American Royals

 This was an unexpected find in this novel by Katherine McGee.  I really had no idea what this novel was about when I put it on my hold list at the library.  I had spotted it right after finishing Red, White and Royal Blue (see blog post here)  It is a fun spin on the history of the US.  What if instead of becoming a democracy we had become a monarchy?  Fast forward to the modern day and the newest generation of heir coming of age.  This story is about that royal family and all the obligations and responsibilities that come with being royal.  The different family members have different perspectives and feelings about their royal responsibilities and the expectations of them.  The book allows us to see the growth of the siblings both individually and with each other.   This is definitely a YA book with lots of optimistic relationships and young love but it also is forthright about the difficulties of growing up and finding oneself while in the public eye.  The reader can definitely sense the weight of this responsibility and the burdens that come with the privileges.   I must say this book definitely reinforced my belief that I would not wish fame upon my worst enemy.  The story is a fun book that has its moments that cause deeper reflection but all in all it is a YA book at heart and is mostly about the relationships particularly of the romantic variety.  There are additional books in the series that I assume will expound upon the relationships found in this book.    

American Royals by Katharine McGee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fascinating book of alternate history

This book is a nice blend between a chick lit and a alternate historical fiction. It’s set in present day but based upon a change in the history of the US. What if we’d taken on a new king versus becoming a democracy. The book has many layers and develops the characters well. They are believable and realistic in their actions and emotions. The book definitely had me thinking about what it would like to be to grow up with a pre determined future and always live your life knowing your role and place. I found myself considering what it would be like to be Kate and William or Harry and Meghan. This provides a different perspective on those relationships
I’ve always said I wouldn’t wish fame on my enemies and I feel that way even more after reading this novel

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #23
2. Around the Year in 52 Books #27. A book with a character who can be found in a deck of cards
3. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #39 An Alternate History Novel
4. BooklistQueen   # 48. Genre You Don’t Usually Read
5. A Pretty Mess Challenge # 8. More than 400 pages
6. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #32. A DASH OF ROYALTY
7. Magic in the Books Book 5 #7 Read a love story
8. Pick your Poison # 1-1 A book about an empire
9. 52 books in 52 weeks  #8 paradox

Shakespeare light

 I selected the book, A Stage Full of Shakespeare Stories by Angela McAllister to provide a prompt for several of my challenges.  These were a little bent in their intentions but since the year was ending and I am not a huge reader of plays and classics I decided to go this route.  I am resolving myself to read a few classics next year and to not procrastinate til Dec to do so.

The book was an enjoyable refresher for plays I had read and a nice overview of the plots for ones I had not read previously.  It is a great book for sharing Shakespeare with younger readers as well.   Very nice illustrations in the book too.  

A Stage Full of Shakespeare Stories by Angela McAllister
My rating: 4 of 5 stars 

great synopsis of Shakespearre's works. perfect for those looking to share with children or just get a personal refresher on what the plays were all about 

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge -  Book #136
2. Popsugar- #popsugarreadingchallenge #3-  with a  great first line-  Twelfth Night
3. NJM #NJMBookChallenge2020 #8- pre 1900s
4. Book List Queen #30 A Play
5. 2020 TBR  #2020TBRReadingChallenge #22- a classic
6. Monthly Keyword-  #MonthlyKeyWordChallenge- "of"

84 Charing Cross Road

84, Charing Cross Road by Helen Hanff is a delightful read that explores the long lost art of communication by letters.  This is a series of correspondence between Helene and Frank, an employee of a book store in London.  What begins as a business relationship ends up becoming one of friendship.  The letters are insightful into the world of London just after WWII ends and the rationing that still remained.  The letters give glimpses of the political fronts of both countries at the election of Churchill and the campaign of Stevenson.   The series of letters is a wonderful glimpse into the lives and careers of both Frank and Helene.  I am certainly glad I read this book.  

 I originally selected this book as a non fiction read for the epistolary book but ended up discovering it was written the year I was born so I was able to use it for that prompt as well.  It was a quick, enjoyable read for this time of the year.   

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars 

This proved to be a very charming and heartwarming book. I really had no idea what to expect when I selected it. It was a fascinating experience to watch the relationship between Helene and Frank grow over the years. The sarcastic nature of both their tones is hard to pick up initially but really added to the book as you read along. It is amazing to watch Helene's career grow alongside their correspondence. All in all a good book. 

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge -  Book #134
2. 52 Books in 52 weeks  #6- Written in the 1970’s
3. Book List Queen #51- Borrowed From a Friend 
4. 20 in 20:  #Read20in2020 #11 An epistolary book
5. 2020 TBR  #2020TBRReadingChallenge #2- book published the yr you were born
6. TBR Book #57  #Backlistreader ; #MountTBR2020; #StartOnYourShelfathon
7. Monthly Motif   #MonthlyMotifGXO-  Everything nice- as a feel good book
8. Memoir     One you want to reread
9. Historical NonFiction   Book 3

Artemis Fowl

 I selected this book as my choice for Book becoming a movie in 2020.  It is definitely not a book I would normally have selected.  The interesting part for me was how Artemis Fowl is not at all what I expected him to be in multiple ways.  

The world that Eoin Colfer has imagined is quite intriguing and has an interesting explanations for Leprechauns and other magical creatures.  This is a great book for a child who has a vivid imagination and also likes logical/mystery type books.  I ended up enjoying the book after I settled into it as it wasn't what I was expecting at first.  The characters grew on me and they are quite well developed.

Now I just need to go watch the movie.

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars 

enjoyable Middle Grade book I read for some 2020 book challenges for book becoming a movie in 2020. I found myself growing attached to the characters as time progressed in the book. It was possible to find redeeming aspects of the antagonists by the end of the story. There was some very clever plot twists/deeply thought out strategies. Now I am curious to watch the movie 

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The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Book List Queen #1- Book Becoming Movie in 2020
2. NJM #NJMBookChallenge2020  #5- a book made into a film/tv series 
3. 2020 TBR  #2020TBRReadingChallenge #3- novel that will get a movie adaptation in 2020
4. TBR Book #56  #Backlistreader ; #MountTBR2020; #StartOnYourShelfathon

Troubles in Paradise

 This is the conclusion of the trilogy by Elin Hilderbrand.   I enjoyed the book, just not as much as the first 2 in the series.  I felt as though there were unnecessary characters included in the story.  Specifically Margaret Quinn.   I also did not enjoy the addition of the Island of St. John, the community, as a narrator of the story.   This installment felt like the timeline kept jumping backward as the voice changed.  It wasn't always clear where in time the action and events were taking place.  I do prefer to have clear chronological logic to books when I read them.  

I did enjoy the book on the whole and was never tempted to DNF the book.   I just didn't feel it was as compelling and engaging as the first 2 books in the series.  You can find my reviews of Winter in Paradise, book 1, and What Happens in Paradise on this blog as well.  If you are looking for a light read that will remind you of warm vacation climates then this is a perfect book to pick up and read over the winter months.

Troubles in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand
My rating: 3 of 5 stars 

While I enjoyed this third book in the series I just didn’t love it as much as the first two. I didn’t care for the added narrator of St John. I also felt a bit like the romantic relationships were a bit too predictable but then they were the centerpiece of the drama and emotional draw of the book. I guess the most disappointing pet was the ending. The whole existence on Margaret Quinn felt unnecessary to me. I did like the parallel comparison between Irene and St John ( the island and the people) at the end and it did give the story a bit of depth or thoughtfulness that otherwise might have been missed. All in all I thought the story was good. Not great. 

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge -  Book #119
2. 2020 TBR  #2020TBRReadingChallenge #18- book trilogy

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

 I had never read any works by Maya Angelou previous to this autobiography she wrote in 1969.  I was absolutely engaged in how well she wrote a piece of non fiction in a manner that felt like you were reading an novel.  Her stories are heartfelt and at times terrifying.  Her choice of tone and words to represent her young self is amazing and it is easy to imagine being right there with her in Stamps, Arkansas in the 30s and 40s.  It was interesting to read about segregation from a black person's perspective and to see how the differences were perceived by the black community.  I also found it interesting to see the contrast in her experiences in St. Louis versus in Arkansas.  

I selected this book as one that had been banned for banned books week for a challenge.  This book was banned in the 1980s in Alabama as being inflammatory towards whites.  Her words are reflective of her experiences and her childhood.  I do not feel this book or others from previous generation should be banned.  In fact they provide an important glimpse into the era and the growth we have seen in our country.  Excluding the literary works or altering them due to inflammatory words, depictions or words no longer acceptable in society is a form of cancel culture.  The language included in the works was reflective of the time or is intended to convey the environment in which they were written.  They are part of history just as much as the Odyssey and Shakespeare.  We wouldn't  alter those works to fit modern language and we should alter books such as I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings or Huck Finn.  

I am glad I selected this work.  Reading this autobiography provides a glimpse into the difficult life of someone who rose above her struggles and found a way to excel in the US and to leave her mark on history.  I would very much like to read more of her memoirs to learn more about her life as she grew up and was an influence in the Civil Rights movement and as a poet and educator.  

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
My rating: 4 of 5 stars 

Well written memoir that reads like a novel. Just an amazing story. I didn't know much about Maya Angelou before reading this book. What an amazing rise above a heartbreaking childhood. Angelou does an amazing job describing the childhood of a black woman raised in the South in the 30s and 40s. She depicts it accurately without accusations. I feel this has a much bigger impact that drawing too much hatred into the work. I will read more of her memoirs to learn more about this woman's life. 

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Literary Escapes-  AR
2. AtoZ and Alphabet soup challenge #AlphabetSoupChallenge "I"
3. Popsugar- #popsugarreadingchallenge  39- read a banned book during banned books week 
4. Around the Year in 52 Books- # 47- A classic book you've always meant to read 
5. 52 Books in 52 weeks  #40- A book on the Mensa reading list for grades 9-12
6. Book List Queen #38- A Modern Classic
7. Wizarding World Tour  possible categories
• Beauxbatons:   Read a book about or written by someone you respect.
8. 2020 TBR  #2020TBRReadingChallenge #8- novel that was banned
9. TBR Book #31  #Backlistreader ; #MountTBR2020; #StartOnYourShelfathon
10. Memoir  #8 Written by a person of color
11. Historical NonFiction   book #2

Private Gold

This is a novella by Bookshots that fits into James Patterson's Private Series.   This one is set in South Africa, in Johannesburg, and revolves around the high crime and mining that are prevalent in that area of the  country.   I initially selected this book for the Popsugar challenge to read a book with Gold in the title.  As I began reading I felt the story rang a bell and sure enough I realized as I went along that I had read this previously.  Fortunately I didn't remember who was behind the nefarious act until the time when suspicion is being raised by the female protagonist.  All in all I enjoyed reading it again and the story rang true with the facts I am familiar with about Johannesburg and the struggles it is facing to rise above a criminal element.



Private: Gold by James Patterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyable quick thriller

This is a quick bookshot installment in the Private series by Patterson. I appreciated the female lead being worried and scared but not portrayed as weak and incapable. The storyline made sense based on the setting in South Africa. It wasn't too farfetched and felt like the obstacles that were overcome were feasible. All in all a good read


View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge -  Book #85
2. Literary Escapes-  South Africa
3. Finishing the Series-  #FinishingTheSeries2020   Private Series book 2 in 2020
4. Cravings for a Cozy and Cloak and  Dagger #CloakDaggerChal : Book  #69
5. Six Shooter- 5th Shot for James Patterson
6. 2020 TBR  #2020TBRReadingChallenge #16 Africa
7. TBR Book #46  #Backlistreader ; #MountTBR2020; #StartOnYourShelfathon

Down the Rabbit Hole

This work is an anthology of short stories by JD Robb, Mary Blayney, Elaine Fox, Mary Kay McComas, and Ruth Ryan Langan.  These stories were based loosely around connections with the story of Alice in Wonderland.  They were each different stories that had elements of fantasy or science fiction.  Generally not genres I read much from but I thoroughly enjoyed this book and plan to read others like it.

I selected this book to cover 2 prompts for challenges this year.  The primary reason I picked it was to address the challenge of reading an author you previously disliked.  I had tried a book by J D Robb a few years ago and just could not get interested in the futuristic aspect of the story. I had selected it at the time because it was a mystery book and that is my preferred genre of choice.   I put the book down as a DNF and never intended to read it again.   This short story contained in the anthology was quite enjoyable and I may give the series another try as I did like the characters in the book.

The other prompt this covered was read an anthology.  I had not every read an anthology outside of a textbook for literature coursework.  I found myself enjoying the sampling of the works by the different authors and will possibly seek out more works by them.    I enjoyed finding the common thread in the stories as they related to the Alice in Wonderland theme.   I kind of created a scavenger hunt aspect to the book

All in all I am glad I selected this book this year and it is one of the few 5 star books I have reviewed.



Down the Rabbit Hole by J.D. Robb
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Very enjoyable anthology of stories

I did not know what to expect when I picked this book out at the library. I ended up thoroughly enjoying all of the stories within. Most had a reference or alluded to Alice this n Wonderland. Some were romance based but all seemed to be about finding your moral truth and becoming a great partner for your relationship. I look forward to trying individual works of these authors


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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge -  Book #83
2. Literary Escapes- Scotland
3. Popsugar- #popsugarreadingchallenge  #11 anthology
4. 52 Books in 52 weeks  #50 author you previously disliked
5. Book List Queen #11 short story or essay collection
6. TBR Book #44  #Backlistreader ; #MountTBR2020; #StartOnYourShelfathon
7. Monthly Motif   #MonthlyMotifGXO-  creature feature- rabbit

The Agatha Christie Book Club

This cozy mystery by C. A. Larmer is the first in a series.  It is set in Sydney, Australia and has some Aussie phrases in the story which took a bit of getting accustomed to.  For example they say arvo which I think means afternoon but I am not sure.

There is a group of characters that are centered around Alicia Finlay, the book club founder and her sister.   The other book club members resemble many of the characters in Agatha Christie books and the group/story references many of her works. 

The book club begins innocently enough but evolves into a crime solving group as a member of their group suddenly becomes a victim of an apparent crime.   The group works to solve it and in the process uncovers lots of other secrets. 

At times I found the story to have too many characters to keep track of but they each had a depth to them that was pretty impressive considering how many of them there were.   In addition to the 7 book club members we also meet the brother of one of the members and the immediate family of that member.   Larmer does a wonderful job of evoking emotional responses to the characters including immense dislike. 

The series definitely seems interesting and I will try to pursue reading more of the books.

The Agatha Christie Book Club by C.A. Larmer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I found this mystery set in Sydney to be a fun read. The characters are quirky and all seem to be hiding something which adds to the suspicion of who is the guilty party in the crime. This book is great for any Agatha Christie fan as the name would suggest and there are plenty of references to her works.

The story has a large number of characters and I did have trouble keeping track of them at times. This is the main reason I am giving it 3 stars instead of 4. Additionally, there were parts of the story that felt a bit confusing for me to follow and the timeframe of the story was a bit lost at times.

I did enjoy the story and would read more in the series if I was able to find them.


View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:

1. Cravings for a Cozy and Cloak and  Dagger #CloakDaggerChal : Book  #67
2. Cruising through cozies -  Free choice #21
3. Medical Examiner-  1 Toe Tag bludgeoned
4. Six Shooter- 1st shot target 27
5. Popsugar- #popsugarreadingchallenge #4 about a bookclub
6. TBR Book #43  #Backlistreader ; #MountTBR2020; #StartOnYourShelfathon

Ms Marvel Vol 1 No Normal

I read this book by G. Willow Wilson for the August Book award prompt for GirlXOXO and because it addressed the prompt to read a graphic novel. 

I found the format difficult to follow and felt I was missing much of the story.   The story jumped around a bit to abruptly for me to find it a smooth read.  This may be due tot he fact this is a compilation of several individual comic editions, but I am not sure.

I did find it well written in terms of addressing what makes someone a hero and how physical attributes though wished for may not always be what they seem.  I appreciated the struggles Kamala went through balancing being a teen and complying to her Islamic roots while wanting to fit into a typical American teen lifestyle.  Also she learns to trust her friends and family as the story evolves.

While I did find the main character to be inspiring and a great model for teen girls, I don't generally like this format.  I would not be interested in reading any additional installments in the series. 


Ms. Marvel, Vol. 1: No Normal by G. Willow Wilson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed the book and the diversity of the alter ego for Me Marvel. I had trouble with the flow of the story. Additionally I couldn't understand where she suddenly got her super power from.
I most liked the empowerment of an atypical hero and the perspective of the uncertainty of whether her powers were a good thing or if she didn't want them


View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge -  Book #82
2. 52 Books in 52 weeks  #27 comic book
3. 2020 TBR  #2020TBRReadingChallenge #19 ya book 
4. TBR Book #  #Backlistreader ; #MountTBR2020; #StartOnYourShelfathon
5. Monthly Book Award-   #GXOAwardReadingChallenge   Hugo award 2015

Cabs, Cakes, and Corpses

I stumbled upon this cozy mystery through one of the emails I receive with deals and freebies each day.   I am so happy I found it as Jennifer Joy does a wonderful job of combining a cozy mystery with a travel novel.

Her descriptions of Banos, Ecuador make me want to hop on a plane and travel there right now.  Her prose describes the waterfalls and cane fields with such detail you cannot help but see yourself right there along with the protagonist, Jessica James. 

She also does a wonderful job of setting the stage for a cross between excitement and fear for a first time international traveler.  It is a realistic representation of how someone not accustomed to travel overseas could find themselves with a certain amount of trepidation and homesickness. 

All this is intermingled with a charming and believable cozy mystery.  Plus throw in some humor and Latin hunks and you have a quirky and fun book.   I cannot wait to catch up with this series and see where Jessica's adventures take her going forward.

This is a great easy escape read if you are looking for a fun book to take your mind off things.



Cabs, Cakes, and Corpses by Jennifer Joy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyable read with wonderful scenic descriptions

This book is set in Ecuador and the author does a fabulous job of describing the scenery, culture and characters in the book. You can absolutely feel Jessica's emotions about being in a foreign country and experiencing international travel for the first time. The characters are endearing and I cannot wait to read more about their adventures


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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:

1. Literary Escapes-  Ecuador
2. Around the Year in 52 Books- #7 set in Southern Hemisphere
3. Cravings for a Cozy and Cloak and  Dagger #CloakDaggerChal : Book  60
4. Cruising through cozies -  Travel #2
5. Medical Examiner-  2 Toe Tag 
6. Six Shooter- new target
7. 2020 TBR  #2020TBRReadingChallenge #16 S. America
8. Monthly Motif   #MonthlyMotifGXO-  around or out of this world-  set in Ecuador 

Ninth House

I generally do not read fantasy novels but this one may be responsible for changing my mind about them.  I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed this novel.  The only reason I didn't give it a 5 star review is because I struggled to get into the story at first.  I put the book aside and kept prioritizing other books but with the library reopening I had to finish it to return it soon.  I am glad I did.

Alex is an engaging character, not necessarily likeable but you definitely find yourself rooting for her to succeed in her mission and to fit in better at Yale.  There are several mysteries underlying the storyline including solving 2 murders and the disappearance of her mentor, Darlington.  

Once I was engaged in the book, I couldn't read it fast enough.  The book jumped between different story lines but they all seemed to tie together at the end.  There is an unresolved portion that leads me to hope there is a sequel to the book.  Either way, I plan to read more by Leigh Bardugo.  

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

While I took a little while to become fully engaged in the story, I ended up thoroughly enjoying this novel. I do not generally read the fantasy genre but I am very intrigued to read more by Leigh Bardugo and I truly hope this book is the first in a series. I found the characters to be complex and to grow to like them as the story went along. I appreciated that they all seemed to have good and not so great sides to them. Alex is someone that it takes a long time to get to know and I am not sure if you ever truly see the real Alex. Her relationships with her room mates and other Lethe members is a fascinating evolution and it is wonderful to watch as she struggles to open herself up to relationships and to find ways to trust others. She may not always be a likeable person but you cannot help but root for her to succeed in her mission. Dawes is also a complex character and I liked how Bardugo slowly reveals her character and evolves her working and personal relationship with Alex.

The story is very complex and at times required me to flip back to truly remember who was who and belonged to which society. The secret societies of Yale make a fascinating backdrop to the story and you can envision how the Yale campus and New Haven look through Ms Bardugo's descriptions.

All in all I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by the author

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are: 

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge -  Book  #50
2.  Cloak and  Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal-  Book  #38
3. Around the Year in 52 Books- #10  A book that is between 400-600 pages
4. 52 Books in 52 weeks  #51 A genre you don’t normally care for
5. Book List Queen #2 Goodreads winner in 2019
6. Beat the Backlist #BeatTheBacklist2020 #9 a genre you don't normally read
7. 2020 TBR  #2020TBRReadingChallenge #12 Goodreads winner
8. TBR Book #31  #Backlistreader ; #MountTBR2020; #StartOnYourShelfathon
9. Wizarding World Tour  
• Koldovstoretz: book involving magic
10. Mystery Bingo: 
    • Clues:  Dying message
    • Red Herring : Map

V.I. Warshawski is a tough Chicago PI

I have been reading the VI Warshawski series for a while now.  I had missed a few and picked this one, Shell Game,  up as an award winner for my Monthly Award Challenge.   It was good catching up with VI and her friends- Lottie Herschel, Mr. Contreras and news reporter, Murray Ryerson. 

While I enjoyed reading the latest in Sara Paretsky's series, I did find the political undertones of the book a bit unnecessary at times.  The book deals with immigrants and ICE and the fear that many live under while here in the US.  I understand that is a real fear and am fine with the plot as it pertains to this serious issue.  What I did not care for was the commentary on the current President.   I felt it was unnecessary in portraying the severity and emotion of the situation and the storyline. 

I have read other books that make references to current world situations without specifying president names or parties- for example the Patterson book written with Bill Clinton, The President is Missing.  That book was written about the fact the President has to make decisions for the nation and sometimes they aren't politically popular but the President is just doing the best job for the country not necessarily for their party agenda. 

Despite the political preaching, the story was still an enjoyable read for me and I will probably go back and read the books I missed in the series once I finish the others on my list.


Shell Game by Sara Paretsky
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I had not read a VI Warhawski book in a while and was happy to come back and reconnect with the PI in the Windy City. It is always enjoyable to read about books that are set in your home area especially as V.I. traverses all over the Chicagoland. The plot was an intriguing one with plenty of twists and turns. Enjoyable as always to read the VI series. I am now motivated to go back and read the books in the series I have missed. The only issue I have is the commentary on the current president that is mentioned several times in the book. That could have been left out and the story lines about ICE and immigrant fears would have still been as powerful.


View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge -  Book #38
2. Literary Escapes-  IL
3.  Cloak and  Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal : Book  #30
4. Medical Examiner-  1 Toe Tag 
5. Six Shooter-  1st shot for Sara Paretsky
6. Popsugar- #popsugarreadingchallenge  #13 same title as a tv show/ movie but is unrelated to it
7. Around the Year in 52 Books- #43 A book related to one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse- death and war
8. Book List Queen #27 About a Controversial Topic
9. 2020 TBR  #2020TBRReadingChallenge #17  A book set in the state you live in
10. TBR Book # 26  #Backlistreader ; #MountTBR2020; #StartOnYourShelfathon
11. While I was Reading #11   A book set in the state you live in
12. Monthly Book Award-   #GXOAwardReadingChallenge  Edgar Award for Sue Grafton Memorial Award (2019)

The Secret History

My book club just read The Secret History by Donna Tartt.  This is the second novel by her that we have read.  The previous being Goldfinch.  While I enjoyed both books they didn't wow me and they are very long.  This book is over 500 pages so it will take a while to read.  They were both a bit long winded for me and the story seemed to drag on for too long.  In both stories there are many drug and alcohol references so be aware if this is an issue for you.

The Secret History was an interesting concept focusing on a small insular group of Classical scholars  at a Vermont Liberal arts college, Hampden.  Tartt does a wonderful job of developing her characters and you feel as though you know them well. We really get to know Richard, Bunny, Francis, Henry, Charles and Camilla as well as the supporting characters who appear throughout the story.  They are definitely an interesting group with atypical interests and social skills.

The underlying story is a disturbing one and it makes you ponder whether this could really occur.  Without giving any spoilers let's just say it is a big example of group think.  The majority of the story occurs during one school year but the ending of the book provides a bit of a recap of where the characters stand in the future.

All in all it is a good read but if you don't like books with descriptive prose and are a bit slow paced, this may not be the book for you.


The Secret History by Donna Tartt
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

While I enjoyed this book I didn't love it. In many ways it reminded me of John Knowles A Separate Peace. Similar premise of an event at a school with a flashback story telling style. While Tartt's writing is good, it feels like it is too long at times. I had a similar reaction to Goldfinch when I read it a few years ago. Basically, I neither love nor hate the book. I'm just somewhat indifferent to it.

Be aware the book is full of drug and alcohol references so if this is not appropriate for the intended reader this may not be the best selection for them.


View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge -  Book #29
2. Literary Escapes-  VT
3.  Cloak and  Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal : Book  #23
4. Medical Examiner-  3 Toe Tag 
5. Popsugar- #popsugarreadingchallenge #48 published in the 20th century
6. Around the Year in 52 Books- #14. by author on the Abe List of 100 Essential Female Writers 
7. Book List Queen #12 More Than 400 Pages
8. 20 in 20:  #Read20in2020  #15 book over 500 pages
9. NJM #NJMBookChallenge2020  #10 book over 500 pages
10. Beat the Backlist #BeatTheBacklist2020 #23 written before 2010
11. 2020 TBR  #2020TBRReadingChallenge  #15 book over 500 pages
12. TBR  #Backlistreader ; #MountTBR2020; #StartOnYourShelfathon  Book #20
13. Wizarding World Tour  
• Uagadou-  a book over 450 pages

Lab Girl

I read the memoir Lab Girl by Hope Jahren this month.  The book was a great balance between storytelling and science.  Jahren does a wonderful job at talking about science in a manner that is understood by lay people.  Her explanations about plant life and trees are interesting and her witty storytelling was enjoyable to read.  I can recommend this book to anyone interested in the ways a research scientist goes about doing field research, lab work and raising funds.  All in all it is a very enjoyable read.



Lab Girl by Hope Jahren
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was an enjoyable mix of sciences and human interest. The relationship Hope has with her lab partner Bill is quite quirky and is fun to watch grow. She does a wonderful job of detailing aspects or her research and plants/trees in general. I can recommend this book to anyone who is interested I learning more about the green life around us as well as those curious about the life of research scientists


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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge -  Book 22
2. Popsugar- #popsugarreadingchallenge  #16  About Women in STEM
3. Around the Year in 52 Books- #17 Neuro Diverse character
4. 52 Books in 52 weeks  #42 Reuse a prompt from a past year- "A  Plant on Cover"
5. Book List Queen #37  Book that will make you smarter
6. 20 in 20:  #Read20in2020 #2  Book set in country you are currently residing
7. NJM #NJMBookChallenge2020  #7 Biography/autobiography
8. Beat the Backlist #BeatTheBacklist2020 #15 author who writes multiple genres
9. 2020 TBR  #2020TBRReadingChallenge
10. TBR Book #1  #Backlistreader ; #MountTBR2020; #StartOnYourShelfathon
11. Wizarding World Tour 
• Castelobruxo: Book related to Plants
12. Color Coded:  #5  Beige
13. Monthly Book Award-   #GXOAwardReadingChallenge  AAAS Subaru science award 2017 

Possible prompts

I will decide as the year goes along which prompts I use it for on several challenges since it meets multiple criteria within the challenge.

1. Memoirs-  
• #1 Mental Health Memoir
• #9  Written by a woman
• # 25 Under 300 pages
• # 

Treason by Stuart Woods

The latest installment of Stone Barrington's adventures arrived in Jan 2020.  Stuart Woods published the 52nd story in this series when he released Treason.  The plot was a decent story and had some good twists and turns but it did have some weaknesses as well.  I feel there were some parts to the story that were not addressed before the conclusion of the novel. The wink between Betty and Vanessa implies there is more to the story.   Also, the vandalism to the aircraft early in the story leads to an unnecessary plot extension.  Perhaps Woods plans to address those in a future installment of the series, but if not, they represnt a weakness in the story.   Additionally,  Stone and Dino being professional problem solvers sure didn't get suspicious when the antagonist kept showing up at the same establishments they were frequenting even in a city the size of NYC.  Also they think there is something strange about the American they meet in Paris and his connection to the Russians, but when he almost no shows for the flight they don't get suspicious of possible sabotage to the jet?  For clever individuals they sure were naive at times.

 I realize this isn't meant to be the next great American novel, but a bit more time making sure the story line is clean and consistent would benefit this book.  I gave the book a 3 star rating in Goodreads and you can see my review below


Treason by Stuart Woods
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this story in the latest installment of the Stone Barrington saga but I have to admit the shear number of different women he shares his bed with in a given week is getting a bit ridiculous- 1 leaves unexpectedly mid-evening and he takes another home instead, really. This story does have some good plot twists and a quick pace. On the other hand there are some plot lines that needed to be cleared up in my opinion- the wink between Betty and Vanessa is never explained for example. Also, for someone involved in the world of espionage and living in a city the size of NYC, it never raises a red flag that the antagonist keeps showing up in the same restaurants as Stone and Dino? While I enjoy the exploits of Stone and his friends I do think the series is getting a bit hurried in the release of the installments and the bit of extra time could be spent firming up plot details and lose ends. Even still, the book is an enjoyable read for a rainy/snowy afternooon.


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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge -  Book 16
2.  Cloak and  Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal : Book  11
3. Finishing the Series-  #FinishingTheSeries2020 -Stone Barrington series as of Feb 2020
4. Medical Examiner-  2 Toe Tags 
5. Six Shooter-  1 shot for Stuart Woods (2 total on target)
6. Mystery Bingo:  
• Clues:  Reading the will: something said in French
• Red Herring : inheritance
• Crime Scenes:  Boat
Calendar of Crime-  #CalendarOfCrime2020  July #4  Independence Day

Possible prompts

I will decide as the year goes along which prompts I use it for on several challenges since it meets multiple criteria within the challenge.

1. Popsugar- #popsugarreadingchallenge #1 published in 2020

1. Around the Year in 52 Books- #48 A book published in 2020
2. 52 Books in 52 weeks  #18 a book published in 2020
3. Book List Queen #49  2020 New Release
4. NJM #NJMBookChallenge2020  #1 a book published in 2020
5. 2020 TBR  #2020TBRReadingChallenge #1  A 2020 release
6. Wizarding World Tour  

• Ilvermorny-  Read a book published in 2020

Enjoyable visit to Narnia

I decided to reread C.S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe for some January challenge prompts.  I last read this book when I was in elementary school.  The specific copy I read was originally a gift from my grandmother.  The most wonderful thing about that, is she always wrote a note in the front of any books she gave me.  So, I got to enjoy that momento as well as the book itself.


Here is my review on Goodreads.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyed revisiting a childhood favorite. I had taken a college course on children’s literature that discussed the correlation between the Narnia series and religion. I hadn’t read this installment in that context so this reread definitely allowed me to see those parallels. Beyond that the level of detail in the descriptions is amazing. The edition I read had some wonderful illustrations as well.

All in all enjoyed this reread


View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:

1. Monthly Motif   #MonthlyMotifGXO   
• JANUARY-  Winter Wonderland  Narnia is definitively  a wondrous location.  The magical feel of the land comes alive and well in Lewis' descriptions.  
2. Color Coded:  #6-  Black cover
3. 20 in 20:  #Read20in2020 #13 An Illustrated Book
4. 52 Books in 52 weeks  #34 A book with illustrations
5. NJM #NJMBookChallenge2020  #14 a book with images:
6. Beat the Backlist #BeatTheBacklist2020  #10 Cover redesign is Better
7. Popsugar- #popsugarreadingchallenge  #19 Book with only words on the cover
8. Around the Year in 52 Books- #19  A fantasy book
9. 2020 TBR  #2020TBRReadingChallenge #21 a fantasy book
10. Wizarding World Tour 
• Castelbruxo- Read a book that contains a magical creature
11. Book List Queen #16  Reread a Childhood Favorite
12. Alphabet soup Author- #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  "L"
13. TBR Book #9  #Backlistreader ; #MountTBR2020; #StartOnYourShelfathon

The Orphan's Tale

I am just catching up on some reviews of books I previously finished and only put on the Goodreads site.  I thoroughly enjoyed the Pam Jenoff book- The Orphan's Tale.  It was a very compelling and creative read.  It was a fascinating story and a different perspective on Nazi occupation and the impact on the civilian's lives.   I cannot wait to read more by Pam Jenoff.


Here is my review from Goodreads

The Orphan's Tale by Pam Jenoff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Amazing story telling

This is the first book by Pam Jenoff that I have read. I cannot wait to read the Lost Girls of Paris after reading The Orphan’s Tale. The story is an amazing tale told during the height of WWII. It gives us a glimpse of the circus life and a perspective on how the rise of the Nazis invaded everyday life in Germany and beyond. This is a story of survival as well as sorrow. Jenoff is an amazing storyteller that keeps you wanting more
I enjoyed the format of having 2 narrators and learning the story from both their perspectives. I appreciate that the storyline is given closure to the characters lives in the Epilogue. It’s nice to know what happens to everyone


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Challenge Tracking

The book fulfills prompts for several challenges:

Library Love (Book 4)

Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge - "P"

AtoZ and Alphabet soup challenge #AlphabetSoupChallenge -"O"

Historic Fiction (Book 1)

TBR Book #1  Backlist Reader

Beat the Backlist #11 Wish you had read it sooner

Literary Escapes-  France

What's in a Name 
#5  Reference to Children

2020 TBR  #2020TBRReadingChallenge
#20 Historical Book

NJM #NJMBookChallenge2020
#20  A book by a new to you author

20 in 20:  #Read20in2020
#18 a wartime book

52 Books in 52 weeks:
#47 Takes place on a form of transportation

Booklist Queen
#21  About a war

Popsugar- #popsugarreadingchallenge #27 with at least a 4 star rating on Goodreads

Possible prompts

I will decide as the year goes along which prompts I use it for on several challenges :

Around the Year in 52 Books:
#4 set in a time you wouldn't want to live- Nazi occupied France;
 #6 transportation- train
#11 book originally published in a year that is a prime number (2017);
#27 historical fiction
#43  book related to one of the four horseman of the apocalypse-  war


Wizarding World Tour  possible categories

• Beauxbatons: set in Spain or France
• Durmstrang:  Major combat
• Hogwarts:  Involving a train

Books becoming movies in 2020

Today I was clearing out old emails and doing some prep work for my challenges.  I came across a post that is relevant for some challenges.  The Booklist Queen has a blog post about the books being turned into movies this year. 

I am planning to read the Artemis Fowl book for this category in her reading challenge as well as for the 2020 TBR challenge being hosted by Stacked Reviews  


Partially because I had already intended to read this book and I had seen the preview when we went to see the Star Wars movie.











 I also have been interested in reading the One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate.  My son actually read this book in elementary school and I have been intending to read it ever since.  Maybe this will be the impetus I need to read this book



Happy Reading

#2020TBRReadingChallenge

2020 TBR Challenge  

This challenge hosted by Mina over on Stacked Reviews actually has prompts associated with it rather than just read any book from your list.  The challenge categories are shown below.  There are 22 in total but Mina encourages you to do however many you feel able.