Books read in 2021

[rolanni]

22  The Secret Language, Ursula Nordstrom (re-re-re-oh-hell-who-can-count) *This was my Very Most Favorite Ever Book when I was eight.  Coincidentally, it came out in 1960, which was the year I turned eight, so I was its target audience.  Ghod, I loved this book.  I remember it being longer, and more detailed.  I was there to help clean up the failed midnight feast.  I spent hours in the Hut.  The Secret Language was a rich, deep, and colorful tongue, rather than four or five unrelated words. Rereading last night, I was surprised at how short it is, how sparse the descriptions, how little time we actually spend building and occupying the Hut, and yet, clearly it did the job, at least for me, at eight.  I note that the author, Ursula Nordstrom, was Children's Editor at Harper's from 1940 through 1973.  I have Dear Genius, her collected letters, and I'm reading that next.

23  Fugitive Telemetry, Martha Wells (Murderbot Diaries #6) (e)
22  The Rose Cottage, Mary Stewart (e)
21  The Girl in the Green Silk Gown, Seanan McGuire (Ghost Roads #2) (e)
20  What the Devil Knows, C.S. Harris (Sebastian St. Cyr #16)
19  Last Guard, Nalini Singh (Psy-Changeling/Trinity #21) (pre-pub copy provided by the author; read aloud with Steve)
18  Tipping the Velvet, Sarah Waters (e)
17  The Consorts, Melissa Addey (e)
16  Brightfall, Jamie Lee Moyer (e)
15  Spider Woman's Daughter, Anne Hillerman (e)
14  Wild Sign, Patricia Briggs (Alpha & Omega #6) (e)
13  Marian Halcombe, Brenda W. Clough (The Thrilling Adventures of the Most Dangerous Woman in Europe #1) (e)
12  The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics, Olivia Waite (read aloud w/Steve)
11  An Easy Death, Charlaine Harris (Gunnie Rose #1) (e)
10  Paladin's Strength, T. Kingfisher (Saint of Steel #2) (e)
9   Strange Bedpersons, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud w/Steve)
8   The Sugared Game, KJ Charles (Will Darling #2) (e)
7   The Rules of Magic, Alice Hoffman (Practical Magic #2)
6   Smoke Bitten, Patricia Briggs (Mercy Thompson #12) (e)
5   Bonds of Justice, Nalini Singh (Psy-Changeling #8) (read aloud w/Steve)
4   Hostage to Pleasure, Nalini Singh (Psy-Changeling #5) (read aloud w/Steve)
3   Anyone but You, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud w/Steve)
2   Mine to Possess, Nalini Singh (Psy-Changeling #4) (read aloud w/Steve)
1   The Duke and I, Julia Quinn (Bridgerton #1) (e)

NOTE:  I've started to list the series, if any, a particular title is part of, as well as its place in series, if known.