1Zozette
My Year of S & M
Hi, my name is Lynette and No, I am not into kink so none of what I will reading will be ‘those sort of books’.
Instead this year my reading challenge is going to be brought to you by the letters S and M. This is because my favourite fiction genres are Science fiction and Mysteries.
So I will start with the letter S and then go onto M.
1) Science Fiction which may also include biographies of science fiction authors.
2) Science including ‘The Science of…….’ books and also biographies of scientists. Also includes medical themed books.
3) Secret Lives/Life ….any book with this is its title. Fiction and non-fiction.
4) Shakespeare inspired novels.
5) Senior citizens. Any novel that has a person over 65 (my age) as a main character.
6) Street Libraries - which are known as Little Free Libraries in the USA but Street Libraries in some parts of Australia. Any book I find in a street library.
7) Survival Stories. Fiction and non-fiction
8) Sea/Marine. Non-Fiction and fiction.
9) Mysteries and Murder. This can include true crime if it is about a murder/s. I imagine I will be reading a few Medieval Mysteries.
10) Musical themed. Fiction and non-fiction.
11) Middle-grade books.
12) Museums . Non-fiction books about museums, or novels where a museum is an important location.
13 Microhistory
14) Miscellaneous S and M. Maps, mathematics, steampunk, books translated from Spanish etc etc etc
There will certainly be some overlapping of categories. Such as murder mysteries at sea, or murder mysteries solved by senior citizens, survival stories at sea, Shakespeare inspired science fiction etc etc
PHOTO - my favourite street library, taken off Google Earth. I will try to get a better photo when I next visit it.
Hi, my name is Lynette and No, I am not into kink so none of what I will reading will be ‘those sort of books’.
Instead this year my reading challenge is going to be brought to you by the letters S and M. This is because my favourite fiction genres are Science fiction and Mysteries.
So I will start with the letter S and then go onto M.
1) Science Fiction which may also include biographies of science fiction authors.
2) Science including ‘The Science of…….’ books and also biographies of scientists. Also includes medical themed books.
3) Secret Lives/Life ….any book with this is its title. Fiction and non-fiction.
4) Shakespeare inspired novels.
5) Senior citizens. Any novel that has a person over 65 (my age) as a main character.
6) Street Libraries - which are known as Little Free Libraries in the USA but Street Libraries in some parts of Australia. Any book I find in a street library.
7) Survival Stories. Fiction and non-fiction
8) Sea/Marine. Non-Fiction and fiction.
9) Mysteries and Murder. This can include true crime if it is about a murder/s. I imagine I will be reading a few Medieval Mysteries.
10) Musical themed. Fiction and non-fiction.
11) Middle-grade books.
12) Museums . Non-fiction books about museums, or novels where a museum is an important location.
13 Microhistory
14) Miscellaneous S and M. Maps, mathematics, steampunk, books translated from Spanish etc etc etc
There will certainly be some overlapping of categories. Such as murder mysteries at sea, or murder mysteries solved by senior citizens, survival stories at sea, Shakespeare inspired science fiction etc etc
PHOTO - my favourite street library, taken off Google Earth. I will try to get a better photo when I next visit it.
2Zozette
Category 1- SCIENCE FICTION
1) William Shakespeare’s Star Wars by Ian Doescher 4/5
2) The Great Martian War: Invasion by Scott Washburn 4/5
3) The Left Hand of Dog by Si Clarke 4/5
4) The Tusks of Extinction by Ray Nayler 4/5
5) Venomous Lumpsucker by Ned Beauman 4.5/5
6) Four Day Planet by H Beam Piper 3/5
7) The Great Martian War: Breakthrough by Scott Washburn 4/5
8) Extinction by Douglas Preston 3.5/5
9) The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield 4/5
10) The Great Martian War: Counterattack by Scott Washburn 4/5
11) The Men by Sandra Newman 2/5
12) The Man Who Ended the World by Jason Gurley 4/5
13) Hard Landing by Algis Budrys 4/5
14) The Merry Men of the Riverworld by John Gregory Betancourt 4/5
15) The Great Martian War: The Gathering Storm by Scott Washburn 4.5/5
16) Reduce! Reuse! Recycle! by TJ Kline 4.5/5
17) The Angel of Vengeance by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child 4.5/5
18) Not Till We Are Lost by Dennis E Taylor 4.5/5
19) The Scarlet Plague by Jack London 4/5
20) Honeymoon in Hell by Fredric Brown 4/5
SUBCATEGORY - biographies of sci-fi writers
1) Becoming Superman by J. Michael Straczynski 5/5
1) William Shakespeare’s Star Wars by Ian Doescher 4/5
2) The Great Martian War: Invasion by Scott Washburn 4/5
3) The Left Hand of Dog by Si Clarke 4/5
4) The Tusks of Extinction by Ray Nayler 4/5
5) Venomous Lumpsucker by Ned Beauman 4.5/5
6) Four Day Planet by H Beam Piper 3/5
7) The Great Martian War: Breakthrough by Scott Washburn 4/5
8) Extinction by Douglas Preston 3.5/5
9) The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield 4/5
10) The Great Martian War: Counterattack by Scott Washburn 4/5
11) The Men by Sandra Newman 2/5
12) The Man Who Ended the World by Jason Gurley 4/5
13) Hard Landing by Algis Budrys 4/5
14) The Merry Men of the Riverworld by John Gregory Betancourt 4/5
15) The Great Martian War: The Gathering Storm by Scott Washburn 4.5/5
16) Reduce! Reuse! Recycle! by TJ Kline 4.5/5
17) The Angel of Vengeance by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child 4.5/5
18) Not Till We Are Lost by Dennis E Taylor 4.5/5
19) The Scarlet Plague by Jack London 4/5
20) Honeymoon in Hell by Fredric Brown 4/5
SUBCATEGORY - biographies of sci-fi writers
1) Becoming Superman by J. Michael Straczynski 5/5
3Zozette
Category 2 - SCIENCE
1) Medical Downfall of the Tudors by Sylvia Barbara Soberton. 4/5
2) The Ruby Princess by Duncan McNab 3.5/5
3) The Secret Lives of Planets by Paul Murdin 3.5/5
4) The Secret Life of Fungi by Aliya Whiteley 4/5
5) Patient Zero by Marilee Peters 4/5
6) Around the world in 80 Birds by Mark Unwin 4/5
7) Around the Ocean in 80 Fish and other Sea Life by scales Helen Scales
8) Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine 4/5
9) On the Origin of Evolution by John and Mary Gribbin 4/5
10) The Secret life of Lobsters by Trevor Carson 3.5/5
11) Scourge: The Once and Future Threat of Smallpox by Jonathan B Tucker 3.5/5
12) Dr Mütter’s Marvels by Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz 4.5/5
13) Moon Shot by Alan Shepherd, Deke Slayton et al 4/5
SCIENCE OF ……BOOKS
1) The Science of Jurassic World by Mark Brake 4/5
2) Fire, Ice and Physics: The Science of Game of Thrones by Rebecca C. Thompson 4.5/5
1) Medical Downfall of the Tudors by Sylvia Barbara Soberton. 4/5
2) The Ruby Princess by Duncan McNab 3.5/5
3) The Secret Lives of Planets by Paul Murdin 3.5/5
4) The Secret Life of Fungi by Aliya Whiteley 4/5
5) Patient Zero by Marilee Peters 4/5
6) Around the world in 80 Birds by Mark Unwin 4/5
7) Around the Ocean in 80 Fish and other Sea Life by scales Helen Scales
8) Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine 4/5
9) On the Origin of Evolution by John and Mary Gribbin 4/5
10) The Secret life of Lobsters by Trevor Carson 3.5/5
11) Scourge: The Once and Future Threat of Smallpox by Jonathan B Tucker 3.5/5
12) Dr Mütter’s Marvels by Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz 4.5/5
13) Moon Shot by Alan Shepherd, Deke Slayton et al 4/5
SCIENCE OF ……BOOKS
1) The Science of Jurassic World by Mark Brake 4/5
2) Fire, Ice and Physics: The Science of Game of Thrones by Rebecca C. Thompson 4.5/5
4Zozette
Category 3 - SECRET LIVES/LIFE
1) Secret Lives by Mark De Castrique 4/5
2) The Secret Lives of Planets by Paul Murdin 3.5/5
3) The Secret life of Fungi by Aliya Whiteley 4/5
4) The Secret Life of Lobsters by Trevor Carson 3.5/5
5) The Secret Lives of Bats by Merlin Tuttle 5/5
1) Secret Lives by Mark De Castrique 4/5
2) The Secret Lives of Planets by Paul Murdin 3.5/5
3) The Secret life of Fungi by Aliya Whiteley 4/5
4) The Secret Life of Lobsters by Trevor Carson 3.5/5
5) The Secret Lives of Bats by Merlin Tuttle 5/5
5Zozette
Category 4 - SHAKESPEARE INSPIRED NOVELS
1) William Shakespeare’s Star Wars by Ian Doescher 4/5
2) Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell 4.5/5
3) William Shakespeare’s Star Wars: The Empire Striketh Back by Ian Doescher 4/5
4) William Shakespeare’s Star Wars: The Jedi Doth Return by Ian Doescher 4/5
5) Shakespeare: The World as Stage by Bill Bryson 4/5
1) William Shakespeare’s Star Wars by Ian Doescher 4/5
2) Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell 4.5/5
3) William Shakespeare’s Star Wars: The Empire Striketh Back by Ian Doescher 4/5
4) William Shakespeare’s Star Wars: The Jedi Doth Return by Ian Doescher 4/5
5) Shakespeare: The World as Stage by Bill Bryson 4/5
6Zozette
Category 5 - SENIOR CITIZENS
1) Secret Lives by Mark De Castrique 4/5
2) Dangerous Women by Mark De Castrique 4/5
3) Three Things About Elsie by Joanna Cannon 4/5
4) The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway 4/5
1) Secret Lives by Mark De Castrique 4/5
2) Dangerous Women by Mark De Castrique 4/5
3) Three Things About Elsie by Joanna Cannon 4/5
4) The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway 4/5
7Zozette
Category 6 - STREET LIBRARIES
1) Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer 4/5
2) Kingdom by Clive Cussler and Grant Blackwood 3.5/5
3) This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel 4/5
4) Artemis Fowl and the Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer 3.5/5
5) The Book of Heroic Failures by Stephen Pile 3.5/5
6) The Darkest Evening by Ann Cleeves 4/5
7) Murder in my Backyard by Ann Cleeves 4/5
1) Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer 4/5
2) Kingdom by Clive Cussler and Grant Blackwood 3.5/5
3) This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel 4/5
4) Artemis Fowl and the Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer 3.5/5
5) The Book of Heroic Failures by Stephen Pile 3.5/5
6) The Darkest Evening by Ann Cleeves 4/5
7) Murder in my Backyard by Ann Cleeves 4/5
8Zozette
SURVIVAL STORIES
1) Society of the Snow by Pablo Vierci. There doesn’t seem to be a touchstone for the English edition of this book, which was only released last month. Excellent book 5/5.
2) 438 Days by Jonathan Franklin 4/5
3) How to Survive History by Cody Cassidy 4/5
4) The Man Who Refused to Die by Barry Wynne 4/5
5) The Indifferent Stars Above by Daniel James Brown 4.5/5
1) Society of the Snow by Pablo Vierci. There doesn’t seem to be a touchstone for the English edition of this book, which was only released last month. Excellent book 5/5.
2) 438 Days by Jonathan Franklin 4/5
3) How to Survive History by Cody Cassidy 4/5
4) The Man Who Refused to Die by Barry Wynne 4/5
5) The Indifferent Stars Above by Daniel James Brown 4.5/5
9Zozette
Category 8 - SEA/MARINE
1) Madhouse at the End of the Earth by Julian Sancton 4/5
2) The White Ship by Charles Spencer 4/5
3) The Ruby Princess by Duncan McMab 3.5/5
4) Sea Hunters: Shonisaurus by William Meikle 3/5
5) The History of the World in Twelve Shipwrecks by David Gibbins 4/5
6) Around the Ocean in 80 Fish and other Sea Life by Helen Scales 4.5/5
7) Oceanarium by P.K.Hawkins 3/5
8) The Secret Life of Lobsters by Terry Corson 3.5/5
9) The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway 4/5
1) Madhouse at the End of the Earth by Julian Sancton 4/5
2) The White Ship by Charles Spencer 4/5
3) The Ruby Princess by Duncan McMab 3.5/5
4) Sea Hunters: Shonisaurus by William Meikle 3/5
5) The History of the World in Twelve Shipwrecks by David Gibbins 4/5
6) Around the Ocean in 80 Fish and other Sea Life by Helen Scales 4.5/5
7) Oceanarium by P.K.Hawkins 3/5
8) The Secret Life of Lobsters by Terry Corson 3.5/5
9) The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway 4/5
10Zozette
Category 9- MYSTERIES and MURDER
1) Murder at the Tower of London by Jim Eldridge 3.5/5
2) The Ninth Grave by Stefan Ahnhem 3/5
3) Exit Strategy by Jen J. Danna 3.5/5
4) Murder at the Louvre by Jim Eldridge 4/5
5) The Dark by Emma Haughton 3.5/5
6) America’s First Female Serial Killer by Mary Kay McBrayer 2.5/5
7) Rather Be the Devil by Ian Rankin 3.5/5
8) Secret Lives by Mark De Castrique 4/5
9) Dangerous Women by Mark De Castrique 4/5
10) Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie 3.5/5
11) Extinction by Douglas Preston 3.5/5
12) Dark Fire by CJ Sansom 4/5
13) The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield 4/5
14) Sovereign by CJ Sansom 4/5
15) Revelation by C.J. Sansom 4/5
16) Heartstone by C.J. Sansom 4/5
17) Night Train to Napier by Wendy M Wilson 4/5
18) The Husband Poisoner by Tanya Bretherton 4/5
19) Harold Shipman by Ryan Green 3/5
20) Three Things About Elsie by Joanna Cannon 4/5
21) The Bad Seed by William March 4/5
22) Purrfect Murder by Nic Saint 4/5
23) Purrfectly Deadly by Nic Saint 3/5
24) Come to Kill by Wendy M Wilson 4/5
25) Murdering Mr Edwards by Shawn L Bird 4/5
26) Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz 4.5/5
27) Golden Tresses of the Dead by Alan Bradley 4/5
28) What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust by Alan Bradley 4/5
29) Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz 4/5
30) Murder in my Backyard by Ann Cleeves 3/5
31) The Darkest Evening by Ann Cleeves 4/5
32) The Clocks by Agatha Christie 3/5
1) Murder at the Tower of London by Jim Eldridge 3.5/5
2) The Ninth Grave by Stefan Ahnhem 3/5
3) Exit Strategy by Jen J. Danna 3.5/5
4) Murder at the Louvre by Jim Eldridge 4/5
5) The Dark by Emma Haughton 3.5/5
6) America’s First Female Serial Killer by Mary Kay McBrayer 2.5/5
7) Rather Be the Devil by Ian Rankin 3.5/5
8) Secret Lives by Mark De Castrique 4/5
9) Dangerous Women by Mark De Castrique 4/5
10) Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie 3.5/5
11) Extinction by Douglas Preston 3.5/5
12) Dark Fire by CJ Sansom 4/5
13) The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield 4/5
14) Sovereign by CJ Sansom 4/5
15) Revelation by C.J. Sansom 4/5
16) Heartstone by C.J. Sansom 4/5
17) Night Train to Napier by Wendy M Wilson 4/5
18) The Husband Poisoner by Tanya Bretherton 4/5
19) Harold Shipman by Ryan Green 3/5
20) Three Things About Elsie by Joanna Cannon 4/5
21) The Bad Seed by William March 4/5
22) Purrfect Murder by Nic Saint 4/5
23) Purrfectly Deadly by Nic Saint 3/5
24) Come to Kill by Wendy M Wilson 4/5
25) Murdering Mr Edwards by Shawn L Bird 4/5
26) Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz 4.5/5
27) Golden Tresses of the Dead by Alan Bradley 4/5
28) What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust by Alan Bradley 4/5
29) Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz 4/5
30) Murder in my Backyard by Ann Cleeves 3/5
31) The Darkest Evening by Ann Cleeves 4/5
32) The Clocks by Agatha Christie 3/5
11Zozette
Category 10- MUSICAL THEMED
1) Society’s Child by Janis Ian 4.5/5
2) Musicophilia by Oliver Sacks 4/5
3) The Shoe Bird by Samuel Jones 4/5
4) Davutus, Time Travelling Musician by David Phillips 2/5
1) Society’s Child by Janis Ian 4.5/5
2) Musicophilia by Oliver Sacks 4/5
3) The Shoe Bird by Samuel Jones 4/5
4) Davutus, Time Travelling Musician by David Phillips 2/5
12Zozette
Category 11 - MIDDLE GRADE
1) Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer 4/5
2) Bookshop at the Back of Beyond 4/5 by Amy Sparkes
3) Artemis Fowl and the Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer 3.5/5
4) The Lighthouse at the World’s End by Amy Sparkes 3.5/5
5) Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones 3.5/5
6) Time Cat by Lloyd Alexander 3.5/5
7) Attica by Garry Kilworth 3.5/5
8) The 113th Assistant Librarian by Stuart Wilson 4/5
1) Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer 4/5
2) Bookshop at the Back of Beyond 4/5 by Amy Sparkes
3) Artemis Fowl and the Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer 3.5/5
4) The Lighthouse at the World’s End by Amy Sparkes 3.5/5
5) Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones 3.5/5
6) Time Cat by Lloyd Alexander 3.5/5
7) Attica by Garry Kilworth 3.5/5
8) The 113th Assistant Librarian by Stuart Wilson 4/5
13Zozette
Category 12 - MUSEUMS
1) Murder at the Tower of London by Jim Eldridge. 9th book in The Museum Detectives series. 3.5/5
2) Murder at the Louvre by Jim Eldridge. 10th book in the Museum Detective series 4/5
3) Dr Mütter’s Marvels by Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz 4.5/5
4) The Louvre: The Many Lives of the World’s Most Famous Museum by James Gardner 4/5
1) Murder at the Tower of London by Jim Eldridge. 9th book in The Museum Detectives series. 3.5/5
2) Murder at the Louvre by Jim Eldridge. 10th book in the Museum Detective series 4/5
3) Dr Mütter’s Marvels by Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz 4.5/5
4) The Louvre: The Many Lives of the World’s Most Famous Museum by James Gardner 4/5
14Zozette
Category 13 - MICROHISTORY
1) Dress Codes: How the Laws of Fashion Made History by Richard Thompson Ford. 3.5/5
2) The History of the World in Twelve Shipwrecks by David Gibbins 4/5
3) Caffeine by Michael Pollan 3.5/5
4) Australian Code Breakers by James Phelps 3.5/5
5) The Louvre: The Many Lives of the World’s Most Famous Museum no James Gardner 4/5
1) Dress Codes: How the Laws of Fashion Made History by Richard Thompson Ford. 3.5/5
2) The History of the World in Twelve Shipwrecks by David Gibbins 4/5
3) Caffeine by Michael Pollan 3.5/5
4) Australian Code Breakers by James Phelps 3.5/5
5) The Louvre: The Many Lives of the World’s Most Famous Museum no James Gardner 4/5
15Zozette
Category 14 - MISCELLANEOUS S and M
SUBTERRANEAN- The Anomaly by Michael Rutger. 3.5/5
MYTHICAL BEINGS - Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree 4/5
MISOGYNY/MANOSPHERE - Men Who Hate Women by Laura Bates 4/5
MAGICAL REALISM - Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman 4.5/5
SLEEPING BEAUTY RETELLING - Thornhedge by T Kingfisher 4.5/5
MAGICAL REALISM - A Short Walk Through the Wide World by Douglas Westerbeke 4/5
SPLATTERPUNK - Slugs by Shaun Hutson 4/5
SHORTY SEPTEMBER - The Tiny Wife by Andrew Kaufman 4.5/5
SHORTY SEPTEMBER - The Night Guest by Hildur Knutsdottir 4/5
SHORTY SEPTEMBER - The Metamorphosis 5/5
SHORTY SEPTEMBER - Fractured Fairy Tales 4/5
SEQUEL - Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune 4/5
SUBTERRANEAN- The Anomaly by Michael Rutger. 3.5/5
MYTHICAL BEINGS - Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree 4/5
MISOGYNY/MANOSPHERE - Men Who Hate Women by Laura Bates 4/5
MAGICAL REALISM - Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman 4.5/5
SLEEPING BEAUTY RETELLING - Thornhedge by T Kingfisher 4.5/5
MAGICAL REALISM - A Short Walk Through the Wide World by Douglas Westerbeke 4/5
SPLATTERPUNK - Slugs by Shaun Hutson 4/5
SHORTY SEPTEMBER - The Tiny Wife by Andrew Kaufman 4.5/5
SHORTY SEPTEMBER - The Night Guest by Hildur Knutsdottir 4/5
SHORTY SEPTEMBER - The Metamorphosis 5/5
SHORTY SEPTEMBER - Fractured Fairy Tales 4/5
SEQUEL - Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune 4/5
16lowelibrary
Interesting categories this year. Good luck with your 2024 reading.
18DeltaQueen50
You have come up with some interesting themes. Have fun with your challenges!
22MissWatson
That is a great idea! Happy reading in 2024!
23MissBrangwen
What a unique idea! I'm especially looking forward to seeing what you read for category 13.
24JayneCM
This looks like lots of fun and very interesting. I'm sure there will be lots of BBs in here for me.
Happy reading in 2024!
Happy reading in 2024!
25rabbitprincess
Have a great reading year! What an excellent theme!
27Zozette
Thanks everyone for your encouraging comments.
I bought myself an Advent Crime Fiction Book Box which contains 24 individually wrapped books that I can open one a day from December 1. I hope there are more than a few books among these books that I will enjoy reading.
I also have bought 50 books at the Audible state wide sale, total cost was $US200.06.
I bought myself an Advent Crime Fiction Book Box which contains 24 individually wrapped books that I can open one a day from December 1. I hope there are more than a few books among these books that I will enjoy reading.
I also have bought 50 books at the Audible state wide sale, total cost was $US200.06.
28mstrust
Wow, I'd never heard of a crime advent and it sounds like fun. Sounds like you've stocked up for the year!
29christina_reads
>27 Zozette: An advent calendar with BOOKS! What a brilliant idea!
30VivienneR
>27 Zozette: What a terrific idea!
31JayneCM
>27 Zozette: Every year I am SO tempted by the bookgrocer advent books! I hope you find some treasures in there - I would be interested to see if you are happy with the choices they make.
32Zozette
>31 JayneCM:
This is the first year I have bought an advent box and it took me a couple of weeks to reach the decision to buy one. I will post a photo of the opened box tomorrow and show what my first book is. I will then again a week later and show the next seven books.
This is the first year I have bought an advent box and it took me a couple of weeks to reach the decision to buy one. I will post a photo of the opened box tomorrow and show what my first book is. I will then again a week later and show the next seven books.
33Zozette
It is Dec 1 in Australia so I opened the box and unwrapped the first book
Say Goodbye by Karen Rose has a 4.05 rating here on LibraryThing. The cost of the book on Amazon AU is $11.89. It is the third book in a series, though it seems it can be read as a standalone. One of its tags is Romance Suspense which is a sub-genre I don’t enjoy. I think therefore this is going into my pile of books I plan to leave at a street library in exchange for something I will enjoy more.
Say Goodbye by Karen Rose has a 4.05 rating here on LibraryThing. The cost of the book on Amazon AU is $11.89. It is the third book in a series, though it seems it can be read as a standalone. One of its tags is Romance Suspense which is a sub-genre I don’t enjoy. I think therefore this is going into my pile of books I plan to leave at a street library in exchange for something I will enjoy more.
34VivienneR
It's a hefty book too. I don't care much for most big books - unless they're history or something special. I've never even heard of Romantic Suspense.
35dudes22
I have to admit to being somewhat jealous of an advent book box. I went to look at a description of the book and saw the word "cult" in the first sentence and thought, "Nope - not for me" and went no further.
36JayneCM
>33 Zozette: Receiving a book that was third in a series would frustrate me. I hope you get some winners in the box.
37Tess_W
>27 Zozette: Book advent box--great idea! I also purchased several dozen books at the Audible sale at 50-75% off, most costing between $1.99-2.99. I like having them at my fingertips and not having to wait on them from the library--they were all on my WL.
38Zozette
I have so unwrapped 5 more books.
The Devil’s Advocate by Steve Cavanagh, 5th in series
Hostage by Clare Mackintosh, Standalone
Cold Justice by Ant Middleton,1st in series
Rather Be the Devil By Ian Rankin 21st in series
What You Want to See by Kristen Lepionka, 2nd in series.
I don’t mind the Ian Rankin book being 21st in series. I have read a couple of books in the series in the past after picking them up second hand. I also remember watching some episodes of the Rebus TV series.
The Devil’s Advocate by Steve Cavanagh, 5th in series
Hostage by Clare Mackintosh, Standalone
Cold Justice by Ant Middleton,1st in series
Rather Be the Devil By Ian Rankin 21st in series
What You Want to See by Kristen Lepionka, 2nd in series.
I don’t mind the Ian Rankin book being 21st in series. I have read a couple of books in the series in the past after picking them up second hand. I also remember watching some episodes of the Rebus TV series.
40Zozette
Yes, I will post photos of the next few in a couple of days time. So far I have opened up 10 books. I have been very happy about 2 of them, reasonably pleased with another 4, iffy about 2 of them and 2 of them don’t appeal to me at all. If this continues I will certainly get my money’s worth and more.
41Zozette
Books 7 to 11.
Seven Lies by Elizabeth Kay. Gets a 3.56 here. I don’t think I will be reading this one.
The Ninth Grave by Stefan Ahnhem. 3.61 stars. I usually like Nordic mysteries so I will reading this one.
The Dark by Emma Haughton. 3.31 stars. Closed circle mystery set in Antarctica. A certainty for me.
Rogue Asset by Andy McDermott. 3.67 stars. A No for me.
Wild Card by Michael Brandman. 3.38 stars. i will read this one.
By time I had unwrapped 9 books, the value of the books had added up to the amount I paid for the box (going on the prices at Amazon Australia).
Seven Lies by Elizabeth Kay. Gets a 3.56 here. I don’t think I will be reading this one.
The Ninth Grave by Stefan Ahnhem. 3.61 stars. I usually like Nordic mysteries so I will reading this one.
The Dark by Emma Haughton. 3.31 stars. Closed circle mystery set in Antarctica. A certainty for me.
Rogue Asset by Andy McDermott. 3.67 stars. A No for me.
Wild Card by Michael Brandman. 3.38 stars. i will read this one.
By time I had unwrapped 9 books, the value of the books had added up to the amount I paid for the box (going on the prices at Amazon Australia).
42MissBrangwen
>41 Zozette: I read The Dark last year and despite some flaws I really enjoyed it! The setting is fascinating and depicted very well.
45beccac220
I have to admit...I was curious what the "S" and "M" stood for.
All of your categories sound very interesting. Look forward to what you read this year!
All of your categories sound very interesting. Look forward to what you read this year!
46lindapanzo
Love the S and M theme. It happens that my two favorite kinds of reading are Sports and Mysteries. Hmmm.
47Zozette
Photo of the 24 books I ended up getting in the mystery box. I really enjoyed unwrapping the books each day and I think I got my money’s worth. I might buy another one in November.
48Zozette
First book of 2024
category - SURVIVAL STORIES
Society of the Snow by Pablo Vierci. There doesn’t seem to be a touchstone yet for the English edition of this book so I have link to the Spanish edition.
This is the 9th book I have read about the Andes Survivors. Of the first 8 books I rated Alive by Piers Paul Read and Miracle of the Andes by Nando Parrado the highest but I think that this book surpasses both of those books. It is the saddest, most moving of all the 9 books. The author interviewed all 16 of the survivors and each of them has a chapter of his own. I especially liked the chapters about Bobby Francois, Alvaro Mangino, Roy Harley and Moncho Sabella as the other books had not covered much of which came to light in their chapters. First published in Spanish in 2009 I have waited years for an English translation which was finally released last month.
For anyone who has not read any book about the Andes Survivors I would recommend reading ‘Alive’ first and follow it up with this book. 5/5.
category - SURVIVAL STORIES
Society of the Snow by Pablo Vierci. There doesn’t seem to be a touchstone yet for the English edition of this book so I have link to the Spanish edition.
This is the 9th book I have read about the Andes Survivors. Of the first 8 books I rated Alive by Piers Paul Read and Miracle of the Andes by Nando Parrado the highest but I think that this book surpasses both of those books. It is the saddest, most moving of all the 9 books. The author interviewed all 16 of the survivors and each of them has a chapter of his own. I especially liked the chapters about Bobby Francois, Alvaro Mangino, Roy Harley and Moncho Sabella as the other books had not covered much of which came to light in their chapters. First published in Spanish in 2009 I have waited years for an English translation which was finally released last month.
For anyone who has not read any book about the Andes Survivors I would recommend reading ‘Alive’ first and follow it up with this book. 5/5.
49Zozette
2nd book finished in 2024
categories - SHAKESPEARE INSPIRED and SCIENCE FICTION.
William Shakespeare’s Star Wars: Verily, a New Hope by Ian Doescher.
The story of Star Wars told as if William Shakespeare had written it. It was a lot of fun. I listened to the audio version and it was fun, I especially adored little R2D2. I plan to read the next book The Empire Striketh Back soon. 4/5
categories - SHAKESPEARE INSPIRED and SCIENCE FICTION.
William Shakespeare’s Star Wars: Verily, a New Hope by Ian Doescher.
The story of Star Wars told as if William Shakespeare had written it. It was a lot of fun. I listened to the audio version and it was fun, I especially adored little R2D2. I plan to read the next book The Empire Striketh Back soon. 4/5
50Tess_W
>48 Zozette: Thank you for your review. I've always been interested in that event and have indeed read Alive. I have put it on my WL!
51Zozette
Book number 3-
categories - MURDER AND MYSTERIES and MUSEUMS
Murder at the Tower of London by Jim Eldridge. Ninth book in the Museum Detectives series. The year is 1899 and a beefeater is murdered in the Tower of London and his body is hidden in a suit of armour. The Prince of Wales asks Daniel and Abigail to investigate. I did not enjoy this book as much as some of the previous books in the series. 3.5/5
categories - MURDER AND MYSTERIES and MUSEUMS
Murder at the Tower of London by Jim Eldridge. Ninth book in the Museum Detectives series. The year is 1899 and a beefeater is murdered in the Tower of London and his body is hidden in a suit of armour. The Prince of Wales asks Daniel and Abigail to investigate. I did not enjoy this book as much as some of the previous books in the series. 3.5/5
52Zozette
Book number 4
SCIENCE - subcategory MEDICAL
Medical Downfall of the Tudors by Sylvia Barbara Soberton.
This book covered the reproductive problems, mental health issues, physical illnesses and causes of death of the various members of the Tudor dynasty. An interesting enough read despite the fact that this is far from my favourite period of history. 4/5
SCIENCE - subcategory MEDICAL
Medical Downfall of the Tudors by Sylvia Barbara Soberton.
This book covered the reproductive problems, mental health issues, physical illnesses and causes of death of the various members of the Tudor dynasty. An interesting enough read despite the fact that this is far from my favourite period of history. 4/5
53Tess_W
>52 Zozette: I have read extensively about the Tudors, historically and politically. This book is right up my alley! Going to search for it now!
54mstrust
>47 Zozette: Wow, that's a great haul!
55Zozette
>54 mstrust: yes, I was quite happy with what I ended up with. I read Missing Persons just after Christmas and today I started another book from the box.
56Zozette
Book 5
Categories MIDDLE-GRADE and STREET LIBRARIES
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer. I picked up the first two Artemis Fowl books from a street library and I really enjoyed reading the first book about this young 12 year old criminal mastermind. Loved both the human characters and the fairies/goblins/dwarves etc that Artemis went up against. 4/5
I will return this book, and the second book, to a different street library once I finish the other book.
Categories MIDDLE-GRADE and STREET LIBRARIES
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer. I picked up the first two Artemis Fowl books from a street library and I really enjoyed reading the first book about this young 12 year old criminal mastermind. Loved both the human characters and the fairies/goblins/dwarves etc that Artemis went up against. 4/5
I will return this book, and the second book, to a different street library once I finish the other book.
57Zozette
Book 6
Category - SCIENCE FICTION
The Great Martian War: Invasion by Scott Washburn. It is 1907, Theodore Roosevelt is the president of the USA and several years have past since the Martian invaded Britain (as told by HG Wells). Evidence is mounting that the Martians are planning a second invasion and preparations are being made.
The thing I liked most about this book is the both the human and Martian POV is given. First book in a series. 4/5.
Category - SCIENCE FICTION
The Great Martian War: Invasion by Scott Washburn. It is 1907, Theodore Roosevelt is the president of the USA and several years have past since the Martian invaded Britain (as told by HG Wells). Evidence is mounting that the Martians are planning a second invasion and preparations are being made.
The thing I liked most about this book is the both the human and Martian POV is given. First book in a series. 4/5.
58Zozette
Book 7
Category - MICROHISTORY
Dress Codes: How the Laws of Fashion Made History by Richard Thomas Ford.
I found the majority of this book to be quite interesting but once it reached the later quarter of the 20th century and went into the 21st century I found it to be a little tedious as I am not that interested in the modern era. The history of fashion in the black community in the early 20th century was on of the best parts of the book for me.
This would be a good book for anyone who is more interested in fashion than I am. Also I listened to this as an audiobook and I think reading it as a printed book with illustration would have been better (if the printed book does have pictures). 3.5/5 for me.
At one point the author related that Danielle Steele owns 6000 pairs of shoes but on her blog she denies it is anywhere near that many.
Category - MICROHISTORY
Dress Codes: How the Laws of Fashion Made History by Richard Thomas Ford.
I found the majority of this book to be quite interesting but once it reached the later quarter of the 20th century and went into the 21st century I found it to be a little tedious as I am not that interested in the modern era. The history of fashion in the black community in the early 20th century was on of the best parts of the book for me.
This would be a good book for anyone who is more interested in fashion than I am. Also I listened to this as an audiobook and I think reading it as a printed book with illustration would have been better (if the printed book does have pictures). 3.5/5 for me.
At one point the author related that Danielle Steele owns 6000 pairs of shoes but on her blog she denies it is anywhere near that many.
59Zozette
Book 8
Category - SCIENCE FICTION
The Left Hand of Dog by Si Clarke. A light and fun book about how an Earthling and their dog are kidnapped by aliens. I loved the characters especially the dog. 4/5
Category - SCIENCE FICTION
The Left Hand of Dog by Si Clarke. A light and fun book about how an Earthling and their dog are kidnapped by aliens. I loved the characters especially the dog. 4/5
60DeltaQueen50
>59 Zozette: I just picked up a copy for my Kindle and it was free! Of course the point seems to be to lure one in to buying the other two books in the trilogy - but they are greatly reduced so I may just go back and get them! "Kidnapped by Aliens" is one of my favorite plots!
61Zozette
Book 9
Category - SCIENCE FICTION
The Tusks of Extinction by Ray Nayler.
Damira is an expert on elephants who is murdered by poachers in Kenya. However a year before her murder her consciousness was copied.
Meanwhile in Russia, mammoths have been bought back from extinction. They thrive in captivity but as soon as they are released into the wild they start to die off. In the end the solution the scientists decide on is to upload Damira’s consciousness into a mammoth matriarch so that she can teach them how to survive. An interesting premise though details of the killing of elephants, and of mammoths, is upsetting 4/5
Category - SCIENCE FICTION
The Tusks of Extinction by Ray Nayler.
Damira is an expert on elephants who is murdered by poachers in Kenya. However a year before her murder her consciousness was copied.
Meanwhile in Russia, mammoths have been bought back from extinction. They thrive in captivity but as soon as they are released into the wild they start to die off. In the end the solution the scientists decide on is to upload Damira’s consciousness into a mammoth matriarch so that she can teach them how to survive. An interesting premise though details of the killing of elephants, and of mammoths, is upsetting 4/5
62majkia
>57 Zozette: Hmm. That looks like a BB for me.
63Zozette
Book 10
The Ninth Grave by Stefan Ahnhem.
Category - MYSTERY
this is one of the books I received in my Advent Mystery Box it is a Swedish police procedural. A bit too much violence for my liking. I found several of the characters annoying and thought the book was longer than it needed to be. 3/5
The Ninth Grave by Stefan Ahnhem.
Category - MYSTERY
this is one of the books I received in my Advent Mystery Box it is a Swedish police procedural. A bit too much violence for my liking. I found several of the characters annoying and thought the book was longer than it needed to be. 3/5
64Zozette
Book 11
Category - MIDDLE-GRADE
Bookshop at the Back of Beyond by Amy Sparkes. Third book in House at the Edge of Magic series. The further adventures of Nine, Spoon, Flabberghast the Magician and Eric the Troll. 4/5
Category - MIDDLE-GRADE
Bookshop at the Back of Beyond by Amy Sparkes. Third book in House at the Edge of Magic series. The further adventures of Nine, Spoon, Flabberghast the Magician and Eric the Troll. 4/5
65mstrust
>63 Zozette: They nailed the creepy cover though!
67Zozette
Category - SCIENCE (subgenre - science of……books)
The Science of Jurassic World by Mark Brake. gives heaps of facts about dinosaurs but the parts are like the most are where the science, in the book and movies, was actually wrong. 4/5
My next month’s choice in this subcategory will probably be between the Physics, Fire and Ice: Science of Game of Thrones or The Science of Middle Earth.
The Science of Jurassic World by Mark Brake. gives heaps of facts about dinosaurs but the parts are like the most are where the science, in the book and movies, was actually wrong. 4/5
My next month’s choice in this subcategory will probably be between the Physics, Fire and Ice: Science of Game of Thrones or The Science of Middle Earth.
68Zozette
Category - SCIENCE FICTION
Venomous Lumpsucker by Ned Beauman
The Venomous Lumpsucker, is the world’s most intelligent fish might have just gone extinct. Karin Resaint is a scientist who has been studying the fish while Mark Halyard is complicit in the mining operation that destroyed the fish’s last known habitat. Together they search for the fish. Resaint has her own reasons for being so invested in the fate of the fish, Mark Halyard hopes that finding living venomous lumpsuckers might prevent him going to prison. I really enjoyed this book. 4.5/5
Venomous Lumpsucker by Ned Beauman
The Venomous Lumpsucker, is the world’s most intelligent fish might have just gone extinct. Karin Resaint is a scientist who has been studying the fish while Mark Halyard is complicit in the mining operation that destroyed the fish’s last known habitat. Together they search for the fish. Resaint has her own reasons for being so invested in the fate of the fish, Mark Halyard hopes that finding living venomous lumpsuckers might prevent him going to prison. I really enjoyed this book. 4.5/5
69Zozette
Category - SCIENCE (subcategory - Science of…..books)
Ice, Fire and Physics: The Science of Game of Thrones by Rebecca C. Thompson
I really enjoyed this book. The topics included -
Seasons of Westeros
The Ice Wall
Valyrian Steel
Dragonglass
Dragon Biology
Wildfire
The Problems associated with incest
Etc etc
4.5/5
Ice, Fire and Physics: The Science of Game of Thrones by Rebecca C. Thompson
I really enjoyed this book. The topics included -
Seasons of Westeros
The Ice Wall
Valyrian Steel
Dragonglass
Dragon Biology
Wildfire
The Problems associated with incest
Etc etc
4.5/5
70Zozette
Category - MYSTERY and MURDER
Exit Strategy by Jen J. Danna.
This is a book from my Advent Mystery Book Box. It was an OK book about a female hostage negotiator and her efforts to save the lives of several people taken hostage, The mystery was who is the hostage taker was and what was his motives. 3.5/5
Exit Strategy by Jen J. Danna.
This is a book from my Advent Mystery Book Box. It was an OK book about a female hostage negotiator and her efforts to save the lives of several people taken hostage, The mystery was who is the hostage taker was and what was his motives. 3.5/5
71Zozette
Category - SCIENCE FICTION
Four Day Planet by H Beam Piper.
I actually finished this book last week but forgot to list it then. It is classic sci-fi but think it was book written for teenage boys. It was OK. I thought the planet which had 2000 hour long days and 8000 hour long years was the most interesting thing about the story but the concept was underused. 3/5
Four Day Planet by H Beam Piper.
I actually finished this book last week but forgot to list it then. It is classic sci-fi but think it was book written for teenage boys. It was OK. I thought the planet which had 2000 hour long days and 8000 hour long years was the most interesting thing about the story but the concept was underused. 3/5
72Zozette
Book 17
Category - SEA/MARINE (I suppose I could have also put this book into the science category or the survival category)
Madhouse at the End of the Earth by Julian Sancton
This is about the 1897-1899 Belgian Antarctica Expedition which was lead by Adrien de Gerlache aboard the Belgica. He had a multinational crew including a young Roald Amundsen and the American doctor, Frederick Cook. 12 years after the end of this expedition Amundsen would be the first person to reach the South Pole while Cook would claim to be the first to reach the North Pole and the first person to reach the summit of Mt Denali. Both of Cook’s claims are dubious. He was later convicted of fraud and spent several years in prison.
I thought that saw Gerlache was a very irresponsible leader. It was his fault that the Belgica became icebound forcing his crew to be the first people to overwinter in the Antarctic. He also was hesitant to follow advice from Cook concerning health problems that the crew developed. Overall an interesting read. 4/5
Category - SEA/MARINE (I suppose I could have also put this book into the science category or the survival category)
Madhouse at the End of the Earth by Julian Sancton
This is about the 1897-1899 Belgian Antarctica Expedition which was lead by Adrien de Gerlache aboard the Belgica. He had a multinational crew including a young Roald Amundsen and the American doctor, Frederick Cook. 12 years after the end of this expedition Amundsen would be the first person to reach the South Pole while Cook would claim to be the first to reach the North Pole and the first person to reach the summit of Mt Denali. Both of Cook’s claims are dubious. He was later convicted of fraud and spent several years in prison.
I thought that saw Gerlache was a very irresponsible leader. It was his fault that the Belgica became icebound forcing his crew to be the first people to overwinter in the Antarctic. He also was hesitant to follow advice from Cook concerning health problems that the crew developed. Overall an interesting read. 4/5
73Zozette
Three more books to add
Category - SEA/MARINE
The White Ship by Charles Spencer.
There were about 300 people on The White Ship when in sunk in 1120. Among those who died were three children of King Henry 1 including his only legitimate son, as well as many member of the nobility. There was only one survivor. The sinking itself only covered about 2 chapters of the book but it sinking changed the course of British history 4/5.
Category - MYSTERY and MUSEUMS
Murder at the Louvre by Jim Eldridge. 10th book in this series, I thought it was better than the previous book. 4/5
Category - MYSTERY
The Dark by Emma Haughton.
Closed circle mystery set in the Antarctic.
I enjoyed the setting and the mystery itself was good. What I could not stand was the main character and her stupid decisions. This was made worse by the fact that the book was written in the first person so I was in her head all of the time. This was the 4th book from my advent mystery crime book I have read. 3.5/5
Category - SEA/MARINE
The White Ship by Charles Spencer.
There were about 300 people on The White Ship when in sunk in 1120. Among those who died were three children of King Henry 1 including his only legitimate son, as well as many member of the nobility. There was only one survivor. The sinking itself only covered about 2 chapters of the book but it sinking changed the course of British history 4/5.
Category - MYSTERY and MUSEUMS
Murder at the Louvre by Jim Eldridge. 10th book in this series, I thought it was better than the previous book. 4/5
Category - MYSTERY
The Dark by Emma Haughton.
Closed circle mystery set in the Antarctic.
I enjoyed the setting and the mystery itself was good. What I could not stand was the main character and her stupid decisions. This was made worse by the fact that the book was written in the first person so I was in her head all of the time. This was the 4th book from my advent mystery crime book I have read. 3.5/5
74whitewavedarling
I'm catching up, and was glad to see your thoughts on The Tusks of Extinction--I've been working up the courage to read that one, knowing some of the content might bother me, but it sounds like it will be worthwhile!
And I'm taking a bb for Venomous Lumpsucker! I've become a huge fan of Stelliform Press, and it's got me craving as much climate-and-environmentally related SFF as I can find!
And I'm taking a bb for Venomous Lumpsucker! I've become a huge fan of Stelliform Press, and it's got me craving as much climate-and-environmentally related SFF as I can find!
75Zozette
>74 whitewavedarling:. I hope you enjoy both of them.
Two more books to add since I last posted
Category - STREET LIBRARY.
Kingdom by Clive Cussler and Grant Blackwood.
The first Clive Cussler book I have ever read. I don’t mind an occasional thriller and this one was OK though I have been told that it far from his best book. I have picked up a couple more Clive Cussler from the street library which I will probably read this year. 3.5/5
Category - MUSIC THEMED
Society’s Child by Janis Ian. Autobiography.
I was 17 years old when Janis Ian’s song ‘At Seventeen’ hit the airwaves and it quickly became one of my favourite songs. A song I could heavily relate to. I have even requested that it be played at my funeral.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Janis herself. It was great. Unfortunately it was published in 2008 and therefore does not include the last 17 or so years of her life. This is the reason I don’t like to usually read the biographies/autobiographies of living people, I like to read about the person’s complete life. I do follow Janis on Facebook so I do know about some things that have occurred since 2008. I am giving this book 4.5/5
Two more books to add since I last posted
Category - STREET LIBRARY.
Kingdom by Clive Cussler and Grant Blackwood.
The first Clive Cussler book I have ever read. I don’t mind an occasional thriller and this one was OK though I have been told that it far from his best book. I have picked up a couple more Clive Cussler from the street library which I will probably read this year. 3.5/5
Category - MUSIC THEMED
Society’s Child by Janis Ian. Autobiography.
I was 17 years old when Janis Ian’s song ‘At Seventeen’ hit the airwaves and it quickly became one of my favourite songs. A song I could heavily relate to. I have even requested that it be played at my funeral.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Janis herself. It was great. Unfortunately it was published in 2008 and therefore does not include the last 17 or so years of her life. This is the reason I don’t like to usually read the biographies/autobiographies of living people, I like to read about the person’s complete life. I do follow Janis on Facebook so I do know about some things that have occurred since 2008. I am giving this book 4.5/5
76Zozette
I finished three books this week
Category - MYSTERY/MURDER
America’s First Female Serial Killer by Mary Kay McBrayer. This book is about Jane Toppan who is believed to have poisoned 31 people, most of them elderly, between 1895-1901. Though it is listed as true crime, this book is really about 90% historical fiction. The author, in my opinion, is a bit too sympathetic towards the killer. I can only give this book. 2.5 stars.
Category - STREET LIBRARY
This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel
This is a YA book about a teenage Victor Frankenstein searching for the Elixir of Life so he can cure his sick twin brother. 4/5
Category - MYSTERY/MURDER
Rather Be the Devil by Ian Rankin. This is the fifth book that I received in my Advent Mystery Box that I have read. It is a book in the John Rebus series. It was OK, neither the best or the worst Rebus book I have read. 3.5/5
Category - MYSTERY/MURDER
America’s First Female Serial Killer by Mary Kay McBrayer. This book is about Jane Toppan who is believed to have poisoned 31 people, most of them elderly, between 1895-1901. Though it is listed as true crime, this book is really about 90% historical fiction. The author, in my opinion, is a bit too sympathetic towards the killer. I can only give this book. 2.5 stars.
Category - STREET LIBRARY
This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel
This is a YA book about a teenage Victor Frankenstein searching for the Elixir of Life so he can cure his sick twin brother. 4/5
Category - MYSTERY/MURDER
Rather Be the Devil by Ian Rankin. This is the fifth book that I received in my Advent Mystery Box that I have read. It is a book in the John Rebus series. It was OK, neither the best or the worst Rebus book I have read. 3.5/5
77Zozette
Three more books to add
Categories - SCIENCE and MARINE
The Ruby Princess by Duncan McNab.
This is about the cruise ship, The Ruby Princess, which docked at Sydney on 19 March 2020. Later that day 2,700 passengers were allowed to disembark. Unfortunately many of them had Covid-19 and they spread it around Australia and also to other countries. About 10% of Australia’s early Covid cases were connected to the Ruby Princess.
This book was published in February 2021 and I think that was too early. It was published after the Special Commission of Enquiry but before the Biosecurity Review and therefore I don’t think it told the whole story. For that reason I can only give it 3.5/5.
Category - SCIENCE FICTION
The Great Martian War: Breakthrough by Scott Washburn. Second book in the series. I enjoyed it as much as the first book and will probably read the third book later this month. 4/5
Category - SCIENCE FICTION: Subcategory - Biographies of sci-fi authors.
Becoming Superman by J. Michael Straczynski. A very moving but disturbing autobiography by the creator of Babylon 5. Joe survived a childhood full of abuse and neglect. The adults in his family were highly dysfunctional. Also mentions the deaths of two stray cats that Joe had befriended and loved only for them to be killed by his father.
as a little boy Joe used to dream that Superman would rescue him and later he would imagine that he would become Superman and save himself. In the book he says
“If I was Superman, nobody would hurt me … and I could protect my mom and she wouldn’t get mad at me and try to throw me off the roof again. But even if she did, it wouldn’t matter because if I was Superman, I’d just keep on going, right into the sky.”
Decades later Joe would write the Superman: Earth One series of graphic novels.
This is one of the best autobiographies I have read 5/5.
Categories - SCIENCE and MARINE
The Ruby Princess by Duncan McNab.
This is about the cruise ship, The Ruby Princess, which docked at Sydney on 19 March 2020. Later that day 2,700 passengers were allowed to disembark. Unfortunately many of them had Covid-19 and they spread it around Australia and also to other countries. About 10% of Australia’s early Covid cases were connected to the Ruby Princess.
This book was published in February 2021 and I think that was too early. It was published after the Special Commission of Enquiry but before the Biosecurity Review and therefore I don’t think it told the whole story. For that reason I can only give it 3.5/5.
Category - SCIENCE FICTION
The Great Martian War: Breakthrough by Scott Washburn. Second book in the series. I enjoyed it as much as the first book and will probably read the third book later this month. 4/5
Category - SCIENCE FICTION: Subcategory - Biographies of sci-fi authors.
Becoming Superman by J. Michael Straczynski. A very moving but disturbing autobiography by the creator of Babylon 5. Joe survived a childhood full of abuse and neglect. The adults in his family were highly dysfunctional. Also mentions the deaths of two stray cats that Joe had befriended and loved only for them to be killed by his father.
as a little boy Joe used to dream that Superman would rescue him and later he would imagine that he would become Superman and save himself. In the book he says
“If I was Superman, nobody would hurt me … and I could protect my mom and she wouldn’t get mad at me and try to throw me off the roof again. But even if she did, it wouldn’t matter because if I was Superman, I’d just keep on going, right into the sky.”
Decades later Joe would write the Superman: Earth One series of graphic novels.
This is one of the best autobiographies I have read 5/5.
78Zozette
Two more books to add
Categories - SECRET LIVES and MYSTERIES and SENIOR CITIZENS
Secret Lives by Mark De Castrique
Ethel is a 75 year old former FBI agent who now runs a boarding home for agents. One of the agents is murdered outside her house and Ethel decides to investigates his death aided by her sidekick Jesse who is student and also her double first cousin twice removed. I enjoyed this book and plan to read the follow up book soon. 4/5
Categories - SECRET LIVES and SCIENCE
The Secret Lives of Planets by Paul Murdin. There was nothing wrong with this book except I found the audio narration slightly boring. I give it 3.5/5. I preferred The Planets by Brian Cox to this book.
Categories - SECRET LIVES and MYSTERIES and SENIOR CITIZENS
Secret Lives by Mark De Castrique
Ethel is a 75 year old former FBI agent who now runs a boarding home for agents. One of the agents is murdered outside her house and Ethel decides to investigates his death aided by her sidekick Jesse who is student and also her double first cousin twice removed. I enjoyed this book and plan to read the follow up book soon. 4/5
Categories - SECRET LIVES and SCIENCE
The Secret Lives of Planets by Paul Murdin. There was nothing wrong with this book except I found the audio narration slightly boring. I give it 3.5/5. I preferred The Planets by Brian Cox to this book.
79lowelibrary
>78 Zozette: Taking a BB for Secret Lives
80mstrust
>76 Zozette: Too bad the book about Jane Toppan was more fiction. I know I heard a podcast about her a while ago, maybe "My Favorite Murder"?
81Zozette
Categories - SENIOR CITIZENS and MYSTERY
Dangerous Women by Mark De Castrique. Follow up book to Secret Lives. I absolutely love the character of Ethel. She is a wonderful and cunning older lady. I hope he continues this series. 4/5.
Dangerous Women by Mark De Castrique. Follow up book to Secret Lives. I absolutely love the character of Ethel. She is a wonderful and cunning older lady. I hope he continues this series. 4/5.
82Zozette
Two more books
Category - MYSTERY
Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie. A reread. I usually reread two or three Christie books a year. This one sits in the middle of a ranking of her books. 3.5/5
Categories - SCIENCE and SECRET LIFE/LIVES
The Secret Life of Fungi by Aliya Whitney. An interesting but short book about fungi. Some chapters far more interesting than others. 4/5
Category - MYSTERY
Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie. A reread. I usually reread two or three Christie books a year. This one sits in the middle of a ranking of her books. 3.5/5
Categories - SCIENCE and SECRET LIFE/LIVES
The Secret Life of Fungi by Aliya Whitney. An interesting but short book about fungi. Some chapters far more interesting than others. 4/5
83Zozette
Three more books to add
Category - SCIENCE FICTION and MYSTERY
Extinction by Douglas Preston. This is the 41st book I have read by Preston, 34 of those 41 were co-written with Lincoln Child. I tend to like books they write together more than their solo works.
This book is no exception. I thought it would be a Jurassic Park like book but with animals from the Pleistocene Era rather that the Jurassic Era. Unfortunately, though the animals (mammoth, ground sloth, giant elk) were there, they existed more as a backdrop to the murder mystery which I found a little predictable. I rate this book in the lower third of Preston’s books 3.5/5
Category - MARINE
As I was a little disappointed in ‘Extinction’ I decided to give another creature feature a go. This time it was Sea Hunters: Shonisaurus by William Meikle. I disliked the main human characters in this book, the Shonisaurus family ie a family of large plesiosaurs were OK. 3/5
Category - MYSTERY
I watch the Shardlake series on Disney+ and really enjoyed it so I decided to read the book series by CJ Sansom. I started with the second book Dark Fire as the tv series covered the first book. The show/books are set in the Tudor period. I enjoyed the book enough to want to continue the series. 4/5
Category - SCIENCE FICTION and MYSTERY
Extinction by Douglas Preston. This is the 41st book I have read by Preston, 34 of those 41 were co-written with Lincoln Child. I tend to like books they write together more than their solo works.
This book is no exception. I thought it would be a Jurassic Park like book but with animals from the Pleistocene Era rather that the Jurassic Era. Unfortunately, though the animals (mammoth, ground sloth, giant elk) were there, they existed more as a backdrop to the murder mystery which I found a little predictable. I rate this book in the lower third of Preston’s books 3.5/5
Category - MARINE
As I was a little disappointed in ‘Extinction’ I decided to give another creature feature a go. This time it was Sea Hunters: Shonisaurus by William Meikle. I disliked the main human characters in this book, the Shonisaurus family ie a family of large plesiosaurs were OK. 3/5
Category - MYSTERY
I watch the Shardlake series on Disney+ and really enjoyed it so I decided to read the book series by CJ Sansom. I started with the second book Dark Fire as the tv series covered the first book. The show/books are set in the Tudor period. I enjoyed the book enough to want to continue the series. 4/5
84Zozette
Four more books to add
Category - SCIENCE
Patient Zero by Marilee Peters
This book looked into who was the first known person to contract a disease during various pandemics plus further info on the disease/outbreak . Many of these diseases I have read about before but even so this book covered new ground for me. I especially liked learning about John Graunt, a draper who stayed in London during the plague and used the Bills of Mortality to correlate information about the deaths occurring around thereby becoming one of the earliest known epidemiologists.
I had previously read about the outbreak of Yellow Fever in the USA but this book covered an outbreak in Cuba.
Overalls I found this book very informative 4/5
Categories - SCIENCE FICTION and MYSTERY.
The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield
The author is a former astronaut so the depiction of space flight is accurate and realistic. the story tells about the fictional Apollo 18 mission. This is the part of the book I enjoyed the most, the mystery itself was OK. 4/5
Categories - SEA/MARINE and MICROHISTORY
The History of the World in Twelves Shipwrecks by David Gibbins.
The author is a marine archeologist who has dived on several of these wrecks.
The wrecks I found to be the most interesting are 1) a ship found off the coast of Dover which has been dated to the 2nd millennium BC, 2) The Mary Rose which was the flagship of King Henry VIII and 3) surprising for me, the SS Gairsoppa which was a merchant marine ship that was sunk by a German u-boat dusting WW2, and era that I am not normally interested in. 4/5
Category - MYSTERY
Sovereign by CJ Sansom. 3rd book in the Shardlake series. In this book Matthew gets to meet Henry VIII who is depicted as horrid as he was in real life 4/5
Category - SCIENCE
Patient Zero by Marilee Peters
This book looked into who was the first known person to contract a disease during various pandemics plus further info on the disease/outbreak . Many of these diseases I have read about before but even so this book covered new ground for me. I especially liked learning about John Graunt, a draper who stayed in London during the plague and used the Bills of Mortality to correlate information about the deaths occurring around thereby becoming one of the earliest known epidemiologists.
I had previously read about the outbreak of Yellow Fever in the USA but this book covered an outbreak in Cuba.
Overalls I found this book very informative 4/5
Categories - SCIENCE FICTION and MYSTERY.
The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield
The author is a former astronaut so the depiction of space flight is accurate and realistic. the story tells about the fictional Apollo 18 mission. This is the part of the book I enjoyed the most, the mystery itself was OK. 4/5
Categories - SEA/MARINE and MICROHISTORY
The History of the World in Twelves Shipwrecks by David Gibbins.
The author is a marine archeologist who has dived on several of these wrecks.
The wrecks I found to be the most interesting are 1) a ship found off the coast of Dover which has been dated to the 2nd millennium BC, 2) The Mary Rose which was the flagship of King Henry VIII and 3) surprising for me, the SS Gairsoppa which was a merchant marine ship that was sunk by a German u-boat dusting WW2, and era that I am not normally interested in. 4/5
Category - MYSTERY
Sovereign by CJ Sansom. 3rd book in the Shardlake series. In this book Matthew gets to meet Henry VIII who is depicted as horrid as he was in real life 4/5
85Zozette
Three books to add to my challenge
Category - MIDDLEGRADE
The Lighthouse at the World’s End by Amy Sparkes.
The 4th and I believe the last book in the House at the Edge of Magic series. It seems I went against the norm and I, unlike most other readers, did not like this book as much as the first three books, possibly because one of my favourite characters from the previous books is not in this book. 3.5/5
Caregory: SCIENCE FICTION
The Great Martian War: Counterattack by Scott Washburn. Third book in the series. I enjoyed it as much as the other two. I am looking forward to the next book as I believe that that book looks at what is happening in the British Empire whereas the books so far as mainly been centered on the USA. 4/5
Category - SCIENCE
Around the World in 80 Birds by Mike Unwin. I enjoyed this book especially its beautiful illustrations. My only minor complaint is that it mainly concentrated on better known birds. 4/5.
Category - MIDDLEGRADE
The Lighthouse at the World’s End by Amy Sparkes.
The 4th and I believe the last book in the House at the Edge of Magic series. It seems I went against the norm and I, unlike most other readers, did not like this book as much as the first three books, possibly because one of my favourite characters from the previous books is not in this book. 3.5/5
Caregory: SCIENCE FICTION
The Great Martian War: Counterattack by Scott Washburn. Third book in the series. I enjoyed it as much as the other two. I am looking forward to the next book as I believe that that book looks at what is happening in the British Empire whereas the books so far as mainly been centered on the USA. 4/5
Category - SCIENCE
Around the World in 80 Birds by Mike Unwin. I enjoyed this book especially its beautiful illustrations. My only minor complaint is that it mainly concentrated on better known birds. 4/5.
86Zozette
I have finished 8 books since I last posted but I will only mention 4 of them today and list the other 4 tomorrow.
Caregory - MYSTERIES
Revelation by C.J. Sansom and
Heartstone by C.J. Sansom
4th and 5th book in the Matthew Shardlake series of Tudor Era mysteries. Only two more books to go. I hope Henry VIII dies during the series. This is quite possible because by the 5th book he is married to Catherine Parr. I give both books 4/5
Category - SCIENCE FICTION
The Men by Sanadra Newman. I was quite disappointed with this book. In the novel all the men, and boys, disappear from the Earth. The start was good but after that too much of the book was flashbacks to the life that the two main characters lived before the men disappeared. I wanted the story to be more about how womankind in general managed without men. 2/5
Categories - MARINE and SCIENCE
Around the Ocean in 80 Fish and other Sea Life by Helen Scales.
I probably enjoyed this book even more than the 80 birds book because it covered many animals I was less familiar with. however the illustrations were not as beautiful as the illustrations in 80 birds. 4.5/5
Caregory - MYSTERIES
Revelation by C.J. Sansom and
Heartstone by C.J. Sansom
4th and 5th book in the Matthew Shardlake series of Tudor Era mysteries. Only two more books to go. I hope Henry VIII dies during the series. This is quite possible because by the 5th book he is married to Catherine Parr. I give both books 4/5
Category - SCIENCE FICTION
The Men by Sanadra Newman. I was quite disappointed with this book. In the novel all the men, and boys, disappear from the Earth. The start was good but after that too much of the book was flashbacks to the life that the two main characters lived before the men disappeared. I wanted the story to be more about how womankind in general managed without men. 2/5
Categories - MARINE and SCIENCE
Around the Ocean in 80 Fish and other Sea Life by Helen Scales.
I probably enjoyed this book even more than the 80 birds book because it covered many animals I was less familiar with. however the illustrations were not as beautiful as the illustrations in 80 birds. 4.5/5
87Zozette
Audible US had another store wide sale. Luckily, even though I am an Australian, I am a member of the US site.
I had been saving up since the last store wide sale. I ended up buying 104 books for a total of around $370. I will have plenty to listen to for the next few months. Next pay I will start to save for the next store wide sale.
I had been saving up since the last store wide sale. I ended up buying 104 books for a total of around $370. I will have plenty to listen to for the next few months. Next pay I will start to save for the next store wide sale.
88pamelad
>86 Zozette: I've also enjoyed the Matthew Shardlake series and am up to the last one, but have been putting it off because it's so long.
89Zozette
Category - SCIENCE
Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine.
In the late 1980s sci-fi author Douglas Adams teamed up with biologist Mark Carwardine to travel to different places around the world in search of endangered species. I first read this book about 30 years ago and a reread it knowing that one of the species covered in this book, the Baiji (Yangtze River dolphin) is extinct, while the Northern white rhino is down to it last two survivors, both female. 4/5
category - SHAKESPEARE INSPIRED
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell. Historical novel about the death of Shakespeare’s only son, 11 year old Hamnet. Very sad at times. 4.5/5
Category - SCIENCE FICTION
Hard Landing Algis Budrys. Human-like aliens crash land on Earth and then have to spend the rest of their lives trying to fit in. 4/5
The Man Who Ended the World by Jason Gurley. When he was 8 years Steven Glass’ teacher asked his class what did the want to be when they grew up. Steven’s answer was that he wanted to be the last man on Earth. Steve ends up becoming a tech billionaire and then tries to make this dream come true. 4/5
Category - MISCELLANEOUS S and M - SUBTERRANEAN
The Anomaly by Michael Rutger. I debated with myself whether I should put this in the sci-fi category but it belongs more in the horror or thriller genre. Deep in an underground cave system an ancient artefact is found. 3.5/5
Category - MISCELLANEOUS S and M - MYTHICAL BEINGS
Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree
An orc who wants to retire from a life of battle opens up a coffee shop. I loved the characters in this cozy fantasy, the plot less so. 3.5/5
Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine.
In the late 1980s sci-fi author Douglas Adams teamed up with biologist Mark Carwardine to travel to different places around the world in search of endangered species. I first read this book about 30 years ago and a reread it knowing that one of the species covered in this book, the Baiji (Yangtze River dolphin) is extinct, while the Northern white rhino is down to it last two survivors, both female. 4/5
category - SHAKESPEARE INSPIRED
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell. Historical novel about the death of Shakespeare’s only son, 11 year old Hamnet. Very sad at times. 4.5/5
Category - SCIENCE FICTION
Hard Landing Algis Budrys. Human-like aliens crash land on Earth and then have to spend the rest of their lives trying to fit in. 4/5
The Man Who Ended the World by Jason Gurley. When he was 8 years Steven Glass’ teacher asked his class what did the want to be when they grew up. Steven’s answer was that he wanted to be the last man on Earth. Steve ends up becoming a tech billionaire and then tries to make this dream come true. 4/5
Category - MISCELLANEOUS S and M - SUBTERRANEAN
The Anomaly by Michael Rutger. I debated with myself whether I should put this in the sci-fi category but it belongs more in the horror or thriller genre. Deep in an underground cave system an ancient artefact is found. 3.5/5
Category - MISCELLANEOUS S and M - MYTHICAL BEINGS
Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree
An orc who wants to retire from a life of battle opens up a coffee shop. I loved the characters in this cozy fantasy, the plot less so. 3.5/5
90Zozette
A few more books to add. A few of them were easy reads as I was ill for a couple of weeks and I selected light reads during that time.
Category - MISCELLANEOUS S and M - MISOGYNY and MANOSPHERE
Men Who Hate Women by Laura Bates. This books look at how the internet has spread the hatred of women by men throughout our society. I found this book to be rather depressing. It looks at such groups Incels , MGTOW and Pickup Artists. 4/5
Category - MIDDLEGRADE
Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones. The first book in the Chronicles of Chrestomanci series. I started to feel ill halfway though reading this book so that probably lessened my enjoyment of it. I am not sure if I will continue this series or not. 3.5/5
Category - MISCELLANEOUS S and M - MAGICAL REALISM
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman. A re-listen to this book because I did not need to concentrate on it as much as if it had been a first read. Loved it as much as the first time I listened to it and I am looking forward to it being made into a TV series. 4.5/5
Category - SCIENCE FICTION
The Merry Men of the Riverworld by John Gregory Betancourt. A novelette based on the Riverworld books created by Philip Jose Farmer. An actor get killed on the first day of filming of a 1950s Robin Hood TV show and he is reincarnated to Riverworld. He decided to adopt the Robin Hood persona and ends up teaming up with Jules Verne. Enjoyable, easy read. 4/5
Category - SCIENCE FICTION
The Great Martian War: The Gathering Storm by Scott Washburn. 4th book in series. The 4th book in series. The first three books were set mainly in the USA but this book follows a group of Australian soldiers. It covers the Fall of Sydney, the evacuation from there to Tasmania and finally the soldiers are sent to fight the Martians in Africa and the Dardanelles. So instead of Australians fighting the Turks at Gallipoli in 1915, they face the Martians in the same area in 1913. I really enjoyed this book. 4.5/5
Category - MISCELLANEOUS S and M - SLEEPING BEAUTY RETELLING.
Thornhedge by T Kingfisher.
This novella tells the Sleeping Beauty from the point of the fairy who was responsible for putting the 8 year old princess to sleep. A delightful book. The first book by Kingfisher that I have read. 4.5/5
Category - MISCELLANEOUS S and M - MISOGYNY and MANOSPHERE
Men Who Hate Women by Laura Bates. This books look at how the internet has spread the hatred of women by men throughout our society. I found this book to be rather depressing. It looks at such groups Incels , MGTOW and Pickup Artists. 4/5
Category - MIDDLEGRADE
Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones. The first book in the Chronicles of Chrestomanci series. I started to feel ill halfway though reading this book so that probably lessened my enjoyment of it. I am not sure if I will continue this series or not. 3.5/5
Category - MISCELLANEOUS S and M - MAGICAL REALISM
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman. A re-listen to this book because I did not need to concentrate on it as much as if it had been a first read. Loved it as much as the first time I listened to it and I am looking forward to it being made into a TV series. 4.5/5
Category - SCIENCE FICTION
The Merry Men of the Riverworld by John Gregory Betancourt. A novelette based on the Riverworld books created by Philip Jose Farmer. An actor get killed on the first day of filming of a 1950s Robin Hood TV show and he is reincarnated to Riverworld. He decided to adopt the Robin Hood persona and ends up teaming up with Jules Verne. Enjoyable, easy read. 4/5
Category - SCIENCE FICTION
The Great Martian War: The Gathering Storm by Scott Washburn. 4th book in series. The 4th book in series. The first three books were set mainly in the USA but this book follows a group of Australian soldiers. It covers the Fall of Sydney, the evacuation from there to Tasmania and finally the soldiers are sent to fight the Martians in Africa and the Dardanelles. So instead of Australians fighting the Turks at Gallipoli in 1915, they face the Martians in the same area in 1913. I really enjoyed this book. 4.5/5
Category - MISCELLANEOUS S and M - SLEEPING BEAUTY RETELLING.
Thornhedge by T Kingfisher.
This novella tells the Sleeping Beauty from the point of the fairy who was responsible for putting the 8 year old princess to sleep. A delightful book. The first book by Kingfisher that I have read. 4.5/5
91christina_reads
>90 Zozette: Glad you enjoyed your first encounter with T. Kingfisher! I've only read a few of her books so far but have loved them all. (I steer clear of horror, though, so I can only speak to her fantasy stuff.)
93Zozette
Four more books to add
Category - MURDER (True Crime
The Husband Poisoner by Tanya Bretherton. An interesting look at the thallium poisoning craze that hit Sydney in the years following WW2. At least 13 people died, some of whom were murdered but others might have committed suicide. This book mainly concentrates on two women who were convicted of murder. The first women killed two husbands, while the other killed four people. 4/5
Category - MYSTERY
Night Train to Napier by Wendy M Wilson. No touchstone. This is the 7th book in the Frank Hardy mystery series which is set in New Zealand during the Victorian Era. 4/5
Category - MISCELLANEOUS S and M - MAGICAL REALISM
A Short Walk Through a Wide World by Douglas Westerbeke. At the age of nine Aubry becomes under a curse that means that if she stays more than 2 or 3 days in one place she becomes seriously ill. She also cannot return to a place she has previously been to. She spends her life wandering. I enjoyed this book and can understand why it is being compared to The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue 4/5
Category - SURVIVAL STORIES
438 Days by Jonathan Franklin. True life story about José Salvador Alvarenga, an El Salvadoran fisherman whose small skiff drifted from off the coast of Mexico to the Marshall Islands after his motor broke down. For the first few weeks his companion was alive but eventually died and Alvarenga was to spend about a year completely alone. 4/5
Category - MURDER (True Crime
The Husband Poisoner by Tanya Bretherton. An interesting look at the thallium poisoning craze that hit Sydney in the years following WW2. At least 13 people died, some of whom were murdered but others might have committed suicide. This book mainly concentrates on two women who were convicted of murder. The first women killed two husbands, while the other killed four people. 4/5
Category - MYSTERY
Night Train to Napier by Wendy M Wilson. No touchstone. This is the 7th book in the Frank Hardy mystery series which is set in New Zealand during the Victorian Era. 4/5
Category - MISCELLANEOUS S and M - MAGICAL REALISM
A Short Walk Through a Wide World by Douglas Westerbeke. At the age of nine Aubry becomes under a curse that means that if she stays more than 2 or 3 days in one place she becomes seriously ill. She also cannot return to a place she has previously been to. She spends her life wandering. I enjoyed this book and can understand why it is being compared to The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue 4/5
Category - SURVIVAL STORIES
438 Days by Jonathan Franklin. True life story about José Salvador Alvarenga, an El Salvadoran fisherman whose small skiff drifted from off the coast of Mexico to the Marshall Islands after his motor broke down. For the first few weeks his companion was alive but eventually died and Alvarenga was to spend about a year completely alone. 4/5
94Zozette
Four more books to add
Categories - SENIOR CITIZEN and MYSTERY
Three Things About Elsie by Joanna Cannon. Florence is an elderly woman who is suffering from dementia. She is living in a retirement home along with her lifelong friend Elsie. A new residence arrives ant the home and Florence is shocked to realise he is a man who both Elsie and she hated but who they thought had drowned 60 years before. How had he survived and what did he want now. I found this book an interesting read. 4/5
Category - MURDER (True Crime)
Harold Shipman by Ryan Green
I bought this book on special and I wish I had actually spent a little more and bought a longer and more detailed book about the British doctor who was convicted of killing 15 of his patients but it believed to have killed over 200 of them. I felt that this book only skimmed the surface of the story 3/5
Category - INSPIRED BY SHAKESPEARE
William Shakespeare’s Star Wars: The Empire Striketh Back by Ian Doescher. Once again Star Wars as if it was written by Shakespeare. This was a fun as the previous book. 4/5
Category - SURVIVAL
How to Survive History by Cody Cassidy. A fun and quick read about what you would have to do to unrun a T-Rex, survive the destruction of Pompeii and the Fall of Rome, how to get off the Titanic if you were a third class passenger, survive the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and the 1925 Tri-state tornado etc etc. 4/5
Categories - SENIOR CITIZEN and MYSTERY
Three Things About Elsie by Joanna Cannon. Florence is an elderly woman who is suffering from dementia. She is living in a retirement home along with her lifelong friend Elsie. A new residence arrives ant the home and Florence is shocked to realise he is a man who both Elsie and she hated but who they thought had drowned 60 years before. How had he survived and what did he want now. I found this book an interesting read. 4/5
Category - MURDER (True Crime)
Harold Shipman by Ryan Green
I bought this book on special and I wish I had actually spent a little more and bought a longer and more detailed book about the British doctor who was convicted of killing 15 of his patients but it believed to have killed over 200 of them. I felt that this book only skimmed the surface of the story 3/5
Category - INSPIRED BY SHAKESPEARE
William Shakespeare’s Star Wars: The Empire Striketh Back by Ian Doescher. Once again Star Wars as if it was written by Shakespeare. This was a fun as the previous book. 4/5
Category - SURVIVAL
How to Survive History by Cody Cassidy. A fun and quick read about what you would have to do to unrun a T-Rex, survive the destruction of Pompeii and the Fall of Rome, how to get off the Titanic if you were a third class passenger, survive the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and the 1925 Tri-state tornado etc etc. 4/5
95lowelibrary
>94 Zozette: Taking a BB for Three Things About Elsie
96Zozette
6 more books to add.
I have been taking part in Garbaugust over on YouTube in which we read trashy books. 4 of these 6 books I have read to meet Garbaugust prompts.
Category - MISCELLANEOUS S and M - SPLATTERPUNK
Slugs by Shaun Hutson.
This was a book chosen to be a group read for Harbaugust. One of my favourite trashy genres for reads is ‘killers animals’ so I thought this was a fun read but it certainly isn’t great literature. 4/5
Category - MYSTERY and MURDER
The Bad Seed by William March. Chosen as a ‘Killer Kids’ prompt. This book was written in 1954 and made into a movie in 1956. After reading the book I looked at the movie and both book and movie have aged well. 4/5
Purrfect Murder by Nic Saint. One of the prompts for Garbaugust was to read cat sleuth book in memory of Alice, of Alice and the Giant Bookshelf, a Booktuber who recently passed away. Alice liked both cats and mysteries.
This book was OK. 3.5/5 A reporter and her cats investigate the murder of a writer. The cats can actually speak to the reporter. I might read the second book but I very much doubt I will read all 80+ books in the series.
Category - MARINE
Oceanarium by PK Hawkins.
I was a bit disappointed in this story which I also read for the killer animals prompt. However the animals were more of a backdrop to the story rather than being center stage. 3/5
Category - MUSIC
Musicophilia by Oliver Sacks.
Interesting book that looks at a wide range of psychological and physiological ailments and their intriguing connections to music. I was rather glad that one chapter covered amusia (tone deafness) which is a condition my father suffered from me and resulted in him considering music to be a horrible noise. 4/5
Category - SCIENCE
On the Origin of Evolution by John and Mary Gribbin.
Covers the ideas of evolution from the ancient Greeks to the modern day. 4/5
I have been taking part in Garbaugust over on YouTube in which we read trashy books. 4 of these 6 books I have read to meet Garbaugust prompts.
Category - MISCELLANEOUS S and M - SPLATTERPUNK
Slugs by Shaun Hutson.
This was a book chosen to be a group read for Harbaugust. One of my favourite trashy genres for reads is ‘killers animals’ so I thought this was a fun read but it certainly isn’t great literature. 4/5
Category - MYSTERY and MURDER
The Bad Seed by William March. Chosen as a ‘Killer Kids’ prompt. This book was written in 1954 and made into a movie in 1956. After reading the book I looked at the movie and both book and movie have aged well. 4/5
Purrfect Murder by Nic Saint. One of the prompts for Garbaugust was to read cat sleuth book in memory of Alice, of Alice and the Giant Bookshelf, a Booktuber who recently passed away. Alice liked both cats and mysteries.
This book was OK. 3.5/5 A reporter and her cats investigate the murder of a writer. The cats can actually speak to the reporter. I might read the second book but I very much doubt I will read all 80+ books in the series.
Category - MARINE
Oceanarium by PK Hawkins.
I was a bit disappointed in this story which I also read for the killer animals prompt. However the animals were more of a backdrop to the story rather than being center stage. 3/5
Category - MUSIC
Musicophilia by Oliver Sacks.
Interesting book that looks at a wide range of psychological and physiological ailments and their intriguing connections to music. I was rather glad that one chapter covered amusia (tone deafness) which is a condition my father suffered from me and resulted in him considering music to be a horrible noise. 4/5
Category - SCIENCE
On the Origin of Evolution by John and Mary Gribbin.
Covers the ideas of evolution from the ancient Greeks to the modern day. 4/5
97Zozette
Five more books to add (though one is only a short story
Category - SCIENCE FICTION
Angel of Vengeance by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. 22nd book in the Agent Pendergast series. In this story Pendergast, Constance Greene, Lieutenant Vincent D’Agosta and Diogenes time travel back to the last 19th century in an effort to stop Dr Enoch Leng from obtaining immortality and to try and rescue Constance’s sister Mary, bother Joe and the child version of herself. 4.5/5
Reduce! Reuse! Recycle! by TJ Klune. A delightful and poignant short story about a robot who, after working hard for 9 years and 51 weeks, get a single week off to spend time in the human world before he is recycled. A prequel story to In the Lives of Puppets. I wish that this story had been longer, maybe novella length. 4.5/5
Category - MIDDLE GRADE
Time Cat by Lloyd Alexander. Gareth the Cat, who can talk, informs his owner Jason that cats don’t actually live nine lives, but they can visit nine lives. He then asks Jason to travel through time with him. 3/5
Categories - SCIENCE and MARINE
The Secret Life of Lobsters by Trevor Corson. I enjoyed the parts of this book that was about the lobsters themselves and the scientists that study them but I found the private lives of the lobstermen and their families a bit tedious at time. 3.5/5
Category - MYSTERY
Purrfectly Deadly by Nic Saint. Second book in the Mysteries of Max series. I did not enjoy this book as much as the first book though I listened to it while I was ill in bed. Even though I was ill I had no problem in working out early on who the killer was. 3.5/5
Category - SCIENCE FICTION
Angel of Vengeance by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. 22nd book in the Agent Pendergast series. In this story Pendergast, Constance Greene, Lieutenant Vincent D’Agosta and Diogenes time travel back to the last 19th century in an effort to stop Dr Enoch Leng from obtaining immortality and to try and rescue Constance’s sister Mary, bother Joe and the child version of herself. 4.5/5
Reduce! Reuse! Recycle! by TJ Klune. A delightful and poignant short story about a robot who, after working hard for 9 years and 51 weeks, get a single week off to spend time in the human world before he is recycled. A prequel story to In the Lives of Puppets. I wish that this story had been longer, maybe novella length. 4.5/5
Category - MIDDLE GRADE
Time Cat by Lloyd Alexander. Gareth the Cat, who can talk, informs his owner Jason that cats don’t actually live nine lives, but they can visit nine lives. He then asks Jason to travel through time with him. 3/5
Categories - SCIENCE and MARINE
The Secret Life of Lobsters by Trevor Corson. I enjoyed the parts of this book that was about the lobsters themselves and the scientists that study them but I found the private lives of the lobstermen and their families a bit tedious at time. 3.5/5
Category - MYSTERY
Purrfectly Deadly by Nic Saint. Second book in the Mysteries of Max series. I did not enjoy this book as much as the first book though I listened to it while I was ill in bed. Even though I was ill I had no problem in working out early on who the killer was. 3.5/5
98Zozette
I am taking part in the Shorty September challenge over on YouTube so I plan to mainly read books under 200 pages long all month. I have a list of about 40 books to choose from but I think it is highly unlikely I will get through them all.
99Zozette
I haven’t posted since late last month. My internet went out and for a few days I thought it was due to the bad weather we were having here in Tasmania. However, though many people lost power for days because of the weather, it seems my problem was actually the fault of my modem so I had to get a new one. I had about ten days with very limited access to the internet.
I managed to get through 15 books, 14 of which were for Shorty September. In this post I will mention 7 of them and hopefully will get to the rest tomorrow.
Category - SEA/MARINE
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. Excellent novella though somewhat less suspenseful for me as I saw the movie many years ago so I remembered how the book ended. Believe it or not this is the first Hemingway book I have read 4/5
Category - SURVIVAL
The man Who Refused to Die by Barry Wynne. This is about a group of seven Cook Islanders who sail in a small boat to pick up supplies from another island. On the way back they are hit by a storm, their boat is damaged and they drift for two months until they finally reached Vanuatu, 2000 miles away. I first read this book as a teenager, always remembered it and was pleased to pick up a second hand copy of it several years ago. I don’t know why it has taken me so long to get around to rereading it. 4/5
Category - MISCELLANOUS - SHORTY SEPTEMBER.
Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka. I absolutely loved this very strange story of a man who turns into a bug. 5/5
Fractured Fairy Tales by A.J. Jacobs. I loved The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show when I was growing up, and Fractured Fairy Tales was my favourite segment of the show, therefore I was delighted to find a second hand copy of this book. I had no idea there was such a book until I laid eyes on it. Though there were 91 tales told on the show only 25 stories made it to the book. I read each story and then watch the corresponding cartoon on YouTube. Though the stories in the book were delightful, the cartoons were better. 4.5/5
The Tiny Wife by Andrew Kaufman. I could have placed this under magical realism, or maybe surrealism but decided on Shorty September. This is another reread for me.
10 customers and staff are in a bank when a robber comes in. Instead of money he wants the most treasured possession they currently have on them. They each give him something. Soon after strange things start to happen. One woman starts to shrink, another woman who has a lion tattoo has the tattoo come to as a real lion which she has to constantly run from etc. 4.5/5
Category - SCIENCE FICTION
Not Until We Are Lost by Dennis E. Taylor. This is the only book I read that wasn’t for Shorty September. It is the fifth book in the Bobiverse series. I didn’t like it as much as the original trilogy but thought it was little bit better than the 4th book. 4.5/5
The Scarlet Plague by Jack London. Written in 1912. An old man tells his grandsons about the plague that hit the world in 2012 which wiped out most of mankind. The old man is telling the story 60 years after and the grandsons are quite confused about many things he speaks of as they have never seen cars, or trains, or airships etc nor can they imagine a time when there were millions of people. 4/5
I managed to get through 15 books, 14 of which were for Shorty September. In this post I will mention 7 of them and hopefully will get to the rest tomorrow.
Category - SEA/MARINE
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. Excellent novella though somewhat less suspenseful for me as I saw the movie many years ago so I remembered how the book ended. Believe it or not this is the first Hemingway book I have read 4/5
Category - SURVIVAL
The man Who Refused to Die by Barry Wynne. This is about a group of seven Cook Islanders who sail in a small boat to pick up supplies from another island. On the way back they are hit by a storm, their boat is damaged and they drift for two months until they finally reached Vanuatu, 2000 miles away. I first read this book as a teenager, always remembered it and was pleased to pick up a second hand copy of it several years ago. I don’t know why it has taken me so long to get around to rereading it. 4/5
Category - MISCELLANOUS - SHORTY SEPTEMBER.
Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka. I absolutely loved this very strange story of a man who turns into a bug. 5/5
Fractured Fairy Tales by A.J. Jacobs. I loved The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show when I was growing up, and Fractured Fairy Tales was my favourite segment of the show, therefore I was delighted to find a second hand copy of this book. I had no idea there was such a book until I laid eyes on it. Though there were 91 tales told on the show only 25 stories made it to the book. I read each story and then watch the corresponding cartoon on YouTube. Though the stories in the book were delightful, the cartoons were better. 4.5/5
The Tiny Wife by Andrew Kaufman. I could have placed this under magical realism, or maybe surrealism but decided on Shorty September. This is another reread for me.
10 customers and staff are in a bank when a robber comes in. Instead of money he wants the most treasured possession they currently have on them. They each give him something. Soon after strange things start to happen. One woman starts to shrink, another woman who has a lion tattoo has the tattoo come to as a real lion which she has to constantly run from etc. 4.5/5
Category - SCIENCE FICTION
Not Until We Are Lost by Dennis E. Taylor. This is the only book I read that wasn’t for Shorty September. It is the fifth book in the Bobiverse series. I didn’t like it as much as the original trilogy but thought it was little bit better than the 4th book. 4.5/5
The Scarlet Plague by Jack London. Written in 1912. An old man tells his grandsons about the plague that hit the world in 2012 which wiped out most of mankind. The old man is telling the story 60 years after and the grandsons are quite confused about many things he speaks of as they have never seen cars, or trains, or airships etc nor can they imagine a time when there were millions of people. 4/5
100Charon07
>99 Zozette: What a lot of books you read this month! Maybe I could read more myself if I stayed off the internet for 10 days. It’s an interesting mix, too. I also watched Rocky & Bullwinkle as a kid, and I was interested to hear there was a book of Fractured Fairy Tales. But it’s The Tiny Wife that may end up on my TBR list. I was also fascinated to see that Jack London had written a futuristic postapocalyptic novel. And as for Hemingway, IMO you picked your first wisely and you may as well quit while you’re ahead!
101lowelibrary
>99 Zozette: I am taking a BB for The Tiny Wife and putting Fractured Fairy Tales on my hunt-and-find list.
102Zozette
I hope you enjoy The Tiny Wife if you get around to it. It is very short.
The other 8 books.
Category - MYSTERY and MURDER
Murdering Mr Edwards by Shawn L. Bird.
Mr Edwards is a very unlikeable English teacher, hated by both staff and students. This book is about how various members of staff try to knock him off by various means, some methods are quite creative. Will any of these attempts succeed? I found this to be a fun read 4/5
Category - MISCELLANEOUS - SHORTY SEPTEMBER.
The Night Guest by Hildur Kuntsdottir. I debated with myself whether I could place this under mystery but I think it is more of a horror story. Set in Iceland, Iðunn is suffering from severe fatigue and has unexplained bruises. A friend suggests more exercise so Iðunn buys a step counter. One night she forgets to take it off at night and is shocked to find out next morning that it has recorded her taking 40,000 steps during the night. What is happening to her while she is asleep? 4/5
Category - found in a STREET LIBRARY
The Book of Heroic Failures by Stephen Pile. This book was not in the best of conditions and as I reading it, it was falling apart. It was OK. It was written in 1979 and therefore I am not surprised to find out some of the stories told were not necessarily true even though they were reported in newspapers. 3.5/5
Category - MICROHISTORY
Caffeine: How Caffeine Created the Modern World by Michael Pollan. Only available as an Audible book. History of mainly coffee, but also tea. OK. 3.5/5
I will do the other 4 later in the day as I have just had an unexpected visitor.
The other 8 books.
Category - MYSTERY and MURDER
Murdering Mr Edwards by Shawn L. Bird.
Mr Edwards is a very unlikeable English teacher, hated by both staff and students. This book is about how various members of staff try to knock him off by various means, some methods are quite creative. Will any of these attempts succeed? I found this to be a fun read 4/5
Category - MISCELLANEOUS - SHORTY SEPTEMBER.
The Night Guest by Hildur Kuntsdottir. I debated with myself whether I could place this under mystery but I think it is more of a horror story. Set in Iceland, Iðunn is suffering from severe fatigue and has unexplained bruises. A friend suggests more exercise so Iðunn buys a step counter. One night she forgets to take it off at night and is shocked to find out next morning that it has recorded her taking 40,000 steps during the night. What is happening to her while she is asleep? 4/5
Category - found in a STREET LIBRARY
The Book of Heroic Failures by Stephen Pile. This book was not in the best of conditions and as I reading it, it was falling apart. It was OK. It was written in 1979 and therefore I am not surprised to find out some of the stories told were not necessarily true even though they were reported in newspapers. 3.5/5
Category - MICROHISTORY
Caffeine: How Caffeine Created the Modern World by Michael Pollan. Only available as an Audible book. History of mainly coffee, but also tea. OK. 3.5/5
I will do the other 4 later in the day as I have just had an unexpected visitor.
103Zozette
The four books I still had to list plus another two.
Category - SHAKESPEARE INSPIRED
William Shakespeare’s Star Wars: The Jedi Doth Return by Ian Doescher. Third book in the trilogy. Much the same as the first two 4/5
Category - MUSICAL THEMED
The Shoe Bird a musical fable by Samuel Jones that is based on a story by Eudora Welty. Audiobook. I loved the story, the music less so. 4/5
Davutus, Time Travelling Musician by David Phillips. No touchstone and I cannot remember how to make a touchstone, The only good thing I can say about this story is that it was short. Boring 2/5.
Category - MYSTERY
Come to Kill By Wendy M Wilson. No touchstone. 8th and most current book in the Sergeant Frank Hardy series. Set in New Zealand in the late 19th century. I enjoyed it as much as the other books. There is another series that deals with investigations by Frank’s father that I might read next year. 4/5
Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz. I watched the miniseries and then decided to reread the book to see if I was right about the differences between the series and the book. TV series 4/5, book 4.5/5
The Golden Tresses of the Dead by Alan Bradley. 10th book in the Flavia De Luce series. Another reread for me. I originally read it when it came out in 2019 and I decided to reread it before I reread the recently released 11th book. 4/5
Category - SHAKESPEARE INSPIRED
William Shakespeare’s Star Wars: The Jedi Doth Return by Ian Doescher. Third book in the trilogy. Much the same as the first two 4/5
Category - MUSICAL THEMED
The Shoe Bird a musical fable by Samuel Jones that is based on a story by Eudora Welty. Audiobook. I loved the story, the music less so. 4/5
Davutus, Time Travelling Musician by David Phillips. No touchstone and I cannot remember how to make a touchstone, The only good thing I can say about this story is that it was short. Boring 2/5.
Category - MYSTERY
Come to Kill By Wendy M Wilson. No touchstone. 8th and most current book in the Sergeant Frank Hardy series. Set in New Zealand in the late 19th century. I enjoyed it as much as the other books. There is another series that deals with investigations by Frank’s father that I might read next year. 4/5
Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz. I watched the miniseries and then decided to reread the book to see if I was right about the differences between the series and the book. TV series 4/5, book 4.5/5
The Golden Tresses of the Dead by Alan Bradley. 10th book in the Flavia De Luce series. Another reread for me. I originally read it when it came out in 2019 and I decided to reread it before I reread the recently released 11th book. 4/5
104Zozette
7 more books to add
Category - SCIENCE FICTION
Honeymoon in Hell by Fredric Brown.
Enjoyable collection of humorous sci-fi and horror short stories though, because this stories were written in the 1940s to 1960s, some are a little dated. 4/5.
Category - MIDDLE GRADE
Attica by Garry Kilworth.
Three children decide to explore the attic of the house they have just moved into. They get trapped in strange world that is one enormous attic populated by strange beings. I really enjoyed the world the author created but I though the plot was a little weak 3.5/5
Category - MYSTERY
Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz. Sequel to Magpie Murders and I don’t think it was a good but still enjoyable 4/5
What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust by Alan Bradley. The newest Flavia De Luce. I always enjoy Flavia’s adventures but I did not like the twist in this one. 3.5/5
Category - SCIENCE
Scourge: The Once and Future Threat of Smallpox by Jonathan B Tucker. I would have liked if this book had dwelt more on the history of smallpox, and less on its future threat. I did enjoy the chapters that talked about the eradication of smallpox. 4/5
Category - SCIENCE and MUSEUM.
Dr Mütter’s Marvels by Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz.
Interesting biography on Thomas Dent Mütter who was a pioneer in reconstructive/plastic surgery in the USA. The many specimens and artefacts he collected during his too short lifetime was the founding collection for the Mütter Museum in Philadelphia. 4.5/5
Category - MISCELLANEOUS - SEQUEL
Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune.
Sequel to The House in the Cerulean Sea and as enjoyable as that novel. I love the characters of Linus and Arthur, and the strange children they foster. 4/5
Category - SCIENCE FICTION
Honeymoon in Hell by Fredric Brown.
Enjoyable collection of humorous sci-fi and horror short stories though, because this stories were written in the 1940s to 1960s, some are a little dated. 4/5.
Category - MIDDLE GRADE
Attica by Garry Kilworth.
Three children decide to explore the attic of the house they have just moved into. They get trapped in strange world that is one enormous attic populated by strange beings. I really enjoyed the world the author created but I though the plot was a little weak 3.5/5
Category - MYSTERY
Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz. Sequel to Magpie Murders and I don’t think it was a good but still enjoyable 4/5
What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust by Alan Bradley. The newest Flavia De Luce. I always enjoy Flavia’s adventures but I did not like the twist in this one. 3.5/5
Category - SCIENCE
Scourge: The Once and Future Threat of Smallpox by Jonathan B Tucker. I would have liked if this book had dwelt more on the history of smallpox, and less on its future threat. I did enjoy the chapters that talked about the eradication of smallpox. 4/5
Category - SCIENCE and MUSEUM.
Dr Mütter’s Marvels by Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz.
Interesting biography on Thomas Dent Mütter who was a pioneer in reconstructive/plastic surgery in the USA. The many specimens and artefacts he collected during his too short lifetime was the founding collection for the Mütter Museum in Philadelphia. 4.5/5
Category - MISCELLANEOUS - SEQUEL
Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune.
Sequel to The House in the Cerulean Sea and as enjoyable as that novel. I love the characters of Linus and Arthur, and the strange children they foster. 4/5
105Zozette
It has been a while since I posted and I have finished several books this then but I will only mention three of them in this post
Category - SURVIVAL
The Indifferent Stars Above by Daniel James Brown. An account of the Donner Party and their fight for survival. The part of it that I found the most interesting was when it looked into the reasons why the women in the party survived the starvation and the cold at a considerably high rate then the men did. 4/5
Category - SECRET LIVES
The Secret Lives of Bats by Merlin Tuttle. Absolutely fascinating book written by a leading bat expert. He first became interested in bats as a child and this interest has often lead him into dangerous situations 5/5
Categories - MUSEUMS and MICROHISTORY
The Louvre: The Many Lives of the World’s Most Famous Museum by James Gardner. I did not realise that the Louvre’s history went so far back. Around 1190 its first foundations as a castle/fort were laid. It later became a palace for several of the kings, and, of course, later it became an art museum. I listen to this as an audiobook and I think that that was a drawback, I think I would have benefitted from drawings and diagrams if I had read in printed form. 4/5
Finishing ‘The Louvre’ means that I have read at least four books in every category which is what I was aiming for so I considered my reading challenge to be complete.
Category - SURVIVAL
The Indifferent Stars Above by Daniel James Brown. An account of the Donner Party and their fight for survival. The part of it that I found the most interesting was when it looked into the reasons why the women in the party survived the starvation and the cold at a considerably high rate then the men did. 4/5
Category - SECRET LIVES
The Secret Lives of Bats by Merlin Tuttle. Absolutely fascinating book written by a leading bat expert. He first became interested in bats as a child and this interest has often lead him into dangerous situations 5/5
Categories - MUSEUMS and MICROHISTORY
The Louvre: The Many Lives of the World’s Most Famous Museum by James Gardner. I did not realise that the Louvre’s history went so far back. Around 1190 its first foundations as a castle/fort were laid. It later became a palace for several of the kings, and, of course, later it became an art museum. I listen to this as an audiobook and I think that that was a drawback, I think I would have benefitted from drawings and diagrams if I had read in printed form. 4/5
Finishing ‘The Louvre’ means that I have read at least four books in every category which is what I was aiming for so I considered my reading challenge to be complete.
