Color Coded Challenge: My Signup

Click HERE to go to challenge

...And, since I'm hosting another round, I'm naturally going to do the challenge too. I've already got several categories covered with books slotted for other challenges.

Here is my plan:

1. A book with "Blue" or any shade of Blue (Turquoise, Aquamarine, Navy, etc) in the title.
Zima Blue & Other Stories by Alastair Reynolds (2/3/13) 
Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood (5/24/13)

Murder & Blueberry Pie by Frances & Richard Lockridge (9/3/13)

 

2. A book with "Red" or any shade of Red (Scarlet, Crimson, Burgandy, etc) in the title.

A Perfect Red by Amy Butler Greenfield (3/22/13)
The Scarlet Macaw by S. P. Hozy (8/10/13)

3. A book with "Yellow" or any shade of Yellow (Gold, Lemon, Maize, etc.) in the title.

The Diplomat & the Gold Piano by Margaret Scherf (3/16/13)

4. A book with "Green" or any shade of Green (Emerald, Lime, Jade, etc) in the title.

 Death Has Green Fingers by Lionel Black (4/30/13)

5. A book with "Brown" or any shade of Brown (Tan, Chocolate, Beige, etc) in the title.

The Curse of the Bronze Lamp by John Dickson Carr (5/27/13)

6. A book with "Black" or any shade of Black (Jet, Ebony, Charcoal, etc) in the title.

Black Widow by Patrick Quentin (4/3/13)
India Black & the Shadows of Anarchy by Carol K. Carr(1/29/13)

7. A book with "White" or any shade of White (Ivory, Eggshell, Cream, etc) in the title.

The White Dragon by Anne McCaffrey (1/13/12)

8. A book with any other color in the title (Purple, Orange, Silver, Pink, Magneta, etc.).

The Puzzle of the Silver Persian by Stuart Palmer (1/15/13)

9. A book with a word that implies color (Rainbow, Polka-dot, Plaid, Paisley, Stripe, etc.).

The Green Plaid Pants by Margaret Scherf (3/3/13)

2013 Mount TBR Reading Challenge

As I mentioned last year, I am a bookaholic.  I can't let a bookstore (used or new, it doesn't matter) go by without stopping in ("just to look") and walking out with at least something--if not an armload. I wait all year for the Red Cross Book Sale in October so I can cart them out by the bagful. And, well, that means that I wind up with gigantic piles of TBR books stacked up around my backroom. I don't have a TBR shelf. Oh, no. I have "Mount TBR"...actually a whole mountain range.  And it doesn't matter that I've just spent the last year working on my mountain range with the Mount TBR Reading Challenge.  They just keep on sprouting up.
 
So, once again, I plan to concentrate on reading primarily from my own books this year. And you're invited to join me in knocking out some of those books that have been waiting in the wings for weeks....months...even years.

Challenge Levels (I've adjusted the levels just slightly this year):

Pike's Peak: Read 12 books from your TBR pile/s
Mount Blanc: Read 24 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Vancouver: Read 36 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Ararat: Read 48 books from your TBR piles/s
Mt. Kilimanjaro: Read 60 books from your TBR pile/s
El Toro: Read 75 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Everest: Read 100 books from your TBR pile/s
Mount Olympus (Mars): Read 150+ books from your TBR pile/s

And the rules:
*Once you choose your challenge level, you are locked in for at least that many books. If you find that you're on a mountain-climbing roll and want to tackle a taller mountain, then you are certainly welcome to upgrade.

*Challenge runs from January 1 to December 31, 2013.

*You may sign up anytime from now until November 30th, 2013.

*Books must be owned by you prior to January 1, 2013. No ARCs (none), no library books. No rereads. [To clarify--based on a question raised last year--the intention is to reduce the stack of books that you have bought for yourself or received as presents {birthday, Christmas, "just because," etc.}. Audiobooks and E-books may count if they are yours and they are one of your primary sources of backlogged books.]


*You may count any "currently reading" book that you begin prior to January 1--provided that you had 50% or more of the book left to finish in 2013.  I will trust you all on that.

*Books may be used to count for other challenges as well.

*Feel free to submit your list in advance (as incentive to really get those books taken care of) or to tally them as you climb.

*A blog and reviews are not necessary to participate. If you have a blog, then please post a challenge sign up and link THAT post (not your home page) into the linky below. Non-bloggers, please leave a comment declaring your challenge level--OR, if you are a member of Goodreads, I will once again put together a group for the challenge there. Feel free to sign up HERE.  And, finally, I am contemplating a review tracker for this year.  I will post a link if that works out.  ***UPDATE: Review may now be posted at links found at Review Headquarters (click link).

Color Coded Challenge 2013

Last year I had several folks either discover this reading challenge late in the game or who enjoyed it so much that they asked me to host again.  Just this week I've had requests from the color fans asking for another round. So, for your challenge reading pleasure, I will once again host The Color Coded Reading Challenge beginning January 2013.  Since this is my third year in, I've loosened the categories up a bit--I will now accept any shade of the required colors.

Here are the rules:

*Read nine books in the following categories.

1. A book with "Blue" or any shade of Blue (Turquoise, Aquamarine, Navy, etc) in the title.

2. A book with "Red" or any shade of Red (Scarlet, Crimson, Burgandy, etc) in the title.

3. A book with "Yellow" or any shade of Yellow (Gold, Lemon, Maize, etc.) in the title.

4. A book with "Green" or any shade of Green (Emerald, Lime, Jade, etc) in the title.

5. A book with "Brown" or any shade of Brown (Tan, Chocolate, Beige, etc) in the title.

6. A book with "Black" or any shade of Black (Jet, Ebony, Charcoal, etc) in the title.

7. A book with "White" or any shade of White (Ivory, Eggshell, Cream, etc) in the title.

8. A book with any other color in the title (Purple, Orange, Silver, Pink, Magneta, etc.).

9. A book with a word that implies color (Rainbow, Polka-dot, Plaid, Paisley, Stripe, etc.).

* Any book read from January 1 through December 31, 2013 will count.

*Crossovers with other challenges are fine.

*Everyone who completes all nine categories will be entered in a year-end drawing for a book-related prize package.

*Please post about the challenge on your blog. Sign ups accepted until Nov 30, 2013.

*Please sign up using the Linky below. Give your name & blog (Example: Bev @ My Reader's Block) and use a direct link to your challenge post as your url. Please don't connect to just your home page.  Links to a list on GoodReads or other social media sites are also acceptable. 

*Please use the Review Page to post review links and a final wrap-up post when you finish the challenge.  (click link)  [Reviews are not required--but I would love to see what you think about the books that you've read if you do review.]

*No blog or GoodReads site? That's okay. Post a comment here to announce your entry into the challenge and when you have completed the challenge just post a comment at the review site with a list of your books.

 

Mount TBR and Color Coded Challenges

Just a quick post to let the fans of the Mount TBR & Color Coded Challenges know that I WILL be hosting both challenges again in 2013.  I've got a bit of planning to do for each....Just a couple of possible changes...and then the posts will go up.  Keep watching this space!!!

2013 TBR Pile Challenge

Adam from Roof Beam Reader is taking us on another round of TBR Tower Taming with his 2013 TBR Pile Challenge. I finished up my 2012 pile back in September, so I'm all set go at it next year.  I'm going to do my best to resist jumping in for every challenge I see this year, but I'm all about the ones that will help me knock out some of those stacks in my back room.

Here's the main point: If you join Adam's challenge, then you will sign up to read 12 books (one for each month) from your TBR list. Each of these books must have been on your TBR list for AT LEAST one year. None of the books can have a publication date of 1/1/12 or later (yes, Adam will be checking).

For the full run-down of challenge details, hop over to Adam's blog (click on link above), read the rules, and join me in my quest to reduce the teetering stacks.

Here's my list:

1. Death at Crane's Court by Eilis Dillon (1987) [read 5/23/13]
2. A Private History of Awe by Scott Sanders (2006) [read 4/27/13]
3. Break Any Woman Down by Dana Johnson (2001) [read 6/17/13]
4. Poems & Prose by Christina Rosetti (1998--this edition) [read 8/27/13]
5. Black Widow by Patrick Quentin (1952) [read 4/3/13]
6. A Perfect Red by Amy Butler Greenfield (2005) [read 3/22/13]
7. The Web Between the Worlds by Charles Sheffield (1979) [read 1/21/13]
8. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton (2006--this edition) [read 8/6/13]
9. Slippage by Harlan Ellison (1997) [read 1/19/13]
10. Aaron's Serpent by Emily Thorn (1962) [read 2/22/13]
11. The Hollow Chest by Alice Tilton [aka Phoebe Atwood Taylor] (1988--this edition) [read 7/12/13]
12. The World's Best 100 Short Stories III: Mystery by Grant Overton, ed. (1927) [read 2/24/13]

Alternates:
A Bullet in the Ballet by Caryl Brahms & S. J. Simon (1984--this edition) [read 8/28/13]
The Mummy Case Mystery by Dermot Morrah (1988)  [read 7/3/13]

What An Animal Reading Challenge VI

Yvonne over at Socrates' Book Review is hosting another round of her fun What An Animal Reading Challenge.  It seems like a lot of the Vintage Mysteries that I love (and have sitting about in teetering TBR mountains) have animals in the title, so this one has been an easy challenge to meet.  Have you got books on deck that will work?

Check out the sign up page for complete information but the basics are:

Read at least six books that have an animal....on the cover, in the title, plays a major role, Main character is an animal or shifts.




This time round the challenge will run from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013.
 
Here's my plan:

1. The White Dragon by Anne McCaffrey (1/13/13) 
2. The Puzzle of the Silver Persian by Stuart Palmer (1/15/13) 
3. Aaron's Serpent by Emily Thorn (2/22/13) 
4. Down the Rabbit Hole by Peter Abrahams (3/19/13) 
5. Sally's in the Alley by Norbert Davis (3/25/13) [Great Dane on cover & as key character] 
6. Black Widow by Patrick Quentin (4/3/13)

Initial Challenge Complete: 4/3/13 (but still reading!)

7. The Talking Sparrow Murders by Darwin L. Teilhart (5/6/13)
8. Death at Crane's Court by Eilis Dillon (5/23/13)
9. The Chinese Parrot by Earl Derr Biggers (6/18/13)
10. Heart of a Dog by Mikhail Bulgakov (6/23/13) 
11. Death & the Gentle Bull by Frances & Richard Lockridge (6/29/13) 
12. The Call of the Wild by Jack London (7/14/13)
13. The Case of the Careless Kitten by Erle Stanley Gardner (7/23/13)
14. Elephants Can Remember by Agatha Christie (9/6/13)
15. Cat & Mouse by Christianna Brand

Challenge Complete: GoodReads Reading Challenge

With my latest review for Death in the Memorial Garden by Kathie Deviny, I have completed my GoodReads Reading Challenge for 2012.  I set the goal at 150....Mission Accomplished!

2012 Reading Challenge

Congrats! You have completed your goal of reading 150 books for the 2012 Reading Challenge!

 

150 of 150 (100%)

 

 

Death in the Memorial Garden Blog Tour

TITLE:  Death in the Memorial Garden
AUTHOR:  Kathie Deviny
PUBLISHED BY:  Camel Press
PUBLICATION DATE:  October 15, 2012
 
ISBN-10: 1603818995
ISBN-13: 978-1603818995
 
GENRE:  Cozy Mystery
 
SYNOPSIS:  Just as the sexton is about to inter the ashes of one of Grace Church’s last wealthy patronesses in the Memorial Garden, he unearths a wine crate containing thashes of an unknown. Next to the ashes is a distinctive pair of shoes. Not only are the woman’s relatives furious at the interruption, but they soon have grounds for a lawsuit: yet another piece of the church’s tower comes crashing to the ground.
 
With their congregation dwindling and their world literally falling in around them, Father Robert Vickers and his colorful staff members and volunteers put their heads together to solve the mystery of the anonymous ashes and find the means to save Grace Church from the developers … all in time for the Bishop’s visit.
 
AUTHOR BIO:  After retiring from a career as a “government bureaucrat” serving primarily in the criminal justice system, Kathie Deviny studied creative writing. Essays focusing on her treatment for breast cancer and life as the spouse of an Episcopal priest have beenpublished in the Seattle Times, Episcopal Life, Cure magazine, and Faith, Hope and Healing by Bernie Siegel.
 
Kathie was Features Editor of her high school newspaper and originally planned a career in journalism. After realizing she was too shy to chase after stories, she followed her mother’s career path and earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in social work, attending UC Berkeley and the University of Washington. She nurtured her journalistic ambitions by developing a program at the Monroe, WA, prison which produced a magazine in cooperation with community volunteers.  Death in the Memorial Garden, her first work of fiction, reflects her love of the cozy-style mystery. Her other loves are gardening, choral singing, and locating bargains at her church’s thrift shop, where she volunteers. Kathie lives with her now-retired husband, Paul; they divide their time between California and Western Washington.
 
AUTHOR SITES:   Website    Facebook

PICT TOUR PAGE: Death in the Memorial Garden Tour
  
My Take: This is a quite nice cozy mystery.  I especially like Kathie's way with characters.  She does an excellent job in her first work of fiction giving every character their own distinctive voice and mannerisms...not always an easy task for first-time writers.  Father Robert is wonderful as a very human man of God trying to do his best for his aging congregation and to save his aging church from closure or commercial development.  It is also enjoyable to watch the entire community surrounding Grace Church come together to solve the mystery and try to save the church.  The mystery itself is an interesting one and it was quite refreshing to read a currently-written mystery with no blood, no gore, no high-level pyschological suspense and no objectional language.  I do hate wading through f-bombs right and left.  This is the perfect book to grab when you want a quiet, comfy afternoon of fictional sleuthing.  The ending feels just a bit rushed...but overall, a lovely read.  Three and a half stars. 

AND: We are hosting a giveaway of one ebook of Death in the Memorial Garden in the reader's choice of format (PDF, ePub, or mobi).  Please enter in the linky below by Wednesday, November 28 and I'll rev up the CRNG (Custom Random Number Generator) on Thursday to select a winner!

So You Think You Know Vintage Mysteries?

The absolutely fabulous John over at Pretty Sinister Books is hosting a second year of a trivia contest designed to tempt those of you who think you know your stuff.  Yes, the "So You Think You Know Vintage Mysteries? Trivia Challenge" returns, my fellow detective novel bibliophiles! And John has renamed it "Challenge to the Reader" in honor of the early Ellery Queen novels.  He has promised to go much lighter on the obscure authors and novels that nobody (not even him) has reviewed, so hopefully things will be a bit easier this year.

Still, he's put together a fiendishly clever set of clues to keep even the most devious-minded mystery-lover busy for hours. But, hey, detective fiction readers tend to like puzzles and I think you should all give it a go. I know I'm going to--even though I know that John knows WAY more about vintage mysteries than I ever will.

There are prizes available as well! Prize level is awarded based on number of correct answers with first place to the one who gets them all or the most right, second for the second highest, etc. He's awarding one point for each answer correct. AND is offering bonus points in case you make any mistakes.

So--if you're a mystery lover--what are you waiting for? Click on John's blog above and go test your mystery knowledge!

Death of an Old Girl: Review

Death of an Old Girl is the first book in Elizabeth Lemarchand's series featuring Chief Detective Inspector Tom Pollard and Sergeant Toye.  It is set at the Meldon School for girls.  At the end of year Festival, Beatrice Baynes, one of the "old girls" who attended the school back in the day, does what she does best--stir up trouble.  She is an interfering, overbearing, spiteful snoop who can't stand the changes that have been made to the school since her day.  She's particularly displeased with the Head Mistress Helen Renshaw who has brought about the changes and the new art teacher Ann Cartmell who encourages the girls to paint all sorts of sordid pictures (bare backs, for goodness sake!).  She creates quite a stir at the festival's assembly--criticizing Miss Cartmell, the new curriculum, other new staff members, and suggestion that money from the Old Meldonian's Society funds be used to help buy new "modern" pictures for the school.  


There are others who displease her as well....her nephew who can't seem to hold down a job to save his life and who seems to depend too much on her good will as well as his expectations in her will; her god-daughter who can't seem to do anything right--according to Miss Baynes; and the gardener who has let the precious school's grounds go to wrack and ruin. Not to mention the Old Meldonians and new girls who aren't part of her "stick to the old ways" posse.  So, it's no surprise that none of them seem terribly upset when Beatrice Baynes is found dead in the art studio--stuffed in a large puppet theater--after the Old Meldonian Society Festival is over.  Sure, they're a bit upset that a murder has happened at all...for what will the parents of the girls and the public think?  But there isn't much feeling for the victim.


Inspector Pollard has a job ahead of him and no mistake.  Lots of suspects--folks who had their run-ins with the lady, but few with a real motive that would seem to warrant murder.  And those with the strongest motive all seem to have an alibi.  After several false starts and clearing out all the red herrings, Pollard finally sees the outline of the real motive.  Lemarchand has crafted an excellent mystery.  The clues are all there...not that I think you'll catch them all or see them for what they are if you do.  I've read other (later) Pollard and Toye books and it was very nice to see their beginnings.  Even in this first book, their characters are well-defined and a real treat to read about.  I thoroughly enjoyed this "old school" academic mystery--three and a half stars.

Quotes:

CSC: What do you consider the most striking feature of the murder?
CDIP: It's unpremeditated character, sir.
CSC: Quite. That adds to your difficulties, too, doesn't it?  No nice trail of poison-buying  under false names, or secondhand typewriters acquired in disguise.  Just a handy paper-weight picked up on the spur of the moment.  You needn't necessarily have a motive in the ordinary sense of the word.
~Chief Superintendent Crowe; Chief Detective Inspector Pollard (p. 109)

He's the kind of man who weighs up asking you to bed with him with the possible effect on his reputation if it gets out.  Never mind yours. [Mrs. Pollarard; p. 112] 

Monthly Key Word Challenge

Kim at Bookmark to Blog has chosen ten key words associated with each month in 2013. Your task is to read one book each month whose title includes one or more of the key words for that month. For instance, in January you might read Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah. The key words are listed below.

GUIDELINES  

* The title you choose can be a variation on one of the key words. For example- your title could include the word 'snowing' or 'snowflake' even though the key word is 'snow.'

*Key words can be tweaked. For example- You could read "Cinder" or "Ashes" for the key word 'Fire' and that would be just fine. If the key word is 'family' then your title could include the word 'sister' or 'mother.'If the key word is 'food' then your title could include the word 'cake.'

* Link up at the challenge site (click above) to participate and add additional links any time you post about the challenge or post about a book you read for the challenge.

Monthly Key Words:

 

 My Plan:

January: The Man Who Went Up in Smoke by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö (1/8/13)
January: The White Dragon by Anne McCaffrey(1/13/12)
January: The Puzzle of the Silver Persian by Stuart Palmer (1/15/13)

February: The Cavalier's Cup by Carter Dickson (2/5/13) [Drink]
February: Aaron's Serpent by Emily Thorn (2/22/13) [Animal]

March: The Green Plaid Pants by Margaret Scherf (3/3/13)
March: The Diplomat & the Gold Piano by Margaret Scherf (3/16/13)
April: The Shadow of Gotham by Stefanie Pintoff (4/9/13)

April: The Mountains Have a Secret by Arthur W. Upfield (4/16/13)

May: The Talking Sparrow Murders by Darwin L. Teilhart (5/6/13)
May: Death at Crane's Court by Eilis Dillon (5/23/13)

June: The Riddle of the Sands by Erskine Childers (6/12/13)

July: Dead Man Control by Helen Reilly (7/6/13)
July: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (7/16/13)

August: Death in the Air (aka Death in the Clouds) by Agatha Christie (8/5/13)

September: Murder and Blueberry Pie by Frances & Richard Lockridge (9/3/13)
September: Elephants Can Remember by Agatha Christie [memory] (9/6/13) 
October: The Haunted Dolls' House by M. R. James (10/9/13)

October: Murder at Cambridge by Q. Patrick (10/15/13)
October: Dead of a Counterplot by Simon Nash (10/20/13)

November: Kemp's Last Case by M.R.D. Meek (11/4/13)
November: The Patient in Room 18 by Mignon G. Eberhart (number) [11/20/13]
December: Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne (number) [11/27/13]

December: The Quiet Road to Death by Sheila Radley  (12/8/13)

What's in a Name 6

Beth Fish is hosting a sixth round of the What's in a Name Challenge.  I have a lot of fun with this one, so it's definitely one of my (hopefully) much smaller list of challenges for 2013.  Here's the scoop.

Between January 1 and December 31, 2013, read one book in each of the following categories:

• A book with up or down (or equivalent) in the title: Deep down True, The Girl Below, The Diva Digs up the Dirt
• A book with something you'd find in your kitchen in the title: Loose Lips Sink Ships, The Knife of Never Letting Go, Breadcrumbs
• A book with a party or celebration in the title: A Feast for Crows, A Wedding in Haiti, Cocktail Hour under the Tree of Forgetfulness
• A book with fire (or equivalent) in the title: Burning for Revenge, Fireworks over Toccoa, Catching Fire
• A book with an emotion in the title: Baltimore Blues, Say You're Sorry, Dreams of Joy
• A book with lost or found (or equivalent) in the title: The Book of Lost Fragrances, The World We Found, A Discovery of Witches

The book titles are just suggestions, you can read whatever book you want to fit the category. So, hop over to her place and sign up. You know you want to. 

Here's my plan (subject to change):
1.  A book with up or down (or equivalent) in the title:  
Down the Rabbit Hole by Peter Abrahams (3/19/13)
Whatever Goes Up by Bertram Millhouse

2.  A book with something you'd find in your kitchen in the title:   
Malcolm Sage: Detective by Harold Jenkins (9/8/13)
A Spoonful of Sugar: A Nanny's Story by Brenda Ashford (4/3/13)

3.  A book with a party or celebration in the title:  
Holiday Homicide by Rufus King (4/23/13)

4.  A book with fire (or equivalent) in the title: 
The Man Who Went Up in Smoke by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö (1/8/13)

5.  A book with an emotion in the title:  
Unhappy Hooligan by Stuart Palmer (3/24/13)
A Cold & Lonely Place by Sara J. Henry (3/9/13)

6.  A book with lost or found (or equivalent) in the title:  Four Lost Ladies by Stuart Palmer (1/23/13)

Teaser Tuesdays

MizB of Should Be Reading hosts Teaser Tuesdays. Anyone can play along. Just do the following:

*Grab your current read.*Open to a random page.
*Share two "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page.

*BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! You don't want to ruin the book for others.

*Share the title and author too, so other TT participants can add it to their TBR lists if they like your teaser.

Here's mine from Death of an Old Girl by Elizabeth Lemarchand (p. 108-9):

"These middle-class murders mean a hell of a lot of work," he [the Chief Superintendent] remarked.

"Sir?" replied Pollard, accepting the gambit.

{I couldn't just leave it with that...}

"The nobs," pronounced Crowe, "are news. Thanks to the press their lives are an open book.  In the working-classes the neighbours know everything, and a bit more.  The middle-classes are much better at covering their tracks. They're reticent, and expert at not attracting attention, all tucked  away in their detached homes with a nice bit of garden.  You have to dig.  Jolly deep, sometimes."

My Day in Books

This fill-in-the-blanks meme originated at Cornflower Books. I spotted it this evening at Tell Me a Story who saw it this morning at Claire's blog and thought it would be an excellent way to avoid writing a review to spend her afternoon.   I love doing these sorts of things and just had to jump in as well.  Join us--complete the sentences with titles of books you read this year. And go see what the others have done as well.

I began the day by Prayers to Broken Stones 

before breakfasting on The Foods of North Italy 

and admiring The White Forest  

On my way to work I saw [a] Hare Sitting Up       

and walked by King Solomon's Mines

  

to avoid [the] Lake of Sorrows  

but I made sure to stop at The Inn at Lake Devine

In the office, my boss said, My Name Is Legion

and sent me to research The Problem of the Green Capsule.

At lunch with  Unseen Academicals

I noticed The Fifth Man

in The Yellow Room

  

greatly enjoying  Champagne for One .

Then on the journey home, I contemplated  [the] History of the Millennium (So Far)

 

because I have Sense & Sensibility

and am drawn to A Question of Time.

  

Settling down for the evening [in] The House of a Thousand Candles  

 

I studied  Murder & Magic

by [the light of] The Red Lamp

before saying goodnight to the Full Moon

 

 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a bookish meme hosted by Book Journey. It's where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It's a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list. So hop on over via the link above and join in...and leave a comment here so I can check out what you are reading.

 

I missed last week...so here's the line-up for two weeks:

Books Read (click on titles for review):

Not in the Flesh by Ruth Rendell 
The School of Night by Louis Bayard 
The Bone Is Pointed by Arthur W. Upfield

Death in the Memorial Garden by Kathie Deviney (Read for Blog Tour--review coming Friday) 

  

Currently Reading: 

Star Trek & Philosophy: The Wrath of Kant by Jason T Eberl & Kevin S Decker (eds):
Philosophy and space travel are characterized by the same fundamental purpose: exploration. An essential guide for both philosophers and Trekkers, Star Trek and Philosophy combines a philosophical spirit of inquiry with the beloved television and film series to consider questions not only about the scientific prospects of interstellar travel but also the inward journey to examine the human condition. The expansive topics range from the possibilities for communication among different cultural backgrounds to questions about the stoic temperament exhibited by Vulcans to Ferengi business practices. Specifically chosen to break new ground in exploring the philosophical dimensions of Star Trek, these articles boldly go where no philosopher has gone before.

 

Death of an Old Girl by Elizabeth LeMarchand: Beatrice Baynes was the sort of interfering, overbearing, hateful woman a lot of people wished dead. The god-daughter she tormented wished it. The nephew she could disinherit too easily wished it. The young teacher she had disgraced wished it. A host of old Meldon School classmates wished it. But since wishing couldn't make it so, someone picked up a blunt instrument and bashed her head in.

 

 

Books that spark my interest:

A Long Fatal Love Chase by Louisa May Alcott (challenge book)

A Passage to India by E. M. Forster (challenge book)

The Finishing Stroke by Ellery Queen (Christmas-theme)

The Female Detective by Andrew Forrester (library)

Below Stairs by Margaret Powell (library)

Women of Mystery by Martha Hailey Dubose (library)