foggidawn's Books & More, 2024, Part 4

Hi, all! Welcome to old friends and new. For the latter, I'm a children's librarian in a small Ohio town. My reading tastes range from children's and young adult literature, to fantasy and some sci-fi, to mysteries, to historical fiction and literary works, to romances, to biography and memoir, with a smattering of other nonfiction (it's been a pretty light smattering, of late) and anything else that catches my fancy. I'll also occasionally post about the picture books that I use during story time or school visits, though I don't include picture books in my count of books read during the year.

I live on a farm with my husband John, who is also an avid reader, though his tastes run towards graphic novels, golden age sci-fi, and nonfiction, mostly about history or chicken husbandry. We have a Springer Spaniel, Lottie, above, who is immensely spoiled and loves being a farm dog. We also have about 65 chickens and too many rabbits (what they say about them multiplying is true) and about 43 acres of hayfields.

For 2024, my main reading goal is to read at least one book a month off my existing TBR shelves. According to my To Read collection here on LT, I have 231 books on shelf to read, though I suspect I may find as I read that some of them didn't get entered when I acquired them. (Oops.) The good news is that only 8 of those 231 were added last year. I suspect I'll easily exceed this goal, but I don't like to make strenuous reading goals and stress myself out. I read 181 books last year, so I expect I'll read around 175 in 2024, but if I don't, I will try not to be too sad about it.

As for the "& More" part of my thread topper, you may also see me posting here about board gaming, gardening, cooking, and theatre. I'm not involved in a local theatre group, nor am I surrounded by board gamers, but I'm still interested in the topics and hope to at least view some theatre and maybe do some solo gaming this year. The garden has been pretty much put to bed for the winter, but I might still talk about it occasionally. My non-book "resolution" for 2024 is to get outside more, whether that be hiking and kayaking, gardening, or just taking a little walk through the fields with Lottie. I've become too much of an indoor cat this past year, especially when the weather is not a pleasant 70 degrees and sunny. I'll also keep up with my menu planning, posting about it here once a week or so.

I look forward to chatting with you all and hearing about your reading (and other) plans for the year!

Books Read in 2024

1. The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith
2. Meredith, Alone by Claire Alexander
3. Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt
4. Have Sword, Will Travel by Garth Nix and Sean Williams
5. The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose
6. The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
7. The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin
8. The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin
9. Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
10. Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon
11. Three Tasks for a Dragon by Eoin Colfer, illustrated by P.J. Lynch
12. The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older
13. Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan
14. Simon Sort Of Says by Erin Bow
15. The Girl I Am, Was, and Never Will Be by Shannon Gibney
16. London's Number One Dog Walking Agency by Kate MacDougall
17. Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson
18. The Jane Austen Project by Kathleen A. Flynn
19. The Vanderbeekers Ever After by Karina Yan Glaser
20. The Witch of Woodland by Laurel Snyder
21. Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli
22. Not Quite a Ghost by Anne Ursu
23. Book of Enchantments by Patricia C. Wrede
24. Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett
25. The Afterward by E.K. Johnston
26. Alebrijes by Donna Barba Higuera
27. I Have Some Questions For You by Rebecca Makkai
28. Mexikid by Pedro Martin
29. The Mysteries by Bill Watterson and John Kascht
30. Bride by Ali Hazelwood
31. Yes, No, Maybe So by Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed
32. Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
33. Straw into Gold: Fairy Tales Re-Spun by Hilary McKay
34. Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin
35. Libriomancer by Jim C. Hines
36. Instead of Three Wishes by Megan Whalen Turner
37. The Empire of Dreams by Rae Carson
38. Barely Floating by Lilliam Rivera
39. The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett
40. North Woods by Daniel Mason
41. Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
42. An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green
43. Of Salt and Shore by Annet Schaap
44. Castle Hangnail by Ursula Vernon
45. Nothing Else but Miracles by Kate Albus
46. Something Wonderful: Rodgers and Hammerstein's Broadway Revolution by Todd S. Purdum
47. Bone Gap by Laura Ruby
48. An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson
49. A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor by Hank Green
50. The Romantic Agenda by Claire Kann
51. Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma by Claire Dederer
52. Golden Hill by Francis Spufford
53. The Magician's Daughter by H.G. Parry
54. Well, That Was Awkward by Rachel Vail
55. Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan
56. There Will Come a Darkness by Katy Rose Pool
57. As the Shadow Rises by Katy Rose Pool
58. Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie S. Tolan
59. Applewhites at Wit's End by Stephanie S. Tolan
60. The Night War by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
61. Funny Story by Emily Henry
62. Into the Dying Light by Katy Rose Pool
63. In an Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire
64. Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire
65. Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire
66. Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
67. The Last Word by Elly Griffiths
68. Come Tumbling Down by Seanan McGuire
69. Across the Green Grass Fields by Seanan McGuire
70. Where the Drowned Girls Go by Seanan McGuire
71. Lost in the Moment and Found by Seanan McGuire
72. Mislaid in Parts Half-Known by Seanan McGuire
73. A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher
74. Edible Houseplants by Laurelynn G. Martin
75. All the World's a Stage: A Novel in Five Acts by Gretchen Woelfle
76. Grace and the Fever by Zan Romanoff
77. Illuminations by T. Kingfisher
78. Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne
79. The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
80. Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan
81. Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice by Elle Cosimano
82. Mirror to Mirror by Rajani LaRocca
83. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
84. The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman
85. The Siren of Sussex by Mimi Matthews
86. The Belle of Belgrave Square by Mimi Matthews
87. The Matrimonial Advertisement by Mimi Matthews
88. A Modest Independence by Mimi Matthews
89. The Lily of Ludgate Hill by Mimi Matthews
90. A Convenient Fiction by Mimi Matthews
91. Stars Above by Marissa Meyer
92. Max in the House of Spies by Adam Gidwitz
93. The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton
94. Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan
95. You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith
96. Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood
97. The Winter Companion by Mimi Matthews
98. Fifty-Four Things Wrong with Gwendolyn Rogers by Caela Carter
99. Elf Dog & Owl Head by M.T. Anderson
100. The Masked City by Genevieve Cogman
101. Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson
102. Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang
103. The Burning Page by Genevieve Cogman
104. The Light Years by Elizabeth Jane Howard
105. Dog is Love: Why and How Your Dog Loves You by Clive D.L Wynne
106. Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel
107. Marking Time by Elizabeth Jane Howard
108. Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan
109. The Only Purple House in Town by Ann Aguirre
110. Confusion by Elizabeth Jane Howard
111. Casting Off by Elizabeth Jane Howard
112. All Change by Elizabeth Jane Howard
113. Christa Comes Out of Her Shell by Abbi Waxman
114. Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster by Jonathan Auxier
115. The Beautiful Visit by Elizabeth Jane Howard
116. Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier
117. Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier
118. Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier
119. Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell
120. The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
121. The Lost Year by Katherine Marsh
122. Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth
123. The Mars House by Natasha Pulley
124. Money: The True Story of a Made-Up Thing by Jacob Goldstein
125. The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
126. Ash's Cabin by Jen Wang
127. The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley
128. There Is a Door in This Darkness by Kristin Cashore
129. The Lost Future of Pepperharrow by Natasha Pulley
130. The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church by Sarah McCammon
131. The Lost Plot by Genevieve Cogman
132. The Cloud Roads by Martha Wells
133. The Serpent Sea by Martha Wells
134. Wait for Me by Caroline Leech
135. How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin
136. The Bedlam Stacks by Natasha Pulley
137. Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood
138. The Siren Depths by Martha Wells
139. Weave a Circle Round by Kari Maaren
140. The Half Life of Valery K by Natasha Pulley
141. A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher

(Re-reads in italics)

Books Acquired in 2024

1. Chosen Ones by Veronica Roth. Purchased/trade. Bkmns.
2. Agent to the Stars by John Scalzi. Purchased/trade. Bkmns.
3. A Brave Little Quakeress by E.P. Roe. Purchased/trade. Bkmns.
4. Milk Street: The World in a Skillet by Christopher Kimball. Purchased. Kro.
5. Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell. Purchased. Azn.
6. Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher. Purchased. Azn.
7. Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto. Purchased. Azn.
8. The Matrimonial Advertisement by Mimi Matthews. Purchased/Credit. Ebk. Azn.
9. Folk-Tales of the Coast Salish by Thelma Adamson. Purchased. Ody.
10. Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes. Purchased. PBN.
11. I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons by Peter S. Beagle. Purchased. Ody.
12. Buried Deep and Other Stories by Naomi Novik. Purchased. Azn.
13. Wormwood Abbey by Christina Baehr. Purchased. Azn.
14. The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley. Purchased. Azn.
15. The Bedlam Stacks by Natasha Pulley. Purchased. Azn.
16. The Lost Future of Pepperharrow by Natasha Pulley. Purchased. Azn.
17. Role Playing by Kathy Yardley. Purchased/Credit. Ebk. Azn.
18. Clara Reads Proust by Stephanie Carlier. Purchased/Credit. Ebk. Azn.
19. The Ophelia Network by Mur Lafferty. Purchased/Credit. Ebk. Azn.
20. The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club by Helen Simonson. Purchased/Credit. Ebk. Azn.
21. Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune. Purchased. Azn.
22. We Are Definitely Human by X. Fang. Purchased. Azn.
23. The Seventh Bride by T. Kingfisher. Purchased. Azn.
24. Behold a Great Light by Fr. Stephen De Young et. al. Purchased. Azn.
25. Take a Look at the Five and Ten by Connie Willis. Purchased/Credit. Ebk. Azn.

(I was trying to keep track, then failed to keep track, then went back and tried to reconstruct the list, but I know there are books missing, so...)

You can post below!

I'm hoping to post some reviews later today, but we'll see if I get to them.

Happy new thread Foggi!

Happy new one!

>5 quondame: Thanks, Susan!

>6 figsfromthistle: Thanks, Anita!

(142 books read)



The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton -- 1634. A cursed ship sets sail for Amsterdam, containing spices, a prisoner, secrets, and passengers who are not what they seem. Will they make it to their destination, or does a demon whisper in the ears of passengers and crew, luring them to their doom?

Of the books that I've read by Turton, I like this one least, though it certainly has twists and turns aplenty. If you like historical fiction with a mystery that may or may not involve the occult, you might like it better than I did. For me, it dragged a little (maybe because I was listening to the audiobook?) and the ending felt just a bit weak.

Happy new thread, Foggi!

(143 books read)



The Woman They Wanted: Shattering the Illusion of the Good Christian Wife by Shannon Harris -- Memoir from the ex-wife of Joshua Harris (who wrote, and later disavowed, I Kissed Dating Goodbye). I was interested to hear her side of the story, and this book only sort of delivers. It focuses more on her own journey to empowerment and trusting her intuition -- which, fair. I think her privilege shows in ways she may not have intended at times. I've read several books on the topic of Christian patriarchy lately, and this one is decent, but doesn't stand out from the pack.

>9 curioussquared: Thanks, Natalie!

(144 books read)



Role Playing by Cathy Yardley -- Two middle-age singles meet through a local guild for an online role playing game. Romance ensues. A fun read, especially for those who like gamer culture, or are looking for romance novels with mature characters.

Happy new thread foggi!

(waiting for the new Lottie picture ...)

>13 humouress: I have inserted one. I call it "Waiting for Daddy." She loves John and knows when it's time for him to be home from work.

(145 books read)



The Cautious Traveller's Guide to the Wastelands by Sarah Brooks -- Since the Changes started, the only direct route from Beijing to Moscow is the Trans-Siberian Express. It passes through the Wastelands, where the world has been altered and shaped by wild magic. The train's last journey was nearly disastrous, but the Company wants it to run again. What sort of dangers will the staff and passengers face?

I really liked the premise and most of the writing. For me, it dragged in the middle (like an interminable train journey, if you will) and then the ending was abrupt and simplistic. For all that, it's a strong story, and readers intrigued by trains traveling through fantasy landscapes should take a look.

(146 books read)



The Edge of Worlds by Martha Wells -- Still enjoying the Books of the Raksura. This one ends on a bit of a cliffhanger.

(147 books read)



The Last Days of Lilah Goodluck by Kylie Scott -- A chance encounter with a fortune teller gives Lilah several predictions, including winning lotto numbers, the name of her soulmate, and the date of her death -- unfortunately, only nine days away. Lilah doesn't believe in any of it, though after the first couple of predictions come true, she does buy a lottery ticket with as many of the numbers as she can remember. But it's when she meets the man who was named as her soulmate that things really start to get crazy. Can she somehow escape the final prediction?

So, there were some silly bits, and I totally saw the ending coming. That didn't stop me from enjoying it. Fluffy fun, with some spice to it.

(148 books read)



A Well-Trained Wife: My Escape from Christian Patriarchy by Tia Levings -- Desperate for her happily-ever-after to begin, Tia marries young and against the advice of several people, including the minister who does their pre-marital counseling. Her husband was an abusive boyfriend and is an abusive husband, using the strictures of fundamentalist Christianity to keep Tia in line. As she begins to have children and realizes that she is becoming more and more stuck in an untenable situation, she wonders how it would be possible for her to leave.

I nearly put this book down a few times in the early chapters because the writing style irked me. Levings has a tendency toward purple prose, and it can obscure the facts with flowery phrasing. There were some small contradictions, and an extended metaphor about toppling dominoes that doesn't serve the book well. However, when she describes her courtship and marriage, the writing gets tighter. Her experiences of spousal abuse were truly agonizing, especially considering the many points at which she could have gotten help. Her husband's apparent religious mania meant that she experienced a variety of very restrictive rules, far beyond what is believed and practiced by most Christians. (Many of the writers/preachers/etc. whom she mentions him following have since been disgraced or debunked.) The verse that came to my mind was Luke 11:46: "Jesus replied, 'And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.'" Though Levings does escape, as the subtitle of the book suggests, I found this a very heavy read. The end of the book reverts to vagueness and flowery language again, and I think she could have said less and been more clear. I've been reading a few different books on this topic lately, and this one is certainly valuable for the experiences it describes.

Following the new thread! Nice work catching up on reviews!

Happy new thread, foggi!

Happy new thread dear Foggi. xx

Sweet Thursday, Foggi. Happy New Thread. How is everything going on your little farm?

>20 compskibook: Thanks! I was caught up for a few minutes... then I finished my audiobook, so I have another review to write!

>21 drneutron: Thanks, Jim!

>22 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul!

>23 msf59: Thanks, Mark! Things are going well -- the garden is almost done for the season, and for once, the rabbits are at a reasonable number (less than 20). We lost a chicken to some sort of predator yesterday evening. :-( But it could have been worse.

(149 books read)



Made Glorious by Lindsay Eager -- Rory King's entire high school career has been leading up to this point: spring musical, senior year. She's paid her dues. She's put in her time. And everyone knows that Pam only casts seniors in lead roles. Rory is determined that this time, it's going to be her. She's behind the scenes, pulling all the strings, so subtly that not even her best friends suspect the lengths she will go to in order to get what she wants...

This YA retelling of Shakespeare's Richard III works so perfectly in the world of a highly competitive high school theatre department. If the reader is familiar with the source material, there are lots of cool Easter eggs hidden in the text, but if not, it's still a brilliant story of an ambitious anti-hero. Recommended.

(150 books read)



Bury My Heart at Chuck E. Cheese's by Tiffany Midge -- Tiffany Midge has heard that there are no funny Native American women, and she'd like to have a word.

First of all, this book has an amazing title. I came across it serendipitously, and knew I had to give it a try on the strength of that alone. I found it a bit of a mixed bag: I did get a few smiles or chuckles at some parts of the book, but there was also a fair amount of angry satire that I didn't particularly enjoy listening to (even though I generally agree with her positions). This is a fairly recent book, but already feels a little bit dated in terms of subject matter. Also, sometimes I was just left thinking "Huh?" So, I don't entirely mesh with Midge's sense of humor, but you might.

(151 books read)



We Solve Murders by Richard Osman -- Three social media influencers are dead, and someone is trying to pin those deaths on Amy Wheeler. Also, someone is trying to kill her. Is it the same person? All she knows is that she needs help: Steve, her father-in-law. Steve's a retired cop, now solving very low-stakes cases in his small village and, with his friends from the pub, absolutely dominating Quiz Night. (Well, sometimes, at least.) He hates to travel, but for Amy? He'd do anything. So, off they go, on a globe-trotting adventure to clear Amy's name, keep her (and her client -- oh, yeah, she's a bodyguard, currently guarding a feisty elderly author) safe from harm, and, hopefully, solve some murders.

Compared to Osman's other books, I found this a bit disjointed. I had a hard time caring about the main characters until about halfway through, and we were introduced to so many crooks/hitmen/conmen etc. that I had a hard time keeping them straight, much less solving the mystery. I did eventually get into the story, mostly because it's a wild ride when they're jetting all over the place, but it's not going to be a new favorite.

(152 books read)



When Wishes Were Horses by Cynthia Voigt -- For Bug, Zoe, Casey, and Billy, the wishes just appear. There's an envelope with their name on it, with two slips of gray tissue paper inside, and the instructions: "One wish at a time. Whisper it to me. Be wise."

What would you wish for?

I've been a fan of Voigt's since I was a kid, so I wanted to give this one a try. This book is a series of four loosely-connected short stories. At her best, Voigt's strengths are dialogue and the child's rich inner life. I found the first three stories very strong, but I didn't enjoy the fourth on as much. It was written in a more dreamy, less realistic style that jarred a little bit after the first part of the book. Still, I liked the book as a whole -- and who doesn't enjoy imagining what you'd do with magic wishes?

Happy new thread! Wow, 152!

>29 mstrust: Thanks! It's been an interesting reading year so far -- lots of books read, but not a lot of really great reads. I'm waiting to see how it shapes up at the end of the year, when I pick my favorites. Maybe I'll read some really excellent books in the next two months...

Happy New Thread!
I really need to get to those Raksura books.

>31 clamairy: Thanks! I've been enjoying them, though I've sort of stalled out on the last one -- not because it's not good, but I think I have just overdone it on binging the series.

(153 books read)



The Examiner by Janice Hallett -- Six students embark on an MA course in multimedia art. They're a diverse group in every way, and perhaps clashes of personality are inevitable . . . but at the end of the course, one of them might be dead, and some of the others might be covering up the murder. How? And why?

This is written in the same format as Hallett's other mysteries, where the reader is presented with documentation such as emails, message board discussions, etc. and is invited to solve the mystery along with the final examiners who are supposedly evaluating the course grades from an outside perspective. I didn't love this one quite as much as The Appeal or The Twyford Code, but it was still an enjoyable read for me.

>32 foggidawn: I understand all too well.

>34 clamairy: Yep, it's easy to do.

(154 books read)



The Traitor's Game by Jennifer Nielsen -- {My brain is tired today, so I will skip the summary. It's a Young Adult fantasy, first in a trilogy.} This was a fine listen, well-paced enough to keep my attention. The writing is a little overwrought in places, particularly when it comes to the romance, but that could also be me, being a grumpy old codger. I liked it well enough to start the next book. Recommended to fans of YA fantasy.

(155 books read)



Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson -- After a romantic attempt to impress a crush leads to a burned-down cabin, Marlowe Wexler is ready to get out of town, so when a job as a tour guide at an old house on an island comes her way, she jumps on the opportunity. Morning House was the site of two tragic deaths (or were they murders?) a hundred years ago, but a more recent death on a nearby island is what opened up Marlowe's spot on staff -- and what will have more of an impact on her summer than she can know.

I liked Johnson's Truly Devious books, so I knew what I was getting into with this stand-alone mystery. As expected, I found it an enjoyable read. I liked both the present-day mystery and the historical one, though I found the historical one just a little more compelling. If you enjoy mysteries and don't mind (or prefer) a pinch of teenage angst, check this out.

(156 books read)



Plain Jane and the Mermaid by Vera Brosgol -- Jane's parents have just died, and since women can't inherit, her home is going to an insufferable cousin . . . unless Jane finds someone to marry within the next week. She's always had a crush on Peter, the prettiest boy in town. Maybe he will marry her for the chance to get away from his father's fishing business? While she is making this proposition, Peter is snatched away by a mermaid as beautiful as he is. Jane must go to his rescue -- but how can she find him in the depths of the sea?

A delightful graphic novel, full of humor and heart. I'm a big fan of Brosgol's work.

Storytime update

I haven't posted recently about storytimes, as I did them only occasionally over the summer, but I'm back at them, full swing! Here's what I used for this week's Monster Storytime:

       

Go Away, Big Green Monster by Ed Emberley
The Monster at the End of This Book by Jon Stone
Leonardo the Terrible Monster by Mo Willems
If You're A Monster and You Know It by Rebecca and Ed Emberley
Alfred's Book of Monsters by Sam Streed

We danced "The Monster Mash" and everyone had a terribly good time!

(157 books read)



Yours from the Tower by Sally Nicholls -- It's 1896, and Tirzah, Polly, and Sophia have just left boarding school for their grown-up lives. Sophia is experiencing a London season due to the generosity of a wealthy aunt, and she's determined to marry a wealthy man in order to provide for her younger sisters. Polly is teaching at an orphanage in Liverpool, where her heart is wrung daily on behalf of her young charges. And Tirzah is stuck in a village in a remote part of Scotland, working as companion to her strict grandmother, and bored out of her skull. The three friends write a round-robin letter so that they can stay connected and updated on each other's doings, and the reader gets to peek over their shoulders and experience their varied adventures.

I delighted in this book as if it were a hot cup of tea and a plate of shortbread. It was delicious. If you enjoy historical fiction, epistolary novels, and coming of age stories featuring young women, this is for you.

>40 foggidawn: So glad you loved this one too 😊

Somehow I have missed your thread until now, foggi. Happy 'new' thread!

>27 foggidawn: You say 'disjointed', I said 'convoluted' in my review (I finished the book yesterday). I am not sorry to have read it, but the new series is not going to replace Thursday Murder Club for me any time soon.

Have a marvelous Monday!

Goodness. I get a little behind and walk away with three BBs (Role Playing, Plain Jane and the Mermaid, and Yours from the Tower). The List... thanks you?

>39 foggidawn: Monster storytime is such a good theme!

>41 curioussquared: So good!

>42 alcottacre: I was just reading (and agreeing with) your review over on your thread, Stasia! I might read the next one in the series, but I won't be as excited for it as I am for new Thursday Murder Club books.

>43 MickyFine: Good ones! Enjoy!

>44 norabelle414: Thanks! I like to do it around Halloween because there are just so many good monster books.

(158 books read)



The Deceiver's Heart by Jennifer Nielsen -- second in the trilogy, see >36 foggidawn: for my initial review. Much the same, bit of a cliffhanger. I'll finish the trilogy.

SO many books read! How do you manage? How long do you spend reading a day?

>47 The_Hibernator: Thanks! I've never kept track of how long I spend reading each day -- maybe a couple of hours on work days, and more on weekends. I also listen to audiobooks, and my drive got a bit longer when we moved to the new location (and was even longer when I was at my temporary assignments) so I've listened to quite a few of those this year, mostly at 1.25 speed. Edit: most importantly, I don't have a lot of other responsibilities (i.e. children) to keep me from my books.

(159 books read)



After Julius by Elizabeth Jane Howard -- Julius died 20 years ago, but his life and death still have profound consequences on his wife and daughters, and on the men in their lives. Over the course of one weekend house party, mother Esme hopes to reconnect with an old flame, daughter Cressy plans to break things off with a married lover, and daughter Emma brings a man to the house for the first time: a penniless poet with a certain crudeness of nature who nonetheless fascinates her. Things don't turn out quite how any of them expect.

Ugh, yuck, shudder. I did not enjoy this book, but kept reading in hopes that things would redeem themselves at the end. They did not. The romances are all squicky in one way or another, and there's an abrupt and disturbing scene near the end that really puts the cap on all of it. The characters are well-drawn, as in all of Howard's writing, but... ugh. Not recommended.

(160 books read)



An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good by Helene Tursten -- Maud, age 88, just wants a quiet life in her rent-free apartment, but certain problems just won't leave her alone. So, she does something about them. Murder, generally. After all, who would suspect a frail little old lady?

To call this a mystery is a bit misleading, as there is no mystery to the reader, who observes Maud in all of her gruesome deeds. One might say that all of her victims "needed killing," but still! It's a fun, short read, jut a few quick stories in a tiny, attractive package (I love the cross-stitch look of the cover), and if you like stories about murderous sweet little old ladies, this is an easy one to pick up.

(161 books read)



Rosa by Starlight by Hilary McKay -- Rosa, a cat-loving orphan, is taken to Venice by her "aunt" and "uncle" who abandon her at a little family-run hotel. Rosa would soon be in desperate straits, except for the kindness of the Mancini family and the care of the city's many, many cats.

I like McKay's writing, but this one felt a little scant compared to some of her earlier books. Still, I know some cat-crazy youngsters for whom this will be, well, catnip.

Storytime update:

For my school visits this week, I went with a theme of fractured fairy tales, one of my absolute favorites! Here are the books I used:

       

Falling for Rapunzel by Leah Wilcox, illus. Lydia Monks
Not Last Night But the Night Before by Colin McNaughton, illus. Emma Chichester Clark
Redlocks and the Three Bears by Claudia Rueda
All at Once Upon a Time by Mara Rockliff, illus. Gladys Jose
Endlessly Ever After by Laurel Snyder, illus. Dan Santat

That last one is a "Choose your path" type of book, and I used it with the second and third graders, letting them vote on which path to choose. Of course, we weren't able to explore all possible endings, but they had a good time picking!

That looks like a fun batch. How many different classrooms were you in?

>53 MickyFine: I visit grades Pre-K through 3 at a small parochial school. They only have one class per grade, so I visit 5 classrooms, each ranging from 7-15 students. I typically do 30 minutes per class, spending 15-20 minutes reading, then some sort of activity. This week I was feeling bold, so brought my rhythm sticks.

>49 foggidawn: I am sorry to hear that the book was not better for you. I loved her Cazalet books. I think I will give that one a pass though.

>50 foggidawn: You enjoyed that one more than I did. I know that there are other books in the series, but I am not going to be reading them, lol.

>55 alcottacre: Yeah, I loved the Cazalet books, too, but the others I've tried by her so far have been... not good. I might try some of her later works eventually, but I'm clearly not going to be a fan of everything she wrote. As for An Elderly Lady, I know there's another book, but I probably won't seek it out. If I come across it, I might read it.

(162 books read)



I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue -- Jolene works a soul-sucking office job for a large supermarket chain. She tries to keep her head down and ignore her office-mates and their squabbles and intrigues, occasionally adding a sarcastic postscript to her emails in a white-on-white font to vent her feelings. When she forgets to white out one such note, she is remanded to HR for an obligatory training course, and her computer is set up with monitoring software. However, when she logs back in, she discovers that she can see everyone's email and messages on the company server, including ones about admin's plans for restructuring and layoffs. Her job may be on the chopping block, especially since her recent disciplinary action -- but if she completes the HR course, that will be wiped from her record. And with the email access, she now has a major advantage. There's just one problem: Cliff, the new HR dude, is actually really kind, and they're becoming friends. What will happen when he learns the truth?

The blurb says this is perfect for fans of The Office, and from what I've seen of that show, it's right on track. These are realistically flawed characters (except for Cliff, who may be a just a little too perfect) who mostly hate their jobs and enjoy engaging in a sarcastic zinger or some low-impact shenanigans every once in a while. Jolene is socially awkward and traumatized by the death of a high-school friend, and she does grow in empathy over the course of the novel as she gets to know her co-workers a little better. I found it an engrossing read, and would also recommend it to fans of Rainbow Rowell's Attachments.

(163 books read)



Woe: A Housecat's Story of Despair by Lucy Knisley -- In which Knisley contemplates the quirks and charms of her 13-year-old cat. As with any book about an elderly pet, this one made me cry. Recommended to cat lovers, but you all know how it's going to end, right?

>56 foggidawn: Kind of disappointing about the non-Cazalet books by Howard, foggi, but I guess where she is concerned I will not be a completionist.

Have a marvelous Monday!

>58 foggidawn: Oh no. Must. Look. Away.

>52 foggidawn: Endlessly Ever After is one of the best, isn't it? My students adore it.

Happy newish thread!

(164 books read)



How to Stay Invisible by Maggie C. Rudd -- Raymond's parents are not the greatest, but he never imagined that they would leave town without him. When he arrives home after school one evening to find the trailer locked and his dog, Rosie, tied up outside, he realizes that he and Rosie are on their own. In the woods behind the middle school, he finds a hollow log for shelter and, over time, builds up a campsite where he and Rosie can survive. He keeps attending school, where he can get breakfast and lunch, and between fishing, trapping, and dumpster-diving, manages to find enough food for himself and Rosie. But it's getting colder in the woods -- and it's getting harder to keep his secrets from friends and teachers at school. How long can he make it on his own?

As a kid, I enjoyed books like My Side of the Mountain, and would probably have been equally intrigued by Raymond's adventures (with a dog, no less!). As an adult reader, I was so stressed out the whole time I was reading, and even when I put the book down I still felt anxious. So, the writing is good and it kept me on the edge of my seat, is the positive way to look at this! If you like survival stories, this one is recommended. Spoiler for animal lovers: The dog is injured at one point, but does not die. Another animal does die near the end, though that death is only briefly described and not given full weight.

One quibble with the survival details: Do not use river rocks to make a fire ring! Stones that have been in water can have water molecules trapped inside them, and when those molecules are heated (like, by your campfire), they can explode.

>59 alcottacre: Nor will I -- but I liked the Cazalet ones enough that I keep trying. When will I learn?

>60 AMQS: Woe is a quick read, at least, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who has recently lost a pet, for sure. I cried at the end, and Lottie crawled up from where she was napping by my feet and licked my face and was generally very concerned. And yes, I love Endlessly Ever After! I bought a copy for our home collection when it came out.

>61 foggidawn: I also loved My Side of the Mountain when I was a kid. Amazing how your perspective changes as an adult, right?

>63 alcottacre: I haven't reread it since I was a teen, probably, but I think I would still be less anxious about it. Sam's older (16, I think? Not 12), he doesn't have a dog dependent on him, and he chooses to go live in the woods. Also, Sam has more wood-sense than Raymond.

>61 foggidawn: We have a storyteller who comes about once a month and tells stories to our 4th and 5th graders. He is an older gentleman, very soft spoken, with a cane, but he goes swing dancing on weekends and travels at least once a year to some tiny island I've never heard of to go scuba diving. He leaves the kids absolutely spellbound. He loves MG literature and often tells stories based on newer books. Sometimes he'll donate a copy to the library and I have to do a drawing immediately. How to Stay Invisible has been continuously checked out for about a year after he told a story based on it. My students love it, and I had to wait until summer for my turn! Great read, but yes, they hit you differently as an adult, don't they?

>65 AMQS: I think I picked up that book bullet from you! Yes, it does hit differently! I would have been super worried about the dog at any age, though.

I'm taking a bullet for I Hope This Finds You Well. Tell me that it has something in common with The Office and I'm there.

>57 foggidawn: - I'm glad to see your positive comments on this, as it's on my library WL. And I loooooved Attachments :)

>67 mstrust: I think you will like it!

>68 katiekrug: Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

(165 books read)



The Man in Black and Other Stories by Elly Griffiths -- A short story collection by one of my favorite mystery authors? Yes, please! I had read a couple of these stories before, but that did not dim my pleasure in this collection. Many of the stories feature characters from the author's longer works (Ruth Galloway appears in several, Harbinder Kaur in a couple, one about Justice Jones, and there's one about Max Mephisto, with mentions of him in others). I'd recommend this most for fans of the author, though it did make me want to delve into the series she's written that I haven't read yet.

>61 foggidawn: This looks interesting, though I imagine that I would find it stressful too. I used to deal with books' stress well when I was a kid. I don't know if my imagination is more sophisticated or if I'm just more emotional.

>71 The_Hibernator: Same. I'm definitely feeling a little fragile, emotionally, just lately. In addition to election stress, I'm attending a former coworker's funeral this Friday, and several people in my life are seriously ill (John's dad, John's uncle, a former college professor I've stayed in touch with). So, it may not be entirely the book's fault.

I updated >3 foggidawn: with some of this year's book purchases. I was trying to keep track this year, but I failed pretty hard. I've definitely been doing some therapeutic purchasing lately! These are not all of the books I've bought this year, but I'll try to remember to add them as I come across them (I have small stacks here and there, waiting to be properly shelved). I just realized that a few days ago (Nov. 9th) was my 18th Thingaversary, so perhaps even more book purchases are in order?

>64 foggidawn: The last time I read it was at least 20 years ago when I used it for teaching my girls so my memory on it is not very good either, lol.

>70 foggidawn: Adding that one to the BlackHole. Thanks for the recommendation, foggi!

>74 alcottacre: Enjoy!

>57 foggidawn: Hmmm, I'm torn about whether to take this as a BB. I love Attachments, as you know, but I hate The Office (too much cringe comedy for me).

>76 MickyFine: Hmm. It definitely has some cringey moments. Maybe wait and see what others have to say about it?

(166 books read)



The Warrior's Curse by Jennifer Nielsen -- completes the Traitor's Game trilogy. This book went on longer than I liked, and I'm glad to be done with the series.

(167 books read)



Scaredy Squirrel Gets Festive by Melanie Watt -- Scaredy has been preparing for Christmas since July. He's made a list, and checked it way more than twice. Now that it's December, he can finally start decorating. His friends come to help -- but will they understand Scaredy's vision of perfection -- or will they bring their own chaos to the holiday?

I've been a fan of Scaredy Squirrel for years, and this holiday story, part of the new graphic novel series, is a great addition! I actually got my copy last year from LibraryThing's Early Reviewers, but in this case, I am a Late Reviewer (sorrysorrysorry). Still, it would be a great gift or festive read for any young Scaredy Squirrel fans you might come across!

>70 foggidawn: Oooh! Going on the wishlist!

>80 clamairy: Enjoy!

(168 books read)



The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong -- Tao travels around the country in a mule-drawn wagon, telling small fortunes. She can't tell you if it's going to be a good harvest, or about matters of life or death, but she might see you buying a new shirt, or traveling to the next town over, or lending a pot to your careless neighbor who will dent it. On her travels, she is joined by Marsh, an ex-mercenary, and Silt, an ex- (really! he promises!) thief, then by Kina, a baker, and Fidelitus, a cranky cat. This unlikely group bands together in search of Leah, Marsh's missing daughter -- a quest that will eventually lead Tao to confront her past as a child of two countries who feels at home in neither.

This is a lovely cozy fantasy featuring a band of friends who eventually become found family. It has a similar feel to Becky Chambers' Monk & Robot series, and I would recommend it to fans of that author, or anyone who wants a cozy quest fantasy.

(169 books read)



Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation by Kristin Kobes Du Mez -- It was The Patriarchy all along. Or, at least, that's the through-line of this book, which looks at over 75 years of White Evangelicalism, popular culture, and politics, and the intersection thereof.

I'm still trying to figure it out, guys. I'm trying hard to understand why the Evangelicals I have known all my life have made such incomprehensible (to me) political decisions. The Evangelicalism that I grew up in (and left over 20 years ago) is the other side of the coin from Kobes Du Mez's Calvinist, complementarian background (mine was Wesleyan, egalitarian), so while I'm fascinated by her research and conclusions, I don't think it's quite as simple as she would have it. Don't get me wrong, I am totally not giving The Patriarchy a pass, nor do I deny the racism inherent in the system. I do feel that I have a much more thorough understanding of how Evangelical leaders have been in bed with (and in the pockets of) politicians, mostly Republican ones, since the 1950s. Parts of this book made me angry as heck, while explaining so many things. But I still feel like there's something I'm missing. I don't think anyone has figured it out yet.

>83 foggidawn: I haven't read this one, but I agree that nobody has figured it out yet. All the explanations I see seem to be oversimplifications. I think there are a lot more pieces to the puzzle.

>84 curioussquared: Yes, agreed. And it is a puzzle!

(170 books read)



The Silent Stars Go By by Sally Nicholls -- Teenagers Margot and Harry are not married when Harry leaves to fight in the Great War, but that doesn't stop them from a passionate goodbye. By the time that word arrives that Harry is missing in action, Margot is frantically trying to figure out what to do about the baby. A simple plan is hatched, Margot's mother will fake a confinement, Margot will move to another city to work as a typist while actually going to a home for unwed mothers first, and Margot's parents will raise their grandchild James as their son. Now, with the war over and Harry safely returned, Margot is wrestling with her decision to give up James, and what that will mean for her relationship with Harry. She needs to tell him the truth -- but the war has changed both of them. Will they find a way to be together after all? And what about James? Is there any way for Margot to have both her lover and her child?

Lots of angst here. Margot is a selfish and unlikeable character, though she grows over the course of the novel. I was impatient with her in many ways, but she's realistically drawn as a character facing things that are, to her, potentially life-changing. I kept reading to see how the book would end, and of all possible endings, I think the one she got was the most realistic and satisfying. My favorite character of the book was Margot's sister Jocelyn and her plans for her own future. I would like to read that book! Recommended if you like historical fiction with a side of teenage angst.

(171 books read)



Wanted: Toddler's Personal Assistant by Stephanie Kiser -- Author Stephanie Kiser grew up poor in Rhode Island, spending weekends at the racetrack with her father and thinking that the local pizzeria was the pinnacle of haute cuisine. A basketball scholarship to a private high school changes the trajectory of her life, and after graduating from college with six-figure student loan debt, she moves to New York City in hopes of pursuing a writing career. Finding that she needs something more lucrative than an entry-level PR job, she turns to nannying for some of NYC's ultra-rich. While the pay is good, the hours are grueling, the demands occasionally absurd, an at the end of the day, she's still just one of "the help," often paid under the table without healthcare or benefits -- though she also recognizes the privilege that her whiteness (and college degree) confers. Looking at the pampered lives of the children in her care, Kiser wonders what her own childhood would have been like if she had had the advantages that these children take for granted. She also observes that the bulk of childcare and household duties fall on wives at any income bracket. And, despite the fact that she's apparently transcended her original class, she realizes that she's teetering precariously on a pile of student loan debt -- was her expensive degree worth it?

I picked this up on a whim, and was not particularly surprised at any of Kiser's conclusions or revelations about the upper class. It was an amusing read, and might be revelatory to readers who haven't read books such as Maid by Stephanie Land or similar narratives that touch on issues of class in America.

Hi foggi. >83 foggidawn: we obviously live in what's called the post-truth era. A friend of mine is giving up his law practice because he says we are also in a post-truth legal sysrtem, which is frightning. Was there always such misinformation? My mom used to say that before this we lived in the sound byte era. That was all people cared to hear - not the boring complexities of the issues at hand. Also doesn't explain everything, but maybe a part of it?

>88 AMQS: It's kind of the perfect storm, really. Sad and frightening.

>83 foggidawn: I won't pretend to have it all figured out, but I have a few clues. I was born in 1958, also a Methodist, and at that time I would say most evangelicals were Democrats and supportive of the New Deal. The shift to the right reflected the changes on the left, which became increasingly atheistic & hostile to religion. Nixon was the first to see the opportunity & Reagan closed the deal. People of traditional religious belief went where they were wanted - and the Democrats increasingly didn't want them. There was quite a revealing moment during the recent campaign when, at a Harris rally, someone shouted "Jesus is Lord!" and Harris quipped: "You're at the wrong rally - go to the one down the street." It was widely reported & I'd be willing to bet that cost her at least a million votes.

>90 ChrisG1: Yeah, there's definitely something to that, as well.

>82 foggidawn: Adding that one to the BlackHole. It sounds like one I would really enjoy. Thanks for the recommendation, foggi!

>83 foggidawn: I agree that no one has figured it out yet and I am not sure that we ever will. I think the question is too complex to be answered easily.

>92 alcottacre: I think the question is too complex to be answered easily. -- I think you are right.

(172 books read)



Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood -- Viola's had a crush on Jesse Andrews since she first met him, but it's obvious he doesn't feel the same way. When their rival game development studios are forced together to build a game and sent on a team-building ski retreat, it becomes impossible for the two of them to avoid each other. As snow falls outside, sparks will fly...

In this audio-only novella, Hazelwood doesn't break a lot of new ground in terms of plot, but returns to her strengths as a romance writer. I found that, personally, I don't enjoy listening to the spicy bits in romance audiobooks, but if you're a romance reader who likes the audio format, this would be a great intro to Hazelwood, or an enjoyable return to her works if she's already a favorite.

>82 foggidawn: Well that's a BB.

>95 MickyFine: It's a delight; enjoy!

(173 books read)



The Unwedding by Ally Condie -- Ellery had planned a luxurious 20th anniversary trip for herself and her husband, Luke. Of course, when he asks for a divorce, that puts quite a hole in her plans. She ends up taking the trip alone, partly because of the nonrefundable deposit, and partly because she doesn't want to think of him taking the trip with his new girlfriend. Big Sur isn't a place they'd been together, so she hopes to make new memories, and possibly new friends. When besties Nina and Ravi invite her to sit with them at dinner, she finds an instant camaraderie with them, which helps take her mind off the fact that there's a wedding happening at the resort that weekend. When the wedding ends in tragedy, the three friends engage in some amateur sleuthing -- but when a storm causes a mudslide that isolates the resort from the rest of the world, the stakes are suddenly a lot higher: now two people are dead, and everyone seems to have a secret...

This book starts out strong, but drags a bit in the middle. Then, towards the end, the action picks up -- but the solution didn't quite come together for me. I'd say it was still a moderately enjoyable read, but probably not one I'll recommend to many people.

If I can finish two more books this month, I'll have hit my personal "goal" of 175 books for the year (I try not to be too focused on numbers, hence the scare quotes), and everything read in December will be gravy!

>98 foggidawn: Impressive! (And I'm sure you'll be able to do it.)

Wow, congratulations!

>98 foggidawn: That's great!

Well done with the reading goals Foggi. I am nowhere near my own!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday, my friend.

>99 clamairy: and >100 AMQS: and >101 The_Hibernator: and >102 PaulCranswick:
Having completed three books over my three day Thanksgiving holiday, I have done it! Now, if I can write a few reviews...

>103 foggidawn: Congratulations, Foggi,

I went one better and managed to finish four books yesterday!

>104 PaulCranswick: Wow! That's a lot of wrapping up for one day.

(174 books read)



Godmersham Park by Gill Hornby -- When she finds herself penniless after her mother's death, Anne Sharp takes a position as governess to Fanny Austen. While in the Austen family's employ, she befriends Fanny's beloved Aunt Jane, a friendship which will last for the rest of their lives.

This fictionalized account of the life of an historical figure hit all of the right notes for me. Jane Austen does appear as a secondary character, and I thought she was well-written without taking over the story, which centers entirely on Anne. I'd recommend this to Austen fans, especially those with an interest in Jane's biographical details.

(175 books read)



The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan -- Frida Liu, recently-divorced mother of a toddler, is struggling to get by. Her ex-husband has a young, peppy girlfriend. Frida's career is going nowhere, and her finances are tight. But at least she has Harriet, her beloved daughter. Until her Very Bad Day. Sleep deprived, overheated, and not thinking straight, Frida leaves Harriet in her Exersaucer while she runs out to get an iced coffee. She'll be right back -- except, she remembers she needs a file from her office. She gets caught up answering emails, and before she knows it, more than two hours have gone by -- and a neighbor, hearing Harriet's cries, has reported Frida to Child Protective Services. Now, if Frida wants to regain joint custody of her daughter, she must attend a year-long government program to retrain negligent mothers. Separated completely from the outside world, the women in this program are given robotic dolls to care for. They face high demands and constant monitoring. But if they can pass, it will all be worth it -- right?

So, parts of this story worked for me, and parts did not. I found the nanny state pictured in this near-future America frighteningly believable, though the program that Frida and the other "bad mothers" are put in is, of course, over the top with the gaslighting and emotional (and sometimes physical) torture that they endure. It's clear that the program sets the mothers up for failure, and one wonders what the government gets out of this system? I was also bothered by the lack of attention to child development displayed by the social worker and other officials. The robotic dolls were a fascinating element; there's potential for more story there. I felt that the second half of the book dragged on. The ending was bittersweet, more bitter than sweet, really. If the premise interests you, give this a go -- but don't expect an uplifting read.

(176 books read)



The Zig Zag Girl by Elly Griffiths -- Brighton, 1950: When a woman's body is found chopped into three pieces, DI Edgar Stephens is reminded of a magic trick created by one of his old war buddies, Max Mephisto. During WWII, they were part of a top-secret unit who specialized in confusion and misdirection: the Magic Men. Now, Max and Edgar must team up, because there's someone out there who may want both of them -- and the rest of the Magic Men -- dead.

This is the first book in a series by an author I have enjoyed. I found this one pretty good, enough so that I'll seek out the next book in the series. I did guess "whodunit" about halfway through the book. If you're a mystery reader who's intrigued by the era or the magic/variety show ties, it's worth a look.

(177 books read)



The Harbors of the Sun by Martha Wells -- I finally got around to finishing the Raksura series. I enjoyed it overall, though I stalled out while reading this last book. There were a lot more point-of-view characters in different places, doing different things, and I had a hard time keeping them straight. Not sure I'll ever revisit this series, but I'm glad to have read it.

(DNF)



Main Character Energy by Jamie Varon -- Poppy is ready to give up on her dreams of becoming a writer when a surprising bequest changes everything.

Often, if I DNF a book after reading just a little bit, I don't mention it -- it tends to be a case of wrong book, wrong time, more than anything else. But with this one, I started the audiobook and was immediately irritated by the narrator's over-dramatic reading style (very swoopy and quavery). I thought perhaps I could get past that, but listening more, I realized that the sentence-level writing is also just not good. The dialogue is stilted and unrealistic, and the plot is predictable (even for a romance novel). I had high hopes for this romance featuring a fat main character, but it did not live up to my expectations.

>106 foggidawn: I will have to see if I can locate a copy of that one. Thanks for the recommendation, foggi!

>107 foggidawn: Congratulations on hitting your personal goal for the year!

>108 foggidawn: I enjoyed that one too and, like you, guessed the bad guy midway through. I own a couple of the following volumes of the series and want to get them read soon(ish).

>110 foggidawn: There are certainly poor narrators out there, or ones that grate on my ear, but I have always found that if a book is problematic then the audiobook is more problematic. There's no escaping, no skimming. You're in for every syllable.

>111 alcottacre: The second Max Mephisto book is set at Christmas time, if you're looking for a seasonal read. (I just finished it and need to write a review.)

>112 AMQS: Exactly. Early on, I did wonder if I should switch to a print copy, but then I realized that it wasn't just the narrator.

Congrats on hitting your reading goal!!

(178 books read)



Smoke and Mirrors by Elly Griffiths -- Despite saying he'd never do it, Max Mephisto is in the pantomime at Brighton, where Inspector Stephens is investigating a particularly nasty case involving some missing children.

I don't think the title is a particularly good fit for the story, and I feel like the author had to stretch a little to connect the mystery to Max's world of magic and theatre. (I foresee this being an issue for this series.) However, I still enjoyed listening to this audiobook, and will continue with the series. I found it a pleasant coincidence that I read this in December, and it's set at Christmas time.

I probably won't write full reviews as I continue this series unless the quality changes drastically or something like that.

>114 curioussquared: Thanks! I have a small stack of seasonal reads checked out from the library, so I'm interested to see what my final count will be.

You're just blitzing through the books, Foggi. Sorry to hear >110 foggidawn: disappointed. It's always a bummer when you have high hopes and the content doesn't deliver. Looking forward to seeing what holiday reads you fit in this month.

>117 MickyFine: I've finished my first one (second one if you count Smoke and Mirrors, which I didn't realize was going to be set at Christmas) -- just need to get around to writing the review!

(179 books read)



The Christmas Orphans Club by Becca Freeman -- Ever since college, it's been Hannah and Finn's tradition to spend Christmas together. Over the years, they've added Priya and Theo, and now Hannah can't dream of doing Christmas without them. This year, however, may be the last for the Christmas Orphans Club: Finn has accepted a job in L.A., and Hannah has a serious boyfriend who wants Hannah to be part of his large family's Christmas celebrations. Is Hannah ready to let go of her beloved Christmas traditions? Will Finn finally tell Theo how he feels before leaving for the west coast? And what's going on with Priya in the midst of all this holiday drama?

This was a fun and sweet holiday story. It jumps around from the book's present day (2018) to the previous years, building up to the reveal of the Big Thing that happened two years ago that almost destroyed Finn and Hannah's friendship. I could totally relate to Hannah's desire to cling to their traditions even to the detriment of her own relationships, because I would totally be that person. I think that readers who object to time hops/non-linear storytelling would find the non-sequential jumps back to previous Christmases annoying, but I wasn't particularly bothered (well, maybe just a tiny bit). While you could bill this as a romance, it's much more a story about friendships and found family and dealing with change than it is about finding your Happily Ever After. A nice seasonal read.

Oh I think you got me with >119 foggidawn:. Not sure I'll have time to squeeze in another audio before my winter break, but if I do that looks like it might fit the bill.

>120 AMQS: Enjoy, if you get to it! If not, there's always next year.

>119 foggidawn: For about a decade I served the Orphan's not a Christmas dinner Christmas day dinner. Mostly mixed Jewish Christian couples where the Christian members families, if any, were out of town. It started the year my parents went to the east coast for the Holidays and continued until my daughter's birth. After my mother's death, when he no longer felt up to traveling to be with grandchildren, my dad joined us.
I still serve the same meal at Christmas, but the non-family orphans have long made other arrangements.

>122 quondame: What a nice tradition! What dishes do you serve?

(180 books read)



The Muse of Maiden Lane by Mimi Matthews -- Stella Hobhouse, with prematurely grey hair and a very small dowry, despairs of ever getting married. She'll have to return to her clergyman brother's village and devote her life to caring for the poor, with only her horse Locket to keep her company. Then, at a house party, she becomes reacquainted with Teddy Hayes. Ever since their chance meeting at the Royal Gallery a few months ago, Teddy has been searching for the luminous grey-haired beauty whom he now considers his muse. However, after the house party they will go their separate ways -- plus, there's no way a respectable young woman will pose for a portrait. Or perhaps three's a way for the two of them to each achieve their desired ends?

I enjoyed this series, but this book felt like it dragged a bit. The story was rather thin, and there were a lot of appearances from characters from Matthews' previous books. For fans of the series, that's probably not going to be a drawback, but readers new to the series should not start here. I also didn't much care for Teddy, whose artistic temperament grated on my nerves just a bit. Still, a pleasant end to the series.

>123 foggidawn: Fettuccine al pesto and breaded veal with prosciutto-lemon sauce. Desert is pumpkin pie and mincemeat tarts.

>81 foggidawn: I really enjoyed it! And there were quite a few Christmas stories in the mix, so it was perfect timing. Thank you!

>125 quondame: Delicious!

>126 clamairy: Great! You're welcome!

(181 books read)



The Mistletoe Mystery by Nita Prose -- Molly the Maid has been involved in solving two mysteries at the Regency Grand, but this one is hitting closer to home. Molly's charming boyfriend Juan Manuel is acting a little bit strange, like he's keeping a secret from her. Is he losing interest in her? Seeing another woman? Or is there a different explanation for his actions?

This holiday novella is a pleasant addition to the Molly the Maid series, though the "mystery" is slight, and this is really more of a romance. It's sweet as a sugar plum, but probably only enjoyable if you've read at least one of the full-length books.

(182 books read)



The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter -- Christmas hasn't always been good to author Maggie Chase. Particularly last Christmas, when she discovered that her husband was having an affair with her best friend. So, though she doesn't exactly jump at a mysterious invitation to spend Christmas in the UK, she's willing to consider it. At least, until she gets on the private jet and discovers that the only other passenger is her nemesis, rival author Ethan Wyatt. It's too late to back out -- but what kind of misery has she signed up for?

I don't want to give away too much of the plot, so I'll stop summarizing there. I enjoyed this Christmassy house party/locked room mystery/enemies-to-lovers romance. A near-perfect holiday read.

>129 foggidawn: Ooh, this sounds intriguing! I wonder if I can somehow get a copy from the library before Christmas...

ETA: 7 weeks wait for the audiobook, but there are 91 copies... maybe enough people will delay their hold that I'll get lucky 😂

>129 foggidawn: that looks fun! Thanks for the recommendation.

>130 curioussquared: and >131 AMQS: Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

(183 books read)



Keeper of Enchanted Rooms by Charlie N. Holmberg -- Merritt Fernsby is surprised and pleased to inherit Whimbrel House, a dwelling on a remote island in Narragansett Bay. He's less pleased when he discovers that the house is magical -- and it won't let him leave. Fortunately for him, Hulda Larkin arrives to take charge of the house and evaluate its magic. As an employee of the Boston Institute for the Keeping of Enchanted Rooms, she's seen worse. Unfortunately, one of the things that she's seen isn't content to remain in her past, and even Whimbrel House may not be safe...

This isn't exactly gentle or cozy fantasy (the house plays some gruesome tricks before it settles down, and there's some violence in both the climax and the backstory), but it has some cozy vibes in between. The magic system is well-described. The pacing is a little slow in the middle, but not enough that I lost interest. The main characters get plenty of character development, though the secondary characters are less dynamic. All in all, an enjoyable fantasy that reminded me just a little bit of The House in the Cerulean Sea. I'll be continuing with the series.

(184 books read)



The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson -- University student Ashley Smith is planning to spend Christmas alone in London, until an acquaintance invites her to her family home in the Cotswolds for the week. Ashley details the visit in her diary: cozy drinks at the pub, big family dinners, reading by the fireplace, brisk walks in the woods... then, tragedy.

This slim novella does a great job of creating a Christmas atmosphere, albeit a dark one. There's a twist about halfway through that I did not see coming. If you're looking for a Christmas mystery to read in one sitting, say, by the fire with a cup of eggnog, this is a good one.

>134 foggidawn: This looks perfect. Thanks.

>134 foggidawn: That was one of my best reads of the year.

>135 clamairy: Glad to be of service!

>136 mstrust: Wow! I don't think it will be in my top ten, but it was definitely a good read.

(185 books read)



The Rosemary Spell by Virginia Zimmerman -- A locked cupboard. An old journal. An elderly poet. A magic spell. For best friends Rosemary and Adam, these are all elements of the adventures they've always longed for, but have only experienced so far in books. However, when they speak the spell, unintended consequences lead to extremely high stakes: the spell makes Adam's sister Shelby disappear, and they have only a little while to reverse the spell and get her back.

I enjoyed this middle-grade novel, with its ties to Shakespeare and Rosemary's particular fondness for children's literature. The plot was compelling, and the author did a good job of making the panic over forgetting Shelby seem real. Recommended for fans of juvenile fantasy in a real-world setting.

>129 foggidawn: >130 curioussquared: >134 foggidawn: You can't hit me with book bullets for those because they are already on my TBR list.

>139 thornton37814: Haha!

(186 books read)



A Half-Built Garden by Ruthanna Emrys -- 2083. Judy Wallach-Stevens, a biochemist working in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, is called out one evening to deal with some unusual readings from a sensor in the Potomac. It's a pleasant night, so she brings her wife and baby daughter along for the ride. What she finds is an alien spacecraft. And, by bringing baby Dori with her, she has inadvertently met the alien race's standard for diplomacy, as the captain of the ship is also a nursing mother. The aliens are there to rescue humanity from their failing planet and bring them into symbiosis -- even if the humans do not all want to go. Judy is convinced that Earth is worth saving, and that humanity has made strides in that direction over the past 50 years. But it will take all of her powers of persuasion, especially when there are other human groups with different interests in what the aliens have to offer.

For the most part, I liked this first contact story. Since it's more about diplomacy and negotiation rather than danger, the plot putters along. There's also an air of smugness to Judy's world that grated just a bit. Oh, and I wasn't down for the consensual polyamorous sex with aliens part. But all in all, the concept was interesting and the story well-told. Recommended for fans of Becky Chambers and other soft sci-fi.

Glad to see Most Wonderful Crime was just as good as read for you as it was for me. ❤️

Winslow and all of us wish you a very happy holidays!

Thinking of you at this time, Foggi.

>142 MickyFine: Yep, it's a fun one!

>143 AMQS: and >144 Whisper1: and >145 PaulCranswick: Thanks for the holiday wishes!

I hope everyone is having a good holiday season, whichever ones you celebrate. I went to visit my parents for a few days around Christmas Day. It's always good to see them, but their dog Sasha is in poor condition, having hurt her legs again (a particular hazard for three-legged dogs, as they have no legs to spare), and I was afraid that they were going to have to put her down. The vet gave her some muscle relaxers and she has been resting and recovering. She's still eating and eliminating, and is able to walk a little bit now, but she was in a lot of pain that first day, and these incidents seem to be getting more frequent. I'm afraid that the next one may be the last one. Dad is having trouble with his leg (he's once again a medical man of mystery, as they've taken several MRIs and can't figure out what's causing it -- this happened a few years ago with a persistent cough) so he can't be of much help if Sasha needs to be picked up. Here's Sasha, wearing a neck brace but still very much herself:



On the more positive side, we had a big dinner on Christmas day with my mom's parents (in their 90's, but still up and about and doing very well for their age) and her siblings and many of my cousins and their children (and, in one case, grandchildren; I am still in denial about the fact that some of my generation on both sides of my family are grandparents). I distributed my traditional holiday fudge and received a puzzle and some gift cards and a fleece-lined hoodie. My brother is with his wife's family in Georgia for the week, but they'll be back up at my parents' place on the 5th, so we're planning to celebrate Christmas together on Twelfth Night this year.

I got home yesterday and gave John his gifts: a new wallet and a framed photo of him and his dad sitting together on the tailgate of his dad's truck on a beautiful late summer's day. They don't have a lot of pictures together, and his dad's health is declining rapidly, so the photo was well received. I had another copy made that I'll give to his dad when we exchange gifts with them tomorrow. John gave me a bracelet (we went together to pick it out before Christmas), and we have our annual bookstore date planned for New Year's Eve. All in all, I feel like I'm doing Christmas the right way this year, with visits and celebrations spread throughout all twelve days.

(187 books read)



A December to Remember by Jenny Bayliss -- Upon the death of their father, three estranged sisters are tasked with reviving the village Winter Solstice celebration, or forfeit their inheritance. Can they stop fighting and work together for long enough to pull the festival together?

This was a pleasant seasonal read, though a bit over the top in some ways. I didn't care a whole lot about any of the characters, and the pacing was a little slow. Still, I enjoyed reading about the solstice celebration, which sounds like a total delight, and I would love a good rummage through the antique shop. I won't read any more Bayliss this season, but may try another of her holiday stories next year.

(188-190 books read)

   

The Work of Art, Gentleman Jim, and Return to Satterthwaite Court by Mimi Matthews -- Two Regency romances, and then a third book featuring the children of the couples in the first two books. I needed a nice historical romance binge around the Christmas holidays, and these did the trick. I will probably finish off the series before long.

(191 books read)



The Blood Card by Elly Griffiths -- continuing the series via audiobook; this one was as enjoyable as the previous two.

(192 & 193 books read)



Appointment in Bath and A Lady of Conscience by Mimi Matthews -- completing my series binge.

I have started a thread in the 2025 group:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/366932

See you there!

I will continue to post on this thread today and tomorrow, especially if I finish any more books.

Assuming that I don't finish anything really excellent in the next two days, here are my...

10 Favorite Books of 2024

The Mars House by Natasha Pulley
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
Yours from the Tower by Sally Nicholls
The Night War by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett
Lost in the Moment and Found by Seanan McGuire
Confusion by Elizabeth Jane Howard
A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher
Godmersham Park by Gill Hornby
Not Quite a Ghost by Ann Ursu

Caveat: I limited myself to one book per author, or the list would be mostly Natasha Pulley and N.K. Jemisin.

I will be cross-posting this on my 2025 thread.

Yours From the Tower made my best of the year list. I liked the three Heather Fawcett books I read, though they were not Emily Wilde...but I do have plans to listen to those next year. One of these years I will get around to reading Elizabeth Jane Howard as well.

>153 aktakukac: I have to explore Fawcett's other stuff. I think I've read one or two that weren't the Emily Wilde series, but I've really loved Emily Wilde. I had an uneven experience with Elizabeth Jane Howard -- I loved the Cazalet Chronicles, but tried two of her early works and did not like them at all.