Helenliz escapes to another world: pt 3

I'm Helen and I'm head of quality in a small firm that makes inhaler devices for delivery of drugs to the lung. It's a small team and I love my job. (Usually)

In 2022 I had a little bit of a refinement of categories, and most of those return. So that's the theme this year? I re-read Mort recently, and it reminded me of how much I enjoy the Discworld series. I'm not a huge fan of fantasy, but this I adore. Pratchett holds up a mirror to the world, but it doesn't necessarily show us as we appear, but as we are. In which case I am using titles from the Discworld series for my theme and cover pictures for the category images.

Currently Reading


Currently reading
Caste
Long Live the Queens (audio)

The List

DNF
The Bone Clocks, David Mitchell. Too big for a sensible bed book & just too woo-woo for me.
Metropolis Thea von Harbou. Really very odd and needed too much concentration for listening in the car. Decided to call it quits early.

January
1. The Talented Mr Ripley, Patricia Highsmith, ***1/2
2. Rebuilding Coventry, Sue Townsend, ***
3. My Darling from the Lions, Rachel Long, ***
4. Light Perpetual, Francis Spufford, ***
5. The Eagle of the Ninth, Rosemary Sutcliff, ***
6. Ghost Wall, Sarah Moss, ****
7. Run, Ann Patchett, ***
8. Dearly, Margaret Atwood, ****
9. Der WackelZahn, David Mills & Julia Crouth, ***

February
10. The Secret Seven, Enid Blyton, ***
11. Metamorphosis, Franz Kafka, ***
12. The Red house Mystery, AA Milne, ***
13. Flowers for the Judge, Margery Allingham, ****
14. Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens, ***
15. Chivalry, Neil Gaiman, *****

March
16. Kiss of the Spider Woman, Manuel Puig, ***
17. Five on a Treasure Island, Enid Blyton, ***
18. Two Stories, Sally Rooney, ***
19. The Taming of the Shrew, William Shakespeare, ***
20. The Amber Fury, Natalie Haynes, ***
21. The Lantern Bearers, Rosemary Sutcliff, ***
22. Fatal Isles Maria Adolfsson, ***
23. My Pen is the Wing of a Bird, various, ***

April
24. The Case of the Late Pig, Margery Allingham, ***
25. The Wee Free Men, Terry Pratchett, ***
26. Surfacing, Margaret Atwood, ***
27. The Judge's House, Bram Stoker, ****
28. Cotillion, Georgette Heyer, ****
29. Crook O'Lune, ECR Lorac, ****
30. The Map of Salt and Stars, Zeyn Joukhadar, ***
31. The Cat Who Saved Books, Sosuke Natsukawa, ***

May
32. Cocktail Time, PG Wodehouse, ***
33. Stone Blind, Natalie Haynes, ***
34. Post after Post-Mortem, ECR Lorac, ****
35. The Lantern Men, Elly Griffiths, ***
36. The Listerdale Mystery, Agatha Christie, ****
37. The Fatal Rivalry, George Goodwin, ***
38. East Anglia in Verse, various, ****
39. Wombling Free Elisabeth Beresford, ***
40. Of Love and Other Demons, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, ***
41. Agatha Christie: Twelve Radio Mysteries, Agatha Christie, ***
42. The Toll-Gate, Georgette Heyer, ****

June
43. Dancing Girls, Margaret Atwood, ***
44. Blood & Sugar, Laura Shepherd-Robinson, ***
45. Service with a Smile, PG Wodehouse, ***
46. Betjeman's Britain, John Betjeman, ***
47. Dancers in Mourning, Margery Allingham, ****
48. A Short History of Coffee, Gordon Kerr, ****
49. Here Comes the Sun - Nicole Dennis-Benn, ***
50. Love and Other Thought Experiments, Sophie Ward, ***

July
51. The Decameron Volume 1, Giovanni Boccaccio, ***
52. A Deadly Affair, Agatha Christie, ***
53. Midnight at Malabar House, Vaseem Khan, ***
54. Caleb's Crossing Geraldine Brooks, ***
55. The Victorian Chaise-Longue, Marghanita Laski, ****
56. Foster, Claire Keegan, *****
57. Helgoland, Carlo Rovelli, ***

August
58. The Legacy of Elizabeth Pringle, Kirsty Wark, ***
59. The Landlady, Roald Dahl, ***
60. The Visitor, Roald Dahl, **.5
61. The Decameron Volume 2, Giovanni Boccaccio, ***
62. Poirot, The Greatest Detective in the World, ***
63. This Charming Man, CK McDonnell, ***
64. Fashion in Shrouds, Margery Allingham, ***
65. The Guest, Emma Cline, **

September
66. Before the Fact, Francis Iles, ****
67. Bath Tangle, Georgette Heyer, ****
68. Sure and Certain Death Barbara Nadel, ***
69. The Color of Air, Gail Tsukiyama, **
70. Bog, Fen & Swamp, Annie Proulx, ***

Category 1: Women authors
Book Wyrd Sisters


The Wyrd Sisters are the witches of Lancre and are a trio that fall out more than they get on. As three very different women, this is where I will store my books by women authors.

1. The Talented Mr Ripley, Patricia Highsmith
2. Rebuilding Coventry, Sue Townsend
3. My Darling from the Lions, Rachel Long
4. The Eagle of the Ninth, Rosemary Sutcliff
5. Ghost Wall, Sarah Moss
6. Run, Ann Patchett
7. Dearly, Margaret Atwood
8. The Secret Seven, Enid Blyton
9. Flowers for the Judge, Margery Allingham
10. Five on a Treasure Island, Enid Blyton
11. Two Stories, Sally Rooney
12. The Amber Fury, Natalie Haynes
13. The Lantern Bearers, Rosemary Sutcliff
14. Fatal Isles Maria Adolfsson
15. My Pen is the Wing of a Bird, various
16. The Case of the Late Pig, Margery Allingham
17. Surfacing, Margaret Atwood,
18. Cotillion, Georgette Heyer
19. Crook O'Lune, ECR Lorac
20. The Map of Salt and Stars, Zeyn Joukhadar,
21. Stone Blind, Natalie Haynes
22. Post after Post-Mortem, ECR Lorac
23. The Lantern Men, Elly Griffiths
24. The Listerdale Mystery, Agatha Christie
25. Wombling Free Elisabeth Beresford
26. Agatha Christie: Twelve Radio Mysteries, Agatha Christie
27. The Toll-Gate, Georgette Heyer
28. Dancing Girls, Margaret Atwood
29. Blood & Sugar, Laura Shepherd-Robinson
30. Dancing Girls, Margaret Atwood
31. Here Comes the Sun - Nicole Dennis-Benn,
32. Love and Other Thought Experiments, Sophie Ward,
33. A Deadly Affair, Agatha Christie
34. Caleb's Crossing Geraldine Brooks
35. The Victorian Chaise-Longue, Marghanita Laski
36. Foster, Claire Keegan
37. The Legacy of Elizabeth Pringle, Kirsty Wark
38. Fashion in Shrouds, Margery Allingham,
39. The Guest, Emma Cline
40. Bath Tangle, Georgette Heyer,
41. Sure and Certain Death Barbara Nadel,
42. The Color of Air, Gail Tsukiyama,
43. Bog, Fen & Swamp, Annie Proulx,

Category 2: New authors
Book: Mort


Mort was my first Discworld book, given to me for my 16th birthday. And I just loved it. As my first, this will be where I will put those authors I have not read before.

1. The Talented Mr Ripley, Patricia Highsmith
2. My Darling from the Lions, Rachel Long
3. Light Perpetual, Francis Spufford
4. Der WackelZahn, David Mills & Julia Crouth
5. Kiss of the Spider Woman, Manuel Puig
6. Two Stories, Sally Rooney
7. Fatal Isles Maria Adolfsson
8. My Pen is the Wing of a Bird, various
9. The Map of Salt and Stars, Zeyn Joukhadar
10. The Cat Who Saved Books, Sosuke Natsukawa
11. The Fatal Rivalry, George Goodwin
12. Blood & Sugar, Laura Shepherd-Robinson
13. A Short History of Coffee, Gordon Kerr
14. Here Comes the Sun - Nicole Dennis-Benn,
15. Love and Other Thought Experiments, Sophie Ward,
16. The Decameron Volume 1, Giovanni Boccaccio
17. Midnight at Malabar House, Vaseem Khan
18. The Victorian Chaise-Longue, Marghanita Laski
19. Helgoland, Carlo Rovelli
20. The Legacy of Elizabeth Pringle, Kirsty Wark
21. Poirot, The Greatest Detective in the World
22. The Guest, Emma Cline
23. Before the Fact, Francis Iles,
24. Sure and Certain Death Barbara Nadel,
25. The Color of Air, Gail Tsukiyama,
26. Bog, Fen & Swamp, Annie Proulx,

Category 3: Translations & German
Book: Witches Abroad


In this the three witches leave their little kingdom and venture to foreign parts, with exactly the consequences you'd expect of the inexperienced traveler abroad. In this I will put books in two categories, those I read in English that have been translated and books in German. I've been trying to learn German to show that you can teach an old dog new tricks and so reading in German is a struggle at present.

1. Der WackelZahn, David Mills & Julia Crouth
2. Metamorphosis, Franz Kafka
3. Kiss of the Spider Woman, Manuel Puig
4. Fatal Isles Maria Adolfsson
5. My Pen is the Wing of a Bird, various
6. The Cat Who Saved Books, Sosuke Natsukawa
7. Of Love and Other Demons, Gabriel Garcia Marquez
8. The Decameron Volume 1, Giovanni Boccaccio
9. The Decameron Volume 2, Giovanni Boccaccio

Category 4: Book Subscriptions
Book: Going Postal


In Going Postal, Moist von Lipwig escapes death on the condition that he sorts out the Disc's postal service. He'd be responsible for delivering my subscriptions, so this is where I will put those books that arrive in the post.

1. My Pen is the Wing of a Bird, various
2. The Map of Salt and Stars, Zeyn Joukhadar
3. Here Comes the Sun - Nicole Dennis-Benn
4. Midnight at Malabar House, Vaseem Khan
5. The Color of Air, Gail Tsukiyama,

Category 5: Heyer series read
Book: Lords and Ladies


I'm not sure that the events in this book quite match Heyer's usual romance format. As her books usually involve a Lord meeting a Lady and various trials ensuing before the happy ending, maybe there is a commonality. This is where I will be putting my Heyer series reads.

Finished
✔️ The Black Moth (g) 1921 Finished 01Jan18, ****1/2
✔️ Powder and Patch (g) 1923 Finished 05Feb18, ***
✔️ The Great Roxhythe (h) 1923 Finished 30Apr18, ***
✔️ Simon the Coldheart (h) 1925 Finished 7May18, ***
✔️ These Old Shades (g) 1926 Finished 31May18, ***
✔️ The Masqueraders (g) 1928 Finished 17Jul18, ****
✔️ Beauvallet (h) 1929 Finished 08Sep2018, ****
✔️ The Conqueror (h) 1931 Finished 25Dec2018, ****
✔️ Devil's Cub (g) 1932 Finished 31Jan2019, ****
✔️ The Convenient Marriage (g) 1934 Finished 12Mar2019, ****1/2
✔️ Regency Buck (r) 1935 Finished 08May2019, ****1/2
✔️ The Talisman Ring, Georgette Heyer Finished 10Aug2019, ***
✔️ An Infamous Army, Georgette Heyer Finished 13Oct2019, ***
✔️ Royal Escape, Georgette Heyer Finished 14Feb2020, ***
✔️ The Spanish Bride, Georgette Heyer Finished 28Mar2020, ***
✔️ The Corinthian, Georgette Heyer Finished 17Jun2020, ****
✔️ Faro's Daughter, Georgette Heyer Finished 25Aug2020, ****
✔️ Friday's Child, Georgette Heyer Finished 10Oct2020, ****
✔️ The Reluctant Widow, (r) Finished 24Jan2021, ****
✔️ The Foundling (r) 1948 Finished 21Apr2021, ****
✔️ Arabella, (r) 1949 ****1/2 Finished 19Jun2021
✔️ The Grand Sophy, (r) 1950, **** Finished 25Jul2021
✔️ The Quiet Gentleman (r) 1951, ****1/2 Finished 24Sep2021
✔️ Cotillion (r) 1953, **** Finished 15Apr2023
✔️ The Toll Gate (r) 1954, **** Finished 31May2023
Bath Tangle (r) 1955, Georgette Heyer, **** Finished 10Sep2023

To be Read
Sprig Muslin (r) 1956
April Lady (r) 1957
Sylvester, or The Wicked Uncle (r) 1957
Venetia (r) 1958
The Unknown Ajax (r) 1959
Pistols for Two (short stories) 1960
A Civil Contract (r) 1961
The Nonesuch (r) 1962
False Colours (r) 1963
Frederica (r) 1965
Black Sheep (r) 1966
Cousin Kate (r) 1968
Charity Girl (r) 1970
Lady of Quality (r) 1972
My Lord John (h) 1975

Category 6: Non-fiction
Book: The Truth


As non-fiction readers we like to imagine we are reading the truth. So this is where my non-fiction will be stored.

1. The Fatal Rivalry, George Goodwin
2. A Short History of Coffee, Gordon Kerr
3. Helgoland, Carlo Rovelli,
4. Poirot, The Greatest Detective in the World,
5. Caste, Isabel Wilkerson

Category 7: Audio
Book: Soul Music


I don't listen to a lot of music, but I do listen to audiobooks in the car. Seeing music and audiobooks engage the ears, this is where I will put my audiobooks.

1. Rebuilding Coventry, Sue Townsend
2. My Darling from the Lions, Rachel Long
3. Run, Ann Patchett
4. Dearly, Margaret Atwood
5. The Secret Seven, Enid Blyton
6. Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens
7. Chivalry, Neil Gaiman
8. Five on a Treasure Island, Enid Blyton
9. Two Stories, Sally Rooney
10. The Taming of the Shrew, William Shakespeare
11. Fatal Isles Maria Adolfsson
12. Surfacing, Margaret Atwood,
13. The Judge's House, Bram Stoker,
14. The Cat Who Saved Books, Sosuke Natsukawa
15. Cocktail Time, PG Wodehouse
16. The Listerdale Mystery, Agatha Christie
17. Agatha Christie: Twelve Radio Mysteries, Agatha Christie
18. Dancing Girls, Margaret Atwood
19. Service with a Smile, PG Wodehouse
20. Betjeman's Britain, John Betjeman
21. A Short History of Coffee, Gordon Kerr
22. A Deadly Affair, Agatha Christie
23. The Legacy of Elizabeth Pringle, Kirsty Wark
24. The Landlady, Roald Dahl,
25. The Visitor, Roald Dahl,
26. Poirot, The Greatest Detective in the World,
27. The Guest, Emma Cline
28. Bog, Fen & Swamp, Annie Proulx,

Category 8: Reading years and lists
Book: Interesting Times


In 2022 I challenged myself to read a book published each year I've been alive. I am going to extend that backwards towards the start of the century, aiming to reach 1950 this year. This reading through time should be interesting, hence the selection of the title.

1351: The Decameron Volume 1, Giovanni Boccaccio
1891. The Judge's House, Bram Stoker,
1922: Flowers for the Judge, Margery Allingham
1934: The Listerdale Mystery, Agatha Christie
1936: Post after Post-Mortem, ECR Lorac
1937: The Case of the Late Pig, Margery Allingham
1942. Five on a Treasure Island, Enid Blyton
1949: The Secret Seven, Enid Blyton
1953: Cotillion, Georgette Heyer, The Victorian Chaise-Longue, Marghanita Laski
1953: Crook O'Lune, ECR Lorac
1954: The Eagle of the Ninth, Rosemary Sutcliff, The Toll-Gate, Georgette Heyer
1955: The Talented Mr Ripley, Patricia Highsmith,
1959: The Lantern Bearers, Rosemary Sutcliff
1961: Service with a Smile, PG Wodehouse

Category 9: CATs
Book: Small Gods


The Egyptians worshiped cats: I think they remember this. Most cats behave as if they are gods, albeit little ones. This is where I will put my CAT reads. I expect to participate in RandomCAT & AlphaKit, and will see what other CATs are selected.

Hosting:
RandomCAT in April
SeriesCAT Trilogies in May
KiddyCAT Siblings in October

January
AlphaKIT: I & S: Rebuilding Coventry, Sue Townsend; Light Perpetual, Francis Spufford, The Eagle of the Ninth, Rosemary Sutcliff, Ghost Wall, Sarah Moss
Classic CAT - Adventure: The Eagle of the Ninth, Rosemary Sutcliff
Random CAT - Hidden gems: The Talented Mr Ripley, Patricia Highsmith
Series CAT - new to you series: The Talented Mr Ripley, Patricia Highsmith,
KiddyCat - Picture books: Der WackelZahn, David Mills & Julia Crouth

February
KiddyCat - Mysteries: The Secret Seven, Enid Blyton
AlphaKIT - J & F: Metamorphosis, Franz Kafka, Flowers for the Judge, Margery Allingham
Classic CAT - over 100 years old. Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens
Random CAT - Second or Two: Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens

March
Random CAT - Water: Five on a Treasure Island, Enid Blyton, Fatal Isles Maria Adolfsson
AlphaKIT - G & A: The Amber Fury, Natalie Hayne, Fatal Isles Maria Adolfsson
Classic CAT - made into a film: The Taming of the Shrew, William Shakespeare
Series CAT - YA : Five on a Treasure Island, Enid Blyton
KiddyCat - Historical fiction: The Lantern Bearers, Rosemary Sutcliff

April
RandomKIT - 7 ages of (wo)man: The Case of the Late Pig, Margery Allingham, The Wee Free Men, Terry Pratchett, The Judge's House, Bram Stoker, The Cat Who Saved Books, Sosuke Natsukawa
AlphaKIT - D & W The Wee Free Men, Terry Pratchett, The Cat Who Saved Books, Sosuke Natsukawa,
KiddyCAT - fantasy for middle grade The Wee Free Men, Terry Pratchett, The Cat Who Saved Books, Sosuke Natsukawa,
Series CAT - can be read out of order Crook O'Lune, ECR Lorac
ClassiCAT - detective/mysteries: The Case of the Late Pig, Margery Allingham, Crook O'Lune, ECR Lorac

May
RandomKIT - Royal names: The Listerdale Mystery, Agatha Christie, The Fatal Rivalry, George Goodwin, The Toll-Gate, Georgette Heyer
KiddyCAT - classics Wombling Free Elisabeth Beresford
SeriesCAT - trilogies
AlphaCAT: U & C: Cocktail Time, PG Wodehouse, Post after Post-Mortem, ECR Lorac, The Listerdale Mystery, Agatha Christie, Agatha Christie: Twelve Radio Mysteries, Agatha Christie
ClassiCAT: Children's classics Wombling Free Elisabeth Beresford

June
RandomKit - Walls Dancers in Mourning, Margery Allingham
AlphaCAT - B & K. Blood & Sugar, Laura Shepherd-Robinson, Betjeman's Britain, John Betjeman, A Short History of Coffee, Gordon Kerr,
ClassiCAT: Humour Service with a Smile, PG Wodehouse

July
RandomKit: Muppets Midnight at Malabar House, Vaseem Khan, Helgoland, Carlo Rovelli,
ClassiCAT: Always wanted to read The Decameron, Giovanni Boccaccio

Category 10: BingoDog
Book: The Colour of Magic


In the Colour of Magic, Twoflower, the disc's first tourist, arrived in Ankh Morpork. He is accompanied by his luggage, which is of sapient pearwood, and has the property of following its owner anywhere and everywhere. In this is reminds me a lot of a dog, following it's owner hither and thither. Hence I will put my BingoDog reads in here.

✔️1: Features music or a musician Light Perpetual, Francis Spufford,
2: Features or is set in an Inn or Hotel
✔️3: Features a member of the cat family (as big a cat as you like) The Cat Who Saved Books, Sosuke Natsukawa
✔️4: The next book in a series you've started Flowers for the Judge, Margery Allingham
✔️5: A book by an author that shares your sign of the zodiac Rebuilding Coventry, Sue Townsend
6: A memoir
7: A bestselling book from 20 years ago
✔️8: Book with a plant in the title or on the cover Surfacing, Margaret Atwood,
✔️9: A book with switched or stolen identities The Talented Mr Ripley Patricia Highsmith
✔️10: A book that taught you something The Fatal Rivalry, George Goodwin
✔️11: A book with a book on the cover The Taming of the Shrew, William Shakespeare
✔️12: Features something art or craft related Fashion in Shrouds, Margery Allingham,
13: Read a CAT
✔️14: A book with a small town or rural setting Ghost Wall, Sarah Moss
✔️15: A book on a STEM topic (Science Technology, Engineering or Maths) Helgoland, Carlo Rovelli
✔️16: A book with an LT rating of 4 or more Chivalry, Neil Gaiman,
✔️17: A book by a local or regional author East Anglia in Verse, various
✔️18: A book involving an accident The Eagle of the Ninth, Rosemary Sutcliff
✔️19: A book featuring a journalist or about journalism This Charming Man, CK McDonnell,
✔️20: A popular author's first book The Amber Fury, Natalie Haynes
✔️21: A book on a topic you don't usually read The Judge's House, Bram Stoker,
✔️22: A book with a number or quantity in the title The Secret Seven, Enid Blyton
✔️23: A book by an author under 30 Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens
✔️24: A book set on a plane, train or ship Five on a Treasure Island, Enid Blyton
✔️25: A book in >1000 libraries on LT Run, Ann Patchett

That's June and half a year done & dusted. So time for a month wrap up.

Read: 8 (50)
F/M: 5/3 (33/18)

Audio: 4 (21)
Paper: 4 (29)

Owned: 2 (13)
Library: 6 (37)

New authors: 4 (15)
New books: 8 (39)
Re-reads: 0 (5)

So at the mid year point, 50 books is set fair for 100.

Some categories are looking a little sparse. The translations are rather thin on the ground and I admit to not necessarily keeping up with the subscription reads. Must do better. I'm also surprised at the lack of non-fiction. I used to read a lot of it, but it seems to have dipped off the radar.

Happy new thread, Helen. Looks like a good reading year so far, all told.

Happy new thread, Helen! From your previous thread: glad you had a good trip to London! My mum loved our visit to the Courtauld Gallery several years ago and talks often of going back. Also glad you had many stops for cake and tea :)

Happy new thread and happy new month, Helen!

Happy new one. Horniman - only time I've been was with a friend and her small boy years ago and the place was rammed with exhausted parents and offspring. They do a valuable public service!

Hope you have some feet up time this weekend.

Happy New Thread! Looks like you're having a good reading year.

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread! I too haven't been reading much nonfiction recently. I'm thinking of making it a specific category in 2024.

Happy new thread.

Happy New Thread! Congrats on your mid-year review of your books and stats.

Happy new thread!

Thank you all for visiting >:-)

>18 charl08: There were quite a number of small people in the vicinity! They had an under sea themed soft play area and a lego dinosaur building area, so quite enough to keep the smalls occupied. And more than one school trip in evidence.

>16 rabbitprincess: It's a lovely building with some gorgeous things. I liked that it wasn;t just pictures, there was a variety of materials on display. The exhibition I went to see was Art & Artifice, a look at fakes and forgeries. They had a couple side by side to try and pick the forgery - I picked wrong each time!

>21 christina_reads: I'm not sure what's happened there, at one time it was a book a month that was NF. It having its own category doesn't seem to have helped me!

I'm off auditing a supplier for the next few days, I may resurface on Friday, due home ~ midnight Thursday.

Book: 51
Title: The Decameron Volume 1
Author: Giovanni Boccaccio
Published: 1351
Rating: ***
Why: I saw a documentary in lockdown about artistic responses to plagues past and this was covered.
Challenge: New author, translation
TIOLI Challenge #8. Read a book by an author who is published in fiction and nonfiction

Review of Volume 1.
The surmise is quite simple, 10 people in plague riven Florence decide to decamp to the country and isolate themselves from the contagion. To while away the time, on each day they each tell a story. This volume held 4 days and so 40 stories, plus explanation of how they set out, the servants they bought with them, where they were and how they arranged themselves.
The days each take a theme, so you are told 10 rather similar stories in a set.
It is difficult not to compare this to Chaucer's Canterbury tales. It has a similar set up, a group of people each tell a tale. I would say that, so far, Chaucer has the edge. Here all the stories are told of someone else, they are no first person tales. The story tellers are largely anonymous, they don't interact with each other or the stories to any great extent. They are also like of estate and degree, there are no voices of the common people here. Compare that to Chaucer and the liveliness of the Wife of Bath is absent.
I read a significant portion of this on a trip to Germany, And it works quite well as a travel book, most stories being between 2 & 10 pages, making it easy enough to stop & pick up again.

>26 Helenliz: Funnily enough I turned up my copy of this recently. Suspect it will be a while before I get to it.

>27 Caroline_McElwee: I have book 2 out of the library, just taking a quick break for something else first. It's quite small type...

Book: 52
Title: A Deadly Affair
Author: Agathe Christie
Published: 2022
Rating: ***
Why: Short stories on audio work quite well.
Challenge: Woman Author, audio.
TIOLI Challenge #4: Read a book with an alphabetically ordered title or author

A mixture of short stories, each featuring a couple. I liked the ones I was less familiar with, I'm pretty sure I've read or heard both the Marple cases before. Mr J Parker Pyne is a particular pleasure, and the slightly mystical element of Mr Harley Quinn makes for quite a change.
It ended with a short piece by Agatha Christie telling of two rejected suitors. No mention of her failed first or successful second marriages.

Book: 53
Title: Midnight at Malabar House
Author: Vaseem Khan
Published: 2020
Rating: ***
Why: Shelterbox book that I've actually finished before the discussion!
Challenge: New Author, subscription
TIOLI Challenge #9. Read a book with an 8 in the total number of pages, or use all numbers of this total to get to 8

This is intriguing, but I can't help that it is trying to do a bit too much.
Set in early 1950 in post partition India, the main character is Persis, India's first female detective. Her father is a wheelchair bound book shop owner, her mother died at a protest. She has anger issues and is struggling to deal with the inherent misogyny of her colleagues and her culture. At times she feels rather modern, maybe too modern. Into the investigation we throw an English forensic consultant with a dose of OCD (at the very least), I sense the beginnings of a potential difficult romance.
All of which is already overloading a book and we're yet to discuss the murder. Sir James Herriot is a diplomat (not a vet) who is found dead with his trousers down at a New Year's party at his house. He was involved in an investigation into crimes committed at partition, is this the cause of his murder? There are motives all over the place, and quite a lot of history, the massacre at Amritsar gets a name check amongst other battles and wars.
It's not that this was bad, it just felt like it had to many layers. It made it overly complicated. This might have been a better read had there been less going on. It is the start of a series.

In other news, quiz night, which we won. Unusually we weren't last by a mile after the picture round, we usually rely on our general knowledge to pull us back into contention!

>31 Helenliz: - Congrats!

>31 Helenliz: Excellent, congrats!

Hi Helen. I noticed on Madeline's thread you asked about how to run a jigsaw puzzle competition . I've never run one, or participated in one, but I watched parts of such a thing on youtube. I found this information on how to run a jigsaw puzzle competition. Hope it helps. https://www.springbok-puzzles.com/host-puzzle-competition-article-s/2022.htm/

>34 vancouverdeb: Thanks for looking that out for me. I will have a look at it.

>33 rabbitprincess:, >32 katiekrug: Thanks both. We do love a quiz. This one adds the element of jeopardy by how far behind are we after the picture round!

Off on my travels again. Holland this time, by plane, train and automobile (not in that order). Have probably overdone the book packing...

Have a good trip, Helen! Business or pleasure?

Work, visiting a supplier.
Late plane and extra trains sees 2 books finished. Caleb's Crossing and The Victorian Chaisse-Longue.
Reviews to wait until I have a keyboard!

Finished Foster by Claire Keegan. So good that my ice cream started to melt while I finished it. 6 stars out of 5. She sure can write.

I'm back with much reading to report.

Book: 54
Title: Caleb's Crossing
Author: Geraldine Brooks
Published: 2011
Rating: ***
Why: library book clearing
Challenge: Woman author
TIOLI Challenge #15. Read a book with a possessive in the title

This is a fictional account of the first Native American to gain a degree from Harvard. We meet Caleb through Bethia on Martha's Vinyard. Bethis is a girl with a brain in her head and a father who edicates alongside her twin brother until he dies in an accident. That then ceases and Bethia takes to snatching what she can from Makepeace (her not academic elder brother) while heading out into the island. There she meets the boy who becomes Caleb and they learn from each other. The path their lives follow is not smooth and there are sufficient trials and tribulations along the way. The scene moves from the island to Harvard and all of this is narrated by Bethia herself, in her spare time on scraps of paper salvaged from the households in which she lives. The final portion is Bethia in her old age telling the missing years after Harvard and the lives that follow.
Its engaging enough, Bethia is someone that we can root for and want to follow. She suffers for being a smart person in a woman;s body and you feel for her as she tries to reconcile what she wants and what she is going to have to settle for. We see Caleb and all the other characters through her eyes, so they are coloured by her views. These are not, I would say, necessarily of her time, but they act as a vehicle for the story.

Book: 55
Title: The Victorian Chaise-Longue
Author: Marghanita Laski
Published: 1953
Rating: ****
Why: bullet from someone
Challenge: New Author, Woman author
TIOLI Challenge #6. Read a book by an author who is an atheist
This is an intriguing little piece. Melanie buys a Victorian Chaise-Longue while she is in the early stages of pregnancy. She also has a tubercular shadow on the lung and is forced into rest for the remainder of the pregnancy. The book starts after she has given birth and she is being allowed a change of scene and is moved onto the chaise-longue in the living room. There she falls asleep. When she awakes she is still on the chaise-longue, but has been transported into the body of Milly Barnes, Victorian fallen women & consumptive. The definition of self, who is Melanie if she occupies Milly's body, if she dies here will she die at home and can she ever get back. There is something quite compelling about this, watching Melanie and her fearing her loss of identity and trying to get to grips with the past and her potential future.

Book: 56
Title: Foster
Author: Claire Keegan
Published: 2010
Rating: *****
Why: Loved her previous piece I read
Challenge: Woman Author
TIOLI Challenge #1. Read a book whose author has a first name which is the same as that of someone in your family

This is an exquisite little thing. Keegan writes very tightly crafted novellas, there's not a word wasted here and they are all doing so much. We start with a young girl being taken, by her father, to stay with her aunt in the country. We find out quite a lot about the girl's home life through the interactions with the aunt & uncle. The picture we build up is of a struggling family, the hay not yet gathered in, no money to pay the man, too many children and one more on the way, a feckless father and too little love to go around. With the Kinsellas, she is clothed, cared for, cherished even, despite not having met them since she was a baby.
In this idyll there comes a sting, we know that, at some point, she will have to go home. And so there comes a one-two punch to the gut in that we learn of the Kinsella's past and they lose this girl back to her family. Would she be better off with the Kinsellas? yes, would they be better off with her there, to lighten the load and give them a future that, it feels, they don't believe they deserve? Yes. Is that going to happen? Probably not.
This is just so beautifully done, the enveloping, then the gut punches one after the other. The Kinsellas are not classically heroic figures, but that is what they are, in their own small way. I think this is Keegan's skill, making heroes of the everyday. Sometimes remaining human is the biggest feat of all.

Book: 57
Title: Helgoland
Author: Carlo Rovelli
Published: 2021
Rating: ***
Why: it was recomended
Challenge: New Author, Non-Fiction
TIOLI Challenge #4. Read a book with an alphabetically ordered title or author

This really is a book of two halves for me. In the early portions he tries to described Quantum Mechanics, both its history and how it came to be. I found this intensely frustrating. As a student, I studied this and all this section did is prove to me that my brain has addled with the passing of the years. I found this rather depressing and, potentially, rather too brief. As if you can ever explain the history of 20th century science in 50 pages. The chapters on how people interpret quantum mechanics, the many & hidden worlds concepts I did find interesting.
From here he changes tack and it becomes all rather more philosophical. It's here that I stopped feeling frustrated with the book and my shortcomings and it all became more interesting to my current self. It also became a more personal book, relating far more to his view of the world (and the references become more of him than previously, which I found a little self promoting).
I'm honestly not sure who this book is written for. As a former scientist, I was aware of most of the ideas and could follow the argument, but to someone with less of a grasp of quantum mechanics, this is likely to go above their heads. For someone who works in the field, it will be too basic. If he's writing for former students of the subject, that's not exactly a wide field. The more philosophical chapters ate probably more open, but you have to wade through the detail to get to it.
In terms of style, it's readable, but he has a penchant for ellipsis that should have been curbed.

Your travels were productive re the reading, hope that they went smoothly in all the other ways too.

>40 Helenliz: re Helgoland: Even as someone who is partial to an ellipsis myself, I can see how that could get frustrating. Not one I'll be reaching for given the subject matter.

I think I'm just going to buy a copy of Foster, you reminded me how much I liked Small Things Like These.

>41 charl08:. I had 2 late planes and 1 train with extra changes due to engineering work, but yes, it was a successful trip.

>40 Helenliz: I really can't recommend it, I can't work out who it is for.

DO IT. Foster is equally as brilliant as Small things Like These. I will be working my way through her back catalogue.

>40 Helenliz: The Victorian Chaise-Lounge sounds interesting. Taking a BB.

I have a copy of Foster and am hoarding it to read when I really need something I know will hit just right...

I read The Victorian Chaise-Longue a couple of months ago. I think you liked it a scootch more than I did.

>44 katiekrug: I couldn't remember who hit me with that one. You are a likely contender. It much have been a sufficiently intriguing review for me to order it from the library. It was an odd little thing, but it got me thinking.

>43 lowelibrary: With Katie's comment, I'm now hoping I've not oversold it!

Helen's Film club (and one from last week that I forgot).
The Favourite Wife.
Cary Grant's wife has been lost at sea for 7 years, and this starts with him having her declared dead and remarrying Bianca. Only later that day the first Mrs Alden turns up, alive and well. And so begins a diverting episode while he tries to tell Bianca what has happened, while trying to decide which wife he prefers. It's not exactly a surprise at the end, but it takes a few diverting twists and turns.

Funny Face
The one thing I struggle with most with these older films is the acceptability of an extensive age gap between the two protagonists. Even putting that to one side, I'm not sure that this is terribly effective. It seems to lurch from set piece to set piece, much of that involving dances. Fred Astair's photographer seems unpleasantly manipulative to modern eyes. Some great songs, but it left an unpleasant taste in the mouth.

>46 Helenliz: Oh, I have a soft spot for "Funny Face"! But agreed, it's a pretty shocking age gap between Hepburn and Astaire.

>47 christina_reads: Not saying you shouldn't have a soft spot for it. I just think that coming to it for the first time now is a different experience to having first seen it even 20 years ago. I find it difficult to put current sensibility to one side in a film in a way that I am able to accept in a book. Not sure why that is.

I've never seen The Favorite Wife, so will put it on my watch list.

I saw FF when I was a teenager and remember liking it, but I've never revisited it...

Book: 58
Title: The Legacy of Elizabeth Pringle
Author: Kirsty Wark
Published: 2014
Rating: ***
Why: it was recommended
Challenge: New Author, Woman Author,
TIOLI Challenge #2: The “A Rose by Any Other Name” Challenge: Read a book in which either the title or the author’s name contains the same name as a Shakespearean character

Like most dual timelines, you find that one has more appeal than the other. In this case I had less time for Martha than I did for Elizabeth. Elizabeth is dead at the beginning and leaves her house on the isle of Arran to Martha's mother Anna. Martha is dealing with Anna's dementia, her sister's denial and her own broken romance. And I never really warmed to her. Elizabeth, on the contrary, was born on Arran in the early part of the 20th century and we see the events of the century through her memoir, written at the end of her life to ease her soul of the secret it had held for so very long.
It is random chance that leaves Martha with Elizabeth's house, and Martha spends time trying to understand Elizabeth, through people who knew her. We find out more about her as we're hearing her memoir told in parallel. The final turn of events is quite startling and leaves the present day stunned.
I liked finding more out about Elizabeth, who we first hear about as a little old lady, living alone and isolated in her home. By hearing her memoir, we find that there's a lot going on under the surface. She's someone who puts me in mind of my elderly female relatives; it's all solidity, no hint of the frolics of past years.
Martha I could have done without, as I could the sex scenes. Elizabeth's were chastely written, Martha's seemed to be equally as old fashioned and out of place. I'm not sure that, had I inherited a house form a stranger, I;d have reacted quite the same way Martha did. I'd have done a lot more throwing out. At times if felt like a character had been introduced into a scene and then forgotten about, the burial at the end introduces 2 people, then has nothing more to say about them. It felt a bit odd, like it could have done with a continuity editor, making sure that we'd counted all the characters into the scene and out again.
I have a hankering after visiting Arran after reading this, the place seeming to be the second most vividly drawn character after Elizabeth.

Well that was a revelation. Collected my new glasses last night. 2 pairs, one varifocals, one dedicated readers. Seems my arms haven't been long enough, as reading with the readers in bed was far easier - I read loads more than I have done recently, just because my eyes weren't tired.
On the flip side, the difference in the reading prescription on the varifocals means that I feel really rather ick. Tried them for an hour this morning before having to revert to the old pair.
#OldGitIconRequired

Would these do? 🥽 Hope the ickness settles down quickly.

>50 Helenliz: Probably a good place to visit in the summer, I would imagine it must be pretty bleak in the winter...

July is done. How is it August already!

Read: 7 (57)
F/M: 4/3 (37/21)

Audio: 1 (22)
Paper: 6 (35)

Owned: 3 (16)
Library: 4 (41)

New authors: 4 (19)
New books: 6 (45)
Re-reads: 0 (5)

>52 charl08: They're beginning to feel better. Had them on for an hour this morning before the ick headache kicked in. Had them on for longer this afternoon, but I am about to switch back to the old ones. Distance prescription has remained the same, it's just the reading one that changed. but the lenses are also shallower, so maybe that's also affecting the transition.

Yup, a summer trip, I feel sure!

My eye doctor recommended a "weaning" approach when I first got the progressive lenses, so I think you are on the right track.

And I don't want to talk about it being August already!

My eye doctor also told me it would take time to get used to the new prescriptions when I got varifocals. So I agree that you are taking the right approach.

I think it's quite common to take a bit of time getting used to varifocals. Personally I think I'd needed them for so long by the time I got them that I took to them like a duck to water, but I think that's quite unusual. I would definitely recommend persevering though - I have found they've made a huge difference for me. I used to get awful eye strain headaches really quite often, but they've all but disappeared since I changed to varifocals.

>55 katiekrug:, >56 LadyoftheLodge: that seems to be the message I've been getting, slowly slowy catchee monkey!

>57 Jackie_K: I've had varifocals for a while now and I love them. But this is the first time the new pair has given me problems. I think it's the significant change in the reading prescription and the lens shape that's throwing me off.

Driving into the office today - NOT in the new glasses, but I'll take them and wear them in.

I know you're dying for an update: drove to & from work on old glasses, but wore the new ones for the entire time in between.

>59 Helenliz: Congratulations! One step at a time.

I'll be picking up new glasses next week. I'm hoping for a smooth transition. A year ago, something with the prescription went dreadfully wrong. The new glasses were impossible (for anything) and had to be returned. It's not easy to find an optometrist in this area so I've been in a huff all this time and ended up having to go back to the same guy.

>60 VivienneR: You'll be delighted to know I've worn the new glasses all day with no ill effects. I think I will pop back & have the adjusted, they feel like they need to sit a fraction higher, but that's just a mild tweak.

I've been stuffing calendars into cellophane envelopes, prior to selling them for 2024. So I decided that something to listen to might help pass the time.

Book: 59
Title: The Landlady
Author: Roald Dahl
Published: 1959 (in a collection)
Rating: ***
Why: it was quick & available
Challenge: Audio
TIOLI Challenge #5. Read a book with a profession in the title or author's name

This is sinister, and becomes more so as you progress through the story. Billy Weaver arrives in Bath, needing to find a room for the night. He asks at the station and is pointed to the hotel down the road, only on the way he sees a sign for Bed & Breakfast in a house window & feel compelled to knock at the door. The landlady has a warm motherly smile and things seem all a bit too good to be true, probably because they are. Feels a bit like the Hotel California, only less exotic. The unease gradually grows, but you never actually know if any of your suspicions are justified; the outcome is left entirely to your imagination...

Helen's film club.
Brief Encounter
I love this film, I really do, 'nough said.

You'll be awfully pleased to hear that with another short story listened to, I have now completed the task of putting 250 calendars into cellophane envelopes. So that's that job done. Order form design next...

Book: 60
Title: The Visitor
Author: Roald Dahl
Published: 1965 (in a collection)
Rating: **.5
Why: it was quick & available
Challenge: Audio
TIOLI Challenge #12: Read a book that shares its name with another piece of creative art (not another book)

OK, let's get the negative out of the way early, this book has not aged well. It contains dreadfully stereotyped representations of the people he meets as he travels between Cairo & Jerusalem, they and their surroundings are described with the fastidiousness of the English upper class at their very worst. None of it is complimentary and a lot of is, to modern ears, falling into offensive territory. The attitude of the serial seducer to women leaves a lot to be desired.
Having got that out of the way, this is a tale in 2 parts. The first is read by someone who sounds like a county solicitor or bank manager, staid family, respectable job, little to no excitement in his life. He comes into the receipt of the diary of mysterious Uncle Oswald, the aforesaid serial seducer. Reading the diaries he thinks they are amusingly written and tries to find extracts that could be publishable, what follows is presented as one of those extracts.
Oswald himself is probably on the OCD scale when it comes to cleanliness and dirt. The lengths of the description about a hair in his egg for breakfast is quite over the top., but sets the scene for his general behaviour. Oswald finds himself traveling across the desert when he stops at a petrol station and the attendant (with his habits and diseases duly described) find that the fan belt on the Lagonda is on its last legs. Oswald has no desire to stay in the attendant's house and is going to sleep in the car when a Rolls arrives and he finds himself invited back to a fantasy castle, occupied by a rich man. We meet his wife Y daughter, both beautiful, and Oswald plans to seduce either. What happens during his night of passion is best left to the imagination, as are his schemes to find out who he bedded. The final twist in the story felt, to me, a lot like getting his just desserts.
Writing - excellent, Oswald - what I would fervently hope to be an outmoded throwback. A compromise 2.5 stars.

Hi Helen - I decided to hop over here to comment on the link to the bell tower that you posted so I wouldn't keep hijacking SqueakyChu's thread! 🙂

I'm certainly familiar with Gerberding Hall at the University of Washington (it's a visual landmark on campus), but I've never heard the bells; now that I know a little more, I might have to go over there at bell-ringing time! I also looked up "change ringing" to understand that a little better - very interesting indeed. Thank you for broadening my horizons a bit!

>64 PlatinumWarlock: nice to see you. Glad it was of interest. Like most people with an odd hobby, I can turn into a bit of a bore!

Book: 61
Title: The Decameron Volume 2
Author: Giovanni Boccaccio
Published: 1351
Rating: ***
Why: the completist needed to finish it off.
Challenge:
TIOLI Challenge #13. Read a book where the first word of the title is an article

Review of Volume 2
Pretty much the same as Volume 1.
The surmise is quite simple, 10 people in plague riven Florence decide to decamp to the country and isolate themselves from the contagion. To while away the time, on each day they each tell a story. This volume held 6 days and so 60 stories, without the details of how they arrived here. The discussion on ending the isolation was remarkably short, after a total of 15 days away from the city.
I'm fairly sure that I've read some of these stories before in different guises. The one about the students and the miller's wife & daughter for certain was familiar, as was the king who takes a low born wife and takes their children away before turning her out.
Based on completing this, I still think that Chaucer did it better.

Book: 62
Title: Poirot: The Greatest detective in the World
Author: Mark Aldridge
Published: 2020
Rating: ***
Why: looked interesting...
Challenge: New Author, Non-Fiction, Audio
TIOLI Challenge #5. Read a book with a profession in the title or author's name

This is an interesting review of Poirot's history over the 100 years since he first appeared in print in The Mysterious Affair at Styles. It covers, in chronological order, all the print books, the various radio plays, stage plays, films and other media that have featured the detective over that time. There is even the continuation books by Sophie Hannah. It's comprehensive and uses letters and reviews to capture how the different items were viewed at release. It's interesting to see how the attitude towards adaptations has changed over time.
I sense a Poirot read coming on...

>67 Helenliz: This is rather tempting, but argh - Too many books!

>67 Helenliz: My mind just boggled realizing that The Mysterious Affair at Styles was one hundred years ago! :O

>67 Helenliz: >69 rabbitprincess: Yes, that is a scary thought!

>68 charl08: I know. It's a book that gives rise to a whole bundle of other books to read...

>69 rabbitprincess:, >70 MissWatson:, more than, this was published in 2020. Sorry & all that.

As a not really a football fan, I admit it, I watched the second half of the Women's world cup semi finals. Not watching on my second screen, while working on the first one, not at all. shhhh. That got a bit nervy in the second half.

>67 Helenliz: Oooh, that one looks interesting! I adore Christie, although, to be honest, I prefer Marple to Poirot. (And Holmes over both, but that's another (set of) stor(y)(ies).)

>73 scaifea: To be honest I'm with you, I read a lot more Marple in my formative years than Poirot. The Marple books and adaptations get a mention where they affect the timing of the Poirot books, for example, or influence the decisions made. It was just an interesting read.

PHEW!!
My God-daughter just got her A-level results. Got what she wanted and is going to Exeter.
I suspect I might be weighing in with a reasonable sized book token to set her on her way.

It was stressful enough when I was young, but the pressure piled on these kids now seems, to me, to be enormous. I'd not wish that on anyone, barring, maybe, my worst enemy.

>75 Helenliz: - That's nice news and YES! to the book token :)

I don't claim to understand how the system works over there, but I have always been boggled by the need for students to decide relatively early what they want to study (Assuming that's still the case? And universally applicable? See, I don't know anything...)

Congratulations to your goddaughter.

Katie, yes, students have to narrow down choices quite a lot several times. My 16 year old is awaiting 9 GCSE results next Thursday but after compulsory subjects there are only 3/4 options within that. Then students do 3 or occasionally 4 subjects at A level, and then most students choose a single or joint honours course, though they may get to do a subsidiary option. I think the system as it is means students are sorted down academic (or not) or vocational paths very early too.

>76 katiekrug: Yup, you're not wrong. School lasts to 16 and is broad based, although you do drop some subjects for GCSEs, which you pick at 14 and take at 16. We do A levels in college at 18 (typically) and would usually take 3 to 4 subjects. Then, if you choose, you go to University for 3 years (again, typically) and at that point it's increasingly specialised.
It does feel very early to be shutting the door on a wide range of subjects. My retirement plan is to go back and take a degree in a humanities, having dropped them all at 16.
She's doing maths & philosophy, which sounds a lot broader based than my Chemistry degree was.

>77 elkiedee: See, that's pretty much what I was typing in parallel - at least we agree!!

I had no idea what I wanted to do for the rest of my life at that age. I still don't know what I want to do when I grow up.

Thanks for the explanations, Luci and Helen! I was rare among my high school and early college/uni years friends in knowing since about age 15 that I wanted to study political science. Most of my friends entered college (uni) "undeclared," meaning that I hadn't chosen their major/area of study. IIRC, you had to declare a major by the end of your second year, in order to have enough time (at least 2 more years) to fulfill the requirements of the major. Since I knew what I wanted to study from the get-go, I could start working on the major requirements my first year, which left lots of time/room for electives, both inside and outside my major (mostly international relations, history and English courses for me).

Many schools also have certain core requirements - I had to have one course in foreign language (placed out of that with a test), two in science/math (I took two "science for non-majors" classes), one course in religion (it was a Catholic school but the course could be on any religion), and I think a writing course (also placed out of that with a test).

That said, this was all 20+ years ago and at a small liberal arts college as opposed to a large university, so I know it's not a universal experience.

Sorry for the long, probably boring post.

>79 Helenliz:: D's sixth form applications are all to do Maths and Further Maths, Physics and Philosophy at A level. I was quite surprised but I had mentioned that I was at university with people doing Maths & Philosophy.

>81 elkiedee: That's interesting, not a combination I'd heard of before, but it makes a certain amount of sense.

>80 katiekrug: No it's all interesting. I did the second year of my degree in UT at Austen, and at 19 in my second year, I was with people several years older and about to graduate. I was surprised at the time to learn that almost half their courses were not in their major. I enjoyed the freedom to take courses in other subjects (Geology, History & swimming x 2) alongside my set courses. It reinforces the sense that we specialise too early and don't produce university graduates with a broad base.

>82 Helenliz: My son is studying engineering at an engineering school and I'm glad he has to dip his toe into the humanities. He's discovered a love of history, although a few days ago he remarked that he couldn't figure out what humanities majors found to study for four whole years.

>75 Helenliz: Congratulations to your god-daughter! A book token is never not an excellent idea!

>83 RidgewayGirl: *snort* That sounds like a challenge that needs accepting!

>84 Jackie_K: I know, I thought that and a coffee shop gift card, books & coffee, what else would a student need??

>83 RidgewayGirl: Well at last he's found something he does enjoy about it. Although goodness, what could they spend all that time on ...
A History degree is on my potential post retirement project degree list. Mind you, so is art history, english lit (period range entirely unknown) , archaeology and whatever else reflects the documentary I found interesting recently. >;-)

Today marks the first in a long series of Saturdays. We're on holiday until tuesday after next. 10 days off in a row. I have a list of jobs to do, which seems to be currently getting longer, not shorter!

Make sure you make time for some relaxation, Helen!

>86 katiekrug: I'm not terribly good at doing nothing. It's not going to be busy-busy, but a change is as good as a rest floats my boat rather more. Currently plotting a few days out amidst the jobs.

Book: 63
Title: This Charming Man
Author: CK McDonnell
Published: 2022
Rating: ***
Why: Second in a series
Challenge: hmmm.
TIOLI Challenge #12: Read a book that shares its name with another piece of creative art (not another book)

This is somewhat of a rollercoaster; it's best just to hang on and go with the flow. The second in the series based at The Stranger Times newspaper in Manchester. They specialise in news of the supernatural, so when a Vampire jumps in front of a truck in a supposed suicide, they get involved very quickly. It all gets rather confused, and I'm not sure I could give you a clear synopsis of the events that follow. It involves different groups of magical & mythical people. a ghost with a chip on her shoulder, a dating app gone sour and a tale of lost love. Inventive and madcap, what's not to enjoy.

Hi, Helen...and yes of course you need a Poirot read (you should hook up with Julia, then I wouldn't have to nag the two of you separately!).

What I was actually dropping in to say was, have you noticed the glitch in the Campion series listing??

We seem to have hit - or gone straight past - Mr Campion: Criminologist, which exists in variant editions that I'm trying to hunt down at the moment. It may be one of those American-only releases. In its first edition it seems to have consisted of The Case Of The Late Pig and six short stories; what I can't determine yet is whether that edition ever appeared in Britain, whether The Case Of The Late Pig was always published as a standalone there, and whether the Penguin edition that eventually appeared is just the six short stories or not.

This is pushing all my buttons of course, so I'll sort it out and let you know.

Hello Helen! Catching up on your thread this month, and congratulations to your god-daughter on her A-levels.

I also agree that ages 14 - 16, or even 19 - 20, are way early for many of us to decide what is going to be our primary focus for our studies. Like others here, I had to declare a major (foreign languages, mainly French). I still keep my French skills up by reading all my college books, and earn my living in Human Resources.

>83 RidgewayGirl: Oh, what can one study in Humanities?? Let us count the ways! Glad you are supporting his interest in history/Humanities.

>89 lyzard: No, I had not noticed an issue. I was just reading away...
Let me know. Otherwise I am ~ 1/4 of the way through Fashion in Shrouds.

>90 threadnsong: I dropped all foreign languages at 16. I'm trying to learn German, it's a lot harder at 50 than it was at 15...

>89 lyzard:, >91 Helenliz:

I notice that someone has moved three books of Campion short stories to 'collections and selections', though it looks to me as if Mr Campion And Others should be a straight series work.

And yes, it does seem that Mr Campion: Criminologist was an American-only release. Perhaps Allingham's American publisher didn't think The Case Of The Late Pig was sufficiently substantial for a standalone release? Three of its short stories are also in Mr Campion And Others but not all of them, so we might have some odds and ends to chase, like I did with Agatha.

Anyway, we'll touch base about this again when we've wrapped The Fashion In Shrouds. How are you getting on with it? I found it very uncomfortable in some respects and I'll be very interested to hear what you make of it.

>92 lyzard: I will report back, just had the second murder

>51 Helenliz: How are the new glasses going? I've just picked up my new, fantastically expensive, "biometric intelligent glasses" with "high-precison progressive lenses made from a complete biometric eye model". I now have peripheral vison, which should help my driving no end.

Book: 64
Title: The Fashion in Shrouds
Author: Margery Allingham
Published: 1938
Rating: ***
Why: Series read
Challenge: Woman Author
TIOLI Challenge #10. Read a book with a word in the title suggesting death

This isn't the best entry in the series. There are an increased number of characters here, a number of them female. Spoiler ridden review follows.
The crimes seems to be centered upon Georgia Wells, an actress who is portrayed as voluptuous, a femme fatale who goes after what she wants and expect to get it, while not being terribly bright, being rather vulgar and not at all classy. At times it seems that she is being set up as the villain, while also being portrayed as not bright enough to carry it off.
Also in the frame is Campion's sister, Val. She's the designer at a fashion house. While seeming, to modern eyes, to have a perfectly sensible career and her life in balance, she is repeatedly portrayed as being inferior to Campion and men in general. She has a suitor, Alan Dell, who also has a successful career as an aircraft designer. Along the way, he is seduced by Georgia Wells, before offering marriage of a form that would lead me to tell him to stuff it.
The third woman with a key part to play is Caroline Adamson, who starts the book as a model at the design house, until she leaks a new design for Georgia's latest dress and appears with Ramillies wearing the same dress as Georgia at a nightclub they all attend on the same evening. She is variously portrayed as a victim and a villain.
The final female comes off a bit better. Amanda is a young lady of good family, who gets herself involved with the investiagtion and, to explain her presence, engaged to Campion. By the end I remain unclear of this is still a fake engagement or not. It leaves an odd taste in the mouth, the age difference especially.
The murders start with the discovery of a 3 year old body of Georgia's previous fiance, Richard (later we find out that they were married), he vanished and not long after Georgia marries Raymond Ramillies, to whom she is married at the start of the book. The fact of her marriage leads you to the conclusion that she knew that Richard was dead, aiming to replace him with Raymond, When Raymond dies, there's the suspicion that she was trying to replace him with Alan. The idea that this is somehow Georgia's doing is played out against the constant repetition that she's not clever enough to carry off that kind of scheme without blabbing.
The book itself is rather complicated, with the police not getting involved until the third death. Then Oates comes along and the investigation takes on more structure. It feels rather like Campion is taking sides, trying to protect his sister and his circle in the middle of the investigation.
It went past quickly enough, but I'm not sure that the tone and the way that the women are presented doesn't leave a sour taste in the mouth.

>94 pamelad: They're fine now. Took me about 5 days to get fully used to them. After the first day it was just a case of wearing them for a bit longer each day.

Hope yours live up to billing!

Today I finished sewing up my French knitting into a split scarf. Not tried French knitting since I was a child and I certainly don't remember making anything from it before. It makes quite a thick scarf, as it knits up as a spool, so is automatically double thickness.

>97 Helenliz: Beautiful! I've only known children to use this method of knitting, usually ending up with a rope a few inches long.

>98 VivienneR: Thank you. The variegated wool is doing a lot of the work there. I remember doing this kind of knitting as a child, but never making anything of it. I bought it in the spring, used one knitting dolly & couple of balls of wool as a raffle prize, kept the other for myself, as I'm a sucker for any crafty things.
Used 2 balls, and sewed it up to make a scarf. I imagine you could sew it up into all sorts of shapes if you wanted to.

>99 Helenliz: I would end up with half a scarf only to unravel it. When I started a fourth garment with the same wool, my husband slyly remarked that I got excellent mileage from my yarn.

>97 Helenliz: I used to *love* French knitting as a kid! We used to make the knitting dolly by putting 4 thin nails into a cotton reel.

>101 Jackie_K: I remember that I could do it, but I don't remember ever doing anything with the results. My knitting dolly is a yellow plastic thing, with 4 metal hoops for the pegs and black rubber bands for grip, and a smiley face so it looks like a bumble bee. Clearly aimed at the younger age group. It's fun.

>100 VivienneR: Ha, well you're still one better than me, I can't knit. I was taught to do it, but (apparently) I go through thw wrong bit of the loop so every other row has a twist. And my tension was always far too tight. I never got to the point of being able to cast on, cast off, increase or decrease. Scarfs were my absolute limit. I knitted a shocker of a Dr Who scarf. I seem to remember it being about 12 ft long.

>103 Jackie_K: I think we made a lot of circular placemats! I don't remember making anything else, but I do remember how soothing the activity was, and the excitement when the knitted rope first appeared out of the bottom of the cotton reel!

>103 Jackie_K: that's it, it's a perfect in front of the TV activity, only needs half an eye on it.

>97 Helenliz: - Beautiful! I love the colors.

I've never heard of French knitting, but that's not surprising since I know exactly zero about such things :)

>97 Helenliz: Oh, lovely! Well done, you!

>97 Helenliz: That's beautiful! And I love the style. Well done!

>97 Helenliz: That's lovely Helen. Great colours.

I don't know about French knitting either, but would like to know more about it. This is a fascinating discussion.
My sister just sent me a box full of embroidery projects, materials, and floss that she has had in a tote bag for years. I am excited to get started on the projects this winter!

I can do the knitting, but am clueless about sewing, wondering how you sewed it up.
I like the idea of making some placemats like >103 Jackie_K: (as kind of amazed at how much placemats cost).
We used to make friendship bracelets this way when I was a kid, but just with a piece of cardboard, made into a wheel with holes cut into it.

Book: 65
Title: The Guest
Author: Emma Cline
Published: 2023
Rating: **
Why: In a review it sounded interesting (it wasn't)
Challenge: Woman Author, new author
TIOLI Challenge #13. Read a book where the first word of the title is an article

Alex is a girl who is down on her luck and too stupid to know to stop digging.
She is never described as such, but let's call her a prostitute and be done with it. She is also presented as being street smart, but is often either at a loss for words or knows that what she is doing is stupid and self sabotages. I have no idea what the author expected the ending to be, but this non-ending leaves Alex and the reader hanging over what I fully expect to be a fast train out of town. Alex had few redeeming features, and neither did the story she has to tell.

Thanks all. That wall of variegated wool is doing a lot of the heavy lifting! I think it is also known as spool knitting.

>110 charl08: Where I didn't have any more wool, I used cotton and just a ladder stitch. It didn't take too long to sew up. Not as long as it did to knit in the first place!

Book: 66
Title: Everyone in my family has killed someone
Author: Benjamin Stevenson
Published: 2022
Rating: ****
Why: In a review it sounded interesting (it was)
Challenge: New author
TIOLI Challenge #10. Read a book with a word in the title suggesting death

This is a whole load of fun. Ernie Cunningham is our narrator. He writes books about how to write detective fiction in the style of the golden age, using Knox's rules for detective fiction. At the start we have Knox's rules written and Ernie references them several times. The tale is set in a mountain resort where the Cunningham family has met for a reunion, marking Michael's release from prison - where he was because Ernie testified against him for murder.
There is backstory, relating to the murder committed by Michael, as well as the death of their father, Robert. He shot a cop and was then killed by one. The past weighs heavy on the reunion, with each person having their own secrets and lies to hide and reveal. the title is both true and a misdirection, which is interesting. It's very cleverly done, at times a little far fetched, but it rolls along at a fair old pace. Ernie is engaging and the way this is told, with the narrator engaging with the reader (breaking the 4th wall, if you like) makes you feel like you're being told a long & complicated story in a bar - it has that kind of tone. I enjoyed this trip to the Australian mountains.

>113 Helenliz: This one ticks several boxes for me (golden age nod, Australia, etc.) so I really have to take the BB.

>113 Helenliz: I'm glad to see your review of this, I've seen it but not much more than that, obviously the title is interesting. My library has it so I'll pick it up when I catch it in.

Hello, Helen! Love the scarf! Very fun colors.

>111 Helenliz: Im not sorry that you read this as your review of it had me laughing out loud. Thank you so much for that!

>113 Helenliz: This one goes onto The List.

>113 Helenliz: I really enjoyed that one; glad to see you did as well!

>117 christina_reads: I did, it was just a whole load of fun.

>114 NinieB:, >115 clue:, >116 Crazymamie:. Hope you enjoy it, when you get to it.

>116 Crazymamie: Glad something about it was worthwhile, reading it wasn't. >;-)

I love your scarf! It should keep you warm and cozy when the cold winds blow.

I have to add Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone to my list just for that title!

>113 Helenliz: I was going to take a BB for Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone, but it was already on the bullet list.

>120 lowelibrary: Excellent, you can't blame me then! That it appealed twice, from two different reviews does sound promising though.

>119 DeltaQueen50: Thanks and I know, it does just draw you in form the title.

>97 Helenliz: Nice scarf!

>113 Helenliz: I'm taking a BB for Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone. Sounds fun!

Book: 67
Title: Before the Fact
Author: Francis Iles
Published: 1932
Rating: ****
Why: It's the book that Hitchcock's film Suspicion is based on
Challenge: New author
TIOLI Challenge #2. Read a book with a headline character count of 23 or less

I read this because it is the novel that the Hitchcock film Suspicion is based on. In my thoughts on that film, I said that the ending felt false, and someone put me onto this.
This may be rather spoiler ridden.
From the first there is an air of menace over the book. We see it from Lina's perspective, as we review her marriage to Johnnie, who we believe to be a murderer from the first.
Lina is unmarried at the books' beginning. She is supposed to be the intelligent sister, and suffers somewhat in the rather stifling local social scene. Into this comes Johnnie Asgarth, a ne'er do well with local family connections. He latches on to Lina and plays the inexperienced woman to perfection. She falls for him and will brook no opposition in marrying him. It turns out that he has, as suspected, no money, but that doesn't stop him blowing a loan on the honeymoon and a house too large for them.
Johnnie is presented as charming and a product of the upper middle class in the early part of the 20th century, he expects the best in life but doe not expect to have to do any work to get it. He's also, probably, a compulsive gambler. He lies and steals to fulfill his habit.
While presented as intelligent, Lina is rather naive and sheltered, her upbringing having done her no favours in this regard. The relationship is presented from Lina's perspective. She seems to crave any sign of affection and appreciation, seeming to lack in self confidence. Johnnie may be charming, but is manipulative, and the relationship might be characterised as abusive. Lina at one stage makes a break, and there is a potential to turn things around, only she returns to Johnnie and so returns to the same situation. She has a couple of occasions when she could be an agent of her own fate, but rejects the opportunity each time.
You could view her as being simply foolish, but I think the abusive relationship has to be taken into account. She is so conditioned to her state that she is unable to take action to change her fate. I think this is darker than the film, there is no hiding from the denouement.

A bit late, here is August in numbers

Read: 8 (65)
F/M: 3/5 (40/26)

Audio: 5 (27)
Paper: 3 (38)

Owned: 0 (16)
Library: 8 (49)

New authors: 3 (22)
New books: 8 (53)
Re-reads: 0 (5)

Currently reading
Bath Tangle on paper and Sure and Certain Death on CD in the car

Book: 67
Title: Bath Tangle
Author: Georgette Heyer
Published: 1955
Rating: ****
Why: Heyer series read
Challenge: Woman author,
TIOLI Challenge #9. Read a book with a place name in the title

Re-read, and my previous review still stands.
From the start you know how this is going to end, the sparring between Serena and Ivo is too obvious not to flag that they will end up realising they are suited to each other. How you get to that situation is a little more unexpected. As the book starts, Serena's father has died, leaving a second wife younger than his daughter and leaving Serena's inheritance in trust, controlled by Ivo - who she had previously jilted. The cousin who inherits the title and estate means that Serena leaves to spend some time in Bath. Here she meets a man she was forbidden to marry 7 years ago and the acquaintance is resumed. It all gets a bit tangled, with various relationships and engagements, but somehow it all sorts itself out in the end. It is predictable in once sense, in that you know where this is going to end, but getting there is a heap of fun.

Finished Bath Tangle on paper, next up The Color of air.
Still listening to Sure and certain death on CD in the car.

Had a busy day yesterday, it was our bellringng Guild's summer festival. In the past, I may have complained that the weather in September hasn't lived up to the name of the event, well no danger of that yesterday. It was hot - almost too hot. It meant that the garden of the church hall was well populated with people enjoying the sunshine and listening to the ringing. All is well with the world, my tower won the contest. >:-)

Today we're due thunderstorms, so expect a mad dash for the washing line at any moment!

>127 Helenliz: I think you have the wrong book linked for "Sure and Certain Death".

>128 NinieB: yup, I do.
Honestly, LT ought to work on the psychic touchstone upgrade... >;-)

>129 Helenliz: I really like Barbara Nadel's Istanbul mysteries, but I haven't tried the Francis Hancock series. Note to self . . .

>130 NinieB: I haven't tried the Istanbul series but loved Francis Hancock, a loveable undertaker sleuth.

>97 Helenliz: Adding in my accolades for your scarf! It is very nice, and also nice when the hand-dyed yarns do all the work.

>109 LadyoftheLodge: Ooooh, a whole bag of embroidery projects. Such a delight! Hope you enjoy them.

>127 Helenliz: Congratulations on your tower's win of the bell-ringing! It certainly has been hot this year, and I hope September begins to cool off for you. Especially with those outdoor concerts.

>127 Helenliz: My eyes jumped over your bell-ringing news! Congratulations. It must be such a treat for those listening.

>127 Helenliz: It was just very nice, sitting in the church hall garden, listening to a great ring of bells being run well.
>133 VivienneR: Well we thought so >;-)

Today's exciting news, I signed off artwork for a jigsaw puzzle for our bellringing association's 100th anniversary next year. 500 & 1000 pieces. I have a delivery of 50 of each in 4 weeks time. If anyone wants one, they're £15 for the 500 and £20 for the 1000. Get in touch. We'll have to discuss postage, but I'm sure we can help out there too.

>134 Helenliz: Fantastic! Congratulations!

Book: 68
Title: Sure and Certain Death
Author: Barbara Nadel
Published: ??
Rating: ***
Why: Set in Plaistow, where I used to live!
Challenge: Woman author, new author
TIOLI Challenge #10. Read a book, fiction or nonfiction, about a war that took place before you were born

In this tale of the East End of London, our main protaganist & amateur detective is Frank Hancock, an undertaker of Anglo-Indian parentage. Frank fought in WW1 and has suffered shell shock ever since. In that sense he is both a Londoner and an outsider, by profession & birth, and that makes him an interesting character to have at the core of the book. In this, the 4th book in the series, Frank discovers the body of a woman who has been apparently, skinned. He wonders if he is seeing things, only his employee can also see it. So begins a trail of death and murder that brings the murders of Jack the Ripper to mind in the local population. Slowly the death toll mounts, with the victims being women of a certain age. Slowly Frank begins to put the pieces together, especially when he discovers that his sister, Nancy, was at school with two of the women and then finds a much closer connection - they weer all white feather girls in WW1. Frank, as a victim of the war is appalled and this threatens to damage the family unit. However, they pull together and Frank slowly begins to work his way through the loose ends. There is a lot of local speech that still rings true. I lived in Plaistow for a number of years and it felt true to life, albeit it much altered from my time there in the late 1990s.
While this is the 4th in the series, I had not read the earlier books and don;t feel that I was left out of my depth. I will look out others in the series, Frank is worth spending time with. My only slight reservation is that some of the attitudes felt rather modern, but then the East End has always been the gateway to the rest of the capital, so it has always had a greater population of incomers from the rest of the world.

>134 Helenliz: Looks like fun! We got one of those photo ones for family Xmas present a couple of years ago. Hope you raise lots of funds with them.

>137 charl08: It's been very interesting, going through the process. We're hoping to raise lots from them. The biggest decision was how many to order of each size. We've aimed low at 50 of each, but can always place a repeat order, if they go better than expected!

Book: 69
Title: The Color of Air
Author: Gail Tsukiyama
Published: 2020
Rating: **
Why: Shelterbox book club
Challenge: Woman author, new author, subscription
TIOLI Challenge #6. Read a book whose title would fit as a name for the posted picture

This could have been an interesting story, but I couldn't get into the writing. Telling of the events during an eruption in Hawaii in 1935, this concentrates on the Japanese who moved to work on the sugar cane plantations. It felt that there were too many perspectives, the chapters were very short and even those were broken into sub chapters. It felt like it was written for a very short attention span, it simply didn't have enough depth to immerse yourself in. Everyone has a deep dark secret or hidden trauma, and it relies on that to drive the story forward. It just didn't work for me.

Book: 70
Title: Bog, Fen and Swamp
Author: Annie Proulx
Published: 2022
Rating: ***
Why: Why not?
Challenge: Woman author, New author, non-fiction, audio
TIOLI Challenge #15: Read a book where one of the main page (primary) tags is a subject you might study in school

A love song to the wetlands, this series of essays on different land/water habitats is comprehensive and informative without being dry (pun intended).
It captures aspects of humankind's interactions with watery land from ancient peoples to modern drainage and the massive implications that has for nature and the environment.
As someone with fenland heritage, I feel inspired to make some land soggy again.

>140 Helenliz: - I've already taken a BB for this from someone else and am looking forward to reading it. (maybe next year)

>141 dudes22: I hope you enjoy it, when you get around to it.

"I feel inspired to make some land soggy again."

Love that!

The Proulx book is on my list...

>143 katiekrug: >:-)

Having finished listening to Bog, fen & swamp I'm now listening to Metropolis which is really very odd so far.

The Proulx is on my list too. I was desperately trying to think of her earlier book Barkskins when I was on holiday. I went on a tour of the Oregon coast and the guide talked a lot about logging and the lost forests.

>145 charl08: Hope you enjoy it.

I've abandoned a book!!! Decided that Metropolis on CD was just too hard to follow when driving. So I'm now listening to Long Live the Queens instead.

>140 Helenliz: That's a BB for me. On the list it goes.

Book: 71
Title: Caste
Author: Isabel Wilkerson
Published: 2022
Rating: ****
Why: Bullet from Madeline.
Challenge: Woman author, New author, non-fiction
TIOLI Challenge #1. Read a book tagged "racism"

This survey of the attitudes to race in America manages to be comprehensive, thought provoking and thoroughly depressing. Her surmise is that America's segregation is not simply a matter of race, but that it has become embedded as a caste system. She compares this to other caste systems, that of India & the Third Reich. The comparison is, at times, startling and to this reader appears valid in its conclusions. I felt that chapter it was missing was how you end a caste system, the Third Reich had a very efficient caste system, but you'd be hard pressed to think that it does now - I accept that violent overthrow of the ruling party involved will have helped with ending it, but that can;t be the whole story.
An excellent read, potentially an effective call to action, but it's not a hopeful book.

>147 VivienneR: I hope you enjoy it.

Saturday sees operation clear the shed, before we have someone coming to replace it, and its very wonky base, plus lifting and re-laying the patio. So its scruffy togs and not a lot of reading until later!

Finished Caste and now reading Elektra by Euripides.
Still listening to Long Live the Queens, but as I'm not commuting next week (while the garden is being done), I might not make a lot of progress.

Operation clear the shed completed successfully and, barring "someone" hitting their head on the door of the shed, without too much trouble.
So that'll be a bath & a book for the afternoon then. >:-)

>148 Helenliz: I am very curious to see the upcoming film adaptation (under the title Origin) this winter; Ava DuVernay has chosen to adapt it by making Wilkerson the main character (played by Aunjanue Ellis) and following her through the process of writing the book. Still seems like an awfully hard thing to make into a mass-audience movie. But it's a talented cast, and DuVernay is always a director to be taken seriously.

>151 KeithChaffee: That does sound like a tricky act to pull off. I rarely see a film, but might look out for that. Thanks for letting me know about it.

Book: 72
Title: Sprig Muslin
Author: Georgette Heyer
Published: 1956
Rating: *****
Why: Needed a bath book.
Challenge: Woman author, Heyer read
TIOLI Challenge #2. Read a book with a headline character count of 23 or less

I started this as I wanted a book to read in the bath after the successful conclusion of operation clear the shed. I ended up turning the light out after I'd finished it. Excellent. One of Heyer's romances that actually had me uncertain which of the female leads our hero would end up with, the one he should, or the one with the obvious charms.
Spoiler ridden review follows... you have been warned!
We meet our hero first, Gareth appears to have ti all, apart from his fiance who broke her neck in a carriage accident some 7 years ago. He now decides that as the sole remaining son of the family, he needs to marry & continue the family line. So he decides to offer for Hester, who has long been considered by her family to be left on the shelf and should leap at the match. It's not a love match, on his side, he just thinks that they might rub along. Along the way, Garth comes across Amanda, a youthful 17 in a flowered muslin dress who is trying to escape her grandfather in order to demonstrate that she is able to take care of herself in order to marry an officer of the Peninsular army. And so she is, to a certain extent, but not really. The first time Gareth rescues her, he ends up arriving at Hester's family's house with Amanda, and dumps her upon Hester just before making his offer. Amanda is everything that Hester is not, young, vivacious, beautiful and, to Hester, has an air of the lost fiance. So everyone wonders what on earth Gareth is doing bringing his bit on the side to propose to Hester, although there remains surprise that Hester declines him. Amanda determines to escape Gareth and so sets off with Hester's elderly debauched uncle and then finds that she;s misjudged him and escapes him as well. Gareth spends a lot of time chasing after Amanda, only to get wrapped up in one final scheme to escape him and ends up shot. And so Amanda calls Hester to nurse Gareth and from here you feel more sure which way this is going to go. The final scenes rely on the families of both Hester & Amanda arriving almost at once and demanding that he marry in order to repair the damage to their reputation. Fortunately, Gareth is made of sterner stuff and so we end up with the right couples paired off, for the right reasons. This one had me worried, Amanda's obvious charms win everyone over, but her heart is already spoken for, would Gareth fall prey?

>153 Helenliz: - I listened to that one on audio several years ago and remember enjoying it.

Glad you got the shed cleared out!

>153 Helenliz:. Oh, I forgot to say, part of the appeal of this one was that I live in one of the places mentioned, so knew where they were. >:-)

Seeing it's been raining this morning, I'm very glad we didn't leave it until Sunday!

>153 Helenliz: Your review makes me wonder how many years I need to wait before reading Heyer's Regencies again. I've probably read this one three times, so it could be a while.

couple of finishes to report.
Book: 73 & 74
Title: Electra & Orestes
Author: Euripides
Published: 420 & 408 BCE
Rating: ***
Why: ongoing education.
Challenge: Translation
TIOLI Challenge #14. Read a book with a person or animal's name in the title

Electra starts some 10 years after Agamemnon returns from the Trojan wars and is murdered by his adulterous wife. The two remaining siblings meet (having failed to recognise each other) and Electra seems to be the key driver in the murders that follow, which Orestes carries out. While the events of the second follow on from the first, it is not a sequel in a Shakespeare henry type style. So I was mildly confused when the actions decreed at the end of Electra weren't taking place at the beginning of Orestes. And I'm not sure that I see the logic in Orestes that, being scorned as a matricide, killing Helen will make any thing any better. Threatening to also kill Hermione certainly doesn't seem to make sense, but then they're under sentence of death, maybe it seems less extreme under those circumstances.
In both of them, the ending is dictated by a god appearing and straightening everyone out.

The edition I borrowed from the library has 5 plays, but I think 2 is enough for anyone right now.

That's probably it for September, so time for a new thread as we head into the final quarter of the year.
You can join me here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/353995