Clue Relaxes in 2024

This is my ninth year here and I've made no progress whatsoever on my TBR. I'd probably have more on the shelves than I do now if I weren't here though.

The goal for this year is to relax and just enjoy reading. The last few years my goal to reduce my TBR has been 40 and it hasn't helped a whole lot but it's a reasonable number, last year about 60% of what I read.

Ticker

JANUARY

1. A Guide to the Birds of East Africa by Nicholas Drayson 4*

The story takes place in Kenya where Mr. Malik, now retired, takes part in a weekly bird-walk. It has caused him to learn alot about Kenya's birds and he always looks forward to the next week's walk. In truth he's had a longtime crush on the leader, Rose Mbikwa.

To shy Mr. Malik's dismay one day the handsome, wealthy and oh- so-sure-of-himself Harry Khan shows up for the walk. Khan was a classmate of Mr. Malik, and was his tormentor. It doesn't take long for both men to reveal they will be asking Rose to the social event of the year held by Mr. Malik's club. Other members get involved and create a bird related contest to reduce the two suitors to one.

2.The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman 3.5*

In the fourth book in A Thursday Murder Club Mystery series it seems Osman may be preparing for the longevity of the series. Elizabeth, the informal leader of the group, is not the planner in solving this crime, instead Joyce comes into her own and uses what she has learned from Elizabeth to be the leader.

The mystery revolves around the murder of an antique dealer and a missing shipment of heroin in an antiquarian box. There are several new characters although most didn't survive the plot, but there is one in particular that may be carried forward as a member of the group. I think the story was a little cluttered but still fun.

3. Person or Person's Unknown by Bruce Alexander 4.0*

This is the 4th book in the Sir John Fielding Mystery series. Sir John Fielding is a magistrate, blind, and the founder of the Bow Sreet Runners, London's first police force. Prostitutes are being killed, bodies sometimes mutilated, sometimes not. Jeremy Proctor, the ward Sir John and his wife took into their home several years before, is given some responsibilities with the investigation for the first time.

I like this series a lot and this title gives us a good mystery, a gritty but belivable 18th century London setting, and a reminder of the hard lives so many women have had to live.

4. Lucky Thirteen by Iris Hattersley 3*

A memoir that covers the authors life from her birth through the age of 78. A large part of her work life was with the U.S. Marshal's service. Unfortunately I didn't find it very interesting.

5. My Name is Barbra by Barbra Streisand 4*

I've been a fan since I was a young teen and didn't know Streisand didn't want to be a singer, even as a child being an actor was her goal. That was a bit of a disappointment to me because I have loved her music so much and so long!

Though it's 966 pages, it was a well organized book and easy to read (though not so great to hold!) She writes about making each of her movies in detail, and devotes entire chapters to some. She also gives a chapter to some of her LPs, her political involvement, her 25-year marriage to James Brolin, and so on. Overall, well done and enjoyable.

6. The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett 4*

This is a reread and I count rereads as a ROOT if I read the book at least 5 years ago. This one is a fvorite. Queen Elizabeth has read a lot, but never for pleasure. When she realizes there is a bookmobile parked behind the kitchen, she investigates and learns what a bookmobile is all about. Feeling she should take a book out since she has taken up the time of the driver, and because a young man that works in her kitchens appears to be a regular user, she quite by accident becomes a pleasure reader. It's not long before her employees are grumbling about how much time the Queen is reading!

FEBRUARY

A busy month for me and just two ROOTS:

7. The Last Masterpiece by Laura Morelli 4*

The author is an American art historian who has written this book based on women who became involved in saving thousands of priceless masterpieces from destruction during WWII. Most of the book takes place in Florence, Italy where treasured art in the Uffizi Galleries needed removal and relocation. The two primary women characters, a German photographer and an American stenographer, risked their lives recording each piece and where it was taken, sometimes traveling with the treasures.

8. Murder Most Royal by SJ Bennett 3.5*

This is the 3rd book in the enjoyable Her Majesty the Queen Investigates series. In this case the Royal family is beginning to gather at Sandringham for their annual family Christmas celebration. Before Christmas Day arrives however, the finding of a severed hand occurs very near Sandringham. At the Queen's request her assistant shows her a photograph of the hand and the Queen recognizes the signet ring the the hand is wearing.

This was not my favorite in the series, but still fun to read. I'll read the 4th title when it comes out soon.

On to March!

MARCH

9. The Leopard is Loose by Stephen Harrigan 3*

Grady McClarty, 70, is asked by the Oklahoma Historical Society for an oral account of the escape of a leopard from the Oklahoma City zoo in the 1950s. Instead McClarty writes a remeniscence, as if he were telling the story as the five year old he was when the escape took place.

Grady, his six year old brother Danny, his mother, and two uncles all lived in seperate apartments adjacent to his grandparents house. The reminiscence is not just about the wild animal's escape and the terror it caused within the city, but also about his family members attempts to put the war years and experiences behind them and learn how to continue the lives they once expected before grief, psycholgical scars, and recognition of racial injustice became part of them.

10. The Women by Kristin Hannah3.5

The author brings much deserved attention to the women who served in the VietNam war in this novel. The plot addresses both Frankie's war experience and her experience after returning to the U.S.

She is a young and inexperienced nurse when she arrives in Nam, but she builds skills quickly in an Evacuation hospital where the wounded are first brought. I thought this part of the book was very well done and was compelled to keep reading once I started.

I wasn't as engaged with the second part. The intention of the author was to show how difficult it was for vets to assimilate back into their own country but in my opinon wasn't written with the depth to cause the reader to feel the pain. As you can see I'm rating a little lower than most because of that.

I'm a few years younger than Frankie and I'm sure many LT readers are around that same age. We don't need the reminder, but I'd like for younger readers to get an accurate understanding of what so many of those vets, female or male, and their families lived through, or tried to.

11. The Coronation by Jennifer Robson 4*

I enjoyed this very much. It begins in January, 1953 and ends in November of the same year. It follows the lives of a small hotel owner in London, her boaders and guests. The hotel hasn't done well since the war began and Edie, who inherited the hotel as a young adult after the war, is struggling to keep it open. When she learns the Queen's coronation procession will pass The Blue Lion, owned by her family since the 17th century, she is estatic, knowing it may be her last chance to save her beloved home.

A good story, with engaging characters, it's one of those books that's especially good when its time to rest, relax and read.

For the month, 11 completed against a yearly goal of 40.

APRIL

12. Maman's Homesick Pie by Donia Bijan 3.5*

This book is a reread from 2017. My personal rule on ROOTS is that I can count a previously read book as a ROOT if it's been 5 years or over since I read it and I still own it. The comments below are the original comments as is the rating.

After reading Bijan's first novel The Last Days of Café Leila, I looked forward to her earlier memoir and have not been disappointed. Bijan's family was on vacation in Spain when they got the call saying it wasn't safe for them to return to Iran. In 1978 they left Spain and came to America, settling in California.

Starting over, particularly when it wasn't expected, was difficult for Bijan's parents especially her father. He was not fluent in English and was never able to pass the exams necessary for an American medical license. Her mother, fluent in English, was able to begin nursing in a hospital quickly. Eventually her father would return to Iran periodically to work. Because her mother had been active in politics it wasn't safe for her to return.

Not surprisingly Bijan's father's dream for her was a career in medicine. She tried but soon found it wasn't her dream. Instead, greatly disappointing her father, she became a Cordon Bleu trained chef, studying under the famed Madame Brassart in Paris. Deciding to remain in France for three apprenticeships, she returned to California eventually opening her own award-winning restaurant.

Bijan writes with great passion causing the reader to care about her and her family. At the end of each chapter she includes Iranian and Iranian/American recipes, some of them her mother's.

13. The Wager by David Grann 4.0*

The Wager, purchased by the Royal Navy in 1740, shipwrecked over 280 years ago during war with Spain. Grann spent six years researching the Wager's history including traveling to the island where the tragedy took place. But as the title tells us, there is far more to the story than a ship going aground. Grann recounts all of the events, those caused by nature and those caused by men step-by-step making the eventful story easy to follow.

According to several internet sources, Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio acquired film rights to the book in 2022.

14. Foxgloves and Hedgehog Days by Daniel Blajan 4.5*

This small book gives a lot of pleasure. The author moved from the city to a small country village and tells of his delight (mostly) beginning a garden and becoming famiiar with the wildlife. He loves all of it, even if whatever is growing or visiting his home is considered a pest by other gardeners. Too, he occassionally writes something that is laugh-out-loud funny. This is one of the best "my life in a garden" books I've read.

MAY
15. Chapter and Curse by Elizabeth Penney 3.5*

Molly and her mother are asked by Aunt Violet to come to England to help with the family bookshop. Once they get involved, Molly has some good ideas to bring more customers into the store. The first author appearnce she plans does that very thing, but ends up tragically when a woman Voilet knows is found dead in the back garden and she becomes a suspect.

All of the elements we expect from a cozy mystery are here and although the plot is predictable, I liked it enough to continue with the second book in this series.

16. Remember Ben Clayton by Stephen Harrigan 4.5*

17. Remainders of the Day by Shaun Bythell 3.5*

18. Becoming Madame Secretary by Stephanie Dray 4.0*

JUNE
19. Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave 2.5*

A family in which every family member (all adults) is going through change or needs to. The protagonist was immature and unlikeable as were most of the characters. I previously read Dave's The Last Thing He Told Me and I did liked that but this wasn't for me.

20. For Whom the Book Tolls: An Antique Bookshop Mystery by Laura Black. 3.0*

When Jenna needs a new start in her life, her uncle invites her to stay with him and in return help in his antiquarian bookstore. Not long after she arrives in the small North Carolina town he has lived in for decades, she finds his body at the bottom of the staircase that leads from the second floor apartments to the store.

21. Dear Mrs. Bird by A.J. Pearce 4.0*
22. Yours Cheerfully by A.. Pearce 4.0*

23. The Hanover Square Affair by Ashley Gardner
3.5*
Publisher's description:

London, 1816
Cavalry captain Gabriel Lacey returns to Regency London from the Napoleonic wars, burned out, fighting melancholia, his career ended. His interest is piqued when he learns of a missing girl, possibly kidnapped by a prominent member of Parliament. Lacey's search for the young woman leads to murder, corruption, and dealings with a leader of the underworld. At the same time, he struggles with his transition from a soldier's life to the civilian world, redefining his role with his former commanding officer, and making new friends--from the top of society to the street girls of Covent Garden.

24. Foster by Claire Keegan 4.5*

I'm not going to say much about this because there are so many reviews of it already. Clearly, based on my rating it can be seen I consider it exceptional. I'll think about the characters a long time, wondering what might have happened after the last page was read.

JULY

25. Night of Shadows by Frances and Richard Lockridge 3*

Evans Parten is a young professional taking a few days in NYC before reporting to a new job. While walking down 5th Avenue he sees a pretty young woman he realizes he knew growing up. After starting a conversation he invites her for lunch on Saturday. When he arrives at the apartment to pick her up, not only is she not there, but a couple with another name are in residence . Angry to be dupped, he sits in the car and fumes. But when she comes out of the building with a man who seems to be controlling her and may have a gun, he reports the incident to the police and becomes involved in the investigation.

26. Good Night Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea 4*

Based on his mother's experience as a Clubmobile Corp member in WWII, Urrea brings yet another way women contributed to the war effort to our attention in this well done novel. It is rather surreal that women, nicknamed Donut Dollies, drove trucks to battle areas to serve fresh coffee and donuts to the fighting men, but they did.

Urrea's characters, Dorothy and Irene, begin working together on a truck in 1943 and continue together until the end of the war. At first intending to write a non-fiction account of the Dollies, he learned the records for the Clubmobile Corp were destroyed in the 1970s in a warehouse fire so he turned to fiction to tell his mother's story. His research included making friends with Jill Knappenberger, who worked alongside his mother who died in 1990.

27. Trail of Crumbs by Kim Sunee 2.5*

When the author begins her memoir she is in her twenties and living with a very wealthy French businessman who has homes in Paris and Provence. Unhappy in that situation she begins to wander and eventually ends up as food editor for an American magazine.

This is the second time I've tried this book, its been on my bookshelf two years, but I didn't finish it the first time and scanned the last quarter this time. I didn't think she was interesting, though younger readers might find it more appealing.

28. The Reckoning by John Grisham 3.5*

Pete Banning is a hero. Returning from WWII to his small hometown, he is recovering from the aftereffects of the Bataan Death March and of being a POW. Once home he takes up the management of the generational farm he, his children, and a sister live on. When the book begins his wife is living in a psychiatric hospital.

Banning's return to civilian life seems to be going okay until he drives to the church the family faithfully attends and shoots and kills the popular minister. When he is arrested he admits the crime but won't tell law enforcement or anyone else why he did it. The rest of the book concerns the why.

Grisham writes in graphic detail about Banning's experiences on Bataan and in prison. In general I think the book is too long and the "during the war" section could have been shorter. Still, I liked the book and found it to be interesting. Grisham dropped a few clues along the way that lead me to believe the murder was because of something that in the end turned out to be wrong. I liked that too.

29. A Treacherous Tale by Elizabeth Penny

AUGUST

30. Mrs. Pearce Calling by AJ Pearce 4.5*

This is the third book with Emmy Lake as the protagonist. I've grown weary of novels with a WWII setting but I'm glad I didn't move on until I read these three.

Each of the books takes a different approach to carrying Emmy Lake's story. In the third book the story revolves around the upset at Women's Friend magazine where Emmy has risen to the position of advice columnist. She and most others at the magazine are very loyal to their readership. When the magazine is inherited by a socialite she decides to change the magazine's purpose from supporting average women through the war and instead focus on women like herself. Travel! Bespoke clothes! Recipes for the cook! Emmy and her friends attempt a rally but with no big money it may be a hopeless fight.

31. The Lost Dalton by 4.5*
This is Trisler's account of researching and finding the location where Frank Dalton, a U.S. Deputy Marshal, was killed in 1892 in the line of duty, along with who was involved in the murder. It also includes an explanation of law enforcement in that region (Indian Territory now Oklahoma) during that period and an explanation of the Federal Court, located in Western Arkansas, that had jurisdiction over IT.

Frank Dalton was the brother of the 4 Dalton brothers in the legendary Dalton Brothers outlaw gang. The

32. A Week in Winter by 3.0*

This is the last novel Binchy wrote before her death in 2012, the year this was published. I had enjoyed her books so much I was very saddened by her death. This novel is much like her others, characters the reader will be sympathetic to, and difficult life situations either solved or successfully worked around. It takes place in a small town in England where Chicky manages to buy an old house she converts into a hotel. The story revolves around some of the employees, some of the guests and of course Chicky. It's not great literature but good for the time a quiet book is needed.

33. Stuart Little by E. B. White 4*

A children's classic, the story of a little mouse boy still gets giggles and oh-nos from young readers (and me).

SEPTEMBER

34. The Weather Woman by Sally Gardner 4*

35. Moon of the Turning Leaves by Waubgeshig Rice
4*

36. Death in Provence by Serena Kent 3.0*

OCTOBER

37. South of the Border, West of the Sun by Haruki Murakami 4*
38. Murder on Safari by Hilary Waugh 3*

NOVEMBER

39. Except for All the Snakes I Just Love It Out Here by L. Lee Cowan

This is a self published memoir (no touchstone) written by a childhood friend. She tells her experiences moving to the Ozark Mountains with her husband as they become "mountaineers." It's fun to read though maybe not so fun living through all of it!

40. Fried Eggs With Chopsticks by Polly Evans 3.5*

This is a travelogue of the authors solo trip through China in 2007.

41 The Mistletoe Mystery by Nita Prose

Because this is the third book in The Maid series I don't think I liked it as much as I would have had I read the first two. At the time I started it I thought it was a standalone. It was also a little too sweet and predictable for my taste. 3.0*

42 Lost and Found in Spain by Susan Lewis Solomont

This is a memoir of Solomont's three and a half years as the wife of the U.S. Ambassador to Spain during the Obama presidency. The first third of the book focuses on the difficulty she had of adjusting. After improving her Spanish, becoming involved in he Jewish community and becoming involved with Spain's executive women she found her balance. 3.0*

DECEMBER

43. The Colony Club by Shelley Noble 3.5*
44. The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont 3.5*

welcome back!

Good to see you here too!

Welcome back, Luanne. Happy ROOTing this year, make it a Happy one.

>15 cyderry:, >16 Jackie_K:, >17 connie53:,

Thanks, I'm looking forward to seeing all the reading lists during this year!

Welcome back, clue! Good luck with your goal this year!

Welcome back and good luck with your ROOTing!

Thanks, I have plenty to keep me reading for the year for sure. At this time of year I get excited about reading all the good books on my shelf.

Mid-Year Status

My goal for the year is 40 and I've read 60% of that. I'll probably read mostly short books from my Kindle for awhile, I'm determined to lower the number of To Read books that have settled there.

And? How did that go? Have you lowered the number of TBRs?

>23 connie53: Yes it has helped but earlier this month was my birthday and I spent birthday money on books at two bookstores with very good sale tables! Next I'm going to go through Kindle and actually delete those I don't think I want to read. There are too many cheap (or free) ones I downloaded but have never gotten around to.

It looks like you are having a good reading year. I'm amazed August is almost gone, but it has been very hot here so for that reason I'm ready to move on!

Good you lowered your TBR. And congrats on your birthday! Great to be able to spend your birthday money on books. That's what I would buy too. I.m having a great reading year and I almost reached my ROOT goal.

REACHED GOAL!

throwing confetti in your honor

Congratulations!

>27 clue: Congratulations!

>28 EGBERTINA:, >29 MissWatson:, >30 Cecilturtle:

Thanks! I'll be adding a few more. As always, this has helped clear some shelf space (that I always manage to fill quickly).