VivienneR's R is for Reading in 2020 - Part 3

Dit is een voortzetting van het onderwerp VivienneR's R is for Reading in 2020 part 2.

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VivienneR's R is for Reading in 2020 - Part 3

1VivienneR
Bewerkt: dec 31, 2020, 8:30 pm



Welcome to part 3 of my reading year. With an updated picture now that it's winter.

This is my 7th year of participating in the Category Challenge. It's always been a lot of fun and with all the KITs, CATs and BingoDOG this year, it's been another runaway hit.

I can also be found over at Club Read.

Reading plan for this month:

Done! And on to 2021.

Recently Read:

                      

2VivienneR
Bewerkt: dec 29, 2020, 3:49 pm


R is for Rogues - mysteries

  1. Now You See Them by Elly Griffiths 4.5★
  2. A Murder of Quality by John le Carré 3.5★
  3. The Chain by Adrian McKinty 4★
  4. The word is murder by Anthony Horowitz 4★
  5. Paper Money by Ken Follett 3.5★
  6. Trust your eyes by Linwood Barclay 4.5★
  7. Death of Yesterday by M.C. Beaton 3★ & MysteryKIT May - novel to screen
  8. The Silent world of Nicholas Quinn by Colin Dexter 4★ & MysteryKIT May - novel to screen
  9. Crack Down by Val McDermid 3★ & MysteryKIT June - private investigator
  10. Blind Fury by Lynda La Plante 4★ & MysteryKIT June - police procedural
  11. The Burning by Jane Casey 4★
  12. The Other People by C. J. Tudor 4★ & MysteryKIT July - genre mashup
  13. Distress Signals by Catherine Ryan Howard 3.5★ & MysteryKIT August - international author
  14. An Amateur Corpse by Simon Brett 3.5★ & MysteryKIT August - international author
  15. Playing With Fire by Peter Robinson 4★
  16. A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton 1★
  17. Classic detective stories narrated by Edward Hardwicke 3.5★
  18. Piece of my heart by Peter Robinson 3★ & mysteryKIT September: series
  19. Open and shut by David Rosenfelt 4★ & MysteryKIT October: New to you
  20. Watching you by Lisa Jewell 3.5★
  21. Deck the Hounds by David Rosenfelt 4★
  22. The Guest List by Lucy Foley 1★
  23. Death of an Englishman by Magdalen Nabb 4★
  24. Festive Spirits by Kate Atkinson 4★
  25. A Perfect Spy by John le Carrê 4★

7VivienneR
Bewerkt: dec 20, 2020, 1:48 am


R is for Ruthless - noir, including scaredyKIT

  1. The Breathing method by Stephen King 3★ and January ScaredyKIT
  2. The Falls by Ian Rankin 4★
  3. The Hiding Place by C.J. Tudor 4★ Febuary ScaredyKIT
  4. I know who you are by Alice Feeney 3.5★
  5. The Lantern by Deborah Lawrenson 2★
  6. Broken Ground by Val McDermid 4.5★
  7. Kick back by Val McDermid 3.5★
  8. The Whisper Man by Alex North 4★
  9. Tangerine by Christine Mangan 3★ and July ScaredyKIT - Femmes Fatales
  10. My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite 4★ & August ScaredyKIT - Serial killers
  11. Galway Girl by Ken Bruen 4★
  12. A conspiracy of faith by Jussi Adler-Olsen 4★ & ScaredyKIT September: International horror
  13. The devil by Ken Bruen 4.5★ & ScaredyKIT September: International horror
  14. Headstone by Ken Bruen 4★ & ScaredyKIT October: Halloween
  15. All the devils are here by Louise Penny 4.5★
  16. Purgatory by Ken Bruen 4★
  17. The Stupidest Angel: a heartwarming tale of Christmas terror by Christopher Moore 3★
  18. Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett 3★ & ScaredyKIT December - Classics

9VivienneR
Bewerkt: okt 21, 2020, 2:04 pm


R is for Roam

Category - Roam

  1. The Case of the Missing Servant by Tarquin Hall 3.5★ GeoCAT January - Asia
  2. Neither here nor there: travels in Europe by Bill Bryson 3★ GeoCAT February - Europe
  3. In the country of men by Hisham Matar 4★ GeoCAT March - North Africa
  4. Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie 4★ Pakistan
  5. The rat catchers' Olympics by Colin Cotterill 3★ Laos, Russia
  6. Killman by Graeme Kent 4.5★ GeoCAT April - Oceania
  7. A Better Man by Louise Penny 4★ GeoCAT May - Quebec - where you would like to visit
  8. Talking to the Dead by Harry Bingham 4★ GeoCAT May - Wales - where you would like to visit
  9. The Indigo Notebook by Laura Resau 3★ GeoCAT July - C. & S. America - Ecuador
  10. The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa, translated by Philip Gabriel 5★ Japan
  11. All Thirteen: the incredible cave rescue of the Thai boys' soccer team by Christina Soontornvat GeoCAT August - Asia, Thailand 5★
  12. Reykjavik nights by Arnaldur Indridason 4★ & GeoCAT September: Polar Regions
  13. Brother by David Chariandy 4.5★ GeoCAT October: Canada
  14. Full disclosure by Beverley McLachlin 2.5★ GeoCAT October: Canada
  15. The Innocents by Michael Crummey 4.5★ GeoCAT October: Canada
  16. Last resort by Linwood Barclay 5★ GeoCAT October: Canada

10VivienneR
Bewerkt: nov 15, 2020, 8:26 pm


R is for Real life - biography, non-fiction, including nonfictionCAT
On a windy December day in 1881, Emily Warren Roebling, wife of the Brooklyn Bridge engineer, led a small group, including the mayors of Manhattan and Brooklyn to inspect the bridge. They walked across narrow wooden planks strung high over the East River. When they reached the other side, the group toasted Emily with champagne!

  1. Behind the beautiful forevers by Katherine Boo 4★ and January NonfictionCAT
  2. This Boy by Alan Johnson 5★
  3. French women for all seasons: a year of secrets, recipes and pleasure by Mireille Guiliano 3★
  4. A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote 4.5★
  5. The Old Ways: a journey on foot by Robert Macfarlane 2★ and February NonFictionCAT
  6. Austerity Britain 1945-1951 by David Kynaston 4.5★
  7. Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs by Caitlin Doughty 3★
  8. Effie: the passionate lives of Effie Gray, John Ruskin and John Everett Millais by Suzanne Fagence Cooper 4★ and March NonfictionCAT
  9. Notes on nursing: what it is and what it is not by Florence Nightingale 4★
  10. Florence Nightingale by Laura E. Richards 4★
  11. April 4, 1968: Martin Luther King Jr's death and how it changed America by Michael Eric Dyson 3★ and June NonFictionCAT
  12. Stieg Larsson, my friend by Kurdo Baksi 4★
  13. The Plant-Based Power Diet by Leslie Beck 3.5★
  14. The fire next time by James Baldwin 4★ and June NonFictionCAT
  15. Do no harm : stories of life, death and brain surgery by Henry Marsh 3★ and July NonFictionCAT
  16. With wings like eagles: a history of the battle of Britain by Michael Korda 4★ & August NonFictionCAT
  17. Why Buddhism is true by Robert Wright 4★ & September NonfictionCAT
  18. Dylan Thomas at the BBC by Dylan Thomas 5★ & October NonfictionCAT
  19. The Flame: Poems and Selections from Notebooks by Leonard Cohen 4★ & October NonfictionCAT
  20. Meg and Greg: a duck in a sock by Elspeth Rae, Rowena Rae, ill by Elisa Guteirrez 4★
  21. Soap and water and common sense: the definitive guide to viruses, bacteria, parasites, and disease by Bonnie Henry 4★

11VivienneR
Bewerkt: dec 16, 2020, 12:54 am

13VivienneR
jun 22, 2020, 12:56 am

Welcome to part 3.

14Tess_W
jun 22, 2020, 1:10 am

Happy new thread!

15VivienneR
jun 22, 2020, 1:20 am

Thank you, Tess. My first visitor!

16MissWatson
jun 22, 2020, 7:22 am

Happy new thread. The flowers are lovely!

17Jackie_K
jun 22, 2020, 7:38 am

Happy new thread. I love the flowers too!

18thornton37814
jun 22, 2020, 7:56 am

Those flowers were what I needed to cheer me this morning.

19DeltaQueen50
jun 22, 2020, 12:51 pm

Happy new thread, Vivienne. I love it when people get new threads and I get to go through all their categories and books and see how they are progressing. You are flying through your challenge!

20rabbitprincess
jun 22, 2020, 5:55 pm

Gorgeous flowers up top! Summer has arrived :)

21lkernagh
jun 22, 2020, 6:05 pm

Happy new thread Vivienne! Love the summer flowers.

22VivienneR
jun 22, 2020, 8:09 pm

Thank you everyone! This was our first hot day (31C) so it was time for summer flowers.

23dudes22
jun 23, 2020, 7:17 am

I agree with Judy. I love routing through a new thread to see what I might need a second look at. Happy New Thread!

24VivienneR
jun 23, 2020, 7:09 pm

>23 dudes22: Thank you Betty!

>19 DeltaQueen50: Sorry Judy, I forgot to acknowledge your message. Reviewing progress is my favourite part of new threads too. It's encouraging to hear you say that I'm flying through the challenge. The list of books I want to read doesn't seem to be going down any.

25DeltaQueen50
jun 24, 2020, 12:09 am

>24 VivienneR: I expect that no matter how much we all read - our TBR/wishlist doesn't go down since we are constantly adding new books that we hear about.

26VivienneR
jun 24, 2020, 12:42 am

>25 DeltaQueen50: Spending more time at home makes it even worse - too much time to browse catalogues.

27VivienneR
jun 27, 2020, 2:22 pm



R is for Real Life

The Plant-Based Power Diet by Leslie Beck 4★

Renowned dietician Leslie Beck's books are informative, easy to follow and well-presented, For anyone who follows a plant-based diet there may be little to learn from this one. However, I can recommend it highly to anyone wanting to try a healthy plant-based diet.

28VivienneR
jun 27, 2020, 2:42 pm



R is for Rogues - mysteries June MysteryKIT police procedural

Blind Fury by Lynda La Plante 4★

A fast-moving entry in the Anna Travis series. This is an excellent example of a police procedural, although I'm not convinced that any police force would use these methods.

29DeltaQueen50
Bewerkt: jun 28, 2020, 12:52 pm

>28 VivienneR: I am currently reading one of the Anna Travis books as well, #3 Clean Cut, and I do enjoy this series but totally agree that their methods are unbelievable at times.

30VivienneR
jun 28, 2020, 1:24 pm

>29 DeltaQueen50: Yes, I think I was a bit too generous with my four stars, especially as the following book gets the same rating although I believe it was much better.

31VivienneR
jun 28, 2020, 1:25 pm



R is for Rune - aka AlphaKIT K & Y

Just What Kind of a Mother are You? by Paula Daly 4★

An impressive debut from Paula Daly who was inspired by real life stories. Filled with convincing characters, this is a page-turner right to the unpredictable ending. I'll be on the lookout for more from Daly.

32Tess_W
jun 29, 2020, 5:09 am

>31 VivienneR: A BB for me! I looked at the book's description on Amazon and it's billed as a psychological thriller.

33Helenliz
jun 29, 2020, 2:21 pm

I may be sneaking in a little late to say happy new thread. What a gorgeous garden!

34VivienneR
jun 29, 2020, 2:39 pm

>32 Tess_W: The story begins with a girl going missing and I thought no, this isn't what I want to read. Thankfully I kept on going because it went in a different direction entirely.

>33 Helenliz: Thank you, Helen. For years my daughter-in-law and I have been trying for this kind of a garden but it's turned out to be an impossible dream. :)

35VivienneR
jul 1, 2020, 3:11 pm



R is for Real Life June - Society

The fire next time by James Baldwin 4★

Although written in the sixties, sadly this work is still relevant. Baldwin's writing is eloquent and profound.

37rabbitprincess
jul 1, 2020, 5:28 pm

It's a pretty good month when your lowest rating is 3 stars!

38VivienneR
jul 2, 2020, 2:46 am

>37 rabbitprincess: Yes, I was happy with the month's reading. Maybe I'll get blown away with a five-star read in July.

39VivienneR
jul 2, 2020, 2:50 am



R is for Rover the BingoDog - about books, bookstores

The day of the Jack Russell: spooks, crooks and a puppy dog's tale by Colin Bateman 4★

The nameless owner of No Alibis a mystery bookshop, is the sleuth in this comic mystery set in Belfast, a place I know well. I had so many laugh-out-loud moments that my husband was laughing too and he wasn't even reading the book. The humour has that distinct Northern Ireland flavour: sardonic, ribald, juvenile, yet inoffensive.

No Alibis is an actual mystery bookstore in Belfast but everything else is pure fiction.

40VivienneR
jul 3, 2020, 2:08 am



R is for Rolls Royce - Golden Age mysteries

The Crime at Black Dudley by Margery Allingham 2.5★

This one certainly wasn't Allingham's best but I didn't have high expectations before beginning and read it mainly because it introduces Albert Campion.

41christina_reads
jul 3, 2020, 5:02 pm

>40 VivienneR: I think I only read the first couple Albert Campion novels, and I wasn't terribly impressed either. I take it they do get better, though?

42VivienneR
jul 3, 2020, 5:38 pm

>41 christina_reads: I've read some many years ago and seem to remember enjoying them. I decided to start at the beginning of the series even though I knew it wasn't up to much. I believe they get better after the first few - at least I hope so. :)

43VivienneR
jul 3, 2020, 5:39 pm



R is for Red Riding Hood- 20th century women authors

Monday or Tuesday: Eight stories by Virginia Woolf 3.5★

A collection of Woolf's early short stories, each in an experimental style but representing the lyrical, expressive style for which she is known. Not an easy read but worthwhile.

44thornton37814
jul 3, 2020, 9:40 pm

>40 VivienneR: I read it in 2013 and gave it 3 stars. I suspect I'd give it 2 or 2.5 today, depending on my mood at the time.

45VivienneR
jul 4, 2020, 2:19 am

>44 thornton37814: It was very tempting to give it a low rating because it was so darn hard to read. I kept reading the same line, the same page over and over to try and understand it. But in the end I figured she deserved a pass just for cleverness. I might review that rating later.

46VivienneR
jul 5, 2020, 1:53 pm



R is for Real Life - & nonfictionCAT - July: human science

Do no harm : stories of life, death and brain surgery by Henry Marsh 3★

This shows Marsh as a caring physician capable of achieving marvels of surgery as well as concern about his own ability, which reassuringly avoids risky hubris. A very human and honest look at the mystical brain surgeon. I hope I never need his help.

47DeltaQueen50
Bewerkt: jul 6, 2020, 1:40 am

I guess I am in the minority but I loved The Crime At Black Dudley. I am a sucker for country house mysteries and I enjoyed the silliness of this one but I do think that overall the Albert Campion mysteries improve as they go along.

ETA: But I also think they never reach the literary heights that Dorothy Sayers or Josephine Tey did.

48VivienneR
jul 6, 2020, 1:48 pm

>47 DeltaQueen50: My main problem was that I just couldn't "see" the house or characters. Often I had to flip back to check on who or what had gone before. However, I'll continue with the series, or at least the books in the series that I own.

Sayers and Tey are hard to beat.

49VivienneR
jul 6, 2020, 2:07 pm



R is for Roam - & GeoCAT

July GeoCAT - Central & South America: Ecuador

The Indigo Notebook by Laura Resau 3★

Zeeta travels to a different country each year with her mother Layla. She has learned multiple languages and is mature beyond her fifteen years, which is fortunate because she takes care of Layla, who is flaky in a new age kind of way. In Ecuador Zeeta met a young American man who is there to find his birth parents. Resau writes for young adults, the perfect audience for this rather fanciful story. Generally I enjoy YA books but this one is a little hard to swallow.

50VivienneR
jul 7, 2020, 2:04 pm

R is for RandomCAT - July: Picture this



Lovebirds and Other Wild Sweethearts: learn from the animal kingdom's most devoted couples by Abbie Headon, illustrated by Liz Temperley 4.5★
This gorgeous little book describes the caring relationships of many "wild" couples including coyotes, seahorses, penguins, wolves and many birds. Who knew that the male spectral bat will shelter his partner and offspring with his wings. Each short text portrayal is accompanied by a beautiful watercolour illustration by Liz Temperley.



The Tower Treasure by Frank Dixon, illustrated by Walter S. Rogers 4★
A great action story from 1927. No wonder my son was a big fan when he was young.



A Bear called Paddington by Michael Bond, illustrated by Peggy Fortnum 4★
This seems a bit long for the age of the intended audience. But if spread out over many bedtimes, it would provide a lot of fun.

51VivienneR
jul 10, 2020, 1:33 am



R is for Ruthless - noir & scaredyKIT July - Femmes Fatales

Tangerine by Christine Mangan 3★

Menacing, right from the beginning. The setting of 1950s Tangier adds a little to the atmosphere and underlying secrecy, but not significantly. The prose is uninspired and I was never able to get a mental picture of the characters or the location. I read somewhere that this book was like The Talented Mr Ripley by Highsmith, an opinion that I now realize was much too generous.

52VivienneR
jul 10, 2020, 1:49 pm



R is for Roam - & GeoCAT

The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa, translated by Philip Gabriel 5★

What a beautiful story, mostly told by Nana, a cat. This is the best cat book I've read since Mrs Chippy's Last Expedition: the remarkable journey of Shackleton's polar-bound cat by Caroline Alexander. This story, about love and loyalty, would be enjoyed by all those who love pets, not only cats. Highly recommended.

53VivienneR
jul 12, 2020, 1:47 pm



R is for Rune - aka AlphaKIT - July J & R

Five Ring Circus by Jon Cleary 3★

A convoluted mystery featuring Chinese gangsters and corrupt officials during Sydney's preparation for the Olympics. Given the location and time, this should have been better.

54VivienneR
jul 17, 2020, 8:55 pm



R is for Rogues - mysteries & mysteryKIT

The Burning by Jane Casey 4★

This compelling mystery might have rated higher except that some passages, notably the plot reveal at the end, was somewhat long. In addition, a big clue at the beginning was overlooked. Still, an excellent mystery. This begins a new series by Irish author Casey, who set this story in England. I'll be reading more.

55VivienneR
jul 19, 2020, 4:46 pm



R is for Rover the BingoDog About birth or death

Lampedusa: a novel by Steven Price 4★

When Giuseppe Tomasi, the last prince of Lampedusa, developed a fatal illness he decided that his legacy would be a book about political and social life in Sicily during the Risorgimento. Despite several rejections his book, The Leopard, was published after his death. Although this fictional biography of a real person is a rich, literary, elegant novel, I was unable to develop any empathy for the characters. That may have been my fault because the reading was protracted and my patchy attention may have reduced the impact. Nevertheless, Price rightly deserves the accolades his beautiful writing achieved.

56lkernagh
jul 20, 2020, 12:24 pm

I absolutely loved Price's novel Into That Darkness, so I will be keeping an eye out for Lampedusa!

57VivienneR
Bewerkt: jul 24, 2020, 1:04 pm

>56 lkernagh: And I will be on the lookout for Into that darkness. Price is a wonderful writer.

58VivienneR
jul 22, 2020, 1:18 pm



R is for Rover the BingoDog red cover

Push by Sapphire 3.5★

There is so much to say about this short book but others have said it so much better. My copy was an audiobook and at the beginning I thought it would end up in the "unfinished" category because the profane language was so hard to listen to and I barely understood the patois in between the swearing. But I stayed with it and was glad in the end to find that the life, language and communication skills of this abused child was to improve as the book progressed. The story was similar to Flowers for Algernon but without the experimental drug that Charlie was given. Instead, Precious' life was helped along because she was fortunate to meet an effective and understanding teacher, confirming the value not only of education but of compassion.

Sapphire, a "performance poet", has written a remarkable story and I will always remember Precious. However, I have to add that it may not be to everyone's taste.

59VivienneR
Bewerkt: jul 24, 2020, 1:02 pm



R is for Rogues - mysteries & mysteryKIT

The Other People by C.J. Tudor 4★ & July MysteryKIT - genre mashup

Another excellent mystery from Tudor, this time with a note of horror. As I read the book I thought I could see the pieces falling into place, but turning the page just brought more pieces to be fitted. Tudor can keep her audience enthralled all the way to the last page.

What I disliked was that this book of just over 300 pages was very heavy and floppy making it difficult to read holding it with one hand. What is happening to the once portable paperback?

60dudes22
jul 24, 2020, 8:56 am

I noticed in the wiki, that you've already read The Mysterious Affair at Styles. I'm wondering if the paper book did have actual drawings? I borrowed the ebook from the library and when the narrator says i.e. "I've included a drawing", I wonder if there was one in a print copy. I'm thinking there was and in one early chapter there's a reference to what was written on an envelope that I'm wondering how important it is.

61VivienneR
Bewerkt: jul 24, 2020, 12:31 pm

>60 dudes22: Christie often put drawings, floor plans, handwritten clues in her stories like those she put in "Styles". If you do an internet search for "The Mysterious Affair at Styles illustrations" you will find them. One was a big clue for Poirot.

ETA It's too bad the drawings are not available on the ebook version. It must have been puzzling. I have read the book a few times, the first as a young teenager - a long time ago!

62dudes22
jul 24, 2020, 1:51 pm

>61 VivienneR: - Thanks - that's what I figured. I can remember reading a lot of Christie when I was a lot younger and liked Poirot the best but don't remember most of them. I'll check out the illustrations. I was afraid they might be important.

63VivienneR
jul 24, 2020, 6:49 pm

>62 dudes22: I've always thought they were explained to a degree in the text, but you know what they say - a picture is worth a thousand words. :)

When I looked at the illustrations it reminded me that I read another book recently with a very similar plot, even a similar room layout illustration. I couldn't remember where I'd come across it before. Now I know. The only thing is now I can't remember the copy cat book, just that it wasn't Christie. Time for some research.

64VivienneR
Bewerkt: jul 28, 2020, 1:46 am



R is for Red Riding Hood 20th century women authors

Country Notes in Wartime by Vita Sackville-West 5★

Sackville-West's lovely prose deserves to be read slowly, taking in every scene and scent. She had a wonderful ability to convert the most delicate observation into eloquent words. The book opens with a story about her scything rough grass in the orchard as the moon comes up, a charming picture even though I'm aware of how much hard work scything can be. Often seen as an aristocratic, elegant celebrity, Sackville-West is seen here as a countrywoman and gardener with grubby fingernails like any other gardener. This is a short collection of essays that first appeared as a column in the New Statesman and Nation in the early years of WWII.

65VivienneR
aug 1, 2020, 8:13 pm



R is for Riveting

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel 5★

I might be the last person to read Mantel's masterpiece so all the tributes have been made already. I'll just say that I enjoyed it thoroughly and IF there is anyone who hasn't read it yet, I can't recommend it highly enough. It gets the full 5 stars from me because I can't think of a single criticism. I was glued to the tv when the series was broadcast but all the hype around the book put me off reading it, besides I have read extensively about the Tudors. However, I enjoyed it so much that I know it is one of those books I will want to read again. Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to the next two books in the trilogy, and I hope the third volume makes a Booker Prize trilogy for Mantel, she deserves it.

67Helenliz
aug 2, 2020, 6:50 am

>65 VivienneR: no, I've not read any of them. Yet.

68rabbitprincess
aug 2, 2020, 9:57 am

>65 VivienneR: They're on the list of books to borrow from my parents, although they haven't read the books yet either! And I have to check whether they've bought The Mirror and the Light.

69Tess_W
aug 2, 2020, 12:31 pm

>64 VivienneR: Definitely a BB for me!

70VivienneR
aug 2, 2020, 1:28 pm

>67 Helenliz: I've been surprised to hear I wasn't the last.

>68 rabbitprincess: I've already put holds on Bring up the bodies and The mirror and the light as well as Wolf Hall on DVD. It will be a year or more before I get to them as the hold lists are very long and thanks to coronavirus no interlibrary loans anymore.

>69 Tess_W: Glad to be of assistance!

71RidgewayGirl
aug 2, 2020, 2:51 pm

I'm so glad you loved Wolf Hall. It really is an extraordinary book. And you're so lucky to have read it after the trilogy has been completed. I also recommend A Place of Greater Safety if, once you've finished the trilogy, you're still in the mood for Mantel's take on history.

72VivienneR
Bewerkt: aug 2, 2020, 8:29 pm

>71 RidgewayGirl: As you say, an extraordinary book. The first book I ever read about Thomas More (a very long time ago) made him out to be a saint although I thought that a bit fishy. When I read more about him I got the true picture of the man, and was glad Mantel verified it.

Thanks for the recommendation. I'll keep it in mind. I've read others by Mantel but wasn't swept away until now.

ETA: Oh, it's about the French Revolution, wonderful! I love reading about that era! I fell in love with it when I was in high school. Also at that time I visited Mont St. Michel, which was used as a prison during the French Revolution.

73VivienneR
aug 3, 2020, 5:12 pm



R is for Rolls Royce

The House in Charlton Crescent by Annie Haynes 3.5★

This was a fun Golden Age mystery using the locked room theme, although the room wasn't actually locked. There were two crimes: the theft of Lady Anne's pearls and her murder soon after the pearls were discovered missing. Like Agatha Christie, Haynes threw in a sprinkle of romance. As I read I was guessing who the culprit was and I believe I picked each of the characters but the denouement still came as a surprise. My only criticism is that Inspector Furnival did not reveal how he discovered some of the clues, just saying "then I discovered… " - a Golden Age no-no. Still, it was fun and I look forward to more of Haynes.

74christina_reads
aug 3, 2020, 5:56 pm

>73 VivienneR: BB for me -- I do love a Golden Age mystery!

75VivienneR
aug 4, 2020, 2:54 pm

>74 christina_reads: Me too! I got a collection of Haynes in one volume on Kindle. I'm very happy with it.

76VivienneR
aug 4, 2020, 2:56 pm



R is for Red Riding Hood

Emerald City and other stories by Jennifer Egan 3.5★

It seems every time I comment on a collection of short stories I begin by saying it is not my favourite format. It takes something special to write a good short story, sometimes it works, other times not so much. Egan has that special quality. My favourite was Why China?.

77VivienneR
aug 7, 2020, 1:58 pm



R is for Rogues & MysteryKIT August: International author

Distress Signals by Catherine Ryan Howard (Ireland) 3.5★

From Irish author Catherine Ryan Howard comes this fine debut thriller set on a cruise ship. This was a nail-biter that kept me enthralled all the way. If you are still considering a cruise after coronavirus, this might help make up your mind.

78VivienneR
aug 7, 2020, 5:51 pm



R is for Roam & GeoCAT August: E & SE Asia

This is my latest Early Reviewer snag.

All Thirteen: the incredible cave rescue of the Thai boys' soccer team by Christina Soontornvat (Thailand) 5★

This is an excellent account of an extraordinary rescue, made more captivating by information about Thai culture, the history of Buddhism, and the the boys' families. There are also interesting sections about the structure of caves, how they are formed, and many charts and diagrams to further describe the complexities of cave rescue. An added wrinkle in communications was the international mix of etiquette styles that added to the initial tension, with westerners speaking freely instead of adhering to the strict rules of Thai protocol. Like the rest of the world I was glued to the news reports of the story back in 2018 and although we know about the successful result, Soontornvat's book maintains a high level of suspense. Immense credit goes not only to the dedication and ingenuity of the rescuers, but also to the boys and their coach whose leadership skills and calm deliberation made it possible for the rescuers to do their job.

Soontornvat's book is published by Candlewick Press and although recommended for young adults, a reader from any age group will enjoy it.

What the boys and rescuers endured and accomplished deserves five stars but Soontornvat also gets five stars for an outstanding chronicle of the event.

79VivienneR
aug 8, 2020, 6:50 pm



R is for Rhythm

Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux 2★

Oh this was a struggle to get through. Too melodramatic, too mawkish for me.

80VivienneR
Bewerkt: aug 10, 2020, 1:28 am



R is for Rogues & MysteryKIT August: International author

An Amateur Corpse by Simon Brett 3.5★

Brett's Charles Paris series never fails to satisfy. Paris is an actor but as he is not in high demand he manages to fill in his time solving crimes and drinking Bell's. The theatre makes a nice backdrop for his mysteries and this amateur theatre group provides a few unintended funny moments.

81VivienneR
aug 12, 2020, 3:44 pm



R is for Real Life

& NonFictionCAT August: History

With wings like eagles: a history of the battle of Britain by Michael Korda 4★

This is an excellent account of the Battle of Britain, fought in the air over Kent in 1940. I recently read one of Churchill's books that dealt with the same event and it was interesting to get another viewpoint, this one primarily in support of Hugh Dowding who was about to retire when war started. When the Air Ministry tried to remove him from Fighter Command in 1940, Churchill fought to keep him, recognizing that he was "one of their best men". His exceptional organization enabled him to maintain supply of replacement aircraft and air crew, as well as a fighter reserve during the battle. He has rightly been given credit for the victory of the Battle of Britain, which has developed legendary status, joining the Armada, Trafalgar, and Waterloo.

My version was an audiobook with outstanding narration by John Lee.

A personal note: my father was on the ground maintaining aircraft at Rochester while the battle raged in the air.

82Tess_W
aug 12, 2020, 3:51 pm

Nice info about your father, Vivienne! My father was helicopter maintenance during the Korean War.

83VivienneR
aug 12, 2020, 4:01 pm

84pamelad
aug 12, 2020, 5:20 pm

>80 VivienneR: Also a fan of the Charles Paris mysteries, which I have been reading since the seventies. Charles ages very slowly!

85VivienneR
Bewerkt: aug 13, 2020, 1:56 am

>84 pamelad: They are becoming quite difficult to find nowadays, which is a pity because I don't think I'll ever be able to read the entire series. There are only two at my library.

86VivienneR
aug 13, 2020, 1:57 am



R is for Ruthless

& ScaredyKIT August: Serial Killers

My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite 4★

I really enjoyed this short entertaining book, really a novella. It was so different to anything I've read before and I couldn't wait to read what was coming next. It was one surprise after another. Braithwaite was longlisted for the Booker in 2019 and I would hazard a guess that her name will turn up in Booker nominations in the future.

87VivienneR
aug 13, 2020, 2:09 pm



R is for Ruthless

Galway Girl by Ken Bruen 4★

Bruen's Jack Taylor series is as much about books, music and the culture of Galway as that unrepentant rogue Taylor. I love Bruen's pared-down style of writing that captures the action as well as Taylor's psyche. This is one of my favourite series.

88VivienneR
Bewerkt: aug 27, 2020, 12:59 am



R is for Rune - aka AlphaKIT

August O & H

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman 4.5★

Eleanor Oliphant reminded me of some lonely, socially awkward people I have known, each with a past concealed, deliberately or not. I was anxious that Eleanor Oliphant's life would turn out to be anything but fine. However, Honeyman told a heart-rending story without making it harrowing, with some moments of humour, and concluding with a sense of hope that will save Eleanor from becoming a Judith Hearne in her advancing years. Highly recommended.

89Jackie_K
aug 18, 2020, 1:56 pm

>88 VivienneR: That's one (of the very very many) books on my TBR. I'm glad you highlight the sense of hope, I'll look forward to it more knowing it's not harrowing.

90VivienneR
aug 18, 2020, 2:02 pm

>89 Jackie_K: I hope you enjoy it when you get to it, Jackie. I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected. I might have been a bit cheap with only four stars because Eleanor will stay in my mind for a long time.

91lkernagh
aug 21, 2020, 6:27 pm

>88 VivienneR: - Great review! I loved Eleanor Oliphant!

92VivienneR
aug 21, 2020, 6:56 pm

>91 lkernagh: Thank you, Lori. At first I was worried that it would be desperately sad and dark, but every light moment helped me let go of that idea. Eleanor was delightful. I loved when she and a workmate went for a drink at the pub. She insisted on picking up the drinks at the bar but then, having no idea of protocol, told him how much he owed her.

93Tess_W
aug 21, 2020, 10:01 pm

>88 VivienneR: I've yet to read Eleanor Olipant, but she is on my e-reader. I need to get to her soon!

94VivienneR
aug 22, 2020, 12:05 am

>93 Tess_W: I thought it was well done, Tess. I hope you enjoy it soon.

95VivienneR
aug 22, 2020, 2:29 pm



R is for Rogues

Playing With Fire by Peter Robinson 4★

Revealing information about the likely perpetrator at the midway point is an unusual approach but it works because this mystery is just as much about why and how as who, and there are still enough wrinkles to be straightened out before the culmination, which could change everything. Annie and Winsome are heroes in the surprising and dramatic finish.

96VivienneR
aug 23, 2020, 2:43 pm



R is for Rhythm

The next sure thing by Richard Wagamese 3.5★

Cree Thunderboy, a First Nations young man, wants to become a blues musician. He already composes songs and performs at a local cafe. To augment meagre earnings he uses his knack of picking winning horses at the track where he is noticed by a friendly mobster who offers him money to place bets for him in exchange for a chance to record an album. Cree eventually must use his skills to remove himself from what turns out to be a nasty arrangement. It's a fast-paced story with an endearing protagonist.

I borrowed this ebook without noticing that it is a Rapid Reads novel intended for ESL students, reluctant readers, or adults who struggle with literacy. Although the format makes it an excellent choice for the intended audience, it also pares down Wagamese's skilled writing.

97VivienneR
Bewerkt: aug 27, 2020, 12:58 am

R is for Rogues

This one was a big miss but I read enough of it that I am counting it as read. I'm not including a cover image because it didn't even reach mediocre.

A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton 1★

I've heard so much about Sue Grafton that I decided to try one, starting at the beginning naturally. However, it's going on the pearl-ruled list. Although I might try another one sometime I suspect Kinsey Millhone is not for me.

98VivienneR
aug 27, 2020, 12:59 am



R is for Riveting

When We Were Vikings by Andrew David MacDonald 5★

MacDonald introduces Zelda in this debut novel: a 21-year-old woman who was born with fetal alcohol syndrome. She is fascinated with Vikings, lives with her brother and is determined to become independent and make her own legend like a Viking hero despite knowing that she is different. While her story is quirky, it is often dark. MacDonald has combined humour with violence without showing a glimmer of condescension towards Zelda. His tale about this feisty young woman is heartening and she is utterly unforgettable. Highly recommended.

99dudes22
aug 27, 2020, 7:19 am

>97 VivienneR: - I felt much the same - never even finished the first one. My girlfriend's mother was saving them for me and gave me a whole bunch at once. Once I decided they weren't for me, they all went to the library.

100Tess_W
aug 27, 2020, 12:47 pm

>97 VivienneR: I feel the same way about that book! I read the entire thing because one of my friends swore up and down it was the best series she ever read. Part of the reason I didn't like it was that it was outdated and did not stand up well.

101VivienneR
aug 27, 2020, 4:38 pm

>99 dudes22: and >100 Tess_W: I picked up a pile at a library booksale, now I know why they ended up there. I'll probably try a later one sometime. Glad to hear I'm not the only one feels like this.

102pamelad
aug 27, 2020, 7:36 pm

>97 VivienneR: I don't mind Kinsey Millhone, but I wish she wouldn't moan when she eats a hamburger.

103VivienneR
aug 28, 2020, 1:06 am

>102 pamelad: Thanks, Pam. You've sent many BBs my way so I'll remember your good opinion when I next pick up Sue Grafton.

104VivienneR
Bewerkt: aug 28, 2020, 5:29 pm



Moral disorder and other stories by Margaret Atwood 4★

A collection of eleven excellent stories from Atwood. The stories of a young Nell in The Art of Cooking and Serving and The Headless Horseman were my favourites closely followed by the stories featuring Nell's attempt at farming in Monopoly, Moral Disorder and White Horse, all of which reminded me of my own efforts at farming.

105VivienneR
aug 29, 2020, 2:26 am



R is for Rhythm

Feeding my mother: comfort and laughter in the kitchen as my mom lives with memory loss by Jann Arden 5★

Jann describes her mother's decline into Alzheimer's disease and the death of her father in this candid memoir. While it's a heartbreaking story, Arden infuses it with an abundance of wit while showing patience, understanding and good humour. Her amiable personality and sense of fun, which she obviously shares with her mother, shines through the despair making the story heartening rather than despondent. Photos, recipes and illustrations enhance the book. Arden's talent as a writer matches that of her music making this much more than I expected.

"I started by cooking dinner for them once or twice a week. Within a month, they were coming arm in arm across the driveway towards my house almost every evening, chattering away like two old birds chirping on a wire. If Dad had had his way, he would have been on my doorstep by three."

106VivienneR
aug 29, 2020, 5:56 pm



R is for Rhythm

Amy, my daughter by Mitch Winehouse 3.5★

Reading this was like seeing a train crash in slow motion. By all accounts, Amy was a mischievous, bold, daring child who retained those qualities beyond adolescence. The effect of her death on her father, the author, and the rest of her very close family was devastating. Mitch's love and grief is very apparent in this tribute to his exceptional daughter.

107VivienneR
aug 31, 2020, 8:24 pm



R is for Rogues

Classic detective stories narrated by Edward Hardwicke 3.5★

A good selection of short mysteries with outstanding narration by Edward Hardwicke. My favourite stories were The Dying Detective by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and The Burglar by Colin Dexter.

108VivienneR
Bewerkt: aug 31, 2020, 8:39 pm



R is for RandomCAT

August: Get your groove on

Looking for Chet Baker by Bill Moody 4★

The story of Chet Baker's fatal fall in 1988 from an Amsterdam hotel windowledge is well-known so there was not much else to be detected or discovered by jazz pianist and occasional detective Evan Horne. What he found himself looking for was his academic friend Ace Buffington, who went missing while researching a book he was writing about Chet Baker's demise. Ace had asked Horne to accompany him on a research trip to Amsterdam, a request that was declined, although Horne was going to be playing in the same city. Miffed at the rebuff Ace got out of a tight spot by mentioning Horne's name before taking off back to California, thus putting his friend in a dangerous jam with Baker's Amsterdam drug dealers who never forget a debt owed.

The mystery in Moody's novels, especially this one, is not the main attraction, but the talk about jazz and jazz musicians is a big draw and is what I find most interesting and appealing. Moody is a jazz musician and music critic so knows his subject thoroughly making this series a pleasure to read.

110VivienneR
sep 1, 2020, 3:04 pm

It's time to rearrange my fiction bookshelves. I'm having a hard time finding what I want to read because my attention is drawn to the books I've already read, while unread books continue to languish. I'm going to separate the two, each section sorted alphabetically by author's name as usual.

111VivienneR
sep 3, 2020, 1:22 am



Who do you think you are? by Alice Munro 4★

This is an excellent collection of related stories about Rose as she grows up. It was published in 1978 and I believe she got even better. I'm keeping the rating as it was after my first read several years ago.

112VivienneR
sep 5, 2020, 4:11 pm



R is for Rune - aka AlphaKIT - September M & E

The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot 4★

I had forgotten much of this story in the years since I first read it but as it came back to me gradually the dramatic ending was no surprise. I was very happy that Aunt Glegg redeemed herself by shedding her saintly martyrdom to care for Maggie when she needed it most. Annoyingly, much of it is written in dialect, otherwise it is an accurate reflection of 19th century customs, lifestyle and mores. Eliot obviously intended a feminist message, but it was indirect and fell short.

113Tess_W
sep 6, 2020, 11:43 pm

>112 VivienneR: I read it about 10 years ago, but I can say that I don't remember much. Maybe it's time for a re-read!

114VivienneR
sep 7, 2020, 12:27 am

>113 Tess_W: We have a lot in common - that was how I came to it too! :)

115VivienneR
sep 8, 2020, 1:37 pm



R is for Rhythm

Amsterdam by Ian McEwan 3★

In his typically clever way, McEwan's book explores ethical issues before coming to the foreshadowed denouement that was certainly intended to be a shocker. Instead, it fizzled out. The description of Clive's process for composing a symphony showed McEwan's level of research and was the most interesting part. While his prose is beautiful as usual, this is not McEwan's best novel, not even close. What is shocking is that it won the Booker Prize.

116VivienneR
sep 11, 2020, 4:21 pm



R is for Rogues

& mysteryKIT September: Series

Piece of my heart by Peter Robinson 3★

The story begins in September 1969 where a woman's body was found in a sleeping bag in the aftermath of a rock concert. It becomes apparent that the murder has a connection with Banks' current case.

This was probably the disappointment of my reading year. It was next in the series for me and as I was unable to lay my hands on a print copy I settled for audio. The story may have been a winner but was ruined by Ron Keith's atrocious narration. I wish I had skipped this one entirely and jumped to the next in the series.

Based on my previous experience with Robinson, an author I've enjoyed, I'm awarding three stars. If the rating was based on the audio reading it would be much less.

117dudes22
Bewerkt: sep 12, 2020, 9:28 am

I've never really tried audio books. Just once - one of the Anne of Green Gable books - and I couldn't tell when the narrator was being Anne or when she was being her best friend, so I quit. I can see how not having the right narrator would make the story less than pleasing.

ETA: I'd still like to try another one so I could listen while I sew.

118DeltaQueen50
sep 12, 2020, 12:40 pm

>116 VivienneR: Sorry that you had a bad experience with an audio, Vivienne. I have found that the narrator of an audio book can totally make or break my reading experience. Hope your next Peter Robinson gets you back on track with the series.

119VivienneR
sep 12, 2020, 2:46 pm

>117 dudes22: That was the problem with this audiobook, Betty. I couldn't tell the characters apart. At least in print the punctuation lets the reader know when the speaker has changed. The narrator is the most important part of an audiobook and can make or break it. Sometimes I will choose an audiobook over print because I know the narrator to be excellent. Keep on trying.

>118 DeltaQueen50: Hi Judy! I usually go with print but that was the only version of that title available at the library. What a mistake. I thought if I stuck with it I'd get used to the narrator but he ruined the entire book.

120VivienneR
sep 12, 2020, 9:39 pm



R is for Roam & GeoCAT September: Polar Regions

Reykjavik nights by Arnaldur Indridason 4★

In this prequel, we meet Erlendur as a young cop on the beat showing his interest and talent for detection as well as displaying compassion for the less fortunate in Reykjavik. I enjoyed the bit where he comes across a translation of The Laughing Policeman, a Swedish mystery by authors Sjowal and Wahloo. Very enjoyable, especially for readers following the series.

Thick smoke from the western US wildfires is shrouding much of British Columbia. Our own firefighting planes and helicopters in this area are grounded. It's so dark the street lights have been on and the sun looks like an orange blob. Nothing else to do but read.

121thornton37814
sep 13, 2020, 10:26 am

>116 VivienneR: I originally posted this on the September MysteryKit thread, but I thought I should post to yours: I don't think I've encountered a Ron Keith narration in the series. The ones I've listened to have been James Langton. I'll try to remember to just read the book rather than listening to Ron Keith if he's that bad.

122RidgewayGirl
sep 13, 2020, 11:02 am

Vivienne, I'm hoping for better air quality for everyone on the west coast. Have you rearranged your shelves yet? I have my tbr paperbacks separate from the ones I've read and decided to keep, but don't do this with hardcovers because when I did it, it quickly became impossible once I'd read a few and there was no place to put them. No problem filling the gaps in the tbr shelves strangely enough.

123lkernagh
sep 13, 2020, 1:10 pm

>116 VivienneR: - A narrator can really "make or break" an audiobook. Sorry to see you experienced one of bad ones.

124VivienneR
sep 13, 2020, 2:09 pm

>121 thornton37814: I've been looking around for information about Ron Keith and it seems he narrates some children's books. He might be more suited to that genre (I can imagine him doing the Big Bad Wolf or something like that). I wondered if he went by other names such as James Langton but haven't found anything to support that idea. On my spreadsheet of audiobooks I've had I found a couple narrated by James Langton but no remarks about the narrator, obviously ok.

>122 RidgewayGirl: I'm hoping for better air quality too. The mountains have all disappeared, even the one right beside us. The temperature is about 31C and it seems all my cooling methods involve drawing smoke into the house.

Yes, I spent an entire day rearranging my fiction into read and unread. Found I didn't like the result so put them all back the way they were! I removed five "read" that I thought I could part with, but ended up putting them back too. Now to do the non-fiction, a bigger job, which must be arranged so that my illogical husband can find books. Last week I searched high and low for The Dubliners and my husband immediately pulled it out of the Irish history section.

>123 lkernagh: I shouldn't really complain, Lori. I have great admiration for audiobook readers and have been very fortunate so far.

125VivienneR
sep 13, 2020, 6:17 pm

I forgot to mention in my previous post that although the smoke from the western US is a problem here, not only to health, and to our own fire-fighting planes and helicopters that have been grounded, also for schools reopening this week and hoping to stay outdoors most of the time, my heart goes out to the families of those lost and missing, and those who have lost everything in the fires. It is a tragedy of a magnitude we can hardly imagine.

126VivienneR
Bewerkt: sep 21, 2020, 12:36 am



R is for Ruthless & ScaredyKIT September: International horror

A conspiracy of faith by Jussi Adler-Olsen 4★

Scandi crime is a genre known for its horrific content but Adler-Olsen is able to inject humour into his stories through his delightfully quirky characters. After a terrific start to the series I was disappointed with the second book that was filled with gratuitous violence. In this one the author has redeemed himself with a solid story that includes more about Morck's sidekick Assad and secretary Rose (Yrsa). Despite a rather sluggish middle section the story builds up to an exciting finish.

127VivienneR
sep 19, 2020, 3:26 pm



R is for Riveting

Convenience store woman by Sayaka Murata 3★

Misfit Keiko Furukara has learned that to survive in a country that does not tolerate the unconventional she must copy mannerisms and speech patterns to fit in. Working in a convenience store that has strict rules and role models, to say nothing of a manual, she is able keep up appearances. Pressured to marry at age 36, she takes in an employee who was fired for not obeying convenience store rules, another misfit. This is a short, comic novel that explores the conventions of Japanese life. Keiko is endearing in her odd way and the message is clear if unsettling.

128VivienneR
sep 20, 2020, 3:27 pm



R is for RandomCAT September: Reccies

Broken promise by Linwood Barclay 4.5★

Another one of the many BBs I've had from rabbitprincess. I love Barclay's mysteries because the characters are mostly ordinary people and the stories just draw you in from the beginning. This one is a winner.

129VivienneR
sep 22, 2020, 6:29 pm



R is for Ruthless & ScaredyKIT September: International

The devil by Ken Bruen 4.5★

As if Jack Taylor didn't have enough demons of his own, he is hounded by the Devil in this mystery, although mysterious applies too as the story has a touch of the supernatural. I love Bruen's spare style of writing, frequent music and literary references, and that Ireland itself has a strong presence, where it is evident that times are changing and Taylor's old Galway is fading. Although he can be a bit of a train wreck, Jack is the best person to have on your side in a jam.

I can hardly wait for the next in the series and have already put book 9 on hold at the library.

130dudes22
sep 23, 2020, 7:39 am

>128 VivienneR: - I used to look at Linwood Barclay when I would see a book of his at a library sale (oh, how I miss those) and wonder if I should pick one up, but never did. May be next time I see one I will.

131VivienneR
sep 23, 2020, 1:36 pm

>130 dudes22: Oh yes, do pick one up when you eventually get the chance again. I've enjoyed all of his books that I've read but the Promise Falls series seem to be the most popular.

132VivienneR
sep 24, 2020, 12:30 am



R is for Real Life & NonfictionCAT September: Religion & Philosophy

Why Buddhism is true by Robert Wright 4★

With this book Wright promises that we can learn to use meditation as the key to enduring happiness by seeing the world clearly. I'm sure that my attempts at meditation have not been enough to find the clarity he is trying to achieve, however, I found this book not only interesting, but well-written in an appealing conversational style.

Don't try to use Buddhism to be a better Buddhist. Use it to ba a better whatever you already are. --Dalai Lama



R is for Rune - aka AlphaKIT - September M & E

The artful egg by James McClure 3.5★

A brisk intriguing mystery set in South Africa during apartheid and featuring Lieutenant Kramer and his Zulu partner, Zondi. A wealthy woman whose books have been banned by the apartheid government has been murdered. Who will profit from her will? Kramer is taken off the case to work on another murder investigation, and one rife with political peril.

A hen is an egg's way of making another egg.

133VivienneR
sep 24, 2020, 2:02 pm



R is for Rover the BingoDog

Published in the year of your birth - Of all the books I own, not one is published in the year of my birth so instead I chose the year my mother was born, 1926.

Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne 4.5★

Like everyone else old and young, I love these stories, I mean, how many pets (or people) have you known that were named after one of Pooh's friends? The inventive language and illustrations add to the enjoyment. I have to admit I've never shared Pooh's love of "hunny".

I've been neglecting my Bingo card and will have to make an effort to fill thirteen squares still open.

134VivienneR
sep 25, 2020, 7:32 pm



R is for Rover the BingoDog - With Library or Thing in title

There's nothing to be afraid of by Marcia Muller 3.5★

Set in San Francisco, one of my favourite cities, PI Sharon McCone investigates harassment and scare tactics being used at a tenement hotel housing Vietnamese refugees. Enjoyed the reference to James Joyce.

135VivienneR
sep 28, 2020, 12:00 am



R is for Rover the BingoDog

Published under a pen name

Death of a macho man by M.C. Beaton 3.5★

Another fun mystery from Lochdubh in the Scottish Highlands featuring Hamish Macbeth who becomes the main suspect in a murder inquiry.

136clue
sep 28, 2020, 8:47 pm

>13 VivienneR: I like to read about Hamish every now and then and I love these updated covers!

137VivienneR
Bewerkt: sep 29, 2020, 2:24 pm

>136 clue: Yes, a Hamish story is fun. It's not as if they were serious, he is always able to get himself out of trouble. The new covers are much better.

138VivienneR
sep 29, 2020, 2:28 pm



R is for Rover the BingoDog

Read a CAT - September RandomCAT: Reccies

Diary of a bookseller by Shaun Bythell 3★

I've been dipping into this a little every day for the last couple of weeks, appropriately, since this it is a year-long diary of the author's bookshop in Wigtown, Scotland. Nothing earth shattering, but filled with interesting, often funny stories about his books, customers and staff. I particularly enjoyed the quotes from George Orwell that opened each chapter.

139VivienneR
sep 30, 2020, 1:30 am



R is for Rover the BingoDog

By an LT author

Three Jack Reacher Novellas: Deep Down, Second Son, High Heat, and Jack Reacher's Rules by Lee Child 4★

I've always enjoyed a Jack Reacher novel. Of these short works, that are every bit as good as Child's full length stories, my favourites are Second Son and Jack Reacher's Rules.

140VivienneR
sep 30, 2020, 9:57 pm



R is for Rolls Royce

Bats in the belfry by E.C.R. Lorac 3★

Just as one expects in a mystery novel written in 1937, there are predictable characters and plot devices. It became a bit plodding in the middle but the solution was dramatically satisfying. Not bad but not as good as I expected. However, I am looking forward to reading more of Lorac's books.

Like all British Library Crime Classics, the cover is beautiful.

142Helenliz
okt 1, 2020, 4:06 am

>140 VivienneR: I picked that up from the book shop purely because of the title - I'm a bellringer, and spend far too much time in belfries! I've read several of her other books published in the series. They're usually quite inventive, and certainly set in a place that is brought to life.

143VivienneR
okt 1, 2020, 3:50 pm

>142 Helenliz: Too bad there were no bellringers and the belfry was not the usual type.

Have you tried The Dead Ringer by M.C. Beaton? It's an Agatha Raisin mystery, not a favourite of mine but the tv series made Agatha more popular.

144Tess_W
okt 1, 2020, 11:01 pm

Looks like some good September reading. Not any stinkers!

145VivienneR
okt 2, 2020, 12:21 am

>144 Tess_W: Yes, no surprises, even the list looks uninspiring. They were all pretty ordinary apart from Ken Bruen and Linwood Barclay, in fact both will appear this month too.

146Helenliz
okt 2, 2020, 3:34 am

>143 VivienneR: I've tried one MC Beaton, wasn't impressed and have never been back. Can't even remember what i read now! But I might have to make an exception for that...

147VivienneR
okt 2, 2020, 2:03 pm

>146 Helenliz: Understandable. Agatha was unlikeable in print and my experience of the tv series (half of one episode) didn't improve her. The stories are not up to much.

148VivienneR
okt 3, 2020, 2:15 am



R is for Rover the BingoDog

With a periodic element in the title

Goldfinger by Ian Fleming 4★

When my friends and I devoured the James Bond books back in the 1960s I remember that this one rated very high. Reading it again after all this time brought back happy memories. It's a great adventure story despite the many eye-rolling moments. I must add that Fleming's books are significantly better than any of the Bond movies I've seen.

149VivienneR
Bewerkt: okt 4, 2020, 12:57 am



R is for Roam GeoCAT October: Canada

Brother by David Chariandy 4.5★

Chariandy describes Trinidadian immigrants living in a public housing complex in Scarborough, Ontario where a Mother is bringing up two boys, Francis and Michael. The story is told by Michael. In very few words Chariandy is able to convey, not only their circumstances but the dreams and emotions of the characters. It is a heartbreaking story and one that continues to happen all too often throughout North America. Highly recommended.

150Tess_W
okt 4, 2020, 3:09 pm

>149 VivienneR: I already had this on my wish list. You are not the first to highly recommend it. Will have to move it to the top!

151VivienneR
okt 4, 2020, 8:05 pm

>150 Tess_W: Hi Tess! It's a very short book but well-written and the subject is topical. I hope you enjoy (not the perfect word) it.

152VivienneR
okt 5, 2020, 12:30 am



R is for RandomCAT October: Healthcare Heroes

Blood Lies by Daniel Kalla 4★

I could have used this book for this month's ScaredyCAT New to You but it works even better for Healthcare Heroes.

Author Daniel Kalla is an Emergency Room physician in Vancouver and in this story the protagonist, Ben Dafoe, is an ER doctor in Seattle. The story takes place in both cities. At the beginning of the book I thought, for an ER doctor, this guy is making a lot of bad choices but this is of less significance as the story becomes more complex and the twists piled up. And although there is an identical twin factor, it's not the old worn out motif but fits well into the plot. It was a first rate medical thriller with excellent characters. I can't wait to read more of Kalla's books. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys mysteries.

153VivienneR
okt 6, 2020, 3:23 pm

R is for Real Life & NonFictionCAT October: The Arts



Dylan Thomas at the BBC by Dylan Thomas 5★

Classic Dylan Thomas prose and poetry, revealing his immense creativity and imagery in his familiar dolorous voice (it says a lot that his voice is still familar more that sixty years after his death).

That he lived for many years in Larne, in my home country of Northern Ireland, was news to me and I enjoyed the writings from that time. However, my favourites are the prose sketches remembering life from a specific time and place that is captured perfectly in "The Outing", a hilarious charabanc trip to Porthcawl that becomes a pub crawl without ever reaching the intended destination.

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.



The Flame: Poems and Selections from Notebooks by Leonard Cohen 4★

As the title indicates, this book embraces poems and selections from the notebooks Cohen kept all his life, but is also illustrated with many of his self-portraits. Satisfyingly, it concludes the speech he made in 2011 when accepting the Prince of Asturias award in Spain, in which he explains how a young Spaniard taught him to play guitar. It's a fabulous collection of Cohen's distinctive dark love.

I started by listening to an audio version before obtaining a print copy that I could peruse at my own pace. Either is highly recommended.

If I didn't have your love

If the sun would lose its light
And we lived an endless night
And there was nothing left
That you could feel
That’s how it would be
What the world would seem to me
If I didn’t have your love
To make it real

154Jackie_K
okt 6, 2020, 4:16 pm

>153 VivienneR: I bought that Leonard Cohen collection for my husband a couple of years ago. When we were engaged he bought me Book of Longing and he's been a favourite poet of ours (we love his music too).

155VivienneR
okt 7, 2020, 4:13 pm

>154 Jackie_K: What lovely gifts! I love Cohen's music too.

156Boschfan
okt 7, 2020, 5:39 pm

>155 VivienneR:

I had the great good fortune on seeing Cohen on what turned out to be his final tour. In so many ways it was one of the most memorable and uplifting shows I have attended in over 50 years of regular concert-going.

Best Wishes,
David

157VivienneR
Bewerkt: okt 8, 2020, 1:02 am

>156 Boschfan: Hi David, nice to see you dropping in. How fortunate you were to see Cohen, he was such a talented man. His son Adam has done a great job in making sure the recordings - and book - are produced according to Cohen's wishes.

Now I'll be wondering what my most memorable concert was.

158VivienneR
okt 8, 2020, 2:40 pm



Full disclosure by Beverley McLachlin 2.5★

I was interested in this courtroom mystery mainly because it was written by Canada's former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. I don't see McLachlin having a notable literary career, this was disappointing and predictable.

159VivienneR
okt 9, 2020, 4:06 pm



R is for Rover the BingoDog

From Evelyn Waugh's legacy library

Don't tell Alfred by Nancy Mitford 4★

This follows Love in a Cold Climate and The Pursuit of Love when Fanny is middle-aged and less confident in her abilities as she faces a life in Parisian high society attendant with her husband Alfred's appointment as Ambassador to France. Filled with eccentric characters, Mitford's writing is, as always, witty and sparkling.

160VivienneR
okt 10, 2020, 1:31 am



R is for Red Riding Hood

Pilgrim of hate by Ellis Peters 3.5★

A Cadfael novel is always enjoyable although I have found they have become all too much the same. Still, the era and history snippets are interesting and I can imagine the scene easily.

161VivienneR
okt 12, 2020, 12:28 am



R is for Red Riding Hood

Devices and desires by P.D. James 3.5★

I've always enjoyed James' placid, sophisticated writing style and rich character development, but if I have a complaint it is that her books are a tad long with unnecessarily intricate plotting. This one is good but not my favourite.

162Helenliz
okt 12, 2020, 2:23 am

>160 VivienneR: that is the problem with a long series, they can all become a bit predictable.
Still, Cadfael is always a bit of fun.

163rabbitprincess
okt 12, 2020, 9:29 am

>161 VivienneR: I love the cover on the P.D. James. My mum has been collecting the paperbacks done in that style, so it makes me think of her :) She's missing Death of an Expert Witness, which she did have but made the mistake of lending to someone not properly vetted for book-borrowing.

Happy Thanksgiving!

164VivienneR
okt 12, 2020, 3:59 pm

>162 Helenliz: Yes, Cadfael is fun. I got hooked on them from the tv series with Derek Jacobi, who helps me visualize the scenes.

>163 rabbitprincess: I just accept the cover I get, but I do have favourites - like the British Library Crime Classics. Sorry to hear your mum lost her book to an insecure borrower. I believe they outnumber the safe borrowers.

165VivienneR
okt 13, 2020, 4:31 pm

I finished two books on this quiet Canadian Thanksgiving weekend:



R is for Rhythm

Musicophilia: tales of music and the brain by Oliver Sacks 3.5★

How music affects individuals with conditions such as Tourette's or Parkinson's disease is astonishing and yet the benefits are far more widespread as Sacks explains. Even the author used music after a severe leg injury while climbing when he had to "row" himself down the mountain to the beat of marching or rowing songs that coincidentally alleviated the anxiety. Weeks later he learned to walk again with the the help of music: the natural rhythm and melody of walking came back to me". Music lovers will understand the results. An interesting book but lacking an aspect I hoped for.



R is for Ruthless & ScaredyKIT October: Halloween

Headstone by Ken Bruen 4★

Brutal and bloody. but I'm still hooked on Jack Taylor and Galway. Targets receive miniature headstones by mail and victims are attacked on a headstone. Perfectly fitting for this category.

166VivienneR
okt 15, 2020, 8:07 pm



R is for Rogues

& MysteryKIT October: New to you

Open and shut by David Rosenfelt 4★

This story featuring Defence Attorney Andy Carpenter with support from his golden retriever Tara was very entertaining. This was my first experience of Rosenfelt but I'll be reading more. A tricky legal mystery written in genial, agreeable language.

167VivienneR
okt 18, 2020, 5:54 pm



R is for RandomCAT October: Healthcare Heroes

Migraine by Oliver Sacks 2★

Originally published in 1970 and revised in 1992. In 1970 the information may have been worthwhile but in 2020 it is sadly outdated and of significantly less value.



R is for Roam GeoCAT October: Canada

The Innocents by Michael Crummey 4.5★

As much an allegory as novel, Crummey's book is about two children left orphaned in remote Newfoundland in the early 1800s. Ada and Evered (Adam and Eve?) are left alone to fend for themselves when they are too young and inexperienced to know anything of life beyond their limited dwelling place. They barely survive. The atmospheric story captured my attention on the first page and did not let me go until the end. Highly recommended.

168Tess_W
okt 19, 2020, 12:54 am

The Innocents, a BB for me!

169thornton37814
okt 19, 2020, 9:29 am

>167 VivienneR: I'm glad you enjoyed The Innocents as much as I did.

170VivienneR
okt 19, 2020, 5:17 pm

>168 Tess_W: Glad to hear that. I've been meaning to read Crummey for a long time. Now I'll be looking for more.

>169 thornton37814: Many thanks, Lori. You provided the push to read it.

171VivienneR
okt 20, 2020, 12:17 am



R is for Red Riding Hood

Sleep no more: six murderous tales by P.D. James 4★

An enticing collection of short mystery stories, all with unexpected endings. They are exactly what a short story should be, perfect, nothing vague, everything fitting into place as it should. I'm keeping this one for a re-read.

172VivienneR
okt 20, 2020, 6:54 pm



R is for Rhythm

A merry band of murderers : an original mystery anthology of songs and stories edited by Claudia Bishop 3★

A collection of mystery stories, each one related to a song or a piece of music. Although the opening story is by one of my favourite music/mystery writers, Bill Moody, there was little in this bland collection that was memorable.

173VivienneR
okt 20, 2020, 9:16 pm



R is for Real Life

My latest Early Reviewer book:

Meg and Greg: a duck in a sock by Elspeth Rae, Rowena Rae, ill by Elisa Guteirrez 4★

Although this might be too easy for children who are already reading well, they might still enjoy the comic-book style stories. For children who are still learning or who are having difficulty, it will provide invaluable help with those tricky letter combinations such as ck, sh, ch and th. Pairing the lesson with a partner as the book suggests, makes learning to read fun, an important component of any lesson. While the stories are intended for 6 to 9 year olds, they are not too childish that an older ESL or ABE student might find them of use.

174mathgirl40
okt 20, 2020, 10:55 pm

>171 VivienneR: I love good short-story collections and I've always been a fan of P. D. James. Will have to keep this one in mind!

175DeltaQueen50
okt 20, 2020, 10:59 pm

>167 VivienneR: I read The River Thieves by Michael Crummey a number of years ago and remember really liking it. I don't know why I haven't revisited this author since but I'm taking a book bullet for The Innocents, it sounds really good.

176dudes22
okt 21, 2020, 7:26 am

>173 VivienneR: - I've been making "reading pillows" for some younger children and this book will make a perfect addition for my great-nephew who's just starting to read. Usually I ask my sister who is a children's librarian for advice on book giving.

177VivienneR
okt 21, 2020, 1:11 pm

>174 mathgirl40: Oh, do keep it in mind. I enjoyed it so much I put a library hold on another collection by P.D. James. I may have read it before, but that is OK.

>175 DeltaQueen50: It's very good, Judy. I hope you try it and post comments. Crummey has long been on my radar but somehow I neglected to get down to reading his books.

>176 dudes22: Good for you and your "reading pillows", Betty! It's a book that encourages learning to read because it is meant to be read with an experienced reader but the format is also encouraging. I've found the publisher, Orca, is a very reliable source of children's books.

178VivienneR
okt 21, 2020, 2:05 pm



R is for Roam GeoCAT October: Canada

Last resort by Linwood Barclay 5★

There are few who can give such an interesting account of their teen years. For many years Barclay's parents ran Green Acres, a cottage, trailer and fishing resort in Ontario. From the age of eleven he helped in many ways ranging from hard work to fun, like meeting girls. He comes across as a friendly, amiable young man ready to take on anything that comes his way while working to create a life of writing. In this he succeeded and is now famed for his impressive mystery novels. This book was so engaging it kept me up until the wee hours, reluctant to put it down until finished.

Thanks to rabbitprincess for the recommendation.

179rabbitprincess
okt 21, 2020, 4:47 pm

>178 VivienneR: Yay! I'm so glad you liked this one. It's one of my favourites of his books.

180VivienneR
okt 21, 2020, 5:39 pm

>179 rabbitprincess: Again, thanks for the recommendation. I might not have picked it up otherwise and would have seriously lost out. I absolutely loved it. Looking forward to reading more Linwood Barclay.

181VivienneR
Bewerkt: okt 22, 2020, 9:48 pm



R is for Rover the BingoDog

Involving a real historical event

The looking-glass war by John leCarré 4★

John le Carré can always be relied on to provide a gripping story. Bleak, but after all, this is espionage during the Cold War.

Not finished my card yet, but not giving up either. With just over two months to go I have another six squares to fill, although I have titles in mind.

182VivienneR
okt 25, 2020, 3:20 pm



R is for Red Riding Hood

Miss Pettigrew lives for a day by Winifred Watson 4★

A witty story set over 24 hours and said to be a 1938 reconstruction of Cinderella. Lighthearted yet with some serious undertones. A half-starved middle-aged spinster seeking a job is unintentionally led into a day-long adventure. The glitzy 1930s nightclub background was very well done, especially as Watson had never experienced the life herself.

183Helenliz
okt 25, 2020, 5:16 pm

>182 VivienneR: I thought this was delightful.

184VivienneR
okt 25, 2020, 5:56 pm

>183 Helenliz: Agreed! My copy had a good preface that I also enjoyed. I might look for the other (five, I believe) books written by Watson.

185VivienneR
okt 25, 2020, 5:59 pm



R is for Rover the BingoDog Not set on earth

Code to zero by Ken Follett 3.5★

A thriller involving the space race, which is as close as I can manage to the square for "not set on earth". Very enjoyable.

186christina_reads
okt 26, 2020, 9:28 pm

>182 VivienneR: One of my absolute favorite comfort reads! I liked the movie a lot too, although they certainly changed some things.

187pammab
okt 26, 2020, 11:53 pm

>173 VivienneR: What a good idea to have a comic book focused on challenging letter combinations! I appreciate you calling out the publisher Orca as well.

>165 VivienneR: Musicophilia looks fascinating! I suppose I won't hold up too high expectations given it didn't quite deliver what you were hoping, but Sacks' writing on neurology applied to music seems worth potentially pursuing.

188christina_reads
okt 27, 2020, 12:48 pm

>182 VivienneR: >186 christina_reads: Following up to say that you inspired me to rewatch the movie last night, and I enjoyed it very much! :)

189VivienneR
okt 27, 2020, 2:24 pm

>186 christina_reads: It was a lot of fun, Christina. I've had it on my wishlist for far too long. I haven't seen the movie but will watch for it.

>187 pammab: I don't know exactly what I was expecting or looking for but for some reason Sacks' book didn't quite hit the spot. I liked it well enough to try another of his books right away (#167) but it was so outdated it was a miss for me.

190pamelad
okt 27, 2020, 3:52 pm

>182 VivienneR: It's the perfect cheerful book for times like these.

191VivienneR
okt 27, 2020, 5:44 pm

>190 pamelad: Yes, it was a lovely, upbeat book. I was expecting it to be more like The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne by Brian Moore so it was a very nice surprise.

192VivienneR
okt 28, 2020, 12:54 am



R is for Rover the BingoDog With a proper name

Paula Spencer by Roddy Doyle 4★

This was my first book by Roddy Doyle and I found his ability to get inside the head of his character awe-inspiring. That the character was an alcoholic female makes it even more remarkable. The stream of consciousness style suits the story of Paula's relentless struggle against alcohol. The musical references added to the character and the story. I'll be looking for more by Doyle.

193VivienneR
okt 28, 2020, 8:57 pm



R is for Red Riding Hood

In a German pension by Katherine Mansfield 2★

A collection of related short stories, this was Mansfield's first book, published in 1911 after a stay in the spa town of Bad Wörishofen. She refused permission to reprint, believing it could contribute to post-war jingoism but after her death her husband, John Middleton Murry, reprinted them. He should have left well alone. It leaves me with a memory of choppy writing, unpleasant people, often disparaging. It doesn't compare with other books and stories from the same era. Leave this one on the shelf as Mansfield intended.

195VivienneR
Bewerkt: nov 1, 2020, 9:20 pm



R is for Rogues

Watching you by Lisa Jewell 3.5★

A complex mystery that would have been improved if there had been about a hundred fewer pages. Even with a surprise twist at the end it was strangely unsatisfying overall.

196VivienneR
nov 6, 2020, 1:22 pm



R is for Rhythm

Cider with Roadies by Stuart Maconie 3.5★

More than just a memoir from a music journalist this is a witty social history of the 70s and 80s in England. Although the punk era was a slower part for me, Maconie's entertaining stories and comments captured my interest throughout.

R is for Ruthless



All the devils are here by Louise Penny 4.5★

Another excellent Armand Gamache novel with the action taking place in Paris. Although I missed Three Pines, the characters were often brought to mind, and the Parisian setting was well done and interesting. I highly recommend the audio version with an outstanding reading by Robert Bathurst.

197rabbitprincess
nov 6, 2020, 1:47 pm

>196 VivienneR: Great title on the Maconie book!

I suspect the Gamache will be under the Christmas tree for my mum... and then I will borrow it when she's done :)

198VivienneR
nov 6, 2020, 5:18 pm

>197 rabbitprincess: Now that's the best Christmas gift - one that comes back to the giver!

Maconie's title would have been better if there had been something, even a tiny detail that related the book to Rosie, although he did mention the author Laurie Lee.

199rabbitprincess
nov 6, 2020, 5:31 pm

>198 VivienneR: We estimate at least 80% of our media gifts (books, movies, music) will have someone waiting to borrow them!

200Helenliz
nov 7, 2020, 3:40 am

I've enjoyed Stuart Maconie's writing. When he moved form Radio 2 to 6Music, I had a DAB radio on my Christmas list. >:-)

>198 VivienneR: At least you don't read it first. On a number of occasions I'd have a present of a book from my mum that had a bookmark in it - she'd not managed to finish it before wrapping it and could she have it back. >:-o

201Jackie_K
nov 7, 2020, 6:58 am

>200 Helenliz: The bookmark in your present made me laugh - at least she didn't turn the corner of the page! :D

202rabbitprincess
nov 7, 2020, 8:33 am

>200 Helenliz: Hahaha! Fortunately none of us have been caught doing that yet!

203VivienneR
nov 7, 2020, 12:58 pm

>199 rabbitprincess: I share media with my son and his wife but my husband and I have different reading tastes entirely so we rarely share books.

>200 Helenliz: I believe you may have been the source of the Stuart Maconie bullet that came in my direction. Thank you, Helen. I try to hear his Wigan accent as I read and wish I could hear him on the radio.

>201 Jackie_K: I've been known to drop everything to get a book finished before wrapping it! No giveaway bookmark.

>202 rabbitprincess: My son marks notable spots with a slip of scratch pad so his gifts often have a frill of paper fluttering from the top.

204VivienneR
Bewerkt: nov 7, 2020, 8:07 pm



R is for Rhythm

Miss O'Dell: My Hard Days and Long Nights with The Beatles,The Stones, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, and the Women They Loved by Chris O'Dell 2.5★

O'Dell's memoir is only notable as an insider's view of famous rockers, details that have become widely known in the intervening decades. Her own life story, even with the prize job. is unremarkable. Unlike Cider with Roadies by Stuart Maconie that I finished a few days ago, there was no spark in O'Dell's writing, just a comparatively dull account after the initial joy of getting a job with Apple Records, a job that only came about after a lot of hanging around, hoping, and running errands. Hats off to her success when most teens would have given anything for the opportunity, although later drug abuse blurred the euphoria.

205VivienneR
nov 10, 2020, 2:38 pm



R is for RandomCAT

The Collected Poems of Rupert Brooke by Rupert Brooke 3.5★

While known as a war poet most of Brooke's poetry was written prior to the Great War. When war was declared in 1914 he had his first experience of war on the disastrous expedition to Antwerp, spending a few days and nights being shelled in trenches. Early in 1915 he sailed with the Expeditionary Force to the Dardanelles, but died of blood poisoning on a French hospital ship at Scyros, Greece on April 23rd, Saint George's Day. He was buried at night, by torchlight, in an olive grove.

I found much of his words pompous by modern standards, generally glorifying war although he had so little experience of it, yet his voice called to mind all the young men lost. Although his most famous lines are in "The Soldier", I found this poem particularly appealing:
Song

All suddenly the wind comes soft,
And Spring is here again;
And the hawthorn quickens with buds of green,
And my heart with buds of pain.

My heart all Winter lay so numb,
The earth so dead and frore,
That I never thought the Spring would come,
Or my heart wake any more.

But Winter's broken and earth has woken,
And the small birds cry again;
And the hawthorn hedge puts forth its buds,
And my heart puts forth its pain.”

206VivienneR
nov 10, 2020, 7:44 pm



R is for Red Riding Hood

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason by Helen Fielding 3.5★

Published in 1999 Bridget just made it to this category by one year. Despite being the dreaded chick lit, this was very entertaining and had me laughing out loud on a few occasions.

207RidgewayGirl
nov 10, 2020, 7:56 pm

>206 VivienneR: I'm glad you liked it - it was so ground-breaking when it was first published, but now there are hundreds of novels that are so similar. I picked this one up somewhere in the UK or Ireland in 1997 and it just delighted me.

208VivienneR
nov 11, 2020, 2:18 am

>207 RidgewayGirl: I read the first one years ago and remember liking it. I've had this one for yonks too and I think I have another one around somewhere. Though, I'm not sure that one will ever be opened, Bridget's calorie and weight record-keeping is too close to home.

209VivienneR
Bewerkt: nov 11, 2020, 1:31 pm



R is for Ruthless

Purgatory by Ken Bruen 4★

In Bruen's quintessential spare style that I enjoy, this episode in Jack Taylor's renegade life is darker, maybe becoming too dark even for me.

210Tess_W
nov 11, 2020, 3:08 pm

Wow, Vivienne, what a header picture! We have seen no snow, yet!

211VivienneR
nov 11, 2020, 3:23 pm

>210 Tess_W: Snow here and very cold - although that first cold snap is always a shock. It seems it was just last week when I was wondering if the leaves would ever fall and then we got snow.

212dudes22
nov 11, 2020, 6:53 pm

Not that we have snow this time of year, but we've hit a week of unusually warm weather this week - in the 70s (F). In fact, we've hit new records every day for the past 6 days. It should be in the 50s. Although we did have a brief snow shower a couple of weeks ago.

213VivienneR
nov 11, 2020, 7:43 pm

>212 dudes22: Nice! I like it when there is some nice sunny warm(ish) weather before winter starts in earnest. We had an backyard picnic and spent an afternoon playing cards with my son and his wife a week ago. Not sure what the temperature was but it was very pleasant. Here in the mountains we can expect snow anytime.

214MissWatson
nov 12, 2020, 4:56 am

That is a truly gorgeous picture in your header. The last time we had snow like that was in 2010.

215VivienneR
nov 12, 2020, 1:31 pm

>214 MissWatson: Thank you, Birgit. When I was growing up in Northern Ireland a German friend of my parents gave me photos of snow in Germany that I had never experienced and could only imagine. As a result, I've always thought of Germany having lots of snow.

We are expecting a heavy snowfall tonight. I hope it doesn't arrive until I've arrived home after a necessary trip to another town.

216MissWatson
nov 13, 2020, 6:02 am

>215 VivienneR: On the seaside we get a thin layer in January, sometimes February, and in the city even less. I'm not unhappy with that. Having to dig your way through a snowbank on your way to the bus stop is no fun. But I enjoy the holidays at my sister's who lives in a mountainous region, and they get snowfalls fit for picture postcards.

217VivienneR
nov 13, 2020, 6:29 pm

>216 MissWatson: Picture postcard snow is the best kind. That's what we have around here. We have many ski resorts in the region so most people are well-used to conditions. I love a snowy morning when all the neighbours are outside clearing snow and chatting with each other, sounding as if they are at a party - like today, after a huge snowfall last night and this morning.

218VivienneR
nov 15, 2020, 8:27 pm



R is for Real Life

Soap and water and common sense: the definitive guide to viruses, bacteria, parasites, and disease by Dr Bonnie Henry 4★

Dr Bonnie Henry is the Provincial Health Officer for British Columbia, BC's most senior public health official. She is one of our most recognized faces as the person responsible for delivering daily pandemic updates. She is also the most trusted, her advice is (mostly) heeded, and her calm demeanour and leadership is heartening even while delivering unwelcome news. Dr Henry has built her considerable skill while working during many health outbreaks around the world including Ebola, polio, H1N1, and SARS.

The book was published following the H1N1 epidemic in 2009 with a brief update to include COVID-19. Although we are all familiar with rules to live by during the current pandemic, the information was clear, pertinent, and best of all, interesting. I was particularly interested in the vaccines that have come about during my lifetime, including those for polio, pertussis, diphtheria, measles, rubella, and TB, all diseases common when I was a child. Thanks to vaccines the lives of so many children born in my generation and later were saved.

219pammab
nov 15, 2020, 10:07 pm

>218 VivienneR: Sounds interesting! I know I have heard from a number of people who express surprise that soap is a surfectant that actually grabs and lifts away grime, and that soap dissolves the COVID-19 virus. I bet there is a lot more surprising and interesting to know, and it sounds like this book might capture it.

220VivienneR
nov 16, 2020, 12:13 am

>219 pammab: It was more interesting than I thought it would be and very clearly written. Dr Henry is held in high regard here in BC.

221VivienneR
nov 16, 2020, 1:42 pm



R is for Rolls Royce & RandomCAT November: Lest we forget

The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club by Dorothy L. Sayers

Set on Remembrance Day 1928, at that time known as Armistice Day, an elderly member of the Bellona Club is found dead in his chair. Placing an accurate time of his death becomes important because his estranged sister died the same day and the wills of each depend on knowing who went first.

I listened to an audio format of this a few years ago and have to say I prefer the print version. Lord Peter Wimsey is always an entertaining read.

222VivienneR
Bewerkt: nov 20, 2020, 5:11 pm



R is for Rune - aka AlphaKIT I & Q

Cold Comfort by Quentin Bates 3.5★

An mystery featuring Gunnhildur “Gunna” Gisladottir, recently promoted to Reykjavik's Serious Crime Unit, and set during Iceland's financial collapse. This was my first in the series but I'll be on the lookout for more.

223VivienneR
nov 20, 2020, 5:12 pm



R is for Rune - aka AlphaKIT I & Q

The Ice Harvest by Scott Phillips 4★

I almost abandoned this Christmas noir crime novel because it is so crude but glad I stayed with it. The sleazy characters provided some comic spots and the ending is darkly excellent. Not for everyone.

224DeltaQueen50
Bewerkt: nov 20, 2020, 5:20 pm

>223 VivienneR: I read Ice Harvest a year or so ago and I enjoyed it, but I did add to my review that the nastiness of the story could put some people off. I have The Walkaway on my shelves and it is, I believe, a loose sequel to Ice Harvest. I really should get it read!

225VivienneR
nov 21, 2020, 5:57 pm

>224 DeltaQueen50: Although (after a break) I ended up enjoying Ice Harvest, it was touch and go. I'll watch for your comments on the sequel but I doubt that I'll try it. :)

226VivienneR
nov 21, 2020, 5:59 pm



R is for Riveting

Washington Black by Esi Edugyan 4.5★

Washington Black is a young slave on a sugar plantation in Barbados until his master's brother, Titch, takes an interest in him, and trains him to be an assistant in his scientific projects. The story takes a fanciful turn and Wash begins his world travels to Canada, Europe, and Morocco. It's a combination of adventure story and fairy tale, but beyond comparison with other adventurous fairy tales. Beautiful writing, artistic and elegant.

227RidgewayGirl
Bewerkt: nov 21, 2020, 6:44 pm

>226 VivienneR: I'm glad you liked this one. It charmed me. I love that there are now fantastic adventure stories centered on someone other than a white dude - The Water Dancer is another recent one.

228VivienneR
nov 21, 2020, 8:33 pm

>227 RidgewayGirl: "Charmed" is exactly right! I loved it. It wasn't what I thought it was going to be, which was a happy surprise.

Haven't tried The Water Dancer but it's going on my list.

229VivienneR
nov 21, 2020, 8:34 pm



R is for Rolls Royce

The Studio Crime by Ianthe Jerrold 3★

Jerrold only wrote two crime novels and that's a pity. This one was good, maybe a bit convoluted, but entertaining. However, she was no match for the great mystery writers of the era like Christie and Sayers.

230pamelad
nov 21, 2020, 11:31 pm

>229 VivienneR: I also enjoyed this one, and managed to find another three of her crime novels: one from the John Christmas series and two standalones.

231VivienneR
nov 22, 2020, 1:24 pm

>230 pamelad: My copy of Jerrold's book claims she only wrote two crime novels. I must look for more. I liked the John Christmas character.

232VivienneR
nov 24, 2020, 3:21 pm



R is for Red Riding Hood

The Mistletoe Murder and other stories by P.D. James 4★

Some short stories, especially in the Christmas mystery category, leave me unsatisfied, wanting more. James' stories are gratifyingly complete. This is a perfect selection for the season.

233VivienneR
Bewerkt: nov 26, 2020, 12:13 pm



R is for Riveting

The Glass Hotel by Emily St John Mandel 3.5★

Mandel lives up to her reputation as a creator of magnificent stories. The hotel of the title is located in a remote part of Vancouver Island, which Mandel captures beautifully. The story is filled with a wide group of diverse, well-developed characters centering on one who created a ponzi scheme. Mandel is a fabulous storyteller. And although I preferred Station Eleven, this latest book does not disappoint.

234VivienneR
nov 26, 2020, 12:14 pm



R is for Riveting

Autopsy of a boring wife by Marie-Renée Lavoie 4★

Diane's husband has left her for a younger woman, claiming that Diane is boring. This is the story of her reactions, some typical and some unexpected, often funny but the kind of funny that could easily end in tears. Kudos to Lavoie for writing a novel about a serious issue yet injecting it with just the right amount of humour to make it entertaining. I heartily admired Diane and enjoyed this novel immensely.

235VivienneR
nov 29, 2020, 3:46 pm



R is for Rover the BingoDog

The boat people by Sharon Bala 4★

Based on the real story of a ship arriving in Vancouver filled with refugees from Sri Lanka. Bala does a fantastic job of telling their story and the stories of the officials who must determine if they are legitimate refugees or potential terrorists. When I see refugees arriving I've always thought they were safe, but from now on I will remember this book and know they have a long difficult time ahead to prove their case.

236VivienneR
Bewerkt: nov 30, 2020, 9:01 pm



R is for Rover the BingoDog

Title contains three letters of BINGO

Bring me Back by B.A. Paris 3★

OK but this psychological mystery was a bit repetitive and had little complexity.

Only two more squares to fill. I might just be able to complete the card before the end of the year!

238VivienneR
dec 4, 2020, 8:39 pm



R is for Rover the BingoDog

Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole 3.5★

Finished this one for the epistolary square. It's a sweet love story told in letters from an American fan of poetry to the author in Skye. It begins during the Great War and continues during WWII.

Only one more square to go.

239VivienneR
dec 5, 2020, 9:48 pm



R is for RandomCAT - December

Getting to Happy by Terry McMillan 3★

Before this one, I've only read one other of McMillan's books and have to admit that I liked it better. However, she is funny and entertaining making it understandable that she has a solid following.

240VivienneR
dec 7, 2020, 12:28 pm



R is for Riveting

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell 5★

Appropriately this goes in my "Riveting" category. This is a truly captivating tale. I've always tried to picture Shakespeare's home life from the scant details available. O'Farrell's expressive narrative completed the image like no other author has done. I liked that she mentioned Agnes' disdain for the grand new bed claiming that her marriage bed was all she wanted. No doubt inspired by the entry in Shakespeare's will that has puzzled many, in which he left Ann his "second best" bed. By not mentioning the name of Shakespeare or even his first name meant the focus remained on the rest of the family. A fascinating, tender, and heartbreaking story that I am certain to read again. O'Farrell has a beautiful way with words. Highly recommended.

241RidgewayGirl
dec 7, 2020, 12:53 pm

I'm reading Hamnet now and it is superb.

242thornton37814
dec 7, 2020, 6:03 pm

>240 VivienneR: >241 RidgewayGirl: I'm so glad you both loved it. It's my top book of the year. I doubt that will change between now and the end of the month.

243VivienneR
dec 7, 2020, 11:42 pm

>241 RidgewayGirl: and >242 thornton37814: It could be my top book of the year too! I can't praise it enough.

244VivienneR
dec 7, 2020, 11:44 pm



R is for Rune - aka AlphaKIT - December

The Thief by Fuminori Nakamura 2.5★

The description sounded like this was a quirky tale and in a way it was, but somehow it failed to appeal.

245mathgirl40
dec 9, 2020, 9:37 pm

>233 VivienneR: I'd been holding off on reading The Glass Hotel as I feared it would be disappointing compared to the brilliant Station Eleven. I'm glad to hear you liked it, even if it didn't quite match its predecessor.

246VivienneR
dec 10, 2020, 2:28 pm

>245 mathgirl40: I hope you enjoy it when you get around to reading it. I'll watch out for your opinion.

247VivienneR
dec 11, 2020, 12:42 pm



R is for Rolls Royce

The Attenbury Emeralds by Jill Paton Walsh 3★

It's a good imitation of Sayers but that's all, an imitation. This is the second one I've tried and I won't be trying anymore.



R is for Rover the BingoDog

Menace at the Christmas Market by Sara Rosett 2★

A mystery novella set at Christmas, however, there is little in the way of seasonal flavour or substance.

The best of this book was that it filled the last square (self-published) and completed my Bingo card - just in the nick of time.

248thornton37814
dec 11, 2020, 2:44 pm

>247 VivienneR: I hate it when Christmas books don't feel Christmasy.

249pamelad
dec 11, 2020, 3:17 pm

>247 VivienneR: I read Thrones, Dominations, the book that Dorothy Sayers started and Jill Paton Walsh finished. It was a good effort, but Walsh didn't catch the tone of the times or the social milieu.

250VivienneR
dec 11, 2020, 6:17 pm

>248 thornton37814: I thought it had been recommended to me but no one I know owns the book. Thankfully it was short and filled my card.

>249 pamelad: I forget which book I read first, but I agree, she didn't capture the era or the tone in either book.

251VivienneR
dec 12, 2020, 1:05 am



R is for Rolls Royce

Mr Campion's Lady: an Allingham omnibus by Margery Allingham 4★

I read this collection because it contains Word in Season: a story for Christmas a very short, charming story about Campion and his dog Poins on Christmas Eve.

252VivienneR
dec 12, 2020, 8:05 pm



R is for Riveting

As birds bring forth the sun by Alistair MacLeod 4.5★

I borrowed this collection of short stories in order to read the Christmas story To every thing there is a season: A Cape Breton Christmas Story, which was excellent and brought back memories of my own childhood. Of course, I couldn't return the book without reading the whole thing, although the Christmas story remains my favourite.

253VivienneR
dec 13, 2020, 3:12 pm



R is for Ruthless

The Stupidest Angel: a heartwarming tale of Christmas terror by Christopher Moore 3★

Ribald, bawdy, hilarious. And with zombies! Very entertaining for those who enjoy that kind of thing, but this is not the usual Christmas fare.

254VivienneR
dec 15, 2020, 3:15 pm

So sorry to hear of the death of John le Carré. 2021 will open with a re-read of some of his works beginning with The Pigeon Tunnel: Stories from My Life

255RidgewayGirl
dec 15, 2020, 4:04 pm

>254 VivienneR: Just as long as you're not looking for a copy of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. A bookseller at my local independent told me that the publisher is out and copies on amazon are going for hundreds of dollars.

256rabbitprincess
dec 15, 2020, 7:53 pm

>254 VivienneR: I just bought the audio of The Pigeon Tunnel narrated by him. I enjoyed it in print but hearing him read the stories would be great too.

257VivienneR
dec 16, 2020, 1:15 am

>255 RidgewayGirl: I have a few on the shelf both read and tbr, but sadly, TTSS isn't one of them.

>256 rabbitprincess: The Pigeon Tunnel was one of my five-star reads. I've put a hold on the library copy but I'd love to have an audio version.

258VivienneR
dec 16, 2020, 1:38 am



R is for Rune - aka AlphaKIT - December

Wreck the Halls by Sarah Graves 2.5★

A cosy mystery set in Maine with a Christmas flavour. As good as that sounds, it was difficult to stay interested.

259dudes22
dec 16, 2020, 5:47 am

>257 VivienneR: - Maybe the library is your best bet for TTSS.

260JamesSanders
dec 16, 2020, 5:57 am

Deze gebruiker is verwijderd als spam.

261clue
dec 16, 2020, 12:17 pm

> 254, 255 You can get them on ABE (paper) for less than $5.00. This morning Amazon shows ship date of Feb at the regular price. If you want the Smiley series, some fool has one for over $8000. That's why I like ABE, most are professional booksellars.

262VivienneR
dec 16, 2020, 3:47 pm

>259 dudes22: You are right, Betty! Several of the libraries I can use have copies, even fairly recent publications that generally have a font size easy on my aging eyes.

>261 clue: I too checked on Abe and Amazon and was relieved to find both have copies at a reasonable price.

263VivienneR
dec 16, 2020, 8:44 pm

Too many other things demanding attention today. I didn't even get to open a book. My reading plan was a bit over-enthusiastic anyway, and with changes I've been making it looks like many of this month's books will be carried over to the new year.

264VivienneR
dec 19, 2020, 2:55 pm



R is for Ruthless

Murder under the Christmas tree: Ten Classic Crime Stories for the Festive Season 4★

I had two more days with no reading done, but I managed to finish this very good collection of short Christmas mystery stories. The best were by Val McDermid and Ian Rankin.

265VivienneR
dec 20, 2020, 1:50 am



R is for Ruthless & ScaredyKIT December

Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett 3★

Hard-boiled style isn't my preference but this classic from 1929 was entertaining and fulfilled the title promise of a bloody red harvest.

266VivienneR
dec 21, 2020, 1:41 pm

267dudes22
dec 21, 2020, 2:52 pm

>266 VivienneR: - You too! We usually have a neighborhood bonfire (in a firepit - well - sort of a firepit) and drinks but not this year. So we decided to do a luminary walk instead. Everyone has luminaries to light in their driveway and we can walk around and see everyone's decorations.

268VivienneR
dec 21, 2020, 8:37 pm

>267 dudes22: A luminary walk sounds lovely! Neither would work well here tonight because the snowstorm we expected has turned out to be very heavy rain that doesn't want to let up any. The winter solstice is more welcome than ever this year.

269VivienneR
dec 21, 2020, 9:24 pm



Deck the Hounds by David Rosenfelt 4★

Lawyer Andy Carpenter defends a homeless man charged with murder - as well as taking charge of his dog who is about to have puppies. This was a good Christmas mystery and I enjoyed the canine twist.

270VivienneR
dec 23, 2020, 4:13 pm

271LittleTaiko
dec 23, 2020, 5:06 pm

>269 VivienneR: - I just read the first book in this series - seems like a fun one and I look forward to getting to some of the ones set during the holidays.

272VivienneR
dec 23, 2020, 5:11 pm

>271 LittleTaiko: Yes, this one was fun. I'll be adding more from the series to my reading.

273VivienneR
dec 23, 2020, 9:19 pm



R is for Rogues

The Guest List by Lucy Foley 1★

Boring, unlikeable, badly developed characters and a plot too similar to the author's last book. A little more than halfway, I began scanning to finish quickly or find out if there was any improvement, but none showed up. Hugely disappointing.

274PaulCranswick
dec 25, 2020, 8:09 pm



I hope you get some of those at least, Vivienne, as we all look forward to a better 2021.

275Tess_W
Bewerkt: dec 25, 2020, 8:58 pm

276clue
dec 26, 2020, 11:01 am

>273 VivienneR: I was thinking of buying this at one time and I'm glad I didn't. Amazon reviewers rate is as a 4 star read as do others, but everyone I know that has read it dislikes it a lot!

277VivienneR
dec 26, 2020, 3:19 pm

>276 clue: Wise decision. It was practically the same as The Hunting Party, just a different location.

278VivienneR
dec 26, 2020, 3:44 pm

>274 PaulCranswick: & >275 Tess_W: Thank you both, and the same wishes to you and yours. "A super fabulous year" is exactly what we all need.

279VivienneR
Bewerkt: dec 26, 2020, 3:45 pm



R is for Rogues

Death of an Englishman by Magdalen Nabb 4★

This mystery is set in Florence where the author lived for a long time. Marshall Guarnaccia has 'flu and the murder of an Englishman must be investigated by his superior assisted by two Scotland Yard detectives who speak little Italian and Carabineire Bacci who is able to translate. A very enjoyable mystery set at Christmas with well developed characters and an engaging story.

280VivienneR
dec 26, 2020, 7:05 pm

 

R is for Riveting

Christmas Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella 3★

A funny entertaining Christmas read that could be described as a profusion of materialism, and a bit like having one chocolate too many.

281VivienneR
dec 27, 2020, 9:16 pm



R is for Rogues

Festive Spirits by Kate Atkinson 4★

Three stories about ordinary people at Christmas. Each displays Atkinson's exceptional writing style and quirky ideas that are simultaneously down to earth. I just wish this book was longer.

282LittleTaiko
dec 27, 2020, 9:31 pm

>273 VivienneR: Oh dear, I bought this as a gift for two different people based on the positive ratings and that that it won the Goodreads best mystery category. It’ll be interesting to see what they think. One of them has read her previous book and the other hasn’t.

283clue
dec 28, 2020, 10:40 am

>273 VivienneR: I didn't know about this or I would have bought it for a gift too. I've made a note for consideration next year!

284VivienneR
dec 28, 2020, 3:35 pm

>282 LittleTaiko: Luckily our tastes are all different and your gifts might be enjoyed a lot. I enjoyed the first book The Hunting Party but had some reservations about the unlikeable characters and remote location for a party. This one has similar characters and again, an odd choice of location for a party. If I had not read the first one, I would have enjoyed this one better.

>283 clue: Foley earned the high ratings and as mentioned above, our tastes are all different. Your gift might well be welcomed.

285clue
dec 28, 2020, 8:49 pm

>284 VivienneR: Oh, I'm just out of it...I meant to point back to the Kate Atkinson book. That's the one I made a note of for next year.

286VivienneR
dec 29, 2020, 1:08 am

>285 clue: It's a lovely little book - "little" being the keyword. Only three stories, well-spaced on 68 pages, but naturally all were good. It would make a very nice gift.

287VivienneR
dec 29, 2020, 3:50 pm



R is for Rogues

A Perfect Spy by John le Carrê 4★

No one can write spy stories like John le Carré, and his writing is beautiful. Characters are so well-developed that the reader begins to see them as real people. His plots may not appeal to those who like the modern high-velocity action style, but for me, le Carré will always be the ultimate in espionage novels.

288VivienneR
dec 30, 2020, 7:39 pm



I have one more book and a short story to finish before the bells ring tomorrow night, but just want to take the opportunity to wish all my LibraryThing friends a happy and healthy New Year.

289Helenliz
dec 31, 2020, 3:48 am

>288 VivienneR: And to you. As an actual bell ringer, I can tell you we won't be out ringing out the old year and ringing in the new. Another of those things that's not allowed, I'm afraid. >:-(

290VivienneR
dec 31, 2020, 2:53 pm

>289 Helenliz: Oh, sorry to hear that. It's one of the most beautiful sounds. I live in a remote area in BC's mountains, as usual, New Year bells will be ringing in my imagination only. :)

291VivienneR
dec 31, 2020, 8:34 pm



R is for Rolls Royce

To Love and be Wise by Josephine Tey 4★

This is one of Tey's best. A young man drops out of sight. Was it murder or accidental death? Or did he die at all. An interesting puzzle as well as entertaining. I enjoyed Tey's comments on the theatre knowing she was a famous playwright.



R is for Riveting

A Faraway Smell of Lemon by Rachel Joyce 4★

A moving story of loss and recovery set on Christmas Eve. Beautifully written by the author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.

And this finishes my 2020 reading. Thankfully this awful year is over. Reading was the best part.

292VivienneR
Bewerkt: dec 31, 2020, 8:59 pm

December Summary
Read this month: 20

The Best: 4 stars or more
Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell 5★
As birds bring forth the sun by Alistair MacLeod 4.5★
Deck the Hounds by David Rosenfelt 4★
Festive Spirits by Kate Atkinson 4★
A Perfect Spy by John le Carrê 4★
Death of an Englishman by Magdalen Nabb 4★
Mr Campion's Lady: an Allingham omnibus by Margery Allingham 4★
Murder under the Christmas tree 4★
To Love and be Wise by Josephine Tey 4★
A Faraway Smell of Lemon by Rachel Joyce 4★

The Rest: 3 or 3.5 stars
Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole 3.5★
The Attenbury Emeralds by Jill Paton Walsh 3★
Christmas Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella 3★
The Stupidest Angel: a heartwarming tale of Christmas terror by Christopher Moore 3★
Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett 3★
Getting to Happy by Terry McMillan 3★

Disappointments:
Wreck the Halls by Sarah Graves 2.5★
The Thief by Fuminori Nakamura 2.5★
Menace at the Christmas Market by Sara Rosett 2★
The Guest List by Lucy Foley 1★

2020 Summary
Obviously the lockdown caused me to read more books this year than ever before.
Total books read 217 (my previous record was 174)
By female authors 111
By male authors: 105
British authors: 111
American authors: 42
Canadian authors: 34
Authors of other nationalities: 30 (Japan, Ireland, New Zealand, S. Africa, Denmark, Iceland, Nigeria, Thailand, France, Australia, Sweden, Austria, Italy, Norway, Lebanon, and Spain)

Best of the Year
Of the 16 books I rated with 5 stars these are the top five (oops, six):
Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell - Book of the Year ❤️
The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa
Last Resort by Linwood Barclay
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
This Boy by Alan Johnson
Eustace and Hilda by L.P. Hartley

Of the 20 I rated 4.5 stars, here are five:
A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote
Love in a Cold Climate by Nancy Mitford
Trafalgar: The Nelson Touch by David Howarth
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
The Innocents by Michael Crummey

293VivienneR
dec 31, 2020, 8:58 pm



Wishing all my LibraryThing friends a happy and healthy New Year!

294rabbitprincess
jan 1, 2021, 10:49 am

>292 VivienneR: An excellent reading year! Hope 2021 is a good one too!

295pammab
jan 1, 2021, 3:16 pm

Happy new year!

296VivienneR
jan 1, 2021, 8:31 pm

>294 rabbitprincess: If it becomes safer to be out and about I don't expect to read as much in 2021. But that would be good.

>295 pammab: Thank you, and to you too.

297VivienneR
jan 9, 2021, 12:38 pm

My 2020 meme

Describe yourself: Thunderstruck

Describe how you feel: As Though I Had Wings

Describe where you currently live: Somewhere in France

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Neither Here Nor There

Your favorite form of transportation is: Dream Wheels

Your favorite food is: Fried green tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe

Your favorite time of day is: Getting to Happy

Your best friend is: My sister, the serial killer

You and your friends are: The Other People

What’s the weather like: Love in a Cold Climate

You fear: Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs

What is the best advice you have to give: Do No Harm

Thought for the day: There’s Nothing To Be Afraid Of

What is life for you: Cold Comfort

How you would like to die: Playing With Fire

Your soul’s present condition: All the Devils Are Here

What was 2020 like for you? Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club

What do you want from 2021? Bats in the Belfry