CBL Reads from a Fair Number of Ladies in 2017 Thread #2

I enjoyed my 2016 Sound of Music categories so much that I decided to go with another musical theme for 2017. My Fair Lady is another of my favorite musicals, and since I'll be participating in this year's CATwoman challenge it seems like a natural fit. I'll aim for a minimum of 5 books in each category.

Why Can’t the English? - Books for the British Author Challenge in the 75 Books group
Wouldn’t It Be Loverly? - Serendipity
With a Little Bit of Luck - Books for the Bingo Dog
I’m an Ordinary (Wo)Man - Books by women authors
Just You Wait - TBRs
Servants’ Chorus - Group/shared reads
The Rain in Spain - Books set outside the US
I Could Have Danced All Night - Audiobooks
Ascot Gavotte - Award winners/nominees
On the Street Where You Live - Genealogy
You Did It - Crime/Mystery
Show Me - Picture books/graphic novels
Get Me to the Church on Time - About religion/religious theme
A Hymn to Him - Biography/memoir
Without You - Borrowed books
I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face - History/Historical fiction

Why Can't the English? - Books for the British Authors Challenge in the 75 Books group

1. The Children's Book by A. S. Byatt (4.5) - completed 5/7/17
2. Venetia by Georgette Heyer (4) - completed 6/27/17
3. Miss Buncle, Married by D. E. Stevenson (4) - completed 7/30/17
4. Hebrew Myths by Robert Graves & Raphael Patai (3.5) - completed 8/30/17
5. Farthing by Jo Walton (4) - completed 10/7/17
6. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell (3.5) - completed 12/19/17
7. Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman; illustrated by Skottie Young (3) - completed 12/19/17

Wouldn't It Be Loverly? - Serendipity

1. The Not-Quite States of America by Doug Mack (4) - completed 1/22/17
2. In Their Lives: Great Writers on Great Beatles Songs edited by Andrew Blauner (3.5) - completed 4/15/17
3. Sensing the Rhythm: Finding My Voice in a World without Sound by Mandy Harvey & Mark Atteberry (4) - completed 8/14/17
4. The Prague Sonata by Bradford Morrow (2.5) - completed 8/17/17
5. Dunbar by Edward St. Aubyn (3) - completed 8/20/17
6. The Angry Chef: Bad Science and the Truth about Healthy Eating by Anthony Warner (4) - completed 12/31/17

With a Little Bit of Luck - Books for the Bingo Dog

1. Othello, the Moor of Venice by William Shakespeare (5) - completed 2/11/17
2. White Sand Blues by Vicki Delany (3.5) - completed 7/17/17

I'm an Ordinary (Wo)Man - Books by women authors

1. The Paradise Project by Merilyn Simonds (4.5) - completed 2/1/17
2. New Boy by Tracy Chevalier (2.5) - completed 3/8/17
3. Glass Houses by Louise Penny (4) - completed 7/9/17
4. Our Israeli Diary: Of That Time, Of That Place, 8-22 May 1978 by Antonia Fraser (3.5) - completed 7/27/17
5. Autumn by Ali Smith (4.5) - completed 9/10/17
6. A Vicarage Christmas by Kate Hewitt (3.5) - completed 12/10/17

Just You Wait - Books from my TBR stash

1. The Spy Who Came In from the Cold by John Le Carre (4) - completed 3/19/17
2. Agatha Christie's Secret Notebooks by John Curran (3.5) - completed 5/17
3. Modified: GMOs and the Threat to Our Food, Our Land, Our Future by Caitlin Shetterly (4.5) - completed 6/3/17
4. Silent Nights: Christmas Mysteries edited by Martin Edwards (4) - completed 12/28/17

Servants' Chorus - Group/Shared reads

1. Deerbrook by Harriet Martineau (3) - completed 1/18/17
2. Many Waters by Madeline L'Engle (4) - completed 2/6/17
3. Moon of Israel by H. Rider Haggard (2) - completed 3/23/17
4. The Duke's Children by Anthony Trollope (4) - completed 3/25/17
5. He Knew He Was Right by Anthony Trollope (4) - completed 7/26/17

The Rain in Spain - Books set outside the US

1. A Dead Man in Trieste by Michael Pearce (2.5) - completed 2/27/17
2. Hell and High Water by Tanya Landman (3.5) - completed 4/9/17
3. The Big Book of Canada by Christopher Moore; illustrated by Bill Slavin (4) - completed 6/23/17
4. Mama Namibia by Mari Serebrov (4) - completed 6/24/17
5. Bronze and Sunflower by Cao Wenxuan (4) - completed 7/4/17
6. Lady Jayne Disappears by Joanna Davidson Politano (2) - completed 9/30/17

I Could Have Danced All Night - Audiobooks

1. Anatomy of a Song by Marc Myers (3) - completed 3/24/17

Ascot Gavotte - Award winners/nominees

1. The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal (4) - completed 1/14/17
2. Blue Willow by Doris Gates (4) - completed 2/12/17
3. Atticus by Ron Hansen (3.5) - completed 6/30/17
4. Larry's Party by Carol Shields (4) - completed 8/4/17
5. Parrot and Olivier in America by Peter Carey (4) - completed 9/6/17

On the Street Where You Live - Genealogy/family history books

1. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi (4) - completed 2/18/17
2. Common People: The History of an English Family by Alison Light (3.5) - completed 4/17/17
3. Thomas and Beulah by Rita Dove (5) - completed 4/28/17
4. Carolina Cradle by Robert W. Ramsey (5) - completed 5/24/17
5. The Olden Days Coat by Margaret Laurence; illustrated by Muriel Wood (4) - completed 12/25/17

You Did It - Crime/mystery

1. Three Blind Mice and Other Stories by Agatha Christie (4) - completed 1/8/17
2. Dark Road Home by Anna Carlisle (3) - completed 2/20/17
3. Date with Death by Julia Chapman (4) - completed 4/23/17
4. Bibliomysteries: Stories of Crime in the World of Books and Bookstores edited by Otto Penzler (3.5) - completed 6/18/17
5. The Grave's a Fine and Private Place by Alan Bradley (3.5) - completed 11/4/17

Show Me - Picture books/graphic novels

1. Leave Me Alone! by Vera Brosgol (3.5) - completed 2/7/17
2. We Are Growing! by Laurie Keller (4) - completed 2/15/17
3. Rumpelstiltskin by Paul O. Zelinsky (4) - completed 3/1/17
4. Lion, King and Coin by Jeong-hee Nam; illustrated by Lucia Sforza (4) - completed 2/14/17
5. Un Dia de Nieve by Ezra Jack Keats (5) - completed 3/31/17
6. Carson Crosses Canada by Linda Bailey; illustrated by Kass Reich (5) - completed 5/9/17
7. Roger Is Going Fishing by Koen Van Biesen; translated by Laura Watkinson (3.5) - completed 6/19/17
8. The Queen of the Frogs by Davide Cali & Marco Soma (3.5) - completed 6/25/17
9. The Liszts by Kyo Maclear & Julia Sarda (2) - completed 6/25/17
10. Plumdog by Emma Chichester Clark (4.5) - completed 8/4/17
11. The Pink Umbrella by Amelie Callot (2.5) - completed 12/28/17?

Get Me to the Church On Time - Religious books/themes

1. Black Robe by Brian Moore (3.5) - completed 1/28/17
2. Singing God's Psalms by Fred R. Anderson (3.5) - completed 4/30/17
3. Jonah's Gourd Vine by Zora Neale Hurston (4) - completed 5/20/17
4. Sensible Shoes by Sharon Garlough Brown (4) - completed 8/11/17
5. The Prayers of Jane Austen with introduction & commentary by Terry Glaspey (4) - completed 8/20/17
6. Holy Bible, New Living Translation (5) - completed 12/31/17

A Hymn to Him - Biography/memoir

1. Gutenberg's Fingerprint by Merilyn Simonds (4) - completed 1/31/17
2. Always By My Side: Life Lessons from Millie and All the Dogs I've Loved by Edward Grinnan (4) - completed 2/25/17
3. Heart in the Right Place by Carolyn Jourdan (4.5) - completed 3/26/17
4. The Color of Water by James McBride (5) - completed 7/25/17
5. Katie Luther, First Lady of the Reformation by Ruth A. Tucker (3) - completed 8/6/17
6. Hillbilly Elegy by J. D. Vance (4) - completed 10/23/17
7. Catch a Star: Shining Through Adversity to Become a Champion by Tamika Catchings & Ken Petersen (3.5) - completed 10/29/17
8. Surviving 'Uncle Hitler': Journey of a German Girl by Dorothea Wollin Null (3.5) - completed 11/30/17

Without You - Borrowed books

1. An Obvious Fact by Craig Johnson (4) - completed 2/12/17
2. Judas by Amoz Oz (3.5) - completed 5/29/17
3. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke (3.5) - completed 9/23/17
4. The Western Star by Craig Johnson (4.5) - completed 11/10/17
5. Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein (5) - completed 11/19/17

I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face - History/historical fiction

1. Someone Knows My Name by Lawrence Hill (4) - completed 2/18/17
2. Wolf on a String by Benjamin Black (3.5) - completed 3/31/17
3. Golden Hill by Francis Spufford (4) - completed 4/5/17
4. Lost Attractions of Sevier County by Tim Hollis & Mitzi Soward (4) - completed 5/27/17
5. Deborah Rising by Avraham Azrieli (3.5) - completed 7/8/17
6. Twilight of Empire: The Tragedy at Mayerling and the End of the Habsburgs by Greg King & Penny Wilson (4) - completed 10/16/17
7. Sinking the Sultana by Sally M. Walker (4) - completed 11/6/17
8. The Mayflower: The Voyage, the Families, and the Founding of America by Rebecca Fraser (4) - completed 11/28/17

I reserved one too many. Oops!

Ascot Gavotte #4: Larry's Party by Carol Shields
AwardsCAT
RandomCAT

Larry Weller is 26 and single when we meet him in the first chapter. We follow Larry through two marriages, fatherhood, and a career in horticulture in the next two decades. The chapters provide snapshots of Larry's life at various points on the continuum between 1977 and 1997, with each chapter focusing on a particular aspect of his life (love, family, work, friends, etc.).

The other two novels I've read by this author (The Stone Diaries and Unless) are about women's agency. I was curious to see what she would do with men. Larry isn't an alpha male. He's successful, yet he doesn't have a clear purpose for his life. Things work out for Larry, though. He finds a way to earn a living by doing what he loves – designing mazes. The women in Larry's life have stronger personalities, and they all upstage him whenever he's with them in the pages of his story.

When Larry met his second wife, Beth, she was working on a doctoral thesis on “women saints and the nature of feminine goodness.” Goodness is a theme of Shields's later novel, Unless. The central character in The Stone Diaries bears the name Goodwill. It might be interesting to trace this theme through Shields's body of work.

4 stars

Show Me #10: Plumdog by Emma Chichester Clark
RandomCAT

Plum, the star of this book, is a whoosell (whippet/poodle/Jack Russell mix) who lives with book illustrator Emma Chichester Clark. Plum (with Clark's assistance) blogs about her life with Emma, Emma's family, and Plum's doggy friends (including her sister, Liffey). Plum loves to swim in the river, or the sea, or any water, really. This book follows Plum through a year in her life. Have you ever wondered what the world looks like from a dog's perspective? How about this description of visits with Grandpa and Grandma?

We went to see Grandpa and Caroline and Maudie. Grandpa is 588 years old in dog years. In the evening we went to Grandma's birthday party. She is 571 but she only had one candle on her cake. Last year she got married. Her new husband is 602. Liffey (my sister) and I were a bit bored because we were the only young people.

Emma's illustrations are lovely, and the decorative border around each page complements the color palette. Plum's narration is almost like hearing my own dog talking. Almost, because my dog does not like water and he would never want to swim in a river, the sea, or a pond. He gives a wide berth to the even the smallest of rain puddles. Highly recommended for anyone who has ever shared life with a dog.

4.5 stars

Happy new thread!

>21 MissWatson: Thank you!!

Happy new thread! Plumdog sounds cute. Might have to send a link along to my friend who has a dog (a dachshund, awww).

>23 rabbitprincess: Thanks, RP! Is your friend a hockey fan? Our minor league hockey game occasionally hosts wiener dog races during intermission. The dogs seem to enjoy it.

Do you think he's trying to tell me something?!

Probably!

>26 MissWatson: I stopped reading and took him outside. He took me on a long walk!

>27 cbl_tn: How very clever of him!

What an adorable way to get your attention!

Wouldn't It Be Loverly? #3: Sensing the Rhythm: Finding My Voice in a World without Sound by Mandy Harvey & Mark Atteberry

Mandy Harvey has an impressive list of achievements for someone under thirty. She's a talented jazz vocalist with three albums to her credit, she writes original music, she has performed at venues like the Kennedy Center, and she's about to add published author to her accomplishments. She also happens to be deaf. This book tells her story, but it's also full of encouragement for readers to overcome their own obstacles and pursue their dreams. The book is primarily self-help/motivational, but it also includes advice for interacting with people with disabilities, with a particular emphasis on invisible disabilities. While Harvey is open about her Christian faith in the book, she isn't “preachy.” She offers wisdom and sound advice for people of any faith or of no faith. Harvey's audition for America's Got Talent went viral earlier this summer. This book should find an audience among the many viewers who are eager to learn more about this talented young woman who turned the world on with her smile.

This review is based on an electronic advance readers copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

4 stars

Wouldn't It Be Loverly? #4: The Prague Sonata by Bradford Morrow

For her 30th birthday, musicologist Meta Taverner's best friend gives her an unusual present – an introduction to an elderly woman who possesses the middle movement of a 19th century sonata. The Czech immigrant received the score from her best friend Otylie, who kept one movement for herself and entrusted the third movement to her husband as they went their separate ways during the German occupation in the Second World War. Meta sets out on a mission to find the other two movements of the sonata and to identify its composer. She enlists the help of her retired professor, who provides her with introductions to musical scholars in Prague. After she arrives in Prague, Meta teams up with another of her professor's former students and a Czech American journalist. As Meta learns more about the sonata's history, she discovers that not everyone she's met can be trusted.

Meta's part of the story is set near the turn of the 21st century. Otylie's story begins during the First World War and continues throughout the 20th century. The pace of the parallel stories is uneven, and the narrative is weighed down with too much detail. I was reminded of Hyacinth Bucket and her white slimline telephone with last number redial facility and her sister Violet with a Mercedes, swimming pool, and room for a pony. Do we really need all that information? The premise of the novel is intriguing, but it didn't deliver enough in return for the time it took to read it.

This review is based on an electronic advanced readers copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

2.5 stars

Stopping by with happy new thread wishes!

>19 cbl_tn: - Interesting review of Larry's Party. I have a copy on my TBR pile. Like you, have read The Stone Diaries and Unless. I found Unless resonated more with me. Your comments have me looking forward to reading Larry's Party.

>25 cbl_tn: - Lovely picture of Adrian seeking your attention.

>37 cbl_tn: Thanks, Lori! I hope you enjoy Larry's Party when you get to it! And I have taken Adrian's message to heart.

Wouldn't It Be Loverly? #5: Dunbar by Edward St. Aubyn

This retelling of King Lear for the Hogarth Shakespeare series sets the tragedy in the context of a media empire. After disinheriting his youngest daughter, Henry Dunbar has given her shares and control of the mega-corporation to his other two daughters. With the help of a doctor on their payroll, they've had their father committed to a private sanatorium in England's Lake District. Dunbar manages to escape with the help of a fellow “patient.” He sets out into the mountains against the winter elements with the opposing factions of his family/corporation racing against each other to find him. His youngest daughter wants to rescue him. His older daughters want to make sure that he is locked up so tightly that he will never escape again.

The story has the tragic ending one would expect for a King Lear retelling. It's pretty obvious that St. Aubyn has used Rupert Murdoch as his model for Dunbar. In fact, it's so obvious that it overshadows the parallel to King Lear.

This review is based on an electronic advance readers copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

3 stars

Get Me To the Church On Time #5: The Prayers of Jane Austen with introduction & commentary by Terry Glaspey

Although Jane Austen was the daughter of a clergyman, her novels have little overt religious content. Anyone curious about Austen's faith might be interested in this compilation of prayers written by Austen for use in family devotions. With illustrations and text on facing pages, the book is designed for gift-giving. Many Jane Austen devotees would be thrilled to pull this little volume out of a Christmas stocking.

Here's a sample from one of the prayers:
Incline us, O God, to think humbly of ourselves, to be severe only in the examination of our own conduct, to consider our fellow-creatures with kindness, and to judge of all they say and do with that charity which we would desire from them ourselves.

4 stars

Why Can't the English? #4: Hebrew Myths by Robert Graves & Raphael Patai

Scholars Robert Graves and Raphael Patai analyze the biblical book of Genesis in terms of Ancient Near Eastern mythology. It includes the notes and references required by scholars, yet most educated readers will find it accessible. Each chapter recounts one story, or “myth,” in prose form, synthesized from various traditions in addition to the biblical text. This is followed by commentary on the story, drawing parallels to Greek, Babylonian, Egyptian, and other myths and literatures.

3.5 stars

August Recap

Why Can’t the English? - Books for the British Author Challenge in the 75 Books group – 4/5
Hebrew Myths by Robert Graves & Raphael Patai (3.5)

Wouldn’t It Be Loverly? - Serendipity – 5/5
Sensing the Rhythm: Finding My Voice in a World Without Sound by Mandy Harvey & Mark Atteberry (4)
The Prague Sonata by Bradford Morrow (2.5)
Dunbar by Edward St. Aubyn (3)

With a Little Bit of Luck - Books for the Bingo Dog – 2/5

I’m an Ordinary (Wo)Man - Books by women authors – 4/5

Just You Wait - TBRs – 3/5

Servants’ Chorus - Group/shared reads – 5/5

The Rain in Spain - Books set outside the US – 5/5

I Could Have Danced All Night - Audiobooks – 1/5

Ascot Gavotte - Award winners/nominees – 4/5
Larry's Party by Carol Shields (4)

On the Street Where You Live - Genealogy – 4/5

You Did It - Crime/Mystery – 4/5

Show Me - Picture books/graphic novels – 10/5
Plumdog by Emma Chichester Clark (4.5)

Get Me to the Church on Time - About religion/religious theme – 5/5
Sensible Shoes by Sharon Garlough Brown (4)
The Prayers of Jane Austen with introduction & commentary by Terry Glaspey (4)

A Hymn to Him - Biography/memoir – 5/5
Katie Luther, First Lady of the Reformation by Ruth Tucker (3)

Without You - Borrowed books – 2/5

I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face - History/Historical fiction – 5/5

Physical books owned: 5
Physical books borrowed: 1
Ebooks borrowed: 3
ARCs: 3

Best of the month: Plumdog by Emma Chichester Clark
Worst of the month: The Prague Sonata by Bradford Morrow

Stella's "mom" and I took Adrian and Stella to the movies last night. The public library shows free movies in Market Square on Friday nights in the fall. We took folding chairs, blankets, and snacks and watched The Goonies. Adrian has never been interested in watching things on screen, but he loves people watching and he was happy being outside in a large crowd of people.

Adrian had his annual checkup and vaccinations this morning. The vet was pleased with his overall health, and we've headed off an ear infection. He just started showing symptoms this morning so I was glad he already had an appointment with the vet!

Great timing with the vet visit! Happy to hear that he's still doing well.

>43 cbl_tn: This sounds like a fun thing to do. We have movies in one of our parks during the summer but it's too hot, even at night, for me. Although we've had a mild summer compared to the usual Arkansas fire pit, I look forward to Fall. It seems like it doesn't matter what the current season is, I always look forward to the next.

Adrian has never been interested in watching things on screen, but he loves people watching and he was happy being outside in a large crowd of people.

A dog after my own heart!

>44 cbl_tn: Wasn't it?! If he hadn't already had an appointment I don't think they would have been able to fit him into the schedule until Monday. He'd either have to go through the weekend getting progressively worse or I'd have had to take him to an emergency vet.

>45 cbl_tn: The weather was just perfect for an outdoor movie. I wouldn't have wanted to sit on the ground, but with lawn chairs and a blanket it was cozy.

>46 cbl_tn: :-) The crowd was his movie!

I'm behind on reviews again. I'll try to catch up later today. Meanwhile, I just finished Autumn by Ali Smith from the Booker longlist. I loved the rich imagery, the way Smith plays with language, the literary allusions, and the pop art theme. It probably won't win, but I think it deserves a place on the shortlist.

Ascot Gavotte #5: Parrot and Olivier in America by Peter Carey
AwardsCAT

Olivier is the son of French aristocrats who barely escaped execution during the French Revolution. When the situation in France once again becomes dangerous for members of the aristocracy, Olivier's parents manage to get him a commission to study the American penal system. Parrot is the son of an English engraver who, through a series of misfortunes, ended up in France as a servant of the Marquis de Tilbot. As a result of the Marquis's infatuation with Olivier's mother, Parrot is sent to America to keep tabs on Olivier and report back to the Comtesse. Parrot and Olivier alternately narrate their stories from their childhood to their voyage to America and their sojourns in New York and Connecticut.

This novel is loosely based on the life of Alexis de Tocqueville, author of Democracy in America based on observations made during his travels in America. Both men struggle to embrace democracy early in their journey. Olivier has his aristocratic upbringing to overcome, while the middle-aged Parrot fears that he is too old to change his ways. I found Parrot the more sympathetic of the two men, and I think that was Carey's intention. It was Parrot who had the Australian connection.

4 stars

I'm An Ordinary (Wo)Man Autumn by Ali Smith
AwardsCAT

Ali Smith packs a lot into this short novel. It's the story of a friendship between centenarian
Daniel Gluck and 30-something Elisabeth Demand, an art history lecturer. Elisabeth has a special interest in a somewhat obscure pop artist, Pauline Boty. Smith alludes to current events in the form of the refugee crisis, and borrows language from literary giants like Dickens and Achebe (“It was the worst of times, it was the worst of times. Again. That's the thing about things. They fall apart, always have, always, will, it's in their nature.”) It's a gem of a book and well deserving of its spot on this year's Booker shortlist.

This review is based on an electronic advanced readers copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

4.5 stars

Without You #3: Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
AwardsCAT

Mr. Norrell is a book-hoarding magician who wants to bring magic back to England, but only as practiced by himself. Jonathan Strange becomes his only pupil. The men part ways after the Napoleonic Wars, in which Strange has served as magician for the Duke of Wellington. Strange also wants to bring magic back to England, and he wants to establish a school for magicians to perpetuate the reclaimed knowledge of magic. Sir Walter Pole is a patron, first to Norrell and then to Strange. Unbeknownst to any of them, Lady Pole is suffering under an enchantment that leads to tragedy. Norrell and Strange are driven further and further apart, until a great danger reunites them. Can they together defeat the other-worldly forces that threaten all they hold dear?

The story is slow to build. Norrell isn't a particularly likeable character. It finally gains momentum when Strange and his wife take center stage. It became a page-turner for me somewhere around the halfway point. The suspense is well-paced and builds nicely to the climax of the book. However, some threads are left hanging at the end, and that shouldn't happen in a book this long.

3.5 stars

>49 RidgewayGirl: I’ve had that on my shelf for years now. Really need to finally get to it.

>50 cbl_tn: I’m on the waiting list for this one. Sounds wonderful. Plus, didn’t it make the Booker short list?

>52 cbl_tn: I bought that one at McKay's the day of our meet-up! And yes, Autumn is on the Booker shortlist. It's a lovely book, but it may be a little too quirky to win.

I loved Autumn, but I think it may be overlooked for the prize because it is so quiet and because it's part of a quartet. But I'd be pleased if it won.

>54 cbl_tn: Have you read any of the other books on the shortlist? I doubt I'll be able to find time for any of the others before the winner is announced.

Not that I’m Kay, but I’ve read Lincoln In The Bardo and Exit West which are on the shortlist. My vote would go to Bardo but I liked both.

>56 cbl_tn: Exit West is probably the one I'm most curious about.

Carrie, I've read History of Wolves, which was a reasonably ok debut novel, but nowhere near Booker worthy, and Exit West, which was excellent.

>58 cbl_tn: Good to know about History of Wolves. I think I'll pass on that one. I will keep an eye out for Exit West!

The Rain in Spain #6: Lady Jayne Disappears by Joanna Davidson Politano

After her father's death, Aurelie Harcourt is taken into the home of her Aunt Eudora, her father's sister. Up until this point, Aurelie has spent her entire life with her father in debtors prison. Aurelie has inherited her father's gift for storytelling. She has also inherited the serial novel he was writing under the pseudonym Nathaniel Droll entitled Lady Jayne Disappears. Aurelie must find a way to complete the novel. She has plenty of material since the novel is set in Aunt Eudora's home, Lynhurst Manor. Maybe completing the novel will help Aurelie work out what happened to her mother, the real life Lady Jayne. Aurelie must fight her growing attraction for fellow house guest Silas Rotherham, for it seems his heart belongs to someone else.

I was attracted to this book by its description, and I was disappointed that it didn't meet my expectations. The language and sentiments in the novel seem much too modern. It would appear that the author did very little research on the historical context for this novel, which is set in 1861. Aurelie speaks of something “backfiring”, but this term didn't become common until several decades later. One of the characters eats peanut brittle, but while the candy may have been in existence at this point in time, the name “peanut brittle” apparently wasn't used until the end of the 19th century. I also thought that the mystery aspect of the plot would be more predominant, so I was disappointed to discover that it's a romance written from a complementarian theological perspective. If the idea that a woman needs a husband to help her understand her true worth makes you cringe, this book isn't for you.

This review is based on an advance readers copy provided by the publisher through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.

2 stars

September Recap

Why Can’t the English? - Books for the British Author Challenge in the 75 Books group – 4/5

Wouldn’t It Be Loverly? - Serendipity – 5/5

With a Little Bit of Luck - Books for the Bingo Dog – 2/5

I’m an Ordinary (Wo)Man - Books by women authors – 5/5
Autumn by Ali Smith (4.5)

Just You Wait - TBRs – 3/5

Servants’ Chorus - Group/shared reads – 5/5

The Rain in Spain - Books set outside the US – 6/5
Lady Jayne Disappears by Joanna Davidson Politano (2)

I Could Have Danced All Night - Audiobooks – 1/5

Ascot Gavotte - Award winners/nominees – 5/5
Parrot and Olivier in America by Peter Carey (4)

On the Street Where You Live - Genealogy – 4/5

You Did It - Crime/Mystery – 4/5

Show Me - Picture books/graphic novels – 10/5

Get Me to the Church on Time - About religion/religious theme – 5/5

A Hymn to Him - Biography/memoir – 5/5

Without You - Borrowed books – 3/5
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke (3.5)

I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face - History/Historical fiction – 5/5

Physical books owned: 2
Ebooks borrowed: 2
ARCs: 2

Best of the month: Autumn by Ali Smith
Worst of the month: Lady Jayne Disappears by Joanna Davidson Politano

Adrian is enjoying his visits to his new house. I took a rocking chair over this morning so I'd have someplace to sit while I waited for the internet installer to arrive. Adrian made himself comfortable. :-)

I'm currently reading an e-ARC of Twilight of Empire about the deaths of Crown Prince Rudolph and Mary Vetsera. I have been to Austria twice, and both times I stayed just outside of Heiligenkreuz, where Mary Vetsera is buried. As I was packing this evening, I happened to come across my diary entry from my first visit in 1989! I love serendipity. :-)

>62 rabbitprincess: - He looks so happy and content. I think he needs his own rocking chair for your visits.

While the packing up and moving part are tedious, the part involving unpacking and getting everything set up just so in their new places is very satisfying. I hope the process is going well!

>64 sallylou61: Adrian thinks every chair is his chair. :-)

>65 DeltaQueen50: I am really hoping that Samantha or Jeannie will pop in and take care of things for me. I'd love to wiggle my nose or blink and have everything in place in its new home!

I had an eventful weekend. My car wouldn't start when I came out of the grocery store on Saturday afternoon. I called AAA and they towed it to a repair shop recommended by a friend. The friend also advised me to call a mutual friend whose wife had just left on a cruise, and he let me borrow his wife's car while hers was being repaired. (They're like second parents to me so I didn't mind asking.) I got my car back this afternoon with a new alternator. I was pretty sure that was what the problem was after googling to find out what it means when your car sounds like a dentist's drill.

Yesterday afternoon the same friends came over to disassemble and move my Sleep Number bed since the movers wouldn't do it unless it was boxed. My brother bought the bed for my mother when she had terminal cancer, and I ended up with it after she died. That was in 2003. (Remember the date 'cause it's important.) Anyway, when they removed the inflatable part of the bed it was covered in black mold. No wonder I've had severe problems with allergies and asthma! I googled "Sleep Number mold" and discovered that this is a known issue for beds manufactured before 2005. I called the company today and they are sending me a brand new bed - everything except the air pump.

I am sleeping on the spare bed in the guest room for the time being. I moved Adrian's crate in there, too. The poor little guy has been confused all day. When I tell him to get in his bed, he goes to the spot where it used to be and stands there waiting for his treat.

>66 cbl_tn: Ew! I'm glad you found out about the issue with the bed and hope that the new bed will also mean an improvement in your allergies/asthma.

Somehow I must have missed the news that you were moving. Looks like Adrian has settled in anyway - as long as he remembers where he's supposed to sleep! After you get your bed delivered your poor little guy will be thinking "Anothernew bed!!"

So glad you discovered the mould problem. That explains a lot! But luckily you found the source of your allergies. I know they can worsen, if that's possible.

Happy new home!

>66 cbl_tn: Although it is unfortunate that you were using a bed with mold for so long, I'm glad that you discovered it and are getting a replacement bed. That really ought to help cut down on your allergies. Hope that you get settled into your new home soon, and enjoy living there -- and that Adrian adjusts well once you are completely moved in.

As I well know, moving certainly turns your world topsy-turvy! Hope you get settled into your new place soon, Carrie. Sorry about your bed, but at least you now know and can remove the problem. Here's to a healthy replacement!

>67 cbl_tn: I hope it makes a big difference, too! I called the allergy clinic yesterday to let them know in case they have other patients with the same kind of bed.

>68 clue: My allergies are getting better after 3 1/2 years of shots. I wasn't able to progress as quickly with the mold serum as I was with the other two vials. Now we know why.

>69 RidgewayGirl: I am glad I finally know about the problem with the bed. The customer service agent told me that there hasn't been a documented case of mold since they began using the antimicrobial material for the air chamber. I believe I'll check it periodically anyway.

>70 cbl_tn: Thanks, Judy! I am looking forward to being settled!

Same old seat with a brand new view:

Well, we all need a change from time to time. Hope you both like this one!

Yay! Enjoy settling in.

>73 cbl_tn: Thank you! We both like it so far!

>74 MissWatson: Lori came over this afternoon and kept me company while I waited for my new washer to be delivered. She helped me unpack my genealogy books. We both enjoyed that!

Adrian looks well satisfied!

>76 DeltaQueen50: Yes, I think he likes it here!

Adrian is ready for next year's Pirate Day.

A very fetching hat!

>79 cbl_tn: I think so, too!

I keep thinking that Adrian can't get more adorable - but then you post another picture - and he does!

>81 clue: :-)

Pirate Adrian, adorable! :) I'm glad to hear you are settling in the new home.

>83 cbl_tn: Thank you! Adrian really doesn't need to become a pirate to get treats out of me. Maybe he thinks that adding to his cuteness will get him even more treats!

Adrian has a new favorite view from his perch on the back of the sofa. He can sit there and watch me while I work in the kitchen. Apparently I'm endlessly fascinating when I'm washing and putting away dishes. :-)

Just making sure you don't sneak out.

Maybe he's getting ready for trick-or-treating!

>86 LittleTaiko: I guess so! He likes to keep me in his line of vision.

>87 cbl_tn: I had to work the evening shift on Halloween. Adrian went with me in his hot dog costume. We handed out candy to students as they came in. Adrian was on his best behavior, and the students seemed to enjoy seeing him.

Adrian helped me put things in the china cupboard yesterday. At least, he thought he was helping:

>89 lkernagh: He looks like he's thinking deeply of where the china will go and how to stack it!

Of course he’s helping - he’s helping you gauge space requirements of course. What a delightful partner to have.

>90 mamzel: >91 cbl_tn: And he's probably dreaming of the food that might be served on the china! He makes me laugh at least once a day. We all need someone or something that puts a smile on our face!

>88 VivienneR: I love the story of Adrian in his hot dog costume! What a sweetie!

Stopping by to get caught up.

>60 RidgewayGirl: - And yet another reader of Lady Jayne Disappears! Seems I gave the book a higher rating than you or Christina did, but overall, I ranked it as a bit of fluff reading (I just could not connect with Aurelie as a character).

>66 cbl_tn: - OMG the bed issue!

Glad to see that you and Adrian are getting settled in to your new place. Love the pictures!

It's so much fun to watch your move-in through Adrian's eyes. He's such a cuteypie.

That was an icky story about your bed. That, and other reasons, is probably why the shipping guys wouldn't handle it unless it was boxed. Glad for your positive outcome.

Take it easy and don't strain anything.

>93 christina_reads: Yes, he's a sweetheart!

>94 cbl_tn: Hi Lori! I found it difficult to connect with Aurelie, too. She was much too good to be true.

>95 cbl_tn: I think the movers were concerned about puncturing the air chamber or tearing the foam end and side panels that go around it. And I hear you about not straining anything. I overdid it over the weekend so I'm taking it easy this evening!

I'm going to try to get caught up on reviews this week, starting with:



Why Can't the English? #5: Farthing by Jo Walton

In 1949 in an alternate England, Hitler is in control of all of western Europe. After the Battle of Britain, Churchill was overthrown and England made peace with Hitler, largely due to the efforts of the “Farthing Set.” Newlywed Lucy is the daughter of prominent members of the Farthing Set. She married her Jewish husband, David, against her parents' wishes. Although England isn't under Hitler's control, antisemitism is on the rise. Lucy and David are surprised to receive an invitation to her parents' weekend house party. Things turn ugly when one of the guests is discovered dead in his room on Sunday morning. When clues turn up pointing to David as the killer, Lucy is certain that he's being framed for murder. So is the Scotland Yard detective assigned to the case. With pressure mounting for David's arrest and quick closure of the investigation, to what length will Lucy go to protect her husband?

In Farthing, Jo Walton gives readers an alternate form of the Golden Age mystery – my favorite genre. I loved the points of similarity, but I found the differences unsettling. I find it satisfying to read about the righting of wrongs and the triumph of justice in Golden Age mysteries. It provides an escape from real life, when all too often crimes go unsolved or the guilty go free on technicalities. In this way the alternate history of Farthing is more like the real world than the world of the Golden Age mystery.

4 stars

>97 cbl_tn: I had kind of a love-hate relationship with this book. I did enjoy the alt-history aspect and the similarities with Golden Age mysteries, but I was annoyed by the cutesy terms the main characters used for adultery and sexual orientation...and the fact that the detective somehow had flawless "gaydar." I am somewhat curious about the rest of the series, but I haven't felt an urgent need to pick up book 2 yet.

>98 cbl_tn: Yeah, I found that annoying, too. I think I'll finish the trilogy, but maybe not right away.

I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face #6: Twilight of Empire: The Tragedy at Mayerling and the End of the Habsburgs by Greg King & Penny Wilson

I first heard of Austria's Crown Prince Rudolf and his mistress Mary Vetsera in 1989 when I spent a week with a friend in Heiligenkreuz and we visited the cemetery where Mary Vetsera is buried. This book about their tragic deaths caught my eye. Some questions surrounding the murder/suicide may never be answered since some evidence was destroyed (or at best, was not preserved) and some of the principals took their knowledge to their graves. King and Wilson use make good use of contemporary accounts and surviving documentation to build a convincing case that there was more to this incident than love gone wrong. It may have had more to do with the poor relationship between Rudolf and his father, the emperor Franz Josef, and Rudolf's sympathy for Hungarian independence. Recommended for readers with an interest in late 19th century Europe and its royalty.

This review is based on an electronic advance readers copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

4 stars

A Hymn to Him #6: Hillbilly Elegy by J. D. Vance

In his best-selling memoir, J. D. Vance has captured what it was like growing up in poverty in a declining industrial town in Ohio. Like many other families in this region, Vance's family had its roots in Appalachia. Many Appalachians escaped from the poverty of that region through employment in the booming factory towns of the Midwest, only to find themselves almost back where they started from as manufacturing declined at the end of the 20th century. Vance credits his grandmother's influence for the fact that his life did not follow the typical path of his high school classmates. After a stint in the military, he attended Ohio State University and then Yale Law School. That Hillbilly Elegy reads like it's a product of survivor's guilt gives you an idea of the seriousness of the social problems in communities throughout the Rust Belt and Appalachia.

4 stars

A Hymn to Him #7: Catch a Star: Shining Through Adversity to Become a Champion by Tamika Catchings & Ken Petersen

I reviewed this one for publication, so I'll just make a couple of comments here. I've followed Tamika Catchings' career since her freshman year as a Lady Vol. That year the Lady Vols were undefeated and won the national championship. While there may be a few Lady Vols who have worked as hard as Catchings, there aren't any who have worked harder than she has. In this memoir Catchings describes what it was like growing up with a hearing impairment. She shares stories about her family, friends, and teammates. Catchings' family lived in Italy for a while when her father played for a team there. She recalls their friendship with another American family there, the Bryants, who had a son just about her age. His name was Kobe.

3.5 stars

You Did It #5: The Grave's a Fine and Private Place by Alan Bradley

As the de Luces recover from a family tragedy, Flavia, her sisters, and their servant, Dogger, are taking a much needed break on a boating trip. Flavia trails her hand in the water as the boat glides down the river, and she is surprised when her fingers come in contact with a large object. What else would it be but a dead body? The family must stay in the nearby village while the local constabulary investigates the death. Coincidentally – or perhaps not – the village had been in the headlines a couple of years earlier when its vicar had poisoned three of his parishioners during a communion service. If there's one thing Flavia knows, it's poison.

Flavia is in fine form in this installment of the series. I love Flavia's relationship with Dogger so I loved that Dogger had a larger than usual role in this book. The resolution of the mystery seemed rushed, but maybe I felt that way because I wasn't ready to part company with Flavia. For me, the mystery plot is secondary to Flavia's internal monologue. It's always a delight to see the world through Flavia's eyes.

This review is based on an electronic advance readers copy provided by the pubisher through NetGalley.

3.5 stars

>103 DeltaQueen50: I felt so hollow after the previous Flavia book. Haviland's death happened offstage and was dealt with almost offhandedly, and I couldn't feel as sad as I wanted to be :(

>104 mamzel: I agree. That whole book felt off to me. But I suppose it did reflect his distant relationship with his children. He never really recovered from Harriet's loss.

I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face #7: Sinking the Sultana by Sally M. Walker

At the close of the Civil War, hundreds of Union soldiers who had been recently released from Confederate prisons lost their lives in a tragic steamboat explosion on the Mississippi River. Despite the number of casualties, the sinking of the Sultana was overshadowed in national news because it followed so closely after Lincoln's assassination. Author Walker provides a thorough overview of the Sultana disaster, as well as background on some of the key individuals who were among the casualties or whose actions (or failures to act) contributed to the accident. The book is heavily illustrated with photographs, facsimiles of newspaper articles and important documents, and maps. (However, the maps and a few other illustrations were not included in the advance reading copy I received.) A glossary provides definitions of terms that will be unfamiliar to many 21st century readers such as “farrier,” “jack staff,” and “sutler.” The bibliography includes primary sources contemporary to the disaster as well as recently published analyses of this tragic event. While Walker writes for a middle or high school audience, the wealth of illustrations will appeal to visually oriented readers of all ages.

This review is based on an advance reading copy provided by the publisher through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.

4 stars

Without You #4: The Western Star by Craig Johnson

Every four years, Absaroka County Sheriff Walt Longmire makes a trip to Cheyenne to attend a parole hearing. Whoever this is and whatever they've done, it left a lasting impression on Walt. He won't be facing this year's hearing alone. Henry Standing Bear, retired sheriff Lucian Connally and Walt's undersheriff, Vic, have accompanied him to Cheyenne, and they'll all be staying with Walt's daughter, Cady, and his granddaughter, Lola. Walt's mind keeps turning back to the train journey that ultimately led to the recurring parole hearings. A much younger Walt has just returned from Vietnam, married his sweetheart Martha, and taken a job as deputy to Lucian Connally. Walt will be accompanying Sheriff Connally on the Wyoming Sheriffs' Association's annual excursion on the Western Star. When one of the sheriffs is murdered during the journey, all of the other sheriffs are under suspicion. Although Walt has only been on the job for two weeks, he'll have to take the lead in the investigation.

I love mysteries set on trains since I've always been fascinated by train travel. Johnson moves smoothly between past events and the present day story line, and the parallel stories are evenly paced. By this point in the series, readers expect at least one scene in which Walt battles the elements and risks his life for the cause of justice. It's more plausible this time around since it's the younger (and presumably stronger and more agile) Walt who's defying death. This book also advances the overarching series storyline, but leaves readers hanging on the last page. Some series readers might prefer to save this one until the next book in the series is released to shorten the suspense.

4.5 stars

Happy Thanksgiving to you and Adrian, Carrie. Hope you are having a lovely holiday.

>103 DeltaQueen50: I'm thrilled to hear you liked this episode of Flavia's adventures. I put a hold on a copy at my public library but have to wait until it is released next year.

>108 cbl_tn: Thanks, Judy. I did! We had a guest with us for the holiday - a sweet little Shih Tzu named Holly. I hope I'll get more LT time in the new year. I've still got a lot of work ahead of me to get settled in the new place.

>109 cbl_tn: I always look forward to Flavia's new adventures. I'm glad that NetGalley shortens my wait!

Without You #5: Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein

12-year-old Kyle feels lucky to be among the dozen kids who will spend the night in the town's new library. The library was designed by the famous game designer, Luigi Lemoncello. During their overnighter, the children will compete against each other to win a grand prize. As they race against the clock to solve the puzzles, Kyle and his friends learn about the value of teamwork. Readers of any age who enjoy mysteries, puzzles, and games, will enjoy solving problems alongside Kyle and his buddies.

5 stars

I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face #8: The Mayflower: The Families, the Voyage, and the Founding of America by Rebecca Fraser

This history of the Plymouth Colony follows the Pilgrim settlers through the course of the 17th century, from England to their years in Leiden, then across the Atlantic on the Mayflower to the founding of Plymouth. Fraser examines the relationships between the Plymouth colonists and their native American neighbors, the relationships between the Plymouth and Massachusetts colonies, and the leadership of the Plymouth colony with particular reference to Edward Winslow and his family. The bibliography reflects ample use of primary sources on both sides of the Atlantic. This book will satisfy many readers looking for a popular history of this era. Academic readers may be frustrated by the somewhat skimpy scholarly apparatus that is unfortunately typical of histories aimed at a broad reading public. The notes for each chapter identify significant source material for the chapter contents, but the notes generally lack specificity regarding which source(s) provide the basis for which facts or assertions in the text.

This review is based on an electronic advanced reading copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

4 stars

Hymn to Him #8: Surviving 'Uncle Hitler': Journey of a German Girl by Dorothea Wollin Null

The author of this memoir is a German American who spent her early childhood in Hitler's Germany. The author's family lived in Stettin until heavy bombing forced them to flee. They were able to stay with relatives for a while, but with the approach of the Russian army, the family ended up as refugees in Czechoslovakia. The Wollins seem to have been an average German family, and Null's memoir describes the suffering of German women and children as a result of war. The author expresses a great empathy for all children who suffer as a consequence of war. Null's memoir may be of interest to the many readers who love The Book Thief's Liesel, a fictional German girl who suffered during the Second World War.

This review is based on an elecronic advance reading copy provided by the publisher through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.

3.5 stars

I'm an Ordinary (Wo)Man A Vicarage Christmas by Kate Hewitt

It's been several years since Anna Holley has been home to Thornthwaite, and she arrives for a Christmas visit with trepidation. Anna suffers from social anxiety, and crowds will be unavoidable since her father is the village vicar. On her first night home, Anna manages to escape to the pub, where she unburdens herself to a kind stranger...who turns out to be her father's new curate. Simon (the curate) ends up being the catalyst that helps Anna confront the emotional trauma at the root of her anxiety.

This novella-length romance is the first in a series that will feature each of the four Holley sisters. Anna's story includes teasers for the books that will feature her sisters Esther and Rachel, neither of whom are as happy as they should be in their relationships. This sweet holiday romance will appeal to readers who prefer their romance novels on the clean rather than the steamy end of the spectrum. Although it's not Christian fiction, it will appeal to a lot of that genre's readers.

This review is based on a complimentary electronic copy provided by the publisher through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.

3.5 stars

Why Can't the English? #6: North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

Margaret Hale's formative years have been spent as a companion to her wealthier cousin, Edith, in London's Harley Street. After Edith's wedding, Margaret returns to her parents' home in Helstone, where her father is the vicar. Very soon Rev. Hale has a crisis of conscience that drives him to give up his living and move the family to the industrial city of Milton, where he will work as a tutor. His most devoted student is manufacturer John Thornton, who, despite Margaret's haughty treatment of him and her disdain for the North and its capitalism, falls deeply in love with Margaret. Margaret's initial impressions of the North and its industry are gradually softened as she gets to know individuals like the working-class Bessie Higgins and her father, Nicholas.

I had a hard time warming up to Margaret as a character. Her class consciousness and prejudices rubbed me the wrong way. It was infuriating that she was able to persuade so many of the other characters to do things against their better judgment. Why would reasonably intelligent adults allow themselves to be guided by an idealistic but ignorant teenager? Mr. Bell saved the book for me. His sharp wit brought a welcome breath of fresh air to an otherwise stuffy novel.

3.5 stars

Why Can't the English? #7: Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman; illustrated by Skottie Young

While mum is out of town, dad is home taking care of the kids. When there's no milk for the kids' breakfast cereal – or dad's tea – dad makes a quick trip to the corner store to buy milk. He's gone for ages. Finally, he returns with the milk, and quite an explanation of what took him so long. It involves alien abduction, and time travel, and pirates...

This is a silly story that will delight kids, but there's no plot or real substance to it. The illustrations would be better suited to reading in print than on an iPad Mini like I did.

3 stars

On the Street Where You Live #5: The Olden Days Coat by Margaret Laurence; illustrated by Muriel Wood

Ten-year-old Sal is sad to be spending Christmas at her grandmother's house instead of in her own home. Sal's grandparents always came to Sal's house for Christmas. Things are different now that Sal's grandfather has died. Sal has no friends her age at grandma's house, so she plays on her own in the shed behind the house. She finds some pictures in an old trunk. She thinks they might be pictures of her grandmother when she was younger. Farther down, she finds an old blue coat, just about her size. She puts it on and then something very strange happens. She seems to have traveled back in time. She meets and befriends Sarah, a girl her age. Is it possible that Sarah is someone she knows?

This is a beautiful story of the special relationship between grandparents and grandchildren. Like Sal, children may be prompted to think of their grandparents as having once been as young as their grandchildren are now. Perhaps reading the story together may lead to an opportunity for grandparents to share their own memories and childhood photos.

4 stars

Just You Wait #4: Silent Nights: Christmas Mysteries edited by Martin Edwards

This collection of short stories set at Christmastime showcases the work of many of the Golden Age mystery writers such as Dorothy Sayers and Margery Allingham. Some of the stories, like Arthur Conan Doyle's “The Blue Carbuncle” and Sayers' “The Necklace of Pearls,” have appeared in other anthologies. Other stories are more obscure and will be new to almost all readers. It's a solid collection that will delight fans of Golden Age mysteries, and it may persuade other readers to join their ranks.

4 stars

Get Me To the Church On Time #6: Holy Bible, New Living Translation

I read this as part of a group read in the 75 books challenge. Several of us started reading in January, and I think there were 3 of us who made it to the finish line. I used a beginning to end reading plan from BibleGateway.com. Others used different plans that worked best for them.



Wouldn't It Be Loverly? #6:The Angry Chef: Bad Science and the Truth about Healthy Eating by Anthony Warner

Anthony Warner is a professional chef in the UK who blogs as The Angry Chef. While he is not a scientist by profession, he does have training in the scientific method with an undergraduate degree in biochemistry. My takeaways from this book are that correlation is not causation, anecdotes are not evidence, and science is never settled. According to Warner, fad diets generally work for most people because they restrict food intake. Weight loss is a typical result when you remove foods from your diet. Warner is not in favor of making any foods off-limits. He recommends a varied diet in moderation, with not too much or too little consumption. Warner sometimes employs profanity to emphasize his points – that seems to be his schtick – so readers with zero tolerance for crude language may want to avoid this book. However, I have a fairly low tolerance for profanity and I didn't find his usage to be excessive.

This review is based on an advance reading copy provided by the publisher through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.

4 stars

Show Me #11: The Pink Umbrella by Amelie Callot

Amelie operates a cafe in a small town, where she enjoys providing food and cheer for her customers. Except when it rains. On rainy days, Amelie wants only to bury herself in bed until the sun comes out again. Amelie seems to have a secret admirer, who leaves her a pink raincoat, pink boots, and a pink umbrella so that maybe she can enjoy rainy days, too. The illustrations in the book are charming, but the story seems more suitable for a graphic novel for an adult audience than for a children's picture book.

This review is based on an electronic advanced reading copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

2.5 stars

>120 I just unrequested that one from Early Reviewers based on your review. Thanks for sparing me the agony of a mediocre read.

>118 cbl_tn: This one will go on my wishlist for next Christmas.

Happy New Year!

>122 Happy new year to you, too!