mathgirl40's 2019 Category Challenge, Part 2

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mathgirl40's 2019 Category Challenge, Part 2

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1mathgirl40
sep 14, 2019, 10:12 pm

Welcome to part 2 of my 2019 challenge!

Here are my categories for 2019:

1. Tournament of Books
2. Evergreen Award
3. 1001 Books to Read Before You Die
4. Hugo and Aurora Awards
5. Long SFF Series
6. Other Science Fiction and Fantasy
7. Doorstoppers
8. Short Stories
9. Graphic Novels
10. Arthurian Legends
11. BookCrossing Roundabout
12. Cross-Canada Journey
13. Scottish Mysteries
14. Mysteries Around the World
15. Golden Age Mysteries
16. Other Mysteries
17. Scary books
18. Nonfiction
19. Dust Collectors

I will try to read a minimum of 5 books in each category.





2mathgirl40
Redigerat: jan 4, 2020, 10:18 pm

Category 1: The Tournament of Books



This category will include books from the 2019 Tournament of Books, held in March.

1. There There by Tommy Orange (Jan. 7)
2. Washington Black by Esi Edugyan (Jan. 14)
3. The Italian Teacher by Tom Rachman (Jan. 20)
4. The Dictionary of Animal Languages by Heidi Sopinka (Feb. 8)
5. Call Me Zebra by Azareen van der Vliet Oloomi (Feb. 9)
6. The Parking Lot Attendant by Nafkote Tamirat (Feb. 14)
7. Speak No Evil by Uzodinma Iweala (Feb. 22)
8. The House of Broken Angels by Luis Alberto Urrea (Mar. 7)
9. Milkman by Anna Burns (Mar. 8)
10. My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite (Mar. 13)
11. Lost Children Archive by Valeria Luiselli (Nov. 27)

Category 2: The Evergreen Award



This category will include nominees for the 2019 Evergreen Award, given by the Ontario Library Association. The nominees are announced in February.

1. Moon Of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice
2. The Saturday Night Ghost Club by Craig Davidson (Apr. 6)
3. Foe by Iain Reid (Aug. 9)
4. French Exit by Patrick DeWitt (Sept. 16)
5. I'm Afraid of Men by Vivek Shraya (Sept. 25)
6. The Return of Kid Cooper by Brad Smith (Sept. 26)

Category 3: 1001 Books

These are books listed in Peter Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.



1. Contact by Carl Sagan (Jan. 12)
2. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote (Apr. 3)
3. The Glass Bead Game by Hermann Hesse (June 29)
4. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Stevenson (Oct. 25)
5. Les Liaisons Dangereuses by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos (Dec. 13)
6. Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh (Dec. 18)

3mathgirl40
Redigerat: jan 8, 2020, 6:35 pm

Category 4: The Hugo and Aurora Science Fiction and Fantasy Awards



This category will include nominees for and winners of the Hugo and Aurora SFF Awards, as well as related awards like the Lodestar and Campbell awards. This year, I plan to rejoin as a voting member and read from the Voter Packet for each of these awards.

1. Dread Nation by Justina Ireland (Apr. 16)
2. The Black God's Drums by P. Djèlí Clark (Apr. 19)
3. The Atrocity Archives by Charlie Stross (Apr. 27)
4. Gods, Monsters and the Lucky Peach by Kelly Robson (Apr. 28)
5. Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire (May 5)
6. Artificial Condition by Martha Wells (May 8)
7. Infomocracy by Malka Older (May 10)
8. Binti: The Night Masquerade by Nnedi Okorafor (May 14)
9. Revenant Gun by Yoon Ha Lee (May 18)
10. Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse (May 26)
11. The Tea Master and the Detective by Aliette de Bodard (June 3)
12. Calculating Stars by Mary Kowal Robinette (June 13)
13. Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman (June 21)
14. Null States by Malka Older (June 25)
15. Children of Blood and Bone by Toni Adeyemi (July 5)
16. The City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty (July 6)
17. Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers (July 10)
18, Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente (July 27)
19. The Call by Peadar O'Guilin (July 30)
20. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black (August 3)
21. Witchmark by C. L. Polk (August 5)
22. Cross Fire by Fonda Lee (Aug. 23)
23. The Quantum Magician by Derek Kunsken (Sept. 8)
24. Armed in Her Fashion by Kate Heartfield (Dec. 31)

Category 5: Long Science Fiction and Fantasy Series



I seem to be attracted to never-ending series, or those that have ended but just seem to be never-ending. This category will encompass my reading from the Liaden, 1632, October Daye, Wheel of time and other long SFF series.

1. Nemesis Games by James S. A. Corey (Jan. 27)
2. Summer Knight by Jim Butcher (Feb. 23)
3. Death Masks by Jim Butcher (Mar. 14)
4. Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett (Mar. 21)
5. Dragon Ship by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (Mar.30)
6. The Churn by James S. A. Corey (Apr. 7)
7. Blood Rites by Jim Butcher (Apr. 11)
8. Babylon's Ashes by James S. A. Corey (June 14)
9. Persepolis Rising by James S. A. Corey (Sept. 24)
10. Dead Beat by Jim Butcher (Oct. 29)

Category 6: Other Science Fiction and Fantasy



1. Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman (Jan. 29)
2. Lockstep by Karl Schroeder (Feb. 13)
3. The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu (Feb. 25)
4. Beguilement by Lois McMaster Bujold (Mar. 13)
5. Under the Pendulum Sun by Jeannette Ng (Mar.23)
6. Binti: Home by Nnedi Okorafor (May 12)
7. Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang by Kate Wilhelm (June 6)
8, Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel (June 26)
9. Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank (August 6)
10. Railsea by China Mieville (Sept. 23)
11. Way Station by Clifford D. Simak (Sept. 30)
12. Jade City by Fonda Lee (Dec. 16)

4mathgirl40
Redigerat: jan 4, 2020, 10:20 pm

Category 7: Doorstoppers



1. Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson (May 31)
2. Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles by Margaret George (Oct. 19)
3. Tom Jones by Henry Fielding (Nov. 4)
4. Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan (Nov. 6)
5. Memories of Ice by Steven Erickson (Nov. 22)

Category 8: Short Stories


Artwork by Tom Gauld for The Guardian

1. Icelandic Folk and Fairy Tales by Jón Árnason
2. As Birds Bring Forth the Sun and Other Stories by Alistair MacLeod (July 28)
3. Hugo nominees for Best Short Story (July 29)
4. Between Worlds by Kevin Crossley-Holland (Oct. 31)
5. The Mistletoe Murder and Other Stories by P. D. James (Dec. 25)

Category 9: Graphic Novels


Artwork by Gabriel Rodriguez, from Locke & Key series.

1. The Dresden Files: Fool Moon, Volumes 1 and 2 (Jan. 31)
2. Abbott by Saladin Ahmed (June 29)
3. Monstress, Volume 2 by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda
4. Monstress, Volume 3 by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda
5. Saga, Volume 7 by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples (July 11)
8. Saga, Volume 8 by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples (July 12)
7. Saga, Volume 9 by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples (July 14)
8. Paper Girls, Volume 2 by Brian K. Vaughn and Cliff Chiang (July 16)
9. Paper Girls, Volume 3 by Brian K. Vaughn and Cliff Chiang (July 18)
10. Paper Girls, Volume 4 by Brian K. Vaughn and Cliff Chiang (July 19)
11. Black Panther: Long Live the King by Nnedi Okorafor and Aaron Covington (July 25)
12. Paper Girls, Volume 5 by Brian K. Vaughn and Cliff Chiang (Oct. 19)

5mathgirl40
Redigerat: jan 8, 2020, 6:52 pm

Category 10: Arthurian Legends



These are books about or inspired by the King Arthur story.

1. The Fall of Arthur by J.R.R. Tolkien (Sept. 2)
2. The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart (Oct. 29)
3. At the Crossing Places by Kevin Crossley-Holland (Dec. 20)
4. The Wandering Fire by Guy Gavriel Kay (Dec. 27)
5. Le Morte d'Arthur, Volume 1 by Thomas Malory (Dec. 28)

Category 11: BookCrossing Roundabout



I signed up for a "Favourite Books of 2018" roundabout on BookCrossing, with 11 other BookCrossers. We'll be mailing the books along to one another throughout the year.

1. Why Did You Lie? by Yrsa Sigurdardottir (Jan. 9)
2. Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris (Jan. 18)
3. Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky (Mar. 11)
4. We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler (Apr. 8)
5. The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham (Apr. 22)
6. Submission by Michel Houellebecq (May 30)
7. Lachlan's War by Michael Cannon (June 10)
8. An Imaginary Life by David Malouf (July 9)
9. Insomniac City by Bill Hayes (August 10)
10. Sleepers by Lorenzo Carcaterra (Sept. 18)
11. The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson (Oct. 8)
12. Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey (Nov. 6)

Category 12: Cross-Canada Journey



Inspired by lkernagh, I started a virtual walk across Canada in late 2016, starting in Vancouver and working my way East, using the World Walking app. On January 1, 2019, I am in Northern Ontario, a bit past Thunder Bay. I expect I'll be spending much of this year working through Ontario and Quebec, and I'll be reading books related to the places I pass on my journey.

1. Seven Fallen Feathers (Thunder Bay, Ontario) by Tanya Talaga (Jan. 26)
2. They Promised Me the Gun Wasn't Loaded (Waterloo, Ontario) by James Alan Gardner (Sept. 13)
3. The Testaments (Toronto, Ontario) by Margaret Atwood (Oct. 3)
4. Toronto Noir (Toronto, Ontario) edited by Janine Armin (Nov. 8)
5. The Summer Tree (Toronto, Ontario) by Guy Gavriel Kay (Dec. 4)

6mathgirl40
Redigerat: jan 4, 2020, 10:03 pm

Category 13: Scottish Mysteries



1. One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson (Apr. 29)
2. Quite Ugly One Morning by Christopher Brookmyre (Aug. 13)
3. Raven Black by Ann Cleeves (Dec. 8)
4. Murder of a Lady by Anthony Wynne (Dec. 22)
5. Death of a Glutton by M. C. Beaton (Dec. 24)

Category 14: Mysteries From Around the World



1. The Mine by Antti Tuomainen -- Finland (Jan. 23)
2. Murder on Safari by Elspeth Huxley -- Kenya (Feb. 6)
3. Police by Jo Nesbo -- Norway (May 21)
4. The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen (Aug. 12)
5. Tumbleweed by Janwillem van de Vetering (Aug. 26)

Category 15: Golden Age Mysteries



1. The Case is Closed by Patricia Wentworth (Apr. 12)
2. Poirot Loses a Client by Agatha Christie (May 27)
3. Pearls Before Swine by Margery Allingham (Oct. 26)
4. Singing in the Shrouds by Ngaio Marsh (Nov. 23)
5. An Overdose of Death by Agatha Christie (Nov. 24)
6. The Clock Strikes Twelve by Patricia Wentworth (Dec. 10)

7mathgirl40
Redigerat: jan 2, 2020, 8:48 am

Category 16: Other Mysteries



1. Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny (Feb. 3)
2. Well-Schooled in Murder by Elizabeth George (Feb. 28)
3. Ordeal by Innocence by Agatha Christie (Mar. 17)
4. Cargo of Eagles by Margery Allingham (July 20)
5. Death in Disguise by Caroline Graham (Aug. 17)
6. A Better Man by Louise Penny (Nov. 12)
7. The Bride Wore Black by Cornell Woolrich (Nov. 23)

Category 17: Scary Books

Books for the ScaredyKIT and other horror.



1. Feedback by Mira Grant (Feb. 11)
2. The Gunslinger by Stephen King (Mar. 20)
3. Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens (June 27)
4. One of Us by Craig di Louie (Sept. 11)
5. We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson (Oct. 27)
6. The Bachman Books by Stephen King (Nov. 28)

Category 18: Non-fiction



1. The Woo-Woo by Lindsay Wong (Mar. 25)
2. The Rituals of Dinner by Margaret Visser (May 2)
3. Overrun by Andrew Reeves (May 10)
4. Robertson Davies: A Portrait in Mosaic by Val Ross (June 27)
5. Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (Aug. 21)

8mathgirl40
Redigerat: dec 21, 2019, 10:30 pm

Category 19: Dust Collectors



1. The Adventures of Tintin: Flight 714 to Sydney by Hergé (Jan. 5)
2. Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett (Jan. 30)
3. Anne of Windy Poplars by L. M. Montgomery (Feb. 27)
4. The Two Towers by J. R. R. Tolkien (Apr. 20)
5. The Return of the King by J. R. R. Tolkien (May 15)
6. Stardance by Spider and Jeanne Robinson (June 2)
7. The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien (June 18)

Books that don't fit into any of the previous categories

1. Precious Bane by Mary Webb (Apr. 2)
2. The Cunning Man by Robertson Davies (Apr. 4)
3. The Circle Game by Margaret Atwood (Apr. 14)
4. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón (May 6)
5. The Favourite Game by Leonard Cohen (May 24)
6. The Wreckage by Michael Crummey (July 3)
7. Heart Berries by Terese Marie Mailhot (Sept. 20)
8. Quichotte by Salman Rushdie (Oct. 24)

9mathgirl40
sep 14, 2019, 10:25 pm

Welcome to part 2 of my challenge! Part 1 was for my reading up until the end of June, so as you can see, I'm still a little bit behind with my reviews. :)

For the remainder of the year, I'm looking forward to:
- working on my "Doorstoppers" category, as I have a few big tomes on my TBR pile
- following the Booker and Giller lists and hopefully reading a few from them
- reading more from my own shelves, as I've failed miserably at this goal in the past couple of months
- not buying any more books (ha!)

10mathgirl40
sep 14, 2019, 10:42 pm



90. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi (3 stars)
Category: Hugo and other SFF Awards

This fantasy novel set in Africa has a bit of everything: magic, swordplay, romance, and adventure. The premise and setting are great, and this book ended up winning the Lodestar award (the YA version of the Hugo Award) in August. Yet, I found the writing mediocre and reading it was a real slog at times. It wasn't terrible but I don't feel motivated to continue the series and find out what happens next.

11mathgirl40
sep 14, 2019, 10:54 pm



91. The City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty (4 stars)

This novel was nominated for the Campbell award for new writers, which is given alongside the Hugo awards every year. It didn't win, but it was a deserving candidate. Like Children of Blood and Bone, reviewed in the last post, this is a fantasy adventure story with an exotic setting (exotic for us North Americans, anyhow). Set in Egypt, it features elements from Middle Eastern mythology. I really liked Nahri, the main character, and Chakraborty's vivid descriptions of the various locales. I do plan on continuing this series, though it may take some time before I get around to it.

12Jackie_K
sep 15, 2019, 4:55 am

Happy new thread! You have read loads this year, I'm in awe! (also, I love that Tom Gauld cartoon that tops your short story category!)

13AHS-Wolfy
sep 15, 2019, 4:55 am

>11 mathgirl40: Heard a lot of good things about this already but it's always good to see more positivity about potential future reads. I've just heard the latest book (3rd?) has been delayed until late in 2020 (originally scheduled for February I believe) so you've still got plenty of time to get to the sequel.

14mathgirl40
sep 15, 2019, 10:37 pm

>12 Jackie_K: Thanks! Yes, Tom Gauld is great, isn't he?

>13 AHS-Wolfy: That's good to know, thanks. I'll try to fit in the second book before then.

15mathgirl40
sep 16, 2019, 9:21 pm



92. An Imaginary Life by David Malouf
Category: BookCrossing Roundabout

This novel imagines the life of Ovid, after he is exiled. It is a slow-moving, thoughtful story with beautiful writing. Though it's a short book, it took me quite some time to finish. It's definitely not a book to speed through but one to savour quietly.

16mathgirl40
sep 16, 2019, 9:28 pm



93. The Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers (4.5 stars)
Category: Hugo Awards

This was one of the Hugo Best Novel awards this year. I didn't think it was a strong contender for the award, and it did not win in the end, but I found it a thoroughly enjoyable book all the same. Third in Chambers's Wayfarer series, this book works fine as a standalone and follows the lives of several people in a community of Earthling refugees. It's charming and fun, with some very touching moments, somewhat like Chronicles of Avonlea in space but with more diversity in the characters.

17mathgirl40
sep 16, 2019, 10:45 pm

   

94. Saga, Volume 7 by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples (4 stars)
95. Saga, Volume 8 by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples (4 stars)
96. Saga, Volume 9 by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples (4.5 stars)

I had to binge-read the last 3 volumes of Saga before voting for the Hugo Best Graphic Story award. It was volume 9 that was nominated. This space-opera series continues to feature great characters, compelling plotlines and superb artwork. It's best to begin at the beginning, with Volume 1, as there is a lot of plot and character development. A warning to those who are not familiar with the story: there is some rather graphic artwork (appropriate for a graphic novel, I suppose).

18mathgirl40
sep 16, 2019, 11:05 pm

   

97. Paper Girls, Volume 2 by Brian K. Vaughn and Cliff Chiang (4.5 stars)
98. Paper Girls, Volume 3 by Brian K. Vaughn and Cliff Chiang (4 stars)
99. Paper Girls, Volume 4 by Brian K. Vaughn and Cliff Chiang (4.5 stars)

I continued my graphic-novel binge-read with 3 volumes of Paper Girls, the 4th volume of which had been nominated for the Hugo Best Graphic Story award, eventually losing out to Monstress, Volume 3. Like Saga, reviewed in the previous post, this is another series by Brian K. Vaughn, but with a different illustrator.

When I'd read the first volume, some time back, I liked it but wasn't motivated to continue. This year's Hugo nomination spurred me to catch up with the series and I'm so glad, as I'm definitely hooked now.

The story is about 4 12-year-old girls from a small town in the 80's who get caught up in a fight between time-travelling aliens. They deal with the shifts in time, a variety of monsters and the sometimes unpleasant reality of encountering their future selves. If you like the Stranger Things TV series, you'll probably enjoy this comic-book series as well.

19VivienneR
sep 17, 2019, 1:15 am

Happy new thread! I love having a look back at all the books read so far.

20JayneCM
sep 17, 2019, 7:56 am

>9 mathgirl40: You are SO funny - noy buy any more book!! Isn't that what we all say?!
I am trying too, but it was so hard. I changed it to only buying books at op shops, so at least I am saving money, even though my shelves are groaning!

21RidgewayGirl
sep 17, 2019, 9:28 am

Happy new thread! My Tournament of Books category is also full. It's an easy category to fill!

22rabbitprincess
sep 17, 2019, 6:42 pm

>16 mathgirl40: "Chronicles of Avonlea in space" is an excellent comparison. I haven't read the book myself, but I love the comparison :D

23mathgirl40
sep 17, 2019, 10:44 pm

>19 VivienneR: Thanks for stopping by!

>20 JayneCM: Yeah, I know ... that is a promise that is almost certain to be broken. :)

>21 RidgewayGirl: Indeed, and I have to thank you, as your ongoing reviews of the ToB books leading up to the tournament have motivated me to read more of them.

>22 rabbitprincess: I made the comparison because I found the story charming and the relationships among the citizens interesting, but there are more aliens than gossipy villagers in this novel. :)

24mathgirl40
sep 19, 2019, 10:29 pm



100. Cargo of Eagles by Margery Allingham
Category: Other Mysteries

This novel is the final one of the Campion series, and it was finished by Margery Allingham's husband posthumously. It's an entertaining spy story set in a small English village. Campion doesn't play a large role but is more of a supporting character to two other leading characters. The story isn't memorable, but it's a worthwhile read if you're a Campion fan.

25mathgirl40
sep 19, 2019, 10:45 pm



101. Black Panther: Long Live the King by Nnedi Okorafor and Aaron Covington (3.5 stars)
Category: Graphic Novels

This nominee for the 2019 Hugo Best Graphic Story award is a collection containing three stories set in the Black Panther world. Two were written by Nnedi Okorafor and one by Aaron Covington. The stories were not remarkable, but I enjoyed learning more about Wakanda. Having read only one collection by Ta-Nehisi Coates, I'm not all that familiar with the Black Panther world.

26mathgirl40
sep 21, 2019, 10:24 pm



102. Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente (3.5 stars)
Category: Hugo Awards

This novel was a nominee for the 2019 Hugo Best Novel award. The title has a double meaning, as it's a space opera about an opera (or at least a musical talent show) in space. The story is funny, absurd and entertaining, much in the style of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series. I have to admit, however, that I'm not a big fan of this style, even if it is done well.

27mathgirl40
sep 21, 2019, 10:42 pm



103. As Birds Bring Forth the Sun and Other Stories by Alistair Macleod
Category: Short Stories

This collection of stories by the author of the wonderful novel No Great Mischief is also set in Atlantic Canada. The stories are beautifully crafted and combine childhood memories, folklore of the region, and vivid images of the landscape. I found the stories quite captivating and would definitely recommend this collection to anyone who wants to know more about Canada's Maritime region.

28mathgirl40
sep 21, 2019, 10:46 pm

104. Hugo Short Stories
Category: Short Stories

Before voting for the Hugo awards at the end of July, I'd managed to finish all the nominees in the Best Short Story category. Here they are, in the order in which I'd ranked them. I was very pleased that my favourite, Harrow's story, was the one that won in the end!

- "A Witch’s Guide to Escape: A Practical Compendium of Portal Fantasies" by Alix E. Harrow. A librarian witch helps a troubled child find the books he needs. (5 stars)

- "STET" by Sarah Gailey - A "conversation" between an author of a scientific paper describing the dangers of autonomous cars and her editor, in the form of footnotes and edits. (4 stars)

- "The Court Magician" by Sarah Pinkster - The story of a magician that pays a heavy price each time he is asked by his regent to perform magic (4 stars)

- "The Rose McGregor Drinking and Admiration Society" by T. Kingfisher - Faerie creatures reminisce around a campfire about a woman they had all loved and lost. (3.5 stars)

- "The Secret Lives of the Nine Secret Teeth of George Washington" by P. Djeli Clark - We hear the histories of nine of George Washington's teeth that came from Black slaves. (3.5 stars)

- "The Tale of the Three Beautiful Raptor Sisters, and the Prince Who Was Made of Meat" by Brooke Bolander. A raptor, along with her sisters, meet a prince and eventually joins forces with a princess. (3.5 stars)

29RidgewayGirl
sep 22, 2019, 1:23 pm

>28 mathgirl40: Oh, I'm happy to see P. Djeli Clark's name on that list. I heard him speak at the Decatur Book Festival and despite my lack of interest, generally, in the genre, I'm excited about his writing. I have The Haunting of Tram Car 015 on my stack of books to read soon.

30mathgirl40
sep 24, 2019, 9:31 pm

>29 RidgewayGirl: One of my sci-fi/fantasy book clubs chose his novella The Black God's Drums. We all agreed that he created a fascinating world. I'd be happy to read more of his stories.

31mathgirl40
sep 24, 2019, 9:44 pm



105. The Call by Peadar Ó Guilín (4 stars)
Category: Hugo Awards

The second book in this series, The Invasion, had been nominated for the Lodestar (YA equivalent of the Hugo Best Novel award), but as I hadn't read the first, I decided to start here. This is a dystopian/horror novel with a terrific main character who has a physical disability. She does not have the use of her legs but still manages, through her cleverness and will, to fight the monsters (inspired by Irish folklore) that threaten her and her schoolmates. There is enough that distinguishes this story from others in the genre to make me want to read the sequel, even if I didn't read it in time for the Hugo voting.

32mathgirl40
okt 22, 2019, 9:35 pm



106. July's People by Nadine Gordimer (4 stars)
Category: 1001 Books

This novel by Nobel Prize winner Nadine Gordimer is relatively short but powerful. Set in South Africa in the 1980's, it examines the relationship between the white and the black people in that Apartheid state. Maureen, a privileged white woman, is suddenly forced to seek refuge in the village of July, her black servant, during a period of unrest. The reversal of roles and the shifts in power make her re-examine her views and actions.

33mathgirl40
okt 22, 2019, 9:44 pm



107. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black (4 stars)
Category: Hugo/Aurora Awards

This book had been nominated for the new Lodestar (the YA equivalent of the Hugo) award this year. The main character is a teenager who had been abducted from the human world at an early age and raised in the faerie world. At first, the premise and types of characters seemed much like many other novels of this genre. However, Black adds some surprising twists in an engaging story that reads like a spy thriller in places. I'd certainly consider reading the next book, though I'm not in a hurry to do so.

34mathgirl40
okt 22, 2019, 9:55 pm



108. Witchmark by C. L. Polk (5 stars)
Category: Hugo/Aurora Awards

This was one of the 2019 Aurora Award nominees. It didn't win but was my favourite of the ones I'd read. The story is set in a fictional location that is similar to Edwardian England. Doctor Miles Singer just wants to get on with his work in treating the wounded but he is dragged into dangerous and complicated situations by various circumstances and the machinations of his powerful family.

The writing is lovely and very atmospheric, the relationships among the characters are complex, and there is a smattering of steampunk elements for fans of that genre. I highly recommend this book and will certainly seek the next in the series, and I'm especially pleased to have found another Canadian SFF writer to love!

35mathgirl40
okt 22, 2019, 10:08 pm



109. Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank (4.5 stars)
Category: Other SFF

Though this book is considered by some to be a classic of the science-fiction genre, I had never thought to pick it up until it was chosen by one of my book clubs. It felt quite dated, but despite that, I enjoyed it much more than I'd expected. It's a post-apocalyptic novel about a small community led by main character Randy Bragg, trying to survive in the aftermath of a nuclear battle between the US and the Soviet Union. Well-paced and insightful, the novel examines how disaster brings out the best and worst in people, and how a community working together can survive and flourish.

36Tess_W
okt 23, 2019, 2:27 am

>35 mathgirl40: not a real SFF fan, but your review prompted me to put this on my wish list!

37lkernagh
nov 3, 2019, 3:55 pm

>34 mathgirl40: - Great review and I love that cover art!

38pammab
nov 5, 2019, 5:21 pm

>16 mathgirl40: I'm in the early pages of The Record of a Spaceborn Few now, and enjoying it as I expected -- characters filled with warmth in a space setting. I see, however, why you wouldn't necessarily think it was a great fit for a Hugo. I don't get the impression it's going to be either innovative or powerfully reflective on modernity in the way I'd like a Hugo winner to be.

39pammab
nov 5, 2019, 5:25 pm

>33 mathgirl40: I was impressed by another book of Holly Black's that I read, so your review of this one caught my eye. Apparently Doll Bones, the one I that I loved, didn't hit general audiences as well as it hit me, so since you and general audiences seemed to like The Cruel Prince even more than Doll Bones, I'll have to go see if it's available to me. I am hopeful!

40mathgirl40
nov 16, 2019, 9:11 pm

>36 Tess_W: I hope you'll enjoy it too!

>37 lkernagh: That cover caught my eye too, and it did fit the mood of the story very well.

>39 pammab: Thanks for the recommendation for Doll Bones. It sounds like one that I would enjoy.

41mathgirl40
nov 19, 2019, 9:07 pm



110. Insomniac City by Bill Hayes (4.5 stars)
Category: Bookcrossing Roundabout

Insomniac City by journalist and photographer Bill Hayes is a memoir by the author about his time in New York City and his relationship with Oliver Sacks. The story has many touching moments and the book is filled with wonderful photos of the city's residents taken by Hayes. I'm afraid I've not read anything by Oliver Sacks, but this memoir makes me want to.

I used to visit my aunt in New York City every summer when I was a child. I remember it as exciting and vibrant, but also a little gritty and frightening. (My experiences were limited to Chinatown and the low-to-middle-income neighbourhood where my aunt lived.) I've been told by many, including my daughter who'd had a terrific time visiting her friend there recently, that it's a very different city these days, and I've been eager to visit it again.

42mathgirl40
nov 19, 2019, 9:17 pm



111. Foe by Iain Reid (3.5 stars)
Category: Evergreen Nominees

I'd picked up this book because it was on the 2019 Ontario Library Association's Evergreen list. The story is about a man who gets chosen as a candidate for a special mission off the Earth. It starts off very slowly and features characters that, at first, don't seem especially interesting or appealing. There's a sense throughout that something is not quite right. As the author reveals the truth of the situation, the story gets much more interesting. However, that happens quite late in the book and I found the book a bit of a slog until then. Still, the unexpected twists at the end mostly made up for the slow pace.

43mathgirl40
nov 19, 2019, 9:28 pm



112. The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Addler-Olsen (4.5 stars)
Category: Mysteries Around the World (Denmark)

I am so behind in my reviews that I'm still reviewing books I'd read in August! The timing of this one was good, as I'd finished it just before arriving in Copenhagen with my family for a few days of vacation. It gave me, to a small extent at least, a sense of the people and place.

I really enjoyed this story, the first in the Department Q series, partly because of the well-paced plot and mostly because of the great characters. Carl Morck, a Danish detective relegated to investigating cold cases in an unpleasant basement office, works with his assistant Assad, to find out what happened to a female politician who had disappeared years ago.

I will definitely be seeking out more books in this series!

44mathgirl40
nov 19, 2019, 9:34 pm



113. Quite Ugly One Morning by Christopher Brookmyre (3 stars)
Category: Scottish Mysteries

I picked up this mystery because I'd read a couple of books in Christopher Brookmyre's Jasmine Sharp series and liked them very much. This one had too much gruesome dark humour for my tastes and seemed over-the-top in places. However, as it was the author's debut novel, perhaps later books in the series are better.

I do love the fact that (according to Brookmyre's Wikipedia entry), Parlabane's name is taken from the works of Robertson Davies, one of my favourite writers. This alone makes me willing to try more books from the Parlabane series!

45rabbitprincess
nov 19, 2019, 10:15 pm

>44 mathgirl40: Snorting at the blurb on that one: "thrillingly unpleasant". The first chapter is definitely a test of stomachs.

I think the Parlabane series also has a character named Simon Darcourt!

46mathgirl40
nov 19, 2019, 10:26 pm

>45 rabbitprincess: Oh, even better! Clearly, Brookmyre is a Davies fan.

47AHS-Wolfy
nov 20, 2019, 6:34 am

>44 mathgirl40: If you didn't like that one too much then I'd definitely suggest staying away from the earlier books in the series as they follow along similar lines. I think you'd be safer picking up the Parlabane series from Dead Girl Walking as this retains more of the Jasmine Sharp books. The latter series is where Brookmyre decided to delineate the type of books he releases by distinguishing them by slight differences in his name under which they get released. Chris gets the more serious type while Christopher still retains the more humorous content.

>45 rabbitprincess: Simon Darcourt appears in his other series, Angelique de Xavia.

48mathgirl40
nov 20, 2019, 7:56 am

>47 AHS-Wolfy: Thanks for the suggestion about picking up the series midway. I still have the third Jasmine Sharp book to read, and at some point, I wouldn't mind trying his other works too.

49mathgirl40
nov 20, 2019, 7:23 pm



114. Death in Disguise by Caroline Graham (3.5 stars)
Category: Other Mysteries

This is a slightly different take on the traditional "country house" mystery. The setting is a spiritual commune in which the residents all have secrets from their pasts. It was not bad, but I liked the first two Inspector Barnaby books better.

50rabbitprincess
nov 20, 2019, 10:05 pm

>47 AHS-Wolfy: Thanks! That's the one of his series I haven't started yet ;)

51mathgirl40
nov 20, 2019, 10:38 pm



115. Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (5 stars)
Category: Nonfiction

I'm not a fan of late-night talk and comedy shows, so I'd only ever seen a few short clips of Trevor Noah's performances. Not expecting a great deal, I was very surprised by how much I loved Noah's memoirs of his youth in Apartheid South Africa. The stories are told with honesty, warmth and humour.

Our book club at work chose this book as a selection, and everyone unanimously praised it, which is really unusual, given the diverse tastes of our book club members. We have one member who has hated most of the books we've chosen over the past 3 years but she continues to read every selection and attend every meeting. I am impressed by her dedication to the book club!

52mathgirl40
nov 20, 2019, 10:49 pm



116. Cross Fire by Fonda Lee (4 stars)
Category: Aurora Awards

This sequel to Exo, a futuristic science-fiction story, won the Canadian Aurora Award for Best YA novel. This novel continues the story of Donovan, a young man caught in the conflicts between a terrorist group and Earth's alien overlords. This series is complex and well written, and I enjoyed hearing Fonda Lee speak at a local literary event recently. She is definitely starting to make a name for herself.

53mathgirl40
nov 20, 2019, 10:54 pm



117. Tumbleweed by Janwillem van de Wetering (3.5 stars)
Category: Mysteries Around the World

I'd brought this book to the Netherlands with me when I was vacationing there, and I'd read it while in Amsterdam where it is partly set. It was an enjoyable mystery, featuring the team of detectives Grijpstra and de Gier investigating the murder of a woman on a houseboat. It felt a little dated, but I liked it enough that I would be happy to read more in the series.

In it, the liquor genever was mentioned and I told my family about it. My daughter was intrigued enough that she brought a bottle home to try. She said she liked it, but I've not had the chance yet to try it for myself.

54Jackie_K
nov 21, 2019, 9:32 am

>51 mathgirl40: This was a 5 star read for me too, I thought it was wonderful!

55mathgirl40
dec 4, 2019, 7:55 am

>54 Jackie_K: Thanks for stopping by!

56mathgirl40
dec 4, 2019, 7:58 am



118. The Fall of Arthur by J.R.R. Tolkien (4 stars)
Category: Arthurian Books

I've not read much by Tolkien outside of his Lord of the Rings works, but I'd like to explore more. This is an epic poem he had written about King Arthur's downfall, and it is a nice addition to my Arthurian Books category. I also enjoyed the commentary by his son Christopher Tolkien that was included in the edition that I'd read.

57mathgirl40
dec 4, 2019, 8:08 am



119. Quantum Magician by Derek Kunsken (3.5 stars)
Category: Aurora Awards

This book was on the shortlist in the Best Novel category for the Canadian Aurora SFF awards but did not win in the end. It's a space opera centred around the hero, a "quantum man" with special engineered abilities. The scope is big, with a lot of interesting characters and ideas, but it felt a bit messy and unevenly paced. Despite my mixed feelings about it, this debut novel shows promise for more good work to come from Kunsken.

58mathgirl40
dec 4, 2019, 8:14 am



120. One of Us by Craig di Louie (4 stars)
Category: Scary Books

This novel was another 2019 Aurora Best Novel nominee. It got mixed reviews from others but I really enjoyed it myself. Though it was nominated for a science-fiction and fantasy award, it probably belongs more in the horror category. The story follows several characters in a post-apocalyptic world, in which some have become grotesque mutants but with special capabilities. This theme is perhaps overdone, but I really liked di Louie's characters and style of writing. I am glad to have discovered this Canadian author. He has written several books but has been unknown to me until now.

59mathgirl40
dec 4, 2019, 9:31 pm



121. They Promised Me the Gun Wasn't Loaded by James Alan Gardner (3.5 stars)
Category: Cross-Canada Journey

This book, the second in Gardner's Dark vs. Spark series, was another Aurora Best Novel nominee. With comic-book style heroes and villains, it's a light and entertaining read. I chose it for my Cross-Canada Journey category, as when I'd read it, I was travelling near my own city of Waterloo, Ontario, where this book is set, in my virtual cross-country walk. It's fun reading about places with which I'm very familiar, but I'll have to resist the urge to look for vampires lurking in the shadows when I next visit them.

60mathgirl40
dec 15, 2019, 8:29 pm



122. French Exit by Patrick deWitt (4 stars)
Category: Evergreen Awards

This book, from the Ontario Library Association's 2019 Evergreen list, is about a wealthy eccentric mother and her socially awkward son who both escape to Paris to avoid certain bankruptcy in New York City. I found this story quirky and charming and I grew to like these initially unlovable characters. I liked deWitt's earlier work, The Sister Brothers better, but still enjoyed reading this latest work.

61mathgirl40
dec 15, 2019, 8:30 pm



123. Sleepers by Lorenzo Carcaterra (4.5 stars)
Category: BookCrossing Roundabout

Sleepers is supposedly based on the true story of the author's involvement with three friends in a murder cover-up. This was a highly disturbing but very gripping and moving book. Whether the events are all true or not, there is likely enough truth in the descriptions of the boys' lives and the conditions in the reform school to make one glad that these situations are continuing to be exposed. In Canada, we've had a lot of revelations about the residential schools for Indigenous youth in the past decades, and this situation seems similar. I'd definitely recommend this book for any fan of the true crime genre.

62mathgirl40
dec 15, 2019, 8:35 pm



124. Heart Berries by Terese Marie Mailhot (4 stars)
Category: Miscellaneous

Mailhot's memoir is compact but deeply moving and thought-provoking. She talks about her experiences with abuse, mental illness and family issues in a lyrical way and from an Indigenous point-of-view. What makes me and perhaps other readers conflicted is that she is both a victim and an aggressor. She writes about her experiences in a very honest and open way. I'm not sure if this book would appeal to everyone, but I found it very worthwhile reading myself.

63mathgirl40
dec 15, 2019, 8:44 pm



125. Railsea by China Miéville (3.5 stars)
Category: Other SFF

I've loved many of Miéville's books, but I definitely would not count this one among my favourites. It's a YA steampunk story inspired by Moby Dick. It was an enjoyable enough adventure story with plenty of instances showing Miéville's wit and cleverness, but it didn't grab me like some of his other novels have. Perhaps I would have appreciated it more if I'd read Moby Dick first.

64mathgirl40
dec 15, 2019, 8:50 pm



126. Persepolis Rising by James S. A. Corey (4.5 stars)
Category: Long SFF Series

I can't say enough about the excellent Expanse series. This 7th book jumps ahead by three decades but still features many of the well-loved characters of the earlier books. There are newer characters as well, and one thing I love so much about this series is that the "villains" are just as interesting and complex as the heroes.

A small group of us got together yesterday evening to watch the first couple of episodes in series 4 of the TV adaptation, and they were great! This adaptation really does justice to the books and I highly recommend it to science fiction fans.

65mathgirl40
dec 16, 2019, 10:24 pm



127. I'm Afraid of Men by Vivek Shraya (4 stars)
Category: Evergreen Books

This book, another from the 2019 Ontario Library Association's Evergreen list, is a deeply personal memoir about the author's experiences as a trans woman. I found it eye-opening; it certainly made me look more carefully at some of my own assumptions and attitudes.

66mathgirl40
dec 16, 2019, 10:32 pm



128. The Return of Kid Cooper by Brad Smith (4.5 stars)
Category: Evergreen Books

Westerns don't normally appeal to me, but I loved this story set in Northern Montana in the early 1900's. This is another from the 2019 Ontario Library Assocation's Evergreen list, and one that I would never have picked up if it hadn't been included. This novel centres around Nate Cooper, who returns home after spending three decades in prison. The story is well-paced with terrific characters and a good mix of lively action and quiet reflection.

67mathgirl40
dec 16, 2019, 10:37 pm



129. Way Station by Clifford D. Simak (4 stars)
Category: Other SFF

Despite the fact that Simak had won a Hugo Best Novel award for this story, I'd never heard of the book or its author until it was chosen for a science-fiction book club that I participate in. The main premise is that Earth is used as a way-station for aliens en route to other destinations, and one man has been chosen to be the caretaker for this station. The story is not fast-paced but rather takes its time in exploring ideas related to first contact, communication, and the fitness of the human species for survival.

68DeltaQueen50
dec 17, 2019, 11:42 am

>66 mathgirl40: So glad to read that you enjoyed The Return of Kid Cooper as I have it on my Kindle.

>67 mathgirl40: I read Way Station about a year or so ago and was really impressed. This is an author that I also hadn't heard much about yet he has a few books that are now considered classics. I have also read his City which was excellent and I have his All Flesh is Grass on my TBR.

69mathgirl40
dec 17, 2019, 9:13 pm

>68 DeltaQueen50: I too would like to read more of Simak's books, so thanks for the recommendation of City.

70mathgirl40
Redigerat: dec 17, 2019, 9:29 pm



130. The Testaments by Margaret Atwood (4.5 stars)
Category: Cross-Canada Journey

There's really no way this sequel could ever match the impact of The Handmaid's Tale. I don't see The Handmaid's Tale as Atwood's best novel, but its importance can't be denied. Having said that, I'm not at all disappointed by The Testaments. It's a great story, bringing back ideas and characters from the first book but also introducing a lot that's new. It features the complexity and wit that I've appreciated in Atwood's other books, but it's also fast-paced and suspenseful. It's also more uplifting and hopeful than the first book.

By the way, I'd included this in my Cross-Canada Journey category because part of it is set in Toronto.

71mathgirl40
dec 17, 2019, 9:38 pm



131. The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson (3..5 stars)
Category: BookCrossing Roundabout

This novel is a thriller that involves an interesting cast of people who devise plots (some successful, some not) to kill one another. It took me a while to get into this book, as the characters were not so easy to relate to. However, it became quite engrossing as it went on, and I enjoyed the twists and turns. The edition I'd read included interesting commentary from the author about the novels and movie that had influenced him.

72mathgirl40
dec 17, 2019, 9:45 pm



132. Paper Girls, Volume 5 by Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang (4.5 stars)
Category: Graphic Novels

This story of teenage friends who are caught in the midst of a conflict between time-travelling aliens just keeps getting better. It's not all action, though. There are some really moving and thought-provoking scenes at various times when some of the girls encounter or learn about the fates of their future selves. This particular volume features a real cliffhanger ending.

73mathgirl40
dec 18, 2019, 10:57 pm



133. Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles by Margaret George (3.5 stars)
Category: Doorstoppers

I'd let this book, a fictionalized account of Mary Stuart's life, linger on my shelves for a long time. The sheer size of the volume was rather daunting, but I finally got started and found it held my interest enough that I was reading steadily every day until I was finished.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and learned a lot about Mary Stuart and the details of her life that I hadn't known about. I did find the pacing somewhat uneven. There were parts that dragged and others that rushed along at breakneck speed. I suppose her real life was like that, but I'm sure there were parts the author could have left out without diminishing the story much.

I also did not find Mary a particularly appealing person, as she was depicted by Margaret George. The characters that I felt most for were her loyal attendants, who seemed to sacrifice so much without much reward.

74pammab
dec 19, 2019, 12:06 am

>65 mathgirl40: Vivek Shraya was in one of my book clubs a while back, and I quite enjoyed her. I wasn't aware she was identifying as trans at that point so that is also interesting. I will have to keep an eye out for these essays.

75mathgirl40
dec 21, 2019, 9:33 pm

>74 pammab: I didn't know very much about Vivek Shraya until I'd read her book. She sounds like a very interesting person with many talents.

76mathgirl40
dec 21, 2019, 10:12 pm



134. Quichotte by Salman Rushdie (4.5 stars)
Category: Miscellaneous

I enjoyed this retelling of Don Quixote, but I'm sure I would have appreciated it even more if I'd read the original. Actually, my book club at work is planning to do a year-long group read of Don Quixote, so I will finally get around to doing so. After that, I would like to reread Quichotte at some point. It is an entertaining, somewhat absurd story about several characters trying to comprehend and possibly repair their messed-up relationships. It's also a road-trip through the USA, with plenty of cutting satirical commentary from Rushdie. There is also a complexity in the story that I feel I would understand better with a second reading.

77mathgirl40
dec 21, 2019, 10:28 pm



135. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Stevenson (4 stars)
Category: 1001 Books

I can see why this book remains a classic of the horror genre. It is atmospheric and suspenseful and has inspired so many other stories in the genre. I enjoyed it more than I'd expected.

78mathgirl40
dec 21, 2019, 10:28 pm



136. Pearls Before Swine by Margery Allingham (4 stars)
Category: Golden Age Mysteries

This was a classic Albert Campion mystery that starts off with the discovery of a mysterious corpse in the bed of his friend, the Marquess of Carados. It's an excellent example of the Golden Age style of mystery novel that Margery Allingham is known for. This book was first published as Coroner's Pidgin in the UK.

79mathgirl40
Redigerat: dec 21, 2019, 10:42 pm



137. We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson (5 stars)
Category: Scary Books

This story, about a young woman living with her sister and uncle, slowly reveals disturbing and frightening details about the characters' family history. Shirley Jackson is a master of psychological suspense. The voice of the very unreliable narrator Merricat is mesmerizing. This was definitely one of my favorite books of the ones I'd read this year. I also love the cover art on this Penguin edition that my husband had given to me as a gift. In this larger image, you can see that the iconic penguin is caught in the paws of Jonas the cat.

80JayneCM
dec 22, 2019, 1:08 am

>79 mathgirl40: I read We Have Always Lived In The Castle this year too. I LOVED it! And that cover - I have never seen an orange Penguin with a cover like that. Pretty sure I need to add this one to my collection, for the cover and the story. Your hubby is great at choosing gifts!

81Tess_W
dec 22, 2019, 12:13 pm

>79 mathgirl40: While I loved Jackson's The Lottery, not so much We Have Always Lived in the Castle. I guess I didn't realize the "entire" story concerning Merricat until the very end.

82mathgirl40
Redigerat: dec 30, 2019, 4:03 pm

>80 JayneCM: This book was part of a special collection that featured an interesting take on the classic Penguin cover:
https://penguinshop.ca/collections/classics-penguin-orange
I also have The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Stories, with the cover showing the penguin wrapped in one of Cthulhu's tentacles.

>81 Tess_W: The end of We Have Always Lived in the Castle brought me some surprises too. I loved The Lottery as well.

I'm still struggling to complete my backlog of reviews for 2019 books and will eventually make it to the 2020 group!

83mathgirl40
dec 30, 2019, 4:07 pm



138. Dead Beat by Jim Butcher (4.5 stars)
Category: Long SFF Series

I enjoyed this 7th book of the Dresden Files series even more than I had the previous ones. Two endearing characters get a bigger role in this book: the medical examiner Waldo Butters and Harry's new dog, Mouse. I'd finished this book a couple of months ago, at the end of October, and it was the perfect time to read it, as it is set around Halloween and moreover, Oktoberfest gets a mention too. Oktoberfest is a big event in my area of southwestern Ontario, as we have a large German population.

84mathgirl40
dec 30, 2019, 4:10 pm



139. The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart (4.5 stars)
Category: Arthurian Books

I enjoyed very much Mary Stewart's retelling of Merlin's story from the Arthurian legends, and I can understand why this novel is considered a classic in its genre. I particularly liked the geographic and historic details and I look forward to reading the remaining books in this series.

I came across a copy of this book when I was a teenager and I recall being intrigued by the description, but after reading a few pages, it didn't grab me. Still, I kept thinking about the book off and on over the past 35 years, and I'm so glad that I finally got around to reading it!

85mathgirl40
Redigerat: dec 30, 2019, 4:13 pm



140. Between Worlds by Kevin Crossley-Holland (4 stars)
Category: Short Stories

I'd chosen this book from the Early Reviewers list because I had read one of the author's other books, a YA work based on the Arthurian legends. This volume was an enjoyable and diverse collection of folktales from Britain and Ireland. Written in a simple and engaging way, many of the stories would appeal to children as well as adults. The illustrations by Frances Castle also enhanced the book.

86mathgirl40
dec 30, 2019, 4:34 pm



141. Tom Jones by Henry Fielding (4 stars)
Category: Doorstoppers

This was a longish but fun romp through 18th century England. Tom and Sophia are charming characters. I'd first read this in an undergraduate English course, but I enjoyed this reread much more, as I was able to do it more leisurely.

87JayneCM
dec 30, 2019, 4:41 pm

>82 mathgirl40: There are some great covers there!

88mathgirl40
dec 30, 2019, 4:52 pm



142. Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey (4 stars)
Category: BookCrossing Roundabout

This novel follows Maud as she tries to deal with the disappearance of her friend Elizabeth. Maud has dementia, and the current story gets mixed with her recollections of the past, when her sister went missing. The author does a very good job with the unreliable narrator and the parallel stories. It took me some time to warm up to the story, but by the midpoint, I found the book harder and harder to put down. The conclusion was surprisingly satisfying, even though it did not offer definitive answers.

89mathgirl40
dec 30, 2019, 4:53 pm

>87 JayneCM: Thanks! I'd love to get more of these editions, even though I'm not supposed to be buying more books .... :)

90rabbitprincess
dec 30, 2019, 6:41 pm

>84 mathgirl40: That sounds exactly like my experience with The Crystal Cave. Maybe someday I'll read it all...

91mathgirl40
jan 1, 2020, 6:20 pm

>90 rabbitprincess: I really liked Mary Stewart's attention to the details of Merlin's world, something I would definitely not have appreciated sufficiently when I was a teenager!

Happy New Year to all my LT friends! Despite it's being 2020 now, I'm still stuck in 2019 until I get through my backlog of reviews. :)

92mathgirl40
jan 1, 2020, 10:35 pm



143. A Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan (3.5 stars)
Category: Doorstoppers

The 7th book in the Wheel of Time series, this one has some interesting moments and others that feel like more of the same. I continue to have mixed feelings about this series, but I'm too committed now to give up on finishing it. Unfortunately, there are still 7 books to go.

93mathgirl40
jan 1, 2020, 10:41 pm



144. Toronto Noir (3 stars)
Category: Cross-Country Journey

I decided to linger in Toronto for a while, in my virtual walk across Canada, just because there are so many good authors and books associated with this city. The stories in this volume of noir mysteries varied greatly in quality, as they often do in collections of this kind, but they included ones from a couple of authors I especially like: Andrew Pyper and Michael Redhill. I also enjoyed revisiting some of my favourite places in Toronto and would love to read other books in the Noir series from Akashic.

94mathgirl40
jan 2, 2020, 8:55 am



145. A Better Man by Louise Penny (4 stars)
Category: Other Mysteries

This is a very good Inspector Gamache novel, but not a great one. If you're a huge fan of this series, as I am, you will appreciate how events from previous stories influence the actions of the characters. I find the relationship between Gamache and Beauvoir, in particular, interesting. On the other hand, if you've read all the earlier books, you may feel there's a lot of rehashing of past storylines. I did enjoy the mystery itself, which concerns the disappearance of a pregnant woman.

95mathgirl40
jan 2, 2020, 9:01 am



146. Memories of Ice by Steven Erikson (4.5 stars)
Category: Doorstopper

This is the third book in the Malazan Book of the Fallen series, in the genre of epic (and I really do mean epic!) fantasy. I won't describe the plot, as it's rather complex, and I don't want to give away spoilers. Instead, I'll just say that this series is challenging to read, often confusing, very long, and totally worth the investment in time. This book follows directly from the first book, Gardens of the Moon. After reading this third book, I'm thinking of rereading the first, to take in all the details I missed on the first reading.

96mathgirl40
jan 2, 2020, 9:10 am



147. The Bride Wore Black by Cornell Woolrich (4.5 stars)
Catgegory: Other Mysteries

This is another excellent thriller by the underappreciated Cornell Woolrich. The plot has some similarities to one of his other works, Rendezvous in Black, in that a person commits a series of murders in an act of revenge. In this book, the serial killer is a woman rather than a man. This novel is a page-turning and disturbing read that I highly recommend.

97mathgirl40
jan 2, 2020, 5:34 pm



148. Singing in the Shrouds by Ngaio Marsh (4 stars)
Category: Golden Age Mysteries

Inspector Alleyn hunts down a serial killer among the passengers on a ship. This is a classic Ngaio Marsh mystery and I found it suspenseful and enjoyable. I did miss, however, the presence of Fox and Troy who appeared only through Alleyn's correspondence.

98mathgirl40
jan 2, 2020, 5:34 pm



149. An Overdose of Death by Agatha Christie (3.5 stars)
Category: Golden Age Mysteries

Hercule Poirot visits his dentist and finds that the gentleman is murdered shortly afterward. This is not among my favourites of Agatha Christie‘s works. The plot is somewhat implausible and Poirot is not as good without Hastings, but it‘s still a worthwhile read for Christie fans. This book was also published as One, Two, Buckle My Shoe and The Patriotic Murders.

99rabbitprincess
jan 2, 2020, 8:23 pm

>94 mathgirl40: Very glad to hear there's some good Gamache and Beauvoir interaction in A Better Man! I love their relationship and how Beauvoir in particular has grown.

100mathgirl40
jan 2, 2020, 9:57 pm

>99 rabbitprincess: Yes, Beauvoir is one of my favourite characters and I too have enjoyed seeing his development throughout the series.

101mathgirl40
jan 2, 2020, 9:57 pm



150. Lost Children Archives by Valeria Luiselli (3.5 stars)
Category: Tournament of Books

I decided to read this because it had won Camp ToB, a smaller summer edition of the annual Tournament of Books. It's a road trip story about a family with two children and parents whose work involves documenting people's lives through audio recordings. At the same time, the mother is helping an immigrant friend search for her lost children. The book has an interesting structure, and it explores important ideas and current issues. However, I did not find it a compelling story. It will probably motivate good discussion in the next Tournament of Books (for which it has gained an automatic berth) but it wasn't an especially enjoyable read for me.

102mathgirl40
jan 2, 2020, 10:15 pm



151. The Bachman Books by Stephen King (4 stars)
Category: Scary Books

These four novellas were written by Stephen King under his pseudonym Richard Bachman, and they are relentlessly bleak. "Rage", about a school shooting, is actually very difficult to find these days as King has requested that it no longer be published. As a story, it is weaker than the others. "The Running Man" and "Roadwork" were good stories, but I found "The Long Walk" the most memorable. I also think it's interesting that this story inspired Fotrally, an annual walking race in Sweden in which the last survivor wins. (I'd first heard about Fotrally from LT member GingerbreadMan.)

103JayneCM
jan 3, 2020, 4:53 am

>102 mathgirl40: I hope you don't mean survivor literally!

104mathgirl40
jan 5, 2020, 8:22 am

>103 JayneCM: Fortunately, there is no dire consequence to dropping out of the Fotrally race, as far as I know! :)

105mathgirl40
jan 6, 2020, 8:58 pm



152. The Summer Tree by Guy Gavriel Kay (4 stars)
Category: Cross-Country Journey

This is the first book of the Fionavar Tapestry trilogy, about 5 University of Toronto students transported into a magical realm by a mage and a dwarf and who consequently find they have important roles to play in that world. This was Kay's first novel and considered by many of his fans to be among his weakest work, but I enjoyed the story and his beautiful writing very much.

106mathgirl40
jan 6, 2020, 8:58 pm



153. Raven Black by Ann Cleeves (4 stars)
Category: Scottish Mysteries

I love the Shetland television series with Douglas Henshall and that motivated me to try the first book in the series on which it is based. Like the TV show, the novel is dark and atmospheric. The mystery, about the murder of a teenager and its possible connection to an earlier disappearance, is good, but it's definitely the setting and characters that make me want to read more in this series.

107mathgirl40
jan 6, 2020, 8:58 pm



154. The Clock Strikes Twelve by Patricia Wentworth (3.5 stars)
Category: Golden-Age Mysteries

Wealthy businessman James Paradine gathers his family members for the traditional New Year's Eve dinner and declares that one of them has betrayed the family without revealing the name of the accused. Soon after the clock strikes twelve, Paradine dies and Miss Silver is called in to investigate this classic English country-house mystery.

108mathgirl40
jan 6, 2020, 9:09 pm



155. Les Liaisons Dangereuses by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos (4 stars)
Category: 1001 Books

I found reading this book a bit of a slog in the first half, but that was partly because I attempted to read it in the original French. I was only moderately successful and had to frequently jump to the English version to get the complete picture. (By the way, the English translation from Project Gutenberg is really terrible. A friend lent me her Penguin edition and it was much, much better.)

However, once I finished the entire book, I had a much better appreciation of the author's skill in developing the characters and advancing the plot through the sequence of letters. The themes of manipulation, abuse and power are frighteningly relevant today.

109mathgirl40
jan 6, 2020, 9:18 pm



156. Jade City by Fonda Lee (4 stars)
Category: Other SFF

The first in Lee's Green Bone Saga, this novel is an urban fantasy story set in an Asian-like world. It involves two feuding families whose power and influence are affected by the amount of jade they control. Jade in this world gives their owners a type of "superpower". The writing is a bit pedestrian (perhaps I feel this way because I've been reading a lot of Guy Gavriel Kay recently and Lee's writing suffers in comparison), but I really liked the setting and the complex relationships of the characters. I've enjoyed the books in her Exo series as well and am looking forward to reading the next book in the Green Bone Saga.

110mathgirl40
jan 6, 2020, 9:19 pm



157. Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh (4.5 stars)
Category: 1001 Books

I understand that this book has been very controversial, as a result of its language and subject matter (lives of heroin addicts). After reading the first few chapters, I was convinced that this book wasn't really for me. However, I persevered and I'm so glad I did. Once I got past the vulgarity and the challenge of the dialect, I found myself absorbed in the characters' stories. Some moments were very touching and others incredibly funny. I especially liked "Bad Blood", the story of how Davie takes his revenge, though it certainly had its appalling moments before the ending is revealed.

111mathgirl40
jan 7, 2020, 8:46 pm



158. At the Crossing Places by Kevin Crossley-Holland (3.5 stars)
Category: Arthurian Books

This is the second book in Kevin Crossley-Holland's Arthur trilogy. In this book, a 13th century boy leads a life that, in various ways, parallels that of King Arthur's. At the same time, he possesses a magic stone that gives him glimpses of King Arthur's life. While the concept is interesting and I like the author's writing, I feel that, by telling the parallel tales, the author doesn't do justice to either of them, and both stories feel very disjointed. Still, I would like to read the final book to see how the hero's story is resolved. (Of course, we know how King Arthur's story ends.)

112mathgirl40
jan 7, 2020, 10:24 pm



159. Murder of a Lady by Anthony Wynne (3 stars)
Category: Scottish Mysteries

I stumbled across this book as I was searching for novels to finish off my Scottish Mysteries category. Anthony Wynne was the pseudonym of Robert McNair Wilson, a British surgeon and writer. He wrote a series of stories published between 1925 and 1950 featuring Dr. Eustace Hailey. This particular story is a locked-room mystery in which a pious and unlikable woman is found stabbed. I didn't find the mystery particularly compelling but I did enjoy the Scottish highlands setting and may consider reading another of this author's books in the future.

113mathgirl40
jan 7, 2020, 10:24 pm



160. Death of a Glutton by M. C. Beaton (3.5 stars)
Category: Scottish Mysteries

This is a typical Hamish Macbeth mystery -- light and not so believable, but lots of fun to read. It's always enjoyable to spend a bit of time with the inhabitants of Lochdubh. I was saddened to hear of M. C. Beaton's recent passing. Fortunately, there are still many of her books I have not yet read and can look forward to reading. She was a prolific writer!

114mathgirl40
jan 7, 2020, 10:30 pm



161. The Mistletoe Murder and Other Stories by P. D. James (3.5 stars)
Category: Short Stories

This collection consists of four short mysteries, three with a Christmas theme. They were not especially memorable, but I did enjoy encountering Chief Inspector Adam Dalgliesh again in two of the stories. It was also fun to read these in the days leading up to Christmas.

115christina_reads
jan 8, 2020, 11:04 am

>112 mathgirl40: Murder of a Lady is on my TBR shelves...I'll have to get to it one of these days!

116mathgirl40
jan 8, 2020, 6:19 pm

>115 christina_reads: I hope you enjoy it. These classic mysteries are always fun to read.

117mathgirl40
jan 8, 2020, 6:19 pm



162. The Wandering Fire by Guy Gavriel Kay (4 stars)
Category: Arthurian Books

The second book of Kay's Fionavar trilogy, this volume has our 5 main characters returning to the magical world of Fionavar after Kim summons King Arthur to help in their struggles. This feels very much like a middle book of a series, continuing the overall story and leaving the reader wanting more, but it also has a number of really poignant moments.

118mathgirl40
jan 8, 2020, 6:33 pm



163. Le Morte d'Arthur, Volume I by Thomas Malory (3 stars)
Category: Arthurian Books

I'm glad that I'd finally gotten to reading this classic work that had been sitting on my shelves for many years, though I still have volume II to read. However, it was not really an easy or enjoyable reading experience. Many parts were tedious to plow through and felt like a laundry list of battles and decapitations. Still, it was interesting to read one of the early sources that so many later Arthurian works were based on.

119mathgirl40
jan 8, 2020, 6:42 pm



163. Armed in Her Fashion by Kate Heartfield (5 stars)
Category: Hugo and Aurora Awards

I loved this debut novel from Kate Heartfield. It won the Aurora Best Novel award this year and was also on the Locus Recommended Reading List. It's set in 14th century Bruges and mixes very realistic depictions of that time with elements of horror and fantasy. The characters are wonderful. I highly recommend this book.

120mathgirl40
jan 8, 2020, 6:58 pm

Finally, I am done with my 2019 reviews, just a little bit late. :)

Here are my final stats:

Books read: 164
Books off my shelves: 52

I am very happy that I achieved my goal of completing 5 books in each of my categories. I didn't read as many books off my shelves as I'd intended (my original goal was 70). However, I was more disciplined than usual this year and acquired relatively few new books. My shelves are a little bit lighter, so I'd call that a success.

These were my favourite books of the year (in no particular order):

Washington Black by Esi Edugyan
The House of Broken Angels by Luis Alberto Urrea
The Saturday Night Ghost Club by Craig Davidson
Armed in Her Fashion by Kate Heartfield
Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang by Kate Wilhelm
Insomniac City by Bill Hayes
Seven Fallen Feathers by Tanya Talaga
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Thanks to all of you who stopped by this thread to share your thoughts and provide encouraging words! See you in the 2020 group!

121christina_reads
jan 8, 2020, 6:59 pm

Congrats on completing all your reviews! It's always a race for me to complete them at the end of the year.

122rabbitprincess
jan 8, 2020, 7:42 pm

Now I'm going to have to re-read Le Morte d'Arthur, because I chuckled at the description of "a laundry list of battles and decapitations" :) And when I say re-read, I mean mostly read for the first time... we read part of it in my King Arthur class in university.

123mathgirl40
jan 8, 2020, 8:30 pm

>121 christina_reads: Thanks! I had good intentions of completing them by Dec. 31, but it didn't quite work out. :)

>122 rabbitprincess: Some of the passages were surreal. There was one scene where Sir Gareth beheads a knight, but then Dame Linet puts the head back on. So Gareth beheads the knight a second time the next day and chops the head up into small pieces for good measure. I can see how Monty Python was inspired!

124JayneCM
jan 9, 2020, 4:29 am

>122 rabbitprincess: >123 mathgirl40: "Just a flesh wound!" As soon as I read your review, I also thought of Monty Python! I should reread this as well.

>119 mathgirl40: Taking a BB for this one - looks fascinating.

Congratulations on your 2019 reading - looking forward to seeing what you hit me with in 2020!

125mathgirl40
jan 9, 2020, 8:04 am

>124 JayneCM: Thank you! I'll be sure to follow your reading as well!