Kerry (avatiakh) loves a challenge

My 2021 categories:
1: Books into film
2: Historical fiction
3: Scifi & Fantasy
4: Z to A children's book challenge
5: For the Young
6: Challenges
7: Crime
8: Off my shelves
9: Israel Focus
10: Short stories & novellas
11: Non fiction
12: New, Shiny & Unexpected
13: Extras
14: BingoDOG

Alatriste (2006) - adapted from the Captain Alatriste novels by Arturo Pérez-Reverte
1: Books into film
1) Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan (2013)
2) The Dig by John Preston (2007)
3) The Queens Gambit by Walter Trevis (1983)
4) Love Story by Erich Segal (1970)
5) The Three Kingdoms by Guanzhong Luo (1522)
6) The Garden of the Finzi-Continis by Giorgio Bassani (1962)

considering:
Songs in ordinary times by Mary McGary Morris
American Pastoral by Philip Roth
The African Queen by C.S. Forester

The Horseman on the Roof (1995) adapted from the novel by Jean Gino
2: Historical Fiction
1) The story of the last thought by Edgar Hilsenrath (1990 Eng)
2) A Distinction of Blood by Hannah March
3) The Last Cavalier: Being the Adventures of Count Sainte-Hermine in the Age of Napoleon by Alexandre Dumas (1870)
4) Daughters of the Witching Hill by Mary Sharratt (2010)

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017) adapted from the comic book series, Valérian and Laureline by Pierre Christin
3: Scifi and Fantasy
Scifi
1) A hole in the sky by Peter F. Hamilton (2021)
2) The Crystal Singer by Anne McCaffrey (1982)
3) Starsight by Brandon Sanderson (2019)
4) Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells (2021)
5) Mirror's Edge by Scott Westerfeld (2021)
fantasy
1) The Way Back by Gavriel Savit (2020)
2) The Snow Song by Sally Gardner (2020)
3) The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik (2021)

War of the Buttons (2011), one of several adaptions of the 1912 novel by Louis Pergaud
4: Z to A children's book challenge
I'm reading books from my shelves beginning with author family name starting with 'Z'

Alexander Altmann A10567 by Suzy Zail - Jan 31
Everything everything by Nicola Yoon - Jan 31
Disappeared by Francisco X Stork - Feb 20
This is how we change the ending by Vikki Wakefield - Mar 10
Moon over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool - 27 Mar
The real boy by Anne Ursu - Mar 20
The Queen's Brooch by Henry Treece - April
Josh by Ivan Southall - 3 May
Mulbridge Manor by James Reeves - May
Every exquisite thing by Matthew Quick - DNF
Laureate's Progress by Quentin Blake - Jul
Seven Ghosts by Chris Priestley - 5 Jun
The surface breaks by Louise O'Neill - Jun
Angel Mage by Garth Nix - Aug
Robin Hood by Robert Muchamore - Jul
The Wind on the Moon by Eric Linklater - Sep
Lalani of the Distant Sea by Erin Entrada Kelly - Aug
Wynter's Thief by Sherryl Jordan - Sep
Magic Flutes by Eva Ibbotson - Sep
Legacy by Whiti Hereaka - Oct
The Hollow Land by Jane Gardam - Oct
Katipo Joe by Brian Falkner - Oct
The Witch Family by Eleanor Estes - Nov
Alfonso Bonzo by Andrew Davies - Nov
Al Capone does my shirts by Gennifer Choldenko - Dec
If only by Adele Broadbent - Dec
Conrad Cooper's last stand by Leonie Agnew - Dec

The Flying Classroom (2002) adapted from the book by Erich Kästner
5: For the Young
a: Young Adult
1) Loner by Georgina Young (2020) - Australia
2) This light between us: A Novel of World War II by Andrew Fukuda (2019) - US
3) Wolf by Gillian Cross (1990)
4) The Lark in the morn by Elfrida Vipont (1948)
5) The Lark on the Wing by Elfrida Vipont (1950)
6) This is how we change the ending by Vikki Wakefield (2019)
7) Rock War by Robert Muchamore (2014)
8) Boot Camp by Robert Muchamore (2015)
9) Gone Wild by Robert Muchamore (2016)
10) Crash Landing by Robert Muchamore (2017)
9) Seven Ghosts by Chris Priestley (2019)
10) Piracy, Paintballs & Zebras by Robert Muchamore (2021)
11) Grey Wolves by Robert Muchamore (2011)
12) The Prisoner by Robert Muchamore (2012)
13) One Shot Kill by Robert Muchamore (2012)
14) Scorched Earth by Robert Muchamore (2012)
15) Daylight Runner by Oisin McGann (2008)
16) Draw me a hero by NK Ashworth (2020)
17) Legacy by Whiti Hereaka (2018)
18) Katipo Joe: Blitzkrieg by Brian Falkner (2020)
19) The Truth about Celia Frost by Paula Rawsthorne (2011)
20) Spycraft by Brian Falkner (2021)
21) Jet Skis, Swamps & Smugglers by Robert Muchamore (2021)
22) Johnny Delgado: Private Detective by Kevin Brooks (2006)
23) Blood Moon by Lucy Cuthew (2020)

b: Children's
1) The Wool-Pack by Cynthia Harnett (1951)
2) Amos Fortune, Free Man by Elizabeth Yates (1950)
3) We couldn't leave Dinah by Mary Treadgold (1941)
4) The Blackbird Girls by Anne Blackman (2020)
5) The Garden by Caro Matas (1998)
6) Cue for Treason by Geoffrey Trease (1940)
7) The Lady With Iron Bones by Jan Mark (2000)
8) Lalani of the distant sea by Erin Entrada Kelly (2019)
9) The Moon in the Cloud by Rosemary Harris (1968)
10) Monkey Island by Paula Fox (1991)
11) Lenny's Book of Everything by Karen Foxlee (2018)
12) The Circlemaker by Maxine Rose Schur (1994)

c: Illustrated
1) The Way of the Househusband, vol. 1 by Kousuke Oono (2018 Japanese) (2019 Eng)
2) The Way of the Househusband, vol. 2 by Kousuke Oono (2018 Japanese) (2020 Eng)
3) The Way of the Househusband, vol. 3 by Kousuke Oono (2018 Japanese) (2020 Eng)
4) The Way of the Househusband, vol. 4 by Kousuke Oono (2018 Japanese) (2020 Eng)
5) Your Lie in April, Vol. 1 by Naoshi Arakawa (2011 Japanese)
6) A School Frozen in Time, Vol. 1 by Mizuki Tsujimura & illustrator Naoshi Arakawa (2008)
7) Wizzil by William Steig (2000)
8) So Cute It Hurts!!, Vol. 1 by Gō Ikeyamada
9) Handa-kun, Vol. 1 by Satsuki Yoshino
10) The Apothecary Diaries, Vol. 1 by Natsu Hyuuga
11) Animal Academy: Hakobune Hakusho, Volume 1 by Moyamu Fujino
12) The Inkberg Enigma by Jonathan King (2020)
13) The Apothecary Diaries Vol. 2 by Natsu Hyuuga
14) Bloom: a story of fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli by Kyo Maclear
15) Yoshi no Zuikara: The Frog in the Well Does Not Know the Ocean, Vol. 1 by Satsuki Yoshino (2019)
16) Handa-kun, Vol. 2 by Satsuki Yoshino
17) Handa-kun, Vol. 3 by Satsuki Yoshino
18) Handa-kun, Vol. 4 by Satsuki Yoshino
19) Handa-kun, Vol. 5 by Satsuki Yoshino
20) Handa-kun, Vol. 6 by Satsuki Yoshino
21) Handa-kun, Vol. 7 by Satsuki Yoshino
22) The Witchling's Wish by Lu Fraser (2021)
23) Peanut Butter and Jelly by Ben Clanton (2018)
24) Troll-Apple Pancakes by Ethan M. Aldridge (2020)
25) The Goblin by Ethan M. Aldridge (2019)
26) Seraphin by Philippe Fix (1967 French) (2019 Eng)
27) Barakamon vol.1 by Satsuki Yoshino
28) Asadora vol 1 by Naoki Urasawa (2019 Japan) (2021 Eng)
29) Sylvie by Sylvie Kantorovitz (2021)
30) Onibi: Diary of a Yokai Ghost Hunter by Atelier Sento (2016)
31) Sneeze: Naoki Urasawa Story Collection by Naoki Urasawa (2020)
32) Dare to disappoint: Growing Up in Turkey by Özge Samancı

Koning van Katoren (2012) adapted from How to become King by Jan Terlouw
6: Challenges

I did lots of TIOLI challenges over the year but books have been added to other categories.
I also did two GR Book pool challenges for a NZ Readers group, also added to other categories.
I read several classic British Children's books for a challenge over in the 75ers group, also added to other categories.

Inspector Montalbano from the series by Andrea Camilleri
7: Crime
1) Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith (2020) - UK
2) The Song Dog by James McClure (1991) - Sth Africa
3) The Big Killing by Robert Wilson (1997) - Ivory Coast
4) Blood is Dirt by Robert Wilson (1997) - Nigeria, Benin
5) The Last Kashmiri Rose by Barbara Cleverly (2001) - India
6) The Nowhere Child by Christian White (2018) -Australia
7) Falling freely, as in a dream by Leif G. W. Persson (2007) - Sweden
8) The Sicilian Method by Andrea Camilleri (2020) - Italy
9) A darkening stain by Robert Wilson (1998) - Benin
10) Prodigal Son by Gregg Hurwitz (2021) - US
11) The Cook of the Halcyon by Andrea Camilleri (2021 Eng)
12) The Fine Art of Invisible Detection by Robert Goddard (2020)
13) The Dry by Jane Harper (2016)
14) Tell Me Lies by J.P. Pomare (2020)
15) Real World by Natsuo Kirino (2003 Japanese) (2008 English)
16) The Plotters by Un-su Kim (2010 Korean) (2018 English)
17) The secrets of strangers by Charity Norman (2020)
18) Dodgers by Bill Beverly (2016)
20) The way it is now by Garry Disher (2021)
21) The Lost Man by Jane Harper (2018)

Hope to get to:
4 novels by Manuel Vaquez Montalban

Afternoons with Margueritte (La Tête en friche - 2010) adapted from Soft in the head by Marie-Sabine Roger
8: Off my shelves
1) Darkness at Noon by Arthur Koestler (1941) - audible library
2) Madensky Square by Eva Ibbotson (1988)
3)

Most of my 'off the shelves' reading seems to be children's books and I've listed them in another category. So adding them here just to staisfy myself that I do read my own books.
The Lark in the morn by Elfrida Vipont (1948)
The Lark on the Wing by Elfrida Vipont (1950)
The Surface Breaks by Louise O'Neill (2018).
Grey Wolves by Robert Muchamore (2011)
The Prisoner by Robert Muchamore (2012)
One Shot Kill by Robert Muchamore (2012)
Scorched Earth by Robert Muchamore (2012)
Daylight Runner by Oisin McGann (2008)
The Wool-Pack by Cynthia Harnett (1951)
Amos Fortune, Free Man by Elizabeth Yates (1950)
The Queen's Brooch by Henry Treece (1966)
The Garden by Caro Matas (1998)
Josh by Ivan Southall (1971)
Moon over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool
Mulbridge Manor by James Reeves (1958)
Cue for Treason by Geoffrey Trease (1940)
The Lady With Iron Bones by Jan Mark (2000)

also crime:
The Big Killing by Robert Wilson (1997) - Ivory Coast
Blood is Dirt by Robert Wilson (1997) - Nigeria, Benin
A darkening stain by Robert Wilson (1998) - Benin
Real World by Natsuo Kirino - Japan
The Dry, Force of Nature & The Lost Man by Jane Harper

and others:
The Crystal Singer by Anne McCaffrey
A Distinction of Blood by Hannah March
The Dig by John Preston (2007)

Someone to run with (2006) adapted from the book by David Grossman
9: Israeli Literature
1) Three by D.A. Mishani (2018 Hebrew) (2020 Eng)
2) The Memory Monster by Yishai Sarid (2017 Hebrew) (2020 Engish)
3) Three Envelopes by Nir Hezroni (2014 Hebrew) (2017 Eng)
4) Last Instructions by Nir Hezroni

Il Postino (1994) adapted from The Postman by Antonio Skármeta
10: Short stories and novellas
1) The Most Precious of Cargoes by Jean-Claude Grumberg (2019 French) (2020 English)
2) A Cat, A Man, And Two Women by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki (1936 Japanese) (2017 English)
3) People from the pit stand up by Sam Duckor-Jones (2018) - poetry
4) The Jew's Beech by Annette von Droste-Hülshoff (1842) German novella
5) A Village Romeo & Juliet by Gottfried Keller (1856) German novella
6) The Red Notebook by Antoine Laurain (2014) - French novella

A bag of marbles (2017) adapted from the autobiographical book by Joseph Joffo
11: Non Fiction
1) Isabella: the warrior queen by Kristin Downey (2014)
2) Childhood by Tove Ditlevsen (1967 Danish) (1985 English)
3) Laureate's Progress by Quentin Blake (2002)
4) Argo: how the CIA and Hollywood pulled off the most audacious rescue in history by Antonio Mendez (2012)
5) Elsa Schiaperelli's Private Album by Marisa Berenson (2014)

French Exit (2021) adapted from the novel by Patrick deWitt
12: New, shiny and unexpected

1) The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary (2021)

The Sandglass (1973) adapted from Bruno Schulz's Sanatorium Under the Sign of the Hourglass
13: Extras:

14: BingoDOG


1.1 Book with a title that describes you - Gone Wild by Robert Muchamore
1.2 Book with a type of building in the title - Mulbridge Manor by James Reeves
1.3 Book with a dark or light word in the title - Daylight Runner by Oisin McGann
1.4 Book with a one-word title - Loner by Georgina Young
1.5 Book with a classical element in the title - Scorched Earth by Robert Muchamore
1.6 New-to-you author - Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
1.7 Book with two or more authors -
1.8 Book that made you laugh - The Way of the House Husband by Kousuke Oono
1.9 Book about nature or the environment - The Lost Man by Jane Harper
1.10 Book of history or alternate history - Isabella the warrior queen by Kirstin Downey
1.11 Book about or that contains magic - The Witch's Family by Eleanor Estes
1.12 Book by or about a marginalized group - The story of the last thought by Edgar Hilsenrath
1.13 Book about art or recreation - Sylvie by Sylvie Kantorovitz
1.14 Book about time or with a time word in the title - A school frozen in time by Mizuki Tsujimura
1.15 Book that contains a love story - A Village Romeo & Juliet by Gottfried Keller
1.16 Book that has a character you'd be friends with - Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith
1.17 Book with a senior citizen protagonist -
1.18 Book suggested by a person from another generation - Handa Kun by Satsuku Yoshino
1.19 Book you heartily recommend - The Red Notebook by Antoine Laurain
1.20 Book set somewhere you'd like to visit - Daughters of the Witching Hill by Mary Sharratt
1.21 Impulse read! (Picked because of the title or color) - Blood Moon by Lucy Cuthew
1.22 Book owned by 20 or fewer LibraryThing members - If Only by Adele Broadbent
1.23 Book set in or author from the Southern hemisphere - The way it is now by Garry Disher
1.24 Book with fewer than 200 pages - The Most Precious of Cargoes by Jean-Claude Grumberg

Great set-up. I've placed my star here and I look forward to the book bullets that I know will be coming my way!

Thanks. Each year I try to be more active in this group then I find myself less active overall in both this and the 75ers group. Must try harder.

I'll be following too. I had a "book-into-movies" category this year. Which I only did ok with. Crazy Rich Asians was one of the ones I read.

Oooohh, Viggo! And so many other fabulous movies. I hope the books live up to them!

Great setup for this year! I'm excited to see how French Exit turns out. Also impressed that you have a book for every letter of the alphabet in >5 avatiakh:!

You've chosen very interesting categories. Looking forward to seeing how you fill them.

Great categories!

Great cats and great pics!

Greetings from the Antipodes! I read The African Queen recently, then watched the film, and was interested to see how the characters differed. Enjoyed them both.

Looking forward to seeing how you fill your categories.

I love your books to film images for your various categories.... and how did I not know that there was a film adapted from the Captain Alatriste novels by Arturo Pérez-Reverte??? I will be hunting down a copy of that film for viewing. ;-)

Looking forward to following your 2021 reading!

>26 lkernagh: Thanks. I don't know that it is a great adaption - check the reviews. I'd like to read a couple more Alatriste books before I try the film.

Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith (2020)
crime

Cormoran Strike #1. This chunkster took a few days to get through but I loved every minute I spent on it. I'm a fangirl of Robin & Strike and I loved the complexity of this. Strike is asked to solve a 40 year old cold case by the now grown daughter of the missing doctor. Her disappearance occurred around the time a notorious serial killer was active in the area.

I'm doing a shared year long read of Clarice Lispector's collected stories. A story a week - I listened to the introduction and the first story, 'Triumph', a few days ago when driving to Te Aroha.

The Song Dog by James McClure (1991)
crime
Kramer & Zondi #8. My first book in this series which I found on a recommended African crime list and only realised it was the last of 8 in a series after I had read a few chapters. Anyway this was an interesting read set in 1962, the apartheid years, with a few mentions of Mandela as a wanted man on the run. Lieutenant Tromp Kramer of the Trekkersburg Murder and Robbery Squad is sent to northern Zululand to investigate the death of a police officer.
I'll definitely be looking out for the rest of the series.

I started this one in 2020 for my Africa category but didn't manage to finish it in time.

Loner by Georgina Young (2020)
YA
This won The Text Prize in 2019, which is an award for a YA or children's manuscript. I try to read all the award winners as they are published. I found this story of a university dropout and social pariah to be quite realistic. Lona is just trying to work out what she should be doing with her life, along the way she works at the local supermarket stacking trolleys, helps out at a skating rink, binge watches Buffy and Stanger Things. Not romantic or sensational, just a quiet book about sorting out what's important.

BingoDOG - one word title

>31 avatiakh: I love that cover!

Hit by my first BB of the year. The James McClure series sounds like something I need to try out!

>28 avatiakh: I have this one in the stacks, and I need to get to it - I've been saving it in case of emergency. Ha! These books are so fabulous on audio.

>29 avatiakh: What did you think of the first story?

>30 avatiakh: A direct hit with that series, Kerry. Thanks!

>32 christina_reads: I do too!
>33 mysterymax: I'm finishing up a couple of other series then I'll be back for this one
>34 Crazymamie: Yeah, I bought a copy a couple of months back so I could have it ready as a New Year summer read.
I loved the first story but finding the second one a bit tougher to get through and might start it again.
Always happy to give other readers a new series to add to their book piles!

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan (2013)
fiction
I want to watch the film so of course the book needs to be read first. I enjoyed it for what it was, a very light beach read.
Rachel and her boyfriend Nick head off to Singapore for the wedding of his best friend. Nick has never told her about his family and on arrival Rachel is plunged into the world of the super rich.

Utu by Caryl Férey (2004 French) (2011 Eng)
crime
DNF
I was interested to read this, a French look at New Zealand, however I found the author was maybe trying too hard, finding a divide that isn't in our society and dividing New Zealanders into just white people and downtrodden Maori. His Auckland was missing the Pasifika and Asian people. He also made errors, describing a Maori teenager going off to board at a kohunga reo to learn Maori. Kohunga reo are immersion pre-schools, he possibly meant a kura kaupapa though even that is for younger children.
Anyway the book was so divisive and full of imagined nonsense about New Zealand society that I couldn't continue after about 50 pages.

A Maori serial killer is dead, his victims were all white. His helper is still on the loose and several policemen died in a confrontation. Paul Osborne is called back into the force to help track down the cop killer.


Another DNF was Block 11 by Piero degli Antoni. I didn't feel comfortable with that type of story set in Auschwitz. I read about 60 pages.
'an audacious, high-concept noir set in Auschwitz that straddles past and present'

The Big Killing by Robert Wilson (1997)
crime
Bruce Medway #2. Apparently I read this at the beginning of 2014, though I had no recall at all while reading the book and have always assumed that I had only read book #1, which I remember details from.
Medway is a fixer and troubleshooter based in Benin but operates along the West African coast, this adventure is mainly set in Ivory Coast.
I enjoyed this though it is quite violent and makes me never ever want to travel to these countries.

This light between us: A Novel of World War II by Andrew Fukuda (2019)
YA
About two penpals, one a Japanese-American boy from Bainbridge Island, the other a Jewish girl living in Paris. Their correspondence begins in 1935, so by the time the war rolls round they are very much concerned for each other.
The book is from Alex's POV, his father is taken to a prison camp while Alex, his mother and older brother end up in an internment camp for Japanese-Americans, Manzanar War Relocation Camp. The book covers the conditions they live under and then later Alex's experiences as a soldier in the segregated all-Japanese American 442nd Regiment.
Fukuda says in the author's note that the book was inspired by two independent historical facts that he learned a few days apart - 1) Anne Frank had an American penpal and 2) a subcamp of Dachau concentration camp was liberated 29 April 1945 by a segregated all-Japanese American military unit.
https://www.cyark.org/projects/manzanar-war-relocation-center/in-depth
https://www.100thbattalion.org/history/japanese-american-units/442nd-regimental-...

>39 avatiakh: Ooh, this sounds interesting!

>39 avatiakh: a BB for me!

Three by D.A. Mishani (2018 Hebrew) (2020 Eng)
crime
I flew through this one. The story of three women, pursued by the same murderer. Mishani's books are always a treat.

Category: Israeli fiction

_
The Way of the Househusband, vol. 1 by Kousuke Oono (2018 Japanese) (2019 Eng)
The Way of the Househusband, vol. 2 by Kousuke Oono (2018 Japanese) (2020 Eng)
manga
Fun read about a fearsome Yakuza, the Immortal Dragon, who has given up his gangster ways to become a househusband to Miku, his cute wife who works as a designer. Going from beating up rival gangs to instagraming his cooking, life is very different and brings new challenges...such as laundry, cleaning and supermarket shopping.

>40 markon: >41 Tess_W: It's a good YA, well worth seeking out.

_
The Way of the Househusband, vol. 3 by Kousuke Oono (2018 Japanese) (2020 Eng)
The Way of the Househusband, vol. 4 by Kousuke Oono (2018 Japanese) (2020 Eng)
manga
Continues these amusing vignettes. There's a 5th book due later this year.

Blood is Dirt by Robert Wilson (1997)
crime
Bruce Medway #3. Enjoying this series and here Medway investigates the murder of an English ex-pat for his daughter, a London-based commodities broker. Set mostly in Lagos and Medway's homebase, Cotonou in Benin.

The Wool-Pack by Cynthia Harnett (1951)
childrens
This won the 1951 Carnegie Medal. Set in 15th century England, young Nicholas is the son of a prosperous wool merchant. He uncovers a plot that could ruin his father, putting him at the mercy of the powerful Wool Guild.
Exciting and also informative. The Wool Guild was based in Calais and strictly controlled the export of English wool to the European market.

>47 avatiakh: Love that cover on The Wool Pack!

Yes, it's very vintage. I also have the hard cover edition and it's pretty good as well.

>47 avatiakh: I looked to see if any of my libraries had an e-copy of this, but they didn't. I also checked our academic library (since I'm at work on supper break at the moment). It's not to be found.

>47 avatiakh: It was published in the US under two different titles - Nicholas and the Wool-Pack & The Merchant's Mark.

Wolf by Gillian Cross (1990)
YA
Carnegie Medal (1990). I liked the sound of this one and wasn't disappointed. I've read several of her books over the years and always enjoyed them. This one is quite suspenseful and could be considered a Red Riding Hood retelling.
Cassy doesn't know anything much about her father but has been raised by her Nan, his mother. Suddenly once again, she's sent to stay with her mother, who she finds living in a squat with her new partner and his son. They put on theatrical shows at schools and their new play will be about wolves.

According to wikipedia The Cry of the Wolf by Melvin Burgess was runner up the same year! I loved loved this book.

Alexander Altmann A10567 by Suzy Zail (2014)
YA
A Holocaust story based on the experiences of Fred Steiner, who Zail met at the Sydney Holocaust Museum where he is a volunteer.
On arrival at Auschwitz Alex is quickly told to lie about his age, instead of 14 he says he's 16 and so enters the camp rather than sharing the fate of his younger sister. His is a rural farming background and after surviving for some time the opportunity to work in the stables comes up for those with experience with horses. The work is hard, punishment severe, the Nazi officers are unrelenting in their harshness towards the men in the Horse Commando. Alex gets a double duty, both looking after the pony, Chestnut, and also the Commander's stallion. Chestnut gives pony rides to the officers' children every day.
This was a good read and was my first for my ZtoA children's writers challenge.

Everything everything by Nicola Yoon (2015)
YA
A fairly light read about a 'bubble' girl. Maddy has lived her whole life in the protection of the bubble. She's just turned 18 and new neighbours have moved in. She gets to know Olly, the boy next door, through the window and then online messaging. Soon he looms larger in her life than anyone else.
Does she take the plunge and live life to the full for a short while or play safe and live a long unfulfilled one.
Another for my ZtoA challenge

The Way Back by Gavriel Savit (2020)
fantasy
I finished this last week and it's hard to recall my feelings towards the book. The plot is steeped in Eastern European folklore and Hasidic Jewish traditions. The two main characters, a boy and a girl, both close to adulthood, take on demons and Death without realising the consequences of their gamble.
A pretty good read though I had to rush it as it was due back to the library. Probably is a YA.

Amos Fortune, Free Man by Elizabeth Yates (1950)
children

A Newbery Award winner that tells the true story of Amos Fortune. This was an enjoyable read, though I didn't realise it was based on a true story till near the end. The story begins in Africa, tells of Amos's time as a slave and then his life after slavery.
What makes it interesting is it isn't the expected story, his owners are decent people and he is treated well. He lives his life by the example of the people he has lived with.

The Lark in the morn by Elfrida Vipont (1948)
YA
Haverard Family #1. Delightful story about Kit Haverard and her Quaker family. This book is about her school days and discovering her singing talent.


The Lark on the Wing by Elfrida Vipont (1950)
YA
Haverard Family #2. 18 yr old Kit continues to study singing while working at a Quaker institution, Friends International Service, in London. This is another great story. The final two books in the quartet are not about Kit, they jump a few years ahead and feature her niece, Laura.
This was the Carnegie Medal winner in 1950.

I was reading Vipont's impressive bio on wikipedia and saw that she also wrote the well-loved children's picture book, The elephant and the bad baby which was illustrated by Raymond Briggs. I hadn't picked up on that before.

The Last Kashmiri Rose by Barbara Cleverly (2001)
crime
Joe Sandilands #1. This is set in 1922 India and Sandilands is about to head back to London, he's been lecturing on Metropolitan Police techniques in Calcutta. He's headhunted to look into a murder of an officer's wife in one of the many battalions stationed there. It turns out that there could be a serial killer out there.
I enjoyed it but not enough to continue the series.

The Nowhere Child by Christian White (2018)
crime
Quite the compelling read. I read his more recent novel The Wife and the Widow last year and have had this one on kindle for a long while. I've always been drawn to the cover for no reason. There is a nightmarish scene near the conclusion that the plot needed but I could have done without.
Kim is living a normal life in Melbourne, Australia when a complete stranger comes up and tells her that her whole life has been a lie, they're 99% sure she's the 2 year old girl who went missing 30-odd years ago in Kentucky, USA.
The story unfolds in alternating 'Then' and 'Now' chapters, very well paced. Definitely reading his next book when it comes out.

>58 avatiakh: I enjoyed the entire series when I read it some years ago. I'm sorry you didn't like it better.

>60 thornton37814: I have too many crime series on the go at present, so a new series has to really resonate for me.

>61 avatiakh: I understand. That one worked more for me than it probably would for others because I love historical fiction set in that time in India.

>59 avatiakh: I've never heard of the author, but that's a BB for me!

>63 MissBrangwen: He's an Australian screenwriter and now has written two books. Both books are done in that alternate chapter mode, The wife and the widow are alternating between the two women.

Falling freely, as in a dream by Leif G. W. Persson (2007)
crime
Fall of the Welfare State #3. Last of the trilogy and each book has been quite sensational. These are big reads with lots of police procedural detail and with investigations into other police offices, coldcase investigations sparked by current crimes etc etc.
This time it's 2007 and Johansson is nearing retirement. He puts together a team of talented and trusted investigators to take a final look through the thousands of files collected in the unsolved 1987 murder of Swedish PM, Olof Palme. Slowly, slowly they build a picture of what happened and why this case was so bungled by the investigators at the time.

I listened to the audio of this and loved the narration by Erik Davies.

Disappeared by Francisco X Stork (2017)
YA
Read for my ZtoA YA challenge, there being an 'x' in the author's name. My second book by Stork and highly enjoyable reading set in northern Mexico. Sara's best friend has disappeared and it seems that she's been kidnapped by one of the cartels. The book moves at a fast pace, with chapters alternating between Sara and her younger brother, Emiliano.
There's a sequel, Illegal.

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The story of the last thought by Edgar Hilsenrath (1990 Eng)
historical fiction
This novel is about the 1915 Armenian Genocide and is the first I've read about how it came about. We learn about the Armenian way of life living under Turkish dominance and rule and with the need to keep good relations with the nearby warlike Kurds.
It's a great story, though I've taken months to read this mainly because it is a story about genocide so one knows that it is not going to have a happy ending.
wikipedia: 'The epic which has the form of a fairy tale (Märchen) and for which Hilsenrath received many prizes is regarded as the most important book about this historical episode. In 2006 the president of Armenia presented the author with the State Award for Literature of the Republic of Armenia for his work.'

My library copy is the boring black cover Barber Press edition but I see that the original cover was more colourful.

The Sicilian Method by Andrea Camilleri (2020)
crime
Montalbano #26. The next in series is due out in March and the very last Montalbano comes out in September. This was a bittersweet read, everything about the crime was unusual and Montalbano becomes infatuated with a woman. That long distance relationship with Livia has lasted through so many books, ups and downs.

This is how we change the ending by Vikki Wakefield (2019)
YA
I've read a couple of Wakefield's books before and this is probably my least favourite, just didn't grab me. Wakefield's characters are usually 'hard done by' teens, usually living in hardship of some kind. This one is about a 16 year old who knows he's living in a cycle of family violence and yet despairs of ever breaking out.
I do wonder what the appeal is to teenagers for these types of reads.

We couldn't leave Dinah by Mary Treadgold (1941)
children's
UKs Carnegie Medal Winner 1941. Delightful story about two children left behind on a Channel Island when the Nazis invade. They camp out in a cave as their home is immediately requisitioned for one of the German officers and his family. Dinah is the pony that Caroline has to leave in their stables.
There is a sequel about their life in London, The Polly Harris.

The Queens Gambit by Walter Trevis (1983)
fiction
Read for my Books to Film category challenge. Really enjoyed this easy read though it doesn't entice me to play chess or want to watch the Netflix series straightaway. Orphan Beth Harmon shows a natural talent for the game of chess when she's taught to play by the orphanage's janitor.

The Real Boy by Anne Ursu
children
Read for my ZtoA children's writers challenge. A magical story that gets better as it goes along. Oscar is the hand, a position below Wolf, the apprentice, and Caleb the magician. His job is to gather the herbs and prepare them ready for the making of potions etc.

The Blackbird Girls by Anne Blackman (2020)
childrens

Really enjoyed this one. Have liked all Blankman's books so far. This is about two schoolgirls, both their fathers work at Chernobyl and they wake one morning to red skies and blue smoke, their fathers haven't come home from work. One girl is Jewish and the other has bullied her at school because her father has taught her not to trust Jews. Due to the radiation fallout they end up travelling together to Leningrad to stay with the Jewish girl's grandmother.
The book is based on the experiences of Blankman's best friend and her family.

Isabella: the warrior queen by Kristin Downey (2014)
biography

This was quite fascinating. Downey spends several chapters laying the background to Isabella's reign. She also gives an insight into palace politics and diplomacy of the times. I felt it was a good introduction text into Spanish history.

A darkening stain by Robert Wilson (1998)
crime
Bruce Medway #4. Last in the Bruce Medway series set in West Africa. Fairly brutal one, with an ending I'm happy with. The plot revolves around finding and saving a small group of young girls who've been kidnapped in Medway's local city of Cotonou, Benin, and about to be sold to a prostitution ring.

Moon over Manifest by Claire Vanderpool (2010)
children
Finally picked this one up because of my ZtoA children's writers challenge. Highly enjoyable read that goes along two timelines (1917/8 & 1936) uncovering the hidden stories of the little mining town of Manifest, Kansas. Most of the 1917 population is made up of immigrants from a wide variety of British and European countries.
1936: Abilene Tucker is sent by her father to the small town of Manifest to spend the summer with Shady, the stand-in minister for the Baptist church. What ties does her father have to this small town, for that she must find out what happened in 1918.

The Snow Song by Sally Gardner (2020)
fantasy

Lovely, lovely story by Gardner. Set in an isolated village, the womenfolk are all locked into traditional roles by the deep superstitions that have become the rules enforced by the Elders, all men.
When Edith falls in love with the young handsome shepherd, a stranger to the village, her love raises the ire of the domineering older butcher who desires nothing but to wed her.

A hole in the sky by Peter F. Hamilton (2021)
scifi
Arkship trilogy #1. This was released only on audible, so no print copies as yet. Quite a good story told in first perspective by teenager, Hazel. Parts are predictable but Hamilton has great worldbuilding and the arkship sounds really impressive. Looking forward to the next book.
Hazel is on an arkship that is over 500 years into a voyage from a failed colonisation of an alien planet towards another uninhabited one. Since the mutiny, around 500 years earlier where a group fought to return and destroyed all the machines etc, rules have been established and the population on board live tech-less lives out in the arkship's parklands, having abandoned the hightech towers that were inhabited centuries ago. All persons face cycling (euthanasia) once they reach the age of 50 years in an attempt to keep the population and food supply in balance. Hazel is the flower girl on the day that some cheaters (old people living in hiding) are found, who must be cycled but one whispers to her that the air supply is dwindling, that there is a leak.

The Most Precious of Cargoes by Jean-Claude Grumberg (2019 French) (2020 English)
fable/novella

A Holocaust fable, set in a Polish forest where the death trains from Drancy (Paris) pass through on their way to Auschwitz-Birkenau. A father, wraps one of his twin babies in his prayer shawl and throws her out the carriage window into the snow where a woman stands. The woman, the barren wife of a woodcutter, has always wanted a child even though now there is famine all around them. The woodcutter is happy to have no children, only two mouths to feed during this bitter war.
Enchanting read that Grumberg wrote for those taken to the death camps from Drancy. These included the author's blind grandfather and on another train, his father. He includes the statistics.
11 Nov 1941: Convoy 45 took 778 Jewish men, there were 2 survivors by 1945.
2 March 1943: Convoy 49 contained 1000 Jews, six survived.
And sadly Abraham & Chaja Wiesenfeld along with their twin daughters, Fernande & Jeannine (born 9 Nov 1943) were sent from Drancy, Convoy 64 on 9 Dec 1943.

The Saffron Runners by B.G. Fox (2020)
historical fiction
DNF
Gave it 70-odd pages but as it's a library book I decided that life is too short. The premise is interesting, it's 1827 and a group of Afghan horsemen seeking vengeance, ride into Persia to steal prized horses and rescue a kidnapped bride-to-be of their leader.
The book is probably self-published here in New Zealand and garnered over 200 people to the launch and also a lengthy article in the local paper. I first saw it at a bookshop and thought it looked like a ripping good yarn. Just doesn't grab me like it should.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/124196018/childhood-in-geraldine-insp...

Darkness at Noon by Arthur Koestler (1941)
fiction / audio
A powerful novel based on Stalin's 1930s purges of the upper ranks of the party. Rubashov, an older member who has served his party for decades is brought in for questioning, testament and a show trial. His interrogator builds his case with past innocent conversations and chance encounters and so to Rubashov's betrayal of the cause.
The narrator, Frank Muller, is very good.

The Queen's Brooch by Henry Treece (1966)
children

How much do I detest this cover - very much. This is set in Roman England as the tribes led by Boadicca rise against Roman rule. The main character is a Roman boy who encounters Boadicca and is given a brooch as a token of good faith. Later as a soldier he comes to understand the bitterness of the British people and the might of the Roman military. This was a good story, showing the downside of conflict and how people can be caught between two sides.

The Garden by Caro Matas (1998)
children
This is the sequel to After the War. Ruth is now living in a kibbutz and the War of Independence is about to kick off. Along with her friends, Ruth is caught up in Palmach activity and fighting for survival. Matas is a very capable writer.

Childhood by Tove Ditlevsen (1967 Danish) (1985 English)
memoir
The Copenhagen Trilogy #1. Fascinating look at Ditlevsen's childhood years in a working class neighbourhood. The book is raw, honest and not at all nostalgic. Recommended, Divletsen was one of Denmark's best known writers.
Came across this one on FAMeulstee / Anita's thread.

The Crystal Singer by Anne McCaffrey (1982)
scifi
First in a trilogy. I really enjoyed snuggling down with this story. An easy scifi read, fairly predictable though I enjoyed the world the McCaffrey has created here and was happy to be along for the ride.
Killashandra is devastated when, after ten years of study, she is told that she will never make it as a singer. Then a chance encounter with a stranger leads her to the world of the crystal singers of the planet Ballybran and she decides to try her luck.

Rock War by Robert Muchamore (2014)
YA
First of four following the fortunes of three high school students who all play in different rock bands around the UK. Summer is a brilliant singer, drafted to an all girl band, she fits in musically but is not in the same social class as the other girls. Jay plays lead guitar and has had to form a new band that includes his delinquent older brother, 17 yr old Theo. Dylan has musical talent but is lazy, he helps a trio with their demo recordings and ends up joining them.
I like the characters Muchamore creates, some of these are a little over the top but he has a way of making them seem fairly authentic. Theo is quite the junior crim with a lack of morals, best way to encounter these types is in a book.


Boot Camp by Robert Muchamore (2015)
YA
Rock War #2. The competition moves to the reality show and a summer spent in a converted manor house. Gives a behind the scenes look at filming these types of shows. Mostly told from Jay's perspective.


Gone Wild by Robert Muchamore (2016)
YA
Rock War #3. Continues the reality show with the semi finals, final and then aftermath of the show. Fun reading with one book left to go.


Crash Landing by Robert Muchamore (2017)
YA
Rock War #4. Life after Rock War, the contestants are back to school and as normal a life as possible after being stars on a reality tv show. For some opportunity beckons.
I enjoyed these 4 books and look forward to reading his Robin Hood series.

Starsight by Brandon Sanderson (2019)
YA scifi
Skyward #2. Continues the story of Spensa, a human who has discovered the reason her people are stuck on Detritus, a desolate planet. Quite a good read and the third book is possibly due out in November.

The Dig by John Preston (2007)
historical fiction
A fictionalised account of the Sutton Hoo excavations of 1938. The landowner, Edith Pretty, under the advice of local museum curators employs Basil Brown, a local man, to excavate the mounds on her property. As he uncovers what looks to be the burial of a ship, other more qualified archaeologists are called in to continue the dig. I enjoyed this and always happy to take a book off the tbr pile and get it read. This has been in my possession since about 2008 and one I kept looking at and thinking I should read next but never did.

Prodigal Son by Gregg Hurwitz (2021)
crime
Orphan X #6. I finished this in late April. Not as good as previous outings though Orphan X's origins are discovered here. The next book, Dark Horse, comes out in 2022.

Josh by Ivan Southall (1971)
children's
Carnegie Medal 1971. Another winner from way back when. This was very hard to like and yet still ends up as a memorable read. Josh visits a small country town to stay with his great aunt. He's looked forward to the visit, it's the town where his family originally settled a few generations ago. Right from the start everything goes wrong, he's resented by the local children, his great aunt reads his poems and all his attempts at explaining himself are misinterpreted or just not listened to.
'For fourteen-year-old Josh Plowman, Ryan Creek, the country town that was settled by his great-grandfather, is a jungle compared to the city life he's used to. During his three-day visit his encounters with the young people of Ryan Creek move inexorably from mutual bewilderment and confusion to an explosion of violence'

Probably one of the ugliest covers i've come across.

Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells (2021)
scifi
The Murderbot Diaries #6. Another entry in the Murderbot series, not up there with some of the others, mainly because the plot is centred in one place and just requires some detective work rather than out and out action. Enjoyable for all that.

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The Cook of the Halcyon by Andrea Camilleri (2021 Eng)
crime
Commissario Montalbano #27. Almost at the end of this series, sigh. This one was originally conceived as a film script and Montalbano ends up acting rather more like an undercover agent than a police detective. Fun.

The Fine Art of Invisible Detection by Robert Goddard (2020)
crime
Hmmm. This never appealed that much and while I finished the book, there just seemed to be a missing element to the story. The main character is Umiko Wada, a middle-aged Japanese secretary to a private detective. When her boss turns up dead, she has to leave Japan for London and solve the mystery or end up dead herself.
Love the title and coverart.

The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary (2021)
fiction
I really enjoyed her first two books but this one was a much lesser read. Due to a fenderbender, Addie is forced to invite her ex and his friend to continue the journey in a mini. The car already contains her best friend and another guy, so this is a squeeze. They are all heading to Scotland to attend the wedding of a mutual friend. A few further calamities later they are not even sure they'll arrive on time.
Didn't care for any of the characters.

Mulbridge Manor by James Reeves (1958)
childrens
Delightful children's book. A group of children are asked by old Miss Matilda Jay to help her find her brother's will in the Manor. He left the property to her, but her nephew wants it and only the lost will can prove that it's hers. Lots of adventure, afternoon teas, secret dens. Fun and nostalgic.

Mirror's Edge by Scott Westerfeld (2021)
YA scifi
Impostors #3. I'm enjoying this series though Westerfeld has killed off a few decent characters over the 3 books. Series starts with the story of twin sisters, one raised as heir and the other raised in secret to be her bodydouble.
Leaves us on a bit of a cliffhanger with the arrival of an interesting character.

Seven Ghosts by Chris Priestley (2019)
YA
A Barrington Stoke book for dyslexic readers. Simple but enjoyable ghost story with a great little twist at the end.

The Dry by Jane Harper (2016)
crime
Aaron Falk #1. I enjoyed this. Falk goes back to the country town where he grew up to attend the funeral of his childhood friend, wife and child, an apparent murder suicide. Not everyone is happy to see him back especially when he stays on to help the local cop uncover the truth.

Tell Me Lies by J.P. Pomare (2020)
crime
This one plays on your mind a far bit. Psychologist Margot Scott has a seemingly perfect life but it all starts to unravel when a new patient enters her life. Overall I wasn't totally enamoured but I have his latest book on request from the library.

A Cat, A Man, And Two Women by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki (1936 Japanese) (2017 English)
fiction
Shinoko's marriage is over and she's forced to move out. Her husband and new wife are comfortable. Shinoko demands that her ex hands over Lily, the pet cat whom he discovers he loves more than either woman. Enjoyable Japanese literature.

The Surface Breaks by Louise O'Neill (2018)
YA
A retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen tale of The Little Mermaid. O'Neill is a good writer though I didn't love this retelling which was rather grimm!

Your Lie in April, Vol. 1 by Naoshi Arakawa (2011 Japanese)
manga
Can't remember what drew me to this one but I also watched the first episode of the anime based on the manga. It has also been made into a film. Anyway it revolves around a young high school pianist who lost the ability to play due to his late mother's overbearing ambitions for him.
Not really my thing but interesting to explore the various styles of manga out there.

eta: Arakawa is the illustrator for A school frozen in time and I was looking into the writer, Mizuki Tsujimura, at the time.

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Hacking, Heists & Flaming Arrows by Robert Muchamore (2020)
Piracy, Paintballs & Zebras by Robert Muchamore (2021)
YA
Robin Hood 1&2. More middle grade than YA, though with a fair amount of violence. The third book, Jet Skis, Swamps & Smugglers, just came out. Robin Hood in a dystopian world. He's recast as a young boy with older half-brother, Little John. Adventure and action galore.

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Grey Wolves by Robert Muchamore (2011)
The Prisoner by Robert Muchamore (2012)
One Shot Kill by Robert Muchamore (2012)
Scorched Earth by Robert Muchamore (2012)
Henderson Boys 4-7 series. Decided to finish this series as I had enjoyed the first three books. Set during WW2, spy Henderson has recruited, at first by chance, a group of children who he trains to become agents who can assist the French resistance against the Germans.
Grey Wolves is about sabotaging a u-boat base.
The Prisoner follows 14 yr old Marc, who is taken to Germany to a forced labour camp, his escape and return to the French countryside and orphanage where he once lived.
One shot kill is about an operation to rescue French scientists and take out an underground bunker where research into the VI flying bombs is being developed.
Scorched Earth is their final mission, to help the allies by hindering the progress of German tiger tanks travelling via Rouen towards the invasion troops. The series ends with the liberation of Paris.
Highly enjoyable reads, lots of action and adventure.

A School Frozen in Time, Vol. 1 by Mizuki Tsujimura & illustrator Naoshi Arakawa (2008)
manga
A School Frozen in Time #1. I had the novel Lonely castle in the mirror by Tsujimura out from the library and not enough time to read it, so decided to try their manga instead. Not my thing at all.
About a group of students stuck in a time glitch not knowing which one of them had already died in real time. Confusing and difficult to follow.

Laureate's Progress by Quentin Blake (2002)
nonfiction / childrens
For my ZtoA children's list. I had DNF discarded 2 YAs by Matthew Quick and was looking for another 'Q' writer. This was quite illuminating to read, a look at about 3 or 4 years of Blake's working life in illustration and writing for children during the time he was Children's Laureate. I've since had a few books out from the library that he mentioned. One was Manxmouse by Paul Galico, though I've returned it unread as I'm not reading fast enough.


Wizzil by William Steig (2000) illustrated by Quentin Blake
picturebook

An excellent story about a bored witch and her battle of revenge against Mr DeWitt Frimp of Frimp Farm.
Blake was asked to do the illustrations by Steig who was 93 yrs old at the time, not because Steig was too old but because he was too busy.

People from the pit stand up by Sam Duckor-Jones (2018)
poetry

Druckor-Jones is the son of writer Lloyd Jones and brother of teacher / writer Avi Duckor-Jones. He is a sculptor/poet and his second book of poems, Party Legend, has just been released. I enjoyed most of the poems in this book, I'm not much of a poetry reader so can't comment beyond stating whether I liked them or not. Here's one I found online....

The woman at the shops she said
Is it you who plays the loud music?
& I said uh oh haha is that good or bad!
& she said I just want to tell you that I feel like I know you
& she had this awful husband

She said I was so tired It was me & the kids & I was so tired
Fell asleep in a pile of laundry about two in the afternoon & the girl
from next door she saw me through the window She came over
She sent me to bed cleaned the house
Laundry dishes whole thing

& I said once when I was very sad
my mother came over with her powerful vacuum &
took care of the floors

We were both quiet for a moment Then I said any requests?
& she said
I like it best when Maria Callas sets the hedge aquiver
(“Suburban Rescue”)

Daylight Runner by Oisin McGann (2008)
YA scifi
Sol lives in a domed city in what is possibly the last city in the UK or even Earth. His father has disappeared and a gun wrapped up in a scarf left for him. The police take Sol from school for questioning...but who can he trust and is the city really dying. Quite exciting, though typical of its type.

Cue for Treason by Geoffrey Trease (1940)
childrens
A great read. Historical fiction set during Queen Elizabeth I reign. Peter and another runaway from Cumberland end up in London working for a theatre company when they uncover a treasonous plot against the Queen. They must return to Cumberland to uncover the evidence.

The Lady With Iron Bones by Jan Mark (2000)
children's
A quietly clever story. Hidden at the back of her neighbour's garden is an old garden ornament, Ellen calls it 'the lady with the iron bones' and thinks nothing more, however her friend Claire begins to see the lady as more than just an ornament.

Draw me a hero by NK Ashworth (2020)
YA
I ended up really liking this one. One drawcard is that the setting is a nearby suburb to where I live and also partly on Waiheke Island. I liked that the boy/girl dynamic was friendship and that they collaborate on a graphic novel project.

...so I sometimes browse the manga at my library and choose a few vol. 1 items that look promising. Of the ones I finished there are double numbers going back unread or after only a couple of pages read.

So Cute It Hurts!!, Vol. 1 by Gō Ikeyamada
manga
Twins boy & girl, both named after historical Japanese personages. When boy, Mitsuru, needs his sister, Megumu, to ace his history test at his all-Boys school, he persuades her to swap places for a few days and attend his school while he gets to be her at her co-ed school. Should be easy but unexpected situations arise.
Fun though not my thing.


Handa-kun, Vol. 1 by Satsuki Yoshino
manga
This one I could continue. Handa-kun is under the impression that all his fellow students hate him when in fact they are in awe of him and he has celebrity status at his school, not that he knows. This puts him in hilarious predicaments where he completely misjudges fellow students' actions.
This is a prequel for another popular manga series, Barakamon.


The Apothecary Diaries, Vol. 1 by Natsu Hyuuga
manga
Another that I'll continue with, my library only has the next volume though.
Maomao who has trained as an apothecary, is still a young girl when she's kidnapped and sold as a servant girl to an imperial palace. Her usefulness is soon made apparent and she becomes a handmaiden & foodtaster for the king's favourite consort.


Animal Academy: Hakobune Hakusho, Volume 1 by Moyamu Fujino
manga
Too silly but cute. Neko has been rejected from all the high schools she's applied to, now her final chance is Morimori High. On arrival she discovers that the other students are animals who are learning to be human. She has to pretend that she's a cat just like her room mate.

A Distinction of Blood by Hannah March
historical crime
Robert Fairfax #4. Not sure why I started with book 4 as I own book #1. Anyway it's a standalone read, quite enjoyable too. Fairfax is a young gentleman who has fallen on hard times and so makes a living as a tutor. His latest employer asks him to discreetly investigate his daughter marriage before beginning his tutorage work. Unfortunately the son-in-law turns up dead the next day. Set in the 1760s.

The Inkberg Enigma by Jonathan King (2020)
graphic novel

A mystery around the town of Aurora which depends on the local fishing industry for it's success. Miro and Sia discover the secret lies with a 1930s Antarctic expedition. Fun read, lovely artwork.

Real World by Natsuo Kirino (2003 Japanese) (2008 English)
crime
An interesting read. Four teen girls support rather than report Worm, a high school student, who has murdered his mother. He stole one of the girl's phone and bike and has been making calls through her contacts list. The summer ends differently to how any of them ever suspected.

The Memory Monster by Yishai Sarid (2017 Hebrew) (2020 Engish)
fiction

This one I've been trying to read all year. The book is in the form of a report, the writer has been employed by Yad Vashem for several years to be a guide for school & military Holocaust tours to Poland. He fell into becoming an expert on the Final Solution as a graduate student when other career options were closed to him.
He's thrown himself into the work and slowly unravels as the weight of history, memory etc weighs in.
He knows all the facts, how to get an emotional response from school kids but questions about the why behind it all start to overwhelm him.
Thought provoking and I'm glad to have read it.

The Apothecary Diaries Vol. 2 by Natsu Hyuuga
manga
My library only has the first 2 volumes in this series so I won't be able to continue. The artwork is lovely and the story is interesting, mystery and intrigue at the imperial palace. Our heroine is trained in apothecary and so has a knowledge of poisons, so she's now a food taster.

Bloom: a story of fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli by Kyo Maclear, illustrated by Julie Morstad (2018)
picturebook
I really love the illustrations used in Maclear's picturebooks so grabbed this one when I was last in the library. I'm interested in Schiaparelli's story as her daughter, Gogo, married into a family that I have been researching so I had already knew a little about the Schiaparelli history. Her granddaughter, Berry Berenson, died in 9/11.
This covers the creativity and success of Schiaparelli and how despite the disapproval of her family and hardship she followed her dreams.
The cover illustration is just stunning, I love the eyelash detail.

The Plotters by Un-su Kim (2010 Korean) (2018 English)
fiction
Another that I've had on the go almost all year. It just fell between the cracks even though I loved the first few chapters. It's quite different, Reseng, the main character, is an assassin. He's known no other life having been raised by Old Raccoon in The Library, the headquarters of a crime network of assassins and spies. I really enjoyed this and hope that the movie gets made.

Lalani of the distant sea by Erin Entrada Kelly (2019)
children's
A lovely read that is seeped in Filipino folklore. Kelly suggests the Aswang Project https://www.aswangproject.com/ for more information on the many monsters mentioned in her book.
Lalani lives on a small island that is not rich in resources. Every few years they send out a sailing boat manned by brave sailors but they never return from the mists. There are stories about the past when the people first came to the island from the north.
I have two others by Kelly, I requested them from the library when I first started this book.

i've finished my updates. I took a break from LT back in May and only came back this month to post again.
Will have work harder on some categories before year's end.

You've been busy reading over the summer.

Welcome back, and congrats on posting all those reviews! You are reminding me that I read the first Robert Fairfax book, The Complaint of the Dove, years ago and really liked it...I want to get back to that series one of these days!

>123 thornton37814: Hi Lori - I live in New Zealand so it's been winter reading for me. We're in the middle of another lockdown so can only leave home to buy essentials, this after almost a year of freedom. I've been making good progress in a few more books and also thinking of my neglected genealogy work.

>124 christina_reads: Hi Christina, I've had The Complaint of the Dove lying around here for some years and now it will probably prove hard to find in amongst my piles of unread books. Definitely worth reading judging by book #4.

I'm participating in the year long read of Romance of the Three Kingdoms and am happy to report that I'm up to date with 80 of the 120 chapters read.

I'm almost done with my audio of The Last Cavalier by Dumas and when that's finished I'll return to listening to Clarice Lispector: complete stories, another group read that seems to have fizzled out.

I'm doing well in my ZtoA children's writers challenge. Currently finishing my 'N' & 'L' entries to be up to date by end of the month.
Angel Mage by Garth Nix
The wind on the moon by Eric Linklater
September reads will be
Sherryl Jordan - Wynter's Thief
Eva Ibbotson - Madensky Square
This challenge was mainly for clearing some of my own books, I've ended up reading only 1 library book for this so far.

Glad to see you posting again, I've taken a number of book bullets from your last batch of postings. I thought that I would be finishing Romance of the Three Kingdoms in September but actually it looks more like October now.

This is a mammoth update.

>101 avatiakh: My favourite Jun'ichirō Tanizaki is The Makioka sisters. Have you read it?

>99 avatiakh: I cannot forgive Jane Harper for the name she gave to the villain.

>128 pamelad: I just bought The Makioka Sisters - good to hear it is a favourite of yours.

Maybe Jane is a staunch Liberal supporter?!

>127 DeltaQueen50: - I read through all your threads and added several book bullets too.
I'm going to keep to the one chapter a day/10 chapters a month routine.

>128 pamelad: No, I haven't read The Makioka Sisters but do own a copy, so maybe I'll try next year.
I'm reading Force of Nature right now. I didn't get that reference myself till you pointed it out.

The Last Cavalier: Being the Adventures of Count Sainte-Hermine in the Age of Napoleon by Alexandre Dumas (1870)
fiction / 35 hours on audio
Sainte-Hermine Series #3. This was originally published in serial form in local newspapers around France. The installments were never collated and published in book form till 2005. The English edition finally appeared in 2008.
The series is about the fate of three brothers, and this book devotes a good chapter or two recounting the older two brothers' stories, very heart wrenching ones indeed.
It was very interesting to listen to the story behind the book and about Dumas himself, Napoleon and his overspending spouse, Josephine - all covered by the lengthy introductions.
Hector/Renee has some mighty adventures through the course of this book. I just listened for enjoyments sake and did not care that Renee was a larger than life character.
From wikipedia: 'The novel was lost until the late twentieth century. Dumas scholar Claude Schopp found an almost-complete copy in the form of a newspaper serial. A number of Dumas' previously forgotten works have been found, but this novel is the largest and most complete at 900 pages.

The novel is a swashbuckling tale set during the rise of the Napoleonic Empire. A key scene features the Battle of Trafalgar and the death of British admiral Horatio Nelson.'

Angel Mage by Garth Nix (2019)
fantasy
Read for my ZtoA children's writers challenge. Set in an alternate 17th century France. Fantasy involving angels, musketeers and an avenging angel mage. The world building was really great though I did not care that he changed the gender of many of the characters - the Cardinal, Dartagnan, Rochefort & many musketeers are women serving a queen.
Four talented young people, a doctor, a musketeer, an icon maker, and a mathematician have a common bond and come together as friends at the Star Fortress.

The Jew's Beech by Annette von Droste-Hülshoff (1842)
novella
I must have stumbled onto a list somewhere of 19th century German literature as I have two 19th century novellas out from the library. This one is poet, Von Droste-Hülshoff's only work of prose and is well worth reading.
It's loosely based on a true story that she found in her family archive about two murders in the local village.
There's a good review on the book's LT page and some more discussion of the book on this blog - https://praymont.blogspot.com/2008/06/die-judenbuche-jews-beech-by-von-droste.ht...

eta: the other novella: A village Romeo & Juliet (1856) by Gottfried Keller

We dream of space by Erin Entrada Kelly (2020)
children's fiction

Kelly has written a great book centred on three siblings, all struggling in different ways and living in a home with out of sorts parents. In the background is the upcoming 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger launch, their science teacher had applied to the programme to be the first teacher in space, and is running a project in her classes following the upcoming launch. Bird is completely wrapped up in the project, her dream is to be NASA's first space shuttle commander.

The wind on the moon by Eric Linklater (1944)
children's fiction
Read for my ZtoA children's writer's challenge. I hadn't heard of this book till I saw it in a line up of Vintage Children's Classics at my local bookshop a few years ago. At the start I thought it was going to be a slog of juvenile antics by two silly sisters, but the book won me over with their time as kangaroos stuck in a zoo and from then on the book was an enjoyable read. Dinah and Dorothea are in for a year of behaving badly when the wind on the moon blew into their hearts or so their father said as he headed out the door on another business trip.

92) Magic Flutes by Eva Ibbotson (1982)
YA
Read for my ZtoA children's writer's challenge and substituting for her Madensky Square which is an adult book. This was originally published as adult romance and then republished as YA under both titles Magic Flutes & The Reluctant Heiress from 2009.
It's a light romance read set in and around Vienna in 1922. Most of the action revolves around a Viennese opera company. Ibbotson also manages to inject some political background. The Austrian aristocracy is crumbling away, and Austria must negotiate a huge loan from the League of Nations due to the unfavourable peace treaty.
I enjoyed this. Considering how many lovely covers there are, this 2020 Macmillan edition cover did nothing for the book IMO.

A Village Romeo & Juliet by Gottfried Keller (1856)
novella
A lovely story with a bittersweet ending. Two farmers cause their own ruin with a fight over an unclaimed field between their own fields. Their children no longer can have anything to do with each other, but as they enter adulthood fall in love. They celebrate their love with a golden day of eating well, walking in the woods and dancing. Both know they can't be together but also that they can't live apart.

Triton of the Sea omnibus 1 by Osamu Tezuka (1969)
graphic novel
Forgot to add this one when I finished it about 10 days ago. Quite a good read for its type. I enjoy these dips into older comic books. This was an omnibus, so over 400 pages. Triton's clan is being wiped out by Poseidon and his children. Triton is found as a baby and raised on the land, as he grows he discovers his true identity.

Wynter's Thief by Sherryl Jordan (2019)
YA
Read for my ZtoA children's writer's challenge. A great read told in alternating chapters between Wynter and Fox. It's set in medieval England around 1346. Wynter is a captive of her father, travelling from village to village, she is a water diviner and that's how they earn their living. Fox is a thief, forced to this level by an unjust branding of a 'T' for thief onto his cheek as a young child, no one trusts him and he can't get work so has to steal in order to live. He happens to visit the same village as Wynter on the day she is declared a witch.

>136 avatiakh: Love Eva Ibbotson! I'm glad you enjoyed the book, although I must agree, that cover is...not great.

>139 avatiakh: sounds interesting!

>140 christina_reads: Yes, I'm a fan of Ibbotson too. I've read most her books and will finish my first pick of Madensky Square at some stage, it was an adult read so I couldn't use it for this category.

>141 VictoriaPL: I ended up really enjoying Fox's story.

Dodgers by Bill Beverly (2016)
fiction / crime
I really loved this one. A young LA street thug is sent on a mission with 3 others, to kill a judge, a key witness, in their uncle's court case. A road trip across the US with his younger brother and two others.

The secrets of strangers by Charity Norman (2020)
crime
A man with a shotgun holds five people hostage in a London cafe. Over the day they bond and work together for a peaceful solution while the police negotiator also tries to convince the gunman to let them go. This ended up being a very good read.

Love Story by Erich Segal (1970)
novella
I picked this up at a charity shop a while back and last week realised it fitted my books to film category challenge. I remember playing the film's theme music on the piano when I was still at school. The book has nifty dialogue, a bit dated but still effective. "Love means never having to say you're sorry."
A sentimental read, I remembered some scenes from the film as I read the book.

Three Envelopes by Nir Hezroni (2014 Hebrew) (2017 Eng)
crime
About a rogue Israeli agent. He was recruited even though not meeting the strict entry criteria because the ones in charge are going to use him. Even though there is no appealing character this is a good read.
There's a sequel. which will come to me when our lockdown ends and libraries reopen.

The Hollow Land by Jane Gardam (1981)
children's
For my ZtoA children's writers challenge. Set in Cumbrian farmlands this is about two households, one a farming family and the other a down to earth London family who have a lease on the next door property for their summer holidays. Harry & Bell have adventures, Harry meets the odd, eccentric locals like Granny Crack, and grows to love the natural beauty of the area. Bell grows to be a farmer just like his father & grandfather, down a long line of generations.
A lovely nostalgic read, not sure how appealing it would be for children but I loved it as an adult reader. Jane Gardam can do no wrong in my book.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong (14thC)
classic
A Chinese epic written in the 14th century about the fall of the Han dynasty and its division into three lesser kingdoms (206 B.C.-A.D. 220). Over 2,000 pages and in 4 volumes, this was my year long read and well worth the effort. So many characters, some I lost track of as others came forward to lead the battles, politicking and so forth. Based on fact though there are a few fictional characters and perhaps episodes sprinkled in this was very readable and at times exciting narrative.
"The empire, long divided, must unite; long united, must divide. Thus it has ever been."
My next foray into Chinese classics will be Journey to the West which I hope will be equally readable.

Books to Film category

I came to check out your review of Romance of the Three Kingdoms and I also picked up a BB for The Hollow Land for which I was able to pick up a copy for my Kindle.

"Romance" was an excellent read and certainly lent itself beautifully to the slow pace that we took. I know this is a book that I will long remember.

Madensky Square by Eva Ibbotson (1988)
fiction
Quite delightful, Susanna has a dressmaking business in Madensky Square, Vienna. She lives above her shop and we follow her story and also the lives of her friends, clients and neighbours over the course of a year just before WWI.
Such a varied collection of characters, all their stories are addictive.

Legacy by Whiti Hereaka (2018)
YA
For my ZtoA children's writers challenge. This didn't really do it for me though I learnt a few things about Maori participation in WWI. It starts in the present day, Riki is bringing his great great grandfather's war diary to his mother, a history student, when he is hit by a bus and timeslips to WWI Egypt and then on to Gallipoli taking his great great grandfather's place in the Native Contingent battalion.
Every section starts with a transcript from a 1970s interview between Alamein, his grandfather and great great grandfather, Te Ariki.
The writer gives multiple references of her research for this book which seems to have been quite extensive.
Winner of the New Zealand Children and Young Adults Book Award (2019).
Keen to read her other YA, Bugs.

Katipo Joe: Blitzkrieg by Brian Falkner (2020)
YA
For my ZtoA children's writers category.
Katipo Joe #1. A great new series by Falkner set during WW2. A teen boy who has spent most of his childhood in Berlin with his diplomat parents has his world shattered on Kristallnacht when his father is arrested and he discovers his mother is an undercover agent. A couple of years later, when back in London, he is recruited by British Intelligence as a child operative and sent on his first mission.
This just won the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Young People fiction (2021).

Daughters of the Witching Hill by Mary Sharratt (2010)
Historical fiction
Tells the story of the Lancashire Pendle witches and their 1612 trial. Sharratt does a great job of describing the lives of these poor folk leading up to their arrest. How their simple faith in pre-reform Catholic folklore, accepted practices only a generation or two before, became under James I, a form of witchcraft and Satanism as described in his 1597 book, Daemonologie. He wrote this after the North Berwick witch trials of 1590 and Shakespeare based his Macbeth witches on this book.
The women's chants were Latin prayers and blessings, the chief witness at the trial was the 9 year old daughter of one of the women. She was taken in by the witchfinder's family but cast out after the trial and some years later also accused of being a witch.
I was drawn to the story of the Pendle witches due to family history research. My maiden name is the same as two of the witches and that side of my family hails from the same area of Lancashire.

From wikipedia: 'The trials of the Pendle witches in 1612 are among the most famous witch trials in English history, and some of the best recorded of the 17th century. The twelve accused lived in the area surrounding Pendle Hill in Lancashire, and were charged with the murders of ten people by the use of witchcraft. All but two were tried at Lancaster Assizes on 18–19 August 1612, along with the Samlesbury witches and others, in a series of trials that have become known as the Lancashire witch trials. One was tried at York Assizes on 27 July 1612, and another died in prison. Of the eleven who went to trial – nine women and two men – ten were found guilty and executed by hanging; one was found not guilty.'
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pendle_witches

The Truth about Celia Frost by Paula Rawsthorne (2011)
YA
Had this one in my collection for a few years, now I've read it and can cull it. Quite a good read for teens as we are now stuck in a pandemic and this one is based on a mystery illness the main character has. Celia is always an outcast at school, the other kids call her a freak. She has to wear gloves and can't do any vigorous activity as she must be protected from injury at all times.

Alfonso Bonzo by Andrew Davies (1986)
children
Decided to make this my 'D' book for my ZtoA children's writers challenge. I did have The Missing of Clairdelune by Christelle Dabos on my list but it's a bit of a doorstopper that I don't feel like tackling right now.

This starts as a fun read and as events develop continues to a more unsettling one. Billy Webb is a really good swapper, sometimes it's only a 'lendsie' and other times it's a 'keepsie'. He meets his match when the mysterious Alonso Bonzo, an Italian exchange student turns up and starts making swaps with him.
This had been recommended to me by Wayne Mills who runs the KidLitQuiz as a great read for boy readers. It was made into a tv show in the 1980s.

The Moon in the Cloud by Rosemary Harris (1968)
children
This won the 1968 Carnegie Medal (UK), so another to cross off the list. I've read a few of the older winners this year.
This is set around the Noah's Ark story. Noah's son, Ham, is ordered to go to the kingdom of Kemi to bring back a pair of lions and a pair of exotic cats. He gets Reuben, an animal tamer and musician to go in his stead, leaving behind his beautiful wife, Thamer.
This is a darn good yarn, Reuben and his animals are a delight and Harris includes some fairly mature themes here, such as Ham's tricks and lusting for Reuben's wife. Ham has promised Reuben to get a berth on the Ark for at least Thamer if he succeeds.
Love this cover art too.

Argo: how the CIA and Hollywood pulled off the most audacious rescue in history by Antonio Mendez (2012)
non fiction
Interesting red overall. I saw the film some years ago and always wanted to read this book as a follow up. It's a fairly dry account and possibly inaccurate with some details. The film is actually based on a chapter from Mendez's first book Master of Disguise: my secret life in the CIA and an article, 'Canadian Capers' in Wired magazine. Mendez wrote this book, a fuller account, with Matt Baglio as the film was being made.
The role of the CIA in the rescue of 6 hidden American Embassy workers during the American Embassy hostage situation of 1979/80 was not known for 17 years. In 1997 the CIA celebrated their 50 year anniversary and gave 50 notable agents a Trailblazer Award. Mendez received one for this mission and was then encouraged to talk openly about it for the first time.
While reading the book mention was made of two New Zealand diplomats and when I looked them up I found that they played bigger roles in the hiding and extraction of the hostages than is mentioned in the book. In the film they refuse to offer help at all which is clearly not what happened.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/1979-chris-beeby-and-richard-sewell-the-argo-story...

The Witch Family by Eleanor Estes (1960)
children
For my ZtoA children's writers challenge. This was a bit juvenile and an average read. I saw a review by a more enthusiastic reader who said that this book portrays the power of a child's imagination and I'd have to agree with that.
Amy sends the Old Witch to live on the Glass Mountain where she has to learn to be good and can only come down for Halloween. if she behaves herself. She's joined by Malachi, a bumblebee, and Hannah, a girl witch.

I only have the ABC writers left to read now for this challenge. I've taken many books off my tbr pile doing this challenge.

Yoshi no Zuikara: The Frog in the Well Does Not Know the Ocean, Vol. 1 by Satsuki Yoshino (2019)
manga

As I've 30 books to read to fulfill my GR 150 books challenge, it was a relief for the library to open last week for click & collect and I was finally able to pick up some manga. Quick reads to make up for my dismal reading achievement for the year.
This one was about a 32 yr old manga artist, still living on the small island where he grew up and his change from writing a fantasy to creating a 'slice of life' manga based on his island home. Mildly interesting, though possibly will grow on me so I've requested the next one.

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Handa-kun, Vol. 2 by Satsuki Yoshino
Handa-kun, Vol. 3 by Satsuki Yoshino
Handa-kun, Vol. 4 by Satsuki Yoshino

Continues the stories about Handa-kun, the high school celebrity who misunderstands his fellow students and thinks they all hate him whereas they worship him which makes him unapproachable and causes all kinds of misunderstandings.
Not as great as the first volume but I've requested the next two volumes anyway as I want to read about the class trip to Kyoto.

The way it is now by Garry Disher (2021)
crime
Disher's latest is a stand alone novel set mostly in a beach town just outside of Melbourne. I enjoyed reading this, Garry Disher is a firm favourite for me.
The plot revolves around the cold case of the mother's disappearance 20 years earlier. The father, a retired police officer, was the main suspect at the time though no evidence came to light. The son, a suspended police detective, has been obsessed with clearing his father's name.
The novel was a first for me for featuring the Covid pandemic. The main character's father goes on a cruise and ends up in a Tokyo hospital while his partner sits in isolation in the cruise ship cabin for several weeks, both have Covid.

Spycraft by Brian Falkner (2021)
YA
Katipo Joe #2. Further adventures of teen agent Katipo Joe. This time his adventures take him into the elite circles around Hitler. He joins a small group of teenagers who are under the wing of Eva Braun, documented by film director, Leni Riefenstahl and nurtured by Himmler. They are vying for their place in history. Joe's mission is to find out whether Hitler is going to focus on an invasion of Russia or England, which invasion plan is only a decoy.
A little over the top but exciting reading for the average teenager.

The Witchling's Wish by Lu Fraser (2021)
picturebook
The text scans well, the illustrations and story are charming and I love the last couple of sentences.
A lonely little witchling wants a friend and her spellbook tells her she needs the fur from a little girl's favourite teddy-bear to make a friendship spell.


Peanut Butter and Jelly by Ben Clanton (2018)
children's graphic novel
Narwhal and Jelly #3. Silly story. I'm not sure why I got this from the library, though I do like to see graphic novels for all ages, anyway not one for me and not one I could recommend either despite its popularity.

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Troll-Apple Pancakes by Ethan M. Aldridge (2020)
The Goblin by Ethan M. Aldridge (2019)
illustrated story
I bought these last year during lockdown to support Aldridge whose work I've enjoyed. The Troll-Apple story is wordless about a troll-child sent on a quest to bring troll-apples home for baking. The Goblin is about a goblin that resides quietly in an abbey, spending his time illustrating a book.
I just like his artwork, he tweets quite often about his work, lately he's been trying digital illustration.


Seraphin by Philippe Fix (1967 French) (2019 Eng)
illustrated story

A delightful illustrated story about Seraphin, an inventor, builder of gadgets and his friend Plume.

Jet Skis, Swamps & Smugglers by Robert Muchamore (2021)
YA
Robin Hood #3. Robin is only about 11 but already a master at archery and hacking. Continues his adventures, this time it is foiling a people smuggling operation. These are a little juvenile but still fun.

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Handa-kun, Vol. 5 by Satsuki Yoshino
Handa-kun, Vol. 6 by Satsuki Yoshino
Handa-kun, Vol. 7 by Satsuki Yoshino
manga
These three complete the series, each one is progressively weaker entry. #7 is a collection of vignettes, including a class reunion six years later.
Handa-kun is a high school student, he thinks everyone hates him, whereas most students are fans and think he's awesome.
The series is a prequel to the Barakamon series.


Barakamon vol.1 by Satsuki Yoshino
manga
A young but disillusioned calligrapher, Seishuu Handa, decides to live on an isolated island. Rural life is new to him and his first friend is a small girl, Naru, who seems to be everywhere at once. Lovely, and funny.

Elsa Schiaperelli's Private Album by Marisa Berenson (2014)
photography
Berenson is Schiaperelli's grand daughter and these photographs illustrate moments in Schiaperelli's life, some are family oriented and others taken for her fashion salon. Quite stunning. I researched the Berenson family for my husband's genealogy.

Delightful image 'of Marisa Berenson and her sister photographed for the 1954 Elle Christmas cover wearing scarlet velvet dresses by Schiaparelli. These were two of the last dresses made by the couture house before closing its doors in the same year. Berenson went on to be a leading model in the 1960s before moving into acting.' Berenson's sister died in 9/11.

The Garden of the Finzi-Continis by Giorgio Bassani (1962)
fiction
My daughter gave this to me some years ago after studying the novel at university. Finally I pulled it off the shelves for my 'books to film' category. A slow but sustaining read about an aristocratic Jewish family in the days before WW2 breaks out. Their world is shrinking with restrictions and the rise of facism.

Asadora vol 1 by Naoki Urasawa (2019 Japan) (2021 Eng)
manga
Urasawa is known for his great Monster manga series which I read last year. I saw this at our local Graphic Novel Cafe and decided to try it. The art is great and the story compelling.
Asadora starts with a typhoon, a kidnap that turns into an unlikely friendship and ends with a monster (Kaiju) emerging from the sea.
Hope to read more.

Sylvie by Sylvie Kantorovitz (2021)
children / graphic memoir
This is quite lovely. Kantorovitz tells the story of her childhood, growing up in an apartment at a school where her father is the principal in France. They are the only Jewish family in the town, her parents fight often and Sylvie discovers her love of art.

Onibi: Diary of a Yokai Ghost Hunter by Atelier Sento (2016)
manga / YA
Two young foreigners come to a remote corner of Japan, they want to discover the unusual and mysterious side of Japan. They buy an old camera that the seller says can capture images of the spirit world.
The art is lovely, the story is a bit blah but does show an unusual side of Japan's folklore.
Yokai - supernatural beings
Publisher's website: 'Cecile Brun & Olivier Pichard are French comic book artists known collectively as Atelier Sento. Through traditional techniques using watercolors and colored pencils, their work conveys an unusual side of Japan—of small villages in the mountains, colorful matsuri festivals and forgotten spirits of an ancient world.'

Sneeze: Naoki Urasawa Story Collection by Naoki Urasawa (2020)
graphic novel
This is a mixed collection of pieces, some are taken from Urasawa's travels and interactions on rock gigs, some are short stories. I liked the story about the kaiju fan who becomes a hero.

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko (2007)
children
for my ZtoA children's writers challenge.
Tales from Alcatraz #1.
Moose Flanagan moves to Alcatraz Island when his father takes up a job as a prison guard/electrician. His mother wants to send Moose's older sister to a special school in San Francisco as she's autistic. Great plot.
I've been meaning to read this one for years, I finally did and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Johnny Delgado: Private Detective by Kevin Brooks (2006)
YA
I'm a fan of most Barrington Stoke books which are simply told stories for dyslexsic or reading reluctant teens written by some of the UK's pre-eminent YA writers. This one is gritty and quite the urban thriller, all in under 100 pages.
Johnny lives on a council estate and has decided to set himself up as a detective. Things quickly get out of hand and he finds himself in trouble.
There's a sequel but it might be hard to track down.

If only by Adele Broadbent (2019)
YA
for my ZtoA children's writers challenge
This mixes a teen romance with Project Jonah in a way that works rather well. Project Jonah is an anti-whaling movement in New Zealand that started in the 1970s and also embraces saving stranded whales.
Broadbent works at Wardini Books which is owned by writer Gareth Ward whose work I also enjoy.

Conrad Cooper's Last Stand by Leonie Agnew (2014)
children
Last book for my ZtoA children's writers challenge. Yay!
Set in the 1970s around the 1978 Bastion Point Protest here in Auckland. Conrad lives with his Mum and step-Dad who is a policeman and quite the authoritarian parent and spouse. Conrad has a good heart but is quite naive and too young to understand a lot that's going on. He decides to adopt Tane (God of the Forest) as his god and has inner soliloquys with him.
There's a lot to like in the story but also it's hard to get your head around Conrad's discovery of the Maori world, the book treads a difficult path with this.
Agnew' first book Super Finn won the Tom Fitzgibbon Award which I always loved to see the presentation of when i was involved with Storylines NZ. It's for a first manuscript written for children and the writer returns the following year for their book launch.

The Bastion Point protest was one of the starting points of Maori renaissance, a reawakening to their culture and protests for return of land that had been taken by compulsory acquisition.

The Red Notebook by Antoine Laurain (2014)
fiction
This was a delight to read, especially with the mention of books throughout. Bookseller Laurent finds an abandoned handbag, the phone and wallet are missing and as he goes through the contents, he wonders about who the owner could be and tries to track her down.
Laure is the victim of a mugging and ends up in hospital in a coma.

Monkey Island by Paula Fox (1991)
children
Quite an interesting look at homelessness. Clay is living in a rundown New York hotel with his pregnant mother when she disappears. After a few days Clay doesn't know what to do and takes to the streets before the school sends Child Services to take him. He lives several weeks on the streets in the lead up to Christmas, having made friends with Calvin and Buddy. They show him how to live rough. Eventually he is reunited with his mother after a stint in hospital and foster care.
What's interesting is how Calvin tells him not to spend too long on the streets, that there is a point you reach of no return, where you can't go back to a normal life.

>177 avatiakh: Glad to see your positive review of The Red Notebook, as I have it on my TBR shelf. Maybe I'll finally get to it in 2022!

>177 avatiakh: Sounds good, so I've just borrowed it on Overdrive. Nice and short.

>179 christina_reads: >180 pamelad: Yes, a lovely quick read. I'm looking out for more by the author.

The Lost Man by Jane Harper (2018)
crime
Set in the Australian Outback, this gives an idea of how harsh life can be living on a station far from anywhere. One brother is dead, another has lived as a recluse for ten years and the third seems never to have grown up.
Quite a good read, my third by Harper for this year.
Last week I watched The Dry (2020) which stars Eric Bana. As always not as good as the book.

Last Instructions by Nir Hezroni (2018)
thriller
Agent 10483 #2. The sequel to Three Envelopes which I read a few weeks ago. This continues on from the first book, Agent 10483 should never have been recruited to the organisation (Mossad?) and yet he was and manipulated for a particular mission. Now he comes for his revenge.

Dare to disappoint: Growing Up in Turkey by Özge Samancı (2015)
graphic memoir
This was a delightful read with lovely artwork. Little Özge was quite the contrary child growing up in 1980s Turkey. Along with her experiences at getting educated she also covers the growing Islamisation of the country. While failing more often than succeeding academically, Özge finally finds her niche in the closing pages - to be an artist.
She now lives in the US and is an associate professor in Northwestern University’s School of Communication.
https://www.ozgesamanci.com/

Junkman's Daughter by Sonia Levitin (2007
picturebook
Part of the 'Tales of Young Americans Series'. An immigrant story, coming from East Europe the family expect the streets to be paved in gold. Harsh reality, their father is a teacher but he can't work in education because his English is poor. The family works hard to succeed.
I'm not a fan of the illustrations which are too attractive for a story of hardship.
From Kirkus reviews - 'hobbled by bland illustrations and flawed page design....it’s the eldest daughter who spots the discarded bottles and other rubbish in the snowy street that...sparks the slow but steady growth of a successful business. That rubbish looks brand new in the art, though, as does the spacious urban setting, the tidy interiors and the clothing on the shiny-faced protagonists. Along with providing little sense of what immigrant neighborhoods actually looked like in the 20th-century’s early years and giving no visual clue of the family’s poverty, the illustrations don’t always leave space for the daughter’s narrative'


Simon Boom gives a wedding by Yuri Schul (1979
picturebook
Silly fun. Simon Boom is a rich man and wants nothing but the best of the best no matter the cost but in a roundabout way he ends up serving the guests at his daughter's wedding nothing but springwater.


The Heartless Troll by Øyvind Torseter (2015)
children/graphic novel
Delightful. A retelling of a fairytale about the seventh son of a king. What shines more than the story is the artwork. I have seen Torseter's picturebooks before though I didn't recognise his name when I requested this one.

Lenny's Book of Everything by Karen Foxlee (2018)
children
A delightful story, gets a bit heartbreaking towards the end. Set in the 1960s it's about two young siblings, Lenny and Davey and their Mum who is working two jobs and constantly worrying. Davey starts to grow and grow, by the time he starts school he's almost as tall as his teacher and he keeps growing.
Their life revolves around the weekly arrival of their 'build an encyclopedia in your home'. Early on, Lenny loves the 'beetles' and Davey falls for the 'American eagle'. Anyone reading the book will love both these children.
I've had this on my shelves since it was published so pleased to finally have read it.
Foxlee is Australian but has set this book in the USA.

The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik (2021)
fantasy YA
Scholomance #2. I loved the first book and this one was also very good. The ending was a bit cliffhangery so I now have to wait till September 2022 to find out. Very recommended if you like your fantasy a touch on the dark side.

The Circlemaker by Maxine Rose Schur (1994)
children's
This wasn't meant to be my last book for the year but great plans often fall apart. This was an adventurous story, set in 1852 about a 12 yr old Jewish boy having to run from his home in a small village in the Ukraine when the soldiers come to force young Jewish boys into the army for 25 years of service. He must make it across the border into Hungary to be safe.

From the author note: 'The law was set by Czar Nicholas in 1827, Jewish boys from age 12-18 were conscripted to military service, they'd receive religious and military education till they turned 18, then they'd begin their 25 year service They were called Cantonists because they were taken to live in military garrisons in distant 'cantons' or provinces. In 1851 the quota for Jewish boys was increased to percentages impossible for the Jewish communities to fill. Often they were forced to send children as young as 8 years old, these children were sent to provinces as far as possible from their homes, they were made to walk, often for six months to a year to get there. The Cantonist battalions' main purpose was to convert the Jewish boys to Christianity. When the Czar died in 1855 his heir abolished child conscription.'