Laura (lauralkeet)'s Reading in a 3/4 Waltz - Part 2

Video: People Will Say We're in Love - a wonderful duet where Curley and Laurie are still in denial about their feelings for one another
Video: Oklahoma! - the show-stopper finale

This year my thread features favorites from American Musical Theater. Oklahoma! is another personal favorite from my time playing violin in the high school pit orchestra. We performed this one my Junior year, when I was 17. For reasons I can't quite remember, it was my favorite show out of the five I played in.




My WikiThing contains my personal threads from a variety of LT groups and group reads, past & present. After 5 years here I felt like I needed an archive, even if it's only useful to me!

This year I have no goals whatsoever. I plan to participate in the Great War Theme Read in the Virago Modern Classics group, and I intend for the majority of my reads to come from those I already own. Other than that, I will read whatever strikes my fancy.

Books completed ("details" jumps to location in this thread where review & links can be found)
March
10. Miss Buncle's Book - details
11. Mapp and Lucia - details
12. Aleta Dey - details
13. As Always, Julia - details

April
14. Through the Evil Days - details
15. Five Days at Memorial - details
16. Mr Britling Sees it Through - details
17. The Blush - details

May
18. Swann's Way - details
19. Miss Buncle Married - details
20. Thus Was Adonis Murdered - details
21. A Diary Without Dates - details
22. The Rehearsal - details
23. Death Comes for the Archbishop - details

Reading Bingo


BINGO!
1. 4/13/2014: The "O" column
2. 4/13/2014: Diagonally from upper right to lower left
3. 4/30/2014: Third row
4. 5/11/2014: Fifth row

I'm keeping this up-to-date here and on the official thread

More than 500 pages: The Last Chronicle of Barset, by Anthony Trollope
Forgotten Classic: William: An Englishman by Cicely Hamilton
Book that became a movie:
Published this year:
Number in the title: Five Days at Memorial, By Sheri Fink
Written by someone under 30: The Rehearsal, by Eleanor Catton
Book with non-human characters:
Funny Book: Mapp and Lucia, by E.F. Benson
Female Author: Life After Life by Jill McCorkle
Book with a mystery: Through the Evil Days, by Julia Spencer-Fleming
One-Word Title: Heartstone, by C.J. Sansom
Book of short stories: The Blush, by Elizabeth Taylor
Set on a different continent: The Hired Man, by Aminatta Forna
Non-Fiction: As Always, Julia, by Joan Reardon
First book by a favourite author:
Heard about online: Aleta Day, by Francis Marion Beynon
Best-selling book:
Based on a true story: Death Comes for the Archbishop, by Willa Cather
Book at the bottom of TBR pile: American Rust, by Philipp Meyer
Book my friend loves: Miss Buncle's Book, by D. E. Stevenson
Book that scares me: Swann's Way, by Marcel Proust *
More than 10 years old: Milk and Honey by Elizabeth Jolley
Second book in a series: Miss Buncle Married, by D.E. Stevenson
Blue cover: High Rising, by Angela Thirkell

* "scares me" as in, intimidates me. It only recently occurred to me that others might be reading books with scary plotlines. I'm sticking with with my gut reaction to this category.

Happy New Thread, Laura!

Happy new thread, Laura!

Happy New Thread, Laura!

I watched Oklahoma! for the first time last year, and I have to say that it's possibly the strangest musical I've seen...

>3 EBT1002:, >4 wilkiec: Hello Ellen & Diana! Thank you for stopping by my shiny new thread.

>5 scaifea: OK Amber, I'll bite. What version did you watch, and what did you find strange about it? Having been in the show it's so familiar to me, and the songs and lines are so etched upon my memory, it's hard to look at it from a fresh perspective.

I watched the version from which your photo comes. The barn dance sequence was, uh, unexpected? And the relationship between the two main characters - plus the scary farm hand - seemed strange to me. I dunno, I guess I was expecting a more happy-go-lucky, Hello, Dolly sort of musical, so maybe it's just my expectations that made it seem strange...

Morning Laura- Congrats on the new thread! Hope the work week goes smoothly.

>7 scaifea: Oh I see your point, Amber. There are definitely some darker undertones, helped along by Jud Fry (the aforementioned scary farmhand).

>8 msf59: Hi Mark! Things are starting off just fine, thanks ... not too much snow overnight but enough, apparently, to close schools and even my office has a delayed opening which is unusual. That really just means "work a regular day from home," which I had already planned to do. It's snowing lightly now and I'm nice and warm inside.

Oh hey, I almost forgot to post some exciting news ...

My older daughter Kate has been on a study abroad program in England this academic year. My younger daughter Julia and I are going to visit her later this month!!! We will arrive on Thursday, March 20 and return home on March 26. First Julia and I will make a quick visit to a village in Cambridgeshire where we lived for 4 years, then we will meet up with Kate in London for a few days. And finally we will make a brief visit to Exeter, where Kate is currently attending university, before returning home.

And as an added bonus: there will be an LT Virago Group meetup in London on Saturday March 22, with possibly a dozen people in attendance.

I'm sooooo excited. And yes, there will be photos!

>10 lauralkeet: And yes, there will be photos!
Oh, fun!

"Oklahoma" is the all time best song to get rid of an ear worm. If I haven't said so before, congrats on finishing up the Barsetshire Chronicles. And England, in the Spring, with a meet-up! Oh my!

Happy new thread, Laura! I must confess Oklahoma is not among my favorite musicals. I have a soft spot for State Fair which is much less well-known. PRobably for good reason, but I loved that movie growing up...

Fun news about London. That's a jam-packed schedule! I think Darryl is headed there at the end of the month, too. I am envious of both of you...

Happy New Thread Laura.
And wow, great great plans, how wonderful! And a meet-up as well! Much looking forward to the pics already :)

I got behind, Laura, but I'm glad I caught up in time to wish you a wonderful trip over to England and an awesome LT meetup. So much fun ahead of you this month!

>10 lauralkeet: Oh my gosh, how exciting!

Love the picture at the top, Laura. And >12 tiffin:, that's an interesting observation. Next time I have the Everly Brothers stuck in my head, I'll try Oklahoma!

Wow exciting news Laura; beyond exciting really. But to top everything off with a LT/Virago meet-up is really the icing on the cake.

Oh and lovely new thread.

Oh my I just realized I've been neglecting my thread. Well, not neglecting exactly, but lurking. Reading your comments without reacting. I'm here, really I am! And Katherine, Tui, Katie, Nathalie, Julia, Amber, Lnda, Bonnie: your visits have brightened up a week that has been " meh" at best and at times downright stressful. And it's only Wednesday!! So, thanks.

Fortunately my reading material is on the light side: Miss Buncle's Book is funny and endearing and perfect for me right now.

10. Miss Buncle's Book ()
My Review
Source: My Persephone collection
Why I read this now: It is well loved by many LTers, especially those in the Virago group (Reading Bingo category "Book my friend loves"), and was calling my name from the shelves.

When Barbara Buncle published her first novel under the assumed name of John Smith, it set off quite a storm in her village. Claiming she could only write about what she knew, Barbara used her keen powers of observation to develop characters based on village inhabitants, and then put them in situations ranging from probable to well-deserved. The book went viral, in an early 20th century sort of way, becoming the principal topic of conversation and, in some cases, consternation or outrage as people see themselves in the story.

Barbara is surprised by her novel's success and the resulting financial dividends, and also by the outrage. But she remains anonymous, continuing to collect anecdotes for a sequel. No one suspects she's the author; in fact, Barbara is such a peripheral figure in village life that she is practically invisible. Then, little by little, Barbara's book infiltrates real life, as villagers are inspired to act in ways either supporting or preventing outcomes described in the novel.

This "book-within-a-book" approach makes for delightful reading, and perhaps most delightful is the way the experience transforms Miss Buncle herself. Because the story is told from her perspective, it takes a little longer to realize what is happening, but when this piece of the puzzle is fully developed, everything snaps into place in a most satisfying way. By the time I turned the last page of this book, I was grinning from ear to ear.

Miss Buncle's Book is great fun isn't it? I could do with reading that just now, having just finished The Road by Cormac McCarthy and The Wall by Marlen Haushofer, both of which are not exactly cheerful reads. But I have to read The Portrait of a Lady instead - I don't know much about it, but I have my suspicions that it won't be cheerful either!

There is always Miss Buncle Married, Rhian (and Laura). I love all three of the series, particularly in the Persephone editions.

>20 lauralkeet: I've read the first two. I am looking forward to the third. :)

>21 SandDune: Rhian, I liked Portrait of a Lady but it's certainly not Miss Buncle.

>22 tiffin:, >23 NanaCC:: stop it, you two :)

You are tempting to me to run off and find Miss Buncle! What a fun name that is to say.

>20 lauralkeet: Oh, I've got that one on my wishlist already!

>25 sibylline: you'd enjoy this one, Lucy

>26 scaifea: You and your lists, Amber ... :)

Oh my, I love seeing 4.5 stars Laura. I have a nice Persephone copy on my shelf and have the Frances McDormand movie saved on my DVR. Enticing review and very thumb- worthy:-)

>28 brenzi: Bonnie, are you thinking of Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day? That's the one with the movie. For what it's worth, I rated it 4.5 stars as well, so you can't go wrong. :)

Ooh, Miss Buncle's Book looks fun. Adding it to the ever-growing TBR list.

>10 lauralkeet: Looking forward to it :-) And our weather's brightened up especially for you!

>20 lauralkeet: Miss Buncle's Book is so lovely. I'm planning to buy The Two Mrs Abbotts from the Persephone shop next week.

>31 souloftherose:: I've been watching the weather and it is certainly nicer there than it is here. But I know it can change in a heartbeat. And I'm pondering a Buncle-related Persephone purchase as well ... :)

Just stopping by on a Sunday to say hello. I am envious of all of you southrons! We do have some sun and it is strong, but not strong enough to get rid of so much snow!!!!

11. Mapp and Lucia ()
My Review
Source: On my shelves
Why I read this now: I was in the mood for a little fun, and it fit the "funny book" Reading Bingo category.

When I began reading the Mapp and Lucia series, which focuses first on Lucia, friends said "just wait until she meets Miss Mapp!" And oh boy, were they right about that. In this fourth installment, the social queen bees of their respective towns create quite a storm. On a visit to Tilling, Elizabeth Mapp's domain, Lucia finds a house available to let for the summer, and decides a change of scenery would do her good. She convinces her good friend Georgie to rent another house in town, and they prepare to vacate Riseholme and descend on Tilling. It happens that Lucia has rented Mapp's house, and it's all part of an elaborate annual ritual in which the residents of Tilling rent their dwellings to one another (aside: the ease with which these people pack up all their worldly goods is rather astounding...).

So the stage is set for a social rivalry of epic proportions, and considerable amusement can be derived from Mapp and Lucia repeatedly attempting to one-up the other, with variable results. The climax results in a completely absurd caper, which some might call "jumping the shark," but by this time any reader worth their salt would have suspended disbelief. Just "take two hen lobsters" ... and hang on for the ride.

>33 sibylline: *waves to Lucy* Hello friend! We aren't out of the winter woods yet, since snow is forecast for tonight. Although not nearly as much as you've had lately.

>33 sibylline: I am envious of all of you southrons!
You had your chance... but apparently Vermont has other charms.

>34 lauralkeet: Good to have a range of books to fit the moods.

>35 lauralkeet: snow is forecast for tonight
Sigh. So it is. Just when I've begun to feel springish.

>34 lauralkeet: I enjoyed the Mapp and Lucia series so much. I was so sad to see it end. The books definitely fit the funny book category.

>36 qebo: Just when I've begun to feel springish. No kidding, it's like when Lucy takes the football from Charlie Brown. But they've downgraded our forecast, so hopefully it won't be too bad.

>37 NanaCC: I don't have the last two yet, Colleen. I want the Moyer Bell editions that match the ones I already have. I wishlisted them on Paperbackswap but if I need a M&L fix sooner I won't hesitate to buy them.

>29 lauralkeet: Bonnie, are you thinking of Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day? Of course I am but great that you are a mind reader Laura;-) I have Miss Buncle's Book saved on my iPad from when it was a Kindle Daily Deal. Thanks for the Mapp and Lucia reminder.

12. Aleta Dey ()
My Review
Source: On my Kindle
Why I read this now: It's one of the selections for the Virago Group's March/April WWI Theme, "On the Frontline and on the Homefront"

This slim novella is a semi-autobiographical story of a Canadian pacifist and suffragist in the early 20th century. Aleta grows up on the Canadian prairie, the product of strict parenting and the rigid Christian beliefs common in that time period. She rebels against these constraints, forming a long-term romantic partnership -- not marriage -- with a man named McNair. McNair does not share Aleta's views, but does not stifle them either. When WWI breaks out, he eagerly enlists and is sent to Europe. Aleta continues to work for peace and women's rights on the home front, while also mentoring McNair's young ward, Colin. I thought I knew where this was heading, but the story took an unexpected turn.

Unfortunately, the surprise wasn't enough to save this book, which I found thin and melodramatic. I was not emotionally invested in the characters, and could not comprehend why a supposedly strong, independent woman like Aleta remained loyal to McNair once certain aspects of his character were known to her. The writing wasn't great either. The author repeatedly mentioned Aleta's "tiny" hand in McNair's "huge" one. Perhaps this was intended to convince the reader that even diminutive women can achieve great things, but she killed the metaphor with overuse. The ending is related in the form of a long letter from Aleta to McNair, which was largely a platform for the author's beliefs. Perhaps she should have focused on writing a really compelling essay, rather than cloaking it in mediocre fiction.

My visit to England begins tonight, with an 11pm flight out of Philadelphia that arrives 10am Thursday. First stop: Cambridgeshire, where my younger daughter Julia and I will visit friends. On Friday we meet older daughter Kate in London. Saturday's Virago Group meetup involves hopping from bookshop to bookshop with what looks to be about a dozen LTers (the daughters have opted to go shopping for clothes, etc.).

I'm not sure how connected I will be and how soon I will post updates & photos, but will do my best!

ETA: Reading plans include two books on my Kindle: As Always, Julia and Through the Evil Days.

See you on Saturday, Laura! Have a safe flight tonight.

Looking forward to meeting you on Saturday as well!

You are going to London tomorrow!!!! Woo hoo!! ENJOY!

I'm at the gate ... 2.25 hours til takeoff!!!

>45 lauralkeet: Exciting!

*Happy weekend wave*

>36 qebo: yeah, I guess I did. It's a little hard to think what Vermont's charms are at the moment... there are some - but you have to work at it!

Safe travels.

The LD is into Sarah Lawrence, btw! I am kind of guessing that will be where she decides to go.

Hello from London everyone!

Lucy, congratulations to the LD. Julia is beginning to receive responses as well, but it's anybody's guess where she will end up so for now I am keeping mum.

We had a fantastic LibraryThing meetup today, with about 13 of us altogether. Photos will come soon, it's just a bit awkward on an iPad and I'm tired ...

Oh, sounds great!

Loved your Mapp & Lucia review, Laura. As a confirmed Luciaphile, I hope you find the remaining books sooner than later. London in the springtime: doesn't get any better than that, does it? Looking forward to hearing where Julia decides to go. Big changes for all concerned!

It was great to see you and the others today, Laura! I'm just getting back to my hotel, a little before 1 am after I caught the next to last train from Cambridge to London, so I'll probably sleep in tomorrow morning. Rest well.

Laura - fabulous to see that you have ventured to the UK to see your daughter and much more besides seemingly.
Look forward to your photos and a blow by blow account of your travels. Will you be going down to Exeter too?

Stay safe and enjoy. xx

For anyone interested in photos from the London meetup, allow me to direct you to the meetup thread, beginning here. Genny (@gennyt) did a wonderful job summarizing our day, and I added some of my photos too.

And here's my book haul:
Moor Fires by E.H. Young, in a lovely antique edition (this from Simon aka @Stuck-in-a-Book); Hostages to Fortune, a Persephone I found used; The Rehearsal and Why Be Happy When you Can be Normal, which I bought at Foyles.


Good Evening Mrs Craven, this one from the Persephone shop along with another that will be a gift, a tote bag, and some goodies I received from others in the group.

It was lovely to see you yesterday, Laura. didn't we have a good day!

I had a great day yesterday Laura. Thanks for organising it!

Thank you Kerry and Rhian, it really was so much fun. And the organizational effort was minimal: it felt like all I had to do was show up and give the rest of you an excuse to buy books!

Oh, what fun. A visit with No. 1 daughter and some lovely LT people. I know you are having a wonderful time in England, Laura. I'm glad you got to visit the town where you used to live. I saw some pics of the meet up on Darryl's thread, but now I'm heading over to the official thread to read more about it. Have a safe trip home!

Enjoy London, Laura! How wonderful, an LT meetup : ).

Happy Friday everyone! My trip to England was great. As mentioned above, the Great UK Virago Meetup was Saturday. On Sunday my daughters and I explored the east side of London, including Columbia Road Flower Market and shops in Brick Lane. We had an excellent breakfast at The Breakfast Club, and ended our day at Lady Dinah's Cat Emporium, London's first cat cafe which was great fun for us crazy cat ladies. On Monday we went to Brighton where we saw a comedy show with Russell Howard, and on Tuesday we went to Exeter where Kate is at school, and she showed us around. Julia and I returned home on Wednesday. I was worthless yesterday but am feeling more like my usual self today.

Kate made a short (2.5-min) video with highlights from our time together; enjoy it here.

As you might imagine, I had very little reading time except on trains and airplanes, so I'm still working my way through As Always, Julia and enjoying it immensely. Also while I was away, my new Kindle Paperwhite arrived!!!!! This will replace my 3-year-old Kindle. I accidentally ordered the wrong color of case (black instead of purple!!!) but once the replacement arrives tomorrow I will be all set.

>60 lauralkeet: video
Sweet.

>60 lauralkeet: That was lovely!

That's so charming! Lovely! Made me teary!

>60 lauralkeet: Loved the video, Laura. I saw a few places that looked familiar from my family trip umpteen years ago.

I know that Chris enjoyed As Always, Julia. I should get to that one. I hope you like your new Paperwhite. My Kindle isn't old enough to think about a new one yet, but I have been curious.

>60 lauralkeet: Aw, lovely! So glad that you had such a wonderful time!

>60 lauralkeet: Fabulous video by your daughter, Laura! Did you see the one that was made by Joyce's (Nickelini's) youngest daughter when her family came to London last year (set to the song I Love London)?

I'm glad that you arrived back home safely, and I hope that you have a restful weekend. And, of course, it was great to see you on Saturday along with other old friends (Heather, Rhian, Genny, and Luci), and to make some new ones (Claire, Julie and Caroline in particular).

I'm flying back to Atlanta tomorrow afternoon, so I'll only have one day to recuperate before I return to work on Monday. Not that I'm complaining, though.

I saw Fliss's Kindle Paperwhite when she, Rachael and I had dinner in Cambridge on Saturday night. I love my Kindle Keyboard, but I definitely want one of those.

Love your daughter's video, but dumb question: which daughter is which?

Hello Katherine, Kerry, Lucy, Colleen, Amber, Darryl, and Katie! Happy Friday! I'm glad you all enjoyed the video. I keep watching it over and over.

>64 NanaCC: Chris recently read something else about Julia Child, can't remember what, which reminded me I had this book gathering virtual dust on my Kindle. It's so much fun and makes me want to cook up a big fancy meal. Or ask my husband to do it -- he took courses at Le Cordon Bleu and actually knows what he's doing.

>66 kidzdoc: Yes, Darryl. I remember Joyce's video too. It's amazing what can be done with today's technology, very quickly and easily. I predict you will be unable to resist the Paperwhite. :) Have a safe trip home!

>67 katiekrug: Katie, Julia has short hair and Kate has long hair. Since Kate was filming, you see much more of Julia in the video.

And for anyone who just can't get enough of my trip to London, may I direct you to Kate's latest blog post, this one about Lady Dinah's Cat Emporium ...

Can't wait to hear how you like your new Kindle Paperwhite, Laura! My Kindle Keyboard bit the dust recently on holiday, and Amazon's customer service offered me a great deal on a Paperwhite. It's been shipped : ). I find Amazon's customer service second to none.

The Cat Emporium is the neatest thing. They must have to choose their kitties carefully as to behavior and temperament. I keep thinking about my cat, though, who is relentlessly curious about any eating that goes on away from the kitchen table. She'd be a bad candidate for that environment, I guess.

I don't think I could do the cat cafe. I have issues at my MIL's with her six cats roaming everywhere, jumping on counters, walking around where I prepare and eat my food. *shudder* Lady Dinah's seems much nicer (and cleaner!) and my husband would love it. Maybe I can use it as (cat) bait to lure him to London one of these days.......

Oh my that little video was so sweet Laura. What a wonderful time with your girls. And the meet-up looks like a great time was had by all.

Laura, I teared up when I watched the video. Sisters, dogs, Mom...'You're My Best Friend'...a perfect choice. You have lovely daughters and a wonderful keepsake of a memorable trip.

>69 lit_chick: I'm loving my new Paperwhite, Nancy! My snazzy purple case arrived today and it looks very spiffy. I also like some of the features that I didn't have on my Kindle Keyboard, like a built-in light and the ability to tap on a character's name and see background about them. Very cool.

>70 laytonwoman3rd: Linda, they did indeed take care in choosing the kitties. One of the cats is the mother to several others, and she's pretty mellow. The owner mentioned there was one cat who was very nice on his own but just didn't seem to interact well with the other cats, so he was rehomed.

>71 katiekrug: * shoves cat onto the floor * cats on counters? Who would ever allow that?!

>72 brenzi:, >73 Donna828: Bonnie & Donna, it is pretty special isn't it? Kate is not one to express her feelings openly face to face; instead they come out in things like this video. I have to admit I've played it several times now ...

I'm very envious of your London meet up, Laura, and thrilled to hear that you love your new Kindle Paperwhite. I will be getting one of those in a couple of months. I'll have to look for the spiffy purple case....

I would love the Cat Emporium.

>60 lauralkeet: I LOVE the video!!!

The song is so cute and I love the images. I still say I would love the Cat Emporium.

Wait, I posted something already and it didn't show up.....

Yeah, see. #75 is missing. That was me.

eta: now it has shown up. Never let it be said that I am impatient.

^ Has Ellen been hitting the bourbon this evening?

;-)

Funny (not to me but maybe for the general cat-loving public) story about cats on counters: I pride myself on having broken the hubs' cats of the habit of jumping up on counters and walking with their litter-boxed paws all over my food prep areas. Nope, no cats on my counters, gosh darn it. Sprayed those little buggers with a mister and taught them who's boss... yada yada yada. So the hubs, in a paranoid state following some burglaries in our neighborhood, goes out and gets a motion detector camera for the main part of our house. It's a cool little thing that sends us emails anytime it's triggered with a still photo of what triggered it. And what do I keep getting photos of delivered to my inbox at work? The freaking cats on the kitchen counter! Drives me nuts. The hubs finds it hilarious and will forward me the emails with stupid captions for the photos... Grrrrrr!

OMG, Katie, that is too funny! Apparently, cats rule! That said, I'm not a cat owner and would be the very same about litter-boxed paws all over my food prep areas.

Guess the old adage is true: Women and cats are going to do what they want, and men and dogs can just get used to it.

>68 lauralkeet: I am making plans to go to the Cat Emporium!

>78 katiekrug: That is pretty funny though Katie! I've long ago given up attempting to train a cat to do or not do anything

>75 EBT1002:, 76, 77: * passes Ellen a cup of coffee to help her recover from the bourbon *

>78 katiekrug: Katie, that's hilarious. Cats are gonna do what cats are gonna do ...

>79 lit_chick: litter-boxed paws all over my food prep areas Well, yeah, but cats are very fastidious about cleaning their paws. I know they're not "clean" by human standards, but I just felt like coming to their defense.

>80 SandDune: Rhian, I hope you enjoy it! I understand they are booked well in advance right now, but you'll have to let me know about your visit whenever it occurs. BTW, the Cat Emporium is apparently quite active on Twitter with the cafe and each of the cats having their own Twitter account. This according to my daughter who received a tweet in response to her blog post. :)

Morning Laura- It doesn't look like I've been by in awhile. Bad Mark. Hope you are having a fine weekend and your current reads are excellent ones.
CTM tonight! Yah!

>78 katiekrug: I pride myself having broken the hubs' cats of the habit
Hahahahaha. Dog: I’m not allowed to do this. Cat: I’m not allowed to do this when you’re looking and have a weapon.

Oh I am chuckling!!!

Hi Laura - Great pictures. What a fun meet up and trip! I am also a Rogers and Hammerstein fan --

13. As Always, Julia ()
My Review
Source: On my Kindle
Why I read this now: I was traveling and wanted to read books on my Kindle. I'm also a big Julia Child fan and wanted to learn more about her.

Julia Child (1912-2004) is the well-known author, with Simone Beck, of Mastering the Art of French Cooking, a comprehensive two-volume cookbook that demystified French cuisine for millions of American home cooks. As Always, Julia shows how this master work was discovered, created, and published, and tells the story through letters between Julia and Avis DeVoto. Without Avis, the cookbook might never have been seen by the major US publishing houses. And Julia and Avis might never have known each other, were it not for a letter from Julia to Bernard DeVoto, who wrote for Harper's Magazine. Avis was handling her husband's correspondence, and in replying to Julia began a friendship that blossomed and endured throughout their lives.

The letters between Julia and Avis are a delight to read. The two women chat amiably about their families, discover common ground in their political beliefs, and share their passion for fine cuisine. Their initial reserve melted away very quickly, and it's clear each had discovered a kindred spirit. As Julia developed recipes, Avis worked tirelessly to establish connections with the publishing industry. Also, since Julia was stationed in Europe with her husband Paul, Avis also provided valuable insight on the typical American cook, and ingredients commonly found in American supermarkets. The two women also routinely sent each other ingredients and equipment that the other could not find locally.

Having used Mastering the Art of French Cooking myself, it was interesting to see how some of the recipes developed over time, and the logic behind the book's overall structure. I'm eager to try my hand at some new-to-me recipes, and will enjoy doing so with Julia and Avis' friendship in mind.

>86 lauralkeet:: oh that one looks good!

You know I have both seen and loved the video made by your clever girl. It was so much fun to follow along on your trip, especially the meet-up part of it. I need to get more technologically conversant with things than I am because I could never do this. The best I can manage is to load photos into my computer then transfer them to either FB or photobucket. I'm still stuck wondering whether to get an IPad or a Samsung Galaxy phone.

Laura, I can't believe it has taken me so long to say how lovely it was to see you in London! I loved the video and I'm glad to see you made it home safely.

>78 katiekrug: Oh dear! I like to think our cat doesn't get up on kitchen worktops because it's the sort of thing that makes me feel icky. All I can say is she doesn't do it when we're around and I've never found too much cat hair up there. Other than that I suspect ignorance is bliss!

Having said that, I'd quite like to visit the cat emporium.

>87 tiffin: Tui, I think you'd enjoy As Always, Julia.

>88 souloftherose: Heather, one of my cats routinely gets on the counters and, until recently (he's getting old), he could very gracefully leap from the kitchen table to the counter. No, I don't condone this but he is impossible to train and Katie's experience convinces me it may not be worthwhile to try. And besides, why not let him live out his remaining days doing things that make a cat happy? I'm thankful the other cat isn't a leaper / climber. And you must book a session at Lady Dinah's. I've also just learned there's a cat café in Paris as well (not so creatively named Le Café des Chats), so should you find yourself in that fair city, you could bond with French cats instead!

>89 lauralkeet: "he is impossible to train" As I know from experience with our cat. There were all kinds of things I wasn't going to let her do before we got her and now....

14. Through the Evil Days ()
My Review
Source: On my Kindle
Why I read this now: I bought this to take with me on my trip, and didn't get to it while traveling but still wanted to read it pretty much right away. I am now one book away from a Reading Bingo!

It's difficult to write a review of the eighth book in a mystery series, when the crime-solving duo has changed significantly since the first book. To avoid spoilers, I have to leave out significant details about Episcopal priest Clare Fergusson and Chief of Police Russ Van Alstyne. Rats, it's good stuff.

But anyway. There's a crime to be solved involving the kidnapping of a very sick little girl, and the crystal meth trade. This time, Clare and Russ inadvertently launch their own investigation, at the same time as the Millers Kill Police and the FBI are tracking the bad guys. A huge snow and ice storm keeps the two investigations running on parallel paths for most of the novel, each uncovering clues that would benefit the other. As usual, Clare finds herself in dangerous situations she really has no business with. And as a side note, the on again, off again romantic relationship between two police officers continues to evolve.

The story held my interest, and I feel like I've come to know most of the characters really well. So even if the general premise and structure are a wee bit formulaic by now, I don't really mind.

I am not only one book away from scoring a Reading Bingo (>2 lauralkeet:), but in fact my next book will earn 2 bingos simultaneously! I'm currently reading Five Days at Memorial, which fits the "book with a number in the title" square in the upper right of the card.

I'm interested in the Julia Spencer-Fleming series, but really trying to move some of my present series off the shelf first. Happy Reading Bingo!

Btw, my Paperwhite arrived several days ago, and I am most impressed!

>93 lit_chick: Nancy, I completely understand wanting to finish a few series before starting a new one. In fact, at the beginning of the year I set this rule for myself: I won't start a new series until I've finished one of the other ones. So far I think I'm doing OK with it. I've finished three series (C.J. Sansom's Shardlake, Trollope's Barchester, and now the Clare & Russ series), and started three series (Chronicles of Carlingford, Thirkell's Barchester novels, and Miss Buncle). But I think I'm about to break my rule and start a new series, with no immediate plans to finish one of the ones I have in progress. Still, I feel pretty good about finishing a few.

And I'm loving my Paperwhite also! The screen is a lot better than my Kindle Keyboard. And while I rarely read in the dark, the other day my husband was absolutely dead tired so we went to bed early, and it was nice to be able to keep reading, but turn out the light so he could sleep.

I look forward to reading your comments about Five Days in Memorial, Laura; it was my favorite nonfiction book of 2013. Sheri Fink has already won the National Book Critics Circle Award for it this year, and hopefully it will also win her another Pulitzer Prize later tis month.

I wasn't tempted by the Paperwhite until Fliss pulled hers out two Saturdays ago, when we met Rachael (FlossieT) for dinner in Cambridge, the same day I saw you and the London area Viragoites. My Kindle Keyboard still works perfectly, and I have a cover that has a built in reading light, but I'm sorely tempted to trade it in for the Paperwhite.

BTW I'll be in Philadelphia from May 3-12 (a full week surrounded by two weekends). If you and others in the area are free maybe we could organize a smaller scale Philadelphia meet up, on Sun May 4, Sat May 10 or Sun May 11.

>95 kidzdoc: My Kindle Keyboard still works perfectly, and I have a cover that has a built in reading light -- Yeah. So did mine. I truly did not *need* a Paperwhite, but I really really like it. Resistance is futile, Darryl!!

Thanks for the news of your Philly travel plans. May 11 is Mother's Day so you'd better be spending it with your mom, sir!! I'll watch your thread for further updates on a potential meetup.

>95 kidzdoc: May 3-4 is the DC meetup.

>96 lauralkeet: Ah! I didn't know what day Mother's Day fell on this year, so thanks for mentioning that, Laura. I certainly will spend the day with her!

>97 qebo: What about Sat May 10? I doubt that I'll go to the DC meet up, but I'll look to see if there is a thread about it, just in case.

>98 kidzdoc: DC meetup thread: http://www.librarything.com/topic/167560 . I'd be up for Philadelphia on May 10.

>99 qebo: Thanks, Katherine. I'll keep an eye on it, but I seriously doubt that I'll go, since I'll be flying to Philadelphia on May 3. I'll stay at my parents' house in Bucks County, so I can easily take the train to Center City on the 10th. I'll check with Monica and the Philadelphia area LTers and Zoë and the NYC area LTers to see if they would like to meet up that day as well. Hmm...I think I'll create a thread in the LibraryThing Gatherings and Meetups group to see who else would be interested in coming.

What say you, Laura?

I've just created a thread for a possible meet up in Philadelphia on May 10:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/172402

>94 lauralkeet: But I think I'm about to break my rule and start a new series
*politely refrains from the obvious followup to post 50 on the previous thread* But 3 & 3! Sustained for three months! Admirable.

CTM tonight! CTM tonight! I heard The Bletchley Circle starts again soon too. Did you watch that?

Hope you are enjoying, (if that's the correct word) Five Days. I think it was excellent.

ooooo rule-breaking! But it is an issue - too many series and it gets confusing to remember what's what and to keep track.

>100 kidzdoc: Darryl, I've just left a response on the meetup thread.

>102 qebo: You got me there! Of course I had to go see what that post was ... um yeah. Well I'm also not as deep into series as a lot of folks I know. * checks Fictfact page * I have 7 series in progress, 3 of which I'm ambivalent about, and one (Thirkell's Barchester) has something like 29 novels so I call that a long-term project. There are 4 series I'd like to start, including Proust's In Search of Lost Time. That's another long-term project that might replace Trollope in its chunkiness.

>103 msf59: Mark, I was checking my DVR schedule this morning and noticed Bletchley had appeared -- next Sunday. yay!

>104 sibylline: I agree Lucy. I'm feeling OK about it at the moment, but it could easily careen out of control.

Oh boy, more Bletchley!

Hello .... how has everyone's week been? I'm still around, still reading Five Days at Memorial which is excellent. Just over 100 pages to go.

Interesting Kindle saga this week. Upthread (>60 lauralkeet:) I mentioned getting a new Kindle Paperwhite. For unknown reasons, Amazon sent me an offer of a $20 discount on a new model, plus the opportunity to trade in my old Kindle Keyboard. Until that moment, I didn't even know I "needed" a new Kindle! :) Anyway, I'm totally loving it. But trading in the old one has been an adventure. Amazon makes it very easy to initiate the trade-in, print the shipping label and packing slip, send it on its way via UPS, and track its progress. I was astonished when the trade-in was rejected with a comment that it would not charge. When the device was returned to me, there was a hand-written note saying it would not power on and would not charge. The first thing I did was ... turn it on. And charge it. Yep, it's perfectly fine. I contacted Amazon and they advised me to simply submit it again as a new trade-in. OR ... would I be interested in a credit on a new Kindle? I had to laugh at that one. But anyway, isn't this strange? I'm hoping it was just a mix-up and that the second attempt goes through without a hitch.

>107 lauralkeet: you just can't get good help these days..... :) I hope it goes smoothly the second time.

It didn't want to leave you.

Well Colleen & Tui, the second attempt is now underway -- I dropped the box at a UPS collection point yesterday. Fingers crossed!

Morning Laura! Glad you are enjoying Five Days! Big TV day, tonight. Whew! With the shows my wife has recorded, I might have to shuffle things at different times. Do we NEED to have everything on ONE night? Seriously?

Laura, I see you are caught up with the Julia Spencer-Fleming series. I'm not! Like you, I don't mind if they are a bit formulaic. They are fun books to read in between the heavy books. I need to get back on the wagon!

Hmmm, I hope Kindle isn't scamming its customers! I am always suspicious with "deals" like this one. Let's hope it works the second time around for you.

Hi Mark & Donna! Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have both enjoyed the weekend. The weather has been fabulous here, so I was out in the garden a lot. But I still managed to finish Five Days at Memorial -- woo hoo!

15. Five Days at Memorial ()
My Review
Source: On my Kindle, borrowed from my local library
Why I read this now: Several LTers recommended it highly, so I've been wanting to read it for a long time. It also fit one of the Reading Bingo categories (number in the title), and gave me my first bingo. In fact, TWO bingos at the same time!

Emergencies are crucibles that contain and reveal the daily, slower-burning problems of medicine and beyond—our vulnerabilities; our trouble grappling with uncertainty, how we die, how we prioritize and divide what is most precious and vital and limited; even our biases and blindnesses.

fter Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, the staff of Memorial Hospital in New Orleans struggled to care for their patients. Their emergency response plans did not prepare them for a situation of this magnitude, where there was flooding, no electricity, and a need to triage and evacuate patients. On September 1, a large number of patients died. Accounts from hospital staff raised questions about their deaths: some overheard a doctor and nurses talking about euthanasia earlier in the day.

What really happened at Memorial? Author Sheri Fink presents the results of her investigation, conducted over several years. The first part of the book tells the story of August 27 - September 1, and reads like a thriller. Things go from bad to worse as conditions deteriorate and help from the parent company and the government fails to materialize. The hospital is overrun with staff, their pets, patients, and family members. Sanitary conditions go downhill very quickly. Hospital personnel are stretched to a breaking point. It's a harrowing tale, ending with the sedation and death of several patients. The second part of the book describes the legal process that followed, as investigators pieced together events to determine whether the deaths were homicides. It's not quite as fast-paced as the first part, but was equally compelling. Having had brief encounters with the theory behind disaster planning and legal compliance matters in my professional life, I found it fascinating to see how these topics played out in a real-life situation.

Fink does a great job developing key players on all sides of the story: patients, family members, doctors, nurses, lawyers, etc. The reader can't help taking sides and at the same time, it's easy to see and believe both sides of the story. And since this is a true story, the ending is far from neat and tidy and Fink leaves us with a sense of how much work we have yet to do, in the medical profession and society in general, to be able to better handle situations like these in the future.

Hurray! Reading Bingo finally paid off. I achieved not one, but two bingos today:
1. 4/13/2014: The "O" column
2. 4/13/2014: Diagonally from upper right to lower left

See >2 lauralkeet: for details.

Good review of Five Days at Memorial. I think this has been a hit, for everyone that has read it. Looking forward to seeing what she does next.

Nice review of Five Days at Memorial, Laura. My fingers are crossed in anticipation that the book will win a Pulitzer Prize later this afternoon.

Thanks Mark & Darryl, I think I have both of you to thank for the book bullets that made me read it. So thank you! It didn't win a Pulitzer but it was still a great book.

>114 lauralkeet: That's one of my March books that I haven't yet reviewed. Sigh. Because it deserves more than my distracted mind can give these days. A bit that interested me was a very brief description of a hospital that had done things right.

I am starting a new series long-term project:


My husband read Proust's entire 7-volume work, In Search of Lost Time, about 10 years ago and raved about it. He's tried several times to get me to read it as well, and I always demurred. For no good reason, really, it just kind of scared me. But now that I've read other chunky series (Dance to the Music of Time, Chronicles of Barsetshire), there's no reason not to attempt this and see what I think.

Swann's Way is the first volume. This edition was published by Viking in 2003, and is translated by Lydia Davis. Terence Kilmartin and C.K. Scott Moncrieff are considered the definitive translators, but this newer version has earned considerable acclaim. Chris encouraged me to try the Viking edition. I think it's because we only have the first book (vs. the complete Kilmartin & Moncrieff), so he's hoping this is an excuse to acquire the rest. They are rather pretty. :)

I've read about 50 pages (10% finished, woo hoo!). The prose takes some getting used to; I think Proust may have been paid by the comma. I'll keep you posted on my progress!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile I'm also reading a shorter, easier book on my Kindle: Mr Britling Sees it Through, for the Virago Group's Great War Theme read. It will be a good antidote when I need something requiring less concentration.

>120 lauralkeet: You are brave! I remember a beloved college professor, who became a family friend, pointing out his full set of Proust (on a very high bookshelf), and telling us he was saving it for when he was "old enough" to appreciate it! He was well past retirement age, and as far as I know, he never did read it. (He's no longer with us.)

Laura, I finally read Proust several years ago, starting with the very version of Swann's Way you are reading. (I had tried twice before, in my teens and 30s, with other editions and finally succeeded in my 50s, whether it was because I was older or because it was a better translation). I then went on to read the other volumes in the series -- they each have different translators and some are better than others. I was surprised by how funny Proust can be. I also spread out my reading over the course of about a year, mixing other books in as I went along.

>121 laytonwoman3rd: Brave? Nah. No braver than someone who became a Faulkner expert!

>122 rebeccanyc:: Rebecca, thanks for sharing your experience. I really value your opinion on the translations. I am a little wary of the strategy to use different translators. But I guess that's counting my chickens somewhat -- better focus on finishing the first book! I will definitely be spreading these out. If previous experience with "chunky series" is any indication, it will take me more than a year ...

Hi Laura! I'm way behind here....

First, I actually don't recall whether there was Bourbon involved in my series of odd posts, but it's a good guess on Katie's part.

Second, my cat never gets up on the counters. I'm certain of this. How can I be so sure?, you ask. She has arthritis and can't jump that high. :-|

Great review of Five Days at Memorial. I'm glad you liked it so much (as did I).

I admire your intrepid venture into Proust. I've never even considered reading his work and it's embarrassing to acknowledge that. I am interested in approaching the Chronicles of Barsetshire, though.

>123 lauralkeet: Ah, but I never set out to BE a Faulkner expert (and in academic circles it would be downright laughable to suggest that I am, in any way)...I just fell in love with his world, and 40 years later, I know some stuff.

Happy Easter!

Hi all, I was away for a couple of days but managed to squeeze in a little used book shopping. Can you believe I came across the third volume of Proust in the same edition as the one I'm currently reading? I take this as a good omen about my new adventure / project. And of course it was kind of bugging me that I now have the first and third but not the second. Thankfully there was a kind soul on Amazon offering the second volume, used, for a decent price. Clicky-clicky ... it's mine!

Oh I like that, 'Proust paid by the comma!'

Yay for finding the books you need.

Am I acquainted with any of the bookstores you went to...? Just for auld lang syne. I do miss some of them greatly.

>128 sibylline: Am I acquainted with any of the bookstores you went to...? Dunno, Lucy -- they were in Massachusetts, not in Philly. Specifically, Grey Matter Books in Hadley and Raven Books in Northampton. Been to either?

Happy Easter Laura!

>120 lauralkeet: Good luck with the Proust reading project! I think a couple of people did a group read several years ago (2010?) and seemed to enjoy it once they'd got used to it. I hope you do too!

>130 souloftherose: Heather, thanks for the tip about the group read. I tried to find it (using "Conversations" from the book page), and found there are some in the 1001 Books group who are attempting to read the entire series in 2014. I will not be moving at their pace but will follow it with interest.

>131 lauralkeet: The group read thread for Swann's Way from the 2010 group is here. I think the group read continued into 2011 but I can't remember whether they made it through all the books.

>132 souloftherose: Heather, thank you for that link. I didn't scroll that deep into the Conversations, so I'm glad you were able to find it easily.

I'm still plugging away at Swann's Way (am somewhere just past 200 pages now), and Mr Britling Sees it Through (~1/3 of the way through that one). I'm glad to have both books on hand since there are times when I just can't concentrate on the Proust. And other times where the language is just so marvelous.

It's also been a busy time, family-wise, as my daughter Julia has been working through her university choices for next year. A decision had to be made by April 30, and yesterday she committed to attend Bryn Mawr College, a small women's liberal arts college in the Philadelphia suburbs. All of us have been quite impressed with it, and best of all (from a parent's POV), it's only about an hour from home!! We are all very happy, and relieved to have this sorted.

>133 lauralkeet: i'm glad you made it through the college selection with a happy ending. It really is such a stressful time, and Bryn Mawr has always had a wonderful reputation.

>133 lauralkeet: Congratulations to Julia!

I have been to Raven! I thought you were at home in Philly - must have missed something crucial! I see - yes - taking one more look at top choices.

Hip hip hooray for Julia! How nice for you to have her so nearby. I went to Shipley next door for six years (1-6 - when it was firmly girls only I might add) and I was a little wistful when the LD bumped it off her list. It's a fascinating process isn't it? I learned a lot about the LD - she is a better 'all around' student than I ever was, and even though I should have guessed since every year she has done independent study of some kind or another or an 'apprenticeship' as she did in the fall this year. Yet I was surprised that it was the academic approach at Sarah L that clinched her choice in the end. Now I am quite sure she would have chosen SLC whether or not I had gone there.

>136 sibylline: taking one more look at top choices. yes, that's it Lucy. We're very very happy with how things ended up. I'm glad yours has a happy ending/beginning too!

Congrats to Julia! Great school!

Congratulations to Julia! I know nothing about American universities but I'm glad to hear it's a choice you're all pleased with! Does she have a guaranteed place or does it depend on her results?

>138 katiekrug: Thanks Katie!
>139 souloftherose: Heather, by this point the place is guaranteed. In the US system, students apply to schools by (usually) January 1, receive notice of an admissions decision by April 1, and need to commit to a school by May 1. It's not unusual to receive a few acceptances (depending on how many schools you applied to, and how selective they are). This was the case for Julia, but there were two that she was most interested in so we focused attention on those. Schools typically hold special events in April to give students a chance to take a final look.

ALSO: I'm sorry for not acknowledging the kind words from Colleen (>134 NanaCC:) and Katherine (>135 qebo:). I got caught up responding to Lucy. Oops, please forgive me!

Congratulations to Julia, Laura!

I'm hoping to get to Five Days at Memorial in May. I am making a trip to NOLA in June and want to make sure that I read it before then.

>141 brenzi: thank you, Bonnie!
>142 thornton37814: Lori, I think it's a great idea to read it before your trip. I hope you enjoy it (if that's the right word).

And speaking of "enjoy" ... I feel like I'm stuck in reading molasses and it's making me grumpy. Surprisingly, Proust is not the problem. I am moving through Swann's Way very slowly, but have realized that it's important to do so, both for basic comprehension and to truly appreciate it.

No, my problem is Mr Britling Sees it Through, which I thought would be a suitable companion as a lighter, easier read. This is one of the Great War selections in the Virago group, dealing with the very beginning of the war. It paints a rather humorous portrait of a slice of English society just before war was declared. I'm not quite at the halfway point, and the war is now just beginning, and I'm finding it all a bit of a slog. The writing is kind of heavy-handed. I don't want to give up on it, but I've found myself feeling crabby and frustrated and avoiding this book, so I think I'll take a break.

I'm going to try some Elizabeth Taylor short stories, in The Blush. She's one of my favorite authors so that should perk me up a bit.

I'm working my way through Proust this year - I'll be starting volume 3 soon. I struggled a lot with the first one, and I agree that having the right read to switch to is important, or it's just too difficult to pick up the Proust and force yourself to concentrate on it.

>144 ursula: Hi Ursula! I'm impressed you've read the first two volumes. Thanks for stopping by to offer encouragement.

Phew! Just finished reading every bit of your threads! No surprise, my favorite line is "and 110 cornets close behind!" I'm also approaching my reading in a no-plan-lackadaisical fashion. Happy birthday! So sad, The Hired Man isn't at the library. Will have to keep an eye out. Love the photos (and video!) of the London trip. Quite intrigued by the relationship between Julia Child and Avis Devoto. Bernard is quite an interesting fellow as well. A quick fun read is his screed on drinking The Hour which is just out in a new edition with a lovely forward. Got it as a Christmas present for several people. Bingo! Bookstores in Hadley and Northampton? I think I know the other school your daughter has been investigating. :-)

There! All caught up! Starred and will be following you now.

Oh, yay for Bryn Mawr! Wonderful school!

Hi Laura! Choosing where one wants to go to college is a huge decision. I'm glad Julia will be close to home and attending an excellent school. I have The Blush in my TBR stack. I didn't realize it was short stories. I bought it for the cover. Now you know how shallow I am!

>146 michigantrumpet: Hi Marianne! I love the one-paragraph synopsis of my year in reading so far. I think you'd enjoy As Always, Julia. Glad to have a new visitor too!!

>147 scaifea: yeah Amber, we're pretty happy about it. And she's been living in the Bryn Mawr apparel purchased last week so I guess she is, too. :)

>148 Donna828: Donna, the whole application/decision process is sooo stressful. We had a set of envelopes waiting for us the night we returned from England. This was not the best time to deal with the news, which was a combination of acceptances & wait lists, but at the same time it was like taking a band-aid off, maybe best done all at once. And then the thought process that followed to finally settle on Bryn Mawr which, ironically, was the very first school we visited back in February 2013. Well, I'm glad it's over and we can now look forward to graduation (May 31), the summer, and move-in day (August 27).

Congratulations on your daughter's acceptance to and decision to attend Bryn Mawr, Laura! Does she have a major field of study picked out yet?

Congratulations to your daughter Laura, both on being accepted and deciding.

>150 kidzdoc: Does she have a major field of study picked out yet? That sounds so the other way around from how we would do it here! In the UK you would always pick your subject first, and then apply to universities based on what subject you wanted to do. And the acceptance is totally subject specific.

>150 kidzdoc: Darryl, she's interested in neuroscience which is a minor at Bryn Mawr, and she would need to major in a science like Biology.

>151 SandDune: Rhian, some universities admit students based on a declared major, although it is also possible to enroll as "undecided". Other schools, commonly known as liberal arts colleges (Bryn Mawr is one of these) encourage students to take their general courses first and declare a major by the end of their second year. Here we also spend 4 years as an undergraduate, compared to 3 for you.

Mr. Britling did get a little preachy Laura but I ended up really liking it. I'm at a stage right now where I've climbed out of the anesthesia induced book funk and I've just been ignoring all my reading plans and just plucking a few books off my shelf and reading a few pages of each and picking one out that way. It's produced a steady stream of great reads, including my present read, Behind the Scenes at the Museum.

Ooh that's a good one Bonnie!!

Hi Laura- Another excellent Call the Midwife. This show never flags, does it? Hope you had a nice weekend.

16. Mr Britling Sees it Through (DNF)
No Review
Source: On my Kindle
Why I read this now: It was one of the January/February selections for the Virago Group's Great War Theme Read.

I've officially abandoned this and will not be writing a review. Initial reports from Virago Group members inspired me to get this on my Kindle, but I was finding it a slog. And when I went back to read the thread, reports were not as glowing as I remembered. Over there, several people have said Wells gets rather preachy but they still enjoyed the book. I wasn't enjoying it and he wasn't preachy yet, so I knew it wouldn't get any better.

Laura, I am so terribly behind everywhere but I did want to stop and say congratulations to your Julia (great name by the way) for making her college decision. I work closely with someone who attended Bryn Mawr and she has nothing but wonderful things to say about it.

17. The Blush ()
My Review
Source: My Virago Modern Classics collection
Why I read this now: I needed a pick-me-up after a disappointing book, and I haven't read any Elizabeth Taylor since her 2012 centenary, when I read all of her novels. This book also achieved another Bingo!

I've read all of Elizabeth Taylor's novels, but had yet to read any of her short fiction. In the introduction Paul Bailey wrote, "The masters of the short story are masters of omission as well as suggestion: it is what they leave out that often makes for their most devastating effects. Elizabeth Taylor quietly exhibited this particular skill." Oh yes, she did indeed. Bailey's words rang true in nearly every story in this collection. These are not happy stories; they generally deal with human failings, disappointment, and loss. And so much of the emotional impact comes from what is not said. For example, in Perhaps a Family Failing, a bridegroom gets drunk in the hotel bar on his wedding night, leaving his seductively-dressed bride alone and waiting upstairs. Taylor expertly lays the groundwork for this, describing the wedding as seen by family members, and the young couple's journey to the hotel. She doesn't need to tell me about the groom's immaturity and anxiety, or the bride's crushing disappointment -- I could feel it.

There are also moments where Taylor blends comedy with these other emotions, as in The Letter Writers, when a couple who have corresponded for years finally meet face-to-face. Or Summer Schools, where two "spinster" sisters take separate holidays for the first time.

As with any book of short stories, readers will like some more than others, for a variety of reasons. But the writing is stellar in all of them.

Book #17 resulted in my third Bingo, in the third row of the card. Details in >2 lauralkeet:.

>155 msf59:: Hi Mark! I agree about CTM, I really love that show.

>157 rosalita:: hi Julia! I almost missed your post as I was getting my reviews up, thanks so much for stopping by and for the encouragement about"my" Julia's college choice!!

I liked the stories in The Blush too - good to revisit and think about them again thanks to your review.

>161 sibylline: Lucy, I read the reviews before I picked up this book, and YOUR review was influential in convincing me this was the right book for me.

Congrats on another bingo, Laura!

>163 scaifea: thanks Amber!! I don't know why I get excited about it, but I do. Something tells me you can relate. :)

>164 lauralkeet: Ha! Yes, I certainly can!

I hope everyone is having a nice weekend! Just a brief update on my reading, since I'm not exactly finishing books at breakneck speed.

I have less than 100 pages to go in Swann's Way. Upthread Heather pointed me to a group read from several years back, which in turn pointed me to a blog called The Cork-Lined Room. This blog supported a group read that was held in 2009, where the blog owner set daily reading assignments and wrote a synopsis and commentary on each. Readers asked questions and/or offered thoughts in the comments. They read through all of the volumes over about a year's time. I'm finding it helpful to follow the schedule, reading the daily "assignment" and the associated blog post. If time and mood permits I can read more of course, but often it is just the right amount of Proust for the day.

I'm also reading Miss Buncle Married, as a light alternative to Proust and, because it's on my Kindle, an easier book to take along with me. Not very far along yet but it's easy and pleasant reading.

I used a similar blog for reading Pyncheon's last 'big' novel - Against the Day and even though the blog was 'closed' - it made reading the book so very rich. I loved it! If it's well done it really works.

18. Swann's Way ()
My Review
Source: On my shelves
Why I read this now: My husband has been urging me to read this for about 10 years ...

Not to be outdone by my other half, I set out to read Proust's 7-volume work, In Search of Lost Time, beginning with Swann's Way. It is unlike anything I've read before, and I enjoyed it although I am hard pressed to describe why.

Swann's Way describes the childhood of a character named Marcel, who is modeled on the author, and yet not the author. The story is told in three parts which cover Marcel's early childhood, the back story of Charles Swann, a major character, and Marcel's youthful infatuation with Swann's daughter, Gilberte. The narrative voice shifts between the child Marcel, an omniscient narrator, and an older, wiser Marcel. The pacing is slow and very, very descriptive; Proust paints his scenes in infinitesimal detail and gives similar treatment to discussion of thoughts and emotions. It takes considerable concentration, and I found it best to approach this book in 10-15 page segments.

There's a side story that fascinates me as well, which is the relationship between Charles Swann and Charles Ephrussi, an important character in Edmund de Waal's memoir, The Hare with Amber Eyes. The Telegraph describes this in Edmund de Waal on Proust: The writer behind the hare. These insights add to the reading experience and motivate me to continue with this series.

>168 lauralkeet: an important character in Edmund de Waal's memoir, The Hare with Amber Eyes
Oh, that's an interesting tidbit. Not that I'm going to take on Proust, but I've had The Hare With Amber Eyes sitting around for awhile.

Laura, I'm glad you enjoyed your first taste of Proust. I will continue to enjoy it vicariously through your reading experience! I am looking forward to reading my copy of The Blush after your stellar review. I am beginning to appreciate short stories more after reading Alice Munro and Eudora Welty. You are so right about imagining the parts that are left out. I like looking at it that way rather than feeling cheated, which is how I used to view the genre!

>169 qebo: Katherine, I think you'd really like *Hare*. It's a very interesting family history.

>170 Donna828: Donna, last year I started a short story project and read several different collections, which definitely helped me appreciate them more. And, well, Elizabeth Taylor ...she's just a fave. It was fun to return to her work after a long time away, although I definitely want to pace myself because I'll eventually have read everything.

>171 lauralkeet: I _would_ like lots of books, given infinite time... :-)

Certain books just demand that kind of attention of us, don't they? I like those kinds of reads but I just leave them on the kitchen table, sipping out of them rather than immersing myself and flying off planet, which means that you have to have one or two other books on the go at the same time as fillers.

Nice review of Swann's Way, Laura. One of these days I'll get to it.

>172 qebo: oh yeah, time. Yeah, I'd like more of that, too.

>173 tiffin: Tui you're right about having other books on the go. I've also been reading Miss Buncle Married, which is light and easy and fun. Now that I've finished the Proust I'm looking forward to giving Miss Buncle my undivided attention.

>174 kidzdoc: do you have that time problem as well, Darryl? BTW I hope you're feeling better.

>175 lauralkeet: It's a combination of too little time, and way too many good books. I'm sure that you and most of the rest of us are in that same boat.

I'm 100% now; thanks for asking!

19. Miss Buncle Married ()
My Review
Source: On my Kindle
Why I read this now: It was a nice light read to complement Proust.

This sequel to Miss Buncle's Book finds the protagonist settled into a new life with her publisher-turned-husband. Feeling stifled and overburdened by social commitments, they decide the only solution is to move. After some time, Barbara finds the perfect house which needs considerable renovation but this little trifle is quickly resolved. Barbara befriends a young woman, Jeronina aka "Jerry," the niece of a wealthy but failing elderly matriarch. Jerry falls for Arthur's nephew Sam, but while Barbara approves of the match, there are reasons only she knows for allowing their relationship to develop slowly. Of course she attempts to influence events, and of course things don't go as planned, and of course it all turns out fabulously in the end. Otherwise it wouldn't be a D.E. Stevenson novel, would it?

This was a light, fun read, although not as magical as Miss Buncle's Book. The reader must suspend disbelief at the swift transformation of a derelict building into a showplace, and the twists required to create the happy ending, but I didn't find that to be a problem and am looking forward to completing this series.

I hope you have a great day, with the family, Laura! I have not read Proust. I really NEED to!

Book #19 resulted in my fourth Bingo, in the fifth row of the card. Details in >2 lauralkeet:.

>178 msf59: And thanks Mark!!

Laura - I must read Swann's Way soon, thanks for the timely reminder and the excellently succinct review. 15 page chunks sounds about right.

Hope your Sunday is going well and with it Mother's Day. Trust you have been in contact with your daughter all the way from Devon.

>180 PaulCranswick: Thank you Paul, it was a lovely day. And yes, I heard from my eldest. She posted a photo of the two of us on Facebook which said:
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY Laura Schlegel Lindsay ILL BE HOME SO SOON PS. CAN YOU SCHEDULE ME A HAIRCUT

It's nice to know I still have an important role in her life :)

>181 lauralkeet: LOL! Sounds very familiar.

>181 lauralkeet: The daughter of one of my favorite nurses posted this message on her Facebook page last week: "I'm coming over now and I smell bad. Like finals week and fear. See ya soon."

>183 kidzdoc:: ha! That's great.

>181 lauralkeet: >183 kidzdoc: Now I know I'm glad I'm not on Facebook!

Oh Laura that is so funny! Last night when I was asking my daughter what she did with 'my' sewing things (used last week at her birthday party - so now our sewing area upstairs looks like a tornado passed through) I was told....'mother, you're being awfully aggressive about this."

>185 rebeccanyc: we can just give you the "best" bits here, Rebecca.

>186 sibylline:: *shock* and on Mothers Day too!!

Loving all the returning college student stories Laura. Brings back many fond memories. And if you intended to get me interested in Proust, you've succeeded. And I have The Hare with Amber Eyes on my shelf.

Hi Laura!! So very far behind on many threads... Just caught up here.

Love your daughter's Mothers' Day post... That cracks me up!

A happy surprise in our house: my daughter Julia is now a member of the Kenyon College Class of 2018. Her sister Kate attends Kenyon, and will enter her senior (final) year as Julia is beginning. We are pleased to be extending our family's relationship with Kenyon by a few years; it's a pretty amazing place.

And here are a couple of photos of Julia and me, taken before her prom a few weeks ago (click for a larger view):

Yay!!! Congratulations!!!!

I know that my LD is spending a lot of time now on the the 2018 FB page for new SLC students. Kind of neat, actually, that they get to do that. I (and most of us here) walked into college cold, not even knowing much of anything about our roommates much less others! Different world.

Julia's hair looks so great! And yourself as well, I might add.

>191 sibylline: Thank you Lucy. And oh those 2018 class pages on FB are fantastic. Besides meeting new students, there are usually a few current students who moderate and answer questions, which has been helpful to Julia also.

>190 lauralkeet: What happened to Bryn Mawr?

Lovely photos, Laura! Can sure tell you are mother/daughter : ).

WooHoo for another Kenyon Lady!

Hello Katherine, Nancy & Amber ... nice to see you here!

>193 qebo: oh it's a long story. Let's just say that while Kate's path through life has been a straight and determined line, Julia's has always been more circuitous. It was her decision, and a tough one to make between two very good schools.

>194 lit_chick: Thanks Nancy ... the resemblance has become more apparent in recent months. Her hair used to be very long and very wavy (in fact, hair I would die for), but when she cut about 14" off suddenly other features became more prominent.

>195 scaifea: I knew you'd appreciate it, Amber! Kate is over the moon about having her sister there. She took a back seat as Julia worked through her options but once the choice was made she did a happy dance and posted something very nice on Facebook. It was rather sweet.

>196 lauralkeet: I have nieces with a similar personality difference, which showed up before they could talk. Julia surely made someone on the Bryn Mawr waiting list very happy.

Hi Laura

I'm stopping by to say it was in May last year that we had the Philadelphia meet up. How wonderful it was to meet you and spend time together at the Reading Terminal.

Mother's Day is slightly different when you have sons, I think. I enjoy hearing the daughterish side of things.

>197 qebo: indeed!
>198 Whisper1: Linda, that was a really fun meetup and I'm very glad we had the chance to meet in person.
>199 tiffin: I'm sure you're right. Sons are a foreign concept to me, so I always enjoy seeing what your lads get up to -- it's like another world sometimes!

20. Thus Was Adonis Murdered ()
My Review
Source: On my shelves
Why I read this now: I was in the mood for something light. This series of "cozy" mysteries has been highly recommended by several LTers.

Thus Was Adonis Murdered is the first of four mysteries featuring a group of English barristers, including narrator Hilary Tamar. Tamar is a pompous academic who mentors the younger members of the group. In this novel, one of the barristers, Julia, gets caught up in a murder while on holiday in Venice. Her colleagues back home find it impossible to believe Julia had anything to do with the crime, and aim to prove this to the authorities. Which of course they do, because this is the sort of book where you know everything will work out all right in the end. Along the way there's a fair amount of irony and humor, making this more of a "fun read" than a gripping crime novel.

Every series has its schtick, and in this case it revolves around Tamar. Is Hilary Tamar a man or a woman? It really doesn't matter, but one can't help wondering, and Sarah Caudwell leaves clues which keep the reader guessing. Tamar's credentials are a more relevant concern, and this is my only quibble with this series. Caudwell provides little background on Tamar and the team of barristers, simply dropping the reader into the story. They are all amateur detectives, conversant in law but not in criminal investigation. And their investigative efforts occur almost entirely from a London office, based on clues obtained from letters Julia wrote in the days leading up to the murder. Tamar is the sort of crime-solver who earns his stripes by being more intelligent than everyone else, ultimately declaring the solution which has been obvious to him (her?) all along. It requires some suspension of disbelief to think a murder could be solved more quickly via long distance without ever visiting the crime scene, than by the local authorities with all manner of evidence right in front of them.

But then, this book is intended more as a romp than a page-turner, and on that level, it succeeds. With only four books in the series, these will be perfect light reads when the mood strikes.

>201 lauralkeet: I'm glad that the book was right for the moment, Laura. As you know, I really enjoyed them. I never would have noticed the mystery behind Hilary's gender if Rebecca hadn't asked me what I thought. I just assumed a female character. Caudwell died of cancer at a fairly young age. I wonder whether she ever would have divulged the secret, or would she have kept everyone guessing, if she had lived.

>202 NanaCC: Same for me, Colleen, except I assumed he was male!

>203 CDVicarage: Kerry, Here in the U.S. Hilary is almost always a female name, so I didn't think any further. Of course I know differently, but didn't think out of the box as I was reading. :) I kind of like that it is an unknown.

Hi Colleen and Kerry! I might not have questioned Hilary's gender if I hadn't remembered the discussion between Colleen & Rebecca. And so of course I also Googled it, and found this article: Charming, quirky, delightful: Sarah Caudwell’s Hilary Tamar mysteries, and loved this bit:

While different people read Hilary Tamar different ways, to me Hilary is smug and self-confident the way only British upper class men get to be. ... The only real evidence for Hilary being female is looking appreciatively at beautiful men—and I mean really, it would be odder for Hilary to be straight.

I'm leaning toward Hilary as male, but there are moments when I think it's possible he's female.

>205 lauralkeet: My thinking still leans towards female, because first names are used when talking about the women, and last names are used for the men. But then there is Timothy - it kind of throws a wrench into my theory. :)

I always thought Hilary was a woman when I read the books and it wasn't until many years later that I read something online that suggested there was a mystery about his/her gender. So that's what got me interested in what other people think . . .

Quite intriguing - I may have to pick one up and see what I think!

21. A Diary Without Dates ()
No Review
Source: On my Kindle
Why I read this now: It's one of the selections for the Virago Group's WWI theme read

This was a short and powerful book, a first-hand account of nursing during World War I. Rather than write a review myself, I will simply direct you to a few very fine reviews from LTers whose reading taste is very similar to mine:
- Bonnie (@brenzi): http://www.librarything.com/review/108942093
- Elaine (@Liz1564): http://www.librarything.com/review/108894763
- Cushla (@cushlareads): http://www.librarything.com/review/52077946

Laura, I have A Diary Without Dates on my Kindle, and plan to get to it fairly soon. I am glad to see that you liked it.

22. The Rehearsal ()
My Review
Source: This was a recent acquisition from Foyle's in London
Why I read this now: Having greatly enjoyed The Luminaries last year, I wanted to read her debut novel.

I had high hopes for Eleanor Catton's debut novel, but unfortunately after a strong start it began to bog down, and I found myself skimming the last third just hoping something interesting would happen. The book opens in the aftermath of a sex scandal between a high-school girl and her jazz teacher. The scandal is retold through events that occur in the classroom, as well as in private music lessons with a different music teacher. At the same time, a young man named Stanley begins studying at a prestigious acting school, and the students decide to stage a dramatization of the sex scandal. These story lines intersect when Stanley meets the sister of the girl involved in the scandal.

Catton is a strong writer, serving up strong, thought-provoking passages about sexual abuse and sexual awakening. Like her prize-winning The Luminaries, this novel has a unique structure, but in this case it felt like the author was trying too hard to impress. The thread involving the private music teacher was most perplexing to me -- what was she trying to do there? It just didn't work, and the two-dimensional characters didn't help, either.

Still, it was interesting to read the first work by a now well-known author.

A long overdue catch up on your thread, Laura.

>158 lauralkeet: You've reminded me that I still haven't read one or two of Taylor's novels or any of her short stories. Something that needs to be rectified soon, I think.

>168 lauralkeet: Glad to hear you're enjoying your Swann's Way experience so far. Like Powell's Dance series, it's certainly something I'd like to read one day.

>190 lauralkeet: Congratulations to Julia!

>212 souloftherose: Hi Heather, it's nice to see you! I'm looking forward to reading more of Taylor's short stories, but I really want to make them last. I'll be starting the next volume of Proust soon, taking my time with that one as well.

Julia's high school graduation is today!

Congratulations to Julia!

Congratulations to Julia! Just saw the pictures on facebook - you all look stunning.

More congratulations to Julia! The photos were lovely.

Thanks everyone, it was a beautiful day!! The ceremony was held outdoors and the weather couldn't have been better. I thought I'd post a couple of photos here as well:

You have such a beautiful family, Laura!

Happy June, Laura! What a gorgeous family! Perfect spring photos. And congrats to Julia.

Since our shared TV shows are over, I don't see you anymore. LOL. Have a lovely Sunday.

What lovely pictures June, and belated congrats to Julie - looks like you had a fabulous day!

What lovely family photos, Laura! My, your daughters resemble you tremendously!

Thank you so much Amber, Mark, Karen & Nancy. I'm very proud of both of my daughters, and we had fun celebrating this milestone. Next year it's Kate's turn, and she'll be graduating from university.

Mark, we are in a Sunday TV lull around here. I'm looking forward to the summer Masterpiece lineup. I've been lurking on your thread though, I'll have to speak up more often!

From one Julia to another, congratulations on your graduation!

Lovely photos of the graduation Laura.

Laura: Have you booked a hotel for the Kenyon graduation yet? I know it may seem too far away, but think about the area - not a lot in terms of hotels within less than, say, an hour's drive away... Just sayin'. Also, if it's not already completely booked and you're not adverse to B&B's, The Gambier House is *amazing.* Best breakfasts I've ever had - we used to book our guest speakers and interviewees there and then we would fight over who got to have breakfast with them. Ha!

>223 rosalita:, >224 SandDune: thank you Julia and Rhian!

>225 scaifea: Amber, oh yes I'm on the case! We've been pretty fortunate with our Kenyon visits so far, but I knew this would take some planning. A few months ago I called the Holiday Inn Express in Mt Vernon to find out when they would begin taking reservations for 2015 commencement. For this (and I believe other Kenyon event weekends), on a certain date at a certain time, they open the phones for reservations (this is well in advance of availability on Expedia or other travel sites). So on May 12, both the hubs and I were on our phones hitting redial until one of us got through and made a reservation. It was all rather exciting!! For 2014 Family Weekend we had to book a hotel in New Albany (I refuse to stay in a tumble-down truck stop with only smoking rooms). We still need to figure out how we're handling move-in in August. We know the official dates but we're waiting to hear if Julia will be attending a pre-orientation program.

And I agree about Gambier House. I stayed there once; the breakfast was indeed delicious and you can't beat the location. Oh, and for every stay you are entered into their commencement lottery for your student's year. I'm not holding out much hope for our single 2015 lottery entry. But I hope to generate more entries for 2018!

Oh, I forgot about their lottery! Crazy. Good on you for being on the ball! Tomm and I toyed with the idea of biying a small house in Gambier, fixing it up and renting it out as a place for parents to stay on weekend visits and such, but, of course, it didn't work out that we settled there, so *shrug*. I still think it's a great idea, though. And ooooh, New Albany! Lovely area, although I always felt like I was going to be pulled over by the Millionaire Police for driving my beat-up old Jeep through their streets! Ha!

Congratulations to Julia - and to all of you! I hope that Kenyon suits her as well as it has Kate.
As to Hilary Tamar - first I think one and then the other.
I thought of you immediately when I started reading about lorikeets in my current ER ARC, The Plover. It's a sea story - South Pacific right now - and while the writing style encompasses everything that I dislike about contemporary fiction (except present tense narration), I am interested enough in the characters to keep reading pretty happily. Only, if the #**@&^ Irish-caricature doesn't stop saying "fecking" every 4th word, I'm going to do something desperate.

Congratulations to lovely Julia and to the whole family really. You know when one child graduates Laura, the whole family should take a now. Really. At least that's how I look at it;-)

Congratulations to Julia on her graduation. What lovely photos. And such exciting news about her choice to join big sister at Kenyon. It will make visits real family affairs!

23. Death Comes for the Archibishop ()
My Review
Source: My Virago Modern Classics collection
Why I read this now: It received considerable acclaim on LT earlier this year.

Willa Cather's novels bring the 19th century American Prairie and Southwest to life, with rich descriptions of both setting and character. Death Comes for the Archbishop opens in 1851, with New Mexico a recent addition to US territory. Father Jean Latour is a French missionary who is sent, along with his lifelong friend Father Joseph Vaillant, to bring New Mexico into the fold. Not surprisingly, this was not always well received. But through a series of vignettes set over many years, Cather shows how the two men built influence and respect with the native community.

While Cather's descriptions of the landscape and the people are evocative; her development of the main characters was somewhat less effective, and the two missionaries always seemed somewhat distant to me. Despite this relatively minor flaw, I was moved as the novel -- and the careers of two men -- approached its end.

>228 LizzieD:, >229 brenzi:, >230 Donna828: Thank you very much, Peggy, Bonnie, and Donna! Peggy I hope you've managed to conquer The Plover by now! :)

Beautiful graduation photographs!!!! What a perfect day too. Wonderful to see you all together.

I will try to have my act sufficiently together on the 14th to get a picture of all of us.

Thank you Lucy! It really was a perfectly gorgeous day. It was quite a memorable occasion, and I'm sure yours will be as well.