Sibylline's (Lucy's) Quarterly Report 2021: Summer!

SEPTEMBER: (AUGUST somehow got away from me!)

Wellfleet sunset

Lady Po in Red

JULY's photo: By popular request. Herself. Today she is wearing her special tick repelling scarf (pyrethium infused) and feeling rather pleased with this addition to her wardrobe. Also hot because we just got back from our morning trudge up our hill.

♬♬

Currently Reading in September
new BBG The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane Lisa See contemp fic
new Giants of the Monsoon Forest Jacob Shell Elephants!
♬Romancing Mr. Bridgerton Julia Quinn fict regency
♬ reread Men at Arms Terry Pratchett

Read in September
99. new The Library of the Unwritten A.J. Hackwith fantasy ***1/2
100!!!! ♬ The Grove of the Caesars Lindsey Davis mys ancient Rome ****
100b. E Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory Martha Wells ****
101. new (bbg* selection for September) The Warmth of Other Suns Isabel Wilkerson Am history *****
102. new Magpie Murders Anthony Horowitz mys british
103. ♬ The Viscount Who Loved Me Julia Quinn fic regency
104. ♬ The Duke Who Loved Me Julia Quinn fic regency
105. ♬ Bunburry 1-3 inc. Murder at the Mousetrap, A Taste of Murder Helena Marchmont mys british cosy
106. ✔Under Heaven Guy Gavriel Kay fantasy
107. ♬ Guards, Guards Terry Pratchett relisten w/K *****
108. ♬ An Offer From A Gentleman Julia Quinn fic regency ***1/2



Books Dropped/Paused in August 2021
9. E A Catch of Consequence Diana Norman fict hist rom see comment >99 sibylline:
10. The Long View Elizabeth Jane Howard contemp fic see comment >100 sibylline:
11. The Last Voice You Hear see comment >103 sibylline:
12. ♬ Just One Damned Thing After Another Jodi Taylor DRAMATIC COMPILATION not the series! See Comment >137 sibylline:

*bbg is the Bridgeside Book Group which was to reconvene in September. Postponed to October -- I think that one will fly.

Series Tally 2021

Currently reading 2021
Temeraire (9) Naomi Novik (1) His Majesty's Dragon
Ruth Galloway (13) Elly Griffiths Nighthawks

to continue in 2021 or whenever?
Constable Evans (6) Rhys Bowen NEXT UP
Lady Hardcastle mysteries (4) T. E. Kinsey NEXT UP (3) A Picture of Murder (Audio)
Galaxy Outlaws (16.5) Listening to #2
Cass Neary(3) Elizabeth Hand NEXT UP (2) Available Dark
The Craft Sequence(6) Max Gladstone NEXT UP: (2)Two Serpents Rise

Finished/Caught Up in 2021!!
Murderbot (6) Martha Wells
Sebastian St. Cyr (16) C.S. Harris
Blackthorn & Grim (3) Juliet Marillier
Kurland St. Mary Mysteries (8) Catherine Lloyd
The Invisible Library(7) Genevieve Cogman
Sevenwaters (7) Juliet Marillier
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (6) Arthur Conan Doyle
The Chronicles of St. Mary's (12 plus 20 stories) Jodi Taylor

Probably won't continue?
Oxford Medieval Mysteries (1 of 6) Ann Swinfen A bit too slow?
Roma sub Rosa (12) Steven Saylor NEXT UP (2) Arms of Nemesis Don't like Audible narrator. Too ponderous. So may switch to E format.
Sister Fidelma Irish medieval, I should love 'em but I don't.

Books read in June

61. ♬ Another Time, Another Place Jodi Taylor fantasy *****
62. ♬ I Am Spock Leonard Nimoy autobiography ***1/2
63. E The Flame of Sevenwaters(6) Juliet Marillier fantasy ****
64. E Bootlegger's Daughter Margaret Maron mys ****
65. ♬ Don't Panic Neil Gaiman Bio (sort of) ***
66. reread All Systems Red Martha Wells sf *****
67. reread Artificial Condition Martha Wells sf *****
68. reread Rogue Protocol Martha Wells sf *****
69 reread Exit Strategy Martha Wells sf *****
70. ♬ The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (6th of 6) Arthur Conan Doyle Read by Stephen Fry mys classic, mys british *****
71. reread Network Effect Martha Wells sf *****
72. new Fugitive Telemetry Martha Wells sf *****
73. new The Friend Sigrid Nunez contemp fiction ****
74. new At the Pond Margaret Drabble and others. Essays, swimming ****1/2
75. E Men Explain Things To Me Rebecca Solnit ****1/2
76. ♬ What the Devil Knows C.S. Harris hist mys
77. new The Ten Thousand Doors of January Alix E. Harrow fantasy ***1/2

Books Dropped/Paused in June 2021
6. ✔ Maiden Castle John Cowper Powys fiction british -Set Aside for now, not binned.
7. ✔ Sacred Ground Mercedes Lackey fantasy -- trying Lackey out, mayhap a little thin.

Stats
Total: 17
Men: 3
Women: 14
M/W writing together:
Non-fiction: 4
Contemp/Classic/Hist Fiction: 2
SF/F: 9
Mystery/Rom (inc hist mys): 2
YA or J: 0
Poetry: 0
New author: 4
Reread: 5

Book origins/type:
From library or borrowed: 0
Audio: 5
New (to shelves): 4
e-book: 2
Off Shelf/ROOT: 0
Pearled: 2

Books In So Far:
physical-23
E-books-13
audio-19

Books Out So Far:
physical-12

Read in July
78. ♬ On Writing: A Memoir Stephen King literary memoir *****
79. new The Dutch House Ann Patchett contemp fic ***1/2
80-82. ✔The Faded Sun Trilogy Kesrith Shon'Jir Kutath sf (3 books) ****1/2
83. new The Goblin Emperor Katherine Addison fantasy *****
84. ✔ The Beast Master Andre Norton sf ****
85. ♬ The Story of Medieval England Jennifer Paxton *****
86. ✔Ammonite Nicola Griffith sf *****

Stats
Total: 9
Men: 1
Women: 8
M/W writing together: 0
Non-fiction: 2
Contemp/Classic/Hist Fiction: 1
SF/F: 6
Mystery/Rom (inc hist mys): 0
YA or J: 0
Poetry: 0
New author: 3
Reread: 0

Book origins/type:
From library or borrowed: 0
Audio: 1
New (to shelves): 2
e-book: 0
Off Shelf/ROOT: 3
Pearled: 0

Books In So Far in 2021:
physical-46
E-books-14
audio-20

Books Out So Far:
physical-32ish

Read in August
87. ♬ The Night Hawks Elly Griffiths mys ****
88. new His Majesty's Dragon (1) Naomi Novik fantasy *****
89. new Out of My Head Tim Parks consciousness ****
90. new Leaving Atocha Station Ben Lerner contemp fic ***1/2
91. new Witness For the Dead Katherine Addison fantasy *****
92. new Throne of Jade (2 Temeraire) Naomi Novik fantasy ****1/2
93. ♬ The Bad Miss Bennett Jean Burnett ** (5 stars for the reader) hist fic
94. new The Black Powder War Naomi Novik fantasy ****1/2
95. ♬ The Black Madonna Gert Muller Art history / can't rate this
96. new The Galaxy and the Ground Within Becky Chambers sf/spop ****1/2
97. new Run with the Horsemen Ferrol Sams contemp fic ****1/2
98. ✔ Slow River Nicola Griffith spec fic/near future

Stats
Total: 12
Men: 3
Women: 9
M/W writing together: 0
Non-fiction: 2
Contemp/Classic/Hist Fiction: 3
SF/F/Spec: 6
Mystery/Rom (inc hist mys): 1
YA or J: 0
Poetry: 0
New author: 4
Reread: 0

Book origins/type:
From library or borrowed: 1
Audio: 3
New (to shelves): 8
e-book: 0
Off Shelf/ROOT: 2
Pearled: 0

(needs August update)
Books In So Far in 2021:
physical-47
E-books-14
audio-24

Books Out So Far:
physical-32ish

Extra in case

Happy new thread, Lucy!

>1 sibylline: Posey looks lovely with her red scarf :-)

Happy new thread!

>1 sibylline: Lady Po looks so sweet and the setting is lovely.

78. ♬ literary memoir *****
On Writing Stephen King (read by King)

Loaded this up on Audible yonks ago and let it languish. Had been told that a) the book is wonderful b) King reads it wonderfully. All true. The first half is largely autobiographical, early life through starting to right and up to the grievous accident in the late 1990's when King was hit by an inattentive geezer on his afternoon walk. The second half is about the craft of writing. A last bit describes the accident and aftermath and is hair-raising real life. My big takeaway from the first half is that King is not the stories he writes. He's always loved monsters and creepy stuff and while I am reluctant to say he doesn't take what he writes all that seriously -- he doesn't take all of it all that seriously. He doesn't scare himself shitless I guess. I've read none of his work because I suspect I would have nightmares and I don't need or want them. (Couldn't sleep for months after seeing Carrie when it came out as a movie.) The takeaway from part 2 is that King knows what he is doing. He cares passionately about his work, loves writing, does the best he can to write good prose (that is not my problem with his work!). Whether you aspire to write or, like me, have been writing for decades, this section is simply superb. So down-to-earth and sensible, humorous and sympathetic to all who yearn to be writers. His work ethic is astonishing, but like many with that kind of drive, I'm not sure he can understand or respect that people have varying amounts of resilience and energy. He is so full of life -- that is apparent especially in his response to his accident, the endurance, the will, the humor with which he approached each awful and painful day is remarkable. Most of what he writes about writing confirms all that I have painfully learned (wish it hadn't taken me so long) -- keep going to the end before revising, for example, don't show your work until you've revised your first draft, don't worry about comments unless they are all targeting the same issue (then fix it!) and so on. He advices reading widely and out of your comfort zone. You want to write thrillers? You should still read Edith Wharton or Chekhov. Wonderful useful book and I may well listen to the second part again sometime. He was great company! *****

>10 sibylline: It's a legend among aspiring writers. Apparently it's launched more careers than his blurbs have.

Have a happy Q3!

79. contempt fic ***1/2
The Dutch House Ann Patchett

I'm waffling between 3 and 3 1/2 stars because, well, I'm not at all sure about any aspect of the book. First, there is this house. Built . . . in some modern style in the . . . 40's? (All remains unclear throughout) by a family that made out like bandits selling cigarettes during WW2. Second) A brother and sister (the second family to reside in the house) are first inexplicably abandoned by their mother, and then, after their father remarries the stepmother inherits everything and she tosses them out of the house. Well, the house. Supposedly the house is a character as well as the people. Everyone either loves or hates the house. Me, I never got the house, but it must be something. Maeve and Danny manage ok though, thrive, in fact except both are bitter about the loss the house and their mother. (Inextricably entangled). Here's the thing. I was about to toss the book aside when I was in about fifty pages, but I looked ahead to the second section and started reading, and the story then, once they are done with the house and the stepmother, begins to work much better. Both Maeve and Danny are stubborn people, sometimes unbelievably so, and Patchett's effort, I think, is to watch them make their way through their bitternesses to forgiveness etcetera. Most of the time I just barely was able to suspend disbelief about them, but I read on because Patchett writes so well. I expect some might love this, some might be more irritated and puzzled than I was. Decide for yourself if you are a Patchett person. A kindly ***1/2

A second July photo because I can't resist! Lily and clematis moment.



I don't know where this black stuff is coming from in the lower part of the pic -- it's not there in the original, most peculiar.

Happy new thread, Lucy!

>13 sibylline: But where is Posy? Shouldn't she be there posing?
;>)

Did you see where Network Effect won the Locus Award for best SF novel?

80. 1 of 3 sf *****
The Faded Sun Trilogy 1. Kesrith C.J. Cherryh

Gets the full stars as no way I could stop reading. The humans have finally beaten the regul and as booty, get (among others) the planet Kesrith, also home to some of the mri warriors, in the employ of the regul. All three cultures struggle to comprehend one another, but most of the time the regul and humans understand one another (doesn't mean like one another) since both value rationality, logic, learning, etc even if in radically different ways. The mri are almost impossible to understand and are very misunderstood by both cultures. Enter SurTac Sten Duncan (essentially Special Forces, semi-autonomous etc) who ends up with the mri. Can't say more without spoiling. Wait, the mri have a somewhat symbiotic relationship with some semi-intelligent animals, the dusei (kinda like bears but way more complicated). The mri fit in the cherished Cherryh category with some traits that seem to fit the feline profile, but just barely in this case. Their culture is fascinating! *****

>16 sibylline: You've sold me, Lucy, but then, I'm always easy prey for Cherryh.

Hello Lucy! I posted about this over on my thread, but Woody and Alys insisted on sending a personal thank-you to Miss Po:



Here they are wearing their new InsectShield bandanas, which arrived yesterday. Don't they look smart?

!!!!!! They look so handsome and very pleased with themselves! Did you get the socks?

>19 sibylline: No, just bandanas. And I admit, I ended up ordering through their Amazon storefront. I started out on their website but they wanted to charge me as much for shipping as for the bandanas themselves. But at least it was *their* storefront, not a reseller.

Popping by to see what you've been doing.
I'm about 10 books behind on reviewing and haven't been much on the Talk threads. Family drama and so forth.

Glad you liked Solnit's Men Explain Things to Me. Some of it was so relatable and some horrifying but needed to be said. It is the one book of Solnit's I wish I'd kept (when I was culling my bookshelves).

81-2 ✔ sf ****3/4
The Faded Sun Shon-Jir Kutath C.J. Cherryh



2. Shon-Jir (book 2)
In this second of the trilogy, Duncan travels with the she-pan, Melein and Niun to Kutath, the home world of the mri. The distances are unimaginable involving scores of jumps and many years. On the way what they see chills them (can't say w/o spoiling). Also, on the way, Duncan works tirelessly with Niun, to learn the customs and language of the mri, to become, in short, a true mri. They arrive on a planet in the last phase, water is almost all evaporated, plants and animals hard-pressed. But there are still mri. And they are still in much danger from humans and regul who have followed them. And plenty of mystery as well. This was a true 'middle' book, setting the stage for the final confrontations. What is most interesting is how Melein and Niun make their way among their kindred, 80,000 years separated, (and due to the rigidity of their ways, not that different), and how Duncan is adopted into the greater population. *****

****1/2

3. Kutath (book 3)
Can't say much about this last volume without spoilage, but the question is how will the mri manage to survive with the regul absolutely hell-bent on destroying them and the human 'allies' having trouble distinguishing between self-interest and ethical behaviour. (If you do unto others what you consider a crime to have done unto you . . . what does that make you?). My only gripe is that at the last minute (and I mean that, the last 100 or so pages) a new element is introduced, hinted at earlier but maybe not quite enough?), to explain an aspect of the mri . . . to me, done a bit awkwardly. I give this final tome ****1/2 because of it -- overall the trilogy is a ***** star read, no question. Cherry's gift is for plunging a human into an alien world and then, as it were, observing what happens! This is done beautifully throughout -- including making the dus, the emotionally connected bearlike creatures integral. For the entirety *****.

83. fantasy *****
The Goblin Emperor Katherine Addison

Rare and inspired, a bit like Wells finding her SecUnit voice, here Addison gives us Maia, and he is someone for whom you are rooting wholeheartedly by about page 1 and a half as he enters unexpectedly (and entirely unprepared) into being the Emperor of his nation after his father and three brothers are killed in an airship accident. Maia has had a rough upbringing, his mother, the fourth wife, died when he was eight and was the daughter of the Great Avar of Barizhan and therefore a goblin, as opposed to an elf. After her death he is banished to a humble manor in a marsh, basically, with two servants and a guardian who is unkind and uncaring. This is the court intrigue type of fantasy, subtle and character-driven -- no tromping about fighting battles, very little magic, no dragons (except figuratively) and the world itself is so fascinating and complex and we read breathlessly along with Maia as he tries to figure out how to find his way. Brilliant! I'll be reading it again! *****

You're very definitely on a roll, aren't you? Three happy reads in a row! I love when that happens.

Even better reads in the week ahead.

>23 sibylline: And though Maia is only mentioned in passing in The Witness for the Dead it is good in a rather different way.

84. sf classic ****
The Beast Master Andre Norton

Written in 1959, some aspects of the novel has become 'politically incorrect', but less than you might expect. Rather, the social and political situations are simplified in a way we no longer accept (is this one reason why sf novels have gotten so long?). Hosteen Storm is an ex special services man, Navaho, and a 'beast master' - in telepathic communication with four animals who work with him (eagle, puma-ish, and two meerkats). The war is over, Earth destroyed (by the bad guys, Xiks, out of spite). He sets down on a planet where he hopes to settle a vendetta with a man he believes killed his father. It's kind of the good old West, horses and so on and the natives are good folks, basically, though some are less friendly than others. The story held up, though, with some interesting twists and matters left unexplained for future novels, no doubt. ****

85. ♬ history *****
The Story of Medieval England Jennifer Paxton

In the Middle Ages to be a successful king you had to: a) look the part, so tall, reasonably comely, and at least a wee bit charismatic b) win at everything: battles and land and the good will of the barons, people, clergy; like manly sports and do at least OK at them. etc. c) produce an heir e.g. Lesser but desirable: Marry someone all your subjects like; even better marry someone you like; having a relatively functional family group helps--sons who won't compete to the death or a queen who doesn't like you and plots for your downfall. To exercise with caution: going against the barons, over-taxing (get your $ from winning battles), or doing anything that gets your hands dirty like killing too many close relatives or, say, gardening. Too much of one makes your subjects uneasy, too much of the other is just plain unkingly.

I love Jennifer Paxton -- she is clear, concise, and humorous in just the right places. While I know she simplifies many things, she does not do this in a way that is condescending. The implication is that if something she talks about interests you, you will dig deeper on your own. I don't know how she does this, but all those Henrys, Edwards, and Richards are, for the moment, quite straight in my head. She ends with the succession of Henry VIII as the beginning of the 'modern' period, e.g. The Renaissance. *****

86. sf *****
Ammonite Nicola Griffith

A big wow in all the ways that matter in sf from world building to character development. "The Company" drops a big group of humans, on a habitable planet ready to exploit it for all it's worth, regardless of who else, intelligent, might already be there. Not long after their arrival a virus that kills all the men. And not for the first time. Several hundred years back a ship of humans made a landing for reasons unknown and, amazingly, the women seem to have found a way to procreate without men. They have built a culture spanning all parts of the habitable globe, as well. Marghe, a former 'Mirror' (type of military person, think marine plus) but now an anthropologist is sent down to test a vaccine against the virus. There is a settlement already there, all women now, of course, who have survived the virus, commanded by Hannah Danner. A large ship lurks in orbit watching, and there is a smaller orbiting station inhabited only by women, comprised of the doctor who has worked on the vaccine, and her two techies. The scene is set, but Marghe has a mind of her own and goes off into the wilderness and almost immediately things start to happen. Can't say more or I'll spoil. Suffice it to say that Griffiths builds an entirely believable society of only women, no nonsense about it. I have a few quibbles (will we really 'sell' planets that are inhabited by intelligent species already and murder them to exploit a place -- or just blow it up if it suits us? Really? -- this is a trope one steadily encounters in SF maybe . . . 1/4 or so of the time and I am deeply disturbed by the premise. Do we humans really learn nothing??) (Rhetorical Q, don't answer.) The quibble is not enough to subtract any stars as I read the book night and day until I was done. *****

W00t, Lucy.
Tons of fabby 4 & 5* reads.

Like RD, I 💖 when that happens. So satisfying.

>27 sibylline: One of my favorites of her psychic-animals books. Her "Indians" are so painfully earnest, but they were there in 1959! That says a lot.

>29 SandyAMcPherson: Sometimes I think I am too lenient on books, but my rule is that if I sneak off to read a book, get immersed that counts for as much as the book being truly edifying, well-written or whatever. In this case, all of these books hit both requirements!

>30 richardderus: Yes, there are painful moments but the effort is there and in 1959 that counts for a lot -- and interestingly she tackled that, but did not even attempt to insert a strong woman into the mix. I read some Norton back in the day, but somehow it was her high fantasy and that I've never cared for, too arch and too stylized to the point that I had to read some sentences/paragraphs more than once to get what the heck was going on!

>31 sibylline: Ah-ha! (I had to read some sentences/paragraphs more than once to get what the heck was going on! ).
That was the reaction I had (referring now to >26 sibylline:> the few Norton's I read. The books were quite the 'in' thing amongst certain University crowds. I really loved Tolkein (also an "in" read back in the '60's) and later, some of the GK Gavriel books but none of these aged well for me.

I think I got off topic but I was going through my F/SF potential discards this week to make room for latest acquisitions, such as Cate Glass (my new-to-me-never-heard-of-Carol-Berg author). So you can see where my head is at just now.

Tolkien *shudder* and Norton operated in all-male worlds; even the "women" witches in Estcarp and Escore were men dressed in woman suits. Tolkien just...ignored...women. All those men had mothers, but you'd sure never know it.

At Cameling's recommendation, I read Tigana and wasn't much interested in it; on a whim, I picked it up again and was utterly enrapt. I mean to explore his work but somehow just never do...

Happy Birthday, Lucy! I hope you are having a wonderful day to celebrate!!

Happy personal new year!

32. I felt so inadequate and put off by her mannerisms, good to hear you were too. And I'll have to check out Cate Glass, pronto. I'm appreciating these writers more as their books can be exactly the right thing when life gets too complicated. I like Carol Berg Solid story telling. Not nothing'. I've been checking out Naomi Novik's Temeraire series and I have no doubts already that they are going to be terrific, super fun.

WHOOPS -- back to see that Carol and Cate are one and the same and I have read that series -- Transformation etc.

We go on vaca on Wednesday and the pile of books is utterly ridiculous. I never read more than (and this is a rare maximum) 4 ordinary length books in a week (350 or so p) NEVER. And yet somehow I need 6 books min. for a week and that amount seems to be squared for every additional week. Obviously I live in a total fantasyland.

>33 richardderus:. Hooray!! I forgive Tolkien since he is from such a bygone era of male obliviousness. The existence of Eowyn is a little miracle. I always identified very strongly with Merry, somehow the hobbits, thank goodness, are somewhat gender-neutral in some mysterious way (interesting in itself). That whole scene when they cavort in the hot tub! I knew that would never make it into any movie screen. Anyway, it was an awful moment for me in the 70's when I realized how thoroughly left out women were from both genres that I already loved.

And TIGANA!!!!! That is my favorite by leaps and bounds of Kay's oeuvre! It's on my "top ten" fantasy list. I loved that book so much! Must reread soon, it's been long enough. So thrilled that you've come on board!

>34 ronincats: and everyone else. Thanks for the birthday wishes. We've just finished an intense week of a partially in-person (15 attendees) scottish small pipes camp/school session and the spousal unit sheepishly admitted he had done zippo -- I forgive him -- seriously, he is even now at the dump (excuse me, transfer station) with bags and bags of recycling and paper plates and so on. July is always our intense music month, but all my stuff was still completely on line, so this was especially fun. A few campers, most folks staying in fairly nearby motels (20 min), lots of local guest teachers instead of importing a scottish big shot and just such a good feeling of how great it was to be able to gather at all. Lovely. And exhausting, of course. I do feel lucky. If you are at all curious you can go to Cairdeas on Facebook -- one student's wife is a professional photographer and she took tons of photos and I bet she'll load up lots of them eventually.

>36 sibylline: I gather that Tigana is, to many of Kay's partisan readers, the chef d'ouevre. I possess The Lions of Al-Rassan but haven't cracked it yet. One day....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LUCY!!!! Hope it's the beginning of a personal new year filled with good things!

Absolutely, Tigana is my favorite GGK. The only ones I didn't like at all were the 3 Finovar ones, his first effort, I think. Some are better then others, and I'm happy to have a few still unread. I really ought to pick up the second Chinese one. (*Lions* isn't among my favorites, Richard, but I should read it again before making that a permanent evaluation.)

So glad that you loved Ammonite, Lucy. I'll just say that the Gong has remained with me over years and years of not revisiting the book.

>38 LizzieD: That episode with the Gong was lovely. I kept wondering what your favourite bit was, and this makes perfect sense.

>36 sibylline: Temeraire begins wonderfully and ends well, but there are a couple of books where Will's lack of life interests outside his profession make following his life very dreary on top of the real troubles he takes on. Aubrey & Maturin had so much more going on in their lives

>33 richardderus: Yes, RD, Tolkein. But that was then (the mid-60's) and this is now, a time that re-reading shows that I've changed (ok, duh) and that I've outgrown those older epic fantasies. Although, I *will* say, that selected titles by Tamora Pierce and also, Patricia McKillip's, are still on my bookshelf and very much enjoyed.

McKillip is definitely still readable!

>42 sibylline:, >41 SandyAMcPherson: The only McKillip I think I read is The Forgotten Beasts of Eld and it was...okay. Not great, not awful. I harrumphed about it to my elder sister and her response led me not to pursue the lady's acquaintance: "That's because you're not a girl."

Well, all righty then! *vigorous erasure of list*

>38 LizzieD: Lions has the ineffable charm of already being on my Kindle, which counts for a LOT.

>43 richardderus: The Forgotten Beasts of Eld was a good read and re-read for me. I gave my copy away so I have to borrow it from the library if I want to read it again.

Od Magic, Solstice Wood and Alphabet of Thorn are three that I've still got on my bookshelves. The fantasies fill a certain craving for me. I'm not sure how to explain, but your elder sister probably nailed it, "That's because you're not a girl" and I'm liking the woman's perspective in these tales.

I dislike some of the fantasies from the 60's and 70's simply because I prefer more complex plots and intelligent themes with good character development. Early Tamora Pierce (thinking of her Alanna series) seem very childish now. I certainly enjoyed Trickster's Choice and Trickster's Queen, partly because I was always very partial to the George Cooper character.

Happy belated birthday, Lucy!

Oooh, glad to see how much you enjoyed The Goblin Emperor! I was really impressed reading her latest book. I hope she sets more in that world.

>43 richardderus: and >44 SandyAMcPherson: agreement on the 'you're not a girl' eval.

>45 bell7: There is a new one! Not starring Maia, but I think a minor character from G.Emp? I have it, taking it on vacation! (along with . . . well, let's just leave it at 'a ridiculous' number of books). Obviously NOT flying!

>43 richardderus: The Forgotten Beasts of Eld only OK? It's one of my favorites, probably because, girl. Also, the Blammor.

Tigana is not my favorite, Richard, but The Lions of al-Rassan may well be. It chewed me up and spit me out in tiny emotional shreds of distress, but it was so powerful! Well worth the investment. I like McKillip a lot--why don't you try Od Magic, a later work with whimsical humor that I love very much?

Lucy, A Witness for the Dead is very good IMHO. I loved the first Temeraire book, tolerated the second and then got bored during the third and never picked up the rest. Do love Novik's later work, though.

>46 sibylline: right, starring Celehar the witness of the dead from The Goblin Emperor. I wasn't super clear, but The Witness for the Dead was what I was referring to when I said I'd enjoyed her latest book. I hope you enjoy it too! And may you get through many of the ridiculous number of books you pack...I relate entirely.

Edited to get the touchstones to work

>48 ronincats:, Happy to see another reader liking McKillip a lot. I also recommended Od Magic to RD, although it may be too whimsically girly for him.

The male MC's are great, though. I think I'll put OD Magic on the ol' bedside shelf pile. I could do with that adventure again.

Edited to say good morning to Lucy.
I am looking forward to seeing what titles you packed for your trip. A laff for you on me: in 1997 I had a conference to present at in Europe and I was rather nervous and just *knew* I needed some escapist story to lose myself in. I can't understand now why on earth I chose Maeve Bichley's Circle of Friends, in hardcover copy yet. It was a chunkster at 500 p.+ IIRC, and heavy in my carry on bag.

Yeah, no, sticking to my "no need for Patricia" decision from 1970-whichever.

Happy new week, Lucy.

87. ♬ mys ****1/2
The Night Hawks Elly Griffiths

Griffith's strength and appeal is that she has created a roster of characters who are very easy to relate to in a myriad of small and telling ways and whose lives and problems are complicated and draw one in. From Ruth's hopes of resisting fish and chips or cake to Nelson's on-going game of cat and mouse with Super Jo about his retirement, and so on. Underneath that are the more serious issues of the complex relationships between Nelson, Michelle and Ruth as well as the growing realization that probably Nelson will have to give in and retire ere long and then what would he do with himself? He loves what he does so much. Should he 'have' to retire? It's a big question, as he is obviously so capable. Back to the book. The plot of this one is a bit unwieldy and over the top (the black dog biz) but as it is mainly the vehicle for the 'real' story, I didn't mind. I did figure most (tho' not all) of it out, though. That's not a complaint as I usually do. ****1/2

>52 sibylline: I enjoyed this one too, although the mystery part was less satisfying than all the stuff going on with Ruth, Nelson et al. Great review, Lucy.

>53 lauralkeet: ^^^ what Laura said. Yes.

I also enjoy Lucy's writerly insights. I am fascinated by having those scaffolding pieces mentioned, which hold up the story arc.

>54 SandyAMcPherson: and >55 sibylline: Thank you!! In both library school and later the writing MFA program I attended, writing short pithy statements about what I read was a requirement! I think I did learn something besides Dewey Decimal after all.

88. fantasy *****
His Majesty's Dragon Naomi Novik

In this world there be dragons. Will Laurence, youngest son of Lord Somebody, is a Captain in the Navy, having fairly recently achieved his own ship. However, in the course of capturing a French vessel, they discover an unhatched dragon egg. Dragons imprint, generally, on the first person they lay eyes on -- nota bene the use of 'generally'. The dragon chooses the reluctant Will (not a spoiler as obviously it will happen from the get-go) and he must abandon his Naval career for the Aeronauts who work with, care for and ride the dragons into battle. The English are fending off Napoleon -- also armed with his own dragons. Oh, and of course, this is no ordinary dragon! I loved it. Novik is meticulous, she captures the mode of speech of that era beautifully, and the characters are delicious, especially the dragons, and especially Temeraire among the dragon. Through hearsay I understand the books falter a bit in the middle (there are quite a few in this series) and then improve again. We shall see. This one gets a five-star salute as I sneaked off to read it with every chance. *****

89. philosophy/science ****
Out of My Head: On the Trail of Consciousness Tim Parks

Probably can't do this book justice. Parks has written many novels, four or five of which I've read and which were memorable. Also much non-fiction--about living and learning in Italy, about reading, about learning to meditate and other subjects (I've read those three) so obviously I am partial to Tim Parks. In this offering Parks has been asked to explore consciousness from the 'literary' perspective, e.g., I guess, as a creative person, by visiting various neuroscientists at a sciency institute based in Heidelberg. Actually it sounds . . . peculiar to me as if someone higher up felt that it would look good if someone connected the scientists with the 'creatives' -- one question posed is whether science has replaced religion (at least for some.) Is it a belief system, just a very very tricky one? But Parks goal is to use this conference/festschrift as a fulcrum for his interest in consciousness. Is it only in our heads? So, as some philosophers (and many scientists declaim) we 'store' memories and 'process experience' etcetera -- as if the brain is a computer (think about that--a relatively new metaphor but all the rage--earlier the idea was something alarmingly like a homunculus in there orchestrating everything. Or, as an Italian philosopher who fascinates Parks, is there literally no space between our experience and the world around us, that at all times what we experience is entirely dependent on where we are, what we see, touch, hear, all of it, all at once, in an endless (at least our lifetime kind of endless) continuum of experience. Manzotti calls this the Spread Mind. Unlike the romantics who personified and gave consciousness (of some kind) to literally everything, Manzotti limits this interconnection to the present and to the presence of you, the human. Ah, it is complicated and really I am not sure about all of it, Parks valiantly works to demonstrate his ideas and to show the limitations of neuroscientific experiments. He pretty well succeeds. I am sure if I had the patience to read the book from start to end again and also to discuss it at length with others I would make sense of and more or less agree with this Manzotti. It does place us 'in' and 'part of' rather than putting us in the place we have occupied in our imaginations of being 'the center' 'the only reality' etcetera. This is a modern concept really first written up by the Greeks, but earlier peoples knew they were not apart, not separate. So not a book for the faint of heart but worthwhile if you are a quester. ****

contemp fic ***1/2
Leaving the Atocha Station Ben Lerner

Generally, I like Lerner's stories when I encounter one, but the agonizing self-consciousness of the protagonist (which maybe works in something shorter?) struck me as, perhaps, overdone. And yet
. . . who am I to say? What do I know? Was I agonizingly self conscious? Have I forgotten my own agonies? Yes and no. My discomforts took a different form and I never had an issue with drugs or alcohol, nor am I bipolar although, yeah, plenty of the uni sort of polar. (He hints at this but never clarifies--I guess to keep the novel from being classed a novel about a young bipolar poet abroad, the avoidance with which I can totally sympathize). Perhaps this IS a genuine experience of an unsure 20-something male, not yet able to manage responsibly, who has, without quite understanding why or even how, achieved success by winning a prestigious fellowship to Spain. No matter, he feels undeserving and fraudulent and often responds to kind gestures with whoppers, large and small. The thing about fiction is that you read in order to enter a different mind or person's reality, so I can't condemn this lad for his obsession with himself and his own actions (you soon learn most people couldn't say what you were wearing or saying five minutes after leaving you--and what a relief!). The lad is in Madrid, he's told the fellowship administrator a preposterous lie about his 'project' but really mostly smokes a lot of has and lies about reading Tolstoy . . . This is a novel of the 'nothing happens' variety where, in fact, a great deal of the not-melodramtic happens, some growing up mainly. I didn't love the novel, but I was engaged and occasionally amused or enlightened. I teeter between 3 1/2 and 4 stars (as if it matters) so take your pick. ***1/2 or is it ****?

Hi, Lucy! I seem to have lost you and the adorable and fashionable Miss Po for an inordinate length of time. *shakes head in despair* I'll try to keep your thread in my rotation from now on.

>59 laytonwoman3rd: I see I have 'lost' you too, will remedy immediately.

So here I am on the Cape on holiday and I am spending a lot of time indoors, which means, a whole lot of time reading. And also, as has not been the case for ages, having both the time and the energy to be cruising threads regularly. And, to amuse yourselves in case you are envying my vaca time, read this: Biblical Plague Not to mention the prowling sharks and the ever-present ticks. It is to be hoped that by next year this situation will be improved/resolved somehow -- the Seashore will have to figure out whether to dig a channel or rebuild the dune. For whatever reason the spousal unit is a mosquito magnet and I am not, at least, by comparison. So I get to lather up (Deet on the hat, Off on the ankles and herbal elsewhere) to walk poor doggo. The Atlantic beach is fine except getting there in August and to walk a dog there one must depart around 9 a.m. and not come back until after 5. Or drive ten miles in one direction or the other and walk elsewhere. We are, unfortunately, only a couple of miles from the epicenter. So we pray for more wind mostly -- anything steady 10 mph or above blows the little pests away.

I was feeling rather envious of you being on the Cape...then I read the rest of your post. Dear me, I think I'll just stay happily here in the forest and try to ignore that we've got another string of 100+ degree days coming this week.

>61 sibylline: Whoa. That doesn't sound good, Lucy. I hope the critters disperse soon or, at the very least, that you get some good reading in.

>61 sibylline: Horrors! Horrors! Horrors!

"Enjoy" the holiday as best you can, Lucy!

We're doing all right having accepted the situation. All walks, basically, have to happen next to the bay, ocean etc. where there is always a little bit of breeze. It makes me realize how habituated I am -- especially in August -- about where I go -- always seeking the places with the least people around. Next few days have a firm breeze to them, so we might even do some of my regular walks without being bombarded. And swimming in salt water is always wonderful.

91. fantasy *****
The Witness For the Dead Katherine Addison

Thara Celehar, Prelate of Ulis and Witness for the Dead (he can communicate with the recently dead, a rare gift) has been sent away from the Emperor's court to the city of Amaro. Here he uncomfortably occupies an office where the citizens can petition him to help them solve the problems that arise when someone dies without needed explanations for the living both practical or spiritual. The discomfort lies in the lack of clarity about his status -- is he under the jurisdiction of the leading clergy in Amalo or answerable to only the one who appointed him, the Archprelate in the capitol? The more ambitious and zealous of their power want to take him down a peg. Along with that problem are the daily matters that the citizens bring to him. The probable murder of an opera singer, the missing sister, the eruption of ghouls in a remote area within his jurisdiction, an explosion at a dirigible factory. There is also the matter of Thara's private life and his fear of being too friendly with anyone lest it be misinterpreted. I enjoyed every second! *****

>67 sibylline: OOOOoo! I can't wait to get to that one!

>67 sibylline: Skipping that review only because that book's up this week (or more probably next), but I'm hoping it's a warble of joy!

>68 LizzieD: Yes. Sure sounds intriguing.
Lucy, does one have to read a prequel to "get in on" the world? Or is it okay as a stand-alone?

Edited to clarify that I have *not* managed to get hold of The Goblin Emperor, but maybe I'll have some luck with The Witness For the Dead.

Edited to add the *not*... you had that correct Lucy (at #71)

You mean, I think, that you haven't gotten hold of The Goblin Emperor? There is no pressing need to read that one first, however it might be that much harder for you to wrap your head around the complexities of the world therefore I'd advise waiting until you have a copy of tGE.

I knew you'd love it!

>71 sibylline: Thanks, Lucy.
I did wonder if that might be the case (understanding the world) and have the idea that I could read T-G-E which is in the Vancouver Library system. I looked online and I think my daughter can borrow it, so when I visit, I'll be able to read the paperback. The E-book (The Witness For the Dead) is available using Overdrive, in my home library system.

Good. I do think that you will have a much better reading experience!

92.
fantasy ****1/2
Throne of Jade (Temeraire 2) Naomi Novik

If possible I enjoyed this second Temeraire as much as or even more than the first -- perhaps because of the novelty of the voyage to China and Temeraire's first sight of his 'family' and ancestral home, and Laurence's struggles to be fair and honest with Temeraire, not to mention how the two would manage to stay together! Perfect summer reading (or middle of winter hibernation time reading). Novik does her research and has been very adroit at fitting the dragons into more or less parallel historical outcomes (victories and losses both diplomatic and battle driven, balance of power, etc.) ****1/2 (leaving room to go upwards)

>75 sibylline: I read seven of them and loved the stories because Novik convinced me these were *real*people* not mouthpieces for historically-necessary ideas/events/points of view. That's a talent I admire immoderately.

>76 richardderus: I thought some of the later book suffered from Will's lack of Aubrey/Maturin type outside interests.

93. fiction regency ***
The Bad Miss Bennett Jean Burnett

A peculiar book -- ends abruptly and meanwhile goes from one adventure to another with little connection between. Perhaps Burnett intends more adventures for Elizabeth's irrepressible sister Lydia, but I doubt I'll read it. I love the narrator (Davina Porter) and would have quit the book if I had read the paper version -- The three stars are for Davina and a certain sprightliness to the prose and certainly some imagination devoted to Lydia's various capers. ***

>78 sibylline: Hmmm...permaybehaps we need to give the Bennet sisters fanfics a rest, as a class of reads. They're a bit shopworn at this point. This one being a case in point, it sounds like.

>77 quondame: I've been stuck at seven for over a decade...I doubt I'll bother with more, since it was about there that series sag set in.

>79 richardderus: Indeed. I only fell for this one because the divine Davina was reading it. How she must have suffered. A true professional.

I gather that the series returns in strength in the last two books . . . (sorry). Generally with series I read three or four then let the story rest for a bit -- too many at once can really wreck the experience.

>77 quondame: Not sure what to say. Other than the time period and the story starting out in a ship I feel little to no connection to the M&C series of which I was (oh horrors!) not particularly enamored. But we all have our tastes and I like/love a good dragon! Also admire Novik's researches into the land (as well as naval) battles of the period , geography (China, the Silk Road, Istanbul so far) and her adroit way of fitting dragons into military strategy.

>79 richardderus: Oh, I thought 5-7 were the low, lower, lowest, and found 8 & 9 easier reads, though not up to 1-3.

>80 sibylline: Well, Austen, Forrester and Heyer were my go to reads for decades, adding in O'Brien with his level of historical detail, was a no brainer. I've never started Bernard Cornwell aside from one completely putrid story in an anthology of what I now think must have collected every included author's worst ever effort since there are a couple of other author's whose worst I found tolerable before that effort. I was a Poldark fan until my soap allergy got out of hand.

94.
The Black Powder War Naomi Novik fantasy

Laurence, Temeraire and the crew have to make their way back from China overland, the mysterious Tharkay as their guide. They are hurrying to Istanbul to pick up three dragon eggs. On the way they 'befriend' a group of feral dragons, are imprisoned in Istanbul and end up in a hopeless confrontation with Napoleon against the all-too self-assured Prussian Army. The biggest mystery of all: Where are the twenty dragons promised to the Prussians??? Thundering silence from England. They will acquire, if the egg hatches, a fire-breather, who will be, if possible, partnered to the deserving Granby. More fun. ****1/2

I will take a break now. I've learned to read series in groups of three or else one tires. I'll pick up again in a month or two.

95. ♬ art history : no rating
The Black Madonna Gert Muller

If I could have returned to Audible I would have given that this is a pamphlet devoted to describing various icons depicting the Black madonna, mostly to be found in Eastern Europe. I cannot see (literally) the point of creating an audiobook (unless you are to sit with your computer open looking for each icon as it is mentioned, not reasonable). Secondly, the reader hadn't been prepped how to pronounce place names. When I think of the fuss made over the reader pronouncing every Irish word, singing each song correctly in Ulysses I hardly know what to think about the care taken to make the recording accessible to listeners. I've been aware of the black madonna icons as well as the black magi for decades as a friend wrote her master's thesis on the magi. The two points made were 1) that the age and veneration in which many of these icons are held is telling about likely skin colouring b) and that the icons under examination have on occasion appeared to have had unearthly powers. All for point 1 but not point 2. No rating.

>83 sibylline: the reader hadn't been prepped how to pronounce place names

...??!!...

*boggles at an unprepared English-speaker getting hold of Częstochowa*

>84 richardderus: well, yeah. Zactly. Got to hand it to the reader, however, as he simply plowed onward courageously.

96. sf ****1/2
The Galaxy and the Ground Within Becky Chambers

Charming and with substance too -- a glitch causes a heap of satellites to fall out of the sky onto a little barren planet that is a wormhole hub and has evolved 'bubbles' where people waiting for their turn can stop in to rest or refresh themselves. An eclectic group end up at the 'Five Hop' -- several different species, some of whom have notions of the others based on ignorance, mainly. A mother and child of a furry floppy legged, long necked variety run the place, the child, Tupo, being especially endearing. Another alien comes into season (egg) and there is an emergency where they must all pull together . . . lovely. ****1/2

97. contemp fic **** 1/2
Run With the Horsemen Ferrol Sams

Young Porter Osborne is the scion of his prosperous farming family in Georgia (presumably as they go to Atlanta now and then). At the start he is pre-adolescent and this novel takes him through high school. He is very small, always, for his age, behind his peers puberty-wise, but not in intellect or, frankly, guile, which he uses to his advantage as he deems necessary. Sams manages to tread the treacherous border between what he, as a white lad, and his home friends, as black lads, can expect. The book, taking place as it does during that time period of a person's life where the lightbulb comes on about injustice, has to convince us that Porter is awakening with a true and unblinking conscience. I'm convinced that Porter is smart as a whip, too smart to be fooled by convention, and one of the lucky few with a vocation. At the same time, for all that, he is a privileged white boy and thus cannot, any more than any other person in that time and place (30's) avoid having certain things both dinned into or expected of him. He can be cruel, albeit rarely and usually with great regret, and he can make mistakes. Sams tells this story with humor and grace. Anything less than that and I'd have had to throw the book in the dumpster. As a matter of interest, I am reading this at the same time as I am reading The Warmth of Other Suns and the stories align. Sams is unflinching when necessary. A last word -- there are some truly funny scenes and situations -- the book is very balanced that way -- and the portrait of life in those times has the ring of deadly accuracy -- say, hog-killing day, cotton picking time, the progression of the agricultural and social events of the year. Reminiscent of William Maxwell's So Long, See You Tomorrow, William McPherson, Testing the Current and many others--one is reading of a moment in time and place. ****1/2

>87 sibylline: Oh my heck! The Widow's Mite guy! Haven't thought about him this millennium...clearly you liked the read, so back onto the radar comes Ferrol. Hilarious take-down of greed, that story.

>86 sibylline: Sorta sounds like a modern James White when it's that reduced, doesn't it?

I'm tickled to pieces that you love Porter & Co. I've been trying to get somebody to read this trilogy forever and ever, and I'm so happy that it's you who has done it!

98. ***3/4
Slow River Nicola Griffith

Ammonite was the first Griffith I've read and it pretty much blew me away. Slow River less so, although it is solid as can be and a good story. Lore, Frances Lorien de Oest (spelling is close if not spot on) daughter of impossibly rich people who do remedial environmental clean-up of blasted sites around the world, is kidnapped. (All this in a nearish future.) She manages to escape and finds herself naked and injured out on the streets of an unknown city. Rescued by a somewhat feral woman, Spanner, she embarks on a different life. She thinks her family has abandoned her, wouldn't pay the ransom, and decides to take her life into her own hands come what may. Of course she gravitate to what she knows and ends up with a new identity working in a water treatment plant. Nothing is what it seems. The book does push the coincidence threshold, but with enough confidence that you just go, ok, whatever. ***3/4

Hi Lucy, How are all you folks doing in VT? I guess the rains have really swept through the whole south.
I updated my thread with my August reading today. The Goblin Emperor is certainly a fave read for me!

Wasn't that a wonderful book? The next one is too.

We're fine, no 'weather' at all. Sharply colder, around 60 all day, kind of a shock but that's it. Southern VT had a little flooding but nothing like Philly and NYC.

>92 sibylline: Glad to hear you've not had floods and high winds.

Normally I am a person who Knows My Own Mind. Startling, I realize, for you to hear this...as I've always been such a soft-spoken crowd-goer-alonger.

Stop laughing.

Anyway. I need help. The wisdom of the crowd is sought to help be decide between two equally strong contenders for Read of the Month. I am simply incapable to unparalyzing myself from the FOMO I get thinking about this problem.

Please vote on the poll or you will be directly responsible for my re-admission to the Goofy Garage this birthmonth.

99. fantasy ***1/2
The Library of the Unwritten A.J. Hackwith

Some of the same issues are here as I encountered in the The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep novel. All the pieces are in place, good conflict, great characters, setting and yet. I would read a few pages and have to stop. Was I bored? No, but I felt a kind of fatigue, my brain would say, "Okay that's enough for now." Too much going on? I don't think so, but maybe? There is a huge cast here and a lot of ground is covered from Heaven to Hell to Valhalla and parts in-between. I could say what 'an awful lot of scampering about'. But some characters, Ramiel, for example, slow everything down and are riveting. Leto had the same effect. Claire, the main, did not, not for me. Also and this is why it is a full 3 1/2 stars, towards the end the story lifts off and I read 100 pages in one go, happily. Will I read the next one? Very likely. ***1/2

>95 sibylline: I'm glad you're intrigued enough to give the next one a go. That speaks well of the pleasure you found in the read.

Happy Labor Day!

Thanks so much for stopping by -- I am wondering what your final decision was -- will have to go and see!

♬ mys ancient rome
The Grove of the Caesars Lindsey Davis

There is a serial killer loose in the Grove where Flavia Alba's husband has a job removing an old grotto. He's out of town on family matters and Flavia gets involved in the hunt for the killer when she is on hand when the body of his most recent victim is found. During the dismantling of the grotto buried scrolls, looking ancient and valuable, are found. Are they worth anything? Who put them there and why? Along at home, Flavia has to deal with a headstrong fountain-installer/plumber, lazy painters, and two young boy slaves, trained to dance lewdly that have been given to her husband by Domitian and her impossible, beautiful niece Marsia. The usual mayhem in other words. ****

A couple of reading updates on E books:

+ Read the short story in the Murderbot series, only available on Kindle: Home: Habitat, Niche, Territory Martha Wells **** too short! fits in right after the first book.

+ Dropped (9th of year) A Catch of Consequence Diana Norman Started out grippingly, but then moves into improbable territory and then lost interest after the scene with the ex-wife.

10. contemp fic / Dropped
The Long View Elizabeth Jane Howard

Dropping The Long View by Elizabeth Jane Howard -- for one thing it is one of those novels organized backwards . . . you start at the moment a relationship finally snaps and then go back, focussing on significant turning points, to where it started. I'm not a big fan of this structure, can't think of a case where I thought it was the right way to go. I've read over half the novel and I loathe the husband, a know-it-all controlling, self-absorbed bastard. Loved the Cazelet novels so much that it's hard to let the book go, but I need to care about both members of the couple not just the put-upon wife. Howard is a wonderful writer so I feel bad and I may slog on out of respect for her. I hate picking up a novel and knowing I'll be miserable. I don't mind when I feel the book is enlarging me somehow, stretching my mind etcetera, but I have known (not biblically, mind you) men of this type, more common in my father's generation. Technically, my father was one of these men. My mother was a lot like the protag. Hits a nerve?

I think I just convinced myself!

Back to say, it feels good to make the decision to Just.Stop. sometimes!

>101 sibylline: I have much empathy for you in dropping this read (The Long View). I felt that way with several books in the past year and a half. Ones that were well-written and *should* have been satisfying to read.

I have trouble abandoning stories that I see well-loved and highly rated but I give myself the grace to quietly close the book and send it back whence it came (usually these are library loans).

11. mys british, no rating, DNF
Mick Herron's The Last Voice You Hear (Zoë Boehm, P.I.).

Another book started and dropped. I like to keep some record in case I forget! Awhile back I read another in this series, but I'm not sure. The spousal unit likes mysteries and I keep trying, but I don't like this type even though there were, as far as I got, some great throwaway lines: "He used the tone the English middle classes use when they want you to know you are an imbecile without their having to say it." I enjoyed that! I think Americans tend to simply stare, expression incredulous, saying nothing.Not even a class thing, I suspect we all do it. I could be wrong. The other was a small rant about seeing a sign at a café reading 'expresso' (which when it arrived for Zoé, it definitely wasn't espresso, so maybe it was expresso?) So I am a little sorry to let it go, got close to 100 pages in. I'm on the Cape again, this time alone, writing retreat, and I brought loads of books, but I seem to be getting through them by deciding not to read them, so I may be going to the library soon!

Hurricane Larry, out in the Atlantic, did make for some awesome surf here on the ocean side yesterday. Impossible to film, too rainy. There were some mad surfer dudes out there.

You know what I do, Lucy. I lie to myself. I leave the bookmark in for a year or two, having said to myself, "I'll get back to this another time." I have an ER ARC hanging over my head that I very much want to stop now and forever. I think I owe ER a bit more effort with it though before I write my 25 word review. Anyway, I won't leave a bookmark in this one. For the record, it's a biographical novel,In Love with George Eliot. I was looking forward to it a LOT, but it's so poorly written that reading it is torture. The extra-small print is another drawback. (I think I've said this to you before.)
Anyway, congrats on your courage to move forward without a backward glance!

>104 LizzieD: Yes indeedy, Peggy.
"Life is too short to waste on books you aren't enjoying".
I should talk! I usually have to remind myself I'm not in school or facing required reading for work-related reasons (ugh, all those R-words in a row).

>101 sibylline:, >100 sibylline: That structure only works, in the iterations I've read it used in, if it's factual not fictional.

Explaining anti-Semitism in Eastern Europe has more urgency when the first thing one reads is an account of Kristallnacht, f/ex.

In fiction? I honestly can't think of a single reason to use that structure. The investment can not be there. It become misery porn.

Happy weekend's reads, fellow Murderbot-ter.

Lovely to have you three visiting. I'm loading a photo I took down on the big Wellfleet pier at sunset just moments ago. Note sliver of moon and also. I think I'll put it up top too, not that anyone but me ever stops there anymore. My September offering.

>107 sibylline: One of my dissatisfactions with the redesign is that I can no longer choose where I land when navigating to a thread...always defaults to the bottom once you've been here once, unlike the previous click-here-go-to-unread, click-there-go-to-top system.

Pretty!

>107 sibylline: ME TOO. I registered my discontent and was ignored. I don't think many of them realize how we keep track of our books up top. It's kind of a second home page or a thread home page. Maybe I will register my unhappiness again and explain in detail why it. does. not. work. for. me.

You have my proxy...say it's a common feeling in this group (I think both Bonnie and Mamie have commented on it, too). And we are the 800lb gorillas of posting!

>107 sibylline: Love this image, Lucy. I bet the photo doesn't do justice to the real-in-person viewing (but thus it ever was).
I do scroll past the toppers now and then... see my comment below this one.

>108 richardderus: >109 sibylline: I possibly have a different experience on the 75-er talk threads ~ I've stopped visiting elsewhere, except 'Home' and 'News' (or whenever something beguiling shows up on the R-H side menu).

When I click a starred thread (and maybe that's not how you arrive on threads), it flips down, usually to the first unread post on the thread, never to the bottom. Sometimes (like about 20% of the time?), the page uncontrollably flips a bit an I end up in the middle of the "already read" posts.

One thing I always do is select "More" at the last post I have read (I don't always finish reading everything in the new posts on a thread) and then select "Mark as read to here".

I wonder if my browser affects this choice? And yes, bugs the daylights out of me when I can't land on the top of a thread (without manually scrolling back).

P.S. In case the devs pay attention, I'm using a Mac OS and FireFox is my preferred browser.

>112 SandyAMcPherson: I have the same experiences with Talk thread, but I think one of the issues is with your own thread, where the choice to start at the top makes sense for members keeping records there. I don't, because well my records are unlikely to be of interest to anyone and aren't correlated much with threads and where they are, the conversations mechanism is the link I use. But for those who like cluttering up new threads with old data, navigational options are important.

>112 SandyAMcPherson: Sandy, the uncontrollable flipping happens when there are a lot of images in a thread. The click takes you to the bottom of the thread, but then the images all start loading and as each one does, it seems to take you "up" the thread although actually you are standing still while the text moves down to make room for the images.

>114 ronincats: heh! I never thought of the image-loading aspect. And I use an older Mac to peruse LT. I haven't gotten very comfortable yet with the new device so I keep returning to "old faithful" a 2011 Mac Notebook.

>113 quondame: Oh my ~ "for those who like cluttering up new threads with old data..."
made me smile...

>144 sibylline: >115 SandyAMcPherson: I was pretty sure that behavior was due to the pictures - I first noticed it on paulstalder's thread after he posted a lot of images all at once. Also the longer the thread gets the worse the issue.

>116 SandyAMcPherson: Oh, I figured tucked away in my comments that no one but you would notice that bit. Now that you pointed it out, well I don't suppose it will shock anyone.

>117 quondame: Old eagle eyes, that's me.
I thought you were testing us, to see if we were paying attention.
As I've been reassured (after catching a scolding for a comic I posted awhile back), that "my thread, my choice what to post".

I usually skip the really long book title lists these days, TBH. Usually folks review their reading as they go along, so that's more interesting, yes? I've taken to posting on my profile instead, just the author, title and how many stars I awarded. It is more for my own reference than anything.

>109 sibylline: Beautiful photo, Lucy.

Another reason I don't like the default to bottom is that when someone has moved to a new thread you have to do a round-trip to the bottom then endless scroll back up in order to stop seeing the thread so you have my proxy too.

You don't have to "endless scroll" from the bottom (or from any post) to get to the top. Just click on the little arrow at the right of the time stamp. Zooop! You're at the top.

>120 laytonwoman3rd: Hot damn! Who knew?

>118 SandyAMcPherson: I sometimes search others' libraries to see if they've read a book or author and how they've rated it, and more frequently I look for threads on a book's Conversations feature, so it's not that I'm uninterested in what others read or own, but I'd never expect people to have a particular interest in what I've read or will read or own. And for record keeping there's my "Your books" and my Excel sheet (which I have let slide way to long now)

>120 laytonwoman3rd: >121 SandyAMcPherson: I did. I use it all the time.

101. american black history *****
The Warmth of Other Suns Isabel Wilkerson

There is only one other history book I have read where I was crying at the end and that was McCullough's biography of John Adams.The tears were of similar origin, awe at staggering achievements. Adams, yes, on the macro scale and Wilkerson's on both, although coming through best on the micro scale in the individual stories she gives us, and, in my mind both stories deeply intertwined. What the stories of the Black men and women who migrated out of the oppressive south prove is that the United States, just by managing to come into being, by putting the open-ended language into that extraordinary document "The Declaration of Independence" and by developing a Constitution, body of essential law, that despite our current atmosphere, ARE living documents: the former containing, almost miraculously, guidance for continuing to develop and change the latter. Wilkerson's achievement is bringing the decades-long story of the massive migration of Black people from the rural South to the urban North into focus at both the macro and the micro level through alternating individual stories and historical background. Her sense of what the reader can manage (the horrors, that is) and her timing for when to shift and move forward, always returning to press the painful points again, is pitch perfect. There have been a zillion rave reviews and I now add mine, but I encourage the reader to make that connection in hearts and minds between our founding documents and the incredible act of faith and bravery the Black migration story offers. *****

>123 sibylline: Two books that I also admire/enjoyed/remember!!

>123 sibylline: That was a great book. Have you read Caste?

>124 RebaRelishesReading: Reba!!!

>125 lauralkeet: I plan to as soon as I acquire it!

>126 sibylline: I found her thesis, about the origins of racism in America, to be really compelling. I just hadn't thought of it that way before, and it literally changed my world view.

>127 lauralkeet: Prejudice against skin color is recognized by most (serious) historians as a fairly recent invention and also appears to have been almost exclusively a direct result of the U.S. slave trade and all the rationalization of it that had to be crafted to justify it -- had the slavers picked up people of other shades and ethnicities instead of Africans the story here might be quite different. They did it, because they could. Africans could not unite and defend themselves (not unlike what was done to the Native Americans). When reading ancient history--and really up through the end of the Renaissance, slavery and skin color had absolutely no connection. Most creepily of all, the ideas started, more or less, with the Enlightenment ('scientific method' and the industrial revolution') which permitted and, in a way, necessitated a kind of emotional distancing and 'othering' of those you need to exploit. Not pretty.

>128 sibylline: Prejudice against skin color is recognized by most (serious) historians as a fairly recent invention and also appears to have been almost exclusively a direct result of the U.S. slave trade Mr SandDune has been reading a book about Saxon Britain and one of the things that surprised him was the very high numbers of slaves in Anglo-Saxon England. But if you’ve got slaves that are the same colour as the slave-owners then there’s not going to be the prejudice against them down the generations because no one would be able to distinguish them. And I suppose for most of history slaves would be the same colour as people would generally encounter people from the same geographical area.

>129 SandDune: This is very true, Rhian.
Indigenous tribes in North America took slaves when they invaded other people's territories, long before Europeans arrived. There is a rather sad (and now unacknowledged hierarchy) of natives historically. As always, some groups dominated and were more aggressive than others.

>129 SandDune: Skin color was a novelty -- but not a problem, say, if you worked hard etcetera, you'd be treated like any other slave no matter.

>130 SandyAMcPherson: I have read somewhat about this. We forget too that the Black people brought here were all from distinct cultures as well, jumbled up once here. DNA is helping some folks get a handle on where their ancestors came from specifically and so what specifically their origin culture(s) was/were like.

As an aside -- Many of the Scandinavians having their DNA done are finding some very very interesting ancestors from the days of Viking exploits. Literally anything and everything.

I'd like to find a book to refer folks to for the above skin color history -- I feel I read a long article in some magazine like The Atlantic -- but surely by now there should be a book.

102. mystery british ***1/2
Magpie Murders Anthony Horowitz

Susan Ryeland, editor at a small firm, receives the latest manuscript from their star writer--who writes detective stories in the 'high cosy' manner, but she finds the last chapter (or two or three) is missing. At the same time she learns this writer has committed suicide. She starts on a quest to find the missing chapter(s) but instead, what emerges is far darker and more complex. We have Susan book-ending the novel and are given the manuscript itself up to the missing chapter(s) to read in between.

About 2/3 through I wearied. There is something more going on that will probably be more interesting to talk or write about after the fact--a commentary or meditation on the cosy mystery genre itself. Especially in the novel in the novel the characters and people are close to caricatures, everyone is awful. Horowitz highlights that the level of conflict and tensions in a small village are necessary to the plot, are a device, and part of the unreality. Another problem is the book is for 'insiders'. I don't mean just folks who read and love the mystery genre, I mean, references abounding to people I have no doubt are Horowitz's colleagues and friends. He's making a point--perhaps several--about how silly and frankly bizarre the genre is, especially the little village with a murder a minute, while at the same time acknowledging that people adore the puzzle aspect, need and crave a world where the problem gets sorted, and so, not so silly. As well the unfairness that the serious writer is generally poorly paid and unappreciated but respected and the genre writers unless they are hopeless can find a niche and make money, buckets of it, but don't get any respect.
So again, embedded within the greater story is this tangential stuff going on. Foyle's War is just about my favorite television mystery program ever, so I forgive. It is totally worth reading, especially if you are interested in thinking about the wider aspects of the genre. If not, you can just read for the story which is well put together. ***1/2

A slightly silly post on my part, but I have 42 books to go to make it to 144, this year's goal. Not sure if I can do this without some sly reading of 'thin' books, but I am hopeful.

>128 sibylline: >129 SandDune: I just looked at my review of Black Tudors, which I read through ER. The tantalizing just about balanced the annoying, so I gave it 3 stars. Anyway, here's a sentence from my review for what it's worth: "Her thesis is that baptism into the Church of England was the crucial impetus for their acceptance in society, and that the racial prejudice that we accept as a fact of life was not a factor of theirs." Different time/different place......

>133 sibylline: I've just crested 150 reviews, of a goal of 190...still doable, just.

>132 sibylline: I liked this one a little better than you, but one of my co-workers found it just a little too clever for his tastes, and I think he would agree with the things that bothered you. And I hope you're able to make your reading goal!

12. One Damned Thing After Another Jodi Taylor I've dropped an audio version I was listening to (a freebie from Audible) and realized it was a dramatic condensed version -- the acting is wonderful but the story, compacted is simultaneously too intense and not enough. Very disappointing. I would say beware of loading this if you go the Audible route. It is free, but it is NOT the first book.

103. ♬fiction regency ***
The Viscount Who Loved Me Julia Quinn

No excuses! I enjoyed reading (listening, really) about the Bridgertons. And I had no idea when I started that I was going to read about "the" Bridgertons. I did not connect that this was the source for the series that has become the big 'steamy regency' hit on the teev, because I am truly out of it in the television realm. Suggested to me by Audible, I guess because I love Heyer, I thought, oh why not? I can return it if I don't like it. But I did. The family of eight, despite the fact that all the men are tall and handsome with thick chestnut hair etcetera and the girls are unusual in not only good looks (albeit unfashionable chestnut hair) but are smart and funny, are engaging. I laughed a lot while listening. And the steamy bits are weirdly tasteful and often very funny and given the world we presently live in, rather sweet unless you are a hopeless prude. I will surely watch the program eventually but not until I have run through the series as books. Most emphatically entertaining, not lit! ***

104. ♬ fiction regency ***
The Duke Who Loved Me Julia Quinn

First in the series, now I am approaching "the" Bridgertons in the right order. (Read my comments about Book 2--which was my first.) Here we learn of the romance between Daphne Bridgerton and the mysterious Duke of Hastings who returns from extensive travel abroad after his father's death. They form an alliance, Daphne to attract suitors and the Duke to repel them. Well, we all know how that will turn out. Suspense in this sort of book isn't 'whether' but 'how' and 'when'. And the gossip writer Lady Qui finds both the Duke and the Bridgerton horde most worthy of being written up as often as possible, which they obligingly make possible by behaving outrageously. Everything I said for Book 2 applies here, but I'll say it again.
This is not Georgette Heyer, so plenty of heat, but sweetly steamy, no more. There are certain words that are so overused it does become painful, but I also know that the romance/regency writers are encouraged to scatter strew them about like rose petals. Lively and fun. ***

After comment: Afterward I also watched the first couple of episodes, enjoyable, but I like the books better although I love the choices the producers made for the cast, love the goofiness of the clothing (over the top, believe me). There is the usual need to fiddle with the stories, add, subtract, and often muddle, which I often think the 'necessity' for in the imaginations of the filmmakers is just an excuse to put their own imprint on, but whatever. They are good fun, but I won't watch anymore until I've read the rest. I don't know what Eloise or Benedicts' stories are yet and the hints are more than I want, spoiling, or maybe a total divergence from the books. Either way, would prefer to find out in the more leisurely manner of a book. I have many long car rides ahead of me this fall, so I imagine I will make swift progress.

I watched the first season on TV and did enjoy it but I hadn't planned to read the books. You're making me rethink that though.

>139 RebaRelishesReading: They are, essentially, rather silly, but so enjoyably silly.

Lucy, the first season of the series is based - mostly - on the first book in the series, The Duke and I, so you might want to read that before watching.

>137 sibylline: Oh, that *is* disappointing. Sad sad sad.

Happy weekend!

>141 katiekrug: Many thanks for that, Katie -- I did only realize Viscount was book 2 as I was writing the review -- in fact, I had no idea this was a series etcetera. So I have loaded up the Duke and will listen happily on my trip home tomorrow! Hopefully it won't get so steamy I drive off the road.

>142 richardderus: My copy of book 1 is at home and I plan to take a good look at it the minute I can, but I am about 98% sure that everything is terrifically compressed.

>138 sibylline: If you want to see my comments about Book 1 I nested them in with The Viscount -- and a few comments about the two episodes of Series 1 that I watched after. You, of course, know more than I!

Adding: I am home again from a very productive writing retreat!

I also enjoyed the novels more than the TV series, though the series is fun. The last episode of the first season has a fairly large spoiler for book 3, so you are wise to read the books first!

>144 sibylline: The spoilery bits from the show for the future books aren't leaping to my mind...but goodness knows it wouldn't!

105. ♬ mys British cosy
Bunburry 1-3 inc. Murder at the Mousetrap, A Taste of Murder Helena Marchmont mys british cosy

Read by Nathaniel Parker which is why I took on these mysteries. I would probably not have the patience to read them. Marchmont (a pseudonym) follows the formula: inheritance brings an urban person to a little village, there is something not spoken of in his recent (and far back too) past, several attractive women interested in him, people dying in mysterious circs, etc. The author does a decent job but Parker makes it all sound even better, I suspect. This is, for me, the perfect thing when driving to and fro.***

106. fantasy
Under Heaven Guy Gavriel Kay

As Kay says in his Afterword, he isn't sure why he writes history as fantasy -- but to me it seems obvious that he has a freedom to explore beyond facts, to find the emotional truth of the rise and fall of a culture, in this case the Tang dynasty in China. The main characters are vivid and there are plenty of minor characters too, all in a dance of a kind and most of them pivotal in what transpires. Kay leads us from moment to moment to the 'choice' or 'turning' points. Demonstrating how some events are random/accidental, some are the result of an independent and free decision, and some are taken entirely out of the hands of those that experience them. Every aspect of the novel is pitch perfect. It is a work, entirely, of the imagination but has weight and is grounded in the realities of human nature. Lovely. *****

>148 sibylline: And here I thought I was "done" with GGK... but obvs not because this review is very compelling, Lucy. I am realizing I read some fantasies at a very superficial level and then miss a lot of the depth in the story.

>148 sibylline: I like your cover a great deal better than the current one!

Blechhh

LOVE!!!! for GGK and Under Heaven and our beautiful, older cover!

He has written two more China ones, I think, and I haven't read either of them yet. *sigh*

>150 richardderus: That is indeed a pathetic cover -- when I hate a cover enough I hunt around for one I like in the 'change cover' place and use it, even if that means changing the edition info. Aesthetics over accuracy. . .

>151 LizzieD: I have the next two, but I have to wait a little, many other things waiting to be read. I know I'll dive in and disappear.

>152 sibylline: Aesthetics are perfectly *fine* for moments like these. Accuracy would be preferable if you were a lending library, but, unless much has changed since last I heard tell, you are not.
***
Finally, this stupid meme made me smile.

Ain't that just the gawd's honest.

107. ♬ REREAD

As good as ever!

108. ♬ fict regency ***1/2

comfort reading

Hi Lucy. I haven't been much on LT this month, only by fits and starts as the saying goes. What all have you been doing since your writers' retreat? I see you keep your reading pace quite consistent. 108 books read now. I missed your hitting significant milestones.

I was surprise today to note that I just posted about my 75th book for this year. I restrained myself from posting reviews on Talk for every book that I've read in 2021, because some were simply bad choices for my pandemic-reading brain.

My activities this month cover such exciting topics (ha!) such as being immersed in the seasonal garden clean up, reading a chapter or two of the in-progress books at night, and sewing when I can cope with figuring out the pattern directions. More about those sewing aspirations when I've posted a finished item on my talk thread. My next reading objective is to start Beloved, my very first venture in reading a Toni Morrison novel. I think it was one recommended by either Laura or Roni as a good title to start with.

Go to my new thread here!