Although I write a monthly writing post, I rarely manage to include any banners I have earned at the time.  Last month I earned three, and, since it seems a shame not to credit the creators, here they are:

Firstly, melagan ran a Dust Off Your Plot Bunny challenge.  This was the perfect opportunity to write a follow up to Hilary Term 1920 and to take another look at life after WWI: Summer at Bag End   Both are Hobbit (Jackson movies) AUs





Then allbingo ran the Winterfest in July challenge.  For the last few years I've been writing another instalment in my Spooks AU Love in All Seasons series and this year's A Slightly Different Christmas was the next.  Delightful banner by kiramaru7 






And lastly there was whatif_au Bingo  All nine squares are in the series WhatIf AU 2025 bingo  Banner made by brumeier who runs the community and helps provide me with ideas.

Reflection: I completed 5 of the 7 challenges, as the last two didn't appeal.  What I did I enjoyed and can be found via my sunshine challenge tag.

I liked the variety of challenges, so it was probably inevitable that not all were for me - I don't game in any form, and rarely look back, having no wish to repeat things I've written elsewhere.  And 5 out of 7 is a good level of participation for me - last snowflake challenge I had 4 out of 15.

I don't go out actively seeking friends, but if you like my journal feel free to friend me and I may well follow you back.

I will definitely be back next year.

6 books this month, bringing my total for the year to 44, so on target.

Silence by Shusako Endo
Read for my (zoom) book club. It's the story of a Jesuit priest who goes to Japan in the seventeenth century. While the priest initially comes over as arrogant and ready to die for his faith, since Christianity is outlawed with severe penalties for those who disobey, the story deepens and because thought-provoking as it continues. Outside my usual range of reading, but I'm glad I did read it.

Arthur and Teddy are Coming Out by Ryan Love
The story of a grandfather, who comes out just before his 80th birthday and his grandson who struggles to make the same decision. I liked Arthur, and while the story piled on too many twists and turns, I was always rooting for him. I became tired of the grandson and didn't like the way his story ended.

Tour de Force by Christianna Brand
Runner up for the Shedunnit 'set in a holiday resort' read. I tried the winner, read three chapters, the end, and took it back to the library. I did finish this book, as I've never read any Christianna Brand, but wasn't impressed - I guessed 'whodunnit' about two-thirds of the way through. And I didn't like her detective, who she seemed to be making unlikely - why do that?

Interesting Times by Terry Pratchett
Quite fun, but lacks my favourite characters so not up with my top ten.

Karolina, or the Torn Curtain by Maryla Szymiczkowa
Set in Cracow in 1895 this is an entertaining read, with a good mystery. The amateur detective is the wife of a university doctor, who has plenty of personality and determination. It's a great look at Cracow society at the time, and some of the issues there were. This is the second book in the series, but sadly the later ones haven't been translated from Polish.

The Weirdstone of Brisingamen by Alan Garner
Recommended some while ago by badly_knitted this is aimed at older children, with two children as the main protagonists. I rarely read fantasy, but the story was enjoyable and didn't read like a 'kid's book'. I suspect if it had been written purely for adults the timing of the last few chapters would have changed, but it remained entirely believable in its universe.


And so I've finished my Book Bingo for this year. I used my two substitutions, but only the central Free square. The full list can be found here
( bingo card )