[Indio777]

My goal is again to read as many books as possible. Perhaps cut back a bit on mysteries; read more non-fiction; and read more "classics" (both fiction and non-fiction).

• 01. Tooth and Claw - Jo Walton (02 Jan.) ebook
  A fantasy based on a Trollope novel, but with dragons. I thought it worked rather well. I enjoyed it.

• 02. Vanity Fair - by William Makepeace Thackeray (05 Jan.) paper
  Another novel of manners, a satire set in early 19th century England, with largely unsympathetic characters (well, the subtitle IS "a novel without a hero"). Some "serious" bits, but lots of good, biting, cynical humor. Many laugh out loud moments.

• 03. Future Crimes: Inside the Digital Underground and the Battle for Our Connected World - Marc Goodman (05 Jan.) paper
  Book about the dangers to personal data, systems, infrastucture, etc. Sections on future problem areas (IoT, biotech, AI, etc.) are rather alarming/disturbing. People interested in privacy/security issues are probably familiar with many of the topics discussed, but may still feel (temporarily) like disconnecting everything and moving to a cave. The author offers some solutions and seems to be optimistic that we can fix things before it's too late. I have my doubts.

• 04. Winter World: the Ingenuity of Animal Survival - Bernd Heinrich (11 Jan.) paper
  Felt this was an appropriate time of the year to read this book. It's about the various strategies some animals use to survive winter. Most of the book covers what happens in Vermont & Maine (as that is where the author lives), but many animals that live there also live elsewhere. For the most part interesting and informative. Plan to read "Summer World" in a few months, when "season appropriate."

• 05. The Man who Went into the West: the Life of R.S. Thomas - Byron Rogers (13 Jan.) paper
  Not too short, not too long (slightly over 300 pages) 2006 bio of R.S. Thomas (d. 2000). One thing I took away from this book (extremely simplified) was that Thomas was perhaps too "English" in his earlier life and perhaps too "Welsh" in later years. Almost always a problem really "fitting in." Although probably would have had problems anyway. A rather unique individual to put it mildly. Not much discussion of the religious aspects of much of his poetry but other books cover that.

• 06. The Wicked Wit of Queen Elizabeth II - Karen Dolby, compiler (14 Jan.) paper
  I couldn't care less about the "British" royal family in general, but I do admire Queen Elizabeth II. Not sure why but I do. Well, actually I think I might know why but this is not the place to discuss. Rather short book with small bits that are supposed to demonstrate her humor (as well as that of other members of the family). Mostly successful. I did have some laugh out loud moments. A pleasant diversion.

• 07. The Magus of Hay - Phil Rickman (18 Jan.) e-book
  I really enjoyed Rickman's largely standalone novels from the 90s. Since then he has mostly written books featuring Merrily Watkins, a sometimes doubting vicar and "deliverance consultant" in Herfordshire who becomes entangles in mysteries with elements of the supernatural. This is the 12th entry in the series. I still prefer his early standalones but this is an entertaining series.

• 08. Sleep Tight - Rachel Abbott (20 Jan.) e-book
  Abbott writes thrillers set in England. I find that her writing about characters' feelings/emotions is a bit weak and cliched but the intricate plots help compensate for that (as long as one is willing to not examine their plausibility too closely). This one's about a woman married to a pathological control freak.

• 09. Stranger Child - Rachel Abbott (22 Jan.) e-book
  I think this is the 4th novel in Abbott's "loose" thriller series featuring DCI Tom Douglas. A six-year-old child who disappeared after an accident in which her mother dies suddenly reappears six years later but refuses to explain where she has been and why/how she reappeared.

• 10. The Cold Calling - Phil Rickman, writing as Will Kingdom (23 Jan.) e-book
  Written in 1998 by Will Kingdom (a pseudonym of Phil Rickman). NOT part of the Merrily Watkins series. A horror/mystery/thriller. Like all of Rickman's novels this is largely set in the Welsh Marches. Quirky yet believable characters, some humor, an intricate plot and evocative descriptions of "place"--it's all there.

• 11. Mean Spirit - Phil Rickman, writing as Will Kingdom (24 Jan.) e-book
  A large snowstorm and its aftermath means more time for reading! Published in 2001, this is a loose sequel to The Cold Calling. This one centers around mediums as opposed to the "earth mysteries" aspect of the earlier novel. Fun stuff.

• 12. Imperial - William Vollmann (25 Jan.) paper
  Purchased about 5 years as a "bargain" book from Amazon because of the author, not the subject matter. To me Imperial was the county in California across the Colorado from Arizona. Largely monotonous desert and monotonous cultivated fields on the way to San Diego from Tucson. A trip from Tucson to the Bay area in early October 2015 meant a route northwest through the county. An interesting mix of cultivation, barren desert, the Salton Sea, rather rundown towns, substandard housing ...
  
  I read "Imperial" in bits when I got home. This 1300+ page book (about 200 pages consist of notes and a huge bibliography) ranges from the 18th century to the early 20th. Topics include the founding of Imperial and the subsequent "growth" of the area once large scale irrigation became possible. There are discussions of labor conditions (for both legal and illegal workers); agriculture in California, the extremely complicated water issues; relations of Imperial with Mexico, Arizona, Los Angeles. San Diego and neighboring wealthier counties. There are also many interviews with a great variety of people, biographical sections about Vollmann, as well as evocative descriptions of the landscape.
  
  Along with its length the structure of the book might put many off. This is not a linear history. Vollmann jumps back and forth in space and time, often returning to elaborate on or resume topics. There is a lot of repetition to drive home some points Vollmann is trying to make. Plus his writing style can be "unique." I generally like Vollmann (although I have never been able to complete some of his books) and enjoyed the book. I felt reading it was time well spent.

• 13. The City Under the Skin - Geoff Nicholson (25 Jan.) paper
  From 2014, this is, like all of the Nicholson novels I've read, about obsession. Women who have had crude maps forcibly tattooed on their backs are being kidnapped, possibly by the local "big" criminal. A clerk at a map store and an unknown young woman investigate. A "mystery" novel, with lots of the black humor typical of Nicholson. Fast and entertaining, although I didn't like it as much as some of his earlier novels.

• 14. A World Without Jews - Alon Confino (27 Jan.) paper
  The author argues that the Nazis created an ideal of a world without Jews as part of a plan to establish a new "pure" Nazi civilization and culture that involved rewriting and erasing much of the past, including the history and very existence of Jews. Policies and activities to achieve this goal began well before WWII. By the time the Nazis began sending Jews to the camps they had largely succeeded in eradicating Jewish history/culture as well as Jews themselves from Germany proper. An extremely interesting but disturbing and depressing book.

• 15. Follow You Home - Mark Edwards (28 Jan.) ebook
  A thriller about an English couple traveling through Europe who are forced to cut their trip short after a terrifying and horrific experience in a forest in Romania. They resolve to forget everything but a series of disturbing events make that impossible.

• 16. The Magpies - Mark Edwards (29 Jan.) ebook
  Another young couple purchase what appears to be an ideal flat. All of their neighbours seem nice enough, but they gradually realize that the ones in the flat below are a pair of extremely creative and clever psychopaths. Truly the neighbors from hell ...

• 17. What You Wish For - Mark Edwards (31 Jan.) ebook
  A photographer for a paper in a small English seaside town meets a woman who firmly believes in aliens and UFOs. She moves in and everything seems perfect until she disappears. He begins an increasingly frenzied search and comes to realize that he didn't really know her at all.

• 18. The Black Tongue - Marko Hautala (31 Jan.) ebook
  A combination coming of age/mystery/horror novel involving the residents of a housing complex in Finland who live near a mysterious island. Many who visit the island don't return. This was ultimately a very disturbing. I'm not sure I liked it. But I would be willing to read something else by this author if anything lese is translated.

• 19. Mrs. Benson - E. F. Benson (07 Feb.) paper
  Middleaged Mrs. Ames "rules" in the small English town of Riseborough. Her husband, Major Ames (ten years younger than she), increasingly spends his time next door with the wife of the new doctor, the much younger and prettier Mrs. Evans. Mrs. Ames employs a variety of strategies to win her husband back. There are some laugh out loud moments thanks to Benson's humorous depiction of small town society. But there are also some serious bits as Benson also has a great deal of empathy for his subjects and their interior lives.

• 20. The Freaks of Mayfair - E. F. Benson (08 Feb.) paper
  A humorous series of sketches of various "types" in Edwardian Mayfair, including (but not limited to) a snobbish couple, an embroidery-loving bachelor, a "faddist", a gossip, a vicar who cares much more for society than spirituality, and social climbers.

• 21. Strange Fascination: David Bowie: The Definitive Story - David Buckley. 2005 ed. (16 Feb.) paper
  David Bowie passed away last month and it has rather inexplicably depressed me since I basically gave up on him after his mid-80s albums (am now in process of "discovering" some of his more recent albums). This book only goes up to 2005 (I suspect another edition may now be in the works). Apparently this is supposed to be one of the better Bowie bios out there. No idea whether that is true but this is a rather comprehensive (500+ pages), highly readable bio. Extensive bibliography, lots of other lists of resources. I enjoyed it.

• 22. Shift - Omnibus Edition (Silo Saga Volume 2) - Hugh Howey (19 Feb.) ebook
  Read "Wool" some time ago and have actually had this for quite some time but just now reading it. Basically a "prequel" to Wool" that covers what happened before the Silos went into operation, although there are some parts about "current" activities in the "main" silo as well as in two others. I found this to be a bit hard going in parts. Could have been shorter. Hopefully volume 3 will be better.

• 23. The Song of Albion Collection: The Paradise War, The Silver Hand, and The Endless Knot - Stephen Lawhead (24 Feb.) ebook
  Omnibus edition. The adventures of two Oxford students who get "transported" to the Celtic world of Albion. One chooses the "bad side, one the "good." Lawhead is considered a Christian author, but that shouldn't matter to readers. Good world building, character development and plotting. I enjoyed it.

• 24. The End of the Wasp Season: A Novel (Alex Morrow Book 2) - Denis Mina (26 Feb.) ebook
  Good series, largely taking place in Glasgow. I like how the police investigation is just a part of the book; lives of other characters involved are covered as well. Interconnected stories. I really like Mina's novels.

• 25. Gods and Beasts (Alex Morrow Book 3) - Denis Mina (28 Feb.) ebook
  See above. Recommended.

• 26. The Red Road: A Novel (Alex Morrow Book 4) - Denis Mina (01 March) ebook
  See above. Recommended.

• 27. The House of Susan Lulham - Phil Rickman (02 March) ebook
  Novella featuring Merrily Watkins, a "deliverance consultant" in Herfordshire (see entries above). A short entertaining diversion.

• 28. Fade to Black (The Black Mystery Series Book 1) - Steven Bannister (06 March) ebook
  Recommended by Amazon after completing the Rickman novella. Price was right and synopsis sounded okay. On her first day after being promoted (poor thing), Scotland's Yard DSI Allie St Clair has to deal with a horrific murder. This is not a "normal" crime. A malevolent entity named Mr. Black is involved. But it turns out that Allie is a direct descendant of St. Patrick and her family has a pact with Archangel Michael who helps her. Urban crime horror/fantasy with angels. Not outstanding, but not horrid either. Entertaining as long as one is not too critical. I had fun.

• 29. Back to Black (The Black Mystery Series Book 2) - Steven Bannister (07 March) ebook
  Sequel to Fade to Black. This time Mr. Black is attempting to resurrect the Green Man, who is not nice at all. Not as good as first one. Bannister adds a lot more humor, for the most part not successfully as far as I am concerned. Often too silly. Perhaps it's a freshman slump. Since this doesn't have a conclusive ending will try Book 3.

• 30. The Black Net (The Black Mystery Series Book 3) - Steven Bannister (08 March) ebook
  Takes place in Cornwall. Mr. Black is attempting to bring back Moloch the Canaanite deity mentioned in the Bible. Why he would pick Cornwall do do this wasn't quite clear to me. Something to do with St Michael's Mount. Humor is somewhat better, although still annoying at times. Anyway, I think I'm done with this series.

• 31. Mister B. Gone - Clive Barker (March) ebook
  A lowly young demon escapes from Hell and wanders Guttenberg-era Germany in the company of an older demon, committing atrocities. I think Barker may have attempting to make some statement about the nature of evi, but I found this book to be pointless and ultimately a waste of time. Much prefer Barker's older works.

• 32. Zombie - Joyce Carol Oates (March) ebook
  Story of a psychopath who wants his very own obedient "zombie" sex slave. He kidnaps young men and attempts to perform lobotomies on them. Dreary. Fortunately rather short.

• 33. The Uninvited - Liz Jensen (March) ebook
  Children inexplicably begin killing adults. Unexplained acts of global sabotage occur. It's up to Hesketh Lock, an anthropologist with Asperger syndrome to figure out what is going on. An okay book, certainly better than last two I read,

• 34. Only the Innocent - Rachel Abbott (March) ebook
  Chief Inspector Tom Douglas has to solve the murder of Sir Hugo Fletcher, widely admired and praised for his work to end the trafficking of women from Eastern Europe. But all is not as it seems ... Another good mystery thriller from Abbott.

• 35. Savage Season - Joe K. Londsdale (March) ebook
  Darkly humorous story of Hap Collins and Leonard Pine, best friends in east Texas who become involved in a scam to retrieve money from a bank robbery. First in a series. It was okay, but I don't feel a great desire to read any more.

• 36. Mine - Robert R. McCammon (March) ebook
  Unassuming housewife embarks on a cross-country quest to retrieve her baby kidnapped by Mary, a psychopathic radical from the 60s. Okay, but overly long and complicated.

• 37. The Wolf's Hour - Robert R. McCammon (March) ebook
  Combo spy thriller/fantasy British Secret Service operative Michael Gallatin is a lycanthrope charged with discovering a Nazi project that could derail the Normandy invasion. Overall, I enjoyed this.

• 38. Mystery Walk - Robert R. McCammon (March) ebook
  Billy Creekmore has the inherited ability to give troubled revenants peace. Wayne Falconer is a child evangelist who can supposedly heal. There is a strange link between the two ... Best of the three McCammon novels read so far this year.

• 39. Harrowgate - (31 March) ebook
  Michael returns home after yet another work-related trip to find that his wife has prematurely given birth. He is distressed by her odd behavior and the presence of an overbearing woman named Greta. Gradually he realizes things REALLY aren't right. Well written and inventive but I'm not sure I liked it all that much. Rather oppressive.

• 40. Squirrels: the animal answer guide - Richard W. Thorington Jtr. and Katie Ferrell (2 April) paper
  I've stared volunteering at an animal rehab place and there are lots of tree squirrels. This book is a good introduction to squirrels in general.

• 41. Winter Men - Jesper Bugge Kold (04 April) ebook
  Story of two brothers in Nazi Germany. Neither are supporters of Hitler but both are eventually coerced into joining the SS, where they gradually become corrupted. Plausible account of how easy it can be for "decent" individuals to lose themselves when they compromise with evil.

After a three-month absence ...

• 42. The Child Garden - Catriona McPherson (April) ebook

• 43. Little Girl Lost (Lucy Black) - Brian McGilloway (April) ebook

• 44. The Cuckoo's Calling (Cormoran Strike) - Robert Galbraith (April) ebook

• 45. The Silkworm (Cormoran Strike) - Robert Galbraith (April) ebook

• 46. The Vault (Inspector Wexford) - Ruth Rendell (April) ebook

• 47. The King of Lies - John Hart (April) ebook

• 48. Iron House - John Hart (April) ebook

• 49. The Last Child - John Hart (April) ebook

• 50. Gifts of the Crow - John Marzluff & Tony Angell (May) paper

• 51. Sibley's Birding Basics - David Allen Sibley (May) paper

• 52. The Fortunes of Africa - Martin Meredith (May) paper

• 53. Night of Knives - Ian Esslemont (May) paper

• 54. Gardens of the Moon - Steven Erikson (May) paper - reread

• 55. Deadhouse Gates - Steven Erikson (May) paper - reread

• 56. Blood Follows (Bauchelain and Korbal Broach novella) - Steven Erikson (June) paper

• 57. The Lees of Laughter's End (Bauchelain and Korbal Broach novella) - Steven Erikson (June) paper

• 58. The Wurms of Blearmouth (Bauchelain and Korbal Broach novella) - Steven Erikson (June) paper

• 59. Memories of Ice - Steven Erikson (June) paper - reread

• 60. House of Chains - Steven Erikson (June) paper - reread

• 61. Midnight Tides - Steven Erikson (June) paper - reread

• 62. The Bonehunters - Steven Erikson (June) paper - reread

• 63. Reaper's Gale - Steven Erikson (July) paper - reread

• 64. Toll the Hounds - Steven Erikson (July) paper - reread

• 65. Dust of Dreams - Steven Erikson (August) paper - reread

• 66. The Crippled God - Steven Erikson (August) paper - reread

• 67. Area X - Jeff VanderMeer (August) paper

• 68. City on Fire - Garth Rick Hallberg (August) paper

• 69. Spring Heeled Jack - Mark Hodder (September) paper

• 70. Life After Life - Kate Atkinson (September) paper

• 71. A God in Ruins - Kate Atkinson (September) paper

• 72. SPQR - Mary Beard (September) paper

• 73. Return of the Crimson Guard - Ian C. Esslemont (September) paper

• 74. Stonewielder - Ian C. Esslemont (October) paper

• 75. Orb Sceptre Throne - Ian C. Esslemont (October) paper

• 76. Blood & Bones - Ian C. Esslemont (October) paper

• 77. Assail - Ian C. Esslemont (November) paper
  While books in this series do get better in terms of writing & plotting, they don;t compare to Erikson books. But they are about the Malazan world & fill sone the gaps so ...

• 78. The Wake - Paul Kingsnorth (November) paper
  A novel set in east Anglia after the Normans arrive. Written "pseudo Old English." One of the best books read this year.

• 79. Sea of Poppies - Amitav Ghosh (November) paper

• 80. River of Smoke - Amitav Ghosh (November) paper

• 81. Flood of Fire - Amitav Ghosh (November) paper

• 82. Funland - Richard Layman (December) ebook

• 83. The Bone Clocks - David Mitchell (December) paper

• 84. The Bazaar of Bad Dreams - Stephen King (December) paper

• 85. Birdbox - Josh Malerman (December) ebook

• 86. The Loney - Andrew Michael Hurley (December) ebook