DeltaQueen's 2012 Reading - Part 8

Welcome to my December Thread. This will be the month to kick off the festive season and welcome winter. The year is winding down, and now is the time to pick up those books that you promised yourself you were going to read this year. I know I have a few that I've been looking at and saying to myself "later ...".

Currently Reading:

My Yearly Progress:

How I Rate Books:

2.0 ★: I must have been dragged, kicking and screaming, to finish this one!

2.5 ★: Below Average but I finished the book for one reason or another.

3.0 ★: Average, a solid read that I finished but can’t promise to remember

3.5 ★: Above Average, there’s room for improvement but I liked this well enough to pick up another book by this author.

4.0 ★: A very good read and I enjoyed my time spent with this story

4.5 ★: An excellent read, a book I will remember and recommend

5.0 ★: Sheer perfection, the right book at the right time for me

In order to give myself a little more flexibility in rating, I am going to be using a decimal system this year, as I find there can be quite a difference between a 3.3 book and a 3.6 book.

I am not a professional reviewer, both my ratings and reviews reflect how a book resonated with me personally.

Symbols

♫ ♫ = Audio Book

† † = E-Book

2012 Books Read

January

1. The Dead by Charlie Higson - 4.1 ★
2. Nemesis † † by Agatha Christie - 3.6 ★
3. Seven Days In June by Howard Fast - 3.6 ★
4. Iron House† † by John Hart - 4.2 ★
5. The Thirteen Treasures by Michelle Harrison - 3.4 ★
6. Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh - 5 ★
7. Mrs. Mike by Benedict Freedman - 4.3 ★
8. Sweet Tooth Vol 2: In Captivity by Jeff Lemire - 3.6 ★
9. A Free Man of Color by Barbara Hambley - 3.3 ★
10. Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah - 3.5 ★
11. Cheyenne Autumn by Mari Sandoz - 4.2 ★
12. Zoo City†† by Lauren Beukes - 3.4 ★
13. Boundary Waters by William Kent Krueger - 4.0 ★
14. Skeletons On The Zahara by Dean King - 4.5 ★
15. The Last Sunrise by Robert Ryan - 4.1 ★
16. The Things That Keep Us Here by Carla Buckley - 3.7 ★
17. Dancing With Colonels by Marjorie Havreberg - 3.0 ★

February

18. White Nights by Ann Cleeves - 4.2 ★
19. Soulless by Gail Carriger - 3.8 ★
20. The Peacock Spring by Rumer Godden - 4.5 ★
21. Great Expectations †† by Charles Dickens - 3.6 ★
22. Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead by Sara Gran - 3.8 ★
23. The Sandman Vol 1: Preludes and Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman - 4.2 ★
24. When the Astors Owned New York by Justin Kaplan - 3.2 ★
25. Unnatural Death by Dorothy Sayers - 3.7 ★
26. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray - 4.0 ★
27. Pale Immortal †† by Anne Frasier - 3.4 ★
28. Where The Buffalo Roam by Michael Zimmer - 3.6 ★
29. The Spies of Warsaw by Alan Furst - 4.6 ★
30. The UnTied Kingdom†† by Kate Johnson - 3.3 ★
31. Island of Ghosts by Gillian Bradshaw - 4.2 ★
32. Two Corinthians†† by Carola Dunn - 3.5 ★
33. Blankets by Craig Thompson - 5.0 ★

March

34. Shadow Valley†† by Stephen Barnes - 4.6 ★
35. Christine Falls by Benjamin Black - 3.2 ★
36. March by Geraldine Brooks - 4.4 ★
37. Remember Me, Irene by Jan Burke - 3.2 ★
38. Calico Captive by Elizabeth George Speare - 3.4 ★
39. Enclave by Ann Aguirre - 4.2 ★
40. Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin - 5.0 ★
41. Countdown by Deborah Wiles - 4.3 ★
42. Don't Look Back by Karin Fossum - 3.7 ★
43. The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi - 4.5 ★
44. Down the Long Hills†† by Louis L'Amour - 3.7 ★
45. Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn - 3.3 ★
46. Yesterday's Dead by Pat Bourke - 4.0 ★
47. The Night Following by Morag Joss - 4.8 ★
48. One Under by Graham Hurley - 4.0 ★
49. Jeannie: A Love Story by Derek Tangye - 3.4 ★
50. A Winter Kill by Vicki Delany - 3.0 ★
51. Lazybones by Mark Billingham - 4.0 ★

April

52. April In Paris by Michael Wallner - 3.6 ★
53. David Copperfield†† by Charles Dickens - 4.3 ★
54. The Running Vixen by Elizabeth Chadwick - 4.0 ★
55. The Dead and the Gone†† by Susan Beth Pfeffer - 4.1 ★
56. All Shall Be Well by Deborah Crombie - 3.7 ★
57. The Moon Is Down♫♫ by John Steinbeck - 5.0 ★
58. Hey Canada by Viviene Bowers - 4.2 ★
59. Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry - 4.3 ★
60. Fables Vol 1: Legends in Exile by Bill Willingham - 3.6 ★
61. Gentlemen of the Road by Michael Chabon - 3.7 ★
62. Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork - 4.7 ★
63. The Holy Road by Michael Blake - 4.3 ★
64. The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance & Survival by John Vaillant - 4.4 ★
65. War For The Oaks by Emma Bull - 4.4 ★

May

66. Lennox by Craig Russell - 4.2 ★
67. The White Russian by Tom Bradby - 4.5 ★
68. Rose In Bloom†† by Louisa May Alcott - 3.2 ★
69. The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths - 4.2 ★
70. Russian Fairy Tales by Aleksandr Afanasev - 3.3 ★
71. The Last Werewolf by Glen Duncan - 4.5 ★
72. Zoo Station by David Downing - 4.2 ★
73. Blackburn by Bradley Denton - 4.0 ★
74. Warrior Daughter by Janet Paisley - 3.2 ★
75. The Devil in the White City by Erik Larsen - 5.0 ★
76. Hombre†† by Elmore Leonard - 3.7 ★
77. Blue Skies & Gunfire by K.M. Peyton - 3.4 ★
78. Hatter M: Volume 1: The Looking Glass Wars - 3.3 ★
79. The Goose Girl†† by Shannon Hale - 5.0 ★
80. Dead Man's Footsteps by Peter James - 4.3 ★

June

81. Venice Noir edited by Maxim Jakubowski - 3.7 ★
82. Divergent by Veronica Roth - 5.0 ★
83. Remembrance by Theresa Breslin - 4.1 ★
84. A Sickness in the Family by Denise Mina - 4.2 ★
85. Trust Nobody by June Hampson - 3.8 ★
86. Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel - 4.5 ★
87. Life ♫♫ by Keith Richards - 5.0 ★
88. The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner - 3.5 ★
89. Fearless: A Novel of Sarah Bowman by Lucia St Clair Robson - 4.2 ★
90. River of Smoke by Amitav Ghosh - 5.0 ★
91. Hollowland†† by Amanda Hocking - 2.0 ★
92. Revolution†† by Jennifer Donnelly - 3.7 ★
93. The Forgotten Legion by Ben Kane - 3.5 ★
94. Thrush Green by Miss Read (Dora Saint) - 5.0 ★

July

95. The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro & Chuck Hogan - 4.0 ★
96. Box Nine by Jack O'Connell - 4.3 ★
97. The Ox-Bow Incident - 4.5 ★
98. Mr. Monster by Dan Wells - 3.7 ★
99. Sixpence House by Paul Collins - 2.8 ★
100. The Seeing Stone by Kevin Crossley-Holland - 4.3 ★
101. Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier - 3.9 ★
102. Emma, Volume 1 by Kaoru Mori - 3.6 ★
103. Playing With Bones by Kate Ellis - 4.3 ★
104. The Black Angel by Cornel Woolrich - 4.0 ★
105. Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie - 4.5 ★
106. The Lotus Eaters†† by Tatjana Soli - 4.2 ★
107. Montacute House†† by Lucy Jago - 2.8 ★
108. Secrets in Burracombe †† by Lilian Harry - 3.9 ★

August

109. The Cotton Queen by Pamela Morsi - 3.8 ★
110. 22 Accessible Road Trips by Candy Harrington - 4.0 ★
111. King of the Streets by John Baker - 4.3 ★
112. Tall Poppies by Louise Bagshawe - 3.1 ★
113. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss - 4.0 ★
114. Harp of Burma by Michio Takeyama - 4.2 ★
115. A Shilling for Candles by Josephine Tey - 4.0 ★
116. The High Crusade by Poul Anderson - 4.1 ★
117. The Legate's Daughter by Wallace Breem - 3.9 ★
118. Stone Song: A Novel of the Life of Crazy Horse by Win Blevins - 5.0 ★
119. Rebecca Of Sunnybrook Farm†† by Kate Douglas Wiggin - 3.0 ★
120. Tooth And Nail†† by Craig DiLouie - 3.5 ★
121. Murder on the Links†† by Agatha Christie - 4.0 ★

September

122. Resolution†† by Robert B Parker - 4.0 ★
123. Enna Burning†† by Shannon Hale - 3.0 ★
124. Forge by Laurie Halse Anderson - 4.1 ★
125. Bad Boy by Peter Robinson - 4.3 ★
126. The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation by Sid Jacobson - 4.5 ★
127. Breed by Chase Novak - 4.1 ★
128. The Heart of the Family by Annie Groves - 3.8 ★
129. Girl Sleuth: Nancy Drew and the Women Who Created Her by Melanie Rehak - 4.0 ★
130. At The Crossing Places by Kevin Crossley-Holland - 3.1 ★
131. Sweet Tooth Vol 3: Animal Armies by Jeff Lemire - 4.0 ★
132. The Pearl by John Steinbeck - 4.0 ★
133. Faithful Place by Tana French - 5.0 ★
134. The Land of Summer by Charlotte Bingham - 1.5 ★
135. A Cafe On The Nile by Bartle Bull - 4.5 ★
136. Apocalypse of the Dead by Joe McKinney - 3.8 ★
137. A Superior Death♫♫ by Nevada Barr - 3.6 ★

October

138. Watching Jimmy by Nancy Hartry - 4.0 ★
139. Doc by Mary Doria Russell - 5.0 ★
140. Aya by Marguerite Abouet - 3.7 ★
141. Fashions of a Decade: The 1950s by Patricia Baker - 3.4 ★
142. French Milk by Lucy Knisley - 3.4 ★
143. The Secret Speech by Tom Rob Smith - 4.1 ★
144. Land of a Hundred Wonders by Lesley Kagen - 3.7 ★
145. This World We Live In†† by Susan Beth Pfeffer - 3.8 ★
146. The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien - 4.3 ★
147. October Skies by Alex Scarrow - 3.5 ★
148. Dracula†† by Bram Stoker - 4.5 ★
149. Dark Blood by Stuart MacBride - 4.4 ★
150. The Giver by Lois Lowry - 4.2 ★
151. Perdido Street Station by China Mieville - 4.7 ★
152. One Grave Too Many by Beverly Connor - 3.1 ★
153. The Swiss Family Robinson by Frank Blandford (Campfire Graphics) - 3.5 ★
154. Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George - 3.8 ★
155. Northlanders Vol 1: Sven the Returned by Brian Wood & Davide Gianfelice - 3.6 ★

November

156. Burma Boy by Biyi Bandele - 4.1 ★
157. War Party by Louis L'Amour - 3.6 ★
158. The Chili Queen by Sandra Dallas - 4.3 ★
159. We Band of Angels by Elizabeth M. Norman - 5.0 ★
160. The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel by Maureen Lindley - 3.8 ★
161. Zarafa: A Giraffe's True Story by Michael Allin - 3.6 ★
162. Changeless by Gail Carriger - 4.0 ★
163. The Grand Sophy†† by Georgette Heyer - 4.5 ★
164. Journey To Topaz by Yoshiko Uchida - 3.7 ★
165. Feed by Mira Grant - 3.0 ★
166. Henrietta's War†† by Joyce Dennys - 4.0 ★
167. The Garden of Eve by K.L. Going - 3.1 ★
168. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline - 5.0 ★
169. Summer of My German Soldier - 3.8 ★
170. Who Goes There? by John W. Campbell - 4.1 ★
171. The Mystic Rose by Stephen Lawhead - 3.0 ★
172. The Last Trail†† by Zane Grey - 3.6 ★

December

173. The Water's Lovely by Ruth Rendell - 3.2 ★
174. The Christmas Chronicles by Tim Slover - 4.0 ★
175. Albert of Adelaide by Howard Anderson - 4.1 ★
176. A Tale of Two Cities†† by Charles Dickens - 4.2 ★
177. The Christmas Mouse & No Holly For Miss Quinn †† by Miss Read - 4.0 ★
178. Island Madness by Tim Binding - 4.1 ★
179. Life of Pi by Yann Martel - 5.0 ★
180. A Christmas Wedding Wager†† by Michelle Styles - 1.0 ★
181. The Call of the Wild†† by Jack London - 4.1 ★
182. The Leopard Unleashed by Elizabeth Chadwick - 4.1 ★
183. The Day of the Triffids†† by John Wyndham - 4.3 ★
184. A Killing Frost by R.D. Wingfield - 4.6 ★

We don't get a lot of snow here on the west coast, but when we do it is often that heavy wet type that's hard to shovel, but looks beautiful in pictures.



This is a picture taken in Stanley Park.

Again, in Stanley Park

Surely 13 spots are enough! Hope so, any how. Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving, Judy.

Hi Judy. Just checking out the new thread. Can't wait to see the rest of your lists. I'm still looking for ideas for my Christmas list.

Hi Roni and Pat, there I'm all up and ready. Welcome to my new thread. It still seems weird to be talking and thinking of Christmas Lists, but I guess it truly is getting to be that time of year.

Just want to repeat, there is going to be a Group Read of A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens in December.

Here is the link to the first part:

A Tale of Two Cities - Part 1

Everyone is welcome, please feel free to come and join in or just come and lurk.

Wish I had that much snow. :) I'm here to lurk some more. I'll try to be more present! I might look into the group read too.

Hi, Judy ~ Happy Thanksgiving! Gorgeous images of the snow. So glad I live in the south part of the West Coast that almost never gets snow except up in the mountains.

Happy Thanksgiving, Judy! I'm liking those snow pics, too.

Lovely new thread, Judy! I always love your thread toppers! I just reread A Tale of Two Cities last year - it is one of my favorite Dickens. Think I will lurk on your GR thread for it, so thanks for posting the link.

Hi Judy, love the snow pictures *smile*

And a very Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

Beautiful snowy pictures, Judy! I have almost totally failed in my goal to read some Dickens this year - I bailed after Nicholas Nickleby in January, so I am going to try and join the A Tale of Two Cities group read so that I can finish at least one more.

I'm thankful for discovering new books with you, Judy! Enjoy your "White Thanksgiving"!

Although it is just another Thursday here, I am thinking and wishing all my American friends a Happy Thanksgiving. As I've travelled around the threads and seen hints of everyone's menu, I believe the eating is goling to be superb.

#18 - Hi Melis, I hope you able to join us for A Tale of Two Cities. (And to tell the truth, I really only like snow in pictures!)

#19 - Mary, that's the way I like my snow to -- up on the mountains. We get it so rarely here that when it does come we are neither prepared for it or able to cope with the driving. Some people like to think they can drive in the snow like pros, but really most West Coasters are pretty hopeless.

#20 - Happy Thanksgiving, Joe. I hope you and your family have a lovely holiday.

#21 - Hi Mamie, I'm looking forward to ATOTC!

#22 - Hi Bianca, thanks for the good wishes. We North Americans like to keep things confusing so we Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving in October, while the Americans celebrate in November.

#23 - Hi Susan, I hope you join in with the Group Read. This year has been a year for reading Charles Dickens for me, this is my third group read of one of his books.

#24 - Waves to Lynda, I did have a lovely Thanksgiving, but it was awhile ago now. ;) Have yourself a lovely holiday.

Wonderful wintery new thread, Judy. Your pictures is pretty much what I get to see outside my windows the last 2 mornings. Thank goodness for a little bit of sunshine coming through this afternoon. Great minds think alike. I have plans to read Ready Player One this month so I'm hoping there is still time to fit it in.

>>20 jnwelch:, 25 Thanks, Judy. You're very gracious - I'm off about a month for you, darn it, yes? We're having a good one and I hope you did, too.

Hi Judy. Woo - snow! We are similarly bad at dealing with snow when we get it and so everyone gets very excited and then quickly gets annoyed at not being able to drive, trains being cancelled etc and then just grumbles about it til it melts.

Happy Vicarious Thanksgiving Judy!

Love the snowscenes Judy - shudderingly nostalgic for me!
Congratulations on your latest thread.

Gorgeous pictures, Judy!

I hope everyone is having a good weekend. I spent yesterday with my grandchildren as they had the day off school and their mother is out of town on business. We went out to lunch and then came back here, grandson helped my husband put up the Christmas lights outside, while granddaughter and I spent some time picking up small branches and pinecones that came down in the yard over the last week. We then came inside and played some video games.

Today I am spending time here on LT and doing some reading.

#26 - Hi Valerie, I hope you are able to fit Ready Player One in this month, I will be interested in how you find it. For me, a great read, but then I was already an adult in the 1980's and most of the pop culture references hit home with me. This turned out to be an important book for me, a five star read (review follows), as well as the book that finished my 12 in 12 Category Challenge and put me over 55,000 pages on my yearly page count.

#27 - No problem, Joe. We are such a close knit family here on LT that it's easy to forget that many of us are from different countries. And yes, I did have a lovely Thanksgiving back in October. :)

#28 - I am one of the lucky ones, Heather, if it snows here, I can just snuggle in and enjoy it through my windows. I remember when both girls used to wish for snow when they were younger, now that they have to drive out in it to get to work, they dread it.

#29 - Thanks, Rachel. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving.

#30 - Hi Paul, I recognize those shudders! I get them too if it does happen to snow here, luckily, we usually only get one or two snowfalls per year.

#31 - Hi Roni, I guess you don't have to worry about snow or winter conditions where you live!

168. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline - 5.0 ★
12 in 12 Category: Heard It Thru the Grapevine - Recommended by Mark59 & Bell7 (Mary)
TIOLI #10: Book Has an LT Average Rating of 4.0 to 4.5



What a fun ride to the past Ready Player One by Ernest Cline turned out to be. Reliving the pop culture of the 1980’s while reading about a futuristic America was a total blast. The story started off slowly with character introductions and scene setting, but suddenly it took off and I was glued to the pages, totally addicted to this roller coaster ride of a 1980’s trivia inspired adventure.

Music and movies have always played an important role in my life and I loved the many references to these throughout the book. The author took some of the best movie plots of the Eighties and included them in his book, so we are treated to a great “buddy” story, a sweet love story, a treasure hunt with billions of dollars at stake and a total geek love-fest. My Eighties were taken up with working and raising a family, but even I spent some time at PacMan, Q*Bert and other early video games, I can only imagine the joy this book would evoke in a avid games player.

I am usually quite leery of books that receive this type of “buzz”, but Ready Player One really spoke to me. Using a plethora of eighties detail the author convincingly lays out his action packed story of the future, but there is a small warning on these pages of how the real world could suffer if an addiction to virtual reality were to take over as it has in Wade’s world. I suspect Ready Player One is a polarizing book according to how the reader is affected by the concept, and although this was far from the best writing, for me it’s an easy 5 stars for sheer enjoyment and gut-appeal.

Great review, Judy - I have that one in the stacks already. Everybody seems to really love it - and a 5 star rating for sheer enjoyment and gut-appeal bumps it up in the stack for me!

I gave RPO to my cousin for Christmas last year and he LOVED it, and he's not a big reader. I immediately borrowed it from him but haven't read it yet. My husband has started it but I don't think he's made much progress - but only because he hasn't had a lot of reading time lately...

Anyway, thanks for that great review! I'm really looking forward to the book!

I took RPO out of the library awhile ago but didn't get a chance to read it before it had to go back. It looked good though and your 5 star review reminds me I need to take it out again.

#34 - Hi Mamie, it's a fun read and sure tests your memory for the 1980's. I think you will enjoy it when you get there.

#35 - Katie, I really liked how different RPO is, it's not like any other book I have read in recent memory!

#36 - Hi Roni, I think you would definitely love Ready Player One. I'm looking forward to passing this one on to my brother who, I think, would be the perfect target audience for this book, as he was in his twenties during the 1980's.

Spent a quiet Sunday, doing a little laundry, and general housekeeping duties. I did finish another short book (review follows).

169. Summer Of My German Soldier by Bette Greene - 3.8 ★
50 States Challenge - Arkansas
TIOLI #19: From The Library



Summer Of My German Soldier by Bette Green is a short book telling the story of Patty Bergen, a young Jewish-American girl living in Aransas during World War II. The summer that she was twelve German prisoners of war are brought to a camp near her small town of Jenkinsville.

Patty meets one of these prisoners when they are brought to her father’s store, and realizes that this young man is nothing like the fearful Nazi’s she has heard of, in fact, he was very nice to her. Being treated nicely is something Patty doesn’t have a lot of experience with as her self-absorbed mother is highly critical of her and her father is a short tempered, abusive man. Patty spends most of her young life trying to please her parents and get them to like her. When this young German escapes, Patty offers him food, shelter and clothing. While harbouring him, their friendship develops and Anton realizes he must move on, if only to keep Patty safe from the authorities. But it appears that she is doomed to be found out and finds herself having to face consequences that would break a weaker person.

The book, while detailing the friendship between Patty and Anton, really is much more about Patty developing her self-esteem and making plans for her future. Coming to the realization that nothing is ever going to change in her relationship with her parents, Patty must learn how to get through the next few years until she is old enough to move forward and establish her independence.

I found Summer Of My German Soldier to be both heart-breaking and thought provoking. This is not a light story with a happy ending, but it is realistic and, thankfully, the reader is left with some hope for Patty’s future.

Great review of Ready Player One, Judy, and Summer of My German Soldier, too. I'm so glad you had fun with RPO!

Judy, I love the pictures of Stanley Park in the snow! I have done a run in that park - it led to a sprained ankle but I still have fond memories. It's beautiful in the snow.

169 books for you so far this year. Well done! I had Ready Player One home from the library earlier this year but didn't get to it before it was due back. I may just go and put it back on hold now given your review.

ETA: I forgot to mention that I also love Cardinals even though we don't have them in this part of the world. I always look forward to seeing them when I travel east.

Summer of my German Soldier lands on my wishlist. It reminded me of a story told to me by an older co-worker about 30 years ago. She grew up on a farm in Kansas and her father had German POWs come out to help work the farm during the war. That was the first I'd ever heard of German soldiers being present on American soil. Looking forward to this one.

Hi Judy what a great review of Summer Of My German Soldier this one is gone straight onto my wishlist. Thumbed!

And also thank you soo much for your kind words pertaining my little sister's recovery *smile*

Glad to see how much you enjoyed Ready Player One! I'm not a big gamer and just a little young to "get" some of the references (born in the '80s...), but what I did understand cracked me up and I thought it was a lot of fun to read. Nice review of Summer of My German Soldier as well - I liked it a little less than you did, mostly because I found it rather depressing though it was thought-provoking as well.

#39 - Hi Joe, I did have fun with RPO, I was also left wondering what this author will come up with next!

#40 - Hi Ellen, I wish we had both the Red Cardinals and the American Blue Jay out here in the West. We have the Stellar Jay, but I have always had a soft spot for the Blue Jay. I think you would enjoy RPO, it would be a great read when you are interested in something light and fun.

#41 - Hi Sandy, Summer of My German Soldier is an interesting read. I vaguely remember a movie with Lawrence Olivier as a German prisoner-of-war who escaped from a camp in Canada, but I was surprised when I checked Wikiapedia and saw how many camps were in America. Also that there were some prisoners that successfully escaped.

#42 - Bianca, I hope you enjoy Summer of My German Soldier when you get to it.

#43 - Hi Mary, I am pretty sure RPO will make my top five reads of the year. Summer of my German Soldier was such a different read than I was expecting. I thought it was very well done, and realistic, although, yes, quite depressing.

170. Who Goes There? by John W. Campbell - 4.1 ★
TIOLI #15: Who, What, When, Where or Why in the Title



Who Goes There? by John W Campbell is a short novella that is a real page turner. This work was the basis for both the 1951 film called “The Thing from Another World” and 1982’s “The Thing”. A research camp in Antarctica finds a frozen alien body, thaws it out and unleashes a terror upon themselves. The creature has the ability to morph into a person or animal and the tension builds as the 37 people at the station wonder who is still human and who is a monster. Their main goal is to keep the monster contained in Antarctica and not allow this horror to spread to the rest of the world.

A short, scary read that gathers tension as the paranoia mounts. A little dated perhaps, but certainly this story holds interest to science-fiction lovers everywhere. If there is a weakness, it could be said that the author spends a little more time on the science and less so on his character development. But for a short (168 pages) read, I thought it was very well done.

HI Judy great review of Who goes There. I remember that I saw that movie as a teenager and was pretty scared *smile*

I remember being absolutely terrified by 'The Thing' and hiding behind a cushion for most of the time that I was watching it.

Nice reviews, Judy! I remember reading Summer of My German Soldier is school long ago. And Who Goes There is in my TBR - sounds like a good read for next October!

You likely already know this, but there's a sequel to Summer of My German Soldier - Morning is a Long Time Coming - and it's nearly as good as the first book.

Hi Judy! I enjoyed your review soo much that I got Summer of My German Soldier for my kindle *grin*.

Hi Judy, I've wishlisted both Summer of My German Soldier and Ready Player One because of your great reviews and ratings. So thanks! Have a great day!

#46 & 47 - Bianca and Rhian, I saw the 1951 version of "The Thing" a very long time ago and I never got around to watching the one made in the 1980's, and now I'm told that it was made again last year. I really must hunt down a version and watch it again.

#48 - Morning Mamie, I am having a hard time typing today as we are getting the carpets cleaned and the cleaner has the back door open for his hoses, off course the computer room is just off the hall from the back door.
Who Goes There? would be a great October read, considering that it was originally published in 1938, I'd say it's stood the test of time fairly well.

#49 - Hi Amber, I hope today finds you feeling better. I actually didn't know there was a sequel to SOMGS, but I am adding it to my wishlist now. I look forward to finding out how Patty's story is resolved.

#50 - LOL Bianca, now you will probably have to get the sequel too!!

#51 - Hi Lynda, I hope you enjoy both these books when you get to them.

171. The Mystic Rose by Stephen Lawhead - 3.0 ★
Reading Through Time Quarterly: Middle Ages
TIOLI #8: Read a Second Hand Book from an Actual Bookstore



The Mystic Rose by Stephen Lawhead is the final book of his Celtic Crusades trilogy, dealing with the retrieval of three of the most holy of relics, the lance used to pierce the side of Jesus as he was on the cross, a piece of the actual cross and, in this book the cup that Jesus used at the Last Supper. One relic for each generation, and in this book we follow the adventures of Cait, daughter of Duncan and granddaughter of Murdo, both of whom were featured in the other books.

This book did not stir my imagination quite the way the other two had, and I found myself reading it just to complete the trilogy. The characters were a little too lacking in depth to be believable, Cait was too forthright and modern to be a woman of the twelfth century, and the villain was to much over the top and relishing his power by acts that the church would never have condoned, particularly when it came to violence against nuns and archbishops.

I freely admit that I am not well versed in Christian theology but I found much of the mysticism mentioned in this story to be vague and clichéd. Perhaps it was simply that this trilogy was getting a little stale, but overall, I thought this was the weakest of the three books.

Summer of my German Soldier sounded so familiar but as a movie so had to look it up it was an oldie made for tv movie starring Kristy McNichol (which alone dates it!) but it did win 2 Primetime Emmys.

May have to give the book a try!

Wow, a 5 star rating for RPO. Now I really want to try to fit that in before the end of the year. I wonder if my reaction will be slightly different from yours since I one just a wee one during that time period. Hopefully I'll get most of references of the time!
Congrats on finishing up your 12 in 12 Challenge. It is always great when we set a goal and then actually accomplish it! Way to go, Judy. :)

I've seen the '50's and the '80's versions of The Thing, and loved them both - highly recommend the 80's one if you haven't seen it. Kurt Russell makes *anything* worth watching, in my book.

#54 - Good morning, Susie. Hmm ... Kristy McNichol means the TV movie was probably made in the late 70's or early 80's. I don't remember watching it, but I may have. I was a big fan of the TV show "Family" in which she played "Buddy".

#55 Hi Valerie, yes, it feels good to finish a year-long challenge. I am hoping to use this month to work on my 50 States Challenge of which I have to read 10 or so books in order to complete reading a book set in each state. I do hope you get to RPO soon and that you enjoy it as much as I did.

#56 - Hi Amber, I love Kurt Russell and that makes me wonder why I haven't seen the 80's version of "The Thing". I'll have to hunt that one down for sure.

I expect I will be popping in and out of LT for most of the day as I am hoping to see the December TIOLI Challenges posted. I always await the new challenges with high anticipation.

172. The Last Trail†† by Zane Grey - 3.6 ★




Zane Grey stories usually convey to the reader a piece of Americana that has long vanished. The Last Trail was no exception. Set in the backwoods country of the Ohio River a few years after the American Revolution, this story is of the last of the bordermen or woodsmen that were still roaming this area, hunting Indians and outlaws and helping the homesteaders stay safe. Many of the same characters from his earlier books Betty Zane and Spirit of the Border are in this story as well, in fact these three books are often grouped together as his “Ohio River Trilogy”.

Grey portrays the border men as a dying breed, and uses a love story to show the pull that his hero goes through as he decides on whether to stay in the wilderness or come into the settlements and marry Helen, the girl he has fallen in love with. When Helen is abducted by some particular nasty renegades, he vows to get her back and start a new life or die trying.

With lots of killings and violence, offset by the gentle love story, The Last Trail was a fun read. The author’s love of nature shines through his poetic yet detailed descriptions of the surrounding woodlands. Originally published in 1909, the prose is somewhat outdated and flowery, yet fits with the mode of the story.

If you keep reading all your Zane Grey books now, what will you do for Zane Grey November next year? ;-) I saw a whole set of matching hardback Zane Grey books in Joplin on Tuesday. I was tempted, but didn't want the entire set and wasn't able to choose just one or two, so I didn't get any at all.

Hi Sandy, luckily he was a prolific writer and that he's works are still readily available. I have a couple that I am setting aside for next November, Riders of the Purple Sage being one of them. I would have been very tempted by that set of his books. I am always kicking myself as my grandfather had a lot of Zane Grey's that were leather bound, along with many other classics and, at the time of his death, we just bundled all the books up for auction. I wish we had put them aside until we were ready to actually go through them.

Hi, Judy! I'm just getting to this thread. Lovely photos!

Stopping by to say hi, Judy! Yes indeed, the weather had been dreadful lately, hasn't it! Raining cats and dogs... and I'm out several times a day walking my real life dog in it. Our eldest son moved house today , and he had a friend helping him as my husband was working today as was our other son. He does not have a lot of stuff to move - but still I hope he thought to put get some big plastic for the bed, the couch etc etc. Not a great day to move! He only let us know a week ago, so we did not have a lot of time to organize for him. It's one rainy day!

Judy, I was starting to catch up and thought to skim, but my eye was caught by your reviews. Darn! I didn't manage to dodge your blue bullets in time. *sigh* I'll be so glad when the year is over and I get back to buying books again. The challenge I set for myself this year of reading more books than I actually buy has been excruciating.

Judy, your mention of Zane Grey took me right back to my days as a library part-timer in high school. We had a "Western" section which I used to shelve, but never took any interest in (not when there were romance novels to be smuggled out past the head librarian, who expected her staff to read something more highbrow). But your review was excellent, and the trilogy sounds like a good companion to a book I finished last weekend about early America. I just looked them up on my library's website and they are all available as ebooks, and "always available", according to the website, so they must be out of copyright. I'm definitely going to read Betty Zane when my current embarrassment of library riches has been returned!

Hi Judy--just admiring your snow pictures as I breeze by. I have Ready Player One on a shelf somewhere and your review makes me want to go find it. And Summer of My German Soldier is one I've always meant to read but actually knew little about. #54 Kristy McNichol!! Blast from the past...

It's late Sunday afternoon and I haven't been doing a lot today, I have been having some arthritis issues this week and can't seem to settle anywhere for too long. A few years ago I ended up having to have an operation on one of my knees to relieve the pressure, but this time it's in my left hip, and sometimes it hurts just to sit. Getting old is not a picnic!

#61 - Hi Terri, great to see you here, I need to get out and do some thread catching-up as well.

#62 - Hi Deb, I hope your aches and pains have subsided. I hate the idea of moving in the rain, so many extra precautions are needed. I hope your son is all settled and everything arrived relatively dry.

#63 - Caro, I don't know how you do it. I saw the challenge you set up at the beginning of the year, and I knew I should probably try it, but I know me, I would have failed miserably. I will stop buying when I've filled the house from top to bottom or, more likely, when all these books come tumbling down on top of me!

#64 - Susan, Betty Zane is a great read. Of course all these Zanes that Grey writes about are his own relatives, but I suspect he has added a little more action and romance. I believe that Zanesville, Ohio was originally homesteaded by his family. If you are interested in this period of American history, Alan Eckert (if he is still in print) wrote some excellent books - part novels, part based on letters, journals etc. He paints a very vivid picture of what the early Americans experienced when they tried to settle the Ohio River Valley.

#65 - Hi Anne, thanks for dropping by. Kristy McNichol is definitely a blast from the past! Ready Player One is a pretty great blast from the past as well. ;)

Hi Judy, just looking at your snow pictures made me feel cooler. It is very hot here today (about 35 celcius) and I am sitting in front of the air con tapping away on LT. I like the sound of the german soldier book. i may have to go and look that one up at the library.

Stopping by for a visit, Judy. Sorry to learn the arthritis issues.... hope it improves for you soon!

I'm sure all that moisture you've been getting hasn't been helping your arthritis--sorry to hear it's bothering you so severely. My sister has been having the same problem. Hope you can find some relief.

*ducking successfully under those blue bullets*

Hi Judy!

Judy, I'm sorry to hear that your arthritis is giving you issues. I hope the pain eases up!

As they say, it never rains but it pours, I have now developed an infection in my throat or tonsils, and I am definitely feeling under the weather. I had long standing plans to meet my younger daughter today and go Christmas shopping and felt I couldn't beg off. Managed to get through the day, but I was glad to get home. Hope I can shake this off in a day or two, I always seem to get sick in the early part of December. I took a strong arthritis pill today and had no problems in that area at least. I was able to get a couple more people cleared off my Xmas List. Spend some time in Indigo, a book store chain outlet, and picked up:
Lost in Shangri-la, How the West Was Won, and Back of Beyond, these are for my husband, but I suspect I will get my hands on them eventually.

#67 - Roro, I am very jealous of your warm weather, I would love to be able to soak up some sunshine and heat into my bones right now!

#68 - Hi Lori, for me, arthritis seems to come and go, which I think means it gets classified as Bursitis. Hopefully I will be able to shake this off soon.

#69 - Hi Roni, I'm sure the dampness has a lot to do with it. I keep telling my husband we need to move to Arizona!

#70 - I see you ducking down over there, Ellen. I will get you sooner or later!

#71 - Hi Terri, I don't know if it's the pill I took earlier today, but right now my arthritis is basically non-existent.

All this time of lying around has meant that I get to read a lot and I am working on an audio of A Tale of Two Cities which is going well, and other books as well. Tonight, after dinner, I am going to wrap myself up in a afghan, lie on a couch and read!

173. The Water's Lovely by Ruth Rendell - 3.2 ★
TIOLI #2: Read a Book with the word "End" in the Title or Authors Name



I have a long history with Ruth Rendell and she has the ability to either astonish and delight me, or frustrate and disappoint me. In The Water’s Lovely, she manages to do all four. No one is better at building a story, layer by layer than Ruth Rendell, and here she takes a group of people, some virtual strangers to each other, and weaves her magic, blending each character with one another, slowly exposing secrets, and eventually allowing the truth to emerge. You feel the tension mounting but are never sure if a murder has happened, if another one it going to happen, or even who will be the victim and who the killer.

I don’t want to discuss the plot in any way as I wouldn’t want to spoil it for a future readers, but be assured that Ruth Rendell is a master at the craft of psychological mysteries. The pacing is excellent as she brings the story to a slow boil, and her characterizations are spot on. Unfortunately, there were couple of flies in the ointment for me, firstly so much of the story revolved on people not talking to one another which would have been believable with some of these very private people, but using the same plot device with all her characters made me feel as if the author was being a little lazy. Secondly, I really hated the ending and felt she cheated the reader out of seeing certain characters get their just rewards.

So for me, a very good read and one that held my attention but even as I was willing to forgive her the repeated plot device, the ending just didn’t satisfy me.

Hi Judy- Sorry to hear about the sore throat. Bummer. Joe & I both loved Lost in Shangri-la. I hope it works for you too!

I have not read Ruth Rendell in over 20 years. No reason, either.

Take care of the infection Judy... damp weather and all.... Warm, comfy surroundings with lots of books, hot liquids and other sundry comforts - possibly a Heyer or two? - should aid in the recovery! ;-)

#75 - Hi Lori, I've got back from seeing the doctor and yes, I have an infection in my throat and I'm running a low grade fever. Right now I am freezing so I am shortly going to wrap up and plug A Tale of Two Cities into my ears. He's put me on antibiotics so hopefully I can shake this thing off in a day or two.

#74 - Sorry Mark, I almost didn't see you there. Do you like my sneaky way of getting books? I give them to my husband for Christmas and when he's done with them, I scoop them up!

I'll be back later today, hopefully feeling somewhat better.

Oh, so sorry to hear you aren't feeling well, Judy. Take care of yourself - lots of rest and reading!

Judy, so sorry to hear that you've been feeling under the weather! Hope you feel better soon so you can enjoy the holiday without all the pain and uncomfyness! :)

Hope the antibiotics kick in fast!Feel better!

I do hope you are feeling better quickly!

I slept the day away, and now even though it's midnight here, I am wide awake. Feeling a little better, hope one more day of rest will help.

I will get back to everyone when I am feeling better.

174. The Christmas Chronicles by Tim Slover - 4.0 ★
TIOLI #6: Christmas Rolling Challenge



Looking for a book that would help me get into the spirit of Christmas, I picked up The Christmas Chronicles by Tim Slover. Professing to be the true story behind the legend of Santa Claus, this small book within a book quickly draws one in and definitely has plenty of holiday magic. Managing to be sweet and charming without becoming overly-sentimental, the life and times of Santa Claus are revealed, nicely wrapped up in a beautiful small book and giving the reader hints of peppermint and maple sugar cookies.

This would be a perfect read-aloud story for the family. Children that are ready for the next tale beyond The Night Before Christmas would certainly enjoy this charming story. The author dishes out magic, flying reindeer and an epic battle between good and evil. Perhaps my only quibble is that although the author has Santa evolving through the years, he keeps the whole story firmly planted in Christian values, and never gives recognition to any pagan traditions that have been incorporated into the Santa Claus myth.

If you need a slight kick-start to get into the magic of the season this whimsical short book would be a perfect way to do it, just add a glowing fire and a cup of steaming hot chocolate.

Chiming in to add my hopes that the antibiotics are doing their job and that you're already on the mend!

# 83 - Hi Amber, the antibiotics are working and the infection has subsided, leaving me with a nasty cough. My stomach muscles are aching from the coughing I am doing.

I dread to think how far behind I am on all the threads, but perhaps later today I will come back and start catching up with some of you.

175. Albert of Adelaide by Howard Anderson - 4.1 ★
TIOLI #6: Rolling Christmas Challenge



Albert of Adelaide by Howard Anderson is a fantasy about a platypus who, having escaped from the zoo at Adelaide, is on a journey of discovery. He has heard of a different Australia, an “old Australia’ where animals can live in harmony and freedom. While searching for this mythical place, he also embarks on a journey of self-awareness and learns how powerful friendships can be.

Finding himself in a harsh desert landscape and having to fight for survival was not what Albert had planned on, but he rises to every occasion and, wearing his heart on his sleeve, learns what it is like to become a hero. A difficult book to describe, I will borrow the words of Mary Doria Russell, author of Doc and The Sparrow:

“If Larry McMurtry had written Wind in the Willows, he might have come up with something almost as wonderful and moving as Howard Anderson’s Albert of Adelaide. This is a novel that defies analysis and summaries. Trust me, just read it.”

Hope that the weekend sees you fully recovered Judy. x

Judy, I hope you are feeling better! And yes, you (along with everyone else around here) will "get me" eventually with one of your reads. It's inevitable!

#86 & 87 - Hi Paul and Ellen, I am getting there. For two steps forward I seem to be taking one step back. Mostly just fighting fatigue now which must be coming from the coughing. I feel silly saying how tired I am, when basically all I have been doing is sleeping and reading!

I just finished listening to A Tale of Two Cities and I found this a excellent audio format. I was totally absorbed in the book the minute I put the headphones on. I don't know if it was because I wasn't feeling well or if it was because I am familiar with the story, but the audio totally held my attention. I also had a hard copy of the book so that I could read over certain passages if they weren't totally clear but I found myself turning less and less to this method as the book moved along. I read this a part of the Group Tutored Read with SouloftheRose (Heather) as our tutor and it was great to have someone to turn to when questions arose.

176. A Tale of Two Cities †† by Charles Dickens - 4.2 ★
TIOLI #1: Tag Round Robin
75ers Group Tutored Read



A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens rightly remains one of his most popular stories. A work of historical fiction when it was first published in 1859, Dickens tells the rich, detailed story of Dr. Manette, his daughter Lucy and the two men who love her, Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton. With a backdrop of the terror of the French Revolution and peopled with vivid, memorable characters, it is easy to see why this book remains so popular well over 150 years later.

This was my third Dickens this year, and perhaps I am getting used to his dense prose, but I found this one the most accessible. His trademark use of incredible coincidences to advance the plot is very much in evidence here. Characters are revealed to be related or linked by past events, even a grave robbing comes to play a significant part later in the book. You can see that Dickens methodically worked out his plot and every character, every scene was used to add another link in the chain and all were to the benefit of the story.

The righteous Miss Pross, the darkly twisted Madame Defarge, and the kindly Mr. Lorry are three of my favorite characters and all played their parts in A Tale of Two Cities to perfection. Yes, the book is melodramatic, but in such a grand scale as to be epic. This book has love, revenge, political upheaval, and a noble act of self-sacrifice. I admit that though I read the last few pages with tears streaming from my eyes, I thought the closing of A Tale of Two Cities was sheer perfection.

Good to hear you are improving, Judy, albeit slowly. I was wondering who the narrator was on your audio of AToTC?

Hope you're feeling better today, Judy.

I love the sound of Albert of Adelaide. It sounds like the perfect whimsical book to enjoy over the holidays. Off to the obese wish list it goes.
I'm so glad you enjoyed TOTC . It's one of my favorite Dickens after David Copperfield.

Aside from A Christmas Carol, AToTC is my favorite Dickens. Nice review of it and of Albert of Adelaide, which I had not heard of before. Love that quote of Mary Doria Russell describing the book!

Hoping that you will soon be feeling all better, Judy!

I've not yet read A Tale of Two Cities, but your review makes me think that maybe I should shift it towards the top of my TBR pile.

Hi Judy - I hope you get well soon. I know from experience how exhausting a cough can be. Nice review of A Tale of Two Cities; it's been a while since I read it, but I loved it. I can imagine Dickens would work well on audio.

I want to thank everyone for keeping my thread going this last week or so, I didn't think it would take this long to feel better. This weekend has been a little complicated with not feeling 100 percent and having the grandkids to stay while their parents took a break in Seattle. The trip would have been cancelled but Son-in-law had tickets to the football game and they needed to be used. The kids have been very good and helpful, now I just have to get them off to school in the morning, their Mom will be back in time to pick them up after school.

#90 - Katie, my version was narrated by Simon Vance, who is new to me, but I enjoyed his reading of AToTC and I would certainly look for him on other audio books I get. I was just checking at Audible.com and he is the narrator for Hilary Mantel's Bring Up the Bodies - that might be worth looking into.

#91 - Hi Caro, that's exactly why I picked Albert of Adelaide to read right now. I am between my challenges and enjoying my month of free reading! I would probably pick A Christmas Carol as my next favorite Dickens or perhaps, Oliver Twist.

#92 - I know, Mamie, once I saw that quote of Mary Doria Russell, I just couldn't write my own review. Just had to use hers!

#93 - Samantha-Kathy, I would definitely say AToTC is one of the most accessible Dickens, most of us are somewhat familiar with the story which allows us to relax and let the story unfold at it's own pace. There is some beautiful writing in that book.

#94 - Hi Beth, I am definitely thinking that I may pursue the audio format for more Dickens. Right now, I have started a delightful Christmas story, The Christmas Mouse by Miss Read, and it is narrated by Gwen Watford, whose voice makes me feel like I am listening to Judi Dench. Maybe it's me but I am suddenly really enjoying the audibles!

Good times with the kids, yes, but I bet it will be good to have some peace and quiet, especially since you are still recovering from what we heartily call "the gunk" around here. So far, I have escaped but I think I am the only one.

Sorry it's taken so long to get over being sick. Glad you're feeling better.

Hi Judy- Sorry you are feeling under the weather. I hope you are feeling better. Good review of Albert of Adelaide. I had this one of my WL awhile back but I ended up forgetting about it. It sounds charming.

Hope you're feeling better, Judy.

You've got me intrigued with Albert of Adelaide, which I had never heard of before. We were lucky enough to see some platypuses out in the wild in a pond near Brisbane. And I'm glad you liked A Tale of Two Cities. his trademark use of incredible coincidences to advance the plot is very much in evidence here. Well put! That's part of what you accept with him, but he's such a good storyteller, and I agree, this is one of his best and most accessible.

I think maybe I was meant to go into hiberation this month, things just aren't going well at all. We had the grandkids for the weekend, and my granddaughter was up and down all of last night complaining of her tummy. I have had to keep her home from school today but I sure didn't get much sleep last night. Hopefully her parents will be home by early afternoon.

#96 - Hi Ellen, "the gunk" is the perfect name for it. I'm longing for some peace and quiet, hoping for a nice nap later on this afternoon.

#97 - Hi Terri, house looks like a tornado hit it right now. We have the tree up but it's not decorated yet. The boxes of decorations are all over the house waiting for some creative person to get going - I'm not feeling either festive or creative at this point, but hopefully we'll get there.

#98 - Hi Mark, I'm pretty sure that I first heard of Albert of Adelaide from BOTNS.

#99 - Hi Joe, if you are ready for another trip to outback - although a very different outback from reality, I'm sure, then Albert of Adelaide can take you there. It's a short, simplistic fantasy that really has that "western" vibe. I didn't realize how much I would enjoy AToTC or how emotional I would be over it, he did a wonderful job with this story, for sure.

Hi Judy. Everyone seems to be reading and giving glowing reviews to Ready Player One at the moment. I'll have to make it a must read next year.

#45 Who Goes There? sounds like an interesting one Judy. Onto the wishlist!

#66 So sorry to hear about your arthritis Judy - I hope you've had some relief since then.

#72 And a tonsil infection too? :-( How rotten. I really hope you feel better soon.

#89 Thumbed your review - really glad you enjoyed it.

#100 Oh no. You are being put through the mill at the moment. Hope your granddaughter feels better soon and that you can get some well deserved rest once Mum and Dad collect the grandkids.

Hi Judy! Sorry to see your family hasn't been well!
Hopefully you get some sleep tonight and start recovering!!

Oh Judy - what a crazy December you are having so far! Sorry about the illness and about the visit with the grandkids not going as hoped - no fun, that. I am hoping that everyone is getting the sickness out of the way so that the holidays will be nothing but enjoyable. On a side note, the Kindle Daily Deal made me think of you when I snapped it up - The Grand Sophy - for $1.99!!

Well, today was a much better day both health wise and "me" wise. I went out and had my hair done which always makes me feel better. Also managed to get to both the library and the grocery store, so all of life's necessities have been attended to.

#101 - Hi Heather, hopefully fate has thrown all the bad stuff for the month at me and from now on I get all the good stuff. I think it's already starting as we received our invitation to daughters for Christmas Dinner, now I only have to do the Christmas Day Brunch. And I have a shopping date with same daughter on Thursday.

#102 - Hi Chelle, I am feeling a lot better today. Also Camille, my granddaughter is back to school and seems to be fine. Her Mom thinks she was faking to get more Nana time, but I think she definitely had some sort of tummy bug.

#103 - Yep, I might have to borrow your name and be called "Crazyjudy" for awhile! (You could use the Queen from my moniker and be "QueenMamie) Luckily everything seems to be turning around. I love those Kindle daily deals, which we sometimes get in Canada. I hope you love The Grand Sophy when you get around to it.

Hi, Judy ~ Just wanted to let you know Amazon has Grand Sophy on Kindle for $1.99 today. I don't know if you have read it yet (and I don't know if you have a Kindle), but I liked it and, since you said you would like to read more Heyer, I thought I'd just mention it. Glad you are feeling better!

#105 - Thanks Mary, I did just recently read Grand Sophy and on my Kindle and I paid more than $1.99! :( But I did really, really enjoy the book and count it as my favorite Georgette Heyer!

Hi Judy - sorry to hear you've been feeling so rotten. I hope it's all out of the way now for Christmas. I meant to say thanks for the additional information in post 66 about the Zane Grey books and related reading. I get lots of good ideas from your thread!

Hi Susan, thanks for the good wishes. Let's just say our threads are mutually dangerous!

I am grouping the following two books together as one.

177a. The Christmas Mouse†† by Miss Read - 4.0 ★
TIOLI #8: Red & Green On The Cover



The Christmas Mouse by Miss Read is a short book that covers one Christmas Eve in rural Shepherd’s Cross during the mid-1950’s. In a small cottage lives the elderly Mrs. Berry, her widowed daughter Mary, along with Mary’s two young daughters. Starting early on the 24th we follow this small family as they make their preparations for Christmas and settle in to the warm and safety of their cottage on a rather stormy Christmas Eve. This particular Christmas Eve becomes a memorable one as Mrs. Berry plays host to two mice during the night. The first has scared her from her bedroom, and wrapping herself in a quilt, she prepares to spend the night downstairs in the parlour. Noises waken her in the middle of the night to find there is another intruder, about to help himself to their hard earned Christmas goodies. This second little mouse is actually a young man that Mrs. Berry is able to warm, feed and convince to return to his own home. Deciding that she needs her own bed, she now learns to tackle her phobia and help the small Christmas mouse that is trapped in her bedroom and trying to find it’s own way home.

This was a heart-warming read for Christmas, told in Miss Read’s gentle way. She brings back memories of a bygone time, her story is richly enhanced by her fresh and realistic descriptions. Her mention of the sharp tangy smell of the orange at the bottom of the stocking, or the sharp perfume of pine boughs in the house carried me back to my own childhood.

This was an audible book, read by Gwen Watford. Ms Watford has a mellow, beautifully rounded, very English voice that lent itself to this story perfectly.

177b. No Holly For Miss Quinn†† by Miss Read - 4.0 ★
12 in 12 Bonus Category: Calendar Girl - December



Another audible story read by Gwen Watford, No Holly For Miss Quinn by Miss Read, tells of Miriam Quinn, a career woman who is so happy to become the tenant of the annex at Holly House in rural Fairfield. Her home now becomes her escape from her busy job, a cozy haven in the country. She is looking forward to the peace and quiet of Christmas and has made plans to spend it in delicious solitude. Unfortunately, although Miriam has thrived in the career world, her personal life has left her feeling safest when avoiding social contact and keeping her own company.

Her brother, a country vicar, calls her in some distress. His wife has been admitted to the hospital and he needs help with the running of the vicarage and with his three children. Of course, Miriam, having a strong sense of duty drops everything and rushes to their aid. In doing so, she finds another type of joy at Christmas, one of sharing, being involved in the community and, most of all the warmth of family.

I loved listening to this story, especially the small details like the descriptions of the countryside around the little village, and the simple way of life that seems to have disappeared in today’s modern world.

Another one adding Ready Player One to my 2013 reading list. I actually had it on the bedside table for a while, but it was due back and the library before I got to it......

I wonder if our library has audios of the Miss Read books. They would be nice for the Christmas drive.

Off to check . . .

No. :-(

#111 - Hi Ellen, RPO is a fun read and would fit nicely in between more serious reads, so, yes, I think you should bring it home again.

#112 - Hi Lori, I got my audible Miss Read from Audible.com, I don't remember exactly what I paid for them, they may be been taken as a credit. I checked my library as well, they don't have any either.

Hi Judy: The Miss Read books sound like fun. I think I might have some around here...

#114 - Beth, I find the Miss Read books a delightful way of reading something lighter. She evokes a nostalgic, wistful feeling about days long gone. Great to read when you are in the right mood for them, but be aware they are very sentimental.

178. Island Madness by Tim Binding - 4.1 ★
TIOLI #10 - Photograph on Cover of Book



In Island Madness by Tim Binding, it is 1943, the tide of war is slowing changing but on Guernsey Island, the Germans are still the occupiers of this small part of Britain. On the surface life appears fairly serene, parties are held, amateur theatre performances are given, the daily business of life goes on, but underneath resentments are building with smuggling and black market operations coming into play.

When a young local girl is found murdered, suspicion falls on many. As she was one of the women that openly associated with the Germans, was this a reprisal murder, or is it a case of a young girl falling into the hands of some soldiers at the wrong time, or is this something else entirely?

Island Madness is a well written account of the German occupation of Guernsey Island. In subtle ways the author shows the impact of war upon this community. The storyline raises the question of morality and responsibility during wartime, as it makes it’s point that what is acceptable during wartime would not be condoned during times of peace. I enjoyed this story and really liked how the author didn’t make all the Germans bad and all the British good. Each character has their own choices to make according to their own moral makeup.

While the murder plot is at the heart of this story, Island Madness was much more about how one prioritizes one’s values during times of crisis. On Guernsey Island we see that although some collaborated and some resisted, many simply put their heads down and tried to endure.

Nice review, Judy. I have Island Madness on the TBR shelves.

#116 Island Madness sounds an interesting read.

#116 That one does sound interesting. Too bad the library only has it as an audio on cassette tapes. I'll have to see if I can find it someplace else.

Island Madness does sound interesting, Judy. I had no idea that Guernsey was occupied by the Germans until I read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I may look for this one in my library. Thanks for the recommendation.

Judy - Island Madness goes on the list. Nice review.

Was Island Madness published under another name? When I searched for that title and author, I also get a result of Lying With the Enemy that has the same cover photo. And just now, that touchstone comes up as Island Madness.

Judy - I am pleased to see your recovery continues and that you decided against hibernation. I haven't read any Miss. Read although wistful and nostalgic are certainly book themes high on my wanted list. I also agree with you that A Tale of Two Cities is amongst the most accessible of Dickens' oeuvre. It is still possibly my favourite.

Have a lovely weekend.

Hi Judy, I hope you have a healthy rest of the month. I got knocked down for a few days by a nasty stomach virus so I feel your pain. December is not the month to be sick!

I will finish A Tale of Two Cities today. I have really enjoyed the shared/tutored group read. Thanks for your part in setting up the threads, etc.

Sometimes not knowing what to say ends up with me saying nothing at all. But I couldn't ignore the horrific event in Connecticut. This has simply left me heart broken. I cannot comprehend such violence toward children.

I am shortly going to be picking up my grandchildren to take them Christmas shopping for their parents. I will have to hold myself somewhat in check in order not to ovedue the hugs and kisses.

Katie, Rhian, Sandy, Pat and Beth, yes, I belive Island Madness is also known as Lying With the Enemy, I suspect one is the North American title, the other the British title. I picked this book up because of reading about the occupation in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and wanted to learn more about what happened through those years. Apparently, although Guernsey had little stratigic value, the Germans wanted to use it as a showpiece of what their occupation would be like for Britain. Of course, it also gave bragging rights to be occupying a piece of British soil.

Paul, it's nice to have you drop by, this last year has totally converted me to being a lover (in the reading sense) of Charles Dickens. From Great Expectations to David Copperfield and now A Tale of Two Cities I enjoyed them all, but AToTC was the one that totally carried me away.

Hi Donna, it seems par for the course for me to get sick in December. So far I have been lucky and usually it strikes in the early part, leaving me fine for Christmas. A little bit more shopping and I will be done the stressful part and can then relax with the wrapping, baking, cooking and socializing. I plan on heading over to my Mother's right after Christmas and spend a week or so with my family there. I saw on your thread that you are really enjoying AToTC as well, A large part of my enjoyment stemmed from the fact that even though I knew so much about this story, there was so much that was fresh and new, that hadn't been covered by the movies.

Well, I'm off to face the Christmas shopping crowds, I hope everyone has a great Saturday.

Good luck with the Christmas crowds! Nate and I have to go to walmart tonight and I am hoping that by going close to closing time maybe, just maybe, there won't be a lot of people there!

Good luck on your shopping expedition, too, Chelle. My shopping trip went well. It's fun to watch the kids, one so careful with his money, tries to work out the perfect gift for the person he is his buying for. The other, a crazy spendthrift who doesn't care what she buys, just wants to be done with the shopping! I think I was more like the second when I was a kid, with my older sister being the careful, thoughtful shopper.

179. Life of Pi by Yann Martel - 5.0 ★
TIOLI #13: From One of Green Dragon's Compiled Lists



Life of Pi by Yann Martel will probably go down as my most surprising book of the year. A book of wonder and delight, very different from what I was expecting. Obviously a master story-teller, the author makes believable the fantastic story that Pi has to tell,

The character of Pi is one of the most likeable ones I have read about. His devotion, his determination, his instinct for survival are equally strong. He simply refuses to give up, and although at times is bowed by despair, he always fights back and overcomes each challenge. Written beautifully and, whether giving an insight into the philosophy of life, or simply delivering a biological fact about animals, this book always gives the reader something to ponder and reflect upon.

A boy, a lifeboat and a tiger. In the end the author throws down one last challenge, do you believe? I certainly did and I highly recommend Life of Pi to anyone who wants to get carried away on a grand adventure.

Hi Judy. I like your review of A Tale of Two Cities (which I've read) and of Island Madness and the Miss Read books, which I now want to. I read Life of Pi years ago and I've been wondering whether it's due a reread. Do you think you will see the movie? (I more or less decided the movie might ruin my memories of the book.)

I spent part of my morning watching the children in our church rehearsing for tomorrow's Christmas pageant, and given their ages all I could think about was those schoolchildren in Connecticut. So tragic.

I'm glad you had a fun shopping trip with your grandchildren.

Oh good, I'm glad you liked Life of Pi. I also thought it was a pretty magnificent novel.
And Island Madness is going on the WL. The long WL..... (I know, like no one else around here has a long wishlist! Ha!)
I hope you are having a wonderful weekend, Judy.

#129 - Hi Anne, I've been pretty lucky with my December reads. Well, when I think about it, most of my reads this year have been above 3.5 which means very good. I think LT has certainly helped raise my reading level and promote above average reads. Regarding the movie version of Life of Pi I am torn. The prevews look like the movie is beautifully filmed and I would like to see what the director does with it. I just don't think it would be a movie my husband would like, I may see if my sister is interested when I go visit over the holidays. There are a few movies right now that are calling out to me. The Hitchcock one, the Quentin Tarantino film, and even The Hobbit, although three hours is a long time for me.

#130 - Hi Ellen, I know, only here on LT can people understand when I say my wishlist is about 1,400 books long, and that doesn't count my library wishlist is even longer! I know I will never get to them all, but I will certainly have fun trying! You have a great weekend too, Ellen.

Hi Judy- Loved your Life of Pi review. I agree, it's a keeper. Did you receive your 2nd Swap package?

Hi Mark, I've received one package from Amazon, it's under the tree. I don't know who my secret Santa is or if I am supposed to expect a 2nd package?

Judy- I'm just being nosy! LOL. Hopefully, it'll come in very soon.

Very intriguing review of Life of Pi Judy. For some reason, I've stayed away from reading that book. After your review and the other positive comments, I think I need to reconsider and give it a try.

Catching up here...Looks like you've read a lot of good books since I was LT-active.

Albert of Adelaide looks pretty funny. :)

A Tale of Two Cities I read in the 9th grade and hated it. But now I love Dickens, so perhaps I should retry it. Seeing everyone else's good reviews makes it look tempting.

Life of Pi was amazing wasn't it? That's one of my all-time favorites.

I'm another one who really liked that Life of Pi review, Judy. Thumb from me. Good book.

#135 - Hi Pat, I also avoided Life of Pi, I think I just decided it was going to be weird, so I was totally surprised by how readable it was, and how much I enjoyed it.

#136 - Hi Rachel, I totally think you should give A Tale of Two Cities another try. I wasn't expecting to love it as much as I did, sometimes I think forcing us to read classics when we are young is doing us all a disservice because sometimes it puts us off these authors for a lifetime.

#137 - Hi Joe, you and I posted at the same time. Hope you are having a good day.

sometimes I think forcing us to read classics when we are young is doing us all a disservice because sometimes it puts us off these authors for a lifetime.

I agree. I understand why they can't just give a list and say "pick whatever you want" because then students would lose their chance to discuss the book in a classroom setting. But I think teachers should resist the urge to choose canonical books and instead choose books which seem to fit the class or the times - they could take current events that the students are interested in and choose books that can be related to those events.

I totally agree. I was lucky that I came from a family of readers and usually could find something of value in any book they threw at me, but I saw many of my friends just totally shut down when handed a book like Oliver Twist or anything by Shakespeare. And those people often remained closed to books for life.

>116 DeltaQueen50:- Island Madness sounds like a good one added to the TBR Pile...I have Life of Pi on my ipod just need to get to it!

Hi Susie, I hope you enjoy both those books when you get to them.

Hi Judy

I'm way behind on the threads. I'm spending a bit of time tonight to reach out and say hello!

Happy Holiday to you!

I read Summer of My German Soldier and liked it a lot.

Congratulations on reading so many books -- good ones indeed.

Your review of The Life of Pi is exceptional!

#128 Loved your review of Life of Pi and the book cover Judy. Mine is a more cartoony image and I really like the majesty of the tiger on your copy.

I think I actually wrapped up my Christmas shopping today. Now I have to work on the food, the grocery list, the shopping, the prep. I actually don't have much, we are having a few friends for dinner on Saturday and I will do something with seafood, then I am doing Christmas Day Brunch. I am leaving on Boxing Day to go and visit my Mom, so I will have to get my laundry and packing caught up over the weekend as well.Isn't it amazing how stressed we get this time of year, and yet, we still manage to pull it all together!

#144 - Hi Linda, it's lovely to see you here. Glad you were able to find some time to visit on the threads, this time of year, it can be difficult just keeping up our own threads!

#145 - Hi Heather. My copy of Life of Pi came from the library and was a deluxe, illustrated edition. Lovely paper and beautiful colored illustrations, the only problem was I found it too heavy to read in bed.

I will finish the shopping part tomorrow, but I'll still have a bit of work to do to make a few of the gifts personalized. I have had to try to think of what I need to get from the grocery store up here before I leave to go to Mississippi. I hope I don't leave anything off the list. I'm going to have to take my bigger cooler with me. The "Playmate" one won't be large enough for everything that needs to be kept cool. The worst part for me is trying to figure out which pans, utensils, etc. that my sister-in-law won't have that I really don't want to improvise with something else so I can take those. My springform pan is packed, my microplane grater, a set of tongs, wire cooling racks, etc. I even debated taking the Kitchen Aid stand mixer, but I'm hoping that I can get by with the food processor. I know the hand mixer will be hopeless for what I need for one thing. She has more spices in her cabinet after my last visit. I probably ought to figure out which of mine I should take, but I can always go get some at the store.

Lori, when I go to visit my Mom I try to do as much cooking as I can, but I always miss certain pots and pans from home for some recipes. Luckily, she is well stocked in herbs and spices. It sounds like you are going to have a very busy Christmas, but one with lots of good food!

180. A Christmas Wedding Wager†† by Michelle Styles - 1.0 ★
Reading Though Time Monthly Theme: Victorian
TIOLI #7: Title Contains Half the Letters of the Alphabet



I only have myself to blame that I picked up A Christmas Wedding Wager by Michelle Styles, and again, only myself to blame for continuing to read through to the end. I was hoping for a light, festive read set in Victorian times, but this book never really explored that aspect. Starting out as a story of a romance rekindled after interfering parties separated them seven years ago, the author went over the top by including a dastardly villain and a ridiculous kidnapping plot. The best part of this book was when I could finally close it and breath a sigh of relief that I had finished it.

A generous 1 star is awarded as the cover has a horse drawn sleigh on it.

Ohhh Judy! A 1 star book! That is sad! It has a nice cover for Christmas... good for you for finishing it! :)

Hi, Judy! Good to hear that you're wrapping up your christmas Do To lists (oh my, I didn't mean that awful pun - apologies.)!

That is a nice cover illustration, although perhaps it should have been a warning when you consider which part of the horse is shown ... :-)

Great review of Life of Pi Judy! You make me want to give it another chance! Thumb for you

I keep stopping by and then not saying anything! I have Life of Pi in my tbr pile--one of these days...

Sounds like such a busy time for you that it's hard to get any reading done--sorry your lightweight Christmas read wasn't better.

What horrible weather we are having right now, it's snowing all around but here we are getting sheets of slushy rain and lots of wind, in fact I just had to get up and go outside to retrieve a garbage can that was rolling down the driveway. Hope we don't lose the power. I am planning on spending another 15 - 20 mins on LT and then curling up with a book.

#150 - Hi Deb, is it snowing in Richmond? We have no snow here, but my daughter was in Ladner (10 minutes away) and said there was snow on the ground there. I only finished the book cause I was reading it for the Reading Through Time Challenge, otherwise I think I would have turfed it!

#151 - Yes, Amber, I really feel like we will be ready for Christmas. The next few days will be dedicated to all the last minute things that need to be done, and getting myself ready to leave the day after Christmas to head to my Mom's on the Island.

#152 - LOL, Julia! You're right, I should have realized from that angle, that I was about to read a load of "Horse Apples"!!

#153 - Hi Chelle, thanks for the thumb!

#154 - Hi Roni, I've been mostly lurking on your thread as well. Served me right, picking a book that I hadn't heard about on LT!

Judy - I loved your review of Island Madness. I saw that at a bookstore some months back and was tempted, but as I'm on a current challenge this year not to buy more books than I read ( a very silly challenge I'll never impose on myself ever again), I reluctantly left it on the shelf. It is on my obese wish list though and I can't wait to get a copy in 2013. I'm therefore really glad that it's scored so highly with you.

Hi Caro, I could never have kept that challenge going a whole year, that you have is amazing and you are to congratulated. I expect book sales in Boston to take a sudden surge in January!

181. The Call of the Wild†† by Jack London - 4.1 ★
TIOLI #5: Read a Book You've Been Meaning to All Year
50 States Challenge: Alaska



The Call of the Wild by Jack London is a book I have long wanted to read, somehow missing this classic as a younger reader. Now that I have read it, I am glad that this was missed in my younger days as I don’t know if I would have been able to handle the animal cruelty that plays such a large part of this story. Maybe we were tougher years ago as many of the great animal classic stories like this one, Black Beauty and Beautiful Joe have many scenes that today would not be accepted in a children’s story.

The story of Buck, being snatched from his easy life in California and being taken to work in the gold fields, shows him to be a special dog, dominant and intelligent, and, after finding out how cruel man can be, he learns to read both people and the situations that arise in his life. The story follows Buck as he is passed through various owners, some cruel, some indifferent and one that Buck learns to love. All the while, deep inside Buck comes a call, a desire to run free in the wilderness.

At my much advanced age, I can now appreciate Jack London’s writing, especially when describing the Alaskan wilderness. The story is fast paced with excellent action sequences and overall I would class this a great read, if, and it’s a big if, you can face the brutality of what Buck goes through. The themes of like natured beasts calling out to each other, and the luring back to the primordial life that exists deep in memory are a little dated but overall this is a compelling read. London uses language like a poet, simple, at times savage but always rich in imagery.

Hi Judy- Hope you are surviving that winter weather. We are getting our first blast of it today too! Big Boo!

Stay warm, Mark.

Ah..... hi, Judy!

Now that you know I'm your SS in Mark's Swap, I thought I would find your thread.
Mark, or Fate, has a way of thrusting new friends in my path every year with this swap thing ;-)
Not only do I wind up getting great and wished-for books on my end, but meet new and interesting LTers.

If I "meet" enough Canadian LTers, I can take a trip across Canada and meet up with you all from coast to coast. Wouldn't I love that! Oh well, I can dream.

I do hope you like what I've chosen for you. If not, you can send them back to me... I have not read them and they look pretty good! LOL

Hi Cee, great minds think alike! I went and starred your thread but I have just been lurking for now. Mark does indeed do a fine job of getting us together. I am so looking forward to opening my books, it's great to know that I am actually getting something I love for Christmas. Around here most people don't get me books deciding I already have enough (AS IF) or they don't know which books to pick out for me. I keep telling them gift cards work well but they think that's boring, oh well, bath salts are always appreciated!

LOL!!! That is so funny. My family is exactly the same. I love them dearly, but they truly don't believe a gift card for books is an acceptable gift. Ron thinks I "already have ALL the books in the world". Hahaha!
I'm on a mission to get them all into more reading so they will start to understand. Haven't made much headway there... ah well, like you say... bath salts!

182. The Leopard Unleashed by Elizabeth Chadwick - 4.1 ★
Reading Through Time Monthly Challenge: Medieval Theme
TIOLI #16: Read a Book That Was A Gift



The Leopard Unleashed by Elizabeth Chadwick concludes her Wild Hunt trilogy, and does so in great style. I have enjoyed all three of these book that follow the political and personal lives of the family that dwell at Ravenstow in the Western Marches of England. Always on constant alert for Welsh raids, these times are particularly turbulent with two strong contenders for the throne, Stephen and Matilda. Long standing rivals can be allies one day and bitter enemies the next.

This story revolves around Renard who at the opening of the book is a crusader in Antioch but has been summoned home to attend his ailing father. As heir to Ravenstow, he is returning home to take up the responsibility of managing this huge parcel of property, but he is also returning home to an arranged marriage to Elene, a childhood companion. Unable to pull himself away, he arrives home with a exotic mistress in tow. With two women, and a powerful neighbour who coverts his lands, Renard must learn to step carefully both at home, and in the political circles he must travel in.

The author gives rich and thorough historic details that are well researched and authentic. Her characters spring to life in this involving and exciting story. Elizabeth Chadwick is one of my favorite authors and The Leopard Unleashed continues to enhance her reputation as one of the best novelists of the historic genre.

#164 This looks very good, and the library has several books by Elizabeth Chadwick, but not the first book in this trilogy. Do they stand alone very well, or do I need to keep looking?

Hi Judy,
I really want to remember to read Island Madness for my nonfiction 2013 challenge.
And I agree with you and Cee: Mark is our social manager.

#166 - Oh Ellen, I hope I didn't mislead you, Island Madness is a work of fiction. I still recommend you give it a try, just not for your non-fiction category! ;)

Now you have me picturing Mark in a tee shirt and shorts with a whistle around his neck, directing us all!

Oh geez. Perhaps the lack of sleep in the past 36 hours is catching up with me. Redeye flight. Huh.

Still, it sounds like a good read! And you know, I did know it was fiction; I got that from your review. But I may have gotten a bit carried away in looking for options for my challenge categories.

Love the image of Mark!

Dear Judy - enjoy your Christmas break on Vancouver island. Hope that 2013 continues to be kind to you and yours and I have an inkling that there is an outside chance of a meet-up chez-vous sometime next year. x

I love Elizabeth Chadwick! Glad you liked your copy! :)

Dropping by to wish you a Happy CHristmas and New Year!

Hi, Judy ~ Just stopping by to wish you a very Merry Christmas!

My busy weekend has pretty much got us in good shape for Christmas. I have to brave the grocery store tomorrow morning for the last minute stuff but I intend to get up extra early and beat the rush. (Famous Last Words)

I hope to have some free time tomorrow afternoon, and then I will get around to various threads to wish you all a Merry Christmas, and I am doing some thinking as to when I will set up my 2013 thread, at this point I am thinking of waiting until the New Year when I get home from visiting my Mom.

#165 - Hi Sandy, each book in the Wild Hunt trilogy revolves around a different member, often a different generation of the same family, so I think you don't have to read them in any particular order. I hope you enjoy the book.

#168 - I was afraid that my review lead you to think it was non-fiction, Ellen, glad that wasn't the case. Hope you are catching up on your sleep!

#169 - Merry Christmas, Paul. It would be wonderful to see you here in Vancouver next year.

#170 - Hi Melis, I have yet to be disappointed in anything I've read by Elizabeth Chadwick!

#171 - A very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you too, Rhian.

# 171 - And right back at you, Mary. Have a good one!

Judy- I hope you aren't picturing me in short shorts! I would be embarrassed.

Merry Christmas to you and your family! This has been a fun year!

Hi Judy - Stopping by to wish you and your family best wishes for the holiday season and into the new year!

Just stopping by to wish you a Merry Christmas Judy! Hope you have some good family time!

Happy Christmas to you and your family, Judy. I hope the grocery store isn't madness this morning!

Merry Christmas Judy!! Hope Santa is kind to you!

HI Judy, thank you for all the interesting reviews. *smile*

Happy Christmas and a healthy New Year :)

I braved the grocery store this morning - it was madness! Every year there is something that they run out of and this year it was strawberries and cucumbers. Doesn't sound too serious except I have a granddaughter that is a very picky eater and strawberries and cucumbers are a couple of things she does eat! Evenutally found cucumbers in the third store I visited, and went for watermelon to replace the strawberries on my fruit tray.

I hope everyone here has a lovely Christmas and since my computer time will be limited for the next couple of weeks, have a Happy New Year as well.

Merry Christmas, Judy!!

Have a wonderful holiday with your family and a happy and healthy 2013! Congratulations of all your reads this year! Impressive!

Just popping in to wish you a very Merry Christmas, Judy.


glitter-graphics.com

Glitterfy.com - Christmas Glitter Graphics

I want to wish you a glorious celebration of that time of year when we all try to unite around a desire for Peace on Earth and Good Will Toward All. Merry Christmas, Judy!

I hope you and your family have a very merry Christmas indeed, Judy!

Merry Christmas, Judy! Hope you like your books ;-)

Sending Christmas blessings your way!

Ha -- the other Ellen (kittenfish) and I have found the same Christmas kitty.
Merry Christmas, Judy!

Wishing you and your loved ones wonderful holidays Judy, and looking forward to continued exchanges in 2013!

Merry Christmas, Judy!


glitter-graphics.com

glitter-graphics.com

Just dropping by with some Christmas cheer from me and the Moomins (another great LT find). Hope you have a wonderful visit with your Mom.

Stopping in to wish you a very Merry Christmas, Judy! Hope it is full of fabulous!

183. The Day of the Triffids†† by John Wyndham - 4.3 ★
TIOLI #13: From a Green Dragon List



A classic Sci-Fi story from 1951, The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham tells an interesting post-apocalyptic story that, although somewhat dated, kept me riveted to the pages. This story is easy tp pinpoint as one from the early 1950’s from both it’s style and themes. Mankind being brought to the brink of extinction both by their own folly and a mysterious comet shower that envelopes the earth and causes blindness in all who watched it..

I particularly liked the style in which the author chose to tell his story, sort of an unemotional monologue, with the main character coming across as somewhat detached and remote. The incredible tale that he has to tell is all the more horrific through his simple statements. That this is a sci-fi classic, I knew, but what was rather unexpected was the love story aspect, which endeared the main characters and made the reader want to root for their success.

The Day of the Triffids is much more than a sci-fi story, the philosophical ramblings of the main character, the picture the author paints of society breaking down, the idea of nature seeking revenge on mankind all helped to elevate this book. I found myself hunching my shoulders and looking around carefully as the tension in the book grew, the idea of blindness as described by the author was truly terrifying and certainly caused me to feel some of the paranoia that the book dishes out. A truly brilliant concept and one that many other authors have taken note of and used. The Day of the Triffids is an unsettling but thoroughly entertaining read.

Hi Judy, John Wyndham is one of my favorite authors. I'm glad you enjoyed The Day of the Triffids. Have you tried The Midwich Cuckoos or The Chrysalids?

I hope you are having a wonderful visit with your family, Judy. Way upthread I enjoyed your review of The Call of the Wild. I remember being devastated by the animal cruelty as a kid, but have been seriously thinking of rereading some of London's books. He is such a gifted writer.

Best wishes for a wonderful new year filled with all good things, including some terrific books, of course!

I plan on getting to that one this year, Judy. Nice review! I picked it up last year along with several others in that great Kindle deal they had on Mother's Day. So, I also have The Midwich Cuckoos- have you read that one yet?

Hi Judy - I hope your holiday with your family is wonderful. I'll be looking for your thread next year. Happy New Year.

184. A Killing Frost by R.D. Wingfield - 4.6 ★
TIOLI #18: Read a Book Whose ISBN has Two Identical Digits Within the Hyphens



A Killing Frost by R.D. Wingfield is the last of the DI Frost books and the author closed out his series with a bang. Although the Frost books are somewhat repetitive they are always exciting, very funny and ultimately richly satisfying.

Unkempt, bawdy and at times deplorable, Frost is such a well-drawn character that we, the readers, know what to expect and turn the pages in great anticipation. This is the sixth book in the series, so all the characters have been developed into well-known friends and foes that are a delight to read about. This time out Frost’s superior has found a fool proof way to demand Frost transfer to a new region. As Frost is trying to wiggle out from under this transfer, he also has to deal with various and assorted crimes from missing teenagers, a serial rapist, and a particular nasty case of consumer terrorism and blackmail.

As Frost staggers from crisis to crisis, we enjoy the vivid interplay between the characters and wince at some of the antics. The humor is black, and be warned; this is a police procedural that doesn’t pull its punches. I will greatly miss these books, and DI Frost who has become a well-loved, sympathetic and familiar character over the course of R.D. Wingfield’s six books.

Working on a very touchy computer, I have entered my final book of 2012, and will now be moving on to the 2013 Thread when I get back from visiting my family. Hope to see everyone there.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Will you post a link here to your new thread? That way I know for sure I'll find you.

I just realized, reading your review of A Killing Frost, that I've never read that series even though I have watched all of the "Inspector Frost" episodes from the BBC (thanks, Netflix!). I think I'd like to circle back and read the books some time.

Happy Holidays, Judy! Lots of good reading you've got going on. I liked Call of the Wild a lot when I was a young guy. It would be interesting to re-read it now.

Judy - you might be without a few of your books on Vancouver island but all your friends are with you in spirit. Happy New Year dear lady!

Happy New Year Judy! Hope you are having a great time with your family!

Happy New Year, Judy!

HAPPY NEW YEAR JUDY!

Happy New Year, Judy!

Happy New Year Judy.

glitter-graphics.com

Hi Judy--Not catching up, but making my final rounds to say "see you next year!"

Happy New Year, Judy! Hope it is filled with wonderful moments and fabulous surprises!

Here's to a great new year ahead, Judy!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, Judy!!!!

Happy New Year, Judy!

Happy New Year to you and yours, Judy!

What a nice surprise to get home today and find all these wonderful New Year's wishes. I think 2013 is going to be a great reading year!

Of course the first thing I did was set up my 2013 75 Challenge and here is the link:

2013 75 Challenge - Part One

I'm looking forward to catching up with everyone and seeing what everyone is reading. See you on the threads!