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John wrote: "Thanks for the kind words! I believe Kempowski came to my attention either from a mention in a thread, or more likely, the Amazon feature "People who read the book you're looking at also were inter..."

Thanks. I also find that Amazon feature helpful.

Most days i try to avoid that, as it only adds to my TBR! It's a great feature, though, when i cannot find exactly the book i was hoping to locate.

Book published in the 1950s (15)

Someone at a Distance by Dorothy Whipple


Curious about this author, I dropped an Audible credit on this book. I'll need more time to sort out my impressions here, but perhaps not the best place to start with her; other reviews have said this book isn't "typical" (like the others). One of those easier to appreciate afterwards, going through it not so much. Strangely dated feel, the French scenes could almost be straight out of Balzac; English ones felt more 30s than 50s to me.

I have The Priory as an ebook - maybe next challenge?

Well done on the 50's prompt.

I'm not familiar with that author. Thank you for explaining the impression the novel made on you. That is always helpful to me.

John wrote: "Book published in the 1950s (15)

Someone at a Distance by Dorothy Whipple


Curious about this author, ..."

Congratulations, John, on completing this prompt. I feel as though i've heard of the author, yet none of the titles listed for her are familiar to me. Likely i've confused her with someone else. I look forward to your review on the book.

Comic novel or humorous book (14)

Jeeves and the King of Clubs by Ben Schott

This modern addition to the Jeeves canon (approved by the Wodehouse estate) did as well as anyone could with the stories. Audio narration a good fit, I'll likely listen to Schott's next book.

I have a friend who enjoys the Jeeves books. I'll mention this one to her. Thanks.

Well done on the humor prompt !

I wasn't aware that there were modern additions. Clever idea.

And congratulations on fulfilling this prompt. Humor is such a personal prompt, in its own way.

Other award (35)
Stanford-Dolman Travel Writing 2012

Wild Coast: Travels on South America's Untamed Edge by John Gimlette

Been on my TBR pile for a while. Thorough look at situation in all three areas, great travel narrative, but bogged down for me at times with the history.

What a neat award to win, one that is new to me. Covering SA in that way sounds like a good approach. It's a shame it didn't blend as well as hoped, though.

Of course, i had to look up that award, which was an interesting combination. How fine that they picked up soon after the Thomas Cook Travel Book Award ceased.

Congratulations, John, on this winner!

madrano wrote: "What a neat award to win, one that is new to me. Covering SA in that way sounds like a good approach. It's a shame it didn't blend as well as hoped, though.

Of course, i had to look up that award,..."

Travel narrative being my favorite genre, I've made great use of its nominees for TBR ideas.

John wrote: "Other award (35)
Stanford-Dolman Travel Writing 2012

Wild Coast: Travels on South America's Untamed Edge by John Gimlette

Been on my TBR pile for a while. Thoroug..."

This challenge has been wonderful for clearing out the old TBR.
Well done, John !

John wrote: "Travel narrative being my favorite genre, I've made great use of its nominees for TBR ideas..."

I can see why. There were no titles that were familiar to me, sadly. Many were tempting, though. :-)

Nature or animal (36)

A Single Swallow by Horatio Clare

I chose it to read specifically for this prompt. However, honestly, it's a travel narrative book with the bird angle as a 'hook' premise. It appears at the beginning, and towards the end, but largely absent in between; could be pretty much any story of African travel in general. Details to follow in later review.

Sounds like it fits the prompt well enough to me !

We both read books that had bird watches in it this year. :)

Better Living Through Birding: Notes from a Black Man in the Natural World

Ditto.

I also enjoyed a mystery series which features a Canadian (in UK) detective who lives to watch birds.

Steve Burrows

Good book for the prompt, John. Congrats.

Book having to do with travel (67)

The Gran Tour: Travels with my Elders by Ben Aitken

I've been following him as a writer after his debut book Dear Bill Bryson: Footnotes from a Small Island. More to come in a review, but here he seemed to have had a good time, learning about life, from others more than twice his age (32). Not sure if I can do five stars here, but a solid four.

John wrote: "Book having to do with travel (67)

The Gran Tour: Travels with my Elders by Ben Aitken

I've been following him as a writer after his debut book [book:Dear Bill B..."

"a millennial Bill Bryson." Love that !

John wrote: "Book having to do with travel (67)

The Gran Tour: Travels with my Elders by Ben Aitken

I've been following him as a writer after his debut book [book:Dear Bill B..."

Sounds fun. As i age, i realize my traveling preferences have altered over the years & miles. And my habits, as well. Things that i "needed" when travel gave way to things that i Really Needed to sustain my life.

Thanks for the title, John.

Book chosen for its cover (4)

by Sara Gran


To be honest, I was already a huge fan of the author, but liked the cover a lot. Incredible suspense factor with realistic characters. NYC setting a bit before my time, with outstanding description (Alias would love that part I believe). Will do a formal review soon, strongly inclined towards five stars.

Congratulations on the prompt, John!

I'm not familiar with the book. I see Amazon lists an Illustrated edition. It's an illustrated thriller novel ?

The first few reviews on Amazon don't mention anything about illustration. I even put illustrated in the search of comments and got no hits.

What exactly is illustrated ?

Alias Reader wrote: "Congratulations on the prompt, John!

I'm not familiar with the book. I see Amazon lists an Illustrated edition. It's an illustrated thriller novel ?

The first few reviews on Amazon don't mentio..."

I don't get the illustrated thing? Mine was a regular ebook as one would expect.

Thanks. It didn't make much sense to me either. LOL

Back in 2021 I purchased for a book group

The Custom of the Country (Annotated): The Original 1913 Edition with New Historical Annotations and Analytical Discussion Questions

There was no annotation. :(

John wrote: " by Sara Gran To be honest, I was already a huge fan of the author, but liked the cover a lot. Incredible suspense factor with..."

OK, I read the blurb and I'm in. Thanks for putting that on the radar, John.

John wrote: "Book chosen for its cover (4)

by Sara Gran


To be honest, I was already a huge fan of the author, but liked the cover a lot. Incredible suspense factor with..."

John, you led me to Gran and her Claire DeWitt mysteries (/series/9144...), so i'm all in for another. Thanks for telling us about this one.

And congratulations on this prompt. It's a fun one, imo.

Wild Card recommendation (68)

The House on Vesper Sands by Paraic O'Donnell

More to come in formal review shortly, but am using this one I finished yesterday for final prompt, as it greatly surpassed my expectations. There's an aspect I considered paranormal, that I suppose might be seen as magical realism. Perhaps our host could give further insight, examples of what she wants to avoid?

So, I finished with 81/105. Some of the missing prompts had titles slotted in, but ... can't read everything!

Agreed that it's great seeing how everyone managed things was part of the fun. My first book of 2024 is one that I feared might be a bit dry, but seems as though it'll work well as a pick up-put down on my phone during meals out (downtime).

John wrote: "Wild Card recommendation (68)

The House on Vesper Sands by Paraic O'Donnell

More to come in formal review shortly, but am using this one I finished yesterday for ..."

That's awesome that you ended the year on a high note, John. I'm not familiar with book/author. I'll check it out.

As to magical realism this Google definition fits for me.
"Magical realism is a genre of literature that depicts the real world as having an undercurrent of magic or fantasy. Magical realism is a part of the realism genre of fiction. Within a work of magical realism, the world is still grounded in the real world, but fantastical elements are considered normal in this world."


Here are a few books that come to mind.

One Hundred Years of Solitude-Gabriel García Márquez. I tried to read this one around 3 times. The last time I think I read over 250 pages and just had to stop when a magic carpet went by. Also everyone having the same name was also frustrating for me...nope.

Author Haruki Murakami

Before the Coffee Gets Cold

Beloved-Toni Morrison

Life of Pi

Alias Reader wrote: "John wrote: "Wild Card recommendation (68)

The House on Vesper Sands by Paraic O'Donnell

More to come in formal review shortly, but am using this one I finished y..."

In that case, I'd say the un-natural aspect is more paranormal to me than magical realism, in my opinion.

John wrote: "Wild Card recommendation (68)

The House on Vesper Sands by Paraic O'Donnell...
There's an aspect I considered paranormal, that I suppose might be seen as magical realism. ..."

I clipped John's post above.

Given the description Alias shared about Magical Realism, i suspect the definition of paranormal may have been altered, as well. Sure 'nuf, Wiki tells us

"Paranormal events are purported phenomena described in popular culture, folk, and other non-scientific bodies of knowledge, whose existence within these contexts is described as being beyond the scope of normal scientific understanding. Notable paranormal beliefs include those that pertain to extrasensory perception, spiritualism and the pseudosciences of ghost hunting, cryptozoology, and ufology."

Which, to me, isn't much different from magical realism. Or religion, if you look at it as folklore, which many do. AND i learned there is also something called "Supernatural", which also sounds like MR to me. "The supernatural genre incorporates elements that cannot be understood by science and operate outside the rules of the real world. Supernatural fiction normally concerns itself with matters of god, the soul, archangels, and resurrection. Subgenres include supernatural horror fiction (i.e. the work of H. P. Lovecraft), Gothic (i.e. Frankenstein), ghost stories, supernatural thrillers, and other macabre stories in the horror genre."

This is why i cannot automatically dismiss reading books with MR in them. Sometimes they just don't seem "magical", as much as something else.

OK, ok, i didn't mean to waylay your thread, John.

Congratulations on a great ending to your '23 list!

John wrote: "So, I finished with 81/105. Some of the missing prompts had titles slotted in, but ... can't read everything!

Agreed that it's great seeing how everyone managed things was part of the fun. My fir..."

John, your sentiment about can't read everything rings true here, too. Last year was different from me but i've learned to be pleased when i overread (is there such a thing?) and not to be too frustrated when i barely read, either.

You had a reading year to be proud of, as well as writing comments which helped me determine whether or not i wanted to read the book, too. What an accomplishment.

John wrote: "In that case, I'd say the un-natural aspect is more paranormal to me than magical realism, in my opinion.
.."

Thanks !