lindapanzo's second period reading

I'm back for my 10th year in the category challenge. I've absolutely loved doing this and hope you'll follow along as I reach for my goals.

I've enjoyed a more simplified approach in recent years. For me, 18 categories for 2018 is too much but I will go with 8 and these are noted below, always subject to change, as usual. I'll have 4 categories with 20 books each and 4 with 10 books each, for a total of 120, which is about my usual for the year.

The bulk of my reading will likely be in the mysteries, sports, and nonfiction areas. I like to read an occasional nonmystery book of fiction. Beyond that, I like to have a category or two devoted to an area I don't often read, but would like to. Initially, unless I change my mind, for 2018, one such category will be food and drink and the other, in honor of the 100 year centennial of the end of the war, World War I.

Since I finished my 2017 category challenge on 12/16/17, I am starting the 2018 category challenge on 12/18/17

CATEGORY 1: FOOD AND DRINK--READ 8 OUT OF 10
CATEGORY 2: CHICAGO--READ 10 OUT OF 10--CATEGORY COMPLETED
CATEGORY 3: MYSTERIES--READ 10 OUT OF 10--CATEGORY COMPLETED
CATEGORY 4: SPORTS--READ 10 OUT OF 10--CATEGORY COMPLETED
CATEGORY 5: FICTION--READ 16 OUT OF 20
CATEGORY 6: MORE MYSTERIES--READ 20 OUT OF 20--CATEGORY COMPLETED
CATEGORY 7: EVEN MORE MYSTERIES--READ 20 OUT OF 20--CATEGORY COMPLETED
CATEGORY 8: NONFICTION--READ 13 OUT OF 20

CATEGORY 1: Food and Drink--Read 8 out of 10 books

BOOKS READ

1. A Square Meal: A Culinary History of the Great Depression by Jane Ziegelman--finished on 1/8/18
2. Hamburgers & Fries by John T. Edge--finished on 1/12/18
3. Breakfast: A History by Heather Arndt Anderson--finished on 1/20/18
4. Eggs: A Global History by Diane Toops--finished on 5/7/18
5. Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain--finished on 7/24/18
6. For Whom the Bread Rolls by Sarah Fox - finished on 10/5/18
7. Perjury Proof by Jessica Beck--finished on 11/1/18
8. Eggs on Ice by Laura Childs--finished on 11/17/18

In 2017, I noticed I was accumulating quite a few TBRs in the area of food history or food politics. Time to read a bunch of these in 2018.

POSSIBLE READS INCLUDE:

--White Bread: A Social History of the Store-Bought Loaf by Aaron Bobrow-Strain--have
--Grocery: The Buying and Selling of Food in America by Michael Ruhlman--have
--Three Squares: The Invention of the American Meal by Abigail Carroll--have
--Something from the Oven: Reinventing Dinner in 1950s America by Laura Shapiro--have
--The Food of a Younger Land by Mark Kurlansky--have
--books from the Global History series from Reaktion Books, like chocolate, eggs, brandy etc
--Pizza: A Slice of American History by Liz Barrett
--Never Put Ketchup on a Hot Dog by Bob Schwartz
--Man Bites Dog: Hot Dog Culture in America by Bruce Kraig
--The American Way of Eating: Undercover at Walmart, Applebee's, Farm Fields and the Dinner Table by Tracie McMillan--have

CATEGORY 2: Chicago--Read 10 out of 10 books--CATEGORY COMPLETED

BOOKS READ

1. The 1967 Belvidere Tornado by Mike Doyle--finished on 3/28/18
2. The Great Chicago Fire by Robert Cromie--finished on 4/3/18
3. Mayor Harold Washington: Champion of Race and Reform in Chicago--finished on 6/6/18
4. Chicago's Polish Downtown by Victoria Granacki--finished on 7/15/18
5. Chicago's Wrigley Field by Paul Michael Peterson--finished on 8/1/18
6. Lindenhurst: First Fifty Years by Joseph W. Brysiewicz--finished on 8/6/18
7. Lake Villa Township by Joseph W. Brysiewicz--finished on 8/10/18
8. Antioch by Wendy Maston--finished on 8/14/18
9. Oak Lawn Tornado of 1967 by Kevin Korst--finished on 8/18/18
10. Mundelein by Shawn P. Killackey--finished on 8/20/18

POSSIBLE READS INCLUDE:

--Tinker to Evers to Chance
--Chicago: A Novel by David Mamet
--American Pharoah
--Chicago's Greatest Year
--Challenging Chicago by Perry Duis
--There Are No Children Here by Alex Kotlowicz
--Chicago Sports Reader
--The Third Coast: When Chicago Built the American Dream
--Wanting to Be Jackie Kennedy by Elizabeth A Kearn
--Chicago Stories by Michael Czyzniejewski
--Division Street America by Studs Terkel
--something by Mike Royko
--The Hostage (The Chicago Fire Trilogy, Book #1) by Susan Wiggs
--Before the Curse by Carson Cunningham
--Wrigley Field's Last World Series
--Soldier Field: A Stadium and Its City

CATEGORY 3: Mysteries--10 books--Read 10 out of 10 books--CATEGORY COMPLETED

I figure this'll focus on fiction other than mysteries but, at the end of 2018, if my mystery categories are filled, you never know.

BOOKS READ

1. Murder in an English Village by Jessica Ellicott--finished on 12/30/17
2. Deader Homes and Gardens by Joan Hess--finished on 1/14/18
3. Unnatural Habits by Kerry Greenwood--finished on 1/24/18
4. The Secret, Book & Scone Society by Ellery Adams--finished on 2/3/18
5. The Darling Dahlias and the Unlucky Clover--finished on 2/8/18
6. Death by Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake by Sarah Graves--finished on 2/25/18
7. The Woman in the Water by Charles Finch--finished on 3/11/18
8. Plum Tea Crazy by Laura Childs--finished on 3/22/18
9. Murder and Mendelssohn by Kerry Greenwood--finished on 3/24/18
10. Wedding Cake Crumble by Jenn McKinlay--finished on 3/31/18

CATEGORY 4: Sports--Read 10 out of 10 books--CATEGORY COMPLETED

BOOKS READ

1. Baseball on the Brink: The Crisis of 1968 by William J. Ryczek--finished on 2/17/18
2. The Big Chair by Ned Colletti--finished on 3/2/18
3. Alou: My Baseball Journey by Felipe Alou--finished on 3/18/18
4. Beneath the Surface by Michael Phelps--finished 4/10/18
5. Why Baseball Matters by Susan Jacoby--finished on 4/15/18
6. Try Not to Suck by Bill Chastain--finished on 4/30/18
7. I'm Keith Hernandez: A Memoir by Keith Hernandez--finished on 6/9/18
8. Home Ice: Reflections of a Reluctant Hockey Mom by Angie Abdou--finished on 8/13/18
9. The Presidents and the Pastime: The History of Baseball and the White House by Curt Smith--finished on 9/18/18
10. Pigskin Nation by Jesse Berrett--finished on 10/13/18

CATEGORY 5: Fiction--Read 16 out of 20 books

BOOKS READ

1. Twelve Days of Christmas: A Christmas Novel by Debbie Macomber--finished on 12/18/17
2. Autumn by Ali Smith--finished on 1/1/18
3. Private: The Royals by James Patterson--finished on 3/6/18
4. Swim Season by Marianne Sciucco--finished on 3/13/18
5. The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane--finished on 4/8/18
6. Matilda by Roald Dahl--finished on 4/13/18
7. The Dollhouse by Fiona Davis--finished on 6/21/18
8. The Inn at Lake Devine by Elinor Lipman--finished on 6/26/18
9. The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan--finished on 7/6/18
10. The President Is Missing by Bill Clinton and James Patterson--finished on 7/10/18
11. The Cherokee Trail by Louis L'Amour--finished on 8/3/18
12. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving--finished on 11/7/18
13. The Whispered Word by Ellery Adams--finished on 11/20/18
14. Iced Inn by Karen MacInerney--finished on 12/23/18
15. What Child Is This by Rhys Bowen--finished on 12/24/18
16. Christmas on the Island by Jenny Colgan--finished on 12/30/18

CATEGORY 6: More Mysteries--Read 20 out of 20 books--CATEGORY COMPLETED

BOOKS READ:

1. Don't Die Under the Apple Tree by Amy Patricia Meade--finished on 4/5/18
2. Pastry Penalties by Jessica Beck--finished on 4/12/18
3. Summer Rain by Peter Robinson--finished on 4/13/18
4. Shelved Under Murder by Victoria Gilbert--finished on 4/17/18
5. The Plot Is Murder by V.M. Burns--finished on 4/23/18
6. Kale to the Queen by Nell Hampton--finished on 4/28/18
7. The Spook in the Stacks by Eva Gates--finished on 5/2/18
8. Asking for Truffle by Dorothy St. James--finished on 5/3/18
9. Murder in the Locked Library by Ellery Adams--finished on 5/5/18
10. Playing with Bonbon Fire by Dorothy St. James--finished on 5/9/18
11. The Marmalade Murders by Elizabeth J. Duncan--finished on 5/12/18
12. Death and a Pot of Chowder by Cornelia Kidd--finished on 5/14/18
13. A Soupcon of Poison by Jennifer Ashley--finished on 5/15/18
14. Dressed for Death by Donna Leon--finished on 5/22/18
15. Murder at the Mansion by Sheila Connolly--finished on 5/25/18
16. Tart of Darkness by Denise Swanson--finished on 5/28/18
17. Claws for Alarm by Karen MacInerney--finished on 6/2/18
18. Crisis at the Cathedral by Jeanne M. Dams--finished on 6/12/18
19. Calculated in Death by J.D. Robb--finished on 6/16/18
20. Deadly Firefly by Victoria Houston--finished on 6/28/18

CATEGORY 7: Even More Mysteries--Read 20 out of 20 books--CATEGORY COMPLETED

BOOKS READ

1. In Cold Chocolate by Dorothy St. James--finished on 7/13/18
2. Lord of the Pies by Nell Hampton--finished on 7/27/18
3. Apple Stuffed Alibis by Jessica Beck--finished on 8/7/18
4. Death Overdue by Allison Brook--finished on 8/18/18
5. Hitting the Books by Jenn McKinlay--finished on 8/22/18
6. Read and Gone by Allison Brook--finished on 8/25/18
7. A Just Clause by Lorna Barrett--finished on 9/1/18
8. The Paris Spy by Susan Elia MacNeal--finished on 9/2/18
9. Poisoned Pages by Lorna Barrett--finished on 9/23/18
10. A Christmas Revelation by Anne Perry--finished on 9/25/18
11. Twelve Slays of Christmas by Jacqueline Frost--finished on 10/11/18
12. 'Twas the Knife Before Christmas by Jacqueline Frost--finished on 10/14/18
13. Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie--finished on 10/18/18
14. Grace Against the Clock by Julie Hyzy--finished on 10/24/18
15. Silver Anniversary Murder by Leslie Meier--finished on 10/30/18
16. The Darling Dahlias and the Pointsettia Puzzle by Susan Wittig Albert--finished on 11/23/18
17. In Peppermint Peril by Joy Avon--finished on 11/29/18
18. Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny--finished on 12/4/18
19. Wine and Punishment by Sarah Fox--finished on 12/12/18
20. Christmas at the Grange by T.E. Kinsey--finished on 12/16/18

CATEGORY 8: Nonfiction--Read 13 out of 20 books

BOOKS READ

1. Terror in the City of Champions by Tom Stanton--finished on 1/30/18
2. The Colossus of New York by Colson Whitehead--finished on 2/19/18
3. Endurance: A Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery by Scott Kelly--finished on 2/22/18
4. Mussolini's Arctic Airship by Eva Holland--finished on 3/5/18
5. A Book of Walks by Bruce Bochy--finished on 4/5/18
6. The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe--finished on 4/26/18
7. The Mirage Factory by Gary Krist--finished on 5/10/18
8. Downtown: My Manhattan by Pete Hamill--finished on 5/21/18
9. The Book Smugglers by David E. Fishman--finished on 9/3/18
10. The Day Democracy Died by Anselm Audley--finished on 10/22/18
11. The Breakaway: The Inside Story of the Wirtz Family Business and the Chicago Blackhawks by Bryan Smith--finished on 11/9/18
12. Collision of Wills by Jack Gilden--finished on 11/26/18
13. Becoming by Michelle Obama--finished on 12/23/18

As we near the finish line of the first quarter, I'm a bit behind my pace but not so far behind that I can't catch up. Hopefully, I'll get a lot of reading in while I'm on short-term disability in April/early May.

Happy to have made steady progress in all of the main categories.

Happy new thread! Sorry for the circumstances of your short-term disability, but at least books will keep you company.

Finished my first category!! One of the short ones, but still.

Wedding Cake Crumble by Jenn McKinlay--finished on 3/31/18

(free copy from First to Read)

A new Jenn McKinlay mystery is always a cause for celebration for me. I love all three of her mystery series, the hat shop mysteries, the library mysteries, but especially this series, the cupcake bakers series. Typically, I'll read each one soon after it's published but, this time, fortunately, I was able to read it before it was published.

This newest cupcake mystery, the 10th in the series, is as outstanding as any. These characters have become old friends for me and I loved to see all the wedding planning in this one. The mystery was not bad either.

For fans of cozies, I'd highly recommend a Jenn McKinlay cozy.

>12 lindapanzo: Congrats on finishing your first category! And a happy new thread :)

Happy new thread! And congratulations on completing a category so soon!

Happy new thread, and congrats on your reading success!

I don't know if it qualifies for your humor category, but I saw this title and I've got to read it - I See Rude People: One Woman's Battle to Beat Some Manners into Impolite Society by Amy Alkon

Happy new thread and well done on finishing a category already!

While I enjoyed my humor category, particularly in the post illness/winter months, I wasn't enjoying it well enough to seek out lots of books in that category.

I haven't done a Chicago category in quite awhile for my annual category challenge so I've switched the Humor category to Chicago.

I'm interpreting Chicago broadly, to include Chicagoland and nearby environs. If I decide to read a Ray Bradbury based on a fictional Waukegan, that would count. I'd especially want to read some fiction set in Chicago.

>19 lindapanzo: I know it would be difficult for me to fill a humor category, so my applause to you for changing it to something more manageable.

>20 thornton37814: For many years, my category challenge included a Chicago category but I don’t think I’ve done once since 2013. I’d like to read some Chicago-based mysteries. Maybe a few Sara Paretsky mysteries and perhaps discover some I’m not acquainted with.

Looks like I'm good to go for surgery on Wed. I've gotten medical clearance and all is arranged with insurance. I've applied for short-term disability (needed when I'm out sick or injured for more than 5 workdays).

My Kindle is loaded up with plenty of cozies.

Good luck and good reading. I'll keep you in my thoughts.

Best of luck to you!

>22 lindapanzo: Hope all goes well with the surgery. Excellent plan to have the Kindle loaded up with cozies!

>23 mamzel: >24 LittleTaiko: >25 rabbitprincess: Thanks.

My Kindle is loaded up with lots of stuff, for post-surgery. I can also use the Kindle app on my phone, which would be easier to read and hold than a print book would be, for while I'm in the hospital. Also need to remember to pack the extra long recharger cord.

Today, at lunch, I was reading, and enjoying, the YA book, Matilda by Roald Dahl. (Touchstones not working?)

Good luck with your surgery!

Matilda by Roald Dahl--finished on 4/13/18

When I was a little girl, of course, I loved to read. I was eager to read "grown up books" and missed many terrific YA books. This is one a kid like me would've loved. A book about a clever little girl who loved to read. Unlike Matilda, however, I was encouraged to read and had family members who loved to take me to bookstores and libraries.

As a kid, the only Roald Dahl book I read was Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which I loved. So now I'm two for two with Roald Dahl booiks and think I'll read more.

If I'm remembering right, I note that this was only my second 5-star book of the year, after Scott Kelly's Endurance: A Year in Space.

>22 lindapanzo:
Good luck! Hope it all goes well and the recovery is easy and will allow you to read lots of good books!

Great news on having a surgery scheduled and being prepared -- you'll have all my good wishes on Wednesday and the recovery. Cozies sound like perfect recovery books.

>28 lindapanzo: Oh! I humbly suggested Danny the Champion of the World, which is my absolute favorite Dahl book.

Wishing you all the best for your surgery! Enjoy the cozies.

Thanks for all the good wishes. My friends at work took me out to lunch today (Mexican food would be a no-no tomorrow, the day before the surgery, I think).

I am eager to get it over and done with. It's been hanging over my head since late January, after all.

>31 scaifea: I'll have to look for that. I do like those Dahl books.

After the surgery, as I mentioned, I have at least a half dozen cozies lined up and I'll have The Right Stuff to finish as well. That is certainly a lively NF read.

Hoping all goes well on Wednesday. Keep us posted as best you can!

>34 cyderry: Thanks, Cheli. I'll likely be on here once I'm out of recovery, if only for a few words, and settled into my room. I'll have my phone with me. think the plan is for me to start eating and drinking by later in the afternoon, so, presumably, I should be awake and alert by that time.

I was eager to see the Cubs/Cardinals game on TV tonight but, once again, it was postponed due to cold and snow. Ugh. Will spring ever arrive?

>35 lindapanzo: Don't rush to us, do what you need to get yourself well.

Best wishes on your surgery tomorrow. Take care of yourself first of all. We can wait, if necessary.

Good thoughts. Read, watch some Cubs games...

Thanks. I'm at work today and everything is falling into place. I'm glad the surgery is about to happen (I sure hope so, anyway) and I'm feeling at peace with everything.

Lunch with a friend (bland scrambled eggs and toast, most likely) and just finishing up a few things around the office.

Good luck for tomorrow. It sounds like you've done everything you can to prepare.

Thinking of you today, Linda!

See my message in the 75 group.

Hard to type.

>42 lindapanzo: Being awake with an intubation would be terrifying indeed! Hope you improve quickly.

>42 lindapanzo:
Scary to wake up like that and sorry they had to do both surgeries, but YEY on no cancer. Take care and hope recovery is fast!

Just got moved out of the ICU and into a regular room which is a good sign.

>45 lindapanzo: Hurray, a regular room! Also glad to see you posting. Take care!

>45 lindapanzo:
Yes! Being deemed not poorly enough for the ICU is a good thing!

Hi Linda, so happy to read that the surgery has been done and that you have been given the "all clear" on cancer. Being moved to a regular room is a great sign so now you just have to let your body do it's job with the healing. My prescription is "rest, relax and read".

I'm very glad to hear that things went well and that you have no cancer. I'll add - try to eat the food and walk as much as they'll let you so you can get home and relax in comfort.

I’m hoping. The only help I need is getting out of bed. Getting easier as I’ve learned to swing my feet around and put two feet on the floor. Can’t use my arms bc of the chest surgery.

I plan to sit in the chair all day. Maybe read a little finally too.

I'm glad to hear things went well. Take good care of yourself!

Shelved Under Murder by Victoria Gilbert--finished on 4/17/18

This second library-themed cozy more than meets the promise shown in the terrific first in the series. The book presents a likeable cast of secondary characters. May this wonderful series have a long run. I'll definitely keep up with these.

(received this book from Net Galley)

>52 lindapanzo: I liked it too!

The Plot Is Murder by V.M. Burns--finished on 4/23/18

Just finished my first book since surgery, a very promising debut in a new cozy series. The sleuth opens a new mystery bookstore, is writing a mystery, and coping with the death of her husband, when a hated man, a realtor, is found murdered on her property.

I loved the mystery but seeing page after page of her in-progress mystery novel detracted from the book, I thought.

I note that the second book in the series is due out tomorrow and I've picked up a copy.

Definitely a series to watch for the cozy lover!!

Glad to hear you are on the mend -- best wishes for a speedy recovery!

>55 christina_reads: Thanks. Can't overdo it though.

I had my first post-surgical follow up, with the neck surgeon, and all was well. The neck incision looks great, though the chest one won't look as good since it had a lot more tissue to cut through. He read me the pathology results. The mass had something like 6 or 7 gunky sounding things in it but no signs of cancer whatsoever.

He also cautioned me that, even if I'm feeling well, to adhere to the 6-week guidelines so I don't suffer a setback. I suppose I'll just have to read, watch baseball and hockey, sit outside, and go out to lunch.

Sounds like really great news. 😀

>56 lindapanzo: Good news indeed! Glad the gunky things are no longer in your system. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

"6 or 7 gunky sounding things"
Good thing they're not in there anymore!! Yeah, so your list of things that you "have to" do now sounds terrible... :D

Glad to hear your good news. Now you just have to follow orders to a full recovery. You have my best wishes.

I love your list of things to do over the next 6 weeks. Enjoy.

Thanks for stoppage my by. I’m really reading quite a bit lately. Nothing too heavy or serious but I’m enjoyin it

Gorgeous weather so I get to sit outside as well.

Today, a friend is coming over and bringing a Lou Malnati’s pizza and good conversation. Can’t beat that.

So glad you're through the acute stage! Terrifying and bone-shaking, but not cancerous, which means there's only healing left -- bodies like to do that eventually. And Lou Malnati's sounds fantastic.

Sounds you have a lovely recovery schedule lined up. Hope it all goes smoothly.

So glad to hear the operation is over and all is well. Chest probably hurts.

>63 pammab: Yes, lots of healing. Mostly, it's muscle ache in my chest as I move around but, as in the incision heals, some days it hurts more.

>64 LittleTaiko: I hope so, too. During my last surgery, back in 2007, the incision opened up, putting me out an extra few weeks.

>65 mysterymax: Yes, there is some pain but not as bad as I imagined it'd be. Noticeable if I forget to take an Advil though.

Watching the Cubs game tonight and also read a bio of Cubs manager, Joe Maddon, called Try Not to Suck by Bill Chastain.

I've been thinking of reading the Maddon book, How was it?

>67 mysterymax: It was pretty good but, the farther in I got, the more it was about the Maddon vibe. The first half was about his baseball career and most of the rest was about his philosophy.

The Spook in the Stacks by Eva Gates
(received via Net Galley)

This fourth book in the Lighthouse Library series, set in North Carolina, is a terrific cozy series. The Halloween-themed book was well executed and the superb cast of characters surrounding the librarian sleuth are fun and, for me, have become old friends.

This series has quickly established itself as among my top cozy series. May there be many, many more of these delightful cozies.

>69 lindapanzo: I got this one from NetGalley, too, and thanks to your review I'm looking forward to it even more than I had been.

>70 virginiahomeschooler: That publisher, I think it’s Crooked Lane, has some great cozies. I’m trying to obtain and read a handful of them.

I find I was just granted access to their Death and a Pot of Chowder, a Maine mystery.

>69 lindapanzo: I enjoyed that one too.

I'm about halfway through my medical leave. If all continues to progress, I expect to be back at work on May 31st, though the first few days, I'll probably work from home.

In the meantime, I'm getting in a lot of cozy mystery reading, napping, watching ballgames etc.

Speaking of ballgames, I had tickets to take my Sox fan friend to the Cubs/Sox game tomorrow. When I said I couldn't go, she suggested selling them and going to a different game, which I did. With a predicted high of only 48 tomorrow, I'm glad we're not going. Maybe go to the movies instead. Maybe I can stay awake the whole time, too. Yesterday, we went to a library lecture/travelogue about northern Italy. Interesting but I did doze off for that.

So far, my first ballgame at Wrigley Field this season is in late July, though, depending on how I feel, I may get some tickets around early July.

The Mirage Factory by Gary Krist--finished on 5/10/18
(received from First to Read)

This is an interesting read about the artist, the evangelist, and the engineer who helped put Los Angeles on the map. Specifically, the outstanding nonfiction author, Gary Krist, has written yet another excellent NF book, cleverly weaving together the stories of moviemaker D.W. Griffith, evanglist Aimee Semple McPherson, and engineer and water magician William Mulholland, who, together, played a huge role in the growth of L.A. during the first two decades of the 20th century.

Earlier, Krist had written some of the best nonfiction works I've read in recent years, including City of Scoundrels (about Chicago), The White Cascade (about an avalanche that hit the Pacific Northwest, and Empire of Sin (about New Orleans). This newest book by Krist ranks right up there. Initially, I thought that focusing on three different people and fields detracted from the book but, in the end, this focus turned out well.

This interesting book about the early days of L.A. is one I'd highly recommend to friends who like nonfiction page-turners.

>74 lindapanzo: Great review! I am planning a trip to New Orleans in the fall, so perhaps I'll check out Empire of Sin before I go.

>75 christina_reads: Krist specializes in taking turn of the century (aka 20th century) topics and really bringing them to life.

I heard him speak at a local library and he's just as interesting in person.

The Marmalade Murders by Elizabeth J. Duncan--finished on 5/12/18

No current author does the village cozy as well as Elizabeth J. Duncan as this 9th installment in the Penny Brannigan series demonstrates. This series, set in a small Welsh village, involves murder at the agricultural show. Absolutely love these.

Death and a Pot of Chowder by Cornelia Kidd--finished on 5/14/18
(received from Net Galley)

I thoroughly enjoyed this first installment in a new cozy mystery series set on an Island in Maine. The author, under the name Lea Wait, has two other series, the Antique Print series and the Mainely Needlepoint mysteries. I grab every book in these two series as soon as they're published and read them as soon as possible. In short, I figured I'd like this new series and, in fact, I did.

Anna Winslow grew up on Quarry Island, Maine, and now lives there with her husband, Burt, a lobsterman, and her teenage son, Jake. She gets a letter from a half sister she never knew abput. Much of the first part of the book laid out the characters' stories. While important, I thought this part of the book dragged a bit. However, once the other lobsterman's body is found, the story starts to pick up.

There's a great cast of characters and I know the author is a good storyteller. This series has great potential and I'd strongly recommend it to those who like cozies.

The new series on PBS, The Great American Read, starts on May 22nd.

I've read only 25 of their 100 book list.

http://www.pbs.org/the-great-american-read/books/#/

>79 lindapanzo: I've been curious about this series too. I'm a little worried about spoilers...I mean, eventually I might read more of these books!! Lol

>79 lindapanzo: - I’ve heard about that a couple of places and took a quick look at the list, but haven’t counted how many I’ve read yet.

>79 lindapanzo: - I'm looking forward to watching. I've read 44, I think, from the list. I did the quiz a couple of days ago but don't remember the exact number.

>79 lindapanzo: I have seen the list, what I don't quite see is the criteria that were used to put it together. They're not all American, in setting or author, for one thing.

>63 pammab: - I'm thinking that "they" will tell us at the beginning of the show how these books were selected. At least I hope so.

>78 lindapanzo: I've read some of the Lea Wait books. I guess I need to check the new series sometime.

I'm enjoying poking around the PBS Great American Read website. One interesting article involves 12 iconic works of Chicago literature. I'll have to check some of these out for my Chicago category.

https://interactive.wttw.com/playlist/2018/04/24/12-iconic-works-chicago-literat...

I had my visit with the cardio thoracic (chest) surgeon this morning. He said healing is progressing well and that my chest is fusing together as it should. He gave me a return to work note for May 31st and said I could start driving again.

For now, I remain subject to the 5 pound weight limit but, starting on May 30 for two months, it'll be a 20 pound limit and, after late July, no limit.

Great news all around!!

>87 lindapanzo: Glad you are making such great progress!

That is good news indeed!

>87 lindapanzo: well done on healing nicely. Just remember, no doing too much now you're allowed to do more.

I am feeling full of energy and am doing things but yes, I still do get tired. The unexpected heat is contributing to that, I think.

Glad to hear your energy has returned! Take care with the heat, though, especially if it's also humid like it is here.

Glad things are going so well. Sounds like you've been good about not doing too much too soon.

My increased energy levels don't have me running around the block or anything. However, I'm not getting as tired when doing ordinary things.

Trying to stay in air conditioned areas during these hot and increasingly humid days. However, on Sunday, we've got a backyard graduation party. I need a seat in the shade, at minimum.

Murder at the Mansion by Sheila Connolly--finished on 5/25/18
(received from Net Galley)

I absolutely love when a successful author with a number of series to his or her name creates a promising new series, such as this one. Sheila Connolly authors a number of excellent cozy series, including the Orchard Mysteries, the Museum Mysteries, and the County Cork Mysteries. Now, Connolly has authored an interesting installment in a new Victorian Village series.

Not that the town, Asheford, Maryland, already is a Victorian Village. However, the sleuth, Kate, who grew up in this small town and has worked in the hospitality business, is asked to come back to town to try to help the town overcome its financial difficulties by developing a concept based on a huge Victorian mansion outside of town, which the town has purchased using virtually the last of its money.

The historical aspects of this cozy were quite interesting but the mystery less so. Nonetheless, this book offers a nice start to a promising new series. I'm eager to see where the storyline goes.

Great to hear that you are recovering so nicely, Linda. :)

>95 lindapanzo: Your reaction was much the same as mine. There's a lot of "setting up" the series taking place in this installment. I hope the future installments include more genealogy and more mystery.

>96 DeltaQueen50: Thanks, Judy. I went to a backyard graduation party this afternoon. It was close to 100 but it was nice and shady and a couple of the swim girls weren't sure I could do much so they'd move my chair into the shade (as the sun moved) but I said I could get my own food. Very pleasant day.

>97 thornton37814: I like this author but too much background and not enough meat to the mystery. I think future installments will be better. I need to catch up with the apple orchard, museum, and Irish mysteries.

>98 lindapanzo: I think I'm bailing on the Irish ones. Each one seems to be progressively worse.

>99 thornton37814: That's good to know, Lori. I think I've read the first one and maybe the second. I'll have to check. Maybe I read the first and own the second.

I like the museum series the best, I think. Not really far along on any of them.

>100 lindapanzo: I just finished the 3rd one. Drove me crazy.

Big milestone in my recovery. This morning, I drove for the first time in almost 6 weeks. Last time I drove, there was snow in the forecast. Today, a high temp of 90. Just drove in town and on the highway. Tomorrow, I'll drive and do errands like going to the library etc.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel always has interesting books on his summer reading list. I'm going to check some of these out, particularly the NF books.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/books/ct-books-rahms-anti-trump-reads-0...

Glad to hear your recovery is going forward and life is getting back to normal for you. Sounds like you had plenty of care at the graduation party.

>103 VivienneR: I sure did. Plenty of care throughout the whole 6 weeks.

Today is the last day of my disability leave. During these 6 weeks, I've read 17 books, which isn't too bad considering that, during the first 5 days, I was too ill to read/concentrate. Of those 17, 12 were mysteries. Even so, I finished the excellent Tom Wolfe book, The Right Stuff, as well as a book for the AAC, Downtown: My Manhattan by Pete Hamill, and also the new Gary Krist book about early 20th century Los Angeles, The Mirage Factory.

During June, I'm planning to focus more on nonfiction. I'm reading a book about the late Chicago mayor, Harold Washington. Also reading the memoir by baseball great, Keith Hernandez, called I'm Keith Hernandez. I'd like to finally get to The Death and Life of the Great Lakes by Dan Egan. I've had that one at the top of the TBR pile since our meet-up at Mark's house over a year ago.

I'd also like to get to David Mamet's Chicago: A Novel and maybe (finally?) to Manhattan Beach

Last but not least, I'd like to read at least one of the Great American Read 100 books. I've got A Confederacy of Dunces lined up for that one.

Good to hear the party was a success. Getting back to driving is always a great emotional lift, you feel you've regained independence in some way. Just remember you're still on light duties at work until you've got all your strength back.

Neck surgeon today said my half thyroid is functioning well and my incision is healing nicely. He doesn't need to see me again for a year. In the meantime, he recommended that I put Scar Away on my incisions.

Happy news!!

>106 lindapanzo: Great news!

Hi Linda,

I haven't been by in a while, but I'm glad you are recovering well and had a good report from the surgeon. Scar Away is awesome!

>109 lsh63: Good to know. Thanks. There's a gel and medicated strips. I'm tired of wearing bandages so I opted for the gel, for starters.

Yeah, I love good news, even if it is someone else's!
Wouldn't it be nice if network news was all good?

>111 cyderry: I'm always happy with good news like this.

Alas, the news isn't all good. I'm feeling fine but, throughout, my elderly mother took care of it. Then, on Thursday, she caught a cold and was worse today. I took her to the doctor and she has pneumonia. Thankfully, they caught it early and he put her on antibiotics. No hospitalization needed unless she continues to worsen. Now, I'll be taking care of her.

Claws for Alarm by Karen MacInerney--finished on 6/2/18

This 8th and latest installment in the Gray Whale Inn series set on Cranberry Island, Maine, is an outstanding addition to this terrific cozy series. Natalie Barnes, the owner of the Inn, again finds herself dealing with an on-island murder but needs to sort out whether the murder relates to island development plans or to a yoga retreat being held at the Inn, or both.

I've loved this series, among my favorites, since the beginning, as well as her other series, the Dewberry Farm books. A new book is always a cause for celebration, a real treat for cozy fans.

>112 lindapanzo: Sorry to hear about your Mom but at least now you are well enough to pay back some of the caregiving. Just be sure to take care of yourself as well.

>113 lindapanzo: I like this series but I'm not up to this one yet.

>87 lindapanzo:
Great news indeed!

>102 lindapanzo:
Welcome back to independence. :)

Glad to hear your god news. Hope your mom gets betters soon.

Hope your mom is feeling better soon!

Mom is doing better. Tomorrow, we will find out for sure that her pneumonia is gone. We certainly hope so.

I've now been back at work for a week and feeling better than I thought I would.

Mayor Harold Washington: Champion of Race and Reform in Chicago--finished on 6/6/18
(received from Net Galley)

Harold Washington was a Chicago trailblazer and this book details his life, with a particular emphasis on 1983 to 1987, his years as Chicago's first African-American mayor. Elected as a progressive and one who would promote the neighborhoods at the expense of the Loop and who would provide more openness and transparency in government, Washington spent much of his first term bedevilled by the so-called Council Wars. He was just hitting his stride when he died unexpectedly at City Hall of a massive heart attack.

Biles presents an exhaustive, yet fascinating, look at Washington's life and legacy. This interesting book would appeal to Chicago history buffs, like me, as well as anyone who wants to learn more about 1980's politics and the issues which are so similar in many ways to those of today.

Good news!! Mom's pneumonia has cleared up (so the doctor wondered if it was actually bronchitis). Anyway, she is feeling fine. The bad news was we sat in the waiting room for two hours. At least I got a lot of reading in on a baseball biography that is due back at the library on Tuesday. Maybe I'll finish it tonight.

Good news about your Mom, Linda. Bad news about the wait time!!

>121 DeltaQueen50: She's 81 so even a bad cold worries me. Fortunately, she rarely gets sick.

>122 lindapanzo: I know how that is, my Mom just turned 97 so her health is always a concern. So far we are very lucky that she is healthy and active.

Glad your mother has recovered. Long wait times seem to be typical nowadays - but useful for catching up on reading!

Mom is almost back to normal, though now she tells me that the heat is getting to her.

Well I'll be. My library's new website has a "What to Read Next" feature. You can fill out a lengthy form and they'll email back some book suggestions. It's pretty open ended and you can be as detailed or as specific as you like. Of course, I tried it and am curious to see what they'll recommend.

There's another feature called Novelist, which has recommended reads lists (need to put in your library card number or else I'd post a link here). I can have lots of fun with this. For instance, I can ask for nonfiction baseball books published between 2016 and 2018. Wow, this is terrific.

>125 lindapanzo: Those features both sound amazing -- I'm jealous!

>126 christina_reads: I submitted so many "favorite authors" that our reference librarians are probably scratching their heads over what to recommend. I know one of them pretty well.

The last time I submitted a research question, she thought it might've been from me. If it were easy, I could've found the answer myself. My village was incorporated in the mid 1950's and I wanted to know who had represented us in Congress since then.

The Novelist one could occupy me for the entire day, I'd say.

>125 lindapanzo: - Those are great ideas. I use fantasticfiction.com a lot and at the bottom of the author pages they have a section of recommendations and/or books the author reccommmends. I’m not techie enough, but I wonder if this is a addition to their website that other libraries could get. I’m going to mention it to my sister who’s a librarian and she if she can find out.

>128 dudes22: I found this. Looks to be info for librarians to get their service...

I think the library one is something like "Your Next Book" and the program one where you can input a topic and years is called Novelist.

Found this...https://www.ebscohost.com/novelist/our-products/nextreads but it might be to buy Novelist for your public library.

>129 lindapanzo: - Gee - thanks. I'll check it out and mention it to my sister too.

>129 lindapanzo: Tennessee Electronic Library used to get Novelist, but I think they cut it due to low use. I think most avid readers got their recommendations elsewhere. I looked at it a few times, but I never run out of things on my TBR list, so I confess I probably am one of the reasons it was cut. It's probably overpriced for the amount of use it receives--even when dealing with an entire state. I've learned to use tags and tag mashes at LT to find things on topics if I'm trying to find. I also sometimes search Worldcat to find topical things.

>130 dudes22: It might be expensive but, to me, it seems worth it.

131 We do have so many other places to get suggestions but I think it'll be something I use often. I like being able to have one of our reference librarians give me suggestions but, for smaller topics, I'd like to be able to go in and use a keyword or two and get suggestions.

Not sure if all the libraries in our North Suburban Library share this or if it's something only our local library has.

The Dollhouse by Fiona Davis--finished on 6/21/18

My favorite work of fiction for the first half of the year!!

Moving between the present day and 1952 New York City, the author looks at the story of Darby, a young girl from Ohio who moves to NYC to live at the Barbizon Hotel, a hotel for young women, while she goes to secretarial school. The floor for secretarial school girls is full and so she is placed on the floor with the girls who work at a modeling agency. Darby doesn't fit in and is attending secretarial school at her mother's insistence (Mom is paying for it with the late father's insurance money) and befriends Esme, the hotel maid and elevator operator who also sings at a jazz club.

For the present day portions, the story focuses on a reporter who's looking into the stories of elderly Barbizon female residents. The Barbizon now has upscale condos and those elderly residents are placed onto a rent controlled floor. One of those residents is a mysterious, veiled woman named Darby.

I absolutely loved the book and gave it 5 stars (though I'd actually give it about 4.75 stars since the ending felt slapped together).

This book is the author's first novel, I believe, and she's come up with a winning formula...alternate between the past and the present in NYC to look at stories in a famous or not so famous building. The second book looks at the Dakota and I think the new one looks like it's about the Grand Central School of Art.

>133 lindapanzo: Nice to see you enjoyed The Dollhouse, Linda. I have that one sitting on my Kindle patiently waiting.

>134 DeltaQueen50: I hope you enjoy it.

The second one, The Address, is already in at the library, I think. Might finish my current book, The Inn at Lake Devine first.

Busy weekend. I don't recall even getting on LT at all this weekend.

Late on Friday, I finally(!) finished Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club. I was so eager to finally get to that one and very disappointed with it. Very slow reading. Couldn't keep anyone straight.

Now I've moved on to the new Bill Clinton/James Patterson political thriller, The President Is Missing. This one is NOT a slow read. In fact, quite the opposite.

After reading the ultra-slow The Joy Luck Club, I was happy to move on to, and finish, the riveting political and cyberspace thriller, The President Is Missing by Bill Clinton and James Patterson. Very fast paced and I couldn't put it down. I was up late finishing it.

In Cold Chocolate by Dorothy St. James--finished on 7/13/18
(from Net Galley)

Over the past two months, I've now read all three of the Southern Chocolate Shop mysteries and believe that each one is better than the one before.

Charity Penn inherited the The Chocolate Box, which is the chocolate shop that she inherited from her grandmother, in the coastal town of Camellia Beach, South Carolina. Once again, a nicely told story with interesting characters.

I'm eager to read upcoming books in this terrific cozy series.

>138 lindapanzo: I have this one too!

>139 cyderry: That publisher, Crooked Lane Books, is probably my favorite publisher on Net Galley, along with the university publisher with quite a few baseball books.

CLB has loads of good cozies I want to read. Next up, I've got my eye on some Christmas cozies, after I finish Read and Gone by Allison Brook.

Got Read and Gone too!

>141 cyderry: The two Christmas ones I'm looking at are In Peppermint Peril by Joy Avon and also The Knife Before Christmas by Jacqueline Frost.

I've to the point where I owe so many reviews that I'll take a closer look at both of these before I request them.

My NetGalleys to read are standing at over 60 now but that doesn't stop me from asking for more. I try to read at least 4-5 a month hoping that I'll eventually catch up a bit when there are months when I don't get any new ones. I do refuse to ask for ones in a series that I read if I've more than 2 or 3 to reach that point.

>143 cyderry: I just got the new Jenn McKinley Library Lovers cozy from First to Read. They put a limit on how long you get access and then it just disappears. I’ll be eager to read that one.

>143 cyderry: I've only got one NetGalley remaining at the moment. I'll allow myself to look for more after that one is completed, but I really want to focus on some non-ARC reading. I glanced today at the offerings, but I could resist the temptation, probably because I know how much more I want to read some others in a pile at home.

>125 lindapanzo:
Those both seem like great features - I'll have to see if my libraries have something similar.

Back from a long weekend in Green Bay, WI. Finally, a few days off for fun and not for medical reasons. I had a great time but got no reading done at all, though pleasant visits with my college roommate and some cousins.

After 7 months through the year, my categories for 2018 category reading are coming along pretty well. Food and drinks is the laggard, I think. I need to grab a bunch of short books in that category.

I've got an ambitious reading list for August but, hopefully, lots of great books. Unlike July where I read few books and most were disappointing. The Clinton/Patterson political thriller was a good surprise but The Joy Luck Club and Kitchen Confidential were disappointing for me.

>147 lindapanzo: I had several disappointments in July too. My first August read as well as my current audiobook seem to be winners though.

Home Ice: Reflections of a Reluctant Hockey Mom by Angie Abdou--finished on 8/13/18
(received from Net Galley)

I had mixed feelings about this book. Though I expected it to be the diary of a hockey mom during her son's 9 to 10 year old Atom hockey year. Yes, there's some of that but she focuses more on the role of sport. The role of sport for youths. The impact on families. Seemingly, pretty much the interaction of sport and anything you can think of.

The book is well written and it made me want to pick up her non-fiction book, The Bone Cage, which is about the years after competition for a high-level swimmer and a top wrestler. I think I might enjoy that one even more because, in this book, the apologies for personal conduct seemed to get in the way. I kept thinking "talk more about sports and less about your marriage."

I'd give this one 3.5 stars which, for me, is a neutral rating. It has its moments. I loved it when her son, Ollie, was happy. I loved some of her insights into sports. Yet, too often, it got bogged down with personal flaws and apologies.

Hitting the Books by Jenn McKinlay--finished on 8/21/18
(received from First to Read)

I'm never quite sure which of the three fabulous cozy mystery series from Jenn McKinlay that I like best, the cupcake bakery series, the hat shop mystery series, or the library lover's series. I've read them all, usually as soon as available, and they're all terrific. But of them all, probably the best series is the library lover's series featuring library director Lindsey Norris.

A great cast of characters, interesting plots, a love interest, and book talk...what could be better?

This is an outstanding cozy series. Highly recommended!!

Read and Gone by Allison Brook--finished on 8/25/18
(I received this book via Net Galley)

This is the second in the Haunted Library series by Allison Brook. The series (and the characters) have great potential but I didn't like this second one nearly as much as I liked the first one, Death Overdue. Carrie Singleton, the head of her library's programs and events, gets back into sleuthing once again, of course, but her father the thief is back and staying with her. The plot seemed to drag for me and, while I love Christmas-themed mysteries, this one could've used more Christmas.

I'm certainly going to continue with this series but I hope the next one picks up. For now, this one earns middling stars, 3.5, from me.

>151 lindapanzo: I read the first in the series, giving it a 3. I may give it a try--or I may give it a pass. Lots of this year's Christmas titles may interest me more.

>152 thornton37814: I've seen a few Christmas-themed mysteries on Net Galley, adding to my expanding collection of NG books.

I really liked the first Allison Brook mystery but just plodded through the second one. I hope the series picks up.

>153 lindapanzo: I've seen them in things coming across my desk at the library. I've been trying to avoid NetGalley so I don't get too backed up. I have 3 downloaded at the moment--one in process, one a children's picture book (so it won't take long). However, I've got things coming in from "hold" at the library so I need to get to those too! Most of them are for September challenges.

>154 thornton37814: I usually have about a dozen books on hold at the library but, among current holds, there are mostly new books that won't be out for a few months. Like the Anne Perry Christmas novella, for instance.

This is a time for me to get caught up on things.

>155 lindapanzo: The Anne Perry Christmas novella is available on NetGalley.

>156 cyderry: Great, thanks. I'll have to see if it's someone who'll accept me.

I think I've got 7 outstanding Net Galley books so you've got me beat.

ETA: Seems doubtful that I'll fit within that publisher's guidelines. Otoh, St Martin's accepted me when I didn't fit within theirs. It doesn't hurt to try--the worst they could do is say no.

The Book Smugglers by David E. Fishman--finished on 9/3/18

I finally finished my way overdue ER book. I have several ER books left to read but the remaining ones are of a far more recent vintage and probably aren't as "heavy" as this one was.

This is a fascinating look at the book brigade who, as best as they could salvaged Jewish books, papers, and other cultural items from the Nazis in Vilna, the "Jerusalem of Lithuania" during the war. This portion of the book makes for an incredible story of survival and daring.

The second half of the book, while interesting, was a bit of a letdown for me, as the book brigade survivors had to attempt, once again, to save the books, this time, from the Soviets. This portion of the book focused more on political and bureaucratic maneuverings and was not nearly as dramatic.

An excellent, well-researched book about a lesser-known chapter of the war and one I'd recommend to those who like to read nonfiction.

>156 cyderry: Woo-hoo. To my surprise and delight, Cheli, the publisher OK'd me to receive the Net Galley for A Christmas Revelation. Maybe I'll be able to get more from this major publisher. Didn't think I'd get it.

The Presidents and the Pastime: The History of Baseball and the White House by Curt Smith--finished on 9/18/18

(received via Net Galley)

This extraordinary look at both baseball and the presidency, and how the two are intertwined, starting with Teddy Roosevelt to the present, could well be my favorite book of the year.

Amazing and fascinating detail of how the presidents related to the game. Smith didn't just explore whether the president's threw out first pitches, as presidents are known to do, but rather delved further into whether they were fans, played the game, which teams they liked, even the extent to which their wives and/or families were baseball fans, all put into historical context. Some of the details are already pretty well known, like FDR's "green-light letter" allowing the MLB to continue during World War 2, or George W. Bush and the return of baseball at Yankee Stadium after 9/11. Other portions were not nearly as well known.

I've read more than 300 baseball books thus far and Curt Smith is among the very best authors on our National Pastime. I used to think that Mead and Dickson's Baseball: The President's Game was the definitive book on the subject, but not anymore. This is it.

Highly recommended!! An outstanding book that is meant to be savored.

>161 lindapanzo: - I'm thinking I might consider this as a Christmas gift for my great-nephew. Do you know when it will be published?

ETA: Oops! Went and checked on B&N and see it's already out there. Good to know.

>162 dudes22: Yes, I was way overdue on this one. Not a quick read but a great one for someone like me who loves baseball and history.

I barely have made a dent in my big stack of “must read” books.

My TBR list/stack could probably take me through the next 10-15 years without adding any titles. We all know how unlikely it is I will not discover something else to add to that list in the next 10-15 years.

A Christmas Revelation by Anne Perry--finished on 9/25/18
(I received this book from Net Galley)

For the 16th straight fall, I've eagerly awaited the new Christmas novella from Anne Perry. Typically, these are short, charming little stories with a Christmas theme and mystery elements. While far from my favorite in this series, this newest Christmas novella did not disappoint.

Worm, a 9-year old street urchin who'd been living along the Thames but who now lives in a clinic, sees a beautiful woman being dragged away by two men. He turns to the clinic's bookkeeper, a curmudgeon named Squeaky for help. Along the way, Worm learns about the Christmas story and what people do for Christmas.

Ultimately, this is a heartwarming, feel good story. While not my favorite, I'd still recommend it.

Twas the Knife Before Christmas by Jacqueline Frost--finished on 10/14/18

Mistletoe, Maine is the setting for what is probably my favorite new cozy series of the year, the Christmas Tree Farm cozy series. This book, the second in the series, adeptly follows up to Frost’s outstanding first book in the series, Twelve Slays of Christmas. Holly White returns home to Mistletoe and her family’s Christmas tree farm, after her fiancé called off the wedding, only to be involved in a small-town murder at the holidays. In this book, she tries to clear her best friend of the crime.

Lots of mouth-watering holiday food descriptions and clever, offbeat Christmastime games. Interesting characters. Lots of fun. For cozy fans, there aren’t many better Christmas cozies. I’d highly recommend this one. Absolutely loved it, once again.

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via Net Galley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.)

For probably the first time, I realized I won't meet my category challenge goal this year. That's OK. I've been paying more attention to the election and other current events and not reading nearly as much. Now I have some longer nonfiction books I'm wanting to read. Also magazines to catch up on like the New Yorker and also The Atlantic.

>167 lindapanzo: That *is* okay, and I hope you are not disappointed! The challenge police will not come for you, because they do not exist. ;)

>168 christina_reads: I read quite a bit while I was on short-term disability but not nearly as much since then. I'm usually at about 120 books per year but this year, more like 105 to 110.

Next year, I've picked my categories but am not making myself read a particular number of books for each. I'd like to read 5 for each but am not necessarily holding myself to it.

>169 lindapanzo: A total of 105 or 110 books is still amazing to me! I think I'm at something like 55...

As long as you're enjoying what you're reading, that's the important thing! :)

>171 rabbitprincess: - I second what RP said!

Thanks, guys.

I feel like I've been through the wringer. Last Sunday, the day after my niece's sectionals swim meet, I thought I just had laryngitis. Then, I started feeling kinda tired. Then congested. Went to work on Monday and felt miserable. Tuesday, I got dressed and was ready to leave for work but totally conked out before I could go. A 101 fever, practically delirious. On Wed, went to the doctor who, because I had pneumonia last year, treated this like pneumonia. Put me on a heavy duty antibiotic which, along with Mucinex and Tylenol, has me on the road to recovery at long last. Finally started eating soft food, eggs and such, yesterday but not much appetite, though I remain thirsty.

Alas, too sick/weary to read. Mostly just sleeping and listening to music.

Finally, today, back into lots of reading. I feel like reading cozies but not much else right now.

>173 lindapanzo: Oh no, Linda! I'm glad the doctor treated it seriously right away. Take care of yourself.

I second RP's advice to take care of yourself, Linda. Hope you are able to shake this one off quickly.

Oh, Linda. Hope you feel better soon. It's getting to be that time of year. Someone wanted to hug me last week at church and I had to back away,. - politely of course. Good that your doctor was proactive.

>173 lindapanzo: Some of the cozy series are good medicine when you don't feel well. You seem to like some of the newer series better than I do. Hope you feel better soon.

All my best wishes for a speedy recovery. Take it as slow as you need.

Thanks for all the get-well wishes. Back in the office today. Feeling much, much better.

>177 thornton37814: Lately, my ER and Net Galley cozies are the latest in series I love, including a number of long-running ones, like the Susan Elia MacNeal, a Charles Todd Bess book, Charles Finch, the Susan Wittig Albert Darling Dahlia's, Victoria Gilbert, and the Lighthouse Library series from Eva Gates.

My current read is from Ellery Adams, The Whispered Word. At this point, I think I have only one-new-to me cozy series freebie, In Peppermint Peril.

The Whispered Word by Ellery Adams--finished on 11/20/18

This second and latest installment in the Secret, Book and Scone Society isn't just an excellent mystery, it's a story of women and their strong friendships. The four friends in the Society, including Nora, the bookstore owner, do kindnesses for people, a Secret Kindness, and, in particular, aim to help Abilene Tyler, who appears at the bookstore looking badly-nourished, wearing ill-fitting clothes, visibly bruised, and unwilling to speak of her past life.

As is true with most mysteries, there are murders but, for me, what sets this series apart is the friendships among the women of the Secret, Book and Scone Society. Here's hoping there are many, many more books to come in this terrific, feel-good series. Highly recommended!!

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for a fair and honest review.)

>180 lindapanzo: - I have read a couple of books from her Books by the Bay series and have one from her book retreat on my TBR also. I might have to check out this series also.

>181 dudes22: I've read all the Books by the Bay series and also the book retreat ones. Love them. I think she's got other series but I haven't read them.

The Darling Dahlias and the Poinsettia Puzzle by Susan Wittig Albert--finished on 11/23/18

This eighth, and most recent, installment in the delightful Darling Dahlias series, set in Darling, Alabama, a small town in southern Alabama, during the Great Depression, is just as charming as ever. The Dahlias are competing in a Christmas-time puzzle contest. Two of their members are opening a bakery but don't know how to bake bread. A ne'er-do-well father is aiming to snatch back his Shirley Temple-esque little girl. There's moonshining, and yes, not surprisingly for a mystery, an effort to solve a murder.

This terrific series brings to life the 1930's and I absolutely love these books. Now that I've read the two most recent books, I want to go back and read the first six books in the series. Definitely a series to recommend to my friends who like cozies.

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via Net Galley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.)

>183 lindapanzo: - I've read the first 3 in the series and liked them, but haven't gotten back to them lately. I'm always surprised (?) by people who can read series out of order. I know sometimes it's not supposed to matter but I read a book once that I didn't realize was part of a series and when I went back to the beginning, the main character wasn't married yet with children and I found it kind of odd. Can't recall that it made a big difference to the series.

ETA: It also tends to keep some books on my TBR longer while I'm trying to catch up.

>184 dudes22: Thanks to Net Galley and Early Reviewers, I have got a few series where I either need to read a bunch to catch up or, more likely, read the series books out of order. I'm willing to do it though.

Almost halfway through the month and I've finished only one book so far this month, the new Louise Penny mystery. She is my favorite author and I love her books. Alas, I liked this one but didn't love it. Well done as always but probably my least favorite of her books. Kingdom of the Blind.

A bit of reminiscing here. It was around this time last year (actually, it was a bit earlier in December), when I was rushed to the hospital for pneumonia. Then they discovered the mass in my chest. Then I had surgery.

While I feel basically fine, my breathing is not exactly what it should be and I remain under the care of a pulmonologist. I just cannot pass the 6 minute walking test. I can easily walk for 6 mins but, though my oxygen level now starts at 97 (which is a huge improvement from the resting rate of 91 or 92 pre-surgery), after about 5 mins of walking, it drops below 88 and they stop the test. They made the "discovery" which I had already told them about, that, if I stop and take a few breaths, it bounces back to normal. The dr is reassured by this but she is tweaking things and offering treatment to "give me a little breathing boost." I was afraid I was going to be put on oxygen but pulmonary rehab might be in the offing, down the road. But for now, nothing that drastic.

I suspect that this has been a longer-term problem and I've gotten good at compensating for it, without even realizing it.

At any rate, things ARE looking up, especially when compared to last year at this time. I tend to go by how I'm feeling, and I feel fine.

>186 lindapanzo: I'm glad to hear things are looking up and that you've got a pulmonologist keeping an eye on things!

>187 rabbitprincess: I feel the same. I think the pulmonologist seems overly cautious but, as she said, she gets paid to worry about me.

I had a nice day off and got most, but not all, of my remaining Christmas shopping done. Hurray!!

Wine and Punishment by Sarah Fox--finished on 12/12/18
(received via Net Galley)

I've enjoyed the Pancake House series from Sarah Fox and so was eager to read this first book in her new Literary Pub series. In this very promising first book in a very promising new series, Sadie Coleman leaves Boston and relocates to the small town of Shady Creek, Vermont where she opens a literary pub, the Inkwell, at an old grist mill, complete with literary-themed cocktails and book clubs.

The book includes a number of engaging characters and, to me, is a series that seems primed for a long and fun run for cozy lovers. I especially loved the chemistry between Sadie and the brewery owner. This book, one of the best new cozies I've read this year, is one I'd highly recommend to cozy fans. Absolutely loved it.

>189 lindapanzo: I'm not really a cozy reader, but Wine and Punishment does sound fun!

>190 christina_reads: I try not to have more than one Kensington Books Net Galley book outstanding so, after I turned in the Wine and Punishment book, I requested, and received, a copy of a new forthcoming Sarah Graves mystery, Death by Chocolate Malted Milkshake. I read the first in that series within the past year or two. I'm still pretty new for reviews as to that publisher so I don't want to overdo it with them.

>189 lindapanzo: I usually get my requests from Kensington. I put "I keep hearing about this book" when it asked me why I asked for it. It would not have been on my radar if I had not seen your review. I just finished the Eva Gates one coming out in spring from Crooked Lane Books. Sometimes you just need a cozy for escape!

>192 thornton37814: I usually check the "I just keep hearing about this book" box, too. I'm reading the forthcoming (due out in Feb) Net Galley book, The Vanishing Man, a prequel in the Charles Lenox series from Charles Finch. It's a St. Martin's Press book. There's a history book I'd like to get from them and will ask for it. So far, my mystery book requests from them have been granted but I hope I'll get a history book.

Life seems so busy that I haven't been reading much. I've still got the Michelle Obama memoir going, as well as a Christmas-themed ER novel. I hope to finish all three by the end of the year.

>193 lindapanzo: I've got two audio books in progress. (One is one of this summer's (or maybe last's) AudioSync titles, so there is no rush to finish it because of a due date. I can probably finish it sometime on my Christmas break while driving, but I need to finish the American Author Challenge one that is an Overdrive one first. I'm thinking of a quick trip to Waynesville, North Carolina early next week so I may finish it then. I may even drive on over to Asheville to see Biltmore at Christmas. It's been awhile since I've done that. I finished this month's University of Chicago Press free e-book which was a cookbook earlier today, and I have a Christmas book going. I may read another quickie tonight if I spot one on my Kindle.

>186 lindapanzo: Glad you are feeling well. Last year was a tough one.

Wishing you a Happy New Year filled with good health and good reading.

Thanks for stopping by. Happy New Year to you all.

Sadly, I have to work today but will leave early and pick up a pizza. Then will probably curl up with a good book, while watching the PBS New York Philharmonic New Year's concert. Another cold for me. I somehow seem more susceptible to them.