Gentle SPECTRUMS discussion

Ladies & Gentlemen,

I am carrying over our proposed buddy reading books into a fresh, new topic for the year 2022 so that folders are not clogged. I think it leaves a nice diary of stories we shared together in its particular year: what do you think?

It is November, my birthday month: yay! If we read anything from our list this year, we will keep it in the original "Buddy Reading" folder. If I missed any proposals that have not been read yet, please add them here. This is your group as well as mine: participate any way you like without asking.

To quiet and new members: hello! Please suggest books you plan to read in the months ahead, that someone might read with you in tandem. I deal in only physical books and thus draw from what I own rather than pulling them out of the air. However, our home library is rich in abundance, variety, and heart. Buddy reading is not required to include me. Maybe your selections will shake other members awake. :)

Be well, be happy, be healthy, and safe. Your friend, Carolyn.

Here is our list of book ideas for the year 2022.
May update: please see "Message #20" for our master list from now on. I will still subtract finished books from here.

Series: Sue Grafton 1, Nevada Barr 1, J.K. Rowling 1 (yes, I am last to indulge), Frances Fyfied 1, "Half Light" novel in her name, 'Frances Hegarty'. David Handler 4, P.D. James 1, Rex Stout 3, Agatha Christie "The Big Four", Carlos Luiz Zafón "The Angel's Game".

Various: "Pride And Prejudice", "The House Next Door" Anne Siddons, "The Land Of Stories" Chris Colfer, "Midnight In The Garden Of Good & Evil", "All Creatures Great And Small", "Anne Frank, Diary Of A Young Girl", "Wuthering Heights", "Behind The Scenes At The Museum", "A Dry Spell" Susie Moloney (Winnipeg!), "The Winter People" Jennifer McMahon. I'll save the same Phyllis A. Whitney title for later. "The Starless Sea", "The Dreaming" Barbara Wood, "The Wizard Of Oz".

"Artemis Fowl", "Treasure Island", "The 39 Steps", "Black Beauty", "The Time Machine", "The Mysterious Benedict Society", "The Maze Of Bones", "Lady Of Hay", "The Kitchen God's Wife" Amy Tan, "Prelude To Foundation", "The Phantom Tollbooth", "Garden Spells", "The Dragon Rider" Cornelia Funke, "Eragon", "The Raven Boys", "The Wind In The Willows", "The Canterbury Tales".

Biographies: Margaret Laurence, wildlife activist Biruté M.F. Galdikas "Reflections Of Eden", Anne Murray, Kirk Douglas "My Stroke Of Luck", John Candy, Melissa Gilbert, Goldie Hawn, Jeanne Cooper, Amy Poehler, Elton John "Me", Susan Boyle, Brooke Shields "Then Came The Rain", Nicole Richie, Chelsea Handler.

Friends: a question of what you like best, because I cannot decide myself. I have edited and trimmed this list each time we have read a book that is on it. Do you like that tactic, or does it keep an old list dragging to the bottom of the topic thread?

Can you think of other alternatives? Another way is to maintain this comment number position as a history perhaps. Then, I can occasionally re-post a cleaned-up list.

The story we will read next is “Anne Of Windy Poplars”, fourth in our wonderful Canadian booksets! Kerri & I are game after our current books. What say you, Shirin? Leeanne is keen and will tell us when her order has arrived from her city library.

Leeanne is disinterested in “The Time Machine”. Would anyone else like to join Kerri & I on this huge classic science fiction ride in the near future? Hee hee, that pun was unintended and is delightfully timely! Ack, there is still another reference to time. It is how our world is! I begin to see how important this novel is.

Leeanne will happily join us sometime for “Around The World In 80 Days”. I would like to postpone that adventure because I like to read in order and have “5 Weeks In A Balloon”. It is fortunately unabridged and hopefully translated with good taste.

Leeanne is reading the Maureen Jennings PDF shortly and will have no trouble obtaining the first two novels from her fine city's library. I would like to give Leeanne a chance to finish the first novel. If she likes it, there is only one book ahead of the third mystery, “Poor Tom Is Cold”. There is plenty to read before we proceed.

Leeanne, do comment under Maureen's novella and novel headings as you progress or whenever you finish a story. I would love to see your reactions and opinions freshly, without reading what we wrote. Then we can comment on the updates we see.

Shirin & I read the wonderful Ian Ranking together and have synched our Agatha Christie journeys. Shirin, would you rather read the next Ian Rankin or Agatha Christie next? I am open either way and invite you to break the tie, assuming you feel likewise. We are also interested in “The Angel’s Game” by the late Carlos Luiz Zafón.

Patricia wanted to read “The Starless Sea” with me. I am open to it any time. Patricia was also keen on reading dark fantasy with all interested members.

This is your group. Please make and use folders whether I read the same books or not. I also invite you to create folders in your name, under "Meet The Members". I find it ideal for making notes, lists, and telling us news from your home regions.

Members: the fourth paragraph in message #2 is filled with old & new classics I look forward to reading this year. Let me know if you would like to join me in any of them.

Hi Carolyn,

I quite like the list being edited and trimmed as we go on, though is that time consuming for you to have to keep doing?

I'm looking forward to starting "Anne of Windy Poplars", though my edition has the title "Anne of Windy Willows" - - I read somewhere that there are slight differences between the books, something was cut or edited in the American versions (and the title changed to avoid confusion with "The Wind in the Willows") but allowed to remain the same in British versions - - Australia and New Zealand usually get British versions of books.

"The Starless Sea" sounds good though I don't have a copy yet. I'll have a look on Trade Me and check the library website. What counts as dark fantasy? Sounds interesting!

Tomorrow I will copy and paste from your list the books that I have copies of too, I saw several titles that jumped out, especially "Pride and Prejudice" which I have read before but want to revisit!

Hi Carolyn, Kerri
You have great books on your list Carolyn, I have read a few of "Various", I hope you enjoy them too.

These books are on my list, and whenever you start I'll be happy reading with you. There is no problem reading a few books at the same time. :)
“Poor Tom Is Cold”
Agatha Christie "The Big Four"
“Anne Of Windy Poplars”
"The Mysterious Benedict Society"
“The Time Machine” and "The Invisible Man" Maybe!

Carolyn, both Ian Ranking and Agatha Christie are great, but what do you think about next Tommy and Tuppence "Partners in Crime", I love them. :)
Although I really like to read “The Angel’s Game”, yet couldn't find a copy, I'll let you know when finding it, maybe start to look for the electronic version.

I think these books sound good, I look for the PDF or audio versions, please let me know whenever you want to read them.
"The Starless Sea"
"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" is written by Washington Irving?
I want to start Rick Riordan's books this year with "The Lightning Thief", I see you have another series on your list, "The Maze Of Bones" sounds good.
"Prelude To Foundation" by Isaac Asimov, did you read other books in Foundation Universe Series or this is a start? I never read Isaac Asimov, not sure the order! there are differences in publication order, suggested reading order, chronological, and stories.

Hi Kerri! "American version" does not include North America as a whole. I am trying to get the world out of the habit of saying "American" without "North" to complete the name of our continent. Expressions like "going to America" exclude us, unless you are referring to the United States.

I have no knowledge of a book named with a different tree, switching its contents. Do you know, Leeanne? Maybe read up about the comparison and avoid plot spoilers. We want to discuss the same book and I think you have a good attention for detail like me, unless the change is minute. Maud is easy to buy internationally even in your second-handstore, isn't she? How close is your store?

I enjoy editing down our list. I am glad you don't need me to keep a record of what started out on it. You might create your own folder in "Meet The Members" for lists.

I mentioned "dark fantasy" for Patricia. I avoid violence or sadness. Just out of interest, I have two serious Canadian fantasy series to finish that I don't expect anyone to have. I left off on the second Jodi McIssac, "Into The Fire" and final Guy Gavriel Kay, "The Darkest Road".

I don't think you are notified at your copy of "Where Nests The Water Hen", where I keep giving my finished review. It had not been written when you visited my update about finishing the book. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

We are up to date under your copy of "The House Of Rising Water". I replied under my reading update of "The Plain Old Man", about a day in the city last week-end that was wonderful. Thankfully, Ron & I safely and missed the blizzard I described before heading out and another that evening, when we were back home.

Are you going to your store or other book sources, or should we proceed with your copy?

I can't imagine typing on a Smart Phone. You can log into Goodreads there as a website. Maybe you would see notifications regularly. It is nice to hear from you. I hope we continue our e-mail saga soon. :) I think I am last to read "Pride And Prejudice" but am glad to have company on the momentous journey if you do not mind repeating it.

Good morning, Shirin! If you are free to talk about a book every morning or night that we are reading it, that is good. Unless Kerri is dissatisfied with her copy, I think we four are ready to read “Anne Of Windy Poplars”. Leeanne, please tell us when you have it from your library.

I will gladly read all Agatha Christie books, including non-fiction and romance. “Tommy & Tuppence” is an easy yes. There are so few of them and so many of Hercule. I would like to get another Hercule or two out of the way but if you prefer, we can read “Partners In Crime”. It follows in 1929 anyway, after “The Big Four” and “Mystery Of The Blue Train”. Myself, I prefer to save the best for last if Hercule does not improve a lot, haha.

I myself, will be new to the famous Isaac Asimov and collected several of his novels. “Prelude To Foundation” was written much later but the story was designed to be earlier, so I would like to start there. I do not know if Kerri & Leeanne are interested in “The Invisible Man” but Kerri is excited about reading “The Time Machine” soon. I am glad you are too! There are so many references to it in life and entertainment, I can't wait to see what is in the novel!

Yes, Washington Irving authored “The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow” and “Rip Van Winkle”. I have a kid's book with drawings containing both stories. Darn, I see they are abridged. I hope to find the full books and sell this one. If I do not, I guess I might read these myself to know the stories.

I am checking FantasticFiction.com for the name of the first book in Rick Riordan's other series. I hope I have it and will check the pile by our bed. Some of our books are tall on the floor and do not fit in shelves yet, hahaha! Hm, I do not see "The Lightning Thief". Ron & I have the DVD and enjoyed it. It includes Pierce Brosnan, my hero from the TV detective show “Remington Steele”.

There is no rush. Happily, we have many books in common. Yes, “The Maze Of Bones”, “The Mysterious Benedict Society”, and Ian Rankin will also be awesome.

I would like to read “Tooth And Nail”, following “Anne Of Windy Poplars” and whichever Agatha Christie you prefer. Then “The Time Machine”! It is lovely to hear from you. Please e-mail when you have sent me mail. I am sure I will receive it easily.

This is what Wikipedia says about the "Anne" book:
Montgomery's original title for the book was Anne of Windy Willows, but her US publisher requested that she change the title because of the title's similarities to The Wind in the Willows. Additionally, her publisher requested some cuts to the book, mainly for perceived gory or terrifying content. Montgomery complied, and the edited novel was published in the United States and Canada as Anne of Windy Poplars. Her UK publisher, however, did not see the need for the edits and published the unabridged version under the original title, Anne of Windy Willows -- I don't think the differences will be too drastic, though I am interested to see what the US publishers considered 'gory or terrifying'!

In terms of other possible group reads, I'd add “The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow” to my list as well, and I think I have a copy of “Rip Van Winkle” somewhere, but will have to check. I don't have copy of “The Invisible Man” but would like to read it, so I'll let you know if I find it!

My library does have a copy of "The Starless Sea" so that is an option, if it's still available at the time, or I might come across a copy of my own by then.

Also from your list that I have are:
"All Creatures Great And Small",
"Anne Frank, Diary Of A Young Girl",
"Wuthering Heights"
"Artemis Fowl"
"Treasure Island"
"Black Beauty"
"The Phantom Tollbooth"
and whatever J.K. Rowling books. Some would be rereads but quite a few I have never read before.

I'm glad you enjoyed your day in the city and missed the blizzard too! :)

There is an article online that lists the differences between the versions of the book, so I'll link that in our discussion once we have finished the book. I glanced at it just now but didn't want to read it properly until I have read the book itself. I'll put it here as well in case anyone is interested, but it will have spoilers of course so may be too early to be relevant right now:

http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~FG5M-OGM/...

Even though this novel is in my second boxset, directly given to me from Prince Edward Island, it appears that I have the edited copy! I don't want gore and hope it is not about an animal. I read what we have at home, so my vote is for "Windy Poplars". If the rest of you have "Windy Willows", is that all right with you?

In my update to Shirin, retracted Washinton Irving's stories on discovering I have a children's illustrated abridged book. That might be the case with "The Invisible Man". I will look at it. I hope message #7 was not missed. It added a few things.

Do you three want to be surprised in each format, or do you want me to describe some key differences between "Murdoch Mysteries" in books and on TV? The shows I see are from sporadic years because you get whatever airs on satellite dish, like on cable. I do not know the show by season or in sequence.

The episodes I see once in a while are all fantastic! There are some large story arcs we go back to as well as many individual mysteries. They are all original and compelling.

I know whom William marries and snatches of his single and coupled life. This is what I wonder if you would consider a spoiler to know, or interesting. I am discovering the books along with you. I think I will know how to describe their atmosphere and tone by the third novel, "Poor Tom Is Cold". The show is mysterious, funny, intelligent, and William is portrayed as a science genuis. It is personal and creative instead of a detective or police sort, even though the main setting is their police station.

He solves a lot of cases in the style of "MacGyver", a 1980s TV show I enjoyed. I have not watched the remake. "MacGyver" was using anything on hand in an emergency and I think another message was making do without a gun. "Murdoch Mysteries" is about using the latest innovation of their time period and William inventing some technology too, making it always feel modern. It also succeeds at always clearly looking and sounding Canadian. I hope the books continue to be less confused with the English style.

The only thing I know about the novels is that William marries someone different from the TV shows. I think this is the only area I will find hard to separate, because I dislike this person in the novels but feel that his choice on TV is a match made in Heaven. Otherwise, there is no comparison between the two and enjoying both is easy. Nevertheless, I think we are creating an advantage for ourselves by reading these first and starting the series from the beginning later. Ladies, I wish we could all be together at one of our homes to indulge in it!

I thought of you all last week. The first "Murdoch Mysteries" show I saw was on, for me to relish from the beginning. It is sad but special: a good man who kills the murderer of his cat. He had to be jailed unfortunately but George Crabtree was very sympathetic as a pet person. The only witness to the human killing was "an idiot savant", a lady who only communicated via the perfect models she built of their neighbourhood.

What a first show to see and have me falling in love with it. I love the fluid, artistic way the camera is used too. No wonder it has been on for 16 seasons.

I see the the actor playing George Crabtree (with a Newfie accent that is rare for me to hear!) is a stand-up comedian. I will have to find his acts. I regularly see Yannick Bisson in two car insurance commericals. I enjoyed him in a few of the TV movies with Candice Cameron Burre, of Charlaine Harris' "Aurora Teagarden" mysteries.

Hi everyone. My copy of “Anne of Windy Poplars” just came in at the library so I’m ready to start reading whenever you are!

Yay! I'm ready to start whenever as well! :-)

Do you three want to be surprised in each format, or do you want me to describe some key differences between "Murdoch Mysteries" in books and on TV? -- I would be quite interested in learning some of the key differences. I don't knowing some plot points will make either the show or the books less enjoyable. I would like to know who he marries I think, I'm curious to who it is on the show and the books and if I'll end up having a preference. I wonder if I might end up enjoying the show more than the books, just because it sounds warmer and more character focused, and also because there is so much of it, so plenty of time to bond with the characters.

That episode you described sounds good, it's nice to read about George Crabtree's compassion, even if he still had to imprison someone. Do the supporting characters/colleagues play a bigger role in the show than they have so far in the books? I could imagine you could take the show in some fun directions if it allows itself to branch out a bit, especially if you follow them over more than a decade.

I have no doubt we will keep loving William of the book series, even if the focus stays on a detective crime-solving tone. Actually, at first glance, Yannick Bisson's television William might seem more reserved and formal. I could not picture him leaping upon the stage to dance for an interrogation, haha.

I have probably not seen this series earlier than 2011 but believe his compassion is nonetheless clear right away too. Yes Kerri, we have years to develop nuances and personal touches with his work life. And yes, his colleagues and also the men's wives on TV are a huge part of the "Murdoch" ensemble. They later add a gay inspector and a black lady medical examiner. They pushed the envelope as much as they could for something like 1894.

William being a whiz at honing in on clues is part of the show's star power; using keen observation as well as commonsense about human nature and he brings his collegues in for discussion. They contribute equally, avoiding that "only Nancy Drew could solve it" sense that some shows and books have. Similar to Louise Penny's Chief Armand Gamache, William was haunted by getting things wrong a few times in his past and putting rules above what was right.

His inventiveness really makes his personality shine and show that little boy side we love in the novels. Also, while I will leave us to discover who he does marry in the novels, I will say that on TV, he is in love with Dr. Julia Ogden! He takes until about the year 2015 to marry her and is shy about it! It adds to his vulnerable side.

I noticed something interesting, looking at the first two season's titles: only one seems to be from our books, the sixth show called "Let Loose The Dogs". Therefore the curious with internet or DVD access could watch the first five and probably season 2.

I can't wait to read the next novel because I think it will have its stride and show us how much it will include inventiveness, humour, and the rest of the cast. Leeanne should read the PDF momentarily and decide if she is interested enough to borrow the first novel. A short wait, I think because either she will stop there, or only read one more to catch up to us.

I will add a few books I have in message #2 of this current folder, from Kerri's & Sarah's suggestions. Kerri, you might recall that I erased "The Invisible Man" for lacking an unabridged copy. I have "Dragonrider" by Cornelia Funke. The Anne McCaffrey I have is "If Wishes Were Horses", a short one we are likely to breeze through on our own. I bought a scraggly softcover of the first "Heartland" novel last year, also little, which would please Leeanne.

I add things off & on so do check. If you prefer that I leave a note like this when I edit, I can. I explained to Sarah that it is easier to make matches with my well built home library. Commonalities won't dry up. I frequently score used books but can't download or use libraries seeking specific things, therefore we go by what I have. If folks are game to read something I'm not into, by all means make yourself a discussion folder.

If you make suggestions, just type titles & authors out. We are going to look up the book versions we have anyway. Lists are easier to glance at without links and not stretched out into long paragraphs. I will alphabetize message #2 since we are going to grow it but it is packed neatly. Much like our house needs to be this week!

Hello everyone!
We have two folders for Reading Proposals, right? I think I checked both. Carolyn, I really think we should start to see William's series. :)
Carolyn, I'm happy to see your update on massage 2. I'm so excited to read "The Raven Boys" too! I read "Eragon" and definitely want to read the next! Hooray, you are in the fantasy world, right?. :)
I also have “Poor Tom Is Cold”, "The Big Four" and “Tooth And Nail”, glad to continue these.
Also, Master and Commander and The Wolves of Willoughby Chase from Sarah's list sound interesting, and I never say NO to William Faulkner. :)

Shirin, one list here keeps it easy and clear. We look for matches to my well-varied books because we don't get them free. Yes, I often add new titles. Our group is looking forward to fantasy.

We are waiting for Leeanne to catch-up on Maureen Jennings. She reactivated the "Shipwreck" thread. She is reading "Except The Dying" next month, then has one more book before "Poor Tom Is Cold".

I will happily continue "The Big Four", "Tooth And Nail", "The Mysterious Benedict Society", "Cover Her Face", "The Raven Boys" with you in July. The Canadian challenge restarts Canada Day, July 1st. I am seeing how much Canadiana I fit in. Xoxo, Carolyn.

This is our 2023 master buddy-reading list. They are books I have in unabridged copies. If some author’s books aren’t shown, I do not have them or am uninterested. I reflect the volumes we are at per author.

Please defer to our “Canadian” category ahead of biographies, series, non-fiction, and classics. Sincerely, your hostess, Carolyn.


~ CANADIAN ~

Jann Arden “Feeding My Mother”
John Buchan “The 39 Steps”
Margaret Buffie “My Mother’s Ghost” (Winnipegger!), “The Watcher”
John Candy “Laughing On The Outside”
Michael G. Coney “Celestial Steam Locomotive”
Biruté M.F. Galdikas “Reflections Of Eden” (wildlife activism)
Maureen Jennings “Let Loose The Dogs”
Lyn King “Walking Into The Night Sky” (poetry)
Lake Winnipeg Writers’ Group “Voices: Volume Ten, Number One”
Margaret Laurence “Heart Of A Stranger”, “Dance On The Earth”
Janet Lunn “The Unseen: Scary Stories”
Susie Moloney “A Dry Spell”, “The Thirteen” (Winnipegger!)
Lucy Maud Montgomery “Anne’s House Of Dreams”, “The Blue Castle”, “Along The Shore”, “Among The Shadows”
A.S. Mott “Gothic Ghost Stories: Tales Of Intrigue & Fantasy”
Anne Murray “All Of Me”


~ SERIES ~

Nevada Barr “Track Of The Cat”
S.J. Bennett “The Windsor Knot”
Anne Brashares “The Sisterhood Of The Travelling Pants”
Agatha Christie “The Mystery Of The Blue Train”, “Partners In Crime”, “The Seven Dials Mystery”, “The Murder At The Vicarage”
Cassandra Clare “The Mortal Instruments”, “The Bane Chronicles”
Eoin Colfer “Artemis Fowl”
Chris D’Lacey “The Fire Within”
Melissa De La Cruz “The Isle Of The Lost”
Frances Fyfied “Shadows On The Mirror” and “Half Light” in her real name, Frances Hegarty.
Sue Grafton “A Is For Alibi”
David Handler “The Burnt Orange Sunset”
P.D. James “Cover Her Face”
Sophie Kinsella "Confessions Of A Shopoholic"
Christopher Paolini “Eragon”
Ian Rankin “Tooth And Nail”
Rick Riordan “The Maze Of Bones”, “The Lightning Thief”, “The Sea Of Monsters”
Michael Scott “The Alchemyst”
Trenton Lee Stewart “The Mysterious Benedict Society”
Maggie Stiefvater “The Dream Thieves”
Garcia Stohl “Beautiful Creatures”
Rex Stout “The Rubber Band”
Carlos Luiz Zafón “The Angel’s Game”.


~ VARIETY ~

Kate Atkinson “Behind The Scenes At The Museum”
John Berendt “Midnight In The Garden Of Good & Evil”
Chris Colfer “The Land Of Stories”
Blake Crouch “Recursion”
Anthony Doerr “All The Light We Cannot See”
Barbara Erskine “Lady Of Hay”
Cornelia Funke “The Thief Lord”
Hazel Gaynor “The Cottingley Secret” 2017
John Green “The Fault In Our Stars”
Michael Gruber “The Book Of Air And Shadows”, “The Forgery Of Venus”
Joanne Harris “Chocolat”
James Herbert “Haunted” (David Ash #1)
Khaled Hosseini “The Kite Runner”
Barbara Kingsolver “The Bean Tree”, “Homeland And Other Stories”, “Animal Dreams”, “Pigs In Heaven”
E.L. Konigsburg “The Second Mrs. Gioconda”, “The Mysterious Edge Of The Heroic World”
Katherine Kurtz “Chamber Of Culdi”
Ursual Le Gun “Wizard Of Earthsea”
Kate Mascarenhas “The Psychology Of Time Travel”
Jennifer McMahon “The Winter People” I’ll save the same Phyllis A. Whitney title for later.
Erin Morgenstern “The Starless Sea”
Sōsuke Natsukawa “The Cat Who Saved Books”!
Audrey Niffenegger“The Time Traveler’s Wife”, “Her Perfect Symmetry”
A.J. Pearce “Dear Mrs. Bird”
Kate Quinn “The Alice Network”
Nicole Richie “Priceless”
Anne River Siddons “The House Next Door”
Amy Tan “The Kitchen God’s Wife”, “The Bonesetter’s Daughter”
Donna Tartt “The Goldfinch”
Gemma Townley “When In Rome....” (Sophie Kinsella's Sister ~ what fun)!
Sarah Waters “The Little Stranger”
Barbara Wood “The Dreaming”.


~ BIOGRAPHIES ~

Jeanne Cooper “Not Young, Still Restless”
Kirk Douglas “My Stroke Of Luck”
Goldie Hawn “Goldie: A Lotus Grows In The Mud”
Elton John “Me”
Anna Kendrick “Scrappy Little Nobody”
Amy Poehler “Yes, Please!”
Amy Schumer “The Girl With The Lower Back Tattoo”.


~ NON-FICTION ~

James Bowen “A Street Cat Named Bob”
Bill Dedman & Paul Clark Newell Junior “Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life Of Huguette Clark And The Spending Of A Great American Fortune”
Anne Frank “Diary Of A Young Girl”
James Herriot “All Creatures Great And Small”
Kathleen Jamie “Sightlines”


~ CLASSICS ~

Isaac Asimov “Prelude To Foundation”
Jane Austen “Pride And Prejudice”, “Emma”
Frank L. Baum “The Wizard Of Oz”
Emily Brontë “Wuthering Heights”
Geoffrey Chaucer “The Canterbury Tales”
Wilkie Collins “The Woman In White”, “The Moonstone”
Charles Dickens “A Tale Of Two Cities”, “The Pickwick Papers”
Kenneth Graeme “The Wind In The Willows”
Thomas Hardy “Far From The Madding Crowd”, “Tess Of The D'Urbervilles”
Shirley Jackson “The Woman In Black”, “We Have Always Lived In The Castle”
Norton Juster “The Phantom Tollbooth”
Anna Sewell “Black Beauty: The Autobiography Of A Horse”
Robert Louis Stevenson “Treasure Island”
Mark Twain “The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn”
Jules Verne “10,000 Leagues Under The Sea”!
H.G. Wells “The Time Machine”
Virginia Woolf “Orlando”.

Great job, Carolyn! It's definitely easier to locate books now -- how long did it take to format? Lots of exciting sounding books to choose from!

My copy of "Poor Tom is Cold" finally arrived yesterday, which was a relief. I wasn't sure how much faith to put in the shipping estimation times, but arrived exactly when it said it would, for perhaps the first time in a couple of years -- maybe it's got something to do with the borders reopening? Either way, I'm pleased it's here! :)

My Friends, the reward is in sharing books, dreaming up ideas, and doing a little work that you notice and enjoy! Thank you for your praise and appreciation, dear Kerri. You already know the answer: keeping a text format makes things easy to copy in.

I am having so much fun adding new releases and pleasant reading that will uplift us all. I pray for good news in my life and in yours every day. Positive things to do and see here, with sweet friends, helps the wait and trust in happy outcomes tremendously. Xoxoxoxo to all of you, Carolyn.

Hi everyone!
I just mention the books Carolyn and I have in common to read and I can start reading Thursday whatever books you choose.

CANADIAN (June list)
Maureen Jennings's Let Loose the Dogs
Lucy Maud Montgomery and Margaret Laurence

SERIES
Agatha Christie, Carolyn I didn't read the ones you chose.
Cassandra Clare The Bane Chronicles
Ian Rankin Tooth and Nail
Rick Riordan “The Lightning Thief” I have a few books of this series in Persian.
J.K. Rowling “Harry Potter” I think I have read this about ten times, but will be happy to reread it with you again.
Maggie Stiefvater “The Raven Boys”
Carlos Luiz Zafón The Angel's Game

CLASSICS
Charles Dickens A Tale of Two Cities
Shirley Jackson “The Woman In Black”
Mark Twain The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
H.G. Wells The Time Machine
Virginia Woolf Orlando

VARIETY
Anthony Doerr All the Light We Cannot See
Erin Morgenstern The Starless Sea

Hi Shirin! It is neat, I am reading a study of Margaret Laurence's history and writing style right now, published by the wonderful Clara Thompson in 1975. The next novel I need to read by Margaret is "A Bird In The House". The five books set in the fictional town, Manawaka, have no other connection to each other. But if you would rather read "The Stone Angel", "A Jest Of God", "The Fire-Dwellers" first, I can wait. You blow through books too fast already!

I want to wait for Leeanne on "Let Loose The Dogs" but it won't be long. She only needs to read one more book to catch-up with us! Also, I want to give you a chance to contribute your review or comments on "Poor Tom Is Cold". For Agatha Christie, we said we don't mind reading "The Big Four" by ourselves because it comprises short stories. We can read the next novel together. :)

I think I am in the mood for "The Time Machine", "The Woman In Black", "The Raven Boys", and "The Lightening Thief"! What say you, our dear other group members? Your friend, Carolyn.

P.S. Do you want me to copy our master list in message #20 to a new 2023 folder? Or is this area easy to find anytime?

I just look for other Margaret books and turn out I only have "The Stone Angel".
Of course, we should wait for Leeanne and then read "Let Loose The Dogs" all together :)

I didn't read Agatha Christie in order so I probably pass "The Big Four" and yes, we can read the next novel together. :)
I think its easy to find the list. "The Raven Boys" is good enough. :) Carolyn is "The Woman In Black" for Shirley Jackson or Susan Hill?

I will ask Kerri if she wants to join us for "The Raven Boys", although that girl has read *everything*. She has been busy offline. Leeanne is likely to spot this group entry. I look forward to your catch-up on "Poor Tom Is Cold" anytime. :)

Susan Hill is the horror authoress in question. Do you have the earlier Maggie Stiefvater book called "Lament"? I like beginning with the oldest books I have by each author but it isn't crucial.

Hi!

I just ordered a copy of "The Raven Boys" and it should arrive on a day or two, so I can definitely read that one! 📖😀

Also, for future potential reads, I have several of the books Shirin listed as well:

-Maureen Jennings's Let Loose the Dogs and
Lucy Maud Montgomery

-Harry Potter

-Charles Dickens A Tale of Two Cities

-Mark Twain The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

-H.G. Wells The Time Machine

-Virginia Woolf Orlando

-Anthony Doerr All the Light We Cannot See

Okay, I will make a conversation thread with pleasure. Hope you are both able to chime in daily. :) I do my updating in the morning, central time. Are you obtaining "The Raven Boys" from a library?

I guess I own all of these if Shirin is citing them, haha! I'm in the mood for trying different authors and would like to wait a little for the next Anne Shirley story. I am giving Shirin time to actually say something about "Poor Tom Is Cold", haha and for Leeanne to read that one. Then I am excited to delve into our highly anticipated "Let Loose The Dogs".

Everything else you & Shirin have suggested sounds good to me. I propose after Maggie, finally reading "The Time Machine" and "10,000 Leagues Under The Sea"! :) But I have discovered there is a prequel to that. Should we find the first Captain Nemo beforehand?

I am happy to tell all of you that I own way more classics and popular, more recent books than this. They are merely too many to type. Feel free to use your "Meet The Members" personal folders and this one, to list stuff you are keen to read, if my already owned list isn't long enough. I would "compare books" with you, Kerri but you list thousands that you do not have.

No, I was lucky enough to come across a cheap copy second hand online!

I would be happy to read "The Time Machine" next, it is one I've been interested in for years! I remember loving a movie version I saw, but the book intrigues me even more as things are often more fleshed out or complex in a novel. I'm looking forward to "Let Loose the Dogs" as well.

I will do an updated list of books I have to read. I have lots of classics especially. What is easier for others to navigate do you think? I have an "unread books I own" shelf, that is still a work in progress! But perhaps a list is easier to scan through? I have done some organising of my physical books recently, so now need to update on here which ones I have!

I didn't realise there was a Captain Nemo prequel - do you know which was published first?

Post the link to your shelf here or in your Kerri "Members" folder. I will gladly visit it and so will our friends. Alternatively, clicking "compare books" should hit what we have in common but might not show the shelf names. When you have time to save your list in a Notepad or Word document, paste it here as well.

Fun fact, Shirin is about to read "The Stone Angel" and "The Gargoyle" soon. :)

I will check for e-mail in the morning. I am thrilled to be on-line simultaneously with you before I sign off. Ron works in the morning and we'd better have some couples time before we go to sleep. Xoxo, Carolyn.

Friends, I should add that I have also been craving something really fun, light, and simple. How about the first "Confessions Of A Shopaholic" soon? Xoxo, Carolyn.

I read "10,000 Leagues Under The Sea" years before, think I can find "The Time Machine" and "Confessions Of A Shopaholic" pdf.
Carolyn, It's always a good idea to explore new authors as you may discover remarkable books. I have very much hope for my new author "The Stone Angel" and "The Gargoyle". :)

I am always happy to see you chiming in, Shirin. Kerri & I are considering the prequel to “20,000 Leagues Under The Sea”. I noticed Captain Nemo was introduced earlier. Would you mind please finding us a PDF for “In Search Of The Castaways / The Children Of Captain Grant”? I have not heard of it.

Interestingly, the books besides “20,000 Leagues” that I am very keen to read turns out to be the third Captain Nemo adventure: “The Mysterious Island”, woo hoo!

If you & Kerri feel like reading “The Gargoyle” together, make a thread, or I could put it up for you. It combines a great range of cultures. It so impressive and varied, I can't believe Andrew Davidson researched and wrote about them all!

I look forward to Sophie Kinsella and H.G. Wells next. Yes, my friend, you are the copy procuring queen. :) You bet, I sure am in the mood to try out authors I have not read yet. They deserve to come out of our home shelves! I am already having fun. Hugs, Carolyn.