Book Challenge: 26 Weeks: 92 Books Read

Well, a half-year has rapidly finished; and, since I have been reading at lightning speed (92 BOOKS!!!!), it seems that it might be a good thing to bring my readers up-to-date now on what I've read and what I've thought of it.


ARCHEOLOGICAL THRILLERS

Adams, W.: The Eden Legacy(4)*** (N.B. has absolutely Nothing to do with Biblical archaeology)


Byrnes, M.: The Sacred Blood(2)**+


Byrnes, M.: The Sacred Bones(1)**+


AUSTENALIA: Sequels; Prequels; Variations

Adriani, S.: Affinity and Affection**++(N.B. fairly good variation; too erotic for a teen-ager)


Aidan, P.: An Assembly Such as This(1)***++


Aidan, P.: Duty and Desire(2)***++


Aidan, P.: These Three Remain(3)***++


Altman, M.: Mr. Darcy's Great Escape(3)***


Altman, M.: The Ballad of Gregoire Darcy(4)***+


Altman, M.: the Darcys and the Bingleys(1)***


Altman, M.: The Plight of the Darcy Brothers(2)***


Angell, L.: The Sheik of Araby**+


Aston, E.: Mr. Darcy's Dream** (N.B. a green-house!!!! Gah!)


Austen, J. & Nazarian, V.: Mansfield Park and Mummies***


Austen, J. & Nazarian, V.: Northanger Abbey and Angels and Dragons***++ (N.B. delightfully diverting!)


Bader, T. & Bader, M.: Desire and Duty*+ (N.B. the authors bring in a type of "are you saved" religiosity which is very painful, although I realize that Methodism was gaining at this time, Austen herself was not interested in this; other parts of the story are very nice)


Baxley, M.K.: The Cumberland Plateau(1)***?


Baxley, M.K.: The Mistress's Black Veil*** (N.B. erotica was very understated, which I liked; another what-if Mr. Bennet had died)


Bonavia-Hunt, DA: Pemberley Shades*** (N.B. first published in 1949; this was the 2nd Austen sequel ever written)


Brocklehurst, J.: Darcy and Anne***


Childers, C.: Twilight of the Abyss**+ (N.B. a long novella)


Cole, B.T.: White Lies & Other Half Truths**+ (NB: many copy editing errors, which is a usual problem with many self-published books; story actually is fun)


Cox, K.M.: 1932**++


Croft, J. Marie: Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge** (N.B. I really was annoyed with the word play (alliterations and puns) that are on nearly every page of this novel.)


Elyot, A.: By a Lady***+ (N.B. time-travel & Bath in the Regency with our own JA as a character)


Ford, M.T.: Jane Goes Batty(2)***++


Granger, A.: Captain Wentworth's Diary**+


Hamilton, M.: Mr. Darcy and the Secret of Becoming a Gentleman***


Kaye, S.: For You Alone: Frederick Wentworth, Captain, Book 2*** (N.B. I would have done the ending differently)


Kaye, S.: None But You: Frederick Wentworth, Captain, Book 1***


Lilian, L.: Rainy Days***


Lilian, L.: Remembrance of the Past***


Louise, K.: Only Mr. Darcy Will Do***++


Nelson, KL: Pemberley Manor***


O'Brien, S.: Blame It On The Tea** (NB: copy editing was almost non-existent; author really needs help for her ending)


Oakland, R.P.: My BFF (a friendly romance)***


Odiwe, J.: Mr. Darcy's Secret***+


Reynolds, A.: A Pemberley Medley*** (NB: 5 short stories)


Reynolds, A.: From Lambton to Longbourn**++


Reynolds, A.: Morning Light**+ (N.B. I don't know why she makes her modern heroines so neurotic (grr); however, it does get on my nerves. I think this is actual a half-n-half book: half a continuation of Pemberley By the Sea and half a new story. I really cannot see Persuasion in the new story.)


Reynolds, A.: To Conquer Mr. Darcy**+(N.B. previous title Impulse & Initiative -- this was a re-read for me -- I don't know why the publisher changed the title, as the new one is not as good as the first in my opinion)


Sanchez, L.: A Noteworthy Courtship*** (You've Got Mail!)


Saunders, K.: A Modern Day Persuasion**++ (N.B. I really really disliked the occasional (about 5 or 6) short sops to "conservative" Xians -- all could have been removed painlessly!)


Simonsen, M.: For All the Wrong Reasons**+ (novella)


Simonsen, M.L.: A Wife for Mr. Darcy***


Simonsen, M.L.: Mr. Darcy's Angel of Mercy: A Romance of The Great War**++(N.B. short novella -- I don't think I am a real fan of this genre as I felt there could have been a very interesting novel here)


Simonsen, ML: The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy***+


Ward, Eucharista, OSF: A Match for Mary Bennet***+


Wasylowski, KV: Darcy and Fitzwilliam***+


Webb, B.J.: Fitzwilliam Darcy, An Honourable Man***(N.B. a different variation)


Wegner, O.: Moonlighting**+(N.B. P&P and werewolves; Lizzy is NOT blonde!; author has Lizzy and Jane acting like blondes, though L does recover; so much more could have been done)


Wells, L.: Chance Encounters**+ (N.B. I believe that there is too much explicit erotica in this variation


Wells, L.: Fate & Consequences** (N.B. too erotic)


Wells, L.: Perfect Fit*** (N.B. modern with erotic elements; I did like some of the characterization changes for some of the minor characters)


Whelchel, L.: Rocks in the Stream***

MYSTERIES / NOVELS: Ancient Greece

Corby, G.: The Pericles Commission(1)***+


Pressfield, S.: Last of the Amazons***++

MYSTERIES / NOVELS: Ancient Rome

Downie, R.: Caveat Emptor(4)****


Downie, R.: Persona Non Grata(3)****


Downie, R.: Terra Incognita(2)****


Saylor, S.: Roman Blood(1)****(N.B. 1st volume of the Roma Sub Rosa series)

MYSTERIES / NOVELS: 18th Century

James, E.: When the Duke Returns***


Norman, D.: A Catch of Consequence***+(1) [N.B. author also writes under the name Ariana Franklin (Mistress of the Art of Death series); I think that the title here is quite ironic and the heroine (Makepeace Burke) is a very different kind of woman]

MYSTERIES / NOVELS: Regency Period

Jeffers, R.: The Scandal of Lady Eleanor(1)*** (N.B. the first in a new series by the author of many Austenesques)


Kelly, C.: The Admiral's Penniless Bride**+(N.B. this is the first Harlequin Historical that I've read, nice light read)

MYSTERIES / THRILLERS

Alpert M.:The Final Theory(1)***+


Alpert, M.: The Omega Theory(2)***+ (N.B. the what-if in these 2 novels concerns the possibility that Einstein actually DID complete the Unified Field Theory)


Berry, J.: The Jefferson Key***


Cussler, C.: The Kingdom(3)***(Fargo Adventure)


Gruber, M.: Night of the Jaguar(3)*****


Gruber, M.: The Book of Air and Shadows****


Gruber, M.: The Forgery of Venus****


Gruber, M.: The Good Son****+


Gruber, M.: Tropic of Night(1)*****(N.B. 1st volume of a trilogy of mysteries)


Gruber, M.: Valley of Bones(2)*****


Khoury, R.: The Sign***


Koontz, D.: Your Heart Belongs to Me**++ (N.B. better than many of his extreme black vs white novels and the psychopaths which haunt them)


Rollins, J.: The Devil Colony (Sigma Force)***

SCIENCE FICTION/ STEAMPUNK/ VAMPIRES/ FANTASY / ETC.

Carriger, G.: Blameless(3)***+


Carriger, G.: Changeless(2)***


Carriger, G.: Soulless(1)***++


Fahy, W.: Fragment*** (N.B. genre of lost continents)


Farnsworth, C.: The President's Vampire(2)**? (N.B not as good as the first; however, there were a few moments...)


Hallaway, T.: Dead If I Do(4)**+


Hallaway, T.: Dead Sexy(2)**+


Hallaway, T.: Honeymoon of the Dead(5)**+ (N.B. author states that this is the last for this series; however, I find that there can still be more stories "conjured:" still don't think Sebastian should use slang)


Hallaway, T.: Romancing the Dead(3)**+


Hallaway, T.: Tall, Dark & Dead**+(1) (N.B. a lot of fun; however, it is terribly flawed)


Harkness, D.: A Discovery of Witches(1)**** (NB: Wicca and the so-called Triple Goddess are MODERN -- this is the only quibble I have with the book)


Harris, C.: Dead Reckoning***(13)


Kowal, M.R.: Shades of Milk and Honey*** (N.B. how do you categorize a Regency from another universe which allows a person to reach into the strings and ribbons of the universe itself in order to bring "glamour" to the visible?)


Stoker, D. & Holt, I.: Dracula the Undead (The Sequel to the Original Classic)***

Reading Challenge

I DID IT!!!!!!!  52 (actually 58) in 52

Adams, A.: First Impressions: A Tale of Less Pride & Prejudice**+


Adams, W.: The Alexander Cipher****(1)

Adams, W.: The Exodus Quest****(2) NB: read my review of both novels on Peacock Plumes

Adams, W.: The Lost Labyrinth****(3)(Why is it that British writers do archeological mysteries/thrillers so much better than Americans?  They don't kow-tow to Christian fundies.)

Angelini, S.: The Trials of the Honorable F. Darcy *** (n.b. delightful R-rated modern rendition)

Berry, S.: The Emperor's Tomb***+

Berry, S.: The Paris Vendetta***

Bowen, R.: Her Royal Spyness***(1)

Brokaw, C: The Atlantis Code** (n.b. the production copy editing was not of the best quality; in addition, the Pieta is not in the square but is the art work for the first side altar on the right in St. Peter's -- yes, I've been there twice) I will not be reading anymore of this author's work because his hero is very unlikeable.

Caldwell, J.: Pemberley Ranch***++

Child, L.& Preston, D.: Fever Dream****

Child, L.: Death Match***

Child, L.: Terminal Freeze***

Cronin, J.: The Passage****

Cussler, C.: Lost Empire: A Fargo Adventure (#2)***

Cussler, C.: Spartan Gold***(#1 Fargo Adventure)

Cussler, C.: The Spy***(#3 Isaac Bell series)

Cussler, C.: The Wrecker*** (#2 Isaac Bell series)

Davis, L.: Nemesis****

Downie, R.: Medicus****(1)

Evanovitch, J.: Wicked Appetite***

Fairview, M.: The Darcy Cousins***+

Fairview, M.: The Other Mr. Darcy ***+

Farnsworth, C.: Blood Oath***

Ford, MT: Jane Bites Back***++

Franklin, A.: A Murderous Procession***+

Gould, J.: Greek Winds of Fury***+

Grange, A.: Mr. Darcy, Vampyre **++ (n.b. much better than I thought it would be)

Gregory, J. & Tintori, K.: The Book of Names***

Gregory, J. & Tintori, K.: The Illumination***

Hamilton, B.: A Marked Man**** (2)

Hamilton, B.: The Ninth Daughter****(1)

Harris, C.: Dead In The Family***+

Huston, C.: Already Dead***

Isaacs, S.: As Husbands Go***+

Jeffers, R.: Captain Wentworth's Persuasion ***

Jeffers, R.: Darcy's Passions ***

Jeffers, R.: Darcy's Temptation ***

Jeffers, R.: Vampyre Darcy's Desire***(NB: horrible title; actually a good story)

Kane, B.: The Forgotten Legion*****(1)

Kane, B.: The Silver Eagle(2)*****

King, S.: Duma Key***

King, S.: Under the Dome***

Knox, T.: The Genesis Secret ****

Lathan, S.: My Dearest Mr. Darcy *- (read my review at Peacock Plumes) the worst Austenesque author!

Louise, K.: Darcy's Voyage***-

Mushatt, M.A.: Darcy and the Duchess**+

Preston, D.: Impact***+

Reynolds, A.: Impulse & Initiative**

Reynolds, A.: Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World***

Rigler, LV: Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict ****(2)

Rollins, J.: Altar of Eden***+

Sussman, P.: The Hidden Oasis*** (n.b. the worst production copy editing I have ever seen, Atlantic Monthly Press should be ashamed)

Thor, Brad: The Athena Project **

Trussoni, D.: Angelology: A Novel **+(review to follow on Peacock Plumes)

Weldon, P: Phantasm**+(3)

Winkowski MA & Foley M.: The Ice Cradle***(2)

Winkowski, MA & Foley M.: The Book of Illumination***(1)

Erratum for Solace Stole

I have been having a bit of a problem with the Solace Stole; however, this past week-end I found one erratum for the major body of the stole. 
I have knitted lace, so I was upset that things were not working out for me with the border.  Therefore, I decided to use a provisional cast-on for the body, knowing that I could splice on the borders later. 
Now, even that had problems.  I had counted the amount of stitches numerous times -- and, guess what?  There are supposed to be 4 uncharted purl stitches instead of 3 on each side of the stole, which she gave in the directions for the 120 stitch size.  So, after figuring that out, I decided to make my stoles wider by adding 3 repeats of the flame chevron (8 instead of 5) and 6 purl stitches on each side.  Now two stoles on on their way (fuschia and plum), finally!!!!

An Up~Date

Reading Challenge:  So far this year I've read 33 books and am presently reading A Royal Pain by Rhys Bowen, the second in her Royal Spyness mystery series.
Solace Stoles:  These are going slower than I anticipated, although I have all the yarn I'll need except for the forest green.  I had a problem with the border; however, after writing the designer, I am ready to go!
Entrelac Set:  I LOVE doing entrelac!  The hat is more than half-way done.
Irish Sweater:  I haven't gotten too far; however, I've decided to frog it and start it again on a circular needle so that I can do the front and back at the same time (at least up to the armholes).  DUH!

Another "Skein Winder" by Godward!

Entrelac for Keri

I have also started the hat portion of this entrelac set for my friend, Keri.  In fact, I have completed the band and the first round of triangles!  I know that she'll like the shades of tan and brown that came in the kit from Knit Picks (http://www.knitpicks.com/) .  Later this week, I'll be ordering more of this yarn so that I can make a matching scarf.

And 7 Solace Stoles, Oh, My!

The stole pictured above has been designed by Georgina Bow ~~ and, I'm going to make seven (7).  Two are already on a circular needle in a light lilac and a plum for the twin daughters of a long-time friend of the family who was killed by a drunken driver who was talking on a cell phone at the time she crashed into Phyllis' car.  Three more are for the additional siblings (cerise pink, forest green, and light jade green).  I am also making one for my best friend who lives in Ohio (she likes earth colours) and one for myself (sea blue/green).

What I'm Knitting Now

This sweater is on my needles right now.  The pattern is available for free from Lion Brand.  I'm doing it in Universal Yarn's Deluxe Worsted Tones in Atlantic (shades of denim blue).  Can you tell that I love cables!?

An Open Letter to Conservatives

{I originally posted this on my Peacock Plumes blog.)

I signed into Ravelry today (Ravelry is an on-line community of knitters, crocheters, yarn dyers, spinners, etc. http://www.ravelry.com/ ) so that I could check out if there was anything new in some of my groups. Anyway, on Wingnut Watch one of the moderators had posted a link to a wonderful blogpost by a gentleman calling himself American Dad. It was an open letter to conservatives where he took probably most everything ugly they have been doing and citing proof of their lies. It has already gone viral, as the link I'm giving is for another blog which posted it (the original citation was too long -- it is a TPM blog -- and I couldn't get the whole thing. Anyway, please go to http://filterednews.wordpress.com/2010/03/22/an-open-letter-to-conservatives/ for a wonderful, fully cited essay.

Godward, Waterhouse, and Leighton

Some of my readers may recognize the two paintings by John William Godward that were used in the header of my blog:  Idleness and The Seamstress.  I realize that there are many paintings which show the various fiber arts; however, there are not that many set in classical times.  There are at least three more by Godward:

A Stitch in Time

Sewing Girl

On the Balcony

Then there are these two by John William Waterhouse:

La Fileuse

Penelope and the Suitors

And, finally, this one by Frederic Lord Leighton

 

Winding the Skein

These and many other paintings can be seen at the site Art Magick  ( http://www.artmagick.com/ )

52 In 52 2009 Ravelry Challenge

Well, I didn't quite make it; however 50 books for the year in a good number. As can be seen on my nightstand, I already have a good start for 2010's challenge.

Bennett, A.: The Uncommon Reader ****
Berry, S.: The Charlemagne Pursuit ****
Cussler, C.: Arctic Drift **+
Cussler, C.: Medusa**+
Cussler, C.: The Chase **+
Davis, L.: A Body In The Bathhouse****(13)
Davis, L.: A Dying Light In Corduba****(8)
Davis, L.: Alexandria****(19)
Davis, L.: Last Act In Palmyra****(6)
Davis, L.: Ode to A Banker****(12)
Davis, L.: One Virgin Too Many****(11)
Davis, L.: Poseidon's Gold****(5)
Davis, L.: Saturnalia****(18)
Davis, L.: Scandal Takes a Holiday****(16)
Davis, L.: See Delphi and Die****(17)
Davis, L.: Shadows In Bronze****(2)
Davis, L.: Silver Pigs****(1)
Davis, L.: The Accusers****(15)
Davis, L.: The Course of Honour****
Davis, L.: The Iron Hand of Mars****(4)
Davis, L.: The Jupiter Myth****(14)
Davis, L.: Three Hands In The Fountain****(9)
Davis, L.: Time To Depart****(7)
Davis, L.: Two For The Lions****(10)
Davis, L.: Venus In Copper****(3)
Franklin, A.: Grave Goods****(3)
Franklin, A.: Mistress of the Art of Death****(1)
Franklin, A.: The Serpent's Tale****(2)
Gould, J.: Greek Winds of Fury***+
Graziano & Graziano: Cretaceous Dawn ****
Greanias, T.: Raising Atlantis (1)
Harris, C.: A Touch of Dead (stories)
Harris, C.: All Together Dead ****(7)
Harris, C.: Club Dead ****(3)
Harris, C.: Dead And Gone ****(9)
Harris, C.: Dead As A Doornail ****(5)
Harris, C.: Dead To The World ****(4)
Harris, C.: Dead Until Dark ****(1)
Harris, C.: Definitely Dead ****(6)
Harris, C.: From Dead To Worse ****(8)
Harris, C.: Living Dead In Dallas****(2)
Neville, K.: The Fire ****
Preston, D. & Child, L.: Cemetery Dance***+
Reilly, M.: Seven Deadly Wonders **
Reilly, M.: Six Sacred Stones **
Reynolds, A.: Pemberly By The Sea ***
Rollins, J.: The Doomsday Key***+
Weldon, P.: Spectre***(2)
Weldon, P.: Wraith***(1)

CINEMA 2009: Movies I saw at the theatre

Bright Star *****
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ****

Monsters VS Aliens (a guilty pleasure)
Sherlock Holmes ***+
Star Trek ***+

Winding Yarn

Well, I've started to wind the yarn for my next project, which will be a pullover sweater with a few changes to the pattern. The yarn chosen for this is Cherry Tree Hill mohair/wool/silk boucle in the Champlain Sunset colourway.

The sweater pattern originally had bandings of different colours (this is the "Blueberry Hill" I mentioned in a previous post, which I was doing in a light and medium denim blue, orchid, and a variegated which brought all the colours together). Since this is already a multicolour yarn with short colour repeats, I have decided to change the body of the sweater to a heavy rib (probably 3X3) up to the division for the armholes; then I'll be changing to seed stitch; after splicing the shoulders I'll add a heavily ribbed loose turtle neck. The sleeves I'll be knitting down from the shoulder in seed stitch and I'll finish with heavy ribbing for the wrists.

Finally, A Project Done -- And A Project to Be Frogged

I can hardley believe that I have finally finished the large bag I was knitting for an exchange. I used a beautiful salmon fingering yarn by Knit Picks and a salmon marl alpaca fingering yarn. It is much easier picking out yarn and some other goodies for an exchange!

Now for the bad news, I finally figured out that I will have to frog my "Blueberry Hill" sweater because of the cheap circulars I used. My KnitPicks Harmonies and Addies have been wonderful -- however, these Clover needles kinked so badly that I didn't realize that the sweater had gotten all twisted. However, not all is lost as I have decided to slightly modify the pattern.

Modern Goddess Portraits

You can see more of this artist's paintings at

www.pagesperso-orange.fr/goddess-seat/

So Busy Knitting and Reading

I can't believe it's been this long since the last post on this blog! I have been keeping up with the side-bar information on the 52 in 52 reading project, however.

On that note, I really do have to recommend Lindsey Davis' Marcus Didius Falco mysteries. As a former history major with an emphasis on the Classical, Mediaeval and Renaissance, her descriptions of the time of Vespasian are spot on. In my opinion, Vespasian was one of the best emperors of the Roman Empire and her depictions of him and his family are terrific. I was also pleased (no brick bats, please) to see that she placed the Christian sects in the right position -- they were not as put-upon and persecuted as their own histories tried to make out and were not really of much interest to every day Romans.

Besides these I have also read a few other novels as well. The Tao of Pooh is also now on my nightstand (I have never read it!).

I have been working on little items. Right now I am making a largish decorative bag in peach KnitPicks Peruvian wool in a fingering weight along with a great peachy marl in alpaca (half and half). It's going to be lined so there will be two sections. Whoever will get it will be able to store their runes and tarot cards together.

Recent Reads ~~ 52 In 52

I have been working on my reading recently and have just finished Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse novels. These were a lot of fun and the tone the author achieved was just right, in my opinion. I am looking forward to the collected Sookie short stories, which will be published this autumn.

Last week-end I read Pemberly by the Sea by Abigail Reynolds. I'm up in the air a bit with a review. I think most people will enjoy it, though at times the heroine was her own worst enemy.

More Things About Myself

17. What I Watch On Television: Countdown with Keith Olbermann; The Rachel Maddow Show; Hardball with Chris Matthews; Bones; Lost; Moonlight; Primeval; Eureka; Fringe; The #1 Ladies' Detective Agency; True Blood; Heroes; Monk; Medium; Ghost Hunters; Astronomy/Cosmology type shows; "Paleo-World" type shows

18. Previous Favourites: Battlestar Galactica (new series); Star Gate; all Star Trek incarnations; Babylon 5; Jane Austen mini-series; Jane Eyre (3 versions)

19. Favourite Movies: Bringing Up Baby; Casablanca; The African Queen; The Maltese Falcon; The Thin Man (several movies); Now, Voyager; Ninotchka; The Third Man; To Catch a Thief; A Shot in the Dark; Dr. Zhivago; Out of Africa; Sophie's Choice; Das Boot; La Nuit de Varennes; Master & Commander; Gladiator; Pan's Labyrinth; Sense & Sensibility; Pride & Prejudice; Persuasion (not quite chronological order)

20. Favourite Operas: Le Nozze de Figaro; Die Zauberflote; Don Giovanni; Norma; Tosca; Der Fliegende Hollander; Tristan und Isolde; Der Ring des Niebelungen; Orfeo et Euridice; Les Contes de Hoffmann

21. Favourite Print Comics: Get Fuzzy; Non Sequitur; Mutts; Rhymes With Orange; Bizarro; Rose Is Rose

22. Favourite Classic Movie Actors: Katharine Hepburn; Humphrey Bogart; Cary Grant; Sir Laurence Olivier; Myrna Loy; William Powell; Errol Flynn; Bette Davis; Claude Raines; Greta Garbo; Marlene Deitrich; Joan Fontaine; Peter Sellars; Alan Ladd

Lady And The Tiger

Knitting, Yarn & Kitties -- Could Anything Be Better!

What Would You Take?

For all of us who knit (or crochet) this is all too true. More can be found at http://wondermark.com/