Book Loving Kiwis discussion

This is where I'll try to get some organisation going and keep track of what I am doing, what and where I can source the books I want to read. Then maybe I can scrap the notebook I keep losing.

BOOK ADDICTS 2013 READING CHALLENGE 12 + 2

(view spoiler)[Group One: Next in 'Series'
Thought I would use it to read some of the next in series books and introduce myself to some new authors.

1. World Without End by Ken Follett I enjoyed this as much as I did Pillars of Earth, although I missed knowing how Mary's life evolved. This period of time man was more blood-thirsty, but even knowing this, it still often disturbed me reading about the things they did to one another.

2. London by Edward Rutherfurd Very much along the lines of Sarum the story follows six families through the history of London spanning two thousand years. I really enjoyed this read.

3. Uneasy Spirits by M. Louisa Locke An enjoyable continuation of the characters from the first in series with a new mystery to solve.

4. To the Grave by Steve Robinson This was even better than his first book in this series. I really enjoyed it. He has just released a third so I hope that's as good. Might be able to fit it in this year among my various challenges!

5. The Silver Branch by Rosemary Sutcliff An old fashioned adventure story set in Roman Britain incorporating friendship, love and loyalty of two cousins to overcome great odds in what they believe. A re-read from childhood that did not let me down.

Group Two: Authors New to Me

6. Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin An interesting mystery over dual time periods with some unexpected twists. As much a character study as murder mystery.

7. The Secret Keeper by Julie Thomas Wow this was a real 'page turner' with a story that totally captured me from the first pages. I gave it 5 stars.
It has recently been re-published with a few minor cosmetic changes, and released in paperback. One of those minor changes was to the title. It is now The Keeper of Secrets
I hope her second book (next on this list)is as good!

8. In Vino Veritas by Julie Thomas Every bit as good as I hoped for. A shorter story (112 pages) full of suspense with nice twists and turns in the plot. I gave it 4 stars and hope there is soon another book from Julie Thomas.

9. Tom Fleck by Harry Nicholson

10. Roses of Winter by Murdo Morrison This follows the Burns and McIntyre families, their friends and neighbours in a Glasgow community from just before the onset to just after the end of WWII. In telling the story the author has used the local dialect, and while it was at first a little distracting, I soon became used to it and feel that this added greater depth to the story.
Murdo Morrison has written another book, The Taste of Dust, which follows the same families over the next six decades. I intend reading this book having enjoyed Roses of Winter. I gave it 4 stars.


Group Three: A Couple of Classics

11. Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell A romance coupled with a study of the poor in an industrial Victorian town in England.

12. The Fallen Leaves by Wilkie Collins Not considered one of his better works and I have to agree. Gave it stars.

The Alternates

1. All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot

2. The Mystery of the Yellow Room by Gaston Leroux

(hide spoiler)]

I WANT TO READ

√ Requested from library when it was still on order. Taken several weeks for it to come. Not my usual genre so hope it is worth the wait. It was - light amusing read but feel I might have appreciated it had I got to know the characters from the two previous books.


PRM library has this. Will have to borrow it through SMART libraries.

√
Borrow from the library. Really wanted it for Fiction Fanatics August BOTM but very long waiting list. I'll be patient. Still waiting ...

√
Borrow from library. Very long waiting list. Now down to 7 of 7.

√
Requested from library. Still waiting (29 of 75) Reading this for Historical Fictionistas 2013 challenge.
Got it. Read it - I liked it.

√
On request from library. Historical Fictionistas Sep/Oct series read. Big read. Matthew Shardlake, a lawyer, and his assistant are sent to investigate this mystery set in a monastery in England at the time of the dissolution. Going to read the next in the series, Dark Fire.

I'm going to read these two by Jeanette Aplin following on from BLK BOTM in June which also evoked memories of the title that follows these two.
The Price of Bacon
The Lighthouse Children's Mother
Both available at my local library.

I read this many years ago, so I'm surprised to find a library (other than National Library) holding a copy.
The Sea is my Neighbour by T.A. Clark.

I would like to read another by the author of another BLK BOTM, Maxine Alterio (Lives We Leave Behind) and that is
Ribbons of Grace
This again is fiction based on history. I am interested to see if there is any difference in her style compared to LWLB given she had diaries to research for that.
I can easily get this from the local library so I'll leave it until I have got a bit off the backlog.

√ Judy has recommended which I can get an audiobook of from the library as well as in print. I might try audio then I can listen to it on my journey to and from work.

√ Judy also recommended Code Name Verity which I'm reading now. She said it was a bit tough to get into but not to give up because it is really good. You're right Judy, it is a bit of a strange beginning, but I will keep on - I've persevered through worse I have to say.

Kathleen wrote: "I loved Rosemary Sutcliff when I was at Intermediate School and read every book I could get my hands on!"

Me too! They were very strict at our library about what 'children' read, so every Wednesday after school when I caught the bus to the library I would report to the desk. The floral smocked librarian would then escort me to what would now be the YA section and there she would hover while I made my selection. She was the one who introduced me to Rosemary Sutcliff. I thank her for that and the memories - including the sound of her rubber soled shoes squishing on the highly polished lino.
Ah, those days were probably some of my happiest!

I am reading In Vino Veritas at the moment. About halfway through and thoroughly enjoying it. I hope we don't have too long to wait for the next book from her.

Managed to cross another off the FICTION FANATICS SEPTEMBER 2013 CHALLENGE - Pearl of China.

I fear that may be the last I manage for this month as I can see a couple I've been waiting for from the Library about due to arrive and both have further requests on them so they will take priority!

Today I've spent reading the bulk of the introductory material for a cataloguing course I have to attend next week. It would be easier if I fully believed in what they're doing, but I don't so just 2 stars from me! [g]

Two books requested from the library arrived on Friday.
462 pages of a small font. Hope the eyes stand up to this!
and
audio book.
This is my first time 'reading' an audio book on my iPad. Got myself all set up for the journey to work today. I have never enjoyed my trip to work so much - and back again. The reader is very good and the story's good too.
Lovin' it :)

I enjoyed 'audio reading' The Aviator's Wife so much that I have got myself another to 'read' on the way to work. Certainly makes the journey less tedious.

Just checked my library reserves to find that and are both in transit.
Hoping they arrive in time for me to pick them up on my way home tomorrow. I'll just have to fit the housework and gardening in around the reading this weekend!

A TO Z TITLES 2013
FINISHED DECEMBER 30,2013
(view spoiler)[Read a book for every letter of the alphabet by 31 December 2013.
The ticker's not updating since Goodreads apparently made changes, so I'm at 26/26 with just X to go.
A- As the Earth Turns Silver
B- Brideshead Revisited
C- Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter
D- Demelza
E- The Elusive Pimpernel
F- Flight Behavior
G- The Glass-Blowers
H- The Hollow Hills
I- The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
J- Jeremy Poldark
K- Kim
L- Les Misérables
M- Mary Barton
N- Nefertiti
O- One Good Turn
P- The Peach Keeper
Q- The Quiche of Death
R- Ruth
S- The Spanish Helmet
T- Two Widows and the Thrift Store Murders
U- Uneasy Spirits
V- Vanity Fair
W- Where the Rainbow Fell Down
X- The Xibalba Murders
Y- Year of Wonders
Z- Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald

(hide spoiler)]

Kathleen wrote: "I just had to follow up on a couple of those titles (peaches, and quiche) and have added them to my to-read list. They sound fun!"

The Peach Keeper was a light romance with a bit of fantasy.
Quiche of Death I read with another group. Agatha Raisin is a mature amateur sleuth who can get a bit grumpy and organises everyone and everything. Some in the group were not too keen on her, but from the discussion it seemed to me they were comparing her with Miss Marple. You really have to shut Miss M out of your mind because she isn't at all like her. Probably a bit more Hetty Wainthrop. I'd like to read more in this series - along with many other series I've started. Guess I'll get there - maybe another challenge!

I've been having great difficulty with updating my tickers for some reason. Had to totally re-create them with new numbers to get them updated. Very frustrating, and on top of that my books that are in transit haven't arrived at the library so I will have to do all the housework and gardening this weekend.

Managed to get the 12 read for Book Addicts 12+2 2013 Reading Challenge, so I've put the two alternates to the '12' list for this year.
Just finished compiling the list and posting it.

Whew, looking at my library requests and various challenges, come January I'll have some reading to do!
Started to read the Luminaries today - wishing my eyesight were better so I could read print in the night light. Will be up at daybreak to carry on - it's good.

BOOK ADDICTS 2014 READING CHALLENGE 12 + 4
They're letting us have 4 alternates this year.

My 2014 list in no particular order.

1. All Creatures Great and Small
2. The Mystery of the Yellow Room

3. Brat Farrar Good mystery set in English surroundings with likeable characters except for the villain who was unlikable from the start.3 stars

4. The Forrests A book without a plot. More a series of threads in which you follow the lives of the Forrest family, mostly through Dot, over about 60 years. A dysfunctional family struggling to survive, find some measure of happiness, making choices - not always the right ones, coming of age, reaching old age. Did I enjoy the book? I'm not sure. Just as anyone's life there were interesting, exciting moments along with the more mundane, but the writing was a pleasure so 3 stars.

5. Lottery

6. The Last Queen of England This was every bit as good as his previous two genealogical mystery books. 4 stars.

7. And the Mountains Echoed Finally I got this from the library. Bliss, joy & happiness (that's me). The book too has all the emotions - happiness, sorrow, sadness, love and hope. Loved this read. Well worth the wait. 5 stars.

8. Atlas Shrugged I abandoned this after the third try. Not my cup of tea.

9. The Taste of Dust

10.The Luminaries A cast of hopefuls, dreamers, schemers, entrepreneurs all telling their versions of their stories and secrets in this multi-thread mystery set in the West Coast goldfields of Victorian New Zealand. To be read more than just one time. A deserved 5 stars - 6 if there was that option.

11.The End of Your Life Book Club A memoir and tribute of a son to his mother, and how together they creatively traveled the journey of her illness and dying. I gave this 4 stars.

12.A Long Way Home An intriguing story of a 5 year old Indian boy who becomes lost, ends up hundreds of miles away from his home in an orphanage where he is adopted by an Australian couple. Fascinating story of persistence, ingenuity and success. 4 stars.

Alternates

1. The Forest
2. Tuesdays With Morrie
3. The Napoleon of Crime: The Life and Times of Adam Worth, Master Thief
4. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

2014 BOTMs

January

Very conveniently both BLK and Fiction Fanatics have the same title going -
√The Luminaries

Book Addicts
The Secret Life of Bees
Would really like to read this with the group but with all the library requests looking like they will arrive in January, and the chunkster above, who knows!

Book Addicts Non-fiction quarter one 2014
√I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban

Just completed A TO Z TITLES 2013 with my X read ☺

Bravely adding another January 2014 Challenge.

FICTION FANATICS
January Extra Challenge 2014

New-to-you Author!

(view spoiler)[In the month of January read as many new authors that you've never read before as you can.
1. Paige Shelton
2. Saroo Brierley
3. Will Schwalbe
4. Eleanor Catton
5. Kate Kingsbury
6. Jojo Moyes
7. Kate Kingsbury
8. Khaled Hosseini
9. Gracie O'Neil
10. Emily Perkins
11. Jessica Brockmole
12. G.M. Malliet
13. Connie Shelton
14. Daphne Phelps
15. Eva Stachniak

With the exception of one book, I have read all new to me authors this month and not a dud amongst them! (hide spoiler)]

You should see one I've signed up to participate in that I'm not posting here because it takes up too much room!

It is called Read Your Age and there are three options. I've chosen the one without a time limit so I'm to read one book first published in each year of my life beginning with my birth year. If I get it all done this year it will end with 2014, BUT the longer it takes for me to get it finished the more books I have to read. A bit like the never-ending challenge where the goal-posts keeping moving.

And I've got a lot of years! Just got to live long enough. lol

That sounds really interesting! Good luck. You won't need it, of course :)

Kathleen wrote: "Ella's Gran wrote: "You should see one I've signed up to participate in that I'm not posting here because it takes up too much room!

It is called Read Your Age and there are three options. I've ch..."

No Kathleen. It's through a group that has challenges of various degrees of difficulty, length and interests. Some are a bit crazy (as in silly) but some are just fun and of course, work on that ever-growing TBR list.
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

Although Book Addicts runs a variety of similar challenges besides the BOTMs. It is a bigger group than BLK but a greater percentage of it's members take part which is what would be good for BLK.

What's going to be really hard with the Read Your Age challenge is laying my hands on the books, and surprisingly the most difficult looks to be those from 1970s & 1980s. The earlier ones are still available in most libraries - probably because they're getting to considered classics1 lol

Murphy's law still prevails in 2014.

Just checked at the library and two books are waiting, both with further reserves so will have to be the priority reads when I pick them up.
And the Mountains Echoed and Me Before You

Don't have to do that until 10 January, so might wait until the last day even though I have been anxiously waiting for them forever!

Ella's Gran wrote: "Murphy's law still prevails win 2014.

Just checked at the library and two books are waiting, both with further reserves so will have to be the priority reads when I pick them up.
[book:And the Mou..."

Both are amazing and well worth the wait :)

LANGUISHING LITERATURE 2014
Books that have been on my TBR shelves forever. Plan to read one a month (while I add more to my TBR ...)

Completed 3/12

1. The Lifeboat
2. Growing Up Amish: A Memoir
3. Riversong
4. Death at Wentwater Court
5. Lottery
6. Clues to Christie: The Definitive Guide to Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot, Tommy & Tuppence and All of Agatha Christie's Mysteries
7. The Last Queen of England
8. Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China
9. All Creatures Great and Small
10. The Mystery Of The Yellow Room: Extraordinary Adventures Of Joseph Rouletabille, Reporter
11. The Lady of the Rivers
12. The Flame Trees Of Thika: Memories Of An African Childhood

2014 READING CHALLENGE - 100 BOOKS

102/100

February 2014 Plan

BOTMs

BLK
√ The Larnachs by Owen Marshall
√ The Virgin and the Whale by Carl Nixon

Fiction Fanatics
√ The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul by Deborah Rodriguez
Lottery by Patricia Wood (this will count for one off my Languishing Literature shelf too)

Should Have Read Classics
Haven't been reading in this group lately, so going to try and get back there with this one
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Saw the movie last year. Didn't like it (2013 version) as much as the Mia Farrow/Robert Redford (swoon) version of 1974.

Cozy Mysteries
There will be four books to read for the CMT Bingo Challenge

I think that'll just about do February.

Kathleen wrote: "You're going to have your 100 books for the year finished before half the year's gone at this rate!"

You're right Kathleen. All due to getting in a lot of reading time for this time of the year because of the pathetic summer we're having here. My one fine day for the weekend today so been in and out of garden, washing car etc. since 6am - tomorrow will be wet again so indoor chores and reading on the agenda!

Just doing some updating here. Got to take a fail on the BOTMs for Feb.

Looks like my Languishing Literature will still be in that state by next year if I don't get a move on.

Looking for an indian summer - stretching it out to give my BLK summer challenge a chance! :)

Didn't do so well in February. Maybe I'll try not to overfill my plate this month!

March 2014 Plan

BOTMs

BLK
Listening this month and here's what I have planned
☑ Latte Trouble by Cleo Coyle reader Rebecca Gibel
Like this series and the reader. She gets into character for each person so not a lot of need for 'she said'.
☑Death Qualified - A Mystery of Chaos by Kate Wilhelm reader Anna Fields
☑A Question of Honor by Charles Todd reader Rosalyn Landor
☑Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling reader Stephen Fry (if my reserve comes through)
It's come through and I started it today 12/03 :)
☑The Lemon Orchard by Luanne Rice reader Blair Brown
☑The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway reader Gareth Armstrong
☑Unleashed by David Rosenfelt reader Grover Gardner - now there's an interesting Bronx voice. Suits the story.


Historical Fictionistas
☑The Serpent and the Pearl by Kate Quinn

March Challenges
Cozy Mysteries CMT Bingo 4 books
☑ Miss Zukas and the Island Murders
☑ Trouble in Mudbug
☑ A Dyeing Shame
BLK # of pages read in March
BLK Autumn Challenge - in honour of Indie's month I am hoping to begin this by reading
☑Tizzie by P.D.R. Lindsay
☑ Beyond the Shadows by LaVerne Clark
Historical Fictionistas Reading Train
Latte Trouble = (title)Trouble in Mudbug = (initials)Miss Zukas & the Island Murders = (genre)Tap on the Window =(genre)Death Qualified = (initials)The Serpent and the Pearl = (genre)Jacob's Ladder =

Lol - so much for not being so greedy huh❣

CMT Bingo challenge finished with our team winning - Yay to Team Cozy Girls.

How do you get time to do all this? I read a book a day if it's an old favourite or in a couple of days if it's new but reviewing and talking about them is too much time lost from othe rvitla tasks. Sad really but I rarely find anyone who agrees with me.

Ah well, live on my own since hubby passed away nearly 4 years ago, kids have moved away for work, so just me and my dog. Plus I crib a few minutes here and there at work (shhh).

I read some print, kindle (cloud at work, e-reader at home) & audio while traveling and when doing chores at home - gardening, dusting (ugh), dishes etc. :)
Don't watch much tv other than a daily dose of news and, just now, the netball games - but I can read at the same time so ...

Don't watch TV either, no time and nothing on. Would love more audio books and a reader would be handy if I travel. Use the computer!

Sigh. I shall have to stop writing and farming!

I will confess to actually not finishing books as well.
I have had a load to read and review and I threw nearly all of them away after 70 odd pages.

There's nothing new left to read.

Kathleen wrote: "Ella's Gran wrote: "Didn't do so well in February. Maybe I'll try not to overfill my plate this month!

...Lol - so much for not being so greedy huh❣ "

I've bitten off more than I can chew this mo..."

But I've gone and taken an extra mouthful Kathleen. They have a form of buddy read over on Book Addicts reading and discussing 12 Years a Slave. Discussion on the first three chapters begins on Sunday our time so I'm going to have to get cracking.

P.d.r. wrote: "I will confess to actually not finishing books as well.
I have had a load to read and review and I threw nearly all of them away after 70 odd pages.

There's nothing new left to read."

One of my colleagues at work has just found The Cazelet Chronicles by Elizabeth Jane Howard. I have read a few of her earlier books when I was much younger, and recall that I used to like her writing. She released the last, book 5, in the chronicles just before she died. You might like her as an HF author pdr.

You really do need a tablet or ipad for your work - it is a mini computer, audio book player, ebook reader, for when you are travelling. Much more convenient than a PC and it might be tax deductible! :)

Kathleen wrote: "Ella's Gran wrote: ".But I've gone and taken an extra mouthful Kathleen. They have a form of buddy read over on Book Addicts reading and discussing 12 Years a Slave. Discussion on the first three c..."

The discussion has taken place on the first three chapters of 12 Years a Slave. I was wondering how it would work out. Pretty much everyone turned up on the weekend (USA one), said what they thought so far, with some bringing specific points to the table. Just a little discussion given how early in the book we are. The 'leader' has set up the thread for the next group of chapters and we all meet back there next weekend for more chat. Quite a good way to do it as faster readers can come back and talk about the section, whereas the slower (or over committed)can still keep up.

Finished reading Tizzie by P.D.R. Lindsay tonight.
Loved that story were told in Yorkshire voice, it were right proper and made story come alive, did. Sounded like my Nan when she used to tell me stories about when she was a girl when I was little. I could hear her voice again - nice and comfy it were.

Loved Agnes and Tizzie - felt I knew them personally. All characters were very true even the more hateful of them.

The ending wasn't expected though. You get a hint about Tizzie at the beginning, but I thought it would be (view spoiler)[ that she would go to join Tom in New Zealand, not that Agnes would be the one to go to NZ and that Tizzie would be killed. Although in the last 20 or so pages I started to get a feeling of foreboding. Still mopping up the tears. (hide spoiler)]

Well done p.d.r. 5 stars to you.

APRIL 2014 PLAN

Didn't do too badly with my March plan, but if I don't get a move on with the Languishing Literature it'll still be in that state next year! So the plan this month is

BLK BOTM
☑ Swift Runs the Heart by Mary Brock Jones
☑ The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein (audio book)

BOOK ADDICTS BOTM
☑ Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall

BLK LANGUISHING LITERATURE
The Flame Trees of Thika: Memories of an African Childhood
This will also count for another off my BLK Autumn Challenge (or it will be winter before I know it)

☑ Finish Book Addicts buddy read of Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup

Possibly start Book Addicts non-fiction group read for Quarter 2
☑The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America by Erik Larson

Books I've got on request at the library -
☑ The Plum Tree by Ellen Marie Wiseman

Still like loading that plate up I see!

Kathleen wrote: "Ella's Gran wrote: "Finished reading Tizzie by P.D.R. Lindsay tonight.
Loved that story were told in Yorkshire voice, it were right proper and made story come aliv..."

I must stop requesting books through my library so that I can get my ebooks, books loaned from family and friends, and my own bookcase books read. Tizzie is one of these! April it will be, p.d.r.

Hugs to the lot of you. It is just so good to hear that readers have enjoyed a book I wrote. Makes the long hard edits and lonely writing life worthwhile.

May 2014 Plan

Planned on having a friend from Aussie to stay so planned a quiet reading month, but she had a stroke. Because of that concentration is a bit flawed, so I'll use the month to catch up and light reading/listening to escape with.

Ah! Not nice. Bit of a blow to you both. All the best and enjoy something frivilous like kerry greenwood's Phryne Fisher mysteries.

p.d.r., Kathleen, thank you both very much for your kind words. She lost function down her right side, with 60% leg function, 30% arm function and the right side of her face continues to spasm. She was very naughty in that she didn't tell her husband until 5 hours after, so lost that golden hour - doubly naughty since she knew that immediate attention heralds a better chance at good recovery. She hasn't lost her speech and I was able to talk with her briefly yesterday. She is also insulin dependent diabetic and her blood sugars are all over the place so they are having to work on that too. It's her 66th birthday on the weekend so John is hoping he will be able to bring her home for a couple of hours, but that depends on her blood sugars as that is a very serious part of all this. If that happens I'll be able to talk to her on Skype so fingers crossed.

Again thank you both for your words of support.
Lesley

Why do we do this to ourselves! Your poor friend, such a lot to fix.

Here's hoping you can skype and that your friend works hard for a good recovery.

P.d.r. wrote: "Why do we do this to ourselves! Your poor friend, such a lot to fix.

Here's hoping you can skype and that your friend works hard for a good recovery."

Quick update - talked to my friend last night who has made excellent progress (working hard) and has regained 60% of her leg function; 45% of her arm function; passed the tests to make a cup of tea, cook & butter toast, dress herself and her blood sugars are coming under control. She was given a 6 hour leave pass to go to the Michael Bublet concert her daughters had shouted her for her birthday and thoroughly enjoyed it. The only downside is her long vision has deteriorated in the last week so she is waiting to see the opthamologist. Hopefully it is reversible. So miracles do sort of happen! :)

oh good. I am so pleased fo ryou both.

I hope to pop off with a heart attack I dread brain damaging things like a stroke.

Gotta get cracking on my Languishing Literature because it's still languishing.
Still haven't sorted my winter Comfort Reading Challenge.

In July I will be reading Here Be Dragons as I found out today my order from the used bookshop is on it's way - yay!

I've got 3 audios that have arrived too. They are:

already started
and

I'm going to finally read The Millennium Trilogy loaned to me by my hairdresser who insists the books are way much better than the movies. So this month I'll start with (no surprises)

If all is right on the grand plan I should also finally get my turn with before the end of the month!

That's the plan.

Ella's Gran wrote: "Gotta get cracking on my Languishing Literature because it's still languishing.
Still haven't sorted my winter Comfort Reading Challenge.

In July I will be reading Here Be Dragons as I found out ..."

Some great books there. I'll be interested to know what you think of Love in the Time of Cholera. It wasn't a fav of mine.