Anita (figs) reads in 2018 second part

Welcome to my first ever second thread :)

Next one's yours

Love that peacock! And belated Congratulations on hitting the magic number.

Happy new thread Anita my dear.

Happy new thread, and congrats on making it to 2!

Happy new thread, Anita!
Every first is special, even a second ;-)

>4 laytonwoman3rd: Thanks, Linda. You're first! I remember when taking this photo, there were at least 20 peacocks in the garden. Sadly, none of them decided to fan their tails. However, they did decide to scream er I mean sing for me :)

>5 johnsimpson: Thanks, John >6 mstrust: Jennifer and >7 FAMeulstee: Anita

Happy new thread, figsfromthistle!

Thanks Brodie!

Hi Anita and happy first-ever second thread! Also, belated congratulations on reaching 75.

Thanks Karen :)

Happy new thread!

Thanks, Jim!

Love the peacock, Anita.

Congratulations, from your previous thread, on reaching 75.

Have a great weekend.

>15 BLBera: Thanks, Beth! It's always nice to complete a goal.

78. The Blood Card: Elly Griffiths

Magician Max Mephisto and Det. Insp. Edgar Stephens are called in to investigate the death of Colonel Cartwright ( their former wartime commander). As they begin to search for motive and suspects, they realize that some members of a communist group are planning a possible attack on Queen Elizabeth II coronation day.

This is the third novel of the series. For the most part, a great read although sometimes the pace tended to slow down.

Happy new thread, Anita!

Happy new one and congrats on passing the magical 75.
I've finished the fourth of the Stephen & Mephisto series. I really love this series.

>18 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie!

>19 Ameise1: Thank you :) I'm also really enjoying the Stephen and Mephisto series. I can't wait to read the fourth novel.

Yesterday, I went to the library book sale. I came away with 14 books. So glad for the volunteers who endlessly sorted through and organized them.

Congrats on thread 2! May it be the first of many!

Happy New thread, Anita! What a wonderful haul from your local library sale. I really enjoy Alan Bradley and his Flavia de Luce series, so you are in for a treat. I hope you enjoy Washington Black and Transcription as much as I did .

It has been a pleasure getting to know you a little this year, Anita.

Hope this is the first thread renewal of many. Happy new thread. xx

>22 thornton37814: Thanks, Lori

>23 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deborah. As you posted on my thread, I was just finishing up the dead and their vaulted arches. The last novel, speaking from among the bones ended with a cliffhanger so I had to immediately read the next one as it became available to me. A very fun series!

>24 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. It has been a delight getting to know more about you and others here this year. I've been trying to keep up with threads this year. LTers are such a wonderful group of people :)

>21 figsfromthistle: Nice haul, Anita! I've read the first two Dexter books. I've got the third around here somewhere, should read it and continue the series. And, I love the Cormoran Strike series. (Our book sorters are at the Library every week sorting books for our twice-a-year sales. The dedication and knowledge are always impressive.)

Nicely done with the library sale, Anita! Like Karen, I love that Cormoran Strike series - listening to Lethal White right now and loving it so far.

Hoping that your Tuesday is full of fabulous!

79. The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches: Alan Bradley

Another Flavia adventure. The novel centers around the return arrival of Flavia's mother. Here the reader gets to know more about the Deluce family history. Although there is a death at the beginning, Flavia is distracted by other events and tries to find a traitor among their family.

>26 karenmarie: >27 Crazymamie: Hi Karen and Mamie! Although I did well with my book haul, my cousin who went with me did even better. She managed to acquire 99 books!! I still have to read the first novel in the Cormoran series before I read the second. Hearing that both of you like the series, I will move it up on my TBR pile.

>29 figsfromthistle: 99 books!! Yowza!

On a very sad note, yesterday I found out that my cat ( Smokey) was hit by a car and died. She was ten years old and I'm already missing her company and quirks. Why do people have to drive soo fast on a gravel road, I don't understand. Heres the last picture I took of her

>31 figsfromthistle: Oh, Anita, I am so very sorry.

>30 Crazymamie: I know!! She was very organized and had a system. She would fill a bag and have someone go and pay and bring it out to the car, while she filled another bag.

>32 Crazymamie: Thank you. It's never easy to lose a pet as they become a part of your family.

>31 figsfromthistle:, So very sorry to read this Anita my dear.

Aww. I'm sorry about Smokey. 😑

>31 figsfromthistle: So sorry about Smokey, Anita :'(

I'm so sorry about the about Smokey, Anita. Our pets really do become a part of our family.

I'm sorry about Smokey, Anita. She was beautiful.

Thank you, John, Rachel, Anita, Deborah and Beth for your kind words. Smokey will definitely be missed.

80. Paradise City: Elizabeth Day

Four people living in London, England are trying to navigate through loss, anger, fear, and shame. With a big vibrant city full of life also comes a city filled with death, crime, and social ranking. These protagonists must find a way to re-invent themselves by coming to terms with their past and by dealing with their grief.

"She must stop being chased by ghosts and move forward. She has to remind the world that she is worth something"

I'm so sorry about Smokey. He was a handsome boy.

>41 mstrust: Thanks, Jennifer

81. Unyielding Clamour of the night: Neil Bissoondath

Arun is a young teacher who has grown up in a financially stable and privileged part of his country. He accepts a job in the South, teaching underprivileged children how to read, write and count. He faces many challenges along the way. The south is in the midst of a civil war, and rebel insurgents plan random bomb attacks on innocent civilians. Arun treads a fine line between the locals and the military. He also learns more about the circumstances surrounding his father's death and the role his family played in the war.

"Young man, do you know what we are about here? We're fighting a war where no heroes are made. A war with no front lines, no trenches to conquer, no pillboxes to storm. You stare into the dark, you shoot, and you hope no one shoots back."

4 star read. Winner of the 2005 Governor General's award.

Hi Anita, as promised I looked you up. Even went back and read your first thread. Thanks for the shout out on my thread. We have a lot of books in common. I, too, haven't started the Cormoran Strike series that LTers are crazy about. We both have a treat ahead of us.

I am so very sorry about your Smokey. She was a beautiful cat. I lost my Labrador Retriever recently to old age and I feel your pain. Our loss was expected, though. I'm sorry you had such a shock and agree that people should slow down.

Putting a star on your thread!

>44 Donna828: Glad to see you here, Donna! I am so sorry for the loss of your Labrador. I just started the first book in the Cormoran series yesterday. So far, a great read.

82. Immortal Bird: Doron Weber

Damon Weber was born with congenital heart failure. At the age of four, he underwent surgery for the Fontan procedure. Everything seems to be going well until Damon reaches the eighth grade. As a side effect of the Fontan procedure, he develops another illness, PLE. Damon tries many different therapies and when none of them seem to work, ends up getting a heart transplant. Doron Weber tries his best to capture the true spirit of his son. His determination, frustration, and patience shows Damon to be quite a mature young man.

This memoir took me a while to read. It demanded to be read slowly, to fully grasp the desperation, anger, hope , love, and determination of the family.

83.The Cuckoo's Calling: Robert Galbraith

Cormoron Strike is a private investigator that has had his share of troubles. He just broke up with his girlfriend, is sleeping in his office, has virtually no clientele and is close to going bankrupt. However, things seem to turn around, when a client ( Robert Galbraith) comes and insists that his sister's suicide was murder. Cormoron and his temporary assistant, Robin search for any clues to corroborate Robert Galbraith's murder theory.

The pace was a little slow but picked up halfway through. I'm looking forward to reading the next one in the series.

84. Midwife Of Venice: Roberta Rich
Hannah is a Jewish midwife living in Venice. Late in the night, she receives a visitor ( a Catholic count) who begs her to help deliver a baby and save his wife from bleeding out. The only problem is that the law forbids Hannah to give any medical aid to non -Jewish patients. The count offers her a sizeable sum of money that she needs in order to pay the ransom price for her husband's release from the Knight's of Malta. Should she fail, she is putting her life and those in the Jewish community at risk. Her husband is sold to a grotesque man and must see to his own escape.

Book #1 in the series.

Congratulations on...

Your first second thread!
Passing the magic number!
A great book haul!
On reading Robert Galbraith! ( I have #4 waiting for me)

I am so sorry about Smoky. That's so unexpected and uncalled for. Hugs.

Belated congratulations on passing 75 books, Anita!

>49 Berly: Thanks, Kim. It's nice to see you here :)

>50 vancouverdeb: Thank you, Deborah.

85. California: Edan Lepucki

Frida Ellis and Calvin Friedman decide to move away from poverty, violence-stricken L.A to the woods of California. They bring with them some essential items and mementos of their previous life and try their best to survive in the wilderness. After a while, they stumble upon a private community that seems to be their new Utopia. Food, water, safety, and shelter are within their grasp. However, things are not as they seem and their acceptance into this new community is not guaranteed.

A novel with a lot of promise but underwhelmingly executed. Maybe I was just in a grumpy mood when I read it

3/5

Reading stats for October:

16 Books

12 by female authors
4 by male authors

Hi Anita.

I'm very sorry about Smokey.

On a happier note, congrats on a good reading month in October. You're going past your target at a phenomenal rate.

>54 karenmarie: Thanks. I suppose that my reading habits have improved since I do not own a TV and rarely watch online.

86. The Devil's Music: Pearl R. Meaker

Emory Crawford is married to a chemistry professor who works at Twombly college. When the college hosts an anthropological conference the key speaker is found murdered in the garden. Emory's husband is also a forensic scientist and therefore enlists the help of his wife to find out information.

Quick read. Was not my kind of mystery, however, if you enjoy cozy mysteries, you may like this one.

87. Beatrice & Virgil: Yann Martel

Hi Anita - You have a wonderful reading October!

>43 figsfromthistle: This looks good.

I have wondered about California; I guess I'll pass on that one.

>58 BLBera: California was not bad. It was an average read. Some things bothered me and some things seemed to be unrealistic. I think I just expected something different.

88. The games ( Private): James Patterson

Brazil, 2104, before the world cup, two children suddenly die of a rare virus. The mayor hushes up the potential danger and the lead researcher of infectious diseases ends up secretly researching and developing the hydra virus on his own. Two years later, the Olympics are about to start. Two teenagers are kidnapped by a radical group and demand ransom. The kid's father owns a construction company that is in charge of building the Olympic venues. Jack Morgan and his partner, Tavia have their hands full. They must find the kidnappers, solve a murder and prevent the games from being attacked.

Lots going on here. Action packed!!

3.2/5

I have yet to pick up Galbraith's books. I've heard so many good things about them, but I have this feeling that people only liked the first book once they realized it was written by J. K. Rowling.

>61 The_Hibernator: The first novel in the series was good. The beginning was a little slow however it's to be expected for the first in the series as the reader needs to find out more about the main protagonists. The pace picked up halfway on and became more interesting. I enjoyed it enough to want to read the next novel in the series. I did not know that J. K .Rowling wrote this series until after I had read the book.

89. The High Road: Terry Fallis

Four months after Agnus McClintock becomes the liberal MP in his conservative riding, there is another election looming. Even though Agnus did not want to be an MP from the beginning he decides to run again. This time, things are not as easy as he faces cynism from his own party members.

This is the sequel to The Best Laid Plans. The first novel was way better, however, this one was not bad either.

90. Man: Kim Thuy

A short novella that's divided into little chapters of a paragraph to no more than a page length. Wonderful prose , however, at times it felt a little disjointed. The main protagonist ends up chosen to marry a Vietnamese man who owns a restaurant in Quebec. She becomes a chef and elevates her simple recipes. Food brings people together, creates memories and helps one to revisit old ones.

" It's better to hold back than to insult someone, even if that person is the one at fault. If we taint the other, we soil our mouth, because we must first fill it with anger, blood, venom."

91. Commonwealth: Ann Patchett

A love affair, family secrets, complicated sibling relationships, and even more complex family dynamics are all neatly packed into this novel that follows the Keating and Cousins families over a span of five decades.

If you have read and liked Anne Tyler's a spool of blue thread, you will greatly enjoy this little gem!

>64 figsfromthistle: Nice quote!

Have a good day, Anita.

>66 EllaTim: Thanks, Ella. Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend!

92. The Lizard Cage: Karen Connelly

93. The Woman in Cabin 10 : Ruth Ware

A journalist receives an opportunity of a lifetime when she is selected to cover the launch of a new and exclusive cruise ship. However, when a passenger goes missing, and no one seems to admit that there was someone in the suite next to hers she immediately starts digging around. Of course, her snooping brings her in grave danger.

94. New Money: Lorraine Zago Rosenthal

Savannah is a graduate with an English degree working for minimum wage in a menial job to support herself and her mother. She receives a phone call that her father has passed away who coincidentally is a billionaire. One caveat- she must work at the family firm in New York or she will not be entitled to her inheritance. Of course, she has half-siblings who also work there and they try to make her transition difficult. Savannah learns a few lessons along the way.

>68 figsfromthistle: What did you think of The Lizard Cage, Anita? I have that one on my shelf.

I am also a Tyler fan and loved Commonwealth as well. I thought her portrait of the complexities of a blended family were wonderful.

Hi Anita!

I knew Robert Galbraith was really J.K. Rowling but the mystery stood on its own from the beginning for me. She's such a wonderful writer, intelligent, witty, detailed, etc. Her only blip, IMO, is Casual Vacancy. I abandoned the book, but eventually listened to the audiobook and it ended up being better listened to than read for me.

>71 BLBera: I really enjoyed The Lizard Cage. Four stars :) I'll post my review of it soon. It takes place in a Burmese prison and deals with politics, power, corruption, brutality, oppression, suffering and hope. However, the descriptions are brutal and vivid and show the worst side of humans capabilities to do harm and show some good sides as well.

>72 karenmarie: Thanks for the tip about the audiobook :) I will start the second in the series soon (ish).

95. Walking Shadows: Faye Kellerman

A 26-year-old is found beaten and abandoned in the woods. Detective Peter Decker is on the case and soon finds another murdered suspect, deals with a home invasion and a young woman trying desperately to prove herself on the force.

This is the 25th novel in the series. I did not know it belonged to a series and perhaps this is why I was not able to enjoy the novel. So many issues here while reading ( everyone's name starts with a B). In general, the writing just was not great and the characters had no depth to them. Also, the young female detective was stereotyped as frail and incapable of fending for herself. The story did not hold my attention at all. Maybe her other novels are better .....

96. Strangers on a Bridge: James Donovan

Written from a lawyers perspective (James Donovan), the novel follows the Trial and research of a former KGB Agent, Rudolph Abel.

Okay, I know James Patterson and have read Commonwealth and Robert Galbraith (like all three!), but the rest are all new to me. Four more and you hit 100!

Hi, Anita! I also enjoy the Cormoran Strike series. And if I may go way back up there, I tried the first of Elly Griffiths' Max Mephisto series but didn't love it as much as I do her Ruth Galloway series. I haven't ruled out going back to it, though. Do you read the Ruth Galloway books, too?

And on a sadder note, I was sorry to read about Smokey. I don't know why people are so careless in cars. He was a lovely kitty, and I know you miss him very much.

>76 Berly: Indeed! It seems that it took forever to get to 75. As soon as my goal was met and the colder weather struck, my reading habits increased exponentially.

>77 rosalita: Thank you. I still miss Smokey every day. It gets easier as time passes. I have not read the Galloway series. I will keep an eye out for it and try it and see if I like it more than the Mephisto series. Thanks :)

To all my US pals Happy Thanksgiving!!

Thanks, Anita, and I hope it was a very nice Thursday for you!

>80 mstrust: Thanks! My Thursday was pretty hectic but it all worked out in the end :)

97. An American Marriage: Tayari Jones

>65 figsfromthistle: I just finished this one, and really enjoyed it. I have A Spool of Blue Thread on the shelves too, so might have to give it a whirl soon!

>83 LovingLit: Glad you enjoyed Commonwealth. Hope you will like A Spool of Blue Thread. Have a great weekend :)

98. The Comet Seekers: Helen Sedgwick

I look away for a while and you close in on 100 books!

Trust that you had a splendid Thanksgiving Weekend, dear Anita.

>86 PaulCranswick: Nice to see you! I had a great weekend although, being Canadian, I already had my Turkey feast in October :)

99. Dragon Springs Road: Janie Chang

Jialing is a seven-year-old girl abandoned by her mother in a home outside Shanghai. Days pass and her mother does not return. New owners move in and decide to take Jialing on as a bondservant. She is given the opportunity to attend school and finds friendship with Anjuin, the eldest daughter of the family and a fox spirit that protects her. Jialing faces many obstacles-including that of her heritage. Having an Asian mother and a European father makes her undesirable. She desperately tries to change her circumstances so that she does not have to succumb to earning her keep at a brothel.

Truly wonderful writing and a wonderful story. Highly recommended!

>1 figsfromthistle: Anita, Whenever I see an image of a peacock, I think of the author Flannery O'Connor. She loved them and had many on the grounds of her house.

Congratulations on reading 99 books thus far! Wow, that is quite a feat!

You're hitting some really good books lately. Ones that are on my wishlist!

>89 Whisper1: I didn't know that she loved peacocks! I must admit that I've never read anything by Flannery O'Connor. Any recommendations?

Yes, this year seems to be a reading year for me. I'm reading faster than I am able to write reviews :)

>90 The_Hibernator: I can't complain. Most books were ones that I enjoyed reading with only a few that were duds.

>91 figsfromthistle: One of her well-known short story is in my opinion the best. I highly recommend A Good Man Is Hard To Find. Some of her works are a bit dark. Still, they are worth reading. I discovered her love of peacocks when I read
A Good Hard Look A Novel of Flannery O'connor by Ann Napolitano

http://www.librarything.com/work/book/77022223

>92 Whisper1: Thank you! I will add A Good Man Is Hard To find to my TBR pile :)

100. The Prisoner Of Guantanamo: Dan Fesperman

Revere Falk is an FBI, al-Qaeda interrogator who is reassigned to investigate a US soliders death on the Cuban side of the border. Things get a little dicey when he uncovers other truths, and his own past resurfaces.

101. The Silkworm: Robert Galbraith

Cormoran Strike and his sidekick are back to investigate an eccentric author's disappearance. This is the second in the series. I enjoyed this one more than the first one.

Hi Anita, congrats on reaching 100 books read my dear.

>96 johnsimpson: Thanks, John!

102. Linwood Barclay: The Twenty-Three

All over Promise Falls, people are getting sick and dying. It does not take long for authorities to figure out the cause. Amidst all the chaos, there are two murders that occur.

Book # 3 in the series.

Congratulations on sailing past 100 Anita!

I’m sorry to hear about Smokey.

>99 humouress: Thanks, Nina :) I still miss Smokey a lot however, it does get a little better each passing week.

103. Will Ferguson: 419

Congrats on hitting 100!

Thanks, Chelle!

Oh, you did some great reading. Congrats on passing 100.

>104 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara :)

104. Liane Moriarty: Big Little Lies

A murder occurs in a tight-knit community full of Stepford wives, gossip, cliques, lies, and secrets. The reader does not know who is murdered until all the characters stories are told. Underneath the friendly faces, lies something gruesome that no one wants to come to terms with but are all connected to.

I've been quite busy lately. Extra hours at work, and the never-ending social engagements that come before the holidays have slowed my reading down.



105. Sara Novic: Girl At War

Ana Jurić is ten years old when a civil war breaks out in Yugoslavia. She faces many hardships and for a short time, ends up helping by fighting. Eventually, she is able to escape to America, where she grows up and goes to University. However, the past seems to keep burdening her and she must come to terms with her own demons and unanswered questions.

Very well written

4/5

106. Gwendolyn Womack: The Fortune Teller

Semele Cavnow is an appraiser of antique manuscripts for a well-known auction house. When she lands the ultimate account of a prolific collector, she discovers an Egyptian document from 46 BC. While translating, she learns that parts of the document were written for her. Semele must navigate through her ancestry, test her skills and find her future- all while being watched and followed by a mysterious shadow.

107. John Green: Turtles all the way down

Hi Anita!

I personally find Flannery O'Connor way too dark and depressing, but am probably in the minority. We read A Good Man is Hard to Find for RL book club this year and I abandoned it so I wouldn't sink into depression. A very devout Christian woman in the book club cracked me up because she said she'd prefer to read something a bit more risqué: A Hard Man is Good to Find.

I really want to read Turtles All The Way Down. It's already on my wish list.

Glad you liked the second Cormoran Strike, and I love everything I've read by Liane Moriarty.

Find the Light—Reflect the Light—Be the Light

Happy Yule 2018!

Happy holidays Anita!

>110 karenmarie: Thanks for the warning. I shall attempt it when I am in the proper frame of mind. Turtles all the way down was a great read! I hope you will enjoy it as well.

>111 richardderus: Thanks, Richard! Beautiful colors :)

>112 mstrust: Thanks, Jennifer. Merry Christmas to you as well

>113 The_Hibernator: Very cute snowman :) Thanks, Rachel

Hi Anita, we would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and festive season and send seasonal love and hugs from both of us dear friend.

Hope you have a great holiday season!

Wishing you happy holidays, Anita!



And congratulations on passing the 100 books read mark!

Merry Christmas to you and yours! Looking forward to a very bookish 2019

Happy holidays, Anita.

Merry Christmas from Philadelphia, Anita!

Seasons Greetings from Singapore! Wishing you and your family joy, peace, good fortune and good health now and in the coming year.

I'm happy for you that your reading year was so successful, Anita. I didn't make my 100 book goal, but I am still happy with all the books I was able to read. I am busy compiling a list of "wanna reads" for 2019!

Thank you all for your Christmas wishes! I've been battling a cold so I have not been around here for a bit. All the holiday fun has slowed my reading down as well. May you all have a wonderful new year :)

>124 figsfromthistle: Hope you get over the cold soon. Wishing you happy holidays and congrats on passing 100!

Feel better soon, Anita.

Hi Anita, hope you feel better soon my dear, in the meantime we wish you a very happy new year from both of us dear friend.

Hi Anita!

I'm sorry to hear you've been sick and hope that you get well soon.



Wishing you a new year filled with joy, happiness, laughter, and all the wonderful books you could wish for.

Thank you Kim, Barbara, John, Lori and Karen for your get well and New Years wishes.

May you all have a fantastic, happy, healthy year ahead!

Happy New Year to you Anita! I look forward to following your threads more often in 2019.

I wish you from my heart a healthy 2019 filled with happiness, satisfaction, laughter and lots of good books.

Thank you, Linda and Barbara! I shall see you over on my 2019 thread soon :)