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Jill, here is your new thread for 2012.

Our Format:

JANUARY

1. Winston S. Churchill
Finish date: March 2008
Genre: (whatever genre the book happens to be)
Rating: A
Review or a Few Words about book: You can add text from a review you have written but no links to any review elsewhere even goodreads. And that is about it. Just make sure to number consecutively and just add the months.

Note: I will delete the required format post once you get started.

JANUARY

1. by Erik Larson

Finish date: January 1, 2012
Genre: History
Rating: C
Review: I was somewhat disappointed in this book since I have enjoyed Larson's books. With so much history happening in the early days of Hitler's rise to power, the book concentrated mainly on the stuffy Ambassador Dodd and his frivolous daughter Martha who seemed to have an affair with every man she met, Nazi or otherwise. Not the best of Larson's work.

2. by Ian Rankin

Finish date: January 4, 2012
Genre: Mystery
Rating: B+
Review: A non-series mystery by the award winning Scottish author An art heist on Doors Open Day in Edinburgh by a strange and diverse group of thieves. goes wrong, of course, and there are enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. Another winner from one of my favorite modern mystery writers.

Great start Jill and you have been the only one who has remembered to put in the month before you start listing the books completed during that time period.

Thanks, Bentley but I remember those early day when I never could seem to get the rules straight!!! (smile)

3. by Pete Hamill

Finish date: January 6, 2012
Genre: Non-fiction
Rating: B
Review: A wonderful love letter to the downtown of Manhattan by the author/reporter who has lived there most of his life. If you love NYC, you will revel in this book of lost places and times.

That sounds like a great book; I am adding it to my already long list.

It is a great little book which makes you yearn for a plane ticket to the Big Apple!

Well I am really already there (smile).

4. America 1941: A Nation at the Crossroads by Ross Gregory(no book cover or author photo available)

Finish date: January 10, 2012
Genre:American History; WWII
Rating: B+
Review: This book cover the pivotal year of 1941 as the United States moved unknowingly toward WWII. The author covers all aspects of the society and is, for the most part, unbiased in his presentation of the facts. Recommended.

5. by Mark Logue

Finish date: January 13, 2012
Genre: Biography, British history
Rating: B+
Review: Because of the popularity of the award winning film based on this book, I probably don't have to say much except that I enjoyed this book tremendously. It gave a glimpse into the private lives of the Royal Family and the uphill battle that King George VI fought against his speech problem. Heartwarming.

Jill, did you also see the movie? If so, what did you like better - the book or the movie?

I have not seen the film but have been told that the book and the movie are not the same........I wasn't told, however, which one was the better.

6. by Donald Thomas

Finish date: January 15, 2012
Genre: Social history
Rating: C
Review: This was a tough read only because the author must have included every person who ever broke the law in Britain during and after the War. Although he did examine some of the social issues leading to increased crime during that time, he spent more time on the individuals' crimes, everything from stealing ration cards to smash and grab. At almost 500 pages, it could have been half that size if the minutiae had been omitted.

Jill wrote: "I have not seen the film but have been told that the book and the movie are not the same........I wasn't told, however, which one was the better."


The movie was great; interested to hear what you think when you get to see it.

Great start to the year Jill

7. by Ruth Rendell

Finish date: January 16, 2012
Genre: Mystery
Rating: B+
Review: I liked this book and am in the minority as most of the reviewers dissed it. It really is not a mystery but more a psychological study of a very disturbed young man, recently released from prison after shooting and permanently disabling a policeman. But that barely touches the surface of what is going on in this fascinating little book from one of my favorite British mystery/thriller writers.

8. by P.D. James

Finish date: January 21,2012
Genre: Mystery
Rating: B+
Review: I'm on a little bit of a British mystery reading jag and James is another of my favorites. This is an entry in the Dalgliesh series and the Commander is called to investigate a murder on a private island, which is a haven for peace and introspection for high profile guests. Complicate the story with another murder and an outbreak of SARS. Even with a limited guest list, you won't be figuring out the identity of the murderer until the end of the book, if at all. Another winner from one the the greats of British mystery writers.

Jill wrote: "2. by Ian Rankin

Finish date: January 4, 2012
Genre: Mystery
Rating: B+
Review: A non-series mystery by the award winnin..."

Jill,
if you enjoy British Crime Writing/Mysteries can I recommend you give Christopher Brookmyre a try, if you haven't already. He's rather more of a maverick than Ian Rankin, but I think you might enjoy his writing.

I suggest you start with the first of his Jack Parlabane stories to see if he's your sort of author:

Christopher Brookmyre

ChrisZ

Thanks, Chris. I will look for that author. I am a huge fun of British mystery authors so I am always glad to find one that I have not read.

9. by Kathrine Kressmann Taylor

Finish date: January 22, 2012
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: A+
Review: This is a most amazing book. First published in 1938 it is comprised of letters between a Jewish man in the US and his Gentile partner in their art gallery who has returned to Germany in 1933 as Hitler was coming to power. The book was banned in Nazi Germany when it was released. It is absolutely chilling. I have read it before but read it again this week....it is only 64 pages long and is the type of book that I will read many more times. As a friend of mine who read it said "When I was finished, I wondered what hit me".

10. by Anthea Fraser
Finish data: January 22,2012
Genre: Mystery
Rating: B-
Review: One of a series of DCI David Webb's adventures. This book, like the others, is short and the author doesn't clutter up the storyline with extraneous plotlines. A young French woman who is attending a local university, goes missing and is later found dead. Murder?.....well, maybe. Some interesting characters in this particular entry but the plot is pretty simple and to the point. This is a good book for a rainy afternoon's reading.

11. by Cassandra Chan
Fininsh date: January 25, 2012
Genre: British "cozy" mystery
Rating: B
Review: This is the first of a continuing series and is reminiscent of the British cozies of the 1920-30s. A wealthy, rather indolent young man and his Scotland Yard detective friend look into the death of an elderly man with a very young wife. Hated by her late husband's family, she appears to be the only suspect...but wait......other family members have hidden motives and the game is afoot. A tidy little book.

12. by Carola Dunn
Finish date: January 28,, 2012
Genre: British mystery
Rating: B-
Review: When I see a family tree in the frontispiece of a short little mystery book, I get a sneaking feeling that I may have to refer to it more than once. And indeed I did as this story, set on one of the most famous trains in the world, the Flying Scotsman, has more characters than pages.
An extended family on their way to the bedside of a wealthy dying relative are hoping to change his mind regarding his will. Murder happens and the Honorable Daisy Dalrymple who is also a passenger is right in the midst of the action.
This is somewhat of a "cozy" mystery which is part of a continuing series and lots of fun. Very light reading except for trying to keep the characters straight

I've listening to most of the the Daisy Dalrymple series on audiobook. If it involves a family tree, maybe I'd better try this one in hard copy.

I would advise it,Bea. Since it is such a short book, it seems over laden with characters......but it is still a good little book of the series.

13. by Jill McGown

Finish date: January 31, 2012
Genre: British mystery
Rating: B+
Review: A tidy little mystery and one of a series. It is written in a "then" and "now" format and challenges the reader to think about how past actions affect the present. There is a lot going on in this book and the reader may reach some wrong conclusions (this reader did). Nicely done.

FEBRUARY

14. by Anthea Fraser

Finish date: February 2, 2012
Genre: British mystery
Rating: B+
Review: Looks like the perfect murder(s) and it is. Three apparently unrelated people are murdered and there isn't a clue to be found. The author weaves an intricate tale of past events that eventually lead to the crimes. My only complaint is that there is an afterword which tends to dilute all that went before........but otherwise, this is a fascinating book.

15. by Michael Bellesiles

Finish date: February 3, 2012
Genre: American history
Rating: B+
Review: Who knew that 1877 was such a disturbing and violent year in American history? From the Hayes/Tilton election fraud to the rampant racism which tore the country apart, just 12 years after the War Between the States. The author does a very nice job of pulling it all together in a readable book that will have you shaking your head in disbelief. Recommended.

16. by Jill McGown

Finish date: February 5, 2012
Genre: British mystery
Rating: B-
Review: Not my favorite of this series but still a good read. Taking place in a boarding school, Lloyd and Hill are investigating the murder of a teacher's rather free-wheeling wife. Almost everyone is a suspect and the character development is well done. Toward the conclusion, the story gets a little cluttered with "where were you" and "what were you wearing" clues........but the final solution is satisfactory. And the private life of Lloyd and Hill moves forward romantically without getting in the way of the overall storyline.

Jill wrote: "16. by Jill McGown

Finish date: February 5, 2012
Genre: British mystery
Rating: B-
Review: Not my favorite of this series but still a good read..."

16!!! Wow Jill! Way to go...that is amazing. I'll stop patting myself on the back now (7 :)). Found many interesting books from your page. I love these lists--so full of reading ideas.

Thanks, Autumn. Now I must admit that some of the books I have read this year are fairly short and can be read quickly. I read them in-between the 400+page history books that I love.

17. by Ruth Rendell

Finish date: February 6, 2012
Genre: British mystery
Rating: B
Review: A short little book in the Wexford series and although not my favorite, it is still a satisfactory read. Wexford becomes obsessed with a man who he suspects has killed his wife and must bend some rules to keep the investigation moving. The suspect and his family are so unlikeable that you hope one of them is the guilty party! The case takes some interesting turns before the conclusion and keeps the reader guessing. A quick read for the Wexford fan.

18. by Kate Williams

Finish date: February 10, 2012
Genre: History (British)
Rating: B-
Review: Most of us know the story of Admiral Lord Nelson's well-loved mistress, Emma Hamilton, and the scandal of their love affair. This biography covers Emma's life from her birth in poverty, her days as a lady of the evening, as a kept woman, her marriage to Sir William Hamilton, her very public love affair with Nelson, to her death, again in poverty. The author offers some new information and her own opinions of the life of the lady and paints Nelson as a self-centered twit. This is a good biography but somehow I wasn't as engaged as I thought I would be. The book has gotten mixed reviews but I don't hesitate to recommend it for those who are interested in one of the most famous love affairs in history.

19. by Peter Lovesey

Finish date: February 12, 2012
Genre: British police procedural
Rating: B
Review: This is one of a continuing series featuring Peter Diamond, a gruff member of the Bath CID. The story takes place in the Royal Theater in Bath. When a fading pop star is given the lead role in an upcoming play, it becomes evident that she is going to be a disaster as an actress. When she is burned severely by caustic soda on opening night, the story is off and running. Follow it up with an apparent suicide and things become very dicey. The author stretches credibility just a bit with the denouement but it still is a good read.

Wow you are a reading machine Jill

I've been called worse, Michael!!! :o)

I am a fast reader of the mystery/police procedurals.....I take more time with the larger history books.

Same here you need more time to absorb the information in some history books or you get a information overload.

20. by Eric Homberger
Finish date: February 14, 2012
Genre: American history
Rating: B-
Review: A tour through one of the greatest cities in the world. Concentrating mostly on Manhattan, the author mixes history with the present day and explores how culture and the arts shaped the personality of NYC. If you know your history you may find that sections of the book drag just a bit but overall it is an interesting book for those who love the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple.

21. by Michael Innes
Finish date: February 15,2012
Genre: British "locked room" mystery
Rating: B-
Review: This author who is an Oxford don has had a second career as a writer of mystery stories. I must say that they are an acquired taste.....not much mystery but an abundance of wit and bon mots. The reader who enjoys literary allusions will be right at home with this book and others in the series.

22. by Terence Sharkey
Finish date: February 17, 2012
Genre: Crime history
Rating: C
Review: If you have read anything about Jack the Ripper, don't expect to find anything new in this book. It covers each of the victims and the crime scene. Little attention is given to the investigations and the author presents much more information on the usual list of suspects who have been put forward by other historians of the crimes of the elusive Jack. At some point, we need to come to the realization that we will never know the identity of Jack the Ripper, a crime figure who has fascinated the world for over 100 years.

23. by Eric Schaefer
Finish date: February 19, 2012
Genre: Film/social history
Rating: B
Review: Don't be put off by the title or the cover art of this book. It is a scholarly look at the exploitation film, a little known segment of film history. Exploitation films fell below the "B" film and slightly above the stag film and played to "adults only" in those theaters that your parents wouldn't let you attend. Poorly made, they addressed "social issues" such as white slavery, drugs, abortion, and vice in general....all under the guise of education. Most have been forgotten and rightfully so, except for the cult classic "Reefer Madness" which gained a new audience in the 60s and 70s. The author has done extensive research into a subject that the film industry would rather forget.

Hi Jill, not chatted for a while and it's good to see you are rolling along nicely on this challenge.

Hey, Geevee.....I am reading quite a bit since the weather tends to keep one indoors. I will probably slow down once it is time to start working on the garden. Hope all is well with you and yours!

24. by John Harvey
Finish date: February 21, 2012
Genre: British mystery
Rating: B
Review: Another in the Charlie Resnick series has the detective chasing a child murderer. And then another child disappears and the police have to assume that she too is dead. Good character development and we learn a little more about the members of the detective squad. A good entry by the author which will keep the reader wondering exactly "who dunnit".

25. by Ruth Rendell
Finish date: February 26, 2012
Genre: Psychological thriller
Rating: B+
Review: Another of Rendell's very dark psychological thrillers based on seemingly innocent actions by an unsuspecting and basically naive person. In this case, it is an accountant who fits the stereotype of that profession. He wins 100,000 pounds in the football pools and decides to use it to help people that he doesn't know find appropriate housing. To say that this is a mistake is putting it mildly as his path crosses with a grasping female who is not what she appears, an old friend who challenges his sexuality, and a serial killer. It is a disaster waiting to happen.....and it does. I really liked this little book which can be read at one sitting.

26. by David Dickinson
Finish date: February 27, 2012
Genre: British historical mystery
Rating: C
Review: This is another book in the peer of the Realm and detective on the side, Lord Francis Powerscourt series. It started out well but as the solution came into view, it became farfetched. The weapon used in one of the two murders defies belief and the identity of the murderer (or murderers) just didn't wash. Certainly not the best of a popular series.

27. by John Harvey

Finish date: February 29, 2012
Genre: British mystery
Rating: C
Review: I wondered if John Harvey actually wrote this book......it just didn't seem his style or up to his standards in the beginning. It improved as it went along but still it is far from my favorite of his works. A young gay man involved in writing the biography of a cult film actress is brutally murdered and his estranged partner is immediately a suspect. There are family secrets here involving the actress that are impeding the murder investigation and it turns nasty quickly. This is an OK book but I wasn't as engaged as I usually am with Harvey's work.

Bentley wrote: "That sounds like a great book; I am adding it to my already long list."

Ditto, looks really interesting.

MARCH

28. by George Carlin
Finish date: March 1, 2012
Genre: Adult humor
Rating: A-
Review: Carlin made me laugh when he appeared as "Al Sleet, the Hippy Dippy Weatherman" on late night television way back in the day......I have been a fan ever since. This book, much like his others is profane, acerbic, and just plain hilarious. Nobody could take the American experience and turn it on its head like Carlin. His humor was surreal and slightly off-center and it can offend. It's not for everyone but it makes me laugh out loud. I miss him.