DeltaQueen Tries for Balance & Focus in 2023 - Part 6

This will be my final thread to close out 2023. My name is Judy and I have been participating in the Category Challenge since 2009. I live in a suburb of Vancouver, B.C. with my husband of 44 years. Our two daughters are married and, lucky for us, living not too far away. We have two grandchildren, a boy and a girl, who are pretty much grown up but we see them often. Grandson is a real outdoors guy and loves to fish, hunt and go camping. Granddaughter is in her second year of college and is working toward a teacher’s certificate which will take her four years, I believe. She is crazy for horses and rides every week. She is currently supplementing her income by working part-time at a local coffee shop. We live a quiet life and reading is a favorite occupation for both of us.

I decided that this year would be a year of seeking balance and focus in my reading life. I have less categories than I usually have and will plan everything on a monthly basis. I have chosen monthly themes and will try to read at least 2 books that will fit each theme. We have an interesting mix of Cats and Kits this year but I am planning on participating only when I have a book that fits. As always I will be reading a certain number of books from the 1,001 Books To Read Before You Die list and participating the Reading Through Time Challenges, keeping track on a monthly basis. Another way of obtaining balance is to read both high and low from my own shelves – I have 20 shelves that are packed with books so I plan to read at least two books from separate shelves every month. Along with that I also have over 1,300 books loaded onto my various Kindles and Audio Apps and so will try to include a couple of them monthly as well. I also have a very long library list that I need to keep chipping away at.

The focus part of my challenge this year involved series. I am trying to focus on my on-going series so instead of starting new series, I will read from the ones I am already working on. Of course, I will also be participating in the BingoDog which I hope to complete with books that I have already chosen to read. As I do love a good reading challenge, I also have developed one of 30 prompts from other various challenges and one that is a monthly challenge for one book. Of course I will be continuing to participate in the monthly TIOLI Challenges.

As we are about to enter into the last month of the year, I can say that my challenge worked well. My shelves are showing empty spaces as I mostly replace my books with e-books. I have made a few dents in my series but this will be an on-going project. As always, I am enjoying good books and good conversation here on Library Thing!

Challenge Format:

I intend to list my reading by the month, but I will list my planning process at the beginning of each month. There may be some over-lapping but even if a book fits in a variety of places, it will only count once in my monthly book count.

1. Monthly Planning

I will chose a theme for the month and read one or two books that will fit

Themes

January: Winter Weather
February: Matters of the Heart
March: Short Stories
April: Historical Fiction
May: Hispanic Heritage
June: An English Summer Garden
July: Celebrating Canadian Authors
August: Travel, Adventure, Survival
September: Back to School
October: Things that Go Bump in the Night
November: War
December: Christmas Stories/Mysteries

Cats & Kits

I will list which Cat/Kit I am participating in, along with the book that I
will be reading

1,001 Reads

Will chose one or more books to read from the 1,001 Books to Read
Before You Die List

Reading Thru Time

Historical Fiction that will fit the monthly theme as set by the members
of the Reading Through Time Group

High & Low Shelves

Books chosen from my shelves


Kindle & Audio

Also chosen from my stock

Series

One of two series books per month

Library Books

At least one or two from the list each month

Extras

Just in case I read a book that doesn’t fit elsewhere

Tickers

Books Read



Pages Read

2023 Interconnected Monthly Reading Challenge - COMPLETED

1. January: A Book That Starts with “A” or “The”: The Heroic Garrison by V. A. Stuart

2. February: The cover or spine of the book compliments the January book cover: Splendid by Julia Quinn - Navy Blue Spine compliments The Heroic Garrison by V. A. Stuart - Dark Red Spine

3. March: The Title Starts with the next letter in the alphabet from your February book: "T" - The Taking of Jemima Boone by Matthew Pearl - historical fiction

4. April: A different genre from your March book: Death At the Opera by Gladys Mitchell - Mystery - 191 pages

5. May: The book is longer than the book in April: The Glass-Sided Ants' Nest by Peter Dickinson - 212 pages - 21 letters

6. June: The title has half as many letters as your May book: The Cartel by Don Winslow - set in Mexico

7. July: Set in a different country or part of the world from your June book - Crime Machine by Giles Blunt - set in Canada

8. August: The same genre as the July book: Crime Machine - July and Shoot to Thrill by P. J. Tracy are both crime novels.

9. September: Turn to page 50 of the August book and your September book must have one of the words on this page in it’s title - Postscript to Poison by Dorothy Bowers

10. October: The book’s title starts with the first letter of the author’s name from your September book - Devil's Wake by Steven Barnes (letter = D) Set in the future

11. November: Set in a different time period from your October book - Guadalcanal Diary by Richard Tregaskis - set in 1942 (272 pages)

12. December: Book has to be within 20 pages of the book you read in November. A Quilt For Christmas by Sandra Dallas (272 pages)

2023 TOTAL BOOKS READ

January

1. A Catalog of Birds by Laura Harrington - 4.2 ★
2. The Heroic Garrison by V. A. Stuart - 3.8 ★
3. After the Snow by S. D. Crockett - 2.5 ★
4. Empire of the Sun by J. G. Ballard - 4.3 ★
5. When the Music's Over by Peter Robinson - 4.5 ★
6. The Other Typist by Suzanne Rindell - 4.1 ★
7. Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby - 4.5 ★
8. A Daughter's Secret by Anne Bennett - 3.7 ★
9. The Taster by V. S. Alexander - 3.7 ★
10. Paper Wife by Laila Ibrahim - 4.0 ★
11. Chess Story by Stefan Zweig - 4.0 ★
12. The Silent Land by Graham Joyce - 4.5 ★
13. Deadly Friends by Stuart Pawson - 4.0 ★
14. The Princess Bride by William Goldman - 4.5 ★
15. The Midwife of Venice by Rpberta Rich - 3.8 ★
16. Bats in the Belfry by E. C. R. Lorac - 3.6 ★
17. The Scent of the Night by Andrea Camilleri - 4.0 ★

February

18. The Hunger by Alma Katsu - 4.0 ★
19. Splendid by Julia Quinn - 3.8 ★
20. Vathek by William Beckford - 3.4 ★
21. The Girl from World's End by Leah Fleming - 3.6 ★
22. Black Seconds by Karin Fossum - 4.0 ★
23. The Life and Times of Persimmon Wilson by Nancy Peacock - 5.0 ★
24. Scout's Progress by Sharon Lee - 4.3 ★
25. The Awakening by Kate Chopin - 3.3 ★
26. A Thousand Miles by Bridget Morrissey - 2.0 ★
27. The Salt Line by Holly Goddard Jones - 2.5 ★
28. The Bells At Old Bailey by Dorothy Bowers - 3.5 ★
29. No Beast So Fierce by Dane Hucklebridge - 3.8 ★
30. Eden by Tony Monchinski - 3.8 ★
31. Sydney Bridge, Upside Down by David Ballantyne - 4.0 ★
32. Slightly Scandalous by Mary Balogh - 3.8 ★
33. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta - 4.3 ★
34. A Darker Domain by Val McDermid - 4.1 ★

2023 Books Read (con't)

March

35. Circle of Flight by John Marsden - 3.8 ★
36. The Customer is Always Wrong by Mimi Pond - 4.2 ★
37. Life on the Mississippi by Rinker Buck - 4.0 ★
38. Mothers Tell Your Daughters by Bonnie Jo Campbell - 4.2 ★
39. Raft of Stars by Andrew J. Graff - 3.4 ★
40. The Taking of Jemima Boone by Matthew Pearl - 3.8 ★
41. The Laughterhouse by Paul Cleave - 4.2 ★
42. Godiva by Nicole Galland - 4.3 ★
43. Sharp Ends by Joe Abercrombie - 4.2 ★
44. Star of the North by Anna Jacobs - 3.6 ★
45. Where Angels Fear to Tread by E. M. Forster - 2.7 ★
46. Enter A Murderer by Ngaio Marsh - 3.7 ★
47. Round Mountain by Castle Freeman Jr. - 4.5 ★
48. Sad Cypress by Agatha Christie - 3.8 ★
49. The Secrets We Left Behind by Soraya M. Lane - 4.0 ★
50. American By Day by Derek B. Miller - 4.2 ★
51. Hard Ride by Elmer Kelton - 4.0 ★

April

52. One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow by Olivia Hawker - 4.0 ★
53. Dear Mrs. Bird by AJ Pearce - 4.2 ★
54. Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher by Timothy Egan - 5.0 ★
55. Traitor to the Throne by Alwyn Hamilton - 4.2 ★
56. False Colours by Georgette Heyer - 4.0 ★
57. Now We Are Dead by Stuart MacBride - 4.2 ★
58. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr - 5.0 ★
59. Last Seen Wearing by Hilary Waugh - 4.5 ★
60. Eat, Brains, Love by Jeff Hart - 4.0 ★
61. Death At the Opera by Gladys Mitchell - 4.0 ★
62. The Maid by Nita Prose - 4.0 ★
63. The Sands of the Kalahari by William Mulvihill - 4.1 ★
64. Crome Yellow by Aldous Huxley - 2.0 ★
65. The Low Bird by David L. Robbins - 3.7 ★
66. In A Dark House by Deborah Crombie - 4.5 ★

2023 Books Read (con't)

May
67. The Shuddering by Ania Ahlborn - 4.2 ★
68. Blue Horses by Mary Oliver - 4.0 ★
69. Darkest Unsolved Mysteries by Edward Collins - 2.5 ★
70. Daughters of the Storm by Elizabeth Buchan - 4.1 ★
71. American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins - 5.0 ★
72. Anthem by Deborah Wiles - 4.2 ★
73. Siege by Rhiannon Frater - 3.7 ★
74. The Glass-Sided Ants' Nest by Peter Dickinson - 2.6 ★
75. Don't Send Flowers by Martin Solares - 3.8 ★
76. A Memory of Violets by Hazel Gaynor - 3.6 ★
77. The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco - 3.3 ★
78. The Snow Walker by Farley Mowat - 4.0 ★
79. Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski - 3.5 ★
80. City of Spies by Mara Timon - 4.0 ★
81. Some By Fire by Stuart Pawson - 4.0 ★
82. I Know An Old Lady by Margaret Standafer - 3.7 ★
83. The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros - 4.3 ★
84. Grizzlies, Gales and Giant Salmon by Pat Ardley - 3.7 ★
85. Sky On Fire by Emmy Laybourne - 3.8 ★
86. The Bone Garden by Kate Ellis - 4.0 ★

June

87. Saints of the Shadow Bible by Ian Rankin - 4.2 ★
88. Sugar Candy Cottage by Elizabeth Cadell - 4.0 ★
89. A Serpent's Tooth by Craig Johnson - 4.0 ★
90. The Cartel by Don Winslow - 4.3 ★
91. The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald - 3.4 ★
92. Under a Siena Sun by T. A. Williams - 3.8 ★
93. A Litter of Bones by JD Kirk - 3.8 ★
94. The Man Who Loved Lions by Ethel Lina White - 3.3 ★
95. Soul Catcher by Michael C. White - 4.5 ★
96. Storm in the Village by Miss Read - 4.2 ★
97. Trustee From the Toolroom by Nevil Shute - 4.1 ★
98. The Summons by Peter Lovesey - 4.2 ★
99. Wall by Tom Abrahams - 3.0 ★
100. There's Trouble Brewing by Nicholas Blake - 4.0 ★
101. The Rainbow and the Rose by Nevile Shute - 2.5 ★
102. The Great Trek by Zane Grey - 3.8 ★
103. Bramton Wick by Elizabeth Fair - 4.0 ★
104. Savage Drift by Emmy Laybourne - 3.7 ★
105. Mercy Falls by William Kent Krueger - 3.8 ★
106. Fair Stood the Wind For France by H. E. Bates - 4.2 ★
107. The Hot Rock by Donald E. Westlake - 4.0 ★

2023 Books Read (con't)

July

108. Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland - 4.0 ★
109. Savage Country by Robert Olmstead - 4.0 ★
110. February's Son by Alan Parks - 4.0 ★
111. Arundel by Kenneth Roberts - 4.5 ★
112. Starlight by Richard Wagamese - 5.0 ★
113. Mary Wakefield by Mazo de la Roche - 3.8 ★
114. Ocean State by Stewart O'Nan - 4.0 ★
115. Crime Machine by Giles Blunt - 4.0 ★
116. The Snow Gypsy by Lyndsay Jayne Ashford - 3.2 ★
117. The Radleys by Matt Haig - 3.8 ★
118. The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields - 4.5 ★
119. The Last Colony by John Scalzi - 4.2 ★
120. Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem - 4.0 ★
121. Death Stalks A Lady by Shelley Smith - 3.3 ★
122. Nights At The Circus by Angela Carter - 3.3 ★
123. Dark Places by Gillian Flynn - 4.1 ★
124. You Are Dead by Peter James - 4.2 ★

August

125. Mistress of Rome by Kate Quinn - 4.0 ★
126. Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean - 3.7 ★
127. The Fall of the Governor, Part 1 by Robert Kirkman - 3.4 ★
128. Gabriel's Story by David Anthony Durham - 4.5 ★
129. Of Wee Sweetie Mice and Men by Colin Bateman - 4.0 ★
130. Into the Jungle by Erica Ferencik - 3.6 ★
131. Sisters of Reckoning by Charlotte Nicole Davis - 4.0 ★
132. The Complete Steel by Catherine Aird - 3.5 ★
133. The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan - 5.0 ★
134. The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter - Japanese Folk Tale - 3.5 ★
135. Haywire by Justin R. Macumber - 4.0 ★
136. The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - 3.6 ★
137. The Hike by Susi Holliday - 2.0 ★
138. Shoot to Thrill by P. J. Tracy - 3.5 ★
139. The Labyrinth Makers by Anthony Price - 4.0 ★
140. Return to the Lost World by Greig Beck - 3.7 ★
141. The Winter Garden Mystery by Carola Dunn - 3.7 ★
142. Deathwatch by Robb White - 4.2 ★

2023 Books Read (con't)

September

143. World Departed by Sarah Lyons Fleming - 4.5 ★
144. Down Among the Dead Men by Geradine Evans - 3.0 ★
145. Through Black Spruce by Joseph Boyden - 4.5 ★
146. Windhall by Ava Barry - 2.0 ★
147. Death At The President's Lodging by Michael Innes - 4.0 ★
148. The Guide by Peter Heller - 3.7 ★
149. Chaka by Thomas Mofolo - 3.7 ★
150. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt - 4.0 ★
151. Matt's Haunting by Rebecca Patrick-Howard - 3.0 ★
152. Fair Land, Fair Land by A. B. Guthrie - 4.3 ★
153. Postscript to Poison by Dorothy Bowers - 3.8 ★
154. These Silent Woods by Kimmi Cunningham Grant - 4.3 ★
155. Dear Teacher by Jack Sheffield - 4.0 ★
156. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou - 4.0 ★
157. Days Without End by Sebastian Barry - 4.5 ★
158. Pearls Before Swine by Margery Allingham - 3.6 ★
159. Copper River by William Kent Krueger - 4.5 ★

October

160. Last Chance by Gregg Hurwitz - 3.6 ★
161. The Whisper on the Night Wind by Adam Shoats - 4.2 ★
162. Josephine Baker's Last Dance by Sherry Jones - 4.2 ★
163. Roseanna by Maj Sjowall & Per Wahloo - 4.0 ★
164. An Obedient Father by Akhil Sharma - 3.7 ★
165. The Good People by Hannah Kent - 4.2 ★
166. Devil's Wake by Steven Barnes - 3.4 ★
167. The Naked Nuns by Colin Watson - 3.8 ★
168. The Suicide Motor Club by Christopher Buehlman - 4.0 ★
169. Exit Lines by Reginald Hill - 3.8 ★
170. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury - 4.0 ★
171. Outback by Patricia Wolf - 4.0 ★
172. The English Air by D. E. Stevenson - 4.2 ★
173. The Merry Misogynist by Colin Cotterill - 4.0 ★
174. Darkness, Darkness by John Harvey - 4.2 ★
175. The Bus On Thursday by Shirley Barrett - 4.0 ★
176. Eden Rising by Andrew Cunningham - 4.0 ★
177. Eden Lost by Andrew Cunningham - 4.0 ★
178. Haunted Nights edited by Ellen Datlow & Lisa Morton - 4.0 ★
179. Eden's Legacy by Andrew Cunningham - 4.0 ★

2023 Books Read (con't)

November

180. Ghosts of Bungo Suido by P. T. Deutermann - 4.0 ★
181. Gap Creek by Robert Morgan - 5.0 ★
182. The Wolf Road by Beth Lewis - 3.4 ★
183. Guadalcanal Diary by Richard Tregaskis - 4.0 ★
184. Waking Lions by Ayelet Gundar-Goshen - 4.3 ★
185. Pop Goes the Weasel by M.J. Arlidge - 4.0 ★
186. Keep the Home Fires Burning by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles - 4.3 ★
187. Pillars of Light by Jane Johnson - 4.1 ★
188. Hamlet, Revenge! by Michael Innes - 3.3 ★
189. Sunlight and Shadow by Cameron Dokey - 3.5 ★
190. Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey - 4.2 ★
191. Final Cut by Lin Anderson - 4.0 ★
192. The Red Palace by June Hur - 4.0 ★
193. The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman - 4.0 ★
194. The Green Hat by Michael Arlen - 3.4 ★
195. Killing Custer by James Welch - 4.0 ★
196. Red Hood's Revenge by Jim C. Hines - 4.0 ★
197. Never Say No To A Killer by Jonathan Gant - 3.7 ★
198. Mystery Man by Colin Bateman - 4.0 ★

December

1. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller - 5.0 ★
2. So Many Beginnings by Bethany C. Morrow - 4.0 ★
3. A Kiss At Midnight by Eloisa James - 3.0 ★
4. Some Buried Caesar by Rex Stout - 4.0 ★
5. Frogkisser! by Garth Nix - 4.0 ★
6. A Quilt For Christmas by Sandra Dallas - 4.0 ★
7. Crime At Christmas by C.H.B. Kitchin - 3.3 ★
8. Tryst by Elswyth Thane - 4.2 ★
9. Caroline by Sarah Miller - 4.5 ★
10. Silent Nights by Martin Edwards - 4.2 ★
11. Village Christmas by Miss Read - 4.0 ★
12. Deceiving Mirror by Margaret Yorke - 4.2 ★
13. Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook by Christina Henry - 4.0 ★
14. An Elderly Lady Is Up To No Good by Helene Tursten - 4.5 ★
15. The Story of Holly and Ivy by Rumer Godden - 4.0 ★
16. Children of the Ritz by Cornell Woolrich - 3.7 ★
17. Kittyhawk Down by Garry Disher - 3.8 ★
18. The Yellow Dog by Georges Simenon - 4.0 ★
19. The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson - 4.2 ★
20. Bertie and the Tin Man by Peter Lovesey - 3.4 ★

Monthly Reading Plans

November 2023 Reading Plans



Monthly Theme: War and the Homefront

✔ Keep the Home Fires Burning by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
✔ The Ghosts of Bungo Suido (2) by P. T. Deutermann
✔ Guadalcanal Diary by Richard Tregaskis

November Cats/Kits

✔ AlphaKit: T - Guadalcanal Diary by Richard Tregaskis, L - The Wolf Road by Beth Lewis
: ClassicCat: Skip
✔ GeoCat: East Asia (Korea) - The Red Palace by June Hur
✔ KiddyKat: Retellings, FairyTales, Myths & Legends – Sunlight and Shadow by Cameron Dokey, Red Hood’s Revenge by Jim C. Hines,
✔ MysteryKit: Senior Sleuths – The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman
✔ RandomKit: Let there be light – Pillars of Light by Jane Johnson
: ScaredyKit: Skip
✔ SeriesCat: Historical – Keep the Home Fires Burning by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
✔ SFFFKit: Graphic Novels, Novellas – Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey

1,001 Books List
✔ The Green Hat by Michael Arlen

Reading Through Time – Indigenous Author
✔ Killing Custer by James Welch

High & Low Shelves
✔ Gap Creek by Robert Morgan
✔ Final Cut by Lin Anderson
✔ Waking Lions by Ayelet Gundar-Goshen

Kindle & Audio Books

✔ Sunlight & Shadow by Cameron Dokey
✔ Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey
✔ The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman
✔ Hamlet, Revenge by Michael Innes (KU)
✔ The Red Palace by June Hur

Series

✔ Pop Goes the Weasel (2) by M. K. Arlidge
✔ Red Hood’s Revenge (3) by Jim C. Hines

Library
✔ Wolf Road by Beth Lewis
✔ Pillars of Light by Jane Johnson

Extras

✔ Mystery Man by Colin Bateman
✔ Never Say No to a Killer by Jonathan Gant

December 2023 Reading Plans



Monthly Theme: Christmas Stories & Mysteries

✔ The Christmas Quilt by Sandra Dallas
✔ Crime At Christmas by C.H. Kitchin
✔ Silent Nights edited by Martin Edwards

December Cats/Kits

✔ AlphaKit: Y – Deceiving Mirror by Margaret Yorke
R – Village Christmas by Miss Read
: ClassicCat: SKIP
✔ GeoCat: Didn’t Get To Earlier in the Year (Eastern Europe) – The Song of Achelles by Madeline Miller
✔ KiddyKat: Christmas Stories – The Story of Holly and Ivy by Rumer Godden
✔ MysteryKit: Crime at Christmas by C.H. Kitchin, Silent Nights edited by Martin Edwards
✔ RandomKit: O Christmas Tree – Silent Nights edited by Martin Edwards
✔ ScaredyKit: Ghost Stories – Tryst by Elwyth Thane
✔ SeriesCat: A country you don’t live in – Village Christmas by Miss Read, Kittyhawk Down by Garry Disher
✔ SFFKit: WrapUp – Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook by Christina Henry, Frogkisser by Garth Nix

1,001 Books List

Reading Through Time

✔ The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

High and Low Shelves

✔ Some Buried Caesar by Rex Stout
✔ Caroline by Sarah Miller

Kindle and Audio Books

✔ A Kiss At Midnight by Eloisa James
✔ Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook by Christina Henry
✔ Deceiving Mirror by Margaret Yorke
✔ Tryst by Elswyth Thane
✔ The Story of Holly and Ivy by Rumor Godden

Series

✔ Village Christmas (6) by Miss Read
✔ Kittyhawk Down (2) by Garry Disher

Library

✔ Frogkisser by Garth Nix
✔ So Many Beginnings by Bethany C. Morrow

Extras

✔ An Elderly Lady Is Up To No Good by Helene Tursten
✔ Children of the Ritz by Cornell Woodrich
✔ The Yellow Dog by Georges Simenon
✔ The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
✔ Bertie and the Tin Man by Peter Lovesey

2023 Hosting Duties



✔ January: RandomKit
✔ March: Reading Thru Time – Notorious Women
✔ April: ClassicCat – Classic Mystery/Detective Novels
✔ May: ScaredyKit – Surviving the Horror
✔ June: MysteryKit – Vintage Mysteries
✔ July: SFFFKit: Series
✔ August: Series Cat: I’ve Been Meaning to Get Back to This Series
✔ October: GeoCat – Canada and the United States
✔ November: KiddyCat – Fairy Tales, Myths & Legends
✔ December: Reading Through Time - Reader's Choice

I thought I had better get my last 2023 thread up before I post my first 2024 thread!

Happy new thread, Judy! 188 books so far is quite an achievement!

>16 RidgewayGirl: Welcome, Kay. It seems the older I get, the more books I seem to find that I want to read!

Happy last thread of the year Judy!

>18 lsh63: Thanks, Lisa.

Happy New Thread, Judy! Where has the year gone to?

Happy Wednesday, Judy! Happy New Thread! I am sure those books are treating you just fine.

Can you believe we already starting to say goodbye to 2023?!

Part 6!? And with only a month and a half to go!

Happy new thread, Judy. Do you already have your theme picked out for next year?

Happy new thread, Judy. The year and the books have been good to you!

>20 dudes22: It seems like just the other day we were all setting up our 2023 threads now here we are getting ready for 2024!

>21 msf59: Hi Mark, I certainly can't complain about the books or the reading!

>22 JayneCM: It's almost scary how quickly the time passes!

>23 LibraryCin: Hi Cindy, 2023 has flown by and I am trying not to push it by setting up my 2024 thread too soon.

>24 Familyhistorian: I do have a theme and I am pretty much ready to set up my 2024 thread but I am going to try to hold off until the end of November and continue to concentrate on 2023.

>25 MissWatson: It has been a great reading year for me, Brigit, and I am hoping that I will uncover another treasure or two before the year ends.

Happy new thread, Judy. I look forward to seeing how you finish the year, and, of course, to see your 2024 theme.

189. Sunlight and Shadow by Cameron Dokey - 3.5★
Category: Kindle & Audio Books
November KiddyKat: Fairytales, Myths, Legends & Retellings
November TIOLI #2: I Am Thankful for________



Sunlight and Shadow by Cameron Dokey is the retelling of the operetta “The Magic Flute” by Mozart. The book is quite short so there isn’t much depth to this retelling, but there are musical references such as the bells that can bring you your one true love and, of course, the magic flute.

It is the story of a young girl, Mina who is the daughter of estranged parents, the Queen of the Night and the Mage of the Day. Mina has lived with her mother for sixteen years but now her father has claimed her and plans on picking a proper husband for her. But Mina arranges to have her true love come to her through the magic of the bells and he is a prince who happens to have made a magic flute that can put his love into music. Of course her father doesn’t approve and sets trials that they must complete if they want to be together.

One thing that I didn’t care for with this book is that the POV changed almost with every chapter which I thought was rather excessive for such a short story. But overall this is a light and simple tale of romance and magic and how fate unfolds to the satisfaction of all.

>27 BLBera: Hi Beth, we must have cross posted! I am looking forward to my December reading as I am trying to keep it light and entertaining. I have kept my 2024 theme fairly generic as I return to my tried and true format.

190. Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey - 4.2 ★
Category: Kindle & Audio Books
November SFFKit: Graphic Novels, Novellas and Short Stories



Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey is a novella that packs quite a punch. Enhanced by pulp Western language, a desert setting, and a group of strong, sharp tongued women this story about Librarians who travel the west was exciting, interesting and powerful.

In a United States that has evolved into a society that resembles the Old West, we unfortunately soon learn that homophobia, transphobia, misogyny, fascism, war and untruths are the rule of the day. Esther has stole away with a group of Librarians who travel the west bringing people “approved” materials and hope. She is recovering from the trauma of seeing the woman she loved hung for deviance and she is determined to become a Librarian. We soon learn that Librarians are, in fact, the heroes of the day and Esther’s story teaches both her and the readers that there is a place for everybody, and heroes come in all shapes and sizes.

Upright Women Wanted was a fun, quick read that was easy to love. How could one not love a story about subversive Librarians fighting injustice and allowing us to explore their politics of otherness.

>30 DeltaQueen50: Oh yes! I read this in 2020 and loved it.

>30 DeltaQueen50: - That sounds excellent. And timely!

oh yes that was indeed wonderful!

Happy new thread!

>30 DeltaQueen50: I try not to take too many BBs for fiction, because the chances of me reading them are slim, but I don't think I'm going to be able to resist this one! (and I know I'm shallow, but the fact that it's short is an extra bonus!)

Happy new thread! I can't believe how many reads you've racked up! 👍

I went to the hospital a couple of days ago and had an intravenous iron session. Apparently I have Anemia and the symptoms of this, high heart rate, tired all the time, shortness of breath and headaches are exactly what I have been getting. My heart rate yesterday and today is lower than 100 so it looks like the iron is working. I have another iron session in early December and then will be going for a slew of blood tests. Fingers crossed that this is the answer - although why I am anemic is yet to be discovered.

>31 JayneCM: I have now read a few of Sarah Gailey's work. She's very imaginative and it always makes for fun reading. She knows how to write humor and still get her point across.

>32 katiekrug: Hi Katie, yes, this author always has a theme that she is putting out there but she always includes a fun story.

>34 Jackie_K: I liked the shortness, the themes and the humor - they all fit together to make Upright Women Wanted work.

>35 mstrust: With the way I have been feeling lately about all I can do is lie around and devour books! Hopefully I will get some energy back as my red blood count goes up.

>36 DeltaQueen50: Glad to hear you're feeling better, and hope the anaemia turns out to be nothing to worry about.

>37 DeltaQueen50: I hope your treatments have you feeling much better!

>36 DeltaQueen50: Hope you continue to feel much better.

Happy new thread! Sorry to hear you've been under the weather. I hope everything is solved with iron treatment. My brother-in-law suffered serious long term effects of anemia that wasn't tested. What you are doing is really worthwhile.

>36 DeltaQueen50: - I hope these treatments work for you, Judy, and you get back to feeling better. My father had something similar many years ago and it turned out to be a small bleeding ulcer that was causing the problem. Which was relatively easy to fix. I hope they find out what's causing your problem soon.

>38 pamelad: >39 mstrust: >40 JayneCM: Thanks, Pamela, Jennifer and Jayne.

>41 VivienneR: I will feel much better once I know why I am anemic. My level of tiredness is having me sleep my days away!

>42 dudes22: Thanks, Betty.

Happy new thread, Judy! Praying for good health for you.

>44 LadyoftheLodge: Thanks, Cheryl.

191. Final Cut by Lin Anderson - 4.0 ★
Category: High & Low Shelves
November TIOLI #9: Features a Female Detective



Final Cut by Lin Anderson is the 6th book in her Rhona MacLeod series. Rhona is a forensic detective., dealing with the evidence found at crime sights. The book opens with a young mother running her vehicle off the road during a snowstorm, she insists she was avoiding a man. Her nine year old daughter was missing at first but was found in the woods clutching a small skull.

Meanwhile Rhoda and her assistant Chrissy, are called to a building site where a body has been located in a skip. They are gathering evidence that hopefully will help them identify the victim. Eventually they and DS Michael McNab discover that these two cases are linked. The violence escalates as the Russian Mafia are very much involved, and Rhona and her crew find themselves hot on the trail of a serial child killer.

I am finding this series just keeps on getting better. Final Cut offers up a great story with believable characters. The forensic details are intricate and well grounded and the winter setting in and around Glasgow helps to set the scene.

>36 DeltaQueen50: I hope your treatments are improving the situation and you find out the cause of the anemia. Sending good wishes your way!

>190 I enjoyed this novella too, when I'd read it a couple of years ago when it was nominated for a Hugo award. I really liked Gailey's The Echo Wife as well.

>47 mathgirl40: Thanks Paulina. The Echo Wife looks good and it would fit next October's SFFKit of Women Authors so I may add it in there.

Hello and Happy New Thread! I am so glad you are approaching feeling better and that you have finally received a proper diagnosis.

Congratulations on a great reading year, and like you, I'm wondering what my 2024 thread will look like. And is it almost time for 2024???

>30 DeltaQueen50: Ooooh, this sounds intriguing and subversive, all at once. Of course librarians would be involved in such things!

>30 DeltaQueen50: Taking a BB for this one.

Hi Judy, I hope that you are feeling better. I'm taking a BB for the Rhona MacLeod series mentioned in >46 DeltaQueen50:, as I recently borrowed the first book from Kindle Unlimited.

>49 threadnsong: Hi Threadnsong, yes, 2024 is just around the corner and some of us have already posted their 2024 threads. I will probably put mine up at the end of the month. I am looking forward to 2024!

>50 lowelibrary: It's a fun one!

>51 lsh63: Hi Lisa. I am still very tired all the time, I hope that improves as more iron gets pumped into me. The Rhona MacLeod series seems to improve as it goes along. She is a scientist first and foremost, and has a detached, cool personality so it took some time for me to warm to her. As the character has developed over the books, I have grown to like her more. Also the members of the team that she works with are interesting and much looser than she is. I hope you enjoy the books.

192. The Red Palace by June Hur - 4.0 ★
Category: Kindle & Audio Books
November GeoCat: Eastern Asia (Korea)
November TIOLI #3: A Color is part of the title



The Red Palace by June Hur is a historical mystery set in 18th century Korea. It involves several murders and suspicions are directed to one of the highest members of the court, that of the Crown Prince. The main character is Hyeon, a young woman who works as a nurse at the Royal Palace and when her mentor is arrested for the murders, she vows to solve the case and prove her mentor innocent.

She soon finds herself joining forces with a new police inspector, Eojun. He is young, and seems to be as fully invested in finding out the truth as she is. Although they are breaking many of society’s rigid rules, they form a partnership and share the information that each is gathering. It soon becomes apparent that they have attracted the attention of the murderer and must tread carefully through the conspiracies and rules that keep the royal dynasty in power.

The Red Palace is well written and involving. While most of the characters are fictional, the Crown Prince was a real and tragic figure and his story and the historical details that the author supplies keep the story based in reality. The romance is kept to the back burner, we can see it developing but it never takes over the story. This was an excellent way to read about the history and the culture of Korea.

193. The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman - 4.0 ★
Category: Kindle & Audio Books
November MysteryKit: Senior Citizen Sleuth
November TIOLI #8: Main Character is 50 or Older



I really enjoyed my first visit with Mrs. Pollifax and fully expect to continue on dipping into this adventurous and amusing series. Mrs. Pollifax is a sixtyish widow who decides to follow up on her ambition to become a spy. She presents herself at CIA headquarters and it just so happens that an elderly tourist is required to courier information from Mexico City to Washington and Mrs. Pollifax would be perfect in the role.

Almost before she knows it, she finds herself in Mexico City and this is where things start to go pear-shaped. She and another CIA agent are captured and spirited to a prison cell in Albania. Mrs. Pollifax then shows her true colors, she never gives up, always looks to the positive and actually enjoys meeting new people.

Of course the story is highly unbelievable, but the author has supplied a great setting and some wonderful characters so while you are reading the book, you fully accept what is happening. Mrs. Pollifax is the spy that we all wish we could be and I am already looking forward to her next adventure.

>54 DeltaQueen50: I love this series! Glad you liked the first installment :)

>55 rabbitprincess: I think I am of the right age to totally admire Mrs. Pollifax! I am looking forward to reading more about her.

194. The Green Hat by Michael Arlen
Category: 1,001 Books List
November TIOLI #3: A Color is Part of the Title



First published in 1924, The Green Hat seems to be a reflection on a generation that came through the first world war and is now living a shallow life of gaiety, and non-purpose. The book was very popular during the 1920s, a melodrama that is centred around Iris Storm, a woman who has caused death and destruction but seems to have a fatal appeal for men. The writing was dense and poetic but the author had clearly studied British society in order to have produced this well drawn picture of the upper classes.

Iris, who wears a green hat and drives a yellow Hispano-Suiza is presented as a woman of easy virtue but in fact, has a dark secret in her past. It is obvious that the narrator of the book is totally fascinated by her and apparently the author based her on Nancy Cunard, who I now feel that I need to investigate. I simply wasn’t in the right mood to enjoy this book, although I can see it’s merit and appreciate the author’s talent for writing.

I had to push myself through the first few chapters but after that the story did pull me in. There were plenty of “hot button” issues such as suicide, homosexuality, venereal disease, and excessive drinking touched upon but, for me, the tragic story was a little too dark, without the sparkle that Fitzgerald can add or the humour of Waugh.

195. Killing Custer by James Welch - 4.0 ★
Reading Through Time: Indigenous People
November TIOLI #5: Author's Name Has 11 or fewer letters



General George Custer’s 1876 attack on a huge camp of Plains Indians has gone down as the most disastrous defeat in American history and yet for many years Custer was portrayed as heroic and the Indians as merciless savages. The placing of Custer on a pedestal has definitely faded in recent years as much like “The Emperor’s New Clothes” historians and history buffs alike have spoken out about what lead up to the Battle of the Little Bighorn and it’s after effects.

Killing Custer by James Welch is an insightful book that deals with the above issues, as well as the personalities of those involved. Custer, Reno, Benteen, Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, Gall, and many others played a part that is detailed in this book. The indigenous author presents a fair account of what happened and why and explains how the politics of the day ensured that Custer became the doomed hero of the event.

I have long been interested in the Battle of Little Bighorn and have visited the site three or four times over the years. While Killing Custer doesn’t add anything new to the mix, I did appreciate that Welch represented both sides in a realistic and thoughtful manner.

>57 DeltaQueen50: When I saw The Green Hat mentioned in other books of the era, I found a copy, but couldn't get into it and put it aside. Thank you for the review. It sounds like a book worth reading for a snapshot of the years immediately after WWI, but perhaps not for enjoyment.

>59 pamelad: I really struggled with the first few chapters of The Green Hat but it did get better and the story bubbled along. For me it just was the wrong book for the mood I am in. I really need to read something light right now. It did paint an interesting picture of British society during the 1920s.

Wishing all who are celebrating Thanksgiving today a wonderful holiday filled with all the good things in life.

Happy new (last of the year) thread, Judy!

Glad to read you got a diagnosis for your symptoms (which are eerily similar to mine) and that the treatment seems to be working well.

Caught a couple of BBs—The Red Palace and the Rhona MacLoed series. Thanks, I think. 😉

I loved the Mrs. Pollifax books when I read them decades ago, and I still get a warm feeling when I think of them. Enjoy!

Edited to fix a typo.

> 54 I read the Mrs. Pollifax novels when I was younger. I should plan on revisiting them soon.

>62 Storeetllr: Hi Mary. I am feeling a little better than I was but I am still very tired all the time and have to keep prodding myself to stay awake. Perhaps you should ask your doctor to have your red hemoglobin tested - it's a simple blood test.

>63 lowelibrary: Mrs. Pollifax was a pleasant surprise for me. I think my being an older lady makes her much more reliable than she would have been had I read her at a younger age. I found the same thing with Miss Marple. I much prefer her now at my advanced age than I did when I was younger.

>36 DeltaQueen50: I too hope the hemoglobin number improves. My sister had the same problem to the point that she became disoriented. She had a couple of the treatments and then a high dose iron pescrption. Her level moved to low normal and recently the iron has been reduced for the second time. There hasn't been a specific reason found for the hemoglobin level to have dropped. but now it stays at a low, but acceptable level. An underside of the story is that she is bipolar and has been taking medication for that almost fifty years. Her doctor says it's possible this could be the result of medications she took in the past. One of those was lithium which is now known in some cases to damage kidneys.

>64 DeltaQueen50: Pretty sure I’ve been tested for iron deficiency—my doctor does a complete panel every year, but I’ll check. I hope your energy levels bounce back soon!

>65 clue: I know anemia runs in my family so I will probably be put on an iron supplement after my next intravenous treatment. I'm glad to hear that your sister is doing better now. It seems like such a simple thing but it can lead to so many complications!

>66 Storeetllr: We went out for lunch and bit of shopping today and I am now quite exhausted. I also hope my energy levels come back as I would like to be able to live a normal life and not have to rest so much!

>67 DeltaQueen50: I hear that! At least you got out and did a few things today, so that’s good. Hope you took a nice nap to recharge.

>68 Storeetllr: I did have a nice nap, thanks, Mary!

196. Red Hood's Revenge by Jim C. Hines - 4.0 ★
Category: Series
November KiddyKat: Fairytales, Myths, Retellings
November TIOLI #3: Color in Title



Red Hood’s Revenge by Jim C. Hines is the third book in his Princess series that is based on fairy tales. In this outing Red Riding Hood is a dangerous assassin and her target is Talia, also known as Sleeping Beauty. The three princesses, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and Cinderella travel to the desert land of Arathea after making a difficult alliance with Red Hood. Arathea is Sleeping Beauty’s original home and the place where they will find the originator of the contract on Sleeping Beauty.

With plenty of magic and swordplay, the story unfolds as it also gives us a lot more information on Sleeping Beauty and how she ended up alone and exiled from her country. The author relies less on humor and more upon character development in this outing and I enjoyed the fact that he doesn’t just simply rework the fairy tale, he sends us in a completely new direction with these familiar characters. These princesses resemble Charlie’s Angels more than the Disney tropes that we are used to.

I was in the mood for a light yet exciting story and that is exactly what I got with Red Hood’s Revenge. There is one more book in the series and I am looking forward to it already.

197. Never Say No To A Killer by Jonathan Gant - 3.7 ★
Category: Extras
November TIOLI #16: Yes or No in Title



Never Say No to a Killer is a violent, fast-paced noir story about a clever, very dangerous criminal who escapes from prison, thinks nothing of having to murder a number of people and becomes involved in an extensive blackmail operation. Written by Clifton Adams under his pen-name of Jonathan Gant this classic pulp fiction story was originally published in 1956.

As well as being a stone cold killer, Roy Surratt is overly confident and believes he is smart enough to become rich, snag a beautiful woman and live a life of luxury. He never considers the feelings of others and in this way, he opens himself up for betrayal. His superior attitude and endless ego lead to his downfall, and like many before him, he never saw it coming.

Never Say No To A Killer is a short read. The author supplies some good action scenes although it can be quite dark and violent. The prose is simple and straightforward, the dark ending certainly came as no surprise as like most noir crime, the bad guy always pays.

198. Mystery Man by Colin Bateman - 4.0 ★
Category: Extras
November TIOLI #14: A book that I bought this year



Mystery Man by Colin Bateman is the first book in his series about the owner of an Irish book store that specializes in mysteries who also takes on the duties of a private investigator for some clients. It started when the private investigator next door to the bookshop disappeared and his clients appealed to him for help. I have read Bateman before so was quite aware that his books are always darkly funny and full of satire so I was prepared for the many laugh out loud moment that this book provided.

Our main character is a whiny hypochondriac with OCD and still lives at home with his mother. Surprisingly, he has a crush on the pretty girl who works in the jewellery story across the street and actually manages to start a relationship with her. His cases start off simple, having to track down a pair of stolen leather pants or locate a missing girlfriend who disappeared after her boyfriend compared her ears to jugs. But the cases take a very serious turn when he finds himself surrounded by murdered victims and looking for Nazis.

I thoroughly enjoyed this first book and have already picked up two more for the future. I am looking forward to the humorous literary references, the outlandish cases, and the many twists and turns that this author provides his readers.

I hope that you get some energy back soon, Judy, at least it sounds like you are on the right track now. How fun that you have the Mrs. Pollifax series to read. I enjoyed them and still have copies of some of the series on my shelves. Maybe it's time for a reread. Those were the only books my mum ever recommended to me so I can pretty much pinpoint when I read them the first time.

>72 DeltaQueen50: The title of this book makes it sound interesting!

>73 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg. I am seeing a lot of improvement in a number of areas so I think my lack of red hemoglobin was affecting a lot of things. Hopefully the energy levels will come back up.

>74 LadyoftheLodge: Colin Bateman writes a number of mystery series, and they all rely on both good storytelling and humor. The Mystery Man series is particularly fun for mystery readers as a lot of the humor is directed at other mystery authors.

I couldn't wait any longer and have gone ahead and set up my 2024 thread - you can find me here:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/355520#

>71 DeltaQueen50: That is quite the cover, Judy. :)

I'm off to check out and star your new thread. You will probably be ready to start a new one by New Year's!

>77 BLBera: Hi Beth. I love those vintage covers! Often the biggest problem is finding a vintage cover where the female has enough clothes on!

199. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller - 5.0 ★
December Reading Through Time: Reader's Choice
December GeoCat: Didn't Get To Earlier in the Year
December TIOLI #2: A Book I Meant to Get To Earlier in the Year



The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller is set during the Greek Heroic Age and is the story of the life of Achilles and his participation in the Trojan War. The story is told by the exiled prince Patroclus, whose relationship with Achilles started out as a boyish friendship, developed into a brotherhood and eventually became a story of true love and romance. It was this love that led to their destruction.

I found this to be a real page-turner. I am not a scholar of Greek Mythology so I can’t judge this book on how accurate it’s details are, but the well developed characters and eloquent writing drew me in and I was enthralled by the story. The author gave us a layered presentation that cuts through the legend of Achilles and shows his human side.

It has taken me quite awhile to get to this book, I thought that it couldn’t possibly live up to the hype that I’ve read about it, but I am here to say that it definitely does. The Song of Achilles is an epic, beautifully written, heart-felt story of the coming of age of two young men. It deals with love, sacrifice, and war all the while bringing to life a hero of legend.

Happy Friday, Judy. The Song of Achilles was my introduction to her work and like you, it was a 5 star read for me. Have a good weekend.

>I loved it and still think of it from time to time. I don't generally like listing favorite books, but have no problem saying this is one.

>80 msf59: Hi Mark. The Song of Achilles was an excellent read and I am looking forward to Circe in the near future.

>81 clue: The Song of Achilles was such an excellent historical fiction story, it reminded me why I love that genre so much!

200. So Many Beginnings by Bethany C. Morrow - 4.0 ★
Category: Library
December TIOLI #4: A retelling, reworking or continuation of an original work



So Many Beginnings by Bethany C. Morrow is a YA remix of the classic “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott. Like the original, this book takes place during the American Civil War but the March family in this book are black former slaves who are now part of a Freedman Colony on Roanoke Island. While Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy are growing and coming into their own, they face many different issues from that of the young women in the Alcott version.

The story is a nuanced take on what life was life for the newly freed Black people. The author also includes the cultural divisions between Southern Black people like the Marches, who lived through enslavement, with those of Northerners who never experienced being slaves firsthand. While the story definitely has a familiar feel, there are many differences from the original that may surprise some readers yet the author manages to bring this family to life as the four sisters come into their own and face first love, health struggles, heartbreak and new horizons.

“Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott is one of my all-time favorite books and I have lost count of how many times I have read it. This book, while enjoyable, will never replace the original in my heart. Nevertheless it is heartening to see a book that is packed with Black history and representation wrapped in such a familiar story. So Many Beginnings is a clever adaptation that stays true to the tone of the original story yet still offers a unique point of view.

>83 DeltaQueen50: I have seen this one and wondered what it would be like. I will definitely have to move it up the list.

>84 JayneCM: This book will never replace the original but it's an interesting read and fun to see how the 4 sisters interact in this quite different family.

I am glad you are feeling better, Judy, and you sound like things are looking up.

>54 DeltaQueen50: Oh, so that's what the Mrs. Pollifax series are about! OK, well, I will definitely have to check them out as I enter this "croning" phase of my life.

>70 DeltaQueen50: This sounds really, really good. I like a good re-telling of the classic fairy tales and this one sounds like it has been modernized for its heroines.

And, you inspired me to create my thread for 2024! Added some categories, removed one, and thank you for leading me into the new reading year.

>86 threadnsong: I hope you enjoy the Mrs. Pollifax books, they were a pleasant surprise for me. It's hard to believe that 2024 is just around the corner, another aspect of getting older seems to be that time flies past so quickly!

I found your new thread in 2024! Looking forward to a new year.

>87 DeltaQueen50: Hi Cheryl. I don't want to wish my life away, but I am also looking forward to the start of the New Year and the beginning of a new challenge!

201. A Kiss At Midnight by Eloisa James - 3.0 ★
Category: Kindle & Audio Books
December TIOLI #4: A reworking, retelling or a continuation



A Kiss at Midnight by Eloisa James is a reworking of the Cinderella story. In this version, Cinderella is named Kate, she has a nasty stepmother but her stepsister, Victoria, although rather spoiled and vapid, in in fact an ally. When Kate is sent off to a prince’s castle to cover for Victoria’s absence, she meets a prince who is anything but charming.

Prince Gabriel needs to marry a wealthy women, he has a lot of relatives that rely on him as well as the upkeep on the castle. He has a Russian princess on her way to him, but, meanwhile he can’t help but fall in love with Kate. In turn, it isn’t long before Kate realizes that she loves Gabriel as well. Luckily, she meets her godmother, Henriette, who decides to help Kate find herself a husband. The Russian princess arrives, but by that time Gabriel and Kate have consummated their love and although Kate leaves with her Godmother, it isn’t long before Gabriel turns up at her door.

The author provides Kate with a large dowry, provides the Russian Princess with a new love and even gives Victoria, the stepsister a happy ending. I felt that the book could easily have been 100 pages shorter as the last third of the book was mostly scene after scene of Kate and Gabriel rolling around in each other’s arms. I did like that in this book the heroine wasn’t the usual victim that Cinderella so often is but overall this was a rather boring retelling. My favorite characters were easily the three dogs.

>90 DeltaQueen50: - I haven't read that one, but Eloisa James is very hit-or-miss for me, so I've mostly given up on reading her books. I'm sorry it wasn't a better read for you, Judy.

>91 katiekrug: At least it's another book off the pile!

>89 DeltaQueen50: - I feel the same way. Maybe I'll post my challenge tonight. (Although I really need to start on Christmas cards.)

>93 dudes22: I am such a Grinch - I am trying to keep my head down and hope that Christmas passes quickly. My youngest daughter and I are going Christmas shopping this Thursday so hopefully it will help me feel more Christmas-y.

I still haven't read Song of Achilles either, Judy, so you are not the last one. :)

>95 BLBera: Add it to your list, Beth. It's well worth the read. :)

> 94 I need some holiday spirit too! All the grandchildren want are various gift cards so I don't even need wrapping paper anymore really. I'm hoping that writing out a few cards and planning some baking will help.

>82 DeltaQueen50: Although I dearly loved The Song of Achilles (5 stars), I found Circe to be somewhat of a let down, although it was a 3 star (average) read.

>97 lsh63: I miss having some little ones around at Christmas. The grandchildren are pretty much adults now and it just isn't the same.

>98 Tess_W: I think I will keep Circe on the shelf a little longer and try to lower my expectations.

202. Some Buried Caesar by Rex Stout - 4.0★
Category: High & Low Shelves
December TIOLI #5: A Connection to Three



Some Buried Caesar is the 6th book in the Nero Wolfe series by Rex Stout. The book opens with Archie and Nero on a road trip to upstate New York where Nero is going to show some of his prize albino orchids at the North Atlantic Exposition. A blown tire causes the car to leave the road and Archie and Nero take shelter at the nearest house. This house is owned by a restaurateur and Archie and Nero become involved in his plans to barbeque a prize bull as a publicity stunt. Things go awry when this prize bull, Hickory Caesar Grindon, is discovered mauling a dead body and Nero appears to be the only one who suspects the bull had nothing to do with the death.

I really enjoyed Some Buried Caesar. Nero is out of his comfort zone and Archie’s facing some difficulties of his own. Although the mystery has it’s own twists and merits, for me, it was learning a little about Nero Wolfe’s background that was the highlight of the story. While I did miss some of the regular characters, the author wisely introduced some new ones that are intriguing.

I am slowly working my way through the Nero Wolfe series and find them clever and amusing. The verbal sparring between Nero and Archie, the eccentricity of Wolfe and my love of the sarcastic and irreverent Archie have totally hooked me to this series.

>100 DeltaQueen50: I've got book #1 in the Nero Wolfe series on my shelves. Going right now to pull it out and stack it on the nightstand!

>101 Tess_W: Get ready to fall in love with Archie! Nero Wolf considers himself the brains and uses Archie as his legs - but Archie is very clever in his own right. It's a fun series.

>100 DeltaQueen50: Another one were Wolfe leaves the brownstone! Who knew. I need to get back to reading that series.

>103 Familyhistorian: I, too, was surprised that the setting was away from the brownstone as the last book I read, #5 Too Many Cooks was set away as well.

203. Frogkisser! by Garth Nix - 4.0 ★
Category: Library
December SFFKit: WrapUp/Reader's Choice
December TIOLI #4: A Retelling, reworking or continuation



Frogkisser! by Garth Nix is a funny, reworking of the classic fairy tale, The Princess and the Frog. In this version, Princess Anya, who, with her loyal dog must embark on a quest to acquire the ingredients for a special lip balm, one that enables it’s user to change transformed beings back to their original form. Along the way, she also decides to save the whole kingdom from her wicked sorcerer of a stepfather. As she and Ardent travel along, they also acquire companions that are in need of the wondrous lip balm, Shrub, a young thief who has been turned into a newt, and Smoothie, a River Otter who has been transformed into a half-human.

I was both amused and charmed by this YA story and fell in love with these characters. Of course I couldn’t help but love Ardent the dog the most, he is wonderfully portrayed and livens up any scene that he was in. It was obvious that the author enjoyed the writing of this story, pulling tidbits from many different fairy tales and adding some marvellous items such as the Wallet of Crunchings and Munchings and the intriguing flying carpet with the unpronounceable name of Pathadwanimithochozkal.

While I was always aware that I was reading a YA story and I felt that it was a little too long, Frogkisser! is well worth the read. A good story with well developed characters – some to root for and some to boo. It had me wishing that I could read this aloud to a group of youngsters just to see their reactions.

204. A Quilt For Christmas by Sandra Dallas - 4.0 ★
Monthly Theme: Christmas
Interconnected Reading Challenge: This book is within 20 pages of the book I read for the challenge in November
December TIOLI #6: Has a connection to Christmas



A Quilt for Christmas by Sandra Dallas is the story of Eliza, a strong woman who is overseeing her family and farm in Kansas as her husband is off soldiering in the American Civil War. As the book opens she has just finished and sent off to her husband a special quilt meant to keep him warm and sheltered while he is away from his family. While she and her family are staunch believers in freeing the slaves, she is a little off-put by the hatred toward Southerners expressed by her husband in his letters and also that her son seems to be absorbing this hatred.

She opens her home to a neighbour widow who needs to escape from the bad treatment she is receiving at the hands of her in-laws and then when the war is over and she learns that she, too, is a widow, she allows an ex-Confederate soldier to stay on her farm as a hired man. She and this man develop feelings for each other much to her son’s disapproval.

A Quilt for Christmas beautifully illustrates the courage and commitment of the women left behind as their men went to fight in the War. As a border state, Kansas had people of both persuasion living side by side and bad feelings toward each other and hiding slaves and moving them along was a decision that each individual needed to make. Family, friendship, loyalty, and tolerance are all important themes in this short but well written account of life in the 1860s.

205. Crime At Christmas by C.H.B. Kitchin - 3.3 ★
Monthly Theme: Christmas Stories/Mysteries
December MysteryKit: Cozy Mysteries
December TIOLI #5: A connection to the number 3



Crime at Christmas by C.H.B. Kitchin is a vintage mystery that was first published in 1934. Set at Christmas time the book is set around a house party in Hampstead. When one of the guests is found dead, it is considered as an accidental death, but this becomes difficult to believe when another guest is brutally murdered as well.

What I didn’t know is that this book is the second of four books that feature London stockbroker Malcolm Warren but other than some referrals back to the first book, I didn’t feel as though I had missed anything by starting with the second. The mystery is centered around the family that live at Beresford Lodge, and although Malcolm isn’t the brightest detective that I have read about, he did keep stumbling over past secrets and connections. He certainly seemed more interested in taking naps than in solving the case, but luckily the second death brought the police who were able to put the clues together.

I wouldn’t recommend reading Crime At Christmas as a way to feel festive, but I did find it engaging enough that I wanted to see how it was going to be resolved. I will certainly be reading more from this author in the future.

>107 DeltaQueen50: He certainly seemed more interested in taking naps than in solving the case

This would be me if I were in a mystery novel, haha!

>108 rabbitprincess: LOL!

>107 DeltaQueen50: I enjoyed three Malcolm Warren books. Sophisticated and witty. The fourth, The Cornish Fox, is elusive but I will search high and low.

>108 rabbitprincess: These days, it's me as well.

>110 pamelad: I'm glad that you enjoyed them as I have a couple more of the Malcolm Warren books to get to.

206. Tryst by Elswyth Thane - 4.2 ★
Category: Kindle & Audio Books
December ScaredyKit: Ghost Story
December TIOLI #8: Fits any 2023 page two challenges



I was a little concerned when I picked up Tryst by Elswyth Thane as this was a reread of a book that I had loved as a young girl. I was afraid that it hadn’t stood the test the time, but luckily I was once again swept up in the romantic story. Yes, it was a little dated and more than a little “sappy” but it was exactly how I remembered and hoped it would be.

Originally published in 1939 and set in the lovely English countryside, this is a romantic ghost story as Sabrina and her family arrive to take up a lease on the country home of Nun’s Farthing. Sabrina’s father is working on a book about prehistoric England, her aunt Effie runs the household and eighteen year old Sabrina is relaxing and learning about life outside of the school room. She becomes obsessed by the locked bedroom of one of the owner’s sons. Eventually she picks the lock and spends much of her time in this room wondering about the man who lives there. Meanwhile in India, the man in question, Hilary is dying after taking a bullet. Hilary longs to return home and feels a connection drawing him back to Nun’s Farthing. He soon realizes that Sabrina is the connection and would have been his wife if he had lived. Together they form a strong bond as his presence becomes her sanctuary.

I think I was around twelve when I first read Tryst so of course the story didn’t speak to me emotionally as strongly as it did when I was at that impressionable age. I am not sure what I would have thought of this book if this had been my first read but I suspect the old lady in me would have had more appreciation for Aunt Effie and her concerns. This time I did notice the number of fore-warnings that the author scattered throughout the story. The writing is simple and straightforward and she easily manages to pass her opinions on war, family and love to the reader.

207. Caroline by Sarah Miller - 4.5 ★
Category: High & Low Shelves
December TIOLI #4: A retelling, reworking or continuation



I loved the Little House on the Prairie books when I was a child and when I received Caroline by Sarah Miller as a Christmas gift a few years ago, I was intrigued by the thought of reading about the Ingalls family again but from an adult’s perspective. Unfortunately, I placed the book on my shelf and promptly forgot about it. I finally pulled it down the other day and I thoroughly enjoyed this reworking of a beloved story.

The book opens as the Ingalls family is packing up and leaving Wisconsin for the Kansas prairie. Caroline supports her husband but feels some uncertainties and is saddened by leaving family and friends behind. The author describes the difficulty in choosing what to take and what to leave, the long journey west, at times tedious and others, difficult and dangerous. Pioneer life is hard, especially as Caroline is pregnant but she grows to love her new home. She and Charles work hard to transform this new land into a place where her family can grow and flourish.

Although the author made some changes to the story, sticking closer to the actual historical record, I was totally captivated by Caroline. This is a story of love, survival and family that vividly recaptures the past and shows Caroline Ingalls as the complex wife, mother and woman that she most certainly was.

208. Silent Nights by Martin Edwards - 4.2 ★
Monthly Theme: Christmas Stories/Mysteries
December RandomKit: O Christmas Tree
December MysteryKit: Cozy Mysteries
December TIOLI #7: Easy to dip in and out of



This is the second collection of vintage Christmas short stories assembled by Martin Edwards that I have read. Silent Nights is a fun collection with each story having a connection to the festive season. I was happy to read about so many familiar characters such as Sherlock Holmes in “The Blue Carbuncle” by Arthur Conan Doyle, Lord Peter Wimsey in “The Necklace of Pearls” by Dorothy Sayers and Albert Campion in “The Case is Altered” by Margery Allingham. One of my favorite stories was “Waxworks” by Ethel Lina White, which perhaps wasn’t very festive but certainly was scary.

I know that there is at least one more book of Christmas short stories put together by Martin Edwards and I am planning on reading it next Christmas. These are great stories to curl up with in front of the fireplace on a winter’s evening.

>105 DeltaQueen50: Frogkisser sounds interesting, Judy. I like Garth Nix's writing. Have you read The Left-Handed Booksellers of London?

>115 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg. Frogkisser was my first experience with Garth Nix. I loved his humor and his style so I will be looking for more by him. I am taking note of The Left-Handed Booksellers of London

209. Village Christmas by Miss Read - 4.0 ★
Category: Series
December SeriesCat: Set in a country that you don't live in
December AlphaKit: R
December TIOLI #6: The book has a connection to Christmas



Village Christmas is the sixth book in Miss Read’s Fairacre series about a timeless rural village in the English countryside. This particular entry takes place during the Christmas season and concerns that happiest of events, the birth of a child.

We are introduced to the spinster sisters, Margaret and Mary Waters as they spend their quiet evening addressing Christmas cards and discussing village affairs. They, and indeed many other villagers, are slightly disapproving of their new neighbours who live across the lane from them. The young couple and their children seem overly friendly and too ready to push themselves forward. Then on Christmas Day the pregnant Mrs. Emery goes into labour and is alone with her children as her husband was called to assist his parents, the elderly sisters do not hesitate to help out. The birth of a little boy brings all of Fairacre together in rejoicing his healthy arrival and making everyone realize that they have been overly critical of this young family who are simply trying to fit in.

As always the story is charming, the writing gentle and soothing, and the descriptions of a rural Christmas evokes childhood memories. My only complaint was how short this story was. Village Christmas is a lovely, warmhearted story with a timeless message.

>113 DeltaQueen50: Believe it or not, I never read the Little House on the Prairie books, but this looks like something I’d enjoy!

>113 DeltaQueen50: - I have this on my Kindle, and your excellent review is tempting me to get to it sooner rather than later.

>118 Storeetllr: It would be very interesting to see what someone who hasn't read the Little House on the Prairie books thinks of this one. It was very difficult for me to separate my love of the children's series and this book.

>119 katiekrug: I think you would enjoy the book, Katie. Perhaps the author could have explored Caroline's character a little more but I imagine it wasn't easy writing about a character that is so beloved.

>113 DeltaQueen50: For a real eye-opener, read A Wilder Rose. Good, but probably closer to the truth than most?

>121 Tess_W: I see that A Wilder Rose is a Kindle Unlimited book so I have added to my list.

210. Deceiving Mirror by Margaret Yorke - 4.2 ★
Category: Kindle & Audio Books
December AlphaKit: Y
December TIOLI #8: Fits any 2023 page 2 TIOLI Chalenges



Deceiving Mirror by Margaret Yorke was first published in 1960. Instead of being a mystery or crime story, this book is a well plotted, suspenseful psychological study. We are introduced to Nesta Falconer who has made a pleasant life for herself as a young widow, raising a daughter and living in an elegant cottage close to her brother-in-law’s farm. All too soon we learn how cold and manipulative Nesta is. She uses everyone in her life to promote the picture of herself that she wants others to see.

When her sister arrives to visit from the United States and becomes close to Nesta’s daughter and then to Nesta’s brother-in-law, she is seen as a threat to Nesta’s controlling ways. The author skillfully builds the tension to a revealing conclusion with plenty of twists along the way.

I admire Margaret Yorke’s work and find her stories compelling and interesting. Deceiving Mirror was unique and totally drew me in. Luckily, I know that I can always reach for one of her books and receive a very satisfactory read.

Judy, were you the one who had read and enjoyed the Murderbot series? I picked up the first one based on your comments when I saw it offered for free on audible and while I normally do not read science fiction, I am hooked.

>124 RidgewayGirl: I am very glad that you enjoyed your first Murderbot, Kay. I am also hooked by that series! My next book will be Fugitive Telemetry the 6th in the series and I hope to get to it very soon.

211. Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook by Christina Henry - 4.0 ★
Category: Kindle & Audio Books
December SFFKit: Yearly Wrapup
December TIOLI #4: A retelling, reworking or continution



Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook by Christina Henry reworks the Peter Pan legend and turns it into a dark fantasy as we learn that Captain Hook was originally Jamie, Peter’s best friend, but he grew progressively disenchanted by Peter’s manipulation, ego and controlling ways. As he learns to love Peter less, he also starts to grow up and want more than to simply be a boy and play all the time.

Peter finds and brings stray boys to the magical island, but it is Jamie who really looks after them, and sees to their safety. Peter doesn’t really care if a boy dies, he just goes and gets a new one but when he brought Charlie home, Jamie was concerned as firstly, Charlie was too young and secondly, from things that Charlie tells him, he had a loving home and a mother. All too soon Peter is bored by Charlie and looking for ways to get rid of him. Peter is also insanely jealous of Jamie, and doesn’t want him spending his time caring for the others.

The author delivers a gruesome story that has a constant feeling of menace. As it builds to an exciting conclusion, we see how Jamie is forced to join the pirates and become the grown-up hunter of Peter Pan rather than the companion. A interesting take on the original story with plenty of violence and gore.

212. An Elderly Lady Is Up To No Good by Helene Tursten
Category: Extras
December TIOLI #1: Negation in Title



I was sorry to reach the end of An Elderly Lady Is Up To No Good by Helene Tursten as I was enjoying these stories so much. Maude lives a quiet life, barely noticed by the people around her. After all who really does notice the elderly with their canes and wheeled walkers, gentle ways and soft speech. But Maude is anything but the quiet old lady she appears to be, inside she is a calculating, intelligent serial killer who systematically eliminates those who annoy her.

In a series of short stories we get to meet and join Maude in her escapades and all too soon we find ourselves rooting for her and cheering her on. From a greedy antiques dealer, to annoying neighbours, or a lost love’s new interest, Maude works on her problems and comes up with, for her, a satisfactory conclusion.

Being an elderly lady myself I found that I could relate to Maude and although I would never go as far, I couldn’t help but admire her cunning ways. An Elderly Lady Up To No Good is a fun read that is not intended to be taken seriously. It is dark, humorous and clever, and an excellent break from all the sweet stories that one finds at this time of the year.

213. The Story of Holly and Ivy by Rumer Godden - 4.0 ★
Category: Kindle & Audio Books
December KiddyKat: Children's Christmas Stories
December TIOLI #6: A Connection to Christmas



The Story of Holly and Ivy written in 1958 by Rumer Godden is a classic children’s Christmas story about the value of wishing. The story along with it’s lovely illustrations by Barbara Cooney gives one a warm glow as you read about the runaway orphan Ivy, who is wishing for a home and also for a doll to love, Policeman Jones and his wife, Mrs. Jones wish for a child to complete their family, while meanwhile Holly, the lovely Christmas doll on display in the toy shop wishes for a little girl to love.

With a little Christmas magic, wishes can come true.

Hi, Judy!
I liked "An Elderly Lady..." so much, and so did my mom. Maude is awful and I rooted for her.
I'm taking a BB for Lostboy, that sounds good!

>1278 Got me with another BB

Hi, Judy. Just checking in. How is everyone doing there?

>129 mstrust: An Elderly Lady Up To No Good was excellent. Different, dark and fun - I love it when books offer up something different and unique! Lost Boy reminded me a little of the television show "Once Upon a Time" with it's dark Peter Pan and rather sympathic (and handsome) Captain Hook.

>130 lowelibrary: I hope you enjoy it. :)

>131 msf59: Hi Mark, are you back home from your Mexican trip? I will pop over to your thread later and see how things are going. We are doing well here, getting last minute stuff done for Christmas and planning on lots of family visiting!

>117 DeltaQueen50: I really should try to re-read the Miss Read books. I enjoyed them so much the first time around.

>133 thornton37814: Hi Lori, they certainly are unique, I haven't found anything like them, they are light, amusing and definitely a comfort!

214. Children of the Ritz by Cornell Woolrich - 3.6 ★
Category: Extras
December TIOLI #15: Reindeer Genre Rolling Challenge



Children of the Ritz is Cornell Woolrich’s second novel and was originally published in 1927. It was made into a silent film in 1929. Considered a screwball comedy, the story is about Angela, a spoiled rich girl who falls in love with the chauffeur. Situations reverse when her family loses all their money and he wins $50,000 at the racetrack. They marry but she has never learned the value of money and is soon spending his money the way she used to spend hers. He in turn starts to secretly drive taxi by night in order to earn enough to keep her in the style that she seems to require.

Misunderstandings and avoiding the truth leads to marriage difficulties and eventually Angela leaves her man and is planning on heading off to Paris. But these two are genuinely in love and there are factors about each other that they need to discover if they want to find their way back to each other.

Although Woolrich is best known for his crime and noir writing, he was also very good at social satire and comedy. The characters in this story aren’t as sharply drawn as per usual but the story definitely reminded me a little of “My Man Godfrey”, one of my favorite vintage movies. Overall Children of the Ritz was a light, quick read that I enjoyed but don’t expect to remember.

215. Kittyhawk Down by Garry Disher - 3.8 ★
Category: Series
December SeriesCat: Set in a country you don't live in
December TIOLI #8: Fits any of the 2023 page two challenges



Kittyhawk Down is the second book in the Australian police procedural series by Garry Disher. Once again we follow Inspector Hal Challis and Sergeant Ellen Destry along with the other team members of the Peninsula Police Force as they investigate a variety of cases. From a missing two year old to discovering the identity of a male body found in the ocean and arresting a serial rapist who has been terrorizing the area, they are kept busy.

Along with the police business we also get caught up in their personal lives with Challis dealing with his wife who is in prison for trying to murder him, Ellen sympathizing with her daughter over her love life while still trying to sort her own marriage out. The mixture of police affairs with the juggling of personal issues moves the book along quickly. The multiple threads that run through the story keep the pages turning and although everything wasn’t cleared up by the end of the book it felt realistic.

Kittyhawk Down is a good addition to the series and I am enjoying the development of the characters’ personalities, their relationships with each other as well as the police work. I will be continuing on with this series.

We are planning on a quiet Christmas. We will be at one daughters on Christmas and the other daughter and her husband are coming here on Christmas Eve.

I expect I will be popping in and out over the next couple of days but I wanted to be sure of wishing everyone a Bright and Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, Judy!

Have a wonderful Christmas, Judy!

Merry Christmas, Judy! Enjoy the festivities!

Happy holidays, Kay, Meg and Mary. Hope you have a lovely holiday!

>142 ronincats: Thanks, Roni, and the same to you! :)

216. The Yellow Dog by George Simenon
Category: Exras
December TIOLI #14: The Word "Men" is in the Author's Name



The Yellow Dog by Georges Simenon is part of the Inspector Maigret series. It opens in the coastal town of Concarneau with the strange shooting of a local wine merchant. He had stepped into a doorway to light a cigar and was shot by way of the house’s letterbox.

The wine merchant was part of a group of local business men who met at the Admiral Hotel for drinks and cards. All too soon other members of this small group are attacked, causing panic and fear in the small town. One thing each attack has in common is the strange yellow dog who turns up at each scene. Inspector Maigret arrives to investigate and needs to sort through the rumors, hysteria and a mayor who wants someone – anyone arrested immediately.

With the setting and the characters, Simenon creates an intense, mysterious atmosphere that plays on ones anxieties. Maigret’s secret but clever unravelling of the case makes for a spellbinding ending as he fits all the pieces together. This is my second book featuring Maigret and I am enjoying learning about his intelligence and perception.

merry Christmas Judy!!

Thanks, Lynda and all the best of the holiday season to you. We had my younger daughter and husband over this evening and tomorrow we are spending Christmas Day with elder daughter and her family.

217. The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson - 4.2 ★
Category: Extras
December TIOLI #11: At least 3 letters from "December" can be found in the title



The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson is a unique story that is based on real history as it tells of one of Kentucky’s last living “Blue People” who works as a traveling librarian in the 1930s delivering books to the backwoods people of the area.

Cussy Mary Carter or Bluet as she was called, was born with the rare genetic condition that gave her blue skin, both her mother and father also were “blue” people and the family were treated much the same as black people were at that time. Considered “colored” she was not allowed to use “white only” facilities or attend “white only" community events. Her coal-miner father, thinking he was looking after her best interest, tried to marry her off but Cussy would much rather keep her job. As the Book Woman she traveled on the back of her mule, bringing books, letters, medicine and news to her patrons. As well as learning about the Book Women, the story also delves into what it meant to be a Blue.

The book was well written and engaging although it was difficult at times to read of the bigotry that Cussy and her father had to deal with. I would have liked a little more in the way of character development but overall I thought the author produced an excellent story that both informed and entertained.

Today is one of my favorite days of the year, Boxing Day or in my case, a day to do nothing. Christmas is over, presents unwrapped, family busy with other things, lots of leftovers so no cooking - just a quiet day with a book close by.

I am considering when I am going to start my 2024 challenge. I think I will finish my current read, Bertie and the Tin Man and count it for 2023 and then switch over and start 2024.

>147 DeltaQueen50: - I listened to this last year and it was one of my top audios of the year. And I listened to The Bookman's Daughter (the sequal) this year and it's one of my top books this year. I'm not sure I would have rated it as highly if I had read it. I think the audio brought a lot to the story.

>148 DeltaQueen50: I find cooking for two means leftovers are rare. I often cook extra so that I have leftovers but my OH won't touch them.

I'm considering starting my 2024 challenge too! I can't understand it, they are the same books on the shelf but somehow look more attractive for a new year.

Sounds like a good plan for Boxing Day, Judy. I went grocery shopping and it was so much more civilized than dropping in to Save On on Saturday when there was a long line up and their credit and debit card readers weren't working right. The weather was a plus today too.

Looks like we did the exact same thing for Boxing Day. It was lovely! I did make cinnamon-apple puff pastries, but it was a quick and easy recipe with not much clean up, so that hardly counts. Enjoy the rest of the week!

>149 dudes22: Good to hear that The Book Woman's Daughter is a great read as I have it on my Kindle. Hopefully I will get to it sooner rather than later!

>150 VivienneR: One of my son-in-laws won't touch leftovers either - that would drive me crazy! I love to cook extra and have leftovers for an easy just-warm-up meal. The draw to next year's challenge is really strong this year, I guess we are being lured by the new and shiney!

>151 Familyhistorian: I will probably be giving the grocery store a visit today or tomorrow - then they will start to get crazy again for the New Years Shopping! I am enjoying this mild weather and it was nice to see a little sunshine yesterday.

>152 Storeetllr: Cinnamon-Apple Pastries sound yummy!

Dropping in to say hi, and glad to see you've found some time to relax. Good for you!

>154 mstrust: Hi Jennifer, I hope you had a lovely Christmas. Are you doing anything special for New Years?

I did have a good Christmas, thanks! Presents in the morning, the tiki bar at night.
New Year's will be just a bottle champagne. Which is pretty good, in my book. What about you?

>156 mstrust: Quiet Christmas spent with family. New Years will be more of the same. New Years Eve will just be the two of us and we will probably drink a bottle of wine to toast the New Year. New Years Day will be a family dinner at the elder daughter's place.

218. Bertie and the Tin Man by Peter Lovesey - 3.3 ★
Category: Extras
December TIOLI #15: Reindeer Genre Rolling Challenge



To be clear, I am a huge fan of Peter Lovesey and I had hoped that I would eventually read everything he ever wrote. I picked up Bertie and the Tinman and was looking forward to a historical mystery that I could sink my teeth into. Unfortunately, I was disappointed with the book and will not be reading any further in this series that features HRH Albert Edward, Prince of Wales.

The story takes place in 1886 and concerns the death of a famous jockey, Fred Archer, who apparently committed suicide. The Prince is suspicious. He knew and admired Archer so he decides to investigate further into the mystery. I found it rather unbelievable that the Prince of Wales could wander around the country as freely as he was able to. But my biggest quibble with the book was I didn’t really like HRH and disliked having to spend so much time with him.

Although the book is well written I just wasn’t that interested in the world of horse racing or in Bertie’s bumbling ways. The author remains a favorite however and I will continue to explore his other series and stand-alones.

With this last review, I am closing 2023 and moving onto 2024.

My new home thread is: https://www.librarything.com/topic/355520#

Please come on over and join me

Happy New Year! Enjoy the festivities! See you next year! (I always enjoy saying that.)

Happy New Year's to you as well Mary!

And to everyone:

Hello Judy and Merry Christmas and best wishes for a Happy New Year! I wanted to read all of your thread from 2023 before heading over to 2024. The book on Caroline Ingalls sounds great (have you ever read Prairie Fires?) as does this pre-quel to Peter Pan describing his relationship with Captain Hook.

See you on your new thread!

Congratulations on a great year of reading! I'm catching up with the 2023 threads before continuing with the 2024 ones. I always pick up several BBs whenever I visit yours.

>163 threadnsong: Thanks Threadnsong, although I had some health issues 2023 was a very good reading year. I can only hope that 2024 will be as good.

>164 mathgirl40: Thanks, Paulina, and right back at you with the book bullets - you seldom miss! :)

Happy Friday, Judy. No wonder I couldn't find you. No one has posted over here. What the heck? Thanks to Meg for pointing me in the right direction.

I am very much enjoying The Bee Sting. I am hoping to be at 120-130 pages before day's end. I hope you are feeling the same way.

>166 msf59: Sorry, Mark but this is last year's thread. I've moved on. I just visited your thread and left a link to my 2024 thread - hope to see you there! :)