Books Do Furnish A Room

People say that life is the thing, but I prefer reading -Logan Pearsall Smith

Rex Stout stories

Posted by debbie under Uncategorized

Following is my list of Rex Stout stories so I can keep track of which I have.  All except the last eight are Nero Wolfe stories.

Title

Own?

Read?

Rating

Component stories

Comment

1934: Fer-de-Lance

Y

Y

 

 

 

1935: The League of Frightened Men

N

N

 

 

 

1936: The Rubber Band

Y

Y

 

 

In Five of a Kind

1937: The Red Box

Y

Y

5

 

 

1938: Too Many Cooks

N

Y

5

 

 

1939: Some Buried Caesar

Y

Y

 

 

 

1940: Over My Dead Body

Y

Y

 

 

 

1940: Where There’s a Will

Y

Y

 

 

 

1942: Black Orchids

Y

Y

5

 

 

1944: Not Quite Dead Enough

Y

Y

 

 

 

1946: The Silent Speaker

Y

Y

 

 

 

1947: Too Many Women

Y

Y

 

 

 

1948: And Be a Villain (British title More Deaths Than
One)

N

Y

 

 

 

1949: Trouble in Triplicate

Y

Y

 

Help Wanted, Male / Instead of Evidence / Murder on
Tuesday

 

1949: The Second Confession

N

Y

5

 

 

1950: Three Doors to Death

Y

Y

 

Door to Death / Man Alive / Omit Flowers

In Five of a Kind

1950: In the Best Families (British title Even in the Best
Families)

Y

Y

 

 

In Five of a Kind

1951: Curtains for Three

Y

Y

 

 

In Full House

1951: Murder by the Book

N

Y

 

 

 

1952: Triple Jeopardy

Y

Y

 

Home to Roost / The Cop-Killer / The Squirt and the Monkey

In Five of a Kind

1952: Prisoner’s Base (British title Out Goes She)

Don’t

Y

1

 

 

1953: The Golden Spiders

N

Y

 

 

 

1954: Three Men Out

N

Y

 

Invitation to Murder / The Zero Clue / This Won’t Kill You

 

1954: The Black
Mountain

N

Y

2

 

No mystery

 1955: Before
Midnight

Y

Y

 

 

 

1956: Three Witnesses

Y

Y

 

The Next Witness / When a Man Murders / Die Like a Dog /
The Body in the Hall

 

1956: Might as Well Be Dead

N

N

 

 

In Three Aces

1957: Three for the Chair

Y

Y

 

A Window for Death / Immune to Murder / Too Many
Detectives

 

1957: If Death Ever Slept

Y

Y

 

 

 

1958: And Four to Go

Y

Y

 

Christmas Party / Easter Parade / Fourth of July Picnic /
Murder is No Joke

 

1958: Champagne
for One

Y

Y

5

 

 

1959: Plot It Yourself (British title Murder in Style)

Y

Y

5

 

 

1960: Three at Wolfe’s Door

Y

Y

 

Poison a la Carte / Method Three for Murder / The Rodeo
Murder

 

1960: Too Many Clients

N

Y

 

 

 

1961: The Final Deduction

Y

Y

 

 

 

1962: Homicide Trinity

Y

Y

 

Eeny Meeny Murder
Mo / Death of a Demon /
Counterfeit for Murder

 

1962: Gambit

Y

Y

5

 

 

1963: The Mother Hunt

N

Y

 

 

 

1964: Trio for Blunt Instruments

Y

Y

 

Kill Now, Pay Later / Murder is Corny / Blood Will Tell

 

1964: A Right to Die

N

Y

5

 

 

1965: The Doorbell Rang

N

Y

5

 

 

1966: Death of a Doxy

Y

Y

 

 

 

1968: The Father Hunt

Y

Y

 

 

Spoilers for Death of a Doxy

1969: Death of a Dude

Y

Y

 

 

Spoilers for Death of a Doxy?

1973: Please Pass the Guilt

Y

Y

2

 

Spoilers for Death of a Doxy

1975: A Family Affair

Y

Y

 

 

 

1985: Death Times Three (posthumous)

N

N

 

Assault on a Brownstone / Frame-Up for Murder / Bitter End

 

The Hand in the Glove

N

Y

 

 

Dol Bonner

Double for Death

N

N

 

 

 

Bad for Business

Y

?

 

 

 

The Broken Vase

N

N

 

 

 

The Sound of Murder

Y

Y

 

 

Alphabet Hicks

Red Threads

Y

Y

 

 

 

The Mountain Cat Murders

Y

Y

 

 

 

The President Vanishes

Y

Y

 

 

 
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Ruth Chew books

Posted by debbie under Uncategorized

I always loved Ruth Chew books growing up but they have gone out of print.  So I can keep track of which ones I have re-read, here is a list with ratings etc.

Title Own? Read? Rating Comment
The Wednesday Witch       A favorite
Baked Beans for Breakfast / The Secret Summer        
No Such Thing As A Witch        
Magic in the Park        
The Hidden Cave / The Magic Cave        
What the Witch Left        A favorite
The Secret Tree House        
The Witch’s Buttons        
Witch in the House        
The Trouble with Magic  Y      
The Would-Be Witch        
Summer Magic  Y      
Witch’s Broom  Y      A favorite
The Witch’s Garden  Y  2011 2+   
Earthstar Magic        
The Wishing Tree    2011  3  
Second Hand Magic        
Mostly Magic        
The Magic Coin        
The Witch at the Window        
Trapped in Time        
Do It Yourself Magic        
The Witch and the Ring        
Magic of the Black Mirror        
Royal Magic        
Wrong Way Around Magic        
Witch’s Cat        
Last Chance for Magic        
The Enchanted Book        
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The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency

Posted by debbie under Uncategorized

This book has been so popular that I thought I would try it.  Unfortunately, I found it to be basically an “atmosphere” book, with the mysteries distinctly secondary and pretty unsatisfying (especially the main one, which was “solved” by coincidence).  Worse, there was far too much domestic violence onstage for my taste.  I do not recommend it and will not be reading further in the series.

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Favorites for Joshua

Posted by debbie under Uncategorized

As I think of them, here are some titles I could potentially lend Joshua, if he hasn’t read them already.  It is entirely possible that some of these were originally his recommendations to me.

Sorcery and Cecilia sequels, by Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevermer
Mapp and Lucia series by E.F. Benson
Thus Was Adonis Murdered (and others in the Hilary Tamar series) by Sarah Caudwell
At Home with Books (coffee table book)
Asterix series
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Joshua favorites

Posted by debbie under Uncategorized

I asked Joshua (via Facebook) to name some favorite titles, and he surprised me with the loan of many of them.  This list is to keep track of which I have already read, and my ratings.

Howl’s Moving Castle (Wynn-Jones) 3 Enjoyable, but probably discovered at wrong point in my life (like Neverending Story)  
 Silver Pigs (Davis) 3  Lent by Eric.  Interesting but did not resonate.   
 Strong Poison (Sayers)  4  I have a separate post rating the Lord Peter series.  
 Three Men in a Boat (Jerome) 3-  Read this in college based on an excerpt from Oxford Book of Humorous Prose.  Somehow just did not catch the glamour of their expedition.   
 The Great Brain (Fitzgerald)  3-  Lent earlier by Joshua.  Made me question whether to actually become a parent.  
 Gilded Fly (Crispin) 2+ Had already read based on a Wodehouse society recommendation.  I need to create a posting of the Gervase Fen stories I’ve read so I can keep track of them.  Borrowed Joshua’s copy so I can refresh my memory (I only own some). (returned)
 Hot Rock (Westlake) 4  Turns out I actually borrowed this one from Joshua in the past.  Still enjoyed it the second time around. (borrowed)
 Ethan of Athos (Bujold)    I loved Curse of Chalion and bought my own autographed copy, but haven’t been brave enough to try any of her other titles. (borrowed)
Pictures of Perfection (Hill)  4 An enjoyable read.  Feel like I’ve read this before but can’t remember any of it except the first chapter. (borrowed)
 Nightmare in Pink (MacDonald)  1 Wish I could unread it.  Too explicit and too disturbing. (borrowed)
 Undead and Unwed (Davidson)  1+ A charismatic main character, but too explicit for me. (borrowed)
 Marvelous Misadventures (Alexander)  3 Like Howl’s Moving Castle — Enjoyable, but probably discovered at the wrong point in my life. (returned)
 Three Cheers for me (Jack)  3 An enjoyable read.  Feel like I’ve read an extract of this somewhere else.  (returned)
       
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Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Posted by debbie under Uncategorized
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

I couldn’t resist and bought this book at the airport for a recent trip. It was a silly, light read, in some ways more satisfying than the original. I enjoyed it, but honestly I felt it could have used more zombies.

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Cool & Lam

Posted by debbie under Ratings

After I ran out of Perry Mason books by Erle Stanley Gardner (there are still more but I have not found them in used bookstores yet), I started in on his Cool & Lam stories, written under the pseudonym A. A. Fair.  The premise didn’t sound as good to me — partnership of a skinny little male detective and a big profane female detective – but I figured Gardner was a decent writer so why not give them a try.  After the first book or two they started getting solid 5s from me, so now I am on the lookout for more.  These seem more important to read in chronological order due to mild spoilers referencing past material.

Following is a list of books.  The rated ones are the ones I’ve read.

    Own?
The Bigger They Come (1939)    
Turn on the Heat (1940) 3  
Gold Comes in Bricks (1940)  5  
Spill the Jackpot (1941) 4  
Double or Quits (1941) 4  
Owls Don’t Blink (1942)    
Bats Fly at Dusk (1942)    
Cats Prowl at Night (1943)    
Give ‘em the Ax (1944)    
Crows Can’t Count (1946) 5  
Fools Die on Friday (1947)    
Bedrooms Have Windows (1949)    
Top of the Heap (1952)    
Some Women Won’t Wait (1953) 5  
Beware the Curves (1956)    
You can Die Laughing (1957)    
Some Slips Don’t Show (1957)    
The Count of Nine (1958) 5  
Pass the Gravy (1959)    
Kept Women Can’t Quit (1960)    
Bachelors Get Lonely (1961)    
Shills Can’t Cash Chips (1961) 5  
Try Anything Once (1962)    
Fish or Cut Bait (1963)    
Up for Grabs (1964)    
Cut Thin to Win (1965) 3  
Widows Wear Weeds (1966) 3  
Traps Need Fresh Bait (1967) 5  
All Grass isn’t Green (1970)    
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Lord Peter stories by Dorothy Sayers

Posted by debbie under Ratings, Uncategorized

This list has the Lord Peter stories in order, with my ratings.  This list is just because I have a tendency to forget which ones I liked best.  5 is the most satisfying with 1 being I wish I hadn’t read it.

1923 Whose Body? 4
1926 Clouds of Witness 5
1927 Unnatural Death 4
1928 The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club 4
1931 Strong Poison 4
1931 The Five Red Herrings 5
1932 Have His Carcase 4
1933 Murder Must Advertise 4
1934 The Nine Tailors 4
1935 Gaudy Night 3-
1937 Busman’s Honeymoon 4
1972 Lord Peter (short stories) 1-5
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Perry Mason stories by Erle Stanley Gardner

Posted by debbie under Ratings, Uncategorized

While on leave I read (and reread) quite a few Perry Mason stories by Erle Stanley Gardner.  I did this during my last leave two years ago as well, and kept a list of how satisfying I found each, on a scale of 1 to 5.  Here is the list.  No number means I haven’t read it yet.  5 means I found it very satisfying with a good twist; 1 means it was a tedious read.

    Own?
1933 The Case of the Velvet Claws  5  
1933 The Case of the Sulky Girl  3  
1934 The Case of the Lucky Legs    
1934 The Case of the Howling Dog    
1934 The Case of the Curious Bride  4  
1935 The Case of the Counterfeit Eye  4  
1935 The Case of the Caretaker’s Cat    
1936 The Case of the Sleepwalker’s Niece  3  
1936 The Case of the Stuttering Bishop    
1937 The Case of the Dangerous Dowager  2  
1937 The Case of the Lame Canary    
1938 The Case of the Substitute Face    
1938 The Case of the Shoplifter’s Shoe    
1939 The Case of the Perjured Parrot  5  
1939 The Case of the Rolling Bones  2  
1940 The Case of the Baited Hook    
1940 The Case of the Silent Partner  2  
1941 The Case of the Haunted Husband    
1941 The Case of the Turning Tide    
1941 The Case of the Empty Tin  4  
1942 The Case of the Drowning Duck    
1942 The Case of the Careless Kitten  4  
1943 The Case of the Buried Clock  3  
1943 The Case of the Drowsy Mosquito  1  
1944 The Case of the Crooked Candle  2  
1944 The Case of the Black-Eyed Blonde    
1945 The Case of the Golddigger’s Purse  3  
1945 The Case of the Half-Wakened Wife  4  
1946 The Case of the Borrowed Brunette  3  
1947 The Case of the Fan-Dancer’s Horse    
1947 The Case of the Lazy Lover  3  
1948 The Case of the Lonely Heiress  4  
1948 The Case of the Vagabond Virgin  5  
1949 The Case of the Dubious Bridegroom  3  
1949 The Case of the Cautious Coquette  4  
1950 The Case of the Negligent Nymph  4  
1950 The Case of the One-Eyed Witness  5  Y
1951 The Case of the Fiery Fingers  4  
1951 The Case of the Angry Mourner    
1952 The Case of the Moth-Eaten Mink  2  
1952 The Case of the Grinning Gorilla    
1953 The Case of the Hesitant Hostess  3  
1954 The Case of the Fugitive Nurse    
1954 The Case of the Runaway Corpse  5  
1954 The Case of the Restless Redhead    
1955 The Case of the Glamorous Ghost  5  
1955 The Case of the Sun Bather’s Diary  4  
1955 The Case of the Nervous Accomplice    
1956 The Case of the Terrified Typist  5  
1956 The Case of the Demure Defendant  4  
1956 The Case of the Gilded Lily  2  
1957 The Case of the Lucky Loser  2  
1957 The Case of the Screaming Woman  4  
1957 The Case of the Daring Decoy  3  
1958 The Case of the Long Legged Models  3  
1958 The Case of the Foot-Loose Doll  5  
1958 The Case of the Calendar Girl  4  
1959 The Case of the Deadly Toy  4  
1959 The Case of the Mythical Monkeys  4  
1959 The Case of the Singing Skirt  2  
1960 The Case of the Waylaid Wolf  2  
1960 The Case of the Duplicate Daughter    
1960 The Case of the Shapely Shadow  3  
1961 The Case of the Spurious Spinster    
1961 The Case of the Bigamous Spouse  5  
1962 The Case of the Reluctant Model    
1962 The Case of the Blonde Bonanza  3  
1962 The Case of the Ice-Cold Hands    
1963 The Case of the Mischievous Doll  3  
1963 The Case of the Stepdaughter’s Secret  3  
1963 The Case of the Amorous Aunt  5  
1964 The Case of the Daring Divorcee    
1964 The Case of the Phantom Fortune    
1964 The Case of the Horrified Heirs  3  
1965 The Case of the Troubled Trustee  2  
1965 The Case of the Beautiful Beggar  3  
1966 The Case of the Worried Waitress  5  
1967 The Case of the Queenly Contestant  2  
1968 The Case of the Careless Cupid  4  
1969 The Case of the Fabulous Fake  3  
1972 The Case of the Fenced-In Woman  4  
1973 The Case of the Postponed Murder    
1947 Novelette: The Case of the Crying Swallow  3  
1948 Novelette: The Case of the Crimson Kiss  4  
1953 Short Stories: The Case of the Irate Witness  2-4  Y
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Collaborative Fiction

Posted by joshua under Uncategorized

protagonize: interactive fiction & collaborative story writing community 

Welcome to Protagonize: your destiny awaits.

Protagonize is a creative writing community dedicated to the (nearly) lost art of the\naddventure, a type of collaborative\ninteractive fiction. One author writes a story, and others post branches to it in different directions. The result is\nan organic, evolving story where everyone can participate

via EFL Geek

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