VivienneR visits Wind in the Willows second trip

Welcome to my 8th year of participating in the Category Challenge. I've chosen 11 categories and while most books might fit in more than one, there will be no doubling up.

This year my thread features illustrations from The Wind in the Willows, a quinessentially English book that was written by a Scot, Kenneth Grahame. Many versions have been published since the original in 1908 and has featured over 50 different illustrators. The illustrations I'm using are simply some I like best.

Although the first chapter shows that The Wind in the Willows began as a children's book, it became known as a book for grown ups that can be read by children. Neither author nor publisher ever suggested that it was meant for children. The animals and illustrations may give it the appearance of a children's book but some of the animals drink, smoke, steal, are jailed and only occasionally behave like animals. Most agree that it was about nothing but human beings and human characteristics.

When author Tana French was asked which book changed her life, she replied: I blame my career choice on my dad reading me The Wind in the Willows when I was five or six. I can still remember hearing him read the sentence “Never in his life had he seen a river before – this sleek, sinuous, full-bodied animal …” That was when it hit me what words can do.

June reading plans
Complete!

Read recently
                   

Mysteries

1. The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths
   
2. Found Wanting by Robert Goddard
   
3. The Last Seance: Tales of the Supernatural by Agatha Christie
   
4. Beggar's Banquet by Ian Rankin
   
5. The Au Pair by Emma Rous

Fiction

1. The Children Act by Ian McEwan
   
2. Rabbit Foot Bill by Helen Humphreys
   
3. The Switch by Beth O'Leary
   
4. The Dragon in the Library by Louie Stowell, illustrated by Davide Ortu
   
5. Night of Power by Anar Ali
   
6. The End of the Affair by Graham Greene

Series

1. Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith
   
2. Far From True by Linwood Barclay
   
3. Love Story, with Murders by Harry Bingham
   
4. Blood Line by Lynda La Plante
   
5. The Best Man to Die by Ruth Rendell
   
6. Death of a Gossip by M.C. Beaton
   
7. Death of a Cad by M.C. Beaton

Celtic - Ireland and Scotland

1. Turbulent Priests by Colin Bateman
   
2. Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart
   
3. The Forgotten Waltz by Ann Enright
   
4. Green Hell by Ken Bruen
   
5. Night Boat to Tangier by Kevin Barry
   
6. The Ghosts of Belfast by Stuart Neville
   
7. Normal People by Sally Rooney
   
8. Little Constructions by Anna Burns
   
9. Tower by Ken Bruen & Reed Farrel Coleman

Faraway places

1. How to Pronounce Knife by Souvankham Thammavongsa
   
2. A Promised Land by Barack Obama GeoKIT North America
   
3. Drive your plow over the bones of the dead by Olga Tokarczuk GeoKIT Europe
   
4. Burmese Days by George Orwell GeoKIT Asia
   
5. A Luminous Republic by Andrés Barba GeoKIT Central & South America
   
6. Into the Abyss by Carol Shaben GeoKIT Polar regions
   
7. The Tomorrow-Tamer and other stories by Margaret Laurence GeoKIT Africa
   
8. Bliss and other stories by Katherine Mansfield GeoKIT Oceania
   
9. Alone in the Wild by Kelley Armstrong GeoKIT North America
   
10. Miguel Street by V.S. Naipaul GeoKIT Central & South America

RandomCAT

January - LOL: Carry On, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse
February - Fruit & veggies: Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich
March - It's a surprise: The Traveller and other stories by Stuart Neville
April - Let's go to the library: Conviction by Denise Mina from dudes22 library
May - Let's play Monopoly: The Orphan Thief by Glynis Peters (Coventry)
May - Let's play Monopoly: Lehrter Station by David Downing
May - Let's play Monopoly: Monopoly: the world's most famous game and how it got that way by Philip Orbanes
June - Everything old is new again: Macbeth: a novel by A.J. Hartley & David Hewson

HistoryCAT

January - Middle Ages: Cruel as the Grave by Sharon Kay Penman
February - 1800 to present: The Second World War: Alone by Winston S. Churchill
March - Early modern 1500-1800: The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel
April - Ancient 8th C BC - 6th C AD: Venus in Copper by Lindsey Davis
May - Dynasties: The sisters who would be queen: the tragedy of Mary, Katherine, & Lady Jane Grey by Leanda De Lisle
June - War: The Second World War: The Grand Alliance by Winston S. Churchill

GenreCAT

January: The Pigeon Tunnel: Stories from My Life by John le Carré
February: No Time Like the Future: an optimist considers mortality by Michael J. Fox
March: Moonraker by Ian Fleming
April: Clock Dance by Anne Tyler
May: Climb: stories of survival from rock, snow and ice by Clint Willis, editor
June: Pompeii by Robert Harris

MysteryKIT

January - featuring water: Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
February - pastiche: Rowan Hood: Outlaw Girl of Sherwood Forest by Nancy Springer
March - locked room: Flowers for the Judge by Margery Allingham
April - senior citizen detective: The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
May - set in Europe: The Track of Sand by Andrea Camilleri
June - Golden Age: The Shakespeare Murders by A.G. Macdonell

AlphaKIT

All Year Z: Zero Avenue by Dietrich Kalteis
January M: Common Murder by Val McDermid
January P: The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
February T: Redhead by the Side of the Road by Anne Tyler
February K: What She Knew by Gilly Macmillan
February T: The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England by Ian Mortimer
March U: Uncommon Type by Tom Hanks
March R: Rescued by David Rosenfelt
April A & W: Wherever She Goes by Kelley Armstrong
April A & W: Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich
May I & N: The Imposter Bride by Nancy Richler
June C & D: Double or Die by Charlie Higson

1. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
2. Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson
3. Lucky Jack Road by J.G. Toews
4. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
5. Leonard: My Life as a Cat by Carlie Sorosiak
6. Eiger Dreams: ventures among men and mountains by Jon Krakauer
7. Diamonds are forever by Ian Fleming
8. The Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice
9. Toby, a Man by Todd Babiak
10. The way through the woods by Colin Dexter
12. A Shot in the Dark by Lynne Truss
14. Breath: the new science of a lost art by James Nestor
16. After the Funeral by Agatha Christie
18. Postcard Stories 2 by Jan Carson illustrated by Benjamin Phillips
19. The Lying Room by Nicci French
24. The Song Dog by James McClure
25. Here We Are by Graham Swift

This was my latest Early Reviewer win and I chose to read it for the "impulse read" in BingoDOG, giving me my first bingo.

Leonard: My Life as a Cat by Carlie Sorosiak

To celebrate a 300th birthday in a distant galaxy where beings are immortal, one is allowed to travel to earth and assume any form for one month. One of these beings chooses human form, specifically a park ranger at Yellowstone National Park, an idea picked up from watching I Love Lucy that is used for preparation purposes. However, something goes wrong while he daydreams on the journey to earth, and he arrives as a cat in South Carolina. He arrived up a tree during a rainstorm where, fortunately, he is rescued by a girl named Olive. The return trip home after his month on earth poses some problems because the pickup is scheduled at Yellowstone on a specific date and time. A monumental task for a cat and an eleven-year-old to secretly arrange.

The description of the alien world - the hive - was unique, and the cat viewpoint highly entertaining especially to anyone familiar with cats. Recommended for middle grades but anyone will enjoy this story. I doubt many of the target audience are familiar with Lucy, or Jimmy Buffet, another reference, who is unknown even to me. Half a star off for that. Still, this story is utterly charming and highly recommended.

And, I have to say I love the cover.

Happy new thread!

>14 VivienneR: I love the idea of I Love Lucy intersecting with being a cat in South Carolina. I watched Lucy reruns with great joy when I was a kid, but kids today aren't limited to what the local TV stations choose to broadcast!

Happy New Thread!

>15 NinieB: Thank you, Ninie. I loved it too, but there were some human events that were not covered by Lucy (I think camping was one) so Leonard was in the dark in those cases. I remember Lucy well (I always dreaded being called "Viv" like her friend) and it was a fun connection.

>16 Tess_W: Thank you, Tess!

What gorgeous images, Vivienne.

>17 VivienneR: LOL on the camping!

Happy new thread! How lovely to revisit Wind in the Willows with those gorgeous pictures!

And happy Easter too, of course!

Happy New Thread! I enjoyed looking at these wonderful pictures again!

Happy Easter and new thread!

Thanks to you all for dropping by the new thread.

category: Fiction

The Switch by Beth O'Leary

I read this because I enjoyed The Flatshare by the same author. However, this one was a real disappointment. A switch of homes and lifestyles between a 79 year old woman and her granddaughter just doesn't appeal, no matter how hard O'Leary tried. I'm counting it as read but I stopped reading after about 80% (and should have stopped much sooner).

>14 VivienneR: Congratulations on your first bingo of 2021!

And, yes, that's a very eyecatching cover.

Happy new thread! Looking forward to the second quarter.

>25 spiralsheep: Thank you. It's a change from last year when I had to race to fill my card in the last couple of months of the year.

>26 Helenliz: Thanks, Helen. So many books to look forward to.

We had a burst pipe this weekend that did a fair amount of damage in our basement. Some books were lost but it could have been worse as I only kept sewing, fitness and library science books there and strangely, some books were soaked, some perfectly dry. Drywall and laminate flooring are being replaced already.

Happy new thread!
Ugh, sorry about your basement and the ruined books. That sounds like a huge problem.

Eight Detectives by Alex Pavesi

Abandoned!

Sleep inducing!

I just could not develop any interest in this tale. And, I didn't anticipate anything wonderful was about to happen. Biggest disappointment of the year.

Sorry about your flooding and your book disappointment!

>28 mstrust: Yes, a huge problem but it could have been worse. It breaks my heart to have to discard some of the damaged books. One was my college year book in which my son happened to be in too.

>30 Tess_W: Thank you, Tess. The only good thing about Pavesi's book was that it was sleep-inducing at a time when my stress level needed some sleep. :)

>27 VivienneR: oh no! How nasty to be flooded. Hope that the problem is solved and that putting it right goes smoothly.

>:-( to lose books.

>32 Helenliz: Thanks for the sympathy, Helen. I knew I could trust LibraryThingers to give me a shoulder to cry on. :) It was bad because it sprayed over everything. However, things are looking better already.

Sorry to read about your pipe issues. It's never fun to lose books.

I'm sorry to hear of what happened and hope that repairing things will not be too stressful!

>27 VivienneR: Eep to the burst pipe, but I'm glad it was in the basement. If there were any irreplaceable books then there are professional book recovery services but I hope they were more those books we keep in storage but rarely consult. Good luck with the clean-up and repairs.

I am sorry to hear about your mess! I hope cleaning up will not be too stressful for you.

>34 thornton37814: Thanks, Lori. No, it wasn't much fun.

>35 MissBrangwen: Thanks, Mirjam. I expect the repair will be the easiest part.

>36 spiralsheep: Considering that the water came from just above the bookshelves, we were fortunate that we lost so few. It could have been much worse. Most are replaceable. The irreplaceable art and mementos were untouched.

>37 LadyoftheLodge: Thanks, Cheryl. I'm hoping the stressful part is over.

Happy new thread, and I hope the losses in the basement aren't too bad!

>Thank you, Birgit. Things are looking better every day.

category: Celtic

Normal People by Sally Rooney

This is a novel about little more than how class difference can affect the fraught sexual relationships and emotions of educated young people, from school through university. The main characters are clearly detailed as shallow, unlikeable, without passion, and secondary characters are barely fleshed out. If there was a point to the story it wasn't communicated to this reader. In the end, I found reading about normal people tedious and the novel too clever for its own good.

>41 VivienneR: Shame, Vivienne - I haven't read the book, but the BBC adaptation was fantastic (if you don't mind a LOT of sex on screen). There definitely was no shortage of passion in that.

>42 AlisonY: It may have been the BBC adaptation that brought so much attention to the book. Yes, there was sex but just for the sake of it, no passion about anything. I didn't care for the writing style and there just wasn't enough story to interest me. I've since read somewhere (The Guardian maybe?) that this is the millennials style of writing. I don't intend to write off an entire generation of writers on the strength of Rooney's book but will be more choosy. I'll be interested in your opinion if you read the book.

category: RandomCAT April: Let's go to the Library without leaving home

Conviction by Denise Mina from dudes22's library

Mina can be trusted to deliver a mystery story that is fresh, original, and highly entertaining. At the opening, I thought it was heading towards an unremarkable theme with a couple splitting up. I was wrong. It was thoroughly enjoyable. I love Mina's writing style. When she adds details, they add life to the setting and the story, not just to swell the word count as I have experienced in recently-read books.

>44 VivienneR: My husband read an article on Denise Mina in a German travel magazine about Scotland a couple of years ago, and her books have been on our wishlist ever since!

>44 VivienneR: I'm glad that you enjoyed Conviction, Vivienne. I have it waiting on my shelves!

>45 MissBrangwen: Mina can be gritty, but somehow that only adds to the appeal. I still have to read the Garnethill series that I expect will be among my favourites.

>46 DeltaQueen50: It was different to others I've read by Mina, but just as good.

With illness, hospital, and the clean-up after our flooded basement, I'm far, far behind on my reading plan. This was my choice for the March Locked Room MysteryKIT - yes, March! - and it has taken me two weeks to get through it. Worthwhile though.



category: MysteryKIT - March: locked room

Flowers for the Judge by Margery Allingham (March locked room)

This is an excellent example of Allingham's work, a locked room mystery that has well-defined characters, courtroom drama, all set in a family-run publishing house. Very enjoyable.

>45 MissBrangwen: I met Denise Mina when she did a book signing in Munich, so I'll always associate her with Germany. She was delightful.

>47 VivienneR: Garnethill was the first of Mina's books I read and it remains my favorite.

>44 VivienneR: I also enjoyed Conviction and found it much lighter than her other books.

>49 RidgewayGirl: How lucky you are to have met Denise Mina. I always imagine her to have an idiosyncratic personality, and very approachable.

>50 pamelad: Yes, it was on her lighter side. Glad she can do both, although I do enjoy her darker stories.

>49 RidgewayGirl: Great story! And Munich is such a great city, too!

category: MysteryKIT April - senior citizen detective

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

My attention was distracted and my reading was choppy so this novel didn't get the attention it deserved. I always enjoy a novel that is exactly that - novel - and this one fits that category perfectly. The senior citizen humour was appropriate and sensitive without resorting to caricature. Looking forward to a sequel.

>51 VivienneR: Yes and yes. She was also very enthusiastic. I told her I loved the cameo appearance of Paddy Meehan in (I think) Gods and Beasts and she told me all about the woman she'd based Meehan on and what was happening with her now and it was fascinating.

>52 MissBrangwen: I spent several years living in and around Munich and I do love it.

>54 RidgewayGirl: That's exactly how I imagine her! Enthusiastic!

Great story about Gods and Beasts. I read it back in 2013 and remember the plot but I will probably read it again sometime.

I went to a book event that Denise Mina was at a few years ago, and I'd no idea who she was as I don't read thrillers. It was only when I mentioned it on my CR thread and so many people went "Denise Mina - wow!" that I realised she's a legend in the thriller genre.

She came across as being fun, very grounded and extremely sharp.

>56 AlisonY: You are left with a great story about the "legend" though!

category: AlphaKIT A & W

Wherever She Goes by Kelley Armstrong

Some books grab your attention right at the beginning, while others take a while for the reader to become acquainted with the plot and characters. This is the former. I was hooked on this suspense story from page one. A mother sharing custody of her child sees another child taken against his will at the park. It seems like a straightforward police report but the police don't believe her.

catgory: GenreCAT April: Literary fiction

Clock Dance by Anne Tyler

The story covers the the life of Willa and her family during the years 1967, 1977, and 1997, wrapping up in 2017. Tyler's fine writing lets the reader look into the lives of her characters, portraying them in detail but without judgement, leaving it up to the reader to form their own conclusions. This is not a neat, happy story but a sorry tale of the controlling relationships Willa endures.

category: BingoDOG - author new to me

Breath: the new science of a lost art by James Nestor

The content is interesting and informative, however, Nestor's participation in breathing classes would be difficult for most of us to replicate. And while I have no interest in his dental health, the dental conditions of the dead in the ossuary of the Paris catacombs was fascinating (although a description of how the guides were dressed was puzzling and unnecessary). Nestor provides some practical advice but it was slow in arriving and much of it was either common knowledge or common sense. This book might be of more interest to someone seeking to understand their own, or their child's, breathing difficulties.

category: AlphaKIT A & W

Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich

Fun, with a few laughs but not much plot. I like Diesel (and Cat, of course) but Lizzy is too much like Stephanie Plum, and I just didn't get the magic. I'll skip the rest of the series.

>59 VivienneR: I've got a copy of Clock Dance on my tbr. I don't think I've ever not liked one of Tyler's books.

>62 RidgewayGirl: She's an excellent writer. I enjoyed Redhead By the Side of the Road more, but Tyler is one of those writers that I know I'll enjoy anything she puts her hand to.

category: Faraway Places & GeoKIT Asia

Burmese Days by George Orwell

An unsparing, cynical view of British colonialism in Burma forms Orwell's first novel. It has been many years since I first read this but after reading Emma Larkin's Finding George Orwell in Burma I was prompted to re-read it. The picture of Flory and his disgust for colonialism, his compatriots, and even his own love/hate feelings for Burma, suggests Flory was to some extent a self portrait. I have enjoyed all of Orwell's writing since I first encountered the essay Shooting an Elephant when I was a teenager. As a political writer, he is outstanding.

Burma continued to endure strife after the country gained independence in 1948. The renaming of Burma to Myanmar in a military takeover is still contested. Like Emma Larkin, and even Aung San Suu Kyi, I will continue to use the older name, Burma.

category: HistoryCAT Ancient

Venus in Copper by Lindsey Davis

It's fun to learn about ordinary life in Ancient Rome in this mystery series featuring Marcus Didius Falco as detective. There is a lot of funny lines thrown in, which keeps everything light and enjoyable. Davis has a thorough understanding of Ancient Rome.

category: Fiction - my latest Early Reviewer snag

The Dragon in the Library by Louie Stowell, illustrated by Davide Ortu

Three friends discover their local librarian - like all librarians - is a wizard who is willing to show them how to cast spells. Open any book and find it is literally a portal to another world. When the library is threatened with a takeover by an offensive developer the three start a protest to save it. Magic, adventure, and wonderful characters including a dog that is half dragon - a dogon. This captivating book is a lot of fun and will be highly enjoyed by middle grades.

>66 VivienneR: Sounds fun! :-)

>67 spiralsheep: Yes, it was fun! And, as we all know, librarians can do anything. My young friend will enjoy this one.

>60 VivienneR: Shame - this sounded like it was going to be interesting from the opening part of your review.

>69 AlisonY: Yes, and not helped by the long wait for my library hold to arrive when my interest increased. :(

category: GeoKIT Central and South America

A Luminous Republic by Andrés Barba, translated by Lisa Dillman

"When I'm asked about the thirty-two children who lost their lives in San Cristóbal, my reaction varies depending on the age of my interlocutor. If we're the same age, I say that understanding is simply a matter of piecing together that which was previously seen as disjointed. If they're younger, I ask if they believe in bad omens."

The story of these thirty-two children who create mayhem and murder in the small town of San Cristóbal is told by a social worker reflecting on his role in the ensuing tragedy. No one knows where the children came from, who their parents are, or what has motivated them. They speak their own language, do not appear to have a leader, and disappear every night only to return in the morning more vicious than before. The story is closer to legend than fable, a folk tale. But no matter how difficult to categorize, the plot is intriguing, the voice of the social worker succeeds in capturing the reader's attention while he attempted to capture the children who do not belong anywhere. It's a short, imaginative novel that is well worth reading.

>71 VivienneR: Sounds like an interesting read.

>72 AlisonY: It was surprising and dark. If Barba intended any political or psychological message, it went over my head.

APRIL Summary

Read this month: 15
Year to date: 60

The Best: ❤️
46. Leonard: My Life as a Cat by Carlie Sorosiak
57. Burmese Days by George Orwell

The Rest:
50. Conviction by Denise Mina
51. Flowers for the Judge by Margery Allingham
52. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
53. Wherever She Goes by Kelley Armstrong
54. Clock Dance by Anne Tyler
58. Venus in Copper by Lindsey Davis
59. The Dragon in the Library by Louie Stowell, illustrated by Davide Ortu
60. A Luminous Republic by Andrés Barba, translated by Lisa Dillman

Disappointments:
47. The Switch by Beth O'Leary
48. Eight Detectives by Alex Pavesi (DNF)
49. Normal People by Sally Rooney
55. Breath by James Nestor
56. Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich

category: Mysteries

The Au Pair by Emma Rous

This novel started off with some promise but then became slow and eventually quite convoluted. The jumps between time periods didn't help. The story from the 1990s was told by Laura, the au pair, alternating with the present day story by Seraphine, one of the children requiring the au pair. I lost count of the number of twins. This debut from Rous was middle-of-the-road.

>64 VivienneR: After reading your review I'm planning on Burmese Days for the HistoryCAT. British Empire. It fits in the 1900-1950 Challenge too.

>76 pamelad: I hope you enjoy it, Pamela.

>71 VivienneR: That sounds really interesting-BB! Thanks for the review.

>78 mstrust: Hi Jennifer, nice to see you dropping by.

category: BingoDOG

After the Funeral by Agatha Christie

This one is for the "senior citizen protagonist" square. A Christie book is always fun and this is one of her better tales.

>80 VivienneR: - I read this last year for one of the Bingo, Cat, Kit books and liked it a lot.

>81 dudes22: An Agatha Christie book can be a good fit for so many Kits, Cats and Dogs. :)

>44 VivienneR: I have Conviction on audio. I’m glad you liked it. I’ll get to it sooner rather than later. A Vivienne push is always appreciated.

>80 VivienneR: After the Funeral is a good one. I love her books.

Somehow I lost your star. You are back on my “stars”. ;-)

Glad you found me again! And happy that I'm able to supply a push now and then in return for yours.

category: BingoDOG Let's Play Monopoly

The Orphan Thief by Glynis Peters

This reads like a YA novel, in fact it would make a very good YA story. It is set in Coventry during the blitz of WWII when Coventry was particularly hard-hit. Among the chaos sixteen-year-old Ruby arrived home only to find a crater and all her family perished. Her grandmother's house is in the same state. As a last resort she went to the home of her father's friend and found him dead from a heart attack although the house is standing, providing temporary shelter. Ruby must not only fend for herself but handle the mountain of official correspondence, reporting the dead, applying for a ration book, investigating her circumstances, etc., all while still a child and having no authority. Along the way she rescues and befriends others including a six-year-old boy, inviting them to stay with her as she starts up a business buying and selling second hand goods. Eventually a "spiv" shows up and interrupts Ruby's recovery efforts, while a Canadian photographer provides a romantic element. It might be assumed that the orphan of the title is Ruby, orphaned by war, but instead referred to young orphans recruited to steal. Modesty and clean language adds to the YA impression.

category: Fiction

Night of Power by Anar Ali

I expected this would be about the difficulty immigrants have in a new country, in this case an Indian-Ugandan family who fled Uganda and Idi Amin for Canada. Instead it was about family conflict, although living in a new culture only added to the pressure as mother, father, and son each have different dreams for their future. A heartbreaking story, well told.

>80 VivienneR: I have that same edition of After the Funeral! :)

>87 rabbitprincess: It's a great cover! A used bookstore opened here just as the pandemic and lockdown started - really bad timing! Anyway, she has just reopened so I was able to trade some books and I came home with this one.

>80 VivienneR: >87 rabbitprincess: >88 VivienneR: Me too! I love these old editions!

>89 MissBrangwen: But have you noticed how small the font is in older editions? They strain my old edition eyes. :)

>90 VivienneR: I agree. I'm very wary buying any printed book from before 1990 sight unseen because of excruciatingly small fonts.

>91 spiralsheep: Also, there is little space between lines making each page just a grey blur made worse if the paper is yellowing.

Just catching up now with your new thread, and I must say I love the opportunity to linger over those lovely The Wind in the Willows illustration a second time. :)

>93 mathgirl40: Thank you, Paulina. Nice to see you dropping by.

catgory: Series

Blood Line by Lynda La Plante

From the author of Prime Suspect this one features not Jane Tennison, but Anna Travis, a detective on the search for a young man who appears to be missing although not reported as such. I have enjoyed all of La Plante's novels and this one was no exception. Gritty, grisly, but a good mystery that kept me guessing right to the end.

>95 VivienneR: You added this one to my wishlist, Vivienne. Thank you, I think.

>96 NanaCC: Glad to hear it, Colleen! I think you'll enjoy Lynda La Plante. I imagine they are best if read in series order but I haven't done so because my library only has a few.

category: GenreCAT - short stories

Climb: stories of survival from rock, snow and ice by Clint Willis, editor

This is a wonderful collection of short stories, both true and fiction, about climbing. H.G. Wells' humorous short story "Little Mother Up the Morderberg" about a mother and son climbing expedition was the most entertaining. Some, including the fictional stories, are quite tame and do not induce the anticipated vertigo, while others recounting misadventure have a greater impact. Pete Sinclair's harrowing story is one that will stick in the memory.

>98 VivienneR: Book bullet! Sounds great - what a fun mix between fiction and non-fiction.

>99 AlisonY: The best part was that it didn't generate nightmares! :)

>98 VivienneR: That one sounds like it is better than most short story collections, and it sounds interesting. I may have to see if I can locate a copy.
ETA: Knox County Public Library owns a copy!

>101 thornton37814: Hi Lori! Glad you were able to locate a copy. Short stories are not a favourite for me but I enjoyed this collection. I hope you do too!

>102 VivienneR: Some short stories work better than others.

category: GeoKIT - Polar regions

Into the Abyss by Carol Shaben

Shaben gives an account of a plane crash where her father Larry, a politician, was one of the four survivors. The pilot also survived as well as two others, an RCMP officer and the prisoner he was accompanying. The prisoner became the life-saving hero of the crash and was deservedly exonerated.

I remember this disastrous crash well because another politician, Grant Notley, leader of the Alberta NDP party at the time, was also on board and was one of the six who did not survive. He was seen as a potential for sea change in Albertan politics if he managed to uproot the entrenched Conservative party. Eventually it was his daughter Rachel Notley who achieved the feat.

An interesting thing I learned was that a helicopter's fierce rotor speeds creates static electricity and the first rescuer let down on a long line receives a significant jolt. In this case it blasted the rescuer a foot in the air and left him immobile on his back for a minute.

Shaben's book is an engrossing account of the crash as well as the aftermath.

>104 VivienneR: I read that just a couple of months ago for the Kitastrophe-Air. It probably would have meant more to me if I had been a Canadian and more familiar with the politicians and small towns around the area.

>105 Tess_W: To be honest, Tess, I don't remember ever hearing anything about Larry Shaben, or any of the others on board. To me, the loss of Grant Notley was the major story. I can understand how it wouldn't be as significant to anyone outside Canada.

ETA: I lived in Alberta at the time.

category: BingoDOG - time word in title

Diamonds are forever by Ian Fleming

This one failed to entertain as much as others by Fleming. I found Tiffany, the Bond Girl, to be unaccountably annoying.

category: RandomCAT - Let's Play Monopoly

Lehrter Station by David Downing

One of the best espionage novels that I have read. John Russell is put into an impossible position of spying for the Americans and the Russians. Downing captures the devastation and chaos in Berlin in November 1945 as the city makes a lurching transition to peacetime. Although I was aware that the currency was worthless, I didn't realize that the new currency was cigarettes.

This was my first of Downing's series and probably not the best place to start but it was the only one available to me right now. However, I can now look forward to reading others. Recommended.

>108 VivienneR: Another series that I need to get back to! I have read the first two and liked them so much that I immediately purchased the rest of the series - now I just have to get back to the reading!

>109 DeltaQueen50: I'll be adding the series too! It's not often that a mystery or espionage novel is so interesting. I really enjoyed Lehrter Station and have already got Potsdam Station, the first one in the series.

category: BingoDOG - element in the title

The Way Through the Woods by Colin Dexter

Dexter - and Morse - can always be trusted to provide a clever, puzzling plot dotted with humour and misdirection. I have to admire Lewis for tolerating Morse with such good grace. Recommended.

This book took me ages to read because the print was so small and dense that I could only read it for short intervals at a time and yet I was enjoying it too much to abandon.

I’ve never read any of the Morse series, Vivienne. I just added the first book to my wishlist.

>112 NanaCC: Just watch out for the small print in the old paperbacks, Colleen. Otherwise, you will enjoy Morse.

>111 VivienneR: I have that one on the shelf, good to see you liked it. The last one I read was The Riddle of the Third Mile, which was excellent. I can't read a Morse without picturing the actor.

>114 mstrust: I haven't read that one, and the library doesn't own it either so I'll have to search further afield. John Thaw was a perfect casting choice for Morse. He captured the personality perfectly.

category: MysteryKIT - set in Europe

The Track of Sand by Andrea Camilleri

Camilleri is always entertaining. But this one might be the last straw for the long-suffering Livia. I don't know why Montalbano continues in the long-distance relationship, they don't even get along.

category: RandomCAT May - Let's Play Monopoly

Monopoly: the world's most famous game and how it got that way by Philip Orbanes

My son is a big fan of Monopoly (and most board games) and when I told him this month's RandomCATegory, he insisted that I borrow and read this book. I have to admit I didn't read it cover to cover but just browsed for interesting bits. As we all know the game is a reflection of capitalism and real life. One interesting snippet related how in March 1933 when US banks ran out of money and closed their doors workers couldn't cash their pay cheques. Firms like Parker Brothers, who had printing capability, printed scrip and most local businesses honoured the scrip presented to them by Parker employees. Real life imitating a game?

I've just noticed that today is my 14th Thingaversary! I've been keeping a list of the books I've bought recently in celebration of the event. I've also got four orders still to arrive, but this group will keep me going:

Leave it to Psmith by P.G. Wodehouse
Nine Lives to Murder by Marion Babson
The Time Traveller’s Guide to Medieval England by Ian Mortimer
Peas, Carrots and an Aston Martin by Lynn Hannah
A small country by Siân James
Magna Carta: the birth of liberty by Dan Jones
After the funeral by Agatha Christie
The Underpainter by Jane Urquhart
Potsdam Station by David Downing
Diary of a dead man on leave by David Downing
Omnibus: The night the gods smiled; Smoke detector; Death in the old country by Eric Wright
Children’s children by Jan Carson
Postcard stories by Jan Carson
Murder Offstage by L.B Hathaway
The Last Days of Pompeii by Edward Bulwer Lytton

Happy Thingaversary! What a great haul. I'm especially interested in the Lytton book, I've heard only good things about it.

Happy thingaversary! Nice haul of books there, with a few titles and authors I recognise

>118 VivienneR: Happy Thingaversary!

Well - Happy Thingaversary! Nice group of books.

Excellent haul! The Jan Carson postcards book reminded me that during lockdown last year she did the same thing, but got kids to draw the picture to go with the stories (I think my nephews did one of them - their dad (my BIL) is a friend of hers). I quite often saw them posted on facebook - in the end she got kids from several countries involved (although I think the majority were from NI).

Happy Thingaversary!

Happy Thingaversary!

Thank you everyone! It's been a terrific 14 years! I've loved meeting so many wonderful people - as well as reading books, of course.

>119 Tess_W: I hope to read Lytton's book soon. It is said to be a children's book which surprised me, but that's ok.

>123 Jackie_K: Jan Carson has a wonderful way of writing. I loved Malcolm Orange Disappears and was keeping an eye out for other books. I'm delighted that somebody I know, knows somebody who knows her. :) I'm especially looking forward to the postcards - ordered in April so it should be arriving any day now (takes a long time to arrive in Canada).

>118 VivienneR: Nice haul!

>127 thornton37814: Thanks, Lori.

category: AlphaKIT - May I & N

The Imposter Bride by Nancy Richler

Lily Azerov arrived in Montreal as a Polish refugee after WWII for an arranged marriage into a close-knit Jewish family. Following the birth of a baby girl, she left, without warning, leaving the baby. Richler's story is of the impact of this on the daughter and although there is some suspense it is subdued. The story is contemplative and pensive, qualities that, although pleasing in a way, will bring any story to a slow meander. Shortlisted for the Giller Prize which is what drew me to it.

Happy Thingaversary, Vivienne. That looks to be an excellent pile of books that you gathered to celebrate this milestone!

>130 DeltaQueen50: Thank you, Judy! I've added more since I posted that list proving that I don't need an anniversary to buy books!

Happy Thingaversary!

We never need an excuse to buy books, Vivienne, do we?!?!

>133 NanaCC: No excuse needed! In fact, I try to find excuses NOT to buy, I have enough for several lifetimes of reading.

category: Fiction

The End of the Affair by Graham Greene

What started as a good story about an affair became annoying when it turned into a tiresome discussion about the existence of god.

>135 VivienneR: That's a pain, because I was planning to read this soon. Greene goes on about God quite a bit though, so it's not a surprise.

>135 VivienneR:
>136 pamelad:

What she said!

>135 VivienneR: I think the only thing that saved this one for me was the audio version was read by Colin Firth. It was so depressing.

>135 VivienneR: "What started as a good story about an affair became annoying when it turned into a tiresome discussion about the existence of god."

Pithy and true.

I totally agree with >138 NanaCC:! Colin Firth made this a much better book ;)

>135 VivienneR: Sorry you didn't enjoy The End of the Affair! I loved it, but I don't mind the God stuff. It is quite prominent, for sure!

I quite enjoyed this Greene novel. It got a bit full of itself in places and was a little bleak and intense, but I found it interesting.

I thought it was interesting, but it felt like looking at something happening under glass - it never felt like it reached out and touched me.

>136 pamelad: Don't let me discourage you from reading it. I have well-established opinions on the god stuff.

>137 Tess_W: What I told Pamela. :)

>138 NanaCC: Yes, I can imagine how Colin Firth would have improved the book. And so much rain made it more depressing.

>139 spiralsheep: That was the aim. ;-)

>140 rabbitprincess: Sadly, mine was an old paperback (with small print!).

>141 christina_reads: I can imagine if you don't mind it, the religious theme would appeal.

>142 AlisonY: "It got a bit full of itself". Exactly. And it certainly was bleak.

>143 Helenliz: I agree, it was a close scrutiny. And yet I never felt that I got to know the characters or felt any empathy for them.

Not read yet, but i have Our Man in Havana by Greene with an introduction by Christopher Hitchens, one of my favourite authors. That should be the most interesting part of the book.

Oh dear, I am another who absolutely loved The End of the Affair. I listened to the audio as read by Colin Firth and I definitely believe that he improved the book. I think I must have tuned out much of the religious aspects and just took in Firth's voice!

>145 DeltaQueen50: Colin Firth would improve any book!

>145 DeltaQueen50:
Oh dear, I am another who absolutely loved The End of the Affair. I listened to the audio as read by Colin Firth and I definitely believe that he improved the book. I think I must have tuned out much of the religious aspects and just took in Firth's voice!

I resemble that comment

category - HistoryCAT Dynasties

The sisters who would be queen: the tragedy of Mary, Katherine, & Lady Jane Grey by Leanda De Lisle

This is a brilliant account of the three Grey sisters whose proximity to the throne endangered their lives. They were all granddaughters of Henry VIII's sister Mary giving them a claim on the crown. Lady Jane Grey, the most well-known, was named by the young King Edward before he died as his successor ignoring his father's wishes. Following a general outcry, Henry's choice of successor, his daughter Mary, prevailed. Jane, her new husband, Guildford Dudley, and her father, were all beheaded after nine days she spent as queen.

The middle sister, Katherine Grey married secretly, infuriating Queen Elizabeth. Having borne two sons she provided a threat to the childless Elizabeth when male heirs were thin on the ground. She was held in the Tower until her death. Like her sister, Mary also married secretly but unlike Katherine, she took care to have the marriage witnessed. However, the pair were not permitted to stay together and Mary spent the rest of her days in house arrest, where she was thought to have starved herself to death.

De Lisle told an intriguing and gripping story, most of it not covered in other books I have read about the Tudors. I'm already on the lookout for more by this author. Terrific stuff!

I won't be able to finish anything else that I'm currently reading so I'm calling it a month.

May Summary

Read this month: 15
Year to date: 75

The Best 4 - 5 stars:
62. After the Funeral by Agatha Christie
65. Blood Line by Lynda La Plante
66. Climb: stories of survival from rock, snow and ice by Clint Willis
67. Into the Abyss by Carol Shaben
69. Lehrter Station by David Downing
70. The way through the woods by Colin Dexter
71. The Track of Sand by Andrea Camilleri
75. The sisters who would be queen: the tragedy of Mary, Katherine, & Lady Jane Grey by Leanda De Lisle ❤️

The Rest 3 - 3.5 stars:
63. The Orphan Thief by Glynis Peters
64. Night of Power by Anar Ali
68. Diamonds are forever by Ian Fleming
72. Monopoly: the world's most famous game and how it got that way by Philip Orbanes
73. The Imposter Bride by Nancy Richler

Disappointments:
61. The Au Pair by Emma Rous
74. The End of the Affair by Graham Greene

That's a long list of great reads!

>148 VivienneR: When I was a child I used to feel sorry for the Grey sisters. Then I grew up and realised they were fools who would have been disastrous queens. It was largely luck England inherited Elizabeth I rather than her various useless or malignant relatives.

Congratulations on your May reading! :-)

>148 VivienneR: That book looks very interesting, Vivienne. Onto the wishlist...

>148 VivienneR: Oh, interesting. I loved the movie, Lady Jane, when I was a teenager. And I'm finishing up Hilary Mantel's Cromwell trilogy. That might be a good follow-up.

When I was twenty and visited the Tower of London on a quiet day, the guard let me behind the rope to see where Guildford Dudley had carved Jane's initials into the stone.

>150 MissWatson: Yes, a good month, most were great reads.

>151 spiralsheep: I felt sorry for them too, especially Jane and Guildford Dudley. After reading de Lisle's book most of my sympathy goes to the youngest sister, Mary, who was unwanted by everybody. You are right, England was fortunate to have managed to keep Elizabeth as an option.

>152 NanaCC: Good choice!

>153 RidgewayGirl: It would make a very good follow up to Mantel. It was easy to follow and fascinating. I've seen a production on tv about Lady Jane, but I don't know if it was a movie or play. It was a long time ago but has stuck in my mind.

What a great story about your visit to the Tower of London! An experience like that makes it all real.

>154 VivienneR:
The movie that I own (Lady Jane, 1986) stars a young Helena Bonham-Carter. I enjoyed it very much. I learned about her when I was in elementary school and found a novel called, I think, The Nine Days Queen. I'll have to check out this one!

>155 Nickelini: That's the movie I loved. Cary Elwes as Guildford Dudley.

>155 Nickelini: I don't know if that's the one I saw. The date would be about right but I don't remember Helena Bonham-Carter being in it and I'm sure that's one detail I'd remember.

>156 RidgewayGirl: I'll keep an eye out for that movie.

Pandemic by Daniel Kalla

I've been trying to read this for the last week but just can't get interested enough to get past the halfway mark. Kalla is an ER physician in Vancouver and although his abundant scientific details may be reliable, the characters are cliché and the story slow-moving.

>158 VivienneR: I'm currently reading one of his -- We All Fall Down, which is about the plague. So far it's pretty good, but I'm only 1/4 of the way in. I think Pandemic was one of his earlier books.

>159 Nickelini: Glad to hear that, it's encouraging. I've read one of his books and enjoyed it so didn't expect this disappointment. Could be just wrong book, wrong time. However, it won't put me off reading more by Kalla.

>160 VivienneR:
I just discovered him earlier this year, and now I own his last 3 books, so I hope he's not a disappointment. I just couldn't resist any of them - the descriptions sounded so on point

>161 Nickelini: I have one more of Kalla's books on the tbr shelf - The Last High. The best part of his work is that I know I can trust any scientific or medical information he uses. I'll watch for your reviews.

category: HistoryCAT - June - War

The Second World War: The Grand Alliance by Winston S. Churchill

Churchill continues with his accurate account of the events of the war, with exceptional detail. However, it's his personal touch that is the most engaging, he neither claims glory for himself nor avoids his own faux pas. And, needless to say, his use of language and ability to inject light humour is impeccable. Fascinating.

category: GeoCAT Africa

The Tomorrow-Tamer and other stories by Margaret Laurence

Published in 1963, this is a collection of stories written in the 1950s and early 1960s, at a time when nations in Africa were gaining independence. Laurence was not as concerned with political change as she was with the culture and people she grew to admire while living in western Africa 1950-57. The stories were published individually in literary journals, and all of them are superb. My personal favourites are "The Perfume Sea" and "The Rain Child".

Cultural appropriation in fiction was not yet a common topic. Laurence herself admitted "I actually wonder how I ever had the nerve to attempt to go into the mind of an African man, and I suppose if I'd really known how difficult was the job I was attempting, I would never have tried it. I am not at all sorry I tried it, and in fact I believe from various comments made by African reviewers that at least some parts of the African chapters have a certain authenticity. But not, perhaps, as much as I once believed." Even with this acknowledgement it must be noted that all the stories show respect and honour for the people and are an example of Laurence's outstanding ability as a writer.

category: BingoDOG less than 200 pages

Postcard Stories 2 by Jan Carson illustrated by Benjamin Phillips

An entrancing, delightful collection of stories that can fit on a postcard. Carson started writing these innovative stories when she hit a writer's block. Now at over 800 she has published two small books of the best. The originals were on postcards mailed to friends. Different, funny, with a humour born in Northern Ireland, what else would you expect from the author of Malcolm Orange Disappears?

I can't remember who mentioned these books, but I have to thank you. I suspect it might have been HelenLiz.

category: RandomCAT: Everything old is new again

Macbeth: a novel by A.J. Hartley & David Hewson

Not an adaptation of the play, instead Hartley and Hewson have expanded the storyline as a novel, filling in the plot with transitional scenes and offstage scenes as well as altering the language to allow for easier reading than the play. It gives a new perspective on the Macbeths. Hewson's afterword is interesting and informative and explains which parts of the story coincides with Shakespeare's work and with history. It was written exclusively for audio and was brilliantly narrated by Alan Cumming. An inspired work.

>166 VivienneR: I loved this. I also loved their Hamlet, Prince of Denmark narrated by Richard Armitage. Both so clever.

>167 NanaCC: My, you were fast!! I just posted a few minutes ago.

Thanks for the recommendation, I will add Hamlet to the wishlist. They did a terrific job with Macbeth.

>168 VivienneR: I still have a Romeo and Juliet version. I’ll have to scroll through my audiobooks to find it.

>169 NanaCC: I'd like Romeo and Juliet even more..

>166 VivienneR: >167 NanaCC: >169 NanaCC: Ooh! A triple hit for me! I’ll definitely be checking out the audio editions :-)

>171 Tanya-dogearedcopy: I agree! Definitely audio editions.

That does sound interesting. And who can resist listening to Richard Armitage... consider multiple bullets to have been taken.

>165 VivienneR: Noting, noting! I've not read anything by Jan Carson yet, but she's popping up at the Belfast Book festival this week online. You've encouraged me to add her to my wish list. I'm about to start a collection of short stories by a new NI writer - looking forward to seeing if it lives up the hype.

>174 AlisonY: Oh, I'm so glad! They are little gems and you will love them. At the time I ordered my copy I didn't realize there were two in the series (I got the second one). Another order is now in the works.

I loved Malcolm Orange Disappears too, a wonderfully creative story.

ETA: Thanks for the heads-up about the Belfast Book Festival. I'll check it out.

>173 Helenliz: The audiobook authors/producers certainly chose the best narrators! I can't think of a better choice than Alan Cummings for Macbeth. And I'm sure the Vicar of Dibley will be swooning over Richard Armitage. :)

category: MysteryKIT - Golden Age

The Shakespeare Murders by A.G. Macdonell

One of the best Golden Age mysteries that I've read. An intriguing plot, mostly good characterization especially the amateur sleuth who was particularly likeable, and an exciting, satisfying finish. The puzzle that concealed the treasure worth a million pounds was a clever one, no wonder it hadn't been solved in a hundred years.

Vivienne, Jan Carson is part of a free session tomorrow online as part of the Belfast Book Festival. Here's the link in case it's of interest:

https://belfastbookfestival.com/whats-on/magical-realism-in-modern-literature

>177 VivienneR: You’ve added this one to my wishlist, Vivienne.

>178 AlisonY: Thank you for the link, Alison. She's a writer to watch. I'm reading an Anna Burns book right now. Another one to watch.

>179 NanaCC: I had a look for more but that's the only one that interested me.

category: BingoDOG from the Southern Hemisphere

The Song Dog by James McClure

The first of the Kramer & Zondi series was published in 1971, twenty years later McClure introduced Zondi, the Zulu detective, in this "prequel". The setting is South Africa during Apartheid and if you can tolerate the predictable racism, our black and white detectives, Zondi and Kramer, work well together and show the beginnings of their respect for each other. Using their individual talents they solve the grisly murder case but McClure's novel offers more than just a mystery story, but a glimpse of Apartheid in the old South Africa. A light touch of humour, well-developed characters, and a distinct sense of time and place makes this first-class entertainment.

category: Celtic

Little Constructions by Anna Burns

Wildly inventive yet in many scenes she hits the realistic spot. It's not a quick read in part because it's so tricky to keep track of the characters, particularly the Doe family who all have similar names: John, Johnjoe, Jetty, Jotty, Janet and even JanineJuliaJoshuatine. As readers of Milkman can attest, Burns' writing is eccentric but not to be missed.

category: Series

The Best Man to Die by Ruth Rendell

Even though this was published in 1969 and the fourth in the series, it still feels dated. That Wexford is scared of elevators gives an indication of the early stage of their common use. And he is informed by his daughter that people no longer wait to have toothache before visiting the dentist but go for regular checkups, not a new practice but certainly a novel idea for Wexford. An enjoyable mystery but workaday, not great. Rendell improved in later works.

>182 VivienneR: I loved Milkman, so I’m adding this to my wishlist. I listened to Milkman, so wondering if that’s the way to go with this one.

>184 NanaCC: This is funny, and very different from Milkman but has Burns' voice if you know what I mean. I read both in print so I can't advise. I got an audio copy of Milkman on your recommendation, which I'll leave for a while.

>182 VivienneR: I liked Milkman so have added this to the wish list. Thank you for the warning about the names. I often wish I'd made a list of characters at the start, and this time I will, as long as I remember. People seem divided about the book on LT.

>186 pamelad: I found it took longer to read and not just because of the names. I had to pay more attention and yet it's an attention-getter, especially the dramatic opening. Maybe Colleen's suggestion of audio at >184 NanaCC: is the best way to read this book. I hope you enjoy it in whatever format when you get around to it.

category: BingoDOG - light or dark in title

A Shot in the Dark by Lynne Truss

Truss is better known as the author of the instructional and witty Eats, shoots, and leaves: the zero tolerance approach to punctuation but this farce, a mystery set in Brighton in the 1950s, is even funnier. Details are directly from a British seaside resort of the fifties, from the coin-operated Laughing Policeman in the penny arcade to a nice cup of Ovaltine, and all the popular culture of the day. Literature it is not, but it made me laugh out loud and took me back to the seaside holidays of my youth - except for the murders, of course.

>188 VivienneR: I'm not old enough to remember the 1950s but can confirm the coin operated laughing policeman was still around in the 1980s. :D

I also remember Brighton as a child, again not in the 50's. It was an annual treat to go to the Ice show. I will keep an eye out for that one.

>188 VivienneR: This sounds like fun, Vivienne.. onto the wishlist.

>189 spiralsheep:, >190 Helenliz:, & >191 NanaCC: I should have mentioned that my copy was an audiobook and listening enhanced the Monty-Python-like quality, although I'm sure it's just as funny in print.

>192 VivienneR: LOL, Your first review made the book sound interesting; but your last comment made it sound irresistible! Heading over to put it on my listening wishlist now! 🙂🎧

>193 Tanya-dogearedcopy: The first comment was made in a hurry and would have included the later comment if I had thought about it more. Glad you put the two together!

>182 VivienneR: I still haven't read Milkman. I've got to give Anna Burns a go one of these days,

>195 AlisonY: Yes, you must give Burns a try. I'd be interested in hearing your opinion. I planned to re-read Milkman sometime soon but on Colleen's (NanaCC) recommendation I got an audio version. Looking forward to it.

category: Series

Death of a Gossip & Death of a Cad by M.C. Beaton

This is a reissue of Beaton's first two books in the Hamish Macbeth series. A bit of fun in the Scottish highlands, completely unrealistic. The series was formulaic, although stories got a tad better than these two in later episodes.

>197 VivienneR: I loved the first tv series of Hamish MacBeth so much! Unfortunately, this means I can never read the books because they're different. :D

>198 spiralsheep: Yes, very different but Hamish is just as cute in both!

category: Celtic

Tower by Ken Bruen & Reed Farrel Coleman

This hardboiled writing collaboration of Bruen and Coleman tells the stories of two young men who are lifelong friends and on the way to a life of crime in NYC, one of Irish descent and the other Jewish. Todd gets an offer he can't refuse, an undercover job with the police, while Nick stays with his old ways working for crime boss Boyle and his goon, Griffin. Nick's story is told by Bruen and Todd's by Coleman, effectively giving the characters very separate personalities. I'm a fan of Bruen's distinctive, spare writing style and was happy to see that Coleman's style was compatible, although I would have been happier if the entire book had been written in Bruen's hand.

category: AlphaKIT C & D

Double or Die by Charlie Higson

Set in between the wars while the young James Bond was a student at Eton. A professor is missing and a letter holding baffling clues to his captor is found. It's an exciting tale full of action and the reader can see the beginnings of the adult Bond emerging.

category: Faraway Places - GeoKIT Oceania

Bliss and other stories by Katherine Mansfield

I have two copies of this title, one print and the other an ebook. Strangely each has different stories, some of which I've read previously. This time I read some for the first time and re-read others. Two I liked best were Bliss and The Garden Party.

category: GenreCAT - historical fiction

Pompeii by Robert Harris

A blend of known facts and fiction about the eruption of Vesuvius that buried Pompeii in 79AD. The story features Attilius, an unpopular aquarius (water engineer) who has found sulphur in the aqueducts, the first indication of what was to come. With the help of Pliny the Elder he travels to Pompeii to investigate. Where Harris is most impressive is in his ability to give the reader a glimpse into what was for an entire city their last days before the catastrophe. We all know what the ending will reveal yet Harris keeps the reader hooked right to the last page. Highly recommended.

>203 VivienneR: - My brother recommended this to me a few years ago and although I knew the basic story of Pompeii, I really enjoyed this story. Your comments are exactly right.

I hope the heatwave is not knocking you about too much and that there are no bushfires. It was a surprise to learn that you were expecting a 44C day and worrying about fires, because that sounds very much like Australia and I'd always thought Canada was much colder. Live and learn!

>204 dudes22: Your brother gives good recommendations! I read it a few years ago but with more details coming out about the excavation in Pompeii I decided it was time for a re-read. Glad you enjoyed it, Harris is one of my favourite writers.

>205 pamelad: That's a common misunderstanding, Pam. When my Australian friend visited she thought it was weird that we could have both hot and cold weather. We get cold winters but summer is generally hot in most places. It's been explained that this year's extreme heat is one of the results of climate change so will happen more often in the future. In the 15 years I've lived in this town this is the hottest I've experienced. There was one day when we had 42C but that was later in summer. As BC is mostly forest, you can imagine the risk.

category: AlphaKIT All year: Z

Zero Avenue by Dietrich Kalteis

Zero Avenue is an infamous address in British Columbia on the border between Canada and the US, and was a tempting route for moving pot. This is a hardboiled crime novel set in the punk music and marijuana scene of Vancouver in the 1970s and the writing style matches that atmosphere. I enjoyed all the local mentions and the crimes being committed against those already breaking the law. The bald, brutal, fast tempo writing is masterly, but I found the story less appealing.

>207 VivienneR: I'm hoping hard that Canada and the entire west coast don't get hammered by wildfires. I was remembering the giant Ft. MacMurray fire earlier today.

>209 RidgewayGirl:
In my corner of Vancouver we peaked at 37C today, which my house isn't built for (1913 Craftsman wood house with sharply peaked roof, and no air conditioning . . . but lots of good fans! And we have a basement, which is a cool place to hang out). My husband was driving further inland and it was 41C. It's supposed to get hotter the next 2 days. I've never heard the word "unprecedented" so many times in a day. Sure, we get 30C most summers, and sometimes more, but this is crazy, especially this early in the summer.

My brother worked on summer wildfires in the 70s, so I guess we've always had them (since British Columbia is basically a massive forest), but they've become so much worse the last 10 years. It just doesn't make the world news because Canada rarely does. But September in Vancouver used to be magical 3 out of 4 years, and now there's a chance it's wildfire smoke season. My favourite month turning into my worst month.

>205 pamelad: It was a surprise to learn that you were expecting a 44C day and worrying about fires, because that sounds very much like Australia and I'd always thought Canada was much colder. Live and learn!

We have terrible bushfires every year, but they don't make the world news. And they aren't bush, they are forests of lovely pine and fir trees. It's summer here, so yes, we get hot too, but 44C is a bit much. Somehow Canada has reputation of everyone living in igloos all year long. Some parts of Canada don't even get cold in winter -- like where I live has climate similar to London . . . which, to be fair, might be cold for an Australian.

>211 Nickelini: We call our forests "the bush" and they're beautiful too - eucalypt forests, beeches, mountain ash. The 2009 fires were much worse than anything we'd ever experienced and the people who stayed to protect their houses had no chance. The 2019-20 fires were far worse, but the loss of life was much less because people evacuated. I very much hope that British Columbia survives this fire season with minimal damage and no lives lost.

I live a little farther down South than Vancouver but close along the same longitude in Southern Oregon. We too, are in for a 44C/111F day, possibly going up to 46C/115F and, fire season has officially started a touch early this year. Last year, the Alameda fire came within blocks of our house and it was an obscene week of destruction all around us. 10,000+ people were displaced, including friends and colleagues and, to be honest the area still hasn’t recovered. We were lucky in that only one person lost their life; but I’m not so sure how well we’ll be able to handle it all if we’re hit again despite new communication systems and plans having been initiated. All my family can do is prepare our bug out bags. To end on a lighter note, my personal bug out bag includes an old but still working ereader and a couple of mass market paperbacks!

>209 RidgewayGirl: The Fort MacMurray fire was heartbreaking. So much lost. We had a fire yesterday near a town in central BC but it was quickly contained. One house was lost. There has been so little rain this year everything is tinder dry. The weather office reported that there are no thunderstorms in the forecast so if a fire happens it will be human-caused.

>210 Nickelini: I open windows at night, waiting until the outside temperature is lower than inside, which gets later every night. I might be having more midnight reading sessions while I wait. It was odd looking at the weather forecast and seeing a full week in the 40s (up to 44). As the cooler temps from the coast is travelling east, it won't reach us out here in the Kootenays until the end of the week after which it might get as cool as 37C! It will ensure a hot birthday for me (and RidgewayGirl) on the 4th of July.

As you say "BC is basically a massive forest" - a perfect description. When I look around I am reminded of green velvet while in reality it is gigantic trees, very close together.

>212 pamelad: The fires of 2009 were tragic. BC residents don't have a choice to stay in place to protect their property, a task that would be impossible.

>213 Tanya-dogearedcopy: I remember the Alameda fire. It must have been alarming to be so close. I have friends California who also experienced wildfire just across the highway from their house. We were able to see fire on the side of the mountain beside us and were worried for our son's property on the other side of the hill. Fortunately that was at the end of summer and cooler weather arrived in time. Great idea to have a bugout bag! Keep it handy and I hope it is never needed!

More on the heatwave: the hottest temperature ever recorded in Canada was today in British Columbia in the town of Lytton where it was 46.1C (115F). And, it's to get hotter each day until Wednesday.

>215 VivienneR: That’s awful, Vivienne. Stay safe.

>215 VivienneR: That is frightening, an extreme fire risk. It's dry and surrounded by forest?

>216 NanaCC: Thank you, Colleen. I'll be staying indoors.

>217 pamelad: The risk of fire is always frightening. This is what most of British Columbia looks like:

Wow. And Vivienne - your DNA is more used to 46 degrees F than C!!

This is the worse heat wave that I can remember! I have been missing my house as it was easier to keep cool that this apartment. We had a temp. of over 40 on our deck yesterday, and the inside felt even warmer. Stay as cool as you can, Vivienne.

Stay as cool as you can, Vivienne. I'm keeping you, and the whole Pacific Northwest in my thoughts throughout this thing.

>219 AlisonY: You're right, Alison! I'm not a sun-worshipper, I'm much more at home when it's 46F.

>220 DeltaQueen50: I moved from an apartment on Vancouver Island to this house and I agree, even in that more temperate climate, the apartment was blistering on a sunny day. My house stays much cooler. Hoping you too can weather (pardon the pun) the heatwave. I took a photo of my outdoor thermometer yesterday at just a shade over 42C. To be hotter for the next three days.

>221 RidgewayGirl: Thanks, Kay. And yes, it's not just BC but Alberta and south of the border in Washington and Oregon that's suffering too.

category: GeoKIT - North America

Alone in the Wild by Kelley Armstrong

I didn't realize this was part of a series and would have been better starting at the beginning. The setting is a small hidden community in the Yukon, off the grid, and protected from detection. People there seek sanctuary for various reasons. When Detective Casey Duncan and her boyfriend, Sheriff Eric Dalton, enjoy a weekend camping trip Casey found a murdered woman holding a very young baby, still alive. They begin a search for the family of the baby. I've enjoyed other books by Armstrong but this one didn't live up to expectations, probably because I jumped in at at the fifth book in the series.

Oh my goodness, Vivienne, those temperatures are eye-watering! Stay safe (that seems such a trite thing to say, but you know what I mean). Hoping and praying for no horrific fires.

>224 Jackie_K: Thanks, Jackie. "Eye-watering" is right! When anyone comes to the door I feel stupid as I shoot outside closing doors behind me. That works to keep the heat out but it still feels more bad-mannered than the lockdown un-welcomes. I'm pretty sure there are more than the usual fire-watchers on the lookout.

category: Faraway Places & GeoKIT Central & South America

Miguel Street by V.S. Naipaul

The street in Port of Spain, Trinidad, is viewed by a fatherless boy who looks up to all the eccentric men on the street where he lives, although some are not much more than boys themselves. The book is generally viewed as witty but I found many of the stories to be quite sad. Somehow, by learning more of his background, this has put other books I've read by Naipaul, as well as his parsimonious ways, in better perspective.

I won't get any books completed before the end of the month tomorrow so I'm finishing June here.

June Summary ❤️

Read this month: 17
Year to date: 92

The Best 4 - 5 stars:
The Second World War: The Grand Alliance by Winston S. Churchill ❤️
The Tomorrow-Tamer and other stories by Margaret Laurence
Postcard Stories 2 by Jan Carson illustrated by Benjamin Phillips
Macbeth: a novel by A.J. Hartley & David Hewson
The Shakespeare Murders by A.G. Macdonell
The Song Dog by James McClure
Little Constructions by Anna Burns
Tower by Ken Bruen & Reed Farrel Coleman
Double or Die by Charlie Higson
Pompeii by Robert Harris

The Rest 3 - 3.5 stars:
The Best Man to Die by Ruth Rendell
A Shot in the Dark by Lynne Truss
Death of a Gossip & Death of a Cad by M.C. Beaton
Bliss and other stories by Katherine Mansfield
Zero Avenue by Dietrich Kalteis
Alone in the Wild by Kelley Armstrong
Miguel Street by V.S. Naipaul

I hope you can join me at the continuation at https://www.librarything.com/topic/333310

>212 pamelad: We call our forests "the bush" and they're beautiful too - eucalypt forests, beeches, mountain ash

Yes, very beautiful! I lived in NSW for a year in the 80s, and one of my favourite spots was Fitzroy Falls, where the forest seemed to go on forever.

After the 2019-2020 fires, there were many news stories about how the koala population might not recover. Then COVID hit and I didn't hear about that again. Do you know how the koalas are doing?

>227 VivienneR: Wow! 17 books. Impressive.

>229 Nickelini: There are breeding programs, but the fate of the koala population will depend on the restoration and protection of the koala habitat, which is a political issue, with the current NSW government supporting mining and logging. We await a plan for the protection of native species.

>231 pamelad: which is a political issue Grrrr! Help for koalas needs to be outside of politics. Grrrrrr

>232 Nickelini: Too true.

>230 Nickelini: Thank you, but some of them were quite short.

>231 pamelad: Isn't that always the case, mining, logging etc. will always come first.