Becky's Reads for 2009

[Telynor]

Past Perfect by Susan Isaacs
The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher by Kate Summerscale (nonfiction)
The Vorkosigan Companion by Lois McMaster Bujold and Lillian Stewart Carl et al. (nonfiction)
The Wild Hunt by Elizabeth Chadwick
The Terror by Dan Simmons
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
Rosewater and Soda Bread by Marsha Mehran
A Prisoner of Birth by Jeffrey Archer
Mademoiselle Boleyn by Robin Maxwell
Laughter on the Stairs by Beverley Nichols (nonfiction)
Everything She Ever Wanted by Ann Rule (nonfiction)
The Sharing Knife: Horizon by Lois McMaster Bujold

[Misfit]

Everything She Ever Wanted by Ann Rule (nonfiction)

That is one of my favorite of all of Rule's books, with the exception of Small Sacrifices. Old Patty is one scary scary woman!

Ann's pretty cool, she's a local gal lived in Des Moines which is just a few short miles from me. I've waited on her once or twice in my waitressing days.

[Telynor]

That is one of my favorite of all of Rule's books, with the exception of Small Sacrifices. Old Patty is one scary scary woman!

Ann's pretty cool, she's a local gal lived in Des Moines which is just a few short miles from me. I've waited on her once or twice in my waitressing days.

No kidding. What she did to her daughter Susan and grandson was just plain dispiciable -- it's pretty clear although Rule doesn't spell it right out that she was poisoning them. What got to me was that she never did any real hard time -- she's one of those people who should be locked up in a deep dark hole somewhere and have the dirt shoveled in after her.

[Misfit]

No kidding. What she did to her daughter Susan and grandson was just plain dispiciable -- it's pretty clear although Rule doesn't spell it right out that she was poisoning them. What got to me was that she never did any real hard time -- she's one of those people who should be locked up in a deep dark hole somewhere and have the dirt shoveled in after her.

And let's not forget that poor old couple she was *cough* nursing for. Yikes!

[Telynor]

February's books

Not a lot, I fear, but nearly all of them were winners:

Seer of Egypt by Pauline Gedge
Pox: Genius, Madness and the Mysteries of Syphilis (nonfiction)
The King?s Daughter by Sandra Worth
Pink Ladies and Crimson Gents: Portraits and Legends of 50 Roses by Molly and Don Glentzer (nonfiction)
The Conquest by Elizabeth Chadwick
Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

I should have reviews up for all of these over at Epinions in the next few days. Let me know if you want the link.

[Telynor]

Most of March's Reads.

Sunlight on the Lawn by Beverley Nichols (nonfiction)
First Comes Marriage by Mary Balogh
The Reader by Bernhard Schlink
Smoke, Mirrors and Murder and other true crimes by Ann Rule (nonfiction)
Pauline Bonaparte: Venus of Empire by Flora Fraser (nonfiction)
The Decadent Duke by Virginia Henley
The Story of Tea by Mary Lou Heiss and Robert J. Heiss (nonfiction)
Foreigner by C.J. Cherryh
The Secret Adventures of Charlotte Bronte by Laura Joh Rowland

[Telynor]

I'm trying these days to read ten books a month. Reviews for all but one of these can be found at epinions.com (I need the pennies...)

Then Comes Seduction by Mary Balogh (novel)
Charlotte and Leopold by James Chambers (nonfiction)
Worth More Dead and other true cases by Ann Rule (nonfiction)
Versailles: A Biography of a Palace by Tony Spawforth (nonfiction)
Eating With the Victorians by C. Anne Wilson (nonfiction)
To Wed a Wicked Prince by Jane Feather (fiction)
The Man Who Would be King: Philippe, Duc d?Orleans by Christine Previtt (nonfiction)
The Coffee Trader by David Liss (fiction)
Twenty Wishes by Debbie Macomber (fiction)
Havana Bay by Martin Cruz Smith (fiction)

[Telynor]

May wasn't that good of a month for me reading -- I've been busy fighting a cold, and two books that I picked were not the quickest to get through either. Just five books. Reviews for four of them can be found at Epinions.com under my tag there of Telynor.

Frederick, Captain Wentworth (2): For You Alone by Susan Kaye
Panther in the Sky by James Alexander Thom
Invader by CJ Cherryh
Life in a Tudor Palace (no review yet, forthcoming)
At Last Comes Love by Mary Balogh

[Telynor]

I managed to hit my self-imposed goal for June -- 10 books every month. The links will take you to the review at epinions. And of course, all comments are most welcome.

http://www.epinions.com/review/David_Starkey_Henry_The_Virtuous_Prince_epi/content_473142365828 -- Henry: Virtuous Prince by David Starkey (nonfiction)
http://www.epinions.com/content_473509432964 -- The Falcons of Montabard by Elizabeth Chadwick (fiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_We_Two_The_Marriage_of_Queen_Victoria_and_Pri nce_Albert_Gillian_Gill/content_473972772484 -- We Two: Victoria and Albert by Gillian Gill (nonfiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Old_Man_s_War_by_John_Scalzi/content_474135891588 -- Old Man?s War by John Scalzi (fiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_The_Mistresses_of_Henry_VIII_Kelly_Hart/content_474451185284 -- The Mistresses of Henry VIII by Kelly Hart (nonfiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_Julie_and_Julia_My_Year_of_Cooking_Dangerousl y_Julie_Powell_2047107719/content_474902204036 -- Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously by Julie Powell (nonfiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_Seducing_an_Angel_Mary_Balogh/content_474980650628 -- Seducing an Angel by Mary Balogh (fiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_My_Lady_of_Cleves_A_Novel_of_Henry_VIII_and_A nne_of_Cleves_Margaret_Campbell_Barnes/content_473747918468 -- My Lady of Cleves by Margaret Campbell Barnes (fiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_The_Wild_Orchid_A_Retelling_of_The_Ballad_of_ Mulan_Cameron_Dokey/content_475483115140 -- Wild Orchid by Cameron Dokey (fiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Inheritor_epi/content_475762691716 -- Inheritor by C.J. Cherryh (fiction)

[Telynor]

Here are July's books, and the link to the reviews. Sigh. I need the hits. Comments are lovely too.


http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_El_Juego_del_angel_The_Angel_s_Game_Carlos_Ru iz_Zafon_2046395240/content_475932757636 -- The Angel?s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (fiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_Heaving_Bosoms_and_Throbbing_Members_The_Smar t_Bitches_Guide_to_Romance_Novels_Sarah_Wendell_Ca ndy_Tan/content_476164230788 -- Beyond Heaving Bosoms by Sarah Wendell and Candy Tan (nonfiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Shields_of_Pride_epi/content_476359593604
-- Shields of Pride by Elizabeth Chadwick (fiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/The_Ghost_Brigades_no_author_listed/content_476890304132 -- The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi (fiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Martin_Cruz_Smith_Stalin_s_Ghost_epi/content_477655109252 -- Stalin?s Ghost by Martin Cruz Smith (fiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_Legionary_The_Roman_Soldier_s_Unofficial_Manu al_Philip_Matyszak/content_477800468100 -- Legionary: The Roman Soldier?s Unofficial Manual by Philip Matyszak (nonfiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_What_Would_Jane_Austen_Do_Laurie_Brown/content_478107242116 -- What Would Jane Austen Do? by Laurie Brown (fiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Ann_Rule_Kiss_Me_Kill_Me_Ann_Rule_s_Crime_Files_Vo l_9_epi/content_478626877060 -- Kiss Me, Kill Me and other True Cases by Ann Rule (nonfiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/David_Keys_Catastrophe_A_Investigation_for_the_Ori gins_of_the_Modern_World_epi/content_479263690372 -- Catastrophe: An Investigation For the Origins of the Modern World by David Keys (nonfiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_Girl_in_a_Blue_Dress_Gaynor_Arnold_2047375003/content_479267688068 -- Girl in a Blue Dress by Gaynor Arnold (fiction)

[Telynor]

Here are the reviews for August for books. The links will take you to the review at Epinions. Any thoughts or comments most welcome!


http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_The_Stars_Down_Under_Sandra_McDonald/content_479700225668 -- The Stars Down Under by Sandra McDonald (fiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_The_French_Mistress_Susan_Holloway_Scott/content_480483643012 -- The French Mistress: A Novel of the Duchess of Portsmouth and King Charles II by Susan Holloway Scott (fiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_A_Duty_to_the_Dead_Charles_Todd/content_481264569988 -- A Duty to the Dead: A Bess Crawford Mystery by Charles Todd (fiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_My_Life_in_France_Movie_Tie_in_Edition_Julia_ Child/content_481721290372 -- My Life in France by Julia Child and Alex Prud?homme (nonfiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_Pride_and_Prejudice_and_Zombies_The_Classic_R egency_Romance_Now_With_Ultraviolent_Zombie_Mayhem _Jane_Austin_Seth_Grahame_smith/content_482121780868 -- Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith (fiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_The_Devil_s_Company_A_Novel_David_Liss/content_482582302340 -- The Devil?s Company by David Liss (fiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/John_Scalzi_The_Last_Colony_epi/content_483185102468 -- The Last Colony by John Scalzi (fiction)
?And Never Let Her Go by Ann Rule (nonfiction) -- review forthcoming

[diamondlil]

I really need to read David Liss.

[Telynor]

I really need to read David Liss.

I found The Devil's Company to be very good, and right up with his earlier Benjamin Weaver novels. I think it's this series where he has hit gold, I haven't read his other novels yet, but I intend to. What I like is that he makes his characters very complex, and knows his history, which makes it true pleasure for me to read.

[Telynor]

September's reads. The links will take you to the reviews on Epinions. Didn't quite reach my goal of reading ten books this month, but I got close.

http://www.epinions.com/review/And_Never_Let_Her_Go_by_Ann_Rule_and_by_Anne_Rule_ and_edited_by_Heiko_Steuer_and_edited_by_Dieter_Ti mpe_and_narrated_by_Laura_Hicks/content_483422867076 -- ?And Never Let Her Go by Ann Rule (nonfiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_The_Medieval_Cook_Bridget_Ann_Henisch/content_483892760196 -- The Medieval Cook by Bridget Ann Henisch (nonfiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_The_Life_of_Meresamun_A_Temple_Singer_in_Anci ent_Egypt/content_484743810692 -- The Life of Meresamun (nonfiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_The_Fires_of_Vesuvius_Pompeii_Lost_and_Found_ Mary_Beard/content_484861251204 -- The Fires of Vesuvius: Pompeii Lost and Found by Mary Beard (nonfiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_Cleopatra_s_Daughter_A_Novel_Michelle_Moran/content_485432397444 -- Cleopatra?s Daughter by Michelle Moran (fiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_The_Wedding_Officer_Anthony_Capella/content_485587127940 -- The Wedding Officer by Anthony Capella (fiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_Zoe_s_Tale_John_Scalzi/content_48577370893 -- Zoe?s Tale by John Scalzi (fiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_The_Last_Days_of_the_Romanovs_Tragedy_at_Ekat erinburg_Helen_Rappaport/content_486119870084 -- The Last Days of the Romanovs: Tragedy at Ekaterinburg by Helen Rappaport (nonfiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_Spectres_in_the_Smoke_Tony_Broadbent/content_486688788100 -- Spectres in the Smoke by Tony Broadbent (fiction)

[Telynor]

Not a lot of reading this month, what with the traveling and all. The links will take you to the reviews, and the travel blog as well. As always , all comments and suggestions most gratefully accepted.

http://www.epinions.com/review/Precursor_by_C_J_Cherryh/content_486820384388 -- Precursor (fiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_South_of_Broad_Pat_Conroy/content_487532826244 -- South of Broad (fiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_The_Various_Flavors_of_Coffee_Anthony_Capella/content_489705213572 -- The Various Flavors of Coffee (fiction)

[Telynor]

November Reads. The links will take you to the longer reviews. As always, any comments or suggestions are most gratefully accepted. And this time, I nearly hit my goal of reading ten books a month.

http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_The_Lady_Queen_The_Notorious_Reign_of_Joanna_ I_Queen_of_Naples_Jerusalem_and_Sicily_Nancy_Golds tone/content_490505014916 -- The Lady Queen by Nancy Goldstone (nonfiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_Dk_Eyewitness_Travel_Guides_Cruise_Guides_to_ Europe_the_Mediterranean_2049358726/content_491520822916 -- Cruise Guide to Europe and the Mediterranean (nonfiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Simon_Winchester_Krakatoa_The_Day_the_World_Explod ed_August_27_1883_epi/content_491690626692 -- Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded August 27 1883 by Simon Winchester (nonfiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Defender_by_C_J_Cherryh/content_491788078724 -- Defender by CJ Cherryh (fiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_The_Captive_Heart_Bertrice_Small/content_492484464260 -- The Captive Heart by Bertrice Small (fiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_But_I_Trusted_You_Ann_Rule/content_492641816196 -- But I Trusted You and Other True Crimes by Ann Rule (nonfiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_Calico_Palace_Gwen_Bristow/content_493191138948 -- Calico Palace by Gwen Bristow (fiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_Cleaving_A_Story_of_Marriage_Meat_and_Obsessi on_Julie_Powell_2047523973/content_493434343044 -- Cleaving by Julie Powell (nonfiction)

[Telynor]

December 2009 reads

http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_Japan_Took_the_J_a_p_Out_of_Me_Lisa_F_Cook/content_493995396740 -- Japan Took the JAP Out of Me by Lisa F. Cook (nonfiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_To_Beguile_a_Beast_Elizabeth_Hoyt/content_494303219332 -- To Beguile a Beast by Elizabeth Hoyt (fiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_Hugh_and_Bess_Susan_Higginbotham/content_494419873412 -- Hugh and Bess by Susan Higginbotham (fiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_Faberge_s_Eggs_The_Extraordinary_Story_of_the _Masterpieces_That_Outlived_an_Empire_Toby_Faber/content_494672121476 -- Faberge’s Eggs by Toby Faber (nonfiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_A_Precious_Jewel_A_Novel_Mary_Balogh/content_494803717764 -- A Perfect Jewel by Mary Balogh (fiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_The_Dreaded_Feast_Writers_on_Enduring_the_Hol idays_P_J_O_Rourke/content_495072939652 -- The Dreaded Feast: Writers on Enduring the Holidays (anthology)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_Lords_of_the_Two_Lands_Chaz_Desowl/content_495723712132 -- Lords of the Two Lands: Re Ascending by Chaz Desowl (fiction)
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_The_Tudor_Rose_A_Novel_of_Elizabeth_of_York_M argaret_C_Barnes/content_496722742916 -- The Tudor Rose by Margaret Campbell Barnes (fiction)

All told, it came out to about 91 books for the year.