Tess Reads What She Wants! Page 2

Retired high school Social Studies teacher. Currently teaching at the college level--just one class per semester. I'm really into food preservation now and spend a lot of time reading about it and watching YouTube videos. I live in central Ohio with my husband of 46 years. He is basically chair-bound, so I have lots of time to read. I have 7 grandchildren I adore. The oldest is 22 and the youngest is 4.

My new favorite hobby is "homesteading." Growing, processing, preserving my own food. I can do that for everything except the meat. I buy that from a local farmer and then either freeze or can it.

I have abandoned my original CATS--too confining! I'm just going to read what suits my fancy when I desire. I will participate in cats/kits if I desire! I will simply number my reads. I am still going to focus on African and Asian reads this year.



Paul's Asian Reading Challenge
JANUARY - Europe of Asia - Turkish Authors COMPLETED
FEBRUARY - The Holy Land - Israeli & Palestinian Authors COMPLETED
MARCH - The Arab World - Writers from the Arab world
APRIL - Persia - Iranian writers
MAY - The Stans - There are 7 states all in the same region all ending in "Stan"
JUNE - The Indian Sub-Continent - Essentially authors from India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh
JULY - The Asian Superpower - Chinese Authors
AUGUST - Nippon - Japanese Authors
SEPTEMBER - Kimchi - Korean Authors
OCTOBER - INDO CHINE - Authors from Indo-China
NOVEMBER - The Malay Archipelago - Malaysian, Singaporean and Indonesian Authors
DECEMBER - The Asian Diaspora - Ethnic Asian writers from elsewhere

Notes to myself
2022 HOSTING CATS
February-Country life-Reading Thru Time
February RandomKit Read a CAT—literally!
April Scaredykit-Serial Killers
July ShakespeareCat Measure for Measure, The Tempest, The Merchant of Venice theme: justice
September: AuthorCat: African Authors
November Mysterykit- Gothic

576 books on Mt. TBR as of Dec. 25 2021

My rating system:
1 star--waste of paper and ink
2 stars-Is this literature? -major flaws or mind numbing boring
2 1/2 stars-not so bad I had to stop reading
3 stars-average, neither good nor bad
3 1/2 fun, informative, thought provoking
4 stars-excellent read
4 1/2 exceptionally good, among my favorites
5 stars-in all ways a superior read

HISTORICAL FICTION CHALLENGE

1. Read a work of historical fiction set in the country you’re from What She Left Behind 1920's, NYC, mental institutions

2. Read a work of historical fiction set in a different country to the one you’re from The King's Mistress mistress of Edward III

3. Read a work of historical fiction set in your favourite historical time period to read about That's all of them...but I will choose WWII The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton

4. Read a work of historical fiction set in a time period you’ll less familiar with Dragonwings by Laurence Yep 20th century Chinese immigration, Newbery Honor Book (familiar with the time period, but not with the topic--Chinese immigration in the 20th century). I may change this as I peruse my books more thoroughly.

5. Read a work of historical fiction with a speculative element The Yellow Bird Sings by Jennifer Rosner WWII Poland, what if?

6. Read a work of historical fiction about a real historical figure or a specific historical event The Paris Wife 1st wife of Hemingway

7. Read a classic work of historical fiction The Leopard Italy

Bonus: Probably a re-read of Gone with the Wind

Blanket flowers


Books read thus far in 2022:
1. Much Ado About Nothing
2. The Curtain Call Caper
3. Mrs. Poe
4. The Cat of Bubastes Africa
5. A Headful of Ghosts
6. Woman in Black
7. Victory Asia
8. The Dry Australia
9. West From Home
10. Little Lord Fauntleroy
11. Madonna in a Fur Coat Asia
12. The Women in Black Australia
13. The Stranger Inside
14. Three Tigers One Mountain Asia
15. The China Governess
16. The Hungry Road
17. The Greenhouse
18. The Cadaver King and the Country Dentist
19. Unfamiliar Fishes
20. Into the Raging Sea
21. The Last Monument
22. The Arctic Fury
23. Decluttering at the Speed of Life
24. 101 Hymn Stories
25. Kim Asia
26. King Lear
27. Meditations
28. The Lincoln Highway
29. Things Fall Apart Africa
30. Richard III
31. Umberto Giordano's ANDREA CHENIER Opera Study Guide with Libretto: Opera Classics Library

FEBRUARY
32. The Gold Bug
33. A Year Without The Grocery Store
34. The Revenant
35. Character Still Counts
36. The Silver Pigs
37. The Lost Sea of the Exodus
38. Sylvester
39.The Book Thief
40. The Last Kingdom
41. The Case for Easter
42. Winesburg, Ohio
43. The Practice of the Presence of God
44. A Woman of No Importance
45. Klaus Barbie
46. France the Dark Years: 1940-1944
47. My Russian Grandmother and Her American Vacuum Cleaner
48. Eusebius
49. The Expedition of Humphrey Clinker
50. What Could Be Saved
51. The Pale Horseman
52. Homestead Kitchen: Stories and Recipes from Our Hearth to Yours
53. One for the Road
54. . Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race
55. Dark Places

MARCH READS
56. Love in the Time of Cholera
57. New Boy
58. Book Lover's Devotional: What we Learn About Life from 60 Great Works of Literature
59. Wide Sargasso Sea
60. Fool Me Once
61. The Prodigal Comes Home
62. Celestial Bodies
63. Vicious Circle
64. A Wrinkle in Time
65. The Pickwick Papers
66. The Address
67. Radioactive
68. Cold Dish
69. The Genius of Generosity
70. The Land Beyond the Sea
71. The Black Moth
72. Lords of the North
73. Flight Behavior
74. Sword Song
75. The Practice and Presence of God
76. Mrs. Grant and Madame Jule
77. Cinnamon and Gunpowder

APRIL READS
78. No Fear Canterbury Tales
79. The Sekhmet Bed
80. The Last Rose of Shanghai
81. Edward III
82. The Burning Land
83. Morality Play
84. Running for My Life: One Lost Boy's Journey from the Killing Fields of Sudan to the Olympic Games
85. The Death of Kings
86. Find Her Alive
87. The Vault, The Letter
88. Galileo's Daughter
89. The Grand Sophy
90. Hamlet
91. The Pagan Lord
92. The Woman in Cabin 10
93. Virgin River
94. When Empires Fall: A Vasser Legacy
95. The Chilbury Ladies' Choir
96. Shelter Mountain

May Reads
97. The Empty Throne
98. Friday's Child
99. Warriors of the Storm
100. 500 Miles From You
101. Whispering Rock
102. Little Dorrit
103. War of the Wolf
104. Sword of Kings
105. Rules of Civility
109. A Judge in Auschwitz: Konrad Morgen's Crusade Against SS Corruption & 'Illegal' Murder
110. Recipes II From Our Restaurant Associates: Lazarus Celebrating 100 Years of Fine Food
111. War Lord
112. Pavilion of Women
113. The Ocean Liner
114. The Great Deliverance

JUNE READS
115.The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman
116. The 1619 Project
117. A State of Institutional Socialism: Government Subversion and the Imminent Threat to the National Security of the United States
118. The King's Mistress
119. You Deserve Each Other
120. The Falling Away: Spiritual Departure of Physical Rapture?: A Second Look at 2 Thessalonians 2:3
121. The New York Times’ 1619 Project and the Racialist Falsification of History
122. The Nutmeg Tree
123. On the Iron at Big Cloud
124. Food that Really Schmecks
125. Miss Mackenzie
126. Murder in Old Bombay
127. Bride of New France
128. Fatherland
129. The Kitchen Front
130. The White Queen
131. The Wrong Family

I don't think I will finish anymore books in March, so here is the summary:

Books read: 22

Cheers:
All 3 books in Cornwell's series The Last Kingdom
New Boy
The Wide Sargasso Sea
The Address
The Land Beyond the Sea
Radioactive
The Prodigal Comes Home

Jeers:
The Pickwick Papers
Cinnamon and Gunpowder
A Wrinkle in Time
Celestial Bodies
Love in the Time of Cholera

Everything else was in the middle! I feel it was a good reading month.

Plans for April:
I won't get as much read because I have 2 classes taking final exams and turning in essays--hours of grading!

Scaredykit-Serial Killers The Custard Corpses
AuthorCAT-Debut Authors--not sure I have anything on my shelf
Mysterykit-The Maltese Falcon
ShakespeareCAT-Hamlet
RTT-theme-technology--The Technologists, if I can get it from my library
RTT-Quarterly- 19th Century NA--The Sisters Brothers
Paul's Asian Read-Persian/Iranian writers if I have something on my shelf

Personal Reads:
When Empires Fall
Looking for Me
The Secret Keeper
A Week in Winter
Apocalypse of Baruch and the Assumption of Moses

Note to self: Personal reads triumph over kits/cats!

This quarter let me tempt you with your choice of beverage and chocolate peanut butter cupcakes. My 18 year old grandson requested these instead of cake to go with his birthday dinner (his request: mac/cheese, peas, 5 layer Mexican dip for tortilla chips). The recipe for the cupcakes is from Taste of Home.

Happy new thread, Tess, and happy reading!

All the seedlings sprouted: 42 day tomato, Cherokee Purple tomato, beefsteak tomato, cherry tomato, thyme, zucchini, pumpkin, red bell peppers, and cucumber. I will start some marigolds, portulacas, and zinnias. Target plant date outside (even in pots) is May 15. I planted 10 strawberry plants last summer and I hope to see evidence of them this year. I need to plant my new blueberry bush and talk my husband into 2 apple trees--he says absolutely not. I think he does not want to trim around them! Will need to wear him down!;) For sure gardening task: cover the blackberry bush with netting so that when it starts to bloom the birds don't eat all the berries. I hate to do this because 2 years ago a bird got caught in the netting and died.

>5 MissWatson: TY!

Happy new thread! I'll help myself to those cupcakes...

Happy new thread! Your garden sounds great. I am hoping to plant some tomatoes, peppers, and a few other things around April 15-20 here.

Yummmm chocolate peanut butter cupcakes! I love chocolate and peanut butter together, but I hate working with peanut butter, so if other people make peanut butter treats, that's the best :)

Those cupcakes look very yummy! Your grandson made a great choice. :)

The cupcakes look scrumptious! Happy birthday to your grandson. He has good taste.

>7 christina_reads:
>8 thornton37814:
>9 rabbitprincess:
>10 DeltaQueen50:
>11 VivienneR:

I bought too many Reese's cups. I have some left over. Dang!

TY TY TY!

Happy New Thread! I'm looking forward to getting outside but it will be a little later here than where you are. Although I noticed yesterday that my tarragon has broken through the ground.

>12 Tess_W: I can send you my address on for those leftovers. LOL

Just taking care of the duplicate post that LT didn't catch.

78. No Fear Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer I read this about 25 years ago, but I believe in an abridged edition. Time for a re-read of the full edition. I did have help--I used the No-Fear side by side translation(s). This helped tremendously as all I really wanted were the stories and not so much the experience of re-reading the Middle English. Some of my favorites were the Wife of Bath and also when the narrator interrupts the host and tells him to just stop! It seems the party finds the host's story tediously boring. 502 pages 3 stars--even when using the No Fear Translation, it is still an effort to read, because I have to constantly read both translations for understanding.

Happy new thread, and those cupcakes look amazing!

>16 Tess_W: Our book group at work is currently reading Sharyn McCrumb's St. Dale which has some similarities to The Canterbury Tales. Fortunately our resident Chaucerian scholar is in the group and usually leads our discussions.

>16 Tess_W: I listened to the audio last year, and the translation was superb! I ended up loving it so much* that I bought a hard copy! The translator, Simon Armitage preserves the alliteration and meter. Bill Wallis is the narrator and I even enjoyed listening to sections in the original Chaucerian English! Still, if I had to do a re-read, I would probably resort to the synopsis as a touchstone (and skip the last sermon!)

* Except for the last tale...

>18 thornton37814: I'm going to put that on my WL. It's fortuitous to have such a person in your group!

>19 Tanya-dogearedcopy: I have put the audio on my WL for a future time!

79. The Last Rose of Shanghai by by Weina dai Randel Good historical fiction of the Japanese invasion of China during WWII mixed with a romance. While predictable, still a good read. 429 pages 4 stars

80. The Sekhmet Bed by Libbie Hawker a good historical fiction read that takes place in Egypt circa 1500 BC. It is the story of the parents of Hatshepsut and how she, a female, came to be pharaoh. Very well researched with a multitude of historical notes contained within. I read the Kindle version and there were about a dozen typos. 343 pages 3.5 stars

81. The Perfect King: The Life of Edward III, Father of the English Nation by Ian Mortimer was a non-fiction read about said king. However, it was much more, too much! I slogged through this book for over 4 months. The first third of the book is a scathing review of the Victorian biographers of Edward III and their shortcomings. Snooooooooooze! Detailed battle strategies, formations, and weaponry: snoooze! At least 25% of the book is historical notes and bibliography. Although I finished this book, I want to read a shorter, condensed, and perhaps novelized form of Edward III! 560 pages 3 stars The author did a great job on the biography; I'm sure he didn't miss a thing!

>79 Tess_W: Adding this one to the wish list and recommending Hotel Shanghai aka Shanghai '37 by Vicki Baum. It's a contemporary fictional account, written by a Jewish author who left Germany for America in 1931 after the success of her novel Grand Hotel.

>24 Tess_W: Bummer! I had a great listening experience with that title. Alex Wyndham is the audiobook narrator and his natural exuberance plays well with the rather sensationalist claims in the book. I tried Ian Mortimer’s book about Henry IV, (Henry IV: The Righteous King); but the audiobook publisher used a different narrator and I almost died of boredom! I have Mortimer's book on Henry V, Henry V: The Warrior King of 1415; but I don't think I'll get to it this year as I had hoped.

>25 pamelad: Put both of those on my WL

>26 Tanya-dogearedcopy: I guess since I'm semi-retired and not required to read heavy history for work, I prefer something lighter. Glad you enjoyed it. I may check out more of Mortimer's work, because a colleague and now you like him. Perhaps it was just the wrong book at the wrong time! In the book I noticed that the author states that Edward was not faithful to his wife; which was the norm. He also quotes one of those British biographers who said that an overbearing lover shamed a weakened Edward in the last years of his life. While researching I found her name, Alice Perrers, which was mentioned briefly in the book, but I couldn't find it when I tried to go back. I found a novel about Alice and Edward, by Emma Campion, The King's Mistress, that has fairly good reviews. I've sent for it from Abe Books.

>27 Tess_W: Honestly, as much as I loved “E3”, I’m not so sure that the magic carries forward through Mortimer’s other biographies. It’s why, if I don’t manage his “H5”, I’m not all torn up about it! I did order his time traveling novel, Outcasts of Time. Maybe that will hit the right note with me!

82. The Burning Land by Bernard Cornwell is book number 5 in The Saxon Chronicles. I found this to be the least favorite of the books thus far because of the extensive, bloody battle scenes. However, it was one of the most poignant, as Uhtred's wife, Gisela, dies in childbirth. Doesn't take Uhtred too long to become involved with King Alfred's daughter though, when he has to save her from her husband who intends on having her raped and then murdered. The Danes receive word that King Alfred is dead; although it is premature. Cornwell certainly has an eye for historical detail. On to book 6! 356 pages 4 stars

83. Morality Play by Barry Unsworth This was a medieval mystery that was ostensibly solved by a roving band of actors who were accompanied by a renegade priest. There was some not so obvious philosophizing going on about religion, life, death, and morality. The plot moved at a snail's pace. I found out "who dunnit", but not why. Not good enough to go back and re-read and try to find out! Good thing this was short and an easy read or it would have been a DNF. 246 pages 2.5 stars

>30 Tess_W: That wasn't on my radar, but I'll avoid it!

84. Running for My Life: One Lost Boy's Journey from the Killing Fields of Sudan to the Olympic Games by Lopez Lomong was a non-fiction read about one of the "Lost Boys" (kidnapped by rebel groups at the age of 6) and his miraculous escape(s) finally ending up in America in a great adoptive home. It was such an inspiring read not only about athletics, but about hard work, the American dream, the desire to learn, and compassion for others. Although he was has won many national championships and qualified and participated in 3 different Olympics, he has failed to place in those events. Lomong is giving back to his home country through the Lopez Lomong Foundation, with a mission to provide clean water, education, healthcare, and nutrition to the people of South Sudan. Although the prose was not inspiring, the story certainly was! 257 pages 4 stars

>22 Tess_W: Taking a BB for Last Rose of Shanghai, and Running for My Life sounds very inspiring!

>33 mathgirl40: Hope you enjoy!

85. The Death of Kings by Bernard Cornwell is book #6 in The Saxon Stories series. There are many significant deaths in this book: King Alfred, Aethelwold (pretender to the throne), and the King of East Anglia. Aethelflaed (King Alfred's daughter) is kidnapped by Aethelwold, Uhtred saves her, but not before he is bound naked by a prophetess and a curse placed on him. He eventually escapes. Too many Aethel's! This was probably the best book in the series thus far. 336 pages 5 stars

Off to my mother's for Easter weekend. I'm driving Miss Daisy to a gospel concert tonight and on Saturday we are antiquing. May your Easter be blessed!

>36 Tess_W: Safe journey, that sounds like a lovely weekend! A blessed Easter to you too, Tess.

>36 Tess_W: - Ooo- I haven't been antiquing in so long....Envious.

>36 Tess_W:, sounds like a nice Easter Weekend. Easter blessings!

Hello Tess, Happy Easter to you as well, and happy second thread! Thanks for such a great group of books to read about. You keep me inspired!

Thank you all! Mom is asleep so I can get "caught up"!

86. Find Her Alive by Lisa Regan This was book # 8 in the Josie Quinn detective series. Overall I enjoyed the story of Josie as she tracks down a serial killer with a bent for arranging bones "artistically." 300 pages 3.5 stars KIT: Scaredykit April-serial killers

87. For May Scaredykit I read two short stories from an HP Lovecraft anthology: 1) The Letter 2) In the Vault. The first, was an unfinished short story. Had I known that, I would have not attempted--although it was very short! The second was the story of a man who buried caskets for a living--good story!

Wishing you good luck with all your reading challenges, Tess. I'll keep checking back in to see if you've come across any 5 star historical fiction gems. Unfortunately, I am finding some of the recently published HF novels to be 'misses' for me, as they are either light on the historical elements or are too predicatable.

88. Galileo's Daughter by Dava Sobel. This book was just okay. The title led me to believe it was about Galileo's daughter, but it was really a biography of Galileo told through letters between his daughter, who he had installed in a nunnery, and himself. A bit too long (455 pages) and a bit dry in places, however; church vs. science was interesting--again. If I had to read one more sentence about the daughter's sewing, I was ready to stab myself in the eye with a needle. 3 stars

>44 Tess_W: - I don't think I even made it to the end.

>44 Tess_W: I read a book by her last year. It was enough for awhile. I'll avoid this one. I do have it as well as her Longitude on my Kindle unread.

89. The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer The best yet! Just loved this convoluted tale of love. It's up to Sophy to get the right couples together! Listened to this on audio whilst canning chicken and chicken broth. 5+ hours 4.5 stars

>48 Tess_W: Yay, that's one of my all-time favorite Heyers! I want to say it IS my all-time favorite, but I think it's in a three-way tie with Sylvester and Cotillion.

>48 Tess_W: Even in fiction I like to avoid bossy, managing people who know what's best! Cousins marrying? Erk. But I really liked the other single name heroine books: Frederica, Arabella, Venetia.

90. Hamlet This is definitely not one of my favorite Shakespeare's. I'm not sure why. It was lengthy. For some reason the plot was just boring. Good did not triumph in this story. CAT: Shakespeare CAT April

91. The Pagan Lord by Bernard Cornwell is book #7 in the Saxon Stories. The action in this book takes place primarily in Mercia and Northumbria. The book begins with Uhtred of Bebbanburg trying to secure the Bebbanburg Fortress, his estate. He was unsuccessful and once again heads off to aide Lady Aelthelfred, but not before he takes Cnut's wife, daughter, and son as hostages to aide in a smooth escape. Cnut/Danes and Uhtred/Saxons(Wessex, Mercia) will meet at Tettenhall for a great battle. At the last moment Uhtred is aided by the Welsh, who hate the Saxons, but they hate the Danes more. The Saxons prevail and Uhtred kills Cnut. This book shows the cruelty that can be Uhtred as he disowns his eldest son because he is a priest and renames him Father Judas. He then bestows his name upon his younger son. I listened to this on Audio. I prefer reading the ebook because of auditory discrimination of foreign words. 325 pages 4 stars

92. The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware. I've read several reviews about this book and it seems people either love it or hate it. I'm in the love it camp--I like psychological thrillers. I would say I think the ending (last 2 pages) is somewhat weak-but not overly much. I will definitely look for more from this author. Cabin 10, btw, is a suite on a luxury cruiser. This was one of those tense books, always had me on the edge of my seat. 350 pages 4.5 stars

93. Virgin River by Robyn Carr is book number 1 in a rather lengthy series about a midwife who moves from the big city after her husband is killed to a small community of about 600. Melinda (Mel) has a difficult time getting acclimated and many of the townsfolk don't support a female doctor. Good first book in the series, even if a bit predictable. 430 pages 4 stars

94. When Empires Fall by Katie Jennings This was book #1 in the Vasser Legacy series. The story was good although predictable and the writing was average. The ending was not complete--meaning if you don't read the next in the series you won't find out the conclusion to the main story. Because of that, I won't be reading anymore in the series. I think that is a cheap shot--there are better ways to get people to read your book series. 360 pages 3- stars

95. Shelter Mountain by Robyn Carr is book #2 in the Virgin River Series. "Preacher," an ex-marine is introduced in the book as well as a mysterious woman who comes to town with a 3 year old boy. The woman is covered with bruises. Very graphic and long sex scenes; excessive. 399 pages 3.5 stars

96. The Chilbury Ladies' Choir by Jennifer Ryan This book is written in epistolary form with letters written by women of the choir. This story takes place during WWII and the Battle of Britain. There are funny, sad, and poignant moments. I really enjoyed this book. 371 pages 4 stars

>56 Tess_W: Also not a fan of long, graphic sex scenes. Skipping them makes the book shorter.

>58 pamelad: I did!

I will probably not read any more in April, so here is the summary: (I am reading a Georgette Heyer--which is typically a quick read, so I may squeak one more in for April)

Books read: 17, 2 short stories

Cheers: (4's or above)
The Last Rose of Shanghai
The Burning Land
Running for My Life: One Lost Boy's Journey from the Killing Fields of Sudan to the Olympic Games
The Death of Kings
The Pagan Lord
The Woman in Cabin 10
The Chilbury Ladies' Choir

Jeers: (Below 3)
Galileo's Daughter

Everything else was mediocre. (3's)

May Plans:

Finish Little Dorrit, just started
Read at least 2 Asian Books (The Mountains Sing, One Bright Moon)

Shakespeare CAT--Shakespearean King--either Richard II or Edward III

Oldest TBR's on my shelf: a re-read of Gone With the Wind, (1315 pages) The Secret Keeper, A Week in Winter

Whatever else hits my fancy: probably another 1-2 in the Last Kingdom Series (Saxon Stories), perhaps another in the Virgin River Series

Kathy hooked me up with a historical fiction (my fav genre) readthon on youtube:
1. Read a work of historical fiction set in the country you’re from
2. Read a work of historical fiction set in a different country to the one you’re from
3. Read a work of historical fiction set in your favourite historical time period to read about
4. Read a work of historical fiction set in a time period you’ll less familiar with
5. Read a work of historical fiction with a speculative element
6. Read a work of historical fiction about a real historical figure or a specific historical event
7. Read a classic work of historical fiction
Bonus: Read a work of historical fiction of over 500 pages

Going to be working on that the rest of this calendar year.

>59 Tess_W: I'm having trouble deciding which King play to tackle for ShakespeareCAT.

>60 thornton37814: It's a tough one! Many scholars question that Edward III was written by Shakespeare. I read a non-fiction of Edward III this month; it was as dry as the Sahara. I think, though, that I'm going to read a fiction by Emma Campion, The King's Mistress, about Edward III and his beloved, which some say caused him to lose his mind and almost his kingdom.

>59 Tess_W: Great idea to spread it out over the year, instead of just May. I'll see how well May goes, but I definitely have more books in mind than I could possibly read in 31 days!

>60 thornton37814:, >61 Tess_W: I've only read Lear and Henry V. Lear is just so important in literature through the centuries, and Henry V has some great speeches...."We few, we happy few!"

97. The Empty Throne by Bernard Cornwell is book #8 is the Saxon Tales series. Most of the action that takes place here is in Mercia and tells how King Alfred's daughter, Lady Aethelflaed, comes to assume the Mercian throne. Stiorra, Uhtred's daughter, rides off into the sunset with Dane, Sigtryggr, with Uhtred's understanding. There were fewer battle scenes in this book and hence it gained another half star. IMHO, Cornwell seems to be a master of the historical fiction. 325 pages 4.5 stars

The only problem with this challenge will be the definition of historical fiction--there are as many as there are books! Since it's my personal challenge my definition will be that it is a book that contains within a real historical personage or event.

1. Read a work of historical fiction set in the country you’re from What She Left Behind 1920's, NYC, mental institutions

2. Read a work of historical fiction set in a different country to the one you’re from The King's Mistress mistress of Edward III

3. Read a work of historical fiction set in your favourite historical time period to read about That's all of them...but I will choose WWII The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton

4. Read a work of historical fiction set in a time period you’ll less familiar with Dragonwings by Laurence Yep 20th century Chinese immigration, Newbery Honor Book (familiar with the time period, but not with the topic--Chinese immigration in the 20th century). I may change this as I peruse my books more thoroughly.

5. Read a work of historical fiction with a speculative element The Yellow Bird Sings by Jennifer Rosner WWII Poland, what if?

6. Read a work of historical fiction about a real historical figure or a specific historical event The Paris Wife 1st wife of Hemingway

7. Read a classic work of historical fiction The Leopard Italy

Bonus: Probably a re-read of Gone with the Wind

Going to be working on that the rest of this calendar year. Of course, I will probably change my mind several dozen times, especially when I read Pam's or Birgit's or Kathy's posts!

>64 Tess_W: That's an interesting list, Tess. Have fun changing your mind again and again!

>64 Tess_W: I really liked The Leopard, and the film is fabulous.

>64 Tess_W: Yes, interesting list. I'll be watching for your comments on What She Left Behind.

>64 Tess_W: "your favourite historical time period to read about That's all of them" 🤣 Well, this is definitely the challenge for you, then!

Except for The Paris Wife (which I've heard of, but not read), all of these books are new to me--I'm intrigued by Dragonwings, so hope it makes the cut.

>64 Tess_W: Intriguing list! I've taken a couple of BBs (at least) but have to say that they all look good!

Plugging away on Little Dorrit. 915 pages! (only on page 298!) Also debating whether to discontinue (DNF) Heyer's Friday's Child. I can't abide stupid women and the main character is detestable. If he says "damn me" one more time, I'm done! He began 12 sentences with that phrase in just 18 pages! More than likely I will skip to the last chapter--it's pretty predictable--and save myself some pain! Am really enjoying Campion's The King's Mistress (Edward III).

>70 Tess_W: Friday's Child wasn't one of my favourites. I often skip the middle bits of romances when they're becoming tedious (not usually with Heyer's books, but often with Grace Burrowes') because you don't really need to read about all those problems that could be solved if the main characters just had a sensible conversation.

98. Friday's Child by Georgette Heyer Not sure if I should count this as "read" or "DNF." I read 62% and I just can't finish! I'm not having good luck with Heyer's! I can't abide dumb women!

99. Warriors of the Storm by Bernard Cornwell is book #9 in the Saxon Stories (now renamed the Last Kingdom). Quite a bit happens in this novel: Ragnall, the treacherous Dane is defeated by Uhtred, who combined forces with Sigtryggr (Ragnall's brother and Uhtred's son-in-law). Brida has returned to take her vengeance upon Uhtred. She begins by castrating Uhtred's son, Father Oswald. 326 pages 4.5 stars

100. 500 Miles from You by Jenny Colgan was a novel about 2 National Health nurses who exchanged positions for a period of 3 months for sundry reasons. The London nurse went to a town near Loch Ness and visa versa. At times amusing and at times poignant. Good read. 427 pages 3.5 stars

>74 Tess_W: That one was on my radar, but I don't think I'll ever get around to reading it. There are just too many books on my radar.

>64 Tess_W: What a great way to classify/catalog/structure your HF reading! I look forward to reading all your reviews and best of luck with Little Dorrit.

101. Whispering Rock is book #3 in the Virgin River Series by Robyn Carr. This installment sees Brie, a former California prosecutor arrive in Virgin River where she is fleeing the city after being abducted by a crazed criminal. Also coming to town is Mike Valenzuela, an ex-marine who was wounded in the line of duty. I believe he suffers with PTSD. This installment was not near as good as the first two. The lengthy graphic sex scenes comprise a good part of this book. This will be the last one in the series for me, too formulaic: two broken people find each other and fix everything with sex. Speaking of sex, ....teen boys taking advantage of girls by drugging and raping them. Two of whom only know they had sex because they end up pregnant and with an STD. 369 pages 3 stars

>74 Tess_W: That one is on my TBR shelf, so I'm glad to hear you liked it! I've enjoyed Colgan's books in the past.

>77 Tess_W: I'm thankful for your reviews of the Virgin River series! I had assumed that the series was fairly tame or rated PG, possibly because of the title, or because it sounds like something that would be on the Hallmark Channel. But apparently that is not the case! Not sure if I'll check out the series, but if I do, at least I'll be going in with the right expectations.

>78 christina_reads: I started the books because my friend told me she enjoyed the TV series on Netflix. However, she has told me the TV series is mild compared to the books!

>79 Tess_W: Interesting, and good to know!

102. At long last I finished Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens. This is classic Dickens with themes of the "poor" poor and anti-establishment. Nobody does it better than Dickens! Little Dorrit is Amy Dorrit, born in the Marshalsea debtor's prison. She "escapes" for a few short years and travels Europe, but returns when her family loses all their money (again), investing it in a bank that closes. There are many other quirky characters, one of which I don't understand really how they fit into the story, Monsieur Rigaud/Blandois/Lagnier, a murderer and blackmailer. IMHO this Dickens isn't as good as A Tale of Two Cities, Bleak House, or David Copperfield; but better than The Pickwick Papers or Oliver Twist, et.al. 893 pages 4 stars

103. The Flame Bearer by Bernard Cornwell is book #10 in the Saxon Stories (The Last Kingdom). This book focuses on the tenuous peace between the Danes, led by Sigtryggr, King Edward (Wessex) and his sister, Lady Aethelflaed (Mercia). Uhtred's first attempt to take back Bebbanburg is not successful, but when he enters disguised, his second attempt is successful. I get the feeling from this book that the "story" is winding down and many sub-plots are being resolved, although there are 4 books remaining. The books are also getting shorter. I'm fortunate that I've been able to get these books from the library either in ebook or audiobook form without a wait, for the most part. My friend tells me there is a Netflix series based on these books. I don't get Netflix, but I may pay to stream it for a month or two to watch this series. I probably will wait till winter to do that, though. 255 pages 4 stars

I'm giving City of Girls one more day before I commit to either finishing it or making it a DNF. I'm not liking it real well. It's the implausible story of an 18 year old's life in NYC in the 1930's-1940's before the outbreak of WWII. Firstly, there are many stereotypes, such as Olive, "a dour lady who 'looked like a school librarian. She looked like a school librarian's mother." Three pages later is another description, "homely librarian." I'm not a librarian, but I find this insulting. Also, Vivian, the protagonist, goes to a doctor to lose her virginity--this vignette, that I believe is supposed to be funny, is not. 1-2 more chapters and if the book can't redeem itself, it's history! This book is too long to be written in epistolary form with one writer and one recipient.

>82 Tess_W: Interesting that the books are getting shorter as the series winds down! Usually the books get longer as a series progresses.

The Last Kingdom also appears to be on Blu-Ray. Would your local library have bought a copy?

>82 Tess_W: Good idea, don't have a blue-ray, but I could borrow one from my son. Of to Libby to check it out!

>81 Tess_W: A few years back someone did a group read of a Dickens novel in January each year. Somehow it stopped. I should have kept it up because I really enjoyed it, and I found January the perfect month for Dickens.

>86 thornton37814: I think a once a year Dickens is a very good idea!

>81 Tess_W: Little Dorrit is one of my favorites. However, it took me several readings (plus reading summaries of the detailed plot) to understand the connection between (and among) Rigaud/Mrs Clennam/Arthur Clennam/Arthur's father ("DNF")/Little Dorrit & Frederick Dorrit/and (to a lesser extent) Ephraim Flintwich (Jeremiah's brother) and Miss Wade. Mrs Clennam's "confession" doesn't make it at all clear.

It is one of the most confusing plots in all of Dickens, but also the most heart-wrenching, once you figure it all out. And how about poor Young John? He breaks my heart every time. On the audiobook, Simon Vance had me in tears listening to the scenes (toward the end) with Young John and Mr Dorrit, and then Young John and Arthur Clennam.

>81 Tess_W: I agree, Kathy! I did a combo of audio along with serial reader. My reader was also Simon Vance. Several times I had to go back and re-read for clarity concerning the relationships. However, in the end, I think the read was worth it.

104. City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert is my 2nd DNF in as many weeks. According to Kindle I read 62%, so I'm counting it as read. This is the story of show girls in New York City from 1939-1945. There is not a character to like. The story centers around a dilapidated theatre in Hell's Kitchen and a plethora of drunken, sexual interludes. Sigh...........great premise, but without the drinking and sex, there wasn't really much of a story. 480 pages 2 stars

>90 Tess_W: I also need at least one character that I like, or at least understand/empathize. Haven't even heard of this book, but glad you saved the rest of us from the experience.🙄

>91 kac522: I'm probably odd man out, it was a New York Times best seller and it's current rating on LT is 3.8. The more and more I read, I think I prefer the classics, no later than about 1940, in general. I usually only get newer books (from the library) because someone on LT recommends them! Hmmmm!

>92 Tess_W: Ditto! I can read 1940s, too, but that's about my limit of enjoyment. I still have tons of books around here from this century (egad!), but they sort of languish. I feel like I'm supposed to read them...

>93 kac522: Haha, I feel like I could have written exactly your post, but about books pre-1940s!

105. War of the Wolf is book #11 in the Saxon Stories (The Last Kingdom). I'm not as impressed with this book as with the others---about a zillion things happened and many of them with similar names (Æthelflaed, Æthelstan, Æthelhelm, Æthelstan the Younger, etc). This caused me to have to go back multiple times and re-read to get the main gist of the story--I really didn't find this in the previous 10 books. Uhtred seems to fight many battles in the book (not my favorite--battles) with little success. His daughter is also killed and he sets out to avenge her. Osferth, Alfred the Great's oldest bastard son, makes an appearance in this novel. He's one of the "good" guys. There are 2 more books in this series. I have loved this series, but I need to finish it up. One can only spend so much time with the Danes and the Saxons in the 10th century! 339 pages 3.5 stars

>92 Tess_W: Looking at my shelves, most of my books are set in and/or written in the past. The exceptions are humour e.g. Magnus Mills and books in translation. I'm really off bleakness, violence, graphic sex scenes and heavy-handed irony.

>95 Tess_W: Congratulations on finishing. Those names are impossible.

>96 pamelad: I shy away from those topics too--mostly because they are often poorly done.

106. Sword of Kings by Bernard Cornwell is book 12/13 in the Saxon Tales (The Last Kingdom). This story in this work of historical fiction takes place mainly at sea--which is Cornwell's forte. A tortured soldier washes up on sea and Uhtred takes off to avenge his death, playing right into Waormund's hand--to try to capture Uhtred. Uhtred makes his way to Lunden (London) as does Waormund. There is a big fight for the city, but it is held by the Saxons. Uhtred is told that the plague has broken out in the north; his wife, son-in-law and grandchildren are dead. 349 pages 4 stars. ONE MORE TO GO! Sigh...my library has a 4-6 week wait for book #13.

107. Rules of Civility by Amor Towles. This is my third Towles, the first being A Gentleman in Moscow (which I LOVED) and the second The Lincoln Highway (which I considered a teen angst, implausible tale). Sadly, this "tiebreaker" falls on the side of "who cares?" It's the story of Katy Kontent, a typist, who meets Tinker Grey, an investment banker at jazz bar in the 1930's. She falls for him, but he falls for her roommate. That ends and she falls for him again, only to find out that he has had a 20 year love affair with his godmother. Most of the story is about the upper elite from Long Island and Manhattan. The book reminded me of The Great Gatsby. The title is taken from a pamphlet written by a young George Washington. Sadly, the last 40 minutes of the audio book is the reading of this entire pamphlet--so boring! I should have DNF'd this book about 30% into it...why oh why did I finish it? It's a compulsion! No more Towles for me! 335 pages 2.5 stars

>98 Tess_W: I am afraid I am going to totally agree with you. I did not find anything exceptional in Rules of Civility, loved A Gentleman In Moscow and I will be reading The Lincoln Highway for my bookclub. For some reason I always expect to be disappointed when I loved one book.

>98 Tess_W: I didn't mind Rules of Civility but disliked A Gentleman in Moscow so much that Amor Towles is off my reading list.

>97 Tess_W: Only a 4-6 week wait? I swear a third of the books I look for these days are ~10 week waits -- though I suppose that may be because they're ebooks. (I'm not happy about this model for libraries "renting" ebooks, nor about how many books seem to be primarily available online rather than on my local shelves, because I end up with books coming in that no longer match my actual current taste. Series are a bit easier that way...)

>98 Tess_W: I had a similar reaction to the novels by Towles; loved A Gentleman in Moscow, thought Rules of Civility was so-so and decided to skip The Lincoln Highway after reading a few chapters. Maybe his next novel will be better.

>101 pammab: I much prefer ebooks; they are the only type I check out of the library. I don't want to be running back and forth to the library returning books!

108 Titus Andronicus In Plain and Simple English (A Modern Translation and the Original Version) by William Shakespeare (?) At the beginning of this play, Titus returns from 10 years of war with only 4 of his 25 sons still alive. He brings back captured Tamora, Queen of the Goths, and her 3 sons. The immediate blood-letting begins when he sacrifices Tamora's oldest son to his dead son (s), thus earning him Tamora's vow of vengeance. There is a planned rape with 2-3 perpetrators and the approval of those in charge. There are multiple severed limbs, a live burial, and a case of cannibalism. There are even human pies; which reminds me of the Barber of Fleet Street! This does really seem over the top for Willy. There are scholars who believe he did not write it. I don't have enough knowledge to comment. I read this in a side by side original language and modern-day vernacular. 107 pages

109. A Judge in Auschwitz: Konrad Morgen's Crusade Against SS Corruption & 'Illegal' Murder by Keving Prenger. I had never heard of this person before so I was quite curious. I find it implausible that he went around inspecting death camps, trying Nazi's, etc, before the end of WWII and he lived to tell about it! However, that seems to be the case. This book now has me going down many rabbit holes--meaning most CATS will not be read for the next month or so!

ETA: I'm finding information in English is difficult to locate, so I may not be going down those rabbit holes! 170 pages 4 stars

110. Recipes II From Our Restaurant Associates: Lazarus Celebrating 100 Years of Fine Food I ate several times at the Tea Room at the Columbus, Ohio, Lazarus Department Stores when I was a child. It was a great treat to firstly be in the "big city" and also to eat at such a "fancy" place. When I saw this cookbook on FB Marketplace, I snapped it up! I've read each recipe and remember the chicken salad well. I made a ham/rice/apricot casserole and it was quite delicious--a keeper. I read this for June's RandomKit: Cookin' the Books. 170 pages

111. War Lord by Bernard Cornwell is book #13 and the last in the Last Kingdom (Saxon Tales) series. It does wind up the series well, but seems to be less tense than the other books. Uhtred wants nothing more than to live in peace in his Bebbanburg, but fate has other plans for Uhtred. Aethelstan, Alfred the Great's grandson (Edward's bastard son) is on the throne and many years prior had signed an oath with Uhtred, although is advisors tell him that an oath signed with a pagan is non binding. It is Aethelstan's desire to fulfill his grandfather's dream of a united "England." To do this he must get Northumbria (where Bebbanburg is located) under his control. By hook and by crook he does this, once by breaking his oath. In the end, however, Uhtred still has Bebbanburg if he will marry a rich widow chosen by Aethelstan to forge an alliance. Uhtred agrees. It all appears they will live happily ever after, but I doubt it! I broke my book diet for 2022 by purchasing this book--I couldn't wait the 4-6 weeks for it to become available at the library! So glad I read this series, although, believe it or not, I'm not into battle scenarios! 385 pages 4 stars

Notes to self:
To finish in May:
The King's Mistress (Shakespeare May Medieval Kings)
A Pavilion of Women

For June:
Finish Looking for Me (May RandomKit Flowers)
Finish The 1619 Project (AuthorCAT Non-fiction)
The Taste of Fear (Scaredykit)
The Return of Captain John Emmett (June CATwoman)
at least 3 more random reads from my TBR shelves
If time: Be Frank with Me (Reading through time: California)

>108 Tess_W: Wait, wasn’t Uthred’s first wife from an an arranged marriage under Alfred to unite England? LOL, The more things change, the more they remain the same…

>109 Tess_W: Looking forward to your reaction to A Pavilion of Women.

>110 Tanya-dogearedcopy: I think so! It was Mildreth, the bishop's daughter.

>111 NinieB: I'm a Pearl S. Buck fan. While I never "like" the status of women in the works of Buck that I've read, I understand they are a part of history and accept them as so. Thus far, I'm enjoying the book, but my opinion of Madame Wu is slowly changing. I should finish in the next 2-3 days.

112. A Pavilion of Women by Pearl S. Buck was not like the Good Earth trilogy that I've read in the past. This is the story of the upper class Chinese pre WWII. The story centers around Madame Wu, who at the age of 40, leaves her marriage bed and gets her husband a concubine. She does this for "freedom." This action causes great confusion and problems within the Wu household. Madame Wu speaks often with Brother Andre, a foreign priest and he greatly affects her and her idea of freedom. "You are free when you gain back yourself,” Madame Wu said. “You can be as free within these walls as you could be in the whole world. ......" Let him go free, and you will be free." During the first half of the book, while Madame Wu appeared to be gentle and timid, she really was a manipulator. After she came to understand what freedom really is, she was still a manipulator, just a kinder, gentler one! Not the best Buck, but quite enjoyable. 312 pages 3.5 stars

>114 Tess_W: Based on your thoughts, I think I'll skip A Pavilion of Women. I have several other books on my wishlist by Pearl Buck but never seem to get around to reading them.

>114 Tess_W: >115 Ann_R: Whereas I'm feeling intrigued enough that I'll try to pick it up this year. I do already have a copy of the book, just haven't gotten around to it yet.

113. The Ocean Liner by Marius Gabriel was a work of historical fiction about the crossing of the USS Manhattan from Le Havre/Southampton to New York City (Ellis Island) about 1940. Real personages were aboard: Arturo Toscanini, Stravinsky, "Lizzie Taylor", Rose Kennedy and all her children except Kathleen (who was with her father undergoing a lobotomy--true!) and assorted others as to support this cast. Good read! 380 pages I listened to this on audio--11 hours 13 minutes.



I am off to drive "Miss Daisy" (my mother) around for the weekend, including taking her to her 70th high school class reunion.

114. The Great Deliverance by Elizabeth George. This was my first (and probably my last) read and book #1 in the Inspector Lynley series. Lynley (also an Earl) is paired with Detective Havers, a woman who was demoted in the past for her failure to get along with her colleagues. The pair has been called to Scotland Yard and assigned to work a case where a man's head had been severed and his daughter has confessed. To be honest, I have never seen the lack of cooperation between police units as rampant and nasty as this one; it detracted from the focus of the story. I could not like this book; although I wanted to. Plus, it was too long and moved at a snail's pace. 413 pages 2.5 stars

Since I will not complete any more books in May, the tallies are:

17 books read

Cheers:
The Oceanliner
Warriors of the Storm
The Empty Throne
500 Miles from You
Little Dorrit
War of the Wolf
Sword of Kings
War Lord

Jeers:
The Great Deliverance
Friday's Child
Rules of Civility
Whispering Rock

The balance of the books were "average reads" (3-3.5 ratings)

What's up for June:
Finish The King's Mistress (May's ShakespeareCAT)
The Taste of Fear Scaredykit
Duval and the Infernal Machine (Napoleon's Police Book 1) Mysterykit-Historical Fiction
Finish the 1619 Project AuthorCAT non-fiction

Thank you for my freedom(s)!

115. The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman by Laurence Sterne. I'm trying to think of something nice to say, but I can't! This is a "novel" with chaotic form, sub-standard grammar, punctuation and spelling. Again, I don't know the author personally, but in this case he was long-winded. He digressed so much that I forgot what the point of the paragraph or even the sentence was--if there was a point. The entire novel was a series of digressions until I had no idea what the novel was about. It is advertised as "bawdy" humor, which I'm not opposed to--but nothing but downright trash here. Why oh why did I continue to read this? It's a compulsion to finish, I must S.T.O.P.! I thought certainly it would get better, after all, it's a classic! 735 pages 2 stars

>121 Tess_W: Just pulled this off my TBR shelf and dropping it in the donation pile. I may read the intro, just to get a sense of what a critic would consider its positive points, but I feel no need to read the text. Thanks!

>122 kac522: I feel bad! You might like it!

OH MY! I spent the first 5 months of this year reading Bernard Cornwell's series The Saxon Stories, renamed The Last Kingdom. This weekend I began to watch the Netflix series and OH MY! This is Uhtred of Bebbanburg! What a hunk o man meat!

>123 Tess_W: Absolutely do not feel bad--I recently read another review similar to yours--no need to waste my time, although I'd like to know why it's still a "classic." But I have no intention of reading 700+pages to find out.

I wasn't a fan of Friday's Child either. Too long and I didn't like the main characters. The Georgette Heyers with a title that's a woman's name are pretty reliable.

116. Started in February, but just finished today, The 1619 Project. I know this is hailed as the "ultimate," "true" story of slavery and how U.S. society evolved from this concept. I'm not opposed to the general notion of the book at all, being a history professor. However, being a professor I challenge some of the information contained therein, especially by the principal editor and writer, Hannah Jones. Ms. Jones makes several inaccurate statements that she believes are facts--and they are not! The most egregious error is that she claims the first slaves were brought to America in 1619. That is just false. The Spanish brought slaves to the U.S. (Florida) as early as the 1520's. (True, probably not African slaves, but those enslaved from the West Indies.) This I already knew, but to play fair, I did a modicum of research and found that my recollections were true. Once finding an error such as this, it makes the remainder of her article and in fact, the remainder of the book suspect. I do not have the time nor the inclination to do any further research; a good editor should have caught this. I will admit that in 1619 the first slaves were brought to the English colonies, but they were not the first slaves! I also take issue with her idea that slavery was a THE impetus for the War for Independence.....an entirely different subject! Do I think that more African-American history should be taught in the US? Absolutely! Before I retired from teaching full-time I always taught history of POC meshed with my State's content standards. In fact, my weekly chapter summary activity for the students included a paragraph for writing about the status of POC and women during the time period we studied. Although not agreeing with several major points in this book, I did enjoy it and am glad I read it. June AuthorCat non-fiction 3 stars

117. A State of Institutional Socialism: Government Subversion and the Imminent Threat to the National Security of the United States by C.A. Mullins Sorry, am unable to bring up the touchstone. This was a book that picked up national security history about 1927 when A. Gramsci (Italian philosopher) called for a communist revolution in the US. He said the U.S. required two things for this to occur: 1) organized left 2) the destruction of western Christian philosophy. I would say those two things are at present a reality. Mullins then goes on to examine many of the communist regimes, past and present: Angola, Venezuela, Cuba, China, and Laos/Vietnam. Each one of these "states", (regimes) has executed between 10-30% of the population in a cleansing effort. This would amount to between 10-85 million Americans--scary thought! Reading which made me remember history and gave me fodder for thought. 193 pages 4 stars

118. The King's Mistress by Emma Campion was a follow up to the biography, The Perfect King: The Life of Edward III, Father of the English Nation by Ian Mortimer. This is the story of Alice Perrers, real-life mistress of Edward III. The novel is well written with many accurate personages including Geoffrey Chaucer. As to the question the book raises: was Alice an opportunist or a woman who had few choices? I would posit the latter. Either way, a great read about the Plantagenets. 445 pages 5 stars CAT: ShakespeareCat May-Medieval Kings

119. You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle is basically a no-brainer book about 2 people who loved each other, didn't love each other and thought of ways to get out of the engagement and whilst doing so fell in love again. I listened to this on audio, equivalent to 367 pages. 3 stars--escapist stuff.

120. The Falling Away: Spiritual Departure of Physical Rapture?: A Second Look at 2 Thessalonians 2:3 by Andy Woods. This was really a look at 2 Greek words, aphestimi and apostasia, their literal translations, and their immediate and long-term contexts. This book was an argument for a physical departure. Researched and done very well. 54 pages 5 stars

121. The New York Times’ 1619 Project and the Racialist Falsification of History by Niles Niemuth. This is the refutation of the 1619 project. In theory, I agree with some of what is cited here; however, this book, published by the organized socialist platform, is also heavily biased that capitalism and the resulting wage gap vis-a'-vis social class is the true narrative of U.S. history. I can agree with that to some extent. However, I'm also a fan of capitalism and believe it is the best economic system that we have at the present, especially for the poor. Several articles contained within this book were nebulous and vague. However, many articles contained herein were from "heavy hitters" in the historical world. I believe the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle between the 1619 project and this refutation; both seem to be the extremes. I was surprised to discover that the main contributor to the 1619 project, Hannah-Jones, even admitted on Twitter that “the 1619 Project is not a history.” It is rather “about who gets to control the national narrative, and, therefore, the nation’s shared memory of itself.” I will agree (see my previous review), it's not accurate history, and that each person has their own view/narrative of history. I can agree with a forward comment that there were those reluctant to speak against the 1619 project as they would be labeled racist. 389 pages

122. The Nutmeg Tree by Marjory Sharp was a 1920's-1930's "romance", for lack of a better word. The setting is France and the protagonist is Julia, a free-spirited Great War widow who has left her daughter in the care of her paternal grandparents since she was 18 months old. The daughter is now 17 and wants to get married and her grandparents object. The daughter writes to her mother to come to her aid. Julia is off to see her daughter who she has not seen for 16 years. Julia learns a lot about herself. I never did find out why the title! (did I miss it?) Most of the book is Julia and her conversations with her daughter, son-in-law to be, her daughter's legal guardian, and her in-laws---yawn. 313 pages 2.5 stars

123. Food that Really Schmecks; Mennonite Country Cooking. I picked this up at an antique store. The published date is 1960. There appears to be some real winners in here, although most of the recipes seem to be heavy and will probably be autumn/winter recipes. I've had fun looking up some of the Mennonite terms: schmecks, clops, fafsa, Schnetke, just to name a few. Discovered they don't really eat things on a bun, like "we" do; such as burgers, sausage, etc. One bun is questionable but a 2-piece bun in sacrilegious! Great fun book! I understand there is an updated version (2010), but I have no need for an update! 369 pages 4 stars Rated only 4/5 because there are no pics and also at least 50% of the recipes are things I won't be trying--but that is personal preference.

124. On the Iron at Big Cloud is a book of 7 short stories by Frank L. Packard. Packard often wrote about the James G. Hill railroad and these stories are about incidents at said railroad. Nothing exciting, but they are time period pieces--my guess would be 1870-1890's in the Rockies, probably in Canada (as he is Canadian). The best of the lot was 'The Builder', about a strike where the trestle was blown up and a train was on its way. I read this on Project Gutenberg as I was unable to open my very old e-file. 3 stars

>134 Tess_W: That's a BB for me!

>135 rabbitprincess: It is fiction!

>136 Tess_W: Canadian fiction about trains written by an actual CP engineer ticks a lot of boxes for me :)

Thank you for your honest look at both The 1619 Project and its refutation. These issues are so worth getting out into the public arena and discussing, especially as current events have given voice to the ramifications of slavery across the generations. I had not realized, as an example, that not everyone can trace their grandparents or great-grandparents because of enslavement and erasing of names.

Things to ponder.

>138 threadnsong: I agree that these issues are important. I only wish they could be discussed civilly in the public arena!

>139 Tess_W: Yes ma'am!!

125. Miss Mackenzie by Anthony Trollope. I read this as a group read led by lyzard (75ers). This was the story of Miss Mackenzie, an "old maid" who inherited money and the suitors who materialized with her new found wealth. It had some Austenish humor, which is good if you like Austen. Not one of my favorite Trollope's.

126. Murder in Old Bombay by Nev March. A great whodunnit set in the 1890's in India with a touch of romance. This was based on a true story. 400 pages 4 stars CAT: June Mystery Cat (historical fiction)

The Ringo Starr and his All-Star Band concert has been cancelled for June 18! Second time! This time due to two band members having Covid. Supposed to be rescheduled for September--still no definitive date! The longer we wait the more gas is gonna cost! I will sit in my garden and read, instead! However, Columbus, Ohio, has a 'Shakespeare in the Park' series each summer which is a live performance and Thursday it is 'Hamlet Revisited', which is the "modern" version. I will see that, even though it is supposed to be 95 (F) that day! Hopefully it will cool down for the evening. I will be sure to take my mosquito spray! It is like a steam-bath here this week. Off to make some chicken salad with chicken I bought yesterday for half-price (best buy date was the day I bought it).

Historical fiction status update:
1. Read a work of historical fiction set in the country you’re from I'm going to count The Ocean Liner as the final destination was NYC. Also the story focused a lot on the Kennedy's, both on the boat and back in Massachusetts.

2. Read a work of historical fiction set in a different country to the one you’re from The King's Mistress (England)

3. Read a work of historical fiction set in your favourite historical time period to read about The Chilbury Ladies Choir (WWII)

4. Read a work of historical fiction set in a time period you’ll less familiar with Galileo's Daughter

5. Read a work of historical fiction with a speculative element The Fatherland.

6. Read a work of historical fiction about a real historical figure or a specific historical event Murder in Old Bombay is based on the deaths of the Godrej girls, a 100 year unsolved mystery
.
7. Read a classic work of historical fiction*** Going to be difficult as everybody's definition of "classic historical fiction" differs! I will probably read Gregory's White Queen as this is on several lists that I've searched on the net.

Bonus: Read a work of historical fiction of over 500 pages

Hi Tess, I also enjoyed The Chillbury Ladies Choir. I read Ryan's most recent book The Kitchen Front, also a WWII book, and liked it but maybe not quite as much. It looks like she wrote romances when she first started out but I haven't read any of those. I liked the Nev March book too and a sequel is coming out next month.

I understand your weather situation, we have the same. Although we are very used to hot weather this is earlier than usual and brutal with very high humidty. We've had extreme heat alerts the last few days...following about 10 inches of rain over the three days at the end of last week. I just heard on the news tonight it will begin to lower the next couple of days only to return at the end of the week! There's not much to do but stay inside. I went early this morning to the park I walk in every day and I was the only one there. Normally I walk 2.5 miles but had to stop at 2 and was soaking wet. Not sure I'll do it tomorrow. Take care!

Too bad about the cancelled concert! I hope the weather isn't too bad for reading.

>144 Tess_W: Congrats on doing so well with your historical fiction challenge! I remember liking The Chilbury Ladies' Choir as well.

127. Bride of New France by Suzanne Desrochers was based on the real-life young women who were sent by King Louis XIV from the orphanages and poor houses of Paris to settle and marry in Quebec in the 17th century. These women were known as the fille du roi. The novel was very limited in its scope but still delivered some interesting facts. Also a great social commentary of the times. 267 pages 4 stars

Sorry to hear about your cancelled concert but Shakespeare in the Park is good consolation! And I sympathize with you about your hot weather. Last year we had historic heat and suffered under a "heat dome", something I'd never heard of before. This year, we've had cool wet weather and I'm not complaining.

I believe I have Bride of New France around somewhere, so I'll take a BB on that one.

Hubby fell and hit his face/head on a metal window well. 25 stitches to forehead and eye lid. One eye swollen shut. Multiple bruises. 2nd day in hospital. I'm getting a lot of reading done. He will be using a walker for the remainder of his life. He will begin a diet/exercise program under my auspices when he gets home--per the doctor! He said I was encouraged to nag!;)

128. The White Queen by Philippa Gregory. This was a great historical fiction about Elizabeth Woodville, commoner who married Edward IV. She bore him 8 children (3 sons, 5 daughters) and also brought 2 stepsons to the marriage from her belated husband. Interesting take on the War of the Roses and the Yorks/Lancasters. I'm using this to fulfill my historical fiction challenge for "classic reads." I'm not really sure this is a classic historical fiction, but at least 3 lists had it listed as such. Good read! 464 pages 4 stars.

>150 Tess_W: Oh, Tess! I'm so sorry to hear this! Sending you best wishes for his recovery insofar as is possible and; fortitude and peace for you!

>150 Tess_W:. So sorry to hear of your husband’s fall. I hope he feels better and I hope he recovers under your “nagging”. Good luck with that. I do pray he recovers fast.

>147 christina_reads: TY!
>152 Tanya-dogearedcopy: TY!
>153 Kristelh: TY!

>150 Tess_W: So sorry to read of your hubby's fall. I hope he recovers as best he can.

>150 Tess_W: That fall sounds frightening and painful. Best wishes to your husband for a speedy recovery.

>150 Tess_W: Oh, that sounds frightening. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

>150 Tess_W: - Hope your hubby is better soon. Wish the doctor would tell me to nag my husband. :)

>155 DeltaQueen50: TY
>156 pamelad: TY
>157 MissWatson: TY
>158 dudes22: TY! Yes, it's a "dream come true" lol!

>150 Tess_W: Sorry to hear about the accident and I hope recovery goes well for both of you! Hearing of this was a learning experience for me, I had never heard of a window well! We don't have a lot of basements here though because it's so rocky.

>150 Tess_W: Oh my goodness, that sounds very frightening! I wish him a speedy recovery, and trust that Nurse Tess will be suitably strict but caring :)

Thank you all for your good wishes! The hospital situation here is dire; it was just awful!

129. Fatherland: A Novel by Robert Harris This was a speculative historical fiction (for my challenge). In this novel Germany won the war, Hitler is 75 and living well. An inspector is investigating a murder, who he found was a Nazi officer and the tables turn when the Nazi officer goes after the investigator. The Reich was killing members of the Wannsee Conference so that they could establish better relations with the U.S. Not my type of book, but I persevered for the challenge--which I have completed except for the 500 plus page book---I'm working on that! The book has so many characters and I wasn't real interested and I sorta lost track of who was who and on what "side!" Meh, probably wrong book at the wrong time. 2.5 stars 352 pages

>150 Tess_W: Oh no! Hope your husband recovers quickly!

>150 Tess_W: Sorry about your husband's fall. I hope the walker provides the stability he needs.

>151 Tess_W: I know that one is on my TBR list. Not sure when I'll get around to it, but maybe after my reading mojo returns full force, I can tackle it.

>165 rabbitprincess:
>166 thornton37814:

Thank you all so much for the good wishes! I hope I didn't miss somebody, but I'm sure I did! Hubby seems to be adjusting well, but his walker won't be here for 2-3 days so he's not walking, yet; hence, no nagging!

>166 thornton37814: It is a very easy read!

Historical fiction challenge update/status:

Historical fiction status update:
1. Read a work of historical fiction set in the country you’re from I'm going to count The Ocean Liner as the final destination was NYC. Also the story focused a lot on the Kennedy's, both on the boat and back in Massachusetts.

2. Read a work of historical fiction set in a different country to the one you’re from The King's Mistress (England)

3. Read a work of historical fiction set in your favourite historical time period to read about The Chilbury Ladies Choir (WWII)

4. Read a work of historical fiction set in a time period you’ll less familiar with Galileo's Daughter

5. Read a work of historical fiction with a speculative element The Fatherland.

6. Read a work of historical fiction about a real historical figure or a specific historical event Murder in Old Bombay is based on the deaths of the Godrej girls, a 100 year unsolved mystery
.
7. Read a classic work of historical fiction*** Going to be difficult as everybody's definition of "classic historical fiction" differs! I read Gregory's White Queen as this is on several lists that I've searched on the net.

Bonus: Read a work of historical fiction of over 500 pages

So I have completed the challenge. I'm going to read a work of historical fiction of over 500 pages in a few weeks when I finish two other books I'm currently reading. (The Fountains of Silence).

Thanks to kathy for posting this! Historical fiction is my favorite genre.

So sorry to hear of your husband's accident. It's the third serious fall I've heard about in two days. The other two required surgery, one was also a facial injury. All my best, I hope he recovers quickly (so that you can begin your doctor's order).

>168 Tess_W: Congrats on finishing this challenge! I'm still working on it.

>169 VivienneR:
>170 MissWatson:

TY TY TY!

130. The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan Set in 1942, this historical fiction novel was based on a real BBC radio program, The Kitchen Front. The purpose of the program was to promote the creative use of wartime rations, aimed at British housewives struggling to feed their families when so many basics just aren’t to be had. The competition is open to professional cooks, and the prize is a co-hosting role on the radio program. There are four different women competing for the job and the book encompasses their personal lives and challenges. The story is heartwarming without being overly sugary. I enjoyed it as a slice of WWII which I had not read about before. 408 pages 4.5 stars

>172 Tess_W: Glad to see you liked this, I did too!

So I have been on a book diet in 2022 for the most part. I fell off the wagon, slightly, today. I did not buy any books for my Thingaversary in December 2021. This weekend I attended a few estate sales and got a couple of good offers from Kindle. I had an Amazon gift certificate (since December of 2021) burning a hole in my pocket....so here are my purchases:
The Lost Letter: A Victorian Romance
The Apothecary Rose: The Owen Archer Series - Book One
The Golden Collar
The Meetinghouse Tragedy: An Episode in the Life of a New England Town
The Traitor's Wife
Death of a Russian Priest (Inspector Porfiry Rostnikov Mysteries Book 8)
DUPLICITY: A compelling Scottish murder mystery (Detective Inspector Munro murder mysteries Book 4)
ENMITY: An enthralling Scottish murder mystery (Detective Inspector Munro murder mysteries Book 3)
AVARICE: Gripping Scottish detective crime fiction (Detective Inspector Munro murder mysteries Book 2)
A Suitable Boy at long last in ebook form that I can read!

Spent only a little over $25, many bargains! Now, to read them!

Enjoy your haul!

Hooray for new books! I also picked up The Lost Letter but haven't started it yet.

Brilliant! And great that you were able to get A Suitable Boy on ebook - no more achy wrists!

After being pretty successful last year with chipping away at Mt TBR, I've really struggled this year so far. Although to be fair to me, quite a few of the books I've acquired have been preorders from ages ago, and also it was my birthday this month and my family and friends were *very* generous! (I'm not complaining!)

>174 Tess_W: That's a good haul for $25. Happy Reading!

>175 MissWatson:
>176 christina_reads:
>177 Jackie_K:

I actually got the 3 Scottish detective/mystery books for 10 cents each!

Great haul of books! And bargains too!

131. The Wrong Family by Tarryn Fisher This was my first psychological thriller by this author. The beginning was a bit slow but the tension did increase. No plot summary because anything I post could be ruinous to the prospective reader. 305 pages 3.5 stars I will look for more from this author.

June recap:

Books read: 16

Cheers: (4-5 stars)
The King's Mistress
The Falling Away: Spiritual Departure of Physical Rapture?: A Second Look at 2 Thessalonians 2:3
Murder in Old Bombay
Bride of New France
The Kitchen Front
The White Queen

Jeers (less than 3 stars)
The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman
The Nutmeg Tree

All other's average/mediocre/slightly above average (3, 3.5)