Dudes22 Makes Alphabet Soup in 2013 -Part 2

Well here I am at mid-year and about mid-way through my challenge.

I decide on a step challenge this year, alphabetically since I was stumped for a theme, starting with 13 in my first category ending with one for a total of 91 - more than I've ever read in a year. As always, my TBR pile is where I plan to make most of my choices.




Category 1: A-B - 13 Books - 13 of 13 read - COMPLETED
Category 2: C-D - 12 Books - 12 of 12 read - COMPLETED
Category 3: E-F - 11 Books - 11 of 11 read - COMPLETED
Category 4: G-H - 10 Books - 10 of 10 read - COMPLETED
Category 5: I-J - 9 Books - 9 of 9 read - COMPLETED
Category 6: K-L - 8 Books - 8 of 8 read - COMPLETED
Category 7: M-N - 7 Books - 7 of 7 read - COMPLETED
Category 8: O-P - 6 Books - 7 of 6 read - COMPLETED
Category 9: Q-R - 5 Books - 5 of 5 read - COMPLETED
Category 10: S-T - 4 Books - 4 of 4 read - COMPLETED
Category 11: U-V - 3 Books - 3 of 3 read COMPLETED
Category 12: W-X - 2 Books - 2 of 2 read - COMPLETED
Category 13: Y-Z - 1 Books - 1 of 1 read - COMPLETED

Book Read:
Jan - 9
Feb - 8
Mar - 8
Apr - 8
May - 6
Jun - 6
Jul - 7
Aug - 9
Sep - 5
Oct - 9
Nov - 12
Dec - 5

Paper: 82
Nook: 10

CATS Read:

JAN:
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Alpha M; Orange Award: 2012 long list; Random: new-to-me author
The Shape Shifter by Tony Hillerman - Spur Award: 2007 Best Western Short Novel
Witch's Bane by Susan Wittig Albert; Alpha A
The Beach Street Knitting Society and Yarn Club by Gil McNeil; Alpha M; Random: new-to-me author
Death by Darjeeling by Laura Childs; Random: new-to-me author

Feb:
The Scarlet Thread by Francine Rivers
Rita Award: Best Inspirational Romance - 1997
Cold Granite by Stuart MacBride Random: Frosty Feb
Murder is Binding by Lorna Barret; Alpha B
Riding The Bus With My Sister by Rachel Simon American Book Award 2003
The Lost Art of Mixing by Erica Bauermeister; Alpha B
The Hunt by Jan Neurharth; Alpha N

Mar:
The Cove by Catherine Coulter; Alpha C
The Long Quiche Goodbye by Avery Aames; Agatha First Novel Award 2010
An Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England by Brock Clarke; Morning News Tournament First Round 2008; Aplha C
Wesley the Owl by Stacey O'Brien; Alpha O
Running in the Family by Michael Ondaatje; Alpha O

Apr:
A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny; Alpha P
Day After Night by Anita Diamant; Alpha D
A Can of Peas by Traci DePree; Alpha D
A Clue for the Puzzle Lady by Parnell Hall; Alpha P
A Cat Was Involved by Spencer Quinn; Alpha Q

May:
Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich; Alpha E
Ironweed by William Kennedy; Awards: Pulitzer - Best Fiction Novel 1984
State of the Onion by Julie Hyzy; Random CAT
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson; Random CAT
The Butter Did It by Phyllis Richman; Alpha R
The Magicians by Lev Grossman; Awards - Kitschie - 2009 shortlist

Jun:
The Secret of the Nightingale Palace by Dana Sachs; Alpha S
Full Dark House by Christopher Fowler; Alpha F
The Witch Doctor's Wife by Tamar Myers; Random Cat
The Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke; Alpha F
Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joanne Fluke; Alpha F

CATS Read:

Jul: Uncommon Grounds by Sandra Balzo; Alpha G
An Irish Country Doctor by Patrick Taylor; Alpha T
Out of the Deep I Cry by Julia Spencer-Fleming; Edgar Award - Best Novel nominee 2005
The Janissary Tree by Jason Goodwin; Alpha G&T; Edgar Award - Best Novel 2007
A Pig in Provence by GeorgeanneBrennan; Random CAT

Aug: The Bodies Left Behind by Jeffrey Deaver; Award CAT: Thriller of the Year 2009
Eat, Memory: Great Writers at the Table by Amanda Hesser; Alpha CAT H; Random CAT
The Stone Carvers by Jane Urquhart; Alpha CAT U; Award CAT - Giller shortlist 2001

Sep: Postmortem by Patricia Cornwell; Random CAT
Frangipani by Celestine Vaite; Alpha V
Comet in Moominland by Tove Jansson; Hans Christian Anderson Award - 1966
No! I Don't Want to Join a Book Club by Virginia Ironside; Alpha I
The Quickening Maze by Adam Foulds; Award - Booker Prize Shortlist 2009

Oct: Shadows at the Fair by Lea Wait; Alpha W; Random Cat
Sula by Toni Morrison; Award - Nobel Prize in Literature 1993
It Is Well with My Soul by Ella Mae Cheeks Johnson; Alpha J
American Gods by Neil Gaiman; Award - Bram Stoker 2001 winner, novel

Nov: A Violet March by Evan Katy; Alpha K
Never Change by Elizabeth Berg; Random CAT
A Thousand Tomorrows by Karen Kingsbury; Alpha CAT

Dec: Wishin' and Hopin' by Wally Lamb; Alpha CAT
The Rose of Fire by Carlos Ruiz Zafon; Alpha CAT
I Was Told There'd Be Cake by Sloane Crosley; Award CAT - Thurber Award 2009 finalist
The Body in the Kelp by Katherine Hall Page; Random CAT

Category 1: A-B: 13 Books - COMPLETED



1. Witch's Bane by Susan WIttig Albert (finished 1/13)
2. Murder is Binding by Lorna Barrett (finished 2/13)
3. The Lost Art of Mixing by Erica Bauermeister (finished 2/13)
4. The Long Quiche Goodbye by Avery AAmes (finished 3/13)
5. Bookmarked for Death by Lorna Barrett (finished 4/13)
6. Uncommon Grounds by Sandra Balzo (finished 7/13)
7. Dead as a Scone by Ron Benrey (finished 7/13)
8. A Pig in Provence by Georgeanne Brennan (finished 7/13)
9. Glazed Murder by Jessica Beck (finished 10/13)
10. The Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree by Susan Wittig Albert (finished 10/13)
11. A Single Thread by Marie Bostwick (finished 11/13)
12. Whatever You Do, Don't Run by Peter Allison (finished 11/13)
13. Never Change by Elizabeth Berg (finished 11/13)

Category 2: C-D: 12 Books - COMPLETED



1. The Cross Country Quilters by Jennifer Chiaverini (finished 1/13)
2. Death by Darjeeling by Laura Childs (finished 1/13)
3. The Cove by Catherine Coulter (finished 3/13)
4. An Arsonist's Guide to Writer's Homes in New England by Brock Clarke (abandoned 3/13)
5. Day After Night by Anita Diamant (finished 4/2013)
6. A Can of Peas by Traci DePree (finished 4/13)
7. The Bodies Left Behind by Jeffrey Deaver (finished 8/13)
8. On What Grounds by Cleo Coyle (finished 8/13)
9. Postmortem by Patricia Cornwell (finished 9/13)
10. Stalking the Angel by Robert Crais (finished 11/13)
11. Gunpowder Green by Laura Child's (finished 11/13)
12. I Was Told There'd Be Cake by Sloane Crosley

Category 3: E-F: 11 Books - COMPLETED



1. The Fleet Street Murders by Charles Finch (finished 1/13)
2. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (finished 2/13)
3. Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich (finished 5/13)
4. Full Dark House by Christopher Fowler (finished 6/13)
5. The Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke (finished 6/13)
6. Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joanne Fluke (finished 6/13)
7. The Promise of Lumby by Gail Fraser (finished 8/13)
8. The Quickening Maze by Adam Foulds (finished 10/13)
9. Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich (finished 10/13)
10. Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich (finished 11/13)
11. Timepiece by Richard Paul Evans (finished 11/13)

Category 4: G-H: 10 Books - COMPLETED



1. Love Anthony by Lisa Genova (finished 1/13)
2. The Shape Shifter by Tony Hillerman (finished 1/13)
3. A Clue for the Puzzle Lady by Parnell Hall (finished 4/13)
4. State of the Onion by Julie Hyzy (finished 5/13)
5. The Magicians by Lev Grossman (finished 5/13)
6. The Janissary Tree by Jason Goodwin (finished 7/13)
7. Eat, Memory: Great Writers at the Table by Amanda Hesser (finished 8/13)
8. The Sinner by Tess Gerritsen (finished 10/13)
9. American Gods by Neil Gaiman (finished 10/13)
10. Body Double by Tess Gerritsen (finished 11/13)

Category 5: I-J: 9 Books - COMPLETED



1. Knit Two by Kate Jacobs (finished 3/13)
2. The Necklace by Cheryl Jarvis (finished 4/13)
3. The Messenger of Magnolia Street by River Jordan (finished 6/13)
4. Knit the Season by Kate Jacobs (finished 7/13)
5. Bring on the Blessings by Beverly Jenkins (finished 8/13)
6. A Second Helping by Beverly Jenkins (finished 8/13)
7. Comet in Moominland by Tove Jansson
8. No! I Don't Want to Join a Book Club by Virginia Ironside
9. It Is Well with My Soul by Ella Mae Cheeks Johnson

Category 6: K-L: 8 Books - COMPLETED



1. Die in Plain Sight by Elizabeth Lowell (finished 3/13)
2. Ironweed by William Kennedy (finished 5/13)
3. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson (finished 5/13)
4. Charm City by Laura Lippman (finished 8/13)
5. Blessed Are the Cheesemakers by Sarah-Kate Lynch (finished 8/13)
6. A Violet March by Evan Katy (finished 11/13)
7. A Thousand Tomorrows by Karen Kingsbury (finished 11/13)
8. Wishin' and Hopin' by Wally Lamb (finished 12/13)

Category 7: M-N: 7 Books - COMPLETED



1. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (finished 1/13)
2. The Beach Street Knitting Society and Yarn Club by Gil McNeil (finished 1/13)
3. Cold Granite by Stuart MacBride (finished 2/13)
4. The Hunt by Jan Neuharth (finished 2/13)
5. The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton (finished 2/13)
6. The Witch Doctor's Wife by Tamar Myers (finished 6/13)
7. Sula by Toni Morrison (finished 10/13)

Category 8: O-P: 6 Books - COMPLETED



1. The 6th Target by James Patterson (finished 1/13)
2. Wesley the Owl by Stacey O'Brien (finished 3/13)
3. Running in the Family by Michael Ondaatje (finished 3/13)
4. A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny (finished 4/13)
5. A Body in the Belfry by Katherine Hall Page (finished 11/13)
6. A Christmas Journey by Anne Perry (finished 12/13)
7. The Body in the Kelp by Katherine hall Page (finished 12/13)

Category 9: Q-R: 5 Books - COMPLETED



1. The Scarlet Thread by Francine Rivers (finished 2/13)
2. The Sunday List of Dreams by Kris Radish (finished 3/13)
3. A Cat Was Involved by Spencer Quinn (finished 4/13)
4. The Butter Did It by Phyllis Richman (finished 5/13)
5. Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind by Ann B Ross (finished 11/13)

Category 10: S-T: 4 Books - COMPLETED



1. Riding The Bus With My Sister by Rachel Simon (finished 2/13)
2. The Secret of the Nightingale Palace by Dana Sachs (finished 6/13)
3. An Irish Country Doctor by Patrick Taylor (finished 7/13)
4. Out of the Deep I Cry by Julia Spencer-Fleming (finished 7/13)

Category 11: U-V: 3 Books - COMPLETED



1. The Stone Carvers by Jane Urquhart (finished 8/13)
2. An Expert in Murder by Nicola Upson (finished 9/13)
3. Frangipani by Celestine Vaite (finished 9/13)

Category 12: W-X: 2 Books - COMPLETED



1. I'll Take What She Has by Samantha Wilde (finished 4/13)
2. Shadows at the Fair by Lea Wait (finished 10/13)

Category 13: Y-Z: 1 Book - COMPLETED



1. The Rose of Fire by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Wrap-up for first half of year:

Favorite Reads:
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson
Love Anthony by Lisa Genova
Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Riding the Bus With My Sister by Rachel Simon
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
Wesley the Owl by Stacey O'Brien

"Worst" Reads:
An Arsonist's Guide to Writer's Homes in New England by Brock Clarke
The Hunt by Jan Neuharth
Running in the Family by Michael Ondaatje

Well - that's done - now I can post a couple of books I've finished already this month. But first I'm off to walk the dog before it gets too hot and have some breakfast.

Migrating over to your shiny new thread, Betty!

Book 46: Uncommon Grounds by Sandra Balzo
ALPHA Cat: G



Beginning of a series about three women who open a coffee shop. On opening day, one of the women is found dead. Lots of introduction of characters and setting up for future books. A twist at the end.

Book 47: Dead as a Scone by Ron Benrey



This cozy takes place in a tea museum in England. One of the trustees is killed at a board meeting and it's up to the museum director and a curator to discover which other of the trustees did it.

Happy new thread! Can't believe it's the middle of the year already. Hope you're keeping cool -- it's really hot and humid today. Bleah.

You're in good shape to complete your challenge before the end of the year!

>rabbit - yes it is. Supposed to be in the 90s all weekend and humid. (I think I heard close to 100 at some point this weekend - oh they just said inland - I'm closer to the coast) I'm thinking of lots of cool reading inside, although I told my sister-in-law that I'd come over tomorrow and help her paint her fence. A big fence! But in the shade, if that matters.

>Thanks Kay - I hope so. I'm trying to get ahead before Nov & Dec come around. Must be almost time for you to be leaving - yes? And look! I've learned how to post covers also! Now I need to practice how you get them one next to the other. (I've got an idea of how it probably works, just haven't had a chance to try it out yet)

Book 48: An Irish Country Doctor by Patrick Taylor
Alpha CAT: T



Story of a young doctor who goes to a small Irish village to do an apprenticeship and see if the life of a GP is what he wants. Similar in style to Mitford or Lumby story. I enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next book.

Yay! Cover art! And a pretty cover too. Love those Irish greens.

Hi Betty, I have been enjoying the Patrick Taylor series as well and I introduced my Mom to it. She loves it and always looks carefully over the book I bring over to see if I have brought her the latest one.

Two of my friends and I took Irish country doctor on vacation with us. I read it aloud to the others while we drove home and we enjoyed it very much.

Judi - I thought it was you who helped move this up the TBR. I also have the next one, but probably won't get to that this year as I have no more room in that category. But high on the list for next year and meanwhile I'll be trying to find the rest. I'm sending this over to my sister today.

Beth - That sounds like a great way to enjoy it.

Nice new shiny thread!! I have An Irish Country Doctor on Mt. TBR - good to know I'm in for a good story.

Thanks Eva !

Book 49: Out of the Deep I Cry by Julia Spencer Fleming
Award CAT: Edgar Best Novel nominee 2005


I'm still enjoying this series as Rev Clair and Cop Russ solve the mysteries and murders in Miller's Kill, NY.

I've now completed my first category "S-T" which only needed 4 books in my step challenge. Only 12 more to go.

Hurray for completing a category! :)

Absolutely love the Julia Spencer-Fleming series. I'll be sad when it ends. Glad to see you still enjoy it too.

Thanks rabbit- I could have finished categories by starting with the 1 book category, but I've been off my plan by trying to fit in CAT books every month.

Stacey- I find I'm occasionally annoyed by the personal relationship but overall I still enjoy the book. I now need to find books 4&5 so I can keep up.

Book 50: The Janissary Tree by Jason Goodwin
ALPHA CAT: G&T; Award CAT - Edgar Best Novel 2007

A mystery which takes place in 1836 in Istanbul, Turkey. Four soldiers from the sultan's New Guard have gone missing and the leader has called on Yashim, an intelligence agent and eunuch, to help discover what has happened. I enjoyed the mystery in the book but had some trouble with the historical information and timeline of Turkish history. I read somewhere else that the author has written some non-fiction books on Turkey and the Ottoman Empire and I'm sure much of the information came from these, but I had trouble follwing what happened when. But that did not detract from my enjoyment of the book and I look forward to reading others in this series.

I attempted The Janissary Tree a year ago and bogged down someplace in the middle, despite wanting to like the book. I still want to like the book, and your positive comments are encouraging me to give it another try.

I think he also spent a bit of time developing the characters, probably because it's the first in a series and, along with the historical information, it did move a little more slowly than a mystery usually does.

It's too bad this book doesn't meet the possible fun that the time and setting could offer.

Book 51: A Pig in Provence by Georgeanne Brennan
Random CAT: Travel related

I chose this book for my Random Cat book this month because I've always thought it would be wonderful to live in a small European town for an extended time. Ms Brennan tells how her family lived in a small town in Provence for a couple of years and then periodically over a number of years. The book is centered around the food and preparation of food and the adventures they had that involved food. Unfortunately many of the practices in the way food was being prepared have disappeared over the years.

Book 52: Knit the Season by Kate Jacobs

This is the 3rd book in a series about a group of friends and a yarn shop in New York. It was a good continuation of the story; however, if someone hasn't read the other two, I don't think they would be able to follow parts of the story.

Book 53: The Bodies Left Behind by Jeffrey Deaver
Award CAT: Thriller of the Year 2009

This is one of Deaver's stand-alone novels and not part of his series books. I'm not sure what it was up against (I know - I could go look) but it was definitely a thriller for me. I haven't read one in a long time that made me want to close the book so I wouldn't know what was going to happen next and at the same time couldn't close the book because I wanted to know what was going to happen. I even gasped out loud a couple of times. (Something I'm not know to do) There were some twists that I never saw coming.

Brynn McKenzie is sent out to check out a mysterious 911 call that is received to a house at the edge of a state forest. When she arrives, she finds two people dead, a third terrified and people still around trying to kill them. They flee into the nearby state forest and try to evade the killers. I couldn't see in the first 25-50 pages how the author would ever drag this out to 300+ pages, but it was a twist here and a turn there, right to the end.

Book 54: Eat, Memory: Great Writers at the Table: A Collection of Essays from the New York Times edited by Amnada Hesser
Alpha CAT: H
Random CAT

When Amanda Hesser became the editor of the New York Times Magazine in 2004, she started a column called "Eat, Memory", asking well-known writers to contribute essays about important moments in their lives that involved food. Now she has collected some of them and some recipes for this book.

Book 55: Charm City by Laura Lippman

2nd in the Tess Monaghan series about a journalist turned PI. This time Tess is called in to the city newspaper to investigate how a story which had been "killed" made it into the paper anyway. Along the way, there's also a murder, a greyhound, and some romance.

Book 56: Bring on the Blessings by Beverly Jenkins

Start of a series about a woman who buys a town in Kansas and decides to rebuild the town and bring parents and foster children there to live. Very light summer read.

Started the second one last night after football.

Book 57: A Second Helping by Beverly Jenkins

After reading the first, I couldn't hold off for starting the second right away and finishing it. Continuing story of the town in Kansas, bought on e-bay by a woman who wants to bring foster children and their parents there to live. Heartwarming story.

Book 58: The Promise of Lumby by Gail Fraser

#4 in the Lumby series about a small town in the Pacific Northwest. This time a new vet buys the practice of the retiring one, but is hiding a secret from his past. Plus lots of the usual antics by residents and animals alike.

Book 59: On What Grounds by Cleo Coyle

Start of another series, this one based on a coffee shop in the West Village of NY City. Jury's still out on whether I'll keep going with this series or not. Found myself annoyed by some of the characters.

Book 60: Blessed Are the Cheesemakers by Sarah-Kate Lynch

"If you can see the magic in cheese, you can see the magic in everything..."

OK - let's see if I can do this so it makes some kind of sense without giving too much away. Abby's mother took her from her grandfather's farm whe she was 5. Now 29, she's been living with her husband on a tiny Pacific island for 10 years when she discovers that he has been making babies with the women on the island for a few years. She leaves and finds her way back to her grandfather's farm in Ireland where her grandfather Corrie and his friend Fee have been making delicious cheese for something like 40 years. Meanwhile back in New York, Kit gets fired from his job as a Wall Street broker because he's basically been drunk since his wife died about 3 months ago. His secretary knows Avis, who helps out at the cheese farm and he ends up going there to dry out. Lots of other interesting characters also.

I wasn't sure I'd like this book after the first 50 pages, but it eventually grew on me and I ended up liking it quite a bit.

Although I've had a theme for 2014 since just after I set up 2013, I've just made notes here and there and poked around to see if I could find some pictures I liked. I'm on vacation the first week in Sept and am going to try and finalize and set up my thread. I'd like to try and read mostly off my shelves too, so going to see what might go in each category and make a tentative list. My list for this year went somewhat astray because of the CATs, but in a good way - I read some good books that might have languished otherwise.

@ 48 -- Cheesemakers sounds interesting! Based on the title, I'd assumed it was a food-based cozy mystery, but it seems that I was wrong. :)

And I thought it was non-fiction; just goes to show - you can fool some of the people some of the time....

ETA: That was before I read the fly leaf.

Book 61: The Stone Carvers by Jane Urquhart
Alpha CAT- U
Award CAT - Giller Prize 2001 shortlist

Intertwined stories over multiple years and generations about wood and stone carvers. The center of the story is Klara who learned wood-carving from her grandfather in Canada and eventually uses her knowledge to help build the monument at Vimy to the unidentified Canadian soldiers from WW I. Well-told and well-woven-together of multiple stories.

I liked this author and may try to find some of her other books

->50 christina_reads: & 51
And I thought it was a book about Monty Python. Until I read your synopsis, of course. :)

>53 -Eva-:: Hee, that was my first thought too :)

Actually that Monthy Python quote is the epigraph at the beginning of the book.

I've not read Stone Carvers but I finished Away by the same author recently and thought it was quite good.

This was in my TBR pile and I'm not sure why/how it got there but it was enjoyable. I'll have to put Away on the "somewhere in the future" list. Thanks for the recommendation.

Away is my favourite one of hers. I need to 'rediscover' her - thanks for popping her back on my radar!

That is one of the nice things about LT - being reminded of authors you'd like to get back to reading. Almost a BB, but not quite.

Ed zachary!

I was trying to finish up a second "U" book for August, but I'm not going to make it so I think I'm going to put it aside tonight and start my Sept Random Cat book Postmortem by Patricia Cornwell.

I'm taking a "stacation" this week and was hoping to get I some quality reading time, but so far I've been so busy with projects, I haven't had much time to read. I think I could use another week:p

I always end up overbooking myself on staycations! So much cleaning and movie watching and reading and knitting to be done, and not enough hours in the day.

> 62 - That is how my 'stacations' usually end up... doing a whack of projects and not as much reading as I had planned. One the bright side, you are getting things done!

>rabbit - one of the things I had on my list was to rearrange/straighten my fabric area. It's taking waaaay longer than I thought it would.

>Lori - doesn't seem to be as much as I thought. Overly ambitious I guess.

Book 62: Postmortem by Patricia Cornwell
Random CAT

Although I used to read this series, it's been a while, so I decided to go back and start again now that I have LT to help me track it. It was interesting to read now that DNA, forensics, and computer science has come so much further than when this was written.

I used to follow the series but I quit smoking about the same time Kay was and I couldn't stay with her any more. I really liked the character of the niece.

Yeah, that was a great series when it began. I gave up a few books after Cornwell stopped caring. I mean, why try when you'll get the same amount of money without putting in any effort. Do I sound a little bitter?

>67 mamzel: - yes i really liked the niece too.

>68 RidgewayGirl: - Not so much Kay - I feel the same way about James Patterson. Maybe that's why I stopped reading Cornwell - it's been so long I don't remember. I might read a couple more - or not. I don't have any on my TBR right now, and I certainly don't need to increase that.

That's why I stopped reading both Patterson and Cornwell. Sad really because once upon a time I looked forward to new stuff from both.

Yip, Cornwell, Patterson and especially Kathy Reichs all used to be my crime staples, haven't picked one up by any of them in years, and unfortunately I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything.

Ditto me

That seems to be the consensus - I haven't read that many Reichs yet, so mybe I have a while to go before I get bored with her.

Book 63: An Expert in Murder by Nicola Upson

This murder mystery has Josephine Tey (a mystery writer herself) as a central character to the book. I thought this was an interesting premise on which to build a book. I'm really liking these mysteries before forensics was the focus of solving a murder and detectives needed to rely on intuition and logic and piecing stories together to determine "who done it". I'll probably read some more of these and I have one of Josephine Tey's books in my TBR which I will try to get to next year (maybe).

Tey is wonderful, you'll be hooked. Don't put her off too long!

Well the only category I've managed to finish this year is my "S-T" which filled up fast. But I've got a place for her next year. I have Daughter of Time on my TBR, but wonder if I should start with one of her earlier books first.

I would say yes, but that is my own personal thing. Daughter was the first one I read, actually listened to that one, and it is good, but it is different from the rest.

Good to know - I've seen other comments about her books so will have to look at descriptions and see where I'll start. I'm tempted to start with her first book - it's the accountant in me.

Well first - I'm beginning to panic. I've only read 1 book so far this month and I need 7 each and every month if I'm going to reach my goal by the end of the year. I either need shorter books or more time.

And then - I finally got a chance to use the hubby's laptop and have posted my 2014 challenge. Now - back to reading.

No panic.... panic is disruptive to enjoyable reading. If you run out of time, you could always consider a slight change to your challenge or allow for overlaps, like one listing for letter in title and another listing for letter of author surname, just as an example.

I could Lori, but I'd really like to do it without that. I'll wait til I get closer to to decide. I didn't really expect to still be working and thought I'd have plenty of time for reading and getting all my categories completed.

Book 64: Frangipani by Celestine Vaite
ALPHA CAT: V

A light read about a mother and her daughter who live in Tahiti. Similar in style to Alexander McCall Smith, it's a nice read when straining the brain muscles is too much. It's a book about the universal problems mothers and daughters face, culture, relationships and so much more without being preachy. Was long-listed for Orange prize in 2006.

Well that finishes my second category for this year - only 11 to go!

Graphic novels are always good for making headway. :)

Not my cup of tea.

Congrats on another category completed!

Book 65: Comet in Moominland by Tove Jansson
Award CAT: Hans Christian Anderson Award - 1966

I heard about these books in someone's thread here on LT, and managed to find 2 at a used book store. The is actually the second one in the series and I enjoyed it a lot. I'll pas this along to one of my nieces or nephews for their kids.

>84 -Eva-:&85 - or novellas

>88 psutto: - Yes I do have a couple of those planned in my reading over the next few months, but may have to look for a few more.

Book 66: No! I Don't Want to Join a Book Club by Virginia Ironside
Alpha Cat:I

Written in diary form, this book is a fictional narrative of a woman's sixtieth year, stating @ 3 months before her brirthday and continuing for 21 months. (Oddly, no mention is made of her 61st birthday when the day comes round again.) I liked the start, but got kind of bored by the end.

Book 67: The Quickening Maze by Adam Foulds
Award CAT: Booker Prize Shortlist 2009

Based on real events, The Quickening Maze is a story of a mental institution outside of London in 1837 and it's residents and the people who run the institution. Alfred Tennyson brings his brother to stay and meets another poet John Clare who is a patient there. Also the story of the man who runs the institution and his family, the story moves back and forth between the two.

Book 68: Shadows at the Fair by Lea Wait
Alpha Cat: W
Random Cat

First in a cozy mystery series that take place at an antiques fair. It was ok, but I don't think I'll be continuing this series.

Book 69: Sula by Toni Morrison
Award CAT: Nobel Prize for Literature 1993

Ms Morrison can certainly write and deserves the Nobel Prize she was awarded. I read The Bluest Eye a couple of years ago, and can see the same atmosphere in this book.

Nel and Sula have been friends since the moment they met. The story of them growing up in a small town in Ohio in the 1920s and 30s, and the choices they made and the effects those choices had on people in the town and each other is the core of this story. But it the use of language that really makes the book.

Book 70: The Sinner by Tess Gerritsen

As a fan of the Rizzoli & Isles TV series, I decided to try the books that the series is based on. I read a couple last year and enjoyed them enough to keep going. This one definitely takes a different turn in the lives of the two main characters compared to the show, but I'm still enjoying them.

Book 71: Glazed Murder by Jessica Beck

Start of another cozy mystery series (I've started a few this year). Not as thrilled by this one. I didn't think the character development was as good as it could have been. I've got one morein the TBR so will be holding a final opinion till then. It did make me want to make donuts though. Might try one of the recipes in the book this weekend.

Mmmmm donuts. I am highly suggestible so should probably not read that series, in case it makes me go on donut binges :P

I know. With only 2 of us here, making a dozen donuts (and the holes) at a time would be very dangerous. I'm think if maybe I make the baked ones instead of the fried, I might be able to freeze them so they don't all get eaten immediately.

Homemade donuts are soooooo good! *Drool*

Book 72: It Is Well with My Soul by Ella Mae Cheeks Johnson
ALPHA CAT: J

Subtitled "The Extraordinary Life of a 105-Year-Old Woman" this short book tells how Ms Johnson has lived and her philosophy of life. Patria Mulcahy helped to write/organize this book and has maintained the voice that would sound like your grandmother/great-grandmother would sound if she were telling what happened in her life.

Book 73: Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich

Even after sixteen books, I can still find something to chuckle over when I read these books. This time Vinnie's in trouble/debt from gambling and he gets kidnapped and the bonds office need to come up with lots of money so he won't be killed.

Book 74: The Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree by Susan Wittig Albert

Although probably best know for her China Bayles series, this is the first in another series which Susan Wittig Albert has written. The Darling Dahlias are a garden club of women around the 1930s who also solve murders. Somewhat different than other cozy series I've read because of the time when they took place. I have a couple more in this series already on the TBR and look forward to reading them.

That is interesting that the series takes place in a more historical era. Most current cozy series seem to be set in the present day.

I found that interesting too. The mystery part of this one was very light with a lot of time spent in introducing characters and the town, etc.

Book 75: American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Award Cat: Bram Stoker 2001 Novel Winner

I don't know exactly how to verbalized what I was expecting of this book, but it wasn't what I got - but in a very good way. I think I picked it up as an ebook special because I was planning it for my awards category last year, but never got to it. And since it was the only book I had for the Bram Stoker awards, I decided to read it this year. Especially with everyone reading the Sandman series this year and talking about Gaiman.

I think the first thing I liked about it was the easiness of the flow of the story. Shadow gets out of prison early because his wife has been killed in a car accident. Not knowing what he'll do now he is hired by Wednesday as basically an errand boy. They start a journey (road trip as Eva said) across the Midwest, visiting the old gods/legends that people brought with them to America to gather them for a battle with the new "gods" of technology. I was impressed with when he wrote this story before technology even became as prevalent as it is today. Great story!

->104 dudes22:
Very happy you enjoyed it - it does have a wonderful meandering tone to it, doesn't it.

I've read a few books in Albert's other series and have wondered about that Darling Dahlias one. I might eventually get around to reading one. I think I'd like the historical angle.

Ooo- I never thought of that - maybe I can read the next one for the historical mystery Cat next year.

My favorite Albert series is the Cottage Tale Mysteries which feature Beatrix Potter (and some of her animals). The tale of Hill Top Farm was the first one.

I don't have any of those yet in my TBR, but I'm sure eventually they'll make their way into the pile.

Book 76: Stalking the Angel by Robert Crais

A book in the Elvis Cole detective series which has Elvis trying to find a stolen ancient Japanese text and a kidnapped girl.

Book 77: A Single Thread by Marie Bostwick

Story of a woman who gets divorced, drives to New England on a whim from Texas, finds a nice town, and an old store in an old building, decides to start a quilt store, gets a few friends, finds out she has breast cancer, and maybe finds love.

Book 78: Whatever You Do, Don't Run by Peter Allison

Series of short tales about the author's life while working as a safari guide in Africa.

Book 79: A Violet March by Evan Katy
Alpha Cat: K

3rd in a series that reminds me very much of the Stephanie Plum series. A teacher who keeps falling into mysteries, murder, and mayhem.

Book 80: Never Change by Elizabeth Berg
Random CAT

Visiting nurse Myra is contacted by former classmate and popular student Cliff, who is dying of a brain tumor and has decided on no life-extending measures, asking her to care for him. Myra, still single at 51 with low self-esteem and with only her dog Frank for company, agrees.

This completes my 6th category for this year. I'm rearranging some of my planned reading for this year and substituting some shorter, quicker reads in the hopes of meeting my goal this year.

Book 81: A Thousand Tomorrows by Karen Kingsbury
Alpha CAT

Good enough story, but not really my kind of book. Think I got it from my sister.

Book 82: A Body in the Belfry by Katherine Hall Page

Another start in a cozy mystery series - I've been starting a few series this year that have been languishing on my shelves. Faith Fairchild had a successful business as a caterer in Manhattan until she married her minister husband and moved to a small town in New Hampshire. Now she's also a new mom and while taking her son for a walk, finds a murdered body in a belfry. Wasn't sure I'd like this one at the beginning, but it grew on me so I'll be continuing with this at some time in the future.

I enjoy the Faith Fairchild series. I think my favorite installment in the series remains the one where Faith isn't the featured character as much as her friend Pix is. Some are better than others, but overall the series is a winner. While I've kept up with the current ones for the most part (may be a few months behind at most), I think there may be a couple of the early ones that I haven't read (or don't recall reading), but they are on my list to try to "catch up".

Lori - I find it interesting that your favorite in the series isn't even centered around the main character. I'll have to at least keep going til I get there by which time I'll have forgotten who mentioned it...:)

Mid November and I'm really starting a mad dash to the end of my challenge - I really would like to finish since I didn't make it last year - I was way to ambitious. 6 weeks and 9 books left - I think I might be able to make it. I've picked out my last few books, including CATS, choosing those authors from my shelves that I know will be quick reads.

I like the Faith Fairchild series, too. My favorite in the series is the same as Lori's - The Body in the Fjord. I've wanted to go on a cruise in Norway ever since I read it!

Betty> It probably partly has to do with the setting!

There are more than six weeks left in the year!

Actually not really, 6 wks from today is Dec 28.

It was pointed out to me over on the Roots thread, that I have mistakenly placed Aleford in NH instead of Mass. Just not paying enough attention.

Where has this year gone? Only 6 weeks left! need lots of planning to fit everything in.

Book 83: Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind by Ann B Ross

First of the Miss Julia series, I first heard of this series here on LT. One day soon after her husband dies, a young woman arrives at her doorstep with a young boy who looks like her husband and turns out to be his illegitimate son. Suddenly her world is turned upside down as everything she believed about her life changes. Plenty of twists and turns and lots of fun.

Book 84: Gunpowder Green by Laura Child's

Second in Laura Child's tea shop cozy murder mystery series. Set in Charleston, this is becoming one of my favorite series and this is only book 2. When an antique pistol explodes and kills one of Charleston's elite, Theodosia thinks something is amiss and starts to poke around. Lots of potential suspects as we get to know the story characters better.

Book 85: Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich

Number 17 in the Stephanie Plum bounty hunter series. More madcap adventures with the usual cast of characters.

Book 86: Body Double by Tess Gerritsen

In this book in the "Rizzoli and Isles" series, Maura's parentage is explored. Because TV takes a lot of liberties when they base a TV series on a book, I know things will be different and so this was! Not saying anything else as I don't want it to be a spoiler.

Just 5 books left to finish my challenge and 5 categories left - looks like I'll make it.

Book 87: Timepiece by Richard Paul Evans

in this sequel to the Christmas Box, Richard Evans uses the diaries of David Parkin to go back to the beginning of his meeting and marriage to his wife. I haven't read the first book yet, but was still able to enjoy this.

Book 88: Wishin' and Hopin' by Wally Lamb
Alpha Cat: L

Story of ten year-old Felix Funicello and distant cousin to Annette of Mickey Mouse fame. Tales from his class at St Aloysius Gonzaga Parochial School in 1964, his classmates, his family, and the build-up to the annual Christmas pageant.

Book 89: A Christmas Journey by Anne Perry

First in a series of Christmas novellas and the first Anne Perry that I've read. Story takes place in Victorian England where a young lady who is part of a house party commits suicide and the person who is "blamed" for precipitating the event is sent on a journey of expiation to bring the girl's mother a letter and escort her back to London. It's always interesting to read a story where there are no phones or cars and it takes a week to get somewhere by horse and train.

I read Wishin' and Hopin' last year and enjoyed it. I've got A Christmas Journey lined up to read this year. I'm not certain if I read it when I first acquired it or if it has just been languishing on my bookshelf. I acquired it at a time I didn't completely keep track of my reading. Since it was hardback instead of paperback, I may have figured that the trade I would get from McKays would not make it worth taking there. I guess I can see how "familiar" the story feels when I start it.

Book 90: The Rose of Fire by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
APLHA Cat: Z

I hesitate to call this a book because it's only a short story. The Nook description says it's 30 pages, but it's really only 12 and the rest of the "story" is an exerpt from the 3rd book in the Cemetary of Forgotten Books series. It's supposed to explain the origins of the labrynthine library The Cemetary of Forgotten Books that is the center of the books in the series. If it fits into my challenge next year, I'll probably try to read the second book.

Well, just one book to go for my challenge. I've already started it and not that thrilled so far. Might think about doing the ol' "Pearl Rule" on this one. I'll read a bit more tonight before I peek at what others thought of it and decide.

Book 91: I Was Told There'd Be Cake by Sloane Crosley
Award Cat: Thurber Award 2009 finalist

I feared within the first few pages that this book would be just a little too "cutesy" for me. Alas that was true. Or maybe reading humor is just not for me. After about 85 pages, I decided that I would "Pearl Rule" this one. It felt forced to me, like she was trying to be funny rather than just being funny/humorous. And yet I could hear a voice saying these things in a comedy club where I think it might have worked. Just not in writing and not for me.

Well this officially finishes my challenge and since I didn't make it last year, it feels extra good. I'm getting excited about next year's challenge, but have decided to kick back and just keep reading and adding more books to this thread for the next couple of weeks.

Congrats on officially finishing! Enjoy the rest of your reading year :)

Congratulations, and I'm glad you're sticking around.

Congrats on completing your challenge!

Congratulations on finishing your challenge!

Hooray for completing your 2013 Challenge, Betty. I loved Wishin' and Hopin' when I read it a couple of years ago and I am planning on reading A Christmas Journey this year.

Congrats! Have a wonderful holiday.

Congratulations!

Congratulations on finishing!!

Thanks all - I didn't make it last year, so this is absolutely wonderful!

Book 92: The Body in the Kelp by Katherine Hall Page
Random CAT: Auld Acquaintance

I picked this for my Random Cat book even though I was only introduced to this author last month. Thought I'd see if I wanted to continue with this author. Happy to say this series is one I look forward to continuing.

This time Faith Fairchild and her family are on vacation on an island off the coast of Maine. This means that the author has to introduce a whole separate set of characters from her first book in the series. Each character is introduced succinctly yet with enough description to make them memorable. And the murder doesn't show up until 1/3 of the way through the book which gives you time to get immersed in the story and characters. There's also a side mystery involving a quilt which, since that's my theme for next year, I found interesting and fun.

I've decided to call it quits on my challenge for this year. I'm one over my target and the next couple of weeks will be so busy that I don't need the pressure of finishing another book. I've decided to pull one of my chunksters off the shelf and start it now, planning to finish it in the new year. I'll be back sometime before the new year with a wrap up of my reading for this year.

I enjoy the Katherine Hall Page series. Some of the books are better than others, but overall the series has been one of the better cozy ones.

I think it was you who mentioned they get better when I wasn't sure after I read the first one. I think you'll be right and I'm going to enjoy them.

Belated congratulations from me too!

Stopping by to wish all my friends here on LT a Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Betty! I hope you have a wonderful day!

Merry Christmas!! :)

Merry Christmas, Betty!

Found this over on Lori's (ikernagh) thread and thought I'd borrow it:
YEAR END STATS COMPARISON:

Here is a side-by-side comparison of my reading stats for the past three years:

No. of Books read:
2013 - 92 (88 from TBR pile)
2012 - 88 (65 from TBR pile)
2011 - 76 (56 from TBR pile)

Largest book read by page count:
2013 - Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn at 720 pages
2012 - Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese at 688 pages
2011 - The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins at 648 pages

Smallest book read by page count:
2013 - The Rose of Fire by Carlos Ruiz Zafon at 12 pages (yes 12)
2012 - November Ever After by Craig T. Greenlee at 168 pages
2011 - Green Angel by Alice Hoffman at 144 pages

# Pages read:
2013 - 29,706
2012 - 29,172
2011 - 25,682

Average # pages per book read:
2013 - 326 pages
2012 - 332 pages
2011 - 292 pages

Favorite Reads:
2013
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Steig Larsson
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Love Anthony by Lisa Genova
Riding the Bus With My Sister by Rachel Simon
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

2012
House Rules by Jodi Picoult
Left Neglected by Lisa Genova
The Map of Lost Memories by Kim Fay
Robbing the Bees by Holley Bishop
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

2011
One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky
Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
A Mango Shaped Space by Wendy Mass

---------------------------

Year end meme - (courtesy of Stephen (Ape)): Just fill in the answers with books you read this year.

Describe yourself: The Witch Doctor's Wife

Describe how you feel: It is Well With My Soul

Describe where you currently live: The Cove

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Charm City

Your favorite form of transportation: Riding the Bus With my Sister

Your best friend is: An Expert in Murder (not really)

You and your friends are: American Gods

What’s the weather like: Cold Granite

You fear: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest

What is the best advice you have to give: Whatever You Do, Don't Run

Thought for the day: Never Change

How I would like to die: Die in Plain Sight

My soul’s present condition: Bring on the Blessings

And now it's on to 2014........
running across the threads to next year...

Haha I nearly put Cold Granite as my weather too! :) And great choice for the advice question.

Love the meme.

> 152 & 153 - The fact that both of you listed Cold Granite as your weather answer intrigues me! Love the stats and the meme answers, Betty! Happy New Year to you!