Kristel's 2024 Reading Journal, 2nd Quarter

2nd Quarter of 2024 Reading: I am reading or trying to participate in the following:
Reading 1001 Books (all editions)
Reading Booker Winners
Reading Pulitzer
NPR SFF
NPR Horror

I am in 2 bookclubs.

I participate in Bookspin, Doublespin, Bookspin Bingo on Litsy.

My Tickers:
2024 75 books read


1001 books. It's probably not accurate but close enough.

April Plans:
British Author Challenge
An Old Man's Love
The Warden
Jane and Prudence READ
A Glass of Blessings
Less Than Angels
No Fond Returns
Some Tame Gazelle
American Author Challenge
Nonfiction: Emma's War
1001 Books
Under the Net - Iris Murdoch; READING
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall - Bronte READ
The Book Of Illusions - Auster READ
War Room
Exodus - Leon Uris
The Holy War - John Bunyan READ
Emma's War - Deborah Scroggins READ
Booker
Offshore - Penelope Fitzgerald READ
Bookclub and others
Lessons In Chemistry - Bonnie Garmus make-up; COMPLETED
Weyward - Emilia Hart, WCBC - READ
Open Heart - Elie Wiesel, Jewish book Club
The Wishing Game - LHBC
The Family Chao - for TIOLI, shared read

May Plans:
British Author Challenge
The Wonderland Collection

American Author Challenge

1001 Books
All Souls’ Day - Cees Nooteboom
Well of Loneliness - Radcliffe Hall

War Room

Booker/Pulitzer
The Netanyahus - Joshua Cohen

Bookclubs/Others
North Woods COMPLETED

June Plans:

British Author Challenge
Kiran Millwood Hargrave
D.H.Lawrence

American Author Challenge
Queer Authors

1001 Books (LeFanu - Macdonald
Mason & Dixon
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
The Diaries of Jane Somers

War Room
English Civil War

Booker/Pulitzer

Bookclubs/Others
West with Giraffes

Happy new thread, dear Kristel.

>5 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul!

Happy new thread!

>7 figsfromthistle:, Thank you Anita!

April TIOLI possibility
1. Holy War - John Bunyan. COMPLETED
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

7.
8. The Family Chao
9. Lessons in Chemistry - COMPLETED
10. Read a book whose title includes one, and only one, adjective
11. The Wishing Game - Meg Shaffer
12: Read a book with something suggesting music on the cover

13. Read a book with 150 pages or less Open Heart
14. April Fooler: Read a book with magical realism, fantasy, alternate history or humor as a tag Weyward. COMPLETED
15. Challenge #15: Read a book you've owned for more than 10 years or that's been on your TBR list for more than 10 years

April 1st. April Fools Day, second quarter, spring.

Strands #29
“What’s so funny?”
🔵🔵🔵🔵
🔵🟡🔵🔵

Wordle 1,017 3/6

⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟨🟩🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

What’s up with connections????and word scapes, and Squardle. OH, It’s April Fools!!!!!!

I played https://squaredle.com 04/01:
*19/19 words (+6 bonus words)
📖 In the top 13% by bonus words
🔥 Solve streak: 6

Happy new thread! Great puzzling!

Karen O

Happy new thread, Kristel!

Happy New Thread, Kristel!

> 12, Thank you Karen.
> 13, Thank you, Anita.
> 14, Thank you Mark

Happy new one!

>16 drneutron:, thanks doc

Connections
Puzzle #295
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟪🟩🟪
🟪🟦🟩🟪
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟩🟩🟩🟩

Happy New Thread, Kristel! Happy reading ahead.

>19 vancouverdeb:, thanks Deborah!

Puzzles for Tuesday

Connections
Puzzle #296
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟨🟨🟨
🟪🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟪🟪🟦
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟨🟨🟨🟨

Wordle 1,018 3/6

⬜⬜⬜🟨🟨
🟩⬜⬜🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Antiwordle #786
8 guesses

🟥⬛⬛⬛⬛
🟥🟥⬛⬛⬛
🟥🟥⬛🟨⬛
🟥🟥🟥⬛🟨
🟥🟥🟥⬛🟨
🟥🟥🟥⬛🟨
🟥🟥🟥🟥⬛
🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥

Strands #30
“Rolling in the aisles”
💡🔵🔵🔵
💡🔵🟡💡
🔵🔵

Still working on squaredle

I played https://squaredle.com 04/02:
32/32 words (+25 bonus words)
📖 In the top 1% by bonus words
🔥 Solve streak: 7

Wednesday, weather is predicted be very windy and a chance for rain. A cloudier day too.

Currently reading Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. 78% done. Will hopefully finish this today.

Strands #31
“Play time!”
💡🔵💡🔵
🟡🔵🔵🔵
🔵

Wordle 1,019 3/6

🟨⬜🟨⬜⬜
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Connections
Puzzle #297
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟪🟦🟩
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟪🟪🟪

Lessons In Chemistry - COMPLETED ok
Currently reading Under the Net 16%
Weyward 12%
Melancholy of Resistance temporarily on hold. 34%

33.
Book Lessons in Chemistry - Bonnie Garmus
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 2022
Acquisition date/place: 3/2024, Libby
Decimal/ Star rating: 3 stars
Book description/summary: a women's life in the 50/60s.
Challenge(s): bookclub read (previous)
Author: US
List book: no
Genre fiction
Liked: I liked some aspects and
Disliked sine aspects.
All ends that ends well!

I played https://squaredle.com 04/03:
*34/34 words (+15 bonus words)
📖 In the top 1% by bonus words
🔥 Solve streak: 8

Thursday. Was so windy yesterday. Got some rain after dark so day was not a rain out but the wind was a challenge. I finished a book and started Weyward yesterday. I am at 44%.

Also reading Under the Net, 1001 botm. I like Murdoch’s writing. I think this one is her debut novel.

Strands #32
“Consumerism”
🔵🔵🔵🔵
🟡🔵🔵🔵

Connections
Puzzle #298
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟪🟪🟪

Finally some easier ones.

Wordle 1,020 5/6

⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟨🟨⬜⬜
🟩⬜🟩🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Sweet Thursday, Kristel. I enjoyed Lessons in Chemistry. The TV series was a terrific adaptation too.

>30 msf59:, Thanks for stopping by Mark. I think the book was just about written to be a TV series. I enjoyed listening to the author explain how she came to write the book. Very interesting.

I played https://squaredle.com 04/04:
*35/35 words (+7 bonus words)
📖 In the top 29% by bonus words
🔥 Solve streak: 9

>29 Kristelh: >32 Kristelh: Great puzzling! I ended up having to use a clue on Strands, myself. Still fun.

Happy Thursday to you!

Karen O

>33 klobrien2:, Thanks Karen. I owe it to you that I am now doing Strands and Squaredle.

34.
Book Weyward - Emilia Hart
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 2023
Acquisition date/place: March 2024, Libby
Decimal/ Star rating: 4 stars
Book description/summary: feminism as told by witches
Challenge(s): bookclub read
Author: British/Australia
List book: no
Genre fantasy
Liked: it was entertaining/engaging
Disliked: just a warning, looks at issues of misogyny, abortion

>34 Kristelh: Reneemarie got me hooked on Squaredle. That game drives me crazy! It just doesn’t seem possible that all those words can come out of such a little grid! Yet, there they are. So I half-apologize for getting you involved with that one. 😁

Strands is a treat, though, isn’t it?! That one is pretty elegant; you have to be willing to look for the hidden meaning of the theme, and stay flexible with it.

Karen O

>35 Kristelh: I will have to see if my local library has a copy of that one. Thanks for the recommendation, Kristel.

Happy new thread! Have a fantastic Friday!

Connections
Puzzle #299
🟩🟨🟪🟨
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟦🟩🟦
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟩🟩🟩🟩

Wordle 1,021 3/6

⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜
🟨⬜⬜🟨🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

>37 alcottacre:, Thanks Stasia, hope you had a great Friday an a good weekend.

Strands #33
“Am I blushing?”
🔵🔵🔵🔵
🟡💡🔵

>36 klobrien2: That game drives me crazy, too. But I'm okay with that. Most days.

I really like the games Karen and Renee. I find words to be fascinating. I like that they new every day. I like squadle because you can poke around off and on and it generally last the whole day

>42 Kristelh: Have you tried the special puzzles yet? Some of them have 700+ words to find.

You seem to be really good with the bonus words. I stop looking once I find all the official ones with points.

>43 ReneeMarie:, No I haven’t Renee. I accidentally find the bonus words and I also stop after I get all the official ones. I can’t imagine 700 words. How much time do you get? 24 hours like the other puzzles? I also know a lot of weird words from playing words with friends.

Strands #34
“Picture this”
🔵🔵🔵🟡
🔵🔵🔵🔵

>44 Kristelh: You can keep going as long as you need, at least until you clear your cache/browsing history.

Sunday morning. I got back from my visit to Winter Haven to see my girlfriend. It was a good time of talking and enjoying her new place.

I am currently reading The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë. I am enjoying it.
Also reading Under the Net and enjoying that too.

This will be my last week in Florida. Heading home next Sunday/Monday. It’s been a great season.

Strands #35
“This’ll all blow over”
💡🔵🟡🔵
🔵🔵🔵🔵

Connections
Puzzle #301
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟦🟪🟦
🟪🟪🟦🟦
🟦🟪🟦🟦
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟪🟪🟪

Wordle 1,023 3/6

🟨⬜🟩⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

>48 Kristelh: Good puzzling, Kristel! I used two hints before I got anywhere with Strands. Wordle in 5, for me.

Happy Sunday!

>48 Kristelh:, Thank you Karen.

Wow, squardle takes me all day

I played https://squaredle.com 04/07:
75/75 words (+34 bonus words)
📖 In the top 3% by bonus words
🔥 Solve streak: 2

The fastest ever for me. I played https://squaredle.com 04/08:
*31/31 words (+10 bonus words)
📖 In the top 16% by bonus words
🔥 Solve streak: 3

Strands #36
“It goes by fast”
💡🔵🔵🔵
🔵🔵🔵🔵
🟡

Not a hard one though it took me to the end to get the Spangram.

Today is Monday. I am waiting for the HVAC people to install the new AC. A spenditure I was not anticipating. I am doing the laundry also. I will have to do laundry one more time. I also will have to run to the store so putting a shopping list together. Unfortunately I will have to do that again as well. I think I am going to miss pool exercises and hand and foot. Hopefully I will get to go to pickleball and maybe trivia.

>53 Kristelh: Sorry to hear about the HVAC problems. I understand - we replaced ours several years ago.

Have a marvelous Monday despite the circumstances!

>54 alcottacre:, Thank you Stasia. I look on the bright side. At least I am here yet and not in Minnesota trying to take care of a problem.

35.
Book The Tenant of Wildfell Hall - Anne Brontë
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 1848
Acquisition date/place: 2017, Audible
Decimal/ Star rating: 4 to 5 stars
Book description/summary: Alcoholism/abusive/romance, strong woman
Challenge(s): TBR takedown, reading 1001
Author: British
List book: 1001 books
Genre fiction, classic
Liked: I liked the female character
Disliked: I disliked most of the male characters but that was the point!

>56 Kristelh: My first Strands word today was the Spangram. The shape of Squaredle made me a little cranky about it.

Having read Anne & Charlotte and based solely on their writing, I feel like I would like Anne better as a person. Based on what I've heard about Wuthering Heights, which makes me not want to read it, I don't think I'd want to know Emily. Someday I'll have to look for biographies and see whether enough is known about them to prove or disprove my theory.

>57 ReneeMarie:, Renee, I think you would like Anne's writing. I think Anne and Charlotte may be more literary but Anne's writing was just plain decent.

>58 Kristelh: Yes, I've read Anne. Her writing is what makes me feel as though I'd like Anne, the person.

>59 ReneeMarie:, I see. Yes, I agree with you!

Tuesday
It’s count down time. Six to seven days before departure.
I am currently reading Jane and Prudence by Barbara Pam. I also am reading Under the Net by Iris Murdoch. This one is so well written. Sentences you just have to savor.
Next up maybe;
Holy War by Paul Bunyan
Offshore - Penelope Fitgerald
The Book Of Illusions - Paul Auster.

Puzzles
Connections
Puzzle #303
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟪🟪🟪🟪

Wordle 1,025 5/6

⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜
⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜
⬜🟩🟩⬜⬜
⬜🟩🟩⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

And I am sad to say I did struggle with Strands today.
Strands #37
“Can I have my quarter back?”
💡🔵💡🔵
💡🔵🟡🔵
💡🔵🔵

Squardle
I played https://squaredle.com 04/09:
*25/25 words (+8 bonus words)
📖 In the top 4% by bonus words
🔥 Solve streak: 4

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 04/10:
*24/24 words (+5 bonus words)
📖 In the top 9% by bonus words

Easier today

Strands #38
“In closing”
💡🔵🔵💡
🔵🔵💡🔵
💡🔵🟡Used a lot of hints today.

Wordle 1,026 5/6

⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟩🟨🟨
🟨🟩🟩⬜⬜
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Connections
Puzzle #304
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟦🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟦🟦🟦
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟪🟪🟪

Finished Jane and Prudence Started Holy War. This is an allegory and it isn’t as good as Pilgrim’s Progress.

Played pickle ball this morning. Did a shopping trip. Invited out fo supper.

4 to 5 days before migration.

Sounds like a busy day, Kristel, but a nice one. Okay, I should probably know, but where are you going ?

>66 vancouverdeb:. I will return to my home in Minnesota, Deborah. I spend three + months in Florida but it’s time to head north.

Thursday. 3 more days before migration, maybe 4. It all depends on my flock. My daughter and granddaughter are coming down to aid in my return.

Currently reading; The Holy War (not liking it), Under the Net, liking this one.

Gaming results for today.

Connections
Puzzle #305
🟩🟩🟩🟦
🟨🟩🟩🟦
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟦🟩
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟦🟦🟦🟦

Strands #39
“It’s all in your head”
💡🔵🔵💡
🔵🟡🔵🔵

Wordle 1,027 5/6

⬜⬜⬜🟨🟨
🟨⬜🟨⬜⬜
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩, If I had followed the alpha rule I would have done 1 better.

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 04/11:
*25/25 words (+8 bonus words)
📖 In the top 1% by bonus words

Friday’s Agenda; wash clothes, finish cleaning house, pack most of my stuff.

Fun stuff: pool, pickleball, read, jigsaw puzzle (must finish), gaming.

Connections
Puzzle #306
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟩🟦🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟦🟦🟦

Wordle 1,028 3/6

⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜
⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Strands #40
“You can say that again!”
💡🔵🔵🔵
🔵💡🔵🔵
🟡🔵

>70 Kristelh: Ooh, nice puzzling today! You got purple first in connections?! Wow! Good job.

It’s supposed to be a stellar weekend in MN, weather-wise. In the seventies, and sunny. Hopefully, a sign for how the summer will be. Wishing you good travels!

Karen O

Just touching base to wish you a lovely weekend, Kristal.

>71 klobrien2:, Thank you Karen. Yes, the temps are improving in Minnesota though they won’t be so high when I arrive. My daughter and granddaughter are flying down today to drive back with me.
Yes! I was pleasantly surprised to get purple first.

>72 PaulCranswick:, Thanks Paul for stopping in!

Saturday gaming
Connections
Puzzle #307
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟦🟦🟦🟦

Wordle 1,029 5/6

⬜⬜⬜🟩⬜
🟩⬜⬜⬜🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩Alpha didn’t work today.

Currently reading The Holy War. I hope to finish today. On deck; The Book of Illusions and Offshore. I will be traveling soon and will not have consistent access to internet.

Today my daughter and granddaughter arrive. We will hopefully get to the beach before we leave sunny Florida.

Strands #41
“Group think”
🔵🔵🔵💡
🔵🟡🔵🔵
🔵

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 04/13:
*20/20 words (+5 bonus words)
📖 In the top 8% by bonus words

Arrived in Kentucky, A little more than 12 hours to home. Today was slow going. Lots of slowed traffic for various reasons.

Maybe will be home tomorrow.

Not much reading has happened. Left my book in Florida because it was hiding under the pillow. I ordered in from MN Link so hopefully I can get it finished before end of month. Tried to read Joseph and His brothers but I did not make any headway.

My gaming overall was bad today.

Connections
Puzzle #309
🟪🟪🟪🟦
🟩🟨🟩🟨
🟪🟪🟨🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟦🟦🟦🟦

Wordle 1,031 3/6

⬜⬜🟨🟨🟨
🟨🟨🟨⬜🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Strands #43
“This and that”
💡🔵🔵🔵
🔵💡🔵🟡
🔵🔵🔵

I’m travel weary so there won’t be much reading tonight.

36. The Holy War by John Bunyan.
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 1682
Acquisition date/place: April 2024
Decimal/ Star rating: 2 stars
Book description/summary: retelling of the Bible; battle of good and evil
Challenge(s): none
Author: England
List book: no
Genre Christian allegory
Liked:
Disliked: it is not engaging at all

Currently reading;
Under the Net by Iris Murdoch which I accidentally left in Florida (was hiding under my pillow. I ordered a copy from MN Link.

Also started; Book of Illusions by Paul Auster. About 40% done.

I am sadly very behind on my reading. Traveling does that.

Gaming for Wednesday
Connections
Puzzle #311
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟩🟩🟩🟩

Wordle 1,033 5/6

⬜⬜🟨🟨⬜
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨
⬜🟩🟨🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Strands #45
“The long run”
💡🔵💡🔵
💡🔵🟡🔵
🔵🔵🔵

37.
Book Jane and Prudence - Barbara Pym
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 1953
Acquisition date/place: Apr 2024, Hoopla Digital
Decimal/ Star rating: 3 stars
Book description/summary: two women, one a country preacher's wife, one an independent woman of London
Challenge(s): BAC
Author: British
List book: no
Genre comedy of manners
Liked: matchmaker and independent woman
Disliked: a bit boring, not much happens.

Thursday.
Todays plan; go to gym? Pick up tax papers. Finish The Book of Illusions.

Games:
Strands #46
“Sew what?”
🔵🔵🔵🔵
🔵🟡🔵🔵

Connections
Puzzle #312
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟪🟪🟪

Wordle 1,034 3/6

🟨⬜⬜🟩⬜
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Brain seems to be good today. I slept well.

38.
Book The Book Of Illusions - Paul Auster
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 2002
Acquisition date/place: April 2024, Hoopla
Decimal/ Star rating: 3 stars
Book description/summary: writers writing, women dying
Challenge(s): Special Event, Word of the month, Reading 1001
Author: US Author
List book: 1001 Books
Genre fiction
Liked: story of grief and isolation
Disliked: not Auster's best

>83 Kristelh: Great puzzling today! I did find with everything except Wordle, but managed to eke out a solve.

Are you back in MN?

Karen O

>85 klobrien2: Greetings Karen, Yes I am back in Minnesota. So cold!

Saturday.
Oops, I didn’t check in yesterday. I did go to the gym for exercise. I am sore today. I played pickle ball but the rest of the day I stayed indoors. So cold!!! Even snow in the air.

I finished Offshore by Penelope Fitzgerald. Booker winner I believe.

Tried to read a bit of Joseph and His Brothers.

Still waiting for Under the Net to arrive.

Connections
Puzzle #314
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟦🟩🟩
🟦🟪🟦🟪
🟩🟪🟦🟩
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟪🟪🟪

Wordle 1,036 4/6

⬜🟨🟨⬜🟨
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
🟨🟩⬜🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Strands #48
“Walk this way”
💡🔵🔵🔵
🔵💡🔵🟡
🔵🔵

Sunday morning. Looks like a much better day today. With sun, less win, and a bit warmer.

Started reading Emma’s War - Deborah Scroggins.
I finished and yet to post my brief review here of Offshore.

On tap for today; church and small groups. Reconnect with church family.

Strands #49
“That’s life!”
💡🔵🔵💡
🔵🔵🔵🔵
🟡🔵

Wordle 1,037 6/6

⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩These rhyming ones drive me crazy and alpha order did not help this time.

Connections is alluding me thus far.

Connections
Puzzle #315
🟪🟦🟩🟦
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Monday, Weather is a bit improved but not anywhere near Florida conditions. Leaves are popping. Graz will need mowing soon.

Gaming today:
Wordle 1,038 3/6

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Connections
Puzzle #316
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Strands #50
“Character class”
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🔵🔵

Currently reading:
Emma’s War - Deborah Scroggins, History of Sudan, religious, civil war

In progress
Joseph and His Brothers
The Melancholy of Resistance
Under the Net

Bible
I Chronicles Chapters 1 and 2. This year I am reading chronologically. I use the Berean Study Bible. Just finished II Samual which covered wars between Israel and the Philistines. The Philistines lived along the coast and were more advanced (Iron Age) than the Israel tribes. Time periods covered from the Judges, King Saul, King David.

>56 Kristelh: I disliked most of the male characters but that was the point! Yes, it was! I read that one after joining LT, but it has been at least 10 years since I did so. I really need to read it again.

Have a marvelous Monday!

>93 alcottacre:, Thank you, Stasia, the best to you, too.

39.

Book Offshore - Penelope Fitzgerald
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 1979
Acquisition date/place: 6/25/21
Decimal/ Star rating: 3 stars
Book description/summary: neither on land or water!
Challenge(s): reading Booker winners
Author: UK
List book: 1001 books
Genre fiction
Liked: it's a story of "emotional restlessness" of my characters, halfway between the need for security and the doubtful attraction of danger
Disliked: perhaps too short

I mentioned on my thread my favourite puzzle brands, Kristel. I do like Eeboo very much, and also Ravensburger, Heye, Jumbo and Trefl. I do other brands, but one my thread I mentioned what makes me cautious about some brands of puzzles. I think I have read The Book Shop by Penelope Fitzgerald, but I was lukewarm about it. Good for you reading Offshore. It's always good to read from the Booker Prize list .

>96 vancouverdeb:, Thanks Debora, I stopped back on your thread. Thanks for the list. I will be looking for some of those. I have a Ravensberger waiting for me when I get back to Florida next year.

Not sure that I will be drawn to read any more Penelope Fitzgerald but not completely put off by her writing, so maybe.

Happy Tuesday. Windy again and not as warm as yesterday but still an okay day.

Nothing on the agenda except a trip to the gym for some exercise and pickle ball.

My ILL of Under the Net finally arrived. Now to get that done before the end of the month.

Also reading Emma’s War which is nonfiction about Sudan. A lot of information packed into this one.

I finally got the annual read dented, 2%. Joseph and His Brothers. So far it is not an easy read. Hope it gets better. I usually like Thomas Mann and this topic is one I should enjoy.

Today’s Bible read did not include any war other than Psalms which might have pertained but only in a meditative way.

On to gaming, then off to the gym.

Gaming
Connections
Puzzle #317
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Wordle 1,039 6/6

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Alpha failed me.

Strands #51
“As easy as pie”
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I played https://squaredle.com 04/23:
*30/30 words (+10 bonus words)
📖 In the top 4% by bonus words
Play streak: 3

It's Wednesday and it's the 24th of April which means that I know which books are up for June.
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes - Audible (free)
The Diaries of Jane Somers - audible (credit)

So purchased those today.

Today looks like a lovely day with sunshine and less wind. Temperature about the same but with less wind it will feel better.

Currently reading
Under the Net and Emma's War

I played https://squaredle.com 04/24:
*33/33 words (+7 bonus words)
📖 In the top 6% by bonus words
🔥 Solve streak: 3

>98 Kristelh: On to gaming It is funny how we take things. To me, "gaming" means sitting down to a table for a board game - Kerry and I play at least one a day every day (today's game is Wingspan Asia, lol).

>101 Kristelh: I will be curious to see what you think of Emma's War when you are finished with it.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

>103 alcottacre:, Have you read it Stasia? Emma's War. My gaming is just myself as I live alone so it's unfortunately computer time. My family live close by but they've become to busy to play games. I do play pickleball with others but that is good for my brain in a different way.

Connections
Puzzle #318
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Wordle 1,040 3/6

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Strands #52
“This is a puzzle”
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🔵

Struggled with strands today.

>105 Kristelh: You’ve got some lovely puzzling results there today! Good job!

Karen O

>106 klobrien2:, Thank you Karen, thanks for stopping by.

Thursday. Windy again. Rain predicted for weekend. Out for lunch today. No gym.

Made progress in two of my books;
under the Net 45%
Emma’s War 90%, should finish today.

Connections
Puzzle #319
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More puzzling.
Wordle 1,041 3/6

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Strands #53
“That’s cap!”
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40.
Book Emma's War = Deborah Scroggins
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 2002
Acquisition date/place: April 2024, Libby
Decimal/ Star rating: 5 stars
Book description/summary: journalism about Sudan civil war
Challenge(s): read American author nonfiction
Author: American
List book: no
Genre nonfiction, journalism
Liked: I learned
Disliked: I thought is was very fairly done, I liked it and cannot come up with a dislike.

Friday; rainy and windy. Yesterday was very nice though in spite of the strong wind.

Currently reading
The Warden by Trollope
Under the Net by Murdoch

Saturday, cloudy, not raining but we got a lot of rain yesterday with some mild thunderstorms. The grass is very green and leaves are popping. It will be green in Minnesota soon.

I played https://squaredle.com 04/27:
*24/24 words (+5 bonus words)
📖 In the top 21% by bonus words
🔥 Solve streak: 1

Haven’t completed this in awhile.

Reading progress
Under the Net 56%
The Warden 56%

More puzzles:
Connections
Puzzle #321
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Wordle 1,043 5/6

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Strands #55
“Call me?”
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Sunday. Today it is church, then small group. We eat together and then do some Bible study. We are eating taco salads. I made a pan of bars (it’s a Minnesota thing) and beef taco meat. The bars are a peanut butter cookie with chocolate syrup swirled.

Reading
Under the Net 63%, need to finish this one! I am enjoying it.
Started The Family Chao but only 6% so far.
Finished The Warden - Trollope. Enjoyed this one.

Weather is cloudy and drizzle predicted. Really getting green and will have to mow the grass soon.

Yesterday enjoyed being out on the golf course watching my granddaughter golf.

Strands #56
“Coming clean”
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Wordle 1,044 3/6

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Connections
Puzzle #322
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(I am old enough to get the blue one, and I had the purple and yellow figured out at the same time.

I played https://squaredle.com 04/28:
74/74 words (+37 bonus words)
📖 In the top 1% by bonus words
🔥 Solve streak: 2

Monday, cool, drizzle, grey skies.

I played https://squaredle.com 04/29:
*22/22 words (+4 bonus words)
📖 In the top 15% by bonus words
🔥 Solve streak: 3

Strands #57
“Name dropping”
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Connections
Puzzle #323
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Wordle 1,045 3/6

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>104 Kristelh: No, I have not read Emma's War yet, which is one of the reasons I was curious to see your final thoughts on it.

There are several places you can play games online with others. My favorite spot is Board Game Arena.

>110 Kristelh: I am going to see if I can get my hands on a copy! Thanks for recommending a 5-star book!

Have a marvelous Monday, Kristel!

>119 alcottacre:, Thanks for the info on Board Game Arena. And, I hope you find Emma's War a worthwhile read as I did.

41.
Book The Warden by Anthony Trollope
Format: audiobook read by
Original publication date: Simon Vance
Acquisition date/place: April 2024
Decimal/ Star rating: 5 stars
Book description/summary: think before you jump into self righteous acts
Challenge(s): BAC
Author: British
List book: classic
Genre literature
Liked: I liked the story and no loose ends
Disliked:

Tuesday, last day of April. Working on finishing 2 books. I think it is doable. Today the sun will shine a little though rain storms are predicted later today. We’ve gotten a lot of rain in the past few days.

Connections
Puzzle #324
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Wordle 1,046 5/6

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Strands #58
“Pour it on”
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>120 Kristelh: If you ever want a playing partner on BGA, just let me know :)

42.
Book Under the Net - Iris Murdoch
Format: book
Original publication date: 1954
Acquisition date/place: 2016/January
Decimal/ Star rating: 4 stars
Book description/summary: search for identity in the streets of London
Challenge(s): Reading 1001, botm April 2024
Author: British
List book: 1001
Genre fiction
Liked: a interesting story with depth that is easy to take
Disliked: it took a little while to engage with the book, and I left it in Florida and had to get it from the library ILL.

43.
Book The Family Chao = Lan Samantha Chang
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 2022
Acquisition date/place: 2023, AudioFileSync summer program
Decimal/ Star rating: 3 stars
Book description/summary: explores the experience of Chinese children, adopted Chinese, and illegal Chinese through the Chao family restaurant and a mystery
Challenge(s): TIOLI challenge
Author: Asian American author
List book: no
Genre fiction
Liked: it was interesting look at the experiences of Chinese Americans
Disliked: could do without the sexual details

>123 alcottacre:, Stasia, I will look into it. Is there any games that you would recommend?

>124 Kristelh: had to get it from the library ILL. Well, that is a pain! Glad to see you enjoyed it though.

>126 Kristelh: There are a lot of different game genres on BGA. Do you enjoy cooperative games, word games, solo games etc? You can pull up the "Games" tab and bring up games by theme, player count, genre. I have a lot of games that I enjoy and I do not want to overwhelm you since I am pretty much an omnigamer. Many of the game also have online tutorials so you can give them a try before you play.

You've gotten lot of good reading in, Kristel. Classics like The Warden , and heavy weight authors like Iris Murdoch

>127 alcottacre:, Thanks, Stasia. I will look at it. I am kind of a word game person. Always loved scramble and pretty much hated monopoly.
>128 vancouverdeb:. It was, Deborah, and I really liked The Warden and I always appreciate Murdoch.

May Plans

British Author Challenge
The Wonderland Collection

American Author Challenge
William Maxwell maybe Time will Darken It

1001 Books
All Souls’ Day- Cees Nooteboom
Well of Loneliness - Radcliffe Hall
The Names - Don DeLillo
The Years - Virginia Woolf

War Room
Napoleonic Wars

Booker/Pulitzer
The Netanyahus - Joshua Cohen
The Promise

Bookclubs/Others
North Woods COMPLETED
The Pull of the Stars - Emma Donoghue

TIOLI
Challenges #1-6
1. Read a book whose title, subtitle, or author's full name begins or end in the letter "Y" - msg #1
Desert Solitaire - Edward Abbey

2. Read a book where a 4-legged animal is mentioned in the title - msg #5
Shadow of the Fox or
History of Wolves

3. Read a book with a girl's name in the title - msg #3 Lila, My Antonia, or Eileen

4. The "In Honor of My Mother" Challenge: Read a book to to spell out MOTHER - msg #4
T - Time Will Darken It

5. Read a book that you acquired in 2024 - msg #8
The Pull of the Stars

6. Read a book that poses a new question or answers a question already posed - msg #13
What's So Amazing about Grace?

Challenges #7-12
7. Read a book for the Zodiac challenge (Taurus) - msg #16 Girl, Woman, Other

8. Read a book from the list that shows what other LT members have read so far in 2024 - msg #18
Prophet Song

9. Read a book whose title suggests something a person would like to achieve - msg #19 The Promise

10: Read a book with first person narration or featuring first person singular pronouns in the title, eg me, mine Eileen

Challenge #11: Read a book mentioned in one of the Five Books Lists (fivebooks.com) The Promise

Challenge #12: Read a collection of religious or spiritual texts

April Summary
British Author Challenge
The Warden - Anthony Trollope READ
Jane and Prudence - Barbara Pym READ

American Author Challenge
Nonfiction: Emma's War - Deborah Scroggins

1001 Books
Under the Net - Iris Murdoch; READ
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall - Bronte READ
The Book Of Illusions - Auster READ

War Room
Emma's War - Deborah Scroggins READ

Booker
Offshore - Penelope Fitzgerald READ

Bookclub and others
Lessons In Chemistry - Bonnie Garmus, made up, READ
Weyward - Emilia Hart, WCBC - READ

TIOLI
1. Holy War - John Bunyan. COMPLETED
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

7.
8. The Family Chao - Chang COMPLETED
9. Lessons in Chemistry - COMPLETED
10. Read a book whose title includes one, and only one, adjective
11.
12: Read a book with something suggesting music on the cover

13. Read a book with 150 pages or less
14. April Fooler: Read a book with magical realism, fantasy, alternate history or humor as a tag Weyward. COMPLETED
15. Challenge #15: Read a book you've owned for more than 10 years or that's been on your TBR list for more than 10 years

Total books read: 11
1001 Books read: 3
Booker: 1
Pulitzer: 0

Books Acquired in 2024
Collected in January
1. The Covenant of Water - Abraham Verghese (free)1/16/24

Collected in February
2. Prophet Song - Paul Lynch (audible credit)
3. The Rest of Life - Mary Gordon (discard, free)

Collected in March
4. 2001: A Space Odyssey - Clarke (book for Florida shelf) free.
5. A Place Called Freedom - Ken Follett, (free)
6. 28-Day Fast Start Day-By-Day (purchased). I needed some motivation and a this kind of book usually fits the ticket.

Collected in April
The Pull of the Stars Audible credit
Beneath a Scarlet Sky Audible credit

Collected in May
The Diaries of Jane Somer - Doris Lessing
My Name is Asher Lev - Chaim Potok

Wednesday Puzzles
Connections
Puzzle #325
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Wordle 1,047 3/6

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Strands #59
“A token of our appreciation”
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>130 Kristelh: If my reading picks up a bit in May, I might join you with All Souls’ Day by Cees Nooteboom.

Thursday, rainy, grey day. Today is bookclub. We will be discussing Weyward.

Currently reading The Years and trying to get All Souls Day started.

Bookspin, My Antonia
Double spin, The Pull of the Stars

Strands #60
“What's my line?”
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Wordle 1,048 4/6

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Connections
Puzzle #326
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Strands #60
“What's my line?”
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Wordle 1,048 4/6

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Connections
Puzzle #326
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44.
Book The Years - Virginia Woolf
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 1937
Acquisition date/place: Audible Play, expires 5/3/24.
Decimal/ Star rating: 4 to 5 stars
Book description/summary: time, memory
Challenge(s): Reading 1001
Author: British
List book: 1001 books
Genre novel/fiction
Liked: I liked the themes in this book, time, aging, memory
Disliked: it is SOC which I am okay with but it has set times but still doubles back on itself and there are quite a few characters and some are there only for a brief appearance It's good to "know" a little about the book when taking up the book.

Friday. Spending the morning with my youngest granddaughter. It’s grandparents day at her school.
I finished The Years yesterday. I liked it, recommend it to people who like reading about time, memory, etc. Of course it is SOC.

Strands #61
“A shade envious?”
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🔵🔵🔵

Wordle 1,049 4/6

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Connections
Puzzle #327
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Currently reading The Well of Loneliness by Radcliffe Hall.

Saturday.
Plans:
Used book sale, last day, will make a visit but probably well picked over.
Pick up things
Start a soup
Read; currently reading Well of Loneliness and All Soul’s Day up next The Wishing Game.

Connections
Puzzle #328
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Wordle 1,050 5/6

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Strands #62
“The horror”
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>140 Kristelh: It seemed a tough day for the puzzles, didn’t it?! I might not have the courage for Squaredle today…

Karen O

>141 klobrien2:. Yes, very hard day, Karen. I did start Squaredle but will see how far I will get.

Sunday and sunshine and not much wind. Temps to be in upper 60s too.

Connections
Puzzle #329
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🟩🟩🟩🟩Struggled.

Wordle 1,051 5/6

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Strands #63
“Tools for the job”
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🔵

Monday. Cloudy, windy.
Puzzles; I failed at Connections, even after it is revealed , I remain nonplussed. I also failed wordle today. One of those days and alpha doesn’t help!

I did complete quordle, antiwordle to 7, and I got Strand.
Strands #64
“Signed, Sealed, Delivered”
🔵🔵🔵🔵
🟡🔵🔵

Reading:
Finished The Well of Loneliness, need to write this one up yet.

Currently reading
The Wishing Game 21%
All Souls Day

I played https://squaredle.com 05/06:
*29/29 words (+8 bonus words)
📖 In the top 20% by bonus words
🔥 Solve streak: 1

Tuesday — rain, wind, cooler than yesterday.
Reading; The Wishing Game and All Souls Day. Still need to review The Well of Loneliness.

Puzzling; yesterday I bombed on wordle and then today I do this; Wordle 1,053 3/6

⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨
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Connections
Puzzle #331
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Strands #65
“Can you dig it?”
💡🔵🟡🔵
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Winner of Pulitzer for 2024, Night Watch by Jayne Anne Phillips. I’ve read Lark and Termite by the author. So Pulitzer went to a book no one was predicting.

45.
Book The Well of Loneliness - Radclyffe Hall
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 1928
Acquisition date/place: 8/15/19, audible, ibook
Decimal/ Star rating: 2 to 3 stars I think
Book description/summary: life is miserable if you're an invert
Challenge(s): TBR takedown, Reading 1001
Author: British
List book: 1001, Virago
Genre fiction
Liked: more autobiography than literature?
Disliked: I appreciated that it did not go into details that are unnecessary. Not my kind of book.

46.
Book The Wishing Game - Meg Shaffer
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 2023
Acquisition date/place: 5/2024
Decimal/ Star rating: 2.5 stars
Book description/summary: a little bit of this a little bit of that
Challenge(s): LHBC pick (make-up)
Author: US
List book: no
Genre ??? reads like a YA book, fiction
Liked: I liked parts of it, it mentions a lot of children's book.
Disliked: it tried to be too much, it felt like it borrowed from other sources, it tried to cover too much and to hit LGBT issues, etc.

Too bad The Wishing Game was such a bad read, Kristel. I hope you do read Brotherless Night and it does have a section at the back of the book with group discussion questions, so that would help with reading it with a group. There is lots to discuss. I'm hoping to get to Night Watch. I had it on my wishlist for a long time, but finally my library has gotten it. So once I read some of my TBR pile, I'll get it from the library. I tried Squardle last night and earlier this evening and it is challenging! I got skunked on Wordle yesterday , my first skunk in over 385 games! Argh! Oh well.

>148 Kristelh: The only one of Phillips books that I have read to this point is Lark and Termite as well. Unfortunately, it also the only one of her books that my local library has.

>150 Kristelh: Sounds like I can take that one out of the BlackHole. . . I certainly hope your next read is better for you.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

>151 vancouverdeb:, Deborah, that was a long run for wordle. I don’t know what my longest run was but it isn’t anywhere near 385. That had to hurt! Squardle is very challenging.
I often just give up. I put Night Watch on hold on Libby, and the wait is “very long”. Not even in terms of weeks or months.

>152 alcottacre:. Stasia, Libby has Night Watch so I will eventually get it, but it will be a wait.

Wednesday, sun is shining, it is a nice day.

Strands #66
“Can you digit?”
🔵🔵🟡🔵
🔵🔵🔵🔵

Connections
Puzzle #332
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Wordle 1,054 3/6

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Thursday, it was a nice day here in Minnesota. I tried to mow my grass but got the lawn mower stuck in mud. Had to wait for SIL to come pull it out with the 4 wheeler. I mowed a little but will finish tomorrow.

Currently reading All Souls Day and Pull of the Stars.

That is a long wait for Night Watch. I managed to do Wordle in 2 the following day, so that was encouraging after my skunk the previous day.

>157 Kristelh:, Deborah, congrats on a 2. I suspect the long wait will get better because sometimes the library gets more copies when there is a great demand. By the way, you’re killing me with a lot of BBs!

Friday. I have cards tonight (subbing). Finish mowing grass. It’s gotten way too long and parts of yard still to wet.

Currently reading the same. Hopefully finish The Pull of Stars as bookclub is Monday. I am enjoying this one especially the parts about midwifery, medical care.

Connections
Puzzle #334
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Wordle 1,056 4/6

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Strands #68
“Like a rocket”
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Monday morning. We had a beautiful weekend here in Minnesota and I had my family around me. Truly blessed, I was!

Currently reading My Antonia - Willa Cather. I will finish today.

I am trying to make progress in All Souls Day - Cees Nooteboom. My 1001 botm.

I finished The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue, Very good, highly recommend this one.

Wordle 1,059 4/6

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Connections
Puzzle #337
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Strands #71
“Best in show”
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I played https://squaredle.com 05/13:
*23/23 words (+6 bonus words)
📖 In the top 20% by bonus words
🔥 Solve streak: 1

46.

Book The Pull of the Stars - Emma Donoghue
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 2020
Acquisition date/place: April 2024/1 credit, audible
Decimal/ Star rating: 4.5 to 5 stars
Book description/summary: Irish nurse midwife during the Spanish Flu.
Challenge(s): LHBC
Author: Irish
List book: no
Genre historical fiction
Liked: well researched, nursing, politics
Disliked: could have done without the kissing on the roof top and still been a good story!

47.

Book My Antonia - Willa Cather
Format: book/audio
Original publication date: 1918
Acquisition date/place: 2010, used book
Decimal/ Star rating: 3 stars
Book description/summary: Immigrant Women Farmers take on Nebraska
Challenge(s): TIOLI/TBR
Author: US
List book: many lists
Genre fiction
Liked: I liked the setting and perspective
Disliked: