MarkoPDX

Books

I love books, and when I'm in the right headspace, I love to read. I have to be honest, though. There are times where I'm an insatiable reader, but I also go through dry spots where I don't read for months. I just don't have the ability to focus on what I'm reading. The culprit — depression. It happens.

A brief history according to the all-knowing ChatGPT:

In the Beginning: The Origins of Books

The history of books dates back to ancient civilizations where written language first emerged. Initially, texts were inscribed on stone tablets and clay tablets in cultures like Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt. However, the transition to more portable and convenient forms of recording information led to the creation of scrolls in ancient Greece and Rome. These scrolls, made of papyrus or parchment, were rolled up for storage and transportation. The evolution of bookbinding techniques and the codex format, a precursor to the modern book, emerged around the 1st century AD. This shift laid the foundation for a more organized and accessible way of preserving and disseminating knowledge.

Medieval Manuscripts: The Age of Illumination

During the medieval period, books became a symbol of knowledge and wealth. Monasteries played a crucial role in preserving texts, with monks meticulously copying manuscripts by hand. The illuminated manuscript, adorned with intricate illustrations and decorative elements, emerged as a distinctive art form. The painstaking process of creating these manuscripts showcased the dedication to both content and aesthetics. The Gutenberg press revolutionized book production in the 15th century, marking the transition from manuscript culture to printed books. Johannes Gutenberg's invention significantly increased the accessibility of literature, making books more widely available to the public.

From Print to Digital: The Modern Era of Books

The 20th century witnessed further transformations in the world of books. The paperback format made literature even more accessible, and the rise of bookstores and libraries contributed to a flourishing reading culture. In recent decades, the digital revolution has reshaped the landscape of books with the advent of e-books and audiobooks. The internet has become a vast repository of information, fostering online communities of readers and writers. Despite these technological advancements, the allure of physical books endures, and the history of books continues to evolve as new technologies redefine how we create, distribute, and consume literature.

Book Series

This seems overwhelming when I put it in print, but I have a lot of books series I want to complete. Here are the series, and the status of my progress:

Aubrey/Maturin Series
Author: Patrick O'Brian

  • Master and Commander (1969)
  • Post Captain (1972)
  • H.M.S. Surprise (1973)
  • The Mauritius Command (1977)
  • Desolation Island (1977)
  • The Fortune of War (1978)
  • The Surgeon's Mate (1980)
  • The Ionian Mission (1981)
  • Treason's Harbour (1983)
  • The Far Side of the World (1984)
  • The Reverse of the Medal (1986)
  • The Letter of Marque (1988)
  • The Thirteen Gun Salute (1989)
  • The Nutmeg of Consolation (1991)
  • The Truelove / Clarissa Oakes (1992)
  • The Wine Dark Sea (1993)
  • The Commodore (1994)
  • The Yellow Admiral (1996)
  • The Hundred Days (1998)
  • Blue at the Mizzen (1999)
  • 21: The Final Unfinished Voyage of Jack Aubrey (2004)

Bruno, Chief of Police
Author: Martin Walker

  • Bruno, Chief of Police (2008)
  • The Dark Vineyard (2009)
  • Black Diamond (2010)
  • The Crowded Grave (2011)
  • The Devil's Cave (2012)
  • Bruno and the Carol Singers (2012)
  • The Resistance Man (2013)
  • The Children Return (2014)
  • A Market Tale (2014)
  • The Patriarch (2015)
  • Fatal Pursuit (2016)
  • The Templars' Last Secret (2017)
  • A Taste for Vengeance (2018)
  • The Chocolate War (2018)
  • The Body in the Castle Well (2019)
  • A Birthday Lunch (2019)
  • Oystercatcher (2020)
  • The Shooting at Chateau Rock (2020)
  • The Coldest Case (2021)
  • Bruno's Challenge and Other Stories of the French Countryside (2022)
  • To Kill a Troubadour (2022)
  • A Chateau Under Siege (2023)

Commissario Brunetti
Author: Donna Leon

  • Death at La Fenice (1992)
  • Death in a Strange Country (1993)
  • Dressed for Death (1994)
  • Death and Judgment (1995)
  • Acqua Alta (1996)
  • The Death of Faith / Quietly in Their Sleep (1997)
  • A Noble Radiance (1998)
  • Fatal Remedies (1999)
  • Friends in High Places (2000)
  • A Sea of Troubles (2001)
  • Wilful Behaviour (2002)
  • Uniform Justice (2003)
  • Doctored Evidence (2004)
  • Blood from a Stone (2005)
  • Through a Glass, Darkly (2006)
  • Suffer the Little Children (2007)
  • The Girl of His Dreams (2008)
  • About Face (2009)
  • A Question of Belief (2010)
  • Drawing Conclusions (2011)
  • Beastly Things (2012)
  • The Golden Egg (2013)
  • By its Cover (2014)
  • Falling in Love (2015)
  • The Waters of Eternal Youth (2016)
  • Earthly Remains (2017)
  • The Temptation of Forgiveness (2018)
  • Unto Us a Son Is Given (2019)
  • Trace Elements (2020)
  • Transient Desires (2021)
  • Give Unto Others (2022)
  • So Shall You Reap (2023)

County Kerry Mysteries
Author: Carlene O'Connor

  • No Strangers Here (2022)
  • Some of Us Are Looking (2023)

Gabriel Allon
Author: Daniel Silva

  • The Kill Artist (2001)
  • The English Assassin (2002)
  • The Confessor (2002)
  • A Death in Vienna (2003)
  • Prince of Fire (2005)
  • The Messenger (2006)
  • The Secret Servant (2007)
  • Moscow Rules (2008)
  • The Defector (2009)
  • The Rembrandt Affair (2010)
  • Portrait of a Spy (2011)
  • The Fallen Angel (2012)
  • The English Girl (2013)
  • The Heist (2014)
  • The English Spy (2015)
  • The Black Widow (2016)
  • House of Spies (2017)
  • The Other Woman (2018)
  • The New Girl (2019)
  • The Order (2020)
  • The Cellist (2021)
  • Portrait of an Unknown Woman (2022)
  • The Collector (2023)

Gaslight Mysteries
Author: Victoria Thompson

  • Murder on Astor Place (1999)
  • Murder on St. Mark's Place (2000)
  • Murder on Gramercy Park (2001)
  • Murder on Washington Square (2002)
  • Murder on Mulberry Bend (2003)
  • Murder on Marble Row (2004)
  • Murder on Lenox Hill (2005)
  • Murder in Little Italy (2006)
  • Murder in Chinatown (2007)
  • Murder on Bank Street (2008)
  • Murder on Waverly Place (2009)
  • Murder on Lexington Avenue (2010)
  • Murder on Sisters' Row (2011)
  • Murder on Fifth Avenue (2012)
  • Murder in Chelsea (2013)
  • Murder in Murray Hill (2014)
  • Murder on Amsterdam Avenue (2015)
  • Murder on St. Nicholas Avenue (2015)
  • Murder in Morningside Heights (2016)
  • Murder in the Bowery (2017)
  • Murder on Union Square (2018)
  • Murder on Trinity Place (2019)
  • Murder on Pleasant Avenue (2020)
  • Murder on Wall Street (2021)
  • Murder on Madison Square (2022)
  • Murder on Bedford Street (2023)

Home to Ireland
Author: Carlene O'Connor

  • Murder in Galway (2020)
  • Murder in Connemara (2022)
  • Irish Milkshake Murder (2023)

Irish Village Mysteries
Author: Carlene O'Connor

  • Murder in an Irish Village (2016)
  • Murder at an Irish Wedding (2017)
  • Murder in an Irish Churchyard (2018)
  • Murder in an Irish Pub (2019)
  • Murder in an Irish Cottage (2020)
  • Murder at an Irish Christmas (2020)
  • Murder in an Irish Bookshop (2021)
  • Murder on an Irish Farm (2022)
  • Murder at an Irish Bakery (2023)
  • Murder at an Irish Chipper (2024)

Leaphorn & Chee
Author: Tony Hillerman; Anne Hillerman

  • The Blessing Way (1970)
  • Dance Hall of the Dead (1973)
  • Listening Woman (1978)
  • People of Darkness (1980)
  • The Dark Wind (1982)
  • The Ghostway (1984)
  • Skinwalkers (1986)
  • A Thief of Time (1988)
  • Talking God (1989)
  • Coyote Waits (1990)
  • Sacred Clowns (1992)
  • The Fallen Man (1996)
  • The First Eagle (1998)
  • Hunting Badger (1999)
  • The Wailing Wind (2002)
  • The Sinister Pig (2003)
  • Skeleton Man (2004)
  • The Shape Shifter (2006)
  • Spider Woman's Daughter (2013)
  • Rock with Wings (2015)
  • Song of the Lion (2017)
  • Cave of Bones (2018)
  • The Tale Teller (2019)
  • Stargazer (2021)
  • The Sacred Bridge (2022)
  • The Way of the Bear (2023)
  • Lost Birds (2024)

Shetland Island
Author: Ann Cleeves

  • Raven Black (2006)
  • White Nights (2008)
  • Red Bones (2009)
  • Blue Lightning (2010)
  • Dead Water (2013)
  • Thin Air (2014)
  • Too Good To Be True (2016) [Short Story]
  • Cold Earth (2016)
  • Wild Fire (2018)