You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

Instructions and Rules

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Badge One - Themes

📍B - Books about books - What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama - Read 19 Feb
📍C - Childhood - The Good Teacher by Petronella McGovern - Read 5 Jan
📍D - Dogs - Seven Perfect Things by Catherine Ryan Hyde - Read 11 Feb
📍F - Fantasy - The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley - Read 3 Jan
📍G - Ghosts - The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden - Read 18 Jan
📍H - History - Life Along the Silk Road by Susan Whitfield - Read 16 Feb
📍L - Love - Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez - Read 21 Feb
📍M - Mythology - Medea by Rosie Hewlett - Read 20 Jan
📍N - Nature - The Overstory by Richard Powers - Read 2 Feb
📍P - Pirates - Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton - Read 3 Feb
📍R - Religion - Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood - Read 27 Jan
📍S - Survival - Dead of Winter by Darcy Coates - Read 30 Jan
📍T - True Crime - Suburban Noir: Crime and mishap in 1950s and 1960s Sydney by Peter Doyle - Read 12 Feb
📍V - Villainy - Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind - Read 15 Feb
📍W - Women - The Women by Kristin Hannah - Read 23 Jan

Badge 2 - List Five
PLANNING

📍A- Airplane – Time Zone by Elyse Douglas - Read 23 Feb

📍B- Butterfly - Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty - Read 6 Mar

📍C- Chair – Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi - Read 20 Mar

📍D- Dishes – Two Down, Bun to Go by H.Y. Hanna - Read 17 Mar

📍E- Elephant - The Architect's Apprentice by Elif Shafak - Read 5 Apr

📍F- Fruit – The Secret World of Connie Starr by Robbi Neal - Read 27 Mar

📍G- Gate - Haunted Ground by Irina Shapiro - Read 27 Feb

📍H- Horse – Dancing with Dandelions by Kelly Cameron - Read 28 Feb

📍I- Insect – The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri - Read 2 Apr

📍J- Jewel/Jewelry - The Lost Jewels by Kirsty Manning - Read 16 Mar

📍K- Key – The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley - Read 22 Mar

📍L- Lighthouse – The Keepers of the Lighthouse by Kaye Dobbie - Read 21 Mar

📍M- Mansion – In the Shadow of Power by Viveca Sten - Read 31 Mar

📍N- Night Sky – The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo - Read 2 May

📍O- Orange Fruit - Sunshine by Kim Kelly - Read 3 Mar

📍P- Picture within a picture – In the Dead of Night by Greg Haddrick - Read 2 Mar

📍Q- Quilt – Frayed Edges: A Quilting Cozy by Carol Dean Jones - Read 28 Mar

📍R- Rose - The Rose and the Pomegranate by Leah Toole - Read 13 Mar

📍S- Sky (50% of cover - Dying Fall by Elly Griffiths - Read 26 Feb

📍T- Tea Cup – Tea with Milk and Murder by H.Y. Hanna - Read 25 Feb

📍U- Umbrella – Lake of Widows by Liza Perrat - Read 26 Mar

📍V- Vase with flowers – Together We Fall Apart by Sophie Matthiesson - Read 13 Apr
- Read 13 Apr
📍W- Water - Murder at Land's End by Sally Rigby - Read 7 Mar

📍Y- Yacht - In the Name of Truth by Viveca Sten - Read 8 Apr

📍Z- Zeppelin - Realm of Ice and Sky: Triumph, Tragedy, and History's Greatest Arctic Rescue by Buddy Levy - Read 12 Mar

Badge 3 - List Six - Specified Location
PLANNING

📍A- Alaska - A Storm of Infinite Beauty by Julianne MacLean - Read 9 May - 4*
📍B- British Columbia - Still Missing by Chevy Stevens
📍C- Congo - Tram 83 by Fiston Mwanza Mujila - Read 12 May - 4*
📍D- Detroit – Babysitter by Joyce Carol Oates
📍E- Egypt - Palace Walk by Naguib Mahfouz
📍F- France - A Life: The Humble Truth by Guy de Maupassant
📍G- Georgia US - Sanctuary by Nora Roberts
📍H- Hawaii – Torch Ginger by Toby Neal
📍I- Iceland – The Island by Ragnar Jónasson Read 8 May - 5*
📍J- Jamaica – Augustown by Kei Miller
📍K- Kenya - One of Them: My Life Among the Maasai of Kenya by Eti Dayan
📍L- London - Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf - Read 16 May - 3*
📍M- Moscow - The Winter Queen by Boris Akunin
📍N- Nevada - What Really Happens in Vegas: True Stories of the People Who Make Vegas, Vegas by James Patterson
📍O- Oslo – The Redbreast by Jo NesbøHangman's Gap
📍P-Pakistan – Under the Tamarind Tree by Nigar Alum (kindle) or the Golden Legend by Nadeem Aslam
📍Q- Queensland, Australia – Hangman's Gap by Rachel Amphlett
📍R- Rome – Daughters of Rome by Kate Quinn
📍- Tuscany – Last Night at Villa Lucia by Simon McCleave
📍U- Ukraine – Grey Bees by Andrey Kurkov
📍V- Venice - The Venice Hotel by Tess Woods - Read 9 May - 4*
📍W- Wisconsin – Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner
📍Y- Yellowstone - Back of Beyond by C.J. Box
📍Z- Zurich - The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera

Badge 4 - List 7

PLANNING for List 7

📍A- Away – Away with the Fairies by Phyrnne Fisher
📍B- Black - Black Lies by Mercedes Mercier
📍C- Crow - Crow Lake by Mary Lawson
📍D- Dark - In the Dark by Cara Hunter
📍E- Evening – The Darkest Evening by Ann Cleeves
📍F- Fortune - The Fortune of the Rougons by Emile Zola
📍G- Girl - The Post Office Girl by Stefan Zweig
📍H- Hand – The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula Le Guin
📍I- Island - Island in the East by Jenny Ashcroft
📍J- June – Three Days in June by Anne Tyler
📍K- Kind – The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson
📍L- Lord – Lord of Light by Roger Zelany
📍M- Murder – Murder in Montparnasse by Kerry Greenwood
📍N- Name - My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
📍O- Opal – the Opal Desert by Di Morrissey
📍P- People – the Frozen People by Elly Griffiths
📍Q- Quiet - On a Quiet Street by Seraphina Nova Glass
📍R- Rain - The Promise of Rain by Vasundra Tailor
📍S- Silver - Song of Silver, Flame Like Night by Amelie Wen Zhao
📍T- Tree - Willow Tree Bend by Kaye Dobbie (Library e-book}
📍U- Under - The Little Antique Shop Under the Eiffel Tower by Rebecca Raisin
📍V- Valley – Valley of Grace by Marion Halligan (Library e-book)
📍W- West
📍Y- Young
📍Z- Zebra or Zero - Zero Days by Ruth Ware

Badge 5 - Lists 3 & 4 (both female and male authors)

PLANNING for Lists 3 & 4

📍A-
📍B-
📍C-
📍D-
📍E-
📍F-
📍G-
📍H-
📍I-
📍J-
📍K-
📍L-
📍M-
📍N-
📍O-
📍P-
📍Q-
📍R-
📍S-
📍T-
📍U-
📍V-
📍W-
📍Y-
📍Z-

1. Badge 1, Book 1
2. Badge 1, Theme Fantasy
3. The Watchmaker of Filigree Street
4. 336 Pages - kindle edition
5. Read a book with the theme of Fantasy
6. This book is a fantasy with elements of steampunk set in 1880's London, exceeded my expectations. Though a little slow to start, it drew me in and was a very enjoyavble read. The plot is complex and detailed and needs to be read carefully and savoured to get the most out of it. MPG Fantasy.

Way to go. Have a great reading year. :)

Janice wrote: "Way to go. Have a great reading year. :)"

Thanks, Janice. I am looking forward to it!

1. Badge 1, Book 2
2. Badge 1, Theme Childhood
3. The Good Teacher
4. 432 pages - paperback edition
5. Read a book with the theme of childhood
6. Gracie Branson is 5 years old and recently started at a new school. She needs some extra care and attention. Gracie not only recently lost her mother and home in a bushfire but is also undergoing chemotherapy for a rare cancer. Things are not what they seem in this mystery/thriller. The book covers Gracie's childhood during a turbulent time in her life.

1. Badge 1, Book 3
2. Badge 1, Ghosts
3. The Warm Hands of Ghosts
4. 379 pages - paperback edition.
5. Read a book with the theme of Ghosts
6. Ghosts in this book play a significant role in exploring the themes of grief, trauma (Laura's mother appears as a ghost), and the blurred lines between life and death. The ghosts also represent the lingering memories and unresolved emotions of the soldiers. MPG Paranormal
I had set my expectations very high, and still an amazing 4.5* read.

1. Badge 1, Book 4
2. Badge 1, Mythology
3. Medea
4. 432 pages
5. Read a book with the theme of mythology
6. The novel is a retelling of the Greek myth of Medea, focusing on her life and the challenges she faces. MPG Mythology.
It was an impressive 5 star read for me.

I'm glad you enjoyed it, Odette.

Thanks, Janice. The books I have read so far for this challenge have all been great. The themes took me out of my comfort zone and chose books I may not have otherwise read. Looking forward to reading the rest.

1. Badge 1, Book 5
2. Badge 1, Women
3. The Women
4. 471 pages
5. Read a book with the theme of women
6. This book is about women in a male dominated world and their survival in war and on their return.
A 5 star read for me.
Janice, I highly recommend this book and am sure you will enjoy reading it and discussing it with your book club.

I'm looking forward to it.

1. Badge 1, Book 6
2. Badge 1, Religion
3. Stone Yard Devotional

4. 320 pages
5. Read a book with the theme of religion
6. This book is about a woman who leaves her city life to join a small religious community in New South Wales. She adjusts to the rhythms of monastic life, attending church services, doing chores, and tending the garden. The book explores the theme of religion, and also death, forgiveness, and grief. MPG Religion

1. Badge 1, Book 7
2. Badge 1, Survival
3. Dead of Winter
4. 341 pages
5. Read a book with the theme of survival
6. What a ride! Horrific, gruesome and creepy, but at the same time compelling me to keep going.
The characters who had been travelling together in tour group are forced to fight for survival. A snowstorm traps them in an abandoned hunting cabin in the snowy Rocky Mountains. One by one members of the group are being murdered in a gruesome fashion. The characters must learn to survive in isolated conditions and decide who they can trust.
MPG Survival

1. Badge 1, Book 8
2. Badge 1, Nature
3. The Overstory
4. 502 pages
5. Read a book with the theme of nature
6. This book explores the relationship between nature, in particular trees, and humans. MPG Nature
It is was a bit of a marathon getting through this lengthy book, but well worth the effort. I liked the writing and the stories about the characters. It is a book that cannot be read too quickly, needing to be savoured and thought about. However, the book did seem a little long to me, and lost some interest in the second half.

You did well to persevere. I bailed on my nature book last night and will start a replacement tonight.

Janice wrote: "You did well to persevere. I bailed on my nature book last night and will start a replacement tonight."

Did you start this book as well? I found Bewilderment, a later book by the same author more to my liking. It is nearly 200 pages shorter, and covers the nature theme.
I think The Overstory, needed more investment of time for me to fully appreciate it.

1. Badge 1, Book 9
2. Badge 1, Pirates
3. Pirate Latitudes
4. 312 pages
5. Read a book with the theme of pirates
6. This book is an adventure story about a notorious pirate/privateer called Hunter, who with the knowledge of the Governor of Jamaica, set out to raid a Spanish treasure galleon. MPG Pirates
This was fast paced read with a lot of action, involving fighting, naval battles, rescues, double crossing etc., set in the context of that period of history.

Odette wrote: "
Did you start this book as well? I found Bewilderment, a late..."

I'm reading Broken Bayou as the replacement for my nature book.

1. Badge 1, Book 10
2. Badge 1 - Dogs
3. Seven Perfect Things

4. 318 Pages
5. Read a book with the theme of dogs
6. This was a nice feel good read, which involved the rescue of seven puppies by a young girl, Abby. She has an unhappy home life and caring for them gives her strength and purpose. They also bring Abby together with Elliot, a reclusive widower. MPG Dogs

1. Badge 1, Book 11
2. Badge 1, True Crime
3. Suburban Noir: Crime and mishap in 1950s and 1960s Sydney
4. 352 pages
5. Read a book with the theme of true crime
6. The author relates incidents, including a couple of infamous crimes that took place in suburban Sydney in the 1950s and 1960s. It is a snapshot of everyday life and crime at that time in a location I am familiar with. MPG True Crime

1. Badge 1, Book 12
2. Badge 1, Villainy
3. Perfume: The Story of a Murderer
4. 263 pages
5. Read a book with the theme of villainy
6. The novel explores the nature of evil through the protagonist, Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, who is driven by his obsession with scent. It raises questions about the nature of evil, whether it is a question of nurture or nature. This was a bit different from what I usually read and found it to be a thought provoking and interesting read.

1. Badge 1, Book 13
2. Badge 1, History
3. Life Along the Silk Road
4. 253 pages
5. Read a book with the theme of history
6. This book is about the eastern Silk Road between 750 and 1000CE. It concentrates on ten individuals who live at different times during this period, and relates its history through their personal experiences. MPG History.
I had a couple of false starts with this theme, and pleased that I read this book. It was a fascinating read, with more than I imagined happening in this area at the time

1. Badge 1, Book 14
2. Badge 1, Books about Books
3. What You Are Looking For Is in the Library
4. 304 pages
5. Read a book with the theme of Books about Books
6. This book, highlights the power of books and libraries and how reading can provide guidance and inspiration. Librarian Komachi can sense exactly what the five characters are looking for in life. She provides just the book recommendation they never knew they needed to help them find it.
I really enjoyed this heartwarming story.

One to go! I think I'll be posting a few badges before the toppler.

Janice wrote: "One to go! I think I'll be posting a few badges before the toppler."

Making good progress with the last one. Should be finished by start of toppler.

1. Badge 1, Book 15
2. Badge 1, Love
3. Love in the Time of Cholera
4. 348 Pages
5. Read a book with the theme of love
6. Love is the novel's most prominent theme and suggests that lovesickness is an illness, a plague comparable to cholera. Florentino Ariza suffers from lovesickness as one would suffer from cholera, enduring both physical and emotional pains as he longs for Fermina Daza.
This was a long listen compared to the number of pages! I have been meaning to read this book for while. I enjoyed the author's style of writing and language used. Though some aspects were a bit confrotational, they were most probably relatable to the time of the setting.

Congrats on finishing Badge 1. :) Which list will you tackle next?

Thanks, Janice.
As I like a challenge I am going to tackle List 5. Followed then by 6 and 7. If I do exceed my expectations will come back to List 2.

1. Badge 2, Book 1
2. Badge 2, Airplane
3. Time Zone
4. 353 pages
5. Read a book with an airplane on cover
6. Airplane on cover

This is the third Elyse Douglas (husband and wife writing team) book I have read. I find these time travel books fun and easy to read.

1. Badge 2, Book 2
2. Badge 2, Tea Cup
3. Tea with Milk and Murder
4. 318 pages
5. Read a book with a tea cup on the cover
6. Tea Cup on Cover

A cosy mystery with some eccentric characters and a cat with personality

1. Badge 2, Book 3
2. Badge 2, Sky (50% of cover)
3. Dying Fall
4. 405 pages
5. Read a book with sky on the cover
6. 50% of cover is sky

This is the 5th book in the Ruth Galloway series. The main character is a forensic archaeologist

1. Badge 2, Book 4
2. Badge 2, Gate
3. Haunted Ground
4. 357 pages
5. Read a book with gate on cover
6. Gate on cover

Janice, my expectations were perhaps too high, and did not enjoy it as much as other books I have read by the same author

I have a couple of her books to read. The premises always sound so good.

Janice wrote: "I have a couple of her books to read. The premises always sound so good."

It was just this one, felt a little bit off to me.
I read some time ago, books from the author's Hands of Time series, and enjoyed them. More recently read the first book in her Redmond and Haze series, had a good premise and was a 4 star read for me

Ah, so just an off book perhaps. That happens. I'm currently reading a dud in the series I'm working on. If it was book 1, I wouldn't continue with the series, but it's book 8,

1. Badge 2, Book 5
2. Badge 2, Horse
3. Dancing with Dandelions
4. 222 pages
5. Read a book with horse on cover
6. Horse on cover

1. Badge 2, Book 6
2. Badge 2, Orange fruit
3. Sunshine
4. 211 pages
5. Read a book with orange fruit on the cover
6. Oranges on cover

This is a beautifully written historical fiction set in the aftermath of World War 1 in an imaginary town along the Darling River. Four people who have served in the war come together in the area. Issues such as the unsustainable Soldier Settlement farms, the treatment of indigenous soldiers who served in the Light Horse Brigade and the general treatment of damaged people in that era.
It is a 5 star read for me.

1. Badge 2, Book 7
2. Badge 2, Picture within a Picture
3. In the Dead of Night
4. 328 pages
5. Read a book with a picture within a picture on cover
6. Picture within picture on cover

This is a fascinating true crime story, the death of two people in their early seventies in a remote alpine location just prior to Covid. The prime suspect is a Jetstar (major airline in Australia) check captain.
Details are provided about the process of investigation during Covid lockdowns, arrest and trial. They are very detailed and all the information did not appear in the press at the time. This was a 5 star read for me.

1. Badge 2, Book 8
2. Badge 2, Butterfly
3. Here One Moment
4. 512 pages
5. Read a book with a butterfly on cover
6. Butterfly on cover

Liane Moriarty's style of writing appeals to me and have read a number of her books. However, this one was not one of my favourites.

1. Badge 2, Book 9
2. Badge 2, Water
3. Murder at Land's End
4. 248 pages
5. Read a book with water on the cover
6. Water on cover

Not my original choice, which I am on a waiting list at Library for. This is the 3rd book I have read in this series, and love the settings of these books in Cornwall.

1. Badge 2, Book 10
2. Badge 2, Zeppelin
3. Realm of Ice and Sky: Triumph, Tragedy, and History's Greatest Arctic Rescue
4. 384 pages
5. Read a book with a zeppelin on the cover
6. Zeppelin on cover

Another book which was not my original choice. This was a very fascinating read about the exploration of the north polar regions. It includes the stories of three different Arctic campaigns, the use of airships and the rivalry between Amundsen and Nobile.
A five star read for me.

1. Badge 2, Book 11
2. Badge 2, Rose
3. The Rose and the Pomegranate
4. 414 pages
5. Read a book with a rose on the cover
6. Rose on cover

An alternate history set in the Tudor period. Arthur, Henry VII's brother does not die and rules England instead. Interesting proposition, but a lot of characters differing from the historical facts to keep track of. As I prefer the historical fiction based on true facts of that era better, 3 stars for me.

1. Badge 2, Book 12
2. Badge 2, Jewel/Jewelry
3. The Lost Jewels
4. 368 pages
5. Read a book with jewelry on the cover
6. Jewelry on the cover

This historic fiction book is based on the real find of jewellery in London known as the Cheapside Hoard. It is told from several different perspectives across a few centuries. It was a very interesting and enjoyable read.

1. Badge 2, Book 13
2. Badge 2, Dishes
3. Two Down, Bun to Go
4. 352 pages
5. Read a book with dishes on the cover
6. Dishes on the cover

This is the third book in the Oxford Tearoom Mysteries Series. It is a great series with memorable characters and interesting mysteries.

That sounds like a fun series.

It certainly is and will be reading more. Just have to try and fit them in! There is also the English Country Garden Mysteries series by the same author.