NanaCC (Colleen) Reading in 2023

Hi, I’m Colleen. Welcome to my 2023 thread.

I will post my current reading here. My only goal is to try to keep up this year. I was posting what I read last year, but failed when it came to visiting your threads. I’ll try to change that. I consider my posts as comments about the books I’ve read, rather than reviews. If I try to write real reviews, I wind up spending less time reading than I’d like.

I enjoy listening to audio books in addition to reading paper books. Last year I read 18 paper or kindle books, and 19 audio books. 27 of them were written by women, and 7 of the authors were new to me. The largest percentage were mysteries, and that probably won’t change. They are my comfort reads, and with the way of the world these days, I think I will continue to need that.

Happy reading everyone. I look forward to your suggestions to add to my wishlist. My thread from 2022 is https://www.librarything.com/topic/338206#n8012866

CURRENTLY READING:

The Vanishing Box by Elly Griffiths
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe

Currently Listening:

A Clubbable Woman by Reginald Hill, narrated by Brian Glover
The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother by James McBride, narrated by JD Jackson, Susan Denaker
The Last Devil To Die by Richard Osman, narrated by Fiona Shaw

Books Read First Half 2023

Print/Kindle

1- The Hangman by Louise Penny
2- Hunting Shadows by Charles Todd
3- Smoke and Mirrors by Elly Griffiths
4- The Blood Card by Elly Griffiths
5- The Kill Artist by Daniel Silva
6- Dinosaurs: A Novel by Lydia Millet

Audio

1- A World of Curiosities: A Novel by Louise Penny,
narrated by Robert Bathurst
2- The Diamond Eye: A Novel By Kate Quinn,
narrated by Saskia Maarleveld
3- The Silver Swan by Benjamin Black, narrated by Timothy Dalton
4- When maidens mourn a Sebastian St. Cyr mystery by C. S. Harris, narrated by Davina Porter
5- A Killing of Innocents: Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James Novels, Book 19 by Deborah Crombie, narrated by Gerard Doyle
6- The Lincoln Highway: A Novel by Amor Towles, narrated by Edoardo Ballerini, Marin Ireland, and Dion Graham
7- A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles, narrated by Nicholas Guy Smith
8- Mrs. Polifax on the China Station by Dorothy Gilman, narrated by Barbara Rosenblat
9- Peril in Paris by Rhys Bowen, narrated by Jasmine Blackborow
10- The Last Remains by Elly Griffiths, narrated by Jane MacDowell
11- The Good Turn by Dervla McTiernan, narrated by Aoife McMahon

Stats

Books Read Total = 17
Print/Kindle = 6; Audio = 11; Women authors = 12; New to me authors = 3

Books Read Second Half 2023

Print/Kindle

Audio

12- Broken Ground by Val McDermid, narrated by Kathleen McCarron
13- Still Life by Val McDermid, narrated by Kathleen McCarron
14- A Heart Full of Headstones by Ian Rankin’s, narrated by James Macpherson

Stats

Books Read Total = 20
Print/Kindle = 6; Audio = 14; Women authors = 14; New to me authors = 3

Happy New Year. I actually started this book on Christmas Eve, on my drive down to Connecticut. It was a fun way to end 2022 and begin 2023.

1. A World of Curiosities: A Novel by Louise Penny, narrated by Robert Bathurst

This is the 18th book in the Inspector Gamache series. The book starts with flashbacks to the early careers of Armand Gamache and Jean-Guy Beauvoir, as well as an old case where they met. Fans of this series will not be disappointed. This one had so much to enjoy. If you haven’t read anything in this series, I think starting at the beginning with Still Life is the way to go. The recurring characters are so well developed. As you can tell, I enjoyed it.

Will stop by on occasion, Colleen, to see what you are reading!

>4 NanaCC: have you seen the new Three Pines series?

Hi Colleen, and happy new year!

I started the Gamache series last year and read the second book in the end of 2022. I loved it and am looking forward to continuing that series. Like you, I am all in for the comfort reads!

Oh, and I am currently listening to Where The Sky Begins by Rhys Bowen, which I discovered in your last thread. I am enjoying it!

Happy reading in 2023!

>5 avaland: Hi, Lois. I’ll be doing the same.

>6 dianeham: Hi, Diane. I’ve seen the first four episodes. No one looks the way I pictured them as I was reading, but that’s ok. What do you think?

>7 MissBrangwen: Hi, Mirjam. I love the Gamache series, and I’m glad you are enjoying it. Rhys Bowen has several stand alone novels that I’ve enjoyed. They are light reading, but entertaining. Most are related to WII in some way. She also has the Her Royal Spyness series, which is silly but fun.

Happy New Year, Colleen. I am waiting for my turn with the new Penny. I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed it. I hope 2023 is a good year for you.

Dropped my star on your thread, Colleen. Happy reading in 2023!

>9 BLBera: Hi, Beth. Happy New Year to you, as well. I’m sure you’ll enjoy the new Penny. I’ll watch for your comments.

>10 laytonwoman3rd: Hi, Linda. I’ll star your thread too. I haven’t checked for my 75 Club friends yet. I fell way behind my usual reading numbers last year, but I did enjoy everything that I read.

Happy New Year, Colleen! I'm waiting for the new Penny, and getting closer to the #1 spot in the library queue. I see you're reading her novella, The Hangman. I haven't read that one but understand it formed part of the story in the last 2 episodes of Three Pines (on Amazon Prime). Have you watched the series?

>12 lauralkeet: I’ve watched four episodes of Three Pines, Laura. I’m not sure how many there are. I said upthread that none of the actors match my imagination, but that hasn’t turned me off. I was at my daughter Chris’ last week for Christmas through New Year, so didn’t get any further. I saw on your thread a reminder that there is a Karen Pirie series. I love the books, so I will need to look for that. Have you watched the Slow Horses series (I can’t remember if you have been reading the books)? I haven’t started the second season, but it’s on my to do list.

I read What Child is This by Rhys Bowen last December. It was my first Kindle single.

>14 labfs39: I haven’t read that one, Lisa. Did you enjoy it? I think her other stand alones that I’ve read are The Tuscan Child, In Farleigh Field, and The Victory Garden. I think I find them a good choice for me when I don’t have time to get into anything more complex.

>13 NanaCC: Hi Colleen, the first season of Three Pines is 6 episodes, so you have two left. I am hoping for a second season because I really like Alfred Molina as Gamache, and I like the way they have incorporated indigenous people and themes.

I haven't seen Slow Horses. I think it's on AppleTV+ right? That's one service we don't have.

>16 lauralkeet: I’m enjoying Three Pines, and agree about the inclusion, Laura. And yes, Slow Horses is on Apple TV.

I enjoyed the Three Pines series - I thought they did a good job of casting even though the characters didn't necessarily match my idea of them.

>18 BLBera: I’ve enjoyed the episodes I’ve watched so far, Beth. In particular, I like Alfred Molina. He isn’t anything like my imaginary Gamache, but he fits the bill just fine. 😄

Just setting down my cushion Colleen, somehow I missed last years thread.

I hope Chris is well. I am about to start a trilogy she gifted me in 2013. The Cairo Trilogy. It's taken me a while to get to it, but Paul Cranswick's Africa Challenge on the 75ers group has given me the excuse.

>20 Caroline_McElwee: Hello, Caroline. Last year’s thread was a bit slim, so quite easy to miss. 😄

Chris says that she hopes you are well too, and that you enjoy the book. She thought it was very good.

Just stopping by to say Happy New Year, Colleen. I'll be following.

Nice to see you here, Dan. Happy New Year!

Hi Colleen, I thought I'd already stopped by but apparently not. Looking forward to following along with your reading this year again.

>24 AlisonY: Hi, Alison. It’s so busy right now, it’s hard to keep up.

2. The Hangman by Louise Penny

This novella is only 80+ pages long, and a very different writing style from her other books. The sentences are short, very few of the usual characters are present, and it lacks the emotion of the other books. I found out from several reviews, that Penny wrote The Hangman for the Canadian Office of Literacy and Essential Skill. There is a series of these books especially written for adult literacy learners by various Canadian authors. The aim was to provide books for adults with reading difficulties. The mystery itself is good. But you can definitely skip this one.

>26 NanaCC: That's interesting. I wondered why I had never heard this book mentioned as part of the series. Thanks for doing this valuable research, Colleen. 😃

>27 lauralkeet: LOL, Laura. As I was reading it, I kept thinking that maybe she had written this before she wrote the series. It was so different from her writing style. Now I need to watch those last two episodes of Three Pines to see how they incorporated it into the storyline.

>28 NanaCC: I'll be interested to learn the connection, Colleen. I have a guess but of course I haven't read the book.

Greetings! Found your thread. Hope you're enjoying Say Nothing. My wife and I both read it and thought it was an excellent history.

>29 lauralkeet: I will probably watch this weekend, Laura. I’ll report back.

>30 rocketjk: I’m sure I will enjoy it, Jerry. i haven’t started it yet. I planned on getting to it this weekend. My daughter gave me the book for Christmas a couple of years ago, and for some reason it got misplaced during my move to MA from NJ. I found it not too long ago, and added it to my read soon pile.

Hi Colleen and welcome back! Did you ever get around to watching the Slow Horses series on Apple TV. It was very good, and I was excited to see that Season 2 has just been issued.

>32 arubabookwoman: Hi Deborah. I did watch the first season. I watched the first episode of season 2 with my daughter and family over Christmas, but I need to get back to it. The casting is great.

Dropping by to wish you a happy new year! Looking forward to following along with your reading this year.

Happy New Year Colleen
I read Louise Penny for a dozen titles or so and finally stopped because of the repetition from previous titles. I did read All the Devils Are Here at the urging of a friend who had agreed about the repetition in previous books. It is disappointing to hear that is a feature of the most recent title

>34 VivienneR: Happy to see you, Vivienne. I’ll be checking in on your thread too.

>35 pmarshall: Hi, Penny. Are you talking about the flashbacks? They weren’t anything from previous books. They were from a time prior to any of the previous books, and gave insight into the beginning of Gamache’s career. I enjoyed the most recent one more than the one just before it.

>29 lauralkeet: I finished watching Three Pines tonight, Laura. There were eight episodes in all. The last two were called The Hangman. They pretty much followed the book, although all the usual characters were present, whereas the book only included Mona and Gabri in addition to Gamache and Beauvoir.they also wrapped up the murder of the girl from the indigenous community.

>36 NanaCC: Hi Colleen. Thanks for the explanation. I knew the indigenous storyline was new (not in the books), and it makes sense that the mystery in those two episodes was drawn from the book (after all, it involves death by hanging so the clue is in the title). It's interesting that they brought in more of the usual characters. They did something similar with the episodes set at the luxury hotel. In the TV series, Peter's family was at the center of the story. In the book, it was an entirely different family and the Three Pines villagers barely made an appearance.

With each of the 2-episode blocks I had fun refreshing my memory of the original text to see how they adapted it.

>37 lauralkeet: One of these days I may go back and listen to them again. I have most on audio. There were a few I read back to back on kindle when we were in Maine for a month. I probably got those from the library. But, it is interesting to see how they adapted them for the show. The last two episodes took longer to watch, than to read the book. 😄

>1 NanaCC: My only goal is to try to keep up this year.

I can certainly relate to that, but here I am behind already, jumping in after 38 posts.
It seems this year that the initial mad flurry of posts during the first week of the year is carrying over into the rest of the month. That's good for Club Read, but somewhat daunting.

>26 NanaCC: This sent me to check out the Canadian Office of Literacy and Essential Skills. It appears to have been around since 2006. Turns out there are 9 basic skills: the usual like reading, numeracy and writing, but adaptability, creativity, and collaboration feature too - all good things. It's amazing what you find when you start poking around government websites.

>39 SassyLassy: “mad flurry of posts” sounds about right. I’m thinking that if I get to several on a daily basis, I might eventually catch up.

You did a bit more poking around than I did. I was thinking of checking out which other authors have contributed stories for the program. I don’t think I’m interested in reading them, but it would interesting to see who contributed their time.

>39 SassyLassy:, >40 NanaCC: I also admit to be somewhat overwhelmed by the aforementioned "mad flurry of posts". Once upon a time I used to get to most of the threads, but there is no way I can do that. And I prefer a back and forth.... And there is always the choice: reading a book or socializing on CR....

>41 avaland: It is a bit of a dilemma, Lois. I find myself skimming through posts, just lurking actually. I’ve done very little reading of books in the past couple of weeks. I need to find a balance.

Wishing you a wonderful near year of reading, Colleen.

>43 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul. I’m hoping the same for all of us. i hope that you and your family have a wonderful year ahead.

>42 NanaCC: Hoping you find that balance (and then tell us the secret, LOL)

>45 avaland: 😄 one can only hope, Lois.

In other “news”, I just received a message that I’ve received a “Tenner” badge, for being on the LT site for ten years. Many good book recommendations and conversations in those ten years.

3. Hunting Shadows by Charles Todd

This is number sixteen in the inspector Ian Rutledge series by mother/son team Charles Todd. I think this one takes place in the 1920’s timeframe. Rutledge is sent to the Fens to investigate the murder of two men living in neighboring villages. There doesn’t seem to be a link, which he must find in order to solve the case. The killer is a sharpshooter who has learned skills while fighting in the recent war. Rutledge is still struggling with what we would call PTSD. I enjoy these books, although I need to put space between them. I read the last one about two years ago.

4. The Diamond Eye: A Novel By Kate Quinn,
narrated by Saskia Maarleveld

I was introduced to Kate Quinn’s historical novels last year, when I read The Alice Network, which was based upon a real life spy ring of women during WWI.

This book is based upon the true story of a female Russian sniper during WWII. Mila Pavlichenko was studying history in Kyiv, when Hitler invaded Ukraine and Russia. She became a highly decorated sharpshooter with the nickname Lady Death because of the number of Nazis that she killed. She was sent to America with a delegation to try to persuade FDR to open a second front against Hitler. An unlikely friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt lasted even after the war. Most of the characters and even events in the book are real, although there is added fiction.

The audio version was quite good.

5. Smoke and Mirrors by Elly Griffiths

This is the second book in the Brighton Mysteries series. DI Stephen’s and magician Max Mephisto became friends during the Second World War as part of a group called the Magic Men who set up scenes to confuse the Nazi bombers. These books take place in the early 1950’s.

In this one two local children are missing, and found murdered. The girl, Annie, likes to write plays for her friends to act out. The one she had been writing was a version of Hansel and Gretel. Max is starring in a pantomime of Aladdin on the Brighton pier, and one of the magicians experienced a similar incident as a child actor, when one of his cast mates was murdered.

Although this mystery involves murdered children, the story wasn’t told in a gruesome way. I like Elly Griffiths Ruth Galloway and Harbinder Kaur series better, but this one is enjoyable and I will continue. Vivienne had introduced me to this series.

>46 NanaCC: Congrats on hitting 10 years!

>50 ursula:. Thank you! It is also ten years from retirement, which seems crazy. But, I’m here and enjoying life. 😄

>51 NanaCC: almost 11 years retired here.

>52 dianeham: I don’t know about you, but I find myself busier now than ever. But busy in mostly a fun way, so no complaints.

Congrats on reaching ten years, Colleen. The Kate Quinn sounds interesting. I have The Alice Network on my shelves.

Colleen, did I see that you enjoyed Tinkers by Paul Harding; he has a 3rd related book out now titled This Other Eden. I'm sitting here trying to write a review on it (I think I might need another day or two....

>54 BLBera: I really enjoyed The Alice Network, Beth. I’ll look for your comments when you get to it.

>55 avaland: I haven’t read anything by Harding, Lois. I’ll look for your review.

>55 avaland: Sorry, you have Harding's Tinkers unread on your Kindle, it seems.

>57 avaland: Thank you, Lois. I’m not sure when I got it, but out of sight, out of mind, I guess. I’ll definitely get to it at some point soon.

6. The Silver Swan by Benjamin Black, narrated by Timothy Dalton

This is the second book in the Quirke crime series. He is described as a formerly hard-drinking Dublin pathologist. He doesn’t let go of something easily, and will pick and pick until he finds answers. A young woman drowns in what has been called an apparent suicide. The woman’s husband comes to Quirke and asks him to not let her be cut open. The story goes back and forth as we find out more about the woman, and secrets…many many secrets. Everyone has secrets. I think I liked the first book, Christine Falls, a little better, but this was enjoyable. Black’s writing is very good. I thought I knew the solution midway through the book, but there were enough red herrings that I didn’t know for sure.

7. When maidens mourn a Sebastian St. Cyr mystery by C. S. Harris, narrated by Davina Porter

This book is 7th in the Sebastian St. Cyr mystery series, that takes place during the regency time period in England. Sebastian and his new wife Hero are planning to leave London and honeymoon in the country, when a good friend of Hero’s is found murdered at an archaeological site called Camelot Moat. Two children, the young woman’s cousins are also missing. Sebastian is asked to assist, and he and Hero are at odds as pieces start leading closer to Hero’s powerful father. This is another enjoyable entry in this series.

>60 NanaCC: We're at the same point in this series, Colleen. I read that one back in November. As you said, another enjoyable entry.

>62 lauralkeet: I just mentioned this series to Chris. I think she’d like it too. I’ve been lurking on your thread. On everyone’s thread, if truth be told. It’s so hard to keep up. I’m not sure if I missed it, but are you still watching eagles?

I keep meaning to pick up the next St. Cyr mystery. I read the first two and really liked them. Too many books!

>64 BLBera: I know, Beth. There are so many I’d like to get to.

>63 NanaCC: Hi Colleen! Good for you, spreading the gospel of St Cyr. 😀
As for the eagles, I'm not volunteering this year but I am following them online. Rosa laid two eggs in the past week, so they would be expected to hatch somewhere around March 12-15. If you want to check them out, the livestream is available on YouTube, and they (humans, not eagles) post regularly on Facebook and Instagram -- just search for Dulles Greenway Eagles on any of those sites.

>66 lauralkeet: Thank you, Laura. I’ll also be checking out the eagles nest that we visit when we are in Marco island in March. They are so interesting and their nests are huge.

8. A Killing of Innocents: Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James Novels, Book 19 by Deborah Crombie, narrated by Gerard Doyle

I’m still not tired of this series, 19 books in. A young trainee doctor is stabbed as she cuts through a park to meet her roommate. When a nurse from the same hospital is stabbed, Duncan and team begin to look for links connecting the two victims. Crombie keeps the series fresh. As with any series, I’d recommend reading them in order, as the character relationship development is part of the enjoyment.

Hi Colleen, I was sure I had dropped by and left a message but don't see any recent message by me. I probably wasn't finished and left the site for some reason and never got back to it. Apologies.

Congratulations on your "tenner"! It's hard to believe how fast the years go by!

>59 NanaCC: It took me a while to warm to Quirke but now I love the books.

>60 NanaCC: Thank you, I've added Harris to my wishlist!

>69 VivienneR: Hi, Vivienne. No apologies necessary. It is really hard getting to everyone. I do a lot of lurking these days. I do like the Quirke series, and will keep going with it. The St Cyr series is good. I like the time period. Like many of the series, I can’t read them back to back, but there have been a couple of these where I wanted to jump right into the next to see what was going to happen.

>68 NanaCC: I am looking forward to this one, Colleen. I'm happy to know it's a good one.

>71 BLBera: There is just something about this series that I find appealing, Beth. I hope you also enjoy it.

9. The Lincoln Highway: A Novel by Amor Towles, narrated by Edoardo Ballerini, Marin Ireland, and Dion Graham

The audio version of this book was really wonderful. Edoardo Ballerini is very good. I remember enjoying his narration of Beautiful Ruins, which I loved. The other narrators were good too. I see that this book seems to have mixed reviews. I know that we can’t all like the same things. The story is told through different points of view. It starts with Emmett being driven home by the warden from a juvenile work farm after serving fifteen months for involuntary manslaughter. After the warden drives off, two boys from the work farm show up after hiding in the warden’s truck. Emmett has plans to head out with his eight year old brother, but Duchess, one of the runaway boys, has other plans, in which they all get dragged along. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

10. A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles, narrated by Nicholas Guy Smith

I listened to this one next.

From the book’s description, “In 1922, Count Alexander Rostov is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a Bolshevik tribunal, and is sentenced to house arrest in the Metropol, a grand hotel across the street from the Kremlin.”

His imprisonment is for life, but the count makes the most of what could be a terrible existence. He is befriended by a little girl, who turns his life into one of mischievous exploration within the hotel, while the world outside the hotel’s walls goes through significant upheaval. I loved this book, as well. The narrator is excellent.

11. Mrs. Polifax on the China Station by Dorothy Gilman, narrated by Barbara Rosenblat

Book number six in the Mrs. Polifax series sends her to China as part of a tourist group to help find and rescue an engineer before the Russians get to him.

12. The Blood Card by Elly Griffiths

This is the third book in the Brighton mystery series by Elly Griffiths. Max and Edgar are given an assignment to find and stop people who might be trying to disrupt the coronation of Queen Elizabeth. Two murders are linked. Edgar is sent to America to seek help.

Both books are light entertainment, and they work for me on vacation.

>73 NanaCC: I really enjoyed A Gentleman in Moscow as well, and some of the Mrs. Pollifax books are fun go-tos for me.

>73 NanaCC: Some good reading Coleen. I loved The Gentleman in Moscow, I've yet to get to the new one.

>75 labfs39:, >76 Caroline_McElwee: I have been doing some enjoyable reading, definitely. I’m in Florida now, and will write about my reading when I get home next week. I’m not getting tons read because the kids keep me busy.

>77 NanaCC: Enjoy the grands, Colleen. Whereabouts in Florida are you? My parents are vacationing in Kissimmee/White Cloud.

>78 labfs39: my vacation is mostly in Marco Island with my daughter and family from Massachusetts. The kids get a two week spring break, and they bring me with them every year to their condo there. I’ve just spent two days with my son and family in Winter Springs, which is north of Orlando. I’m headed back to Marco Island tomorrow.

13. The Kill Artist by Daniel Silva

This book is first in a series about an Israeli spy/assassin, Gabriel Allon, working for the Israeli government. As the story begins, Allon has retired and is working as one of the world’s best art restorers. He is pulled back in, however, and is assigned to “take out” a Palestinian zealot named Tariq, who plans to disrupt the Israeli- Palestinian peace accord. Tariq is responsible for the death of Allon’s wife and son, so for him this is personal. I have a few issues with some of the characterizations, but I admit it was hard to put down. I understand that the books that come after do get much better. AnnieMod put this series on my radar, and I will continue.

14. Dinosaurs: A Novel by Lydia Millet

Gil is a very wealthy man of forty-five who wants to do things to help others. He doesn’t need to work, so volunteers. After a bad breakup, he decides to walk from New York City to Arizona. He buys a house on-line and spends five months walking. Once in Arizona, he strikes up a friendship with his new neighbors who live in the glass house next door. It is the development of this friendship, his appreciation of the environment around him, and his caring for others that make this book so good. It is such a quiet book, nothing exciting happens, but it grabbed me in a good way. Lois and Beth put this one on my radar.

>80 NanaCC: I too had a negative reaction to The Kill Artist when I read it last year. The next two were better, but I haven't gone beyond that.

>81 labfs39: I’ll probably read the next one eventually. I liked the Allon character, and I am curious about where the author would take him.

>80 NanaCC: Glad you enjoyed the Millet....

>83 avaland: I love a book that stays with me after I’ve finished, Lois. This was like that.

Oh, how late I am to the game here. It took me some time to go through your thread but it was well worth it. I was thinking about giving The Lincoln Highway a go. Glad to see you enjoyed it.

>85 OscarWilde87: It is so nice to see you here. I hope you do get to The Lincoln Highway. The audio was wonderful, but I’m sure it will be just as good in print. I’ll watch for your review.

I am so glad you enjoyed the Millet, Colleen. Your description, "It is such a quiet book, nothing exciting happens, but it grabbed me in a good way" is great. It is one of my favorite reads so far this year.