calm reading 75 and beyond

Hi I'm calm and I have been a member of LT and the 75ers since 2009. I live in West Wales with two cats, Xander and Lexa, and a houseful of books. I mainly read fantasy; speculative fiction and some historical fiction.

I don't post much. Though I do lurk on a number of threads.

I will keep a list of books read in the 2nd message and tag "read in 2020"

In 2019 I read 205 books.

Best of 2019 (not counting re-reads)

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden (and the rest of the trilogy)
The Tangled Lands by Paolo Bacigalupi and Tobias S Buckell (4 short stories set in the same world 2 from each author)
The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker (Trojan war through the eyes of the captive women)
Someone Like Me by M. R. Carey
Blood Queen by Joanna Courtney (Lady Macbeth as a historical person rather than the Shakespearean interpretation)
Pantomime by Laura Lam (first in a trilogy I need to request the rest from the library)
The Starless Sea: A Novel by Erin Morgenstern (I love stories within stories)
The Overstory: A Novel by Richard Powers
La Belle Sauvage by Philip Pullman
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon (just a great fantasy novel with a lot of strong female characters)

Books read in 2020

1 Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield
2 Magician's Guild by Trudi Canavan (re-read)
3 The Novice by Trudi Canavan (re-read)
4 The High Lord by Trudi Canavan (re-read)
5 The Magician's Apprentice by Trudi Canavan
6 A Matter of Interpretation by Elizabeth MacDonald
7 Priestess of the White by Trudi Canavan
8 Last of the Wilds by Trudi Canavan
9 Voice of the Gods by Trudi Canavan
10 In the Night Wood by Dale Bailey
11 Alice by Christina Henry
12 The Strawberry Thief by Joanne Harris
13 Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey
14 Kushiel's Chosen by Jacqueline Carey
15 Kushiel's Avatar By Jacqueline Carey
16 Battleaxe by Sara Douglas

February

17 Enchanter by Sara Douglass
18 Starman by Sara Douglass
19 Sinner by Sara Douglass
20 Pilgrim by Sara Douglass
21 Crusader by Sara Douglass
22 Beyond the Hanging Wall by Sara Douglass
23 The Serpent Bride by Sara Douglass
24 The Twisted Citadel by Sara Douglass
25 The Infinity Gate by Sara Douglass
26 Daughter of the Empire by Raymond Feist & Janny Wurts
27 Servant of the Empire by Raymond Feist & Janny Wurts
28 Mistress of the Empire by Raymond Feist & Janny Wurts
29 The Three-body Problem by Cixin Liu
30 Out by Natsuo Kirino

March

31 Great North Road by Peter F Hamilton
32 Magician by Raymond Feist
33 Silverthorn by Raymond Feist
34 A Darkness at Sethanon by Raymond Feist
35 The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
36 Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
37 Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
38 Singer from the Sea by Sheri S Tepper
39 The Companions by Sheri S Tepper
40 The Family Tree by Sheri S Tepper
41 The Mermaid by Christina Henry
42 Grass by Sheri S Tepper
43 Raising the Stones by Sheri S Tepper
44 Sideshow by Sheri S Tepper
45 The Raven Boys bt Maggie Stiefvater
46 Six Moon Dance by Sheri S Tepper
47 The Visitor by Sheri S Tepper

April

48 Shadow's End by Sheri S Tepper
49 The Fresco by Sheri S Tepper
50 The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams
51 Stone of Farewell by Tad Williams
52 Siege: To Green Angel Tower, Part 1 by Tad Williams
53 Storm: To Green Angel Tower, Part 2 by Tad Williams
54 The Adjacent by Christopher Priest
55 The Gate to Women's Country by Sheri S Tepper
56 Od Magic by Patricia McKillip
57 The Reindeer People by Megan Lindholm
58 Wolf's Brother by Megan Lindholm

May

59 The Stand by Stephen King
60 Sailing to Sarantium by Guy Gavriel Kay
61 Lord of Emperors by Guy Gavriel Kay
62 Sorcerer's Legacy by Janny Wurts
63 The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King
64 The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay
65 Weaveworld by Clive Barker
66 Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
67 The Lost World by Michael Crichton
68 A Song for Arbonne by Guy Gavriel Kay
69 Northern Lights by Philip Pullman
70 The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman
71 The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman
72 Gibbon's Decline and Fall by Sheri S Tepper
73 Glory Season by David Brin
74 The Book of Atrix Wolfe by Patriia McKillip

June

75 King's Dragon by Kate Elliott
76 Prince of Dogs by Kate Elliott
77 The Burning Stone by Kate Elliott
78 Child of Flame by Kate Elliott
79 The Gathering Storm by Kate Elliott
80 In the Ruins by Kate Elliott
81 Crown of Stars by Kate Elliott
82 Wolf Moon by Charles de Lint
83 The Soprano Sorceress by L. R. Modesitt Jr.
84 The Spellsong War by Jr. L. E. Modesitt
85 Darksong Rising by Jr. L. E. Modesitt

July
86 The Shadow Sorceress by Jr. L. E. Modesitt
87 Shadowsinger by L. E. Modesitt Jr
88 Dragonmaster: The Omnibus Edition by Chris Bunch
89 Empress by Karen Miller
90 The Riven Kingdom by Karen Miller
91 Hammer of God by Karen Miller
92 Wolfblade by Jennifer Fallon
93 Warrior by Jennifer Fallon
94 Warlord by Jennifer Fallon
95 Medalon by Jennifer Fallon
96 Treason Keep by Jennifer Fallon
97 Harshini by Jennifer Fallon
98 The Bone Doll's Twin by Lynn Flewelling
99 Hidden Warrior by Lynn Flewelling
100 The Oracle's Queen by Lynn Flewelling

August

101 Perdido Street Station by China Miéville
102 The Scar by China Miéville
103 Iron Council by China Miéville
104 The Darkness that Comes Before by R Scott Bakker
105 The Warrior Prophet by R Scott Bakker
106 The Thousandfold Thought by R Scott Bakker

Continued in >45 calm:

Looks like you are off to a good start! Happy reading!

Welcome back calm! Once Upon a River is one I'd like to read. I really enjoyed The Thirteenth Tale.

Wow, you are reading up a storm! I take it you like that series. I read the first one but never continued--maybe I should.

Happy New Year!

What a launch, calm! Five and change in ten days is celeritous indeed.

I'm happy you've made your thread and will be lurking regularly.

Happy reading in 2020, calm!

Welcome back!

Hi calm - I see you've done a re-read of Trudi Canavan, I tried listening to the first book last year and gave up. I'll have to try again but will try reading rather than listening.

Welcome back!

>3 thornton37814: Thank you Lori

>4 souloftherose: I like Setterield and have now read all three of her novels, Heather. I think the Thirteenth Tale was the best so far. Once Upon a River was good, I liked a lot of the characters but the actual story wasn't quite what I expected.

>5 ronincats: Hi Roni. I liked the series and hope you do as well

>6 richardderus: Hi Richard it was actually 5 in 6 days. The sixth book took a lot longer to get through :)

>7 FAMeulstee: Thank you Anita

>8 quondame: I'm pleased to be back Susan.

>9 avatiakh: I'm re-reading a lot of the series off my shelf that have been there for years, Keri. I enjoyed the Canavan and when looking at her author page realised I hadn't read the prequel so there was a new to me book.

>10 drneutron: Thank you Jim

Another resolution is to keep up in 2020 with all my friends on LT. Happy New Year!

>12 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul, hope things go well for you in 2020.

Hope 2020 is kind to you!

Belated Happy New Years, calm! I see you have made a nice start to your 2020 reading. I really, really loved The Thirteenth Tale and have been hesitate to pick and read Once Upon a River, because of some reviews that came out when Setterfield's much anticipated second book first came out. I am sure I will dip into it at some point - you mentioned that she has three books now published? - before I fall too far behind with her works. ;-)

*Waves*

⭐️

>14 ChelleBearss: Thanks Chelle

>15 lkernagh: Hi Lori. I liked Bellman and Black unlike some other people :)

>16 mckait: Hi Kath ... Thread? I couldn't find one in the 75ers.

Nice to see you posting, Calm.

How is the weather in West Wales - are the storms leaving you alone?

>18 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul. Surprisingly the weather hasn't been too bad, the sun is shining at the moment and there is no gale blowing:) Yesterday was more blustery and rainy but the previous storm was worse.

>19 calm: Good to see. Stay safe and keep warm. xx

> Haven't made one.. I'm just thread surfing this time. I was too optimistic last year when I started one. Maybe later? Next year? Not sure ..

>21 mckait: I hope you will make one sooner rather than later, Kath. I miss a place to regularly find you!

>20 PaulCranswick: Still safe :)

>21 mckait: Whatever feels right for you Kath.

Not much going on here. Still reading see >2 calm: for details. Watching some news and other television; a bit of Twitter and playing games.

I managed to get to town yesterday - lots of empty shelves (not so good for someone who stocks up monthly) but I have a reasonably stocked store cupboard and freezer so I won't starve, just miss ed out on some of the fresher, shorter shelf life things that I would normally have bought and couldn't restock on rice, pasta, canned goods and toilet paper. Some places were closed and I didn't bother having lunch out as I normally would have. The library was still open but I was told that they would close when the schools close; when I got home the next news I saw said that schools will be closing this week.

I hope everyone is keeping well

Trust you are still keeping well, Calm. Do you have plenty of reading material available?

>24 PaulCranswick: Still well. Social distancing and self isolation are the norm for me and I live in a pretty isolated area. Will need to find a way to get essential supplies and medication in a few weeks but it is over 10 miles to the nearest pharmacy and I don't drive myself; not sure if public transport will be available; also I get a month's worth of supplies when I do venture out and doubt if I will be able to do so if restrictions are in place.

Reading material is one of the things I have in abundance :)

Hope all is well with you and yours

>25 calm: I like my own company too, Calm, but Belle, my youngest, is even worse. She will stay in her room until supper and then venture out and contact some of her pals. Can't say that having her around impinges on my alone time!

>25 calm: Calm, if I recall correctly, you live close to me. If you need help getting a prescription and you use a pharmacy in Aberystwyth, I would be willing to collect it for you and take it wherever - send me a message (with an email address preferably) if you want to set that up. I would be quite willing to leave them at your door and make no actual contact.

>26 PaulCranswick: Hope you and Belle are well and enjoying your alone times :)

>27 sirfurboy: Thanks for the offer Stephen but my doctor posted the script to me so I need to get it to the pharmacy. The buses are still running so I can get myself to town, as it fits under the necessary travel guidelines, I might just do that. Other local offers of help have been offered as well (neighbours and the local community group).

>27 sirfurboy: Good man, Sir F. Somehow I had a feeling you might offer to do that.

Have a lovely, peaceful, safe and healthy weekend, Calm.

>28 calm: No worries calm, I am glad you have plenty of offers. You might like to speak with Lloyds pharmacy in Great Darkgate Street about getting deliveries in future. I believe they will order a repeat prescription for you from the doctor, get it filled and deliver to your door. Worth knowing if this does go on for months. Boots may well do the same (they definitely do the repeats - I think they deliver but I think they charge for it).

>29 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul.

Hi calm, Stopping by to get caught up. Glad to read that you are keeping safe and staying healthy with the social distancing and self-isolation.

Reading material is one of the things I have in abundance :)

Nice!

I wanted my message this year to be fairly universal in a time we all should be pulling together, whatever our beliefs. Happy Celebration, Happy Sunday, Calm.

Happy Easter!

Hope you got your meds okay, and all is well with you.

What did you think of The Reindeer People? That was probably the first Lindholm/Hobb novel I ever read 30 or so years ago - I read it not long after several of the Clan of the Cave Bear books and remember liking the novel - but I don't remember a thing about it. I never read (or saw) any of the followup books. I also liked a book with a similar title called Reindeer Moon which I liked better than the later Cave Bear books. They were all similar themed ones from the same era.

Hope all is well, Calm.

I am celebrating the end of Ramadan - a time of giving thanks and seeking forgiveness.

I am thankful for your friendship in this wonderful group.

Sorry for not posting. I'm still alive and reading :)

I guess I've just been a bit distracted and worried about checking into LT for some reason so I am miles behind the threads.

One reason was that I had a relative with cancer and I was not able to say goodbye when their time came. So I wasn't in a good place for some time.

But I managed some retail therapy yesterday for the first time since March. Books into the house make me feel good:) I got my own copies of The Bell at Sealey Head and Galilee, it is a long time since I read either of them and both are by favourite authors. I also got Wizard of the Crow which I want to read and some SF from a place that was doing 3 books for £1 - Memory Seed and Glass by Stephen Palmer and Kéthani by Eric Brown.

Thanks for all the messages that went unanswered for so long.

>35 RBeffa: I guess it is forgettable (or they had sat on my shelves unread for a long time!) as I didn't remember anything about them as I read. The Reindeer People is just the first half of the story so you need to read Wolf Brother to get the full picture, I'm not sure why the two books were not published together as they are both short. I did like it but I wish that the bad guys hadn't been so one dimensional and I did have a problem with one strand of the ending someone died who I hoped would be able to have a happier future when the bad guys got their come-uppance

I think the only similarity with The Clan of the Cave Bear is that both leads are healers. No Neanderthals in this one as it is set later though still prehistoric.

Lovely to see your post, calm. Very sorry for your loss and not being able to say goodbye. That is hard.

hugs, calm, and glad you got some retail therapy!

Thank you Lori and Roni.

Pleased and relieved to see you posting.

Condolences for your loss. Not being able to say goodbye is painful.

>37 calm: I am glad to see you checking in, but sorry for your difficult loss.

I slightly envy your bookstore trip and purchase. Since this all started I have not been in a library or bookstore and I think I miss that as much as anything. You have been doing some good reading I see.

Thanks for the reindeer comments.

Glad to hear that you are well, Calm, but sorry to hear about your relative.

Hope all is well, Calm. xx

Hi Everybody. Not felt up to posting, sorry.

Still reading but when I tried to update the post I lost all my Touchstones :(

So continuing this years reads here

September - November (not necessarily in the right order)

107 Galilee by Clive Barker
108 Glass by Stephen Palmer
109 Kethani by Eric Brown
110 Memory Seed by Stephen Palmer
111 The Bell at Sealey Head by Patricia McKillip
112 We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler
113 The Damnation Game by Clive Barker
114 Radiance by Catherynne M Valente
115 Devices and Desires by K J Parker
116 The Escapement by K J Parker
117 Evil For Evil by K J Parker
118 The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
119 The Binding by Bridget Collins
120 Wakenhyrst by Michelle Paver
121 Banewreaker by Jacqueline Carey
122 Godslayer by Jacqueline Carey
123 Credo by Melvyn Bragg
124 Empyrion by Stephen Lawhead
125 The Paradise War by Stephen Lawhead
126 The Silver Hand by Stephen Lawhead
127 The Endless Knot by Stephen Lawhead
128 Darkover Landfall by Marion Zimmer Bradley
129 The Parafaith War by L E Modesitt Jr
130 Sorcerer to the Crown byZen Cho
131 Mockingbird by Walter Tevis
132 Across the Face of the World by Russell Kirkpatrick
133 In the Earth Abides the Flame by Russell Kirkpatrick
134 The Right Hand of God by Russell Kirkpatrick
135 The Revenants by Sheri S Tepper

December

136 Anathem by Neal Stephenson
137 Coldheart Canyon by Clive Barker
138 Shaman's Crossing by Robin Hobb
139 Forest Mage by Robin Hobb
140 Renegade's Magic by Robin Hobb
141 The Owl Killers by Karen Maitland
142 Hogfather by Terry Pratchett
143 The Wild Wood by Charles de Lint
144 A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
145 Fool's Run by Patricia McKillip
146 Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper
147 The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper
148 Greenwitch by Susan Cooper
149 The Grey King by Susan Cooper
150 Silver on the Tree by Susan Cooper

Currently Reading

>45 calm: Thanks for the update, Calm. Good to know that you are reading plenty at least. There are quite a few chunksters on that list too.

>46 PaulCranswick: There are a few chunksters, I like getting lost in a big book :)

>45 calm: Wow, some really good reading there! I'm happy to hear that you're still whinnying with us.

Happy new week's reads.

>45 calm: I've read only a few of the authors of the listed books and I think only a couple of the titles, and some of the ones I haven't read look more interesting than the ones I have!

>48 richardderus: Thanks Richard *smooch*

>49 quondame: Hi Susan, pleased to see that there were some titles you found interesting.

>45 calm: Good to hear from you again, calm. That is a lot of Lawhead you have been reading. I think I have read most of his work, so nice to see someone else reading it too.

>51 sirfurboy: Thank you Stephen. Empyrion was better than I remembered so I read his Celtic series as well. I have got more Lawhead on the shelf but I'm not sure when I'll get to it. There is still a bookmark partway through his Arthurian saga from over 10 years ago!

I suppose not being able to get to the library and browse the shelves means that I am re-exploring my own shelves. There are still books there that I have not got around to reading:)

>52 calm: Well I can understand why you may have taken your time over some of Lawhead's stuff. I have enjoyed everything I have read from him, but there are still issues with his work and they can be long winded!

I miss the library, yes. Although the library has many online resources. Have you found this page:

https://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/resident/tourism-leisure/ceredigion-library/list-o...

>53 sirfurboy: I can't even remember why I stopped the Arthurian series, probably because I have read so many versions over the years and something in his version didn't work for me.

Unfortunately I don't do e-books but I'm pleased the resouce is available for other people :)

It was lovely to see a burst of activity over here, Calm, and to know that you are keeping ok.

Have a splendid weekend.

>55 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul.

Finished my first December book Anathem by Neal Stephenson. Now reading Coldheart Canyon by Clive Barker

Tachyon Publications, an SFF house, posted this on Twitter. Says it all, no?

Hi calm. Wishing you peace, joy and happiness this holiday season and best wishes for the New Year!

Or in other words, Happy Christmas! And have a great New Year as well. Here’s hoping that 2021 is better than 2020.

Hope you have a Merry Christmas!

Happy Holidays!

I hope you get some of those at least, Calm, as we all look forward to a better 2021.

>57 richardderus: Thanks Richard, hope that leaving 2020 will bring good things for you.

>58 lkernagh: Thank you Lori

>59 SandDune: Nadolig Llawen to you Rhian

>60 ChelleBearss: Thanks Chelle

>61 quondame: Nice sentiments Paul, the same to you and yours.

Season's Greetings to all visitors and lurkers.

Happy New Year to all visitors and lurkers.

I'm not going to finish another book in 2020 but I managed to hit the double 75 this year. All are tagged read in 2020. See posts >2 calm: and >45 calm: for the book list.

Given the circumstances there were a lot of re-reads this year, including a lot of old favourites :)

Best New to me

Galilee by Clive Barker
Great North Road by Peter F. Hamilton
The Binding by Bridget Collins
We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler
Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield

I will be joining the 75ers sometime in 2021, probably sometime after I finish the chunkster I am currently reading - Reamde by Neal Stephenson. See you all there.

>64 calm: Congratulations on reaching 2 x 75!

>65 FAMeulstee: Thank you Anita

Double-75 Congratulations!

My 2021 expectations are set: “Let us think the unthinkable, let us do the undoable, let us prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all.”
— Douglas Adams, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, 1987

>67 richardderus: Thanks Richard. Great quote ... but the date makes me feel old as it means that it is around 30 years since I read that book!

Calm

As the year turns, friendship continues

Congrats on double 75!!

Happy new year / Blwyddyn newydd dda, Calm. Hope to see more of your reads in 2021.

Thanks Paul, Susan, Chelle and Stephen

Finished my first book of 2021 so my new thread is now up

https://www.librarything.com/topic/328403