Lori's Ancestral Challenge - thread 3

This is a school photo that supposedly has some of my Thorntons in it. Wouldn't it be great if the people could be identified. It may be the Becker school. Alternately it could be some of the ones who lived out in the Parham Community. Both schools are located in Monroe County, Mississippi.

My categories are:

1. Johannes Lantz - Around the World.
2. Rev. Stephen Batchelder - Borrowed Books.
3. Rev. Nathan Ward - Christian Classics.
4. Lucinda Virginia Phillips - Series.
5. Godfrey Dearborn - Literary Classics.
6. Richard Thornton - History and Genealogy.
7. John Perkins Historical Fiction.
8. Mary Ann Harris - Children's/YA.
9. Joseph Fowlkes - Non-Fiction.
10. Francis Aldridge - Fiction and Other Literature.

Abandoned reads: Thomas Duke

Category 1: Johannes Lantz - He was the immigrant ancestor for my mother's paternal line. He was probably born in Switzerland. We believe he is the Johannes Landis living in St. Marie aux Mines in the Alsace Region of France. We believe he is the Johannes Lans who sailed on the Phoenix, arriving in Pennsylvania in 1749.



Around the World. One to two books per month. Goal is one book from each country in 10 years. If no acceptable book is found, a magazine, journal article, or article from a reference source may be substituted. (Such an article will count my personal reading around the world challenge, but will not be counted as a book for the category challenge or 75 book challenge.) Fiction and non-fiction are both valid for this category.

1. Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Nigeria) - completed 10 Jan 2017
2. The High Mountains of Portugal by Yann Martel (Portugal) - completed 19 Jan 2017
3. Wife of the Gods by Kwei Qwartey (Ghana) - completed 10 Mar 2017
4. Nile Crossing by Katy Beebe ; illustrated by Sally Wern Comport (Egypt) - completed 21 Jun 2017
5. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (France) - completed 26 Aug 2017
6. A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny (Canada) - completed 31 Oct 2017
7. Death Comes in through the Kitchen by Teresa Dovalpage (Cuba) - completed 31 Dec 2017

Category 2: Rev. Stephen Batchelder - Rev. Stephen Batchelder was minister of the church in Hampton, New Hampshire for awhile. He was a pretty controversial figure. He had four wives. One of them (not the one from whom I descend) is allegedly the inspiration for Hester Prynne. He ended up returning to England, so he was "borrowed" by America for awhile.


This is the tower of All Hallows Staining in London where he's buried.

Borrowed Books - Books I borrowed from a friend.

1. The Fish Can Sing by Halldor Laxness (Iceland) - completed 6 Jan 2017
2. Down by the Riverside by Jackie Lynn - completed 30 Jan 2017
3. The Banks of the Boyne: A Quest for a Christian Ireland by Donna Fletcher Crow - completed 24 Mar 2017
4. The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng - completed 23 Jun 2017
5. White Sand Blues by Vicki Delany - completed 3 Sep 2017

Category 3: Rev. Nathan Ward - He was converted under the teaching of George Whitefield and served as longtime minister of the congregational church in Plymouth, New Hampshire.



Christian Classics - I have a list of older and more modern Christian Classics I'd like to make my way through. I'd like to read about one per month.

1. The Confessions of Saint Augustine by Augustine; translated by Edward B. Pusey - completed 20 Jan 2017
2. Dark Night of the Soul by Saint John of the Cross - completed 28 Feb 2017
3. Intercessory Prayer by Charles H. Spurgeon - completed 21 Jun 2017
4. Holy Bible - New King James Version using The Bible in a Year plan on the You Version Bible app - completed 31 Dec 2017
5.

Category 4: Lucinda Virginia Phillips - Jennie married Josiah Fowlkes. They had 5 children. He died the night before my grandmother was born. She then married John Howell, who had five children by his first wife. Together they had five more. Many of her children married his children.


Incidentally, I own this black dress!

Series - I've got lots of series underway, but I'm not making the headway I need to be making. I also have some on my radar. This category will help keep me on my toes. Most of these will be mysteries.

1. Stake & Eggs by Laura Childs - completed 2 Jan 2017
2. Devonshire Scream by Laura Childs - completed 26 Jan 2017
3. Red Velvet Revenge by Jenn McKinlay - completed 7 Feb 2017
4. The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny - completed 12 Feb 2017
5. By Book or By Crook by Eva Gates - completed 24 Feb 2017
6. A Prayer for the Night by P. L Gaus - completed 28 Feb 2017
7. The Dream Stalker by Margaret Coel - completed 22 Mar 2017
8. Scandal in Skibbereen by Sheila Connolly - completed 29 Mar 2017
9. Eggs in a Casket by Laura Childs - completed 16 Apr 2017
10. Steeped in Evil by Laura Childs - completed 16 May 2017
11. An Echo of Murder by Anne Perry - completed 31 July 2017
12. Death Overdue by Allison Brook - completed 9 Aug 2017
13. Twelve Slays of Christmas by Jacqueline Frost - completed 12 Aug 2017
14. This Side of Murder by Anna Lee Huber - completed 18 Aug 2017
15. How the Finch Stole Christmas by Donna Andrews - completed 23 Sep 2017
16. Murder in Montego Bay by Paula Lennon - completed 14 Oct 2017
17. Going, Going, Ganache by Jenn McKinlay - completed 23 Oct 2017
18. A Murder for the Books by Victoria Gilbert - completed 13 Nov 2017
19. Thin Air by Ann Cleeves - completed 15 Nov 2017
20. The Body in the Casket by Katherine Hall Page - completed 23 Nov 2017
21. A Dedicated Man by Peter Robinson - completed 24 Nov 2017
22. Egg Drop Dead by Laura Childs - completed 2 Dec 2017
23. The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches by Alan Bradley - completed 5 Dec 2017
24. The Curious Case of the Copper Corpse by Alan Bradley - completed 6 Dec 2017
25. Separate from the World by P. L. Gaus - completed 11 Dec 2017
26. A Vicarage Christmas by Kate Hewitt - completed 12 Dec 2017
27. Seven Dead by J. Jefferson Farjeon - completed 17 Dec 2017
28. The Weedless Widow by Deborah Morgan - completed 25 Dec 2017
29. Pekoe Most Poison by Laura Childs - completed 25 Dec 2017
30. The Story Teller by Margaret Coel - completed 27 Dec 2017
31. Too Good to Be True by Ann Cleeves - completed 28 Dec 2017
32. A Cruise to Die For by Charlotte Elkins and Aaron Elkins - completed 29 Dec 2017

Category 5: Godfrey Dearborn - He's the immigrant for most of the Dearborn lines in the United States, settling in Hampton, New Hampshire. He's one of the founders of the town. He's a classic example of a well-researched New England progenitor.



Literary Classics - I anticipate most of these will be American or British authors who are well-studied. I'd like to include some novels, poetry, drama, and maybe some other genres. A few modern classics such as One Hundred Years of Solitude may be included. I also want to draw from the "Authors" card game for this category. I'd like to read at least one work listed on the cards for each of the thirteen individuals.

1. A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson - completed 13 Jan 2017
2. Eight Cousins, Or the Aunt Hill by Louisa May Alcott - completed 14 Feb 2017
3. Selected Poems by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow - completed 15 Feb 2017
4. The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice by William Shakespeare - completed 7 Mar 2017
5. The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe - completed 21 Jun 2017

Category 6: Richard Thornton - Earliest proven Thornton ancestor. We know that he is connected to the Quaker Thornton family of Thomas Thornton and Martha Boykin, but we're not quite certain how to connect the dots on the one or two remaining generations yet. Three of Thomas and Martha's children were loyalists.



History and Genealogy - Books I'm reading in support of my family history research. It can also include books on DNA as applied to genealogy. It can also be any other history book that fits the history category, but I probably won't read too many that don't pertain to my research.

1. Lost Attractions of Sevier County by Tim Hollis and Mitzi Soward - completed 1 Jan 2017
2. Death in Yellowstone: Accidents and Foolhardiness in the First National Park by Lee H. Whittlesey - completed 11 Jan 2017
3. Cabins in the Laurel by Muriel Earley Sheppard - completed 3 Mar 2017
4. The Stranger in My Genes: A Memoir by Bill Griffeth - completed 12 Apr 2017
5. Tips & Quips for the Family Historian by Elizabeth Shown Mills and Ruth Brossette Lennon - completed 29 May 2017
6. The Foundling: The True Story of a Kidnapping, a Family Secret, and My Search for the Real Me by Paul Joseph Fronczak with Alex Tresniowski - completed 29 May 2017
7. Encountering the History of Missions: From the Early Church to Today by John Mark Terry and Robert L. Gallagher - completed 7 July 2017
8. Britain's Tudor Maps: County by County by John Speed; commentaries by Alasdair Hawkyard - completed 11 July 2017
9. Common People: The History of an English Family by Alison Light - completed 14 Sep 2017
10. The Family Tree Cemetery Field Guide: How to Find, Record, & Preserve Your Ancestors' Graves by Joy Neighbors - completed 14 Nov 2017
11. It's All Relative: Adventures Up and Down the World's Family Tree by A. J. Jacobs - completed 27 Nov 2017

Category 7: John Perkins - He arrived on the Winthrop Fleets. Through this immigrant ancestor, I probably have the most connections to historical figures, including one of the "Salem witches."



Historical Fiction - Some of these may be mysteries, but any historical fiction counts.

1. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah - completed 29 Jan 2017
2. Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien - completed 6 Feb 2017
3. Wolf on a String by Benjamin Black - completed 5 Apr 2017
4. The Queen's Vow: A Novel of Isabella of Castile by C. W. Gortner - completed 19 Apr 2017
5. Anna and the Swallow Man by Gavriel Savit - completed 28 Apr 2017
6. War and Turpentine by Stefan Hertmans - completed 3 Jul 2017
7. City of Secrets by Stewart O'Nan - completed 13 Jul 2017
8. The Unquiet Grave by Sharyn McCrumb - completed 6 Nov 2017
9. Mrs. Sinclair's Suitcase by Louise Walters - completed 22 Dec 2017

Category 8: Mary Ann Harris - Mother of 10 children. Half of them died in infancy, childhood, or as a teenager. - Part I



Children's and YA Literature - Includes fiction and non-fiction.

1. The Queen of the Frogs by Davide Cali and Marco Soma - completed 12 Jan 2017
2. The Inflated Story of Noah by Dr. Dan Bellamy - completed 19 Jan 2017
3. One Came Home by Amy Timberlake - completed 28 Jan 2017
4. Cats, Cats, Cats by Leslea Newman - completed 31 Jan 2017
5. The Poet's Dog by Patricia MacLachlan - completed 31 Jan 2017
6. Little Cat's Luck by Marion Dane Bauer; illustrated by Jennifer A. Bell - completed 7 Feb 2017
7. Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?: Dr. Seuss's Book of Wonderful Noises by Dr. Seuss - completed 21 Feb 2017
8. All Aboard!: National Parks by Kevin Meyers and Haily Meyers - completed 21 Feb 2017
9. Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes - completed 21 Feb 2017
10. Lion, King, and Coin by Jeong-Hee Nam; illustrated by Lucia Sforza - completed 7 Mar 2017
11. Voice of Freedom : Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement by Carole Boston Weatherford; illustrated by Ekua Holmes - completed 14 Mar 2017
12. Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña - completed 14 Mar 2017
13. They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel - completed 14 Mar 2017
14. Trombone Shorty by Troy Andrews; illustrated by Bryan Collier - completed 14 Mar 2017
15. Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick; illustrated by Sophie Blackall - completed 14 Mar 2017
16. Carson Crosses Canada by Linda Bailey; illustrated by Kass Reich - completed 19 May 2017
17. The Blue Cat of Castle Town by Catherine Cate Coblentz; illustrated by Janice Holland - completed 6 Jun 2017
18. Antsy Ansel: Ansel Adams, A Life in Nature by Cynthia L. Jenson-Elliott ; illustrated by Christy Hale - completed 21 Jun 2017
19. Plume by Isabelle Simler - completed 21 Jun 2017
20. Our Great Big Backyard by Laura Bush and Jenna Bush Hager ; illustrated by Jacqueline Rogers - completed 22 Jun 2017

Category 8: Mary Ann Harris - Mother of 10 children. Half of them died in infancy, childhood, or as a teenager. - Part II



Children's and YA Literature - Includes fiction and non-fiction.

21. CatStronauts: Mission Moon by Drew Brockington - completed 30 Jun 2017
22. Cuddly Kittens by Unknown Author - completed 30 Jun 2017
23. You Can Read by Helene Becker ; illustrated by Mark Hoffmann - completed 7 Jul 2017
24. The Fox Wish by Kimiko Aman ; illustrated by Komako Sakai - completed 7 Jul 2017
25. The Life and Times of Martin Luther by Meike Roth-Beck; illustrated by Klaus Ensikat - completed 23 Sep 2017
26. Winterhouse by Ben Guterson; illustrated by Chloe Bristol - completed 23 Sep 2017
27. A House of Tailors by Patricia Reilly Giff - completed 15 Dec 2017
28. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs - completed 19 Dec 2017
29. Mill by David Macaulay - completed 29 Dec 2017

Category 9: Joseph Fowlkes - I'm quite certain based on his religious affiliations this ancestor would disapprove of fiction. If he did read fiction, he would likely be excluded from his church, based on the minutes I read. Part I



Non-Fiction - Self-explanatory. It's a catch-all for any non-fiction that doesn't fit other categories.

1. Mexican Ice Cream: Beloved Recipes and Stories by Fany Gerson - completed 12 Jan 2017
2. The Not-Quite States of America: Dispatches from the Territories and Other Far-Flung Outposts of the USA by Doug Mack - completed 14 Jan 2017
3. Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder - completed 25 Jan 2017
4. The Little Bookstore of Big Stone Gap by Wendy Welch - completed 17 Feb 2017
5. Bone Soup and Flipped Bread: The Yemenite Jewish Table by Sue Spertus Larkey - completed 1 Mar 2017
6. Hallelujah! The Welcome Table: A Lifetime of Memories with Recipes by Maya Angelou - completed 2 Mar 2017
7. Adam and the Genome: Reading Scripture after Genetic Science by Dennis R. Venema and Scot McKnight - completed 2 Mar 2017
8. The Old Testament Is Dying: A Diagnosis and Recommended Treatment by Brent A. Strawn - completed 8 Mar 2017
9. Angela's Ashes: A Memoir by Frank McCourt - completed 29 Mar 2017
10. Heading Out: A History of American Camping by Terence Young - completed 9 Apr 2017
11. The Finest Hours: The True Story of the U.S. Coast Guard's Most Daring Sea Rescue by Michael J. Tougias and Casey Sherman - completed 27 Apr 2017
12. Dimestore: A Writer's Life by Lee Smith - completed 18 May 2017
13. The Big Book of Canada by Christopher Moore; illustrated by Bill Slavin - completed 21 May 2017
14. Israel Matters: Why Christians Must Think Differently About the People and the Land by Gerald R. McDermott - completed 14 Jun 2017
15. Practicing Christian Education: An Introduction for Ministry by Mark A. Maddix and James Riley Estep - completed 19 Jun 2017
16. The World of Laura Ingalls Wilder: The Frontier Landscapes that Inspired the Little House Books by Marta McDowell - completed 7 July 2017
17. The Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books by Martin Edwards - completed 8 July 2017
18. Homegrown by Matt Jennings with Jessica Battilana - completed 2 Oct 2017
19. The Landscapes of Anne of Green Gables: The Enchanting Island that Inspired L. M. Montgomery by Catherine Reid - completed 19 Oct 2017
20. Daring to Hope: Finding God's Goodness in the Broken and the Beautiful by Katie Davis Majors - completed 17 Nov 2017

Category 9: Joseph Fowlkes - I'm quite certain based on his religious affiliations this ancestor would disapprove of fiction. If he did read fiction, he would likely be excluded from his church, based on the minutes I read. Part II



Non-Fiction - Self-explanatory. It's a catch-all for any non-fiction that doesn't fit other categories.

21. Your Guide to the Apocalypse: What You Should Know Before the World Comes to an End by Matt Hagee - completed 1 Dec 2017
22. The Country House Library by Mark Purcell - completed 2 Dec 2017
23. Handel's Messiah: Comfort for God's People by Calvin Stapert - completed 20 Dec 2017
24. The Last Castle: The Epic Story of Love, Loss, and American Royalty in the Nation's Largest Home by Denise Kiernan - completed 30 Dec 2017

Category 10: Francis Aldridge - Franchis was born in Virginia and moved to North Carolina. Sources on him are scarce so a lot of misinformation on him and his children abounds. It takes a lot to build a case to document him, and it's far easier for a lot of researchers to just latch onto what they find rather than to evaluate it.



Fiction and Other Literature - This is the catch-all category for literature, including fiction that doesn't fit other categories, poetry, and drama.

1. Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury - completed 17 Jan 2017
2. The Last Original Wife by Dorothea Benton Frank - completed 20 Feb 2017
3. The Forbidden Garden by Ellen Herrick - completed 14 Mar 2017
4. New Boy by Tracy Chevalier - completed 16 Mar 2017
5. Black Plumes by Margery Allingham - completed 30 Mar 2017
6. The Book of the Unknown: Tales of the Thirty-Six by Jonathan Keats - completed 20 Apr 2017
7. Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets by Kwame Alexander with Chris Colderley and Marjory Wentworth ; illustrated by Ekua Holmes - completed 23 Jun 2017
8. The Cafe by the Sea by Jenny Colgan - completed 6 Jul 2017
9. Bibliomysteries: Stories of Crime in the World of Books and Bookstores edited by Otto Penzler - completed 28 July 2017
10. The Address by Fiona Davis - completed 29 July 2017
11. The Gap of Time: The Winter's Tale Retold by Jeanette Winterson - completed 14 Oct 2017
12. Somebody at the Door by Raymond Postgate - completed 28 Nov 2017
13. An Avalon Christmas by Darien Gee - completed 5 Dec 2017
14. Remembering Christmas by Dan Walsh - completed 7 Dec 2017
15. Silent Nights: Christmas Mysteries edited by Martin Edwards - completed 13 Dec 2017
16. Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders - completed 18 Dec 2017
17. Dunbar by Edward St. Aubyn - completed 28 Dec 2017
18. Breaking Cat News: Cats Reporting on the News that Matters to Cats by Georgia Dunn - completed 28 Dec 2017

Abandoned Reads - Thomas Duke - Thomas was orphaned.



Abandoned Reads - Hoping this category is really small!

1. The Weight of Blood by Laura McHugh - abandoned 4 Mar 2017
2. The Night Strangers by Chris Bohjalian - abandoned 22 Apr 2017
3. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde - abandoned 30 Apr 2017
4. The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich - abandoned 1 May 2017
5. A Strange Scottish Shore by Juliana Gray - abandoned 5 Jun 2017
6. Wicked Deeds by Heather Graham - abandoned 7 Aug 2017
7. Southernmost by Silas House - abandoned 2 Dec 2017

Some options:

Johannes Lantz (Around the World)

Land of Love and Drowning by Tiphanie Yanique (Virgin Islands)
The Devil Takes Half by Leta Serafim (Greece)
Detective Inspector Huss by Helene Tursten (Sweden)
Claire of the Sea Light by Edwidge Danticat (Haiti)
Justine by Lawrence Durrell (Egypt)
A Beautiful Place to Die by Malla Nunn (South Africa)
The Abandoned Room by Wadsworth Camp (Panama)
Children of the Street by Kwei J. Quartey (Ghana)
Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Nigeria)
And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini (Afghanistan)
The Skull Mantra by Eliot Pattison (Tibet)
Gardens of Water by Alan Drew (Turkey)

Nathan Ward (Christian Classics)

The Treasury of David by C. H. Spurgeon
Confessions by St. Augustine
The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer
God in the Dock by C. S. Lewis
A Testament of Devotion by Thomas Kelly
The Little Flowers of St. Francis of Assisi by St. Francis of Assisi
The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis
A Simple Way to Pray by Martin Luther
Interior Castle by Teresa of Avila
Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan
Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Dark Night of the Soul by Saint John of the Cross

Lucinda Virginia Phillips (Series)

The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny
A Prayer for the Night by P. L. Gaus
Purgatory Ridge by William Kent Krueger
Red Velvet Revenge by Jenn McKinlay
Scandal in Skibbereen by Sheila Connolly
Stake & Eggs by Laura Childs - completed 2 Jan 2017
Back to School Murder by Leslie Meier
Bowled Over by Victoria Hamilton
Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good by Jan Karon
Death on Blackheath by Anne Perry
The Dream Stalker by Margaret Coel
A Deadly Cliche by Ellery Adams
Eggsecutive Orders by Julie Hyzy
Blood Atonement by Dan Waddell
Manna from Hades by Carola Dunn
Ashes and Bones by Dana Cameron
While My Pretty One Knits by Anne Canadeo
The Dead in their Vaulted Arches by Alan Bradley
The Gods of Gotham by Lyndsay Faye

Godfrey Dearborn (Literary Classics)

Moby Dick by Herman Melville (to be read with a book by Nathaniel Philbrick)
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Travels with a Donkey in the Cevannes by Robert Louis Stevenson
The Mysterious Stranger by Mark Twain
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
The Virginians by William Makepeace Thackeray
A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson
Hamlet by William Shakespeare
The Spy by James Fenimore Cooper
The Alhambra by Washington Irving
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
The Village Blacksmith by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
The Lady of the Lake by Sir Walter Scott
Idylls of the King by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott
The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe

Richard Thornton (History and Genealogy)

Elizabeth of York by Alison Weir
Catherine the Great by Robert K. Massie
The Plantagenets by Dan Jones
Albion's Seed by David Hackett Fischer
Colonial New England on 5 Shillings a Day by Bill Scheller
The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England by Ian Mortimer
Child Life in Colonial Times by Alice Earle
The Jew Store by Stella Suberman
Cabins in the Laurel by Muriel Earley Sheppard
Where We Lived by Jack Larkin
Rethinking Home by Joseph Anthony Amato
A Storm of Witchcraft by Emerson W. Baker
Seventeenth-Century America by James Morton Smith
Letters from Forest Place by E. Grey Dimond
The Highland Scots of North Carolina, 1732-1776 by Duane Gilbert Meyer
Cemeteries and Gravemarkers by Richard E. Meyer
The Famine Ships by Edward Laxton

More options:

John Perkins (Historical Fiction)

The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
The Queen's Vow by C. W. Gortner
The Accidental Empress by Alison Pataki
The Malice of Fortune by Michael Ennis
When Christ and His Saints Slept by Sharon Kay Penman
Katherine by Anya Seton
The Violin of Auschwitz by Maria Angels Anglada
Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant
The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier
The Illuminator by Brenda Rickman Vantrease
Broken Music by Marjorie Eccles
A Simple Murder by Eleanor Kuhns
A Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Mary Ann Harris (Children's/YA Literature)

That Book Woman by Heather Henson
Cats, Cats, Cats by Leslea Newman
The Best Cat in the World by Leslea Newman
The Knights Before Christmas by Joan Holub
The Greek Who Stole Christmas by Anthony Horowitz
The Boy on the Porch by Sharon Creech
One Came Home by Amy Timberlake
Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool
Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai
Bound for Oregon by Jean Van Leeuwen
World of Pies by Karen Stolz
The Poet's Dog by Patricia MacLachlan

Joseph Fowlkes (Non-Fiction)

Storm Kings by Lee Sandlin
The Little Bookstore of Big Stone Gap by Wendy Welch
Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
The Violinist's Thumb by Sam Kean
Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder
Forever Liesl by Charmian Carr
Hot, Sour, Salty, Sweet by Jeffrey Alford
A New Turn in the South by Hugh Acheson
Books to Die For by John Connolly
If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name by Heather Lende
Debbie Macomber's Christmas Cookbook by Debbie Macomber
Why Read Moby Dick by Nathaniel Philbrick
The Cooking of Southwest France by Paula Wolfert
The Story of Charlotte's Web by Michael Sims
How to Read Novels Like a Professor by Thomas J. Foster
The Reading Promise by Alice Ozma
Promised Land: Thirteen Books that Changed America by Jay Parini
At Home with Books by Estelle Ellis
Line by Line: How to Edit Your Own Writing by Claire Kehrwald Cook
The Good Book by Andrew Blauner
Our Father Abraham by Marvin R. Wilson
Sin and Syntax by Constance Hale
A People and Their Quilts by John Rice Irwin
See Rock City by Donald Davis

Francis Aldridge (Fiction & Other Literature)

A Lowcountry Wedding by Mary Alice Monroe
The Last Original Wife by Dorothea Benton Frank
Plainsong by Kent Haruf
New Mercies by Sandra Dallas
School for Love by Olivia Manning
The Diary of Mattie Spenser by Sandra Dallas
A Novel Bookstore by Laurence Cosse
Finn by Jon Clinch
The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood
The Fishermen by Chigozie Obioma
Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury
The Ivy Tree by Mary Stewart
The Land of Green Plums by Herta Muller
Dog Songs: Poems by Mary Oliver
Good Poems, American Places by Garrison Keillor
Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters

And I left this one out of the earlier message by accident:

Rev. Stephen Batchelder (Borrowed Books)

Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Engf
Thus Was Adonis Murdered by Sarah Caudwell
Strawberry Yellow by Naomi Hirahara
Funeral Music by Morag Joss
The Banks of the Boyne by Donna Fletcher Crow
Why Shoot a Butler by Georgette Heyer
Seneca Falls Inheritance by Miriam Grace Monfredo
The Fish Can Sing by Haldor Laxness - completed 6 Jan 2017
Death Assemblage by Susan Cummins Miller
Slight Mourning by Catherine Aird
The Case of the Gilded Fly by Edmund Crispin
The Alto Wore Tweed by Mark Schweizer

I think I probably reserved more than I really needed at this point, but I'm sure I'll fill them with something. Next one is yours.

ETA: I figured out how to fill those last 2 spots.

81. Cuddly Kittens by Unknown Author

Date Completed: 30 Jun 2017

Category: Mary Ann Harris (Children's/YA Literature)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: This is a cute board book for preschoolers about kittens. It's part of a series of books that includes one on bunnies, one on puppies, and one on zoo babies. I thought the illustrations were nice for the intended age. My only complaint -- and the one which dropped its rating -- is the author showed the kittens lapping up milk. The book was written in 1996, but even by that time, giving milks to cats and kittens was not advised. I wonder how many preschoolers wanted to give their feline friends some milk as a result of this book. Still it's a book preschoolers who love their furry friends will enjoy. Parents just need to be ready to explain why the kitty cannot be given milk.

Happy new thread, Lori. It's strange how that myth about cats and milk doesn't see to go away!

Loved the meet up photos from your last thread! Looks like you guys had a great time.

Happy new thread!

Happy New Thread!

>19 DeltaQueen50: I know. You'd think they would have been more careful in editing back then.

>20 LittleTaiko: We had a great time at the meetups.

>21 MissWatson: >22 dudes22: Thanks very much!

82. War and Turpentine by Stefan Hertmans

Date Completed: 3 July 2017

Category: John Perkins (Historical Fiction)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Although classified as fiction, Hertman's account of the life of his grandfather, painter Urbain Martien, reads more like a well-crafted biography. It is based on his grandfather's diaries, focusing largely on the build-up to World War I and the conflict itself. One section also deals with the artist's life after the war. The most engaging portion, and probably the portion relying most heavily upon the diaries, was the part dealing with the war itself. His grandfather was wounded three times and sent to convalesce in various facilities. Although it works fairly well in English, I suspect something was lost in the translation in a few portions.

Happy new thread, Lori. Hope you have a great 4th of July party tomorrow.

>25 VivienneR: I just need to decide what dishes to take.

Happy new thread, Lori!

>27 lkernagh: Thanks, Lori.

It rained tonight. I wasn't sure if we'd still have the 4th of July party in the neighborhood or not, so I drove by. I discovered there were people under the tents at the lot it was being held, so I headed home to get my stuff. I got to meet the neighbors in the rain. Most of the ones who came live on the other street, but I suspect the rain kept many people away. Others may have already had plans by the time we got the flyer. I took brats and buns, sliced tomatoes and onions, cole slaw, and watermelon. We also had hamburgers, more watermelon and cole slaw, a pasta salad, orange fluff, and a nice freezer of peach ice cream. I think we had a nice time. Most of the people seemed nice. Maybe we'll know each other a little better after this. One person did recommend a tree person to a couple of us who want to have some trees cut back later. I noticed the other day a couple of mine behind the house need to be trimmed--or maybe even cut down. As we were sitting under some canopies, we noticed a rainbow beginning to form. I managed to get a picture, but you have to look really hard because the clouds are still there. I caught the corner of canopy in the picture.

Happy 4th, Lori. Meeting neighbors in the rain is an excellent way to celebrate.

>30 RidgewayGirl: I ended up staying longer than I'd intended simply because the rain delayed the grilling/eating. Some of them stayed until 11 p.m. or later, I believe, but I left around 8 p.m.

83. The Cafe by the Sea by Jenny Colgan

Date Completed: 6 Jul 2017

Category: Francis Aldridge (Fiction & Other Literature)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Flora, studying to be an attorney, works as a paralegal for a London law firm. She has a crush on her boss Joel who barely knows she exists. Flora is from the fictional island of Mure, which was the author's creation to avoid being criticized for anything she didn't get right about the Shetland Islands. When a case requiring her knowledge of the island sends her back home, she's not that thrilled. She left home with no intentions of returning, but Colton Rogers wants to prevent a wind farm from being built next to his investments on the island. However, Joel begins to notice her. She also meets Charlie who runs week-long retreats on the island. Flora knows Colton's public relations problem is bringing in outsiders to do jobs which could be done by islanders in need of employment. Many have left the island because of the lack of jobs. The novel got off to a slow start but improved. I do not recommend this book for theologically conservative Christians. The author includes a gay couple, probably just to show her acceptance of the lifestyle. It was in my opinion unnecessary to the plot and probably alienated some potential readers. It would make a good beach read for those who don't mind some premarital sex in the book. I received an advance review copy of the book from LibraryThing Early Reviewers program in exchange for an honest review.

>32 thornton37814: I also got The Café by the Sea as an LTER book...my expectations aren't super high, but hopefully I'll enjoy it for what it is.

>33 christina_reads: You may like it better than I did. I certainly gave it the lowest rating to date, but I think some of the ratings are definitely overgenerous.

I noticed on Facebook the public library in the town where I work was holding a "Book Social" this evening. I decided to go, just to see what the agenda was. It is going to be regularly held the first Thursday of each month. People don't need to read the same book. It's just a discussion where people can mention new titles, things they've enjoyed, etc. Tonight was more of a getting to know you and the types of books you read thing. There were a few of us who read a variety of genres. Sometimes people would mention a favorite author, and several of us would join in as we remembered things about the series. One man joined us. He likes thrillers best and was surprised at the number of people who read them since the rest of the group was female. He and his wife recently moved to the area from Colorado and are originally from Mississippi. They lived in a couple of cities in Tennessee earlier in his career, but had been in Colorado over 30 years before retiring to the Smokies. One lady is going to read a cookbook and make a dessert recipe from it before the next meeting. One person is gluten-intolerant so the librarian is making some gluten-free cookies for that person. It should be a fun meeting when I am able to go. I'll probably be out of town for next month's event, but hopefully I'll make it for September. There really was a good crowd for a first meeting. Oh - I won one of the door prizes. It was a crafty 4th of July thing to go on the door. (I got the last door prize so the books were already taken.)

84. You Can Read by Helene Becker ; illustrated by Mark Hoffmann

Date Completed: 7 July 2017

Category: Mary Ann Harris (Children's/YA Literature)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: This is a cute picture book for preschoolers about all the places one can read. It even issues warnings about what might happen if you choose to read in a few of the locations. The illustrations are done well enough but are not outstanding.

85. The Fox Wish by Kimiko Aman ; illustrated by Komako Sakai

Date Completed: 7 July 2017

Category: Mary Ann Harris (Children's/YA Literature)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Roxie leaves behind her jump rope, but when she goes back to pick it up, a group of foxes are skipping rope. They look funny, but Roxie and her brother teach them how to skip properly. Where does the rope end up? Read it yourself to find out. Fun illustrations, and a cute story.

86. The World of Laura Ingalls Wilder: The Frontier Landscapes that Inspired the Little House Books by Marta McDowell

Date Completed: 7 July 2017

Category: Joseph Fowlkes (Non-Fiction)

Rating: 4.5 stars

Review: Author Marta McDowell takes readers to each location Laura Ingalls Wilder and her husband Almonzo lived, discussing things present and things omitted from the books. The book shows Laura's connection with the land, demonstrating the importance of agriculture in the era in which she lived. The book designed to celebrate the 150th birthday of the author is well-researched but written at a level most fans will enjoy. Its carefully selected illustrations add to the reading experience for the fan. The book would make a great gift for those reading the books for the first time or for a lifelong Laura Ingalls Wilder enthusiast. This review is based on an advance electronic galley provided by the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes.

87. Encountering the History of Missions: From the Early Church to Today by John Mark Terry and Robert L. Gallagher

Date Completed: 7 July 2017

Category: Richard Thornton (History & Genealogy)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: The authors take a different approach to teaching the history of missions than the traditional approach used by textbooks such as Neill's History of Christian Missions. Instead of a strict chronological approach, they look at movements influencing Christians to reach the world. It thus becomes a more theological and philosophical approach than the traditional manner the subject is taught to undergraduates. The book is better suited to graduate-level courses in the history of missions as it lacks the ability to create interest for persons without a prior one. The use of documents and writings of the persons involved is commendable. The authors' coverage includes effort of the church growth movement of the late 20th century. Questions for discussion and reflection are included, mainly in sidebars, but occasionally in the main text. A lengthy bibliography is included. I received an electronic advance review copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes.

Belated Happy 4th, Lori. Your library event sounds like a lot of fun. Once we move I will be very close to our library and I hope to check out some events that I haven't been able to get to in the past.

>40 DeltaQueen50: A friend who actually resides in the town where I work posted the event as something in which she was interested in attending to Facebook. She wasn't able to attend as she had visitors in town and was heading out the next morning for a vacation with them, but I went in her place. I let her know their plans for the group so she may be able to attend in the future. I plan to be out of town for the next meeting myself, but I'm not giving up my "real vacation" to attend.

88. The Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books by Martin Edwards

Date Completed: 8 July 2017

Category: Joseph Fowlkes (Non-Fiction)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Don't let the title mislead you. The book discusses far more than 100 mysteries. It does, however, provide a little more depth of coverage on about 100 titles. The book is intended as a companion volume to the British Library Crime Classics series. It arranges the mysteries into categories by the types of mysteries they are. (For example, locked room, vacation spots, manor houses, etc.) Mystery lovers are certain to find a few books they missed through the years to add to their to-be-read lists. Fortunately the British Library Crime Classics series is making many of these readily available for a new generation of readers to discover. I received an advance electronic galley of the title from the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes.

>42 thornton37814: That sounds like a very useful book. Some of the British Library Crime Classics that I own were not as I expected.

>43 VivienneR: It is useful. I think the release date is August 1.

>42 thornton37814: Ooh, that one looks good to me too! I'll have to check it out once it releases.

>45 christina_reads: I suspect everyone who reads it will pick up lots of book bullets.

89. Britain's Tudor Maps: County by County by John Speed; commentaries by Alasdair Hawkyard

Date Completed: 11 July 2017

Category: Richard Thornton (History & Genealogy)

Rating: 5 stars

Review: I love maps! This gorgeously illustrated book of county maps produced by John Speed in the Tudor period provides today's researchers a great tool for understanding our British ancestors who lived then. Each county map is accompanied by a commentary written by Alasair Hawkyard, providing insight into the county's history and the people who resided there. Many maps include offset maps depicting specific places, much as modern-day atlases include maps of larger cities. It's a large over-sized "coffee table" book, but it is so full of useful content for genealogists and historians dealing with the period and place.

It's always fun to see what the English classes are reading. For the next month, a group of over 30 recent high school graduates are living in the dorms to get a taste of college life. They earn 3 college credits for their work. It's a free program which offers study skills, classes (generally designed for students who might not be quite academically prepared for college), and some fun activities. Each evening, they have a required 2 hour study hall in the library unless there is an off-campus activity instead. A group of students were reading Lord of the Flies this evening. I was a bit surprised they weren't reading something Irish because I knew which professor was teaching that section. I hope they are enjoying it.

Lori, my daughter picked up a copy of Lord of the Flies last week. She thought it looked interesting. I remember reading it as a sophomore in high school.

>49 RidgewayGirl: You'll have to let us know what she thinks of it when she's read it.

90. City of Secrets by Stewart O'Nan

Date Completed: 13 Jul 2017

Category: John Perkins (Historical Fiction)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Set immediately following World War II, this book tells the story of a Latvian Jew who survived because of an underground network. He's involved in the resistance to the British Mandate. While the story is well-written, it failed to really grip me. I suspect part of that is because of how little I know about the period between the war and the time Israel became a nation. It's a short, quick read.

Oh, does Stewart O'Nan have a new book out? I looked at the book's page, but it lists the book's year of publication as 2916. Did you get your hands on an ARC?

>52 RidgewayGirl: It should be 2016. I just corrected the common knowledge field. Believe it or not, when I clicked 2916, there were several LT works published that year. Perhaps those are for time travellers.

For my followers who think they are Jane Austen super-fans, here's a quiz from the BBC to test your knowledge: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2fHpkYDtSjJnXMC0R21L08j/quiz-are-you-a-...

>54 thornton37814: - I only got 4 out of 10 so I'm a fan but definitely not a super-fan. There were only two questions that I definitely knew the answer too. Fun quiz though!

>55 LittleTaiko: I didn't do too well either, but I'm not a huge fan. I got 3 out of 10, and I almost selected the correct one on another and second-guessed myself.

>54 thornton37814: >55 LittleTaiko: >56 thornton37814: This was fun. I got 6/10, the money question and the ones about her personal life stumped me. Note to self: I don't think I've ever read a proper biography of her. Need to remedy this. Some time.

>57 MissWatson: One of my colleagues posted that to Facebook.

I got 6/10. I have no real frame of reference for non-American money. Some of the other answers were unexpected, like the writer for the 1940 Pride and Prejudice screenplay.

>54 thornton37814: Thanks for that link, it was fun to try and figure out answers. I recently read a biography by Carol Shields but some answers had to be guesses. 7/10 for me.

>59 casvelyn: >60 VivienneR: I'm glad everyone is having fun with the quiz.

I don't consider myself a super-fan but I actually got 7 out of 10! ( I admit some of them were lucky guesses). I just finished reading Persuasion so perhaps I am still immersed in her works. :)

>62 DeltaQueen50: You did as well as the super-fan I knew who posted the quiz in the first place.

July may have started off well for me, but I've hit a reading slump. I'm reading two ARCs. One is a collection of short stories, most of which are not grabbing me at the moment. The other is a book where I like the historical part (mid-1880s) but, at least at the moment, wish they'd omitted the more modern (1985) part. Anyway, I anticipate finishing neither of them tonight, and tomorrow I head out of town to take a genealogy institute course. Since I've heard the homework in the course I'm taking is "killer," I anticipate little time to read next week. Just didn't want you all to think bad things happened if you don't hear from me for a bit.

I know that it's a well-established format, but the-historical-story framed-by-a-modern-person-who-is-researching-the-historical-story-and-also-has-stuff-going-on-in-their-life only works if both stories are equally interesting, and they rarely are. I just finished a book (The Patriots by Sana Krasikov) where the historical story was so fascinating and I so wanted to spend time learning about that character's life and the modern story was interesting enough, but because the other story was so much better, I was annoyed every time a chapter was set in the present day.

Best of luck (not like you need it) with your killer course!

>65 RidgewayGirl: I agree. They rarely work for me. I'm not certain why it is so popular. Class is going well.

I returned from the Institute for Genealogical and Historical Research held at University of Georgia this past week. I picked up several book bullets. Heritage Books provided a genealogical bookstore for attendees. I purchased two titles from Craig and ordered three from Amazon.

1) Marriage and Death Notices from the South Western Baptist Newspaper by Michael Kelsey. I browsed this one in the bookstore, found a collateral relative, and saw collection value based on newspaper place coverage.
2) Heartbreak of a Civil War Widow: Life of Sarah Harper McWhirter, 1825-1883 by Glenda McWhirter Todd. The author's ancestor fought in the same Alabama Union Cavalry unit as my great-great-grandfather and his two brothers.
3) Bringing Your Family History to Life Through Social History by Katherine Scott Sturdevant. The instructor praised the book. I checked LibraryThing and discovered I did not own it. (it was on my wish list.) I immediately ordered a copy from Amazon.
4) Producing a Quality Family History by Patricia Law Hatcher. Two teachers promoted this title. Both acknowledged it was dated, having been written prior to the Internet. However, both said it was still excellent. I ordered a copy from Amazon.
5) Applied Genealogy by Gene Aubrey Stratton. This book helped shape our course coordinator's understanding of evidence. I opened up Amazon and clicked purchase. One of my fellow classmates beat me to the cheapest copy. I paid more, but it should be worth the price.

91. Bibliomysteries: Stories of Crime in the World of Books and Bookstores edited by Otto Penzler

Date Completed: 28 July 2017

Category: Francis Aldridge (Fiction & Other Literature)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: As with most collections of short stories, some resonated more with me than others.

"An Acceptable Sacrifice" by Jeffery Deaver - Mexican drug lord with a weakness for books. Not my thing.

"Pronghorns of the Third Reich" by C J Box - A couple of men kidnap a lawyer who won a case involving one of the men and his grandfather. Books play a role, but I don't want to give away the plot.

"The Book of Virtue" by Ken Bruen - A lot of short choppy sentences that create a tale a bit too "noir" and full of crude language for me.

"The Book of Ghosts" by Reed Farrel Coleman - A story born out of a World War II fabrication of a "Book of Ghosts."

"The Final Testament" by Peter Blauner - Sauerwald visits Freud in Britain, discussing Freud's books, a manuscript Freud is writing, and one Sauerwald himself wrote. It gets bogged down in places.

"What's In a Name?" by Thomas H. Cook - An old schoolmate visits Altman carrying a manuscript. Book has an interesting twist.

"Book Club" by Loren D. Estleman - Guy who collects rare books is murdered.

"Death Leaves a Bookmark" by William Link - Excellent mystery featuring Lt. Columbo as detective.This was my personal favorite in the collection.

"The Book Thing" by Laura Lippman - What's going on with a series of book thefts in a Baltimore children's bookstore? Tess helps discover what's going on and finds a way to prevent it in the future. I liked this one a lot.

"The Scroll" by Anne Perry - Mystery centers on the discovery of a scroll, written in Aramaic, with unusual properties.

"It's in the Book" by Mickey Spillane & Max Allan Collins - Mike Hammer is entrusted with a finding book or ledger believed to exist. Spillane is not my typical mystery read, but I liked this one a lot.

"The Long Sonata of the Dead" by Andrew Taylor - This is set in the London Library. There's a man having an affair. I'm really not quite sure what to make of this one. It's just weird.

"Rides a Stranger" by David Bell - A college professor returns home for his dad's funeral, making a surprising discovery about his father's literary life.

"The Caxton Library & Book Depository" by John Connolly - A man witnesses what appears to be a re-enactment of Anna Karenina. Then he witnesses it again. His investigations of the strange matter lead him to the Caxton Library.

"The Book Case" by Nelson DeMille - Bookstore owner is killed by a bookcase falling on him. It appears an accident to most, but the detective discovers wedges holding the case in place were removed. He interviewed suspects and solved the case.

My favorite stories were not those written by the authors I typically read and enjoy. Readers may discover they wish to give a chance to a "new to them" author or to one who may be a better writer now than in earlier days.

I received an electronic advance review copy through NetGalley with the expectation of an honest review.

92. The Address by Fiona Davis

Date Completed: 29 July 2017

Category Challenge: Francis Aldridge (Fiction & Other Literature)

Rating: 2 stars

Review: An architect selects a girl working in a London hotel who saved his daughter from a deadly fall to manage the Dakota, a residential building, opening in New York. Although it seems in the middle of nowhere, development is headed that way. Fast forward almost 100 years. A newly rehabilitated girl is given the opportunity to renovate the family apartment at the Dakota. She's a descendant of the architect although her cousin received the inheritance. While the story line held promise, the author failed to weave the story in an engaging manner. For me, starting with the modern piece and then going back in time would have been preferable to chopping the story up. The revelation of what she discovered could have occurred in the end or it could have been revealed. I would have kept reading. As written, I struggled to plod through it.

The writer used passive tense too much. The book's editor failed to correct the problem.

I received an advance electronic copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley with the expectation of an honest review.

93. An Echo of Murder by Anne Perry

Date Completed: 31 July 2017

Category: Lucinda Virginia Phillips (Series)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: The murder of a Hungarian man whose shop faces the river brings Monk and his Thames River force to the scene. The crime is horrific--extremely violent, an act of hate--and accompanied by 17 candles, two of which are purple, and the smashing of Roman Catholic icons. A man, aspiring to be the leader of the Hungarian community in London, is first on the scene. His alibi is airtight. The man is very observant. Communicating with the Hungarian population is problematic.

Monk and Hester's adopted son "Scuff" is apprenticed to a doctor, coming in contact with Fitz, a doctor who served with Hester in Crimea. As the body count grows, the pressure to locate the perpetrator increases due to the growing unrest of the Hungarian community.

I do not read every installment of the Monk series, but I enjoyed this one very much. While any experienced mystery reader will be able to predict some of the action, certain aspects of this installment will keep readers interested. It held my attention--something most books failed to do recently.

I received an advance review copy from the publisher through NetGalley with the expectation of an honest review.

Oops! I forgot to remove my Early Reviewers request for the above-mentioned book when I was approved at NetGalley for the book. I already have my review written for my July win!

Abandoned Book #6



Wicked Deeds by Heather Graham

Date Abandoned: 7 Aug 2017

Category: Thomas Duke (Abandoned Books)

Review: Abandoned. I think I'm not the target audience for this one. I loved the idea of a mystery set in Baltimore involving Edgar Allan Poe, but when the detective spent more time talking to his ghost than detecting, it was too strange for me. I read over half the book and simply could not get into it. I have not read earlier installments. I received an advance e-galley from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

94. Death Overdue by Allison Brook

Date Completed: 9 Aug 2017

Category: Lucinda Virginia Phillips (Series)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Carrie, a floating librarian at a Connecticut public library, decided it was time to move on when opportunity knocked on her door. While her uncle, a member of the library board was partially responsible for the opportunity, library director Sally offers her a permanent position in programs and events. After a brief consideration, she decides to accept the job and begins looking for a home. At the first event, set up by the librarian who moved away, the detective who failed to solve a case years before and suddenly claims to have solved it dies. A cookie unlike any purchased for the event bore the poison. Carrie and the son of the woman murdered years before set out to solve the crime. Carrie soon discovers the ghost of a former library director resides in the library. Only a few people see her. The ghost proves helpful to Carrie on a number of occasions. While I really don't like paranormal elements such as ghosts, this one is beneficent. I think it's a cute Halloween installment, but I'm not sure it will work long-term as a plot device. I fingered the murderer pretty early, but the author crafted several red herrings. I'll probably read the next installment. I received an advance uncorrected e-galley from the publisher through NetGalley with the expectation of an honest review.

96. This Side of Murder by Anna Lee Huber

Date Completed: 18 Aug 2017

Category: Lucinda Virginia Phillips (Series)

Rating: 2.5 stars

Review: Verity Kent goes to an English island with some of her husband Sidney's acquaintances from the war. A letter accusing her late husband of treason caused her to go. She discovers the men are hiding something. A coded message is found in a book that belonged to Sidney. The gardener was a man Verity knew well, and his presence adds an interesting twist to the situation. I tolerated this book. The plot was just too convoluted. It reminded me of locked room mysteries, but it was not as well-written as many of those. I received an electronic advance reader's copy from the publisher through NetGalley with the expectation of an honest review.

97. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Date Completed: 26 Aug 2017

Category: Johannes Lantz - Around the World

Rating: 5 stars

Review: A French blind girl, a young German soldier, a precious stone, a radio transmitter, and a piece of a neighborhood model in France during World War II. The author combines these elements to bring us a profound story demonstrating interconnectedness in the midst of chaos. The chapters are generally short and alternate between characters, but they reveal the atrocities of war in a manner certain to stay with the reader for a long time. This beautifully written book is worthy of the "hype" and the Pulitzer Prize it received. I'm only sorry I didn't read it sooner.

>80 thornton37814: Glad you enjoyed All the Light We Cannot See. I enjoyed it too although I chose it because I once had a summer vacation in Saint Malo. The story has stayed in my mind, which is always a good indication of a worthwhile book.

>81 thornton37814: I'm sure you envisioned the setting far better than I did.

I'm too pre-occupied to read.

1) The Houston Flood
2) Death of softball player on my nephew's team (with a second player fighting for her life)
3) Death of good friend at church who leaves behind a son of about age 20 (whose mother died 3 or 4 years ago) and wife of 4 months.

So much sadness.

>83 thornton37814:, I'm so sorry for all you're dealing with. I've found it hard to concentrate on reading with just the Houston flood alone, and local flooding we're dealing with in FL. that isn't nearly so severe, but still really affecting a lot of people where we are. You and your friends will be in my prayers.

>84 DeltaQueen50: Thanks for the prayers. I'm hoping to be able to read this weekend.

98. White Sand Blues by Vicki Delany

Date Completed: 3 Sep 2017

Category: Rev. Stephen Batchelder (Borrowed Books)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Ashley Grant relocates from Canada to the Victoria and Albert Islands in the Caribbean following a failed relationship. En route to the hotel she is staying, she is dispatched to the scene of a man dead in the shallow part of the ocean. Ironically the man is father of an old classmate who is accusing her stepmother of murder. Although the solution to this one isn't terribly complicated, the setting is fun and the characters are ones worth revisiting. Reading the book is a pleasant way to spend a couple hours. This is a promising start for a new series Vicky Delany, author of the Constable Molly Smith series, delivers a promising debut for her Ashley Grant series, part of the Rapid Reads books.

>83 thornton37814: - I'm so sorry that life has been so stressful for you lately. That is quite a bit to deal with all at once. Hope you had a nice reading weekend after all.

>87 thornton37814: I enjoyed what I managed to read. I did have a little complication as I managed to throw my back out when getting up from the couch. I then spent some of Sunday afternoon and Monday reading (although some was catching up on journals so it won't show up here). The book I'm reading needs to be read a little more slowly so I'm taking my time with it to assess the author's methodology. I also worked on genealogical research a little, mostly driven by correspondence. The back is a little better, but it hurts most after sleeping for the night so I'm in more pain now than I was when I went to bed last night. I'll be taking my anti-inflammatory medication soon which will probably also alleviate some of the pain.

I'm sorry to read of your troubles, Lori. I am keeping my fingers crossed that Hurricane Irma doesn't devastate Florida in the same way.

>89 thornton37814: I was glad to see this morning that Irma had gone down in strength last night since it had bumped back to cat 5 before I went to bed. It's beginning to sound like the center will stay off shore, but that will bring more surge apparently. I guess folks on the Gulf Coast need to be prepared in case it goes much further west than they are currently predicting.

99. Common People: The History of an English Family by Alison Light

Date Completed: 14 Sep 2017

Category: Richard Thornton - History & Genealogy

Rating: 4.5 stars

Review: Historian Alison Light provides an excellent and readable venture into her own family's history, deftly demonstrating how one incorporates social history, local history, religious history, and more, to make ancestors come alive. She provides several very quotable phrases scattered thoughout the volume, certain to resonate with researchers adhering to the genealogical proof standard. My biggest complaint pertains to the "invisible endnotes" system employed by the editors. Readers deserve to know when something is being cited. The acceptable way of doing this is to provide a numbered footnote or endnote. I find the method employed by the editors lacking. In some places the author's aversion to religion manifested itself through condescending remarks. In other places where the opportunity presented itself, she refrained from such comments. This restraint maintained a bias-free environment in those portions of the narrative. Overall the book provided a commendable example in family history writing. Highly recommended.

Carrie and I went to Greek Fest last night. We both got to go boxes of pastries. The person who made the piece of baklava I just ate perfected the art of making baklava!

Mmmmmm baklava!

>93 thornton37814: It really was good. The best part of Greek Fest is the food.

Sharyn McCrumb is doing a book signing and lecture in Knoxville at East Tennessee History Center October 10 on her new book, The Unquiet Grave. (See http://www.easttnhistory.org/events/sharyn-mccrumb-lecture-book-signing-unquiet-... for info.) We just got this in the library, and I'm really looking forward to reading it soon. The blurb for the event states "McCrumb uses genealogical research and historical documents to uncover the complex characters and details behind the 1897 death of Zona Heaster in Greenbrier, West Virginia, a story well known to American folklorists."

I've read several of her books though none in the last few years. I'll see if our library gets this one, they usually do. If she spoke anywhere around here I would definitely go hear her.

I will be hearing Dr. Henry Louis Gates Monday night, he's speaking at a college a couple of hours away and I look forward to hearing him.

>92 VivienneR: I used to live next door to a Greek church that held an extensive and wonderful GreekFest every year. I really miss the festival but now I live next door to a Greek family, which is just as good - and year-round! They are very generous with their cooking.

>96 thornton37814: You'll have to let us know how Dr. Gates is in person. I know several people who worked with him on some of the shows he has done.

>97 thornton37814: I think it would be wonderful to live next door to a Greek family (or an Italian one for that matter) who were generous with their cooking.

I just found out that Sharyn McCrumb is doing a general session and a workshop at a library conference where I'm speaking in November. The book chosen for the "All-Conference Read" is her The Unquiet Grave so I guess I'll be reading that one before November.

100. How the Finch Stole Christmas by Donna Andrews

Date Completed: 23 Sep 2017

Category: Lucinda Virginia Phillips (Series)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: It's nearly Christmas in Caerphilly. Michael is directing the production of A Christmas Carol. Scrooge is being portrayed by an almost forgotten actor named Haver who has a drinking problem. In the meantime, Goudian finches are plentiful in the area thanks to a wildlife smuggling ring. Meg finds more finches, a tiger, a puppy mill, other exotic animals, and house full of cats, and a corpse, after following Haver to locate his drink supplier. Haver keeps disappearing so Michael is prepared to fill in, if necessary. Various townspeople, including Meg's grandfather the vet and her father the doctor, get involved in the plot while the police are sorting things out. It's a fun read, but not one of the strongest in the series, which is typical with most holiday reads. Still it provides a pleasant distraction for readers during a busy season when readers need a little escape. I received an advance electronic review copy from the publisher through Netgalley with the expectation of an honest review.

101. The Life and Times of Martin Luther by Meike Roth-Beck; illustrated by Klaus Ensikat

Date Completed: 23 Sep 2017

Category: Mary Ann Harris (Children's Literature)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Publishers are issuing many books on Martin Luther as we celebrate the 500th anniversary on the Reformation. Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the Wittenburg Church October 31, 1517. The action led to one of the greatest religious movements in history--the Protestant Reformation. Roth-Beck has written an engaging account of Luther's life for younger readers. He explains the religious culture of the time, how Luther came to be a monk, and how his studies led him to question the teachings of the church. The illustrations by Ensikat are well-done. There is a key to the illustrations at the end of the book, explaining each in further detail. While some younger readers would not be able to handle some of the vocabulary terms on their own, the book would make a great read-aloud book for parents to read and discuss with their children. The book will be very useful in Christian schools and home-schools. Even though it is aimed at a younger audience, it would provide a good overview for teens and adults interested in learning about Luther. I received an advance review copy of this title through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program in exchange for an honest review.

102. Winterhouse by Ben Guterson; illustrated by Chloe Bristol

Date Completed: 23 Sep 2017

Category: Mary Ann Harris (Children's Literature)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Orphan Elizabeth Somers stays lives with her impoverished aunt and uncle. She loves books and puzzles, especially word puzzles. When they announce vacation plans for themselves and a stay at a grand house called Winterhouse for her, she wonders who paid for it. On the train she meets some creepy people who get off at the same stop and go to the same house. They cause problems from the moment they set foot in the door. Elizabeth soon meets the owner of the home who welcomes her. Elizabeth loves puzzles and helps a couple of men place a piece in what must be one of the largest and most challenging jigsaws of all time. She possesses a "magic touch" where when things "seem right" she feels it. She meets a boy about her age who has come alone to Winterhouse for several years and works on a scientific project for the owner. She loves books and libraries and finds a very interesting book in the reference collection she takes to her room for further study, even though she knows she should not. The house contains many puzzles begging for solution. This book will entertain readers in upper elementary to early middle school grades. Readers will want a few word puzzles of their own so parents (and teachers) should prepare for this outcome. The book creates a springboard to discuss good versus evil. I received an advance electronic copy of the book through NetGalley with the expectation of writing an unbiased review.

I attended the National Quartet Convention last night for the first time in years. I bumped into a friend from my childhood. We spent a few minutes catching up on our families. The lineup last night was great for the most part. Out of all the groups that sang on the main program, there was only one group I thought was really weak vocally. I did not watch the Nelons. I needed to take a break a break and stretch. I'd identified them as the group I'd miss if I needed a break. I also did not stay for the lightning round where up and coming artists get a few minutes on stage. Since I knew I needed to be at work this morning, I knew I'd better head back so I left near the end of the Gaither Vocal Band set. I was parked in an old shopping center lot about a mile away and had to catch the shuttle. I'm thankful that is one thing Pigeon Forge knows how to do very well. They had tour buses, trolleys (from Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg companies), trams (from Dollywood), and school buses (from at least a couple of counties) there to shuttle people to both the parking areas and hotels. Everyone was really impressed with that. The convention center itself was too crowded. With the artists' booths set up on the perimeter, it did not give enough space for people to navigate easily. One of the quartet wives told me it was just because that had been "Gaither Day."

My favorite performance of the evening was Mark Trammell Quartet. They mostly did songs from the 1970s. In fact their new album was just released. I need to make sure to purchase that one. The booths were all shut down when we left so I didn't get a chance afterwards to pick up a copy. I loved the Booth Brothers set and Jim Brady Trio set also. Kim Greene Hopper knocked it out of the ballpark on a couple of songs when the Hoppers came up. I was disappointed in the Talley Trio. Every song they did featured Lauren. Her mom Debra is one of my two favorite alto singers of all time (the other being Connie Hopper). I wanted to hear Debra! The only other big group in which I was disappointed was Gaither Vocal Band. I just didn't like some of their arrangements. I will say, however, that they were the only group of the evening to provide comic relief to the crowd. It might have been nice to put them somewhere in the middle of the program for that reason alone. I know they wanted to keep people to the end, but a lot of folks left before their set.

103. Homegrown by Matt Jennings with Jessica Battilana

Date Completed: 2 Oct 2017

Category: Joseph Fowlkes (Non-Fiction)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Chef Matt Jennings, owner of a Boston area restaurant and former owner of one in the Providence area, offers recipes showcasing New England foods with a bit of a twist. The book provides commentary about New England foods as well as Jennings' life and career. The recipes are generally not for those who want things that can be prepared quickly. They tend to be for those who truly savor cooking. Many of the ingredients may be difficult for persons in some parts of the country to locate. The book is beautifully illustrated by the photography of Huge Galdones.This review is based on an advance review copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley with the expectation of an unbiased review. I attended a webinar about forthcoming cookbooks in which the publisher's representative offered to send advance review copies to any attendee through NetGalley or Edelweiss.

Sharyn McCrumb spoke about her new book The Unquiet Grave tonight at the local public library. A local genealogist (and friend of mine) who is a native of Greenbriar County, West Virginia, setting for the book, assisted Sharyn with some of the research. She was on hand too. Sharyn dedicated the book to her, so I have the signatures of both the author and the person to whom the book was dedicated! Sharyn will be keynote speaker at a conference where I am presenting next month as well.

That sounds like a fun evening. And that's a signed copy to hold on to.

>106 clue: Yes, it definitely is! The book really sounds fascinating. I need to finish a library book and another ARC before I can get around to reading it. Fortunately the ARC is non-fiction and one that will likely be a quicker read. The library book is one in the Hogarth Shakespeare. I finished one book last night. I'm hoping I'll read the book before I see her again. She's signing books at White Pine Books November 1, but since it's just a book signing, I probably will skip that one. That gives me a few more days before I do see her in West Virginia. The book's setting is located near the conference. She said she's creating a self-guided tour of book sights. It should be easy for me to do since my hotel is in Lewisburg.

104. Murder in Montego Bay by Paula Lennon

Date Completed: 13 Oct 2017

Category: Lucinda Virginia Phillips (Series)

Rating: 2 stars

Review: Lennon penned the first in a series featuring Jamaican detective Raythan Preddy assisted by visiting Glasgow (Scotland) detective Sean Harris. Together they solve the murder of a wealthy Ellis family member. The Ellis family includes Chinese ancestors. The case involves narcotics. Readers question why Harris is in Jamaica and never find the answer. The author overuses Jamaican dialect in conversations. While the author accurately describes Jamaica's impoverished and wealthy residents, it is difficult to connect with her characters. While I appreciated the setting, the book is too gritty for my mystery reading tastes. Readers who enjoy grittier books will rate the book higher than I did. The publisher provided an electronic Advance Reader's Copy through NetGalley with the expectation of an unbiased review.

105. The Gap of Time: The Winter's Tale Retold by Jeanette Winterson

Date Completed: 14 Oct 2017

Category: Francis Aldridge (Fiction & Other Literature)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Winterson's retelling of The Winter's Tale places the characters and their "shortened" names in modern London and a fictitious American town called New Bohemia. A baby's discovery in the "drop box" where unwanted children may be left leads to its rescue by a man. He names her Perdita. Gradually readers learn Perdita's back story. Eventually the story comes "full circle" in terms of persons. The Winter's Tale has never been one of my favorite Shakespeare plays. I was so turned off by all the profanity in the opening chapters (following the recap of Shakespeare's tale) that I never really enjoyed this retelling or connected with any characters. Mild profanity continued throughout the story, although the writing improved. Themes of jealousy and forgiveness run through the work.

106. The Landscapes of Anne of Green Gables: The Enchanting Island that Inspired L. M. Montgomery by Catherine Reid

Date Completed: 19 Oct 2017

Category: Joseph Fowlkes (Non-Fiction)

Rating: 4.5 stars

Review: Catherine Reid and Kerry Michaels produced a book which Anne of Green Gables enthusiasts everywhere will welcome. The book's focus is on the landscapes (gardens, woods, lakes, etc.) inspiring Montgomery's settings for the Anne series. Readers see the birch wood in varying seasons. They encounter gardens which inspired the Barry's garden of the books. They see the "Lake of Shining Waters." Gorgeous flower photographs appeal to the eye. The author includes excerpts from the books as she adds details. For academics the author's analysis needs improvement, but fans of the book will treasure the book anyway. Recommended for fans of the series. The review is based on an advance review copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

>111 thornton37814: Not sure which book was a bullet, but I hope you enjoy whichever it was.

>110 thornton37814: This looks like a lovely companion to the Anne books. I've been rereading books from the Anne series recently and will have to look this one up.

>110 thornton37814: Got my numbers mixed up! I meant a BB for the Anne of Green Gables garden book.

>113 VivienneR: It really was nicely done!

>114 LittleTaiko: Looks like several folks will be enjoying that one!

107. Going, Going, Ganache by Jenn McKinlay

Date Completed: 23 Oct 2017

Category: Lucinda Virginia Phillips - Series

Rating: 3 stars

Review: A magazine staff is "bonding" by working on cupcakes for a gala together. Mel discovers the body of one of the writers outside the bakery. His head has been bashed in. Uncle Stan responds to the call. Detective Martinez transferred to the Scottsdale police where he's now her uncle's partner. It's clear he is interested in Mel, but Mel is secretly engaged to Angie's brother Joe. In the meantime Tate quit his job, moved out of his upscale penthouse, and is nowhere to be found. When he's finally discovered, he's trying to prove himself worthy of Angie. The book is as much about the romantic relationships and triangles as it is about the mystery. Still it's an enjoyable read, even if it got off to a sluggish start.

I spent the weekend in Raleigh. I managed to read a few chapters, but that was about it. It was an interesting drive home. I got atop the Blue Ridge Plateau near Fancy Gap, Virginia. The winds must have been about 50 mph with gusts even higher. I was hanging onto the steering wheel and praying, "Lord, please don't let that high profile truck topple over on me." When I got to Wytheville, Virginia, I began running into sleet and snow, so the next 80 miles alternated between patches of the two, depending on the air temperature of the area. I finally ran out of most of that when I got to Tennessee. I think I had one patch of sleet somewhere between Bristol and Kingsport, and that was all. I was very happy to get home to three furry boys who were also happy to see me.

Glad you are home safely after a frightful drive!

Yikes! That was quite a drive you had to make. Glad you made it home safely.

>117 thornton37814: Wow, is it early for that winter weather there?

>118 thornton37814: >119 christina_reads: Thanks! I think the winds were the scariest part.

>120 thornton37814: It is a little early for winter weather. Fortunately it wasn't too bad as long as some sunlight was out. I was nearing home by the time it got dark. The accumulation was only a couple inches, even in the highest elevations so it really wasn't too bad. I was a bit more concerned about sleet as dark approached than about the snow.

Today marks the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther's posting of 95 theses to the Wittenberg church door. We decided to post 95 theses of our own:

     

(They are all masters' theses.)

108. A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny

Date Completed: 31 Oct 2017

Category: Johannes Lantz (Around the World)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: In his new position, Gamache oversees the Surete academy, endeavoring to clean it up. His interesting personnel decisions make a few people question his sanity. He kept some of the most corrupt professors and hired others known for their corruption. He also overturned some admission decisions of his predecessor, selecting some unlikely cadets for his own reasons. Gamache selects four cadets to solve a mystery surrounding a map found in the Three Pines bistro's wall. New chief inspector Isabel LaCoste investigates the homicide of the professor who formerly served as academy chief. The surete authorizes an independent third party investigator, a high-ranking Royal Canadian Mounted Police official. Penny delivers an interesting installment in her long-running series! Readers will look forward to seeing these cadets as they begin their careers with the Surete in future books.

>122 thornton37814: Haha, this made me laugh!

>124 thornton37814: Glad you got a chuckle. This morning when I arrived a plain sheet with "heresy" was taped next to it.

>125 clue: *applause*

>126 thornton37814: :-)

I need to review a book, but I first need to add it to LibraryThing. LT is not cooperating at the moment. I keep getting "search failed" regardless of source tried. I hope they "fix" it soon.

109.The Unquiet Grave by Sharyn McCrumb

Date Completed: 6 Nov 2017

Category: John Perkins (Historical Fiction)

Rating: 4.5 stars

Review: McCrumb fictionalizes the story of the "Greenbrier ghost," a true murder story set in Greenbrier County, West Virginia in which the testimony of a ghost was at least partially responsible for a conviction. The cast of characters is an interesting mix of Appalachian mountain folks, scoundrels, African-Americans not that far removed from slavery, and more. Part of the story is narrated by an African-American lawyer who was second on the defense team. His story is told to one of his doctors at the colored asylum. McCrumb's book tour brought her through my city where I heard her discuss the research done on the book. The book's dedication was to a friend and fellow local genealogist who assisted her in the research. She also spoke about her role and finds that day. I knew most of the plot before I read it, but I still really enjoyed the way the story unraveled. Some people commented it took the story awhile to get going. Since I knew what was to come, that was not a problem for me. This book is the all-conference read for the conference at which I'm speaking later in the week, set in the very county where the book is set. The venue for the conference is at the Greenbrier, referred to as the "White Hotel" in the book. The story is a well-done Appalachian story, blending a real life murder trial with Appalachian life and lore. Fans of historical fiction and Appalachian fiction will find much to like in this story.

>129 thornton37814: I've been wondering about this and I'm glad to see you liked it. My to read pile is about to put a hole in the ceiling but I think I'll add this to it anyway.

>130 casvelyn: I really enjoyed it, and I tried not to give too much of it away!

I'm back from the conference. This is Sharyn McCrumb delivering her keynote address.



The Greenbrier was decorating for Christmas while the conference was being held. One of their Christmas trees was quite unique.



I'll spare you the food picture because I think I'd drool just remembering how tasty the food was!

As I was leaving, I told the student worker at the front desk I was stopping to shop for the boys on the way home. She assumed I was going grocery shopping. She said she wanted some. I asked, "You want cat food and cat litter?" She changed her mind.

110. A Murder for the Books by Victoria Gilbert

Date Completed: 13 Nov 2017

Category Challenge: Lucinda Virginia Phillips (Series)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: A messy break-up prompted Amy Webber to leave her job at a university library, accepting the position as director of a small town library where her aunt resides. The missing Doris Virts turns up dead in the library's archives. Amy meets dance instructor Richard Muir who purchased the home next to hers. The two begin researching his home's history. A lot of old family skeletons begin to rattle. This first installment felt more like a romance novel than a mystery. Some characters, such as Brad,the lead official investigator, needed more development--and needed to be utilized more in the novel. There were some issues with the plot. For example, a cell phone was confiscated by a "bad person" but in a scene shortly afterwards, the owner was using it once again without an opportunity to get it back. Still the book showed some promise. Those likely to be recurring characters are mostly likeable. One character still has a mystery about him which could become fodder for a future plot. As is the case with most cozy mysteries, readers need to suspend believability for some parts of the narrative. Fun read with a likeable setting. The review is based on an advance electronic copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

>133 thornton37814: LOL!

>80 thornton37814: One of my favorites as well. It gave me a queasy feeling all through from the danger and tension.

>125 clue: Educated humor - I love it!

I hope to catch up with everyone before moving to the new site.

>133 thornton37814: I know!

>136 thornton37814: I'm not really sure why it took me so long to read Doerr's book. It was on my list from the moment it hit the shelves. I really would like to know if the sign was put up by a student or faculty member. My guess is the latter.

111. The Family Tree Cemetery Field Guide: How to Find, Record, & Preserve Your Ancestors' Graves by Joy Neighbors

Date Completed: 14 Nov 2017

Category: Richard Thornton (History & Genealogy)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Journalist Joy Neighbors turns her attention to cemeteries for this title. Neighbors provides rudimentary information on abbreviations and symbols often depicted on markers. She discusses the materials from which markers are made. She provides tips to prepare for a graveyard visit and for photographing stones. These tips include cautions about ways genealogists and others tried to make stones more legible in the past and their harmfulness. She included information on Billion Graves and Find A Grave. The book's organization did not work well for me. Some topics seemed to be treated in sections scattered throughout the book. She introduced topics and then said, "We'll talk about that later." It is unfortunate the book went to press when it did instead of waiting just a few more months. She included information on locating cemetery deeds and types of cemeteries as well. The content is already dated due to Find A Grave's web site redesign. She included multiple screenshots which bear little resemblance to what users are now seeing. A note about the pending redesign was included, and she mentioned the "beta" site was now available. It seems screen shots should have been captured from the beta rather than the "old" version. Sentences felt "choppy" to me. At times I felt the author was "talking down" to readers. In an effort to make her content fill more pages, the author added related content such as death certificates, funeral home records, and obituaries. However, she didn't stop there but went on to include a section on basic genealogical research with checklists. This information, while possibly helpful to a beginner, was unnecessary to meet the book's purpose and wastes paper and the consumer's money, since the purchaser pays for those extra pages. She omitted grave markers made from pottery in her discussion of marker types. These are popular in some parts of the South. They tend to break at the base, but they remain quite readable. Many of the checklists and forms in the book are useful to genealogists, but a similar form can usually be found freely available on the internet. While the book is useful to some beginning researchers, most intermediate and experienced researchers would be better served by purchasing Douglas Keister's Stories in Stones or Forever Dixie and picking up information on preservation and other topics via articles in Family Tree Magazine, Your Genealogy Today, or on a blog post. The publisher provided an electronic galley of the book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

112. Thin Air by Ann Cleeves

Date Completed: 15 Nov 2017

Category: Lucinda Virginia Phillips (Series)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Detective Jimmy Perez and his superior Willow Reeves are called to investigate a murder on the northernmost isle of Unst. Assisting is the local officer Sandy Wilson. The victim was creating a film about encounters with ghosts and was including the local sightings of Peerie Lizzie. Her husband, university friends, their dates or mates, and a few locals are the most likely suspects. This installment is very atmospheric. The local legend adds to that feeling. Perez is still coping with the loss of Fran. He takes Fran's daughter to visit her grandparents in the London area. Although I wondered at one point in the story about whether the person who committed the dastardly deed might be the guilty party, I never really formed a strong feeling of anyone's guilt until the reveal. I listened to the audio book read by Kenny Blyth who did a great job.

113. Daring to Hope: Finding God's Goodness in the Broken and the Beautiful by Katie Davis Majors

Date Completed: 17 Nov 2017

Category: Joseph Fowlkes (Non-Fiction)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Katie tells the story of her call to Uganda where she became mother to a baker's dozen of girls. Her faith sees her through many circumstances including the loss of a neighbor, a boy's surgeries, and more. After an especially trying time in her life, God provided her with a husband who loves God as well. This is not a deep theological discussion but more of an inspirational title which is likely to be enjoyed more by women than by men. Katie's story is one which demonstrates reliance upon God to meet one's needs. This review is based on an advance reader's copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley with the expectation of an honest review.

114. The Body in the Casket by Katherine Hall Page

Date Completed: 23 Nov 2017

Category: Lucinda Virginia Phillips (Series)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: A former Broadway producer asks Faith to cater a birthday celebration at his home over a weekend. He's invited those persons connected with his last play, Heaven and Hell. He chose Faith because of her sleuthing reputation. One of the persons invited seeks to kill him and sent him a casket to emphasize the point. At the same time, Pix's daughter investigates the man dating her grandmother Ursula. A developer wants to raze a historic home, but many in the town want the historic, but not registered, home preserved. Tom's position on the town council puts him in the midst of that controversy. Most of Faith's sleuthing is done before the guests arrive although the opportunity to observe guests adds some insight. No body is found until near the end of the novel, and contrary to the book's title, it was not found in a casket. I fingered the guilty person early in the novel. It surprised me Faith was so quick to accept her initial explanation of the body and never considered other options until her life was endangered. This is an enjoyable, although imperfect, installment. The novel's plot probably serves as much to set the scene for future installments as it does a mystery. It's a twist on a locked room mystery except the murder has not yet taken place. At various times in the novel, the author compares the scenario to Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express and the classic board game Clue. Comments are based on an advance reader's copy provided by the publisher through LibraryThing Early Reviewers with the expectation of an honest review.

Hope you are having a lovely Thanksgiving, Lori.

>141 thornton37814: - I skipped over your whole review. I don't know where this one is in the series, but I'm way behind. I came across a couple when I was unpacking some books and added them to a list for "what I'd like to get to next year".

>142 RidgewayGirl: It was enjoyable.

>143 thornton37814: I understand. I know I skipped a few in the series. I think it is more important to read them in order now than when I first began the series.

115. A Dedicated Man by Peter Robinson

Date Completed: 24 Nov 2017

Category: Lucinda Virginia Phillips (Series)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Inspector Banks visits the village of Gratly to investigate the murder of Harry Steadman, an academic with a passion for the past. A sixteen-year-old girl and her boyfriend were near the murder scene but really did not see anything useful. Suspicion falls to a network of Steadman's friends and associates, many whose relationship with the man dated back at least a decade. Since Steadman seemed to be well-liked, Banks begins investigating the past as well. The installment brings pleasure to the reader following Banks' investigation. While the clues to the murderer's identity exist, the less obvious conclusion keeps readers' attention to the last page. I listened to an the audio version read by James Langton who did a commendable job.

I planned to avoid Black Friday crowds, but Petsmart messed up my plans by emailing a coupon good for a free bag of any brand of cat food (up to 4.5 lbs). Since the grain-free cat foods I neeed to use because of Barney's sensitive stomach are so pricy, I knew the coupon was good for at least $12-$20, depending on the brand. I drove over to Sevierville, the nearest Petsmart location. I ended up saving about $17 (since it was on sale for $3 off with the Perks card already). I went for the largest bag I could find that was in a salmon variety. (Rachael Ray Nutrish grain free was not in stock. I usually purchase it because of its availability where I live.) I went to one store in Pigeon Forge to purchase a Christmas gift. Then I went to Gatlinburg to purchase another gift. I parked my car at the Gatlinburg Welcome Center and rode the trolley to the Aquarium. I walked about two blocks to the store, purchased the gift, and walked back to catch the next trolley back to my car. I knew I needed to avoid the "main drag" because I'd seen the traffic backups earlier so I took the back way home, stopping by Bush's Beans to eat lunch. Catfish was the special of the day, and theirs is the best catfish in East Tennessee, so I ordered that. The hostess remembered me from last month. That impressed me.

I'm so far behind in the Inspector Banks series. Someday I'll catch up.

I avoided Black Friday and stayed home. My son went to the mall with friends and had a fine time stretching his money for Christmas presents, but I'm not a fan of crowds of shoppers. We got one of those free food Petsmart coupons a while ago and my daughter chose the most outrageously expensive bag of cat food she could find. Luckily, both cats were able to adjust back to Science Diet!

>147 whitewavedarling: I'm just getting started. I could have downloaded the next in the series, but I'll listen to at least a couple of others first. On the cat food, I figured "more" was better since I couldn't get the regular brand. Fortunately none of the places I went were that crowded. I knew what I wanted and got out.

I was nervous that they'd stage a hunger strike on having to go back to their regular mid-priced food. I once had a cat that my boyfriend of the time (now husband) fed smoked oysters to. The cat refused regular food for a week, hoping I'd cave and start buying him seafood.

>149 whitewavedarling: I'm glad they didn't. I tried several varieties of grain free to see which they prefer. Nutrish was the favorite. Purina Beyond is the runner-up.

My 2018 thread is now up: https://www.librarything.com/topic/275977

I'll continue posting 2017 reads here. (I'm a purist on the years.) I'll try to remember to post the 2018 link again on December 31 or January 1.

>146 thornton37814:, Your message about PetSmart throwing you off made me laugh, because it threw us a curveball also! We Never venture out on Black Friday, but then yesterday morning it occurred to me that my husband's computer died last month, and this really would be the best time to search for one. He'd been using our tablet and we'd been putting off the shopping... Well, we found a computer, but I felt so overwhelmed by the crowds and lines that my husband eventually told me to head on over to PetSmart to hang out and he'd meet me there, since it was just next door and we'd thought to get our dog a new bed while we were out. Well, by the time he got to me, I'd found toys and a new cat-scratcher... and was half in-love with a new cat. We're going to go talk to adoption manager today. She's older than we'd planned (9), and we hadn't planned on getting another cat at all, so we'll see, but the sign on her cage just broke my heart (she's healthy, but her owner wanted to put her down, so she ended up with this foster care system when the vet said no to euthanizing her and took her off the owner's hands instead). We're leaving for a good week and a half for Christmas, though, so I think we're going to end up talking to them about adopting her After Christmas, IF she hasn't found a home yet by then. I hope she does, but I don't think it makes sense to adopt her and then disappear after 2.5 weeks for more than a week, leaving her with cats she just met :( Anyhow, yes, PetSmart disrupted our plans in a big way yesterday also! (Sorry for the long story lol)

>152 thornton37814: A friend who is a fellow librarian and genealogist living in a large Texas city posted her Black Friday Petsmart haul. She made my haul look tame. However, I did go online last night and order another cat tree from Chewy. I'd been debating getting a second big cat tree. I liked the one they had, but the product reviews were what convinced me. Someone who had three cats about the same age and size as mine posted glowing reviews of how stable it was when they all pounced on it, even the larger cats at the same time. I didn't look at the adoptable kitties. I want to adopt them all, but I also know I've got about as many as I can handle.

>153 VivienneR:, we're going to be in the market for a new cat tree sooner than later, too, lol. I found a site online somewhere, a while back, that sells cat trees and also sells post replacements (so that when one of them is worn down or loose, you can just get a new post instead of a whole new tree), which Petco and PetSmart don't do. I have to find the site again, though--I'd bookmarked it on my old computer before it died, but with a new laptop, I'm back to square one! In any case, though, sturdiness is definitely the most important thing!

Anyhow, we did cave in, to let you know... we've got an appointment to pick up the kitty I mentioned on Wednesday. I have no problem saying no to kittens, but I have a feeling we're this one's only chance. We'll see what happens, but this one will definitely make a full house for us!

>154 thornton37814: Congrats on the new kitty! Hope you find the replacement post site.

116. It's All Relative: Adventures Up and Down the World's Family Tree by A. J. Jacobs

Date Completed: 27 Nov 2017

Category: Richard Thornton (History & Genealogy)

Rating: 2.5 stars

Review: Journalist A.J. Jacobs immersed himself in the genealogical community for his latest adventure. He embarks on a quest to host the world's largest family reunion which he called "Global Family Reunion." He befriends many genealogists and enlists celebrities to promote the event and perform or speak at it. I was disappointed in the book. It was more about the global family reunion than it was about genealogical research.While occasional references to genealogical research are made, few persons are going to learn to research their ancestry in a correct manner by reading it. The author promotes the one world trees such as Geni.com far too much rather than emphasizing evidence analysis and reasonably exhaustive research. Reliance on these trees often leads to erroneous conclusions which propogate. The author's casual writing style does not work well for me either. The book employs the hidden footnote system which I detest. How is the reader supposed to know something is cited when no indication is made a footnote is available? This is completely unacceptable in a field such as genealogy where evidence is so important. While I'm happy to see a book about genealogical research published by a major publisher, I would have preferred one which encouraged proper methodology rather than emphasizing online trees. Not recommended.

117. Somebody at the Door by Raymond Postgate

Date Completed: 28 Nov 2017

Category: Francis Aldridge (Fiction and Other Literature)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Henry Grayling's dies in his own home a short time after returning home on the train. Mustard gas caused his death. Some of the man's belongings are found along the road, but the payroll he transported was missing. The vicar provides Inspector Holly with a list of persons aboard the train. As he investigates them, he discovers motives for many of them. The solution may be obvious to the reader carefully paying attention to details; however, others may be left guessing until the revelation.This classic crime will appeal to those who enjoy police procedurals. My remarks are based on advance e-galley provided by the publisher through NetGalley with the expectation of an honest review.

>157 thornton37814: Nice review! Those British Library Crime Classic covers are a real draw for me - and I enjoy the old-fashioned mysteries.

>158 thornton37814: I love the books and the covers! I'm glad they decided to issue them.

>157 thornton37814: Hope my library grabs that one! May have to suggest it for purchase :)

>157 thornton37814: I already got hit by a BB by LindaPanzo for this one but I also have Verdict of Twelve by Raymond Postgate and because it fit a TIOLI Challenge this month that will be the first one of his that I will be reading.

>160 thornton37814: Hopefully they'll get that one.

>161 thornton37814: I'll look forward to your review of that one. If you enjoy it, I'll add it to my TBR list. I'm finding it difficult to follow TIOLI without the wiki. I hope it's back up soon. It may be back, but I'm about a day behind on messages.

118. Your Guide to the Apocalypse: What You Should Know Before the World Comes to an End by Matt Hagee

Date Completed: 1 Dec 2017

Category: Joseph Fowlkes (Non-Fiction)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: While Hagee begins with a discussion of modern-day events and parallels to passages of Scripture, the latter part of the book is a study of the seven churches in Revelation and their parallels to the seven ages of the church. He concludes we are living in Laodicea--a phrase which brings back memories of an old contemporary Christian song (1983) by Steve Camp. I enjoyed the author's illustrations based on his own family history. This is a readable book encouraging believers in the midst of spiritual darkness. I received an electronic galley from the publisher via NetGalley with expectations for an honest review to be published and shared.

119. Egg Drop Dead by Laura Childs

Date Completed: 2 Dec 2017

Category: Lucinda Virginia Phillips - Series

Rating: 3 stars

Review: It's nearing Halloween in Kindred. Suzanne decides to run out to Mike Mullen's to pick up another round or two of cheese. That's when she discovers Mike didn't milk the cows and stumbles across his butchered body. She calls Sheriff Doogie. Suzanne spotted someone in the distance, possibly the murderer or a witness. Plenty of witnesses. Suzanne gets herself in dangerous situations by becoming involved in the investigation. Toni and Petra, of course, are in the action. Toni, although separated from Junior, remains married to him. Suzanne and Sam plan to marry in the spring. The reader, however, continually asks how Suzanne who went to purchase cheese from Mike Mullen can get by another week without finding a new local source for it. In fact, we never learn the solution to that problem. Toni annoys me. This installment, while enjoyable, does not measure up to some of the earlier installments in the series.

Abandoned Read #7



Southernmost by Silas House

Date Abandoned: 2 Dec 2017

Category: Thomas Duke (Abandoned Reads)

I consider this one my fault for requesting based on the author's name and reputation in Southern/Appalachian literature without reading the description. I'm not a fit for the book. The writing is strong, but I'm having issues with the portrayal of a character. Advance review copy received through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

120. The Country House Library by Mark Purcell

Date Completed: 2 Dec 2017

Category: Joseph Fowlkes (Non-Fiction)

Rating: 4.5 stars

Review: A well-researched volume featuring essays tracing the history of English country house libraries. Much of the information on contents of these libraries is derived from estate inventories and published catalogues. One essay discusses its counter-part, the town house library, specifically in the context of those who owned both homes in places such as London as well as in the country. The book was interesting but probably bogs down a bit for the average reader due to its academic nature. The book, however, will interest persons passionate about the history of books and libraries. The book contains a number of illustrations featuring country house libraries and their features. The review is based on an advance review copy received from the publisher through NetGalley with the expectation of an honest review.

Just ran across a link giving one version of the top 17 Christian non-fiction books published in 2017 (along with some runner-ups and a list of previous winners): https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/top-17-books-of-2017

Also found a very interesting Advent Calendar of the Best Books of 2017 from Englewood Review of Books: http://englewoodreview.org/advent-calendar-2017-best-books-of-2017/ While Englewood Review of Books is a Christian review source, its reviews include books from mainstream publishers. They are up to "Day 4" and will be adding to it.

For the last couple of years, we've had a faculty book club that reads somewhat "offbeat" selections during the spring semester. In 2016 we read Sudden Death by Alvaro Enrigue which featured tennis balls made from Anne Boleyn's hair in a match between Carravagio and Queveda. Last year we read The Book of the Unknown: Tales of the Thirty-Six by Jonathan Keats. We need something for spring semester 2018 and are open to suggestions. Has anyone read something a little off-beat which would lend itself well to a group read?

ETA: I think Early Reviewers December offerings resolved our issue. Mad Hatters and March Hares will be our spring read. Our core group was very enthusiastic when I suggested it. I suspect we will gain a few new members.

121. The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches by Alan Bradley

Date Completed: 5 Dec 2017

Category: Lucinda Virginia Phillips (Series)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: The body of Harriet, Flavia's mother, is being brought back to Bishop's Lacey by train. It was recovered in ice in the Himalayas. Flavia is amazed that Winston Churchill is present at the train station and even asks her a question. Gradually more persons, some of whom we met in previous installments of the series and some which are new, arrive for the funeral. Flavia gets to ride in an airplane for the first time. She learns things about her family and its place in Britain's history and politics. I'll leave much of the action out of my review to prevent spoilers. This is certain to be key in the series and essential to understanding future installments. It's one of my favorites in the series to this point. I listened to the Random House audio version read by Jane Entwistle. I will listen to something else next for the sake of variety, but I look forward to the next episode in the life of Flavia.

122. An Avalon Christmas by Darien Gee

Date Completed: 5 Dec 2017

Category: Francis Aldridge (Fiction & Other Literature)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: This heart-warming story collection portrays the spirit of Christmas as displayed by the residents of Avalon, Illinois. Some stories are more interesting than others. Characters occasionally reappear in other stories. Most of the stories mention Harmony Homes, a facility for seniors which appears to include both independent living and assisted-living portions. This collection puts the reader in the Christmas spirit. Several recipes, including the Amish Friendship Bread and variations mentioned in the text, appear following the final story.

>169 thornton37814: I also really enjoyed this installment of the series and look forward to the next one. I love Jayne Entwistle's narration.

>171 dudes22: This is the second one to which I listened, and I'm so glad I stumbled across these in our library's Overdrive collection. I enjoyed them in print, but I think I prefer the audio.

Just discovered the next Flavia book is a 27 page single. I downloaded it from the library.

123. The Curious Case of the Copper Corpse by Alan Bradley

Date Completed: 6 Dec 2017

Category: Lucinda Virginia Phillips (Series)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Flavia investigates a man's death at her father's old school when a student requests her investigative services. Using clues assembled in a short span of time, she fingers the killer even before the police arrive. This short story is a great way to spend a few minutes with this child detective.

124. Remembering Christmas by Dan Walsh

Date Completed: 7 Dec 2017

Category: Francis Aldridge (Fiction & Other Literature)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Rick, a Charlotte CPA, responds to his mother's urgent request for assistance running the family's Seabreeze, Florida, bookstore when his stepfather falls ill. A homeless man seeking the Egg McMuffin they provided him daily discovered the man. It's a heartwarming story in which reassesses his life as he learns more about his family and discovers what is truly important. Although the novel opens and closes in the present, most of the book is a look back at the period from Thanksgiving to Christmas 1980. The news still counts the days of the Iraq hostage crisis. Americans hope the newly elected incoming actor president can do something about that situation. Americans are discussing "Who shot J.R.?" John Lennon is shot. It brought back memories of late adolescence. Faith plays an important part in the novel, but the novel is not evangelistic in nature. Recommended for persons who enjoy heartwarming Christmas stories of reconciliation.

>174n - I wish I was up to date with this series. The cover looks like it would work for the Color Cat n Jan. Unless it's not black like it looks -

>176 rabbitprincess: Betty, this is a short story in the series, and I really think it could happen at any time in the series. That is one I think can be read out of order. It has nothing to do with keeping the flow in the series. I could have read it after the first book or here. It would not make a difference.

125. Separate from the World by P. L. Gaus

Date Completed: 11 Dec 2017

Category: Lucinda Virginia Phillips (Series)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: It's final exam time and spring commencement time at Millersburg College. Professor Michael Brandon feels burnout when it comes to grading and debates retirement. An Amish dwarf comes to his office to ask him to investigate the death of his brother which was ruled accidental but can only be murder. During his visit, a young woman falls from the college's bell tower. Professor Brandon recognizes her as one of his students. The young man with her is also one of his students. Did she jump or was she pushed? The seemingly unrelated threads merge together for a suspenseful conclusion. The perpetrator in the Amish case, worsening as more adversity strikes the Erb family, is clever, leaving little evidence other than a psychological profile. This is a strong installment in the series. I listened to the audio version read by George Newbern who always does a great job with this series.

126. A Vicarage Christmas by Kate Hewitt

Date Completed: 12 Dec 2017

Category: Lucinda Virginia Phillips (Series)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Anna returns home to the vicarage in Thornthwaite, a Cumbrian village, for Christmas. She avoided coming home for many years, but her mother's insistence along with the promise of an important announcement drew her there. On her first night back in town, she bares her soul to a stranger at a pub whom she later discovers is her father's new curate. The two seem drawn to one another. The book is more or less an introduction to a series featuring Anna and her sisters. It presents spiritual truth about brokenness in a non-preachy manner. While a lot of threads are unresolved, future series installments may address these. I received an electronic copy through Smashwords from the publisher through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program in exchange for an honest review.

127. Silent Nights: Christmas Mysteries edited by Martin Edwards

Date Completed: 13 Dec 2017

Category: Francis Aldridge (Fiction & Other Literature)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: This is a collection of mysteries with Christmas settings.

"The Blue Carbuncle" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - A stolen jewel is found in a goose. Sherlock Holmes finds the thief in this tale ending with an unexpected twist (unless you've read the story before which I had).

"Parlour Tricks" by Ralph Plummer - A robber is revealed through some amusements.

"A Happy Solution" by Raymond Allen - A thousand pound note intended for the Red Cross ends up in an envelpe addressed to Kenneth Dale. Dale solves the case.

"The Flying Stars" by G. K. Chesterton - A jewel thief steals three valuable jewels while staging a comedic act.

"Stuffing" by Edgar Wallace - A robbery is discovered at Carfane Hall. Some aspects reminded me of "The Blue Carbuncle."

"The Unknown Murderer" by H. C. Bailey - A series of murders and attempted murders begins at a children''s party. Dr. Fortune investigates.

"The Absconding Treasurer" by J. Jefferson Farjeon - Someone, possibly the treasurer, took money intended for distribution between several persons. Detective Crook investigates.

"The Necklace of Pearls" by Dorothy L. Sayers - A string of pearls goes missing during parlour games at which Lord Peter Wimsey is present.

"The Case Is Altered" by Margery Allingham - Invited to spend Christmas at Philip Cookham's home, Albert Campion's suspicious are aroused by the guests' activities, uncovering a blackmail plot.

"Waxworks" by Ethel Lina White - A reporter spends a night in a haunted wax museum to write a story.

"Cambric Tea" by Marjoire Bowen - Dr. Bevis Holroyd is summoned to the Strangeways household where a dying man accuses his wifee of poisoning him.

"The Chinese Apple" by Joseph Shearing - Isabelle Crosland is tired after traveling from Florence to London. She'd agreed to meet her niece at the family home to take her back to Italy. The police queestion her about a murdered neighbor, warning her the murderer may be in disguise.

"A Problem in White" by Nicholas Blake -Arthur Kilmington travels on a train which previously was robbed. He ends up dead after the train is detained by weather. The reader must determine who was arrested for the murder.

"The Name on the Window" by Edmund Crispin - A locked room puzzle that isn't a locked room puzzle.

"Beef for Christmas" by Leo Bruce - A rich man invites retired Sergeant Beef to his home at Christmas. The man claims his relatives want him to quit his lavish spending so there will be an inheritance, implying they might resort to murder to ensure one remains.

As with most collections, some stories are stronger than others. This collection is stronger than most, and Edwards deserves commendation for his selections. I admit I preferred the murder mysteries to the thefts. The introductory material, providing brief biographies of the authors as well as an introductions to the stories, needed to be formatted differently, providing a more noticeable difference between it and the actual story text.

>180 thornton37814: Thumb for your review! I had the same comment about the introductory material.

>181 thornton37814: It was a bit strange. It just sort of all ran together almost. They used the same sort of break as in the story breaks.

The December issue of Just Cross Stitch included a beautiful pattern for a Moravian star. Unfortunately our local needlework store closed a couple years ago. I needed some fabric for the piece. Since I'm off for a few weeks, I decided to head up the road to Johnson City to the best needlework store in East Tennessee. It's easy to get fibers in Pigeon Forge, but they don't have a very big selection of fabric, and it's all pre-cut which makes it difficult to find the right piece. I knew I could go to Johnson City, find a wider selection, and get the fabric cut to meet my needs.

I ordered some stuff to do another project in the same book. They will mail it to me if I can't get up there to pick it up so that's a good thing. They only had a couple of the fibers in stock. I needed to order the other fibers and the towels.

While driving, I continued to listen to Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. I'm not certain whether I really like it or not. It's definitely not my usual genre. I know I would have abandoned it by now if I'd read it, so it's probably a good thing I'm listening. I think I'm about half-way through.

I stopped at Yoder's on the way up to get one of their fabulous deli sandwiches on homemade bread and with homemade chips. I also picked up a loaf of sourdough bread. I made toast with it tonight. So good!

>183 VivienneR: We haven't had what I would call a really good needlework shop in Fort Smith in at about 15 years! I really miss having a store close by that I can go in and browse. The closest shop to me that I really like is a little over 100 miles away and I always go by when I'm in that area. I yearn for a store I can go to easily when I "just want to look."

>184 clue: I wish we still had a shop here. The store is 71.5 miles from my house according to Google maps. It takes about 1.5 hours to get there. I realized this evening I need another piece of fabric. When they call about the other, I'll just get them to add that to the package if I have it mailed, but if I go in person, I can just add it when I go. I really do like the people at this shop. I just wish it was located in Morristown instead of in Johnson City.

128. A House of Tailors by Patricia Reilly Giff

Date Completed: 15 Dec 2017

Category: Mary Ann Harris (Children's/YA)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Dina, mistaken for a French spy and on the run from the Germany army, is sent to her uncle's in America for safety. It was supposed to be her sister Katharina making the journey. Dina's mother owned a sewing business which engaged her daughters as well. Dina looked forward to escaping sewing but soon found she must do so to earn money for passage back home. In the meantime she slowly adjusts to her new life. I will omit the rest of the story to prevent spoilers. It's a lovely story of immigrant life in in 1871-1872 New York. It's partially based on the author's great-grandmother's life although liberties, expressed in thee afterword, were taken. It's a story which should resonate with middle school girls interested in historical fiction.

Carrie and I met up to exchange Christmas gifts, to eat lunch, and Christmas shop. I received a copy of Breaking Cat News: Cats Reporting on the News that Matters to Cats by Georgia Dunn and the Murder She Baked Collection on DVD. It features three of Joanne Fluke's Hannah Swenson mysteries--"A Plum Pudding Mystery," "A Peach Cobbler Mystery," and "A Deadly Recipe." (These, of course, are not exact titles, but it's what's on the DVD cover. I also received earrings, an iTunes gift card, and cat treats. Sherlock, Mr. B., and Barney offered to help me with that last item.

>187 RidgewayGirl: Fun Christmas gifts! Glad your three felines were able to help out.

>187 RidgewayGirl: I have to laugh about the cat treats. After visiting a friend in New Jersey this summer I sent her chocolates, and the dog and cat both treats. She sent me a thank you back and said the first thing she saw in the package was whitefish and she was horrified to think I wanted her to eat it!

>188 thornton37814: What cat doesn't love helping with Christmas gifts? They are especially helpful when you wrap gifts.

>189 thornton37814: Well, Carrie got bones in her package, but I did put Adrian's gift in a separate bag inside Carrie's with a gift tag saying it was from my cats. ;-)

129. Seven Dead by J. Jefferson Farjeon

Date Completed: 17 Dec 2017

Category: Lucinda Virginia Phillips (Series)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: A petty thief gets a scare when he chooses Haven House for his first household robbery. He discovers the bodies of seven persons in the house. He runs, slowly losing the silverware he picked up. He's pursued by a free-lance journalist, Thomas Hazeldean, as well as a member of the local law enforcement. Haven House was entrusted to the uncle of a young girl to manage until she is able to inherit. Both are missing from the house but were seen at the home during the day. Inspector Kendall is put on the case which leads him and Hazeldean to France and ultimately to the South Atlantic in pursuit of the criminals. This is an early work from the golden age of detective fiction as the genre developed. It's plot, while still engaging, is more simplistic than some. The prefatory material indicates this is the second Farjeon work in which Hazeldean appeared, and I feel I was at a disadvantage by not understanding his character as developed in the earlier novel since I did not read it. Hazeldean's character needed further development. Most cozies and police procedurals stick with one jurisdiction, but this one takes the reader to different locales, similar to what a thriller might do. It's an enjoyable read. These remarks are based on an electronic advance review copy provided by the author through NetGalley with the expectation an honest review would be written.

My cat, Tarzan, has a new habit of enjoying his "crazy hour" in between the trunk of the Christmas tree and the presents. My husband insisted on getting a super heavy-duty tree holder a few years ago, so this isn't terrifying, just funny.

He sends his holiday greetings to your boys, although he also wants to remind them that they deserve treats all year long.

>192 thornton37814: They know they deserve treats all year long and don't let me forget it. Right now they are happily chasing one another through the house.

130. Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders

Date Completed: 18 Dec 2017

Category: Francis Aldridge (Fiction & Other Literature)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: This is an unusual book. Its literary style is unique, consisting of multiple narrators and utlizing quotes from history books and other texts. Before I began, I looked up "bardo" in the dictionary to discover it is a transitional state between this life and the next in Tibetan Buddhism. While I found the literary style intriguing, I didn't real understand a lot of what was going on. Because of the literary style, it can be read quickly, as I did, but it probably needs a slower read by persons unfamiliar with Tibetan Buddhism if they wish to understand the action. I'm not sorry I read it. I enjoyed the reliance on quotations to drive certain parts of the text; however, I'm not quite as sold on the "bardo" concept.

131. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Date Completed: 19 Dec 2017

Category: Mary Ann Harris (Children's/YA Literature)

Rating: 2.5 stars

Review: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is peculiar. I'd seen rave reviews for this book and thought I might enjoy it even though it's not my usual genre. While I found it rather far-fetched and implausible, I could see that middle school readers might enjoy it Jacob always heard of his grandfather's escape from the Nazis and the way he ended up on an island off the coast of England. His grandfather's photos from his time there looked like "doctored photos" and trick photography. Jacob sees one of the monsters his grandfather described the night his grandfather died. Everyone is convinced he suffers from a stress syndrome related to his grandfather's death. With the blessing of his therapist, he and his father set off for the island where his grandfather lived. Jacob's father wants to see the birds populating the island while Jacob wants to see the children's home where his grandfather resided. He discovers it is in ruins. I won't reveal any more of the plot which involves time travel to prevent spoilers. While I rate this book fairly low, persons who enjoy fantasy are likely to enjoy it more. I listened to the audio version read by Jesse Bernstein. He did an excellent job with the various voices.

Good review!

I couldn't remember this book much and after checking, I find I gave it a generous 3.5 stars. I can only barely remember it so it looks like a reduction in stars is necessary. Your rating is more accurate in my opinion.

>196 MissWatson: It may be memorable for me, but only because it was so different it is unlikely to blur with anything else I will read.

132. Handel's Messiah: Comfort for God's People by Calvin Stapert

Date Completed: 20 Dec 2017

Category: Joseph Fowlkes (Non-Fiction)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Without a doubt Handel's "Messiah" is one of the most enduring and beloved musical works of all time. Stapert provides background on the oratorio form along with some insights into the composer Handel. He then goes on to describe the work's earliest and enduring performance. He discusses some of the truths taught in the oratorio in light of theology. The final section of the work offers a commentary on the work. Stapert's audience is decidedly an academic one. The writing is probably too stilted to be enjoyed by all but those obsessed with the work or musical form. Recommended only for music professionals with a strong interest in the classical tradition. Those interested in more contemporary forms of worship or wanting a devotional read on Handel's work will probably want to pass.

My fur boys were all pronounced healthy by the vet on their annual exam; however, she would like for them to lose a little weight in the coming year. I hope they like the "weight control" formula they'll be getting after we run out of the current stock. I'll actually do some "mixing" of both foods for awhile until they grow accustomed to the new. I'm considering ordering a variety which can be autoshipped by Chewy. I'll want to test it with them before I begin automatic shipments, and I'll also want to figure out how often the automatic shipments need to come.

Since I'm heading out of town in the morning and already have my car mostly packed with the exception of the suitcase, kitties, and a few last minute things, I decided to open my SantaThing books. Meg (familyhistorian) was my Santa. She chose:

The Opening Night Murder by Anne Rutherford
The Scots: A Genetic Journey by Alistair Moffat
Season of Darkness by Maureen Jennings
Portrait in Sepia by Isabel Allende

I'm looking forward to reading all of them soon!

Safe travels, Lori, and Happy Holidays to you and the kitties!

Have a great Christmas, Lori!

Have a safe trip and a merry Christmas!

>201 VivienneR: >202 dudes22: >203 thornton37814: Merry Christmas to all.

133. Mrs. Sinclair's Suitcase by Louise Walters

Date Completed: 22 Dec 2017

Category: John Perkins (Historical Fiction)

Rating: 2 stars

Review: Despite its World War II setting, this book felt more like a soap opera than something I cared about. The story has a historic element, focusing on Dorothy Sinclair, her husband Albert, and her lover,a Russian flyer. In the modern portion, the woman is now 109 and her granddaughter is unraveling the story. I listened to the audio book. Different narrators were used for the different time periods. The narrator for the earlier time period read too slowly, making the story drag on far too long. (Upping the speed to 1.5x for a bit helped but it also made it seem a bit choppy.) The modern narrator did a better job of holding the reader's attention. This one was not my cup of tea. I almost stopped listening but decided to stick it out.

Lori - My wish for you this Christmas:

>206 thornton37814: I love Charlie Brown and Snoopy. It reminds me of my sister-in-law who died back in the 1970s. That was her favorite comic strip. She made me a ceramic Charlie Brown and Lucy. My Dad broke one of them, but I still have the other.

>207 rabbitprincess: Thanks! Hope you had a merry Christmas.

134. The Weedless Widow by Deborah Morgan

Date Completed: 25 Dec 2017

Category: Lucinda Virginia Phillips (Series)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: A former FBI agent now an antiques picker is among those discovering the body of the bait shop owner near their fishing retreat. The female sheriff has suffered a recent bout with cancer but is back on the job and a quite likeable character. As the plot deepens and circumstances really heat up, Jeff calls in his former mentor and partner to assist. The main issue with this one was plausibility (in some places) for me. It held my interest, and the use of antique fishing lures made it unique. Technology is probably what dated this novel most. No one uses "Ask Jeeves" anymore and the site became known as ask.com. Still today's users would "google" it. Cell phone technology evolved since this one was written as well. It has been many years since I read the first in this series. Hopefully I'll get to the next one a bit sooner. I listened to the audio version of this one.

135. Pekoe Most Poison by Laura Childs

Date Completed: 25 Dec 2017

Category: Lucinda Virginia Phillips (Series)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Theodosia and Drayton attend a "rat tea" catered by another company and hosted by a family the Heritage Society is courting for a huge donation. The host falls dead after poison is administered. Detective Tidwell is out of town so Detective Riley, his protegee, is handling the case. Theodosia, as usual, gets involved. Not the best installment in the series although enjoyable. I missed Detective Tidwell and feel his absence from the installment was possibly to set up a romantic interested between Detective Riley and Theodosia. I think this could evolve even with him taking a back seat to Tidwell, so I thought it unnecessary for Tidwell to be missing. I really never took a like to any of the persons associated with the murdered man and am only sorry more of them didn't land behind bars.

My niece is dropping her dog off at the groomer's in a half hour and then coming to pick me up. We're going out for breakfast. When I return to the hotel and load my cats and luggage (mostly theirs) into the car, we're heading home. Looking forward to gettting there. I was just checking how much time is left on my current audio book. I decided I probably want to load another one on the phone just to be safe.

Have a safe trip! I hope you have enough book for the trip as well :)

>212 thornton37814: Downloading a second one was a good thing, particularly since I got tied up in Chattanooga traffic. I still need to review the one I completed en route, but I think I got into the 3rd of 7 parts on the one I downloaded this morning.

136. The Story Teller by Margaret Coel

Date Completed: 27 Dec 2017

Category: Lucinda Virginia Phillips (Series)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Artifacts are being returned by museums to tribes via a government act, but an inventory missing the ledger is what drew attorney Vicky Holden to Denver where the murder occurred. Father John O'Malley is on the campus of Regis University in Denver to try to secure funding for a museum. Meanwhile a graduate student from the Wind River Reservation is murdered and his death seems to be linked to his thesis.Father John and Vicky assist investigators in finding the perpetrators, but the way they reach their conclusions holds the reader's interest. I listened to the audio book read by Stephanie Brush who does a good job with this series.

I've already reported my Santa Thing haul. I don't think I reported my Christmas Swap receipts on this thread since it is part of the 75 Book group, but I'll list them now. Carrie was my Swap Santa, and she said it was the easiest hers had ever been.

Mill by David Macaulay
Hiding the Past by Nathan Dylan Goodwin

I don't remember reporting the book in my package from Carrie when we exchanged gifts. It was a graphic novel entitled:

Breaking Cat News: Cats Reporting on the News that Matters to Cats by Georgia Dunn

On my way to Mississippi, I stopped to stretch at McKays in Chattanooga. This is a giant warehouse-sized used bookstore. We have one in Knoxville, and there is also one in Nashville. I'm usually ready to "unfold myself" by the time I get to Chattanooga so I've made this my stretching stop since it's located right next to the interstate. Because the boys were out in the car, I didn't want to take too long so I only went over to the genealogy section to browse. I picked up a couple of titles from my wish list. (I, of course, searched my LT catalog to make sure I didn't own either book. I occasionally can't remember what has just been languishing a long time on my wish list and what is on my shelf.)

Researching Scots-Irish Ancestors: The Essential Genealogical Guide to Early Modern Ulster, 1600-1800 by William J. Roulston
You Can Write Your Family History by Sharon DeBartolo Carmack

The family purchased three books for me:

The Songs of Jesus by Timothy Keller - This is a daily devotion book on Psalms
Pusserina the Wondercat written by Kenneth B. Melvin and illustrated by Linda Albrecht - My niece and her husband recently moved to Northport, Alabama, a Tuscaloosa suburb. This was a book of poetry by an author local to that area. She knows my passion for cats and knew this was perfect.
The Mississippi Encyclopedia edited by Ted Ownby and Charles Reagan Wilson - a new reference book on my "home state"

137. Dunbar by Edward St. Aubyn

Date Completed: 28 Dec 2017

Category: Francis Aldridge (Fiction & Other Literature)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: St. Aubyn retells Shakespeare's King Lear using a media magnate as King Lear. His two oldest daughters want to usurp his power, having him declared mentally incapable. He's a bit estranged from the younger daughter who moved out to Wyoming, but when she hears what her sisters are up to, she attempts to reach her dad who escaped from the asylum before the sisters can. The author even incorporated some stage instructions into the narrative early in the book making me laugh out loud. This is probably my second favorite in the series to date, with top honors going to Hagseed by Margaret Atwood.

138. Breaking Cat News: Cats Reporting on the News that Matters to Cats by Georgia Dunn

Date Completed: 28 Dec 2017

Category: Francis Aldridge (Fiction & Other Literature)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Cat enthusiasts will enjoy this graphic novel featuring cat reporters telling about the things about which cats care. Some of the strips strips seem a bit more forced than others, as if the author was drawing a blank and needed to meet a deadline. Others were quite funny. Most cat owners can relate to the things in this book--moths and other bugs encountered, making the bed, reactions to the visiting cat at the window (or door), moving the furniture and finding all the lost cat toys, getting used to the new baby, etc. I'm sure people who follow the series are more familiar with the cats, but one of them looks more like a rabbit to me. I'm certain I'll sit down with the book and enjoy it again in the future.

139. Too Good to Be True by Ann Cleeves

Date Completed: 28 Dec 2017

Category: Lucinda Virginia Phillips (Series)

TIOLI Challenge:

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Jimmy Perez responds to his ex-wife's request for assistance, traveling to the Scottish Borders to examine the death of a young teacher. The death was ruled a suicide, but village gossip accuses Jimmy's ex and her physician husband of the death. Jimmy agrees to spend two days on the case before returning home. He talks to the local officer who was an old friend. He makes inquiries in the village. It becomes clear the doctor knew the teacher before she came to the village, and Jimmy must finally confront him about his secret and the damage it is causing in his relationship. This is a "Quick Read" and as such characters are not as fully developed as in the main series. It's a pleasant venture with Jimmy Perez, but I confess that I prefer the Shetland Islands setting where the islands are as much a character as the people. I never got the feel for the Scottish Borders in this short installment.

140. A Cruise to Die For by Charlotte Elkins and Aaron Elkins

Date Completed: 29 Dec 2017

Category: Lucinda Virginia Phillips (Series)

Rating: 2.5 stars

Review: Alix London, daughter of an art criminal, works for the FBI and is investigating an art forgery/ponzi scheme ring. She's an art expert and is aboard a yacht as a lecturer. One of her colleagues shows up as well, undercover as the designated bidder for an invited guest who cannot make the Greek isles tour. The murder is secondary to the art crimes. I made the mistake of reading this second installment before reading the first and feel I missed out on character development needed to appreciate the series. I didn't enjoy this installment enough to want to read the earlier or later installments in the series. I prefer "murder mysteries" so it just did not hold my attention. Fortunately it was short enough to finish.

141. Mill by David Macaulay

Date Completed: 29 Dec 2017

Category: Mary Ann Harris (Children's/YA)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Macaulay describes the various kinds of mills and then goes on to discuss the evolution of textile mills and the industry in New England. The illustrations make it easy for the intended juvenile audience to follow along with what is going on and are marvelous. Macaulay used readers from historic mill villages to ensure the accuracy of his narrative. While the preface of the book makes it clear the mills described in the book itself are imaginary, they are based on mills found in New England during the given time periods.

Good to know Dunbar is good. The Hogarth Shakespeare books are uneven - some are fantastic and some are mediocre and it's good to know which ones to look for.

Enjoy the last days of 2017 and I'll see you over in the 2018 Category Challenge!

>221 thornton37814: I hope you enjoy it. It had been awhile since I'd read King Lear but reading Dunbar brought the plot to mind. I'd originally intended to read the play again and then the book, but I changed my mind after one or two rounds of doing that early on. Now I just grab the book. I find I generally know the plot well enough.

I'm pretty sure I'll finish 2 books tomorrow (I might finish one tonight) and maybe a third and/or fourth one, depending on how quickly I get other things done. My sinus infection is trying to turn into either a cold or pneumonia. I hope it is not the latter one. I've decided to stay home from church so I don't spread germs. I have 30 minutes to an hour's work on a client report to finish and a little more editing to do on a journal index so I can pass it to the main editor. Once those things are done, the only thing on my agenda is to read, drink hot tea, and pet kitties who will be in my lap.

Sounds like a cozy night. I wish you a happy and healthy new year!

>223 rabbitprincess: Thanks very much!

142. The Last Castle: The Epic Story of Love, Loss, and American Royalty in the Nation's Largest Home by Denise Kiernan

Date Completed: 30 Dec 2017

Category: Joseph Fowlkes (Non-Fiction)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: In the mid-1890s George Vanderbilt built America's largest residential home in Western North Carolina. He called it Biltmore. He also purchased land--and lots of it. Much of the land he purchased is now the Pisgah National Forest. The book details how Vanderbilt brought a responsible forest management program to that acreage and how it came to be in the hands of the United States Forestry Service. He also built an Episcopal Church and community he called Biltmore Village. The village provided employment for the village's residents with profits, when they eventually came, going to the Estate, similar to a feudal system. George was a bachelor when he envisioned and built Biltmore, but the book shows how Edith Stuyvesant Dresser came to be his bride and her passion for serving the community. It also details the measures she took upon his death to ensure the estate would be viable when their daughter came of age and that George's legacy would continue.

The home began allowing guest tours in 1930 as an income for the estate. When Vanderbilt envisioned Biltmore, he never really thought through how much a home and estate that size would cost to run. It turned out to be a huge drain on the family's finances. The music room was never completed in the lifetimes of George, Edith, or their daughter Cornelia. The book talks about many of the persons in the circle of friends of both George and Edith, about Cornelia's failed marriage and subsequent romantic interests, and about regional authors. She also discusses the nearby Grove Park Inn and its owner. While the book is a very interesting read, it does not very compelling. The author lists repositories used in her research. The only local repository she utilized was the local public library's North Carolina room. I feel she probably missed out on many great resources by not using the Southern Historical Collection at UNC Chapel Hill, the archives of Western Carolina University, the archives of Appalachian State University, and the State Archives of North Carolina.

Perhaps the most glaring omission in the book is the lack of a full description of what is available to tourists visiting the estate today. While she did provide the 2016 admission costs in passing, no mention was made of what that included. The winery was never mentioned--a newer Biltmore industry that generates income for the estate. Biltmore is about a 90-minute drive from my front door, and I enjoy visiting the house and estate. Perhaps I can thank George Vanderbilt's inability to see money doesn't grow on trees for the opportunity to visit the estate today.

143. Holy Bible - New King James Version using The Bible in a Year plan on the You Version Bible app

Date Completed: 31 Dec 2017

Category: Rev. Nathan Ward (Christian Classics)

No rating or review for this one. Love the Bible; hated the plan.

Hope you feel better soon! In the meantime, enjoy cuddling with the kitties and drinking tea and reading!

The Last Castle sounds interesting. I'll admit that I've never gone, despite living only an hour away from it. Maybe reading the book would inspire me to go.

And get well soon, Lori!

>228 thornton37814: I'm drinking tea right now. My coughing scared the boys off my lap, but I think they'll be back before too long.

>229 thornton37814: I think you'll enjoy it. I'm considering getting a season pass this year. If I do, maybe we can have an Asheville LT meetup at Biltmore!

Hope you feel better soon! Though reading and tea sound like a perfect NY Eve to me.

>231 thornton37814: It's a pretty good combination. Unfortunately the book I just finished left much to be desired review to follow.

144. Death Comes in through the Kitchen by Teresa Dovalpage

Date Completed: 31 Dec 2017

Category: Johannes Hertzler (Around the World)

Rating: 1 star

Review: Stupid San Diego journalist gets involved in a virtual relationship with a Cuban food blogger and thinks he is going to marry her. He arrives in Cuba with a wedding dress. She doesn't meet him at the airport, and when he arrives at her place, she's dead. The story goes downhill from there. The Cuban authorities think he's a government spy. He discovers his beloved is also seeing another man. He has no rights because he's in Cuba during a time before the United States resumed relations with the country. The dead girl is not who she appeared to be. The book falls flat, fails to engage the reader, and wastes paper or bandwidth. I received an advance reader's copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, and that is the only reason I kept reading it.

Top Reads of 2017

Fiction

5 star reads

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

4.5 star reads

The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng
The Unquiet Grave by Sharyn McCrumb

Non-Fiction

5 star reads

Britain's Tudor Maps: County by County by John Speed; commentaries by Alasdair Hawkyard

4.5 star reads

Bone Soup and Flipped Bread: the Yemenite Jewish Kitchen by Sue Spertus Larkey
The Stranger in My Genes by Bill Griffeth
The Finest Hours: the True Story of the U.S. Coast Guard's Most Daring Rescue by Michael J. Tougias and Casey Sherman
The World of Laura Ingalls Wilder: The Frontier Landscapes that Inspired the Little House Books by Marta McDowell
Common People: the History of an English Family by Alison Light
The Landscapes of Anne of Green Gables: the Enchanting Island that Inspired L. M. Montgomery by Catherine Reid
The Country House Library by Mark Purcell

Children's/YA

5 star reads

Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement by Carole Boston Weatherford; illustrated by Ekua Holmes
Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena; illustrated by Christian Robinson
They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel
Finding Winnie: the True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick; illustrated by Sophie Blackall
Plume by Isabelle Simler

4.5 star reads

Cats, Cats, Cats! by Leslea Newman
The Poet's Dog by Patricia MacLachlan

2017 Book Meme

Describe yourself: The Dream Stalker
Describe how you feel: Separate from the World
Describe where you currently live: City of Secrets
If you could go anywhere, where would you go: The High Mountains of Portugal
Your favorite form of transportation: A Cruise to Die For
Your best friend is: Somebody at the Door
You and your friends are: Common People
What's the weather like: Thin Air
You fear: War and Turpentine
What's the best advice you have to give?: Do Not Say We Have Nothing
Thought for the day: The Fish Can Sing
How I would like to die: Death Overdue
My soul's present condition: Dark Night of the Soul

Wishing you a happy - and healthy - New Year, Lori. Too bad your last book of the year was a dud but that means you will start 2018 with a winner!

>237 It's okay. It was one I'd downloaded from NetGalley and was compelled to review. I'm glad I got it over before the new year!