mathgirl40's 2023 category challenge, part 2

Welcome to part 2 of my 2023 challenge!

1. 2023 Tournament of Books
2. 2023 Evergreen and other Canadian Awards
3. 1001 Books to Read Before You Die and Classics
4. 2023 Hugo and Aurora Awards
5. Historical Fiction
6. Doorstoppers
7. Continue the Series
8. BookCrossing
9. Around the World
10. Books in French
11. Nonfiction
12. Miscellaneous

I hope to read at least 10 books in each category, except for "Doorstoppers" and "Books in French". For those two categories, I'll be very happy if I manage 5 in each.

Category 1: The Tournament of Books



This category will include books from the 2023 Tournament of Books, held in March.

1. Mouth to Mouth by Antoine Wilson (Jan. 10)
2. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (Jan. 12)
3. Babel by R. F. Kuang (Jan. 19)
4. My Volcano by John Elizabeth Stintzi (Feb. 6)
5. Dinosaurs by Lydia Millet (Feb. 12)
6. The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb (Feb. 14)
7. An Island by Karen Jennings (Feb. 22)
8. Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley (Feb. 26)
9. The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty (Mar. 12)

Category 2: The Evergreen and other Canadian Awards



This category will include nominees for the 2023 Evergreen Award, given by the Ontario Library Association. The nominees are announced in February. This category will also include nominees for other 2023 Canadian literary awards.

1. Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton (Jan. 30)
2. Cobalt: Cradle of the Demon Metals, Birth of a Mining Superpower by Charlie Angus (Mar. 28)
3. Valley of the Birdtail by Andrew Stobo Sniderman and Douglas Sanderson (Amo Binashii) (Apr. 27)
4. Her First Palestinian by Saeed Teebi (July 9)
5. A Convergence of Solitudes by Anita Anand (Oct. 12)
6. Girlfriend on Mars by Deborah Willis (Dec. 7)

Category 3: 1001 Books



These are books listed in Peter Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.

1. War with the Newts by Karel Čapek (Jan. 11)
2. Decline and Fall by Evelyn Waugh (Feb. 28)
3. Fifth Business by Robertson Davies (Mar. 20)
4. Thank You, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse (June 30)
5. Passage to India by E. M. Forster (Sept. 27)

Category 4: The Hugo and Aurora Awards



This category will include nominees for the 2023 Hugo and Aurora science fiction and fantasy awards. This year, I will again rejoin as a voting member for both awards and read from the voter packets.

1. High Times in Low Parliament by Kelley Robson (May 14)
2. Even Though I Knew the End by C. L. Polk (May 20)
3. Ghostlight by Kenneth Oppel (May 30)
4. Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao (June 9)
5. The Jade Setter of Janloon by Fonda Lee (June 16)
6. The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (June 22)
7. All the Seas of the World by Guy Gavriel Kay (July 19)
8. The Hollow Boys by Douglas Smith (July 20)
9. Birds of Maine by Michael DeForge (July 22)
10. Nettle and Bone by T. Kingfisher (August 2)
11. Dune: the Official Movie Graphic Novel by Lilah Sturges (Aug. 10)
12. Cyberpunk 2077: Big City Dreams by Bartosz Sztybor (Aug. 11)
13. Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett (Aug. 12)
14. Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir (Aug. 15)
15. The Void Ascendent by Premee Mohamed (Aug. 22)
16. A Mirror Mended by Alix E. Harrow (Aug. 24)
17. Into the Riverlands by Nghi Vo (Aug. 28)
18. Monstress, Volume 7 by Marjorie M. Liu (Aug. 29)
19. Ogres by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Aug. 30)
20. Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow by Tom King (Sept. 9)
21. Saga, Volume 10 by Brian K. Vaughan (Sept. 14)
22. Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Sept. 16)
23. In the Serpent's Wake by Rachel Hartman (Sept. 21)

Category 5: Historical Fiction



1. The Body Under the Piano by Marthe Jocelyn (Mar. 25)
2. Arthur, King of the Middle March by Kevin Crossley-Holland (Apr. 6)
3. Flight of the Heron by D. K. Broster (Apr. 29)
4. Captain Alatriste by Arturo Pérez-Reverte (Nov. 12)
5. The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafón (Nov. 25)
6. Peril at Owl Park by Marthe Jocelyn (Dec. 20)

Category 6: Doorstoppers



This category is for BIG books (over 500 pages).

1. Middlemarch by George Eliot (Mar. 26)
2. It by Stephen King (June 15)
3. The Embroidered Book by Kate Heartfield (Aug. 20)
4. Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray (Sept. 5)
5. Reaper's Gale by Steven Erikson (Nov. 26)
6. N0S4A2 by Joe Hill (Dec. 15)

Category 7: Continue the Series



I'm hoping this year's SeriesCAT will help me make progress on all those series I want to return to!

1. A World of Curiosities by Louise Penny (Jan. 8)
2. Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie (Jan. 25)
3. Chimes at Midnight by Seanan McGuire (Feb. 18)
4. Full of Briars by Seanan McGuire (Feb. 19)
5. Cetaganda by Lois McMaster Bujold (Mar. 4)
6. Where the Drowned Girls Go by Seanan McGuire (Mar. 19)
7. The Winter Long by Seanan McGuire (Mar. 19)
8. Lost in the Moment and Found by Seanan McGuire (Apr. 20)
9. A Red-Rose Chain by Seanan McGuire (Apr. 23)
10. The Final Trial by Kelley Armstrong (Apr. 23)
11. Major League Chew by John Layman (Apr. 26)
12. Once Broken Faith by Seanan McGuire (May 22)
13. The Brightest Fell by Seanan McGuire (June 30)
14. Feet of Clay by Terry Pratchett (July 23)
15. Borders of Infinity by Lois McMaster Bujold (Aug. 5)
16. Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch (Aug. 19)
17. Night and Silence by Seanan McGuire (Sept. 3)
18. For the Sake of Elena by Elizabeth George (Sept. 28)
19. Dreams and Slumbers by Seanan McGuire (Oct. 2)
20. Brothers in Arms by Lois McMaster Bujold (Oct. 5)
21. Stitches and Witches by Nancy Warren (Oct. 11)
22. Small Favor by Jim Butcher (Oct. 15)
23. A Murder is Announced by Agatha Christie (Oct. 19)
24. The Unkindest Tide by Seanan McGuire (Oct. 20)
25. Third Girl by Agatha Christie (Oct. 21)
26. Crochet and Cauldrons by Nancy Warren (Oct. 24)
27. World of Wonders by Robertson Davies (Nov. 17)
28. 4:50 From Paddington by Agatha Christie (Nov. 22)
29. Stockings and Spells by Nancy Warren (Dec. 4)
30. The Hidden Staircase by Carolyn Keene (Dec. 16)
31. We Wish You a Murderous Christmas by Vicki Delany (Dec. 23)
32. Of Things Unknown by Seanan McGuire (Dec. 27)

Category 8: BookCrossing



I signed up for a "Favourite Books of 2022" roundabout on BookCrossing, with 12 other BookCrossers. We'll be mailing the books along to one another throughout the year. This category also includes other books I release on BookCrossing.

1. Broken Glass by Alain Mabanckou (Jan. 24)
2. The Help by Kathryn Stockett (Feb. 7)
3. The Invisible Child and the Fir Tree: Two Moomin Stories by Tove Jansson (Feb. 16)
4. Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy (Mar. 11)
5. The North Water by Ian McGuire (Mar. 20)
6. Winter Flowers by Angélique Villeneuve (Apr. 10)
7. Yolk by Mary H. K. Choi (May 3)
8. Anxious People by Fredrik Backman (May 11)
9. The Secret Life of Cows by Rosamund Young (Sept. 19)
10. In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado (Dec. 2)

Category 9: Around the World



This category is for books I read for the GeoCAT, as well as books related to any travelling I'll be doing over the year.

1. Murder at the Mena House by Erica Ruth Neubauer by Egypt (Feb. 8)
2. The Absent One by Jussi Alder-Olsen by Denmark (Feb. 19)
3. Colour Scheme by Ngaio Marsh by New Zealand (Mar. 27)
4. The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enriquez - Argentina (Apr. 4)
5. The Falls by Ian Rankin - Scotland (Apr. 9)
6. City of the Lost by Kelley Armstrong - Canada / Polar Regions (May 6)
7. Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff - India (June 5)
8. Thirty-Three Teeth by Colin Cotterill (June 19)
9. Wife of the Gods by Kwei Quartey - Ghana (Sept. 11)
10. The Spook in the Stacks by Eva Gates - US (Oct. 3)
11. Malice by Keigo Higashino - Japan (Oct. 17)
12. Deadly Web by Barbara Nadel - Turkey (Oct. 23)
13. In Diamond Square by Merce Rodoreda - Spain (Oct. 29)
14. A Small Death in Lisbon by Robert Wilson - Portugal (Dec. 29)

Category 10: Books in French

  

I'm continuing my attempts to improve my reading proficiency in French.

1. Astérix chez les Bretons by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo (Feb. 5)
2. Le Chien Jaune by Georges Simenon (Mar. 26)
3. L'Etoile Mysterieuse by Hergé (May 31)
4. Une jeune femme en guerre, Tome 2 by Maryse Rouy (June 27)
5. La nuit du carrefour by Georges Simenon (Sept. 18)
6. Astérix en Hispanie by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo (Sept. 29)

Category 11: Nonfiction



1. Breathless by David Quammen (Feb. 9)
2. Macabre Montreal by Mark Leslie and Shayna Krishnasamy (Mar. 3)
3. We Were Dreamers by Simu Liu (Apr. 3)
4. Bad Blood by John Carreyrou (May 13)
5. The Conquering Family by Thomas B. Costain (Dec. 10)
6. Let's Make Dumplings by Hugh Amano and Sarah Becan (Dec. 12)

Category 12: Miscellaneous

All books that don't fit in the other categories get listed here!

1. Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi (Jan. 5)
2. Station Eternity by Mur Lafferty (Jan. 22)
3. Man of Bronze by Kenneth Robeson (Jan. 27)
4. Clothes Pegs by Noel Streatfeild (Jan. 28)
5. Emily of New Moon by L. M. Montgomery (Jan. 29)
6. The Secret of Terror Castle by Robert Arthur (Feb. 12)
7. Whose Body by Dorothy Sayers (Feb. 27)
8. Death of Jezebel by Christianna Brand (Mar. 26)
9. Wine of Honour by Barbara Beauchamp (Mar. 29)
10. The Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey (Apr. 9)
11. The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older (Apr. 11)
12. What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher (Apr. 13)
13. Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte (Apr. 24)
14. Nancy's Mysterious Letter by Carolyn Keene (May 10)
15. Lattes and Legends by Travis Baldree (May 17)
16. Yoked with a Lamb by Molly Clavering (May 21)
17. Fear and Miss Betony by Dorothy Bowers (May 28)
18. The House on the Cerulean Sea by T. J. Klune (June 14)
19. The Manticore by Robertson Davies (June 17)
20. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides (July 3)
21. A Big Ship at the Edge of the Universe by Alex White (July 13)
22. Malice Aforethought by Frances Iles (July 14)
23. UNSUB by Meg Gardiner (July 24)
24. Fell Murder by E. C. R Lorac (July 29)
25. Watson's Choice by Gladys Mitchell (Aug. 25)
26. A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore (Sept. 13)
27. The Turquoise Shop by Frances Crane (Sept. 24)
28. All Done by Kindness by Doris Langley Moore (Sept. 30)
29. Escape to Witch Mountain by Alexander Key (Oct. 1)
30. Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell (Oct. 5)
31. Yellowface by R. F. Kuang (Oct. 5)
32. The Witches' Vacuum Cleaner by Terry Pratchett (Oct. 10)
33. Small Town, Big Magic by Hazel Beck (Oct. 13)
34. Mulengro by Charles de Lint (Oct. 13)
35. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Vol. 1: High School is Hell by Jordie Bellaire (Oct. 18)
36. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Vol. 2: Once Bitten by Jordie Bellaire (Oct. 19)
37. The People in the Castle by Joan Aiken (Oct. 21)
38. The Capture by Kathryn Lasky (Oct. 22)
39. Scarewaves by Trevor Henderson (Oct. 25)
40. Rolling in the Deep by Seanan McGuire (Oct. 26)
41. Miss Carter and the Ifrit by Susan Alice Kerby (Oct. 27)
42. Heads You Lose by Christianna Brand (Oct. 28)
43. A Version of the Truth by B. P. Walter (Oct. 30)
44. The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz (Nov. 19)
45. Babbacombe's by Susan Scarlett (Nov. 21)
46. The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester (Nov. 28)
47. A Man and His Cat, Volume 1 by Umi Sakurai (Dec. 8)
48. Crimson Snow edited by Martin Edward (Dec. 14)
49. Starter Villain by John Scalzi (Dec. 18)
50. An English Murder by Cyril Hare (Dec. 24)
51. The Maid by Nita Prose (Dec. 30)

GeoCAT

• ✔ January -- Central and Eastern Europe: War with the Newts by Karel Čapek
  
• ✔ February -- A place you would like to visit: Murder at the Mena House by Erica Ruth Neubauer
  
• ✔ March -- Australia & New Zealand: Colour Scheme by Ngaio Marsh
  
• ✔ April -- South America, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean: The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enriquez
  
• ✔ May -- Polar regions, islands, bodies of water: City of the Lost by Kelley Armstrong
  
• ✔ June -- South Asia and South East Asia: Thirty-Three Teeth by Colin Cotterill
  
• ✔ July -- Western Europe: The Embroidered Book by Kate Heartfield
  
• ✔ August -- Central and Western Asia: Deadly Web by Barbara Nadel
  
• ✔ September -- Africa: Wife of the Gods by Kwei Quartey
  
• ✔ October -- Canada and US: The Spook in the Stacks by Eva Gates
  
• ✔ November -- East Asia: A Man and His Cat by Umi Sakurai
  
• ✔ December -- Books you didn't get around to reading in the earlier months: A Small Death in Lisbon by Robert Wilson
  

ClassicsCAT

• ✔ January -- Adventure Classics: The Man of Bronze by Kenneth Robeson
  
• ✔ February -- Before 1900: Middlemarch by George Eliot
  
• ✔ March -- Classics Adapted to Movies and TV: The Yellow Dog by Georges Simenon
  
• ✔ April -- Classic Mysteries: The Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey
  
• ✔ May -- Children's Classics: The Shooting Star by Hergé
  
• ✔ June -- Humour: Thank You, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse
  
• ✔ July -- A Classic You Always Wanted to Read: Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray
  
• ✔ August -- Classics in Translation: In Diamond Square by Mercè Rodoreda
  
• ✔ September -- Non-fiction Classics: The Conquering Family by Thomas B. Costain
  
• ✔ October -- Classics by Women: Miss Carter and the Ifrit by Susan Alice Kerby
  
• November -- The Ancient World
  
• December -- Re-read a Classic
  

SeriesCAT

• ✔ January -- A series that is new to you: Emily of New Moon by L.M. Montgomery
  
• ✔ February -- A series in translation: The Absent One by Jussi Adler-Olsen
  
• ✔ March -- YA/children: Arthur: King of the Middle March by Kevin Crossley-Holland
  
• ✔ April -- A series that you don't need to read in order: The Falls by Ian Rankin
  
• ✔ May -- Trilogies: The Manticore by Robertson Davies
  
• ✔ June -- Series by a favorite author: The Brightest Fell by Seanan McGuire
  
• ✔ July -- Nonfiction series: Let's Make Dumplings by Hugh Amano and Sarah Becan
  
• ✔ August -- A series you have been meaning to get back to: Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch
  
• ✔ September -- A series that began more than 50 years ago: Night at the Crossroads by Georges Simenon
  
• ✔ October -- Asian setting: Malice by Keigo Higashino
  
• ✔ November -- Historical series: Captain Alatriste by Arturo Pérez-Reverte
  
• ✔ December -- Set in a country/region where you do not live: Stockings and Spells by Nancy Warren
  

KiddyCAT

• ✔ January -- picture books/graphic novels: Asterix in Britain by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo
  
• ✔ February -- mystery: The Secret of Terror Castle by Robert Arthur
  
• ✔ March -- YA historical fiction: The Body Under the Piano by Marthe Jocelyn
  
• ✔ April -- fantasy for middle grade/YA: The Final Trial by Kelley Armstrong
  
• ✔ May -- children/YA classics: Nancy's Mysterious Letter by Carolyn Keene
  
• ✔ June -- animals as main character: Freddy Goes to Florida by Walter R. Brooks
  
• July -- arts and crafts
  
• ✔ August -- kids/YA series: The Capture by Kathryn Lasky
  
• September -- history/ biography
  
• ✔ October -- siblings: Escape to Witch Mountain by Alexander Key
  
• November -- fairy tales/myths/legends
  
• December -- holiday stories
  

Historical Fiction Challenge

1. ✔ Read a work of historical fiction set in the country you’re from: A Convergence of Solitudes by Anita Anand
   
2. ✔ Read a work of historical fiction set in a different country to the one you’re from: Murder at the Mena House by Erica Ruth Neubauer
   
3. Read a work of historical fiction set in your favourite historical time period to read about
   
4. ✔ Read a work of historical fiction set in a time period you’ll less familiar with: The Help by Kathryn Stockett
   
5. ✔ Read a work of historical fiction with a speculative element: Babel by R. F. Kuang
   
6. ✔ Read a work of historical fiction about a real historical figure or a specific historical event: The Flight of the Heron by D. K. Broster
   
7. Read a classic work of historical fiction
   
8. ✔ Bonus: Read a work of historical fiction of over 500 pages: The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
   

Welcome to part 2 of my category challenge. I am quite far behind in my reviews, but I'll work on catching up!

101. Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir (4.5 stars)
Category: Hugo/Aurora

I loved this third book in The Locked Tomb series, though I'm not sure I understood everything that happened, as the various storylines are very confusing, but in a fascinating way. At this point, I'm not absolutely certain who's alive, who's dead, and who's in whose body, but I am looking forward to reading the 4th book to find out!

This novel and the series got 2023 Hugo Award nominations.

By the way, the first half of the book felt a bit like Anne of Green Gables with necromancers. Nona even has braids on the cover!

102. Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics, Grades K-12: 14 Practices for Enhancing Learning by Peter Liljedahl (5 stars)
Category: Nonfiction (Aug. 17)

I first heard about this book when I attended a mathematics conference at which Peter Liljedahl was one of the keynote speakers. I discovered that there is a large and growing number of math teachers who have started adopting his ideas.

Liljedahl gives practical tips on how to arrange the classroom, how to organize groups for collaborative work, how to set tasks, etc., in order to make students think rather than just memorize what they've been taught.

I highly recommend this book if you're a math teacher or just interested in math education. I'm not a math teacher myself, but I work on developing software for math education. Some of my acquaintances who are math teachers have been trying to implement the ideas. In theory, it's relatively easy to do, but in practice, teachers have far too few resources and too little time, and there's a lot of resistance to change. At least it seems to be like that here in Ontario. Still, my teacher friends are trying to persevere!

103. The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal (3.5 stars)
Category: Hugo/Aurora

I really wanted to like this book, which was nominated for the 2023 Hugo Best Novel award. It's a futuristic take on Dashiell's Nick and Nora characters. Usually, I love sci-fi/mystery combos, and I've liked several of Kowal's other books. However, I didn't care for any of the characters, except maybe the main character's dog. The tone and the dialogue were too cutesy for my taste. However, I did like the science-fiction ideas concerning space travel, and that too, is what I've liked best about Kowal's books, especially those in the Lady Astronaut series.

104. Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch (4 stars)
Category: Continue the Series

I finally got back to the Peter Grant series after a long hiatus, and rediscovering why I had liked it so much. It's excellent urban fantasy mixed with police procedural, set in modern-day London. I enjoyed learning a bit more about the Elephant & Castle area of London.

105. The Embroidered Book by Kate Heartfield (5 stars)
Category: Doorstoppers

I was thrilled that this novel won the 2023 Aurora (Canadian sci-fi and fantasy) Best Novel award. It's a historical fantasy novel that explores the lives of Marie Antoinette and her sister Charlotte, Queen of Naples and Sicily. This novel mostly follows the real events surrounding these two regents, but imagines that they have the ability to cast magical spells. In Heartfield's story, this ability explains the motivations behind their actions. I've read several of Kate Heartfield's novels earlier and I loved them all.

106. The Void Ascendant by Premee Mohamed (3 stars)
Category: Hugo/Aurora

I'd read this novel, the third book in Mohamed's cosmic-horror trilogy, only because it had been nominated for the 2023 Aurora Best Novel award, and I had read all the other nominees. After reading the weak second book, I had been reluctant to continue the series. I liked this one a little better than the second book but still felt no connection to any of the characters.

This series wasn't for me, but I'm not giving up on the author, as she has written other stories that I've enjoyed.

107. A Mirror Mended by Alix E. Harrow (3.5 stars)
Category: Hugo/Aurora

This retelling of the Snow White story has been nominated for 2023 Hugo Best Novella award. I didn't enjoy it as much as the first book in the series, A Spindle Splintered, which was a modern take on the Sleeping Beauty story. A Mirror Mended was enjoyable and had a lot of humour, but I've been reading too many fairy-tale retellings lately and getting a little tired of them.

108. Watson’s Choice by Gladys Mitchell (3.5 stars)
Category: Miscellaneous (Aug. 25)

This was my first book by Gladys Mitchell. I hadn't realized she was such a prolific Golden Age mystery writer. The plot, which involves a Sherlock Holmes themed scavenger hunt in a mansion, was not all that exciting and the pace was quite slow, but overall, I enjoyed the characters enough that I'd be happy to read more in the series. The Sherlock Holmes references are fun if you're a fan.

109. Into the Riverlands by Nghi Vo (4 stars)
Category: Hugo/Aurora

Beautifully written, this nominee for the 2023 Hugo Best Novella award is a historical fantasy story in an Asian setting, the third in the Singing Hills Cycle. With a great cast of characters, this story is made up of a sequence of smaller stories and explores the idea of storytelling.

110. Monstress, Volume 7 by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda (4 stars)
Category: Hugo/Aurora

Monstress is an amazing series because of its gorgeous artwork and complex storylines. Indeed, the story is so complex that I really need to reread it from the beginning. I had more than a few moments of confusion working through this 7th volume, which was nominated for the 2023 Hugo Best Graphic Story award. There are a good number of flashbacks to the past, revealing more of the main characters' backstories.

111. Ogres by Adrian Tchaikovsky (5 stars)
Category: Hugo/Aurora

This book was nominated for the 2023 Hugo Best Novella award, and it got my top vote among the 6 nominees. It seems at first a fairy-tale-like fantasy novel but turns out to be quite different, as secrets about the world are slowly revealed to both the protagonist and reader. It's also told in an unusual second-person voice.

>16 mathgirl40: I haven't tried Gladys Mitchell yet, but I'm always on the hunt for good Golden Age mystery writers!

>16 mathgirl40: I've read lots of Gladys Mitchell's books, some of them so long ago that I've probably forgotten enough to read them again. Tom Brown's Body is a good one.

>20 christina_reads: I'm discovering a lot of new Golden Age mystery writers through a group read on Litsy. I hadn't realized there were so many prolific ones that I was totally unaware of until now!

>21 pamelad: Thanks for the recommendation! My library only has a few of Gladys Mitchell's books, but Tom Brown's Body is one of them, so I've added it to my wishlist.

112. Night and Silence by Seanan McGuire (4 stars)
Category: Continue the Series

In this 12th book from the excellent Hugo-nominated October Daye series, Toby is again searching for a missing child, but this time, it's her own estranged daughter. This installment from the series weaves in characters and storylines from the past, so it's great for fans of the series but probably wouldn't work so well as a standalone for anyone new to it.

113. Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray (5 stars)
Category: Doorstoppers

I'd been wanting to read this classic for a long time and I'm glad I finally got around to it. It surprised me that I ended up liking it so much, and I can see doing a reread one day. At first, all the characters seemed to me unpleasant and pitiable, but they eventually grew on me, even the villainous ones, and Thackeray was good at making the reader see the situation from their points of view.

114. Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow by Tom King and Bilquis Evely (5 stars)
Category: Hugo/Aurora

I loved this version of Supergirl's story from Tom King, and I adored the gorgeous artwork by Bilquis Evely. In this Hugo-nominated work, the story is told from the point-of-view of a girl who seeks Supergirl's help in avenging the murder of her father.

115. Wife of the Gods by Kwei Quartey (4.5 stars)
Category: Around the World (Ghana)

I'd read this first book of the Inspector Darko Dawson, set in Ghana, for September's GeoCAT. I liked the characters, as well as the contrast between the big city and the village, in this well plotted murder mystery. I'm definitely planning to read more in this series.

116. A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore (3 stars)
Category: Miscellaneous

In this fantasy novel, ordinary and mild-mannered Charlie Asher reluctantly takes on the role of Death Merchant. I liked how the author explored the themes of loss and grieving. However, the humour, ranging from merely juvenile to mildly offensive, didn't appeal to me much.

117. Saga, Volume 10 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples (4 stars)
Category: Hugo/Aurora

It's been a long time since the previous volume of this excellent space-opera series. This one feels a little bit different, but it still offers a good story with some really emotional moments.

118. Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky (5 stars)
Category: Hugo/Aurora

This is the 1st book of the Children of Time series, nominated for the 2023 Hugo Best Series award. It featured some of my favourite SF themes: a generation ship, AI and other advanced technologies, survival in deep space and an alien world. I also never thought I'd empathize with giant spiders as characters.

119. Night at the Crossroads by Georges Simenon (3.5 stars)
Category: Books in French (Sept. 18)

This was a good but not great installment in the Inspector Maigret series. It was interesting to compare to a couple of film adaptations I've seen of this novel. I had read this in the original French so might have missed some subtleties.

120. The Secret Life of Cows by Rosamund Young (3 stars)
Category: BookCrossing

This is a book that was sent to me via a BookCrossing group and is all above the behaviours of cows, as the title suggests. I didn't especially care for the anecdotal style and seemingly random organization of the author's thoughts. However, the stories were charming and they made me think back fondly to my visit to the Cotswolds last year, which is not far from the farm's location.

121. In the Serpent's Wake by Rachel Hartman (5 stars)
Category: Hugo/Aurora

I absolutely loved this YA fantasy story, as I have all the other books in Hartman's Southlands series that started with Seraphina. It features a well-paced plot that explores many interesting themes including colonialism, and there are dragons! The audiobook was beautifully narrated by Katharine Lee McEwan.

This is one of this year's nominees for the Lodestar award (YA version of the Hugo award) and I'm eagerly awaiting the announcement of the winners this coming weekend.

>31 mathgirl40: I've seen this one a few times in our local Waterstones, and thought about picking it up, although I haven't yet. Maybe I should try the library.

>33 Jackie_K: It makes a nice light read. I didn't care for the style myself but others have given it good reviews.

I've been busy with work and travel the past month and am way behind in my reviews (still working on books I'd read in September)! I'll try to catch up with some short reviews here.



122. The Turquoise Shop by Frances Crane (3.5 stars)
Category: Miscellaneous

Published in 1941, this is the first book in the Pat and Jean Abbott series, a mystery series set in New Mexico. I felt lukewarm about the characters and plot but did enjoy reading an American cozy mystery from this time period, as I'm mostly familiar with British Golden Age mysteries.

123. A Passage to India by E. M. Forster (4.5 stars)
Category: 1001 Books

This was a reread for me. I've always loved Forster's writing. This story, about an Indian man accused of assaulting an English woman, has keen observations about colonialism, racism and sexism that sadly still seem very relevant today.

124. For the Sake of Elena by Elizabeth George (4 stars)
Category: Next in the Series

Set at Cambridge University, this installment of the Lynley and Havers series has the two detectives investigate the murder of a deaf student. I liked the plot, with its red herrings, as well as the interplay between Lynley and Havers, who come from very different social backgrounds.

125. Astérix en Hispanie by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo (3.5 stars)
Category: Books in French

I decided to read this before my vacation in Spain. Asterix is always fun, but this one isn't among my favourites from the series. In this installment, Asterix and Obelix travel to Spain to return a feisty and mischievous boy, taken hostage by the Romans, to his family.

126. All Done By Kindness by Doris Langley Moore (4.5 stars)
Category: Miscellaneous

This is a charming and fun story, reprinted by Furrowed Middlebrow Books, originally published in 1951. In it, a woman from a genteel but impoverished family pits her wits against a wealthy and conniving art dealer and also finds romance along the way.

>36 mathgirl40: That's a Forster I haven't read yet, and have it here on my TBR. I've read Where Angels Fear to Tread, A Room with a View and Howards End, which is my favorite.

Forster will be the featured author in the 75ers British Author Challenge for December. If you get a chance, stop by in December and add your thoughts there. I'll probably be reading a volume of his short stories and some non-fiction, either Two Cheers for Democracy or Aspects of the Novel.

>39 mathgirl40: I love Furrowed Middlebrow; that one is new to me. I picked up a Furrowed Middlebrow D. E. Stevenson title (Music in the Hills) at a library sale recently and felt like I won the lottery!

>40 kac522: Howards End is also my favourite of the Forsters I've read! Thanks for the pointer to the group read.

Lucky you, to have found a Furrowed Middlebrow title in print! I've not come across any myself and I've been purchasing them as e-books instead.

127. Escape to Witch Mountain by Alexander Key (4 stars)
Category: Miscellaneous

This was a reread of a book that I loved as a child, about two siblings who are on the run from those who would exploit their unusual powers. I still have my copy of the book from over 4 decades ago! It seems that most people know about this book through the movie, which I really should watch one day.

128. Dreams and Slumbers by Seanan McGuire (3.5 stars)
Category: Continue the Series

This novella in the October Daye series is a side story about Arden Windermere that follows the 10th book. I enjoyed it, as I have all the books in this excellent series, but the plot was slow and there were no interesting revelations about the characters.

129. The Spook in the Stacks by Eva Gates (4 stars)
Category: Around the World (USA)

A Hallowe'en themed cozy mystery set in a library that's inside a lighthouse with a resident cat. The setting couldn't be better! I was also happy to discover that the author Eva Gates is a pseudonym of Vicki Delany, whose other series I've enjoyed.

130. Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks (5 stars)
Category: Miscellaneous

This is a charming and heartwarming YA graphic story about the friendship between two teenagers working at an autumn fair on Hallowe'en night! I'd read this in October and it was a perfect choice, as it showcases all the best things of the season.

131. Brothers in Arms by Lois McMaster Bujold (4 stars)
Category: Continue the Series

This was a reread for me, of a really fun installment in the Vorkosigan Saga, where Miles tries to juggle his two identities with a surprising third one coming into play. This time around, I listened to the audiobook, superbly narrated by Grover Gardner.

132. Yellowface by R. F. Kuang (5 stars)
Category: Miscellaneous

This is a disturbing, tense, sharply satirical and occasionally hilariously funny story about writing, the publishing industry and cultural appropriation. I didn't love this one quite as much as Babel (one of my favourite books from this past year) but it's a 5-star read anyway. I can't wait to see what R. F. Kuang tackles next.

133. The Witches' Vacuum Cleaner by Terry Pratchett (3.5 stars)
Category: Miscellaneous

This is a collection of Terry Pratchett's stories that he'd written as a teenager, some of which were slightly reworked. I missed the more sophisticated satire of the Discworld books, but I think these stories would be very enjoyable for a younger audience. The hilarious illustrations were the best part.

>44 mathgirl40: Oh my, lighthouses and books and libraries all together - I am sold! Unfortunately I checked KU and it is not available and libraries in Australia hardly ever stock cosy mysteries. I seriously need a book buying trip to the US!

>49 JayneCM: Yes, it's a great combination, isn't it? I hope you manage to find the book, but if you don't, book buying seems like the very best excuse for a trip. :)

134. Stitches and Witches by Nancy Warren (4 stars)
Category: Continue the Series

A man is murdered in a teashop and Lucy, witch and owner of the knitting shop next door, looks for the killer, aided by her knitting vampire friends.

I'm really enjoying this series and love the Oxford setting. I had the pleasure of visiting the city again just a few weeks ago. I arrived the day after Hallowe'en and so missed seeing any vampires and witches, though judging from this book, there are scores of them in Oxford. :)

>51 mathgirl40: I am enjoying this series as well. But how wonderful to actually be able to go to Oxford!

>52 JayneCM: Oxford is indeed a wonderful place to visit. We went this time for my daughter's graduation. It amazes me how many books are set in that city, from classics to vampire stories!

135. A Convergence of Solitudes by Anita Anand (3 stars)
Category: Evergreen

This historical fiction book set in Montreal, covering the 60's through the 90's, has as main characters a family of Indian immigrants and the family of a Quebecois separatist musician. Having grown up there in the 70's and 80's, I enjoyed the historical references but didn't especially care for the characters or the somewhat rambling plot.

136. Small Town, Big Magic by Hazel Beck (3.5 stars)
Category: Miscellaneous

This book, about a small business owner discovering her witchy roots, was a lot of fun, with interesting characters, humour and some romance. It was a nice cozy read but otherwise not so memorable.

137. Mulengro by Charles de Lint (4.5 stars)
Category: Miscellaneous

This supernatural thriller, published in 1985, from one of my favourite authors is about the hunt for a serial killer preying on the Romani community in Ottawa, Canada.

Charles de Lint is known mostly for his beautifully written urban fantasy, such as the Newford series, but I think he does horror really well too. Some of his horror books have been published under pseudonym Samuel M. Key.

138. Small Favor by Jim Butcher (4 stars)
Category: Continue the Series

This is a solid installment in the Harry Dresden series, but not among my favourites. I found the plot rather slow and plodding but there is much more concerning the relationships Harry has with his allies and enemies. It's a good read for fans of the series but weak as a standalone novel.

139. Malice by Keigo Higashino (4.5 stars)
Category: Around the World (Japan)

I love this cleverly constructed murder mystery by Japanese author Keigo Higashino. The story delves into the complicated motives that led to the murder and it's this aspect that kept my attention throughout.

I have to thank charl08 for the BB! I'm definitely planning to read more from this author.

 

140. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Vol. 1: High School is Hell by Jordie Bellaire (3.5 stars)
141. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Vol. 2: Once Bitten by Jordie Bellaire (3 stars)
Category: Miscellaneous

I'm still catching up on my Hallowe'en reads. I felt nostalgic for Buffy and so decided to read volume 1 of this graphic novel series. I enjoyed it but it ends on a cliffhanger so I had to immediately borrow the next volume from the library.

Different artists were used to illustrate the two volumes, which was a little bothersome, especially since I liked the volume 1 artwork much better. These graphic novels were OK in terms of story but no substitute for the TV series.

142. A Murder is Announced by Agatha Christie (4 stars)
Category: Continue the Series

I enjoyed my reread of this classic Agatha Christie novel in which a murder is announced in a village newspaper. Of course, everyone in the village shows up to the party and a murder occurs, but in the end, Miss Marple outwits the killer.

143. The Unkindest Tide by Seanan McGuire (4 stars)
Category: Continue the Series

This is another solid installment of the October Daye series which features Toby in the company of the Luidaeg and Selkies again. The 13th book in this long-running series, it's definitely a worthwhile read for fans but newcomers to the series would probably not appreciate this one without reading some of the earlier novels first.

144. Third Girl by Agatha Christie (3.5 stars)
Category: Continue the Series

This Hercule Poirot mystery, about a young woman who claims to have committed a murder and then goes missing, is not among my favourite Agatha Christie works, but it does have some very surprising twists. Also, it features Ariadne Oliver, a character that I always enjoy seeing in the Poirot stories.

145. The People in the Castle by Joan Aiken (4.5 stars)
Category: Miscellaneous

I had never read anything by John Aiken but this collection of stories was chosen for a local book club that I participate in. Most of the stories drew me in right away. Some are spooky, some are creepy and some are heartwarming, but all of them are exceedingly imaginative.

146.The Capture by Kathryn Lasky (4 stars)
Category: Miscellaneous

I never expected that a story about owls could be so captivating. l liked the distinct personalities of the various characters and the fast-paced plot. However, it's much darker than I'd have expected for a children's book.

I understand there's a popular film adaptation of the series but I've not seen it yet.

147. Deadly Web by Barbara Nadel (3 stars)
Category: Around the World

This novel is part of the Inspector Ikmen mystery series set in Turkey. I really enjoyed the Istanbul setting and learning more about the diverse groups of people that inhabit the city. However, I didn't find the story plausible and I didn't care for the graphic violence.

148. Crochet and Cauldrons by Nancy Warren (4 stars)
Category: Continue the Series

This third book in the Vampire Knitting Club series has the usual vampires, witches and knitters but also has a mystery involving Ancient Egyptian elements. I'd read this right before making another trip to Oxford for my daughter's graduation and it was nice to revisit some of the locations, both while reading and in actual life.

149. Scarewaves by Trevor Henderson (4 stars)
Category: Miscellaneous

This is a fun and spooky middle-school horror story about a group of friends who see monsters that the adults are unable to see. The story has a Stranger Things feel to it, and I highly recommend listening to the audiobook and the extra sound effects add to the spookiness.

150. Rolling in the Deep by Seanan McGuire (4.5 stars)
Category: Miscellaneous

Seanan McGuire is well known in the urban fantasy world for her novels in that genre, but I like the horror fiction she writes as Mira Grant just as much. This novella is about an expedition, made up of scientists, TV producers and actors, looking for mermaids in the depths for the sea. What they find is nothing like Disney's mermaids!

160. Miss Carter and the Ifrit by Susan Alice Kerby (4.5 stars)
Category: Miscellaneous

This is another book from the Furrowed Middlebrow line of Dean Street Press, which has brought attention to forgotten women writers of the early-to-mid 20th century.

In this story, a middle-age woman living a rather dull life in London during WWII meets and gains the devotion of an ifrit, a supernatural creature who wishes only to fulfill all her desires. Naturally, the scope of her world changes and the resulting story is humourous and charming.

I have just caught up with your reading and have been hit many times with BBs.

>70 VivienneR: That's only fair, as I've gotten so many from you! :)

161. Heads You Lose by Christianna Brand (3.5 stars)
Category: Miscellaneous

I was introduced to Christianna Brand earlier this year. This is the first book in the series and is a fun take on the country-house mystery, if a little gorier than the typical Golden Age stories. I didn't like it as much as the other one I'd read, Death of Jezebel, but I'm still eager to read more from the Inspector Cockrill series.

162. In Diamond Square by Mercè Rodoreda (4 stars)
Category: Around the World (Spain)

This is a beautifully written book about one woman's life in Barcelona during the Spanish Civil War, though it is quite slow paced at the beginning.

My daughter found this Virago Modern Classics edition for me last year, and I finished it right before our family vacation to Barcelona in November. Unfortunately, as our visit was short, I didn't get a chance to visit the Plaça del Diamant, where the book is set, but I hope to revisit Barcelona again one day.

163. A Version of the Truth by B. P. Walter (3 stars)
Category: Miscellaneous

As a dark academia thriller set in Oxford, this story wasn't too bad. However, it was a little too disturbing and graphic for my tastes.

>72 mathgirl40: Green for Danger is a good one.

>75 pamelad: I second the rec of Green for Danger.

>75 pamelad: >76 rabbitprincess: Thank you for the recommendation! I see that my library has Green for Danger and I've added it to the wishlist.

164. The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene (4 stars)
Category: Miscellaneous

A group on Litsy is planning to read all the Nancy Drew books, one per month. I was feeling nostalgic and thought it would be fun to reread a few of the first ones. When I was young, I adored the Nancy Drew series, as well as the TV adaptation with Pamela Sue Martin. I enjoyed this first book but we'll see how far I get before I start tiring of them!

165. Captain Alatriste by Arturo Pérez-Reverte (4 stars)
Category: Historical Fiction

I decided to read this historical fiction novel set in 1623 Madrid while I was visiting the city on my recent vacation. It's about the adventures of a swordsman for hire, told from the point-of-view of his young protege, and real-life historical figures play prominent roles in the story. I enjoyed this fast-paced swashbuckling adventure, filled with interesting historical details and likable characters, and I'm planning to read the sequels.

166. World of Wonders by Robertson Davies (4.5 stars)
Category: Continue the Series

Our book club at work chose to read The Deptford Trilogy this past year and we recently had our discussion about this final book. I'd read all the books before, with a fairly lengthy period of time between each one. While each works fine as a standalone book, reading them together in a relatively short time period made me appreciate how Davies deftly reveals the larger story from three different points-of-view.

This one, in particular, tells the life story of Magnus Eisengrim and contains plenty of interesting details about the history of carnival shows, vaudeville and theatre in Canada.

167. The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz (3.5 stars)
Category: Miscellaneous

This is a novel full of ideas. Newitz explores many interesting subjects, and I especially liked the mix of sci-fi and urban planning. The book is in three parts, with large time gaps between each, but there is enough continuity that it didn't bother me too much. Still, the strength in this book is the worldbuliding and not so much in the plot.

168. Babbacombe's by Susan Scarlett
Category: Miscellaneous

Earlier in the year, I'd read my first Noel Streatfieild (writing as Susan Scarlett) book, Clothes Peg, It was a fun romance in which a working-class heroine finds herself mixing with the upper class and using all her resources and good sense to succeed in her goals.

This novel, Babbacombe's, part of the Furrowed Middlebrow series, is along the same lines, taking place in a large department store. Although I found the story fairly predictable, it was still delightful and a pleasure to read. I also love the cover image.

>82 mathgirl40: I have both Clothes-Peg and Babbacombe's loaded on my Kindle, hopefully I will get to at least one of them next year!

>83 DeltaQueen50: They are definitely fun reads and I hope you enjoy them!

169. 4:50 From Paddington by Agatha Christie (4 stars)
Category: Continue the Series

This book was a reread for me, and this time around, I listened to the audiobook narrated by Emilia Fox, who did a wonderful job with the voices. It's an excellent Miss Marple mystery with one of the best opening scenes (taking place on a moving train) ever for a murder mystery!

170. The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafón (4.5 stars)
Category: Historical Fiction

I started reading this book last month, when I was on vacation in Barcelona. A historical novel set in that city in the 20's and 30's, it's full of mystery, obsession and a hint of the supernatural. It wasn't as good as Shadow of the Wind but I still found it quite absorbing. I love this author's voice and am sorry that he passed away at 55.

171. Reaper's Gale by Steven Erikson (4 stars)
Category: Doorstoppers

This 960-page chunkster took some time to get through and I didn't love it as much as the previous books, but I still enjoyed every minute of reading it. It's the 7th book of the Malazan Book of the Fallen series, an incredibly rich and complex series with a zillion characters. This series is a huge commitment but definitely worth the effort. I'm hoping I'll manage to finish the final 3 books in the couple of years.

172. The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester (4 stars)
Category: Miscellaneous

This novel is a classic of science-fiction, one which I really ought to have read before now. It's a revenge tale, in the style of The Count of Monte Cristo, that takes place in outer space. There were few likable characters and I found some aspects of the novel very dated, but there are many interesting themes that Bester explores.

173. In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado (4.5 stars)
Category: BookCrossing

A memoir about the author's experiences with an abusive same-sex partner, this was an excellent but disturbing, haunting and eye-opening read. It was very tough to get through but mesmerizing at the same time. It made me think hard about my preconceptions about domestic abuse.

174. Stockings and Spells by Nancy Warren (4 stars)
Category: Continue the Series

The fourth book in the Vampire Knitting Club series, this one is set at a Christmas market. It had fewer supernatural elements than the previous ones, though the vampires and witches do make appearances. Instead, it had a more complex and compelling mystery which I enjoyed.

175. Girlfriend on Mars by Deborah Willis (4 stars)
Category: Evergreen Books

If you've followed my threads over the years, you'll know that I regularly read from the Ontario Library Association's Evergreen list, which features 10 nominated Canadian books from the previous year. I like this awards list because it has a mix of literary and genre fiction, as well as some non-fiction, and the list is chosen by librarians! The list is usually announced in February, but they've changed the process so it is now announced in November. Girlfriend on Mars is the first one I'm reading from the 2024 list.

Amber Kivinen, whose competitive gymnastics career ended with an injury, applies her biology education to growing and dealing marijuana with her unambitious boyfriend. Wanting something different for her life, she ends up on a reality show, competing with other contestants trying to earn a spot on a one-way expedition to Mars.

The story is both a lighthearted rom-com and a dark, biting satire, with some interesting science and sci-fi mixed in. There were parts that dragged, interspersed with moments of brilliance.

176. A Man and His Cat, Volume 1 by Umi Sakurai (4.5 stars)
Category: Miscellaneous

This is the first volume of a manga series about an older man, recently bereaved, who adopts a cat that no one else seems to want. The story is totally charming and Fukumaru the cat is adorable! I have to thank rabbitprincess for this recommendation.

177. The Conquering Family by Thomas B. Costain (4 stars)
Category: Nonfiction

This is the first book in Thomas B. Costain's 4-volume history of the Plantagenets, which has been sitting on my shelves for 40 years!

This nonfiction account of the early Plantagenet kings reads like a novel. The author does take some artistic license but on the other hand, this makes the book much more readable and we get a good (and hopefully not inaccurate) portrayal of the historical figures. I also have a better understanding of why, after King John the first, there were no other British kings named John!

178. Let's Make Dumplings by Hugh Amano and Sarah Becan (5 stars)
Category: Nonfiction

I love making dumplings and thought I'd try to pick up some new ideas from this graphic novel which offers, not just recipes, but interesting information about the history of dumplings and variations in different Asian cuisines. I made a variation of the Kale, Mushroom and Butternut Squash dumpling and the recipe turned out really well.

I think this is an excellent cookbook, especially for cooks new to making Asian dumplings, which includes wontons, baozi, gyoza and more. The graphic-novel format might suggest the book is meant for a younger audience, but there's definitely enough useful content for adult cooks.

>93 mathgirl40: I have a paperback copy of this with the same cover! Perhaps I should see if I can slip it into my 2024 reading.

>94 mathgirl40: I LOOOOOVE dumplings!! Glad the cookbook had a winning recipe for you.

>95 rabbitprincess: Actually, this isn't the copy I have. However, the one I have is a hardcover that's lost its jacket, so I thought I'd post a more interesting cover than a solid expanse of red. 😂

179. Crimson Snow edited by Martin Edwards (3.5 stars)
Category: Miscellaneous

This is a collection of Christmas-themed stories from the British Library Crime Classics series. A few of the stories were mediocre but most were enjoyable. I especially liked a novella-length story by Victor Gunn, a.k.a. Edwy Searles Brooks, a very prolific Golden Age crime writer.

>97 mathgirl40: I am looking forward to reading lots from the British Library Crime Classics series as so many are on Kindle Unlimited.

>98 JayneCM: It's such a great series, isn't it? I've discovered so many overlooked authors through it.

As usual, I've fallen behind in my reviews, but not as badly as I had last year! Here are some quick reviews of my final books in 2023.

180. N0S4A2 by Joe Hill (5 stars)
Category: Doorstopper

I loved rereading this Christmas-themed horror story and the audiobook narration by Kate Mulgrew was excellent. I especially enjoyed spotting all the Stephen King references. Joe Hill is SK's son, and I'm sure the character Tabitha was a nod to his mother.

181. The Hidden Staircase by Carolyn Keene (3.5 stars)
Category: Continue the Series

This reread of the second book in the Nancy Drew series was enjoyable, if a bit dark compared to others in the series, but the mystery was not all that compelling.

182. Starter Villain by John Scalzi (5 stars)
Category: Miscellaneous

I've read a great deal of John Scalzi's work, and it's hit-or-miss, though I generally find all of them entertaining. This one is most definitely a hit -- funny, sharply satirical and fast-paced. The characters, from the likable main character Charlie to the stealthy cats to the aggressively rude dolphins, are wonderful.

183. Peril at Owl Park by Marthe Jocelyn (4.5 stars)
Category: Historical Fiction

I really enjoyed this second book in the Aggie Morton series, a middle-grade series inspired by Agatha Christie's characters. It's a classic country-house mystery set during the Christmas holidays, with the brave and clever young detectives outsmarting the criminals.

184. We Wish You a Murderous Christmas by Vicki Delany (Dec. 23)
Category: Continue the Series

This is the second book in Delany's Year-Long Christmas series about Merry Wilkinson and her Christmas-themed shop in Rudoph, New York. It's not an especially strong mystery but it's definitely a fun read for the Christmas season.

185. An English Murder by Cyril Hare (4 stars)
Category: Miscellaneous

This cozy Golden Age mystery was a reread for me. The mystery was intriguing, the characters had depth and the commentary on English society and politics was especially interesting. I was also amused by the fact that it was a Christmas setting but everyone was absolutely miserable!

186. Of Things Unknown by Seanan McGuire (3 stars)
Category: Continue the Series

This is a novella in the October Daye series included with the novel, The Brightest Fell. If you've read A Local Habitation, this is a pretty interesting story about cyber-Dryad April O'Leary, but if you hadn't, the storyline would probably be incomprehensible.

187. A Small Death in Lisbon by Robert Wilson (4.5 stars)
Category: Around the World (Portugal)

After a wonderful visit to Lisbon for my first time a couple of months ago, I picked up this book to get a better feel for the city. This is a complex and gripping mystery/thriller spanning two timelines that eventually merge. Some parts are quite disturbing and graphic, but I enjoyed learning more about Portugal's history in the second half of the 20th century.

188. The Maid by Nita Prose (4 stars)
Category: Miscellaneous

I enjoyed this cozy mystery featuring Molly the Maid. It was fun and charming with great characters. I liked all the twists and turns, though I have to admit that some of the surprises revealed at the end made the story a bit implausible.

>103 mathgirl40: I've seen quite a few very highly-rated reviews of this one. I'm intrigued (although will try and find it in the library rather than buy it. **side-eyes Mt TBR**)

My 2023 reading is done! I'm finally caught up with reviews and hope, in the next few days, to catch up with other threads.

Here are few highlights of 2023:
- Books read: 188
- GeoCAT: finished all 12 challenges
- SeriesCAT: finished all 12 challenges
- ClassicsCAT: 10 of 12 challenges finished
- KiddyCAT: 8 of 12 challenges finished
- Historical fiction challenge: 6 of 8 prompts completed

Here are my favourite books of the year:
Babel by R. F. Kuang
The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb
Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray
Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton
The Embroidered Book by Kate Heartfield
A Small Death in Lisbon by Robert Wilson
Bad Blood by John Carreyrou
All the Seas of the World by Guy Gavriel Kay
Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Middlemarch by George Eliot
It by Stephen King

I hope all of you had a great year of reading yourselves and I wish you all the best for 2024!

Babel made my top books list for this year too! Great list :)

That's a great list of favorites! And 188 books! Impressive

>112 rabbitprincess: >113 japaul22: Thank you!