Mount TBR 2021 discussion
Mount Everest (100 books)
>
When not in Narnia Karen wants to climb Mount Everest!
date
newest »
newest »
76. Queens of the Kingdom: The Women of Saudi Arabia Speak by Nicola Sutcliff.
4 stars. Filtered through a Western gaze admittedly, but there was a range of interviewees and I enjoyed hearing about the pre-Saudi state era in particular.
On TBR since approx 17/07/2020. Need to check.
77. Women, Crime, and Criminal Justice by Allison Morris.
3 stars. I enjoyed reading this. It was interesting and informative but suffers like many books that are innovative in their fields - under-researched areas. There isn't an easy answer about what to do with women with small children, for example.
On TBR since 03/03/2019.
78. The Sin of Abbé Mouret by Émile Zola.
4 stars. Such beautiful writing and descriptions. My favourite of the series so far (I am only on book 5 though).
On TBR since 27/09/2020.
79. Cotillion by Georgette Heyer.
5 stars. Continuing my re-read of my favourite Heyer novels. Freddy is a great character in this. He is not a typical romance hero. I don't think I will ever forget his reaction to the Elgin marbles! And this pink of the ton has a heart of gold.
Owned for years, read before but not since 2010.
80. Manual of Painting and Calligraphy by José Saramago.
4 stars. This book had me worried. I thought I was only going to give 3 stars to a Saramago novel. It took a very long time for me to get into this book, but it becomes increasingly interesting. The character H attempts to delve deeper into the subjects of his paintings by writing as well as through art. One of the few novels I have read that touches on life under Caetano (Portuguese dictator) and the revolution although neither are the main focus of the work.
On TBR since 15/07/2019.
JULYTotal number of Books read: 22
Total number qualifying for this challenge: 6
JULY CHALLENGE
I failed. I seem to have read more than I thought but that was largely to the first week or so of July. I needed to prioritise library books as suddenly everything I ordered from the middle of last year onwards that the pandemic delayed seems to be coming in at once. I have something coming that was published last August! However, I did complete Silk and for the monthly challenge I read Manual of Painting and Calligraphy by José Saramago. I am currently reading Dumas' book on the Borgias. I love Forever Amber but it may be on pause until the autumn.
AUGUST SPINS
1. Living Room 2 - Unmarriages: Women, Men, and Sexual Unions in the Middle Ages by Ruth Mazo Karras
3. TBR Veteran - Border Bloodshed by Alastair J. Macdonald
4. Random Kindle TBR - Legends and Lyrics Part 1 by Adelaide Anne Procter
5. YA - The Summer I Turned Pretty Complete Series by Jenny Han
From previous challenges:
Victor Hugo - Les Misérables from March 2020.
James M. Powell (ed.) - The Deeds of Innocent III from October 2020.
Alan Savage - Ottoman from December 2020.
Michael Hicks - Warwick the Kingmaker from March 2021.
Charles Freeman - A New History of Early Christianity from March 2021.
The Crusade of Frederick Barbarossa: The History of the Expedition of the Emperor Frederick and Related Texts from April 2021.
Kathleen Winsor - Forever Amber from July 2021.
Alexandre Dumas - The Borgias from July 2021.
Additions to Mount TBR in August 2021.(I will cross them out if I read them). Hoping if I have to keep updating this it might put me off buying books...Although they will all count for this challenge...in 2022.
Physical Books Acquired
1. A Traveller's History of Portugal by Ian Robertson.
2. Blood Ties: The Calabrian Mafia. Gianluigi Nuzzi, Claudio Antonelli by Gianluigi Nuzzi and Claudio Antonelli.
3. Five Children and It by E. Nesbit. Different cover.
4. The Phoenix and the Carpet by E. Nesbit.
5. Thirst by Amélie Nothomb.
6.
7. Contracted as His Cinderella Bride by Heidi Rice. No cover.
8.
Read September 2021.9.The Hours by Michael Cunningham.
10. Fasting, Feasting by Anita Desai.
11. Snare by Lilja Sigurðardóttir.
12. The Life Of Geoffrey Chaucer: A Critical Biography by Derek Pearsall.
13. Frederica and the Viscountess by Barbara Davies.
14. Guard the Chaos Pb by Hannah Ward & Jennifer Wild.
15. A Voice in the Dark by Claire Lorrimer.
16. Royal Blood: King Richard Iii And The Mystery Of The Princes by Bertram Fields.
17. The Grove of Eagles by Winston Graham.
18. Blood Price by Tanya Huff.
19. Blood Trail by Tanya Huff.
20. Blood Linesby Tanya Huff.
21. Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernières.
To replace my other copy.Physical Book Freebies
1. European Women: A Documentary History 1789 1945 edited by Eleanor S. Riemer and John C. Faut. No cover.
2. True Grit: Women Taking on the World, for God's Sake by Deborah Meroff.
Gift.3.
Gift. Read November 2021.4. The Beekeeper's Daughter by Santa Montefiore.
Gift.5. Divided Souls by Toby Clements.
Gift.6. Acts and Omissions: by Catherine Fox.
7. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.
8. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins.
9. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins.
10. Hiding from the Light by Barbara Erskine.
Kindle Freebies
1. Divine Lola: A Savage Beauty by Cristina Morató.
Amazon First Read.2.
3. Beautiful Hell by Wanitta Praks.
4. The Shadow Council by Sadie Anders.
Kindle Purchases
1.
Read September 2021.2. F*ckboy Psychos: A Dark Gang Romance y CM Stunich. Pre-order.
3. Filthy Elites: An Anthology of Enemies to Lovers Romance Standalone Novels by various. Pre-order.
4.
5. Material Girls: Why Reality Matters for Feminism by Kathleen Stock.
6. The Last Boss' Daughter by Sam Mariano.
7. The Rules Series: The Complete Trilogy by Eliah Greenwood.
8. Pandora's Jar: Women in the Greek Myths by Natalie Haynes.
9. The White Ship: Conquest, Anarchy and the Wrecking of Henry I’s Dream by Charles Spencer.
10. Beautiful Mistakes by Sam Mariano.
11. The Imperfections by Sam Mariano.
12. Stitches by Sam Mariano.
13. Savior of Regrets by LA Cotton.
14. Forgotten Rules by Eliah Greenwood.
15. Wicked Princess by Ashley Jade.
16. Broken Kingdom by Ashley Jade.
17. Lords of Wrath by Angel Lawson.
18. Lords of Mercy by Angel Lawson.
Pre-order.19. By Sin I Rise by Cora Reilly.
Pre-order.20.
Read October 2021.21. Like You Should by Kaydence Snow.
22.
Read October 2021.23. Beautiful Savage by Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti.
24. Summer and Smoke by Coralee June.
25. Bitter Pills by Coralee June.
26. Love and Lead by Coralee June.
27. Cornered by Alyssa Rose Ivy.
28. Conflicted by Alyssa Rose Ivy.
29. Defiance and Dedication by Heather Long.
30. Changes and Chocolates by Heather Long.
31. Keys and Kisses by Heather Long.
32. Whispers and Wishes by Heather Long.
33. Trials and Tiaras by Heather Long.
34. Hangovers and Holidays by Heather Long.
35. Brazen and Breathless by Heather Long.
36. Graduation and Gifts by Heather Long.
37. Taunting Destiny by Amelia Hutchins.
38. Seducing Destiny by Amelia Hutchins.
39. Unraveling Destiny by Amelia Hutchins.
40. Embracing Destiny by Amelia Hutchins.
41. Crowning Destiny by Amelia Hutchins.
42. Zodiac Academy: The Awakening by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti.
43. Empress of Poisons by Bree Porter.
I pre-ordered this last year but for some reason my order was cancelled.
81. Desert Destiny by Sarah Holland. No cover.2 stars. I used to love Sheikh romances in my teens and twenties but I think I am over them. I feel a little sad about it. This is much more desert fantasy than desert reality... lots of seductive dancing, bare bellies etc
On TBR since somewhere between July 2015 and May 29th 2016 when I added it to GR.
82, 83 and 84. The Summer I Turned Pretty Complete Series by Jenny Han. (Featuring The Summer I Turned Pretty, It's Not Summer Without You and We'll Always Have Summer).
4 stars overall because I loved the first 2 books. The third book is a 3. I never thought I would read these because the book titles sounded cheesy and I don't like stories featuring love triangles. I did like the flawed narrator, the back history of summers at Cousins, and the way mother-daughter relationships are portrayed but 1 of the main characters Jeremiah changed too much between books 2 and 3, and I did not really like the plot of book 3 as much. Quick, easy to read and enjoyable romance though.
On TBR since 31/10/2020.
85. The Lust to Kill: Feminist Investigation of Sexual Murder by Deborah Cameron and Elizabeth Frazer. No cover picture.
3 stars. I haven't read anything like this before so I don't have much to compare it to, but it was a whim purchase from Oxfam and I found my interest in it lagged. I liked the section looking at the "gothic" influences on the creation of the portrayal of the sex-killer.
On TBR since 26/09/2018.
86. Legends and Lyrics Part 1 by Adelaide Anne Procter.
3 stars. I loved Adelaide Anne Procter when I was a teenager/in my early twenties because I was interested in poems that told stories, death and "fallen women", all of which she deals with. There are alot of dead children in this volume and I would not recommend it if you don't like either religious or somewhat sentimental poetry. She was apparently Queen Victoria's favourite poet.
On Kindle TBR since 30/04/2013.
87. April Lady by Georgette Heyer.
5 stars. An under-rated Georgette Heyer this one. I think it is best appreciated if you read it first in your teens or early twenties (like me) as the older I get and the more I re-read the more I want to shake the main characters. I like romances that take place after marriage, the plot has aspects of adventure in it, and the ending is one of my favourite in all of her work.
Bought years ago but not reread since 2010!
Karen wrote: "87. April Lady by Georgette Heyer. 5 stars. An under-rated Georgette Heyer this one. I think it is best appreciated if you read it first in your teens o..."
I've been on a Georgette Heyer kick lately—I just downloaded this one from the library as I haven't read it since I was a teen or twenties. I remember liking it, though!
Someone else on a Heyer kick! Yay! Hope you enjoy the book.
Karen wrote: "Someone else on a Heyer kick! Yay! Hope you enjoy the book."Thanks, I did! I forgot how humorous her brother and his crony are when they are "in their cups." :) I might read the Unknown Ajax or the Quiet Gentleman this year, too.
Enjoy your climb!
88. Unmarriages: Women, Men, and Sexual Unions in the Middle Ages by Ruth Mazzo Karras.
4 stars. An interesting look at opposite-sex relationships that were either not considered a true marriage or were disputed in some way. I particularly enjoyed the earlier chapters including on "Unequal Unions" which included slaves and religious minorities. I also liked the perspectives given on well-known figures like Katherine Swynford, Heloise and the unnamed woman who had a relationship with and bore a son to St Augustine.
On TBR since 31/07/2016.
89. Border Bloodshed: Scotland, England, and the French Connection, 1369-1403 by Alastair J. Macdonald.
4 stars. I really enjoyed this book and cannot believe it has taken me so long to read it. I love reading about the early Stewart kings and Medieval England's relations with its near neighbours. I found the author' ideas convincing in the main, as well.
On TBR since 02/07/2002.
90 - 92. The Modern Faerie Tales: Tithe; Valiant; Ironside by Holly Black.
Tithe - Kaye Fierch is 16 and is whisked back to her grandmother's house after her mother's boyfriend tries to stab her. She rescues a wounded faerie knight, finds out she is a changeling and becomes emmeshed in faerie politics. Honestly, this started off pretty mediocre; I also love Holly Black's plots more than her writing, but this is an early book (possibly her debut) and it stands out. It was a bit messy at the end.
3 stars.
Valiant - Val is a teen runaway who finds herself living in an abandoned subway station in New York where she befriends a group of fellow homeless teens who act as messengers for a troll called Ravus, who deals in potions of all sorts but particularly one that helps the exiled faeries living in New York deal with iron. But faeries start dying and it is up to Val to clear his name. I loved this book. I also believe I have read it before. Despite the fantastical elements it really packs a punch about homelessness and it is very dark. The writing dramatically improves also. Almost a 5 star...
4 stars.
Ironside - Mixes both stories together but we revert to having Kaye as our main character. Roiben is being crowned king but Kaye ends up being given an unsolvable quest (never get drunk at a coronation) and works to prevent the seelie court overcoming Roiben's. This was a good book. I wanted more Val and Ravus.
4 stars.
There is also a short story about Lutie Loo wanting to be considered important and go on a quest. I am not counting this as a separate book. 3 stars.
Overall 4 stars.
AUGUSTTotal books read in July: 22 (although I read 2 bind ups so actually 26).
Total qualifying for this challenge: 8 (although there were 2 trilogies in bind ups so actually 12).
AUGUST CHALLENGE
I read all 4 books. Yay!
SEPTEMBER SPINS
I thought that I would do something a little different this month and play Becca's Bookoplathon. She normally throws 5 times so I thought I would do the same.
Since I normally pick 4 from my wheel only 4 of the books have to be suitable for this Mount TBR challenge.
See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrNR-... for rules and sight of the board etc.
1. Gods - Madeline Miller - The Song of Achilles (rolled a double 4 so had to add an extra roll)
2. History - Elizabeth Chadwick - Shields of Pride (rolled 8)
3. Last Colour - (orange) Elisabeth Brooke - Medicine Women: A Pictoral History of Women Healers (rolled 11)
4. LGBTQ+ Rep - Sarah Waters - Tipping the Velvet (rolled 7) Suitable for Virtual TBR as I have it out from the library.
5. TBR Veteran - Jon Spence - Becoming Jane Austen (rolled 10)
6. (cos I rolled a double) - Who? - Sylvia Townsend Warner - The Corner That Held Them
From previous challenges:
Victor Hugo - Les Misérables from March 2020.
James M. Powell (ed.) - The Deeds of Innocent III from October 2020.
Alan Savage - Ottoman from December 2020.
Michael Hicks - Warwick the Kingmaker from March 2021.
Charles Freeman - A New History of Early Christianity from March 2021.
The Crusade of Frederick Barbarossa: The History of the Expedition of the Emperor Frederick and Related Texts from April 2021.
Kathleen Winsor - Forever Amber from July 2021.
Alexandre Dumas - The Borgias from July 2021.
Additions to Mount TBR in September 2021.(I will cross them out if I read them). Hoping if I have to keep updating this it might put me off buying books...Although they will all count for this challenge...in 2022.
Physical Books Acquired
1. A Whisper Will Be Heard by Philip Crowe.
2. You Are Not Like Other Mothers by Angelika Schrobsdorff.
3. Unseen Things Above by Catherine Fox.
4. Equal: What the Bible Says about Women, Men, and Authority by Katia Adams.
5. Belinda by Maria Edgeworth.
6. Of Love and Shadows by Isabel Allende.
7. Girl, Arise!: A Catholic Feminist's Invitation to Live Boldly, Love Your Faith, and Change the World by Claire Swinarski.
8. Dhampir by Barb & JC Hendee.
9. Jean De Florette And Manon Des Sources by Marcel Pagnol.
10. Waking Up Wed by Christy Jeffries.
11. Her So Called Fiance by Abby Gaines. No cover.
Physical Book Freebies
1. Who's Afraid Of Jane Austen? by Henry Hitchings.
Gift.2. Wounds by Maureen Duffy.
Gift.3. The Cambridge Companion to Medieval English Mysticism edited by Samuel Fanous & Vincent Gillespie.
Gift.4. The Web of Days by Edna Lee.
Gift.5. Cheri and The Last of Cheri by Colette. Different cover.
6. Eva Luna by Isabel Allende.
7. Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers.
8. Five Miles From Outer Hope by Nicola Barker.
9. Longbourn by Jo Baker.
10. The Devil On Lammas Night by Susan Howatch. No cover. Gift.
11. The Mallen Girl by Catherine Cookson. I have been lazy and added an edtion i don't have. Gift.
12. Kitty and Virgil by Paul Bailey.
Gift.13. Out of Africa and Shadows on the Grass by Karen Blixen/ Isak Dinesen.
14. A Winter in Majorca by George Sand.
Gift.15. Sleep No More: Six Murderous Tales by PD James.
Gift.16. On Liturgical Asceticism by David W. Fagerberg.
Gift.17. Eucharistic Mystery by David N. Power.
Gift.18. Down Among the Women by Fay Weldon.
Gift.19. The Crusader by Michael Alexander Eisner.
Gift.20.
21. The Slow Train to Milan by Lisa St. Aubin de Terán.
22. Scars on the Soul by Françoise Sagan.
23. Confessio Amantis by John Gower.
24. A Traveller In Time by Alison Uttley.
25. Body Surfing by Anita Shreve.
26.
Kindle Freebies
1. Savage Devil by Josie Max.
2. Love, Comment, Subscribe by Cathy Yardley.
First Read.3. Power Play by Alley Ciz.
4. The Boys down South by Abbi Glines.
5. Loyalty and Lies by L.A. Cotton.
6. Sugar Kisses by Addison Moore.
7. Sidelined by A.M. Hargrove.
8. Inevitable by Mica Rae.
9. Beautiful Criminal by M.N. Forgy.
10. The Better Bully by Roxanne Tully.
Kindle Purchases
1.
2. Alpha Bully by Renee Rose.
3. Endgame Romance by C. M. Stunich.
Pre-order.4. A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole.
5. Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert.
6. By Sin I Rise: Part Two by Cora Reilly.
Pre-order.7. Forbidden to Love: A Stand-alone Dark Mafia Second Chance Forbidden Romance by Siobhan Davis.
Pre-order.8. Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality by Helen Joyce.
9. This Day by Blanka Lipińska.
Pre-order for 2022.10. Serpents by Logan Fox.
93. A Death in Tuscany by Michele Giuttari.
4 stars. Police procedural set in Florence. Second in the series. I enjoyed it. It reminds me of Donna Leon.
On TBR since 27/07/2020.
94. The Vagenda: A Zero Tolerance Guide to the Media by Holly Baxter and Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett.
3 stars. An amusing look at the woman's magazine industry which goes through many of the reasons that I stopped reading them while still in my teens.
On TBR since 25/07/2020.
95. Becoming Jane Austen by Jon Spence.
3 stars. I enjoyed this but I am not totally convinced about his central thesis about Tom Lefroy. A little bit speculative in places.
On TBR since ? My copy was published in 2007 and I definitely had it in 2015.
96. Miss Mole by E.H. Young.
4 stars. I really, really enjoyed this book until the end of the book. I wanted the heroine to be happy but wish she had been able to use her imagination to do so.
On TBR since 02/10/2020.
97. Medicine Women: A Pictoral History of Women Healers by Elisabeth Brooke.
2 stars. Interesting but not something I want to keep.
On TBR since 22/09/2018.
98. Celestina by Fernando de Rojas.
4 stars. Written circa 1499 this is a play/novel featuring courtly love, favours sought from a procuress/hymen restorer/witch and pretty much everyone dies.
On TBR since 01/09/2020.
99. Bath Tangle by Georgette Heyer.
4 stars. I remember being a little disappointed with this book the first time I read it as I wanted more of the plot to revolve around the will; however each time I read it I enjoy it more and more. I love the interaction between the main characters and wish there was more of it. I also wish I knew why they split up 6 years ago as Heyer is vague about why.
On TBR since ? last read 09/02/2011.
100. Collected Poems: 1945-1990 by R.S. Thomas.
4 stars. Recommended if you like poetry about Wales or religion and don't like machines. Often bitter but beautiful.
On TBR since ? I have read most of this, if not all, before but I am baffled by where I bought this book. Possibly I bought it while at university so before 2005?
I have climbed Everest!
Mount TBR 2021
Books mentioned in this topic
Colton Under Fire (other topics)Serpents (other topics)
This Day (other topics)
Body Surfing (other topics)
Traveller in Time (other topics)
More...
For my previous books read see "When not in Narnia Karen wants to climb Kilimanjaro!"
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
and "When not in Narnia Karen wants to climb El Toro!"
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...