Finishing the Series 2021 Challenge

I was not planning on rejoining this challenge again because I did not read the books I intended to read this year. However, I have just discovered that a few of my favorite authors published additional books in their series and I know that I will be reading these books.  So, why not join the challenge?  

The Zelda Richardson Mysteries by Jennifer Alderson have additional books published in the series.  I read The Lover's Portrait earlier this year. Rituals of the Dead was published in 2018, Marked for Revenge was published in 2019 and The Vermeer Deception was published in 2020.  

Abir Mukherjee has follow up novels to his A Rising Man  They include A Necessary Evil (2017), Smoke and Ashes (2018), Death in the East (2019) and The Shadows of Men which will be published next year.  

The rules for the challenge are simple:

1.    The challenge runs the 2021 calendar year.

2.    Series can be already completed as well as ongoing.

3.    You can have only one book left to read in a series.

4.    Any format and length of book counts - print, ebook, audio, ARC

5.    Crossovers froth other challenges are acceptable.

6.    Reviews are not required but highly encouraged. 

My Top 10 Book Characters for 2020

I had to do some  hard thinking about who my favorite characters were in 2020.  There were a few characters that pop up in my mind though, and all but two are featured in an ongoing series.  Here they are in no apparent order:

Drayton Connelly from Laura Child's Indigo Teashop Mysteries. I like him better than the main character Theodosia Browning. He is a debonair, sixtysomething Southern gentleman who I never tire reading about.  Of course, his many bow ties are sharp looking. Lavender Blue Murder is the last book published so far in this cozy mystery series.

Harriet Gordon from A. M. Stuart's new historical fiction series which takes place in early 1900s Singapore. The Harriet Gordon Mysteries revolve around British military officers and their wives who always seem to be involved in a murder, or at least know all about it. Harriet deftly works around these personalities to solve crimes.  Revenge in Rubies is the 2020 entry in to the series.

Zelda Richardson is another favorite character. She is the protagonist in Jennifer Alderson's Zelda Richardson Mystery series.  Zelda has a BFA in art history and researches stolen works of art so they can be returned to the rightful owners.  Her educational background is perfect for this new series. The Lover's Portrait is the latest book in the series.

Oswald de Lacy is the sleuth in S. D. Sykes medieval mystery series.  He grew up in a Benedictine monastery but after the plague took his father and older brothers Oswald became the Lord of Somershill Manor.  The Bone Fire is the latest book in the series.

I have 3 favorite characters from Cleo Coyle's coffeehouse mysteries.  Clair Cosi manages her former mother-in-law's coffee house The Village Blend.  Her ex-mother-in-law, Madame DuBois, is an extravagant senior woman who lives life fully and richly.  Madame may be a widow but she still gets around and only in the wealthiest groups.  Her flair for fashion is part of her charm.  Claire's ex-husband Matteo Allegro lives an exciting life traveling the world in search of the best coffee beans and has excellent adventures. His love of women is prominent but he still comes running when Clair says that she needs him.  This series is my all-time favorite. The newest addition to the series is Brewed Awakening.

C. DeMelo's stand alone novel Sabina takes place in Renaissance Florence. After marrying well, Sabina learns to adapt in a man's world and get what she wants.  She suffers many losses which makes her a compelling character.

Tom Claraday is Francis Bacon's sidekick in Anna Castle's Francis Bacon Mysteries.  Tom is a young Cambridge University student during the 1500s.  He is mischievous and along with a few fellow Cambridge students finds himself in hot water frequently.  They help him solve murders for Francis Bacon, who is a new barrister at this stage in his life. The series has ended with The Spymaster's Brother. 

Peggy Batternberg in Nancy Bilyeau's Dreamland is a woman after my own heart.  A feminist for her era, early 1900s New York City, Peggy prefers to work in a bookshop than attend high society parties. She breaks her parent's rules not only to have a job but also to secretly meet a man who they would not approve of.  He is poor. I love Peggy's spirit.

My Top 10 Book Covers for 2020

Looking through the books I read this year, I noticed I don't really read many with gorgeous book covers. The last couple of books with stunning covers that I read didn't have great stories so I have to read reviews of them first before I buy the books.  It was hard to choose 10 covers but here they are. 

Stacking the Shelves

With another payday this week I hit the Amazon and Barnes and Noble websites looking for nothing in particular.  I came away with both physical and ebooks. I indulged my love for medieval illuminated manuscripts with Michelle Brown's Understanding Illuminated Manuscripts A Guide to Technical Terms. The book is a glossary of words that are used to describe many elements of illuminated manuscripts along with their definitions. I expected that it would be a large book but it is just a little larger than 5 x 7.  Since I just finished an online course on the topic I thought this would be a good resource for me.

I also picked up The Glass Ocean, Lethal Harvest, Plaid and Plagiarism, Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line and Ariana Franklin's last book that she wrote before she died Death and the Maiden. All of these ebooks are for reading challenges that I will be participating in next year.

I have been compiling a big selection of books to read next year. December just isn't a month when I want to read but I will certainly be prepared for my January reads.

My Top 10 Books For 2020

2020 was a great year for reading due to the coronavirus pandemic shutdown.  I was home more often and read 129 books. Picking my favorite books was difficult because I read many fabulous ones, including books written by 82 new (to me) authors.  The order in which I have rated them was also difficult to determine.  I am not sure that there should be any order at all but here are my selections:  

10.    The Giant by Laura Morelli (historical fiction)

9.      Seven Days by Alex Lake (psychological thriller)

8.      Dreamland by Nancy Bilyeau (historical fiction)

7.      British Ice by Owen Pomeroy (graphic novel)  

6.      Little Girls Tell Tales by Rachel Bennett (murder mystery)

5.      The Bone Fire by S. D. Sykes (historical mystery)

4.      Revenge in Rubies by A. M. Stuart (historical mystery)

3.      Green Lantern Legacy by Minh Le (graphic novel)

2.      Apartment 6 by Stuart James (psychological thriller)

And my best book for 2020 is:

1.      The Evening and the Morning by Ken Follett (historical fiction)

Honorable Mentions go to The Year of the Rabbit by Tian Veasna, Almost American Girl by Robin Ha, Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yan and Sabina by C. DeMelo.

Stacking the Shelves

 

This meme is new to me. Since I am always buying books, I think this is a good meme for me to participate in. Last week I got lucky at my local Barnes and Noble and found six books to buy.  All of them are historical fiction novels by new (to me) authors.  I love holding a book in my hands when I am reading.  I had to begin using Kindle this year due to the coronavirus and reading ebooks seems normal to me now.  However, I still relish holding an actual book in my hands.  In addition, my cat doesn't mind when I am holding a book but he gets upset when I am holding the Android to read from the Kindle app.  He thinks I use the phone too much and gets a sad face when I have it in my hands.  I guess I have been ignoring Purrcy this year.  The physical books that I purchased were:  

I also purchased a few ebooks for my Kindle app.  They were: 

2020 Library Love Challenge Wrap Up

This challenge was challenging this year! My public library, and probably yours, was closed for several months due to the coronavirus shutdown. I was lucky that I did not have to pay any fines on those books I had borrowed before the shutdown that were due to be returned after the shutdown began. When I signed up for the challenge a year ago, I selected the Thrifty Reader Level which required me to read 24 books from the library.  I managed to surpass that challenge and took 36 books out of the library to read and review.  

Here is what I read:

The Other Woman by Daniel Silva

The Crow's Call by Wanda Brusnstetter

Opium and Absinthe by Lydia Kang

The Night Tiger by Yangtse Choo

Singapore Sapphire by A. M. Stuart

The Stone Doors by Brendan Baker

Paying the Land by Joe Sacco

I Know Your Secret by Ruth Heald

Viking:  The Plains of Althing by Katie Aiken Ritter

Mozart in Paris by Frantz Duchazeau

Wicked Things 1 and 2 by John Allison

The Low Road by A. D. Scott

The Queen's Vow by C. W. Gortner

A Bend in the Stars by Rachel Barenbaum

Stepping Stones by Lucy Knisley

The Bone Fire by S. D. Sykes

Filmish by Edward Ross

The Draper's Daughter by Ellin Carsta

Lockdown by Peter May

Rage by Bob Woodward

The Lover's Portrait by Jennifer Alderson

The Evening and the Morning by Ken Follett

Revenge in Rubies by A. M. Stuart

The Girl She Wanted by K. L. Slater

The Cipher by Isabella Maldonado

The Cold Millions by Jess Walter

The Night Portrait by Laura Morelli

This Was Our Pact by Ryan Andrews

Notes on a Thesis by Tiphaine Riviere

Shanghai Dream by Phillippe Thirault

Something New by Lucy Knisley

The Pilgrim Conspiracy by Jeroen Windermere

The Queen of Paris by Pamela Binnings Ewen

Last Wool and Testament by Molly MacRae

Too Much and Never Enough by Mary Trump

Since I did so well with this challenge I have signed up for next year. 12 books are required to be read and reviewed.  There are no other reading levels in the 2021 challenge.

Wrap Up of Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

2020 was a banner year for reading.  With the coronavirus shutdown I had three months off from work and I jam packed those months with reading.  I read 129 books during the calendar year and I overshot my personal challenge of 15 historical fiction novels by reading 46 books.  I read the following:

The Queen's Vow by C. W. Gortner

The Pilgrim Conspiracy by Jeroen Windermere

The Land Beyond the Sea by Sharon Kay Penman

Forbidden by C. DeMelo

Ruthless by C. DeMelo

Allegra by C. DeMelo 

Sabina by C. DeMelo 

Betrayed by C. DeMelo

Lilith by C. DeMelo

The Witch from Delft by C. DeMelo

The Violinist of Venice by Alyssa Palumbo

The Stolen Girl by Zia Wesley

Firefly by India Millar

The King's Justice by E. M. Powell

Last Train to Istanbul by Ayse Kulin

Song of the Siren by C. P. Leslie

Let Slip the Dogs by Anna Castle

The Spymaster's Brother by Anna Castle

The Library of Legends by Janie Chang

The Bone Fire by S. D. Sykes

The Lover's Portrait by Jennifer Alderson

The Draper's Daughter by Ellin Carsta

The Cup by Melissa Addey

Dreamland by Nancy Bilyeau

Blackberry and Wild Rose by Sonia Velton

The Book of Colours by Robyn Cadwell

The Lady's Ambition by Anne Bailey

The Secret Messenger by Mandy Robotham

The Girl From Lisbon by Guiora Barak

The Bridled Tongue by Catherine Merrick

The Lost Diary of Venice by Margaux DeRoux

The Companion by Kim Taylor Blakemore

The Giant by Laura Morelli

The Night Portrait by Laura Morelli

The Mountains Sing by Phan Que Mai Nguyen 

Singapore Sapphire by A. M. Stuart

Revenge in Rubies by A. M. Stuart

The Night Tiger by Yangtze Choo

Opium & Absinthe by Lydia Kang

A Bend in the Stars by Rachel Barenbaum

The Stone Doors by Brendan Baker

The Queen of Paris by Pamela Binning Ewen

Viking: Plains of Althing by Katie Aiken Ritter

The Evening and the Morning by Ken Follett

The Cold Millions by Jess Walters

Favorite Book:  The Evening and the Morning

This book is a prequel to Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth.  I think it is his best book in the Kingsbridge series.  

Second Favorite Book: Revenge in Rubies

This is the second Harriet Gordon mystery and it was even better than the first, Singapore Sapphire.  

Least Favorite Book: Firefly

I did not finish this novel because it was too steamy for me.  

Honorable Mentions go to Opium & Absinthe, Dreamland, Singapore Sapphire, The Bone Fire, The Giant, The Book of Colours and Sabina. 

Cloak and Dagger Reading Challenge Wrap Up

Mysteries are my favorite genre to read. When I signed up for the challenge I agreed to read 16-25 books.  I surpassed that challenge by reading 30 mysteries from the historical, psychological thriller, murder mystery, cozy, forensic and geneological crime sub-genres.  20 of the authors who I read were new to me. Here is what I read:  

The King's Justice by E. M. Powell

Sugar and Spite by Samantha Price

Old Bones by Preston and Child

The Low Road by A. D. Scott

Hide Away by Jason Pinter

In Her Eyes by Sarah Alderson

The Housekeeper by Natalie Borelli

Apartment 6 by Stuart James

Trap Door by Dreda Say Mitchell 

The First Husband by McCarver Black

The Three Women by Valerie Keogh

Some Days are Dark by Miranda Smith

Seven Days by Alex Lake

The Man She Married by Alison James

The Stranger's Wife by Anna-Lou Weatherby

Lavender Blue Murder by Laura Childs 

The Housekeeper by Natalie Barelli

Singapore Sapphire by A. M. Stuart 

Opium & Absinthe by Lydia Kang 

I Know Your Secret by Ruth Heald

The Sadist by Carol McMahon

4 Riverside Close by Diana Wilkinson

Hiding the Past by Nathan Dylan Goodwin

Lockdown by Peter May

The Lover's Portrait by Jennifer Alderson 

Revenge in Rubies by A. M. Stuart 

Little Girls Tell Tales by Rachel Bennett

The Perfect Life by Valerie Keough

The Girl She Wanted by K. L. Slater

The Cipher by Isabella Maldonado 

Favorite Book: Apartment 6. 

I read this psychological thriller in March and today I am still marveling about it.  Clearly, I need to reread it.  Stuart James, a new to me author, wrote this story in Hitchcock style; Scary and gripping from beginning to end.

Second Favorite Book:  Seven Days.

This is another fabulous psychological thriller that I can see made into a movie.  

Least Favorite Book:  Sugar and Spite.

While the book is not that bad, it is an old fashioned cozy which is not my favorite type of cozy.  All of  the other books that I read this year were great and it was difficult to rate them, let alone try to pick one that I didn't like.

Honorable Mentions go to Little Girls Tell Tales, 4 Riverside Close, The Sadist, Trap Door and I Know Your Secret.

Because of the coronavirus shutdown my public library was closed for several months. Every one of the new authors that I read were found on Kindle. Before March I rarely used Kindle but I had to adapt due this season of covidtide.  

Wrap Up of Graphic Novel/Manga Reading Challenge

One year ago I signed up to read 12 books for this challenge.  I surpassed the challenge by reading 27 comics. The books that I read include:

Cub by Cynthia Copeland

Catherine's War by Julia Billet

British Ice by Owen Pomeroy

This Was Our Pact by Ryan Andrews

Something New by Lucy Knisley 

Green Lantern Legacy by Minh Le

Becoming RBG by Debbie Levy

I Will Judge You By Your Bookshelf by Grant Snider

Saga by John Allison

Year of the Rabbit by Tian Veasna

Creation by Sylvia Nickerson

Dragon Hoops by Gene Lien Yang

Almost American Girl by Robin Ha

Fever Year by Don Brown

The Oracle Code by Marieke Nijkamp

Preacher, Book 1 by Garth Ennis & Steve Dillon

The Phantom Twin by Lisa Brown

Windows on the World by Robert Mailer Anderson

Notes on a Thesis by Tiphane Riviera

Filmish by Edward Ross

Stepping Stones by Lucy Knisley

Creation by Sylvia Nickerson

Shanghai Dream by Phillipe Thirault

Drawing the Vote by Tommy Jenkins

Wicked Things 1-2 by John Allison

Mozart in Paris by Frantz Duchazeau

Paying the Land by Joe Sacco

Favorite Book:  Green Lantern Legacy

Second Favorite Book:  British Ice

Least Favorite Book:  Creation

Honorable Mentions go to half of the books that I read!  Dragon Hoops, Windows on the World, The Oracle Code, Almost American Girl, Catherine's War, Paying the Land and This Was Our Pact.  Frankly, everything I read was fabulous with the exception of two books:  Creation and Mozart in Paris.   I didn't include Saga in my favorites because it was published several years ago.  Of course, it would be the best book of the year. 

2020 was a great year for comics.  Let's hope that 2021 is just as good.

Wrap Up of 2020 Creativity Reading Challenge

I read 4 books for the Creativity Reading Challenge.  I expected to read more but was busy using these books for instruction and inspiration in my own artwork.  I have completed 5 colored pencil drawings in the past six months.  The books that I read were:

Botanical Drawing in Color by Wendy Hollander

Allie Aller's Crazy Quilting by Allie Aller

Lisbon Sketchbook by Fabrice Moireau

Landmarks of Malaysia Sketchbook by Chin Kon Yit

Favorite Book:  Botanical Drawing in Color.  I have used this book a lot throughout the year as I move into botanical drawings.  I have worked with colored pencils for 20 years but am just starting to draw these types of drawings.  The book has been extremely helpful.

Second Favorite Book:  Lisbon Sketchbook.  I have all of Fabrice Moireau's sketchbooks and view them often.  I am learning a lot about perspective and how to draw detail by absorbing his drawings.  The sketchbook is part of a series of watercolor travelogues. 

I am planning on participating in this challenge next year.  Perhaps I will read and review all the weaving books that I bought this year but never got around to reading.

Victorian Reading Challenge

I decided to join the Victorian Reading Challenge this afternoon.  Anthony Trollope is one of my favorite authors from this time period. I have been thinking for a few months that I would like to reread some of his classics or, better yet, find new ones to read. It is hard to find his books these days but I hope to expand my personal library with more of them. I have about 15 of his books.

The challenge runs the calendar year from January 1 through December 31, 2021.  The goal is to read a minimum of 4 books either written or published between 1837 and 1901. Becky at Becky's Book Reviews is the challenge host.

2021 Library Love Reading Challenge Sign-Up

I did well with the Library Love challenge this year even though my public library was closed for a few months due to the pandemic shutdown. The Chicago Public Library plans on staying open throughout 2021 so I will rejoin this reading challenge at the Library Card on Fire Level which requires that I read 60+ library books.  I know that this will be easy for me to complete and cannot wait to get started. The rules for the challenge are:

1.  The challenge runs from January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021.

2.  Crossovers from other challenges are accepted.

3.  There is a 12 book minimum for the challenge.

4.  Any genre is accepted.

5.  All book formats are accepted.  This includes audio and ebooks.

6.  There is a Goodreads group for the challenge.

Join me in the Library Love Reading Challenge!