lindapanzo's 2015 reading--2nd inning

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lindapanzo's 2015 reading--2nd inning

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1lindapanzo
Editat: des. 24, 2015, 1:02 am




Welcome to my simplified 2015 challenge.

Three categories with 20 books each plus four categories with 15 books each. 120 in all with no overlaps.

1. Mysteries (20 books)--read 20 out of 20--CATEGORY FINISHED
2. Sports (20 books)--read 20 out of 20--CATEGORY FINISHED
3. More Mysteries (20 books)--read 20 out of 20--CATEGORY FINISHED

4. Novels (15 books)--read 15 out of 15--CATEGORY FINISHED
5. History (15 books)--read 15 out of 15--CATEGORY FINISHED
6. Still More Mysteries (15 books)--read 15 out of 15--CATEGORY FINISHED
7. Overflow (when the other categories get filled up) (15 books)--read 15 out of 15--CATEGORY FINISHED

2lindapanzo
Editat: ag. 14, 2015, 6:21 pm

Category 1: Mysteries (20 books)--read 20 out of 20--CATEGORY FINISHED

1. Dead Girls Don't Wear Diamonds by Nancy Martin--finished on 12/15/14
2. Death of a Mad Hatter by Jenn McKinlay--finished on 12/25/14
3. Private by James Patterson--finished on 12/28/14
4. Cover Her Face by P.D. James--finished on 1/1/15
5. Old Fashioned Crooks by Jessica Beck--finished on 1/2/15
6. Red Velvet Revenge by Jenn McKinlay--finished on 1/8/15
7. Blackberry Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke--finished on 1/10/15
8. The Attenbury Emeralds by Jill Paton Walsh--finished on 1/15/15
9. Eggs in a Casket by Laura Childs--finished on 1/21/15
10. Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? by Ed Gorman--finished on 1/25/15
11. A Baked Ham by Jessica Beck--finished on 1/31/15
12. Murder in the Marais by Cara Black--finished on 2/3/15
13. The French Powder Mystery by Ellery Queen--finished on 2/16/15
14. The Ragtime Kid by Larry Karp--finished on 2/22/15
15. Scorched Eggs by Laura Childs--finished on 3/1/15
16. Dangerous Dough by Jessica Beck--finished on 3/4/15
17. Darned If You Do by Monica Ferris--finished on 3/10/15
18. Ladle to the Grave by Connie Archer--finished on 3/17/15
19. Away with the Fairies by Kerry Greenwood--finished on 3/29/15
20. Read It and Weep by Jenn McKinlay--finished on 4/10/15

3lindapanzo
Editat: nov. 15, 2015, 6:49 pm

Category 2: Sports (20 books)--read 20 out of 20--CATEGORY FINISHED

Focus, of course, is on baseball but I've built up a backlog of hockey books lately, too. Other sports book, such as Boys on the Bus could fit here, too.

1. Mr Hockey: My Story by Gordie Howe--finished on 12/20/14
2. Cubs Forever by Bob Vorwald--finished on 1/3/15
3. Brooks: The Biography of Brooks Robinson by Doug Wilson--finished on 1/28/15
4. A Whole New Ballgame by Stephen J. Walker--finished on 2/19/15
5. The Matheny Manifesto by Mike Matheny--finished on 3/7/15
6. Baseball's Starry Night by Paul Kocak--finished on 3/31/15
7. The Fight of Their Lives: How Juan Marichal and John Roseboro Turned Baseball's Ugliest Brawl into a Story of Forgiveness and Redemption by John Rosengren--finished on 4/16/15
8. Best Seat in the House: Diary of a Wrigley Field Usher by Bruce Bohrer--finished on 5/9/15
9. Save by Roy by Terry Frei--finished on 6/21/15
10. On the Clock: The Story of the NFL Draft by Barry Wilner and Ken Rappoport--finished on 6/27/15
11. How Baseball Explains America by Hal Bodley--finished on 7/11/15
12. Golden Girl by Michael Silver--finished on 8/10/15
13. The Grind: Inside Baseball's Endless Season by Barry Svrluga--finished on 8/19/15
14. The History of Baseball by Christie Hodgen--finished on 8/20/15
15. The Boys in Brown by Jon J. Kerr--finished on 9/14/15
16. Made in America by Chris Chelios--finished on 9/17/15
17. Masters of the Games: Essays on Sport by Joseph Epstein--finished on 10/21/15
18. Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games by Tom and Jerry Caraccioli--finished on 11/1/15
19. Swimming Studies by Leanne Shapton--finished on 11/4/15
20. Gold in the Water by P.H. Mullen--finished on 11/14/15

POSSIBLES:
--The Last Hockey Game by Bruce McDougall

4lindapanzo
Editat: ag. 16, 2015, 11:25 am

Category 3 More Mysteries (20 books)--read 20 out of 20--CATEGORY FINISHED

1. Troubled Treats by Jessica Beck--finished on 4/13/15
2. Murder Underground by Mavis Doriel Hay--finished on 4/25/15
3. Book Clubbed by Lorna Barrett--finished on 5/2/15
4. Slated for Death by Elizabeth J. Duncan--finished on 5/6/15
5. Ming Tea Murder by Laura Childs--finished on 5/13/15
6. Look to the Lady by Margery Allingham--finished on 5/17/15
7. Dead Rapunzel by Victoria Houston--finished on 5/21/15
8. Lethal Letters by Ellery Adams--finished on 5/24/15
9. A Bad Egg by Jessica Beck--finished on 5/26/15
10. On Borrowed Time by Jenn McKinlay--finished on 6/2/15
11. The Gentle Art of Murder by Jeanne M. Dams--finished on 6/14/15
12. The Case of the Sulky Girl by Erle Stanley Gardner--finished on
13. Murder in the Mystery Suite by Ellery Adams--finished on 6/24/15
14. The Late Scholar by Jill Paton Walsh--finished on 7/5/15
15. Cast Iron Will by Jessica Beck--finished on 7/8/15
16. Water Like a Stone by Deborah Crombie--finished on 7/27/15
17. Sugar Coated Sins by Jessica Beck--finished on 7/29/15
18. Murder in Montparnasse by Kerry Greenwood--finished on 8/5/15
19. An Expert in Murder by Nicola Upson--finished on 8/14/15
20. Death Is a Word by Hazel Holt--finished on 8/15/15

5lindapanzo
Editat: oct. 30, 2015, 1:20 pm

Category 4: Novels (20 books)--read 15 out of 15--CATEGORY FINISHED

1. Insurgent by Veronica Roth--finished on 12/15/14
2. Allegiant by Veronica Roth--finished on 12/27/14
3. The Ballad of the Sad Café by Carson McCullers--finished on 1/5/15
4. Daisy Miller by Henry James--finished on 2/8/15
5. Doc by Mary Doria Russell--finished on 3/14/15
6. The Sportswriter by Richard Ford--finished on 3/24/15
7. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster--finished on 4/29/15
8. Coventry by Helen Humphreys--finished on 5/27/15
9. Miracle at Augusta by James Patterson--finished on 6/3/15
10. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs--finished on 7/17/15
11. The Last Picture Show by Larry McMurtry--finished on 8/1/15
12. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah--finished on 8/22/15
13. Lumby's Bounty by Gail Fraser--finished on 9/30/15
14. Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury--finished on 10/10/15
15. The Kid from Tomkinsville by John R. Tunis--finished on 10/29/15

6lindapanzo
Editat: oct. 27, 2015, 5:51 pm

Category 5: History (15 books)--read 15 out of 15--CATEGORY FINISHED

1. Peace on Earth: The Christmas Truce of 1914--finished on 12/22/14
2. Candy Bomber by Michael O. Tunnell--finished on 1/4/14
3. Hot Time in the Old Town: The Great Heat Wave of 1896 and the Making of Theodore Roosevelt by Edward P. Kohn--finished on 1/16/15
4. When Books Went to War by Molly Guptill Manning--finished on 2/5/15 (5-STAR READ!!)
5. Empire of Sin by Gary Krist--finished on 2/13/15
6. An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth by Chris Hadfield--finished on 4/6/15
7. Dead Wake by Erik Larson--finished on 4/21/2015
8. Dead Girls by Erik German--finished on 5/3/15
9. Missoula by Jon Krakauer--finished on 5/8/15
10. The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown--finished on 6/10/15
11. The Other Side of the Night: The Carpathia, the Californian, and the Night the Titanic Was Lost by Daniel Allen Butler--finished on 7/1/15
12. The Beatles Play Shea by James Woodall--finished on 8/16/15
13. Disappearing Ink by Travis McDade--finished on 10/4/15
14. Churchill in the Trenches by Peter Apps--finished on 10/24/15
15. Sabotage: A Chronicle of the Chesterton Crash by Bryan W. Alaspa--finished on 10/27/15

7lindapanzo
Editat: nov. 26, 2015, 5:51 pm

Category 6: Still More Mysteries (15 books)--read 15 out of 15--CATEGORY FINISHED

1. Tail Gait by Rita Mae Brown--finished on 8/31/15
2. Blood Hollow by William Kent Krueger--finished on 9/4/15
3. Candy Corn Murder by Leslie Meier--finished on 9/7/15
4. Killer Jam by Karen MacInerney--finished on 9/10/15
5. Pumpkin Pied by Karen MacInerney--finished on 10/2/15
6. Criminal Crumbs by Jessica Beck--finished on 10/5/15
7. Murder in the Paperback Parlor by Ellery Adams--finished on 10/15/15
8. Going, Going Ganache by Jenn McKinlay--finished on 10/30/15
9. The Castlemaine Murders by Kerry Greenwood--finished on 11/11/15
10. A Christmas Escape by Anne Perry--finished on 11/14/15
11. Untimely Death by Elizabeth J. Duncan--finished on 11/16/15
12. The Piccadilly Pickpocket by Karen Charlton--finished on 11/20/15
13. A Dickens of a Murder by Joyce and Jim Lavene--finished on 11/22/15
14. The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny--finished on 11/25/15
15. Friar Tuck and the Christmas Devil by Steven A. McKay--finished on 11/26/15

8lindapanzo
Editat: des. 24, 2015, 1:03 am

Category 7: Overflow (when the other categories get filled up) (15 books)--read 15 out of 15--CATEGORY FINISHED

1. The Best Game Ever by Mark Bowden--finished on 11/19/15
2. Merry Mistletoe by Emma Davies--finished on 11/21/15
3. Speaking in Bones by Kathy Reichs--finished on 11/28/15
4. Death on Eat Street by J. J. Cook--finished on 11/29/15
5. Cast Iron Conviction by Jessica Beck--finished on 12/1/15
6. The Mistletoe Promise by Richard Paul Evans--finished on 12/2/15
7. Mystery in White: A Christmas Crime Story - J. Jefferson Farjeon - finished on 12/5/15
8. A Slice of Murder by Chris Cavender--finished on 12/8/15
9. Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen by Vicki Delany--finished on 12/10/15
10. Double Fudge Brownie Murder by Joanne Fluke--finished on 12/13/15
11. One Hundred Semesters by William M. Chace--finished on 12/17/15
12. Top Secret Twenty-One by Janet Evanovich--finished on 12/19/15
13. Vanilla Vices by Jessica Beck--finished on 12/20/15
14. The Santa Klaus Murder by Mavis Doriel Hay--finished on 12/23/15
15. Cast Iron Cover-Up by Jessica Beck--finished on 12/23/15

9pamelad
feb. 28, 2015, 10:34 pm

Good to see those mystery categories. Read your review of When Books Went to War so am definitely keeping an eye out for the book. No kinle edition in Australia yet, unfortunately.

10rabbitprincess
març 1, 2015, 9:14 am

Happy new thread! Seeing Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow reminds me I should get back to that series.

11lindapanzo
març 1, 2015, 9:44 am

There was a heavy snow forecast for today so we moved all the birthday festivities to yesterday. So, today, the actual day will be filled with R and R.

12cyderry
març 1, 2015, 11:43 am

I finished it! I was in the car for 10 hours yesterday and finished Bully Pulpit in the car.

13-Eva-
març 1, 2015, 7:23 pm

Happy new thread! Hope the snow isn't too bad, but R&R is the right way to deal with it. :)

14mamzel
març 2, 2015, 10:48 am

Mysteries, More Mysteries, and Still More Mysteries
I love it!

15lindapanzo
març 2, 2015, 12:02 pm

>12 cyderry: Good for you, Cheli. I read a little here and there but it hasn't grabbed me yet.

>13 -Eva-: In the end, we got no snow at all. However, I don't think we'll be as lucky dodging the freezing rain and ice tonight and tomorrow morning.

>14 mamzel: It makes it simple. I don't need to worry about what kind of mysteries or history. Baseball and non-mystery novels round things out. Simple.

16lindapanzo
març 2, 2015, 5:58 pm

Scorched Eggs by Laura Childs--finished on 3/1/15

The newest installment in the Cackleberry Club series and, as usual, loved it.

In this one, a government building is burned by an arsonist and a friend of the Cackleberry Club owners is found dead inside. The title could refer to that or else to the Scotch eggs that the Club's chef makes.

Either way, another entertaining installment in the series.

17cyderry
març 2, 2015, 7:02 pm

I loved it too!

18lindapanzo
març 2, 2015, 7:07 pm

>17 cyderry: I hope she writes more of these. In the meantime, I'm looking forward to the new teashop one.

I've got the new Monica Ferris mystery checked out of the library.

19lindapanzo
març 5, 2015, 5:34 pm

Dangerous Dough by Jessica Beck--finished on 3/4/15

This is the 18th book in the donut shop series, one of my favorite cozy series. As the author said in the preface, "this is the book my fans have been waiting for." Yes, it was.

I love this fictional town of April Springs, NC and its characters, including Suzanne Hart, donut shop owner, and also her friends and family.

I also like the fact that the author is willing to change things up, in terms of the characters' personal lives.

Eager for the next donut shop mystery to come out!! Soon, I hope.

20LauraBrook
març 7, 2015, 7:31 pm

Blerg, I need to get to the Donut Shop series!!!

21lindapanzo
març 8, 2015, 7:49 pm

The Matheny Manifesto by Mike Matheny--finished on 3/7/15

This is an ER book that hasn't shown up yet but, as a huge baseball fan, I was so eager to read it that I picked up a copy of the library.

It was not at all what I expected. That doesn't make it bad, just different. I expected a baseball biography with some discussion of "life lessons" but the focus of the book is clearly on life lessons, particularly for coaches of youth sports. For that audience, I would say it's outstanding.

For baseball fans like me, it's very good but the baseball angle is not primary, instructing kids in youth sports is key.

Matheny presents an interesting approach to dealing with kids, via his manifesto.

22lindapanzo
març 10, 2015, 8:51 pm

Darned If You Do by Monica Ferris--finished on 3/10/15

The Betsy Devonshire Minnesota needlecraft store mystery series is among my favorite and I always snap them up and read them asap, once each new one comes out. This one is the 18th in the series and quite possibly my favorite one in the series.

During a terrible storm, a neighbor's tree falls in through a guy's room, pinning him in his bed. Because he suffered severe injuries, he's taken to the hospital and the first responders find that he's a junker. Every surface, every nook and cranny in his house is filled with stuff. Most of it looks like junk but after a lost long cousin arrives from Indiana and enlists help from the townspeople in cleaning up, it turns out that not all of it is junk. Not only that, the injured man, affectionately known as Tom Take, an odd character to say the least, can remember exactly where and when he obtained each other.

An interesting premise and follow through for a mystery.

One thought provoking thing...Tom Take took a mail carrier's bag, filled with mail years earlier. After 18 years, those letters are delivered. Many of them would have been life altering had they been delivered on time. That really got me to thinking.

An interesting mystery with an interesting premise. The series, after a bit of a lull, is getting better again.

23lindapanzo
març 10, 2015, 8:51 pm

More than one quarter of my way through the 2015 category challenge!!

24lkernagh
març 10, 2015, 8:58 pm

Wonderful progress with your challenge, Linda!

25lindapanzo
març 10, 2015, 9:12 pm

>24 lkernagh: Thanks, Lori.

I started on 12/15 (hopefully on 12/16 for next year) so I'm only a little bit ahead.

26dudes22
març 11, 2015, 9:12 am

I have a few of her mysteries on my shelf, but haven't started them yet. Now I have 18 to catch up on. So many books....

I'm hoping to be a quarter done by the end of the month - just where we should be.

27lindapanzo
març 14, 2015, 12:43 pm

>26 dudes22: But so enjoyable to catch up on a long-running cozy series.

I never ever read Westerns but just finished something that is making me rethink that. I love when that happens.

28lindapanzo
març 14, 2015, 12:43 pm

Doc by Mary Doria Russell--finished on 3/14/15 (in the wee hours)

I never ever read Westerns. I don't even know much about the Wild West. I've vaguely heard of Doc Holliday, Wyatt Earp, Dodge City, and the like but know virtually nothing about them.

The dentist, Doc Holliday, is the focus of this outstanding novel by Mary Doria Russell, particularly his years in Dodge City, Kansas.

It took awhile for me to get going in this one, but once I did, I was absolutely hooked. What a colorful cast of characters.

Absolutely makes me want to read more of this type of book and also more from this author.

Outstanding.

29rabbitprincess
març 14, 2015, 1:06 pm

>28 lindapanzo: Yay! :D Glad you liked it!
I just got Epitaph from the library (the sequel to Doc) and am really looking forward to it.

30lindapanzo
març 14, 2015, 1:07 pm

>29 rabbitprincess: About the only thing I didn't like about it is that MDR talked a bit about "what happened to these characters" after the story ended. I didn't really want to hear about that.

31DeltaQueen50
març 14, 2015, 4:26 pm

>28 lindapanzo: Glad you enjoyed Doc, Linda. I am a fan of American Westerns, but like any genre there are some truly excellent ones and then there are some totally mind-numbing ones. Doc was a 5 star read for me and I am looking forward to Epitaph.

32dudes22
Editat: març 15, 2015, 5:52 am

I'm not usually a fan of westerns, but I've been looking forward to reading Doc ever since I heard an interview with her on NPR right around the time the book came out. She made him seem so interesting.

33christina_reads
març 15, 2015, 3:35 pm

>28 lindapanzo: So glad you liked this! I'm another non-fan of Westerns who loved Doc, and I've got Epitaph out from the library now!

34lindapanzo
març 18, 2015, 4:46 pm

Ladle to the Grave by Connie Archer--finished on 3/17/15

I love this soup lover's cozy series. Elements of the past fit nicely with a present day murder to create an enjoyable puzzler with terrific characters I look forward to, each time.

Great series!!

35lindapanzo
març 18, 2015, 4:47 pm

>32 dudes22: NOt only do I not read westerns, I don't even know much about the characters and events, which made this one even more enjoyable to me.

I'm hoping to read Epitaph though not right away so I'm sort of glad it hasn't come in yet.

36dudes22
març 18, 2015, 5:05 pm

I just checked and it's available at the library, but I feel like I've been neglecting my TBR pile this month so I think I'll wait. Maybe this summer on the deck - assuming the snow will be melted by then. My husband said today he's worried well go from winter right to summer and skip over spring.

37lsh63
març 20, 2015, 8:55 am

Hi Linda:

I'm glad that you liked Doc, it was a wondeful read. I had no idea I would ever be interested in a western until my mother insisted I read Lonesome Dove a few years ago.

38lsh63
març 20, 2015, 8:55 am

Hi Linda:

I'm glad that you liked Doc, it was a wondeful read. I had no idea I would ever be interested in a western until my mother insisted I read Lonesome Dove a few years ago.

39lindapanzo
març 24, 2015, 8:54 pm

The Sportswriter by Richard Ford--finished on 3/24/15

I read this for Mark's American Author Challenge. If I can, I'd like to read the AAC author every month.

I chose this one, well, because I like sports. Even though Frank Bascombe is a sportswriter, it really isn't about that. Not much anyway.

This is a very different novel from my usual. Very introspective. All the "action" takes place over a single weekend, Easter weekend. In the 1980s, I think. Not too long after his divorce from a woman he identifies as X. But Frank thinks many deep thoughts about the present and the past, which gives this book a fullness, much more than I expected.

It's not a quick read but the comments/thoughts of this quirky man are oddly compelling. I read steadily for a week but found so many thought-provoking moments that it was worth it.

A little bit of Frank Bascombe goes a long way, but at some point in the not too near future, I'd like to read the second book in the trilogy. Independence Day, I believe, and perhaps, down the road The Lay of the Land.

40lindapanzo
març 24, 2015, 8:57 pm

Doc will probably end up on my list of top 10 favorites for the year. Loved it. I hope you guys give it a try.

Lisa, btw, after a 6-month absence, I'm just starting back into playing Quiz Up, though I'm not feeling as addicted to it this go round. Just an occasional game here and there.

After reading The Sportswriter so intently for a week, I feel free but also at loose ends, readingwise.

I'm probably going to start the planned astronauts book with VictoriaPL soon, maybe tonight. Also start back into a cozy, too.

41cbl_tn
març 24, 2015, 9:02 pm

>34 lindapanzo: I think I picked up the first book in that series on one of my last couple of trips to the used book store. I looked for it because you are enjoying the series so much. I haven't managed to fit it in yet.

42lindapanzo
març 24, 2015, 9:06 pm

>41 cbl_tn: Carrie, I seem to like culinary cozies!! Hope you like it.

I think I'm going to start a Phryne Fisher Australian mystery. Away with Fairies, by Kerry Greenwood, which is 11th in the series.

43lindapanzo
març 30, 2015, 10:19 pm


Away with the Fairies by Kerry Greenwood--finished on 3/29/15

I love this Phryne Fisher mystery series set in 1920's Australia. It's among my favorites. I always enjoy seeing Phyrne join the circus or take on some other challenge to solve a crime.

In this one, the 11th in the series, Phryne handles fashion for a women's magazine, in order to get to the bottom of a poisoning. That part was fine. But then, suddenly, about halfway in, she needs to solve another, more personal crime.

The other crime messed up the flow of the first crime, leaving the second half of the book very disjointed. Bad call to add a second, unrelated mystery to what was a pretty good one. This one was not up to Greenwood's usual standards. Disappointing but not enough to discourage me from carrying on with this series.

44cyderry
març 31, 2015, 9:28 am

They've made these into a TV series. Have you seen any?

45lindapanzo
març 31, 2015, 11:54 am

>44 cyderry: Yes I have. They're pretty good but I like the books much better. Plus, I don't like to watch the TV show until after I've read the book.

46cyderry
abr. 1, 2015, 8:54 am

me too.

47thornton37814
abr. 3, 2015, 6:34 pm

>39 lindapanzo: I finally got The Sportswriter from the library. It's probably just as well I didn't get it until this month because the way last month ended up being, I would not have had time to read it. I've just got to finish it and this month's British and American author challenges this month. I finished off one British one from last month yesterday.

48LauraBrook
abr. 4, 2015, 12:15 pm

Hi Linda! Wanted to wish you and your family a very Happy Easter. I hope you've got a little time off to read and relax!

49lindapanzo
abr. 4, 2015, 6:17 pm

Hi Lori, too many books to read.

Hi Laura, I am off of work Mon-Wed. On Wed, I'm going to the author talk by Erik Larson, about his new book about the sinking of the Lusitania.

50lindapanzo
abr. 4, 2015, 6:17 pm

Baseball's Starry Night by Paul Kocak--finished on 3/31/15

Forgot to include this one.

I love a good baseball book. I even love a mediocre baseball book. This baseball book, about the final, magical day of the 2011 season when the playoff fate of four teams, the Cardinals, the Braves, the Red Sox, and the Rays, is neither of these.

It had its moments but, with his focus on what bloggers had to say, there is way too much repetition. Factual errors too.

The best thing about this book is its cover but, of course, you can't judge a book by its cover.

Not recommended.

51cbl_tn
abr. 4, 2015, 7:05 pm

>49 lindapanzo: The Erik Larson author talk sounds like fun! I'm glad you'll have an opportunity to hear him.

52lindapanzo
abr. 4, 2015, 7:21 pm

>52 lindapanzo: I'm glad it worked out, Carrie. It's during the day but on one of the days I'd chosen to be off.

53dudes22
abr. 5, 2015, 5:47 am

>49 lindapanzo: - you'll have to report back on what he has to say. My husband is a big fan of ocean-boat disasters and he liked his book The Devil in the White City, so maybe an idea for his birthday.

54lindapanzo
abr. 6, 2015, 4:23 pm

>53 dudes22: There was an article in the Chicago Sun-Times today about him. I think two of Larson's books are being turned into movies (or might be). The Devil in the White City and the one about the ambassador to Germany, In the Garden of Beasts.

I think Tom Hanks has the option on the ambassador movie and Leonardo DiCaprio on the Chicago book.

55lindapanzo
abr. 6, 2015, 4:23 pm

An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth by Chris Hadfield--finished on 4/6/15

If you have ever wondered what it's like living for an extended period on the International Space Station, check out this terrific book by long-time Canadian astronaut, Chris Hadfield. It's organized to present "life lessons" but the stories about his days on the space station are fascinating.

This might well go on my top 10 list for the year. Absolutely loved it.

Thanks to VictoriaPL for suggesting we read this one.

56VictoriaPL
abr. 8, 2015, 1:32 pm

I really enjoyed reading it as well, thanks for joining me!

57lindapanzo
abr. 12, 2015, 3:05 pm

Read It and Weep by Jenn McKinlay--finished on 4/10/15

A library-based cozy series, but this one features a poisoning during rehearsals for a production of a Shakespearean play. One of the more clever mystery resolutions I've seen too.

I love this series!!

58cyderry
abr. 12, 2015, 5:46 pm

>>57 lindapanzo: go this one on the radar!

59thornton37814
abr. 12, 2015, 8:07 pm

>57 lindapanzo: Hopefully I can get caught up on this series sometime so I can get to that installment.

60sjmccreary
abr. 15, 2015, 6:26 pm

Finally caught up on your thread! I've seen so many recommendations for Doc that I really should make space for it soon. Growing up in Kansas, we've always been fans of good westerns. When they were young, I made sure my kids realized that the "old west" was ~here~, where we lived. We laugh at seeing movie productions which show mountains outside of Dodge City. Not true! Flat as a pancake as far as you can see!

61lindapanzo
abr. 16, 2015, 11:54 am

Troubled Treats by Jessica Beck--finished on 4/13/15

I like the donut shop cozy series. A quick read with characters I like. A slightly different sleuthing variation this time but still enjoyable, nonetheless.

This is #19 in the series.

62thornton37814
abr. 16, 2015, 10:57 pm

>61 lindapanzo: For some reason, I'm craving a donut now.

63lindapanzo
abr. 17, 2015, 11:28 am

Hi Cheli, Sandy, and Lori.

I've been loving my recent cozies lately.

Sandy, Doc was fabulous. My one uncle loved Westerns but I don't think I've read any. Now I want to.

Lori, this donut shop mystery had a lot less donut shop than usual in it so I'm not craving them. Usually, I do, when I read these books though.

64lindapanzo
abr. 17, 2015, 10:38 pm

The Fight of Their Lives by John Rosengren--finished on 4/16/15

A highly regarded San Francisco Giant pitcher, a well-respected Los Angeles Dodgers catcher, an on-field argument, and, in 10 seconds, lives were changed when the pitcher, Juan Marichal took his baseball bit and hit catcher Johnny Roseboro over the head with it. In August, 1965, the baseball world was horrified by the violence and neither life would ever be the same.

The author spends a large amount of time setting the stage, doing so beautifully and does an exceptional job at addressing the aftermath, but the fight itself could've used more coverage.

Even so, this is an excellent baseball book!!

65cbl_tn
abr. 17, 2015, 11:07 pm

It sounds like you're on a roll with good books. I'm glad your baseball book was a winner.

66lindapanzo
abr. 17, 2015, 11:12 pm

Next up, I think, an Agatha Christie, The Mysterious Mr. Quin and then the new Erik Larson book, Dead Wake.

67mysterymax
abr. 19, 2015, 9:03 am

Do you think it is too early in the season for a Cubs fan to start feeling hopeful?????

68lindapanzo
abr. 19, 2015, 9:33 pm

I was feeling pretty hopeful at today's game even though I was freezing and they lost (at least I was dry). They're fun to watch these days. Saw Jon Lester unable to get the ball out of his glove and so throw the glove/ball to first. Saw Kris Bryant get a double.

69dudes22
abr. 20, 2015, 3:34 pm

>68 lindapanzo: - Since he used to be with the Red Sox, they showed that play in the news last night.

70thornton37814
abr. 20, 2015, 6:26 pm

>63 lindapanzo: Well, I got that donut this morning at Dunkin. ;-)

71lindapanzo
abr. 22, 2015, 3:11 pm

>69 dudes22: Cub fans are starting to grumble about Lester's slow start.

>70 thornton37814: I was at Dunkin Donuts this am and didn't even get a donut.

I finished the new Erik Larson book on the Lusitania during the intermissions of the Chicago Blackhawks triple overtime game last night. Yes, I stayed up til almost 1:30 am to see how it ended.

Now I've picked up a little known, Golden Age mystery author, which are always heavy on plot and short on characterization and so are quick reads.

Also started The Phantom Tollbooth, the YA favorite Sandy told me about.

Also started the baseball book about the Kansas City Athletics.

72cyderry
abr. 22, 2015, 4:16 pm

>>71 lindapanzo: Sandy told me about the Phantom Tollbooth too! I liked it.

73thornton37814
abr. 22, 2015, 7:01 pm

>71 lindapanzo: As long as you got coffee! ;-)

74lindapanzo
abr. 22, 2015, 7:21 pm

>73 thornton37814: After staying up so late, it was a LARGE coffee. I actually was not as tired today as I thought I would be.

75lindapanzo
abr. 22, 2015, 9:44 pm

Dead Wake by Erik Larson--finished on 4/21/2015

I've loved Erik Larson books and I love disaster books so this new book about the sinking of the Lusitania seemed like a natural for me. It was very good.

Larson tells the story wonderfully in a history book that reads like fiction, showing a particular emphasis on certain people who were on board the ship, such as a bookseller carrying a copy of a rare Charles Dickens book. Another focus is on the German U-boat captain who sank the Lusitania.

Great stuff. Lots of gripping stories. A real page turner.

I wanted to give it 5 stars, but I couldn't. The portions dealing with British admiralty weren't especially well done and distracted from the narrative. Even worse were the portions of the book dealing with President Woodrow Wilson's love life.

I'd put this one below Larson's The Devil in the White City and his Isaac's Storm but ahead of his book on the American ambassador to Germany. I think Larson is better with lesser-known subjects.

I really liked this one. but didn't quite love it.

76mathgirl40
abr. 22, 2015, 10:40 pm

I might give Dead Wake a try sometime. I really enjoyed The Devil in the White City and Thunderstruck, and I do like disaster books too.

77lindapanzo
abr. 22, 2015, 10:51 pm

>76 mathgirl40: I've never read Thunderstruck though I just realized that I own a copy of it.

78lindapanzo
abr. 28, 2015, 7:22 pm

Murder Underground by Mavis Doriel Hay--finished on 4/25/15

My 2000th mystery!! Dating back to 1976, but still.

This is an old school, plot driven mystery by a little-known mystery author from the 1930's. A thoroughly unlikeable woman from a nearby residential hotel is strangled in the stairwell of a local underground station. Lots of figuring out who was where and when.

Enjoyable and very much like the mysteries I read years ago. Not as satisfying anymore but still pretty good. Hay has two others I hope to get to, soon.

79dudes22
abr. 28, 2015, 9:00 pm

WOW! 2,000 - that's awesome! I wish I had kept track over the years of the books I've read.

80lindapanzo
abr. 28, 2015, 9:03 pm

>79 dudes22: Started as a class project for junior year of high school English class. Keep track of reading starting on the first day of summer vacation after sophomore year til the end of junior year. Well, I just kept going...

81dudes22
abr. 28, 2015, 9:18 pm

I can only imagine the books I've forgotten I even read.

82rabbitprincess
abr. 28, 2015, 9:20 pm

Wow, 2000 mysteries! A fantastic achievement!

83pmarshall
abr. 28, 2015, 11:14 pm

>79 dudes22:
I started keeping track of books read in the 1960's and from my lists I entered them into LibraryThing when I first joined in 2006. There are some gaps but it is pretty comprehensive. It is really interesting to look back at my reading history, what I have read and how my reading has changed. I t includes the good, the bad and the questionable.

84christina_reads
abr. 29, 2015, 1:31 pm

>78 lindapanzo: I just recently read Murder Underground as well! I enjoyed it, but it's definitely not going on the list of all-time favorites or anything! I do love that the victim's last name was Pongleton. Silly British names always tickle me!

85lindapanzo
abr. 29, 2015, 1:56 pm

>84 christina_reads: Years ago, all I read were these old, plot-driven mysteries. I'd never really care about the characters, just the puzzle. In recent years, I've gotten away from those.

Still, it's nice, occasionally, to read one of these old fashioned kind. I never had much of a sense of the victim, except that she was despised.

>83 pmarshall: I find that I'll look back at my reading at certain key moments of my life, as in "I was reading this when this person passed away" or "when my niece was born."

The first year or two, I put each book read, author, title, and month read, on an index card and then into a box, so, for the first little while, I have a list but not a chronological list. After that, I put them into nice notebooks. When I joined LT, I kept up with the notebooks but rely mainly on LT now.

>79 dudes22: Thanks. I wish I'd started sooner. I read a lot of Perry Mason and Agatha Christie, just to name a few, before I officially kept track.

86lindapanzo
abr. 30, 2015, 5:36 pm

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster--finished on 4/29/15

Even as a kid, I rarely read kids' books. However, when Sandy mentioned this book to me, it sounded terrific. Though this adventure book seems to be geared to about 10-year old kids, the humor, wordplay etc, really appealed to me. This book was fun!!

Glad I read it. I can understand why people seem to enjoy re-reading it.

87LittleTaiko
maig 3, 2015, 9:52 pm

>86 lindapanzo: - I read this for the first time a couple of years ago. Really wished I had known about it when I was younger as the humor was fantastic!

88lindapanzo
maig 3, 2015, 10:13 pm

Book Clubbed by Lorna Barrett

As is usual, I enjoyed the eight book in the Booktown cozy series set in New Hampshire. A bit of a twist this time.
Edit | More

Dead Girls by Erik German--finished on 5/3/15

Very good fictional-though-based-on-fact look, in Kindle single format, at the 1963 Career Girls Murders. Though the crimes were horrific, the forced confession of an innocent, uneducated man helped change legal history.

Very interesting.

89thornton37814
maig 4, 2015, 5:08 pm

I noticed in the current issue of Library Journal that Laura Childs' scrapbooking series is getting a co-author for the October release. I never really cared that much for that particular series so I haven't continued to read it, but it makes me wonder if she'll be taking on co-authors for her other series.

90dudes22
maig 4, 2015, 6:01 pm

>89 thornton37814: - that's interesting - sort of like James Patterson.

91lindapanzo
maig 4, 2015, 10:06 pm

>89 thornton37814: That is interesting. Or maybe she's getting tired of doing it and wants someone else to take it over. I don't care all that much for her scrapbooking series.

Today, I started the latest Penny Branigan mystery from Elizabeth J. Duncan, Slated for Death. Love this Welsh series.

92thornton37814
maig 5, 2015, 11:03 am

>90 dudes22: I wasn't sure if Patterson started those other series on his own and then added co-authors or if his name was just added to help "sell" the books by the others.

>91 lindapanzo: I really tried to like the Scrapbooking series, but the characters just never became all that likable to me. I quit reading it years ago. I'm behind on the Penny Branigan series.

93lsh63
Editat: maig 6, 2015, 8:22 am

Hi Linda:

Just popping in to say hi, you've been reading a few series that I haven't started yet: Jenn Mckinlay's library series and Laura Child's scrapbooking series. I finally feel like I'm making headway with the tea shop series, as I am currently reading Sweet Tea Revenge.

Oh yeah, can you stop beating me unmercifully at Trivia Crack lol? I get very excited when I get a sports or geography question right as those are my weakest categories.

94lindapanzo
maig 6, 2015, 11:19 am

>93 lsh63: Hi, I've been uneven lately in Trivia Crack. I've got a couple of people I'm always losing to and I've discovered a trick to give me a better chance of winning, particularly as to Entertainment and Science, my weakest categories.

I note that, at the recent Malice Domestic conference, my favorite, Louise Penny, was beaten out again for the Agatha for Best Novel by Hank Phillippi Ryan. I note that Ryan has two series but I've never read her.

Has anyone read Hank Phillippi Ryan? I'm tempted to give at least the more recent series a try.

95dudes22
maig 6, 2015, 6:03 pm

>92 thornton37814: - I'm not really sure which it is. I know a couple of his series he at least wrote a few before he added a co-author and I seem to remember seeing an interview with him where he said he writes the outlines for all the books and the edits what the co-author writes.

96Tanya-dogearedcopy
Editat: maig 6, 2015, 9:14 pm

>92 thornton37814:

From a Parade Magazine article (November 25, 2012):

Q: There seems to be a new James Patterson novel every month. Does he take part in the writing process or just lend his name as coauthor? —Al H., Schertz, Tex.

A: When collaborating on a book, Patterson creates an outline, a cowriter does the first draft, and he finishes up with whatever other drafts are necessary. “Some people can’t get past the word cowriter,’’ Patterson, 65, says. “Lots of shows and movies are written by teams, so it’s not such a strange thing.” He releases about 10 books a year (I Funny is due Dec. 10), which keeps him busy. “I write seven days a week,” he says.

97VivienneR
maig 6, 2015, 11:20 pm

>78 lindapanzo: Congratulations on 2000 mysteries! Very impressive. I have Murder Underground by Mavis Doriel Hay on my wishlist. I love those old-fashioned British mysteries even if they are not very good by modern standards.

98lindapanzo
maig 7, 2015, 6:15 pm

Thanks for all the info. I wondered how Patterson managed to write so many books. I bet Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb does something similar.

99lindapanzo
maig 7, 2015, 6:15 pm

Slated for Death by Elizabeth J. Duncan--finished on 5/6/15

The latest book in one of my favorite cozy series. Can't beat that.

This series features Penny Brannigan, the owner of a salon/spa in Wales. In this latest installment, a villager who is planning a cultural event, to be held in the closed-down slate mine in the town is found dead.

Lots of twists and turns, with events from the past playing a role. Always enjoy these Duncan books.

100lindapanzo
maig 9, 2015, 7:38 pm

Missoula by Jon Krakauer--finished on 5/8/15

Books rarely make me mad but this one, about the justice system is what is called "Rape City America" infuriated me. Krakauer follows a few young college girls who were raped, allegedly by college student acquaintances.

The university and the police don't come out well in this, but at least they made efforts to fix the problems. Not so for the county attorneys' office.

This is an eye-opening book. Troubling but informative. I'm glad I read it.

101lindapanzo
maig 10, 2015, 7:23 pm

Best Seat in the House: Diary of a Wrigley Field Usher by Bruce Bohrer--finished on 5/9/15

As the title would indicate, this interesting little book is the diary of a Wrigley Field usher. The author was an usher for 8 seasons, from 2003 through the 2010 season, and he's got plenty of interesting things to say.

It's partly look at the ballpark, partly a look at the fans, and partly a look at the usher's job.

It brought back many memories of games I've attended, such as the Stanley Cup, near no-hitter in June of 2010.

Very enjoyable book for Cubs fans.

I had partial Cubs season tickets from 1995 to 2012 and I'm pretty sure I've seen this guy around. It was interesting reading about him and some of the other ushers I remember.

102thornton37814
maig 10, 2015, 9:16 pm

>101 lindapanzo: When I looked at this thread, I only looked at the title of the book. I knew immediately I must have landed on your thread when I saw the mention of Wrigley Field. ;-)

103lindapanzo
Editat: maig 13, 2015, 11:20 am

>102 thornton37814: I am very predictable, Lori.

Feeling a bit under the weather but, last night, I felt up to reading some of the new Laura Childs teashop mystery. Excellent, as always.

104lindapanzo
Editat: maig 14, 2015, 5:49 pm

Ming Tea Murder by Laura Childs--finished on 5/13/15

The teashop series from Laura Childs remains my favorite cozy series and this newest installment, #16 I think, did not disappoint.

Besides a brief mention of the new teashop book, presumably next year, the author said that she'll be writing a new thriller series under her own name, Gerry Schmitt.

105cyderry
maig 15, 2015, 5:30 pm

>>104 lindapanzo: I liked it too. I'm going to be watching for the new series!

106lindapanzo
maig 19, 2015, 5:20 pm

Look to the Lady by Margery Allingham--finished on 5/17/15

The third Albert Campion book. I've not read them in any particular order but I like these 1930's classic British mysteries.

This one focused on the potential theft, by an organized group, of a valuable chalice which the family involved has been ordered by the Crown to guard, and has done so for eons.

Different from the usual mystery but nonetheless enjoyable.

107lindapanzo
Editat: maig 28, 2015, 1:27 pm

In the past few days, I've finished three terrific cozies in three of my favorite series as well as a beautifully written novel set during the Blitz of Coventry during World War 2.

Dead Rapunzel by Victoria Houston--finished on 5/21/15

The newest in the Loon Lake Fishing series set in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. I love the setting and the characters. Always happy when I read one of these.

This is the 15th in the series.

Lethal Letters by Ellery Adams--finished on 5/24/15

The newest in the Books by the Bay series. Again, love the characters in this book and love how the mystery unfolded, particularly as to the impact of the past. Always happy when I revisit this series.

This is the 6th in the series.

A Bad Egg by Jessica Beck--finished on 5/26/15

Lately, I've been reading a lot of cozies series where the mystery is fine but I love the ongoing characters and this fifth installment in the Classic Diner series is no exception. I love how the main character and her grandpa investigate and also enjoy the interaction of the characters at the diner.

In this one, the ex-husband of the diner's waitress is found dead and suspicion naturally turns to the waitress.

Coventry by Helen Humphreys--finished on 5/27/15

A slender novel about a woman who has watch duty on the roof of the Coventry Cathedral on the night of the German blitz in November of 1940. She befriends a young man who is also on watch duty and, as the bombing is going on around then, they help out when they can and also search for the young man's mother.

Slow starting but beautifully written.

108christina_reads
maig 29, 2015, 12:07 am

>107 lindapanzo: Coventry is on my shelves, so I'm glad to see you enjoyed it! I may end up reading it this November for the 75th anniversary.

109DeltaQueen50
maig 29, 2015, 6:21 pm

Thanks to your encouragement, Linda, I've got Coventry lined up for next month, I'm looking forward to it.

110lindapanzo
Editat: maig 29, 2015, 6:31 pm

>108 christina_reads: >109 DeltaQueen50: I hope you both like Coventry.

I rarely go to the movies but this afternoon, on my day off, I went to see Far From the Madding Crowd. Outstanding.

Now I want to read the book.

111-Eva-
juny 2, 2015, 6:50 pm

I too am impressed with that 2,000-number!! I only wish I had kept a list of everything I've read. I only started keeping track when I started LT, so only 9 years so far.

112lindapanzo
Editat: juny 4, 2015, 5:39 pm

>111 -Eva-: I'm glad I did it. I read far fewer books back then and my interests weren't as wide. Pretty much books assigned for school and mysteries. Of course, I still read plenty of mysteries but a lot more nonfiction now, too.

Two recent reads...

On Borrowed Time by Jenn McKinlay--finished on 6/2/15

I love this cozy series featuring a librarian sleuth. The premise was a bit too much for me but it was a fun read, nonetheless.

Miracle at Augusta by James Patterson--finished on 6/3/15

I read the first Travis McKinley golf novel years ago and so I eagerly picked up this second one. Travis is a journeyman golfer on the professional senior circuit but is suspended for getting into a fight in a bar with a fellow senior tour golfer.

What he does with his time away from the tour is miraculous in many ways.

Love these books thought they have that thrown-together Patterson feel about them.

113thornton37814
juny 5, 2015, 9:02 pm

>117 lindapanzo: I've read one or two in the librarian Jenn McKinley series. I need to return to it.

114lindapanzo
juny 5, 2015, 9:23 pm

>113 thornton37814: Hi Lori.

I've got all sorts of great books going but not reading much. When we're not talking about the Blackhawks, we're reading about them.

115cyderry
juny 6, 2015, 11:47 am

I have Read it and Weep ready for next month's AlphaKit.

116lindapanzo
juny 11, 2015, 4:52 pm

Wow, just finished what'll likely be one of my top 5 favorite books of the year, The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown. Review to follow.

Since I'm not giving myself any overlaps, and this is both a sports book and a history book, I had to decide which of those two categories to put it into.

After mysteries, I'd say my favorite reading involves sports books so, while this is clearly a sports book, there's plenty of history, as to the Great Depression and as to Nazi Germany, that I have no qualms putting it into my history category.

117lindapanzo
juny 13, 2015, 7:37 pm

The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown--finished on 6/10/15

I know nothing about rowing and so I wasn't sure whether I'd like this book about the story of the University of Washington crew and its attempt to represent the U.S. in the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

What a fascinating book for sports fans and non-fans alike!! It's more than a sports book, it's an interesting look at life during the Great Depression. The author does a great job focusing on one crew member in particular, Joe Rantz, and using his life story to talk about the difficulties of getting by during the Great Depression.

Thanks to Mark for recommending this one. I think it'll find a place in my top 5 for the year.

118thornton37814
juny 14, 2015, 9:13 pm

>117 lindapanzo: Glad you found a book that is such a hit!

119LittleTaiko
juny 15, 2015, 3:22 pm

>117 lindapanzo: - Wasn't it great? Just read it a few weeks ago and loved it.

120cyderry
juny 15, 2015, 11:16 pm

Congrats to the Blackhawks!

121DeltaQueen50
juny 16, 2015, 2:13 pm

Yes, congratulations to the Blackhawks - isn't this three wins over the last six seasons!

122lindapanzo
juny 16, 2015, 3:56 pm

Thanks. Yes, very excited about the Blackhawks third Stanley Cup in six seasons. Despite torrential rains, flooding, and tornadoes, we were glued to the TV (locally, just had the rains, thankfully) and didn't miss a minute of the game and several hours afterwards.

This makes four Stanley Cups in my lifetime, though I was a newborn when they won the first one. In fact, I was a preemie but my due date was the day they won the Cup back in '61.

Sadly, RL has a way of getting in the way. I was excitedly talking to a woman at work who is a big sports fan when another co-worker who is a huge Hawks fan came by, looking upset. We started exclaiming but realized something was wrong...a stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis for his wife. I think it has already spread. Despite the Hawks' win, there's been a somber atmosphere.

123lindapanzo
juny 22, 2015, 12:40 pm

Save by Roy by Terry Frei--finished on 6/21/15

(An overdue ER book--eek)

I absolutely love hockey and watch more NHL games than probably anyone else you know. If my Blackhawks aren't on, I still watch at least one or two games each day of the hockey season. When a hockey book is released, I'm probably in its target market.

That said, this look at NHL Hall of Famer Patrick Roy and the building of the 2013-2014 Colorado Avalanche, by a pair of Denver sportswriters, was interesting to me, though somewhat dry, I thought. The book offers some background on every player on the team and, interwoven with that, a day-by-day look at every day of that season.

A more narrative look at the season and the team probably would've been better.

For real diehard Avs fans, this book would probably be a perfect fit. For diehard hockey fans, in general, it's not bad. For others, it's probably too much information.

124lindapanzo
juny 25, 2015, 9:16 pm

Murder in the Mystery Suite by Ellery Adams--finished on 6/24/15

The Books by the Bay cozy series by Ellery Adams is among my favorites so I was pleased to find that I really enjoyed the first book in her third series, Murder in the Mystery Suite. Part of the attraction, I'd say, is daydreaming about visiting such a place, though I'd prefer not to have the murders. A resort geared to readers, with readerish meals, reading rooms, events...can't beat that.

In this one, there's a murder and mystery week and, well, there are actual murders.

Beyond the mystery, there's also a family mystery involved with Jane Steward, the sleuth and resort manager.

Lots of fun. One of the better first in the series cozies I've read in quite some time.

I don't think I've ever tried the other series. I think Peach Pies and Alibis is the first one in that other Ellery Adams series.

125cyderry
juny 27, 2015, 10:21 am

>>124 lindapanzo: I have this one to read and hopefully will get to it in August (M is the letter for the Alphakit in August). I absolutely love the Charmed Pie Shoppe series! It's one of my favorites!

126lindapanzo
juny 27, 2015, 7:27 pm

>125 cyderry: Hmmm, interesting. I read the first Charmed Pie Shoppe book, Pies and Prejudice in 2012 and loved it. I gave it 4.5 stars but don't remember now. I really just read Peach Pies and Alibis.

127lindapanzo
juny 28, 2015, 10:57 am

On the Clock: The Story of the NFL Draft by Barry Wilner and Ken Rappoport--finished on 6/27/15

(Early Reviewers)

I like to watch NFL football on Sundays but I don't follow the NFL as closely as I follow MLB or the NHL. For a slightly more than casual fan like me, this book on the NFL draft was informative. I suspect though, that for the die hard NFL fan, this book might be far too simplistic.

The authors tell interesting stories about the history of the draft and talk, too, about the op draft picks and the duds. More interesting, though, were the portions dealing with the guys who've become known as draft gurus, such as Mel Kuiper, how teams prepare for the draft, and how ESPN first got involved.

I'd recommend this to my friends who like football, though probably not to those who live and breathe football.

128DeltaQueen50
jul. 1, 2015, 6:20 pm

Came by to thank you for the recommendation for Coventry Linda. What a great read, I'm looking forward to reading more by this author!

129lindapanzo
jul. 1, 2015, 9:13 pm

Glad you liked it, Judy.

I noticed that, for TIOLI, you picked a Ngaio Marsh from my "recommended books." I read most of them so long ago that I don't remember them, but I still have a few to read.

130pmarshall
jul. 2, 2015, 7:37 pm

>128 DeltaQueen50:
The Frozen Thames is short vignettes that tell the history of the River Thames over time. I think you would like it. It is a small book with lovely illustrations!

131DeltaQueen50
jul. 3, 2015, 5:12 pm

>129 lindapanzo: I've been meaning to give Ngaio Marsh a try for quite a while so this was the perfect opportunity to start the series.

>130 pmarshall: I have The Frozen Thames on my wishlist and I am looking forward to it, but I do have The Lost Garden on my shelf so that will most likely be my next Humphreys.

132lindapanzo
jul. 11, 2015, 11:57 am

The Late Scholar by Jill Paton Walsh--finished on 7/5/15

I've long liked Lord Peter Wimsey and his wife, Harriet Vane. I also like the continuation of this series, by current author, Jill Paton Walsh. I love academic mysteries. Anyway, with this unbeatable combination, I figured I'd love this Lord Peter mystery, which is set at an Oxford College but I didn't. It seemed overplotted to me. Just didn't care for it, especially as to the other Lord Peter books.

Cast Iron Will by Jessica Beck--finished on 7/8/15

I love the other two Jessica Beck series, the donut shop series is among my favorite cozy series and the diner series is very good too.

This first in the Cast Iron series, featuring twin sister and brother who run a grill using cast iron cookware and a small store, is a promising start to a third Jessica Beck series.

133lindapanzo
jul. 14, 2015, 11:44 am

How Baseball Explains America by Hal Bodley--finished on 7/11/15

Awhile back, I read How Hockey Explains Canada and this one has the same feel, a look at a favorite game and at how the history and the culture of the game can explain a nation.

134lindapanzo
jul. 18, 2015, 12:04 pm


Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs--finished on 7/17/15

As I mentioned elsewhere, this YA fantasy type book is totally outside my usual reading. I loved the first half but this was the rare book, for me, that I liked less and less the further I got into it.

It's clever and different. I loved the time travel aspects and the time loops but, until the last few pages, it seemed to me like the plot got bogged down. I never cared that much about the characters, either.

Overall, I'd say I liked it, but didn't love it and probably not well enough to read the next book in the series.

135lindapanzo
jul. 29, 2015, 9:25 pm

Water Like a Stone by Deborah Crombie--finished on 7/27/15

I enjoyed this next one in the Duncan/Gemma series. I used to read these religiously but stopped for quite some time and have a lot of catching up to do.

This one is set at Christmastime and involves Duncan's parents and sister so it's interesting to hear about his early days.

136lindapanzo
jul. 31, 2015, 5:24 pm

Sugar Coated Sins by Jessica Beck--finished on 7/29/15

Liked this 20th book in the Donut Shop series. The author changes things up and I like the current sleuthing arrangement and am hoping that the hints of change don't pan out.

137lindapanzo
Editat: ag. 7, 2015, 1:37 pm

The Last Picture Show by Larry McMurtry--finished on 8/1/15

Not my usual kind of book but I really enjoyed this look at the lives and loves of a pair of small town Texas high school football stars. Loved his writing and hope to read more, in particular, Texasville, which looks at the characters 30 years later.

138lindapanzo
ag. 7, 2015, 1:37 pm

Murder in Montparnasse by Kerry Greenwood--finished on 8/5/15

This Phryne Fisher series, a series set in Australia, is among my current favorites and this one, the 12th in the series, is easily my favorite.

There's a great focus on Phryne's days as an ambulance driver at the end of World War 1 in Paris as well as the aftermath of the war for her.

Love this series and am always eager to read the next one. I think I've got 7 or 8 more to go, currently.

139lindapanzo
ag. 11, 2015, 6:44 pm

Golden Girl by Michael Silver--finished on 8/10/15

This is an interesting look at swimmer Natalie Coughlin and the swim season for her and her Cal teammates before and during the 2004 Olympics. Not really a bio, more like a look at swimmers and their training. Most interesting I thought was the information dealing with the unorthodox training methods used by the Cal coach, Teri McKeever. Whereas other swimming coaches emphasize training distances, McKeever incorporated yoga and pilates and used a less traditional approach with her swimmers.

Very informative.

140pmarshall
ag. 12, 2015, 7:33 pm

>138 lindapanzo:

I got the Kindle of Kerry Greenwood's first Phryne Fisher book, Cocaine Blues and I am really enjoying it. Thanks for the introduction to her/them.

141lindapanzo
ag. 12, 2015, 9:01 pm

>140 pmarshall: Glad you're liking them. I read the first couple about 20 years ago and thought they were ok. At Dejah's urging, I resumed the series in the last year or two and absolutely love it.

142cyderry
ag. 13, 2015, 9:13 am

>141 lindapanzo: Have you seen any of the BBC series?

143lindapanzo
ag. 14, 2015, 4:12 pm

>141 lindapanzo: I like the Miss Fisher TV episodes but I try not to watch an episode until after I've read the book.

In general, though, I like the books better than the series.

144lindapanzo
ag. 14, 2015, 4:12 pm

An Expert in Murder by Nicola Upson--finished on 8/14/15

I've had this first in the series book on my Kindle "shelf" for years but never got around to it. Now, I wish I'd read it sooner. I absolutely loved it--one of the better first books in a series in a long, long time.

This book features mystery author/playwright Josephine Tey as the sleuth, in England, in the years well after World War 1. There are a lot of ties to the WW1 years but this is a mystery set firmly in the theatrical world.

There was a slow stretch, after the first murder, but, overall, I absolutely loved it and am eager to read the second one asap.

145lindapanzo
ag. 16, 2015, 12:03 pm

Death Is a Word by Hazel Holt--finished on 8/15/15

I love long-running mystery series, especially cozy mysteries. The Sheila Malory series, a village cozy series, is one such series. This is the 21st book in the series and, sadly, the final book in the series.

Holt did not start writing these mysteries until she was in her 60s and she's now in her upper 80s and in ill health.

As is typical with this series, it's a slice of village life. Sheila, her dearest friend, Rosemary, and other villagers and their comings and goings. A distant cousin of Rosemary's comes to live in the village and the book focuses on her.

Also as is typical, the murder takes a long time to unfold.

Over the years, I've absolutely loved this series and I'm very sorry to see it end.

146pmarshall
ag. 17, 2015, 4:35 pm

>145 lindapanzo:
I am also sad. I have read each book in the series and will miss not having Sheila on my reading list.

147lindapanzo
ag. 20, 2015, 6:29 pm

>146 pmarshall: Someone else will fill the bill but it is sad to see a favorite series end.

A 3-day weekend ahead, highlight by a Wrigley Field ball game on Friday afternoon between the Cubs and Atlanta.

148lindapanzo
ag. 20, 2015, 6:29 pm

The Grind: Inside Baseball's Endless Season by Barry Svrluga--finished on 8/19/15

I LOVED this look at how the long grind of the 7.5 month baseball season, with nary a day off, takes its toll on the players and others, including their wives, the general manager, the scouts, and others.

I thought I knew baseball but this is a fascinating high level account of the ebb and flow of an entire season for many different people in/related to the majors.

The author focuses on the Washington Nationals but it all applies to other teams, not just the Nats.

149lindapanzo
ag. 20, 2015, 6:57 pm

The History of Baseball by Christie Hodgen--finished on 8/20/15

You know me, I love baseball, but this kindle single which is sort of about baseball and the meaning of life is just too weird. A young divorced woman and her daughter move to Kansas City. Everyone there seems to be a diehard baseball fan and there are these dreams, or maybe real events, where a retired sea captain and the mailman come into her house to push her to talk about her baseball life and try to whip her back into shape for living.

150mysterymax
ag. 20, 2015, 8:09 pm

BB on THE GRIND!

151lindapanzo
ag. 22, 2015, 11:27 am

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah--finished on 8/22/15

My favorite book of the year!!

It's a novel about how two French women survived the Nazi occupation of France during World War 2.

I cried a lot at this terrific story. Plus, I stayed up til 2 am to finish it. I almost never do that. Outstanding!!

152dudes22
ag. 22, 2015, 7:44 pm

>151 lindapanzo: - My sister recommended that book to me, but there are lots of holds on it already at the library so it will be a while before I get to it.

153thornton37814
ag. 24, 2015, 8:09 pm

>151 lindapanzo: I've seen other people comment on that one. I may have to add it to my TBR list.

154lindapanzo
ag. 31, 2015, 12:34 pm

Tail Gait by Rita Mae Brown--finished on 8/31/15

This is an ultra cozy series, the 24th in a long-running series, but only the second one of the series I've read.

It involves an interesting story of the present day murder of an academic on a golf course, interwoven with the goings on at an American prisoner of war camp during the Revolutionary War.

It's a comfortable read. Very nicely done and a series I'd recommend to cozy mystery fans.

155sallylou61
ag. 31, 2015, 3:57 pm

I went to a program honoring our local author Rita Mae Brown put on by a small bookstore in Crozet (Virginia) last summer. Rita Mae talked about this book; she is an excellent speaker and her talk made me want to read the Tail Gate. I'm waiting for it to come out in paperback.

156Chrischi_HH
set. 1, 2015, 8:32 am

>151 lindapanzo: This sounds very interesting, I'll put it on my (long) BB list.

157cbl_tn
set. 1, 2015, 11:49 am

>154 lindapanzo: The plot sounds intriguing!

158lindapanzo
set. 5, 2015, 6:14 pm

>155 sallylou61: >156 Chrischi_HH: >157 cbl_tn: Hope you all enjoy it. It's a long-running series but the only two Rita Mae Brown mysteries are the two most recent ones I've "won" from ER.

At some point, I should spend some money (or visit the library) and start at the beginning.

159lindapanzo
set. 5, 2015, 6:15 pm

Blood Hollow by William Kent Krueger--finished on 9/4/15

I used to love this Cork O'Connor series but haven't read any in almost 15 years. No idea why that is, except perhaps that it's more psychological thriller than my usual.

In this one, there's a lot of Native American spiritualism as a high school girl goes missing after leaving a New Year's party on a snowmobile and the accused murderer is a "wild kid" from the reservation.

It won't be another 15 years til I read another Krueger mystery. Very good.

160thornton37814
set. 7, 2015, 7:37 pm

>159 lindapanzo: I've only read one and really enjoyed it. I have no idea why I haven't picked up another yet either.

161lindapanzo
set. 7, 2015, 9:33 pm

Candy Corn Murder by Leslie Meier--finished on 9/7/15

Always liked this ultra cozy mystery series, set in Tinker's Cove, Maine. This entry has a Halloween theme and, as always very enjoyable.

162lindapanzo
set. 15, 2015, 9:43 pm

Killer Jam by Karen MacInerney--finished on 9/10/15

I enjoyed this first in the Dewberry Farms cozy series. Lucy Resnick bought her late grandmother's farm, leaving her journalism career behind, and trying to get by making jams, candles, and other homespun-type things.

As the new outsider, when there's a murder, Lucy is squarely in the crosshairs of suspicion.

Quite a nice to start to a new series. I love MacInerney's Grey Whale Inn series and this one has great potential as well.

The Boys in Brown by Jon J. Kerr--finished on 9/14/15

This is the story of the Carmel Catholic High School football season of 2010 and the team's legendary coach, who happens to be the little brother of one of my HS classmates. (Note, this is my HS but I attended in the 1970s.)

While, on the surface, the book is about football, it's also about faith and character and dealing with adversity.

I'm not sure that anyone outside the Carmel community would appreciate it, but they might. Personally, I enjoyed it and loved reading about locales and, in some cases, people I know.

163cyderry
set. 15, 2015, 11:04 pm

I am trying to catch up on my series , not add another one!
I'll have to take a look at this one too.

164dudes22
set. 16, 2015, 7:45 am

>162 lindapanzo: - having just spent the past weekend making jelly, I think I'll take a BB on this (at least for now).

165lindapanzo
set. 21, 2015, 6:06 pm


Made in America by Chris Chelios--finished on 9/17/15

Defenseman Chris Chelios was one of my favorite Blackhawks and I certainly enjoyed reading this autobiography. I wish there'd been more hockey and less "outside stuff" in it.

166lindapanzo
oct. 1, 2015, 1:02 pm

Lumby's Bounty by Gail Fraser--finished on 9/30/15

This is the third in the Lumby series. Not mysteries, just pleasant works of fiction, set in the fictional small town of Lumby, in the Pacific Northwest.

In this one, a local teen somehow commits the town to hosting a hot air balloon festival. Seeing how the townspeople deal with learning to build a hot air balloon and run the fest is kind of interesting.

Pleasant but, for some reason, I didn't like it as much as the two previous books. Even so, I'll probably continue with this series.

167lindapanzo
oct. 1, 2015, 1:03 pm

Yikes!! Three months to go and I still have 35 books left to read to complete this challenge.

Either I'm going to have to pick up the pace or revise my goals downward.

I need only 9 nonmysteries to finish, though, so there's still a chance.

168cyderry
oct. 1, 2015, 3:47 pm

>166 lindapanzo: Love the Lumby series!

169lindapanzo
oct. 1, 2015, 3:57 pm

>168 cyderry: Cheli, I think I have two more to go but it looks like this series has stopped.

170cyderry
oct. 1, 2015, 5:12 pm

>169 lindapanzo: yeah, I've read them all.

171lindapanzo
oct. 2, 2015, 1:07 pm

Pumpkin Pied by Karen MacInerney--finished on 10/2/15

Enjoyed this long-ish short story featuring the sleuth who owns the Gray Whale Inn in Maine and her college roommate, who happens to be the sleuth in the new Dewberry Farm series.

A nice Halloween-themed mystery/ghost story.

172lindapanzo
oct. 5, 2015, 1:31 pm

Disappearing Ink by Travis McDade--finished on 10/4/15

For a book lover, this long Kindle single is painful to read. It talks about how, over the course of many years, a Kenyon College Library employee looted the college library of valuable books and papers, and sold them. Irreplaceable letters from famous authors, such as Flannery O'Connor, to the Kenyon Review went missing.

The portions dealing with the theft were fascinating but the parts dealing with the investigations and the trials were somewhat glossed over.

It's amazing that the thief and his wife weren't caught sooner.

173Tanya-dogearedcopy
Editat: oct. 5, 2015, 9:28 pm

This happened while I was at Boston College:

BOSTON, 1986
In September, 1986, Ralph Coffman, a Harvard PhD who was head of Boston College's rare book collection, stole several cartons of books from the college, loaded them into his girlfriend's Jeep and drove to Sotheby's in Manhattan, where he delivered the goods to be sold at auction. The extraordinary value of the items, including 11 incunabula (books printed before 1501) drew the suspicion of the auction house, and Coffman was apprehended. He had been a student of Puritanism and after leaving his wife said he felt guilty and wanted to be caught. He was sentenced to three years in jail, 1000 hours of public service, and psychiatric counseling.*


And it turns out that the guy (Boston Brahmin) was the father of my boyfriend's previous girlfriend; and it was a huge scandal at the time. Even more outrageous was that just a few years later, curators of the Burns library tried a similar stunt by trying to sell off Irish ms and artifacts (Easter rebellion items.) They were caught in an FBI sting.

*http://themanwholovedbookstoomuch.com/recentthefts.html

174lindapanzo
oct. 5, 2015, 2:17 pm

>173 Tanya-dogearedcopy: That's interesting.

This Kenyon College library looting was done in virtually plain sight over the course of many years. The thief was the overnight supervisor.

Also interesting was that he didn't really know how to sell rare books. In those early days of the Internet, he was continually changing how he sold books. Finally got caught selling a rare letter on eBay. Kept claiming he found stuff the library had dumped out.

175thornton37814
oct. 5, 2015, 8:10 pm

>167 lindapanzo: I don't have that many to go but I just keep adding books to an over-filled category instead of reading one of the ones I need to read.

176lindapanzo
oct. 11, 2015, 3:42 pm

>175 thornton37814: Good luck, Lori. I'm pretty good about sticking to my categories.

Seven non-mystery books left to go and I think I will make an effort to fill in these categories. The mysteries I can do.

177lindapanzo
oct. 11, 2015, 3:42 pm

Book #82 Criminal Crumbs by Jessica Beck--finished on 10/5/15

The most recent installment (number 21, I think) of the donut shop cozy series. In this book, the sleuth/donut shop owner and her BFF venture off to a remote, luxury resort for the BFF's work-related conference. At least the town gets a break from the murders. LOL.

Book #83 Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury--finished on 10/10/15

Probably one of my favorite books of the year. For many years, I've lived near Waukegan, IL, the real Green Town of the book. I was never a 12-year old boy in 1928 but this book takes me back to the younger, simpler days of childhood. Lots of wonderful stories, beautifully written.

178thornton37814
oct. 11, 2015, 10:43 pm

>177 lindapanzo: I read Fahrenheit 451, but Dandelion Wine was the other one in which I was interested reading. I doubt I'll get to it this year, but I am going to make sure I add it to the TBR list.

179lindapanzo
oct. 22, 2015, 2:42 pm


Murder in the Paperback Parlor by Ellery Adams--finished on 10/15/15

This is the second in the Book Retreat series, a cozy series set at Storyton Hall, where readers come to a readers' paradise. The focus in this one is a murder at a romance readers convention.

Masters of the Games: Essays on Sport by Joseph Epstein--finished on 10/21/15

This was a way, way overdue ER book. Glad I finished it. Wished I'd finished it sooner.

This is a remarkable collection of essays on sports, written in a serious manner by a man who is surprisingly knowledgeable about sports. Some of the usual suspects for a sports essay are present, such as gambling, but others are quite unusual, such as the author's love of John R. Tunis sports books for boys.

The essays are at their best when they're personal and Epstein speaks of his love of baseball and of the various Chicago teams, as well as some of his sports experiences growing up, playing tennis, for instance, in Chicagoland.

There is some annoying redundancy but yet, for a reader who is looking for serious, yet interesting, essays on sports, this is the book for you. Highly recommended!!

180lindapanzo
oct. 27, 2015, 6:01 pm

Churchill in the Trenches by Peter Apps--finished on 10/24/15

Interesting little Kindle single about the time future prime minister spent "in the trenches" leading troops during World War I. It wasn't for long but it was some I'd never known about him.

Perhaps I'll get to a biography of Churchill sometime soon. I bet it'd be quite interesting.

Sabotage: A Chronicle of the Chesterton Crash by Bryan W. Alaspa--finished on 10/27/15

This book chronicles the October of 1933 plane crash in Chesterton, Indiana, the world's first known terrorist bombing of a commercial airliner. It was an interesting crash, and the author tried to give a flavor of the times, as well as issues that had a bearing on the crash, such as the role of the FBI in tracking down bank robbers like Dillinger. This could've been a great book.

Instead, it reads more like a high school term paper. Too bad because the author did do some research into the crash.

181lindapanzo
oct. 30, 2015, 1:24 pm

I've finished my novels category. This leaves me with only 3 non-mysteries to finish this year, though if I somehow need a break from mysteries, I can fit one in in my catch all category.

The Kid from Tomkinsville by John R. Tunis--finished on 10/29/15

This is one of those 1940's YA "books for boys." In my recent book of sports essays, the author wrote about how he'd loved the John R. Tunis books growing up.

I have to admit that I, when I was a pre-teen girl, I wish I'd known about these. I would've loved it. It tells a fairly interesting sports story in a fast-paced way that would appeal to kids. Pretty good, I thought. I might read more, at some point. I think he's written about other sports but this one was about Roy, a young rookie phenom with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

182lindapanzo
nov. 2, 2015, 9:29 pm

Going, Going Ganache by Jenn McKinlay--finished on 10/30/15

Another in the cupcake cozy series. Always lots of fun.

Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games by Tom and Jerry Caraccioli--finished on 11/1/15

I've long thought about the disappointment the athletes who were named to the American 1980 Olympics must've felt and I was excited to pick up a book on this topic. There's a discussion about the politics of our boycott, a bit about how the voting went, lots about the lawsuit some athletes filed against the USOC, and some sketches of some of the athletes who didn't get to go to Moscow. Olympians with an asterisk.

Most interesting, I thought, was the fact that some found the silver lining in the dark cloud of our Olympic boycott while others still remain angry and bitter, more than 30 years later.

Interesting.

183lindapanzo
nov. 12, 2015, 12:14 pm

I need to put in a few mini reviews for recent reads but, as of now, I need to finish 22 books to finish my 2015 challenge.

The good news is I'm nearly finished with my final sports book, which would leave me with 21 mysteries (or other books of my choice) to read. Love that "Overflow" category.

For me, 22 books in 6 weeks might be a bit optimistic but I'll give it a try.

184-Eva-
nov. 12, 2015, 12:44 pm

I don't know if you read them, but graphic novels are always good for fixing the numbers. :) Not that the numbers actually matter - we do make them up ourselves, after all... I tend to get overly competitive with myself, though, so it works for me. :)

185lindapanzo
nov. 12, 2015, 1:11 pm

>184 -Eva-: Usually, I finish around Thanksgiving but not this year. If I have to, I'll change the numbers, read a few more books, and call it a year.

I do have a bunch of great mysteries lined up. But first, need to finish a swimming book. Most likely, my niece's high school freshman swimming season will end on Saturday at the sectionals so it'd be nice timing to finish that one now. (Keeping my fingers crossed that she qualifies for state, though.)

Gold in the Water is probably the best book on swimming I've read. Not that I've read that many but it does offer lots of great insights.

My niece's favorite event, which high schools don't swim here but clubs do, is the 400 IM. I never knew that this is considered the sport's decathalon, for instance.

Or that male swimmers typically tend to have a high regard for their female counterparts, especially if they started swimming early, when the girls developed sooner and tended to be faster than the boys at an early age.

186lindapanzo
nov. 13, 2015, 5:12 pm

Swimming Studies by Leanne Shapton--finished on 11/4/15

Series of brief stories about the author's days as a competitive swimmer and competitor on the Canadian National team, along with unusual pools, places where the author has swum. Also included her artwork. Good book.

The Castlemaine Murders by Kerry Greenwood--finished on 11/11/15

The 13th book in the Phryne Fisher series. Love the series but this wasn't the best one, I don't think.

187lindapanzo
nov. 15, 2015, 6:50 pm

Just 20 books to go, to finish!!

188DeltaQueen50
nov. 16, 2015, 6:19 pm

Go, Linda!

189lindapanzo
Editat: nov. 18, 2015, 5:38 pm

>188 DeltaQueen50: Thanks, Judy. With only 6 weeks left in the year, though, I may reduce the number of books in my catch-all category. We'll see.

Or else read a few Kindle singles or something to help ease the way.

18.5 books in 6 weeks...the clock is ticking.

190lindapanzo
nov. 20, 2015, 2:51 pm

Fell behind in my mini reviews so here goes...

A Christmas Escape by Anne Perry-finished on 11/13/15

The newest (short) Christmas mystery from Anne Perry. Not set in England this time. There's a volcano.

Gold in the Water by P.H. Mullen--finished on 11/14/15

Great swimming book!! Probably the best one I've read. It's a look at a pair of competitors, plus their club coach in Santa Clara, as they compete for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. So many great insights into swimming and swimmers.

Untimely Death by Elizabeth J. Duncan--finished on 11/16/15

The first in Duncan's new cozy mystery series, Shakespeare in the Catskills. I liked it. Involves murder at a small hotel-based theater company in the Catskills. At this point, I still prefer the Penny Brannigan series but I'm eager to see how this series unfolds. Great potential.

The Best Game Ever by Mark Bowden--finished on 11/19/15

Often called the best NFL game ever played, the 1958 title game between the New York Giants and the Baltimore Colts is often thought of as the first modern NFL. Much of the look and feel of the current NFL got its start in this epic football game. Very interesting book, told not just in a chronological way but with more analysis and insight.

The Piccadilly Pickpocket by Karen Charlton--finished on 11/20/15

Loved this Kindle single featuring 1800's London sleuth, Detective Lavender. I promptly went out and picked up the first book in this series. I'd never heard of it before. Very good.

191LauraBrook
nov. 22, 2015, 5:24 pm

Hi Linda! I think you can manage 18.5 books before the year is out. Like you said, maybe some Kindle Singles or some shorties would help you out. Wait, you have off for the rest of the year, right? ;) Kidding!

How do you like the Anne Perry Christmas books? I'm tempted to start the series.

Hope you're staying warm tonight. How was the snow by you? My house only got a couple of inches of wet stuff, so we missed this storm. Phew!

192lindapanzo
nov. 23, 2015, 12:23 pm

>191 LauraBrook: Hi Laura, I love the Anne Perry Christmas books. They're light and very short. Usually "feel good" kind of mysteries.

We were supposed to get 4 to 8 inches but ended up with about 16. Got to work today--20 miles away--and there's just a few inches. Storm totals varied widely.

As for my challenge, only 15 left. I didn't leave the house the whole weekend, except to shovel.

193cyderry
nov. 23, 2015, 12:43 pm

>191 LauraBrook: I too like the Anne Perry Christmas series.

194lindapanzo
nov. 25, 2015, 7:31 pm

Just finished book number 100 for the year, the newest Louise Penny book. Hurray!!

A Dickens of a Murder by Joyce and Jim Lavene--finished on 11/22/15

Nice first installment of a new bookshop cozy mystery series. Good potential. Features the ghosts of famous authors.

Book #100 for 2015

The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny--finished on 11/25/15

Yet another masterpiece from Louise Penny. This newest installment in the Gamache series does not disappoint. Yes, it had a different feel from the others but, by the nature of the topic, I think it needed to. Outstanding.

195cbl_tn
nov. 25, 2015, 8:09 pm

Congrats on reaching 100! Louise Penny is a good way to do that. The last time I checked there were 2 people ahead of me in line for the Overdrive audio of the latest Louise Penny. I should get to it next month!

196lindapanzo
nov. 25, 2015, 9:02 pm

>195 cbl_tn: Thanks, Carrie. I like to try to make the milestone books memorable ones.

Also, as you know, there's more to a Louise Penny than just the mystery and I need to be in the right mood to read it.

With 6 days off ahead, I'm planning for my next mystery. Hmmm...

197DeltaQueen50
nov. 25, 2015, 10:26 pm

Just dropping by to wish you a happy Thanksgiving, Linda. I've read on Mark's thread about the snowfall you got so I hope it doesn't slow your holiday down in any way.

198lindapanzo
nov. 25, 2015, 11:04 pm

Thanks, Judy. The snow totals varied widely town by town. It was in the 50's today and maybe 60's tomorrow for the holiday. We've had a lot of melting.

Roads should be fine.

I'm going downtown on Sunday for the symphony and I'm more concerned about getting caught up in the protests.

199dudes22
nov. 26, 2015, 6:31 am

Happy Thanksgiving, Linda. I'm only up to #7 by Louise Penny so I still have a ways to go before I get to the latest. I could gobble them up, but then I'd have to wait for a new installment. I do occasionally think that now that I'm more familiar with all the characters, I should go back and read the first one to see what I missed.

200lindapanzo
nov. 28, 2015, 2:20 pm

Friar Tuck and the Christmas Devil by Steven A. McKay--finished on 11/26/15

A lovely little story about Friar Tuck and thefts in a small medieval town.

Speaking in Bones by Kathy Reichs--finished on 11/28/15

Websleuthing. Religious zealots. This terrific mystery, the latest installment in the long-running Temperance Brennan series, ties these together nicely. Besides offering great characters and a well-plotted mystery, there's a lot of great information in this book on a heretofore unknown subject to me, websleuthing. Apparently, websleuths go online and try to solve missing person cases.

Very interesting, fast-paced mystery. Highly recommended.

201lindapanzo
nov. 28, 2015, 2:22 pm

>199 dudes22: Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving, Betty.

I read the first couple of Gamache books in successon but, since then, I've read each book within a few months of its release. At some point, I'd like to go back and reacquaint myself with the earlier books.

202thornton37814
nov. 30, 2015, 8:15 pm

Congrats on hitting 100!

203lindapanzo
nov. 30, 2015, 8:20 pm

>202 thornton37814: Thanks, Lori. This'll end up being an average year, I think. I figure I'll usually end up at 110-120 or so.

204lindapanzo
nov. 30, 2015, 8:42 pm

Death on Eat Street by J. J. Cook--finished on 11/29/15

This first book in the Biscuit Bowl Food Truck series was a lot of fun. A whole bunch of colorful characters. It's set in Mobile, AL but it looks like future books might move around the South.

Eager to read the next books. I think #2 and #3 are already out.

205lindapanzo
des. 1, 2015, 2:56 pm

Cast Iron Conviction by Jessica Beck--finished on 12/1/15

This is the second in the Cast Iron Cooking cozy mystery series. Pretty good mystery. A convicted murderer who was just released on a technicality comes back to his small town to try to figure out who actually committed the murder 10 years earlier.

Before too long, there's another murder and the twins who own the cast iron restaurant and general store are out to solve it.

206lindapanzo
des. 1, 2015, 2:56 pm

Only 10 books to go to finish!!

With nearly a full month to go, I can do this.

207cyderry
des. 1, 2015, 3:16 pm

>204 lindapanzo:, >205 lindapanzo:
WHY DO YOU DO THIS TO ME?
You know how easily I get hit with those Cozy BBs.
Do you think that I am running out of cozy mysteries to read?

Could you just once lie and say you think that others would hate it. :-)

208lindapanzo
des. 1, 2015, 3:38 pm

>207 cyderry: They are very quick reads at least.

I've been starting a lot of new cozy series lately. So be forewarned.

I think you missed A Dickens of a Murder up in 194, too.

209cyderry
des. 1, 2015, 5:07 pm

Thanks so much for pointing that out.

210thornton37814
des. 1, 2015, 8:43 pm

>205 lindapanzo: Cast iron? They are writing cozies based on everything nowadays. I assume the ones who die get hit over the head with a skillet? ;-)

211lindapanzo
des. 1, 2015, 8:51 pm

>210 thornton37814: No one ever gets hit with a cast iron skillet but, in their small town, all the suspects always seem to come in for a meal and get interrogated.

I've read the first two. I think there's already a third one. At some point, the author is going to need to take this one on the road somewhere.

212thornton37814
des. 1, 2015, 9:25 pm

>211 lindapanzo: And when they take it on the road is when the series starts going down.

213lindapanzo
des. 1, 2015, 9:30 pm

>212 thornton37814: True. It's got to be cleverly done. The cast iron grill series will be tough to take out of town.

The food truck seems like it'd be easier to take it on the road.

214lindapanzo
des. 3, 2015, 5:16 pm

The Mistletoe Promise by Richard Paul Evans--finished on 12/2/15

A love story for the holidays. A wealthy young lawyer in Salt Lake City offers a young woman he met at the building's food court (but doesn't know) a two-month contract to join him for lunch and accompany him to his firm's holiday events. Strictly a platonic relationship and ending at midnight on Christmas Eve. Their relationship develops from there.

A nice light "feel good" story for the holidays.

215LauraBrook
des. 3, 2015, 6:42 pm

Linda, thank you for the book ideas for my Mom! She keeps saying she has "too many books to read", but she only has a dozen or so. Good thing Christmas is coming up, I can get her a little stocked up!

216lindapanzo
des. 3, 2015, 8:48 pm

>215 LauraBrook: Glad to do it, Laura. I've got a bag of books waiting for you (and her). Someday...

217lindapanzo
des. 11, 2015, 8:53 pm

Mystery in White by Jefferson Farjeon - finished on 12/5/15

A Christmastime mystery from the 1930's "Golden Age." Passengers on a train are caught in a blizzard and a small group manage to escape to an unlocked house.

It had a great premise but it was a slow, plodding mystery. Not one of the better ones I've read lately.

A Slice of Murder by Chris Cavender--finished on 12/8/15

This is a solid, first in the series cozy. The sleuth owns a pizza parlor and discovers a dead body when making a pizza delivery.

I intend to read further in this series.

Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen by Vicki Delany--finished on 12/10/15

I absolutely loved this first in the series in the Year Round Christmas cozy series in the upstate New York town of Rudolph, NY, also known as Christmas Town.

A colorful cast of characters and an interesting plot. I am eager to read more in this series. Probably my favorite first book in a series this year. My cozy mystery friends, Cheli etc, would probably like this one.
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218lindapanzo
des. 11, 2015, 8:54 pm

Only SIX books to go til I finish this challenge.

219cyderry
Editat: des. 12, 2015, 2:54 pm

>217 lindapanzo: Thanks so much.

I liked Slice of Murder too.

220DeltaQueen50
des. 12, 2015, 5:50 pm

You're getting close, Linda! I actually liked the slower parts of Mystery in White but disliked the melodramatic ending.

221lindapanzo
des. 12, 2015, 6:13 pm

>220 DeltaQueen50: I liked parts, too, but had a hard time keeping the characters straight. By the end, I didn't care who did it.

I used to love those Golden Age mysteries but I have a lot less patience with them now.

222lindapanzo
des. 14, 2015, 2:07 pm

Double Fudge Brownie Murder by Joanne Fluke--finished on 12/13/15

I've read the first 20 something books in the series but got increasingly fed up with Hannah's dithering between the cop and the dentist. Well, for those who've gotten fed up, there is definite action on the romance side of things. In fact, the next one is a wedding themed mystery.

That said, nearly all of this book focuses on the lives of the recurring characters. Yes, there's a murder but it's totally secondary.

Not one of the better mysteries I've read lately but I am intrigued enough to put the next one on reserve at the library.

223dudes22
des. 14, 2015, 4:00 pm

I've only read three and I'm already fed up with the romance. I was hoping it would be decided a little sooner than book 20!

224lindapanzo
des. 19, 2015, 11:11 am

Three books to go!! But I still need to offer up my brief comments about the last two.

225lindapanzo
des. 19, 2015, 3:59 pm

One Hundred Semesters by William M. Chace--finished on 12/17/15

I really enjoyed this memoir by a man who's spent 50 years (100 semesters) in academia, as an undergrad at Haverford College (class of 1961), as a grad student at Berkeley, as a one-year teaching assignment as an instructor at a historically black college in Alabama, as a long-time English professor at Stanford (and then a dean there), and finally, as the president of Wesleyan University and then president of Emory University. He's seen it all, in academia, dating back to the 1950s and I found his stories fascinating.

Top Secret Twenty-One by Janet Evanovich--finished on 12/19/15

I took some time away from the Stephanie Plum series. I'd gotten seriously tired of it. After some time away, I recently came back to it and loved it in all its goofiness.

226mysterymax
des. 19, 2015, 11:11 pm

>225 lindapanzo: I didn't think she could come up with another way to wreck a car, but the geese scene had me in stitches.

227dudes22
des. 20, 2015, 7:22 am

>225 lindapanzo: - I'm reading #20 this week and it had me chuckling last night. It's pretty much the same things every time, but always enjoyable. And a friend told me #22 is really good.

228lindapanzo
des. 20, 2015, 1:37 pm

>226 mysterymax: I don't remember any geese....this one had Chihuahuas.

>227 dudes22: I think I'll read 22 and then I'll be caught up. I've tried her other series but didn't care for it.

229lindapanzo
des. 20, 2015, 1:44 pm

Vanilla Vices by Jessica Beck--finished on 12/20/15

The 22nd book in the donut shop cozy series. Not very memorable but a pleasant evening's reading.

Two books to go!!

230dudes22
des. 20, 2015, 5:16 pm

>228 lindapanzo: - I've never cared for her other series either.

231mysterymax
des. 20, 2015, 11:19 pm

>228 lindapanzo: Sorry - I had just finished 22 and didn't notice you were talking about 21. There are geese...

232dudes22
des. 21, 2015, 6:54 am

Now I need to get to 21 - geese - intriguing. Maybe I'll read it over New Year's for my first book next year.

233mysterymax
des. 21, 2015, 7:31 am

Geese are in 22!

234dudes22
des. 21, 2015, 8:28 am

Might need to read both next year.

235lindapanzo
des. 23, 2015, 2:34 pm

The Santa Klaus Murder by Mavis Doriel Hay--finished on 12/23/15

Another one of those British Library Crime Classics books from the Golden Age of Mysteries, this one from the mid 1930s. This was a complicated mystery with a lot of clues and a dysfunctional family set on Christmas Day.

Quite enjoyable.

236lindapanzo
des. 23, 2015, 2:36 pm

One more to go!!

Since I've finished my Christmas shopping and wrapping, I'll have plenty of time to read today and the first half of Christmas Eve so I expect to finish my challenge on Christmas Eve.

If so, I will likely start my 2016 challenge on Christmas Day or, more likely, on Boxing Day.

237rabbitprincess
des. 23, 2015, 5:46 pm

>235 lindapanzo: I really liked Hay's other two books so will have to get hold of this one. Fortunately, the library has it! Unfortunately, it will be a New Year's read as I already have lots of books out from the library and will be going on vacation.

Hope the last book of your challenge is a good one! And a very merry Christmas to you! :)

238lindapanzo
des. 23, 2015, 6:18 pm

>237 rabbitprincess: I read one of her others. I think I still have Death on the Cherwell yet to read. Also probably in the new year.

239lindapanzo
des. 24, 2015, 1:11 am

Cast Iron Cover-Up by Jessica Beck--finished on 12/23/15

The newest entry in the cast iron cooking cozy mystery series. Not bad, plus this one has the advantage of bringing into the small town a group of five college students looking for treasure.

240lindapanzo
des. 24, 2015, 1:11 am

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!

I finished my 2015 category challenge just now. Hurray!!

241Tanya-dogearedcopy
des. 24, 2015, 1:36 am

Congratulations! :-)

242dudes22
des. 24, 2015, 5:24 am

Congratulations! That's a lot of books!

243AHS-Wolfy
des. 24, 2015, 9:02 am

>240 lindapanzo: Congrats on completing your challenge!

244mysterymax
des. 24, 2015, 10:32 am

Congrats ditto! Have a great holiday.

245cyderry
des. 24, 2015, 11:42 am

YEAH!!!! Take it easy for the rest of the year!

246lindapanzo
des. 24, 2015, 1:08 pm

Thanks. I'll probably just keep reading as usual, but probably not til Saturday.

247lindapanzo
des. 24, 2015, 1:08 pm

Now that I've finished my 2015 category challenge, I thought this would be a great time to pick my top 5 books of the year, along with two near misses.

1. When Books Went to War by Molly Guptill Manning
2. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
3. Gold in the Water by P.H. Mullen
4. Dead Wake by Erik Larson
5. The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny

Two near misses include: The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown and Doc by Mary Doria Russell.

248rabbitprincess
des. 24, 2015, 3:42 pm

Yay, congratulations! Will have to hurry up and get to that Louise Penny soon -- I keep hearing great things about it.

249VivienneR
des. 24, 2015, 4:04 pm

Congratulations on finishing your challenge! Have a great Christmas!

250lkernagh
des. 24, 2015, 4:53 pm

Congratulations on completing your challenge, Linda!

Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas!

251cyderry
des. 24, 2015, 5:25 pm


252dudes22
des. 25, 2015, 7:14 am

Merry Christmas, Lori!


253-Eva-
des. 27, 2015, 7:20 pm

Congratulations on finishing!

254thornton37814
des. 28, 2015, 8:52 pm

Congrats on finishing! Looking forward to following your 2016 reads.

255LauraBrook
des. 28, 2015, 10:13 pm

A belated Merry Christmas to you and your family, Linda, and Congratulations on finishing the challenge!

256christina_reads
des. 30, 2015, 1:24 pm

Congrats on completing your challenge! Glad to see that, while Doc didn't make your top five, it was at least a near miss. :)

257lindapanzo
des. 30, 2015, 1:34 pm

>256 christina_reads: I kept switching between The Nightingale and Doc and also between Dead Wake and The Boys in the Boat.

When Books Went to War was clearly my favorite book of the year by any reckoning, Gold in the Water was my favorite sports book, and the Louise Penny was my favorite mystery.

I try to slot a favorite book, a favorite history, a favorite novel, a favorite mystery, and a favorite sports book, with the last four being my favorite types of reading and the first one being the best of the best.

258dudes22
des. 31, 2015, 7:10 am

I was just about to take a BB on When Books Went to War when I discovered I already took it earlier this year when you read it. Whew!