comrade that features the bulb growing business and an extended stay in the Netherlands as major plot points. All in all it's a good book, but probably for those who need it for research rather than the average leisure browser.

First Line: Undoubtedly the way to go to the Bulb Gardens of Holland is to go the way by which the bulbs come to England.

Margaret the Queen by Nigel Tranter

Categories: Gertrud von Le Fort

Keywords: fiction, Scottish fiction, historical fiction, middle ages, Margaret of Scotland, war, politics, kings, schemes, Celtic Christianity, Catholicism

Margaret the Queen is a Scottish historical novel set during the reign of Malcolm III. The Margaret of the title is Margaret Ætheling, sister of the exiled last Saxon King of England. She washes up along with her family near the Malcolm's war camp after their ship to Hungary was blown off course, and soon catches the king's eye—even though he's already married and there is no way a woman of her piety would have agreed to an affair out of wedlock. What follows is a fictionalized retelling of the rest of Malcolm's reign with the narrators reaction to Margaret a major driver of the plot. If only Maldred were less of a stick-in-the-mud and a more interesting character and if only Tranter hadn't filled the book with a very dated concept of the Celtic Church as it existed in Scotland before Romanization. The theology is so bad and Maldred's whining/pouting are so annoying that there were parts that I started skimming in order to avoid them. If only there were more Margaret and less Maldred, things might have been better. But that's not the case. For fans of Tranter only, it's just not worth the time otherwise.

First Line: Maldred, sickened at it all, turned away.

>98 inge87: And my goodness, that cover is somewhat gratuitous in the cleavage department. This is not a Tranter I have, and I'll see about getting it at the library rather than buying it! Unless it's REALLY cheap.

>99 rabbitprincess: And she doesn't look a thing like Margaret (who is described as tall, pale, and blonde) either. It's definitely one to try at the library first.

Laurentius von Brindisi: Apostel auf den Straßen Europas by Niklaus Kuster^

Categories: Élisabeth Leseur

Keywords: non-fiction, German non-fiction, auf deutsch, religion, Christianity, Catholicism, Capuchin Order, Counter-Reformation, evangelization, Turkish wars

Laurentius von Brindisi (Lawrence of Brindisi) is a concise biography of St. Lawrence of Brindisi, one of the most interesting saints you've never heard of. Born in Brindisi on the tip of the heel of the Italian boot, he later travelled to Venice to stay with an uncle, where he discovered and later joined the Capuchin Order. Imbibed with this Franciscan theology, he travelled around Italy and Central Europe, growing his order, fighting heretics, and even leading armies into battle against the Turks. The most amazing thing was that he did most of this while following his order's edict against travelling any way except by foot. The Counter Reformation resulted in a flowering of interesting personalities, and St. Lawrence, whose writings later led to his being named a Doctor of the Church by Pope John XXIII in the 20th century, was at the heart of things. Kuster's writing makes of this accessible in a very readable way. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in St. Lawrence or the Counter Reformation who can read German.

First Line: Lorenzos Weg beginnt im äußersten Süden Europas und in der apulischen Hafenstadt Brindisi.

My Translation: Lorenzo's path begins on the southern edge of Europe in the Apulian port city of Brindsi.

September Round-Up!

Books Read: 17 (26 in 2013, 23 in 2014, & 25 in 2015)

Category Challenge

173 of 192 read - 90.1% done (true total 227 books)

9 of 16 categories completed - 56.25% done

Individual Categories
1. Robert Southwell: Classic Fiction (pre-1920) - 11 - 91.67%
2. The Inklings: Fantasy - 25 - 100%
3. Mary Chesnut: General Biography/Memoir - 9 - 75%
4. Naoko Takeuchi: Graphic Novels and Non-Fiction - 5 - 41.67%
5. Gertrud von Le Fort: Historical Fiction - 14 - 100%
6. The Venerable Bede: History - 11 - 91.67%
7. Dorothy L. Sayers: Mysteries - 16 - 100%
8. Fra Angelico: Other Non-Fiction - 16 - 100%
9. Beatrix Potter: Picture Books - 28 - 100%
10. George Mackay Brown: Recent Fiction (1970 onward) - 13 - 100%
11. Dominic de Guzmán: Religion - 17 - 100%
12. Élisabeth Leseur: Religious Biography/Memoir - 17 - 100%
13. Mary Stewart: Retro Fiction (1920-1969) - 10 - 83.33%
14. Gregor Mendel: Science - 11 - 91.67%
15. Herodotus: Travel - 8 - 66.67%
16. Frances Hodgson Burnett: YA/Juvenile Fiction - 16 - 100%

Challenges
DeweyCAT - 5
RandomCAT - 2
BingoDOG - 1 (CARD COMPLETE!!!)
WomanBingoPUP - 1

Genre
Fiction - 10 - 58.82%
Non-Fiction - 7 - 41.18%

Sources
Irving PL - 5 - 29.42%
Me (rest of this year) - 3 - 17.65%
Me (this month) - 3 - 17.65%
Me (other) - 2 - 11.76%
Work - 2 - 11.76%
ILL - 1 - 5.88%
Project Gutenberg - 1 - 5.88%

TBR and Rereads
TBR books - 0 - 0%
Rereads - 2 - 11.76%

Authors
Female - 8 - 50%
Male - 8 - 50%

Edition Language
English - 16 - 94.12%
German - 1 - 5.88%

Original Language
English - 17 - 82.36%
French - 1 - 5.88%
German - 1 - 5.88%
Italian- 1 - 5.88%

Series
Stand-Alone Books - 15 - 88.24%
Series Books - 2 - 11.76%

Ratings Distribution
1 star - 0 - 0%
2 stars - 1 - 5.88%
3 stars - 6 - 35.29%
4 stars - 7 - 41.18%
5 stars - 3 - 17.65%

Average Rating
3.71

Discovery of the Month



Rising Road: A True Tale of Love, Race, and Religion in America by Sharon Davies

First Line of the Month

"I sleep like a log, which is fitting for a gardener."

—Alain Baraton, The Gardener of Versailles

Best of the Month



Fiction: Arabella of Mars by David D. Levine

Non-Fiction: From the Holy Mountain: A Journey among the Christians of the Middle East by William Dalrymple

Fashioning the Body: An Intimate History of the Silhouette by Denis Bruna (ed.)+

Categories: Bede the Venerable

Keywords: non-fiction, French non-fiction, fashion, lingerie, body modification, corsets, padding, bustles, crinolines, panniers, stays, silhouette, saw exhibit, Reunion 2015

Fashioning the Body is the catalogue to a fantastic exhibition on the history of fashion as body modification that ran in Paris in 2013 and then at the Bard Graduate Center of Decorative Arts, Design History, Material Culture in New York City, where I saw it, in 2015. Beginning in the early modern era and continuing through today, the book covers how people have used fashion to modify and change their silhouettes, whether it is adding to the body through padding and frameworks (e.g. false calves, crinolines) or by modifying the body itself (e.g. corsets, shapewear). What is nice is that it focuses both on male and female fashion, instead of just being lazy and only covering women's wear, as if women were the only ones who did crazy things to look good.

The historical sections of the book are fantastic and full of all kinds of interesting information. The contemporary section is far weaker. Perhaps because of the focus on fashion as art, it does not seem to capture the motivations of those who wear wonderbras and spanx the way it did panniers. The pop culture references are also a bit odd: it discusses Mr. Pearl but not Dita Von Teese and talks about a rapper named Marky Mark without mentioning he's also had a rather successful acting career as Mark Wahlberg. There is also a rather perceptible feeling throughout the book that the authors have a dichotomy in their minds of freedom versus confinement, which I'm not sure is the best one to have when discussing this subject. But overall it's a wonderful work and I can highly recommend it.

First Line: Our perception is that the clothes we wear are simple and supple, reflecting our mobile, dynamic, liberated way of life.

A Deadly Thaw by Sarah Ward

Series: Inspector Francis Sadler (2/?)

Categories: Dorothy L. Sayers, RandomCAT

Keywords: fiction, British fiction, mystery, Derbyshire, police, murder, secrets, family, revenge, mistaken identities, missing persons, conspiracies, cover-ups

A Deadly Thaw is the second book of a brilliant mystery series set in Derbyshire, England (probably most famous as the home of one Fitzwilliam Darcy). Lena was arrested and convicted of her husband's murder almost a decade ago. But if she killed him, then how did he end up freshly dead in a disused World War I era mortuary? Lena's sister, a therapist, has no idea, but feels betrayed. Meanwhile, the police are in a state of minor panic because obviously someone botched something all those years ago. Things get even crazier when Lena disappears and not ever her sister knows where she went. But then the packages start arriving for Kat, clearly meant as messages from her sister but making no sense. It will take all the efforts of the police, Kat, and their allies to get to the bottom of things. But it turns out the bottom is darker and more pervasive than anyone could have dreamed.

I loved In Bitter Chill when it came out last year, and this is a worthy successor, completely avoiding the sophomore slump. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys contemporary British police mysteries, books about family secrets, or mysteries with a hint of thriller. You don't have to read the first one to understand this one, but they're both so good, why wouldn't you want to?

First Line: Lena felt his emotional withdrawal before the physical.

Serafina and the Twisted Staff by Robert Beatty

Series: Serafina (2/?)

Categories: Frances Hodgson Burnett, RandomCAT

Keywords: fiction, British fiction, mystery, Derbyshire, police, murder, secrets, family, revenge, mistaken identities, missing persons, conspiracies, cover-ups

Serafina and the Twisted Staff finds Serafina honing her hunting skills in the woods one night, when she realizes that a great evil is coming. Thinking it the safest way, her mother rejects her overtures and sends her back to the humans at Biltmore where she "belongs". This leaves her daughter hurt and confused and right in the path of trouble as it appears the danger is headed straight towards the estate. What other choice does she have but to try and save her beloved home as best she can? But animals are attacking at random, and someone wants Serafina dead. If only she could identify the villain before it becomes too late. It is only by finding herself that she will be able to overcome the greatest challenge she has faced yet.

Another fun installment in the series. You can feel the author's love for Biltmore and the North Carolina countryside in the narrative. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a good story.

First Line: Serafina stalked through the underbrush of the moonlit forest, slinking low to the ground, her eyes fixed on her prey.

>92 inge87:
Love it!!

>94 inge87:
Congrats! I have a couple more to go for mine, but I'll get there. Eventually.

>103 inge87:
That contemporary section seems odd, indeed, but I'll take a BB for the rest. :)

>106 -Eva-: Thanks, I'm slowly filling in the holes in WomanBingoPUP, but that one is coming much harder for me than BingoDOG. Fox terriers are a wonder unto themselves, and they know it. I blame the issues with Fashioning the Body on the fact that it is focusing on the items as artifacts and not on the general culture and that the authors are French. Although the failure to mention that Marky Mark=Mark Wahlberg still baffles me. I feel like that violates one of the basic rules of essay writing.

An Experiment in Criticism by C. S. Lewis

Categories: Fra Angelico, DeweyCAT

Keywords: non-fiction, British non-fiction, literary criticism, readers and reading

An Experiment in Criticism is a collections of essays by Lewis discussing the relationship between readers and the books they read. In his mind there are no good or bad books—only good or bad readers. For if a "bad" book can deliver meaning to the reader than it really can't be said to be bad at all. There is also a nice discussion of how to read a book well. Lewis spends most of the book discussing the meaning of literary and there's lots to chew on here. I mostly enjoyed it because I can use his arguments to defend my love of bad literature. Who could complain about that?

First Line: In this essay I propose to try an experiment.

Daniel Deronda by George Eliot

Categories: Robert Southwell, DeweyCAT

Keywords: fiction, British fiction, Victorian fiction, family, identity, status, Judaism, secrets, marriages of convenience, romance, failed romance, illegitimate children, ridiculous coincidences, finding oneself

Daniel Deronda is a book I have been meaning to read for years, because I enjoyed the miniseries. Having read it once, I don't think I'll need to again, but that doesn't mean the experience wasn't enjoyable. Daniel is a young man seeking a meaning and a purpose to his life. He is literally not sure who he is, and this has had a knock-on effect on some of the choices he has made. Gwendolen Harleth, on the other hand, has always known exactly where she stands, until her foundation is taken out from under her when her family suddenly loses most of its money. The two meet, and most people would expect them to fall in love and get together, but George Eliot obviously missed that memo. Instead, Gwendolen embarks on a disastrous marriage, and Daniel discovers his past as well as a mystical form of Judaism. It's interesting stuff, but gets trying after a while. I think everyone would have benefited from some time with a therapist. But I'm perfectly content imagining Gwendolen eventually ending up with her cousin and Daniel coming back to London after his travels or settling down in Palestine. If only it didn't venture so close to melodrama and ridiculousness. I think I'll stick with Silas Marner in the future when I feel the urge to read Eliot.

First Line: Was she beautiful or not beautiful? and what was the secret of form or expression which gave the dynamic quality to her glance?

Cardcaptor Sakura Omnibus, Book 1 by Clamp

Series: Cardcaptor Sakura (Omnibus 1/4)

Categories: Naoko Takeuchi

Keywords: fiction, Japanese fiction, collective author, graphic novel, manga, magic girl, magic cards, school, friendship, questionable relationships, sexualized children

Cardcaptor Sakura is a book that I remember enjoying reading (in the initial English translation, not this one), but upon returning years later I discovered that I had missed quite a bit. Objectively speaking, it's about Sakura, a girl who discovers she has magical powers and has to help recapture the Clow Cars, which are a kind of magical tarot. Her devoted best friend has a romantic crush on her, and she along with a rival compete for the affection of her older brother's best friend. Which would be fine if they weren't ten years old. Toss in a classmate who is in a relationship with their teacher, and it was all I could do to finish the book. It just leaves you feeling dirty. How I missed all this the first time through, is a mystery that I do not want to solve, but I definitely won't be seeking out the second omnibus volume, that's for sure. Definitely one to avoid, which is a shame, because if we were dealing with teenagers, some of it (but only some) might be okay, and the rest of the plot is quite good. But sexual ten-year-olds are a no-go, and therefore so is this series.

First Line: Who . . . who are they?

For the Glory: Eric Liddell's Journey from Olympic Champion to Modern Martyr by Duncan Hamilton

Categories: Mary Chesnut, GeoCAT

Keywords: non-fiction, British non-fiction, history, biography, sports, athletics, sprinting, Olympics, China, missionaries, WWII, internment camps, survival, Chariots of Fire

For the Glory is a very nice biography of the sprinting legend whose actions inspired the film Chariots of Fire. It manages to maintain a balanced portrayal of one of the most famous sprinters of the 20th century, a man who may have been made to run fast but also believed he was called to higher things in China. Liddell had actually been born in China to Scottish missionaries and his plan was always to return. The hubbub of the 1924 Olympics was really more of a detour to his desired final destination. And, thanks to the Japanese invasion of China and the incompetence of his missionary board (who failed to see it coming), China became his final resting place as he died of in an internment camp. His faith was clearly what drove Liddell to such great heights, and the author manages to discuss it respectfully without ever venturing into hagiography, so it should be noted that this is a secular biography of a religious man. Those looking for a faith-based appraisal should look elsewhere. But Liddell is such a remarkable man that you don't have to be religious to appreciate him. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in athletics, missionaries, the Chinese-front in World War II, or interesting biographies about interesting people.

First Line: He is crouching on the start line, which has been scratched out with a stick across the parched earth.

Evelyn Waugh: Portrait of a Country Neighbour by Frances Donaldson

Categories: Mary Chesnut, DeweyCAT

Keywords: non-fiction, British non-fiction, biography, memoir, friendship, neighbors, Evelyn Waugh

Evelyn Waugh: Portrait of a Country Neighbour is a light, highly readable memoir of the author's experiences as the friend and neighbor of one of Britain's more remarkable 20th century writers. It's a bit on the gossipy, colloquial side, but it's fun and makes Waugh sound like fun (and a pain-in-the-behind). What makes it particularly interesting is that the author was an avowed Socialist, which Waugh was definitely not, so you are looking at him from a completely different point of view than if the author were one of Waugh's fellow Catholic travellers. Not a book for those looking for serious research, but if you want to know what Waugh the man was like, it's a good place to start.

First Line: We went to live in the Gloucestershire Cotswolds in the autumn of 1947.

Ragged Dick, Fame and Fortune, Mark, the Match Boy, Rough and Ready by Horatio Alger

Series: Ragged Dick (1-4/6)

Categories: Frances Hodgson Burnett, DeweyCAT

Keywords: fiction, American fiction, juvenile fiction, boys' fiction, street boys, self-improvement

If you have read one Horatio Alger story, you've pretty much read all of them (or at least gained the ability to predict where the plot will go). So you might as well start off with his early ones, before the plots went stale. Ragged Dick was the book that made him, and it's a smashing read if you like escapist fiction. Although, interestingly, Alger was actually raising awareness of a major social issues of street boys and worked his entire career to improve their situation. All of his books are available free at this point, so there's no reason not to pick one up.

Aunty Lee's Delights by Ovidia Yu

Series: Singaporean Mystery (1/?)

Categories: Dorothy L. Sayers, GeoCAT, DeweyCAT

Keywords: fiction, Singaporean fiction, mystery, food, cooking, restaurant, amateur detective, murder, bodies on the beach, family, secrets

Aunty Lee's Delights is the first in a series of mysteries set in Singapore. Aunty Lee is a wealthy widow, who decided to open a restaurant instead of live off her husband's fortune. She is a nosy busybody and doesn't care who knows it. So when a mysterious body washes ashore right after a guest fails to appear at a party hosted at her restaurant, she can't help but get involved. After all, the police need all the help they can get, right?

Written by a native, the book gives an interesting window into Singaporean society from the high class tai-tais at the top to the Filippina maids at the bottom and everyone in between. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys their mysteries set in unusual places or an interest in Singapore.

First Line: It was early morning and the rain had stopped.

Classical Literature: An Epic Journey from Homer to Virgil and Beyond by Richard Jenkyns

Categories: Bede the Venerable, DeweyCAT

Keywords: non-fiction, British non-fiction, history, literature, history of literature, Classical literature, Greek literature, Roman literature, poetry, drama, prose

Classical Literature is a good, readable overview of the history of Greek and Latin literature from Homer through the AD 100s. He touches on all of the major authors: Homer, Hesiod, Herodotus, Thucydides, Vergil, Ovid, Horace, inter alios. There's an entire chapter dedicated to Greek drama. But at the same time he also remembers the writers who are less well known, mostly because their work has not come down to us, but were key to the development of literature at the time. I, for one, appreciate that. I also really enjoyed his section on the Apostle Paul and his place as a classical writer. All too often, I think we forget that the New Testament was not written in a vacuum and that it has a place in literature as well as religion. So if you're at all interested in classical literature, this a book worth picking up. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in Greek or Latin literature, the Classics, or the history of literature.

First Line: Wrath! – European literature begins not with the whimper of infancy, but with a bang.

The one actually belongs further up; I just forgot to write it before now.



Hope for the World: To Unite All Things in Christ by Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke and Guillaume d'Alançon

Categories: Dominic de Guzmán

Keywords: non-fiction, American non-fiction, religion, Christianity, Catholicism, memoir, interview format

Hope for the World is a very well-thought out interview book between American Cardinal Burke and a French author, Guillaume d'Alançon. The book covers Burke's life growing up in Wisconsin, as well as his views on current issues in the church, both liturgical and administrative (i.e. what is the role of a bishop). It makes for interesting reading and he comes out as a very articulate advocate for his views. Unfortunately, rather like last year's God or Nothing by Cardinal Sarah, I think that only those who already agree with him will read it, which is a shame, because he says a lot about the Church worth think about and pondering over. Highly recommended.

First Line: As soon as your enter the apartment of Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, your glance is drawn to a good-sized picture of Pope Francis.

The Frogs by Aristophanes

Categories: Robert Southwell, DeweyCAT

Keywords: drama, Greek drama, comedy, gods, playwrights, competition, Charon, frogs, Hades

The Frogs finds Dionysius and a companion travelling to Hades to find the best playwright. The frogs of the title have a very nice chorus in the middle as the god rows himself and Charon down the Styx. Naturally all of their krikrikrikrik and kroax-ing drives Dionysius to distraction, but that's what Greek choruses do best. Once in the underworld Aeschylus and Eripides have a theatre-slam as each attempts to prove that he is the better writer. Sophocles, wisely, stays out of it. It's a fun look at Greek theatre from an insider's perspective, but probably of interest mostly to Classicists or historians of drama.

First Line: Shall I crack any of those old jokes, master, at which the audience never fail to laugh?

A Promise is for Ever by Denise Robins

Categories: Mary Stewart, DeweyCAT

Keywords: fiction, British fiction, romance, lazy husbands, blonde Swedes, classism, sudden reverses, fugitive fathers, forbidden love

A Promise is for Ever is a period romance novel in which the main obstacle to love is the woman's husband and her non-belief in divorce. Fern and her husband have been living mostly off her family income, when a sudden scandal in her father's firm means that they are in sudden need of actual jobs. She quickly finds them live-in positions as housekeeper/cook and chauffeur for a nouveau riche business magnate from the North. Fern settles right in, while his inherent laziness and selfishness make things difficult for her. Things get even harder when his mother returns from a trip abroad and takes an instant dislike to the heroine. But she needs the job and sticks with it, and her employer admires her all the more for it. Can we say drama? Oh, yes!

Nothing special, but fun if you like reading retro romances for their retro-ness.

First Line: When Fern first told her husband about the disaster that had just befallen her parents, it was for her a personal tragedy.

Serpents in Eden: Countryside Crimes by Martin Edwards (ed.)

Series: British Library Crime Classics

Categories: Dorothy L. Sayers, DeweyCAT

Keywords: fiction, British fiction, short stories, mystery, Golden Age mystery, crime, murder, country living

Serpents in Eden is a collection of short stories from the golden age of mystery-writing in the early 20th century. The common theme binding them together is that they are set in the British countryside, where everyone knows everyone—or at least thinks they do until someone turns up dead or blackmailed. Not all are of the same quality (but when is that ever the case?). If you like golden age mysteries or have enjoyed other books in this series, you may want to seek this one out.

First Line: Bishop's Crossing is a small village lying ten miles in a south-westerly direction form Liverpool.

The Victorian Age in Literature by G. K. Chesterton

Categories: Fra Angelico, DeweyCAT

Keywords: non-fiction, British non-fiction, literary criticism, Victorian era

The Victorian Age in Literature is an overview of the Victorian philosophical epoch as defined and described by one of the great writers of his age, G. K. Chesterton. He argues that the Victorians were dominated by compromise that promoting a spirit of progressive rationalism that imbued their work. He then goes on to give examples of paragons and exceptions to this rule. It's not the most scholarly of literary criticism forms but it has a great deal of heart and enthusiasm. For anyone with an interest in Victorian writers and ideas or a love of Chesterton.

First Line: A section of a long and splendid literature can be most convenient treated in one of two ways.

The Sparrow in Hiding by J. Kathleen Cheney

Categories: The Inklings, DeweyCAT

Keywords: fiction, American fiction, historical fiction, fantasy, Russia, post-Napoleonic Russia, magic, curses, romance, witches, trees, domestic abuse, family, secrets

The Sparrow in Hiding is a short novella set in a post-Napoleonic Russia where magic is real, even if society doesn't believe in it anymore. Irina believes that her mother is a tree, even if her father and brother don't. She comes to the dacha to escape society's glare every summer. One summer she discovers that her brother has hired a new worker with a mysterious past for the aviary. Just who is Evgeny and what is the story of his past. Irina can't help but try to figure it out.

A short novella with good plotting that feels like it ends a bit too suddenly for my taste. If you've liked Cheney's other work or have an interest in historical fantasy set in Russia, then you'll want to pick this one up. Otherwise, you may want to start with her Portuguese novels or Saratoga Springs-set short stories to get a feel for her good stuff first.

First Line: Irina stared out the window of the library.

>114 inge87: I picked this book up from a book sale a few weeks ago. My brother lives in Singapore (on the other side of the world from where I live, in Canada) and I'm always intrigued by books set there. I'm glad to see you enjoyed this mystery.

>122 mathgirl40: It's a fun mystery of the little-old-lady bossing everyone around and out-sleuthing the police type. Definitely not to be taken seriously, but very enjoyable all the same.

Positively Medieval: The Surprising, Dynamic, Heroic Church of the Middle Ages by Jamie Blosser

Categories: Élisabeth Leseur

Keywords: non-fiction, American non-fiction, history, biography, primary sources, medieval history, religion, Christianity

Positively Medieval is a collection of brief biographies of major medieval figures organized thematically that together provide an impression of the richness of the medieval world. Each person feature is given a short biography and then a small section of short readings of primary sources both by and about their lives. The format is interesting and useful, and the section on the Eastern Church is original and appreciated for the added scope it offers. For fans of the middle ages and those who are looking for an accessible taste of original texts in translation.

First Line: The term Middle Ages, or its adjectival form medieval, refers to a chronological period covering roughly a thousand years, from AD 500 to AD 1500.

Of Bells and Cells: The World of Monks, Friars, Sisters and Nuns by M. Cristina Borges & Michaela Harrison

Categories: Beatrix Potter

Keywords: non-fiction, juvenile non-fiction, religion, Christianity, Catholicism, religious life, monks, nuns, sisters, friars, priests, vocation

Of Bells and Cells is a solid synopsis of Catholic religious and their lives. A picture book aimed at children it is actually a brilliant explanation/overview for Catholics of any age who are curious about what exactly monks, nuns, brothers, sisters, priests, et al. do. The book covers their lives as well as the process of joining a religious order. It's excellent stuff and highly recommended for anyone with an interest in the topic. The fact that the illustrations are fantastic only makes things better.

First Line:

Shakespeare the Papist by Peter Milward, SJ

Categories: Fra Angelico, DeweyCAT

Keywords: non-fiction, British non-fiction, literary criticism, Shakespeare, drama, Catholicism, recusantry

Shakespeare the Papist is an in-depth look at the Catholic elements in Shakespeare's plays seasoned with a good chunk of criticism. Organized thematically and chronologically, the author looks at each play for Catholic representations within them. It's interesting stuff, but it does seem to go on forever because it covers everything. So it's probably better dipping in and out as needed than as a book to read cover-to-cover. But for anyone with an interest in the topic of Catholicism in Shakespeare, it really is a go-to volume.

First Line: In the history of Shakespearean scholarship it has long been the received wisdom to lay emphasis on the plays themselves, without paying overmuch attention to their historical context—according to Shakespeare's own principle, "The play's the thing."

October Round-Up!

Books Read: 23 (27 in 2013, 22 in 2014, & 27 in 2015)

Category Challenge

179 of 192 read - 93.23% done (true total 250 books)

11 of 16 categories completed - 68.75% done

Individual Categories
1. Robert Southwell: Classic Fiction (pre-1920) - 13 - 100%
2. The Inklings: Fantasy - 26 - 100%
3. Mary Chesnut: General Biography/Memoir - 11 - 91.67%
4. Naoko Takeuchi: Graphic Novels and Non-Fiction - 6 - 50%
5. Gertrud von Le Fort: Historical Fiction - 14 - 100%
6. The Venerable Bede: History - 14 - 100%
7. Dorothy L. Sayers: Mysteries - 19 - 100%
8. Fra Angelico: Other Non-Fiction - 18 - 100%
9. Beatrix Potter: Picture Books - 29 - 100%
10. George Mackay Brown: Recent Fiction (1970 onward) - 13 - 100%
11. Dominic de Guzmán: Religion - 17 - 100%
12. Élisabeth Leseur: Religious Biography/Memoir - 19 - 100%
13. Mary Stewart: Retro Fiction (1920-1969) - 11 - 91.67%
14. Gregor Mendel: Science - 11 - 91.67%
15. Herodotus: Travel - 8 - 66.67%
16. Frances Hodgson Burnett: YA/Juvenile Fiction - 21 - 100%

Challenges
DeweyCAT - 17
RandomCAT - 5
GeoCAT - 3
WomanBingoPUP - 1

Genre
Non-Fiction - 10 - 43.48%
Fiction - 13 - 56.52%

Sources
Irving PL - 5 - 29.42%
Me (rest of this year) - 3 - 17.65%
Me (this month) - 3 - 17.65%
Me (other) - 2 - 11.76%
Work - 2 - 11.76%
ILL - 1 - 5.88%
Project Gutenberg - 1 - 5.88%

TBR and Rereads
TBR books - 1 - 4.35%
Rereads - 0 - 0%

Authors
Male - 12 - 61.91%
Female - 7 - 33.33%
Group of Women - 1 - 4.76%

Edition Language
English - 23 - 100%

Original Language
English - 19 - 82.6%
French - 2 - 8.7%
Ancient Greek - 1 - 4.35%
Japanese - 1 - 4.35%

Series
Stand-Alone Books - 14 - 88.24%
Series Books - 9 - 11.76%

Ratings Distribution
1 star - 0 - 0%
2 stars - 1 - 4.35%
3 stars - 14 - 60.83%
4 stars - 7 - 30.43%
5 stars - 1 - 4.35%

Average Rating
3.35

Discovery of the Month



Of Bells and Cells: The World of Monks, Friars, Sisters and Nuns by M. Cristina Borges & Michaela Harrison

First Line of the Month

"Wrath! – European literature begins not with the whimper of infancy, but with a bang."

—Richard Jenkyns, Classical Literature

Best of the Month



Fiction: A Deadly Thaw by Sarah Ward

Non-Fiction: Classical Literature: An Epic Journey from Homer to Virgil and Beyond by Richard Jenkyns

Mantilla: The Veil of the Bride of Christ by Anna Elissa

Categories: Dominic de Guzmán

Keywords: non-fiction, Indonesian non-fiction, religion, Christianity, Catholicism, women and the Church, veiling

Mantilla is a brief, readable introduction to the reasons why Catholic women veil. The reintroduction of veiling is one of those grass roots trends that seem to be based more on word of mouth or the internet than from the pulpit. As such, this is, I think, the first real book I've bumped into on the subject, even though I've encountered women veiling at almost every mass I've been to over the past couple of years, ordinary and extraordinary form. I honestly think some priest would prefer it not happen, that it's an unnecessary throwback. But Elissa's book shows why it may be a good spiritual practice for many women. She discusses the Biblical basis as well as the different reasons women choose to veil. Also interesting is the window the book opens on Indonesian Catholicism, something I knew little about. The end of the book is a collection of testimonials collected online from various Catholics, lay and religious, about their opinions on veiling. Most are Indonesian, but there are some foreigners as well, so the range of opinions is good, even if they are not always particularly profound.

An excellent resource on one of the more underground trends in modern Catholicism. Highly recommended.

First Line: A little more than one year has passed since I wrote my online testimonial about the chapel veil.

The Little Ice Age: How Climate Made History, 1300-1850 by Brian Fagan

Categories: Gregor Mendel

Keywords: non-fiction, British non-fiction, science, history, climate, climate change, famine, politics, disaster

The Little Ice Age documents the effects of climate on Europe during the period that has come to be known as the "Little Ice Age". It was not all ice, but instead a period of great instability dominated by intermittent crop failures and famines, freezing winters and hot summers—and even years without summers (thank you, volcanoes!). Fagan shows how this instability affected the stability of entire countries, both politically and socially. Weather is much more important than one would think, especially if the country is already living on the edge. But if it brought chaos, it also brought innovation, as people struggled to come to terms with their situation and improve their lives. It is only now that we are beginning to return to the temperatures of the Medieval Warm Period, but climate change promises to introduce a new period of instability, whatever or whoever is causing it. After not having a major flood in over twenty years, my city experienced four major flooding events in a one-and-a-half year period. The only thing we can do is learn from the past to achieve our futures, and Fagan's book marks an excellent starting point. Highly recommended.

First Line: The fog lies close to the oily, heaving water, swirling gently as a bitterly cold air wafts in from the north.

>129 inge87: While I'm not adding that book to my wish list, it does sound fascinating.

>130 thornton37814: It is. It was the first book that I'm aware of to really popularize the concept of "little ice ages". But it's not the most excitably readable thing either.

Emissary by Melissa McShane

Categories: The Inklings

Keywords: fiction, American fiction, fantasy, gods, religious, travel, strangers in a strange land, magic, ghosts, secrets, legends

Emissary is the tale of a priestess of the god of death and her bodyguard as they arrive in an ancient land and quickly find themselves in way over their heads. Exorcising ghosts should be nothing, but the ghosts here are unlike any they've ever seen before. Just what is going on? The answer lies buried in the mystic past, and only our heroes can get to the bottom of it—if they live that long.

A fun bit of fantasy adventure with just the right touch of romance.

First Line: Zerafine had only a moment's warning before the ghost was upon her.

Turbulent Covenant by Jessica Steele

Categories: George Mackay Brown

Keywords: fiction, British fiction, romance, travel, marriages of convenience, pilots, flight attendants, misunderstandings, family

Turbulent Covenant is the drama-filled story of a marriage of convenience between a pilot and a stewardess who don't like each other—or do they? All they have to do is stay married long enough for his father to recover from an illness and then it's off to get an annulment. But a year is a very long time, and all kinds of things can happen in the interim.

It's a very retro romance novel. If you like that kind of thing it's fun, if not, well, look elsewhere.

First Line: It had been a good flight.

The Wind off the Small Isles by Mary Stewart

Categories: Mary Stewart, DeweyCAT

Keywords: fiction, British fiction, novella, romance, travel, Canary Islands, volcanoes, secrets, mysteries, family

The Wind off the Small Isles is a short novella set in the Canary Islands. Travelling as a writer's companion, the heroine meets a handsome man and gets into trouble (What else would you expect from Mary Stewart?), only to accidentally discover the answer to an almost century-old mystery. Fun stuff, even if it felt a bit rushed. If you like Mary Stewart's other thrillers, you'll want to pick this one up to complete the set.

First Line: She knelt on the window-sill, looking out over the sea.

Rising Ground: A Search for the Spirit of Place by Philip Marsden

Categories: Herodotus, DeweyCAT

Keywords: non-fiction, British non-fiction, memoir, travel, Cornwall, history, prehistory, rambling, home renovation, geology

is a combination memoir of the author's moving and then renovating a house and his rambles around Cornwall. He's trying to understand the history of the land, the things that make Cornwall, Cornwall. There's a particular focus on the neolithic that I found very interesting, but you also end up learning about more modern things like the china clay trade. If you've liked Marsden's other books or have an interest in Cornwall, this would be worth picking up.

First Line: In the village where I grew up, on the edge of the Medip Hills, a lane ran up from the church and near the top, it forked.

From Pillar to Post by Anne Sinclair Mehdevi+

Categories: Herodotus, DeweyCAT, WomanBingoPUP

Keywords: non-fiction, American non-fiction, travel, memoir, diplomats, expatriates, family, Mexico, Austria, Occupied Vienna, Balearic Islands, Iran

From Pillar to Post is a series of episodes about the author's life as she tries to raise a family while following her Iranian-diplomat husband around the world in the late 1940s. It looks like they were all published individually in the New Yorker first and then later collected in book-form. From Mexico, to occupied Vienna, to the Spanish Isles, the author goes wherever her husband's career takes him. But sometimes home may be the most foreign place of all.

What's amazing to me in 2016 is how unconcerned she or anyone else is about the fact that she's a good Kansas girl married to an Iranian Muslim and raising at least nominally Muslim children (although she does joke about it in regards to some Mexican nuns). That certainly wouldn't be the case if she were writing these stories today.

The author writes in a very nice conversational style and is a natural storyteller, so if you like interesting mid-century stories of travel and domesticity, you may want to try and dig a copy up.

First Line:

A Love Letter to Texas Women by Sarah Bird

Categories: Fra Angelico

Keywords: non-fiction, American non-fiction, memoir, letter, Texana, history, Austin, women, Lady Bird Johnson, politics

A Love Letter to Texas Women is a letter from transplanted-Texan Bird to all the Texas women out there telling them what she loves about them. In the process we learn a lot about Bird and some of her early Texas experiences, we meet a lot of interesting Texan women and get to enjoy a lot of Texas. It's a very short, quick read, less than 100 pages of larger-sized font. My only issue is when she gets a bit political at one point towards then end and defines Texas women in such a way that does not in fact match many Texans I've met (but does match up with a kind of mythical Austin woman of the 70s, 80s, and early 90s). But it's a fun read, and if you're a Texas (wo)man (or know someone who is), you may want to seek it out.

First Line: Me and the Texas Woman, it was not love at first sight.

Burning Bright by Melissa McShane

Series: Extraordinaries (1/?)

Categories: The Inklings

Keywords: fiction, American fiction, fantasy, historical fantasy, Regency Era, magic, Napoleonic Wars, Royal Navy, naval warfare, pirates, family

Burning Bright is a fun Regency-set fantasy in a world where people have "talents" (magical powers) and the strongest of these are known as Extraordinaries. Elinor has come to terms that she is not going to manifest a talent, when at 21 she accidentally sets her bed on fire and then puts it out. This marks her not only as a scorcher, but as an extraordinary scorcher—and a prime prize on the marriage mart in the eyes of her father. To escape an unwanted match, she volunteers her services to the Royal Navy instead and thus begins an adventure that will completely change her world.

A fun, adventurous romp across the Atlantic. We watch Elinor grow in her knowledge of her talent and herself. Plus, there are pirates. Who could say no to that? Highly recommended for fans of historical fantasy, particularly the Napoleonic Wars period.

First Line: Elinor dreamed of fire, the unseen ground beneath her burning and the air white with heat, and woke to find her dream a reality.

>138 inge87: Regency fantasy, you say? *adds to TBR immediately*

>139 christina_reads: Yep, and a good one too.

>138 inge87: You had me at "Regency" so "Pirates" was overkill!! :)

>141 DeltaQueen50: Did I mention that there are also handsome naval officers?

>142 inge87: You've bounced this book up to the top of my wish list!!

>143 DeltaQueen50: If you like the genre, it's very much worth reading.

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J. D. Vance

Categories: Mary Chesnut

Keywords: non-fiction, American non-fiction, memoir, history, Ohio, Kentucky, Yale, US Marines, growing up, hillbillies, Scotch-Irish, classism, regionalism, family, dysfunctional families, addiction, abuse, politics

Hillbilly Elegy is a memoir of growing up poor in Ohio but also a family history of the author's Scotch-Irish Kentucky family. Unlike many relatives, he managed to make it out—first to the Marines and then to Yale Law School. Having managed to succeed in the face of poverty, addiction, and low expectations, he also looks at why his people are suffering the way they are and how some of them have managed to escape the poverty, addiction, and dysfunction that might have otherwise seemed their predestined fate.

This book resonated with me immensely. As a woman of Scotch-Irish descent but of the Texas variety, I could see some of my family history reflected in Vance's story. My father only had the middle class upbringing he did because his paternal grandmother found religion like Vance's father and his maternal grandfather had aspirations beyond being a blue-color cotton oil worker. As we see in Vance's work, it is these kinds of choices that mark those who overcome their background from those who don't. I also had the out-of-body experience that is going to an elite New England college without the right background. I always joke that it's where I learned that "summer" was a verb. The isolating feeling of being othered due to class and regional background is very much a thing. Not that any of the north-easterners noticed that. Vance's commentary on the recent elections was one of my great online discoveries of 2016, so I was excited to pick up his book over Thanksgiving. This book was probably made for me, but I think it is also an important read for those who are not like me, so that they can learn about a world that exists both incredibly nearby geographically and yet ideologically so very far away. Highly recommended.

First Line: My name is J. D. Vance, and I think I should start with a confession: I find the existence of the book you hold in your hands somewhat absurd.

Twilight in Italy and Other Essays by D. H. Lawrence+

Categories: Herodotus, DeweyCAT

Keywords: non-fiction, British non-fiction, memoir, travel, Germany, Austria, Italy, Alps, essays

Twilight in Italy and Other Essays is a collection of various essays on Italy and the Alps written by Lawrence in the years surrounding the First World War. Some are more interesting than others. The problem for me readability-wise is that you get multiple versions of the same essay in a few cases, which got annoying, especially when the first version wasn't particularly interesting in the first case. However, it goes give you a feel for the evolution of Lawrence's style—in each case the second version is much more recognizably Lawrence-ian in feel than the earlier one. For those particularly interested in Lawrence and/or early 20th century depictions of the Alps and northern Italy only.

First Line: "Have you," I asked the waiter in the hotel, "any other papers beside the German ones?"

A History of Modern Oman by Jeremy Jones & Nicholas Ridout

Categories: Bede the Venerable, GeoCAT

Keywords: non-fiction, British non-fiction, history, Omani history, Middle Eastern history, modern history, Oman, Zanzibar, British Empire, Persian Gulf, slavery, trade, colonialism

A History of Modern Oman is a short, but dense history of the Sultanate of Oman, located on the Arabian Peninsula between Yemen and the Persian Gulf (i.e. Iran), focusing on the past 300 years. It's very interesting stuff, as the nations Ibadi Muslim majority operates outside of the usual Sunni-Shia dichotomy. However, there are just so many names and so much detail, that as someone with a good general knowledge of the Middle East, but not much in detail about Arabia besides the basics of the founding of Saudi Arabia, I got a bit lost. Someone with more background knowledge or who is looking for something specific (like Zanzibar, the country's relationship with Great Britain or Saudi Arabia, etc.) would probably enjoy it or get more out of it than I did. But if you're looking for a book specifically about Oman, this is probably the best thing out there.

First Line: What is modern Oman?

Without Roots: The West, Relativism, Christianity, Islam by Joseph Ratzinger & Marcello Pera*

Categories: Dominic de Guzmán, DeweyCAT

Keywords: non-fiction, Italian non-fiction, essays, religion, politics, immigration, Europe, Christianity, Catholicism, state religion, civic religion, Church and society, Church and the State

Without Roots is a collection of two essays and two letters, one by each author, about the existential crisis facing Western societies, particularly in Europe. Written by a future Pope and a President of the Italian Senate, the book approaches the major issues from both the religious and secular viewpoints. What is the role of Christianity in today's society? How dangerous is relativism? and Whither Europe? are just a few of the questions they seek to answer, and their answers are still very relevant today. With the exceptions of a few chestnuts like the European Constitution, the book has aged very well in its first decade. Those with an interest in Western civilization, moral relativism, and the roles and church and state will want to pick it up. Highly recommended.

First Line: At the beginning of his famous essay, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, Max Weber raised the following question: "A product of modern European civilization, studying any problem of universal history, is bound to ask himself to what combination of circumstances the fact should be attributed that in Western civilization, and in Western civilization only, cultural phenomena have appeared which (as we like to think) lie in a line of development having universal significance and value."

The Heliand by Anonymous+

Categories: Dominic de Guzmán

Keywords: non-fiction, Old Saxon non-fiction, religion, Christianity, Catholicism, Saxons, conversion, Gospels, Biblical paraphrase

The Heliand is a paraphrased synthesis of the four Gospels written by an anonymous Saxon in the Age of Charlemagne. It is a very interesting example of Christianity incorporating native Germanic traditions. In the work, Christ is portrayed as a chieftain with his earls and thanes in a Palestine that reflects the author's contemporary culture. This makes it a particularly insightful read, both for those interested in what 9th century Saxony was like and for those interested in early Germanic interpretations of Christianity. Highly recommended for anyone who thinks it sounds interesting.

First Line: There were many whose hearts told them that they should begin to tell the secret runes, the word of God, the famous feats that the powerful Christ accomplished in words and in deeds among human beings.

>145 inge87: Hillbilly Elegy may now be on my radar to read after reading your review. We picked it up through our lease book program because one of our English professors was interested in reading it. If I can catch it on the shelves, I'll probably read it next year.

>146 inge87: Oops - I also meant to comment that this one by Lawrence sounds interesting to me.

>150 thornton37814: & >151 thornton37814: It's an interesting and thought-provoking read. I can highly recommend it. The Laurence book is interesting, but probably not designed to be read straight through the way I was doing it. Individual essays were quite good.

November Round-Up!

Books Read: 14 (20 in 2013, 15 in 2014, & 19 in 2015)

Category Challenge

185 of 192 read - 96.35% done (true total 264 books)

14 of 16 categories completed - 87.5% done

Individual Categories
1. Robert Southwell: Classic Fiction (pre-1920) - 13 - 100%
2. The Inklings: Fantasy - 28 - 100%
3. Mary Chesnut: General Biography/Memoir - 12 - 100%
4. Naoko Takeuchi: Graphic Novels and Non-Fiction - 6 - 50%
5. Gertrud von Le Fort: Historical Fiction - 14 - 100%
6. The Venerable Bede: History - 15 - 100%
7. Dorothy L. Sayers: Mysteries - 19 - 100%
8. Fra Angelico: Other Non-Fiction - 19 - 100%
9. Beatrix Potter: Picture Books - 29 - 100%
10. George Mackay Brown: Recent Fiction (1970 onward) - 14 - 100%
11. Dominic de Guzmán: Religion - 20 - 100%
12. Élisabeth Leseur: Religious Biography/Memoir - 19 - 100%
13. Mary Stewart: Retro Fiction (1920-1969) - 12 - 100%
14. Gregor Mendel: Science - 12 - 100%
15. Herodotus: Travel - 11 - 91.67%
16. Frances Hodgson Burnett: YA/Juvenile Fiction - 21 - 100%

Challenges
DeweyCAT - 5
GeoCAT - 1
WomanBingoPUP - 1

Genre
Non-Fiction - 10 - 71.43%
Fiction - 4 - 28.57%

Sources
Me (this month) - 6 - 42.86%
Me (other) - 4 - 28.56%
Austin PL - 1 - 7.14%
ILL - 1 - 7.14%
Me (last month) - 1 - 7.14%
New Work - 1 - 7.14%

TBR and Rereads
TBR books - 3 - 14.67%
Rereads - 1 - 7.14%

Authors
Male - 8 - 57.84%
Female - 6 - 42.86%

Edition Language
English - 14 - 100%

Original Language
English - 11 - 78.58%
Indonesian - 1 - 7.14%
Italian - 1 - 7.14%
Old Saxon - 1 - 7.14%

Series
Stand-Alone Books - 13 - 92.86%
Series Books - 1 - 7.14%

Ratings Distribution
1 star - 0 - 0%
2 stars - 1 - 7.14%
3 stars - 8 - 57.84%
4 stars - 4 - 28.56%
5 stars - 1 - 7.14%

Average Rating
3.36

Discovery of the Month



Turbulent Covenant by Jessica Steele

First Line of the Month

"There were many whose hearts told them that they should begin to tell the secret runes, the word of God, the famous feats that the powerful Christ accomplished in words and in deeds among human beings."

—Anonymous (trans. G. Ronald Murphy, SJ), The Heliand

Best of the Month



Fiction: Burning Bright by Melissa McShane

Non-Fiction: Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J. D. Vance

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. Georgette Heyer is one of my favorite "comfort reads" authors. Glad to see you enjoying her Regency romances! You caught my attention with Cheney's The Golden City series and DeWees With This Curse series. Both are "new-to-me" authors. Fashioning the Body sounds fascinating!

>154 lkernagh: We're in agreement on Heyer. I can highly recommend The Golden City and its sequels. DeWees writes beautifully and well, but her plotting can be uneven, with one book being good and the next ridiculous. I buy the e-books, so I don't lose too much on the duds.

And now, a sneak peak of 2017. The theme is definitely Shakespeare, but the order and plays may change before things become official.

1. Richard II: Bio (gen.)
2. Two Gentlemen of Verona: Classic Fiction (–1919)
3. A Midsummer’s Night Dream: Fantasy/SF
4. Troilus and Cressida: Historical Fiction
5. Henry V: History
6. Hamlet: Mysteries
7. Much Ado About Nothing: Other Non-Fiction
8. As You Like It: Picture Books
9. Julius Caesar: Politics/Current Events
10. The Tempest: Recent Fic (1970–)
11. Henry VI, Part I: Religion (bio)
12. Henry VI, Part II: Religion (gen.)
13. The Merchant of Venice: Retro Fic (1920–1969)
14. Love’s Labours Lost: Science
15. The Winter’s Tale: Shakespeare
16. Twelfth Night: Travel
17. Romeo & Juliet: YA & Juv.

>156 inge87: A Shakespeare Challenge! How exciting!

>156 inge87: I love your Shakespeare challenge!

>157 MissWatson: I know, right?

>158 christina_reads: Thanks!

Submerged by Dani Pettrey

Series: Alaskan Courage (1/5)

Categories: George Mackay Brown

Keywords: fiction, American fiction, Christian fiction, thriller, Alaska, search and rescue, plane crashes, murder, treasure hunters, small towns, family, overcoming the past, Alaskan history, Russian Alaska

Submerged is a Christian thriller set in small-town Alaska—a place that suddenly becomes more exciting when a plane crash brings Bailey back to Yancey and bodies begin turning up around town. Bailey has been living in Oregon, because she finds her teenaged reputation in Alaska too much to deal with even though she's changed. All she wants is to settle her grandmother's affairs and return back to the safety of her new life; however, it appears that her grandmother may be directly connected to the murders that have shaken the town to the core. The added presence of an old love-interest only raises the stakes, and the choices soon become life and death—both for Bailey and her friends in Yancey.

A fun thriller. The redemptive aspects were overdone, even for the genre, but the Alaskan setting makes them fresher than they might be somewhere more conventional. Recommended for fans of the genre only.

First Line: Never wager unless you control the stakes.

The Hidden Half of Nature: The Microbial Roots of Life and Health by David R. Montgomery & Anne Bikle

Categories: Gregor Mendel

Keywords: non-fiction, American non-fiction, science, health, microbiology, ecology, gardening, microbes, compost, soil health, nutrients, eating right

The Hidden Half of Nature is a combination memoir and exploration of the microbiome. The authors began their journey when they bought a house and discovered that the garden they wanted was going to be next-to-impossible without soil improvements (yay, glacial till!). This would be just another gardening memoir, except the authors are actual scientists, so what follows instead is a journey through the history of man's relationship with and gradual discovery of microorganisms, as well as a history of the debate between modern chemical fertilizer and the benefits of more natural composting systems that make use of microbes. It's fun stuff, even if I sometimes wish there was a bit less of the personal and a bit more of the history. But if you enjoyed Missing Microbes and want to know more about the invisible world around you and inside of you, this is the book for you. Highly recommended.

First Line: We are living through a scientific revolution as illuminating as the discovery that the Earth orbits the Sun.

How to Be a Texan: The Manual by Andrea Valdez

Categories: Fra Angelico, DeweyCAT

Keywords: non-fiction, American non-fiction, Texas, Texana, humor, guide

How to Be a Texan is a fun guide to everything you need to know to be a Texan. A rather pan-regional homogenized Texan, but a Texan nonetheless. And any native Texan will be able to spot parts that resonate with their experiences and learn a few things about life in other parts of the state as well. The fact that Kerens, the birthplace of Big Tex, wasn't mentioned in the nonsensical pronunciation list (it's pronounced like "currens"), struck me as odd, but since the author seems to know South and Central Texas better than the rest of the state, maybe it shouldn't have been a surprise. A book meant more for entertainment than edification, it would make a nice gift for the Texas-lover in your life.

First Line: Once when I was a kid, my mother made an offhand comment that forever shaped my perspective of my home state.

My Brother Michael by Mary Stewart*

Categories: Mary Stewart

Keywords: fiction, British fiction, Greece, World War II, family, brothers, coincidences, guerrillas, murder, Delphi

My Brother Michael is a 1959 romantic thriller set in Greece. Camilla is bored and broke in Athens, but dreaming of getting to Delphi. Imagine her surprise when a stranger hands her the keys to a car that she supposedly ordered for a "Mr. Simon" in Delphi and then disappears. Clearly it was meant to be. Only it turns out that Simon has no idea what the car was for either, not that he's going to look the gift horse in the mouth either. Michael is in the area trying to learn more about the WWII death of his brother Michael, who was working as a British liaison with the Greek partisans. What he uncovers is shocking and places both his life and Camilla's in great danger.

It's typical a Mary Stewart thriller—a beautiful young thing getting into trouble in a foreign land—but it's one of the better ones. The war-angle is also interesting with shades of Madam, Will You Talk? but without any actual Nazis. Recommended for fans of the genre or those who enjoy novels set in Greece or dealing with Ancient Greek antiquities.

First Line: Nothing ever happens to me.

Mary, the Second Eve: Extracts for the Times by John Henry Cardinal Newman

Categories: Dominic de Guzmán, GeoCAT

Keywords: non-fiction, British non-fiction, religion, Christianity, Catholicism, Blessed Virgin Mary, excerpts, Early Church Fathers, Patristics, Cardinal Newman

Mary, the Second Eve is a collection of excerpts from the writings of Cardinal Newman covering the nature of the Virgin Mary, including whether or not she should be venerated, her Immaculate Conception, and her Assumption. Everything is either by Newman or one of the Early Church Fathers, if he is quoting, and cited so that you can find the quote in its original context. Pretty much everything is straight from the original editions, which is good, except that Newman preferred to spell Theotokos with a "c", which was a constant distraction because I kept reading it as "Theotacos" (mmm . . . tacos . . .). But the fact that that is my biggest issue with the book (at just under 40 pages long, it's really more of a pamphlet) should underscore just how useful and well-done it is. Anyone with an interest in understanding the venerable Christian tradition of honoring the Blessed Virgin or in Cardinal Newman's writings should pick this up. In fact, it would probably make a great introduction for someone wanting to try Newman for the first time, because everything is broken up into readable chunks and organized thematically. Highly recommended

First Line: . . . there just now seems a call on me . . . to avow plainly what I do and and what I do not hold about the Blessed Virgin, that others may know, did they come to stand where I stand, what they would, and what they would not, be bound to hold concerning her.

>163 inge87: Great first line! The protagonist will definitely be proven wrong on that score ;)

>165 rabbitprincess: In a Mary Stewart thriller? Definitely famous last words. :)

Wishing everyone a very watchful and wonderful Christmas Eve!



"A physician is coming to the sick, a redeemer to those who have been sold, a path to wanderers, and life to the dead. Yes, One is coming who will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea, who will heal all our diseases, who will carry us on his own shoulders back to the source of our original worth. Great is the might, but more wonderful is the mercy in that the One who could help us willed to come to our assistance! Today, Scripture says, you shall know that the Lord will come."

—St. Bernard of Clairvaux, "On the Eve of the Lord's Birth: Sermon Three"

Image: Adoration of the Shepherds, St. Peter Church, Purgstall an der Erlauf, Lower Austria

Trinity: A Graphic History of the First Atomic Bomb by Jonathan Fetter-Vorm

Categories: Naoko Takeuchi

Keywords: non-fiction, American non-fiction, graphic format, science, history, history of science, physics, atomic bombs, Manhattan Project, World War II

Trinity is a very compelling graphic novel about the development of the atomic bomb. Starting with the discovery of atoms, it works its way through the Manhattan Project, to the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, to the new post-bomb era. The author does a very good job both of making the invention exciting while also capturing the negative effects of the project and the way that many of those who worked on the bomb were troubled and conflicted about the effects of their work. One of the best graphic novels I've read this year, the art and the text are both very high quality. Highly recommended for anyone who likes interesting graphic-format non-fiction or has an interest in the atomic bomb, World War II, or the history of science.

First Line: Clearance badges?

One graphic novel down, five more to go!

CAT Completion Countdown

Total CATs to be Completed: 2

Total Books Necessary for Completion: 6

    Naoko Takeuchi: 5

    Herodotus: 1

Hm, I'll have to stalk the library shelves for Trinity or suggest they purchase it! Interesting!

Boxers by Gene Luen Yang

Series: Boxers & Saints (1/2)

Categories: Naoko Takeuchi, DeweyCAT

Keywords: fiction, American fiction, historical fiction, graphic novel, juvenile fiction, history, Chinese history, Boxer Rebellion, growing up, war, death, family, civil war

Boxers is a graphic novel about the Boxer Rebellion aimed at the juvenile to YA market. Bao loves the spring festival until one year strangers come to town and cause trouble, marking the beginning of a series of calamities that leads to his becoming interested in kung fu and resisting the "devils" (Westerners) whom he perceives as the destroyers of his homeland. Eventually, he becomes a leader in a civil war that will demand more from him that could ever have known. But, inspired by visions of an ancient Chinese hero, he will do what he has to do, even if it leads to his own destruction.

An interesting nuanced look at a bloody conflict that manages to show the grey areas while still remaining engaging. Highly recommended for fans of historical graphic novels or Chinese history.

First Line: Spring is my favorite time of year.

>170 rabbitprincess: It's really, really good. I can definitely recommend it.

CAT Completion Countdown

Total CATs to be Completed: 2

Total Books Necessary for Completion: 5

    Naoko Takeuchi: 4

    Herodotus: 1

Saints by Gene Luen Yang

Series: Boxers & Saints (2/2)

Categories: Naoko Takeuchi, DeweyCAT

Keywords: fiction, American fiction, historical fiction, graphic novel, juvenile fiction, history, Chinese history, missionaries, Boxer Rebellion, growing up, war, death, family, acceptance, heroism, Joan of Arc, redemption, forgiveness

Saints is the companion novel to Boxers, a graphic novel about the Boxer Rebellion aimed at the juvenile to YA market. This time it tells the story of Four-Girl, whom Bao meets on two fateful occasions in the first book. That's not really her name, because as the fourth daughter of the family, she was not valued enough to be given one. Until, after a series of events she meets Catholic missionaries and receives the name of Vibiana upon her baptism. Now that she has a name, she is determined to be a hero and help her new family in the time of upheaval. Throughout the story she has visions of Joan of Arc, who acts as her guide and inspiration. Note: Her life parallels that of Joan, so do not expect a Happy Ending. Because Bao and his soldiers are coming for the mission, and secondary devils like Vibiana are no safer than their white missionary teachers.

I actually liked this one better than Boxers. It does a very good job of showing the other side of the story, how the Westerners could help Chinese people as well as hurt them. Vibiana's life is definitely improved by the acceptance and opportunities given to her at the mission, compared to the benign neglect she got at home. The ending especially is fantastic, tying up the loose ends from the end of Boxers (if you want to know what happens to Bao, you need to read it), while also perfectly summing up the overall theme of redemption and forgiveness that is Saints. I can highly recommend the series to anyone who enjoys graphic novels about historical events.

First Line: I am my mother's fourth daughter, born on the fourth day of the fourth month, and the only one of her children to survive past a year.

CAT Completion Countdown

Total CATs to be Completed: 2

Total Books Necessary for Completion: 4

    Naoko Takeuchi: 3

    Herodotus: 1

The Vanished Path: A Graphic Travelogue by Bharath Murthy

Categories: Naoko Takeuchi

Keywords: non-fiction, Indian non-fiction, graphic format, travel, memoir, India, Nepal, Buddhism, pilgrimage, the life of Buddha

The Vanished Path is an account of a journey the author took with his wife to various places related to the life of the Buddha. Through his eyes, we view the sites as they are now, as well as life as a modern traveler to India. But we are also treated to bits of the Buddha's life story related to each site, which form the best parts of the book. It should have been good, but parts of the travel story seemed a bit random, and I had some issues with Murthy's artwork that take the book from potentially great to merely mediocre. But if you are interested in modern Indian Buddhists, what it would be like to travel to ancient Buddhist sites in India, or the life of the Buddha, you may want to pick this up—otherwise, skip it.

First Line: Then a certain monk went to the Blessed One
and, on arrival, having bowed down to him,
sat to one side.

Getting closer!

CAT Completion Countdown

Total CATs to be Completed: 2

Total Books Necessary for Completion: 3

    Naoko Takeuchi: 2

    Herodotus: 1

Confederate Night Before Christmas by Mark Vogl

Categories: Beatrix Potter, DeweyCAT

Keywords: fiction, American fiction, historical fiction, poetry, picture book, American Civil War, Confederate army, Stonewall Jackson, Christmas, 'Twas the Night before Christmas, Robert E. Lee

Confederate Night Before Christmas is a picture book retelling Clement Moore's poem The Night Before Christmas in a Confederate army camp during the American Civil War. It sounds crazy (and my Dad was amazed/incredulous that it had actually be published last year instead of fifty-plus years ago), but it's actually kind of cute and original. Instead of Santa, we are treated to a visit by Stonewall Jackson on his way to help Robert E. Lee give veterans, widows, and orphans some much needed food for Christmas. There are lots of nice period references in the text and a glossary at back to explain what various words, like saber, mean and who General Beauregard was. If you have a child in your life with an interest in the Civil War, this would be a perfect gift, and it's fun enough that it would probably also be appreciated by Civil War aficionados of all ages.

Since it involves the Confederacy, I should note that there is no mention of slavery in the book, and the only African-Americans shown are dressed in Confederate grey and driving a wagon in the background of the last page. That part of the war is very much out of sight in this book.

First Line: 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the camp
Only a sentry was stirring; it was dark, cold, and damp.

CAT Completion Countdown

Total CATs to be Completed: 2

Total Books Necessary for Completion: 3

    Naoko Takeuchi: 2

    Herodotus: 1

Fresh Romance, Volume 1

Series: Fresh Romance (1/?)

Categories: Naoko Takeuchi

Keywords: fiction, American fiction, comics, anthology, romance, magic, love, family

Fresh Romance, Vol. 1 is a collection of stories from the first six issues of the "Fresh Romance" comic series. The goal was a throwback to old fashioned romance comics of the mid-twentieth century with modern twists, so here we have a story featuring magic and romance at high school prom, the first part of an unconventional Regency romance, a matchmaker who thinks love is a mathematical equation, and a meditation on love in the form of a retelling of "Beauty and the Beast". The quality is a little uneven, but the stories and art are all good, whether it is the start Japanese woodprint-inspired "Ruined" or the Alphonse Muncha-eque "Beauties". If you have an interest in comics created by and for women, you may want to seek this out. The comic series recently found a new publisher and they are currently re-publishing one of the stories as a free webcomic.

First Line: You remember your lines?

All caught up on reviews! With two books and two CATs to go, which will be finished first?

CAT Completion Countdown

Total CATs to be Completed: 2

Total Books Necessary for Completion: 2

    Naoko Takeuchi: 1

    Herodotus: 1

Murder for Christmas by Francis Duncan

Categories: Dorothy L. Sayers, GeoCAT

Keywords: fiction, British fiction, mystery, Christmas, house party, celebrations, secrets, Father Christmas, murder, family, amateur detective

Murder for Christmas is a fun holiday house party mystery, in which a joyous celebration turns out to be not so joyous at all. After all, when someone has murdered Father Christmas and stolen all the presents, it's pretty hard to feel much Christmas spirit. Luckily, an amateur detective and murder magnet was invited this year, and is more than happy to help police get to the bottom of things. And with a house full of guests, there are lots of things to get to the bottom of, so the author will keep you guessing until the very end. Recommended for those who enjoy golden age mysteries, Christmas mysteries, or house party mysteries.

First Line: 'I believe,' said Denys, 'it really is!'

CAT Completion Countdown

Total CATs to be Completed: 2

Total Books Necessary for Completion: 2

    Naoko Takeuchi: 1

    Herodotus: 1

Fatherland: A Family History by Nina Bunjevac

Categories: Naoko Takeuchi

Keywords: non-fiction, Canadian non-fiction, Serbian-Canadian non-fiction, memoir, family, immigration, abusive spouses, extremism, terrorism, World War II, Yugoslavia, Serbia, separation, loyalty

Fatherland is a graphic memoir of the authors childhood in Canada and Yugoslavia, as well as an attempt to understand her father, a Serbian nationalist, who was accidentally killed by his own explosives. We experience first her mother's attempts at escape, which culminate in her fleeing back to Yugoslavia with their daughters (he wouldn't let her take their son). We then flash back to her father's difficult childhood, which included being orphaned during the Second World War, and the events that soured him against the Yugoslav government and forced him to seek exile in Canada. He's never a truly sympathetic character, and—if the author's depiction is true—he was probably a psychopath; however, we do come to understand him a bit. And understand why his wife was so desperate to get her family away from him. But in the process of telling her family's story, Bunjevac also tells the story of Yugoslavia and the peoples united under its flag. Highly recommended for those who enjoy graphic memoirs or have an interest in the history of the Balkans or southeastern Europe.

First Line: The food supply is scarce yet in high demand as there are just too many mouths to feed . . .

One CAT down, one more to go!

CAT Completion Countdown

Total CATs to be Completed: 1

Total Books Necessary for Completion: 1

    Naoko Takeuchi: 0!!!

    Herodotus: 1

And as of 11:10 CST, we are DONE! I'll actually get the last review up tomorrow for Under Another Sky, but when it comes to reading, that's it for 2016.

>186 inge87: Congratulations on completing your challenge!

Under Another Sky: Journeys in Roman Britain by Charlotte Higgins

Categories: Herodotus, GeoCAT

Keywords: non-fiction, British non-fiction, travel, memoir, history, British history, Ancient history, archaeology, England, Scotland, Wales, Roman Britain

Under Another Sky is a blend of ancient history and travel memoir, as the author travels around the Island of Britain exploring the lingering traces of Rome that can be found there. From settlements and villas in the south to the wilds of Scotland in the north, there is seems there is nowhere that the Romans did not reach, in spite of the fact that Britannia was one of the most remote outposts of the Roman Empire. In the process, we learn a lot about Roman life in Britain, from the first landings somewhere in Kent to the final departure sometime in the fifth century. The greatest impression though is of how little we actually know of life in Roman Britain and how much of what we know is guesswork based off of a few meager clues and or a few lucky finds.

Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in Roman Britain or travel memoirs that focus on history.

First Line: If you stand at the end of the modernist concrete pier in the Kentish town of Deal, you can lean into the sea breeze, as fresh to the face as a dousing of cold water, and look back to the shoreline, where coffee-coloured waves crackle against the pebbled beach.

>187 christina_reads: Thanks!

December Round-Up!

Books Read: 14 (15 in 2013, 14 in 2014, & 21 in 2015)

Category Challenge

192 of 192 read - 100% done (true total 278 books)

14 of 16 categories completed - 87.5% done

Individual Categories
1. Robert Southwell: Classic Fiction (pre-1920) - 13 - 100%
2. The Inklings: Fantasy - 28 - 100%
3. Mary Chesnut: General Biography/Memoir - 12 - 100%
4. Naoko Takeuchi: Graphic Novels and Non-Fiction - 12 - 100%
5. Gertrud von Le Fort: Historical Fiction - 14 - 100%
6. The Venerable Bede: History - 15 - 100%
7. Dorothy L. Sayers: Mysteries - 20 - 100%
8. Fra Angelico: Other Non-Fiction - 20 - 100%
9. Beatrix Potter: Picture Books - 30 - 100%
10. George Mackay Brown: Recent Fiction (1970 onward) - 15 - 100%
11. Dominic de Guzmán: Religion - 21 - 100%
12. Élisabeth Leseur: Religious Biography/Memoir - 19 - 100%
13. Mary Stewart: Retro Fiction (1920-1969) - 13 - 100%
14. Gregor Mendel: Science - 13 - 100%
15. Herodotus: Travel - 12 - 100%
16. Frances Hodgson Burnett: YA/Juvenile Fiction - 21 - 100%

Challenges
DeweyCAT - 4
GeoCAT - 2

Genre
Non-Fiction - 7 - 50%
Fiction - 7 - 50%

Sources
Corsicana PL - 4 - 28.57%
Work - 4 - 28.57%
Me (this month) - 3 - 21.44%
Irving PL - 2 - 14.28%
Me (other) - 1 - 7.14%

TBR and Rereads
TBR books - 0 - 0%
Rereads - 1 - 7.14%

Authors
Male - 7 - 50%
Female - 7 - 50%

Edition Language
English - 14 - 100%

Original Language
English - 14 - 100%

Series
Stand-Alone Books - 10 - 71.43%
Series Books - 4 - 28.57%

Average Original Date of Publication
2003

Median Original Date of Publication
2013

Ratings Distribution
1 star - 0 - 0%
2 stars - 2 - 14.28%
3 stars - 7 - 50%
4 stars - 4 - 28.57%
5 stars - 1 - 7.14%

Average Rating
3.29

Discovery of the Month



Mary, the Second Eve by John Henry Cardinal Newman

First Line of the Month

"Nothing ever happens to me."

—Mary Stewart, My Brother Michael

Best of the Month



Fiction: Saints by Gene Luen Yang

Non-Fiction: Trinity: A Graphic History of the First Atomic Bomb by Jonathan Fetter-Vorm

Well, that's it for 2016, come and join me on my new thread in 2017!

inge87's Shakespearean 17-in-17

Great December round-up with lots of BBs for me! Congratulations on finishing your challenge and I'll see you on your 2017 thread :)