Little Pixie`s Bookshelf 2014

[pontalba]

Lovely lists of books! 

 

I've only read a few of the Donna Leon books, but really liked them too. 

 

The Diana Gabaldon books are tops!  Tops!  (even though I am thoroughly annoyed with her regarding the last one that hasn't come out yet!)

 

I'd read, I think it was, the "R" book of Grafton's first, didn't care for it.  Finally I started the series from the beginning, and it was lots better that way, and I enjoyed them all the way up to "S" is for Silence.  Didn't finish that one, and haven't read anymore. 

 

I've read one, maybe the first, of the Spellman books.....I liked it but haven't read anymore, yet.

 

Love the idea of your comfort series.   Everyone needs one or two of those up their sleeves!

[Little Pixie]

Congrats on more new books ! I have Cross Stitch on my TBR, I've heard good things. You've read even more books than me now ! I've read 60.

 

Thanks !   I`m thinking I may be also able to get to 150 this year (   ).

[Little Pixie]

Lovely lists of books! 

 

I've only read a few of the Donna Leon books, but really liked them too. 

 

 

Just a quick drive-by posting ; I was really excited last night - reading the papers - it seems that the Beeb are adapting the Brunetti books ! Whee !  The Times says :

 

Her books are very popular in Britain and about to become more so. The BBC is working on a script based on the Brunetti novels, with production set to start later this year (German TV has been adapting her novels for years). “I’m very pleased, especially after having just re-watched I, Claudius on YouTube,” Leon says. “Any company, even after a gap of more than 30 years, that is capable of the glory of I, Claudius is a company in which hope can be placed.”

 

Will she have any input into the television adaptation of her beloved Venetian series? “I’ll read the script and comment on how faithful it is to what I think Venice is and Italy is, as well as how faithful it is to the book,” she says. “ I think, however, that the first two are more important. The German films are palpably German: I hope the BBC avoids a similar error.”

 

 

[Little Pixie]

 

The Diana Gabaldon books are tops!  Tops!  (even though I am thoroughly annoyed with her regarding the last one that hasn't come out yet!)

 

I'd read, I think it was, the "R" book of Grafton's first, didn't care for it.  Finally I started the series from the beginning, and it was lots better that way, and I enjoyed them all the way up to "S" is for Silence.  Didn't finish that one, and haven't read anymore. 

 

I've read one, maybe the first, of the Spellman books.....I liked it but haven't read anymore, yet.

 

Love the idea of your comfort series.   Everyone needs one or two of those up their sleeves!

 

Ooh good, always nice when other people have enjoyed books you`re excited about !

 

Erm - annoyed because you`re still waiting for the book ?

 

I`m glad that the Grafton books improve if you read them from the start ; I liked F (or whatever it was) well enough, but didn`t quite catch onto it.

 

 

Love the idea of your comfort series.   Everyone needs one or two of those up their sleeves!

 

 

Sometimes, you`ve just had enough of being challenged and want to read the equivalent of cocoa and a biccy.

Edited April 24, 2014 by Little Pixie

[Little Pixie]

A couple of fun things I read recently :

 

Lynne Truss and Rufus.  

Edited April 24, 2014 by Little Pixie

[Little Pixie]

Books read : 72

 

Book # 68      Murder Fantastical by Patricia Moyes

 

Inspector Henry goes to investigate a country house murder and wife Emmy goes along to visit an old schoolfreind in the same village ( and to get all the local gossip which her husband won`t be able to get ). There`s a somewhat odd ending, but it does seem plausible ( hence the title , I suppose ).  The book`s a delight - eccentric but likeable characters and a plot which holds your attention.

 

Book # 69        The Eye of Zoltar by Jasper Fforde

 

I wasn`t sure about this one at first - there`s quite a bit of boring exposition in the first few chapters - but it ended up as one of those books where you`re desperate to read the next one ( once it gets written, grr ! ).  Jennifer Strange and her magic group go into the Wilds of Wales ( currently a war zone ) to search for a curio which will result in dragons being saved. Quite dark in places for a childrens` book, but then I haven`t read The Hunger Games or anything similar.

 

Book # 70    Bum Steer by Nancy Pickard

 

Jenny Cain investigates the murder of a charity benefactor on a small ranch in Kansas. The who/whydunnit is extremely clever and satisying.

 

Book # 71   Still Life by Louise Penny

 

Excerpt.

 

‘Life is change. If you aren’t growing and evolving you’re standing still, and the rest of the world is surging ahead. Most of these people are very immature. They lead “still” lives, waiting.’

 

Loved this one. Inspector Gamache and his team are called to the village of Three Pines in Quebec to investigate a murder. The characters of the villagers really come alive and sparkle, the book is occasionally touching, occasionally farcical, and the whydunnit is nicely done. There`s a pleasant depth to the writing, with psychological asides ( see above, for example ) . I enjoyed the story of the village so much that I wasn`t sure about reading anything further with the same Inspector, but - yay ! - it turns out that subsequent books feature the same village and characters.

 

Book # 72   The Question of Max by Amanda Cross

 

Professor Kate and friend Max go to a recenly deceased novelist`s home in Maine to look at her papers and find the body of a student. It`s declared an accident but Kate isn`t convinced and vows to investigate, taking her to Oxford in the 70`s where she - despite being a respected University professor - isn`t welcome in the colleges by her `peers`.

[Little Pixie]

New books bought -

 

The Cruellest Month - Louise Penny            £2.29

The Late Scholar ( Peter Wimsey ) - Jill Paton Walsh            £6.39

The Murder Stone - Louise Penny              £1.97

Dead Cold - Louise Penny                       £1.78

Michael Innes Omnibus: "Hamlet, Revenge!", "Death at the President's Lodging * " and "Daffodil Affair"                £2.81

* I already have this one, but it was cheaper to buy an omnibus to get the other two.

 

Nine Dragons - Michael Connolly    £1.77   - I`ve read one of the Bosch books - Trunk Music - and bought a 10-book box set. had to get this one too, `cos it`s set in Hong Kong.

 

 Silent Night - Robert B Parker  £ 5.30         The last ever Spencer book *sniff*.

 

The Devil`s Apprentice - Jan Siegel                £3.02

 

Revenge of the Spellmans - Lisa Lutz           £1.97

 

Curse of the Spellmans - Lisa Lutz             £1.96

 

 

Books read : 72           TBR 771                          New Books Bought : 99                      Total Cost : £201.52

 

Eep, almost 100 books bought in 4 months.

Edited April 24, 2014 by Little Pixie

[Little Pixie]

Looks like there`s another `final` Campion book.  

[pontalba]

Ooh good, always nice when other people have enjoyed books you`re excited about !

 

Erm - annoyed because you`re still waiting for the book ?

 

I`m glad that the Grafton books improve if you read them from the start ; I liked F (or whatever it was) well enough, but didn`t quite catch onto it.

 

 

 

Sometimes, you`ve just had enough of being challenged and want to read the equivalent of cocoa and a biccy.

 

Cocoa.  Yes.  Cookie.  Yes! 

 

Annoyed on account of the several postponements of the releasing of the latest book.  Twice at least, maybe three.  Irritation has given me brain fog.  :D

 

Re Grafton books....yeah...the gradual buildup makes a difference.

 

 

A couple of fun things I read recently :

 

Lynne Truss and Rufus.  

 

Love it!  But I have to say I'd have been more po'd than Ms. Truss was.  Immediately!

Love Rufus, he looks a lot like Our Goldie.

[Athena]

Thanks !   I`m thinking I may be also able to get to 150 this year (   ).

x

I hope we both will make it ! It looks like you're well underway though, you've read many books!

 

Congratulations on the new books !

[julie]

Pixie

You're doing wonderful with your reading this year ! At least you are almost even with the number you've read vs the number you've bought ,so you're at a good pace .

 I also read some of the Grafton books. started with A and got up through H  , I think was the last one I read .

[Little Pixie]

 

 

Annoyed on account of the several postponements of the releasing of the latest book.  Twice at least, maybe three.  Irritation has given me brain fog.  :D

 

I`ve been prevaricating for the past couple of days over my next book ; decided to start Cross-stitch `cos of your recommendation and got up to page 310 late last night. Looks like the sequels will keep me busy till the latest book comes out then.

[Little Pixie]

x

I hope we both will make it ! It looks like you're well underway though, you've read many books!

 

Congratulations on the new books !

 

Thank you ! And good luck for your `150` too.

[Little Pixie]

Pixie

You're doing wonderful with your reading this year ! At least you are almost even with the number you've read vs the number you've bought ,so you're at a good pace .

 I also read some of the Grafton books. started with A and got up through H  , I think was the last one I read .

 

Well, I almost get even with books read=books bought, then have a buying spree to celebrate. I keep finding books which I love, then have to buy others from the same series ( which is an excellent, joyous thing, but does rather affect the TBR ).

 

I might try the first Grafton book A is for Alibi after the first Outlander book. Hmm.

[pontalba]

I`ve been prevaricating for the past couple of days over my next book ; decided to start Cross-stitch `cos of your recommendation and got up to page 310 late last night. Looks like the sequels will keep me busy till the latest book comes out then.

 

They will!  They do!! 

She always takes so long in-between books, that I've reread the series prior to reading the latest a couple of times.  hah!

[Little Pixie]

They will!  They do!! 

She always takes so long in-between books, that I've reread the series prior to reading the latest a couple of times.  hah!

 

Boo ! I do like authors who neglect their private lives and come out with 1 or 2 books a year.

[pontalba]

Hah, what Gabaldon does though is write other books during the interim.  She says that she sets up a couple of computers and when writers block hits on one, she just turns to another book.  heh  She has written a series about the Lord John character in the main series as well, plus a bunch of tangential short stories to do with various characters. 

[Athena]

Oooh, I didn't know that, thanks .

[Little Pixie]

Hah, what Gabaldon does though is write other books during the interim.  She says that she sets up a couple of computers and when writers block hits on one, she just turns to another book.  heh  She has written a series about the Lord John character in the main series as well, plus a bunch of tangential short stories to do with various characters. 

 

Have you tried the other book series ?

 

Hmm, 60 pages to go in the Outlander book ; must get through more of my TBR before ordering the sequel.

Edited April 29, 2014 by Little Pixie

[Little Pixie]

Books read : 72                         TBR 772                     New Books Bought : 100                     Total Cost : £206.45

 

 

I ordered a used hardback of Aunt Dimity and the Lost Prince : Nancy Atherton ( book # 18 in a series I really like )  for £4.93, bringing my `books bought` up to 100. Really excited to find that it`s a signed copy !

 

Looking at her website ( check out those furry friend pics   ) , it seems that her books are going to be published in the UK again, so yay.

Edited April 29, 2014 by Little Pixie

[Athena]

I love the cats ! Congrats on the new book, it's very exciting that it's a signed copy . It's good her books will be published in your country again, that's very nice! 100 books is a nice number, does that mean that by the end of the year (100 x 4) you will have bought 400ish books?

[pontalba]

Have you tried the other book series ?

 

Hmm, 60 pages to go in the Outlander book ; must get through more of my TBR before ordering the sequel.

Yup. A few of The Lord John series. They vary in quality, I'd say, but are pretty good. But it's just not the same! Lol

 

No! Order the sequel! LOL

[Karsa Orlong]

New Books Bought : 100  

 

 

  And I thought I'd bought a lot this year . . . 

[Little Pixie]

I love the cats ! Congrats on the new book, it's very exciting that it's a signed copy . It's good her books will be published in your country again, that's very nice! 100 books is a nice number, does that mean that by the end of the year (100 x 4) you will have bought 400ish books?

 

I`m still excited by having a signed copy.

 

Oof, I really hope I don`t get to ` 400 new books`.   On the other hand, it would mean I`ve come across lots of lovely books and new series to get into, so I  shouldn`t complain.

[Little Pixie]

Yup. A few of The Lord John series. They vary in quality, I'd say, but are pretty good. But it's just not the same! Lol

 

No! Order the sequel! LOL

 

Hee, I`m tempted but no - shan`t.

 

I`m waiting till I feel that I must read another 800 page whopper before ordering, rather than order and have another book for the TBR or papery dust mountain. I`ve treated myself to some newbies recently that I`m waiting for Amazon to send out in the next few weeks ( some Louise Penny and Lisa Lutz books ) and I keep telling myself that the TBR will only get bigger...