Lisa's 2021 Category Challenge

En/na Lisa's 2021 Category Challenge #2 ha continuat aquest tema.

Converses2021 Category Challenge

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Lisa's 2021 Category Challenge

1lsh63
Editat: abr. 30, 2021, 9:39 am

Welcome to my 2021 Category Challenge thread. This is my 13th year doing the challenge in this group. I tend to be a sporadic poster to my own thread, starting out strong in the beginning of the year and then dropping out of sight. I do however, try to remember to let everyone know that I'm still around from time to time.

I'm going to read from 10 specific categories, plus the BINGODOG, and I will also dip into the various KITS and CATS. For the first time since I started doing the challenge, I'm not going to set a goal with a ticker. I just want to read from each category and see where I wind up. I usually read around 150 books a year. If I made that statement outside of this forum, you can just imagine the silence that statement would cause. I'm looking forward to the new year!

MAY READING PLANS
Interior Chinatown
Newcomer
Queenie Malone’s Paradise Hotel
In Bad Company
Justice
Summer
Daddy
His & Hers



3lsh63
Editat: maig 3, 2021, 2:25 pm

Fiction



1A Good Neighborhood January 3.5 *
2.The Wedding 3.5 *
3 Bailey's Cafe February 3.5*
4 Good Company April 3*
5 The Drowning Kind April 4*
6 Zorrie April 4.5*

4lsh63
Editat: maig 3, 2021, 2:27 pm

Series in Progress



1 In The Name of Truth January 3*
2Charcoal Joe January 4*
3 A Darkness Absolute February 3*
4 Midnight Atlanta February 4*
5 Not Dead Yet March 4*
6 The Lewis Man April 4.5 *
7 The Chessmen April 3.5 *
8 Blackout April 3.5*

5lsh63
Editat: maig 3, 2021, 2:27 pm

E Shelf



1 The All Girl's Filling Station Last Reunion January 4*
2 The Bluest Eye February 5*
3 Love March 3.5 *
4 No Exit March 3*

6lsh63
Editat: maig 3, 2021, 2:28 pm

Series Not Started



1 The Cold Cold Ground January 4.5 *
2 Blue Monday March 4*
3 Sick of Shadows March 2.5*
4 The Ghosts of Belfast April 4*

7lsh63
Editat: maig 3, 2021, 2:30 pm

Short Stories



1 Tiny Love January 4 1/2 *
2 How To Pronounce Knife January 4 1/2 *
3 The Awkward Black Man February 4*
4 An Elderly Lady is Up To No Good February 4*
5 Kiss Me Someone March 4.5*
Justice
F*ckface

8lsh63
Editat: maig 3, 2021, 2:31 pm

New Books



1. Before She Disappeared February 3.5 *
2.Blood GroveFebruary 4*
3. Faithless in Death February 3.5 *
4. The Survivors February 3.5 *
5 Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder March 3*
6 The Unwilling March 4.5*
7 The Burning Girls March 3.5 *
8 The Consequences of Fear April 4*
9 Eternal April 4*
10 The Four Winds April 4*
11 Mother May I April 3*

9lsh63
Editat: maig 3, 2021, 2:32 pm

Awards- Winners of various book awards, as well as those that were also long and shortlisted.



1 There, ThereAmerican Book Award 2019 January 4.5 *
2 Disappearing Earth National Book Award Finalist 2019 March 4*
3 Sisters Tournament of Books 2021 Longlist 4*
4 Luster Tournament of Books 2021 Longlist/ Bailey's 2021 Longlist April ***

Shuggie Bain Booker Prize 2020
Sing Unburied Sing National Book Award 2017
The Most Fun We Ever Had Bailey's Women's Prize Long list 2020
Fleishman is in Trouble Tournament of Books 2020 Shortlist
The 7 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle Costa First Novel 2018
Circe IMPAC Long list 2020
Afterlife Tournament of Books 2021 Longlist

Interior Chinatown
Miracle Creek Edgar Award

11lsh63
Editat: maig 3, 2021, 2:34 pm

New To Me Authors



1 These Women January 4 1/2 *
2 Malice February 3 1/2 *
3 The Case of the Missing MarquessFebruary 3*
4 My Dark Vanessa March 4*
5 Whiskey When We're Dry April 4.5
6 Writers and Lovers April 4.5*

12lsh63
Editat: maig 3, 2021, 2:34 pm

13lsh63
Editat: maig 3, 2021, 2:35 pm

BINGODOG



1 Nature or Environment
2 Title Describes You
3 Contains a Love Story Eternal
4 You Heartily Recommend The Bluest Eye
5 Impulse Read Faithless in Death
6 Suggested by another Generation
7 About Time or time word in title Midnight Atlanta
8 By or about maginalized group There There
9 20 or fewer LT members
10 Classical Element in Title Disappearing Earth
11 Set somewhere you'd like to visit
12 Dark or Light Word in Title A Darkness Absolute
13 Read a CAT or KIT In The Name of Truth
14 New to you Author Ivy Pochoda These Women
15 Arts and Recreation Bright Boulevards, Bold Dreams
16 Senior Citizen Protagonist An Elderly Lady is Up To No Good
17 Type of Building in Title
18 Less than 200 pages How to Pronounce Knife
19 2 or more authors Blue Monday
20 Character You'd Be Friends With
21 One-Word Title Malice
22 About History or Alternate History A Black Woman’s History of the United States
23 Made You Laugh The All Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion
24 Southern Hemisphere The Survivors
25 About or Contains Magic

14lsh63
Editat: des. 21, 2020, 2:06 pm

Welcome!


15rabbitprincess
des. 21, 2020, 7:37 pm

Welcome back! Looking forward to seeing what mysteries you pick up next year -- we seem to share favourites in that area :)

16lsh63
des. 21, 2020, 7:45 pm

>Thanks RP, we do love our mysteries don't we? I can't remember if I visited your thread, I'm off to do so now.

17MissWatson
des. 22, 2020, 3:42 am

Happy reading in 2021!

18dudes22
des. 22, 2020, 7:50 am

Glad to see you! Love the pics.

19Tess_W
des. 22, 2020, 8:18 am

Good luck with your reading in 2021!

20lsh63
Editat: des. 22, 2020, 11:32 am

>17 MissWatson:,>18 dudes22: and >19 Tess_W: Thank you Birgit, Betty and Tess! I'm supposed to be working but I can't seem to concentrate, it's not like I'm a child waiting for Santa lol. So I'm here on LT making lists of books for the challenges!

21spiralsheep
Editat: des. 28, 2020, 6:02 am

>1 lsh63: I've just begun book 167 for this year. Clearly I don't share this info with "normal" people. :-)

Good luck with your reading in 2021!

22DeltaQueen50
des. 22, 2020, 6:58 pm

Greatset-up, Lisa, I am looking forward to seeing what books you read in 2021.

Once at a family reunion, someone announced to the group that I read over 100 books a year which impressed some but others looked at me as a total geek! I didn't have the heart to tell them it was actually over 200 books a year!

23lsh63
des. 22, 2020, 7:31 pm

>21 spiralsheep: Thanks, "normal people" I love it!
>22 DeltaQueen50: Hi Judy, thanks for stopping by. I know, people look at me like wow does she have a life? Who reads that many books? Um we do!

24LittleTaiko
des. 23, 2020, 6:04 pm

Love your categories. Glad I visited your thread. I just read my 200th book and felt a bit sheepish about. Now that I’m among friends I feel normal again. 😀

25hailelib
des. 27, 2020, 8:09 pm

Love the pics.
When people who don't know us come into our house they always ask if we've read all the books! I average about 145 a year so any amount over 100 is normal here.

26lsh63
des. 31, 2020, 3:43 pm

>22 DeltaQueen50: Thank you Judy! I know the look I get is like you poor woman don't you have a life lol!

>24 LittleTaiko: Thanks Stacy!

>25 hailelib: Yes , I know what you mean, that's the first question did you or do you plan to read all those books?

27Crazymamie
des. 31, 2020, 4:42 pm

Dropping a star and looking forward to following you.

28lkernagh
gen. 1, 2021, 12:59 pm

Happy New Year and wishing you a year of wonderful reading in 2021!

29lsh63
gen. 1, 2021, 6:52 pm

>27 Crazymamie: Thanks for stopping by Mamie!
>28 lkernagh: Thanks Lori!

30lsh63
Editat: gen. 1, 2021, 6:59 pm

I am ignoring the household chores and read most of the day, and finished In The Name of Truth. These books have become highly addictive for me, although I was worried a little bit as the book before this one jumped ahead in time a few years and I wasn't sure why. But the I realized I hadn't missed a book or a portion of the plot.

This book involves the abduction of a young boy from a sailing camp who has been bullied and whose father is in a lot of trouble, I'm pretty sure I'll be reading the next books in the series as soon as they show up on my Kindle.

31VivienneR
gen. 1, 2021, 8:17 pm

I sympathize with all who are regarded as strange for reading so many books! I think it's really weird not to read. The single benefit of the pandemic was to allow me more reading time!

32katiekrug
gen. 2, 2021, 8:46 am

Happy new year, Lisa!

I'll be interested to hear about the book you have planned for January on the Tulsa race riots. I read Dreamland Burning last year, and it piqued my interest in the topic.

33lsh63
gen. 2, 2021, 9:56 am

>32 katiekrug: Happy New Year to you also Katie!

I'm sorry to say that I knew absolutely nothing about this historical event until i saw it mentioned last year on the news and made a note to read about it in detail. And thanks for the BB!

34lsh63
Editat: gen. 12, 2021, 7:45 am



1. In The Name of Truth I've become highly addicted to this series and cannot put them down . The plot in this eighth installment, involves the abduction of a child from a sailing camp, after being bullied by two older boys. There were a few well placed red herrings, and also involves a few subjects which are not light reading by any means. I think books #9 and #10 may be delivered to my Kindle this month. It will be hard for me not to read them right away!

35Crazymamie
gen. 3, 2021, 11:18 am

>34 lsh63: I need to get back to that series - I have read the first four, I think.

36katiekrug
gen. 3, 2021, 11:30 am

I've only read the first in Sten's series but have the next few in my Kindle...

37lsh63
Editat: gen. 3, 2021, 12:24 pm

>35 Crazymamie:, >36 katiekrug:, I'm glad that I took a chance on this series, I may have purchased the first six after just reading the first one. One thing I want to do this year is to look at some of my series reading and decide if I will continue with them. Some of them I last read at least 10 years ago!

38dudes22
gen. 3, 2021, 12:43 pm

>34 lsh63: - I got the first three when there was a kindle sale last year and I expect to start this series later this year. I've heard good things about it here on LT.

39Tess_W
gen. 5, 2021, 9:52 pm

Being "weird" for reading lots of books? I think not! If so, I'm a real weirdo having read 172 books last year, and that on top of keeping a very clean house, giving my husband a homecooked meal 7 nights a week and loving on 7 grandchildren. The secret: I don't watch TV unless there is a special on in which I'm interested. Tally ho!

40lsh63
Editat: gen. 6, 2021, 7:41 am

>38 dudes22: I hope you enjoy them Betty!
>39 Tess_W: I think not also Tess! I don't watch too much tv either, I'd much rather read!
>31 VivienneR: I think I missed you up there Vivienne. I do miss my reading time on the train going into and coming home from work, I feel like I read more when I was commuting back and forth. I know what it is, looking at things that need to be done around the house lol! When I was tired coming home from work, I didn't care and took care of it on the weekend!

41lsh63
Editat: gen. 12, 2021, 7:44 am



2. These Women The title of this book refers to various women all connected to one man, all with different stories. It's a very gritty story of women being targeted by a serial killer, however the victims are strippers, prostitutes, and drug addicts, who are deemed "undesirable" in proper society.

Feelia is a former prostitute who survived her horrific assault; Dorian is still struggling after her daughter's murder; Essie is a police officer, who puts all of the pieces together before her male counterparts; Marella is a performance artist who stumbles upon important clues to the murders taking place, Julianna, is a dancer who Dorian tries to save before it's too late; and Anneke, a woman who knows the truth, but it keeping it a secret.

This was a powerful story and I will definitely read more by this author.

42katiekrug
gen. 6, 2021, 11:01 am

These Women sounds good. I have her debut novel on my Kindle but haven't read it yet (story of my life!)...

43Tess_W
gen. 6, 2021, 12:21 pm

>41 lsh63: sounds really good! On my wish list it goes.

44lsh63
Editat: gen. 12, 2021, 7:44 am



3. Tiny Love It's been hard to concentrate on reading or work (which I am supposing to be doing right now) with all of the craziness going on this week. I finished this big book of short stories last night. The author writes about ordinary people with problems, usually brought on by a lot of drinking or drug use. I would describe them as "gritty" with people "down on their luck" and subject matter that may not be for everyone. I enjoyed all of the stories in this volume, which is not the usual case with short story collections. I will be on the lookout for some of his other works.

45DeltaQueen50
gen. 8, 2021, 2:13 pm

>44 lsh63: Hi Lisa, I haven't read any Larry Brown but I have a copy of his Fay which is described as Southern "GritLit" so sounds like another 'gritty' piece.

46lsh63
gen. 8, 2021, 4:19 pm

>45 DeltaQueen50: Hi Judy, I read Fay last year, and remember that it was good. I think if you like Daniel Woodrell or Ron Rash you'll like this author.

47lsh63
Editat: gen. 12, 2021, 9:39 am



4 A Good Neighborhood

The suburban area of Oak Knoll North Carolina experiences a tragedy when a new family, the Whitmans, who are White, move into the neighborhood. The family moves next door to Valerie, an African American woman with an advanced degree in ecology. Valerie who has lived in her house since her son Xavier was a baby, has an 80 foot oak tree which was damaged by the Whitmans' home renovation.

All heck breaks loose when the Whitman's daughter Juniper becomes attracted to Xavier and when Valerie decides to sue the Whitmans for damages. The ending is truly heartbreaking. This book was also different in that the author used a first person plural (the neighborhood) as the narrator, which I found to be a little distracting.

48lsh63
Editat: gen. 12, 2021, 3:57 pm



5. A Black Woman's History of the United States This book was full of information. I consider it a brief overview or synopsis of historical events, as it was only about 200 pages. The authors delve into the stories of several women from the 17th to the 21st centuries, as they experienced racism and sexism through the years, often jailed or killed in their efforts to be recognized as equals, and for their rightful place in society.

The parts of the book related to the 17th to 19th century are less detailed than the later years, which is understandable as some of the archived records may have been lost or destroyed. There were so many things that I was unaware of. One fact that stood out for me is that some Black women managed to become free and became slaveholders themselves. This was an effort to keep their families together, as it frequently happened that some members of a family were free, while others were enslaved.

This was definitely a book worth reading.

49This-n-That
gen. 12, 2021, 11:56 am

Although a little tardy, I'm just stopping by to wish you good luck with your reading challenges. It looks like you are off to a quick start.

50lsh63
gen. 12, 2021, 12:32 pm

I think I skipped a few people, sorry about that!

>42 katiekrug: I have her debut novel on my Kindle also! It's amazing what I'm finding buried on there.
>43 Tess_W: I hope you enjoy it Tess!
>49 This-n-That: Thank you, January usually starts strong, I hope I can keep it going!

51lsh63
Editat: gen. 18, 2021, 3:03 pm



6. The Burning: The Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 Admittedly, I knew absolutely nothing about this tragic historical event. I first heard about it while watching the news around Juneteenth and made a note that I would try to read more about it. During the period of May 31st- June 1, 1921, a white mob crossed the railroad tracks which divided blacks and whites in Tulsa Oklahoma. Blacks populated the prosperous Greenwood district where they lived a much better life than most of them had in the Southern states and peacefully coexisted with white Tulsa residents. So what changed to alter the peace at that time? A black shoeshine boy named Dick Rowland was accused of "molesting" a white teenage girl in a downtown elevator. Although a law enforcement official was able to get Rowland out of town before anything happened to him, it was too late because the whites were determined to lynch him and the blacks were just as determined not to let it happen. What followed was a mass burning of the entire section of 35 square blocks of the black community. Houses and personal belongings, as well as money were gone. The black community was left homeless and lived in tents for almost a year while the Red Cross attempted to help them. It is difficult to obtain an accurate account of how many lives were lost, as the black survvivors were traumatized and did not want to speak of the event, while whites, some of them ashamed of their actions, others fearing prosecution also kept quiet. As difficult as this was to read, I also found it very interesting.

52lsh63
Editat: gen. 19, 2021, 8:25 am



7.There There I wound up loving this book, although it took me a while to get into it and for everything to come together for me. It features twelve Native Americans in interrelated stories set in Oakland California. All of the characters struggle in some way about what it means to be a Native American, as well as alcoholism, depresssion, and the feelings that come with losing your heritage. All of the characters eventually converge at a powwow where things don't end well.

53lsh63
Editat: gen. 19, 2021, 8:39 am



8. The Easy Rawlins series is one of my favorites and the quality remains consistent, even though this is the 14th installment. Easy has a detective agency and is looking forward to proposing to his girlfriend Bonnie, when he is dealt a crushing blow. His old friend Mouse drops by and asks a favor of him on behalf of Charcoal Joe, he's reluctant but you don't say no to Mouse. Charcoal Joe asks Easy to help in the exoneration of a young man charged with murder who was at the scene of the crime.

This is a very well plotted and complex story, with many characters to keep track of, but as usual, I enjoyed it.

54lsh63
Editat: gen. 21, 2021, 7:31 am



9. How to Pronounce Knife is a collection of short stories about Laotian immigrants struggling to learn English while also keeping aspects of their owwn culture. All of the stories were good, which is not usually the case in a short story collection.

55Tess_W
gen. 19, 2021, 6:24 am

>51 lsh63: I have heard of this episode, briefly. This book goes on my WL!

56lsh63
gen. 19, 2021, 1:49 pm

>55 Tess_W: Hi Tess, it's hard to read, but defintely worth learning about.

57lsh63
Editat: gen. 26, 2021, 2:11 pm



10 The Cold Cold Ground I borrowed this book on a whim from the library and I was so glad that I did! I read a stand alone by the author and noted that he also had a police series, and decided to try it. Set in northern Ireland in the 1980's, the story revolves around Detective Sergeant Sean Duffy, as he tries to solve the case of a homophobic serial killer who likes opera, and a young woman's suicide, while also dealing with power outages, riots, hunger strikes, and bombings. Needless to say I will be reading the rest of the series sooner rather than later. As a matter of fact, I had to keep myself from getting the second book, so that I could pay attention to my other planned reads!

58DeltaQueen50
gen. 21, 2021, 4:06 pm

>57 lsh63: Lisa, I've had The Cold Cold Ground on my Kindle for ages - I'll be watching for your comments on it.

59lsh63
Editat: gen. 22, 2021, 7:58 am

>58 DeltaQueen50: Hi Judy, it was a good one. I'm trying not to devour the whole series like I did with the Ruth Galloway last year!

60lsh63
Editat: gen. 26, 2021, 2:21 pm



11 The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion How could I not like a book with characters who refer to their wacky mother as Winged Victory? That alone made me laugh. This book alternates between present day when Sookie Earle finds out that she is adopted at 60 years of age, and the story of her roots with the Jurdabralinski family in Pulaski Wisconsin. I loved the historical aspects of the family during World War 2.

So many moments that just cracked me up and reminded me that there are a few books that I have yet to read by the author.

61lsh63
Editat: gen. 28, 2021, 8:54 am



12. Memorial Drive This was a heartbreaking yet beautifully written memoir. The author is a twice appointed poet laureate, which is evident with the way the words flow throughout the book. In 1985, at the age of 19, the author's mother was shot and killed by her stepfather. The author details her mother's early life in Mississippi, her parent's interracial marriage (a crime at the time), their divorce, and the sad details of her stepfather's cruelty and years of abuse. I can't imagine what it would be like to live every day in fear as the author and her mother did. Her mother reported the abuse, kept detailed accounts of their interactions, recorded their phone conversations with his threats, and in the end, he was still able to end her life. It is also evident that the stepfather suffered from mental illness, and sadly did not get the help that he needed.

62Crazymamie
gen. 27, 2021, 5:21 am

>57 lsh63: This is one of my very favorite series! All of the books are so good. They are also fabulous on audio, narrated by Gerard Doyle. I am reading the first book in another series of his currently - Dead I Well May Be, and it is very good so far.

63katiekrug
gen. 27, 2021, 8:23 am

>57 lsh63: - I'm another fan of that series, Lisa.

>60 lsh63: - I read that one a few years ago and enjoyed it on audio. Flagg is pretty reliable at delivering good stories with fun characters, I think.

64RidgewayGirl
gen. 27, 2021, 10:36 am

Looking forward to your thoughts on Memorial Drive. I've only heard great things about it. I've gotten to the point of picking up a copy, but I haven't read it yet.

65lsh63
Editat: gen. 28, 2021, 9:01 am

>62 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie, I think it's going to be one of my favorite series too!
>63 katiekrug: Hi Katie, I'm glad to get another endorsement of the Sean Duffy series. Yes, you can't help but loving Flagg's Southern humor and her quirky characters. I remember her appearance on various game shows way back when.
>64 RidgewayGirl: Hi Kay, it's a heartbreaking read. Even though you know what happens, reading the detailed account gave me chills.

66lsh63
Editat: gen. 30, 2021, 6:59 pm



13 Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents

I loved this author's book The Warmth of Other Suns and this book was no exception. I have always associated the term caste with India, based on occupation and birth. The authors skillfully demonstrates how racism in America is similar to a caste system, much like India and also Germany. One point the author documented, that I never really put together before, was the fact that Nazi Germany studied the racial system in America to plan their outcast of Jews. This is a well researched book, sometimes painful to read, but also an important read, that really made me think.

67lsh63
Editat: feb. 1, 2021, 3:13 pm

My January reading was good, let's see if I can keep up the momentum.

I read 13 books, and very unusual for me 4 of them were non-fiction. I don't know this says about my rating system, but only two books were rated below 4 stars. It will be interesting at the end of the year when I look back, every book can't be great.

Series reads 3
Fiction 9
Non Fiction 4

Female Authors 9
Male Authors 4
8 books were library books and 5 were from my Kindle. My best book of the month was Memorial Drive despite the tragic subject matter, it was beautifully written.

The snow is pretty, but Mondays are evil.

68rabbitprincess
feb. 1, 2021, 5:14 pm

Looks like a great reading month!

69Tess_W
Editat: feb. 2, 2021, 12:14 am

Great reading month!

70christina_reads
feb. 2, 2021, 12:35 pm

>67 lsh63: As you say, "every book can't be great," but it makes sense that you'd choose to read books you were likely to enjoy. I think most readers develop an instinct about what types of books they like, and so most books they read tend to be at least decent, according to their own standards.

71lsh63
feb. 2, 2021, 2:20 pm

>68 rabbitprincess: Thanks RP. I picked a lot of books to read for February, which is a shorter month, we'll see how it goes. Sometimes I miss my work commute, I did about half an hour each way.
>69 Tess_W: Thanks Tess!
>70 christina_reads: You have a point, it really makes me think at the end of the year when I see how many books I gave 4 stars to.

72Crazymamie
Editat: feb. 2, 2021, 2:31 pm

Great stats, Lisa! "The snow is pretty, but Mondays are evil." Yes. Exactly.

73MissBrangwen
feb. 2, 2021, 2:32 pm

>71 lsh63: "Sometimes I miss my work commute, I did about half an hour each way."

Same here! I used to commute by bus until two years ago, a 20 minute journey, and I always got in about 15 minutes of reading. Not much, but it meant that I kept reading and didn't loose the thread of the story.
Two years ago I moved in with my husband and now I have a 45 minute commute, but we go by car together and I don't read anymore. I think it's the best arrangement we could have made, but still I miss that reading time and I think it's what ultimately stopped my reading flow - until I found this group and started the challenges! Hurray!

74rabbitprincess
feb. 2, 2021, 7:08 pm

>71 lsh63: >73 MissBrangwen: I miss my commute as well sometimes! It was also built-in exercise because I take the bus. Walking to and from the bus stop adds up.

75lsh63
Editat: feb. 2, 2021, 8:07 pm

>72 Crazymamie: Thank you Mamie!
>73 MissBrangwen: I commuted by bus also. I'm glad that you found the group!
>74 rabbitprincess: Yes there was some exercise walking to and from the bus stop. I definitely feel the difference.

76lsh63
Editat: feb. 8, 2021, 9:01 am



14. Coming of Age in Mississippi This was an interesting memoir of the author's early life in rural Mississippi, school age years, and her later involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. When Emmett Till was murdered, she was just a teenager, and realized that she could be murdered just because of the color of her skin. She took part in the Woolworth's sit in and also attended the March on Washington realizing that she would be attacked, jailed or killed in the efforts to bring about change.

77lsh63
Editat: feb. 16, 2021, 2:03 pm



15. Before She Disappeared

I'm a big fan of this author, especially her Detective D.D. Warren and FBI profiler series. This was a standalone, and while it was good, I didn't race through the pages as I usually do. The plot revolves around Frankie Elkin, a recovering alcholic who searches for people that the media and the police have seemingly given up on. While it was a decent read, it just fell flat for me. I suppose I wanted more about the protagonist's back story about why she does what she does.

78thornton37814
feb. 4, 2021, 5:37 pm

>77 lsh63: Just ordered that one for the library this week.

79mathgirl40
feb. 4, 2021, 10:34 pm

>66 lsh63: When I read Caste, this point that you raised, "the fact that Nazi Germany studied the racial system in America to plan their outcast of Jews," really struck me as well.

80lsh63
feb. 6, 2021, 12:03 pm

>78 thornton37814: Hi Lori, I usually love this author. It was ok, maybe because it was a stand alone?
>79 mathgirl40: Yes, I was surprised that I hadn't put that together before.

81lsh63
Editat: feb. 16, 2021, 2:08 pm



16. The Awkward Black Man

This collection of short stories by the author of the Easy Rawlins detective series, (which I love) featured just as the title reads, awkward Black men. There are men with bad relationships, absent fathers, and insecurities, all unique in their own way. I enjoyed all of the stories in the collection.

82lsh63
Editat: feb. 16, 2021, 2:20 pm



17. The Wedding In the 1950's, the Africcan American Coles family is about to celebrate the wedding of their daughter Shelby to a white man. But that's not what has everyone in their community upset, it's the fact that her fiance is a musician, and beneath her social standing.

83lsh63
feb. 15, 2021, 4:17 pm

Hello everyone, I’ve been distracted the past couple of weeks and haven’t been tending to my thread. Work became impossible and my younger brother had a medical crisis that seemed to be dire when it first happened, but I’m happy to say that two weeks later he is home from the hospital and expected to make a full although slow recovery. It was the hardest thing in my life so far to have to tell my mother what happened. I’ll be back soon to finish cleaning up my thread and to play on LT😊

84spiralsheep
feb. 15, 2021, 4:23 pm

>83 lsh63: I'm glad your brother is recovering. I hope you and your mother are also taking care of yourselves.

85christina_reads
feb. 15, 2021, 5:04 pm

>83 lsh63: So sorry to hear of your brother's medical issue, but glad he is on the mend!

86Tess_W
feb. 16, 2021, 3:15 am

>83 lsh63: glad your brother is out of the hospital and on the mend.

87lsh63
Editat: feb. 16, 2021, 1:52 pm

>84 spiralsheep:, >85 christina_reads:, >86 Tess_W: Thank you so much, we have a lot to be grateful for. It's bad when you think the phone rings that there's something wrong, but we are all less anxious now.

88lsh63
Editat: feb. 16, 2021, 2:25 pm



18 Malice This book was very interesting and drew me in right away. Set in Japan, the detective is almost Columbo like as he toys with the suspect trying to find out the motive for the murder of his best friend. The suspect confessed, but the detective is not satisfied, he wants all of the loose ends tied up and the motive for the killing made clear. I was fully engaged all the way to the end.

89lsh63
Editat: feb. 16, 2021, 2:14 pm



19. The Bluest Eye I've been intimidated by Toni Morrison for years. This is the year that I decided however, to try and conquer my intimidation. This story of poor mistreated Pecola, was gut wrenching. She longs to have blue eyes and blond hair so that she will be loved. It really makes you stop and think what exactly is beauty? As we grow older, we learn it's in the eye of the beholder, but that doesn't stop people from wishing they could change something about themselves at one time or another. This book was so powerful that I was still thinking about it days later. It was definitely a 5 star read for me.

90lsh63
Editat: feb. 16, 2021, 2:33 pm



20 Bailey's Cafe This was a very well written tale of prostitutes, criminals, and drug addicts who all visit Bailey's Cafe at one time or another. Definitely character driven, all of the character's stories were interesting and gives the reader insight into their troubled pasts.

I think I'm all caught up now!

91rabbitprincess
feb. 16, 2021, 5:48 pm

Wishing your brother a full recovery, and hoping you and your mom are doing well too.

92lsh63
Editat: feb. 24, 2021, 2:06 pm



21 Blood Grove I'm a big Walter Mosely fan, and I have loved all of the books in the Easy Rawlins series. Set in 1969, there are many references to hippies, free love and the civil rights struggle. Easy in his office, when one day, a Vietnam veteran asks for his help in finding a man he thinks he stabbed in order to save a woman. Although he is suspicious, Easy feels compelled to take the case, because it is obvious that the veteran is suffering from PTSD, and he wants to help him. We also have an appearance from his old friend Mouse, which always makes things more interesting.

93lsh63
Editat: feb. 24, 2021, 2:30 pm



22. The Case of the Missing Marquess

Admittedly, I wasn't sure what a pastiche mystery is, and I read this book for this month's MysteryKIT. I'm not sure if I will continue with this series, after all there are so many that I need to catch up on. I was pleasantly surprised though, with this first in the Enola Holmes series (much younger sister of Sherlock) ,and found it to be a quick enjoyable read. While escaping to London to try to find out what happened to her mother who disappeared, Enola becomes involved in the case of the kidnapping of the Marquess of Basilwether. I may revisit the series at some point, mainly because I want to know why Enola's mother disappeared.

94lsh63
Editat: feb. 26, 2021, 2:28 pm



23 A Darkness Absolute

This is the second book in the Rockton series, which I decided to read after loving the first book City of the Lost. I like this series because it's a bit unusual. The town of Rockton is home to fugitives with pasts that they want to leave behind. All of the residents have to be interviewed in order to be accepted and they are all off the grid- no cell phones, mail, or Internet. When a former resident of the town is found and says that she has been held captive for a year, the question becomes is an outsider or one of the Rockton residents responsible. I will definitely continue with the series.

95lsh63
Editat: feb. 26, 2021, 2:32 pm



24 Faithless in Death I think this is number 52 in the Eve Dallas series, and I go through them like candy. What appears to be a crime of passion in a West Village studio turns out to be so much more. After 52 books in a series you would think that it would become stale and time for it to end, but fortunately, the author does a great job at keeping the series interesting. I'll be back for more as long as she continues to write them!

96lsh63
Editat: feb. 26, 2021, 2:38 pm



25 An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good This volume of short stories featuring an elderly killer was fun to read and filled with dark humor. Maud is Swedish, in her late 80's, and trust me, you do not want to mess with her! Her adventures are varied, she takes care of a local celebrity who wants to steal her apartment, she solves the problems of her annoying neighbors, and also interferes in the engagement of an old boyfriend. I hope to see this character again either in another book or featured in future short story collection.

97DeltaQueen50
feb. 25, 2021, 11:40 pm

>96 lsh63: Lisa, I love both the cover and title of that book!

98lsh63
Editat: feb. 26, 2021, 2:39 pm


>91 rabbitprincess: Thanks RP!
>97 DeltaQueen50: Hi Judy, I think you would like this book!

99rabbitprincess
feb. 27, 2021, 11:03 am

>93 lsh63: I'm on the third Enola book and have been enjoying the series. I like that they're quick reads.

100lsh63
març 1, 2021, 9:23 am

>99 rabbitprincess: Hi RP! Yes, it was a quick read, I'm definitely going to read the second book some day soon.

101lsh63
Editat: març 1, 2021, 9:37 am



26 Midnight Atlanta I stumbled onto this book as a suggested read. This is the third book in the Darktown series, with the first book titled Darktown and the second Lightning Men. The series is about a handful of black police officers in Atlanta and their white supervisor who has to do his job but also not to be perceived as losing his Southern values. Midnight Atlanta is set in 1956, and involves the murder of a black newspaper editor who is killed in his office. One of the journalists working at the newspaper, happens to be ex-cop Tommy Smith, who finds himself dealing with the racist cops that he quit the force in order to avoid, as unfortunately he was on the murder scene. As with the other two books in this series, I found it to be a compelling combination of historical facts and fiction.

102lsh63
Editat: març 1, 2021, 9:44 am



27 The Survivors I didn't think I would finish this book in February, but I kept reading to learn the outcome. Kieran Elliott, along with his girlfriend and new baby, come to his parents house to help their parents, Brian who had dementia, and Verity who Kieran has a strained relationship with. When a body is discovered on the beach, the events and secrets of twelve years ago come to light.

103lsh63
març 1, 2021, 9:56 am

February reading progress

Total Books read: 14

Series reads 6
Fiction 13
Non Fiction 1

Female Authors 10
Male Authors 4

7 books were library books and 7 were from my Kindle. My best book of the month was The Bluest Eye athought heartbreaking , it was beautifully written. I'm slowly growing out of my Toni Morrison intimidation. I suppose I thought that her novels were "too deep" for me and I wouldn't get it. I will try to read more books that I have avoided for years, to at least give them a try.

104RidgewayGirl
març 1, 2021, 12:29 pm

>101 lsh63: I did not know that Mullen has a new book out!

105lsh63
març 1, 2021, 12:55 pm

>104 RidgewayGirl: Hi Kay! It’s weird about the book, I stumbled upon it while searching on my Kindle. Some sites however, have it listed as coming out this year.

106dudes22
març 1, 2021, 1:17 pm

>103 lsh63: - There's going to be a group read of Love by Toni Morrison over on the 75 Challenge group thread this month if you're interested. I'm not part of that group but they don't care. Or you could just read everyone's thoughts to prepare you for when you do decide to read it.

107lsh63
març 1, 2021, 2:52 pm

>106 dudes22: Thanks Betty, I am interested and will make my way over there. Conincidentally, Love is one of the books I have that I planned to read this month.

108RidgewayGirl
març 1, 2021, 4:42 pm

>105 lsh63: It looks like the Decatur Book Festival might actually happen this year -- they are currently signing up volunteers, and if so, Mullen will probably talk about his book and I will certainly be in the audience and getting him to sign it. In the previous two years I've attended, he has moderated talks.

109lsh63
Editat: març 4, 2021, 9:53 am



28. The Unwilling My first book completed in the month of March and it was a good one. I've always enjoyed reading this author's work, although I was a little "meh" about the last book before this one, The Hush. The Unwilling is set in North Carolina, during the Vietnam War. Gibson French (known as Gibby), is 18 and knows that he may be called upon to enlist after graduating from high school. His older twin brothers have already served, one brother, Robert, was killed in action, the other brother, "the bad twin", Jason, has returned after a stint in prison and seeks to forge a relationship with his younger brother. This was a really good read, with excellent character development that drew me in right from the front page.

110lsh63
Editat: març 5, 2021, 10:48 am



29. Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder This is book number 27 in this series and even though the "mystery" part of most of the books is pretty light. In this installment, Hannah's sister Andrea is a murder suspect when the mayor is killed. I'm still entertained by this series, even though Hannah, the main protagonist, has been waffling between two men for most of the series, and you can pretty much predict the flow of each book. I started reading these because I would get them for my mom to read, and I do enjoy looking through the recipes in the book, although I have no intention of making any of them.

111thornton37814
març 7, 2021, 6:44 pm

>110 lsh63: I have a definite preference of which man she should go for. The recipes drive me crazy because they have too many "asides" in them.

112lsh63
Editat: març 8, 2021, 2:15 pm



30 The Distant Echo This is the first book in the Inspector Karen Pirie series. I have to be more careful about which books I grab, I didn't check before I bought this book quite a while ago, and I think that I thought it was part of the Hill and Jordan series. I became very engrossed in this story about a bartender who was discovered in a cemetery by four young men. With no other suspects, the four young men are deemed guilty by just about everyone and no one was charged with the murder. Twenty five years later the cold case is reopened and all heck breaks loose. I began to suspect the identity of the killer toward the end, but it was still a good read getting there.

113lsh63
Editat: març 8, 2021, 2:43 pm



31 Love I'm slowly working my way through my Toni Morrison intimidation. So far I've loved Sula and The Bluest Eye. I think I'm starting to see a pattern where characters and plot lines are introduced, and then the reader is rewarded when everything starts to make sense. I think that's what used to frustrate me about the first book that I tried to read, Paradise, which has been sitting on my shelf for at least 10 years or more.

Love tells the story of Bill Cosey, and his relationships with his wife, granddaughter, employee, and mistress. At first I couldn't understand the hatred between the wife and granddaughter, but the reasons were slowly revealed, leading to a sad conclusion.

114lsh63
Editat: març 15, 2021, 11:59 am



32 The Burning Girls I've read three other books by this author, and enjoyed them. I think my favorite was The Chalk Man. This book is the story of a vicar who moves to a remote village with ther teenage daughter. The series of events ties into the fact that five hundred years ago 8 Protestants were burned at the stake and, thirty years ago, two teenage girls seemed to vanish without a trace. There is a big reveal at the end that I was not expecting.

115lsh63
Editat: març 15, 2021, 12:04 pm



33 My Dark Vanessa Yes, this book contains "icky" subject matter in the same vein as Lolita, however I became engrossed in this story of a teenage girl and her maniuplative teacher. The chapters alternate between Vanessa's past and present, and her complex, pivotal relationship with the teacher, and the manner in which her teenage years affected her adult life.

116lsh63
Editat: març 15, 2021, 12:17 pm



34 Disappearing Earth I enjoyed this book, but I have to say the large cast of constantly introduced characters made my head spin. Two sisters are abducted in a Russian shore town in the first chapter. The book then introduces several characters and story lines. I was able to figure out how some of the characters related to each other, but not all of them. I kept feeling like I was missing something important that the author was trying to convey.. I was definitely puzzled at the end. Maybe I will re read it one day to see if I "get it" the next time.

117lsh63
Editat: març 16, 2021, 12:47 pm



35 No Exit This was a pretty good thriller about four strangers, and a kidnapped child locked in a van. Darby is on her way to see her mother, who she is currently not on good terms with at the hospital, when she gets caught in a blizzard. She decides to wait out the storm at a highway rest stop, but has no phone signal. She goes outside to see if she can get a stronger signal and makes a terrifying discovery. One of the four strangers is
up to something, but who? The ending messed with my mind just a bit.

118RidgewayGirl
març 16, 2021, 1:22 pm

>117 lsh63: I'm not a huge thriller reader, but the premise for this one sounds great.

119lsh63
març 16, 2021, 2:19 pm

>111 thornton37814: I think I missed you up there Lori. Let me guess Hannah should wind up with N right?

>118 RidgewayGirl: Hi Kay, it was pretty good. Unfortunately for me, I fall prey to just about every thriller that comes out, you would think I would have read enough of them by now. I'm trying to diversify my reading a little bit. We'll see how well I do at the end of the year!

120lsh63
Editat: març 17, 2021, 2:28 pm



36 Blue Monday I enjoyed my first time reading the Frieda Klein series. Frieda is a psychotherapist, with odd quirks and strange relationships. When one of her patients has dreams that are too close to the kidnapping of a five year old boy, Frieda becomes involved with the investigation. The reveal at the end could have been seen a mile away, however the book held my attention.

121DeltaQueen50
març 17, 2021, 9:42 pm

>120 lsh63: I love the Frieda Klein series, I think Nicci French's stand-alones can be better puzzlers, but I have grown to love the characters in the Frieda series and always look forward to seeing what they are up to.

122lsh63
Editat: març 22, 2021, 1:56 pm



37 Sisters I have to say this book creeped me out just a little. Two sisters September (older), and July (younger) are only 10 months apart in age. They never seem to need anyone but each other, not even their mother. September has a definite cruel streak, verbally abusing her mother and sister, and physically abusing her sister. Their mother knows that she needs to do something about September, but is also suffering from depression, so she really can't help her daughters. At the beginning of the book we know something horrible has happened, but we don't know what. This book was addictive!

123lsh63
Editat: març 24, 2021, 9:31 am



38 Kiss Me Someone A collection of short stories featuring flawed women with various instances of self destructive behavior. The characters are unlikable, the stories are brutal, but the writing is wonderful.

124lsh63
Editat: març 24, 2021, 9:42 am



39. Bright Boulevards, Bold Dreams This was a very informative read about the early days of Black Hollywood in 1910, ending in the 1950's when Hollywood became less of a big deal with the popularity of television. Some stars, such as Dorothy Dandridge, Ruby Dee, Sidney Poitier, and Diahann Carroll, I knew a little bit about, but there were so many others that I knew nothing about. I thought that the most impressive story was that of Madame Sul-Te Wan, who worked for almost 50 years, from Birth of a Nation in 1915 all the way to 1958, in The Buccaneer with Yul Brenner and Charlton Heston.

125lsh63
Editat: març 29, 2021, 12:22 pm



40 Not Dead Yet This is the 8th installment in the Roy Grace series. I usually enjoy this series and can't wait to find out what happens in the next one. This book's plot wasn't as interesting to me as in previous books, but it could just be my mood at the time. The main plot was that of a singer turned actor who may have more than one stalker. I guess I was annoyed because it wasn't too hard to figure out who the murderer was. There's also a certain plot point that I would like the author to reveal and/or resolve soon. I will be reading the next few books in this series soon.

126lsh63
Editat: març 29, 2021, 12:30 pm



41 Sick of Shadows This is the first in the author's Elizabeth MacPherson series. I loved the few books that I read of this author's Ballad series, but I am certain that I will not continue with this one. I think the author meant for this to be lighthearted and humorous, maybe in the vein of 1930's country house mysteries, but it missed the mark for me. Elizabeth is attending her cousin's wedding at a house of ecentric relatives when a murder takes place. The ending made no sense to me and I was glad when I finished it.

127DeltaQueen50
març 30, 2021, 11:33 am

>125 lsh63: Lisa, my next Peter James book will be Not Dead Yet and I know what plot point you are referring to - I wish he would hurry up and deal with it.

128lsh63
març 31, 2021, 12:25 pm

>127 DeltaQueen50: Hi Judy. Yes exactly! Get on with it already and divulge it.

129lsh63
Editat: març 31, 2021, 12:34 pm

March reading progress

Total Books read: 14
Series reads 5
Fiction 13
Non Fiction 1
LIBRARY 7
E SHELF 7
Female Authors 9
Male Authors 5

I read the same number of books in March that I read in February, 14. I think my favorite book of the month was The Unwilling. My least favorite was Sick of Shadows, a series that I don't think I will continue with.

130lsh63
Editat: abr. 1, 2021, 5:03 pm



42 The Consequences of Fear This is the 16th installment of the Maisie Dobbs series. I've always enjoyed these books, but I can see how Maisie might grate on one's nerves a bit. Set in 1941, Maisie investigates a possible murder, while also working Special Operations. After years of sadness, something good happens for her at the end, and I hope that the character will remain happy for a little while.

131dudes22
abr. 1, 2021, 6:39 pm

>130 lsh63: - I'm going to be reading #4 this month. I can't believe there's going to be sadness for 12 more books. Yikes!

132lsh63
Editat: abr. 7, 2021, 9:53 am




43 and 44 The Lewis Man and The Chessmen I was all set to read The Lewis Man, but didn't remember much from the first book, The Blackhouse, so I re read it to refresh my memory. What I love most about this trilogy is the descriptive manner in which the author writes about the Scottish Highlands. The character development is also good.

In The Lewis Man, the main character Fin, has returned to the Isle Of Lewis where he grew up. Fin is no longer on the police force, but becomes involved with a body discovered in a peat bog. The story also provides insight to the reader on how devastating dementia can be on the person suffering from it as well as the family.

The Chessmen finds Fin now head of security on a privately owned estate, charged with putting a stop to the illegal hunting taking place on the island. This book gives the reader more details about Fin's life between his leaving school and his police career. Fin hopes to rekindle his relationship with his old love while also investigating the identity of a body found in a plane.

133lsh63
Editat: abr. 8, 2021, 7:30 am



45 Eternal author Lisa Scottoline is known primarily for her legal thrillers. I decided to take a chance on her latest work of historical fiction. In the beginning of the book, Elisabetta decides that the time is right to explain to her son who his biological father is.
The reader is taken back in time to when Elisabetta, Marco, and Sandro are all friends, carefree, and living in Rome. Marco and Sandro are both in love with Elisabetta and she's not sure which one she really wants, because she likes them both. Marco is more handsome, but Sandro knows her hopes and dreams for the future. Set in World War II, heartbreaking events take place in Facist Italy and later Nazi occupied Rome. I became totally engrossed in this story. There was one plot point that I was curious to see addressed, but overall the book was a good one.

134lsh63
abr. 7, 2021, 10:38 am

> 131 Hi Betty, I know that's a lot of books! I guess maybe the author will end the series in 1945? Then maybe Maisie can live happily ever after.

135lsh63
Editat: abr. 12, 2021, 2:27 pm



46 The Four Winds Set in 1930's Texas, Elsa, the main character wants to be loved and respected. Her parents treat her horribly, and when a younger man pays attention to her, she gives in to her feelings and becomes pregnant. Forced to marry someone she didn't love and who didn't love her, she proves that she is a survivor over and over again. She becomes a farmer and a mother, and finds love with her in-laws, who after some skepticism, grow to love her as a daughter. After experiencing dying crops due to the Dust Bowl and the Depression, Elsa takes her two children to California in search of work and a better life. Her journey is not an easy one, and the ending will break your heart.

136lsh63
Editat: abr. 12, 2021, 2:33 pm



47 The Ghosts of Belfast Gerry Fegan, a former contract killer, is haunted by the ghosts of the 12 people he killed. To escape from his mental anguish, his solution is to eliminate the people he believes are reponsible for their deaths because then the ghosts will go away. I enjoyed this first installment so much that I promptly downloaded book #2 because I need to know what happens.

137RidgewayGirl
abr. 13, 2021, 6:55 pm

Thanks for your recent review of No Exit by Taylor Adams. My library had it on hand and I very much enjoyed it.

138lsh63
Editat: abr. 14, 2021, 11:00 am

>137 RidgewayGirl: Hi Kay! I'm glad that you took a chance and enjoyed it! I'll have to stop by to see what you are reading these days.

139lsh63
Editat: abr. 19, 2021, 1:37 pm



48 Whiskey When We're Dry After her father dies, making her an orphan, teenage Jess disguises herself as a boy and heads west in search of her outlaw brother. The book was very well written and I had a hard time putting it down.

140lsh63
Editat: abr. 19, 2021, 1:47 pm



49 Mother May I Bree Cabbat seems to have it all, married into a family with wealth and connection, a nice home, and mother to two teenage daughters and an infant son. When her son vanishes into thin air, the abductor has specific instructions on what she needs to do get her son back. But why? I could see the ending coming a mile away, but it was a decent read.

141lsh63
Editat: abr. 19, 2021, 1:55 pm



50 Good Company I enjoyed the author's previous book The Nest and took a chance on this one. Flora Mancini, has been happily married for more than 20 years, or so she thought. When she finds her husband's wedding ring hidden away after it had been supposedly lost years ago, she begins to question their relationship. This book was ok, but I couldn't help comparing it to her first work.

142lsh63
Editat: abr. 19, 2021, 2:36 pm



51 The Drowning Kind This author does a great job with creepy suspense with ghostly elements. This is the 4th book of hers that I have read. When social worker Jax receives several missed calls from her manic sister Lexie, she thinks that it's just an episode, not thinking that something awful has happened. When Jax returns back to her childhood home, she realized that her sister was researching the history of their family and their granmother's property. I loved the alternating time lines and the ending was great!

143whitewavedarling
abr. 21, 2021, 9:50 am

>142 lsh63:, I just picked this one up, so it's great to see such a positive review! This will be my introduction to the author, but now I'm looking forward to it even more than I was :)

144lsh63
Editat: abr. 26, 2021, 10:20 am



52 Luster This book was on many best of 2020 lists and also the Tournament of Books and Bailey's Prize longlists. The main protagonist, Edie, is a mess, and makes many inappropriate life choices. She meets Eric, who's wife has agreed to an open marriage . When Edie finds herself unemployed, she finds herself a member of Eric's household. The book brutally honest while also sad. I did feel as though there was hope for Edie at the end. I liked the book but didn't love it.

145lsh63
Editat: abr. 28, 2021, 1:56 pm



53 Writers and Lovers I absolutely loved this story of Casey, a 30 year old, struggling with her mother's death, choosing between two men after a breakup, and trying to finish the book she's been trying to finish for several years. Add a potential medical crisis and being burdened with thousands of dollars of debt, you would think that this story is depressing, but it's not. The book ended on a happy note but not all sewn up happily ever after. This is my first time reading this author and I will definitely read some of her other works.

146lsh63
Editat: abr. 28, 2021, 2:06 pm



54 Blackout This is book #3 in the Dark Iceland series. The main characters are Ari Thor, a policeman, and Isrun a reporter for a Reykjavik television station. It took time for me to get the Icleandic names straight, and I think somehow I managed to read the books out of order based on the events that take place in the story, but it wasn't that much of a big deal for me. I'm looking forward to reading the next one.

147RidgewayGirl
abr. 29, 2021, 10:11 am

>245 I loved Writers & Lovers so much. I was so filled with tension about her precarious life that I needed the pay-off at the end, although I thought that both men were not great.

148lsh63
Editat: abr. 30, 2021, 9:49 am



55 Zorrie When an author can tell a great story in a quiet subtle way, with beautiful writing, under 200 pages, it is truly a pleasure to read. The main character, Zorrie leads a life of sadness, after losing her parents, her guardian aunt, and later her husband. Zorrie doesn't let her adversity get the best of her, she is a hard working woman in the Depression era, who longs for love and security , but makes the most of her life. I was still thinking about the character after I finished the book. The fact that I just happened to stumble upon it in the library catalog made it even better.

149lsh63
abr. 30, 2021, 9:43 am

>147 RidgewayGirl: Hi Kay, yes neither one her love interests were great, I was just so hopeful for her at the end, I overlooked that part.

150lsh63
Editat: abr. 30, 2021, 5:06 pm

Good Morning everyone,

I can't believe it's the end of the month again. I am looking forward to my #2 vaccination next week and we were able to give my mother a small low key birthday celebration for her 91st last weekend! I can only hope to be as sharp as she is if I make it to that age, I think her memory is better than all of her children at the moment. I've also become hooked on the NYT Spelling Bee, it's one of the first things I do in the morning now.

I won't read anything else today, since um I am supposed to be working.So here's what I read in April:

Total Books read: 14

Series reads 5
Fiction 14
Non Fiction 0

Female Authors 8
Male Authors 6

8 books were library books and 6 were from my Kindle. My favorite reads for the month were Writers and Lovers Zorrie and Whiskey When We're Dry.

151lsh63
Editat: abr. 30, 2021, 12:18 pm



I am currently reading this book and I am really enjoying it. A formerly married couple are playing cat and mouse games with each other about a murder victim they were both acquainted with. I want to stop working and finish it lol!

152rabbitprincess
abr. 30, 2021, 8:49 pm

>146 lsh63: I think the books in the Dark Iceland series were translated out of order from their original publication order in Icelandic. That might explain things a bit?

Yay for shot 2 and for having a birthday celebration for your mum :)

153lsh63
maig 3, 2021, 2:21 pm

>152 rabbitprincess: Hi RP, no wonder! That does explain things for me. I'm waiting for my turn for book #4 and I have #5 and #6, so I will definitely finish that series this year. Part of my problem with some series is that I wait way too long to read the next one and haven't a clue what is going on. Most of the time, some of the detail comes back to me.
En/na Lisa's 2021 Category Challenge #2 ha continuat aquest tema.