Christina reads a "Gilmore Girls" category challenge - Part 2

Welcome to the second half of my 2017 challenge thread! As you can see, my challenge is structured around my favorite TV show, Gilmore Girls: each category name corresponds to an episode from one of its seven original seasons.

When I initially set up this challenge, I had hoped to read 17 books per category, but I now realize that isn't a realistic goal for me. Instead, I will plan to read 10 books per category (2+0+1+7=10) for a total of 70 books.

1. They Shoot Gilmores, Don't They? (3x07) -- Mysteries.



1. Alan Bradley, Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd
2. Ellis Peters, The Confession of Brother Haluin
3. C.H.B. Kitchin, Death of My Aunt
4. Tana French, The Likeness
5. Dorothy L. Sayers, The Five Red Herrings
6. Darcie Wilde, A Useful Woman
7. Keigo Higashino, The Devotion of Suspect X
8. Jill Orr, The Good Byline
9. Dolores Gordon-Smith, A Fête Worse than Death
10. Baroness Orczy, Lady Molly of Scotland Yard

2. We've Got Magic to Do (6x05) -- Sci fi, fantasy, speculative fiction.



1. Connie Willis, Crosstalk
2. Becky Chambers, The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet
3. Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows, My Lady Jane
4. Jessica Cluess, A Shadow Bright and Burning
5. Katherine Arden, The Bear and the Nightingale
6. Diana Wynne Jones, Eight Days of Luke
7. Emily St. John Mandel, Station Eleven
8. Mechthild Gläser, The Book Jumper
9. Connie Willis, All Seated on the Ground
10. K.B. Wagers, Behind the Throne

3. Wedding Bell Blues (5x13) -- Romance and chick lit.



1. Sally Thorne, The Hating Game
2. Allison Morgan, Can I See You Again?
3. Kristan Higgins, On Second Thought
4. Lucy Parker, Pretty Face
5. Ashley Poston, Geekerella
6. Kristan Higgins, If You Only Knew
7. Jenn Bennett, Alex, Approximately
8. Elle Pierson, Artistic License
9. Mhairi McFarlane, It's Not Me, It's You
10. Mhairi McFarlane, Who's That Girl?

I had originally listed Prince in Disguise by Stephanie Kate Strohm in this category, but since I'm now capping my categories at 10, I'm moving this book to my miscellaneous "Raincoats and Recipes" category.

4. Paris Is Burning (1x11) -- Books set and/or published before 1950.



1. Julian Fellowes, Belgravia
2. Edith Wharton, The Glimpses of the Moon
3. Winston Graham, Demelza
4. Rhys Bowen, In Farleigh Field
5. Winston Graham, Jeremy Poldark
6. D.E. Stevenson, The Baker's Daughter
7. Winston Graham, Warleggan
8. Winston Graham, The Black Moon
9. Jennifer Ryan, The Chilbury Ladies' Choir
10. Winston Graham, The Four Swans

5. 'S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous (7x04) -- Rereads.



1. Winston Graham, Ross Poldark
2. Sherwood Smith, Crown Duel
3. Eva Ibbotson, The Morning Gift
4. Robin McKinley, Spindle's End
5. Georgette Heyer, The Quiet Gentleman
6. Kristan Higgins, Too Good to Be True
7. Elizabeth Marie Pope, The Perilous Gard
8. Agatha Christie, Murder on the Orient Express
9. Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol
10. Lucy Parker, Act Like It

6. I Can't Get Started (2x22) -- Books I've owned since before 1/1/17 but haven't read yet.



1. Seanan McGuire, A Red-Rose Chain
2. Caryl Brahms and S.J. Simon, A Bullet in the Ballet
3. Terry Pratchett, The Light Fantastic
4. Lauren Morrill, The Trouble with Destiny
5. Georgette Heyer, Penhallow
6. Nicola Upson, An Expert in Murder
7. Caren Lissner, Carrie Pilby
8. J. Jefferson Farjeon, The Z Murders
9. Ernest Cline, Ready Player One
10. Leo Bruce, Case for Three Detectives

7. Raincoats and Recipes (4x22) -- The all-important miscellaneous category!



1. Anna Kendrick, Scrappy Little Nobody
2. Stephanie Kate Strohm, Prince in Disguise
3. Sara Eckel, It's Not You: 27 (Wrong) Reasons You're Single
4. Victoria Schwab, Our Dark Duet
5. Winston Graham, The Angry Tide
6. David D. Levine, Arabella and the Battle of Venus
7. Jenny Colgan, The Café by the Sea
8. Winston Graham, The Stranger from the Sea
9. Joanna Davidson Politano, Lady Jayne Disappears
10. Shanna Swendson, Rebel Mechanics

CATs -- Cinnamon



I've generally been treating the CATs as true "take it or leave it" challenges, but I have been making it a priority to do the AlphaKIT and SFFKIT every month.

January
AwardsCAT (year's best lists, Costa): Connie Willis, Crosstalk; Sally Thorne, The Hating Game
CATWoman (classics): Edith Wharton, The Glimpses of the Moon
CultureCAT (ethics in science and technology): Connie Willis, Crosstalk
RandomCAT (search and rescue):
AlphaKIT (M, S): Sally Thorne, The Hating Game; Alan Bradley, Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd; Allison Morgan, Can I See You Again?; Edith Wharton, The Glimpses of the Moon
SFFKIT (book you meant to read in 2016 but didn’t): Connie Willis, Crosstalk

February
AwardsCAT (Canada Reads, Morning News Tournament of Books):
CATWoman (debut): Becky Chambers, The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet
CultureCAT (medicine, public health):
RandomCAT (mine, yours, and ours): Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows, My Lady Jane
AlphaKIT (W, H): Kristan Higgins, On Second Thought; Becky Chambers, The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet; Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows, My Lady Jane; Winston Graham, Demelza
SFFKIT (space travel): Becky Chambers, The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet

March
AwardsCAT (Newbery, Caldecott, any genre prize not already featured):
CATWoman (genres): Lucy Parker, Pretty Face; Jessica Cluess, A Shadow Bright and Burning; Ellis Peters, The Confession of Brother Haluin; Tana French, The Likeness; Diana Wynne Jones, Eight Days of Luke
CultureCAT (cultural awareness, diversity):
RandomCAT (luck of the Irish): Tana French, The Likeness
AlphaKIT (E, K): Ellis Peters, The Confession of Brother Haluin; Katherine Arden, The Bear and the Nightingale; C.H.B. Kitchin, Death of My Aunt; Diana Wynne Jones, Eight Days of Luke
SFFKIT (religious theme): Diana Wynne Jones, Eight Days of Luke

April
AwardsCAT (International Dublin Literary Award, Pulitzer): Emily St. John Mandel, Station Eleven
CATWoman (biography, autobiography, memoir): Anna Kendrick, Scrappy Little Nobody
CultureCAT (religious diversity and freedom):
RandomCAT (love in the stacks): Anna Kendrick, Scrappy Little Nobody; Jenn Bennett, Alex, Approximately; Winston Graham, Warleggan
AlphaKIT (I, D): Kristan Higgins, If You Only Knew; Dorothy L. Sayers, The Five Red Herrings; D.E. Stevenson, The Baker's Daughter
SFFKIT (dystopian/apocalyptic): Emily St. John Mandel, Station Eleven

May
AwardsCAT (Man Booker International, Edgar): Keigo Higashino, The Devotion of Suspect X
CATWoman (women in the arts): Elle Pierson, Artistic License
CultureCAT (gender equality):
RandomCAT (all about Mom): Mhairi McFarlane, Who's That Girl?
AlphaKIT (C, T): Connie Willis, All Seated on the Ground; Mhairi McFarlane, Who's That Girl?
SFFKIT (alien contact): Connie Willis, All Seated on the Ground

June
AwardsCAT (PEN, National Book Award):
CATWoman (professional women):
CultureCAT (environmentalism/conservation):
RandomCAT (into the unknown):
AlphaKIT (Y, N): Sara Eckel, It's Not You: 27 (Wrong) Reasons You're Single
SFFKIT (series): K.B. Wagers, Behind the Throne

July
AwardsCAT (Baileys Women's Prize, any SFF award): Seanan McGuire, A Red-Rose Chain
CATWoman (women of color):
CultureCAT (violence, crime, justice): Dolores Gordon-Smith, A Fête Worse than Death
RandomCAT (let's celebrate!): Dolores Gordon-Smith, A Fête Worse than Death
AlphaKIT (B, G): Dolores Gordon-Smith, A Fête Worse than Death; Winston Graham, The Angry Tide; David D. Levine, Arabella and the Battle of Venus
SFFKIT (award winners/nominees): Seanan McGuire, A Red-Rose Chain

August
AwardsCAT (Miles Franklin, Stonewall Book Award):
CATWoman (nonfiction or historical fiction): Joanna Davidson Politano, Lady Jayne Disappears
CultureCAT (impact of natural disasters):
RandomCAT (animal kingdom):
AlphaKIT (O, F): Baroness Orczy, Lady Molly of Scotland Yard; Terry Pratchett, The Light Fantastic
SFFKIT (humorous): Terry Pratchett, The Light Fantastic

September
AwardsCAT (Man Booker Prize, O. Henry):
CATWoman (children's/YA/graphic novels): Shanna Swendson, Rebel Mechanics; Caren Lissner, Carrie Pilby; Jessica Cluess, A Poison Dark and Drowning
CultureCAT (journalism and the arts): Nicola Upson, An Expert in Murder
RandomCAT (where did the time go???):
AlphaKIT (U, P): Georgette Heyer, Penhallow; Nicola Upson, An Expert in Murder; Caren Lissner, Carrie Pilby; Jessica Cluess, A Poison Dark and Drowning
SFFKIT (steampunk): Shanna Swendson, Rebel Mechanics

October
AwardsCAT (Nobel, Giller):
CATWoman (regional): Maggie Stiefvater, All the Crooked Saints
CultureCAT (poverty):
RandomCAT (turn on the dark): Maggie Stiefvater, All the Crooked Saints
AlphaKIT (A, V): Maggie Stiefvater, All the Crooked Saints; E.K. Johnston, That Inevitable Victorian Thing
SFFKIT (near future): Ernest Cline, Ready Player One

November
AwardsCAT (any regional prize):
CATWoman (LBTQ or feminist):
CultureCAT (conflict, war, terrorism):
RandomCAT (traffic jam):
AlphaKIT (L, Q): Winston Graham, The Loving Cup; Julia Quinn, The Duke and I; Leo Bruce, Case for Three Detectives
SFFKIT (historical): Stephanie Burgis, Congress of Secrets

December
AwardsCAT (prize from a country you don't live in): Eva Ibbotson, Journey to the River Sea
CATWoman (modern/post-1960): Eva Ibbotson, Journey to the River Sea; Melissa McShane, Burning Bright
CultureCAT (cultural flow, immigration):
RandomCAT (one day): Eva Ibbotson, Journey to the River Sea
AlphaKIT (J, R): P.G. Wodehouse, Piccadilly Jim; Eva Ibbotson, Journey to the River Sea
SFFKIT (magic systems): Melissa McShane, Burning Bright

Year-long
AlphaKIT (X, Z): Keigo Higashino, The Devotion of Suspect X; J. Jefferson Farjeon, The Z Murders

BingoDOG -- Paul Anka



I'm still planning on a cover-all Bingo, and I only have seven squares left! But I know it will be hard for me to fill those last few squares....



1. Author shares your first and last initials: Caryl Brahms and S.J. Simon, A Bullet in the Ballet
2. Set in a time before you were born: Edith Wharton, The Glimpses of the Moon
3. Author was born in 1930s: Diana Wynne Jones, Eight Days of Luke
4. Debut work: Sally Thorne, The Hating Game
5. Book about books: Mechthild Gläser, The Book Jumper
6. Author abroad: Eva Ibbotson, Journey to the River Sea
7. Science-related: Connie Willis, Crosstalk
8. Place name in title: Julian Fellowes, Belgravia
9. About an animal/animal in title: Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows, My Lady Jane
10. Set in a beach community/resort: Jenn Bennett, Alex, Approximately
11. Next book in a series you've started: Ellis Peters, The Confession of Brother Haluin
12. Owned for more than 5 years: Terry Pratchett, The Light Fantastic
13. Read a CAT: Becky Chambers, The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet
14. A satire: Leo Bruce, Case for Three Detectives
15. Set in a place you want to visit: Tana French, The Likeness
16. Author born/book published in 1917: P.G. Wodehouse, Piccadilly Jim
17. One-word title: Winston Graham, Demelza
18. Color in the title: Dorothy L. Sayers, The Five Red Herrings
19. Published in the 1940s-1960s: Winston Graham, Jeremy Poldark
20. Author uses initials: C.H.B. Kitchin, Death of My Aunt
21. Made into a movie: Caren Lissner, Carrie Pilby
22. Collection of short stories: Baroness Orczy, Lady Molly of Scotland Yard
23. Title refers to another literary work: Alan Bradley, Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd
24. Set in a country you've never been to: Katherine Arden, The Bear and the Nightingale
25. Appeals to the senses: Allison Morgan, Can I See You Again?

Overflow

Any books that I read beyond the 70 needed to complete my challenge will go here.

1. Winston Graham, The Miller's Dance
2. Jessica Cluess, A Poison Dark and Drowning
3. Grace Livingston Hill, The Best Man
4. Maggie Stiefvater, All the Crooked Saints
5. E.K. Johnston, That Inevitable Victorian Thing
6. Winston Graham, The Loving Cup
7. Julia Quinn, The Duke and I
8. Stephanie Burgis, Congress of Secrets
9. Winston Graham, The Twisted Sword
10. P.G. Wodehouse, Piccadilly Jim
11. Eva Ibbotson, Journey to the River Sea
12. Melissa McShane, Burning Bright
13. Winston Graham, Bella Poldark

Happy new thread, Christina and happy second half of the year!

Happy new thread and happy reading!

Happy new thread, Christina!

Happy New Thread! I see that the books in I Can't Get Started remain elusive. Ready Player One has been on my can't get started list for years.

>12 DeltaQueen50: >13 MissWatson: >14 lkernagh: Thanks for visiting! :)

>15 VioletBramble: Yes, my TBR category tends to be one of the last to be filled! I have read some books from my shelves for other categories, but if they'll fit into a category other than TBR, I'll put them there first. That way I end up reading more books from my shelves!

Christina, I just finished a book last night that reminded me of Jasper Fforde (the literary side, not the humor side) and Susanna Clarke. It's Prospero Lost by L. Jagi Lamplighter, and it tells "the rest of the story" after Prospero and Miranda get off the island at the end of the Tempest. It's quite Shakespearean and also has some noir elements. It's the first of a series, and I finished it last night and immediately went to order the second book from the library.

I'm hopelessly behind in my reviews, so I'm just shooting out book bullets direct now. :)

>17 casvelyn: I have actually read Prospero Lost! I remember liking it a lot, but for some reason I never picked up the sequel...I'll definitely have to get back to that series at some point! I remember especially liking the depiction of Father Christmas. Feel free to shoot those BBs my way! :)

>18 christina_reads: Father Christmas was excellent, wasn't he? Normally I pace myself on really good series, but I went ahead and ordered the second book because there are enough characters to keep straight that I thought I'd better read this one straight through.

>19 casvelyn: At this point, I'm thinking I'll definitely have to read Prospero Lost before continuing with the series! It's always a fine line for me...if I read too many books from the same series in a row, I get sick of them. But if I wait too long, I forget what happened in previous books!

Book #43: Winston Graham, The Four Swans
Category: Paris Is Burning

***Warning: spoilers for previous books in the Poldark series!***

In book #6 of the series, the Poldarks and the Warleggans maintain an uneasy truce. Demelza is drawn to a young naval officer who has fallen in love with her. Caroline and Dwight struggle in the early days of their marriage. Elizabeth and George confront the elephant in the room, Valentine's paternity. Osborne Whitworth continues to be the worst. Drake tries to get over Morwenna, and Sam Carne falls in love with an unsuitable woman. Meanwhile, parliamentary elections are held in Truro, with surprising results. This series is still going strong, and I'm eager to see what happens next. I do find the books a bit too long, and they're easy for me to put down. Still, I have to keep reading to see what (hopefully) terrible fate will befall Ossie!

Book #44: Victoria Schwab, Our Dark Duet
Category: Raincoats and Recipes

***Warning: spoilers for This Savage Song!***

After the events of This Savage Song, Kate and August have gone their separate ways. Kate is hunting monsters in Prosperity, while August is desperately trying to defend the few humans left in Verity from the monsters -- especially Sloan, who somehow survived the events of the previous book and who now has grand ambitions. This is a very good conclusion to This Savage Song; it provides a dark but satisfying ending, and I also found it a quick, absorbing read. I didn't really like the introduction of Kate's friends from Prosperity -- they should have either been more important to the plot or been cut altogether. Also, there's a bit too much gore and violence for my liking. But people who enjoy dark fantasy should definitely pick up this duology, and fans of the first book won't be disappointed.

Book #45: Eva Ibbotson, The Morning Gift
Category: 'S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous

Eva Ibbotson's romances truly are the perfect comfort reads! This one is set just before World War II: part-Jewish Ruth Berger needs to get out of Vienna, and the only way she can get the necessary documents to leave is by marrying British professor Quinton Somerville, an old friend of the family. They agree that once they reach England, they'll part ways forever and get the marriage annulled. But complications ensue when Ruth ends up taking a university course that Quin teaches. Even on the third or fourth reread, this book enchanted me, and I was completely caught up in its sweetness and its sense of hope. I highly recommend this author to people looking for an old-fashioned comfort read with a happy ending!

Book #46: Dolores Gordon-Smith, A Fête Worse than Death
Category: They Shoot Gilmores, Don’t They?
CATs: Culture (violence, crime, justice); Random (let’s celebrate!); Alpha (G = Gordon-Smith)

Jack Haldean, former World War I pilot and current crime writer, becomes involved in a real murder investigation when an old wartime acquaintance turns up at the village fête and is later found dead in the fortune teller’s tent. Jack is convinced that the man’s death is somehow connected to a mysterious scandal from the war, and his investigation soon reveals that the commonly believed version of events is not the whole story. I quite enjoyed this book -- Jack is a likable and sympathetic main character, and I appreciated the fact that he was willing to work with the police rather than against them. There’s also a good supporting cast that I suspect will recur in later books. Overall, I think this is a very solid start to a historical mystery series, and I’m glad that my library has several more of the books!

Book #47: Winston Graham, The Angry Tide
Category: Raincoats and Recipes
CATs: Alpha (G = Graham)

***Warning: spoilers for previous Poldark books!***

It's funny -- a number of dramatic events occur in this book, but nevertheless I feel like it's a little short on plot! Ross is now a member of Parliament, which he has conflicting feelings about. He also makes yet another terrible decision on impulse, hurting Demelza but surprising no one. Ossie continues to be the world's actual worst human being. Pascoe's bank is in trouble, thanks to Warleggan skulduggery. Drake considers marriage. All in all, I'm happy with where things are at the end of this book and intrigued to see what will happen next!

I could not believe how many times The Angry Tide had me on the edge of my seat. So much packed into 600 pages!

>26 VictoriaPL: True, but I feel like most of the big moments except Ossie's death happened within the last hundred pages or so? To me, it seemed like a lot of the book was slow-moving, and then all of a sudden there was a ton of plot happening very quickly!

>27 christina_reads: there was the Duel in the middle...

>28 VictoriaPL: Oh, I remember that as being much later in the book! But you're probably right...there's quite a bit of aftermath from that event, so I must have been remembering wrong.

July recap

Every year, I get to a certain point in my challenge and start plotting my endgame. This year, I'm already at that point, and I've pretty much chosen the rest of the books I will read for my challenge! So I'm happy to say that I managed to (mostly) meet my goal for July, and I'm on track for the rest of the year. Starting to look forward to 2018! :)

Books read:
1. Winston Graham, The Four Swans
2. Victoria Schwab, Our Dark Duet
3. Eva Ibbotson, The Morning Gift
4. Dolores Gordon-Smith, A Fête Worse Than Death
5. Winston Graham, The Angry Tide
6. Seanan McGuire, A Red-Rose Chain

I've also begun Arabella and the Battle of Venus by David D. Levine, which is good fun so far!

I liked all the books I read this month, but my favorite (aside from my reread of The Morning Gift) has to be A Fête Worse Than Death. I'm excited to read more books in the Jack Haldean series!

CATs completed:
Awards (Bailey's Women's Prize, any SFF award): Seanan McGuire's October Daye series (of which A Red-Rose Chain is book 9) was nominated for the 2017 "Best Series" Hugo.
Culture (violence, crime, justice): A Fête Worse Than Death is about a murder, and it also involves broader issues of violence and justice surrounding World War I.
Random (let's celebrate!): The title A Fête Worse Than Death contains a celebratory word.
Alpha (B, G): Dolores Gordon-Smith, A Fête Worse Than Death; Winston Graham, The Angry Tide; David D. Levine, Arabella and the Battle of Venus
SFFKIT (award winners/nominees): A Red-Rose Chain is an award nominee.

Bingo squares completed:
None this month, but I've got some plans for August!

"Every year, I get to a certain point in my challenge and start plotting my endgame. This year, I'm already at that point, and I've pretty much chosen the rest of the books I will read for my challenge!"

Congratulations! This is the time of year when I start to tire of my current category challenge. Always happens. I started to get bored with my current challenge. sighs

Seeing the end in sight must give you an incentive to start planning for 2018. :)

>31 lkernagh: Same here, honestly...on the one hand, it was fun planning out the rest of my reading year. On the other hand, it made me impatient to start with a blank slate in 2018!

>32 DeltaQueen50: Definitely! I'm still trying to figure out how structured I want next year's challenge to be.... I like having the freedom to read whatever I want, but I feel like I will never accomplish my reading goals (like whittling down my TBR!) unless I impose a little discipline on myself. :) Decisions, decisions!

Book #48: Seanan McGuire, A Red-Rose Chain
Category: I Can’t Get Started
CATs: Award (any SFF award); SFF (award winners/nominees - series nominated for 2017 Hugo Best Series)

Just as things are looking up for Toby and the gang, the Kingdom of Mists receives a declaration of war -- and for some reason, the queen thinks Toby is the perfect person to stop said war from happening. Toby is appointed ambassador to the neighboring Kingdom of Silences and must find a way to convince King Rhys not to invade. But when Toby and her entourage arrive in Silences, they are shocked to discover various secrets the king is hiding. I'm a longtime fan of this series, and this book was a fun read as well, but I think my enthusiasm is beginning to wane. I'm still definitely invested enough to stick with the series until the end; I think I read somewhere that the 12th book will be the last. But I won't be too upset when it's over -- it's starting to feel like the characters are nearing the end of their journeys.

August recap

August was a busy but productive month for me. I've fallen behind on reviews yet again, but I did manage to read nine books!

Books read:
1. David D. Levine, Arabella and the Battle of Venus
2. Baroness Orczy, Lady Molly of Scotland Yard
3. Jenny Colgan, The Café by the Sea
4. Winston Graham, The Stranger from the Sea
5. Caryl Brahms and S.J. Simon, A Bullet in the Ballet
6. Terry Pratchett, The Light Fantastic
7. Joanna Davidson Politano, Lady Jayne Disappears
8. Robin McKinley, Spindle's End
9. Lauren Morrill, The Trouble with Destiny

The standouts for me this month (other than Spindle's End, which was an absolutely lovely reread) were The Café by the Sea, a very enjoyable chick lit novel, and The Light Fantastic, which reminded me that I really need to read more of the Discworld series! The most disappointing book was Lady Jayne Disappears, which was a clunky read full of two-dimensional characters.

CATs completed:
CATWoman (nonfiction or historical fiction): Lady Jayne Disappears is historical fiction set in Victorian England.
AlphaKIT (O, F): Baroness Orczy, Lady Molly of Scotland Yard; Terry Pratchett, The Light Fantastic
SFFKIT (humorous): The Light Fantastic is an installment of Pratchett's humorous Discworld series.

Bingo squares completed:
1. Author shares your first and last initials: Caryl Brahms, who coauthored A Bullet in the Ballet, shares my first and last initials.
12. Owned for more than 5 years: The Light Fantastic has been on my shelves since August 2008!
22. Collection of short stories: Lady Molly of Scotland Yard is a collection of mystery stories.

***

Now I'm starting to think about next year's challenge, since the group will be getting started soon!

So I went ahead and created my 2018 challenge thread! http://www.librarything.com/topic/268935.

>36 christina_reads: Good to know, but I'm not going to look at it until the end of the year. Really, I mean it this time.

>36 christina_reads: Hee hee! I set up a template for mine but haven't filled in the content yet. Glad there's someone even keener to blaze the trail ;)

>37 RidgewayGirl: Haha OK! I look forward to seeing you over there whenever you set up your thread. :)

>38 rabbitprincess: Yup, apparently I kind of jumped the gun! Guess I'm really looking forward to next year's "read anything I want" plan!

>39 christina_reads: The only reason I haven't filled mine in is that I ran out of time to set up a Word document for copy-pasting before I went on vacation ;) It's harder to do HTML stuff on the iPad, and typing for long periods is somewhat painful as well. I am glad you're excited for next year's challenge!

>40 rabbitprincess: Well, I look forward to seeing how you will fill in your categories once you're back from vacation! :) Hope you are enjoying yourself!

Time to catch up on some long-overdue reviews!



Book #49: David D. Levine, Arabella and the Battle of Venus
Category: Raincoats and Recipes
CATs: Alpha (B = Battle) - I started this book in July

***Warning: spoilers for Arabella of Mars.***

This sequel to Arabella of Mars is just as much swashbuckling fun as the first book. Arabella learns that her beloved Capitan Singh has been captured by the French and imprisoned on Venus. She is determined to rescue him, so she obtains passage to Venus with roguish privateer Daniel Fox. When she arrives on the French-occupied planet, she sees how brutally the English prisoners and native Venusians are treated, and she hatches a daring escape plan under the very nose of Napoleon himself. I'm really enjoying this series and will definitely continue if and when a third book is released!

Book #50: Baroness Orczy, Lady Molly of Scotland Yard
Category: They Shoot Gilmores, Don't They?
CATs: Alpha (O = Orczy) - I read this in August
Bingo: 22 - collection of short stories

While Orczy's best-known work is The Scarlet Pimpernel, she also tried her hand at the mystery genre in a collection of short stories featuring Lady Molly, Scotland Yard's (fictional) first woman detective. The stories are narrated by Lady Molly's maid, Mary, who serves as the Watson figure and helps Lady Molly with her investigations. Overall, the stories are pleasant enough, and I liked how Lady Molly's own history was mysterious until the last couple of stories in the collection. However, I didn't love the portrayal of Lady Molly as a paragon of every virtue, especially when she engages in several instances of morally dubious behavior, such as telling a suspect (falsely) that her baby is dead. The mysteries themselves are fine but nothing groundbreaking. Overall, the collection is more interesting as a historical artifact than as a set of mystery stories.

Just thought I would check in and mention that The Comfort Game (by Sally Thorne still has not shipped from Waterstone's despite the release date two days ago. The status update doesn't tell me much of anything at all ("Processing"), but I suspect that it hasn't been released. Did you get your copy by any chance?

>44 Tanya-dogearedcopy: I haven't gotten my copy either. Looking at Book Depository's website (where I had preordered it), apparently the publication date is now November 29, 2018! At this point, I'm probably just going to cancel my order. Have you heard anything different? Or is there a US version releasing earlier?

>45 christina_reads: I haven't heard anything about The Comfort Game yet either. I figure I'll keep the order on their docket active until I hear otherwise (e.g. If it publishes earlier in the US, then I'll order a copy here. Whoever gets me a copy first gets my money and the other company will get the cancellation.)

>46 Tanya-dogearedcopy: Good plan! I'll do the same -- order a copy in the US as well, and see which one ships first.

September recap

Despite September being another busy month, I managed to read more than I'd expected to!

Books read:
1. Georgette Heyer, Penhallow
2. Shanna Swendson, Rebel Mechanics
3. Georgette Heyer, The Quiet Gentleman
4. Nicola Upson, An Expert in Murder
5. Caren Lissner, Carrie Pilby
6. Winston Graham, The Miller's Dance
7. Jessica Cluess, A Poison Dark and Drowning
8. Kristan Higgins, Too Good to Be True
9. Grace Livingston Hill, The Best Man
10. J. Jefferson Farjeon, The Z Murders

My favorite books this month (aside from the rereads) were Rebel Mechanics, a fun steampunk adventure, and The Z Murders, a fascinating foray into Golden Age serial killer fiction. On the other end of the spectrum, Carrie Pilby and The Best Man were underwhelming, and Penhallow was downright unpleasant!

CATs completed:
CATWoman (children's/YA/graphic novels): Rebel Mechanics, Carrie Pilby, and A Poison Dark and Drowning are all YA novels written by women.
CultureCAT (journalism and the arts): An Expert in Murder is set in the world of West End theater, and the protagonist is novelist and playwright Josephine Tey.
AlphaKIT (U, P): Georgette Heyer, Penhallow; Nicola Upson, An Expert in Murder; Caren Lissner, Carrie Pilby; Jessica Cluess, A Poison Dark and Drowning
SFFKIT (steampunk): Rebel Mechanics is a steampunk novel in which steam inventions are pitted against magic.

Bingo squares completed:
21. Made into a movie: Carrie Pilby was made into a 2016 movie starring Bel Powley and Nathan Lane. I watched it on Netflix and found it rather charming.

Book #51: Jenny Colgan, The Café by the Sea
Category: Raincoats and Recipes

I enjoyed this chick lit novel a lot more than I was expecting to! Protagonist Flora is trying to build a career in London, but her latest assignment takes her back to the remote Scottish island of Mure, where she has to mend fences with her estranged father and brothers. I liked watching Flora's personal growth, and I also enjoyed the (inevitable) romance a lot more than I was expecting to. Plus, the setting is gorgeous and makes me want to visit the Hebrides! Definitely worth reading if you enjoy the genre, and I'll be trying more by Colgan.

Book #52: Winston Graham, The Stranger from the Sea
Category: Raincoats and Recipes

More fun and games with the Poldark clan, set 10 years after the events of The Angry Tide. The eponymous stranger from the sea is Stephen Carrington, a confident young man who befriends Jeremy and fascinates Clowance. But what secrets is he hiding? I liked this book a lot and found the time jump refreshing — now that the children are grown up, there are even more characters to follow and care about. Not a fan of Stephen, though, and I hope he’s not around for good.

Book #53: Caryl Brahms and S.J. Simon, A Bullet in the Ballet
Category: I Can’t Get Started
Bingo: 1 - author shares your first and last initials (CB)

A delightfully absurd Golden Age mystery in which a fairly conventional police inspector must solve a murder that occurs within the madcap Stroganoff Ballet. I really enjoyed the various ballet characters with their artistic temperaments. The murderer’s motive is pretty nonsensical, but this one should definitely be read for the humor rather than for the mystery plot.

Book #54: Terry Pratchett, The Light Fantastic
Category: I Can’t Get Started
CATs: Alpha (F = Fantastic), SFF (humorous) - I read this in August
Bingo: 12 - owned for more than five years (acquired on 8/20/08)

I read The Color of Magic several years ago and enjoyed it, but for some reason it took me a really long time to revisit Discworld. I'm sorry I left it so long, because I really enjoyed The Light Fantastic! The book has a lot of fun with the "chosen one" trope as the failed wizard Rincewind and his unwanted companion Twoflower race around the Disc trying to prevent the end of the world. I will definitely continue with the Discworld series, although I'm trying to decide whether I should read it in publication order or approach it one "cycle" at a time (i.e., read all the Rincewind books first). Advice is welcome!

Book #55: Joanna Davidson Politano, Lady Jayne Disappears
Category: Raincoats and Recipes
CATs: Woman (nonfiction/historical fiction) - set in Victorian England - I read this in August

I don’t usually read “inspirational” novels, but I’m open to them if the premise sounds interesting, and I thought I’d give this one a try. It’s about a young woman, Aurelie Harcourt, who has spent her childhood with her father in debtor’s prison; when her father dies, she is brought to live with rich but emotionally distant relatives. I just really didn’t connect to this book; I found the writing style obnoxious and the plot too predictable. The references to God felt shoehorned in, and Aurelie’s faith didn’t ring true to me. Not recommended.

Book #56: Robin McKinley, Spindle’s End
Category: ’S Wonderful, ’S Marvelous

I absolutely love Robin McKinley's novels, and this is one of my favorites. It was such a pleasure to reread it as an adult and enjoy it just as much as I did when I was a teenager! This book is a magical retelling of Sleeping Beauty featuring a princess who talks to animals and two fairies who are determined to keep her safe from the evil fairy's curse. The plot is very slow-moving, but I was so enthralled by the book that I didn't mind at all! I wish McKinley had written (or would write) more books set in this world.

Book #57: Lauren Morrill, The Trouble with Destiny
Category: I Can’t Get Started

This cute but forgettable YA romance centers around Liza, a type-A teenager who’s very proud of her position as drum major of her high school band. In an effort to raise money to keep the band program from being cut, she enters the band in a competition that will take place (for some inexplicable reason) on a cruise ship. While there, she reconnects with a former crush, butts heads with a best-friend-turned-rival, and unexpectedly connects with the quarterback of the football team, who isn’t as dumb as he seems. I found Liza a very frustrating character — she’s selfish, shrill, and completely blind to what’s going on around her. So overall, I didn’t hate this book but didn’t particularly like it either.

Book #58: Georgette Heyer, Penhallow
Category: I Can’t Get Started
CATs: Alpha (P = Penhallow) - I read this in September

Much as I love Georgette Heyer, I have to admit that I really did not enjoy this book. It’s one of her so-called mystery novels, but the murder doesn’t occur until at least two-thirds of the way through the book, and the murderer’s identity is never a secret. Additionally, every single character is deeply unpleasant. Without an actual mystery to solve or a character to root for, the book just didn’t hold any appeal for me. I still love Heyer, but I’d definitely recommend trying a different book; Envious Casca is her best mystery, in my opinion.

Book #59: Shanna Swendson, Rebel Mechanics
Category: Raincoats and Recipes
CATs: SFFKIT (steampunk) - I read this in September

This YA steampunk/alternate history tale is set in a world where the American Revolution never took place because the British upper classes have magical powers that give them access to technologies (such as electricity and automobiles) that the American colonists lack. However, the so-called rebel mechanics are hoping to start a revolution by harnessing steam power and thus leveling the technological playing field. Against this political backdrop, Verity Newton is a young woman with many friends among the rebels, yet she works as a governess for an upper-class magister. As the first stirrings of revolution begin, Verity must decide where her loyalties truly lie. This book is a fun steampunk romp, and I really enjoyed the central characters, especially Lord Henry. I’ll definitely be reading the sequels!

Book #60: Georgette Heyer, The Quiet Gentleman
Category: ’S Wonderful, ’S Marvelous

After the disastrous Penhallow, I think I needed to restore my faith in Heyer by rereading one of her Regency novels! It had been a few years since I'd read this one, and I very much enjoyed it. The relationship between Gervase, the charismatic earl of St. Erth, and the practical Drusilla is delightful, and I only wish their relationship had gotten even more time "on page." The mystery aspect of the plot -- someone is trying to kill Gervase -- is somewhat farfetched but still a fun storyline. Not one of my favorite Heyers, but still a very good read!

Book #61: Nicola Upson, An Expert in Murder
Category: I Can’t Get Started
CATs: Alpha (U = Upson) - I read this in September

A historical mystery novel featuring Josephine Tey as an amateur sleuth. The plot revolves around a staging of Tey’s play Richard of Bordeaux, and many of the suspects are involved with the play as actors, producers, and so forth. Even Tey herself is implicated in the crime, since the victim was a fan whose program Tey had signed shortly before the murder occurred. Overall I thought this book was pretty good; I enjoyed the blending of fact and fiction, and the mystery itself was interesting, albeit a little baroque. I may continue with the series, but it’s not at the top of my list.

Book #62: Caren Lissner, Carrie Pilby
Category: I Can’t Get Started
CATs: Alpha (P = Pilby) - I read this in September
Bingo: 21 - made into a movie

I’ve owned this book for years, but it wasn’t until I saw the movie on Netflix that I was motivated to pick it up! The titular character is a young woman with a genius-level IQ and zero tolerance for liars and hypocrites. As a result, she’s extremely isolated socially, until her therapist challenges her to mix more with the world by making friends, going on dates, and telling people she cares about them. Carrie reluctantly tries to follow this advice and learns more about the world in the process. I thought this book was just OK. Carrie’s voice is sharp and entertaining, but I’m not sure she actually learns very much throughout the course of the book. The various things she experiences and people she meets seem random and unconnected. I think this is a rare case where the movie is better than the book!

Book: Winston Graham, The Miller’s Dance
Category: none

***Warning: spoilers for previous Poldark books!***

This book focuses most on Jeremy and Clowance, Ross and Demelza’s adult children, as they deal with career and relationship problems. Jeremy is still interested in steam power and has built a machine to help with the Poldarks’ mine. (I honestly can’t remember anything more than that about the steam-engine stuff!) He is also heartbroken that his beloved Cuby won’t marry him; she needs to marry a rich man to take care of her family’s debts. Meanwhile, Clowance and Stephen continue their relationship, but Clowance starts to have second thoughts. Another enjoyable installment of the series, and I’m curious to see what will happen next. Only three books left!

Book: Jessica Cluess, A Poison Dark and Drowning
CATs: CATwoman (YA); Alpha (P = Poison) - I read this in September

***Warning: slight spoilers for A Shadow Bright and Burning.***

Henrietta Howel is now a full-fledged sorcerer defending England against the Ancients, horrible monsters from another world. When she and her fellow sorcerers discover the existence of special weapons that might help defeat the Ancients, they immediately begin the search. But along the way, Henrietta learns some disturbing truths about the Ancients, her friends, and her own past. I have to say, I enjoyed the first book very much, but now I'm really nervous about where the series is going! Certain character developments were unwelcome, to say the least. But then again, the second installment of a trilogy often ends dark -- think The Empire Strikes Back -- and everything still turns out fine. I'm curious to see what will happen in the third (and presumably final) book now!

Book #63: Kristan Higgins, Too Good to Be True
Category: 'S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous

I first read this book in 2012, and my opinion hasn't changed upon rereading, so here's my original review:

Grace Emerson doesn’t consider herself a particularly pitiable person. She loves her job teaching American history. She has her own house and an adorable dog named Angus. But when her fiancé dumps her and begins dating her younger sister instead, Grace discovers that everyone in her family feels sorry for her. To escape their pity, Grace tells them that she’s started dating someone else — a wonderful, handsome, sensitive pediatric surgeon. Too bad he’s fictional — unlike Grace’s sexy new neighbor, Callahan O’Shea, whose sarcastic barbs annoy Grace even as she finds herself increasingly attracted to him.

This is my second encounter with Kristan Higgins (after Just One of the Guys), and I think I can safely say I’ve found a new author to enjoy. Every once in a while I just want to read a light, fluffy contemporary romance, and Higgins definitely fits the bill. Her books are a little unconventional for the romance genre, for two reasons: (1) there are almost no sex scenes — she mostly uses the fade-to-black approach — and (2) the story is only told from the heroine’s point of view. That’s one aspect of the book I didn’t like so much; I would have loved to see some of the events from Callahan’s perspective. But other than that, I enjoyed this book a lot. I especially liked the fact that there was no Big Misunderstanding keeping Grace and Cal apart. The obstacles to the romance are realistic and don’t seem contrived. I’ll definitely seek out more by Higgins in the future.

Book: Grace Livingston Hill, The Best Man
Category: none

An old-fashioned novel of romantic suspense featuring secret agent Cyril Gordon, who infiltrates a criminal gang and steals a secret message that has grave implications for national security. To evade the criminals' pursuit, he runs into a church where a wedding is about to take place. The guests mistake him (he thinks) for the best man, so he stands in front of the altar...only to realize at the end of the ceremony that he is actually the groom! Now Cyril must not only deliver the message to the US government, but he must also deal with the stranger who is now his wife. Overall, this book was a fine read, but it is quite dated, and there's really nothing remarkable about it other than the extremely farfetched premise.

>59 christina_reads: I think I'd like to try Upson's series eventually. I've recently read several of Josephine Tey's books, so I'm intrigued by the premise of Upson's books.

>65 mathgirl40: It's worth reading if you're a Tey fan, I think. I'll be interested to see what you think of the Upson series!

October recap

Wow, this was not a good reading month for me! I read only a few books, and none of them were particularly compelling.

Books read:
1. Maggie Stiefvater, All the Crooked Saints
2. E.K. Johnston, That Inevitable Victorian Thing
3. Ernest Cline, Ready Player One
4. Elizabeth Marie Pope, The Perilous Gard -- technically I haven't finished this one, but I'm hoping to do so by the end of the day!

I'm also in the middle of Winston Graham's The Loving Cup, but I won't finish it for another few days.

It's hard to pick a favorite book this month, since everything was just kind of blah. Or maybe I just wasn't in a good reading groove this month. That said, I think I liked All the Crooked Saints best, despite its slow start. And Ready Player One was my least favorite, largely because it didn't hold my interest and took me forever to read!

CATs completed:
CATWoman (regional): All the Crooked Saints beautifully depicts the southern desert region of Colorado. Also, Maggie Stiefvater is a regional author for me -- we both live in Virginia.
RandomCAT (Turn On the Dark): All the Crooked Saints is a somewhat dark fantasy novel.
AlphaKIT (A, V): Maggie Stiefvater, All the Crooked Saints; E.K. Johnston, That Inevitable Victorian Thing
SFFKIT (near future): Ready Player One is set in the year 2044.

Bingo squares completed:
None this month, but I only have three left to go!

Since we're already into November (!), I figure it's time to plan my 2017 endgame. My goals are to (1) finish my categories for the main challenge, (2) read books for the November and December AlphaKIT and SFFKIT, (3) cover my Bingo card, and (4) finish the Poldark series. Here's what I'm planning to read to achieve these goals:

November
* Winston Graham, The Loving Cup -- Poldark #10; AlphaKIT (L)
* Stephanie Burgis, Congress of Secrets -- I Can't Get Started; SFFKIT (historical fantasy)
* Leo Bruce, Case for Three Detectives -- AlphaKIT (L); Bingo (satire)
* Julia Quinn, The Duke and I -- AlphaKIT (Q)
* Agatha Christie, Murder on the Orient Express -- 'S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous
* Winston Graham, The Twisted Sword -- Poldark #11

December
* P.G. Wodehouse, Piccadilly Jim -- AlphaKIT (J); Bingo (book published in 1917)
* Eva Ibbotson, Journey to the River Sea -- AlphaKIT (J, R); Bingo (author abroad)
* Winston Graham, Bella Poldark -- Poldark #12
* (SFFKIT: magic systems)
* (reread) -- 'S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous
* (reread) -- 'S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous

Looks like a good plan for the rest of the year!

I read and fell in love with the Poldark series many years ago, but I have been keeping an eye on the group read and I've been watching the PBS series as well. It's such a rich story.

Looks like you are right on schedule to complete your 2017 reading in a timely fashion!

>69 rabbitprincess: Thanks! So far, I am managing to keep on track.

>70 DeltaQueen50: I'm really enjoying the Poldark books, Judy! I have watched the first two seasons on PBS and am DVR-ing the third season, but I don't feel an urgent need to watch it...probably because I already know what's going to happen!

>68 christina_reads: Good luck with the rest of the year's reading! I'm starting to take inventory too. My biggest challenge is completing my "Doorstoppers" category, which is not at all surprising.

>72 mathgirl40: If I had a "Doorstoppers" category, I'm sure that would be my hardest to complete also! I hope you find some long books that read quickly. :)

Stopping by to get caught up.

>53 christina_reads: - I see you also read Lady Jayne Disappears! Sounds like we both had issues with the story, although I was okay with some of the plot "fluff", even if it didn't seem to gel into anything solid.

>57 christina_reads: - Taking a BB for the Swendson book!

>42 christina_reads: BB taken. This series sounds like so much fun.

>75 mamzel: It is a fun one! Lots of swashbuckling and so forth. :)

>74 lkernagh: Ahh Lori, I missed your message somehow! I don't mind a bit of plot fluff, but in this case pretty much everything seemed like fluff until the very end. And I didn't find the characters compelling enough to compensate for a weaker plot. The Swendson book, on the other hand, was a lot of fun, and I'm definitely planning to read the rest of the trilogy!

November recap

After October's slump, November was a decent reading month for me, thanks to some air travel around Thanksgiving!

Books read:
1. Winston Graham, The Loving Cup
2. Julia Quinn, The Duke and I
3. Leo Bruce, Case for Three Detectives
4. Stephanie Burgis, Congress of Secrets
5. Winston Graham, The Twisted Sword
6. Agatha Christie, Murder on the Orient Express

I'm also halfway through P.G. Wodehouse's Piccadilly Jim, but I don't think I'll finish it today.

The two standouts this month, for me, were Case for Three Detectives (an absolute delight if you're familiar with the detectives in question) and Congress of Secrets (a well-written and entertaining historical fantasy). My least favorite was The Duke and I, which was still a fine, fluffy read!

CATs completed:
AlphaKIT (L, Q): Winston Graham, The Loving Cup; Julia Quinn, The Duke and I; Leo Bruce, Case for Three Detectives
SFFKIT (historical): Congress of Secrets is a fantasy novel set during the Congress of Vienna.

Bingo squares completed:
14. A satire: Case for Three Detectives is a parody of detective novel conventions and of three famous fictional detectives (Lord Peter Wimsey, Hercule Poirot, and Father Brown).

Hi Christina, stopping by to wish you and your loved ones peace, joy and happiness this holiday season and for 2018!

Merry Christmas Christina!

>79 lkernagh: Thanks, and same to you, Lori!

>80 VivienneR: Thank you! I still watch "A Charlie Brown Christmas" every year on Christmas Eve. :)

>81 lsh63: Merry Christmas!

Book #64: J. Jefferson Farjeon, The Z Murders
Category: I Can't Get Started
CATs: Alpha (Z = year long)

Everyman Richard Temperley takes an overnight train into London and must share a compartment with a surly elderly man. He goes from the train station to a hotel, where he sees his traveling companion sitting in an armchair in one of the public rooms — only to discover that the man has been murdered. Richard is, of course, a prime suspect, as is the woman seen leaving the hotel shortly before the victim was found dead. Of course, Richard falls in love with the woman and decides to clear her name (and his own) by finding the real murderer. The idea that the police would allow Richard such free rein to investigate is absurd, and the revelation of the true murderer is nothing short of bonkerballs insane, but I honestly enjoyed this book a lot! I’ll definitely seek out more by this Golden Age author.

Book: Maggie Stiefvater, All the Crooked Saints
Category: none
CATs: Woman (regional - set in southern Colorado); Random (dark - dark fantasy novel); Alpha (A = All) - I read this in October

The tiny town of Bicho Raro, hidden away in the Colorado desert, is a place people visit for only one reason: to find a miracle. Daniel Soria is the current Saint of Bicho Raro, the one responsible for performing miracles; but the results are almost never what the seekers of such miracles expect. His cousin Beatriz could have been the Saint, but she prefers to focus on tangible, scientific pursuits. And the third Soria cousin, Joaquin, operates a pirate radio station under the name Diablo Diablo, hoping someday to become a famous DJ. All three cousins are changed irrevocably when two new visitors arrive in Bicho Raro, and these changes will alter the status quo for the Soria family forever. Much as I love Maggie Stiefvater, this novel didn’t quite click for me. The first half especially is very slow going, as Stiefvater sets up the world and explains the status quo; the second half is paced better, and I found myself getting more invested in the book. But I think the world-building gets too much emphasis, at the expense of character and plot. Then again, I’m not a huge fan of magical realism in general, so maybe this just wasn’t the right book for me.

>83 christina_reads: "Bonkerballs insane" is an excellent description of this book!

>85 rabbitprincess: But in a good way! :)

>86 christina_reads: Oh yes! I really enjoyed it :)

Book: E.K. Johnston, That Inevitable Victorian Thing
Category: none
CATs: Alpha (V = Victorian) - I read this in October

This alt-historical novel is set in a version of the Victorian era in which technology has greatly advanced, leading to innovations such as a computer that predicts a person’s optimal spouse based on his or her genetic code. In this world, heir to the throne Margaret travels to Canada, posing as a commoner to have one last hurrah before she must submit to a computer-arranged marriage. There she meets Helena and August, who have been unofficially promised to each other for years but who both harbor shocking secrets.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I think it succeeds best when it focuses on the changing relationships among the three main characters (if you’re wondering whether there’s a queer love triangle, the answer is yes). On the other hand, I found myself in a situation where I actually wanted more world-building! The book contains some fascinating ideas about how the world might have been different if things had gone differently in the actual Victorian era, but I wish those ideas had been developed more. Also, I think there’s one significant plot weakness: about halfway through the novel, a big secret is revealed about Helena, but the implications of that secret are never really addressed. Not a bad book, by any means, but I didn’t like it nearly as much as I wanted to.

Book #65: Ernest Cline, Ready Player One
Category: I Can’t Get Started
CATs: SFF (near future) - I read this in October

I have to say, I did not enjoy this book at all! I know it’s very popular, and I can see how it would appeal to lovers of ’80s geek culture, but it is emphatically not the book for me. The protagonist, Wade, is a smug know-it-all who thinks he’s better than everyone else because of his dedication to memorizing the minutia of ’80s movies, music, and video games. He’s the kind of guy who will judge you for not knowing some obscure piece of trivia and claim that you’re not a “true fan” of whatever thing. I honestly can’t remember the last book I read whose protagonist annoyed me so much! That said, the overall concept — sort of The Matrix meets The Westing Game — is fun; it just doesn’t make up for the insufferable “hero,” in my opinion.

Book #66: Elizabeth Marie Pope, The Perilous Gard
Category: ’S Wonderful, ’S Marvelous

I adore this retelling of "Tam Lin" set in Tudor England. It's written for a middle-grade audience, but there's definitely plenty for adults to enjoy as well! I love the relationship between the pragmatic heroine and the somewhat grumpy hero. And the depiction of the Fair Folk is absolutely wonderful -- it really strikes the right balance between beauty and danger. If fairy tale retellings are your thing, I highly, highly recommend this book!

Book: Winston Graham, The Loving Cup
Category: none

In the 10th Poldark book, Clowance makes a decision about her future; Jeremy struggles with his obsessive, unrequited love for Cuby; and tensions between Valentine and George finally come to a head. I’m so behind on reviews that I’ve actually finished the series now, so I can’t quite remember which events happened in this book versus others. I do remember Jeremy’s ultimate decision regarding Cuby, which was based on TERRIBLE advice from Ross! I also didn’t love the continued presence of Stephen Carrington, who starts to rehabilitate himself only to fall even more spectacularly. Still, I really enjoyed the series overall, and this installment did some important place-setting for the final two books.

Book: Julia Quinn, The Duke and I
Category: none
CATs: Alpha (Q = Quinn) - I read this in November

I’d read one Julia Quinn book previously (Just Like Heaven) and enjoyed it, so I decided to try this first book in her famous Bridgerton series. It’s a fun, quick read, but for me it never rose above somewhat mindless entertainment. For one thing, I’m not a huge fan of the “notorious rake is reformed by the love of a good woman” plotline. For another, I didn’t quite know what to make of the hero’s personal history, which basically amounts to serious verbal and emotional abuse from his father. Clearly this backstory is meant to make the hero more interesting and to create an obstacle in the plot; but the book generally has such a lighthearted tone that the backstory seems incongruous and almost inappropriate. All that said, I do enjoy some nice Regency fluff every now and then, so I’ll probably read more by this author…but maybe I’ll try one of her other series!

Book #67: Leo Bruce, Case for Three Detectives
Category: I Can’t Get Started
CATs: Alpha (L = Leo) - I read this in November
Bingo: 14 (a satire)

This parody of Golden Age detective fiction is an absolute must-read for fans of the real thing! It has all the traditional elements: an ill-fated house party, an impossible murder, a brilliant amateur detective (or three), and a bumbling local policeman. In this case, the three detectives — who bear striking resemblances to Lord Peter Wimsey, Hercule Poirot, and Father Brown, respectively — use their unique methods to arrive at three different solutions to the crime, while Sergeant Beef reiterates in the background, “But I know who done it!” The humor in this book is quite specific: if you’re unfamiliar with any of the three detectives being parodied, you’re missing out on some of the fun, but Leo Bruce really does get the voices of these three fictional detectives exactly right! Also, I was impressed by the fact that he had to come up with four different plausible solutions to the mystery. I’ll definitely read more by this author, and I wholeheartedly recommend this book to fans of Lord Peter, Poirot, and Father Brown!

Book: Stephanie Burgis, Congress of Secrets
Category: none
CATs: SFF (historical) - I read this in November

This book checks off so many of my personal boxes, it’s ridiculous: The book is set in the 19th century, specifically at the Congress of Vienna that concluded the Napoleonic wars. Magic exists in the world but is being used by powerful men for very dark purposes. And one of the main characters is a con man! And there’s a romance! So, obviously I was predisposed to like this book, and it did not disappoint. I’ve already acquired more books by Burgis, and I’m excited to have discovered a new-to-me author!

Book: Winston Graham, The Twisted Sword
Category: none

Oof, lots of changes for the Poldarks and Warleggans in this book, and most of them are tragic. I won’t go into specifics for fear of spoilers, but in my opinion this is probably the saddest book in the series. It’s still a very absorbing and enjoyable read, though — after 11 books, I’ve really grown invested in the Poldarks, the Warleggans, and all their friends and neighbors in Cornwall and beyond. What I love is that Graham paints such a complete picture of life at the time, weaving the wider political, social, and economic landscape into his tale of these country families.

Book #68: Agatha Christie, Murder on the Orient Express
Category: ’S Wonderful, ’S Marvelous

I first read this book in my early teens, when I was going through a long Agatha Christie phase and devoured nearly all of her books. But I wanted to reread it before seeing the new film adaptation starring Kenneth Branagh's mustache, because while I remembered the ending, I couldn't recollect any of the details of the plot! Honestly, with all due respect, this is not one of Christie's best mysteries. There are too many suspects, and as a result, none of them are well-rounded characters. And while the solution is memorably ingenious, the whole plot depends on a great deal of external information that has to be relayed by Poirot in a series of info dumps. I'd say the book is definitely worth reading, but it's lackluster compared to many of Christie's other novels.

Relatedly, has anyone seen this episode of 30 Rock? I love the giant clue in the cold open that Liz is actually reading Murder on the Orient Express with her book club!

Book: P.G. Wodehouse, Piccadilly Jim
Category: none
Bingo: 16 (book published in 2017)

I loved this book, which is pure farce of the silliest, most delightful kind! Wodehouse actually spent some time in America writing screenplays and musicals (!), and I could definitely see this book as an old-fashioned screwball comedy! It contains so many tropes of that era — mistaken identities, love aboard a transatlantic vessel, a boxer with a heart of gold — not to mention classic Wodehousian touches like a pair of disapproving aunts and a ludicrous kidnapping scheme. Highly recommended!

>94 christina_reads: One last BB for this year, Congress of Secrets sounds great. Happy new year to you!

I have to skip past your Poldark reviews because I'm not there yet! Just borrowed books 9 and 10 from my parents. Thanks for organizing the year-long group read; it was a great impetus to get back into the series!

>98 Chrischi_HH: I hope you enjoy Congress of Secrets! Happy New Year to you!

>99 rabbitprincess: I'm glad you've been enjoying the group read! I found it really helpful too...despite the fact that I truly do like the series, I probably wouldn't have been motivated to read all 12 books on my own!

Book: Eva Ibbotson, Journey to the River Sea
Category: none
CATs: AwardCAT (several UK awards); CATWoman (post-1960); RandomCAT (one day); Alpha (J = Journey, R = River)
Bingo: 6 (author abroad)

Maya is an orphan living at a boarding school in England, when one day she is adopted by distant relatives living in Brazil. She is eager to meet her new family until she discovers that they are selfish and cruel and only took her in for financial reasons. However, she finds consolation in the natural beauties around her, the strange vegetation and wildlife, and the friends she makes in her new homeland. I've read and loved all of Ibbotson's adult/YA books, but I'm still discovering her works for younger readers. This is delightful, and I think it would appeal to kids (and adults!) who enjoy exploration and adventure.

Book: Melissa McShane, Burning Bright
Category: none
CATs: CATWoman (post-1960); SFF (magic system)

This is a Regency-era fantasy novel, so obviously it's right up my alley, and I very much enjoyed it! Protagonist Elinor is a Scorcher, which means she can start fires with magic; and she's also an Extraordinary, which means she can control and put out the fires as well. This talent makes her an extremely valuable prize on the marriage market, and her controlling father wants to snare a rich and powerful husband for her. To escape this fate, Elinor offers her services to the Royal Navy instead. There's shipboard combat and pirates and romance -- basically everything I'm looking for from this type of book. Highly recommended if the premise appeals to you!

Book #69: Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol
Category: ’S Wonderful, ’S Marvelous

Everyone knows the story of grumpy, stingy Ebenezer Scrooge, who is visited at Christmas by three spirits who warn him to mend his ways. It had been a while since I’d read the original book, and despite the fact that it’s been reworked so many times, I still found myself discovering and remembering new aspects of the story. I was also pleasantly surprised that my favorite adaptation (The Muppet Christmas Carol, of course!) sticks so closely to the original!

Book: Winston Graham, Bella Poldark
Category: none

Phew, I can't believe this is the last book in the Poldark series! Clowance decides whether to marry again and must choose between two suitors; Bella embarks on a career; Valentine stirs the pot, as usual; and a serial murderer is on the loose in Cornwall. Not every loose end in the series is tied up, but overall the book is a strong conclusion for the characters I've come to know and love over the past 12 books. It's hard to believe there won't be any more stories about them!

Book #70: Lucy Parker, Act Like It
Category: ’S Wonderful, ’S Marvelous

Loved this book when I first read it last year, loved it just as much on this reread! If you like your contemporary romance with humor, delightful banter, and theater references, you definitely need to check out this book!

December recap

Well, I just managed to squeeze the rest of my challenge and Bingo reads into this month! Here's what I read in December:

Books read:
1. P.G. Wodehouse, Piccadilly Jim
2. Eva Ibbotson, Journey to the River Sea
3. Melissa McShane, Burning Bright
4. Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol
5. Winston Graham, Bella Poldark
6. Lucy Parker, Act Like It

My favorite read of the month (other than rereads) was Burning Bright, which just ticked so many of my personal boxes. I can't pick a least favorite this month -- everything was good!

CATs completed:
AwardsCAT (prize from a country you don't live in): Journey to the River Sea won or was nominated for several awards in the UK.
CATWoman (modern/post-1960): Journey to the River Sea and Burning Bright were both published after the year 2000.
RandomCAT (one day): I didn't actually have time to read Journey to the River Sea in one day, but it's definitely a book I could have read in a day!
AlphaKIT (J, R): P.G. Wodehouse, Piccadilly Jim; Eva Ibbotson, Journey to the River Sea
SFFKIT (magic systems): Burning Bright is premised on a magic system in which certain individuals manifest a magical talent such as Scorching, Moving, Seeing, or Shaping.

Bingo squares completed:
16. Author born/book published in 1917: Piccadilly Jim was published in 1917.
6. Author abroad: Eva Ibbotson was born in Austria but moved to England with her mother at the age of 9. She wrote in English and set many of her books in England, although Journey to the River Sea is set mostly in Brazil.

YEAR-END RECAP

I have officially completed my 2017 category challenge! I read 83 books in all; 70 of these were for the challenge, and the rest helped to fill in my CATs and Bingo card. I participated sporadically in all the CATs, and I did do the AlphaKIT (all 26 letters!) and SFFKIT every month. I also managed to cover my entire Bingo card and hope to do so again in 2018!

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My Top 10 Books of 2017 (in no particular order)

1. Connie Willis, Crosstalk — This was my first read of the year, and it was a great one! It combines two seemingly incongruous genres — science fiction and romantic comedy — effortlessly, and it also touches on the serious themes of communication and alienation in a near-future world.

2. Sally Thorne, The Hating Game — I feel like I’ve been praising this book a lot, and I don’t want to overhype it…but seriously, it’s that good! If you enjoy the enemies-to-lovers trope, you absolutely can’t miss this one.

3. Katherine Arden, The Bear and the Nightingale — Luscious writing, a vivid historical setting, and the influence of Russian folklore made this book a favorite for me. Can’t wait to read the sequel, The Girl in the Tower!

4. Tana French, The Likeness — I don’t usually gravitate toward contemporary thrillers, but there’s something about this series! While the premise of this book is a bit farfetched, I was completely caught up in the suspense and couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. I’ll definitely be continuing with this series.

5. Darcie Wilde, A Useful Woman — Regency era + mystery = sold!

6. Keigo Higashino, The Devotion of Suspect X — I really enjoyed reading a contemporary mystery set in an unfamiliar (to me) part of the world.

7. Jenny Colgan, The Café by the Sea — I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this British chick lit novel as much as I did! At the beginning of the book, the main character really wanted X to happen, and I was like, “Ugh, I hope X does not happen,” but by the time X did eventually happen, I was totally on board! Gotta admire an author who can bring me around to her side like that.

8. Leo Bruce, Case for Three Detectives — The audience for this book is fairly specific; you have to be familiar with the fictional detectives Lord Peter Wimsey, Hercule Poirot, and Father Brown. But if you happen to know and love them, you’ll love this parody as well!

9. Stephanie Burgis, Congress of Secrets — Everything about this book was interesting to me, from the setting (the Congress of Vienna!) to the magical system (evil alchemy) to the romance to the fact that one of the main characters is a con man. I can’t wait to read more by this author!

10. Melissa McShane, Burning Bright — Another book that checks a lot of my boxes: Regency setting, magic, romance, and war on the high seas!

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Up Next

My 2018 category challenge can be found here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/268935. Please stop by and say hello! Happy New Year! :)

Congrats on covering your Bingo card! Have a great reading year in 2018!

End of Year Book Meme: Books read in 2017

Describe yourself: Scrappy Little Nobody (Anna Kendrick)

Describe how you feel: All Seated on the Ground (Connie Willis)

Describe where you currently live: In Farleigh Field (Rhys Bowen)

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: The Café by the Sea (Jenny Colgan)

Your favorite form of transportation: Journey to the River Sea (Eva Ibbotson)

Your best friend is: A Useful Woman (Darcie Wilde)

You and your friends are: The Chilbury Ladies' Choir (Jennifer Ryan)

What’s the weather like: The Angry Tide (Winston Graham)

You fear: Rebel Mechanics (Shanna Swendson)

What is the best advice you have to give: If You Only Knew (Kristan Higgins)

Thought for the day: The Trouble with Destiny (Lauren Morrill)

How you would like to die: A Bullet in the Ballet (Caryl Brahms and S.J. Simon) -- at least it would be quick!

Your soul’s present condition: The Light Fantastic (Terry Pratchett)

>108 rabbitprincess: Thank you! :)