LittleTaiko (Stacy's) Broadway Bound 2014 Reading Challenge - 2nd Act

Hello!

I'm back for another year of challenge reading. For probably the only time I actually have a theme. Granted, it covers some basic category types but at least it's a way to combine two of my favorite things - musicals and reading! My only rule was that I had to have seen the musical and also own the song that I'm referencing.

I won't officially start the challenge until January 1st but just couldn't wait to set up my thread.

Let the show begin!




Ratings:

1 Star - Didn't like at all or did not finish
2 Stars - It's okay but not something I would recommend.
3 Stars - I liked it but may or may not recommend it
4 Stars - Really liked it and am happy that I spent time reading it
5 Stars - Loved it and the whole world should read it too

I'm also participating in the unofficial Alpha Cat challenge. My personal rules are that most of the books I choose need to be books I own (X is an exception since let's face it, it's a hard letter to do). The letter will either be in the title or authors name.

A (Jun) - Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson - 06/10
B (Dec) - Baron in the Trees by Italo Calvino - 12/08
C (Jul) - The Cheshire Cheese Cat by Carmen Agra Deedy - 07/06
D (Jan) - Bleak House by Charles Dickens - 01/26
E (May) - Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri - 05/17
F (Aug) - Big Fish by Daniel Wallace - 08/10
G (Nov) - The Gatehouse Mystery by Julie Campbell - 11/04/14
H (Feb) - Murder as a Second Language by Joan Hess - 02/02
I (Apr) - Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson - 04/13
J (Sep) - Buffalo Jump by Howard Shrier - 09/15
K (Oct) - Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes - 10/04
L (Mar) - The Love of a Good Woman by Alice Munroe - 03/18
M (Mar) - The Maid's Version by Daniel Woodrell - 03/03
N (Oct) - Fit to Be Dead by Nancy Glass West - 10/24
O (Sep) - Oh Danny Boy by Rhys Bowen - 09/12
P (Apr) - No Fond Return of Love by Barbara Pym - 04/08
Q (Jun) - Cold Quarry by Andy Straka - 06/06
R (Feb) - I Will Repay by Emmuska Orczy - 02/09
S (Nov) - Dissolution by C.J. Sansom - 11/09/14
T (Aug) - Inherent Vice by Thomas Pynchon - 08/25
U (May) - Up Jumps the Devil by Michael Poore - 05/18
V (Jan) - Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne - 01/06
W (Jul) - Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner - 07/18
X (Dec) - Death of a Red Heroine by Xiaolong Qiu
Y (Dec) - What You Wish For by Janet Dawson - 12/05
Z (Dec) - On Beauty by Zadie Smith

A Chorus Line - "I Hope I Get It"

Books that are on my Wishlist by the end of 2013

1. Bookman's Tale by Charlie Lovett February - 3 stars
2. Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers May - 3 stars
3. The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty May - 4 stars
4. Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham May - 3 stars
5. Longbourn by Jo Baker June - 2 stars
6. A Killer Read by Erika Chase September - 3 stars

Possibilities:

Death of a Red Heroine by Xiaolong Qiu
The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
Gaudy Night by Dorothy L. Sayers
The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson
A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters by Julian Barnes
Blind Assasin by Margaret Atwood

Les Miserables - "Bring Him Home"

Library books

1. Tenth of December by George Saunders January - 4 stars
2. River of No Return by Bee Ridgway March - 3 stars
3. Under the Wide and Starry Sky by Nancy Horan April - 3 stars
4. We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler May - 1 star
5. Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler May - 2 stars
6. Packing for Mars by Mary Roach July - 4 stars
7. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell July - 4 stars
8. Everybody Kills Somebody Sometime by Robert J. Randisi August - 4 stars
9. Book, Line, and Sinker by Jenn McKinlay September - 3 stars
10. Read It and Weep by Jenn McKinlay October - 4 stars
11. Luck Be a Lady, Don't Die by Robert J. Randisi October - 4 stars
12. Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography by Neil Patrick Harris December - 5 stars

Priscilla Queen of the Desert - "It's Raining Men"

Books written by male authors

1. How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia by Mohsin Hamid January - 4 stars
2. Headhunters by Jo Nesbo April - 2 stars
3. The Greater Journey by David McCullough May - 4 stars
4. Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger May - 4 stars
5. Cold Quarry by Andy Straka June - 3 stars
6. Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegnar July - 4 stars
7. The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks July - 1 star
8. All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr September - 4 stars
9. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes October - 5 stars
10. Looking for Alaska by John Green October - 3 stars
11. Dissolution by C.J. Sansom November - 3 stars
12. The Baron in the Trees by Italo Calvino December - 4 stars
13. Netherland by Joseph O'NeillDecember - 2 stars

Wicked - "Popular"

Recommended books - from book reviews, LT, friends, etc...

1. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell February - 4 stars
2. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett March - 4 stars
3. From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg April - 5 stars
4. In the Woods by Tana French June - 2 stars
5. The Cheshire Cheese Cat by Carmen Agra Deedy July - 4 stars

Book of Mormon - "Making Things Up Again"

Fiction

1. Peacock Emporium by Jojo Moyes March - 2 stars
2. No Fond Return of Love by Barbara Pym April - 4 stars
3. Slammed by Colleen Hoover May - 3 stars
4. Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri May - 4 stars
5. Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson June - 4 stars
6. Joy in the Morning by P.G. Wodehouse August - 4 stars
7. The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez October - 4 stars
8. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs October - 4 stars
9. My Man Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse November - 4 stars

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - "Nothing is too Wonderful to be True"

Non-fiction

1. The World's Strongest Librarian by Josh Hanagarne January - 4 stars
2. James Buchanan by Jean H. Baker March - 3 stars
3. Five Days at Memorial by Sheri Fink April - 4 stars
4. Mortality by Christopher Hitchens May - 4 stars
5. My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor June - 4 stars
6. Success Secrets of Sherlock Holmes by David Acord August - 3 stars
7. 1939: The Making of Six Great Films from Hollywood's Greatest Year by Charles F. Adams August - 3 stars
8. I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai October - 3 stars

Bonnie & Clyde - "This World Will Remember Us"

Classics

1. Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne (1001 Books) January - 3 stars
2. Bleak House by Charles Dickens January - 4 stars
3. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson April - 4 stars
4. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens May - 5 stars
5. The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett July - 4 stars
6. The Turn of the Screw by Henry James September - 2 stars
7. Cakes and Ale by W. Somerset Maugham October - 4 stars

Jekyll & Hyde - "Murder, Murder"

Mysteries/Thrillers

1. Tonight I Said Goodbye by Michael Koryta - January - 4 stars
2. The Walled Flower by Lorraine Bartlett - February - 3 stars
3. Murder as a Second Language by Joan Hess - February - 2 stars
4. Mrs. Jeffries and the Merry Gentlemen by Emily Brightwell - March - 4 stars
5 The Secret of the Mansion by Julie Campbell March - 4 stars
6. How to Dine on Killer Wine by Penny Warner June - 3 stars
7. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson July - 4 stars
8. Death of an Englishman by Magdalen Nabb July - 3 stars
9. Queen of Hearts by Rhys Bowen August - 4 stars
10. The Last Detective by Peter Lovesey August - 4 stars
11. Inherit the Word by Daryl Wood Gerber August - 3 stars
12. Books Can Be Deceiving by Jenn McKinlay September - 3 stars
13. Oh Danny Boy by Rhys Bowen September - 4 stars
14. Murder in Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie September - 3 stars
15. The Draining Lake by Arnaldur Indriaason October - 4 stars
16. Fit to Be Dead by Nancy Glass West October - 2 stars
17. Death by Sudoku by Kaye Morgan December - 3 stars

Hairspray - "New Girl in Town"

Books published or purchased in 2014

1. Missing You by Harlan Coben March - 4 stars
2. The Christie Curse by Victoria Abbott March - 3 stars
3. Final Sentence by Daryl Wood Gerber March - 3 stars
4. The Burry Man's Day by Catriona McPherson April - 3 stars
5. Gluten for Punishment by Nancy J. Parra May - 3 stars
6. Gone West by Carola Dunn June - 3 stars
7. Book Clubbed by Lorna Barrett July - 3 stars
8. Behind the Shattered Glass by Tasha Alexander July - 3 stars
9. The Long Way Home by Louise Penny September - 3 stars
10. To Dwell in Darkness by Deborah Crombie October - 4 stars
11. Wicked Autumn by G.M. Malliet October - 3 stars
12. A Cold and Lonely Place by Sara J. Henry November - 4 stars
13. Braking Points by Tammy Kaehler November - 3 stars
14. What You Wish For by Janet Dawson December - 3 stars

Chicago - "I Can't do it Alone"

Book Club or Group Reads

1. Oedipus the King by Sophocles January - 3 stars
2. The Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Lethem February - 2 stars
3. This is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett April - 3 stars
4. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo June - 4 stars
5. Four Queens by Nancy Goldstone August - 4 stars
6. House in the Sky by Amanda Lindhout November - 4 stars
7. Siddartha by Hermann Hesse December - 4 stars

Catch Me if You Can - "Christmas is My Favorite Time of Year"

Christmas Gifts - from any year, sadly I still have some books given as gifts from a few years ago still on my TBR pile.

1. The Blessing Way by Tony Hillerman February - 3 stars
2. The Maid's Version by Daniel Woodrell March - 3 stars
3. The Love of a Good Woman by Alice Munro March - 2 stars
4. Big Fish by Daniel Wallace August - 3 stars
5. Inherent Vice by Thomas Pynchon August - 1 star

Candidates:

The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver
Pops: A Life of Louis Armstrong by Terry Teachout
Extraordinary, Ordinary People by Condoleezza Rice
A Gentle Madness by Nicholas Basbanes
Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin
Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer
Jeeves and the Wedding Bells by Sebastian Faulks
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Phantom of the Opera - "All I Ask of You"

Books picked for me to read by other people. Feel free to look at my TBR library and make suggestions.

1. Cocktail Time by P. G. Wodehouse - selected by mstrust - February - 5 stars
2. Brainiac: Adventures in the curious, competitive, compulsive world of trivia buffs by Ken Jennings - selected by Kathryn (non LT) - February - 4 stars
3. Come, Tell Me How You Live by Agatha Christie selected by Carrie - May - 4 stars
4. Up Jumps the Devil by Michael Poore - selected by Phil (SO) - May - 3 stars
5. Woman in White by Wilkie Collins - selected by Judy - October - 3 stars

Anything Goes - "Anything Goes"

Random category challenge!
1. Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery February - 5 stars
2. Favorite Poems by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow April - 4 stars
3. Backseat Saints by Joshilyn Jackson May - 2 stars
4. Death in the Clouds by Agatha Christie June - 4 stars
5. Due or Die by Jenn McKinlay July - 4 stars
6. ABC Murders by Agatha Christie August - 4 stars
7. Buffalo Jump by Howard Shrier September - 4 stars
8. Dark Tide by Stephen Puleo November - 4 stars
9. Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively December - 4 stars

The Scarlet Pimpernel - "Where's the Girl?"

Books written by female authors

1. Mr. Parker Pyne, Detective by Agatha Christie January - 3 stars
2. I Will Repay by Emmuska Orczy February - 3 stars
3. The Red Trailer Mystery by Julie Campbell March - 4 stars
4. Murder in Three Acts by Agatha Christie April - 4 stars
5. Flowers for the Judge by Margery Allingham May - 3 stars
6. One Plus One by JoJo Moyes July - 4 stars
7. I Always Loved You by Robin Oliveira July - 3 stars
8. An Untamed State by Roxane Gay September - 4 stars
9. The Gatehouse Mystery by Julie Campbell November - 4 stars
10. One Hot Murder by Lorraine Bartlett November - 3 stars
11. The Mysterious Visitor by Julie Campbell November - 3 stars
12. On Beauty by Zadie Smith December - 4 stars

Book #57

Book: Death in the Clouds by Agatha Christie
Rating: 4 stars
Category: Anything Goes - "Anything Goes" (Random Cat)

Another delightful Poirot mystery where the murderer has the audacity to kill someone mid-flight while Poirot is a passenger. The solution is clever and there were the typical bits of Christie humor. In particular, the character of the mystery author was a hoot as I couldn't help but picture her writing it and having a good chuckle while doing so.

Book #58

Book: Gone West by Carola Dunn
Rating: 3 stars
Category: Hairspray - "New Girl in Town" (books bought or published in 2014)

This is the first book I've read in this series but apparently it's the 20th so I'm guessing it's a popular series. I enjoyed the character of Daisy and the supporting cast seemed fresh, but that might be since they were all new to me. The strong female characters were nice to see in a book set in the 1920's. It did take over 100 pages for the murder to occur which seems to be a bit too long to wait.

Book #59

Book: In the Woods by Tana French
Rating: 2 stars
Category: Wicked - "Popular" (Recommended)/ROOT/Mystery CAT/TBR

So torn on what I think about this book. On one hand, it was quite readable and it captured my interest. However, on the other hand there were too many things that really bugged me about the story for me to really want to recommend it. For instance I find it hard to believe that the police department would not already have checked Rob's prints and known he was one of the missing boys. The team not searching the buildings near where the body was found seemed like sloppy police work. Rob's obsession with Rosalind was ridiculous. It was obvious that from the beginning that she was using him and had to be involved in the murder somehow. Also, I'm going to assume that Rob probably killed his friends as a young child and that he is also a pyschopath. Maybe not, but it would make sense and the author seemed to hint at it though she never flat out says it. Okay, rant over. I remember thinking that the third book in the series Faithful Place was just okay as well, partially to some other issues. Doubtful that I'll read any others by this author.

Book #60

Book: Cold Quarry by Andy Straka
Rating: 3 stars
Category: Priscilla Queen of the Desert - "It's Raining Men" (Male Authors)/Alpha Cat Q/ROOT/TBR

This book was obviously written soon after 9/11 as those events seem to hang over the characters a bit and there are lots of terrorist lookouts. This is the third book in the Frank Pavlicek mystery and finds Frank and Jake trying to determine who murdered a fellow falconer. Lots of action, government suspicion, and general double crossing which made it hard to figure out what was really happening. Like the interplay between Frank and his daughter Nicole as well as learning more about falconry.

I am trying REALLY HARD not to read your spoiler for In the Woods, since that's also my MysteryCAT pick for this month…I wonder if I'll agree with you!

Happy new thread! I am sorry to hear that In the Woods didn't work out. And even though I loved it, I agree with your points about the fingerprints and not searching the buildings. The fingerprints thing especially seems implausible; wouldn't they'd need to take prints of all the cops just to be able to rule them out if their prints are accidentally found at a crime scene they investigated? But on the other hand it can be a relief to know you don't need to continue with a series. There are just so many out there!

Love the new thread and great job with your challenge!

Happy new thread!!

>17 christina_reads: - I'm definitely in the minority on LT regarding In the Woods so you'll probably like it more than I did.

>18 rabbitprincess: - Agreed - it is a bit of a relief to know there is at least one series that I don't need to commit to. That's one out of how many? :)

I'm one who loved In The Woods, but the second book in the series, The Likeness, drove me nuts so I only got about thirty pages in. I have Faithful Place on the shelf, so that will have to be the tie breaker.

Congrats on a lovely new thread. Some great books already read and more to go!

Happy New Thread!

>22 mstrust: - I'll be interested to see what you think of Faithful Place. I remember having some issues with it as well, but not as many. Then again, I'm more critical of books these days - darn LT with improving the overall quality of my reading choices.

Thank you to everyone else for stopping by and saying hello!

Book #61

Book: Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson
Rating: 4 stars
Category: Book of Mormons - "Making Things Up Again" (Fiction)/ROOT/Alpha Cat A

It's hard for me to believe that this was Kate Atkinson's first book. This is the story of Ruby Lennox who narrates her life from the moment of conception. Each chapter is followed by a footnote chapter that explains a little of her family history. For those who have read Life After Life you will see some of the same witty musings on life and characters who are quirky, interesting, and a little desperate. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more by her.

Good to hear Behind the Scenes at the Museum is good. It's been on my shelf for a while and I've been hesitating, knowing it was her first book and expecting it not to be as mature as her others. Sounds like an interesting concept, though.

I've read a few of the Jackson Brodie-books and I liked them enough to make sure I had Behind the Scenes at the Museum on Mt. TBR - great to hear it's good!

>28 japaul22: - I definitely think it's worth the read and the concept is what hooked me from the very first chapter.

>29 -Eva-: - I still need to read the Jackson Brodie books. Saw the TV show but would still like to read them.

Book #62

Book: Longbourn by Jo Baker
Rating: 2 stars
Category: A Chorus Line - "I Hope I Get It" (Wishlist)

This is the story of what was happening below stairs during Pride and Prejudice. The main character is Sarah, one of the house maids and most of the story is told from her perspective, though it jumps between the footman, the other maid, and Mrs. Hill the head of the servants which I found took me out of the story more than added anything to it. This is a much darker look at what was happening at that time, especially with the militia and the war they had been fighting. There is an interesting story here but I'm really not sure why it had to be interwoven with Pride & Prejudice. Is it so that people would be more inclined to read it? Having that connection only ended up irritating me, as the characters personalities completely changed except for Mrs. Bennett who is still the same spoiled woman intent on getting her daughters married. The characters of Mr. Bennett and Elizabeth especially don't ring true at any point throughout the book.

Hmmm, I love the premise of Longbourn, as I like to see well known stories told from unusual perspectives, but it's too bad it didn't work.

Coincidentally, I just read Jo Baker's review of Val McDermid's Northanger Abbey.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/15/books/review/val-mcdermids-northanger-abbey.ht...

I have mixed feelings about modern authors re-working old, respected stories and usually just steer clear of them. It looks like many authors are bereft of original ideas. For a while Sherlock Holmes was popping up everywhere, which for some reason didn't seem so much like plagiarism as the re-told stories of Jane Austen. Maybe it all depends on the quality of the modern work. Some of the new Sherlock Holmes are very creative but I don't think anyone could ever match Jane Austen. It seems egotistical to try.

Having said all that, I just got an audio version of Longbourn but only because it was free. In that case, I'm willing to give it a try.

ETA: Thanks for the link to the interesting review of Val McDermid by Jo Baker.

Book #63

Book: Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
Rating: 4 stars
Category: Chicago - "I Can't Do It Alone" (Bookclub)

Really, what is there that I can say about Les Mis that hasn't already been said? Powerful, wordy, and compelling pretty much sums it up for me. So hard to read it without comparing it to the musical version which I've seen several times. The songs were playing in my head the whole time I read the book.

Book #64

Book: How to Dine on Killer Wine by Penny Warner
Rating: 3 stars
Category: Jekyll & Hyde - "Murder, Murder" (Mysteries/Thrillers)

This is the fifth in the party planner series but the first one that I've read. Fun read involving San Francisco based party planner Presley Parker who has helped plan a wine tasting party in Napa Valley. Whenever a local environmentalist is found dead after the party, Presley starts snooping to help clear the owner of the winery. Full of interesting characters from her party planning staff, party goers, her crime scene cleaner boyfriend, and her bingo playing, on the verge of Alzheimers grandmother, it kept me entertained. Would definitely read another in the series.

>64 -Eva-: - I will admit that the title for the Warner book gave me a bit of a chuckle. I think I will see if my local library has her books.

The title is one of the reasons I bought the book. Fun little read!

>16 LittleTaiko: Phew, finished In the Woods tonight! I have mixed feelings about it as well, but I seem to have been bothered by different things than you were! I was willing to suspend my disbelief about the procedural issues, and I honestly didn't peg Rosalind as the mastermind behind the murder. However, I WAS annoyed that the older mystery never got solved, and I was so worried throughout the entire book that Ryan was the culprit and he was lying to us! Also, I absolutely wanted to SMACK him for how he handled things with Cassie. I was rooting for the two of them, and he completely blew it! Overall, though, I think I'm invested enough to continue with the series. I've got The Likeness on my shelves already!

>39 christina_reads: That bothered me how they were such a great example of a platonic friendship and then they had to go and sleep together! Argh! But it was a rattling good read for me; I couldn't put it down.

>40 rabbitprincess: Good point! I would have been happy if Ryan and Cassie had either gotten together or just remained friends...I just hate that their relationship ended up so broken! I have to say, I'm intrigued to see what (if anything) may transpire in The Likeness now...

There are few brief moments in The Likeness which refer back to Rob. Enough for a sort of understanding of how things stand, but not enough to ruin the first book if you read The Likeness first.

>39 christina_reads: and >40 rabbitprincess: - Both of those things bothered me too! Felt like it became a bit cliche with them sleeping together and I really wanted resolution to the older mystery. I think Rob killed them, but maybe that's just because I want it to be him since he's such a jerk!

Book #65

Book: My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor
Rating: 4 stars
Category: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - "Nothing is too Wonderful to be True" (Non-fiction)

Nothing like reading a book about an extreme overachiever to make you realize how intellectually lazy and unmotivated you are. Seriously, Sotomayor has a very interesting and intimidating story to tell and has to be one of the most determined, self-motivated people I've ever read about. If she didn't understand something she read about it and studied the topic until she had mastered it. Blessed with a very strong personality and sense of self, she was able to negotiate her way in a world she didn't always understand or fit into. Much to admire in her success story.

I found your thread! You've been doing some very interesting reading and I'm looking forward to what else you come up with!

I love your categories. I'm active in community theater - onstage for straight plays, tech for musicals. Actually, my 'home' theater is doing Les Mis this summer, so I found your comments about the book amusing.

Do you sing and/or act?

>45 Dejah_Thoris: - Hello! No, I definitely do not sing and the only acting I did was in high school. Fairly easy to be in a play when there are only 40 people in your high school. Loved every minute of it though! I'm just a huge fan who in another life would love to come back as a performer.

The main reason I read Les Mis is because I'm part of the the Dallas Theater book club. They started it this year where we read the play/book that a show was based on, met to discuss the book, and then held a follow up meeting to discuss the show and how it was alike/different to the book. A perfect mix for someone like me. I'm be going to see Les Mis in a couple of weeks and this time will be different as they have completely revamped the set from the traditional show. Very curious as to how this all plays out.

Book #66

Book: Due or Die by Jenn McKinlay
Rating: 4 stars
Category: Anything Goes - "Anything Goes" (Random Cat - book themed)

This is the second in the Library Lovers series, but the first one that I have read. I enjoyed the insight into working at a library, especially adored the dog Heathcliff, and found the mystery to be entertaining enough to hold my interest. I would definitely read more in the series.

Book #67

Book: The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
Rating: 4 stars
Category: Bonnie & Clyde - "This World Will Remember Us" (Classics)/TBR/ROOT

I'm normally not a fan of the hard-boiled noir, but felt that this was tame compared to other books. There was a bit of sly humor that appealed to me. I found the frequent descriptions of Spade's reactions helpful as it gave me a good visual into what was happening in the scene. Almost made it feel like Hammett wrote it knowing it would be made into a movie.

Book #68

Book: The Cheshire Cheese Cat by Carmen Agra Deedy
Rating: 4 stars
Category: Wicked - "Popular" (Recommended)/Alpha Cat C

Lovely book set around the time Dickens was writing A Tale of Two Cities. A book for the young and the young at heart who like Dickens, cats, and cheese and tales of friendship.

>48 LittleTaiko:
I'm not usually a fan of hard broiled noir either, but had to read The Maltese Falcon, because it's such a classic. I was surprised I enjoyed it as much as I did, too.

>48 LittleTaiko: Count me as a fan of The Maltese Falcon as well. I'm a big noir fan anyway, and that's one of the best.

I may get to The Maltese Falcon this month - I'm a fan of the movie. But like you, hard broiled noir isn't always my thing, so we'll see.

Book #69

Book: Book Clubbed by Lorna Barrett
Rating: 3 stars
Category: Hairspray - "New Girl in Town" (Obtained in 2014)

The latest installment finds Tricia finding another dead body, this time it's Bitsy - the annoying Chamber of Commerce secretary. I do admire the author for not hesitating to kill off semi-regular characters and I appreciate the character growth from book to book. As a mystery this might not have been the strongest, but it was still nice to spend time in Booktown again.

Book #70

Book: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
Rating: 4 stars
Category: Jekyll & Hyde - "Murder, Murder" (Mysteries/Thrillers)/ROOT/TBR

I couldn't believe how different from what I was expecting and how short this book was. Going in, my main source of knowledge was the musical based on the story. The musical really takes just a kernel of the story and creates a completely different world. Once I got reset my expectations, which didn't take too long, I really enjoyed this tale of the two sides of a personality going horrible wrong.

Book #71

Book: The One Plus One by JoJo Moyes
Rating: 4 stars
Category: The Scarlet Pimpernel - "Where's the Girl?" (Female Authors)

This was the perfect book to read on a long flight - full of interesting characters, easy to read, and full of heart. The story of struggling single mom, her two borderline wacky/zany kids, and a rich entrepreneur who is in a whole world of business trouble is told from alternating points of view with most of the story being told from Jess (the single mom's) perspective. They all embark on a road trip together and the consequences from the few days spent together will have a big impact on everyone. Another solid book from Moyes.

>54 LittleTaiko: I read this one last year and I didn't like it as much as I thought I would. I think that the reasons why Dr Jekyll keep going back to his alter ego, Mr Hyde, seem flimsy, even more so once he knows the horrible things that he does ;( That being said, I find it well written and an interesting read.

Book#72

Book: Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegnar
Rating: 4 stars
Category: Priscilla Queen of the Desert - "It's Raining Men" (Male Authors)/ROOT/Alpha CAT W

This is a well written, non-flashy, moving tale of marriage and friendship. Nothing dramatic happens, just the unfolding story of two couples and their developing friendship as well as the various trials they encounter through the years. I miss reading about Larry, Sally, Charity, and Sid.

Book #73

Book: Behind the Shattered Glass by Tasha Alexander
Rating: 3 stars
Category: Hairspray - "New Girl in Town" (Books Acquired in 2014)

This is the latest in the Lady Emily installment and it's fairly typical of the others in the series. I found the opening to be humorous but not believable at all. The reader is still subjected to the endless descriptions of how brilliant Emily and her husband are and how perfect their lives are. It can definitely be a bit much at times. That said, I do enjoy the side characters and the setting. This time around the mystery wasn't that strong and I was a bit disappointed by the reveal. The fact that we've spent all this time with Lucy and know her thoughts and there is no sense of something as big as almost being raped and then murdering the guy bothering her. Her reactions at the end don't mesh with the thoughts throughout the book.

Book #74

Book: I Always Loved You by Robin Oliveira
Rating: 3 stars
Category: The Scarlet Pimpernel - "Where's the Girl?" (Female Authors)

Really must stop reading historical fiction based loosely on the truth. While I couldn't help but enjoy part of this book as I'm a sucker for any insights into the Impressionists, I felt a bit let down overall. Maybe it's because I'm always skeptical reading these types of books since you don't know how much is true or not. All the letters referenced in the book were completely made up. I am interested in reading more about Mary Cassatt and Edgar Degas as well as searching out more of their paintings to get a better feel for them as real people instead of relying solely on the supposed events in the book.

>58 LittleTaiko: I read the first several Lady Emily books but I've gotten behind. I'll have to pick the series up again because, like you, I enjoy the settings and characters. I skipped the spoiler - thanks for being discreet!

Book #75

Book: Death of an Englishman by Magdalen Nabb
Rating: 3 stars
Category: Jekyll & Hyde - "Murder, Murder" (Mysteries/Thrillers)

I was not familiar with Nabb or this series set in Florence when I received a free copy at a mystery book convention. A little surprised to get the first in the series that was started in the 80's but quickly enjoyed this lovely yet odd book. The writing style was a bit jarring and took some getting used to as characters thoughts and conversations seemed to start and stop and switch from one perspective to another with little warning. The characters were what kept this story strong and it seems that this could be the beginning of a worthwhile series.

Book #76

Book: The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks
Rating: 1 star
Category: Priscilla Queen of the Desert - "It's Raining Men" (Male Authors)/ROOT

Just couldn't bring myself to finish this book, nor do I have any intention of ever trying to read it in the future. I'm sure there is some great psychological reason that I should read this book and that there is a deeper meaning. However, for me I just wasn't getting anything beyond the shock value of animal torture and a really repulsive and disturbing narrator who has killed three relatives so far with absolutely no remorse.

Book #77

Book: Packing for Mars by Mary Roach
Rating: 3 stars
Category: Les Mis - "Bring Him Home" (Library Books)

If you have read anything by Roach before then you are familiar with what you are going to get - some scientific facts with some humor thrown in. I didn't enjoy this one as much as I did Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers but it was still an interesting look at space travel and all the work and research that went into making it as smooth as possible, especially in regards to the physical effects on the astronauts.

>62 LittleTaiko:
Intriguing - it's on my Mt. TBR, so I'll be interested to see how what I get from it.

>63 LittleTaiko:
I liked both of those as well - and Stiff was my favorite too, but Packing for Mars came in as a close second.

>64 -Eva-: - I hope you read it soon as I need somebody to explain why it's so great! I really hope you like it better than I did.

Book #78

Book: Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
Rating: 4 stars
Category: Les Mis - "Bring Him Home" (Library Books)

I really didn't think I was going to love this book when I read the premise and there was a moment in the first fifty pages where I thought I might weary of the characters. Both of those thoughts were swept firmly aside. This was a delightful story set right before the millennium. Loved revisiting the pop culture from that time, but that's not the main focus. Let's talk about Lincoln - he works the night shift at the local newspaper and his sole job is to read the employee emails flagged as questionable. When reading these emails he comes across several exchanges between Beth and Jennifer, two friends who work at the newspaper. Instead of reporting them, he becomes engrossed in their exchanges. At first all three of these characters seem a bit pathetic, but the more I read, the more I loved them and wanted to know more about their lives. It's a great look at how people who from the outside look like they are together can really be insecure and have problems and doubts. This book sucked me in and kept me reading. If I wasn't such a conscientious employee I would have been really tempted to skip work to finish the book instead of patiently waiting until lunch.

I was surprised at how much I liked Eleanor and Park and I'm eager to read her other books.

I had loved Eleanor and Park too. Attachments sounds like another winner!

I have fallen in love with Rainbow Rowell after Eleanor and Park and Fangirl. Attachments is next on the list and so glad to hear that it is also great.

Yay, another fan of Attachments! Just had to add to the Rainbow Rowell love over here. :)

>62 LittleTaiko: I thought the writing in The Wasp Factory was brilliant. The narrator is absolutely unique and, yes, very very messed up. I was fascinated by how the world-view could be described as so mundane, with an interior coherency and yet is so far from what society considers "normal".

Fairly early on, Frank has a monologue about why it's better to kill rabbits with a slingshot than a rifle and I found myself agreeing and thinking it was rational. To me, that is amazing writing -- getting a reader to empathize/agree with an individual who is a very different person/has a different life than the reader. Plus, it is paced like a mystery and I really wanted to know how/why the narrator evolved into the person he was.

>71 ELiz_M: - Thank you for your thoughtful explanation of why you liked The Wasp Factory - maybe I will give it another go someday and this time was just a case of wrong book at the wrong time.

In regards to the Rainbow Rowell love above - I liked Attachments a bit better than Eleanor & Park but maybe that's because the characters were older and I could relate to them just a bit better. Curious to see what others think when they read it. I have Fangirl waiting to read as well and am looking forward to seeing if it's as enjoyable as the others.

Book #79

Book: ABC Murders by Agatha Christie
Rating: 4 stars
Category: Anything Goes - "Anything Goes" (Random Cat)

Poirot is up against a really devious criminal this time. He receives a letter warning him to be on the lookout for something to happen in Andover on a particular date. When a shopkeeper name Ascher is murdered, Poirot and Hastings start working with local detectives to try and solve the crime. When Betty Barnard in Bexhill is murdered next, it's ovbious that the criminal intends to work his/her way through the alphabet. A really clever crime with some wonderful humorous bits which included Hastings worrying about his thinning hair made this a fun read.

Book #80

Book: Success Secrets of Sherlock Holmes by David Acord
Rating: 3 stars
Category: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - "Nothing is too Wonderful to be True" (Non-fiction)

Quick read for fans of Sherlock Holmes stories that shows how you can apply some of Sherlock's traits to your own life to achieve success. Not a particularly deep book and there are some spoilers regarding the end results of some of the stories, but still a entertaining enough read.

Book #81

Book: 1939: The Making of Six Great Films From Hollywood's Greatest Year by Charles F. Adams
Rating: 3 stars
Category: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - "Nothing is Too Wonderful to Be True" (Non-fiction)

Who knew that so many great movies were made in 1939? I sure didn't. This is a quick look at the behind the scenes stories of the making of "Gone with the Wind," "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," "The Wizard of Oz," "Stagecoach," "The Hound of the Baskersvilles," and "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." I've seen most of these so it was fun to read about the difficulties in getting each of these movies made.

>74 LittleTaiko: That was one of her stand-outs. It was such a clever premise.

Book #82

Book: Queen of Hearts by Rhys Bowen
Rating: 4 stars
Category: Jekyll & Hyde - "Murder, Murder" (Mysteries/Thrillers)

Book eight in Her Royal Spyness series finds Georgie heading to America with her mother Claire. Claire is intent on finally getting a divorce from a husband she hasn't seen in years so that she can marry her German lover. It was fun to see Georgie and company, especially Queenie, the maid, in unfamiliar territory. Claire ends up in Hollywood filming a movie while waiting on the divorce to come through. On a weekend trip to the director's house with the cast and various other guests murder ensues and it's up to Georgie to help find the killer. There are quite a few things which required me to suspend belief for a bit and just go with it. It helps that I really enjoy reading about Georgie and seeing her grow as a character from book to book.

Book #83

Book: Big Fish by Daniel Wallace
Rating: 3 stars
Category: Catch Me if You Can - "Christmas is My Favorite Time of Year" (Christmas gifts)/Random Cat F/ROOT

Whimsical book about Edward Bloom, a man you get to know through the mythical stories recounted by his son William on the eve of Edward's death. Edward's stories are larger than life but through them you do get a sense of a man doing the best that he can to provide for his family. The movie version was quite different than the book as several things were changed, though with such a fantastical story anything could be included and still believed.

Book #84

Book: Everybody Kills Somebody Sometime by Robert J. Randisi
Rating: 4 stars
Category: Les Mis - "Bring Him Home" (Library Books)

I first heard about this series from somebody on LT and to whoever it was I want to say thank you! It was with a slight amount of trepidation that I picked up this first in the Rat Pack series. It seemed like the sort of concept that could go horribly wrong. Plus, as a fan of Dean, Frank, and Sammie's music, I worried about how they would be portrayed. Luckily, all my fears were for naught and this noir story managed to hit the right notes. When Dean starts receiving some threatening letters, Frank calls in Eddie G, a pit boss from one of the Las Vegas casinos. Eddie isn't thrilled with the request but can't say no since he's quite a fan of Dean's. What seems like a simple request quickly becomes more complicated when Eddie stumbles across a few dead bodies and has his own life threatened. The author was smart to have Eddie be the main character with the Rat Pack as side characters who show up from time to time. I look forward to reading more in the series.

Book #85

Book: Joy in the Morning by P.G. Wodehouse
Rating: 4 stars
Category: Book of Mormon - "Making Things Up Again (Fiction)

Nothing like a Wooster/Jeeves book to help pass a rainy day. Bernie has definitely found himself in the soup this time - unexpectedly engaged to Florence, trying to help Boko and Nobby get permission from Uncle Percy to marry as well as evading Edwin the boy-scout from hell. Oh yes, let's not forget Stinson the police officer who was previously engaged to Florence and is not one of Bertie's biggest fans. Jeeves is able to help save the day of course, but not without a lot of plans going spectacularly wrong along the way.

>80 LittleTaiko: I hadn't heard of that series, so it goes on the list. The Rat Pack involved in a murder mystery! Thanks for the review.

>81 LittleTaiko: That is a good book for a rainy day (or any day); I read it myself not too long ago.

>80 LittleTaiko: I picked that one up on impulse from the library and it was a pretty fun diversion. :)

>82 mstrust: - Hope you like it! And I agree that Wodehouse is always good for any day regardless of the weather.

>83 rabbitprincess: - Have you read any others in the series? I have the second one, Luck Be a Lady, Don't Die, waiting for me at the library and am curious as to how it holds up.

Book #86

Book: Four Queens by Nancy Goldstone
Rating: 4 stars
Category: Chicago - "I Can't Do It Alone" (Book Club/Group Reads)

European history is not an area I'm that familiar with especially 13th century European history so I headed into this book knowing pretty much nothing. After reading this informative, interesting, and immensely readable book about the four sisters from Provence who became queens, I am definitely wanting to read more about that time and these people. It's so hard to imagine living in a time where 13 year olds are married and running the country, albeit with the help of advisors and possibly a parent. It's also a fairly unruly and unsettling time as crusades are launched, property takeovers are common, and the whims of the ruling powers change. This isn't a book for someone interested in serious scholarly research but is instead geared at someone like me who wants to learn more and be entertained at the same time.

>85 LittleTaiko:
Sounds like an interesting read. I don't know a ton about the 13th century, but I think it's an interesting time period.

Okay this will be a very quick catchup. We just finished moving back into our house after having it remodeled and I'm quite tired from all the unpacking. Did a serious paring down of books though - after moving 50 or so back, I now have 7 boxes ready to donate to the library. My TBR books are now front and center so there is no excuse to ignore them any longer. Previously they were hidden in a cabinet so not always easy to access. Plus, this way it makes for easy shopping for next year's CAT's!

Book #87
Book: Inherent Vice by Thomas Pynchon
Rating: 1 star
Category: Catch Me If You Can - "Christmas is My Favorite Time of Year" (Christmas Gifts)/ROOT/Alpha CAT - T

Just couldn't get into this book so abandoned it partway through. It was entertaining in parts, but trying to follow the thought process of a pot-smoking hippie PI in the 60's was more of a challenge then I was up to at this point. Maybe some other time.

Book #88
Book: The Last Detective by Peter Lovesey
Rating: 4 stars
Category: Jekyll & Hyde - "Murder, Murder" (Mysteries/Thrillers)/TBR/ROOT

Written in the early 90's, this books introduces the reader to Peter Diamond, one of the last detectives who relies on old-fashioned detective work and is highly suspicious of all the new technology that is starting to be used. The book is told from four different perspectives which really helped give the whole story a well-rounded feel as you could see the same event from different sets of eyes.

Book #89
Book: Inherit the Word by Daryl Wood Gerber
Rating: 3 stars
Category: Jekyll & Hyde "Murder, Murder" (Mysteries/Thrillers)

Second in the Cookbook Nook series and everyone is preparing for the annual Grill Fest. When one of the chefs if murdered right before the competition, suspicion falls on one of the other contestants. Jenna once again steps in to try to find the murderer to help clear a friends name. In the meantime, she is also still dealing with the death/disappearance of her husband from a couple of years ago. An interesting series and a fairly solid mystery though I was pretty sure I knew who did it early on.

>87 LittleTaiko: I've intended to read The Last Detective several times but never quite got around to it. I'm sure I'll get to it eventually.

7 donation boxes is great! Well done on making space for new ones. :)

It must feel great to be back in your now remodeled home!

Congrats on getting your house back!

>87 LittleTaiko: Congratulations on getting back into your remodelled home. I've always enjoyed Peter Lovesey. I have some of The Last Detective series on Mt TBR and need to be moved closer to the top!

>88 thornton37814: - It took me a little bit to warm up to the book, but I ended up enjoying it quite a bit.

>89 -Eva-:, >90 lkernagh:, >91 mstrust:, and >92 VivienneR: - Thanks! It is great to be back in our house and getting settled. Felt nice to donate so many books to our local library for their annual sale. Hopefully they all end up going to good homes.

Book #90

Book: Books Can Be Deceiving by Jenn McKinlay
Rating: 3 stars
Category: Jekyll & Hyde - "Murder, Murder" (Mysteries/Thrillers)

First in the Library Lovers series, this book does a nice job setting up the main character, the town, and the various inhabitants of the town. When Beth, one of the librarian staff members, is accused of murdering her boyfriend, her friend and head librarian, Lindsay is determined to prove that Beth couldn't have done it. Nice first book for a series and I look forward to reading more.

Book #91

Book: An Untamed State by Roxane Gay
Rating: 4 stars
Category: The Scarlet Pimpernel - "Where's the Girl?" (Female Authors)

This is hard book to review in that it's not an easy read but definitely a compelling story. A woman from a wealthy family is kidnapped in Haiti and held for ransom by a group of thugs. As the story weaves back and forth between her current predicament and her past the reader gets a good feel for the strength of her character as well as the the struggles within her country and family. Ultimately it's a story of surviving and finding help from the people you might least expect it from. The author does a good job of tempering the violence by switching the narrative away from kidnapping at a time when the reader needs a break.

Book #92

Book: All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Rating: 4 stars
Category: Priscilla Queen of the Desert - "It's Raining Men" (Male Authors)

If a book set in WWII can be called delightful, it's definitely this one. The story follows Marie Laure, a blind French girl in Paris, and Werner, a young German boy, who delights in all things electronic. It spans four years with quick alternating chapters that propel the reader to keep reading. Before you know it you are done and wondering where the last few hours went. Definitely worth reading.

All the Light We Cannot See is definitely going on my list, I don't think I have seen a negative word about this one!

I've seen so many great reviews of All the Light We Cannot See. Honestly, it hadn't piqued my interest because the title sounds kind of over-sentimental to me, but I've seen enough good reviews that maybe I'll give it a chance!

>96 LittleTaiko: Argh, I want to read this one so much! I'm like #140 in the library queue.

Book #93

Book: The Long Way Home by Louise Penny
Rating: 3 stars
Category: Hairspray - "New Girl in Town" (Purchased or Published in 2014)

Sigh. It pains me to give a Louise Penny book only 3 stars but this time I must. While I still enjoyed my time with the Three Pines residents, this book just didn't work for me completely. There really isn't a mystery this time, unless you consider the fact that Peter didn't come back after one year a mystery. Most normal people would just assume their marriage is over, but Clara is convinced that something bad has happened to Peter so off the whole group goes to try to figure out what happened. There seemed to be too much foreboding for what the situation warranted. In the end, there is a murder or two but it's the end result of the book so not really a mystery per se. In fact, if they hadn't gone off on their merry hunt, Peter might still be alive. Penny still weaves a good story, it just wasn't one of my favorites of hers.

>100 LittleTaiko: Your review makes me sad.

Aw, that's too bad. But I appreciate the warning!

>101 thornton37814: & >102 rabbitprincess: - Never fear - it's still a good book, I just didn't find it exceptional. Plus, I seem to be in the minority in my opinion so hopefully it works better for you than it did for me.

Book #94

Book: Oh Danny Boy by Rhys Bowen
Rating: 4 stars
Category: Jekyll & Hyde - "Murder, Murder" (Mysteries/Thrillers)/ROOT/AlphaKIT O

Not sure why I picked this book up many years ago and even more unsure why I started with book five out of the series. Finally got around to reading this book in the Molly Murphy series and am a bit sorry that I waited so long. Set in New York during the early 1900's, the book features Molly Murphy who is an appealing, feisty, and stubborn heroine. Look forward to reading more in the series someday.

Book #95

Book: Buffalo Jump by Howard Shrier
Rating: 4 stars
Category: Anything Goes - "Anything Goes" (RandomCAT)/AlphaKIT - J/ROOT

After languishing on my shelf for over five years, I finally picked up this book and am glad I did so. The first novel in the Jonah Geller series, this was a modern day hard-boiled PI sort of novel. Set in Toronto it delves into the pharmaceutical world and the mob. It started off a bit uneven, but once the author was able to establish the characters and eventually get to revealing their back stories it picked up.

Hurray! I really liked Miss Montreal, so I'll have to go back and try Buffalo Jump.

>106 rabbitprincess: - Good to know that the later books are good to. I've put them all on my wishlist now!

Book #96

Book: A Killer Read by Erika Chase
Rating: 3 stars
Category: A Chorus Line - "I Hope I Get It" (Wishlist books)/MysteryCAT

Overall enjoyable mystery involving a mystery book club that finds themselves investigating a real murder when a stranger is killed outside of their meeting. I liked the characters but was a tad disappointed in the actual mystery though the author did a nice job of weaving an interesting story once she got past the character introductions.

I'll have to keep Howard Shrier in mind. I need a few more books to fill out my hard-boiled/noir category.

Yikes! I'm behind in posting my reviews. The last three books in September were just okay, but I have high hopes for October. Especially since I just started reading Flowers for Algernon and am loving it so far.

Book #97

Book: Book, Line, and Sinker by Jenn McKinlay
Rating: 3 stars
Category: Les Mis - "Bring Him Home" (Library Books)/MysteryCAT

Third book in the series and while I still enjoy the characters, I'm not too enamored of the mystery itself. Too many random out of town suspects . On a weird side note, the blurb on the back says that Lindsay's neighbor Charlie is a chief suspect and that's why she gets involved. At no point is he ever considered a suspect so that was a bit confusing.

Book #98

Book: Turn of the Screw by Henry James
Rating: 2 stars
Category: Bonnie & Clyde - "This World Will Remember Us" (Classics)

A rather dull yet melodramatic story about a governess who starts to see the visions of previous caregivers and workers at the estate where she now works. Throw in a couple of weird kids who may or may not be evil and you have an all around thriller. The governess really got on my nerves the more I read - she seemed lacking in any common sense whatsoever. The ending was intriguing but not enough to overcome more overall apathy towards this book.

Book #99

Book: Murder in Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie
Rating: 3 stars
Category: Jekyll & Hyde - "Murder, Murder" (Mysteries/Thrilles)

It's so strange to read books set in Syria with references to Iraq when the countries depicted there are nothing like what they are today. This book finds Poirot helping to solve a murder at an archaeological dig site. With no Hastings to help, this story is narrated by a nurse who had been hired to help tend to the wife of the head of the dig. When the wife is murdered, the nurse is able to assist Poirot. Overall an enjoyable read but it would never be one of my favorites. It did make me chuckle when at the end, the nurse mentions that Poirot then headed to the Orient Express where she hears he got caught up in another case. So even though this book was published after Murder on the Orient Express it is set prior to those events.

>111 LittleTaiko: Yep, I agree with you. The action is couched in such dense, over-blown language that it becomes exhausting.

>112 LittleTaiko: I liked that one as it pretty much moved the English manor house locked room scenario to an exotic locale.

>111 LittleTaiko:
I have that one on Mt. TBR - forewarned is forearmed! :)

>114 -Eva-: - Some people consider one of his best works so maybe you'll like it more than I did. At least it's short if you don't!

Book #100

Book: Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Rating: 5 stars
Category: Priscilla Queen of the Desert - "It's Raining Men" (Male Authors)/ROOT/TBR/Alpha K

I really didn't know much about this book going into it except that I had heard/read a few people talk about what a great book it was. Now that I've read it, you can add me to the club of people who loved this book. Told from Charlie's viewpoint as he writes frequent progress reports as part of a project, the reader sees Charlie form a bond with Algernon, a mouse, who is participating in the same project. Ultimately this is a book about the meaning of happiness, friendship, and how life doesn't always turn out the way we think it will when we acquire the things we think will make us happy. Considering this was written in the 50's, it doesn't feel as dated as it could have. The author did a great job of taking us along Charlie's journey with him.

Every time I see a review for Flowers for Algernon I am reminded that I want the read that one. I consider myself reminded once again! ;-)

>116 LittleTaiko: I gave it 5 stars too. Glad you enjoyed it as much as I did.

Book #101

Book: I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
Rating: 3 stars
Category: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - "Nothing is Too Wonderful to be True" (Non-fiction)

Hard to review this book as her story is quite compelling but the writing isn't particularly strong. The fist half or so of the book really jumps around and doesn't flow very well. Overall a very moving and inspirational story though - I wish I had half the courage and initiative that she does. I hope she goes on to achieve her goals of becoming a positive force in the Pakistan political world.

Book #102

Book: Read It and Weep by Jenn McKinlay
Rating: 4 stars
Category: Les Mis - "Bring Him Home" (Library Books)

Back again with the Briar Creek crew. This time everybody is involved with the local theater production and are especially excited to have a couple of former Broadway actors in their midst to help out. Things get ugly when one of the actors is attached and someone ends up dead. It says something about McKinaly's story telling ability that even though it seemed incredibly obvious who the murder was, I still couldn't help but enjoy the book quite a bit. The characters are starting to become more fleshed out and the pacing is really good. Hopefully the mystery portion of her series gets stronger.

>119 LittleTaiko:
Her story sounds amazing. I really want to read the book for that reason alone.

>121 andreablythe: - She is a very impressive person - definitely worth reading.

Book #103

Book: The Draining Lake by Arnaldur Indriaason
Rating: 4 stars
Category: Jekyll & Hyde - "Murder, Murder" (Mysteries/Thrillers)/TBR/ROOT

This is a solid Icelandic mystery that explores communism/socialism in Iceland as well as the continuing drama in the detectives personal lives.

Book #104

Book: The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez
Rating: 4 stars
Category: Book of Mormon - "Making Things Up Again" (Fiction)

Love it when I start a book and find myself having a hard time putting it down. That is what happened with this book that centers around two immigrant families in Delaware. The Riveras are in the US on a work visa trying to get better treatment for their daughter who suffered a brain injury in an accident. The Toros moved to America over fifteen years ago from Panama and are now US citizens. Other immigrants in their community flit in and out of the story that is narrated by Alma Rivera and Mayor Toro. In between sections you get the back story on these characters and their struggles as immigrants. I do have a few quibbles with some details of the story - for instance, one character was described as passionately wanting to volunteer after 9/11 while he was most definitely living in the US, yet in the next chapter when we learn more about him, it says that he crossed the border after 9/11 to come to the country. Overall though, I really had a hard time putting the book down and loved getting a look at the various scenarios that could bring somebody to the US and why they might stay despite all the hardships.

I've been running into mentions of The Book of Unknown Americans all over the place. I'm glad to know it's worth reading - if another copy jumps at me, I may catch it.

>125 RidgewayGirl: - I'm not sure where I first heard of the book, but somebody must have recommended it as it was on my library request list. Surprised me when it showed up as I couldn't remember why I had requested it - glad I did though.

Book #105

Book: Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
Rating: 3 stars
Category: Phantom of the Opera - "All I Ask of You" (Selected by someone else)/ROOT/TBR

Wilkie Collins definitely didn't shy away from descriptive, melodramatic story-telling. The story begins with a drawing master on his way to a new position when he runs into the mysterious woman in white who warns him against someone named Sir Percival. Through the course of the story we learn more about Sir Percival, the woman in white, and a host of other characters. The more interesting characters were the Count and Marian. I never could quite warm to Laura and never understood why Walter was so obsessed with her.

Book #106

Book: To Dwell in Darkness by Deborah Crombie
Rating: 3 stars
Category: Hairspray - "New Girl in Town" (Bought/Published in 2014)

Gemma and Duncan are back! This time Duncan is adapting to his move to a new station and the uncertainty regarding the reason for the move. He has a new team to help him whenever an outdoor concert combined with a protest group goes horribly wrong. Fortunately, he still has some familiar faces to help. Meanwhile Gemma is working a case of her own though it's definitely the secondary story here. Definitely looking forward to the next book.

I think the whole appeal of Laura in The Woman in White is that passive, beautiful woman in jeopardy thing. The author is a guy, after all. But Marian is one of the best heroines in literature. She's made of awesome and I love her so much. Not sure why she liked Laura, though.

I think because Laura was so fragile and fair, and those were attractive qualities then, so everyone worked to protect her. I think now we'd be annoyed by such a weak person, but back then a fainting young female was hot stuff.

Yikes! So behind on my book updates. Time for some short and sweet entries.

Book #107

Book: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Rating: 4 stars
Category: Book of Mormon - "Making Things Up Again" (Fiction)

Entertaining tale of a boy on a quest to find out what his grandfather's last words really meant and how they relate to the incredible stories he used to tell to match the fantastic pictures he had. One of my favorite parts of the book was all of the pictures - levitating girl, girl with two reflections, etc...

Book #108

Book: Cakes and Ale by W. Somerset Maugham
Rating: 4 stars
Category: Bonnie & Clyde - "This World Will Remember Us" (Classics)/Random CAT

William Ashenden narrates this delightful tale that pokes fun at the literary world and class division. A friend of William's has been selected to write a biography of another author, Edward Driffield, who both men knew. This causes William to start reminiscing about his youth when he first met Edward and his wife Rosie and the impact they had on him.

Book #109

Book: Fit to Be Dead by Nancy Glass West
Rating: 2 stars
Category: Jekyll & Hyde - "Murder, Murder" (Mysteries/Thrillers)/Alpha Cat N

Oh boy, where to start with all the things wrong with this book. Aggie writes an anti-aging column and in an effort to improve herself and therefore help her readers, she joins a gym. Being really familiar with gyms, I had a very hard time buying into the tales of her first week. Who just leaves the person giving her a tour so she can go hop in the pool? Why is the person giving the tour still around waiting for her over an hour later after Aggie has found someone almost drowning, helped save her, answered questions, etc... Why does someone who later is shown quite capable of research and thought, not actually do research into gyms and current exercise practices before joining? Why is the main character so narcissistic that after saving the drowning woman she becomes convinced that someone is trying to kill her? Never mind that she just joined the gym! Too much drama with the side stories. I could go on, but I won't.

Book #110

Book: Looking for Alaska by John Green
Rating: 3 stars
Category: Priscilla Queen of the Desert - "It's Raining Men" (Male Authors)

Miles has recently decided he'd like to attend the boarding school his dad attended in an effort to find The Great Perhaps. Once at school, he quickly becomes friends with an eclectic group that includes The Colonel, Takumi, and of course Alaska. She's the sort of girl I imagine most teenage boys dream of - pretty, smart, likes sex, smokes, and drinks quite a bit. She seems hell bent on destroying herself but in the meantime wants to have fun doing it. Miles seems happy to pick up whatever bad habits the rest of the group has and kind of drift along. A tragic event shakes the group and has them thinking about life and what it all means.

Fit to be Dead sounds hilarious (not in a good way)! I'll definitely be avoiding this one. :)

On the other hand, Cakes and Ale sounds like a worthwhile read. I've never read any W. Somerset Maugham, and I really should try one of his works.

I've been meaning to try more Somerset Maugham (loved The Painted Veil!)...maybe I'll pick up Cakes and Ale next!

>135 mathgirl40: - I had never read anything by him either until Cakes and Ale - it seemed like a good place to start. Plus, I read it as part of the October Random Cat - book bullet from an LT member. Pretty sure it was whitewavedarling who raved about it first.

>136 christina_reads: - I remember the movie The Painted Veil but haven't read the book yet. Seems like it would be much more serious and somber than Cakes and Ale.

Book #111

Book: Luck Be a Lady, Don't Die by Robert J. Randisi
Rating: 4 stars
Category: Les Mis - "Bring Him Home" (Library Books)

The second in the Rat Pack series continues the adventures of Eddie G, Jerry, and of course Frank, Dean, and Sammy. Fun noir story that takes you back to Vegas in the 60's. Still a fan of the series - looking forward to reading the next one soon.

>137 LittleTaiko: Yeah, The Painted Veil is definitely not a light read! It's pretty different from the movie, though -- not as much political stuff in the book, as I recall.

Book #112

Book: Wicked Autumn by G.M. Malliet
Rating: 3 stars
Category: Hairspray - "New Girl in Town" (Books Published or Acquired in 2014)

There is something to be said for reading a book where the season is a vivid part of the story while you are currently experiencing the same season. Obviously autumn is probably quite different in England compared to Texas, yet I still couldn't help but get a little extra bit of enjoyment reading about the change in the color of leaves, cooler temperatures, festivals, etc...However, that being said, this is a mystery novel first and foremost featuring Max a former MI5 agent turned cozy-village vicar. This is the first book in the series so much time was spent setting up the characters and the location. It was a proper mystery with clues that could be followed if one is paying attention. This book was never in a hurry and flowed along at a nice leisurely pace similar to what the villagers lives seemed to be like.

Book #113

Book: The Gatehouse Mystery by Julie Campbell
Rating: 4 stars
Category: The Scarlet Pimpernel - "Where's the Girl?" (Female Authors)/ROOT/AlphaKit - G

Fun quick read that takes me back to when I was a preteen or teenager completely enjoying the Trixie Belden series. This is the third in the series, but the first that properly introduces Trixie's two older brothers Brian and Mart. Read as an adult, the mystery is fairly obvious but it's still fun to see the little group coming together and interacting.

Book #114

Book: Dissolution by C.J. Sansom
Rating: 3 stars
Category: Priscilla Queen of the Desert - "It's Raining Men" (Male Authors)/ROOT/Alpha Kit - S

Set during Henry VIII's reign, Matthew Shardlake is a commissioner working for Cromwell who is tasked with investigating who killed a fellow commissioner while visiting a monastery in the hopes of convincing them to close. I found the book interesting in some respects as I really didn't know anything about the attack on monasteries or the whole reform movement. While I did find it to be a page turner at points, the book took way too long to set the story up and Matthew was not somebody I found it easy to root for. He had his moments, but overall he was rather an unsympathetic narrator. There was also a very modern feel to this book even though it was set a couple hundred years ago.

Book #115

Book: One Hot Murder by Lorraine Bartlett
Rating: 3 stars
Category: The Scarlet Pimpernel - "Where's the Girl?" (Female Authors)/ROOT

This book could be summed up by a couple of themes: Main character obsessing about the inn she'll never own, an incredible number of references to how hot it is in the town and how apparently very few people have air-conditioning, odd characters who behave in incredibly strange ways, and a possible murder or two. This is the third in the series set in Victoria Square and this time one of the stores in the square has been set on fire and a dead body is found among the remains. Katie once again gets involved with trying to figure who the killer is, of course knowing who was actually killed is the key first step in the process. In between lots of talk about the heat, dealing with random weirdos, and letting go of her dream after lots of anguish and soul-searching, she someone manages to work it all out. It was an okay book but I much prefer the booktown series by the same author to this one.

Book #116

Book: A Cold and Lonely Place by Sara J. Henry
Rating: 4 stars
Category: Hairspray - "New Girl in Town" (Book Purchased/Published in 2014)

Always nice when you read a new author and find a place and people that you enjoy spending time with. This is the second book in a series and at times I had wished I had read the first book as it would have given me a better understanding of the main character and how she came to be in this small town in the Adirondacks. As a mystery fan I got a small kick out of the fact that the main characters name is Troy and that her parents had named her after one of Ngaio Marsh's characters. The mystery centers around a poor fellow found frozen in the ice. How did he get there and was it murder? This isn't your traditional mystery at all but instead is more of an exploration of life and the choices we make.

Book #117

Book: A House in the Sky by Amanda Lindhout
Rating: 4 stars
Category: Chicago - "I Can't Do It Alone" (Book Club or Group Reads)

This must be my year for reading about kidnapped women in both fiction and in real life as this is the second or third in the last few months. In this case, this is the true story of Amanda Lindhout and her ordeal after being kidnapped by some radial Islamic Somalis and held captive for over a year. The book does a nice job of giving you a look at how she became the world traveling backpacker that she was without getting bogged down in too many details. It also deals with the harsh realities of being a prisoner without making the reader too uncomfortable. How she kept her sanity and overall positive outlook is truly remarkable.

Book #118

Book: My Man, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse
Rating: 4 stars
Category: Book of Mormon - "Making Things Up Again" (Fiction)

The title says it all - My Man Jeeves. Really, what more do you need than Jeeves to get you out of a scrape or two of the usual romantic type? Actually, a few of the stories didn't involved Jeeves or Bertie but had a Bertie-like character who manages to get into hilarious yet well-meaning trouble. As usual, a Wodehouse book is always a good choice.

Book #119

Book: The Mysterious Visitor by Julie Campbell
Rating: 3 stars
Category: The Scarlet Pimpernel - "Where's the Girl?" (Female Authors)

Fourth book in the Trixie Belden series and so far my least favorite. This book introduces Diana Lynch as an old friend of Trixie's who is having a problem with a man who claims to be her uncle making her life miserable. Diana was the main reason I didn't like this book as much as she came across as quite the hysterical, irrational girl which made it confusing as to why anybody actually liked her. The adults this time around seemed to be particularly dense. On the positive side, it was fun to see some of the other characters becoming a bigger part of the stories, especially Trixie's brother Mart.

Book #120

Book: Dark Tide: The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919 by Stephen Puleo
Rating: 4 stars
Category: Anything Goes - "Anything Goes" (Random CAT)

What an amazing and informative story this was. The idea of a molasses flood really does seem like a setup for a joke, but instead the reality was quite horrifying. The author does a great job of presenting this true story in a narrative format that makes the main players in the tragedy come to light. The background information regarding other news stories of the day such as Prohibition being passed, the anarchists, treatment of immigrants, etc...really added something to make this a well-rounded story.

And with that book, I'm officially done with the challenge!!! Technically, I finished a while ago since my minimum was 5 books in each category, but I had set an overall target of 120 books. I'll continue to log my books and work to finish up my various other challenges such as Alpah, Mystery CAT, Random, TBR, and ROOT. Lots of reading still to be done this year - at least ten books to read in December. We'll see if it all actually happens.

The Portrait by Iain Pears - TBR Challenge, ROOT
Death by Sudoku by Kaye Morgan - TBR Challenge, Mystery CAT, ROOT
On Beauty by Zadie Smith - TBR Challenge, ROOT, Alpha Z
The Baron in the Trees by Italo Calvino - Alpha B
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe - ROOT
Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively - Random CAT
Death of a Red Heroine by Xiaolong Qiu - Alpha X
Capital by John Lanchester - Book Club
What You Wish For by Janet Dawson - Alpha Y
Siddartha by Hermann Hesse - Book Club

Book #121

Book: Braking Points by Tammy Kaehler
Rating: 3 stars
Category: Hairspray - "New Girl in Town" (Books Published or Purchased in 2014)

Two of my favorite things combined into one book - auto racing and a mystery. Kate is having a pretty horrible day - she's involved in a wreck while racing with an extremely popular visiting NASCAR driver. While enduring the bad publicity and irate fans that comes with that she has the misfortune of finding a friend of hers dead. This is actually the second book in the series, but overall I didn't feel that I had missed out on too much by not having read the first one. I enjoyed the characters and the race depictions. Kate is a tough yet vulnerable woman in her 20's who is figuring out how to be comfortable in her own skin and to make grown up decisions. Enjoyable read - look forward to reading more.

Congratulations on completing the challenge! Well done!

Congratulations!

Congrats on finishing!!

Woo hoo, congratulations! :D

Congratulations!

Well done! And you're left with over a month to just read whatever you want to.

Congratulations on completing your 2014 Challenge.

Congrats on completing your challenge!

Congrats on completing the challenge.

Congrats and enjoy the free reading!

Congratulations on finishing!

Thank you everyone!!! Hope to get some bonus reading done over Thanksgiving weekend!

Had a crazy dream last night, that there was some sort of LT convention and most of the challenge people were there. We were all in a room presenting various books that we were reading. Sounds like a fun convention to me!!

That sounds great! It's like the threads coming to life :D

I love that dream!

>163 LittleTaiko:
Tell me where and when and I'll be there! :)

Wouldn't tha be great? My favorite part of the dream was seeing what everyone really looked like. Maybe it's a sign that I've been spending too much time on LT. 😀

I don't know what most people here look like in real life, so it'd been funny to see what the brain would have come up with! :)

Book #122

Book: The Portrait by Iain Pears
Rating: 3 stars
Category: Priscilla Queen of the Desert - "It's Raining Men" (Male Authors)/TBR/ROOT

This was a short, suspenseful tale told entirely in the form of a one-sided conversation with the portrait painter doing all the talking to his subject - a former friend and art critic. Personally, I found this book fascinating and enjoyed it quite a bit. Loved the building tension as the book neared it's inevitable conclusion. However, I can see where this book wouldn't work for everybody. I would recommend reading this book in one sitting, if possible, to get the full effect and to have the story make sense.

Congrats on finishing! Woo!

Book #123

Book: What You Wish For: A Novel of Suspense by Janet Dawson
Rating: 3 stars
Category: Hairspray - "New Girl in Town" (Purchased or Published in 2014)/Alpha Kit - Y

Received this book for free at a mystery book convention so was expecting more of a cozy mystery for some reason. Instead I got what the title flat out says - a suspense novel. Once I adjusted my expectations, I settled in for a fairly enjoyable story. Lindsay is a professor in California and remains close friends with her three roommates from college. When one of them suffers a stroke it sets off a chain of discoveries that will have a serious impact on all their lives. Additionally, Lindsay is writing a book and one of her interviewees is someone who survived a horrible massacre in El Salvador and is still searching for her lost son after several years. The woman is convinced that she has seen him recently in their town. The author makes quite a bit of use of the flash back and multiple narratives which can be a bit jarring at times. I wasn't surprised by any of the reveals but still enjoyed reading the book.

Off to Phoenix for the weekend which means quality reading time on the plane!

Good time to come-we've had a little rain and things are getting cool.

Great! I'm visiting a friend for her birthday and we're doing some hiking and spa stuff.

AZ is perfect for both hiking and spa! Hope you had/are having a great time!

>175 -Eva-: - Thanks! I did have a fabulous time - a little bit of hiking on Saturday and lots of relaxing on Sunday at the spa. Definitely a nice break.

Managed to finish a couple of books on my trip.

Book #124

Book: Death by Sudoku by Kaye Morgan
Rating: 3 stars
Category: Jekyll & Hyde - "Murder, Murder" (Mysteries/Thrillers)/TBR/ROOT

Well, the best thing that can be said about this book is that I finished it. It wasn't horrible but it didn't really add much to my life either. It was perfect for reading on an airplane though as it was a light, somewhat silly mystery with enjoyable enough characters.

Book #125

Book: The Baron in the Trees by Italo Calvino
Rating: 4 stars
Category: Priscilla Queen of the Desert - "It's Raining Men" (Male Authors)

Ever since I read If On a Winter's Night a Traveler, I've wanted to read something else by Calvino. This book didn't disappoint. It wasn't as great as Traveler but still really good. It's the story of Cosimo, who in a fit of teenage rebellion, climbs into a tree and never come down. He spends the rest of his life living among the trees and traveling through their branches. He manages to have a very full life, including hunting, assisting with crops, and having love affairs. It got a little sluggish towards the end as it tried to wrap everything up, but it was still well worth reading. The author obviously loved books and integrates this love into the story.

Book #126

Book: Siddartha by Hermann Hesse
Rating: 4 stars
Category: Chicago - "I Can't Do It Alone" (Book Club/Group Reads)

Strange but intriguing story of a young many on a spiritual journey. He starts out very devout but then starts questioning his beliefs which leads to a period of more worldly pursuits. In the end he answers the questions for himself regarding what is his true self and how to be happy in the world.

Sounds like you had a good weekend; can't go wrong with hiking, spa and reading! :)

Book #127

Book: On Beauty by Zadie Smith
Rating: 4 stars
Categoy: The Scarlet Pimpernel - "Where's the Girl?" (Female Authors)/TBR/ROOT/Alpha Z

For some reason I kept putting off reading this book, but now that I have read it I can't imagine why I was so intimidated by it. This book takes a harsh, yet funny view of the academic world and the people who inhabit it. Completely out of touch with reality, the Belsley family does their best to face the difficulties that come their way. A bit cliched at times, I still couldn't help but want to know what was going to happen to them.

Book #128

Book: Netherland by Joseph O'Neill
Rating: 2 stars
Category: Priscilla Queen of the Desert - "It's Raining Men" (Male Authors)/ROOT

Well, I know that this book is more than a book about cricket and it's history, and there is a part of me that appreciates the multi-layered narration technique, however overall this was not the book for me. Endless discussion of cricket made my eyes glaze over and the constant focus to remember which part of the story was being told became a bit much. Oddly enough though, I remained curious as to how the story would end.

Book #129

Book: Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively
Rating: 4 stars
Category: Anything Goes - "Anything Goes" (Random CAT)

Another book that plays with the timeline of a story but in a way that works much better for me. Claudia is dying. As she lies in her hospital bed, she decides to write the history of the world, but through the lens of her life. She isn't always the most sympathetic of characters, but yet she is somebody to root for. She is strong, independent, and completely sure of herself. Definitely glad I spent time reading this book.

I have started a list of potential future beer purchases and your husband's recommendations are there. I have also enjoyed reading your great reviews over the year. Stopping by to wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2015!

Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas, Stacy.

Merry Christmas and all the best for 2015 :D

Thank you everyone - I hope you all had a great Chridtmas! Apparently I was a good girl this year as I received lots of books. The lovely list includes:

Crampton Hodnet by Barbara Pym
Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
A Sudden Light by Garth Stein
These is My Words by Nancy E. Turner
The Last Dead Girl by Harry Dolan
The Homesman by Glendon Swarthout
The Book of Strange New Things by Michael Faber
Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams

You must have been really good! Nice haul!

>187 LittleTaiko: Excellent!

Oooh! What a lovely haul of books. Happy reading!

Book #130

Book: Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography by Neil Patrick Harris
Rating: 5 stars
Category: Les Mis - "Bring Him Home" (Library Books)

Sometimes you just need a fun read to wrap up your year and this book was the perfect book to do just that. I grew up with Doogie, have watched every single episode of How I Met Your Mother, and have watched the Tony's just because he was hosting. When I found out he had written an autobiography set in the style of the Choose Your Own Adventure books, I was instantly hooked. I loved those books when I was younger and the format worked for this light, honest, and always entertaining look at some of the highlights of his life. Hey, I even learned a couple of magic tricks along the way.

And with that, I may just say farewell to 2014. It's nice to end on a positive note and I'm not sure I'll have time to finish anything else before New Years.

Congratulations, and I'm glad you ended with a good one!

Excellent Christmas haul!!

See you next year!

>191 LittleTaiko:
That sounds like an awesome way to wrap up the year! How fun!

See you in 2015!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! Looks like you ended 2014 with a good book!

Thank you! Happy new year to all of you too!