BingoDog reads part 3

A continuation of the general thread to record your completed squares and ask for ideas about the ones you're struggling with.

Don't forget to fill in the wiki: https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/2024_BingoDOG

1 Food or Cooking
2 A book with an ugly cover
3 A book with nothing on the cover but the title and author
4 Features twins
5 A topic about which you have specific knowledge
6 Published in year ending in 24
7 Epistolary or diary
8 Big or little in title
9 A book from one of the libraries listed under the "Similar libraries" featured on your LT profile page
10 About friendship
11 Three-word title
12 Paper-based item in plot
13 Read a CAT
14 Short story collection
15 Person's name in title
16 Set in a city
17 A book with fewer than 100 copies on LT
18 Something written by a person of colour
19 Written by an author 65 or older
20 Featuring water
21 Involves warriors or mercenaries
22 Re-read a favourite book
23 Written in another cultural tradition
24 Something that takes place in multiple countries
25 Current or recent best-seller

A continuation of the general thread to record your completed squares and ask for ideas about the ones you're struggling with.

Don't forget to fill in the wiki: https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/2024_BingoDOG

1 Food or Cooking
2 A book with an ugly cover
3 A book with nothing on the cover but the title and author
4 Features twins
5 A topic about which you have specific knowledge
6 Published in year ending in 24
7 Epistolary or diary
8 Big or little in title
9 A book from one of the libraries listed under the "Similar libraries" featured on your LT profile page
10 About friendship
11 Three-word title
12 Paper-based item in plot
13 Read a CAT
14 Short story collection
15 Person's name in title
16 Set in a city
17 A book with fewer than 100 copies on LT
18 Something written by a person of colour
19 Written by an author 65 or older
20 Featuring water
21 Involves warriors or mercenaries
22 Re-read a favourite book
23 Written in another cultural tradition
24 Something that takes place in multiple countries
25 Current or recent best-seller

"Recent" best seller (according to the cover, anyway!)

The Lost Girls of Paris / Pam Jenoff
4 stars

In 1946 in New York City, Grace comes across an abandoned suitcase and finds pictures of 12 young women in the suitcase. Who were these women and who does the suitcase belong to?

In 1943, Eleanor in London starts a women’s unit of the SOE (Special Operations Executive). Women are recruited and trained to head over to France to help the resistance there. They will transmit (coded) information by radio, they might even help blow up bridges. It is a dangerous mission and the women are risking their lives.

In 1944, Marie, who has recently sent her daughter outside London to live with an aunt and keep her safe, is recruited because she is fluent in French. But there is so much secrecy, it takes a while to figure out what they are asking of her.

I really liked this. Though the women weren’t spies, they were often referred to that way, with no other “good” word to describe what they were doing. It was very dangerous work, and not something I knew about before now. I enjoyed all three storylines. Of course, it was loosely based on real women who did this work (though men did it, too).

I'm using The Bells of Little Woodford for the square: A topic about which you have specific knowledge
I am a church bellringer. Yes, I have broken a stay. No I have never left the floor, broken both legs and needed to be rescued by the ambulance service via the trapdoor. Nor would I suggest dealing with a noise complaint by dumping a pile of manure of the complainant's driveway. It;s one of those books that works better if you don't know anything about the subject!

For the recent bestseller square: The Husbands by Holly Gramazio, which spent one week on the New York Times list in April.

For the featuring twins square I read Twelfth Knight by Alexene Farol Follmuth. I now have only 2 squares left (and those books are selected).

>5 KeithChaffee: I'm intrigued by that one...off to check out your review!

Food/cooking

Bet Me / Jennifer Crusie
3.5 stars

Min(erva) is a larger woman and is self-conscious about it. When she is dumped (because she hasn’t slept with him after 2 months), she heads out with a couple of girlfriends where she sees her ex. And overhears him betting the most good-looking of the men he is with (Cal) that Cal can’t get Min to dinner that night, then to bed within a month. Prickly Min goes with Cal, anyway. Turns out Cal is a pretty nice guy…

I enjoyed this. The larger woman self-consciousness hits home, but I’m happily single, anyway. I rarely read romances, anymore, and only occasionally chick lit, but I still enjoyed this. It’s nice to think the larger woman can get the good-looking guy. There were multiple perspectives in this book, including the ex-boyfriend. There were a number of secondary characters, mostly friends of both Min and Cal; I particularly enjoyed Emilio, the restaurant owner.

In the end, I returned to Das doppelte Lottchen for the book about twins, because yesterday was the 50th anniversary of Erich Kästner's death.

And on 31 July, I finished When we were orphans, by Kazuo Ishiguro who is a Person of Colour. I have filled my card, yay!

>10 MissWatson: well done!

>10 MissWatson: Congratulations!

>10 MissWatson: Congratulations

>12 christina_reads: >13 lowelibrary: Thank you, ladies!

>10 MissWatson: Congratulations! It's so satisfying, isn't it?

I just finished my card too with Gun Street Girl by Adrian McKinty that was a title taken from one of my similar libraries - in this case katiekrug's library.

>15 VivienneR: Congratulations VivienneR

>15 VivienneR: Oh yes. And then I want to start all over again...Congrats on your own accomplishment!

>15 VivienneR: Well done!

>10 MissWatson:, >15 VivienneR: Congratulations for finishing your cards.

I just finished mine today by reading Scattering Ashes: A Memoir of Letting Go by Joan Z. Rough, a resident in our retirement community for the under 100 copies square. (There are 5 copies.). This was a sad read about the author's taking care of her dying mother.

>19 sallylou61: Congratulations on finishing your card sallylou61

LT "Similar Library"

White Fragility / Robin DiAngelo
3.5 stars

The author is a sociologist and, for a couple of decades now, has been hired to train employees of companies on antiracism. DiAngelo explains that there is a difference between prejudices (held by individuals) and racism (institutions and society). In The U.S., Canada, and Western Europe where the bulk of people are white, we are raised in racist societies, and there is no way to get away from that. What we can do, though, is challenge it. Be aware of those racist tendencies that will and do happen within ourselves, and challenge it. If someone points out something racist that you’ve said or done, don’t get defensive; this what she defines as “white fragility”, and it shuts down any further conversation.

This was interesting and I don’t doubt what she’s said. It is very difficult to face your own racism and prejudices. There were many things in the book that were repeated multiple times, but in a lot of cases, it’s helpful to have that repetition, especially with such a difficult subject when people want to deny. I will read more on the topic.

>19 sallylou61: Well done!

Lots of recent finishers. For those not yet finished, how many have you got left and which ones are you a bit stuck for ideas on?

I’ve been done except for the ‘Little/big’ prompt for months.
And I just realised that I actually did read a book a few months back with små (= Little), but it was for another challenge.

>22 Helenliz: I only have the "ugly cover" one left.

Still left:
different cultural tradition
big/little in title
plot features a paper object
set in multiple countries

I have books planned for the first three; still not sure what I'm going to do for the multiple countries prompt.

Thanks >20 lowelibrary: and >22 Helenliz:. I enjoyed doing this bingo card, but, unlike other years, I'm not starting another.

I've got 5 left including "Read a Cat" which I'm saving for last. Reading one now and I have one scheduled for Sep. Which would leave me with the big/little title and "takes place in multiple cities".

ETA: OOH - I had one for big/little but had to return to library before I finished. I'll put myself on hold again for it.

>22 Helenliz: I have three squares left:

* Re-read a favorite book
* Topic about which you have specific knowledge
* Current or recent bestseller

I’m planning to re-read a favorite this month (Fugitive Telemetry). I’d started Bean Counters for the “specific knowledge” square but I got bogged down and put it on hold, so I was sort of stuck on what to read instead until I saw Cindy’s (LibraryCin) recent review of Index, a History of the by Dennis Duncan, so I’m planning to read that.

I am a little stuck on the bestseller. I really want to read James by Percival Everett, but it’s impossible to get a hold of any time soon at my library. Similar problem with most of the current bestsellers. I’ll probably find something off the Indie Bestsellers List, which has some things that aren’t as trendy, especially among the mass market paperbacks.

I am currently reading my ugly cover choice, leaving me with a paper-based plot item to finish.

Congrats to all who have completed their Bingo cards!

I still have five to go but I should finish three of these by the end of the month. This will leave

: written in another cultural tradition
: set in multiple countries

I have some ideas for both of these so should be plain sailing.

>10 MissWatson: >15 VivienneR: >19 sallylou61: Congratulations!

I have three to go:

A book with nothing on the cover but the title and author
A book about a topic about which you have specific knowledge or expertise
First published in a year ending in 24

I have chosen my books for these squares and hope to read one this month, but I will probably only get to the other ones a little later.

I reread Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells for square 22, reread a favorite book.

I reread Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie for reread a favorite book.

Following on the conversation about where we're at on our bingo cards--I still have 11 squares to go. It's time for me to get serious about this!

>33 NinieB: Death on the Nile is one of my favorite Christies as well. And don't worry, 11 squares in 5 months is totally doable!

>34 christina_reads: Yeah, I can do this. Just have to get more intentional about my reading!

I'm using Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers for the square featuring food or cooking. She runs a tea shop and spends almost every spare minute cooking up a feast for the various young people that get tied up in her investigation.

I decided to use Galatea by Madeline Miller for the square "Nothing on the cover but the title and author" - at first I didn't want to because there are some dots on the cover, but on a second thought I think it is ok.

I had to return a book to the library I was reading for the "published in a year ending in 24" because Someone was waiting and put myself back on the hold list. Hope it comes up before the end of the year.

I read What an Owl Knows: The New Science of the World's Most Enigmatic Birds by Jennifer Ackerman for square 25, Current or recent best-seller. I believe it was on the New York Times bestseller list, although not all that recently, but it is on the most recent Indie Bestseller List, #13 on the trade paperback nonfiction list.

I'm using The Oresteian Trilogy for the Warriors or mercenaries square. Features the end of the battle of Troy and the return home of Agamemnon, who does not long survive this action.
I have something that would be a better fit, but may not get to it.

Leaves me with 3. Big/Little, Diary & Read a CAT (which I like to leave until last).

Starting my second Bingo card with Mord auf der Trabrennbahn, less than 100 copies on LT, and Die rote Frau which is set in a city (Vienna),

The moment I saw the ugly cover square, I knew which book I was reading. I read Don't Open This Book for this square.


This leaves me with only the paper-based item square.

>42 lowelibrary: Haha, that's a perfect choice -- and the perfect title for that cover!

For a recent bestseller, I read The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman.

I have finished my Bingo card with:
The Old Woman with the Knife by Gu Byeong-mo for told in another cultural tradition, this is Korean
Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher, read a CAT which I had saved for last. Used this for Calendar & Prize CATs.

>45 staci426: Congratulations on finishing your card.

>45 staci426: Well done on the full house. I like to leave the CAT square until last as well.

>45 staci426: Congratulations! I loved Nettle and Bone.

>46 lowelibrary: >47 Helenliz: >48 christina_reads: Thanks, everyone!

>48 christina_reads: I know a lot of people love Nettle & Bone. I thought it was pretty good, rated it 3.5*, but maybe I was expecting too much because of all the hype. Glad to have finally tried something by Kingfisher.

And this is a blackout bingo for me! Ugly cover (specifically, the cover of the audio book that I listened to).

Three Bedrooms, One Corpse / Charlaine Harris
3 stars

Aurora (Roe) has left her library job and is trying out real estate with her mother. As she fills in while her mom is running late, she shows a brother (Martin) and sister from out of town a large house… and they find the dead body of another realtor in one of the bedrooms! Meanwhile, Roe is very attracted to this older man Martin, and they start dating while the real estate agents in town are a bit nervous.

This was ok. I listened to the audio, and it started off well, but my mind did tend to wander, as it sometimes (often?) does with audios, so I definitely missed more than I would have liked to. I do think Roe did a really stupid thing at the end (but they often do in cozy mysteries – rather than going to the police with what they’ve discovered, they do something dangerous instead). I’m undecided if I should continue the series or not. I might try one more.

>50 LibraryCin: And more congratulations!

> 50 Congratulations on the blackout.

Thank you both!

I read Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens, for big or little in the title.

Congratulations to those who have recently completed their Bingo cards. I know I've missed several.

It's always fun to fill a Bingo card but it can be a real challenge, and some years more so than others.

For POC author, I read Blind Man with a Pistol by Chester Himes. And with this I have my first Bingo (five in a row).

I am using Schlump, a novel of the First World War, for the "warriors" square – as soon as the wiki is accessible again. Right now it doesn't load.

>57 MissWatson: seems to be a general wiki problem, there's a bug open for it. Hopefully it will be resolved shortly.

>58 Helenliz: I noticed that this frequently happens, I just need to remind myself to update at some point later.

I'm filling the "Read a CAT/KIT" square with The Wars which fits both the History and Prize CATs.

Fillling the "different cultural tradition" square with Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon by Wole Talabi.

The characters in Last Friends move between England, Malta, Hong Kong and points beyond, so I'm using it for the "set in multiple countries" square.

The cover of Only a Matter of Time by V. C. Clinton-Baddeley has a photograph of a man's rather lengthy arms hanging on to the minute hand of a very large clock. I'm calling it ugly.

Calendar of Crime by Ellery Queen is a short story collection that fills that square. I now have six squares left to fill.

Who else is still filling their card? How many squares do you have left to fill?

Two squares left — set in multiple countries and “big” or “little” in the title.

>64 NinieB: me, 2 left. I'm reading the diary square then it's just read a CAT and I'll be done.

I just completed the "Takes Place in Multiple Countries" square and so now I just have one square left to fill in. I know what I want to read so just need to fit it into my reading schedule.

I have finished Schnee in Venedig for the "re-read a favourite" square on my second card. It's filling up nicely.
ETA: I have 10 squares filled on my second card, 15 to go. That looks a little ambitious...

>64 NinieB: I have one square left to fill, 5 a topic about which you have specific knowledge, and I have a book picked out. After I finish my current library loan, I’ll swap it out.

I have 4 left - "Takes place in multiple countries" (so I'll be looking at what DQ just read for maybe an idea), "big or little in the title, published in year ending in 24 (which I was just notified is waiting for me on the hold shelf at the library) and "read a Cat" which I like to leave for last.

I have 2 left. One is "written in another cultural tradition" and I probably have something I've already read that will fit, but then aI may read something else I have in mind. The other is "short story collection". I have something on my shelf, but again, may choose something else. I will probably fill one in October and the other in November. Bingo has seemed easy to me this year and I've enjoyed it.

We are all doing great on filling our squares! I have more than most of you but I do have a plan for finishing up. Birgit, kudos on starting again. I enjoyed years where I was able to do that.

I have one square left to fill - Paper-based item in plot

I read The Fall of Arthur by J.R.R. Tolkien for the "specific knowledge" square. I studied the Arthurian myths, especially the medieval texts about them, and alliterative verse at university, and the book includes several essays on these topics.

Now I have just one square to fill: "First published in a year ending in 24". I know what I want to read for it and plan to do so in October.

I just finished my blackout with 84, Charing Cross Road for the Epistolary or Diary category.

>75 susanna.fraser: well done!

>75 susanna.fraser: Congratulations!

It has taken me ages to pick up Basil by Wilkie Collins because of the truly hideous painting OUP chose for the cover. I don't know if it is a well-known picture, and I don't really care. The man in it looks like a drooling fool, the woman like a leering idiot, and she is a redhead, which bears no relation to the story.

I have not filled my bingo card, but I do have two bingos across rows.

1. Featuring twins: Never Saw Me Coming by Vera Kurian
2. Epistolary or diary: The Cherry Robbers by Sarai Walker
3. Featuring water: American Mermaid by Julia Langbein
4. Another cultural tradition: Kindred by Octavia Butler (slave narrative)
5. Current/recent bestseller: All the Sinners Bleed by S. A. Cosby

16. POC author: Passing by Nella Larsen
17. Three-word title: Three Graves Full by Jamie Mason
18. LT similar library: Twelve Nights at Rotter House by J. W. Ocker
19. Set in a city: Grievers by adrienne maree brown
20. Warriors or mercenaries: Prophet by Sin Blache and Helen Macdonald

I have no squares at all covered in my second row, though.

Finished Diary of an Apprentice Astronaut for the diary or epistolary square. Leaves me with just a CAT to read.

I read Fatal Intrusion by Jeffery Deaver & Isabella Maldonado, published on September 1, 2024, for the publication date in '24 square.

I've decided to use Sold by Patricia McCormick for the block "set in multiple countries". It takes place in Nepal and India.

I've finished The Briar Club by Kate Quinn for the "published in year ending in 24. (2024) That leaves me just 2 blocks - "big or little in the title" and "read a CAT".

I've finished The Little Book of Icelanders by Alda Sigmundsdottir for the block "big or little in the title".

I have filled in the final square of my Bingo Card with Daughters of the River Huong by Uyen Nicole Duong. Another great year of Bingo!

I read Index, A History of the: A Bookish Adventure from Medieval Manuscripts to the Digital Age by Dennis Duncan for square 5, a topic about which you have specific knowledge (I’ve indexed a few books in my time), and have finally filled in my bingo card!

>85 DeltaQueen50: >86 Charon07: Congratulations to you both! Index, A History of the sounds like a fun book to end on. :)

>85 DeltaQueen50: - >86 Charon07: - Congratulations to you both. I think I'll be finishing in a couple of days with one of the books I'm reading now.

I've read The Witches of Halloween by Amorette Anderson , a collection of cozy mystery short pieces for the short story square.

I read Deadline by John Dunning for the "Read a Cat" book. (PrizeCat - Missed it by That Much - Edgar Award Nominee - 1982). And with that book I've finished my Bingo Card.

>86 Charon07: Congrats to you! I hope you liked it!

>91 LibraryCin: Thanks, and thanks for the BB! I definitely enjoyed it more than you did, I think, but I took a tip from you and read the printed book instead.

>92 Charon07: Oh good! :-)

I have set up the 2025 group here: https://www.librarything.com/ngroups/24518/2025-Category-Challenge. Feel free to stop by anytime, start suggesting CATs and KITs, and post your threads for the 2025 challenge!

(I'm posting this notification to a bunch of threads, so sorry if you see it multiple times!)

I have filled the short story collection square with a nice collection of ghost stories: Classic Ghost Stories.

I read No Two Persons for the Paper-based item in plot square. This completes my BingoDOG card.

>96 lowelibrary: Congratulations!

>97 sallylou61: Thank you.

I picked The Ghost Cat by Alex Howard for October's RandomCAT. Dreadful, but it's read and that's also filled my BingoDog card with the Read a Cat square. Which I have filled with a Cat about a cat.

Posted this in the new group, but copying it here for the BingoDog people who have not yet found that.

I've organised BingoDog for the last few years. Currently I'm away (I am now home again) and find posting on my phone annoying. Then I'm back to my busiest part of the year. So while I'm happy to run it again, I won't be able to start anything until the latter part of November. If someone else wants to pick it up, just shout & run with it!

>99 Helenliz: Congratulations on finishing your card. I love that you filled the cat with a cat.

Takes place in multiple countries, 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff.

If you haven't yet visited the 2025 Category Challenge group, come on over! CAT and KIT discussion is in progress, and we're going to start voting on Wednesday, November 6. So if you'd like to suggest a CAT or KIT for next year, check out the discussion and make your proposals here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/365087.

I'm posting this several places in the 2024 group, so my apologies if you see it a bunch of times!

Congratulations to all who have filled in their card since I last visited this thread!

I have also completed my BingoDOG card - I did so in October, but did not manage to post about it earlier. I read The Wartime Book Club by Kate Thompson, which was published in 2024, for "published in a year ending in 24". This was a fascinating novel for my final square!

Another finished card here; the last square was "big/little in title," which I filled with The Big Bite by Charles Williams.

Congratulations on finishing your cards >104 MissBrangwen: and >105 KeithChaffee:

>104 MissBrangwen:, >105 KeithChaffee: nice going both.

The Roman Empire and the Indian Ocean is about bold Roman traders and businessmen taking their ships to Africa, Arabia and Asia, and there's lots of seawater involved.

Today (Sunday, November 10) is the last day for voting on the 2025 CATs, so if you haven't voted yet, you can do so here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/365087. See message #73 and following. Again, cross-posting in many places, so sorry if you see this message multiple times.

Okay, so I've been woefully negligent by not reporting my reads. I have been reading though! So, small victories.

Anyway, here's the first batch!
2 A book with an ugly cover - You Should Have Left -- I mean... look at it.



4 Features twins - Titus Groan -- Technically, I'm still reading this one!

5 A topic about which you have specific knowledge - Socrates in 90 Minutes -- I love to listen to these cheeky in 90 minutes philosophy books while falling asleep!

7 Epistolary or diary - A Night in Lonesome October -- This might be cheating on my part, because it's not non-fiction or an actual diary.

11 Three-word title - Hammers on Bone

Theodor Fontane was 72 when he started writing Meine Kinderjahre, a memoir of his childhood years in a small town on the Baltic Sea.

Let's share the next batch! Trying not to overwhelm the conversation since I know I joined late.

3 A book with nothing on the cover but the title and author - Classics: A Very Short Introduction This was a really difficult category for me! I ended up reading one of my VSIs to hit it.

10 About friendship - Binti I feel like friendship and the exploration of other cultures and openness to engage with and befriend strangers is very important to this book.

17 A book with fewer than 100 copies on LT - Omega Children I absolutely loved this book! It’s an interesting philosophical look at robots and human interaction.

15 Person's name in title - The Redemption of Althalus I enjoy Althalus and re-read it pretty regularly. If you haven’t read this one, it’s great!

25 Current or recent best-seller - The Handmaid’s Tale This was another difficult one for me to find and fill because I tend to not enjoy popular or best sellers. However, I wanted to read this one to see what all the memes were about. Ended up being an enjoyable read.

I have neglected to add my recent Bingo reads here, the last one is Letzte Ernte which has twins in it. I’ll come back later for the rest...

ETA: I used
Two for the lions for the specific knowledge
Life among the savages for the similar library (TessW)
Saxnot stirbt nie for epistolary

Which means I have six squares left to fill on my second card.

Three more squares are filled:
food or cooking: Kaiser, Kraut und Kiberer
bestsellers: Die Vegetarierin
another cultural tradition: Snow Flower and the secret fan

Which leaves me with three squares unfilled on my second card which I still consider a success.

Actually, I finished one more book before midnight, a re-read of Little Lord Fauntleroy. Even better success, then. The only thing left now is POC author and only author and title on the cover.

>114 MissWatson: A second card?!?! I thought I was doing well to get mostly through one. Super excited for you!