VivienneR Reads in 2024 - volume 2

The Reading Woman 2024 Wall Calendar : Gifts from the Museum of Fine Arts Boston

Welcome to my 2024 reading plans! I live in the Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada, surrounded by beautiful snowy mountains. This will be my 11th year of participating in the Category Challenge and every year has been a lot of fun - not only finding books that fit challenges and reading them - but following along with others in the group.



My categories:

Mystery

Fiction

My Series

From Lists

Faraway Places

Short Stories, Novellas


CATs, & KITs:

AlphaKIT

RandomKIT

MysteryKIT

CalendarCAT

PrizeCAT

ScaredyKIT

Historic Fiction Challenge

Bingo

Mystery
My favourite genre. I’m aiming for 24.

1. The Family Game by Catherine Steadman
   
2. Plain Murder by C.S. Forester
   
3. A Murder at Balmoral by Chris McGeorge
   
4. Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson
   
5. Huge by Brent Butt
   
6. Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner

Fiction
Another favourite category, and another aim of 24

1. Tatouine by Jean-Christophe Réhel
   
2. Coronation Year by Jennifer Robson
   
3. Open Secrets by Alice Munro

My Series
An attempt to catch up on many of the series that I’ve started.

1. The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly
   
2. The First Wave by James R. Benn

From Lists
These will be chosen from various lists - Guardian 1000, Keating’s 100 Best Crime novels, 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die, LibraryThing lists such as Pleasant Surprises, my own “Must Read” list, or any other interesting list I come across.

1. The Genius of Birds by Jennifer Ackerman
   
2. A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler

Faraway Places
Books with a setting in some faraway place will go here.

1. Close to the Bone by Stuart MacBride

Short stories, Essays, Novellas
Short stories and essays, alone or in collections, and short novels will be here.

1. Close Range: Wyoming Stories by Annie Proulx
   
2. Riding the Bullet by Stephen King
   
3. The 45% Hangover by Stuart MacBride

AlphaKIT

January A: Hidden in Plain Sight by Jeffrey Archer
January Y: I Will Find You by Harlan Coben
February E: Tricky Twenty Two by Janet Evanovich
February E: Turn a Blind Eye by Jeffrey Archer
February F: The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis
March R: The Last Remains by Elly Griffiths
March H: Never Coming Home by Hannah Mary McKinnon
April U: All That’s Left Unsaid by Tracey Lien
April O: Over My Dead Body by Jeffrey Archer
May N P: The Shadow in the North by Philip Pullman
June J B
July I S
August M G
September V C
October D T
November L W
December K Q
All year X & Z

RandomKIT

January - Early Birds: The Falcon Always Wings Twice by Donna Andrews
February - Escape or Rescue: Prisoners of the castle: an epic story of survival and escape from Colditz, the Nazis' fortress prison by Ben Macintyre
March: World Wildlife Day: The Grizzly Mother by Brett D. Huson (Hetxw'ms Gyetxw)
April: Enchanting garden visitors: The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
May: Art & Architecture: The English Assassin by Daniel Silva
June:
July:
August:
September:
October:
November:
December:

CalendarCAT

January: Bloody January by Alan Parks
February: Before We Were Free by Julia Alvarez
March: She-Wolves: The women who ruled England before Elizabeth by Helen Castor
April: April Fool Dead by Carolyn G. Hart
April: Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy
May: The Last Chronicle of Barset by Anthony Trollope
June:
July:
August:
September:
October:
November:
December:

PrizeCAT

January: long running prize - The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths
February: from your own country - The Orenda by Joseph Boyden
March: new to you: Travels with Herodotus by Ryszard Kapuscinski
April: women’s writing: And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
May: doubling up: The Bat by Jo Nesbo
June: book lists
July: a country not your own
August: for a genre
September: fits another CAT
October: short & long lists
November: children's book awards
December: your choice

ScaredyKIT

January: Psychological Thriller: Just Another Missing Person by Gillian McAllister
February: Gothic
March: True Crime
April: Witches, Black magic: Lolly Willowes, or the loving huntsman by Sylvia Townsend Warner
May: Graphic, short fiction: Gnaw by Jennifer Morrow in Vexed to Nightmare anthology
June: Serial Killers
July: Corporeal Undead
August: MG and YA horror
September: Stephen King
October: Contemporary Horror
November: Vampires, werewolves
December: Catch Up! Fits Any Month

Historic Fiction Challenge

1. Set in the country you’re from (Canada):
August Into Winter by Guy Vanderhaeghe

2. Set in a different country to yours:
Shadows in Bronze by Lindsay Davis

3. Set in your favourite historical time period (mid 20th century):
Yours Cheerfully by A.J. Pearce

4. Set in a time period you’ll less familiar with (Regency period):
Death Comes to the Village by Catherine Lloyd

5. With a speculative element:

6. About a real figure or a specific event:
The Oscar Wilde Murders at Reading Gaol by Gyles Brandreth

7. Over 500 pages:
Fall of Giants by Ken Follett

8. A Classic work:

Bonus:A Classic work - written at least 60 years ago about a time period at least sixty years before the work was written/published):
Death Comes as the End by Agatha Christie - published in 1944, set in Ancient Egypt

1. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
2. Fade Away by Harlan Coben
3. The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey by Walter Mosley
4. Vengeance by Benjamin Black
5. Hypothermia by Arnaldur Indridason
6. Cold by Drew Hayden Taylor
7.
8.
9.
10. Super Friends! by Cale Atkinson
11. Some Maintenance Required by Marie-Renée Lavoie
12. Death of a Scriptwriter by M.C. Beaton
13.
14.
15. Antarctica by Claire Keegan
16. The Late Train to Gipsy Hill by Alan Johnson
17. Her Secret Son by Hannah Mary McKinnon
18. Blood Betrayal by Ausma Zehanat Khan
19. Death of a charming man by M.C. Beaton
20. The Survivors by Jane Harper
21.
22. Smut: Two unseemly stories by Alan Bennett
23. Moon of the Turning Leaves by Waubgeshig Rice
24. A Man Called Intrepid by William Stevenson
25. The Quiet Tenant by Clémence Michallon

Welcome to volume 2 of my thread!

Happy new thread

Happy new thread.
Nice to see you're making progress across most of your categories.

Happy New Thread! BTW - There's a problem with your link in #6 - or the author mentioned is wrong.

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread! I enjoyed seeing the pictures of women reading again!

Happy new thread!

Thank you all! A special thanks to >18 dudes22: for pointing out my mistake.

I won't be finishing anything today so February is a wrap for me.

February Summary

Books read in February: 15
Books read this year: 33


A Man Called Intrepid by William Stevenson


Super Friends! by Cale Atkinson
The Late Train to Gipsy Hill by Alan Johnson


The Genius of Birds by Jennifer Ackerman
Prisoners of the Castle by Ben Macintyre
Before We Were Free by Julia Alvarez
The Orenda by Joseph Boyden
Tricky Twenty Two by Janet Evanovich
Vengeance by Benjamin Black
Close to the Bone by Stuart MacBride
A Murder at Balmoral by Chris McGeorge
Turn a Blind Eye by Jeffrey Archer
Oscar Wilde and the Murders at Reading Gaol by Gyles Daubney Brandreth
August Into Winter by Guy Vanderhaeghe


The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis

Happy new thread, Vivienne. This gave me a chance to scroll through the great pictures you used for your Category headings. :)

Thank you, Judy. Glad you like them. Finding pictures is always fun.

Happy New Thread, and it looks like you had a good reading month!

Happy new thread Vivienne, I love the pictures you chose.

Happy new thread, Vivienne! I was looking at your last thread and hadn't realised Alan Johnson had some crime novels out as well as his memoirs - very interesting! I loved This Boy. And the Jeffrey Archer series sounds good too. I've wishlisted it at the elibrary for consideration next time a reserve slot opens up :-)

RandomKIT March - World Wildlife Day

The Grizzly Mother by Brett D. Huson (Hetxw'ms Gyetxw)

Last year I read and loved The Raven Mother from this award-winning series, which made this one a shoo-in for the World Wildlife Day prompt. It describes the connections between animals, people and the environment. The people here, are the Gitxsan Nation of the vast area in northwestern British Columbia who share the landscape with the grizzly. The grizzly mother teaches her young how to find food from the Skeena River and surrounding forests. A map of the territory is included with information about the people of the Gitxsan Nation who follow a matrilineal line: all rights and stories come from the mothers.

The illustrations by Natasha Donovan are outstanding.



AlphaKIT March - R

The Last Remains by Elly Griffiths

An excellent wrap-up to the series. There are lots of old characters from earlier books in the series who contribute to the conclusion. The mystery itself was weak but the archaeological background and suspense of the story made up for it.

PrizeCAT March - new to you

This won the San Francisco Chronicle Best Book of the Year (Memoir)

Travels with Herodotus by Ryszard Kapuscinski

Polish author and journalist Kapuscinski was influenced by reading Herodotus and followed his example by writing about his own travels while providing an account of what he saw that his readers could envisage. I haven’t read The Histories by Herodotus, his inspiration, but I found Kapuscinski’s colourful account to be interesting, thought-provoking, and quite different to any other travel memoir I’ve ever come across. He has a unique way of looking at both commonplace and noteworthy that makes his book so engaging.

>31 VivienneR: I've got that out of the library, I'm looking forward to it.

I've just got 2 more Ruth Galloway's to read.

>32 Helenliz: I'll watch for your opinion, Helen.

I skipped the penultimate Ruth Galloway because I was weary of the relationship saga. I'm glad I read this one though.

>33 VivienneR: I skipped a few for the same reason. Although I enjoyed most of the books, I thought the series was too long, not just because of the drawn-out romance but because some of the plots were too similar. I've decided that romances need to be resolved by book six, at the latest.

I gave up on the Ruth Galloway series because she constantly bashed Christianity in the first few books. I got tired of it and decided I could live without reading them.

>31 VivienneR: Several people have recommended this. Will put it on my WL.

>31 VivienneR: Good! I'm sure you will enjoy it.

AlphaKIT March - H

Never Coming Home by Hannah Mary McKinnon

We know from the beginning that the narrator, Lucas, has had his wealthy wife murdered so that he will inherit a stack of money. He has done everything very carefully and covered his tracks all the way. And although his actions have been despicable the reader begins to sympathize with him, and cheer him on. The ending is worth waiting for: dramatic and surprising.

Oops!

About to post my March MysteryKIT choice, I discovered the category was unintentionally omitted when I continued my thread.

I'll insert it now and move it to the correct spot in the next thread continuation.

Unintentionally omitted from the group of CATs & KITs above

MysteryKIT

1. January: Short stories: Cleaning the gold by Karin Slaughter & Lee Child
   
2. January: Short stories: Rumpole on Trial by John Mortimer
   
3. March: Historical: The Bloody Meadow by William Ryan aka The Darkening Field
   
4. April: Series: Birthdays for the Dead by Stuart MacBride
   
5. April: Series: Death of a Liar by M.C. Beaton
   May - golden age:
   June - author new to you:
   July - cross-genre:
   August - amateurs:
   September - upstairs/downstairs:
   October - not too scary:
   November - noir:
   December - culinary:

MysteryKIT March - Historical

The Bloody Meadow by William Ryan aka The Darkening Field

In 1937 Stalinist Russia, CID detective Alexei Korolev is “asked” by the NKVD to find out more about the suspected suicide of a young woman in Ukraine who was working on a movie production subsidized by the state. If it is in fact suicide then he can consider the trip as a holiday without mentioning his orders, if not, then he is to investigate. Making things more precarious, she was having an affair with a party director. He has no choice, however, even though he would prefer to avoid political cases at all costs. He travels to Ukraine from Moscow by air - his first flight! The coroner finds the woman was murdered, which to Korolev’s horror means he must investigate party members. While he is loyal to the party he finds himself trapped by that loyalty and his obligation to justice.

Ryan’s writing portrays not only the terrible anxiety produced by Stalin’s Communism that is in opposition to the Orthodox church, still operating in secrecy, but also the danger of antagonizing the party during a time of Stalin’s frequent purges. An excellent novel, I look forward to reading more by Ryan.

>31 VivienneR: Travels with Herodotus sounds good so now on my library list .

Happy March and Happy New Thread! Looks like you are finding a very wide range of books. I've read a couple of Ruth Galloway mysteries and I wish her ability to deal with her relationships were as good as her archeology abilities.

>42 hailelib: I enjoyed it and I hope you do too when you get around to it.

>43 threadnsong: Thank you. I'd like to focus on a smaller range, but it's difficult to resist a new title, or new-to-me author. I skipped a couple of the Ruth Galloway mysteries because I was just tired of the relationship saga. I loved her Magic Men series set in 1950s Brighton. I wish there had been more.

Category: Mystery

Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson

This started off well even though I had no idea where the story was leading. The narrator is a mystery bookseller and created a blog post about eight well-known mysteries with the same title as the book. I have already read the books referenced so I wasn’t worried about spoilers, which was fortunate as there are many. My suspicions began before the FBI started showing an interest in the list and the list-maker. Repeated references to the plots and characters from books on the list gave the story a repetitive feel, compounded by the corresponding plot and characters in the story. A clever idea that got bogged down in details. Disappointing, especially with so many spoilers.

>45 VivienneR: I gave this 3.5* so might have liked it a bit more than you did, but it's too meta.

>46 pamelad: I agree, Pam. That he gave numerous spoilers to books that are still on many TBRs was a serious fault. I considered a lower rating for that alone. Creating a novel that uses so many plots made for a messy result.

>45 VivienneR: I liked it better than you too. The spoilers didn't bother me because they were well-known murders.

>48 thornton37814: The spoilers didn't really bother me much, and probably wouldn't bother anyone of a "certain age" or older (like me), but I just feel it's unfair to reveal so much. However, I'll happily read more of Swanson's books.

I think at a certain point, a book becomes "literature," part of the shared cultural history, and it's kind of silly to talk about spoilers anymore. Is it a spoiler to reveal that Romeo and Juliet die? The newest book on Swanson's "perfect murders" list is more than 30 years old, which seems like plenty of time to me. We can't have meaningful conversations about literature, and authors can't comment on what came before them, if we have to worry about spoilers in perpetuity.

>50 KeithChaffee: Good point. I was about to read Haddon's book for the first time and decided to put it off for a while - until the details are less clear in my memory, a blessing that has allowed me to read Christie's books repeatedly for many decades. I know some younger mystery readers who would be disappointed to read spoilers.

Category: Short Stories, Novellas

Riding the Bullet by Stephen King

I haven’t read much of King but I believe this was the creepiest story I’ve read so far.

Category: Mystery

Huge by Brent Butt

A fantastic debut novel from the creator of Corner Gas, one of Canada’s best TV shows. Dale Webly is a stand-up comedian, trying to make enough to pay for his daughter’s first year of college. He is slated to do a series of shows in some lesser-known spots in Canada. The second act on the bill is Rynn Lanigan, a woman in her twenties from Ireland, who appears to be headed for success. The third guy is a last minute addition, Hobie Huge, a loud, belligerent, bad-tempered guy whose build matches his name and who is completely without talent. The tour becomes a nightmare, and gets progressively worse as Dale and Rynn find themselves in a massive struggle to stay alive. While there are amusing moments throughout the story, this is one that mutates into horror.

Butt has written (and narrated) a winner proving his considerable talent is multifaceted. I can’t wait for him to write more.

Vivienne, I finished The Late Train to Gipsy Hill yesterday and really enjoyed it! Thank you for the recommendation. I love books that involve a lot of running around London :-)

I'm taking a BB for >53 VivienneR:, it sounds good. Plus, I really liked Biggest Elvis, which may have some of that "performer who gets in over his head" vibe in common.

>54 susanj67: I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Susan. I too love books that have a lot of London.

>55 mstrust: I think it will appeal to your sense of humour - and horror, Jennifer. Biggest Elvis sounds like one of those off-the-wall fun books too!

Category: Mystery

Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner

A psychological thriller that hooks the reader from the first page. Helen meets loud and friendly Rachel at a prenatal class. In a short time Rachel has worked her way into Helen’s life. This was Faulkner’s debut and I’ll be looking for more.

Bingo - author 65 or older

Death of a charming man by M.C. Beaton

Just filling in a book I missed from the Hamish Macbeth series. In later books Beaton often mentioned the time when Hamish almost married Priscilla. This provided the story of what went wrong.

CalendarCAT - March: International Women’s Day

She-Wolves: The women who ruled England before Elizabeth by Helen Castor

Wonderful! Castor provides details about the queens before Elizabeth I, writing with such an engaging quality that it makes her book absolutely captivating.

The book opens with the death of Henry VIII’s young son King Edward VI in 1553 when all potential heirs were female meaning England would have a female reigning monarch for the first time. Then Castor goes back to provide biographies of Empress Matilda, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Isabella of France, and Margaret of Anjou who were all queens in the names of their husbands or sons. And although Matilda reigned briefly, “Bloody” Mary, daughter of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon was the first queen to rule in her own right.

Outstanding! Highly recommended.

>59 VivienneR: it is a good one. Glad you enjoyed it.

You may enjoy this. In 2021 a french bookstore posed images of people holding book covers such that they appeared to extend the artwork. https://www.designboom.com/art/bookface-librairie-mollat-07-03-2018/ I used that cover for my attempt.

>60 Helenliz: That's wonderful!

>60 Helenliz: That's brilliant! I remember on twitter the bookface thing being very big. There were some fantastic examples.

>60 Helenliz: Well done! Is it good to be queen?

>60 Helenliz: Wow!

It worked!

Thank you all. I won't let on about how long it took to get that lined up by myself!

>62 Jackie_K: There were some excellent examples, I agree.
>63 Charon07: I feel I should have a crown, but that would have complicated the thing even further!

>60 Helenliz: Like Judy said in post #64 - Wow!

I am so impressed that you were able to line up the image to such perfection!

RandomKIT March - World Wildlife Day

A Bird in the Hand by Ann Cleeves

An early mystery from Cleeves. OK, but she got better in later novels.

>68 VivienneR: Agreed. The surmise was interesting, but I'm not sure it worked.

That Cleeves series is OK but nothing special.

>69 Helenliz: & >70 hailelib: Even as far back as the 80s when it was published, it would not have been special. I have another one in the series but may never get around to it.

There has always been concern about hordes of twitchers (not birdwatchers) who are only interested in ticking boxes on "life lists". Most have no thought of the potential damage done by hundreds of people to fragile environment, wildlife and property.

>57 VivienneR: A new to me author of psychological thrillers. (my fav genre) On my WL is goes!

>71 VivienneR: The Cleeves series might not be special, but over the years I have found them to be very enjoyable. They do not have the strong literary content that I now find very important to me, but they are much better than cozy mysteries.

>72 Tess_W: The author was new to me too! It was twisty. Hope you enjoy it when you get around to it.

>73 JoeB1934: My opinion comes from knowing how good Cleeves became later. Still, I gave it a reasonable rating.

Bingo - Recent Bestseller

The Quiet Tenant by Clémence Michallon

It’s impossible to credit Michallon’s assertion that Aiden - kidnapper and killer of multiple women - is charming, well-liked, an all-round nice guy. He has kept a woman hostage in his shed for five years for crying out loud! There are plenty of defects in this novel, in the writing, plot, characters, and pace. It was like watching paint dry and I almost gave up a few times but kept on reading in the hope it would have a dramatic end.

The second-person writing style was a tad annoying, although I can appreciate that it helps “you” experience the situation.

I doubt that I’ll read another after this disappointing debut.

>75 VivienneR: I was really disappointed with this one, too. It seemed only half thought out.

>76 RidgewayGirl: That's it exactly - "half thought out". It was a good idea but needed more planning, editing, expertise.

>75 VivienneR: Thanks for the warning. This sounds like one to avoid!

>78 mathgirl40: I wish I could have the time back that I spent reading it. I should have just flipped to the last few pages. :)

But remember, some people really liked it.

Category: From Lists - Booker Prize list

A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler

A leisurely character-driven story that recounts the detailed relationships and lives of the Whitshank family in Baltimore. Nothing spectacular happens, yet it is filled with the ordinary happenings of an ordinary family, that we can all understand and appreciate. I recommend reading this novel slowly, savouring it, instead of a non-stop feast, so that the wonderful characters can take up residence in the mind like friends. A fantastic novel that highlights Tyler’s exceptional writing.

>80 VivienneR: It's been along time since I've read an Anne Tyler novel. I thought it was on my wish list, but I decided to check. I apparently read that one back in 2015 and was not as impressed with it as with some of Tyler's other works. I predicted when I wrote the review that I wouldn't remember it. I was right. I said that it never grabbed me.

>81 thornton37814: Some books just fade from the memory even when they have been enjoyed. I've always thought Redhead by the side of the road to be my favourite Anne Tyler book and yet I remember very little about it. I may not remember the details of A spool of blue thread for a long time but I enjoyed reading it.

Bingo 19 - written by Person of colour

Blood Betrayal by Ausma Zehanat Khan

A different type of police procedural mystery, featuring a Muslim woman detective who faces prejudice from all directions. It’s eloquent, complex, and well-written.

>83 VivienneR: I read her first book several years ago and thought it was promising and as you've said, different. I'll keep my eye open for Blood Betrayal since it's the beginning of a new series.

>84 clue: Luanne, I believe this one is the second in the series, although I don't think you would miss anything by reading it first. Blackwater Falls is the first, which I own but I'm saving it for another prompt.

>83 VivienneR: I've added Blackwater Falls to my library list.

>86 hailelib: Good! I hope you enjoy it.

Agreeing with all the kudos about your photo. Quite an accomplishment!

>59 VivienneR: also sounds like a great book, especially bringing in Eleanor of Aquitaine and Isabella of Spain.

>83 VivienneR: your description is intriguing and I shall put it on my Wishlist.

>59 VivienneR: Vivienne, I loved She-Wolves too! I also liked The Dark Queens by Shelley Puhak, about women in a different time and country but a period I knew nothing about. And in the princess category there's Daughters of Chivalry, about the daughters of Edward I, which I also loved.

>85 VivienneR: I too have added Blackwater Falls. How could I not read something set in CO

>88 threadnsong: I love books about medieval history.

>89 susanj67: Thank you Susan. I've added both to my wishlist.

>90 JoeB1934: How appropriate for you!

Category: My Series

The First Wave by James R. Benn

The second in the Billy Boyle series. Billy handles everything required of him but there is no doubt he would prefer to be back in his job as a Boston cop, patrolling the beat while twirling his baton. He was elevated to detective with family assistance and then made army lieutenant because of his distant family connection to the Eisenhowers. The story in Algeria involves the illegal activity surrounding the brand new, highly-prized penicillin. There are serious issues here including murder, rape and torture that came across as incongruous with light-hearted Billy, a character that would fit well at the “cozy” end of the mystery genre.

This series was a much appreciated BB from mysterymax.

>80 VivienneR: Putting A Spool of Blue Thread on the wish list. I like Anne Tyler's books, but it's ages since I last read one.

>93 pamelad: It doesn't have a lot of action, but it is beautifully written. I loved it. I wish all fiction was this good.

March Summary

Books read in March: 16
Books read this year: 49

Two 5 star books this month! And four rating 4.5 stars. That’s a good month.


Huge by Brent Butt
She-Wolves: the women who ruled England before Elizabeth by Helen Castor


The Last Remains by Elly Griffiths
The Grizzly Mother by Brett D. Huson (Hetxw'ms Gyetxw)
Never Coming Home by Hannah Mary McKinnon
A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler


The Bloody Meadow by William Ryan
Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner
Blood Betrayal by Ausma Zehanat Khan


Riding the Bullet by Stephen King
Death of a charming man by M.C. Beaton
The First Wave by James R. Benn


Travels with Herodotus by Ryszard Kapuscinski
Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson
A Bird in the Hand by Ann Cleeves


The Quiet Tenant by Clémence Michallon

It's great to see that you had such a good reading month! She-Wolves is definitely a BB for me, too.

>96 MissBrangwen: Glad to hear that, Mirjam! I hope you enjoy it.

>95 VivienneR: A terrific list of candidates for me to consider! Thanks.

>98 JoeB1934: Good! You know I'm always happy to add books to your reading list, Joe.

RandomKIT April - Enchanting Visitors to the Garden

The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

An interesting concept and a neat comparison to the prickly hedgehog. Barbery’s two main characters are highly intelligent autodidacts, a difficult feat to pull off successfully and not as appealing as I expected.

Bingo - published in a year ending in 24 (2024)

Cold by Drew Hayden Taylor

The story begins with a plane crash in Canada’s frigid northern wilderness before taking on a supernatural twist based on an indigenous myth. I really enjoyed this darkly funny novel, a mashup of murder mystery, adventure, but mostly horror.

>101 VivienneR: Cold sounds like a book that I would enjoy and I see that my library has it - so on the list it goes!

>102 DeltaQueen50: I'm pretty sure you'd enjoy it, Judy.

CalendarCAT - April

April Fool Dead by Carolyn G. Hart

Like an April Fool’s Day prank that falls flat, this was underwhelming. A generous 2 stars.

CalendarCAT - April 22nd - Earth Day

Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy

Set in the not too distant future when climate change has wiped out most of the wildlife on earth. In Greenland, Franny Stone joined one of the last fishing boats in an attempt to follow the last Arctic terns on their migration to the Antarctic - a move that she promises will lead the boat to fish. It was hard to understand why she would do this, an action that could harm the migrating birds and deplete ocean wildlife even more. That was just one of the problems I had with this book. So much was omitted about what else was happening besides the empty oceans and sky.

Fragments of Franny’s troubled past are woven into the story along the way. At first I associated her dismal nomadic life with the terns’ migration, but eventually it began to appear more like McConaghy had two stories in mind and scrambled them together without much attention to continuity. I’ve heard so many good reports about this book and was surprised to find that it was not to my liking. The unexpected ending did not make up for a disappointing read.

>105 VivienneR: I was less than thrilled with Migrations as well and then I felt that perhaps I had missed something as most people loved the book. Glad to find someone who felt the same as me. :)

>105 VivienneR: The same thing happened to me. I had read her book on wolves earlier and it is far superior for me.

>105 VivienneR: I thought I must have missed something too, but you just know when a book hits the spot and this one didn't. You will be glad to see Joe (post 107) has had a similar experience.

>107 JoeB1934: Glad you mentioned that, Joe. I remember borrowing Once there were wolves by the same author but something put me off (I don't remember the details) and I returned it unread.

AlphaKIT - April: U

All That’s Left Unsaid by Tracey Lien

Ky Tran, a Vietnamese-Australian journalist, decides to investigate the murder of her younger brother, Denny in Australia. The examples of racism are well known nowadays, as are the strict rules of immigrant parents. A promising debut novel but it was slow and went on a bit too long.

MysteryKIT - April: Series

Birthdays for the Dead by Stuart MacBride

Despite the abhorrent crimes this is a real page-turner. Thankfully, the delightful character, Alice McDonald, provided light relief. I am a fan of Stuart MacBride’s gritty crime novels, and happily will be following the Ash Henderson series.

ScaredyKIT- April: Witches, evil spirits, black magic…

Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner

An odd story, but beautifully written. Laura Willowes, a spinster, who, through childish mispronunciation, became known as Lolly. Set in the 1920s, Lolly rejected the safe, respectable, boring life with her brother and sister-in-law to live in an out of the way village named Great Mop. When she discovers her identity as a witch the story becomes much more interesting.

PrizeCAT - April: women’s writing

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

First read many years ago, then again not too long ago, this time I listened to the audio version with a superb reading by Dan Stevens. The plot is not without minor faults, but can be forgiven because it was so original, so clever. One of the things I had forgotten was the atmosphere of malevolence on Soldier Island where no one was trusted.

Listed on the Guardian 1000, 1000 Books You Must Read Before You Die, and many other lists, including 100 Must-Read Classics by Women.

>112 VivienneR: Dan Stevens is a wonderful narrator, isn't he? I listened to My Dear I Wanted To Tell You earlier this year and his performance was incredibly well.

>113 MissBrangwen: Yes! Isn't he wonderful? Unfortunately the title you read is not in my library system but I'm looking forward to another one - The Angel's Game read by Stevens.

Bingo - short fiction

Antarctica by Claire Keegan

An early volume of short stories that show Keegan’s fantastic talent that will become familiar in her later work.

>115 VivienneR: I agree with your assessment, there's a lot of promise in here.

>116 Helenliz: Yes, and even an early work by Keegan is well worth reading.

Hi Vivienne and again I'm amazed at your variety of books.

>105 VivienneR: I don't know if I could read this one, and I get how there are just some books that don't mesh with you.

>112 VivienneR: Ooooh, an Agatha Christie as an audiobook! I've stuck mostly with classics when I listen to audiobooks but I never thought of an Agatha Christie. Will have to visit my library for some of hers to borrow for the experience.

>118 threadnsong: Oh, that's nice to hear. I always think I read 98% mysteries.

Yes, some books just don't work for everyone.

My problem is that my library has so few Christie audiobooks.

AlphaKIT - April: O

Over My Dead Body by Jeffrey Archer

Archer can be relied on to write a page-turner in perfect English and without resorting to sex, swearing or violence. This is the 4th in the William Warwick series and I’m looking forward to the next two episodes that will close the series.

MysteryKIT - April: Series

Death of a Liar by M.C. Beaton

Another fun episode in the Hamish MacBeth series. The next one that I own in the series was completed by R.W. Green, who took over after Beaton’s death. I wonder how that will be.

Historic Fiction Challenge: Favourite time period - mid 20th century

Yours Cheerfully by A.J. Pearce

After an excellent start to the series, in this second episode Pearce takes a serious subject and places it in a romantic story. Emma Lake is advice columnist for a woman’s magazine and is writing articles in support of women recruited to help with the war effort. Working conditions for women in munitions factories in wartime clashed - some might say contrasted - with the rest of the story. I’m still not quite sure if it worked or not. Pearce, however, deserves kudos for accurately describing the state of life for many women in the 1940s, facts made more shocking by a comparison of 21st century standards.

>122 VivienneR: I've put this one and Dear Mrs Bird on my library wish list because you said Pearce, however, deserves kudos for accurately describing the state of life for many women in the 1940s, facts made more shocking when compared with 21st century standards. I don't read many WWII books written by people who weren't there, but there are a few good ones. Worth a try.

>123 pamelad: I hope you enjoy Pearce - and agree with that assessment! Dear Mrs Bird was better but I enjoyed Yours Cheerfully too. Some of the attitudes of male bosses weren't *that* different to some I experienced in my working life. But it's a cute romantic story and I know you'll like that part. She also offers some book titles in the acknowledgements that appear to be worth investigating.

>120 VivienneR: I've got some of Archer's books but never read them. Maybe I should give one of them a try.

>125 hailelib: You will get some idea of his style by reading one. He's a good storyteller, but of course, not everything appeals universally.

>120 VivienneR: I'm going to have to begin this series. Archer is one of my fav authors. I read The Clifton Chronicles (six books, I think) and loved them.

>127 Tess_W: Good to hear, Tess! I really enjoyed The Clifton Chronicles too.

I can sing the same song I always do when it comes to The Clifton Chronicles, I started it and I think I read the first two. Throughly enjoyed them but somehow never got farther than that. This could be a Catagory for next year.

>129 clue: I think we all sing that song for many series. I can't even count the number of series where I have read the first couple of books, then nothing, and for no good reason.

April Summary

It was a very busy month but not good for reading. I thought I might finish The Last Chronicle of Barset by Trollope but that won’t happen until May.

Books read in April: 12
Books read this year: 61


And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie


Cold by Drew Hayden Taylor
Birthdays for the dead by Stuart MacBride
Antarctica by Claire Keegan
Over My Dead Body by Jeffrey Archer
Yours Cheerfully by A.J. Pearce


Death of a Liar by M.C. Beaton


The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy
All That’s Left Unsaid by Tracey Lien
Lolly Willowes, or the loving huntsman by Sylvia Townsend Warner


April Fool Dead by Carolyn G. Hart

>131 VivienneR: my busy April resulted in 4 books - I'd be amazed if I managed 12 in a month! Different expectations, I know my limits.
I read Antarctica in March, I also rated it 4 stars.

>132 Helenliz: Four books in a month is not to be sneezed at. Insomnia helps boost my stats.

CalendarCAT - May

A Victorian novel in honour of Victoria Day on May 20th.

The Last Chronicle of Barset by Anthony Trollope

Long, but I loved every minute I spent in Barsetshire. I was very glad Trollope allowed readers a farewell visit with Septimus Harding.

>121 VivienneR: I have a love/hate relationship with M. C. Beaton. I either really enjoy them or really hate them. Agatha Raisin used to drive me insane, but then a few into the series, I liked her better. I still prefer Hamish though.

>135 thornton37814: Lori, I feel exactly the same way. Then I came across an Agatha Raisin book that I liked and have enjoyed her since then. But like you, Hamish is still my favourite. I'm looking forward to see what R.W. Green will do with Beaton's characters.

>110 VivienneR: I am also a Stuart MacBride fan, and delighted to see there's a new series. I looked up the Logan McRae books and I only have one full-length novel left to read, so I'm going to get on with it and then start the new series! I love his boss, Roberta :-)

On the subject of excellent WWII books, can I recommend Their Finest Hour and a Half and Crooked Heart? Lissa Evans is a fabulous writer.

>137 susanj67: Even with the most disturbing crimes, MacBride can be relied on to remain entertaining. My problem is that even though the library have his books they are long and usually too heavy for my arthritic hands. In that case I put them on my kindle wishlist.

Thank you for the Lissa Evans recommendation. Sounds like they are right up my street.

>138 VivienneR: Seconding the Lissa Evans recommendation. I enjoyed the whole Neil Bostock series, particularly Crooked Heart. There's a pretty good film of Their Finest Hour and a Half, which I would have watched after reading the book instead of before, had I known in time that the book existed.

>139 pamelad: It's so good to get a second vote for Lissa Evans. I own three books now - couldn't resist V for Victory too.

AlphaKIT - May N & P

The Shadow in the North by Philip Pullman

A dark Victorian story that raises some topics of the time, like the Married Women’s Property Act, and the popularity of spiritualists and music halls. I find Sally’s success in business is hard to credit. Although a good tale, it did not hold my interest as much as the book that follows this one in the series (read out of order).

Bingo - Involving water

The Survivors by Jane Harper

I was looking forward to this book mainly because it’s set in Tasmania, my sister-in-law’s favourite place, And even though I’ve never been there, Harper has a remarkable knack of creating a sense of place and it was easy to imagine the small beach community. However, I found the story slow and kept losing concentration, making it necessary to put it down for stretches. It became a long read.

>134 VivienneR: Glad you reminded me that I need to get back to those Barsetshire Chronicles. I've read the first two, but it's been so long, that I probably need to begin again.

>143 Tess_W: I know how you feel. I too spread the series over a long time and wondered if I could pick it up again. Don't worry, Tess, it will all came back to you. I found this one to be a page-turner, I couldn't wait to find out what happens to all the major players.

>142 VivienneR: I was bored too, and didn't get to the end of the book.

>141 VivienneR: I liked one of her books. When I checked out another, I abandoned it. I absolutely hated it. I heard other people had the same issue with her. I've decided she is a "one hit wonder."

>145 pamelad: I wanted so much to like it. Glad you felt the same way.

>146 thornton37814: I The Dry was wonderful! But she hasn't come close to that success again. I have another but I'll abandon it if necessary.

Bingo - a topic about which you have specific knowledge

Hypothermia by Arnaldur Indridason

My favourite job was when I worked in a polar research library where I was able to indulge my love of books about Arctic regions. Fiction or non-fiction, I find them all fascinating.

This was a tantalizing investigation for what was clearly a suicide. Inspector Erlundur suspects there is something else even though the woman was intrigued by the possibility of life after death. Fortunately he has time on his hands. He’s also intermittently investigating an old missing person case. The father of the young man who went missing has visited Erlundur regularly for thirty years to find out if there has been any progress. Now elderly, he has little time left. Indridason has captured the character of Iceland and the freezing Icelandic conditions that feature in this moving story.

The novel ends with Erlundur at last heading off to the region of Iceland where his brother was lost in a blinding snowstorm.

>147 VivienneR: That's the one I liked!

>149 thornton37814: What annoyed me most in The Survivors was that a character might, dust down her skirt, then run her fingers through her hair, them wipe her mouth with the back of her hand and on and on and on. Details on top of details to achieve - what?

>148 VivienneR: My favourite job was when I worked in a polar research library where I was able to indulge my love of books about Arctic regions.
Well, now I want to know all about this-spill!

>151 mstrust: It was fun. Most of my after-dinner stories come from this time. I believe I got the job because I had actually visited the Scott Polar Research Institute at Cambridge, their related institute. And naturally I bragged about books I'd read. :)

See, being a reader made your dreams come true ;-D

Exactly!

Bingo - Reread a favourite

Smut: Two unseemly stories by Alan Bennett

I read this about ten years ago and remember enjoying it a lot so it was a natural for this square.

This is my original opinion - it hasn’t changed: Although Bennett's two "unseemly" stories involve sex, his portrayal has a down to earth quality that avoids indecency or eroticism. At the same time they are generously laced with humour that is tinged with a poignant element. Bennett's writing is never blatantly obvious, but rather it weaves many emotions that beautifully reflect reality. I enjoyed The Uncommon Reader more, but as usual, Bennett has created a thought-provoking work with subtle undertones.

PrizeCAT - May: Doubling up

The Bat by Jo Nesbo

Nesbo’s first book in the Harry Hole series is set in Sydney. The title refers to an Indigenous myth: the Narahdarn, or the Bat, is the Aboriginal symbol of death.

The flawed detective is in Australia as an observer in the investigation of the murder of a Norwegian woman. A decent mystery but not the best by Nesbo although it is worthwhile to get Harry’s backstory and pronunciation of his name. There are better books ahead.

Glass Key Award (Winner – 1998)
Rivertonprisen (Winner – 1997)

>156 VivienneR: I have wanted to try Nesbø for awhile now but I've never been sure where to start. What would you recommend?

ScaredyKIT - May: Graphic, Short fiction

Gnaw by Jennifer Morrow in Vexed to Nightmare anthology

Even though I enjoy bloody Scottish and Scandi crime fiction, the horror genre has never appealed as reading material so I have to admit the story by Jennifer Morrow (known as mstrust here at LT) was the only one in the collection that I read. Her creation is a truly horrific concept but the suspense and anticipation only adds to the terror.

>142 VivienneR: I read Harper's The Dry and rated it 4 stars. After reading these comments, I think I will pass on this one.

>159 Tess_W: That's how I rated The Dry too. And the same rating for The Lost Man although I can't remember a thing about it.

Bingo - three word title

Some Maintenance Required by Marie-Renée Lavoie translated by Arielle Aaronson

Laurie’s parents call her their miracle child because she was born when they had long given up the idea of having a baby. Her mother works in the booth of a hospital parking lot, filling every spare moment reading books. Father works at a garage. Set in 1993 when Laurie was working at a restaurant to save money for university, she took a neglected, potty-mouthed child under her wing, feeding her and teaching by example. Simultaneously, Laurie learns about rules of life in her grown-up world. This is a beautiful story, simple and heartfelt, filled with delightful characters and optimism.

This was my fourth book by Lavoie and I’ve loved every one of them. This one gets five stars.

RandomKIT - May: Art & Architecture

The English Assassin by Daniel Silva

When Gabriel Allon arrives in Zurich to restore a valuable painting, he found the owner has been brutally murdered. The story goes on to investigate the looting of art by Nazis and the part played by Switzerland.

One problem I have with Silva’s writing is that I can’t “see” Allon, or get an accurate understanding of his age. Sometimes I think he’s a young man, and at other times he seems past middle age.

Bingo - Ugly cover

Fade Away by Harlan Coben

For the “ugly cover” square, this was an all round loser. I don’t know if it was the clichéd writing, the bad audiobook narrator, or the topic, but I found this dull.

>162 VivienneR: - My husband reads this series and thinks I might like it. I thought maybe I'd start it for next month's MysteryKit but now I think I'll pass. (At least for new.)

>163 VivienneR: We used to have a lady who would snatch up the latest Harlan Coben the minute it arrived in the library. He still checks out well, but we've found that no author is consistently checked out well any more.

>164 dudes22: Your husband might be reading them as Silva intended. I think the Gabriel Allon series would be better read as a series instead of my method of picking up one now and then. They are well-written.

>165 thornton37814: Harlan Coben books are usually quite exciting, attracting repeat readers. This one was in audio format and the narrator was terrible. The topic meant there were a lot of sports clichés in this one.

Historic Fiction Challenge - Set in a different country

Shadows in Bronze by Lindsay Davis

I’ve been reading this series out of order and while it has not affected my appreciation, I know it would have been better to follow the series as Davis intended. Marcus Didius Falco is a spy for Emperor Vespasian and here he travels across Italy with friends to Neapolis and Pompeii (a few years before Vesuvius erupted) in search of a former slave who could have information about a crime. The reward for Falco might be a raise in rank that would make his pursuit of Helena more acceptable. Although long, I enjoyed the humour and details that brought the era to life.

Bingo - only author's name and title on cover

The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey by Walter Mosley

What a remarkable story. Ptolemy Grey’s life with dementia is unbelievably sad until 17 year-old Robyn takes over his care. With experimental drug treatment he is able to again put words together and remember his past. Unbelievable, but necessary to the story. Ptolemy Grey is an unforgettable character. Until now the only Mosley I have read were from his mysteries and I’m looking forward to reading more.

>168 VivienneR: - I listened to this last year, and it was one of my top picks of the year. Thjis was the first Mosley I read, and I plan to read more too.

>169 dudes22: It is definitely one of those books that the reader will never forget. Understandable that it was one of your top picks.

>168 VivienneR: BB taken!

>171 Charon07: Always glad to boost a TBR list!

Category: Short Stories, Novellas

The 45% Hangover by Stuart MacBride

A fun novella set during the Scottish referendum featuring DCI Steel and Logan McRae.

Bingo - Food

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

I adored this book! And I was lucky enough to have the audio version with an outstanding narration by Julian Rhind-Tutt. Wonderful!

>174 VivienneR: What a treat to hear a Roald Dahl book on audio!

>148 VivienneR: This one sounds very intriguing, especially after reading The Children's Blizzard and several books on Franklin's failed expedition to find the Northwest Passage.

Hope your May is going well and your own fingers and toes are staying warm!

>175 threadnsong: It was perfect. Each of the little insects had an individual voice. I can't even choose my favourite but the millipede had me laughing out loud a few times.

>148 VivienneR: Oh, I haven't read The Children's Blizzard - yet. That's one for the wishlist. I've read a lot about the Franklin Expedition and spoken to many modern day researchers.

May is going quite well - warm, but not hot - yet. Thanks for dropping by.

Bingo - less than 100 copies on LibraryThing

Her Secret Son by Hannah Mary McKinnon

When Josh’s partner, Grace, died in an accident, he tried to arrange legal guardianship with a view to adopting her son only to discover it was impossible to get Logan’s birth certificate. This novel has an intriguing plot with a surprise ending. There were a few times when I wanted to shake one or two characters for being idiotic, but it didn’t harm what turned out to be a good story.

>163 VivienneR: I loved the first book of his that I read. I was anxious to read the second--meh. I found the third book really boring!

>178 Tess_W: Before this, I've only read one book by Coben and it was just OK. I won't be trying any more. I'm getting better at identifying movies based on his books that my husband and I avoid.

Tomorrow is my 17th Thingaversary - hard to believe! LT is wonderful, I've enjoyed every minute spent here!

I bought some books recently at a library booksale and others from kindle ebooks.

The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
Elephant Winter by Kim Echlin
City of Fallen Angels by Howard Engel
Bloody Relations : a Marc Edwards mystery by Don Gutteridge
A is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie by Kathryn Harkup
The Murder of My Aunt by Richard Hull
Under the Dragon's Tail by Maureen Jennings
One Of Our Ministers Is Missing by Alan Johnson
Under Budapest by Ailsa Kay
Death of a Lesser God by Vaseem Khan
Deaf Sentence by David Lodge
The Bookseller of Inverness by S.G. MacLean
Collected Novellas by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
The Detective Up Late by Adrian McKinty
Blind Spot by Laurence Miall
Woodsong by Gary Paulsen
The Parfit Knight by Stella Riley
Everyone in my family has killed someone by Benjamin Stevenson

>180 VivienneR: Happy Thingaversary! Looks like you have picked up some good books.

>180 VivienneR: That was fast! Thank you, Ninie!

>180 VivienneR: Happy Thingaversary.

>180 VivienneR: Happy Thingaversary! I see a few of my recent faves on your list -- hope you enjoy Stella Riley and Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone! I've got the sequel, Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect, on hold at the library. :)

Happy Thingaversary! I still have to read The Detective Up Late. I also enjoyed Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone.

Happy Thingaversary!

Happy Thingaversary! Enjoy your haul!

>183 lowelibrary: Thank you, April!

>184 christina_reads: Thank you, Christina: I'm looking forward to Stella Riley and Benjamin Stevenson, both BBs! I have Everyone on this train is a suspect on hold too!

>185 lsh63: Thank you, Lisa! I have to get caught up on Adrian McKinty series before I get to this one but I couldn't resist a bargain!

>186 pamelad: Thank you!

>187 mstrust: Thank you!

Happy Thingaversary. Vivienne! I see a few books that appeal to me in your purchases.

Happy Thingaversary, Vivienne. Enjoy your haul!

>180 VivienneR: Happy Thingaversary! That looks like a great list of books!

>189 dudes22: Thank you, Betty! We have similar taste in books!

>190 MissWatson: Thank you, Birgit! I'm looking forward to getting started on them.

>191 MissBrangwen: Thank you, Mirjam!

Happy Thingaversary! Nice Haul!

>180 VivienneR: Nice Thingaversary haul there! I still need to purchase a few for mine from the end of March. I'm getting closer though!

>193 Tess_W: Thank you, Tess! I'm happy with it too.

>194 thornton37814: Thank you, Lori! The dozen or so that I got at the library booksale got me started and then I added the rest from my amazon wishlist.

Category: Fiction

Open Secrets by Alice Munro

I’ve loved Munro’s books since the first one I read: Lives of Girls and Women.
She creates characters that are so realistic that the reader might recognize them in the street.

Rest in peace, Ms Munro. You are unforgettable.

Happy 17th Thingaversary!

>197 Charon07: Thank you, I can't believe it's been 17 years!

Historic Fiction Challenge - Over 500 pages

Fall of Giants by Ken Follett

Normally, I am reluctant to read doorstopper-sized books but recently I enjoyed The Last Chronicle of Barset so much that I decided right away on another blockbuster, one that has been on my TBR list for much too long. First, it must be said that Follett is no Trollope, however, he managed to pull off the location changes smoothly, moving from Russia to Wales to America without losing the drama of the story. By distinguishing the vast differences between working classes and aristocracy there is no doubt who the “giants” of the title are. Follett’s ambitious novel accomplished an account of historic events intertwined with the lives and fate of five families. The book is far too long, and although he kept me interested through most of it, I’m glad it’s off the shelf.

Please come and join me with volume 3 of my thread at https://www.librarything.com/topic/361046