What's in a Name 2: Wrap Up

I finished the fun What's in a Name 2? challenge last month or so but kept forgetting to write up a wrap-up post. The first What's in a Name? challenge is one of the ones that got me into blogging and so I thank Annie for that.

To see how everyone else completed this challenge, be sure to check out the What's in a Name? blog. Here is my list (click on link for review, rating in parentheses).

1. A book with a profession in the title: The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly (B+)
2. A book with a time of day in the title: The Dead of the Night by John Marsden (B)
3. A book with a relative in the title:Not Becoming My Mother by Ruth Reichl (B+)
4. A book with a body part in the title: The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan (A)
5. A book with a building in the title: The Teashop Girls by Laura Schaefer (B+)
6. A book with a medical condition in the title: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (A)

This was a great challenge, and I lucked out in the books I picked. They were all winners, and I ended up with a nice mix of mystery, nonfiction, and YA. As for my favorite? It would probably be The Hunger Games.

Thanks again to Annie.

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What's in a Name 4 Challenge: Announcing 2011 Categories

Once again I'm hosting the What's in a Name Challenge. For the history of this challenge and to sign up for it, check out the brand new What's in a Name 4 blog.

Because you might not be able to stand waiting to learn the new categories, I'll give you sneak peek here. Be sure to click over to the What's in a Name 4 blog to see examples, sign up, and learn the rules.

Between January 1 and December 31, 2011, read one book in each of the following categories:

1. A book with a number in the title
2. A book with jewelry or a gem in the title
3. A book with a size in the title
4. A book with evil in the title
5. A book with a life stage in the title

I hope you have room in your challenge schedule to join in the fun. This is one of my favorite challenges.

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What's in a Name 5: Sign Up

Welcome to the fifth What's in a Name challenge This challenge was originated by a young blogger named Annie, who hosted it for two years. When she decided to give up on being the host, I took over the challenge.

I credit this challenge with being one of the prime reasons for my becoming a blogger, so I am thrilled to be its new host.

Here's How It Works

Between January 1 and December 31, 2012, read one book in each of the following categories:

1. A book with a topographical feature (land formation) in the title: Black Hills, Purgatory Ridge, Emily of Deep Valley
2. A book with something you'd see in the sky in the title: Moon Called, Seeing Stars, Cloud Atlas
3. A book with a creepy crawly in the title: Little Bee, Spider Bones, The Witches of Worm
   
4. A book with a type of house in the title: The Glass Castle, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, Ape House
   
5. A book with something you'd carry in your pocket, purse, or backpack in the title: Sarah's Key, The Scarlet Letter, Devlin Diary
6. A book with a something you'd find on a calendar in the title: Day of the Jackal, Elegy for April, Freaky Friday, Year of Magical Thinking
   

The book titles are just suggestions, you can read whatever book you want to fit the category.

Other Things to Know

• Books may be any form (audio, print, e-book).
• Books may overlap other challenges.
• Books may not overlap categories; you need a different book for each category.
• Creativity for matching the categories is not only allowed but encouraged.
  
• You do not have to make a list of books before hand.
• You do not have to read through the categories in any particular order.

On January 1, I'll publish 7 posts, each with a Mr. Linky (one for each category and one for your wrap-up post), on this blog so you'll have a place post links to your reviews (bloggers) or leave comments (non-bloggers) as you finish up each category. You'll be able to find these posts during the year by clicking on the button in the sidebar. (I'll create those links on January 1.)

Tip: If you're ever struggling to find a title to match a category, check out what other people have read so you can get ideas or be inspired. And remember to be creative.

To join in, sign up with Mr. Linky below. If you aren't a blogger, just add a comment. If Mr. Linky ever disappears, either try again later or click on Email Icon in the side bar and send me your information, and I'll add the link myself.

To use Mr. Linky: put your name or your blog's name in the top box and the URL (web address) of your blog in the bottom box. If you don't have a blog, use your tumblr account, your Facebook page or simply mention your intent to join the challenge in the comments.

Thanks to @DogEaredCopy, @marny_h96, @Zetablue, and @SuziQoregon for suggestions for, inspiration for, and confirmation of this year's categories. Feel free to suggest ideas for 2013 in the comments.

It's never too late to join!

I hope you like the categories! Have fun and good luck.

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What's in a Name 6: Sign Up

Welcome to the sixth What's in a Name challenge This challenge was originated by a young blogger named Annie, who hosted it for two years. When she decided to give up on being the host, I took over the challenge.

I credit this challenge with being one of the prime reasons for my becoming a blogger, so I am thrilled to be its new host.

Here's How It Works

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

1. A book with up or down (or equivalent) in the title: Deep down True, The Girl Below, The Diva Digs up the Dirt
2. A book with something you'd find in your kitchen in the title: Loose Lips Sink Ships, The Knife of Never Letting Go, Breadcrumbs
3. 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
4. A book with fire (or equivalent) in the title: Burning for Revenge, Fireworks over Toccoa, Catching Fire
5. A book with an emotion in the title: Baltimore Blues, Say You're Sorry, Dreams of Joy
6. 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.

Other Things to Know

• Books may be any form (audio, print, e-book).
• Books may overlap other challenges.
• Books may not overlap categories; you need a different book for each category.
• Creativity for matching the categories is not only allowed but encouraged.
• You do not have to make a list of books before hand.
• You do not have to read through the categories in any particular order.

On January 1, I'll publish 7 posts, each with a Mr. Linky (one for each category and one for your wrap-up post), on this blog so you'll have a place post links to your reviews (bloggers) or leave comments (non-bloggers) as you finish up each category. You'll be able to find these posts during the year by clicking on the button in the sidebar. (I'll create those links on January 1.)

Tip: If you're ever struggling to find a title to match a category, check out what other people have read so you can get ideas or be inspired. And remember to be creative.

To join in, sign up with Mr. Linky below. If you aren't a blogger, just add a comment. If Mr. Linky ever disappears, either try again later or click on the Email Icon in the side bar and send me your information, and I'll add the link myself.

To use Mr. Linky: put your name or your blog's name in the top box and the URL (web address) of your blog in the bottom box. If you don't have a blog, use your tumblr account, your Facebook page or simply mention your intent to join the challenge in the comments.

Thanks to @Uniflame and @SuziQoregon for suggestions for, inspiration for, and confirmation of this year's categories. Feel free to suggest ideas for 2014 in the comments.

It's never too late to join!

I hope you like the categories! Have fun and good luck.

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Challenge: What's in a Name? 3 (I'm Hosting!)

I've bitten the bullet and I'm going to host the 2010 What's in a Name? 3 Challenge. For the history of this challenge, to learn why I decided to host it, and to sign up for it, check out the brand new What's in a Name 3 blog.


Here's the challenge in brief: Between January 1 and December 31, 2010, read one book in each of the following categories:

1. A book with a food in the title.
2. A book with a body of water in the title.
3. A book with a title (queen, president, sir) in the title.
4. A book with a plant in the title.
5. A book with a place name (country, city) in the title.
6. A book with a music term in the title.

I have created a blog dedicated to this challenge, where you will find the complete rules and the Mr. Linky for signing up.

I hope you have room in your challenge schedule to join in the fun. This is one of my favorite challenges.

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Reading Challenge: What's in a Name? 2014

It's that time of the year! No, not Christmas, the signing up for reading challenges! I used to be a reading challenge addict, but in the last couple of years, I've gotten away from them and now I do just one. My very favorite challenge: What's in a Name?

As you know, I was the host of this challenge for four years. I have now passed the torch on, and the challenge has a new home. You can find the sign-up post and all the information over at The Worm Hole.

I'm so happy this challenge has a future thanks to the generosity of Charlie. I encourage everyone to jump in and sign up. I love the categories this year, and I'm already thinking about my strategy. I always start out the year with a list of possible books to fit each category, but the most fun is seeing how many I can complete just through my regular reading. In September or so, I review my status and, if necessary, make a focused effort to complete the challenge.

Here are the 2014 categories with a few suggested titles from Charlie:

A reference to time (Eleven Minutes, Before Ever After)
A position of royalty (The People’s Queen, The Last Empress, The Curse Of The Pharaoh)
A number written in letters (The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, A Tale Of Two Cities)
A forename or names (Rebecca, Eleanor & Park, The Unfinished Work Of Elizabeth D.)
A type or element of weather (Gone With The Wind, Red Earth Pouring Rain)

Be sure to read the sign-up post for all the rules and to join in the fun.

I want to thank everyone who participated in this challenge in the past: I appreciate your support and hope you had fun with it. I also want to thank Charlie for agreeing to be the new host. And I want to thank all of you in advance for continuing to make this one of the most popular challenges around.

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Got Litsy? Interview with Co-Founder Todd Lawton

You've all heard me rave about the book-lovers app Litsy, where I and many members of the online book community share our thoughts about the books we read and the books we want to read.

Many of you also know that the app was developed by Todd Lawton and Jeff LeBlanc (pictured below) from Out of Print, which is where you can find very fun book-related clothing, mugs, pouches, and more. (I really need to buy myself a few pairs of their super-cool book-themed socks!)

If you haven't yet had a chance to look into Litsy, it's an app that lets you rate books, share your thoughts, and talk to other readers. I like using the app because it combines some of my favorite things: books, the book community, social media, and photography. My Litsy user name is @BethFishReads, what's yours?

I recently had the opportunity to talk with Litsy co-founder Todd Lawton. I tried to think of all the questions you might have in regard to the book community and how the app is currently being used. In addition, I took the opportunity to find out what's in store for the future (pay attention Android users!), and I'm very happy about the projected new features.

Help me welcome Todd to Beth Fish Reads. Pour your self a cup of your favorite drink, sit down, and listen in (read in?) to our conversation.

ME: One of the things I really like about Litsy is how easy it is to connect with people through our shared love of books. Although the app has been called a combination of Twitter, Goodreads, and Instagram, Litsy is really an entity all of its own. What are some of the ways readers have used the app's features to combine their love of reading with photography and the online community?

TODD: We think the best way to share and talk about books is through many moments we have with them—not just our final thoughts or reviews. Litsy is a platform where readers can be as spontaneous and fun as they want to be. We're thrilled to see the community create new ways within Litsy to express their "Lit-Lives"—by creating book clubs, powering read-a-thons, creating photo communitywide campaigns, sharing book hauls and lists, and hearing from authors that they want to use Litsy while on book tours. We're learning so much about what readers want from Litsy just by the new ways they are "hacking" the experience to create new uses and functionality. We love it!

ME: I love it too, especially some of the memes, such as @Liberty's Fun Friday Photo, which has a weekly theme, and TBR Tuesday, in which users celebrate the books they're excited about.

Social media is, of course, all about communicating with others, and I've been enjoying how the commenting feature of Litsy is used to start conversations, ask questions, and share thoughts about books. What are some of the unique things you've seen in the comments?

TODD: It seems counterintuitive, but limiting the number of characters allowed in posts and comments translates to more conversations being created and reacted to. We're seeing many people ask questions in their posts or make open-ended statements. These posts get a lot of comments. Personally, I have been surprised by how much reaction is generated when a reader marks a book as "bail" in their review. As far as we know, we're the first to include the action of not completing a book in a rating system. Every book moment, the good and the bad, is an opportunity to start a conversation on Litsy.

ME: I think the bail rating is brilliant. People have been using it silently or have used it as a way to talk about why a book wasn't for them. I also like "spoiler alert" feature. This is so great because it allows readers to talk about specific scenes or the ending of a book without ruining anything for others. Both posts and comments can be hidden until you, the user, decide to tap and read.

I love taking photographs, so I was instantly attracted that feature of Litsy. When you decided to include photographs with the app, how did you anticipate readers would use that feature? What has surprised you about how readers incorporate photographs?

TODD: We started Litsy on the shoulders of a literary merchandise company that largely specialized in uncovering and celebrating iconic book art, called Out of Print. With Litsy, we wanted to continue to celebrate the visual nature and joy of reading as much as the verbal. Sharing a personally stylized picture of a book cover is much more appealing than something we can suggest from a digital database. I love seeing Litsy posts with stacks of books after a book haul or to share a reading list. There's a lot of cool ways people are highlighting quotes off a printed or digital page as well.

ME: Over the last few months I've also noticed a change in the types of photographs people share. At first many photos were simply conventional book covers. Now, however, we're seeing scenery, the ocean, the kids' baseball practice, and other non-book photos. So much fun.

Although I love thinking about and setting up photographs to accompany my Litsy posts, I think it's great that users don't have to include a photo if they don't want to. I've noticed that there is no obligation or pressure to have to use your camera app (or the built-in Litsy feature). I was curious if you know about how many posts go up without an accompanying photo.

TODD: Between 25 and 30 percent of posts go up with a photo.

ME: I think that's awesome. I love it that people can join in the fun of Litsy without the need to snap a pic. So if someone isn't the photographing type, he won't be alone. No need to hold back on downloading the app.

Now let's take a look into the future. So far the Litsy app is available only for iOs, where it has seen rapid growth. As the app becomes more popular, I know two of the biggest questions my readers have are, When is Litsy coming to Android? and Will there be a web version?

TODD: You can look for the Android app sometime in July or August. Our website will launch this fall.

ME: Great news! I can't wait until everyone has access to Litsy. I'm looking forward to even more great book-related conversation.

I like the simplicity of Litsy and how easy and intuitive it is to use, right from the start. But, of course, everyone has her own little wish list of future features. Here are two items on mine: an audiobook icon (and audiobooks showing up in the search) and a way to make lists or collections. Are either of these in Litsy's future? What other features can users expect to see in the coming year?

TODD: There are a lot of audiobook lovers out there. We definitely have it marked as an area to focus on. In the near term, we will be adding more discovery and explore options—better ways to connect with like-minded readers and trending books, genres, etc. Push notifications are high on our list. Our view is that Litsy exists to be a reader's companion and to create joy. We're most excited by the functions and experiences we can add to make book talk more fun. If you're on Litsy and like what's happening today, you’re going to love what’s to come.

ME: I can't wait to see what the future will bring.

Okay, I just have to ask: Who is the Litsy poet who writes your update notes? I love reading them. [If you haven't read the update notes, you're missing out!]

TODD: That tradition was started by our co-founder, Jeff (his many talents never cease to amaze us), but we’re lucky to have another brilliant writer who has penned an update text or two.

ME: Thanks so much, Todd. It was fun to talk with you about one of my favorite places to chat about my love of books and reading. You can find me there off and on throughout the day as (oh shock) @BethFishReads.

If you want to know more about Todd and Jeff, read the stories at Tech Crunch and Publishers Weekly. For more on the app itself, visit the Litsy site. For questions or just to say hi to the Litsy people, follow them on Twitter where they're @getlitsy.

Be sure to set up your account and join the community. I'd love to see you there.

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Weekend Cooking: Six Sweet Scary Suggestions

Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, fabulous quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page. For more information, see the welcome post.

_______

What's October without some mysterious reading? And what's a Saturday without something foodie? Today is all about eating your way through murder. And, by the way, today is also the second anniversary of Weekend Cooking. Thanks to all of you for helping make it a success.

Here are a half dozen tasty choices—all from Penguin Group (USA). In fact the Berkley Prime Crime Mystery imprint publishes quite a few great cozies, including many culinary mysteries. Dig in to these delicious devilish delights.

Liz Lipperman's debut novel, Liver Let Die, introduces food columnist Jordan McAllister, based in small-town Texas. Poor Jordan didn't know that food writing could be so dangerous. Be sure to check out the recipes in this Clueless Cook Mystery; Ray's Pumpkin Pie Crunch and Alex's Tex-Mex Breakfast Casserole both sound good. (Berkley Prime Crime, ISBN-13: 9780425244043, October 2011)

Jordan McAllister can’t cook her way out of a macaroni & cheese box, but filling in for the culinary reporter at The Ranchero Globe is better than writing personal ads. Her first assignment to review the new steakhouse in town is a disaster that ends with her waiter murdered outside her door—with her name and number in his pocket. Now Jordan is the prime suspect, as well as the main course on the murder menu.

Lost and Fondue, by Avery Aames is the second entry in the Cheese Shop Mystery series. Charlotte Bessette lives in Ohio and owns Fromagerie Bessette. Aames's first in this series, The Long Quiche Goodbye, won an Agatha Award for Best First Novel. Recipes at the back of the book include a couple for (of course) fondue. (Berkley Prime Crime, ISBN-13: 9780425241585, May 2011)

The fair town of Providence has settled down to normal after last year’s murder. Jonquils are in bloom. The Cheese Shop is thriving. and Charlotte’s romance with Jordan is flourishing. But when her friend, Meredith, decides to throw a fund-raiser to create a liberal arts college out of a long-abandoned winery—a winery that is rumored to hold not only buried bodies but buried treasure—Charlotte’s joie de vivre deflates like a bad souffle. Charlotte’s fears are realized when an art student is found dead in the wine cellar, and Meredith’s niece is the main suspect.

The third title in Jenn McKinlay's Cupcake Bakery Mysteries is Death by the Dozen. Bakery owners Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura are based in Arizona, and murder and mayhem seem to follow in their tracks. Bakers will find recipes for several yummy treats, including chocolate chili cupcakes (yum!). (Berkley Prime Crime, ISBN-13: 9780425244050, October 2011)

Melanie and Angie are determined to win the Challenge to the Chef to promote their Fairy Tale Cupcakes bakery. Mel’s mentor from culinary school, Vic Mazzotta, may be one of the judges, but Mel and Angie will have to win fair and square. But, when Vic’s dead body is found inside a freezer truck, Mel and Angie will need to use their best judgment to find the cold-blooded killer or they may lose more than the contest—they may lose their lives.

Just in time for Halloween we have Krista Davis's newest Domestic Diva Mystery, The Diva Haunts the House. This series stars Sophie Winston, an event planner in Virginia. Her job exposes her to all kinds of people, including killers. Davis's The Diva Runs Out of Thyme, was a finalist for an Agatha Award for Best First Novel. The recipes are perfect for October and will delight the kids, with names such as Bat Cave Risotto, and Chicken Scaryaki. (Berkley Prime Crime, ISBN-13: 9780425243787, September 2011)

Domestic diva Sophie Winston is getting into the Halloween spirit—her decorations for a community haunted house are so good, it’s scary. Not to be outdone, rival domestic diva Natasha is throwing a spooktacular Halloween party at her house. But when Sophie arrives, she discovers one of Natasha’s guests dead in a Halloween display, and a pale, fanged partygoer fleeing the scene. Could the killer be a real vampire—the same one rumored to have lived in Sophie’s haunted house back when it was a boardinghouse? Good thing a domestic diva never runs out of garlic.

As the chill of fall sets in, warm up with B. B. Haywood's Town in a Lobster Stew. This is the second time Candy Holiday—a blueberry farmer on the coast of Maine—finds herself in the middle of mystery. Recipes include several versions of lobster stew and chowder. Where's my spoon? (Berkley Prime Crime, ISBN-13: 9780425240014, Februrary 2011)

Things start to boil over at the annual Lobster Stew Cook-Off when an award-winning recipe is stolen and a seven-time contest champion mysteriously disappears—leaving Candy no choice but to find out who in Cape Willington, Maine, would get steamed enough to break the law.

What's a murder mystery without a little chocolate? JoAnna Carl's The Chocolate Castle Clue is the eleventh in the poplular Chocoholic Mysteries starring Lee McKinney, who makes her chocolate goodies in Michigan. No recipes in this book, but the descriptions of sweet treats will make you raid your chocolate stash. (Obsidian, ISBN-13: 9780451234742, October 2011)

Lee McKinney Woodyard discovers a dusty trophy inside TenHuis Chocolade that belongs to her aunt Nettie and her old high school singing group, the Pier-O-Ettes. It’s a trophy that brings back terrible memories of an unsolved murder years ago. Before Lee takes aim at the past, someone is murdered in the here and now. Lee needs to keep her eyes on the prize, hoping the trophy is a clue to finding the killer—before she’s a target herself.

Lots to satisfy the murder mystery–loving foodie in us all.

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Monthly Wrap Up: October 2009

Total Books and Current Status

Since January 1, I've read 81 books and left 5 books unfinished. I have posted 79 full reviews and 23 mini-reviews and I have 2 reviews left to write. I am currently finishing up a number of print books and am listening to An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon.


What Did I Read and Review?

Here's what I reviewed in October. Click on the link to see my review; the letter in parentheses is my rating.

31 Hours by Masha Hamilton (B-)
Shanghai Girls by Lisa See (B-)
Mind Scrambler by Chris Grabenstein (B-)
The Last Dickens by Matthew Pearl (B)
Only Milo by Barry Smith (B-)
To Darkness and to Death by Julia Spencer-Fleming (B-)
Darkness Be My Friend by John Marsden (B+)

Also read in October but not yet reviewed:

A Friend of the Family by Karen Grodstein
Fables (Vol. 1) by Bill Willingham
The Magicians by Lev Grossman (review later today)

I had an average reading month and didn't read as much as I wanted to during the October Read-a-Thon. Darkness Be My Friend was my favorite for the month, though An Echo in the Bone (a 46-hour audiobook) is wonderful and will be near the top for November. I've been a bit disappointed in my reading lately; I need a WOW book.

Mini Reviews

I posted four mini reviews of books I read before I started blogging:

I, Claudius by Robert Graves
The Judas Pair by Jonathon Gash
The Kingdoms of the Elves of the Reaches by Robert Stanek
The Love Wife by Gish Jen

And I had one mini review of a book I couldn't finish:

Sword of Fire and Ice by John Matthews

Movie Reviews

• Pride & Prejudice Goes to the Movies

Literary Road Trip, Author Interviews, Guest Posts

• Literary Road Trip project: Susan DiPlacido, author of 24/7
• Literary Road Trip project: Mindy Withrow, author of the History Lives series
  
• Guest post: Matthew Pearl, author of The Last Dickens
  

Did I Complete Any Challenges? Join Any New Ones?

I completed the R.I.P. Challenge and the What's in a Name Challenge (wrap-up post to come).

I joined the 100-Mile Challenge, the YA Dystopian Challenge, and the Shelf Discovery Challenge.

What's New and What's Coming in November

I started a new weekend meme in October: Weekend Cooking. This is an open-ended, make of it what you will meme that everyone is welcome to join. If you have a post that is even remotely related to a food or drink topic, please feel free to hook up to Mr. Linky on my Saturday morning post. I am very happy with the first day: Margot of Joyfully Retired posted a great essay of her first dinner party, Michelle of GalleySmith posted a review of a YA novel, Sherrie of Just Books posted a mini review of a novel including a recipe, Wendy of Caribousmom wrote about her dinner on Friday night (including a recipe), and Diane of Bibliophile By the Sea shared two book reviews.

I have two Literary Road Trip posts planned for November and one blog tour.

I'm am particularly excited about Nicole's (of Linus's Blanket) That's How I Blog! series on Blog Talk Radio. Trish of Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'? was the guest last week, and Kathy of Bermudaonion's Blog will be the guest on Tuesday, November 3. I will be the guest on November 10 (more on this in a couple of days). Please tune in, check out the chat room, and support this radio show. It is a lot of fun and Nicole is a natural host.

How was your October? Did you meet your reading goals? Are you caught up on your reviews? Are you making changes?

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What's in a Name? 3: Finished

I'm relieved and happy to let you know that I completed one of my own challenges: What's in a Name? 3. Phew.

For those who are interested, it is not too late to sign up for the What's in a Name? 3 challenge. You have until the end of the year to read six books (one in each of six categories).

Here's what I read for the challenge:

Food: Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
Water: The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan
Title: The Postmistress by Sarah Blake
Plant: Rose by Jeff Smith
Place name: Kingdom of Ohio by Matthew Flaming
Music: Baltimore Blues by Laura Lippmann

I was very lucky in my picks for this challenge, because I loved them all. Four authors were new to me, and I have added two series (Bradley and Lippmann) to my ever-growing list of must-read mysteries.

If you're playing along, I hope you are having fun with the challenge.

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Review: Not Becoming My Mother by Ruth Reichl

If you are a even a little bit of a foodie, then the name Ruth Reichl will be familiar. Perhaps you subscribe to Gourmet magazine or have read one of Reichl's wonderful memoirs. Not Becoming My Mother is a different kind of book, and it is difficult to review.

In 110 pages Reichl tells us not only the story of her mother but also the story of all women born between 1890 and 1930. Girls being raised under the weight of fairy tales and the lure of Prince Charming could not afford to waste energy on the idea of a life of independence.

Before the war, women who were lucky enough to get a college education were generally not expected to be any different from women who didn't finish high school. You were to marry, support your husband, raise your children, and keep your house clean and neat. Reichl's mother, Mim, who earned her Ph.D. in Paris at the age of 19, was no exception. Her only job was to return home, marry, and have babies. Once Mim gave birth to her first child, a boy, her father wrote: "Now you are a real woman!"

What about women who did not care about doing housework, who were not particularly maternal, or who did not find satisfaction in being a support system for their husband? Mim struggled with this her whole life. What happens to a person who tries to live up to the expectations of society and her parents when those goals are not her own? Mim would have probably made an excellent psychiatrist—she may have not coped very well herself but she knew how to break the cycle. By not pretending to be something she wasn't, she was able to give her daughter the gift of freedom and independence. Reichl grew up knowing that she did not what to become her mother.

As Reichl put it, "Instead of holding herself up as a model to be emulated, she led by negative example, repeating 'I am a failure' over and over, as if it were a mantra. 'I am ridiculous. Don't be like me.' " Only years later did Reichl understand what her mother gave up when she "deliberately sabotaged my respect and emphasized her failings." I can't imagine the frustration that would lead a mother to do this. Mim was strong woman.

Especially striking was Mim's transition after her husband died. After an initial surrender to depression, she finally realized that she was on her own and was able to lead her own life—parentless, husbandless, and childless. She traveled, she took in college students, she cared for her friends, and she did just what she wanted. She blossomed.

Although Reichl is, almost to the day, only 7 years older than I am, it's the difference in our mother's ages that is significant. My mother is 81, but Reichl's mother would have been 101. Our mothers shared some experiences, however: Both grew up in Ohio and both wanted to be a doctor. In the late 1940s, my mother's college adviser talked her out of becoming a psychiatrist. My mother was already married, and my father was in optometric school. The adviser told my mother that her marriage would fall apart if she got her M.D. So my mom majored in child psychology and then taught kindergarten until she had children.

The 20-year age gap gave my mom the advantage over Mim. My mother was able to reinvent herself two times over. First, she organized and ran the library at our temple, all on her own, working every Saturday and Sunday morning for more than 20 years. Although she made only minimum wage and worked only 10 hours a week, that money was hers. She was pretty much the only mother in my 1950s-style neighborhood who didn't have to use her husband's money to buy herself a treat. In her 40s, my mother basically fell into a career as a journalist, becoming one of the first women to have a column on the sports page of our local newspaper. She retired only at the age of 79, a year or so after my dad retired (when he was 80).

Despite the differences in our mothers (and mine is a fabulous cook!), they both taught us the same lessons: the importance of having a meaningful career, that beauty comes from self-awareness and self-assurance, that women do not need a man to be complete (and my mom has had 60+ years of happy marriage), that being resourceful and independent were worthy goals, and that "in the end you are the only one who can make yourself happy."

Thank you, Ruth, for sharing Mim's story. I can't wait to share it with my own mother, who is one of my closest friends. And to those of you who are mothers yourselves, happy Mother's Day.

Ruth Reichl has a website.
Be sure to listen to Bethanne's interview with Reichl at The Book Studio.

Not Becoming My Mother at an Indie

Not Becoming My Mother at Powell's
Not Becoming My Mother at Amazon

Published by Penguin (USA), 2009
ISBN-13: 9781594202162
Challenges: A-Z title, What's in a Name, 999, 100+
YTD: 36
Rating: B+

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Going Public . . . In Shorts with Narrator John Lee (June Is Audiobook Month)

You must know by now that June is Audiobook Month (#JIAM2013, for those of you on Twitter). To help celebrate the month, I'm thrilled to be involved with the Going Public Project, which has put together an audiobook of short stories. All proceeds From this Spoken Freely project will go the Reach Out and Read literacy advocacy organization.

Every day in June, one or two of these stories (in the public domain) will be released on the Going Public blog as well on other blogs in the book blog community. Each story is free for listening (no downloads) for one week. On June 30, in collaboration with Blackstone Audio, the entire collection will be available for download via Downpour.

To find out when each story will be released and which narrator is reading it, check out the Going Public site. Jeffrey Kafer and SpringBrook Audio did the engineering and mastering and f power design did the graphic design. Blackstone Audio is the publisher. A huge thank you goes to project coordinator and executive producer Xe Sands.

I can't tell you how happy I was to be teamed up with veteran narrator John Lee for the Going Public . . . In Shorts project. I have spent many an hour with John as he's accompanied me on my walks and entertained me in my kitchen. No, I've never met him, but I know his voice well.



For Going Public . . . In Shorts, John read "Eveline" by James Joyce. To hear the story for free, just hit the play button above and be transported to Joyce's Dublin. To learn more about John Lee and what's it's like to be an audiobook narrator, listen in on our conversation:

Beth Fish Reads (BFR): We've never met, but I feel as if I'd know your voice anywhere, considering that I've had you in my head (earbuds) for almost 200 hours over the years. When you're recording a book, do you feel the pressure from repeat listeners' expectations for another stellar performance?

John Lee (JL): I do worry that people will either get tired of listening to me or will realize that I am not particularly good at certain kinds of books. I find myself thinking either that I should be sure to sound just like I did on the last book or thinking I should vary this a little because surely people are tired of me by now. Fortunately the sheer concentration it takes to narrate prevents me from thinking too deeply. Or maybe that's just my lack of intellectual depth.

BFR: You've recorded quite a variety of genres, although I'm most familiar with your narrations of historical fiction. Do you have a favorite genre for recording audiobooks? Is it different from what you might pick up for your personal reading?

JL: My personal reading consists almost entirely of nonfiction. If I did not narrate audiobooks I would probably never read anything fictional. This is just a function of my obsession with history, not any reflection on the quality of fiction. There are certain writers I love revisiting that I read when I was younger. Dickens, Conrad, Lawrence. I like the sort of history books that inject real personality. Ben Macintyre, whose books include Double Cross and The Napoleon of Crime, is an expert at this. Though I love nonfiction the best discovery I have made in narrating is Orhan Pahmuk, the Turkish Nobel Laureate. His books are wonderful, real gems. I always recommend them.

BFR: I'm a full-time professional book editor, and I turned to audiobooks in the late 1980s because, after reading all day for work, I needed to rest my eyes. Plus, I often silently edit when I'm reading. Do you have similar issues? When reading for pleasure do you begin to create voices for the characters or think about pacing and volume?

JL: Oh, yes. All the time. I now create voices in my head not just for my own amusement but in a way that I feel would be appropriate for a listener. I find myself thinking—You know, the writer really could have made that paragraph easier to read aloud. I find myself thinking that the writing is awkward because it's not easily read aloud when it might well be a perfectly lovely line as it sits on the page. I sometimes wonder if writers look at their work and think it looks lovely on the page. Perhaps they write in such a way as to shape their paragraphs nicely.

BFR: You've mostly recorded solo performances but in some cases, The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Pie Society comes to mind, you've been part of a collaboration. Can you talk a little bit about the pros and cons of working alone vs. working with others?

JL: The first difficulty with multicast productions is pronunciation. The first person to complete their part gets to tell everyone else how things are pronounced. The English have so many ways of pronouncing so many things that we all have to contort ourselves if a different pronunciation from our "normal" pronunciation is used. Trying to match at least the tone of another actor's interpretation of a character is quite difficult. I imagine that multicast projects are fun for listeners, and I try to make sure that the differences between narrators are not so glaring as to take people out of the flow of the book.

BFR: I'm sure you're asked this all the time, but I'm curious. What happens if you have to narrate a book you're not enjoying. I know that as an editor, sometimes that makes my job easier; when I'm less caught up in the story, I can more easily concentrate on the editorial issues. But what about for an audiobook narrator?

JL: My father was a construction carpenter. He made what Americans call "forms," what the English and Irish call "shuttering," the forms into which concrete is poured to make a foundation or a wall or a post. My father oversaw the pouring of more concrete than anyone outside of the Grand Coulee Dam. He helped build some of the ugliest buildings I've ever seen. However, those ugly buildings will stand as long as the elegant structures he helped build. He never asked why the building had to be so ugly, he just made sure it would stand up and stay up. I have the same attitude to narrating books. First of all, my dad might not have been a good judge of architecture and I might not be a good judge of a book. I write myself, plays and screenplays, so I know how hard it is to write anything, even bad work, so I have nothing but admiration for someone who can write a novel or a historical work and convince people who know books better than I do that it's worth publishing. Each writer deserves the best we can give him or her. Of course, it's a lot easier to narrate a book I enjoy. I do wonder sometimes if my attitude to a book comes across in the narration.

BFR: As an avid audiobook listener, one thing I always appreciate is when a narrator hits that sweet spot of adding emotion, drama, tension, and characterizations to a novel while at the same time leaving me space to form my own connections and reactions. Is that something you consciously strive for or is that a just part of the job?

JL: It's always what I strive for. It's similar to being on stage and doing just enough to tell an audience what they need to know while letting them come to their own conclusions or get that laugh without being pushed or find those tears without being forced. It's the trickiest part of the process.

BFR: Finally, I have another question that I bet audiobook narrators are often asked. What kind of research do you do when the book you're narrating contains a number of foreign words or regional cities or towns that might have a distinct pronunciation? In some cases, how do you even know that a town name (Cairo, Georgia, comes to mind) might not be pronounced as it's spelled?

JL: Two parts to this answer. Let's say I am reading a book set in Sweden. I come across the city of Gothenburg. I know, of course that this is pronounced Goth-un-berg. However, I decide to look it up. In fact it is pronounced Got-a-burr-ya. Now, if it's a Swede speaking it must be pronounced in this way. However, can we get away with saying Gothenberg for the sake of the non-Swedish listener? It's a dance between accuracy and reality. Back when I started narrating you had to look all these things up in books or call someone in Cairo, Georgia, and ask them how they say the name. Google has saved us all a lot of time. Who those people are who take time out to record all these words I have no idea but I thank them. There is a difference, too, if I am working with a director. The director will also have pronunciation research.

The part of research that is more difficult ultimately comes down to skill as a narrator, but the narrator does need to know something about the context of a given book. I mentioned Orhan Pahmuk, not just a Turkish writer but, very specifically, an Istanbul writer. It helps my reading if I know something about Turkey, about Kemal Ataturk, the military junta that ruled there, something about Turkish Islam. I won't be able to convey all that to a listener but it adds something very important to my narration, something intangible.

BFR: Thanks so much for taking the time to talk with me, John. I learned quite a bit about what's it's like to be the person on the other side of the mic. I'm particularly amazed by all the decisions that must be made about pronunciations, whether foreign words, names of cities, or matching other performers on a multicast project. I also want to thank you for giving me so many, many hours of pleasure when I've listened to books you've narrated.

More about John Lee (the most evil man in the world?): His voice can be heard in MTV’s Aeon Flux, as Trevor Goodchild, the most evil man in the world: in HBO’s Spawn, as Jason Wynn, the most evil man in the world, and in Jet Li's The Black Mask he dubbed the voice of Commander Hung, the most evil man in the world. He also provided the voice for Meier, the conflicted vampire in Vampire Hunter D and worked on Miyazaki’s Princess Mononoke.

John’s voice can be heard all over the gaming world, in Final Fantasy, The Mists of Avalon, Warhawk, Ninja Scrolls, Blackjack, and Everquest.

His book narration continues apace. In 2007 he recorded the monumental World Without End, Ken Follet’s sequel to the equally grand Pillars of the Earth, which John recorded in 2006. He has been lucky enough to read the remarkable works of Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk and Philip Kerr’s wonderfully researched detective novels set in Germany in the 1930s and 1940s. He has not quite recovered from narrating James Joyce’s Ulysses but hopes that large quantities of stout will solve that problem.

For more about Going Public . . . In Shorts, visit yesterday's host The Guilded Earlobe and tomorrow's host Jen's Book Thoughts.

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BEA 2014: What's Hot at HarperCollins

Last week I talked about the BEA book group session (part 1 & part 2) in which representatives from a number of publishers presented their top recommendations. I purposely left off the HarperCollins imprints because I wanted to talk about them in their own post.

As you know, I'm a big supporter of the Harper Perennial and Ecco imprints; today, however, I feature eight HarperCollins imprints and list a sampling of some of the books their publicists are excited about this year. In the following, you'll find everything from nonfiction to romance; literary fiction to urban fantasy.

For each imprint, I've listed a few of the recent and upcoming titles (with my own description) and then post the book cover and publisher's summary for my top pick.

Harper

• Gutenberg's Apprentice by Alix Christie: historical fiction set in mid-15th-century Germany; about the first printing of a book and the launching of the business of publishing
• Us by David Nicholls: literary fiction; after 30 years of marriage a man is surprised to learn his wife may leave him; at the same time he realizes he barely knows his almost-grown son; is it too late to save his relationship with his family?
• Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy by Karen Abbot: historical fiction set during the U.S. Civil War; the story of four women who spied for their side during the war; based on firsthand accounts.

The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen: fantasy; this first in an epic fantasy trilogy has already been picked up to be a movie starring Emma Watson. From the publisher's summary:

Magic, adventure, mystery, and romance combine in this epic debut in which a young princess must reclaim her dead mother's throne, learn to be a ruler--and defeat the Red Queen, a powerful and malevolent sorceress determined to destroy her.

On her nineteenth birthday, Princess Kelsea Raleigh Glynn, raised in exile, sets out on a perilous journey back to the castle of her birth to ascend her rightful throne. . . .

Despite her royal blood, Kelsea feels like nothing so much as an insecure girl, a child called upon to lead a people and a kingdom about which she knows almost nothing. But what she discovers in the capital will change everything, confronting her with horrors she never imagined. . . .

Ecco

• The Angel of Losses by Stephanie Feldman: modern folk tale; a young woman going through her late-grandfather's papers discovers a Jewish legend, family secrets, and the key to saving her sister from a fate set in motion centuries earlier.
• The Miniaturist by Ivy Pochoda: historical fiction set in late-17th-century Amsterdam; a young women gets in over her head when she seeks a craftsman to make furnishings for her beautiful miniature house; themes of secrets, love, greed, and betrayal; has a creepy aspect

Rooms by Lauren Oliver: fiction; what happens when three relatives inherit a haunted house; family drama. From the publisher's summary:

Wealthy Richard Walker has just died, leaving behind his country house full of rooms packed with the detritus of a lifetime. His estranged family—bitter ex-wife Caroline, troubled teenage son Trenton, and unforgiving daughter Minna—have arrived for their inheritance.

But the Walkers are not alone. Prim Alice and the cynical Sandra, long dead former residents bound to the house, linger within its claustrophobic walls. Jostling for space, memory, and supremacy, they observe the family, trading barbs and reminiscences about their past lives. Though their voices cannot be heard, Alice and Sandra speak through the house itself—in the hiss of the radiator, a creak in the stairs, the dimming of a light bulb.

The living and dead are each haunted by painful truths that will soon surface with explosive force. When a new ghost appears, and Trenton begins to communicate with her, the spirit and human worlds collide—with cataclysmic results. . . .

Avon/Voyager

• What I Love about You by Rachel Gibson: romance; steamy hot about ex-Navy SEAL twins and the beautiful women they meet.
• The Getaway God by Richard Kadry: noir paranormal adventure; sixth in the Sandman Slim series; our hero must save LA from the wrath of the evil gods; witty.

The Witch with No Name by Kim Harrison: urban fantasy; the end of her series; I haven't read all of these yet, but this is a fun, smart, and sexy series involving a number of different types of creatures. From the publisher's summary:

Rachel Morgan has come a long way from her early days as an inexperienced bounty hunter. She's faced vampires and werewolves, banshees, witches, and soul-eating demons. She's crossed worlds, channeled gods, and accepted her place as a day-walking demon. She's lost friends and lovers and family, and an old enemy has unexpectedly become something much more.

But power demands responsibility, and world-changers must always pay a price. Rachel has known that this day would come--and now it is here.

To save Ivy's soul and the rest of the living vampires, to keep the demonic ever after and our own world from destruction, Rachel Morgan will risk everything.

Harper Perennial

• Cancel the Wedding by Carolyn T. Dingman: contemporary woman's fiction; a young woman puts her marriage plans on hold after her mother dies and she must travel to rural Georgia to put the estate in order; charming but smart Southern fiction
• Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay: essay, memoir; these essays and short pieces focus on contemporary feminism, culture, and politics.

This Is the Water by Yannick Murphy: fiction, thriller; from the author of The Call; a killer is targeting a New England high school swim team. From the publisher's summary:

In a quiet New England community members of swim team and their dedicated parents are preparing for a home meet. The most that Annie, a swim-mom of two girls, has to worry about is whether or not she fed her daughters enough carbs the night before; why her husband, Thomas, hasn't kissed her in ages; and why she can't get over the loss of her brother who shot himself a few years ago.

But Annie's world is about to change. From the bleachers, looking down at the swimmers, a dark haired man watches a girl. No one notices him. . . .

When a girl on the team is murdered at a nearby highway rest stop . . . the parents suddenly find themselves adrift. . . .

With a serial killer now too close for comfort, Annie and her fellow swim-parents must make choices about where their loyalties lie. As a series of startling events unfold, Annie discovers what it means to follow your intuition, even if love, as well as lives, could be lost.

Harper 360

• Here's Looking at You by Mhairi McFarlane: contemporary fiction; an ugly duckling story loosely based on Pride & Prejudice from a Scottish author.

The Qualities of Wood by Mary Vensel White: mystery/thriller; set in the American Midwest, this is novel about a murder and secrets of all kinds. From the publisher's summary:

When Betty Gardiner dies, leaving behind an unkempt country home, her grandson and his young wife take a break from city life to prepare the house for sale. Nowell Gardiner leaves first to begin work on his second mystery novel. By the time his wife Vivian joins him, a real mystery has begun: a local girl has been found dead in the woods behind the house. Even after the death is ruled an accident, Vivian can't forget the girl, can't ignore the strange behaviour of her neighbours, or her husband. As Vivian attempts to put the house in order, all around her things begin to fall apart.

Dey Street

• Not My Father's Son by Alan Cumming: autobiography; the story of his life and how his self-perception was changed when, as an adult, he discovered his father wasn't in fact his real father.
• My Drunk Kitchen by Hannah Hart: food and cooking; by an accidental YouTube star; food, cooking, drinking, and good advice about life.

All or Nothing by Jesse Schenker: food writing, memoir; how the author went from a down-and-out druggie to being a successful chef and owner of two New York restaurants. From the publisher's summary:

Growing up in wealthy suburban Florida, Jesse was introduced to the culinary world, and the world of hard drugs. Becoming a high school dropout addicted to heroin and crack, he was alienated from his family and wanted by the cops. By twenty-one, he had robbed, cheated, and lied to everyone in his life. . . . His eventual arrest motivated him to get clean.

Jesse learned to channel his obsessiveness and need to get ever "higher" into his career. But his growing success fueled his anxiety, leading to panic attacks and hypochondria. In this startling and down to earth memoir, Jesse lays it all on the table for the first time, reflecting on his insatiable appetite for the extreme--which has led to his biggest triumphs and failures--and shares the shocking story of his turbulent life.

Morrow Paperbacks

• Butternut Summer by Mary McNear: contemporary woman's fiction: a mother-daughter story that takes place in a small Minnesota town filled with quirky characters; some love; good summer reading.
• G.I. Brides by Duncan Barrett and Nuala Calvi: nonfiction; focuses four British women who married U.S. soldiers and moved to America to find a new life far from their families.

What Strange Creatures by Emily Arsenault: literary thriller, a PhD student must save her brother who she believes was falsely accused of murder. From the publisher's summary:

The Battle siblings are used to disappointment. Seven years, one marriage and divorce, three cats, and a dog later, Theresa still hasn't finished her dissertation. . . .

Jeff, her so-called genius older brother, doesn't have it together, either. Creative, and loyal, he's also aimless in work and love. But his new girlfriend, Kim, a pretty waitress in her twenties, appears smitten.

When Theresa agrees to dog-sit Kim's puggle for a weekend, she has no idea that it is the beginning of a terrifying nightmare that will shatter her quiet world. Soon, Kim's body will be found in the woods, and Jeff will become the prime suspect.

. . . Investigating the dead woman's past, Theresa uncovers a treacherous secret involving politics, murder, and scandal--and becomes entangled in a potentially dangerous romance. But the deeper she falls into this troubling case, the more it becomes clear that, in trying to save her brother's life, she may be sacrificing her own.

William Morrow

• The Hurricane Sisters by Dorothea Benton Frank: contemporary women's fiction; smart beach reading; three generations of women face life changes during hurricane season in the South Carolina Lowcountry.
•  A Deadly Wandering by Matt Richtel: nonfiction; starting with a true-life deadly accident involving texting and driving, the author examines the effects of modern technology on our young people and their inability to focus attention on a single task

The Season of the Dragonflies by Sara Creech: contemporary fiction with a magical touch; set in Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, the story involves sisters, flowers, perfume and a little practical magic. From the publisher's summary:

For generations, the Lenore women have manufactured a perfume unlike any other, and guarded the unique and mysterious ingredients. Their perfumery, hidden in the quiet rolling hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, creates one special elixir that secretly sells for millions of dollars to the world's most powerful. . . .

Willow, the coolly elegant Lenore family matriarch, is the brains behind the company. Her gorgeous, golden-haired daughter Mya is its heart. Like her foremothers, she can "read" scents and envision their power. Willow's younger daughter, dark-haired, soulful Lucia, claims no magical touch, nor does she want any part of the family business. She left the mountains years ago to make her own way. But trouble is brewing. Willow is experiencing strange spells of forgetfulness. Mya is plotting a coup. A client is threatening blackmail. And most ominously, the unique flowers used in their perfume are dying.

Whoever can save the company will inherit it. . . .

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I Love a Mystery; or Serial Reading in 2018

I have a confession to make. I think I have a problem, but I'd feel worse about it if I didn't know that at least some of you have the same problem. I'm addicted to series!

Okay, so that's not so bad, right? Except I'm in the middle of a million of them and caught up with only a handful. Help! I just can't say no to new-to-me series.

What about you? When you discover a new series, do you stick with it until you're caught up? Do you keep a record so you can read each year's new releases right away and never fall behind?

I should take stock and get a grip . . . but I seriously doubt that's going to happen any time soon. What follows are some of my favorite mystery/thriller serial reading of 2018. (The links lead to my most recent review in the series.)

M. C. Beaton's Death of series: Set in a small village in northern Scotland this series stars village cop Hamish Macbeth who loves his life and home so much he works hard to avoid being promoted to the city police force. The books are very short and lots of fun. Besides the murder, each installment features Hamish's neighbors, a little gossip, and sometimes a bit of romance. The series is my ultimate escape. The 34-book series is still going strong, and the most recent book was published this year. I just finished book 21, Death of a Bore.

Rhys Bowen's Royal Spyness series: This series, set in 1930s England, is so much fun. Our protagonist for these cozy mysteries is Lady Georgiana, who's thirty-something in line for throne. She is an independent woman in spirit but not in financial resources, and her spunk and active social life provides much fodder for social commentary on the titled gentry of a generation or two ago. Thanks to her cousin, the queen, Georgie is set to spying. All would be good if she hadn't discovered a dead body in her bathtub. I've read Her Royal Spyness, the first in the 12-book award-winning series. The latest book came out this year.

Andrea Camilleri's Montalbano series: This long series is set in Sicily and follows the cases of Salvo Montalbano, a police inspector. I've read only the first book, The Shape of Water, but loved the mix of murder, social commentary, and humor, not to mention the excellent food descriptions. Montalbano is quirky and unconventional, and it's a joy to watch him navigate the many sectors of Sicilian society. The series is very adult and is definitely riding close to the cozy side of the genre. These books have been translated, and there are currently 19 published in English, with two more available in Italian.

Robert Galbraith's Cormoran Strike series: In case you weren't aware, Galbraith is a pen name for J. K. Rowling of Harry Potter fame. This series is set in the very real world of contemporary London. Our protagonist is Cormoran Strike, a private detective and Afghan war veteran. We also meet Robin Ellacott, who comes to the agency as a temporary secretary. The books are gritty and sometimes dark, and the mysteries are well developed and hard to figure out. I've also enjoyed seeing how Cormoran and Robin grow and change. There are 4 books so far, and I'm caught up: Lethal White came out this year.

Jane Harper's Falk series: So far there are two books starring Aaron Falk, who is a federal agent in the Australian finance division. The murder cases Falk is assigned are complicated and involve accounting, banking. or other issues related to his expertise. We also learn something of Falk's personal life and the descriptions of Australia's rural towns and wilderness are vivid. Here's another series I'm caught up with; the second (and most recent) book is Force of Nature (2018).

Arnaldur Indridason's Reykajavic thrillers: This series is (duh) set in Iceland and features Detective Inspector Erlender Sveinsson. It's a police procedural that moves beyond just the case at hand to deal with family issues, broader social issues, police department politics and Erlender's personal life. The first book in the series is Jar City, and I think there are 12 books available in English at this point.

Peter May's Lewis trilogy: Set in the Outer Hebrides (Scotland), these books follow Detective Inspector Fin Macleod, who returns to his native Lewis Island to investigate a murder that caught the attention of his Edinburgh police superiors. The atmosphere of the first book, The Blackhouse, is haunting and Fin's personal journey is as gripping as the mystery. The final book in the trilogy was published in 2013. The audiobooks are a great help with the Gaelic language.

Keith McCafferty's Stranahan series: This is a contemporary mystery series set in Montana featuring Sean Stranahan, who moved to the state to start over after a divorce. He's an artist, a fly fisherman, and a private investigator. When he becomes involved in murders, he works with Sheriff Martha Ettinger. The books highlight fly fishing and the outdoor life but also include environmental issues and other modern-day concerns. There's a good mix of crime and Stranahan's personal life. The series is 7 books long and counting. I finished book 2, The Gray Ghost Murders.

J. D. Robb's In Death series: This series has three faces, and I love them all. Set in a futuristic New York, the books, starring police homicide detective Eve Dallas are part science fiction, with very cool technology and off-planet settlements. The murders are gritty, dark and not for the faint of heart, giving these books a place in the police procedural sub-genre. Finally, Eve's hot and heavy relationship with her extremely handsome and very, very rich husband, Roarke, gives this adult series a romance element. I finished book 10, Witness in Death, this fall. Only 37 more books to go before the newest book is published in February 2019.

 I wish I could say these were the only series I read or started this year, but I can't. I confess to reading all kinds of series: fantasy/speculative fiction, general fiction, historical fiction and probably others. What's more, The series featured today aren't the only mystery series I'm actively reading (really; sigh). I told you I had a problem.

Are you a serial reader?

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