The number beside each book is my personal rating for the book, or
audiobook, at the time of reading with the range being:
(1) = would not recommend,
(2) = some interesting aspects but not one of my recommended reads,
(3) = would recommend.
(4) = Really good, enjoyable, (or worthy) read, would definitely
recommend
(5) = Excellent book, highly recommend
The next few are ongoing, sip, reads so I added them here until they are finished:
1: My standard KJV Bible:
(1) KJV Bible: Job, Hebrews, Colossians, Philippians
32: S= Closed Casket ~ Sophie Hannah, narrated by Julian Rhind-Tutt (3)
I appreciated this book more than The Monogram Murders; however, Closed Casket did seem to take a scenic route before getting the murder solved. I like that Hannah has made Inspector Catchpole adept enough in his own right, he’s not a bumbling sidekick to Poriot’s ‘brilliance’.
The next few are ongoing, sip, reads so I added them here until they are finished:
A: KJV Life Application Study Bible (kindle)
B: KJV Bible
C: How
the Heather Looks ~ Joan Bodger
memoir
D: The Divine Comedy ~ Dante Alighieri, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (4) (Started April 2017, and finished 11/03/2019)
D: The Divine Comedy ~ Dante Alighieri, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (4) (Started April 2017, and finished 11/03/2019)
E: The Church Planting
Wife: Help and Hope for Her Heart ~ Christine
Hoover 4.5 (completed in Feb)
As in previous posts, I haven't included the books
I'm reading for my own extra-mural studies; and, the titles in green are ones I pre-read as possible reads for
Daisy, or, before she does.
The blue numbers are books read to complete the ‘Detectives in Books’ Whodunit Bookology Reading Challenge .... so, I’ll be reading quite a few mystery books this year.
I’d also like to complete a 10x10 challenge, and here are the categories I'm aiming to read through, with as little cross over of book titles as possibleThe blue numbers are books read to complete the ‘Detectives in Books’ Whodunit Bookology Reading Challenge .... so, I’ll be reading quite a few mystery books this year.
- Scotland (10 books) (country or Author)
- Downunder (10) (New Zealand/Australia - country or Author)
- Israel (5)
- During or post-WWII (10)
- Non-fiction (10) + Christian N/F (10)
- Christian Based Fiction (10)
- Chunkster (5) Books with a minimum of 500pgs
- Classics (10)
- Rinse n Repeat (10)
- New-to-Me Fiction Authors (20)
1: My standard KJV Bible:
The Book of Luke, KJV (I combed through this slowly and noticed so many things I seemed
to have overlooked in previous reads.)
Psalms Even
though I studied through Psalms last year I listened to them, narrated by
Alexander Scourby, continually during the first half of January. I love
how the psalmist’s prayers are recorded in every situation, all the emotional
landscapes, they are traversing through; not just joyfilled, victorious moments
in their life. Psalm 147:3 He healtheth the broken in heart, and
bindeth up their wounds. ♥
2: The Catherine Wheel: Miss Silver
Bk15 ~ Patricia
Wentworth, narrated by Diana Bishop (4-)
pub 1949 (audio) my review can be found at/near the end of this post dated 01/19
pub 1949 (audio) my review can be found at/near the end of this post dated 01/19
3: Death in the Stocks: Hannasyde Bk1 ~ Georgette Heyer, narrated by Ulli Birve (3.5)
pub 1935. (audio) Repeat, listen through Inspector
Hannasyde books in order. Perfect for
night time listening. I rather like the
Verekers inside the setting of this book, they are so offbeat and into making
literal pests of themselves.
5: C= Vittoria Cottage: Drumberley, Bk1 ~ D. E.
Stevenson (4+) (Rural England) pub 1949 (audio) (WWII) Review of all 3 books
6: H= Music in the Hills: Drumberley, Bk2 ~ D. E.
Stevenson (4.5) (Scotland) pub 1950 (audio) (WWII)
8: S= The Secret of Chimneys: Superintendent Battle Bk1 ~ Agatha Christie (3+)
pub 1925 (WWII) It’s been years (!) since I went through this book I could not seem to recall much of anything about the story so it was like listening to a brand new Christie. Interesting twists and turns with ‘foreigners’ as the baddies, and, as I do like Bundle and her dad a book with them in it seems more enjoyable.
pub 1925 (WWII) It’s been years (!) since I went through this book I could not seem to recall much of anything about the story so it was like listening to a brand new Christie. Interesting twists and turns with ‘foreigners’ as the baddies, and, as I do like Bundle and her dad a book with them in it seems more enjoyable.
9: I= Irena’s Children ~ Tilar J. Mazzeo,
narrated by Amanda Carlin (5)
pub 2016 N/F (WWII) Blogged review
pub 2016 N/F (WWII) Blogged review
11:
T=
The Talisman Ring ~ Georgette Heyer, narrated by Phyllida Nash (5)
pub 1954 Favourite night time listen. (book club read)
pub 1954 Favourite night time listen. (book club read)
12: The Man in the Brown Suit ~ Agatha Christie (3)
pub 1924 (audio) I wasn’t in the right mood to have Emilia Fox read this to me, so didn’t enjoy it as much as the first time I listened to; it ranked as a solid 4/5 back then.
pub 1924 (audio) I wasn’t in the right mood to have Emilia Fox read this to me, so didn’t enjoy it as much as the first time I listened to; it ranked as a solid 4/5 back then.
13: Cranford
~ Elizabeth Gaskell (4.5) started in Dec, completed 27/01/19
Classic. Lovely audiobook. Blogged review
Classic. Lovely audiobook. Blogged review
14: Plain
Jane: A House for the Season Bk2 ~ M.
C. Beaton writing as Marion Chesney, narrated by Lindy Nettleton (2)
(epukapuka audio) the narrator didn’t help to make the story enjoyable. (It doesn’t help that any other modern times writers of regency stories get compared to the wit and attention to detail that Georgette Heyer invests into each story, and many fail to attain to her skill.) Goodreads Review
(epukapuka audio) the narrator didn’t help to make the story enjoyable. (It doesn’t help that any other modern times writers of regency stories get compared to the wit and attention to detail that Georgette Heyer invests into each story, and many fail to attain to her skill.) Goodreads Review
15: The Unfinished Clue ~ Georgette Heyer,
narrated by Clifford Norgate (4)
pub 1933 (audio pub 2001) Repeat listen. Perfect narrator for this story. Just love Lola, she’s shockingly funny in this very British setting (WWII). Extra: emotional adultery, and, Camilla swaps favours for cash.
pub 1933 (audio pub 2001) Repeat listen. Perfect narrator for this story. Just love Lola, she’s shockingly funny in this very British setting (WWII). Extra: emotional adultery, and, Camilla swaps favours for cash.
16: I= A Change of Heir ~ Michael Innes (1.5)
pub 1984 178pgs (epukapuka) Goodreads review
I did enjoy some of the words that Innes penned and are not in use in my daily vocabulary: mendicancy, senescence, cogency, exiguous, euphonious, sacerdotal, circumambulated
pub 1984 178pgs (epukapuka) Goodreads review
I did enjoy some of the words that Innes penned and are not in use in my daily vocabulary: mendicancy, senescence, cogency, exiguous, euphonious, sacerdotal, circumambulated
17: Symbols ~ Joseph Piercy (3)
224pgs N/F My 19yr old son's idea of a lite read for me to enjoy. It was, and I did. It encouraged me to go research Jim Thorpe (A Native American athlete stripped, undeservedly, of his medals.)
224pgs N/F My 19yr old son's idea of a lite read for me to enjoy. It was, and I did. It encouraged me to go research Jim Thorpe (A Native American athlete stripped, undeservedly, of his medals.)
A 5 Star read in January
(1) KJV Bible: Job, Hebrews, Colossians, Philippians
18: A= Sweep:
The Story of a Girl and Her Monster ~ Jonathan Auxier (5)
368pgs Juvenile Fiction (epukapuka) Blogged review I know Daisy would flat out enjoy this book too.
368pgs Juvenile Fiction (epukapuka) Blogged review I know Daisy would flat out enjoy this book too.
Possible triggers for those with sensitive young readers: death of
parents, and, another child is sold by his parents to a sweep, sacrificial love
(giving one’s life to save/protect a loved one) – Auxier touts it as,
reparaphrasing, by saving others we save
ourself.)
19: C= Seven Dials Mystery: Superintendent Battle Bk2: ~ Agatha Christie, narrated by Emilia Fox (3+)
20: E= Stories I Love to Tell ~ Gene Edwards, narrated by Milton Bagby (3)
Some of the stories are interesting and inspiring, then there are a few that Edwards may enjoy telling yet they seem to read more as a tribute to the person he was talking about, I thought those ones were just okay.
Some of the stories are interesting and inspiring, then there are a few that Edwards may enjoy telling yet they seem to read more as a tribute to the person he was talking about, I thought those ones were just okay.
21: U= Wings
Above Diamantina: Inspector Bonaparte Bk 3 ~ Arthur Upfield (3)
(library CD) (Australia) Vintage read. I really enjoyed Upfield’s word paintings of the Australian landscapes – beautiful.
(library CD) (Australia) Vintage read. I really enjoyed Upfield’s word paintings of the Australian landscapes – beautiful.
22: I=
Being Maori Chinese: Mixed Identities ~ Manying Ip (3-4)
New Zealand N/F 200pgs (epukapuka) Goodreads review
New Zealand N/F 200pgs (epukapuka) Goodreads review
23: O= One Child: The Story of China's
Most Radical Experiment ~ Mei Fong, narrated by Janet Song (5)
(epukapuka) N/F China Goodread reviews I wouldn’t recommend this as a read for a few IRL friends who are navigating through ’beyond coping’ circumstances – portions of it make for very tough reading.
(epukapuka) N/F China Goodread reviews I wouldn’t recommend this as a read for a few IRL friends who are navigating through ’beyond coping’ circumstances – portions of it make for very tough reading.
24: C=
Carnegie's Maid ~ Marie
Benedict, narrated by Alana Kerr Collins (3)
(epukapuka audio) Blogged review The portions of the book I listened to were definitely clean romance, not sure about the 3 chapters I skipped :D
(epukapuka audio) Blogged review The portions of the book I listened to were definitely clean romance, not sure about the 3 chapters I skipped :D
25: Lady Of Quality ~ Georgette Heyer, narrated by Eve Matheson (3)
(late night, gentle, repeat listen)
(late night, gentle, repeat listen)
26: Q= Quirkology:
The Curious Science of Everyday Lives ~ Richard
Wiseman
N/F Longish review Goodreads review (splashes of ‘adult content’ and sexual innuendo, especially in chapter 5.
N/F Longish review Goodreads review (splashes of ‘adult content’ and sexual innuendo, especially in chapter 5.
27: A.D. 30: A.D. Series Bk1 ~
Ted Dekker, narrated by Ellen Archer (4)
12hrs 48m Biblical retelling/historical fiction Blogged review
12hrs 48m Biblical retelling/historical fiction Blogged review
28: The School at Thrush Green: Thrush Green Bk6 ~ Miss Read, narrated by Gwen
Watford (3) Still enjoyable but not my favourite Thrush Green
book.
29: N= Jonathan
Strange and Mr. Norrell ~ Susanna
Clarke, Simon Prebble
(5) Alternate
British history involving magicians and fairies.
Blogged review
30: Coming
Home to Tibet: A Memoir of Love, Loss,
and Belonging ~ Tsering Wangmo Dhompa
N/F Memoir Tibet/China I was 50% done with Coming Home to Tibet and then ran out of overdrive, library loan, reading time. I don't know when I'll get another shot at this book, so, with what I have read, I’m currently rating this book at 3.5 stars. Dhompa has a very poetic style of writing and this book gifted me with a window into her Buddhist beliefs.
N/F Memoir Tibet/China I was 50% done with Coming Home to Tibet and then ran out of overdrive, library loan, reading time. I don't know when I'll get another shot at this book, so, with what I have read, I’m currently rating this book at 3.5 stars. Dhompa has a very poetic style of writing and this book gifted me with a window into her Buddhist beliefs.
30: H= The Church Planting Wife:
Help and Hope for Her Heart ~ Christine Hoover (4.5) Blogged review
A 5 Star read in February
March: Armand Gamache – Louise Penny
(1) KJV
Bible: Philippians, Isaiah (audio)
32: S= Closed Casket ~ Sophie Hannah, narrated by Julian Rhind-Tutt (3)
I appreciated this book more than The Monogram Murders; however, Closed Casket did seem to take a scenic route before getting the murder solved. I like that Hannah has made Inspector Catchpole adept enough in his own right, he’s not a bumbling sidekick to Poriot’s ‘brilliance’.
33: E= The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place ~ Andy Crouch (4) N/F
Christian Content
34: Sprig Muslin ~ Georgette Heyer (3+)
268pgs (Heyer bookclub read) As per usual, I skipped past the portions with the creepy, lecherous, Fabian Theale. I think the story really takes off from midway through chapter 13. Each time I go through this book I appreciate, and notice, just how witty Heyer’s writing is.
268pgs (Heyer bookclub read) As per usual, I skipped past the portions with the creepy, lecherous, Fabian Theale. I think the story really takes off from midway through chapter 13. Each time I go through this book I appreciate, and notice, just how witty Heyer’s writing is.
35: I= I Will Repay: The Scarlet Pimpernel Bk3 ~ Baroness Emma Orczy, narrated by Johanna Ward (3) Goodreads review
36: A.D. 33: A.D. Series, Bk2 ~ Ted Dekker, narrated by Ellen Archer (3)
(Christian historical fiction) Goodreads review
(Christian historical fiction) Goodreads review
37: The Divine Comedy ~ Dante Alighieri, Henry
Wadsworth Longfellow (translator)(4) Classic/ Chunkster (audio) (522pgs) (cc)
A sip read I’ve been chipping away at since April
2017, and finished on the 11/03/2019.
The
Inferno is my
favourite portion of this epic poem, but I’m glad I’ve at least been through
the entire work once in my life, and I’m going to listen to just that portion
again, another year, sometime.
38: L= Starry River of the Sky
~ Grace Lin, narrated by Kim MaiGuest (4)
Juvenile fict, China Goodreads review
Juvenile fict, China Goodreads review
39: Da Vinci's Ghost: Genius, Obsession, and How Leonardo Created the World in His Own Image ~ Toby Lester, narrated by Stephen Hoye (not
quite 3*)
(epukapuka audio) N/F Art History Goodreads review
(epukapuka audio) N/F Art History Goodreads review
So, why 3
stars after saying all this in a goodreads review?; because, even though I really (!) dislike
Dominic, I still like GH’s writing
style, her witty humour, and the chance to revisit with an older Justin.
41: Arawata Bill: The Story of Legendary Gold Prospector William James O'Leary ~ Ian Dougherty (3) pub March 15th 2010. N/F NZ hist/biog
(epukapuka)
Stories surrounding Arawata Bill are steadily
progressing into the realms of ‘tall tales’.
Interesting to read all the varying angles of the same stories – some of
which definitely have him larger than life.
The writing style was very much about fact sharing and story comparing
as opposed to a story formatted biography about Arawata Bill. All the footnotes and cross-referencing don’t
make this book the most relaxing of reads; but, I found the content interesting
enough to keep reading.
42: O= A Grief Observed~ C.S. Lewis N/F Memoir (Christian Classic) (5)
Poignant read. I’ve highlighted so many thoughts in
this book, ones like these:
Sorrow, however, turns out to be not a state
but a process.
Grief is like a long valley, a winding valley
where any bend may reveal a totally new landscape.
Praise is the mode of love which always has
some element of joy in it. Praise in due order; of Him [God] as the
giver, of her as the gift.
43: The Last Moriarty: Sherlock Holmes and Lucy James Bk1 ~ Charles
Veley and Anna Elliott narrated
by Edward Petherbridge (3)
(Dd's request/recommendation, “Mum, please read this”.)
(Dd's request/recommendation, “Mum, please read this”.)
44: Don't
Stop Believin' ~ Olivia Newton-John
(narrated by the author) (3-)
(epukapuka) N/F Australian Memoir I think fans would love this, especially since Olivia reads it herself. The author states at the beginning that she’s only going to tell the stories she wants to; the result is easy listening, though a rather sanitised version of events in her life. Almost like a damage control memoir …. not sure against what though (?). I found the last few chapters about Olivia’s journey with repeated bouts of, that evil monster, cancer very interesting (care and recovery wise) heartening and informative.
(epukapuka) N/F Australian Memoir I think fans would love this, especially since Olivia reads it herself. The author states at the beginning that she’s only going to tell the stories she wants to; the result is easy listening, though a rather sanitised version of events in her life. Almost like a damage control memoir …. not sure against what though (?). I found the last few chapters about Olivia’s journey with repeated bouts of, that evil monster, cancer very interesting (care and recovery wise) heartening and informative.
45: U=
A Name Unknown: Shadows Over England Bk1 ~ Roseanna M. White, narrated by Liz Pearce (3)
15hrs 18m (434pgs) Christian historical fiction/mystery/romance Yorkshire/London
The reality didn’t quite meet up to my initial expectation of this story. The drawing out of the secrets of the main characters got wearying after a while. Some romancey-schmancy kissing, no bedroom scenes.
15hrs 18m (434pgs) Christian historical fiction/mystery/romance Yorkshire/London
The reality didn’t quite meet up to my initial expectation of this story. The drawing out of the secrets of the main characters got wearying after a while. Some romancey-schmancy kissing, no bedroom scenes.
46: The Walnut Tree ~ Charles Todd, narrated by Fiona Hardingham (3)
(epukapuka) Scotland (Glasgow, Edinburgh) France/ England (Dover/ Rochester, Kent/ Midhurst, West Sussex/ Aldershot, Hampshire) Goodreads review
(epukapuka) Scotland (Glasgow, Edinburgh) France/ England (Dover/ Rochester, Kent/ Midhurst, West Sussex/ Aldershot, Hampshire) Goodreads review
47: The
Black Ascot: Ian Rutledge Bk21 ~ Charles Todd, Simon Prebble (4)
(epukapuka) Counties visited: Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, London, Worcestershire, Hampshire, Leicestershire, Lancashire, (Ullswater) Cumbria, Sussex, Dover, Kent, Canterbury, Buckinghamshire
(epukapuka) Counties visited: Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, London, Worcestershire, Hampshire, Leicestershire, Lancashire, (Ullswater) Cumbria, Sussex, Dover, Kent, Canterbury, Buckinghamshire
Good escapism
listening. (I do think it's past time
though, that the authors cut Ian some slack and gifted him with a lady to love
of his own, one who loves and understands him.)
48: Behold,
Here's Poison: Inspector Hannasyde Bk 2 ~ Georgette
Heyer, narrated by Ulli Birvé (3)
I wanted to do a compare of narrators between Ulli Birve and Hugh Dickson on this story. Birve’s edition is over an hour and a half longer, she reads sooo much slower than Dickson, both versions are unabridged. For night time listen Birve is easier to go to sleep to ;) …… and I prefer her rendition of Randal; otherwise, if I was going to go for overall daytime enjoyment then Hugh Dickson’s version is my first choice. Sadly, audible now only have Birve's edition available for purchase.
I wanted to do a compare of narrators between Ulli Birve and Hugh Dickson on this story. Birve’s edition is over an hour and a half longer, she reads sooo much slower than Dickson, both versions are unabridged. For night time listen Birve is easier to go to sleep to ;) …… and I prefer her rendition of Randal; otherwise, if I was going to go for overall daytime enjoyment then Hugh Dickson’s version is my first choice. Sadly, audible now only have Birve's edition available for purchase.
A 5 Star read in March
![A Grief Observed by [Lewis, C.S.]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51HtUzfKOoL.jpg)
A Grief Observed ~ C.S. Lewis
N/F Memoir (Christian Classic) (5)
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