Christina reads a timely 2015 category challenge, Part 3

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Christina reads a timely 2015 category challenge, Part 3

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1christina_reads
jul. 1, 2015, 10:27 am

My Timely 2015 Category Challenge, Part 3


(Photo by Dimitris Kalogeropoylos, from here, with license.)

Welcome to my 3rd quarter thread for the 2015 category challenge -- or, more accurately, my non-challenge! This year I'm only doing three categories, and every book I read will fit into one of them:

Past -- Re-reads.

Present -- Books I currently own (prior to January 1, 2015) but haven't read yet.

Future -- Books I will buy, borrow, or otherwise acquire in 2015.

My "Future" category still has a commanding lead…it'll be interesting to see if that changes at all throughout the rest of the year!

2christina_reads
Editat: des. 28, 2015, 11:25 am

Past: Re-reads.

1. Sarah Addison Allen, Garden Spells
2. Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
3. Jane Austen, Mansfield Park
4. Sophie Kinsella, I've Got Your Number
5. Meg Keene, A Practical Wedding
6. Georgette Heyer, Sprig Muslin
7. Eva Ibbotson, A Countess Below Stairs
8. Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility
9. Morgan Matson, Since You've Been Gone
10. Jane Austen, Emma
11. Dorothy L. Sayers, Whose Body?
12. Dorothy L. Sayers, Clouds of Witness
13. Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey
14. Sarah Addison Allen, The Peach Keeper
15. Georgette Heyer, The Nonesuch
16. Gemma Burgess, A Girl Like You
17. Judith Martin and Jacobina Martin, Miss Manners' Guide to a Surprisingly Dignified Wedding
18. Julie James, A Lot Like Love
19. Liza Palmer, Conversations with the Fat Girl
20. Winifred Watson, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
21. Kristan Higgins, All I Ever Wanted
22. Connie Willis, To Say Nothing of the Dog
23. Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
24. Georgette Heyer, Sylvester
25. Dorothy L. Sayers, Lord Peter Views the Body
26. Jane Austen, Persuasion
27. Eva Ibbotson, The Reluctant Heiress
28. Anna Gavalda, Hunting and Gathering
29. Janet Mullany, The Rules of Gentility
30. Maggie Stiefvater, The Scorpio Races
31. Georgette Heyer, Faro's Daughter
32. Ellis Peters, One Corpse Too Many

3christina_reads
Editat: nov. 27, 2015, 4:28 pm

Present: Books I own (prior to 1/1/15) but haven't read yet.

1. Michael Bedard, The Green Man
2. Kyril Bonfiglioli, Don't Point That Thing at Me
3. Elizabeth Bailey, The Gilded Shroud
4. Jandy Nelson, I'll Give You the Sun
5. Kristan Higgins, Fools Rush In
6. E.C. Bentley, Trent's Last Case
7. Farran Smith Nehme, Missing Reels
8. Jessica Park, Left Drowning
9. Kristan Higgins, The Next Best Thing
10. Anna Gavalda, French Leave
11. David Liss, The Twelfth Enchantment
12. Jean Webster, Dear Enemy
13. Dorothy L. Sayers, Unnatural Death
14. Kristan Higgins, Until There Was You
15. Candice Hern, A Proper Companion
16. Mary Stewart, The Gabriel Hounds
17. Helen Humphreys, Coventry
18. Dorothy L. Sayers, The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club

4christina_reads
Editat: des. 14, 2015, 10:06 pm

Future: Books I buy, borrow, or otherwise acquire in 2015.

1. Gabrielle Zevin, The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry
2. Graeme Simsion, The Rosie Effect
3. Genevieve Valentine, The Girls at the Kingfisher Club
4. Sarah Addison Allen, First Frost
5. Kirsty Logan, The Gracekeepers
6. Cary Elwes with Joe Layden, As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride
7. Imogen Robertson, The Paris Winter
8. Hester Browne, Honeymoon Hotel
9. Kerstin Gier, Ruby Red
10. Kerstin Gier, Sapphire Blue
11. Kerstin Gier, Emerald Green
12. Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples, Saga, Volume 1
13. Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples, Saga, Volume 2
14. Marissa Doyle, Courtship & Curses
15. Angela Thirkell, High Rising
16. Marion Chesney, Snobbery with Violence
17. Rachel Hartman, Seraphina
18. T.H. White, Darkness at Pemberley
19. Heather Demetrios, I'll Meet You There
20. Alan Bradley, As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust
21. Mary Doria Russell, Epitaph
22. Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples, Saga, Volume 3
23. Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples, Saga, Volume 4
24. P.J. Brackston, Gretel and the Case of the Missing Frog Prints
25. Juliet Marillier, Dreamer's Pool
26. Mavis Doriel Hay, Murder Underground
27. Mhairi McFarlane, Here's Looking at You
28. Ellis Peters, The Rose Rent
29. Ellie Marney, Every Breath
30. Katie Van Ark, The Boy Next Door
31. Mindy Kaling, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)
32. Annie Barrows, The Truth According to Us
33. Sharon Cameron, Rook
34. Kiersten White, Illusions of Fate
35. Nick Hornby, Funny Girl
36. Rob Thomas and Jennifer Graham, The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line
37. Kasie West, The Fill-In Boyfriend
38. Naomi Novik, Uprooted
39. Heather Dixon, Illusionarium
40. Paula McLain, Circling the Sun
41. John Buchan, The Thirty-Nine Steps
42. Kate Bolick, Spinster: Making a Life of One's Own
43. Jennifer Salvato Doktorski, How My Summer Went Up in Flames
44. Erika Johansen, The Queen of the Tearling
45. Emma Mills, First & Then
46. Lauren Willig, The Other Daughter
47. Patrice Kindl, A School for Brides
48. Stephanie Tromly, Trouble Is a Friend of Mine
49. Leigh Bardugo, Shadow and Bone
50. Leigh Bardugo, Siege and Storm
51. Giles Whittell, Bridge of Spies: A True Story of the Cold War
52. Huntley Fitzpatrick, The Boy Most Likely To
53. Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising
54. Lauren Willig, The Lure of the Moonflower
55. China Miéville, Embassytown
56. Amy Stewart, Girl Waits with Gun
57. Deanna Raybourn, A Curious Beginning
58. Rainbow Rowell, Carry On
59. Leigh Bardugo, Six of Crows
60. Zen Cho, Sorcerer to the Crown
61. Charlie Lovett, First Impressions
62. Penny Reid, Neanderthal Seeks Human
63. Noelle Stevenson, Nimona
64. Charlie N. Holmberg, The Paper Magician
65. Marie-Helene Bertino, 2 A.M. at The Cat's Pajamas
66. Garth Nix, Newt's Emerald
67. Cyril Hare, An English Murder

5christina_reads
Editat: des. 31, 2015, 5:29 pm

CATs

This year, I'm treating the CATs as a true TIOLI-type challenge: if I read something that happens to fit a CAT, then great! But otherwise, I'm not going to worry about it. The whole point of my 2015 non-challenge is not to stress myself out with too much structure. But I'll definitely still be following the CAT discussions, as I'm sure they will result in a plethora of book bullets!

January
RandomCAT (Olympus Has Fallen): Don't Point That Thing at Me by Kyril Bonfiglioli
HistoryCAT (BC-1 or Myths & Legends):
SFFCAT (historical, steampunk, gaslamp):


February
RandomCAT (book with a movie adaptation):
HistoryCAT (1-500 or Religion):
SFFCAT (written before 1980):


March
RandomCAT (cool kids):
HistoryCAT (500-1000 or Exploration & Conquest):
SFFCAT (apocalyptic, post-apocalyptic, dystopian):


April
RandomCAT (aperire):
HistoryCAT (1000-1300 or Crimes & Mysteries): The Rose Rent by Ellis Peters
SFFCAT (fairy tales, myths):

May
RandomCAT (place in the title):
HistoryCAT (1300-1500 or Plagues & Disasters):

SFFCAT (female authors/characters): Rook by Sharon Cameron; Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White

June
RandomCAT (on the water):
HistoryCAT (1500-1600 or Culture & the Arts):
SFFCAT (time travel, alternate history):


July
RandomCAT (let there be light): How My Summer Went Up in Flames by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski
HistoryCAT (1600-1700 or Immigration & Migration):
SFFCAT (critters/creatures, non-humans):


August
RandomCAT (dog days of summer):
HistoryCAT (1700-1800 or Medicine & Disease):

SFFCAT (other worlds, space): Shadow and Bone and Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

September
RandomCAT (How's the weather?):
HistoryCAT (1800-1850 or Lifestyles of Ordinary People): The Lure of the Moonflower by Lauren Willig
SFFCAT (slipstream, magical realism, genre benders): Embassytown by China Miéville

October
RandomCAT (in the steps of a friend):
HistoryCAT (1850-1900 or Science & Technology): A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn
SFFCAT (supernatural, paranormal, gothic): Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

November
RandomCAT (books and the big city): Coventry by Helen Humphreys
HistoryCAT (1900-1945 or War & Peace): Coventry by Helen Humphreys
SFFCAT (quests, heroes, superheroes, epic journeys): Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

December
RandomCAT (home for the holidays):
HistoryCAT (1945-1990 or Civil Rights & Equality):
SFFCAT (influential, awards):

6christina_reads
Editat: oct. 19, 2015, 10:46 am

Bingo

I'm aiming for a blackout (cover-all) Bingo -- looks like I will finish it this quarter! Fingers crossed...



1. A book set in a country other than your own: Every Breath by Ellie Marney
2. A book that's a genre bender: Gretel and the Case of the Missing Frog Prints by P.J. Brackston
3. A book that reminds you of your childhood: The Green Man by Michael Bedard
4. A book someone else chose for you: How My Summer Went Up in Flames by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski
5. A book where an animal is of importance: Dreamer's Pool by Juliet Marillier
6. A book with correspondence, epistolary, or letters: Dear Enemy by Jean Webster
7. A book you've owned for more than 1 year: The Gilded Shroud by Elizabeth Bailey
8. A book translated from a language you don't speak/read: Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier
9. A book centered around a major historical event: Epitaph by Mary Doria Russell
10. A book published in 1915: The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan
11. A book where prophecy, signs, or portents are part of the plot: Rook by Sharon Cameron
12. A book with scientists: As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust by Alan Bradley
13. A CAT: The Rose Rent by Ellis Peters
14. A book whose author has the same first name as your mother/grandmother(/other lineage): The Gabriel Hounds by Mary Stewart
15. A book with a natural disaster: The Paris Winter by Imogen Robertson
16. A book with a mythical creature: Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
17. A book with an LGBTQ main character: I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
18. A book by an LT Author: The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
19. A book about language(s): Embassytown by China Miéville
20. A book that's completely outside your comfort zone: Saga, Volume 1 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples
21. A book involving autism: The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion
22. A book inspired by another piece of fiction: Here's Looking at You by Mhairi McFarlane
23. A book about a subject/topic with which you're (mostly) unfamiliar: Bridge of Spies: A True Story of the Cold War by Giles Whittell
24. A book that is based on a fairy tale or myth: The Girls at the Kingfisher Club by Genevieve Valentine
25. A book with a protagonist of the opposite gender: Don't Point That Thing at Me by Kyril Bonfiglioli

7christina_reads
Editat: jul. 1, 2015, 10:45 am

Second Quarter Recap

"Past" Books: 5 (7 total)
"Present" Books: 2 (10 total)
"Future" Books: 19 (42 total)
Total Books Read: 26 (59 total)
CATs Read: 2 (3 total)
Bingo Squares Completed: 7 (20 total)

*****

Top Five Books of the Year (So Far):

1. Naomi Novik, Uprooted - In case you missed my gushing review on the previous thread, just know that I absolutely loved this book! It's one of those novels that seems like it was written just for me.

2. Mary Doria Russell, Epitaph - Books like this one (and its predecessor, Doc) are the reason I love historical fiction. They make the past come to life and turn legendary characters like Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp into real human beings. Even if you don't care about Westerns, I can't recommend these two novels highly enough!

3. Jandy Nelson, I'll Give You the Sun - Such a gorgeously written YA novel about guilt and grief, family and forgiveness. I loved watching Noah and Jude evolve, both as artists and as human beings. I can't wait to read more of Jandy Nelson's work!

4. Genevieve Valentine, The Girls at the Kingfisher Club - A wonderfully atmospheric retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses set in 1920s New York. I loved the complex relationships among the 12 sisters, as well as the bittersweet romance.

5. Ellie Marney, Every Breath - This is a mystery/romance hybrid inspired by Sherlock Holmes. I couldn't resist such a premise, and fortunately, the book more than lived up to my expectations!

*****

Bottom Five Books of the Year (So Far):

5. Kirsty Logan, The Gracekeepers - This book has a fantastic setting (remote waterlogged islands! A floating circus!), but that's about it. I didn't connect with any of the characters or care much about what happened to them. I like a good setting, but it's not enough to carry an entire novel, in my opinion.

4. Katie Van Ark, The Boy Next Door - Teen angst at its most melodramatic. I know the book wanted me to root for its two main characters to get together, but I felt like they were both far too immature to handle a real relationship.

3. Marion Chesney, Snobbery with Violence - Every single character is a cardboard cutout, and the social commentary is gracelessly shoehorned into the story.

2. Farran Smith Nehme, Missing Reels - I wanted to like this book, billed as a romantic comedy for classic film lovers, a lot more than I did. Mostly, I found the main character completely obnoxious, and the book plods along with very little humor to relieve the slow pace.

1. Jessica Park, Left Drowning - This novel contains basically everything I hate in a romance: instantaneous love/lust, too many sex scenes, and what seems to be a very unhealthy relationship, in my opinion. I had enjoyed Jessica Park's previous novel, Flat-Out Love, but this one was very different, unfortunately.

8christina_reads
Editat: jul. 1, 2015, 10:45 am

Oops, didn't mean to create this post. Oh, well…the thread is now open, so don't be afraid to say hi! :)

9mstrust
jul. 1, 2015, 12:26 pm

Don't mind if I do- hi, and congrats on the new thread!

10MissWatson
jul. 1, 2015, 1:00 pm

Hi, happy new thread, and good luck with the Bingo!

11christina_reads
jul. 1, 2015, 4:40 pm

>9 mstrust: >10 MissWatson: Yay, great to see you both here!

12dudes22
jul. 1, 2015, 7:07 pm

Happy new thread! My Bingo card is getting close too but the blocks I have left will be some of the harder ones to fill (for me).

13rabbitprincess
jul. 1, 2015, 8:06 pm

Holy smokes, that's a lot of Future books! ;) Happy third thread!!

14christina_reads
jul. 2, 2015, 12:04 am

>12 dudes22: Thanks! Yeah, I've left some of my hardest spaces until the end as well. I still don't know what I'm going to read for my "book about language"!

>13 rabbitprincess: Haha yup…I always seem to want the book that I don't already have! At least most of them were from the library, so I wasn't actively adding to my TBR pile!

15nittnut
jul. 2, 2015, 12:22 am

Hi!

16Chrischi_HH
jul. 2, 2015, 3:55 am

Happy new thread! I like your way of cheating, I thought about doing the same thing myself. In the end it was not necessary, however. :)

17lkernagh
jul. 2, 2015, 9:25 am

Happy new thread, Christina!

18christina_reads
jul. 2, 2015, 12:07 pm

>15 nittnut: Good to see you, as always!

>16 Chrischi_HH: I was really hoping to get to 150 on my old thread without cheating. I still have a few reviews to write, but I just couldn't get them done in time! So I did what I had to do. :)

>17 lkernagh: Thanks for stopping by, Lori!

19mamzel
jul. 2, 2015, 3:51 pm

Happy new thread! I'm patiently waiting for Uprooted to become available at my library. *tap, tap, tap*

20christina_reads
jul. 2, 2015, 8:50 pm

>19 mamzel: Understandable! I was lucky -- I think there were only about two people in line ahead of me at my library.

21-Eva-
jul. 3, 2015, 10:58 pm

Happy new thread!! I really enjoyed your way of getting here!! :)

22christina_reads
jul. 4, 2015, 12:16 pm

>21 -Eva-: Haha, thanks! :)

23christina_reads
jul. 7, 2015, 6:52 am

Book #56: Heather Dixon, Illusionarium
Category: Future - borrowed from the library

Jonathan has always viewed himself as a completely ordinary young man. He works as an apprentice to his father, one of the foremost scientists in the city, but he is preparing to go to university in a few months. However, all his plans are derailed when the king tasks his father with an important assignment. All throughout the country, a terrible illness is gripping its women, and now the queen has succumbed. Jonathan and his father have only a few days to find the cure before she dies. Their only hope seems to lie with Lady Florel, the most famous scientist in the country. She suggests using a drug called fantillium, which causes shared hallucinations and can thus be used to speed up the apparent passage of time. This will effectively give Jonathan and his father more time to experiment with a cure. Jonathan soon discovers that he is skilled at using fantillium to create hallucinations, or illusions, to impress his audience. But his use of the drug has a dark side, as well as the potential for a shockingly drastic effect on his entire society.

This is a book with a lot of interesting ideas, but it all felt a little half-baked to me. I think the problem is that there are too many plotlines for this relatively short novel, and I wasn’t sure where I was supposed to focus my attention. There’s the “race against time to find a cure for the disease” story, which does get resolved in the end, but we still don’t know much about what caused the disease or why it only affects women (at least, not that I can remember). There’s the “look at this cool drug that causes illusions, but what about the possible negative consequences?” story, which is probably the most developed plot. But to me, it seemed a bit inconsequential in the end…while the illusions would probably be great to watch on the big screen, they’re not particularly exciting in book form. And then there’s some business with parallel universes, but those are never really explained or explored either. I did like Jonathan as a character, and I loved his enemy-turned-ally Lockwood. But unfortunately, character development definitely takes a backseat to plot in this book. Overall, it’s not a bad read, but I wasn’t particularly engaged by it.

24christina_reads
jul. 7, 2015, 9:06 pm

Book #57: Paula McLain, Circling the Sun
Category: Future - ER book (pub date 7/28/15)

Beryl Markham is known to history as one of the pioneers of aviation: she was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic from east to west. But this novelized version of her life focuses on her childhood and youth on an African farm in what is now Kenya. Beryl's family moved to Kenya when she was four years old, but her mother had trouble adapting to African life and soon returned to England. As a result, Beryl's upbringing was unconventional, and her education was sporadic at best. She grew up with a deep love of the land and creatures surrounding her, and she loved to ride, shoot, and train horses. But as she approached adulthood, her father's farm fell on hard times, and he eventually decided to sell the property and relocate to Nairobi. Distraught at the thought of leaving her home, and unwilling to be a burden on her father (with whom she was not close), Beryl married a neighboring farmer. But the marriage was not a happy one, and Beryl soon left him to become a horse trainer in her own right. The novel follows Beryl's attempts to stand on her own against the odds, and it also chronicles her friendship with Karen Blixen -- better known as Isak Dinesen, the author of Out of Africa -- and her love affair with Denys Finch Hatton, whom the book portrays as the great love of Beryl's life.

This book initially caught my interest because I find the early days of flight fascinating. It's amazing to me that traveling by plane is so common now, when back then it was terribly dangerous, and only the most daring adventurers were brave enough to attempt it. Unfortunately, this novel has almost nothing to do with Beryl Markham's career as an aviatrix; but I still ended up enjoying it a lot for the setting and characters. I don't know much about Beryl's life, so I can't say how accurate the book is in its details, but it certainly paints a vivid and compelling picture of her character and of life in British East Africa at that time. The Beryl of this book was certainly ahead of her time in many ways. She married and divorced multiple times, and she had several extramarital affairs, including one with Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester. She pursued a career at a time when most women were still relegated to the home. Such characteristics make her a compelling heroine, and I enjoyed reading about her adventures -- although this book focuses a lot on her various romances, when I really wanted to know more about her professional life and aspirations. But I did enjoy the novel and would like to learn more about this era. I'll have to read Out of Africa and Beryl's own memoir, West with the Night!

25dudes22
jul. 8, 2015, 1:08 pm

>24 christina_reads: - I had this on my radar from the ER list - too bad it's not quite what you expected. I think I might still put it in my "recommended LT" collection. I also already have Too Close To the Sun which is about Denys Finch Hatton and I think I'll add West With the Night too. The movie "Out of Africa" piqued my interest in that period in African history ( although I thought Robert Redford was a poor choice for her husband).

26christina_reads
jul. 8, 2015, 2:23 pm

>25 dudes22: I mean, I still liked the book! Hope you enjoy it when you get to it. :)

27christina_reads
jul. 29, 2015, 8:20 pm

Wow, I have been so inactive on LT lately, and I've really missed it! Unfortunately, life has been pretty hectic during these last few months. I'm currently underemployed and in the midst of a job search, which is no fun at all. But on the plus side, I've gotten to spend some time with family and friends, both with my brother's wedding in June and my own 30th birthday this month! So all in all, life is pretty good! :) I've still been reading, although once again I'm several reviews behind...but I hope to catch up soon. And I definitely need to catch up on threads with this group -- I'm sure there's a ton of great discussion I've been missing!

28rabbitprincess
jul. 29, 2015, 8:52 pm

>27 christina_reads: Looking forward to your latest batch of reviews! :) Also, happy birthday when it comes! And good luck with the job search. It's such a painful process... argh.

29mstrust
jul. 29, 2015, 9:51 pm

Good to see you back! Happy birthday, and good luck with the search.

30DeltaQueen50
jul. 29, 2015, 10:05 pm

Wishing you all the best in your job search, Christina. And a belated Happy Birthday as well!

31nittnut
jul. 29, 2015, 10:40 pm

Happy Birthday! (late-ish)

I got a brand new copy - new book smell and all - of Uprooted from the library a few days ago. Read it in one day. It was a great read! I picked up the first few of her Temeraire series. Hoping they are just as much fun. :)

32MissWatson
jul. 30, 2015, 3:31 am

All the best wishes for your job search! And Happy Birthday, too!

33lkernagh
jul. 30, 2015, 9:37 am

Glad to see you back posting and good luck with the job search!

Happy Birthday!

34VictoriaPL
jul. 30, 2015, 11:27 am

Happy Birthday! I hope the job search will turn around for you soon!

35Chrischi_HH
jul. 30, 2015, 4:20 pm

Happy 30th birthday! And good luck with the job hunt, I know the feeling.

36christina_reads
ag. 1, 2015, 12:31 am

Thank you all so much for your words of encouragement and kind birthday wishes! (It was on the 23rd.) The job search continues...I'll definitely post here when I have some good news to report! >31 nittnut: I'm so glad you liked Uprooted and hope you enjoy the Temeraire books as well. I like them a lot, although they're quite different from Uprooted just because the world is so entirely different.

37christina_reads
Editat: ag. 1, 2015, 11:20 am

July recap

I honestly can't believe July is over already! It's been an eventful month for me, so I've been seeking comfort in a lot of rereads. But I did manage to read a respectable number of books this month:

1. Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility
2. Jennifer Salvato Doktorski, How My Summer Went Up in Flames
3. David Liss, The Twelfth Enchantment
4. Erika Johansen, The Queen of the Tearling
5. Morgan Matson, Since You've Been Gone
6. Emma Mills, First & Then
7. Jane Austen, Emma
8. Dorothy L. Sayers, Whose Body?
9. Dorothy L. Sayers, Clouds of Witness

Best of the Month: Excluding re-reads, I really enjoyed both The Queen of the Tearling (a somewhat unoriginal fantasy novel, but I found it compelling) and First & Then (styled as "Pride and Prejudice meets Friday Night Lights," which I think is pretty accurate!).

Worst of the Month: I wasn't a huge fan of How My Summer Went Up in Flames. It's a YA coming-of-age story with a hint of romance, but both the self-discovery parts and the romance parts seemed to lack focus.

CATs Completed:
Random - How My Summer Went Up in Flames. The word "flames" in the title implies light, which fits the "let there be light" theme.

BINGO Squares Completed: (see >6 christina_reads: above for my Bingo card)
4. A book someone else chose for you: How My Summer Went Up in Flames

38-Eva-
ag. 2, 2015, 2:31 pm

Happy belated!! And good luck on the job-hunt! I had a stint of unemployment when I got out of school and it was quite unbearable - don't lose hope!!!

39christina_reads
ag. 2, 2015, 10:14 pm

>38 -Eva-: Thanks! I agree...being unemployed (or not fully employed) is really tough! But I'm staying positive. :) Reading definitely helps!

40LittleTaiko
ag. 18, 2015, 9:08 pm

Happy belated birthday! Good luck with the job search too. At least you've read some good books too!

41christina_reads
ag. 19, 2015, 11:19 am

>40 LittleTaiko: Thanks! :) No matter what else is going on in my life, I can always find joy in books!

42christina_reads
ag. 19, 2015, 3:08 pm

Book #58: John Buchan, The Thirty-Nine Steps
Category: Future - borrowed from the library
Bingo: 10 - book published in 1915

Richard Hannay is fed up. He has just returned to London after several years in South Africa, where he’s led an adventurous life and made a modest fortune. His current life of leisure in England seems incredibly dull by comparison — that is, until his neighbor knocks on his door one day with an amazing story about international conspiracies, assassination plots, and his own very important mission. Hannay isn’t sure what to make of the story at first but agrees to keep his neighbor’s secret. When the man is murdered shortly thereafter, Hannay concludes that his farfetched story must actually be true, and he decides to take over the dead man’s mission to deliver some secret documents to a highly important member of the British government. He immediately finds himself on the run, as the people who murdered his neighbor are now on his trail. Hannay encounters a variety of people on his journey, both friend and foe, and he relies on his instincts to tell him whom he can trust with his story. In some cases these instincts are right, while in others, they are very, very wrong. But somehow, he always manages to stay one step ahead of his pursuers as he searches for the mysterious location with the 39 steps, where the evildoers can all be captured in one fell swoop.

This is one of those books that’s fun to read as a historical artifact, but I feel like it would never be published today. Spy thrillers are so popular in book, TV, and movie formats that audiences have become very sophisticated. The plot of this book may have been cutting-edge when it was published in 1915, but for a modern reader, it’s pretty predictable and really strains credulity at times. Hannay’s actual mission isn’t important; the dramatic tension in the book comes from the fact that he’s being followed, as well as the fact that some pursuers are actually lying in wait for him. There is one pretty suspenseful scene near the end where Hannay is in a room with the suspected evildoers, and he’s suddenly struck with self-doubt: are these people actually the bad guys, or has he been imagining the whole thing? But I did mentally roll my eyes at Hannay several times, as he basically blurts out the entire story to everyone he meets without once stopping to wonder, “Should I actually trust this person?” Still, despite its flaws, I did find the book entertaining and would consider reading more of Hannay’s adventures. I also need to check out the Hitchcock movie now!

43mstrust
ag. 19, 2015, 4:06 pm

Good review! I read The Thirty-Nine Steps a few months ago and agree with you completely- I wanted to groan at the way he spilled his guts to everyone he came across. But it's easy to see how it would have been very the height of intrigue in 1915.

44lkernagh
ag. 19, 2015, 10:32 pm

I have never thought about reading a book as a historical artifact before. Now I am intrigued by The Thirty-Nine Steps!

45nittnut
ag. 19, 2015, 11:25 pm

Just catching up - you had a good reading month last month. Two Jane Austens! Sending good job finding wishes your way. Good luck!

46christina_reads
ag. 20, 2015, 9:39 am

>43 mstrust: Thanks! :) I remember reading other reviews on LT (probably including yours!) that mentioned his habit of telling everybody his secrets. Then, when I read the book, I couldn't stop noticing it!

>44 lkernagh: Lori, it's a fun little read! And I think some books are best enjoyed as historical artifacts. They're not necessarily great literature in themselves, but they're worth reading because of how they influenced later works. I feel like The Thirty-Nine Steps is a good example of that.

>45 nittnut: Two Austens always makes for a good reading month! :) And thanks for the good wishes -- I'll take all of those I can get!

47VictoriaPL
set. 1, 2015, 7:31 am

>42 christina_reads: Christina, was there a Hitchcock movie made of The 39 Steps?

48christina_reads
Editat: set. 1, 2015, 12:17 pm

>47 VictoriaPL: There was! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_39_Steps_(1935_film). But apparently the movie was only "loosely based" on the book...which makes sense, because there appear to be some prominent female roles in the movie, but there are definitely no women in the book!

49christina_reads
set. 1, 2015, 12:30 pm

August recap

Wow, I did almost NOTHING in August for this challenge! I didn't have much time to read because I was in a community theater production of "My Fair Lady" (playing keyboard in the pit orchestra), which took up all my free time! I'm also 14 reviews behind right now, which is incredibly daunting. But here's what I did manage to read:

1. Lauren Willig, The Other Daughter
2. Patrice Kindl, A School for Brides
3. Stephanie Tromly, Trouble Is a Friend of Mine
4. Leigh Bardugo, Shadow and Bone
5. Leigh Bardugo, Siege and Storm

I've also started the third book in the Leigh Bardugo trilogy, Ruin and Rising, and
I'm in the middle of Bridge of Spies: A True Story of the Cold War, which I'm supposed to be reading with VictoriaPL (but I'm behind -- sorry!). Hopefully I will finish up both of them very soon!

Best of the Month: Somewhat to my surprise (because I haven't been thrilled with Lauren Willig's previous standalone novels), I liked The Other Daughter a lot! It's a really good historical fiction novel with intrigue and romance, set in 1920s England.

Worst of the Month: Probably A School for Brides, and it wasn't bad at all! It was just a little bit too scattered for me, because it jumped around between five or six different plotlines. Since the book is so short, I never became fully invested in any of the stories.

CATs Completed:
SFF - Shadow and Bone and Ruin and Rising are both set in a fantasy world, so they fulfill the "other worlds" component of this month's SFFCAT.

BINGO Squares Completed: (see >6 christina_reads: above for my Bingo card)
None this month.

50mstrust
set. 1, 2015, 2:48 pm

Well at least you were doing something else fun, so don't feel bad!

51christina_reads
set. 1, 2015, 2:55 pm

>50 mstrust: That's true! I did have a really good time doing the musical, but I've definitely missed reading!

52rabbitprincess
set. 1, 2015, 5:48 pm

Playing piano for a musical sounds like a lot of fun! :D

53christina_reads
set. 1, 2015, 7:55 pm

>52 rabbitprincess: Lots of fun, and lots of work! Theater people are generally really great to hang out with, so I enjoyed socializing with them and making new friends. But the whole experience also made me realize how rusty my piano skills are!

54mathgirl40
set. 2, 2015, 8:19 pm

Participating in the theatre production sounded like a great time!

All the talk about Uprooted has made me put it on hold at the library. Coincidentally, I just picked up another book influenced by the Beauty and the Beast story, Bryony and Roses by T. Kingfisher (a.k.a. Ursula Vernon).

55christina_reads
set. 2, 2015, 10:04 pm

>54 mathgirl40: Yay Uprooted! I get so excited every time I hear that someone else is reading it! :) That Beauty & the Beast retelling sounds good also; it's my favorite fairy tale!

56-Eva-
set. 4, 2015, 11:22 pm

>49 christina_reads:
At least you did something creative. When my reading totals are low, it's usually because of the telly. :)

57Tanya-dogearedcopy
Editat: set. 5, 2015, 11:53 am

>49 christina_reads: I can't help but think of anything to do with theatre as a sort of "Literary Practicum" of sorts! I think it should count as extra credit :-)

58christina_reads
set. 5, 2015, 11:16 am

>56 -Eva-: Oh, TV certainly played its part as well!

>57 Tanya-dogearedcopy: Haha, good suggestion! "My Fair Lady" IS based on Pygmalion, after all!

59christina_reads
set. 6, 2015, 4:39 pm

Book #59: Kate Bolick, Spinster: Making a Life of One's Own
Category: Future - ER book (pub date 4/21/15)

In this book that's part literary biography, part memoir, journalist Kate Bolick engages with the notion of "spinsterhood" and claims that, rather than being used pejoratively, it should be seen as a term of female autonomy and empowerment. She notes that contemporary society is full of single women (whether never-married, widowed, or divorced), but "spinsterhood" is still largely viewed as an aberration. In other words, as she states in the first sentence of Chapter 1, "Whom to marry, and when it will happen -- these two questions define every woman's existence..." Bolick talks about her own life as a 40-something, never-married woman and how she was inspired to find her own path by the lives of five literary women: Maeve Brennan, Neith Boyce, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, and Edith Wharton. She weaves the biographies of these women into her own autobiography as she explores what it means to be a spinster and concludes that it can actually be a good thing.

This book was an odd read for me; some parts of it were very interesting and thought-provoking, while others made me roll my eyes in annoyance. I think its main problem is that it's trying to be too many different genres; I was hoping for more of a cultural study and often found Bolick's personal reminiscences tiresome. I also struggled with her definition of spinsterhood. To me, a spinster would be a woman who remains unmarried and uncoupled throughout her life. But Bolick's literary inspirations, all of whom she styles as "spinsters," mostly did get married eventually. Some of the marriages were tempestuous, and some of them ended in divorce, but these women did not live their entire lives uncoupled. Bolick herself, though technically never married, talks at length about her previous and current relationships, and she has even cohabited with some of her romantic partners. So I feel like she's not really writing from the perspective of a spinster, but rather as a woman who is in a long-term, committed relationship -- married in all but name. That said, the little biographies of the five "spinsters" who inspired Bolick were interesting, and I'd like to learn more about these writers and/or read some of their works. But overall, this book disappointed me; it just wasn't what I expected.

60japaul22
set. 6, 2015, 6:07 pm

>59 christina_reads: that's odd to equate spinster with someone in a committed relationship whether that includes marriage or not. It would be a much more interesting topic if she stuck to the idea of living an uncoupled life.

If you're looking for a biography of Edna St. Vincent Millay, I loved Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay. I knew nothing about the author and still found it a fascinating portrait of a woman and author.

61christina_reads
set. 6, 2015, 6:08 pm

>60 japaul22: Thanks for the book rec! And I agree with you -- what I wanted was a book about "living an uncoupled life," as you say. But Bolick isn't doing that, and I don't think any of the women she talks about did, either (although I can't quite remember the details of all their life stories).

62christina_reads
set. 8, 2015, 9:11 am

Book #60: Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility
Category: Past

***Warning: SPOILERS!***

I've been enjoying my Jane Austen re-reads this year so much! But I have to say, upon revisiting S&S for the umpteenth time, I realized that it's my new least favorite Austen. Don't get me wrong; a least favorite Austen is still a pretty great book! But the romances in S&S aren't as compelling as in most of Austen's other works, and Mansfield Park (which has an equally unsatisfying romance) is more complex and psychologically interesting. Elinor and Edward fall in love off-page near the beginning of the novel, and Marianne falls in love with Colonel Brandon off-page at the very end of the novel, so it's hard to be very invested in these romances. Marianne's relationship with Willoughby, though doomed, is much more compelling because it's given the most attention in the book.

I think the strength of this novel lies in its secondary characters, who are uniformly delightful, from the generous-but-vulgar Mrs. Jennings to the ill-tempered Mr. Parker to the odious Lucy Steele. The passage at the beginning of Chapter 2, where Fanny Dashwood talks her husband out of giving the female Dashwoods any money, is flawless! So overall, I still really enjoyed this book! It's just not as sophisticated, in my view, as Austen's later novels.

63christina_reads
set. 8, 2015, 1:58 pm

Book #61: Jennifer Salvato Doktorski, How My Summer Went Up in Flames
Category: Future - received as a gift in 2015
CATs: Random - light-related word in the title (I read this in July)
Bingo: 4 - book someone else chose for you

It's the first day of summer, but Rosie Catalano is feeling anything but excited. Her boyfriend Joey, whom she had thought was the one, recently dumped her. In retaliation, Rosie had the not-so-bright idea of burning his stuff in his driveway, which resulted in an accidental car fire -- and a restraining order against her! Now Rosie is dealing with humiliation as well as heartbreak, and her parents are more than a little bit concerned. But Rosie's next door neighbor and best friend Matty has a solution: he and his two friends, Spencer and Logan, are driving from New Jersey to Arizona, where Logan will be attending college. He invites Rosie to come along, and her parents, worried about the consequences of her remaining in town, encourage her to go. Rosie is very reluctant about the trip at first, and her quick temper results in some very uncomfortable moments, especially with the standoffish Logan. But as she and the guys travel west, stopping at various landmarks around the way, Rosie reflects on the choices she's made in the past and learns a little bit about herself. She may even find herself getting over Joey and falling for someone new.

This book was a gift, and while I probably wouldn't have picked it up myself, I love a good road trip story! Overall, though, this book didn't quite meet my expectations. First of all, it's much more a coming-of-age story than a romance. While Rosie does eventually end up with one of the guys from the road trip, it's very unclear whom she'll choose for most of the book. On the plus side, this means the love story wasn't predictable; on the minus side, I had absolutely no investment in the outcome of the relationship because I didn't know whom I was supposed to be rooting for! I also wasn't a huge fan of Rosie as a character. She makes a lot of bad decisions in this book, especially towards the beginning, and she never really stops to think about the consequences of her actions. Maybe I'm judging her unfairly because I can't relate to her at all, but I found her antics more annoying than adorable. And finally, I was somewhat disappointed in the road trip aspect of the story. I can't even remember the places they visited, except they might have gone to Graceland and/or Dollywood. Overall, the book's not a bad read, but it just didn't do anything for me.

64rabbitprincess
set. 8, 2015, 5:33 pm

>62 christina_reads: That's probably why I like the 2008 miniseries so much, because there is more time for all the secondary characters! However, I do prefer the 1995 Mr. Palmer. And Book Palmer is great too. "Sir John is as stupid as the weather."

65christina_reads
set. 9, 2015, 9:18 am

>64 rabbitprincess: Yes, Hugh Laurie as Mr. Palmer!!! But I definitely think Book Palmer is the best. I felt bad for him, being stuck with such a dumb wife -- but I guess it was his own fault!

66RidgewayGirl
set. 9, 2015, 10:48 am

I think I may just have to watch the mini-series.

67christina_reads
set. 9, 2015, 5:22 pm

>66 RidgewayGirl: I think you should! I'm a big fan of the 1995 movie, but the miniseries certainly has its charms as well.

68christina_reads
set. 16, 2015, 12:58 pm

If anyone's interested, I have set up my 2016 challenge thread! I'm actually looking forward to adding a little structure back into my reading!

69christina_reads
set. 21, 2015, 1:06 pm

My local public library had its semi-annual book sale this weekend, and of course I didn't come home empty-handed!



Diana Wynne Jones, The Chronicles of Chrestomanci, Volume 1 — I’ve only read a smattering of DWJ, but I know she’s an author I want to read more of! I actually have a vague memory of reading Charmed Life in elementary school, but I’m looking forward to revisiting it and then continuing with the series!

John Bude, The Lake District Murder — I have a soft spot for Golden Age mysteries, and I’m thrilled that British Library Crime Classics is re-releasing a lot of them!

Cyril Hare, An English Murder — Another vintage mystery, and this one looks like a classic English country house murder.

Neil Gaiman, The Ocean at the End of the Lane — I’m always meaning to read more Neil Gaiman, and this book should be a perfect Halloween read.

Antonia Hodgson, The Devil in the Marshalsea — This HF novel set in the infamous debtors’ prison looks a little creepy and a lot of fun!

Elena Ferrante, My Brilliant Friend — I’ve been seeing Ferrante’s books everywhere lately, and all the positive reviews finally wore me down! :)

Maria Semple, Where’d You Go, Bernadette — I really liked this book when I read it a couple years ago, so I was happy for the chance to snag my own copy on the cheap.

M.R. Carey, The Girl with All the Gifts — I don’t read a lot of sci-fi/dystopian thrillers, but this one has gotten a lot of great buzz, and I vaguely remember Maggie Stiefvater tweeting that she liked it…and honestly, that was good enough for me! :)

70mstrust
set. 21, 2015, 1:10 pm

Great haul! Congratulations!

71christina_reads
set. 21, 2015, 1:18 pm

>70 mstrust: Thanks! Now I just have to get them all onto my bookshelves somehow...

72-Eva-
set. 21, 2015, 1:20 pm

Nice loot! Looks like your library has great sales. :)

73christina_reads
set. 21, 2015, 1:21 pm

>72 -Eva-: It really does! The prices aren't as cheap as some others I've heard about, though...paperbacks are usually $3 or $4, and there's nothing like "fill up an entire bag for $5." But I spent $23.50 on my haul, which comes out to less than $3 per book. So I'm not complaining!

74-Eva-
set. 21, 2015, 1:28 pm

Those "fill a bag" things are not good for me - I don't have room at home anyways, so I'd rather cherry pick mine. I had The Chronicles of Chrestomanci planned for this year, but I'm not sure I'll be getting to it, unfortunately, and The Ocean at the End of the Lane is a great "catch" as well.

75DeltaQueen50
set. 21, 2015, 2:05 pm

I have The Girl With All the Gifts on deck for next month and I have my fingers crossed that it's as good as all the hype advertises it to be.

76RidgewayGirl
set. 21, 2015, 2:34 pm

Those are some excellent books, and newer ones, too. I've really loved the first three books in the Ferrante series (I'm trying to save the last one) - you are in for a treat with My Brilliant Friend.

77Chrischi_HH
set. 21, 2015, 3:25 pm

Great haul! I haven't read any of them yet, but three are on my wishlist. I'm looking forward to hear what you think about them.

78rabbitprincess
set. 21, 2015, 4:56 pm

Yay, The Lake District Murder! I hope you like that one!!

79AHS-Wolfy
set. 21, 2015, 5:30 pm

>69 christina_reads: & >75 DeltaQueen50: The Girl With All the Gifts is a fantastic read. Hope you both enjoy it as much as I did.

80christina_reads
set. 21, 2015, 6:55 pm

>74 -Eva-: If you don't read The Chronicles of Chrestomanci this year, maybe we can do a tandem/group read next year! :)

>75 DeltaQueen50: >79 AHS-Wolfy: I'm excited for The Girl with All the Gifts! As I said, it's not my usual genre, and I haven't heard much about the plot at all, so I really have no idea what I'm in for!

>76 RidgewayGirl: Ooh, I'm glad to know that you like the Ferrante books! Since we're doing a GeoCAT next year, I'll have the perfect opportunity to read it! :)

>77 Chrischi_HH: Hopefully I'll actually read some of these books soon! I definitely still haven't read some of the books I bought at the last sale...or the one before that... *blush*

>78 rabbitprincess: Was it you who reviewed The Lake District Murder on LT? I definitely saw a review or two in this group, and they really convinced me to pick up the book!

81rabbitprincess
set. 22, 2015, 3:38 am

>80 christina_reads: I did read that book this year, yes. :)

82christina_reads
set. 22, 2015, 9:34 am

>81 rabbitprincess: Well, then, thanks to you for putting it on my radar!

83-Eva-
set. 23, 2015, 11:52 pm

>80 christina_reads:
Good idea, but if I schedule a book to read, I never want to read it at that time. :( I'm terrible at group reads, but I'll try to do better!

84christina_reads
set. 24, 2015, 7:14 pm

>83 -Eva-: Hmm, that's kind of true for me too. But I'll still look forward to your thoughts on it! :)

85christina_reads
set. 24, 2015, 7:32 pm

Book #62: David Liss, The Twelfth Enchantment
Category: Present - acquired 12/1/13

As a young woman of no fortune in 19th-century England, Lucy Derrick's choices are extremely limited. Her parents are dead, so she is forced to live with her odious uncle and his cruel housekeeper. Her only means of escape is to accept the advances of a prosperous local mill owner, but she doesn't love the man and has delayed making a final decision. But everything changes when Lucy encounters the dashing Lord Byron, the principal landowner in the area. Byron shows up on Lucy's doorstep with a mysterious illness that is soon revealed to be magical in origin. To Lucy's surprise, she is actually able to help him through exercising her own magical abilities. This chance encounter leads Lucy into a shadowy world whose existence she had never before suspected -- a world of changelings and faeries and soulless beings who cannot die. Assisted by her friend Mary Crawford (of Mansfield Park fame) and by Jonas Morrison, the man who once broke her heart, Lucy must navigate a supernatural power struggle and find an ancient spell book that will vanquish her immortal enemies once and for all.

This was my first encounter with David Liss, and I think it's probably not the right entry point into his work. My understanding of his other books is that they are serious historical fiction, with plenty of exploration of the gritty realities of life in former eras. This book contains a lot of those same concerns, with Luddites and Rosicrucians both being fairly integral to the plot. But at the same time, this novel also has a lot of Regency romance tropes, like the lovely but impoverished young woman who seeks marriage both for love and for economic stability. As a result, the book felt slightly schizophrenic to me. Personally, I was more interested in Lucy's individual character development and her romantic relationships than in the broader power struggle, so everything about the aforementioned Luddites and Rosicrucians was a real slog for me. In other words, it's too heavy for a light, fluffy read; but the Regency-romance elements detract from the serious historical fiction aspects of the book. Some things did work for me, particularly the central romance, but overall I think the book suffers from trying to blend two very different genres.

86christina_reads
set. 24, 2015, 8:29 pm

Book #63: Erika Johansen, The Queen of the Tearling
Category: Future - purchased in 2015

Princess Kelsea Raleigh Glynn has just turned 19, and it's time for her to ascend the throne of the Tearling. But being the ruler of this kingdom is not exactly an enviable position. Competition for power is fierce -- so much so, in fact, that Kelsea has been raised in exile and must be escorted to her palace by the Queen's Guard, an elite group of warriors, in order to protect her from assassination. Her uncle, the regent, almost certainly wants her dead, and he is far from the only person in the Tearling who doubts Kelsea's ability to rule. Most threatening of all, however, is the menace of the Red Queen, a powerful sorceress who rules the neighboring kingdom and has begun expanding her empire. Kelsea is shy, bookish, and plain -- seemingly the last person in the world to make an effective ruler. But her strong sense of justice and the help of a few loyal allies eventually enable her to claim her throne and even -- perhaps -- to keep it, as she makes her first move to challenge the Red Queen's supremacy.

I quite enjoyed this sword-and-sorcery novel, although the plot is certainly far from original. Kelsea is a relatable fantasy heroine, not particularly gifted at swordplay or magic, but grimly determined to hold onto her birthright and (essentially) not mess things up too badly. I also loved the basic premise that she has to win a place for herself in a situation where so many different factions are arrayed against her. I'm a sucker for a good political intrigue, and this book sets up a lot of different possible enemies who I'm sure will become more important in the sequels. The actual plot of this book is a little weak, in my opinion. The Red Queen is so over-the-top evil that I found her more annoying than threatening; I'd much rather see Kelsea deal with her internal foes than focus on defeating this "big bad." But I want to spend more time in this world, especially to learn more about the Queen's Guard and the Fetch. So I'll definitely be picking up the sequel, The Invasion of the Tearling, one of these days!

87christina_reads
set. 24, 2015, 8:57 pm

Book #64: Morgan Matson, Since You’ve Been Gone
Category: Past

When I read this book last year, I called it the perfect summer read, and I think that assessment is still accurate. It's the story of Emily, a shy girl who basically rides the coattails of her more popular, outgoing friend Sloane. But when Sloane unexpectedly disappears at the beginning of the summer, leaving behind nothing but a list of dares for Emily to complete, Emily is pushed out of her comfort zone and forced to discover her own identity. There's also ice cream, playlists, and a fair amount of kissing. :) If you don't mind YA contemporary romances, this is a really good one!

88christina_reads
set. 25, 2015, 12:03 pm

Book #65: Emma Mills, First & Then
Category: Future - ARC (pub date 10/13/15)

Devon Tennyson is a high school senior who couldn't be more ordinary. She's a decent but not exceptional student; she's an only child with a stable home life; and she has no idea what she wants to do after graduation. For now, she's happy to ignore the future and concentrate on having fun with her best friend Cas, who she's hoping will finally notice her as more than just a friend. But when Devon's freshman cousin Foster moves in with her family, her life slowly begins to change. Foster is strange and socially awkward, but while Devon finds him annoying at first, she eventually becomes very protective of him. Foster also introduces Devon to star quarterback Ezra Lynley, who's recently transferred to their high school. Ezra is handsome, popular, and a shoo-in for a football scholarship, so Devon immediately assumes he's an arrogant jerk. But the more she gets to know Ezra, the more she realizes that her first impression may not have been justified.

I'd been dying to read this book ever since I saw it promoted as "Pride and Prejudice meets Friday Night Lights." I think that's a fair comparison, in the sense that if you like those two things, you'll probably like this book as well. Devon is a refreshingly ordinary heroine, and I enjoyed her wry, self-deprecating voice. I also really loved the progression of her relationship with Foster from distant cousins to (essentially) brother and sister. The romance with Ezra was nicely developed (the slowest of slow burns), but for some reason I didn't find it especially compelling. Maybe that's the reason I didn't quite fall in love with this book the way I wanted to. But I do love the fact that Devon's relationships with Foster and Ezra also open her up to other friendships. Initially, Devon's only friend is Cas, and she's so invested in him that she doesn't really pay attention to anyone else. But throughout the course of the novel, she realizes that she's been a bit self-absorbed and makes more of an effort to reach out to other people. So overall, I'm glad this book wasn't just about the romance, but I still wish I'd felt a little more of the connection between Devon and Ezra.

89christina_reads
set. 25, 2015, 3:05 pm

Book #66: Jane Austen, Emma
Category: Past

***Warning: SPOILERS!***

Every time I read Emma, I love it a little bit more! Emma is such a wonderfully flawed heroine, and I love that she actually grows as a person throughout the book. The novel is also extremely well-crafted: Austen sets up a myriad of interesting parallels between various situations and characters. For example, the Emma-Harriet-Elton love triangle in the beginning is perfectly mirrored by the Emma-Harriet-Knightley love triangle at the end. The Emma-Harriet relationship has an interesting parallel in the Mrs. Elton-Jane Fairfax relationship, although Emma would be horrified by the comparison! And I love how Miss Bates' tedious monologues actually provide all the clues you need as a reader to uncover the Frank Churchill-Jane Fairfax romance! Finally, the foreshadowing of the Emma-Knightley romance is so subtly done, with Emma clearly being attracted to Mr. Knightley long before she realizes it herself!

90christina_reads
set. 25, 2015, 3:20 pm

Books #67-68: Dorothy L. Sayers, Whose Body? and Clouds of Witness
Category: Past

Starting when I was about 11 or 12, I went through a prolonged Agatha Christie phase, buying and devouring as many of her books as I could get my hands on. (And yes, I still love her and have 60+ of her books!) Around that time, people started recommending the Lord Peter Wimsey series to me as well, asserting that if I liked Christie, I'd love Sayers as well. So I tried a few books from the series...and I just wasn't that interested in them. But because so many people whose opinions I respect had encouraged me to read them, I'd always intended to try them again.

Thus, a couple months ago, I revisited the first two Lord Peter Wimsey books, both of which I'd read before. Whose Body? introduces the aristocratic detective and his faithful valet, Bunter, as they solve the mystery of a naked man found dead in a bathtub. In Clouds of Witness, Lord Peter must come to the rescue of his older brother, who's been charged with the murder of one of his houseguests.

And -- I really liked both books! I think maybe I was just too young for this series the first time around. Agatha Christie's books are very plot-driven, and they're not terribly intellectual, so it's easy for even a young teenager to grasp all the nuances of the story. Sayers is a little less accessible; there are scads of literary references, and Lord Peter has a very affected way of speaking that can be off-putting at times. But now that I'm older, I'm much more interested in Lord Peter as a character and look forward to seeing how he changes throughout the series. (I've read a couple of the later books in the series as well, so I'm already aware of some of these changes.) I enjoyed these books so much, in fact, that I've already read the third installment of the series, Unnatural Death (review to come). I'm so pleased that my decision to try these books again paid off!

91nittnut
set. 25, 2015, 3:56 pm

So Behind here! Loving your Austen comments. I agree with your assessment of Sense and Sensibility pretty much, although the characterizations are fabulous, especially Fanny and Mr. Palmer. Love them and hate them lol. The 1995 film is the winner. It's very well done - meaning most of the characters mostly fit the ones in my mind... haha.

92christina_reads
set. 25, 2015, 6:16 pm

>91 nittnut: Don't worry, I'm behind here too! :) I've started to catch up with reviews but still have plenty to go, alas. I agree with you in loving the 1995 film of Sense and Sensibility, although the 2007 version is nice as well. And yes, Fanny and Mr. Palmer are great -- and Mrs. Jennings, too!

93-Eva-
set. 27, 2015, 6:24 pm

>85 christina_reads:
I've only read his The Day of Atonement, but it seems very different from this one! No romance tropes in that one at all and certainly nothing supernatural. :)

94christina_reads
set. 28, 2015, 4:31 pm

>93 -Eva-: Yeah, I think The Twelfth Enchantment is definitely an anomaly for him! I have A Conspiracy of Paper on my shelf, and that seems like a serious HF novel as well, with no fantastical elements.

95lkernagh
set. 28, 2015, 10:19 pm

Stopping by and loving both your semi-annual book sale book haul and your flurry of reviews!

96RidgewayGirl
set. 29, 2015, 5:24 am

David Liss writes really different things. I've read one (The Day of Atonement) that was an adventurous thriller with solid historical underpinnings and another (The Whiskey Rebels) that was straight historical fiction. I'll admit that I'm intrigued by your description of The Twelfth Enchantment.

97dudes22
set. 29, 2015, 5:58 am

I've only read The Coffee Trader so far which is about the coffee trade in Amsterdam in the 1800s, so more of a historical fictional book with a bit of intrigue mixed in. I have a couple of others in my TBR pile which I should try and get to as I like the way he writes.

98christina_reads
set. 29, 2015, 3:51 pm

>95 lkernagh: Thanks, Lori! I'm hoping to get out another flurry of reviews before the end of the month!

>96 RidgewayGirl: Hmm, good to know. It's nice when an author is able to write lots of different kinds of books...but on the other hand, it's harder to know what to expect! As for The Twelfth Enchantment, other LT users seemed to like it more than I did, so maybe it's just me?

>97 dudes22: I seem to recall hearing good things about The Coffee Trader. Despite not loving The Twelfth Enchantment, I'll definitely try another book by Liss at some point.

99christina_reads
Editat: oct. 24, 2015, 11:49 am

September recap

Farewell, September! This was actually a good month for me, reading-wise, but I am still a whopping 13 reviews behind. Hopefully I will catch up within the next week or so! Here's what I read in September:

1.Giles Whittell, Bridge of Spies: A True Story of the Cold War
2.Huntley Fitzpatrick, The Boy Most Likely To
3.Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising
4. Lauren Willig, The Lure of the Moonflower
5. Jean Webster, Dear Enemy
6. Dorothy L. Sayers, Unnatural Death
7. China Miéville, Embassytown
8. Kristan Higgins, Until There Was You

I'm also about 3/4 of the way through Amy Stewart's Girl Waits with Gun, my August ER book...hoping to finish it within the next day or two!

Best of the Month: I more and less enjoyed all the books I read this month, but I have to go with Dear Enemy based on my pure delight in reading it!

Worst of the Month: Bridge of Spies was a bit slow to get going, and Embassytown made NO sense to me until about halfway through...but in the end, both books were very interesting and thought-provoking! So I can't really pick a "worst" this month.

CATs Completed:
History - The Lure of the Moonflower is set in 1807 and deals with British spies during the Napoleonic Wars.
SFF - Embassytown is a difficult animal to categorize, but I think it generally fits within the slipstream/interstitial/genre-bender concept.

BINGO Squares Completed: (see >6 christina_reads: above for my Bingo card)
6. A book with correspondence, epistolary, or letters: Dear Enemy
19. A book about language: Embassytown
23. A book about a subject/topic with which you're (mostly) unfamiliar: Bridge of Spies

I only have ONE square left on my Bingo card, so the end is in sight! :)

100RidgewayGirl
oct. 1, 2015, 2:43 pm

Oh, I'm glad you liked Dear Enemy! I read that every few years as it never fails to make me happy. Have you googled the Kallikak family yet?

101christina_reads
oct. 1, 2015, 4:57 pm

>100 RidgewayGirl: I hadn't looked up the Kallikaks, but upon your suggestion I read the Wikipedia page. It's scary to think how brutal was the cutting-edge science of the time in treating the intellectually disabled and mentally ill. While I loved Dear Enemy overall, the bits about eugenics were very jarring for me!

102-Eva-
oct. 2, 2015, 2:34 pm

"it generally fits within the slipstream/interstitial/genre-bender concept"
I would agree with that - most of Miéville's writing would fit!

103dudes22
oct. 2, 2015, 6:05 pm

I saw a preview of the movie version of Bridge of Spies with Tom Hanks when I was at the movies last night. Although I knew it was based on actual events, I hadn't realized that there was actually a book with the same name.

104DeltaQueen50
oct. 2, 2015, 7:35 pm

My history with classic detective fiction is much like yours. I fell in love with Agatha Christie when I was young but was never drawn to any of the other classic mystery writers at the time. In my (ahem) later years I have found a great enjoyment with pretty much all the classic detective fiction I have been reading. I think your analysis of Christie's plot driven stories vs. the more literate works of authors like Josephine Tey, and the detailed character sketches of Dorothy Sayers is spot on.

105mathgirl40
oct. 2, 2015, 9:11 pm

>69 christina_reads: Nice book haul! I've read a couple of Cyril Hare's books and enjoyed them a lot. I plan to read more.

106christina_reads
oct. 2, 2015, 9:42 pm

>102 -Eva-: That's kinda what I was thinking! :)

>103 dudes22: I think the movie is based on the book! Although the person Tom Hanks is playing isn't featured that much in the book, so I think the movie would qualify as a *loosely* based adaptation.

>104 DeltaQueen50: I too have fallen in love with classic detective fiction! But Josephine Tey is hit-or-miss for me...loved Brat Farrar, was "meh" about The Daughter of Time, and really didn't like The Man in the Queue. Any suggestions on other Tey novels I should try?

>105 mathgirl40: I haven't read any Cyril Hare but am excited to give him a try! I'll probably read An English Murder in December, since it's set at Christmas.

107christina_reads
oct. 2, 2015, 9:45 pm

Third Quarter Recap

“Past” Books: 5 (12 total)
“Present” Books: 4 (14 total)
“Future” Books: 13 (55 total)
Total Books Read: 22 (81 total)
CATs Read: 4 (7 total)
Bingo Squares Completed: 4 (24 total)

*****

Top Five Books of the Year (So Far):

1. Naomi Novik, Uprooted - In case you missed my gushing review on the previous thread, just know that I absolutely loved this book! It's one of those novels that seems like it was written just for me.

2. Mary Doria Russell, Epitaph - Books like this one (and its predecessor, Doc) are the reason I love historical fiction. They make the past come to life and turn legendary characters like Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp into real human beings. Even if you don't care about Westerns, I can't recommend these two novels highly enough!

3. Jandy Nelson, I’ll Give You the Sun - Such a gorgeously written YA novel about guilt and grief, family and forgiveness. I loved watching Noah and Jude evolve, both as artists and as human beings. I can't wait to read more of Jandy Nelson's work!

4. Genevieve Valentine, The Girls at the Kingfisher Club - A wonderfully atmospheric retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses set in 1920s New York. I loved the complex relationships among the 12 sisters, as well as the bittersweet romance.

5. Jean Webster, Dear Enemy - A delightful epistolary novel featuring the frivolous Sallie McBride, who unexpectedly becomes the director of an orphanage and even more unexpectedly rises to the occasion. There's hijinks and silliness and just all-around cheerfulness...it's really the perfect comfort read! I also highly recommend Daddy-Long-Legs, to which this book is the sequel.

*****

Bottom Five Books of the Year (So Far):

5. Kirsty Logan, The Gracekeepers - This book has a fantastic setting (remote waterlogged islands! A floating circus!), but that's about it. I didn't connect with any of the characters or care much about what happened to them. I like a good setting, but it's not enough to carry an entire novel, in my opinion.

4. Katie Van Ark, The Boy Next Door - Teen angst at its most melodramatic. I know the book wanted me to root for its two main characters to get together, but I felt like they were both far too immature to handle a real relationship.

3. Marion Chesney, Snobbery with Violence - Every single character is a cardboard cutout, and the social commentary is gracelessly shoehorned into the story.

2. Farran Smith Nehme, Missing Reels - I wanted to like this book, billed as a romantic comedy for classic film lovers, a lot more than I did. Mostly, I found the main character completely obnoxious, and the book plods along with very little humor to relieve the slow pace.

1. Jessica Park, Left Drowning - This novel contains basically everything I hate in a romance: instantaneous love/lust, too many sex scenes, and what seems to be a very unhealthy relationship, in my opinion. I had enjoyed Jessica Park's previous novel, Flat-Out Love, but this one was very different, unfortunately.

108DeltaQueen50
oct. 3, 2015, 7:18 pm

>106 christina_reads: Christina, both Daughter of Time and The Man in the Queue are my least favorites of hers. I really liked Miss Pym Disposes which is a stand-alone and also The Franchise Affair which is part of the Alan Grant series although he is not in it much.

109christina_reads
oct. 4, 2015, 1:38 pm

>108 DeltaQueen50: Great, thanks for the suggestions! Now I'm excited to try Tey again...can I read The Franchise Affair without having read previous Alan Grant books?

110DeltaQueen50
oct. 4, 2015, 2:50 pm

>109 christina_reads: I think so, like many of the books written in the golden age of detective fiction, the series can be read in any order.

111christina_reads
oct. 4, 2015, 6:55 pm

>110 DeltaQueen50: Great! :) I'll look out for the Tey books you mentioned when I'm in need of some Golden Age goodness!

112christina_reads
oct. 7, 2015, 12:39 pm

Book #69: Lauren Willig, The Other Daughter
Category: Future - borrowed from the library

Working-class Rachel Woodley is currently employed as a governess in France, but she must return to England in a hurry when she learns that her mother is ill. By the time she gets back to her native village, her mother has died. As a grieving Rachel sorts through her mother's possessions, she discovers a shocking secret: her father, whom she believed had died many years ago, is actually alive and well. Moreover, he's an earl with a wife and daughter -- his legitimate family. Shocked and angry, Rachel decides she must confront her father somehow. With the help of Simon Montfort, a young gentleman who is part of the earl's social circle, Rachel assumes a new identity in order to get closer to her father. As she infiltrates the crowd of Bright Young Things in 1920s London, she manages to meet her half-sister and even obtain an invitation to the earl's home. But the more she gets to know this side of her family, the more Rachel wavers in her desire for revenge.

While I adore Lauren Willig's Pink Carnation series, her standalone novels have been a bit less successful, in my opinion. They usually lack the humor that makes the Pink Carnation books so much fun, and Willig's trademark dual narratives (one historical, one contemporary) would split my focus in a way that I found very distracting. Happily, in this book, there is no contemporary framework narrative; the entire book follows Rachel's journey in the 1920s. Perhaps for this reason, I ended up really liking the novel! I found Rachel's motivations and feelings very believable, as she tries to deal with the fact that her entire identity has shifted. I also like that her feelings slowly change as she realizes that neither her father nor her half-sister is the pure villain she imagined at first. Of course, there's a romance in the book as well, which I enjoyed very much -- Simon is a delicious hero with a very interesting backstory. Overall, I liked this book a lot and would definitely recommend it to fans of historical fiction!

113lkernagh
oct. 8, 2015, 10:14 pm

>107 christina_reads: - It's one of those novels that seems like it was written just for me. I love that feeling, when it happens!

114christina_reads
oct. 10, 2015, 12:11 am

>113 lkernagh: It's the absolute best feeling!

115christina_reads
oct. 11, 2015, 7:16 pm

Book #70: Patrice Kindl, A School for Brides
Category: Future - borrowed from the library

The students of the Winthrop Hopkins Female Academy all know that their primary goal is not to receive a scholarly education but to learn the ladylike skills necessary to attract a husband. The problem is that the school is located in Lesser Hoo, Yorkshire, a country village with absolutely no eligible men. There are currently six girls of marriageable age at the school, and they are constantly bemoaning the dearth of potential husbands in the area. Fortunately, a chance encounter with some gentlemen who are visiting a nearby estate for hunting season provides them with all the romance and intrigue their hearts desire. Some of the girls fall in love with relative ease, while others find various obstacles in their paths. But when a valuable necklace goes missing and the school's footman is the chief suspect, the girls and their paramours band together to clear his name and find the real culprit.

I had previously read and enjoyed Patrice Kindl's Keeping the Castle, which is set in the same village and features some of the minor characters in this book. So I was predisposed to enjoy this novel, and by and large I found it a pleasant read. The writing is light and brisk, very evocative of Georgette Heyer's style (though of course not as good). I also liked the fact that the girls' romances develop in a variety of ways. Some of them are true love stories with a happy ending, but some of them end in heartbreak, while one girl marries a kind man she doesn't love after being betrayed by another suitor. This variety of outcomes especially makes sense in the Regency era, when marriage was basically the only choice for a gently bred young woman. The one thing I didn't like was that, because of the sheer number of characters to follow, none of them are given much depth. I wasn't particularly invested in any of the romances, nor did the mystery of the stolen necklace hold my interest (mostly because it was so easy to figure out). But for those who enjoy witty Regency fluff, I'd recommend this book as a fun read.

116lkernagh
oct. 13, 2015, 9:12 am

A School for Brides sounds like good light fluff for when the brain just isn't up for anything else. ;-)

117christina_reads
oct. 13, 2015, 11:00 am

>116 lkernagh: I'd say that's a very fair assessment. :)

118christina_reads
oct. 13, 2015, 12:51 pm

Book #71: Stephanie Tromly, Trouble Is a Friend of Mine
Category: Future - borrowed from the library

Zoe Webster is an utterly normal teenage girl who's just trying to survive her parents' divorce and her subsequent move to a small town in upstate New York. But her life is turned upside down when she meets her neighbor and classmate Digby, who's basically the opposite of normal. He's rude and annoying, he wears suits all the time, and he's obsessed with the recent disappearance of a local teenage girl. Somehow he ropes Zoe, along with his former best friend Henry, into his plan to investigate the disappearance. Their research leads them to a perverted gynecologist, a drug ring, and a possible cult, as they eventually learn that the girl's disappearance isn't quite what it seems. Meanwhile, Zoe tries to sort through her feelings for Digby, who has involuntarily become one of her closest friends, and maybe even something more.

A lot of the hype for this book compared it to "Veronica Mars," a TV show I really enjoyed, but unfortunately I don't think such comparisons are particularly accurate. Yes, like VM, this book features a teen detective who solves a mystery with his friends, and there's even a reference to the VM theme song in the book. But in my opinion, the similarities really end there; VM is much funnier and its mysteries more compelling than the events of the book. I just wasn't engaged by the novel at all, despite the fact that there's nothing particularly wrong with it. Maybe my issue is that the characters didn't seem real to me. Zoe, the narrator, is essentially a blank canvas -- she's so forgettable that I had to look up her name. Digby has more personality, but since we see him through Zoe's eyes, he remains pretty mysterious throughout the book. I didn't get much insight into what makes him tick or why he wants to hang out with Zoe. Overall, this is not a bad book, and fans of YA mysteries might like it, but I was hoping for more.

119christina_reads
oct. 14, 2015, 12:12 pm

Book #72: Leigh Bardugo, Shadow and Bone
Category: Future - borrowed from the library
CATs: SFF - set in another world (I read this in August)

Orphan Alina Starkov has grown up believing she’s completely ordinary. Not particularly pretty or talented, she’s lived in the shadow of her best friend and fellow orphan Mal, who is handsome and popular and a talented tracker for the Ravkan army. But when Alina unexpectedly discovers that she has supernatural powers, her entire life changes in an instant. She is swept up into the world of the Grisha, an elite class of magicians who have the power to control everything from metals to tides to the human body. Alina herself has the ability to control sunlight, a rare and powerful magic that catches the attention of the Grisha’s commander, the mysterious Darkling. The Darkling encourages Alina to harness her power, telling her that she can change Ravka for the better. But in strengthening her magical abilities, will Alina end up losing the most essential part of herself?

After seeing a lot of hype for the Grisha trilogy around the Internet, I was excited to read these books but also nervous that they wouldn’t live up to their reputation. Overall, I enjoyed the trilogy, but I didn’t quite embrace it as wholeheartedly as many others have. This first book does a good job of setting the stage: the world of Ravka is robust and full of interesting details, and the central conflicts of the series are clearly established. I’m not sure how I feel about Alina as a character…she spends a lot of this book questioning herself and moping about her nonexistent love life. And yes, there’s something of a love triangle in the novel, but it’s eventually resolved in a very stark way. (In fact, I wish there had been a bit more ambiguity about it!) Fortunately, Alina does demonstrate some strength as the story progresses, and overall, I liked the book enough to pick up the second installment right away!

120christina_reads
oct. 14, 2015, 12:19 pm

Book #73: Leigh Bardugo, Siege and Storm
Category: Future - borrowed from the library
CATs: SFF - set in another world (I read this in August)

***Warning: SPOILERS for Shadow and Bone!***

After failing to kill the Darkling, Alina and her beloved Mal are on the run. They hope that by staying far away from Ravka, they can escape the Darkling’s wrath; unfortunately, however, he catches up with them almost immediately. Despite the Darkling’s growing power, he wants to bind Alina and her magic more closely to him by searching for a second amplifier, a legendary sea serpent. For this purpose, he hires the notorious pirate Sturmhond to sail them through the northern seas. Alina nearly despairs when the sea serpent is found and the second amplifier placed on her wrist, but she finds unexpected allies in Sturmhond and his crew. After escaping the Darkling’s clutches once again, Alina finds herself at the head of a fragmented Grisha army, whose job is to defend Ravka from a possible invasion. But will her tiny force be enough to withstand the Darkling’s might?

I think I enjoyed this book even more than Shadow and Bone, mostly because Alina is more sure of herself and more determined to take charge of her own destiny. I also absolutely loved Sturmhond! What can I say — I can’t resist a swashbuckling pirate with secrets! The plot twist involving his character was somewhat predictable for me, but I still enjoyed it, and I liked watching Alina react to a new set of problems and expectations. The addition of siblings Tolya and Tamar was also a lot of fun…I liked having more characters to care about than just Alina and Mal. Many second books in a trilogy suffer from “middle book syndrome,” but I think this one is a great read on its own, and it also sets up book three very nicely. Speaking of which, my review of Ruin and Rising is coming soon, after a brief detour or two!

121christina_reads
oct. 22, 2015, 10:59 am

Book #74: Giles Whittell, Bridge of Spies: A True Story of the Cold War
Category: Future - borrowed from the library
Bingo: 23 - book about a subject/topic with which you’re (mostly) unfamiliar

This book tells the story of a Cold War prisoner exchange that, in the author's view, helped to stave off World War Three. William Fisher, a.k.a. Rudolf Abel, was a Soviet agent (actually British by nationality) who was captured in New York city because of his work spying on the U.S. nuclear program. Francis Gary Powers was an American pilot flying reconnaissance over the Soviet Union to get a look at its nuclear arsenal; he was shot down on one of his missions and imprisoned in Russia. And Frederic Pryor actually had nothing to do with the spy game at all -- he was simply an American student in Berlin studying Eastern economics, arrested by the Stasi because he fit their profile of what a spy should look like. Cold War tensions were running high at this time, so the agreement to trade Abel for Powers and Pryor was a vital gesture of good faith between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

In my American history classes in school, my teachers would always run out of time at the end of the year, so we'd usually only get as far as World War II in the lesson plan. As a result, I know basically nothing about the Cold War and was excited to read this book in tandem with VictoriaPL to learn more. I have to say, I found it slow going at first, as Whittell takes a long time to set up the three prisoners' backgrounds. He also goes into stupefying detail about the type of plane Powers flew and the various engineering difficulties that its inventors encountered. But once the prisoners' arrests are described, the book picks up considerably as it focuses on the political machinations needed to accomplish the prisoner exchange. The book also seems to be very well-researched, as Whittell was able to interview many of the people involved firsthand. I'm not sure it's a particularly groundbreaking work, but I did find it interesting, and I'm now looking forward to seeing the film version with Tom Hanks.

122christina_reads
oct. 22, 2015, 3:01 pm

Book #75: Huntley Fitzpatrick, The Boy Most Likely To
Category: Future - borrowed from the library

Seventeen-year-old Tim Mason has always been good at three things: flirting with girls, being the life of the party, and finding where his father has hidden the liquor. Recently, however, he's trying to turn over a new leaf, attending AA meetings and staying out of trouble. But that's not enough for Tim's strict father, who has given him an ultimatum: if he hasn't proved that he can handle adult responsibilities by the time he turns 18, his family will completely cut him off financially and give his college fund to his sister. Tim doesn't have the foggiest idea of how to live up to his father's demands, especially when one stupid decision from his past comes back to haunt him. But helping him to figure things out are his best friend Jase and the entire Garrett family, including (especially) Jase's older sister Alice. Alice is beautiful, smart, and tough as nails, and to Tim she's completely irresistible. But will he find the courage to go after what he really wants, and will their fledgling romance survive all the baggage from his past?

When I read the prequel to this book, My Life Next Door, I wasn't completely in love with it, but I remember really liking Tim and wanting to know more of his story. So this sequel was definitely up my alley, and overall I really liked it! Tim is the kind of fictional boy I always end up adoring: he's done a ton of stupid things and sabotaged himself at every turn, but he's got a good heart and is trying so hard. When he is confronted with one particular past mistake (I don't want to spoil it, so I won't be more specific), he doesn't react in the best or most selfless way, but his thoughts and feelings seem very realistic under the circumstances. As he adapts to this big change in his life, he grows and matures as a person, which is very satisfying to see. And I loved his relationship with Alice from beginning to end, especially the way their flirtatious banter masked deeper, more vulnerable feelings. There is quite a bit of angst and drama in the book, so it might be too young adult-esque for some. But I found it a compelling read and would definitely recommend it to fans of YA contemporary romance.

123christina_reads
oct. 24, 2015, 12:42 am

Book #76: Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising
Category: Future - borrowed from the library

***Warning: SPOILERS for previous books in the series!***

In the aftermath of the battle at Os Alta, the Darkling now sits on the Ravkan throne, and Alina and her followers have gone underground. Literally -- they're hiding out in a system of tunnels and caves beneath Ravka, where they are temporarily under the protection of the Apparat. But the Apparat has his own agenda: he wants Alina to serve as a figurehead for the loyal but uninformed peasants who believe she is a saint. Alina can't submit to such a plan, especially when the Darkling is continually expanding his empire through the use of dark magic. But once she and her loyal allies escape, Alina knows she isn't strong enough to defeat the Darkling, especially since she can no longer access her power. She decides to seek a third amplifier for her magic, the legendary firebird, and her sole clue leads her back to the village from which she and Mal originally came...but what she finds there will challenge everything she has ever believed.

Like the other two books in the trilogy, this is a well written novel with great world-building and an interesting plot. But I still find myself liking rather than loving these books. As I mentioned in my review of Shadow and Bone, I think my issue is that I don't particularly like or relate to Alina as the main character. She seems to be entirely motivated by her momentous quest to defeat the Darkling, and outside of that, there's not a lot of complexity to her character. I also don't care about Mal, the main love interest, at all. He's basically there to be dreamy and help Alina whenever the plot calls for it, and he doesn't really have a personality outside of that. I found the secondary characters much more interesting, especially Nikolai -- I'd love for him to get his own book at some point! I did enjoy the resolution of the plot and found the ending very satisfying. Overall, I wasn't bowled over by this trilogy, but I'd still recommend it to YA fantasy fans.

124christina_reads
oct. 24, 2015, 11:37 am

Book #77: Lauren Willig, The Lure of the Moonflower
Category: Future - purchased in 2015
CATs: History - spy adventure/romance set in 1807 Portugal (I read this in September)

***Warning: Possible spoilers for previous books in the series!***

This last installment of the Pink Carnation series finally tells the story of the Pink Carnation herself, Miss Jane Wooliston. It's 1807, and Napoleon's armies have invaded Portugal. Officially, the Portuguese royal family have departed for South America; unofficially, the mad Queen Maria is still in the country, providing a focal point for the Portuguese resistance. If the French capture Queen Maria, it will be a decisive victory for Napoleon, so Jane is determined to prevent it by finding her first. But since she is ignorant of both the Portuguese language and the country's terrain, she'll need the help of Jack Reid, otherwise known as the Moonflower. Jack, the black sheep of the Reid family, has spied for many nations other than his own, including France. Can Jane trust him not to betray her? And when Jack meets Jane, he's astonished to discover that the Pink Carnation is a demure young Englishwoman. Can he trust her to maintain her composure -- especially when her former lover, a French spy known as the Gardener, is also on Queen Maria's trail?

I've been a fan of the Pink Carnation series ever since the first book, so of course I was eagerly anticipating the final installment. I was especially excited to see that Jane was paired with Jack Reid: they have good chemistry and a believable conflict, as they are both accomplished spies who have trouble trusting each other and showing any hint of vulnerability. Their romance is the main focus of the book, with the spy plot largely being an excuse to get them together -- which is fine by me, since I just wanted to see a satisfying ending for these characters whom I've grown to love over the course of the series. I do have some complaints, however, mostly because of the stories left untold. For example, we get a little bit of Jane's romance with the Gardener, but that really should have been its own book. There are also a few minor characters from the series that I wish had gotten more closure. But Willig does include an afterword where she explains her decision to end the series here and gives a little "Where are they now?" update on all her recurring characters. So overall, I think this was a worthy ending to a delightful series, and I look forward to re-reading all the books one of these days!

125christina_reads
Editat: oct. 26, 2015, 1:04 pm

Book #78: Jean Webster, Dear Enemy
Category: Present - acquired 7/29/13
Bingo: 6 - book about/with correspondence, epistolary, or letters

This sequel to Daddy-Long-Legs centers around Judy's college friend Sallie McBride, a cheerful but frivolous young woman whose wealth has prevented her from ever having to work for a living. So when Judy and her husband encourage Sallie to take over the administration of the orphanage where Judy grew up, Sallie is flabbergasted. At first she outright refuses their proposal, but eventually they convince her to give it a try. Sallie is shocked to discover that she has an aptitude for the work; and what's more, she enjoys it! Slowly but surely, she begins to reform the orphanage and give a little joy to the orphans in her care. She also clashes immediately with the local doctor, Robin MacRae, whom she frequently addresses as "Dear Enemy." But the more they are forced to work together, the more they come to recognize each other's good qualities, until an unexpected tragedy finally forces Sallie to confront her true feelings.

Like Daddy-Long-Legs before it, this book is a charmingly old-fashioned epistolary novel that I absolutely adored! Sallie is an entertaining correspondent, and her letters (mostly to Judy) are light and chatty and lots of fun to read. I enjoyed the romance a lot as well -- maybe even more so than in DLL (and those who've read DLL will understand why!). The book is also interesting for its exploration of the role of women in the workforce. Sallie encounters a lot of skepticism from the local community about whether she's capable of being a good administrator, but she joyfully and determinedly proves them all wrong. The book is less progressive in its depiction of mental illness: both Sallie and the doctor make a few comments about "feeble-mindedness" and how people with subnormal mental functioning shouldn't reproduce. But aside from that jarring reminder of the book's age (pub date 1915), I really loved this book and would definitely recommend it to fans of older fiction, although I do suggest reading Daddy-Long-Legs first!

126RidgewayGirl
oct. 26, 2015, 4:29 pm

Since Dear Enemy is one of my favorite books, I'm happy you liked it, too!

127lkernagh
oct. 26, 2015, 9:47 pm

I keep on meaning to read the Webster books... and then it just doesn't happen. Good to see another positive review - and supporting comment by >126 RidgewayGirl:! One of these days I will get around to them.

128christina_reads
oct. 27, 2015, 8:11 pm

>126 RidgewayGirl: It's just so charming! I'm definitely adding Dear Enemy and Daddy-Long-Legs to my list of comfort reads that I'll return to again and again.

>127 lkernagh: Yes, you must read them! They're such a pleasure, and very quick reads as well!

129LittleTaiko
oct. 27, 2015, 9:55 pm

>125 christina_reads: - Onto the wish list they both go!

130christina_reads
oct. 28, 2015, 12:31 pm

131christina_reads
oct. 28, 2015, 12:56 pm

Book #79: Dorothy L. Sayers, Unnatural Death
Category: Present - acquired 11/1/14

While dining out one day, Lord Peter Wimsey and his friend Inspector Parker are discussing so-called accidental deaths that might actually be murders. A young doctor overhears them and joins their conversation. He shares the story of a former patient, an elderly woman with cancer who died rather suddenly. She was terminally ill, and no signs of foul play were found on the body, so everyone believed her death was natural; but the doctor was nevertheless suspicious because she had seemed to be improving lately. The woman's great-niece and presumed heiress was living with her at the time, so she had opportunity, but her motive was questionable because the old lady would die soon enough from natural causes. Lord Peter is intrigued by the case and decides to investigate. He employs Miss Climpson, a chatty but intelligent spinster, to temporarily relocate to the dead woman's village and do some discreet investigating. Meanwhile, he and Parker search for other suspects, motives, and possible methods of the murder.

After rediscovering Dorothy Sayers earlier this year, I've embarked on a project to read all her Lord Peter Wimsey books in publication order. This is book #3 in the series, but if I recall correctly, it can be read as a standalone. I enjoyed this book a lot, but I feel like it's a very unusual detective story. Despite a high body count, it doesn't feel very action-packed or plot-driven. The main mystery is not whodunnit, but why and how. One of the biggest clues to the motive is a tiny change in an obscure property statute. Nevertheless, I found the mystery compelling and was eager to solve the complete puzzle of how and why the murder took place. Also, Miss Climpson is delightful; this is her first appearance in the series, but I believe she'll be a recurring character in future books. She reminds me somewhat of a Jane Austen character -- one of the good-hearted chatterboxes, like a more intelligent Miss Bates. I wasn't completely on board with the characterization of the villain, whose psychology didn't ring true for me. I doubt this will be my favorite Sayers mystery, but I did enjoy it and look forward to reading the rest of the series.

132christina_reads
oct. 29, 2015, 4:54 pm

Book #80: China Miéville, Embassytown
Category: Future - borrowed from the library
CATs: SFF - slipstream/magical realism/genre bender (I read this in September)
Bingo: 19 - book about language

In a futuristic world on a faraway planet, Avice Benner Cho lives in the main colonists' city of Embassytown. The planet's natives, whom the colonists refer to as Hosts, have a unique system of language involving two simultaneously spoken voices that makes communication with them largely impossible; while the humans can understand the Hosts, the Hosts can't understand most humans at all. The only people even remotely able to speak to the Hosts are the Ambassadors, identical twins who have been specifically engineered for the purpose. So when a new Ambassador arrives on the planet, and they're not identical twins at all, everyone is shocked by the sheer impossibility of it. And when this Ambassador speaks to the Hosts, even more astonishing -- and dangerous -- consequences ensue. Avice, though not an Ambassador, has a special relationship to the Host language because she is one of its living similes. Can she find a way to mitigate the disasters caused by the new Ambassador?

If you're confused by my summary of this book, don't worry -- I was confused for about the first half of the novel! Miéville creates an extremely intricate world full of technobabble and doesn't spend a lot of time explaining things; rather, the reader is thrust directly into the world and left to sink or swim. I usually don't mind this technique, since lengthy world-building exposition can be tedious. But because the world is so complicated, it took me a while to figure out which things were important to the story and which were just window dressing. Additionally, the book jumps between two different time periods, which confused me at first. But once I figured out where the story was going and how the past and present narratives fit together, I became much more invested. People who are interested in linguistics will be fascinated by Avice's eventual solution to communicating with the Hosts. The book also touches on issues of colonialism: although the humans aren't overtly oppressors, there is a shadowy empire in the background to remind us that there might be hidden agendas at play. Overall, this is not the most accessible book to a casual reader, but those who persevere will be rewarded.

133rabbitprincess
oct. 29, 2015, 6:19 pm

>132 christina_reads: That one's on my to-read list because of the cool language aspect, but it sounds like a book I should try to buy a copy of instead of borrowing from the library. I do that with a lot of long/challenging books to avoid having to worry about deadlines.

134christina_reads
oct. 29, 2015, 6:36 pm

>133 rabbitprincess: Hmm, that might be a good strategy! I think it would be interesting to reread the book sometime, now that I know the basic shape of the narrative.

135christina_reads
oct. 30, 2015, 12:39 pm

Book #81: Kristan Higgins, Until There Was You
Category: Present - acquired 1/1/13

Cordelia Osterhagen, known to everyone as Posey, is largely content with her life. She lives in a picturesque New England town near her family, with whom she is close, and owns her own architectural salvage company. She also works at her parents' cheesy but beloved German restaurant. But Posey's love life is somewhat less successful; she's never managed to find a man she loves as much as she once loved Liam Murphy, the high school bad boy whom she worshiped from afar. But now Liam is back in town, a gruff widower with a teenage daughter, and Posey's old feelings immediately resurface. However, she tries to play it cool and slowly begins to form a friendship with him. Meanwhile, Liam is constantly stressed from his efforts to protect his daughter from every possible harm, but he's surprised by how peaceful he feels around Cordelia Osterhagen. When their relationship takes a romantic turn, will he be able to face the possibility of real commitment? And will Posey be able to stop herself from falling head-over-heels in love again?

After the mental exercise of Embassytown, I really just needed a palate cleanser, so I naturally turned to one of the Kristan Higgins romances I hadn't read yet. It perfectly fit the bill by providing a pleasant romance with minimal angst. All the Higgins trademarks are there: a quaint New England town, a heroine with a crazy-yet-lovable family and an improbably well-paying job, and a friendly dog or two. I liked Posey, although I couldn't help being irritated by her job -- what exactly is an architectural salvager, and how does she make enough money in her tiny hometown to stay in business? It sounds like one of those fake careers that TV people have, not something that could actually enable a person in small-town New Hampshire to make a living. Liam is a perfectly fine hero, although he's a bit too perfect for my taste (sinfully gorgeous, loves his daughter, wounded just enough to be interesting). But despite all my nitpicking, I enjoyed the book, as I always do with Higgins' contemporary romances.

136-Eva-
oct. 31, 2015, 4:15 pm

>132 christina_reads:
Not an easy read, indeed, but well worth the effort! I found the discussions on colonial politics the more interesting of the story lines, but Miéville will always offer more than one aspect to concentrate on.

>135 christina_reads:
"palate cleanser"
Highly recommended after any Miéville read! :)

137christina_reads
nov. 1, 2015, 4:43 pm

>136 -Eva-: I agree -- definitely well worth the effort! I like reading things outside my comfort zone every so often, and this book certainly qualifies!

138christina_reads
nov. 1, 2015, 4:49 pm

October recap

Despite being pretty busy this month, I actually managed to read quite a bit! Sure, almost half of these books are re-reads, but I'm still pleased with myself. :)

1. Amy Stewart, Girl Waits with Gun
2. Deanna Raybourn, A Curious Beginning
3. Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey
4. Rainbow Rowell, Carry On
5. Candice Hern, A Proper Companion
6. Leigh Bardugo, Six of Crows
7. Mary Stewart, The Gabriel Hounds
8. Sarah Addison Allen, The Peach Keeper
9. Zen Cho, Sorcerer to the Crown
10. Charlie Lovett, First Impressions
11. Georgette Heyer, The Nonesuch
12. Gemma Burgess, A Girl Like You
13. Judith Martin and Jacobina Martin, Miss Manners’ Guide to a Surprisingly Dignified Wedding
14. Julie James, A Lot Like Love

Best of the Month: Definitely Sorcerer to the Crown, which I absolutely loved! It’s a light historical fantasy with a touch of romance, and I found it an utter delight!

Worst of the Month: I was pretty disappointed with First Impressions, which deals with a literary mystery involving Jane Austen. I’d heard good things about the book, but I was not impressed by the book’s characterization of Austen or by the contemporary storyline with its incredibly annoying heroine.

CATs Completed:
History - A Curious Beginning. It’s set in 1876, and the main character is a lepidopterist, so it works for time period and theme.
SFF - Carry On. One of the main character is a vampire, and there are lots of other wizards and monsters running around, so I would characterize it as supernatural/paranormal.

BINGO Squares Completed:
14. A book whose author has the same first name as your mother/grandmother (/other lineage): The Gabriel Hounds -- both my grandmothers are named Mary.

And with that, I've covered my entire card at >6 christina_reads:, so I'm calling BINGO!

139lkernagh
nov. 1, 2015, 4:57 pm

YAY! BINGO!

140dudes22
nov. 1, 2015, 5:03 pm

Yay! BINGO!

141christina_reads
nov. 2, 2015, 9:09 am

>139 lkernagh: >140 dudes22: Thanks! :) I was excited to get that last square!

142-Eva-
nov. 2, 2015, 10:41 pm

Congrats on clearing the bingo-card!!

143christina_reads
nov. 3, 2015, 5:13 pm

>142 -Eva-: Thank you! I really enjoyed finding a book that would fit each of the squares.

144paruline
nov. 18, 2015, 11:13 am

Belated congratulations on finishing your Bingo card!

145christina_reads
nov. 30, 2015, 11:08 pm

>144 paruline: Thank you! (Haha, my thanks are belated as well...sorry!)

146christina_reads
des. 2, 2015, 7:29 pm

November recap

Another month of good reading and terrible reviewing! I still haven't reviewed any of my October reads yet, so I'm sure it will be some time before I get to these. Fortunately, from that perspective, most of them are re-reads! Here's what I read in November:

1. Liza Palmer, Conversations with the Fat Girl
2. Helen Humphreys, Coventry
3. Penny Reid, Neanderthal Seeks Human
4. Noelle Stevenson, Nimona
5. Winifred Watson, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
6. Kristan Higgins, All I Ever Wanted
7. Connie Willis, To Say Nothing of the Dog
8. Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
9. Georgette Heyer, Sylvester
10. Dorothy L. Sayers, Lord Peter Views the Body
11. Dorothy L. Sayers, The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club

Best of the Month: Excluding re-reads, I really enjoyed The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club. I think I’ve reached the point where both Lord Peter’s character and the series as a whole are really starting to gel.

Worst of the Month: Neanderthal Seeks Human, by a landslide! I think I was supposed to find the heroine charming. Instead I found her terribly grating and entirely too stupid to live. It was a free e-book, but I still want those hours of my life back.

CATs Completed:
History - Coventry is about the bombing of Coventry in November 1940, so it fits both time period and theme.
Random - Coventry obviously has a city in the title!
SFF - Nimona is a graphic novel with supervillain protagonists — although, of course, none of the characters are exactly what they seem!

147mathgirl40
des. 5, 2015, 7:14 am

>146 christina_reads: Looks like you had a good November. I love the Lord Peter Wimsey series too. I started a reread a few years ago but somehow got stalled after #6, Strong Poison. I really should continue, especially since, from my recollection, the later books are the better ones.

148DeltaQueen50
des. 5, 2015, 6:25 pm

I am slowly working my way through the Lord Peter Wimsey series as well, the next one up for me will be Have His Carcase. I would count The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club as one my favorites so far.

149MissWatson
des. 6, 2015, 7:53 am

>147 mathgirl40: >148 DeltaQueen50: My favourite is Murder Must Advertise. The shenanigans in the advertising agency are hilarious.

150DeltaQueen50
des. 6, 2015, 5:52 pm

>149 MissWatson: One to look forward to!

151christina_reads
des. 8, 2015, 2:30 pm

>147 mathgirl40: I think you're right about the later Wimseys being better -- looking forward to them!

>148 DeltaQueen50: I agree; The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club is probably my favorite thus far.

>149 MissWatson: I have a vague memory of reading Murder Must Advertise in high school and liking it, so I'm looking forward to revisiting it!

152tymfos
des. 15, 2015, 11:55 am

Just stopping by to catch up. It looks like you're doing very well with your challenge. I'm looking to read the Lord Peter Wimsey novels in order, and maybe your comments on them will spur me to get started!

153christina_reads
des. 15, 2015, 1:35 pm

>152 tymfos: Thanks for stopping by! So far, I'm really liking the Lord Peter Wimsey novels and would definitely recommend reading them.

154lkernagh
des. 21, 2015, 7:00 am

I see that your reading continues at a nice pace. Neanderthal Seeks Human.... what a title!

155christina_reads
des. 22, 2015, 9:57 pm

>154 lkernagh: And the thing is, I was prepared to forgive the awful title if the book had been good. But the book was so, so much worse than the title! (And Neanderthals had nothing to do with anything!)

156lkernagh
des. 24, 2015, 5:01 pm

>155 christina_reads: - LOL... not good. ;-)

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas, Christina!

157rabbitprincess
des. 24, 2015, 6:11 pm

Merry Christmas! Looking forward to more book bullets from you in 2016 ;)

158dudes22
des. 25, 2015, 7:27 am

Merry Christmas, Christina!

159christina_reads
des. 27, 2015, 4:57 pm

>156 lkernagh: >157 rabbitprincess: >158 dudes22: Merry Christmas to you all as well, and thanks for the holiday wishes! :)

Hope everyone else had a wonderful Christmas as well...only a few more days until the new year, and my mission is to catch up on my reviews by then!

160christina_reads
des. 28, 2015, 10:50 am

Because I have SO MANY reviews to catch up on, I'm taking a shortcut and posting summaries from Amazon rather than writing my own. I'll try to note where I've done this. Also, prepare for a large volume of posts in the next few days -- I'm hoping to catch up by the end of 2015!

Book #82: Amy Stewart, Girl Waits with Gun
Category: Future - ER book (pub date 9/1/15)

"Constance Kopp doesn’t quite fit the mold. She towers over most men, has no interest in marriage or domestic affairs, and has been isolated from the world since a family secret sent her and her sisters into hiding fifteen years ago. One day a belligerent and powerful silk factory owner runs down their buggy, and a dispute over damages turns into a war of bricks, bullets, and threats as he unleashes his gang on their family farm. When the sheriff enlists her help in convicting the men, Constance is forced to confront her past and defend her family — and she does it in a way that few women of 1914 would have dared." (Summary from Amazon.com.)

For some reason, I had a couple of erroneous expectations coming into this book. I thought it was a Western and pictured Constance Kopp as a sort of hotheaded, guns-blazing, Annie Oakley figure. In fact, the book is set in New Jersey, and Constance is definitely not the aggressive cowgirl I had imagined. She is certainly a strong woman, but her strength isn't demonstrated by violence. Rather, she is strong in her sense of justice and in her determination not to be browbeaten by the factory owner just because he is rich and male. I really admired Constance and enjoyed her relationship with her sisters; it's obvious that they get on each others nerves occasionally, but it's equally obvious that they are very close. I also liked the book's historical setting and how it showcased (in a non-preachy way) some of the difficulties women faced in the early 20th century. The "family secret" referenced in the summary was fairly easy to guess, but I didn't mind it because it's really not the focus of the novel. The book's ending seems to leave room for a sequel, and I would definitely read one if it ever materializes!

161christina_reads
des. 28, 2015, 11:54 am

Book #83: Deanna Raybourn, A Curious Beginning
Category: Future - borrowed from the library
CATs: History - set in 1876 and main character is a lepidopterist (I read this in October)

"London, 1887. As the city prepares to celebrate Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee, Veronica Speedwell is marking a milestone of her own. After burying her spinster aunt, the orphaned Veronica is free to resume her world travels in pursuit of scientific inquiry—and the occasional romantic dalliance. As familiar with hunting butterflies as she is fending off admirers, Veronica wields her butterfly net and a sharpened hatpin with equal aplomb, and with her last connection to England now gone, she intends to embark upon the journey of a lifetime.

But fate has other plans, as Veronica discovers when she thwarts her own abduction with the help of an enigmatic German baron with ties to her mysterious past. Promising to reveal in time what he knows of the plot against her, the baron offers her temporary sanctuary in the care of his friend Stoker—a reclusive natural historian as intriguing as he is bad-tempered. But before the baron can deliver on his tantalizing vow to reveal the secrets he has concealed for decades, he is found murdered. Suddenly Veronica and Stoker are forced to go on the run from an elusive assailant, wary partners in search of the villainous truth."
(Summary from Amazon.com.)

I've read and enjoyed the first few Lady Julia Grey books, so I was excited to learn that Raybourn has begun a new mystery series featuring intrepid lepidopterist Veronica Speedwell. Unfortunately, this book really didn't work for me. It's a good read in the sense that it's well written and moves quickly, but I couldn't get over my dislike of both Veronica and her partner/love interest, Stoker. Historical fiction can be difficult because the protagonists should be realistic for their time period but also sympathetic to modern readers. Veronica errs on the side of being far too modern for her era. She pursues a scientific career by traveling all over the world without a chaperone, and she engages in a variety of sexual affairs, apparently without any consequences to her reputation as a gentlewoman. I simply didn't find her believable. As for Stoker, he's a generic brooding alpha male type, and that's basically all you need to know. It's not a bad book, by any means, but it didn't deliver what I look for in historical fiction.

162mstrust
des. 28, 2015, 2:06 pm

>160 christina_reads: That's one I've been wanting to get to since seeing it recommended on "Well-Read" a few weeks ago. Glad you liked it too!

163christina_reads
des. 28, 2015, 5:29 pm

>162 mstrust: Definitely a good read if you like historical fiction!

164christina_reads
Editat: des. 28, 2015, 7:14 pm

Book #84: Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey
Category: Past

I've enjoyed all my Austen rereads this year, but I think Northanger Abbey may have been the most fun for me! I love the snarky authorial voice, and Henry Tilney is an utter delight! I've also realized that all my favorite Austen quotes come from this novel...

On conversation: "Henry suffered the subject to decline, and by an easy transition from a piece of rocky fragment and the withered oak which he had placed near its summit, to oaks in general, to forests, the enclosure of them, waste lands, crown lands and government, he shortly found himself arrived at politics; and from politics, it was an easy step to silence."

On fashion: "Woman is fine for her own satisfaction alone. No man will admire her the more, no woman will like her the better for it. Neatness and fashion are enough for the former, and a something of shabbiness or impropriety will be most endearing to the latter."

On smart girls: "Where people wish to attach, they should always be ignorant. To come with a well-informed mind is to come with an inability of administering to the vanity of others, which a sensible person would always wish to avoid. A woman especially, if she have the misfortune of knowing anything, should conceal it as well as she can."

And, most famously, on reading: “The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel must be intolerably stupid."

165christina_reads
des. 28, 2015, 6:46 pm

Book #85: Rainbow Rowell, Carry On
Category: Future - borrowed from the library
CATs: SFF - includes vampires and other monsters (I read this in October)

"Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who's ever been chosen.

That's what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he's probably right.

Half the time, Simon can't even make his wand work, and the other half, he starts something on fire. His mentor's avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there's a magic-eating monster running around, wearing Simon's face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here--it's their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon's infuriating nemesis didn't even bother to show up.”
(Summary from Amazon.com.)

As you can see, I had A LOT of feelings about this book! So if you just want the short version, skip to the last paragraph!*

Fellow lovers of Rainbow Rowell will remember her novel Fangirl, in which protagonist Cath is obsessed with the Simon Snow series and is writing fanfiction about two of its principal characters, Simon and Baz. While I really liked Fangirl overall, I noted that the "excerpts" from the Simon Snow books and from Cath's fanfic were my least favorite parts of that novel. So, I was less than enthused when I learned that Carry On would be Rowell's own version of the Simon/Baz romance.

I had other issues with the concept of Carry On as well. In Fangirl, it's obvious that Simon Snow is meant to be a stand-in for Harry Potter (which makes the single HP reference in Fangirl extremely jarring!), so Carry On is, in a sense, HP fanfic. That made me feel apprehensive and a little icky, like Rowell was essentially ripping off J.K. Rowling and taking advantage of the devotion of the HP fandom. I don't attribute any malicious motives to Rowell -- I'm sure she would view Carry On as more of an homage than a copy -- but the world of Simon Snow is uncomfortably similar to the world of HP.

Then there's my own stance on fanfiction, which is that I don't really get it. Not to take away from anyone else's pleasure in reading or writing it, but I've never personally been that interested in it. I do understand the desire to remain in a beloved world and explore it further, especially if the original author left certain stories hanging and you need some closure for them. But I tend to believe the author wrote the stories s/he intended to write, and it's not my job as a reader to "fix" storylines that didn't turn out the way I wanted them to. So, to take the most relevant example, I know there's a lot of Harry/Draco fanfic out there. But in the actual HP series, it's obvious that Harry is heterosexual, and (spoilers) he eventually marries and procreates with Ginny. So I honestly don't understand the impulse to pair Harry and Draco in fanfiction. I don't mean to insult anyone who enjoys fanfic or who ships Harry/Draco, but I would not personally be interested in reading a slash fanfic about those characters -- which is essentially the plot of Carry On, just with different character names.

AND YET.

I actually ended up liking Carry On a lot more than I expected to! Yes, the setting and principal characters are all very reminiscent of HP, and that still does bother me. I also wasn't particularly invested in the monster plot and all the backstory about where the monster came from and all of that. It was predictable and rather generic for a fantasy novel. But one of Jenny's (of Reading the End) comments really resonated with me: "I think Rainbow Rowell maybe just is not that good at plot." YES. This is true of all her novels, which generally don't have much plot to speak of. Where Rowell shines is her characters, who are flawed and struggling but also hopeful and determined to find a happy ending. I sympathized with Simon, who feels crushed by the weight of his "chosen" status and his inability to live up to everyone's expectations. Penelope was a great friend, practical and loyal, even though she was a bit too Hermione-ish. And I adored Baz, as I always adore disdainful, elitist, painfully elegant antagonists who turn out to be not-so-secret heroes.

*The short version: I was nervous about Carry On, and if anyone other than Rainbow Rowell had written it, I definitely wouldn't have read it. But I decided to trust Rowell, and I'm glad I did. For me, the positives (great characters and dialogue) outweighed the negatives (most notably, the extensive similarities to HP). If you're on the fence about this book, I would encourage you to give it a try! And I'll note that you definitely do NOT have to read Fangirl first, although you should read it anyway because it's really good. :)

166christina_reads
des. 28, 2015, 10:18 pm

Book #86: Candice Hern, A Proper Companion
Category: Present - acquired 3/5/13

"Robert, Lord Bradleigh, is a rakish earl with a recently arranged betrothal to a lovely young girl he barely knows. Emily Townsend is an impoverished spinster employed as a companion to his grandmother, the formidable dowager countess. Robert agrees to help his grandmother find a husband for the beautiful Emily. But once he comes to know the charms of his grandmother's companion, he begins to regret his hasty engagement.

This sparkling tale will take you from the Pump Room at Bath to the ballrooms of London as the unexpected and undeniable attraction between Robert and Emily blossoms into something more … something that could put one of them in danger."
(Summary from Amazon.com.)

I'm going to be honest: I read this book about two months ago, and I truly don't remember a thing about the plot. I think maybe Emily had another suitor who turned out to be evil in some way, but I'm not sure. And maybe Robert's fiancée ended up falling in love with someone else? Like I said, the details have completely gone out of my head. So, obviously, this was not a particularly great read for me...but it wasn't particularly awful either, or I would have remembered it! From what little I recall, the writing style was fine but not great; but after all, only a few authors can flawlessly imitate that Regency voice. I'm sure I did enjoy the book while I was reading it, because I remember looking up the sequels on Amazon (although I didn't actually purchase them). I suppose lovers of non-bodice-ripping Regency romances would enjoy this book, but I can't really recommend something that I can't remember!

167dudes22
des. 29, 2015, 6:27 am

>165 christina_reads: - I'm not a big fan of fanfic either. I don't usually express that opinion as any people do like it, but I sort of feel like the author couldn't come up with their own storyline/s and had to borrow from another author. I've never seen anything about how authors feel about it, although I'm sure there are articles somewhere. And I've probably read a book or two that was fanfic and maybe not even realized it. I found your thoughts interesting though. (i hadn't heard about the Harry/Draco thing either).

168RidgewayGirl
des. 29, 2015, 8:51 am

Excellent review of Carry On! I'm still not going to read it as I'm not a fan of fantasy much (and (heresy) I was lukewarm about the Harry Potter books), but I'm glad Rowell's still doing her thing. She really can write dialogue.

169christina_reads
des. 29, 2015, 10:42 am

>167 dudes22: I definitely know what you mean about fanfic! I don't want to come across as bashing it -- if that's how people want to spend their time, why not? It's just not really something I'm interested in. I know that some authors are very pro fanfic, while others are against. There are definitely copyright issues involved, and some view it as outright plagiarism. I'll be interested to see how the legal landscape eventually deals with the issue.

>168 RidgewayGirl: Thanks! I will say, the fantasy/HP aspects of Carry On are probably the least important parts, ultimately. It's a very character- and dialogue-driven story, much like Rowell's other books. But I totally understand the decision to pass on this one!

170christina_reads
des. 29, 2015, 11:37 am

Book #87: Leigh Bardugo, Six of Crows
Category: Future - purchased in 2015

"Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price--and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...

A convict with a thirst for revenge.

A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.

A runaway with a privileged past.

A spy known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction―if they don't kill each other first."
(Summary from Amazon.com.)

I wasn't totally enamored with Leigh Bardugo's Grisha trilogy when I read it earlier this year, but I liked the writing style and world-building enough to try Six of Crows, which is set in the same world as the Grisha books but in a new country and with new characters. And I'm very glad I gave it a chance, because I found this book to be a vast improvement on the Grisha trilogy! First of all, I really liked the multiple POVs; each of the six members of Kaz's crew is given a chance to tell his or her own story, which means I legitimately cared about all of them. I don't even know that I could pick a favorite, since all six are so fleshed-out and have such compelling backstories. The heist plot was a lot of fun and had appropriately high stakes -- not to mention the requisite detours and double-crosses along the way! And of course, there are multiple romances to root for...I can't decide whether I'm more invested in Matthias and Nina or Kaz and Inej. :) Overall, I'd definitely recommend this book if you like dark fantasy and/or a good heist story.

171christina_reads
des. 29, 2015, 1:39 pm

Book #88: Mary Stewart, The Gabriel Hounds
Category: Present - acquired 11/3/13
Bingo: 14 - book whose author shares an ancestor’s first name (both my grandmothers are named Mary)

"It's all a grand adventure when Christy Mansel unexpectedly runs into her cousin Charles in Damascus. And being young, rich, impetuous, and used to doing whatever they please, they decide to barge in uninvited on their eccentric Great-Aunt Harriet—despite a long-standing family rule strictly forbidding unannounced visits. A strange new world awaits Charles and Christy beyond the gates of Dar Ibrahim—"Lady Harriet's" ancient, crumbling palace in High Lebanon—where a physician is always in residence and a handful of Arab servants attends to the odd old woman's every need.

But there is a very good—very sinister—reason why guests are not welcome at Dar Ibrahim. And the young cousins are about to discover that, as difficult as it is to break into the dark, imposing edifice, it may prove even harder still to escape..."
(Summary from Amazon.com.)

I always enjoy Mary Stewart's novels of romantic suspense, and The Gabriel Hounds is no exception. I liked Christy's lively and slightly self-absorbed nature; she seemed real and relatable, if not always admirable. But the Amazon summary makes her sound a lot more irritating and privileged than she is! And the novel is great at creating a subtly sinister atmosphere once Christy enters Dar Ibrahim. The place seems to be nothing more than an old, run-down estate, and its inhabitants all treat Christy kindly, at least at first. Yet the book manages to convey an escalating sense of menace until Christy, with Charles' help, must flee for her life. The novel's central mystery, which involves drug trafficking, is both amusingly dated and surprisingly relevant today. I enjoyed the romance and the exotic setting as well, both hallmarks of Mary Stewart's writing style. This book doesn't rank among my favorites by Stewart, but it's still a very solid read if you like the author or old-fashioned novels of romantic suspense.

172christina_reads
des. 29, 2015, 2:06 pm

Book #89: Sarah Addison Allen, The Peach Keeper
Category: Past

Back in October, I was feeling the need for a little magic courtesy of Sarah Addison Allen, so I decided to reread The Peach Keeper. Although it's probably my least favorite of SAA's novels, it still has all the things I love about her books: strong female friendships, romance, a quaint Southern small-town setting, and a hint of magic. My favorite part of the book was a chapter where all four principal characters had lunch together -- I would have liked a lot more of the four of them interacting. I still like the book overall, but as I said, I prefer SAA's other novels.

173christina_reads
Editat: des. 29, 2015, 6:59 pm

Book #90: Zen Cho, Sorcerer to the Crown
Category: Future - purchased in 2015

"The Royal Society of Unnatural Philosophers, one of the most respected organizations throughout all of England, has long been tasked with maintaining magic within His Majesty’s lands. But lately, the once proper institute has fallen into disgrace, naming an altogether unsuitable gentleman—a freed slave who doesn’t even have a familiar—as their Sorcerer Royal, and allowing England’s once profuse stores of magic to slowly bleed dry. At least they haven’t stooped so low as to allow women to practice what is obviously a man’s profession…

At his wit’s end, Zacharias Wythe, Sorcerer Royal of the Unnatural Philosophers and eminently proficient magician, ventures to the border of Fairyland to discover why England’s magical stocks are drying up. But when his adventure brings him in contact with a most unusual comrade, a woman with immense power and an unfathomable gift, he sets on a path which will alter the nature of sorcery in all of Britain—and the world at large…"
(Summary from Amazon.com.)

This book ticks so many of my boxes -- Regency England! Magic! Georgette Heyer comparisons! -- that I knew it would be right up my alley. And my high expectations were completely justified: this is definitely one of my favorite books of the year! Zacharias is an immediately sympathetic character, his African descent automatically making him an outsider despite his theoretical position of authority. The other protagonist, Prunella, is equally appealing. She is headstrong and warmhearted, while Zacharias can be cold and reserved, so they make an excellent team. My gold standard for historical fantasy novels is Sorcery and Cecelia by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer, and Sorcerer to the Crown is very much in that tradition. I must say that the marketing for this book is terrible; the cover design implies a very different sort of novel, and the quote comparing it to "a cross between Georgette Heyer and Susanna Clarke" is completely inaccurate. It's much more Heyer than Clarke, so if you're expecting something similar to Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, you'll be disappointed. But I loved the book and am thrilled that there will be at least one sequel!

174christina_reads
des. 30, 2015, 12:07 am

Book #91: Charlie Lovett, First Impressions
Category: Future - purchased in 2015

"Book lover and Austen enthusiast Sophie Collingwood has recently taken a job at an antiquarian bookshop in London when two different customers request a copy of the same obscure book: the second edition of A Little Book of Allegories by Richard Mansfield. Their queries draw Sophie into a mystery that will cast doubt on the true authorship of Pride and Prejudice—and ultimately threaten Sophie’s life.

In a dual narrative that alternates between Sophie’s quest to uncover the truth—while choosing between two suitors—and a young Jane Austen’s touching friendship with the aging cleric Richard Mansfield, Lovett weaves a romantic, suspenseful, and utterly compelling novel about love in all its forms and the joys of a life lived in books."
(Summary from Amazon.com.)

I should have known better than to pick this one up. My love of Jane Austen means that I’ve read a lot of the retellings, re-imaginings, and spinoffs of her novels, and most of them have ranged from “meh” to truly awful. So I should have known that I’d dislike this book, and indeed, the writing style had turned me off by the end of the first chapter. The author unwisely makes Jane Austen a character and tries to imitate her voice, with disastrous results.

Further, the entire “past” storyline had essentially no stakes, being nothing more than an account of the friendship between Austen and an elderly clergyman. In the “present” storyline, book lover Sophie Collingwood comes across said clergyman’s name in connection with Austen and investigates a possible plagiarism scandal. Because of course Austen lovers want to read books suggesting that she didn’t actually create her own work!

Anyway, Sophie is an utter ninny caught between a Darcy and a Wickham, although they’re pretty equally insufferable! The Wickham (whose name I can’t actually remember) is supposed to be skeevy, of course, but the Darcy also exhibits some major stalker vibes. Therefore, I didn’t buy the love triangle or enjoy the romance. So for me, the book failed on basically every front. Maybe I’m being too harsh; I’d read some positive reviews of the novel, and possibly my expectations were too high. But unfortunately, this book is in my “bottom 10” for the year.

175christina_reads
des. 30, 2015, 1:14 pm

Book #92: Georgette Heyer, The Nonesuch
Category: Past

Obviously I'm a huge fan of Georgette Heyer's novels, but for some reason I hadn't revisited The Nonesuch in a while. I still remembered the main plot of the book -- it's one of the ones where the worldly hero and pragmatic governess fall in love, if you're into that sort of thing! :) But I greatly enjoyed this reread nonetheless.

Book #93: Gemma Burgess, A Girl Like You
Category: Past

If you enjoy British chick lit, I highly recommend Gemma Burgess! This book, about a young woman named Abigail who's newly single and confused about how to navigate the dating scene, is perfect for when you need something light and fluffy with a satisfying happily-ever-after.

Book #94: Judith and Jacobina Martin, Miss Manners’ Guide to a Surprisingly Dignified Wedding
Category: Past

I love Miss Manners’ witty, biting remarks on the rude behavior that seems to have taken over modern weddings. People often dismiss etiquette as being stuffy, pretentious, or out-of-date, but Miss Manners reminds us that it’s really about treating people with consideration and respect.

176christina_reads
des. 30, 2015, 2:05 pm

Book #95: Julie James, A Lot Like Love
Category: Past

This is a fun contemporary romance involving Jordan Rhodes, a wine merchant and high-society heiress, and Nick McCall, an FBI agent whose investigation forces them to partner up. Naturally, they defeat a mob boss and fall in love. I enjoyed this one just as much the second time around, especially Nick and his tough-guy persona.

Book #96: Liza Palmer, Conversations with the Fat Girl
Category: Past

The title of this book is somewhat misleading. Although the heroine, Maggie, is certainly fat by society's standards, the book is about so much more than her efforts to lose weight. It's really about how she overcomes her paralyzing fear of rejection and becomes the kind of person she really wants to be. She takes risks in her career and in love, and she finds the courage to leave a toxic former friend behind. Highly recommended for lovers of chick lit with a little substance (and also a hilarious first-person POV with lots of swearing).

177christina_reads
des. 30, 2015, 5:52 pm

Book #97: Helen Humphreys, Coventry
Category: Present - acquired 10/12/14
CATs: Random - city in the title; History - set in 1940 (I read this in November)

"On the evening of November 14, 1940, Harriet Marsh stands on the roof of the historic Coventry cathedral and marvels at the frost glittering beneath a full moon. But it is a bomber’s moon, and the Luftwaffe is coming to unleash destruction on the city. For Harriet; for the young fire watcher, Jeremy, standing beside her; and for his artist mother, Maeve, hiding in a cellar, this single night of horror will resonate for the rest of their lives. Coventry is a testament to the power of the human spirit, an honest and ultimately uplifting account of heartache transformed into compassion and love." (Summary from Amazon.com.)

Many World War II novels are sprawling epics that reflect the enormity of the tragedy, death, and suffering caused by the war. By contrast, this is a lovely little book that focuses on one specific event, the bombing of Coventry in 1940, and on three people whom the bombing affects in various ways. Harriet is the most fleshed-out (and therefore most sympathetic) character, but I was interested in all three stories and how they intersect. The novel is very understated in its description of the fear and pain the characters experience, which makes these emotions seem all the more vivid and raw. I was reminded of a quote by a musician I like: "Sometimes a sketch says more than a mural" (Grant-Lee Phillips on his album Ladies' Love Oracle). This book is a sketch, but an effective one. I'd definitely recommend it to fans of World War II novels or historical fiction in general.

178nittnut
des. 30, 2015, 7:35 pm

Dropping by to wish you a belated Merry Christmas and on time Happy New Year! :)

I hope you have been having an enjoyable holiday. Looking forward to starting a new year of challenges and fun. :)

179christina_reads
des. 30, 2015, 8:26 pm

>178 nittnut: Thanks! And hey, it's still the Christmas season! :) I had a lovely Christmas with my family...hope you enjoyed the holiday as well! Looking forward to seeing you at the 2016 challenge. :)

180christina_reads
des. 30, 2015, 8:27 pm

Book #98: Penny Reid, Neanderthal Seeks Human
Category: Future - downloaded to Nook in 2015

"There are three things you need to know about Janie Morris: 1) She is incapable of engaging in a conversation without volunteering TMTI (Too Much Trivial Information), especially when she is unnerved, 2) No one unnerves her more than Quinn Sullivan, and 3) She doesn't know how to knit.

After losing her boyfriend, apartment, and job in the same day, Janie Morris can't help wondering what new torment fate has in store. To her utter mortification, Quinn Sullivan- aka Sir McHotpants- witnesses it all then keeps turning up like a pair of shoes you lust after but can't afford. The last thing she expects is for Quinn- the focus of her slightly, albeit harmless, stalkerish tendencies- to make her an offer she can't refuse."
(Summary from Amazon.com.)

I downloaded this e-book for free, and honestly, that's the only good thing I can say about it. I don't think I've ever encountered a heroine whom I've despised more than Janie Morris. The novel would have you believe that Janie is very book-smart, although her nerves get the best of her in social situations. In fact, however, there is absolutely no evidence of her alleged intelligence, and her "nervousness" is so over-the-top as to be completely ridiculous. She literally cannot form complete sentences when speaking to a man she finds attractive. She also somehow fails to notice that her crush Quinn, whom she believes is a lowly security guard, is actually the owner of the company where she works. The reader, of course, has noticed it by approximately chapter two. The book's writing style is fairly awful as well, complete with one of the most cringe-inducing sex scenes I've ever encountered. I can't even remember the main conflict of the book, to be honest...all my attention was given to my utter hatred of Janie. Like I said, the book was free, but I still wish I could get those hours of my life back.

181christina_reads
des. 31, 2015, 5:29 pm

Book #99: Noelle Stevenson, Nimona
Category: Future - borrowed from the library in 2015
CATs: SFF - involves superheroes and -villains; protagonist has shape-shifting powers (I read this in November)

"Nimona is an impulsive young shapeshifter with a knack for villainy. Lord Ballister Blackheart is a villain with a vendetta. As sidekick and supervillain, Nimona and Lord Blackheart are about to wreak some serious havoc. Their mission: prove to the kingdom that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and his buddies at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren't the heroes everyone thinks they are.

But as small acts of mischief escalate into a vicious battle, Lord Blackheart realizes that Nimona's powers are as murky and mysterious as her past. And her unpredictable wild side might be more dangerous than he is willing to admit."
(Summary from Amazon.com.)

I don't read a lot of graphic novels but had heard great things about Nimona, so I decided to give it a try. Overall, I really enjoyed it! The artwork is very appealing, and because Nimona is a shapeshifter, it makes sense that the story would be told in this format. I also personally loved the character of Ballister Blackheart, supposed supervillain, who actually has a conscience and some well-founded suspicions about the Institution. The turns of the plot are rather predictable, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, especially with this type of story. I also found Nimona to be an interesting and complex character; she does some truly awful things in the course of the story, but she's given enough depth and humanity that she remains sympathetic. Overall, I would definitely recommend this for graphic novel fans or for people who are interested in exploring the genre.

182christina_reads
des. 31, 2015, 5:52 pm

Book #100: Winifred Watson, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Category: Past

This frothy Cinderella story is set in 1920s London, where middle-aged spinster Miss Pettigrew answers a help-wanted ad that changes the course of her entire life. A completely delightful book and a perfect comfort read! The movie (starring Frances McDormand and Amy Adams) is quite a bit different but also fun.

Book #101: Kristan Higgins, All I Ever Wanted
Category: Past

I remembered this book as being one of my favorite Higgins novels, and upon rereading, I wasn’t disappointed! This is a very cute love story between Callie, a friendly people-pleaser who’s trying to get over her seemingly perfect boss, and Ian, a socially awkward veterinarian.

Book #102: Connie Willis, To Say Nothing of the Dog
Category: Past

When I first read this book several years ago, I immediately added it to my mental list of all-time favorite books! So I’m glad I finally gave myself the opportunity to reread it. Fortunately, I loved it just as much the second time! It’s funny and romantic and involves time travel to the Victorian era (and also World War II — funnily enough, it’s the second book I’ve read this year about the bombing of Coventry Cathedral!). I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone! I should note, though, it’s quite different from Doomsday Book, Willis’ most famous novel…To Say Nothing of the Dog is much lighter in tone!

183christina_reads
des. 31, 2015, 6:00 pm

Book #103: Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Category: Past

This is another book I added to my list of all-time favorites after reading it only one time. And again, I was happy to find that I loved it just as much upon rereading! It’s a charming epistolary novel set just after World War II, and it deals with the experiences of Guernsey islanders during the war. So parts of the book are quite moving and poignant, but there’s also a love story and a lot of humor.

Book #104: Georgette Heyer, Sylvester
Category: Past

One of my very favorite Heyers — unsurprising, since it’s basically her take on Pride and Prejudice — and a joy to revisit. The romance is wonderful, of course, but I also love the farcical moments. The dimwitted fop Sir Nugent Fotherby (I mean, the name alone!) might just be my favorite Heyer creation. :)

Book #105: Dorothy L. Sayers, Lord Peter Views the Body
Category: Past

This short story collection was next in line for my project of reading all the Lord Peter Wimsey books in order. As I started reading, some of the stories seemed very familiar, and I realized I’d actually read the collection before! The stories are a bit hit-or-miss, and I enjoyed them more for the insights into Lord Peter’s character than for the actual mystery plots, although some of the solutions were quite ingenious. A good read for Lord Peter completists, but I wouldn’t recommend that a casual reader start here.

184-Eva-
des. 31, 2015, 7:06 pm

>180 christina_reads:
I'd give her a point for a funny title as well. But, very happy you didn't pay any money for it!

185christina_reads
Editat: des. 31, 2015, 7:21 pm

>184 -Eva-: Title is funny, but subtitle ("A Smart Romance") is funnier, in an ironic sort of way... :)

186christina_reads
des. 31, 2015, 7:31 pm

Book #106: Dorothy L. Sayers, The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club
Category: Present - acquired 10/20/14

"On November 11, ninety-year-old General Fentiman is found dead in an armchair at the Bellona Club. No one knows exactly when his death occurred—information essential in determining the recipient of a substantial inheritance. But that is only one of the mysteries vexing Lord Peter Wimsey. The aristocratic sleuth needs every bit of his amazing skills to discover why the proud officer's lapel was missing the requisite red poppy on Armistice Day, how the Bellona Club's telephone was fixed without a repairman, and, most puzzling of all, why the great man's knee swung freely when the rest of him was stiff with rigor mortis." (Summary from Amazon.com.)

I think this is my favorite Lord Peter Wimsey book so far. The mystery plot is ingenious and provides an intellectually satisfying solution. I also appreciate how character-driven Sayers' mysteries are in comparison to, say, Agatha Christie's. (Not to bash Dame Agatha, but I think her books are far more plot-driven, with the characters rarely being very three-dimensional.) I was especially fascinated by Ann Dorland, one of the potential heirs to the general's fortune. Her behavior is suspicious throughout the novel, but is she guilty? And if not, why does she act the way she does? The one jarring note to this mystery is the ending, where Lord Peter unmasks the killer and essentially suggests that, instead of going through the humiliation of an arrest and trial, the person should just commit suicide. I guess this attitude makes sense for the time, when people set more store by their honor than they do today...and of course, a convicted murderer would face the death penalty anyway...but I was still taken aback by Lord Peter's suggestion! Still, I enjoyed the book and look forward to continuing with the series.

187christina_reads
des. 31, 2015, 7:53 pm

Book #107: Jane Austen, Persuasion
Category: Past

This was my last book for the Jane Austen group read, wherein we read all six of her major novels over the course of the year. Persuasion is a fitting one to end on, as it was Austen's last novel and features her most mature couple. I like Anne Elliot a lot because she has a strong character, but it's a quiet strength. She is very accommodating towards her horrible family (seriously, Sir Walter and Elizabeth are the WORST!), so she seems like a doormat. But she's very determined when her principles are at stake, as when she resumes her friendship with the impoverished Mrs. Smith despite her father's scorn. And of course, the entire book is worth it just for the scene where Anne and Captain Harville are talking about whether men or women suffer more in love. I'm so glad I participated in the group read -- it was such a pleasure to revisit my favorite author this year!

188christina_reads
des. 31, 2015, 8:21 pm

Book #108: Charlie N. Holmberg, The Paper Magician
Category: Future - borrowed from the library

"Ceony Twill arrives at the cottage of Magician Emery Thane with a broken heart. Having graduated at the top of her class from the Tagis Praff School for the Magically Inclined, Ceony is assigned an apprenticeship in paper magic despite her dreams of bespelling metal. And once she’s bonded to paper, that will be her only magic…forever.

Yet the spells Ceony learns under the strange yet kind Thane turn out to be more marvelous than she could have ever imagined—animating paper creatures, bringing stories to life via ghostly images, even reading fortunes. But as she discovers these wonders, Ceony also learns of the extraordinary dangers of forbidden magic.

An Excisioner—a practitioner of dark, flesh magic—invades the cottage and rips Thane’s heart from his chest. To save her teacher’s life, Ceony must face the evil magician and embark on an unbelievable adventure that will take her into the chambers of Thane’s still-beating heart—and reveal the very soul of the man.”
(Summary from Amazon.com.)

This was a pleasant read on the younger end of the YA spectrum, which is to say that I enjoyed it in the moment, but it wasn't particularly complex or compelling. I think I was expecting more of a steampunk adventure, whereas the book is actually rather placid. Yes, there's a dark sorceress who tears Emery Thane's heart out of his chest, and Ceony has to stop her. But she basically fulfills this mission by entering Emery's heart and thus becoming privy to his memories and emotions. I actually liked this conceptualization of the heart, especially as Ceony accesses both the good and evil parts of Emery's psyche. But the character development is a bit simplistic, and the action doesn't really pick up until the end. All in all, a decent read, but I'm on the fence about whether I want to continue with the series.

189christina_reads
des. 31, 2015, 8:48 pm

Book #109: Marie-Helene Bertino, 2 A.M. at The Cat’s Pajamas
Category: Future - borrowed from the library

"Madeleine Altimari is a smart-mouthed, rebellious nine-year-old who also happens to be an aspiring jazz singer. Still mourning the recent death of her mother, and caring for her grief-stricken father, she doesn’t realize that on the eve of Christmas Eve she is about to have the most extraordinary day—and night—of her life. After bravely facing down mean-spirited classmates and rejection at school, Madeleine doggedly searches for Philadelphia's legendary jazz club The Cat's Pajamas, where she’s determined to make her on-stage debut. On the same day, her fifth grade teacher Sarina Greene, who’s just moved back to Philly after a divorce, is nervously looking forward to a dinner party that will reunite her with an old high school crush, afraid to hope that sparks might fly again. And across town at The Cat's Pajamas, club owner Lorca discovers that his beloved haunt may have to close forever, unless someone can find a way to quickly raise the $30,000 that would save it.

As these three lost souls search for love, music and hope on the snow-covered streets of Philadelphia, together they will discover life’s endless possibilities over the course of one magical night."
(Summary from Amazon.com.)

I think I was hoping to love this book more than I did, but I still found it pretty enjoyable. I don't really like when a book jumps around between too many characters, because it splits my focus, and I end up not being very invested in any of the storylines. But in this case, I was immediately drawn to Lorca and the other denizens of The Cat's Pajamas. I'm an amateur musician myself, and I always love reading about music and musicians. So I sympathized with Lorca, whose beloved jazz club is slowly dying, and the literal band of misfits he's collected. But I wasn't as invested in the other stories until the end, where all the characters converge on the club. I did get a kick out of Madeleine, whose goal of becoming a jazz singer is so precocious and bizarre, and I warmed up to Sarina as her story unfolded. The book also has a great sense of atmosphere and paints a vivid picture of contemporary Philadelphia. Some people may find the novel too whimsical, but I liked it overall, even though it didn't completely grab me.

190christina_reads
des. 31, 2015, 9:19 pm

Book #110: Garth Nix, Newt’s Emerald
Category: Future - borrowed from the library

"After Lady Truthful's magical Newington Emerald is stolen from her she devises a simple plan: go to London to recover the missing jewel. She quickly learns, however, that a woman cannot wander the city streets alone without damaging her reputation, and she disguises herself as a mustache-wearing man. During Truthful's dangerous journey she discovers a crook, an unsuspecting ally, and an evil sorceress—but will she find the Emerald?” (Summary from Amazon.com.)

A Regency romance with fantasy elements...of course I was going to like this book! :) It's actually the first thing I've read by Garth Nix, and I believe it's somewhat atypical for him, but I'm still interested in reading more of his backlist now. I think my favorite thing about this book is the light, bright tone throughout. Even though the novel's stakes are fairly high -- the missing emerald is an ancient and powerful jewel capable of causing significant havoc -- the plentiful humor and Regency elements make the book a very light, pleasant read. I also enjoyed Truthful's adventures as a man, especially because they allowed her and her love interest truly to get to know each other, beyond the superficial interactions between ladies and gentlemen in Regency society. The actual romance wasn't totally satisfying for me; it starts off with a nice slow build, but the resolution is extremely abrupt and comes very late in the book. But overall, I really enjoyed this novel, and so should any fan of the genre!

191christina_reads
des. 31, 2015, 9:30 pm

Book #111: Eva Ibbotson, The Reluctant Heiress
Category: Past

If you love sweet, old-fashioned romances, Eva Ibbotson is just the greatest. The Reluctant Heiress is about Guy Farne, an English orphan who has worked hard and become an extremely rich man — rich enough to buy a decaying Austrian castle for the woman he loves, who rejected him when he was young and poor. But when Guy arrives in Austria, he meets the castle’s former owner, a plucky young princess called Tessa whose egalitarian principles have landed her as the under-wardrobe mistress for a struggling opera company. It’s so sweet and lovely, and there’s a lot about Mozart, which is always a plus in my book!

192christina_reads
des. 31, 2015, 9:48 pm

Book #112: Cyril Hare, An English Murder
Category: Future - purchased in 2015

"The setting of An English Murder seems, at first, to be a very conventional one. A group of family and friends come together for Christmas at a country house, Warbeck Hall. The house is owned by Lord Warbeck, a dying and impoverished peer who wants to be among loved ones for what he thinks will be his last Christmas. The holiday decorations are up and snow is falling fast outside. The guests range from the Lord's difficult son to a visiting Czech historian. There is, of course, a faithful butler and his ambitious daughter. But when the murders begin, there is nothing at all conventional about them - or the manner of their detection. This ingenious detective story gleefully plays with all of our expectations about what an 'English murder' might be and offers enough twists and turns to keep us reading into the night.” (Summary from Amazon.com.)

This was my first Cyril Hare mystery, but hopefully it won't be my last! This is a quintessential English country house mystery, and I really enjoyed it. Most of the characters aren't particularly likable, but the amateur sleuth, Dr. Wenceslaus Bottwink, makes up for all the others. Not only does he have a great name, but his somewhat detached "observer" status allows him to see the situation clearly and even find some humor in the various nasty interactions among other characters. The book is also interesting as a historical artifact: it was published just after World War II (1951, I believe) and contains characters whose views span the whole political spectrum, from socialism to fascism. The solution to the mystery, which also explains the book's title, is one of the most delightful resolutions to a murder mystery that I've read in a while. Definitely recommended for vintage mystery lovers!

193christina_reads
des. 31, 2015, 10:01 pm

Book #113: Anna Gavalda, Hunting and Gathering (trans. Alison Anderson)
Category: Past

I really like this French novel about three individuals who couldn’t be more different but who nevertheless slowly turn into a family: Camille, a literal starving artist; Philibert, a generous but socially awkward aristocrat; and Franck, a foul-mouthed chef whose crude exterior masks a kind heart. There’s also a good movie called “Ensemble, C’est Tout” (the original French title of the novel) starring Audrey Tautou and Guillaume Canet.

Book #114: Janet Mullany, The Rules of Gentility
Category: Past

A delightful romp that both embraces and satirizes the Regency romance genre. There’s a rich and pretty heroine, a rakish hero who looks good in breeches, a false engagement that soon becomes complicated, and a variety of other genre-appropriate misunderstandings. The best part of the book is the lists in the back of 10 things a Regency hero and heroine would never say. One fun example: "No brandy for me, thank you. It gives me terrible wind."

Book #115: Maggie Stiefvater, The Scorpio Races
Category: Past

I think I fall in love with this book a little bit more every time I read it. From the harsh yet gorgeous setting on the island of Thisby, to the magic and wonder of the dangerous capaill uisce, to the excruciating slow-burn romance between the two protagonists, everything about this book is utterly captivating. I love watching the tension build as Sean Kendrick and Kate “Puck” Connolly each risk everything on the Scorpio Races.

194christina_reads
des. 31, 2015, 10:02 pm

Book #116: Georgette Heyer, Faro’s Daughter
Category: Past

Another great escapist Heyer novel. This one focuses on the stern Max Ravenscar, who is determined to prevent his young and impressionable cousin from marrying Deborah, a young woman who works in a gaming-house. Max and Deborah soon find themselves involved in a battle of wits, which naturally leads to romance.

Book #117: Ellis Peters, One Corpse Too Many
Category: Past

I’m a huge fan of the Brother Cadfael books, but this second installment remains my favorite of the series. Set during the civil war between Stephen and Maud in 12th-century England, this book coincides with a real historical event, in which King Stephen conquered the town of Shrewsbury and hanged every member of the castle garrison. After this mass execution, Brother Cadfael finds an additional corpse among the dead and investigates what happened to him. This novel also introduces Hugh Beringar, one of my fictional crushes since I first discovered these books in my early teens. :)

195christina_reads
des. 31, 2015, 10:26 pm

And with that, I have FINISHED my 2015 reviews, with just two hours to spare!



I've also finished my challenge, but that's a bit of a misnomer since I didn't have any particular endgame in mind. I really enjoyed taking it easy this year with my category challenge and allowing every single book I read to "count." My favorite aspect of this relaxed attitude was that I was able to spend more time on rereads without guilt. It was wonderful to revisit some of my favorite authors, as well as books I really loved at the time but had never revisited. So I've incorporated a "rereads" category into my 2016 challenge, and I feel really good about that. :) All the same, I'm looking forward to having a bit more structure with my 2016 reading!

End-of-Year Stats
  • Total books read: 117
  • Re-reads: 32
  • Category ratio: 4 (Future) - 2 (Past) - 1 (Present). I guess this is basically what I expected -- I can't resist those library books and shiny new reads!
  • Total books acquired in 2015: 70
  • Total money spent on those books: Approximately $163, meaning I spent an average of $2.33 on each book I acquired for myself in 2015. Not bad!

My Top 10 Books of 2015

1. Naomi Novik, Uprooted — Every once in a while, you come across a book that feels like it was written especially for you. For me, Uprooted is one of those books. From the plucky heroine to the gorgeous setting to the romance to the wonderfully nuanced depiction of female friendship, I loved basically everything about this book.

2. Zen Cho, Sorcerer to the Crown — It’s probably obvious by now that I will read anything that can be described as “Georgette Heyer plus magic.” This book is a fantastic addition to the genre and features two underdog protagonists: a Sorcerer Royal who is ostracized for his African descent and a woman whose magical abilities are much greater than is socially acceptable for young ladies. An utter delight!

3. Mary Doria Russell, Epitaph — Although I don’t usually read Westerns, I absolutely loved Doc when it came out, so naturally I had to check out the sequel as well. Russell has a gift for making the legendary figures of the Old West seem like living, breathing people.

4. Jandy Nelson, I’ll Give You the Sun — This is a stunningly written contemporary YA about art and guilt and family relationships. While there are multiple romances, the heart of the book is the relationship between twin siblings Noah and Jude and how it changes as they both grow up.

5. Genevieve Valentine, The Girls at the Kingfisher Club — This is one of the most unique fairy tale retellings I’ve ever read, setting “The Twelve Dancing Princesses” in the jazz clubs and speakeasies of 1920s Manhattan. Lovers of historical fiction and/or fairy tales should definitely check it out!

6. Jean Webster, Dear Enemy — If you enjoy epistolary novels and old-fashioned romance, you’ll be absolutely charmed by this book about frivolous Sallie McBride and how she comes into her own by becoming an orphanage administrator.

7. Lauren Willig, The Other Daughter — I’m a big Lauren Willig fan, and this is my favorite of her standalone books, set in England in the 1920s.

8. Heather Demetrios, I’ll Meet You There — Another excellent YA contemporary novel about a girl and a boy who are both trying to escape life in their dead-end small town. Additionally, the hero has lost a leg in Afghanistan and is struggling with both physical and emotional scars.

9. Sarah Addison Allen, First Frost — Let’s face it: any Sarah Addison Allen book is probably going to end up on my best-of-the-year list. This wasn’t my favorite of hers — I don’t think Garden Spells particularly needed a sequel — but it was still a lovely, magical read.

10. Ellie Marney, Every Breath — I couldn’t resist this Aussie take on Sherlock Holmes! James Mycroft is a volatile genius with a penchant for getting into trouble; Rachel Watts is his best friend (and maybe more), who becomes his voice of reason and his partner in solving a murder. I’ve already got the second book in the series on my shelves!

One More Thing...

Happy New Year to all, and I hope you will come join me at my 2016 Category Challenge thread!

196rabbitprincess
des. 31, 2015, 11:52 pm

Congrats on finishing up your reviews and happy new year!

197-Eva-
gen. 1, 2016, 7:14 am

Nicely done! Congrats!

198christina_reads
gen. 1, 2016, 10:20 am

>196 rabbitprincess: >197 -Eva-: Thank you both! I'm glad I managed to sneak in all of them under the wire.

199paruline
gen. 4, 2016, 8:47 pm

Yeah for relaxed reading! Yeah for rereads! And congratulations on a great reading year!

200christina_reads
gen. 4, 2016, 10:13 pm

>199 paruline: Thanks so much! :)