1Zozette
My Year of S & M
Hi, my name is Lynette and No, I am not into kink so none of what I will reading will be ‘those sort of books’.
Instead this year my reading challenge is going to be brought to you by the letters S and M. This is because my favourite fiction genres are Science fiction and Mysteries.
So I will start with the letter S and then go onto M.
1) Science Fiction which may also include biographies of science fiction authors.
2) Science including ‘The Science of…….’ books and also biographies of scientists. Also includes medical themed books.
3) Secret Lives/Life ….any book with this is its title. Fiction and non-fiction.
4) Shakespeare inspired novels.
5) Senior citizens. Any novel that has a person over 65 (my age) as a main character.
6) Street Libraries - which are known as Little Free Libraries in the USA but Street Libraries in some parts of Australia. Any book I find in a street library.
7) Survival Stories. Fiction and non-fiction
8) Sea/Marine. Non-Fiction and fiction.
9) Mysteries and Murder. This can include true crime if it is about a murder/s. I imagine I will be reading a few Medieval Mysteries.
10) Musical themed. Fiction and non-fiction.
11) Middle-grade books.
12) Museums . Non-fiction books about museums, or novels where a museum is an important location.
13 Microhistory
14) Miscellaneous S and M. Maps, mathematics, steampunk, books translated from Spanish etc etc etc
There will certainly be some overlapping of categories. Such as murder mysteries at sea, or murder mysteries solved by senior citizens, survival stories at sea, Shakespeare inspired science fiction etc etc
PHOTO - my favourite street library, taken off Google Earth. I will try to get a better photo when I next visit it.
Hi, my name is Lynette and No, I am not into kink so none of what I will reading will be ‘those sort of books’.
Instead this year my reading challenge is going to be brought to you by the letters S and M. This is because my favourite fiction genres are Science fiction and Mysteries.
So I will start with the letter S and then go onto M.
1) Science Fiction which may also include biographies of science fiction authors.
2) Science including ‘The Science of…….’ books and also biographies of scientists. Also includes medical themed books.
3) Secret Lives/Life ….any book with this is its title. Fiction and non-fiction.
4) Shakespeare inspired novels.
5) Senior citizens. Any novel that has a person over 65 (my age) as a main character.
6) Street Libraries - which are known as Little Free Libraries in the USA but Street Libraries in some parts of Australia. Any book I find in a street library.
7) Survival Stories. Fiction and non-fiction
8) Sea/Marine. Non-Fiction and fiction.
9) Mysteries and Murder. This can include true crime if it is about a murder/s. I imagine I will be reading a few Medieval Mysteries.
10) Musical themed. Fiction and non-fiction.
11) Middle-grade books.
12) Museums . Non-fiction books about museums, or novels where a museum is an important location.
13 Microhistory
14) Miscellaneous S and M. Maps, mathematics, steampunk, books translated from Spanish etc etc etc
There will certainly be some overlapping of categories. Such as murder mysteries at sea, or murder mysteries solved by senior citizens, survival stories at sea, Shakespeare inspired science fiction etc etc
PHOTO - my favourite street library, taken off Google Earth. I will try to get a better photo when I next visit it.
2Zozette
Category 1- SCIENCE FICTION
1) William Shakespeare’s Star Wars by Ian Doescher 4/5
2) The Great Martian War: Invasion by Scott Washburn 4/5
3) The Left Hand of Dog by Si Clarke 4/5
4) The Tusks of Extinction by Ray Nayler 4/5
5) Venomous Lumpsucker by Ned Beauman 4.5/5
6) Four Day Planet by H Beam Piper 3/5
7) The Great Martian War: Breakthrough by Scott Washburn 4/5
8) Extinction by Douglas Preston 3.5/5
9) The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield 4/5
10) The Great Martian War: Counterattack by Scott Washburn 4/5
SUBCATEGORY - biographies of sci-fi writers
1) Becoming Superman by J. Michael Straczynski 5/5
1) William Shakespeare’s Star Wars by Ian Doescher 4/5
2) The Great Martian War: Invasion by Scott Washburn 4/5
3) The Left Hand of Dog by Si Clarke 4/5
4) The Tusks of Extinction by Ray Nayler 4/5
5) Venomous Lumpsucker by Ned Beauman 4.5/5
6) Four Day Planet by H Beam Piper 3/5
7) The Great Martian War: Breakthrough by Scott Washburn 4/5
8) Extinction by Douglas Preston 3.5/5
9) The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield 4/5
10) The Great Martian War: Counterattack by Scott Washburn 4/5
SUBCATEGORY - biographies of sci-fi writers
1) Becoming Superman by J. Michael Straczynski 5/5
3Zozette
Category 2 - SCIENCE
1) Medical Downfall of the Tudors by Sylvia Barbara Soberton. 4/5
2) The Ruby Princess by Duncan McNab 3.5/5
3) The Secret Lives of Planets by Paul Murdin 3.5/5
4) The Secret Life of Fungi by Aliya Whiteley 4/5
5) Patient Zero by Marilee Peters 4/5
6) Around the world in 80 Birds by Mark Unwin 4/5
SCIENCE OF ……BOOKS
1) The Science of Jurassic World by Mark Brake 4/5
2) Fire, Ice and Physics: The Science of Game of Thrones by Rebecca C. Thompson 4.5/5
1) Medical Downfall of the Tudors by Sylvia Barbara Soberton. 4/5
2) The Ruby Princess by Duncan McNab 3.5/5
3) The Secret Lives of Planets by Paul Murdin 3.5/5
4) The Secret Life of Fungi by Aliya Whiteley 4/5
5) Patient Zero by Marilee Peters 4/5
6) Around the world in 80 Birds by Mark Unwin 4/5
SCIENCE OF ……BOOKS
1) The Science of Jurassic World by Mark Brake 4/5
2) Fire, Ice and Physics: The Science of Game of Thrones by Rebecca C. Thompson 4.5/5
4Zozette
Category 3 - SECRET LIVES/LIFE
1) Secret Lives by Mark De Castrique 4/5
2) The Secret Lives of Planets by Paul Murdin 3.5/5
3) The Secret life of Fungi by Aliya Whiteley 4/5
1) Secret Lives by Mark De Castrique 4/5
2) The Secret Lives of Planets by Paul Murdin 3.5/5
3) The Secret life of Fungi by Aliya Whiteley 4/5
5Zozette
Category 4 - SHAKESPEARE INSPIRED NOVELS
1) William Shakespeare’s Star Wars by Ian Doescher 4/5
Possibilities
Fool by Christopher Moore
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
1) William Shakespeare’s Star Wars by Ian Doescher 4/5
Possibilities
Fool by Christopher Moore
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
6Zozette
Category 5 - SENIOR CITIZENS
1) Secret Lives by Mark De Castrique 4/5
2) Dangerous Women by Mark De Castrique 4/5
1) Secret Lives by Mark De Castrique 4/5
2) Dangerous Women by Mark De Castrique 4/5
7Zozette
Category 6 - STREET LIBRARIES
1) Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer 4/5
2) Kingdom by Clive Cussler and Grant Blackwood 3.5/5
3) This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel 4/5
4) Artemis Fowl and the Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer 3.5/5
1) Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer 4/5
2) Kingdom by Clive Cussler and Grant Blackwood 3.5/5
3) This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel 4/5
4) Artemis Fowl and the Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer 3.5/5
8Zozette
SURVIVAL STORIES
1) Society of the Snow by Pablo Vierci. There doesn’t seem to be a touchstone for the English edition of this book, which was only released last month. Excellent book 5/5.
9Zozette
Category 8 - SEA/MARINE
1) Madhouse at the End of the Earth by Julian Sancton 4/5
2) The White Ship by Charles Spencer 4/5
3) The Ruby Princess by Duncan McMab 3.5/5
4) Sea Hunters: Shonisaurus by William Meikle 3/5
5) The History of the World in Twelve Shipwrecks by David Gibbins 4/5
1) Madhouse at the End of the Earth by Julian Sancton 4/5
2) The White Ship by Charles Spencer 4/5
3) The Ruby Princess by Duncan McMab 3.5/5
4) Sea Hunters: Shonisaurus by William Meikle 3/5
5) The History of the World in Twelve Shipwrecks by David Gibbins 4/5
10Zozette
Category 9- MYSTERIES and MURDER
1) Murder at the Tower of London by Jim Eldridge 3.5/5
2) The Ninth Grave by Stefan Ahnhem 3/5
3) Exit Strategy by Jen J. Danna 3.5/5
4) Murder at the Louvre by Jim Eldridge 4/5
5) The Dark by Emma Haughton 3.5/5
6) America’s First Female Serial Killer by Mary Kay McBrayer 2.5/5
7) Rather Be the Devil by Ian Rankin 3.5/5
8) Secret Lives by Mark De Castrique 4/5
9) Dangerous Women by Mark De Castrique 4/5
10) Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie 3.5/5
11) Extinction by Douglas Preston 3.5/5
12) Dark Fire by CJ Sansom 4/5
13) The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield 4/5
14) Sovereign by CJ Sansom 4/5
1) Murder at the Tower of London by Jim Eldridge 3.5/5
2) The Ninth Grave by Stefan Ahnhem 3/5
3) Exit Strategy by Jen J. Danna 3.5/5
4) Murder at the Louvre by Jim Eldridge 4/5
5) The Dark by Emma Haughton 3.5/5
6) America’s First Female Serial Killer by Mary Kay McBrayer 2.5/5
7) Rather Be the Devil by Ian Rankin 3.5/5
8) Secret Lives by Mark De Castrique 4/5
9) Dangerous Women by Mark De Castrique 4/5
10) Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie 3.5/5
11) Extinction by Douglas Preston 3.5/5
12) Dark Fire by CJ Sansom 4/5
13) The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield 4/5
14) Sovereign by CJ Sansom 4/5
12Zozette
Category 11 - MIDDLE GRADE
1) Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer 4/5
2) Bookshop at the Back of Beyond 4/5 by Amy Sparkes
3) Artemis Fowl and the Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer 3.5/5
4) The Lighthouse at the World’s End by Amy Sparkes 3.5/5
1) Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer 4/5
2) Bookshop at the Back of Beyond 4/5 by Amy Sparkes
3) Artemis Fowl and the Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer 3.5/5
4) The Lighthouse at the World’s End by Amy Sparkes 3.5/5
13Zozette
Category 12 - MUSEUMS
1) Murder at the Tower of London by Jim Eldridge. 9th book in The Museum Detectives series. 3.5/5
2) Murder at the Louvre by Jim Eldridge. 10th book in the Museum Detective series 4/5
1) Murder at the Tower of London by Jim Eldridge. 9th book in The Museum Detectives series. 3.5/5
2) Murder at the Louvre by Jim Eldridge. 10th book in the Museum Detective series 4/5
14Zozette
Category 13 - MICROHISTORY
1) Dress Codes: How the Laws of Fashion Made History by Richard Thompson Ford. 3.5/5
2) The History of the World in Twelve Shipwrecks by David Gibbins 4/5
Probabilities/possibilities
All Buttons Great and Small by Lucy Godoroja
Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky
Rain: A Natural and Cultural History by Cynthia Barnett
Longitude by Dava Sobel
The Fabric of Civilization by Virginia Postrel
A Short History of the World According to Sheep by Sally Coulthard
Chocolate Wars by Deborah Cadbury
The Story of Silver by William Silber
1) Dress Codes: How the Laws of Fashion Made History by Richard Thompson Ford. 3.5/5
2) The History of the World in Twelve Shipwrecks by David Gibbins 4/5
Probabilities/possibilities
All Buttons Great and Small by Lucy Godoroja
Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky
Rain: A Natural and Cultural History by Cynthia Barnett
Longitude by Dava Sobel
The Fabric of Civilization by Virginia Postrel
A Short History of the World According to Sheep by Sally Coulthard
Chocolate Wars by Deborah Cadbury
The Story of Silver by William Silber
16lowelibrary
Interesting categories this year. Good luck with your 2024 reading.
18DeltaQueen50
You have come up with some interesting themes. Have fun with your challenges!
22MissWatson
That is a great idea! Happy reading in 2024!
23MissBrangwen
What a unique idea! I'm especially looking forward to seeing what you read for category 13.
24JayneCM
This looks like lots of fun and very interesting. I'm sure there will be lots of BBs in here for me.
Happy reading in 2024!
Happy reading in 2024!
25rabbitprincess
Have a great reading year! What an excellent theme!
27Zozette
Thanks everyone for your encouraging comments.
I bought myself an Advent Crime Fiction Book Box which contains 24 individually wrapped books that I can open one a day from December 1. I hope there are more than a few books among these books that I will enjoy reading.
I also have bought 50 books at the Audible state wide sale, total cost was $US200.06.
I bought myself an Advent Crime Fiction Book Box which contains 24 individually wrapped books that I can open one a day from December 1. I hope there are more than a few books among these books that I will enjoy reading.
I also have bought 50 books at the Audible state wide sale, total cost was $US200.06.
28mstrust
Wow, I'd never heard of a crime advent and it sounds like fun. Sounds like you've stocked up for the year!
29christina_reads
>27 Zozette: An advent calendar with BOOKS! What a brilliant idea!
30VivienneR
>27 Zozette: What a terrific idea!
31JayneCM
>27 Zozette: Every year I am SO tempted by the bookgrocer advent books! I hope you find some treasures in there - I would be interested to see if you are happy with the choices they make.
32Zozette
>31 JayneCM:
This is the first year I have bought an advent box and it took me a couple of weeks to reach the decision to buy one. I will post a photo of the opened box tomorrow and show what my first book is. I will then again a week later and show the next seven books.
This is the first year I have bought an advent box and it took me a couple of weeks to reach the decision to buy one. I will post a photo of the opened box tomorrow and show what my first book is. I will then again a week later and show the next seven books.
33Zozette
It is Dec 1 in Australia so I opened the box and unwrapped the first book
Say Goodbye by Karen Rose has a 4.05 rating here on LibraryThing. The cost of the book on Amazon AU is $11.89. It is the third book in a series, though it seems it can be read as a standalone. One of its tags is Romance Suspense which is a sub-genre I don’t enjoy. I think therefore this is going into my pile of books I plan to leave at a street library in exchange for something I will enjoy more.
Say Goodbye by Karen Rose has a 4.05 rating here on LibraryThing. The cost of the book on Amazon AU is $11.89. It is the third book in a series, though it seems it can be read as a standalone. One of its tags is Romance Suspense which is a sub-genre I don’t enjoy. I think therefore this is going into my pile of books I plan to leave at a street library in exchange for something I will enjoy more.
34VivienneR
It's a hefty book too. I don't care much for most big books - unless they're history or something special. I've never even heard of Romantic Suspense.
35dudes22
I have to admit to being somewhat jealous of an advent book box. I went to look at a description of the book and saw the word "cult" in the first sentence and thought, "Nope - not for me" and went no further.
36JayneCM
>33 Zozette: Receiving a book that was third in a series would frustrate me. I hope you get some winners in the box.
37Tess_W
>27 Zozette: Book advent box--great idea! I also purchased several dozen books at the Audible sale at 50-75% off, most costing between $1.99-2.99. I like having them at my fingertips and not having to wait on them from the library--they were all on my WL.
38Zozette
I have so unwrapped 5 more books.
The Devil’s Advocate by Steve Cavanagh, 5th in series
Hostage by Clare Mackintosh, Standalone
Cold Justice by Ant Middleton,1st in series
Rather Be the Devil By Ian Rankin 21st in series
What You Want to See by Kristen Lepionka, 2nd in series.
I don’t mind the Ian Rankin book being 21st in series. I have read a couple of books in the series in the past after picking them up second hand. I also remember watching some episodes of the Rebus TV series.
The Devil’s Advocate by Steve Cavanagh, 5th in series
Hostage by Clare Mackintosh, Standalone
Cold Justice by Ant Middleton,1st in series
Rather Be the Devil By Ian Rankin 21st in series
What You Want to See by Kristen Lepionka, 2nd in series.
I don’t mind the Ian Rankin book being 21st in series. I have read a couple of books in the series in the past after picking them up second hand. I also remember watching some episodes of the Rebus TV series.
40Zozette
Yes, I will post photos of the next few in a couple of days time. So far I have opened up 10 books. I have been very happy about 2 of them, reasonably pleased with another 4, iffy about 2 of them and 2 of them don’t appeal to me at all. If this continues I will certainly get my money’s worth and more.
41Zozette
Books 7 to 11.
Seven Lies by Elizabeth Kay. Gets a 3.56 here. I don’t think I will be reading this one.
The Ninth Grave by Stefan Ahnhem. 3.61 stars. I usually like Nordic mysteries so I will reading this one.
The Dark by Emma Haughton. 3.31 stars. Closed circle mystery set in Antarctica. A certainty for me.
Rogue Asset by Andy McDermott. 3.67 stars. A No for me.
Wild Card by Michael Brandman. 3.38 stars. i will read this one.
By time I had unwrapped 9 books, the value of the books had added up to the amount I paid for the box (going on the prices at Amazon Australia).
Seven Lies by Elizabeth Kay. Gets a 3.56 here. I don’t think I will be reading this one.
The Ninth Grave by Stefan Ahnhem. 3.61 stars. I usually like Nordic mysteries so I will reading this one.
The Dark by Emma Haughton. 3.31 stars. Closed circle mystery set in Antarctica. A certainty for me.
Rogue Asset by Andy McDermott. 3.67 stars. A No for me.
Wild Card by Michael Brandman. 3.38 stars. i will read this one.
By time I had unwrapped 9 books, the value of the books had added up to the amount I paid for the box (going on the prices at Amazon Australia).
42MissBrangwen
>41 Zozette: I read The Dark last year and despite some flaws I really enjoyed it! The setting is fascinating and depicted very well.
45beccac220
I have to admit...I was curious what the "S" and "M" stood for.
All of your categories sound very interesting. Look forward to what you read this year!
All of your categories sound very interesting. Look forward to what you read this year!
46lindapanzo
Love the S and M theme. It happens that my two favorite kinds of reading are Sports and Mysteries. Hmmm.
47Zozette
Photo of the 24 books I ended up getting in the mystery box. I really enjoyed unwrapping the books each day and I think I got my money’s worth. I might buy another one in November.
48Zozette
First book of 2024
category - SURVIVAL STORIES
Society of the Snow by Pablo Vierci. There doesn’t seem to be a touchstone yet for the English edition of this book so I have link to the Spanish edition.
This is the 9th book I have read about the Andes Survivors. Of the first 8 books I rated Alive by Piers Paul Read and Miracle of the Andes by Nando Parrado the highest but I think that this book surpasses both of those books. It is the saddest, most moving of all the 9 books. The author interviewed all 16 of the survivors and each of them has a chapter of his own. I especially liked the chapters about Bobby Francois, Alvaro Mangino, Roy Harley and Moncho Sabella as the other books had not covered much of which came to light in their chapters. First published in Spanish in 2009 I have waited years for an English translation which was finally released last month.
For anyone who has not read any book about the Andes Survivors I would recommend reading ‘Alive’ first and follow it up with this book. 5/5.
category - SURVIVAL STORIES
Society of the Snow by Pablo Vierci. There doesn’t seem to be a touchstone yet for the English edition of this book so I have link to the Spanish edition.
This is the 9th book I have read about the Andes Survivors. Of the first 8 books I rated Alive by Piers Paul Read and Miracle of the Andes by Nando Parrado the highest but I think that this book surpasses both of those books. It is the saddest, most moving of all the 9 books. The author interviewed all 16 of the survivors and each of them has a chapter of his own. I especially liked the chapters about Bobby Francois, Alvaro Mangino, Roy Harley and Moncho Sabella as the other books had not covered much of which came to light in their chapters. First published in Spanish in 2009 I have waited years for an English translation which was finally released last month.
For anyone who has not read any book about the Andes Survivors I would recommend reading ‘Alive’ first and follow it up with this book. 5/5.
49Zozette
2nd book finished in 2024
categories - SHAKESPEARE INSPIRED and SCIENCE FICTION.
William Shakespeare’s Star Wars: Verily, a New Hope by Ian Doescher.
The story of Star Wars told as if William Shakespeare had written it. It was a lot of fun. I listened to the audio version and it was fun, I especially adored little R2D2. I plan to read the next book The Empire Striketh Back soon. 4/5
categories - SHAKESPEARE INSPIRED and SCIENCE FICTION.
William Shakespeare’s Star Wars: Verily, a New Hope by Ian Doescher.
The story of Star Wars told as if William Shakespeare had written it. It was a lot of fun. I listened to the audio version and it was fun, I especially adored little R2D2. I plan to read the next book The Empire Striketh Back soon. 4/5
50Tess_W
>48 Zozette: Thank you for your review. I've always been interested in that event and have indeed read Alive. I have put it on my WL!
51Zozette
Book number 3-
categories - MURDER AND MYSTERIES and MUSEUMS
Murder at the Tower of London by Jim Eldridge. Ninth book in the Museum Detectives series. The year is 1899 and a beefeater is murdered in the Tower of London and his body is hidden in a suit of armour. The Prince of Wales asks Daniel and Abigail to investigate. I did not enjoy this book as much as some of the previous books in the series. 3.5/5
categories - MURDER AND MYSTERIES and MUSEUMS
Murder at the Tower of London by Jim Eldridge. Ninth book in the Museum Detectives series. The year is 1899 and a beefeater is murdered in the Tower of London and his body is hidden in a suit of armour. The Prince of Wales asks Daniel and Abigail to investigate. I did not enjoy this book as much as some of the previous books in the series. 3.5/5
52Zozette
Book number 4
SCIENCE - subcategory MEDICAL
Medical Downfall of the Tudors by Sylvia Barbara Soberton.
This book covered the reproductive problems, mental health issues, physical illnesses and causes of death of the various members of the Tudor dynasty. An interesting enough read despite the fact that this is far from my favourite period of history. 4/5
SCIENCE - subcategory MEDICAL
Medical Downfall of the Tudors by Sylvia Barbara Soberton.
This book covered the reproductive problems, mental health issues, physical illnesses and causes of death of the various members of the Tudor dynasty. An interesting enough read despite the fact that this is far from my favourite period of history. 4/5
53Tess_W
>52 Zozette: I have read extensively about the Tudors, historically and politically. This book is right up my alley! Going to search for it now!
54mstrust
>47 Zozette: Wow, that's a great haul!
55Zozette
>54 mstrust: yes, I was quite happy with what I ended up with. I read Missing Persons just after Christmas and today I started another book from the box.
56Zozette
Book 5
Categories MIDDLE-GRADE and STREET LIBRARIES
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer. I picked up the first two Artemis Fowl books from a street library and I really enjoyed reading the first book about this young 12 year old criminal mastermind. Loved both the human characters and the fairies/goblins/dwarves etc that Artemis went up against. 4/5
I will return this book, and the second book, to a different street library once I finish the other book.
Categories MIDDLE-GRADE and STREET LIBRARIES
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer. I picked up the first two Artemis Fowl books from a street library and I really enjoyed reading the first book about this young 12 year old criminal mastermind. Loved both the human characters and the fairies/goblins/dwarves etc that Artemis went up against. 4/5
I will return this book, and the second book, to a different street library once I finish the other book.
57Zozette
Book 6
Category - SCIENCE FICTION
The Great Martian War: Invasion by Scott Washburn. It is 1907, Theodore Roosevelt is the president of the USA and several years have past since the Martian invaded Britain (as told by HG Wells). Evidence is mounting that the Martians are planning a second invasion and preparations are being made.
The thing I liked most about this book is the both the human and Martian POV is given. First book in a series. 4/5.
Category - SCIENCE FICTION
The Great Martian War: Invasion by Scott Washburn. It is 1907, Theodore Roosevelt is the president of the USA and several years have past since the Martian invaded Britain (as told by HG Wells). Evidence is mounting that the Martians are planning a second invasion and preparations are being made.
The thing I liked most about this book is the both the human and Martian POV is given. First book in a series. 4/5.
58Zozette
Book 7
Category - MICROHISTORY
Dress Codes: How the Laws of Fashion Made History by Richard Thomas Ford.
I found the majority of this book to be quite interesting but once it reached the later quarter of the 20th century and went into the 21st century I found it to be a little tedious as I am not that interested in the modern era. The history of fashion in the black community in the early 20th century was on of the best parts of the book for me.
This would be a good book for anyone who is more interested in fashion than I am. Also I listened to this as an audiobook and I think reading it as a printed book with illustration would have been better (if the printed book does have pictures). 3.5/5 for me.
At one point the author related that Danielle Steele owns 6000 pairs of shoes but on her blog she denies it is anywhere near that many.
Category - MICROHISTORY
Dress Codes: How the Laws of Fashion Made History by Richard Thomas Ford.
I found the majority of this book to be quite interesting but once it reached the later quarter of the 20th century and went into the 21st century I found it to be a little tedious as I am not that interested in the modern era. The history of fashion in the black community in the early 20th century was on of the best parts of the book for me.
This would be a good book for anyone who is more interested in fashion than I am. Also I listened to this as an audiobook and I think reading it as a printed book with illustration would have been better (if the printed book does have pictures). 3.5/5 for me.
At one point the author related that Danielle Steele owns 6000 pairs of shoes but on her blog she denies it is anywhere near that many.
59Zozette
Book 8
Category - SCIENCE FICTION
The Left Hand of Dog by Si Clarke. A light and fun book about how an Earthling and their dog are kidnapped by aliens. I loved the characters especially the dog. 4/5
Category - SCIENCE FICTION
The Left Hand of Dog by Si Clarke. A light and fun book about how an Earthling and their dog are kidnapped by aliens. I loved the characters especially the dog. 4/5
60DeltaQueen50
>59 Zozette: I just picked up a copy for my Kindle and it was free! Of course the point seems to be to lure one in to buying the other two books in the trilogy - but they are greatly reduced so I may just go back and get them! "Kidnapped by Aliens" is one of my favorite plots!
61Zozette
Book 9
Category - SCIENCE FICTION
The Tusks of Extinction by Ray Nayler.
Damira is an expert on elephants who is murdered by poachers in Kenya. However a year before her murder her consciousness was copied.
Meanwhile in Russia, mammoths have been bought back from extinction. They thrive in captivity but as soon as they are released into the wild they start to die off. In the end the solution the scientists decide on is to upload Damira’s consciousness into a mammoth matriarch so that she can teach them how to survive. An interesting premise though details of the killing of elephants, and of mammoths, is upsetting 4/5
Category - SCIENCE FICTION
The Tusks of Extinction by Ray Nayler.
Damira is an expert on elephants who is murdered by poachers in Kenya. However a year before her murder her consciousness was copied.
Meanwhile in Russia, mammoths have been bought back from extinction. They thrive in captivity but as soon as they are released into the wild they start to die off. In the end the solution the scientists decide on is to upload Damira’s consciousness into a mammoth matriarch so that she can teach them how to survive. An interesting premise though details of the killing of elephants, and of mammoths, is upsetting 4/5
62majkia
>57 Zozette: Hmm. That looks like a BB for me.
63Zozette
Book 10
The Ninth Grave by Stefan Ahnhem.
Category - MYSTERY
this is one of the books I received in my Advent Mystery Box it is a Swedish police procedural. A bit too much violence for my liking. I found several of the characters annoying and thought the book was longer than it needed to be. 3/5
The Ninth Grave by Stefan Ahnhem.
Category - MYSTERY
this is one of the books I received in my Advent Mystery Box it is a Swedish police procedural. A bit too much violence for my liking. I found several of the characters annoying and thought the book was longer than it needed to be. 3/5
64Zozette
Book 11
Category - MIDDLE-GRADE
Bookshop at the Back of Beyond by Amy Sparkes. Third book in House at the Edge of Magic series. The further adventures of Nine, Spoon, Flabberghast the Magician and Eric the Troll. 4/5
Category - MIDDLE-GRADE
Bookshop at the Back of Beyond by Amy Sparkes. Third book in House at the Edge of Magic series. The further adventures of Nine, Spoon, Flabberghast the Magician and Eric the Troll. 4/5
65mstrust
>63 Zozette: They nailed the creepy cover though!
67Zozette
Category - SCIENCE (subgenre - science of……books)
The Science of Jurassic World by Mark Brake. gives heaps of facts about dinosaurs but the parts are like the most are where the science, in the book and movies, was actually wrong. 4/5
My next month’s choice in this subcategory will probably be between the Physics, Fire and Ice: Science of Game of Thrones or The Science of Middle Earth.
The Science of Jurassic World by Mark Brake. gives heaps of facts about dinosaurs but the parts are like the most are where the science, in the book and movies, was actually wrong. 4/5
My next month’s choice in this subcategory will probably be between the Physics, Fire and Ice: Science of Game of Thrones or The Science of Middle Earth.
68Zozette
Category - SCIENCE FICTION
Venomous Lumpsucker by Ned Beauman
The Venomous Lumpsucker, is the world’s most intelligent fish might have just gone extinct. Karin Resaint is a scientist who has been studying the fish while Mark Halyard is complicit in the mining operation that destroyed the fish’s last known habitat. Together they search for the fish. Resaint has her own reasons for being so invested in the fate of the fish, Mark Halyard hopes that finding living venomous lumpsuckers might prevent him going to prison. I really enjoyed this book. 4.5/5
Venomous Lumpsucker by Ned Beauman
The Venomous Lumpsucker, is the world’s most intelligent fish might have just gone extinct. Karin Resaint is a scientist who has been studying the fish while Mark Halyard is complicit in the mining operation that destroyed the fish’s last known habitat. Together they search for the fish. Resaint has her own reasons for being so invested in the fate of the fish, Mark Halyard hopes that finding living venomous lumpsuckers might prevent him going to prison. I really enjoyed this book. 4.5/5
69Zozette
Category - SCIENCE (subcategory - Science of…..books)
Ice, Fire and Physics: The Science of Game of Thrones by Rebecca C. Thompson
I really enjoyed this book. The topics included -
Seasons of Westeros
The Ice Wall
Valyrian Steel
Dragonglass
Dragon Biology
Wildfire
The Problems associated with incest
Etc etc
4.5/5
Ice, Fire and Physics: The Science of Game of Thrones by Rebecca C. Thompson
I really enjoyed this book. The topics included -
Seasons of Westeros
The Ice Wall
Valyrian Steel
Dragonglass
Dragon Biology
Wildfire
The Problems associated with incest
Etc etc
4.5/5
70Zozette
Category - MYSTERY and MURDER
Exit Strategy by Jen J. Danna.
This is a book from my Advent Mystery Book Box. It was an OK book about a female hostage negotiator and her efforts to save the lives of several people taken hostage, The mystery was who is the hostage taker was and what was his motives. 3.5/5
Exit Strategy by Jen J. Danna.
This is a book from my Advent Mystery Book Box. It was an OK book about a female hostage negotiator and her efforts to save the lives of several people taken hostage, The mystery was who is the hostage taker was and what was his motives. 3.5/5
71Zozette
Category - SCIENCE FICTION
Four Day Planet by H Beam Piper.
I actually finished this book last week but forgot to list it then. It is classic sci-fi but think it was book written for teenage boys. It was OK. I thought the planet which had 2000 hour long days and 8000 hour long years was the most interesting thing about the story but the concept was underused. 3/5
Four Day Planet by H Beam Piper.
I actually finished this book last week but forgot to list it then. It is classic sci-fi but think it was book written for teenage boys. It was OK. I thought the planet which had 2000 hour long days and 8000 hour long years was the most interesting thing about the story but the concept was underused. 3/5
72Zozette
Book 17
Category - SEA/MARINE (I suppose I could have also put this book into the science category or the survival category)
Madhouse at the End of the Earth by Julian Sancton
This is about the 1897-1899 Belgian Antarctica Expedition which was lead by Adrien de Gerlache aboard the Belgica. He had a multinational crew including a young Roald Amundsen and the American doctor, Frederick Cook. 12 years after the end of this expedition Amundsen would be the first person to reach the South Pole while Cook would claim to be the first to reach the North Pole and the first person to reach the summit of Mt Denali. Both of Cook’s claims are dubious. He was later convicted of fraud and spent several years in prison.
I thought that saw Gerlache was a very irresponsible leader. It was his fault that the Belgica became icebound forcing his crew to be the first people to overwinter in the Antarctic. He also was hesitant to follow advice from Cook concerning health problems that the crew developed. Overall an interesting read. 4/5
Category - SEA/MARINE (I suppose I could have also put this book into the science category or the survival category)
Madhouse at the End of the Earth by Julian Sancton
This is about the 1897-1899 Belgian Antarctica Expedition which was lead by Adrien de Gerlache aboard the Belgica. He had a multinational crew including a young Roald Amundsen and the American doctor, Frederick Cook. 12 years after the end of this expedition Amundsen would be the first person to reach the South Pole while Cook would claim to be the first to reach the North Pole and the first person to reach the summit of Mt Denali. Both of Cook’s claims are dubious. He was later convicted of fraud and spent several years in prison.
I thought that saw Gerlache was a very irresponsible leader. It was his fault that the Belgica became icebound forcing his crew to be the first people to overwinter in the Antarctic. He also was hesitant to follow advice from Cook concerning health problems that the crew developed. Overall an interesting read. 4/5
73Zozette
Three more books to add
Category - SEA/MARINE
The White Ship by Charles Spencer.
There were about 300 people on The White Ship when in sunk in 1120. Among those who died were three children of King Henry 1 including his only legitimate son, as well as many member of the nobility. There was only one survivor. The sinking itself only covered about 2 chapters of the book but it sinking changed the course of British history 4/5.
Category - MYSTERY and MUSEUMS
Murder at the Louvre by Jim Eldridge. 10th book in this series, I thought it was better than the previous book. 4/5
Category - MYSTERY
The Dark by Emma Haughton.
Closed circle mystery set in the Antarctic.
I enjoyed the setting and the mystery itself was good. What I could not stand was the main character and her stupid decisions. This was made worse by the fact that the book was written in the first person so I was in her head all of the time. This was the 4th book from my advent mystery crime book I have read. 3.5/5
Category - SEA/MARINE
The White Ship by Charles Spencer.
There were about 300 people on The White Ship when in sunk in 1120. Among those who died were three children of King Henry 1 including his only legitimate son, as well as many member of the nobility. There was only one survivor. The sinking itself only covered about 2 chapters of the book but it sinking changed the course of British history 4/5.
Category - MYSTERY and MUSEUMS
Murder at the Louvre by Jim Eldridge. 10th book in this series, I thought it was better than the previous book. 4/5
Category - MYSTERY
The Dark by Emma Haughton.
Closed circle mystery set in the Antarctic.
I enjoyed the setting and the mystery itself was good. What I could not stand was the main character and her stupid decisions. This was made worse by the fact that the book was written in the first person so I was in her head all of the time. This was the 4th book from my advent mystery crime book I have read. 3.5/5
74whitewavedarling
I'm catching up, and was glad to see your thoughts on The Tusks of Extinction--I've been working up the courage to read that one, knowing some of the content might bother me, but it sounds like it will be worthwhile!
And I'm taking a bb for Venomous Lumpsucker! I've become a huge fan of Stelliform Press, and it's got me craving as much climate-and-environmentally related SFF as I can find!
And I'm taking a bb for Venomous Lumpsucker! I've become a huge fan of Stelliform Press, and it's got me craving as much climate-and-environmentally related SFF as I can find!
75Zozette
>74 whitewavedarling:. I hope you enjoy both of them.
Two more books to add since I last posted
Category - STREET LIBRARY.
Kingdom by Clive Cussler and Grant Blackwood.
The first Clive Cussler book I have ever read. I don’t mind an occasional thriller and this one was OK though I have been told that it far from his best book. I have picked up a couple more Clive Cussler from the street library which I will probably read this year. 3.5/5
Category - MUSIC THEMED
Society’s Child by Janis Ian. Autobiography.
I was 17 years old when Janis Ian’s song ‘At Seventeen’ hit the airwaves and it quickly became one of my favourite songs. A song I could heavily relate to. I have even requested that it be played at my funeral.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Janis herself. It was great. Unfortunately it was published in 2008 and therefore does not include the last 17 or so years of her life. This is the reason I don’t like to usually read the biographies/autobiographies of living people, I like to read about the person’s complete life. I do follow Janis on Facebook so I do know about some things that have occurred since 2008. I am giving this book 4.5/5
Two more books to add since I last posted
Category - STREET LIBRARY.
Kingdom by Clive Cussler and Grant Blackwood.
The first Clive Cussler book I have ever read. I don’t mind an occasional thriller and this one was OK though I have been told that it far from his best book. I have picked up a couple more Clive Cussler from the street library which I will probably read this year. 3.5/5
Category - MUSIC THEMED
Society’s Child by Janis Ian. Autobiography.
I was 17 years old when Janis Ian’s song ‘At Seventeen’ hit the airwaves and it quickly became one of my favourite songs. A song I could heavily relate to. I have even requested that it be played at my funeral.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Janis herself. It was great. Unfortunately it was published in 2008 and therefore does not include the last 17 or so years of her life. This is the reason I don’t like to usually read the biographies/autobiographies of living people, I like to read about the person’s complete life. I do follow Janis on Facebook so I do know about some things that have occurred since 2008. I am giving this book 4.5/5
76Zozette
I finished three books this week
Category - MYSTERY/MURDER
America’s First Female Serial Killer by Mary Kay McBrayer. This book is about Jane Toppan who is believed to have poisoned 31 people, most of them elderly, between 1895-1901. Though it is listed as true crime, this book is really about 90% historical fiction. The author, in my opinion, is a bit too sympathetic towards the killer. I can only give this book. 2.5 stars.
Category - STREET LIBRARY
This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel
This is a YA book about a teenage Victor Frankenstein searching for the Elixir of Life so he can cure his sick twin brother. 4/5
Category - MYSTERY/MURDER
Rather Be the Devil by Ian Rankin. This is the fifth book that I received in my Advent Mystery Box that I have read. It is a book in the John Rebus series. It was OK, neither the best or the worst Rebus book I have read. 3.5/5
Category - MYSTERY/MURDER
America’s First Female Serial Killer by Mary Kay McBrayer. This book is about Jane Toppan who is believed to have poisoned 31 people, most of them elderly, between 1895-1901. Though it is listed as true crime, this book is really about 90% historical fiction. The author, in my opinion, is a bit too sympathetic towards the killer. I can only give this book. 2.5 stars.
Category - STREET LIBRARY
This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel
This is a YA book about a teenage Victor Frankenstein searching for the Elixir of Life so he can cure his sick twin brother. 4/5
Category - MYSTERY/MURDER
Rather Be the Devil by Ian Rankin. This is the fifth book that I received in my Advent Mystery Box that I have read. It is a book in the John Rebus series. It was OK, neither the best or the worst Rebus book I have read. 3.5/5
77Zozette
Three more books to add
Categories - SCIENCE and MARINE
The Ruby Princess by Duncan McNab.
This is about the cruise ship, The Ruby Princess, which docked at Sydney on 19 March 2020. Later that day 2,700 passengers were allowed to disembark. Unfortunately many of them had Covid-19 and they spread it around Australia and also to other countries. About 10% of Australia’s early Covid cases were connected to the Ruby Princess.
This book was published in February 2021 and I think that was too early. It was published after the Special Commission of Enquiry but before the Biosecurity Review and therefore I don’t think it told the whole story. For that reason I can only give it 3.5/5.
Category - SCIENCE FICTION
The Great Martian War: Breakthrough by Scott Washburn. Second book in the series. I enjoyed it as much as the first book and will probably read the third book later this month. 4/5
Category - SCIENCE FICTION: Subcategory - Biographies of sci-fi authors.
Becoming Superman by J. Michael Straczynski. A very moving but disturbing autobiography by the creator of Babylon 5. Joe survived a childhood full of abuse and neglect. The adults in his family were highly dysfunctional. Also mentions the deaths of two stray cats that Joe had befriended and loved only for them to be killed by his father.
as a little boy Joe used to dream that Superman would rescue him and later he would imagine that he would become Superman and save himself. In the book he says
“If I was Superman, nobody would hurt me … and I could protect my mom and she wouldn’t get mad at me and try to throw me off the roof again. But even if she did, it wouldn’t matter because if I was Superman, I’d just keep on going, right into the sky.”
Decades later Joe would write the Superman: Earth One series of graphic novels.
This is one of the best autobiographies I have read 5/5.
Categories - SCIENCE and MARINE
The Ruby Princess by Duncan McNab.
This is about the cruise ship, The Ruby Princess, which docked at Sydney on 19 March 2020. Later that day 2,700 passengers were allowed to disembark. Unfortunately many of them had Covid-19 and they spread it around Australia and also to other countries. About 10% of Australia’s early Covid cases were connected to the Ruby Princess.
This book was published in February 2021 and I think that was too early. It was published after the Special Commission of Enquiry but before the Biosecurity Review and therefore I don’t think it told the whole story. For that reason I can only give it 3.5/5.
Category - SCIENCE FICTION
The Great Martian War: Breakthrough by Scott Washburn. Second book in the series. I enjoyed it as much as the first book and will probably read the third book later this month. 4/5
Category - SCIENCE FICTION: Subcategory - Biographies of sci-fi authors.
Becoming Superman by J. Michael Straczynski. A very moving but disturbing autobiography by the creator of Babylon 5. Joe survived a childhood full of abuse and neglect. The adults in his family were highly dysfunctional. Also mentions the deaths of two stray cats that Joe had befriended and loved only for them to be killed by his father.
as a little boy Joe used to dream that Superman would rescue him and later he would imagine that he would become Superman and save himself. In the book he says
“If I was Superman, nobody would hurt me … and I could protect my mom and she wouldn’t get mad at me and try to throw me off the roof again. But even if she did, it wouldn’t matter because if I was Superman, I’d just keep on going, right into the sky.”
Decades later Joe would write the Superman: Earth One series of graphic novels.
This is one of the best autobiographies I have read 5/5.
78Zozette
Two more books to add
Categories - SECRET LIVES and MYSTERIES and SENIOR CITIZENS
Secret Lives by Mark De Castrique
Ethel is a 75 year old former FBI agent who now runs a boarding home for agents. One of the agents is murdered outside her house and Ethel decides to investigates his death aided by her sidekick Jesse who is student and also her double first cousin twice removed. I enjoyed this book and plan to read the follow up book soon. 4/5
Categories - SECRET LIVES and SCIENCE
The Secret Lives of Planets by Paul Murdin. There was nothing wrong with this book except I found the audio narration slightly boring. I give it 3.5/5. I preferred The Planets by Brian Cox to this book.
Categories - SECRET LIVES and MYSTERIES and SENIOR CITIZENS
Secret Lives by Mark De Castrique
Ethel is a 75 year old former FBI agent who now runs a boarding home for agents. One of the agents is murdered outside her house and Ethel decides to investigates his death aided by her sidekick Jesse who is student and also her double first cousin twice removed. I enjoyed this book and plan to read the follow up book soon. 4/5
Categories - SECRET LIVES and SCIENCE
The Secret Lives of Planets by Paul Murdin. There was nothing wrong with this book except I found the audio narration slightly boring. I give it 3.5/5. I preferred The Planets by Brian Cox to this book.
79lowelibrary
>78 Zozette: Taking a BB for Secret Lives
80mstrust
>76 Zozette: Too bad the book about Jane Toppan was more fiction. I know I heard a podcast about her a while ago, maybe "My Favorite Murder"?
81Zozette
Categories - SENIOR CITIZENS and MYSTERY
Dangerous Women by Mark De Castrique. Follow up book to Secret Lives. I absolutely love the character of Ethel. She is a wonderful and cunning older lady. I hope he continues this series. 4/5.
Dangerous Women by Mark De Castrique. Follow up book to Secret Lives. I absolutely love the character of Ethel. She is a wonderful and cunning older lady. I hope he continues this series. 4/5.
82Zozette
Two more books
Category - MYSTERY
Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie. A reread. I usually reread two or three Christie books a year. This one sits in the middle of a ranking of her books. 3.5/5
Categories - SCIENCE and SECRET LIFE/LIVES
The Secret Life of Fungi by Aliya Whitney. An interesting but short book about fungi. Some chapters far more interesting than others. 4/5
Category - MYSTERY
Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie. A reread. I usually reread two or three Christie books a year. This one sits in the middle of a ranking of her books. 3.5/5
Categories - SCIENCE and SECRET LIFE/LIVES
The Secret Life of Fungi by Aliya Whitney. An interesting but short book about fungi. Some chapters far more interesting than others. 4/5
83Zozette
Three more books to add
Category - SCIENCE FICTION and MYSTERY
Extinction by Douglas Preston. This is the 41st book I have read by Preston, 34 of those 41 were co-written with Lincoln Child. I tend to like books they write together more than their solo works.
This book is no exception. I thought it would be a Jurassic Park like book but with animals from the Pleistocene Era rather that the Jurassic Era. Unfortunately, though the animals (mammoth, ground sloth, giant elk) were there, they existed more as a backdrop to the murder mystery which I found a little predictable. I rate this book in the lower third of Preston’s books 3.5/5
Category - MARINE
As I was a little disappointed in ‘Extinction’ I decided to give another creature feature a go. This time it was Sea Hunters: Shonisaurus by William Meikle. I disliked the main human characters in this book, the Shonisaurus family ie a family of large plesiosaurs were OK. 3/5
Category - MYSTERY
I watch the Shardlake series on Disney+ and really enjoyed it so I decided to read the book series by CJ Sansom. I started with the second book Dark Fire as the tv series covered the first book. The show/books are set in the Tudor period. I enjoyed the book enough to want to continue the series. 4/5
Category - SCIENCE FICTION and MYSTERY
Extinction by Douglas Preston. This is the 41st book I have read by Preston, 34 of those 41 were co-written with Lincoln Child. I tend to like books they write together more than their solo works.
This book is no exception. I thought it would be a Jurassic Park like book but with animals from the Pleistocene Era rather that the Jurassic Era. Unfortunately, though the animals (mammoth, ground sloth, giant elk) were there, they existed more as a backdrop to the murder mystery which I found a little predictable. I rate this book in the lower third of Preston’s books 3.5/5
Category - MARINE
As I was a little disappointed in ‘Extinction’ I decided to give another creature feature a go. This time it was Sea Hunters: Shonisaurus by William Meikle. I disliked the main human characters in this book, the Shonisaurus family ie a family of large plesiosaurs were OK. 3/5
Category - MYSTERY
I watch the Shardlake series on Disney+ and really enjoyed it so I decided to read the book series by CJ Sansom. I started with the second book Dark Fire as the tv series covered the first book. The show/books are set in the Tudor period. I enjoyed the book enough to want to continue the series. 4/5
84Zozette
Four more books to add
Category - SCIENCE
Patient Zero by Marilee Peters
This book looked into who was the first known person to contract a disease during various pandemics plus further info on the disease/outbreak . Many of these diseases I have read about before but even so this book covered new ground for me. I especially liked learning about John Graunt, a draper who stayed in London during the plague and used the Bills of Mortality to correlate information about the deaths occurring around thereby becoming one of the earliest known epidemiologists.
I had previously read about the outbreak of Yellow Fever in the USA but this book covered an outbreak in Cuba.
Overalls I found this book very informative 4/5
Categories - SCIENCE FICTION and MYSTERY.
The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield
The author is a former astronaut so the depiction of space flight is accurate and realistic. the story tells about the fictional Apollo 18 mission. This is the part of the book I enjoyed the most, the mystery itself was OK. 4/5
Categories - SEA/MARINE and MICROHISTORY
The History of the World in Twelves Shipwrecks by David Gibbins.
The author is a marine archeologist who has dived on several of these wrecks.
The wrecks I found to be the most interesting are 1) a ship found off the coast of Dover which has been dated to the 2nd millennium BC, 2) The Mary Rose which was the flagship of King Henry VIII and 3) surprising for me, the SS Gairsoppa which was a merchant marine ship that was sunk by a German u-boat dusting WW2, and era that I am not normally interested in. 4/5
Category - MYSTERY
Sovereign by CJ Sansom. 3rd book in the Shardlake series. In this book Matthew gets to meet Henry VIII who is depicted as horrid as he was in real life 4/5
Category - SCIENCE
Patient Zero by Marilee Peters
This book looked into who was the first known person to contract a disease during various pandemics plus further info on the disease/outbreak . Many of these diseases I have read about before but even so this book covered new ground for me. I especially liked learning about John Graunt, a draper who stayed in London during the plague and used the Bills of Mortality to correlate information about the deaths occurring around thereby becoming one of the earliest known epidemiologists.
I had previously read about the outbreak of Yellow Fever in the USA but this book covered an outbreak in Cuba.
Overalls I found this book very informative 4/5
Categories - SCIENCE FICTION and MYSTERY.
The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield
The author is a former astronaut so the depiction of space flight is accurate and realistic. the story tells about the fictional Apollo 18 mission. This is the part of the book I enjoyed the most, the mystery itself was OK. 4/5
Categories - SEA/MARINE and MICROHISTORY
The History of the World in Twelves Shipwrecks by David Gibbins.
The author is a marine archeologist who has dived on several of these wrecks.
The wrecks I found to be the most interesting are 1) a ship found off the coast of Dover which has been dated to the 2nd millennium BC, 2) The Mary Rose which was the flagship of King Henry VIII and 3) surprising for me, the SS Gairsoppa which was a merchant marine ship that was sunk by a German u-boat dusting WW2, and era that I am not normally interested in. 4/5
Category - MYSTERY
Sovereign by CJ Sansom. 3rd book in the Shardlake series. In this book Matthew gets to meet Henry VIII who is depicted as horrid as he was in real life 4/5
85Zozette
Three books to add to my challenge
Category - MIDDLEGRADE
The Lighthouse at the World’s End by Amy Sparkes.
The 4th and I believe the last book in the House at the Edge of Magic series. It seems I went against the norm and I, unlike most other readers, did not like this book as much as the first three books, possibly because one of my favourite characters from the previous books is not in this book. 3.5/5
Caregory: SCIENCE FICTION
The Great Martian War: Counterattack by Scott Washburn. Third book in the series. I enjoyed it as much as the other two. I am looking forward to the next book as I believe that that book looks at what is happening in the British Empire whereas the books so far as mainly been centered on the USA. 4/5
Category - SCIENCE
Around the World in 80 Birds by Mike Unwin. I enjoyed this book especially its beautiful illustrations. My only minor complaint is that it mainly concentrated on better known birds. 4/5.
Category - MIDDLEGRADE
The Lighthouse at the World’s End by Amy Sparkes.
The 4th and I believe the last book in the House at the Edge of Magic series. It seems I went against the norm and I, unlike most other readers, did not like this book as much as the first three books, possibly because one of my favourite characters from the previous books is not in this book. 3.5/5
Caregory: SCIENCE FICTION
The Great Martian War: Counterattack by Scott Washburn. Third book in the series. I enjoyed it as much as the other two. I am looking forward to the next book as I believe that that book looks at what is happening in the British Empire whereas the books so far as mainly been centered on the USA. 4/5
Category - SCIENCE
Around the World in 80 Birds by Mike Unwin. I enjoyed this book especially its beautiful illustrations. My only minor complaint is that it mainly concentrated on better known birds. 4/5.
