Play Book Tag discussion

The air this morning has a touch of that fall briskness that I have been waiting for! I could almost smell the pumpkin spice latte!

And, you know what that means....it is time to READ HOLIDAY THEMED BOOKS!!

We will once against be hosting our totally laid back, pop in and out as you would like, be creative with your holidays/seasons Fall Flurry of Holidays Challenge for October/November/December.

Some suggestions are:
October -- Halloween, scary, Canadian Thanksgiving, autumn setting, etc.
November -- Thanksgiving, Veterans' Day, Native American themed, etc.
December -- Christmas, Hanukkah, winter themed, etc.

Can you think of something else? We are open to that too! Especially for you southern hemisphere participants who are looking out onto summer weather.

Each month, I will start one thread under the 2021 Activities and Challenges Folder for all reviews for that month, which worked excellently in previous years.

For each review you post, you will get a participation point. BUT, be sure to cross post in the Monthly Tag or Monthly Other reads folder to get those participation points too. Basically, this is just a bonus :)

I will be adding these books to the "Fall Flurry of Holidays 2021" shelf, but feel free to give me a hand if you want to shelf your own books.

So, without further ado, let's discuss the books we plan to read! Because planning is one of the best parts.

I will be "playing"!

In October, I will, of course, read for Halloween, as I love horror books.

Some options for me include:
The Terror by Dan Simmons
The Husband by Deam Koontz
Chills by Mary SanGiaovanni

In November, I always read for Remembrance Day. I think this is what I will read at that point:
On Desperate Ground: The Marines at The Reservoir, the Korean War's Greatest Battle by Hampton Sides

December is always the hardest for me, as I rarely have any Christmas themed books. I might use "Chills" as mentioned above for December (winter) instead of using it in October, since I have a few choices for October.

For Me, October is The Hour of the Witch, and the Once and Future Witches. Which, if feminist is picked, qualifies!!!!!!

I'm thinking of using Hispanic Heritage Month for October, will that work?

Perhaps my absolutely favorite challenge! Especially December and Christmas...which of course surprises no one here.😂😂😂

Something to add to December is Hygge - and there are all kinds of books being published about it and featuring it. Hygge is also a great way to celebrate all our homecomings from our year of Flying the PBT Skies!
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cul....

I think I am leaning deep into cozy mysteries for this year's Flurries as my cozy mystery reading is way down. A few non-cozies will sneak in to amuse me too.

Just a few I have waiting in the wings:

October

Masquerade Murder: A Victoria Town Mystery Novella
Haunted Hibiscus
Black Cat Crossing: A Collection of 11 Cozy Mysteries to Celebrate Halloween
Vampires, Bones and Treacle Scones

November

Shopping for a Turkey
Overkilt
Murder at Plimoth Plantation

December

The Hygge Holiday
The Darling Dahlias and the Poinsettia Puzzle
Ho-Ho-Homicide
Sleigh Bells and Sleuthing: A Collection of 16 Cozy Mystery Novellas Featuring Female Sleuths
A Merry Murder at St. Bernard Cabins
Sugar Cookie Murder

Booknblues wrote: "I'm thinking of using Hispanic Heritage Month for October, will that work?"

Yep.

Definitely reading The Matzah Ball for December. Holly, Shelley, and Sally - you in? Also have a few others planned for November and December. I do think November will be Autumn Throne, to finish the Trilogy.

I look forward to the Fall Flurries each year.

I usually read something about Autumn, but this year planning on scary for October, which I rarely read normally, but I own a copy of this one, which is described as gothic horror:
The Magician by W. Somerset Maugham

For November, I tend to read for Veteran's Day, usually a non-fiction. I am debating among these, which I already own:
Operation Mincemeat: How a Dead Man and a Bizarre Plan Fooled the Nazis and Assured an Allied Victory
The True Story of the Great Escape: Stalag Luft III, March 1944
The Cloudbuster Nine: The Untold Story of Ted Williams and the Baseball Team That Helped Win World War II
When Books Went to War: The Stories that Helped Us Win World War II
Indianapolis: The True Story of the Worst Sea Disaster in U.S. Naval History and the Fifty-Year Fight to Exonerate an Innocent Man

For December, I usually read a book related to Winter. This year I am considering:
The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah
The Wolves of Winter by Tyrell Johnson
I will be looking at others as well, but these are my initial thoughts.

October .... Hispanic Heritage Month runs Sep 15 - Oct 15 (and I think it gets overlooked because of that mid-month setting, but ...) So glad to see that BooknBlues mentioned it above.

I just checked one of those sites that lists all the weird holidays-

Oct 3 is World Animal Day
Oct 11 is Columbus Day
Oct 15 is Durga Puja 2021: Durga Puja is a famous Hindu festival mostly celebrated with great enthusiasm and zeal in the states of West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Odisha and Bihar. It is believed that this festival exemplifies the victory of good over evil

I don't usually participate in all the months, but this I am going to give it a try.

I've only looked as far ahead as October so far, but these are the spooky books on my radar that I'm planning to pitch to my book club reading buddy:

Pym by Mat Johnson – fits the "Antarctica" tag which is the last one I need to have traveled all seven continents, so if I don't get to it in October I'm planning to read it in November

The Lost Village by Camilla Sten

Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi

I'm hoping to pick something Native American-themed for November, but I haven't investigated yet. Also I've still got Dune lurking on my trim list, so I'm trying to make room for it in November/December. I was hoping to get to it before the movie came out, but the release date/platform has fluctuated so much I've stopped trying to factor that in to my plans!

Last year I was going to do a Nov read for Veteran's Day and it didn't happen. I started but didn't get far. I may restart it and try again this year.

I'm thinking a Practical Magic book for Oct.

Nov, the book I tried to read last year, The Things They Carried

And December there is so much to choose from! I fun cute Debbie Macomber or similar.

WooHoo! My favorite challenge of the year! I have been making my list for months now. Here we go...

October
The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman -- YES! I love these books. Perfect for October.
The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling
Everyone Knows Your Mother Is a Witch by Rivka Galchen

November
I always struggle with this month. I think I may cheat just a bit and do a play on Veterans Day and read Bunker Hill: A City, a Siege, a Revolution. by Nathaniel Philbrick. Were American Revolutionaries veterans?!?

I may try to be better about the spirit of the challenge on that one. It seems like a stretch to me, but we'll see.

December
Oh, the possibilities are endless! As always, I limit my selection to new releases this year.

The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews
Rancher's Christmas Storm by Maisey Yates
The Christmas Pig by J.K. Rowling
Sleigh Bells Ring by RaeAnne Thayne
Snowstorms & Sleigh Bells by Kelley Armstrong
The Mishap by Noelle Adams
A Yuletide Kiss by Madeline Hunter
Dashing Mr. Snow by Jaci Burton
Dear Santa by Debbie Macomber

I'm very excited for the Fall Flurries.

October may be my favorite month. I plan to finally finish off King's Dark Tower series with The Dark Tower. I started this in 1998, took a long break and have been reading at about 1 per year. The last one got weird so we will see how this ends.

I would also like to read Harrow the Ninth and some witch books. I've completed 4 books for Hispanic Heritage so I may keep that for September only.

November- no idea yet but probably something by an indigenous author and possibly something veteran related.

December- definitely continuing the Christmas Paranormal Cozy Mystery series that I started last year, Winter Witches of Holiday Haven. Next up is Holiday Hexes, Maybe a general winter book as well.

November - For mystery fans, I recommend Still Life by Louise Penny. It's the first of a great series, which begins with a murder on Thanksgiving. The small village (in Quebec) setting gives it a cozy mystery feel, but the series overall is very diverse and literate. I love Chief Inspector Armond Gamache.

I think the second book fits winter (as do many of them) so if you like Still Life, you might want to read another one in December. Many of the covers are helpful regarding the season.

If you've already started the series, Glass Houses is about a murder that is discovered right after a Halloween party. It's not a great choice for the first book though.

If you want a book set in Paris, All the Devils Are Here can stand alone I think.

I am excited about this and had a chance to look at a few ideas -

October-
Spooky reads:
The Ninth House
This House Is Haunted
The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
The Third Witch
Hispanic Heritage:
Children of the Land
Daughters of the Stone

November-
Native American Heritage:
A Mind Spread Out on the Ground
Monkey Beach
Election Day:
Rodham
Rage -Bob Woodward
Veterans:
Freedom
War

December-
Christmas:
A Fatal Grace

I've read Still Life, Nancy J so going with Fatal Grace for December

Nicole R wrote: "I always struggle with this month. I think I may cheat just a bit and do a play on Veterans Day and read Bunker Hill: A City, a Siege, a Revolution. by Nathaniel Philbrick. Were American Revolutionaries veterans?!?..."

Yes, they struggled to get paid for it but eventually they did, I believe.

I read Bunker hill and enjoyed it. I see that Philbrick has new one coming out.

I'll definitely be reading something for October & December. Who knows about November- that's the month I always struggle to find something.

October Possiblities:
-I reread #1 of the True Blood series last year, I could continue and read #2.
-The Ex Hex

December Possibilities:
-#2 & #3 in Dash and Lily Series
-This Time Next Year, NYE read
-The Twelve Dates of Christmas
-Seven Days of Us
-Eight Perfect Hours

Booknblues wrote: " Fatal Grace ..."

I remember when I first read A Fatal Grace. I was so immersed in the setting, I felt like it was winter, even though it was in the middle of the summer. When I walked by a window I was surprised for a minute to see so much green outside. I hope you like it.

NancyJ wrote: "Booknblues wrote: " Fatal Grace ..."

I remember when I first read A Fatal Grace. I was so immersed in the setting, I felt like it was winter, even though it was in the middle of the ..."

I like to do that. In California, we frequently have over one hundred degree days, so I love to read a book in a snowy setting and lose myself in it.

Booknblues, election/politics for November is a book idea!

Amy wrote: "For Me, October is The Hour of the Witch, and the Once and Future Witches. Which, if feminist is picked, qualifies!!!!!!"

Good to know!

FYI there is a current giveaway for the new Alice Hoffman Practical Magic sequel. The Book of Magic

NancyJ wrote: "November - For mystery fans, I recommend Still Life by Louise Penny. It's the first of a great series, which begins with a murder on Thanksgiving. The small village (in Quebec) settin..."

I'm working through that series. In the first one, I was confused by mention of Thanksgiving Sunday and the following feast, then I remembered Canadian Thanksgiving is the 2nd Monday in October, not in November as in the US. Makes sense because the harvest season ends sooner. The following book, A Fatal Grace, takes place at Christmas a year later.

Thanksgiving is a plot point in Still Life with Bread Crumbs (totally a coincidence about similar names!) which I remember because I read it on Thanksgiving last year just by accident. I think The Bromance Book Club also takes place from Thanksgiving to Christmas but I'm not sure.

I don't generally do scary, Halloweeny books, but I have A Deadly Education and Harrow the Ninth

Robin P wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "November - For mystery fans, I recommend Still Life by Louise Penny. It's the first of a great series, which begins with a murder on Thanksgiving. The small village (in..."

Ah I forgot about that. I think Americans have read it for November anyway, but Canadians would read it in October.

The Overstory cover looks autumn-like, and I've had it on my TBR for a long time. Does anyone have an opinion or recommendation?

For those of you who enjoy art, I can recommend George W. Bush's book Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief's Tribute to America's Warriors .

Since leaving the presidency, he has been painting portraits which are surprisingly good. This book combines his portraits of injured soldiers with narratives about them. This would be a good book to read in November.

Joi, eight perfect hours is on my December list too! And I have to get all those audios in before I start the Fiery Cross in January. 55 hours means it’s going to be a three month project! I’ll be doing that through March!

Armistice Day or Day of Remembrance - November 11 - is huge in Britain and Europe - so authors from those countries are likely to have books set on that day. For Example, Dorothy Sayers' The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club is set then. I would also consider any books relating to WWI, especially the end of the war, as being good options for November. I seem to recall that the historical fiction novel The Lost Love Letters of Henri Fournier includes Armistice specifically as well as WWI - and while fiction it is based on real people and real events.

Also, in Footnotes there is a recent thread of LatinX authors::
my link text

For Native American - I recommend Winter Counts - an Edgar Nominee in 2021, that while imperfect, is still a good mystery and a really strong look at contemporary reservation life plus a wonderful side plot about efforts to preserve and promote indigenous food for Native American diets.

I just tried to post a URL to an article with classic books for Armistice Remembrance Day in November, and got the Red Notice of Doom saying no such outside links permitted in comments. *sigh* effin spammers and trolls ruining it for rest of us.

Since only 10 books, here they are:
All Quiet on the Western Front
The Return of the Soldier
Parade's End
A Farewell to Arms
The Good Soldier Švejk
Johnny Got His Gun
Birdsong: A Novel of Love and War
The Regeneration Trilogy
A Long Long Way
Journey to the End of the Night Warning: I have never read any of Celine's work in English, and the one novel I did attempt in French was absolutely impossible to comprehend due to his use of slang. I abandonned it which did not help my grade in that French class. I would pick this one up very cautiously.

NancyJ wrote: "

The Overstory cover looks autumn-like, and I've had it on my TBR for a long time. Does anyone have an opinion or recommendation?"

NancyJ, I found a quote from Ann Patchett about The Overstory:
“Autumn makes me think of leaves, which makes me think of trees, which makes me think of The Overstory, the best novel ever written about trees, and really, just one of the best novels, period.” —Ann Patchett

So, you are in good company linking it with Autumn.

I have read it, and I it is about environmental activism. But there are lots of trees, and also natural settings, so the association seems to fit.

Oooh, look what I found in my ebook TBR!

After the Armistice Ball
A Test of Wills

Some more crime fiction set around or after Armistice Day or what will become it:

The Ways of the World
The Second Rider
A Gentleman's Murder
The Three Hostages
Rosa

Joi wrote: "I'll definitely be reading something for October & December. Who knows about November- that's the month I always struggle to find something.

October Possiblities:
-I reread #1 of the True Blood se..."

Joi, I am going to try and get to The Ex Hex too!

NancyJ wrote: "Ah I forgot about that. I think Americans have read it for November anyway, but Canadians would read it in October...."

I was also going to mention that it would fit for Canadian Thanksgiving in October - especially since it's set in Canada! :-)

And someone mentioned that some of the later books in the series would do really well for winter. I've only read the 5th or 6th in that series (in addition to the first one), and I do remember the descriptions of winter and cold being done very well.

Theresa wrote: "Oooh, look what I found in my ebook TBR!

After the Armistice Ball
A Test of Wills

Some more crime fiction set around or after Armistice Day or what will become it:

Maisie Dobbs might work for that too

Theresa wrote: "Oooh, look what I found in my ebook TBR!

After the Armistice Ball
A Test of Wills

Some more crime fiction set around or after Armistice Day or what will become it:

[..."

Is this holiday (or a comparable one) in November for most allied countries?

I've had a Test of Wills on my list for years. I should find it. Thanks!

Joy D wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "

The Overstory cover looks autumn-like, and I've had it on my TBR for a long time. Does anyone have an opinion or recommendation?"
..."

Thanks Joy! I love that quote. I think I'll get it for October.

One of my book groups is reading Stories from Suffragette City in October. Since the stories all take place on the day of the suffragette march in New York , October 23, 1915, I think this fits Fall Flurries for October. (It also fits the feminist tag, if that wins for October.)

@ Ann R-thanks for that list! A book I just started is on that list-putting it on hold until October!

NancyJ wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Oooh, look what I found in my ebook TBR!

After the Armistice Ball
A Test of Wills

Some more crime fiction set around or after Armistice Day or what wil..."
mnd
Armistice Day is a very big day at least in Britain and France where I have been on November 11 and experienced it. Now styled as Remembrance Day so more general celebration of veterans of all wars - often symbolized by wearing a poppy on your lapel. Remember the kerfuffle when our last president opted out of events in France due to rain? That was a major slap in the face to Europe.

BTW After the Armistice Ball is a period mystery.

Wow, it's that time already! I will have to check my want to read shelf here, etc.

Amy wrote: "Definitely reading The Matzah Ball for December. Holly, Shelley, and Sally - you in? Also have a few others planned for November and December. I do think November will be Autumn Throne, to finish t..."

This Matzah Ball?
The Matzah Ball
I think I can be persuaded!

Love it Shelley!

Lady O fans! While there is no new Christmas story centered Lady O and her grandchildren and the village at Christmas, Melissa's and Julian, Viscount Degenham's sweet youthful romance reaches full adult treatment (years later) in The Meaning of Love by Stephanie Laurens. Publication is Oct 14.

It is listed as part of the Lady O Christmas Chronicles series.

Shelly wrote: "Amy wrote: "Definitely reading The Matzah Ball for December. Holly, Shelley, and Sally - you in? Also have a few others planned for November and December. I do think November will be Autumn Throne,..."

Ok, The Matzah Ball looks SUPER CUTE!! Added to my TBR!

Love this fun emerging buddy read…. Holly, Sally, anyone else of course! Can we three persuade you to consider joining?

Of course, Anita! This one is for you!

Okay Amy. Let me know when you begin reading it.

My thinking was that this was for December Fall Flurries. It looks super cute!

I just finished reading María Amparo Escandón's latest book: L.A. Weather

It covers a year in the life of a Mexican-American family in Los Angeles. There are scenes involving Halloween (The three adult daughters go dressed in various Star-Wars themes costumes; the 4-year-old twin girls go dressed as Frida Kahlo and Amelia Earhart); Thanksgiving (big family dinner); and Christmas (gift opening, etc)

Shelly wrote: "Amy wrote: "Definitely reading The Matzah Ball for December. Holly, Shelley, and Sally - you in? Also have a few others planned for November and December. I do think November will be Autumn Throne,..."

I added this to my want to read list. I still remember when I first had Matzah Ball soup. I moved from my teeny, tiny home area (it's grown a lot) to San Francisco and started meeting Jewish people. I had a good friend down the street whose mother made the best Matzah Ball soup I have ever had, bar none. Yes, I know there are those unleavened crackers/bread, but I wish I could still eat that soup. Mmmmmmmm